#not to mention it feels shari really has been growing into her own!

[moe-broey]

I'm SO obsessed with them.

After this I believe they are both equally as unhinged as the other, just opposite ends of a spectrum about it HAHAHAHAHA

Also...

More micro organisms.............. (FAVE PANEL TBH LOOK AT THEM)

[aonungyoufuck]

Runaway {Part 11}

Runaway masterlist

DNI/BYF

Synopsis: you have finally mated before eywa.

Warnings: Mention of Mating +18? but like no smut at all just making out and feeling each other +  Pregnancy 

“I cannot wait anymore my love” 

Ao’nung was kissing you. Kissing was not uncommon sure. But feeling him so close was. It was nice to feel him so close. His hands roaming you feeling you from the bottom to the top. And it was ever so addicting. 

The burning that came from his hands. The erratic feeling it was desperate. 

It was all you could ask for. 

“Ao’nung. Please wait.” You spoke between your teeth, feeling his lips linger far too long. 

“We waited enough haven’t we?” 

“Understand that once we do this ill be with you forever” 

“That is what I want” he whispered, nipping at your neck. 

“I am serious Ao’nung. I want to know that this is really what you want from me. I been wanting you for so long and this is what i crave i want to be with you as one. But if we ever go home-”

“No” Ao’nung kissed you. Biting your lips to hush your sentence “i Dont ever want go home for i have you here with me. I have everything i ever wanted with you. And ive been far to happy and liberated by your ever waking moment. And i want to be with you now. Feel what you feel” 

You took in a sharp breath feeling him rest his head on your chest. Looking at you with an intent you hadn’t seen since the day he spoke those sweet nothings. 

“I want to be wild with you. Be your every waking thought as you are mine. Feel your sorrows, your pain and your love. I want to have a family with you. Grow old with you.”

Kissing your chest he grabbed his Queue. Its nerves dancing with an excited joy that you knew too well too. 

“ I want to have you here and in our many lifetimes to come. Eywa may bless me to be born alongside you again. I want to have our kids find those they love and experience it as we have now. I want to have you all. If you so much as graced me to be known as yours”

Your breathe was taken. The glow of the tree illuminating you too. You kissed his forehead. Then his left cheek and the right. Before settling on his lips, consuming his breath. 

You grabbed your own queue. Looking at him before finally bringing them together. The sensation was warm. Too warn. The feeling of his arms now burning hot. He was gulping down his breath as he felt what he was doing to you. 

You were crazy adults in love. So desperate to finally have a name to it. Mate’s forever and always. 

“Sa’nok!” Neytiri went ahead to see her mother. As if she was just an illusion. From the looks of it. She had a tiresome flight. 

He didn't wait grabbing your waist and placing you on his lap. It would be a few hours before morning and you two would have to go back to your makeshift home. So for now he’ll enjoy what he can. 

“Mo’at!” Jake exclaimed looking at her. After the formalities. And letting Mo’at drink something after flying for so long. She began to talk

“ I see Your eldest isnt here” 

“So she isnt with you?” 

“No. We have moved once you two left. Be rest assured that our People are safe and well. Ninat has actually Given birth this past cycle” 

The Family was puzzled. Sure they hadn’t been able to find their old clan but they had tricked themselves into thinking that by any possibility that you two were with them. Safe and sound

“I came here to see Y/n and Kiri”

“Wait for what?” 

Mo’at grew quiet. There was clearly some distress in her face. 

“In the morning early. I had taken the New Tsahik for a communication with Eywa. However it seems that something was amiss. I do not know what it was. But it seems like one of my Granddaughters, Has come to that place for a mate. I came here to see if that was true” 

Jake's ears lowered. As is the mood of the pod as well. Mate? 

“Kiri?”

Kiri could only roll her eyes. “No its not I” It was no secret how close she got to a certain Mekayina boy. Though she often brushed it off as nothing more than friendly banter. 

“Ma Jake” Netriti spoke. Sharing knowing looks. There was only one person and they weren’t here. 

“Mo’at… Y/n.. She’s been gone for 3 years now marking yesterday”

Mo’at rose a brow. Crossing her arms as she looked at everyone in the pod. “For What reason”

Ronal had never felt fear. She was fearless, Like to show how powerful she was. How much she did not fear people at all. But right now she was so terrified of the older woman in front of her. “ I forbade her from establishing a relationship with my son”

Mo’at wasn’t angry. Not that she would show it. And that's what made her terribly frightening to  Neytiri who lowered her head in shame. 

“And where is your son?” 

Ronal’s ears flattened. Her arms were shaking. Trembling with a fear any mother would know. “I do not know” She wept. She didn’t know. How she wished she knew where on pandora her son was. Far too long she’s wondered. Far to long has she constantly woken from nightmares where he was just out of reach. “I do not know” 

Mo’at took her hand and rested it on her shoulder. Grounding her back to reality. 

“Tell me Jakesully. Do you know if Her son went with her?”

“I don-”

“He did! I know Grandmother” 

Everyone turned to look at Neteyam. No longer the little warrior boy that was always sitting by quietly. He needed to confirm it 

“He is fated for death. For Eywa told me so” 

“What?”

Mo’at rose her hand. Her face unchanging from her stern look. “All of them. The spirits and the past. All grew quiet with dread. And its only intuition to interpret her words. But it seems her mate. Your Son. Is fading from the strong man he is”

“You don't know what you speak of! My son is strong” 

“Your son isn't here” 

“Mo’at are you sure?” 

Mo’at could only sigh. She had experienced the hurt and the pain that was to lose your beloved. She had mourned so briefly. But the pain is one that she would never wish on anyone. Let alone her own grandchild.  

“I am not certain, however i am certain something is wrong.”

“How long will you be staying here?” Jake asked

Mo’at looked at him. Then pondered for a bit “A week. It is all i can stay before going back” 

“Okay okay. Neteyam. Lo’ak. You two and i will  search where we can. If they came to that tree surely they wouldn’t be far from there.  You two come back as soon as you can i’ll stay and look some more”

Ronal rose from her seat. “I’ll go and look in the clan on the eastern sea. Maybe their Tsahik or Olo’eyktan has seen them”

“I’ll come along too” Tonowari commented, turning back to his daughter. “Daughter. You stay here While we are out” 

“I’ll stay with her.” Neytiri commented standing behind her mother. 

Jake nodded. “Alright. Good plan” 

That was the Plan. Mo’at could only hope that you would not experience the pain of loss. 

—---------------------------

The week went by in a flash. No sign of you anywhere. And your family was growing desperate. 

Life was going on and that's the way Ronal had to have it. Days passed. Weeks maybe? Ronal had lost track after the first year. Ateyo and Tsireya were her grounding points. And even they seemed to move on with the passing of time. 

“How long has it been”

“A month since Mo’at left. A month and three years since they did”

“Tonowari i dont think i can do this” Ronal spoke. It was dark. It was night. And for once she had time to speak her hearts sorrows.

“Be strong Ma Ronal” 

“I know. But i feel my heart breaking. Hear it every time i wake it falling and shattering. I want my son. I want him back at whatever costs” Ronal croaked. 

Something so deep in the core of her being was screaming. 

There was no comfort for this kind of thing. For its sad. And this thing does not happen. 

“Ma ronal i-”

“Tonowari i dont think i can wait anymore. My heart cries any time i ask for any glance of my son. Aches”

“I know ma Ronal. But be patient. I will be here with you” Tonowari spoke kissing her forehead as he hugged her tight. Too much time was passing

It had been Pure bliss really. The loving touches. The words and the feeling. That morning when you had awoken from Mating before Eywa would always be engraved in your feelings. 

And he could only ask for his son’s life. 

Tsaheylu was always a warm feeling. A feeling of becoming one unit and it was really nice. But Tsaheylu in the form of a mate? It was different. A good different. 

You had always imagined it would be different and under different circumstances. You would have a man of your clan and they in turn. And everyone would be happy for you. 

But this wasn't what you pictured. Ao’nungs hands. How he felt you. How his body worked alongside you. And connecting as one more than tsaheylu. It was something else for sure. 

You had felt it once more on one “date night” as Ao’nung had put it. But there was no room for that now. 

Ao’nung had been growing weak. And You had been growing tired. It was only a week and some days into your new bond that you had your suspicions and gathered the few leaves you had established that you were blessed with life inside of you. 

You were going to tell Ao’nung. But he had been laying in his pond far too long. And yet he had made it so known how happy he was for you two. 

“Ma Ao’ you seem paler today than the last days” 

“Its alright” He rasped out. His eyes were heavy with a tiredness you never knew. Exhausted, sunken into himself. You could count his lower ribs. His pale appearance now always wrapped in ointments to keep him comfortable

“I ask you to please lets head home.You are growing so ill now please”

“No. And risk my Mother taking you away from me?” 

You frowned. Placing your hand on his sunken cheek bone. “Please You are ill”

“You are the thing that keeps me going Ma Yawnetu” Ao’nung smiled,  Eyes closing. 

You had watched him fade and it scared you how you were alone. You laid your head on his shoulder. Feeling his breath slow. You sighed, feeling tears in your eyes. “Ao’nung i have something to tell you”

It was quiet. Far too quiet and far too long. 

“Ao’nung?” 

His eyes were shut and his breathing uneven. 

“Ao’nung!”

But it fell on deaf ears. You cursed under your breath. Wiping your eyes as you called to your Ikran. Grabbing his shoulders you Pulled him from the water. You didn’t want to do stuff without Ao’nung to know. But you had bit back your tongue far too long. 

Tossing Ao’nung over your shoulder and onto Mezu “Come on Ao’nung hold on a little longer” You whispered making Tsaheylu as you took flight. 

Praying and hoping that you could hold on just a little longer too

============================================

Taglist: @simp-erformarvelwomen / @luvlykrispy / @yeosxxx / @fanboyluvr / @littlethingsinlife / @eirianna / @elegantkidfansoul / @tsukibaby1 / @adaiasafira / @1-800-not-simping / @reggiesslut / @cmfouatslota77 / @slutforsmut4ever / @zatarias-pandora / @valovesyou / @tachiara / @ghost-lantern / @victorianhorrors / @irlydontknoanymore / @hellok1ttycake / @sweetheartlizzie07 / @audigay / @kiyolover / @bogwaterswamp / @guska0 / @thatoneembarrasingmoment / @anxietydrogz

[douxreviews]

Arrow - ‘My Name is Emiko Queen' Review

“I’m not Oliver Queen.”

While that quote is true in the strictest sense, Emiko Queen is doing a damn good imitation.  

From the cold open it was obvious The Powers That Be were going for an OG Arrow esthetic.  From the voiceover,  and (camera) shot selection to the little book of names, and a wounded Emiko going to Rene for help as Oliver went to Felicity.  The similarities didn’t end there.  She has just as many trust issues as Oliver and a stubbornness that up till now I had associated more with Moira’s side of the family.    

There is one profound difference between Emiko and her half-brother.  Where Oliver sought to bring justice to the people his father had wronged, Emiko wants justice on behalf of the wrongs done to her.  This is neither surprising nor unexpected.  Oliver grew up with every advantage.  His time in “hell”  taught him humility and gave him an appreciation for those without silver spoons.  Emiko grew up with little except the unconditional love of her mother.  Her loss would drive anyone to desire vengeance.  

That is what we are talking about here.  For all Emiko’s talk of justice, her war on crime in The Glades is not born out of benevolence.  She has systematically eliminated everyone who had a hand in her mother’s death as she searches for the person who pulled the trigger.  She can wrap it up in as much talk of the downtrodden as she likes.  Revenge is not justice.  I'm not judging.  I'm just stating facts.

That knowledge aside we are left with a host of unanswered questions.  Chief among them why would a woman abandoned and forgotten by her wealthy father imitate her half-brother?  Unlike Oliver, she’d always known about the existence of her half-sibling and the “other” Queen family.  And considering Oliver’s checkered past, he seems an odd choice for emulation.  And how?  I can see her learning to defend herself out of the necessity of growing up in a rough neighborhood.  But I can’t imagine archery being her weapon of choice.

Oliver must come to grips with the fact that the latest person to don the Hood does so out of more than just admiration.  Even after all the suspect deeds committed by Mama and Papa Queen, this is a new low.  To know his father severed all ties to his own daughter makes Oliver question all of his father’s motives.  Especially when he did so while knowingly raising another man’s daughter as his own.  Although I doubt that realization has hit Oliver yet.  Moira’s behavior is just as bad.  It’s not surprising she resented Robert’s other family.  But the idea she would go out of her way to ensure that Robert’s child was not only discarded like an old toy but deliberately kept poor is unbelievably spiteful.  So why is most of Oliver’s anger directed at his father even after Felicity and by extension the writers repeatedly lay the blame for Emiko’s abandonment at both Robert and Moira’s feet?

Speaking of marriage issues, what is up with Diggle?  After years of questioning Lyla’s morality, in large part due to her involvement with the “Ghost Initiative” AKA The Suicide Squad, he unilaterally decides to bring it back? And to force Lyla to defend a policy he knows she disagrees with is unlike him. Is his hatred of Diaz that intense or is his moral fiber fraying?  Does Dig really believe Diaz will flush out Dante.  And is that be before or after Oliver and Felicity find out that Diaz is alive and “free.”

While Diggle’s motives may not be clear, we clarified a few unresolved issues.  Deputy Director Bell is indeed subordinate to Lyla.  However, her superiors at The Pentagon have appointed him as their watchdog which not only explains his apparent autonomy but also the deference that both husband and wife have been giving him.  It also explained Ben Turner’s appearance in Slabside.  He saves Lyla’s life at the risk of getting his head blown off and she repays him by scrubbing The Suicide Squad and sending him to a Supermax prison. No wonder Ben was pissed.

That brings us to Rene, both present and future.  In the present, Emiko’s pursuit of her mother’s killers dovetails with his desire to protect his neighborhood and Lord knows Rene can relate to her anger issues.  Besides, partnering with her fills the void left by his former teammates and offers him the means to make a difference.  However, the fact Emiko is neither part of the flash-forwards nor mentioned as part of Oliver’s Mark of Four pact leads to the suspicion that their partnership is short-lived.   So it is not hard to draw a line from the current iteration of Rene adrift from his former teammates and frustrated by his inability to protect his home to the future Mayor bent on protecting The Glades at the expense of Star City at large.  What is still in question is the identity of future Rene’s mystery friend and murderer of Felicity (IMDB has him listed as Kevin Dale)?  Who does he represent and are they pulling Future Rene’s strings or do they just think they are?

To be honest, this episode left me with mixed feelings.  I appreciated the old-school feel.  And the explanation of Emiko’s abandonment gave more depth to the Queen family dynamics years after Robert and Moira’s deaths, and Walter’s departure.  Yet Oliver’s anger troubled me.  Not only because of its one-sidedness but because his anger on his own behalf felt petty and his anger on Emiko’s behalf felt unearned.  More important than that, the episode meant to introduce us to Emiko gave us more questions than answers and spent far more time on the people affected by her existence than on the woman herself.  

3 out of 5 quilt forts

Parting Thoughts:  

How is Emiko bankrolling this little enterprise?  Bribing mobsters ain’t cheap.

In that same vein, did Curtis borrow an A.R.G.U.S. van or does a tricked out van come with the secret lair and the Hood?

We won’t discuss the whole chain of custody issue of giving crime scene evidence to the wife of an SCPD deputy.  Can we say inadmissible in court, boys and girls?

Emiko threatened to put an arrow through Rene.  Oliver’s been there and done that.

It was a nice touch having Jamey Sheridan read Robert Queen’s letter.  It was bizarre that it was the only time my close captioning specified who was talking - wrongly stating it was Oliver.

I could find no mention of Talis Global in the world of DC Comics.  However, William Glenmorgan definitely exists. So does Santa Prisca.

Future Rene doesn’t have his scar.  Did The Glades Mayor get plastic surgery?

The Archer program wiped out crime in The Glades.   And somehow Zoe almost ruined everything when she got her hands on it.  Color me curious.  

And I meant to ask this in Unmasked.  When did the Queen Mansion get destroyed?  Was Isabel Rochev so vindictive that she burned the place to the ground?  

Quotes:  

Rene: “I guess stubbornness comes with the suit.”

Diaz: “Let me be real clear for the cheap seats.  Screw you.”

Felicity: “Some husbands bring their wives home flowers, and mine brings me blood from a crime scene.  They say romance is dead.”

Oliver: “My father was always very good at burying secrets.”

Felicity: “One more thing.” Oliver: “Just one more?”

Lyla: “Are you questioning my decision, Deputy Director?” Bell: “Of course not, Madam Director.  That kind of radical out-of-the-box approach is exactly the shot in the arm A.R.G.U.S. needs.  I’m sure the Pentagon will be very excited to hear about this.”

Emiko: “People can’t let you down if you don’t let them in.”

Rene: “At least as mayor, I’m actually getting things done, not wasting my time running around the city in a hockey mask pretending that it mattered.”

Lyla: “And here I thought I was the one in danger of becoming Amanda Waller.”

Curtis: “I can knock out the whole system – cameras, motion sensors, the whole shebang.  But it’s up to you guys to deal with that army of terminators yourselves.”

Emiko: “I’m still not looking for a team.” Rene: “Ok, fine.  Then how about a partner?”

Dale: “Star City is a cancer.  The only way to get rid of a cancer is to destroy it.”

Diaz: When I agreed to this deal, no one said anything about sticking a bomb in the back of my head."

Shari loves sci-fi, fantasy, supernatural, and anything with a cape.

[witchofeindor]

Rebecca Bunch - Miserable Jewishness* vs. Cheery Christianity?

I can’t wait for this season’s Jewish(tm) episode (if there is one this season, but based on this show’s patterns, I’d say it’s safe to assume there’ll be) because like,

During 1.08 ( “My Mom, Greg's Mom and Josh's Sweet Dance Moves!”) we see Rebecca  being miserable to Kley Zemer music (=Jewish music) playing in the background (’Where’s The Bathroom?’, as well as at the beginning of the episode when she removes all evidence of Christmas decorations and replaces them with Xanuka decorations and symbols instead), but being actually cheery and happy for a while to Christmas music playing (’California Christmastime’ but also the cheery Christmas music playing at the beginning of the episode).

Conclude from that what you will, but Rebecca seems to be miserable with anything related to Jewishness (see also 2.10) whereas she has, well, more positive feelings to anything Christian-related (’California Christmastime’, that cheery X-mas music at the beginning of 1.08, and also that line she says to Valencia about feeling happy as a child would feel @ Easter bunnies or smt** ‘If I were only allowed to believe in Jesus!’ in 2.05.)

In addition to that, we see Rebecca refer to her Jewish side of the family on the East Coast as ‘dark, sad and miserable’ in 2.10 (or smt along those lines) and she grows really frustrated when Josh cannot see how miserable everything with us Jews is.

Now, one might think her association of Jewishness with misery as purely based on rationale and logic, and as a Jew myself and a child to Jewish refugees, I definitely can see where that thought might come from and why (partially) she associates Jewishness with misery; our entire history, our personal family stories, our /culture/ is all about survival and mixing misery with happiness, without really being allowed to /chill/ for a second, we must keep on fighting, we must survive, we must stay alive out of spite or all of our dead were murdered in vain. They died so we can survive. 90% of our holidays really ARE about ‘They tried to kill us, they couldn’t, let’s eat’ [the other 10% are ‘we have wronged both god and humanity, let’s repent to god whose own existence we doubt bc we are Jews and we are miserable, bitter cynics who doubt everything and to the ppl whom we’ve wronged (who, magically, happen to be every fucking one including ourselves bc there’s no Tikkun Olam yet but let’s not delve into that rn)]. (And 5 out of 6 of our fasts are about ‘they tried to kill us, they succeeded, let’s fast to remember all of the dead Jews’.) 

From a young age, we are raised to stories about our people being persecuted and our parents pass on their own traumas from antisemitism and persecution unto us. We are raised with the notion that we have always been persecuted, which is, sadly, not inaccurate historically. Rebecca herself mentions to Rabbi Shari that Jewish trauma is passed through genes. (2.10) (Op can tragically confirm).

As a culture, we do mix happiness with misery, and the wonderful ‘Remember That We Suffered’ captures that spirit perfectly. (I’ve shown it to every Jewish person who understands English I know, and we all felt extremely called out by this song bc it is so very true.)

But, that being said, I beg to differ, I don’t think that Rebecca’s misery with her Jewishness (and cheeriness regarding Christianity) comes from, well, our tendency to darken up things alone. I believe a lot of her hatred and rejection towards her Jewishness is projected from her hatred towards her mother, she associates her mother with anything Jewish, and just like her mother makes her miserable, ANYTHING even remotely Jewish makes her miserable.

And then there’s her garbage piece of father (to quote Paula, whom I agree with 10000% in this case), who, we know from 1.08, is an Irish catholic. Even though he is a piece of trash and probably the one of only characters on the entire show with whom you just cannot sympathise, we know that Rebecca loves him and desperately hopes to reconcile with him (at least up to 2.13); and just like she associates anything Jewish with her mother, she probably associates everything Christian with her father, and everything even remotely Christian reminds her of him, and probably makes her feel as if she’s reunited with him again, which might explain her cheeriness around anything Christian.

However, then 2.13 happens and Rebecca finally takes a huge step and makes a healthy decision and finally gives up on her piece of shit for a father and cuts him from her life. 

While Naomi certainly does not deserve Mum of the Year award and has wronged and hurt Rebecca multiple times (most, if not all, wrongings were well-intended, without realising that this is not what Rebecca really needs), she does really love and care about Rebecca and we see it throughout the show (1.08, 1.15, heartbreaking 3.05 and on plenty more occasions) and while she refuses to admit or even acknowledge it, I do believe she realises it somewhere deep inside her. (Yes, even after the tragic aftermath of 3.05).

Now that Rebecca has finally given up on piece of trash for her father, she might no longer associate Christianity with the cheeriness she used to, which makes me think, will it make her reconsider her attitude towards Jewishness?

So yeah, if my predictions are right and this season has one Jewish(tm) episode, I am certainly looking forward to it, even more than before, because it’ll be interesting to see Rebecca’s attitude towards Jewishness.

Tld;r - Rebecca used to associate Jewishness with her mother and therefore with misery, while Christianity was associated with her dad and therefore with cheeriness and maybe hope, but now that she no longer wants her father in her life, will it make her reconsider her attitude towards Jewishness? We don’t know yet and therefore I am looking forward to the seasonal Jewish(tm) episode, even more than ever.

*I’m using Jewishness and not Judaism on purpose here bc I’m referring to Rebecca’s Jewishness from a cultural and ethnic point of view and not from a religious pov bc we know how Rebecca feels about god. (Always questioning, like the true spirit of the Jewish people.)

**I don’t remember the exact line and I’m too tired to rewatch it rn to write it down exactly but you know what I mean.

I apologise for any mistakes, English is my 3rd language, I’m terrible at expressing myself even in my mother tongue, AND I’m after like 16 hours of being up/working only on one hour of sleep, so oops if this makes zero sense.

[onlineholly]

2017 wrapped

Hey Holly, it’s Holly. How are you? Did 2018 go ok? Or is everyone saying “2018 did me so bad omggg” like they do with every year? 

Here’s a little recap of every cool thing you did in 2017, just so you don’t forget, but mostly so you can feel nostalgic as you read this back later. 

In January, you went to the women’s march in Portland and wrote this here poem, because Trump was elected president. I know, crazy, remember that? After campaigning for Bernie in 2016 and attending one of his rallies, you had been filled with a glimmer of hope for the future of America, but this election was a gigantic step backwards. Like, 20 years backwards in progress. 

In February, I’d say the coolest thing you did was attend the Live Salted conference in Portland with Hayley, your old Young Life leader. You felt so connected to a group of people whom you had never met before, but they welcomed you in and loved you so well. Here, your faith began to bloom more in 2016. Continuing with the blooming of faith in February, you also attended a campaigners camp at Washington Family Ranch as well, where you felt at home somewhere, and like you had a place in Young Life. (Honorable mentions for February: Lilli’s birthday and, oh yeah, getting your license finally!!!!)

By March, your campaign with Cam for Junior Class Presidents was in full swing, as you had dragged him into running with you. I think he actually did like it through, I mean, he must have, because he decided to run with you again for ASB! (How does that turn out, by the way?) March was also the month that your student government journey began. Ms. Stone asked you to join Core Council in place of the social media coordinator, and I think it is safe to say that it really saved your high school career. Student government has made me into someone I never thought I’d be, but I enjoy being for every second. It’s crazy to think that in only a span of 10 months, student government has become your entire life.. like, it’s literally what you live for. Cookies were handed out and smiles were exchanged in your campaign, as march was filled with your very first leadership committees and initial Core Council meetings as well. (Honorable mentions: the Panic! at the Disco concert with Destiny–this was the second time you had seen them–and DRIVING ACROSS THE STATE BY YOURSELF OMG HOLLY WHAT WHERE YOU THINKNING?!! But really, spring break consisted of driving on the freeway by myself for the first time ever for 5 hours to see Grammy and Grandude in Fossil for a week. It was a wild trip that I think I learned a lot about myself in, and being alone with myself as well.)

By April, you had lost your election with Cam for class president, but it didn’t end your student government career or stop you from continuing on (obviously). Looking back on it, April was sort of a trivial month, with no real huge events in it, but smaller ones. Like running your first ever blood drive! (Little did you know that in this year you would run two more!) You also got into photography more, even with Grammy’s shitty old DSLR, you found out that you could potentially have talent in this, and people told you that you did.This new self confidence sparked a whole potencial career path and jump started your creativity again, as you were beginning to leave web design and computer science major ideas behind (spoiler: coding is easy, hosting websites is not, and the inner workings of the internet is too complicated). 

May was the beginning to a great summer, and just a taste of the fun that was to come. School nights were spent sitting by campfires with new friends in their backyards, tailgating at high school baseball games, and traveling to new outdoor adventures. You even saw blackbear for the second time at his own show, which was beyond amazing. Digital Druglord is one of your favorite albums of all time, and the performance did not disappoint (unlike cybersex, his newest album). 

June was the end of sophomore year, with a lot of bittersweetness, but an overall good ending. Somehow you made it through without failing chemistry and still being in NHS. You probably wouldn’t have though if it wasn’t for your high school counselor, Robbie, you owe him a lot. You got to help with prom and see the entire committee’s work come to fruiting on that night, and you were already thinkning of ways to make yours better for the next year. And of course, YOU GOT A JOB!! You got an interview with Jamba Juice sometime in March maybe, but they asked you to come in again in June and Nikki hired you on the spot. The summer was off on a good foot with a job at a juice bar. 

July was filled with independent Oregon adventures with you and your friends who could both drive! Having this new found sense o adult-ness and freedom opened many doors. In between shifts at Jamba, you and Elora drove to Newport in search of a great beach day (which was found), you, Lilli, Payton, Elora, and Destiny wandered down to Irish Bend to swim in the sun, and you and Adelaide traveled to the cabin and Sahalie Falls while capturing pretty cool pictures. July was the epitome of a 16 year old Oregonian’s summer. Your second blood drive in the summer went well too, and you even made 50 bucks from it! And of course, there was summer camp at WaFaRa again. This camp seemed to go on forever, and it was here that you realized your time for being a camper was probably over, and it was time to begin to lead-which you still have yet to do so hurry up Holly. This camp, as always, pushed your limits a little more and more each day. You go karted, did a roped course 100 feet in the air, and danced your butt off at club. After camp you went for a trip to Fossil for the second time this year, and saw the long awaited Painted Hills, which you will have to go back to one day. 

August was a summer winding down. The fair was an obligatory local teenager event, which turned out to be mediocre (shocking, I know), but made for some cute instagrams. You played glow in the dark capture the flag with Adelaide and friends, spray painted CHS’s rock with your new core council, and YOU GOT BANGS!! After contemplating many times, you just finally did it and said screw it. And they even turned out good! Oh, and the whole solar eclipse thing happened too. 

September was a peppy school spirited month, kicking off the 2017-2018 year with a spirit shirt you designed, home football games, deadly APUSH notes, homecoming week, and watching volleyball from the sidelines for the first time ever. (Turns out photographing your friends playing a sport they genuinely love is better than playing the sport as well, only pretending to love it.) Oh yeah, for yearbook, they gave you a kick ass camera that is absolutely amazing and finally lets you flex some photography skills and learn new stuff! And of course, all throughout this you were still desperately in love with C. 

October had tons of photoshoots and it was your month to thrive, libra! I think it was by now that you were seeing Dr. S and had a regular regime of prescriptions, which even though your mom was terrified of you taking three antidepressants and two mood stabilizers, it seemed to be working. You and Lilli planned a last minute concert trip in early October to see The Weeknd, and even though you were in the nosebleeds, a concert is a concert and it was a great experience. You and Adelaide had a fall beach trip this month, and you also did a stunning photoshoot with Kiara, Alyssa, and Alba which is still one of your favorites of all time. You went on many Shari’s dates with megan as well, and your new friendship began to grow here. And of course, you had your 17th birthday then too! Your party at the farm was stressful and less than eventful, but pretty ok. And at the end of October, you got what I am typing on now! A new Macbook, which was literally a dream come true thanks to your Nanna. 

November was the month of tournaments! First, dodgeball, then ping pong. Ping Pong basically consumed your whole life in November, even though you knew nothing about the sport. But in November, you also got to go to Seaside with Core Council for the OASC Leadership Conference! It was really a blast and a great bonding experience that was well worth it. There was also your third blood drive in November, which went moderately okay. 

And finally…, December. Now. You Christmas shopped your heart out and spent your paycheck on everyone else, but it was well worth it. As I am now writing this and reflecting on this year, I feel happy about it, really. This year kind of whizzed by, but what year doesn’t? You planned Winter Formal this month, finally got your school schedule together and dropped APUSH, laughed at Festivus and at Christmas Eve dinner with heidi, and enjoyed Christmas day with all three families (Dad, Mom, Wooley’s + etc.) 

Overall this year, you enjoyed a ton of music, watched a lot of movies (50 shades II, Dunkirk, Get Out, Baby Driver, Guardians of the Galaxy I and II, American Assassin, Cars 3, The Disaster Artist, Ladybird), and read quite a few books (The Book Thief, I’ll Give You the Sun, Milk and Honey, The Sun and Her Flowers,The Girls). So here’s to another year, another illusion of starting over. Here’s to you, future me. 

Love, past me of December 28th 2017

[sarah-wants-to-write]

I Dare You to Love; Part Two (Star Trek AOS)

Shari has settled into her role on the Enterprise, and her friendship with Jim continues to grow. Days settle into routine, though it's thrown for a loop when she finds her friend in need of help. Help Jim didn't even know he needed and in the end, a truth comes to light that could change everything.

(A/N: feel free to ignore the subtitle in the gif. It’s the look he’s giving that matters~)

        It had been a few months since the Enterprise left Yorktown, and Shari wasn’t at all surprised to find herself busy. Day in and out, studying the records of previous planetary surveys that the Enterprise had done, along with her work with Asha, and the occasional away mission. Being the only high-ranking zoologist, she had been on plenty of missions. It didn’t hurt that most were with her new friend, Jim Kirk.

        Being friends with the captain definitely had its positives, both personally and professionally. Professionally, it meant that he trusted her judgment and actions even more than if he’d just based it off her work. Personally, it meant that she’d been introduced to and became friends with many people on the bridge. Spock found her work with Asha rather fascinating, discussing his old childhood pet I-Chaya with her in confidence. Shari gladly honored his request to not speak publicly, and expressed her sympathy at the loss of a beloved pet. Uhura was a perfect friend for fun talk, along with Sulu, and Chekov was like a little brother to her. Constant conversations in Russian, with Shari switching to Ukrainian or Polish when he was getting too…enthusiastic about something, just to get the kid re-focused.

        Of course, the rare occasion happened where someone found their soul mate, and shifted.

        It was the strangest part of human physiology, according to Spock, and Shari couldn’t help agreeing. Every human, and potentially half-human, had either an animal sleeping within their soul, or a song in their heart for their fated one’s animal. When someone was trying to find their soul mate, those with the animal within would hear from them, telling them yes or no. Some were more cooperative than others, from what she had heard.

        When a pair finally met, and the shifter’s fated one was in danger, the shifter would turn into that animal. Mostly predators, though some were larger prey animals that were scary when angry. Size also depended on the age at which it happened. When the shift happened, though, the shifter wouldn’t be able to change back without the help of their mate. For that person, they had to sing or hum the song in their heart, which usually ended up being a song that both in the pair knew, which fit the two perfectly. After that, the shifter would be able to change back and forth at will, to protect their mate.

        When Spock asked what determined which in the pair would be the shifter, Shari could only shrug. It was honestly something humans had speculated on for years. Sometimes only one person was the shifter, sometimes both were, and there were many theories about it.

        Each time a person shifted, Shari was immediately called in, just in case the person was injured and wasn’t changing back any time soon. Her gentle nature and firm hand had earned the lieutenant a reputation as one of the better medics on the ship, and most crew who were able to shift came to her for help on how to take care of themselves in animal form.

        The process of shifting what something that Shari talked about with Jim quite a bit whenever he came by her lab and office. They spent so much time together that he insisted she could call him Jim when they weren't on official business. Stuck there with her work most of the time, her dear friend came by to talk quite a bit when he could. Though mostly, he came by to say hello to Asha and spoil the levytsya with attention. Shari often teased that he only liked her for her lioness.

        “Well, not only.” Jim would shoot back, smiling as they both laughed. Most of the time, they did reports together, especially those concerning away missions they’d both been on. It was nice, having company, and always good for a laugh when one of her Ensigns came by with paperwork and jumped upon seeing their Captain on the floor with Asha’s head in his lap, just tapping away at his PADD like it was the most normal thing in the universe.

        However, today was somehow…different. Normally, Shari would have seen Jim at lunch, or just around in the halls, but she hadn’t seen hide nor hair of the man. Working in her lab, her back to the door, she smiled when she heard the tell-tale jingle and whoosh of the door opening.

        “It’s about time you showed up, sir.” She teased, keeping her back to the door.

        “Didn’t know you were expecting me.” Okay, that southern accent distinctly wasn’t Jim.

        Turning around, Shari was surprised to see Doctor McCoy standing there, with a slight smirk on his face.

        “Sorry, commander,” she smiled sheepishly “thought you were the Captain.”

        “Then I take it you haven’t seen him,” McCoy responded, more of a statement than a question “everywhere I’ve looked on this damn ship, I can’t seem to find the man. He’s either not been there or had just left.”

        “Is everything okay, sir?” she asked, concerned that their CMO was looking for the captain so thoroughly.

        “Our fearless leader’s dodging his annual physical again,” McCoy sighed “his usual antics, which he drags most of his friends into. If you see him, please try and send him my way.”

         “I’ll shoot you a message if he stops by here,” Shari agreed “and try to keep him here so you can actually find him.”

        “Even better,” the doctor nodded “thank you, Lieutenant. I’ll see you around.”

        “Of course,” Shari smiled, nodding back as he left “happy hunting, Doctor.”

        She could hear McCoy laugh a bit as the door closed, and chuckled a bit herself, before going back to her work. Though she couldn’t help her worry now. Jim seemed fit, so why would he avoid his physical? Sure, medical anxiety wasn’t uncommon-she dealt with it herself-but he seemed like the type who would do something he didn’t like right away just to get it over with.

        Not too long later, her door opened again, and this time it indeed was Jim.

        “Afternoon, Captain,” she greeted, smiling “busy day?”

        “Just making my rounds,” Jim replied, smiling back “how’s your work going?”

        “As interesting as ever, since it’s survey study day,” Shari declared, holding up her PADD to show the report “haven’t had many visitors, so it’s been quiet.”

        Watching as Jim greeted Asha, before settling into his usual spot so she could rest her head on his lap, Shari was even more worried. Jim may have been smiling and upbeat, but his smile didn’t reach his eyes. Was it just a long day?

        “Doctor McCoy came by earlier,” she spoke up, watching Jim’s head shoot up to look at her with guarded curiosity “asked if I had seen you, said you had an appointment and he’d been looking for you.”

        “What did you tell him?”

        “The truth; I hadn’t seen you yet today. Wished him happy hunting.”

        Jim chuckled a small bit at the snark, though his shoulders were almost as heavy as the near-silence in the room. The only sound was the occasional computer beep or chirp as both of them returned to their work.

        “Not curious about why?” Jim asked, not looking from his PADD. Shari glanced at him, and saw that Asha was watching him too, with a twitchier tail.

        “I am,” she replied, looking back down at her own PADD “but your reasons are your own, Jim. I’m curious, but I won’t pry.”

        Jim hummed in response, and it was quite for a good while. Shari had decided not to message McCoy, deciding that her friend needed time to sit and relax. The question of why he was avoiding the doctor had almost slipped her mind, if she was being honest.

        “It started with doctor’s exams. Said that it was to make sure people were okay during the famine.”

        Shari looked up at Jim’s sudden, quiet declaration. He was looking down at Asha, petting her head, and pointedly not looking anywhere else.

        “Most think it was sudden,” he continued “a jump from coup to…but it wasn’t. That’s why he could get as far as he did.”

        As he spoke, Shari got up from her seat to sit on the floor near Jim, heart breaking as she put two and two together. She knew that Jim was a survivor of Tarsus IV, but she hadn’t expected to ever hear about it from him.

        “And after, I was in and out of hospitals for a long time,” he concluded, shoulders tense as he finally looked up at her “so….”

        “You’ve got more reason than most, then.” Was all Shari said, hesitating before reaching and putting her hand on his.

        “You don’t seem surprised,” Jim declared, eyebrows furrowing “I’ve never talked about it, so how did you…”

        “I did my homework, when I found out about my assignment here,” Shari admitted, smiling sheepishly when his eyebrows shot up towards his hairline “I’d always admired and looked up to you, and wanted to know more. When I read about what happened on…well, my heart broke, and I now really understand why you don’t like appointments or physicals.”

        The look in Jim’s eyes was strange, but Shari didn’t squirm under his stare. It was more that she felt…seen. Like he was seeing the real her.

        “Though you should probably go and get it over with,” she suggested, watching his eyes lose a small bit of the twinkle that had come back “the Enterprise needs her Captain in top form. Would it help if Asha was there?”

        “I honestly don’t know.” Jim replied, looking down at the lioness, who seemed to have the same concerned look as Shari.

        “Would it hurt?” Shari continued, watching him think it over.

        “No.” he declared.

        “Then I don’t see why she shouldn’t go with you,” she replied, shrugging a bit “I’ll go as well, say I have to talk to M’Benga, so Doctor McCoy doesn’t question it too much. Could say it’s part of my work with Asha, as a potential comfort animal in the Med Bay.”

        Seeing she was offering him the choice, and a good-not to mention truthful-cover story for the situation, Jim was surprised to find himself agreeing.

“Okay, let’s go.”

~

        To say that Bones looked surprised when Jim walked into the Med Bay was an understatement. Shari walked in right behind him, and Jim watched as she went straight to M’Benga to talk. Asha stayed right by his side, though, clearly as dedicated to helping him as Shari was.

        “Alright, Bones, let’s get this over with,” he told his friend, nodding over to a bio bed “want me over there?”

        Bones could only nod, getting his PADD and equipment together as Jim went over to the bed, Asha sitting on the floor right next to his knee.

        “Lieutenant Neilson’s work?” Bones asked, nodding down to Asha as he got set up.

        “You could say that.” Jim nodded, hand going to Asha’s head to help ground his mind. This was one of his closest friends, nothing bad was going to happen. Asha was here, too, as was Shari.

       Nothing bad was going to happen.

       That became Jim’s mantra, helped by the rhythmic scratching and petting of Asha’s head during the whole appointment. Once things were done, and Bones stepped away to log everything, Shari approached with a smile on her face.

        “How did she do?” she asked quietly, gesturing to Asha, who had plopped her head on Jim’s lap in contentment from all the scritches and pets.

        “She helped,” Jim admitted, just as quiet as he gave a small smile that finally reached his eyes “draft up the paperwork, and I’ll make sure Bones gives the green light on this part of your experiment.”

        “I’ll head to my office and get started,” she nodded, smiling for him “I’m glad she could help. I hope you don’t hesitate to talk to me about things, if you need to. I promise I’ll listen. It’s what friends do, isn’t it?”

        Jim’s smile grew, putting his hand on her shoulder and giving it a squeeze as he nodded, before Shari woke Asha up. She bid Jim and Bones farewell before she left the Med Bay, Asha by her side. Jim watched as she left, heart feeling lighter than it had all day.

        Shari was a good and loyal friend, a highly intelligent scientist, and an incredibly beautiful woman in Jim’s eyes. She’d won his loyalty and fierce friendship, especially with what happened that day. Jim would rain hell on anyone who tried to hurt her.

        Deep inside, the wolf in his soul had fully woken up, and couldn’t agree more. 

[constructionaccounting]

0307: How To Prepare Your Construction Business To Go From Local To Regional Scale

This Podcast Is Episode Number 0307, And It Will Be About How To Prepare Your Construction Business To Go From Local To Regional Scale

The construction industry offers a lot of opportunities. Entrepreneurs developing a construction business have an insatiable desire to grow and expand. Even though this domain offers a lot of opportunities, it brings also a lot of challenges in the same package. Therefore, when you decide to expand your construction company from local to regional, there are a lot of things you need to consider. This article is going to show which strategies you can apply to have a successful transition.

First, you should understand why you need to expand your construction in another city. Below you can find a list of questions you should answer before deciding if you are prepared for this move.

Steps to Follow Before Expanding on a Regional Level

What are your customers asking? 

A successful construction business is the one that develops long-term relationships with its clients. When you start a business, one of the first steps is to determine your target audience and understand their requirements and expectations. Therefore, when your clients start asking you to deliver your services in other geographical areas, then it means that you need to expand regionally.

Is your market saturated?

Even though your clients are not asking you to collaborate with them in other areas, this doesn’t mean that you cannot expand your construction business. Any local market has its competition, especially when we are talking about a productive industry like construction. Therefore, it is obvious that, no matter how big your business is, you won’t be able to cover more than a certain percentage of the entire market. Thus, you will reach a moment when your market will be saturated. This is a clear sign that you need to think of an expansion strategy.

Will it help you to leverage your expertise?

If you want to be successful in the construction industry, you need to be innovative and unique. Whether you are using a different internal system, or your people have special skills, you need to stay ahead of your competition. Therefore, expanding your construction business to a regional level will be a great opportunity to leverage your expertise.

Will this expansion motivate your key employees?

One of the biggest difficulties construction companies face is motivating their key employees. What is more, it becomes even harder to find good people to work in this demanding environment. Therefore, once you find them, it is very important to keep them motivated. Thus, when you decide to move from local to regional, think also from your key employees’ perspective. If this may represent a motivating factor for them, then this is a good reason to build your business in a different city as well.

Are you ready to fund your growth?

Even though your construction company is already making a nice profit, growth will always need an investment. For instance, you may need upfront capital to acquire an existing company. Or you may also need money to buy or rent new equipment to start big in the new location. Therefore, before jumping into expansion, you need to think carefully about how your strategy will look and be ready to fund your growth at a regional level.

Challenges to Overcome When Expanding a Construction Business

You can learn a lot from the mistakes other business owners do. So, if you don’t want to repeat them, take a look at the pitfalls mentioned below and analyze your exposure before venturing into expanding your construction business.

Underestimating the efforts necessary to succeed

When you open a new branch in a different city, you need to be ready to invest a lot of time, energy, and money to make sure that you will be successful. Opening an office in a different city is a long-term investment. So, you need to be prepared for the entire process. Entrepreneurs should be ready to translate their marketing content and materials into different languages if they want to approach an expanded target audience. It is very important that people know about you and understands what you have to offer.

Underestimating your competitors

You may be the strongest construction company locally, but this doesn’t mean that once you expand you will keep your top position. The power of the local competitors is usually underestimated by most business owners. But, they have a very important advantage. They know the market very well and have strong local connections. Therefore, even though your work processes and equipment are superior, you will need some time to make clients understand you are trustful, and you really bring something new on the market. Moreover, once you have discovered who your local competitors are, you can analyze their progress on the market and understand what they did wrong and what was good that placed them in this position. In addition, you also need to be prepared for a price drop. Your local competitors will have a primary interest to make you fail. So, they will most probably drop the prices to achieve this goal.

Hiring the wrong branch manager

When you open a branch in a different city, you need a very strong branch manager. You can choose either a local person who knows the market very well and is well-connected with the key stakeholders. But, you can also offer this opportunity to an existing employee who will find it very motivating and put all his efforts into making your business a success. Either option you choose, you need to be mindful in offering him or her an incentive to win. Your branch manager should treat this business as it was his. Thus, he will feel motivated to do everything he can to achieve your goals.

In conclusion

Construction is definitely not a game where you grow or die. Yes, growth can increase your profits and strengthen your brand on the market. But, if it is not done properly, growth can also kill your business as you might not be prepared for the investment and challenges which will come.

About The Author:

 Kristin Savage has graduated from Columbia University where she was majoring in Germanic Languages. Besides English as her mother tongue, she also speaks German and Dutch fluently. Currently, Kristin is studying Spanish and planning to obtain her Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics since she is interested in how to use her practical knowledge of language processes in everyday life. She has been a writer at Pick Writersfor a few years and is known for her thorough approach to all the tasks and aspiration to fulfill assignments with flying colors. 

---------------------------------------------------------------

We are here to Help “A Little or A Lot” depending on your needs.

I trust this podcast helps you understand that outsourcing your contractor's bookkeeping services to us is about more than just “doing the bookkeeping”; it is about taking a holistic approach to your entire construction company and helping support you as a contractor and as a person.

We Remove Contractor's Unique Paperwork Frustrations

We understand the good, bad and the ugly about owning and operating construction companies because we have had several of them and we sincerely care about you and your construction company!

That is all I have for now, and if you have listened to this far please do me the honor of commenting and rating the Podcast  www.FastEasyAccounting.com/podcast Tell me what you liked, did not like, tell it as you see it because your feedback is crucial and I thank you in advance.

You Deserve To Be Wealthy Because You Bring Value To Other People's Lives!

I trust this will be of value to you and your feedback is always welcome at www.FastEasyAccounting.com/podcast

This Is One more example of how Fast Easy Accounting is helping construction company owners across the USA including Alaska and Hawaii put more money in the bank to operate and grow your construction company. Construction accounting is not rocket science; it is a lot harder than that, and a lot more valuable to construction contractors like you so stop missing out and call Sharie 206-361-3950 or email sharie@fasteasyaccounting.com

Contractor Bookkeeping Done For You!

Thinking About Outsourcing Your Contractors Bookkeeping Services?

Click On The Link Below:

www.FastEasyAccounting.com/hs

This guide will help you learn what to look for in outsourced construction accounting.

Need Help Now?

Call Sharie 206-361-3950

sharie@fasteasyaccounting.com

Thank you very much, and I hope you understand we do care about you and all contractors regardless of whether or not you ever hire our services. Bye for now until our next episode here on the Contractors Success MAP Podcast.

  Our Workflow Removes Your Paperwork Frustrations

For Contractors Who Prefer

To Do Your Bookkeeping

Fast Easy Accounting Do-It-Yourself

Construction Accounting Store Is Open

Most Contractors Setup QuickBooks Or Xero Online Accounting Using:

#1 EZ Step Interview inside QuickBooks Setup #2 Asked Their Tax Accountant To Setup QuickBooks #3 They Attended A How To Setup QuickBooks Class Or Seminar

And QuickBooks Does Not Work The Way They Want It Too!

The Answer:

#1 Click Here To Buy An Entire QuickBooks Setup For Your Specific Contracting Company

#2 Click Here To Buy Just The Chart Of Accounts For Your Specific Contracting Company

Check out this episode about Contractors Marketing - Accounting - Production (M.A.P.)!

[mangohealth]

How I Learned To Accept Hearing Loss

Have you ever struggled to hear a conversation? Whether you were in a loud environment or speaking to someone soft spoken, you’ll know that being hard of hearing can be uncomfortable and even embarrassing. Hearing health advocate Shari Eberts shares how she learned to accept the onset of hearing loss.

“When I got my first pair of hearing aids, I refused to wear them. I was embarrassed. I am not sure why.”

I grew up the child of someone with hearing loss. My father wore hearing aids, but they were never seen — always hidden by sideburns grown long for that purpose. He never discussed his hearing loss and went out of his way to hide it. I remember social gatherings where he would disappear only to be found sitting at a table in the corner alone. I always wondered why, but now I know. He probably couldn’t hear and was embarrassed, or exhausted and just couldn’t bring himself to bother.

So when I first started having problems hearing in my mid-20s, I hid it, following his example. And when I got my first pair of hearing aids, I refused to wear them. I was embarrassed. I am not sure why. Was it a learned response from watching my father, or was it something larger — the stigma associated with hearing loss — that I wanted to avoid? In any event, my mother’s reaction was not encouraging. “Do you really need to wear them?” she asked me.

Eventually, the answer became yes, I really did need to wear them. But still, I avoided them as much as possible. I remember sneaking them in on the way to work, wearing them all day hidden behind my long hair and whipping them out as soon as the elevator door closed behind me on my way out of the office. I hated my hearing aids and only wore them when I absolutely needed to, and never socially or with my friends or family.

But then I had two children of my own, and this forced me to come to terms with my hearing loss. Since my loss was genetic, I worried that I might have passed it onto them. Given the adult onset nature of my condition, we won’t know for another 15 years. But if they do have an issue, I don’t want them to feel embarrassed and ashamed of it. I realized I needed to accept my hearing loss to provide a good example to my children.

“I stopped hiding my hearing loss from my friends and family, and sometimes went out of my way to mention it, especially when my children were with me.”

But how?

 1. I allowed myself to grieve. Rather than hide behind denial and stigma, I let myself feel the frustration and sadness about my hearing loss that I had ignored. I acknowledged that my life would never be the way it was before and that this was not my fault. I tried to learn from the mistakes my father had made in coping with his hearing loss and set a different vision for my life.

 2. I committed to living my life to its fullest possibility. I began wearing my hearing aids all the time. I started asking for what I needed, like quiet tables in restaurants and for people to face me when they talked to me. I practiced lip-reading and experimented with various settings on my hearing aids to get the most out of my communication tools. And when I stumbled, I recommitted harder. I was doing this for my children, which was highly motivating.

 3. I worked to normalize my hearing loss. Growing up, my father’s hearing loss was an unmentionable, but I made mine an everyday topic of conversation. This was not easy at first, but it soon became a habit. I stopped hiding my hearing loss from my friends and family, and sometimes went out of my way to mention it, especially when my children were with me. People’s reactions were encouraging. Most said they did not notice, but almost all were supportive and the ones that were not drifted slowly away. They are not missed.

“The road has been bumpy, but I try to bring my sense of humor and humility to the table any time communication gaffes occur.”

4. I sought out hearing loss peers. Meeting other people with hearing loss through the NYC chapter of Hearing Loss Association of America was a big turning point for me. I realized there were other people with hearing loss living exciting and vibrant lives. They were attending the theater and lectures and having successful careers. We were able to commiserate, but also share tips and suggestions for living our best despite our hearing loss. Over time, we became friends. I am so grateful for the ease they have brought to my hearing loss journey.

 5. I got involved in hearing loss advocacy. Helping others is often a wonderful way to help yourself at the same time. I began writing my hearing loss blog, Living With Hearing Loss, to share my story of acceptance and tips for coping with hearing loss. My goal for the blog is to help others live more comfortably with their own hearing issues. It has certainly done that for me. I also joined the National Board of the Hearing Loss Association of America, the largest advocacy organization for people with hearing loss.

The road has been bumpy, but I try to bring my sense of humor and humility to the table any time communication gaffes occur. I am happiest when I see my children working with me to find the seat at the table where I’ll best be able to hear, or remembering to turn to face me when they talk to me. I hope that they don’t develop hearing issues, but if they do, I know they will be better prepared than I was to tackle the challenges with dignity and grace.

 About the Author Shari Eberts is a hearing health advocate, writer, and avid Bikram yogi. She blogs at LivingWithHearingLoss.com and serves on the Board of Trustees of Hearing Loss Association of America. Shari has an adult-onset genetic hearing loss and hopes that by sharing her story it will help others to live more peacefully with their own hearing issues. Connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

 If you liked this post, you may also like: - Why Do We Keep Health Secrets? - The Best Responses to Unsolicited Comments About Your Invisible Illness - 3 Important Reasons To Nurture Friendships As You Age

 The posts on this blog are for information only. They are neither intended to substitute for a relationship with your doctor or other healthcare provider, nor do they constitute medical or healthcare advice of any kind. Any information in these posts should not be acted upon without consideration of primary source material and professional input from one’s own healthcare providers.

[douxreviews]

Arrow - ‘Star City 2040′ Review

“Show them what heroes look like.”

You have questions?  We have answers.  Welcome to 2040.  

This episode is constructed around Mia’s origin story and therefore we begin approximately 8 months in the future, with Oliver and Felicity welcoming their daughter into a homey cottage that is obviously not in Star City.  Cut to a training montage between a growing Mia and Nyssa al Ghul with Felicity looking on and Oliver noticeably absent.  I’d say it smacks of Wonder Woman but to be fair, training montages are all very similar and Wonder Woman is just the most recent of the famous iterations.  

We soon learn Mia was raised believing her father was a hero but that circumstances we will, hopefully, soon learn forced the family out of Star City.  Relocated to Bloomfield, Mia becomes a home schooled, trained assassin living a cloistered existence to “keep her safe.” I can see how claustrophobic that might be.  

However, upon discovering that Felicity has been continuing her vigilante antics causes Mia to question everything else her mother ever told her.  It is the premise for everything we’ve seen Mia do this season and if you except it then all her actions make sense. Yet I didn’t feel the moment was earned.  In my opinion it was missing two crucial things.  

The first being a clear understanding of how dangerous it is to be a vigilante in 2040.  We can infer that it is life-threatening but as Oliver’s absence shows, being a vigilante was pretty damn dangerous in 2019.  The second is the need to see Mia chafing under all the rules Felicity has imposed on her life.  Mia does little more than question why they live as they do. There is no hint of defiance until after her discovery of Felicity's escapades.  Regardless, it’s relatively minor in the grand scheme of the story and as I said above once you get past it the rest of her behavior makes sense.  Moving on.

Her mother’s betrayal leads a disaffected Mia back to Star City to discover the truth.  She learns many things, but we’re led to believe that the truth is probably not one of them.  Instead, she finds violence, anti-vigilante propaganda, and apparently Connor.  I’d dearly love to know how that relationship started but given the number of unresolved story-lines and the rapidly vanishing amount of time to resolve them, I’m probably hoping in vain.  That Connor overcomes her obvious trust issues without telling her about how he grew up, who his parents are, or what he does for a living is impressive.  The jury is still out on whether their relationship survives his betrayal.  Connor's willingness to follow Mia’s lead despite his personal beliefs in the responsibility of heroes is a good sign.  

We depart from Mia’s origin to address the larger narrative.  Where are the bombs and who is trying to destroy Star City?  It turns out former vigilante turned Mayor, Rene has answers.  Eden Corps under the guise of Galaxy One is planning on leveling Star City to remake it in The Glades’ image.  Unbeknownst to Rene, they have no intentions of evacuating the inhabitants to do it.  

Speaking of Rene, we still have no idea how he went from Wild Dog to Mayor despite several indicators laid down.  Chief among them is his love for The Glades, his desire to keep it safe and his belief that the police have been next to useless. Then there is whatever event led to the dissolution of Team Arrow, the rise of The Canaries and the shattering of Rene’s faith in the power of vigilantes.  Add to this Quentin’s comments regarding Rene’s competency when he served as Quentin’s Chief of Staff and the contours of his transformation appear.  However, Rene was never the trusting sort.  How did he get taken in by Kevin Dale and Eden Corps or was it a case of the frog in the pot?

Then again, I should probably give up trying to second guess The Powers That Be.  I’ve been wrong at almost every juncture.  I originally thought Connor Hawke was a grown version of J.J.  Wrong.  I didn’t believe that Felicity had put a beacon or whatever it was in the hozen she gave to William.  Wrong.  I thought someone other than Oliver and Felicity had kept William from ever seeing his parents again.  Wrong again.  

And yet I can’t help myself.  Not when there’s still a host of things we don’t know.  What sent Oliver and Felicity packing off to Bloomfield?  I imagine it’s the same thing that led to the hatred of all things vigilante in Star City.  What caused The Glades’ rise and Star City’s fall?  We know it has something to do with Felicity’s Archer program and I suspect it’s the cause of the rift between Rene, Felicity and the rest of Team Arrow. Where have Lyla, Diggle, and J.J. disappeared to?  Given how Connor refers to his parents it’s clear that they outlived whatever happened to Oliver.  But his comments and the fact Connor chose to follow in their footsteps makes it hard to imagine he abandoned his family to protect Mia or that his family would abandon the rest of Team Arrow.  

Finally, do the events of this episode mean Mia accepts her father’s, or should I say her parents’, mantle of hero?  Or was this a one-time occurrence?  She realizes that although they saved Star City, this won’t be the last attempt to destroy it.  I have little doubt that she is well on her way to herohood, but I suspect her journey has a few more twists and turns before she reaches her final destination.  Needing to protect her mother from the crazies in search of the $10M reward may keep her on the hero path for now.  

As for Felicity, we discover the Archer program is the culmination of her mission to build the perfect security system.  It also  appears to be the foundation for Smoak Industries but is now in the possession of Galaxy One AKA Eden Corps.  I'm looking forward to seeing how that plays out.  It is notable that she never stopped pursuing Oliver’s quest to save Star City in the hopes of bringing both their children home.  

Once again, we are faced with the certainty that after Oliver’s many years of hell, he failed.  This does not make me happy!  Especially since I presume he sacrifices himself on either Star City or the world at large’s behalf.  That said, this was another strong episode and I can’t wait for more.

4 out of 5 DNA replicators.  

Parting Thoughts:  

Is it Mia that warranted her own Arrow icon or was it a representation of Future Star City?

We saw a reoccurrence of Roy’s anger issues.  I’m sure that’ll get addressed soon.

Eden Corps is straight out of the comics. Galaxy One is not.  Eden Corps intentions may have been honorable, but their actions were just shy of terrorism.  In the comics, Veronica Dale AKA Hyrax was a short-lived love interest of Oliver’s.  She was also responsible for his death.  This is not the first mention of Eden Corps in the Berlanti-verse, Veronica Dale of Eden Corps was responsible for setting of A.R.G.U.S’s nuclear bomb in “Enter Flashtime" on The Flash.

Connor Hawke is an agent of Knightwatch which in the comics is the military arm of the D.E.O.   Is that where this universe’s Alex Danvers works?  

No surprise that Felicity was William’s angel investor.  

I was pleased with the well placed pieces of continuity. Felicity was kept alive to take the blame for the explosion. What's left of Team Arrow shows up just in time to help Felicity by following the same breadcrumbs in a different way.

Quotes:

Mia:  “What the Frak?” (Is Mia a Battlestar Galactica fan or did she inherit that from her mom?)

Mia: “You’re a vigilante.” Felicity: “No, not exactly.  Technicallly yes. By definition…”

William: (watching Mia) “Of course you can do handstand pushups.” Mia: “No one gets to kill my Mom, except me.”

Mia: “Galaxy One is one of the richest companies in the world, and heavily guarded.  They’re not just gonna let us walk right in. William: “ Actually, that’s exactly what they’re gonna do.”

William: “As much as I love relationship drama when it’s not my own, do you think we could focus on the task at hand and not blow our cover immediately?

William :Stealing stuff covertly?  I don’t do that.” Mia:  “Well, lucky for you, your sister does.”

Rene: “I didn’t think you were alive.” Roy: “Nice to see you too.”

Dinah: “How is it you got all of the age and none of the wisdom.”

Rene: “I used to believe that being a vigilante helped solve problems.  You and I both know it’s not that simple.”

Connor: “This is the access point to the sublevels.  It’s the only unlisted elevator bay in the building.” William: “The random full-body DNA scanner wasn’t a dead giveaway?”

William: “You know, I’m really enjoying all these heartfelt brother-sister moments.” Mia: “You’re just more useful to me not dead.”

Mia: “You’ve been a hero in training since you were a kid.” Connor: “So have you.  The only difference is I got to choose.”

Felicity: “You came back.” Mia: “Don’t make a big thing of it.”

Connor: “Now that we are all caught up, what time do the bombs go off, and how do we stop them.  

Shari loves sci-fi, fantasy, supernatural, and anything with a cape.