#long road of recovery ahead tho

[ghoulangerlee]

today i learned a very important lesson about advocating for the amount of pain i'm in and how that probably saved me life lmao

[manekicatwriter]

hellooo! i was wondering if i could make a request for an modern au sbi x gn sibling reader where they’re around 17-19, and they’ve got depression. they’ve had to go away for a few weeks after a bad episode ended in an attempt and they were hospitalized and sent somewhere for rehabilitation and now they’re coming home and they’re all anxious and quiet and stuff- so the boys do their best to like comfort them and reassure them that they’re loved and they belong there? i’m sorry if that’s an awkward request, i was just recently discharged after a similar situation and honestly the comfort would be great. it’s totally your call if you chose to write it tho, i understand that this is a difficult and triggering subject and not everyone is comfortable with writing things like it. if you aren’t comfy please feel free to just ignore my ask! <3

you’re here, and that’s what matters.

TW: mentions of attempted suicide. please proceed with caution.

hey! i just wanted to let you know that i’ve been through a similar situation and understand how you feel (though my case was not as severe). i wish you a safe road to recovery.

note, i think you asked for their characters but it leant itself towards their rl versions. i have a feeling the dsmp versions would be too chaotic for this sensitive subject.

REQUESTS ARE OPEN!! please do not be afraid to send in an ask. ANON IS ON!!

Phil:

- phil was very scared about you being so gravely hurt, it kept him up for some nights. thankfully, you pulled through.

- he visited whenever he could. if he couldn’t, he was busy making sure coming home felt as comfortable for you as possible while also educating himself on how to take care of you.

- phil would listen to how you felt, and be understanding of your feelings.

- “You don’t have to tell me why you did it, I’m just glad you’re here,” pulling you in for a warm hug.

- when you got back home, he made sure he and the boys had prepared your favorite dinner and desserts.

It was the day you had just got home from rehabilitation, and you two were sitting on the couch. You hadn’t said much, you felt like you had nothing to say. Phil had asked for you to sit down so you two could talk, one on one.

You couldn’t meet his gaze. “I’m sorry,” your voice started to crack. “For making you guys worry about me.” Tears started to form from your eyes and you wept into your hands.

Phil immediately reached over to you to hug you, letting you cry on his shoulder. “We don’t blame you. We don’t blame anybody. I just want you to be here safe with us. Let it all out.” He pat and rubbed your back soothingly as you kept crying. But it was a good cry. He was just glad you came home.

Tommy:

- even though many see tommy as a loud and obnoxious boy with a general disregard for others, we all know deep down that’s a persona. he will go out of his way to make other comfortable in his presence if he truly cares for them. which he does, for you of course.

- he wants to make you happy! when the time is right, he’ll crack jokes and offer to play minecraft with you.

- would tone down the yelling. not because you asked, but he’s afraid of triggering you. treats you like glass. if you notice he’s being quieter than usual and you don’t care, you tell him you don’t.

- if you’re feeling it, he’ll take you out to fun places and to eat. nothing that’s too outlandish like a theme park, but just enough to have a reason to get out of bed that day instead of sleeping in.

It had been a week since you had gotten home and Phil had instructed you to maintain somewhat of a schedule to upkeep yourself. Right now was your nightly routine, washing yourself, brushing your teeth, and finally sliding under the covers. It felt nice. The blanket of sleep consumes you easily…

…

Until you bedroom door opens you’re being aggressively shaken awake. You groan, shying away, but they’re persistent.

“Ey, wake up, it’s morning!” Tommy shakes you again.

You realize you didn’t dream, but think nothing of it. “Tommy please, what do you want.”

Finally, Tommy pulled your warm sheets from over you, making you flinch. “I wanted to go out to the park today! Feed the ducks! Yeesss!”

You sighed. If you didn’t comply now, Tommy will refuse to stop nagging you for the rest of the day. You rolled out of bed and into the bathroom. You could very clearly hear Tommy’s cheers.

You two had gotten ready, eaten breakfast, and said goodbye to the rest of your family so you could head over to the park. It was close enough that it wasn’t unbearable to walk to. Even if you weren’t completely yourself yet, you were glad Tommy was.

After the short walk you two finally reached the park. Tommy immediately bolted toward the pond and you jogged behind. He had already started throwing the ducks some seeds, and even threw it on a duck. It didn’t seem too pleased.

You two sat at the edge of the pond as you watched the ducks eat. “Hey.” You hear Tommy call to you, and you turn your head to him.

“Can we talk about what happened? With you? Is it okay?” You could hear the uncertainty in his voice.

“Go ahead, what is it?”

“When Techno found out what happened to you, and told us the news, I was scared shitless.” He let out a sad huff. “I thought we were going to lose you.” Tommy kept his eyes fixed at the pond in front of him. “I’m sorry, I really shouldn’t have brought this up. I’m just glad you’re okay.” He sighed.

You put a hand on his shoulder. “Oh Tommy…” You started, “I’m sorry for making you worry. You shouldn’t have to feel like that because of my actions.”

Tommy was lost in thought for a moment, before finally speaking up, “No, please don’t apologize. It’s not anybody’s fault this happened, right?” You nodded.

Tommy stood up, dusting his pants off from the grass. “Come on now, let’s go get some ice cream!” He pulled you up from the ground.

“Last one to get to the shop has to pay!”

Immediately, Tommy bolts in the direction to the ice cream shop, and you catch up to him. No matter the circumstance is, he never seems to fail at putting a smile on your face.

Wilbur:

- i HC wilbur being the oldest, being older than techno by 3 years and older than tommy by 8, like IRL. :]

- i think out of all of your siblings, wilbur exudes the most “protective older brother” energy, yeah?

- remember when tommy lied about his mother being in trouble and how worried and anxious wilbur got? turn that up to 11 with what happened with you.

- with wilbur being the oldest, he of course had the responsibility of taking care of everyone. but somehow you and him didn’t spend as much 1 on 1 time as much as wilbur did with his other siblings

- wilbur definitely was going to change that, realizing that and not wanting to make that mistake again.

- he decided that finding a new hobby with you wouldn’t be such a bad idea.

You were sitting at the dinner table, being the last one there. You were poking at your food for the most part, and Wilbur got home late from… whatever Wilbur thing he was doing. Phil cooked pasta for dinner tonight. Wilbur put down his bags at the door connected to the garage. “I’m home! What’s for dinner?”

“Pasta.”

“Mmm, I love some good ol’ pasta.” He said, already taking a plate out to serve himself. “Also, hey, I bought something I wanted to build with you. Do you mind?”

You finally looked up from your very interesting pasta. “Build..?” You had no idea where this was going.

Wilbur placed his plate on the table and approached the bags of groceries, going through them to find the bag he was looking for. He pulled out a LEGO set. More specifically, a LEGO City set from the looks of the box? “Wilbur, how much was that?”

He blinked at you innocently. “It was only, like, £25. And look! It’s got a little submarine we can make with a rock and ugly sea monster—“

“But why?”

“Why not? It wouldn’t hurt for you to do something new, yeah?” He smiled at you, shaking the LEGO box in front of him to show it off. You sighed, but smiled. “Alright. But maybe you and I should eat this pasta first before we start building.” Wilbur nodded.

“Speaking of water, don’t you think I could teach you how to swim or something?”

“Oh, fuck off with that!”

Technoblade:

- i think out of everyone in the family, he understands you the most in terms of how you feel.

- not suicidal, but just generally having depressive episodes due to his ADHD.

- techno’s generally closed off, but started to really open up to you because he wanted to show he cares, even if it meant going out of his comfort zone.

- techno suggested journaling. once a day or once per week, it didn’t really matter. just as long as you could write down your feelings somewhere.

- he didn’t explicitly say it, but he also bought a book for himself so he could do it along with you. although, he more often than not just forgets to write in it until you mention your own journal.

- if you want to be sad and quiet, you can be sad and quiet with him. his room is a safe space for you if you ever need it and you’re always welcome to come in, just as long as you knock first.

With one hand on your mouse scrolling through the internet, and another resting your head on it, you were safe to admit you were utterly and completely bored. Honestly, you thought about taking another nap after your last one, but a knock on your door stopped you right before you pulled the covers over yourself. “Can I come in?”

You rose from your bed. “Come in. Oh hey Techno.”

He gave a simple wave and his signature “Halloo.” He walked right over to you and handed a journal and a ballpoint pen. “I got this. For you.” His stare was sharp but you could sort of tell he was nervous.

“What for?”

“I dunno. Writin’ your feelings down or drawin’ or somethin’. Whatever helps you vent.” He scratched the back of his neck.

“Oh Techno, thank you. That’s very sweet of you.” You gave a slight smile, but saw that he still had another journal in his hand. “You have two journals?”

Techno raised his eyebrow in confusion before looking down at his hand. “Oh this? It’s for me. So we could do it together, I guess.”

You let out a happy hum. “That’s nice. Say, why don’t we go to your room? I want to see your new lava lamp and stuff.”

Techno shrugged. “Sure. I’ve got more stationary too if you want.” He waved his hand before letting himself out the door, with you following not far behind.

hi hope u enjoyed reading as much as i did writing it. this format was new for me but very fun!

[thetrashywritingwitch]

one of my friends finally had her gender affirming surgery yesterday after waiting literally YEARS to get this done and even tho there's a long road ahead with recovery, physical therapy, and time, i know she's so happy and feels amazing that she was finally able to have this procedure done to feel better in her body <3

[aspaceform3]

This friday I'm off to Madrid after leaving due to my depression. Madrid felt and still feels like home because I knew people there who finally loved me for myself and stayed. Yeah, not all of them are my best friends, but they haven't moved away. They are still with me in this road we call life and I can't be more grateful.

Yeah maybe I was a depressive mess, but I only felt happy once I was with them, partly because I had really difficoult friendships that one way or another ended brutally wrong.

I spent many summers alone in my room wishing for new friends and...yeah I still can't say I definitely have some here as it looks like I'm being left now that all of them have partners but I...now I don't wish for new friends cause I'm very taking care of myself and learning how to cope with all my mental health issues. And that's everything.

the thought of coming back makes me feel this rush in my belly that I havent felt since I came back and i...my best friends are there. Nuria and Ana have been there for me on the worst times. I don't know where id be without them now. I will never be able to thank them enough and I just...i havent seen Ana in person in 2 fucking LONG years. 2 YEARS. Yet she is my best friend. Even tho she lives far away from me and we don't talk every day she knows she can count with me and so can I.

Nuria is like an angel falling from the sky. I'm so happy i met such a beautiful soul and I love that idiot so fucking much. She's just amazing I'm so grateful and i wish i could hug her every day. She deserves so much love and happiness. I was currently watching the videos I made when she came to shittown back in October...i cried for two minutes. I can tell anything I want to Nuria. We vibe the same way. I can be totally me with her. Complitely. I am me when I'm with her.

Ana is just like how I wish my little sister and I were. She's a great kid and I feel like an older sister cause she's going almost the same i went trough when I was her age. She comes to me with advice, she tells me whats in her brain, her worries, what she wants from the future...everything. She trusts me cause as she says a lots of times "i tell you everything because i always feel like you never judge me"

if thats not the most beautiful thing a human being can tell another in this mad world we're in I just don't know what is.

I'm so in love with the idea of coming back. I don't want anything crazy, I'm not expecting anything great or amazing to happen. I just want to feel loved and love back as much as I can.

After battling with myself every day since Jenuary in order to get my life together...i definitely need this as an award. I still have a long road ahead of me, recovery is not s light at the end of the tunnel for me. I already have the light, i just need to learn how to make it shine enough to make me feel at ease, yet not so much to blind me. I am working on being the best version of myself and this trip back is gonna help me so much.

Thanks universe, for this amazing oportunity. For hearing my prayers when I was 17 tired of feeling used and trapped in the shittown I live in. For allowing me to live away from my abused family for a year and a half, for making me realize there was something up with the way I was dealing with life that wasn't the best. For leading me these angels I call friends that don't want to leave my side. Yeah we might not be all besties but i know i cam trust them.

Thanks for this recovery that I am going through. I know now why I had to come back here. Thankyou thankyou thankyou.

[bettercaremarket]

How to prepare your home before hip and knee surgery?

This article will describe the causes of pain, the reasons for surgery, and which tools will prepare you at home before and after your surgery.

 Reasons for surgery

Knee surgery or total knee replacement is one of the most successful procedures in medicine. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, more than 50,000 knee replacements are performed each year in Australia. This surgery is a safe and effective operation to relieve pain while walking or climbing up the stairs. It will assist you to resume normal day-to-day activities.

There are a number of reasons people need to have knee surgery. The most common is osteoarthritis, a degenerative disease categorised by the receding cartilage resulting in great discomfort and pain, usually in people 50 years and older. The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare has shown that pain or mobility problems caused by osteoarthritis are the reason for 98% of knee replacements in Australia. 

Another cause can be rheumatoid arthritis - where the membrane that surrounds the knee joint is inflamed - causing damage to the joint and loss of cartilage. A third reason is a severe knee injury or fracture. 

Hip replacement surgery is usually necessary when the joint becomes worn or damaged and affects your mobility resulting in pain. The most common reason for joint replacement surgery is osteoarthritis but a joint may be damaged by other conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or severe injury.

Osteoarthritis occurs in people over 50 and is a ‘wear and tear’ form of arthritis where the cushioning wears away. The rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which chronic inflammation can damage the cartilage causing pain and stiffness. The post-traumatic arthritis is caused by a serious hip fracture or injury which damages the cartilage. In all these cases a total hip replacement surgery is an effective procedure that can relieve your pain, increase your motion and help you back to enjoy everyday activities

 Preparing for hip & knee surgery

Doctors recommend cutting back on unhealthy lifestyle choices prior to hip replacement surgery, like smoking and alcohol consumption. Getting enough sleep can also recharge your body and help with the long hip replacement surgery or knee surgery recovery road that lies ahead. This is especially important when you consider this direct quote from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare: “1 in 10 people with osteoarthritis 45 & over self-reported poor health”.

Several adjustments can make your home easier to navigate during your recovery. The following preparations will  help you with your daily activities: 

●      In the house - Prepare your home for your arrival following surgery. This means keeping all of your essential items within reach. It might be worth installing new shelves to hold TV remotes, laptops, charging ports etc in one location. Remove any tripping hazards from the floor, including electrical cords, rugs, decorative items, and general clutter. Arrange for a temporary living space on the same floor to avoid walking up or down the stairs (this might be difficult during early recovery).  Keep one chair to be your primary chair. It needs to facilitate sitting and standing with minimal effort from you. 

●      In the bedroom - It might help you tremendously to keep a portable commode in the bedroom for the first few days of recovery. A walker or a zimmer frame will make walking around much easier. 

●      In the bathroom - The bathroom is always a high-risk area, in fact, many hip injuries occur in the bathroom.  Reduce the risk by getting a shower chair for stability. A raised toilet seat will simplify the sitting and standing associated with this bathroom task. A grab rail can also improve safety in the bathroom. 

●      Getting help – arrange for a friend or a family member to help you at home with everyday tasks like cooking, laundry or shopping for the first 14 days of hip or knee surgery recovery. Gentle and safe exercises can also help to encourage healing faster. Ensure that the exercise you choose to do is approved by your doctor before you start.

 Which essential hip & knee recovery aids can help you?

Hip & Knee surgery tools for dressing and mobility promote independence without compromising recovery. In other words, someone who is recovering from surgery will find themselves capable of putting on their own shoes, reaching for items, and even applying lotion to their own skin thanks to a few handy implements.

●      Sock aid - this useful recovery aid prevents the need to bend to put on socks.  It’s designed for people with limited mobility. It’s not only for socks, but it also works for stockings, too. It is compact and easy to transport, meaning it will fit comfortably into any bag. Store this item nearby to prevent extra standing, bending, walking, and sitting.

●      Dressing stick  - Persons with limited mobility can use this assistive device to dress, whether they need to put on a jacket, pants, a shirt, or to pull up socks. It’s lightweight and easy to transport, durable and offers excellent grip to prevent accidental slips. It is an ideal piece of equipment to use after hip and knee surgery.

●      Reacher - also sometimes called a grabber, this assistive device makes it easy to reach for things that are just too far away, to high up, or too far down. It’s designed to facilitate the basic action of reaching for something without affecting a person’s lack of mobility during hip or knee surgery rehabilitation. It adds a tremendous amount of independence to someone’s life during this frustrating period of time.

●      Lotion applicator with a replaceable sponge  -  We all have those difficult-to-reach spots on our back that also require lotion. This particular lotion applicator helps you apply lotion on those hard to reach places. It comes with a replaceable sponge making hygiene so much simpler. It eliminates the need for painful stretching making it ideal for those who are still in recovery following hip or knee surgery. This device will remain useful even after recovery.

●      Leg lifter from Homecraft - The leg lifter’s webbing strap with a semi-rigid insert simplifies lifting a leg which is semi-mobile, immobile, or weak. Whether you need to get both feet into bed easily or back to the floor in order to stand, a leg lifter can facilitate the process in a safer and more steady motion. It enables the arms to do the heavy lifting, keeping strain off the hips and the legs.

●       This is the ideal assistive device for those who battle to bend down when recovering from hip or knee surgery. It is designed to enable you to slip shoes over the feet without having to bend over. This reduces the risk of straining and further damaging the injured areas that are in recovery.

These products are available on our website. They are the most highly recommended products in each product category. While many of these products are designed to assist during the healing process, their use will continue for long after. By reducing the need to overreach and bend frequently, seniors can actually minimise the risk of injury. The same is true for bathroom safety and assistive products. They are tremendously useful for the entire family. Products like rails and safety structures are hailed as lifesavers by expectant mothers.

 Why do you need essential hip and knee surgery recovery tools?

Bettercaremarket has compiled a hip & knee surgery bundle, containing 4 must-have tools after your hip or knee replacement surgery. Our unique bundle includes;

Essential post-operative hip & knee     recovery aids

Reduces overreaching, bending & straining

The Hip & Knee Recovery Bundle is designed specifically with the needs of those who are recovering from hip or knee surgery, in mind. It contains the most popular items as per data collected through ordering systems. This collection of items is designed to help those recovering and their carers, rehabilitation can be very challenging and we understand that. 

We have bundled 4 tools in our Hip & Knee Recovery Bundle:  the reacher, the long handle shoehorn, the sock aid and the long-handled bath sponge; all from Homecraft so that those in recovery don’t need to resort to overreaching, bending & straining. This kit is the perfect combination for those who need some help after their hip or knee surgery at home. This package is on special for $ 59.95.

High-quality items

When it comes to rehabilitation, you need the highest quality products. The healing process is delicate and requires you to slow down. As frustrating as this may be, it is a necessary part of the process. Would it make it easier if you had the same tools and infrastructure the hospital has? Of course. You can enjoy the help you had from the assistive devices in the hospital, at home.

Bettercaremarket brings hospital-grade equipment to consumers. That means individuals can enjoy the same exceptional quality and the same products used by hospitals, and nursing homes. Our ordering system is designed to be a convenient one-stop-shop solution for assistive living aids. These items are perfect as gifts, demonstrating genuine care for the well-being of an elderly person while gifting them with a greater level of self-sufficiency.

 Multifunctional Over Toilet Frame

Bettercaremarket has one more helpful product designed to ease the stress on the joints in the hip and the back following surgery. Their multifunctional over toilet frame offers a raised solution to toileting. It eliminates the intensity of the bend to sit on a standard-sized toilet. It is particularly handy because it doubles as a commode (perfect during those first two weeks), an over toilet frame and a walking frame. The device also doubles as a lifting aid and as a shower chair.

 Grab rail

You may need to adjust your bathroom to make it safer and easier to use. Reduce the risk of slipping in the bathroom by attaching a grab rail on the wall of your bathtub or shower. This tool will support you when getting in and out of the bath or shower. 

Grab bars are available in two types: the fixed grab bars or removable ones with suction cups. The fixed rails are anchored to the wall with screws while the suction grab bars are attached to the wall with powerful suction cups. Their main advantage is the fact that they are strong and you can attach and remove them from different locations without requiring tools or damaging the wall. 

Look at our range of grab rails that can suit your needs.

A cane

A cane provides tremendous support in the early days when you’re on your feet. It can take the strain off of your hips, helping you to balance a little easier. It takes the stress out of moving around thanks to the extra support.

The Comfort - Plus Quad Cane from Airgo is suitable for the indoors and the outdoors. This particular walking cane offers K-shaped rotating base swivels and locks into position, which improves your stability on your feet tremendously. The cane can also stand independently, which makes it the perfect companion, ready at the waiting when you need to get up.

 The Preparation and Recovery Time

The better prepared your body is prior to surgery, the lower your chance of complications during the recovery period. This means adequate rest, preparing your house for when you return, and ensuring you have the necessary tools, assistive devices, and support from family members and friends.

[spotlightsaga]

Kevin Cage of @spotlightsaga reviews... This Is Us (S01E16) Memphis Airdate: February 21, 2017 @nbctv Ratings: 9.354 Million :: 2.48 18-49 Demo Share Score: 9.5/10 **********SPOILERS BELOW********** AGGGH! I want to just scream, but I can't because of the tears. If one episode of 'This Is Us' has made me 'ugly cry' the hardest, so far its 'Memphis'. I might need a minute to emotionally adjust and calm down to get through this review because I promise you I'll be crying while I'm writing. The show has given me another chance to parallel some feelings and experiences (and lack of ones) with Randall and William, and I won't let it pass me by. Both men have been given such a rare opportunity, Randall was given a rare chance to connect with his biological father and was able to explore that relationship in depth and even take one last ride with the man. William was given a rare chance of redemption... Something that doesn't often present itself in our lives, not like the way it did in William's. I'd like to think it was because William has good soul and underneath all the pain, regret, addiction, and lost dreams... There was a beautiful man who loved and felt very, very deeply. Sometimes, those of us who feel those emotions in such a volcanic & visceral way, end up masking that intensity or running from it because they seem to be inexpressible. From the very start of 'This Is Us', I felt an immediate connection to Randall. The Randall-centric episodes gave me a chance to explore a possibility, or maybe live a fairy tale, and also truly put some emotions into words about my feelings towards my own abandonment by my father and explore feelings I didn't know were in there. If you've been following along with me on our Website, TVShowTime, Twitter, or Tumblr (and now our Facebook page), The Trip' S01E09 was where I really just RELEASED and not only connected with Randall feeling like an outsider in his own adopted family, trying to find his place, but also dealing with the absence of my father and the grief of losing a loved one who was my connection to that part of me. I made some statements in that piece that my mother read and was upset by, I want to make it clear that tho my mother and I do have a strained relationship at times, I love her deeply and know that sacrifices she made having me at such a young age, early in her high school years. She could've made the problem go away, she could've not given me the chance for life, but she did and by doing so risked her own future and made her own ride through life even more turbulent. And even tho we live our lives very differently, I will be forever grateful for the life she gave me. Watching her struggle through high school, then leaving me behind while she went to college, coming back for me and going from poor apartment life, struggling through our step fathers addiction and subsequent & extremely inspiring recovery, to them both rising from ashes as both being independent & successful business owners has been almost intimidating for me as their son. Yeah they've made incredible mistakes, parenting mistakes, along the way, but we are human and their fighting spirit in life is inspirational and I hope to one day even come close to achieving what they have in their lives. Like Rebecca, who did not appear in this episode my mother was extremely apprehensive (that's probably not a strong enough word) about me meeting my biological grandparents... But I think the worry truly lied in the possibility of somewhere down the line meeting my biological father. Since I've already covered the subject, I'll leave it at this, but I needed to set some things straight as I continue the parallel. Many people reached out to me after writing that piece on 'The Trip' and a few other extremely naked and raw pieces, letting me know that they had gone through something similar. Somehow it's comforting to know that throughout this universe that my brothers and sisters who reached out to me from France, Brazil, The UK, Spain, Iran, and several other countries are connected to me through a similar struggle. A struggle we also are connected with through Randall, who actor Sterling K Brown has really made come to life. He's incredible and without his vulnerable and incredibly powerful performance as well as Ron Cephas Jones who also gave us an award worthy, captivating presentation as William, this just wouldn't have popped and have given us such a deeply affecting experience. This last hurrah with William, this trip to Memphis, a trip that Beth wasn't exactly on board with (as we saw in she and Randall's heated, but equally adorable back in forth in Doctor/therapeutic consultation) was the perfect leg to end this arc on. Knowing that there wasn't much time left to live, they set out on their cathartic road trip journey, something I myself am in need of as of late... Giving William the chance to go back home to face his demons, make amends, and live like nothing was wrong one last time... And giving Randall the chance to meet extended family, to trace his roots he'd only been able to dream about since he was a boy. For most of us this will never happen, I'm in my 30's and still waiting on that phone call or email from my father, but it hasn't come, and I don't know if it ever will, so watching it happen is like vicariously living through Randall. It's surreal. As they start the trip Randall says they won't be using GPS and pulls out a bunch of maps to which William promptly throws out the window... Yup, "Just drive, son... We'll get there." Truer words have never been spoken. They really captured that freeing road trip experience, an empty road as they forged ahead, surrounded by trees on either side, bright grassy medians, and windows down, wind blowing through their souls... There's something so cleansing, so purifying about a road trip. And as they followed the winding highways and byways to Memphis, we saw William's own timeline paralleled as his walk in life was explained... The show had started with his birth and then we saw that his father was killed leaving him with a single mother... The trip started with his mother seeing him off to explore his music and art to see if he could spread his wings the way that she knew he had it in him. Let's be clear, success isn't defined by the house you have, the things you sell... It's defined by the people you touch and whether or not you leave this plane of existence with a smile on your face. Randall and William traded stories about their lives, Randall talked about Jack Pearson, the myth, not necessarily the man, and how he used to calm him down through his debilitating panic attacks. At this point in the episode I had probably welled up with tears at least twice... Ok maybe three times, or possibly four. William wanted to know more about Jack and I just love hearing the three 'children' talking about Jack. When one of close loved ones passes we start to forget the bad and remember all the amazing things they did, the little things that brought us joy, relief, or just smiles. This is how we immortalize our lost ones, we all are terribly faulted, and if you can't look back and smile at a fault then it's probably not worth remembering. It's a human condition thing, I don't know if it's right, but it's what we do. I miss the long talks with my Aunt, who was more of my sister than anything, she'd talk to me on the phone for hours as I moved across country looking for a place I could call home. She always fantasized and pushed for me to come live with her, but we both knew I belonged somewhere far away. I remember when I was very little she would play on the piano and sing... My favorite was when she would sing Bette Middler songs... But she could do everything from 'Guns N Roses' to Power Ballads. She introduced me to music and we would sit in her room for hours and she'd write down and memorize every lyric to every song... Poison, Whitesnake, REM, Tesla, Joan Jett, Tone-Loc, nothing was off limits What I wouldn't give for some of those pieces of paper. I'd probably collage them out into a piece of artwork, but they are long gone. You never think about those things then because you don't think that one day they'll unexpectedly leave you. I pretty much knew that when William suggested that they drive a half a day out of the way to pay respects to Jack, that he knew this was his last trip. His speech to Jack's official resting place, where he says 'I would've liked to have met his son's father' had me in knots. To all of you out there like Randall, like me, who missed out on their real life blood father, I hope you get your redemption story. I hope that you are able to meet your cousins and your brothers and sisters. I hope that you don't just get to meet them once and swap an email or meaningless Facebook posts every once in a blue moon. I hope that what we are seeing in 'Memphis' is a possibility and not just a fairy tale, manipulating our emotions on NBC. We all deserve closure and to all the lost fathers, lost mothers, I don't care what you've done... You all deserve redemption. But you can't just sit back and hide in fear of get stuck in your feelings, frozen in their icy hold. You have to reach out. You have to make a call. You have to tell your sons and your daughters that deserve to hear you say that you're sorry, or you did what you thought was best... Whatever it may be. You might not get your Memphis, but even if you receive a emotionally charged reaction.... Anger, Sadness. Relief, Fear (and whatever else is controlling us from the inside like in the existential Disney/Pixar masterpiece 'Inside Out'), you owe it to your children and you owe it to yourself to just say something, anything at all.

[shaledirectory]

Facts & Rumors # 306 September 29, 2018

Expo/Industry events for the next few months

 WV Energy Expo 2018 October 3, 2018 Hazel and J.W. Ruby Community Center Morgantown, West Virginia http://wvenergyexpo.com/  Utica Summit October 10, 2018 Walsh University North Canton, OH http://www.uticasummit.com/ Shale Insight October 23-25, 2018 David Lawrence Conference Center Pittsburgh, PA http://shaleinsight.com/ For other events visit http://www.shaledirectories.com/site/oil-and-gas-expo-information.html

Latest facts and a rumor from the Marcellus, Utica, Permian, Eagle Ford, Bakken and Niobrara Shale Plays

Williams Seeks Final Approval for Atlantic Sunrise.  Williams Companies, Inc. recently reported the completion of construction of its major Atlantic Sunrise project. The production and pipeline operator has requested for the final approval of the project by Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Importantly, the Atlantic Sunrise natural gas pipeline, worth $3 billion, is an expansion of the company's Transco pipeline, which is the largest-volume natural gas transmission system in the United States. Atlantic Sunrise will have a transportation capacity of around 1.7 billion cubic feet of gas per day (Bcf/d). It will transport Marcellus shale gas from Pennsylvania to the rest of the country. The project design includes 200 miles of new greenfield pipe, two compressor facilities in Pennsylvania along with other compressor station modifications in five states. Shell Cracker On Schedule, On Budget.  Royal Dutch Shell’s CEO Ben van Beurden said Tuesday development of the company’s Pennsylvania petrochemicals complex is “ahead of schedule and within budget." The ethane cracker under construction in Beaver County, 30 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, will produce 1.6 million tons per annum of polyethylene. The plant will process low-cost ethane from shale gas producers in the Marcellus and Utica basins. While development is progressing as planned, van Beurden said during an industry event in New York that U.S. President Donald Trump’s steel trade policies could have major consequences on the project. “It’s not fatal but it is something that can really disrupt the flow of construction and the continuity of employment and it can bring significant costs in the project itself if it is not managed properly,” he said. Shell was amongst the first oil and gas industry players to have received waivers from Trump’s 25% tariff on steel imports, after the administration agreed the specialty steel it was importing isn’t manufactured in the U.S., Kallanish Energy notes. Yes, No FID from PPTGC.  Our rumor about PTTGC making its FID in September is obviously wrong.  We are hearing another rumor that Daelim and PTTGC are finalizing their contracts which is another critical step forward to the FID.  (RUMOR) LyondellBasell Purchase of Braskem.  We have reported that LyondellBasell was in process of purchasing Braskem.  It appears the purchase is eminent.  We are hearing that purchase could happen in October.  (RUMOR) Antero Could Be Getting Busy.  Antero could be getting busier.  It now has 4 rigs in the Appalachian Basin and we are hearing that 2 more rigs could go into use. (RUMOR) Mountain Valley Costs Way Up.  The projected cost of building the Mountain Valley Pipeline has increased by nearly $1 billion. In a revised estimate announced this week, the developers of the natural gas pipeline said they now expect to spend $4.6 billion on the project, a jump of about 25 percent over their previous calculation of $3.7 billion. About half of the cost increase was attributed to a lull in construction for most of August, when the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ordered that work be stopped after two key permits were invalidated by a federal appeals court. The order led to “significant schedule changes that forced activities to be conducted out-of-sequence — these changes, in turn, required both crews and inspectors to make adjustments in order to return to areas that had to be bypassed,” Mountain Valley spokeswoman Natalie Cox wrote in an email. FERC has since allowed work to resume on most of the pipeline’s 303-mile route through West Virginia and Southwest Virginia. Mountain Valley’s statement attributed the rest of the additional expenses to “extraordinary rainfall events that continued through the summer, recent hurricane preparedness actions that interrupted full construction activities, and certain unanticipated construction costs overruns.” It’s Road not Pipelines Threating the Permian.  For an oilman who’s worked on the Gulf Coast, near the Russian Arctic and in Royal Dutch Shell’s headquarters in The Hague, being stuck in traffic on a dusty West Texas highway is not the stuff of dreams. The GMC Yukon rented by Amir Gerges, general manager of Shell’s operations in the Permian Basin, has crawled just four miles in the past hour. The delay helps Gerges prove a point: Roads, he said, not pipelines, geology or labor shortages, are the biggest long-term threat to sustainable growth in the Permian, the world’s busiest shale oil field. “Almost everything you need at the wellhead is transported by road,” Gerges said. “That’s the one biggest challenge, not just Shell, everyone faces.” DOE Funding Research in WV to Improve Well Productivity.  The Marcellus Shale Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (Mseel ) is expanding its research to a second shale well in northern West Virginia, Kallanish Energy reports. The new work will take place at a Marcellus well near Blacksville in western Monongalia County, West Virginia. Mseel has conducted research over the last three years at a well site near Morgantown, West Virginia. The research has been funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory that involves West Virginia University (WVU)and Northeast Natural Energy (NNE), a West Virginia-based E&P company. The new work will be geared to improving natural gas recovery from horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (or fracking) at regional sites. Netl’s Robert Vagnetti said the work advances hydraulic fracture stimulation techniques that were pioneered by Netl researchers. A key objective of the upcoming field test is to develop advanced completion capabilities that can be applied to other areas of the Marcellus Shale play to improve resource recovery efficiency. WVU and NNE were able to design stimulation zones or stages that optimized performance around natural fractures in the shale at the Morgantown well. Monitoring using seismic and fiber optic distributed temperatures and acoustic sensing (Das/Dts) during stimulation and subsequent production logging confirm these engineered stages outperformed conventional geometrically designed stages, Vagnetti said. He said that Das/Dts is too costly to be used on all wells and that the research team will “compare the use and results of new completion/stimulation techniques at the Blacksville site to the large array of relatively cost-prohibitive techniques used in the Morgantown Industrial Park wells.” NatGas & Oil Pumping up WV Economy.  Oil and gas production is one of West Virginia’s fastest-growing and most successful industries, easily outpacing other sectors of the economy. “Oil and natural gas production in the Mountain State has increased exponentially over the past decade, and we are just scratching the surface,” said Anne Blankenship, West Virginia Oil and Natural Gas Association executive director. “What an exciting time to be involved in this thriving industry, with so much more to come,” she said. “With the advancements in technology that have allowed us to access the enormous oil and natural gas reserves in the Marcellus and Utica shales, production is going up and new ideas for end uses of natural gas are emerging. Dominion Evaluating Blue Racer Sale.  Dominion Energy also said it is evaluating its 50% interest in Blue Racer Midstream, an Appalachian Basin-based midstream company with operations in Ohio, West Virginia and western Pennsylvania. The other 50% of Blue Racer is owned by Caiman Energy II. Dominion Energy said it has gotten strong interest in Blue Racer Midstream from other unnamed parties. PA State Senators Support Case Against DRBC.  State Sen. Lisa Baker and two fellow legislators are seeking to join a federal lawsuit that challenges the Delaware River Basin Commission’s authority to regulate hydraulic fracturing within the watershed. In a motion to intervene, the senators contend the DRBC exceeded its authority when it issued a 2010 moratorium that banned natural gas drilling in the basin. They want to join a 2016 lawsuit filed by Wayne Land and Mineral Group, a natural gas driller that challenges the DRBC’s position. Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a process that uses high pressure to inject a large volume of water, chemicals and sand into Marcellus Shale, causing it to crack and release natural gas. It’s a controversial issue opposed by environmental groups and others concerned about the potential risks it poses to the environment and water supplies. The resolution of Wayne Land’s case will have significant ramifications for Pennsylvania. The basin covers roughly 13,539 square miles, of which 6,422 square miles is located in Pennsylvania, according to the motion to intervene. It’s estimated the land in Pennsylvania holds more than $40 billion in natural gas reserves, the motion says. Coal Consumption Lowest Since 1983.  Coal consumption at US power producers drops to lowest since 1983.   U.S. electricity producers consumed the lowest amount of coal in the first half of 2018 since 1983, as natural gas is increasingly replacing coal-fired generation, according to calculations by Reuter’s market analyst John Kemp based on EIA data. TX Production Up in August.  Production in Texas for July 2018 is 90,026,586 barrels of crude oil and 612,512,811 thousand cubic feet of natural gas from oil and natural gas wells, according to the Railroad Commission of Texas. Those are preliminary figures based on production volumes reported by operators and will be updated as late and corrected production reports are filed. Production reported to the state agency in July 2017 was 75.31 million barrels (Mmbbl) of crude oil, updated to the current figure of 93.23 Bbls; and 534.78 million ,777.62 Bcf of total gas, updated to the current figure of 692.43 Bcf, Kallanish Energy reports. Total Texas production from August 2017 to July 2018 was 1,16 billion barrels of crude oil and 08.1 trillion cubic feet of total gas. July 2018 production averaged 2.90 Mmbpd, compared to 2.43 Mmbbl in July 2017. Natural gas production in July 2018 averaged 19.76 Bcf a pay, compared to the 17.25 Bcf daily average in July 2017. That 2018 production came from 180,434 oil wells and 91,025 natural gas wells. The top five counties for oil production were Midland, Karnes, Reeves, Martin and Loving. The top five counties for natural gas were Webb, Reeves, Tarrant, Karnes and Midland. The top counties for condensate were Reeves, Culberson, Karnes, DeWitt and Loving. Bakken Making Come Back.  After months of being the red-headed stepchild to the Permian, the Bakken shale play is getting a resurgence. Crude oil production in North Dakota reached an all-new high for the second time this year in July, averaging 1.27 million barrels per day, according to the most recent figures available. Monthly oil production in July was 39.35 million barrels. Wood Mackenzie broke down some key factors that are attracting investments to the Bakken and nearby Three Forks formation (located just below the Bakken). “Operators are planning to spend $5 billion in planned CAPEX this year in these areas,” Pablo Prudencio, research analyst for WoodMac’s Lower 48 region, told Rigzone. “Operators are expected to spend more than $40 billion in the play over the next five years.” In August, shale producer Continental Resources said it was allocating $200 million this year to increased drilling and completion activity, with a third of that focused on the Bakken, Reuters reported. Prudencio said the investments will be significantly less than the Permian due in part to activity levels and rig count. WoodMac’s analysis further included the following:

Rise in Gas Production: Operators are focusing on the core of the play, which tends to be gassier. Gas production is also continuing to rise, and gas processing plants are being built to meet North Dakota’s flaring limits.

Oil Production: Bakken and Three Forks production contributes an average of 13 percent to the U.S. Lower 48 production outlook.

Crude Takeaway: Long-term oil production growth is slowed by pipeline takeaway capacity. Oil production is expected to peak at about 1.5 million barrels per day and plateau after.

Sluggish M&A: Recent years have shown lackluster M&A activity relative to the size of the play. Key themes include Private equity-backed operators entering the play and public E&Ps selling Bakken assets to focus on other plays such as the Permian.

Prudencio added that WoodMac has been following the production comeback for a while now and technology has definitely played a part. “Three main factors have contributed to this,” he said. “They are higher oil prices, improved transportation due to new pipelines and more productive wells. The productivity of the wells is mainly due to technology and improved completions. Drilling rates have improved because the wells are being drilled faster.” Plastics Company Moves in Stark County, OH.  A plastic container maker is setting up temporary shop in Ohio to be closer to a customer as it plans for a permanent facility in the area. Officials in Stark County, Ohio, said IML Containers is leasing about 35,000 square feet to make containers for Land O'Lakes Inc.'s nearby facility in Cleveland. IML currently has sites in Saint-Placide, Quebec; Le Mars, Iowa; Lyons, Ill.; and Flagstaff, Ariz., according to the company's website. "What they did was they were looking for a location that was near. We're getting a lot of inquiries from the plastics industry, which is one of our targets for the community," said Ray Hexamer, president of the Stark County Economic Development Board. Stark County, which counts Canton, Ohio, as its county seat, is in eastern Ohio, not far from where Royal Dutch Shell is building an ethane cracker plant in Beaver County, Pa. Shell is taking advantage of the region's resurgent natural gas production brought on by fracking in both the Utica and Marcellus shale regions, located at different depths below the earth's surface. And Hexamer said his county's proximity to the increased production will help drive economic development. The area also is a hub for food production, so creating an expanded plastics economic locally makes sense to better serve those markets. "The industry is very important for our future. IML is our great first tenant for us and a great company. They were extremely easy to work with," Hexamer said. "We were able to find a facility that they will lease for two years, and they will be building a new manufacturing facility in the area for future growth." IML, which is short for in-mold labeling, is in the process of setting up equipment in its 35,000-square-foot temporary home and expects production to begin soon. Hexamer admitted he sounded like an economic development salesman when he touted Stark County's advantages. "When we look at the plastics industry, we are within a six-hour drive of a majority of the business that's done in that industry," he said. "We're centrally located. We have rail. We have air. We have great interstates," Hexamer said, describing the situation as "stars lining up for our community." Hiring already has begun at IML in Ohio, which eventually expects to employ about 85 workers, the economic development official said.

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