#its 8 shadow layers total i think. and 5 layers are for light and lighting effects. out of 42 layers. off top of my head
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lexydakitten · 16 days ago
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it turns out you in fact can finish a drawing if you actually draw for more than 15 minutes instead of staring at the wall. however it also turns out that one cannot get it to NOT be miserably compressed. shame i really like this one lol it has so many layers of lighting ^^'
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cfrog · 1 month ago
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happy Weblog Wednesday, its time for cancan color editing how-to
So, step one is make an animation. I'm not telling you how to do that here. Learn to animate elsewhere. I made this delightful little 8 frame loop, so simple.
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BUT I kept each layer of each frame separate, so instead of just exporting that one gif, I exported each set of layers as its own gif. That's 5 gifs total. In order, these are lineart and pink bits, fur/skin, clothes, hair floof, and a extra layer of shading for the floof (which i made very hurriedly and poorly. hence why there's random green bits in there. the hair didn't even need to be green for this i didnt chromakey it)
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If I wanted to get real fancy I could've like. Made all the clothing articles separate too, but that seemed like overkill. I do wish I'd made their freckles separate tho, I could've been way more creative with those. Oh well, next time.
Then, I re-lined 'em all up in After Effects, so I could do different effects on each layer! Makes editing very easy. The two main After Effects tricks at work for this video are Track Matte and the Hue effect.
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[my full layer list, if that interests anyone. look at all those jpegs.]
Track Matte is how I did the "chowder thing" on their hair. There's lots of ways to get that effect, but this is the easiest I've found. You link the image you want shown to the layer you want it shaped like and it uses that layer's alpha channel, just like the clipping or layer masking features in stuff like Photoshop. The reference layer moves, but the texture doesn't.
Now, the Hue effect does a lot more than just change the hue. It's actually got sliders for the saturation and lightness in there too. The HANDY thing about it is it lets me keyframe these values, so I can animate them changing! That's how I get the colors to nicely gradient from one song to the next (and how I set colors to shift Continuously in an epic rainbow loop for the caramelldansen bit :3) It also means I didn't have to export a separate gif for each song! Like I did for most of Blue's playlist. After Effects make editing gif speed this easy Please.
There's lots more After Effects bullshit that went into this, like the tedious process of making a gif loop properly, or makeshifting a drop shadow by duplicating and blurring a copy of the gif, but I don't know how interesting or important all that is. I think I've rambled plenty. Send me an ask if you want more of this :]
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Video is up for reals! Enjoy some party jams and pretty CanCans :3
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traccigaryn · 4 years ago
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20 answers for a fanfic 2020
Thank you to @curator-on-ao3 for these questions! I'm a few days late, but who cares?
1. fandoms you wrote for this year
All Star Trek, all the time: Voyager, Picard, and DS9/TNG
2. favorite fic you wrote this year
Oh, that's such a hard question. I love them all, but I think the one that means the most was Tousled, an unrepentant bit of froth about Chakotay's hair. I hadn't written anything in months and was feeling sad but not bad about that. Despite the fact that I started out trying to make it crackfic, I think it may have been the first really truthful thing I'd written in some ways. Also, writing both Tuvok and Seven's voices, making them distinct and distinctive, was so. much. fun. 
3. favorite fic you read this year
One thing that fell to the wayside in 2020 for me was reading fic. Still, I read some absolute gems and look forward to unearthing more some time soon.
It is the destiny of stars to collapse by @amoderngirl (T, Chakotay/Janeway). This story. THIS STORY. Months later, and this is still all the coherence I can manage.
Siren Song by @curator-on-ao3 (G, Tom Paris & Cristóbal Ríos). This melancholy and hopeful story was beautifully written and captured Tom and Cris to perfection.
Your Shadow Falling (Caesar) by @coffeeblack75 (E, Chakotay/Cristóbal Rios). Coffee took all these conversations we had, all her insights into these characters and turned them into something joyous and true, smutty and searching.
Not Star Trek at all and not a new story, but Gentle Antidote by x_los was everything I could want in a Peter Wimsey/Harriet Vane story that also happened to be a soulmark fic.
4. favorite opening line/scene you wrote this year
"I took another sip of tea and longed for coffee." - From I Thoroughly Lived. Mostly because that is how I feel every time I am drinking tea. 
5. favorite ending line/scene you wrote this year
"But in the morning he smiled at her, and she was lost all over again." From Touched. 
6. a trope you wrote this year
I think the only out-and-out trope I wrote was a stuck-in-the-turbolift story. Man, I need to do better next year. 
7. pairings you wrote this year
To the surprise of no one, mostly J/C, but with an increasing amount of Gen, which was an absolute dream to write. 
8. a fic regret from this year
I wrote something I was really proud of, but it hasn't had a chance to see the light of day yet. Hope springs eternal. 
9. a song that helped you write
I always feel weird admitting this, but I'm not a big music person? I spent several days listening to Patsy Cline in December, though, and it got me thinking about a whole series of angsty, melancholy stories based on her songs. Stay tuned. 
10. total number of fics you posted
Eleven stories. My goal for the year was ten, so suck it 2020.
11. total number of words you posted
63,653 (one piece was co-authored, but I can totes claim all those words for these purposes, right? :D )
12. most popular fic written this year
If we're talking hits and kudos alone, A Sensible Understanding - I mean, it was a smut fest with feels, what's not to love? It was an AU (of sorts) of a rather different story from a few months prior and became its far-more-popular younger sibling. I kind of love that about fic writing. 
Between Decks 4 and 5 has also chugged right along and struck a different chord with readers: two people, stuck together in many ways, really just needing to actually talk to each other. 
13. least popular fic written this year
Ship, a little drabble I wrote about Harry meeting Voyager. I don't mind. 
14. longest completed fic you posted this year
I Thoroughly Lived, coming in at 15,208 words. That was a fun one to write: first person POV, a period AU, and an attempt at gothic mystery. Also corset smut.
15. shortest completed fic you posted this year
The aforementioned Ship (100 words)
16. favorite character to write about this year
Well, that would be Chakotay, wouldn't it? Always and forever. I find the glimpses of layers and contradictions and growth endlessly fascinating. I particularly enjoyed getting to explore his relationships with others this year: Tuvok and Harry, Gerron, Seven, and Cris. Definitely planning on more of that for 2021. 
17. a fic you didn’t expect to write
Wherever We're Lost (Jupiter) was probably the most unexpected. It was the first time I'd stretched beyond writing for Voyager and the first time I'd written a pairing besides J/C. @coffeeblack75 and I had so much fun analyzing Cris, thinking about how he'd interact with Chakotay, what brought them both to where we see them. So far, our stories are still the only two in that pairing, but we have more planned. And hey, we all need a rare pair, don't we?
18. most memorable comment/review
I received so many lovely comments this year, and I treasure each one like the baubles they are, but I think my favorite one came from BlackVelvet on Wherever We're Lost (Jupiter) because it encompasses steps forward for me as a writer and the feeling that I am starting to progress:
"You could say i'm an unlikely fan of this story. I haven't seen Picard, have no idea who Rios is, rarely read m/m. Then again, i am a fan of your writing. And it's a delightful feeling to pick up a story, whatever story, and start reading it with a certainty that whatever happens, it'll be amazing, cause you trust the writer. You do not disappoint."
19. fics you wanted to write but didn’t
I've had several stories involving B'Elanna that hadn't quite bubbled to the surface yet, but I think (I hope) 2021 will be their year. 
20. something you want to write next year
The B'Elanna stories. The next chapter in the Mythology series. And I want to keeping branching out into other fandoms. That Nancy Drew/Frank Hardy story I've had half-written for a couple years now. Maybe some one-offs in other fandoms that give me some closure.
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pi-cat000 · 6 years ago
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MSA time travel idea (part 21)
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Vivi POV, 8, 9, 10, Lewis POV, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, Lance POV 18, 19, Lewis POV.2
Part 22: here
“We’ll be fine,” Vivi reassures Arthur for a third time, spinning to face him, backing up past the assortment of haphazardly constructed ‘keep out’ and ‘danger!’ signage. Behind her looms the cave’s gaping entrance.
“We’ve been through a ton of caves. The worst thing that could happen? We, maybe, get swarmed by some bats,” She continues upon seeing Arthur’s continued hesitation.
“Ah, how about a cave in?” He points out leerily, eyeing jagged stone formations framing the entryway.
“No seismic activity in the area, I checked,” Vivi declares, whirling to march forward, glancing back to call, “You boys coming or what.”
Mystery bounds off after Vivi, leaving him to shoot an apprehensive glance at Lewis. The larger man shrugs, putting a comforting hand across Arthur's shoulder blades, “If this has you really worried we can always wait out here while Vivi takes her supernatural readings.”
Arthur sighs, tempted to take him up on offer, “No. It’s fine. Probably best not to let Vivi go spelunking with only Mystery as back up.”
“Probably,” Lewis laughs, patting his shoulder once then stepping forward, “Just stick behind me. I’m sure this will be just as boring as all the other caves we’ve walked through.”
“Yeah. ‘Boring’…Sure. That’s not the word I’d use but, whatever, let’s go with boring,” Arthur grumbles, shadowing Lewis up to the entrance. The ground underfoot transitions sharply from spotted green to dead twigs and dusty rock.
“Creepy,” Arthur eyes the unnaturally straight line, cutting the cave off from its surroundings. Lewis snorts, amused by his muttering-at least someone is having a good time-walking into the dark like this isn’t the most unnerving place they’ve been to so far.
Just inside the dimly lit opening, he spots Vivi, who’s wrestling with a wrought iron canister holding what appeared to be old-style wooden torches.
“Hey guys, check these out! Mood lighting! ” She calls with apparent gusto. Better make that two people having a good time.
“Lewis. You still have those matches on you, right? I think there’s still oil on these.”
Lewis trades his box of matches for the wooden torch, holding it out while Vivi grapples around attempting to light it. Arthur is surprised the old torch has lasted this long. They can’t have been the only ones dumb enough to explore a ‘haunted’ cave at night. Surely, some other idiot would have used them up before now.
“Can’t we just use the flashlights?” Arthur comments in conjunction with Vivi’s resounding "YES" of triumph. The stone walls around them come to life with a flickering orange glow. High, arched ceilings, almost two stories tall, provide an abundance of space. Arthur can now see several meters down a long tunnel before darkness overtakes it again. He shivers, peering at the many cracks and holes dotting the roof and walls. Everything is coated in a thin layer of green moss which catches the torchlight, giving a green tint. In other words, it looks freaky and unnatural.
“Well, this just went up several points on the Creepy-O-Meter,” He laments, resigning himself to an evening of jumping at pebbles coming loose from the ceiling, gusts of wind, and his own shadow.
“I know! It’s great isn’t it?” Vivi twists, grinning ridiculously, now holding a torch in each hand.
“Watch where you wave those Viv,” Lewis dodges back and avoids a face full of fire, reaching out and plucking the nearest torch from Vivi, “You almost got my hair with that one.”
“Whoops sorry,” A sheepish Vivi shoots Lewis an apologetic glance before carefully lifting her remaining torch to get a better look at the cavernous structures around them. A few seconds of fascinated gawking pass, while both his friends take in their strange new environment.
“You have to admit, this is a lot cooler than a graveyard or an old house,” Vivi voices in awe, moving deeper into the tunnel. She’s got an energetic spring to her step mirrored by Mystery trotting at her heels.  No attention is afforded to the spooky shadows, shrinking away from the torchlight, rushing to close in behind them. It’s admirable.
“Maybe there’ll be an actual ghost this time and not a dude playing dress up?” Lewis adds, glancing about, holding his torch higher, “Definitely has the ambience for it.”
Arthur shuffles closer to Vivi, so he’s sandwiched between the two of them. This way he’ll have plenty of warning when the freaky cave monster leaps out to get them.
“One can only hope,” Vivi laments loudly. Her voice echoes, bouncing along the slimy green walls until it’s swallowed up by the dark. Arthur shudders. Is it just him or does it feel like the cave is listening?
“Ah. Objection,” He interjects, lowering his voice, so it doesn’t jump around like Vivi’s, “A dude in a sheet is plenty scary, thanks. No need for anything esle.”
Lewis laughs from behind, also lowering his voice to a whisper, “Like weird-scary or scary-scary?”
Arthur throws a half-serious glare over his shoulder, retorting, “Both.”
Further conversation is put on pause when they hit a fork in the otherwise straightforward tunnel. The two passageways are significantly smaller, a foot higher than Lewis, and narrower, twisting away from the central shaft. Both are equally uninviting, ghostly, glowing a poisonous green in the torchlight. His shadowed silhouette, elongated in the firelight, appears to shift unnaturally, skittering away into the gloom. Arthur blinks, focusing attention on the spot. There’s nothing there but ordinary rock.
“Let’s split up,” Vivi’s announcement draws Arthur’s concentration away from studying the walls for shadow creatures.
“What?”
Lewis is nodding along, considering both passageways seriously.
“No way,” Arthur waves his arms to catch their attention, wincing at his own volume, then whispering, “Splitting up is a terrible idea. When has splitting up ever worked well for anyone.”
“If we split up we’ll cover more ground and get through the cave system faster,” Vivi points out, already searching through her small rucksack.
“Just remember to take lots of photos. Here have my spare EMF meter,” She shoves the ‘totally legit’ ghost detection devise, an audio recorder, and notepad into Lewis’s free hand, “Don’t forget to actually press record this time when stuff happens, and write a note, so we know to cross check it later.”
"Sure," Lewis pockets the equipment with a laugh,
Arthur slaps a hand over his eyes, groaning. Why are his friends a pair of walking clichés?
“Lewis. You go with Arthur. He’ll need the moral support more than I will.”
“Hey,” His protest is half-hearted.
“I’ll take Mystery down that tunnel. Let’s meet up in, say, an hour and report our findings.”
Vivi walks purposefully forward before pausing to add, “Oh and if it gets too maze-like come back here, so you don’t get lost,” Another step, “And don’t fall down any holes.”  
“We’ll be fine,” Lewis reassures, amused, slinging an arm out and catching Arthur before he can duck away, “Arthur’s got my back.”
Arthur suffers the semi-headlock with crossed arms and a stony expression. It’s not that he really believes they’ll run into trouble it’s more a matter of principle at this point. All it does is make Vivi snort in good humour then hide a grin behind her hand.
“See you boys in an hour,” A cheery wave and Vivi marches away, looking for all the world like a person having the time of their life.
“You okay there Arthur,” Lewis loosens his arm, glancing down. There is genuine concern in his tone now, eyes scanning Arthur for signs of discomfort. Arthur forcibly shelves his exasperation. No need to bring down the mood. Not when this is the first time in weeks he’s been exclusively in either Lewis or Vivi’s company.
A long exhale, and he ducks to disentangle himself from the larger man’s arm,  “Yeah. Come on. Let’s go poke around a dark, damp, tunnel some more.” He injects as much enthusiasm as he can muster, but it ends up more sarcastic.
Lewis hits him with a knowing smile, offering, “Here I’ll go first.”
His friend takes a confident step forward, holding the torch high to provide them with maximum visibility. Arthur follows close behind, trying not to get too freaked out at the way the cave walls seem to shift unnaturally in the uneven light. It’s just his overactive mind seeing familiar patterns where there were none. That was all. 
Down the gloomy stone tunnel, they go, flickering fire illuminating Lewis’s silhouette and the narrow walls enclosing them. Nervously, Arthur picks up his pace, tailing as close to Lewis’s back as he can get. Occasionally, he bumps into the other man when Lewis stops abruptly to examine part to the scenery. Lewis doesn’t appear to mind, being more interested in sporadic wooden support beams which arise from time to time. Everything is pretty much identical until the narrow tunnel opens suddenly to reveal a spacious cavern.
It’s huge. Dotted with wicked sharp stalagmites and stalactites which both hang from the ceiling and raise up from the ground like clawed fingers, it dwarfs them both.
Lewis immediately steps out of the tunnel onto a narrow ledge extending into empty space, transfixed by the stunning view. Arthur makes to follow. Distracted, he stumbles, hand brushing against the cave walls for support. Pain shoots through the limb, and Arthur stops, staring at the appendage, confused. Had he cut himself? He doesn’t appear to be injured.
“Hey, Arthur! Come check out this view!”
Lewis is now standing near the end of the wedge-shaped platform, peering down at the steep drop. Cautiously, Arthur inches out after him, eyeing the pointed rock formations far below.  The way they catch and reflect the torchlight is almost menacing.
Would be such a shame if someone were to fall.
His left leg twitches, and he almost stumbles right into Lewis. Arthur finds himself unfocussed, and he hesitates behind the larger man. What is he doing again? Why is Lewis so close all of a sudden?
His arm is completely numb. It’s tuned an unnatural sickly green colour. The same colour as the walls. That's not normal. A twitch. Arthur watches, confused when his limb jerks up. A second too late he realises that he’s not the one moving it. In an action almost too quick to follow the arm lashes out.
“Lew…” The words of warning are choked off. Lewis turns, too slow to prevent the shove but quick enough that Arthur sees his shocked, betrayed expression. Lewis tumbles backward, face frozen in confusion.
A surprised yell.
Gravity rips Lewis from where he seems to hover mid-air, dragging him down.
He drops.
His friend’s panicked horror is the last of him Arthur sees. A wet thump. The yell is cut abruptly.
Silence.  
“Ouch. Right through the chest. That’s never fun,” The foreign words vibrate in Arthur's chest, accompanied by an unpleasant laugh.
Down, far below on the cavern floor, is Lewis. Unmoving. Arthur wants to scream. He needs to scream, but his jaw is locked shut. Part of his vision goes dark. With his remaining good eye, he can see his arm moving, squirming about like it’s got a mind of its own.
No. No. No. This isn’t him.  IT’S NOT HIM!!!
A jaw filled with rows of shiny white teeth clamps down on the writhing appendage. A flash of bright red. His arm is twisting, being ripped away. The force of the impact spins him around, putting him face-to-face with a giant canine creature. Red. There’s lots of red. His vision is failing. A warm haze gathers over his thoughts, mercifully pulling him from reality.
“Ah Shit,” He hears himself swear over the oppressive throbbing in his head and the growls of the monster above.
“...And STOP...”
The world freezes. Arthur freezes. It’s like someone’s hit the pause button on reality. Suspended, frozen halfway between falling to his knees and standing, Arthur hangs in place. Vaguely, he recognises Mystery looming over him, also frozen, green-hued arm between his teeth. Arthur’s disembodied arm.
“Sloppy. Very sloppy.”
The voice doesn’t echo like sound should in this stone, cavernous environment. It’s detached. Footsteps dull and artificial, mismatched on the rock floor, draw closer. A shadowed figure walks around from behind. Arthur, still immobile, tracks the progress of a lanky man, sporting spiked yellow hair, a familiar orange vest and flat running shoes. Aside from the sickly, off green, skin tone, it looks like him. Another him.
The doppelganger moves up to examine Mystery and the arm dangling from his jaws, shaking its head in disappointment, “Should have known there was something weird about the dog. It’s always the pets.”
Arthur doesn’t care for whatever this creature is saying because, down below, just behind him, is Lewis body.  He’d just pushed Lewis off the cliff.
“To think, that could have been me, stuck in some rotting limb. Ugh. Gross.”
He killed Lewis.
NOTE: It’s the obligatory flashback episode. It only took 30 000 + words, but Arthur finally remembers. Hope I did The Cave scene justice. 
Part 22: here
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vskpop · 6 years ago
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My 30 favourite songs of 2018
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YouTube playlist ⋅ Spotify playlist
30. Heroine – Sunmi
I hesitate to call Sunmi feminist – does she consider herself one? Can k-pop really be feminist? – but her matter-of-factly, eyes-wide-open songs that touch on the position of women in relationships and in society are the closest thing to genuine female empowerment I’ve seen in k-pop. It doesn’t hurt that every single one of her songs is amazing.
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29. Bboom Bboom – Momoland
Considering I usually hate “viral” songs – I’ve been brainwashed to like Gangnam Style just recently – I’m still shocked at how much I love Momoland’s Bboom Bboom. I’m also proud to say that I was an early adopter of the song, and watching their success skyrocket made my Q1. I’m still not tired of the sax line and of the “GREAT!” shouted during performances. This song (and Momoland, really) is just irresistible.
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28. Retro Future – Triple H
The last ever song by Triple H (anger abounds) is just a taste of the genre-bending, sound-mixing, absurd-lyric-writing that we could have gotten for many years. Their retro-future has nothing to do with the Jetsons, and much more with insane 80’s synths and, well, that sexy vibe.
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27. Love Shot – EXO
Well, EXO, that was last minute. My ambivalence towards EXO is represented by this song, which I both find ridiculous and adore at the same time. This song’s luscious synths and layered vocals make it elegant, then the performance makes it kitsch. I don’t know if I’ve been brainwashed, but it’s so great.
Other songs of note: Electric Kiss – Tempo – Gravity
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26. Not That Type – Gugudan
A thousand times yes for Gugudan doing edgier concepts. Not That Type is the spiritual successor to A Girl Like Me, and it’s almost as good. This song, however, is even tougher and more explosive. The new 8-member Gugudan is off to a great start.
Other songs of note: The Boots – Shotgun
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25. Beautiful Feeling – Day6
Yet again, it’s my special skill to ignore all the popular songs that a group has, and in this case the rock vibe that defines it, and pick the sweetest, mellowest song they’ve put out. Day6 make some amazing power ballads, and Beautiful Feeling gives me warm and fuzzy feelings every time I listen to it.
Other songs of note: Days Gone By – Headache – Shoot Me – Somehow
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24. Dinner – Suho ft. Jane Jang
I don’t know how the powers that be decided that this duet should happen, but the result is everything. Jane Jang’s one-of-a-kind voice layers beautifully over Suho’s, who ended up being often overlooked as an EXO vocalist for all these years.
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23. Remember Me – Oh My Girl
Every single Oh My Girl put out is juicy in its on way. They may always go back to their foundational dreamy pop, but they never fail to throw in a twist. Remember Me’s EDM flavour and heavy rap are a total change from Secret Garden, but the song still blossoms into a romantic, airy chorus, and all of the members find something to sink their teeth into.
Other songs of note: Secret Garden – Magic – Love O’Clock
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22. La Vie en Rose – IZ*ONE
My resolve to ignore the existence of IZ*ONE (and survival show groups in general) faded at the first two octaves of La Vie En Rose. This song does so much with so little: the atmosphere it creates, and the contrast between the powerful pre-chorus and the understated chorus are what makes the song for me. In the meantime I’ve started to learn their names, so I’m doomed.
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21. I Want You – SHINee
SHINee’s constant stream of releases this year is at the same time a new beginning and the beginning of the end. It’s hard to imagine that a whole year has passed since Jonghyun, and it’s hard to think that the group has survived even though these songs are concrete proof. I really struggled to make it through the more melancholy songs, so I picked I Want You out of a series of basically perfect tracks.
Other songs of note: Good Evening – Chemistry – Electric – Who Waits For Love – Countless – Our Page
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20. LATATA – (G)I-DLE
I would be surprised if there was a single Boombayah lover who didn’t love this song. It has the same (pseudo-Indian?) influences, the same rhythms, the same anthemic quality. Latata is catchy, hypnotic, fun, and showcases all the members equally (ok, maybe Soyeon a bit more than everyone else). This is a textbook debut for 2018.
Other songs of note: Maze
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19. 1, 2, 3! – Seungri
Here’s someone who usually did club music and for once didn’t, and I loved it anyway! 1,2,3!  is retro, guitar-led and much more lighthearted than anything Seungri has ever done. It’s lovely to see a less sultry (and a biiiiit slimy?) side of him. Also Anda.
Other songs of note: Hotline – Where Are You From
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18. 22 Century Girl – fromis_9
I feel that my obsession with fromis_9 is still at its earliest stage, and that by the end of 2019 I will have gone totally mad for them. I am in love with their singles – To Heart, Love Bomb, what instant classics! – but the whirlwind of sounds of fever dream 22 Century Girl have stolen my heart.
Other songs of note: To Heart – Love Bomb
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17. Blue Moon – Gyeong Ree
Another one for the theme of this list: house! Give me all of it in your pop songs! Here’s hoping that Gyeong Ree (wasn’t it easier when she spelled it Kyungri? Anyway) continues her solo career with such intriguing, sophisticated but super-fun songs.
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16. Stay Here – Sojung
I don’t know exactly, but I cry my eyes out more often than not when I hear this song. Ladies’ Code’s Sojung’s voce is as light as a feather, until it explodes in the soaring chorus. Everybody knows that I love any power ballad, but the complex emotional balance of this one is just on another level.  
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15. Now or Never – SF9
I can’t say I’ve been following SF9 as idols, but I have been listening to all their releases and they have given me nothing but quality. I know I complain about songs with drops, but the deep house (yep, again) and that sensual “jealous” have been killing me ever since they came into my life. It might be my favourite hook of 2018.
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14. I Love You – EXID
I was a bit taken aback by EXID’s Lady earlier in the year, but it was love at first listen with I Love You. The distorted hook opens and holds together a song that has all the best of EXID, including Solji, who has returned stronger than ever with flawless vocals and zero shame.
Other songs of note: Lady
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13. Dejavu – NU'EST W
You guessed it – house. Nothing has given me as much joy as the rise of NU’EST W, and I’ve been even happier because they did it with superb, incredibly on-trend songs while retaining the dark charm of their pre-success material. They really leaned into the “sexy bandit” thing, and I’m all for it.
Other songs of note: YlenoL – Shadow – Feels – Help Me
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12. Oh! My mistake – APRIL
This song is fluffy and super-poppy and at the same time side-eye in music, if that was ever possible. The super-innocent and cute concept that APRIL have been doing since forever is now tinged with tongue-in-cheek sarcasm, and a little creepy synth that perfectly matches the theme of the track. It’s so addictive and so delicious.
Other songs of note: Oh-e-Oh – BEEP
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11. Snapshot – IN2IT
I love when smaller groups do really, really great and out of the box stuff instead of copying their more successful peers. I’ve watched countless performances, entranced by the bass that opens the song, holding my breath for that “heartbeat go fast, heartbeat go slow”. This is one sexy song, and IN2IT are one good rookie group that I will keep my eye on.
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10. Timeless – NCT U
Leave it to me to find the most niche release a super-popular group has had, and fall in love with it so deeply that the rest (most of which I hated, not sorry) doesn’t count. NCT are too big of a group with some really, really good singers hiding in the back line while the rappers swagger about. I loved that some of them got their chance to show off and I adore this poetic, heartbreaking song.
Other songs of note: Boss – Baby Don’t Stop – Replay (PM 01:27)
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9. Shine – Pentagon
I have to wonder if this song would have been higher in my charts if it wasn’t for the bloodbath that was of Pentagon and their career after this song came out. It’s such a pity that such a feelgood song has become, well, not so feelgood. This song’s wonky piano riff and anthemic chorus are still a delight, and their personality really shines (LOL) through. OT10 forever.
Other songs of note: Off-road
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8. The Grand Dreams – Minseo
Where did Minseo even come from? Why hasn’t she been here our entire lives? Her dreamy vocals have been giving me life this year, and her refined musical sense (or of her producers, really) is a breath of fresh air when everything gets a bit to same-y in k-pop.
Other songs of note: Is Who
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7. One of Those Nights – Key ft. Crush
Key came in last minute and slapped us all in the face with a perfect album that is reminiscing of SHINee’s work from earlier in the year, but also shows his personality as an artist. The lead single One of Those Nights moves fast and interweaves the melancholy of the lyrics in the music. Both Key and Crush are shockingly good vocalists, but together they just make each other shine even more.
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6. Allegro Cantabile – Nature
Random music terms / Italian? I had to check it out. Nature put out something that’s a musical number, j-pop anime opening and k-pop bubblegum all in one. Their vocals are amazing and they are adorable. I’m excited to follow them into 2019.
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5. DDU-DU DDU-DU – BLACKPINK
Is this Blackpink’s best offering? No. But what does it say when your not-best is still miles ahead of the competition? Blackpink have been doing k-pop bangers better than anyone else, and DDU-DU DDU-DU, from Jennie’s spitfire rap to Rosé’s melodies, hits all the right spots (like a ddu-du ddu-du).
Other songs of note: See U Later
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4. Puzzle Moon – GWSN
This song is so good. These girls are so good. As I put together this list, I realised how much all I wanted in 2018 was a good deep house sample, and GWSN delivered. The bass contrasts elegantly with the tiny voices, and the obscure chorus – “make it moon” – emphasizes the magical atmosphere of this song.
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3. Air – Winner
I miss old Winner. New Winner’s YOLO swag annoys me at best, so I dig through their b-sides in search for what we lost when Taehyun left. Air’s appropriately breathy chorus and gentle, romantic atmosphere did it for me and managed to put Winner on my podium yet again. Good job, Winner. Now stop it with the tropical house.
Other songs of note: We Were – Movie Star – Raining – Have A Good Day
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2. KILLING ME – iKON
The year started well for me (and everyone else) and iKON with Love Scenario, but I had no idea of where it would bring us. Killing Me’s bitter, moody atmosphere made for the dance song of my dreams. The decisive beat and array of distortions somehow create an eerie, understated atmosphere. It’s a dance song, but make it sad and a little creepy.
Other songs of note: Love Scenario – Rubber Band – Beautiful – Perfect – Freedom – Don't Let Me Know
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1. Oh My – Monsta X
I know. I am annoying myself by picking a b-side as my favourite song of the year, but here we are. Monsta X have become one of my very favourite groups and, while their album songs have always been amazing, to me Oh My summarizes everything I love and everything I want from them. In a year of minimalism, it’s loud, larger than life, unafraid of bleeps and bloops, rich in both vocals (Kihyun!) and proper rap sections. It’s the powerhouse that I expect from them and I hope to hear again and again.
Other songs of note: Jealousy – Destroyer – Fallin' – Spotlight
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haribeaux · 7 years ago
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With All Awry
by Blair Bidmead
(First Published in, the now out-of-print charity anthology, ‘Mythmakers Presents: Golden Years 1963-2013′)
Entry 1 – Thoughts
Even a broken time-machine can move through time. Only in one direction. A second at a time. For once I think Reg is right. History is eating us alive.  
I hope that my notes, scrawled on these damp pages can soak up the remainder of my leaking memories.
I fear I have little left to retain.
Things I am sure of are few. At this moment I can say in all confidence that I am definitely sat, naked in a bath of lukewarm water. But where is this bath located? It seems like a flat in Camden Town, North London. The date, according to the newspaper I am leaning on, is September 27th, 1969.
But, is it? Everything is wrong. The sky is blood red. Night and day are indistinguishable, as though they have been crushed together.
A dream reality. A waking nightmare. So... fractured. Vague.
Enough of this! I must focus on certainties.
As far as I can tell, there is only one certainty left in my possession; the fact that I am the Doctor.
(Reg has burst in - No lock on the bathroom door. He’s ranting. I must discuss the situation with him immediately)
Entry 2 – Notes on Reg
My flatmate is a tall, lugubrious figure. Well spoken with an acerbic turn of phrase. His clothes are fine, somewhat theatrical and have seen better days. But he, like my surroundings, seems... insubstantial. Unfinished.
There are times when I feel he is my closest, most loyal companion. Sometimes it’s hard to discern where I end and he begins. But other times it’s as though he doesn’t exist at all.
No. Concentrate. What just happened? I am out of the bath now. I’m in a dressing gown, a towel around my shoulders, in my bedroom. Check your notes, Doctor!
Yes! Reg came into the bathroom! He was complaining about the cold. He said we had a visitor. Did he say it was his auntie? His cousin?
He said her name was... What was it?
I’m going to speak to her.
Entry 3 – The visitor
She’s just left. I can still smell her perfume. She was... real.
More than real.
I walked into the lounge and caught sight of myself in large mirror above the fireplace. I looked pale and gaunt. Reg was there too, a spectral, sketch-of-a- man haunting the far corner of the room.
The visitor was not like us. She stood in sharp focus, while all around her was a dingy, grey blur. Shining with colour. Dressed in silver catsuit with shocking pink belt, boots and gloves, her honey-blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders. Her smile was devastating. Disarming. Was this our jailer? Will never be set free?
Clearly, I was known to her. She took my hands and sat me next to her on the couch. She looked into my eyes, concern was etched across her face. We spoke. About what!? It’s fading. I was brought here for my own safety, she said.
She wants to help. She’s trying to help. But the sadness in her eyes betrays the fact that she doesn’t think she can.
There was more. I am sure there was more! She said I was safe, but I feel in considerable danger here. I can’t remember her leaving. Her name! I forgot to ask her name!
Reg says he feels unusual and wants to go outside.
Entry 4 - Outside
Reg and I are in agreement. We’re going to escape.
I haven’t seen a soul since we left the flat. The streets are eerily quiet. There’s a background drone, behind the silence. I’m not sure if that is coming from inside my head or the outside world. Come to think of it, perhaps this “outside world” is inside my head!?A disconcerting thought. My head isn’t the most reliable container for anything at the moment. Hence these notes.  
Are they helping?
I’m lost again. What was I doing? I’m sitting on a park bench with Reg. The sky looks like doomsday. Everything has a crimson tinge. No one else in the park. We need to get away. Rejuvenate.
Escape! Yes, that was the plan. Take the car. Leave the city.
We have a car?
I have a car.
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Entry 5 – The getaway
The number plate on the jag is “WHO 0”. Is that significant?
I’m the designated driver, it seems. I have just left Reg’s relative’s house and am waiting for him to join me in the car. We came here because... because, the relative had the means to help us in our escape bid? I think that’s right.
The streets were deserted on the drive over. Despite its dilapidated appearance, the jag handles reasonably well. The relative (Reg’s auntie?) is insane. A little old lady in layers of colourful knitwear, her house smelled of cigarettes and years of accumulated dust. But the most disturbing thing about her was that she had substance. She was like the blonde woman who visited us earlier. Real.
Auntie didn’t seem very happy to see us. She was ranting about some "oaf" who had ruined her day. Reg wanted to speak to her in private and told me to wait in the car. The cigarette smell lingers on my velvet coat. It reminds me of... something. Someone?
I remember complaining about that smell. In the console room. A man, smoking in a leather jacket. A friend? Yes! I had a friend! He smoked! Is this my second certainty?
I am the Doctor and I have a friend called... I can't remember. That's dangerously close to reassuring.
Reg is back. I’m starting the engine.
Entry 6 – The cottage
Coming here was a mistake. The city was vague enough, but the countryside is nebulous to the point of almost total absence. Red light and black shadow. The car brought me to the very edge of this equivocal world. Here, teetering on the brink of existence stands this grim cottage where I now sit.
Alone, I scratch out these notes, a ritual to sustain what remains of my corporeal state. Should I just stop?
Reg! Reg is sitting across the table from me, swigging a bottle of wine! He wasn’t there a second ago. Or did I just forget him? He looks like a bad photocopy of a cartoon vampire. I dread to think how I look to him. I am not the man I was. Reg seems to have abandoned any hope he possessed. He was expecting to find something here. He's cursing his aunt, his cousins. His fate.
Who am I? I am the Doctor and I have a friend. A friend who smokes and I don't approve. A friend who cares for my well-being. A friend who has... compassion.
Obviously. (What made me say that?)
If you exist. If you are my friend, I need help. All that’s left of me is here on these tattered sheets of paper. I am almost gone.
Reg says he’s cold. We need to light the fire.
Entry 7 – Dreams within dreams
I have woken up in a big brass bed after a fitful night’s sleep. I am still at the bleak hovel in the country. Unsettling dreams made all the more disturbing by the fact they are so akin to my waking world. Reg’s auntie haunted me, wondering if we could allow ourselves an indiscretion. I strenuously declined the invitation.
At one point, Reg came into the room with a shot gun. Did this actually happen? He stared out of the window and urged me to listen.
“Time,” he said. “Time wants to get in.”
It appears we are under siege. The background drone seems louder. More palpable. I can’t stay here. Too exposed.
I can hear clattering from the kitchen. Hopefully it’s just Reg preparing breakfast.
Send me a sign. Before I fade away.
Clap your hands! “I do believe in Doctors!”
Entry 8 – Telegram
During breakfast, there was a knock at the door. Reg and I exchanged a concerned glance. I tentatively opened the door to find on the doorstep, the Grim Reaper dressed as a postman. Silently, he held out an envelope. I snatched it from his grasp and slammed the door. It was a telegram addressed to me from someone called... Fitz.
Fitz! That’s my friend's name!
DOCTOR ITS REALLY ME (STOP) I AM SAFE SO DONT WORRY (STOP) TOO MUCH TO EXPLAIN BUT BASICALLY ITS OVER (STOP) YOU STOPPED IT (STOP) I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DID BUT IT WORKED (STOP) THE WAR IS OVER (STOP) YOU WERE MESSED UP PRETTY BAD (STOP) THE FACTION TOOK YOU IN (STOP) THE ENEMY OF MY ENEMY IS MY FRIEND I GUESS (STOP) THEY SAID SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR BIODATA BEING HIGHLY TOXIC TO HISTORY (STOP) THEY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DECONTAMINATE YOU (STOP) THEY MODIFIED A REMEMBRANCE TANK (STOP) THEY HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING (STOP) BUT THEY ARE ABOUT TO GIVE UP ON YOU (STOP) DON'T WORRY I AM NOT GIVING UP (STOP) HELP IS COMING (STOP) THEY MAY HAVE SPOKE YO YOU ALREADY (STOP) I SENT YOU SOMETHING TANGIBLE TO FOCUS ON (STOP) MY LEATHER JACKET IS IN THE HALL OF THE CAMDEN FLAT (STOP) THE TARDIS KEY IS IN THE INSIDE POCKET (STOP) GO TO EARL'S COURT TUBE STATION (STOP) IF ALL GOES WELL THE TARDIS SHOULD BE THERE WAITING FOR YOU (STOP) DONT FORGET TO KEEP TAKING NOTES (STOP) ITS VERY IMPORTANT APPARENTLY (STOP) SEE YOU SOON (STOP) LOVE FITZ (STOP)
I show Reg the telegram. He reads it and congratulates me with a grim smile.
We must leave immediately.
Entry 9 – M1, heading south
To make time, Reg is driving while I write. The M1 is an endless, stripe of shadow stretching ahead of us. Behind, the motorway dissolves into nothing. A swirling black and red vortex surrounds us. Things are falling apart.
I have reread Fitz's telegram over and over. It’s definitely him. I can’t quite picture his face, but his voice is clear and distinct. The accent, the intonation; It's Fitz Kriener alright! The rest of the message rings true, even if I still can’t remember the specifics.
The TARDIS! That really does ring a cloister bell! Just seeing those six capital letters on the page make me feel safer somehow. What is it?
I have been evacuated from time, but evacuated to where? How can anything outside of time be counted as a ‘place’ at all? I am outside reality. What does that make me? A fiction?
He said that help was coming, that I may have spoken to them already. Could he mean the woman in the silver catsuit?
No matter. I have a course of action and all my questions will be answered later. Reg points out of the window and Watford Gap services rears up from the maelstrom.
Not far now.
Entry 10- Help
Reading back over my notes, the woman in the silver catsuit and Reg’s auntie both seem likely candidates for this 'help' that Fitz mentioned. I wish I could remember more of my conversation with the blonde woman. Why was Reg so eager to speak to his auntie alone? What could have prevented them from freeing us?
I have been edited from the story of time, made unreal and woven into a different tale. Maybe too much of me was lost in the transition? I have become too engrained in the story. It must be played out to the end.
No other cars on the motorway or as we join the north circular into London. The city is a mausoleum.
Reg is reticent and almost transparent. The jag is running on fumes.
I'll have to catch a train back to reality.
Entry 11- Visitors
Something strange has happened. We’re back at the flat in Camden. I walked into the bathroom and found a stranger taking a bath. A man I have never seen before with a crew-cut and a cheery smile. He greeted me with an affable “Hello” which, for some reason, terrified me. I ran to my bedroom, only to find the woman in the silver catsuit already there, although her catsuit was on the floor and she was in my bed, half asleep. She apologised, saying hadn’t expected to find me here.
Who was the enormous Northerner in the bath? What was she doing here? I demanded to know!  
She said it didn’t matter, that she would leave and then started to search around for her clothes.
(They both sound like they are from the North. Is that significant? North of where?)
I went through to the lounge and found Reg opening a bottle of wine and reading the post. An overwhelming sense of dread enveloped me. I quickly took notes.
She’s leaving. She is standing in the doorway now, offering a sad smile. She blows me a kiss and then hurries out of the flat.  
Reg gives a derisive snort.
I can hear singing from the bathroom. He's still here!? Why didn't he leave with her!?
It's all slipping away. I need to study my notes
Entry 12- Eviction
The Faction have been and gone. They want us to leave. That's alright with me. I just need... something. What was it again?
Entry 13 - The jacket
The man in the bath has gone. I can't find Fitz's jacket in the hall. Reg swears he saw the jacket when we he answered the door to the Faction. Reg is now steaming drunk. It's all going wrong!
"He took it!" Reg shouted, over and over. "He took Fitz's jacket!" I asked him if he meant the man in the bath.
Reg gave me the strangest look and muttered; "It's not a bath, you idiot."
He said he'll walk me to the station.
Entry 14- Goodbye Reg
And there he goes, swigging his bottle of Mersault ’96, sauntering off across the park. With every step, Reg is fading before my eyes. He’s a ghost, then an outline, then nothing at all. I shall miss you, Reg, even though I was never sure if you really existed at all. I had tried to persuade him to come with me. He said it was impossible. I didn’t ask why, I just knew he was right.
The city itself is fading now, evaporating all around me. All that’s remains is the park bench I am sitting on and the path I must take, towards the tube. I can see the light from the station’s sign beckoning me.
Time to go.
Entry 15 – Departure
The platform is dimly lit and deathly silent. When did the background hum stop? I’ve gone over all my notes and reread Fitz's telegram. These pages are the sum total of my knowledge. There’s so little of me, just a list of confusing events and my will to continue.
No, I was forgetting the most important part. I am the Doctor and I have a friend called Fitz Kriener. Through the doubt and confusion, with all awry, he reached out for me. He told me I had succeeded. I stopped a war. If it were all to end here, it would all still be worth it. I would count for something.
The tracks are rattling. A tube train slowly emerges from the tunnel.
Last Entry - Earl's Court
I reached street level and I saw the TARDIS. She dissolved before my eyes. The roar of her engines filled me with an indescribable joy. As the sound slowly faded, the sense of loss that followed was absolute.
The light is fading.
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Multiverse is a Curse Word (6)
Okay, hiatus time after this one, but I’ll try to get the next one out as soon as I can. Everyone who has been keeping track of this crazy thing so far, it has meant so much to me. Thank you!!
As always, Adeline Marks is @hntrgurl13‘s awesome OC, and the Dimension Jumper and Drifting Dimensions AUs are her creations also.
@the-subpar-ghost made the Adrift AU, a goldmine of feels, angst, and Ford-Mabel bonding.
The Addiford ship is from the mind of @scipunk63. I think you’ll like this chapter.
@deadpool-demon-diva and @thejesterlyfictionista. Here’s a new one, enjoy.
Minor spoiler: There’s flashbacks to alternate lives, and in one of these Stan is mentioned to have read Tolkien. This is from @amolecularmachine‘s brilliant fic By the Skin of Your Teeth. Go read it.
AO3  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11
Chapter 6: Naturally-Occurring Nerdy Stuff
Addi felt guilt begin to crush her as soon as she heard Mabel whimper in her sleep. She had given Stanford the sword; she hadn’t tried hard enough to convince Wesley she could handle the job; she had encouraged her two companions to stay with the resistance even though she knew Wesley might try to get them involved; she had become entangled in the resistance herself. Addi sighed. The mistakes just kept piling up.
At another whine from Mabel she abandoned her position on watch and padded through the silk-soft green grass to where the girl was sleeping. The beauty of this planet’s forests would be a sight to behold in the morning.
“Hey, sweetie,” she said gently, running a hand through Mabel’s short brown curls, “hey, it’s okay, you’re safe, you’re safe …”
Mabel opened her eyes and looked around, reorienting herself. Addi continued to stroke her hair until her breathing evened out. The sound of wind rustling through delicate leaves soothed them both.
Eventually Mabel sat up and rested her chin on her knees, shifting her blanket so that it wrapped completely around her. Stanford hadn’t been eager to retrieve their supplies from the shuttle (delaying their departure through a portal), but Addi was now glad she had insisted. Having a halfway decent campsite encouraged a feeling of safety and homeliness, something they all needed.
“Not sleeping tonight?” she asked. Mabel shook her head silently and leaned against Addi, who enveloped her in a hug.
“You know it wasn’t your fault, right?”
Mabel remained quiet for a few seconds, then replied, “I keep going over and over it in my head, but I can’t see it happening any differently. I mean, when I swung the sword I didn’t know she was there, and I needed to shut the security doors.” She turned to Addi with anguish in her eyes. “Am I missing something? Was there anything I could have done to make it go right?”
Truth be told, Addi had no idea. Thirty years of travelling through the multiverse had pretty effectively demolished all her certainty and guarded scepticism. There was undoubtedly a universe where everything had gone right for Mabel, where no one had died or come near to death. There was also a universe where nothing had gone right. The chaos that perpetually engulfed the multiverse meant that Addi had rarely been able to do more than hope like hell she was not part of the latter, and wish that she occasionally caught a glimpse of the former.
“No. I think that was entirely out of your control.” Addi answered. “Everything has to happen somewhere, and that was what happened to you … but let’s play out a hypothetical situation: if you had missed that guard, and hit the control panel, what do you think would have happened afterwards?”
The teary girl thought. “She still had her gun … and she was definitely not afraid to use it,”
“Right. So regardless of whether she was simply trying to do her job, or protect her friends, or was hyped up on adrenaline, anger, or fear, she was also trying to hurt you and your great uncle. You were trying to keep yourself and your family safe.” She let that soak in for a moment before continuing. “Mabel, it is wonderful when you can find a win-win scenario, but they are not guaranteed all the time.”
The girl sighed as though some of the weight had been lifted from her. There was still a long way to go, but it was a start.
“It’s not your fault either, Addi.” She said unexpectedly. “Blaming yourself for being betrayed is something overly-dramatic TV action heroes do to gain tragic sympathy from viewers. It’s compelling, but silly. And you’re not silly, Grauntie Addi.” She finished sternly. Then she nestled into the speechless woman’s lap matter-of-factly.
Ford was awoken by daylight streaming through a parting in the trees to hit him precisely in the eyes. Rolling over to avoid it, he found he was the last to wake. Adeline and Mabel were both enclosed in a blanket, softly playing a hand game.
“Morning sunshine,” Adeline said when she saw him.
“I’m awake enough to recognise sarcasm,” Ford warned, sitting up.
“Sarcastic? I? Your paranoia is getting the better of you again, Stanford,”
“Here you go, Grunkle Ford.” Mabel deposited a fruit in his lap and crouched next to him. “It’s not poisonous, I ate one before you woke up.”
“You what?”
“She’s just messing with you,” Adeline said, shaking her head.
“Oh, so you have learnt some caution,” Ford said, relieved.
Mabel laughed. “Oh no, I totally ate, like, three. But Addi knew it was okay,”
Still mildly concerned, Ford finished the sweet tasting food.
“Are you okay, though?” he asked tentatively after swallowing. He could tell by the shadow which temporarily dampened her light mood that she knew he was not talking about the fruit.
Mabel shrugged slightly, avoiding his eyes. “I could do with a couple million stuffed animals and a huge family hug pile,” she said, her voice catching because they all knew that neither were possible.
Regardless, he would do his best. He put as much love into the following embrace as he could muster, and the surprised giggle Mabel made when Addi joined in allowed him to believe that they were equivalent to at least a hundred fluffy toys.
“I wish we could stay here,” Mabel said wistfully as they packed up.
“As do I, however I think it would be safer if we continued to move on. That threat Wesley gave you was decidedly ominous,” Ford directed at Adeline.
“I don’t think he’d come after us.” She frowned. “Then again, I didn’t think he was a flipping insane-” she paused.
“Butthead!” Mabel supplied.
Ford nodded his agreement and checked the readings on his analyser before altering his calculations.
“Another portal should be opening up around here-”
“There!” Mabel shouted. “Bye forest!”
They stepped through the bright blue circle.
Ford had never gotten used to crossing dimensions, and he doubted he ever would. The experience was the same for everyone. They caught flashes of events from their alternate selves’ lives.
… he was in a darkened room and a terrified boy who could only be Mabel’s brother was pointing a memory gun at him …
… he was in a hospital bed and feeling worse than ever in his life, but Stan was making him grin like an idiot by admitting he had read Tolkien …
… he was staring down in shock at the lifeless form of his niece, who had just managed to plunge Adeline’s sword into the control panel before being shot down …
Addi shivered and took a deep breath, throwing off the lingering feeling that she was falling off a cliff towards the Gravity Falls river. Stanford was looking pretty shaken up too.
“Hello forest!” Mabel said cheerfully. Their new location was rather less pleasant, but it did seem to be another forest. It had dry, browny-green, tough-looking trees rather than the earlier lush, deep green ones, and raw, baking heat emanated from every available surface, reflecting the sun’s glare. The pale pink sky was stubbornly clear of cloud cover.
“We’re going to need water,” Addi stated.
It was almost three hours before they found any. By then, all of them were exhausted and soaked with sweat. They were also extremely tired of the rocky, uneven terrain.
Mabel let out a groan of relief upon seeing the river. Without saying another word she threw off her boots, her black coat, and her sweater, and flopped into the coolness, remembering to keep it away from her face until they knew it was a fresh water current. Addi, too, immediately stripped off her outer layers and sat beneath a tree on the river’s edge, allowing the cool liquid to soothe her burning feet.
Stanford held off his moment of peace, of course. She expected nothing less from the man who would work himself to exhaustion on the portal before he slept. He took out a capsule-like device and trickled some water into it. It beeped and flashed green.
“Okay, it’s fresh,”
Mabel instantly dunked her head into the water and lay face-down. Stanford added his own contributions to the pile of clothes, including a starry, dark blue sweater that Mabel had obviously made. This revealed something that made Addi snort.
“Nice tat,” she laughed. Ford flushed slightly and instinctively clapped a hand over the cheerful little star inked onto his neck. Its yellow colour exactly matched Mabel’s shirt.
“Shut up,” he said irritably, and waded into the river.
“I want one just like it,” Mabel enthused, coming up for air to hear the exchange.
“No. Never,”
“Aw, you’re no fun,”
Stanford narrowed his eyes. “What is this? My niece has suddenly become deluded and irrational! She must have been bitten by the deadly Lunacy Beetle of Madron, whose poison can only be flushed out by,” he surged over to Mabel, “extensive water exposure!”
Mabel shrieked and caught him in the face with a blast of water. This did little to deter him, and Mabel was plucked out of the river and mercilessly dunked back under over and over. Droplets trailed sparkles through the air. The girl’s war cries and vows of vengeance were interspersed with splutters, rendering her as threatening as a kitten. On Dunk Number Five however, she managed to grab onto Ford’s shirt effectively enough to pull him under with her, and when they emerged again they were both coughing up water.
“So is the madness all out of your system? Do you consider me sufficiently ‘fun’ again?” Ford asked once his lungs were clear.
“Yeah, yeah, you’ve made your point.” Conceded Mabel. “BUT, that water fight wasn’t fair. You are way out of your league, old man.”
“Oh, well in that case, maybe I need to enlist Addi’s help. Together we should surely be a match for you.” He turned to look at Adeline, but she was already crashing towards them. Ford’s confident expression was wiped away however when Addi dived at him rather than his niece. Mabel cheered as they went under.
Below the surface it was difficult to discern much of anything, the silt being so recently stirred up, but Addi did see a glint as Ford’s glasses came off. She caught them in one hand and grinned mischievously down at him, close enough to see his matching expression. She was very conscious of how he had not removed his arm from around her waist since they had fallen. Also, she needed air.
“Is that a jet ski?” asked Mabel when they resurfaced. They looked, Addi returning Ford’s glasses.
The river was very broad, so much so that the opposite bank was a blur. However, there was what looked like a small vehicle heading in their general direction.
“I don’t think they’ve seen us. It’s most likely a patrol of some kind. Nevertheless, we don’t want to be noticed,” Stanford said warily.
On the bank they shoved their feet into their boots and Addi hid their dry clothes and bags in a bush. A layer of leaves combined with rock-hard dirt eliminated the need to cover their tracks, so they retreated straight into the refuge provided by the forest, and waited. It was only then Addi realised she had forgotten to grab their weapons in her haste.
She expected the vehicle to pass by on a quick sweep, then continue down the river. Instead, it came to a stop not far from their supplies and the rider dismounted. The amphibian-like person walked unassumingly forward, bulbous eyes fixed on a monitor in their hands.
Seriously? Our luck cannot be this bad, Addi thought disbelievingly as they were forced to back away indefinitely as the stranger moved innocently towards them.
After a ridiculous sixty feet of this, the alien even following their evasive and curved paths, there were more footsteps off to their side. Another person with a monitor was heading their way. Addi stopped breathing as herself and her friends crouched in the middle of some large bushes and waited for the beings to pass them by. Through the leaves, she saw them gesture to a sick-looking tree and compare monitors. Mabel released a breath and Stanford relaxed.
Environmentalists. No threat. Unless you hurt their trees.
She jerked her head towards an outcrop of boulders a reasonable distance from where the scientists were working. Quickly and quietly, the three of them left the site of interest.
“That never happens to us!” Mabel said happily to Ford. “It always turns out to be bounty hunters, or space police, or some other person you’ve upset.”
“I’ve upset? Allow me to remind you of a certain gambler who destroyed half a market square not a week ago,” Ford responded in mock offence.
“Ooh, shiny.” Mabel noticed, deftly changing the subject to look under the gap between a boulder and the ground. “I think I can – ACK!” She suddenly disappeared from view.
“MABEL!” Both adults yelled. Stanford leaped to where she had been sliding into the gap, and he too disappeared.
Knowing it probably was not a good idea, but going ahead with it anyway, Addi grabbed a sharp rock and followed. There was a near invisible hole under the boulder with a small, glittering white crystal on its other side. Bracing herself, she dropped into the darkness.
It was like a slide. A really rough, nearly vertical slide. Amid the tumbling of rocks, she heard shouting coming from below her and prayed the others were okay. She hit the floor of a cavern with a jolt, but managed to stay on her feet, and spun around with the rock raised, searching for some sort of cave-dwelling monstrosity. Instead, she saw Stanford and Mabel both gazing around in ecstasy, spouting off half to each other and half to themselves about the wonders surrounding them.
The wonders in question were many, many, larger versions of the crystal marking the entrance to the hole. The entire place was filled with stars. Addi dropped the rock.
“Addi, Addi look! It’s so pretty, it’s like magic! Is it magic? It could be magic! What if there’s fairies down here? -”
“Adeline, the luminous properties of these crystals is amazing! It appears they can absorb and store energy almost perfectly, and only release a small amount as light, creating this wonderful glimmer!-”
“-fairies use them for building houses! Or maybe there’s an underground society of dwarfs that come and mine this place! Or even-”
“-significant usefulness as batteries or even devices of their own! Do you think we could fashion some sort of communicator out of them? Maybe-”
“-dragon treasure! I could probably make a bracelet out of these-”
“”-look, even as we’re speaking they’re growing brighter from the kinetic energy produced by sound vibrations!”
“I need some!”
“I must take a sample!”
“So, I guess you two haven’t encountered endo-ergon quartz before?” queried Addi, amused at their excitement.
“You have?” replied Ford, carefully unearthing some and placing them in a pocket.
“A few times. I’ve never seen a deposit of this size before. You are right, they make good batteries. I use them when I can to power things like Big Bertha, my transmitter, my portal beacon …”
Which reminds me, I should set that up, Addi remembered. She grabbed a couple of crystals for herself.
“Wow, they’re pretty handy.” Called Mabel, collecting some of the smaller ones. “This cave is full of naturally-occurring nerdy things! Except these rocks are actually beautiful and useful, which is completely different to Dipper’s collection at home. I think he has some gravel in there.” She mused.
There was an exit at the back of the cavern which returned them to the forest. Once they were in the open Mabel turned to Addi.
“Grauntie Addi, I’m going to make you a friendship bracelet. And you Grunkle Ford. And one for me too,” With that decision, she began to run back up the incline to where the rock pile was situated.
“Grauntie?” Ford said in surprise.
“Yes. I’m very proud,”
“I guess that decides it,” said Ford absentmindedly.
“Decides what?”
“Oh, er, I was going to ask whether you wanted to stay with us.” He said, a bit awkwardly. “I mean, you’ve saved our lives so many times already, and you are extremely capable, and amazing at, well, everything. I honestly cannot thank you enough.” He drew in a breath. “I know that I’m asking a lot, for you to keep helping us, so hopefully we’ll be able to return the favour at some point.”
Addi opened her mouth to deny the notion that she expected anything in return, to say that it had been her privilege to meet them, and get to know them, and spend time with them. However, Ford didn’t seem to be done.
“Mabel clearly loves you and wants you to come with us. I have to say, it would be greatly beneficial for her to have someone other than myself to care for her, especially someone who actually seems to know what they’re doing with kids.” He gave a quick, but nervous, grin at that. “I, myself, value your company exceedingly, and I would … greatly appreciate it if you decide to remain.”
Are you kidding? She wanted to scream. Of course! She figured that would be fairly alarming however. A shout of joy was all she wanted to do, though, because she could feel a swell of emotions about to explode from her like a volcano of happiness. He couldn’t know how much what he had said meant to her. He hadn’t even known her in his dimension! At home she had always thought of herself as good, but nowhere near as brilliant as her two friends. Yet here she was, and Stanford was telling her that she was the capable one, was nervously asking her to stay with him as though there was any other option she had considered, and above all was completely trusting her with the life of the wonderful child he had in his care when only a week ago he had seen her as his enemy.
“So … will you stay?”
The volcano erupted.
Completely impulsively, but without any regrets, she stepped forward and kissed him, entwining their fingers as she did. After a moment of uncertainty, she was relieved to find him kissing her back.
Whatever Mabel had expected was the reason Addi and Ford were taking so long, seeing them making out in a clearing full of light was not it. The first thing she did was react appropriately.
“MATCH MADE!” she screamed.
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secretradiobrooklyn · 4 years ago
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SECRET RADIO | 9.19.20
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Secret Radio | 9.19.20 | Hear it here.
1. Mêlomê Clément & Orchestre Poly Rythmo do L’Antique Cotonou Dahomey - “Houe Towe Houn”
I have seen no fewer than 4 spellings of the man’s name, but my favorite version is Meloclem, which is apparently his nickname. Clement is credited with arranging many (most?) of T.P. Orchestre’s songs. This one is credited to him as Chef d’Orchestre, Guitariste-Accompagnateur-Chanteur-Compositeur. I just find it completely engrossing as it shifts between drone and jammer. The guitar solo is so searing and lost in its own world… and when the vocals come in, more than halfway through the song, they weave around the drone like a spell. 
2. Annie Philippe - “C’est La Mode”
French pop is so stylistically severe — it is a big production in which the singer is just one small but central part of a much bigger undertaking. The video, shot in 1966, is oddly composed mostly of scenes of her shooting the video, and not the results of those shots. It’s amazingly self-aware, and it does a beautifully effective job of creating a larger-yet-more-intimate-than-life portrait of Annie Philippe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Hau_yvzriY
3. The Funkees - “Akula Owu Onyear”
This is the sound of Nigeria in the ’60s, and African expat London in the ’70s. The language they’re singing is Igbo. Apparently The Funkees began playing together in the Nigerian Army in the midst of the Nigerian Civil War, and then kept going after the war ended. Nigeria borders Benin, and I find it fascinating that they both seem to have very developed but very different rock sounds going on at that time. The keys voice makes me think of Marijata’s amazing “No Condition Is Permanent,” which came along a decade later and two countries over.
4. Yehouessi Leopold & T.P. Orchestre - “Davi Djinto Super No2”
Yehouessi Leopold is the drummer for T.P. Orchestre, which I assume means he plays the trap set. When you listen to the song from that perspective, where the drummer is the writer and his priorities are ascendent, it makes the song even richer. I really hope that his vocals parts — sung, spoken, laughed — happen from behind his kit. 
     You can hear them call out “Papi” right before the guitarist, Papillon, lights into one of his rhythmic lead passages. He builds these cascading patterns that repeat but progress at the same time. He’s certainly one of the most beautiful guitarists I’ve ever heard in my life (especially in combination with their rhythm guitarist, who I believe is Maximus Ajanohun), and this song is a great example of his playful, endlessly rhythmic style. Headphones highly recommended because the guitar spends a fair bit of time hanging out on the right side. 
     These long T.P. songs are such a pleasure to sink into — they give each section a prolonged consideration, and yet they’re constantly moving through new ideas, phrases, and relationships. At one point a series of peacock cries pass through the song. They arrive at the song hooks almost like they’re equally revealing and discovering them. When the horn hook arrives halfway through the song, it feels like the party just took a shift, moving from a great evening with friends to a legendary night at the peak of summer.
     This song is as much for Kevin Bowers as anyone.
5. Jacques Dutronc - “On nous cache tout, on nous dit rien”
“They hide everything from us, they tell us nothing” - Such great tones all over Jacques Dutronc records, from the rhythm guitar distortion to the amazing live drum sound. The song is somewhere between a complaint, an accusation, and a bitter joke. 
6. Ranil y su Conjunto Tropical - “Vuelo a Saturno”
Meanwhile, Perú has had its own party going on. Ranil stayed mostly out of the cities and mostly along the Amazon river, playing electric music and producing and selling his own records. You can hear the Cuban rhythmic influence but run through a very specific and weird personality.
7. The Velvet Underground - “Foggy Notion”
I always find it amazing that, just as the Beatles were busy building the structure of Western pop music and exploring its creative possibilities, the Velvets were exploring its destructive possibilities. They throw together airtight pop structures around Moe’s relentless drums and then start slashing em apart with their guitars and Lou’s totally-serious-and-also-totally-just-fucking-around vocal approach. 
8. National Wake, “International News”
1979, the first interracial punk band in apartheid South Africa, singing about exactly that. In the movie made about the band, the audience looks like a place where black and white people can dance together, which was likely also a first. So the band becomes a political and social movement just by existing and drawing an audience.
    I mean, just look at them: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ze5yn6KneJg
9. Gnonnas Pedro, “Dadje Von O Von Non”
This song was how we discovered “Legends of Benin,” the album that made us realize that a whole world — an unknown number of worlds — exist beyond what we’re already familiar with. This track has the undeniable backbeat of Western rock and funk, but placed in a completely different relationship to the vocals than I’d ever heard before. And the guitar sound is so hypnotic, repeating endlessly in the left ear. It’s the songwriting structure that I keep coming back to as a listener: linear and cyclical at the same time, where each section feels endless but is always turning into the next version in the evolution. It sounds so hip to a frequency I was not even aware of until this track.
10. Kevin Bowers’ Nova, “Breaking for Conversation”
I have danced at every Nova show except one, I believe, and that was only because I was still parking during the end of the first set so I could catch the second one after work. This album is a drummer’s fantasy, sometimes thunderous and sometimes delicate. Paige sings in Nova along with our friend Mike Aguirre — shout out to Big Mike and his half-year-and-counting quarantine adventure in Anguilla! — and the whole band is composed entirely of musicians about whom I feel awe. St. Louis Internationalé!
Shadow Music of Thailand
11. Stereo Total - “I Love You Ono”
A companion piece with “Ringo I Love You” from last broadcast. Pure confidence and fun in an absolute perfect tone for the content.  
Highly worthwhile video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqok3-Q_1lk
12. Philippe Katerine - “La banane”
I have no idea what the joke is here, but I like it. The lyrics of the chorus are “just let me eat my banana on the seashore, naked.” There is a version in English by Katerine, if you want to know what he’s talking about, though you can ready every word and still not know what he’s talking about. A live performance does not clarify anything: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLoteLHr05s
13. T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou - “Minkou E So Non Moin”
This is included on Analog Africa’s “Echos Hypnotiques” T.P. collection, and it’s the only track I’ve heard from them with a wah pedal. Makes me wonder what the circumstances of that pedal were — was it just passing through? It couldn’t have been available to them long term, they would surely have used it more. I love the whole path that the guitar takes in the center of the song, and how that gives way to a one-note percussion solo. 
14. Mai Na Lork Gun - “Kampee Sangthong”
We found this buried in a record called “Thai Pop Spectacular.” I love how it sounds instantly familiar, and then as the lyrics come in it’s clear you’ve never heard this song before. As far as I can tell this is an original song, not a Thai lyric written over a French or American pop song. The singer sounds so sincere!
15. Ariel Pink - “Alisa”
Paige has been preaching Ariel Pink for years, but I’ve never felt the connection. To me, there’s a layer of… what is it? Irony? Self-conscious weirdness? Something that usually puts me off. For whatever reason, this track has many of the same attributes but draws me in rather than keeping me at arm’s length. My favorite element in music right now is how much information a song can transmit even when you don’t know the language, and this song does that in a different way, using words I know and audio reference points I know, but stacked up in a way that remains unknowable.
16. Assa Cica - “Se Na Blo”
17. Duyên Phận Con Gái - “Mai Lệ Huyền (A Girl’s Destiny)”
There’s such a complete understanding of not just rock but funk in these songs, and I have to wonder who was showing these musicians the ropes. Were they learning from records? From G.I.s stranded in Vietnam? The drums are so tasteful — everybody is. But how long could they have been listening to rock at that point, or have had access to listening to it? There had been Western troops in the region for years, and the primary influence was probably French pop. It still seems amazing that a Vietnamese band could have such confidence and command in a foreign idiom like this.
18. France Gall - “Jazz â Gogo”
I’m pretty sure Jeff Hess’ Afternoon Delight on KDHX put us onto this song years ago.
19. The Fall - “Petty Thief Lout”
As a fan of the Fall for over two decades now, I often find myself — or Paige and I find ourselves, because she’s the same way — on Fall-only kicks for days at a time. And even as it’s happening, I find myself asking: WHY do I love this music so much? What is it about Mark E. Smith’s squealing, spitting, hyper-British scorn that I find so endlessly appealing? Why must my pop have some fundamental discord built into its bones? I think much of it is the mystery — why on Earth does he make those decisions? As far as I know he writes the lyrics and none of the instruments, and has hired and fired more bandmates than most people play with in a lifetime… and yet the songs are instantly familiar as Fall songs through the decades. How can that be so? I think the fact that the songs continue to elicit more questions than answers is the heart of the enduring fascination. 
20. Tribute to Elsie - “Elle Est Tres Gris” 
Pollen was high that day. This was a voice memo recording from two years ago. Paige was singing “Les Feuilles Mortes” but with improvised lyrics about our dear, sweet, 20 year-old Elsie cat. Paige wants me to note that her French grammar has improved in the two years since this recording, and she would for instance obviously not use the word “vieux” and would use the word “veille.” Et al. Farewell Elsie, we love you very much.
     Paige says: The French is terrrrrible. I kept saying “que” when I meant “quand”. This is a private voice memo from two years ago, sung to the old grey lady herself. I will never win a rap battle, and it’s hard to remember now, but alcohol may have been involved. Elsie passed at twenty years old this month. She was her own character and never let her guard down. That’s how she made it to 20! We appreciate her all the way. 
21. Bob Marley - “Judge Not”
This is a short-haired, R&B-obsessed Bob Marley from his very first demos. The band is all in matching suits, playing very much in an American style. You can definitely hear even in this pretty straight ahead song the way that the band was reinterpreting the essential rhythm of skiffle and early rock into a new strum pattern. Marley’s voice is both very recognizable and not yet iconic — not unlike the early Fela Kuti & His Koola Lobitos recordings that we’ve been digging on lately.
22. Teddy Afro - “Bob Marley” live
There’s a cabbie in NYC we depend on for getting to the airport. His name’s Bobby, and as far as we can tell he’s a one-man cab company. He loves to fire up Teddy Afro videos for us to watch on our trip. Bobby is from Sudan, he says, and Teddy Afro is Ethiopian (you’ve very likely heard his huge hit, “Atse Tewodros,” at Meskerem if you’re ever there). He says he has no idea what the lyrics are, but he loves how the songs sound. Hearing a guy from Sudan enjoying this music across a language barrier was a very helpful reminder to us to listen for good music no matter what language it arrives in. I look forward to riding in Bobby’s cab again as soon as the virus is out of the way. 
23. Michel Polnareff, “Love Me Please Love Me”
24. Nam Hong, “She’s a Lady”
“My mother told me to be a lady. And for her that meant: be your own person, be independent.” - Ruth Bader Ginsburg
25. Tax Bacon, “The Star-Spangled Banner”
Tax Bacon is a leftist political punk band who formed out of frustration at the 2016 Democratic primaries. Some people never got over 2016, and some people never got over June 2016. 
I think this song is for Ruth Bader Ginsburg. I don’t feel patriotic right now — I feel connected to the people whose values I recognize, and Ginsburg was a founding father in that definition of American spirit. We are very sorry to see her go, and this song is meant to send her off. We’re going to have to do this next part without her.
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rhianonsuee · 7 years ago
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10.2.17
Today was another absolute DREAM!!! We spent all day with giant, cold, majestic, thousands of years old frozen chunks of snow! ❄️ ❄️ ❄️
We began our day early, we had a 45 minute drive to our destination (Skaftafell/Vatnajokull National Park) and we had to be there 30 minutes before our hike began at 9. We dressed in many layers of clothing because we had no idea what to expect. We were going to be hiking, so we could become a little warm right, but we were going to be hiking on a glacier so we could also be super cold? So allll the layers it is.
When we arrived at the pick up point we were greeted by our guides who gave us harnesses, helmets, crampons, and ice axes. We got our gear on, minus the crampons, and went to sit in the bus with the rest of the people going on hikes. We found out from one of our guides that it’s an Asian holiday right now and literally all of Asia shuts down for 10 days and everyone goes out and travels. Which is why there is an influx of tourists in Iceland right now. Interesting.. why can’t America do that?!
Anyway, after everyone got their gear on the bus took us to the entry point of our hike, which was about 10 minutes away. I sat next to one of the guides, Crystal. She’s actually from Sweden but splits her time between there and Iceland. It was so cool to hear her talk about why she came to Iceland and how she’s living her life full of adventure.
We got to the entry point, unloaded, and began our walk. Even though we weren’t really on the ice yet, we were technically still on the glacier and so it was a tad slick. We had to walk carefully and after about 5 minutes made it to the edge of the ice. At that point we stopped and our guides showed us how to correctly and successfully put on our crampons. It was a lot more work than I initially thought, especially to get them tightened up! Our guides, Birgir and Jess, explained to us how to walk in the crampons, how to use our axe, and how to successfully not die while hiking on the glacier. After that we were off.
This glacier we were on was Svínafellsjökull- a glacier tongue from the Vatnajökull glacier. More importantly though, ITS THE GAME OF THRONES GLACIER!!! A lot of the scenes in GoT of beyond the wall were filmed on this glacier. So basically we were Jon Snow and the wildings. Hey- maybe if they had had crampons on they wouldn���t have needed Dany to come save them!
Vatnajökull is known as the Water Glacier in English. It is the largest and most voluminous ice cap in Iceland, covering around 8% of the country. It is also the largest in Europe. The ice on this glacier is 1000 years old.
Some facts about glaciers- Glaciers are made up of fallen snow. They are not frozen water, as some might think. It turns to ice by compression due to the weight of the snow as it keeps accumulating. They explained to us that it’s just like taking a handful of fluffy snow and squeezing into a hard snowball, and keep doing so for hundreds of years.
More facts- A glacier is a river of ice; it flows. That’s because the highly compressed layers of ice are very flexible. At locations where a glacier flows rapidly, giant cracks called crevasses are formed. This is why it’s so dangerous to walk on a glacier - the crevasses get sometimes covered over by snow.
It was breathtaking. I don’t know how else to describe it. Walking on something that massive, seeing it stretch out for miles in front of you, hearing the calving of the ice breaking off in the distance. That sound is haunting and spooky but also beautiful.
It was a beautifully sunny day so the glacier was pretty white. There were some spots in the shadows that were more blue. Glaciers appear to be blue because the snow and ice has been so compressed, that most of the air is forced out of it. There are no air pockets. Since it was a sunny day though, air pockets are formed on the surface of the ice due to light melting from the sun.
Our hike lasted about an hour, but I wish it could have lasted all day. I kept thinking about our guide, Birgir, and how he gets to live in Iceland and hike on glaciers every single day (he’s been a full time glacier hiking guide for the last year). During the hike, I talked a lot to our other guide, Jess. She’s from Canada and came to Iceland a few months ago with one of her friends. She met Birgir and he took them on a hike. She thought, like I did, how awesome it is that he gets to do this everyday? So, when she made plans to come back in September for a month and explore Iceland with Birgir, he told her that she should just go with him to the guide training to become a tour guide. And so she did. How fearless and adventurous is that?! Jess, I’m seriously thinking about following in your footsteps!
Our hike ended around 12:30/1 and we had some lunch in our car before heading to our next destination. We had a glacier lagoon boat ride scheduled for 4:30, so we had some time to kill. Jökulsárlón lagoon was only about 45 minutes and the diamond beach is right next door so we headed there to explore. When we got there we first stopped by the ticketing booth to see if we could get an earlier ride time. We did, but it was only 30 minutes. The diamond beach was only a 7ish minute walk from the lagoon so we headed there, walking along the lagoon.
I literally couldn’t believe what I was seeing. This country just blows my mind every single day, every single minute. We were standing on a beach, a volcanic black sand beach, that has a shoreline covered in chunks of freaking ice!!! Like what?! And the name of this beach is absolutely perfect. Diamond Beach. Against the black sand the ice definitely sparkled and looked like diamonds.
So I’m sure many of you are asking, how is this possible? Well, let me tell ya, it’s possible because it’s Iceland. Ha, but really. Ice breaks off from the glacier, then the smaller icebergs break free from the lagoon travels and try to make their way out into the Atlantic Ocean. But the tide brings them right back in, washing them up onto the beach where they stay until they melt. Every day, new chunks of ice arrive and others melt, and all of them are changing their shapes all the time during the melting process and the constant washing of the waves. This results in the Beach never looking the same.
Back in the lagoon, in between the ice chunks, you can spot seals that make their way into the lagoon from the ocean. We were lucky and actually got to see a couple!
Finally it was 4 and it got to go on our boat ride. We did the Amphibian ride, which is the bigger boat. We wanted to do the Zodiac because you get a much more up close experience with the glaciers, but unfortunately they were not running them at this time of the year.
We got on our huge lifejackets and piled into the boat with our guide from France. We had to sit down as the boat made its way into the lagoon, but then we got to stand up once we were all the way in the water.
Wow. Like everything we’ve experienced in Iceland, that’s the best word I can come up with. Seeing those massive chunks of ice right in front of you is incredible. You really can’t appreciate the massive sale of an iceberg until you see it in person. It’s insane.
We also got to taste a piece of the 1000 year old ice! I kid you not, it was the hardest chunk of ice I’ve ever had and it was also the most delicious! Seriously, it was so fresh and so pure.
It’s also so much colder inside the lagoon then even just standing on the edge of it! Surrounded by the icebergs and the crazy amount of wind blowing the cold air and water around. I was way more cold than when we were walking on the glacier!!
All I could think about while on our excursion (apart from this is absolutely surreal) was global warming. Visit a massive glacier that has been around for a thousand years and that in the last 15 years has begun losing 300m of ice a year (600m total lost, 300m regenerated, resulting in more ice melting than is regenerating) and then tell me that global warming doesn’t exist. Seriously, if everyone in the world actually paid attention to these kinds of (extremely significant) changes no one would be able to deny that we are contributing to the death of our planet.
After this incredible dream day, we headed back to our Airbnb, stopping at a Bonus to pick up stuff for spaghetti for dinner on the way.
I still can’t believe that I’m actually here right now and getting to experience this country. I’m quickly falling in love with it and it’s going to be so hard to leave in a couple days. Well, I’m not going to think about it. I’m going to soak it all in while I can! Ready for another adventurous day tomorrow!!
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cutiecrates · 5 years ago
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Cutie Reviews: NMNL Feb 19
If you missed my NMNL reviews then you’ll be in for a treat today :3 this will be my second review of the re-branded NMNL subscription box, and I’m very excited!
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“Love is in the air and we want to share it with you this February through our box full of sweet beauty products from your favorite Japanese and Korean brands. Use these products to pamper yourself or to create a romantic makeup look for a special Valentines Day date. Feel the love with February’s Sweet Date box!“
Glam Gift
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“Glam Gift“ is the brand new feature in NMNL, where one subscriber is chosen to win a handful of products. This months includes several cute and sweet items; like the Silk Scarf hair mask, Pino lip cream, and a couple Pokemon items, among others.
Meanwhile, the contest prizes are based on My Melody:
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Aren’t they just adorable~?
This months booklet also includes a page on Sichenmakeupholic and includes a tutorial for one of the items we got, and a few youtubers who created dreamy Valentines Day looks, and for February’s horoscope everyone was given a fashion item and lucky color. For example, mine (Libra) suggested a cute mini backpack, and my lucky color was hot pink. My friend’s (Gemini) item is a pair of jeans, and her color is navy.
Okay! So let’s get started with the review!
Eyebrow Pencil & Crayon Touch-me Lipgloss
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First up we have two makeup items. This eyebrow pencil was available in 2 variations, either the one I got by Etude House, or one by Tony Moly. Besides the label design being different, I’m not sure if there was a difference.
This pencil is double-sided, one with a spoolie for straightening the bangs, while the other is the “pencil“. The color is a natural brown.
Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
I’m not someone who uses eyebrow makeup, at best I’ll just keep them trim and use a spoolie through them. But I tried this out and I actually kind of like it. It easily glides onto the skin and looks pretty natural looking at it. It wasn’t hard to put on, nor did it hurt, and there was no mess or product fall out or anything.
My mom also really likes it because it creates the illusion that she has more of an eyebrow than she does. They have severely thinned out and she’s kind of embarrassed about it, so she likes products like this.
Our next item is this really pretty orange-colored lipgloss. It can be worn on its own or over another product, and it has a very very faint color. It also smells delicious, like tangerine.
Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
The brush feels ultra-soft on the lips, and the product has a good taste (for anyone curious that is). It’s extremely shimmery and makes the lips very soft. I had already been wearing lip balm and I put some of this over it on half of my lips and noticed a huge difference! 10 out of 10, recommend!
Sparkling Eye Gloss
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Available in honey gold or ash grey, this product is an eye gloss, or basically a liquid eye shadow by Sweets-Sweets. It comes in a fancy-looking tube and has a softened spongy brush, usable for both eyeliner and eye shadow.
Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
First let me start by saying it is chilly to put on- but it feels kind of nice. It didn’t feel heavy on my lids -which I find to be a problem with some liquid eye shadows- and to my surprise, it actually didn’t look half bad as an eyeliner!
If you’re a new reader of this blog I’ll take a moment to explain that I can’t do eyeliner at all. As such, anything that can help or provide an alternative, I like trying it out. So I was pretty happy by the discovery... up until I gave myself a second wing. But it still didn’t look that bad...
The other thing is, it’s a little messy to clean up. It wasn’t hard to remove, but now the upper-half of my face is super sparky. I love glitter though, so it’s not terrible, and I’m sure with hot water or facial wipes it’d be a lot easier to get off.
Cotton Pads
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And now for a super simple, but very necessary item :3 Cotton Pads are useful in application and removal of makeup and skin care products- it’s one of the “essentials“ for those of us who use makeup. At least I always thought so.
What’s fun about these cotton pads is that besides getting so many, they also come in a cute little  carrying pouch for easier transport.
Um... because of how simple these are I’m not planning on reviewing them. There’s nothing really different between cotton pads as far as I ever noticed. I did notice that these are layered though, so I assume that means they will hold more?
Milk Bomb Mask
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Our next item is this Milk Bomb Mask, which was available in Strawberry and chocolate. I really wish I got strawberry, but this smells so yummy I don’t even care~
This face product uses milk protein extra and cocoa extract to tidy up rough, dead skin cells and contract skin pores to make it smooth. It also includes a huge list of other ingredients and is to be worn 15-20 minutes for full effect. The mask is also really smooth and didn’t seem papery like other masks.
Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥
It smells delicious, I really liked it. It also felt really nice on my face, wasn’t sticky or sloppy or anything. But I noticed that it didn’t want to stay on my face the entire time I used it and I had to keep smoothing it out, and it dried in very quickly. So after a few minutes my face felt no different, but to be fair I’m not really sure if you would feel something different from this effect.
Flower Puff
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Our next item is this pretty makeup puff, available in either pink or white. It’s use is for powdered makeup, like blush or certain foundations.
None of which I actually have, other than a really small blusher compact. I think this is really pretty though and honestly I’d rather use it as a cute decoration.
Fascy Moisture Bomb Hand Cream
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Our next item is this cute hand cream that promises to moisturize the hands very deeply with ingredients like shea butter, macadamia nut oil, and aloe vera. It’s light weight and soaks into the skin quickly, and is available in 4 different scents: Grapefruit, Strawberry, Violet, and Peach.
I would have been happy with any of those :3 and as you can see, it has color. It’s pretty faint but it’s a really pretty baby pink.
Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
I love how it smells, it’s grapefruit for sure- but it’s a bit different. Like there is a hint of something else in it, but I can’t place my finger on what it is yet. It definitely does what it says it will and makes the skin soft; if only it worked on my dry patches on my face >3< I’ve tried hand creams because of how good they work but they fail to help it... unless I’m not using enough...
Not only is it really nice on the hands, but I noticed the bottle is completely full, in comparison to some creams I’ve got that leave a segment of the tube empty for some reason.
Savon de Chocolate Soap
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Our final item will be this delicious looking soap! A moisturizing, creamy soap that uses cocoa butter and charcoal to cleanse the skin. It smells like chocolate (and maybe a tiny bit like honey?).
Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
It’s deliciously scented and very smooth to use. It foams up quickly and is pleasant, I didn’t notice any sort of problems using it, like there wasn’t residue problems.
♥ Cutie Ranking ♥
Content - 5 out of 5. Everything was really nice and I liked the items greatly. I mean I admit cotton pads aren’t that amazing, but they are really practical.
Theme: 5 out of 5. I definitely get a romantic, but cutesy and playful preparing for a date vibe, and there’s items that just give it a Valentines Day feel.
Total Rank: 10 out of 10. Now, I’m not sure this was the perfect box, but I would definitely recommend it. It was lovely and a lot of fun, and I really like and have been using all of the items; minus the flower puff.
♥ Cutie Scale ♥
1. Lipgloss - I can’t say orange is my favorite color (not that I hate it tho), but I LOVE to look at how pretty and glittery it is~ It smells really good too, and it makes my lips feels nice. 
2. Hand Cream - I’m not a huge fan of the art style, but I like it’s bold colors and fun appeal. I also love the hand cream and the fact it’s colored :D it smells so good~
3. Milk Face Mask - We’ve been over this before, I’m a foodie who loves things that look like food; so I really like the design. The scent was really good too. 
4.Chocolate Soap - the package looks so delicious, and the soap was really nice. I can’t wait to use it during my next bath. 
5. Flower Puff - it’s so pretty, I even like the floral designs on the box it came in. I really want to use it, but I won’t be too upset if I don’t simply because I think it looks cuter as decor.
6. Eyegloss - I like it’s unique square shape :D it’s also a lot prettier than I thought it would be. Initially I didn’t think it’d be something I would use.
7. Cotton Pads - I see myself using them more often than the eyebrow pencil, and they come in a draw-string bag, which is pretty unusual. I’ve never seen that before.
8. Eyebrow pencil - I really like to use it, but it doesn’t have any cuteness factor.
0 notes
theairportau · 8 years ago
Text
the airport AU, part 117 by rjdaae and hopsjollyhigh
Previous parts: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100 101, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10 111, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16
---
ERIK
Once the plans are settled, Erik wastes no time in turning the water to near-full heat and stepping in, entire body heaving with a massive sigh. While taking a shower is one of the only times he doesn’t seem to ever feel cold- he scalds himself with the water, and it feels almost like burning off a layer of his skin. His back first, and then the water thrumming on the back of his aching head. It stings as it runs in rivulets down his face, but the heat and the steam are so powerful, so effective at removing all the mess of the past couple days. He loses track of time standing there, letting the water hit the back of his neck with his eyes closed and arms hanging limply at his sides. He swears that he could fall asleep standing there, and that is what ultimately spurs him to get on with washing himself- he really could. If there’s anywhere he doesn’t want to have someone assist him, it’s his shower, and he isn’t fond of water when he doesn’t have a hand on the spout. He isn’t sure how long it’s been by the time he steps out of the shower in a cloud of steam and wraps himself in his towel, but what little sky he can see through the blinds is totally dark, no trace of daytime left. It’s getting dark earlier and earlier, these days.
The shower and fresh clothes manage to do at least a little bit for his mood. He retrieves his medication and some antibiotic ointment from a drawer beside the sink, drinks from the faucet to swallow his pill, and rubs the ointment into the infected wound without checking a mirror. It’s good enough. He just doesn’t have the energy tonight to look at himself.
Standing in the doorway back to his bedroom, the first thing he finds himself looking at is the book where he had pressed Christine’s letter earlier on. A wave of nauseous guilt comes over him; he hadn’t told her that afternoon- he opens the book and examines the extent of the damages, but some of that guilt settles as he looks the note over. There are a few runs in the ink, but everything is still legible. All of her painstaking work is still there- it’s a little bit damaged, but still there.
He doesn’t even check the time when he goes into the living room to get his laptop; it’s irrelevant. He’ll need all of the time he can get to manage a proper night’s sleep, and he’s more than tired enough to try. He sets his laptop on his desk chair in his room, at right about the level of his head, and turns it onto some mindless cooking competition show that he can try to watch as he falls asleep. And upon second thought, he reaches inside the book on his desk and retrieves Christine’s letter. He sits on the edge of his bed, staring at the words without really reading them, tracing the letters with the tips of his fingers. He hardly recognizes the softness inside him when he looks over those words again, all of her gratitude and kindness- and she’d worked so hard, writing it all in a language that she hardly knows, just for his ease of reading it. It takes him a long few moments to set it down on his bedside table, and one hand lingers on it for a moment before he wraps himself in blankets and unpauses the show on his laptop, hoping that some level of distraction will pull him out of himself, just a little bit. His eyes fade closed after only a few moments, and the sound grows more and more distant and dreamlike, and his jaw clenches of its own accord, as if his body predicts moreso than his mind the fitful throes of another long and punishing night.
---
CHRISTINE
When Christine’s eyes open the next morning, it is with an immediate sigh of disappointment—her hope for a change in the weather dashed by the murky darkness outside the window.
Fortunately, after a few more minutes of half-sleep and a drowsy glance at her phone’s clock, she realises that the sun simply hasn’t *risen yet*.
With nowhere to be for a few hours yet, and sleep still draped like a warm, muffling blanket around her mind, there seems no harm in giving the daylight a chance to catch up. The cotton pillowcase crinkles softly against her ear as she settles into a sleepy vigil, her eyes flickering closed again even as she tries to focus them on the window.
A little while later, wakening to find the first pink rays of dawn shimmering through the curtains, she smiles at the clear sign of what will surely be a bright day.
---
ERIK
What settles in isn’t the slow and creeping dread of typical nightmares. It strikes far more quickly, leaving Erik stunned and, even more than that, paralyzed. He can’t remember the dreams; one after another, they come on, they tear him from his sleep, and they vanish again, leaving him with a lingering sense of panic that leaves him lying frozen in bed, drenched in a cold sweat, but taking away every concrete image that he can place the fear on. He stares into the darkness of his room, past the glow of the laptop screen. Absolutely empty. When did he come to despise being alone so much?
Has he always hated it this much?
He manages to unfurl his trembling hands and reaches for the phone plugged in on his nightstand. In his state, half-awake and scarcely able to catch his breath for the fear still settled in his chest, he sends a message to Khan.
Come over.
Naturally, he doesn’t expect the man to show up at two o’clock in the morning, bearing a shoulder bag full of books and his laptop only a few minutes after receiving the text. But Erik has never failed to underestimate Khan.
In his hazy half-sleep his eyes are only half-lidded as he stares at Khan, who stands by the edge of the bed, frowning down at him.
“I meant tomorrow,” Erik mumbles, blinking wearily and wrapping the cocoon of blankets tighter around his shoulders.
Khan shrugs. “I was awake anyway.” It’s impossible to see much of Erik, other than his oddly glowing eyes, catching the light of the open laptop. It makes it difficult to read him, and the gravelly tone of his voice doesn’t help with interpretation. “Do you want me to leave?”
Erik sighs, head settling down on his pillow again. “It’s late. Stay. You should sleep.”
Khan regards Erik for a few long moments. He has settled his head back into the pillows, and his breaths are already longer- even in the middle of their short conversation, he is losing his battle to stay awake. He drifts off, and rather than going to the guest room, Khan sits at Erik’s desk, pulls his laptop out of its bag, and settles in for a long few hours. Just through the rest of the night- it’s better in the day, sometimes. He can wake up, at least, and see the normal room around him. For the night, Khan will keep a quiet vigil; he does not wake Erik- when he hears the too-familiar murmurs of a beginning nightmare, he waits for it to pass. It is not severe enough to wake him for- and when it is severe, he wakes himself, and all Khan can do is talk to him quietly. Ask him questions about the videos streaming on his laptop. Anything commonplace to take his mind out of where it is. They pass long hours in an exhausting pattern, but eventually, something seems to give- an hour passes in silence, and then another, and though Khan is still on his toes, and utterly fatigued, he believes that Erik might finally be able to sleep. A glance around the curtains shows a gradual lightening of the sky; dawn is just beginning, though the sun hasn’t quite broken the horizon yet. In these quiet hours, before the rest of the world wakes, he manages to fall asleep, somewhat at peace, and Khan draws the curtain just a little bit, just enough to let the smallest amount of light come in, before he makes his way down to the guest room.
---
CHRISTINE
The rising sun finally draws Christine out of bed; she has an appointment to keep.
Ten o'clock, Erik had said. She stretches; glances at the clock on her phone, then at the hotel’s sparse breakfast menu; wonders absently, as her fingers comb apart the strands of her braid, whether she should be waiting for a message, or if Darius will be expecting her to just meet him as arranged.
She dresses quickly while waiting for room service, and once her pastry and tea have arrived she carries them over to the bright window, dragging the desk chair behind her; after so many gloomy days, her mouth waters as much for the sunlight as for the simple breakfast. Outside, others seem to have had the same thought: further along the street, she notices figures moving behind the railings of balconies that she has so often seen vacant; squinting, she thinks she can even see a mug being raised, a fork moving across the plate of another person likewise enjoying their breakfast in the rare sunshine, even despite the late autumn chill.
Probably Erik’s balcony is playing host to its own collection of hungry, bewhiskered patrons; Christine smiles over a sip of her tea, imagining the cats curling up in the sun after cleaning their bowls.
(At the same time, she dares to hope that Basile and the others might instead have to be patient this morning—that *Erik* might be the one yet curled up in a warm slumber; free of the shadows of his mind, if not those of his cloistered house.)
By the time she brushes the last crumbs from her fingertips, there’s still been no word from Darius, nor sight of him in the street below. Setting her plate aside, Christine picks up her phone, shifting it between her hands. It *is* still a bit early, and the apartment is only a few minutes away; he might even still be asleep. She sets her phone on the windowsill, deciding to wait, and watch—and enjoy the sun—a few minutes longer.
---
KHAN, DARIUS
Khan does not go directly to sleep; down the street, he knows that Darius is just waking up, doing the same thing as he is. Erik talks about salah as if it is an inconvenience, which is irritating to Khan, for whom it is indisputably one of the best parts of his day. The quiet reverence of performing wudu, and a few moments to focus on nothing but his devotion. There is a sense of community in it- knowing that all over Paris, people who share the same experiences with him are doing the same thing. It is only after Fajr has passed that Khan crawls into bed, feeling significantly more at peace than he had beforehand. There is always the creeping concern for Erik in the back of his mind, but at this point, he has done all that he can. His presence in the room would only risk waking him up, which is the last thing he wants to do at the moment. He does, however, keep the doors to both rooms open. Better to hear if anything happens. He shuts his eyes and it hardly takes any time at all for him to fall asleep, tired as he is from staying up all night.
Darius wakes for the second time later on, having gone back to sleep after Fajr. He had been getting ready for bed when Khan left the house, and knows better than to look for him; instead, he lounges around in his bedroom, enjoying the day off. The freedom of having a manager is new to him. It is odd to hear the sounds of the restaurant preparing for service down below, and smell the food without being in the kitchen- but it’s a good thing, he tells himself. It has been his goal the whole time, to have enough success that he can back away just a little bit, enough to enjoy time to himself.
And he is excited to go out with Christine. Showing someone around the city for the first time is bound to be fun, and she has been such good company so far. He buttons on a powder blue shirt, takes a pastry from the kitchen, and leaves around 9:30, taking his favorite leather jacket with him- he’ll be a few minutes early to the hotel, but he doesn’t mind sitting if he needs to. When he gets there, the lobby is a bit crowded with people checking out, so he goes immediately to the sitting area off to the side and sends a text to Christine.
Good morning, I just got to the lobby! Don’t rush, I’m early!
He is, in fact, only early by a few minutes, but he doesn’t know how long Christine takes to get ready. He leans back in his chair and opens up a games on his phone, perfectly content to sit and wait.
---
CHRISTINE
Christine jumps at the sudden chime of her phone, pulling her gaze away from an older couple walking a small, fluffy dog down the opposite side of the street; she’s even more surprised when she reads that Darius has *already arrived*. But even if she *should* be disappointed in herself for not having spotted him, all she can manage to feel at that moment is excitement for the day ahead.
‘I’ll be right down!’ she quickly texts back, dropping her phone on the bed as she scrambles to tidy up her room service dishes.
She decides to leave her coat behind for the day: it would only be a matter of time before the heavy wool became uncomfortable beneath the bright sun, and she doesn’t want to be stuck lugging it all over the city. She can only hope that, in such fair weather, the thick weave of her sweater dress will be warm enough.
The gamble is one that she shouldn’t *have* to take: she *brought* more to Paris with her than just a heavy winter coat. But where is her cardigan now? Still back at Erik’s? Certainly it isn’t *here*, where it could actually be of *use* to her. And she doesn’t even want to *think* about what happened to her *jacket*.
The chance to buy some more clothes today won’t come a moment too soon.
The thought makes her pause, her hand on the door handle.
She thinks of the money in her purse, the money that Erik had given her for her new clothes (among other things).
Is it really *safe* to carry so much with her?
But is it safe to *leave* it, either?
After a moment of flurried consideration—her mind echoing with Mama’s warnings about big cities and purse-snatchers—she digs the thick wad of folded cash from the bottom of her purse. Peeling off an extra note to add to the one already in her wallet, she stuffs the remainder first into a sock and then into the depths of the dirty laundry in her backpack. The maids have so far left her clothing undisturbed; any who came in *now* would probably just be relieved to see the scattered mess finally *contained*.
Feeling better—and pausing to make doubly sure that the door is locked—she hastens downstairs to meet Darius.
---
DARIUS
The line at the front desk dwindles as Darius sits there, absently swiping away tiles on his screen. An employee eventually comes over and asks if he needs anything, but he only smiles and lets them know that he’s waiting for someone. They seem content to let him sit there as long as he likes, and after just a few minutes, he glances up from the screen in time to see her headed down the stairs in the main lobby.
“Christine!” he calls cheerfully, stuffing his phone back in his pocket and standing up, opening his arms wide as he greets her. They haven’t even known each other long, but it feels like some time since he last saw her. Certainly, a lot has happened- that must be it; the sheer volume of things that have changed in the couple of days that he has gone without spending time with her.
He strides across the lobby to meet her with a warm hug. “It’s a beautiful day, we’re lucky- probably one of the last nice ones before winter really sets in. I can’t wait to show you around, really- we can’t cover it all in one day, obviously, but, well. It’s been a long time since I’ve gone out like this.” He grins at her with genuine excitement, a stark contrast to Erik’s rare and measured smiles. It has been a long time, though. Running a business and looking after Khan- though Khan would resent the phrase looking after- leaves him with little time to talk to anyone his age. As far as friends go, he usually stays in with either Khan or Erik, and neither of them have any desire to explore the city. Though their reasons vary greatly, the result is the same- Darius never really goes anywhere, with the recent exception of his date with Rachelle. And even that had stayed close to their street. Having Christine around has been so pleasant, and he wants her to enjoy the day as much as he’s already certain that he will.
“Have you had a good morning?” he asks, calming himself a bit from his initial joyful rush at her (though failing to stop talking, given an audience). “It’s been a calm one for me. Khan went to Erik’s house, so it was even quieter than usual. Nice, though.”
---
CHRISTINE
It seems suddenly ridiculous that she could have ever worried about the weather, knowing that she would have such sunny companionship; she steps back as Darius releases her from the hug, a matching grin spreading across her own face. Off to the side, the cheerful stream of Swedish has drawn more than one curious gaze, and Christine’s nose wrinkles in further amusement; it’s lucky that they share a language—she can’t imagine Darius trying to confine all of his enthusiasm to a tablet screen. Though…there are times that it might make it easier to get a word in edgewise, she thinks good-humouredly, as she answers his question with a nod.
Her thoughts still for a moment when he mentions Erik. But it’s what *he* himself had told her, isn’t it?: that he would have Khan come over to spend the day with him. Her smile eases, and she nods again.
“It’s been nice for me as well,” she agrees, “I was very glad to actually see the sun this morning!“
As she talks, they begin to drift towards the door; there’s no reason to loiter in the hotel lobby, with such a nice day waiting outside.
"It makes me wish that I didn’t have stuff I need to buy: it doesn’t seem right to waste any of this weather *indoors*.”
She pauses, stopping several paces short of the door; a man with a large suitcase, who had been walking behind the pair, huffs and steps around them.
“Actually, Darius,” Christine says, with an apologetic grin that doesn’t quite manage to conceal her sudden nervousness, “there’s just—I need to ask the clerk something, before we leave. Back in a blink.” Not waiting for an answer, she turns, and crosses quickly back to the front desk.
---
DARIUS
Prevented from speaking by her abrupt departure, Darius lets out a short “oh- okay” as he watches her make her way across the lobby. It’s no bother to him, just a surprise, and he nods apologetically to the man who they’d inadvertently cut off in front of them.
He steps to the side and leans against the wall next to the door, pulling his phone back out to check messages. His eyes peer over the edge of the screen and around the lobby. Still admittedly a bit shaken by the events of a few days ago, with Khan on the metro, he can’t help the observation that Swedish draws looks that are more curious than hostile- not always the case when he speaks his language in public.
The thought is fleeting, though. He records it, but the day is too bright outside to dwell on it right now. Perhaps he’ll bring it up to Khan later. His gaze goes back to his phone, and lights up when it vibrates, Rachelle’s name popping up at the top of the screen with a simple and cheerful “good morning” addressed to him.
He smiles to himself as he texts back. Getting up a little late today?
His phone buzzes with a nearly instantaneous response. Don’t judge me on my day off, kid.
He laughs to himself and types a quick explanation that he’s out with Christine before pocketing his phone again. He uses it, but both Khan and his father have always insisted that things like phones be used sparingly when he’s in the company of other people. He doesn’t want Christine to feel like his attention is elsewhere, and he mentally maps their day as he idles by the doorway, giving hardly a thought to what she could be asking about.
---
CHRISTINE
“Oh—bonjour, mademoiselle,” the clerk says as he catches sight of Christine, his cordial smile still tinged by the awkwardness of the previous morning. The memory of the young man’s fumbling attempt at hospitality puts Christine a bit more at ease as she comes to a stop in front of the desk; briefly, she meets his gaze with her own nervous grin, then casts a sidelong glance at the fruit bowl at the other end of the long counter.
“Merci pour l'orange. C'était délicieux,” she says kindly, lifting her eyes just enough to see a bit of the tension leave the clerk’s expression. It hardly matters that *she* hadn’t been the one to actually eat the orange—that it may have not even *been* eaten at all. The clerk nods in acknowledgment of her words, his shoulders straightening assuredly.
“Ah,” he says after a moment, clearing his throat, “Comment puis-je vous aider?”
Right.
“S'il vous plaît…kan du växla pengar?” Christine asks quietly, ducking her gaze towards her purse as she hoists it up onto the counter in front of her.
Things in France may be more expensive than they were in Sweden, but after years of hassling with customers over 1000kr notes back home, she doubts that the Parisian cashiers will be any happier at the sight of the current contents of her wallet.
It isn’t safe to carry such large bills, either, is it? Mama would have said so—advice that had never been relevant before now: anyone who happened to catch a flash of one of them might think that her purse contained other such riches.
Yes, *that’s* the reason she wants to trade the banknotes for something less conspicuous—why her question is spoken in an undertone; why she bows her shoulders forward as she opens her purse, in a subtle attempt to shield it from view.
(But the lobby is nearly empty now, and she certainly doesn’t think that *Darius* would ever steal from anyone. And maybe, truthfully, her choice is more to do with the continued sense that she doesn’t *deserve* her great windfall—that others, should they learn of it, might share that same judgement.)
“Je suis désolé, mademoiselle,” the clerk answers a bit hopelessly, “Je ne parle—”
Christine cuts him off with a shake of her head and an apologetic gesture. “Givetvis. Öh…” her brow creases as she digs through her purse and her restricted vocabulary. “Pou—? Pouvez-vous! Pouvez-vous…"
She leans farther forward towards the counter as she slips the pair of 100-euro notes from her wallet; the man’s eyebrows raise slightly at the sight of the money, and it’s nearly enough to make Christine regret her entire course of action.
"Pouvez-vous…öh…faire…argent…petit?” she strings together desperately, casting a surreptitious glance backward at Darius, who is still engrossed in his phone.
“…Changement…?” the clerk suggests uncertainly after a moment; Christine’s face lights up, recognizing the word from her reading.
“Ja! Oui, s'il vous plaît!” she nods, pushing the banknotes forward across the desk. But the clerk just shakes his head, shrugging and saying something apologetic-sounding that she is unable to understand.
“Je ne comprends pas…?”
The clerk gives a sympathetic sigh, gesturing hopelessly towards the cash register in a manner that is all too familiar to her, “Je ne peux pas. Je suis désolé.”
“Oh…” she says, nodding as she awkwardly folds the money back into her purse. “Je comprends. Ça va. Merci.”
“Je suis désolé,” he says again, clearly wishing that he could help; Christine answers with another shake of her head and a repeated ’ça va’, hastily rebuilding her smile before nodding a farewell.
At the other side off the lobby, Darius has abandoned his phone; she surveys him carefully as she crosses the tile floor, irrationally anxious at the thought that he might have overheard any of her failed transaction.
“Heh, I’m not sure what precisely you said in that phone call, Darius,” she quips with exaggerated brightness, “but I’m afraid that it seems to have made all of the employees terrified of me!” As she speaks, she leans forward, pushing the door open, eager for the chance to leave her concerns behind in the lobby.
---
(Part 118)
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weddquotes · 5 years ago
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Learn What To Serve +65 Decoration Ideas
New Post has been published on https://weddquotes.com/wedding-decor/learn-what-to-serve-65-decoration-ideas/
Learn What To Serve +65 Decoration Ideas
Hidden banner for mobile devices.
You’re thinking about having a party but you’re not sure which theme to choose? Well, we have a hint of a cheerful, fun and super colourful theme: the Mexican party. Yeah, the Mexican party is becoming more and more the theme of birthday celebration or even a simple party at home to welcome friends and family for a get-together.
And that’s what we bring you today for decoration tips and even a Mexican party menu. So, check out our post until the end not to miss any details. Arriba, muchachos!
1. The Mexican party theme is on the rise and can guarantee a very lively celebration – Photo: A Minha Festinha
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See also
Tips for having a Mexican party
The Mexican theme party is ideal for those looking for a kind of happy and relaxed party, because besides its super irreverent and personalized decoration, it is also possible to make a delicious menu of those that make your mouth water.
And the coolest thing is that it doesn’t have to be a huge party inside a salon to be fun, after all, you can elaborate your Mexican party there in your house and put your hand in to make the decorations, in addition to using furniture colorful to make the environment very cheerful, and also the dining table that can be turned into the main table at the party.
And to help you organize your Mexican party, just follow our tips below and get your food and drink ready.
2. Invest in a colorful decoration for your Mexican party – Photo: Pinterest
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Use plants like cacti and succulents
Whenever you go to make a Mexican party decoration use flower vases with succulents or cacti, because these plants are very present in the country due to the desert climate of some regions.
The pots of cactus and succulents can be used in various ways in Mexican party decoration, such as on the main table of the cake, the souvenirs, the guests’ table and even on candies and custom Mexican party cake with American paste.
3. Cactus and succulent vessels are guaranteed presence in all Mexican party decoration – Photo: Catch My Party
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Invest in a colorful decoration
Whenever we think about the Mexican theme party we get green, white and red colors at our head, that’s because those colors are present in the country’s flag and should be used in the Mexican party ideas to decorate.
An important tip is to make a Mexican party decoration using these three colors in most of the environment, and if it is a children’s Mexican theme party and you want to bring this more joyful and playful air to the decoration it is possible to invest in other colors to brighten up your decoration such as pink, blue, yellow and orange that can be used in details such as a flagpole, candy wraps, in the boleira and plates used to support the sweets or even in details of the decorated Mexican party cake.
4. Invest in very colorful details for Mexican party decoration – Photo: Pinterest
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Characteristic objects
Do you want a better way than to bring the Mexican weather to your party than by using the country’s most characteristic objects? Sombreros, peppers, plants like cactus and succulents, pinata and Mexican skulls can be used in several ways for your Mexican party decoration ideas.
The sombreros, for example, can compose a beautiful panel at the bottom of the main table of the party, while the peppers in addition to the Mexican party menu with various savory dishes, and even sweets, which can be made using the pepper they can also be represented in sweets and Mexican party cake with a super personalized decoration, in addition to the plants, which as we have said, can be in pots on the tables of guests and the main table.
And if you want you can also use some larger vases for the party environments, besides investing in cookies, sweets and decorated cakes with the representation of plants.
5. The decorative details can be the great differential of your Mexican party – Photo: Pinterest
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Mexican Skull Party
Skulls can also be used in various details for Mexican party decoration or even have a Mexican skull party totally dedicated to it. In case you don’t know it, the Day of the Dead is a celebration that takes place every year on November 2nd where Mexican families gather to honour their loved ones who have passed away.
And the Mexican skull festival is thought of precisely in this celebration, because on the Day of the Dead many Mexicans make paintings of skulls on their faces, but they are beautiful paintings, well colored, cheerful and with many flowers and custom designs.
That’s why you can also have a Mexican skull party to honor this wonderful country and still have a lively and super relaxed party for your guests.
6. Decoration for Mexican skull party – Photo: Fabrícia Vitória
Buy the products in the picture above:
Buy the products in the picture above:
Mexican party decoration
Well, as you can see there are several elements that you can use in Mexican party decoration, everything will depend on the proposal and size of the party you want to do, but it’s always important to remember that for a Mexican party decoration ideas the details will make all the difference in the final result, moreover, if it’s a Mexican party at night lighting is essential to make the atmosphere more cozy, and for this you can use LED or light fixtures that will make the atmosphere super charming.
It’s also necessary to say that you don’t have to be afraid to dare to decorate a Mexican party, because the more decorative items you add the more fun and beautiful the party will be. That’s why you should invest in flagstones and ribbons all over the place, besides using flower arrangements in glass bottles, rustic vases with the juicy plants, and even the dishes, cups e cups that you will use to serve the food, sweets and drinks to the guests can be made in colorful material or in the main colors of Mexico for a super personalized party.
7. Use colored plates and glasses for the Mexican party – Photo: My Sweet Decor
Buy the products in the picture above:
Buy the products in the picture above:
A really cool tip for the Mexican party decor is to set up a welcome table right at the entrance of the party and if you’re thinking about how to do it, we’ll help. You can use a blackboard as a plaque and write expressions like “Bienvenidos” or “Arriba” and decorate it with drawings of Mexican sombreros, cacti and skulls, and on the table you can leave drinks like tequilas, water or even juicy vases that your guests will bring as a souvenir when they leave.
Finally, for your guests to have a lot of fun at the party it is interesting to leave shadows, masks with Mexican skulls, whiskers and Mexican expressions at their disposal so that they can take various photos and have fun
8. Deliver fun plaques for guests to make several photos – Photo: Catch My Party
Mexican party menu
The Mexican party menu is delicious, because there are so many tasty typical dishes that we are even lost when it comes to choosing what to serve at the Mexican party, which is why we leave below for you tips on Mexican party menu, and in case of doubt, you can prepare all these tasty dishes and have an unforgettable party.
Nachos
Burrito
Guacamole
Cues
Chilli
Tamale
Quesadilla
Toasted
Panucho
Enchillada
Sauces with lots of pepper
Garapiñado
Amaranth Joy
Churros
Mexican Palettes
Polvorón
Margarita
Tequila
Punches
You can also include in your menu for Mexican parties some more traditional snacks and sweets in parties here in Brazil such as coxinha, kibes, risóles, popcorn, pizzas, brigadeiro, pé de moleque, among many others.
9. Arrange a special corner at the Mexican party so that guests can serve themselves at will – Photo: Kara’s Party Ideas
See our gallery with more ideas for Mexican party
10. Invest in various flower arrangements for the Mexican party decoration – Photo: Era Uma Vez
11. Churro cake is an excellent option for Mexican party ideas – Photo: Pinterest
12. Beautiful Mexican party cake with little pinata on top – Photo: 100 Layer Cakelet
13. How about a Mexican party cake shaped like a bat? – Photo: Brit + Co
14. Beautiful Mexican party cake 3 floors super colorful with small cactus on top – Photo: Tutus for Fiestas
15. Beautiful Mexican party cake for decorating a colorful table with flower arrangements and various sweets – Photo: At Vila Festas
16. You can also decorate the drinking straws of the Mexican party – Photo: Pinterest
17. There are delicious food turns for Mexican party menu – Photo: Pinterest
18. How about a super personalized invitation to the Mexican party? – Photo: Pinterest
19. Colorful decoration for Mexican outdoor party – Photo: 100 Layer Cakelet
20. Invest in a very colorful decoration for a Mexican party – Photo: Pinterest
21. Wedding decoration with Mexican party theme – Photo: A Minha Festinha
22. You can use cactuses and succulents inside cans for Mexican party decoration – Photo: Brit + Co
23. The cacti even appear in personalized candies for the Mexican party – Photo: Beijos Events
24. Mexican party decoration with super colored panel – Photo: Ideas Decor
25. Here several juicy vases were used in the center of the Mexican party table – Photo: Pinterest
26. Super colorful Mexican party table decoration with paper flowers on the back panel – Photo: Sweet Tooth Candy Buffets
27. Here the natural plants served with panel for the Mexican skull party table – Photo: Sweet Tooth Candy Buffets
28. Super creative idea to serve tacos in Mexican party menu – Photo: Catch My Party
29. Mexican party decoration well collided with viola – Photo: Bello Toque
30. Mexican party decoration with large flower arrangements and several colorful candy dishes – Photo: Bello Toque
31. Mexican party decoration with personalized bottles – Photo: Kara’s Party Ideas
32. Mexican party decoration with yellow and red balloon panel and flower arrangements – Photo: 100 Layer Cakelet
33. Mexican skull decorated party made of balloons as a panel – Photo: Oh Happy Day!
34. Decoration Mexican children’s party with wooden panel – Photo: Clappy Parties
35. Lamas are also widely used in Mexican party decoration – Photo: Pinterest
36. Super colorful pinata candy stuffed with confetti – Photo: Pinterest
37. Mexican party personalized menu – Photo: My Sweet Decor
38. Mexican party with cactus corner decorated with large cactus vase – Photo: Beijos Events
39. Simple Mexican party decoration – Photo: Pinterest
40. Mexican party decorated with cactus shaped balloons – Photo: 100 Layer Cakelet
41. Cactuses can be represented in different ways at the Mexican party – Photo: My Sweet Decor
42. How about making little bottles of customized sauces for Mexican party souvenirs – Photo: A Minha Festinha
43. Panel with colored ribbons for Mexican party decoration with white cake decorated with pink flower – Photo: Pinterest
44. ideas for Mexican party decoration – Photo: Pinterest
45. Ideas for decoration of Mexican skull party table – Photo: Pinterest
46. Mexican Skull Party Ideas – Photo: Kara’s Party Ideas
47. Ideas for Mexican children’s party – Photo: Pinterest
48. You can invest in different packaging models for Mexican party souvenirs – Photo: Romã Comemorações Especiais
49. Beautiful decoration for colorful Mexican skull party – Photo: Impresse Festa
50. Cactus-shaped LED lamp and small colored shades for Mexican party decoration – Photo: Catch My Party
51. Margarita can’t stay out of her Mexican party menu – Photo: Pinterest
52. Mexican party table decorated with simple flower vases – Photo: Beijos Events
53. Decorated food table for Mexican party – Photo: Bonfá Stuff
54. Taco table for Mexican party with colorful decoration – Photo: Bonfá Stuff
55 Use the sombrero hat to serve nachos to your guests – Photo: Pinterest
56. Panel with balloons and colored ribbons for Mexican party decoration – Photo: My Sweet Decor
57. Panel with colored ribbons for drinks corner and Mexican party food – Photo: Kara’s Party Ideas
58. You can create your own decorations like ribbon curtain and paper flower panel for Mexican party decoration – Photo: Mila Omena
59. Panel of colorful paper flowers and jugs with fruits and colorful straws for Mexican party – Photo: My Sweet Decor
60. Peppers can also be part of Mexican party decoration – Photo: Catch My Party
61. Here the salty ones were decorated with small paper cactuses for Mexican party – Photo: Kara’s Party Ideas
62. Souvenir bags for Mexican parties – Photo: Pinterest
63. Giant cue for Mexican party decoration – Photo: Ideias Decor
64. Tequila, margaritas and juicy vases are not out of the Mexican party decor – Photo: Kara’s Party Ideas
65. Vases of plants for Mexican party decoration – Photo: Viviane Dutra
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doodlewash · 5 years ago
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What we paint is so much influenced by where we happen to be and the environment we grow up in. My name is David Poxon and my home in rural Shropshire, England, near the historic Severn valley, was the birthplace of Britain’s Industrial Revolution in the 18th Century. It provides so much artistic stimulation that the problem is having the time to get it all down.
Remnants of the historic past, discarded work places, a rich socio Rural / Industrial mix where nature is busy reclaiming that which man has abandoned or cast aside. Add to this the wonderful landscape peopled with hard working farming communities and their machines, this is the place I am proud to call home and one that inspires me every day to play a part in its journey.
As a 5 year old boy I often “helped” my Grandmother in her sweet shop. My reward on my birthday was a tin of watercolour paints, one that I still have. I had no idea how to use them or what to do. Rolls of old wallpaper cut into squares became my practice ground as I became lost in a world of vibrant colours and endless imagined possibilities. Seeing the effect this small tin of colours had on me, as an extra treat I was taken on a day trip to London to “see the art”.
We went to the Tate Gallery and there I was confronted for the first time with the great master works of Turner. I knew then that my life was forever changed and would be shaped by a love of art. Paintings made in my artists personal zone where time has no meaning, where love of the world we pass through is somehow encapsulated in the brief remnants we leave behind.
My medium of preference is watercolour, and I am a purist in the sense that mainly transparent pigment is used, and white paint avoided. I aim to record what is seen and felt in a subject as accurately and realistically as possible, believing that any finished painting should attempt to transcend a mere visual experience and reach out to the viewer in a stimulating, emotional, and engaging way.
Totally fascinated with the technical challenges that pure watercolour painting presents my working method requires patience and preparation. Thinking about the subject whilst exploring its ‘construction’ through drawing, and refining and rehearsing passages that stretch my abilities as a painter, provides my constant motivation. This reverential approach is very much born out of the respect I feel for the subjects that call me.
Subject hunting trips are usually frantic and fast paced expeditions. Armed with a small pad, drawing  kit, camera, and tape measure to record size and scale. When the light is right for me, that which gives strong cast shadows and emphasises tonal definition, I am ready to go exploring at a moments notice. Being aware of potential subjects is very much a state of mind, inspiration can strike in the unlikeliest places and it’s important to have the artist’s radar on maximum alert.
I never rearrange a possible subject as this can give an almost artificial atmosphere to the work, rather I change my position within the subject area until a sense of the painterly possibilities emerges. I move rapidly from one scenario to another. Stopping to make quick drawing notes, taking photos for fine detail, and measuring where necessary. Occasionally a more formal on the spot drawing is called for. Frottage is a useful technique to have in your armoury to instantly create an impression of texture, shape, and tonal extremes. An instant record of any object you find can be captured in a few moments with the aid of copy paper and a soft pencil.
It is only later when back in my studio that the days collection can be fully examined. As my painting method means that days or weeks are spent on a work it’s necessary to gauge whether my enthusiasm for what at first seemed like a good capture will sustain. Some projects are far more complicated than others, and this is where accurate drawing and preparation are vital. There can be no obvious drawing errors when attempting to record the parts of engines or tractors as it’s inevitable that an expert will be in the gallery and spot any embarrassing mistakes. Taking time to get the drawing right will avoid a world of pain later!
These machines and scenarios have characters of their own, and I treat them as portraits in respect their features. Next step is to produce an accurate line drawing, I always work on stretched heavy watercolour paper held down on to marine plywood boards. Having a stock of these of various sizes always available means that my options are never restricted.
My final line drawing for transfer to the w/c paper will be kept to an absolute minimum in terms of detail. The aim is to provide a simple skeleton shape. I regard this very much as scaffolding in the sense that when the painting is begun my process will rebuild the subject on the paper. Next step is protecting areas to be kept white.
I use anything that comes to hand to do this, scraps of paper, objects, and masking fluid. It’s better to protect more whites than you may need , after all there are very few actual real whites in nature, and I can blend them away later in the painting if they are unnecessary. At this stage the ‘work’ does not look anything like it might end up, holding onto that final vision in the mind is vital!
First washes tend to be splashy affairs with mixes about the consistency of milk. I try to get 7 or 8 layers of wash down wet on dry to get paint body onto the paper. These are exploratory in the sense that a finished work may have more than 20 transparent wash layers. The drawing may become lost amid the seeming chaos of these first applications, re finding the scaffolding drawing sometimes requires the tenacity of an archaeologist.
Knowing where you want the painting to go only comes through experience with this type of method.  My board is kept flat to maximise any granulation effects, rocking it occasionally encourages runs and blending. Texture is important to me, so I will take any benefits the pigments throw my way. Balancing the mediums natural tendencies while finding colour ways and exploiting light effects, counter changed with complimentary darker passages, is an exciting juggling skill.
My paints of choice are Winsor & Newton professional watercolours. For paper I have used Bockingford 425 gm (200lb) NOT surface for quite a few years. I always stretch the paper onto ply boards, and have found this brand and weight to be the most resilient in terms of taking a large number of washes (up to 24) and still enabling a range of techniques to manipulate the paint and wash it out to retrieve (almost) white paper.
For very large works, 4ft and up, I use Arches 300lb Not surface. Again, I still stretch the paper on to very large plywood boards. Watercolour brushes are mainly flat synthetics, and also synthetic riggers size 1 and 2. I use a cross section of brands, Escoda, Daler-Rowney, and SAA. The synthetics give me more control and exactness.
Watercolour has a reputation for being the most difficult medium to master. Often seemingly to have a will of its own. With experience you can limit the chances of the paint running away from your subject and wield a certain amount of control. By stepping  down through the tonal register with multi layers of wash, working light to dark, and slowly steering the painting towards the vision that first inspired you. This patient approach can be very rewarding. After all, life teaches us that you only get out of something what you put in.
In 2020, my main project focus is on organising the International Watercolour Masters Exhibition which will star 39 elite painters and will be staged at Lilleshall Hall, Shropshire, England between May 5th and 15th. The International Watercolour Masters Exhibition 2020 is a large scale event which will have a festival feel. In addition to the spectacular artworks on display, every show day there will be at least 3 live Masters TV Demonstrations from the main stage in the exhibition hall. Numerous workshops will run alongside the show simultaneously. Artists will be present from over 30 countries including household names such as Alvaro Castagnet, Fabio Cembranelli, Thomas Schaller, Keiko Tanabe, Patricia Guzman, and many more including myself. Tickets for the event are already on sale from SAA.
In addition to this big show, my new book Watercolour Heart & Soul, which is a 190 page volume with over 120 full colour plates, is also available. For a limited time while stocks last I will be selling signed copies, shipped worldwide, direct from my website. You can order direct and it will be great to hear from you.
And finally remember that watercolour painting is not a race, it is a search for yourself!  Thanks for stopping by.
David Poxon Website Instagram Facebook Twitter
GUEST ARTIST: "Watercolour Heart & Soul" by David Poxon - #doodlewash #WorldWatercolorGroup #watercolour #watercolor What we paint is so much influenced by where we happen to be and the environment we grow up in.
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lenaglittleus · 6 years ago
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Vegan Pumpkin Caramel Tart
This creamy vegan pumpkin caramel tart gives pumpkin pie a serious run for its money. Made with a simple granola crust and a smooth cashew based pumpkin-filling this dessert recipe will quickly become a winter favorite!
There was a time in my life when I judged people for how they ate. There, I said it. It’s true. In fact, there was a long while where I focused WAY too much on other people’s food choices. Not surprisingly, it was also a time in my life when I scrutinized my own.
I’ve come to learn that these two tend to go hand-in-hand. If you, or someone you know is hyper-focused on other people’s diet choices, I can almost guarantee it comes from a place of insecurity in your own body and diet choices. I can say this because I’ve been there and I know exactly what it feels like. I used to question people who went vegan or tried a Whole30 or made whatever other food decisions that every single one of us is entitled to make. And quite honestly, it used to make me mad. Why? Because I was deeply insecure that my own decisions were being threatened.
Other people were 100% a mirror for my own insecurities. Isn’t life fun like that?!
Here I am over 5 years out from an eating disorder and I can say with complete certainty that I do not feel threatened or quite frankly, care a whole lot about how other people choose to eat. I am confident in my choices and love being able to provide resources to others but I honestly don’t give a rat’s ass if they look different from my own. I love vegan food, gluten-free treats and paleo cookies. I’m also not vegan, gluten-free or paleo. I have friends who are and they love it! I think this is awesome.
I also have friends and family who eat McDonald’s, won’t touch organic food and don’t eat any green vegetables. I can’t say that any of this thrills me, but I really don’t dwell on it. Everyone is entitled to their food choices and it is not my job to question them. It quite literally IS my job to provide helpful resources but I honestly believe that the best way to enact change is to lead by example.
So here’s the deal: This Vegan Pumpkin Caramel Tart is, well, vegan. It just happens to be vegan and a healthier option. Jess, who developed this recipe is dairy-free. This recipe is also delicious and Jess is also an incredible human.
Can you promise me something? This holiday season, let’s all be a less judgemental about other people’s diet choices. Even if it looks different from their choices last year or different from your own. And if that’s really hard, I urge you to question why it is difficult for you to accept these differences in others. You may discover a thing or two about yourself that could help you get through to the other side.
And then eat this tart because it’s damn good!
Print
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Vegan Pumpkin Caramel Tart
Author: Jess @ The Healthy Maven
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 4 hours
Yield: 12 slices
Ingredients
Crust
2 cups of granola of choice
¼ cup coconut oil, melted
Chocolate Layer
3 oz dark chocolate, about 1 bar (I used 85% but feel free to use something slightly lower if you’re new to dark chocolate)
Pumpkin Filling
2 cups raw cashews, soaked in water for 4 hours or overnight
½ cup pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
⅓ cup maple syrup
¼ cup coconut oil, melted and cooled
2 tbsp unsweetened almond milk
A nub of ginger, peeled (about the size of your thumb will give you nice spicy flavor)
1 tsp ground ginger
½ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp nutmeg
¼ tsp sea salt
Pinch of ground cloves
Caramel Layer
½ can, about 200ml, full fat coconut milk
¼ cup coconut sugar
1 tsp arrowroot starch (could use corn or tapioca starch as well)
¼ tsp sea salt
2 tbsp pumpkin seeds
Flaked sea salt, for sprinkling
Tools
8’’ springform pan
Instructions
Set the oven to 350F. Line the bottom of the springform pan with parchment paper and grease the sides with coconut oil.
Place the crust ingredients in a food processor and process until you have an even mixture with a texture like wet sand.
Press the granola into the pan tightly and bake for 20 minutes until the crust is golden. Let the crust cool completely.
Melt the chocolate and pour over the cooled crust. Place in the fridge and let it set for about 20 minutes. The chocolate layer doesn’t need to be solid all the way through, just enough that the top is firm.
While the chocolate is setting in the fridge, make the pumpkin cashew filling. Place the filling ingredients in a high powered blender or food processor and blend until smooth, scraping down the sides as needed.
Pour the filling into the pan and use a rubber spatula to smooth the top as best you can.  Tap the pan a few times to release any air bubbles.
Place in the fridge or freezer to chill while you make the caramel.
To make the caramel, combine the ingredients in a small non stick pot and place over low heat for about 10-15 minutes, stirring about every few minutes. The sauce will be a light brown, golden color. The sauce will thicken as it cooks.
While the caramel cook, toast the pumpkin seeds in a dry skillet over low heat. Remove from the heat once they become fragrant and start to make a popping sound.
Once the caramel has cooked and thickened, remove from heat and let it cool.
Once it is cool, pour it over the pumpkin layer and top with the toasted pumpkin seeds and flaked sea salt.
Chill the whole tart in the fridge for at least 4 hours, but ideally overnight or several hours in the freexer. The pie will keep for about 5 days in the fridge. This dessert can also be frozen, allowing it to thaw for about 10 minutes before serving.
How do you feel about my stance on other people’s diet choices? Do you find this challenging?
The post Vegan Pumpkin Caramel Tart appeared first on The Healthy Maven.
from News About Health https://www.thehealthymaven.com/2018/12/vegan-pumpkin-caramel-tart.html
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sunnydawn444 · 6 years ago
Text
New Post has been published on Sunny Dawn Johnston
New Post has been published on http://sunnydawnjohnston.com/blog/numerology-report-allowing-abundance-the-gift-of-augusts-8-vibration/
Numerology Report - Allowing Abundance – The Gift of August’s 8 Vibration
Allowing Abundance –The Gift of August’s 8 Vibration
When you hear (or read) the word Abundance, what immediately comes to mind for you? Close your eyes for a moment and allow your imagination to conjure images of abundance for you.
What pops in? Maybe it flows like the waterfall in the picture, or appears like a treasure chest. Just be aware of what things your mind connects with the concept of abundance.
Now close your eyes again and take a nice deep relaxing breath. When you think about the word Abundance, how do you feel?
Do you feel expansive, relaxed, and light? Or maybe you feel constricted or nervous or anxious in some way. Just notice what comes up for you. No judgement.
And speaking of judgment, when you hear, read, or even think about abundance, what judgments jump in for you, muddying the true essence of the word?
The word “Abundance” is steeped in rich layers of meaning.
The dictionary defines is as a large or great quantity. Other words that describe parts of its essence are: profusion, plenty, richness, plethora, excess, lavish, copious, prosperity, fortune, wealth.
Its opposite is lack and scarcity.
Can you live a simple and abundant life? Yes.
Can you be fabulously wealthy and live a life of scarcity instead of abundance? Yes.
Sometimes when we think of abundance – or being abundant – we respond physically with involuntary constriction. This is coming from that place of lack inside of you that may not trust, feel you deserve, or be willing to receive abundance for any number of reasons.
If you responded in this way, that’s great, because you have just identified a place where judgement is blocking your flow. And that judgment has created a self-imposed limit on your ability to receive more abundance. Besides, now that you know it is there you can begin to do something about changing it!
So clearly there is more to Abundance than just material acquisition.
What does this word mean for you?
For me it is a state of being as well as a mindset. An energy thing. A vibration thing. A coming together of heaven and earth. Spiritual plus Material.
And that is the essence of the 8 vibration we are in for the month of August.
This month my guides tell me the 8 vibration is encouraging you to allow more abundance into your life.
The 8 vibration is about Abundance, Power, Appreciation, Wealth, Prosperity, Fame, Recognition, Leadership, Success, Problem-solving, Organizing, Potential, and Material Mastery.
When you look at the 8 on its side, you’ll notice it is an infinity symbol. Anything and everything is possible. The 8 brings together the resources of heaven (spirit plane) and earth (material plane).
The 8 teaches that true success and an abundant life comes when you allow yourself to be guided by spirit.
Back to the whole “allowing” piece.
We live in an abundant Universe, on an abundant planet… yet we struggle to make ends meet. We fear there are not enough resources to go around. We might excel at making money, but suck at having money. (Yeah, the “having” piece of it trips many people up… it comes in and goes out, in and out, in and out, like the tide! What if you could have a reservoir?)
What if the only thing standing between you and what you desire is your ability to believe it is possible and be willing to actually receive it?
I know. I know. I get tripped up by this as well.
Law of Attraction says you must be a vibrational match for what you desire.
So what does that actually mean?
No one gives you a catalog with all the items you want with an actual vibrational frequency listed by each one instead of a price. Might be cool though…
I haven’t mastered this yet. (Which pisses me off to no end, btw.) However, I do know that your frequency becomes more attractive to the things you desire when you are in any of these 3 vibrational states:
Joy
Appreciation
Gratitude
And the things you desire drift further away when you focus all your energy on vibrational zapping things like:
Wanting the thing
Thinking and talking about what you don’t have
Complaining, bitching, moaning, and woe-is-me-ing
Getting or trying to get something (this includes the insidious “giving to get” behavior)
There are probably a few more in each category, yet I think this gets the point across.
  A word about want and wanting…
Want and desire are two different things. The older meaning and primary energetic essence of the word “want” means to lack.
If you want money and focus on wanting more money, well the Universe interprets this as you are lacking money and you desire to lack even more money. Arrrgghhh! So unexpected bills show up, things break down, and debt piles up.
And this I know from my own experience.
Right now I am playing with “having money” instead of wanting money.  Having money assumes you already have it, so it can grow. Wanting money assumes you lack money and that lack grows.
This is one way vibrations of desire and receiving line up.
In order to allow more abundance in your life, you might have to explore what beliefs are getting in the way of you having this. It might be simply redirecting your focus away from the buzz-killing energy-deflating behaviors mentioned above.
What might your life be like if you refrained from dwelling in those mental and emotional states, and behaviors?
Happier? Probably.
More abundant? Quite possibly.
I invite you to give it a try.
Every time you find yourself slipping into the complaining, wanting, don’t have-ness zone, immediately start naming things you are grateful for. Start with 5 things. Continue on if you dare.
Then think about what you appreciate. Feel that appreciation. Express that appreciation… out loud and often!
And maybe allow yourself some fun and play times to stimulate joy. For me creating puts me in a state of joy. For you it might be seeing kitten or puppy videos, cooking a delicious meal, or playing with a child.
Start allowing more and more goodness into your life. Allow yourself to see all the abundance already in your life and all that is out there in the world. Appreciate it.
  If you are interested, here are a few other attributes of the 8 vibration…
The Light Side of the 8 radiates: fame, power, fortune, personal power, wealth, prosperity, charitable, wise, abundant, success, leadership, executive ability, spiritual, kind, considerate, courageous, helpful, humanitarian, perceptive, charming, ambitious, reliable, expanding, inspiring, creating systems/order, prioritizing, organizing, problem-solving, potential and potency.
The Shadow Side of the 8 is steeped in: impatience (for self & others) and is easily knocked off balance, which is especially true this year, since the shadow of 2018’s 2 vibration also includes impatience and imbalance!
The frustrated 8 shadow gets very indignant, bossy, stubborn, over-indulgent, and may succumb to manipulation, depression, vanity, jealousy, deception, and total chaos. Just trying to get its way.
The darkest shadow of the 8 is the control freak who gives the driver seat to ego and materialistic pursuits… at any cost.
And the most common shadow element of the 8 is financial instability. The money roller-coaster.
  Public Service Announcement… Mercury is Retrograde
Mercury went Retrograde on July 26th
It will end on August 18th.
But… there is still the shadow effect in play until September 2nd.
And we still have a whole bunch of planets in retrograde adding to the intensity
So find time to just be… only start things that were hold-overs from the past. Nothing brand spanking new until September… ok?!
  This month, appreciate the abundance in and around you. Play with energy enhancing activities… practice them until they become new habits
May you be blessed with Abundance this August (and every month!)
With Love and Appreciation, Karen
  Karen M. Winkelman
Intuitive Consultant for Your Life and Your Business
An eclectic mix of creativity and business, woo and practical, spirituality and science, Karen is a natural counselor who can help you reframe a situation, reconnect with your creative essence, and rediscover your sense of self.
For most of her life, Karen’s empowered other creatives and heart-centered professionals to find clarity and direction, bust through blocks and get unstuck. Whether working with clients, speaking at an event, or chatting with friends, Karen blends intuition, wisdom, and spiritual teachings with deep listening, practical guidance, and a wickedly playful sense of humor.
Intuitive numerologist, idea generator, and illuminator, Karen can help you see possibilities and give you permission to stop “Shoulding” yourself and be and do “You” instead.  Karen is available for consultations, workshops and speaking engagements.
If you’d like your personal numerology forecast for 2018 or if you’d like clarity and direction for those pesky issues in your life or business, I’d love to work with you if we’re a fit. Let’s connect:  www.TheLifeCraftingGuide.com and  https://www.facebook.com/karen.m.winkelman.lifecrafting
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becauseiamnotanelephant · 7 years ago
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Day 9: Shifting Gears
Even though I'm 6 hours ahead of most readers of this blog, and even though I went to bed before you went to sleep, I also got up before you went to sleep. 6:45 am flight out of Milan meant I was up at 4:30, and at the front door of the hotel at 5 to get the free shuttle to the airport. 5 am is early, but it's not too early for fights about who has reservations for the shuttle and just thinks they do. It was so obviously two New Yorkers, likely here on their honeymoon, that fucked up making a reservation. Never too early to be obnoxious. 
I conked out immediately after I sat on the plane but did take note that we took off 40 minutes late and given that I had a 55 min layover, expected the worst. But I still slept like a baby. And woke up just in time to capture some real mountains out the window. 
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Which was a huge contrast to the landscape over Amsterdam. 
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I ended ups missing my flight so hung out in the airport for an extra two hours, savoring the one whole item I could buy with the five euro voucher I was offered as an apology for my missed connection. 
Finally I was on my way to Oslo. Norwegian is a wild language. Even with the flight attendants speaking English, their native Norwegian inflections had me thinking of the swedish chef muppet all morning. 
I made it to Oslo, got my bags, and was on the way into the city on the train and a short walk from the central station quickly had me at the hostel where I'll be staying for two days. Everything's stupid expensive here, so I'll be hosteling it when possible. 
I'm planning to store my luggage at the train station for a few days so went to scope it out. It will work fine, even if I needed to store my skis. Amazing.
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As soon as I was checked in, I walked back towards the train station take a free walking tour. I extended the tour with my own meandering afterwards, and based on what I learned by myself vs on the tour, its proof that a tour guide provides a lot of benefits. 
What I learned on my own:
1. The traffic signal cycles are mid blowingly short. Even non traffic engineers must make this realization after they figure out that if they don't practially run across the street that the light changes in about five seconds. Drivers get just as little time too. It's crazy.
2. I have never been in a city where the windows on the building are so clean. I know this sounds like a ridiculous observation, because it is, but seriously, I saw one dirty window today.
Now, for what I learned on the tour...from a woman who is actually from Latvia...
1. Trams get priority in the street. Even over pedestrians. Even pedestrians in the crosswalks. 
2. The new opera house, below, is designed to look like an iceberg and the people are supposed to look like penguins walking on it. It's also the only opera house where people can walk on the roof. And the roof is open all the time; it's a public space.
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3. This sculpture was ,add at the request of the queen (there is a queen), and was built inspired by a painting of a a ship wreck. But what's cool about it is that it moves in the bay based on wind and tides, so it's never in the same place.
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4. The city has a statue of a tiger because it was once called a tiger city back when it was super dangerous.
5. Houses here were typically painted 3 colors, which were an indication of social status. Red houses were those of the poorest people, yellow housesmwere middle class, and the wealthy families had white homes. The royal palace was yellow in solidarity with the working class.
(View of the harbor)
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(So many flowers, and so many in blue!!)
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(Tell me this guy doesnt look like gene wilder)
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(Some of the old houses were amazing)
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6. This is a photo from the Vigeland Sculpture Park, and if I heard correctly, it has more sculptures than any park. Which also made for some cool shadows. All but one park Oslo allows topless sunbathing. 
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(Sunset view from the opera house)
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7. This area is called the “bar code” since all the buildings next to each other look like a bar code with all the different heights. 
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8. Prostitution is legal, but being a client is illegal. 
9. The Nobel peace prize is the only Nobel prize to be awarded here, even though Nobel himself was a Swede. No one knows why, but this was a specific request in his will. Also, every Nobel peace prize winner gets about a million dollars (this is not fact checked) but since Nobel started making these awards, the total amount of money awarded is less than one percentage of his total worth, which was accumulated because he invented dynamite and made a fortune from it. 
10. There are lots of rocks around if you go hiking, and many Norwigen fairy tales revolve around them and how the rocks turn into trolls at night. This sounds crazy, but not as much as the similar story in Iceland, where they believe that elves live in certain places. So much that certain elf “experts” must be consulted if the department of transportation wants to build a road through said area. As if there aren't already enough crazy people to deal with when doing a roadway construction project...
Ok, the last note isn't a fact, but overheard when the tour guide was talking with two women's from Singapore. She was jealous of them because during the winter she dreams of just wearing flip flops as she puts on three layers of socks. I though that was valid. But the singaporian women countered by saying that they are jealous of Norwegians because they get to wear boots. It's always too hot there to ever wear boots. I thought that was prett funny.
All in all, Oslo is a pretty cool place so far. Except for around the hostel, of course, this is one of the safest places I've ever been. The parks are beautiful, the old architecture is amazing, and it's very easy to get around. I understand nothing, nor can I pronounce anything. It's very expensive, but as I'm staying in the much more ethnically diverse area with many immigrants, there are cheaper supermarkets with everything you can ask for. Other than the immigrants, of which there are many, everyone else is blond. And I tried to make the most of today as it's supposed to pour the next two days. If my venture into the land of the fjords is a washout, I'm going to be pretty bummed.
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