#its 11pm and i need to work at 5:30am

[be-good-to-bugs]

blehhhh i need to go to sleep

[reinemichele]

Okay, I was going to make this post the day it happened, but I was already really distraught & felt like typing it all out would just like push me over the edge, and I still had to survive NYE fireworks. I decided to at least wait until after the 1st, but then Life Things kept happening, so I didn't get around to it until now.

My righteous anger has mostly simmered down, so but I think it'll probably still get long, so this'll be another read more post. TW for mentions of animal death, emotional abuse, and declawing

To be 100% super duper crystal clear: I am entirely against declawing; it's unethical and cruel and inhumane. This will become abundantly clear as the post goes on, but I just have seen too many pointless disc hoarse posts filled with people who gleefully, willfully misinterpret posts for any reason to harass people. I'm not going to leave myself open to people who'd send me death threats without even reading the full post. As it is, I'm turning reblogs off bc I don't want my post about my cat dying to be reblogged, but if I need to I can turn anon/asks in general off.

So. At 11PM on the 29th of Dec my cat gets hurt, we get to the vet by 12:30, and by 3AM he died. We got home by 4:30AM and none of us could sleep. We were all still awake at 10AM, and dreading the fact that it was a 3-day weekend and we'd have to face all of it trapped with our thoughts without having our normal day-to-day routines to buffer the first 3 days.

We know a lot of energy vampire type people. Liars, manipulators, people who'd come over to our house just to steal something for funsies, abusers. One of my mom's sisters was an accessory to murder. The same one stole my mom's SSN to open credit cards with. I have more examples, but my family tree bullshit could be its own post. A lot of them are in our family and there's some my mom basically has to keep in contact with due to her job.

So, it's 10AM, and my mom is dreading the 2-5 energy-draining people who consistently text her all day long, no matter what's going on or how busy she is. She can be with a patient who's actively in the process of dying, and they'll just text her "?" repeatedly when she doesn't respond.

She decides to tell these people about our cat dying the night before, in hopes that they'll give her space. Unfortunately, abusers like these people love to violate unsaid boundaries like this, so nothing less than blocking numbers/turning off her phone would work. But it's a step towards being able to say "no" that I've been trying to help her with, so we're going to be proud of her for it.

I don't want to use this person's name because as shitty as they are, they deserve privacy, so I'm going to use her initial.

V . responds . "Oh. My sister is trying to rehome her cat, maybe you can take it?"

So let's go over the timeline again. 11PM on the 29th -> 10AM on the 30th. In less than 12 hours since our cat died, V is trying to shove her sister's cat at us. Please don't try to give her the benefit of the doubt or say she was trying to help us feel better. There's not a single thing this person does that comes without ulterior motives; I've known her since 2015. She goes to strangers' funerals so she can brag about it later. She doesn't feed her own cat wet food, not because she can't afford it, but because she'd rather buy cheap dry food at the dollar store and spend the entire rest of her money on herself, like going on cruises/vacations while I petsit her cat. (And use our own wet food for her cat because it's cruel and fucked up and genuinely a detriment to a cat's health to only feed them dry food). This suggestion was nothing short of an impulsive launch at an opportunity to make her life more convenient, by finding a new home for her sister's cat, so her sister would stop complaining or asking her to take the cat.

My family has always had pets, and I'm the youngest in our house, so by the time I was born, a lot of our pets were already getting old and sick (12-15 for dogs, 20-25 for cats). The first pet that died in my lifetime was our dog Killer, when I was 4. My dad had already died, so I didn't need any lies about going to live on a farm or something. And of course it's always sad, but we've always felt like the best thing you can do to ease that pain is take in a new pet and provide them with a home. You get mutual love and happiness from each other, and day by day it gets easier. But, like, you take in that new pet after maybe a month or so. Not a fucking day.

Before continuing, for some extra context, 2 of our cats already had been from V.

The first one, Joey, she only had for a few months before becoming convinced he was peeing all over the house (hint: it was her 20 yr old cat who had chronic kidney/urinary tract problems from being fed nothing but DRY FOOD FOR 20 YRS @%^#&*^*&@#) and offering him to my mom's sister, who ended up dying a few months after that. (We don't know why or how; coroner declined performing an autopsy.)

We call V and tell her what happened, because we don't know what to do with Joey. Her reaction is like, "Oh... hmm. Huh. That's really a shame. Let me know if you find someone who can take him."

As in, "NOT IT!"

They hang up and my mom stares blankly at her phone screen. I say we should just take him home instead of leaving him in the empty apartment and stressing about finding him a new owner.

Flash forward to December of 2020. V calls my mom crying, saying that her (now ex-)husband thinks their other cat, Smokey, peed on his expensive speakers and is threatening to divorce V unless they find a new home for Smokey. V says all the local shelters are full and when she looked into people who'll temporarily house cats for owners, they charge $200 per day. She says she needs to find Smokey a new home like, now. My mom says we'll help her find someone but V is like, her husband has Smokey locked in a cat carrier and says she won't be let out until they find her a new home, that kind of now. We're like, jesus fucking christ, silently. I mute my mom's phone and say "tell her we'll take her". I'm sure she would've said that anyway, but like, instinctual response to hearing the thing about the cat carrier.

(Btw, he divorced V the next year anyway. I wanted her to be away from him, because he's so abusive and mean. But it's so fucked up that he forced her to get rid of her cat with the threat/ultimatum of divorce, only to follow through with the threat anyway. He could've just divorced her and let her keep her cat!!! She had to deal with the heartbreak of a divorce without the comfort of a cat she spent 9 years with!!! He moved out of state, but every time I think about this, I wish I could go and break his kneecaps.)

The problem to that is that Smokey . is declawed . So she has to be separate from our other cats 24/7 for her own safety. None of our cats are very aggressive or get into "real" fights with each other, but they're still cats, with sharp teeth and claws, with predator instincts, who act on those instincts when they can tell another cat is weaker, whose instinct during a fight with another cat is to swipe at their stomach to disembowel them. That's not something you want to take a chance on. So Smokey is exclusively in my mom's bedroom. Over time, we've started to let her out for 20-30 minutes at a time with supervision, but that's the extent of what we can give her without putting her in danger, and it can't be done while doing chores like taking the trash out or doing the dishes. All because V declawed her fucking cats. (Not Joey, but only because he wasn't with her for very long.)

Okay, with that context established, let's go back to V texting us on Dec 30th.

Of course, we could rehome her to someone who didn't have other pets, but she spent 9 years with V, and has now spent 4 years with us. She's a 13 year old all-grey short-hair cat with a bald patch on her belly and on her front legs and below her ears, so it'd probably take a very long time to find someone who'd pick her over a cute kitten, and even longer stuck in a shelter if they had room. And if we had chosen not to be her permanent home, we would've been keeping her at arms' length the entire time, trying not to get attached.

How would that be fair to Smokey? She deserves a life where she spends as many days possible feeling wanted and loved and safe. That's what I set out to do, and I think I've achieved it as much as I possibly could, around her being declawed. I do love her and want her. And I do keep her safe, obviously. I spend as much time as I can with her; we cuddle, we play, we watch birds, I share food with her (when it's safe for cats, obv). With V she was always hiding under the bed and never meowed, just came out to eat. With us, she never hides, purrs non-stop, and is very very vocal. She gets wet food and treats, she sits in the middle of the bed like she owns the place. She gets to be a cat.

I leave my room to go check on my mom. She relays me the text. I say . "What the fuck is wrong with her? It hasn't even been a day."

I ask, "Is V's sister's cat declawed?"

We, like, talk about what a transparently selfish and inconsiderate person V is. I tell my mom I'm gonna try to sleep, but then I stop in the middle of the room.

It's a balancing act to watch out for 1 declawed cat with our other cats, so it would take more mental energy to strategize life around 2 declawed cats, especially with how often I'm asked to petsit. You have to factor in how much time you can spend out petsitting (I usually spend 5 hours there at a time), time you can spend with the Have Claws group of pets (including a dog), and time you can spend with the No Claws pet.

Despite the... misconceptions about cats being detached and aloof, they want (and need) to spend time with you. They want to cuddle, they want to hang out in the same room, they want to hear your voice, they want to play, they want to snooze in the presence of someone they feel safe around; they love you. Same as with dogs.

My mom says she'll find out.

I get some sleep, then I wake up. My mom tells me that no, V's sister's cat is not declawed; she can't find anyone in the state to do it. That's why she wants to rehome the cat.

",,,, How could anyone say that without being ashamed?"

My mom shrugs. "I don't know. I told her, 'wow, we're sitting here miserable because we wish we had our cat back, and your sister wants to get rid of hers because she can't mutilate it' I don't think she liked that because she stopped texting me back."

We laughed.

Silence is telling, you know? V's 20 year old cat died last year, and my mom and I spent months hoping to god that she wouldn't get a new cat, because we didn't want her to declaw it. She swore up and down she regretted doing it to her other cats and would never do it again, but she's also a liar. So after she did get a new cat, my mom and I have checked to see if she still has claws every time we go over. So far she does... but probably because V can't find anyone to do it either.

But then it stopped being so funny when I realized it was probably only a matter of time before one or both of them crossed state lines to look for a vet who'd do it. We can't exactly steal V's cat, but if we take in her sister's cat, we can save it from happening.

I don't really have a good way to finish this. We'd rather take in a cat off the street or from a shelter than have Three cats that came from the same asshole, but if V's sister does declaw her cat, we'll feel responsible for it happening, even if we know it's not our fault.

I just wanted to post about how fucking insane it is to try to pawn off your (sibling's) cat less than 24 hours after someone's cat died. She's almost 70 and has no mental illnesses; she knows better. She's just an asshole.

[yentrinh81]

I feel like a prisoner at the hospital right now. I came in on Thursday at 1pm for headache and throwing up. They kept me there all day. Asked me a question then leave for a couple hours, it keeps repeating till 8pm. I was told I was getting a room but no one came to get me till 11pm. The first night they treated my vomiting but the headache was still there. All of Friday it was the same, I keep complaining about my headache and they keep giving me the same medicine for past 2 days that didn't work. On Saturday I wanted to go home because they are not doing anything. By Saturday I'm just sitting in my room not getting much attention, just the 2 hours routine check, my food and water. They say I need to stay for treatment but there wasn't any. They say I have to sign a paper saying that I refuse medical advice if I wanted to leave. What medical advice? I'm still in my pain and they are just keeping me here to run up the insurance bill. So sad that this is the medical treatment that I'm getting. Hospital don't give a crap about their patients. I was told the doctor would sign my discharge papers by 5:30pm, he didn't. Its 2:30am and I have seem or heard from any of them since the shift changed. What excuses are they going to come up later to keep me till Monday?

[foster-the-world]

Visit #2

No show. Due to Covid the parents have to confirm the visit the day before. Which they did but then never showed up. The agency made me wait 40 minutes into the hour visit. Which in normal times is fine. However, during Covid I’m hoping for a different option. I’m going to give it one or two more times of no show and then ask if we can come after they show up. We live 9 blocks away so I can get there fast. I just don’t want a NICU newborn sitting in an enclosed space. Besides doctors visits we don’t take him around anyone except our parents. We signed up to the risk of adding his parents to our quarantine risk bubble but its in everyones best interest to reduce the risk if a visit is not going to happen. It’s too hot for a baby to wait outside now. In Sept/Oct we are happy to walk on the same street while we wait. 

In better news he’s five weeks old and today his due date. He’s a big kid (over nine pounds) so he doesn’t feel much like a premie. He’s still sleepy but I think at five weeks thats normal. Although I admit to forgetting a lot from when my girls were this young. His muscles are tight but the doctor said to hold off on a neurological appt until next month. I can already feel them loosening up so hopefully it works itself out.

We got to do a virtual WIC appointment - which was dreamy. . 

I recognize that talking about babies sleep schedule is the most boring thing in the world for everyone except newborn parents. Feel free to skip this part. Based on myself and my friends it seems to be a parent instinct thing to NEED to talk about how/when/why your baby sleeps even if you recognize how boring it is. Plus, because he’s a good sleeper I try not to talk about it too much with my other parent friends. It feels oddly like bragging even if it has nothing to do with anything we did. Bee - who also spent some time in the NICU was the same way.  He’s generally up between 10-11pm. My husband is up anyway so on duty and gives him a bottle/lays him down. Then he’s up again sometime between 3-5. As soon as I put the bottle in his mouth his eyes are closed while he eats. He’s back in his crib about twenty minutes later. Then up again sometime after 8:30am. I don’t pay much attention during the day. He’s up when he wants to be but asleep most of the time. He eats a lot more during the day. He doesn’t cry much but we hold him whenever he wants to be held. He’s sleeping in my arms right now. 

While I know all babies are different I do enjoy having a general sense of what’s coming next age/developmentally wise. My first two were only five months apart so we were flying blind for both. Knowing how quickly the newborn stage passes makes me want to hold onto it even more. He’s so sweet and snuggly right now. Like always it’s odd not knowing if he is our last baby or not. We know three kids is our max capacity for many, many reasons. However, if he leaves soonish we would probably do foster care again. If he stays years and then goes home I think we maybe too old to start again. We talk about doing older kids but that would be after our other kids leave the house. Anyway, like all things 2020 and foster care its up in the air. No need to think too much. He’s content and growing fast.

I am bummed I can’t show a picture. I’m sure I’m biased but he is quite a beautiful baby. 

[getfit182]

01/26/2021.

Officially my first day back in classes as a student teacher, and my first day of class is tomorrow. So, today, I have Maroon 5′s Songs About Jane playing in the background. For all of undergrad and now for grad, every first day begins with me playing this album in its entirety. I end the day with blink-182′s untitled/self-titled album. It’s a very weird ritual. Probably the only ritual I follow for first days. Something about both of these albums just settles me. The albums are so familiar, but I feel like I discover something new about a song each time I go through them on the first day of a semester. 

Maybe it is a little childish to say, but school really provides the structure I need to better attain my goals. I go to sleep on time. I eat breakfast. I drink more water. I do more writing. There is a clarity that comes with attending a class and just immersing yourself into the work and text. I’m probably not explaining this very clearly, but I promise I am 100% happier in school. I’m also really looking forward to this next class. It’s very much right up my ally in terms of my research interests!

This semester is another doozy with four jobs, but I’ve planned my schedule to be completely free on Mondays, unless one of the kids needs me. I told myself I wouldn’t work another 60 hour week this semester but... here I am. Can’t help it aha. But! That means that on Mondays, I will be on my bike (and hopefully, doing more extensive walks). 

For the other days, I really need to think about when to fit in the spin bike. My partner, who is a very dedicated morning person, is always up at 5AM, making coffee, reading the news, and then slowly getting ready for work before leaving the apartment at 7:30AM. I am in such awe of that. I’m always asleep until 8AM, mainly because he’s knocked out at 9:30PM and I’m still reading at 11PM. A supposedly bad habit is how sometimes, I just stay in bed until 9, 10AM. That’s two hours gone when I could, ideally, hop on the bike. So I will do my best to get on it in the mornings, and workout with a more stable routine. 

Speaking of the bike, my partner and I had a long conversation about me “hiding” myself when I exercise. I told him that, for some reason, I feel more comfortable exercising when he’s not home (which is a not a feasible schedule to adhere to, since his work is pretty random). We talked about how I don’t mind being stark naked during sex because our sex life empowers me, but having him walk in while I exercise makes me feel kind of ashamed that I weigh 70 pounds more than my partner. He really emphasized that he never means to inflict that thought on me, and I emphasized that he doesn’t; it’s solely me telling myself that. We struck up a sort of deal that he’ll do his best not to walk into the bedroom when I’m on my bike, but I told him that eventually, I’ll get more comfortable with him seeing me be a sweaty mess, and that he shouldn’t limit himself in our home because of my insecurities. Hearing him say that he doesn’t mind that I am heavier than him or that he doesn’t really care if I’m sweaty or dry heaving on the bike really makes me feel a lot better haha. We didn’t have a normal relationship for the first three years, and even though we’ve been living together for over a year now, I didn’t expect this really to be an issue. But turns out it is, so I’m working on it and he’s really just encouraging me to come out of my comfort zone, and I am so thankful.

I’ve done some very good cooking this past week, and hopefully, if I can get myself to a Korean market soon, I want to to make budae-jjigae, or Korean army stew soon. It’s been pretty chilly, and it snowed a little last night, so a stew would be very nice to slurp down.

Anyways, I hope everyone has a very good day. I’m in the mood to keep writing so I might fuck around and come back on here and write again when I finish journaling and thesis writing.

[mysideblogofsurveys]

Survey 19

1. Do you wear accessories? Not really, just a thin hair tie on my wrist

2. Do you remember your childhood phone number? Address? Yes, my parents still have the same landline phone number and still live at the same address

3. Have you ever moved? If so, when/how many times? UGH SO MANY TIMES!  We moved the first time in Aug 2012 (from the Midwest to Seattle WA), then May 2014 (Seattle to Florida), then June 2019 (West Coast of FL to East Coast of FL) and we’ll be moving a FOURTH TIME sometime in Oct 2020 - not sure exactly when but we are for sure (back to the West Coast of FL).

4. Do you wear deodorant every day? I don’t >< I don’t trust the chemicals (aluminum) in deodorant so I just wash my pits every day and they’re fine.

5. What was the last thing you bonded with someone over? Umm, I can really only think of bonding with my husband over our shared interests

6. What are your plans for the upcoming weekend? UGH well we had the “Cat 1 Hurricane” that thankfully turned to a Tropical Storm - so we just stayed home and played video games and watched UFC.  Its actually supposed to pass through us today and so far, its just windy and rainy.  Nothing too bad.

7. What TV shows are you watching? I’m kind of between shows right now.  Just finishing Jason Mesnick’s season of the Bachelor on Netflix currently but not sure what I’ll put on after that.

8. What is your favorite music genre? I love so many - mostly Rock/Metal, Anime/Japanese songs and 80s.  I was heavily into Kpop for about 5 years but I’ve recently stopped paying so close attention. I still like it but definitely don’t follow it as closely as I did before.

9. What is something you’re super into right now? Honestly, nothing in particular. I need to find some type of hobby.  I want to start journaling or a journal of games I play (with screen shots) or something. but I never have the patience to sit a do stuff like that. However, I always want to play games like Stardew Valley (its always on my mind.  I just love that game so much).

10. Do you have a celebrity crush? Ok, I have a few haha: - Henry Cavill (Have you SEEN him build a computer? Or his role in the Witcher?? *heart eyes*) - Tom Hardy (I really liked him in Mad Max and Venom) - Do Kyungsoo and Park Chanyeol from EXO (Korean boy band) - I melt every time I hear their voices.

11. Do you have a goal you’re trying to accomplish? Yes but I can never decide what I want to spend my time on so I end up just wasting time.  Like this morning for instance - I get up at 8am, briefly scroll through social media/watched the Bachelor with WIP of a Stardew Valley fic open on my laptop but now its 10:30am and I added maybe 15 words to the fic...WHERE did the last 2 hours go?? I have all of these ideas but for some reason, I have the hardest time sitting down and typing it all out..and procrastinate and do this survey instead ><

12. What was your last dream? Did you tell anyone about it? I had a dream of a Stardew Valley one-shot (which is what I was trying to write this morning) but of course, didn’t get it written out.  I usually tell my husband about them

13. Do you like workouts where you count reps or by 30 seconds? I’ll take either.  I like working out

14. Whats your favorite thing to do on a Sunny day? What about a Rainy day? On a Sunny day, I like going for walks with my Husband and playing Pokemon Go.  On rainy days, I like sitting and studying something (like a language) or even playing games.

15. Do you have a "Rainy Day fund"? No, but I just push most of my income (whatever is left over after paying bills/buying the necessities) into my savings account.

16. Do you "RBF" (resting bitch face)? Not really?  But I get told I look “angry” sometimes?  I hate that I have that expression but I know I frown when I’m in deep thought ><

17. If your house was one fire, what is the first thing you would grab? As long as my Husband was safe, my second thought would be my computers and external hard drive.

18. What is your favorite feature about yourself? Worst feature? I like my eyes and smile, my worst feature..well I guess it’d be my social anxiety ><

19. What is your “must get” from the grocery store? (What item is always on your list?) Lately its been watermelon, a great snack. 20. Do you have a favorite show or song you put on every time you’re sad? Not particularly. I have a playlist of songs that I put on when I’m in that mood but no specific song or show 21. What is your favorite holiday? I like Thanksgiving and New Years Eve/Day 22. What is your dream occupation? UGH I wish I knew.  I’m in the financial field right now and I don’t really like it but its not too bad.  I know I don’t belong in this field but I don’t have experience in anything else to fall back on so I guess I’ll continue with it (plus I’m in my early 30s, I don’t want to have to start ALL OVER again since we’re finally close to getting a house and finally starting a family). 23. Do you like dressing up? Eh, not really.  I like casual, comfy clothes 24. Ever been on a cruise? Bungee jumping? I’ve been on several cruises (they’re a lot of fun!) but I have not bungee jumped..not sure if I’m brave enough for that. 25. Have you ever been on a date?  What has been your favorite date? I have been on quite a few dates!  My favorite one was going to a rock show for our 3 month anniversary (WAY back in May 2010) with my husband (well, he was just my boyfriend at the time :) ) 26. Have you ever been through a Hurricane?  Tornado? Earthquake? Well, Hurricane Irma in 2017 and Hurricane Dorian in 2019...lets hope we don’t have anymore this year >< I have not been through a Tornado or Earthquake. 27. Are you the adventurous type? I’d say so?  I don’t know many people who would move as much as we have 28. Do you live close to your family? No :/ all of my family (and in-laws) live in the Midwest.  Well, aside from my Mother/Father-in-law.  They are snowbirds and have a house on the West Coast of FL and we’re moving back to be closer to them in a couple months. 29. Are you creative?  Is there anything creative you’re working on right now? I WANT to be creative but I have a hard time sitting down and getting something done.  I have half-written about 20 fanfiction pieces (for several fandoms) since 2017 but I haven’t completed any of them. 30. Do you have a morning routine?  Nightly routine? - Morning routine on the week day: Get up, start coffee, take a shower, scroll through social media/watch a show before getting ready for work - Morning routine on the weekend: Get up, start coffee, wash my face, watch a show/play a video game/scroll through social media until my Husband wakes up Nightly routine on the week day: Get my lunch ready the night before, brush/floss, read at least 10-20 min then go to sleep by 11pm to get up at 6:15am Nightly routine on the weekend: Brush my teeth and go to bed lol

[bloodelves88]

Trip to Taipei/Hualien/Taichung/Puli, Taiwan (Part 3)

Part 1 here (Hualien). Part 2 here (Taipei). Part 4 here (Taichung/Puli). Part 5 here (Puli). Part 6 here (Puli/Taichung/Taipei).

Day 4

Woke up around 9:30am today. One of my friends wanted to go somewhere to buy tea leaves and left earlier to buy it while we waited in the hotel room. That friend came back around 10:15am, and we left to find breakfast. We went to a bread shop and I bought a baguette sandwich and some other thing I don’t remember. 

We ate while walking, and we headed off to Pingxi/Shifen. It takes a little less than two hours to get there, so it’s a pretty long journey.

Anyway, Shifen is known for two things. Its street food and releasing sky lanterns. You’re supposed to write your wishes on the lantern, then a fire is lit under it and you release it. It floats off into the sky... never to be seen again.

We didn’t release any lanterns. 

I only bought one street food item, and it was some ice cream with peanuts wrapped in a pancake. It’s pretty nice. The ice cream isn’t really ice cream though, it’s more like some sort of sorbet. I have no idea. 

We managed to see someone’s lantern (and wishes) burn to ashes. All these lanterns are being released in between two rows of two storey buildings (photo below), so there’s always a risk of the lanterns hitting the buildings. The typhoon was also due to hit today, so it’s particularly windy. 

Anyway, for some reason we decided to go to the Pingxi waterfall first instead of having lunch. It’s 2pm now. For this whole trip, our meal times are all messed up 😅

My friend’s cap got blown away and off the bridge that goes across this lake, never to be seen again 😩. Ah well.

Another suspension bridge. This one swayed from side to side rather much. 

A small waterfall on the way to the main one.

The swing on the left oh the above photo works, so we sat on it. It’s been a while since I sat on a swing. This one isn’t as nice though. I think the single person ones are nicer.

There’s a mini street food area just before the waterfall here. 

I bought a frozen dragon fruit. I thought it was ice cream but it just turned out to literally be a frozen dragon fruit.

Papaya on the tree. People actually wrapped it up already. Lol.

Doggies! Animals are very prevalent in Taiwan. They roam around freely, and owners bring them around freely. It’s great. It’s particularly cute when their owners put their pets in their bags and carry them around. They also sit in the bags while on motorbikes. 

First glimpse of the Pingxi Waterfall. It’s really wide and majestic.

And then the typhoon hit(?) I’m not really sure if it’s the typhoon, but the rain was going sideways and the winds were really strong. Fortunately there was shelter nearby and it only lasted 10 minutes or so. 

The above waterfall photo is from above Waterfall Obeservation Area 4. We decided to go to the Natural Experience Area to see what it’s about.

It turned out to be a hut, and a pathway with named plants.

Anyway, down to the Observation Area 1.

And then Observation Area 2.

Then Observation Area 4.

You can get really close here. I love the first drop of the waterfall. It’s so neat and calm and pretty. 

Anyway, that’s pretty much it for the waterfall. It’s now 4pm and we still haven’t had lunch 😅

We went through the mini street food area and my friend suggested to eat there. I didn’t really want to, since the street food didn’t look to my liking. It was mainly fried stuff.

We continued back to Shifen. We saw a cafe and just decided to enter.

We decided to sit all the way inside the cafe... and what’s this?

A cat corner!

I was pretty amused by this cat. He kept trying to stick his paw out to grab food. I think he somehow threw some food out of his cage. Later he sticks his paw out to touch the corner of the walls. Really cute and amusing.

We ordered waffles to share, and a rice dish to eat. 

The waffles are not bad. Could have been crispier though.

A fat cat suddenly walked in o.o. I think he followed the shopkeeper in. He came out and chased the cat out.

I ordered braised pork with rice. It’s pretty good, but really filling because there’s a lot of rice.

Random cats hiding under an umbrella on our way back. There were also people releasing fireworks nearby. Didn’t manage to get a picture or video of that though.

Anyway, back to the train station, back to Taipei. We decided to change our tickets to Taichung today, since the tickets we bought weren’t actually fixed yet. It’s paid for, but you still need to go to the counter and decide on a time for the tickets you want. We decided to get the tickets for 12:31pm. And since we were back at Taipei Main Station again, we decided to walk down Taipei City Mall again. This time, the other side of it (it has 2 lanes).

Sumikko Gurashi is really popular in Taiwan. They’re everywhere. Stickers, bags, plushies, gachapon, claw machines, motorbike helmets... Understandable, since they’re so cute.

Custom skinned consoles are always a joy to look at. And look at that copper controller, it’s really sexy.

Then we came across someone dancing. He was playing Just Dance using the Kinect. The Kinect is really a wonderful piece of equipment, too bad it kind fizzed out and died. There were people behind him following the dance as well. He danced really well, he’s not some amateur.

Then we came across a retro shop. Oh boy I’ve never seen most of these before.

Ancient Relics, these things.

They also sell the games to go along with the consoles. So if you want to access some of the past, I don’t think you’ll have any issues here (I’m assuming the consoles work).

I also bought a White Blood Cell. Not an actual one, but the guy from Hataraku Saibou. 

Then, we came across an Indonesian section. I was kind of perplexed by this. Hmmm.

Interesting.

Then I saw some people carry really huge ice creams, and I tried to look for the shop. NT$35 for a double scoop at that size?! A must buy. There were three shops side by side, and one of them had a queue of over ten people, so nope.

 I forgot to take a picture before eating it, so here’s a smaller half licked one. It’s matcha on top and chocolate at the bottom.

Dinner time! We walked back to Ximending and went into one random shop.

I ate the chicken noodles, and my friends ate the other two. 

I also ordered some milk tea with pearls. I mean it’s Taiwan, the origin of milk tea. How could you not order it?

It was much later than we thought, as we spent too much time walking around in Taipei City Mall. We planned to go to the arcade at night and it closes at 11pm. It’s now 9:30pm. Yup, a messed up meal time again.

My friend left an umbrella in the shop we had dinner at, so we had to go back to find it. Fortunately, the umbrella was still there. 

Anyway, arcade time!

The unique thing about this arcade is that it has a batting cage, and a BB gun shooting range. 

My friend who’s interested in baseball went to play in the batting cages, and I went with my other friend to explore the arcade. The arcade wasn’t really interesting, the games aren’t that fun. We played the taiko drums, which wasn’t fun because it was too easy. Then my friend decided to play this game where you guide a ball through a course and try not to let the ball fall off. It’s a scam! It falls off at totally unexpected places. There’s already obvious places it could fall off from, and they aren’t easy to avoid. But they just had to make it harder with unexpected traps.

After that, we wanted to try the guns, but it was too close to 11pm and they weren’t accepting anymore players. We went down to the arcade just one level below, which wasn’t very interesting either. The doors closed to leave a small gap by then. Getting chased out.

Anyway, back to the hotel, and the end of day 4.

Part 1 here (Hualien). Part 2 here (Taipei). Part 4 here (Taichung/Puli). Part 5 here (Puli). Part 6 here (Puli/Taichung/Taipei).

[threenorth]

🌞5pm - 11pm🌕/ ~ \ 🌕11:00am-5:30am🌞

(7 hours + one day)

If i go to bed on time around 1130pm there's a brief moment of an hour we are in bed together.

Your 5:30am is my 1130pm

We subtract the time we have 15 minutes in each other's minds before i sleep i think about you.

When you wake up and think about me, hug the pillow I'm also holding mine...when I wake up if I do on time at 5:30am it's 11am for you I'd say make me a coffee but your over the morning rush now it's the Brunch rush.

We might live in two separate days but ultimately we can hold each other for 15 minutes.

I'd wake up early on Saturday if you want to try a Friday, i use to work s bar i can handle it i might be tired but it's your Friday.. I'd try Sunday but i have work the next day so the compromise is Friday night for you 3pm your time is 9am my time I'd wake up at 6am on Saturday for you which is noon for you i might need a bit of time to wake up by by 1pm Friday i should be up if you wanted me to be...

I guess we might have to try Fridays but i don't want you impact your sleep, remember I told you sleep is important... Just for 15 minutes i fall asleep next to you...

We can be teenagers again,

It's like seven minutes in heaven but we aren't making out...

its just minus 7 hours plus one day, remember?

[mareksupertramp]

So hello again. I was not here for a while. If you are asking why it is partly because I was studying for my finals (I graduated finally) and also because I was traveling a bit! And last trip was really amazing for me. It was on bike. So let me tell you the story how it happened.

Sunrise from balcony in Puchov

I finished my school and I had to pack myself for a way back home. So I put 5 years of my life in Kosice in some backpacks and hit the road back home. I arrived to train station on time but there were not free seats, so I had to wait for another – later train. I decided to go for a lunch, to have nice time during 2 hours of waiting for my train.

These 2 hours passed really fast. I found my place in train which was almost empty and I hoped to have some nice views. As we were driving around High Tatras, I don’t know how, and from where, I started to think about my bike. And also .. all these stories from the first city where I studied (Opava) and from Krakow (my Erasmus) and Kosice came on my mind. And then it happened. All these things connected in one big idea in my head, in that time. Lets do a trip where I will connect all these 3 parts of my life – and let’s do it on bike! Crazy idea but why not! So with this idea in my head I arrived home around 11pm.

Part one – Czech republic

During next week I bought some new bags for my bike – because at home I just had really heavy one. I also got some new lights, seat etc. And week after this I started the journey. First part from Puchov to Opava I did by train. It started at 5:47am from Puchov train station.

Train journey from Puchov to Opava

Puchov train station

All trains I took that day were regular slow trains. First stop I did in Horni Lidec, second in Hranice na Morave and last train change I had to do in Ostrava Svinov. From there it was a direct slow train to Opava východ. To find place where to put my bike on train from Puchov was not so hard. In Horni Lidec it was much more interesting. I had to ask the train crew, where is the place to put my bike. Of course it was last part of the train – so I went there and found there some hooks where I hung my bike.

    Old slow regional train – Czech republic

Ostrava Svinov

To Opava I arrived after 4 hours. It already felt really warm so I was bit afraid how I will bike 36km in this weather to Bohumin – it was a city where I slept in my friend flat. First thing I wanted to do in Opava was to visit all the buildings and places where I went during the time I was studying here.

Train station – Opava východ

Train station – Opava východ

Opava – Silesian University

Around 11am I started the first part of bike route to Bohumin. It was 37km long. Not that much but it this weather it felt like I was making 74km.

Bike trip from Opava to Bohumin

  On the way to Bohumin

On the way to Bohumin

On the way to Bohumin

On the way to Bohumin

On the way to Bohumin

To the Bohumin I arrived around 4pm. I did some stops on the way, took some photos and also bought something to drink. On this route from Opava to Bohumin was interesting that I had to go through small part of Poland also. The city (or village) was called Chalupki.

When I arrived to Bohumin, Ivca was waiting for me with her little boy and also her husband arrived a bit later. That day we walked into the park, bit around Bohumin and she also prepared some really tasty food for me – plus some cakes. I really liked it!

Burgers which Ivca made for me in Bohumin

Its time to move to Poland

I woke up early in the morning – It was 6am if I am right. I wanted to start the journey earlier today as the forecast said it will be warm day again. So from Bohumin I had to make a small part on Czech road and then, I crossed the polish border.

The city I planned to reach was called Bielsko Biala and village Kamienica. In that place I found amazing small pension – called Pokoje Pod Dębowcem. But I will tell more about this place later!

Bike journey from Bohumin to Kamienica

After city Karvina I came on border with Poland. There were some routes for cyclists – I was really surprised. I knew that day will be one of the hardest – just 60km but the profile of route said – 889m uphill. But I was not afraid. This was the adventure I was looking for. So navigation prepared, let’s go to Bielsko Biala!

Border with Poland

On the way to Kamienica

Just about 20km before Bielsko Biala I saw a sign which said – Wooden Church in village Bielowicko. I was thinking if to go there or not. It took me about 5 minutes – and of course I went there! It was just extra 10km – so why not.

Wooden church in Bielowicko

To Kamienica next to Bielsko Biala I arrived around 1PM. I was really hungry so I was trying to find a place where to eat. I searched for place where they prepare pizza. I crossed my fingers for actual data in Google Maps. And .. yes .. the first place was opened (as Google maps said) but in real – it was closed. So I had to find another one. Luckily there was 1 not far from the place where I was. Only problem was a big road, which I did not know how to cross – so to get to this place – I actually had to make extra 4km big circle. But it worth it. I think I found there the best pizza place in the city. I loved it and I felt so good after I ate whole pizza by myself!

View from accommodation in Kamienica

After the lunch I went to find the house where I planned to sleep that night. It was next to forest – quite far from the city. I liked that area as it was really quite, I had room for myself and the area looked just beautiful! After I accommodated – I decided to go to buy some food for tomorrow and also some water and food for tonight. Biedronka was like 4km far away – so I took my bike. On the way back a big storm started but luckily I got home before the big ice balls started to fall. Later, my friend told me in a next city there were these ice balls big like a eggs. Scary!

View from accommodation in Kamienica

After few storms, I decided to walk around a bit. Sun was getting lower and I hoped to catch some nice shots. I didn’t even think I will be so lucky to take a photo of salamander!

Salamander in Kamienica

View from accommodation in Kamienica

Sunset in Kamienica

After small walk I came back, locked my bike inside the house and got ready to sleep. And now it is time to tell you more about the accommodation. This was the cheapest one I found in this area. Was called Pokoje Pod Dębowcem and room for 1 person cost 10€. You got bed, table, TV, sockets and one window. Check out booking to see how the room looked like – I really loved it. I gave them 10 points of 10. For this price, it was super nice!

Moving to Krakow – I can’t believe it!

Morning view from my room was amazing. Sun was just going higher and higher and I knew it was time for me to start. 5:30am and I am ready to go! Streets were still empty so I had whole road just for myself!

View from accommodation in Kamienica

Bike journey from Kamienica to Krakow

On the way to Krakow

Part of this route was on roads for cars, some on roads for cyclists. I also had to use one raft. Views were amazing and I really liked the mountains all around.

On the way to Krakow

I did a small stop in Wadowice, to buy some food and water. I love Poland because of stores like Biedronka, Zabka or Lewiatan. They are always opened – and so if I need to buy some drink, or some food or something sweet, it is so easy to get in here!

On the way to Krakow

On the way to Krakow

On the way to Krakow

After the raft, I found this old air plane on field. It was not possible to get to it, so I just took a photo from the road. Kinda creepy I have to say!

On the way to Krakow

On the way to Krakow

Today journey was the longest – it was about 91km. And it took me around 5 hours to arrive to Krakow. I was climbing up with a bike .. and on the top of mountain, I saw a church. And I knew I was close to Krakow. I knew this was the monastery not far from Pilsudski mound. The feeling that moment was like .. I don’t even know how to describe it. I was proud of myself that I did it. I did something, what I was just thinking about few weeks ago. I was there, just few more kilometers from Krakow – from the city where I lived 4 months.

Arrived to Krakow

Wawel castle – Krakow

In Krakow I found accommodation in Boby Hostel. Sadly I have to say this was the worst experience I ever had in a hostel. Maybe it was because of Ukrainian, Belarusian and Russian workers or I don’t know. I have many friends from these countries but those people were just super weird. I felt not good in this place so this was reason why I was trying to be outside most of the day. From my point of view, I really do not recommend this hostel – I really did not feel good in the place (and I was already accommodated in many other hostels, so I think I can compare .. )

But I was happy to be back in Krakow. I was going to meet my polish teacher and also my good friend Katarzyna from International students office. So first day I arrived I just went to my old student house, to see what changed there.

Dorms in Krakow

Dorms in Krakow

Next day I received email from my polish teacher that she will have last polish class with Erasmus students and if I want, I can join them. So of course I wanted to come. At 9am I went to the building which she wrote in email, found the class and was waiting. Class was funny as always – as I remember it from my Erasmus. I liked it really a lot. It was a bit different as my friends were not there but I didn’t mind. After the class I went with Anna (the teacher) to the place called Wadowicka where we both had frappe. It felt so good to have this drink in this warm day. I talked with Anna around 1 hours and then she had to leave to another class. So we said goodbye and I moved to International students center.

Katarzyna was working – so I was happy I will meet her. When I arrived she was not surprised at all – as she knew about my plan (I wrote her email before). She and her colleague were busy as always because students were leaving from Krakow. So I spent there just few minutes and I left to the city. For later that day I managed to meet with Katarzyna and went with her to the park next to Tawron arena – where she had some activities with other friends and some kids.

Later that day I also went to Kazimierz to have my favourite foods! Zapiekanka and ice cream from Good Lood! Just check the photo and you will know why I so love it!

Zapiekanka – Krakow

I stayed in Krakow for 3 nights. I visited all the places which I loved so much when I was living there. I met people who I liked the most and also ate food which I missed so much. Bit after these days it was time to move for my final part of the journey.

Border is waiting!

In the morning I woke up at 4:30. My train from Krakow was leaving after 5am so I packed all my bags, connected them to the bike and ride through the empty city to the train station. I did one last stop on main square to take a photo of course!

Rynek Glowny – Krakow

Train was already at the train station so I found a place where to put my bike and I was waiting when train will move. It didn’t long and we moved – my final destination was Muszyna.

Train journey from Krakow to Muszyna

This train was really cheap so this was why I decided to take it on border. I paid just about 3€ + 2€ for a bike. Train was really slow and it took like 4 hours to get to Muszyna. My plan that day was just to move to Circ in Slovakia – what was about 10km. But on the train I met an older man who was going to bike in this area and he gave me some ideas where to go. So, from 10km I did about 50km. I visited some wooden churches and some mineral waters. I have to say it was the best decision I made that day! And I just did not know that time, this was going to be the best day of the whole journey!

On the way to Muszyna

On the way to Muszyna

On the way to Muszyna

Wooden church in Jastrzebik

Wooden church in Jastrzebik

Somewhere over Muszyna

Somewhere over Muszyna

Mineral water Bulgotka

Wooden church in Zlockie

Somewhere over Szczawnik

Wooden church in Szczawnik

Wooden church in Szczawnik

Muszyna

So from Muszyna to Circ it was about 10km. Part of the road was for cyclists, part of cars. There was a lot of mountains so it was taught to bike there – but I liked it a lot. The views were simply amazing!

Bike route from Muszyna to Circ hranica

From Muszyna to Circ hranica

From Muszyna to Circ hranica

When I arrived to my accommodation I was tired so I just put my thing down and ran to the only store which was right next to my accommodation. I bought 3 no alcoholic beers and drunk them all in 15 minutes I think. Then I felt so pleasant – haha. The accommodation here was called Penzión na Hranici Čirč. I have to say this was a huge surprise. In this area it was the cheapest accommodation – but it felt so luxury! Inside, it was like a completely new flat with super clean shower, bedroom, livingroom etc. I loved it so much that definitely I will come back later. I think it is the best place to spend your time, if you want to make some bike trips in Poland (in the Muszyna and Krynica zdroj area).

Accommodation in Circ hranica

The bench in front was lovely – I sit there for a while when sun was running down. It was lovely. Nobody around, just me, this place and mountains. I simply loved it and I was a bit sad that next day I will have to leave so early!

Accommodation in Circ hranica

Morning sun – Kosice are waiting! Last part!

93km. It was plan for the last day of the journey – I wanted to connect the North with a South. I was curious how it will go. The morning sun was lovely. I saw some deers on fields or next to the river. There was also 1 fox. I just hoped to not meet bear. It was really early. I started at 4:57 so people were still sleeping but animals were really active.

Bike route from Circ hranica to Kosice

Sunrise over Čirc hranica

After 10km and 30 minutes of biking I climbed up to the highest peak on this part of journey. When I turned back I didnt believe what I saw. It was the nicest sunrise I have ever seen. I took out my camera and started to make shots. I felt it … I knew .. this was going to be one of my best shots ever. And surely it was. Or what do you think?

Sunrise over Lubotín

Sunrise over Lubotín

Sunrise over Lubotín

Sunrise over Lubotín

When I arrived to Kamenica, I knew now it will be easier than it was. It was a long way down .. many many kilometers when I did not have to pedaling that much. Kamenica, Lipany and Sabinov I passed and I arrived to Presov around 9am. I was surprised how fast I did it. Kosice were really close and I felt like I was gonna make this trip to the happy end!

Alone horse somewhere in Slovakia

On the way to Velky Saris

Kysak and … Kosice. I was there. I made it. I felt so happy. I did what I planned and thanks God nothing happened to me during the road! I connected all the 3 cities which I wanted to connect. I loved that feeling.

Rye in Trebisov

And what should I tell at the end? I am proud of myself, I really have to say it. This was my first bike journey away from Slovakia. It was the longest I have ever done. I used navigation for a first time in my life on bike. I had to do many compromises, I had to wake up early in the morning. I had fought with my fears to be alone early in the morning on road between woods. And I am happy I did it. And if you are afraid of something – go ahead and try to fight your fears. At least try it! 🙂 I never believed that one day I will say I did 4 000m uphill and some more downhill in just 6 days. I never believed I will do 400km on bike in a week! 🙂 So .. now I can say, everything is possible!

If anybody had any questions about this journey – do not hesitate to ask me! I am here to help you or tell you more information that were said here on my blog 🙂 Here is a whole journey!

And for these who are gonna make any journey soon – here is a link for discount on Booking! – https://www.booking.com/s/35_6/9a484ff9

Your Supertramp!

3 Universities – 3 Cities – 400km on bike So hello again. I was not here for a while. If you are asking why it is partly because I was studying for my finals (I graduated finally) and also because I was traveling a bit!

[kuyarexdelsdiaries]

#TRENTAgether: A KRD Special (Part 2)

(In order to give you the highlights of the vent and backstories itself, KRD will use a timeline of events that is being used in the past coverages and specials of KRD Blog. The EIC woke up 36 hours for the event.)

Saturday, March 2

1pm (5am UTC)- at the house. It was an unexpected happening as I browse facebook in my cellphone when at 1:15pm, (5:15am UTC) i saw a post that my mom’s brother passed away. I didn’t hesitate to know what’s in the picture of my mom crying after she slipped in the bathroom earlier. Few minutes later, my phone rang and my mom talked to her cousin that she will be in San Carlos area to see the remains of her brother.

2:30pm (6:30am UTC)-She left the house with her cousin and his car ready for travel to San Carlos. I realized that my backup cellphone was lef the house and so, i am eager to prepare everything including for the event the next day.

4:30pm (8:30am UTC)- All the bags are packed, all the electricals are unplugged and the house is locked. I want to TheNetCafe (TNC) for some work to do.

8pm (12pm UTC)- I rode the jeep and I walked to San Carlos to see the remains of my mom’s brother, and I ate dinner as well.

9:45pm (1:45pm UTC)- after some browsing and checking comments on my post on Facebook, i rode a UV express going to Crossing that lasted for an hour except some minor traffic woes in the Floodway area and in C5-Tiendesitas area (due to Manila Water works).

11pm (3pm UTC)- I rode a bus to Baclaran in order to keep myself in silent mode. But before reaching to a particular place, I went by a convinience store (Mini Stop) just minutes before midnight to buy Cobra Energy Drink to stay me awake on the wee hours of the next day.

Sunday, March 2

12mn (4pm UTC)- I am at Baclaran Church for some serenity and silence as my personal vigil. (EIC Note: to keep it neutral, i’ll disclose some full details throughout my 4-hour duration)

3:30am (7:30pm UTC)- I left the area and I passed Chowking to change my outfit at their CR. I walked the baclaran area all the way to Taft Avenue where I spotted a jeep going to Mall Of Asia.

4:45am (8:45pm UTC)- MOA Complex. I am at the arena, but I need to change my outfit for good. As the sunrise is approaching, Ms. Cecille see me and she was confused at first, but eventually became right. Carl and Ms. Mona came to the venue minutes later, she asked me if I didn’t ate breakfast, and so Ms. Mona gave me P100 for breakfast as I went by Alfamart just in front of the Arena area to eat Tocino and drink soda for an acid to become good. Ms. Cecille gave me an eggpie slice before I went to the said place. And Carl welcomed me for the 1st time to Angel’s Walk.

6am (10pm UTC)- People started to come in, from ASP Chapters, groupsm organizations, schools, and companies, who slept overnight in nearby hotels and transients, just to make it in this event.

7am (11pm UTC)- the MOA Arena gates are opened, and it was delayed by 30 minutes due to technical problems as people started to enter the venue. The main venue opened doors as the crowd gets filled up. The VIP section is reserved for PWA families, companies, ASP Officers, and some from these individuals who reserved their free tickets via respective Group Chats on Messenger.

8:30am (12:30am UTC, March 3)- The preshow started after a showing of some videos on the ASP ChocolatA sheltered project, ASP-Philippine Airlines special video, ASP HOMEpowerment, and a special vlog by Pia Cabañero, Pia, together with Rhav Lomboy became hosts of the event. Talents were showcased on the preshow as OPM centers the Angels Walk 2019 theme. PWA performers including Splendu Tritus Band, Emman Macaso, Valsped Band, ILLC Hearththrobs and Hunks (The group appears each Angels Walk preshows every year), Thara Marie Santiago (ASP A5 Awardee 2018), and Nica Escasiña.

9:30am (1:30am UTC)- The ASP A5 Awardees were honored. This year’s ASP Autism Angels Achievement Awardees are: Carlo Gregorio Veluz (our KRD Contributor and 2019 ASP A5 Awardee for Visual Arts), Pia Cabañero (Advocacy) and Henry Munarriz (Sports/Athletics).

ASP Inducted its re-elected board of trustee members with 2 newest members of the board and the inaugural officers of ASP Self Advocates  The swearing in was led by DSWD Undersecretary Florita Villar and NCDA Ms. Carmen Zubiaga. The re-elected board of trustees of ASP for 2019-2020 are Mona Veluz (National President), Peng So (National Vice-President), Ces Sicam (National Secretary), Evelyn Go (National Treasurer), Helen Cheng (National Auditor), Grace Adviento, Carmel Almendrala, Marivic Ramos, Joy Ofrecia, and two new members Imelda Alviso, and Donna Lim. The Inaugural officers of ASP Self-Advocates Circle (ASP-SACI) are: Ian Lopez (President), Carl Veluz (Vice-President, Communications), Paul Matthew Somera (Vice-President, Internal) and Samantha Pia Cabañero (Vice-President, Internal).

9:55am (1:55am UTC)- The main program began after the warmup by newly-elected ASP trustee Donna Lim set to the tune of Gary Valenciano’s ‘Eto Na Naman’. A Prayer by Josiah Quirino, son of a Pastor, and the Philippine National Anthem featuring various Angels Walk events across the country. The program opened by Cid Tampo together with 30 students of GS Options singing ‘Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika’ by Hajji Alejandro.

A Speech by the Inaugural ASEAN Prize recipient and ASP Chairman Emeritus Erlinda Koe was followed, and a group photo session.

The ASP Autism Works Partners of the year were honoured. Dohtonburi Philippines was recognized in the Service sector while Willis Towers Watson Philippines was awarded in the learning sector. Also, ASP recognized these poeple who have been a part of the 30-year legacy. 4 of the 11 founders were present in awarding a special recognition to Former President Fidel V. Ramos who wasn’t in the event. He was considered as the Father of Philippine Autism Advocacy. Mona meanwhile presented the ASP Leadership Award to Hans Sy, one of the board of directors of SM Prime Holdings, and son of the late founder Henry Sy Sr. Hans also declared the start of the Angels Walk.

11am (3am UTC)- The MOA Arena was cleared and the walk has begun. Bands (Philippine Navy Band, and MOA Marching Band) gave delight to the 1km walk from MOA Arena to MOA Music Hall. I was bitten by the LSS bug in singing ‘Born This Way’ by the MOA Marching Band. As we approached the MOA Music Hall, the emcee welcomed groups, ASP Chapters, institutions, schools, government agencies, companies, cooperatives, and even a Catholic Church ministry for special needs to the event.

12nn (4am UTC)- after all, I ate luch as I leave the area when my phone gets low battery. All in all, it was a long but tiring day to enjoy as a first timer. But after all, history repeats itself.

Tomorrow, this series will conclude with a special video and a anniversary message from the EIC on the day of ASP’s founding.

[sugasgrowl]

Saturdays (pt 1)

Genre: Fluff/Smut (in pt 2)

Member: Jungkook

Warnings: None 

Word Count: 4484

Summary: After three months of loneliness and insecurities while on tour, Jungkook comes home to you.

Part 2

This is just pure fluff tbh. But Part 2 will much more explicit (and will be posted within the next two or three days at most). Enjoy!

You weren’t sure exactly how long you’d been sitting on the window seat with your knees pulled into your chest, the cool wall leaching all the warmth from your spine through the thick material of your hoodie. All day you’d been lounging in the comfort of your apartment, basking in the calming serenity of the pouring rain pattering against the wide window. The view of the Seoul skyline piercing the gray swirling clouds above was beautiful in the most hazy and sleepy way, almost as if the entirety of South Korea had just woken up from a Saturday-afternoon nap and hadn’t yet wiped the sleep from its eyes.

Saturdays were one of your favorite days, mainly because you didn’t have to worry about your usual responsibilities of college and work. You preferred to spend most of your Saturdays at home to recharge before having to finish up any assignments you’d been procrastinating over on Sunday, and you often found yourself devoting Saturdays to pampering yourself. Eating whatever you wanted, messily slathering on a face mask, taking a long steaming bath to relax your tense muscles, the works. At that point in the day, you’d already cooked yourself chocolate chip pancakes (You woke up around 11:30am, but who’s to say pancakes have to be reserved solely for breakfast time?) while your favorite moisturizing mask was caked on your skin. You stuffed the fluffy, sweet deliciousness in your face ravenously as you binge-watched YouTube videos, the only worry you had being that you may not have enough syrup.

Now you sat, four hours later, curled up by the window, still sucked into the void that is YouTube and enjoying the melancholy rainfall that was baptizing the streets of Seoul.

As much as you loved Saturdays, you couldn’t help but feel sad that you’d spent so many without your boyfriend around to participate in the self-care. The two of you had made it a tradition to spend Saturdays together and bond over cartoons and unhealthy snacks. Even though he basically lived with you when he wasn’t forced to stay at the dorms or travel for a tour, Jungkook was insistent on coming over and talking about each of your weeks through mouthfuls of pizza.

You heaved a sigh at the slight sinking feeling in your chest at remembering the last Saturday Jungkook had been home. The two of you had both gotten a little too tipsy (aka: you were both piss drunk) on cheap wine and ended up singing at the top of your lungs and clumsily dancing around the apartment to the Friends opening credits, the obnoxiously loud volume of the TV and your booming laughter causing your neighbor to complain the next morning. You were both ridiculously hungover the next day, and poor Kookie had a six hour dance practice starting at one in the afternoon. The stubborn motherfucker insisted that he was fine, dammit, and he would just go to practice and suffer through “like a man”. The memory of Namjoon calling you to tell you that Jungkook had puked all over the practice room floor in the middle of rehearsal brought a small smile to your face. God, he’s such an idiot.

You groaned as you raised your arms above your head in a stretch, all the joints in your body seeming to snap at once. At least he’s coming home today.

You unlocked your phone and reread the last messages you’d gotten from him.

[Jungkook] 6:03am: I’m getting on the plane. I’ll be home with you soon. I love you

[You] 11:32am: Be safe! I love you too

[Jungkook] 11:41am: Well good morning

[Jungkook] 11:42am: I guess I’m glad nothing bad happened to me. You would’ve just slept right on through it.

[You] 11:42am: To be honest, I’m a bit disappointed. I was expecting you and Taehyung to find a way to crash the plane by now.

[Jungkook] 11:45am: Lmao sorry to disappoint but Tae is sitting with Jimin instead this time

[You] 11:45am: Did you make a scene

[You] 11:46am: Did you #expose them for the cheating boyfriends that they are

[You] 11:46am: Did #Nochu come thru

[Jungkook] 11:48am: Of course. My emotional speech about their betrayals made the stewardess and several passengers cry.

[You] 11:51am: Where is this man’s Oscar

You didn’t hear from him again until an hour ago, and you could practically feel his excitement buzzing through the phone grasped in your hands.

[Jungkook] 3:30pm: We’re about to land!

[Jungkook] 4:17pm: We’re waiting for our luggage!!

[Jungkook] 4:39pm: Jimin’s bag is lost

[Jungkook] 4:56pm: God this is taking forever

[Jungkook] 4:59pm: I just asked if we could leave Jimin behind but they said no

[Jungkook] 5:11pm: We’re leaving the airport!!!!!!!!!!!! I’ll be home soon!!!!!!!

The last message made you smile so big it made your cheeks hurt. He was so excited to be coming home--and you were so excited for him to rest, if even for a short while. You knew that he was so much more exhausted than he would ever admit. Jungkook loved his job more than anything, but he was still human. Well, you debated that fact on occasion. The boy had a tendency to go and go and go until he was half dead, but even then, the average person would have already been put in a padded room from the amount of stress he faced on the daily.

The past three months had been rough without him--it only being the second time Jungkook had ever had to leave you on tour with Bangtan--but aside from feeling lonely at night after having a particularly rough day, you were handling yourself amazingly well and even gave your boyfriend the space that you felt that he wanted during the stress of touring. Jungkook, on the other hand…

It wasn’t that he wasn’t handling it well. It was more like he just missed you so damn much that he didn’t know what to do with himself. While the touring process was new to you, you had easily adapted because that was just what had to be done and it was all you'd ever known. The first time that Jungkook had to leave for a tour, you had merely been on a few extremely casual dates, so there were really no huge emotional investments on either side yet. You’d formed a closer bond over time by sending texts and links to ridiculous YouTube videos back and forth--Jungkook’s sense of humor more often than not making you snort out loud in the middle of your lectures, the sudden outbursts forcing you to cover it up by pretending to go into a coughing fit. After the first tour, loving Jungkook through a pixelated screen had just become half of your relationship, and you'd both accepted that. But that didn't mean it was easy.

You knew Jungkook wasn’t used to having someone to miss while he was away aside from his family, and the unfamiliar emptiness in his arms where you would normally be made him feel exposed and vulnerable--like he was going into battle without his most important and protective armor. The insecurities plagued him, a swirling mass of what ifs echoing against the interior of his skull. There were many nights where you would be roughly yanked out of sleep, your ringtone blaring so loud that you would scramble to find your phone amidst the tangle of sheets and the throw of darkness--your heart beating so hard in your chest that it felt like it was going to burst through your ribs and flop into bed beside you, only to find that it was merely Jungkook needing to hear your voice.

The last night that he had called in such a state was a week ago, the conversation still fresh on your mind as you waited for him to come home from the airport, your eyes trailing after a couple of silvery raindrops that rolled down the windowpanes in front of you.

“Hello?” That night you answered on the sixth ring with a tongue thick with sleep and eyes still unable to fully open.

“Baby?” Jungkook’s voice was almost always strained when he called you like this, as if he was trying his hardest to keep from showing just how vulnerable and needy he was--although you always knew. That time in particular, the pet name tumbled past his lips in a hurried rush.

“Hey, Jungkookie,” you smiled as you rubbed your eyes. He hesitated, the four seconds worth of grainy silence confirming your suspicions of him calling out of feeling alone in a crowd of six. “Bad day?”

He sighed lowly, and you could practically see him raising his thumb to his lips to nervously gnaw on the ragged cuticle. You could just faintly make out the sound of a rustling somewhere on the other end of the line, and you knew he was bouncing his leg, the nervous energy desperately trying to escape.

“Sort of...” he trailed off, not wanting to voice his actual feelings, god forbid, but you always patiently waited in silence until he felt ready to talk. “I really miss you.”

“I miss you too, more than you know,” even with thousands of miles between the two of you, the sounds of the wheels turning in his head were nearly audible as he tried to think of how to word his burdens.

“Talk to me, boy…” You sang the phrase to the tune of Rock Your Body by Justin Timberlake as out of tune and off pitch as you could, your voice that was still gravelly with sleep only adding to the effect. Anything to make Jungkook smile.

You often used this trick to get him to spill whatever was bothering him, and more often than not, it would illicit an airy chuckle to escape from him and begin to thaw the anxiety that had begun icing over his stomach. But that time all you got was a weak puff of air, a sorry excuse for a laugh.

He must really be upset, you thought.

After a moment, he spoke.

“You don’t….regret being with me, do you?” his voice was quiet, and even through the phone you could see his eyes timidly glued to his lap as he picked at the frayed holes in his jeans. “I mean...do you resent that I have to leave you for so long? Do you wish that you were with someone...normal?”

You blinked in confusion.

“What?” your voice hitched up in surprise.

“Never mind. Forget I called,” he babbled, “I shouldn’t have woken you up. I mean, it’s what? Almost four in--”

“Jeon Jungkook, hush,” you firmly interrupted, causing nervous rambling to die in his throat. “Why would you ask me that?”

He paused.

“Um…” the humiliated blush that was burning his cheeks was nearly audible.

“I….” he began, but the words dissolved on his tongue like a bitter cotton candy. He let out a huff of frustration.

“I’m scared,” a tone of hopelessness tinged with shame dripped from his lilting voice. “I love you so much, and I’m scared that you’re going to realize that this? What we have? Isn’t what you deserve.”

Your brow furrowed as you processed his words. How could he be so dumb sometimes? Couldn’t he tell that you were madly in love with him? That he was your best friend, and you could never give him up for anything? You been together for almost a year, shouldn’t he know that by now?

“Jungkook--”

“I’m the man, I‘m supposed to be reassuring you! And instead I’m the one calling you all the time because I miss you so much that I can’t focus on anything. You don’t ever call me like this. I’m the one calling you in the middle of the night because I’m feeling real anxiety for the first time in my life over the thought of losing you. And I’m a fucking singer!” his voice was growing louder as he let his stress out into the light, and his bouncy Busan accent peaked through the more worked up he got.

“I get followed by crazy fans and have hate thrown at me every day, and yet the only thing that really cuts me deep is the thought of not getting to hear you do Justin Timberlake an injustice over the phone anymore.”

The sentiment was meant to be joking, because he didn’t like talking about his feelings nine times out of ten--it made him feel guilty for not being content with his job and his life all the time. He didn’t want to seem ungrateful.

He paused for a moment to catch his breath, and that was when you jumped in.

“Jungkook,” you softly said, “you do call me when you’re upset. I can always tell the difference between a call like one of these and a normal phone call to check in. But have you failed to notice that I always answer these urgent phone calls?”

He didn’t answer, so you continued.

“I’m scared, too. I’m terrified you’re going to find a much hotter, more talented, idol girlfriend to love. But the reason I don’t call you like this very often is because for one thing, I hardly ever know where the hell you are. For all I know, you’re back in Seoul chilling in the dorms right now,” Jungkook let out a single grunt of a chuckle.

“And I also don’t call you freaking out because right around the time when I start to feel lonely or sad, you end up calling me. I may not know where you are in the world, but you’ll always know where I am. I’m not going anywhere.”

There were a few beats of warm silence as your reassuring words released the tension in Jungkook’s shoulders and loosened the uneasy knot pulled lethally tight in his chest.

“So you don’t want someone normal?” the smile in his voice was evident, but you could still make out a hint of uncertainty in his tone.

“Kookie, if I wanted someone normal, I wouldn’t have chosen you to begin with, you dumbass,” a grin broke out across your face as the sound of Jungkook’s musical laughter floated back to your ears. The mental image of him throwing his head back with his eyes scrunched tight with a genuine smile made you swoon.

“Promise?” he giggled.

“I promise, okay? You being famous isn’t what makes you abnormal to me. It’s your inherent dorkiness and embarrassing outbursts,” you teased.

“Don’t act like you don’t contribute,” he sassed.

“You love it.”

“I really, really do.”

At the end of the phone call, you could tell he felt better. It was like his burden dissipating also lifted one from your own shoulders, as if you had cleared up an insecurity you didn’t even know you had.

Before you, Jungkook had never loved someone at all, period, and now that he was madly in love with you, he felt as if he wasn’t doing enough. He hated not being able to take you on dates, real dates, where you could both go out without worrying if he would be followed by fans or paparazzi. He hated that he couldn't hold you every night and feel your icy toes shove themselves under his thighs, the biting cold nearly making him jump out of his skin every time. He hated never getting to post the cute pictures that he would take of you while you slept, or the horrendous selfies you would send him as you sat in class while he was at rehearsal. He wanted to shout how much he loved you from the rooftops, loud enough for all of both North and South Korea to hear. But the job that he loved so much prevented that.

He hated those things, but god, did he love you.

The thought that after all that time, you would finally be able to see him, and hold him, and do all the things you were able to do with him three months prior made you feel as if your body weighed twenty pounds lighter. Loneliness was a much heavier burden than you realized.

The sound of keys jingling and sliding into the lock made your head automatically whip towards the long awaited noise. For whatever reason, be it the suddenness of the noise while you were so deep in thought or the fact that your Jungkook was finally home, your heart fluttered inside your chest. On instinct, you rose to your feet and stood with your eyes glued to the entrance to your apartment. He’s home.

When the door finally swung open after what felt like an eternity of him fumbling with the knob that always seemed to stick, Jeon Jungkook stood before you for the first time in three months.

His hair was a dishevelled mess, the caramel blond and faded pink stripes sticking up in every which way in wispy tendrils around his brow that had collected the brunt of the rain on the way to your apartment. If you hadn’t been so stunned, you would have laughed at the very obvious line where his hat had protected the crown of his head from getting wet, leaving the top of his hair to be dry and fluffy--a stark contrast to the ends of his locks that were dripping wet and darkened with the freezing rain. Jungkook’s soaked beanie was clutched so tightly in his fist that his knuckles were white and little streams of water were dripping down his fingers and onto the floor from the fabric being wrung so extremely. His black hoodie was bunched up over one of his hips, as if he hadn’t bothered to pull it down or fix it in it any way when he stepped off the subway. The fabric was significantly darker over the broad expanse of his shoulders and chest where the rain had initially struck him, making it hopelessly cling to his leanly muscled frame.

Your heart skipped a beat as your eyes raked over his body and landed on his face. Without a stitch of makeup on his skin to hinder your view, you were able to see every little detail on him--even from across the room. The wind must have been much chillier than you thought, because his nose and cheeks were bright pink from the abuse of the nipping temperatures. All of his freckles and dark circles and scars were right in front of you, and they were so goddamn gorgeous that it made a lump form in your throat. He was so real. So real and so solid and so very, very beautiful. It was as if his image was enhanced and hyper-focused after being without him for so long.

The expression of disbelief written on your face must have been amusing, because Jungkook’s red, chill-swollen lips quirked themselves into a bright grin.

“I’m home,” he softly said, his smile growing even wider--the rise of his cheeks making his sparkling eyes disappear into slits that sat on the top of his cheekbones and nearly all thirty-two of his teeth flash in your direction.

The broken silence snapped you out of your trance, and you quickly found yourself shuffling across the room towards your boyfriend while muttering an ecstatic mantra of “You’re home, you’re home, you’re home, you’re home!” with a beaming smile on your face. He met you halfway, his long strides carrying him to you in a matter of three steps. You threw your arms around his neck and nestled your frame into his torso. Muscled arms wound themselves around your waist--one firmly snaking around the circumference of your lower back and the other trailing up your spine to gently grip at the curve of your shoulder--as he mumbled an incoherent string of words declaring just how much he missed you, his voice sounding an awful lot like he was trying not to cry.

“I missed you too,” your fingers wound themselves into his hair as you felt a sting behind your eyes. “I missed you so incredibly much, Jungkook.”

A startled gasp flew past your lips when the tip of Jungkook’s frigidly cold nose nuzzled itself into the warmth of your neck.

“Jesus,” you attempted to squirm away from the way from the way he was using you to thaw himself, but he simply pulled you tighter into his body.

“You’re freezing! Why didn’t you wear a coat, Jungkook? You’re going to get sick, you idiot!” you half laughed and half scolded, the smile on your face causing a single happy tear to squeeze from your eye.

His cheeks rose devilishly in the crook of your neck. He’d missed your playful insults so much.

“I was so excited to see you that I forgot to grab one from the dorm when I dropped off my suitcase,” his words were muffled by the fabric of your sweatshirt.

His dripping wet clothes were beginning to soak into your own and make you shiver. You placed your palms on both of his cheeks and pulled him back to get a better look at him up close--and partially to get his icicle of a nose the hell away from your flesh. Your eyes locked with his, the nearly-black irises seeming to place gentle kisses on every inch of your face as he surveyed your features. His mouth dropped open in a look of false and exaggerated surprise, his doe eyes twinkling like a thousand galaxies.

“Are you crying, (Y/N)?” he chided.

You let out a laugh poked his cheek.

“Are you? You’re looking a bit waterlogged.”

“What?” his brows raised, feigning innocence.

“This?” he gestured to his soaked lashes. “No, no. It’s not crying if the tears never fall, baby.”

You giggled and pulled his face closer to yours, the scent of his favorite cologne washing over you in the close proximity. Your lips brushed against his in a teasing kiss, the feeling of his chilled lips lightly grazing yours sending chills down your spine.

“God, you’re so warm,” he whispered, awestruck, his breath fanning over your face.

Jungkook’s hand ran itself painstakingly slow up your arm and the side of your neck, his icy fingertips trailing against your skin so lightly that goosebumps erupted across the expanse of your exposed flesh. Long fingers knotted themselves in the hair at the back of your neck to pull you into a deeper kiss, and the way his fingernails lightly grazed your scalp had your breath catching in your throat. The kiss was slow and languid, everything seeming to be moving at half its normal speed. With each move he made, icy droplets would drip from the ends of Jungkook’s hair and splatter faintly on your skin. Every brush of his lips and unhurried swipe of his tongue against yours was purposeful. Each shaky breath and quiet sigh was a message, a secret code that you’d cracked months and months before--every tender nibble on your lower lip and stroke of his swollen lips against your jaw a declaration of how much he loved you, punctuated with gentle swipes of his thumb against your cheekbone.

The way Jungkook was not only suddenly present in your life again, but also painting your lips with his most intimate and passionate kisses was making you weak in the knees. After all the months of being apart, you finally had him back in your arms. The crushing feeling of love for him was so overwhelming that your head started to spin. You brought your hand up to rest against his cheek and pulled away from the kiss ever so slightly--just enough to speak.

“I missed you,” you rested your forehead against his and looked into his eyes, your mouth beginning to water at the sight of his flushed cheeks and blown out pupils.

“I missed you so much. God, every single day it was like I was walking around in a daze,” you gave him a lingering peck before continuing. “I love you so much, Jungkook. I don’t think you realize how much.”

You began peppering kisses along his jaw, gentle at first--pulling a satisfied hum from him that quickly turned into a low moan when you switched to leaving burning open mouthed kisses that seared the still freezing skin on his neck. The contrast of your warm mouth and his cold skin was so drastic that it felt almost painful, his nerve endings having long forgotten what warmth was in the mile long walk from the subway to your apartment.

You pulled back to make eye contact with him and make sure that he was listening to what you were saying. He stared back at you with hooded eyes, doing his best to actually process your words.

“I’m sorry if I seemed distant while you were away. I just figured you would want some space to focus on work,” you brought your lips back to his, kissing the top and then the bottom before slowly tracing his lower lip with your tongue. His hands gripped your hips in an attempt to keep from losing focus on your loving words.

“I let the space change from an inch to a mile, and you felt insecure in our relationship because of that. Am I correct?”

Jungkook’s golden cheeks flushed a deep russet, his eyes leaving yours to wander aimlessly before dropping to the floor. He nodded, embarrassment  evident on his face. He hated admitting when he was struggling. He wasn’t supposed to struggle, he was the golden maknae.

You smiled fondly at him before intertwining your fingers with his and raising the tangle of warm and cold digits to brush your lips across his knuckles.

“Let me make it up to you,” you slyly said.

Jungkook’s eyes snapped up to meet yours, a knowing smirk tugging on the corner of his lips.

“Whatever do you have in mind, m’lady?” he suggestively raised his eyebrows and wrapped his arms around your waist.

You shivered at the chill that your now soaked clothes brought.

“Well, you feel like you’ve been inside a deep freeze for four days. Let’s warm you up.”

Jungkook’s eyes gleamed.

“You don’t mean…?” he began, a wide smile spreading across his face.

You nodded.

“Yes. I ordered more bath bombs and saved them all so we could use them together.”

Jungkook wiggled in excitement, doing a quick dance of waggling fingers and spastically tapping his toes.

“You’re the beeeeest,” he cheered as he heaved you over his shoulder--causing a surprised shriek to rip from your throat--and pranced off towards the master bedroom.

You couldn't contain your giddiness as your laughter rang out across your apartment. Jungkook was finally home, and your Saturday was finally as warm and relaxing as they used to be before he left.

[shannonlouisemary]

This is the unfortunate truth of what it's like to suffer with a chronic pain condition like fibromyalgia. Please note, this is going to be a long ass post so prep yourself for a good read... I had a pretty good day yesterday, ran some errands, went to MMA and enjoyed a nice meal after with the guys to celebrate one of their birthdays with a cake that I had made. Throughout the day, I had experienced some pain and as always, fatigue. However, it was all manageable. At one point I was concerned that my back was going to spasm during MMA (which would have been unbearable and rendered me immobile), so I did some stretches that I'd learnt at yoga; this helped and gradually it subsided. Later in the evening my legs begun to hurt, again, manageable amount of pain; that is until I returned home and tried to sleep. I was in bed by 11pm, ready to sleep and exhausted; but could not fall asleep as I couldn't get comfortable- mostly due to the pain in my legs. I decided to try meditating, as this often helps whilst listening to rain sounds which also usually help me sleep. I did so for over an hour, to no affect. By this point it was around 1am. I tried stretching again, hoping it would work as it had earlier in the day. Of course, I'm not so lucky and if anything it made it worse. The pain was unbearable by this point and I was in tears, full on uncontrollable crying. I tried meditating again to at least calm myself down- it worked slightly but had no effect on the pain. Note, I had already put on my knee support (and used a hand wrap as a substitute for the other knee as I've currently misplaced one of my knee supports) but they weren't helping much. By this point I could no longer bear the pain and despite the fact I've been trying not to take too many painkillers recently, I ended up taking quite a large dose of strong painkillers (codeine + ibuprofen). About 1hr 30mins later, its 4:30am, I had been trying to sleep for 5hrs 30mins and the pain had finally subsided to a point where I can deal with it. I am fully exhausted by this point and yet, at 5:05am I still have not slept- despite my great desire and need to do so. I am so tired of this. #fuckfibro

[animesavior]

“Even an adventurous crew like this one deserves a calm and relaxing day now and then. How many years…no, how many decades has it been since I could just sit around and take an afternoon nap in the sun without a care in the world? While I wondered the seas alone, I would lay my head down, not knowing if it was day or night, and dream of my long lost comrades…and Laboon. However it was precious little solice for when I awoke the fleeting joy became a press of loneliness. Yet, what could I do but repeat the cycle again. In those days I could find peace neither in slumber, nor in my waking hours. But now, if I listened carefully…I can hear my new friends all around me. I know I died and I am now nothing but bones but…I’m so very happy to still be alive. […] I’ve no doubt that this time of quiet will soon be replaced by the roaring sounds of adventure, a prospect I welcome wholeheartedly. But now, it’s a moment to rest one’s bones. Laboon, it seems that the next time we meet, I’ll have quite a few stories to share, old friend. Until then, I’ll keep dreaming of you, and I hope you’ll keep waiting on me.”

-          Brook, One Piece (Ep. 384)

The Toonami Trending Rundown for March 18-19, 2017. A big milestone for the better cartoon show this week as Toonami celebrates its 20th anniversary. And it would be a night to remember with some great moments including Jack getting chased down by the Daughters of Aku, and while trying to excape he kills one of them, learning that Aku’s loyalists aren’t all just “nuts and bolts”. Meanwhile, Beerus ramps up his power, hoping to see the full potential of Goku’s SSJ God abilities, and we end off Toonami’s current run of One Piece as Brook settles down and attempts to fit in as the newest member of the Strawhats.

On Twitter, Toonami and every show would successfully trend in the US and Worldwide during their respective East Coast airings, in addition to both #Toonami20, which was a hashtag used to commemorate the 20th anniversary, as well as #SandWhaleAndMe, as Toonami showcased the first part of the 5 part miniseries by Production IG. In addition, being One Piece’s final night, fans would make sure that show would go out with a bang, as #OnePiece would trend from the duration of its East Coast airing to its West Coast airing. Samurai Jack would also produce a character trend for the very first time with Aku, as 50 years on and after destroying all the known portals back to the past and hoping he would eventually die of old age to no avail, Aku has pretty much lost all motivation to try and kill Jack.

On Tumblr, both Samurai Jack and Dragon Ball Super would reach its trending list in addition to Tokyo Ghoul, as Toonami showcased a promo for its upcoming debut next week.

Finally, in a first for Toonami programming in the social media scene, both Samurai Jack and Dragon Ball Super would make the top two positions on Nielsen Social’s top 5 most talked about shows on Twitter and Facebook, the 16th and 17th time a Toonami show has made it onto the list since we started recording this feat. This would also be the second week in a row for Samurai Jack to reach the list in addition to becoming the 2nd time a show has reached the #1 spot, meanwhile this would be the 9th time in the 11 weeks it has aired so far that Super has made it onto the list.

Among some of the other features to commemorate the 20th anniversary, Adult Swim along with Titmouse created this short film titled "Exquisite Corpse". You can check it out below.

As the Spa Island mini-arc comes to a close, it pains for me to say that unfortunately due to flagging ratings, high costs in airing the show further, and perhaps a need to shake things up programming wise, among other things, Toonami has pulled the plug on One Piece’s run on the better cartoon show.

Initially as One Piece made its grand return to the block in 2013, things were great as Toonami enjoyed great ratings and social media buzz for the show alongside its Big 3 Shonen Jump counterparts in Bleach and Naruto. But as time marched on, ratings began to lag for multiple reasons, and by 2015 One Piece fell all the way down the schedule from 1am all the way to 2:30am and eventually being the lowest rated show on the block besides the rerun (and sometimes even being out-beaten by the rerun). At that point, the signs were probably there that the show’s days as a Toonami show were numbered. Granted, despite its shortcomings ratings wise, we all thought it was at least doing well enough to stay, and it did for a while, though we know now that it was no longer the case.

Quite a few factors likely played a role in One Piece’s demise. Some blame One Piece starting on episode 207 instead of episode 1, as newer viewers didn’t get to experience the events in those earlier episodes. To use a recently aired example, when Brook recalled his days with Laboon, Toonami never got to showcase the Strawhats encounter with Laboon, so the emotional aspects could’ve been lost with some people. Meanwhile, some blame the show not being able to catch up with the pace of the most recent dub episodes, being aired once a week. And although this is subjective, others have also commented that the show’s “goofy” feel and artstyle, for lack of a better term, could make it hard for some to take the show seriously, especially in regards to the show’s emotional moments.

Of course, One Piece’s sheer length may have played a part in its eventual demise. The show is presently up to 782 episodes and counting, which is getting right up there among the lengths of soap operas, and combined with the franchise having some heavy continuity, no doubt that some have been turned away because of the commitment. I myself was even turned away initially into One Piece because of this until Toonami’s airing got me interested. And even for those that are committed, with Toonami so far behind from where Funimation is at with the dub, much less where Japan is at (we ended at 384), along with the show only airing once a week and the show itself having no end in sight, it would have been near-impossible to catch up. Hence, this is why many decided to binge watch the series at their own pace instead, and this would show in the ratings.

And on that same note, there has been a bit of a backlash lately in regards to the amount of long runners on Toonami. When JoJo came on late last year, every single show on at the time save for Gundam and the 3am rerun would last on Toonami for at least two years. That doesn’t really give much room for a turnaround to get newer shows unless an expansion is in the cards, which we are seeing with the 11pm timeslot. While long runners do help with consistency to the block’s ratings, and no doubt the reason these shows are long is because of their immense popularity and demand for more, it doesn’t help if the popularity and overall buzz of said shows wear down. Both One Piece and Naruto have had some ratings fatigue as of late for various reasons, which is partly why they ended up at the back end of the block for the last few years. Meanwhile Hunter x Hunter fans have pleaded to Jason and the crew to keep that show at least at 1:30am for fear that it could suffer the same fate. And while JoJo’s and Gundam are doing fine for now, we feel that they could be doing much better. If you want Stardust Crusaders and IBO Season 2 to come to town, giving those shows the ratings support will help.

While Jason has promised more shows are still to come, possibly with expansion, but in regards to One Piece, it might have opened the can of worms in regards to cost considerations. With the direction things were going, One Piece would likely have been pushed to 3am or later to make way for those new shows. With most fans too tired to watch past 3am unless they used a DVR, the programming department at Toonami likely unable to pay high costs for a show so late, and Funimation and Toei likely unable to lower the renewal costs, Toonami decided it just wasn’t worth it anymore.

The problem could also go all the way back to the show’s days when 4Kids was the distributor. First impressions can often play a big role if a show becomes a smash hit or not, and with 4Kids poor handling of the show, fans were understandably turned off, and those first impressions among newer viewers were squandered. When Funimation took control, it would be too little, too late, as Toonami cancellation and the days of CN Real was upon the channel, and One Piece had to go elsewhere to gain its fanbase. One Piece would eventually rebound and gain immense popularity through other means and eventually another Toonami airing, but in comparison, the likes of DBZ and Naruto each received much better first impressions from both the Toonami and general audiences and both franchises currently benefit from massive nostalgic fanbases to this day in the US, something which we are seeing with the continued success of Dragon Ball Super and the hype for the upcoming Boruto series respectively.

In the end, for one reason or another, One Piece just never caught on among the Toonami and general American audiences as much as we hoped and various factors each played a role in One Piece’s hopes of staying on Toonami unsustainable. Combined with the demand for more variety from viewers and the need to keep Toonami growing overall, it was no surprise that changes had to be made. While I’m sure One Piece’s Toonami viewers and even the Toonami crew themselves did everything they could to make the show work, there just wasn’t enough support to realistically keep the ship going without Toonami running into significant problems both financing and timeslot wise at some point. And as we all know, the growth and health of Toonami as a whole is much more important than one single show.

While One Piece is a beloved show to many of us, and will likely continue to be for years to come, the reality is that Toonami just can’t continue airing a show if millions of people don’t agree and watch it week after week on the better cartoon show. While the One Piece fandom is anything but a vocal minority, with millions continuing to enjoy the manga and the show on streaming sites and disc sales around the world, in regards to Toonami viewership, even Jason DeMarco himself has mentioned that “One Piece fans have been far more vocal about the show on the internet than they are focused on watching the show on TV”.

And as Jason himself has regularly said, television is a democracy and people vote with their eyeballs. It’s the reason why Naruto Shippuden, despite having the same issues with not being able to catch up with the dub and constant complaints about filler, wasn’t put on the chopping block as well, for now at least. It’s the reason why the likes of Attack on Titan and Sword Art Online have been big hits both inside and outside Toonami’s reach despite discontent from the vocal minority of detractors (as we have seen with the success of Ordinal Scale in theaters for instance), and will both likely be back at some point to air their respective sequels. And it’s a big reason Toonami mainly focuses on action oriented anime and cartoons, as the likes of slice of life, sports anime, and live action, while big on other outlets, were pretty much flops when Toonami experimented with such shows. In this case, while there were plenty of eyeballs watching, there just weren’t enough watching per week to keep One Piece running much longer.

Consider this to be a big wakeup call to fans of every current and prospective show on the block, that if a show makes it on Toonami, it has to pull through when it comes to both Nielsen ratings and overall buzz. If the show does well, all will be good as we’ll get to enjoy the show in its entirety, and if a sequel were to come, the odds will be good if not all but assured that the show will return. If not, changes will be made and another show will get its chance instead, as we saw with One Piece leaving and Tokyo Ghoul on its way. It doesn’t matter what the critics think of a show, or what your opinion might be. The moral of this story is that if you truly want a show to stay, continue to watch and enjoy, but don’t be complacent and not watch thinking it will be there forever. As the old saying goes, you don’t know what you got until it is gone.

Personally as a fan who got into One Piece via Toonami, it is pretty disappointing to ponder what could have been for this franchise, but what it did do for Toonami social media wise is one worth celebrating. During its nearly 4 year presence, One Piece would use its opportunity the best it could and no doubt fans made sure their voices were heard. The hashtag #OnePiece would trend in some capacity a grand total of 137 weeks including 19 times during the Long Ring Long arc, 29 times during the Water 7 arc, 39 times during Enies Lobby (including a marathon during Christmas 2015 showcasing the finale of that arc), 11 times during the Lovely Land arc, 35 weeks during Thriller Bark, and was a perfect 3 for 3 during the Spa Island Arc.

The show also produced 26 different character/in-show content trends, some of which occurred multiple times, including 19 characters (Arlong, Brook, Chopper (including Chopper Man), Franky, Foxy, Kuma, Laboon, Luffy (Including Afro Luffy), Nami, Robin, Olvia, Sanji, Saul, Shanks, Sniper King, Spandam, Usopp, and Zoro), 2 attacks, (Buster Call and Third Gear), 1 response to an event (RIP Merry), and 3 story arc names (Enies Lobby, Impel Down (Which we never got to), and Water 7).

No doubt One Piece is a part of that great legacy Toonami has made that made millions of people into anime fans and for their respective success, Toonami owes a lot for One Piece, and One Piece owes a lot to Toonami. Unfortunately, things weren’t going as well as we all hoped and Toonami decided it was best to part ways. While no show can be able to fully replace One Piece, we do hope you continue to support the block going forward or at least the shows you enjoy as it continues to showcase great anime to American audiences. Sometimes change can be good and if Toonami can use this opportunity to keep bringing in new shows, the loss of this show will at least sting less. And who knows, we could be seeing the next generation of top tier anime air here soon enough that could inspire fans both new and old like One Piece did for us.

That all being said, we have seen time and again that nothing is impossible for the better cartoon show and perhaps one day One Piece could return to Toonami stronger than ever. We saw it when Toonami first brought back One Piece back in 2013, and who’s to say it can’t happen again when conditions improve? For now, if you want to continue watching One Piece, check out the DVDs/BluRays and Manga as well as checking out new episodes on FunimationNow and Crunchyroll. Funimation is presently hard at work with dubbing season 9, and while Toonami won’t be there to commemorate One Piece’s future milestones at least for now, the franchise’s popularity looks a lot stronger than before Toonami joined the fray. It will be interesting to see where the One Piece franchise goes in the years ahead as the quest to find One Piece continues.

So on behalf of the Toonami Faithful, bon voyage, Strawhats and thanks for the memories. We’ll miss you.

Starting out as a mere idea by Mike Lazzo, Sean Atkins, and Jason DeMarco, Toonami has grown over the past 20 years to be a major phenomenon and has played a major role for why Anime is as popular as it is today. I personally started watching Toonami when I was a young kid around 1998-ish when I stumbled into Cartoon Network one afternoon as Toonami was airing Sailor Moon. While back then, it was strange to be enjoying a “girl show”, I was instantly hooked, and along with DBZ, the ThunderCats, and later Gundam Wing, I became intrigued and later became a fan with what would we all know today as anime.

We may or may not have realized it at the time, but Toonami turned out to be something special as it helped jumpstart a golden age for the anime industry as many shows were created and/or brought over to American shores partly in response to Toonami’s success. Of course, we reaped the benefits of this golden age, as we were introduced to a plethora of both anime and action cartoons, many of which we have grown to love, and some we still enjoy today. The four dark years when Toonami was off the air aside, the block was, is, and likely will continue to be a “gateway drug” for millions of anime fans, and perhaps more to come.

What makes Toonami successful, at least to me, is that it is not necessarily one show. What makes up Toonami is the 9 great action anime/cartoons that it presently airs now, plus the hundreds of shows that it aired in the past, as well as the many shows that will make its way to the block in the future (whether there are new franchises or sequels to popular Toonami shows), not to mention the packaging and adventures of TOM and SARA. From its smash hits to its underrated gems, Toonami has always had something for everyone. Add in the occasional music video, movie or animated short, game review, or other special feature Toonami has every week, and you got something millions tune in or DVR weekly every Saturday.

If Toonami taught us anything these past few years, it’s that nothing really is impossible. A few years ago, it was thought to be impossible that Samurai Jack would get a 5th season. Fast-forward to today, and here we are, talking about what’s next. Hell, Toonami returning was a miracle in itself. While many have sought a return during its hiatus, the dream never became realistic until Mike Lazzo and the Adult Swim crew decided to run Toonami and some of its past shows during April Fool’s Day 2012 and possibly see if there was interest. The response was a clear yes, and so here we are today seeing Toonami continuing to do as they do best.

And of course, the future looks bright for the better cartoon show in the months and years ahead. With Samurai Jack’s return continuing to impress and FLCL’s return also on the horizon, more original productions might be on the pipelines ahead. New acquisitions will also await, whether they are smash hits or underrated gems, each hoping to see their full potential in the west, including Tokyo Ghoul which begins next week. Previously successful Toonami shows including Attack on Titan, Blue Exorcist, One Punch Man and Sword Art Online among others will be among those to watch for in regards to Toonami potentially airing their respective sequels at some point ahead. And of course, barring any other dips in popularity and cancellations, the likes of Dragon Ball, Gundam, Hunter x Hunter, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, and Naruto each looks to continue to impress Toonami audiences for months if not years to come. Of course, if you have anything in mind for Toonami to show, we always recommend you sending your show requests on appropriate outlets (ex. their Facebook and tumblr message boxes). You may never know if millions of other folks, the distributors, and the Toonami crew will agree and try to make it happen.

The next 20 years or so will be one to look forward to and we could see a lot more to come ahead. And if you ask me, the success of Toonami, its partners, and even its competitors will all play a key role for the future prospects of anime and action cartoons in the west in the years ahead. Could we see a second season of another beloved Toonami show? Further expansion? A comeback for movies? The next anime boom if it’s not happening already? Or could it all just come crashing down in the end? Nothing is certain, but nothing is impossible, and we could be seeing some great things ahead. Of course, it takes two to tango, and if you do wish to keep Toonami going for another 20 years, keep supporting Toonami and the anime industry overall as always.

We continue on creating that legacy this Saturday, as Tokyo Ghoul will make its long awaited debut on the better cartoon show at 1am, while Gundam Unicorn will showcase its second half at its new time at 2am, and Naruto Shippuden will continue on at 2:30am. On behalf of the Toonami Faithful, thanks for all the memories, and here’s to many more.

Legend: The shows listed are ordered based on their appearance on the schedule. Show trends are listed in bold. The number next to the listed trend represents the highest it trended on the list (not counting the promoted trend), judging only by the images placed in the rundown. For the Twitter tweet counts, the listed number of tweets are also sorely based on the highest number shown based on the images on the rundown.

United States Trends:

Toonami/#Toonami [#4]

#Toonami20 [#1]

#SamuraiJack [#1]

Aku (From Samurai Jack) [#2]

#DragonBallSuper (Also during the primetime presentation) [#1]

#SandWhaleAndMe [#1]

#DBZKai [#1]

#JoJosBizarreAdventure [#2]

#GundamUnicorn [#1]

#HunterXHunter [#1]

#Shippuden [#2]

#OnePiece (Also during the West Coast airing) [#1]

#GhostInTheSHell [#1]

Worldwide Trends:

#Toonami20 [#2]

#SamuraiJack [#3]

Aku (From Samurai Jack) [#4]

#DragonBallSuper [#7]

#SandWhaleAndMe [#8]

#DBZKai [#8]

#JoJosBizarreAdventure [#8]

#GundamUnicorn [#7]

#HunterXHunter [#8]

#Shippuden [#8]

#OnePiece [#1]

#GhostInTheSHell [#7]

Tweet Counts:

Toonami [13.9k tweets]

#Toonami [7,729 tweets]

#SamuraiJack [10.2k tweets]

#DragonBallSuper [4,800 tweets]

#DBZKai [1,767 tweets]

#JoJosBizarreAdventure [2,027 tweets]

#HunterXHunter [2,259 tweets]

#OnePiece [6,100 tweets]

Tumblr Trends:

#tokyo ghoul

#samurai jack

#dragon ball super

Notes and Other Statistics:

#Toonami: @WhoTrendedIT reported that @blumspew and @adultswim started the trend in the US.

#DBZKai: @WhoTrendedIT reported that @FUNimation started the trend in the US.

#HunterXHunter: @WhoTrendedIT reported that @VIZMedia started the trend in the US.

Special thanks to @coreymbarnes​, @jmb70056​, @TheNextHokage and others I forgot to mention for spotting some of the trends on this list.

Eat Up. Only Toonami on [adult swim] on Cartoon Network.

[km-travelblog]

KM TRAVELS TO CAGBALETE ISLAND!

I’m really into uncrowded beaches, reason why, it’s unspoiled and very relaxing. Especially when you wanted to seek peace and if you really want to have a “me time” with yourself.

If you’re looking for that as well, this place is perfect for you!

CAGBALETE ISLAND, MAUBAN, QUEZON PROVINCE!!!!

This is my 3 out of 10 destinations inside my bucket list this 2017. The first one was at Tagaytay City. I didn’t get to blog that one because I didn’t have enough pictures when we went there because it was a night trip. So, sad. And second was at Pampanga City (see my other blog before this one).

Btw, ready to fall inlove with this place?

We went there for a 2-day-trip. Let me tell you how we got there…

If it’s just a quick getaway like what we did, 2,000php is enough for you.

Friday night (March 03, 2017) at 11PM, we took a bus going to Lucena (JAC Liner) that will cost you about 220php to 250php. There’s also a bus going straight to Mauban Port where you will take a 1HR boat ride but the first trip will be at 5 AM. You would really consider to get there as early as possible so that the 2-day trip will be worth it, so we decided to take an alternative route. So, we reached Lucena at Grand Terminal at 3:30 AM, we took our breakfast there and waited for the bus going to Mauban Port at 5AM. The travel time going to Mauban Port is 2 hours, so we got there around 6:30am since there’s no traffic because it’s midnight.

Before you can ride a boat, you need to go to the municipal hall to pay for the environmental fee of 50Php, and from there, you need to wait for the first trip of the boat around 9 am (depends how many are you will go to the island). You should be there as early as possible so that you can catch the first trip, the boat can only accomodate 80 pax. Unless you’re going to rent a private boat. As many as you are, the higher the price, because the bigger the boat will be.

As far as I can remember these are the prices:

2 pax- 1,500php 3 to 6 pax- 2,000php 7 pax- 3,000php 8 to 9 pax- 4,500php

The good thing about the private boat, it’s already back and forth. And you can leave the port as early as possible and also, you are the one who will decide what time you would want them to pick you up on the island. They can also drop you off in front of the resort where you want to stay.

If you’re going to take the public boat, it costs 80php and up (I’m not really sure). That boat will drop you off at the cagbalete market, and you have to take a 15 minute trek going to the resort where you wanted to stay. And if you’re going back to Mauban Port, you should be at the Cagbalete Port as early as 12NN or else you will wait for the next trip at 4pm.

Boat ride will be an hour. You won’t notice the time because you will be mesmerized by the view around you. You won’t resist the crystal blue waters especially when you’re getting near to Cagbalete Island.

We stayed at Villa Noe Beach Resort, they have a nice and cheap accomodation to stay at. We rented a Nipa Hut room. Electricity is only available between 6pm until 6am. So better to bring your powerbanks with you. You can also pitch a tent there for only 300php.

Take note, you cannot swim when its low tide. Reason why there’s no sea water literally. Unless you’re willing to swim on the deep part of the sea which will be a 20-30 minutes walk from the shore. But the good thing about that when its low tide, you can go for a walk and you might want to go to Bonzai Island. You can only see that when it’s low tide. Just be careful because the rocks there will be very slippery. But feel free to feel the waves.

You can also see the famous sand bar on the left side of the Island as well. I promise you, it’s so so so so beautiful. I really fell inlove with it.

If I can stay for more than 3 days, I would! It’s just that we have to go back for work. But definitely, I would love to go back to that Island!

There’s so much to do there. You can also try Kayak, Jet Ski, Parasailing and surfing. It’s just that we didn’t have the chance to do that because on our first day it’s low tide. We only got to swim in the morning at our first day and then the whole day at our second day.

If you have further questions about my Cagbalete Tour, feel free to ask!

Until my next travel blog!

KM ❤️

[heartofheir]

Psst. You know why I'm here. Do eeeeet. :3c

fcuk

1,2 3 and 10 are done! :D

4: Do you find it easy to trust others?not really lmao

5: What were you doing at 11PM last night?knitting and listening to the off topic podcast

6: You’re drunk and lost walking down the road; who is with you?my dogs and @themysteriousballetanon 7: What would you do if you found out you had been cheated on?lie down on the floor, cry and than kick their ass8: Are you close with your dad?kinda, we are both have the same kind of humour and personality which is p cool 

9: I bet you kissed someone last night, right?ye i smooch my doggos when i got bk from work last night

11: You can only drink ONE liquid for the rest of your life - what is it?coffee, its got some water in it so ill be fine

12: Do you like hickeys?ye

13: What time do you go to bed?5:30am oops

14: Is there someone who continuously lets you down?ya

15: Can you text as quickly with one hand as you do both?nah im quicker with both hands ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

16: Do you always answer your texts?yea unless i forget or fall asleep 

17: Do you hate the person you fell the hardest for?Y U P

18: When was the last time you talked to one of your best friends?yesterday; we all went to the beach it was top notch

19: Is there someone that makes you happy every time you see them?my dogs and my siblings even though they are all little shits

20: What was your last thought before you went to bed last night?probs something about being tired af

21: Is anyone else in the room with you?i hope not….

22: Do you believe what goes around comes around?i guess?

23: Were you happier four months ago than you are now?nope

24: Is there someone you wish you could fix things with?i think so

25: In the past week, have you cried?yea

26: What colour is the shirt you are wearing?maroon

27: Do people ever call you by your last name?yea a variation of it that i cant say cause i dont wanna give my last name out to the interwebs lmao

28: Is anyone ignoring you right now?possibly 

29: Do you have a best friend?yea kinda

30: Would it be hard seeing someone else kiss the last person you kissed?nope

31: Who was your last call/text message from?my manager telling me what time i start work tomorrow 

32: Are you mad at anyone?i dont get mad i just get tired™

33: Have you ever kissed someone older than you?yea

34: How old will the last person you kissed be on his/her next birthday?21

35: How many more days until your birthday?im not doing math go away

36: Do you have any summer plans yet?nope just working alot r.i.p me

37: Do you have any good friends of the opposite sex?ye! :D

38: Are you keeping anything from your best friend(s) now?yup one of them doesnt even know im gay lmao

39: Do you have a secret that you’ve never told anyone?ye

40: Have you ever regretted kissing someone?kinda?

41: Do you think age matters in relationships?if theres a giant age gap than yea it does

42: Are you available?nope! :D

43: How many people have you had real, strong feelings for since high school ended?no idea my dude

44: If you had to get a piercing (not ears), what would you get?so many!! i wanna get an industrial, another helix ring, maybe my tongue, nipples lol, belly button and my second lot of normal ear piercings plus alot more ear ones

45: Do you believe exes can be friends?it can be awkward af but yea

46: Do you regret anything?lots of things lmao

47: Honestly, what’s on your mind right now?im running out of mango ice tea :(

48: Did you ever lose a best friend?yea 

49: Was your last kiss a mistake?yes and no?

50: Why aren’t you pursuing the person you like?she already said yes! (miraculously) 

51: Has the last person you kissed ever seen you cry?yep

52: Do you still talk with the person you LAST kissed?he was an ass to me last time we spoke so no

53: What was the last thing you ate?i got one of the chefs at work to make me gnocchi it was delicious 

54: Did you get any compliments today?nope but one of my new coworkers last night said i was really good at my job!! :O

55: Where are you going on your next vacation?no where so far, but one of my friends wants to go to rottnest at some point though

56: Do you own anything from other countries?ye! my auntie went to france and brought me bk a really pretty kitty mask not a furry lol

57: Are most of your friend guys or girls?i guess its even but more so guys

58: Where have you lived most of your life?i use to travel around when i was younger but now ive been in the same spot for 10 years I NEED TO L E A V E

59: When was the last time you took a long drive?i wasnt the one driving but it was when i was a babby and we drove from my hometown to perth took us 5 hours

60: Have you ever played Spin the Bottle?nope

61: Have you ever TPd someone’s house?nah but our house was tomatoed once

62: Who do you text the most?it changes all the time

63: What was the last movie you saw?moana! i loved it!!

64: What’s preventing your current boyfriend/girlfriend from going back to their ex? i dont actually know

65: How many boyfriends/girlfriends did you have in 2011?none

66: Is the last person you kissed younger than you?nope

67: Do you curse around your parents?not on purpose it just slips out

68: Are you happy with where you live?nope

69: Picture of yourself?

70: Are you a monogamous person or do you believe in open-ended relationships?im a jealous hoe so just monogamous

71: Have you ever been dumped?no

72: What do you most like about making out?i dont think a guy being like a mcfucking vacumn cleaner counts as making out so i wouldnt know

73: Have you ever casually made out with someone who you weren’t seriously involved with?yes but again i dont think it counts as making out

74: When you kiss someone for the first time, is it usually you who initiates it or the other?i just go ‘fuck it' and do it (but only if i know they cool with it)

75: What part of a person’s body do you find most attractive?hands and backs, also necks

76: Who was the last person you talked to last night before you went to bed?a friend i use to go to school with

77: Had sex with someone you knew less than an hour?nah

78: Had sex with someone you didn’t know their name?nope

79: What makes your heart flutter and brings a big cheesy smile to your face?pickup lines im a sucker for them

80: Would you get involved with someone if they had a child already?ye! i loves kids

81: Has someone who had a crush on you ever confessed to you?yea

82: Do you tell a lot of people when you have a crush?nope 

83: Do you miss your last sweetie?fuck no

84: Last time you slow danced with someone?MCFUCKING YR 9 there was this guy who liked me since yr 7 and me and him were both in dance class at school and OF COURSE the dance teacher put us together for the slow dance performance i left dance and moved to drama cause it just got way too uncomfortable 

85: Have you ever ‘dated’ someone you’ve never met?ye! im dating a furry from the internet

86: How can I win your heart?you already have ;0

87: What is your astrological sign?cancer! karkat

88: What were you doing last night at 12 AM?the same thing i was doing at 11pm

89: Do you cook?ye but i tend to set things on fire

90: Have you ever gotten back in touch with an old flame after a time of more than 3 months of no communication?ye

91: If you’re single right now, do you wish you were in a relationship?i dont have to wish :D

92: Do you prefer to date various people or do you pretty much fall into monogamous relationships quickly?id prefer a monogamous relationship

93: What physical traits do you look for in a potential interest?not a clue my dude

94: Name four things that you wish you had!more garlic bread from work (we make the BEST gb), mango ice tea, unlimited wifi and a phone that can actually work

95: Are you a player?of games, yes; of people, no

96: Have you ever kissed 2 people in one day?nope

97: Are you a tease?ive been told i am but i dont mean to lmao

98: Ever meet anyone you met on Tumblr?i saw @miss--kiwi yesterday at work and than she was mean 2 me even after i gave her gb :

99: Have you ever been deeply in love with someone?what even is love

100: Anybody on Tumblr that you’d go on a date with?id date the FUCK outta @themysteriousballetanon 

101: Hugs or Kisses?both! oxox

102: Are you too shy to ask someone out?normally yes but sometimes ill have a rare moment of bravery lmao

103: The first thing you notice about the opposite sex?height

104: Is it cute when a boy/girl calls you babe?may or may not be a kink for me LMAO

105: If a sexy person was pursuing you, but you knew he/she was in relationship, would you go for it?fuck no

106: Do you flirt a lot?i have no idea how so sometimes ppl think im flirting when im being friendly, or think im being friendly when im flirting

107: Your last kiss?sometime in September in the back of a car with a VACUUM APPARENTLY 

108: Have you kissed more than 5 people since the start of 2012?nope

109: Have you kissed anyone in the past month?only my doggos cause they deserve all the kisses

110: If you could kiss anyone who would it be?my girlfriend even though im not into kissing furries :3c

111: Do you know who you’ll kiss next?my dogs and hopefully teanii

112: Does someone like you currently?i would hope my gf does 

113: Do you currently have feelings for anyone?ye!! :D

114: Do you like to be in serious relationships or just flings?flings really arent that great

115: Ever made out with just a friend?ye

116: Are you happier single or in a relationship?i thrive off affection so id prefer a relationship

117. you didnt give me a question to answer and ur asleep rn so imma use this spot to say ur a gotdamn cutie

[jobsearchtips02]

If New Zealand Can’t Stamp Out Coronavirus, Can Anyone?

Now Playing

8/12/2020 7: 00AM     

After 102 days without any locally transmitted cases, New Zealand reported an outbreak that prompted authorities to reimpose restrictions in its biggest city. New cases on the remote island country raise questions about whether it’s possible for any country to keep out the virus. Photo: Xinhua/Zuma Press

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8/5/2020 3: 16AM

8/5/2020

Walt Disney Co. posted its first quarterly loss since 2001, as the coronavirus pandemic slammed its theme parks and film productions. WSJ’s R.T. Watson explains why investors still seem optimistic. Photo: Matt Stroshane/Getty Images

5: 32

Unemployed Americans Line Up as $600 Jobless Benefit Expires

8/3/2020 6: 00AM

8/3/2020

1: 41

Fauci Explains Why the U.S. Lags in Curbing Coronavirus Cases

7/31/2020 4: 49PM

7/31/2020

2: 51

First Coronavirus Vaccine Could Be Russian, but Haste Raises Questions

7/31/2020 7: 33AM

7/31/2020

6: 10

How Airlines Can Survive the Pandemic

7/31/2020 5: 27AM

7/31/2020

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Editor Picks

7: 49

This 30-ton Robot Could Help Scientists Produce the Crops of the Future

8/12/2020 7: 00AM

8/12/2020

Arizona has what researchers call “the climate of tomorrow, today.” Scientists are using a 30-ton robotic field scanner in the state to study plant genetics and hopefully develop stress-resilient crops. Photo: Jesse Rieser for The Wall Street Journal

3: 04

If New Zealand Can’t Stamp Out Coronavirus, Can Anyone?

8/12/2020 7: 00AM

8/12/2020

6: 13

Joe Biden Picks Kamala Harris as Running Mate

8/11/2020 4: 33PM

8/11/2020

2: 57

Why Delaying a Stimulus Deal May Be a Political Win for Trump

8/12/2020 6: 30AM

8/12/2020

8: 58

Police Body-Camera Footage Reveals New Details of George Floyd Killing

8/11/2020 2: 57PM

8/11/2020

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10: 06

Covid Chasers: The Nurses Fighting Coronavirus From Hot Spot to Hot Spot

8/8/2020 7: 07AM

8/8/2020

Traveling nurses are offsetting staffing shortages in hospitals around the U.S. where Covid-19 is surging. Four nurses give viewers an intimate look into the mental and physical toll the work is having on them five months into the pandemic. Photo: Chelsea Walsh

2: 47

Samsung Galaxy Note 20: This Pandemic Sure Changed Smartphone Marketing

8/5/2020 7: 23PM

8/5/2020

8: 58

Police Body-Camera Footage Reveals New Details of George Floyd Killing

8/11/2020 2: 57PM

8/11/2020

1: 58

NYC Sets Up Traveler-Registration Checkpoints to Enforce Quarantine Orders

8/5/2020 6: 25PM

8/5/2020

3: 00

Russia Registers World’s First Coronavirus Vaccine

8/11/2020 1: 12PM

8/11/2020

1: 58

President Trump Is Escorted From Press Briefing by Secret Service

8/10/2020 7: 12PM

8/10/2020

1: 51

Widespread Looting in Chicago Leads to More Than 100 Arrests

8/10/2020 1: 53PM

8/10/2020

2: 05

Mauritius Oil Spill: Country Preparing for ‘Worst-Case’ Scenario

8/11/2020 10: 01AM

8/11/2020

6: 13

Joe Biden Picks Kamala Harris as Running Mate

8/11/2020 4: 33PM

8/11/2020

4: 20

New York Attorney General Sues to Dissolve National Rifle Association

8/6/2020 1: 45PM

8/6/2020

1: 41

Fauci Explains Why the U.S. Lags in Curbing Coronavirus Cases

7/31/2020 4: 49PM

7/31/2020

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Video Series

My Ride

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In the Elevator With

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Tech

5: 49

The Robot Revolution Is Happening—Like It or Not

8/8/2020

8/8/2020

Nearly every company across every industry is looking for new ways to minimize human contact, cut costs and address the labor crunch in repetitive and dangerous jobs. WSJ explores why many are looking to robots as the solution for all three. Photo: FedEx

2: 42

Trump Says U.S. Should Be ‘Reimbursed’ for TikTok Purchase

8/3/2020 3: 28PM

8/3/2020

0: 48

NASA Astronauts Land in SpaceX Capsule Near Florida

8/2/2020 4: 29PM

8/2/2020

0: 44

SpaceX Capsule Departs Space Station Carrying Astronauts Back Home

8/2/2020 12: 35AM

8/2/2020

2: 05

Big Tech Beats Earnings Expectations, While Intel Announces Shakeup

7/31/2020 5: 59PM

7/31/2020

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Opinion

4: 02

WSJ Opinion: Who Needs Billionaires?

8/10/2020 8: 41PM

8/10/2020

Main Street: Democrats Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bill de Blasio demand even more onerous taxes. Not so fast, says New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Images: Getty Images Composite: Mark Kelly

2: 43

WSJ Opinion: Hits and Misses of the Week

8/9/2020 11: 20AM

8/9/2020

7: 36

WSJ Opinion: Is New York’s Mail Voting Fiasco a Harbinger of November?

8/9/2020 11: 14AM

8/9/2020

7: 10

WSJ Opinion: Why Unions Oppose School Openings

8/9/2020 11: 14AM

8/9/2020

2: 05

WSJ Opinion: Hits and Misses of the Week

8/2/2020 4: 18PM

8/2/2020

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Life & Culture

0: 31

Air India Express Flight Skids Off Runway in Southern India

8/7/2020 2: 59PM

8/7/2020

An Air India Express flight skidded off a runway while landing in Calicut, southern India, on Friday. Photo: Associated Press

5: 00

How MasterClass Focused on Talent to Stand Out in Online Education Space

8/4/2020 7: 00AM

8/4/2020

2: 27

Hajj Pilgrimage Amid Covid-19: Social Distancing, Temperature Checks and Crowd Control

7/29/2020 11: 45AM

7/29/2020

1: 46

Tesla Eligible for S&P 500 After Fourth-Consecutive Quarterly Profit

7/22/2020 9: 53PM

7/22/2020

4: 41

How Mask Culture Has Changed in Europe

7/21/2020 2: 53PM

7/21/2020

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Business News

1: 38

Lebanon’s Government Resigns Days After Beirut Explosion

8/10/2020 3: 32PM

8/10/2020

Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab and his government stepped down on Monday amid mounting pressure from protesters demanding accountability for an explosion in Beirut on Aug. 4 that killed more than 150 people. Photo: Hannah McKay/ Reuters

1: 51

Widespread Looting in Chicago Leads to More Than 100 Arrests

8/10/2020 1: 53PM

8/10/2020

1: 49

Trump Signs Executive Orders to Provide Additional Coronavirus Relief

8/8/2020 6: 41PM

8/8/2020

1: 45

What the July Jobs Report Tells Us

8/7/2020 4: 50PM

8/7/2020

3: 44

TikTok and WeChat Targeted by Trump: What’s Next

8/7/2020 12: 33PM

8/7/2020

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Moving Upstream

9: 56

Electric Scooters: Israel’s Two-Wheeled Solution to Traffic and Sabbath

12/20/2018 5: 30AM

12/20/2018

Electric-scooter rental companies are hitting speed bumps in the U.S. over safety and other concerns. But in Tel Aviv, one in 10 residents has rented a Bird e-scooter, and the city appears to be embracing them. WSJ’s Jason Bellini takes a look at the challenges and potential lessons of the e-scooter craze.

0: 54

Tasting the World’s First Test-Tube Steak

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12/11/2018

9: 58

High Insulin Prices Drive Diabetics to Take Extreme Measures

12/3/2018 5: 30AM

12/3/2018

9: 57

Weighing the Costs and Benefits of Facial Recognition Technology

11/19/2018 5: 30AM

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The Future of Flight: AI in the Cockpit

11/12/2018 5: 30AM

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Mansion

6: 39

WSJ’s House of the Year: A Contemporary Home With Hawaiian Spirit

1/30/2020 11: 00AM

1/30/2020

A modern, 7,500 square-foot home connects owner Elizabeth Grossman to the nature and ‘spiritual vortex’ that drew her to Lanikai, a neighborhood on Oahu. She gives us a tour, and explains why it’s time to sell. Photo: Adam Falk/The Wall Street Journal

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In Greece, a Radical Triangular House Brings the Outdoors Inside

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A Love of Yurts Inspired This ‘Glamp’ Retreat

7/11/2019 7: 00AM

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A Cascades Home Designed to Feel Like Summer Camp

5/2/2019 10: 00AM

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A Home Built to Be a Live-In Museum and Expansive Library

2/21/2019 11: 00AM

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Sponsored

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Sponsored

Am I Doing What I Love?

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Golf’s Data Revolution

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Marketwatch and Barron’s

2: 33

4 sectors that are well positioned for the stay-at-home economy

8/12/2020 7: 00AM

8/12/2020

As companies continue the shift to remote work, here are four sectors that could still come out strong.

9: 11

TikTok’s Future in America

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2: 03

How bad is it if I can’t afford to pay for my kids’ college?

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Box CEO on New Cloud Enhancements

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How bad is it if I don’t have an emergency fund?

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from Job Search Tips https://jobsearchtips.net/if-new-zealand-cant-stamp-out-coronavirus-can-anyone/