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imagine-loki · 5 years ago

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Pride and Prejudice

TITLE: Pride and Prejudice CHAPTER NO./ONE SHOT: Chapter 51 AUTHOR: wolfpawn

ORIGINAL IMAGINE: Imagine Loki was raised on Jotunheim as Laufey’s son after the war, but an agreement was then made that he would wed Odin’s daughter so Odin could secure the alliance of Jotunheim through the marriage. Loki, in turn, was raised to be king of Jotunheim, but how he views Asgard is far different from how Odin’s daughter is raised leading to a clash of cultures as well as uncertainty between the pair of betrothed youths. RATING: Mature NOTES/WARNINGS: Forced Marriage, not all fun and games. My first real step back into the Loki scene in over a year.

I literally have this written with over a week and just as a tab on my computer but I suffer from ITS, Idiotic Thoughts Syndrome which makes me really mentally weird and my mind tells me no one likes my stuff, I just had a few people message me over the last day about this telling me they love it which forced me to feel like I am letting them down if I don’t post it which, by the way, is sometimes the best way to motivate my shitty ass, so yeah, it needs saying, if you like this, please let me know, it actually gets me to upload new chapters. I have some written, so…yeah.

Tags - @skulliebythesea @asimovethroughthisworld @blackcherry26-blog @we-shadowhunter2901

Ella watched her parents’ faces for their reaction, both were worryingly neutral.

“Are you even physically able to healthily carry a child so soon after everything?” Frigga asked worriedly.

“He is perfectly healthy, his seidr interacts with mine. I have checked his growth throughout with mine, he is perfectly healthy, perhaps even a little big for a first child. He has more of the Aesir side of his genes build.” Ella was proud to declare.

Loki frowned slightly. He didn’t realise she had been noting such in their son. He thought of the lithe natural physique of the Jotnar, he had never thought that adding a different type of physique to the genes would alter the appearance of their child. He thought of how it would alter how their child would look. He clearly would have Jotnar markings, he also preferred the cold. Loki didn’t know if his son’s skin would be the same as his, but if he was robustly built as Thor and Odin were, it would be interesting. He did not know what to think about that.

“He?” Frigga frowned. “How could you know that?” “Mother, you are an incredible seidr wielder but you never really pushed yourself as much as you should.”

Frigga frowned at her daughter’s words. She looked over at Odin, startled by his knowing face. “You knew this?” In truth, Frigga was slightly hurt that Ella had not informed her of this news earlier.

“I suspected such when sensed it through Gungnir. It...He has a different wave to Ella. I don’t think he will be as powerful but he most certainly has seidr of his own.” There was clear pride in Odin’s face for both being right in his suspicions and at knowing his grandchild was showing blatant Odin-line attributes.

Frigga could not argue that. She thought their daughter had informed Odin and not her, which had hurt her deeply. Seeing that instead, it was the use of Gungnir that made him suspect it, she was no longer as hurt. When she looked at Ella again, she could see her daughter seemed somewhat unsure of what to think of their reaction, the manner that Loki was looking at Ella telling her that he too was uncertain as what to think and wondering if he should try to comfort her in some manner. It was clear that the two young royals were confused by such a reaction. She swallowed slightly. “This is, of course, wonderful news.” Ella looked at her mother with scepticism blatant in her features. “My concern is for your health, it was barely over a year ago that we almost lost you, Darling. Of course our concern would be for your health and indeed that of the baby, we are just worried for you both.” She ensured to make clear.

“I just tripled the size of a palace. I think it is safe to say that if I were to be ill, I could not have done that.” Ella scoffed playfully. “I wished to tell you in our conversations but I felt it to be something worthy of a face-to-face informing.” “And we appreciate such. I fully understand your reasons for doing so, even if you hid your condition when I explicitly asked if you had any further alterations to your health.” Her mother eyed her admonishingly.

“I stated clearly that my health has been practically doubling...it’s not lying if there are two beings involved...technically...theoretically...sort of.”

“It’s not the same, Ella and well you know.” Odin’s tone was reprimanding but in a playful manner causing Ella to laugh slightly. Odin then noticed Loki’s apprehensive looks to his mother-in-law. “Don’t mind Frigga, she simply feels she shouldn’t be old enough to be a grandmother.” He dismissed. “But it is entirely to be expected and to be celebrated. No wonder Laufey is so confident to relieve himself of the reins, so to speak. Jotunheim has a good future to look forward to.” he nodded to his daughter. “I solemnly hope that little fellow does not give you the same trouble you gave us, be it with your health or mischief.”

“The latter I can take. It would be the Norns revenge for my previous behaviour.” Ella retorted back playfully. She found her hand going to her stomach on referencing her son within.

“If you were to be given a son to mimic your persona...forget Norns have mercy, the realms in their entirety have mercy.” Odin chuckled. “Jotunheim truly is in good hands. So long as that child has even a modicum of your combined attributes towards leadership, then Jotunheim will truly prosper.”

Loki did not know what to think at Odin’s statement. To hear the Aesir king, a man that left no uncertainty at his want to hurt Loki for what he did to his daughter not very long before, speak of him in such a flattering manner startled him beyond words.

“With the difference in gestations between Jotnar and Aesir, how long before our grandchild arrives?” It was clear that after the initial shock and concern about Ella’s health, Frigga was somewhat excited with regards the idea of there being a baby.

“Everything seems to be at the rate of an Aesir and Vanir pregnancy. So all things going to plan, he will arrive in seven months,” Ella was proud to declare.

“So soon?” Frigga was startled by such news.

Ella rose to her feet and removed her cloak revealing her somewhat protruding stomach to her parents.

Odin merely nodded slightly. “Wonderful. Praise the Norns we are told now and not at the beginning, the waiting can be something bothersome.”

“It’s different here, Loki was bothered I did not tell him before he left.”

“Knowing them to be carrying and going to war does no good.” Odin shook his head at Loki, looking him in the eye as he spoke. “I spent more of my time worrying about if Frigga could flee as she grew heavier with Ella than I did worrying about myself. With Thor being so young and Ella being so bothersome, it was something I worried about no end. On Alfheim, your focus was more on the task at hand.”

Loki nodded silently. He personally disagreed with that statement but it was subjective so there was no reason in telling the old king that he did not share his sentiments. Though, it did show him why Ella had not thought to tell him before his going. He was only grateful that through it all, their child had been growing and the date of his arrival grew closer.

The talking after that remained reasonably pleasant, if not slightly boring. Loki and Ella were regaled with the going-ons of Asgard, the vast majority of which Loki thought to be entirely mundane, though he noted that Ella listened intently, adding to the conversation every so often, often on a matter she had learnt of in her youth that her parents had not been aware of. So too was there talk of the requirements for the readying for the coronation. With Laufey still alive, it was somewhat different from anything that Asgard had planned for Thor’s coronation but that did not stop there being areas that her parents were able to assist in them readying. Frigga offered her assistance behind the scenes, recognising that many, especially the mates of Laufey’s other sons would feel it an intrusion and to keep the idea of meddling on the part of Asgard to a minimum. Both Loki and Ella informed the Aesir royals of the sentiment that some had with regards Loki, his heritage, his lineage, the marriage and Ella within Jotunheim’s court. Both nodded and gave suggestions on the matter and gave their sympathies to both youths for what they were being forced to endure by the ignorant older in society.

“I too felt as they did,” Odin admitted. “I thought the occupants of the other realm to be somewhat beneath me. Monsters. Inferior in most manners, without getting to know them. But I can see the error of my thoughts. I was wrong and I will admit so, but not all can. Some cannot see past what they believe to be fact when in truth, fact is rarely present in their thinking and even if they were presented with the facts, they would ignore them anyway and state them to be lies. This little fellow will be more Vanir than Jotnar or Aesir and will no doubt look mostly Jotnar due to the more dominant genes of the Jotnar. He will be raised here, as a Jotnar, who knows his other heritage and will be surrounded by the Jotnar way of life but that will never be enough for them. They want only purity. But there is no purity, not without imperfection. I read of this family in Midgard, royals, so closely related that they were without fertility and had every manner of genetic error within their bloodline, Norns, but the thought. It was not even that long ago and I recall saying it to the kings of different realms in our talks and we stated it there and then, that a varied bloodline is a better one. This little fellow, he has so much royal lineage but his mixtures will allow him good strength. Look at Thor and Ella, strong and healthy, bar of course, when she is the only one with the ability to harm her. That blade sliced her side, I have seen fully grown, fully trained Einherjar fall to less and she was no more than six hundred and with blood staining her clothes, she continued to fight using her seidr, not even looking to see where she was hit. No haemophiliac Midgardian royal could do that.” Odin’s chest swole slightly at pride in his daughter’s strength.

Loki looked to Ella curiously. “Haemophilia is blood issues. Some with them cannot clot wounds, they would die from bleeding from something we would not even see as much because the wound would never be able to heal.” She explained.

Loki shuddered at the thought. He found himself thinking of how Odin had seen the Jotnar as a species. He was insulted deeply by the comments but he paused and also considered his own earlier thoughts on the Aesir. He remembered how he dismissed them as cruel, especially considering their young but he realised through it all that the

Aesir truly did care for their child. Odin left his realm and rushed to Jotunheim to his daughter, he did not even seem to concern himself with the needs of the realm, he never even asked who dealt with Asgard in the Allfather’s absence. Had he even thought to put someone else in charge? Loki did not know. He had thought them monsters and he too was wrong. Looking to his mate beside him, he was relieved that he had learnt such, it allowed him to enjoy her fully as a mate.

After a time, there was a knock on the door before Ella used her seidr to open it. Thor strutted in with a smile. “Why am I never invited to these family discussions?” “They’re not family discussions, they are me talking with our parents because I now live in a foreign realm so I do not get to talk to them face-to-face too often and I want to. If it was an actual family discussion, you would have been informed of such to begin with.”

Thor could only make a head gesture in agreement, knowing this was true. He looked at Ella in an analytical manner for a moment, his eyes coming to her stomach before getting himself a drink and sitting down.

“You knew about this?” Frigga stared at Thor in shock, her hand gesturing to Ella’s stomach.

Thor nodded before taking a drink. “When I came to ask for Loki’s help, she spoke of some concerns she had for him for a moment, asking me to keep an eye on him. Whilst we were speaking, she voiced her concerns on other matters also, including fear for something happening while he was not here, especially and I am not able to recall the sentence verbatim but she referenced that she feared someone would hurt Loki and his line, while she unknowingly seemed to be touching her stomach. All this did not require an overly able mind to comprehend.” Thor looked at his family proudly before their startled faces made him scoff. “I am more astute than I am given credit for.” he shook his head before taking another drink. “I apologise to you Loki, for not saying anything to you on Alfheim but I gathered from your lack of saying anything with regards to it meant that you did not know.” He looked at Loki as he spoke. “Though with how long these things take, it’s best to not know for so long. I feel like I know forever. When is my niece or nephew due?”

“Your nephew is due in seven months,” Ella informed him.

“Nephew?” Thor smiled at the idea. “Well, that’s part of that agreement dealt with already, so that’s good, but Norns have mercy if he has your mischief.” He quibbed.

Loki felt slightly odd at the reference to the requirement of sons, something he still disliked.

#loki #other #submission #Submitted fic #chapter 51 #wolfpawn #Pride and Prejudice

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wolfpawn · 5 years ago

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Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 51

Story Summary - Based on an idea I had that I submitted to Imagine Loki. Imagine Loki was raised on Jotunheim as Laufey’s son after the war, but an agreement was then made that he would wed Odin’s daughter so Odin could secure the alliance of Jotunheim through the marriage. Loki, in turn, was raised to be king of Jotunheim, but how he views Asgard is far different from how Odin’s daughter is raised leading to a clash of cultures as well as uncertainty between the pair of betrothed youths.

Chapter Summary - The Aesir royal family come to Jotunheim to assist in readying for the coronation.

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NOTES - I literally have this written with over a week and just as a tab on my computer but I suffer from ITS, Idiotic Thoughts Syndrome which makes me really mentally weird and my mind tells me no one likes my stuff, I just had a few people message me over the last day about this telling me they love it which forced me to feel like I am letting them down if I don't post it which, by the way, is sometimes the best way to motivate my shitty ass, so yeah, it needs saying, if you like this, please let me know, it actually gets me to upload new chapters. I have some written, so...yeah.

Ella watched her parents’ faces for their reaction, both were worryingly neutral.

“Are you even physically able to healthily carry a child so soon after everything?” Frigga asked worriedly.

“He?” Frigga frowned. “How could you know that?” “Mother, you are an incredible seidr wielder but you never really pushed yourself as much as you should.”

“I stated clearly that my health has been practically doubling...it’s not lying if there are two beings involved...technically...theoretically...sort of.”

“The latter I can take. It would be the Norns revenge for my previous behaviour.” Ella retorted back playfully. She found her hand going to her stomach on referencing her son within.

“Everything seems to be at the rate of an Aesir and Vanir pregnancy. So all things going to plan, he will arrive in seven months,” Ella was proud to declare.

“So soon?” Frigga was startled by such news.

Ella rose to her feet and removed her cloak revealing her somewhat protruding stomach to her parents.

Odin merely nodded slightly. “Wonderful. Praise the Norns we are told now and not at the beginning, the waiting can be something bothersome.”

“It’s different here, Loki was bothered I did not tell him before he left.”

“You knew about this?” Frigga stared at Thor in shock, her hand gesturing to Ella’s stomach.

“Your nephew is due in seven months,” Ella informed him.

“Nephew?” Thor smiled at the idea. “Well, that’s part of that agreement dealt with already, so that’s good, but Norns have mercy if he has your mischief.” He quibbed.

Loki felt slightly odd at the reference to the requirement of sons, something he still disliked.

#loki fic #wolfpawn #chapter 51 #Pride and Prejudice

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mochuelovelli · 5 years ago

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Some Alt. Jobs for the Kids in the Future:

Mainly doing this as just a thought experiment. Usually people are of one mind on what the kids will *probably* be when they are older(myself included) so I wanted to give some alts that could fit their personalities.

Louie-Manger/Agent:Making this list mainly for him because I recalled Princess Carolyn from BoJack and how her job could fit Louie pretty well. Ik a lot of people headcanon Lawyer! Louie, I do too, but I think this would be a fun idea.

A manager's job is basically finding ways to get their client's hired or trying to tailor a client's project in order for it to be marketable. We already seen Louie do this in his ep this season but I think it be cool if became a legit job for him. He's still a McDuck ward so nothing with his business would be "normal" and he would have to do similar "schemes" to get his clients jobs, especially if they are inter-dimensional goat demons.

Louie would probably say the reason he became a manager would be "because I've been trying to convince people I am good enough my entire life, might as well make a career out of it". Edgy ik, but this is Louie we are talking about of course he say some dumbshit.

Dewey-YouTube Personality: this is probably just a less popular hc rather than one that's not talked about at all like the Louie (or the next couple examples). For me, I can't see Dewey being anything but some kind of globe trotting adventurer who would also record it for views. But in the case that DIDN'T happen, I think he'd become a youtube personality and make shows with his friends and family. I think it be really cute, that even as they grown older and become more independent, Dewey can still find ways to bring them all to his house to be apart of his youtube show(s) where he and a guest try to guess obscure history facts Webby comes up with (Watchers know what I'm talking about) or where he and some friends try to solve unsolved mysteries or try and bake without a recipe (im really showing what content i watch).

His Youtube channel would be sporadic like, "series" but he doesn't make actual playlists (Huey or Violet do) and uploads whatever he wanted to do that week. Good thing is, he never misses an upload date. Almost.

Huey-Military Engineer/Tech Guy (IE better Beaks): I had the hardest time with figuring out Huey since like Webby, he can pretty much be in any field to me (as long as its stem related). This suggestion to me is the least chill out of all of them but I picked it because 1. Huey likes structure and chain of command and 2. Science and defense systems.

Out of his brothers, Huey isn't the most WORRIED about safety but he definitely is the one who would do something about it to fix it. I can see him making some intergalactic defense systems and various prevention junk. Maybe he works under Gosalyn's administration[see gos] or he makes "unnatural-natural phenomenon" protection stuff. Kinda like the seawalls in Venice but like, stuff to make sure the Earth doesn't get destroyed because of all the crazy shit the duckverse has. Like ghost forcefields or the reversal of timephoons. I don't think he would be a Tony Stark character tho so I am not 100% with this one.

He could also just be a tech guy, but yknow, better than Mark Beaks. He accidentally has more followers than him would crush him in twitter fights (an example would be something along the Logan Paul vs Chris D'Elia). I find this just really funny, Huey would actually be what all those "good guy billionaires" claim to be (also he wouldn't be one just as a matter of principle). Owlson would probably be his mentor or maybe just business partner.

Webby-Comic Artist/Cartoonist: Webby, to me, can pretty much go into any field and I would be like "yeah makes sense". However I know in my heart she'd be some kind of spy or detective. Thinking about her being anything else was honestly kinda hard but then I realized she DOES have another hobby which could be turn into a career - her drawings and stories. Webby is definitely a creative person, maybe the most creative so far in front of or slightly behind Dewey, so I think she would like to make comics and cartoons.

If you want to be angsty, maybe she chooses this mundane route because she was somewhat conditioned by her granny (or her creators if theories are to he proven right) to be a super spy; choosing to be a cartoonist is something she was never trained to become and yet she still did because it's something SHE wanted to do for herself.

Lena-Poet/Song Writer: okay another one that might not be uncommon but I like to just see it thrown out there. Lena is cool in large part because of her magic but in a possible similar motivation to Webby, she wanted to be a poet not only because she was good at it but because she wanted to be. This doesn't have to be her main hussle, usually I don't see it as such, but I also think it be cute if she became a new Robert Frost (this is the only poet ik sorry).

Violet-Cosmologist: Most people see Violet as either some kind of chemist, professor, or occasionally a witch. I think another good alt tho would be cosmology since Violet herself wants to understand the world around her, which is a bit different from Huey who wants to obtain knowledge for knowledge sake in the case it might come in handy though not extremely. Cosmology as field in the dt universe must be WILD too since im pretty sure most scientists know of all the magic and junk, in fact I wouldn't be surprised if there was a legit subject on it or multiple. Trying to make sense of YOUR universe while knowing others exist along with time travel, possibly multiple after lifes? Its a lot. Perfect job for Vi.

Boyd-Therapist/architect: I feel like this isn't such a niche hc, but I do see more folks make him into his own superhero and/or an accountant. I might be playing into the Baymax stereotype of robots being good mental health assistants but idc, I think it's warranted since he has gone through and understands trauma. Maybe he focuses on those who need rehabilitation or are unable to get paid treatment. Maybe he just helps those who have committed crimes. Another alt is that he becomes an architect, building well planned buildings and public spaces in a flash by utilizing his vast abilities. He might even be commissioned to make space colony housing.

Gosalyn-Politican: Alright so, Gosalyn being a superhero like her dad is like, canon but again in an alt universe where it WASN'T (or maybe later in her life) I can see her becoming political. Frank even laid out some of what inspired this iteration of Gosalyn which included notable political activists, so as of rn its not that far of a stretch to say she might be interested in that. I have a feeling its happens because she gets riled up for something in particular rather than she always wanted to be a career politician or whatever. She would definitely be a less polished politician and that be her appeal, she'd kinda be like an AOC in that regard(im sorry I tried really hard not to name drop political figures but-). An example of her "abnormal" diplomacy tactics is where she stopped Ragnarok semi permanently by absolutely wrecking their shit. (She be dramatic about it like her dad, coming in her normal President wear and then throw it off to reveal some crazy wrestling shit. Louie would also make a lot of money that day.)

#ducktales #dt17 #ducktales 17 #ducktales 2017 #huey duck #louie duck #hdl #dewey duck #webby vanderquack #gosalyn mallard #lena saberwing #violet sabrewing #boyd gearloose #boyd drake #boyd

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szopenhauer · 4 years ago

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What was your last dream about? pamiętam tylko tyle, że M. powinna uważać na jej byłego

Would you like to build/design your own house? yes

Do you have a cherished childhood teddy bear? it’s not really a teddy but yeah

Are you psychic in any way? it seems

Are you a good dancer? meh

Are you a good singer? nooo

Are you a good cook? not the worst

Are you a good artist? maybe

Are you a good listener? try to be

Are you a good public speaker? but don’t like to

Are you a good babysitter? might be but hate that

Are you a good dresser? have my own style

Are you a good comedian? I’m funny :P

Are you a good cleaner? not good enough

Are you a good actor? I am

Are you a good writer? just like to write

Do you ever get chills & goosebumps when you listen to music? tell me about it...

What was the last song that had that effect on you? not sure which was last

Do you know what any of your siblings did over the weekend? I don’t care

Was the last book you read a hardback or paperback? paperback

What was the last thing you required the use of a spoon for? I was eating breakfast

The last time you ate something, was it in a bowl or on a plate? neither XD

Can you recall the last time you held hands with someone? I can

What was the last thing that made your heart melt? hmm...

Can you recall the last time you visited a bookshop? not the exact day but yep

Did you purchase anything? I don’t think so

Have you been wearing homemade masks or store-bought ones? both

Do you call yourself stupid a lot? sometimes

Are you listening to music right now? not rn

What is your newest favorite website? aliexpress?

Do you have a headache right now? had before today

What month is your birthday, and what month would u change it to if you could? February and would like June, July or August that’s why I will spend my name day during summer instead of spring with my sister

Have you ever had to use an epi pen? not yet

Do you know the names of 3 of your neighbors? (list if you can): personal

What was the last grocery store you shopped at?

Do memories from your past come back to haunt you ? frequently

Have you ever seen an angel? or a ghost

Have you ever seen a demon? that time in a mirror?...

What color was the last sweatshirt you wore? grey

What was the last act of creativity you displayed? Vinnie’s tiny bird next to her signature?

Do you ever find yourself just writing/typing out your feelings? my tumblr is full of this shit

Whose house were you at last, besides your own? my current partner’s

Do you like your teeth? not really

Does piano music tend to calm you down? wouldn’t say so

What’s something you need to get done soon? ugh...

Is your best friend awake right now? they are

If I came to your house, could I find any kind of chocolate? ask my mother

Who was the last person to upload a picture with you in it? M.

Do you ever wear sleep masks when you sleep or shower caps when you shower? neither

Don’t tell me lies, so where’s your man? where’s Nat? XD

Have you ever had a best friend who was of the opposite sex? dad

Has anyone said they love you in the last week? yasss

Have you ever kissed under water? hell no

Have you kissed anyone whose name starts with a M? hahaha

Would you kiss the last person who texted you, on the lips? done and I hopefully will

Camping with a ton of friends or hotel with a few friends? hotel

Could you go the rest of your life without a cigarette? absolutely

Have you ever wanted something you couldn’t have? like health

How is your boyfriend/girlfriend doing and where are they now? she’s angry, has a flu and she’s working

What was the last topic you read about? DID?

Do you prefer Windows or Mac? Windows

What’s the best amusement park ride you’ve ever been on? I’m not a fan of rides tbh

Would you know how to read a house blueprint? partially?

Do you keep notes on your phone? What sort of things do you write? used to on my old cell

Do you remember much from high school? tought so

Has anyone ever come out to you? yup

What was the last album you listened to in full? Red army choir or Anastasis?

Do you have Disney+? we don’t

Have you ever sent a package or letter to a foreign country? postcards

How many jobs do you have on your resume? 0

Are you comfortable with leaving the house without any makeup on?: I don’t wear makeup

Do you have any expensive hobbies?: if I had money...

What length do you like to keep your nails at?: short

Have you ever felt physical pain in a dream?: but not as much as Nat

Have you ever had Christmas carolers come to your house and sing for you?: when I was a kid

What’s your favorite Studio Ghibli film?: Porco Rosso?

What did you learn from your last failed relationship?: can we not talk about it...

What’s something on your to-do list that never actually gets done?: I’m a huge procrastinator

Have you ever been really passionate about something but then lost interest? If so, what was it?: collages

What’s the worst thing about being male/female (whichever you are)?: period, being able to get pregnant and have female kinds of cancer etc.

What movie has the best special effects?: I’m into practical special effects more than cgi but... there’s too many to name

When did you last have a vision test?: ages ago

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silverlightqueen · 6 years ago

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so today, if y’all didn’t know, is International Friendship Day. after watching the BTS and UNICEF #EndViolence campaign this morning, I’ve been thinking a lot. I’ve had a really tough (academic) year, and one of the few things that has kept me going, kept me fighting, kept me strong, has been my friends. as well as being complete and utter crackheads who nonstop have me in stitches, their strength, their fighting nature, their ability to keep going has motivated me to do the same, and I cannot thank them enough. not only are they all fighters, they’re some of kindest, most selfless and most generous people I’ve met in my life. their kindness, their selflessness and their generosity has given me some ups to look back on this year rather than just downs.

a little bit of kindness, a little bit of selflessness, a little bit of generosity can not only make someone’s day or week, but maybe their month, or even their year. and so I want to pass on some kindness and spread a little bit of love, from me to y’all.

thank you to @khaoticamour for being the first person to ask to be on the Daisies taglist. that motivated and flattered me more than I can explain, and I feel my mood lift every time I see you’ve liked my post, knowing a lovely comment will be following a couple minutes later. you were my first supporter on tumblr and that is something I will never forget. you’re an angel, and thank you x

thank you to @arvbellas for being my first internet friend on tumblr. your comments on my posts make me laugh so much and lift my mood considerably, and I’m so proud to call myself your wife😉 you also make me feel mature and grown up by the way you speak to me equally, even though I’m a couple years younger than you (but I can’t complain, I’m older than all my irls so it’s nice to be the baby for once). love you Ali, and thank you x

thank you to @keylowmonie (unnie😉) for not reading only one of my stories, but multiple. you’re the only person who shows love to all my works and that keeps me motivated to keep writing and uploading as frequently as I can. I love your long comments and I always sit and read them in depth bc you always make such valid points. you’re an absolute sweetheart, and thank you x

thank you to @pocketfullofsuga for your hilarious memes you send me. I’ve used them with my irls and they all ask where I find these memes, and I just laugh to myself. every time I see you’ve liked one of my posts, I check my inbox and keep refreshing it, waiting for the inevitably hilarious meme. you bring laughter into my life, and thank you x

thank you to @conslack for being the first person to send me asks and make me feel like a real tumblr writer. your contributions either always make me laugh or have me thinking and inspire me for the next part of the plot. you’re such a kind person (your bf is a lucky lucky guy) and I wish I could go visit you in October and try a taco with you (and maybe take you as my date to the wedding😉). you’re a lovely person, Erika, and thank you x

thank you to @booklover240 for reaching out and messaging me first. you’re an absolute sweetheart and it’s been super interesting getting to know you and finding out how different two peoples lives can be (what with the school stuff). you’re not awkward at all, and we’re natural friends. you’re an absolute babe, and thank you x

thank you to @brinnalaine for liking every single one of my posts, without fail !! you’re so lovely for that and I appreciate it so much. every time I see you’ve tagged me in something, my heart melts bc I just know that it’s something sweet and it always is. you also have such great manners and you come across as so kind. carry on spreading the love, my darling, and thank you x

thank you to @darling-marvel for being the co-president of the #JusticeForHedge club. no but on a real, thank you for always making witty contributions that never fail to make me laugh, and always cheering me (and Hedge) on. you’re so supportive, and thank you x

thank you to @btsismywings for reposting every part of daisies, without fail. don’t think I haven’t noticed, bc I have, and I’m grateful that you’re helping get my work out there to more people (I should hire you as my agent😉). you’re truly sweet, and thank you x

thank you to @surviving-in-neverland @untainted-memories @sakurauchiha2018 @sweetchocolategoblin @anothershorthuman @bldvnbln @yasbts705 @the-real96 @joyful-jimin for always commenting on my posts and sending me asks and interacting with me. it cheers me on and keeps me motivated. y’all are so sweet, I love y’all, and thank you x

thank you to @zulmarespinoza @glossdust @missbowkimjinju @wolfgamzee @mayumioutloud @needyvmin @dearbangtan07 @minniestudies @shay-the-turtle @lovebuginlove @smolchild95 @sailor-moons-butt for also interacting with me bc a comment makes my day. you make me smile, and thank you x

and finally, thank you to my biggest support in the world, @silverlightprincess (my irl best friend🥰🥰🥰). I will never be able to explain how much love I have for you, and how grateful I am that you’re in my life. you’re the most supportive person I know (making a whole ass tumblr just to read my stories), and you bring so much light into my life. you endlessly spoil, no matter how many times I say no, because you tell me I’m person you love most in the world, and that’s truly an honour. you’re always by my side through the bad times and the good, and sometimes I take you for granted, so I’m sorry for that. I love you so much, my Isla, and thank you x

I’m super sorry if I forgot anyone (I just got back from work and a bitch is tired lmao). to anyone else that sees this, I’m sending my love your way too, AND YOU HAVE TO TAG SOMEONE IN THE COMMENTS OR REBLOG WITH SOMEONE YOU LOVE. THANK THEM AND TELL THEM SOMETHING ABOUT THEM YOU LIKE, IT’S ILLEGAL IF YOU DON’T 😤👊 but seriously, it takes two seconds to tell someone you love them. spread the kindness, it could make someone’s year like it’s made mine x

#endviolence #international friendship day #spread kindness

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jinjojess · 6 years ago

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One of the main things I get asked about or have mentioned to me is why I don’t as zealously translate things on my blog anymore.

There’s a lot of reasons, some of which I’ve addressed in the past, but they’re kind of persistent issues that don’t only affect me. They affect just about every other fan translator that I’ve had the pleasure of working with and they’re why you don’t tend to see the same people stick around for a long period of time.

This is going to come across as a vent-type thing, and it isn’t aimed at anyone in particular, but just at certain trends in fandom and social media spaces in general, so I’m not calling anyone out or anything.

Like I mentioned before, you tend to notice that a lot of people who translate things for a particular fandom will drift away after a certain amount of time. This isn’t an accident, nor does it necessarily need to be an eventuality. Some people will always move on because they lose interest in the source material, but I’m not talking about that today.

Reason #1: Work and Real Life

The biggest, most persistent issue for me is my job. I work long hours, I have a two-hour commute on a train each day, and my work is very stressful and demanding. Would I rather be translating? Hell yes! Can I support myself doing translations for free? Hell no!

When I was doing really hardcore translation stuff, it was basically me not sleeping. That was a thing I could do because my hours were shorter then and I got long breaks throughout the year. I was home and in my house by 18:30 every night which meant I had way, way more free time than I’ve had in the last couple years.

I’m not in school anymore, nor do I work part time, nor am I figuring things out at my parents’ or anything. I’m also getting older and more tired. That means I can’t afford to be translating a bunch of text for free and sacrificing all my free time and time to sleep. It’s a little unfair to expect me to compete with pro translators, people who work part time, or are in university, or NEETs who happen to be doing translation stuff.

Reason #2: Lack of Motivation/Lack of “Customer Loyalty”

I was going to call this “lack of reward” but there is an inherent reward to doing this kind of work and lots of people have been very vocal and kind about their gratitude, so it’s not necessarily that you never are rewarded.

However, I do need to address the elephant in the room.

Fandom is a fickle and impatient creature. It doesn’t care about quality, it cares about speed. The second biggest reason I don’t try to keep up the pace I was going at a few years ago is because there’s really not any strong motivation to do so aside from my own pride and a handful of people.

Let me try to explain what I mean: when you’re cranking out translations quickly, before anyone else has touched anything, then people will respond well. They’ll reblog your posts, donate small amounts of money, draw you fanart, send you nice messages. The second you stop cranking things out as quickly though, all of that dries up. Yes, a core group of people will stick with you, but the majority of the fandom just kind of moves on and latches onto whoever’s faster.

And it’s frustrating. It’s annoying that I can spend hours and hours and hours putting something together, only for it to get like 50 notes. My DRT summaries have been read by countless people, but the posts themselves have less than 10 notes in most cases.

People don’t really appreciate that translation is ultimately a creative act--it’s not just a mechanical process of Language In > Language Out, it require you to be creative in your word choices. Also they don’t appreciate the hidden work, like all the money spent procuring the original source material (which I always tried to do since I prefer to be self-reliant like a dumbass), or the formatting, or the TIME.

Meanwhile, people will reblog visual art that looks similar with no qualms, but if it’s a long translation, they won’t even bother to read other interpretations, much less spread them.

People remember the names of visual artists, and will promote them and yell about how they need to be paid and whatnot, but they don’t tend to remember the names of people who translated things. Fandom just doesn’t do that. Unless you stay relevant and in the public eye as it were, fandom at large doesn’t remember the people who did seminal translations of works.

They don’t have to, of course, but I gotta admit that it doesn’t really make me want to pour hours of my own limited free time into working on something that no one will care about or remember I did after the fact.

Reason #3: Cutthroat Tactics

As you can imagine, when speed is the only thing that matters, the situation turns toxic real quick. While you’ll meet a lot of other great translators, and everyone I’ve personally worked with has been fantastic, but I think the incident that best shows off what I mean is what happened with Yaz and someone taking his raws to release their own version before shslscans did. That happens all the damn time.

While a certain group of people will cooperate and try not to step on others’ toes or be respectful (the reason why I never finished kamase-megane’s DRK1 translation), there will always be other people who just jump in and do stuff and don’t even recognize you--they can’t, because if they do, they run the risk of people going to read your stuff instead of theirs, and as we established, the fandom will only read one translation and nothing else.

There’s also the issue of the audience themselves, who will do things like nitpick everything you post if they don’t like it (which happened to a friend of mine, who ended up having people attack them because their interpretation of the vaguely worded source text didn’t line up with what they wanted to hear).

There are also people who very clearly want to use you for their own advantage. You can always tell who these people are, because they will be up in your face and promoting you left and right until you need to take a breather, at which point they will drop you like a sack of potatoes and heavily promote someone who is doing the thing they want, but faster. They will also not circle back around and promote your version once you finish it.

The fandom will take your scans and your translations and use them without credit, gaining way more notoriety and attention than you ever could on your own (this happened to me last year on Twitter, where someone took a photo and translation I uploaded to my blog in 2014 and used it to garner LOADS of attention--while the Tumblr post that talked about the tweet credited me, the original thief never did, despite me politely asking).

Fandom will also turn their nose up at anything that isn’t a word-for-word translation. My summaries for the side novels are extremely detailed and I end up translating large passages anyway, and STILL people bitch that they won’t engage with summaries because they’re inferior. r/choosingbeggars much?

Part of the reason that no one remembers the translator or sticks with them if their pace drops is because there’s an unspoken expectation that the fandom is owed the translations. It doesn’t matter who they come from, but clearly someone has to do it, because it’s just a thing that fans are entitled to. That’s mind-boggling to me, who grew up with fan translations as the only way for me to experience a LOT of foreign language media. No one owes you translations of things as soon as they’re released!

Finally, it’s difficult to get your work even seen, because the market gets so saturated; all of the aggressive self-promotion often ignores what other people are doing, either because of sincere ignorance that your stuff exists, or because they’re intentionally ignoring you to make themselves seem like the only option.

Conclusion:

This is not a DanRon fandom problem; this is a fandom problem, full stop.

I can’t tell you what to do, or how to engage with fan translators and their work. This is more just a vent about things that irritate me about the whole scene and to explain why I don’t update as quickly or as often these days.

I do still want to get my version out there, and I will still do it--I was doing side novel liveblogs and summaries before anyone paid attention to my blog and I will continue on after--but I do ask that maybe you be patient, or you try reading different translations of the same thing to appreciate the various approaches. Remember who translates what and makes sure that you always credit and source. Reblog translation posts, don’t just like them.

Basically, treat us the way you treat visual artists.

Thanks for reading, and thanks to all the folks who have stuck with me through the years. Everyone who sends me nice asks and who has sent me art or liked or reblogged my posts, I appreciate all of that. You should be the norm, but you aren’t, and so I really love you guys. I’ll have some stuff for you very soon!

#long post #vent #translation #fan translation

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k-bloggs · 6 years ago

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Have an embarrassing read at something i tried to write a couple years ago. back when i was happy lol

My First Blog. – 20/11/16

Okay, so here goes. This is my first ever attempt at anything like this really. I have written before in many different formats and styles but I don’t know what’s come over me lately but I feel inspired to write again and I know as well as anyone else this isn’t a typical feeling that comes along every so often so by fuck I am gonna’ grab it and take a chance and see where I end up. I literally just unlocked and locked my phone again there because I’m trying to have a proper focused dedicated mind to attempting this. I’m not even too sure what I’m supposed to do in a blog, what even is a blog? I don’t know but I know that I’ve wanted to start making a journal of things that are going on in my life but due the fact I am extremely lazy this may be very seldom so the next update could be quite a while so don’t expect anything too frequent.

Like I said I’m not even too sure what I am meant to be doing or how I am even meant to go about it, I am a firm believer in the fact that writing doesn’t have to be performed or practised in any particular way. That there is essentially no wrong or right way in how it is carried out or laid out, but I feel like I just want to do something a bit more productive with my life from now on. A long childhood friend has recently started doing animations and making his own videos and uploading them to YouTube and to be quite honest they are great, its so great to see something like that, the thing about Ryan Is that our friendship took a bit of a standstill when we were kids must have been between the ages of 8 and 10 at least. Ryan and his family were emigrating to New Zealand and as a kid yeah you see this as a big thing but you don’t realise the likelihood of seeing them as often is completely and utterly abolished due to the fact you have no idea how much it would cost to fly out there. Ryan must be around 18 or 19 now and I just turned 20 there this year, and its great to see we still have so much in common, to just spit it out and be clear after seeing that this is what he into it kind of inspired me to get back to what I love doing. I love writing. I’m not so much of a reader which is the weird thing, again all down to my laziness, if a book doesn’t get my attention within the first paragraph or so I find it very hard to stick with it or even go back to it if I do manage to finish a chapter. The same applies for the likes of articles and campaigns and any form of literature really. But I thought hey you know what it’s about time I started doing what I love and even more its about time I start love what im doing.

Just to be clear, this year has probably been one of the biggest milestones of my life. I finally did it, I finally got a girlfriend. Fuck. It’s still weird even saying that, so yeah I will leave the ultimate love story of the century to maybe the next blog or edition whatever the fuck you want to call this. This is mainly just for me to get to grips with the style that im going to write in, if I do choose to carry on with this (Which I feel like I will). If anyone reads this yeah, awesome im happy someone out there is reading my stuff but to be honest this if for me as much as it is for anyone else out there. I want to see what I can do and if this really is the best time to get back into writing, basically one side of me is saying yeah what the hell go for it you need something like this but at the same time as there always is, the polar opposite emotion of just fear I guess? Not wanting to pick something up again only to go off my track record and drop this 5 minutes later like I do with everything else? But hey its 7.15pm on a frosty Sunday night in November, what else am I going to do? Sit, procrastinate and wish I had of done something useful.

Not that im going off track because essentially there isn’t much to this article its just me spamming a lot of stuff down so who ever reads this can kind of of get a grip of where I am right now in life and basically why I’m doing this. So here goes, I dropped out of college for last week. For the second time…

Yeah im officially a two time college dropout, nothing t be proud of I assure you, but im just waiting for the opening credits to roll ad realise im in the first scene of a really shitty coming of age movie where im the older brother your parents don’t want you to turn out like.

But yeah, I left school at 16 and went to a technical college, basically an establishment which offers a-levels to people who didn’t get back into school or else didn’t want to go back to school. I studied a 2 year course in creative media production and honestly it was awesome, it was so fucking cool and the course didn’t have that many uninteresting or boring areas, but yeah you guessed it I was lazy didn’t do any of the work and just took advantage of the whole independent learning aspect of it and never bother showing up for class plus a whole pile of other steamy shit went on that year that we are just not gonna discuss at this moment in time. But coming towards the end of the second year when the course was gonna finish and In a couple months after that I would figure out if I got the grades to get into the uni of my choice I asked my teachers if they would be wiling to let me come back and repeat the second year of the course. They were more than happy to, they gave me exactly what I needed, a fresh slate and a chance to correct myself, and you know what happened? Yeah your right I totally blew it and fucked up again just hated the thought of working or studing in media for any longer. Like I loved making short films and writing screenplays and everything I even liked some of the assignments but basically I had it in my head I didn’t want a career from this anymore due to the fact it was something I loved so much and it was basically kicking my ass all day, all fucking week long. The only thing that got me through that repeated year of college was the girl of my dreams and we weren’t even going out yet. But as said before there is more to come with her, she deserves the whole word so the least I can do is dedicate one sole piece of writing to me and her and our story, truth is there are not enough words in the world to even begin to describe who she is and how she thinks and works and even jus to describe how she came into my life, yes a combination of letters on a page or screen may work for some people but no, not for her. This girl is a queen from another realm, she is a princess from a faraway kingdom, she is an angel from heavens further and beyond the highest clouds. She is the love of my life and that is the only way to explain her and who she is. But getting back to the educational fuck ups In my life, here goes the explanation to how I arrived here, 5 days after dropping out of another course. This time I was studying IT, you know trying to go down that route of career, thinking of my future and what not? Yeah that didn’t go to plan either, I basically rejected a full time promotion on good money and I hadn’t regretted anything as much in my life. Basically college was another fuck up and let’s just say I managed to get out and finished a bit earlier this time rather than waste my own time and anyone else’s. Plus, if I carried on with these next two years that would 5 years of studying A-levels just for me to be a whining little bitch about how I didn’t want to go to university. I am just at the stage of my life now, not where I am considering moving out and settling down but some things don’t appeal to me the same as they used to. Going to uni and living and experiencing that independence in life and finding a career path and devoting the rest of my life to something I may not even be happy at? Na, no thanks not for me. Not at this moment in time anyway. For right now I’m happy enough to keep my eyes and ears open for what all jobs are available for me and what foot to put next in front of me. Get a couple extra pounds in my pay check each fortnight and you know that might do for year or so. Maybe get back on the studying boat in a year or two and carry on with the IT. That is, you know if I don’t become like a stereotypical copy of a character you would expect to see in a ‘Community’ reboot.

I was watching a clip of Jim Carey giving a speech a couple of days ago and basically what I got from it was that he had returned to his old school or college or university or whatever in order to give a commencement speech or he was receiving his award or something anyway not really vitally important. What is important is what he said in his speech, basically his message he was getting across as in most motivational speeches, is the reinforcement of using fear to help you rather than to put you off, accepting fear and accepting that no matter what you will fail, but that’s okay and if it wasn’t for the fact that accepting it you wouldn’t have the drive to reach for greatness like so many greats have done before you, whether they have made it to great fame and fortune or if it was just the regular girl from a small town who made a life and career for herself because it’s what she wanted to do. Anyway, Carey says, “You will only ever have two choices, love or fear. Choose love and don’t ever let fear turn you against your playful heart.” Basically what Carrey is telling us here is to embrace fear, don’t avoid it, stare down the barrel of its gun charge at it and conquer it, but never let it conquer you, never let fear become the objective always make sure it rises no more than an obstacle in your course, a mountain you must climb or a hurdle you must leap over. Defeating fear is never the final piece of the puzzle. Like walking in a straight line, you put your left leg forward and then do exactly the same with your right, repeat until you arrive where you need to be? Well, fear is that first big step. The first big step into a new world and a new environment and mind set and who knows what it’s going to throw at you. But you need to remember that it’s there to make sure you don’t triumph in whatever you set out to do, but you can’t move forward without taking that step. Then comes the next step, failure. And as stated before yeah, your gonna fail, your gonna fail and you’re going to fuck up and mess up and trip up, over and over and over again, this is the repetitive steps the same as walking that we take to go in a straight line, the same works with this. Without taking the same repetitive bullshit same old story steps in life, we will never reach the finish line that is success.

#blogging #cringe #first blog #wiriting

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atypicalnobody · 7 years ago

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12.17

I’m just so disgusted looking back at my posts and seeing for how long I have felt like absolute shit. Every day I wake up I hope it’s going to be better. That this feeling and these thoughts that I have, that I write down, will disappear tomorrow. But they don’t. I don’t know for sure because it’s hard to tell since it’s always different… but I don’t feel that I’m getting better… only worse. I literally have no idea what to do. I seriously doubt that any doctor has any solution, because how can you tell a person that thinks that the world has no absolute meaning. The person who has wanted to take their life since they remember that life will be ok and show them to to live it in the sun. I know I’m not special… There are so many people that did get help from psychiatrists or therapy or by taking medication. And I know every single one of them probably doubted that it’s going to work. So why am I different…What gives me the privilege to think that intelligent well-educated doctors can’t fix me… Why would they be able to fix everybody else but not me? It makes no sense, like rationally I know these things so that's why I reach out for healthy coping mechanisms like doing stuff, washing the dishes, cleaning the floor. watching movies (that I find boring), doing my nails. Everything that just takes up time and supposedly takes my mind away from thinking about the dark stuff. But there’s always these five seconds or even just one in between actions like walking to the bathroom cuz you have to pee, or mixing food on your plate or just waiting for your video to load on youtube… There’s always this one second where I’m left with my mind and the first thing it wanders to is to the dark parts of my thoughts. I don’t know why I think/ I feel bad all the time. I just don’t concentrate on it and make it up… So pathetic for how long I have felt like this and for how long I have tried to win with this and continued to fail. I am 20 years old almost 21 and I still remember my last birthday when I was so scared and so sick that I was absolutely petrified of a date that meant that I was getting older, that I was living and that I lived another year. A whole year has passed and there’s nothing that suggests that this birthday will be any different. I’m thinking of going to a mental hospital… I seriously have no idea how is that supposed to help me. It just keeps me in captivity and still, the end goal is taking meds and going to therapy which I can do living at home. But for some reason, it’s an ongoing thought that bounces back and forth in my head… But I can’t leave Her... If they take me away... I won't have Her...and She won't have me. I can”t leave Her. She needs me...I need Her. She’s the only one that I listen to...

If I didn’t want to get better I’d probably stop going to school a long time ago. I would have cut my whole body up and did disgusting things to it. I’d probably hurt my mom… so much that judging by the circumstances lately she would have broke. But I’m trying… every day I can wake up without aching arms or bloody stains on my sheets. Every day I can call my mom and not have to answer questions like “are you alone in the apartment? maybe I should come over”. But so what. I’m trying yet I’m still sick and I’m still decaying. I only feel more and more sick even though I have never had so much motivation to get better than I have now…having Her. Yesterday I told Her that I want to go to a psychiatrist and I want to take meds and get better because of Her. That I’m doing it for Her. For us. And She got mad for some reason and asked to change the subject… because She said that if I am supposed to do it for Her then it’s not right. I know what She meant because in a perfect world you should want to get better because you just want to for your own self. But this isn’t a perfect world and we’re talking about a person that wakes up every goddamn day and I mean every single day for the past month (or more) thinking “I just want to end my life today” Yeah..today is a good day to die”. It’s so sick... how can somebody wake up and that could be the first thing that comes to their mind. That it’s the first thing that comes to mind when something goes wrong. Not thinking that better days are going to come… So please please please tell me how do I find the will to fight for myself and why is fighting for Her not good enough or any worse. And on top of that, I can't get over the slight judgment in my head followed by a bit of anger towards Her. I’m fighting this hell alone and I'm fighting it for us so that we will both be okay on our own. So that we can actually even say the word “us”. And She's doing nothing... I see no initiative from Her side except for the repeating mantra that She sells me of “oh you're not good. you're not well. you need to see a doctor.” I’m confused I’m tired I don’t know what to do… I don’t even have a plan I don’t even know how I would end my life I’m not even going to look it up or think about it… mostly because I’m scared that reading would turn into doing in days time. I don’t want to implant ideas in my head that I might use against myself… so I don’t. But the feelings aren’t going away and they’re not lighter in any way just because I don’t know how many pills do I have to take or for how long I have to lie in my bathtub with slit wrists. I still want to. I guess it’s natural that I seek comfort in other people. That I want to open up and tell somebody how bad I feel seeking comfort or just a hug… but I’m finding it more and more hard because the afterthoughts: that I’m putting this on somebody, that I kind of maybe am implanting ideas into someone’s head because they’re not fine in their own head… These thoughts are making me move further and further away from the people I love… I’m so so sad how I realized that my relationship with Tulip has gone downhill for the past couple of months. We barely talk if we even do. I have no idea what’s going on in her life, how she feels every day or what happened when she went to university a certain day. I miss our late night McDonald’s talks… about how we’re fucked up and then laughing about it. I miss having a friend. But I feel so sick that I don’t even know if I can have a friend because basic interaction just gives me anxiety and I judge myself constantly and I think why am I even talking to this person because it just doesn’t matter. I just don’t care. From a very social person that was actually very intrigued by people or what they had to say… now I find myself further away from any kind of human interaction than I ever was. I have no friends. And I don’t even have the need to have friends. Every day I only text Her and some occasional person writes to me with an occasional topic or question. I write with no one. Everyday. I’m scared… that I’m doing something wrong with my life, that I have been for years. Because it’s not like I did have friends before...because I didn’t. And nothing has changed. I find it even exhausting to talk to somebody, to listen to what they have to say. They seem so far away from me like...like an illusion that why would I even care about. It’s all just fake plastic talk and even if somebody spills a little bit of their soul on me and tells me how they feel...I still don’t care because I don’t actually see them. I just… I can’t see them like actually see them. They just seem fake. Lately the thought that my whole life is one big derealization is getting on me. It explains a whole lot but it doesn’t give answers to anything. I’m still fucking sick. I don’t even know how to end this… I feel like I’m just talking about nothing.

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ourloveandtrials · 8 years ago

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Starting out in nursing school: an updated guide.

So back at the end of 2014 i made a list of everything you’d need to start nursing school... the reality is that this list was made before myself had ever started. I knew i wanted to make an updated version after going to university so here it is 3 years later. It makes me laugh so much! 2014 Vs 2017 Not in original:

Sense of humor Strong stomach Crazy Curiosity And immunity to bitch hierarchy BS!

But seriously....

Planner - 1 page per day. Wall Calendar –for visualizing what is coming up each month. Weekly to-do List – it feels great to be able to cross things off each week. Household Schedule – for keeping school in perspective with life. Paper - pocket notebook for clinicals, loose leaf paper, printer paper and index cards 3x5 and 5x8.

Folders - 3-ring binder, display folders with plastic sleeves. Misc. - 3 holed punch, calculator, small stapler, staples. Pens, highlighters and pencils– for note taking. Highlighting key ideas and for drawing diagrams for study aids.Technology/ devices. Recorder – great for recording lectures and classes. Also comes in handy for recording any notes you make to so that you can reinforce concepts. It is important to make sure that your teacher gives permission for you to record as they may have a strict policy. More often than not they allow it for personal use and ask that you do not distribute it. Most Lectures should be recorded onto an online system through your university where you can stream them or download to listen to as a study tools in your own time. Note: if your school does this, don’t think that you can get away with not attending as 9 times out of 10, the day that there is a system failure will be the day that your away. �� Laptop/Desktop computer – important for accessing online content, doing assessments and checking emails. It is important to have internet access while completing nursing school, however if you are unable to have it at home, most public libraries and educational institutes provide computer labs to their students. Printer/Scanner – for printing assessments and lecture notes. This is also convenient but not necessary, so if you are prepared to pay small fee at public libraries and other educational institutes they always have many on hand to access. IPod/mp3 player – amazing for unwinding to your favourite music or even uploading recordings of notes and lectures for extra reinforcement while going for a run or walking the dog. I personally love listening while I’m cooking or washing up. Nurse Stuff!!! Water proof watch – must have a second hand So a wrist watch is actually NOT ok! You’ll need a fob watch instead (hangs from shirt) as a wrist watch is a major health hazard and you’ll need to be washing all up in there repeatedly. Stethoscope – Your school may have a particular one that they want you to use that is fairly cheap. If they allow other brands, Littman is very good and reliable and will definitely take you all the way through nursing school. However, make sure you have it engraved or don’t let it out of your sight as I have heard sooooooo many stories of them being stolen out of bags etc. Basically you can get away with not having your own … most times you’ll need them will be in labs at school because everyone will be using them at once at it’s easier to just have your own, but out on placement there is always one with the obs gear and people aren’t running around with steths 24/7.

Comfortable shoes – this is a no brainer. Nurses are on their feet all day and night so it is important to splash out where comfort and support is needed. Klogs, despite being some of the ugliest shoes to exist, are wonderful. Dansko are also really comfortable, as well as the brand Sanita which offers cute prints and colours. We just needed leather enclosed nurse shoes, something with support and durability.

Durable bag - this one is also really important! A lot of people have said that a bag with wheels comes in good use when you’re lugging heavy books across campus. Please don’t use shoulder bags! You will wind up with an immense amount of strain on your shoulder, and they just aren’t practical. So I get away with my big ass handbag. I can throw my A4 notebook and bens in their as well as a snack and a bottle of water. Realistically you don’t have to take your textbooks with you to uni. They have them in the libraries do don’t break your body and cart the dead weights aound. 5. Scrubs – Scrubs are a bit of a grey area as there will be variations in what is required of students from school to school. Mostly blue are used I believe, but I may be wrong. NOT REQUIRED!!!!

Student uniform - this will be something you purchase from your school. It is important for when you are on placement so that you are recognised as a student from your school. Make sure you have pockets in your pants! Also I have three of the shirts and three sets of work pants. Note: get yourself a few sets of compression socks and save your feet and legs the pain.

Long sleeve tops – nurses have early starts and finishes so it is important to stay warm. Hospitals often aren’t the warmest of environments so having a few long sleeve tops to layer up with is definitely worth it. Yeah… no! Your not allowed to wear long sleeves. Its bear bellow the elbow in most facilities so buy yourself a singlet and tough it out! Penlight – penlights are like pens, you’ll start off the shift with a few spares but by the end you’ll be trying to trace your steps back to find one! They aren’t too expensive so whenever you, replenish your hoard! Haha Not really the case and only used for neuro obs. The first RN I ever worked with gave me his as a gift. He was lovely ! Bandage/Dressing scissors – these will be your best friend. There’s no need to go out and by a ridiculously expensive pair. Just the basics that do their job! This is maybe one of the less important items you need when only starting out. Medical Dictionary – every student needs one. It is so handy for looking things up and often they have small diagram explanations. I actually picked up a seventh edition Oxford mini dictionary for Nurses which is great and it is the perfect size. Latest Drug guide – this is an important friend to the nursing student as there are so many drugs that we come into contact with. Make sure that you get an up to date one as there are new drugs out all the time. Try and get a hold of a mimms. Even if its an older edition they give you a great idea of different drug classes etc. buying an up to date guide is expensive and not worth it with the amount of annual changes made to them.

Thesaurus – this is just a helpful one for writing essays. I find myself looking for new ways to say something all the time and having a thesaurus gives you lots of options for words. Most computers have one built into their document writing system if you decide not to get one. Computer has this built in. Referencing Guide – as soon as you find out what kind of referencing your course uses for assignments, make sure you get a guide on how to do it correctly. You may pick up on it right away without needing one, but if you’re like me, it’ll help to be able to look it up whenever you need to. Note: never leaving referencing til last. Do it as you go! NCLEX Q’s book – the earlier you get yourself acquainted with NCLEX questions, the better. There are so many of these books out there. My advice would be to ask someone at school in a higher year, or one of your instructors, whether they can suggest a good one to you and go by that. Not useful until later on. Required Textbooks – you will either get a list of these given to you or it will be in your course outline under core texts. Buying textbooks brand new can be super expensive so I suggest you try and get them second hand. There’s is absolutely no shame in this, in fact it is the smarter thing to do. Check textbook exchange pages for your school on Facebook, look at noticeboards, gumtree. EBay, craigslist and advertise on these that you are looking to buy. If you know someone the year or semester ahead of you, contact them and offer to buy them for a reasonable price. Unless the course changes dramatically year to year, you will be able to get away with having books a few editions behind. If you have the money and you want to buy them all brand new, then do so! There is something satisfying about accumulating textbooks… I myself have many!In your bag. Wallet – make sure you carry your student ID card, bus pass, drivers licence, cash cards and loose change for printing. Keep a photo of someone or something you love or that motivates you to keep going. Keys – don’t forget your house keys, car keys and if your school has lockers, get one and don’t forget to bring the key with you to school! Hand sanitizer – at nursing school lots of people turn into crazy OCD hygiene gurus, and for good reason! Travel size hand sanitizer is perfect to carry around with you whether it’s at school or on the floor! Lip balm/Moisturiser – because hospitals are cold and dry areas it good to make sure you have a chap stick or some paw paw ointment on hand to stop any wind burn, chapping or cracking. Moisturiser is a must. You will be constantly washing your hands and using hand sanitiser upon entering a room so it is important to put some moisture and life back into your poor little hand. Any vitamin E creams or aloe Vera based moisturisers will do the trick! Headphones - make sure you have a spare pair of ordinary headphones. Preferably not the apple ones as they don’t always work on school computers. Some computer labs or libraries at schools will sell these or loan them to students for a few dollars. Sometimes you’ll find yourself at university with a few hour between classes and you might want to re watch a lecture, but you don’t want to disturb other students in their study. You may simply just want to watch silly things on YouTube to cheer yourself up after a terrible day so make sure you are prepared. Tissues – make sure you have a travel pack of tissues. There may be day where you just feel like crap or have had very little sleep and just have a little melt down so tissues or face wipes can save the day! Water bottle – stay hydrated!! Try to stay away from caffeine where you can. We all know that the caffeine high is fast in reacting, but when you crash you crash hard. Just starting your day with a big glass of water can set you up for feeling good all day so carry it on through the day too! My university has refill places where you can refill your bottle without having to buy it or go to a bathroom. Lunchbox – Always pack lunch!! You will go through so much money buying lunch every day. If you don’t have time in the morning, prepare the night before or even cook for the week on Sunday and pop something into a microwave safe container to heat up at school. Make sure you have a few pieces of fruit, a handful of mixed nuts and some form of carbs and protein. Make sure you have a few muesli bars for back-ups, and I often freeze a little tub of yogurt for later in the day. ;��N�*�uA �uQ�

#nurblr #nurse #nursing #nursing school #bsn #cna #medical #medblr #student nurse #nursing student #school of nursing #nurses #nurse life #nurse humor #medical humor

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airoasis · 6 years ago

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ETHEREUM, BITCOIN SCALING BY VITALIK BUTERIN

New Post has been published on https://hititem.kr/ethereum-bitcoin-scaling-by-vitalik-buterin/

ETHEREUM, BITCOIN SCALING BY VITALIK BUTERIN

At this factor proper if I knew that there was a definitive proof that proof of stake would never possibly be made to work i might have got to relatively severely think you understand like if I desired to return to proof of work or if I desired to only stop the blockchain area all together the concept behind etherium is that it is like a smartphone one analogy for illustration that i exploit is that Bitcoin is like a pocket calculator you are aware of it has a developed in digital circuit nevertheless it’s most effective designed to do one unique thing which is including and multiplying numbers protocols like colored cash and grasp coin are variety of like Swiss army knives so that they could have like 5 or ten one-of-a-kind aspects however they can’t do anything else a smartphone you know you could have like one hundred apps or one thousand apps on your phone and in case you wants to download every other app then you don’t ought to go to the store and improve your cellphone you do not must like go to the shop and get some style of bodily Hardware extension you simply go to the internet and down load an app what I desired to do with the speculation is truly you understand i can transfer faraway from this style of older paradigm of pocket calculators and the Swiss military knives to this more moderen technique of blockchain protocol that has a constructed-in programming language and so if you happen to needs to build any kind of software then you might take the principles of that application the industry good judgment of that utility write it as a piece of code in that programming language Tim pilot add it to the blockchain after which you have an object on the blockchain that any individual can like sends transactions to engage with and the rules of that software shall be will be processed by using the identical community that runs the blockchain and it would be processed in keeping with the principles that you’d outline within the piece of code that you simply upload just writing the whole lot on code such as you do with clever phones or computers and like however you recognize seek this paradigm shift and follow it to the blockchain as good I think the Bitcoin group believes that Bitcoin is 80% finished whereas the etherium neighborhood believes that aetherium is 30% finished you recognize the blog streams roadmap for the Bitcoin blockchain they mentioned some rather marginal upgrades like you know moral ast is the simplicity a couple of privateness elements whereas on the etherium part we’re speaking about like like 1,000 factors scaling and like putting everything around tiki snarks and i’m doing a full swap to pro steak and all these other changes one more difference that I feel is particularly related to the primary one is that I consider the Bitcoin group believes that lots of the value of walk chains comes from an extraordinarily small set of very excessive price use instances basically like censorship resistance like worth storage and worth switch and they think that that’s something that humans are inclined to pay you understand even $50 a transaction for the blockchain just manages to be as at ease as possible for that detailed use case whereas the etherium community I consider Moore believes that lots of the value of watch-chain technological know-how comes from the longtail so from all of these use cases where the worth of the use case to every man or woman user or per each and every man or woman transaction is much scale down however the number of customers that you could attain is way much wider despite the fact that it can be now not providing as much price per consumer it is relatively making up for it in volume so love it’s not some thing that wholly alterations the lives of 1 million individuals however it would largely change the lives of 100 million and enormously just a few hundred million extra from that kind of core difference in principle such as you see the entire special decisions proper so for example you realize a Bitcoin neighborhood says good good enough we now have lightning however even though lightning didn’t work most commonly block sizes must not go up too much seeing that it can be the shop worth and the excessive value stuff that’s where that’s what issues whereas within the etherium group we are saying well if watchings can’t steal a thousand further useless and so we’re totally and certainly inclined to hazard breaking the entire factor to make it scale via a factor of a thousand even like proof of like proof of work forces proof of stake like you already know we talk a lot about how proof of work is fairly environmentally detrimental and we wish observing consensus to be more cost effective whereas like Bitcoin persons would say good the relatively excessive levels of security are abour stated and like this is that is warfare and this is what you have got to do and a proof of labor simply out of your factor of view has better properties you already know like I just do not feel that you recognize despite how priceless we think what we’re doing is that it’s valued at you already know after that sheer massive waste of resources that is being a created by way of all of these I imply SEC farms whereas for me like if I knew that there was once this you recognize at this factor I mean if I knew that there used to be a definitive proof that proof of stake could on no account probably be made to work I typically will in i might have to fairly critically believe you realize like if I desired to return to proof of labor or if I desired to only give up the blockchain house altogether i don’t believe the cut up was a disaster at all like I tends to be a variety of ideologically professional secession in that appreciate you absolutely wishes to have like smaller communities and smaller units that that can interact with each different more efficaciously and kind of be extra focused towards specific pursuits and within the etherium etherium traditional case like it used to be very clear that there were two communities that had very vastly one-of-a-kind expectations about what a blockchain is and what a blockchain is for and so I do exactly believe that it was economically most advantageous to you recognize acquire each community have the variety of staring at that it prefers i do know there are persons that try to say oh when a concept I used to be going to change the POS then there might be men and women who disagree and they will make one more fork i’m no longer certain so one motive why i’m now not sure is considering the fact that like like in contrast to in the DAO case within the case of proof of stake like we have been actively advertising actively signaling actively form of constructing clear the affect that if the areum’s destiny is to switch to proof of stake when we come up with a just right algorithm that is whatever that everybody within the etherium neighborhood is since 2014 has known all along if there is someone who rather just believes in type of diehard proof of work then as a substitute of going to all of the effort to make yet another break up chain I think quite a lot of them will simply migrate to a conception on traditional that is one motive why I actually do not assume that vary they are gonna have absolutely died off anytime soon due to the fact you realize if there are there just is an intersection of folks who find it irresistible the subject maybe folks name off proof of work and it’s i would say it’s even good that they have got a situation that they may be able to go to yeah without doubt am very heavily involved in study efforts i am Nick very heavily worried in charting in Casper FFG like plasma it can be only a few gigantic states the prolong state channels you understand various rough Forks quite a few the IPS that have been authorised up to now I used to do extra development however now I do less development generally given that focusing on study is just extra important so yes in the long run er commonly will continue to just be researched in verbal exchange I mean humans do mostly ask the query of fortunate am I going to proceed to have the same variety of very big position within the etherium neighborhood that I do correct now we’re historical I decrease over time I do anticipate that to slash over time and i feel you already know like even on the financial system you’ve visible it shrink fairly a bit of you have got to look at two or three years in the past right good two or three years in the past I used to be in lots of instances the one character doing like certain sorts of research and like writing the Python consumers and like talking about aetherium and like now you have got all those builders like Carl and like John choy Justin Drake you understand Elway and so on and plenty of these humans are folks that we have now just gotten within the last six months correct so like our research staff is quickly developing and our study neighborhood is swiftly developing i do know you think going to be inevitable that over time you realize the component to all the you understand study contributions that are my contributions goes to move down as good correct like the extent to which I do progress is already made the category time so scale down than it was once two years ago and at some point even in study like i’ll be simply one of the 20 men and women that’s you recognize doing very giant work like there are some persons locally that you understand like want myself to be very actively concerned in truly simply the main things for a hug for a particularly very long time unless the undertaking is finished there are humans that want signed of more indicators that the neighborhood can live to tell the tale by means of itself and would not depend on me and in I do think you realize like there may be a variety of opinions between those two I mean for myself I absolutely in my opinion need within the etherium neighborhood to develop to the aspects the place it doesn’t suggest sterile to love actively depend on me for survival and take a look at to get to that point that I bought as speedily as possible what i suppose i realized is a couple of things proper one is that I always felt that you just comprehend it’s even though the danger that blockchains and cryptocurrency would be successful is far not up to a hundred percent although it can be ten percent a ten percent threat of making whatever that unleashes and a huge paradigm shift on the complete world continues to be some thing that should be fully valued at dedicating your life to

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batterymonster2021 · 6 years ago

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ETHEREUM, BITCOIN SCALING BY VITALIK BUTERIN

New Post has been published on https://hititem.kr/ethereum-bitcoin-scaling-by-vitalik-buterin/

ETHEREUM, BITCOIN SCALING BY VITALIK BUTERIN

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bernicefitcpt-blog · 7 years ago

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My first Sprint Triathlon Experience

I could probably count on one hand how many times I trained for each sport event leading to the weeks that I put on that tight one piece. Not that I didn't take the training seriously, but that's what my time allowed for me to do. Just so freakin' happy that I did finished my first triathlon event.... AND LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT! ... And gotta love those automatic PR's: 1:31:33

Morning of :

SETTING UP:Found a spot in the 2nd row of the racks next to a Brazilian lady #55 who looked like she knew what she was doing, and another nice lady named Brenda who helped me a ton! First, she did mention to keep a narrower space for myself in case someone wanted to come next to me. So i did. Then another lady came super close to my front tire with her stuff. She looked a little more nervous. And even Leanne, the lady who checked me in came by and said hi to me! She said she's been doing tri's since her late 20s and she’s now 60! You go mama! She looked like early 40s. Dang, I wanna me like that! So i'm feeling super NEWBIE status and I'm here looking like a lost child haha. I asked Brenda if theres a certain way she sets up her transition area and yup! Makes sense. Place it in the order you'll be using it.

Heres a pic of it:

Here are some things I wish I knew: Bring something I could step into to rinse my feet. Maybe a stool would help? Have my phone ready to go on my bike. Stretch your hamstrings and hip flexors with the ball and foam roller more. And a huge thing: having a running belt! Since i knew i had to run with my number on me, I took my lululemon fanny pack strap and attached my number to it. Brenda was the one who told me I didn't need to put my number on yet as I was practicing putting my pins on haha. So thank God i had that. Or else I would be fidgeting with it.

SWIM:

Training: Thinking back to my first time ever competitive swimming event at the Honolulu Triathlon (Sprint - 750m), it made me want to practice this more than anything else. I really thought this might be the hardest part for me during the actual race day. The last time I had am actually in person swimming lesson was when I was like 5? Lol so, I read my books (usually the most confusing bc I need to visualize everything), watched some YouTube videos, and observed swimmers as I went to Palolo Valley Swimming pool. After discovering this pool that was only 5 min from my gym, I went a total of 3 times to practice on my swim! Each time I would do at least 600m, just to practice harder than my actual race length. One time I got 700m in the 40 min I decide to swim. You don't realize how much of a workout swimming actually is! One of the biggest lessons I learned is to STAY CALM. In the midst of putting my body in a mild hypoxic state where you're not breathing as you normally would. "THE BREATH IS SO IMPORTANT" - seriously cereal! As a Yoga teacher and personal trainer that starts with talking about the breath and diaphragmatic breathing, I realized that without this, we are nothing! Well, not nothing, but we are more likely to get anxious and if so consistent, could lead to depression! No good!

Anyway, back to the swim training! I also swam in open water like twice only, but next time think I should do more because the ocean water vs pool water is like night and day difference. From the breathing technique to just the extra resistance you get from the thickness of the water, current, and waves, I'll definitely be swimming more in open water. Elenor, the nice older lady who's retired from doing like idk 20 or 40 ( i just know a lot lol) of triathlons, she said the same thing, especially 2 days before the race which was the last time I swam to train.

Day of:

Favorite part!! (Surprisingly!) I was probably most excited for this because I saw how working on my technique since the HNL TRI has worked for me!! As I jumped into the water to swim to the buoys to start, i started feeling a little like "sea sick." Never felt that before going into a swim. We had 3 min to swim to the buoys bc i was on the 2nd heat! (Go orange swim caps! Pink would have matched me but i wouldve had to be doing the relay. Lol i would mention this bc my color theme was black, grey, and bright pink haha) Ran into fewer ppl this time at the start. Thank God! Being kicked in the face and swam on my legs isn't a joy. Mma in the water anyone? Haha During the swim, I was just focusing on breathing technique and continuing to swim without stopping. OH! and making sure i was swimming in a straight line to my destination. I was actually done in what felt to me was a quick 12 min and 44 seconds. I still had energy to run barefoot to the transition area! Yeeee! Haha

TRANSITION: should have not messed with my phone and trying to put it in my ziplock bag to put in my back pocket haha. Oh well. Lesson learned! I will need to get one of those bike phone things. Also my bluetooth didn't connect to my phone and fitbit. But i put my phone and fitbit on for my bike and run.

BIKE

Training: I purchased my bike only like at the end of July from a guy that didn't need it anymore for super cheap in comparison what they normally go for. Thanks facebook marketplace! Lol! So i was told to get clips for the pedals and to get specific tri shoes. Went to the Bicycle Shop first to let them check my bike out. Turns out that my tires were extremely flat! I get one of these . I rode it for 3 miles before that around Kapiolani park to just get used to it. Also used for maybe only 2 miles at Lanikai. Felt normal to me, but hey... what do i know! I felt so accomplished just doing that! Went to Boca Hawaii to get those. I had no idea that i actually had to put the clips on the bottom of the shoes. Learned a lot from the chick who didn't even bike but helped me to pick out the shoes and clips. It was then i realized this is not going to be a cheap sport. $120 tri shoes, $55 clips. Then i checked out the biking gear. Got myself my tri one piece. The girl (forgot her name)told me ppl like it bc it gives less room for drag or something like that. I got the small so it was skin tight. Plus i thought maybe i would lose weight if i trained more. $150. Thankfully i got the friends of Boca discount.

Brought myself to Ko Olina to practice with my clips. I was told by a friend and also the girl working at Boca. "Yah. You're going to fall." And me in my head: “Nah. I know how to ride a bike.” Best believe, put on clip in for the first time. Then BOOM. Fell over on the side i put my one clip in! Even the Ko Olina security asked me if I was ok. Haha. Felt super comfy with it. Riding fast is fun! Just my butt hurts after a while sitting. Did 3 miles that day too. The next time i biked, ran, and swam at Ala Moana it wasn’t that far. My last time practicing riding was half the course of the actual. Went to Kahala area to diamond head and around Monsarrat. Learned I shouldn't stop when charging a hill. Had to test out my gears and go on a hill. One of the scariest parts for me is trusting all the cars around me to not run me over. Single lanes for a car and bike freak me out. I now know how a biker feels with cars speeding up next to him or her. Im like 1. Don’t fall 2. Don’t fall. 3. Don’t get hit. Thank God for helmets! Thankfully i didn't fall or get hit this time. Lol!

Day of: I learned so much!! Felt fast from my swim and ready to bike like a wild woman lol. Took long deciding whether to put my phone in my back pocket in a zip lock or int pouch. Big no no bc it cost me some time! Kind of slow getting my clips in the bike after reviewing some of the footage Rich uploaded of me. But once i was off, I was off! They had huge blue signs with black arrows which showed me where to go. One of the most challenging parts was avoiding the potholes on the road in the quick turns in the neighborhood. Here's the bike path:

My favorite part of biking was riding down the hill on kilauea ave. I figured out to change my gears on the hills which wasn't so bad dafter all. It actually felt faster than 46 min. The hardest part was going up Monsarrat. I'm so glad that we had the whole road to ourselves so we don't need to worry about getting run over. Cops blocked traffic every time they would see a bike coming. I was so glad to come to the finish line and see Rich there recording me and cheering. I slowly got off my bike because the inside of my thighs and upper hamstrings were done. It felt like i was coming off a long ride off a horse.

RUN:

Training: i would practice a slow jog after practicing on the stationary bike to "condition" my legs. This was not nearly enough to simulate how it would actually feel on race day but what did I know! I never biked more than 6 miles outside. Only about 14 miles inside on a stationary bike then to a .7 to 1 mile jog walk. Nope! Not like it!

At the transition: I put my Lululemon socks on, already had my number on from the bike transition, and put on my favorite Hoka running shoes. Put on my Lululemon Visor and BAM! I was off!

Day of: i haven't hurt that much starting a jog/run. To motivate me, the little girl who was 11 old passed me up with her mom! At first, i passed her but maybe into the first mile i felt soooo uncomfortable. I felt restricted so i unzipped the front of my one piece tri suit. Ahhhh... homer simpson status?! Lol Just wanted to get to the finish line but enjoying my last few moments of my first tri! When I ran, i felt like I could think more clearly. Talked to myself a lot to motivate myself. What was going on in my head?! Thought about how grateful I was to God for giving me these abilities to do a triathlon"Are you pushing yourself the most you could!?" I sped up. All the way to the finish line. Pretty much a sprint with my legs hurting already. Saw Rich yelling, and BOOM! Didn't slow down til I was past the finish line! At the end, i went to the booth to get my shirt - which was my medal. About 10 minutes later I saw my friend Milli and then about 20 minutes later I saw my brother, mom, sis in law, baby nephew, and their dog. It was so great to have them all there!

After: In about 30 min to 45 min I checked the scores. It said I placed 3rd. So during the awards, they called my age group (25-29 yo) and the 3rd place winner. It wasn’t me! So I thought, it’s okay. I didn’t place. Then they said on the mic, “In 2nd place, Bernice Aurellano!” I was pretty shocked. Came home with a cool successory too! Earrings! Check it out:

Definitely doing it again. Actually, just signed up for my next triathlon sprint this coming Sunday! Excited to see what my body, mind, and spirit are capable of doing this time around. To the Ko Olina Race we go!

Picture of my fam afterwards:

The traditional FINISH LINE photo! LOVE LOVE LOVE the feeling of getting through to the finish line!

Check out this awesome Video - posted on instagram @BerniceFitCPT and Youtube - created by my love, Rich!

youtube

Until next time.... I’ll tell you about my 2nd experience!

Aloha,

Bernice

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centralparkpawsblog · 8 years ago

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Best Indestructible Dog Beds

http://www.centralparkpaws.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/chew-proof-dog-beds.jpg

Ever have one of those days where you wish you could hit ‘rewind’? Or just crawl into a little hole and not come out for an hour – or a year?

Yeah, I had me one of those recently.

My husband walked in on me coming absolutely, positively unglued – something that in all of our years together he’d never experienced – over the actions of one of our dogs.

I have no doubt the view of me raving like an under-medicated lunatic who just broke out of her restraints, contrasted with our dogs calmly laying around enjoying the show with their tails and tongues wagging, is what lead to him dropping his stuff and (after a moment of initial shock) practically busting a gut laughing at the scene.

Not one of my finer moments, I must admit, but I suppose I can appreciate the entertainment from his point of view – and the dogs, too.

In my defense, I had good reason to crack like a dropped egg.

Caña de Cerveza had chewed up another dog bed. I swear, that mutt is shooting to beat a personal best score.

They say every moment is a teaching or learning moment – and heaven knows on that day I did both! – as a result, and weeks of research, I became an unofficial expert on “indestructible” dog beds.

So What Makes a Dog Bed “Indestructible”?

Some dogs will chew ANYTHING!

So many manufacturers tout that their beds are “indestructibly” or “chew proof”, but if you’re like me, you want to know how they gauge what makes the cut.

Is it simply because it takes a lot more effort for a dog doesn’t rip it into a million shreds the minute Mom walks out of the room?

Or is it made from materials that taste nasty so your pooch doesn’t want to bite into it?

Is there a balance between durability and safety?

And for heaven’s sake – does a dog bed even exist that won’t be turned into stuffing at some point with a little effort and a whole lot of motivation from a bored pup?

To answer those questions, we need to decide what defines “indestructible” – and if it’s right for your dog.

To start with, “indestructible” and “chew proof” in relation to dog beds are used interchangeably by the manufacturers as the same thing; it might still be chewed, but without excessive damage – and your pooch may lose interest in it.

While we’re at it – these so-called “chew-proof” beds aren’t an automatic requirement. Unless your pup has left multiple bed carcasses in their wake, try choose a bed based on comfort – especially for an older dog.

Most tougher beds are, obviously, made from tougher materials – and those canvas-type materials aren’t the most comfortable.

Keep in mind most dogs chew out of boredom. If you have provided enough stimulation while you’re not at home – especially larger soft chew toys – then there’s less chance that your furbaby will resort to ripping the stuffing out of his bed.

Of course, some dogs chew because they’re jerks – uh, I mean, because they enjoy it.

When choosing an indestructible bed, remember that it’s all about the construction. The best outer materials can fail quickly with poor construction, and sub-par materials can actually hold up much longer than expected if stitched and assembled well.

Outer Material

The general construction material of the bed will determine the chew-worthiness of the bed.

While we want to balance durability and comfort, our focus is a bed for our four-legged friend that will not look like a stuffing factory exploded in the living room.

1680D Ballistic Nylon

If you think 1680D Ballistic Nylon sounds a lot like the material that your backpack is made from – you’d be right. Although not technically “indestructible”, this is a classic chew proof material because of the dog’s lack of interest in chewing it, as well as its resilient durability when chewed.

Canvas

Not as durable as 1680D, canvas is a good choice for its durability and also because it is a material that does not naturally entice chewing.

Denim

A less durable material, but a dog that has never had denim toys – like one made from an old pair of jeans – will generally not begin to gnaw on this.

Microfiber

Have you ever come home to this?

The microfibers – including microsuede – are not the preferred choice for dog beds since they mimic the plush stuffed tows our chewers delight in disassembling.

Inner Material

I’ve always been a bit disappointed by the lacking of real regulation and labeling of materials on dog beds, but there’s not much we can do about it.

Unless your dog has special needs (age, arthritis, allergies) the materials aren’t as important as long as it’s adequate for comfort.

Waterproof

This really isn’t a “make or break” rating – unless a bed claims to be waterproof and fails. But let’s be honest – waterproofness is only important if we specifically need it, and then it’s gotta be on point.

Construction

Don’t settle for anything less than double stitching at the seams.

Remember for beds constructed with multiple layers of fabric, one layer may fail and the next – for whatever reason – may not; unless your dog breaks all the way through to the inner cover or filling, the bed may not be considered “failed” by the manufacturer.

Warranty

This is a tricky one. Most manufacturers offer a 30 or 90 day warranty – but limit the replacement of the cover only or the bed to one-time. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the warranty before purchase.

Lastly, try to resist the urge to treat your dog bed with anti-chew sprays. At best they can cause your pup to avoid their bed – and at worst they can cause chemical burns when chewing, or other irritations to eyes or nose when snuggling.

Best Indestructible Dog Beds

There are dozens of tough dog beds on the market, touting their indestructibility in some form or another.

The below were chosen from a stringent assortment of scientifically methods, including flipping coins and pointing to pictures and asking the dogs which the liked.

As with other items from our reviews, those products that passed well are donated to a local shelter.

DIY Durable Denim Duvet

This option intrigued me from a do-it-yourself aspect, but also because of their dual claims of “chew resistant” and “not chew proof rated” – so that seemed like acceptable grounds to check it out.

For our review, we focused on the 1680D nylon cover – but be advised if you choose the microsuede that you’re just creating a giant stuffed animal – and we all know what happens when our chewers sink their jaws into a soft, plush toy.

Technical

Size: Multiple available

Medium (36″ x 29″)

Large (48″ x 29″)

Color: Seal Brown

Also available in black, tan, brown, olive, blue, and grey depending on cover material chosen.

Outer Material: 1680D Nylon

Also available in canvas, denim, oxford, or microsuede depending on color chosen.

Inner Material: Consumer provided pillows or other filler material.

Chew Rating: 4/5 for material chosen and reviewed.

Overview: The concept was a good one, when you think about it; a tough outer cover added to a waterproof inner cover that allows you to make your dog bed from the best materials for their personal needs.

The three pillow option of the large bed held the pillows nicely, although it led to an awkward size for my test-mutt.

Unfortunately, it’s important to carefully pay attention to the material when choosing color, since you may wind up with a cover made of microsuede that entices chewing rather than one of the sturdier covers.

The inner “waterproof” cover was definitely not what was pictured, and unfortunately didn’t hold up to the water balloon test for waterproofness.

Tails Up (Pros): The 1680D ballistic is a durable material. A serious chewer will still try it, but lose interest before any damage occurs. The ability to change the inner materials was surprisingly easy and refreshing, as opposed to hours searching for the perfect combination of cover and comfort.

Tails Down (Cons): The sizing of the duvet is awkward, since it’s long and narrow. Also, the waterproof inner cover seems to barely register as water-resistant. The zipper really needs to be more durable. The pillows shifted around easily, leading to uncomfortable hard spots.

Verdict: Good idea, but falls short due to the inner cover, inability for the pillows to stay in place, and ordering confusion.

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goDog Bubble Bolster

This manufacturer makes some of our favorite stuffed toys, so it was a no-brainer to include a review when this came up on my radar.

There are several options for the loft of the outer material, and for the sake of this review, the XX-large size in cocoa we chose is the high pile plush constructed material.

goDog beds are not self-classified as indestructable, but rather “guaranteed to last longer than standard plush beds”.

Technical:

Size: Multiple available

X-small (18″ x 13″)

Small (23″ x 17″)

Medium (30″ x 19″)

Large (35″ x 23″)

X-large (43″ x 28″)

XX-large (49″ x 30″)

Color: Cocoa

Also available in tan, beige, and grey

Outer Material: Unspecified, shaggy material

Inner Material: Unspecified

Chew Rating: 1/5 for bed chosen and reviewed

Overview: Like with the other beds, the first thing I did when setting the goDog Bubble Bolster bed on the floor was to crawl onto it and check it out myself for comfort – and boy was it!

The plush material was soft and the feel of the hardwood through the bed was definitely decreased. It could easily lend itself to a nap were it not for the other canines demanding their turn.

The bed boasts a bolster, which is not much more than a raised edge around the bed, and the overall stitching. The Chew Guard Technology™ is a proprietary process that adds a tear-resistant mesh lining.

The seams are reinforced and the bed as a whole is machine washable.

Tails Up (Pros): The overall construction appears well done, the no-skid bottom is a nice touch, and their sizing is geared towards fitting standard crating, allowing the bed to easily pull double-duty – a bonus when your pup is traveling away from home.

Tails Down (Cons): The bed is not waterproof or water resistant, and the fluffy plush material of the bed was no more than a giant chew toy.

Verdict: This bed had an impressively short lifespan because the plushy soft material is indistinguishable from a standard chew toy.

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DogBed4Less Orthopedic Memory Foam Dog Bed

An orthopedic dog bed that’s indestructible? Sign me up! With numerous sizes available to choose from, a single piece, 100% gel-infused memory foam interior cushion, with an inner waterproof liner and a tough exterior made from 1680D.

I didn’t read much more of the description before adding it to the cart.

Technical:

Size: Multiple available

Small/Medium (35″ x 20″)

Medium/Large (37″ x 27″)

Large (41″ x 27″)

Extra Large (47″ x 29″)

Extra Large (40″ x 35″)

XX-Large (55″ x 37″)

Jumbo (55″ x 47″)

Color: Navy Blue

Also available in seal brown

Outer Material: 1680D Nylon

Inner Material: 4″ 100% gel-infused memory foam (non-toxic)

Chew Rating: 5/5 for bed chosen and reviewed

Overview: This orthopedic bed is not fully chew proof rated from the manufacturer – but the dogs don’t know that. After a few discrete test chews (yeah – she didn’t think we saw her!) the interest in the bed as a source of entertainment subsided.

The exterior is rougher than some of the more indulgent materials, but that’s to be expected – we’re shifting from softness to durability.

The waterproof interior certainly held up as waterproof, and the orthopedic core held up to sleep and play.

Tails Up (Pros): This bed was surprisingly comfortable, and the cool gel was definitely welcome in the recent heat wave.

Tails Down (Cons): Replacing the core after washing was a wee troublesome, and the zipper of the bed we tried was a bit stiff – but easily remedied by a bit of beeswax.

Verdict: A great bed that was generous enough in size for multiple large dogs to flop on for cool comfort.

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K9 Ballistics Crate Pad

Specifically a crate pad, the manufacturer advertises this bed for light to moderate chewers only, and will resist about 90% of chewing. The overall construction of 1680D is not water resistant or waterproof.

Technical:

Size: Multiple Available

Toy (23″ x 17″)

X-Small (30″ x 19″)

Small (35″ x 23″)

Medium (41″ x 28″)

Large (47″ x 36″)

X-Large (51″ x 36″)

Color: Green Camo

Also available in black, blue, grey camo, green, red, tan.

Outer Material: 1680D Nylon

Inner Material: 1.5″ thick polyester fill

Chew Rating: 3/5 for bed chosen and reviewed

Overview: As a crate pad, the K9 Ballistics is an acceptable option. The 1680D nylon holds up well to scratching and the double-stitching lends itself to quality construction. The cover is not removable, but the whole unit is machine washable.

Like with any 1680D, there is ancillary noise when the dogs move around on it. When used as a stand-alone bed, it did not fall victim to chewing – but it wasn’t used much, either. Probably due to the thinness of the overall bed.

As a crate liner, the loft was adequate, but dogs to tend to chew their crate bedding more, and its lifetime is definitely limited if you have a crate chewer.

Tails Up (Pros): The 1680D is good construction material, and the sizing fits the popular kennels.

Tails Down (Cons): The thin pad is not protective enough, and the crate ties are an enticement for chewers

Verdict: the K9 Ballistics Crate Pad has an adequate design and good materials, but it’s too thin for comfort.

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Please note: This bed is also available in an orthopedic version, consisting of a 2″ core, consisting of a 1″ layer of memory foam on top of a 1″ layer of dense foam.

Kuranda Elevated Dog Bed

An elevated, PVC-framed dog bed that is basically a hammock design, which will avoid base pressure points. The PVC frame is walnut colored, and assembled at home with enclosed stainless steel hardware.

There is an optional fleece pad available for extra comfort. PVC glue is NOT recommended for use during assembly.

Technical:

Size: Multiple Available

Small (30″ x 20″)

Medium (35″ x 23″)

Large (40″ x 25″)

X-Large (44″ x 27″)

XX-Large (50″ x 36″)

Color: Khaki

Also available burgundy, forest green, smoke.

Outer Material: Cordura®

Inner Material: None

Chew Rating: 5/5 for bed chosen and reviewed

Overview: As it is, this bed really is chew-proof – but I wouldn’t consider it indestructible due to the construction. There is no specific weight for the Cordura® but it feels like standard canvas weight, or about 1000D nylon.

The Kuranda elevated dog bed is basically a raised cot, commonly used for teaching “place”. The dogs go to it easily enough as instructed, but it is not a chosen place for a nap – although it became more attractive when their regular bed was put on top.

Unless your dog has had experience with these raised cots, there will be a long curve for them to get used to it between the insecure footing and noisiness of the material. Assembly required.

Tails Up (Pros): A simple design that easily lends itself to the indestructible label.

Tails Down (Cons): Uncomfortable without additional padding (that may be chewed!), definitely not a good choice for arthritic dogs. Dogs not familiar with cots will shy away from it.

Verdict: Considering only the chew factor, this option receives a 5/5 – but there is no real comfort unless the fleece pad is ordered, or a folded blanket is placed over the top, and even then its unique design may likely be rebuffed due to insecure footing.

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Slumber Pet Toughstructable Bed

When I came across this bed touting to be the “future in chew-proof dog beds”, with its advertised chew-proof ripstop material, double-stitched seams, and reinforced corners, I was excited.

I clicked the button to add it to my cart, and anxiously awaited its arrival.

Technical:

Size: Multiple Available

Medium (36″ x 23″)

Large (42″ x 28″)

Color: Tan

Outer Material: Polyester

Inner Material: Polyfil

Chew Rating: 0/5 for bed chosen and reviewed

Overview: They say you never get a second chance to make a first impression – and boy did this bed make an impression. Just not a good one.

I’m not sure what they consider ripstop material – but this is definitely not what I’ve encountered.

The Slumber Pet Toughstructable bed felt like the material my aunt’s curtains were made out of.

The double-stitched seams weren’t, there weren’t channels for the filling, and there was no indication of reinforcing at the corners.

I know this for a fact – the bed’s remains were strewn across the living room in less than 2 hours. Oh, and don’t bother looking for a warranty – there was none.

Tails Up (Pros): The Velcro closure was nice, I suppose.

Tails Down (Cons): Hmmm … Just throw $65 in small bills on the floor and it would probably last longer.

Verdict: Poorly made, falsely advertised, and overpriced.

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KONG Chew Resistant Heavy Duty Pillow Dog Bed

I stumbled across this one completely by accident, so I added it to my cart – and quickly deleted it. Just shy of $300 seemed a bit pricey, even with my Prime shipping.

But it was Kong so I poked around and found it at PetSmart for less than $100. Pleased with my frugalness, I put in my order and waited for my treasure.

Technical:

Size: 30″ x 40″

Color: Brown

Outer Material: Polyester

Inner Material: Polyester

Chew Rating: 3/5 for bed chosen and reviewed

Overview: I won’t say this was the worst bed reviewed – but in light of the company reputation, it was by far the most disappointing.

I fully expected the same Kong toughness that I had enjoyed with their soft toys (well, not that I chew them personally – you know what I mean!) but that was not the case.

The polyester was certainly not going to stand up to roughhousing for long, but for whatever reason none of the dogs tried to disassemble it – maybe because of the faint funny odor.

The piping around the edge is definitely a chew enticement, as is the carrying handle. More size options would have been nice.

Tails Up (Pros): The dogs didn’t chew it. It’s a Kong. It seems comfortable enough to me.

Tails Down (Cons): The Kong dog bed is definitely not up to the standards of other Kong products. The handle feels like it can be easily ripped off, and the material definitely doesn’t feel like it will withstand much pawing.

The dogs didn’t have much interest laying on it unless instructed to.

Verdict: Let’s be honest – Kong knows how to build tough toys that could withstand Jaws on a bad day and come back for more. Beds… not so much. It’s really no surprise that these beds are not listed on the Kong website anywhere. Be sure to price shop!

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K9 Ballistics Original TUFF Dog Bed

The next step up from their crate pad, the K9 Ballistics TUFF Bed option is designed in true dog-bed style. A more colorful pallet of 1680D nylon exterior and a thick channeled poly fiber fill was more than I could resist – so I didn’t.

Technical:

Size: Multiple Available

Small (18″ x 24″)

Medium (27″ x 33″)

Large (34″ x 40″)

X-large (38″ x 54″)

XX-Large (40″ x 68″)

Color: Sunny Sky Stripe

Also available in black, blue, gray camo, green, green camo, lattice, marine blue stripe, red, and tan.

Outer Material: 1680D Nylon

Inner Material: Polyester stuffing

Chew Rating: 5/5 for bed chosen and reviewed

Overview: The 1680D nylon is tough, and the ripstop pattern will definitely stop small rips from expanding through standard use. The K9 Ballistics TUFF bed is definitely not waterproof; according to the manufacturer, it’s designed for any wetness to pass right through – and it actually does.

The velcro strip replacing a zipper will eliminate any chewing enticement.

Tails Up (Pros): This bed is easy to clean, and comfortable for the dogs. The fluffy filling doesn’t compact as much as I thought it would, and it withstood digging and rough-house play.

Tails Down (Cons): There is definitely more outer material than inner material, leading to an under-stuffed look.

Verdict: Well made tough dog bed that definitely lives up to the standards of toughness set by K9 Ballistics.

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Please note: This bed also comes in a bolstered version; a couch-style with arms and a back for those pups that like to snuggle into their beds.

K9 Ballistics Deep Den Dog Bed

Another K9 Ballistics option (mostly because I like the name!) for the nesters and snugglers of the house. The rounded oval design, high sides, and generous stuffing make for a comfortable sleeping spot for young and old dogs that like to curl up.

Technical:

Size: Multiple Available

Small (24″ x 28″)

Medium (30″ x 24″)

Large (36″ x 28″)

X-Large (45″ x 38″)

Color: Black

Also available in lattice and green camo

Outer Material: 1680D Nylon

Inner Material: Unspecified

Chew Rating: 4/5 for bed chosen and reviewed

Overview: As expected, the Deep Dog Den bed was another well made product from a manufacturer determined to get their super-durable dog beds right.

The full perimeter wall allows the pup to be fully snuggled in without the annoyance of an opening.

The fluffy filling is soft and non-clumping, and the overall design can be tempting for committed chewers.

Tails Up (Pros): Rugged material and quality construction. Smaller sizes are machine washable; the X-Large size needs to be cleaned with a hose.

Tails Down (Cons): The interior lining may not hold up to extended digging – typical for nesters and snugglers. The overall design could be a chew enticement, especially the removable bottom pad.

Verdict: Although not chewed by my dogs, the removable bottom pad and high sides could definitely be chewing enticements.

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Hugglehounds Chew Resistant TuffutLuxx Bed

One more manufacturer of tough toys tossing their offering into the “unchewable” dog bed arena. The fashionable colors of their removable outer cover feature contrast quilted-stitching to give an extra classy look.

The manufacturer touts their beds as “Abrasion resistance more than 6x higher than most tough chew dog beds”. With claims like that, it needs to spend some time with my chewer.

Technical:

Size: Multiple Available

Medium (36″ x 27″)

Large (42″ x 30″)

X-Large (48″ x 36″)

Color: Atlantic Night

Also available in Belgian chocolate and champagne

Outer Material: Unspecified nylon

Inner Material: Polyfill

Chew Rating: 4/5 for bed chosen and reviewed

Overview: Without a doubt, the Hugglehounds TuffetLuxx is a nice looking bed. The quilted stitching gives the nylon outer a little more of a softer feel, and the polyfill is fluffy and adequate.

The zipper flap is well stitched, although the zipper itself was stiff and snaggy.

Advertised as waterproof, only the inner cover held up to water balloons.

Tails Up (Pros): Nice looking bed sure to go with any décor, comfortable and sturdy. Held up well enough to canine tug-of-war.

Tails Down (Cons): Although only one of the dogs chewed through (can you guess which one?), the threads snag and rip easily when pawed; this can lead to weak areas that will tear.

Verdict: Not a bad bed at all, although it fails to meet the high expectations that come from their lofty claims.

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Bottom Line

We’ve looked at just a sliver of the “indestructable” dog beds on the market, and K9 Ballistics are a clear forerunner overall – although the DogBed4Less was our clear winner for their chew-proof orthopedic design, overall construction, and bang for your buck.

Unless constructed out of chainmail, no dog bed is truly indestructible for a committed canine.

Also bear in mind when choosing a bed that each dog is different, and their chewing needs are just as varied – and their toys will give you a good indication of construction material that are the better choices.

For example, if you use old jeans to make chew and tug toys for your pup – what do you think will happen to a denim bed?

You definitely get what you pay for – but before dropping several hundred dollars on a bed, do a little price shopping. Also, check your local pet store; an afternoon spent trying out beds could go a long way to choosing the best one for your pooch.

Above all, remember that dogs will be dogs.

It’s been a few months now, and Cerveza hasn’t chewed up her new bed.

Now if I can just get her to stop hoarding cheese under it…

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