#mackenzie's dad

[standreamy]

My piece for @BlueyFanzine ! I wanted to focus on the found family theme, so here a post-"The Sign" scenario. Moving companies cost a lot so, overjoyed by their staying, all the neighbors join helping the Heelers moving back in! And after the hard work, a big curry feast!

I wanted to add more references but didn't have enough time sadly.

[don-dake]

“Here you go, the Naan of Peshwari!”

Bluey S3E9: Curry Quest

[uncaaj]

Fanfic - The Brekkie After (Bluey)

READ ON AO3 NOW!

The morning light crept into Bandit’s vision and seared his eyeballs. All at once he became painfully aware of how bad he felt. Time for his own version of the “Checklist.”

Dry mouth? Check.

Throbbing headache? Check.

Back aching from sleeping on Stripe’s floor and not his comfy bed? Double check.

Time to lay back. The show’s not going on today. 

“Ugh…babe?” he croaked. “I did it again.”

His wife Chilli didn’t move from where she lay next to him. “Me too,” she sighed.

“Me three,” groaned Stripe from the couch.

Bandit shrugged. “Well, that’s not too bad, I suppose.”

At that moment, a chorus of moans erupted from all the adults splayed out in all corners of Stripe’s living room, the casualties of the kid-free get-together they had last night that went a little too long and a little too crazy.

“Biscuits,” Bandit hissed. “Spoke too soon.” They were all irresponsible and were paying for it now. If he didn’t interact with any kids today, it would be a blessing.

+++

BANDIT: *yawwwwwnnnn* This episode of Bandit is called “The Brekkie After."

+++

Bandit massaged his forehead with his fingertips as he eased himself upright. Bright light assaulted his eyes as if the sun was right in his face. “Why did we think this was a good idea?”

“Can someone get the shade?” said Stripe, his strong bark barely a grunt today.

“Got it,” said Bandit. He dragged his lead paws behind the couch to the patio door. Pulling the shade across the glass felt like heaving a heavy rock across a swamp. He sighed with the relief of a dimmer living room.

“My towel is still wet,” said Wendy, rolling off the other couch and flopping onto the floor.

Pat scrubbed board game pieces off his chest and held up a bank note to show everyone. “Still have the bet I won when I dared you to jump in the pool.” He then let his arm go limp on the side table, accidentally knocking an empty beer can onto the floor. “Oops.”

“Only because Bandit dared to get cheeky with me,” Wendy grumbled.

“Seems to happen a lot at Heeler get-togethers, eh? The pool, I mean,” said Bandit, before feeling the roof of his mouth and making a yucky face. “Feels like there’s slime in my mouth.”

“Nah, that’s from when you ate a whole jar of peanut butter faster than Pat,” said Chilli.

“Blegh!” said Pat. “That stuff’s only good in small amounts and on crackers.”

Bandit leaned back and felt his back crack satisfyingly. He saw Josh Border Collie shiver and wince, which meant he was awake too. “I suppose since I’m the only one up, I’ll go put the kettle on and get brekkie goin’.” He shot a smug look over his shoulder as he stepped gingerly out of the living room. “You lot just lay there and have a think about what you did.”

“You as well,” said Chilli, sending that look back at him. “I recall this party being your idea.”

Bandit gulped. “Yes, babe,” he said as he trudged to Stripe’s kitchen.

“Well, I might have a shower then,” said Josh, sitting up rapidly, and collapsing back down just as fast. “Ugh, room’s spinnin’. Never mind.”

“Get in line, Josh,” said Wendy, shooting him a death glare with all the energy she had left.

The sink water filling up Stripe’s electric kettle sounded like a churning waterfall to Bandit’s sensitive ears. His headache rumbled inside him with the ferocity of a rolling timpani as he shut off the tap and placed the kettle on its perch to come to a boil. He then carefully placed the stray wine glasses on the bar into the sink before peering back through the entryway to the goo-like adults who had barely moved. “Stripe, what should I make for brekkie?”

“Could you make hangover eggs?” Stripe asked. “Those always do the trick.”

“What? No!” Pat protested, scrunching his snout. “That’s disgusting.”

“This isn’t like college, Pat,” Stripe rebutted, “I got more in my fridge now than just tomato sauce and day-old dim sims.”

“Don’t matter. Bandit’ll still put anything he wants in there, even stuff that doesn’t go together. Remember when he put instant noodles and anchovies in it after the ‘99 Winter Social? Blegh!”

“Never stopped you from lickin’ your plate clean every time, did it?” Bandit quipped.

Pat stuttered and the whole room mustered as much laughter as they could in their hungover state.

Bandit’s headache lightened slightly and his tail twitched with pride. “I’ve ‘improved’ the recipe through the years so just lay back and let the chef make some magic, alright?”

“Righto,” Pat chuckled, not willing to argue anymore.

Bandit nodded and went to grab some ibuprofen from a cabinet he knew was far out of reach for Muffin and Socks. The kettle clicked, signaling the water was ready. Just in time, thought Bandit. “And take some ibuprofen,” he told Pat. “It’ll take your crank away.”

Pat rolled his eyes and looked at Chilli. “Bandit sure is somethin’, eh?”

Chilli smiled. “Yeah. The best.”

After tea and ibuprofen were dispersed around the room, everyone seemed to come out of zombie mode. Of course, Bandit knew this was merely a chisel to the hangover when they needed a jackhammer. The kids were coming back from his big brother Rad’s pad later, so onto that brekkie.

The Faceytime jingle played on the tablet on the counter. Speak of the devil, and he shall ring, especially when you’re preoccupied with searching through Stripe’s refrigerator. He ducked away from the fridge to tap the green call button then returned to rummaging his paws through the vegetable drawer.

“How goes it, little brother?” greeted Rad in his usual sunny manner.

Cradling a green pepper, spinach, mushrooms, and bacon in his arm, he shut the fridge and turned to the tablet. He nodded to his brother on screen and tried to smile as he set the stuff on the counter. He silently wished that he didn’t look like he hadn’t slept in days, but perhaps the blue and red heeler mix wouldn’t notice. He was a little absent-minded at times.

“Whoa, you look like you haven’t slept in days,” Rad laughed. 

Well, throw that out the window. “Perceptive this morning, are we?” said Bandit, rubbing his eyes.

“Did you and your mates do it again?”

“Yeah, we did. Hope the kids ran you ragged as well,” said Bandit with a playful sneer.

“Yeah, I bet. Nah, it’s all good. We gave ‘em enough games to ensure they slept through the night. In fact, Bluey’s the only one up right now. She went on a run with me.”

Bluey scampered into the frame and waved. “Sure did!”

Bandit gave a thumbs up. “Good on ya, kiddo!” Didn’t matter if he was hungover or not, a grin from his oldest pup made feel light as a feather every time.

“Are you alright, dad?” Bluey asked, moving in closer.

Bandit rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, we just got to bed late last night.”

“Everyone?”

“Yeah, everyone.”

Bluey raised an eyebrow. “That happens a lot at Heeler parties, doesn’t it?”

A cold sweat formed on Bandit’s back. He had forgotten he used that excuse once before. He’d better hop off before any more questions were asked.

Luckily, Rad was on top of it as he pet Bluey on the head. “Alright, I’ll take care of brekkie for the kids. You just make sure everyone else is right as rain, you hear?”

Bandit nodded. “Will do.”

“Bye, dad!”

“See ya, Bluey!” With that, they disappeared from the tablet.

“Was that Rad?” asked Stripe from the living room.

“Sure was,” said Bandit. “Bluey’s up so I better make this quick.” He got to work chopping the bacon into lardons and the pepper into a fine dice.

“Hey, mate,” said Pat, wandering in, mug in hand. “Top us off, could ya? Everything still tastes like peanut butter.”

Bandit smiled. “No worries.”

After his mug was refilled, Pat took a seat at the bar and sipped the warm liquid, swishing it around his mouth to rid every last speck of peanut butter. “If my kids ever find out what we grown-ups do when they’re not around, I couldn’t look ‘em in the eye again.”

“Bluey nearly did, I think,” Bandit gulped.

“Ha! Insightful nose, that one.”

“Did I ever tell you about what happened after Chilli and I were here for New Year’s?” Bandit asked. Pat shook his head and took another sip. “So in walks Bluey and Bingo, looking to play Whale Watching with us-”

“Hang on,” Chilli called, making her entrance. “You cook, I wanna tell him this story.”

Bandit winked at her. “Fine by me, babe. You tell it better anyhow.”

Josh tapped his foot as he sipped his tea, the warm drink putting him in better spirits. “Will we ever, doo doo-doo doo, be that funky again?” he hummed to himself.

“You’re going to get that silly song stuck in my head again,” Wendy barked playfully.

Josh shrugged. “You kiddin’? That was the best part of the night right there.”

“I didn’t sound too bad, did I?” asked Stripe.

“‘Course not!” came Bandit’s voice. “I’m just glad you sang with me at all!”

“Just like old times,” Stripe called back.

A content silence settled around the room, broken only by the distant sizzling of bacon and the release of its sweet, smoky aroma into the air. The quiet was welcome among them all, not only because of their still sensitive heads but because it was such a rarity in their households since they had kids. All those old times when they had not a care in the world were now left behind, having made way for the new times and the joy and responsibility they now shared.

Wendy piped up. “Yes, I suppose it was a good song…do you think we will ever be that funky again?”

Stripe stretched his neck, feeling it pop. “Nah.”

Josh shook his fluffy head. “Nope.”

“Not a chance!” Pat exclaimed.

Everyone laughed, wistful nostalgia echoing between them until they all settled again into their tired, hungover selves.

“That’s okay, though,” said Stripe. “I like how funky we are now.”

Wendy nodded and sat back. “Yes, I agree.”

“It’s certainly easier on me head, I’ll tell ya that for free,” said Josh.

“Brekkie’s on!” shouted Bandit.

Soon they were all congregated at the dining table, each adult provided with a generous egg scramble on a piece of toast. Tea was refilled and they all proceeded to tuck in.

Pat didn’t know what he was in for, but it was hot, it was here, and any brekkie he’d wait for back home would just be dry cereal. He picked up the toast and hesitantly took a bite. 

“What do ya reckon, Pat?” Bandit asked.

Pat swallowed and couldn’t help but wag his tail slightly. “I forgot you made ham and pineapple pizza a religious experience,” he said, licking his chops. “I will never doubt your abilities again.”

“Uss!” Bandit cheered, pumping his fist. “Still got it!”

“Good job, babe,” said Chilli, squeezing his hand.

“As long as I wake up to this,” said Josh through a mouthful, “Good friends and good food, I wouldn’t mind doing this again. Just not too funky next time, eh?”

Everyone nodded. “Agreed.”

[dismas-n-dismay]

There’s something so poetic and heartbreaking about Mary not wanting to hurt her mother. It’s not out of pity or wanting to ease the strain of the divorce it’s just purely a daughter’s love for her mother who’s always been there. Her mother who has never tried to make Mary feel outcasted or othered or unloved.

Even when Mary KNOWS that something is wrong in her bones, she cannot force herself to do anything but trail after her mother and try and make her proud even if what she’s doing could get her hurt. She loves her mom. And it sucks that the last she saw of her was her mother trying to kill her.

Mary, you will always be famous, my little dart frog

[hmmm-shesucks]

Katelyn posts a video of Aaron playing with the girls in their living room and captions it, “Watching my husband love our daughters because his world didn’t end at fifteen.”

[liquidloz]

Top 10 Fuckable Michael Keaton characters:

No. 10 President MacKenzie in ‘First Daughter’

[meme-sauce]

Against my better judgment, I turn to Hockey Tumblr for fashion advice

[pepperangers]

the idea of mack and wes being friends is so pure bc i can also see wes literally breaking the door down of the hartford mansion when he finds out that andrew hartford didnt tell mack he was an android

oh my god you’re so right

he wouldn’t be freaked out by the fact that his best friend was an android - because come on theyre rangers and there are weirder things they’ve seen (this probably wouldn’t even rank in the top 5 for either of them) - he’d just be furious that andrew purposely kept it from mack

wes would KNOW what it’s like to have a kind of off relationship with your dad, he would immediately be up to time strike andrew hartford into the sun and it takes all eric has to physically stop him from running out the door fully morphed

[mermaidsirennikita]

reading the Jamie Mackenzie book by Jennifer Ashley, which is as of now the final Mackenzie book, and I’m gonna need her to fix that because she has Hart Mackenzie’s eldest son out here like “LIBERATING SCOTLAND FROM THE CLUTCHES OF THE FOUL ENGLISH IS YOUR DREAM DAD, NOT MINE!!!”

and …. I need his book

[ymdslf]

the end of surprise might’ve healed what the sign did to me

[eddieydewr]

it’s a bloody family reunion at the apothecary

[thewanderingace]

Roger and Bree in the 7x06 promo.

I am very excited to see that scene with Roger! Look at his face! Oooooh it's gonna be crazy 👀

[wendybergmann]

disclaimer: I love ted lasso but this season fully cemented the large underlying issue I have with this show, namely its relationship problems

- sam and rebecca: I feel like there was tons of discourse when this was happening so I won't rehash it but i personally don't like how the show tried to push the narrative that there wasn't an issue with the relationship by talking about some of the glaring issues with it (age, power dynamics, etc.) within the show and attempting to counter them. I personally was against this relationship and the stress I felt this season every time they shared a loaded look took ten years off my life

jane and coach beard: red flags galore. I naively thought the show was going in a direction pre s3 where coach beard would have a storyline about getting out of this abusive relationship and was looking forward to this topic being addressed and done respectfully. I quickly realized this season that this was not the case when ted made a comment about how jane and beard's baggage fit together. I feel like this is a case of two "quirky" characters being in a relationship with red flags that are soothed over by just being like "these two people are weirdos, of course their relationship would seem weird/different" instead of just recognizing it for what it is: abusive

- jack and keeley: this was honestly the tipping point. I initially loved that they were making keeley canonly wlw (and yes, I know it can seem regressive to need a relationship for a sexuality to be "canon" but the references in earlier seasons did give me a vibe of straight humor where girls joke about experimenting in the past but it not being meant to mean anything more. maybe I am wrong to think this but given the state of media even today, sue me) and jack and keeley did have great chemistry right away. I have no problem in discussing toxic relationships, even in queer relationships, but the show irked me by having relationships such as sam/rebecca and jane/coach beard being supported by the show while the 1 wlw couple be the one where the red flags are discussed, brought up, and certified by the show by having them break up and show jack's true colors in the aftermath. to say it rubbed me the wrong way would be saying it lightly and the nicest way possible

- michelle and the therapist: yes i forgot his name. it's dr. something or whatever. the detail of ted having an aversion to therapy because his marriage counselor seemed to be against him when he went with his wife only to reveal that they started dating is just outwardly disgusting. the finale to even have him not even try to be invested in the game for michelle and henry's sakes and then have him sitting further away on his phone makes me wonder why are they even together. she doesn't seem that into it and it seemed to only be used as a plot device to show ted growing by being open and honest to his ex wife about his feelings and to be a driving force in having him feel left out of his son's life. why were they still together in the end is a mystery but I guess not shocking

[heroesofcrash]

1/25/25 - Fuzzy Memories

TheHeroesOfCRASH.com

For the record, Max told Dave's family to go on ahead; he'd rejoin them when he got untangled from the seatbelt. Also, Gregory saw Cannon on TV WAAAAY back in comic 117.

[auras3ye]

relations and dynamics.

[untilthenexttee]

Great Scot! - 2024 RBC Canadian Open

As the 2024 RBC Canadian Open has reached it’s conclusion we now congratulate the latest winner of our National Championship. Already, we look forward to the 2025 edition which is to be played at TPC Toronto – Osprey Valley in Caledon, Ontario. TPC Toronto is the new home for Golf Canada after spending decades just down the street from Jack Nicklaus’ design, Glen Abbey. Next year’s edition will…