#no but seriously gregg who are you

[podsontour]

Lads on Tour Episode 30 – Whose Gregg is it Anyway?

The lads make off with some loot, take the rickshaw to a new location, and finally get some answers.

Listen on Spotify I Apple Podcasts I Google Podcasts

[megabuild]

this was like a five minute doodle just to get the concept down but ive been thinkin about greggory..

obvious full disclaimer him being more human shaped is inspired by qsmp fanarts ofc. pushes that out of the way

ive talked a little about nl!olipix here and here but tldr oli ""dies"" at the end of empires and runs away and leaves olipelago to greggory. pixelle gets nothing in his will btw which he doesnt really care about on like a physical level because hes more upset about his boyfriend fucking dying but there is a part that stings that hes not even mentioned in the will despite them being so close he feels a little like oh so did that not mean anything to you.. but thags his issue.

the most immediate problem is that greggory is like not competent enough to live alone or maintain the olipelago. sorry. he's still in his shell at this point and like six months old tops he's baby. pixelle was already lowkey his parent because he babysat and hung out with oli a lot so it sort of happens naturally.. plus as a dragon its honestly a bit more like a slightly higher maintenance cat. who can breathe fire once hes out of the shell a couple months down the line. thats scary.

pix wraps up work on the ancient capital and moves back to the city to continue his previous job but things don't work out for .. various reasons. he's literally still like part ghost. but when he moves he takes greggory with him ofc because like he can't leave him alone... pix doesn't actually like children he was really bad with hermes but gregg grows on him. maybe in part because he's not really a child he's a dragon like i said. until. har har.

at about a year old greggory starts mimicking the humans around him a lot better than he was before. like. he starts walking on two legs. and at first pixelle is like lol how cute and then he seriouses because oh shit what the fuck raising dragons is sort of not really that common especially not in this sort of environment. on the rare occasions they've been tamed before they've been wiled beasts and this is an ender dragon which is nigh unheard of. (Violet from arc 1 still exists but is a very difficult and separate case that doesn't apply.) so suddenly instead of a little kittycat this thang is trying to walk and grab things with his little claw hands and vocalising (he doesn't have vocal chords capable of human speech but he does little grunts and stuff it's cute.) pixelle is equal parts fascinated from a scholarly pov but also like oh my god i am not qualified at all for this what the fuuuck

this is the point that makes pixelle sit up and go ok i need to unghost myself because i cant. raise my weird son like this. (his entire ghost thing is a weird metaphor for depression and trauma and grief because all the ghosts in aoyuer are about that. so yea) and then him and greggory go do that and its a whole thing i wont get into but it leads into him entering the land that new life is set in and meeting oli again who he had kind of figured out was alive and was trying to track down but didnt expect it to happen here. and so begins their divorce arc

fun notes though: pixelle calls greggory omelette sometimes as a cute nickname! he suggested that as a name when he was still in his egg. sort of mean. also since gregg can't speak english pix learns and then teaches him sign language ^_^ at the start of new life / arc 3 he's only a basic communicator but can get his point across usually.

oli is by no means a bad dad he's just not a great one either. it's clear he tries very hard and he does love gregg. part of the reason he leaves him is BECAUSE he loves him and he recognises he's not really able to raise him and it would be unfair to drag him along wherever he plans on going post empires... but that doesn't make it right etc etc. Hes aware of that too and feels generally awful about the whole thing... His and greggorys relationship is weird and strained at the start but he tries by god does he try. And they make it work eventually. They have to get through the horrors first though.

[keanuquotes]

What do a grocery store, a diner, and The Matrix Resurrections have in common? We can thank all of them for Dogstar's origin story and comeback.

Keanu Reeves, Robert Mailhouse, and Bret Domrose's rock band formed in 1991 after a chance encounter in Southern California's supermarket Gelson's, when Reeves saw Mailhouse wearing a Detroit Red Wings top and struck up a conversation with him. The two bonded over their shared love of hockey and became fast friends.

"It turned out that we lived in the same neighborhood," Reeves tells EW, "and then we started to jam together, and then we started to write songs, and then we played the first shows as Dogstar not that long after."

Doghouse members Robert Mailhouse, Bret Domrose, and Keanu Reeves

| CREDIT: BRIAN BOWEN SMITH

In their early days, bassist Reeves, drummer Mailhouse, and original singer and guitarist Gregg Miller (who left the group in 1995) would play in Reeves' garage. "It was fun," Reeves recalls. Until Miller's amplifier broke.

So he reached out to Domrose for help. "I was bartending with [Miller] when I first moved to Los Angeles, and I happened to have a similar amplifier to his," Domrose says. "So I went over to the house to help him fix it, and that's where I met these two guys. I just thought I was going to help some guy fix a piece of equipment. I didn't know I was about to change the rest of my life."

Reeves and Mailhouse were instantly impressed by Domrose's guitar skills — "Bret's a shredder, man," Reeves says — so a few days after watching him play, they invited him to join them at the iconic Los Angeles venue Troubadour. "I just wanted to go and drink beers and watch you guys," Domrose recalls. "I didn't realize I was going to be on stage."

"That set the tone for us from then on," Reeves says, rubbing his hands together. "Jump into the deep end. Man, that's us. We are not afraid."

Much like with that first serendipitous meeting in a Gelson's, food, at least in a roundabout way, helped lead them to a musical collaboration — this time, their return, which includes a tour and their upcoming third album, Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees.

"There was a premiere for Matrix 4 in San Francisco, and the next morning we had breakfast," Reeves says. "That was the initial spark." While the band never officially went on hiatus, they hadn't recorded or released new music in more than two decades, playing together only every few years in basements or at smaller gigs nowhere near the size of their old concert venues. But what started as a post-Matrix Resurrections chat about equipment turned into a full-fledged plan for them to reunite in L.A. to start working on fresh material.

"We got excited, one thing leads to another, and then we all took it extremely seriously," Mailhouse says. "It wasn't going to be another one of those casual get-togethers. You could just tell. It was like we were on a mission."

Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees is full of anthemic, sweeping, beautiful, and rousing songs that embody what the band is today. "The inspiration was three guys wanting to have fun and reconnect and be honest with our emotions, and so that's what you get," Domrose says.

If the music is different from their earlier, post-grunge records, it's all by design. "There's a maturity," Reeves says of their sound today. "The most challenging day [recording this album] was when I played 'Dillon Street'" — a track on the new album — "really basic when we were writing the song. When we get into the studio with the guys, I'm just playing it very simple and holding it down, and they were like, 'I think you need to do something more.' I tried to come up with the bass line in the moment, and it moves around a little more than I usually do, and so it was pushing me."

Reeves continues, "It was scary making stuff up in the moment with all ears and eyes on me, but everyone was cheering me on — just like, 'Dude, you got it. Let's go, Reeves.' So it was challenging, but also a fun moment."

The trio have never felt prouder of an album, and they can't wait to finally release it to the world. "We should have the record release party at a Gelson's, the one in Beachwood Canyon [where we met]," Mailhouse jokes to Reeves.

Adds Domrose with a laugh, "They do have a bar now!"

Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees is out Oct. 6.

[warningsine]

Having finished season 1 of "Good Girls," let me say that:

It is a hilarious series with 3 disaster leads (affectionate), but for all of its slapstick humor, its heart is: working class women trying to stay afloat.

Retta, Hendricks and Whitman give amazing performances that complement each other. Their chemistry truly is the biggest strength of the show.

Joan on "Mad Men" was understandably guarded, so it's refreshingly different to see Hendricks let loose as Beth. The way her voice switches from sweet and girly to sharp and authoritative on the spot? 11/10.

Retta nails both the comedic and dramatic bits with ease.

Whitman is charming as emotionally immature yet completely lovable Annie.

Truth be told, the season drags a little towards the second half despite the fact that the series is fast paced in general. They could have gotten away with 8-9 episodes instead of 10.

Yes, the concept is not entirely believable or original, but who cares? Didn't see anyone criticizing "Breaking Bad" for its straight up cartoonish moments. Why do we have to be so harsh when it comes to soapy delights that do not take themselves seriously like this one or "Why Women Kill"? Prestige dramas are good and all, but please give us a break from the typical male antihero narrative.

My point is, it is not the most scathing or poignant take on #MeToo and feminism, but so what?

Watching Beth hit the guy that almost rapes her sister reminded me of that moment in "Kevin Can F*ck Himself" where Patty injures her brother to protect Allison.

They paraphrased "Thelma and Louise" during that very scene. <3

Allison Tolman, here you are again being a total gift. If only she had more screen time/were a regular. Let her extort the ladies all she wants, but get rid of Leslie.

Say whatever you want about Dean, but Matthew Lillard's scenes with Hendricks are [chef's kiss].

Really loved Annie's child. Ruby's was also a delight. Both family arcs were touching.

Ruby and Stan. What a loving relationship. It was inevitable that the lie would leave their marriage in shambles, but it still is upsetting when that happens.

For a moment there, I was afraid that they were going to make Nancy the 1D "bitchy" wife so that the audience would root for Gregg and Annie (I do like them, but I do not think they will work out). Suffice to say, I gave a sigh of relief when they had Annie sympathize with her and call Gregg out on his shit.

I do not get the hype about Rio. He was funny in the beginning, but his generic/1D bad guy shtick got repetitive and annoying pretty fast. He shows up, puts on that growly voice, recycles 3 facial expressions while threatening the ladies and flirting with Beth, leaves. It does not help matters that Hendricks outshines the actor in every scene they share. From the way people talked about him, I thought he'd be more of a male Villanelle (s1 Villanelle), but without APD. Mea culpa. Knowing that they were actually initiating a romance, not just sexual tension between them, does not surprise me in the least, but it does leave me unimpressed.

[waitineedaname]

idk if you still want uk tips, but here they are if you do:

people will be weird and/or excited about your accent, especially people who live near you

brits love a budget german supermarket, lidl and aldi have a lot of fans in the cost of living crisis

gp visits are a nightmare, and if you're moving from another country there will be LOADS of paperwork, but you should get signed up with a surgery ASAP - also, you can go to the pharmacy for a lot of stuff

queue culture - we love standing in lines

if you don't like tea, don't bother (lots of us don't) but it's a pretty big cultural thing so give it a go (we're such a nation of tea drinkers that the national grid [electricity] has to compensate for the number of kettles we use daily

wear whatever you like - nobody really cares

if you drive, you'll need to retake the test for UK roads

greggs is the iconic lunchtime place for mid tier pastries (sweet and savoury) and lunches

also, pie in the UK is typically savoury, filled with meat and/or veg and gravy

meal deals - a sandwich, crisps/chocolate/another snack, and a drink - are absolutely everywhere and an incredibly common lunch

we love double carbs - chip butty anyone?

fish fingers are such a good food that i don't think americans have? baked beans are nice but you can add spices/flavourings to them

you don't have to like marmite - if you try it, ONLY HAVE A SMALL AMOUNT. any american who puts a full spoon of marmite in their mouth is basically unknowingly undertaking the british cinnamon challenge

basically everywhere has a chippy (fish and chip shop), at least one curry place (thanks, colonisation(!)), and a chinese. curry's almost always good, chippies can vary, and be VERY careful with the chinese, because they're iconic for food poisoning (although absolutely delicious as well)

all restaurants have a food hygiene rating on the front door - 3 or less is questionable

find out if you qualify for any travelcards and get familiar with your local public transport - buses are often late, coaches are typically on time, trains often don't come at all

seriously. don't take the train if you can POSSIBLY help it - it's BONKERS expensive and often cancelled and replaced with a coach

know a bit about uk geography, if poss - lots of usamericans don't seem to know what wales is, or how north and republic of ireland are different

main tv networks are channel 4, itv, sky, and the bbc. c4 & itv are free with ads, sky requires a subscription, and the bbc is free but can only be watched by households with a tv licence (if using iplayer, the bbc's website, you can just lie about this, but there's a whole debate about whether they can/will catch you - look up tv detector vans)

british people end their texts with 'x'. it is NOT FLIRTING, we literally do it to everyone and often you'll get two or three - it's basically a punctuation mark. don't look into it

york specifically is like the north ? with emphasis on the question mark. england has a lot of perceived cultural differences between the north and the south, with the south stereotypically richer, ruder, entitled, busy, unfriendly, and the north stereotypically more rural, insular, prejudiced, and working class. it's not always true, and afaik york's a pretty afluent area, but it's something to be aware of

ahhhhh you are so kind, thank you for sending me all this! unfortunately, I am no longer moving to the uk because I was tragically fucked over by the university, so I'm moving to canada now. but if I ever end up moving to the uk after getting my master's (which is not out of the question!) this advice is incredibly useful, thank you so much for going into such detail, I really appreciate :')

[ballplayersxo]

https://www.tumblr.com/ballplayersxo/732566555741831168/anybody-got-tea-on-the-current-spurs-they-used-to?source=share

i came across this ask which ill give my first shot at answering in my own way cause im a spurs fan! and girl all i can say is i wish there was more tea to report on 😭😭 not to say that theres zero drama going down in san antonio.. ive always asked myself: theres so much nba tea floating around but so little on my guys?? but now i understand that drama doesnt happen as regularly bc gregg popovich has more control over these niggas off the court than you would expect. in other teams its not really a common thing for coaches to hold players accountable for non basketball related things but id compare pop/the organization to a teacher/school because in a way they operate as figures of authority (similar to college-style basketball). its tougher to find spurs drama since he keeps the younger guys on a tighter leash after learning the hard way from tim duncans messy ass divorce/tony parkers cheating scandal but i assure you tea is there even tho its harder to find. i do agree with anon that sochan and vassell look like hoes but idk if we'll ever get to know that (unproven rn) side of them aside from speculation by who they follow on insta. including jeremy whos the most active on socials, all of them trained to move in silence + being a small market + tight pr means less reports but yes there is some tea and hottakes id like to spill although its not much

-

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/418962509115162624/1160664218702454914/IMG_3983.png?ex=6547f0c9&is=65357bc9&hm=cbc6e61c04ea464c85ab01827c17443f5d57ad2343fdbd96a76846644bb85168&

speaking of primo hes an ex spur but josh primo signed a new contract after joining the clippers and proposed to his (white) gf (story in attachment above). congrats her ig he has the face of a child whos balls havent dropped yet AND is a sex offender 🤷🏾‍♀️

context for everyone who doesnt know: primo was waived (even after he signed a contract extension apparently) because he flashed his ugly d*ck to a team staff member and then claimed he did it bc he had mental health issues. after primos babyface was sued by his psychologist (the woman he flashed) he was waived without so goodbye to his creepy ass. (on a personal note i really hate how "mental health" is used as some excuse for these sorts of things. like this nigga seriously thinks theres any valid excuse for flashing his tiny pp at women?? especially the woman whos job was helping out his "mental health" shit in the first place?? foh). it had way less info than an event like the kpj case but i think the lack of it is a testament to the spurs pr so there could be other stuff in the bg we as the public simply dont know abt

-

on a more positive note ik julian champangie has a gf. shes makes frequent cameos on his insta and vice versa and have been together since high school. also i dont have the link but i clearly remember another anon in an old post here claimed that sochan is bi and follows trans women but ill put that to sleep since its false. being bi isnt 100% out of the question obviously (literally anybody can be bi without us knowing. looking at you dwight.) but theres no real evidence besides: omg look he dyes his hair and has an aesthetic he must be bi!!! i think people see a nigga who has an eccentric sense of style and instantly wanna jump to label him but nawww ive seen his following on insta 😂😂 anon was confusing "trans women" for TONS of polish/british/american (all white) insta thots. hes a cutie but it wouldnt be farfetched to assume hes not into black women. yall he aint bisexual hes biracial 😂😂

https://x.com/RTNBA/status/1691153501299134464?s=20

unrelated: sochan rookie hazing wembanyama during the offseason was kinda funny tho

-

https://youtu.be/1VZykbSv7nk?feature=shared

dejounte and jaina are always on and off afaik lmfao girl secured some big bags. anyways dj talking about his experience with the spurs was insightful for me. i wasnt aware before there was alot of clash between ghetto behavior and how the organization wanted him to behave but frankly im not surprised by it

-

not really gossip related but stories of irl players ive encountered:

(retired spur) i met david robinson at church when i was really young. i remember being scared of him at first cause he was so tall lol but i remember him sitting down to shake my hand and my parents taking a picture of us. its kinda embarrassing since it has the vibes of a baby crying on santas lap but funny nonetheless 😂😂

got an autograph from demar a few years back. it was quick and we didnt talk much since he had to leave after but he was cool when i asked

the only current spur ive met is devin vassell in a random encounter at the gas station (this was last yr). i recognized him but wasnt sure how he was gonna react to being approached for an autograph/photo but he was really sweet w it. i asked him where he was headed to & he said the gym but joked after that, a nap at home with his dogs lol. the names of his two dogs, iirc he told me: donovan and ace. very warm, he has a pleasant voice and smile too, if hes a longtime spur he should join our broadcast team once he retires lmao

-

thank you for coming to my sas analysis despite my team lowkey tanking right now. have a great day owner, ill go back to lurking now, god bless you.

lmao anon thank you for this, i appreciate when you guys send long asks about things you care about!! but the josh primo case was definitely something that never made much sense to me. like why would he do that? i just can’t comprehend the thought process. it was a thing here in canada and a bunch of people were talking about it cause i know people who used to play with him. it’s getting weird. idk where to start with dejounte and jania but they’re both very annoying and belong with each other tbh. & gay/bi allegations are everywhere it’s crazy. lmao this was interesting overall though

[i-revolve-around-you]

I think it's about time I wrote a proper introduction post

Hey y'all, welcome to my blog! I'm a tumblr veteran but decided to start over on a new account recently. Why? Your guess is as good as mine.

🎵 the basics 🎵

nick ~ 28 ~ he/him ~ bi ~ white author ~ musician ~ gamer ~ nerd multi-fandom/shitposting this blog will be (mostly) SFW, but i still would rather not have minors following me. i just prefer interacting with adults, sorry. it's not personal. my likes, however, will be N/SFW, so be warned

my messages and ask box are always open! feel free to hit me up!

more info (including other links, and a list of fandoms/things i like) under the cut

tags: my ramblings | my face

🤩 a bit more about me 🤩

heya! the name's nick. i've been on tumblr since like...2011 or so? i was really big into it in my college years (2012-2017) but after The Great Tumblr Porn Ban of 2017 I've sorta been drifting in an out. When The Great Twitter Debacle of 2022 happened, I decided to migrate back on a new account so I could start fresh.

this account was immediately suspended because of my side-blog. which was a bit too unsafe for work for tumblr's guidelines ig 🙄 not mentioning that they had just recently updated their policy and everything i was posting was PERFECTLY FINE under them but w/e

so i started another one lmao and that's the one that you're looking at right now! my other account has since been restored but at that point I was already situated over here so like. whatever i guess. lol

i'm currently 28, and bisexual. semi-recently out of the closed as bi, actually. for years i identified as gay, but over time i started realizing "actually...i do kinda like girls?" i still identified as "gay" cuz it was easier than saying "so like i'm bi-sexual but mostly homo-romantic but also maybe potentially demi-sexual but only when it comes to real people?" then around 2020 it just kinda clicked with me, and the label of "bisexual" just felt right

anywho you didn't come here for my full life story. here's just a little bit more about me:

i'm a total nerd. i love video games, playing Yugioh, DND (just starting to get into that one), etc. i'm a writer. i've written several fanfics (some of which i'm really proud of, some of which i'm...less), and have a goal of one day publishing a novel (my main genre is YA contemporary with queer themes and characters). i'm a musician. i actually got my bachelor's degree in music (BA in Music). my main instrument is drums/percussion, but i'm learning a bit of guitar and can play a little bit of piano. i'm also a composer/songwriter, though haven't been writing as much these days. if i write anything cool i'll be sure to post it here!

🎭 the artist formerly known as 🎭

previous account: @excuuuseme-princess other previous urls: musicdork, sincerely-whelmed, futuremehatesme, @nickplayswhat, @spearfeld, among others, probably

🔍 other places to find me 🔎

tumblr sideblog (N/SFW, seriously be warned): @fadingfast1 twitter: @libromancerfire n/sfw twitter (again...be warned): @whatifitspriv tiktok: @libromancer_fireburst ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/users/darkjaden825698

⚔ fandoms/things i like ⚔

Books 📚

Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Orphan X series by Gregg Hurwitz

Darius the Great is Not Okay / Darius the Great Deserves Better by Adib Khorram

TV shows 📺

Arrowverse (especially Legend of Tomorrow [r.i.p. 😢])

Doctor Who

Travelers

Manifest

Movies 📽

Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse

Love, Simon

Cartoons/Anime 🍞

Yu-Gi-Oh! (DM, GX, 5Ds, ZeXal, Arc-V, currently watching VRAINS and Sevens, have yet to start Go-Rush)

Code Lyoko*

Video Games 🎮

Resident Evil (played all mainline games, some spinoffs, faves are RE2make, Village, and Revelations 2, Ethan Winters is my husband)

Horizon (Zero Dawn, Forbidden West)

Persona (mostly 3 and 5, still need to finish 4, but Kanji is bae)

Fire Emblem (have played all except FE1, 2, 3, and about halfway through 5 but keep losing interest, Engage was FANTASTIC, but Ike is my favorite character)

Zero Escape (999, VLR, ZTD, Sigma Klim is my husband)

Life is Strange (particularly LiS2, but I love them all)

The Legend of Zelda

Golden Sun*

Music Artists 🎼

Paramore

Neck Deep

The Wonder Years*

Other

Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG

*fandoms/media I was once very involved in, but not as much anymore, still enjoy though fandoms/media i consider to be some of my faves/am very active in will (try and remember to) update as new things become relevant to me lmfaoo

[creationofacentury]

Tiny Problem - P4

Summary: The Empires are here! How would mini hermits react? (This is far ahead on the timeline from P3. Come with me on today’s brainrot: the daily dose of mini hermits!)

Character: Renthedog, SolidarityGaming, Grian, GoodTimeWithScar, Zadaph(mentioned), BDoubleO100(mentioned), XBcrafted(mentioned), and the mini hermits! Tom is also mentioned.

Relationship: None! Only friendship...? (Tom is too popular.)

Note: This fanfic is strictly about their MC personas, DO NOT take this seriously! Do not harass them with these works.

Dolly is Doc’s youngling. Tom...Tom is Jevin’s canonical child. And the time sets in the Hermit-Empire crossover. The Empire fellows are on the HC server!

-

01. Uncle Jimmy Solidarity

“Gregg! Who’s my favorite little fella!?”

“Tim, I swear- stop putting him on your head!”

“He likes it!”

“He would fall!”

“But he can fly, Grian, you can’t deny his rightful access to the sky! He’s born to fly!” Jimmy gushes at Gregg while Gregg joyously giggles, almost fall from Jimmy’s head. “Who’s born to fly? You!”

“That’s not- what? No, Tim, I don’t forbid him from flying! I supervise his flying sessions, but if you put him on your head he would fall!”

“Oh,” Jimmy muses, “how do you know, Grian? Maybe he could just fly back up.”

“Common sense, Tim! I am not taking any chances!”

Ariana, sitting amongst the chest-monster, pipes up, “Dad tried taking Gregg flying once. Gregg was really excited and he fell from Dad’s head while they were in the air.”

Jimmy looks at Grian, stunned.

“...Shut up,”

“I didn’t say anything-”

“Just shut up!”

-

“Did Gregg actually crash?”

“No, of course not. Bdubs catches him.”

--------

02. They grow up so quick...wait, slow down, too quick!

Is that his- oh thank goodness finally! Ren rushes forward and hugs his little boy. “Gosh, Rennie, where have you been?!”

“I- Dolly said there were new kids on the server, I just wanted to see!” Rennie says, struggling to get out of Ren’s suffocating hug. He’s a big boy now, this is really embra- embare- embarrassing, like what Ariana said the other day.

“Without telling me first? I searched everywhere, I was so worried!”

“Sorry, Dad...”He does hate it when Dad is upset...Oh, right, he almost forgot, “Anyway, this is my boyfriend Tom-”

“WHAT?!”

-

“Whose kid is this?!”

“Uncle Jevin?”

--------

03. Teenagers. Except they are not supposed to be.

“Pa,”

“Yes, my precious?”

“Hmmm.”

Scar frowns, “What happened? Is something making you sad?”

Scarling huffs and turns his head away.

“What’s going on? Are you mad at me?”

Scarling doesn’t turn. “I hate my name.”

Scar stares at Scarling, shock written all over his face.

“What?”

“Other kids have better names.”

"What makes you say that?”

“I don't know, Pa, maybe it’s because my name is “Scarling” and you left me with Griande and literally gone for two month?”

“But I- I left you in the nursery! If she’s saying things-”

“What do you want me to do, Pa? Play with Ed? Uncle XB was going mad taking care all of us!”

“Hey that’s not the attitude you talk about your fellow-”

“Ed made a TNT duper to break out of the nursery! I am not playing with him!”

“Imagine how your uncle Zed would feel if he heard you said that!”

“I don’t care! I want a new name and I don’t want to play with Ed!”

“Oh YOU- you are GROUNDED young man!”

“Fine!”

--------

Previous - P4 - Next

Notes:

For context (it’s been a while, so), back in May I was obsessed with the egg hunt and the mini hermits, so I wrote a little series about mini hermits call Tiny Problem.

I now imagine Ariana being the big kid on the server, and like. Every mini hermits has to listens to her and everything. The mini hermits have since grown up a little bit, though not yet teenagers...I just don’t know how to write children. There’s a time gap here, I would (probably) explain it in the future chapters.

As always, tell me if you spot any grammar problems or typos! Also, I would really appreciate comments and stuff! Thank you for reading this far!

Edit: I think this fic is blocked, because the it doesn’t show in tags...and I linked it in other post, and it also didn’t show. So I did some edit.

Edit 2: HOLY COW IT WORKS. I think I had some phrasing problem, and the sentence probably sounded really bad...But I fixed it! Yay!

[kdnss77]

Mysterious Skin (2004)

basic info: directed and written by Gregg Araki on the basis of a novel by Scott Heim under the same title. listed among the genres of coming-of-age and drama.

overall ratings: imid: 7,6/10 rotten tomatoes: 86% letterboxd: 4.2/5

plot summary: the story follows the ups and downs of two seemingly unassociated boys - first kids, then teenagers, and ultimately young adults. they both end up gaining the burden of experiencing an overwhelming trauma at a very young age, although its outcomes happen to push the two boys onto completely separate life paths, irreversibly altering their perception of themselves and the values, they treasure. Brian, having crammed the events of summer of 1981 in the very back of his mind, believes he had been abducted by aliens and has been a victim of odd, extraterrestrial occurrences ever since. Neil on the other hand, had subconsciously converted the sexual abuse used against him into a sense of validation and love, searching for which he continued after becoming a sex worker. we're able to accompany the protagonist through their upbringing, leading to a point the two finally meet and momentally join the dots regarding the memorable (yet hard to remember for Brian alone) summer their innocence was taken away and forever. the movie comes to an end with Neil comforting Brian in the house once belonging to the Little League coach who violated them, while listening into the christmas carols and wishing none of this happened.

my thoughts: it's one of those movies thats is just straight out good. it doesn't need any sophisticated dialog sequences, breathtaking frames (except for those shots, in which the actors look directly at the camera. it's so simple, yet almost intimate) or excessively twisted, complex characters. it's relatable. and it's enough to call it a good one, because the seriousness and exceptionality of the topic it features is just enough on its own. i might be a little biased, as i personally adore Araki's works in general, but my statement on this one is invariably reckless and equally favorable. the movie leaves you with a deep void, mainly because at first you're nothing but a witness of some rough patches in a life of a depraved 15-year old and an alien-obsessed nerd. however, as the events unfold, that void grows bigger and more extensive. Neil becomes more and more self-destructive, whilst Brian gets closer and closer to uncovering the truth about his strange, in-dream encounters. they both seem rather helpless in their actions, as everything in the movie involuntarily comes down to the beginning of all things - the summer of 1981, when a really nice coach was still in town and the boys were signed up for Little League. we're presented two severely different scenarios in terms of coping with generally put, childhood trauma from now on. firstly, Neil: the affection coach granted him made him feel special, especially because his single mother wouldn't always be there for him due to her vivid and unstable love life. he had started to figure out his sexuality at a very young age too, which might have ensured him back then, that his feelings for a grown man (which were reciprocated too, although by an adult fully aware of his doings) are rightful and not inappropriate - just fun, as Neil was told by the coach. he felt loved by someone, in the sickest way possible. sexual abuse became a way for him to satisfy the lack of validation, which he couldn't fulfill anyway - neither by having sex with other men, by whom he was treated no better then a piece of trash, nor by giving himself up to their demands to feel better. Brian on the other hand, stands as a complete opposite - he unawarely wiped the hurtful, traumatic experienced from his consciousness, which he replaced with unclear, alternated glimpses of the actual truth. the dream Brian continuously had about having his face stroked by an alien, in reality consisted in the coach doing so. he didn't want to remember and his parents never asked about his absence on that rainy day. over time, he slowly regains those small pieces of subconsciously hidden memories, until it all hits him after he reunites with Neil and is told the real story. that scene hurt me physically. the void growing, my chest clenching. there's nothing you can do anymore, because it all has already happened and it couldn't have gone differently. nothing will ever be okay, and they can't do anything about it. I'm fully aware that i rather pointed out all the good aspects of this production instead of objectively and critically reviewing it, but i don't care. it deserves it.

my rating (on a scale from 1 to 5): 4/5

favorite quote: "There was nothing we could do. So I just stayed silent and trying to telepathically communicate how sorry I was about what had happened. And I thought of all the grief and sadness and fucked up suffering in the world, and it made me want to escape. I wished with all my heart that we could just leave this world behind. Rise like two angels in the night and magically... disappear."

the images were found by me on the internet, credit to their original uploaders.

[theunitedstatesoffemale]

How To Make A Trick A Treat

I won't question this. That is not my desire.  Here is my goal:

HOW TO MAKE A TRICK A TREAT.

I love to write. I love to create, basically.  I have a few books of poetry that can be purchased (selfish plug) and if I am not creating, I am bored and I just plain out don't like it. But when it comes to my mental, emotional, and spiritual health, one of my favorite forms of alchemic healing and prophetic, prolific soul transformation is writing. So here is a blog for me to discuss how to take something "dark" and make it "light".

Let's face it: we need the sun and moon. We need light and dark. I don't know how they do it in states and countries when it's either more daylight than night or vice versus. I like balance. I need it. So when we discuss, or rather, I discuss "dark" and "light", let's talk the difference between your shadow self and soul and truly malignant and evil beings (since today is All Hallow's Eve, I will basically put on blast negative spirits, beings, entities AND people).

I don't know about you but I like sleeping when it's all dark. To me, where there is darkness there is rest. Peace and restoration. A time to shut down or quiet down enough to be still and travel to places within me and in other spaces of Time, Space, Local. I like that. I'm a Christian Shamaness, which means TO ME that YSHUA of the Hebrew bible also lovingly and sacredly known as Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, is real and then some along with what GOD, male and female (that means GOD and GODDESS. No detracting or minimizing the Feminine Divine here. That's my Momma and Daddy we're talking about. Deal with it).  And all that GOD/GODDESS, to me in Hebrew El Elyon Elohim created - rocks, crystals, energy, elements, words, thoughts and deeds made sacred through purifying intent, spirit, soul and body - has the life of my Heavenly Parentage, who created the Universe for their children to bless in the reaping and to teach as well. What we sow we reap. It's a law that one cannot get away from, and it's present in various thoughts, spiritualities, religions, paradigms and as I study quantum physics (I'm enjoying Pam Grout, Gregg Braden and others) I understand that in dealing with the spiritual and soulful, some things need to be addressed that mainstream or New Thought/New Age believers or workers have as I have read, hear and studied, either ignored or make irrelevant or rather, part of a dying religion or faith.

I love Jesus. In that one name there are many names and in course with believing in Him, I believe as well in the spiritual architecture or framework in hierarchies in this faith of His.  I don't do or believe in religion.  To me, it has put GOD in a box and has been the primary way I have experienced being in proverbial caskets so therefore I take the Bible, the writers of it lately with a grain of salt because religious man had their way with something sacred and ancient, toying with it as they do in systems and well, I believe in Jesus and His message, principles and character. I also believe that there are demons and diabolical entities, male and female. So many believers in Christ are not aware of demonology or angelology (the study of angels, spelling in question..HA!).  I personally due to my own faith structure believe a third of celestials, from seraphim to archangels to elemental angels some call fae,  before Time became non-Love, non-Life, non-GOD yet two thirds remained to stand guard, assist, worship GOD and do the will of the ALMIGHTY.  I believe what the New Testament says about being "ambassadors of Christ" and in being a shaman worker in the way that I am, I take this very seriously.

To say I have dealt with malignant and downright evil people and things is a small statement.  And let's not forget there is a difference between a "demon" (anglicized for fallen celestial) and a "daemon", in Greek for a warrior who has passed who chose or was chosen to be a guardian.  I don't know of any churches personally that teach the difference or acknowledge but in "studying to show yourself approved before GOD" and "My people perish for lack of knowledge", I do not want to be one who doesn't have knowledge or isn't studying or searching for the higher consciousness of Christ and of GOD, where the bible says we could "have the mind of Christ". So that means we could know and experience the love that has no height, width, depth or length, the Love that conquers fear perfectly. So on a day and night like this, there is, to me, always battles, confrontations, strategies to be made and as a believer it is my duty to partake of the Love that strategies to conquer evil.

So how does this correlate with "How To Make A Trick A Treat" and mental health?

The picture I posted with this blog is me. The many, perfect me's that make up the imperfectly perfect me. Some are not so perfect.  And today, as I have sought to lay down the search for my identity and rest, I find that I am requesting to be a spiritual and soulful gateway not just for the ancients and for the deities who serve Love (to ME, GOD is Love and GOD is the MOST HIGH so the sons and daughters of GOD that the Psalmist writes of and says are heavenly beings are NOT sons and daughters of man and women...get it?).   See, I tend to use spirit and Spirit, my soul and the Soul of GOD, my Abba and my Mama, to heal and to rest because sometimes the light is too bright and because of my mental and emotional health and difficulty finding outside treatment for the Dissociative Identity Disorder diagnosis I only received ONCE after a lifetime...and OLD lifetime of hospitalizations and programs and paradigms of old...I have had to reach outside the box of the Christianity I had known and some may even call me a "witch".  I have been told "you are a witch and the bible says I should kill you" by a Christian family member who then took back saying it for whatever reasons, but the fact she said it AND believed it is something that has always had me questioning if I was evil or crazy.

And I am neither evil nor crazy. So there!

How to make a trick a treat.

Believe in you. I believe in me. I believe I am a Most High Daughter of the Most High GOD.  I also have now chosen as said daughter, to not fight what I could use as a second armor of GOD. That is where medication and treatment come in, even though I'm not in the type of treatment to help me integrate the many of me that are now so silent my memory is gone of substantial past and history but awaken when they desire and it is a...challenging existence.  So as I say "believe in you", I actively believe in the What I am because the Who?  There are deep questions of who I really am, my age, my name, my birthplace and I don't dislike "Deborah Ramos" because that is one beautiful name but it isn't me. SHE isn't me because once upon my lifetimes I have lived in these years due to the dissociation, I was told and made to be a "Trick", not a "Treat".  Labeled a sin and a demoness yet I gotta tell you, I'm neither. And in understanding that, the worlds I survey as a creatrix and as a goddess (daughter of GOD, people) and the truths I have chosen to live by and believe, well, the worlds are beautiful. With shadow and sunlight and fire and earth and water.  I belong simply because it is time to "be".

Be beautiful in my skin that doesn't at times feel my own.

Be secure in the knowledge and wisdom and discernment that come with Spirit that my Momma Wisdom who Jesus said knows Her children knows me and I am loved, loved, loved...

Did I say I was loved?

So no matter what is done, what is said, burned, blood-let, chanted, tried to tie and bind or kill and destroy or hinder me by men and women who just hate me because of my faith and other reasons I don't really care to try to find the why's to...no matter what they do or sow, I am reaping beauty. I am my own treat and a gift to others and as for my mental health treatment, I ain't fighting the tide anymore. I believe I need a little more help and I don't have to be like the Magdalene with her seven demons or the Gadarene being tied to a rock in a cemetery, chained rather because of her disorders and sensitivities that had made her a toy or puppet because she was NOT loved or UNDERSTOOD or trained up to be a spiritual master or worker or a Graced One. "Grace" I was taught is "the ability of GOD", not this gentle thing all the time and in that Grace, I live.

I live.

I love.

I believe.

And I am.

I AM.

Therefore, I have turned trick on the Tricksters and have made myself what my Momma and Daddy GOD have designed me to be.

A treat.

[devoralilyramos]

How To Make A Trick A Treat

I won't question this. That is not my desire.  Here is my goal:

HOW TO MAKE A TRICK A TREAT.

I love to write. I love to create, basically.  I have a few books of poetry that can be purchased (selfish plug) and if I am not creating, I am bored and I just plain out don't like it. But when it comes to my mental, emotional, and spiritual health, one of my favorite forms of alchemic healing and prophetic, prolific soul transformation is writing. So here is a blog for me to discuss how to take something "dark" and make it "light".

Let's face it: we need the sun and moon. We need light and dark. I don't know how they do it in states and countries when it's either more daylight than night or vice versus. I like balance. I need it. So when we discuss, or rather, I discuss "dark" and "light", let's talk the difference between your shadow self and soul and truly malignant and evil beings (since today is All Hallow's Eve, I will basically put on blast negative spirits, beings, entities AND people).

I don't know about you but I like sleeping when it's all dark. To me, where there is darkness there is rest. Peace and restoration. A time to shut down or quiet down enough to be still and travel to places within me and in other spaces of Time, Space, Local. I like that. I'm a Christian Shamaness, which means TO ME that YSHUA of the Hebrew bible also lovingly and sacredly known as Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, is real and then some along with what GOD, male and female (that means GOD and GODDESS. No detracting or minimizing the Feminine Divine here. That's my Momma and Daddy we're talking about. Deal with it).  And all that GOD/GODDESS, to me in Hebrew El Elyon Elohim created - rocks, crystals, energy, elements, words, thoughts and deeds made sacred through purifying intent, spirit, soul and body - has the life of my Heavenly Parentage, who created the Universe for their children to bless in the reaping and to teach as well. What we sow we reap. It's a law that one cannot get away from, and it's present in various thoughts, spiritualities, religions, paradigms and as I study quantum physics (I'm enjoying Pam Grout, Gregg Braden and others) I understand that in dealing with the spiritual and soulful, some things need to be addressed that mainstream or New Thought/New Age believers or workers have as I have read, hear and studied, either ignored or make irrelevant or rather, part of a dying religion or faith.

I love Jesus. In that one name there are many names and in course with believing in Him, I believe as well in the spiritual architecture or framework in hierarchies in this faith of His.  I don't do or believe in religion.  To me, it has put GOD in a box and has been the primary way I have experienced being in proverbial caskets so therefore I take the Bible, the writers of it lately with a grain of salt because religious man had their way with something sacred and ancient, toying with it as they do in systems and well, I believe in Jesus and His message, principles and character. I also believe that there are demons and diabolical entities, male and female. So many believers in Christ are not aware of demonology or angelology (the study of angels, spelling in question..HA!).  I personally due to my own faith structure believe a third of celestials, from seraphim to archangels to elemental angels some call fae,  before Time became non-Love, non-Life, non-GOD yet two thirds remained to stand guard, assist, worship GOD and do the will of the ALMIGHTY.  I believe what the New Testament says about being "ambassadors of Christ" and in being a shaman worker in the way that I am, I take this very seriously.

To say I have dealt with malignant and downright evil people and things is a small statement.  And let's not forget there is a difference between a "demon" (anglicized for fallen celestial) and a "daemon", in Greek for a warrior who has passed who chose or was chosen to be a guardian.  I don't know of any churches personally that teach the difference or acknowledge but in "studying to show yourself approved before GOD" and "My people perish for lack of knowledge", I do not want to be one who doesn't have knowledge or isn't studying or searching for the higher consciousness of Christ and of GOD, where the bible says we could "have the mind of Christ". So that means we could know and experience the love that has no height, width, depth or length, the Love that conquers fear perfectly. So on a day and night like this, there is, to me, always battles, confrontations, strategies to be made and as a believer it is my duty to partake of the Love that strategies to conquer evil.

So how does this correlate with "How To Make A Trick A Treat" and mental health?

The picture I posted with this blog is me. The many, perfect me's that make up the imperfectly perfect me. Some are not so perfect.  And today, as I have sought to lay down the search for my identity and rest, I find that I am requesting to be a spiritual and soulful gateway not just for the ancients and for the deities who serve Love (to ME, GOD is Love and GOD is the MOST HIGH so the sons and daughters of GOD that the Psalmist writes of and says are heavenly beings are NOT sons and daughters of man and women...get it?).   See, I tend to use spirit and Spirit, my soul and the Soul of GOD, my Abba and my Mama, to heal and to rest because sometimes the light is too bright and because of my mental and emotional health and difficulty finding outside treatment for the Dissociative Identity Disorder diagnosis I only received ONCE after a lifetime...and OLD lifetime of hospitalizations and programs and paradigms of old...I have had to reach outside the box of the Christianity I had known and some may even call me a "witch".  I have been told "you are a witch and the bible says I should kill you" by a Christian family member who then took back saying it for whatever reasons, but the fact she said it AND believed it is something that has always had me questioning if I was evil or crazy.

And I am neither evil nor crazy. So there!

How to make a trick a treat.

Believe in you. I believe in me. I believe I am a Most High Daughter of the Most High GOD.  I also have now chosen as said daughter, to not fight what I could use as a second armor of GOD. That is where medication and treatment come in, even though I'm not in the type of treatment to help me integrate the many of me that are now so silent my memory is gone of substantial past and history but awaken when they desire and it is a...challenging existence.  So as I say "believe in you", I actively believe in the What I am because the Who?  There are deep questions of who I really am, my age, my name, my birthplace and I don't dislike "Deborah Ramos" because that is one beautiful name but it isn't me. SHE isn't me because once upon my lifetimes I have lived in these years due to the dissociation, I was told and made to be a "Trick", not a "Treat".  Labeled a sin and a demoness yet I gotta tell you, I'm neither. And in understanding that, the worlds I survey as a creatrix and as a goddess (daughter of GOD, people) and the truths I have chosen to live by and believe, well, the worlds are beautiful. With shadow and sunlight and fire and earth and water.  I belong simply because it is time to "be".

Be beautiful in my skin that doesn't at times feel my own.

Be secure in the knowledge and wisdom and discernment that come with Spirit that my Momma Wisdom who Jesus said knows Her children knows me and I am loved, loved, loved...

Did I say I was loved?

So no matter what is done, what is said, burned, blood-let, chanted, tried to tie and bind or kill and destroy or hinder me by men and women who just hate me because of my faith and other reasons I don't really care to try to find the why's to...no matter what they do or sow, I am reaping beauty. I am my own treat and a gift to others and as for my mental health treatment, I ain't fighting the tide anymore. I believe I need a little more help and I don't have to be like the Magdalene with her seven demons or the Gadarene being tied to a rock in a cemetery, chained rather because of her disorders and sensitivities that had made her a toy or puppet because she was NOT loved or UNDERSTOOD or trained up to be a spiritual master or worker or a Graced One. "Grace" I was taught is "the ability of GOD", not this gentle thing all the time and in that Grace, I live.

I live.

I love.

I believe.

And I am.

I AM.

Therefore, I have turned trick on the Tricksters and have made myself what my Momma and Daddy GOD have designed me to be.

A treat.

[minimanic]

JUNE MOVIE ROUNDUP!

Made it 33% of the way through my aspirational pride month list which is a little less than I'd hoped for but not the worst I've ever done. Viewing overwhelming skewed 90s with some notable exceptions.

Handful of unrelated and late additions that I also feel some type of way about.

Opinions and links under the read more

✨In which 90s queer cinema makes me nostalgic for a period of time that I was technically alive during✨

But I'm A Cheerleader (1999) Directed by Jamie Babbit: An absolutely adorable romcom about conversion therapy that handles its premise with more grace than anyone could have possibly expected. None the less, it stressed me out so bad i nearly ground my teeth to dust.

💚 But I'm a Cheerleader available on Internet Archive here, Tubi here

Nowhere (1997) Directed by Gregg Araki: I like to joke about how insufferable i would have been if I'd found Araki's films as a teenager but i think this is the one I would send back to myself if I could. The man takes teenage angst both seriously and honestly and that's a talent and a level of compassion that sets him apart. Also this one has aliens in it.

The Watermelon Woman (1996) Directed by Cheryl Dunye: The drive to find people who were like you within the history of art and culture, especially as a marginalized person, can be a consuming force and it's portrayed beautifully here. Also it absolutely rules to see a classic 90s indie slice of life film about black lesbians.

💚 The Watermelon Woman available on Internet Archive here

Bound (1996) Directed by Lilly and Lana Wachowski: It Just feels Good man. This one was a re-watch but it's a re-watch at nearly 20 years and it hits just as good today as it did when i was 15. If the Wachowski's excel at anything it's a commitment to catharsis.

✨More Pride month flics✨

You and the Night (2013) Directed by Yann Gonzalez: Admittedly, I don't have a ton of experience with low budget french films about supernatural events happening at an orgie but even so I'm confident this is the best of the genre or at the very least the sweetest. An absolute comfort film.

Apocalypse After (2018) Directed by Bertrand Mandico: It resonates. It's also full of goo and fun outfits and practical effects!

Pink Narcissus (1971) Directed by James Bidgood/Blank Narcissus (Passion of the Swamp) (2022) Directed by Peter Strickland: Pink Narcissus is a homoerotic fever dream that appreciates the erotic power of ass more than anything i have literally ever seen. It works completely. Blank Narcissus is equal parts cheap parody and fairly compelling rumination on lost love. It doesn't quite work but i get it.

💚 Pink Narcissus available on Internet Archive Here

El Pico (1983) Directed by Eloy de la Iglesia: I mean... its absolutely the prototype of the don't do drugs kids type dramas of the 90s but its noteworthy that it came out a solid decade before Trainspotting and co.

Lucifer Rising (1972) Directed by Kenneth Anger: Finally found a screener for this movie with more than 4 pixels! I'm gonna level with you. A couple weeks later I have forgotten literally everything about it despite my best efforts. I was certainly enthralled while watching it though. I'll give it that much.

💚Lucifer Rising available on YouTube here

💚 Most if not all of these can be watched through Solidarity Cinema. They're doing really excellent work over there. I use their streaming option through Plex and its been an absolute dream so far.

✨Movie I did not know was queer but oh my god holy shit✨

Anchoress (1993) Directed by Chris Newby: Threw this on for summer solstice and... its a revelation honestly. Part of the Folk Horror box set that came out a few years ago and definitely one of the best. The cinematography is beautiful. The ethos is immaculate. And who among us wouldn't have risked it all for a janky statue of Mary at some point in our life.

✨The Best of the Rest✨

Twister (1996) Directed by Jan de Bont: I am saying, truly and genuinely, with my whole chest: this is the best disaster movie ever made. Every single character is a delight, the effects inspire a mixture of fear and awe, it essentially watches like a road movie, Helen Hunt is trying to get revenge on a tornado. Its the rare perfect film.

Witch's Cradle (1944) Directed by Maya Deren: The best experimental films carry a sense of genuine magic with them and this has that in spades. Absolutely hypnotic.

💚 Watch Witch's Cradle on YouTube here

Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985) Directed by George Miller: I fully forgot how good this movie is. You can really see a lot of the themes and sensibilities that would eventually come to fruition in Fury Road start to form here.

Moby Dick (1956) Directed by John Huston: Appropriately epic and perfectly cast, who doesn't want to watch Gregory Peck fight a whale?

💚 Moby Dick available on tubi here

Dr. Strangelove or: How I learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) Directed by Stanley Kubrick: First time watching this one all the way through and in a packed theater no less! Tragically, the jokes still land just as hard as they did when it first came out. The whole theater lost it during Ripper's fluoride in the water bit. Kubrick's signature style is wildly successful when employed for comedic effect.

💚 Dr. Strangelove available on Internet Archive here

Galaxina (1980) Directed by Wilim Sachs: Is it a good movie? No absolutely not. Does it inspire a powerful fondness within me? It sure does! Imagine if Space Balls had no budget and periodic delusions of also being a real science fiction movie. That's what you're working with here and it is a delight.

💚 Galaxina available on YouTube here

[anthonysstupiddailyblog]

Anthony’s Stupid Daily Blog (763):Fri 19th Apr 2024

It was raining this morning so I had to get the fucking bus to work and the Greggs at Concord was closed so I couldn't get a hot chocolate. Show me one person in the world who has worse luck than me and I will show you my middle finger. I really can't wait for next week when I go out to the car room to pick out my first ever car. As much as I've enjoyed cycling to work on the days where the weather was alright it's not exactly ideal to show up to a physically demanding job already looking like you've been for a workout at the gym. I'm already dreading Christmas because I suspect they'll get us to work an extra hour a day and an extra day a week like they did last year but the fact that I will be going to work in a warm car rather than on a freezing cold bus and I won't have any more anxiety over the irresolution that goes with riding on a bike to work during the winter when there are still patches of ice dotted around should mitigate the situation somewhat. On my lunch break I saw that Rishi Sunak has released a video saying that he's not happy with the levels of destitution among the unemployed and the mentally / physically handicaped, he actually wants to see them augmented ASAP and so he's going to start taking people's universal credit away if they are unemployed for a year. He actually had the balls to say "Just because you're depressed doesn't mean we should assume you shouldn't work". No fuckhead, we should assume you shouldn't work if a qulified doctor examines you and determines you shouldn't work. Seriously fuck this cunt and his fucking rich parents who didn't give him a smack when he was a kid. I can't wait until these wankers are finally out of power. 

[markanthonydyson]

This is Why Hiring is Really Hard For Employers

  In this episode, Keirsten Greggs, Jack Kelly, and I discuss the hiring challenges and what job seekers and hiring teams do to hurt the process. 

Kristen's LinkedIn profile

Jack's LinkedIn profile

Omissions, lies, and deception during the hiring process.

It's a tight job market, and there's lots of angst on both sides of the hiring table. 

"...recruiters who are desperate and got to get someone in there. So they tell a tall tale of how wonderful things are, and it doesn't turn out..."

Job seekers must ask in writing for promises stated during an interview so they can consider them seriously in their negotiation strategies. 

There are so many addendums and so many clauses. Employers have specific legally compliant language that they have to use.

What part will AI play in the hiring process?

What kind of training do hiring managers, recruiters, and interviewers have come into the hiring process?

  You are more than welcome to join the discussion. Here are three ways you can:

– Call and leave a voicemail at 708-365-9822, or text your comments to the same number

– Go to TheVoiceofJobSeekers.com, press the "Send Voicemail" button on the right side of your screen and leave a message

– Send email feedback to mark@thevoiceofjobseekers.com

Check out this episode!

[zablife]

Viola, I apologize in advance bc I have so many thoughts this will be long, but...

Tom + Shiv: After Roman, Shiv is my fave Roy. I can't get enough of that spoiled princess! When she nonchalantly pours a drink as Tom whinges about the trauma of pulling hose from his dog's ass bc she carelessly left them out, I was snorting. That's their entire relationship in a nutshell. However, they do have some nice comedic moments ("penis cat", come on? That was at least a giggle.) And they were decent company for one another in a place where no has any real friends.

Tom + Greg: I totally agree about Greg being the more annoying one. I have to watch through my fingers at times bc he's awkward af. However, he makes the perfect minion bc he's not only replacing Tom as the newcomer, he's also the only person who's a bigger suck up/fuck up. I think Tom is v smart, but not nearly as ruthless as he should be as part of that family. The Roys certainly don't think so. I love the episode on the yacht when they're all discussing who should take the fall and they unanimously agree he's not part of the family 😂 He shifts a bit in S4, but he always has this kicked puppy look about him that doesn't make me take him seriously as a player.

I def understand why you're obsessed with the dynamic between Tom and Greg. The "Tomlette/Greggs" quote was this amazing, twisted analogy. (I adore the writing on this show so much!! 😍 ) Tom bullies and abuses him to the point of breaking him down enough to commit a crime, but alternately takes to mentoring Greg I think bc he feels a kindred spirit. There's probably something even deeper there tho. I mean, Tom spends more time with Greg than Shiv. During crucial moments like the shooting, they're together. They might be going to prison together, they call themselves "the disgusting brothers" and Tom even tells him he would marry him! So yeah, I'd say there are some "Greggs" in that "Tomlette."

Roman + Gerri: Roman's mommy kink makes so much sense I was screaming at the tv when his gf wasn't getting it. It was literally the only thing they hadn't tried in the bedroom. I thought Gerri was so clever the way she indulged it, but kept up plausible deniability. In the beginning, I was a bit conflicted by my feelings about it bc it bordered on non-con. I worried she was doing it to keep her job. After all, she's the one who always says do what's in your best interest. However, the way it plays later is far more complex. (I must say the cherry on top was Logan playing dumb to get Roman to explain dick pics 😂)

Also, this might be reading far too much into it, but I find it terribly interesting that Logan refers to Roman as "Romulus" at times. As a mythological figure who is abandoned by his father (a god) to be raised by a female wolf, then becomes king, I wonder if that's a hidden clue about his potential? Roman started as the family's jester, but what if Gerri's mentorship prepared him for more? Kendall may have control for now, but Romulus killed Remus to gain power after suffering his taunts. Will Kendall finally push him too far?

Kendall: Fuck him. He's my least fave and the least interesting to me. Oedipussy...they nailed it. I just know he will fuck this up.

Connor: He's such a limp noodle, but so pretentious at the same time. I want to feel bad for him, but he's also a rich douchebag so I don't. The person I actually feel sorry for is Willa bc she seems like a decent human being who's trying to be happy in the moment. She's v honest about why she's there. The fact that he pressured her into marriage to keep his pathetic 1% disgusted me. Their heart to heart at the rehearsal painted such a dismal future (I do...for today, basically?) and their wedding was even more depressing.

One last thing bc I have written you a novel. (Sorry, I got excited to share my thoughts 🙈 ) I love the threat of poison throughout the show as a dark joke. Examples: the "cynaide pills"/mints from Tom to Greg, the donuts at Rava's flat, Logan making Ken's son take a bit of his mozzarella, etc. *chefs kiss* The writers are obsessed with food metaphors in general, I think, but I'm all for it.

I'm caught up on Succession!! And I have to say that I'm happy Shiv and Tom are getting divorced. I know that sounds mean, but I never liked them together. Tom irritates me and I kind of wanted him to go to prison so he'd be outside the group for a bit 😬 My sense of relationships is a little fucked up tho bc I'm kind of obsessed with whatever the fuck is going on between Roman and Gerri.

Fuck yeah let's gooooo!!!!

Shiv and Tom: Agreed. They were never a good match. Tom is scared of Shiv and she is as toxic as any of the Roys... imagine being their kid 😬 I was so happy for Tom when they were on the beach and he managed to say "Sometimes I wonder, if the unhappy I'd be without you is less than the one with you" (something like that) 😭😭😭

Tom is annoying: Yes, obviously. But we love him for it, right? He is a very fine example of how far strategic ass kissing can getcha 😏 He might be annoying, but he's not dumb (although it kind of seems that way sometimes haha)

Speaking of Tom, what do you think of the phrase "You can't make a Tomelette without breaking a few Gregs"? Or tomgreg in general? Only asking bc I'm a BIG FAN haha (you're not the only one obsessing over fucked up dynamics lol)

Also, you say Tom annoys you - I'd say Greg annoys me more. But I wouldn't be without either of them. Greg makes me cringe in ways I never knew possible and I think that's beautiful ngl 😌

Roman and Gerri is/was 🔥🔥🔥 I kinda hate how Logan killed it, as one of his last actions on earth, when he asked Rome to tell Gerri she'd be fired. I hope they get back together in their own twisted way somehow 🥺 It is a very fucked up reltionship, I agree. But like everything else on this, goddamn show it makes. fucking. sense.!!! 💗

Btw Gerri is my fave, if I had to pick one. She's so good at playing both sides. She is simply divine 😌👌🏻

Lastly: Kendall's smile at the end of the newest episode got me feeling all kinds of ways, but most of all NOOOOOO bc you know the cycle of abuse is about to repeat itself 😭 THEY WERE SO CLOSE GODDAMNIT KENDALL WHYYYYYYY

Oh and Connor! I always forget Connor (the irony lol). What do you think of him and Willa?

[gleewriteepisodes]

Season 2, Episode 2 - It’s Brittany, Bitch (Part 1)

Supporting Characters (In order of appearance): Mark Salling as Noah 'Puck' Puckerman Jayma Mays as Emma Pillsbury Dot Marie Jones as Coach Beiste Charlotte Ross as Judy Fabray Gregg Henry as Russell Fabray Josh Sussman as Jacob Ben Israel Lauren Potter as Becky Jackson Iqbal Theba as Principal Figgins Ashley Fink as Lauren Zizes

Special Guest Stars (In order of appearance): John Stamos as Carl Howell

Not featured in this episode: Darren Criss as Blaine Anderson

A special thank you to the vocalists who sang this episode: Jazzie Hart as Quinn Fabray and Santana Lopez Aly Kossan as Brittany S. Pierce .... as Rachel Berry

The next week of school began as the New Directions were seated in the choir room as Will wrote 'Homecoming' on the board. "Alright guys, as you all know this weekend is the homecoming game. Who can tell me what homecoming means?" Will asked as a few of the New Directions hands shot up. "It's coming home, duh," Brittany said simply as Will chuckled. "So close..." he said before calling on "Finn." "Homecoming is the first home game back in the home stadium, it's a tradition for the football team," Finn said seriously. "Exactly and I know so many of you are looking forward to the dance and are running for homecoming court but I don't want the competition to affect the group, win or lose, you are still a team," Will said as Santana and Puck smirked, knowingly like they thought they would win; Brittany smiled brightly, excited to be nominated; and Rachel looked determined to win squeezing Finn's hand who seemed nervous about the whole ordeal.

"Now, I'm sure most of you are wondering why I brought up homecoming, well it's because we are once again performing at the homecoming assembly to try and recruit new members. I know our last performance didn't drum up much support..." Will began. "Yeah thanks to Berry sending away our only recruit," Santana snarked as Rachel scoffed. "I thought we were over this!" Rachel exclaimed. "Maybe you are...but Rachel, the truth is we'd have a full team if you hadn't let your jealousy get in the way," Kurt said simply as Rachel scoffed. "I've apologized! Okay there's nothing more I can do," Rachel frowned, upset. "Guys, come on now. I know losing Sunshine was a hard loss for us but we can't change the past, but what we can do is perform a killer song at the assembly to gain more members. Now does anyone have any suggestions?" Will asked as Kurt's hand shot up. "Yes Kurt?" Will called him. "Mr. Schue, there is a burgeoning Facebook campaign that has reached over 5 members, that I think could truly set the New Directions apart. The artist in demand, Britney Spears," Kurt said as the New Directions seemed to talk excitedly amongst themselves, all seeming excited by this idea, all but Brittany who frowned.

"I'm sorry guys but I don't think performing a Britney Spears number is the best idea," Will said simply. "What? Why?" Rachel gasped, surprised by his lack of support. "Because I don't think she's the best role model," Will said simply. "And since when do we care about that?" Santana said, raising an eyebrow "Didn't you have the troll and Pillsbury Dough Boy sing a duet by a domestic abuser?" "I didn't know that..." Will said. "Exactly so maybe do some research before worrying about performing songs by role models," Santana shot at Will who was gobsmacked. "I don't want to sing Britney Spears," Brittany said softly as everyone looked surprised. "Why no Britney, Brittany?" Kurt asked. "Because my name is also Brittany Spears," Brittany said seriously as that got everyone's attention. "What the hell is she talking about?" Mercedes said, making a face. "My middle name is Susan and my last name is Pierce so that makes me Brittany S. Pierce, Brittany Spierce," Brittany said seriously as everyone groaned "I've lived in Britney Spears' shadow for my whole life. I mean I sing and dance just like her...I'm pretty sure she's my more famous and successful clone. I'll never be as amazing as my clone so can we keep glee club a space where I, Brittany S. Pierce can escape the torment of Britney Spears."

Everyone just looked stunned, realizing that Brittany really thought this to be true and knew they would have a hard time convincing her otherwise. "Can we move on please?" Rachel said, shooting her hand up. "Absolutely. Now, your job is to find the perfect song to perform for the homecoming assembly and no Britney Spears okay?" Will said as the New Directions murmured annoyed. "Gee thanks Brittany, thanks a lot," Kurt said annoyed. "Leave Brittany alone, Lady Hummel," Santana snarked back at Kurt. "Thank you, I knew I could always count on you," Brittany smiled at Santana who smiled back at her, realizing she might be the only one who could convince Brittany to sing Britney Spears.

Cut to the hallway after Glee Club practice where there are many posters displayed all over the hall of students campaigning for homecoming king and queen of their respective years. Rachel is carefully putting up her and Finn's poster which features a photo of the two of them encouraging people to vote for the 'golden couple' of the school. "Wow...those look great," Finn smiled, kissing his girlfriend's cheek. "I'm glad you think so, I think we are the couple to beat," Rachel said enthusiastically as Finn didn't look so sure. "I don't know...ever since I got demoted to backup quarterback I feel like people treat me differently," he frowned, upset. "Well maybe it's better off that way," Rachel said simply as Finn looked hurt, did she not want him to be quarterback. "What are you saying, are you happy I'm not the quarterback anymore?" Finn asked. "What? Of course not. I mean I know how much that spot means to you, it's just been kind of nice that I don't have to worry about you running off with some cheerleader," Rachel said simply as Finn looked upset, did she not know him at all? "Do you really think I'd do that? You know how much it hurt me last year when Quinn cheated on me. I could never do that to you," Finn said upset. "I haven't forgotten when you dumped me to go out with Brittany and Santana. I just know if you stayed quarterback that could happen again," Rachel said simply as Finn shook his head, he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Yeah I may have gone out with Brittany and Santana but I never cheated. Look, you made me rush into the relationship the first time acting like you were my girlfriend when I was going through a lot. I needed the space to find myself. So, I went on a bad date and realized it was a mistake but it wasn't like you didn't move on from me with Jesse," Finn said, upset. "Well you hurt me, what was I supposed to do? Wait for you forever?" Rachel said, upset. "Not forever but you basically broke up with me and dated him within the same week," Finn observed as Rachel scoffed. "You know what? I'm done having this conversation. We are shoe-ins to win Junior Homecoming Court, our only real competition is Puck and Santana, and they're more off than on," Rachel said simply. "Well yeah but I think they have the popular vote," Finn said seriously. "Well then let's get the unpopular vote. The jocks and the cheerios only are a small portion of the school. I'm sure we can get the glee club's support and who knows, maybe winning will help you get back on top," Rachel said as Finn seemed happy to hear that. "Yeah...you're right. Let's work harder on getting votes," Finn smiled as he and Rachel held hands walking down the hallway together.

Santana scoffed watching them "God can they be any more nauseating." "Oh I'd say yes. They could be making out again in front of our lockers," Quinn said with an eye roll as she grabbed her books. "Don't remind me," Santana said shaking her head "I'm surprised you're not running Q, not that I need the competition but don't you live for homecoming?" Quinn just shrugged "I guess it doesn't really matter as much as it used to. Winning homecoming queen was all about impressing my parents and making them proud of me for once. This year I'm focusing on me and figuring out what I want rather than trying to please everyone else," she said honestly as Santana nodded. "Good for you Q," Santana said as Brittany approached them. "You guys, I totally think I'm in the lead for homecoming queen," Brittany grinned. "What makes you say that Britt Britt?" Santana asked. "Well I was rubbing Lord Tubbington's belly for luck everyday and Jacob Ben Israel's latest poll has me leading by 2%, San, we're like so close," Brittany grinned. "What about for king?" Santana asked. "No one really cares about that," Brittany shrugged. "I say we should run as co-queens," Brittany grinned at Santana who seemed to panic. "No. I'm running with Puckerman," Santana said simply as Brittany frowned. "Remind us again why you're doing that," Quinn said, making a face. "Please, he's the most popular kid in junior year especially with Finn dating the troll so anyone who runs with him is guaranteed to win," Santana shrugged. "So you don't have feelings for him anymore?" Brittany asked in a somewhat hopeful tone. "Feelings are overrated," Santana shrugged, which seemed to make Brittany feel more at ease. "Walk me to class?" Brittany asked, holding her pinky up for Santana. "Always," Santana smiled, linking pinkies with Brittany as they took off.

"I meant it when I said feelings are overrated. This whole summer has been nothing but a big ball of confusion," Santana said in a voiceover as we cut to her and Brittany making out in Brittany's room over the summer. "Sure, Britt and I had hooked up loads of times before but this summer felt different. It was the first time we were both single and we spent every day together and nights were spent either at my place or hers. Something about it just felt...right," Santana said in a voice over as multiple clips of Brittana doing various activities over the summer played, such as going to Kings Island, Eating Ice Cream, and going to see a romantic movie. "But getting back to high school and the reality that if anyone knew what I was feeling for Brittany, I'd be an outcast. I mean I was cheer captain after all, I have a reputation to uphold. So, I went back to pretending to be into Puckerman. God knows he doesn't care about anything other than having a girl to take home but my heart is still with Brittany. Not that I could ever say that to anyone, least of all her," Santana said in a voice over as she is entranced watching Brittany in their class together. Brittany once again shoots her a smile as Santana smiles back. "Sure, we still hook up whenever we can but I have to keep up appearances which is why I'm running with Puck. If McKinley didn't suck so much maybe I wouldn't have to pretend to like a boy who cares more about his body count than anything else but things aren't going to change," Santana said in a voiceover as she looked longingly towards Brittany wishing she could make the changes needed to truly be with her, but she didn't feel brave enough, not yet.

Meanwhile, Will knocked on Emma's door. "Hey Emma, can we talk?" Will asked as she looked up from organizing her pamphlets. "Of course we can...have a seat," Emma smiled softly as she placed her pamphlets in their stands. "What's on your mind?" she asked. "It's all about the glee club...they're insistent on wanting to do Britney Spears but I just feel like her music might send the wrong message," Will said honestly. "I know I said in the past that Britney wasn't a good role model but I think she's come a long way. She's had like 3 number one hits this past year and she's a single mom raising 2 kids. I think she's the perfect symbol of rebirth or making a comeback," Emma said honestly as Will made a face. "I just think that the kids shouldn't always do what's popular, it's not who they are," Will said as Emma shook her head. "Will, you came to me for advice and honestly, I think you need to loosen the reins a little bit. Don't you remember the last time you were so instant on going against what the kids wanted? The club got that awful list of songs from Figgins that you could perform at the school for a while. You don't want them to rebel again do you?" Emma asked as Will sighed, knowing she had a point.

"I guess you're right...It's just hard to lose control sometimes," Will said as Emma nodded. "I know exactly what you mean. Since I've been dating Carl, he's been teaching me how to loosen up," Emma said as Will made another face, if there was one thing he didn't want to hear anything about it was Emma's relationship with her dentist. "Really?" Will asked as Emma nodded, seeming too happy to detect his jealousy. "The other day he made me buy the green grapes and the red grapes at the market. Then we just mixed them together in a bowl, and we just ate them. It was madness. Sheer madness," Emma grinned. "Wow," Will said sarcastically. "You know what? That's fine. Make fun all you want but it's a start, and I am incredibly grateful for it," Emma said, shrugging it off. There was a knock at the door which Will and Emma turned around to see Carl Howell, Emma's dentist boyfriend standing there. "Hey now am I interrupting?" Carl asked. "Of course not. Hi," Emma grinned as the two kissed softly. "Hi," Carl smiled looking back into Emma's eyes. "What are you doing here?" Emma asked. "Well I was just talking to Principal Figgins about doing an assembly on good dental hygiene but apparently he doesn't seem to think it's a problem," Carl said, upset as his pager went off. "Damn it," he muttered as he answered the call.

"He seems worked up," Will chuckled. "He's just frustrated that the school board isn't taking it seriously," Emma said honestly as Will nodded. "I guess I can understand that," he admitted as Carl walked back in. "Sorry about that Ems, I need to get going, I've got another root canal but I'll see you tonight okay?" Carl said, kissing her softly. "Of course see you at 6:30 sharp," Emma smiled softly as she watched him leave lovingly. Will, however, continued to look on jealous, feeling as though he had lost his chance with Emma. Carl seemed like a pretty nice guy but there was just something about him that felt...off for Emma. It almost seemed like he was trying too hard to change her. Will tried not to let his feelings cloud his judgment but made a mental note to keep an eye on that relationship.

Cut to the choir room where Brittany and Santana were seated 'eating' their lunch which consisted of the usual Sue Sylvester Master Cleanse Drink. "You wanted to talk to me, San?" Brittany asked as Santana nodded. "I did Britt Britt, look, I know you've felt like you've lived your entire life in Britney Spears' shadow but don't you want to prove to everyone that you are just as talented as she is?" Santana asked as Brittany bit her lip. "I guess so...I just don't want to disappoint her," Brittany said seriously. "How would you disappoint her?" Santana said, confused. "Well, I kind of lied about thinking she was my clone," Brittany said seriously. "Oh?" Santana said, raising an eyebrow. "She's kind of my idol...I mean I grew up wanting to be just like her. It's why I got into dancing. I just made up all that stuff at glee practice because I don't want everyone else to sing her songs," Brittany said seriously as it finally clicked for Santana. "Oh my God, so you lied because you wanted to be the only one to sing Britney?" Santana said as Brittany nodded. "Exactly. I mean we have the same name so like...no one else can be as awesome as us," Brittany shrugged as Santana chuckled. "Why don't you just ask for the solo? I know Mr. Schue is kind of against us singing Britney anyway and it's a long shot we'd even get to perform one of her songs but if it really means that much to you Britt, I think you should," Santana encouraged Brittany who shook her head. "I just don't want to endure the vicious, vicious wrath of Rachel, you saw what happened to that foreign exchange student," Brittany said simply as Santana scoffed, she was going to kill Rachel for making Brittany feel this way "Besides, like you said it's not like Mr. Schue will change his mind." "What if we made him change his mind?" Santana asked. "What do you mean?" Brittany asked, confused as Santana took out her iPod, putting on '...Baby One More Time' by Britney Spears. "Just follow my lead," Santana smirked as they began to sing.

"Oh baby, baby. Oh baby, baby. how was I supposed to know that something wasn't right here? Oh baby, baby, I shouldn't have let you go and now you're out of sight, yeah," Santana sang looking at Brittany who smiled and soon joined in singing on the pre-chorus "Show me how you want it to be. Tell me baby 'cause I need to know now, oh because my loneliness is killing me," Brittany and Santana sang, dancing around together doing the steps to the music video. "And I," Santana sang. "I must confess I still believe," Santana and Brittany sang. "Still believe," Santana sang. "When I'm not with you I lose my mind. Give me a sign. Hit me baby one more time," Brittany and Santana sang together. "Oh baby, baby, the reason I breathe is you. Girl, you got me blinded. Oh, pretty baby there's nothing that I wouldn't do, it's not the way I planned it," Brittany sang as Santana watched her lovingly, proud of Brittany. Show me how you want it to be. Tell me baby 'cause I need to know now, oh because my loneliness is killing me," Brittany and Santana sang. "And I," Santana sang. "I must confess I still believe," Santana and Brittany sang. "Still believe," Santana sang. "When I'm not with you I lose my mind. Give me a sign. Hit me baby one more time. I must confess that my loneliness is killing me now. Don't you know I still believe that you will be here and give me a sign? Hit me, baby, one more time," Brittany and Santana sang. "I must confess," Santana sang. "My loneliness is killing me," Brittany sang at the same time "That my loneliness is killing me now," Santana sang. "I must confess I still believe," Brittany sang at the same time. "Don't you know I still believe," Santana sang. "When I'm not with you I lose my mind," Brittany sang at the same time. "That you will be here," Santana sang. "And give me a sign? Hit me, baby, one more time," Brittany and Santana sang together as they ended up in a pose together, both catching their breath.

"That was so awesome," Brittany grinned, hugging Santana. "Yeah it really was...you're amazing Brittany," Santana said seriously looking into Brittany's eyes. "Yeah well you're pretty amazing too," Brittany smiled softly. "So, what do you say? We go to Mr. Schue and say we want to do a Britney number?" Santana asked. "Only if you'll do it with me," Brittany said seriously as Santana nodded. "Okay. Let's do it," Santana smiled, linking pinkies with Brittany as they walked off together, both more confident than ever before.

Cut to the football field that afternoon where Artie is watching the football team practice, especially watching Mike, wishing he could trade places with him. Finn approaches Artie who seems lost in a trace which isn’t broken until Finn speaks. “Are you okay?” he asked. Artie sighed, shaking his head. “Tina broke up with me over the summer for Mike. And I just wished I could be a part of the football team somehow, you know, to try to win her back,” he said seriously. Finn sighed “Being a part of the football team isn’t exactly all it's cracked up to be,” he said, upset as he looked somewhat jealously toward Sam, who had taken over as quarterback. “I’m really sorry you lost your slot Finn,” Artie said sympathetically as Finn shrugged. “It seems like you’re the only one who is. Even my own girlfriend wishes I was off the team,” Finn sighed upset. “Wow…that sounds like Rachel. She seems to not really care about your feelings,” Artie observed. “It’s not like that. It’s just she worries I’ll leave her for some cheerleader if I was quarterback again,” Finn said. “Well then she doesn’t trust you and that’s not exactly good for a relationship either,” Artie said seriously. “I guess not..but I really care about her and I know she feels the same way about me, she just gets a little worried sometimes,” Finn shrugged as Artie didn’t seem so sure. 

Coach Beiste blew her whistle at Finn, wanting him and the second string team to go and practice. “I better get going but I really think you shouldn’t focus on the past and what you can’t change. Maybe try to be there for Tina more as a friend, I know it’s not what you want but trust me, friendship can be the best fountain to a relationship,” Finn suggested before heading off as Artie watched him leave, seeming to take Finn’s advice to heart.

Meanwhile, over at cheerios practice the Unholy Trinity are all stretching together as Brittany seems to be checking out most of the football players which annoys Santana. “You know there are a lot of cute guys on the football team,” Brittany said, waving towards them flirtatiously. “I guess so,” Quinn shrugged, trying not to focus on boys at all. “We should totally make our picks for who we want to go with Q,” Brittany grinned at Quinn. “Honestly, I’d rather just go with you girls. Having a date is always too much pressure,” Quinn said honestly as Brittany nods. “I could get behind that. I can just dance with other people’s dates,” Brittany grinned as Santana cringed, scoffing a bit. “Oh please, I have a date. You two can be desperate and go alone but I have a future king I’m going with,” Santana said smirking at Puck, trying to keep her mind off Brittany. Puck smirked back at Santana. Brittany frowned a bit at Santana’s comment but Quinn expected it. “Well all I know is I want to dance,” Brittany shrugged as she got in front of the Cheerios who were about to do a routine to ‘I’m a Slave 4 U’ as Brittany led them. She began to picture in her mind that she was dancing and singing like her idol, Britney Spears.

As the performance ends Brittany poses with the cheerios as we are pulled out of the fantasy and put back into reality as Quinn and Santana are on either side of her. “Alright take 5,” Santana told the squad who left as Brittany couldn’t help but feel even more confident in herself after envisioning her performance as Britney Spears.

Cut to the hallway as Artie approaches Tina at her locker. “Hey,” Artie said. “Hi,” Tina said as she turned towards him, seeming surprised he was finally talking to her “I haven’t talked to you since…” “I know…” Artie said, sighing “It hurt a lot when you broke up with me over the summer.” “I know it did and I’m really sorry I hurt you. I just fell in love over the summer with Mike and I know it doesn’t make things any better for you but for the first time in a long time I feel happy,” Tina said honestly as that seemed to sting for Artie but he was happy for her. “And I’m happy for you but I do still care about you Tina. Those feelings don’t just go away,” Artie said as Tina nodded. “I know they don’t but Mike truly gets me on a level we never had. I’m sorry if that sounds harsh but it’s the truth,” Tina said as Artie’s face fell. “It is harsh but I can only get stronger from this,” Artie said simply as he wheeled off as he began to perform Britney Spears’ ‘Stronger’.

As Artie performs he envisions himself being on the football team, being celebrated as a player as Tina watches jealousy, making him feel like he has the power. As he finishes the performance, he wheels off finally feeling ‘stronger’ than ever before.

Cut to the choir room where Brittany and Santana enter, pinkies linked. “Mr. Schue, can we talk to you?” Santana asked. “Sure what’s going on guys?” Will asked them. “Well..I thought about this a lot and I think I want the Glee Club to perform Britney Spears but only if I can be on lead,” Brittany explained as Will looked confused. “Why the change of heart Brittany? I thought you felt like Britney Spears was your clone that you couldn’t live up to,” Will said confused. “Well, I sang her songs with Santana and I realized I’m just as talented and as awesome as she is. Plus she’s kind of my hero and it’s kind of cool that we have the same name. I just want to share my awesomeness with the school,” Brittany said seriously. “While I love that you want to perform, I just don’t think singing Britney Spears is the most appropriate thing for this assembly,” Will said simply as Brittany pouted but Santana rolled her eyes. “Just listen to our performance and then judge,” Santana said as she put the music on for ‘Me Against the Music’  as she and Brittany began to perform for Mr. Schue.

As Brittany and Santana sing together they soon envision themselves as part of the ‘Me Against the Music’ music video seeming to have a great time as they perform. Will watches them perform while he enjoys the energy, he still doesn’t seem onboard. As the song ends Brittany and Santana pose together.

“Well Mr. Schue? What did you think?” Santana asked, catching her breath from the dancing. “I think you both did a great job, really, but I still think the song isn’t the most appropriate fit for the Glee Club,” Will said simply as Brittany pouted. Santana rolled her eyes “Yeah it’s not because your little pet Berry isn’t on the lead vocals.” “That’s not what I’m saying at all, Santana. I told you guys, I just don’t think singing any song by Britney Spears is the message we want to put out for the homecoming assembly. Maybe you two could find a different song to sing,” Will suggested as Santana rolled her eyes again. “Come on Britts, let’s not waste any more of our time,” Santana said, taking Brittany’s pinkie. Brittany nodded, leaving sadly with Santana as Will seemed to question if he made the right call for this problem.

Cut to Carl’s office as Will was sitting in the lobby waiting his turn. Soon he was called in, as Carl entered he seemed surprised that Will came to the office. “Will? What are you doing here?” Carl asked. “I came for my 6 month check up,” Will said simply as Carl made a face. “Okay…but I’m not your regular dentist,” Carl said as he called up Will’s chart on his computer “In fact it looks like you see Dr. Jones.” “Well with all due respect to Dr. Jones, I was thinking of switching dentists, that isn’t a problem, is it?” Will asked slyly and leadingly. “No…not at all let’s see now,” Carl said as he began examining Will’s teeth. "All right. Evidence of some grinding," Carl said as he wrote down some things on Will’s chart "I'll set you up with a night guard." "Fantastic. Happy to do it," Will said sarcastically. 

Cut to a family counselor's office where Quinn is seated with her parents who are in the middle of a heated argument over custody of Quinn. “This is the way things have been most of the time with my parents. Everything’s an argument. My mom filed for divorce over the summer and trying to get everything finalized has been a nightmare. My dad has fought her every step of the way for everything as little as a set of salt shakers to custody of me. I don’t even know why he cares. He’s the one who kicked me out and cut me out of his life but now he suddenly wants me back in his life. I think it’s just to give my mom the business again. She’s actually been incredibly supportive since I moved back home and I feel extremely lucky to have her,” Quinn said in a voiceover as we cut to a flashback of her and her mom.

Cut to the Fabray home where Quinn is laying down in bed, listless as her mom, Judy enters with a plate of bacon, Quinn’s favorite. “Knock knock,” Judy said as Quinn sat up. “Hey mom,” Quinn said as Judy sat on the bed beside her. “I brought you some bacon. I know it’s your favorite,” Judy said, handing it to her. “Thanks…I’m not hungry,” Quinn said simply, pushing the plate away as Judy looked concerned. “Quinnie, you need to eat something. I know I wasn’t always kind to you about your weight, especially in middle school,” Judy sighed, stroking her daughter’s hair. “Mom…it’s okay. I’m not going back to the place of starving myself, okay?” Quinn said seriously. “Are you sure? Because you haven’t eaten all day,” Judy said worriedly as Quinn sighed. “I just haven’t felt hungry or the will to eat…maybe it’s the medication but I promise you, I’m not going back to that place,” Quinn assured her mom who seemed to understand. “We’ll talk about that with the therapist. Just please eat a slice…for me?” Judy pleaded as Quinn nodded, eating a slice of bacon, knowing her mom was only looking out for her.

Cut back to the family counselor's office. “Alright, I know both of you feel very strongly about who your daughter should end up with but we feel it should be Quinn’s choice of who she wants to stay with,” the counselor said as Quinn perked up, happy it’s her choice “She’s 16 and very mature for her age. Amongst all the chaos, she has handled it with poise and dignity. So, Ms. Fabray, you don’t have to make your decision now but if you have a preference, now is the time to let it be known,” the counselor said as Quinn took a deep breath.