#i used to also get free food from burger king :3 and i still sometimes get extras from dd

[tottymatsuno]

I think irl if totty worked at a dunkin and not Starbucks it would be fun bc often if i am a regular at a place they start giving me free food and drinks bc i hop in like a small rabbit and i go:

And every time id leave like this:

[airis-paris14]

Starlight 4

Summary: Amani is an orphaned heiress who’s spent most of her life raising her younger sister. T’Challa is a widowed King and Father. Neither of them is expecting much from their night at the Lotus. But the coming months have many milestones in store for these young adults. Will becoming a family be one of them?

1 || 2 || 3 || 4

“Sis, you are killing my dating life,” Madiyson whined as she and Amani cleaned the glasses at the bar. “I’m killing your dating life? It has to exist for me to kill it.” Amani murmured.

“Haha.” Madiyson threw her rag at the other waitress. “Look, you go to all these fancy parties, with rich eligible men, and you never invite me. Girl, you’re holding me back from my husband.”

“Trust me, you don’t want to go to those parties. All the men are old and boring, and they all want something from you.” Amani sighed and began hanging the wine glasses on the rack. “Yeah, some good lovin’.” Madiyson shimmied her way around the bar laughing.

“Oh my god.”

“So you’ve never met any young attractive guy at these parties?”

“Well….”

“Well?”

“Well, He’s the exception to the rule.” Amani sassed.

“See, I’m just asking for one chance. One party.”

“Fine fine,” Amani placed the last glass on the shelf. “Amare won’t be home for another month so you can go to the next party.”

“She’s not coming home for spring break?” Madiyson frowned.

“Nope, engineering conference with her school. In France.” Amani pouted.

“Yeah, I’d choose France over you too.” Madiyson teased.

“Shut up,” Amani pushed her. “This isn’t how you get the invite to this gala.”

“Now, you know I’m just messing with you girlie.” Madiyson hugged her friend.

“I know, but sometimes it just feels like she doesn’t need me anymore.”

“That’s a good thing! You’re not her mother, and you’re young. One day you’ll have kids and get to go through it all again. Except they’ll be infants this time and you won’t be in college.”

“Yeah, you’re right.” Amani smiled.

“Aren’t I always? Now, tell me all about this exception to the rule guy.”

“What do you want to know?” It’d been three months since Amani had heard from T’Challa. Not even a text or letter. “Tell me anything,” Madiyson shrugged. “Well, he was attending our yearly investor gallery. He saved me from a boring conversation and we sat out on the balcony and talked all night.”

“That’s it.”

“That’s it.” Amani turned back to putting the dishes away. “There’s something you’re not telling me,” Madiyson accused.

“No, I told you everything that happened,” she fought to hold back a smile. “At the party at least,” Amani added. “Okay, so what happened after the party?” Madiyson prodded. “Well, before the party-”

“Before the party!” Madiyson exclaimed moving closer to her friend as a couple of guests looked over at the outburst. “Yes, before the party. You remember that table I handled for you when I got into work?”

“The one with the father? He’s the dude from the party?!”

“Yeah, his name is T’Challa.” Amani blushed. “Did he recognize you?” Madiyson bubbled, pulling Amani to sit in the break room with her. “Yes, and his daughter asked that I hang out with him the next day.”

“So y’all spent the day together?”

“And they both stayed the night.” Amani blushed. “Sis-” Madiyson started. “Then me and his daughter made breakfast and we went to the park.Then he asked me on a date, and they spent the night again.”

Madiyson stared open mouthed, “This was all a few months ago and you didn’t tell us?”

“Tell us what?” Sakura interjected as she walked into the breakroom from finishing her last table. “That she has a boyfriend who spent the night.” Madiyson smirked.

“He’s not my boyfriend, and his daughter was there too.” Sakura raised an eyebrow at Amani’s rebuttal. “Besides, there’s nothing to tell, I haven’t heard from him since they left.”

Sakura frowned, “They left?”

“They went back home, out of the country.” Amani explained. “That’s good news, he may just not know how to get intouch with you from his home country.” Madiyson offered. “I guess, but he still could have sent a letter or something.”

“Just give him a chance to explain himself,” Sakura encouraged. “Yeah, I just wish I knew something,” Amani sighed. “If you never hear from him again that’s his loss sis,” Madiyson hugged Amani.

After hustling through the rest of her shift, Amani finished cleaning her tables, hugged Madiyson and Sakura goodbye, and headed to pick up some dinner from her favorite burger joint. She hopped in line and placed her order. She had just pulled out her phone to pass time when a familiar voice invaded her senses. “Is that the heiress I see?” The king chuckled.

“Your majesty,” Amani bowed smiling in return, “You're back stateside.”

“Yep, Ada and I got in earlier this morning.” The king smiled. “Cool,” Amani smiled back before turning back to the pick up counter. “I also had a special someone that I promised to take out on a date.”

Amani raised an eyebrow, “She must be real special.” T’Challa smiled oblivious to her sarcasm, “You could say that.”

“I wonder if you called her like you didn’t call me,” Amani sassed. “T’Challa’s mouth dropped open slightly. Just as he went to respond one of the worker’s called Amani’s name. She walked away from him to grab her food. The king hurried after her, “Amani, I didn’t realize until we got home that I didn’t know how to reach you from out of the country.”

“And you couldn’t write a letter? Or call someone at the company that I own and ask for it?”Amani deadpanned as she walked towards the door, not stopping until T’Challa gently grabbed her wrist. “Amani, I am sorry. I didn’t think and that is obviously not an excuse, but I would still like to hang out with you.” Amani calmed slightly as she heard the sincerity coating his voice. “Please? Let me make it up to you?”

Amani nodded in response. “Great, are you free friday? At 8:00?”

The heiress smiled, “Yeah, I am.” T’Challa beamed, “I’ll pick you up?”

“Sounds like a date,” Amani winked, “I should let you get back to Ada.” The king glanced at the bag of food in his hands. “Why, don’t you join us for dinner tonight? She’s asked about you.”

“Oh, um..” Amani tried to quiet the leaping of her heart. T’Challa grabbed her hand, “We would both really enjoy your company Amani,” the king’s thumb traced soft circles on her wrist. “I’d love to,” Amani smiled back, feeling the blood rush to her cheeks, grateful that it wasn’t too noticeable on her skin. “Great, I can give you a ride or?”

“Oh, no I drove my own car. If you give me the address, I’m pretty sure I can find my way there.” Amani smiled, pulling out her phone. T’Challa gave her the address and they hurried off to their cars. Amani smiled as she noticed what hotel they were staying at. “St. Regis huh,” Amani chuckled as she pulled off. Along the way she stopped to grab something to drink, and a box of cookies from her favorite bakery, she text T’Challa that she was on her way before beginning the drive to the hotel. Within 25 minutes, She pulled up to the valet counter and handed over her keys. Amani walked into the lobby juggling her food, the cookies and a drink. She walked towards the elevator before realizing she didn’t know where she was going. Amani sighed and gingerly reached for her phone in her pocket. Just as she went to dial the king’s number, his name flashed across her screen. ROOM 1009. She chuckled knowing he’d read her mind.

Amani used the edge of her iphone to call for the elevator and began her ascent to the 10th floor. She hummed lightly to herself and prayed that she had read the room number right. The door dinged open and she walked out into the carpeted hallway. Her sneakers padded along the floor as she read the door numbers, relieved that she had gotten off at the right floor. She made her way down to the ninth and final door. She knocked and smiled to herself when she heard the rapid pattering of feet approach the door. T’Challa laughed, “Well, are you going to let me open the door for Ms. Amani or not princess?”

“Sorry baba,” Ada replied, her bouncing feet still audible through the door. The door handle clicked and Amani was welcomed into their penthouse suite. “I brought cookies!” The older sister grinned. The former prince shook his head as his daughter cheered beside him. T’Challa grabbed the cookie box from her hand and Amani followed them into the kitchen.

“Don’t worry, I’ll take her home with me if she’s too hyper,” Amani jokes slightly. “T’Challa smiled before grabbing her a plate from the cabinet. “Where’s my hug princess Ada,” Amani grinned scooping the little girl in her arms. “Hi, Mani!” the little girl squealed.

“How are you?” Amani asked, placing the little girl back on her feet. “I’m good, I missed you.”

“I missed you too princess,” Amani reached for her own food. “I’ll warm it up for you.” T’Challa offered. “Thanks.” The two adults smiled at each other before Ada pulled Amani into the living room.

T’Challa’s heart melted at the sight in his living room. In just a few seconds Ada had pulled out all of her dolls for Amani to see. Amani sat on the floor in front of the couch greeting the doll princess Tiana. T’Challa cleared his throat, “I hope your royal highnesses do not mind my interruption, but I think that Ms. Okeke would like to eat her dinner.” Amani thanked the king as he handed her a plate with her burger and her drink.

“It’s okay baba, we were just going dress shopping for the ball,” Ada explained “The ball?” The king grinned, bending down to his daughter’s eye level. “Yeah, like the one we went to with Auntie Shuri and umakhulu.” Ada nodded excitedly. “Okay then,” the father sat back into the couch, “have fun.”

Amani took a bite out of her burger as the little girl collected her dolls and ran off. “Her first royal ball huh?”

The king nodded and sighed, “She grew up so fast. She got tired of being left out of ‘all the fun’.” Amani finished chewing before pulling herself up to sit on the couch. “You got any pictures?” The waitress finished her burger while the king scrolled through his phone. He held the phone up to her face once she was done.

“She looks adorable!” Amani squealed. “Her dress is so pretty!” On the phone, Ada was standing next to her father a smile stretching across her face. She and the king were matching in their black and gold. She wore a black halter-neck ball gown. The black silk was covered in delicate gold brocade and embellishments. Her hair was braided around the crown of her head, with a large gold halo tucked into her braids. “She’s so precious!”

“I know, she looks just like her mother,” the king smiled, Amani squeezed his hand. “You look pretty good too,” Amani playfully nudged his shoulder. “Thank you,” the king smiled putting away his phone.

“You want a cookie?” the heiress asked getting up from the soft couch. “Sure,” the king followed her into the kitchen. Amani popped open the box grabbing two chocolate chip cookies before popping the box in the oven.

“Did you work today?” The king bit into the warm cookie. “Yeah, unfortunately,”Amani groaned.

“You don’t like the work?” The king frowned. “I mean, the people are great, it's just tiring like anything.” Amani explained, finishing off her cookie. “If you don’t mind me asking, why do you work? I am assuming your parent’s set you up well enough to thrive without a job?”

The king watched as Amani grabbed the cardboard box of cookies out of the oven once more. “They did, but I’ve always been independent. I used the money to pay off bills for the foreseeable future. We already owned the house here in Atlanta and I kept our vacation homes in South Carolina,Florida, Savannah, New Orleans, and LA. Used the money to continue paying the staff’s salary and put away money for Amare to go to school and start a life. Then I got a job to pay for youtubing equipment, travel, my car, and clothes.” Amani took all but four cookies out of the box and placed them on one of the white plates from the cabinet.

The king nodded, “You don’t have a passion job you’d like to start? Instead of waitressing at a job you don’t really like.”

“I mean, I’ve thought about starting my own luxury event planning company. You know, weddings, gala’s, balls, birthday parties, sleepovers, any event you can think of really.”

“What’s stopping you?” The king stole another cookie from the plate. “Nothing hypothetically, but I enjoy doing that stuff for fun. I think I’d want to throw my own event first. Kind of build up my own brand and relationship with contractors instead of just popping up out of the blue like that.”

“I think you should go for it. Get a job as an event planner for a company, work your way up or start as an independent contractor.” The king smiled. Amani tapped her fingers on the white marble countertops. “You’ve got this all figured out don’t you?”

“That is what the king does, solve problems.”

“What about you? Aren’t you very busy as a king?”

“I am,” the father replied, finishing off his cookie. “Isn’t it a little hard taking care of Ada and going about kingly duties? Doesn’t she have to have like a tutor and a nanny or something?”

“I only bring her on trips when I know I can take her with me to meetings. Not all of the kingly duties are boring. Like the ball, or charity appearances. That is most of my work this trip and she was on spring break, I believe it is called here.” T’Challa explained. “Oh, she’s in school?”

“Yes, she attends a very prestigious boarding school back in Wakanda.”

Amani looked up “ You send her away for school? Isn’t she just barely 5?”

“It is how things must be, her mother is no longer here to take care of her.”

Amani frowned, I think the nanny is a better option, don’t you think she misses her father while she is at school? A school with all these strangers?”

“She is fine Amani-”

“Have you ever asked her if she is fine, or if she likes it?”

“No, why should I have to. I am her father!”

“Because I was her T’Challa. My parents shipped me off to boarding school as soon as I was old enough to leave. Then they sent Amare right behind me!” I spent less that 5 years of time with my parents face to face before they died. Now they are gone.” Amani confessed, tears brewing in her eyes.

“I- I am sorry. I did not know that,” the king started. “I know you didn’t. I apologize for getting upset with you. I am not her parent, but as someone who grew up in that life, talk to her, come and see her. Make sure there isn’t another way for her to stay home. It would truly be for the best.” Amani sighed.

Silence choked the room, “I think I should go,” Amani stood up from the counter. “It is getting late, we have an extra guest room. You should spend the night here.” T’Challa offered.

“It’s only ten o’clock your majesty, I think I will make it home alright.” Amani teased. “Very well, at least, let me walk you downstairs. I’ll put Ada to sleep and come back out.”

Amani nodded her consent before taking a seat on the couch. Her phone lit up as T’Challa headed into Ada’s room. She pulled out the device and saw a new message from Madiyson.

Madiyson: Whatever you’re about to say no to, say yes sis!

Madiyson: Just thought you might need to hear that.

Amani: How’d you know I was making a decision?

Madiyson: Ohh so I was right?

Madiyson: What’s going on? Don’t keep me out of the loop!

Amani: I’ll tell you in the morning.

Madiyson: In the morning!

Madiyson: Girl who you gon be with in the morning!

Madiyson: You’re finally letting someone love you down!

Madiyson: Ohh sis! Tell me!

Amani smiled and put away her purse and set off down the hall to where T’Challa had gone. She peeked into a doorway where she found the king, conversing with his daughter. Amani stepped closer to the door and inadvertently pushed it open. Ada’s eyes shot up and a grin took over her face. “Mani! Baba is trying to make me go to bed but I’m not sleepy.” T’Challa looked up in surprise at her figure. “Well princess, if you don’t go to sleep, tomorrow won’t come and then we can’t hangout more.” Amani pouted. “Really?” Ada sighed.

“Really princess. Sleep makes the clock go faster and faster and speeds everything up so that tomorrow can come earlier.”

Ada looked to her father for confirmation. The king nodded his head and she sighed. “Okay. Thank you Mani.”

“No problem princess, just count backwards from the biggest number you can think of.”

“Goodnight Ada Ade,” T’Challa pressed a kiss to his daughter's forehead. “Good night baba,” the young princess smiled back. As the king led Amani out of the room Ada called out once more, “Good night Mani.”

“Good night princess.”

The king led Amani out of the room gently before shutting the door behind them. “I hope you don’t mind me staying, I-”

“I am glad you decided to stay,”The king reassured her. “Good, I figured I couldn’t really get to know you if one of us is always having to leave,” Amani chuckled, “even after an awkward conversation… I want to apologize again for what I said, I had no right to criticize how you choose to raise your daughter.”

“Please, do not apologize. I am glad you said what you said. People are normally too afraid to criticize any personal decisions I make. I am glad you stood up for what you thought was in her best interest and I will definitely be giving the matter more consideration.” The king promised.

“Oh, good.”

“Well, the night is still young. Would you like to watch a movie or something?” The king offered, clearing his throat and moving closer to the heiress. “Umm sure, I should probably run home and grab some clothes for tomorrow. I’m just a few minutes away.”

“Okay. I will set up a movie and order some more cookies or something,” the king replied.

“Cool,” Amani jogged down the hall and to the couch, “I’ll be right back,” she smiled before heading out the door.

Taglist: @almostpurelysmut @blackbypurpose @nyneebee @hutchj @tchoking @sisterwifeudaku @wikiwakanda @royallyprincesslilly @90sinspiredgirl @strictlyashley @afraiddreamingandloving @thedelightfulone @autumn242 @purple-apricots @kumkaniudaku @queertrex @kaciidubs @halfrican-heat @skysynclair19 @dramaqueenamby @gorjiss @leahnicole1219 @kreolemami @mzbritt @yoyolovesbucky @derangedcupcake @builtalongthewayside @ilcb7 @chaneajoyyy @lalapalooza718 @ororowrites @leahnicole1219 @dopegalkk @sarcastic-sunshines @sarahboseman @shesakillerkween @waitingonafriend @faatassbitch @lady-love-and-glitter-roses @cxnismajcr

[baby-hyena]

Thinking Out Loud | KHSxJJH Fanfic

Note: Hello, Hyena babies! 😊 Here’s the third and last part of Ji Hoon’s POV. Thank you for reading my song fics and I hope I’ll still see you on my next stories. 🥰 Hope you like this one.

1st part: https://baby-hyena.tumblr.com/post/616744455208353792/tenerife-sea-khsxjjh-fanfic

2nd part: https://baby-hyena.tumblr.com/post/618258800245342208/youre-beautiful-a-khsxjjh-fanfiction

P.S.: If you don’t like this fanfic, please don’t report it. Just go on with your life and don’t make things hard for people like us who just want to fangirl over this OTP. We’re not forcing you to like them too; THIS IS ALL JUST FOR FUN.

P.P.S.: Please wait patiently for Nothing Remains Unsaid, their site will be up soon. We love you, Nothing Remains Unsaid. ❤

~

When your legs don't work like they used to before, and I can't sweep you off of your feet

Ji Hoon’s hectic schedule pisses him off. Yes, he’s workaholic before but now that something changed in his life, he’s lowkey wishing he didn’t take a lot of projects after Hyena. He didn’t want to leave Hye Soo’s house that morning after she took care of him. But he had to leave because of his manager. And when they met, his manager shouted at him “Where were you yesterday? Gosh, I tried calling you but you were out of reach!” He got scolded. “I’m sorry, okay? I was lost yesterday. I’ll just make it up to my schedule.” He explained. And that following week, he was fully booked.

Will your mouth still remember the taste of my love

One whole week without being with Hye Soo is hell for Ji Hoon. He couldn’t go to her house, they had different filming location and time; they almost didn’t see each other on set. It’s frustrating him. When he got a chance and a bit of time, he went to her, “Hey, I’m sorry I couldn’t drive you home these days. My schedule is always full.” He told her, faintly. As usual, she’d smile at him brightly, as if reassuring him that everything will be alright soon, “It’s okay, Ji Hoon-ssi. Just focus and do your best. You can do it!” She said then tapped his shoulder. Ji Hoon smield at her but he sighed when he heard his manager calling him again. Hye Soo nods at him and then went on her way.

Will your eyes still smile from your cheeks

Ji Hoon can see every tagged post on his IG. Even when he doesn’t follow Hye Soo’s IG account, he gets notified whenever she makes a post and tags him in it. He’ll laugh at her tagged locations and her funny captions. He’ll text her whenever he can and sometimes DM her whenever he finds a funny post. “Why do you always tag me on my nose?” he texted her. Minutes later, she replied, “Because those are my Himalayas.” And he’ll burst out laughing after reading her text.

And darling I will be loving you 'til we're 70

Ji Hoon made sure his manager fixes his schedule so he’ll be free during the last filming day of Hyena. It’s also their last scene together at the pub with Team H. He’s so happy when his manager told him he can have the day off. During breaks, he’d whisper to Hye Soo, “I wanna eat all of this.” He pointed at the food on their table. Hye Soo’s eyes widened and shook her head, “You can’t do that. The production would have to pay for that.” She whispers back at him while giggling. Like a child, he’d pout and she’d let out her belly laugh.

And baby my heart could still fall as hard at 23

Ji Hoon would sneakily take a bite from the snacks and Hye Soo would lightly hit his hand. They’re like teenagers fighting playfully over their lunchboxes. “Hey, do you have anything on your schedule today?” He asks her. She didn’t look at her as she’s looking at the food, “I have to shoot my last scene later at Song&Kim. Why?” Ji Hoon didn’t get to tell her his plan to pick her up because they started filming again. After their scene at the pub, Hye Soo had to go to her next filming site and Ji Hoon had to stay at the pub for his last scene.

And I'm thinking 'bout how people fall in love in mysterious ways

The last scene went well. Ji Hoon did his best so they don’t have to shoot a lot and they got the scene at 3 takes. He couldn’t leave because his co-actors and staff started cheering, “Yoon Hee Jae! Yoon Hee Jae!” So he stayed there for a while as he acknowledges their regards. But he’s glancing at his watch to check the time, he’s not sure of Hye Soo’s schedule. He’s worried that he won’t be able to pick her up there. So when his manager went to him, he quickly whispers, “I have to go now. Please, wrap this up for me. Pleaaase?” His manager looks at him, his pleading face made his manager sigh. “Alright. Go now.” Ji Hoon almost jumped but he stopped himself and quickly went on his way.

Maybe just the touch of a hand

He quickly drove to the Song&Kim building. He’s silently praying she’s still there. As soon as he arrives at the parking lot, he saw her. She’s with her manager and hair stylist, they’re walking towards her car. He saw her nodded at them and they bowed to her. They left her as she scrabbles through her bag, probably looking for her keys. So she’s driving today, he thought. He gets out of his car and walk towards her. She probably heard his footsteps as she looks at his direction. He smiled at her.

Oh me I fall in love with you every single day

He stops in front of her, smiling at her. “Lemme drive you home?” he asks her. She lets out a chuckle that made his heart skip a beat. Ah, I don’t mind making this woman laugh all my life, he thought. “Aren’t you busy today?” She asks. He tilts his head and pouts, like a little boy who acts cute in front of his crush. “Manger-nim told me I can take the day off.” He smiled at her. He extended his hand to her, asking for her bag. Hye Soo shook her head while smiling as she gives him her bag.

And I just wanna tell you I am

Ji Hoon started talking about his busiest week. For some reason, he always wants to tell her how his day went, what he had for his lunch and every random thing he did. He’s so comfortable to talk about anything with her. And to his delight, he noticed her listening to him. “Ahh, I have to shoot my Burger King CF next week.” He tells her. He glanced at her and she blinks, “They wanted Prince Lee Chang but I suggested I’d act as Yoon Hee Jae too.” He said. “I bet Yoon Hee Jae would love to show off how good looking he is.” She said. Ji Hoon laughed at it.

So honey now, take me into your loving arms

They arrived at her house and he’s still talking. Of course, he’s also asking about her and her day. “Did you have a lot of fun today?” he asked. Hye Soo didn’t look at him as she walks inside the house. “Yes, it was fun. Ji Eun cried like a baby.” She laughs. He’ll smile while listening. When they’re inside, he started wondering. Imagining how they’ll spend this day together and how he’ll confess. He took off his baseball cap and fixed his hair. Hye Soo was telling him something but his mind is too occupied so he didn’t hear her.

Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars

If they were normal people and there’s no pandemic at the moment, he’d take her to beautiful places. Where they can see the stars; away from the city and they won’t have to mind the world behind their backs. He’d take her to places where they can eat their snacks and where they can drink their coffee peacefully. Without worrying about what will people say; without worrying about scandals and articles that would be written when their relationship was revealed. That’s his dream. But he’s not complaining, as long as he is with Hye Soo, this reality with her is always better than that dream of his.

Place your head on my beating heart

He didn’t realize he’s spacing out as they eat together. She was talking about her documentary. When he’s finally on his right mind, he utters, “I missed you.” He noticed her stops chewing and blinks. He wanted to chuckle because of that. Wow, I caught her off guard?, he thought. “You beat me. I was gonna tell you that first.” Hye Soo said. Now, it was his turn to stop and blink at her. She caught him off guard. So, she missed me too, a voice at the back of his mind screams. He can feel his heart dancing.

I'm thinking out loud, maybe we found love right where we are

Ji Hoon’s favourite spot is on the floor while they drink their tea. It’s his favourite spot because he can see her fully as she sits on her couch while drinking her tea. It’s like watching your favourite show no matter how many times you’ve seen it. Today, Hye Soo played some Coldplay songs. He loves Coldplay too. When the song A Sky Full of Stars played, he tells her, “Oh, that’s my favourite song of them.” Then he started singing along. He always wanted to sing for her, he just can’t find the right timing. But now, he doesn’t care about timing anymore. It’s his favourite song and he’d sing it to his favourite person.

When my hair's all but gone and my memory fades and the crowds don't remember my name

After the song, it started pouring outside. Ji Hoon looks outside and smiles. He loves the rain. They’re both staring outside as it pours. “You know, I like it when it rains.” Hye Soo tells him. Ji hoon looks at her. He realizes that moment, as much as he loves the rain; it’s a different feeling when he’s staring at the person he loves while it rains. He realizes how lucky he is; that falling in love with her was the best thing that’s ever happened to him. He won’t regret it even if he risk his all; even if he lose it all; because it’s her. It’s Kim Hye Soo.

When my hands don't play the strings the same way, mm, I know you will still love me the same

Their fame will fade eventually, that’s for sure. But also one thing’s for sure, he’ll still love her the same. He’ll still love her even in her weakest, in her darkest moments. He’ll still love her brown eyes even when it’s filled with tears. He’ll still love her skin even when it’s all wrinkly. He’ll still love her even when her hair turns to white. He’ll love her fears, insecurities, her pain. He’ll love her bad side. He’ll love all of it. He knows he’s not perfect and he’ll make mistakes she wouldn’t like. But he’ll make sure he’ll never let her sleep with a heavy heart.

'Cause honey your soul can never grow old, it's evergreen

Ji Hoon looks at Hye Soo who also seems lost in her thoughts. He smiled as he stares at her. He reaches for his phone, “Don’t look for me. I’m in a safe place.” He sends a text message to his manager. He puts his phone on silent mode and speaks, “Can I sleep here?” She looks flushed. I wonder what she’s thinking, he thought. Hye Soo asked him a lot of questions that made him chuckle, he couldn’t resist her charm when she bites her lower lip and gave him a faint smile afterwards. “I’m allowed to stay here until tomorrow.” He tells her. He’s happy and excited but he hid it in his smile.

Baby your smile's forever in my mind and memory

They’ve finished watching her favourite indie movie and they ran out of snacks. Ji Hoon feels hungry and so he volunteered cooking an Italian dish for their dinner. He doesn’t mind cooking; he’s more than willing to cook for her. I wish she’d allow me, he thought. Hye Soo helped him in cutting the ingredients and after that, she patiently wait for him to finish. But before finishing, he called her to have a taste. “Hmm!” Hye Soo said and gave him thumbs up. He smiled at her and took off her apron that he used. They ate their dinner together.

I'm thinking 'bout how people fall in love in mysterious ways, maybe it's all part of a plan

After having dinner, they have nothing else to do. They’ll look at each other and giggle. “What should we do?” he asks her and pokes her on her arm. He can see her thinking, “How about new set of movies?” she said. But Ji Hoon shook his head. He’s slowly getting tired of watching movies; he wants try something else. “Let’s watch movies later, how about an activity?” he suggested. He saw a glimpse of unease in her eyes. He’s a bit worried now, what if they’d fight over trivial things like this and ended up breaking each other’s hearts?

I'll just keep on making the same mistakes

Ji Hoon sighs to clear his mind. He won’t let that happen to them. He’s not a teenager who’d throw tantrums if he doesn’t get what he wants. Yes, he’s stubborn. But he knows he’s soft when it comes to Hye Soo. He’s willing to adjust to her needs and to her wants. He’s about to say yes to her new set of movies but she speaks before he could say a word, “Do you wanna try painting?” When he heard that, excitement was all over his face. He couldn’t hide it so Hye Soo chuckles and nods, “Okay, I’ll get you some materials.” He nods at her, “I’ll wait here and make a quick call.” He said.

Hoping that you’ll understand

He watches her enter a room. Ah, so that’s her studio, he thought. He looks away and reached for his phone. He forgot that he put it on silent mode and now he’s getting a lot of calls and texts from his manager. He answers one of his manager’s call, “Hey! What were you thinking? What do you mean ‘don’t look for me’? Are you crazy?!” His manager screams so he puts away his phone from his ear. “Relax, manager-nim. I’m fine, okay? I’ll confess today so please just support me. Alright?” he calmly said. “Are you sure about this?” He can hear his manager’s hesitation. He smiles, “I trust my love. I’m sure of this.” He made sure he sounded confident as he is.

But baby now, take me into your loving arms

After ending the call, he followed Hye Soo to the studio. Maybe she needs some help, he thought. When he opened the door, he was amazed. The room is full of paintings and art materials. He looked around and when his eyes landed on Hye Soo, his eyes caught the canvas she’s holding. It’s merely a sketch. But he could recognize it well. “What’s that?” He asks her. His eyes were glued on the canvas. He couldn’t believe she’d paint him. He never thought he’d see his face on something she loves doing; in her painting.

Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars

Ji Hoon gets the canvas from Hye Soo. He’s still staring at it as if it’s his first child. Hye Soo was talking behind his back and he couldn’t hear her because he’s still dazed by her painting. He sat on the couch while still holding the canvas, “It’s me.” He says while smiling at it. “It’s not even finished yet. Why are you so happy?” He’s speechless. Yes, it’s just a sketch of his face and he’s like a child being so happy about it. But he can’t help it. He’s so happy, it’s just like when he heard her say those three words that night. If he could marry her right there and then, he would; with all of his heart, without hesitations.

Place your head on my beating heart

He looks at her with his puppy eyes as she sat beside him. She asks why is he being like that and he’d just let out a sigh. He puts down the canvas and holds her hands. There’s nothing to fear now, he knows she feels the same way. And this is the right moment for him to confess. So he started talking, “I know you’re way out of my league. You’re my sunbae and I know I shouldn’t feel this way. But I can’t help it.” He looks down to gather his confidence and compose himself. He’s losing it to her. “I think I like you, Kim Hye Soo sunbaenim.” Sunbaenim? What the hell, Ji Hoon, he thought. So he shook his head and looked at her, “No, no, scratch that. I think I’ve fallen in love with you. Hye Soo-ssi.” He smiled at her, not showing his teeth because he suddenly felt shy when he dropped the honorifics.

I'm thinking out loud, that maybe we found love right where we are, oh

Hye Soo laughs at him. “Hey, don’t laugh at me.” He said while pouting his lips and he looks down to hide it. When he heard Hye Soo stops laughing, he anticipated her next move. She cups his face to make him look at her and then she holds his hands again. He’s still frowning but she’s smiling at him, “I know you heard what I said that night.” Ji Hoon’s felt his heart skipped a beat, his eyes widened. She knew? How did she.. woah, he thought while looking at her. He waited for her to say something, she nods, “I wasn’t supposed to say that out loud but I couldn’t stop myself.” He saw her cheeks turn red before she looks down to hide it. He smiles. Adorable, he thought. “I don’t think I can say that again—“ It’s now Ji Hoon’s turn to pull his hands and cup her face. She’s still blushing “It’s okay. You can say that again whenever you’re ready, whenever you want to.”

So baby now, take me into your loving arms

Ji Hoon won’t force her to say those words again. He can wait. He can wait to hear those words again even if it takes forever. He gently squeezed her face. “Hey.” Her voice becomes muffled because of the squeeze. He laughs at her because he finds it so adorable. This is why everyone loves her, this is why I love her, he thought while looking at her fondly. He feels heavenly and can’t help but to tell her, “I love you.” And saying those words feels oddly satisfying for him. He smiles at her then let go of her face. “That’s it?” His smile fades when he heard her asks him that. She sounds dumbfounded so he gave her a questioning look. “You forgot this.” Ji Hoon left this world when Hye Soo leaned in to kiss him. But of course, he went back to respond to her kiss.

Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars

Anyone in Ji Hoon’s position would lose control. He’d always lose his control when it comes to her. It showed in their second kissing scene. Every time they’d kiss, it feels like they both found their missing puzzle piece in each other. He felt it first on their first kissing scene. And now, he loses his mind while kissing her deeply. His hands wander through her body. He touches every part, as if he worship every inch of her body. To his delight, she’s responding to his touch. Arching her back and hearing her soft moans makes him want her more. He kisses her again and moves against her, they both got lost to their own world.

Place your head on my beating heart

This moment they shared will be engraved to Ji Hoon’s memories forever. Spending the night under the same blanket with the woman he loves is priceless. He runs his fingers through her hair and kisses it. Then he whispers to her, “I love you.” It’s the nth time he said those words to her. And he’ll never get tired telling her that. He heard her chuckles, “I lost count of how many times you’ve said that.” Then he felt her hold his hand and kisses it. “I love you, too.” He heard her uttered as she buries her face on his chest and hugged him. Ji Hoon could feel her breathe against his skin and it makes his heart beat fast. Then he’d hear her say something again, “Hope this lasts.” He smiles at that and pulls her closer to his body. “This will last. You’ll be my last love.” He whispers to her. Then they both fell asleep in each other’s arms.

I'm thinking out loud, that maybe we found love right where we are, oh

Ji Hoon wakes up with his numb arms. He winced at the pain when Hye Soo moves but he smiled at her. I don’t mind losing my arms for this beauty, he thought. He couldn’t stop himself so he kisses her. First, on her forehead, “I love you.” Then on her eyes, “The only pair of eyes I’ll love.” On her nose, “My little Himalayas.” He giggles. Then he kisses her on her lips, “The only woman I love.” Hye Soo moves again and she opens her eyes, she’s awake. He smiles and greets her good morning but she draws back, “I don’t smell good in the morning.” Then she covers her mouth. But Ji Hoon pulls her back to his arms and gave her a smack on her lips, “I still love you.”

Oh maybe we found love right where we are

They’re eating their breakfast when Ji Hoon speaks, “I already talked to my manager. Just tell me whenever you’re ready to reveal our relationship to the public.” He breathes heavily. He knows things will be hard for them when that happens. But he’ll be there for her. He won’t let her get hurt. He saw Hye Soo bites her lower lip and sighs. He reached for her hand on the table and gave her a reassuring smile. “Only when you’re ready.” He tells her. He’ll protect her no matter what happens.

And we found love right where we are

~

See you on my next fanfic! 😊

[surveys-at-your-service]

Survey #280

“this is the place in our mind with a crooked crown / we came to execute its own perfect shutdown”

Do you have a strong local accent? No. Do you prefer green or red grapes? Red, but either is fine so long as they’re crisp. Can you stand on your hands unassisted? pffff Who was the last person to knock/ring at your door? Pizza guy. How old were you when you last went trick or treating? No idea. Have you ever been bobbing for apples? ”No. That’s a gross game lol you’re dipping your head and mouth into water other people are dipping their head and mouth into.” <<<< This. What’s your most expensive piece of clothing? No clue. What’s the last thing you took a picture of? Guys I actually took a selfie bc for once in my goddamn life, I felt really pretty with the makeup Summer did on me. She's working towards a degree in cosmetology and is so talented with it. What’s the last thing you drew a picture of? A meerkat pup. Have you ever been on a pogo stick? Omg, yes. I got one for I think Christmas one year as a kid and I got SO into it. I learned how to do it really well. Can you down a pint (of anything) in one? Probably not without throwing up. Have you ever been banned from a public place? No. Have you ever been in a newspaper? A couple times, I think. I know once in elementary school for when I was in chorus; we went somewhere for a small Christmas show. Then I believe I was in it for another school thing? Idr. What football team do you support? I don’t care for football or sports in general. What did you want to be when you grew up? My phases included paleontologist, vet, movie director, author, game designer, aaaand I know I’m forgetting one. But my current and long-term goal has been to become a photographer. Being an artist as a free time “job” has always been an aspiration, too. Have you ever tie-dyed your own clothes? In school, yeah. How often do you buy new clothes? Very rarely. Usually just around Christmas or my birthday from gift cards I get. Are you reliable? In some ways yes, in other ways no. Are you proud of yourself? No. If you could ask your future self one question what would it be? If she’s ended up happy. Do you hold grudges? Nah. Do you decorate the outside of your house for Christmas? Mom does pretty much last minute, but only sometimes when looking at the past few years. Can you solve sudoku puzzles? Sure, they’re fun. What’s the most unusual conversation you've ever had? Who knows. Are you much of a gambler? Not at all. I don’t fuck around with money, especially when just $5 makes you feel great. Have you ever been to Disneyland? I’ve been to Disney World. Do you sing in the shower? Very rarely. Almost never now that I don’t play music while I’m in there. As a child did you ever suck your thumb or fingers? I mean probably? I do know I loved my pacifier and was SO upset when Mom’s doctor or someone playfully told me I was gonna have to give it up because my upcoming baby sister would want to steal it, and guess what? Nicole never fucking used a pacifier so I was tilted lmao. What time do you usually go to bed? Lol BRO it can be as early as 7 PM on bad depression days to as late as like, 2-3 AM. I’d say the average time is like… 9:30. What's your favorite animal? MEERKATS hngggggggggggggggg Have you ever been in marching band? No. Do you have any enemies? No? At least I don’t consider anyone to be. Have you ever been a cheerleader? As a kid, Mom wanted me to so I could do something with my sisters, who were actually interested in cheerleading. She certainly didn’t force me to or anything, I just agreed to it despite not being into it. We were with this Christian sports group for a long time doing various sports all the while being taught lessons in Christlikeness. I’ve actually got warm memories of it Did you ever date anyone on the football team? No. Do you sleep with stuffed animals? No, not that I’m against the idea tho. The plushy would just have to be very special to me and also comfortable to hold. How many consecutive days have you ever missed of school? I missed an entire week when I learned about Mom’s cancer. I could barely function. With how much school stressed me, I would NOT have managed. Have you ever been pregnant? No, not in my to-do list. When was the last time you wanted to speak out, but couldn’t? I’m sure it was recently over Facebook; most times, I keep my mouth shut over political things on there that might get me fired up because I’m afraid of confrontation. Are fingerless gloves awesome? I love them. Wore them daily in high school. I still have some of my favorites, though I’m doubtful they still fit my hands… Would you rather be cannibalistic or die in the wilderness? Okay so I’m gonna actually go kinda in-detail, so the squeamish be warned. Realistically, I think I’d choose to die. ESPECIALLY if I was the one expected to kill another person; then, there’s no question. I wouldn’t be able to do it either if I knew the person. If it was some stranger someone else killed and cooked, I don’t know with absolute certainty; starvation really can make animals out of people. I do know for sure I’d vomit. I far more heavily lean into still preferring to die, because I just believe some things aren’t worth living after they’ve been committed. I’d hate myself. I’d rather die feeling clean of conscience. Would you survive on a deserted island? Hell no. Have you dyed your hair eccentric colors in the past? Yeah, I want to do it far more often… What size drink do you usually get at fast food restaurants? Medium, sometimes small. What do you think is the best thing in life? Love, both platonic and romantic. Have you ever sold anything online either on Craigslist, eBay, Amazon, etc.? If not, what is your website of choice like any of the above for buying things? We sold our previous dog over Craigslist, and I sold my iguana there as well. I know Mom has used eBay and Amazon, but idk for what. Have you ever seen an animal give birth? Have you ever had a pet give birth before? I’ve seen old pet cats give birth many times. What is something you want to try to accomplish within the next year? I want a job that I’m content with and can mentally handle. Oh, and I REALLY want to make strong progress on recovering from the muscle atrophy in my legs. What’s the most unusual kind of pizza you’ve ever tried? I have no clue; I’m not that adventurous with pizza or food in general. If you were given the chance to decorate an entire house the way you wanted, with no limit to cost, how would you decorate it? GOTHIC AS A MOTHERFUCKER WELCOME TO THE GOTDAMN ADDAMS FAMILY. What’s one of your favorite things to touch/feel? My cat. :’) How often do you wear tights? Ew, never. Has there ever been anything you’ve become interested in much later than other people? I guess Instagram, but only as a viewer. I don’t have a personal one, just for my photography that I only rarely post. Have you ever had a veggie burger? Yeah, during my vegetarian streak. Burger King’s really aren’t that bad so long as the patty is made well. Do you like candles? Yeah, sure. When was the last time you wore a sports bra? Forever ago when I was doing Wii Fit. Where did you get the shirt you’re currently wearing? I think Hot Topic? It’s an oversized Umbreon shirt. Who last messaged you on Facebook? My friend Summer when we were planning our lil witch photoshoot w/ friends. Who last walked you home? lol you don’t just have someone “walk you home” here. Bundles of homes are way too far and in-between for reasonable walking distance. Did you make any new friends lately? If so, what are their names and how did you meet them? Not really recently, no. Would you rather see your favorite band/artist in concert with 2 other people or have a free $20,000 shopping spree to Walmart? Seeing Ozzy with my mom would be a DREAM, but to be realistic, I’d take the shopping spree pretty damn quickly. $20k? That would do WONDERS for us, especially as we’re about to move into a new place. When was the last time you threw up and why did you? A long time ago when I started a new medication. Do you want revenge on the person who has hurt you the most? … I’m gonna be REAL honest. For the most part, no. But ngl there are times I’m like “I’m gonna work on getting back in shape and become H O T” like a petty bitch lmao this is embarrassing to admit. Has anyone ever claimed that you saved their life? Yes. Did you ever have that near-drowning experience? No. Have you ever performed on stage? For dance, yes, but I never did a solo. Are you a jealous person? Not jealous (usually), but I’ve come to realize I’m a pretty envious piece of shit. Morning person or night person? I’m in my best mood in the morning because I have the “it’s a fresh start” ideology. Then I repeat exactly what I did the day before. :^) Have you ever written a poem for someone? Numerous times. Do you meditate? No, but I wish I could without it only causing more stress. Do you like cranberries that they serve for Thanksgiving? EW I hate cranberries. What don't you understand that frustrates you? Finances. Do you plan on going to college? I’ve tried college three times and dropped out each time. I’m done trying with school. Do you believe the governments hide technology and information from the public? AbsoFUCKINGlutely. Which is your favorite Pokemon? Ninetales! What horror fiction character scares you the most? What’s the name of the villain in the Scream series? Ghostface? I don’t feel like looking it up, but he TERRIFIED me as a kid, and I still think he’s mega creepy. Were you part of the Brownies/Cubs/Scouts/Guides etc? I was in Girl Scouts. Have you ever invented a fairly unique meal or drink? No. Do you have any family secrets? Don’t think so. Do you often read your horoscope? Never. They’re bullshit. Have you ever had a proper Tarot reading? No; also bullshit. Have you ever milked a cow? No. Do you love or hate rollercoasters? They’ve always scared me because I’m afraid of throwing up. Now with how dizzy I get, I absolutely refuse to try one because I WILL faint with all the movement. What’s your favorite sportswear brand? idc Who’s your favorite superhero? Does Deadpool count? Who’s your favorite villain/baddie? If we’re still in the comics/superhero universe, the Joker. Have you ever won a giant-sized cuddly toy from a fair? No. What would you say is your favorite album of all time? Black Rain by Ozzy Osbourne. I fucking adore it; it was my introduction to metal, and still after all this time, every track S L A P S. I deadass played that CD so much that it scratches at a few points. Do you dislike hairy people? lol fuck this question. I’m guessing you’re asking if I find them attractive and not as if people I “dislike” them, but in both cases, it’s no. We’re mammals, who the fuck cares how hairy you are. Do you like your own name? I actually do really like my name. My first one, anyway. Would you ever sign a Prenuptial agreement? NOPE. Want one? You’re gonna have to find someone else willing to, my man. How long has your longest ever phone call been? No less than two hours, but I know more. I have three instances in particular where I talked with either friends or Jason for SO long. Could you ever have an affair with a married person? Hell no. What is your family Christmas like? Nicole comes here so she and I open presents with Mom, then we spend the day at my older sister’s to be with the kids. We also try to squeeze visiting Dad in there the same day, but sometimes it has to be a different one. If you met a genie who offered you three wishes, what would you wish for? (more wishes does not count) Just three is hard… but #1 is indisputably world peace, and then uhhhh the end of poverty and maybe the cure for cancer. I’d have a super hard time picking a third; so many things matter to me. Have you ever had your national flag painted on your face? No, not in my plans. Do you have any strange body things? Well, define “strange,” I guess? Nothing like, really strange. What fairy tale character would you most associate with? Can I be Snow White and attract cute critters like moths to a flame? Also I would 100% take a Good apple. If a loved one was to serenade you, what song would you most like them to sing? It would depend on the person and our bond, really. Is there a cherished song between us? What is our relationship like? There’s no umbrella song I can think of. Is your dad an embarrassing dancer? GUYS!!!!!!!!!!! My sister’s wedding, okay? Father/daughter dance? He actually has MOVES and it was incredible man, never gonna forget that. What if any unusual objects have you swallowed? Nothing, I think. If you were stinking rich, would you only go to places other rich people went? Hell naw, man. There are plenty of great, affordable places in all categories. I could be a millionaire and you’d still see my ass in McDonald’s ordering a burger and fries lmao. Have you ever owned a slinky? My sisters and I had multiple as kids; those were d o p e. Teenage parents, good, bad, or indifferent? An AWFUL idea. A teenager is physically, most likely financially, and mentally unprepared to raise a child properly. It can seriously affect the kid, and of course the parent. What’s the most expensive thing you’ve ever broken? I’m unsure. Pirate downloads, good or bad? It’s bad… yet plenty (myself included) have/do do it. Democracy, good or bad? Good. It’s very important to me that rule should come from the people’s majority versus a small coalition of rich guys. While the majority is not always right, it seems like the best option to me. Communism, good or bad? Okay so to be totally honest I actually don’t entirely understand what communism outlines. Like I just read multiple definitions and small articles and I’m still kinda like “????”, though judging by the countries listed as those governed by communism, I would guess it’s bad? Have you ever been electrocuted? On an electric fence, but it wasn’t too bad. Have you ever been hit on by someone of the same gender? Yeah. The war in Iraq, good or bad? Get the fuck out of it. To start with, I’m a pretty fierce pacifist, and just… killing and killing and killing for YEARS is so goddamn pointless and is just a massacre. The war in Afganistan, good or bad? jfc ^ Have you ever appeared on YouTube? LET’S NEVER TALK ABOUT THIS lmfao Have you ever eaten anything prepared by a celebrity chef? No,, but that’d be dope. Have you ever been on radio? No. Do you prefer male or female singers voices? ”Their gender doesn’t matter, but their talent does.” <<<< Do you have a list of things to do before your ‘x’ years old? Goals should not be judged by age. I’m bad at this and have to remind myself of it a lot. A goal is a goal regardless of a number. Celebrate for *you*. Are you proud, comfortable or ashamed of your body? Very very much ashamed. Do you know html? Super poorly. Have you ever flown first class? lol hunny What are better, violins or pianos? Violins. How old is your oldest blanket? As old as me. My baby blanket is stored somewhere. Do you take enough vacations? lol hell no. I’ve maybe gone on three vacations in my entire life. Have you ever been sick on your birthday? Yup. Then one time I was recovering from a wicked stomach virus but went to Olive Garden anyway lol. I was fine though, and it’s actually a sweet memory because Jason (he worked there at the time) got the staff to do the whole “happy birthday” thing. I got a bombin’ brownie. Who is your favorite person? Sara and my mom. What do you do to stay healthy? lol you assume I’m healthy. What is your favorite form of exercise? Swimming. Do you like going to church? I never did. As a kid, I would cry when/if Mom decided we were going to mass after Sunday school lmao. It’s always been boring and too long to me, even when I was religious. Have you ever fallen asleep during a sermon? Probably as a kid. Do you like to pray for others? No. I don’t believe anyone hears them or will intervene somehow if I ask anyway. Have you ever witnessed a miracle? No. I don’t think I believe in those anyway. Have you ever been the recipient of a miracle? Definitely not. How did you or whoever come up with the name(s) for your pet(s)? I thought “Roman” was a majestic name for a male cat, and Venus has the coloration that the planet does. Who did you last walk a dog with? Sara and I walked Buster the last time I was there. It was windy as SHIT so we didn’t get far because my ass was absolutely freezing, all the while Sara was used to it. Ride bikes with? Wow, good question. I haven’t ridden a bike in many, many years. Hold hands with? My friend Summer did yesterday when she was trying to reassure me of something. For what reason did you last high five someone? Ryder and Aubree each caught Pokemon in Pokemon GO. :’’’’) I was watching them in the car while my sister/their mom was doing something at work, and they wanted to play it; they’ve come to learn that between my phone and DS, I’m the Pokemon provider, lol. I was the proudest fucking aunt ever bc they did SO GOOD after getting the hang of throwing the ball like Y’ALL. When Ash came back to the car, I gave ‘em each high fives before getting back in. What color and type is your vehicle? Don’t have my own car. Looking to upgrade or add any time soon? I doubt I’ll have my own soon. What animal do you have the most possessions *of*, or featuring? Like, décor or stuffed animals, things like that? Not the actual living creature? Easily meerkats, holy shit do I have a collection. What do you use to wash your dishes? Gain soap. Last thing you measured? Uhhh idk. Last thing you weighed? Myself. Last song you danced to? *shrug* What do you remember from your dream last night? I just remember it was a nightmare about Dad being angry. How old were you when you got your first credit card? Lol I don’t have one. Do you talk to your parent(s) [almost] every day? Mom, yes. Dad, no, because we don’t live together. What does your shampoo and conditioner smell like? I just started using a Dove brand shampoo targeting dandruff, so I don’t think it has a specific smell. I don’t use conditioner, just adds grease to your hair, plus mine is short anyway. Last person to tell you that you smell good? Idk. Last person you told that they smell good? I also don’t know. If you smoke marijuana, what is your preferred or typical method? I’ve never touched it. Last person you ran into unexpectedly? Ummm idr. How many plants can you see right now? There’re none in my room. Last compliment you received on your appearance? HA On your character/personality? That I was a loving sister. Do you remain friends with anyone you met at your first job? N/A Who have you hugged in the past month? My mom, Summer, sisters, niece and nephew, Dad… Newest musical discovery? 3TEETH is great. Like, I'm obsessed. Their cover of “Pumped Up Kicks” snagged my attention, despite actually being iffy about it at first. Guess what I’m listening to this minute lmao. Last thing you cleaned? A cup. What exactly do you carry around all your stuff in? A purse. What do you carry around, typically? Phone, keys, wallet, hand sanitizer, and my iPod are items of note. Where is your newest scar? It’s on the palm of my left hand from Roman playing with me. Where is your oldest scar? Idk. Last thing you disposed of? The milk carton. What was the last picture someone sent you? Mom sent me a gif from Hocus Pocus to fit the witch photoshoot Summer, her friend, and I did. Did you hear a siren today? No. What do you typically drink? I would rather not pretend I tend to drink soda lmao Last bad news you heard? My aunt’s brother committed suicide a couple days ago. Last good news you heard? I don’t really know. How far away is the closest cinema from your house? It’s like, 15-ish minutes away. Have you ever been to the emergency room? Many times. Are you one of those people who can’t go without their morning coffee? Y’all know me and coffee. But in place, I have my morning Mountain Dew, rip in fucking pieces. Have you ever worn fake eyelashes? No, though I’m honestly curious what I’d look like. Do you know the story of how your parents met? If so, tell me? They were coworkers; that’s all I know. What is your favorite Chinese food? I love pork fried rice. Do you live far from your parents? I live with my Mom. I live around 20 minutes or so away from Dad. What was the last hot food you ate? I’m assuming you mean spicy as opposed to just hot as in temperature. In that case, probably hot wings. Have you ever seen a meteor shower? No. Describe your current position: I’m lying down in bed, just kinda perked up by my two pillows. Have you used a microwave today? Yes; I had a Jimmy Dean breakfast bowl. Do you prefer going out for coffee or brewing your own? N/A Have you consumed caffeine today? If so, in what form? yikes- Do you know anyone who follows a raw vegan diet and lifestyle? Not that I know of. Have you killed a bug this week? Yes; we’re dealing with a lovely mix of gnats and fleas. What was the first food you learned how to cook? Scrambled eggs. Or maybe pancakes with Mom’s assistance. Idr. Do you have a Bachelor’s degree? If so, what in? No. How many email accounts do you have? Two. Can you go see a doctor alone or do you like to take someone with you? I like my mom to be with me. How long is your average shower? 15 minutes, maybe? It depends on the routine I feel like doing. When’s the last time you had a headache? Yesterday. What woke you up this morning? I think I woke up naturally? A rare occasion nowadays. Who was the last person you cried in front of? Summer, yesterday.

[vands38]

things i wish someone told me about coeliac disease (UK edition)

apparently some doctors are still not telling coeliacs what they actually need to know so here’s some fun facts --

*coeliac disease is likely to go undiagnosed if you don’t have digestive symptoms. for a lot of folks, their first symptoms are odd things like weight loss, bloating, mouth ulcers etc that take ages for doctors to correctly diagnose as coeliac disease. I know someone whose only sign was tingling in her fingers (nerve problems are a Thing sometimes). I don’t wanna freak folks out but check this list of symptoms and if you’re worried, ask your doc for a blood test to check for coeliac disease. I went in and out of my docs for years with various symptoms (mostly from the anaemia) and no one caught it until I was finally having noticeable digestive trouble.

* coeliac disease an autoimmune disease. not an allergy. not an intolerance. when you eat gluten, your gut just screams NOPE and throws everything out of there.

* this means if you keep eating gluten you will have serious long-term health problems because your gut can't absorb shit 

* as I mentioned, anaemia is one of these associated health problems. a lot of people have this at diagnosis b/c your gut hasn’t been absorbing the nutrients it needs. it leaves you very weak and tired, and the longer it goes on, the worse it gets. 

* long-term anaemia / malnutrition causes so many fucking health problems I can't list them all. basically, if your body sucks, there's a good chance it's a side-effect of your coeliac disease going undiagnosed. I got shitty joints and a shitty heart and shitty bones and godknowswhatelse and every time my doc is like "hey, guess what? it’s coeliac disease!"

* you know what a common side effect is? LACTOSE INTOLERANCE. this is because, once again, your gut hates you from all that gluten you've been killing it with, so it starts to muck around and kick out other things too. but good news! most of the time this is reversible!!! lay off any lactose for a couple of months, reintroduce it to your diet slowly, and you -- like me -- might be a-ok 

*some folks with coeliac disease can’t digest oats either as they contain a similar protein. I found that I was kinda squiffy with them at first but as soon as my gut had calmed down I was a-ok with GF oats (this is good b/c 99% of good GF biscuits are made with oat flour, RIP to everyone that can’t eat them)

* so... your bones are probably fucked. if you were diagnosed early and your doctors are on it, you might be okay but for a lot of people it means osteopenia, and further down the line, osteoporosis (meaning it's v easy to break bones). you need to be eating, like, double the regular amount of calcium every day. most people are put on calcium tablets with combined vitamin D (to help absorb the calcium) but even on top of that, you need to be getting a lot in your diet. If you're still lactose intolerant then switch to lacto-free versions of dairy products or eat tofu like there's no tomorrow. It's super important that you get enough.

* relatedly, bone health!!! You should be doing MODERATE impact exercises like jogging to strengthen the bones but nothing high-impact like tennis. load-bearing exercises are good too. here’s some examples (in detail) given to me by the rheumatology dept

* people have different sensitivity levels. in the UK, certified gluten-free products have to be 20 parts per million or less, but in the US this is 100! marmite lives somewhere between these two and can cause some coeliacs to have a reaction. please be aware when you eat international gluten-free foods that they might have more parts per million than your body is used to

* because you're super sensitive to gluten, not only do you need to check the bold allergens on the ingredients, but the small print too. it might say "made in a factory that handles gluten" or "may contain traces of gluten" and that’s a no-go

* similarly, be careful in restaurants. Apparently it's still perfectly legal for restaurants to say a dish is "gluten free" and then put your nice GF bread in the same fucking toaster as regular bread and have you shitting your pants for days. Just because the ingredients are GF doesn't mean they're cooking it in an allergen-conscious manner. If its not a Coeliac UK certified restaurant, always ask about their methods. Is that milkshake made in a GF blender? Is your fry-up cooked in a separate pan? The first time I got glutened after my diagnosis it was because my GF naan bread shared a tray with a regular one. A lot of places won't even fucking think about this stuff.

* if you're in a gluten-eating household, you've got a big expense coming up. you need to buy a GF toaster at the very least and I would recommend also a separate baking tray (because pizzas, garlic breads etc stick to that shit like no tomorrow) and a saucepan (or anything else that regularly contains pasta/noodles/etc). You'll also need a separate bread knife and board. Separate butter. Separate strainer if you're the type to drain your pasta. Line anything suspicious (e.g.your sandwich toaster, a communal baking tray) with baking parchment. Don’t use bare rungs in your oven or hob. And buy separate spreads and condiments, unless your household is very well trained in not dipping their crumb-covered knives into those things. I've even got separate plates, kitchen utensils, and cutlery. It seems extreme but I haven't had a cross-contamination incident since. Just think: has gluten touched this? And if so, do your best to minimise the risk.

* living GF is expensive long-term too. GF bread costs twice as much as regular bread. Restaurants often charge extra for GF alternatives. I had to switch from having toast in the morning to cereal because it's much more reasonably priced. I eat more fruit than I ever have before just because GF snacks cost so much. I used to have breakfast bars lol say goodbye to that shit unless you wanna be broke

* things I didn't realise I couldn't eat: crisps (a lot of your standard crisps are made with ??? production methods), candied nuts (most of these are made in factories that handle gluten), soy sauce, strawberry laces and a whole bunch of fave sweets (contain wheat starch to bind them - check this list for safe sweets), marmite (you can buy a GF yeast extract that is only 50% worse than the original)

*good food you actually can eat: most cadburys but not most nestle, GF beer which tastes exactly the same, schar pretzels are actually the shit, so are their BBQ pringles and those little chocolate bars with hazelnuts, Morrisons free from frozen mini hash browns will cure your depression, M&S do these bacon tortilla rolls which... OH BOY. Quiche alternatives are pretty damn good but I've yet to find a pizza that doesn't make me want to cry.

*speaking of supermarkets... Morrisons stock a good range of stuff and tend to have everything in one aisle, M&S have many yummy (and expensive) treats, Sainsbury's has good own brand things including bread, Tesco's are fairly decent and stock a lot of baking things, ASDA are the king of GF cake, if you're still lacto-free then Waitrose sell LF cheese including halloumi, and check your your local hippy food store because I found the best goddamn bread in mine (Incredible Bakery Company - you are £4.50 a loaf but I have no regrets)

*party risks: if there's a BBQ, insist that your things go first or have a separate BBQ, or, if worse comes to worse, just eat cold snacks. (Beware of sausages! Many aren't GF!) If its a chip and dip situation, either everything has to be GF (easily done) or have your own dip. BUFFETS ARE LITERALLY OUR WORST NIGHTMARE. the amount of coeliacs I know that have been glutened at one are INSANE. even if those tasty treats are labelled 'gluten free' they've probably be contaminated. everything at a goddamn buffet is contaminated. Dinner party? Well meaning friends will want to cook for you but unless their kitchen is set up as above, it's safer to bring your own food -- if you're very lucky, you will have friends who take the time to learn about allergens and will clean every item in their kitchen before cooking and serving an entire GF meal. these friends are to be treasured -- nay, worshipped.

*fast food. there’s no good way to put this but you’re never having that guilty pleasure 2am burger again. mcdonalds fries are miraculously GF though. (a lot of takeaways recycle oil so even if the ingredients are GF it’s often not safe but mcdonalds always use a separate fryer for chips). indian takeaway is great as most dishes don’t contain gluten. on the flip side, you’ll only be able to have about 5 items on the chinese menu (soy sauce is in everything, yo) so be prepared to learn those 5 items by heart. dominoes do Coeliac UK certified GF pizza!!! (buuuuut not during covid). chains like pizza express have got our back and will even serve you GF doughballs

*coeliac UK are your best friend! most of the things I’ve mentioned are described in detail on their website. they also have a barcode scanner app that will tell you if foods are safe, and they have a restaurant guide, and useful things like translation guides for when you go abroad. 

That's all I've got right now but hmu with any questions or corrections. Take care of yourself, folks. <3

[purplesurveys]

732

1. What is the reason you last got a new cell phone? The battery on my old 5S was getting frustratingly shitty and would die at 90%, and it would also take forever to boot up. It also reached a point where it was almost always hot to the touch. I always had to have a power bank with me and when that broke as well, it almost felt like I didn’t have a phone anymore because it would just be dead all the time.

2. Do you enjoy Math? I was always on extremes with it. Either I was making really excellent marks or I was failing badly, and I think it’s because performance in math depends on how well you understand and can apply the lessons. If you know the formulas it’s easy to pass the whole exam but if your memory is spotty, then that’s just a domino effect right there.

3. Are you more masculine or feminine? I’d say the lines are very blurred these days and I think it’s a very good thing, but I guess stereotypically I’m more feminine.

4. Has anyone ever told you that you’re their favourite? Sure, by best friends and close friends.

5. How many albums do you have by the band/artist you’re listening to? I don’t really pay close attention to the lo-fi scene and if their artists release albums at all, heh.

6. What are you doing tomorrow? Same old. Do a survey or two, maybe play the Switch, take a nap, have a coffee, maybe get a snack, practice Spanish.

7. Which name have you kissed the most people with? Have only kissed a Gabie.

8. Closest fast food place to your house? There’s a McDonald’s, Chowking, and Shakey’s right beside our village. If you’re willing to drive a little and take a u-turn there’s also a Burger King on the other side of the highway.

9. Does your city/town have a Taco Bell in it? No. I think only QC has Taco Bell, a shame.

10. Do you enjoy All You Can Eat buffets? Love them. Buffets make me so excited and happy.

11. Post a picture of yourself from about two years and three months ago: I was gonna say no to this but then I figured I used to post my photos all the time on my ancient Tumblr days, so whatever. This one was taken at my high school’s school fair and it’s the only photo I have of myself from January 2018. Blurred Gab out, for the curious.

12. Have you ever seen the band/artist you’re listening to live? I’ve never seen a lo-fi show, or know if those even exist.

13. Who was your best friend three years ago? The same ones I have three years later.

14. Do you enjoy hard drugs? Nope, not even interested in them.

15. Do you have any “e-buddies”? That means internet friends, right? I don’t have any < If this is what this means, I have Aliyah. Rafie and I don’t talk anymore but I still consider him a dear friend because of the time he gave me a free ticket to a WWE show when the roster came here in 2016.

16. Have you done anything productive today? It’s 1:19 AM, so no.

17. Do you enjoy sucking dick? I’ve never done that sksksksksksk. Don’t really have plans to.

18. Reason you last pulled an all-nighter? I just felt like doing it.

19. What design is on the last cup you used? It’s white but it has a black design of the wi-fi logo on it. If the beverage inside is hot the logo will turn bright blue to let you know it’s hot, but it gradually fades to black as it cools down.

20. Did you watch Garfield as a child? No.

21. Did you watch What-a-Mess? No, never heard of that one < Same. I only know Whataburger hahahahaha

22. Do you have a charm on your phone? No but I probs did on my old phones from childhood.

23. Last thing you bought over fifty dollars? Gabie’s Christmas gifts in total were over $50 (₱2500) but I don’t know if I’ve ever spent that amount on a single thing.

24. What colour is the last lighter you used? I don’t remember but it was either a neon green or pink.

25. Last thing you printed off a computer? A business article I needed to turn in for a journalism class.

26. Last thing you threw in the garbage? A sachet for 3-in-1 coffee.

27. Do you know anyone not related to you with your last name? Yeah I used to ride the bus with her. She’s like 6 years younger though so I never got to be friends with her.

28. How many band shirts do you have, and which ones? Just one, Paramore. I bought it with the emergency money my mom gave me for my first Paramore gig (like for food and drinks) so you can imagine how angry she was when I pissed it all away for a shirt.

29. What are you happiest about this year so far? I got to have a wild party with my friends literally a week before the lockdown. I’m glad I got to have such an experience with them, cause it’s something I never got to do throughout college.

30. Last black person you hugged? I’ve never hugged any black people, come to think of it.

31. Last cut/injury you received? I have a weird cut on my right ring finger that I have no clue from where it came. It’s not bothersome but it will sometimes sting if it’s hit with water.

32. Do you shave your leg all at once, or do you do it in halves? I don’t know what shaving legs in half is supposed to mean lmao but when I shave, I shave the whole leg?

33. Is life hard? Well it’s definitely not supposed to be easy.

34. Who does the song you’re listening to remind you of? These days lo-fi reminds me of taking surveys because... well, it’s what I listen to when I take surveys.

35. Last message you received? Kaye very randomly asked me just now if pro wrestling was truly staged and after I explained it to her I asked her why she was thinking of that at this hour, and the last message I got was her explanation.

36. Do you eat your vegetables? I looooove them.

37. Is Nutella amazing? It’s not groundbreaking on its own but I’d drop money on a Nutella-flavored snack, you know what I mean? I find it too sweet if I eat it by itself so I need other elements to balance it out.

38. Have you ever had anything pierced that isn’t anymore? No. My ear piercings are still open even after not hanging earrings from them anymore in a decade.

39. Would you consider yourself “tough”? In a sense that I had to grow up earlier than most kids due to the shitty stuff I saw in childhood and in a sense that I can handle most traumatic or triggering situations with ease, sure.

40. Headphones or earbuds? Earbuds.

[somethinwickedthiswayrides]

Tag Game~

Oh, why did I wait so long to do this? So many people tagged me! So many~

Placing everything under a read more cause this is about 40 questions long

@sebthur

1. do you like pineapples on your pizza?

I'll fully admit I've never tried it. But I am squarely in the 'no' category. It's just unappetizing to me.

2. how much bubble you want when you take a bath? all of them? none at all?

ALL THE BUBBLES! The tub will be overflowing with bubbles!

3. favorite scent?

Rain, specifically rain on asphalt. It's just, soothing, and can pull me right out of a bad mood.

4. what's your all time favorite movie?

I don't really watch a lot of movies. But I do love the Phantom of the Opera!

5. if money DID grow on trees... what is the first thing u would buy?

I'd move into a nice little home, no HOA, no super close neighbors, it'd be peaceful.

6. did u drink water today?

Uuhh...not water specifically. Gatoraid doesn't really count as water, it's mostly sugar.

7. if not, do it now! stay hydrated! did u eat?

I ate! Fast food, cause I live super far away from where I work, and I can't cook for nuthin, but I ate!

8. whats ur dream job?

I'd like to be a voice actor someday~

9. have you ever heard of upgamers?

No, I haven't. It sounds like updog though, so I am wary.

10. Can you play an instrument? which one?

I don't really count this as being able to play, but I used to own a guitar and I liked to pluck the strings when I got stressed. I don't know why I got rid of it.

11. have you listened to your favorite song today? do it now

I haven't listened to hardly any music for the past week, I need some music~

@nocturnofshadow

1. Dream vacation destination, go!

Home, in my bed, and not having to leave it for about a week. Sounds like heaven.

If I had to pick an ACTUAL location though, Ireland, it just sounds so beautiful there.

2. if you got any novels laying about, go and flip though and pick the twenty-second line - what's it say?

I'm assuming we're going by sentences here. "Psychologically warped; possessed by demons." - 22nd sentence of Wicked.

3. Got any favourite stims? Plastic click-clacks, squishy things, rubbing into a specific spot til it's smooth, ect. Tell me about it!

Hmm. I have a pretty rainbow metallic fidjet spinner, though I don't really use it. Mostly cause when I really need a stim I'm at work where I'm not allowed to have them. So I usually click or tap my pen when I get antsy at work.

4. Favourite scene in a viddy game? (alternatively, fave scene in a book, movie, ect.)

Currently my favorite scene in a game is in Red Dead Redemption 2! When the gang leaves the snowy mountains to head to Horseshoe overlook, the scene with the music is just absolutely beautiful, and it's my absolute favorite thing ever!

5. Favourite aesthetic and why! (old west, european gothic, ect.)

A sort of witchy style, a little bit gothic, but beautiful crystals hanging around, with herbs and flowers and AH~ :D

6. What's your go-to song when you're seeing red? Does it help calm you down, or add fuel to the fire?

Pretty much any music has a calming effect on me, it helps me drift off into my own little world. I don't have a specific song, but I usually listen to softer rock songs.

7. If you write as a hobby, do you still use pen and paper? Or do you prefer typing?

Typing, all the way. My handwriting is an absolute mess and sometimes even I can't decipher the symbols on the page.

8. How long do dishes normally sit in your sink before you get around to them? If you have any sitting around, this is your reminder to get them done!

All of my plates and stuff are disposable for this very reason. I rarely eat at home anyway.

9. Do you have a favourite Hozier song?

I actually had to look up who this was, I never really pay much attention to singer's and bands, and I have heard a few of his songs. I particularly like the Arsonist's Lullaby and In The Woods Somewhere.

10. Do you hoard music playlists? If so, whats the general vibe of those playlists and on which platform? (youtube, spotify, ect.)

I don't really hoard playlists, I usually hear a song and go; 'I wanna hear more like this' and make a new playlist. I use Pandora, and my playlists are mostly rock with a few country, pop, and, I'm not sure how to describe it, celtic? I guess.

@cupofcowboys / @fangirl-ramblings

1. Are you a book reader? if so what are you reading currently?

I am a book reader, though I'm not AVID. Nor am I currently reading anything, too in deep of reading and writing RDR2 fanfiction.

2. If you could time travel where in time would you go?

OH NONONONONO! I know the butterfly effect, thank you but no. I'm also rather happy in the timezone I'm in.

3. Is it hot or cold (weather) where you are in the world right now

Very hot, it's what I get for living in a desert, but hey, it don't snow here~

4. Start your current music playlist, put it on random and tell me what the next song is.

I use Pandora, so it's already random buut, Something's missing by Sheppard.

5. Pizza or Burgers?

But I like both. ;^;

6. Favourite movie/s

Pretty much anything animated by Disney. Though if I had to pick particular movies, The Lion King, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, Brave, ect.

7. Favourite band/s

Fall Out Boy, Panic at the Disco, Linkin Park, Nickelback, Halestorm, My Chemical Romance. About the only band names I remember, lol.

8. How many concerts have you been to?

That I bought a ticket for? None.

Though, My Chemical Romance did a free gig here about 3 or 4 years ago and I went to see that.

9. If you won millions and millions of dollars what would be the first thing you do.

I would become a literal hermit. Lol, I'd move into a cute little house, and never be seen again.

Maybe I'd pop out every now and again and become a cryptid. Lol

10. One thing you like about yourself?

About myself? I like my hair, took me years to admit, I used to absolutely hate it as a child, I had a mop of curly ginger hair and it always got me unwanted attention. It still does, but I'm a BIT better at just taking the compliment.

@madnessismylover

1. Sun or Moon?

Moon, so soft and gentle and sweet.

2. Would you rather have 20 cats or 20 dogs?

Cats, much as I'd love being smothered by 20 puppies, cats are a little less... needy?

3. Who was your first celebrate crush (that you can remember)?

Steve Irwin. I was 2 or 3.

4. What was your first video game? (and if you don’t play those then what was your first movie)

That I played? Pokemon Blue or Pokemon Gold.

That I owned? Pokemon Ruby.

5. Favorite kid show? (either watched as a kid or watch now)

I love cartoons~ Though I'm particularly fond of Steven Universe, Star VS the Forces of Evil, and Gravity Falls.

6. Favorite decade’s aesthetic? (70s, 80s, 90s, etc,)

I'm a complete 90s kid.

7. Where do you wish you could live?

Not really any location in particular, though I guess Ireland would be nice, maybe Germany or England.

8. Did you have an imaginary friend as a kid? If so what was their name?

I don't remember much about them IMO, I do remember their name was Ash, and they were TALL, like Slenderman levels of tall.

9. What’s something not a lot of people know about you?

I'm actually part Native American! Admittedly, it's a very SMALL part, about five or six generations back but there is a bit in me! And I'm very proud of that small bit.

10. If you had to listen to one song for the rest of your life what would it be?

Oh, that would be torture~ If i HAD to pick, it'd probably be High Hopes by Panic at the Disco, but, it'd still be torture.

MY Questions!

1. How tall are you? Have you dreamed being ever taller?

2. Favorite Youtuber?

3. What is your favorite fairytale?

4. Do you prefer kissing or cuddling?

5. What is the strangest thing you believed as a child?

6. So, what is the funniest pickup line you have ever heard of?

7. On days, when you feel completely bored and demotivated, what helps you to feel energized?

8. 3 things that make you happy?

9. If you could have a superpower what would it be and why?

10. If you had to describe yourself as an animal, which one would it be?

I’m tagging~ @septembershower @i-love-charles @crimsonredemption @mountainhymn aaannnd...I dunno, go for it if you wanna. Lol

[amysubmits]

Hey Amy. How are you? Just wanted to say that your blog is always really comforting to me bc I think you’re a really empathetic and thoughtful person. Lately I’ve been feeling isolated and hopeless. I don’t really want to bother my D or my friend with this bc I don’t really see the point. I don’t have anything to be depressed about and yet I am. I wanted to ask, if you had anything that makes you smile or feel better? What’s your fav thing to do on your free time? Any movies or food to recc?

Hi Anon :)

You are too sweet, thank you! 

You saying you don’t want to bother your D or your friends kinda seems like something that feeling blue might make you believe but that you wouldn’t normally think? I bet your D and your friends wouldn’t feel like you are bothering them by sharing how you are feeling. I imagine your D would even feel good knowing that you were being open and honest with them even though you were feeling vulnerable. D-types kinda tend to get a lot out of feeling trusted with vulnerable stuff. I bet reaching out to others might go a long way at helping lessen that sense of isolation too. So I’d encourage you to really consider that.

But in terms of things that I do to kinda relax and feel happy? I like to watch videos of stand up comedy, or sometimes I watch TV shows that are kinda ‘light’ even if they aren’t funny. I don’t watch many movies. Recently I’ve been watching the golden girls on hulu, but when I’m in a ‘light’ mood I also like trailer park boys, orangutan island, sister wives, teen mom, outdaughtered, the little couple, bob’s burgers, it’s always sunny and rewatching some TV shows that I liked as a kid like rugrats and hey arnold. It’s kinda neat to re-experience them from an adult perspective. Or sometimes I play video games or even simple app games like charm king or candy crush. I’ve mostly been watching TV and cross stitching in my free time lately. I used to paint more often. I like coloring sometimes too, especially with fine tip markers because they don’t make my hand hurt like colored pencils will after a while (once upon a time someone recommended me that on Tumblr so whoever that was, thanks! Still using them, haha). Sometimes I like taking a bath with a bath bomb or bath salts and doing my nails but sometimes if I’m in too dark of a headspace it can be bad to have that alone time to just sit so sometimes that is a bad option for me. I’m kind of a granny but I also like basic puzzles like word search or sudoku, things like that can be good for distracting yourself if that is what you are going for. 

Hope you feel better soon! :)

[sujus-girl]

Disclaimer: This is just for fun, so please don’t take it too seriously. This is not an official profile or anything like that!

A GUIDE TO PENTAGON

I actually had a lot of fun making my guide to JBJ, so I was like?? What other group do I love that doesn’t get the attention they deserve? …. PENTAGON

Are y’all ready to cringe? To sigh? To question what is going on with these children? Then, without further ado, I present to you: Pentagon: My Shitty Guide to 10 Toddlers

Group Name: Pentagon

First appeared on a show called Pentagon Maker, which was called a survival show, but SPOILER ALERT: Cube decided to do the right thing and debuted all 10 members together

If I’m going to be 100% honest, I still dk where to find the full episodes, but there are a ton of clips on youtube, and, honestly, I was satisfied with just watching those

ALL OF THEM HAVE REALLY GOOD VISUALS? LIKE, I SAY THIS WITH EVERY GROUP, BUT SERIOUSLY, PENTAGON HAS SOME A+++ VISUALS

Beware because they’re very. Very. very. Loud

The fandom name is universe and i just think that’s so cute OKAY?

Ofiicial Music Videos: Gorilla, Can You Feel It, Critical Beauty, Pretty Pretty, Run Away, Like This, Violet

Personal Favorite Non-Title Tracks: Thank You, Beautiful, You Are, Spectacular, and Lose yourself

Aight, we have ten members to go through this time, so BUCKLE UP, MY FRIENDS

Members:

Jo Jinho

The oldest member of pentagon

Vvv smol baby. Is only 5’6”

Is scared very easily lmfao

May be smol but has A HELLA SET OF LUNGS

High note king that leaves almost everyone shook

Used to be in SM the Ballad, but left and became a trainee again under cube entertainment

Had trained for EIGHT FRICKIN YEARS, DO NOT SLEEP ON MY BOI

I guess he gave vocal lessons to cube trainees like Yoo Seonho (someone pls KINDLY let me know if i’m wrong)

Drops a bunch of covers and spoils Universe with his voice, thx boo

Usually gets paired with hongseok for stuff?? Idk

Has a room by himself in the dorms, lucky boi

ALSO A MUSICAL THEATER ACTOR?? ALL SHOOK UP REALLY HAD US ALL SHOOK UP

Videos to Watch: (1) (2) (3)

Lee HwiTaek (Hui)

The leader of this mess

Got pretty popular after the song Never was released, then continue to leave people quaking after Energetic was released

Is an A+ Singer and Producer, we love a talented man

Is vvvv scared of everything and also has a lot of tears (we love a man in touch with his emotions)

A former JYP trainee

Got7’s JB said that one time, Got7’s Mark got into a fight with him, Hui, and B.A.P.’s Youngjae and Day6’s Brian had to translate the argument LOL

Also in a subunit called Triple H that consists of him, E’Dawn and Hyuna

Also has a room to himself

HONEY SOCKS

Has a fanboy named Yoo Seonho that loves him vvv much, and they even went to vietnam together

also appeared on this variety show called hyena’s on the keys and flaunted his composing SKILZ

Videos to Watch: (1) (2) (3)

Yang Hongseok

A former YG trainee

Was on the show that created iKon, and it was…. Oof

He was new at the time, so it was kinda awkward and tense, but it got better

Is obsessed with working out, and has the abs of a greek god as a result

Reads books in his free time, and enjoys studying foreign languages

He moved around when he was younger, so he can speak Mandarin and English (we love an intelligent man)

Apparently the mom?? Cooks and cleans for the babies in the dorm

Shares a room with E’Dawn

Also really likes Iron Man… and Jinho

The members say he’s the worst at dancing in the group LOL

It’s okay though, cause he’s vvv talented in other aspects

Videos to Watch: (1) (2) (3)

Kim HyoJung (E’Dawn)

“I have no fear” not even two seconds later *HIGH PITCH SCREAMING*

Can reach an octave i didn’t think human possible

A little weird, but that’s okay!

Is also in Triple H with Hui and Hyuna

Hongseok’s roommate

Is really good at dancing, wow

Kinda looks tired 24/7, but we’re pretty sure that’s just his face. Like you know how some people have resting bitch face? E’Dawn has resting tired face.

TATTOOS!

Sry, i just really like tattoos, lol

But yeah! E’Dawn has multiple tattoos! Since it’s like 1 in the morning and I’m kinda tired, I’m not gonna try and think of all of them, but they should all show up if you just google e’dawn tattoos lol sorry

Videos to Watch: (1) (2) (3)

Go Shinwon

Has trouble keeping his clothes on apparently

Like for real, just casually pulled his pants down and took his shirt off multiple times in pentagon maker

Is scared of animals because one time because… um…. let’s just say that there was an unfortunate incident with his pet hamster when he was in like middle school... yeah

Was eliminated during Pentagon maker, but four remaining members broke into cube late at night and put up posters saying they wanted pentagon to debut as ten

Gets mad real easily

Has broad shoulders… Like real broad. Edawn and yanan fell asleep on his shoulders and they were comfortable

Shares a room with Kino

Also really likes Mcdonalds?? Like, this boy put on a burger hat and ate a mcdonalds burger.

Really hates bugs LOL

Videos to Watch: (1) (2) (3)

Yeo Changgu (Yeo One)

Has a visual that a lot of foreigners seem to really like? That’s just something I noticed, I know it’s not the general consensus

Is also an actor, he appeared in a webdrama called Spark and was the main actor for a historical drama not too long ago

Shares a room with yanan

Is yanan’s biggest fan

Has a laugh that can revive wilting flowers tbh

Talks a lot too

Sucks at table tennis

He and hui put ducktape on their legs and ripped it off

GIVE HIM MORE LINES PLS

Videos to Watch: (1) (2) (3)

Yan An

“MADE IN CHINA!”

“Annyeong chingudel”

He’s from Shanghai

Hella model vibes, amirite or amirite

He injured himself when preparing for the Ceremony album, and he had to sit out and everyone was vvv sad and vvv worried

Got better and is back, and more random than ever

Sometimes says things that are real funny, even if he doesn’t intend for it to be

“What are you talking about, this is plastic”

“You… You’re in big trouble!”

“Korean name is Yanan. Chinese name is Yanan. English Name? Yanan.”

Also once called Jinho a foreigner, even tho Jinho is Korean and they were in Korea?

May be tol and handsome, but he’s really just a big toddler

Scared of roller coasters

Roommates with yeo one who loves him v much (yeo one has the right idea, y’all)

Videos to Watch: (1) (2) (3)

Adachi Yuto

“YUTODA”

A japanese prince

AN ATHLETE! Played baseball and used to do soccer

A former JYP trainee

Good friends with Yuto (U) from ONF because they both used to be JYP trainees and also NCT’s Yuta

Shares a room with Wooseok and will laugh at anything he says

Milk couple

Can’t eat spicy food for shit

Hella tall

Also appeared predebut at ISAC 2015 for futsall

A bby that is afraid of many things. Especially the dark. On pentagon maker, the crew turned off the lights and he real cutely went “pd-nim~” and i almost cried it was so cute

“What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?” “Ice cream.”

Says he can’t do aegyo, but he hella cute already, so it’s okay

Also once danced shirtless and i almost sued, you a child Boi (i say as I am younger than him)

Videos to Watch: (1) (2) (3)

Kang Hyunggu (Kino)

A whole cutie

I legit that he was my age or younger cause he was just so adorable

Only 4 days younger than yuto and 4 days older than wooseok, but he a whole baby

They did a vlive for wooseok, yuto, and kino’s birthdays and when they were getting into teams, hongseok was chosen to be in kino’s team but he said it so emotionlessly that kino got all pouty LOL

A dancing king

“I was going to go easy on you, but you called me Hyunggu”

Has a lot of friends in k-pop, he vvv popular

Shares a room with shinwon

A laugh that motivates me to be a better person

Saved the entire world by eating watermelon in front of cameras BLESS

“Get it Kino Beauty”

Proceeded to destroy yanan’s face with makeup RIP

Makes funny faces that i sometimes screenshot and send to my friends at 2 in the morning

ALSOALSOALSO, he had this little dance solo in Critical Beauty and I was LIVING for it

Videos to Watch: (1) (2) (3)

Jung Wooseok

The baby of the group

HELLA TOL??? LIKE WTF, IF YOU LOOK AT PHOTOS OF JINHO AND WOOSEOK STANDING NEXT TO EACH OTHER HE LOOKS LIKE A FREAKING GIRAFFE

He was sleeping backstage once and yuto put a chocopie in front of his mouth and he sleepily tried to eat it and i was :((((( he was so cute

Really likes yuto, they’re usually paired together for stuff. Like dorms

Really likes anime, legend has it that if you play samurai heart at exactly 1:23 AM, wooseok will appear behind you and sing along

Imitates an opera singer and achieves an octave that i would imagine isn’t humanly possible for someone with a voice as deep as his

Has a fanboy names Lai Guanlin from wanna one, and he will not let anyone forget about his precious Wooseok

Once did an eating broadcast with super spicy food and accidentally got some in his eye and the rest of pentagon thought it was the funniest thing ever RIP

Videos to Watch: (1) (2) (3)

That was a journey! We’re almost done, though!

Videos Of Pentagon to Watch! Weekly Idol with Victon and Momoland! (X) This crack (?) series that I live for (X) The VLive that was all sorts of mess (X) Triple H Weekly Idol (only Hui and E’Dawn) (X) This clip from Pentagon Maker that was all sorts of mess, even with only 4 members (X) Hui, Wooseok, and E’Dawn trying to cook (X) This other VLive that was all sorts of mess (X) Pentagon Heyo TV (Mafia Game Cut) (X)

AND THERE YOU HAVE IT! A VERY SHORT, SHITTY GUIDE TO PENTAGON! I hope this helps anyone wanting to get into Pentagon, or even just makes an Universe smile! Now go and bask in the glory that is Pentagon’s craziness! Bye!

[yournewapartment]

Hey-o, I'm sorry to bother you but I hope you can help me out please! As an (asian) kid, I grew up eating before I go out, meaning that I've never been to a restaurant. Now that I'm in uni, and am allowed to go out with friends, I have a question that google cannot answer. How do restaurants work? What on earth is a __ course meal? How do you pay? How do you order? Do you order between courses? What if it's a slightly more casual place, do you go to the till to pay or do they come to do? Thanks!

This is an excellent ask!

Courses

Let’s start with the basics. A “__ course meal” is a way to decide with your friends or whoever you’re eating with how many courses you will be eating. A “course” is a meal.

A typical “3 course meal” consists of an appetizer (small plate), a main course (large plate with sides), and a dessert (sweets like ice cream or cake). The TV show Chopped is an excellent example of this type of meal, because the contestants cook a typical “3 course meal” every show.

A “2 course meal” would likely be just an appetizer and a main course. People don’t say “main course” when talking about that course, they’ll say “main”.

If you are unsure of how much food to order and from what menu sections (see below) ask your dining companions how many courses you will be eating.

Basic Restaurant Descriptions

Chain restaurants (also called “fast food”). Examples: McDonalds, Burger King, Popeye’s, Wendy’s, etc. These are restaurants that only offer one course. This is because many of these are not what we call “sit down” restaurants. Because people typically pick up their food to go and do not eat there, they literally do not “sit down”. 

These chains will have limited menu options and typically only offer “main course” options with sides. They will ask if you want small, medium, or large. This corresponds to the size of your sides. You probably want large, by the way. You do not have a specific waiter/waitress to serve you, you will order and pick up your order at the counter. “Chain” restaurant literally means that there are many different locations for this restaurant all over the world. McDonalds is a classic example.

Family chain restaurants (also called “fast casual”) are chain restaurants where you would sit down to eat. Examples: Panera, Olive Garden, Applebee’s, Outback Steakhouse, etc. These restaurants have an inviting atmosphere and typically will give you a waiter/waitress, but they still do have multiple locations and are considered to be chains. The main difference between a family chain and a regular chain is the fact that you will sit down to eat in the family chains.

“Fancy” restaurants (also called “fine dining”) often have dim or romantic lighting. They usually sell small portions of very expensive food, sometimes this food will be “styled” or arranged in an interesting way. They will likely have a gorgeous bathroom set up with real towels to dry your hands with, as opposed to fake ones. Typically these are the restaurants that you would take someone you are interested in dating, not really a place to take friends. These are “fine dining” restaurants because the food quality is considered to be very high.

Diners are essentially restaurants that have huge menus and serve a whole bunch of different food styles and types. They are typically not considered to have great food, but are lots of fun to go to with friends. Diners are typically styled like they’re straight out of the American 1950s, they even have jukeboxes. I really can’t explain why.

Brunch restaurants are restaurants that only serve brunch and lunch. Brunch is a fancy term for a late breakfast (think eggs, sandwiches, salads, pancakes and french toast). These restaurants are only open from 11am-3pm.

Menu Sections - Food

Restaurant menus are very user friendly. They have sections clearly labeled “appetizer” and “main course”. Restaurants typically have a separate dessert menu, but if you go to a diner or family chain restaurant they will list the “dessert” on their regular menu as well.

After deciding on how many courses everyone will be eating, choose what appeals to you from each section. When telling the waiter/waitress what they will be ordering, people typically list their appetizer first and then their main course. If you will be getting dessert, don’t order that course until you’re done eating the other two. I can’t explain why, but people don’t do that. Your waiter/waitress will likely ask you after clearing your plates from you other two courses if you’d like to order dessert.

Food selections vary depending on what style of restaurant you choose to go to. Typical American styled restaurants will offer a selection of salads and fried goodness on their appetizer menu. If you are unfamiliar with any of the choices, ask your friends to recommend their favorite. You can also ask the waitress or waiter “what’s good to eat in this restaurant?” and they will tell you the most popular dishes that most people order.

For the main course, you can typically order a pasta, salad, sandwich, or a protein (chicken, pork, fish, etc) with a couple sides. You will most likely not get to choose these sides, they will be predetermined. Most chain restaurants will allow you to choose the sides you want. The menu will literally say “pick 2 sides” or something like that. Once again I highly recommend you asking your friends what they like to eat. Main courses are large portions, at least twice the size of the appetizer. Unless, of course, you are eating at a fancy restaurant. They are also more expensive then the appetizer.

Desserts are always sweet, and usually are slightly larger then the appetizer. They will usually come with a sweet side. For example, you could order pie and it would come with a side of ice cream. These sides are always predetermined.

Menu Sections - Drinks

You can order drinks at any time during your meal. When you first sit down at your table and your waiter/waitress comes over, they will ask you if you want anything other then water to drink. Water is free. Other drinks cost money. Drinks will be listed in the “drinks” section of the menu.

Restaurants offer alcoholic (wine, beer) and non-alcoholic beverages (soda, juice, tea). Not all restaurants offer alcohol.

Coffee is also a very popular drink. In a diner or a chain, people will order coffee with their main course. At a fancy restaurant, people will order coffee with their dessert. Restaurants typically don’t mind either way, it’s a preference thing.

Every restaurant offers refills on all drinks, some are free, some are not.

In Between Courses

Most sit-down restaurants will offer you a complementary (free) bread basket when you first sit down. There will be bread with either butter or olive oil in this basket. Everyone shares this bread. You eat this while you’re ordering and while you’re waiting for your first course.

Courses typically come out pretty quickly, so people do not order anything between courses. Snack on that bread basket, you can even ask for a bread basket refill (it’s free). You can order drinks between courses or ask for drink refills. But mostly you just sit and talk with you friends.

Silverware

Silverware (eating utensils) will already be at the table when you sit down. You will usually be given only a knife and a fork. If you order something that requires additional silverware, your waiter/waitress will bring that out before your course is done cooking. For example, if you order a steak, your waiter/waitress will bring a steak knife for you. If your food does not require anything additional, you should just use the provided silverware.

You can always ask for something specific like a spoon if you need one. You may ask for this at any time.

Dress Code

Find out from your friends how “fancy” the restaurant is. If you are going to a chain restaurant or a diner, just wear your regular everyday clothes.

If you are going somewhere fast casual, sit down, or will be eating a 3 course meal- wear something nicer. People will typically use the word “casual” to describe this sort of place, but what they mean is no sneakers, plain t-shirt, nice hair, etc.

If your friends are taking you to a “fancy” restaurant and specifically tell you to “dress nice”, this is when you whip out the special occasion clothes. Nice dress, slacks, button down shirt, fancy shoes or heels, etc.

Typically, the more expensive a place is, the more effort you should put into your appearance. If you are unsure what to wear, then search the restaurant on “Yelp” and read what it says.

Prices/Paying

How much you will likely spend at a restaurant.

Chain restaurants: $5-$15Family Chain restaurants: $15-$30Diners: $15-$30Fancy restaurants: $50+

Typically chain and fast casual restaurants are places where you would pay at the till. You would not tip for these services.

In sit down restaurants, your waiter/waitress will bring the bill to you. If you’re with friends, you can ask to have it split up so that everyone pays an equal share or split up so that everyone pays for what they ordered. You would tip the waiter/waitress 20% of your bill. So if you spent $25, you would add $5 to the total expense for a total of $30.

Here’s how I do tips: 

 $5 = $1 tip 

$10 = $2 tip 

$15 = $3 tip 

$20 = $4 tip 

$25 = $5 tip 

$30 = $5 tip

Add a dollar onto the tip per every five dollars spent on the food. You can always leave a bigger tip if you want to!

I hope this helps!! 💖

[surveys-at-your-service]

Survey #194

“i’m numb to the pleasure but still feel the pain.”

Do you still talk to the person you last made out with? Yeah. What kind of vitamins did you take as a kid? I believe I first had those Flintstones ones, then later Mom got the gummy type. Have you ever gone to court? Only to explain to a judge why I thought my scheduled month-long stay in the psych hospital was unnecessarily long for my state. I was convinced all I needed to do was talk to Jason and boom, my problems would be gone. Safe to say, I was delusional. Glad I won that battle though considering I loathe that hospital for their extreme lack of therapy and activities to keep us occupied and out of our own heads. I was committed there I think five times and no stay did jack-shit. Are you friends with your neighbors? No. How long has it been since you’ve seen The Lion King? Years. But bitch when that live action remake comes out I'mma be the very first hoe at that theater. Have you ever had a crush on your siblings friend? No. What's the longest amount of time you’ve been on an airplane without changing flights? However long the flight to Michigan was. What’s the best wedding you’ve been to? My former dance instructor's. What time did you wake up this morning? Like, 7. What are you doing this weekend? There's no difference in weekends and weekdays for me. I'm sure I'm doing nothing. What’s your favorite Disney movie? TLK. Do you wear colored contacts? No, but honestly I'd love more sapphire blue ones if they're a prescription and not just cosmetic. Who was the last person you went to the movies with? I think Mom? Or did I go with Dad later? When’s the last time you spent time with your cousins? I haven't seen Robby since '15, but Audrey passed through with my uncle sometime last year. My other cousins, hell if I know. Why did you fall for the last person romantically? Good Lord, that's an essay. Just more than anything, I think it was the fact that she cares so deeply about animals and people alike and is passionate about what's right and wrong. Can you speak in a different language conversationally? If so, which language? I could maybe manage a very simple German convo? Do you ever fear falling asleep? No, but I do rather frequently don't look forward to it, or at least the process of falling asleep. I don't go quickly. What’s the last thing you had to eat? A bagel. Would you rather eat all day or exercise all day? I don't believe you physically could eat all day? And exercising, I'm assuming you'd eventually pass out? But let's be hypothetical. I'd have to choose exercise, I care way too much about not gaining weight. Does one eye tend to be weaker than the other? Yes, my right is considerably worse. What do you think of guys who ask girls out over via text message or internet? It's definitely not my preferred method, but do it if you don't have the courage to in person/just can't for whatever reason. Have you ever had a churro? I believe I have? If I'm remembering the correct treat, it was unbelievably too sweet and I didn't like the crunch. What’s one thing you like about your town? The town itself is real old-fashioned and small. Did you believe that alcohol is more dangerous then weed? I know it is. Do you drink more apple or orange juice? Orange. Are you a fan of the Grand Theft Auto series? Never played, but I highly doubt I'd enjoy it. Do you like the beach? If it wasn't for the wind, blistering heat, and sand. So basically, I don't. I only like being in the ocean. Do you or did you have a curfew at one point? No. Well, correction, if it was a school night before high school and I was out with a friend, I'm sure Mom established something, but idr. Do you peel the wrappers off of plastic bottles? No. What do you think is the youngest age someone should lose their virginity? No younger than 16. But at any age, be. Smart. Have you ever played Super Smash Brothers? I think at friends' as a kid? What do you like on your sundaes? Like, just chocolate syrup lmao. Have you done anything productive today? Well, I exercised some. Do you believe in abstaining from sex until marriage? What I care about is waiting for a person you feel truly in love with. I actually feel like abstaining could be a bad idea, as I'd assume for some people, the desire to have sex would play a factor in them wanting to get married, so marriage could potentially be rushed for the sake of that when you're not adequately prepared in other areas. What is your sexual orientation? Bi. Do you put your name on your food coverings? If I was using a fridge at a job or whatever, yeah, but I'm not in that type of situation. What is something you have acquired with age? Open-mindedness. Would you ever go out in public sporting pajamas? Depends on where I'm going. Have you ever ridden in a race car? No. Do you enjoy history? No. Have you ever changed religions? Twice. Is there anyone to whom you are afraid to stand up to? Mom. And pretty much everyone else. Do you like making lists? Sometimes. Do you play sports with your siblings? Never di- oh wait, Mom signed all three of us up for cheerleading as little kids. Hated it. Are there stairs in your house? No. Do you like onions on your burger? A small amount of minced pieces is fine. Could you ever give yourself a shot? Yeah. What is your favorite room to clean? I get the most satisfaction out of cleaning my own. Do you enjoy cleaning? Not the process of it, just the feeling afterwards. What do you consider your ideal weight? My /ideal/ would be around 120 again, but I'd be happy enough between 130-140. How many pounds do you need to lose (or gain) to be your ideal weight? LET US NOT What is your favorite thing about Valentine’s Day? Just it being a celebration of love, which to me, goes beyond just romantic. I think people should spend a little extra effort in letting one another know they really love each other. Now I believe every day you should treat people with love, but seriously focus on it and be thankful for those you have. If you wear one, what color is your wristwatch? N/A Have you ever made a pair of earrings? No. Who did you inherit your hair color from? I actually think Dad? Going through family pictures after Grampa died, I found out he was actually born dirty-blonde (I've only known him with black), like I was. Pretty sure Mom's was always brown. Have you ever wished that you were born in a different era? Woulda loved being born in the mid-early '80s. Do you prefer soft rock or hard rock? ....... I read "rock" as in like, minerals. And I was. Very confused. High on the list of my dumbest readings. Anyway, definitely hard. What was the best time of your life? As a kid. Do you prefer sunny or cloudy weather? Partly cloudy. How do you like your potatoes? For most of my life I only liked them as fries or as potato skins w/ cheese and bacon bits, but I'm gradually branching out. I like baked potatoes split with cheese and bacon inside too, and Sara's mom exposed me to the very first time I enjoyed mashed potatoes, yeet. So those have to be made a very specific, non-clumpy way. I also like hash browns, but not the shredded kind. Oh yeah, I live for the fiesta potatoes at Taco Bell too like gd good shit. Who’s your best friend? My babygirl. <3 If you don't count her, it'd be my mom, but if she's excluded too being family, I don't really have a best friend. Maybe Girt, idk. What’s a TV show you never miss? I don't watch any shows regularly. The one and only situation where I'd watch every episode ASAP is if Meerkat Manor came back. Have you ever lied about your gender? No. What are you planning on doing on your next birthday? Go out to eat with family, and though unlikely, getting a tattoo would be awwwesome. Do you know anyone else with your last name other than family? I don't think so? Is your favorite band still together? I actually just looked it up because I really wanted to know, and his band's still going, apparently! I thought this coming tour ("No More Tours 2") was the end, but apparently it's just the finale of his world tours. Where do you see most of your concerts? I've only been to one, which was in Raleigh. That's the most likely place we'd go to, though. Have you ever had escargot? Never in my life will I try it. Do you use Google every day? No. What was the last new food you tried that you thought was delicious? Oh my god in Heaven. So, for Christmas, my sis made these hot chocolate cream balls things she found on Pinterest, and literally, maybe the best thing I'd ever had. I just barely had enough discipline to not eat more than one lol. If you could invent a new holiday, what month would you put it in? Hm. Idk. Have you ever had a bedroom with a specific theme? No, I don't think so. If you had to design a room with a theme, what theme would you choose? Gothic, maybe with lil bits of pastel goth for some more personality. What was the best thing that ever happened to you? Realizing I can't just give my entire life to a person, losing any control over it myself. You have to allow yourself to be free; do not chain yourself to a single person. Have you ever given money to a homeless person? No. One, I don't have a source of income, and two, I'm perfectly aware what probably 99% do with it, especially because of my mom, who's pretty much made friends with the homeless on the side of the road, has learned each and every one use drugs or alcohol, so instead she buys them food frequently. That's something I would want to do, but I'm so paranoid of strangers, especially desperate ones, harming me for whatever reason that I probably never will. Do you like your hair better long or short? SHORT. OH MY GOOOOOD CUTTING MY HAIR SHORT WAS ONE OF MY BEST DECISIONS. Have you ever designed your own Facebook timeline cover? Yeah. What is one site that closed down that you wish would come back? Hmmmm. I don't really know. Well, the Animal Planet site still exists, but I wish there was still a dedicated MM section, y'know, with the forums and games and such. Really think it'd be nice if they kept little sections for all of their classic, better-known shows for old fans. Hell, I'm pretty sure MM was their most successful, why not keep remnants of it up there? Do you ever watch TV shows on YouTube? Rarely, if I ever watch a show. Foo Fighters vs. Red Hot Chili Peppers: Not a real fan of either, but I'd have to choose the former as I enjoy at least two of their songs. Have your parents ever complained about your hair? My mom was reeeaaally shocked and distressed when she arrived at the parlor when I got the "big" haircut and saw how much was gone (eight inches), but only because she was scared I'd hate it. Thankfully she really liked it when it was all said and done. Are you a fan of the Saw movies? Never really watched 'em. How did you decide on your Tumblr name? I'm a sucker for alliteration, and it's a survey blog. Do your friends have the complete opposite music taste as you? My closer friends, not really, actually. Do you ever forget how old your siblings are? I don't know any of my half-siblings' ages, and I forget how old Ashley is sometimes. I forget frequently if she's two or three years older than me. Do you tend to walk places more than drive? Ha, you can't walk to a destination here in the country. I only ever ride/rarely drive anywhere. Do you have any photos of you kissing someone? Yes. Do you ever hang out with your ex? Rarely with Girt. Would you like the ability to read minds? No, especially if you can't choose when it's "on" or "off." Even if you only choose when you do it, idk. Just... doesn't seem like a safe idea. Do you see the same people everyday? Lol that's usually just my mom, and yes. Have you ever made out on a couch? Yeah. Are you mad at anyone right now? No. It’s 4 in the morning, your phone rings, what do you do? Almost a guarantee I won't hear, considering it's on vibrate. Now if I did for whatever reason, ignore it unless it's a contact on my phone. Have you ever fallen backwards on a chair? I believe so, playing as a kid. Last time you laughed so hard you cried? I'm not sure, but considering I do that easily... Who last talked about kissing you? Sara. Who was the last thing/person you took a picture with? My kiiiitty. Did you speak to your father today? No. Would you ever get gauged ears? Definitely no. What aren’t you looking forward to? I really don't mean to sound all emo and whatnot, but I genuinely don't look forward to like every afternoon/early evening, as that's around when I hit my extreme boredom decline, which goes so low I feel death could maybe be more exciting. I am in no way suicidal, I just want this era of isolation, lack of purpose, and no progress towards a great future to end. My life's been at a stand-still for pretty much a year. Would you rather get your tongue or lip pierced? I already have both done. I find my snake eyes way cuter, but when I consider my outward appearance and what people generally see, I'd rather have my labret. What is your favorite personality trait? Kindness. What is the most romantic thing a significant other could do? Idk, but something with deep personal meaning for sure. When you are dating someone, what is the most important thing to you? There has to be a mutual, serious care for our relationship; my partner has to understand I'm not in for a fling. We both have to have the goal of forming and maintaining a healthy, long-lasting, meaningful relationship. If I feel being together is a game to you or just for a couple months of a bit of fun, bye. Would you be able to tell someone you love them, even if you didn’t feel it? No. Well, I do with my mom if she's pissed me off and I *feel* like I don't, but I know I do. If you were engaged, would you want a wedding as soon as possible? Not necessarily. I believe engagement is a stage where you're certain you want to get married in the not-so-distant future, but you have other important things to take care of first, like for example, buying a home and stuff like that. When in a relationship do you have to have contact with your partner on a daily basis? I wouldn't freak the hell out if you couldn't talk to me for a day, but I'd definitely want at least a little conversation, especially if we're serious. Do you believe in moving in together before engagement or marriage? Yes. You should know how you're going to handle being with your s/o every single day. Did you ever give a hickey to the last person you kissed or you guys didn’t go that far? Not yet. Is there anyone you want to come see you? Yeah. What was the last thing you saw that scared you? A video of this guy with his giant pet centipede like an idiot (super venomous) crawling all over him. Centipedes creep me the hell out, although at the same time I find them kinda cool. Is there something that’s happened today that you don’t want to ever go through again? No. Is the last person you kissed attractive? Yeah. Do you feel bored with your life? I think I've covered this enough. Who’s someone you miss that you haven’t talked to in years? Megan, more than anyone. Do you have severe withdrawals from medications? I don't think any were ever severe, but I was weaned off of them all I believed. Just honestly I've been on so many since 6th grade that I can't recall each one's ending. I only recall having shadow hallucinations when I was coming off one. What’s the most weight you’ve ever gained from a medication? Let's not talk about the subject I'm more bitter about than anything else in the entire world. Summary: Don't touch Abilify even if your fucking life depended on it. Do you have a doctor you can trust? My psychiatrist and therapist, very much so. I've only seen my new general doctor twice, so I can't make a fair judgment of her. Mom has a friend who sees her though, and she only has positive things to say about her. Do you pray? If yes, to whom? No. What do you miss about high school? A social life. Art class. What do you miss the most about college? Literally the one and only part I enjoyed at my first college was lunchtime, because Jason and I could spend time together, sometimes with his friends. Second college, nothing. It was online. Have you ever been the victim of a crime? I don't believe so? Is your life worse than you could have ever have imagined it to be? Or is it better, or just what you expected? Ohhhh man... As a kid, I was so sure I'd be amazing. Still had a bit of hope in middle school. High school and beyond, it's, so far, worse than I'd planned. What is the most beautiful landscape you have ever seen? Mountains. Driving through them is unreal. What is one place you have always wanted to visit? Idk about "always." But for the longest amount of time, it's been without a doubt South Africa. Who were your favorite celebrities as a child? Steve Irwin was and still is one of my absolute heroes. I loved Jeff Corwin, Jesse McCartney, Raven Symone, and the Sprouse twins, too. Do you prefer slow songs or fast songs? I'd say generally, faster. What color is your trash can? White. Who was your favorite family pet when you were growing up? We didn't really have a "family" pet, just ones one of us individually were particularly close to. I'd say the closest that qualifies would be Chance, our first cat. She was special. List five of your favorite YouTubers. You Already Know, GameGrumps, Shane Dawson, Daniel Howell, and Jeffree Star, but. I have so many jsfaqoweuoapsf. I wanna squeeze Rhett and Link in there, but while I still love them as people and creators, I've been losing interest in GMM over the months. What’s your favorite type of bird? Barn owls. I also love ravens though for their intelligence and personalities. What pet names do you use with your significant other? A lot, but I'd say either "sweetheart/sweetie" or "dear" are most common from me. I think. How would you describe your sense of humor? Sarcastic, I guess. Have you ever been a member in a band? No. Well, except school band. Have you ever watched yourself on video? Yeeaah, senior project was fun. But I know how I usually am well enough to say I honestly don't feel I did badly. Have you ever missed a flight? Yup. Never go to the O'Hare airport, jfc. Have you ever seen a lunar eclipse? Yes, and I hope to see the one this Sunday! Are you still in touch with your best friend from high school? No. Any animals whose behaviors you find particularly interesting? AHHHHHHH SO MANY!!!!! Social species' above all. Do you like animals better than most humans? Yes. What simple things in life bring you the most joy? Long car rides when I can play my iPod through the speakers and just go to another world. Sara singing, hearing my mom laugh. Seeing old couples holding hands in public kills me. How did you meet your significant other (if you have one)? YouTube. How did you meet your best friend? She's the same person as above. Are you friends with anybody you didn't like at first? Also see Sara lmao. Are there any musicians you didn't like at first, but grew on you? The first/most recent to come to mind is In This Moment. Is there anything you used to love, but now dislike? Peas as a kid. I'm kinda on the fence of liking or disliking PewDiePie as he is now (although I haven't watched too much of his newer content). Do you have any favorite books you'd like to have signed by the author? It'd be pretty cool for Ozzy to sign my copy of his autobiography, sure. Do you enjoy any of those old black and white horror films? Any one I've ever seen has been horrid, so I haven't seen many. What is your favorite yogurt topping? I loved those ones that had M&Ms in them. Where do you shop the most: Kmart, Target, Walmart, Fred Meyer, or other? Walmart or Harris Teeter. Have you ever done a craft project you saw on Pinterest? No. What beverages do you drink that contain caffeine? Soda. What has been the best experience you've had in a church? Uhhh. Oh, Jason's brother's wedding. Do you prefer that your nachos be spicy or not spicy? Obviously spicy. Have you ever had a kiss that felt magical? Mine and Jason's first was cute, but I don't recall if I thought it was "magical" because all I was focusing on was just how shy I was. First kiss with Sara was definitely more than special. Who is your best online friend? Sara once again. Who knows more about you: online friends or offline? Online, easily. Do you think that love makes people irrational? It can. What book, movie, or TV show did you find to be total garbage? Oh, I'm positive there's something, but nothing comes to mind. Is there a topic that is a sore-spot for you? Mental health and how it may affect your loved ones. Have you ever lost a friend over a guy/girl? Pretty much. Have you ever lost a friend because of a lifestyle change? Yup. Do you like kissing? The right person. What location holds the most memories for you? My childhood home. Hypothetically let’s just say you’re a supervillain. What’s your agenda? What are you trying to destroy and why? I would never want to be, but I suppose the most suitable for me would be punishing the person to break a promise somehow. Why, because I know just how agonizing broken promises can be. What’s your go-to topic when making small talk with others? How their day's been. When you get to be in charge of the tunes on a road trip or party - do you play what you want to hear or tailor the playlist to what you think the other people in the car/room want to hear? I do a mix of both. Thankfully, Mom and I like most of the same music, but I do learn what songs she doesn't like and avoid playing them unless I really wanna hear it. You have any bad habits you shamelessly don’t care to or plan to quit? Shamelessly, idk about that. There’s an app for everything. What apps consume the most of your time and energy? Facebook. The most overrated thing ever - what is it? I literally judge you if you have a bigass, obnoxiously loud truck. Compensating for something? The most underrated? Ummmm. Talking about pointless shit and doing nothing while enjoying your favorite person's presence is surely one. What’s something you find unconventionally romantic? Teaching your s/o how to play a game together and you both are enjoying it asjfaoswuw. One of my most cherished memories with Jason was that with Little Big Planet. Just in general I find it super cute to share what you love with each other.

[drev-the-ambassador]

Can you tell us a little about food in Finland, like... What do you eat day to day? What are sweets like? Which fast food chains are the most popular? or something else you think is interesting. Thank you! :D

Thank you for the ask! I can tell you a lot about food in Finland, fortunately, because both of my parents happen to be cooks, so I can ask about stuff from them. A lot the information I’ll tell you probably came from them.

Well, first off, I want to say that today Finnish people often eat food that isn’t necessarily traditionally Finnish or anything, for example my town has at least 5 pizza-kebab restaurants, and spaghetti is very popular. This thing called “raketti-spagetti” is sold in stores, it’s just normal spaghetti but cut into shorter pieces, and the name literally means rocket-spaghetti. I’m not sure how that name came to be, but it rhymes, so maybe it just sounded funny…? I don’t know. Stuff like rice is pretty common too, even though it’s in no way traditionally Finnish. Anyway, I’m sure that a similar phenomenon (the international foods thing, not raketti-spagetti) exists in almost every country.

Also, the Finnish cuisine has gotten a lot of influence from our dear neighbours, Sweden and Russia. Especially Sweden. So anyway, if you’re from either one of those countries and I say that something is Finnish when your country has the exact same thing, please blame my ancestors for not being more original. Although I’d like to hear about foods or customs similar to these I’m about to mention from other countries, so if you’d like to, please share them in the tags!

Okay, so I think I’ll start with the fast food- part of the question.

Finland doesn’t have that many fast food chains, really. We have McDonald’s, Burger King, Subway, and soon a few Taco Bells. Like, three. BUT! We do have a chain of our own, Hesburger, which is my personal favorite out of these. It is the most popular fast food chain in Finland, with 268 restaurants. For comparison, McDonald’s has 65, Burger King 32, and Subway 155 restaurants here.

If you want to have a taste of Hesburger’s food, but don’t want to come all the way to Finland, that’s totally fine! There are Hesbugers in eight other countries, too: Estonia (42 restaurants), Latvia (44), Lithuania (47), Russia (34), Germany (3), Ukraine (3), Bulgaria (3) and Belarus (1). Pretty impressive for a chain from such a small country, huh?

I hope this doesn’t sound too much like an ad, this post is not sponsored by Hesburger. I just think it’s pretty neat. I don’t know where the restaurants are more specifically, but I’ve been to Tallinn and there were a few Hesburgers there. They have really good paprika-mayonnaise! Just saying.

Scratch that, I now know where is the Hesburger farthest from Finland: 

Now, for sweets, I think I’ll have to make their own post, but we do have a lot of different kinds of candy in Finland, since we have two bigger and several smaller candy manufacturers, the two big ones being Fazer and Panda. Fazer also makes bread and cookies.

Popular candies are suklaa (chocolate) in different forms - bars, slabs (?? I hear that is also called a bar sometimes? Like smaller bars like Snickers and then slabs like the one I’ll show a picture of), chocolates, like the ones sold in a box, with filling or without, you get the idea, a lot of chocolate - and, of course, salmiakki, salty liquorice. Salmiakki candies get their amazing/awful taste from ammonium chloride. Mmmm. Potentially life-threatening chemicals combined. Delicious. (pic source)

Here is perhaps the most iconic Finnish sweet: Fazerin sininen, Fazer’s Blue. It’s just simple old milk chocolate and yet is the most popular candy in the country. Is it really that good?

Yes. Yes it is. The shade of blue used in the wrapping is trademarked*, by the way.

Okay, moving on to the day-to-day stuff…

In Finland we drink the most maito (milk) in the world per capita, a bit over 360 liters. The 2nd is Sweden by the way, with around 356 liters. We also consume the most kahvi (coffee) per capita, the national average being around 2.6 cups. Seriously, people here drink coffee all the time. In the morning, after lunch, when you come to visit you can be sure you’ll be offered a cup of coffee, at weddings, at funerals, with dessert, I mean, all the goddamn time. Sometimes they don’t even have a reason I’m sure. You know when at work there are those shorter breaks? In Finland a break like that is called kahvitauko. It means coffee break, which I’m sure is a familiar concept in other countries too.

But yeah, people do drink milk at every meal - not everyone, of course, but most people - and for people who are lactose intolerant there are special kinds of milks where the lactose has been processed already, so lactose intolerant people can drink it safely.

This is our fridge. That milk probably lasts like half a week. The light blue one is fat-free.

‘There is also this thing called piimä, which is a drinkable product made from milk with Lactic acid fermentation. It’s not my favorite, but it’s okay.

Maito versus piimä. (source) 

Apparently there is a strict divide in Finland between west and east, where west likes piimä better, but east prefers something called kokkelipiimä, which, to me, sounds very suspicious, and I did not know it even existed. It’s piimä with something more solid also made from milk mixed into it. Looks like this.

I seriously had never heard of it. I do live in the western half, so I suppose the divide is real. Huh. (source)

A traditional Finnish drink, kotikalja, is often drunk at fancier occasions, for example at the Christmas meal or at some other celebration, like weddings or such. It has a bit of alcohol, but so little that it doesn’t really count as an alcoholic beverage. Wikipedia tells me that it’s similar to Estonian kali, Swedish svagdricka, Dutch oud bruin and Russian kvass. It’s not the same, but it’s similar. People drink it with food.

(source also includes a recipe for kotikalja)

 There is a Finnish word ruokajuoma, which means any drink that is often drunk at meals, like water or kotikalja or milk and sometimes also juice.

This post is getting really long, sorry about that. Anyway, we eat a lot of different keittoja (soups) here too. Most of the time they contain potatoes (perunaa), carrots (porkkanaa), possibly other vegetables, and some meat (lihaa). Kalakeitto (fish soup) can be creamy (I love it) or clear (not so good). Lihakeitto (meat soup) and jauhelihakeitto (minced meat soup)are usually clear as well. There is also hernekeitto, which is made from peas, minced meat or ham or something and some carrot. People can add mustard and onion to it. It’s often eaten on Thursdays, a habit that has spread from the army. There every Thursday is hernekeittopäivä, hernekeitto-day. With hernekeitto the dessert is usually pancake with jam. (pic source)

The pancake, pannukakku, doesn’t look like what you might expect, though. It’s like this.

(source)What is the closest relative to the other kind of pancake is called lettu here, or räiskäle, and it’s closer to a crêpe or a blin. (An actual blin, in Finland there is some misconception about blinis being small and thick… things, but maybe people would otherwise mistake them for a räiskäle?) (source)

 They are usually eaten with jam or sugar or whipped cream, or ice cream, or berries, or all of them. There are also muurinpohjaletut, which are cooked differently. (source)

A very basic dish we eat a lot here is potatoes and some kind of kastike (sauce). The sauce usually has pieces of meat, or sausage, or minced meat. We use a lot of minced meat. The picture example is made with makkara (sausage). (source)

When it comes to leipä (bread) I might be a little biased, because my parents bake a lot of bread themselves. Most households usually have at least two types of bread available, some lighter bread like piimälimppu for example, and ruisleipä. It is very Finnish, even though rye bread is eaten elsewhere too. In grocery stores you can find many shelves full of it. There are even rye chips here! Not French fries, or potato chips, really, more like nachos. But made from rye. Weird. (source of pic below)

One of the many forms of rye bread. (source)

Usually the shelves would be full but it was late and almost juhannus. That’s all for rye bread there. (Don’t mind my sister’s hand btw)

You can get rye bread in dried from too, all crunchy and pretty tough. Examples of this, dry, crunchy, though perhaps not that tough bread are näkkileipä and hapankorppu. Näkkileipä is often served in schools, since it doesn’t go bad easily. Both näkkileipä and hapankorppu are the best when they have some butter (voi) on top, at least I think so.

Hapankorppu in the front, näkkileipä in the back. 

“Which side do you put the butter on?” is a common topic of debate between Finnish people. (It’s the side without the holes, fight me)

And yet another traditional Finnish food that’s eaten like bread and has rye in it, is karjalanpiirakka, Karelian pie. It’s basically rice porridge in a crust made from rye flour. It is also called riisipiirakka. There are other versions of it as well, for example they can have mashed potato instead of rice in them. It’s traditionally eaten with munavoi, boiled egg and butter mixed together. It is heavenly. It’s the stuff in the picture way up there, actually, but I’ll refresh your memory.

(source)

Another pretty basic, and quite traditional Finnish food that is still pretty popular as I understand, is makaronilaatikko, macaroni casserole, made of macaroni, minced meat, and a mixture of milk and egg. All the ingredients are put together and mixed, and cheese is put on top, though not in traditional versions. Then the whole thing is put into the oven and cooked for some time, and then eaten usually with ketchup. It’s one of my favorite foods.

(source)

Fish is eaten fairly often, but pork, chicken and beef are probably more common. In summer we eat a lot of sausages and nakki (frankfurters) (?? I have never heard this word). Most common spices are salt, suola and pepper, pippuri. There are also a ton of prepared foods in markets, and I mean a lot. Whole aisles, many meters, of foods like makaronilaatikko or jauhelihakeitto that you just need to warm up. Convenient. One of my favorites are pinaattiletut, small lettus with spinach in them. I like them a lot. There are also the same kinds of small lettus made with carrot. Oh, and also blood. They’re called veriletut in Finnish.

(source)

Well, I’d love to tell you more, but this post is already way too long, so. I’ll end it here. If you want to know more of something specific I mentioned, ask, and I’ll try to get a post made. I’m planning on covering a few topics here more in depth in the future, but we’ll see.

Oh, also, a lot of the sources for the pictures in this post also feature a recipe, though they’re in Finnish. If you’d like me to translate one of them so you can try it out, just ask!

Thank you for the ask again!

(*edited because I, the smart person I am, mixed up copyright and trade marks. Sorry about that.)

[sparklingtg]

Reflective Journal of Consumption 1

Week One

October 20th Sunday

Brunch & Cafe in Les Vraies Richesses

Dinner Chicking

Green tea extract

For me, Sunday is a no-class day, but I decided to go to my favourite cafe in Sherbrooke. I bought a turkey sandwich and a cup of coffee. As for dinner, I ate Chicking with Katrina because she said she ate Chicking several months ago, that was one of her great eating experiences. However, after I ate my combo, I thought it tasted fine. The last item I bought was a bottle of Green tea extract. The introduction of this item says it helps in weight management.

I noticed that the container of Chicking is plastic. That reminds me that I use plastic products every day. If you buy coffee from Tim Hortons, Starbucks, or a bus stop, do you notice lids? Most of them are made of plastics. I just used a recycled paper lid once in China. Indeed, plastic products bring convenient in our life. There are seven kinds of plastic products we usually use, and I find a picture to introduce them. Although plastic products are divided into different levels, it does not mean that they are safe. On the contrary, they threaten animals’ and humans’ health and lives. From the picture, we can see that plastic products will be out of shape when they suffer from high temperatures. Then, the toxic materials will come out. In addition, some animals die because of plastic products. For example, birds get caught in plastic bags and suffocated. Marine animals think plastic products are food, and they eat and be choked to death.

However, before we find an alternative material to replace plastic, classifying and recycling them might be a sound choice.

Plastics 101 | National Geographic

Recycling plastics – Resource efficiency with an optimized sorting method

Reference:

National Geographic. (2018, May 18). Plastics 101 | National Geographic. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/ggh0Ptk3VGE

Rochman, C., Browne, M., Halpern, B., Hentschel, B., Hoh, E., Karapanagioti, H., . . . Thompson, R. (2013). Classify plastic waste as hazardous. Nature, 494(7436), 169-171. doi:10.1038/494169a

VDI Zentrum Ressourceneffizienz. (2018, September 27). Recycling plastics – Resource efficiency with an optimized sorting method. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/I_fUpP-hq3A

October 22nd Tuesday

Grocery: milk, yogurt, egg, cocoa powder, vegetable, fruit and lotus biscuit

McDonald’s

The cocoa powder and lotus biscuit were used for baking lotus brownie. Local snacks or dessert are too sweet for me, so I’d like to bake in leisure time. Also, I believe that baking gives me time to think or stay with myself without any words. I am a person with performance goals, kind of. I care about my performance in other people’s eyes. Also, I enjoy the moment when some eat the food I made or when he or she like my baking food.

McDonald’s is the choice when I am too lazy to cook. However, if there are KFC, McDonald’s and Burger King around my home, I definitely choose Burger King. Because at the same price, the hamburgers and fries in Burger King are bigger than those in KFC and McDonald’s.

I remember that someone used McDonald’s hamburgers and fries to experiment.

The audience is shocked when they watch this video because the fries of McDonald’s changes little when they are put in a jar for several weeks. I have a similar experience. Once I bought a hamburger and put it in the refrigerator, then I forgot it. One week later, when I cleaned my fridge, I found it. It is still a complete burger. However, I cannot refuse the burgers’ invitation when I am hungry. I try reducing the times I eat those junk food, especially when I see the nutrition and calorie table.

The Decomposition of McDonald's Burgers and Fries

Add a BBC News on 1st November about a 10-year-old McDonald’s cheeseburger

https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-50262547

The last McDonald’s restaurant in Iceland has been closed for ten years. The cheeseburger and the fries in this picture were bought ten years ago. I prefer to call them “Zombie Burger and Fries”, although McDonald’s says this phenomenon happens because the burger and fries live without moisture. 

Reference:

DebunkerSam. (2010, August 29). The decomposition of McDonald’s burgers and fries. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/8uHxRwQqWFo

October 23rd Wednesday

Nike air force 1

In one year, I usually buy one or two pairs of shoes. I like shoes, but I cannot afford them, so I only buy the one I love so much. When my friend recommended this pair of shoes to me, some words appeared in my brain: I need them. My parents cannot understand that because they are not interested in shoes. When my mom finds a bag she likes, I will see this bag at home the next day. We have a special ability with money to make our dreams come true. Money and desires allow us to be magicians. However, it may lead to spending addiction.

Sometimes I cannot refuse the recommendations from my friends. In Chinese, we call it “安利 (an li)”. When my friends describe one product, they introduce the benefits, wonderful appearance and proper cost-effective, which impede my critical thinking. In China, online living shopping is popular. One of the most popular hosts is Jiaqi Li. He sold five thousand products in three minutes. Most of the audience is female. He uses “Oh my god” and “all girls” as the hook to introduce the benefits of products. Coupons and discounts lure consumers. Before living shopping is over, you may buy something. Sometimes you buy something you will not use. Why? Why do we buy something useless?

There are three reasons: 1) improving self-esteem; 2) releasing pressure; 3) reducing anxiety and improving mood.

Some people prefer to compare with others when they buy luxury things, and they want to show off, which helps them to improve their self-esteem. Moreover, there is an Ebates survey shows that “63.9% of women and 39.8% of men shop to improve their mood”. Also, retail therapy is a consumers’ behaviour, they use is to control their emotions and improve their mood (Atalay & Meloy, 2011). Although Atalay and Meloy (2011) show that there is no significant negative response from retail therapy, I do not believe that retail therapy is an effective, long-term solution.

Reference:

Ebates survey: More than half (51.8%) of Americans engage in retail therapy-- 63.9% of women and 39.8% of men shop to improve their mood. (2013, ). Benzinga.Com.

Atalay, A. S., & Meloy, M. G. (2011). Retail therapy: A strategic effort to improve mood. Psychology & Marketing, 28(6), 638-659. doi:10.1002/mar.20404

October 24th Thursday

American visa fee

Soft drink: Canada Dry

Last Christmas, my uncle’s family went to San Francisco for vacation. I did not have an America visa, so I stayed at home and had Christmas alone. After they came back, they told me their incredible experience in the Yosemite national park that makes me jealous, so I apply for an American visa.

I love sparkling water, and sometimes I drink soft drinks. Through checking my statement, I found that each week, I spend about eight dollars on sparkling waters or soft drinks. Only this year, I want to abandon the habit of drinking soft drinks three times. The longest one is forty-two days. There are so many videos on YouTube to demonstrate how harmful to bodies when people drink coke. When I watch those videos, I changed soft drinks to sparkling water because there is no calorie in sparkling water. I hope that I could abandon soft drinks and sparkling water in two months.

October 25th Friday and October 27th Sunday

Tim Hortons: Coffee

For me, coffee is not a necessity, but if I have classes or I have to complete assignments, coffee is a sound choice for me to concentrate on tasks. When I was in China, there is a Starbucks on my way to work. I spent lots of money on coffee and other products (such as membership cards, mugs, and food). I had almost sixteen Starbucks membership card, and one card costs ninety-eight RMB (about 19 CAD). Each card involves five coupons (one free breakfast coffee, one free coffee, and three coupons for second cup free). Also, each card has a unique theme, and its fascinating appearance attracted me. Now, I regret that I spent money on those cards because they forced and engaged me to spend more on coffee and other products in Starbucks.

Then, when I came to Canada, I found Tim Hortons. One cup of coffee in Tim Hortons cost 2.26 CAD (after tax), while it costs 6.26 CAD in Starbucks. However, Starbucks has more types of coffee than Tim Hortons.

In Sherbrooke, there are only two Starbucks. It takes me forty minutes to arrive at the nearest one by bus. Fortunately, the distance helps me to save money.

[richnursegroup]

Why we should eat a healthier diet and how can we make it a long-term lifestyle change?

According to the CDC’s National VItal Statistic Report of 2019, the leading causes of death today can be attributed to heart disease and cancer. Although these 2 conditions are unique, they share a common risk factor which is a poor diet. A poor diet can lead to obesity which increases the risks for heart disease and a poor diet consisting of overconsumption or underconsumption of certain foods increases the risks for certain cancers.

Image by Natdiner, http://madisonnautilusdiner.com/top-healthy-eating-tips-2019/

What are the benefits of eating a healthier diet?

According to Miss. Butler, a licensed and registered Dietician, a healthier diet can lead to:

- Weight loss

It is no secret that the obesity epidemic in the U.S. continues to worsen and obesity is a major risk factor in many chronic conditions. By eating a healthy diet, we can lose weight and curb obesity to live a longer and healthier life. Limiting our diets from processed foods and increasing our intake of fiber rich foods can contribute to weight loss.

- Reducing risks of certain cancers

Limiting alcohol consumption can lower our risks of liver cancer and diseases. Increasing our intake of fruits and vegetables can lead to decreased risk of colorectal cancers and fruits and vegetables are full of fiber which can help curb your appetite.

- Prevent or maintain Diabetes

These days, pretty much everything has sugar in it so, diabetes type II is at it’s all time high. By limiting our intake of sugar, we can manage our blood glucose levels to prevent onset of type II diabetes or maintain it’s levels for diabetics.

- Prevent Heart disease and stroke

One of the key risk factors of heart disease is due to our high intake of red meats and foods high in cholesterol and saturated and trans fats. By limiting our intake of high cholesterol foods and replacing it with foods rich in HDL “good” cholesterol, we can help prevent onset of heart disease.

- Prevent cognitive disorders and cognitive decline

Although cognitive disorders are not as life-threatening as heart diseases or cancer, it can heavily affect our every day lives. Cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s or Dementia are such conditions that can lead to decline in our cognitive abilities. Eating foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins C,D and E can lower our risks of developing cognitive disorders.

Crichton-Stuart, C. (2018, June 26). The top 10 benefits of eating healthy. Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322268.php.

~MW

Eat smart

A healthy diet and lifestyle should be our priority. There some steps to healthy lifestyle, some of them are: drinking enough water per day, exercising, maintaining a healthy weight, and of course good nutrition. Eating healthy can be fun too. To eat healthy means eating food that is enjoyable to you in the quantity that is good for you. Watch what you eat and how much you eat. Because of our busy lifestyle we have no time to make healthy food, even though it is very easy. In this blog I want to give some healthy, easy and quick recipes. 

Start your day off right with a healthy breakfast “Avocado toast with egg”.

Sometimes simple is just better. Top two lightly toasted slices of whole-grain bread with smashed avocado and a sprinkling of salt and pepper. Layer on two sunny-side up eggs for a healthy dose of protein and you’ve got a well-rounded breakfast.

31 healthy and fast breakfast recipes for busy mornings. (May 30, 2017). Retrieved from https://greatist.com/health/healthy-fast-breakfast-recipes#toasts/

Delicious lunch “Asian Quinoa Salad”.

I love this salad because it’s tasty and healthy, but I also love it because it’s pretty! The salad has: red cabbage, edamame, carrots, red pepper, cucumbers, cilantro.

Two peas & their pod. (2018, March 3). Retrieved from https://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/asian-quinoa-salad/

Sensible and filling Dinner “Easy spicy vegan potato curry”

Ingredients:1 Tbsp coconut oil; 2 small red potatoes, cubed (2-3" diameter); 1 cup pepper slices; 1/2 tsp garlic; 1/2 cup rice; 2 Tbsp curry paste; 1 1/2 cups coconut milk; 1/2 cup water; 1 cup shredded spinach; 1 cup chickpeas.

Instructions : cut the red potatoes into small cubes; cook the potatoes, pepper slices, and garlic in the coconut oil over medium-high heat; while the vegetables are cooking, microwave or cook the rice; add the curry paste to the vegetables and continue cook; add the coconut milk, water, spinach, and chickpeas; lastly, add the rice and continue to cook until everything is hot; serve and enjoy!

Jarof Lemons. (2017, October 9). Retrieved from https://www.jaroflemons.com/easy-spicy-vegan-potato-curry/

~Y.V.

Some factors that affect our diets and in long term impacts our health.

Image: Tagney, A. (2018, March 16). Can Diet Replace Exercise? Retrieved September 2019, from https://www.foodmatters.com/article/can-diet-replace-exercise.

Some factors that impact our diets are:

Social and cultural norms

Society is very judgmental in what is a “perfect body” from social media. There are social media bloggers who will always post their exercise routines or their meal prep routines to show how they achieve their weight goal and body goal.

With social media and television advertisements, children are the main group that is influenced because of the lack of knowledge they have on what is healthy and what isn’t. There is a rise in obesity in children. (Orciari, 2013)

In certain cultures, there are certain foods that can and cannot be consumed and specific diets are maintained. For example, those who cannot eat certain meats due to their culture.

Orciari, M. (2018, March 15). Fast food companies still target kids with marketing for unhealthy products. Retrieved September 2019, from https://news.yale.edu/2013/11/04/fast-food-companies-still-target-kids-marketing-unhealthy-products.

Image: Advertising in the Fast Food Industry. (2011, February 25). Retrieved September 2019, from https://amf1s.wordpress.com/2011/02/25/advertising-in-the-fast-food-industry/.

Environmental and Financial factors

Processed foods are typically cheaper than those that are organic, not everyone can afford to buy organic foods. In low income areas, healthy choices are not always the option financially. (Nutrition and Weight Status, 2019)

With busy schedules of working adults and students, it is a lot easier to eat fast foods as opposed to bring a lunch packed from home which leads to many health issues such as obesity. (Nutrition and Weight Status, 2019)

A fun activity such as hiking or walking around a mall is a good form of exercise towards our diets but at the end of the hike or the end of the walk in a mall, the first thing we think about is food. The availability presented are either food trucks or fast food unless the persons willpower is strong enough to say “let’s go home and cook”, which is almost never. (Other Factors in Weight Gain, 2019)

Nutrition and Weight Status. (n.d.). Retrieved September 2019, from https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/nutrition-and-weight-status.

Other Factors in Weight Gain | Healthy Weight | CDC. (n.d.). Retrieved September 2019, from https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/calories/other_factors.html.

- KW

Why does eating healthy seem so difficult?

This is a topic that I, as well as many of my family and friends struggle with on a daily basis. Sometimes, it seems so difficult to stick to a healthy, well-balanced diet. Two reasons that I’ve learned have the biggest impact on eating healthy for many people that I know are: the fact that they’re always on the go, and that eating healthy can sometimes seem too expensive.

Constantly traveling, commuting, and being on the go all day, everyday can be exhausting. Unfortunately, when living such busy lifestyles, we often turn to quick, easy, accessible food to keep us going. Usually, it’s not because we love it, it’s just because of how accessible it is. More often than not, the options we turn to are fast food chains such as McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, Chick-fil-A, Dunkin’ Donuts, or Starbucks. Although it seems quick, easy, cheap, and gives us enough energy to get through that meeting or 3 hour lecture, it’s not. When going to one of the fast food places listed above, we usually spend A LOT of time waiting on line, and waiting for our orders to be made. We also think we’re saving money, but in reality, eating like this so frequently burns a hole in our pockets way too easily. Although the food might give us enough energy to get through that long class, or that shift at work, in reality, I think we can all agree that after a couple hours, fast food makes us feel pretty yucky. I know that for most of us, time is of the essence, but a great way to combat this problem would be to meal prep, and bring our own lunches to work or school. I know what you’re probably thinking, it’s too time consuming. However, packing a lunch and a few snacks doesn’t have to turn into a five course meal. Even doing something simple like packing a sandwich or a salad, with an apple or granola bar can make a difference. Bringing a packed meal from home eliminates time wasted waiting on lines, as well as cuts daily costs, and gives us the ability to control what’s going into our bodies.

Another issue that makes eating healthy difficult for some of us, is that we’re under the impression that eating healthy is too expensive. Eating healthy does NOT mean you have to buy every single 100% vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, 100% organic products that you see at Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s (no offense to anyone who shops there, they do have good products and I do shop there myself occasionally). Eating healthy doesn’t mean that you have to break the bank. It means, maybe instead of picking up the bag of potato chips at the grocery store, go for a bag of baby carrots or cherry tomatoes as a snack instead. Instead of making frozen French fries on the side when you’re making burgers, cook up a side of veggies instead. If you’re in the mood for a sweet snack, instead of sugar-filled candy, have an apple or a banana. It’s small choices like these, that end up making a huge difference. Another big factor isn’t only WHAT you’re eating, but more so HOW you’re preparing and cooking it. Take chicken cutlets for example. I know a lot of people who love to fry them, but personally, when my mom or I make them, we bake them in the oven, because it’s healthier. Eating healthy doesn't mean we have to spend a ton of money, it just means we’re smarter about what choose to spend our money on, and we’re smarter about how we prepare and cook foods that we’re already used to eating.

Image: Vandita (2019, May 11) Junk Food Vs. Healthy Food: Which is More Expensive? Retrieved September 2019 https://anonhq.com/junk-food-vs-healthy-food-expensive/

~L.C. (*this part of the blog does not contain any outside sources other than the image)

Changing Eating Habits:

It isn’t enough just to get the right amount of sleep hours. The individual must learn to adjust their eating habits as well. This can include adding vegetables, fruits, and lean meats to their daily diets. Each person is quite different in the food they consume but also the amount of food they consume. As well as the frequency each person may eat their meals. According to an article by the American Heart Association, three meals a day isn’t the only way of daily eating. It is how you consume your meals that benefit you in the end.

Image: 07.09.2019 FacebookTwitterPinterestYummlyemail •. (2019, July 11). Should You Use a Food Journal? Retrieved September 30, 2019, from https://www.momskitchenhandbook.com/uncategorized/should-you-use-a-food-journal/.

One helpful tip:

When transitioning to a healthier diet is to use a food journal. Having a journal that shows the contents of each meal and the timing allows the individual to see in paper what they’re eating habits are. This viewpoint a food journal offers allows the individual to make slight changes where they see fit. As well as noticing bad eating habits they may have. By making small additions and changes to meals gives the individual a higher chance of going through with their diet goals.

Is 3 Meals a Day the Only Way? (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2019, from https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/nutrition-basics/is-3-meals-a-day-the-only-way.

~C.Y.

[clarencenicholsonata]

5 Expert Ways to Increase Your Social Media ROI

Since 2018, people have been using social media notably more than they did in 2017, including YouTube (63%), Instagram (61%), Snapchat (58%), and Facebook (52%), with Pinterest and Twitter coming in last.

As a brand, you should be active on at least two or more of the social media platforms listed above. After all, those are where most of your customers are. Brands like Birch Box and Moon Pie increased their revenue with a cult following through the power of social media.

So, what about you?

Are you on track with your social media strategy? How do you know if you're making waves, or rowing in circles? You measure and increase your social media ROI.

Let's go beyond "how to increase social media followers". Instead, I'll be showing you five expert ways to increase your social media ROI.

Two Important Things to Know About Your Social Media ROI

Before we dive deep, let's make sure you can swim. Here's some what's what on social media ROI every marketer and business owner should know:

What is Social Media ROI?

If you're not familiar with the word ROI, it stands for ‘Return On Investment’, a metric that shows how much revenue or non-monetary value like comments or email sign-ups you've received from your social media activities.

Why Calculating Your ROI is Life or Death

Calculating your ROI allows you to analyze if your social media efforts are bringing in revenue or costing you.

Some brands thrive better on some social media platforms than others. It's about investing in the platform that gives back the most to you. That's not to say you can't improve your work on a low-performing social media platform, but sometimes it’s best to cut your losses.

After measuring and monitoring your social media ROI, you can use this formula below to give yourself a number to use and compare.

Profit- the money you’ve earned from your social media marketing efforts (i.e. how many completed orders you received)

Investment- the total cost of your social media marketing efforts (e.g. Facebook ad spend)

While it's easy to use this formula to calculate your tracking profits and revenue, it gets a little harder when it comes to content, and intangible results like ebook downloads, which is why using UTM links are so important to help you with tracking.

Now that we’ve covered the basics, it's time to learn how to increase your social media ROI.

1. Measure Your Social Media ROI

You clicked on this article to learn how to increase your ROI, but how do you increase something you've never taken the time to measure?

Knowing where you stand by measuring your ROI helps to pinpoint areas of your social media strategy to see what's working and what's not so you can shift your budget accordingly.

The best place to start if you haven't been tracking your ROI is with the following it over a three or six month period:

1. ROI on Social Media Ads: How much profit did you receive from your social media ad campaigns?

2. Website Traffic from Your Social Media: Track links you use in social media. Find out your conversion rate from social media to paying customer. Learn how many people completed a purchase after engaging with your post and clicking on your link or shoppable post.

3. Social Media Engagement: Track your content's reach, likes, comments, and engagements. It's been proven that the more engaged people are with a brand on social media, the higher the influence it has on the potential buyer.

4. Use Google Analytics: This tool is a marketer's best friend. You get data tailored to your business website and social media platforms. You can easily Set Up Google Analytics In Under 15 Minutes and begin to track and measure your social media traffic.

2. Social Media Strategy or Social Media Failure

As a content marketer, I constantly hear two types of stories when it comes to social media: those who tried it and see little to no result on their investment, and those who can't get enough of social media because of the growth and revenue it's providing them.

The key difference between the two is a social media strategy.

Social media isn't a get rich quick scheme or something you can get results from with just one post (unless it's viral, which is rare and unpredictable). You not only need to invest money but time to plan what you're going to do with your social media platform and how you'll connect with your customers.

3. Create a Social Media Marketing Funnel That Works

Your social media also plays an essential part in your marketing funnel. It builds engagement and attracts new leads to discover and buy from your business.

Social Bakers breaks down how your ROI metric and marketing funnel go hand in hand, and why it's important to consider the two as one:

Still not convinced about using a social media strategy? Here's a case study on one of our Wishpond clients: How Bhu Foods Drove 35% Online Sales Growth.

Creating a social media strategy can be as easy as writing a one-pager, or as detailed as you'd like it to be. Having a plan that shows you step-by-step how you'll be using your social media platforms is the end goal. Once you have it mapped out, you'll have to review it once a month, quarterly or yearly to make sure you're on track with your marketing and social media goals.

Not sure where to start? Here are two free templates that can help you to get your social media up to speed: 11-Step Social Media Marketing Plan Template How to Make a Social Media Checklist

4. Manage Your Social Media Ads Wisely

We spoke earlier about how it was crucial to track or measure your ROI on social media ads; let's talk about how managing your ads and budget wisely helps to increase your ROI.

We always hear success stories about social media ads on platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Having a successful ad is much more than writing a caption, setting a budget and hitting publish. It takes knowing your audience and crafting the perfect ad for them.

For instance, Tropicana got a 45% return on ad spend, plus 58% more sales volume compared to their other social media platforms. Their ads stayed focused on awareness of their new #MadeToGo Tropicana bottles.

Tropicana doubled its Instagram and Facebook budget to more closely replicate its typical TV spend, running a series of short video ads designed to motivate in-store sales over the next three months. It did just that.

Tropicana decided to use video for their ads, which is always a good investment because videos get 21.2% more interactions compared to images. They also used witty and fun captions that connected well with their audience.

Maybe you've been running Facebook and Instagram ads for a while, and you're looking for ways to improve what you've built on. Here are some ad guides that are sure to help:

13 Facebook Ads We Got That Were Right on the Money and Why

For the Gram: The Anatomy of a Perfect Instagram Ad

If you're a beginner with social media ads, don't worry, I didn't forget you. I've got a few step-by-step guides to dip your toe in the world of social media ads:

Facebook Ads Effectiveness: Myths, Misconceptions, and Mistakes

15 Powerful Instagram Marketing Secrets You'll Want to Steal

When it comes to your ad budget, you can ask yourself these questions to make sure you're moving in the right direction:

How much do I plan to spend on this ad?

Which social media channels are best for advertising?

What is the cost of video vs. static image advertising?

Does my budget accommodate A/B Testing?

5. Create & Invest More in Content Marketing

Increasing your social media ROI can be as simple as creating better content. Content marketing generates over three times as many leads as outbound marketing, and costs 62% less.

Guess what the most effective SEO technique is?

Content creation.

With captions with keywords, images with alt text and hashtags, content marketing can boost your SEO ranking if done right.

Still need convincing? Here's a Complete Breakdown on the Value of Content Marketing.

Don't fall into the trap of thinking that anything you post on social media is worth engaging with or sharing. To keep up with competition, you'll need to step up your content marketing game.

Major brands like Burger King have mastered social media because they put thought and planning into their content marketing, making sure their traditional marketing (TV commercials and in-store posters) matches their social media and creating content around pop culture references that go viral.

Take Burger King’s new campaign "Stranger King" based on the popular TV show Stranger Things.

And they promoted it via social media, giving viewers a uniformed feel of the marketing campaign.

we thought about turning your drink upside down first. but, you know...that didn’t work out so well. served upside down at select bk locations today only. pic.twitter.com/IYv0cmlaLI

— Stranger King (@BurgerKing) June 21, 2019

Content marketing works if you're in it for the long game, which includes taking the time to build a strong relationship with your audience, constantly producing high-quality content that is relevant, and keeping active on social media.

Here are some tools that can help with your social media's content marketing:

Social Media Management Platforms: You can use social media management tools like Buffer to manage your social media content by scheduling and publishing posts on all your social media accounts, from Facebook to Linkedin.

Google Analytics: Track the links and website clicks to your website or landing page to see which social media content drives the most traffic and try to repeat the process. Google Analytics isn’t just for your website; it can also be used for your website’s social media. Here’s a list of the best ways to use:

Google Analytics on YouTube

Google Analytics on Facebook

Google Analytics on Twitter

Google Analytics on Instagram

Google Analytics on Pinterest

Instagram & Facebook Shopping Features: Use Instagram and Facebook to sell your products and services. Both social media giants now offer checkout services so customers can shop online without leaving to go to your website.

Need more content marketing tools? Here are 77 Tremendous Tools to Make You a Content Marketing Superstar

Summary

There you have it. Here are six expert ways to increase your social media ROI:

Measure Your Social Media ROI

Have a Social Media Strategy

Create a Social Media Marketing Funnel

Manage Your Social Media Ads Wisely

Create & Invest More in Content Marketing

Need help with social media

Book a free call to learn how our team of marketing experts can help you increase your social media ROI.

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[heatbun4-blog]

My London Semester Journal I: Wednesday, January 10, 1996

Wednesday, 1-10-96 12:45 AM London 6:45 PM E-Town (1-9-96)

Just talked to Mom, Dad, & Meg! It was great to hear their voices… So comforting. ❤︎ ☺︎

Dad’s (knee replacement) surgery went well, all things considered… But he is now in a great deal of pain from the healing he must go through, to fix what hurt him so much in the first place… A lot of people have been reaching out to him, including Gramma Mite, who is almost “overdoing it” as Dad put it! Bless her heart…

Mom is back in the swing of things, but very busy.

Meg will return to Boston on Thurs., January 11th about 12:30 PM, weather permitting… There has been yet another huge East Coast storm!

Well, I ❤︎ my sweet family & miss them a lot! It was so great to talk to them & so hard to get off the phone…

This morning I took the tube to grocery shop at Sainsbury’s! Got lots of yummy food & found it funny that some apparently famous person was being video taped & interviewed while he was grocery shopping! I believe he even had body guards! (Go figure…)

At noon I met my International Business study group for our group project at Birkbeck. I had even packed a lunch! ☺︎

After our meeting I applied to use the school computers & especially e-mail! And I obtained a “swipe” card to enter CSO type sites.

Then Jill (the woman who has every class w/ me at Birkbeck) & I went to check out the Birkbeck Student Union! It looked better & more fun than we’d heard…

At 2 PM was “Modern British Society Since 1945,” it seems like it will be an interesting class. I will be doing a short presentation w/ Nick (who lives in Pembridge) about “Ethnicity & Race in Britain” for the class, as well as, 2 essays & a final. But, no group projects!

Speaking of group projects, I believe the one I worked on for Small Business Mgt. last semester at UIUC may not have gotten as high as a grade as we’d expected or felt we deserved… I figure this based on the grades Mom shared w/ me on the phone tonight: 4 B’s & a C (in LEIST 2018: Small Business Mgt.)! Not bad, but I don’t like C’s. My semester GPA was approx. “3.8” ish & my cum. went down to “4.0” ish. But that’s okay. ☺︎

After class I explored the ULU Union & then went back to Pembridge w/ Paul, Nick & Lori.

I had a long dinner during which I ate a lot (including: “Cresta” — lemonade drink, quesadillas, & “digestive” crackers — low far w/ Choc.) & chatted a lot w/ my housemates! ☺︎

Then a bunch of us (including my roommate: Lori) went to see a wonderful & spooky psychologically thrilling play called “The Lady in Black!” The tickets were free because the group supposed to come in for orientation from the states got stranded on the East Coast due to another big storm! Those students were suppose to see the play!

After Lori and I did some late night grocery shopping at “Europa.” We event stopped at BK (Burger King) so I could finally break down & give into my craving for a Choc. shake! (Yum-Yum tasty shake ☺︎)

Then we made our lunches while chatting w/ our dancing neighbors & others! They made fun of us for doing the sack lunch thing, but her, we’re saving £! ☺︎

Room 5 is infested by some bizarre little red-tick-like bug, which caused Pembridge residents to spaze a bit.

Which brings me to my awesome phone call to my dear Cherry, Junyer, & Ginnie Mae! ☺︎

After which Lori shared my homesickness, tears, & a hug.

Time for bed…

Later ☺︎

Wednesday, 1-10-96 9:25 PM London 3:25 PM E-Town

I am writing early tonight, as to be sure I get plenty of sleep!

I did not get enough sleep last night & as a result had a really hard day… I was tired & everything seemed to come at me!

2 classes is too much in one day, when each is 3 hrs. at a time, so ———— I will be switching to the Thurs. morning Classical Architecture section more than likely!

The Business group project saga plays on & Miranda bailed out on Jill & I, so now its just the 2 of us, unless we can find 2 more people who need a group.

By the time I got home this evening, at about 5:30 PM, I had been gone all day… I was ready to drain myself in a major way! The door had no more than closed when my tears began pouring out! ☹︎

I believe this is the phase they refer to as “the end of the honeymoon!” I guess I had a pretty short honeymoon then… Only 1 1/2 weeks! ☺︎ Well, at least I got really overwhelmed & homesick this evening & crying helped me to let it all out! When Lori got home from class that helped too, cause she felt similar. We decided to treat ourselves & go to “Deep Pan” for a buffet pizza dinner. We even ordered Cokes! ☺︎

After we came back here to Pembridge to relax & organize! Organizing always makes me feel better… I also worked on my budget! Mom & Dad would be proud.

I am realizing just how much I love & depend on them… I always knew it, but at college could always go home for the weekend!

Well, we have “Bed Bugs” here at Pembridge Gardens & now I have to put all mu clothes -n- stuff in bags cause the exterminator is coming tomorrow… We have to evacuate the house from 10 AM to 5 PM!

O-tay, time to pack the bags & wind down, hopefully for a good night’s sleep w/ out bed bugs! ☺︎ God bless me & everyone…

Later ☺︎

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Note from Present Day Kathy: I know that many people, including myself, don’t worry much about grammar and punctuation when journaling… That said, I still cringe at times with how I wrote things back then, including misspellings and overuse of exclamation points (which I still have a tendency towards).

I recall being more homesick than I expected while overseas and reading this certainly bring those feelings back. I also think that cliché “absence makes the heart grow fonder” can apply to family members, in addition to romantic interests.

I’ve enjoyed getting to read about the many live theater going experiences I had in London, as to this day going to plays, musicals and concerts, are among my favorite pastimes.

I also find it amusing that back then my idea of a good milkshake, to satisfy my craving, was from Burger King!

I know somewhere in our home I have saved the papers I wrote for my classes, while in England. Sometime soon I want to find and revisit them, as referenced some in my journals, such as the presentation I mentioned that (not his real name) Nick and I did on “Ethnicity & Race in Britain,” have me curious. 22.5 years later, I wonder what perspective Nick and I shared, on a topic that is still so important both in the UK and the US, more so than I likely understood back then. Being a presentation, I am not sure what I may’ve held on to, but I am hoping maybe some notes and/or an outline at least.

And reading how I talk about spending and saving money, as well as working on a budget, reminds me how frugal I was (and needed to be) back then, not having a lot to spend.

Also, its funny the things we have vivid memories of, that we know are so, because we didn’t write about them and/or take pictures at the time. I still can picture that pizza buffet, at the restaurant my roommate and I treated ourselves to that night. I think this is in part because they had some weird (to me) pizza topping combos there, maybe even corn kernels on one, if I recall correctly?

Finally, Cherry, Junyer, & Ginnie Mae are southern nicknames for my mom, dad and sister Meg, that our Axe family came up with many years ago, on our road trips to visit my maternal grandparents in South Carolina. As we’d drive further south and would start hearing southern accents at the restaurants and gas stations we’d stop at, we decided it would be fun to have alter egos there! My nickname is/was Cindy Sue. Sometimes we, my dad especially, will still refer to each other that way for fun and with affection.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Reminder: Unless I’ve been given permission to use people’s actual names, in most cases I’ve removed or replaced the names of the real people who were part of my journey/experience there, in effort to protect and respect their identities/privacy in my London Semester Journal entries. I will also not share details that I think and feel are too personal for anyone I interacted with, my loved ones, and me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here’s the back story of My London Semester Journals from 1996, including what prompted me to revisit and decide to share them here in 2018. And here’s a list a list of the entries, which I will update as I share them.

Source: http://bereavedandblessed.com/2018/10/my-london-semester-journal-i-wednesday-january-10-1996/