#ice cream vending cars

[james34111]

The Complete Guide to Vending Carts for Ice Cream

An ice cream vending cart is a fantastic way to start a mobile business with low investment and high profit potential. Whether you want to sell at events, parks, or street corners, this venture offers flexibility and fun.

The Benefits of Owning an Ice Cream Vending Cart:

Operating an ice cream cart comes with several advantages. It requires minimal startup costs compared to a brick-and-mortar store. Additionally, mobility allows vendors to find high-traffic areas, maximizing sales. The low overhead and seasonal demand make it a lucrative opportunity.

Choosing the Right Ice Cream Cart:

Selecting the best cart depends on your needs. Consider factors like storage capacity, cooling system (dry ice or refrigeration), and portability. Customization options, such as branding and unique designs, can help attract customers.

Licenses and Permits for Ice Cream Vending:

Before starting, ensure you have the necessary licenses. Regulations vary by location, but common requirements include a business license, food handler’s permit, and health department approval. Researching local laws prevents legal issues down the line.

Best Locations for Ice Cream Sales:

Location plays a crucial role in sales success. High-footfall areas like parks, beaches, festivals, and school zones are prime spots. Understanding your target audience and their favourite hangouts will help optimize profits.

Effective Marketing Strategies:

To stand out, use creative marketing techniques. Social media promotion, loyalty programs, and eye-catching signage can attract more customers. Offering seasonal Flavors and combo deals can also boost sales.

Managing Inventory and Supplies:

Proper inventory management is key to running a successful vending cart. Stock up on popular Flavors and monitor sales trends. Keeping adequate supplies, including cones, cups, and napkins, ensures smooth operations.

Expanding Your Ice Cream Business:

Once you establish a successful cart, consider growth options. Adding more carts, partnering with event organizers, or even starting a catering service can expand your reach and revenue.

Conclusion: Starting an ice cream vending cart business is an exciting and rewarding opportunity. With the right strategy, location, and marketing efforts, you can build a profitable venture. By staying organized and continuously improving your service, you can attract loyal customers and expand your business over time.

[ihaznoclue]

Pool Day

This basically came to my mind when I went to the pools TWICE (one at night and one during the day)

Pairings -> Shadow The Hedgehog x Reader

Warnings -> None just Shadow being a jealous boy~

Note -> You and Shadow decided to go to a indoor pool but never knew so many guys would be there | ALSO SHADOW IS A HUMAN IN THIS BEACUSE ITS MORE EASIER THAT WAY

Genre -> Fluff

Shadow The Hedgehog

You had to think of something to do to keep yourself occupied because it was so hot, but you couldn't do much in the heat.

Sitting in front of a fan, you and Shadow were sweating terribly as you tried to come up with a plan for something to do together that would relieve the heat.

"Oh! I know!" You were sitting on the bed besides Shadow when you abruptly got up, this caused Shadow raised an eyebrow at you.

"What Is it Love?" He questioned

"How about we visit the pools? We would spend the most of our time in a cool pool, which would help with the heat."

"Good idea, let's start getting ready then," said Shadow, nodding. Then, with excitement, you hurried out of the room to prepare for the short trip to the pools.

It was going to be interesting because you had never visited a pool with Shadow before. Normally, you would go with your family or friends, but this time, you were happy to be going with Shadow.

You gathered everything you would need, including a bag to hold your hairbrush, towel, and extra clothing for when you exit the pools.

All you had to do now was put on your bathers underneath your T-shirt. Thankfully, you had a pair of pool shorts and a one-piece bathers.

You finished getting ready as you now waited for Shadow to change into his own, you were finally prepared. As you waited, placing your bag on the living room couch

You spent some time on your phone when Shadow emerged with a bag that looked like it belonged to a gym and probably contained his belongings.

"Come on let's go" He opened the door and went outside to walk to the car he drove here.

Basically, Shadow decided to come over and keep you entertained because your family was gone for the day as you didn't want to go. He likely drove over here. Well duh of course he did

It was only a little drive as you two made it in a couple of minutes. Surprisingly not much cars were there so you guys got a car park.

You hopped out of the car as you closed the door behind you, Shadow doing the same as you two grabbed your stuff and headed to the entrance of the indoor pools.

Once you went inside thought the open slide doors, you could see some swim suit and bathers, some drinks and ice-creams and googles displayed

Shadow was paying as you looked through some stuff until he called out to you, you quickly walked over to him as you both went through a open door and into the main lobby where a cafe was but sadly it was closed, a vending machine and some changing rooms

You could also see a big pool and the other side was the warm pool so you guys decided to go to the bigger and cooler pool. There wasn't much people but later there will be

Finding a spot as you went to the other side of the room since the pool was big and you both wanted to go to the deep end, putting your stuff on the floor near a wall and where you guys would be in the pool just in case

Shadow just needed to take his shirt and shoes off as he already had his swim shorts on, but he waited for you which was so sweet

You took of your shoes first then your t-Shirt to reveal your one piece black bathers, you also had you swim shorts on so you were ready to hop in the pool

Grabbing Shadows hand as you two walked to the edge of the pool, feeling the water with your feet, it felt cold but you thought of an idea to do

You grinned as you looked at Shadow, pulling him in front of you as you pushed him in the pool

A huge splash was heard and water sprayed on you as he was pushed in, you were laughing so hard you didn't realised that Shadow was coming close as he took a hold of your hand as he pulled you in with a smirk

You yelped as you went into the water, everything was muffled as you swam back up to the surface as you shook your head and wiped your eyes

You then splashed Shadow as he chuckled

"Jeez the water is freezing" You spoke, shadow swam around but not to far from you, you were kicking your legs since you could reach the bottom of the pool since you both were on the very deep part of the pool which had not much people here

"You'll warm up soon" Shadow required as he pulled you with him as he pulled you to the edge of the pool to hold on

Your hair and face was dripping wet from basically getting pulled in but that was your karma since you pushed Shadow in the pool earlier.

You stayed at the edge of the pools, arms crossed on the platform you are holding on, Shadow was beside you as he wanted to stay by your side

In a couple minutes a bunch of boys came, more and more. This made you a little bit nervous as they were mostly boys

You didn't realised that a firm grip was on your waist underwater, looking over at Shadow as he glared over at them

You rolled your eyes as you knew Shadow was jealous, so you wrapped your arms around his neck, the water splashing a little by the movement of your arms

"Do you want to go to the other pool?" You asked, making sure that Shadow was comfortable in this pool

"Sure we can go to the other pool for a bit" Shadow softly spoke, swimming to the ladder to get out, pulling you with him as you also got out

Water dripping onto the ground, Shadow picked up all of your stuff as you picked up the shoes, walking carefully as you didn't want to slip

Walking past all of them as they stared making Shadow glare back at them, you then gave them a ick face as you continued

You both now walking to the main lobby as you walked to the other side to go to the other pool where some kids were and some adults

"This is a little bit better" You said as you walked behind Shadow as he placed down the stuff on a bench

You placing the shoes underneath the bench as you both went back into the water

The water felt nice and warm but not too hot, you then swam a little to the corner as Shadow followed behind

The water wasn't deep as you could easily stand without drowning, Shadow kept a hand on your waist as he backed into the corner pulling you near him as he rested his chin on your shoulder

You could hear a lot of children screaming and having fun, you could see some adults on the benchs or in the pool playing with the kids or watching them

You were glad that going to the pools was the best option for a hot day like this

OR else you and Shadow will be stuck at the house sweating your asses off

Now it's been an hour or two as it was nearly time to close

You got out of the pool before Shadow as he came out after you, it was quite freezing now after being in the warm pool for a while

Shadow wrapped a towel around your shoulders as you thanked him now it was time to change as shadow was going to as well

It took you a while as you had a little shower in the changing rooms making your hair a little bit better than being tangled, brushing your hair as it took a while to detangle

But eventually you finished getting ready as you walked out of the changing rooms to see Shadow already out waiting for you

"Alright I'm done!" You smiled, linking arms with Shadow as you two went out the exit door and outside back to the car

This day was the best as you and Shadow should do this more often instead of staying inside all day.

I'm literally back from my hang out with my friend as we went bowling and now we are gonna go to the pools on Thursday!

-A<3

[dreamycloud]

✨Wishing on a Star✨

Today’s the day I get to share the fic I wrote based on @fauxvvounds’ amazing Lokius comic for the @lokiusbang 2024 Lokius Reverse Bang!

The comic is gorgeous but you have to see it in its entirety over with Faux. This might be my favorite panel below with the angsty driving and trail of wishes come true 💖

See the whole comic on Faux’s post here!

My fic is now live on AO3.

However, I’m also sharing a teaser here:

Mobius’ breath hitched. He looked up just in time to see a streak of silvery light cross the sky. It was magnificent in its simplicity. His heart ached, and a different kind of hunger unfolded in his gut.

“Make a wish, Billy,” the mother said, grabbing her son’s shoulders. “Go on, hurry!”

Mobius almost felt like she was telling him to hurry. He’d nearly forgotten that wishing on stars was a tradition on Earth. Humans could wish upon anything, really, but stars were classic. Shooting stars? Even better. Shooting stars were, for some inexplicable reason, considered more powerful than anything else to wish upon.

As Mobius watched the tail end of the star glitter away, he made his own frivolous wish. “I wish the vending machines would just give me food.”

What a wish. He huffed a laugh, running his fingers through his silver hair. If only the world was fair like that. He would have been happy to eat anything at this point, before his stomach imploded as revenge for ignoring it.

Oh well. He wasn't about to use the rest of his change on broken machines. Time to get back in the car and suffer through hunger pains until the next billboard gave him a sign—hopefully for someplace open twenty-four hours.

Mobius adjusted his collar, bracing himself for the wind, when a loud thunking and clanking symphony came from the machines behind him. He turned just in time to see each of the eight machines react. Of their own volition, a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos fell to the bottom of the machine, the Honey Buns dove, a cup of vanilla ice cream rolled down, and a steaming cup of coffee revealed itself in the bottom slot.

Heart thumping like a jackhammer, Mobius could only stare. “What in the world…?”

[aneyef0raheart]

𝔉𝔯𝔢𝔞𝔨𝔶 𝔦𝔫𝔫𝔬𝔠𝔢𝔫𝔠𝔢

Good and disaster :D

You and Gojo were both teachers in Jujutsu High, you had something to do with him. Something that makes him mad whenever you're around, at least it looks like it. Everytime you're in the teachers lounge, he walks away and heads outside. You would always think when would you guys ever be colleagues or friends.

There was a time you didn't expect would happen. You were out to get a cold drink from the vending machine disposing the coins in the coin slot until Satoru came across, he didn't walk away or do anything... Just standing right behind you. A bead of sweat ran down your neck, Satoru tried hard not to laugh of how nervous you are. He leaned over to your ear and whispered "I'll make sure my can go in that coin slot, make sure it fits for me." Right after he said that, the can dispensed and you immediately reached down to grab it out of the dispenser, until you could even put your hand in it, Satoru's hand pushed you onto the vending machine pinning you onto there, you could feel it pressing against you by how close he is to you. "What the hell..." You stated. "Yeah what the hell.. Why am I doing this, probably because I give you those looks for how hot you look I couldn't resist..."

He smiled behind you. "I'll spare you until lessons are done." He took a step back letting his hands off you. You stood there speechless as he walks off to his students outside the field training. Satoru stopped walking and turned to you "Your students are waiting for you... Y/N. Quit staring off to space and head off to your scholars dear.." He grins and continued walking. You shook your head and went out the opposite door, you took multiple breathes and mental advices which did not work. You walk into your classroom trying to act normal. While you were teaching about domains, you tried writing on the board but instead you broke the chalk. "M-miss..? Are you okay..?" A student asked, you turned to look at them with a flushed face "I'm no- I'm fine... You know what, class is over." You imediantally stepped out class and headed outside to take a break leaning against the fence.

You came across Satoru again which made your thoughts even worse, you looked back at him then to the view Infront of you. You clicked your tongue just by the presence of him until he grabs your wrist and makes you look directly at him. "I'm taking you home, you don't feel well." He drags you with him to his car "Hey! I didn't agree with you idiot!" He rolls his eyes and shoves you in the passenger seat. Satoru gets inside the driver's seat and starts the car engine, without a thought he takes off.

"Call me an idiot and I'll... Gosh nevermind."

"I don't even know you much why are you... Taking me home.."

"But I do, and my home... actually." He smirks and eyes you from the corner of his eyes while he's also focused on the road. "I'll do you good and get you some food first yeah?" He stops at a red light. "Uhm.. Sure... I guess I'll have ice cream mochi..."

"Great!" Satoru curled a light smile from his lips. You guys arrived at a corner store and parked it at the front, you both walk in but you had Satoru grabbing your hand like you'll go somewhere, which you may have thought of. He buys a bowl of Buldak noodles for himself and your mochi ice cream next to the checkout counter. You guys arrived to his house, it felt really weird to be in someone's house you barely knew. You were wondering what he meant by 'but I do'. "Is he stalking me!?" You said out loud. Satoru was silent for a moment and laughed "Your thoughts are pretty loud." While his snack boils he walks towards you from the living room and leans against the couch behind you where you are sitting. He looks down at you and you look up at him. "You should be my girlfriend by now." He said without hesitation "You should be dead by now." You added onto it, he raises his eyebrows and chuckled "Must've gotten the wrong girl. I like your attitude." He smirks and leans from the couch to kiss you in the lips, he pulls away as he almost forgot about the noodles. "Shit." He ran to the kitchen and pulls the pit away from the stove and turns it off. You wiped your lips from the kiss but... You kind of liked it... No, you loved it. His lips were soft. And he acts like a tsundere which turned you on a bit.

After he was done you followed him to his room, there was a TV and saw Satoru already sitting on his bed with the remote. You sat down next to him opening the packet of your mochi ice cream. He picked out a love movie, of course. It was called "Horimiya" You we're glad he had such good taste you even wondered what his music is like. During the movie only 20 minutes in, you finished your snack and didn't realize Satoru leaning on your shoulder. He sighed and looked at you starting to get impatient, he's already finished his noodles next to his end table and sat up again. He turned off the movie and looked at you with a straight face. "Lay down." "Wait... What." He groaned and pulled your legs down and sat on you. He leaned in and kissed you on the neck, soon it started getting sloppy. You covered your mouth not to make a sound but he didn't allow it and pinned both hands onto the sheets. He moved one hand to your waist, than hips, finally to your thighs picking it up. You felt his touch and started to shiver, you weren't the type of person to moan unless...

He was wearing pajama sweats which made his hard ass visible. He lifted you up and ran his hands under your shirt with one hand on your back than to the back of your neck. After a few minutes of the sound of you shivering and whimpering he pulled away leaving love marks on you. "Damn... Why look at you." He grabbed one of your hands to make you touch the top of his head as a sign to play with them. Without a thought he felt your hands run through strands of his hair. He had a sensitive head which made him whine a bit but that's what he wanted. He leaned forward to your chest and moved you back to the board of his bed. Why's he being a softy all of a sudden? Didn't he want to break your legs or something a while back? I guess he didn't mean tha-

He lifts half of your shirt putting his head inside of it, your shirt pulled down and covered his entire head top to the back of his head. You felt him removing your distracting bra and his cold hands on one of them. "M- Toru' don't do that!" It seems like your hands didn't answer that, instead it pushed him forward. His hands were all over you, it felt like 100 hands all over you but it was only his 2 hands moving around. "Gojo you fucking asshole." You gave in and rested your head on the board of the bed. He pulls his head away leaving saliva all over your chest. "Why do you have to be so warm..." You questioned him "Everyone has a warm mouth." He slightly lift the corner of his lips into a small smirk. A few seconds he started groaning holding onto his cock. "Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuckkk..." He pulls you by your collar, he imediantally pulls his sweat band halfway down and replaces it with your mouth.

His hands were pulling your hair so you wouldn't back up. You tried speaking which made it worse for Satoru sending vibrates to his entire body making him shiver and a flushed face appeared onto his face "Stop trying... To... Talk..." He groaned. Your saliva started dripping down. His whole length inside of your mouth. Soon enough he sighed and slightly moaned with a load coming out of him. "Y-you better swallow the entire thing..." You didn't even need to swallow, the whole thing already went down your throat making you choke. He finally lets go of you, soon enough you started coughing and choking gasping for air. He pulls you closer again for you to sit on his lap while his cock in between you guys. "Sorry I had to do that..." "Shut up..." His hands moved to your hips then the bottom of your thighs grabbing your ass. Both of his thumbs were about to pull your sweats down.

"I seriously need more of your body Y/N..." He turned you around and slammed you head to the side of the mattress. He had your pants halfway removed and had your back arched. He imediantally puts it in "Now you'll feel how hard I am once I get even harder when I'm inside you." He leans forward which made your walls stretch and created noises and whimpers from you.

"Ahh, now I get it. You only do that when it's actually in you. Take that as a note." "J-just shut up and take me already... I don't want to hear your comments..."

[uwukillmenowowo]

𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐓𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐆𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥 [Tokyo Debunker X F!Reader]

[ 3 | Stars] 『⭐』

Key's for the story: Insert - Narrative - And then she stared at her reflection in the mirror [Insert] - Author speaking - [Eyyy there- wazzup readers] "Insert" - Talking - "Hey there!" [But can also be air quotes] 'Insert' - Thinking - 'Dame he's cute...' "Insert" - Whispering - "I- I messed up..." [But can also be an emphasis on a word/phrase, or flashback] (Insert) - Inner mind..? - (Deadass doesn't know how to explain it here) *Insert* - Action - *Sighs with their head down*[INSERT] - Magic - [OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!] or [IGGNAIM!]

𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫: [ 2 | Not Home] 『🏠』

━━━✦❘༻🔮༺❘✦━━━

[Book 0] The Academy of Ghouls

[Chapter 3] Galaxy Train, Riding On the Stars

━━━✦❘༻🔮༺❘✦━━━

{Your POV}

~~~~~

"Umm... Haku..?" He looked and me and hummed. "the... The train is about to leave.." I pointed at the train and Haku nodded. "Sure is." I watched as the train pulled away from the station. 'If he pulls me to some secret portal I might freak out.' I thought.

Haku was standing hands on his hips in front of an ice cream vending machine. I continued my interrogation. "Shouldn't we have gotten on it if we're headed for Tokyo Bay?" I shrugged, hoping that he wasn't going to say what I think he's gonna say. "This way's faster, actually." Okay- He didn't say the line but that's almost close...

Haku scanned his phone on the vending machine and... the vending machine let out a meow..? I smiled, finding that quite cute. But then... the vending machine slid open to reveal, "S-Space?!" I questioned in shock. "Don't let go of my hand." Haku suddenly grabbed my hand and he dragged me into the space door. "WHOA!" I yelped and kept a tight hold of the hairclip that Prince Rielle gave me.

"E-Eh..? We're... floating? Wait no... We're falling..." I hummed as I cleared my vision. "Haha! I like your energy. That's right. We're falling slowly." Haku pulled me closer to him and pointed to a bunch of stuff. "It's lost property." Haku explained. "Oop- Look out, we're about to speed up." I flinched and braced myself as we fell faster.

*Tmp*

"This is out stop. I stared in awe. "A train station in space?!" I took out my phone and took some photos and Haku laughed. "Don't worry. Unlike the last one, this train comes with a safety guarantee." I just hummed as I heard a train pull up. 'Yup... this is definitely magic...' I sweatdropped and hid my wand in my blazer pockets... Actually I kinda regret wearing my NRC uniform now... The pockets are too small...

"That's out ride." I looked to where the trail whistle was and gasped as I saw a train, riding on stars. "A steam train on stars? It's beautiful!" I awed. "That's the Galaxy Express. You've never seen one before?" Taking his question seriously, I shook my head. "Ahah! I meant in cartoons and comics~" Haku then walked forward to the train while I took more photos. "We're in the realm of non-fiction though. Go on, climb aboard."

I hummed and groaned. "Safety guaranteed, remember? Don't worry~ If anything happens, I'll protect you." Haku offered me a hand so I smiled as I felt a bit safer. "Okay" We walked into the train and I took more photos. 'It's beautiful!' I smiled.

Then I lowered myself into a seat. The soft velvet was so comfortable I relaxed just a little in spite of myself. The levers, switches, and dials peppered throughout the train car were reminiscent of an old age gone by. The warm wooden walls were lit by antique lamps hung from the ceiling. The starry sky outside was visible through the windows. "it's absolutely stunning." I awed more and took more photos. "Meow." I yelped at the sudden noise and looked around to find a white cat with a train conductors cap on. 'SO CUTE!' I thought and pulled Haku's sleeve out of reflex while I took photos of the cat.

"Heheh- Sorry to spring this one on you. Could you take us to the academy?" The cat walked pass us and I started taking a video. Then the cat turned around and meows happily. The swaying bottlebrush tail disappeared into the driver's compartment and I stopped the video. A beat later, the steam whistle blew, and the train chugged forward.

"That's the conductor. Don't worry- he doesn't bite." My jaw dropped. "That cat is the conductor..?" The train began to pick up speed, then entered a tunnel. 'I have to send this to Idia and Ortho!' I smiled. But before I clicked send I thought against it. 'Or... maybe later... they might ask if I got home. If tell them no then they'll probably tell Prof. Crewel... and Crewel will beat Crowley...

'I'll tell them later~' I thought and look a photo. "Ne ne~ Haku. Is it alright if I take a photo of you?" Haku chuckled and sweat dropped. "I expected you to be more nervous than awestruck. But that's kinda cute so why not?" Haku then shrugged and posed, he crossed his right leg over his left and held up a peace sign. I just hummed. "Why was 6 afraid of 7?" Haku became confused and I smirked. "Because 7 ate 9." Haku went wide eyed before he smiled while trying to suppress a chuckle. I took that moment to take a photo of his natural smile. "Aww~ Cute!" I giggled and showed him the photo.

[Srry for low quality]

"Whoa... That's really good..." Haku smiled as he stared at the photo. "You're really good at taking photos [Y/n]." I giggled and scratched the back of my neck. "Thanks. It's a hobby." The roar of the engine fought against the darkness, stirring awake some of the anxiety I'd try to lock away. "Most people'll never get to ride this train, you know. I'm glad that you're making the most of it. Oh look. We're nearly there." At Haku's encouragement, I shifted my gaze out the window.

We emerged from the tunnel, and the inky blackness was replaced by warm sunlight. An enormous building loomed outside the window. The gothic exterior stood solemn and elegant against the blue sky. I felt like I'd stumbled into a fantasy world... For the second time... 'NRC is much bigger but Darkwick seems to have a better budget...' I thought and smiled as I remembered all the teasing moments that Crowley would use the lack of money for stuff.

"We will soon stop of Darkwick Academy"

"This is us. Shall we?" I nodded to Haku and stood up. "I'm surprised that we're there already." The Galaxy Express shuddered to a halt, having reached its destination.

'Please don't be a weird, supernatural, all-boys, school' I pleaded.

𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫: [ 4 | Academy] 『🖤』

[thespacenico]

not too far (you're my favorite place)

｡･:*:･ﾟ★｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ klance, 1.1k words

Keith has never been particularly fond of flying.

It’s not that he’s scared—not of the flying itself, at least. Planes just have a tendency to make him claustrophobic, no matter what he tries to make himself more comfortable. Too many people and too little space, too few snacks and way too much noise. There’s no such thing as a good seat on an airplane, and even if there were, there’s no guarantee that there won’t be a fussy baby in the row directly behind.

He’s just very protective of his personal space, something that airlines basically trick people into purchasing in the form of first class tickets, something which a broke college student like Keith can’t afford. If he had his way, he’d rather drive to his destination alone in a quiet, air-conditioned car, even if it added hours and hours and hours to his travel time. 

Unfortunately, driving across the Atlantic Ocean isn’t really an option. Keith was just lucky enough to be able to book a direct flight from France to the U.S. so he wouldn’t have to worry about getting lost in a foreign country while trying to catch a connecting flight. The downside is that he’s trapped in a cabin full of strangers for upwards of 10 hours. He has survived on nothing but room temperature water and chips from the airport vending machine.

He’s been in Paris for the last two weeks studying painting techniques for an art internship. Pretty much every art student’s dream, including his. He could have spent days in The Louvre if they’d let him. It feels like only yesterday that he was complaining about how far away the trip was, and now the entire summer has flown by in the blink of an eye. 

But as much as he loved his time in France, he’s anxious to get home. Two weeks is a long time. He misses Kosmo, and his bed, and struggling to decide between multiple different sugary sweet iced coffees with an abundance of whipped cream at the coffee shop on campus. The pastries he had from the bakery near his hotel were amazing, but still nothing beats Adam’s banana bread. He misses his friends, and Shiro, and pretending to be annoyed when he comes into his room just to say hi.

When the plane finally touches down and Keith switches his phone off airplane mode, the screen almost immediately lights up with a text.

8:37pm lance ♡: can’t wait to see you :)

Keith bites his lip, no doubt failing miserably to hide his smile. Oh yeah. He supposes he missed Lance, too.

The wait to collect his bag and get off the plane is probably just the same as always, but this one feels particularly infinite. Keith slips into the queue as soon as he gets the chance, his stomach flipping over on itself as he waits for the line to get moving. The moment he steps off the plane, he finally feels like he can breathe again.

He quickly navigates his way through the crowd of fellow passengers, strangely comforted by the familiarity of signs he can read in full without using Google Translate. The line at customs isn’t quite as long as he might have expected, thank goodness, and he makes it through without any issues (also thank goodness). He’s never been so happy to skip the baggage claim, his single suitcase already in tow as he hurries through to the exit.

Despite the hour, the airport terminal is still full of people rushing about. The sound of suitcases rolling and heels clacking is just white noise at this point, and Keith ignores it all as he weaves through the chaos, eyes searching for the person he knows is already waiting for him.

When his gaze finds Lance through the crowd, his shoulders relax and his heart goes still for what feels like the first time in the past 24 hours. 

Lance sees him too, his face breaking out into a wide smile as he raises an arm and waves. He’s holding a small bouquet of flowers in his other hand, something he always insists on bringing for Keith no matter how many times he tells him he doesn’t have to. It’s about the gesture for him, something that makes Keith’s chest feel warm just thinking about. His feet carry him forward without even needing to be told, picking up more and more speed with each step. 

The second that he’s within reach, Keith drops his suitcase and throws himself into Lance’s waiting arms. Lance wraps his arms around Keith’s shoulders and squeezes, careful not to crush the flowers, and Keith breathes him in as he buries his face in Lance’s neck. They simply hold each other like that for a moment, without speaking, alone together in their own little bubble for the first time in weeks. Tears prick at the corners of Keith’s eyes as Lance presses his face into his hair, kissing his temple.

“Welcome home, sweetheart,” he murmurs. Keith just presses closer, his throat tight.

Lance doesn’t say anything about it when they pull away and Keith wipes underneath his eyes, sniffing a little. It’s been a long day, and Keith is exhausted. Lance has definitely figured as much. He reaches down to pick up the handle of Keith’s suitcase, giving him a little extra time to compose himself. Usually Keith would protest, but he’s learned by now that it’s useless. 

“Are you hungry?” Lance asks. Keith is sure he already knows the answer—he’s always too anxious to eat much when flying. It’s sweet of Lance to ask anyway.

“A little,” Keith admits. A lot is what he means, and what Lance has probably gathered.

He smiles as Keith takes the flowers and slides their hands together, tangling their fingers in the space between them. “C’mon. Shiro said we could order takeout, on him. We can put on a movie and crash on the couch, and then you can tell me all about Paris in the morning.” 

Keith really could cry. Lance knows him so well, and Keith loves him so much. He nods, swinging their hands a little back and forth. “That sounds nice.” 

Lance smiles again, keeps smiling when Keith takes the opportunity to step forward and kiss him properly, lips pressed softly together. His eyes are warm when they separate and he squeezes Keith’s hand, humming. “Let’s go then.”  

On the way to the car, Keith drops his head onto Lance’s shoulder. “I missed you,” he says quietly. 

In response, Lance lays his head on top of Keith’s and swipes his thumb over his knuckles. Everything about this, about him, is so comforting and familiar that all of Keith’s stress and tension from the day instantly melts away. He could fall asleep right here right now, all just because Lance is there.

He’s never been so happy to be home.

[hannahssimblr]

Chapter Sixteen (Part 2)

When we park the car, we walk through the village together until we reach the brightest, most neon spot in town. I can’t help but to laugh when I realise that Jude expects me to go inside. 

“The arcade? Seriously?”

“Come on, don’t you just love this place?”

“I never went in, I was too embarrassed to be seen here before.” I laugh. “This is the oldest, tackiest, most decrepit place in town. Nobody even hangs out here except for twelve year old boys.”

“Not true.”

“When’s the last time you were here?”

“When I was twelve.”

“Point proven.”

“Not because I got too cool for it, though. I got banned for life.”

“What? Why?”

“I told you before, I was a bad child.” He takes my hand and leads me towards the bright swirling neon through the open door. It’s deserted, save for a solitary worker standing behind the counter of the snacks bar, wiping the same spot over and over again. He barely even looks up as we enter. 

“What could you possibly have done to be banned from this place?”

“I was a button basher and a terroriser. I kept beating this one really angry kid in that game over there by using the same move over and over until he tackled me into a vending machine and cracked the glass.”

“Fucking hell.”

“Yeah.” He shrugs.“ That boy was the worst kid around, he reminded me of Josh Peck in that Mean Creek movie, but I was potentially the second worst. I used to get in trouble so often that it was unbelievable.”

I’m amused by this image of him, a smaller Jude, getting up to all kinds of outrageous hijinks, a menace to sensible adults all over this village, and I don’t doubt it for a second. He’s calmer now, but even when he was eighteen a little piece of that wildness still hung around, the remnants of a little boy who had no concept of the rules. “What else did you get up to when you weren’t being adequately supervised?”

“Well I kept throwing tennis balls at an ice cream truck until he stopped coming into the caravan parks. Last I heard he still doesn’t come around, like, ten years later.” I lean back against an arcade machine and burst out in giggles. “Oh my God.” I snort. “I don’t know why, but that’s so funny.”

“You love it!” He says, pretending to be shocked. “You love that I was a terrible child. I’m telling you about the worst things about me and you think it’s funny!”

“I do, I think it’s so funny.” 

“I’ll only be encouraged to misbehave even more if I know that girls like it.”

“Why were you so bad? What compelled you?”

He leans an arm against the machine, moving his body very close to mine. “I don’t know, I’d just always find myself in the middle of causing trouble, usually because other boys laughed when I did things, like scrape butter out of my chicken roll and smear it on a random bicycle seat, or whatever. It was all for the immediate funniness. I think if I’d been born a decade later or my parents were more interested in me I would have had to be assessed for some sort of behavioural issue.”

“Do you think you actually had one?”

“I dunno.” His eyes drift away, already thinking about something else. “Let’s not get into these kinds of things. Do you want to play Mortal Kombat?”

“Well, it’s what we’re here for, isn’t it?” 

He beats me twice in a row, because he’s button bashing. 

“If you’re not careful I’ll put you through the Coca Cola vending machine.” I warn him. “The Josh Peck boy was right, you have very poor sportsmanship.” 

“You’re only saying that because you’re losing.” He says, and then beats me again. He does a little victory lap around the arcade, which infuriates me, so I enter the next game with laser focus and steely determination as though my life depends on success. I leave him floundering with his lowest score yet, and he crumples onto the joystick in defeat. 

“So there!” I announce, and I stick my tongue out at him.

“You’re ruthless and cruel.” He declares, and then we have a rematch and I beat him twice more in a row. 

The final match feels more serious, tied now, three all, and we stop talking, stop teasing each other and focus on the game. Jude tries all of the dirty tricks in the book, but I know the game by now. Unlike him I have learned the controls of the game and I have complete authority over the joystick and buttons. I know I’m going to win before I do, because he gets frustrated and annoyed, and completely loses his edge. I cry out in triumph when my character rips his character’s heart out and Jude lets out a pained yelp, as though that’s exactly what I’ve just done to him. 

“Good game, Evie.” He concedes, after a long, anguished pause. “But I’m not playing against you again.”

“Good. I absolutely hate your play style, and you’re a sore winner.”

“From now on we should only team up”

“I agree, we’d be horrible and unstoppable.”

“Do you still fancy me after witnessing me at my worst and most toxic?”

I grin. “If that’s you at your most toxic then I think I fancy you more, actually.” I push past him towards an old jukebox by the wall. “Which probably says something about me, I don’t know. Maybe I should be psychologically assessed.”

“For liking bad boys?”

I snicker. “You think you’re a bad boy?”

“I think that you think I’m a bad boy.”

“No, I think you’re very sweet and kind and quite soft, actually.” I dig around in my pocket for a spare coin or two. “Sorry.”

He leans against the wall next to me like a quarterback against some cheerleader’s locker in a high school film, and it shouldn’t make me feel girlish and shy, but it does. My whole body tingles even though he’s not even touching against me. “Is that really what you think?”

“Are you flattered or insulted?”

“Well I’m flattered. I think that about you too, coincidentally.” 

“Pick a song.” I tell him. “Let’s see if this thing even works.”

“Give me the old classic, Surfin’ in the UK.”

“What?” I chuckle. “I think you’ve got that wrong.”

“No, look.” He points to the song selection at the front and I run my eyes down the most egregious list of knock off hits I’ve ever seen. There’s Hotel Florida, Puppy Dog, Nine Days a Week, Free Tumblin’, and somewhere near the middle is Surfin’ in the UK. “This is ridiculous.” I say as I hit the button and the speakers crackle to life. “Why don’t they just get the real songs?”

“Cheap,” Jude explains, and bobs his head as though he’s enjoying the strange song that almost, almost sounds like the Beach Boys, only for its weird, tuneless melody that never quite progresses to the expected or most obvious chord. 

“My God, this is awful,” I say, and he’s already doing a silly little shuffle dance across the worn out carpet. “What are you talking about? It’s a certified banger,” He reaches out his hand to me and sings in falsetto “And all the blokes are surfin’, surfin’ in the UK.”

“Don’t make me dance to this.”

“What? Nobody is watching.” He takes my hands in his while I laugh, and he laughs too, because it’s just funny. There’s always something funny about being together, even when I know that everyone else would think we’re being stupid, but when I’m around him I always feel just a little less embarrassed of myself. The same kind of childish, light headed giggliness I get when I breathe helium from a balloon.

The arcade machines and the neon on the walls blink and flash bright colours against his skin and his sleek, glossy dark hair, and everything is noise, light and sensation. Beeps and bings and 8 bit graphics and electronic chip music, all blend discordantly with the tinny music from the jukebox, but when he holds my waist and kisses me slowly everything else fades away. 

My body surrenders to him immediately, but this is what he does to me. This is why I feel afraid of the ways that I feel, because with him, as with nobody else, I feel like I can understand better why people do insane things for sex. How a person can just forget where they are and do it wildly and indiscriminately in cars or public bathrooms or in other kinds of places that used to make me feel confused and disgusted. I always knew, as I know right now, that it wouldn’t take much convincing on his part to get me out of my jeans. 

“Evie.” He says, and his eyes are soft and hot at the same time. “Should we go back to Dublin soon?”

Why is he asking me this? “No.” I whisper back, and hold his face so that I can let my eyes stumble all over it. “No, why?”

“Because if you think we should then I figure we should go soon. This place closes at ten.”

“Can we stay tonight?”

“At the beach house?” He is surprised, and I nod. “Yeah. Would that be okay?”

He gives me this dirty grin that I’ve never seen before. “That’d be fine with me.”

“Not to do anything.” I add quickly. “Not to, you know… this isn’t an invitation for anything untoward. I just don’t want to go home yet.”

“Of course. There’s other rooms you can sleep in, I don’t expect you to sleep in with me.”

“Arlight.” I say, feeling a bit relieved. “That sounds good.”

“Well then, are you ready to head back to the house?”

“Yeah, I think I am.”

Beginning // Prev // Next

[ultimateaclrecovery]

Japan Day 6 Hakone!

Today we traveled to a mountain town called Hakone.

We got to see mt Fuji on the train and honestly the train ride of just having a full two hours to sit and not do anything was really nice

Then we saw an ad for the Hakone open air muesuem and it was really cool! Highlights including the foot bath, giant fried egg that you could stand on, a stained glass tower, a hilarious interactive display where they put your face on a digital artwork in the museum background and a Picasso room.

We then got to take a gondola up to the mountain top and down to the lake where we got to take a pirate ferry boat across!

And then after some brief chaos with the bus system (it just never came) and taking a taxi (that also went to the wrong place at first) we finally got to check in at the Ryoken and enjoy our private onsen. We also got to enjoy this many courses traditional dinner. There was a lot of sea food and my boyfriend kept trying to get me to keep trying it so I didn’t have the best time. But the non sea food parts were very good and everything was super pretty.

Overly long and tmi travel diary

We get up early to catch a two hour train to Hakone. My tummy is just a little a bit upset this morning. Between travel, stress, being on my period, and lots of new food it’s been through a lot. I also feel like I haven’t been pooping enough. But they could just be not eating enough for how much walking we’ve been doing.

The train is really nice and we get some lovely views of the sun rising over the mountains. I update my travel diary, take a nap and then we get to see a view mt Fuji through the window. It is impressively taller than everything else around it.

We transfer to a smaller train and then a another mountain train. And then it’s a cable car.

5000 yen for Hakone free pass for transit. I am down to 1000 yen in cash. (Really 3000 as I later find another 2000 yen note in my pocket that I didn’t see before)

5000 yen for Hakone free pass for transit. I am down to 1000 yen in cash. (Really 3000 as I later find another 2000 yen note in my pocket that I didn’t see before)

We see an ad for Hakone open air museum and decide to get off a stop early and go see it. (I think I paid by credit card, 1200 yen each including a 200 yen discount from our Hakone passes).

The museum has a couple galleries where you can’t take pictures (although my bf tried) but mostly it’s big outdoor sculptures. There’s a fun star maze and some garden areas, and the whole place is set up with a great view of the surrounding mountains. I love the Picasso room. I hadn’t realized he did so many ceramics. We stop at a foot bath where we get a towel out of a vending machine for 100 yen. It’s small but a surprisingly nice towel and is branded to make it a souvenir. There’s a big tower made of stained glass that’s really fun. And a fried egg sculpture that you can stand on! I deeply love getting to stand on or interact with art.

After the museum we go grab lunch at a little road side restaurant. Ignoring the delightful ninja cafe next door full of authentic delicacies such as spaghetti and ninja ice cream.

Foot bath and a vending machine towel for 100 yen from Anthony

I get pork ginger and rice for lunch in the card.

After lunch we take the ropeway (hanging cable car) to the top of the mountain. On the side of the mountain are a bunch of thermal vents venting steam. You can see the yellow sulfur deposits around it. Supposedly you can get a black egg cooked in the sulfur water that adds seven years to your life, but we don’t get it.

We spend a little time at the top looking at the mountain and then head down the other ropeway to the lake. And then we get to ride a pirate ship!

The pirate ship we get is called queen ashinoko and is gold and red. We take it across the lake. I love all the sights and being on a boat and my bf tolerates it and enjoys the view. It does get a little chilly but is otherwise a delight. I see a lady take a bunch of silly titantic esque photos on one of the interior balconies. Sometimes it’s such a delight to watch other people live their best lives.

After the ferry we try to get on a bus to go to our hotel but it’s super delayed and the lines are insane so we give up and hail a taxi. Anthony impresses the taxi drive with his handful of Japanese and good pronociation and they have a good chat. The taxi ride ends up being just shy of 5000 yen which is more than I thought it would be (and we get a little turned about by the directions. Anthony gave the hotel name but written in English and just said like Japanese so we go to a bit of the wrong place first and then have to give the actual address which gets us to the right place.

We head into the rykone and They take your shoes and give slippers. The ryokan has a very traditional feel. We are shown where our private onsen will be and then to our rooms. Our rooms have yakata (?)robes in them to wear around. Mine is pink and my bfs is blue. They both have blue overcoats. We head down to the onsen before dinner. The sun is starting to set and the view is really pretty. The leaves are mostly either green or fallen but it’s still so peaceful. We shower first in the attached shower and then step into the sulphuric mineral water. It’s so cloudy and so hot but also feels so good. It would be better if it were like five degrees cooler but it’s still lovely. We hang out for a bit stepping in and out to cool off as needed. They’ve also put a thermos jug of cold water which is perfect.

We rinse back off and head back to our room for dinner.

Dinner will be served in our room and is a traditional set meal.

It starts with appetizers and is mostly fish which makes me sad. I knew this was likely that I wouldn’t like a good portion of it but it still makes me sad. The plates and the way everything is presented is so lovely. I try to focus on how fun it is and not how gross all the fish is. I get talked into trying a piece of the raw tuna and it’s awful. I also try a piece of sushi, the first bite is okay but when I take the second bite I realize that the first bite had way less fish in it and I Gag a little and almost throw up. I also try one of the little fish eggs since my bf claims they are mostly salty and not fishy. False. Very false and very gross. Combined with new and questionable vegetables I’m way past my limit of new food. Luckily there are some things that I like too. There’s a beef dish that is so delicious and comes with the cutest little wedge of cheese.

There’s also a hot pot like thing with pork and milk that is so cool and delicious.

We get sweet pudding for dessert.

After dessert we go have more onsen time. It’s fun to be in it at night with it being all dark. Unfortunately it’s too hot to really cuddle in the onsen which bums we out.

We head back up to the room and watch Japanese tv before bed. We get to see some sumo wrestling, a cooking show and some weird childrens tv show. I get a little sad because I had such high expectations for this part of the trip and then I didn’t get to cuddle or do more than cuddle and didn’t like a lot of the food.

It’s a traditional style hotel room so it has two twin beds. We push them together(I push mine into his) but it’s not really what I wanted. I take a moment to cry a little in the bathroom and I feel a bit better. It’s hard when you feel disappointed in something you feel like you should really be enjoying.

[stupidwittlebaby]

Relationship anarchy, city date moodboard ☆

. . .

All images found on Pinterest

[Image ID: A moodboard with images of various sizes. The three top-most images are as such: An open doorway to a laundromat with green machines, and a white vending machine outside. A little brown building. An outdoor ice cream counter with giant, plastic ice cream statues around it. The center image is of a picnic spread. A person with short, dark hair is resting their head on someone's leg. To the right of the center image are three colored boxes. From top to bottom, they are light blue, pink, and gray. Below the boxes is a black anarchy symbol. The left-most image is of a between-car doorway on a train. There's a banner over the doorway with strawberries on it. The bottom middle image is of two orange vending machines, with an vertical, orange banner next to them, and a small, blue, plastic sign. The right-most image is of an old, Japanese, haircutting storefront. The background visable between all the images is a soft yellow. End ID.]

[nysocboy]

Asteroid City: Bleak play-within-a-play-within-a-play, with one teensy gay kiss and a lot of Ionesco

Movie night was Asteroid City (2023), which I thought would be about atomic testing in Nevada in the 1950s.  Instead, I was watching the Theater of the Absurd.  Maybe Ionesco, where your mother turns into a giraffe and offers you brownies,  or a Monte Python episode where one sketch bleeds into another, so Vikings are suddenly talking to the Minister of Finance about the hippodrome tariff. 

As far as I can tell, there are two plays with plays.

1. In an old-fashioned black and white tv studio, a narrator tells us that what we are witnessing is a story, not real. The curtain opens to reveal:

2. The Playwright (Edward Norton) auditioning an actor for the lead in his play (Jason Schwartzman), who brings him ice cream, changes into a different costume, and delivers a nonsequiter monologue.  

They kiss..  But don't get excited: it's in the distance, and never referenced again, while there are three or four heterosexual romances coming up. We cut to the main story:

A lot of people arrive for the Junior Stargazers' Convention in Asteroid City, Nevada , where an asteroid crashed to Earth (they mean a meteor).  During the opening speeches, an alien descends from a spaceship and grabs the asteroid.  Everyone is put under quarantine, while the government tries to convince them that nothing happened.  After a week, the government is about to lift the quarantine, but the alien returns and gives the asteroid back.  The quarantine is on, but everyone riots, and the next day they are gone.  Maybe it was all a dream.

While all this is going on, there are several soap opera stories.  Steinbeck (Jason Schwartzman again, I think) arrives with his son and three young daughters.  He was going to leave the son and go on to his wealthy father-in-law's house to bury his wife's ashes, but his car broke down.  During the quarantine his three daughters, who are witches, bury the ashes in the desert and perform a spell to resurrect her.  She isn't actually resurrected, but she apparently appears in a flashback or flash-sideways scene.

I figured that Steinbeck must be the famous novelist and nude model, who was active in Hollywood at the time, so I went scurrying to wikipedia for his biography.  It doesn't match.

Steinbeck falls in love with the famous actress in cabin next door.  Mostly they gaze at each other morosely for interminable minutes and say nonsequiters, but -- grossness alert -- she takes off all her clothes, top and bottom  both. 

Meanwhile his son  Woodrow (Jake Ryan), a 40-year old playing 14, falls in love with her daughter.

And someone, I don't know who, buys a parcel of land out of a vending machine.

And a Dad and son have to live in a tent, because their cabin burned down.

Eventually the story spills out into the playwright's world (where we find out that he died in an auto accident), and then to the studio. Along the way there are several nonsequiter scenes that don't fit anywhere. 

1. An actress on a train receives a note apologizing and saying they work well together.  Woodrow, the boy delivering the note, spends the night with her.

2. A woman tells a guy who lives on sound stages that she wants a divorce; they kiss.

3. A man says he needs some air ("You won't get it -- it's all soundstages") goes out onto the balcony of a soundstage street, where he interacts with the woman on the balcony of the sound stage next door. They stare at each other morosely and say nonsequiters.

4. A lot of people in various situations tell us: "You can't wake up if you don't fall asleep," over and over until it becomes painful.

Maybe our takeaway is that life is meaningless, so art should be, too. 

The full review, with more non sequiters and a lot of nude photos, is on RG Beefcake and Boyfriends

[helpinghanyuu]

鬼隠し編 – ONIKAKUSHI-HEN (Spirited Away by the Demons) DAY 00_000

…Somebody has been apologizing for a while now.

I wonder what she's apologizing for.

It felt wrong to eavesdrop, so I tried to ignore it.

It had been a while since I'd last went to the city. I only returned to attend the funeral of a relative.

Even though I'd lived there until last month, I found the bustle of the city to be overwhelming.

Those skyscrapers and the multi-lane roads.

The melodious cacophony of the crosswalk.

Even the campaign speeches blaring in front of the station felt nostalgic.

The place where I live now isn't nearly as lively.

There's only the chirping of locusts and the babbling of brooks.

And the cry of the higurashi—the evening cicadas.

Rather than making me feel lonely, that quietness had begun to instill a sense of serenity.

There is nothing where I'm living now.

I don't just mean there aren't any burger joints. There aren't even vending machines.

No music stores, no restaurants…and no arcades.

Even an ice cream parlor would be unlikely.

The nearest town has some stuff like that, but it's an hour away by bike.

But come to think of it, it wasn't really a big deal.

There were music stores and arcades and ice cream parlors, but it wasn't like I ever hung out at any of them.

I had lived in the city for ten years and never once been to an ice cream parlor.

…I should have gone at least once.

It's only now that I'm starting to regret that a little.

…Somebody is still apologizing.

Who is she apologizing to?

She's apologized so much, so just forgive her already.

There's no reason anyone should ever need to apologize so much.

I started to feel a bit annoyed at whoever was refusing to forgive her.

No matter how bad the mistake, there's nothing that can't be forgiven.

There's no such thing as an irreparable mistake.

You just need to be more careful next time.

…She's still apologizing, even now.

Then… has she really done something that can't be fixed?

I have no idea what she's done, but if it can't be fixed, then that's all the more reason to forgive her.

No matter how much she apologizes, nothing will change.

But even so, she keeps apologizing in such a heartbreaking voice…

Hey, you. The one she's apologizing to…

Why don't you just go ahead and forgive her?

She's apologizing… in such a pathetic voice…

"Keiichi, we're almost there."

"Wake up."

I was finally roused from my nap by my father's prodding.

It seemed the train had reached its final stop.

We'd spent hours riding everything from the bullet train to the local routes.

It was hard to believe that the landscape beyond the window and the city I was in half a day ago were in the same country.

No… that they were even from the same era.

From there, we'd take a car deeper into the mountains.

Past where the dense forest encroaching on the mountain road suddenly opened up…

There, where I live now. Hinamizawa.

[hopefulladyhideout]

Okinawa throwbacks when I would live in my car Toby everyday and go to the beach after work and eat vending machine ice cream cones 🧜🏼‍♀️🌞🏝️

[the-last-human-war]

GodofWar Punisher WarMachine FutureWinterSoldier MolagBal Sauron

trafficking bus, and a Kangaroo won and shredded both of them... When the Slave Car Dealership was about to award the Kangaroo Champion his Shredded Slap-Boxing Champion Slave Dealer Suit for Long Arms, some random Kid chopped his Legs with a Machete and slid outta there with the You Snooze you Lose Suit and a Minivan attached to possibly 5 Felonies. These Child Soldiers are permanently painted green, and their mouths are stitched shut so they can appear like they're from an Oddworld of Mudokens. Even their genes are spliced with elements from Meteors. Their eyes are stretched open. Their fingers and toes are chopped off, so they only have 3 fingers etc. They have beaks. They're naturally Anorexic. They have no nose or ears. They have egg heads. They can Possess others. They can Resurrect others. They are very Sneaky. They can Possess Beasts. They Fart Green Gases from Planet Venus. They are very Challenged and the Answer takes a long time to reach them, and when it does it crashes into them by Freak Accident, like Divine Serendipity. Like Darth Jar Jar. Idk maybe. And Yellow Eyes of the Sith. Looks a bit like a Ninja Turtle. Most of their heads is usually Bald. Maybe they're old from so many Resurrections and have a lot of Bald Spots. They have a Slave's Posture. And explain to me... Why is there some Naked Guy running around with his Ass on Fire!!?? Like some dumbass nigga decided to skinny dip in a Volcano and now he can't get the Lava off of him. I told you dawg, stay off the Angel Dust. This Fool think he Invincible. Searing through enemy Tanks like a Sumo Wrestler shopping for a Chihuahua at Pet's Smart. It's just wrong, on so many levels. Registered Sex Offender. Public Indecency. Horrid. Cross. Perverse. Sacrilege. Rapist. Optical Bleeding. Barbecue Harassment. Motherless. Dalmatian Terrorist. Violated. Nursing Home. Ice Cream Man. Fire Eater Clown. Bingo with Agnes and Margerie. Wok Fire Kung Pao Tiger Cow. Cris Angel Intern. Vegas Betting on Nascar. Apollo 1-10. Sputnik 2.0. Chernobyl. Deep Fried Habanero Hot Tamales Secret Surprise Tortas. Anything Canada tries to Succeed in. IKEA Door Dash dropped off by Amazon from a Sky high Drone Parachute drop, retrieved by a Dog, which was transported by DHS, UPS, FedEx, and USPS 3 orbits around the globe, which was ordered by a Friend of course who they picked up the package from some guy on Craigslist, so then the Friend could send it off from their own Ebay, and this Craigslist guy found this Package off a suggestion from Yelp that was mentioned from a TikTocker on Reddit, from snooping over someone's iPhone while they were reading an excerpt to their book club in Barnes N Noble while also stealing their Star Bucks, and the TikTocker was Tweeting about different Cities with the Best Vending Machine Snacks, except on Yelp it turns out there supposedly is a special Vending Machine in Bagdad, Iraq that contains a Mystery Snack Bag with Every Pokémon Card hidden inside and Dippin Dots that Never Melt amongst other Mystery things like The Ultimate Holy Crusade Grail or Pandora's Chex Mix, so this Craigslist guy actually finds it but he gets shot by poison lead bullets and gets mortar shrapnel to the skull, so he changes his name to Cypher and he doesn't have long to live so he starts the Les Tres Infantantes Program and places the Pokémon GO Grail Package in an Antique

[kittybonbon123]

I gave Willow a bit of a redesign. And here’s some info about her.

Edit: There’s a lot more things in her bag

Messenger bag(the bag is magical which means it has infinite storage and is light weight)

5 portable cutlery Sets(including spoon,fork, cutlery knife and small spoon.)

6 Stylus Pens(pink, yellow, blue, green, red, purple)

Menstrual kit(pink)

Medium med kit(pink)

Utility Knife(3 pc flower, 4pc cat-paw, 3 cloud, carrot, bunny,heart, star)

Phone Speaker Cleaner

Square Small Storage Bag(strawberry pattern)

Game Case Holder For Nintendo SwitchOLED (strawberry pattern)

Simple Strawberry Pattern Storage Bag For Nintendo Switch Lite OLED

Sweet Strawberry Scented Retractable Gel Pens

2 Phone Data Cable Charger Wall Charger Protective Cover(Birthday)

Cute Carrying Game Case For Nintendo Switch For Switch Lite & Switch OLED(Pink Cherry Blossom)

Cartoon Plush Tablet Bag For Girl IPad Liner Bag 11-Inch Protective Case(pink cat)

500pcs 1-inch 8 Design Sticker roll (Asian food/snacks)

500pcs Cute Animals Red Panda sticker roll

500pcs Cute Cow Cattle Stickers Roll

9720 paper star strips

100rolls Cartoon Girl Hand Account Decorative Washi Tape Sticker

40pcs/pack Creative Cartoon Food Vending Machine Series Stickers

Sanrio Hello Kitty Cheesecake Heart Series Stickers

6pcs Candy Color Flower Print Spiral Hair Tie

40pcs Hand-painted Rabbit Cheese Series Doodle Waterproof Sticker

Cat Paw Correction Tape

Sweet Strawberry Sticky Notes Set 440 Sheet

Strawberry pattern wallet

Sanrio Hello Kitty Cartoon Kawaii Earphone Case

Stationery Large Capacity Pencil Case(pink and blue)

Sanrio Cotton Swab Storage Box’s

Lovely Strawberry Pattern Brooch Cartoon Enamel Pin

Mini Utility Knife

Cinnamoroll and my Melody Wireless Earphones

Cinnamoroll and my Melody Cute Kawaii Earphones Wired Earbuds

Breathable Anti-Wear Finger Guard

10pcs Heart-Shaped Carabiner Hooks

Wool Strawberry Bag Accessories Keychain(pink)

Wool Strawberry Bag Accessories Keychain(red)

Strawberry In Basket Brooch

9pcs Sanrio Brooch

Kawaii Strawberry Cake Coin Purse

Pink mini backpack keychain

Student Utility Knife Pen

Mini Zipper Hard Headphone Holder

Cute Nail Clipper Set

Sanrio Portable pill box

Pink Squid Burn Pendant

Windproof Rechargeable Arc Ignition USB Powered Igniter

Soft Tape Measure

Cat Paw Straw Lids

Straw lids(Sakura,heart,flower,star)

Mini Small Stapler

Cat Claw Straight Rulers

Bear/Phone Charging Port Dust Plug

55pcs Lunch Bento Sauce Box Container

Sanrio Stainless Steel Scissors

Cartoon Print Swab Storage Box

Cute Keychain Pendant Candy Color

Chubby Star Pendant For Car Key

Student Utility Knife Pen

Mini Small And Cute Paper Embosser Heart-shaped

My-melody ice-cream keychain

Creative Sanrio Quicksand Glitter Keychain

5 Cute Bell Keychain

Hollow Out Heart-shaped Keychain Keyring Pendant

Pink Grid Cherry Flower Washi Tape

Small Metal Box For Baking Cookies With Lid(pink with Sakura)

Large Capacity PVC Stationery Storage Bag 11-inch Tablet Bag Multifunctional Pencil Case

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[heydaytravelcompany]

Foodie Guide to Valentine’s Day 2024

Love (and flavor) is in the air because Valentine’s Day is nearly here. To celebrate this love-inducing celebration on Feb. 14, the culinary teams and mixologists have put their passion to the plate and created some truly decadent delights and sips for guests to indulge in. All you need is love, and an appetite, because both Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort have brought out the love fest, or should we say treat fest! This year, there are plenty of beloved returns, like the Zebra Mousse Cake from The Mara and the Strawberry-Red Velvet Whoopie Pie from The Trolley Car Cafe, as well as lovely new additions worthy of your Valentine, including the Valentine's Day Sundae from Clarabelle's Hand-Scooped Ice Cream and the Puppy Love Chocolate Piñata at The Ganachery. Guests will soon be on cloud nine, one bite at a time. Time to feel the love tonight and give the taste buds some tasty attention. Here's this year’s Foodie Guide to Valentine’s Day! Walt Disney World Resort Disney Springs Amorette's Patisserie (Available Feb. 1 through 17; mobile order available) - Chocolate-covered Strawberries - Strawberry Cheesecake The Ganachery - Puppy Love Chocolate Piñata filled with hazelnut truffle treats and crisp pearls (New) (Available Feb. 1 through 15) - Mickey Chocolate Bites: Milk chocolate with caramel crisp pearls, solid 65% dark chocolate custom blend, and solid milk chocolate (New) (Currently available through Feb. 29) - Champagne-Strawberry Ganache Square: Strawberry ganache blended with champagne enrobed in dark 65% chocolate (Available Feb. 1 through 18) Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar (Available Feb. 1 through 17) - Berry Lovely: Bacardí Dragonberry Rum with orange juice, pineapple juice, cranberry juice, watermelon syrup, and splash of soda garnished with a strawberry (New) Vivoli il Gelato (Currently available through Feb. 29) - Love Potion: Vanilla gelato, Fanta Strawberry, and whipped cream - Cupid's Bombashake: Strawberry cheesecake shake topped with a cheesecake-filled Bomboloni  Outdoor Vending at West Side – Landing (Available Feb. 1 through 17)  - Beautiful Rose: Herradura Silver Tequila, Cointreau liqueur, rose syrup, lime juice, lemon juice, and red cranberry juice garnished with a lime wedge (New) Disney Resort Hotels Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge   The Mara (Available Feb. 1 through 14; mobile order available) - Zebra Mousse Cake: Amarula mousse and chocolate sponge inspired by the iconic Zebra Domes Disney’s Beach Club Resort and Disney’s Yacht Club Resort Beach Club Marketplace and The Market at Ale & Compass (Available Feb. 1 through 14; mobile order available) - Cupid's Mousse: Devil’s food cake, vanilla bean mousse, and cherry compote (New) Disney’s BoardWalk BoardWalk Deli (Available Feb. 1 through 14; mobile order available) - Strawberry Cheesecake Brownie: Rich brownie topped with strawberry cheesecake garnished with chocolate whipped cream, pink crisp pearls, and pink chocolate hearts Disney’s Contemporary Resort   Contempo Café (Available Feb. 4 through 29; mobile order available) - Sweet Heart Cookie: Sugar cookie with heart sprinkles topped with cream cheese buttercream, red velvet cake pieces and heart, and a drizzle of dark chocolate (New) Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Gasparilla Island Grill (Available Feb. 1 through 29; mobile order available) - Raspberry Macaron Heart: Macaron filled with raspberry cream and a passion fruit curd (New) Disney’s Old Key West Resort and Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa   Good’s Food to Go and The Artist’s Palette (Available Feb. 1 through 14; mobile order available at The Artist’s Palette only) - Love Letter Cupcake: Chocolate cupcake with strawberry pastry cream, white chocolate mousse, and buttercream flowers Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Kona Island (Available Feb. 1 through 14) - Stitch and Angel Date Night Cupcakes: Vanilla cupcakes with fillings inspired by classic pairings: chocolate and peanut butter mousse filling and peanut butter mousse and jelly filling Pineapple Lanai (Available Feb. 1 through 14) - Valentine Float: DOLE Whip Raspberry with Rosa Regale Sparkling Red topped with raspberries and strawberries Disney’s Riviera Resort Le Petit Café (Available Feb. 1 through 14) - Trois Macarons: Raspberry ganache, strawberry jam, and milk chocolate ganache Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Roaring Fork (Available Feb. 1 through 14; mobile order available) - Love Bug Marshmallow: Strawberry marshmallow with a ganache center on a graham cracker cookie Available at Various Disney Resort Hotel Quick-Service Restaurants (Available Feb. 1 through 29; mobile order available) - My (Plant-based) Sweetheart Cupcake: Chocolate cupcake with a love-ly swirl of vanilla buttercream and heart sprinkles (Plant-based); Available at the following locations: - World Premiere Food Court at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort - Intermission Food Court at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort - End Zone Food Court at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort - Landscape of Flavors at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort - Centertown Market at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort - Spyglass Grill at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort - Everything POP Shopping & Dining at Disney’s Pop Century Resort - Riverside Mill Food Court at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside - Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter Magic Kingdom Park   Sunshine Tree Terrace (Currently available; mobile order available) - I Lava You Float: Fanta Strawberry and passion fruit flavor served with DOLE Whip Orange and topped with popping candy (Plant-based) Disney’s Hollywood Studios The Hollywood Brown Derby (Available Feb. 1 through 14) - Red Velvet-White Chocolate Mousse atop a chocolate cookie The Trolley Car Café (Available Feb. 1 through 14) - Strawberry-Red Velvet Whoopie Pie: Red velvet cake filled with cream cheese buttercream topped with strawberry buttercream  EPCOT Connections Café (Available Feb. 14 only) - Valentine's Day Baumkuchen with chocolate and strawberry layers (New) Connections Eatery (Available Feb. 9 through 14; mobile order available)  - Valentine's Day Milk Shake: Vanilla milk shake with strawberry sauce, whipped cream, and chocolate garnish (New) Le Cellier Steakhouse (Available Feb. 14 only) - Profiterole: Raspberry cheesecake profiterole (New) Disneyland Resort Disney California Adventure Park Clarabelle's Hand-Scooped Ice Cream (Available Feb. 9 through 14; mobile order available) - Ice Cream Mickey Ear Hat Bowl with Valentine's Day Sundae: Chocolate and strawberry ice cream topped with strawberry sauce, whipped cream, chocolate-dipped strawberry, and seasonal sprinkles in a waffle cup (New) - Valentine's Day Sundae: Chocolate and strawberry ice cream topped with strawberry sauce, whipped cream, chocolate-dipped strawberry, and seasonal sprinkles in a waffle cup Lamplight Lounge and Lamplight Lounge - Boardwalk Dining (Available Feb. 14 only) - The Flame: Bacardi Raspberry Rum, peach schnapps, mango purée, raspberry purée, lime juice, Sprite, and Firewater Bitters with a chile-lime rim - Sour Blackberry Vodka lemonade: Absolut Citron Vodka, Angostura Bitters, blackberries, lemonade, agave nectar, and lemon juice - The Love That Lasts a Lifetime: Bacardi Raspberry Rum, , orgeat syrup, raspberry purée, pineapple juice, and Sprite - A Toast to Love Flight: Three miniature cocktails featuring a spicy cocktail, a bitter cocktail, and a sweet cocktail Novelties Available Across the Disneyland Resort - Polka Dot Valentine Mickey-shaped Balloon Bucket: (Limit two per person, per transaction; no discounts apply); Available at the following locations: - At Disney California Adventure Park: Popcorn near Carthay Circle Restaurant, Popcorn at Grizzly Peak Airfield, Popcorn at Pixar Pier - At Disneyland Park: Popcorn near Central Plaza, Popcorn at small world Promenade, Popcorn near Fantasyland Theatre, Popcorn near Star Trader, Popcorn near Mark Twain Riverboat, Popcorn near Haunted Mansion Hotels of the Disneyland Resort Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa Grand Californian Great Hall Cart (Available Jan. 26 through Feb. 18) - Valentine's Day Linzer Cookie - Mickey-shaped Valentine’s Day Cookie - Valentine’s Day Strawberries - Valentine’s Day Assorted Cookies - Chocolate Chip Cookie Shot with Milk - Chocolate Chip Cookie Shot with Liqueur - Red Velvet Cookie Shot with Milk - Red Velvet Cookie Shot with Liqueur GCH Craftsman Grill (Available Jan. 26 through Feb. 18) - Valentine's Cupcake: Vanilla cupcake with buttercream icing and chocolate ganache - Valentine's Donut: White chocolate or chocolate coated donut with candy pearls Hearthstone Lounge (Available Feb. 1 through 29) - Pink Lady: Sipsmith Gin, Applejack, lemon juice, Liquid Alchemist Grenadine, Fee Foam, Luxardo Cherrys  Disneyland After Dark: Sweetheart’s Nite (SOLD OUT)   For those of you attending the sold-out Disneyland After Dark: Sweethearts’ Nite events, you'll want to bring your appetite because there are plenty of beautiful bites to try! With one look, you and your stomach will fall in love with these delicious options like the Chocolate Strawberry Sundae at Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor or the Burning Love Beignets at Hungry Bear Restaurant. For a bit of a savory moment, indulge in dishes like the Fried Heart-shaped Ravioli at Cafe Daisy or the Amordita Tacos for Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante. And if that’s not enough, for a sweet finish, treat yourself to the Me & U-Bae Beignets from Mint Julep Bar. For those looking for an extra exciting (and tasty) evening, there’s multiple dining packages you can choose from at locations like Plaza Inn, Carnation Cafe, River Belle Terrace, and Cafe Orleans. Reservations are recommended but you can also check day-of for any walk-up availability. Downtown Disney District  Ballast Point Brewing Co. (Available Feb. 14 only) - Raspberry Panna Cotta: Vanilla bean panna cotta topped with raspberry compote and mint garnish Beignets Expressed (Currently available through Feb. 19) - Strawberry Shortcake Glazed Beignets: Strawberry icing dusted with strawberry sugar served with vanilla bean creme anglaise Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes (Available Feb. 1 through 29) - Mocha Tamarind Chile Shake: Chocolate-frosted rim with crushed, puffed-chocolate cereal topped with fried churros, chocolate fudge pop, whipped cream, and chocolate drizzle Kayla's Cake (Available Feb. 1 through 14) - Valentine's Day Gift Box featuring rose champagne, raspberry cream, Belgian dark chocolate, red velvet, salted caramel, and pistachio raspberry macarons Naples Ristorante e Bar (Available Jan. 26 through Feb. 29) - Tiramisu for Two: Mascarpone cream, espresso coffee, and cocoa garnished with a cocoa heart - Scarlett Heart Martini: Rum, peach schnapps, vodka, and cranberry juice with a sugar rim and garnished with a strawberry Salt & Straw (Available Feb. 1 through 29) - The Chocolatiers Series featuring Fran's Chocolate Almond Gold Bar, Cloudforest's Cocoa Hazelnut Magic Sauce, Dandelion's Chocolate Nibs & Frangipane, Compartés' Cake Batter Chocolate Fudge, and Exquisito Chocolate's Passionfruit Truffles Splitsville Luxury Lanes (Available Feb. 13 through 15) - Valentine’s Day Package for Two: Enjoy one hour of bowling with shoe rentals for two, one bottle of house wine, two entrees with the choice of Surf & Turf or Chicken Parmesan, and one dessert (Reservations Required) - Surf & Turf: 8 oz sirloin steak and six blackened shrimp served on a bed of creamy mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli - Chicken Parmesan: Linguini pasta with two fried chicken parmesan cutlets topped with marinara sauce and a blanket of shredded mozzarella accompanied with two slices of garlic bread Tortilla Jo's (Available Jan. 26 through Feb. 29) - Tacos Enamorados: Three tacos filled with New York steak, white Mexican shrimp, queso chihuahua, avocado, pico de gallo, and salsa enamoradita - Cupid's Corazon Margarita for Two: Tequila, pomegranate liqueur, organic margarita mix, and cranberry juice garnished with sugar rim, marshmallows, candy hearts, and a cherry  Wetzel's Pretzels (Available Jan. 29 through March 3) - Strawberry Funnel Cake Bitz: Original Bitz topped with powdered sugar and drizzled with strawberry sauce Available at Various Candy Locations Around Disneyland Resort Including Marceline’s Confectionery, Trolley Treats, Bing Bong’s Sweet Stuff, Candy Palace and Candy Kitchen, and Pooh Corner (Available Jan. 19 through Feb. 14) - Minnie Strawberry Cheesecake Apple: Granny smith apple dipped in caramel with two Minnie Marshmallow ears, enrobed in strawberry-flavored, pink-colored white chocolate, and red-colored white chocolate drizzle with a graham cracker and strawberry crisp mix, white polka-dotted, pink-colored white chocolate bow, and topped with Valentine's sprinkles (New) - Mickey Valentine’s Apple: Granny smith apple dipped in caramel with two Mickey marshmallow ears, enrobed in white chocolate, and red sanding sugar embellished with two white M&Ms (New) - Conversation Heart Cereal Treat: Heart shaped cereal treat dipped in colored white chocolate with colored sanding sugar and white chocolate words (New) - White Chocolate Dipped Strawberry: Long-stemmed strawberry dipped in white chocolate and drizzled in pink-colored white chocolate (New) - Dark Chocolate Dipped Strawberry: Long-stemmed strawberry dipped in dark chocolate and drizzled with pink-colored white chocolate and white chocolate (New) - Dark Chocolate Marshmallow Wand: Three marshmallows on a stick dipped in caramel and dark chocolate and drizzled in pink-colored and red-colored white chocolate - Strawberry Mickey Cake Pop: Flat chocolate cake pop with Mickey marshmallow ears and dipped in strawberry-flavored, pink-colored white chocolate and drizzled with red-colored white chocolate - Pink Bow Minnie Cake Pop: Round chocolate cake pop enrobed in milk chocolate and adorned with a white polka-dotted pink-white chocolate bow - Pink Minnie Apple: Granny smith apple dipped in caramel with two Minnie marshmallow ears, enrobed in milk chocolate, pink sanding sugar dress, and white M&Ms and a white polka-dotted, pink-white chocolate bow. - Pink Minnie Cereal Treat: Cereal treat dipped in milk chocolate with pink sanding sugar, white M&Ms chocolate candies, and a white polka-dotted, pink-white chocolate bow We will definitely be trying these tasty treats. We hope everyone has a very happy Valentine’s Day! (Note: All offerings are subject to change and availability.) Read the full article

[nbmsports]

18 Days of Extreme Heat in Phoenix With No End in Sight

On Monday, Phoenix reached a miserable milestone: It was the first time since 1974 that it had 18 days in a row of 110-degree or more temperatures. On Tuesday, it was poised to break that 49-year-old record and hit Day 19. The forecast called for a high of 115 degrees Fahrenheit.People in the Southwest are used to brutal summers. Phoenix has had plenty of days that soar past 100 degrees. Water misters spritz patios, and neighborhoods and playgrounds clear out in the midday sun. Monsoons usually sweep through with refreshing relief. But this stagnant summer is testing even the hardiest, and putting many more people at risk.“It just feels awful,” said Mazey Christensen, 20, a scooper at Sweet Republic, an ice cream shop in Phoenix.Business at the store has been steady; on blistering days, customers tend to go for fruity flavors like watermelon sorbet and pineapple whip. But they mostly visit the shop later in the day when the sun is not so scorching.The temperatures are “very extreme,” said Matt Salerno, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Phoenix. “We’re talking 10 degrees above where they normally are.” The city set another heat record on Monday: eight consecutive days in which the overnight temperature never dipped below 90 degrees.The heat is particularly brutal and inescapable at the sprawling homeless encampment in central Phoenix known as “The Zone.”There are barely any trees and, this July, people have been suffering second-degree burns after they pass out or fall asleep on the hot asphalt and sidewalks.There are few sources of running water other than donated bottles and portable wash stations. So a spigot outside a shelter often has a line of people pouring water over their heads and filling up five-gallons jugs to take back to their tents.“It just sucks it right out of you,” said Charles Outen, 49, who said he had spent the summer hopscotching between cooling centers during the day and sleeping at local churches at night to avoid the heat.For many in the city and across the Southwest, the searing temperatures have come with little relief: The monsoon season — which typically brings cooling thunderstorms to the deserts of Arizona and New Mexico — is arriving later than usual.And all across the South, the heat has been not only strikingly severe, but also abnormally persistent.This week, hot and humid conditions were expected to worsen along the Gulf Coast and throughout the Southeast, according to the Weather Service. Across the country, about 100 million people are under heat alerts. And even parts of Northern states, including Michigan, New York and Vermont, have recently broken daily temperature records.In Palm Springs, Calif., a desert resort city in Southern California, residents and tourists have been trying their best to keep cool in temperatures that spiked to around 115 degrees.Zach Stone, who lives in his car, says the heat inside the vehicle is unbearable. To find relief, he came to the Demuth Community Center, where he worked on a puzzle in the gym.“They have bread and water and there’s vending machines and bathrooms, and that’s a huge convenience,” he said.The heat can be especially brutal for those who were already dealing with medical conditions like cancer, diabetes, drug addiction and heart disease, said Dr. Jerald Moser, a co-director of the emergency department at the Tucson Medical Center in Tucson, Ariz., where the heat wave has brought in more patients than usual. Temperatures are forecast to exceed 110 degrees there this week.People without shelter or access to water are especially at risk, Dr. Moser said, adding that many of them wind up in emergency rooms after being found incapacitated on the ground, sometimes with secondary burns from the scorching sidewalks.“We see people passing out from full-blown heat stroke with a core body temperature of 104 degrees,” he said.The persistent heat in the Southwest is the result of a high-pressure system that has been parked over the region for weeks. It has been particularly stubborn this year, delaying cooling storms.The monsoon schedule varies from one year to the next, said Michael Crimmins, an environmental science professor at the University of Arizona in Tucson, so while it is not yet clear whether climate change is to blame for the heat wave’s persistence, it has very likely made the daily high temperatures even higher.In Texas, the heat this year has prompted cotton plants, especially in the southern parts of the state, to bloom early. “It’s running ahead of time, which is not good,” said Josh McGinty, an agronomist with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service whose office in Corpus Christi is bordered by cotton fields.Normally during this time of year, a few bulbs would be starting to unfurl. Instead, Mr. McGinty said, “every fruit on the plant is open, and they shouldn’t be. The heat is just shutting the plants down. They’re in survival mode at this point.” But even that, he said, is better than last year, when the cotton crop suffered even more because of droughts.Farther east, residents of Southern states are bracing for a long spell of hot and muggy days. Heat indexes, which measure how hot it feels outside while accounting for both temperature and humidity, were expected to surpass 100 degrees this week in many cities including Jackson, Miss., Montgomery, Ala., and Tallahassee, Fla.On Monday afternoon, Ralph Horton was driving east along Interstate 20 to his home Tallapoosa, Ga., when he stopped in Vicksburg, Miss., for a break.He was traveling from Texas, where he had spent a few days. “Oh my gosh, it was hot,” he said.On Monday, he stood on an overlook with a view of the Mississippi River, anticipating a different kind of heat — the kind that is oppressive even when the temperatures don’t reach triple digits. “The humidity is killer in this part of the country,” Mr. Horton said.The spot where he stood was already under a heat advisory, with heat indexes forecast to reach around 110 degrees on Tuesday.Reporting was contributed by Maggie Miles, Jack Healy and Sheryl Kornman. Source link Read the full article