#missing Mexican man in California

[undergroundmysteries]

Sergio Almanza Gaytán Went Missing in March 2020 in Southern California, and His Family is Seeking Answers to His Whereabouts.

Have you seen Sergio Almanza Gaytán? He was last seen in March of 2020 in Southern California, somewhere near San Diego, La Jolla, or Santa Monica. #missing #missingperson #HaveYouSeenMe #UndergroundMysteries #SanDiego #LaJolla #SantaMonica

January 6, 2023 — Underground Mysteries Sergio Almanza Gaytán went missing in San Diego, La Jolla, or Santa Monica, California in March 2020.  Originally from Guanajuato, Mexico, he had been living in the United States, specifically Southern California, since the 1980s.  His family is actively searching for him and are very concerned about his well-being.  They have not heard from him since…

[deadpresidents]

Road Trip

On November 8, 1960, millions of Americans went to the polls in what would become one of the closest Presidential elections in American History:  John Fitzgerald Kennedy versus Richard Milhous Nixon.

That morning, Kennedy voted in Boston and Nixon voted in Whittier, California.  The candidates had spent months canvassing the nation, working to get every last vote – and every last vote was needed.  For the past several weeks, Kennedy and Nixon had criss-crossed the country, debated one another, and been working non-stop to be elected the 35th President of the United States.

After they voted that day, there were results to monitor, precincts to watch, election day problems to take care of, and many other things to worry about.  Imagine being on the cusp of the Presidency – with a 50/50 chance of being elected the next President of a superpower in the grip of the Cold War, with the threat of Communism and nuclear weapons hanging over your head, and the hopes of hundreds of millions of people pinned on either your victory or defeat.  Imagine being in the position of John F. Kennedy or Richard Nixon on November 8, 1960.  What would you do? 

John F. Kennedy put the control of his campaign in the hands of his younger brother, Bobby, and then took a nap.

And Richard Nixon took a road trip to Mexico.

Once Nixon voted that morning at a private home in a quiet Whittier neighborhood, he had been scheduled to head to the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles (where Bobby Kennedy would be assassinated eight years later) for the Election Day vigil and the long wait for the returns which would indicate whether he would be moving into the White House or facing an early retirement. 

Nixon was finished voting by 8:00 AM and hopped into his black Cadillac limousine to be driven to the Ambassador.  Several blocks away from the polling place, Nixon ordered the limousine to stop.  Along with a military aide and a Secret Service agent, Nixon jumped out of the limo and into a white convertible follow-up car driven by an officer from the Los Angeles Police Department.  Nixon took the LAPD officer’s place, got behind the wheel and ditched the press which had been following him.

Driving to La Habra, California, Nixon made a quick visit with his mother, making sure she had voted for her son in the Presidential election.  Nixon drove south along the Pacific Coast Highway, with no specific destination.  He stopped for gasoline in Oceanside and told a gas station attendant – startled to see the Vice President of the United States on a joyride on the very day that he stood for election as President – “I’m just out for a little ride."  Nixon confided that it was his only source of relaxation.

As the group of four men, with Nixon in the driver’s seat, reached San Diego – over two hours away from Nixon’s campaign headquarters at L.A.’s Ambassador Hotel – Nixon pointed out that he hadn’t been to Tijuana in at least 25 years.

As David Pietrusza wrote in his recap of Nixon’s road trip, "Richard Nixon – the ultimate control freak – was winging it on the most important day of his life."  Not only that, but the sitting Vice President of the United States and the man who many Americans were choosing to become the next President, impulsively decided to leave the entire country while those voters were still at the polls.

In Tijuana, Nixon and his party headed to a restaurant called Old Heidelberg.  Despite the fact it was owned by a German, Border Patrol agents told Nixon that it was the best place in Tijuana for Mexican food.  Joined at the last moment by Tijuana’s Mayor, Xicotencati Leyva Aleman, Nixon, his military aide, a Secret Service agent, and an average LAPD officer ate enchiladas in Mexico while John F. Kennedy took a nap in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts.

When Nixon’s press secretary Herb Klein was asked about the missing candidate, he had to tell reporters that Nixon often took some private moments on hectic days such as Election Day.  Really, though, Klein had no clue where Nixon was, eventually admitting that the Vice President was "driving around without any destination”. 

After lunch in Tijuana, Nixon and his companions headed back north towards the United States border crossing.  The LAPD officer took over driving duties as Nixon sat in the convertible’s passenger seat.  A shocked Border Patrol guard shook hands with the Vice President and asked the man who was currently on the ballot for the Presidency, “Are you all citizens of the United States?”.

Nixon and company drove to the Mission of San Juan Capistrano, which Nixon called “one of my favorite Catholic places” on the day he faced the first successful Catholic candidate for the Presidency in American History.  Nixon took his three companions on a quick, informal tour of the Mission.  “For a few minutes, we sat in the empty pews for an interlude of complete escape,” Nixon later recalled.

The missing candidate and his three road trip buddies arrived back in Los Angeles before the election results started rolling in.  Nixon had to explain his trip to reporters who had been searching for him all day.  “It wasn’t planned.  We just started driving and that’s where we wound up.”

In his Memoirs, Nixon didn’t go too far into explaining why he escaped on Election Day, but a paragraph about that day is pretty illuminating:

“After one last frenetic week, it was over.  Since the convention in August I had traveled over 65,000 miles and visited all fifty states.  I had made 180 scheduled speeches and delivered scores of impromptu talks and informal press conferences.  There was nothing more I could have done.”

Except escape to Mexico while JFK slept.

[heavyhitterheaux]

Don't Believe His Lies

Jessica's Tale as told by @nattinatalia

Heaux Tales of Jack Harlow

I don’t know how it happened, but it did and it was so fast.

I don’t know if it was his blue eyes that pulled me in. His smile probably, or the way he carries himself, But I fell hard and I don’t think I’ll ever feel the same for anybody else.

I met Jack three years ago in San Diego, I was working at a club he was hosting and performing at. I was the bottle girl, yeah how poetic is that? All night long he kept eyeing me and trying to get my attention with little touches here and there whenever I would go up to his section, but I was working so I paid him no mind.

Paying him no attention? That’s an ego killer for a man like him, he’s always confident and so sure of himself. But he loved the chase and so did I. It started with gifts, trips and whispers of sweet words. It went on for about a month until I finally gave in and we’ve been together ever since.

“Babe, I just don’t understand why? We’ve been together for almost two years, why can’t we talk about taking the next step?” You’re straddling his lap, his hands on your waist while he’s looking at his phone.

Jack had arrived in my hometown two hours ago and said he would be staying for the weekend. But I’ve been missing him like crazy, I’ve been moody due to my period and I was just picking fights.

“And what next step is that? We’re together, this apartment is ours, that car in the garage is yours, those gifts I brought with me? All yours, so what next step are you talking about?”

I roll my eyes at his words, “Bro, that’s materialistic things I could care less about. I appreciate the gifts but I’m talking about actually settling down, moving in together. Not what we’re doing now, you come and go every two weeks and it’s not because of your schedule, I see your Instagram stories when you’re back in your hometown with your friends.”

“First of all, don’t call me bro Jessica. Second of all, I told you I’m just not ready to do all of that. What’s the point of moving you to my hometown when I’m about to start my tour and I’ll barely be home. It’s best if you stay here, surrounded by your friends and family.”

I make a face at that so he pulls me in closer “Baby, it’s not that I don’t want to, it’s just that this year I’ll be busy non stop more than ever. I need you to stay here so you don’t feel lonely if I do move you in with me.”

I shrug, “I wouldn’t feel lonely if I met your mom.”

“You’ve met my mom, crazy girl.”

I nod, “You introduced me to her as Urban’s friend, not your girlfriend and it was a five minute conversation.”

“Did I? Well I’m sorry mamas. But stop, come on I’m only here for the weekend and since I walked in you’ve been picking a fight.”

You roll your eyes “And you’ve been on your phone the second you got here. Who are you texting so much?”

“Jessica seriously? It’s work stuff.”

I go to get off his lap but he holds me in place. “I’m just needy, I miss you and I’m in my feelings. I need reassurance about us.”

“Jess, me being here isn’t reassuring enough to you?” He gives me a kiss and squeezes my thighs. “Let’s just enjoy the weekend, let me go to the Mexican restaurant you love so much, two blocks from here and I’ll get food, while you set up here for a movie or shit, I’ll even let you play those two shows you love so much. I have plans for the entire weekend, baby, let’s not ruin it.”

You smile, “You’re willing to watch Sons of Anarchy and Mayans MC with me? Oh that’s love right there.”

He smiles, “I do love your annoying ass.”

“I love you too, now hurry up.” I get off his lap. “Today they close early. Get me an order of tacos de adobada, and a California burrito with a Horchata please.”

He stands up and heads for his keys and wallet “I’ll be quick.” He gives me a quick kiss and walks out the door.

**********

Ten minutes later I’m done setting everything up in the living room when there’s a knock on the door.

I chuckle “Did you lose your keys or what?” I go to open the door thinking it was Jack, but I see no one, I look to both sides and see no one is there, but an envelope on the floor caught my attention.

I go to pick it up and walk back inside and start opening it up.

Nothing could prepare me for what I saw.

Pictures.

Lots of pictures of Jack with different women.

The cherry on top?

This mother fucker is married and with kids.

I don’t know how long I stood there, looking through every picture. Everything was timed and dated so there’s no way these are old, he’s even wearing a chain I got him last year for Christmas in a most recent picture.

Seeing him with all these other women was hard, but what broke me was seeing the pictures of him and his family.

Never in my life did I ever think I’d be or wanted to be a homewrecker, I would never get involved with a married man.

This is how Jack found me, a crying mess in the middle of my living room, pictures scattered all over the coffee table.

“Baby?”

“Jessica, what’s wrong mamas?”

I look up at him. “Do you not see what’s on the table?”

He looks confused and goes to pick up a picture “W-what is this shit? Are you spying on me?”

I stand up and glare at him. “That’s what you have to say? Am I spying on you? Jackman you’re married, fucking married and with beautiful children.”

“Jess-“

I shake my head “No, no fuck you. How can you do this to me? To them? Two years, two fucking years and not only with me, with numerous of women too. How can you do that and go back to your family like nothing?”

“If you just let me explain-“

“Explain what? There’s no explanation to any of this mess. The proof is all there.” I point at the pictures. “I’m not spying on you by the way, that was left on my doorstep.”

“These are old pictures baby, you have to believe me. I love you and I’m here with you.”

I chuckle “Nice try, those are recent. Do you want me to show you the videos that came into my email? Having to watch a glimpse into what I thought you only do with me?”

“Jess baby, let’s sit down and talk about this.”

I shake my head. “No, get out.”

“What?”

“I SAID GET THE FUCK OUT.” I yell.

“You played me, you played them. This is fucked up in so many ways. Y-you lied to me, you broke me. This is not something we sit down and talk about.”

I’m a crying mess, I feel my heart beating so fast, I feel like I’m about to have a panic attack. “Baby, calm down, breathe for me.”

“DO NOT TOUCH ME. GET OUT!!!!”

“Jess”

I look at him then push at his chest, “Leave please. If you have any little respect or love for me like you claim you do. Please leave.” I go to sit down on the couch looking down at my hands.

I hear him walking back and forth between the bedroom and living room. Probably getting his stuff

“I’ll check in on you later, I do love you pretty girl. Never forget that.” He comes towards me and I feel him kiss the top of my head and with that he walks out.

I let more tears out, I get up from the couch and grab the pictures and start ripping every single one of them.

I yell.

I cry.

I break things.

I burn the remaining of the pictures.

I threw his clothes out the balcony.

I cry some more.

I’m broken, I’m hurt.

I loved him.

I thought he was the man I would eventually settle down with, get married and have kids.

But I couldn’t do that with a man who was already married and with kids.

One thing is for sure though, I’m going to make sure the rest of the women know who they’re dealing with.

They don’t deserve this.

His wife doesn’t deserve this.

His kids definitely don’t deserve this.

Your mom was right, when she told you, you don’t fall in love at the club.

Taglist:

@harlowsbby

@babyharleezy

@hoodharlow

@stefansalvatoresgf

@jackiehollanderr

@primadxna-girl

@dessmxsworld

@cockslutslurper3000

@raelorns21

@variety-fangirl

@gbaabyyyy

@kamorsstuff

@harlowthot

@sinsandsuccubus

@curlyhairclub

@bootlegroach

@haylexo10

@thinkingaboutjharlow

@fluidsentiment

@charli123456789

@moody4world

@yourstrulymayah

@yana4life

@beanbagbitch

@alinaharlow

@carma-fanficaddict

@minaxcarter

@arination99

@xjup1t3r

@venusvinc

@jacksmoviestar

@jackharloww

@midnight-star47

@minkookie95

@inluvwithladybug

@exoticr0ses

@jharlowsangels

@jackierose902109

@jackmansbabymama

@cmalass

@megawhoree

@softtcurse

@sia2raw

@miniaturehideoutmentality

@hoya122

@nattinatalia

@jackslover12

@skyesthebomb

@jackharlows-world

@louisianalady

@fdl305

@automaticpeachsong

@harlowcomehome

@gassyandsassy1

@babygirlwilly

@amethyst09

@harrycanyonmoonn

@toocriticalharlow

@tattered-tales

@sisiking99

@dessxoxsworld

@gillybear17

@jacksdaycare

@iheartharlow

@disaster-rose

@babyvinnie

@evansxchalamet

@chtkmyharlow​

@itsyagirljaz

@neon-lights-and-glitter

@awhore4moree

[nanamimizz]

YES GIVE US THE JAVIERLAMB LORE PLS 🤲

JAVIERLAMB LORE DUMP UNDER THE TAG

(tw for themes of SA/CA, pregnancy, spoilers for rdr2/rdr1)

@sukunasstarlight @yinyuedijun -> u where in my replies so i hope its okay to tag u here

OKAY SO ME AND FANG HAVE VERY INTERWOVEN SELF INSERT LORE AND MY SELF INSERT HAS MY IRL NAME SO I WONT BE POSTING IT HERE.

my self insert comes from the recently established state of california and was taken in by a family that established itself off the californian gold rush and later through cattle + sheep farming to work as a maid/nanny. she is mexican as her family lived in “california” when it used to be a part of mexico and stayed when it was purchased by the united states.

her father died in an accident in the stables he worked at and then her mother died by wasting away after entering a huge depression when her husband died. somewhere in this time her older brother went missing. she was sent to a loosely established and assembled orphanage when this formerly mentioned rich family took her and made her a maid to work for them and to play nanny to the rich family’s daughter.

this life was very hard as this was a white family essentially uprooting a 12 grieving mexican girl and putting her in this position where the man of the house creeped on her (watched her bathe/watched her dress/etc) and as did other members of the staff (this undeveloped) and the lady of the manor did what she could to defend my self insert but it even that becomes incredibly toxic and twisted.

these years are very complicated but this is where my self insert learns many skills as she tries her best to stay out of the house where the abuse happens the most - she learns how to make hunting traps and forage (This Is A Mouseka Tool That Will Help Us Later.) she also has a childhood best friend named romeo who later on develops feelings for her and also becomes a painter of admired skill.

it’s important that i tell you that this self insert is a very kind and timid young lady - learning to keep herself hidden from other’s eyes BUT she is also incredibly vindictive (This Is Another Mouseka Tool That Will Help Us Later) and she has a sense of morality that is a little skewed, “take from me i take from you” is the name of her game so when she meets fang’s self insert they quickly plot to rob the family she serves BLIND.

remember how she learned how to forage? basically she excels at plant based knowledge and due to the library she has access to due to being a maid she would read and memorize a lot of poisonous plants/spores and begins to concoct numerous poisons. it is her main way of fighting (she coats her knifes with it, she laces people’s food/cosmetics/drinks with it) my self insert does not fight fair and fights only to win.

both her and fang’s self insert slowly but surely begin to rob the family of money, antiques and even gold bit by bit until the family heads to blackwater in 1899 (my self insert is 21 by this point) around the time the vander lin gang is there (coincidence?….I THINK NOT)

the reason why this family went from being in california to being in blackwater is because of how the daughter my self insert played nanny for is getting engaged to a rich family in the state of connecticut (where the man of the rich family is originally from) AND this is where my self insert and fang’s plan to steal the last bit of money the family has which is the daughter’s dowry.

this is pulled of successfully though due to fang’s own criminal shenanigans the do get SOME of the pinkerton’s attention which sets us off to go into the mountains inadvertently following the trail of the vander lin gang and coming into an alliance with them.

somewhere along the time she is spends working for this family she gets her horse -> a kiger mustang named artorius

IM SORRY FOR YAPPING ALL THIS TIME NOW ITS TIME FOR JAVIERLAMB

javierlamb is essentially love at first for both of them and they both fit into what it is they have been missing for the longest time. for javier it’s finding a sense of belonging in the world and for my self insert is finding a sense of safety in the world that for the most part has robbed her of identity and agency. their relationship is mostly smooth until chapter 6 where there are

TWO ENDINGS as by chapter 6 my self insert is pregnant and by the epilogue has a son. javier can either return to her side and they become a family -> this is the good ending.

OR javier abandons her completely following the collapse of the gang in chapter six and flees to mexico to follow the events of rdr1 -> this is the bad ending.

SONGS:

as pure as the driven snow -> off the a balland of songbirds and snakes soundtrack

and i loved her -> by kurt cobain

abrázame muy furete -> juan gabriel

[jakey-beefed-it]

Jake's Relatively Low-Spoons Burrito Recipe

AKA "Burrito Glop" but I promise it's tasty

You're gonna have to eyeball quantities for your own needs- if you're only cooking for yourself you might wanna make like a can of beans and a cup of rice. If you're cooking for an army, you know, more than that. The whole thing takes like 10 minutes of actual cook time, maybe 5-20 minutes or prep time depending on if you do the 'fancier' method.

You will need:

rice, and a means of cooking rice

a pot

a pan

tortillas (the bigger the better)

beef (stir-fry strips ideal)

refried pinto beans (can sub with black beans if you're feeling more authentic)

shredded cheese ('mexican style' or 'tex-mex' mixes prefered, otherwise some combo of cheddar and monterey jack and mozzerella is fine)

seasonings of your choice

You're gonna scoop out your refried pinto bean glop into the pot, setting the heat to medium and stirring occasionally until it gets hot throughout. Then you're gonna add the cheese and any seasoning you like to the beans, stirring it all in until it's uniformly distributed and the cheese is melted in. This will be an unholy mess of cheesy beans, and if you're not used to it, it might not LOOK appetizing, but it's good. For seasoning, I personally like to use a hefty amount of garlic (powder or flaked for ease), a hefty amount of hot sauce called Cholula (specifically chipotle flavor; it's not hot so much as it is flavorful imo), and a good squirt of lime juice (fake is fine).

Alternately you can just do this entire step in the microwave. Takes like 3 minutes to heat up the beans. Mix in the cheese and seasoning. It's not as good but the difference is negligible and I'm all about cutting corners.

You're gonna make your rice. I recommend you mix in roughly one tablespoon of caldo de tomate/tomato bullion per cup of rice, so it's more 'spanish rice' than just plain old rice, but you do you. Minute rice or equivalent for the microwave works great, but use whatever rice you've got. Personally I like basmati and we've usually got some lying around, and while it's a slightly nontraditional choice for Mexican food, I have looked upon the Throne of Heaven and found it empty. So the good news is, there is no one to judge me.

You're gonna heat up your tortillas. If you've got a gas stove, you can do this directly on the range if you've got calloused fingers like a proper abuelita. If you've got an electric stove, you're gonna want to do this in the pan.

You're gonna drop a bit of butter into the hot pan, let it coat the whole thing, then drop in your beef. I like to buy the strips of stir-fry beef and cut them into like, half-inch/1.5 centimeter long strips. Stir the beef around a bit. If you're like me, drop in some lemon pepper seasoning, some more lime juice, maybe some chilli powder if you want a bit of kick. Once you've flipped the beef so that most of it's been more or less cooked on both sides, you're gonna want to cover the pan to finish it off. Then drop the beef into the cheesy beans glop and stir it around.

I drop the juice from the beef in, too- butter, melted fat, lime juice, and all. Just stir it into the beans until no more liquid is visible. But that's optional.

Don't have the spoons for cooking beef? Throw some pre-cooked canned beef into the beans while they're hot. Stir it around a while. Boom. Or sub with pork or chicken or goat or whatever.

Man, goat is delicious, I miss living in southern California where I could get goat somewhat regularly.

You glop your bean/cheese/meat mixture onto the tortillas, then layer them over with rice. Alternately, you can mix the rice in first and then lay it all out at once. The rice helps absorb some of the saltiness from most cheeses, and it helps a good amount with the burrito's structural integrity.

I can't tell you how to fold a burrito very well via text, if you don't already know. Worst case scenario I guess you can eat it with a fork.

I like to make a heaping amount, serve everybody two big burritos minimum, and then put the rest in the fridge to be reheated for leftover burritos the next day, but you do whatever you like, I'm not your mother.

You can store the bean/cheese/meat glop and the rice in two separate containers if you are wrong my sister, or you can dump it all in one bowl for easier serving the next day. You sexy no-spoon genius.

If you wanted a vegetarian option you could just leave out the beef. If you wanted a vegan option I'm not sure how you'd help the beans stick together without cheese but maybe you have an idea.

Enjoy! And if you don't actually enjoy it... well, you're weird, but I still love you. Go eat something you do enjoy.

[motheatenscarf]

Went to talk to my mom's lawn guy today and mentioned in passing that I am from California, not too far from L.A. He mentioned that he also briefly lived in L.A. with his brother for a while.

Normal things people who are from around LA in the I.E. will talk about are the traffic, the heat, the usual tourist traps and theme parks, local restaurants we miss like it's the old country.

Haha, NOPE.

Goes right on in with how he, as a white man and a MINORITY, felt unsafe in L.A.

And I just. I'm so tired. I'm pale but I'm white PASSING, is this really how white people talk to each other? This KEEPS happening to me specifically, so I have to assume they really are just casually dropping this shit on each other within SECONDS of meeting one another.

I just told him. "WELL, I'M MEXICAN, SO.... just holler if you need anything," and handed him his money and just... left.

So I guess I'm spending the day researching and calling up new lawn guys for my mom.

[lovemikage]

SPILL!!!!! 🔫

omg hello … okay SO I fleshed her out as part of an rp w @angeltails so this is based mainly off of that bc I had to adapt her out of rp BUT;

before her bite she was a small time indie artist, very much in the vein of early sabrina carpenter/olivia rodrigo but less famous. she was also planning on going to law school bc it’s me so ofc she was <3 the lab at her university created the spider that bit her by engineering a pink crab spider. though i’d like to add that i contemplated having a mexican pink tarantula bite her bc it’s so funny bc I am also mexican but I did not

lives in california and protects new angeles (thanks babe). it’s a running joke she has to commute to work bc of the traffic. told pav she’s in cali and he asked if she protects san fransokyo or if it’s still that little hiro boy and she calmly explained that is still hiro’s gig but sometimes she’ll go up there and help <3

since she’s been bit she’s still pursuing her music career but has taken a bit of a step back because of how demanding being a spiderperson is. she’s focusing more on school rn because if she gets recognized she’ll die 😭

her suit is based off of/heavily inspired by that one spider barbie fanart … will link if no one has seen it pls lmk. but her webs are pink/have an iridescent sheen to them! her suit is also one of the most impractical because “I will always promote cuteness over comfort” so she has a cutout of a heart where the typical spider is (it’s a heart shaped spider tho :D)

so she TECHNICALLY has two powers added onto the spider powers but it depends. the scientists (aware of the possibility of spider people) were attempting to kind of…super soldier that shit a la steve rogers. the main power I attribute to her is the power of luck, rendering her basically unable to die of anything aside from old age. there’s also her power of mentifery but that’s mainly reserved for rp purposes since it’s stupid overpowered 😭

her bf ended up being her universe’s mysterio </3 w the way her power works, once you pick a fight with her only one person is coming out the winner and it’s her. so when that damn fishbowl broke and she sees her BOYFRIEND ?! oh she was SICK …

her brother was part of her main canon event; she was helping him fight and since the luck power is only concerned with its user’s safety (primarily physical), she tried sacrificing herself for him and it didn’t work </3 baby is going THROUGH IT

she is dating both pav and gaya <3 at first it was funny bc in their universe she’s a popular western artist so gayatri was like ??? what the fuck ??? but miss pink lady is so pretty she doesn’t care (she also def knows pab is spider-man bc he’s terrible at hiding it so she was like honestly why question a woman w big tits

she goes by pink lady because it’s me duh but also because she has arachnophobia so she’ll fully be like “why would I go by spider girl or spider woman I fucking hate those things”

the art style of her world is very pink (thank u to my gf @bladeisms for this idea) so she’s usually very pink toned when she’s in other universes

[losinqminds]

(  taylor zakhar perez,  cis man,  he/him )   —    just  announced,  SANTIAGO  VIDAL  has  been  cast  as  JOEY TREVINO  in  the  upcoming  FRIENDS  reboot.  the  twenty eight year  old  is  trending  as  people  are  debating  if  the   diving headfirst when you decide to take the leap of faith, backlog of unanswered texts and ignored phone alarms, opening your mouth before your mind can catch up, drinking cheap beers in the nosebleed seats at the hockey game, the looming fear of missing out  that  they  are  known  for  is  enough  to  make  them  as  good  as  original.  a  quick  google  search  shows  that  their  fans  call  them  sanguine,  but  internet  trolls  think  they’re  more  impulsive.  i  guess  their  newest  interview  for  variety  where  they  talk  about  how five thousand people watched their face reveal live on twitch  will  let  people  to  know  them  better. 

statistics.

name : santiago vidal. nickname : nine out of ten times goes by santi. age : twenty eight. birthday : 26 may 1995. zodiac sign : gemini. gender : cis man. sexual orientation : bisexual. place of birth : butler, pennsylvania. current residence : los angeles, california. traits : sanguine, impulsive, curious, tactless, affectionate, gregarious, undependable, charismatic, scatterbrained. likes : the unexpected, public displays of affection, having a full agenda, saying yes, the pittsburgh penguins, his family's mexican food, the thrill of trying new things, the outdoors, hockey, the colour yellow, proving yourself, coffee, social media. dislikes : sitting still, not being (good) enough, overthinking, being alone, serious conversations, awkward silences, small enclosed spaces.

background.

— born  and  raised  as the middle child in  a  boisterous  family  of  seven,  in  a  town  close  to  pittsburgh.  his  parents  owned  a  mexican  restaurant  downtown,  a  bit  of  a  hole  in  the  wall  but  with  a  rather  hardcore  customer  base. they claim the birria is to die for. santi would agree. — had  a  close  knit  family  unit  in  the  region,  with  regular  family  gatherings  including  more  cousins  than  you  could  count  on  both  your  hands.  the  entire  family  were  hardcore  sports  fans,  and  so  santi  grew  up  sporting  the  yellow  and  black  of  the  penguins  from  the  moment  he  could  walk. — as  a  kid,  you  could  find  him  with  skates  on  his  feet  more  often  than  not.  he  was  quite  the  busy  bee,  the  word  no  not  being  part  of  his  vocabulary  alongside  maintaining  rather  impressive  stats  as  a  winger  and  keeping  up  his  grades.  at  eighteen,  he  was  recruited  by  cornell  university  on  a  hockey  scholarship. — whereas  he  used  to  skate  through  life,  the  college  experience  was undeniably harder.  stacks  of  homework,  early  morning  practice  and  a  constant  fear  of  missing  out  proved  to  be  a  disastrous  cocktail.  by  his  sophomore  year,  mediocre  performance  made  it  clear  he  wasn't  cut  out  for  the  nhl  and  although he continued to play, his  focus  began  to  shift  more  and  more  towards  his  degree. — around  this  time,  santiago  created  his  twitch  account  where  he  began  hosting  study  with  me  streams.  he  needed  a  way  to  hold  himself  accountable,  but  it  helped  others  in  the  process.  study  breaks  turned  into  full  blown  conversations,  and  handfuls  of  viewers  turned  into  hundreds.  his  streams  started  out  as  faceless,  but  a  curious  audience  convinced  him  to  start  showing  his  face.  it  might  have  had  something  to  do  with  a  fair  few  people  falling  head  over  heels  with  the  mysterious,  deep  voice. — his  evergrowing  audience  made  it  easy  to  continue  streaming  full  time  after  graduation.  study  streams  turned  into  weekly  catch  ups  and  gaming  streams,  movie  watchalongs  and  commentaries.  in  the  span  of  a  few  years,  his  social  media  accounts  amassed  half  a  million  followers  and  made  him  a  household  name  in  the  world  of  social  media  personalities.

— his  sudden  career  change  still  came  as  a  surprise,  to  himself  as  much  as  the  rest  of  the  world.  being  an  out  and  proud  bisexual  mexican-american,  he  became  a  popular  fancast  for  alexander  claremont-diaz  in  red,  white  &  royal  blue.  the  casting  directors  hadn't  overlooked  it,  as  they  invited  him  to  audition.  after  multiple  audition  rounds,  chemistry  reads  and  neverending  meetings  with  his  management,  he  was  offered  the  role. maybe becoming an actor with zero experience would be a gamble, but he felt rather lucky and approached the situation with a healthy (?) dose of confidence. — playing  alex  in  the  adaptation  wasn't  a  decision  he  needed  to  think  twice  about.  he  recognized  a  lot  of  himself  in  alex,  from  being  a  queer  latino  to  his  impulsivity  and  the  tendency  to  let  his  mouth  run.  throughout  the  experience,  the  character  became  as  meaningful  to  him  as  he  was  to  others.  and  he  felt honoured  to  be  their  source  of  representation,  and  inspiration. — the  unexpectedly  positive  response  to  his  acting  debut  opened  more  doors.  only  months  later,  he  was  announced  as  joey  in  the  reboot  of  friends.  but  suddenly  he  was  playing  a  role.  with  less  personal  attachment  and  connection,  and  recognizing  less  of  himself  in  the  character  he  was  playing,  he  was  suddenly  faced  with  just  what  it  really  meant  to  be  an  actor. — the  experience  is  new,  and  at  times  uncomfortable.  he  never  imagined  himself  in  his  current  position,  and  hasn't  ever  felt  as  much  like  a  fish  out  of  the  water  as  right  now.  now  entering  a  territory  where  his  career  is  a  make  or  break,  everything  depends  on  the  next  few  months.  maybe  his  deepest  fears  will  come  true,  being  exposed  as  nothing  but  a  fraud  and  an  e  list  star  forcing  their  way  into  the  spotlight.  maybe  he'll  decide  he  doesn't  care  for  acting  much,  fade  back  into  obscurity  from  the  mainstream.  and  maybe  this  is  what  kickstarts  an  entirely  new  career.

post credits.

FILMS. — 2021: red, white and royal blue as alex claremont-diaz TV SHOWS. — 2022 to present: friends as joey trevino

wanted connections.

because  i  am  woefully  unprepared  for  this  part  and  santiago  is  a  brand  new  character,  i'll  be  focusing  on  plotting  any  type  of  connections  (positive  or  negative,  and  platonic  or  romantic)  in  direct  messages.  through  brainstorming,  i  will  throw  some  suggestions  at  you  based  on  how  i  think  santiago  would  mesh  with  your  muse(s).  below  there  will  still  be  a  list  of  specific  wanted  connections  i  am  looking  for,  which  i'll  continue  to  update  throughout.  if  this  is  something  you're  interested  in,  please  do  let  me  know  and  i  would  love  to  chat  more  about  it! — roommates: santi  would've  auditioned  for  red,  white  &  royal  blue  when  he  was  still  living  in  the  northeast.  your  muse  would  have  offered  him  a  couch  to  crash  on  during  the  audition  process,  but  it  turned  into  an  unspoken  roommate  agreement. it has been years.  he  is  now  moved  into  the  spare  bedroom,  he  has  his  own  set  of  keys,  is  paying  rent  and  the  two  grew  thick  as  thieves.  — enemies: this  muse  would've  watched  santi  get  handed  everything,  while  they  worked  their  ass  off  all  their  life  to  have  their  career.  maybe  they  feel  threatened,  maybe  they  are  envious,  maybe  they  believe  he  doesn't  deserve  what  he  has.  either  way,  the  two  don't  get  along  at  all.

[nightsidewrestling]

M.L.B Bios: Aza de Angel / Azahar Luz Gutiérrez

M.L.B's Second Vocalist Aza de Angel (Jan 1989)

The second vocalist of the M.L.B (Mega Level Bitches), Aza, is the only Latina member of the group, and the only member of the group born in Roswell, she's also the only member born in New Mexico. She moved to Compton at 3 years old, gradually getting used to the chaos of the neighbourhood. Aza met Deja and Hutch in high school, and then met Kris and Lola when they both (separately) moved into the neighbourhood

"Ebony and Ivory. That's you and your dream boy, Krystal."

Name

Full Legal Name: Azahar Luz Gutiérrez

First Name: Azahar

Meaning: Means 'Orange Blossom' in Spanish, ultimately from Arabic 'Zahrah' meaning 'Flower'

Pronunciation: a-sa-AR

Origin: Spanish

Middle Name: Luz

Meaning: Means 'Light' in Spanish

Pronunciation: LOOS

Origin: Spanish

Surname: Gutiérrez

Meaning: Means 'Son of Gutierre' (Which is the Spanish form of 'Walter', from the Germanic name 'Waltheri' meaning 'Power of the army', from the elements 'Walt' 'Power, Authority' and 'Heri' 'Army'.)

Pronunciation: goo-TYEH-rehs

Origin: Spanish

Alias: Aza de Angel

Reason: Stage Name

Nicknames: Aza, Hara, Lu, Guti

Titles: Miss

Characteristics

Age: (As of Jan 1989) 20

Gender: Female. She/Her Pronouns

Race: Human

Nationality: American

Ethnicity: Latina (Mexican)

Birth Date: April 19th 1968

Sexuality: Straight

Religion: Catholic

Native Language: Spanish

Spoken Languages: Spanish, English

Relationship Status: Single

Astrological Sign: Aries

Voice Actor: Selena Quintanilla Pérez / Selena

Geographical Characteristics

Birthplace: Roswell, Chaves County, New Mexico, USA

Current Location: Compton, Los Angeles County, California, USA /On Tour

Hometown: Compton, Los Angeles County, California, USA

Appearance

Height: 5'9" / 175 cm

Weight: 150 lbs / 68 kg

Eye Colour: Brown

Hair Colour: Black

Hair Dye: None

Body Hair: N/A

Facial Hair: N/A

Tattoos: (As of Jan 1989) 0

Piercings: Nipple (Both), Ear Lobe (Both), Navel

Scars: None

Health and Fitness

Allergies: None

Alcoholic, Smoker, Drug User: (Underage) Social Drinker

Illnesses/Disorders: None Diagnosed

Medications: None

Any Specific Diet: None

Relationships

Friends: Deja Dickson, Dolores Park, Esther Hutchinson, Kristine Cobb, Nālani Kekoa

Colleagues: Deja Dickson, Dolores Park, Esther Hutchinson, Kristine Cobb, Nālani Kekoa, Amber Gray, Tiffany Peterson, Tara Torres, Jamie Ward

'Rivals': Andre Young, Antoine Carraby, Eric Wright, Lorenzo Patterson, O'Shea Jackson

Closest Confidant: Nayeli Gutiérrez

Mentor: Valente Gutiérrez

Significant Other: None

Previous Partners: None of Note

Parents: Valente Gutiérrez (40, Father), Nayeli Gutiérrez (40, Mother, Née Velázquez)

Parents-In-Law: None

Siblings: Gilberta Gutiérrez (15, Sister), Lucero Gutiérrez (10, Sister)

Siblings-In-Law: None

Nieces & Nephews: None

Children: None

Children-In-Law: None

Grandkids: None

Great Grandkids: None

Music Career

Debut: 1988

Retired: N/A

Genre: Rap / Hip-Hop

(Fictional) Records, Albums & Singles: 'Mega Level = Major Label' (Album, October 1988), Untitled Work in Progress (Due To Be Released Late 1989)

Songs (Record/Album/Single - Song Title - Track Length): 'Mega Level = Major Label' - 'Fighting Words' - 2:52 'Mega Level = Major Label' - 'In My Feelings' - 2:24 'Mega Level = Major Label' - 'Twins' - 3:32 'Mega Level = Major Label' - 'Strong Female Leader' - 3:05 'Mega Level = Major Label' - 'Use Your Voice' - 3:58 'Mega Level = Major Label' - 'Booty' - 3:22 'Mega Level = Major Label' - 'Silence, Please' - 2:27 'Mega Level = Major Label' - 'Go Away (Come Back)' - 3:18 'Mega Level = Major Label' - 'Broken Dreams' - 4:20 'Mega Level = Major Label' - 'Touching You' - 3:20 'Mega Level = Major Label' - 'No Other' - 3:48 'Mega Level = Major Label' - 'My Man' - 2:50 'Mega Level = Major Label' - 'Mind Melting' - 3:28 'Mega Level = Major Label' - 'Go My Way' - 3:32

[sardonicnihilism]

Missing by Me

Chapter 8

Hector drove up to the construction site his cousin Roberto was working at. Hector and Roberto were like brothers growing up. Even when they had chosen different roads in their early adulthood (Hector wanted to become a businessman, and Roberto chose street life), they still remained close.

Roberto was an amiable guy, always loving to joke around and laugh. He was also one of the toughest and most dangerous criminals out there. Ostensibly, he owned his own construction company, and they actually did build houses, but his real income came from coordinating between the various street gangs and their mafia backers. He had ties to pretty much every single crime syndicate operating in California.

Hector saw Roberto and stopped his car. Roberto had a shaved head that was covered in scars. His frame was extremely lean and hid his true strength. He had on a white tank top, black, terrycloth shorts, and flip flops. Hector got out of the car and started shouting to his cousin. "Hey Bobby! How are you, you hijo de puta con cara de cabra?"

Roberto turned around and smiled. "Hector! I'm surprised you can still speak Spanish after schmoozing with all them nice white people you've been hanging with lately."

"Hey, their skin might be blanco, but their money is the perfect shade of verde!" Hector replied warmly.

The two hugged and slapped each other on the back.

"So what's going on, bro? How's the search for your little girl going?" Roberto asked with real concern. He had been praying every night that the police would find Lucia.

"That's what I've come to talk to you about," Hector said in a low, hushed tone.

Roberto understood immediately what Hector wanted. He quickly started calling out for his guys to take lunch. Once they had all gone to their vehicles and out of earshot, Roberto turned to Hector and said, "Sure bro, no problem. I ain't seen Lucia since she was this high, but she's still blood. Whatch you need?"

"I got a picture of the piece of shit that took her. I'm not asking you to do anything other than help me find him. I'll take care of the rest." Hector's voice cracked a bit, but his determination never wavered.

Roberto nodded. "Yeah, sure, whatever, man. Let's see the picture of this mutha fu . . ." Roberto stopped dead when he saw the picture. He suddenly started shaking his head and waving his arms in an X in front of his chest. "Naw man, huh-uh. No," he said over and over again.

Hector was shocked. How could Roberto be turning his back on him? On Lucia? "What? Why? What happened to all that talk of blood?" He demanded.

"Listen bro, I'm sorry. Any other creep, perv, whatever, I'm down with you, bro, but THAT? No, sorry. I can't help you," he said as he turned around and tried to walk off.

Hector grabbed him by the shoulder and spun him around. "You know who this is, don't you? Is that it?"

Roberto shook his head again. "Him? No. But I know of people like that. Listen, bro, I'm telling you because I love you, there are certain people, certain groups, you don't mess with. It doesn't matter if you're the biggest crime boss, billionaire tech guru, president of the United States, crown prince, whatever, it doesn't matter, certain people you just leave alone."

"You going soft?" Hector hoped his taunt against Roberto's masculinity would cause him to change his mind.

Bobby turned to the area where his men were sitting at. He shouted, "FELIPE! AQUI!" A large mountain of a man stood up and started running over. Bobby turned back to Hector. "If Bruce Lee and Mike Tyson had a Mexican baby, that'd be Felipe. I saw home boy face down a whole roomful of armed men before. There ain't no braver or badder."

When Felipe got to them, Bobby explained in Spanish that his cousin's daughter had been taken, and he was looking for help finding the man that did it and that his cousin had a picture of the guy. Felipe nodded in agreement and asked to see the picture. As soon as he saw it, he screamed, crossed himself frantically, and ran off, reciting every prayer he could remember.

"See?" Roberto said. "You're not gunna find a different answer from nobody here." Roberto then put his arm around Hector's shoulders. "Listen, I'm going to give you a little tough love here, bro. The best thing you can do is delete that picture, bury your girl, and walk away." He then walked off, leaving Hector all alone.

********************************************

Elana was getting ready to leave. Her entire life had boiled down to wrote repetition. Get up, shower, get dressed, go to work, come home, and sit alone in darkness until it was time to go to bed. Rinse and repeat. Her life, her heart, her soul were as empty as Lucia's bedroom. Nothing mattered anymore. Life was meaningless. She barely ate and had lost almost 60 pounds. She was so thin, even the hospital where she worked, had talked to her, concerned. It didn't matter, though; nothing did.

She opened the front door to go to her car and saw Hector standing there. He looked horrible. His hair was a mess; several days of beard growth clogged his face, his clothes looked like he'd been sleeping in them for about a week. It didn't matter, though; nothing did.

"What do you want?" Elana asked without emotion.

Hector, who had been leaning against the side of the door, looking down at the ground, slowly turned his head to face Elana; his eyes were bloodshot and puffy. "My daughter," he said, his voice, hoarse and tired.

Elana just looked at him. "She's not here, so please leave. I have to go to work now."

He just looked at her, not fully understanding what she said. He turned his head back down. "I tried to find him, the man who took our Luz. I tried every connection I had. I begged, I pleaded, I promised everything I had, but no one would help me."

"And?" Elana asked in a cold, dead voice. "What is that to me, Hector? The only way I could possibly care is if you would have brought her home. I don't care about your revenge fantasies. Why would I? Do you think if you would have killed that man but not bring Lucia home, that would have meant anything to me?"

Hector turned back to face Elana again. "No, it wouldn't have. I don't think it would have meant anything to me." He paused for a moment, then lowered his head, rolling it back and forth. "You were right; I failed. I failed as a husband. I failed as a father. I was supposed to look after my family, and I didn't. I wanted to kill him, make him suffer like I have. Thing is, I don't think, no, I know it wasn't for Lucia, but only to make me feel better, like I had done something."

"Yes, you were a failure, but you weren't the one that put her on that bus." Elena's voice was low and broken. "I want to hate you for the same reason you wanted to kill that man - guilt. I wasn't there for her. I sent her away. I didn't even think about therapy. You failed; I failed."

Hector slid down the wall to sit on the porch. "Go to work; I won't stay long. I'm just tired." He then looked back up at Elana. "For what it's worth, I was always proud of you. I might have hated you, but I was always proud. You were a good role model for Lucia."

Elana sat down beside him but didn't look at him. "When I found out you were cheating on me, I asked myself why. I felt ugly, unwanted, unloved. Why? Why did you do it?"

"Oddly enough, for most of the same reasons. You had stopped being intimate with me. I felt left out. That was my way of feeling wanted, desirable again." As he spoke, he remembered the pain and frustration he had felt back then, but now it seemed selfish and cruel.

"I was exhausted. I went to school, worked, took care of the house, and looked after Lucia. It felt like another pressure, another obligation I didn't want to have."

"I was busy too, working multiple jobs, trying to start a business, that was my release. It took the pressure away. I thought it did for you as well. " He tried to sound conciliatory but ended up sounding petty and childish.

"Maybe it would have if I thought you actually cared about my feelings and not just wanting to use my body for a little bit," she responded tearfully.

"I never did consider your feelings, did I? No, I didn't. I'm sorry. I was just too caught up in my own bullshit." He was done trying to find excuses or pretty words to make everything better; it was time to just own up to himself and admit everything."I never talked about my feelings. I yelled. I screamed. But I never talked."

"Neither did I. Not until now." Elana said, also wanting to get everything out.

The two just sat there, staring into nothingnes, wondering why it had to take a tragedy like this to open up to each other.

[jxrm]

book log - 2022

his last wife by gia pere

a very merry bromance by lyssa kay adams

behind the messages by ella-may williams

the wife upstairs by rachel hawkins

pride, prejudice, & turkish delight by k.c. mccormick ciftci

the long way to a small, angry planet by becky chambers

honeymoon for one by rachel bowdier

let it snow by beth moran

resting scrooge face by meghan quinn

window shopping by tessa bailey

the family upstairs by lisa jewell

poster girl by veronica roth

x by sue grafton

queen bee by nina manning

the vibrant years by sonali dev

untamed by glennon doyle

book lovers by emily henry

the zookeeper's wife by diane ackerman

daisy darker by alice feeney

mating in captivity by esther perel

miss meteor by tehlor kay mejia

carrie soto is back by taylor jenkins reid

a good girl's guide to murder by holly jackson

the lesbiana's guide to catholic school by sonora reyes

fat chance, charlie vega by crystal maldonado

lakelore by anne-marie mclemore

you love me by caroline kepnes

happiness for beginners by katherine center

not my daughter by barbara delinsky

last tang standing by lauren ho

no filter and other lies by crystal maldonado

the southern book club's guide to slaying vampires by grady hendrix

does my body offend you? by mayra cuevas

i'm the girl by courtney summers

the expatriates by janice y.k. lee

emily, gone by bette lee crosby

after hours on milagro street by angelina m. lopez

i'm glad my mom died by jennette mccurdy

my best friend's exorcism by grady hendrix

#murderfunding by gretchen mcneil

looking for jane by heather marshall

midwife murders by james patterson

final cut by s.j. watson

darling rose gold by stephanie wrobel

all the pretty people by barbara freethy

when i was you by minka kent

been there, married that by gigi levangie

malibu rising by taylor jenkins reid

covery story by susan rigetti

the paris apartment by lucy foley

stiletto sisterhood by fallon demornay

her perfect secret by t.j. brearton

take a chance on me by beth moran

the watcher girl by minka kent

no conscience by phil m. williams

reminders of him by colleen hoover

her last move by john marrs

we were dreamers by simu liu

the book of cold cases by simone st. james

all i stole from you by ava bellows

violeta by isabel allende

once of us is next - karen m. mcmanus

just the way you are by beth moran

the latecomer by jean hanff jorelitz

klara and the sun by kazuo ishiguro

the sorority murder by allison brennan

one italian summer by rebecca serle

what lies between us by john marrs

the maid by nita prose

sex and vanity by kevin kwan

funny you should ask by elissa sussman

the seven day switch by kelly harms

three perfect liars by heidi perks

everything must go by camille pagan

no ex before marriage by portia macintosh

the other mother by carol goodman

california girls by susan mallery

one little secret by cate holahan

apples never fall by liane moriarty

the promise by teresa driscoll

ghost boy by martin pistorius

close to you by ana jolene

oona out of order by margarita montimore

the stepson by jane renshaw

all adults here by emma straub

his & hers by alice feeney

mexican gothic by silvia moreno-garcia

anatomy by dana schwartz

the resting place by camilla sten

will by will smith

good me, bad me by ali land

while we were dating by jasmine guillory

the lion's den by katherine st. john

when we left cuba by chanel cleeton

left neglected by lisa genova

the suspect by fiona barton

park avenue summer by renee rosen

group therapy by b.b. easton

the half sister by sandie jones

shipped by angie hockman

when we were sisters by emilie richards

the chain by adrian mckintu

not a happy family by shari lapena

clap when you land by elizabeth acevedo

if the shoe fits by julie murphy

the girlfriend by michelle frances

let me hear a rhyme by tiffany d. jackson

death by dumpling by vivien chien

yoga pant nation by laurie gelman

the cousins by karen m. mcmanus

in a holidaze by christina lauren

people we meet on vacation by emily henry

the candy house by jennifer egan

you've been volunteered by laurie gelman

broken by jenny lawson

you can't be serious by kal penn

the final girl support group by grady hendrix

home before dark by riley sager

one of us is lying by kate m. mcmanus

the vanishing half by brit bennett

the cross and the switchblade by david wilkerson

the henna wars by adiba jaigridar

the fashion orphans by randy susan meyers

the good girl by mary kubica

the comeback by ella berman

the magician's nephew by c.s. lewis

the bright lands by john fram

[what-even-is-thiss]

Idk if this is in reference to that one post I made or not but even if it isn’t I feel like it’s been misunderstood a lot like a lot a lot and I wanna say that I like European food. It’s just interesting what fundamental misunderstandings there are often times about what a thing even is. When I went to Germany I never expected there to be a lot of access to Mexican food. But in grocery stores with international sections it surprised me there weren’t tortillas and we had to make do with Turkish flatbread.

The best burrito I had while in Europe was in Prague of all places. We just stumbled into this proper little burrito shop while we were wandering around. They legit had spicy salsa and jarritos for sale and when I ate there it made me realize I hadn’t had any good Mexican food in weeks.

It’s funny. It’s kind of amusing what you run into when you’re looking at a far removed representation of another culture. And that’s why I kept begging people to read that post in a lighthearted tone. It’s just an experience you have as an American in Europe. It’s a weird experience. You know. Whatever.

It’s not like Americans expect everyplace to be like the US. That’s really really not what’s going on there. We’re just as capable of adjusting our expectations as any other genre of human being. Sometimes though you miss spicy food. Or you’re kinda sad about all the reasons you didn’t move to Germany. Because you really do like Germany but there’s a lot of things about that country that are dealbreakers for you so to get your tiny feelings out about that you make what you think is a funny post about the most frivolous reason and joke around with others who had similar experiences about that topic and then it gets taken extremely seriously.

Irl when you come across these things the real reaction isn’t “Oh shock horror! Surely I will die without this! How are Europeans so terrible!”

It’s more like “Well that was a disappointing taco. Man, I miss California sometimes. Anyways, let’s get Turkish food next time.”

Its really like not that serious. It’s just mildly frustrating at most. But nobody can tell that when you talk on the internet. They just see you joking about and plug their assumptions about annoying American stereotypes into what you’re saying.

I sympathise w not being able to get the food u like and all but I don't get why Americans are continually so shocked that Mexican food isn't common in Europe. It's like *travels to the other side of the Atlantic Ocean to a country with no cultural ties to Mexico* why are there no tacos here

[top10placestovisitintheworld]

Exploring the Magic of Disneyland California Adventure Park

Disneyland California Adventure Park, nestled in the heart of Anaheim, California, is a treasure trove of enchantment, thrills, and unforgettable experiences. This sister park to Disneyland is designed to celebrate the vibrant culture, history, and spirit of California, offering guests an immersive journey through diverse and exciting attractions. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a seasoned Disney enthusiast, California Adventure Park promises a magical adventure for everyone.

A Journey Through Iconic Lands California Adventure Park is divided into several distinct lands, each brimming with its unique charm and attractions:

Buena Vista Street: Step back in time to the 1920s and 1930s, a tribute to Los Angeles during the era when Walt Disney first arrived in California. Stroll along the streets lined with nostalgic shops and eateries, and don't miss the Red Car Trolley for a quaint ride through the area.

Pixar Pier: Celebrate the beloved stories and characters from Pixar Animation Studios. Enjoy thrilling rides like the Incredicoaster and Toy Story Midway Mania, meet your favorite Pixar characters, and savor delicious themed treats.

Cars Land: Immerse yourself in the world of Radiator Springs from Disney-Pixar's Cars. Experience the high-speed excitement of Radiator Springs Racers, take a leisurely drive through the town, and enjoy the whimsical atmosphere of Flo's V8 Café and Cozy Cone Motel.

Avengers Campus: For superhero fans, this is a must-visit. Join the ranks of your favorite Marvel heroes in thrilling attractions like Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure and Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! Interact with characters like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the Guardians themselves as you embark on heroic quests.

Grizzly Peak: Experience the great outdoors with a California twist. From the white-water rafting adventure of Grizzly River Run to the scenic beauty of the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, this land is perfect for nature lovers and adventure seekers alike.

Captivating Shows and Entertainment California Adventure Park offers a variety of live shows and entertainment that bring Disney magic to life. Enjoy the spectacular "World of Color," a nighttime water and light show that illuminates Paradise Bay with stunning visuals and music. Don't miss seasonal parades, character meet-and-greets, and interactive performances that keep the spirit of Disney alive throughout the day.

Culinary Delights The park is also a haven for foodies, offering an array of dining options that cater to all tastes. From quick bites to gourmet meals, the culinary landscape at California Adventure Park is diverse and delectable. Savor the flavors of the park with options like Carthay Circle Restaurant, Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill, and the Lamplight Lounge, each providing a unique dining experience that complements the park's vibrant atmosphere.

[goblininawig]

Part 6 of 7 @endlesshistoriesfest

Beneath the Oak Tree (or How Desire Started the California Gold Rush)

Desire of the Endless, as Donacio, and Francisco Lopez are searching for missing horses. What they find is far more valuable...

Rated T | 499 Words | A03 | Masterpost | Mild Sexual Content

This story is based on the first discovery of gold in California - when the area was still a Mexican territory – as described in Rush for Riches: Gold Fever and the Making of California by J.S. Holliday and “The First Gold Was Discovered in Placerita on Mar. 9, 1842” by Michele Buttelman. The “Oak of the Golden Dream” was the site of this discovery in 1842, which started the first California gold rush. I took liberties with making Francisco Lopez into dudes, because it worked for the story.

Desire's outfit is a pastiche of vaquero/rachero clothing as depicted in paintings and photographs of the era.

Francisco Lopez clucked to his horse and it picked up its pace over the ridge. The trail led through the verdant canyon through which gleaming flashes of light flashed from the meandering stream. With any luck, they’d find his missing horses grazing somewhere along it. He glanced at the man riding to his left.

“Think we’ll find what we’re looking for out this way?”

“Oh, I’m certain of it,” Donacio replied in his sultry manner.

Beneath his wide brim, golden eyes flash with secret mischief.

Francisco can’t help but smile at the man’s bold self-assurance. He urged his mount forward again, looking everywhere but at Donacio, trying to ignore the heat rising in his chest whenever the man looked at him like that . The mystery man had arrived at Francisco’s rancho only a week earlier, and Francisco had struggled with the strength of his attraction to the man ever since.

Most visitors only wanted to enjoy the ease of their lifestyle, but Donacio had volunteered to help Francisco and his vaqueros find the missing horses. Francisco couldn’t help but take advantage of the opportunity to be alone with Donacio, sending the other searchers off in other directions.

The sun rose higher, and still the missing horses were nowhere to be found.

“Let’s stop under this oak,” Donacio suggested, nodding towards the sheltering branches.

Francisco nodded; he could use a rest.

To his shock and amazement, Donacio pulled Francisco to him beneath the broad branches of the oak. Francisco’s breath caught in his throat as those aureate eyes seemed to stare right through him.

“I know what you desire ,” Donacio purred.

Donacio framed Francisco’s face with his hands, and stole a kiss from his shocked lips.

Francisco blinked; his mind seemed to re-set, and then he returned Donacio’s kiss, finally feeding the deep lust the other man ignited in him. They made love beneath the oak tree, forgetting all thoughts of the stray horses.

Afterwards, Francisco had a siesta. When he woke, he was alone. Confused, he stumbled to the edge of the stream to splash his face with water. Feeling more alert, he looked around once more. Still no sign of Donacio.

But there, beside the creek, some wild onions were growing. Francisco pulled out his knife and dug them up to take back for dinner. Gold flashed from the roots, as if Donacio were there, winking at him. Murmuring to himself in surprise, he dug around the roots of the other onions, and gathered up all the golden nuggets clinging to them.

Francisco knew exactly what he had found, but he would have to travel all the way to Los Angeles to have it assayed. And so he did.

Word grew of the find, and soon the little area with the mighty oak was full of prospectors, who dubbed Placerita Canyon, after all the placer gold being discovered there. And that is how, Desire of the Endless, led Francisco to riches, and caused the first California Gold Rush.

[tocitynews]

Bodies Of Three Missing Surfers, Two Australian Brothers And A Surfer From San Diego California, Found, Baja California Authorities Say –Los Angeles California reporting

The surfers were a San Diego man, Jack Carter Rhoad, and Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson, according to a report in The San Diego Union-Tribune. The newspaper reported the three men didn’t check into their Airbnb in Rosarito following a surfing trip south of Ensenada.

Mexican officials said Thursday they had found evidence related to the case, including a white pickup truck, and that three Mexican nationals were under investigation.

The attorney general’s office, the FBI and U.S. and Australian consulate officials were all working in coordination with the case, according to Mexican officials.

[svtminji]

ᡴꪫ ⋆ ࣪ PROFILE ! ˓𓄹 ࣪˖ ─── personal background

word count. 1.9k warnings. grooming, creepy men, pledis mistreatment, sexism

                Mizuki  Doi  Cortez,  or  Mariana  Doi  Cortez,  was  born  into  a  well-off  family  on  August  15th,  1995  to  her  Japanese  mother,  Himari  Doi,  and  her  Mexican  step-father,  Jose  Cortez.  Her  mother  gave  birth  to  her  in  Fresno,  California  and  her  family  resided  there  for  a  year.  Minji’s  step-father  soon  became  employed  as  a  professor  at  UCLA,  and  due  to  this,  she  was  forced  to  move  to  Los  Angeles,  California. 

001.    While  being  new  to  LA,  it  was  hard  for  the  young  girl  to  make  any  friends.  She  felt  separated  as  someone  who  was  Asian;  this  led  to  her  not  finding  the  strongest  peers.  Mizuki,  who  was  only  five,  felt  like  she  wasn't  going  to  make  it  far  in  life  with  her  minimal  English  speaking  skills.  Although  to  her  luck,  there  was  a  Korean  neighboring  family  who  had  a  son  that  was  going  through  the  same  thing. The  boy  she  came  to  know  as  Joshua  became  her  friend  but  slowly  changed  as  she  became  more  confident  in  English. 

                Even  as  a  child,  she  maintained  her  energy  and  would  only  come  out  of  her  shell  with  her  friends.  If  kids  were  to  describe  Mizuki,  they  would  say  she  was  quite  annoying  as  she  kept  blabbing  some  random  nonsense;  and  perhaps  she  acted  this  way  because  of  how  she  was  raised  and  the  feeling  of  not  being  able  to  be  herself  at  home.  Mizuki's  parents  weren’t  the  best  parents,  but  she  would  always  know  that  they  did  the  best  for  her.  Both  of  her  parents  were  born  into  sexist  households  with  the  idea  of  men  being  the  better  sex.  Mizuki  was  their  firstborn  and  she  was  held  up  to  the  responsibility  of  maintaining  the  chores  that  women  can  only  do.  She  always  felt  like  something  in  her  life  was  missing  and  that  was  closed  when  she  started  to  attend  a  dance  school  at  age  six.  With  the  age  of  the  internet  becoming  hugely  well-known,  it  also  came  to  the  responsibility  of  Minji  being  exposed  to  websites  a  child  should  have  never  known  about.

                Mizuki  liked  the  idea  of  having  friends  and  she  didn't  really  mind  if  they  were  older  or  the  same  age  as  her.  What  she  didn't  put  into  account  was  their  way  of  slowly  unknowingly  manipulating  the  innocent  girl.  Mizuki  was  only  ten  years  old  when  she  discovered  MySpace.  From  what  her  older  friends  had  told  her,  it  was  a  website  where  she  could  finally  get  a  boyfriend  and  experience  the  wonderful  feeling  of  being  “older”.  She  decorated  her  MySpace  account  and  felt  satisfied  enough  with  it  to  go  along  with  what  her  older  friend  had  told  her.  Unfortunately,  Mizuki  never  found  boys  around  her  age  and  instead  found  older  men  who  had  taken  an  interest  in  the  Asian  little  girl.  Mizuki,  as  an  adult  now,  would  never  count  this  as  her  first  official  relationship  but  a  relationship  between  a  sweet  innocent  little  girl  and  an  old  vile  man  who  took  advantage  of  her.  The  man  would  always  refer  to  her  as  “his  lolita”  and  “his  nymphet”,  and  made  it  extremely  clear  that  she  could  never  mention  this  to  anyone.  The  female  would  take  this  as  pride  because  she  was  being  called  something  of  endearment;  though  as  soon  as  she  turned  fifteen,  she  realized  that  she  was  only  giving  into  his  fantasies.  Cortez  would  soon  deactivate  her  MySpace  to  forget  those  four  years  of  grooming.

                Till  to  this  day,  her  parents  have  no  idea  on  what  suffering  their  daughter  was  experiencing  on  that  hell  of  a  website.  It's  something  personal  Mizuki  would  love  to  keep  in  the  deepest  secrets  she  has;  although  there  are  some  moments  that  can  trigger  those  memories  back  into  place. 

002.     Through  the  art  of  dance  and  music,  she  wanted  the  feeling  of  being  loved  by  everyone  and  the  feeling  of  fame.  From  her  recollection,  her  favorite  artists  were  Selena  Quintanilla,  BoA,  Beyonce,  and  Shakria.  Through  the  amounts  of  chattering  from  people,  she  heard  of  the  SM  Summer  Program  and  decided  to  give  it  a  go.  Soon  enough, she  found  herself  signing  up  for  a  trainee  program  at  SM  Entertainment.  The  agency  made  it  very  clear  that  since  she  was  still  in  school  at  a  very  young  age,  Mizuki  would  only  come  to  Korea  during  the  half  of  her  summer  break.

                She  was  extremely  grateful  for  having  this  opporutiny  but  the  reality  check  became  real  as  she  had  to  study  another  language.  She  spent  her  nights  studying  the  Korean  language  and  as  much  as  she  could,  Mizuki  tried  to  communicate  but  failed  to  do  so.  She  faced  something  similar  like  she  had  faced  back  home:  racism.  The  female  was  only  twelve  years  old  when  few  of  the  older  trainees  had  started  to  look  down  upon  her.  They  murmured  offensive  remarks  under  their  breath  when  they  caught  sight  of  the  young  girl.  Thankfully  an  older  trainee,  Joohyun,  took  Mizuki  under  her  wing  and  began  teaching  the  younger  girl  some  Korean  words. 

                During  the  six  years  of  going  back  and  forth  to  South  Korea,  she  made  many  friends  along  the  way.  Although  there  was  a  slight  age  gap  in  her  friends,  she  came  to  know  them  mostly  by  name;  Joohyun,  Tiffany,  Seulgi,  Taemin,  Yuta,  and  Johnny  were  all  her  closest  friends.  Now  that  Mizuki  was  eighteen,  the  dancer  felt  like  she  was  way  more  than  ready  to  debut  alongside  the  potential  members  she  would  be  with.  Though  with  the  massive  rise  of  EXO,  SM  Entertainment  felt  like  it  was  decided  to  postpone  her  official  debut  until  2015.  Mizuki  couldn’t  wait  for  about  two  years  to  finally  debut  and  was  complaining  to  her  close  friend,  Joohyun,  about  it.  Another  trainee  had  enough  of  her  complaints  and  reported  her  to  the  head  of  the  trainee  program.  Mizuki  was  called  up  and  had  no  other  choice  but  to  be  transferred  to  another  company  as  they  were  told  that  they  were  going  to  debut  a  girl  group  later  that  year.  Doi  was  excited  and  agreed  to  the  transfer,  but  she  later  came  to  regret  it.

                In  fact,  there  was  no  girl  group  ready  to  debut,  there  was  nothing  at  all.  Mizuki  was  left  on  the  doorstep  of  Pledis  Entertainment  like  an  unwanted  kitten.  Though  Pledis  realized  the  gem  they  had  on  their  hands:  she  was  from  a  well-known  company,  had  trained  for  years,  and  had  the  vocals  to  sing.  Pledis  decided  to  go  with  something  unexpected,  a  co-ed  group. 

                The  only  side  effect  was  that  Mizuki  along  with  three  other  girls  would  be  debuting  alongside  a  male-dominated  group  of  members.  By  accepting  this  deal,  Mizuki  would  debut  two  years  later  and  find  herself  overworking  herself  to  the  brim.  She  had  a  clear  conscious  that  her  career  could  be  over  very  quickly  if  she  did  not  excel  past  the  limit.  Months  prior  to  their  debut,  she  could  only  remember  the  feeling  of  wanting  to  leave  but  Seungcheol  had  always  pushed  her  to  stay  and  to  always  remain  positive  about  the  whole  situation. 

                During  the  moments  of  Project17,  Minji  was  often  seen  as  tired  mentally  and  physically.  She  became  the  motherly  figure  of  the  group  and  managed  to  keep  that  role  till  this  day.  Her  days  in  the  Pledis  trainee  program  became  so  horrible  that  Minji  lost  ten  pounds  due  to  the  huge  amount  of  stress  put  on  her.  It  also  did  not  help  that  the  rest  of  the  female  members  were  leaving  due  to  the  mistreatment  Pledis  was  placing  on  them.  As  days  were  growing  nearer  and  nearer  towards  their  debut,  she  had  two  choices:  stay  and  succeed  with  male-dominated  members,  or  leave  and  continue  medical  school.  Minji  chose  to  stay.

                While  staying  at  the  Pledis  trainee  program  in  hopes  to  debut,  she  would  eventually  remember  a  familar  face  in  the  crowd  of  men.  It  was  Joshua,  the  first  friend  she  made  in  the  massive  city  of  LA.  The  pair  reconnected  and  managed  to  catch  up  on  things  and  events  that  had  passed  during  their  past  friendship. 

003.     Debuting  in  a  group  that  was  meant  to  have  more  than  one  female  member  was  difficult.  Minji  often  found  herself  being  more  distant  from  the  guys  and  would  rarely  be  seen  acting  affectionately  towards  her  fellow  members.  Pledis  had  made  it  clear  that  her  main  goals  were  to  accept  brand  deals,  go  on  variety  shows  in  order  to  promote  SEVENTEEN,  and  even  try  to  “flirt”  with  powerful  men.  Minji  was  an  adult  and  she  could  easily  say  no  to  all  of  this,  but  her  entire  group’s  destiny  was  in  her  hands  as  the  co-leader  and  she  wouldn’t  give  up  on  them  too  easily.

                There  were  a  few  things  she  expected  while  being  a  group  like  this:  the  hate  from  netizens,  allegations,  and  unwanted  advances.  Most  of  her  hate  came  from  netizens  who  claimed  that  having  another  co-ed  group  would  result  in  problems  and  the  problems  being  her.  Minji  tried  to  maintain  her  strong  image  but  it  would  soon  enough  crumble  down  after  recieving  death  threats.  Those  death  threats  only  came  to  be  known  by  Seungcheol.  Some  death  threats  became  extreme  once  knowledge  of  her  relationship  with  Johnny  became  public.  Many  carats  can  recall  those  first  few  months  as  the  saddest  Minji  has  ever  been.  Following  those  months,  Mizuki  managed  to  create  a  post  regarding  the  new  Japanese  era  beginning  which  resulted  in  conflict  between  the  Korean  netizens  and  the  Japanese  netizens.  After  a  few  months,  it  had  seemed  like  she  was  free  from  conflict  until  that  fateful  Dispatch  article  coming  back  to  her  all  over  again.  This  time  instead,  it  was  with  her  member  Jeonghan.  With  everything  that  had  happened,  the  pair  announced  their  relationship  and  two  years  later,  they  announced  their  engagement. 

                All  of  the  pressure  that  Pledis  placed  on  her  would  last  for  six  years,  right  up  to  their  contract  renewal.  When  Minji  had  the  option  to  talk  about  her  company,  she  would  mention  how  she  felt  grateful  towards  Pledis  for  giving  her  the  option  to  debut  in  a  co-ed  group  but  she  would  still  remain  loyal  to  the  fact  that  they  did  not  shape  her  into  the  idol  she  is  now.  Now  that  she  was  given  the  chance  to  leave  or  to  stay,  instead  of  voicing  those  choices,  she  decided  to  voice  her  own  concerns  about  her  experience  with  Pledis  Entertainment.  Minji  completely  left  everyone  in  shock  when  she  finally  had  the  chance  to  speak  her  mind  about  the  entirety  of  her  idol  career  and  how  Pledis  had  affected  it.  From  “flirting”  with  older  men  to  putting  her  on  life-threatening  diets,  Minji  had  two  requests.  One  is  that  she  would  remain  with  the  group.  Two  is  that  Pledis  has  no  control  over  what  she  decides.  The  female  member  knows  what  type  of  talent  she  was  against  every  single  idol  in  the  industry  and  she  isn’t  afraid  to  use  it.  Cortez  knows  that  Pledis  cannot  afford  to  lose  their  gem,  and  thus,  they  agreed.

                Her  members  supported  her  ideas  and  still  do  to  this  day.  Her  main  support,  Seungcheol,  has  had  the  same  ideas  towards  their  members  and  how  they  want  them  to  choose  their  own  destiny  rather  than  a  company  choose  what  they  should  do.  Now  that  Minji  has  opened  up  more  about  her  personal  life,  it  is  safe  to  assume  that  Minji  does  not  regret  choosing  this  lane  of  her  life  and  it  has  become  a  lane  that  she  feels  more  safe  in  than  any  other  lane  she  could’ve  chosen.

author note:

hi. rewrote this because a few things were missing. it has a few heavy themes.. sorry about that. brought a few personal topics onto this in hopes to connect more with people..