#i think when my sister and i started doing the childcare stuff i was 12 and she was 9?
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selamat-linting · 6 months ago
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so like, since my dad was in jail for the majority of my little bro's life (2009-2014 and 2016-2024), my mom had to work so the childcare tasks is relegated to me and my sister. my brother actually took after me a lot, the moment he turned eleven he started talking back to me using my words, he's as stubborn and witty as i am and i kinda get why people want to have kids. there's a sense of pride to see someone taking up aspects of yourself. even when its used against you. but man, i was a bad brother and an even shittier mom to him. no amount of apologizing can undo the baggage he'll get from me for the rest of his life.
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sixohsixoheightfourtwo · 10 months ago
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15 people 15 questions
tagged in this meme a few weeks ago by @isaksbestpillow!! here we go
1. are you named after anyone?
My first name is the name of a specific figure from UK history! someone a lot of uk people have heard of, but it's unusual to actually have this as a name. I get some incredulity and some people who politely ask where i'm from. I have to say i'm not 100% sure what answer they're expecting.
My tumblr url is a B-52s song which seemed somehow relevant back in uhhh 2013 or whenever it was.
2. when was the last time you cried?
I thinkkkk possibly when i was doing my taxes back in january. These days I tend to cry from stress and anger and frustration but it's really bad for me because once I start I find it VERY hard to stop, it makes my emotions spiral, I get more and more upset, so I really have to squash it down. For me crying is not cathartic, it just ruins the day.
3. do you have kids?
No - BUT - I have a lot of much younger cousins - and I babysit them & help with childcare fairly often so I am quite used to kids. Fortunately my cousins think i'm super fun
4. what sports do you play/have you played?
I am extremely noncompetitive! I was terrible at team sports at school and also had terrible hand-eye coordination. I have been at times an OK swimmer and I played a lot of table tennis in my last couple of years of school with the other four or five people who'd been deemed too useless for netball etc. As an adult I do youtube yoga, I periodically do app-based running stuff like Zombies Run or Nike Run Club. Ideally I'd like to go every day on like a 5 mile walk in an interesting location with a reasonable amount of ascent and descent but in a city it's hard to orchestrate that. Also I put my little cousins on my shoulders and get them to direct me where to go so they can learn the difference between left and right
5. do you use sarcasm?
I think I actually don't! Maybe a little bit sometimes. I tend to me more uhhh. pedantic and literal. tend to deconstruct .
6. what’s the first thing you notice about people?
uhhhhh probably skin texture . or haircut . or I look at their clothes. i don't know . sounds creepy. sorry.
7. what’s your eye color??
I think if you average it out it's brownish / greenish . think filippo berio bottle . maybe a bit browner / greyer than that. I tried to take a picture but it only confused me. Also when you look close enough at someone's eyes you might get flecks of like eight different colours.
8. scary movies or happy endings?
I do watch and enjoy scary movies and I have learned that I have a higher tolerance for them than some people BUT if I must pick between the two - I am team happy ending.
9. any talents ?
Little bit doublejointed! Can play a little bit of ukulele. Good memory. Good cook. Can make cocktails .
10. where were you born?
London, UK
11. what are your hobbies?
cooking, language learning, walking. Tumblr . opening new browser tabs . I'm getting some wine qualifications which is partly work related partly hobby.
12. do you have any pets?
no but my sister & her partner just got a dog and I do feel I am now an auntie
13. how tall are you?
167 cm I think? i think that's 5 ft 6? normal amount.
14. favourite subject in school?
probably languages ........... honestly I don't remember. unfortunately I had a thirst for knowledge and enjoyed most subjects.
15. dream job?
What I do now (print media production work, magazine production work) is pretty good for me
I'm going to do what @isaksbestpillow did and tag the last 15 people in my notes, that seems fun. no obligation obviously! @rociopath @fizzbuzzbananagram @magicmarker @autisticmisabel @starburger @the-omnishambles @itsmapes @youvegotaluckyface @misterhaderach @jestershark @lanninglurksnomore @sirquacklesdefoof @tracybaconnnn @321claratin @alien-ally
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teenmomcentral · 5 months ago
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Briana DeJesus learned a shocking truth about her mother Roxanne on the latest episode of Teen Mom: The Next Chapter.
Roxanne had been exhibiting erratic behavior ever since Briana, who previously lived with her, bought a house of her own and moved away.
Taking her young children with her, Briana relocated to a different part of town, over Roxanne's objections that her grandchildren are 'half mine.'
Now living alone, Roxanne began to spiral, even throwing water at her other daughter Brittany during an argument at a restaurant.
In a dramatic showdown with her daughters, Roxanne bared the traumas of her turbulent childhood when she had to inject heroin into her father's arm - and revealed a secret that left Brittany and Briana stunned.
The two sisters discovered methadone in her mother's belongings, showing Roxanne had suffered from addiction herself and was using the medication to recover.
Neither of Roxanne's daughters had any idea of her substance abuse issues, which finally provided an explanation for her past outbursts.
Right from the beginning of the episode, Briana and Brittany had a fraught equation with Roxanne over the latter's various deceptions.
Roxanne, it turned out, had concealed the identity of her daughters' biological father, letting them think their stepfather had actually helped conceive them.
‘Throughout my whole entire life, it was just me, my mom, and my sister,' Briana said in a confessional. 'We were always together. And my mom, she's been our rock.'
She added pointedly: 'But over the years, we started learning that our mom has lied to us about some pretty big things.'
Briana has a daughter called Nova, 12, by her ex Devoin Austin, and another daughter called Stella, six, by another ex called Luis Hernandez.
Having moved away from the support system provided by Roxanne and Brittany, Briana was relying on her friends to help her with childcare.
Briana told one of her friends about her mother’s strange ‘behavior’, saying: '‘She's been just, like, acting out. Like, she'll call us, cursing us out, crying.'
In order to finally get to the bottom of the situation, Briana called Brittany and the two of them arranged a confab with their mother.
On the appointed date, as Briana and Brittany waited for Roxanne to arrive, they expressed their joint anxieties about how the meetup would go.
‘Part of me wants to believe it's gonna be the best conversation we've ever had throughout our whole life, but then another part of me is like: "Hmm, we're not gonna get anywhere,"' Briana admitted. 'We'll figure it out.'
Roxanne blew in, declaring she felt '‘like I got hit by a truck. F***ing everything. Menopause, my anxiety is through the roof. Just everything hit me at once.’
Her daughters raised the possibility that being an empty nester - with Briana moving away and Brittany engaged - might be contributing to her state of distress.
Roxanne noted that she was also attempting to cope with her past, including ‘some traumas that you just don't come back from.’
Her angst was linked to the history of addiction in her family - a problem that was so severe that ‘shooting heroin into my father's arm was the least of my worries.’
‘So how do you feel if you can't come back from some traumas, this stuff that you've done to us?' Brittany retorted. 'You treat me like s. You talk to me like s. You always cross the f***ing boundary. And what if we can't come back from that and we just can't be around you?’
‘And that's the f***ng truck that's hitting me right now,' Roxanne candidly acknowledged. 'The fear, the anxiety for what I've done to you guys, what I've put you guys through, in particular you, those are the things that I have to deal with.'
Brittany mercilessly told her she must get help, because if she continued with her present course of behavior, she would not be asked to Brittany’s wedding.
Roxanne flew into a fury, incredulous that Brittany would resort to ‘such a low blow,’ but Brittany countered that she was only telling ‘the truth.’
As their confrontation reached a fever pitch, Roxanne finally decided to reveal that she was carrying methadone with her.
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dzpenumbra · 2 years ago
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5/11/23
There are some birds out the window chirping again. It's 3:20AM. It's really disorienting, I keep looking out the window and expecting to see that super dark blue of dawn creeping in.
I actually slept all the way through the night today, for the first time in... I can't even remember how long. At least I think I did. I don't remember waking up. That was a really good start to the day, but... I woke up to my phone vibrating. Which, I really don't know how to convey this with the level of impact it has on my life accurately enough to people who have friends and family... that never happens. It never happens. I get texts the day before my therapy appointment, and from delivery services when they drop off my food or groceries. The only texts I get are from automated services. I do not get phone calls. Which... I guess thank god for that because it used to be just telemarketers. So... the sound was so startling that a vibrating (not ringing, vibrating) phone 3 feet away from me pulled me out of sleep.
It was my sister in law. She apologized for being out of touch - it's been several months now - citing their new kid and work stuff as the reason... They just happened to drop off the face of the earth right around when I lost my rental car. And she invited me to dinner... with her mom. Who I have never met. At a restaurant a block away from my apartment. ... Okay, I haven't even really engaged with this concept yet, so let's go. My brother and sister-in-law are going to take their infant son, bring him to the airport, pick up their mother-in-law, bring her to my neighborhood because there's a restaurant they like to eat at there. And... they decided to tack me on to that plan? Sorta... two birds, one stone? And... okay, let's connect this dot, because this is all just really odd... The first time we went to that restaurant, it was the first time I ate out at a restaurant since the pandemic... "ended"?... and I was insanely overwhelmed. AND it was my first time meeting my nephew, who was under a year old. AND they invited a friend of my sister-in-law, who I had never met before. AND it was our first time seeing each other since their wedding in 2019. Like, we barely even texted since then.
Someone please confirm for me that this is fucking weird. Like... I really feel like an afterthought here. I offer several times to dogsit because they were really struggling juggling a young dog and an infant child, never took me up on it once, never even followed up on a discussion about it. I have months of experience nannying a child exactly his age without a single incident (albeit a long time ago, so I could use a bit of a refresher), and every time I went over I would listen to them complain non-stop about how hard it is to find childcare. What the fuck is happening with people?! My fucking parents do the same shit. "We're so overworked", "I have to clock 12 hour days, and I'm in my 70's and refuse to retire", "I'm so overwhelmed with work because my son is taking time off of work to watch my grandson." - Me: "Why don't you hire people?" Them: "We can't find people with the right qualifications, no one wants to work." Me: "Are you willing to train?" Them: "No, we don't have the time to train people." Me: "So... you will only hire people who know how to use your 30-year-outdated super specific system... that you designed yourself... that no one else knows how to use because you designed it yourself... and you refuse to train people in how to use this system..." WAKE THE FUCK UP. It blows my mind that people can't see this.
What caused this? Like... was it the whole college "make a degree for everything" scam? Did that really seep this deep into culture? Do I really have to go do a 6-week intensive course with the Red Cross to be qualified to watch my own nephew while my brother and his wife are at work? If so... why the fuck didn't THEY take that course. How do they trust themselves around their child?
I gave up on watching my nephew immediately after seeing this attitude, and shifted all my emphasis onto the dog. The dog is awesome, he's a huge ball of energy and a big ol puppy, we got along immediately. He's an absolute sweetheart. Why did I put my support emphasis on the dog? I cared for a German Shepherd just like him, that even looked exactly like him, for 10 fucking years. For almost 1/3 of my life. I trained that dog to be a service dog. She never left my fucking side. We were literally inseparable, it physically pained me to be apart from her. And I didn't even get a fucking interview with my own brother. And I could really use the cash, too. I guarantee you, if someone who worked for a dog walking company, or had submitted a fucking resume, or was recommended by a friend... they would've gone with it and called them a lifesaver. I would put money on it.
Can you tell I'm a bit upset? XD This is my fucking family, man. I wish I was making this shit up, it's so... cold. And... like... I don't know... business-like? Capitalistic, I guess? Like... I need to clock more hours and get more work experience before I can be a fucking uncle. TO MY BROTHER'S DOG. Man, I fucking wonder why I'm depressed. A lifetime of this shit. Like I, by default, am obviously going to fuck something up... and strangers obviously won't... because they are good at lying on a resume.
And my Copium-huffing ass immediately thinks "oh well I mean, they're not bad people, right? I mean I'm sure they have their reasons why they would hire some random jazz musician in their mid-20's to watch their dog for them, and not their actual family member who lives like 15 minutes away from them and never gets a chance to socialize and lost his fucking dog last year and would love a chance to actually spend time with a dog because there's a giant dog-shaped hole in his life. It's not like there's a family member who lives 15 minutes away who would love to spend time with you and get to know you better, and have you get to know him better, and actually become a family for once. I'm sure they have a reason. Oh yeah, I remember, there is a reason. Let's see, what was it. Um... They're busy... With work... and watching their kid... Yep, that was it. Oh man... this sounds... this sounds really really familiar for some reason..." <memory flash back to my former "best friend" and her husband> How the invites, phone calls, even texts just started drying up once they had their second kid. How I had my first phone call with my former "best friend" and it got really fucking weird... like she started telling me how I would "never feel the connection with a child the way a mother does, so (I) might as well not even bother aspiring for it." And insisting that dogs "love crates, it reminds them of their natural homes, caves, it makes them feel safe". And then trying to pencil me in, I shit you not and this was the last fucking straw for my extremely-unheathy-levels-of-patience... she tried to pencil me in for a phone call... the next month.
I want to ask, "do all people turn into this level of shitbag once they have a kid? And also pridefully insist on either doing literally everything themselves or doing the childcare equivalent of hiring Gordan fucking Ramsay as a personal chef?" I've seen people not turn into this before, so it can't be like... an automatic douchebag switch that flips. Maybe it's just a personality thing, or how people cope with extreme stress and pressure. Maybe they're just crippled with fear and really don't know how to process it at all, because they have nowhere to put it. Hey, here's a fun thing I noticed about that, not one of the people I listed was seeing a therapist. Probably just a coincidence... XD
Here's my take on family - or the death thereof - in modern day America. Because I've heard this is not completely exclusive to American culture, obviously, but way the fuck more common here than other countries. So, I guess my commentary is more about the social pressures in American society and how it has affected my family and those that I have observed. There is this... really unnatural and socially unique obsession with... detaching from family. "Leaving the nest", my mom would always call it. I hear it in livestreams too, from other people in America, and people in UK, too. And there is an insanely negative social stigma against adult children living with their family. Like... it's an indicator of failure. The trope is loser, virgin, basement-dweller. That kinda shit. Now... if that person was taking care of their elderly parents who were sick? That may excuse them. If that person was disabled, that may exempt them as well. Somewhat. But... and this completely blew my mind when I actually decided to take that cultural bias and shove it in a lockbox for a second and look at this situation with fresh eyes... so I'm going to request any reader do the same. Just take a minute and put your preconceived cultural stigmas on the table for one minute, wipe the palate clean, then try this out for size. Ready? What if someone, an adult, in America, wanted to share a home with their family... because they genuinely enjoyed their company and wanted to live with them. ... ... And this is seen as a sign of... failure. A sign of... impotence. Weakness. It's so fucking weird! The goal of the generic American is not to buy a big house to live in with your loved ones, it's to buy a big house and live in it by yourself or maybe with a spouse. The kids thing is a temporary inconvenience, a transitory period between living in the house alone with your partner... and living in the house alone with your partner.
By the way, this is coming from someone who grew up in a broken fuckin family... if that wasn't obvious by now. I'm not exactly chomping at the bit to live with my parents... XD But let me frame this weird cultural stigma in perspective of a bigger issue. Housing. Population. Right? If the gears haven't clicked yet, let me help. The American "Dream" aka... the template for a successful American... is to do your schooling, then go to college and pick your funnel, get into insane debt, somehow get a job in that field when literally every other person has the same level degree now... and since you're at college, you get your first taste of the real world... aka "flying the nest"... aka living in a different location than your nuclear family unit. So... we'll use my family for example. 3 boys. We go from 5 people living in one house... to 2 people living in one house and 3 people living in their own respective apartments. And society's solution for this? Stuff those strays in apartments together! And build more of these giant hotel-style structures to cram people in as close as possible.
And this transition from education into "the practice real world"... happens at 18, which is like... the government decreed "you are a biological adult now" time. Which entirely programs generations, at a subconscious level, that leaving home = being a successful adult. And we wonder why we have a trope of aging parents begging their family to call them more. We wonder why we have a trope of dumping elderly parents in a retirement home like abandoned pets at a pound. God, all of this shit gets me so depressed, it like... it makes my chest tense up and start twinging and makes me get a little nauseous. Like coming across an animal carcass picked clean in the woods or something, it's like... it's unsettling, disturbing.
Point being... this whole... setting a cultural goal (at an individual level) to separate the family ends up making a society full of strangers. And workers. It penalizes family values, which... in other cultures... like Indian and some South American cultures, for example... it's pretty common to have 2 or 3 generations under one roof. And I would strongly wager that, though it may be unpleasant if you don't have a functional family, you won't be socially outcast, stigmatized or punished for living with ancestors. But in America? If you're living with your family? And have to tell a prospective employer that at a fucking job interview. You better follow that sentence up with "until I get back on my feet."
It wouldn't change overnight, but if we broke that cultural stigma... and stopped with this whole ridiculous fairytale that success equals building your own world outside of your family... with healthy families, at least... it might inspire people to return to more communal living situations. At very least, by decriminalizing it. Remember a while back when I was waxing nostalgic about having some conversation about weed decriminalization like 10 years ago? Same premise here. If you get rid of this ridiculous stigma that a grown adult living on the same property as their family is a loser, or a failure... get rid of the social penalty for that... it should incentivize people to live together more. Which reduces occupied apartments, which opens existing living spaces.
Bonus? It builds back family and community. Things that have pretty severely fallen apart. I was watching a stream tonight on this GTA RP server based in 1985 and the streamer was talking about how we used to just... go over to friends houses and knock on the door and see if they were there. And people were just... mind-fucking-blown. They couldn't even imagine doing that today.
So yeah. I'm afraid this whole... "no one is qualified to watch my child except for the best of the best" mentality is going to leave me in the same situation with my nephew as I am currently in with... my goddaughter. A stranger. The weird old guy that she kinda remembers from 6 years ago because I would come over and play cars with her, who says "you know, I used to watch you when you were in diapers, do you remember me?" And they don't, but they lie to cut the tension, and because they are expected to. To make me feel better, to keep it from getting more awkward. And probably because their mom will punish them if they don't. I... don't want that with my nephew. But... I don't think there's anything I can do about it.
So... since I've been typing for an hour straight here... I can tell that was kind of a big thing for me. Good thing I have therapy tomorrow to talk about it. Good timing.
Still can't really figure out the deal with the mother-in-law. It's just really weird. Meh, I'll dissect that tomorrow.
Yoga was pretty low-key today, and I've been adding on exercises in addition because I'm... I'm not in great shape. I mean, I'm not in bad shape, but I had been visibly putting on weight and I just can't get my posture corrected no matter what I do. So... I've added in crunches and bicycle kicks and leg lifts... and push-ups if I didn't do a lot of planks in yoga that day... and I'm still figuring out something for my back, I really think I need to strengthen my back, I think it's a big part of my posture problem. So I did that workout today after yoga, nothing fancy, just like... 10 crunches, 10 bicycle kicks, shit like that. Just like... one set of them. And even that small amount, over a few days? It's already had a visible effect. Which is fucking bonkers. So... it's worth it. Yoga has been really great and my flexibility is nuts now, I noticed last night that I can actually straighten my legs and reach down and touch my toes, I genuinely can't remember the last time I've been able to do that without having to bend my knees at least a little. So, it's not a ton of fun while doing it, but it feels great to actually see this commitment to doing lots of little things actually paying off!
Most of the day was spent working on the skull. After yesterday, I surprised myself with that one. I was really not feeling polishing of any kind yesterday. Today, I spent several hours sanding the skull and made a ton of progress. Again, slow... steady... progress... But, progress nonetheless. I went until my hand was cramping and I was forced to stop. Later in the evening I started another ink drawing, it's about... I'd say 1/4-1/3 done.
I had on my list today that I was going to do the Instagram post for the polished stones I did. The grief piece. And... it's hard. I couldn't do it. I start, in my head, doing this inner monologue where I'm writing the description where I'm telling the story of what went down. How I got the stones from my mom, she found them in her driveway. I polished them when my cat was sick with thyroid and kidney disease. And polished them when she died. And polished them while grieving her death. And that it was all really... I mean, most of my rock polishing work has been really a grieving process in itself. I've only been doing it since after my pets had passed. And the core of it is really... making something beautiful. Bringing out it's inner beauty. Through... abrasion. Through pain. Through grueling effort and struggle. Hours, days, weeks, months of hardship... transforming something rough into something precious. Something mundane into something special.
On one hand, I just don't really know how to express it fully. Because this piece is very heavily focused on my cat as a memorial set. But it's so much more. It's a big extension of this concept from last summer of beautifying the mundane, taking something you literally piss on in a gravel driveway, and turning it into something worthy of being in a museum.
But what's been stopping me? Today? As I go through this fantasy in my head of how the post is going to go... I get to the pictures. And I see myself taking pictures of each individual stones and getting really creative shots of them. And then I get... this picture... this picture I took on my flip phone back in 2006 or 2007. Of Maxine when she was a tiny little kitten, small enough to sit in the palm of my hand. And then the last picture of her I have, when she was sleeping in the big comfy chair, which was comically large and an absolute dream come true for her. And that... those images... it was just heartbreaking. And it still is now. I really really miss her. Both of my girls, of course. And... I don't know. It's just hard. I guess... I just don't know if I'm ready to post that? I don't even know how to put my feelings into words around this one. I just... pictured that vividly in my head... then kinda reeled in emotions. And then moved on to something else because it was a bit too much. And kept making the excuse "I'll just do the photoshoot when the sun goes down so I can control the lighting", but I never did.
So... I guess I'll cross that bridge when I come to it tomorrow.
For now, I've written enough. I have to go water my plants before bed, and like every fucking bird in the zip code has woken up now and the sky is starting to change color for real this time. So... yeah.
A lot of intense stuff tonight. But... I made lots of progress with the skull. I made progress with a new ink piece. I have dinner plans for Friday. So, those are good! :)
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hockeysweetheart · 4 years ago
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Unnamed Story
Katniss lost her husband 3 years ago in this Part this is the first day she comes back home to 12 after living in 2 for 14 years  and  they had 3 kids  together. This one was hard to write it’s pretty heartwrenching But this is the only first Part of this.  There is plenty of More  If you read the first part I posted before feel free to skip ahead to the read more.. 
Part 1 The first day here without Him…
It’s been 3 years since his death. I don’t have the heart to take off my wedding ring. I feel like he wouldn’t like it plus it feels like a part of him is with me… We are on a train ride to start our new journey in District 12.  My children and I Ella is 5 she doesn’t remember her father  as much she was so young when I got the call that he was in a horrible accident at work…  Noah is 7 he looks so much like his father he asks me where he is often. Aubrey is 12 she still wakes up calling for her father telling him to run.. Who would I be without my children… As much as I want to break down I see these 3 faces watching me. I try to put on a brave face for them but it’s not been easy. But we make it though. Each one of them remind me of their father. Ella she’s got her fathers will to fight, Noah he’s just looks like him, Aubrey she’s got her fathers mouth… I carry around a picture of him as well… District 12 used to be my home then I married him and started a life in District 2…. So much grief and pain there. As well as 12. But in 12 it has my Sister Prim my mother and my father… Ella asks “Mamma are we almost at grandpas and grandmas house”… I tell her “ Soon My darling just go to sleep and we should be their when we wake up”… I look at my ring and Aubrey comes and sits next to me and says “ thinking about dad” I look at her and put my hand on her cheek and say “Never stopped”… Noah is quiet then I hear weeping. And I give him a hug. It’s everything for me not to break down as well. I said to Noah “ Hey listen in District 12 we will start a new life there we will have grandma grandpa your Aunt Prim  Also your fathers family will be there too and a few other friends of mine”… We arrived at district 12 and my Family is waiting at the train station..  They hug me and say “ Welcome home Katniss”… My children are overjoyed to see them. They get big hugs… and we are off to their house in District 12…
We get to the house. Prim is there with her Husband Drew and hugs me… I instant break down crying Prim calms me down she says “ Katniss I know how hard it’s been since Gales Death 3 years ago”… I tell her “I wake up every day and Find there is no point in waking up in this nightmare”… Prim puts her arm on my shoulder and says “ Katniss you have 3 beautiful children who remind you of him everyday I think Gale  would want you to be happy He would want you here with Family He would be doing the same thing if it was you.”… I sigh and says “Prim Every waking moment since his death I realized how afraid I am”.  My father walks in with Ella on his back and Noah wrapped around his legs. Aubrey comes in with my mother shorty after… I smile as I look at them. I See the quality’s of my family in my children. Like Ella’s blonde hair and blue eyes she might of looked out of place between Gale and I but she looks like she belongs. My mother says “ Katniss your welcome to stay here as long as you like It not much but it’s filled with people who love you”.. I hug my mother and say “ It’s good to be home”. My mother says “ Oh I almost forgot Hazzel and Posy and Vick are coming over for dinner… Rory sends his regrets but is busy at work”… I tell here “ That would be nice for the Children  to see them”…  My mother says to my children “ Now who wants fresh baked cookies” all 3  of them say me and hurry off into the kitchen I call after and say “ Don’t spoil them too much”… My mother says “ I am their grandma it’s my job to spoil them” I grin and roll my eyes. And Turn to my father.. I ask him “ You okay they are not to heavy for you”… He  puts a hand on my chin and says “ Katniss they Make me feel younger then ever”…
Hazzel and Posy and Vick come over and give me hugs. I am holding back tears but  it’s hard.. Hazzel asks “ Now where are my beautiful grandchildren” I tell her “ Oh mother is Stuffing  them with Cookies as we speak”. Prim , Drew , Vick and Posy and I all sit in the living area. Posy grabs my hand and says “ It’s good to have you back Katniss”… I tell her “ I am grateful to have such a loving family but I wish it was different”. Vick say’s “ We know” …  There is a long silence well not really we can hear  my children and the grandparents in the kitchen. But I break it and say “ So where is Rory working these days”. Vick Answers “ Oh he works down at the bakery”. I say “ Oh how did he get a job there” Posy says “ Oh the Mellarks needed some help there he was looking for a job and they hired him”…
I heard that Peeta left the District shortly after I did. He married and has kids of his own…
I can’t help feel them all looking at me.. So all I say “ Well that’s nice for the Mellarks”.  The last thing I need them thinking is I am thinking about my ex  while grieving  my dead husband. But When They mention the Bakery I can’t help but blush a little… They all relax when I say that tho….  Drew says to Vick “why don’t we see if they need Help in the Kitchen”…  They go and  Posy Turns to me and says “  Katniss  It’s okay to Be thinking about Peeta. during this time he’s been back in 12 for a 4 years now” She sure didn’t miss a beat like Gale would. I say “ I feel like I will be betraying Gale in a way” Prim puts a hand on my shoulder “ Katniss Gale would want this for you” Posy Chimes in “ Yes he would he would  it’s been 3 years”.  Then I say “ But Peeta is Married and Has kids”…. Prim says “ Well there is  more fish in the sea like Asher Coel He’s single”… I tell her “ Also way younger then me”. Posy says “ There is Grant Hold he’s got kids of his own to” Looking at the year book…  I tell her “Grant served time”… Prim says “ Oh  there is Steve Coste he’s single”  I look at her “ Prim  That’s Drews Brother”… Posy says looking though my year book “ Well there’s Codi Linkon” … I say “ Posy Codi  died years ago” Prim says “ Hey What about  William Hayes” I look at the picture I have to admit he’s cute “ I tell her yeah maybe but I have no idea what happened to him after school”. Prim says “ William Hayes works at the hospital with ma and I”… I look at them and say “ If I do this no more talk about boys okay I can raise them fine without a man I’ve been doing it for 3 years now”.  Posy says “ Katniss that's not what we meant we want you to go out give your self time”  I  look at them and say “ I know I guess  it would be nice to go and do something for me once” Prim says “ Doing it alone is fine until its not anymore. And your kids deserve a mother and a father”
My mother peaks in and says it’s time to eat.  We sit in the dinning room. No one says it but We all look at the Empty seat. I break the silence and say “ Can you pass the cheese buns please”… The rest of the dinner is a blur… I can’t help by notice the stares at me from my family. I  Say “ Ella eat your dinner it’s going to get cold its good”… Ella says “ Okay fine”… My Mother  says “ Oh Katniss Tomorrow I am going into town Wondering if you and girls would like to come with me?”… Noah says “ What about me.” My father says “ I was thinking I would take you hunting with me tomorrow if that’s alright with your mother”. Noah says “ Cool can I mom”. I say “ Sure thing it will be nice for you and grandpa time” I mouth “ Thank you”  to my father as he’s taken the death the hardest…. I tell my mother “ It will be lovely to go to town, You girls up for that” They both look at me and nod their heads excited…. “ Now eat up its getting cold” I say…
After Dinner I help my mother make up the rooms they gave to us… I Tell her “ You don’t have to do this”… She says “ Katniss as your mother and their grandmother I’d do it all over again”… I tell her “I was hoping to find a place on our own. They need to know that even tho their dad is gone I can stand on my two feet”… My mother stops what she is doing and hugs me.. and motions me to sit down staying Silent and listening..  “ I feel like I am failing doing this on my own that they will suffer from it. That this is taking away from me showing how strong I am.” I tell her Stated tearing up. “ Katniss those 3 beautiful children are not failing because they are here any place they go they are well loved well cared for from a strong independent women”
Before their bed The kids are looking though a chest of my old stuff with My mother  father and Drew.  while I have tea with Prim watching them Prim informs me ��that William Hayes would love to go on a date this Friday.… She says “ Do they ever grow up” Nodding to Drew who has one of clothing times on his head from there.. I smile and say “ Guess not”.  Aubrey pulls out a book and asks “ Whats this”… I get up and Grab it “ Oh it’s something we keep our noses out of it’s personal”… one of the pictures falls out and Ella picks it up and “asks who’s that”… To a picture of Peeta “ An old friend I tell her I think it’s time we go to bed it’s getting Late okay”. They all start to object but “ I say we have a big day tomorrow”…
I get them in bed and come back downstairs “ They went to sleep fast” My father says “ Well they have been on a long journey”.  And he yawns and says “ Well I am getting tired to Honey ready to go to bed”… My mother looks at him and says “ I’ll be their in a minute”.  Once he’s gone  its just us 3. my mother looks at me and says “ So Katniss Prim told me your going on a date with William Hayes he’s a nice boy.”… I tell her “ Prim and Posy are setting this up who wouldn’t want free childcare for an evening I am getting tired too”… My mother tells me “ Just let us know if you need anything sleep well ” I tell her “ Thanks for everything” And head off to bed.
My Sleep everything But peaceful. I have the same nightmare that appears almost nightly of the day Gale died. It was on a  Saturday the day before he had off.  That morning started off Normal. He Left with Aubrey Bringing her to school and then went off to work. He gave us all goodbye kisses.  As I was home with a Toddler and Preschooler on that day they were eating Lunch when I got a phone call that the building Gale was working was on fire. I dropped the phone and got Aubrey from school and hurried over to the sight… Burnt victims came out but not many. They tried it all they could…. It was to dangerous for any fire fighter to go in… I remember hanging onto my children their eyes looking at me for answers I don’t have.  The Peacekeeper who was  keeping us back Pulls me aside… and says “ Katniss Hawthorne I am sorry to say this but your husband didn’t make it..” I broke down after that… Then I looked at my children and promised myself no matter how hard it gets I’ll do it for them… We all cried in a ball next to the taped off area… I Wake up I know I’ve been sweating.. Shortly after Ella comes in  saying “ Mommy I can’t sleep I had a bad dream” I say “ Come here you can sleep with me tonight” A few minutes Later Noah  and Aubrey come in and  Noah says.. “mom” I say “ Bad dream okay come on in we can all fit”… Aubrey looks at me and asks “ Did you have a bad dream too”… I tell her “ Yes Some day you’ll understand why they never go away but here is safe”… we all fall asleep after that into a sleep with no nightmares…
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dyanlzbb · 5 years ago
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The recovery of the lost Moon
Jason Todd x Sister!OC 
SUMMARY: Jason finds a girl and decides to help her find her mother... the only way to do it is with a DNA search. He gets surprised by what he finds. 
Part 1 of 3
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Jason was having one of those days in which everything seems to go wrong.  He got on the bad side of Bruce and got in an argument with Alfred. Then he had to run away from Dick who had one of his wonderful bonding ideas, sarcasm intended. And finally he got notice of another smuggler trying to go big by marketing a new dangerous untested drug. No problem, he was used to deal with that kind of people. However he wasn’t ok with this smuggler using children to do the dirty job and he had to do something about it.
He needed a lead on the small smuggler and he knew where to get the clues he needed. He went to a neighborhood he was familiar with in the East End to find informants. But before he was able to talk to anyone, Jason stopped at a grocery store to buy cigars… God knew he craved them badly when he was this stressed.
Jason payed and left the store to light the first cigarette outside. Maybe he was too absorbed on his thoughts, but the thing is that he didn’t notice the girl coming to his way, so she bumped him. Jason came back to his senses to see the girl walking away and the lighter out of his hands. It was his luck that precisely this day, his lighter fell to the sewer. Great! I’ll need to buy a new one he thought and reached for his wallet on his back pocket.
However the wallet was gone. He was certain he had it with him after he pay for the cigarettes and it wasn’t on the street. That little rascal! The girl must have taken it when she bumped him. It took him a second to do a light recognition of the situation and in a secondhe was on his way to the last place where he saw the girl walking.
Lucky he was fast. Jason found her on an ally going through the content of his wallet. “Hey girl! What do you think you’re doing?”  Jason called out loud surprising the girl. She looked at both sides finding herself trapped by high walls and far away from the fire escape.
Damn she thought. It was the first time she had been caught since she started pickpocketing a few years ago. She was trapped and in no possibility of escaping the broad guy in front of her. “Oh… I found your wallet and was checking where I could return it.” She was trying to sound convincingly innocent to make a clean exit without being taken to the cops.  
“Nice try kid.” Jason knew she was lying, but she was so composed lying to his face that he was surprised. He took another look at the girl. She must be around 12 years old and although her clothes were not dirty or ripped, you could see how worn out they were. He recognized the signs, she lived in the streets. “Now, I have a question and I’m only going to ask you this once. You better give some serious thought to your answer.” He paused for a second trying to add drama to the moment “Are you hungry?”
The question took off guard at the girl. She was expecting a confrontation for saying the least, a treat to take her to the police station or something along that line. The man in front of her knew for sure that she tried to rob him and yet, he was here asking if she wanted to eat. She open her mouth and was about to tell him to leave her alone, but her stomach decided that it was the perfect moment to manifest itself and groaned so loud that gave Jason the answer.
And he just laughed out loud. The girl was mad at the timing of his stomach. She was about to deny her need for food in order to run away from the man. Yet he was there just laughing at her. She was huffing and frowning. It was amusing to see her expression. Before she got even angrier, Jason approached and took her by the shoulders. “Come, I know a place nearby.”
There was a burger place nearby. It was similar to the place where Batman bought two burgers the night he found Jason trying to steal the wheels of the Batmobil. He was surprised at the similarity to the moment now sitting in front of the girl.
“So… I’m Jason. What is your name?”
“Lina”
“Lina? That is an unusual name. Where do you live Lina” Jason asked as he took the first bite form his hamburger. He was staring at the girl that only looked down to see the really interesting spot on the floor.  “mmph… I see, so, you don’t have a home”
Before he decided it was a good idea to take her to the cops or authorities, Lina hurried to give an excuse, she wasn’t going to childcare or to some foster parents. “I’m staying at this old lady’s place. She allows me to stay if I do a little housekeeping.”
“What happened with your parents?”
“I… I used to live with my mom… but I got lost when I was 6 and since then I have lived here and there.”
Jason knew the story quite well. It was a shame that Gotham had so many of these kids living in the streets and susceptible of crime. “I see… listen Lina, the truth is that I need help. Maybe you can help me and in exchange, maybe I can help you.”
“How?” She meant on both questions. How was this man planning to help her and what would he possibly want from her?
“Well, I need information about a guy that is trying to get kids to do the dirty job of selling his garbage… if you help me get the information, I can help you find your mom.”
“I’ll help you, because you’ve been good to me. But I doubt you can find my mom… she’s never looked for me.” Lina was ashamed to admit that she was abandoned. She had never told her whole story to anyone, nor the old lady she lived with or her friends.
Jason stayed in silence. It was rare that a mother would not look for a lost child. He was intrigued by the case that found him. He waited for the girl to provide more information about her decision.
“I may know about the guy you look for. I was with a friend… Tom… trying to…” She made a pause, she was not ready to admit that they were eying a victim that they planned to rob “… to make a living…” it was enough for Jason to understand what they were trying to do. He just nodded inviting Lina to continue. “He came to us and offered a job. I asked him what kind of job. He wanted for us to go with him to a warehouse that is three blocks from here. I declined his job and told him that Tom and I get enough money from our parents and he left.”
This was the information he wanted to receive. Jason couldn’t find the shine gleaming in his eyes. “Do you remember how he looked like?”
“He was small; he looked like a rat, like an anxious rat. Thin blond hair, chubby face… I think his name has a Zole in it. He later talked to another friend, Eddie, and convinced him to sell his stuff.”
The case became interesting by the minute. Jason started to think that this girl was sent to help him. “What I am about to ask you… you don’t have to agree to do it or anything… but… it would help me a lot if you could get me a sample of the goods this Zole is selling.”
“Sure thing!”
Jason wanted to offer something to the girl, in exchange for the information. Not money because he wasn’t certain how this could benefit her. “Now, about your mom...”
“Mr. Jason, you don’t have to…”
“Drop the Mr. and I offer.  Now, how about you give me the details you remember and I check it with a database and find your mother?”
She sighted. For the last six years she had been convinced that her mother never looked for her. Perhaps it was a good riddance that she went out and got lost that august summer night.
Jason waited for her to say something about the story but she just look at him weary.  Lina just narrowed her eyes suspiciously “Are you one of those undercover cops?”
“No, I’m not. But my brother is a cop and he could grant me access to his database to look about your mother.” For a moment Jason saw the scared expression on her face “But don’t worry, I won’t tell him what I am looking form. Alright? You are safe with me.”
Noticing that she wouldn’t give him more information, Jason went back to the drugs case. “Now… how about we meet here next Friday at 4 to update your progress? You tell me about Eddie and Zole and I buy you a meal again…” He smiled seeing that the smile retuned to the girl’s face. He understood that if he wanted to know about the girl, he had to search for himself.
He removed her hair from her face with the excuse of not wanting her hair to fall in her burger. Yet he got what he wanted, a strand of hair to get her DNA and find her mother. He did it so casually that the girl didn’t notice.
When they finished their meal, they parted ways. “Ok. See you next Friday! Jason… and thank you for not arresting me!” before he changed his mind, Lina ran away as fast as she could.
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prorevenge · 6 years ago
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My friend's ex-wife gets his family's business shut down and burns their lives to the ground (not what you may think)
Sorry for the somewhat misleading title, but I couldn't resist.
This story isn't about me but two people I'm friends with. We'll call one Rae and one Justin. I'm posting this with Justin's permission, and he'll probably be reading the thread.
Pretty quickly after they moved, they decided to get amicably divorced, since they never wanted to be married anyway. They still lived together for a while, and basically became something between platonic roommates and each other's only family. Over time, they started dating other people. Some partners were scared off by the weird relationship between them, but most got it, and understood that Justin and Rae had basically bonded though mutual trauma. I also met both of them during this time, and we became close friends.
This whole time, both their families and other members of their community were relentlessly harassing them. People were showing up at their house at all hours, and they had reason to believe people were trying to steal their identities over the years, though they'd fortunately both put a freeze on their credit, so nothing ever came of it.
Then Justin had a bad accident. A really bad accident. He was on his bike and a car blew through a stop sign without slowing down and plowed right into him. He had to be rushed to the hospital and landed in the ICU. Rae was his emergency contact, and I was with her and some other friends when she got the call. I immediately drove her to the hospital with a couple of other people, and she was melting down (understandably). The hospital staff wouldn't let us all in when we got there, but they let Rae in. She came out periodically to let us know what was going on. Justin wasn't unconscious, but he was totally out of it and didn't seem to know she was there, probably from the painkillers, but she was convinced he had permanent dehabilitating brain damage and basically the group of us were just soothing her and reassuring her it would be fine. A friend of ours who worked at the hospital as an MRI tech was also stopping by when she could on her breaks and calming down Rae. We'd been there all night and part of the day at this point, and the medical staff was giving us reason to be hopeful.
But things got worse. To this day, no one knows how they found out, but 14 hours after Justin's accident, his parents, uncles, and grandfather showed up. They immediately had all of us removed from the ICU, Rae included. Unfortunately, as his ex-wife, she was no longer his legal next-of-kin and had no rights against his blood family.
At this point, she was absolutely hysterical and inconsolable. She was convinced Justin's family would hurt him. I'm ashamed to say all three of us that were there with her thought she was overreacting. We all knew Rae and Justin had left a fucked-up situation, but it wasn't like his own family would do anything to impede his recovery. She was getting angry with us for trying to calm her down, and tried to explain that according to their religion, she and Justin deserved punishment from God, and only the greatest suffering could prompt repenting and redemption. She said their families embraced this thinking and wanted them to suffer, because it would prove that they did the wrong thing by leaving, and suffering would drive them back to the fold. She said as long as Justin was with his family, he wouldn't be safe.
Our friend who worked for the hospital came and found Rae at that point. She made Rae swear up and down she wouldn't tell anyone she told her this, because she could get in deep trouble for releasing privileged information to someone unauthorized, but she'd caught wind that Justin's parents were aggressively demanding the hospital release him into their care, and they were involving lawyers. The hospital was currently refusing, because Justin wasn't stable enough to leave, but our friend warned Rae that as soon as Justin got to be stable, or the lawyers scared the hospital enough, it's possible the parents would be able to take Justin.
This shocked the rest of us. Realizing his parents were not only willing to remove Justin from the hospital that had saved his life in the condition he was still in, but were actively trying to do it made us really "get" for the first time why Rae was going out of her head with fear.
At this point, Rae snapped into do-or-die mode. Convinced that Justin was about to literally die if she didn't act, she decided she would do everything in her power to start a fire at home so that Justin's family would want to run back to put it out. And this wasn't too hard, because she had a lot of dirt on the whole community she came from. Like a madwoman, she started blowing the whistle all over Justin's family. She called the IRS's fraud hotline and detailed all the ways that the family business was committing tax fraud. She submitted an ATF tip about how that same family business was illegally selling firearms without a license and without following any of the proper protocols, and was knowingly selling guns to convicted felons. She reported one of Justin's uncles for owning several guns as a convicted felon. She also reported Justin's mom's unlicensed day care "business," which was apparently extremely shady, including having over 30 children packed into one house, with Justin's mom as the only adult and many of the childcare duties being farmed out to Justin's 12- and 14-year-old sisters. She called CPS on Justin's uncles and his parents for keeping their children out of school, and for physical abuse in one uncle's case. In all of these reports, she provided extensive details.
She finished her calls and emails, and then she waited. We all waited for several hours, and nothing happened. Then, miraculously, Justin become lucid enough to understand what was going on and make his own decisions, and he kicked his family out again. From there began a slow but steady path to recovery.
In all the relief and excitement to see Justin on the mend, we'd almost forgotten about Rae's campaign of desperation, until a couple of weeks later, when the screaming voicemails started pouring in to both of them. First, the business was being investigated by the IRS, then it was being investigated for illegal firearms dealing. Then the daycare was getting investigated. At first, Rae felt a little guilty, but then she was like, "You know what? No regrets. They would have killed Justin."
From what they've been able piece together in the year and a half since this happened, the business has gone under, and the daycare is shuttered. The uncle is six months into a new five-year prison sentence for firearm possession. CPS investigated, which scared the shit out of the family, but nothing really came of it, which is especially sad in the case of the cousins being physically abused. That said, the parents are now too scared to keep the kids home from school, and with the unlicensed daycare shut down, the mom's not exploiting her daughters' labor anyway, so she has no incentive to keep them home. So Justin's little siblings are at least getting their education.
Justin and Rae are both happy and thriving. Justin unfortunately will never fully recover from the accident. He has some permanent neurological damage that results in tremors. But he's pumped to be alive, he can work a full-time job, he can still be pretty physically active, and as far as I'm concerned, he wins.
TL;DR: Kooky abusive family tries to remove my friend from critical medical care because reasons (??), and his ex-wife hits the panic button that burns their lives to the ground.
(source) story by (/u/Throwawayallaway4)
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travelingtheusa · 4 years ago
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NEW YORK - I had saved my NY postings so here they are.  The rest are lost.
29 Aug 2020 (Sat) – We went to church today to attend a memorial service for June Wertz, a friend of ours.  Her husband, Bob, invited us to join their travel club some years ago. One of the members of their club had passed away just before the small group was going to camp out at Wildwood State Park.  They invited us to take his camping spot.  During the 8-10 years we camped with them, it was always on Long Island. The members were all up in years and didn’t go off-Island to camp.  It was a fun group and I wish we could have known them in their younger, traveling days. At any rate, we certainly enjoyed the time we spent with Bob & June and the rest of them.  
     Miranda and Kenny had a serious incident yesterday.  They were at KFC when they noticed smoke coming from the engine. They popped the hood, looked around, and opened the radiator cap.  Both of them were scalded, Kenny pretty badly.  They are monitoring his condition to determine whether his burns are bad enough to seek medical help.
 28 Aug 2020 (Fri) – I drove to Ronkonkoma to visit with my cousin, Claude, today.  He has been experiencing medical issues for a while now.  He has gone from 220 lbs. to 175 lbs.  He is looking old and sick.  I fear for his well-being.  I visited for about an hour then the nurse came in to see him so I left.
     Paul spent the day repairing the steps to the back deck.  He poured some concrete at the base a few days ago and had Caiden put his name, date, and footprint in it.  
 27 Aug 2020 (Thu) – I drove out to Southampton today.  It was almost an hour and a half drive.  When I arrived for my 10:30 a.m. appointment, the receptionist told me I was scheduled for 11:30 a.m.  The dentist didn’t get me in until almost 12 noon.  I was seeing him for a consultation.  He is an endodontist who specializes in root canals and oral surgery. He didn’t see anything that needs immediate attention.  Furthermore, he said that he conforms to the recommendations of the American Dental Association and doesn’t believe that metal in the mouth or root canals are inherently bad.  He suggested that I leave everything as it is unless I am in pain.  It was a disappointing consult.
      I stopped at CVS to pick up my prescriptions from the dermatologist, the neurologist to get copies of the test results for my records, and at Shop Rite for some groceries.  I got home in time to put everything away and turn around to make my 4:00 p.m. appointment for physical therapy.  That was also a somewhat disappointing experience.  I was brought in, asked a bunch of questions by someone who said she was a physical therapist, and advised that I would get some exercises to do. Today’s appointment was just heat and stimulation.  An aide put the electrodes on my foot and wrapped it in a hot towel.  She said the therapist would be in to turn on the stim. After 15 minutes, I flagged down a passing therapist to see if she could find the gal that was supposed to turn my stim on.  After 5 minutes, she came in and said she thought the aide would turn it on.  They seemed very disorganized and uncommunicative.   I am scheduled for physical therapy 3 days next week.  We’ll see how that goes.
     When I came out of the office, I crossed the street to pick up a few things at Best Market that I didn’t get at ShopRite.  It was a full day of running around.  Whew!
 26 Aug 2020 (Wed) – I went to the dermatologist this morning.  The oncologist told me that the chemo can cause skin cancer and to get a skin exam once a year.  So, here I am at my one-year check.  The exam went well and I was given a clean bill of health.
     At 1:50 p.m. I went to see the orthopedist that I was referred to by the podiatrist.  I have an interstitial tear in the Achilles heel fiber, not the tendon.  There are three ways to handle it – by physical therapy, by surgery, or by an experimental program that takes your blood, mixes platelets with it then injects it in the injury site.  Insurance will not cover the cost.  I opted for physical therapy.  He gave me a script and I made an appointment with a nearby therapist.
     We went out for dinner to Texas Roadhouse.  The food was good.  We forgot our leftovers.  That must happen at least half the time we plan to take leftovers home. Aaaarrgh!  
25 Aug 2020 (Tue) – No doctors today!   I ordered dulse flakes from Amazon.  Travis called to ask for help.  He was turned down for a rental because a credit report stated they had been late on their last 8 mortgage payments.  This is incorrect.  I went on the webpage and saw that their payments were on time.  Samantha called Equifax to correct the report but was told they only reported what the mortgage company gave them.  She called the mortgage company and was told Equifax had to correct the record.  A big, fat bureaucratic run around!
    I spent a good part of the day on the phone with the mortgage company trying to get a letter that simply stated that their payments have been on time all year.  The last agent I spoke with told me they are restricted in free-form correspondence because of a contract they have with USAA.  They can only send certain forms.  He did offer to send a transaction record that showed all payments were made.  Unfortunately, it does not say the payments were on time.  
    In the meantime, I was trying to get an appointment with the dentist and getting a refill for Paul for a medication.  I finally landed an appointment with the dentist for Monday and the doctor’s office placed the refill order directly with CVS.  I did get to finish burning one box of records.  Only 5 more to go!
     Travis called later and told me he offered to pay one year’s rent up front and was waiting for the rental agent’s reply.  He’s got a job offer and the new boss said he would look into putting the money up until Travis sold the house.  If he does that, Travis better give this guy 110%.  He doesn’t know Travis from a stranger on the street and is willing to put up $23,000?  We will see.
     Miranda and Kenny went out tonight.  I offered to watch Caiden so they could have a date night out somewhere. It isn't much but I’m sure they haven’t had a chance for private time since this whole COVID-thing started. Kenny’s mother and grandmother are keeping their distance and they have no other childcare set up.  
 24 Aug 2020 (Mon) – We went food shopping this morning.  I did laundry in the house.  At 1:45 p.m., I left for an appointment with the biological dentist in Manhasset.  On the way there, the office called to say the dentist was running late and to come in at 4 p.m.  So I detoured and stopped at Sherry’s Market in Babylon.  I wanted to pick up some barley grass juice powder and dulse flakes. They did not have the dulse.  The clerk said I might find it in Wild by Nature down the road in West Islip.  So I drove down John Street and into the strip mall.  They had dulse granules but no flakes.  Not sure if that was OK, I didn’t buy it.
     Finally, it was time to stop dawdling and drive to the dentist.  I got there at 3:50 p.m. and called the office to let them know I was there.  They told me to come right up.  I didn’t wait 10 minutes (BIG difference from last visit) and was shown into the exam room.  The first dentist, Dr. Golden, popped in while Dr. Blum was reviewing my 3D scan.  They discussed my case and what they recommended I do.  Then they sent the money gal in.  She described the procedure they would use – do a root canal on two teeth and put in ceramic posts with a bridge.  Giving me a discount on the bridge, it would only cost $12,000.  I could buy a frickin’ car for that much money!!!  I told her I would think about it and left.
     I called my sister to see if I could get in to see her biological dentist.  She gave me his number but the office was closed. I’ll have to call them tomorrow.
 23 Aug 2020 (Sun) – We went to church this morning.  Everyone is still wearing masks and the pews are roped off to keep people distanced from one another.  After church, we gathered up most of the stuff we have been collecting for the yard sale and brought it back to the church.  They are trying to have an outdoor thrift shop sale on the front lawn. We don’t know how that’s going to work. It was all clothes they had outside and anyone shopping would lift the clothes to look at them.  Now they’ve been touched.  What next?
     At 3 p.m. we drove to our friend’s house, Bob.  He used to be my brother’s father-in-law (before they got divorced). Bob managed an A&P store in the day and he catered many parties.  Any time he’s making a meal, it’s worth going.  He’s a great cook.  He made ribs, roast potatoes, and corn on the cob.  We had a very nice visit.
 22 Aug 2020 (Sat) – We gathered up Caiden and drove to my sister’s house. Susan is celebrating her 65th birthday today.  As expected, Caiden never wanted to get out of the pool.  Our brothers, Dennis and Chris, also came to the party.  We gave Denis some old baseball cards we found in the back room during our clearing out maneuvers.  He seemed to be pleased with the gift (his birthday is next week).  It was a fun day.
 21 Aug 2020 (Fri) – We went to the Oconee Diner for lunch then took a ride to Target to get a few things.  We picked up some clothes for Caiden and ourselves.  After we returned home, we spent the rest of the day cleaning out the back room.  I burned more military records.   Thirty-one years of military history – GONE!  Up in smoke!  I was surprised to see that I had every pay record I ever got during my service.  
 20 Aug 2020 (Thu) – It was a confusing day at the cardiologist. First, Paul went to the office for a 9 a.m. appointment only to be turned away.  They said he had an appointment at 3:45 and I had one at 2:30 p.m. When he got home and told me, I stated that the office had called yesterday and confirmed the 9 a.m. time. I also had my appointment time entered in my calendar as 2:15 p.m.  Just as we were perplexing over these times, the doctor’s office called to say he was called to the hospital and they had to reschedule our appointments.  We managed to get us in at 11:30 and 11:45 respectively. That ensured we got in together.
     The doctor was prompt and entertaining.  He checked us both over.  Reviewed our bloodwork and tests and declared us in good health.  My cholesterol is a little elevated so he wants to see me back in 3 months.  If the numbers are still up, he will put me on a drug (he thinks).
     We drove over to Travis & Sam’s tonight for dinner.  Turned out we had to buy the dinner (surprise!).  We stopped at Chili’s and picked up 6 meals then drove to Trap’s where we enjoyed our dinner together.  Travis got a job offer at a construction company in North Carolina. They will also help them to get into a rental home.  It sounds very good.
19 Aug 2020 (Wed) – I went to a biological dentist today to get an assessment of all the dental work in my mouth.  I have been reading several books about alternative medicine.  One book by Dr. Simon Yu states that disease is the result of 4 causes.  The three top causes are dental problems, heavy metals, and parasites.  It was 2 hours before the dentist came in to see me and we spent an hour talking about the research and alternatives.  She sent me to get a 3D x-ray to see if there are any infections in my mouth.  Although there was no “pathology,” she did identify 4 incomplete root canals.  She recommended I see the surgeon in the office. I made an appointment for Monday.
     On the way home, I stopped by Sherry’s Market, a health food store in Babylon. It was expensive!
 18 Aug 2020 (Tue) – I went to the neurologist this morning to get all the electrodes disconnected.  I tried to schedule a follow up visit with the doctor but his earliest appointment is October.  How do you discuss what they found with all these tests?  
     I drove to East Islip to the podiatrist’s office to pick up a copy of the MRI report stating I have an interstitial tear in my right foot.  The receptionist offered to call the radiology office to see if I could get a copy of the MRI pictures.  Then I walked over to their office and got the disk.
     Paul spent the day working around the yard.  I spent the day burning files.  I have so many military files to burn.  How in the world did I get so many in my possession???
 17 Aug 2020 (Mon) – I went to the neurologist this morning and was wired up for a 24-hour EEG.  They attached 23 electrodes to my head and 3 to my chest.  I have to wear a machine to register brain activity for 24 hours. All this just to reassure Paul that I am OK and can go hiking in the woods again.
     When I got home, Paul went food shopping.  I was NOT going out with all the wires hanging off my head.  When he got back, we had lunch, then went to work on getting rid of old files and boxes.  I have tons of old military books and material that has to be burned.  It can’t just be thrown in the garbage.  I sat in front of the fire pit for 2 hours and only got through 1 box.  I have 5 more to go.  
     Ford called to say they replaced the fuel pump on the truck and everything seems to be alright.  I took the rental car, drove Paul to Sayville Ford to drop him off, drove to Islip Airport to drop off the rental car where Paul picked me up and we drove back home.
 16 Aug 2020 (Sun) – We borrowed Kenny’s truck and drove to church this morning. It rained all day.  We spent most of the day inside watching TV or working on the computer.
 15 Aug 2020 (Sat) – Spent the day working around the property.  Kenny went to work at 4 and I went into the house to watch Caiden.  He came out to the camper and had dinner with us, then we went back inside and I gave him a bath.  We had a pillow fight and played with his transformers.  He finally went to bed at 9 p.m.  I think that is too late for a 6 year old but his parents are night owls and I guess he’s becoming one also.
 14 Aug 2020 (Fri) – The tech from Sayville Ford called and said the diagnostics was telling him the truck needs a fuel pump.  No amount of arguing that the last service station messed something up. We finally authorized the part. Maybe they can get to it on Monday. Ugh.  
     Miranda’s truck was finished at 4 p.m.  Turned out to be the alternator.  I was going to take the rental car since we have no vehicle but I let her take the truck to Philly given the cruddy condition of her truck. We weren’t sure it would make it there and back.  It really is on its last legs.
     We were supposed to ride out to Indian Island to join the Long Islanders for camping this weekend.  Since we don’t have the truck to pull the camper, we will miss the campout.  This was very disappointing.
 13 Aug 2020 (Thu) – Miranda’s car suddenly gave up the ghost today.  It was clicking, wouldn’t start, and all kind of diagnostic warnings were flashing on her dashboard.  She was able to drop it off at the service station.  This is really bad timing because she is preparing to go to Philly this weekend to coordinate a concert for her camp.   We looked around and was able to reserve a rental car just in case the car isn’t back tomorrow.
     Paul and I rode our bicycles to Best Buy this afternoon.  It’s been giving me trouble and there’s some kind of program on there that we didn’t load in but keeps trying to update drivers.  I had them take it off.  They were very understaffed and the tech wasn’t really interested in working with me on anything else.  I had wanted help in getting videos off the computer.  I’ll have to wait until things get back to normal.
     Paul took an Uber to the cardiologist this afternoon for a stress test.  They injected him with something and then put him in an MRI machine.  He said it was quick and easy.
 12 Aug 2020 (Wed) – It was a quiet day all around.  Paul picked up the truck.  Not only was it making the humming noise, but the dashboard was lighting up like a Christmas tree!  Low fuel pressure!  Low engine pressure!  The service station told us they couldn’t find anything wrong and the noise was gone. Boy, were they wrong.  Paul called Sayville Ford and we were able to get it into the service bay today.  Hope they didn’t break the engine.  L
 11 Aug 2020 (Tue) – I went to the radiologist today for an MRI of my right foot. We worked around the property, cleaning out old files and boxes.  Sent out for pizza for dinner.
 10 Aug 2020 (Mon) – Paul brought the truck back to the service station this morning. They kept the truck and dropped him off back at home.  At 1 p.m. I went to the doctor for an echo cardiogram.  I had to borrow Miranda’s car to get there and back.
     We called the service station at 3:30 p.m.  The tech told us that they had to call a friend at Ford to ask about the fuel pump.  The guy told them they had to replace the entire assembly, not just the fuel pump. Paul was annoyed!  I think we will have to make sure in the future that (1) only Ford does the work and, (2) that the mechanic is a certified diesel mechanic. Hopefully, we will get the truck back tomorrow.  They were going to send out for the item, which will cost us over $400.  This is after already being charged $170 to put the fuel pump on before they broke it.
 9 Aug 2020 (Sun) – We went to church this morning.  I think it was the most people we’ve seen there since we came back.  Everyone is still wearing masks and there are seats roped off.  Hand sanitizer stations have been set up around the building.   They announce that the thrift shop will open for 2 hours on Sunday afternoon in an outdoor setting.  That means folks attending the service will be asked to help bring things outside and set up, then take it back downstairs when done.  I hope it works.  The thrift shop is a major revenue source for the church and it has really been hurt with the closure.
     After church, we went to the Clamside Bar & Grill at the East Islip Marina. The waitress was soooooo slow.  Paul ordered Belgian waffles and they came out cold. My food was lukewarm.  He sent his waffles back.  The next service was also cool.  Paul wound up not eating his meal.  It was a disappointing experience and we probably won’t go back there for a while.
 8 Aug 2020 (Sat) – We gathered up Caiden and drove to Sue & Bill’s for the day.  The day started out overcast but the clouds soon cleared away and we had a delightful day in the pool.
 7 Aug 2020 (Fri) – I went to the neurologist this morning.  The first test was a Neurotrax.  It was a cognitive test to see if I’ve had any brain damage from the TGA back in March.  Following that, I had an EEG.  A technician glues 23 nodes to your head and then has you sit in a chair with your eyes closed most of the time.  He flashes a light on your closed eyes, then says “Open Your Eyes” for like 30 seconds then close them again.  Weird.
     Paul has been working hard in the yard, cleaning up after the storm.   The oblivious neighbor did a stupid thing.  A tree in his yard came down into our yard. It was straddling the fence with the root ball in the neighbor’s yard and the tree branches supporting the tree in our yard.  The neighbor brought his chain saw out and cut the tree.  No longer balanced between the tree branches and the root ball, the tree crushed our fence.  
     I went to the podiatrist today to check out the painful lump on my Achilles tendon. The doctor took an x-ray and said I have a bone spur that could be causing the problem.  She also criticized my flip flops, saying I needed more support for my feet.  She gave me some heel inserts to wear in a closed shoe.  She also sent me to the radiologist to get an MRI.  I made an appointment for Tuesday.  
6 Aug 2020 (Thu) – Paul brought the truck to the service station to get it inspected.  When he got back, he complained that he could hear a humming from the fuel pump.  That happened to us once before.  A non-qualified mechanic had tried to mount the fuel pump on the rail and broke it.  Apparently, a certified diesel mechanic needs to do the job.  Paul called and was told to bring the truck back in on Monday.
     We brought Bonnie to the vet at 2 p.m.  The ultrasound shows she has some abnormal liver issues.  The vet wants to do a biopsy but Bonnie has to get a blood test first to see if she has a clotting factor.  If so, then she can have the biopsy.  If not, then we can’t do it.
 5 Aug 2020 (Wed) – I had a check with the nurse at the cardiologist’s office today.  They wanted to check and make sure there were no problems with the loop recorder.  She said I had a bit of a reaction to the medical tape but everything looked OK.  I should just let the tape fall off when it wants.
     After the doctor, I brought some containers to Travis.  He is now in contract on his house and beginning to pack things up.  I brought him 9 containers.  Then I drove to Sayville and met my sister, Susan, and her daughter, Shay, for lunch at Cornucopia.  It is a kind of health food supermarket with a great deli counter where we all ordered lunch.  We then sat outside to enjoy our meal.  Following that, we took a walk along Main Street, looking in the shop windows.  When we came upon an India shop, we went in. Susan & Bill follow the religion of Ashananda and the shop owner had been to one of their meetings out in the Hamptons.  She spoke for a while with the clerks (the shop owner wasn’t there).
     We went over Trap’s tonight to sign the contract for the sale of their house. Since we are listed as co-owners on the house, we have to sign the contract as well.  While there, Trap dug out the chain saw for Paul.
 4 August 2020 (Tue) – Things have been so busy and technology has been so challenging that I have not been able to keep up with the blog.  I have an appointment with Best Buy on the 13th. Hopefully, that will get things back on the road.
    Let’s see. I have been to the cardiologist and had an internal cardiac monitor (ICM) installed in my chest.  It is a device that tracks heart activity and at night, when I am sleeping, it uploads the day’s activities to the doctor’s office. It’s been 5 days and the site still itches like crazy.  Ugh.
    I had to go to the lab and get a COVID test before getting the ICM installed. The nurse stuck a Cutip so far up my nose that my eyes teared.  And I had an earache for the rest of the day.  That dam thing was painful!  I will not do that again.
     We took Caiden to Sue & Bill’s last Wednesday.  Their daughter, Shay, and her boyfriend, Pat, are up from South Carolina. We all swam and munched on delicious vegan foods.  It was fun.
     I went to the doctor’s office to see what is wrong with my heel.  The PA saw me (the doctor was busy).  He thinks I have a cyst on my Achilles tendon and referred me to a podiatrist.
      Miranda was back in Pennsylvania this weekend so we watched Caiden a good part of the time when Kenny wasn’t working.
     We got to visit with Travis & Sam yesterday.  The baby is walking pretty good now.  He’s always so happy.  He immediately lights up when he sees you and waves his little hand hello.  Trap got an offer on the house and we signed the contract with the realtor.  He’s a little freaked out.  They have now signed a contract to sell their house.  They have to be out in a month.  They want to move to South Carolina but neither of them has a job or a place to stay.  In addition, they’re not going to be able to keep as much of the money from the sale of the house that they had counted on.  The realtor gets $16,400 alone!  Wow!
     Today, Paul had an appointment with the dentist.  This was a follow up to checkups we had two weeks ago where the dentist found a cavity.  He went in to day to get it filled.  Afterward, we went to WalMart to pick up a few items.  Later in the day, Tropical Storm Isaias blew through.  Another tree from the neighbor’s yard came down across our fence.  Also, one of our trees came down and landed on the deck.  It just missed the roof and back doors.  This was dejavu!  Same thing happened last year when we were here.  Paul will have to dig out the chain saw.  The entire neighborhood is digging out.  Two trees went down on Saxon Avenue, the next block over, and the road was closed.  Thousands of people were without power.  We lost power on and off all day long but not for very long.  Our neighbor a few doors down had a tree go down and take all his electrical lines with it.  The fire department came and cut up the tree and pulled it out into the road.
 25 July 2020 (Sat) – We went to Nicky’s on the Bay for lunch.  The tables were spaced apart.  Lots of them were out on the deck.  All the wait staff was wearing face masks.  Our waitress was very slow and unsure about herself.  She might have been new.  While we were eating, a waitress came running through the restaurant asking if there was a doctor, an EMT, or a nurse in the place. Apparently, something happened at the marine fuel site out on the deck.  We couldn’t see what happened but an ambulance did roll up.
     The cost of the meal was very high.  It don’t know if it is because Nicky’s is a seasonal place and is trying to make its money during the summer or if they jacked the prices up because they can’t have as many people in the place. Either way, it was over $60 for a wrap and a sandwich.  Ouch!
 24 July 2020 (Fri) – Finally!  A day with no doctors.  Whew!  Paul got up early and took the truck to WalMart to get an oil change.  He said it looks like WalMart is going out of business.  The shelves are all half stocked.  If you stop to think about it, they get most of their products from China. The pandemic has affected shipments worldwide.  In addition, the U.S. is angry with China for keeping the Coronavirus a secret and has instituted sanctions against them.  WalMart must really be hurting.
     After Paul got home, we went to Home Depot to get a container.  One of our two batteries went bad and Paul bought two new ones.  Now he wants a container to put them in to keep the area more organized.  Home Depot didn’t have much of a selection at all. On the way out, we stopped by the tile area and picked out a tile to do a backsplash in the bathroom.  We couldn’t decide, so we picked up three samples to see which we would like best.
     When I was entering the costs into the budget, Paul discovered that WalMart charged him for the oil that he actually provided.  So he got in the truck and drove back to WalMart to get his $12.47 refunded.
     Miranda is teaching in Pennsylvania again this weekend.  They took Caiden into Queens to stay with his grandmother. Kenny borrows his mother’s car so Miranda can take their car.  I will miss Caiden.
 23 July 2020 (Thu) – Today was my visit with the oncologist.  It was so disheartening!  My appointment was at 4:15 p.m.  I checked in then after a brief wait, a tech brought me into an exam room and took my vitals.  Thank goodness; no blood draw.  Then I went upstairs and checked in with the receptionist.  I waited about a half hour before the doctor’s admin assistant came and led me to the exam room. I sat there for another half hour before the nurse came in and went over my case.  He spent a lot of time complaining about patients calling and asking for visits or pain medication when they should be going to their primary care physicians.  Then he asked me who my PCP was.  I felt like it was some kind of criticism.  Was I supposed to be going to a different doctor?
     The nurse left and it was another 20 minutes before the doctor came in wearing a face mask and a full face shield.  He seemed detached and didn’t really hear my complaints.  He said the medication sometimes causes blisters on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet.  Was I having any of those?  He also said the medication can cause AFIB and that the cardiologist should check me for that.  It seems like every visit to the oncologist results in him telling me something else that can happen with this chemo therapy.  He seemed preoccupied and in a hurry to get out.  I felt like I got the bum’s rush.  I came home and started crying.  Which is kind of stupid because the CT scan shows that I am responding to the medication very well.  All the lymph nodes are continuing to shrink.  So what’s my problem?
 22 July 2020 (Wed) – I went to the Good Sam Sleep Center this morning.  I had to sit in the parking lot and call the office to tell them I was waiting.  They called me when the previous patient was done.  When I walked into the doctor’s office after checking in, he excused himself and began to dictate the results of his visit with the previous patient.  He stated the patient’s name, the issue, and his diagnosis, all in front of me.  Hasn’t he been briefed on this whole patient privacy thing?  I thought that I should probably step out of the room but with the whole COVID thing, they don’t want people wandering around unsupervised.  When he was done, I told him that I haven’t had a good night’s sleep in 15 years.  The cardiologist recommended I do a sleep study because poor sleep can affect heart function and weight.  The doctor said we probably wouldn’t find anything but said he would do the study anyway. How encouraging is that???
 21 July 2020 (Tue) – I went to the eye doctor today.  I arrived at 9:30 a.m.  When I checked in, I found my appointment was for 10:45 a.m.  It looks like I made the appointment while we were in Alabama and my calendar recorded the appointment as central time, not eastern time.  So the clerk sent me to sit out in my car till it was my turn or the doctor became available sooner.  They called me at 9:50 to come in and brought me right to a test station where they blew air into my eye.  Then she took me to an exam room where I sat for over a half hour.  The doctor came in, put drops in my eyes, and said I am developing glaucoma.  Come back in six months.  Then he was gone.  No discussion, no explanation, no anything.  I complained about some eye discharge and irritation so he prescribed an ointment to put in my eye at bedtime but, again, no explanation or discussion of what the problem is.  It was a very annoying visit.  The doctor was very dismissive.
     Paul put together a 3-minute video of upstate New York.  I posted it on You Tube then contacted SMART with the link. They posted it on the website next to the description of our New York caravan.  
     I went in at 4 p.m. to keep an eye on Caiden while Miranda went to the store. Paul is still grousing about yesterday’s argument.  I have to find a way to get him to lighten up.  Ugh.
 20 July 2020 (Mon) – I had a CT Scan with contrast today.  I dropped off a urine sample for Sheba at the vet, then drove to Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.  I checked in at the front desk and asked if my doctor or his nurse was available to see me.  The receptionist said she would contact Dr. Rodriguez and see what he said.  I then went into the imaging area and had the CT scan. That’s such a weird test.  They inject an iodine based solution and it gives a flushed, very warm feeling in the back of the throat and in the crotch. It feels like I wet myself.  The test isn’t very long and I was out of the machine within 10 minutes.
     I returned to the front desk to see about the doctor.  The receptionist said Dr. Rodriguez would change my telehealth appointment for Thursday to an in-person appointment or I could see someone in triage today.  I said I would meet with the doctor on Thursday.
     I got home to find Paul working around the RV.  He was installing a switch for the water pump in the bathroom.  The switch on the main panel stopped working some time ago and Paul installed a switch down in the basement.  That has turned out to be somewhat inconvenient so he moved the switch up into the bathroom.  That should work better for when we have to use the onboard tank for fresh water.
     While we were outside, Paul and Miranda got into a nasty fight.  That was very upsetting for me.  Then we left and went over Travis’ house to help him with some projects.  He has finally gotten an offer for his house and the inspector will be over on Thursday. He wants to clear up a few little things before the inspector arrives.  Paul and Travis worked on repairing a leak in the kitchen sink and on the thermostat for his burner.  I played with the boys then we all enjoyed a meal that Sam prepared.  It was a pleasant evening.
 19 July 2020 (Sun) – We didn’t think Caiden would be able to sit for an hour in church with a mask on so we didn’t go.  At 11:30 a.m. we drove to the Bayside Clam Bar for brunch.  Afterward, we walked along the boardwalk and looked at all the boats in the marina.  There was a dog at one end that the owner let go down on a little spit of sand.  Caiden climbed down and followed the dog around. We took his shoes off so he could step in the water.  The dog was an older black lab and very friendly.  Her name was Sandy.
      After our meal and walk, we returned to the house and I watched Caiden while Paul worked around the house and yard.  Kenny got home at 7:30 p.m.
 18 July 2020 (Sat) – We got Caiden at 10:30 a.m. and then drove to Sue & Bill’s house in the Hamptons for a day of swimming in the pool and barbecuing. Despite the fact that I put sunscreen on Caiden twice, he still burned.  So did I.  His mother will never let me take him to the beach again.  Aaarrgghh!
     After we got back, I stayed with Caiden until his father came home at 10:30 p.m.
 17 July 2020 (Fri) – We both went to the dentist today.  The chairs in the office were taped off to ensure adequate spacing between patients.  It only left 4 chairs to use.  The secretary took our temperature and went through a checklist (like the tech did yesterday).  Then we had our teeth cleaned and xrays taken.  I got an excellent rating; Paul has a cavity and has to come back to get it filled.
     We went over Trap’s to visit.  We picked up dinner at Chili’s and brought it to the house.  Travis was working on painting the counter top in the upstairs bathroom.  They are trying everything they can think of to sell their house.  They’ve had lots of lookers but no buyers.  The real estate market is so hot today, I can’t figure out why the house hasn’t gone.  His in-laws put their house on the market and the first visitor bought the house for $5,000 more than they were asking.  The only stipulation was that they had to be out in 30 days.
     Miranda’s cat was showing some kind of neurological issue today.  It was walking against the side of cabinets like its left side was weak and it couldn’t stand by itself.  Miranda contacted us while at Trap’s and asked about bringing her cat, Liath, to the vet.  We hurried home to help but the vet said it was not life threatening and to wait until Monday to bring her in.  Miranda was concerned because she is leaving tonight for Pennsylvania and will not be back until late Sunday.  I promised to keep an eye on the cat.
 16 July 2020 (Thu) – We both went to the cardiologist today.  I was doing a follow-up to my “incident” in March. Paul went because he has hypertension and should be seen by a cardiologist.
     When we arrived, we were met at the door by a tech who asked us a bunch of questions about where we’ve been and who we’ve been near.  He took our temperature and then let us pass.  We walked in and was processed by a clerk.  Then we were brought back to the exam room.  The PA came in, went over our medical histories, took our blood pressure, and did EKGs on both of us.
     Then the doctor came in.  I liked him instantly.  He is young – in his late 20s/early 30s.  He was upbeat and very friendly, touching elbows as a form of hello.  He thinks I had a TIA and felt the neurologist was wrong to think I had a TGA.  He recommended I get an EEG, an ambulatory EEG, and have a loop recorder inserted in my chest.  He feels it is possible that I have atrial fibrillation (AFib) and the recorder will measure my heartbeat and send messages to the office.  I would wear it for 3 or 4 years!  I said I had to check that one with my oncologist.
      Then it was Paul’s turn.  The doctor referred him for a nuclear stress test.  He also recommended that Paul resume taking the baby aspirin every day (he stopped a year ago because of a medical report that said baby aspirin didn’t help to prevent strokes.  
 15 July 2020 (Wed) – We worked around the RV until 11:30 a.m. then we took Sheba to the vet.  It was over an hour in which the vet’s office displayed confusion and chaos.  First, I called to say we were outside for our appointment.  About 20 minutes later, one of the vets came out to gather information then went inside. Ten minutes later he came out to get Sheba.  Again, the office was not able to get through to my phone and the vet came out to tell me to call them.  I called and spoke with Dr. Thode.  She took blood and gave Sheba shots.  Dr. Thode also said the blood results were back for Bonnie.  She has round worm and a low liver value.  She prescribed medicine for the worms and recommended an ultrasound for the liver.  After waiting 10 minutes, I called the office to see what was happening.  They were just finishing up and would send Sheba out. The vet brought Sheba out, went over the highlights of her exam, and said the office would call to get payment. After another 15 or 20 minutes, I called to make the payment.  The clerk took my card number three times because the machine wasn’t working properly. Then the vet tech came out with the paperwork.  Paul asked about the medicine for Bonnie.  They forgot it so she went back in to get it.  She brought it out but stated they had forgotten to charge us for the medicine so I had to call again to give the credit card number.  They brought the receipt out along with the stuff to get a urine sample from Sheba.  We left but I got a phone call about 10 minutes later saying they forgot to charge us for the bloodwork they did on Sheba so I had to call back again and give the card number again.  What a debacle!
     Late this afternoon, Caiden came knocking on the door.  He came in and played for a while then I made dinner for the three of us. He ate a small part of his meal but seemed to enjoy it.  I brought the left overs into the house for Miranda and Kenny, or to keep and reheat for Caiden tomorrow.
 14 July 2020 (Tue) – I had an appointment with the neurologist this morning. This was the same doctor that found the tumor in my mother’s brain 36 years ago.  He has gotten very personable over the years.  I liked him very much.  He said the incident I experienced in March was most likely Transient Global Amnesia (TGA).  Just to be careful, he recommended three different tests but stated that he doesn’t expect to find anything.  Apparently, a TGA can happen at any time and never happen again.  Or, it can happen again once or multiple times.  If it happens many times then you would have to get checked for seizure activity in the brain.  Luckily, I have not had any problems since that one time.
     I played with Caiden a little tonight.  We didn’t get much time together but it was still fun.  He loves battle sequences.
 13 July 2020 (Mon) – We took Bonnie to the vet this morning.  She needed a refill on her flea and tick medicine. She got a checkup and a couple of shots. It was so weird.  When we arrived, we called the office and were instructed to stay in the truck.  After about 20 minutes, a vet tech came out.  He took down Bonnie’s information and reason for her visit then went back inside. He came back about 10 minutes later and took her inside.  We sat in the car until the doctor called.  We discussed our concerns and what the doctor found and recommended. Five minutes later, the clerk called to get our credit card number for the bill.  A whopping $950!!!  After about another 15 minutes, Bonnie was brought back out to us.  Then we waited ANOTHER 15 minutes for the clerk to bring out medicine and the bill.  What a pain in the butt.  And we will have to do it again with Sheba.
     Kenny was off of work today, so Caiden stayed in the house nursing his sunburn and playing with his parents.  Paul worked around the yard and I did paperwork.
 12 July 2020 (Sun) – We went to church this morning.  They just reopened after holding services digitally on You Tube and FaceBook for months.  There were about 30 people in church.  We had to wear our masks the entire time and still try to maintain 6’ distance from each other.  They didn’t pass the collection plate.  Instead, it sat in the back of the church and the minister asked everyone to drop their donation in the plate when they left.
    After church, Paul and I drove to the Clamside Bar & Grill at the East Islip Marina.  We both enjoyed a salad.  The day was lovely – sunny, but not too hot, with a soft, balmy breeze blowing in off the water.  The sun glittering on the bay was beautiful.
       When we came home, I gathered up Caiden and he and I went to Heckscher State Park. I figured the beach would be closed but we could walk along the shore, throw stones in the water, build sand castles, and wiggle our toes in the water.  Boy, was I surprised to find the beach open, complete with lifeguards. There were many people on the beach and in the water but they still were all keeping a decent distance between each other.  The water was so warm; like a bathtub.  There was lots of wave action and a delightful breeze kept the heat away.  I did not have a bathing suit so I stood on the shore with my feet in the water, getting splashed well up the legs. Caiden went in and had a great time. Unfortunately, I forgot to put sunscreen on him and he got burned.  His mother yelled at me.  
     When we left the beach, I stopped at Carvel and got Caiden some ice cream. The perfect end to a perfect day.
 11 July 2020 (Sat) – Paul worked in the yard most of the day.  I entertained Caiden a good part of the day.  At 4:30 pm, we went over Travis’ house.  We shared a salad and pizza then spent two hours playing with Noah and Hudson.  The baby is on the verge of walking.  He has very good balance.
 10 July 2020 (Fri) – It was an overcast day with rain on and off. Tropical Storm Fay was pummeling the Jersey coast today but we didn’t get it too badly.  Paul and I went shopping at PetCo for pet food and ShopRite for some groceries.  Boy. Was the grocery store crowded! And we forgot to bring our own bags so the cashier charged us for 3 bags.  Glad we didn’t buy a lot.
     Caiden wanted to come into the trailer so badly today but the weather was lousy and I wasn’t going to put Bonnie out.  Caiden came out and we stood outside in the drizzle talking for about an hour.  Later, I went into the house and we played for about 2 hours.
 9 July 2020 (Thu) – We packed up and left Newburgh at 10:45 am.  It took almost 4 hours to drive down to Long Island. We were surprised with all the traffic on the road.  We came through the boroughs and had traffic and construction that caused us to creep along through congested spots.    
      Caiden was so happy to see us!  He ran out and gave me a hug, then ran back to the porch to watch us park the rig in the driveway.  When Paul had the RV positioned well, I had Caiden help finish the set up by pushing buttons to open the slides.  After we were set up, we visited for a bit and watched him swimming in his little pool. After dinner, I took Caiden to Carvel and picked up ice cream for him and Miranda (Kenny was working and Paul and I are on a diet).  We brought it back home and they enjoyed the treat out on the back deck.
 8 July 2020 (Wed) – Just hung around the campground most of the day.  We did run out to fuel the truck and get ready for tomorrow’s move.
 7 July 2020 (Tue) – We visited with the sales manager here at the campground. We had interviewed him last year and reconfirmed the amenities and costs.  The nightly fee actually went down.  He also promised to coordinate a bus tour into New York City for us.  He offered to pick up our order for bagels and juice and even stated he could arrange a catered meal right here in the campground.
     We came back and did laundry then just hung out for the day.
 6 July 2020 (Mon) – We started out for West Point but would up sidetracked to the Historic Huguenot District.  It was two blocks of old stone houses built in the late 1600s/early 1700s by early French settlers.  The visitor’s center was closed and none of the buildings were open.  We walked up and down the street, admiring the architecture from the street.
     We then continued on to the West Point Military Academy.  The visitor’s center was closed, as well as the tour operations office.  There was no one to ask anything of.  The day was a loss in that regard.    
 5 July 2020 (Sun) – We drove over to the Mohonk Mountain House today.  Thought we’d check them out for the farewell dinner and then take a hike around the area.  Unfortunately, they now have a gatehouse to control access to the place.  They have us a brochure to look at and a telephone number to call but wouldn’t let us go in.  
     Then we drove by another restaurant but they were closed.  No signs on the door.  We couldn’t tell if they were just closed or if they had gone out of business. Cross them off the list.
     We made a quick stop at the grocery store so Paul could pick up milk for his coffee then returned to the campground.  We got to enjoy another campfire tonight.  Two in a row. Wow.!
     We drove into Newburgh and took a stroll on the Walkway Over the Hudson.  It was an old railroad trestle over the Hudson River built back in the late 1800s.  It was repurposed into a level concrete walkway that stretched for more than a mile and a third.  We walked out to the middle, took a selfie, and walked back.  The day was lovely.  There were lots of people on the bridge – strolling, biking, walking the dog. Almost everyone obeyed the signs and wore a mask.  Some people didn’t.  It was very warm and my mask was wet from sweat by the time we finished our walk. It was a good time.
     We drove to the FDR National Historic Site to look over the presidential library and home.  The visitor’s center was closed.
 4 July 2020 (Sat) – We were going to drive to the Mohonk Mountain House today but stayed in the campground instead.  We had a small BBQ and sat before a delightful campfire.  The campground is pretty full with lots of kids. Bonnie is barking at bicycles, skaters, and walkers.  The staff came by yesterday passing out flyers about the pool.  It was going to be open today from 10 to 4.  They were having people sign up for a one-hour block of time.  The pool is limited to 25 people but they were thinking they wouldn’t be able to do that and still have people maintain their distance.  We didn’t sign up.  It seemed better to leave the time slots to the kids.  Normally, they would spend the whole day in the pool.  This is like a tease.  But I suppose it’s better than nothing.
 3 July 2020 (Fri) – Things have been quiet.  We have been running around trying to line up restaurants for the caravan next year.  We are now at the KOA in Newburgh for a week.  
 30 Jun 2020 (Tue) – We pulled stakes at 9:25 am.  It was a white knuckle exercise in getting out of our site.  Paul had to ask the guy behind us to move then he backed up the RV to get out.  Trees and other RVs and yard “stuff” in the area made it impossible to pull out from our pull-through site.  Paul did it perfectly!  He is so good in moving our big monster.  It’s almost like it’s an extension of his physical being.  Just imagine maneuvering 54’ of truck and trailer. I can’t do it!
     We arrived at Shadowbrook RV Resort at a little past 11:30 am (it was a very short drive).  This campground only has 18 campsites for transients.  Again, we’ve been undone by the seasonal campers.  After set up, we drove to four separate campgrounds and all gave the same answer – no room at the inn!  The last campground we stopped at recommended the KOA up on Route 20. We’ll try them tomorrow.
     We drove by the National Baseball Hall of Fame.  They are on a limited opening.  I left a business card and someone will call me back.  I also sent emails to the tour director for the NY Capitol in Albany and the USS Slater.  Communications continue with other venues as well.
 29 Jun 2020 (Mon) – We drove to another campground this morning to check it out.  It turned out to only have 4 available campsites for transients.  The rest are filled with seasonals.  Too bad.  It was a really nice campground right on Saratoga Lake.
     On the way back to the campground, we refueled for tomorrow’s trip and picked up chicken and water.  Bonnie has diarrhea again.  It just seems to be something that she’s going to go through on a regular basis no matter what we give her.
 28 Jun 2020 (Sun) – We left Ticonderoga at 9:20 a.m.  It rained a little in the three hours it took us to arrive at Adventure Bound RV Resorts & Campground.  The campsite we got was very tight while Paul had to maneuver around a parked van, trees, and lawn decorations.  This campground, although very large (over 300 campsites), would not suit our group and many campers are seasonal.  The RV next to us hasn’t been moved in years.
     As soon as we were set up, we headed out. First stop was at Chili’s for lunch.  We both had a grilled chicken salad.  Tummies full, we drove to four different campgrounds.  Two wouldn’t fit the group, one had no one in the office, and the other took our phone number to give to the owner.  It was not a very productive day.  Hope things get better tomorrow.
     On the way back to the campground, we stopped at Hannaford to pick up groceries. It was a nice supermarket.  Why can’t we get any of these grocery stores on Long Island?
 27 Jun 2020 (Sat) – It was a light day.  We just hung out around the campground today.  I made some calls and updated the files on what we’ve collected so far.  The poor wifi service here is maddening!  Even the cell service is poor.  I’m glad we won’t be staying here as a group but I worry the other campground might be just as bad.  After all, we are now in the mountains.
 26 Jun 2020 (Fri) – We drove into Lake Placid today.  It is a small town.  The Olympics Museum was closed.  We decided to have the group explore the museum then go out about the town on their own.  There is a lot to see in this little tourist town.  
     We then drove to Whiteface Mountain.  We wanted to drive up the Veterans Memorial Highway to the peak.  Unfortunately, it was $25 per car to drive up.  I thought that was too much money to go up there and find everything closed (not that there is that much up there to see other than the view).  We turned around and left.  
     Right next to the entrance for Whiteface Mountain is Santa’s North Pole Workshop. We came up here twice with the kids when they were little.  The workshop is still there with the post office that will send off a letter or postcard with the North Pole return address.  The park was also closed.
     We drove to Ausable Chasm, the Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks.  It was beautiful.  We spoke with the sales manager and got information on a walking tour, float trip, and lunch at the center.  It will be a nice touch for the group.  Up the hill right next to the chasm center is the Underground RR Museum. It is in a beautiful old stone building. It was closed but a woman stepped out of the building to speak with us.  The cost to explore the museum is free and the place is very small.  Guess we’ll have the group break up into smaller groups to tour the museum.
     We also checked out two other campgrounds.  The KOA seems like the best option at this point.  It would have been nice to stay at the North Pole Hundred Acre Woods Campground but they don’t take groups of more than six rigs.  Oh, pooh!
     After we got back to the campground, we did the laundry.  
 25 Jun 2020 (Thu) – Well, we learned today why a scouting trip is so important. We left 1000 Islands CG and headed out to Ticonderoga, 170 miles away.  The GPS in the truck tried to route us though Canada.  It would have added 100 miles to our trip!  Instead, we followed the route on my phone.  The trip went through Adirondack Park.  We saw mountains but the elevation never got much over 2,000’.  The roads were narrow and winding and the driving was slow but we got here safe and sound.  The scenery is beautiful with occasional glimpses of the lakes and rivers beside the road.
     It turns out that this campground does not have enough campsites for our group – they are mostly for seasonal campers.  Paul went through a list and found an alternative campground.  In fact, he changed two campgrounds for one and we now have another stop on our itinerary.
    After set up, we drove to Brookwood RV Resort and interviewed the owner for a possible stay there.  They are a very popular campground and she suggested we get our reservations in ASAP. The only thing we don’t like is that we wouldn’t all be together.  Everyone would be spread around the campground.
     We drove down the road to another campground owned by the U.S. Forest Service but it was closed.  We then drove into the town of Ticonderoga.  The Star Trek Museum and Fort Ticonderoga were both closed due to the pandemic.  We walked into a luncheonette across the street from the Star Trek Museum to see about a lunch for the group.  Our group could go to the museum at 10, go to lunch at 11 (it’s a little early but that’s what they want), then take a tour of the fort. The other option is to wait on lunch until 2 pm, which is kind of late.  I don’t like either option.
     As we were driving around, we spotted an old stone chapel in a graveyard.  We parked and went in to explore it.  It reminded me of the Viking church on display in DisneyWorld.
 24 Jun 2020 (Wed) – We drove over to Alexandria Bay this morning.  We stopped at U.S. Boat Tours which I had emailed to ask about a tour of the Singer and Boldt Castles.  We checked at the window to find out what time the shuttles and tours ran.  After getting the times, we decided to have the group go to the Boldt Castle at 10 a.m., come back to town, wander the shops, and have lunch.  At 2 p.m., we’ll have everyone come back and take the tour to the Singer Castle.
     Afterward, we drove around the area, checking out different places.  We also drove over to Wellesly Island and looked at the state parks and golf courses there.  We also stopped by the ice cream shoppe in front of the campground to find out about an ice cream social.  They sell 3-gallon containers of ice cream for $45.  The lady suggested butter pecan as an older person’s favorite flavor.
 23 Jun 2020 (Tue) – We packed up and left Stow at 9:15 a.m.  The drive was easy but took almost 4 hours.  When we arrived, the office was closed (we had checked in online), and a note on the door told campers to proceed to their assigned site. After set up, we left a message for the campground manager asking for a meeting.
     We drove to Clayton where Main Street was under construction and closed to traffic. We had seen a delightful hotel with a restaurant years ago that boasted the original Thousand Islands dressing had been invented there.  Unfortunately, the restaurant went out of business.  We spoke with a manager at Bella’s.  The restaurant was pleasant but she said they did not want to have a large group in to dine during their peak season.  She preferred to cater a meal of assorted wraps, salads and desert and suggested we eat at the Antique Boating Museum.
     We drove past both the Thousand Islands Museum and the Antique Boating Museum. They were both closed.  I sent emails asking about admission and meals. This is becoming very frustrating. Many of the businesses that I have sent emails to have not answered.
     When we got back to the campground, we met with the campground camp host.  Whe was very chatty and gave us lots of information about the area.  I have to follow up with an email so she can share it with the owner.
 22 Jun 2020 (Mon) – We drove to Seneca Falls today, noting the mileage to various areas along the way.  Everything we wanted to see was closed.  The National Women’s Hall of Fame, although the name was displayed on the front of the building on Main Street, is no longer there.  A woman in the visitor center told us it was relocated to a mill across the bridge but the coronavirus had stopped the set-up and opening of the center in its new location.  We drove over and saw that it will be 3 stories high and promises to be a good stop. There is also a National Women’s Rights Museum on Main Street and a couple of houses around Seneca Falls that people could tour if they wanted.
     Waterloo, birthplace of Memorial Day, is next to Seneca Falls.  There is an American Civil War Museum and memorial graveyard in town.  I think it would be appropriate to include it in our itinerary but Paul thinks it is too much.  If so, we will certainly have to suggest it as a stop on their own.
     We stopped at Ventosa Vineyards to see about a group lunch after the Seneca Falls tour.  There is a lovely deck area outside overlooking the lake.  The woman we spoke with suggested we send an email to the catering manager.
     We then stopped at Belhurst Castle.  They have a very attractive stone room with an intimate setting for lunch that also looks out at the lake.  The man we spoke with gave us a menu and suggested we coordinate with the catering manager.  I sent emails out to both managers.
 21 Jun 2020 (Sun) – We packed up and left Bath at 9:50 a.m.  It was only 95 miles to Red’s Twilight on the Erie RV Resort in Macedon, near Rochester.  We arrived about noon.  The office was closed.  Our registration packet was sitting on a table.  As we were preparing to drive to our campsite, the owner pulled up and led us to our place.  She was very friendly and gladly agreed to meet with us later.
     After set up, we cased the campground while walking the dog (it was too hot to let Sheba out – 90 degrees!) then went to the office and sat down with Barb. She said they would give us 10 percent off for military discount.  We were all sitting around the table with our masks on and it got very hot.  I was sweating like crazy.  I sure was glad when the meeting was over.
    We drove into Rochester to the George Eastman Museum.  It was closed.  We then drove to The Strong Museum of Play.  That was also closed.  It is a very large museum and looks like it will be fun.  We then drove to a restaurant recommended by Barb.  It was too far from The Strong to have people walk to it so we will have lunch in the museum then explore the museum.  There is a restaurant inside.
     On the way back to the campground, we stopped at Wegmans Supermarket.  What a huge store!  It had to be the largest supermarket we’ve ever been in.  And it was neat and clean and attractive. Everyone in the store was wearing a mask and the staff was actively wiping things down and making sure everything was sanitized.  
 20 Jun 2020 (Sat) – We drove to the Finger Lakes Boating Museum to meet the Administration Assistant and see the wine cellar where they host catered meals.  It is a lovely room and we are sure the group would like it.  We would probably have the tour of the museum first (there are 3 floors in the museum) then go to the bottom floor for a lunch.  
     After meeting with Nancy Wightman, we drove back to the KOA to meet with the Office Manager.  We sat outside at a picnic table, all in our masks, and discussed what they could offer the caravan next year.  Elaine is pregnant and will be out on maternity leave for a while.  This could cause a problem with coordination but we will see how it shakes out.
     While driving out and about, we stopped at a nearby fish hatchery.  It was closed but they had an observation pool with three kinds of trout in it – brown trout, brook trout, and rainbow trout.  What is weird is that the brook trout is the only native species to the area, yet the hatchery doesn’t raise them – only the other two species.
     We drove around to check out some other places.  There is a VA Center and National Cemetery a couple of miles down the road.  We rode around the cemetery looking at the gravestones.  We also gathered information about other services in the area – RV dealers, hospital, clinic, vets, foodstore, etc.
     We had a campfire tonight.  There is nothing more intoxicating that the smell of a campfire.
 19 Jun 2020 (Fri) – We packed up and left Chautauqua at 9:30.  The weather was good and the drive was pleasant.  We arrived at the Bath-Hammondsport KOA around noon.  They had sent an email asking us to pre-register/check-in.  I did that.  When we arrived, Paul stayed in the truck while I went in.  The clerk confirmed our information and gave us our map and paperwork. This is a lovely campground.  We have been here before and am sure the caravan will enjoy the place.
     We drove around town, trying to find a restaurant to have a welcome dinner in. The three restaurants we chose were all too small and two of them were still closed.  The thirde, the Stone Timber Inn, does catering.  We took the chef’s card and left.  On the way back to the campground, we stopped at an American Legion post and took a look at their hall.  We asked about renting the hall and the bartender gave us the rental agent’s phone number along with the commander’s number.  
     The campground is working hard to ensure people are having a good time, despite the spacing restriction from the coronavirus.  They delivered a packet to make s’mores with.  Folks were invited to make s’mores and post pictures on the facebook page. They also gave us free firewood. It made a delightful fire.  They also had a cornhole contest where people who had the game in their rig wee encouraged to play and report their results.
 18 Jun 2020 (Thu) – We went to the office at 9:30 a.m. to speak with the campground owner.  The doors were locked.  Some guy came out in to the hall, looked at us at the door then went back into his office. How rude!  I then called the office and the owner answered.  We sat at the table outside on the deck and interviewed the guy about the facilities and what he would do for the group. Satisfied, we told him we would send a check and wanted to leave him a book.  He said he was in his office.  When we told him the door was locked, he laughed and said he forgot to open it then stepped out and took the book.
    We drove 20 minutes to the Grape Discovery Center to see what it looked like.  It was closed.  We parked and walked around, peeking in the windows.  It looks like it would be a nice experience for our group next year, so we will include it in the itinerary.
     We found a laundromat in a house (ah, country life).  We put the clothes in the washer then drove to a Mazza’s Winery and had a flight of wines. Then we returned to the laundromat house and put the clothes in the dryer.  We walked around the town of Mayville while our clothes tumbled.
     After we collected the clothes, we drove to Jamestown to check out the Lucy-Desi Museum and the National Comedy Center.  Unfortunately, they, too, were both closed because of the pandemic. This situation is going to make it hard to develop a budget for the caravan.
     Paul located a WalMart and we did some food shopping.  We are starting a diet and needed to pick up all the right kinds of foods.  I just planned 4 days and the frig is chocked full.  I will not be able to shop a week at a time, that’s for sure.
     The check-in time for this campground is 6 p.m. (check-out is 5 p.m.).  We’ve never seen such a late time for check-in. We asked if the owner would put that aside for us when our group comes next year.  
 17 Jun 2020 (Wed) – We left Marblehead, Ohio, at 8:20 a.m.  It was a long drive today so we left early.  The drive was over 4 hours and took us along the lakeshore of Lake Erie, through Pennsylvania and into New York.  The campground looks like it was a KOA at one time. Our campsite is a pull through with a concrete surface.  The campground is on Chautauqua Lake.  The pool, the store, and all group centered places are closed due to the pandemic. You have to wear a mask in the office.
     After set up, we drove into Mayville to meet with the operations manager of the Chautauqua Belle paddlewheeler.  He was a young man who seemed to be coordinating a group tour for the first time. We went over is suggested schedule and agreed on an itinerary.  He will draw up a contract and send it to us.
     Then we drove down the road to the Chautauqua Institution.  It is one of the stops on the itinerary Mike put together and we wanted to look at it.  It’s not very clear why we should take a tour of the place.  It seems like a private community with very lovely homes on the lake. The roads are very narrow and seem to wind aimlessly around the neighborhood.  There is a beautiful old hotel where he suggested we have lunch. We wanted to get some information about the place but the visitor’s center was closed.  I’ll have to send an email.
     We drove to Jamestown and picked up food at Pet Smart.  Then Paul drove up the other side of the lake to the center where the interstate crossed the lake.  We got back to the campground at 5 p.m.
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fem-mem-mine · 5 years ago
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Every year, I wake up on March 8 to a flurry of tweets from men wishing me a “Happy International Women’s Day!”
And every year, I find myself thinking: Well, thanks, but is that it? Is that all the support for gender equality that you can muster? For the entire year? It’s a nice sentiment, but at a time when the gender pay gap means that women in the UK work for free for 67 days each year, Black women in the US are three to four times more likely to die in childbirth than white women, and trans women in the US are four times more likely to be murdered than cis women, it doesn’t quite do it for me.
So, to ensure that men aren’t missing direction, a few years ago I started compiling a list of easy actions that men can take to meaningfully support gender equality. Every year, I would post it on social media. Slowly, other women started contributing suggestions. So the list grew. And grew. It will likely never stop growing.
The suggestions cover many realms of life—from home, to work, to the ways we interact with strangers, to the language we use—but it is in no way comprehensive. Below, I’ve included a mere 100 entries out of the several hundred I’ve crowdsourced and personally compiled.
To the men reading: You may already do some of these things, and others you may not be in the position to do. But a good place to start is by, at the very least, reading the list through—in its entirety. And remember: These apply all year, not just during the annual 24 hours dedicated to half of the planet’s population.
1. Before explaining something to a woman, ask yourself if she might already understand. She may know more about it than you do.
2. Related: Never, ever try to explain feminism to a woman.
3. Trans women are women. Repeat that until you perish.
4. RESPECT PEOPLE’S PRONOUNS. It’s not hard.
5. Remember that fat women exist and aren’t all trying to get thin. Treat them with respect.
6. In fact, just never comment on a woman's body.
7. Be kind to women in customer service positions. Tip them extra. (But not in a creepy way.)
8. Trust women. When they teach you something, don't feel the need to go and check for yourself. And especially do not Google it in front of them.
9. Don’t maintain a double standard for… anything, ever.
10. CLOSE YOUR LEGS ON PUBLIC TRANSIT, OH MY GOD.
11. Trying to describe a woman positively? Say she's “talented,” “clever,” or “funny.” Not “gorgeous,” “sweet,” or “cute.”
12. Examine your language when talking about women. Get rid of “irrational,” “dramatic,” “bossy,” and “badgering” immediately.
13. Don't think to yourself, I describe men like that too. A) You probably don't. B) If you do, it's to criticize them for acting like a woman.
14. Do you love “fiery” Latina women? “Strong” Black women? “Mysterious” Asian women? Stop. Pick up a book on decolonial feminism. Read.
15. Stop calling women “feisty.” We don't need a special lady word for “has an opinion."
16. Recognize women's credibility when you introduce them. “Donna is lovely” is much less useful than “Donna knows shitloads about architecture.”
17. Think about how you describe the young women in your family. Celebrate them for being funny and smart, not for being pretty and compliant.
18. Examine the way you talk about women you’re attracted to. Fat women, old women, queer, trans, and powerful women are not your “guilty crush.”
19. Learn to praise a woman without demonizing other women. “You're not like other girls” is not a compliment. I want to be like other girls. Other girls are awesome.
20. Share writing by women. Don't paraphrase their work in your own Facebook post to show us all how smart or woke you are. I guarantee the woman said it better in the first place.
21. Buy sanitary pads and tampons and donate them to a homeless shelter. Just do it.
22. How much of what you are watching/reading/listening to was made by women? Gender balance your bookcase.
23. Feeling proud of your balanced bookcase? Are there women of color there? Trans, queer, and disabled women? Poor women? Always make sure you’re being intersectional.
24. Don't buy media that demeans women’s experiences, valorizes violence against women, or excludes them entirely from a cast. It's not enough to oppose those things. You have to actively make them unmarketable.
25. Pay attention to stories with nuanced female characters. It will be interesting, I promise.
26. If you read stories to a child, swap the genders.
27. Watch women's sport. And just call it “sports.”
28. Withdraw your support from sports clubs, institutions, and companies that protect and employ rapists and abusers.
29. Stop raving about Woody Allen. I don't care if he shits gold. Find a non-accused-abuser to fanboy over.
30. It's General Leia, not princess. The Doctor has a companion, not an assistant. It's Doctor Bartlett, not Mrs Madame First Lady.
31. Cast women in parts written for men. We know how to rule kingdoms, go to war, be, not be, and wait for Godot.
32. Pay for porn.
33. Recognize that sex work is work. Be an advocate for and ally to sex workers without speaking for them.
34. Share political hot takes from women as well as men. They might not be as widely accessible, so look for them.
35. Understand that it was never “about ethics in journalism.”
36. Speak less in meetings today to make space for your women colleagues to share their thoughts. If you're leading the meeting, make sure women are being heard as much as men.
37. If a woman makes a good point, say, “That was a good point.” Don't repeat her point and take credit for it.
38. Promote women. Their leadership styles may be different than yours. That's probably a good thing.
39. Recruit women on the same salary as men. Even if they don't ask for it.
40. Open doors for women with caring responsibilities by offering flexible employment contracts.
41. If you meet a man and a woman at work, do not assume the man is the superior for literally no reason.
42. If you're wrongly assumed to be more experienced than a woman colleague, correct that person and pass the platform to the woman who knows more.
43. Make a round of tea for the office.
44. Wash it up.
45. If you find you're only interviewing men for a role, rewrite the job listing so that it’s more welcoming to women.
46. Make sure you have women on your interview panel.
47. Tell female colleagues what your salary is.
48. Make sure there's childcare at your events.
49. Don't schedule breakfast meetings during the school run.
50. If you manage a team, make sure that your employees know that you recognize period pain and cystitis as legitimate reasons for a sick day.
51. If you have a strict boss (or mom or teacher) who is a woman, she is not a “bitch.” Grow up.
52. Expect a woman to do the stuff that's in her job description. Not the other miscellaneous shit you don't know how to do yourself.
53. Refuse to speak on an all-male panel.
54. In a Q&A session, only put your hand up if you have A QUESTION. Others didn’t attend to listen to you.
55. If you have friends or family members who use slurs or discriminate against trans or non-binary people, sit them down and explain why they must stop. (This goes for cis women, too.)
56. If you have friends or family members who use slurs or discriminate against women of other races, sit them down and explain why they must stop. (This goes for white women, too.)
57. If you see women with their hands up, put yours down. This can be taken as a metaphor for a lot of things. Think about it.
58. Raising a feminist daughter means she's going to disagree with you. And probably be right. Feel proud, not threatened.
59. Teach your sons to listen to girls, give them space, believe them, and elevate them.
60. Dads, buy your daughter tampons, make her hot water bottles, wash her bras. Show her that her body isn't something to be ashamed of.
61. But dads, do not try to iron her bras. This is a mistake you will only make once.
62. Examine how domestic labor is divided in your home. Who does the cleaning, the childcare, the organizing, the meal budgeting? Sons, this goes for you, too.
63. Learn how to do domestic tasks to a high standard. “I'd only do it wrong” is a bullshit excuse.
64. Never again comment on how long it takes a woman to get ready. WE ARE TRYING TO MEET THE RIDICULOUS STANDARDS OF A SYSTEM YOU BENEFIT FROM.
65. Challenge the patriarchs in your religious group when they enable the oppression of women.
66. Challenge the patriarchs in your secular movement when they enable the oppression of women.
67. Trust women's religious choices. Don't pretend to liberate them just so you can criticise their beliefs.
68. Examine who books your trips, arranges outings, organizes Christmas, buys birthday cards. Is it a woman? IS IT?
69. And if it is actually you, a man, don't even dare get in touch with me looking for your medal.
70. Take stock of the emotional labor you expect from women. Do you turn to the women around you for emotional support and give nothing in return?
71. Remember that loving your mom/sister/girlfriend is not the same as giving up your own privilege to progress equality for women. And that gender inequality extends beyond the women in your direct social group.
72. Don’t assume that all women are attracted to men.
73. Don’t assume that a woman in public wants to talk to you just because she’s in public.
74. If a woman tells you she was raped, assaulted, or abused, don't ask her for proof. Ask how you can support her.
75. If you see a friend or colleague being inappropriate to a woman, call him out. You will survive the awkwardness, I promise.
76. Repeat after me: Always. Hold. Men. Accountable. For. Their. Actions.
77. Do not walk too close to a woman late at night. That shit can be scary.
78. If you see a woman being followed or otherwise bothered by a stranger, stick around to make sure she’s safe.
79. This should go without saying: Do not yell unsolicited “compliments” at women on the street. Or anywhere.
80. If you are a queer man, recognize that your sexuality doesn’t exclude you from potential misogyny.
81. If you are a queer man, recognize that your queer women or non-binary friends may not feel comfortable in a male-dominated space, even if it’s dominated by queer men.
82. Be happy to have women friends without needing them to want to sleep with you. The “friend zone” is not a thing. We do not owe you sex.
83. Remember that you can lack consent in situations not involving sex—such as when pursuing uninterested women or forcing a hug on a colleague.
84. Champion sex positive women but don't expect them to have sex with you.
85. Trust a woman to know her own body. If she says she won't enjoy part of your sexual repertoire, do not try to convince her otherwise.
86. Be sensitive to nonverbal cues from women, especially around sex. We’re not just being awkward for no reason. (You read “Cat Person,” didn’t you?)
87. It is not cute to try to persuade a woman to have sex with you. EVER. AT ALL. Go home.
88. Same goes for pressuring women to have sex without a condom. Go. Home. And masturbate.
89. Accidentally impregnated a women who doesn't want a kid? Abortions cost money. Pay for half of it.
90. Accidentally came inside a woman without protection? Plan B is expensive. Pay for all of it.
91. Get STD tested. Regularly. Without having to be asked.
92. Examine your opinion on abortion. Then put it in a box. Because, honestly, it's completely irrelevant.
93. Understand that disabled women are whole, sexual human beings. Listen to and respect them.
94. Understand that not all women have periods or vaginas.
95. Believe women's pain. Periods hurt. Endometriosis is real. Polycystic ovaries, vaginal pain, cystitis. These things are real. Hysteria isn’t.
96. If a woman accidentally bleeds on you, try your absolute best to just keep your shit together.
97. Lobby your elected officials to implement high quality sex education in schools.
98. Uplift young Black and Indigenous girls at every possible opportunity. No excuses.
99. Do not ever assume you know what it’s like.
100. Mainly, just listen to women. Listen to us and believe us. It’s the only place to start if you actually want all women to have a “Happy International Women’s Day.”
0 notes
lovefuturisticmgtow · 5 years ago
Text
My last two mind cells gearing up for this remaining episode.
On the season finale of 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After?two couples settle into parenthood, one couple probably breaks up, another couple undoubtedly breaks up and one couple even manages to end this season with out having set foot in the identical country even as soon as during these 12 episodes. 
We kick off this episode in Las Vegas, moments after Larissa accused Colt(ee) of being in love with Mother Debbie after which fat-shamed him before storming out of the home in her high-heeled combat boots.
AS.YOU.DO
After taking a fast break on the curb outdoors, Larissa re-enters the house solely to keep the mother-loving accusations coming and to name Colt a “dirty piggy” and a “fats loser.”
We’ve been asking ourselves the same factor all season…
After a quick dialog, Colt refuses to face up to Debbie on Larissa’s behalf and finally tells her he’s completed with their relationship. 
“I don’t care anymore, I’m finished. I don’t like you. I’m uninterested in you. I’m gonna divorce you,” Colt tells Larissa. 
Larissa accuses Colt of threatening her and then tells him to “go f**okay” Deb, before strolling out the entrance door, but once more.
So, primarily, Larissa referred to as her husband a motherf**ker, as most of the wives of the present have finished earlier than. Nevertheless, she’s the only one who meant it actually.
Next we head to Tampa the place Elizabeth and Andrei are packing up to take child Andrea Eleanor residence from the hospital. Because Andrei was so preoccupied with work…ing out and avoiding any real obligations, he forgot to order Eleanor’s automotive seat, leaving them caught utilizing a free one offered by the hospital. 
Elizabeth and Andrei mooching one thing off of another person?! I find that onerous to consider…
” …and in addition what Chuck has.”
Ordinarily these two can be all about that freebie life; nevertheless, Elizabeth thinks the automotive seat is about as pointless as Andrei attending a job truthful so she complains about it on the best way house.
Subsequent we examine in with Ashleywho is back at house after being hospitalized for kidney failure. Ashley explains that her health scare stemmed from her having lupus, which tends to flare up throughout occasions of stress (i.e. her complete marriage to Jay). We then see Jay mosey into the “Mr. & Mrs.”-decorated bed room, confirming that he’s back in Pennsylvania and back in Ashley’s life, despite Ashley having simply filed for divorce. Ashley says she’s glad Jay is there to assist her, but she lets him know he’s not off the hook just but, especially if he tries to go inside 300 ft of a barbershop rest room once more. 
“Highschool courtyards aren’t off limits though, right?”
Later, Ashley and Jay visit Ashley’s divorce lawyer to withdraw the divorce submitting. Ashley’s lawyer is stunned by the news and nervous that Ashley is making a rash determination… (or perhaps she stated she thinks Ashley’s determination is going to end up giving her a rash? I imply…with all that loo bangin’ Jay’s doing, it might happen!) 
Down in Miami, Russ goes to the airport to select up his mother Pattywho might or might not have simply traveled a whole lot of miles solely to seek out out she’s not allowed to hold her grandson. Russ provides Patty some truthful warning of the state of affairs she’s strolling into and Patty isn’t too excited to listen to that the closest she could possibly get Axel is altering out the bag on his Diaper Genie. 
“I didn’t come right here to hand-wash child bottles and Pao’s bikinis, you recognize.”
Pao is sort of the treat on her personal, however once you connect a child to her, she’s downright obnoxious.
As soon as Russ and Patty arrive house, they go upstairs to greet PaolaGladys and the elusive child Axel, who’s nursing in the meanwhile. Patty decides to keep her distance to be respectful—at the least for now. 
“Look but don’t touch, Patty.”
Talking of people holding their distance… we next examine in with Nicole who is cruising some journey sites for low cost flights so she will visit Azan in Morocco, whether Azan needs her to or not. (Spoiler alert: he doesn’t.) 
Will this go terribly flawed:
After reserving a flight for herself and Might, Nicole calls Azan to inform him the excellent news and she or he does her greatest to get him pumped concerning the two of them getting married throughout her go to. As anticipated, Azan provides his greatest efficiency of a guy who isn’t about to push his wedding ceremony for a fourth time. 
We’ve got to acknowledge the quote on Nicole’s telephone that is serving some MAJOR foreshadowing…
Nicole’s mother Robbalee sits down together with her and asks what the hell she’s considering she and Azan plan to do for money but Nicole tells her not to fear about it. Robbalee suggests Nicole and Azan reside off the supposed store Azan opened, however Nicole lastly admits to her mom that the whole retailer story was bogus.
Insert gasp right here.
But to not worry, Robbalee! Nicole says Azan “has been performing some fishing stuff” these days and we’re positive he’s not referring to the cat fishing type.
After Nicole talks about eager to have babies with Azan, her phase closes with a message telling viewers that her trip to Morocco was finally cancelled. 
We’ll offer you a second to recover from the shock…
The levels of grief one goes via when watching Nicole and Azan’s scenes.
Back at Elizabeth and Andrei’s house, their monetary backer Chuck stops by to satisfy baby Eleanor and in addition to take a look at the digs he paid for. While Chuck will get acquainted with the most recent member of the family, he drills Andrei on his contributions as a father, which Andrei declares will probably be little or no because he says childcare is Elizabeth’s “division,” not his. 
“A job you refuse to do? I can hardly consider it!”
Chuck reminds Andrei that Eleanor is another mouth to feed and it’s time for him to do one thing to earn some cash. Andrei assures Chuck that he’s doing “the handyman” job and that every part can be simply positive. 
Now let’s not get ahead of ourselves…
Andrei tells Chuck to thoughts his own enterprise and Chuck says that he’ll mind his enterprise, so long as Elizabeth doesn’t maintain hitting him as much as tap into his checking account from stated enterprise. 
Back at Russ and Pao’s home, Gladys and Patty cling around and stare at their grandson from throughout the room until Patty lastly musters up the courage to ask if she will maintain him. Surprisingly, Pao caves and passes Axel to his Grammy and ultimately Gladys will get a flip as nicely. 
We completely get it, Pao… nothing screams “danger” like two middle-aged grandmas armed with presents and hugs.
Seeing Axel together with his grandmothers makes Pao emotional but the heartwarming moments quickly passes when Russ by chance drops a dish within the sink and the 2 start arguing. 
It’s good that issues are back to regular…
Once you understand motherhood didn’t rob you of your fiery Brazilian temper in any case.
It’s virtually time for Andrei’s dad to go again to Moldova and, whereas Andrei is gloomy to see him go, he reminds Elizabeth they’ll be visiting soon for his or her second wedding ceremony. Being that the couple is low on funds (as a result of someone nonetheless refuses to make any actual contribution), Elizabeth hoped this plan can be filed beneath “Issues That Will By no means Occur,” right between Andrei being named Employee of the Month and Chuck being paid back in-full.
Nevertheless, Andrei says the wedding continues to be very much occurring and can only value a measly $15,000 or so.
Ol’ Chucky higher open up a credit account at regardless of the Moldovan equal of David’s Bridal is…
���Seize a few of your dad’s American dollars and prepare to have a very good time.”
Down within the Dominican Republic, it’s virtually time for The Husband Pedro and The Wife Chantel to fly back to Atlanta, which suggests Pedro has to say goodbye to his mom and sister. Chantel opts to not say goodbye to The Family Pedro herself, given the destructive run-ins she’s had with them throughout her trip, which Pedro—- the man who likes to grind on ladies who aren’t his spouse—says is disrespectful.
Once Pedro and Chantel are back in Atlanta, Chantel is bummed that Pedro’s every day routine of enjoying video games and avoiding dialog has resumed. Pedro says he’s bitter that Chantel didn’t say goodbye to his household within the Dominican Republic, while Chantel says she nonetheless has reservations due to what Obed informed her. 
“We truly managed to stretch this argument via the complete season, didn’t we?”
Chantel asks that Pedro come clear and inform her if he did the truth is simply use her to get a Green Card, but Pedro continues to deny the claims. Pedro compares Chantel to a cockatoo as a result of he says she retains asking the identical thing again and again. He tells Chantel if she doesn’t need to be with him, she should just depart and discover somebody that makes her glad… which is evidently exactly what he plans to do himself. 
“When I’ve my Green Card, the ten years, should you no fix your angle with me… Hey, it gonna be over. I offer you time,” he says. 
“Did I just say that out loud?”
Chantel warns Pedro to not threaten her after which goes to her bedroom to cry whereas Pedro stands within the doorway doing his greatest to win the argument, despite that lame cockatoo remark he just made. 
With Russ and Pao’s moms again at their respective houses, the household of three heads out for a seashore day that doesn’t contain Pao rolling around in the sand for a photographer sporting only a smile. 
“Don’t get any ideas, woman.”
Whereas sitting at the seashore, Pao complains about Russ having to travel for work. (Hey– no less than her co-star Elizabeth doesn’t have that drawback with Andrei!)
Russ reminds her that he had one other job opportunity in Oklahoma that wouldn’t have required him to journey, but Pao didn’t need him to simply accept it. Pao tells Russ she needs to go back to modeling ultimately, however she will’t do it if he isn’t there. Russ assures Pao that with some teamwork, she gained’t have to give up her dream of being photographed nude in neon physique paint and that they gained’t have to maneuver again to the Sooner State to make it occur. 
We head to Vegas for our final stop on this episode where we find Colt shoving Larissa’s bedazzled frocks right into a busted-up cardboard field as a result of, you guessed it: Larissa was arrested. AGAIN. 
We name this piece: “How I Spent My American Trip.”
Colt explains that he and Larissa have been doing what they do greatest (arguing like wild animals) when things progressed, leaving Debbie no selection but to call the police. While Colt is packing up Larissa’s membership clothes, Debbie is available in to help and ensure Larissa didn’t snag any of her crochet turtlenecks while staying at their home. 
Debbie is apprehensive that Colt resents her for what occurred with him and Larissa, however Colt assures her he doesn’t. Debbie then provides us a strong Larissa impression when asking “Coltee” what he’ll do if Larissa tries to get back along with him. 
“Coltee’s lifeless. I’m not there for her,” Colt tells Debbie. 
Colt says whereas his marriage is over, he fears Larissa should find yourself receiving her Green Card, leaving him liable for her for the subsequent 10 years… and putting a critical damper on he and Debbie’s mother-son margarita nights. 
“Mark my phrases, we gained’t be sharing our table-side guacamole with anyone but one another.”
To learn The Ashley’s previous ’90 Day Fiancé: Fortunately Ever After?’ recaps, click right here! 
(Photographs: TLC) 
Tags: 90 Day Fiance, 90 Day Fiance Recaps, 90 Day Fiance: Fortunately Ever After?, 90 Day Fiance: Fortunately Ever After? Season 4, Andrei Castravet, Ashley Martson, Azan Tefou, Chantel Everett, Colt Johnson, Debbie Johnson, Elizabeth Potthast, Jay Smith, Larissa Dos Santos Limas, Nicole Nafziger, Paola Mayfield, Pedro Jimeno, Recaps, Russ Mayfield, Season Finales
The post A Change of Heart, A Cancelled Wedding & Another Arrest – The Ashley’s Reality Roundup appeared first on Spouting-Tech.
0 notes
7niichan-stuff-blog · 5 years ago
Text
My last two mind cells gearing up for this remaining episode.
On the season finale of 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After?two couples settle into parenthood, one couple probably breaks up, another couple undoubtedly breaks up and one couple even manages to end this season with out having set foot in the identical country even as soon as during these 12 episodes. 
We kick off this episode in Las Vegas, moments after Larissa accused Colt(ee) of being in love with Mother Debbie after which fat-shamed him before storming out of the home in her high-heeled combat boots.
AS.YOU.DO
After taking a fast break on the curb outdoors, Larissa re-enters the house solely to keep the mother-loving accusations coming and to name Colt a “dirty piggy” and a “fats loser.”
We’ve been asking ourselves the same factor all season…
After a quick dialog, Colt refuses to face up to Debbie on Larissa’s behalf and finally tells her he’s completed with their relationship. 
“I don’t care anymore, I’m finished. I don’t like you. I’m uninterested in you. I’m gonna divorce you,” Colt tells Larissa. 
Larissa accuses Colt of threatening her and then tells him to “go f**okay” Deb, before strolling out the entrance door, but once more.
So, primarily, Larissa referred to as her husband a motherf**ker, as most of the wives of the present have finished earlier than. Nevertheless, she’s the only one who meant it actually.
Next we head to Tampa the place Elizabeth and Andrei are packing up to take child Andrea Eleanor residence from the hospital. Because Andrei was so preoccupied with work…ing out and avoiding any real obligations, he forgot to order Eleanor’s automotive seat, leaving them caught utilizing a free one offered by the hospital. 
Elizabeth and Andrei mooching one thing off of another person?! I find that onerous to consider…
” …and in addition what Chuck has.”
Ordinarily these two can be all about that freebie life; nevertheless, Elizabeth thinks the automotive seat is about as pointless as Andrei attending a job truthful so she complains about it on the best way house.
Subsequent we examine in with Ashleywho is back at house after being hospitalized for kidney failure. Ashley explains that her health scare stemmed from her having lupus, which tends to flare up throughout occasions of stress (i.e. her complete marriage to Jay). We then see Jay mosey into the “Mr. & Mrs.”-decorated bed room, confirming that he’s back in Pennsylvania and back in Ashley’s life, despite Ashley having simply filed for divorce. Ashley says she’s glad Jay is there to assist her, but she lets him know he’s not off the hook just but, especially if he tries to go inside 300 ft of a barbershop rest room once more. 
“Highschool courtyards aren’t off limits though, right?”
Later, Ashley and Jay visit Ashley’s divorce lawyer to withdraw the divorce submitting. Ashley’s lawyer is stunned by the news and nervous that Ashley is making a rash determination… (or perhaps she stated she thinks Ashley’s determination is going to end up giving her a rash? I imply…with all that loo bangin’ Jay’s doing, it might happen!) 
Down in Miami, Russ goes to the airport to select up his mother Pattywho might or might not have simply traveled a whole lot of miles solely to seek out out she’s not allowed to hold her grandson. Russ provides Patty some truthful warning of the state of affairs she’s strolling into and Patty isn’t too excited to listen to that the closest she could possibly get Axel is altering out the bag on his Diaper Genie. 
“I didn’t come right here to hand-wash child bottles and Pao’s bikinis, you recognize.”
Pao is sort of the treat on her personal, however once you connect a child to her, she’s downright obnoxious.
As soon as Russ and Patty arrive house, they go upstairs to greet PaolaGladys and the elusive child Axel, who’s nursing in the meanwhile. Patty decides to keep her distance to be respectful—at the least for now. 
“Look but don’t touch, Patty.”
Talking of people holding their distance… we next examine in with Nicole who is cruising some journey sites for low cost flights so she will visit Azan in Morocco, whether Azan needs her to or not. (Spoiler alert: he doesn’t.) 
Will this go terribly flawed:
After reserving a flight for herself and Might, Nicole calls Azan to inform him the excellent news and she or he does her greatest to get him pumped concerning the two of them getting married throughout her go to. As anticipated, Azan provides his greatest efficiency of a guy who isn’t about to push his wedding ceremony for a fourth time. 
We’ve got to acknowledge the quote on Nicole’s telephone that is serving some MAJOR foreshadowing…
Nicole’s mother Robbalee sits down together with her and asks what the hell she’s considering she and Azan plan to do for money but Nicole tells her not to fear about it. Robbalee suggests Nicole and Azan reside off the supposed store Azan opened, however Nicole lastly admits to her mom that the whole retailer story was bogus.
Insert gasp right here.
But to not worry, Robbalee! Nicole says Azan “has been performing some fishing stuff” these days and we’re positive he’s not referring to the cat fishing type.
After Nicole talks about eager to have babies with Azan, her phase closes with a message telling viewers that her trip to Morocco was finally cancelled. 
We’ll offer you a second to recover from the shock…
The levels of grief one goes via when watching Nicole and Azan’s scenes.
Back at Elizabeth and Andrei’s house, their monetary backer Chuck stops by to satisfy baby Eleanor and in addition to take a look at the digs he paid for. While Chuck will get acquainted with the most recent member of the family, he drills Andrei on his contributions as a father, which Andrei declares will probably be little or no because he says childcare is Elizabeth’s “division,” not his. 
“A job you refuse to do? I can hardly consider it!”
Chuck reminds Andrei that Eleanor is another mouth to feed and it’s time for him to do one thing to earn some cash. Andrei assures Chuck that he’s doing “the handyman” job and that every part can be simply positive. 
Now let’s not get ahead of ourselves…
Andrei tells Chuck to thoughts his own enterprise and Chuck says that he’ll mind his enterprise, so long as Elizabeth doesn’t maintain hitting him as much as tap into his checking account from stated enterprise. 
Back at Russ and Pao’s home, Gladys and Patty cling around and stare at their grandson from throughout the room until Patty lastly musters up the courage to ask if she will maintain him. Surprisingly, Pao caves and passes Axel to his Grammy and ultimately Gladys will get a flip as nicely. 
We completely get it, Pao… nothing screams “danger” like two middle-aged grandmas armed with presents and hugs.
Seeing Axel together with his grandmothers makes Pao emotional but the heartwarming moments quickly passes when Russ by chance drops a dish within the sink and the 2 start arguing. 
It’s good that issues are back to regular…
Once you understand motherhood didn’t rob you of your fiery Brazilian temper in any case.
It’s virtually time for Andrei’s dad to go again to Moldova and, whereas Andrei is gloomy to see him go, he reminds Elizabeth they’ll be visiting soon for his or her second wedding ceremony. Being that the couple is low on funds (as a result of someone nonetheless refuses to make any actual contribution), Elizabeth hoped this plan can be filed beneath “Issues That Will By no means Occur,” right between Andrei being named Employee of the Month and Chuck being paid back in-full.
Nevertheless, Andrei says the wedding continues to be very much occurring and can only value a measly $15,000 or so.
Ol’ Chucky higher open up a credit account at regardless of the Moldovan equal of David’s Bridal is…
“Seize a few of your dad’s American dollars and prepare to have a very good time.”
Down within the Dominican Republic, it’s virtually time for The Husband Pedro and The Wife Chantel to fly back to Atlanta, which suggests Pedro has to say goodbye to his mom and sister. Chantel opts to not say goodbye to The Family Pedro herself, given the destructive run-ins she’s had with them throughout her trip, which Pedro—- the man who likes to grind on ladies who aren’t his spouse—says is disrespectful.
Once Pedro and Chantel are back in Atlanta, Chantel is bummed that Pedro’s every day routine of enjoying video games and avoiding dialog has resumed. Pedro says he’s bitter that Chantel didn’t say goodbye to his household within the Dominican Republic, while Chantel says she nonetheless has reservations due to what Obed informed her. 
“We truly managed to stretch this argument via the complete season, didn’t we?”
Chantel asks that Pedro come clear and inform her if he did the truth is simply use her to get a Green Card, but Pedro continues to deny the claims. Pedro compares Chantel to a cockatoo as a result of he says she retains asking the identical thing again and again. He tells Chantel if she doesn’t need to be with him, she should just depart and discover somebody that makes her glad… which is evidently exactly what he plans to do himself. 
“When I’ve my Green Card, the ten years, should you no fix your angle with me… Hey, it gonna be over. I offer you time,” he says. 
“Did I just say that out loud?”
Chantel warns Pedro to not threaten her after which goes to her bedroom to cry whereas Pedro stands within the doorway doing his greatest to win the argument, despite that lame cockatoo remark he just made. 
With Russ and Pao’s moms again at their respective houses, the household of three heads out for a seashore day that doesn’t contain Pao rolling around in the sand for a photographer sporting only a smile. 
“Don’t get any ideas, woman.”
Whereas sitting at the seashore, Pao complains about Russ having to travel for work. (Hey– no less than her co-star Elizabeth doesn’t have that drawback with Andrei!)
Russ reminds her that he had one other job opportunity in Oklahoma that wouldn’t have required him to journey, but Pao didn’t need him to simply accept it. Pao tells Russ she needs to go back to modeling ultimately, however she will’t do it if he isn’t there. Russ assures Pao that with some teamwork, she gained’t have to give up her dream of being photographed nude in neon physique paint and that they gained’t have to maneuver again to the Sooner State to make it occur. 
We head to Vegas for our final stop on this episode where we find Colt shoving Larissa’s bedazzled frocks right into a busted-up cardboard field as a result of, you guessed it: Larissa was arrested. AGAIN. 
We name this piece: “How I Spent My American Trip.”
Colt explains that he and Larissa have been doing what they do greatest (arguing like wild animals) when things progressed, leaving Debbie no selection but to call the police. While Colt is packing up Larissa’s membership clothes, Debbie is available in to help and ensure Larissa didn’t snag any of her crochet turtlenecks while staying at their home. 
Debbie is apprehensive that Colt resents her for what occurred with him and Larissa, however Colt assures her he doesn’t. Debbie then provides us a strong Larissa impression when asking “Coltee” what he’ll do if Larissa tries to get back along with him. 
“Coltee’s lifeless. I’m not there for her,” Colt tells Debbie. 
Colt says whereas his marriage is over, he fears Larissa should find yourself receiving her Green Card, leaving him liable for her for the subsequent 10 years… and putting a critical damper on he and Debbie’s mother-son margarita nights. 
“Mark my phrases, we gained’t be sharing our table-side guacamole with anyone but one another.”
To learn The Ashley’s previous ’90 Day Fiancé: Fortunately Ever After?’ recaps, click right here! 
(Photographs: TLC) 
Tags: 90 Day Fiance, 90 Day Fiance Recaps, 90 Day Fiance: Fortunately Ever After?, 90 Day Fiance: Fortunately Ever After? Season 4, Andrei Castravet, Ashley Martson, Azan Tefou, Chantel Everett, Colt Johnson, Debbie Johnson, Elizabeth Potthast, Jay Smith, Larissa Dos Santos Limas, Nicole Nafziger, Paola Mayfield, Pedro Jimeno, Recaps, Russ Mayfield, Season Finales
The post A Change of Heart, A Cancelled Wedding & Another Arrest – The Ashley’s Reality Roundup appeared first on Spouting-Tech.
0 notes
wildehorroruniverse · 5 years ago
Text
My last two mind cells gearing up for this remaining episode.
On the season finale of 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After?two couples settle into parenthood, one couple probably breaks up, another couple undoubtedly breaks up and one couple even manages to end this season with out having set foot in the identical country even as soon as during these 12 episodes. 
We kick off this episode in Las Vegas, moments after Larissa accused Colt(ee) of being in love with Mother Debbie after which fat-shamed him before storming out of the home in her high-heeled combat boots.
AS.YOU.DO
After taking a fast break on the curb outdoors, Larissa re-enters the house solely to keep the mother-loving accusations coming and to name Colt a “dirty piggy” and a “fats loser.”
We’ve been asking ourselves the same factor all season…
After a quick dialog, Colt refuses to face up to Debbie on Larissa’s behalf and finally tells her he’s completed with their relationship. 
“I don’t care anymore, I’m finished. I don’t like you. I’m uninterested in you. I’m gonna divorce you,” Colt tells Larissa. 
Larissa accuses Colt of threatening her and then tells him to “go f**okay” Deb, before strolling out the entrance door, but once more.
So, primarily, Larissa referred to as her husband a motherf**ker, as most of the wives of the present have finished earlier than. Nevertheless, she’s the only one who meant it actually.
Next we head to Tampa the place Elizabeth and Andrei are packing up to take child Andrea Eleanor residence from the hospital. Because Andrei was so preoccupied with work…ing out and avoiding any real obligations, he forgot to order Eleanor’s automotive seat, leaving them caught utilizing a free one offered by the hospital. 
Elizabeth and Andrei mooching one thing off of another person?! I find that onerous to consider…
” …and in addition what Chuck has.”
Ordinarily these two can be all about that freebie life; nevertheless, Elizabeth thinks the automotive seat is about as pointless as Andrei attending a job truthful so she complains about it on the best way house.
Subsequent we examine in with Ashleywho is back at house after being hospitalized for kidney failure. Ashley explains that her health scare stemmed from her having lupus, which tends to flare up throughout occasions of stress (i.e. her complete marriage to Jay). We then see Jay mosey into the “Mr. & Mrs.”-decorated bed room, confirming that he’s back in Pennsylvania and back in Ashley’s life, despite Ashley having simply filed for divorce. Ashley says she’s glad Jay is there to assist her, but she lets him know he’s not off the hook just but, especially if he tries to go inside 300 ft of a barbershop rest room once more. 
“Highschool courtyards aren’t off limits though, right?”
Later, Ashley and Jay visit Ashley’s divorce lawyer to withdraw the divorce submitting. Ashley’s lawyer is stunned by the news and nervous that Ashley is making a rash determination… (or perhaps she stated she thinks Ashley’s determination is going to end up giving her a rash? I imply…with all that loo bangin’ Jay’s doing, it might happen!) 
Down in Miami, Russ goes to the airport to select up his mother Pattywho might or might not have simply traveled a whole lot of miles solely to seek out out she’s not allowed to hold her grandson. Russ provides Patty some truthful warning of the state of affairs she’s strolling into and Patty isn’t too excited to listen to that the closest she could possibly get Axel is altering out the bag on his Diaper Genie. 
“I didn’t come right here to hand-wash child bottles and Pao’s bikinis, you recognize.”
Pao is sort of the treat on her personal, however once you connect a child to her, she’s downright obnoxious.
As soon as Russ and Patty arrive house, they go upstairs to greet PaolaGladys and the elusive child Axel, who’s nursing in the meanwhile. Patty decides to keep her distance to be respectful—at the least for now. 
“Look but don’t touch, Patty.”
Talking of people holding their distance… we next examine in with Nicole who is cruising some journey sites for low cost flights so she will visit Azan in Morocco, whether Azan needs her to or not. (Spoiler alert: he doesn’t.) 
Will this go terribly flawed:
After reserving a flight for herself and Might, Nicole calls Azan to inform him the excellent news and she or he does her greatest to get him pumped concerning the two of them getting married throughout her go to. As anticipated, Azan provides his greatest efficiency of a guy who isn’t about to push his wedding ceremony for a fourth time. 
We’ve got to acknowledge the quote on Nicole’s telephone that is serving some MAJOR foreshadowing…
Nicole’s mother Robbalee sits down together with her and asks what the hell she’s considering she and Azan plan to do for money but Nicole tells her not to fear about it. Robbalee suggests Nicole and Azan reside off the supposed store Azan opened, however Nicole lastly admits to her mom that the whole retailer story was bogus.
Insert gasp right here.
But to not worry, Robbalee! Nicole says Azan “has been performing some fishing stuff” these days and we’re positive he’s not referring to the cat fishing type.
After Nicole talks about eager to have babies with Azan, her phase closes with a message telling viewers that her trip to Morocco was finally cancelled. 
We’ll offer you a second to recover from the shock…
The levels of grief one goes via when watching Nicole and Azan’s scenes.
Back at Elizabeth and Andrei’s house, their monetary backer Chuck stops by to satisfy baby Eleanor and in addition to take a look at the digs he paid for. While Chuck will get acquainted with the most recent member of the family, he drills Andrei on his contributions as a father, which Andrei declares will probably be little or no because he says childcare is Elizabeth’s “division,” not his. 
“A job you refuse to do? I can hardly consider it!”
Chuck reminds Andrei that Eleanor is another mouth to feed and it’s time for him to do one thing to earn some cash. Andrei assures Chuck that he’s doing “the handyman” job and that every part can be simply positive. 
Now let’s not get ahead of ourselves…
Andrei tells Chuck to thoughts his own enterprise and Chuck says that he’ll mind his enterprise, so long as Elizabeth doesn’t maintain hitting him as much as tap into his checking account from stated enterprise. 
Back at Russ and Pao’s home, Gladys and Patty cling around and stare at their grandson from throughout the room until Patty lastly musters up the courage to ask if she will maintain him. Surprisingly, Pao caves and passes Axel to his Grammy and ultimately Gladys will get a flip as nicely. 
We completely get it, Pao… nothing screams “danger” like two middle-aged grandmas armed with presents and hugs.
Seeing Axel together with his grandmothers makes Pao emotional but the heartwarming moments quickly passes when Russ by chance drops a dish within the sink and the 2 start arguing. 
It’s good that issues are back to regular…
Once you understand motherhood didn’t rob you of your fiery Brazilian temper in any case.
It’s virtually time for Andrei’s dad to go again to Moldova and, whereas Andrei is gloomy to see him go, he reminds Elizabeth they’ll be visiting soon for his or her second wedding ceremony. Being that the couple is low on funds (as a result of someone nonetheless refuses to make any actual contribution), Elizabeth hoped this plan can be filed beneath “Issues That Will By no means Occur,” right between Andrei being named Employee of the Month and Chuck being paid back in-full.
Nevertheless, Andrei says the wedding continues to be very much occurring and can only value a measly $15,000 or so.
Ol’ Chucky higher open up a credit account at regardless of the Moldovan equal of David’s Bridal is…
“Seize a few of your dad’s American dollars and prepare to have a very good time.”
Down within the Dominican Republic, it’s virtually time for The Husband Pedro and The Wife Chantel to fly back to Atlanta, which suggests Pedro has to say goodbye to his mom and sister. Chantel opts to not say goodbye to The Family Pedro herself, given the destructive run-ins she’s had with them throughout her trip, which Pedro—- the man who likes to grind on ladies who aren’t his spouse—says is disrespectful.
Once Pedro and Chantel are back in Atlanta, Chantel is bummed that Pedro’s every day routine of enjoying video games and avoiding dialog has resumed. Pedro says he’s bitter that Chantel didn’t say goodbye to his household within the Dominican Republic, while Chantel says she nonetheless has reservations due to what Obed informed her. 
“We truly managed to stretch this argument via the complete season, didn’t we?”
Chantel asks that Pedro come clear and inform her if he did the truth is simply use her to get a Green Card, but Pedro continues to deny the claims. Pedro compares Chantel to a cockatoo as a result of he says she retains asking the identical thing again and again. He tells Chantel if she doesn’t need to be with him, she should just depart and discover somebody that makes her glad… which is evidently exactly what he plans to do himself. 
“When I’ve my Green Card, the ten years, should you no fix your angle with me… Hey, it gonna be over. I offer you time,” he says. 
“Did I just say that out loud?”
Chantel warns Pedro to not threaten her after which goes to her bedroom to cry whereas Pedro stands within the doorway doing his greatest to win the argument, despite that lame cockatoo remark he just made. 
With Russ and Pao’s moms again at their respective houses, the household of three heads out for a seashore day that doesn’t contain Pao rolling around in the sand for a photographer sporting only a smile. 
“Don’t get any ideas, woman.”
Whereas sitting at the seashore, Pao complains about Russ having to travel for work. (Hey– no less than her co-star Elizabeth doesn’t have that drawback with Andrei!)
Russ reminds her that he had one other job opportunity in Oklahoma that wouldn’t have required him to journey, but Pao didn’t need him to simply accept it. Pao tells Russ she needs to go back to modeling ultimately, however she will’t do it if he isn’t there. Russ assures Pao that with some teamwork, she gained’t have to give up her dream of being photographed nude in neon physique paint and that they gained’t have to maneuver again to the Sooner State to make it occur. 
We head to Vegas for our final stop on this episode where we find Colt shoving Larissa’s bedazzled frocks right into a busted-up cardboard field as a result of, you guessed it: Larissa was arrested. AGAIN. 
We name this piece: “How I Spent My American Trip.”
Colt explains that he and Larissa have been doing what they do greatest (arguing like wild animals) when things progressed, leaving Debbie no selection but to call the police. While Colt is packing up Larissa’s membership clothes, Debbie is available in to help and ensure Larissa didn’t snag any of her crochet turtlenecks while staying at their home. 
Debbie is apprehensive that Colt resents her for what occurred with him and Larissa, however Colt assures her he doesn’t. Debbie then provides us a strong Larissa impression when asking “Coltee” what he’ll do if Larissa tries to get back along with him. 
“Coltee’s lifeless. I’m not there for her,” Colt tells Debbie. 
Colt says whereas his marriage is over, he fears Larissa should find yourself receiving her Green Card, leaving him liable for her for the subsequent 10 years… and putting a critical damper on he and Debbie’s mother-son margarita nights. 
“Mark my phrases, we gained’t be sharing our table-side guacamole with anyone but one another.”
To learn The Ashley’s previous ’90 Day Fiancé: Fortunately Ever After?’ recaps, click right here! 
(Photographs: TLC) 
Tags: 90 Day Fiance, 90 Day Fiance Recaps, 90 Day Fiance: Fortunately Ever After?, 90 Day Fiance: Fortunately Ever After? Season 4, Andrei Castravet, Ashley Martson, Azan Tefou, Chantel Everett, Colt Johnson, Debbie Johnson, Elizabeth Potthast, Jay Smith, Larissa Dos Santos Limas, Nicole Nafziger, Paola Mayfield, Pedro Jimeno, Recaps, Russ Mayfield, Season Finales
The post A Change of Heart, A Cancelled Wedding & Another Arrest – The Ashley’s Reality Roundup appeared first on Spouting-Tech.
0 notes
ask-accord · 5 years ago
Text
My last two mind cells gearing up for this remaining episode.
On the season finale of 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After?two couples settle into parenthood, one couple probably breaks up, another couple undoubtedly breaks up and one couple even manages to end this season with out having set foot in the identical country even as soon as during these 12 episodes. 
We kick off this episode in Las Vegas, moments after Larissa accused Colt(ee) of being in love with Mother Debbie after which fat-shamed him before storming out of the home in her high-heeled combat boots.
AS.YOU.DO
After taking a fast break on the curb outdoors, Larissa re-enters the house solely to keep the mother-loving accusations coming and to name Colt a “dirty piggy” and a “fats loser.”
We’ve been asking ourselves the same factor all season…
After a quick dialog, Colt refuses to face up to Debbie on Larissa’s behalf and finally tells her he’s completed with their relationship. 
“I don’t care anymore, I’m finished. I don’t like you. I’m uninterested in you. I’m gonna divorce you,” Colt tells Larissa. 
Larissa accuses Colt of threatening her and then tells him to “go f**okay” Deb, before strolling out the entrance door, but once more.
So, primarily, Larissa referred to as her husband a motherf**ker, as most of the wives of the present have finished earlier than. Nevertheless, she’s the only one who meant it actually.
Next we head to Tampa the place Elizabeth and Andrei are packing up to take child Andrea Eleanor residence from the hospital. Because Andrei was so preoccupied with work…ing out and avoiding any real obligations, he forgot to order Eleanor’s automotive seat, leaving them caught utilizing a free one offered by the hospital. 
Elizabeth and Andrei mooching one thing off of another person?! I find that onerous to consider…
” …and in addition what Chuck has.”
Ordinarily these two can be all about that freebie life; nevertheless, Elizabeth thinks the automotive seat is about as pointless as Andrei attending a job truthful so she complains about it on the best way house.
Subsequent we examine in with Ashleywho is back at house after being hospitalized for kidney failure. Ashley explains that her health scare stemmed from her having lupus, which tends to flare up throughout occasions of stress (i.e. her complete marriage to Jay). We then see Jay mosey into the “Mr. & Mrs.”-decorated bed room, confirming that he’s back in Pennsylvania and back in Ashley’s life, despite Ashley having simply filed for divorce. Ashley says she’s glad Jay is there to assist her, but she lets him know he’s not off the hook just but, especially if he tries to go inside 300 ft of a barbershop rest room once more. 
“Highschool courtyards aren’t off limits though, right?”
Later, Ashley and Jay visit Ashley’s divorce lawyer to withdraw the divorce submitting. Ashley’s lawyer is stunned by the news and nervous that Ashley is making a rash determination… (or perhaps she stated she thinks Ashley’s determination is going to end up giving her a rash? I imply…with all that loo bangin’ Jay’s doing, it might happen!) 
Down in Miami, Russ goes to the airport to select up his mother Pattywho might or might not have simply traveled a whole lot of miles solely to seek out out she’s not allowed to hold her grandson. Russ provides Patty some truthful warning of the state of affairs she’s strolling into and Patty isn’t too excited to listen to that the closest she could possibly get Axel is altering out the bag on his Diaper Genie. 
“I didn’t come right here to hand-wash child bottles and Pao’s bikinis, you recognize.”
Pao is sort of the treat on her personal, however once you connect a child to her, she’s downright obnoxious.
As soon as Russ and Patty arrive house, they go upstairs to greet PaolaGladys and the elusive child Axel, who’s nursing in the meanwhile. Patty decides to keep her distance to be respectful—at the least for now. 
“Look but don’t touch, Patty.”
Talking of people holding their distance… we next examine in with Nicole who is cruising some journey sites for low cost flights so she will visit Azan in Morocco, whether Azan needs her to or not. (Spoiler alert: he doesn’t.) 
Will this go terribly flawed:
After reserving a flight for herself and Might, Nicole calls Azan to inform him the excellent news and she or he does her greatest to get him pumped concerning the two of them getting married throughout her go to. As anticipated, Azan provides his greatest efficiency of a guy who isn’t about to push his wedding ceremony for a fourth time. 
We’ve got to acknowledge the quote on Nicole’s telephone that is serving some MAJOR foreshadowing…
Nicole’s mother Robbalee sits down together with her and asks what the hell she’s considering she and Azan plan to do for money but Nicole tells her not to fear about it. Robbalee suggests Nicole and Azan reside off the supposed store Azan opened, however Nicole lastly admits to her mom that the whole retailer story was bogus.
Insert gasp right here.
But to not worry, Robbalee! Nicole says Azan “has been performing some fishing stuff” these days and we’re positive he’s not referring to the cat fishing type.
After Nicole talks about eager to have babies with Azan, her phase closes with a message telling viewers that her trip to Morocco was finally cancelled. 
We’ll offer you a second to recover from the shock…
The levels of grief one goes via when watching Nicole and Azan’s scenes.
Back at Elizabeth and Andrei’s house, their monetary backer Chuck stops by to satisfy baby Eleanor and in addition to take a look at the digs he paid for. While Chuck will get acquainted with the most recent member of the family, he drills Andrei on his contributions as a father, which Andrei declares will probably be little or no because he says childcare is Elizabeth’s “division,” not his. 
“A job you refuse to do? I can hardly consider it!”
Chuck reminds Andrei that Eleanor is another mouth to feed and it’s time for him to do one thing to earn some cash. Andrei assures Chuck that he’s doing “the handyman” job and that every part can be simply positive. 
Now let’s not get ahead of ourselves…
Andrei tells Chuck to thoughts his own enterprise and Chuck says that he’ll mind his enterprise, so long as Elizabeth doesn’t maintain hitting him as much as tap into his checking account from stated enterprise. 
Back at Russ and Pao’s home, Gladys and Patty cling around and stare at their grandson from throughout the room until Patty lastly musters up the courage to ask if she will maintain him. Surprisingly, Pao caves and passes Axel to his Grammy and ultimately Gladys will get a flip as nicely. 
We completely get it, Pao… nothing screams “danger” like two middle-aged grandmas armed with presents and hugs.
Seeing Axel together with his grandmothers makes Pao emotional but the heartwarming moments quickly passes when Russ by chance drops a dish within the sink and the 2 start arguing. 
It’s good that issues are back to regular…
Once you understand motherhood didn’t rob you of your fiery Brazilian temper in any case.
It’s virtually time for Andrei’s dad to go again to Moldova and, whereas Andrei is gloomy to see him go, he reminds Elizabeth they’ll be visiting soon for his or her second wedding ceremony. Being that the couple is low on funds (as a result of someone nonetheless refuses to make any actual contribution), Elizabeth hoped this plan can be filed beneath “Issues That Will By no means Occur,” right between Andrei being named Employee of the Month and Chuck being paid back in-full.
Nevertheless, Andrei says the wedding continues to be very much occurring and can only value a measly $15,000 or so.
Ol’ Chucky higher open up a credit account at regardless of the Moldovan equal of David’s Bridal is…
“Seize a few of your dad’s American dollars and prepare to have a very good time.”
Down within the Dominican Republic, it’s virtually time for The Husband Pedro and The Wife Chantel to fly back to Atlanta, which suggests Pedro has to say goodbye to his mom and sister. Chantel opts to not say goodbye to The Family Pedro herself, given the destructive run-ins she’s had with them throughout her trip, which Pedro—- the man who likes to grind on ladies who aren’t his spouse—says is disrespectful.
Once Pedro and Chantel are back in Atlanta, Chantel is bummed that Pedro’s every day routine of enjoying video games and avoiding dialog has resumed. Pedro says he’s bitter that Chantel didn’t say goodbye to his household within the Dominican Republic, while Chantel says she nonetheless has reservations due to what Obed informed her. 
“We truly managed to stretch this argument via the complete season, didn’t we?”
Chantel asks that Pedro come clear and inform her if he did the truth is simply use her to get a Green Card, but Pedro continues to deny the claims. Pedro compares Chantel to a cockatoo as a result of he says she retains asking the identical thing again and again. He tells Chantel if she doesn’t need to be with him, she should just depart and discover somebody that makes her glad… which is evidently exactly what he plans to do himself. 
“When I’ve my Green Card, the ten years, should you no fix your angle with me… Hey, it gonna be over. I offer you time,” he says. 
“Did I just say that out loud?”
Chantel warns Pedro to not threaten her after which goes to her bedroom to cry whereas Pedro stands within the doorway doing his greatest to win the argument, despite that lame cockatoo remark he just made. 
With Russ and Pao’s moms again at their respective houses, the household of three heads out for a seashore day that doesn’t contain Pao rolling around in the sand for a photographer sporting only a smile. 
“Don’t get any ideas, woman.”
Whereas sitting at the seashore, Pao complains about Russ having to travel for work. (Hey– no less than her co-star Elizabeth doesn’t have that drawback with Andrei!)
Russ reminds her that he had one other job opportunity in Oklahoma that wouldn’t have required him to journey, but Pao didn’t need him to simply accept it. Pao tells Russ she needs to go back to modeling ultimately, however she will’t do it if he isn’t there. Russ assures Pao that with some teamwork, she gained’t have to give up her dream of being photographed nude in neon physique paint and that they gained’t have to maneuver again to the Sooner State to make it occur. 
We head to Vegas for our final stop on this episode where we find Colt shoving Larissa’s bedazzled frocks right into a busted-up cardboard field as a result of, you guessed it: Larissa was arrested. AGAIN. 
We name this piece: “How I Spent My American Trip.”
Colt explains that he and Larissa have been doing what they do greatest (arguing like wild animals) when things progressed, leaving Debbie no selection but to call the police. While Colt is packing up Larissa’s membership clothes, Debbie is available in to help and ensure Larissa didn’t snag any of her crochet turtlenecks while staying at their home. 
Debbie is apprehensive that Colt resents her for what occurred with him and Larissa, however Colt assures her he doesn’t. Debbie then provides us a strong Larissa impression when asking “Coltee” what he’ll do if Larissa tries to get back along with him. 
“Coltee’s lifeless. I’m not there for her,” Colt tells Debbie. 
Colt says whereas his marriage is over, he fears Larissa should find yourself receiving her Green Card, leaving him liable for her for the subsequent 10 years… and putting a critical damper on he and Debbie’s mother-son margarita nights. 
“Mark my phrases, we gained’t be sharing our table-side guacamole with anyone but one another.”
To learn The Ashley’s previous ’90 Day Fiancé: Fortunately Ever After?’ recaps, click right here! 
(Photographs: TLC) 
Tags: 90 Day Fiance, 90 Day Fiance Recaps, 90 Day Fiance: Fortunately Ever After?, 90 Day Fiance: Fortunately Ever After? Season 4, Andrei Castravet, Ashley Martson, Azan Tefou, Chantel Everett, Colt Johnson, Debbie Johnson, Elizabeth Potthast, Jay Smith, Larissa Dos Santos Limas, Nicole Nafziger, Paola Mayfield, Pedro Jimeno, Recaps, Russ Mayfield, Season Finales
The post A Change of Heart, A Cancelled Wedding & Another Arrest – The Ashley’s Reality Roundup appeared first on Spouting-Tech.
0 notes
Text
My last two mind cells gearing up for this remaining episode.
On the season finale of 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After?two couples settle into parenthood, one couple probably breaks up, another couple undoubtedly breaks up and one couple even manages to end this season with out having set foot in the identical country even as soon as during these 12 episodes. 
We kick off this episode in Las Vegas, moments after Larissa accused Colt(ee) of being in love with Mother Debbie after which fat-shamed him before storming out of the home in her high-heeled combat boots.
AS.YOU.DO
After taking a fast break on the curb outdoors, Larissa re-enters the house solely to keep the mother-loving accusations coming and to name Colt a “dirty piggy” and a “fats loser.”
We’ve been asking ourselves the same factor all season…
After a quick dialog, Colt refuses to face up to Debbie on Larissa’s behalf and finally tells her he’s completed with their relationship. 
“I don’t care anymore, I’m finished. I don’t like you. I’m uninterested in you. I’m gonna divorce you,” Colt tells Larissa. 
Larissa accuses Colt of threatening her and then tells him to “go f**okay” Deb, before strolling out the entrance door, but once more.
So, primarily, Larissa referred to as her husband a motherf**ker, as most of the wives of the present have finished earlier than. Nevertheless, she’s the only one who meant it actually.
Next we head to Tampa the place Elizabeth and Andrei are packing up to take child Andrea Eleanor residence from the hospital. Because Andrei was so preoccupied with work…ing out and avoiding any real obligations, he forgot to order Eleanor’s automotive seat, leaving them caught utilizing a free one offered by the hospital. 
Elizabeth and Andrei mooching one thing off of another person?! I find that onerous to consider…
” …and in addition what Chuck has.”
Ordinarily these two can be all about that freebie life; nevertheless, Elizabeth thinks the automotive seat is about as pointless as Andrei attending a job truthful so she complains about it on the best way house.
Subsequent we examine in with Ashleywho is back at house after being hospitalized for kidney failure. Ashley explains that her health scare stemmed from her having lupus, which tends to flare up throughout occasions of stress (i.e. her complete marriage to Jay). We then see Jay mosey into the “Mr. & Mrs.”-decorated bed room, confirming that he’s back in Pennsylvania and back in Ashley’s life, despite Ashley having simply filed for divorce. Ashley says she’s glad Jay is there to assist her, but she lets him know he’s not off the hook just but, especially if he tries to go inside 300 ft of a barbershop rest room once more. 
“Highschool courtyards aren’t off limits though, right?”
Later, Ashley and Jay visit Ashley’s divorce lawyer to withdraw the divorce submitting. Ashley’s lawyer is stunned by the news and nervous that Ashley is making a rash determination… (or perhaps she stated she thinks Ashley’s determination is going to end up giving her a rash? I imply…with all that loo bangin’ Jay’s doing, it might happen!) 
Down in Miami, Russ goes to the airport to select up his mother Pattywho might or might not have simply traveled a whole lot of miles solely to seek out out she’s not allowed to hold her grandson. Russ provides Patty some truthful warning of the state of affairs she’s strolling into and Patty isn’t too excited to listen to that the closest she could possibly get Axel is altering out the bag on his Diaper Genie. 
“I didn’t come right here to hand-wash child bottles and Pao’s bikinis, you recognize.”
Pao is sort of the treat on her personal, however once you connect a child to her, she’s downright obnoxious.
As soon as Russ and Patty arrive house, they go upstairs to greet PaolaGladys and the elusive child Axel, who’s nursing in the meanwhile. Patty decides to keep her distance to be respectful—at the least for now. 
“Look but don’t touch, Patty.”
Talking of people holding their distance… we next examine in with Nicole who is cruising some journey sites for low cost flights so she will visit Azan in Morocco, whether Azan needs her to or not. (Spoiler alert: he doesn’t.) 
Will this go terribly flawed:
After reserving a flight for herself and Might, Nicole calls Azan to inform him the excellent news and she or he does her greatest to get him pumped concerning the two of them getting married throughout her go to. As anticipated, Azan provides his greatest efficiency of a guy who isn’t about to push his wedding ceremony for a fourth time. 
We’ve got to acknowledge the quote on Nicole’s telephone that is serving some MAJOR foreshadowing…
Nicole’s mother Robbalee sits down together with her and asks what the hell she’s considering she and Azan plan to do for money but Nicole tells her not to fear about it. Robbalee suggests Nicole and Azan reside off the supposed store Azan opened, however Nicole lastly admits to her mom that the whole retailer story was bogus.
Insert gasp right here.
But to not worry, Robbalee! Nicole says Azan “has been performing some fishing stuff” these days and we’re positive he’s not referring to the cat fishing type.
After Nicole talks about eager to have babies with Azan, her phase closes with a message telling viewers that her trip to Morocco was finally cancelled. 
We’ll offer you a second to recover from the shock…
The levels of grief one goes via when watching Nicole and Azan’s scenes.
Back at Elizabeth and Andrei’s house, their monetary backer Chuck stops by to satisfy baby Eleanor and in addition to take a look at the digs he paid for. While Chuck will get acquainted with the most recent member of the family, he drills Andrei on his contributions as a father, which Andrei declares will probably be little or no because he says childcare is Elizabeth’s “division,” not his. 
“A job you refuse to do? I can hardly consider it!”
Chuck reminds Andrei that Eleanor is another mouth to feed and it’s time for him to do one thing to earn some cash. Andrei assures Chuck that he’s doing “the handyman” job and that every part can be simply positive. 
Now let’s not get ahead of ourselves…
Andrei tells Chuck to thoughts his own enterprise and Chuck says that he’ll mind his enterprise, so long as Elizabeth doesn’t maintain hitting him as much as tap into his checking account from stated enterprise. 
Back at Russ and Pao’s home, Gladys and Patty cling around and stare at their grandson from throughout the room until Patty lastly musters up the courage to ask if she will maintain him. Surprisingly, Pao caves and passes Axel to his Grammy and ultimately Gladys will get a flip as nicely. 
We completely get it, Pao… nothing screams “danger” like two middle-aged grandmas armed with presents and hugs.
Seeing Axel together with his grandmothers makes Pao emotional but the heartwarming moments quickly passes when Russ by chance drops a dish within the sink and the 2 start arguing. 
It’s good that issues are back to regular…
Once you understand motherhood didn’t rob you of your fiery Brazilian temper in any case.
It’s virtually time for Andrei’s dad to go again to Moldova and, whereas Andrei is gloomy to see him go, he reminds Elizabeth they’ll be visiting soon for his or her second wedding ceremony. Being that the couple is low on funds (as a result of someone nonetheless refuses to make any actual contribution), Elizabeth hoped this plan can be filed beneath “Issues That Will By no means Occur,” right between Andrei being named Employee of the Month and Chuck being paid back in-full.
Nevertheless, Andrei says the wedding continues to be very much occurring and can only value a measly $15,000 or so.
Ol’ Chucky higher open up a credit account at regardless of the Moldovan equal of David’s Bridal is…
“Seize a few of your dad’s American dollars and prepare to have a very good time.”
Down within the Dominican Republic, it’s virtually time for The Husband Pedro and The Wife Chantel to fly back to Atlanta, which suggests Pedro has to say goodbye to his mom and sister. Chantel opts to not say goodbye to The Family Pedro herself, given the destructive run-ins she’s had with them throughout her trip, which Pedro—- the man who likes to grind on ladies who aren’t his spouse—says is disrespectful.
Once Pedro and Chantel are back in Atlanta, Chantel is bummed that Pedro’s every day routine of enjoying video games and avoiding dialog has resumed. Pedro says he’s bitter that Chantel didn’t say goodbye to his household within the Dominican Republic, while Chantel says she nonetheless has reservations due to what Obed informed her. 
“We truly managed to stretch this argument via the complete season, didn’t we?”
Chantel asks that Pedro come clear and inform her if he did the truth is simply use her to get a Green Card, but Pedro continues to deny the claims. Pedro compares Chantel to a cockatoo as a result of he says she retains asking the identical thing again and again. He tells Chantel if she doesn’t need to be with him, she should just depart and discover somebody that makes her glad… which is evidently exactly what he plans to do himself. 
“When I’ve my Green Card, the ten years, should you no fix your angle with me… Hey, it gonna be over. I offer you time,” he says. 
“Did I just say that out loud?”
Chantel warns Pedro to not threaten her after which goes to her bedroom to cry whereas Pedro stands within the doorway doing his greatest to win the argument, despite that lame cockatoo remark he just made. 
With Russ and Pao’s moms again at their respective houses, the household of three heads out for a seashore day that doesn’t contain Pao rolling around in the sand for a photographer sporting only a smile. 
“Don’t get any ideas, woman.”
Whereas sitting at the seashore, Pao complains about Russ having to travel for work. (Hey– no less than her co-star Elizabeth doesn’t have that drawback with Andrei!)
Russ reminds her that he had one other job opportunity in Oklahoma that wouldn’t have required him to journey, but Pao didn’t need him to simply accept it. Pao tells Russ she needs to go back to modeling ultimately, however she will’t do it if he isn’t there. Russ assures Pao that with some teamwork, she gained’t have to give up her dream of being photographed nude in neon physique paint and that they gained’t have to maneuver again to the Sooner State to make it occur. 
We head to Vegas for our final stop on this episode where we find Colt shoving Larissa’s bedazzled frocks right into a busted-up cardboard field as a result of, you guessed it: Larissa was arrested. AGAIN. 
We name this piece: “How I Spent My American Trip.”
Colt explains that he and Larissa have been doing what they do greatest (arguing like wild animals) when things progressed, leaving Debbie no selection but to call the police. While Colt is packing up Larissa’s membership clothes, Debbie is available in to help and ensure Larissa didn’t snag any of her crochet turtlenecks while staying at their home. 
Debbie is apprehensive that Colt resents her for what occurred with him and Larissa, however Colt assures her he doesn’t. Debbie then provides us a strong Larissa impression when asking “Coltee” what he’ll do if Larissa tries to get back along with him. 
“Coltee’s lifeless. I’m not there for her,” Colt tells Debbie. 
Colt says whereas his marriage is over, he fears Larissa should find yourself receiving her Green Card, leaving him liable for her for the subsequent 10 years… and putting a critical damper on he and Debbie’s mother-son margarita nights. 
“Mark my phrases, we gained’t be sharing our table-side guacamole with anyone but one another.”
To learn The Ashley’s previous ’90 Day Fiancé: Fortunately Ever After?’ recaps, click right here! 
(Photographs: TLC) 
Tags: 90 Day Fiance, 90 Day Fiance Recaps, 90 Day Fiance: Fortunately Ever After?, 90 Day Fiance: Fortunately Ever After? Season 4, Andrei Castravet, Ashley Martson, Azan Tefou, Chantel Everett, Colt Johnson, Debbie Johnson, Elizabeth Potthast, Jay Smith, Larissa Dos Santos Limas, Nicole Nafziger, Paola Mayfield, Pedro Jimeno, Recaps, Russ Mayfield, Season Finales
The post A Change of Heart, A Cancelled Wedding & Another Arrest – The Ashley’s Reality Roundup appeared first on Spouting-Tech.
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ivehungtheskywithstars · 7 years ago
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To the men reading: You may already do some of these things, and others you may not be in the position to do. But a good place to start is by, at the very least, reading the list through—in its entirety. And remember: These apply all year, not just during the annual 24 hours dedicated to half of the planet’s population. 1. Before explaining something to a woman, ask yourself if she might already understand. She may know more about it than you do. 2. Related: Never, ever try to explain feminism to a woman. 3. Trans women are women. Repeat that until you perish. 4. RESPECT PEOPLE’S PRONOUNS. It’s not hard. 5. Remember that fat women exist and aren’t all trying to get thin. Treat them with respect. 6. In fact, just never comment on a woman's body. 7. Be kind to women in customer service positions. Tip them extra. (But not in a creepy way.) 8. Trust women. When they teach you something, don't feel the need to go and check for yourself. And especially do not Google it in front of them. 9. Don’t maintain a double standard for… anything, ever. 10. CLOSE YOUR LEGS ON PUBLIC TRANSIT, OH MY GOD. 11. Trying to describe a woman positively? Say she's “talented,” “clever,” or “funny.” Not “gorgeous,” “sweet,” or “cute.” 12. Examine your language when talking about women. Get rid of “irrational,” “dramatic,” “bossy,” and “badgering” immediately. 13. Don't think to yourself, I describe men like that too. A) You probably don't. B) If you do, it's to criticize them for acting like a woman. 14. Do you love “fiery” Latina women? “Strong” Black women? “Mysterious” Asian women? Stop. Pick up a book on decolonial feminism. Read. 15. Stop calling women “feisty.” We don't need a special lady word for “has an opinion." 16. Recognize women's credibility when you introduce them. “Donna is lovely” is much less useful than “Donna knows shitloads about architecture.” 17. Think about how you describe the young women in your family. Celebrate them for being funny and smart, not for being pretty and compliant. 18. Examine the way you talk about women you’re attracted to. Fat women, old women, queer, trans, and powerful women are not your “guilty crush.” 19. Learn to praise a woman without demonizing other women. “You're not like other girls” is not a compliment. I want to be like other girls. Other girls are awesome. 20. Share writing by women. Don't paraphrase their work in your own Facebook post to show us all how smart or woke you are. I guarantee the woman said it better in the first place. 21. Buy sanitary pads and tampons and donate them to a homeless shelter. Just do it. 22. How much of what you are watching/reading/listening to was made by women? Gender balance your bookcase. 23. Feeling proud of your balanced bookcase? Are there women of color there? Trans, queer, and disabled women? Poor women? Always make sure you’re being intersectional. 24. Don't buy media that demeans women’s experiences, valorizes violence against women, or excludes them entirely from a cast. It's not enough to oppose those things. You have to actively make them unmarketable. 25. Pay attention to stories with nuanced female characters. It will be interesting, I promise. 26. If you read stories to a child, swap the genders. 27. Watch women's sport. And just call it “sports.” 28. Withdraw your support from sports clubs, institutions, and companies that protect and employ rapists and abusers. 29. Stop raving about Woody Allen. I don't care if he shits gold. Find a non-accused-abuser to fanboy over. 30. It's General Leia, not princess. The Doctor has a companion, not an assistant. It's Doctor Bartlett, not Mrs Madame First Lady. 31. Cast women in parts written for men. We know how to rule kingdoms, go to war, be, not be, and wait for Godot. 32. Pay for porn. 33. Recognize that sex work is work. Be an advocate for and ally to sex workers without speaking for them. 34. Share political hot takes from women as well as men. They might not be as widely accessible, so look for them. 35. Understand that it was never “about ethics in journalism.” 36. Speak less in meetings today to make space for your women colleagues to share their thoughts. If you're leading the meeting, make sure women are being heard as much as men. 37. If a woman makes a good point, say, “That was a good point.” Don't repeat her point and take credit for it. 38. Promote women. Their leadership styles may be different than yours. That's probably a good thing. 39. Recruit women on the same salary as men. Even if they don't ask for it. 40. Open doors for women with caring responsibilities by offering flexible employment contracts. 41. If you meet a man and a woman at work, do not assume the man is the superior for literally no reason. 42. If you're wrongly assumed to be more experienced than a woman colleague, correct that person and pass the platform to the woman who knows more. 43. Make a round of tea for the office. 44. Wash it up. 45. If you find you're only interviewing men for a role, rewrite the job listing so that it’s more welcoming to women. 46. Make sure you have women on your interview panel. 47. Tell female colleagues what your salary is. 48. Make sure there's childcare at your events. 49. Don't schedule breakfast meetings during the school run. 50. If you manage a team, make sure that your employees know that you recognize period pain and cystitis as legitimate reasons for a sick day. 51. If you have a strict boss (or mom or teacher) who is a woman, she is not a “bitch.” Grow up. 52. Expect a woman to do the stuff that's in her job description. Not the other miscellaneous shit you don't know how to do yourself. 53. Refuse to speak on an all-male panel. 54. In a Q&A session, only put your hand up if you have A QUESTION. Others didn’t attend to listen to you. 55. If you have friends or family members who use slurs or discriminate against trans or non-binary people, sit them down and explain why they must stop. (This goes for cis women, too.) 56. If you have friends or family members who use slurs or discriminate against women of other races, sit them down and explain why they must stop. (This goes for white women, too.) 57. If you see women with their hands up, put yours down. This can be taken as a metaphor for a lot of things. Think about it. 58. Raising a feminist daughter means she's going to disagree with you. And probably be right. Feel proud, not threatened. 59. Teach your sons to listen to girls, give them space, believe them, and elevate them. 60. Dads, buy your daughter tampons, make her hot water bottles, wash her bras. Show her that her body isn't something to be ashamed of. 61. But dads, do not try to iron her bras. This is a mistake you will only make once. 62. Examine how domestic labor is divided in your home. Who does the cleaning, the childcare, the organizing, the meal budgeting? Sons, this goes for you, too. 63. Learn how to do domestic tasks to a high standard. “I'd only do it wrong” is a bullshit excuse. 64. Never again comment on how long it takes a woman to get ready. WE ARE TRYING TO MEET THE RIDICULOUS STANDARDS OF A SYSTEM YOU BENEFIT FROM. 65. Challenge the patriarchs in your religious group when they enable the oppression of women. 66. Challenge the patriarchs in your secular movement when they enable the oppression of women. 67. Trust women's religious choices. Don't pretend to liberate them just so you can criticise their beliefs. 68. Examine who books your trips, arranges outings, organizes Christmas, buys birthday cards. Is it a woman? IS IT? 69. And if it is actually you, a man, don't even dare get in touch with me looking for your medal. 70. Take stock of the emotional labor you expect from women. Do you turn to the women around you for emotional support and give nothing in return? 71. Remember that loving your mom/sister/girlfriend is not the same as giving up your own privilege to progress equality for women. And that gender inequality extends beyond the women in your direct social group. 72. Don’t assume that all women are attracted to men. 73. Don’t assume that a woman in public wants to talk to you just because she’s in public. 74. If a woman tells you she was raped, assaulted, or abused, don't ask her for proof. Ask how you can support her. 75. If you see a friend or colleague being inappropriate to a woman, call him out. You will survive the awkwardness, I promise. 76. Repeat after me: Always. Hold. Men. Accountable. For. Their. Actions. 77. Do not walk too close to a woman late at night. That shit can be scary. 78. If you see a woman being followed or otherwise bothered by a stranger, stick around to make sure she’s safe. 79. This should go without saying: Do not yell unsolicited “compliments” at women on the street. Or anywhere. 80. If you are a queer man, recognize that your sexuality doesn’t exclude you from potential misogyny. 81. If you are a queer man, recognize that your queer women or non-binary friends may not feel comfortable in a male-dominated space, even if it’s dominated by queer men. 82. Be happy to have women friends without needing them to want to sleep with you. The “friend zone” is not a thing. We do not owe you sex. 83. Remember that you can lack consent in situations not involving sex—such as when pursuing uninterested women or forcing a hug on a colleague. 84. Champion sex positive women but don't expect them to have sex with you. 85. Trust a woman to know her own body. If she says she won't enjoy part of your sexual repertoire, do not try to convince her otherwise. 86. Be sensitive to nonverbal cues from women, especially around sex. We’re not just being awkward for no reason. (You read “Cat Person,” didn’t you?) 87. It is not cute to try to persuade a woman to have sex with you. EVER. AT ALL. Go home. 88. Same goes for pressuring women to have sex without a condom. Go. Home. And masturbate. 89. Accidentally impregnated a women who doesn't want a kid? Abortions cost money. Pay for half of it. 90. Accidentally came inside a woman without protection? Plan B is expensive. Pay for all of it. 91. Get STD tested. Regularly. Without having to be asked. 92. Examine your opinion on abortion. Then put it in a box. Because, honestly, it's completely irrelevant. 93. Understand that disabled women are whole, sexual human beings. Listen to and respect them. 94. Understand that not all women have periods or vaginas. 95. Believe women's pain. Periods hurt. Endometriosis is real. Polycystic ovaries, vaginal pain, cystitis. These things are real. Hysteria isn’t. 96. If a woman accidentally bleeds on you, try your absolute best to just keep your shit together. 97. Lobby your elected officials to implement high quality sex education in schools. 98. Uplift young Black and Indigenous girls at every possible opportunity. No excuses. 99. Do not ever assume you know what it’s like. 100. Mainly, just listen to women. Listen to us and believe us. It’s the only place to start if you actually want all women to have a “Happy International Women’s Day.”
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