#meadow logbook

[pcttrailsidereader]

What's It Like to Hike the PCT This Year? "Grueling" Say Hikers

This is an excerpt of an article in the San Francisco Chronicle written by Gregory Thomas. The basic message is the one that we have been anticipating for months and hearing for weeks. The huge Sierra snowpack has created significant challenges for all but the most fit and experienced hikers.

Coming over Walker Pass in the southern tail of the Sierra Nevada is a view that has turned hundreds of hikers off of the Pacific Crest Trail this year: an endless landscape of undulating snow punctuated by jagged granite peaks and ridges extending as far as the eye can see.

Venturing there means traversing the slushy, crunchy, treacherous remnants of winter’s historic snowpack coating the High Sierra all the way to Lake Tahoe along a remote 400-mile stretch with mortally threatening pitfalls and few easy exits. Under such intimidating circumstances, most long-distance PCT hikers have opted to bail in the Bishop area and skip the Sierra until later in the year or abandon it altogether.

But where many see misery, a small class of gritty mountain walkers sees a tempting challenge.

“I got goosebumps” soaking in the scene at Walker Pass, said Abraham Espinoza, a 29-year-old school counselor in Sacramento who goes by the trail name Snow Leopard. “It’s not like I’m pioneering, but with all the fear surrounding this record-high snow year, I felt this cosmic calling to step into that unknown.”

Espinoza embarked in early May, when the snow was still high and deep even in the valleys, and spent a month grinding through the mountains alone. He arrived at Sonora Pass many pounds lighter and with a scraggly goatee, earning credit as the first PCT thru-hiker to make it across the High Sierra this year.

Other intrepid backpackers have since crossed successfully, but their numbers are down substantially from years past. Fewer than 200 — mostly Europeans, notably — have signed into a logbook at a Sonora Pass resort considered the unofficial record of thru-hiker arrivals, according to a manager there. Last year, by comparison, nearly 800 hikers marked the book.

Most hikers this year have taken a month to cross the range. For their trouble, they can claim to have experienced a world-class landscape few people have seen in its unique condition.

The High Sierra, with its dramatic granite peaks, cobalt lakes and lush alpine meadows, is arguably the pinnacle highlight of the PCT. Summertime thru-hikers often contend with snow at the higher elevations, but typically they follow a gravelly footpath, flecked at points with bright wildflowers, and enjoy leisurely detours to shimmering lakes.

Brian “Travelinbeat” York traverses the iconic and treacherous ice chute on Forester Pass, the highest point on the Pacific Crest Trail, ahead of Caleb “Rabbit” Sparks. Jess Cooper

But in early summer this year there was no trail; it was buried under snow deep enough in places to conceal all but the crown of a Douglas fir. Hikers carried the tools of mountaineering — ice axes, crampons — or trudged along in snowshoes and navigated icy expanses and mountain passes primarily by hewing to pixelated trail lines shown in their smartphone apps and GPS watches. Lacking bootpack to follow, some at times resorted to directional hand compasses and old-fashioned dead reckoning.

Lakes were ice rinks. Streams flowed high and fast. Critical footbridges had been badly mangled by the winter’s heavy snow loads. Flat stretches that in other years offer hikers relief from the constant ups and downs of mountain walking had melted and refrozen into an ossified ocean of rolling snowdrifts pocked with honeycomb minefields of ankle-turning depressions called suncups.

“The Sierra this year was categorically light-years beyond the hardest hiking I’ve ever done — physically and psychologically grueling,” said Brian York, a 39-year-old bartender from Virginia.

York, who goes by the trail name Travelinbeat, hiked the Continental Divide Trail last year and the Appalachian Trail the summer before — both solo. For the Sierra, he buddied up with two other hikers “for safety and sanity’s sake.”

An estimated 1 million hikers, backpackers and day visitors set foot on the PCT each year, according to the Pacific Crest Trail Association. But this season, closed roads, trails and campgrounds have kept the High Sierra virtually out of reach.

Suncups —  honeycomb minefields of ankle-turning depressions in snowdrifts — were in abundance on the snowy Pacific Crest Trail route and a constant nuisance to hikers. Brian York

The price of those moments was “battling attrition,” York said.

“You’re not really hiking. It’s very severe Type-2 advanced hiking,” said Jess Cooper, a 20-year-old UCLA student whose trail name is Shade and was one of York’s trail buddies. “The people who have gone through were dead-set on going. It’s this mix of pride, stubbornness and determination.”

Hiking past about 2 p.m. was infeasible because the afternoon heat would cook the ground into slush, hikers said. They’d compensate by waking in the middle of the night — strapping on frozen clothing and rolling up soggy tents — and starting their hikes at 2 a.m. to get the benefit of hardened ice underfoot.

Some said they consumed 6,000 calories per day yet came out of the mountains having shed 10 or 15 pounds.

The most challenging part of Cooper’s journey came while crossing 12,000-foot Glen Pass in the backcountry of Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park. To descend its steep north side, Cooper and her hiking partners had to face the slope and kick a snow ladder down a face of deteriorating ice one step at a time.

Brian “Travelinbeat” York slowly descends the steep slope of Glen Pass. It was “a very terrifying experience,” said Jess Cooper, one of York’s hiking partners.Jess Cooper

Partway down, the snow became soft and sloppy, making a self-arrest extremely difficult if a hiker were to slip and fall, Cooper said.

“You’re either going to slide a few thousand feet into a frozen lake where you can die, or hit a rock on the way,” she said.

“I personally really hated a lot of the steep traverses because they took so long that your mind would go wild with thoughts like, ‘Why am I doing this? There’s no need to be here doing this,’ ” she said.

Cooper’s trio crossed Glen Pass without issue, but a group behind them wasn’t as fortunate. After slipping and tumbling down the slope, a hiker dislocated his shoulder and had to be airlifted out by emergency responders, according to posts on PCT Facebook groups. He reportedly wasn’t wearing crampons.

Espinoza, the first through the High Sierra, fell into a tree well coming down a ravine and heard the creek below raging just under the soft snow.

“That was a close call,” he said.

Upon signing into the hiker register at Sonora Pass in June, he was written up in the Union Democrat newspaper and has become a minor trail celebrity. For a while, thru-hikers would stop and ask for selfies with the man who conquered the Sierra solo.

“It was very rewarding to get those reactions and have an ice-breaker with people because I was alone for so long,” Espinoza said. “But it’s settled down now to where I’m just an average PCT hiker.”

[petrodivers]

Mermaid Life: How to Get the Most Out of Mallorca's Scuba Diving

Welcome to Mallorca, Spain - the Mediterranean's chief scuba jumping objective anticipating your investigation. If you're looking for experience, stunning scenes, and close experiences with colorful marine life, tie on your stuff and plan for a paranormal trip into the wisdom of this submerged heaven. As a world-renowned scuba diving hotspot Petro Divers, we offer pristine dive sites brimming with biodiversity, dramatic seascapes, ancient shipwrecks, vibrant coral reefs, and a chance to discover hidden underwater caves. Whether you're a novice putting on a flipper for the first time or a seasoned diver looking to expand your logbook, scuba diving Mallorca guarantees an unforgettable experience. So what are you waiting for? Let's dive into the sapphire-blue waters to reveal the mysteries of scuba diving in Mallorca.

The Spectacular Dive Sites of Mallorca

Scuba-plunging Mallorca makes the way for more than 30 staggering jump spots dissipated along the shore. Going from shallow reefs ideal for fledglings to more profound wrecks for cutting-edge jumpers, the variety of destinations allows you to pick an experience fit to your abilities.

Famed for excellent visibility and mild currents, popular sites include:A marine sanctuary blooming with seagrass meadows, coral formations, and schools of fish. During a single dive here, you can spot seahorses, octopuses, barracudas, sea breams, and even curious dolphins.

Sunk in the aqueous water, shipwreck now hosts wrasse, damselfish, and other marine residents. During a scuba diving tour here, you can explore several decks and peer inside the bridge.

A semi-submerged sea cave covered in coral colonies. The grotto opens into a cathedral-like chamber with crystalline waters and schools of salema porgies.

Scuba Diving Mallorca's Marine Reserves

For an eco-friendly diving experience focused on marine conservation, head to Mallorca’s protected reserves. These underwater parks safeguard essential habitats and vulnerable species through environmental regulations.

Some stellar sites located within marine reserves include: Cabrera Archipelago Maritime-Terrestrial National Park – dive amidst groupers, saddled seabreams, and a rich community of Borg's octopuses. Since fishing is prohibited, larger fish frequent the waters.

Ses Bledes Marine Reserve – search for seahorses and pipefish hiding within the lush Neptune grass. Divers may also encounter endangered loggerhead turtles grazing on the meadows.

Dragonera Island Protected Area – explore the pristine waters around this uninhabited island. Over 248 marine species find refuge here including barracudas, red scorpionfish, brown meagre, and painted combers.

Scuba Diving with Petro Divers Mallorca

What sets us apart as the premier dive center Mallorca is our commitment to safety, service, and sustainability. The center offers diving courses catering to all skill levels - from Try Scuba sessions for beginners to Nitrox specialty or Trimix technical diving for experts. Join our PADI Open Water course to earn your scuba license while discovering Mallorca's vibrant reefs.

Our expert instructors ensure personalized attention. Fun tip: Combine scuba diving Mallorca with snorkel en Mallorca day trips to admire the reefs from the surface too! When ready to embark on guided scuba tours, we offer chartered boats facilitating access to Mallorca’s top dive spots including marine reserves. Our sustainable practices like using mooring buoys protect fragile habitats.

The dive center Mallorca also provides equipment rentals so you travel light, besides the retail shop to purchase gear. Enjoy amenities like hot showers, gear cleaning, and gas blending on site. Overall, we at Mallorca deliver 5-star service for an impeccable scuba diving holiday.

Diving Mallorca - FAQs Answered

If you’re still unsure whether Mallorca fits your diving passport, here’s a handy guide to top questions:

When is the best season for scuba diving in Mallorca?

Thanks to the Mediterranean climate, Mallorca offers favorable diving conditions year-round. You can plan your trip whenever you want to come. Late summer and fall offer maximum visibility exceeding 20 meters in some sites.

I’m a beginner diver. Do you offer scuba courses in Mallorca?

Absolutely! We provide world-class PADI diving certifications from beginner to professional levels. Embark on your underwater journey by enrolling in their learner Scuba Diver course comprising theory modules, confined water skills sessions, and open water dives.

What marine life can I see while diving Mallorca?

Mallorca’s dive sites offer an Aquarium-like diversity of sea creatures. Spot seahorses, octopuses, colorful nudibranchs, and frogfish on rocky reefs. Search for anglerfish and dragon eels hiding on muddy bottoms. Large pelagics like amberjacks, barracudas, and tuna also make appearances.

Conclusion: Start Your Epic Dive Adventure in Mallorca with Petro Divers

Scuba diving Mallorca promises a magical, multisensory journey into an underwater fairyland brimming with biodiversity and natural beauty. Let us- Mallorca's premiere dive center guide you on this quest replete with marine life encounters, dazzling seascapes, and non-stop excitement.

Discover shipwrecks shrouded in history, cavort with schools of fish darting amidst coral forests, search for tiny seahorses tucked within seagrass, or simply float weightlessly through crystalline waters. To embark on this underwater adventure, contact Petro Divers today and let your epic story of diving in Mallorca unfold, one fin kick at a time!

Source URL: Mermaid Life: How to Get the Most Out of Mallorca's Scuba Diving

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[dailyhorseracingselections]

The Long Shot Report Prairie Meadows Monday July 10th, 2023

Playable Long Shots

Prairie Meadows

7-10-2023

You can visit this blog during the week to find my long shot plays posted for your review. However, my list of long shots for the weekends are only available for purchase. Visit my site to learn how to buy them.

R7: #2 Shade (Win $15.80)

R9: #1 Marquee Thunder

R10: #5 Swampdrainer

R11: #4 Catale

Keeping a wagering journal of wins and losses is integral to being a successful gambler. I published a logbook patterned after how I’ve been tracking my wagers for over 30 years. Buy it today and start using it as soon as you can. You’ll become a better handicapper as a result.

There are many horse racing books on the market. The ones about handicapping will teach you a thing or two about the game; specifically, how to handicap. Some will delve into wagering strategies. Some can help you spot long shots. Ideally, you should read as many as possible. It’s important to keep an open mind when it comes to handicapping and the infinite wagering angles available.

[willy-bee-tree]

Not such a bad idea

Hi! This is my first Imagine fic so please bare with me! If I used any violin terms incorrectly, please let me know! (Btw, this wasn’t proof-read, so, sorry for any mistakes) Thank you and enjoy!

Fandom: BNHA/MHA

Summary: You play violin and the class realizes how sweet you are.

Pronouns: he/they 

You had been playing violin for two years now, unbeknownst to the rest of 1A. Fortunately for you, the class had dropped any inquiries about your home life once you made it clear you didn’t want to share. Of course, with the class’s individually saddening backstories, they had assumed it was because you had a terrible life and constantly tried to make you feel better despite your reassurances all was fine. In reality though, you had the best life he could hope for! Living with your aunt and her pet hamster was quite nice despite your peer’s worries.

    After you all had moved into the new dorms however, things were able to calm down a bit. At least, as much as it could with Bakugou and Midoriya in the same vicinity along with the other students who just seemed to want to hype them up despite the fact that both of them could literally murder any of them at any given moment. So...crazy, but less annoying. Yay.

    Back to the original point- so long story short, you are a major violin god and are too modest to admit facts. Like seriously, people could thank you for saving the whole world and you’d go ‘oh, it was nothing! I’m sure anyone else could have done the same and even better too!’ Anyways, you had no intention of ever playing violin anywhere near the rest of the class, that is...until today.

    “Ugh, I miss it when we were kids and our parents could just turn the lights out and boom. Passed out. Goodnight. If i still had the power to do that, I’m pretty sure I could end world hunger here and now.” Kaminari grumbled sleepily while leaning back against the common room couch from his seat on the carpeted floor. The whole class had flocked into the common rooms for a movie night after a particularly hard day of training, and were now laying in precarious positions on the furniture.

    “I know right!? I’m pretty sure at this rate, I’m gonna pop a vein from all the all-nighters I’m pulling.” Sighed Sero from across the room on the floor. After all the tests and extra spar sessions they had done recently, they were lucky they had the energy the even walk out of the rooms. After a few small attempts at choosing a movie the group of cranky teens had just given up and started conversing amongst themselves. This specific part in the tiring conversation was where everyone whined about their equally tiring week.

    “I dunno guys, I could only really sleep when my mom sang to me.” Midoriya quietly supplied from his perch on a misplaced beanbag chair. ‘Thank god bakugou is asleep’ you thought ‘or he would have started mocking Midoriya and all hell would break loose.’

    “Yeah, like deku-kun said, i couldn’t really sleep at all without one of my parents playing music.” Uraraka lazily commented after snuggling closer the the couch arm. “What songs did your mom sing to you deku-kun?” She inquired after a moment.

    “Oh! um there was this one song that she would sing to me… it was called hurts like hell by fluerie.” Midoriya stuttered once he collected himself from the attention suddenly focusing in on him.

    “Dude! Isn’t that song like, super sad? Why would she sing that song??” Kaminari asked incredulously, his brain not quite realizing the sweet nostalgic state Midoriya had slipped into. Upon being asked that question Midoriya furrowed his brows in very faint hurt.

    “It’s a really beautiful song kaminari-kun! Plus I was four! I didn’t understand half of the songs lyrics!” He defended, making Kaminari finally realize he was contradicting  something close to Midoriya's heart. It seemed the rest of the class realized this too if all of the ‘shut the heck up’ looks being chucked Kaminari’s way hinted anything.

    “Oh shoot- sorry bro! I didn’t mean anything bad by it!” Kaminari blurted out, abruptly straightening up into a sitting position. The electric blond boy frantically waved his hands in front of him, trying to convey his sincerity. “Besides, your right! It is pretty cool!” He tried to reason.

    “Yeah! It sounds very manly!!” Kirishima called with a wide grin adorning his face. He  shifted slightly away from the cushion he was leaning on to raise his fist in a friendly manner. This exclamation quickly dissipated all of the tension in the room, prompting an energetic conversation about old memories to strike up between the class members. That is except for one particular (H/C) haired male.

    You couldn’t shake the look in Midoriya’s eyes out of your head. While the green haired boy was reminiscing about this past comfort, his eyes seemed to light up with galaxies of different worlds, times, and memories. His face softened impossibly so, and his normal anxious nature seems to lift a bit. Just then, you were reminded of how Midoriya was the main one out of you who had had issues with sleeping those past few weeks. And suddenly, an idea was struck in your plotting mind. ‘What if i played that song tonight? Would it maybe help Midoriya sleep? Wait no! He wouldn’t want me to meddle in his own life! Just forget I even thought this! But..,what if it does help…? Ugh, stupid hopeful thoughts, making me hopeful.’ You sighed, realizing your mind wouldn’t leave you alone if you didn’t do this for your classmate. ‘So much for getting sleep tonight’ you thought.

    “(Y/N)? Are you ok?” A voice called out, making you snap your head up. You realized the whole class was gazing at you with various looks of concern and worry. That is except for bakugo, who, despite the animated conversations having been thrown over his head, stayed passed right out out on a small armchair.

    Blushing slightly,  you sheepishly replied, “sorry, I was just thinking!” This answer seemed to satisfy the class and they soon returned to their conversations.

‘Ok. I’m doing this tonight and that’s final.’ You confirmed, despite your subconscious already preparing to sprint down the halls to deliver the gift like you know you will. You were just barely able to contain the urge to do just that immediately and started fidgeting with your sleeve in the effort.

    This was going to be a long night.

                                           <><><><><><><>

    ‘Why did I decide to do this? Why the heck did I ever consider doing this??’ You were currently sitting at your large, tidy desk, holding your black electric violin with a small microphone held up on a stand in front of you. ‘I’m really about to do this, huh?’ Is the last thing you could think before you opened up google and started scouring the internet for hurts like hell by fleurie. You found it fairly quick, due to all the times you had done the same thing for yourself alone. ‘I can just stop this all right now and nobody has to know’ you reasoned with yourself. You opened the lyrics. ‘I will just say, I’m not going to do this. Sorry Midoriya, just can’t do it’ you opened the violin music sheet option on the corner of the page. Before you knew it, you were staring down at what you could no longer stall. ‘Gosh, you better absolutely love this Midoriya.’ Sighing, you propped the phone against a stack of books on your desk, getting into position with your bow poised and fingers holding the strings in A minor. Closing your eyes, you let your bow slowly sail across the strings, fingers dancing in tandem on the fingerboard with the beat your foot was tapping out.

                                 How can I say this without breaking?

                               How can I say this without taking over?

    As the first lyrics were introduced into the sheet music, your bow sung for the silent voice ringing in your head, the melody jumping out of the violin. ‘Maybe.. this wasn't such a bad idea after all?’

                                 How can I put it down into words?

                        When it’s almost too much for my soul alone...

    Preparing for the next lines, you slowed your bow into a slow vibrato. Just as the notes start to pick up, the high pitched vibrato turns into a low G note, dragging into a prolonged, aching chorus.

                                I loved, and I loved, and I lost you

                                     I loved, and i loved, and i lost you

                            I loved, and I loved, and I lost you…

    Skimming your bow over the tight strings, leaving only a faint ghost of sound emitting from your instrument before slowly picking up again. Furrowing your brows, you let the final chords ease out.

                                       ...and it hurts like hell…

    Finally, you let the melody and chorus completely peter out. Letting out a small huffed laugh when you noticed how your entire body had relaxed. With a click, the microphone that was recording your little talent show flipped off. ‘Now, for the easy part!’ You thought gleefully before setting your violin down in its awaiting case on the floor.

    Walking over to the large chest next to your bed, you pulled out the CD maker that you had been allowed to keep after a particularly good project in music arts. You plugged the recording gear into the CD maker, moving over the art supplies hanging on the wall. Grabbing some teal construction paper, double sided tape, and your favorite black fountain pen, you got to work. Folding the paper into a large envelope was easy, just a few fold there, and a few creases there! However, adding the tape to keep it in shape without messing any of the folds up was a bit harder. After a few failed attempts and a lot of paper cuts later, you had managed to pull something decent together. With fumbling fingers, you uncapped the pen and went to write a note on the unblemished back of the envelope. ‘Hmmm, what wouldn’t sound like I’m a stalker who found out about Midoriya’s childhood and decided to send him a poisoned letter??’

    Dear midoriya, Hi! I’m from your class and i noticed that you haven’t been sleeping well lately, (WICH YOU SHOULD) and you said something about this song helping you sleep! Since i know how to play the violin, I thought I might help you out! I hope i didn’t mess any of it up and i only really played the first two verses but hope you like it! Goodnight midoriya!          Sincerely, your worried classmate

P.S. (please try to sleep more! It’s not healthy and could affect your training if you don't get at least 8 hours of sleep every night!)

    Deciding that that was decent enough, you recapped your pen and set it to the side. As you turned around you were delighted when you saw that the CD had been finished and was waiting for you to retrieve it. Quickly sliding it out of the slot, you stared down at your creation. ‘Maybe this wasn’t so bad after all.’ Smiling, you slipped the shiny disk into a case and put it into your DIY envelope. Finally, you were able to gaze at your masterpiece with pride! ‘Now, for the not-so-fun part’ you said, deflating a little.

    Gathering the gift into your arms you glanced at the clock that read; 9:23. ‘Perfect’ you thought as you slinked out of your door, quietly closing it behind you. Taking a deep breath, you practically flew down the stairs (albeit quietly), not having the patience to wait for the elevator. You saw Midoriya’s door quickly coming into view as you slowed down. Breathing heavily, you slid the envelope underneath his door before you could chicken out. Later that night you blushed furiously at how you had practically punched his door and zoomed back up to your room. Wow, way to give a present (Y/N). Way to go. Anyways, it was about time you slept anyways. As you slipped into a peaceful sleep, you dreamed of violins and broccoli.

                                            <><><><><><><>

    Yawning and scrubbing at your eyes, you slowly shuffled into the common room. It was around 10:47 in the morning and you were just two skip’s and a hop from chugging an entire blender's worth of coffee. You started walking to the kitchen doors about to do just that when you noticed a little blob of other 1A students, a bubble of delighted shock encircling them. ‘Oh god did I miss something already?’ You mentally cursed as you begrudgingly quickened your pace, heading towards the small group.

    “Guys? Is something happening?” You asked, your voice still slightly veiled in groggy sleep. That is, until the whole class turned to you with massive grins and evil glints in their eyes. “U-uhmmm, what’s up? Guyss?” Huffing a nervous laugh, you were suddenly very aware of the lazy pajamas you were wearing. The class however, only seemed to grow even more amused and excited when you let out the chuckle.

    “I knew it was you!! Pay up kiri!” Mina yelled, breaking the foreboding silence. Her answer though, only served to make you even more confused.

    “Wha-” you managed to get out before Midoriya was suffocating you in a tight embrace.

    “THANK YOU SO MUCH (Y/N)!!!” He managed through his big, wet tears. As you stood there, being hugged to near death by a certain broccoli-boi, who was crying his tear-ducts out in your hair, and thanking you profusely, everything seemed to finally click.

    “Oh.” You stated simply, not trusting your mouth to make anything other than a verbal keysmash of you tried to articulate something more. The class burst into laughter at that, that is except for Midoriya (who was still crying his eyes out), Bakugo (who obviously wanted to be anywhere else in the world at that moment but was being restrained from jumping out of the window by kirishima), and Iida/Todoroki (who were very polite as always). (Also Mineta was unconscious underneath one of the couches, but no one needed to know.)

    “Oh?! (Y/N) you probably just gave Deku-kun the best night of sleep he’s had since he was five and all you have to say is ‘oh’!?” Uraraka yelped incredulously after she had stopped her laughter.

  “I have to agree with Uraraka. We all know that Midoriya doesn’t take care of himself as he should and you are the first person who has had any success in taming him.” Iida added once the class quieted down.

    “I’m not that bad” Midoriya pouted before the entire class responded with a monotone ‘yes you are.’

    “That was super manly dude!” Kirishima beamed at you. ‘Too bright’ you thought as you shielded your eyes from the bright boy.

   “It was very kind of you to do that for Midoriya, (Y/N)” Momo politely complimented from her stance a little bit away from the rest of the group.

    “Your violin is super great too! We should play some music together sometime!” Jiro called from her perch on a couch’s arm. With all of the compliments being thrown your way, you were starting to resemble strawberries with the furious blushing you were doing.

   “H-how do you guys even know it was me?” You asked defiantly, because you’d be darned if you were going to go down without a fight. The class was silent at that, and for a second, you thought you had won. Boy oh boy were you wrong.

    “Beca-because we didn’t even tell you what had happened except that i slept well yet you still seem to know??” Midoriya answered. ‘Well, heck.’ You thought.

    “Also because you made that cute little chuckle you make at the end of the recording kero-kero!” Tsu added, standing next to you and Midoriya, who hadn’t let go of you but loosened his grip enough that you weren’t moments away from stepping into the purgatory. At Tsu’s addition to the evidence, the rest of the class nodded energetically. You knew there was nothing you could do to change their minds so you just decided to admit defeat while you still could. Sighing you mumbled out an embarrassed

    “Fine...it was me.” At that, the class erupted on you. From all sides you were being suffocated by bear hugs or gently being praised on your skills and kindness. Both of those experiences, though, were making you blush a deep scarlet.

                           ‘Maybe...this wasn’t such a bad idea after all…’

[pixelmesh-studio]

Der offizielle Geocache an der Arche Noah.

[fumingspice]

guardians

original work! im bored to death and i have nothing much to do so i guess maybe i could post this and see if people like it or not. mallorie whyte is sarah paulson 🤜👱🏻‍♀️

01 | oakwood academy

october 24th 2022

eli, ma. andromadex

-Madison

THE FINAL WORDS that Madison's stepmother Inez had jokingly yelled out the car window at her before she sped off to work were fairly sticking with her all throughout the day. She had driven at neck-breaking speed as she often had a habit of doing, and then braked so hard that she probably would have given any other passenger in the car a pretty bad whiplash, which Madison was convinced that Inez is immune to it by now, and then rolled down her window and told her; "y’know, if you want to actually make some friends you should really quit acting so bitchy."

Mind you, this was after she had gone on at her for days on end about being herself.

Madison was not opposed to making friends at this school. She wanted to. It's just so difficult when the fantastic, gold-crested reputation of your parents follows you around everywhere you go, and it's even worse when everyone else in your school completely matches that reputation.

To her, there's nothing worse than extra-cred class. She could promise you that. Especially when there are only fifteen more minutes left of the school day until the school bell rang sweet salvation and the students were released from the clutches school for another day. The classroom was decorated in crisp oranges, reds, yellows and browns; and the smothering scent of the ten-plus pumpkin spice candles could probably be smelt from miles away.

Madison's teacher, Ms. DuBois, was from Salem, and she loved nothing more than talking about witches in Salem. DuBois continued to rattle on about the executions that took place during the Salem Witch Trials of 1692- and since they were in Eli and not Salem, Madison could not fathom a single plausible reason as to why her extra-cred class had decided to adopt the Salem Witch Trials.

Oakwood Academy, Madison's new school, had managed to work its way to having one of the top academic records in America by providing an extra area of study for every year that a student attended. It was just one of the classes that would act as a "relaxer" for the workload that the Academy dumped on their students. They allocated five sets of twenty-five students to five different classes. For example; her older brother was allocated into a class that studied some of history's most famous serial criminals. The girl had been hit with a low-key pang of jealousy when she looked at his workbook, but she would never admit that.

Serial killer documentaries from Buzzfeed Unsolved was for her what World War II was to her brother Tiano.

Halfway through the class, Madison decided that Ms DuBois' babbles were nothing more than folklore and legends. There is no possible way that witches could exist, and even if they did; they would have become so sparsely spread out throughout the centuries that bloodlines would have become diluted into non-existence.

Madison had finally just about given up listening, getting ready to switch to her earphones when DuBois began talking about Gwendoline Proctor and Marie-Anne Dufosett. Judging by the amount of borderline useless word scrambles and pop quizzes that she had been bombarded with since August in which their names had popped up in, this would no doubt be just as bleak as the rest of the topic.

"Marie-Anne Dufosett was burned at the stake along with her mother and some other accused women-"

Well, that's just peachy.

"-However, does anybody know who accused Mademoiselle Dufosett of Witchcraft and Conspiring with the Devil?"

A few hands shot up. Oh, great, Madison thought, another room full of Hocus Pocus lovers.

DuBois picked on a boy at the back of the room wearing a black turtleneck underneath his blazer. "Perrone Goguillon," he answered.

Well, at least I know that instead of how to pay taxes.

Ms DuBois clapped her hands together and was about to praise him when Madison poked her head up and blurted out, "who in fresh hell is Peregrine Goujon?" The class burst into a peal of abrupt laughter and her face flashed a red that was possibly close to her burgundy uniform.

DuBois waited patiently for the laughter to die down, giving Madison a well-intended smile. She'd been trying to pry Madison out of her shell for weeks. "Miss Delvaux, I'm so happy that we've finally been graced with your conscious presence," she said. "Perrone Goguillon was one of the last witches to burnt at the stake in France."

What has that got to do with Salem?

There was a pause.

Turtleneck Boy piped up yet again. "Wasn't Perrone Marie-Anne's mother?"

Ms DuBois nodded, what followed probably should have been a moment for shock factor was cut short by Madison's unimpressive comment of; "Sounds like someone gained some serious mommy-issues."

Apart from a few smirks and sniggers, the room stayed in a star awkward silence. It was that moment when Madison had realised that making fun of witches in this classroom was possibly as close as you could get to treason.

The bell finally rang out before Madison could embarrass herself any further. She pulled on her coat and started speed-walking to get out of the school. She found listening to Toxic by Britney Speers always made her faster.

The crisp Massachusetts air stung at her cheeks hard, nipping at them until they were a hard red. The leaves crunched with a prominent sound and the wind blew quite fiercely. She hated fall- she missed the sweet Florida summer and sunshine that she had become so accustomed to. She missed splashing about in their swimming pool with her friends, sitting on her boyfriend's shoulders and having matches of pool basketball. They could get very competitive and Madison was certainly no stranger to having her head pushed underwater for the sake of one of her friends scoring a goal.

Her family had just moved to Massachusetts for her stepmother's work, as they often had moved around for that reason numerous times in the past. Inez worked with companies that were hanging on the edge of bankruptcy. A quick call to her office and she would work on the case as soon as possible. Most cases she could work on from home or online, but every few years a huge opportunity or promotion would come up that would require a move. It was always worth it. Inez was a wizard with a logbook and her incredible finances knowledge; she would advise the company and work with as many people as possible to save the company and boost its profits massively. 

The job also came with a pretty hefty paycheck. Inez had been in Madison's life for as long as the girl could recall memory.

Now that the latest- and hopefully final- addition to the Delvaux family had come, Madison's father spent most of his time at home taking care of baby Thomas. In contrast to Inez, Madison's father came from a long line of "old" money; decades ago, his family was incredibly wealthy Franco-Belgian gold merchants, owning around 40% of the most flourishing gold mines in Belgium and France of which together bestowed them with a huge amount of the finest Belgian gold. Although the number of which lowered to about 750 tons of gold, the family net worth was still well into the billions.

Madison's father broke away from the complete gold-mine owning tradition and earned a job as a professor of physics in certain prestigious colleges across the country, although, there were still plenty of goldmines still to his name.

However, despite their needless fortune, most of the family, along with Inez, managed to stay incorrupt, helping to build many schools, hospitals and jobs in developing countries and donating thousands of millions of dollars to charities, side-lining with the Delvaux-Proveux Foundation to help create a better society with whatever difference they could cause.

Her parents did their best to remain humble- which sometimes proved itself difficult when the next five generations of their family could probably eat from solid gold plates if they chose to.

Needless to say, they spent only what they needed to, didn't exploit their riches, lived in the slightly more luxurious suburban homes. Madison was sent to Oakwood Academy; possibly the most unnecessarily expensive school in the north-east of America along with her adopted older brother Tiano and her adopted little sister Safina; the second youngest, Aleja went to an elementary not far from their home, and baby Thomas just did his best not to poop his pants straight after his diaper had been changed. Madison was convinced he did his best to poop at the worst possible time.

The house they had recently moved into was a beautiful country mansion, overlooking a lake and meadows, the balcony that showed a complete view of the landscape was perhaps Madison's favourite part of the house- apart from her bed of course.

She walked briskly up the pathway leading to the front door, doing her best to not show that she was absolutely freezing to death despite the massive coat. No sooner had she got in the door that she turned the heater on full blast and ran upstairs, diving into her bed.

Inconveniently, she was now too warm.

Madison rolled her eyes and then rolled out of bed with a slight thud, ran downstairs, lowered the heating, then ran back upstairs again- now at a slightly more satisfactory temperature. Her phone began to buzz; an incoming facetime from her friends back in Florida.

Madison jumped up promptly, fixing her hair and trying to make it look like she wasn't considering an attempt at home-made abseiling down the wall beneath her window. She accepted the call and lo and behold the screams and squeals of five of her best friends burst from the phone from on the other side of the country. Meghan, the girl in front and centre, called out Madison's name with an ear-piercing screech.

"Woah, Woah. Calm down, Meghan I'm not hoping to go deaf anytime soon," she muttered, pretending to be annoyed, making a particular fuss of changing the settings on her hearing aid. Meghan playfully rolled her eyes and began talking over the other girls. 

"Oh, shut up, Maddie. How's Massachusetts? Find any cute warlocks that we need to come out and see?" She asked. 

"Meghan, this place is amazing and beautiful- there's so many other things here than witches and warlocks and Harvard's array of nerds," she said, pretending she didn't want to hop on her tricycle and go home. 

To be truthful, it was obvious that Meghan could see straight through the blatant lie. 

"Well, if you say so, babes. Give us a tour of your house! We need to see chez Madison after stalking it for an hour on Google Maps."

Madison gave a hearty chuckle. "Well, if you insist."

Madison began her own rendition of a virtual tour around her house, showing everything from the luxury bathrooms to the heated pool in the basement. The ooooooo's and ahhhhhhhhh's were constant. The house was beautiful- that was undeniable. However, the crowning glory of the house was a massive stain-glass window depicting a woman by the lake.

"The realtors said that the builder of the house had it built in 1876 to memorialize the women persecuted and killed during the witch trials," Madison said, admiring the beautiful display of colours on the floor from the sun shining through the window. 

"That's cheery." 

That's typical Meghan.

"Now, more important than your sexy house; are you or are you not coming to prom?" Meghan asked, expectantly.

Madison shrugged, "I'm not sure, we only just got here, and I don't think my parents would want me flying across the country all by myself."

Meghan let out a slightly satisfied sigh. "So, does that mean Dylan is now free for me to take as my date?"

Madison gritted her teeth hard. Only forever has Meghan been trying to steal Dylan away from her. "Sure, as long as it's just as friends," she answered, fully emphasizing the word "friends".

Meghan laughed emptily. "Well, how else would I be taking him? Trust me, Maddie baby, if I wanted Dylan so bad, I would've gotten him months ago." There was a coy smile and awkward glances shared by the others.

Madison bit her tongue.

"Yeah?" She called out into the empty house. "Coming now, Nez!" She looked back at the screen, told them, "talk later, gals, Nez wants me to help her in the basement," and hung up without waiting for a response, already knowing that Meghan would be commenting on how strange she was acting.

Madison and Meghan had been stuck to each other's waist since pre-school, grew up in close neighborhoods, and had practically been raised together. One time, Madison's family took Meghan to Disney Land, then straight to Universal Studios after. To say they were spoiled rotten in childhood because of the Delvaux family wealth was an understatement. It was only now approaching adult years was Meghan taking full advantage of her best friend's wealth- hinting off about getting her into Yale or Harvard, Madison smiled and nodded when she brought these things up, knowing full well Meghan didn't hold enough brain cells to even use a dishwasher.

The jangle of keys and the opening of the door sounded from downstairs. "The party's home! Maddie honey, you here?" Inez called, audibly struggling with grocery bags. "Coming!" she called back, skipping down the stairs two steps at a time. Inez relieved herself of one of the six bags she had carried from the car. 

"When are you going to learn to walk down the stairs without the risk of breaking your damn neck?" she asked, walking to the kitchen and setting half of the bags on the counter, and doing the same with Maddie's bags. Madison laughed and shook her head, "when we confirm that the birds don't work for the bourgeoisie." 

Inez rolled her eyes and pulled Madison into a hug. "Well, in that case, I may as well buy a neck brace and put the hospital on speed dial."

Madison gave a real laugh this time and pulled away, throwing a damp washcloth at Inez's face. "Megan facetimed me earlier with Linda, Karlie, Houston, Seoul and London.

Inez pulled a face, "yeah, and how did that turn out?" Madison sighed, "she asked me if she could take Dylan to prom."

Her stepmom stopped unpacking and lurched into deep thought. "Why are all your friends named after cities?" Madison was about to continue when she stopped to think about the question. 

"Back to the topic, Nez."

Inez’s eyes widened in shock. "She did not, did she?" Madison nodded carefully, bracing herself for Inez launching into a huge monologue, as she often did when something morally wrong happened. "After everything that we've done for that girl- everything that you've done for that girl, this is how she repays you?" Inez barely stopped to breathe. "She has known about our plans to move here since last Summer! The sneaky little bug kept this behind your back and knew it would be safe to tell you that she was going to steal Dylan from you as soon as you were a safe distance away-"

Madison promptly stopped her, knowing this could and would go on all night. "I'm not as bothered as I should be, Nez. Dylan and I were drifting even before the move. I think this is just my final sign that we just aren't meant to be- God, I always knew nothing serious would become of Dylan and me," she admitted, sipping on a diet coke that Inez had just slid down the countertop. Her stepmother pursed her lips, her incredible dark brown eyes glazing over as they always did when she fell deep into thought, as Madison often admired them doing so when she was trying to find a solution to a particularly difficult business situation, then, within seconds, bounced back out of it once again.

Inez presented an envelope to Madison, addressed to her. "Well, this might bring your spirits up at least," she placed in front of Madison. "I just know it is what it is."

Madison's jaw dropped as she read the letter.

Months ago, while they still lived in Florida, Madison's tutor convinced her to take part in a writing competition. The competition was hosted by one of New York's most prestigious publication companies, namely by their founder; Mallorie Whyte, possibly one of the most sought after and revered journalists in the Western Hemisphere. Madison completely worshipped the woman. Whyte being a first generation French American was the main factor in inspiring Madison to learn the language; not for the benefit of her Senegalese brother.

But he did not need to know that.

Inez spoke again, mainly just to make sure that Madison hadn't become paralyzed from shock. "Is she telling you to buy a damn dictionary or was your spelling fine?” Inez teased. There was no response, but Madison was finished reading, and Inez became heart-scared that she would lick the page.

Madison was dumbfounded for a few more seconds. "I got first place in the contest. She wants me to come to New York and meet her! Bloody hell, she thinks I could help her out with new ideas?" Maddie took another break before screaming the house down. "The Mallorie Whyte wants me because she thinks I could help her-"

She completely froze up in shock, her frightened stepmother running behind her in case she fell backwards. "Three weeks?!" Madison screeched, loud enough to wake up the dead. Inez almost jumped from her skin, laughing when she recovered.

"Three weeks, Maddie! We have plenty of time," she attempted to reason, even though trying to calm Madison down when she was as excited as this was next to impossible.

Madison looked highly offended. "Three weeks? Do you see the state of this house? It needs to be perfect!"

The house was next to gleaming spotless.

Inez rolled her eyes and tugged Madison's belt loop as she was about to run into the hall. In her lifetime, she had met many people that she could consider crazy, but no one came as close to her stepdaughter when she was fangirling over Mallorie Whyte. "Yes, honey that's all well and good," Inez said, attempting to calm down the lunatic in front of her, "but in the meantime, I want you to tidy your bedroom, do your homework and do some studying."

Madison nodded obediently, grabbed her Cola, and ran upstairs, careful not to spill anything on the grey carpet. The fragrance of her apple blossom burning in an incense bowl wafted around the room, and her speaker was set to play music from her playlist when it detected motion in the room. The past few moments of excitement had wiped what had happened before the letter out of her mind.

Dylan.

Meghan had practically taken Dylan away from her- not that she cared, not now anyway. Mallorie freakin' Whyte had sent her a handwritten letter for Christ's sake, she wasn't going to be moping over a boy that her supposed best friend has had her eyes on for months. She had known since before announcing the move that the boy was falling under Meghan's spell, she had seen it; the messages, the winks and the giggles, the almost-too-close kiss under the stairway. She was never ignorant to the fact that there was something between Dylan and Meghan going on behind her back- they were both horrible liars and barely tried to cover it up- she just did her best to pretend nothing had happened.

It's not as if she wasn't the jealous type- she used to be- Dylan had been around most of her friendship group while she was crushing on him. She had just grown an indifference to seeing him flirt with other girls. She had grown used to it.

The notification of her computer sounded, distracting herself from her slightly depressing thoughts. It was an email notification, from Mallorie Whyte herself. Madison almost fainted at the sight of it. Not only had she just received a written letter, but she had also taken time to contact online. Madison caught her breath at the possibility of having a conversation with this woman three weeks before they met, she opened the email, scanning every word;

Madison,

I apologize for reaching out to you in such an informal manner, but I just couldn't wait to get into correspondence with you sooner! Your entry into our contest here at Whyte’s Journalism and Publications utterly rocked my soul at the core, your work blooms amazingly at your young age.

The reason I picked your entry was that after many hours of reading and re-reading hundreds of thousands of entries, I realized that yours spoke to me in a way that no other one did. The beauty of your language and knowledge of how our world and society works touched me in a way no other did- heart-breaking, yet somehow warming, in the same way, to know that there are still people in this world who still have a love for life.

I noted in your information folder that Halloween was your least favourite holiday- a complete juxtaposition of my own opinion. Samhain is the best time of year- and I am excited to spend this glorious time of year with you and your family starting next weekend, as I've just finished sorting arrangements with Ms. Inez.

Best regards and wishes, and excitement to meet you,

Mallorie Whyte.

Inez smiled to herself from downstairs, setting her drink down and running up the stairs having heard the rather obvious sound of Madison's delighted squeal and subsequent crash on the floor.

[brownstonearmy]

The Brownstone Bugle: Sunday July 26 (2020-05-24)

Curious about some of the other stuff that goes on in the town of Brownstone? Here are some of the headlines from this week in the adventure!

Announcements and Events

Quality Game Processing asks hunters to bring in exotic carcasses to keep up with demand surge for unusual meats

Bancroft Pancevolt and Marcia Lombardy wed yesterday, community reception to follow on August 10

Shirtless Hunky Adventurer undertakes heroic quest of penance to appease sponsors, public

Deadline for candidate nomination in mayoral special election is August 7

Constable’s Logbook

Deputy Billy Dumont responded to a report of a citizen being harassed by an unknown assailant casting Mirror Image. The assailant was found to be a mirror and all charges were dropped.

Constable Silas Blackheart received a report from Mayor Dunwall that the mayoral manor was vandalized. Unknown parties applied the illusory scent of a meadow to the home and stole one of the mayor's prized spheres. It is unknown whether Dunwall will press charges as of today.

[truckaccidentslawyer]

The dangers of a truck driver fatigue

The commercial trucking industry has become a crucial part of interstate commerce, so it’s not unusual to see semi-trucks on a regular basis. Unfortunately, aside from allowing for the transportation of mass amounts of goods, these trucks also pose a serious risk to other drivers. For this reason, the federal government requires trucking companies and their drivers to comply with certain rules regarding driving time, as well as cargo loading and maintenance procedures. While many trucking companies and their employees are careful to adhere to these rules, some do not, which can have devastating consequences for others on the road, so if you were involved in a collision with a commercial truck, it is critical to speak with an experienced truck accident attorney who can help you seek compensation for your losses.

 What is Truck Driver Fatigue?

Driver fatigue causes an alarming number of collisions every year. In fact, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has even reported that as many as ten percents of all truck accidents are caused by truck driver fatigue, which is a term used to describe the point at which a driver’s reaction time becomes impaired as a result of exhaustion. Driver fatigue has a variety of causes, ranging from taking certain medications and consuming alcohol to specific kinds of medical conditions and a lack of sleep. However, the most common cause of driver fatigue is overwork.

 To help ensure that truck drivers are not overextended, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) prohibits:

 ·         Driving more than eleven out of every 14 hours;

·         Starting a shift without having had at least ten consecutive hours off duty;

·         Driving if the driver has been on duty for 70 hours in the last eight days; and

·         Driving after working for more than 60 hours over a one week period.

·         Truck drivers are also required to take half-hour breaks every eight hours.

 Who is Liable?

Truck drivers who fall asleep at the wheel and cause accidents can be held liable for the lost wages, vehicle repair, and medical expenses incurred by injured parties. However, these are not the only individuals who can be held responsible, as the trucking company itself could be required to compensate victims if it forced its drivers to work too many hours or failed to supervise driving logs.

 Proving that a driver’s fatigue was the cause of an accident is crucial, so injured parties will need to collect copies of the police report, evaluate the driver’s logbooks and in-vehicle technologies, and request copies of the driver’s medical examination reports. When there is evidence that a truck driver was clearly at fault, many trucking companies are willing to reach a settlement with the injured parties, although in some cases, the claim will need to be litigated in court.

Get a legal representation with an experienced truck accident attorney for any accident-related questions and concerns.

At SAM LAW OFFICE, LLC, in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, our trucking accident attorney aggressively pursues personal injury claims on behalf of our clients.

[fromsylviaalexandra]

You would not say a young cuckoo is a "thing of beauty". And it seems to lack sense and courtesy. I saw a young one being fed by a meadow-pipit: if it had had the sense to bring its head down to its foster-mother's level she could have fed it easily, but it lifted its head so high she was forced to stand on its shoulders to drop food into its cavern-like mouth. But perhaps next spring it will be shouting its name to the hills as it flies through the arch of a rainbow.

the month of April in ‘My Own Nature Logbook’, Marcus Woodward

[willy-bee-tree]

bio:

Hello! My name is Will, he/they, (No other social media’s so please don’t ask!) 

 writing tag: meadow logbook 

speaking tag: bee buzzes 

Reblog tag: passes pollen

Art tag: grass stain

requests: writing requests OPEN  

blog rules: 

1.) do not act discriminatory, rude, inappropriate towards minors, etc. 

2.) do not ask me to make things for you unless i say my requests are open. I do not take commissions or payment of any sort either.  

3.) be aware of when i am not posting and respect that. Sometimes i need to take breaks due to mental health so please, do not ask me to post when i don't.

4.) do not send me any inappropriate asks or messages, please keep thing SFW. Thanks!  

That’s it! Thank you for reading this and checking out my blog! Have a nice day/night/life!!

update: Hi! If you want, feel free to send me writing requests for characters, storyline ideas, and just prompts!  Fandoms I will do:  Bnha/Mha, Sanders sides, Voltron legendary defenders, (I will also take original OC’s, but if you send an ask for one, please include a photo or illustration of the character! Thanks!) Things I will not do: NSFW, Rude or racist themes, Hate, Curse words/unfiltered language that’s about it! So, again, feel free to send asks! Know that I might not get back to you right away so many thanks to those who are patient with me! Take care and stay safe!