#one-day training session on direct selling

[directsellingnow]

Direct Selling Industry: दिल्ली में आयोजित ट्रेनिंग सेशन में Business Coach and Mentor Shiv Arora ने किया डायरेक्ट सेलर्स का मार्गदर्शन

Direct Selling Industry: दिल्ली में एक दिवसीय (one-day training session) प्रशिक्षण सत्र का आयोजन किया गया, जिसमें प्रसिद्ध Business Coach and Mentor Mr. Shiv Arora ने “How to Get Started in Direct Selling” (डायरेक्ट सेलिंग) विषय पर अपने गहन अनुभव और ज्ञान को साझा किया। इस कार्यक्रम में बड़ी संख्या में डायरेक्ट सेलर्स (direct sellers) ने भाग लिया, जो Direct Selling Industry व business में…

[thatacotargirl]

Shadows and Surprises (1)

This is Part 1 of an Azriel x Reader fanfic - I hope you enjoy! PS. future chapters will be longer, this is just a short introduction to the story.

This is set after A Court of Thorns and Roses but is several months after Under the Mountain. Some creative liberties are taken with timing to help the plot fit together!

Summary: Azriel meets y/n at Rita's and spends a single night of passion with you before heading your separate ways. Only, the Mother had different ideas.

Azriel POV

4 months earlier

Azriel woke with a start, and a searing headache. A night well spent at Rita's meant he had found himself scorchingly drunk and waking in the bed of an unknown female's home. He swore to himself as he rose from the bed, holding his head with his palm and pausing to breathe away the nausea. When he finally cracked his eyes open, he found the bed empty and, after laying a hand on the left side, discovered it was cold. Whoever had brought Azriel to their bed had decided to not stay for the morning. He decided not to overstay his welcome and clambered out of the bed, slowly, gathering up his clothes and pausing every so often to take big gulps of air in an attempt to not hurl on himself. After locating everything except his left shoe, he walked through the house to find the front door and make his big exit - but not before his eyes came across a glass of water, a hangover tonic, and a post-it note on the kitchen island. He picked up the post-it, which read "had to dash - thanks for a great night!", swallowed the tonic, and headed out the door before taking to the skies for a slow flight home.

Present day

"Why do I have to go?" gruffed Cassian, pushing a spoon around in his porridge, "I can barely bring myself up to the roof for training after the session I had yesterday".

"Yes, well, whose fault is that for sparring against Azriel when you knew you were still recovering from getting pelted at with arrows last week?" Mor retorted.

Cassian glared across the table, and flicked his spoon in Mor's direction, a dollop of porridge flying across the table and landing neatly on Mor's light blue top. She squealed in frustration, scooping off the porridge and hurling it back at Cassian, before stepping from the table and heading back to her room to change. Cassian laughed and continued eating his breakfast, the dollop of porridge which landed back on his side of the table included.

"I'll go", offered Azriel, making to stand from the table. "I don't mind heading into Velaris today anyway, I could do with one of those blueberry buns they sell in the little bakery on the Rainbow". Azriel thanked the House with a silent nod as his breakfast dishes vanished, and walked to the door of the dining room.

"Don't forget a chocolate marble sponge slice for me!" Cassian called from the table as he watched Azriel leave.

-

Azriel stopped by the bakery, picking up a blueberry bun, a chocolate marble sponge slice, and a small box of cupcakes to share with the rest of the Inner Circle tonight. He then made his way along to the Apothecary where he needed to pick up Rhysand's order of extra medical supplies, in the event that they ever needed them at the House. Given how prone Azriel and Cassian were to getting injured, or injuring themselves, they had gone through almost all the bandages and creams they had in just a few short weeks. Azriel shook his head, smiling to himself as he replayed memories in his mind of sparring with Cassian and taking him to the ground.

Azriel walked into the Apothecary, the bell dinging above the door, and stood to the right to let a young fae male exit - his hands gripping so tightly on his tonic Azriel thought he was likely to break the glass bottle before he got it home. He could hear Madja speaking behind the beaded curtain to someone, so waited near the door, gazing at all the bottles and vials that filled the shelves of the Apothecary from floor to ceiling. How Madja remembered what each tonic did, he would never know.

His gaze turned as he saw a female back out of the beaded curtains, still in deep conversation with Madja. Madja glanced at Azriel over the female's shoulder, a brief smile on her face, before returning the female in front of her.

"Take this tonic up to three times a day as you need it, you'll find it really helps. If you feel you need to take it more often, please pop back in and we will try to adjust the formula for you" Madja advised the female, handing over a bottle of red liquid.

"Thank you, Madja, I really appreciate it".

Azriel froze, recognising the female's voice instantly. It was the female he had met at Rita's 4 months ago whilst out with the Inner Circle, the one he had bedded and not seen again. Part of him wanted to flee, not sure how he could handle facing you again after that night and the 4 months of silence, especially in Madja's presence, but the other part of him wanted to stay rooted to the spot and see your face again, your smile, make you laugh one more time. His shadows coiled around his shoulders, making excited zigzags around his head, and he decided in that moment that he wanted nothing more than to stay, even if just to smile at you, and let you know how much that night had meant to him if only for the few hours.

The female turned to leave, eyes widening in shock when she saw Azriel standing in the Apothecary. Azriel felt your tension, your panic, and took a step forward to try and help, offer something, anything to calm you in that moment. But he stopped. His eyes roamed, following your shaking hands, and landed on your abdomen. Eyes wide, his bag of baked goods fell to the floor as he stared at you; because at your abdomen he saw a small, but unmistakable, baby bump.

[where-does-the-heart-lie]

East Blue Crew modern au!

Ive been working on this on and off for a while now.

There’s a lot here so [rings dinner bell] come get y’all’s meal

ASL Modern Au Post

Grand Line Crew Modern Au

Friends We Made Along The way post

Friends We Made Along The Way Part 2 post

Additional Headcanons:

Nami needs her own episode on extreme couponers. Sis has an entire binder dedicated to it.

Zoro cannot for the life of him beat Luffy in an arm wrestling match. No matter how much he lifts or trains, he always loses.

Zoro is actually pretty good at grilling. Sanji was pleasantly surprised when the burger that was presented to him wasnt a pile of ash/ so raw its still walking around. One day the two will have a grill off.

Usopp and Luffy love playing yugioh with eachother. Neither of them actually know the rules of the game, they just make it up as they go.

Nami used to collect american girl dolls and she keeps them in a closet in her apartment. One day when usopp luffy and chopper were snooping around, they found the accursed closet and were scared shitless.

Usopp has an ant farm and luffy thinks its the coolest shit.

In this modern au, sanji takes the place of that one guy on tiktok who makes duets with cooking videos, and films until they put the entire block of cream cheese in the crock pot.

Sanji is also this guy

Even though nami has scary dog privilege when walking with zoro, its not just beneficial to her. In fact nami has outlawed zoro from going on walks in general alone, as he would get lost and need nami to walk to him to direct him home. Nami has scary dog privilege and zoro has sense of direction privilege when they walk together

Sanji and Nami rewatch Pretty Little Liars/ Gossip Girl/ Glee/ and other CW drama shows together.

Nami and Usopp always be shit talking someone/something. They are hateful bitches.

How luffy meets each of them:

Zoro- they met each other because the 24 hr gym Zoro works in is right down the street from Luffy’s apartment and one day Luffy was walking by at around 3 am and noticed Zoro in there. Luffy asks him if he wants to join him fucking around at 3 am on the streets of this city area they live in and Zoro accepts after a little convincing from Luffy. When they get outside Zoro’s like

“where’s the rest?”

“Of what?”

“Of your friends”

“Its just you rn”

“… :| i mean, i had assumed you werent alone”

“Nope!”

“HA OkAy”

Nami- they took the same economics course together. They were paired up in a project and hit it off after that and often had study sessions together. Their defining friendship maker though, was they teamed up to steal the answer key to the test they were both definitely going to fail because the class was bullshit.

Usopp- they had taken a graphic design course together. Luffy had no idea what he was doing the entire time and Usopp was very happy that he could impart his wisdom uponst this newcomer to the arts. Although luffy did already have some… incredible(?) art skills of his own already. It was instant chemistry for them honestly, their synergy just clicked and before they knew it, they were besties.

Sanji- works in the restaurant thats underneath the ASL brothers’ apartment complex. Their fist encounter with the restaurant was not of them going in to eat there, though. The trio were throwing around the ol’ pig skin in the street in front of their complex when luffy failed to catch the ball, and accidentally ricocheted it into the front window of the Baratie, through the eating area, over the counter, and into Mr. Zeff’s face. Zeff stormed out of the eatery and asked which of them destroyed his glass and hit him in the head

And luffy looks over and notices his brothers selling him out and is like “HEY!!! D:” So luffy was stationed as the place’s chore boy and met sanji while working there. 2 years later the debt was repayed, sanji and luffy are friends, and the Baratie is ASL’s fav eating place due to the great food, delightfully violent vibes, and great company.

thats all for now, hope you enjoyed!

[jflemings]

— yard sale

pairing: alessia russo x reader

synopsis: you pack up your life and move far away from the supposed love of you life

warnings: just lots of angst

୧ ‧₊˚ 📦 ⋅ ˚ ༘ ೀ⋆｡˚

I put a sign on a telephone pole with the address below I wrote the time and I circled in bold, everything must go

you knew that it was time for you to leave. you and alessia's relationship had crumbled from beneath your feet quickly and mercilessly. one day you two were happy and planning a future and the next you were throwing her out and telling her that you never wanted to see her again.

so here you were, sitting out front of your place with a dingy clothes rack and boxes of all your meaningless things ready to sell so that you could pack up your life in london and get the fuck out.

a pair of young teenage girls hand you some clothes, a pair of shoes and a necklace along with the money to pay. you smile gratefully and put the items in a plastic bag before waving them goodbye, not noticing the figure standing a little bit away from where you were sitting. the head of blonde hair isn't the thing that catches your eye, it's the pair of arsenal trackies she's wearing. your eyes travel from the number six on her pants all the way up to her face where her eyes are boring into you.

you curtly nod and attempt to distract yourself with putting some other shirts on hangers when she slowly makes her way over. leah tucks her hands in the pocket of her jumper and digs her toe in the ground, her head hung low like she’s thinking.

sneaking a glance at her you clear your throat “leah”

“hey” she says surprised like she wasn’t expecting you to see her standing right in front of you “bit of spring cleaning?”

you half smirk and grab more hangers from the box next to you “moving. i don’t want to take everything”

the lioness captain stands up straight “you’re moving? where to?”

“chicago”

“oh wow. so far away”

you roll your eyes “you here to buy something or just to look around?” your patience is quickly wearing thin every moment she tries to make small talk. it wasn’t really like leah, the few times you’d hung out with her in a group setting she always had a purpose for a conversation. it wasn’t that she necessarily hated small talk, she just wasn’t good at it. at all.

“honestly i came to see how you were doing” she scratches the back of her neck “i saw the sign and, y’know”

nodding your head, you smile at another girl handing you money for a black dress that alessia had convinced you to buy when you were her date for an event. it was classy and sleek, and you remembered the feeling of alessia’s hands all over you through the night. you watch the girl go wistfully before directing your attention back to the footballer.

“thanks, really, but it wasn’t needed. i’m fine”

you know that leah sees right through you but she doesn’t argue, instead excusing herself and giving a tight lipped smile to people she passes as she walks back to her car. you watch her trot across the street to her car. she practically throws the door open and slides in hastily, like she had suddenly remembered that she needed to be somewhere.

before she drove off you heard her phone ring through the bluetooth in her car. if it wasn’t so loud you wouldn’t have heard the very familiar ‘hello’ from the other end of the line.

Every perfect memory Stacked in boxes on the street Take what's left of you and me

when leah told alessia that you were packing up your whole life and moving, she almost couldn’t believe it. for three straight nights after that conversation she had laid in bed tossing and turning and trying to convince herself that it wasn’t real, that you weren’t moving thousands of kilometres away from her.

one morning before an early training session she drove past your flat. she remembers how cold it was, and how even her fleece jumper couldn’t stop her from shivering as she turned down your street.

the movers outside your place made her stomach turn. she thought she was going to throw up when she saw you putting boxes into the back of the van with a smile on your face. you were happily chatting to one of the movers and she could tell just by the way you were smiling that you were excited.

the possibility that you were going to be happy without her in your life makes her speed down the rest of your street. she calls in sick to training that day and doesn’t answer leah or kyra’s texts.

leah doesn’t have to ask her what’s wrong when she turns up at her front door later that day. the tears on alessia’s sweatshirt tell leah everything she needs to know.

I tried to call but you didn't call back to come and get you things I thought about just striking a match but it's hard to burn a memory

you had called and texted her so that she could come and get the things she didn't take with her when you threw her out. despite your best efforts to be the bigger person, the striker didn't once get back to you, instead leaving you on delivered and sending you straight to voicemail.

you gave up quickly after that, choosing to pack up your life around the small pile of things that sat in the corner of your quickly emptying bedroom. you packed her belongings into a cardboard box and labelled it ALESSIA, the black marker you used to do so feathering and squeaking.

you packed it into storage with the rest of your belongings and left it with everything you weren’t able to take with you to chicago. you had thought about burning her things, just simply throwing them into the bonfire pit in your small backyard, but you knew that it didn’t matter what you did with her things. the memories would linger.

Every empty picture frame All the shit that I tried to save Name your price, you can have my pain

one way you decided to cope was by taking every photo that you had framed of the two of you and throwing it out.

you balled them up and threw them in the trash without a second thought, not once sparing a glance and alessia’s smiling face as you tossed her away. you ended up donating all the empty frames to your local thrift, and whatever couldn’t be donated ended up thrown out.

every photo was a memory of what once was. each holiday, anniversary and special moment had been captured and put behind glass for what you thought would be forever. alessia had grown fond of decorating the walls of both of your places with photos of the two of you. her entry hall had been a shrine to your relationship and people would often comment how lucky the both of you were to have found eachother.

everlasting love was something that you had once believed in, something that you once treated as gospel. it was hard to deal with the fact that you had suddenly lost belief in it. in her.

It's time to empty out the place (hey!) I used to love but now I hate

you had gotten so incredibly lucky with your flat. rent was a decent price, it was close to work, within walking distance from a quaint little bookshop and it only took lessi six minutes to get from her place to yours.

it was a dream for you, one that you quickly embraced. you made your place your own with small touches of yourself around the place. from the decor, to the furniture, even to the way things were laid out. your place was definitely yours.

slowly but surely you emptied the home you once loved. took down the pictures, sold the furniture and tossed anything that made you think of your ex. you hollowed out your home and carved a hole into your heart, mercilessly hacking away pieces of yourself that no longer fit who you were.

now as you stand with your hand on the doorknob to your front door, the ghost of memories prance through the empty halls and past you like you’re watching your own memories back on a tv.

it hurt to leave but it hurt more to know that there was nothing you could’ve done to prevent you and alessia ending the way you did.

All the love is, all the love is gone

[itsabouttimex2]

A Brand New Journey:

Part Three

(Part One) (Part Two) (Part Three) (Part Four) (Part Five) (Part Six)

The screen of your phone is lit up with a cheerful blue, displaying a picture of a shipping container that’s been converted into a restaurant, decorated with images of stylized kittens and tea bags.

Swipe.

Glowing reviews from visitors, praising service and atmosphere. Even more praise for the tea. Overwhelming adulation for the felines present at the establishment. The only thing that’s lacking is information on the food.

Swipe.

Pictures of the menu, drawn on a standing chalkboard easel. The prices are fair and reasonable, each item having a printed photo pinned up near the flowery writing.

Swipe.

The most recent deal of the day- for mooncakes. Buy one box of six, get one box of six free. And for a slight upcharge to the original price of the first box, two bottled drinks.

Click.

That was… entirely unhelpful. You would have expected your mentor to comment on the picture you had sent, or maybe to be told what flavor they’d like you to pick up- but it seemed that he had either not seen it or simply thought you were giving him an update on your general status.

Also, you really had to get his information updated. Since no one else ever really touched your phone, you’d probably be safe putting his name and a photo- all you had to do was talk him into holding still for a picture.

Aside from all that…

The restaurant was close enough that you could walk to it on foot, so it’s not as though you’d be out so long that you’d miss training. The deal was incredibly good- and each customer could use it twice for a total of four boxes and four drinks, which meant that even after having a meal with your mentor there’d be leftovers to snack on after long training sessions.

All you had left in your fridge was… what was it? A jar of peanut butter, several bananas, some yogurt aaand… maybe a few protein bars? Oh, and several bags of mixed nuts.

You make a quick note to restock your post-workout snacks the next time you come into Megapolis. Concealer, too.

You plug in your headphones and turn on directions, then shove your phone into the pocket of your bag, heading towards the restaurant.

Although you don’t get to the city as often as you once did, it’s a sort of ‘second home’ to you. The air is fresh, the people are kind. The streets are clean. The food is very good.

You love it, a little bit.

Your thoughts soon turn away from the city and back towards your mentor, who you had never managed to talk into a visit, even for just an hour. Sure, he’d indulge in the snacks and drinks you brought around. And he seemed a little interested in the locations you offered to bring him to.

So much coaxing and reassuring, so many proffered hoodies and sunglasses to disguise his face- but he hadn’t ever accepted them.

You would get him out for a trip one of these days, you had sworn to yourself. Drag him out to the zoo or a museum. Maybe one of the public gardens.

But, until then…

You’d just have to enjoy the all the wonders of the city by yourself-

Like the converted shipping container that’s standing in front of you, labeled “Mo’s Cakes”, and painted blue. The “o” is a replica of the moon, painted so that the famous ‘bunny’ mark is actually a cat.

The craftsmanship is incredible, and it doesn’t look too crowded… so you hurry and go inside, peering at the menu.

…what would he like? With twenty-four mooncakes in total, you could introduce him to- no, it wouldn’t be introducing, really. He had probably had lots of these before. They’re a popular food throughout China, and tons of stores sell them in Megapolis. But with how far out you had to go to see him, it felt sometimes like he was an old hermit.

“Excuse me,” calls a gentle voice, standing at the counter. “Can you come over here?”

So not introducing, not really. Maybe there’d be a few new flavors in the mix somewhere he hadn’t tried yet, but it’s not like it’d be his first time eating mooncakes. Maybe a few of the more modern makes. Ice cream filled, perhaps? Or transparent crystal jelly?

“I just need you for a minute, please!”

And then maybe one of these days you could introduce him to several other treats that he might not have had access to. Cheese tea? White Rabbit Candy? Pineapple buns? Hell, there were a couple of “exotic snack” shops in Megapolis. Maybe you could bring a bag of konpeitō or a tin of florecitas for him to try.

“Mo? Could you…?”

Unbeknownst to you, a blue-furred cat sits on one of the many scratching board platforms nailed into the walls, peering down at the customers. He stretches out with a little ‘mrrow’, then leaps from his perch and lands on the space between your shoulder blades.

You’re pretty composed, most of the time.

But when an unseen and very fuzzy thing lands close to your neck and clings tight? It’d have been more of surprise if you hadn’t freaked out.

There’s a few embarrassing seconds spent squealing and flailing around, futilely trying to reach for the furred thing, only stopping when someone grabs your shoulders. Warmth and power in equal amounts enfold your upper arms, two hands lifting you off the ground, turning you around, and placing you in front of the checkout counter.

“You must be Y/N!” The man- not quite a human, now that you get a better look at him- says, hurrying back to his station. When he holds his arms out, the cat on your back leaps in them. “Pigsy’s been telling me about you!”

“…Mister Pigsy told you about me?”

The river demon smiles ear to ear, baring fangs that would be intimidating on anyone else. But with his pink apron and blue cat and white sweatpants, he’s actually really endearing.

“He did,” the demon confirms, one large hand reaching out to meet the one you tentatively offer. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Y/N! I’m Sandy, and this is Mo!”

“It’s nice to meet you too, Mister Sandy. And you, Mo.”

“Aww, you’re so polite!” Sandy warmly praises, still grinning. “Thanks, little guy!”

His words might have been patronizing from another mouth. But there’s a genuine sincerity in them, a kindness blooming from every word that makes them feel truly flattering instead of condescending.

“Um, then… you must be one of Mister Pigsy’s friends, right?”

“That’s right! We’ve known each other for along time, actually! Now, what can I do you for?”

“Oh, um… is the buy one get one deal still… going on, like, currently? I wanted something to, uh… share with my mentor, and this seemed like a good deal, so I thought… to come check?”

Smooth, Y/N. Tell him you have a mentor and stumble over your words. Typical, really.

“That’s sweet of you,” he eagerly says, uncaring of your fumbling. “Two boxes or four, kiddo?”

“Four, please. I’m trying to introduce him to, uh, new things. He’s kinda, I guess… traditional with what he eats?”

“I can get you two of a few things so you can try them together!”

“Oh, um, please! And thank you, Mister Sandy!”

“Of course, of course! And what four teas?”

“Two green and two oolong, please!”

“Coming right up!”

———————————————————————

…today has been a good day. You got to see MK and Pigsy again, and made what you think is probably a new friend. And you’ve got twenty four mooncakes to share and good, healthy tea for workouts. And for such a good deal, too- Sandy had applied a “friend” discount almost without you realizing it, probably because you were dear to someone he cherished. You had slipped a tip under Mo’s collar before you left, under the guise of giving him scratches.

As you head back to your mentor’s house, the events play on repeat. Today was a really good day. And, as you look ahead of you, it only gets better.

The trees down the path are newly blooming, it seems. Each one branches proudly towards the sky, standing tall. Down the middle of the path is a neatly paved stream, full of aquatic flora blossoming in the crystal waters.

[hanakihan]

man you have no idea the sheer DESIRE to write something about Titanic esque chulwoo AU

The main drill is that Sungs come from a rather wealthy old noble family (courtesy of Ashborn as their predecessor being royal knight or smth), Jin-Woo is a next heir while Jin-Ah studies to become a doctor (or a nurse depending on timeline it happens im not even completely sure with setting but probably og titanic vibe mixed with Korean Idek wheeze) and parents send them on a cruise ship for vacation (and in hopes jinwoo will meet nice noblewoman or any woman since sungs are pretty chill about bloodline)

Then there’s Jin-Chul who’s a ship engineer/captain in training courtesy of navy captain on pension Gun-Hee. Gun-Hee comes from rather humble background but managed to reach rather prestigious position of first navy and then civil ship captain but now he’s on pension, and this man is an example to Jin-Chul that you can reach your dream despite your upbringing. Jin-Chul himself also comes from rather humble background on verge of poverty but money and fame never fascinated him, but ships and sailing did. When Jin-Chul was assigned on Gun-Hee’s ship as a new engineer, Gun-Hee saw talent in boy and unofficially took him under his wing teaching him to be a captain. Then Gun-Hee left (or honestly more likely was forcefully dismissed) and Jin-Chul got assigned as one of engineers/coal workers on this giant ship, but Gun-Hee still sails under his own name as a trader or smth like that.

Cue sailing day and at evening Jin-Woo excused himself since noble parties bore him to death and anyway, evening is beautiful and sea is calm. Wandering around he stumbles upon Jin-Chul doing small repairs and who nearly hit Jin-Woo in nose with his elbow because he came too close without announcement. Jin-Chul stiffly apologizing because he knows how annoying nobles can be but is surprised when Jin-Woo is the one to apologize for being so careless and invites him for an apology tea or coffee since compared to other choices Jin-Chul seems as a perfect company thanks to his sharp tongue, wits and knowledge.

Some day of cruise pass and they become rather close friends, Jin-Woo visits Jin-Chul in lowest decks which surprises everyone here and they have a rather nice drinking and dancing session, while in turn Jin-Woo helps Jin-Chul to sneak in 1st class deck so they can chat and play chess in peace of room (and so he can introduce Jin-Chul to Jin-Ah). Jin-Woo even tries to gift Jin-Chul his sapphire brooch so he can sell it for nice sum of money and get his own ship or even open his own company or smth, but Jin-Chul politely refuses, satisfied with their friendship.

Cue disaster night. Now think about captain being an incompetent prick (maybe even on levels of Costa Concordia captain damn) and fucking up entire probably miss into sure hit (even if Jin-Chul risked it and asked people to follow his instructions despite it being a big ass discipline insubordination but no one really minded because people saw that captain gives shit orders) but since bridge was still under captains command, instructions contradicted, but it still allowed a graze hit rather than direct one. So yea this gets worse, Jin-Chul was in section that suffered from impact and got tore, barely got out of here along with most of his men. Seeing how fast water fills decks he tells people to go higher and himself runs to find Sungs or other people he knows. Apparently he finds panicking Jin-Ah and through dangers of ice cold water and falling construction manages to cross paths with Jin-Woo until they got separated again. They manage to get out of sinking shell that nearly becomes their coffin (because he promised Jin-Woo to take care of and save Jin-Ah no matter what goddamnit), Jin-Chul manages to place Jin-Ah on some drifting wood before starting to sink because of cold water.

Now, I’m a sucker for happy endings despite shit looking really bad, so let’s say Jin-Woo with others on safe boat manages to find shell shocked Jin-Ah wrapped in Jin-Chul’s coat, pointing at water and trying to say something with her teeth chattering and managing to say that he’s drowning, Jin-Woo saying ‘not on my fucking watch’ and jumps after, managing to grab him and drag on surface, man is absolutely freezing with lips blue and not really conscious but still weakly breathing.

ANYWAY they safely get back on shore, they all get medical treatment, Jin-Chul earns himself pneumonia (well fuck his sailing dreams ig), Sungs’ gratitude for saving their children and a fucking trial because captain blamed entire catastrophe on lower deck crew defying his orders and following engineer’s ones and that’s a big ass crime in navy. Things ain’t looking good because they want to prosecute him in shortest time to give people answers who’s the guilty one, Jin-Woo is really ready to throw hands with people, Jin-Chul’s patient explanations through coughs ain’t helping because no one can confirm accuracy of his words and that’s when Gun-Hee himself enters court saying smth like ‘maybe you should interrogate deck staff too to hear what commands captain was giving’ and then our sir proceeds to destroy this captain‘s whole career. Jin-Chul is cleaned of accusations and becomes a sort of a good example semi-legend, but thanks to extreme colds diving he now can’t sail on long distances but fear not Gun-Hee invites him to work for him since Jin-Chul is out of commission and Jin-Woo once again gifts Jin-Chul a sapphire brooch but this time asking if Jin-Chul will share future with him. Jin-Chul honestly having ??? reaction while Jin-Woo with the most deadpan face asks ‘You seriously think I’ll dive into cold waters of ocean at night to drag you on surface and then using my body warmth to keep you alive if i didn’t cared about you???’

[hriobzagelthewanderer]

Things Hriob is No Longer Allowed to Do, Revised Edition - Part Trois

#81 Yes, exercise nuts often invent new fads to sell shit to the unknowing masses trying to ‘get in shape’. No, I am not allowed to market a new “Diogenes Workout” involving rock climbing using only a cauldron and a sledgehammer. Not even if I demonstrate how ‘easy’ it is.

#82 Yes, Sparring is a fun way to get a full-body exercise so long as I have a designated partner and don’t get carried away. No, asking bar-goers random thugs and mercenaries Pirates with serious anger issues anyone ‘Hey, you want to Fight?’ is NOT sparring and I am not allowed to do this anymore.

#83 I am forever forbidden from ‘Saving Christmas’, even ESPECIALLY if I was the one who put it in Jeopardy in the first place.

#84 I am not to confuse ‘Spreading Christmas Cheer’ with ‘Getting the masses intoxicated with my Eggnog Special’. There’s more to the Spirit of the Holidays than Spirits, Hriob, you should know this already.

#85 Just to be safe, to build upon the prior two rulings (#83 and #84), I cannot ‘Save’ Hanukkah Kwanzaa Thanksgiving Halloween Easter Ramadan St. Patrick’s Day Valentine’s Day ANY remotely ‘major’ Holiday regardless of whether or not it has anything to do with any given religion.

#86 I can be ‘Santa’ for Christmas, or I can be ‘Krampus’. Both have ups and downs, but I will remember to pick ONE and stick with it per Christmas season, for my own sake as much as everyone else’s.

#87 Regardless of whether or not I have the powers of Bardic Magic on my side or not, I will refrain from abusing this power to turn deadly battles villainous monologues do-or-die moments training sessions ANY moment that isn’t already filled with unusual amounts of song into quaint musical numbers. Yes, even if the children love it when I do that.

#88 I am not a cherub, and even if I’m not too shabby with a bow when the time calls for it, I am not allowed to claim that I can make people fall in love by shooting them with arrows splashing them with potions showering them with chocolate serenading them getting them drunk enough holding them at knife-point locking them in a small room together ANY means - and I am forever forbidden from trying to prove that I can.

#89 The power to ‘bring snowmen to life’ is not a Right, it is a Privilege. The moment I abuse this power for ANY reason is the moment I am forever banned from making ‘Atronachs’ of ANY material, period.

#90 Even if I know any personifications of the Seasons personally, I am not allowed to bribe threaten trick coerce seduce gamble use ANY means to adjust when one season ends and another begins, be it for my own benefit or ‘shits and giggles’.

#91 Reddish hair or not, Inconceivable Alcohol Immunity or not, Strange Luck or not, I am NOT Irish, but Czech-German, and I am not allowed to let others confuse that issue.

#92 In accordance with the prior rule, this means I am not allowed to celebrate St. Patty’s Day unsupervised, nor am I allowed to encourage people to ‘Kiss me’ under the pretense that ‘I’m Irish’. It's bad enough I have too many people who’d do it anyways, they don’t need further incentive.

#93 As a self-employed Entrepreneur and Craft Brewer, I understand the importance of self-promotion and advertisement. Making careful deals with bar owners and handing out Business Cards is a step in the right direction - Going door-to-door with a red wagon and trying to use arguably cute animal familiars random woodland creatures glamours girl scouts boy scouts random children important children puppies kittens baby seals ANY variation of ‘little helpers’’ to make sales is right out.

#94 Many restaurants and food vendors enjoy using the concept of ‘Free Samples’ to sell their products. As an Alchemic Craft-Brewer, I am to remind myself that, no, this is NOT a valid method of advertising for my wares, with all but a few NO exceptions.

#95 As I grow more talented with Life magic, alchemy, and gain access to individuals with greater talents in those fields than myself, I am to be reminded that I will not create/pester others to help create a ‘Molotov Cockatiel’ to use as a familiar pet prank biological warfare agent FOR ANY REASON.

#96 The ‘tomato allegory’ is a good way to demonstrate examples of Wisdom versus Intelligence, as well as other ‘DnD stats’ in a real-world context. I am NOT to try and actually act out parts of the allegory, or try to make my own ‘better’ one using beer vodka hamsters zombies drunk zombie hamsters ANYTHING ELSE, “just because” - no matter HOW ‘educational’ it may or may not be.

#97 I am not allowed to stress-test Bowling Lanes or Equipment by “playing as hard good fun as I can”.

#98 I am not allowed to help Jacob in any variety of smithy, workshop, metalworking, or engineering project without additional adult supervision. Let the Coilgun-powered Hammer be the last Scientific Monstrosity I help bring into the world.

#99 When building massive projects involving Gingerbread buildings ‘To Scale’, I will remember to make sure that the Runic Protections prevent anything breaking, sagging, dirtying or making any part of it inedible, and also remember that the Load-bearing structures are kept far away from hungry guests whenever possible.

#100 Just because I have a Ring of Sands that gives me an extra casting focus for my magics, attuned to both Wind and Earth elements as well as the Concept of Sand itself, does Not make me ‘The Sand Guardian, Guardian of the Sands’, and neither does it give me any reason, excuse, legitimacy, or ability to tease, torment, or banish The Master beyond what I already can do in any way not already defined by the pertinent ‘unspoken agreement’ - even especially in light of the fact he’s already broken it.

#101 Yes, I am a Lord of the Fae, and can use my power to command certain kinds of ‘Lesser’ Fairies, including Pixies. Yes, Pixies are for all intents and purposes magical glowing balls of flying teeth and mischief with a taste for human flesh. No, I am NOT allowed to ‘summon’ them by quoting the Wicked Witch of the West and/or weaponizing massive swarms of pixies as a substitute for flying Piranha Unless I really want to Excepting truly Dire Circumstances by my reckoning as defined by a rational, responsible adult that is not myself.

#102 Upon further revision and consideration, the above rule (#101) is to be applied to any and all flying creatures, contraptions, and/or weapons, magical or otherwise, again excluding Emergency Use as defined by an independent observer. Projectiles of any kind, guided or not, are to be used carefully, not liberally.

#103 If against all odds and attempts to avoid combating a so-called God or Deity fail, and violence becomes necessary to defend myself or others, should I be given the chance to attack them with something resembling a symbol of their office, I am to remind myself of two things first:

A) If it is a symbol of their office, they most likely have high resistance to it, if not power over it, and I ought to consider other options B) I am not allowed to chant ‘Stop Hitting Yourself’ if I proceed to attack them with said symbol regardless of the above step.

#104 I may be immune to Nightwood poison powder, but that does not allow me to ‘create a new version of the cinnamon challenge’ using it instead of a generic spice, nor use it for any other purposes beyond careful poison applications. And even if that does include toxic smoke bombs, I will NOT refer to them as ‘vanishing powder bombs’.

#105 I am not allowed to apply to break into enchant curse be within a seven mile radius of interact with any ‘Bed Bath and Beyond’ with the intention of “revamping their ‘Beyond’ section to comply with the Better Business Bureau’s advertising standards.”

#106 I am not allowed to break into buy the entire stock of in any way acquire any amount of scented candles beyond ‘2’, even especially with the intention of creating a ‘Scented Wax Antronach’.

#107 Just because my blood probably should be a controlled substance in at least 39 states by this point, doesn’t mean I should brag about it. If anything, the less any given national government knows about me, the better.

#108 The above ruling (#107) is to be extended hereafter to all other bodily fluids, samples, and secretions of my physical form, including Lymph, Sweat, Bones, Mucus, Semen, Ligaments, Major Organs, Minor Organs, Imaginary Organs, anything and everything off my person.

#109 No longer allowed to avoid paperwork with the O.A.B. by just claiming “the Dog ate it”- Gurrel has enough on his plate without being made into a scapegoat. In addition, despite how much more likely it actually is, claiming ‘the Moose ate it’ is not acceptable either.

#110 Not allowed to look into body modifications - magical or otherwise - until I have been given a clean bill of health by a licensed therapist in regards to any potential body-image issues second opinion from a responsible adult that doesn’t veto my idea… and the moment I decide I want to ‘show them my junk and hope they can work their magic’ is the moment I am forbidden from getting any mods regardless.

#111 If given the option, I will Not use my powers of Lightning and/or Space-Time Magic to pull ‘random’ objects towards my person. It never ends well.

#112 I will remember why I practiced the Prestidigitation spells until they were second nature, and only use them for protection against theft and utility beyond the need for physical pockets - I will NOT abuse the powers to pick-pocket or ‘reverse’-pick-pocket others.

#113 If someone asks for a lift to a particular country or city (ex: Paris, France), and I am not certain if they mean one instance or another lesser-known one (ex: Paris, Texas), I will NOT assume I know which one they mean but instead ask for clarification.

#113 I will not misunderstand what is asked of me if I am asked for a ‘Lift’ from someone.

#115 I will not attempt to make a sandwich out of anything that is larger than a standard four-door sedan. Nor am I allowed to construct a sandwich that exceeds those dimensions.

#116 “What Happens in Atlantis, Stays in Atlantis”, is not, has never been, nor will ever become a valid legal defense. The same is true substituting for “Pompeii”.

#117 Just because I met Gilgamesh in a past life (As Humbaba) and was subsequently killed by him and his best friend does not mean I get to claim he owes me money reparations a solid anything.

#118 I don’t care how many people seem to think I am a ‘dead ringer’ for Thor, I will not accept the title or namesake: fighting one giant god-slaying snake-man was enough for me for any number of lifetimes.

#119 I know I hate spandex and think it is uncomfortable, impractical, and generally a stupid thing to wear. That is no excuse for chastising the fashion senses of ‘superheroes’ and ‘supervillains’ I come across even if they clearly need the help for any reason.

#120 Yes, I know Mixed Martial Arts championships exist that incorporate Medieval European Weapons and Armor in the ring. No, I am not allowed to compete given my dozens of unfair advantages - if tempted to do so anyways I am to chant to myself the words ‘we have weapons and armor sparring at home’ until the urges subside.

[teen--spirit]

Success with Forex Training Courses: A Comprehensive Guide

Investing in forex training courses is a crucial step for beginners who are venturing into the world of currency trading. Forex, or foreign exchange trading, involves buying and selling currencies to profit from changes in exchange rates. Without proper training, new traders might find themselves overwhelmed by the complexity of the market. 

High-Quality Forex Training Courses

When choosing forex training courses, it's important to look for certain key features that can ensure you receive valuable and practical education. High-quality forex training courses should provide comprehensive content that covers both basic and advanced trading concepts. They should include practical exercises, real-life case studies, and access to trading simulators to help learners apply their knowledge. 

Forex Training Courses Available in 2024

The forex trading landscape is constantly evolving, and staying updated with the best training resources is essential. In 2024, several forex training courses stand out due to their comprehensive content and expert instruction. Leading courses often include live trading sessions, interactive learning modules, and personalized mentorship. 

Forex Training Courses Can Enhance Your Trading Strategies

Forex training courses are designed to enhance your trading strategies by providing in-depth knowledge and practical skills. These courses teach various trading strategies, such as scalping, day trading, and swing trading, each with its own set of rules and techniques. By learning how to analyze market data, identify trends, and execute trades effectively, traders can refine their strategies and improve their chances of success. 

Benefits of Personalized Forex Training Courses

Personalized forex training courses offer tailored instruction to meet the specific needs and goals of individual traders. Unlike generic courses, personalized training provides one-on-one coaching, customized trading plans, and direct feedback from experienced instructors. This personalized approach allows traders to focus on their unique strengths and weaknesses, receive targeted advice, and address specific challenges they may face. 

Choose the Best Forex Training Courses for Your Learning Style

Selecting the best forex training courses involves considering your preferred learning style and the format of the course content. Different courses offer various formats, such as video tutorials, interactive webinars, or written materials. It's important to choose a course that aligns with your learning preferences, whether you prefer visual content, hands-on practice, or detailed reading materials. Additionally, consider the availability of support resources, such as forums or mentorship programs, that can enhance your learning experience. 

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Taking Forex Training Courses

When taking forex training courses, it's essential to be aware of common mistakes that can hinder your progress. One common mistake is not fully engaging with the course material or skipping critical lessons. Another pitfall is relying solely on theoretical knowledge without applying what you've learned through practical exercises. Additionally, it's important to avoid comparing your progress with others, as each trader has a unique learning curve. Staying committed, practicing consistently, and seeking clarification when needed can help you avoid these mistakes and get the most out of your forex training courses.

How to Maximize Your Investment in Forex Training Courses?

To maximize your investment in forex training courses, it's crucial to actively apply the knowledge and skills you acquire. This involves practicing trading strategies in demo accounts, participating in trading communities, and continuously seeking to improve your skills. Additionally, setting clear goals and tracking your progress can help you stay focused and motivated throughout the course. Engaging with instructors, asking questions, and utilizing additional resources provided by the course can also enhance your learning experience. By taking a proactive approach and integrating what you've learned into your trading routine, you can achieve better results and make the most of your forex training investment.

Future of Forex Training Courses and Emerging Trends

The future of forex training courses is evolving with advancements in technology and changes in the trading environment. Emerging trends include the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning tools to analyze market data and develop trading strategies. Additionally, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are becoming popular in creating immersive learning experiences.

Conclusion

Forex training courses are essential for anyone looking to excel in the currency trading market. Whether you're a beginner seeking to build a solid foundation or an experienced trader aiming to refine your strategies, these courses provide valuable insights, practical skills, and effective techniques. By choosing high-quality courses, avoiding common pitfalls, and staying engaged with emerging trends, you can maximize your trading success and achieve your financial goals.

[ohmyril]

Here's some of the snippets of how life has been going on lately. I don't know if slow mornings are the usual but I like them. Since I am a non alarm clock type of person, waking up without the hassle of preparing yourself for the daily commute to work is kind of a luxury at the moment. I like waking up and have a walk in our front garden, feeding our cats, tending to our plants, having the time to think what breakfast to make, and cleaning up the mess from last night. My partner and I both don't have the regular 9-5 work and our days are mostly focused on growing ourselves more. We're not young, in fact we're both in our early 30's and we're capable of working professionally but I guess life happens and sometimes it gives you the pause. The pause to give more time for yourself, the pause to learn more things, the pause to relax, and also the pause to reflect. While I told myself before that my purpose of this break is to rest for a while, my savings weren't totally agree on that so I miraculously landed a part time Virtual Bookkeeping job without knowing anything prior to hiring. I am really thankful because even now, the virtual world isn't easy looking for a direct client so I dive in head first. Learning is fun as cliche as it sounds and I love the laid back work I have right now while adding useful knowledge along side it. Plus I got to earn almost the same amount as when I am doing corporate. But, I still am looking for a corporate job, both of us were. As I am lurking in my social media, I know that we're at par to everyone our age even the ones younger than us. We're not prioritizing looking for our own house and instead rented one. Our marriage is on a halt as both of us need to save for it, not really saving for a luxurious wedding but none of us really have the initiative to plan for it as my partner would like to secure a job first before tying the knot. In this I agree.

I think my opening spiel has gone overboard in relation to the above photo but here it is 😊

Beading business - it just started out as a hobby in making friendship bracelets when I attended the Eras tour. Until it came to a point that I am doing live selling some of my stash and street selling some of my finished crafts. It is fun and it feeds my creativity.

Cellphone - in my mama's 68 years of life, this is the first time I have given her a phone in her birthday. It so happen that my brother had given her an old iphone 6 and it suddenly stopped working. She was sad that she cannot access her Facebook anymore which I created just recently. She live on her own now because my brother and I both moved out separately so it left her alone with some of my cats. Giving her something to tinker on and reconnect to people in the social media is one thing I cannot deny her.

This family picture - I really don't have a close connection with my family and my fiance's is quite the opposite. They do stuff that we don't normally do like get together and outing. Idk, maybe we cannot afford it or we're not on the same page. I have a thing of a past with my mom and this maybe hinder me from having fun or getting close from everyone else. With them, I felt like I belong in a family.

Palia - been hooked in this online game at the moment.

Nanno - we already have two cats in the apartment but when one rainy day, I heard a loud cry outside our home I saw this little cat emerged from the bushes all dripping wet and muddy. He's such a cuddly type and quite clingy especially in the morning.

Trainings - as I have said a while ago, I dived head first in the VA world unequipped with the knowledge needed so I initiated to apply for trainings available online. I learned so much aside from the fact that I am researching on my own. They gave so much learning materials which I am using after all the sessions. Also I gained knowledge in the pause I am currently in.

There you go! These are some parts of my life I want to look back to and sharing this here makes me feel like I have others to talk to aside from my fiance. Working from home means less socials for me.

Love lots, My

[sidehustleincome]

Home Business Ideas

Factors

Looking for the latest Home business ideas in India to get started in 2024? Here is the ultimate list, created keeping several factors in consideration, including:

Start these from the comfort of your home

Little to no investment is needed

Low entry barrier

Highly profitable

Requires little to no training

Requires little hands-on inventory or supply management

Based online

Doesn’t require a large team initially

Let us get started!

1. Network Marketing/MLM

Network marketing is one of the top work-from-home ideas in India if you want to be your own boss without taking on the responsibilities of starting your own business.

In business, network marketing is based on person-to-person sales of a product or service. It entails forming a group of individuals who will collaborate to deliver the product’s message to many potential clients. These teams’ leaders are rewarded for the items they or their team members sell.

Multilevel, referral and direct consumer marketing are other terms for it.

You’ll be able to work from home and set your hours, offering you immense flexibility like entrepreneurs while avoiding the pitfalls. Another benefit of this is that you will learn skills that you may apply in any future activity, like building relationships, making presentations, leading a team, and effective follow-through.

You can begin your network marketing career by joining an established firm. You’ll usually get a “starting kit” with promotional materials, resources, and other items to get you started. Initially, you will work under a sponsor who will show you the ropes, educate you, and provide industry tips.

You’ll be ready to start selling your product once you’ve learned everything there is to know about it. The majority of network marketing in business is done in person. So, allow your enthusiasm to shine through, and use your communication abilities to establish rapport and pique people’s interest in your goods.

2. Catering

People with exceptional cooking abilities might capitalise on their talents by establishing a home-based catering service. A home-based catering business can be an exciting introduction to culinary entrepreneurship, with fewer initial costs than a restaurant and the opportunity to select your working hours and meals!

Starting a catering business from home in India is not very expensive because there is no requirement for a brick-and-mortar, “customer-facing” venue. It is a terrific way to augment or replace your full-time income without having to invest a lot of money.

Catering enterprises can be run full-time or part-time from home. Depending on how much initial capital you are ready to put into setting it up, you can opt for a small or large business.

If you’re just starting, consider experimenting with local food markets and catering for small events. You can begin with small catering events you can manage on your own or with a couple of volunteers to see whether a catering business is right for you.

While there is no definite recipe for a profitable home catering service, a sprinkling of culinary expertise, dedication, and composure under pressure can go a long way.

3. Online Tutoring

If you have marketable skills or knowledge and a knack for teaching, think about imparting your wisdom online and get paid for it in return! You may not realise it, but many people are eager to learn the skills you possess.

Courses such as music, advanced marketing, sewing, DIY, languages, math, science, and business are among the most popular to be taught online. However, there are no restrictions on what you can teach. You only need a laptop, a stable internet connection and a passion for teaching.

In online education, you can determine the size of your class. They could be one-on-one or small group classes. You can also choose how long you will spend in each class.

You can pace the course however you like, whether it’s two hours of classes per week or an all-day teaching session.

Numerous online teaching marketplaces will assist you in connecting with students and managing your classes. You will also need to develop a syllabus and a lesson plan for any skill you intend to teach. One such great option is to become a Q&A expert at Chegg.

You will get the opportunity to earn money by solving student doubts from all around the world. Gain global academic exposure and meet specialists from various fields to develop a strong peer network and a successful career path.

4. Sell Handmade Products; One Of The Top Most Home Business Ideas

If you enjoy making crafts, art, or other items at home, you may monitize your skills by selling the items you create. These products can be made in your house, a studio, a workshop, or a commercial kitchen and sold from home.

You could, for example, choose to:

Make candles

Make Jewellery

Create works of art

Create and sew garments

Knit sweaters and blankets

Make wooden furniture

Selling homemade goods is a great way to transform a hobby into a work-from-home business, no matter what you like to make. Such one-of-a-kind, handcrafted items are always in high demand. Once your company begins to flourish, you might consider scaling up your business to make higher profits.

Are you unsure where you can sell them? There are two primary methods for starting to sell handcrafted things online:

Sell on a marketplace like Etsy.

Make your online store with a platform such as Shopify.

Although the competition is severe, the market is vast. You can manage the majority of the manufacturing process if you make the products yourself. This means you can use many methods to reduce costs, increase quality, and even personalise them to unique consumer requirements.

[safetymarktraining-blog]

The Key Benefits of Site Supervisor Safety Training Scheme (SSSTS)

If you are considering a career in the construction industry or aiming to advance your current role, investing in proper training and certifications is crucial.

Why choose the Site Supervisor Safety Training Scheme to develop your career?

One of the most recognised and sought-after certifications within this field, is the Site Supervisor Safety Training Scheme (SSSTS). It opens up a pathway to your career development within the construction sector. But choosing the right training provider when there are so many providers of this course it a little more difficult - here’s what to look for, and why the right training provider is the smart choice for your career development!

► Choosing the right provider

Although the courses are the same qualification the learning experience is not. Safetymark is an award-winning industry-approved training provider. The SSSTS course lasts for two days, but Safetymark support starts the second you book! We are an approved CITB training provider - not a broker selling you a course for a commission. Which means that we are committed to you before, during and after you take your SSSTS course.

► Pre-course portal

All the training notes, slides, downloads and support tools - available from when you book the course direct . Telephone support is available to help you prepare for your course and take away any concerns.

► Interactive course experience

The days are structured, tutor lead by an experienced trainer who’s worked in the role of supervisor. During this time, you will engage in interactive training sessions, group discussions, and practical exercises that simulate real-life scenarios. The course is designed to be informative, engaging, and highly beneficial for aspiring site supervisors.

► Post course support

If you have gained your qualification with Safetymark, we’re committed to supporting you and your career development. If you have any issues or challenging situations within your job role, our out of hours help provides you with a sounding board, discrete expert advice and independent support.

► Enhancing Job Opportunities

By completing the SSSTS, you open doors to a wide range of job opportunities in the construction industry. This certification is highly regarded by employers, and it equips you with the necessary skills and knowledge to take on the role of a site supervisor. Whether you are already in the industry or looking to make a career transition, SSSTS can significantly boost your employability.

► Expanded Skill Set

The SSSTS course covers essential topics such as health and safety regulations, risk assessments, and site supervision techniques. These skills are invaluable for maintaining a safe working environment, ensuring compliance with legal requirements, and effectively managing construction sites. By obtaining the SSSTS certification, you gain a comprehensive understanding of your responsibilities as a site supervisor, enabling you to carry out your duties with confidence and competence.

► Increased Safety Awareness

Safety is paramount in the construction industry, and the SSSTS course places a strong emphasis on promoting a safety-first culture. Through this training, you will learn about potential hazards, risk assessment methodologies, and effective safety management techniques. By implementing what you learn in the SSSTS course, you contribute to creating a safer work environment for yourself and your colleagues.

► Duration of the SSSTS Course

The SSSTS course lasts for two days. During this time, you will engage in interactive training sessions, group discussions, and practical exercises that simulate real-life scenarios. The course is designed to be informative, engaging, and highly beneficial for aspiring site supervisors.

Investing in your career through the SSSTS certification is a wise choice

By enhancing your job opportunities, expanding your skill set, increasing safety awareness, and choosing the right training provider, you are on the path to success as a site supervisor in the construction industry.

Choosing the right training provider for your SSSTS certification is crucial to ensure you receive the highest quality training. Safetymark, as an award-winning industry-approved training provider, offers exceptional courses that go above and beyond what training brokers can provide. By prioritising a reputable provider like Safetymark, you can gain the maximum benefit from your SSSTS training, setting yourself apart in the competitive construction industry.

Remember, quality training from an industry-approved provider like Safetymark  ensures that you receive the best education and the necessary tools to excel in your career.

[selfmadebd]

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[monolithm007]

The Evolution of Welding Stores: From Traditional to Modern

Welding, a craft integral to numerous industries, has witnessed a remarkable evolution, particularly in the realm of welding store. From humble beginnings as local hardware shops to becoming specialized destinations, welding stores have transformed significantly. This blog will journey through the evolution of welding stores, highlighting how they've adapted to technological advances and changing market needs.

The Traditional Era of Welding Stores

Origins and Early Days

In the early days, welding stores were often part of general hardware stores. They stocked basic welding gear, primarily catering to local professionals and hobbyists. The range was limited, with a focus on essential equipment like traditional arc welders, basic safety gear, and standard welding rods.

The Community Hub

These traditional stores were more than just retail spaces; they served as community hubs. Knowledgeable store owners, often experienced welders themselves, offered advice and shared expertise. This personal touch helped cultivate a loyal customer base and a learning environment for budding welders.

Transition to Specialization

Expanding Product Lines

As welding services and technology evolved, so did the stores. The introduction of MIG and TIG welding required stores to expand their product lines. This era saw welding stores beginning to specialize, offering a wider range of equipment, including advanced welding machines, specialized tools, and diverse welding materials.

The Rise of Safety Awareness

With the advancement in welding technology came a heightened awareness of safety. Modern welding stores started to emphasize protective gear, including auto-darkening helmets, fire-resistant clothing, and fume extraction systems, reflecting the industry's growing focus on welder safety.

The Modern Welding Store

Technology Integration

Today's welding store is a far cry from its traditional predecessor. The integration of technology is evident, with digital inventory systems and online sales platforms. Advanced welding equipment featuring the latest technology, such as plasma cutters and multi-process welders, are regular offerings.

Educational Resources

Modern welding stores are not just about selling products; they're about providing knowledge. Many stores offer workshops, training sessions, and demo days, helping customers stay abreast of the latest welding techniques and technologies.

Online Presence and Global Reach

E-commerce has revolutionized the welding store, extending its reach globally. Customers can now browse extensive catalogs online, compare products, and place orders from anywhere, breaking the geographical barriers of the traditional store.

Customization and Customer Service

Modern welding stores offer customized solutions to meet specific welding needs. Enhanced customer service, often through online chat and phone support, provides a personalized shopping experience, reminiscent of the traditional store’s personal touch.

The Role of Welding Stores in Community and Industry

Supporting Local Industries

Welding stores, both traditional and modern, play a crucial role in supporting local industries. By providing essential tools and materials, they help sustain various sectors, from automotive to construction.

Fostering a Welding Community

Welding stores have always been at the heart of the welding community. They facilitate the exchange of ideas, experiences, and knowledge, fostering a sense of camaraderie among professionals and enthusiasts alike.

Challenges and Future Directions

Keeping Up with Technology

One of the main challenges for modern welding stores is keeping pace with rapidly evolving technology. Staying current requires constant learning and adaptation, both in terms of products offered and knowledge imparted.

Sustainable Practices

As environmental concerns grow, welding stores face the challenge of adopting sustainable practices. This includes offering eco-friendly products and implementing green operations, aligning with the global shift towards sustainability.

Training and Skill Development

With the welding industry facing a skills gap, modern welding stores have a unique opportunity to bridge this through training programs and partnerships with educational institutions.

Conclusion

The evolution of welding stores from traditional to modern is a reflection of the dynamic nature of the welding industry. Today's welding stores are more than just retail outlets; they are knowledge centers, community builders, and integral players in the industry's growth. As they continue to evolve, embracing technology and sustainability, welding stores will undoubtedly remain at the forefront of the industry, supporting professionals, hobbyists, and the community at large.

In summary, the welding store has evolved from a basic hardware annex to a specialized, technologically advanced, and customer-centric entity. It's a journey that mirrors the progress and innovation within the welding industry, showcasing how adaptability and customer focus are key to thriving in a changing landscape. Contact us for better insights about it.

[dzpenumbra]

8/19/23

Alright I'm just gonna start this by saying... I'm really not pleased with how Instagram works. I don't know if its the design of it (algorithms)... if it's the fact that I don't use the app to interact with other peoples' shit that often... or that others don't use it the way that I do? Or a combination of the three? I don't know. But I really... ugh... I'm tired of blaming myself for something that's clearly not my fault.

You can't fucking say something "isn't a career", and then even remotely insinuate that you are required to devote at least an hour or two a day to merely just browsing fucking social media and commenting and shit... when that isn't even in your fucking job description. I'm just venting because I put up not just one... but two posts today. And so far? 3 fucking likes. I doubt people have even seen it. And for those who did, it's just another thing for them to scroll past. My more impressive piece... somehow has just gone completely unnoticed because I posted it first... and has gotten zero interaction. My deer drawing on my pants. My realistic deer drawing done in fabric ink on my cargo shorts, that I'm really proud of. Zero interactions.

Here, I will show you exactly what Instagram has deemed is just... not fucking worth even looking at.

It's so deeply demoralizing to be just... completely unseen. For years. For over a decade. It fucking sucks. (I swear, if I hear "you just need to put yourself out there" one more fucking time...)

I truly have believed for so long that like... the mark of a true career artist is not their skill, it's their passion and their perseverance. It's their ability to endure, because what the fuck else are they going to do?!

I don't want to go too deep down a rabbit hole of existential dread here, because yeah... This is really the reason I struggle to regularly post on social media. It's really like having a small gallery showing and inviting all your friends, and fucking one person shows up, looks at one painting for 5 seconds, says "I like the colors" and then "I have to go pick up my kid, keep up the good work!" I'm under no delusions here that I'm not going to get paid for that. I'm not going to be able to pay my rent on that. And I won't be able to put out a solid body of work if I reserve my art time for a few hours on the weekend. This deer took a total of close to 10 hours in 3 sessions. So... what took 3 days here... would take 3 fucking weeks if I was working some side gig. Try keeping up with Instagram's algorithm demands at that motherfucking pace. The deer isn't even the whole fucking piece, this is just the start.

So... I'm a bit upset. Did you notice? XD I guess just kinda frustrated that like... I spent my whole life working and training and I got really fucking good at something... and I'm incredibly inspired! And I'm working myself to the bone! And I don't even need compensation to keep me productive, I don't even need reception to keep me productive, because my inspiration flow is external and continuous. I just need to keep my arms in shape so I can work for more than a handful of hours at a time without burning out my arms and fingers. It's deeply deeply painful to put this much time and dedication into something that is... so all-encompassing to my purpose on this planet... and to get so many fucking genuine compliments of awe-struck people completely baffled that I, myself, with my own hands, created that from nothing. Reactions that people can't fucking fake, so I know they're real, I know I have talent. And this... all of this... means absolutely nothing. Because I can't pay rent with compliments. And my rent is through the roof. And I'm not willing to sell my soul. And my process does not work by trying to second-hand decipher someone else's inspiration, it works through direct connection to something beyond me. My own inspiration. That process is all I know, it's what I have trained for over 15 years.

I know very well... that if I spend the majority of my time behind a fucking desk or a counter or a stove somewhere just trying to keep the lights on... my connection with my inspiration will wane... and I will get physically sick... and I will feel completely detached from myself, lost, aimless, purposeless. I will dissociate, I will go into crisis mode. Just like I always do, every time I ignore art.

I literally tried to stop myself from going down this rabbithole and then just swan-dove down it anyway. XD

Welp, good thing we live in a society that is driven by popularity and wealth rather than skill, passion and integrity. It really seems to be doing a lot of good for us...

Okay, I promise I'm done. I just needed to get that out. I really don't want to dwell on that because I had a good day today, despite it raining all day.

I've been super hungry today... I woke up 4 hours into my sleep cycle, downed a heaping bowl of raisin bran and went back to sleep for another 2 hours... and somehow woke up starving. Depression, maybe? Not sure. Maybe my dinner last night was just much lighter than I thought. I started the day full-on consumed by the idea of reaching out to the friend who Facebook messaged me 2 years ago, whose message I just discovered last night. The friend that I drove 12+ hours and crashed on her pullout couch on my first time meeting her in person, who I used to play minecraft with back then. She has an Instagram that I discovered a few years back and she does really well-made cosplay stuff. Yeah. She's art-inclined. She was in school for Engineering when I met her. I have no idea how she makes it work, but she does it. And... I hope I'm not selfish for thinking this... but reconnecting with her could really change my life... because we already have some form of established relationship, and she could possibly help me find a place to fit my skills that will actually help pay the bills. Or hell, maybe even she herself needs an assistant, who knows? At very least, its rekindling a friendship from a decade ago.

I messaged her. Instagram does the whole... message request thing, so I could only send one. I wanted to send her a picture of the pristinely preserved poster that she gave to me when I visited her in her apartment when she was in college, that has been sitting in my acoustic guitar case ever since she gave it to me probably over 10 years ago at this point. I thought that would be the fucking coolest way to announce who was contacting her. But... I felt like sending an image as a first contact... if it wasn't an image that's shown... to a woman... yeah... Didn't want to risk getting screened there. So... I announced myself the boring way, told her I just saw her FB message (without saying "sorry", proud of myself for that) and said "tag, you're it". Still waiting to hear back from her, but it's Friday night so... yeah.

The other thing I decided to do spur of the moment? Contact the "former friend" who commissioned the logo design from me. Finally. Just... sending the text that I had prepared. Just pushing the green send icon. To tell him I'm not the right guy for the job. And I'll tell ya, it was not unlike doing a shove it when I was skateboarding the other day. I even said audibly to myself, "just jump forward". The advice I give to myself to get myself to land it when I do shove its. (I also didn't say sorry in this message, which was tremendously difficult and a very big accomplishment for someone who deeply struggles with a fawning response.) I got a huge shot of adrenaline when I sent that message. I haven't felt one like that in a while. But I just put my phone away and immediately went over and started to heat up my clothing iron to heat-set the paint on my pants.

I heat-set both the jeans and the hoodie. It took like... a minute, each. I was just like... "why the fuck did I stress about this so much?" XD I hope I did the right heat, I tried to follow the labels on the clothes. I hope I did the right time, the paint said 30 seconds... and I did a minute or more just to play it safe. I honestly have no way to tell if it's heat-set, I guess I'll have to find out the hard way.

That's what prompted the Instagram posts. Because my skating jeans and my shorts are going to have to go in the wash. My jeans because they're getting kinda nasty from me sweating in them and I need them for skating. My shorts with the deer on them because I need to test just how permanent these paint markers really are... Yep, that deer was a fucking test run. That wasn't even a finished piece. Imagine what a finished piece would look like...

So... I decided it would be wise to take some pictures of what I've been up to the past few weeks and share them. I did the shorts first, got a really nice photoshoot of them. I wrote a really well thought out description and added about 10 hashtags... not that it really seems to make a fucking difference... it's super rare that hashtags get me any new attention. I posted, then did the jeans and repeated the process.

The rest of my night was yoga, showering, prepping homemade salsa - which was very short on tomatoes, and the habanero that I got was really mild for some reason... so it did not come out nearly as good as was hoping... - then cooking dinner, eating and... here I am. Yep, that was my day. I didn't even draw anything today, unfortunately. I did take the trash out, that was good. But I did not end up doing laundry. The night just got away from me with all the prep and cooking and all that.

This kinda brings me to something I've been wanting to do before I end this journal project, it's been running through my head all day. One story that I haven't told. My side, at least. I'm sure I've told bits of the side effects, the traumas caused. Visiting Facebook last night brought it back, and I just really want to get it off my chest to prove to myself that it's really not as bad as I think. The quote my therapist and many others have thrown my way, that I seem to perpetually forget and remember over and over - "you were doing the best you could with what you knew at the time."

I was listening to a Don Quixote audiobook while I was making dinner tonight. At least... I was trying to. All I managed to get through in my over an hour of cooking was basically the life story of Miguel de Cervantes; translators notes, I think it was? I knew nothing about this story other than its legendary satirical status, and the iconography of a flamboyant and... I guess stupid?... knight who fought a windmill thinking it was a dragon or something. Thus... why I wanted to actually absorb the actual tales, because culture is important and I wanted to actually know the actual stories, not just second or third-hand recaps. Welp, with my extremely limited knowledge of Don Quixote, this was my personal story that I equate in my memory to that.

It was summer 2019, as a lot of my traumatic experience stories tend to date to... I was smoking a lot of weed back then, for the first time in over 10 years. It started as a way to make getting off of Xanax easier, and to help with sleep, then it sorta became more of a spiritual and creative tool, and eventually it just became something I did regularly as though it was tobacco, because almost all of my tobacco was mixed with weed. I stopped buying weed from dispensaries because my brother wouldn't go on trips to pick up with me anymore, and I really felt weird leaving my dog in the car while I waited in line for up to an hour, it really didn't feel right... and I didn't want to leave her alone at home while I drove for like a 3 hour trip just to get weed. It was a whole thing. So I ended up buying this absolute dogshit gutter weed from a guy I used to go to high school with, who lived up the road. He... yeah, you can form your own judgements on him in the next "scene".

So... he came over to my house and smoked with me on my porch, he brought his small dog with him too. My dog and his met, it was fine and uneventful. His dog was getting old. We smoked and I got pretty high, and I am just flat-out not experienced at all with being high around other people, much less around people I don't entirely know or trust. It is not a muscle I have flexed, and I get really freaked out. Well... I started freaking out a bit. Mostly because he was sitting on my porch telling me... my "parents were right" and I should give up this art dream and go get a "real job". While he was day-drinking on my porch and smoking with me. And that just sent me immediately into surreal "you are not safe" mode. Which... guess what? Was a correct reaction! That was not a healthy situation for me to be in, with someone calling their self my "friend", and yet again... placing judgement over what I do with my entire life... my career... based on zero knowledge or even interest in what I do, or what I plan on doing. Ignorance. And siding with my parents, knowing absolutely nothing about them or their perspective... that was nothing short of foolish.

I somehow managed to handle that anxiety attack. I came back from it and did not spiral. I don't think he even goddamn noticed. The conversation just moved on. I don't know if I confronted him, I very very likely did not. What ended up happening not long after ended up snapping me out of it anyway. His small dog, a Toto kinda dog but greyish white, rolled over onto his side and started yelping uncontrollably and grinding his ear into the concrete slab floor of the back porch. I was so insanely overwhelmed, and the dude just got up and treated it completely normally, like this is a regular thing. And started talking about how his dog had ear problems and he had no idea what it was and it was really "annoying" and shit like that. I remember he was talking about pulling like... really long strings out of his dog's ears and not knowing what was going on. And I was like... dude, I'm really high, don't talk about this in that kind of detail... XD It was really freaking me out. Also, go to a vet!!!

He ended up leaving not long after, his dog somewhat recovered enough to go home peacefully. The thought of ears stuck with me. What caused that? What made it come on so suddenly and so severely? Could I help him by figuring this out?

I'm not sure if I was experiencing it before, but I definitely experienced it after that incident with that dude's dog - I was having my ears pop constantly that summer. I really couldn't figure out why. Maybe humidity and pressure changes? Maybe because I just started to be hyper-aware of my eardrums and kept just compulsively trying to pop them... like when you're really high and you suddenly become aware of your breathing, and you have to like... manually breathe... and you get afraid that you might have "forgotten" how to automatically breathe, and if you stop manually breathing you might asphyxiate... Honestly, it was probably just one of those things. But I started to become hyper-aware of that all the time. And the big one... the one that sent me down the rabbit hole... I saw my dog, my retired service dog, my co-pilot, rubbing her ears a lot, and rubbing them on the carpet. That set me off.

I was never taught how to groom or care for a dog. Because my family did not take good care of their dogs, and were too prideful to ask for help or instruction, or go to a groomer. They still are to this day, it truly pains me to see it. When my dog died, I gifted her grooming tools to my mom and actually took the time to like... give her a little clinic on how to use them right there, on her dog - not asking if she knew how to use them, just going straight into showing, so she didn't feel ashamed. But I was never taught how to clean my girl's ears. And she has been very prone to ear infections since a young age. I had to learn how to clean her ears on my own, which is fuckin spooky when you have a German Shepherd and she starts grunting like she doesn't want you in there anymore. And, I hate to say, but in my deeper stages of depression and... what the fuck is the term for when a counseling center misdiagnoses you and puts you on trial runs of medications for conditions you don't have for 2 years while you're in an unfathomably toxic relationship, do they have a word for that? Well... in my deeper stages of that... I didn't take good care of my dog. And she formed a blood clot in her ear from scratching at it. And she had to get surgery for it. The surgery left a big scar and left one of her iconic pointy German Shepherd ears floppy for the rest of her life. I... still haven't forgiven myself for that, even though it really isn't fully my fault. But man, it still... the guilt. Yeah.

So... seeing my baby... rubbing her ears again... And feeling my own ears popping in sync with it... And feeling this eerie, spooky feeling like I was in a haunted house or a horror movie or something... and not being able to see any visible wax buildup or anything in her ears... It was too much. Nothing was making sense and I needed answers. And I started connecting dots to this video I had watched not long before by the YouTuber Adam Neely, who does music theory videos, he's really good. He did a video on infrasound, which... maybe you've heard of something called a "mosquito alarm" or something to that effect, it's a machine that makes an extremely high pitched sound that only young people can hear to deter them from loitering (aka to hurt their ears or upset them so much that they won't stay there). Infrasound would be the other side of the spectrum. Infrasound is very low frequency sound that is sometimes used in movies or... get this... haunted houses... because it is often imperceptible in our conscious listening, but we still process the sound... and it tends to produce a feeling of unease, and induce anxiety. In my scientific mind... it ticked all the boxes. I could explain away my ears popping as anxiety or hypervigilance, I could explain away my surreal, horror movie feeling as anxiety, but I couldn't explain my dog's reactions, or the other dude's dog's reactions either. And this, felt like it could explain all of it.

I remember that day, I went out to the stream at the edge of my yard. I was making a Zen Garden in the stream, I would go out there every day. I would sort through the gravel for beautiful stones, and I would make different shaped pools, and contour the stream, and dam and dry flooded areas, and make waterfalls. I even got to the point where I started trying to control the pitch of the waterfalls by making small pools where the water fell into, and adding or removing stones to alter the pitch. Then I tried to get the waterfalls to either be in tune, or harmonize. It was a really fucking cool idea that I really want to revisit someday. Anyway, I went to the stream, and went out to the pond edge of it to just kinda chill and reflect before the sun went down, and I looked out over the pond and what did I see? The new windmill they put up, on the far side of the small neighborhood directly across the pond. Pointed directly at me and spinning.

My gears started turning... I went... wait... do those things make sound? I mean... it's gotta make sound, it's like a giant fan... Do those make... infrasound? Go Google it for yourself. They absolutely do.

I started going into science mode. "I need evidence". I can't fucking test it, by like... asking the dude to turn it off or something, see if my dog feels a difference... I ended up finding an app that claimed it could record infrasound. Still don't know if it's legit, but... I did it. I recorded samples from my porch and yep, that thing was definitely showing infrasound readings clear as day.

This is where my embarrassment starts. Where the shame stuff starts. And the big thing carved in my head from therapy environments because of how lifechanging it was for me: trauma = shame. Shame hits people with PTSD different, from what I've seen and experienced. And at that phase of my life, I was much more concerned with safety and moving life forward, rather than letting fear of Judgement or Shame rule my life. Well, Judgement and Shame had other plans, and what ensued still haunts me to this day.

I drove over to my parents' house... I think the next afternoon. I walked in and insisted to talk to my mom. She refused to talk to me and started getting visibly angry with me, started yelling at me. I had multiple articles bookmarked on my phone, I had the recording, she did not want to see fucking any of it. She got mad and told me to leave her house immediately. I still don't understand that reaction, it had to be panic or trauma or something, it just makes no fucking sense to me. You see your adult child really scared, but just looking for a second opinion on what they've found before actually believing this theory. And you get angry and refuse to listen or look at what they found, and tell them to leave your property. Hindsight? Kind of a red flag...

I, lifelong PTSD-ridden as I am, naturally blamed myself. Yes, me going to my family for a second opinion was "clearly" an act of aggression. Yes, me seeking support in a time of crisis was "clearly" an imposition on them. Yes, me showing up at the house I grew up in unannounced was "clearly" uncalled for and invasive. What was I thinking?! You can tell a bit about my history given that these sentences were not sarcastic in my head at the time, I only shook this cult-like brainwashing very recently, within the past few years. I still struggle with it.

Now I was on my own. But I needed to do something. And my dog and cat were still at home alone. And that windmill was still spinning. And I needed to figure out what to do, what was even happening. So... I... went home. I passed a neighbor's kid on the way into my driveway, he had gone fishing by my house before, I offered his mom to give him guitar lessons if he wanted but they never followed up. They were cousins of the guy whose dog freaked out with the ear thing on my porch. I told the kid about the sound and asked if their dogs had any problems with their ears too. The dog thing? I figured dogs were more sensitive to sound than humans... I don't know, I was grasping for straws. I didn't really get much out of that, but in hindsight... it must've been weird for the kid to be flagged down and talked to about windmills and sound waves and shit. This kinda "tinfoil hat vibes" stuff pre-Covid was kiiiiinda embarrassing. (I mean, it's still embarrassing, it's just more people are publicly doing it now and it's getting oddly normalized.)

I ended up calling my vet that was around the corner. I pleaded with them to just tell me if this was a thing that other dogs in the area were dealing with, if there was a pattern. They told me... HIPPA. They fucking HIPPA'd me about general info whether there was a pattern of dog ear problems in the neighborhood. And I got a bit upset about that, I was legit just trying to gather scientific data. Honestly, this entire time... all I fucking needed was someone to fucking talk to. Someone to just make sense of what was going on and try to find some kind of answer, because it's one thing for me to suffer... I'm not going to sit here and do fucking nothing while my girl suffers. She doesn't deserve that.

Sounds like I'm still there. I'm absolutely reliving this right now. So... that's what led me to... Facebook. The last place I could think of. None of my "friends" would talk to me, they already lost their shit on me and peaced out because I asked them to show their support of my art/streaming career in a time of need. I was well and truly isolated. And I really needed someone to help me get perspective, to help - and I say this dead serious, I was literally saying it verbatim the whole time - to help prove me wrong. I was begging literally anyone to prove me wrong. Help me find a narrative that makes more sense than this, that has more evidence than this. From the very beginning, I did not want the windmill theory to be the truth. Because that meant I had to fucking move, and I had no plan whatsoever. And I was still detoxing off of meds and shit, I was in no condition to be moving. But I wasn't about to just sit in that haunted-ass house and watch my dog suffer every fucking day if there was something I could do about it.

I got off of Facebook in 2016 - meaning... my account was inactive. My ex and I got back on FB and posted a tiny bit when our relationship was doing okay. I used to fish back then, so I'd post fishing pictures and pictures in my garden and all that. But that stopped very quickly with how toxic the relationship was, and I never went back. Welp... I went back. And I posted about the windmill. And I wrote the most honest case I had. That this was my theory, this was the evidence I had found, can someone please prove me wrong? I don't remember if it was that day, or a later point... but I can actually hear in my head the dude who sold me weed saying on the phone to me "you really need to delete that post man, people are gonna think you're nuts". Or something, like he was "looking out for me". Again, little seeds planted along the way. I swear his fucking voice is like the embodiment of my anxious and self-destructive thoughts, like a fucking demon, man. What a dick.

I remember my former best friend in middle school commented on it. The first time I had heard from him in years, and the last time since. He commented something level-headed about how he would look into it and get back to me, and he didn't. That one still haunts me. Like... I'd really like to reconnect with him now that I'm a much more... complete person. Now that I actually know who I am. But I'm just so worried that he's going to look at me like some delusional nutjob.

It is so fucking hard to type when you hear what sounds like a bluefin tuna flopping on the floor above you. Especially when it's a sensitive topic, and it's 2AM. It makes me physically jump. If it continues happening past 3, I'm 100% calling the on-calls.

Anyway. Yeah. I did go back and delete that FB post. Pretty quickly. And I never went back to Facebook. All of my social contacts accumulated throughout my life were left behind because of a panicked attempt to keep my adopted animal daughters safe, and just try to understand what was happening around me. That moment was... what I equate to my solo-pandemic. It was the same exact feeling for me as the beginning of the pandemic, except it wasn't happening to anyone else and everyone around me was being aggressive insensitive assholes and telling me it wasn't real and I was crazy.

That night... was very bad. I'm not sure if I deleted the post the next day or that night... but I spent a huge chunk of the night just pacing around my apartment. Good lord, it's all flooding back, that night was so fucking cinematic I can't even put it into words. It would honestly make a good comic strip or short animation or something. But it would honestly just look like a garbled dream or something, like... it would be too strange for fiction. It would make too little sense and be too unbelievable to be presented in that medium.

It was past midnight. I had made it several hours of not having anyone talk to me, but it was just spiraling, I was completely alone, I had nothing but silence and space to think. And my dog kept fucking rubbing her ears. And I just hit a breaking point and said "I need to find a place to stay tonight that isn't here, I can't subject us to this anymore." I saw it this way... If it was physically affecting me and my dog? We were away from it for one night to see if it made a difference. If it was in my head? At least we were in a safe place, with "supportive people".

I got my dog ready, I got a small bag packed with essentials. But... I couldn't bring my cat. I couldn't get her to go into her crate. And that... I mean... it was fucking horrible, man. I was on my knees in the living room crying next to the crate because I had to leave my cat behind. This panic just kept pressing harder and harder like the house was on fire and I was just subjecting my pets to essentially low-grade torture being in that home. And the more I thought about it, the more I inflated that narrative and it kept feeling bigger and bigger and more imminent and more urgent. In the past, I would have been too ashamed to talk to anyone about any part of it, and I would have distracted myself with TV or video games and just let my pets suffer. Like a sociopath. Out of fear, out of shame. I was trying to overcome that. To not let Fear rule my life. And somehow... I put the steering wheel right back into Fear's hands, quite literally.

I left my cat behind. I took my dog out to my car. It was probably around 1 or 2AM. We got out to the car and, I shit you not, there was a fucking possum between us and the car. Big guy, hissing and everything. And Cer shockingly didn't bark. She was just like "what the fuck is that thing..." And it took off, luckily. I was already committed. I got her in the car and started driving. It was foggy. I was calling people, trying to find a place to stay. There weren't a lot of numbers to call. There was the number of a nurse that I knew at the retreat the consoling center sent me to, she seemed nice enough to potentially offer me a roof over my head. But she lived almost 2 hours away. There was a guy I used to live with for a very short period of time in the city, we tried to join a band, but he wasn't answering.

I drove to the dude who sold me weed's house since it was just up the road. I sat in his driveway for like... 2 minutes? I don't know if I called him or not, but I ended up leaving without even knocking. He gave me hell for it the next day because he had to go to work the next morning. At a gas station. You know, priorities... It's not like the entire thing was caused by him freaking me the fuck out, telling me my parents were right, telling me I was going crazy and yelling at me while I was high.

Then I went the only place left in driving distance. My parents' house. Yeah, I didn't have a lot of options. My younger brother, who I thought I was close with, lived in their house at the time. He hadn't taken over the garage that I used to live in yet. I parked in the driveway and left my car running. I called my mom's cell. Nothing. I called the landline. I could hear it ringing from the car. Nothing. I called at least 3 times. Mind you, this is the house that I grew up in since I was 11. My former bedroom there was still unused and had a fucking bed in it that was prepared to be used (and never was used) as a guest room. I... honked my horn. That was enough for a light to finally go on in the house. In my brother's bedroom. I don't remember if I called him or if he called me, but we were on the phone shortly after. I told him it was me. He was very clearly angry. Very obviously angry. And he said "you better not wake up mom and dad, they're going to be furious with you." ... Like I was a teenager or something. And I told him very fucking clearly, very articulately - "I am deeply scared and feel unsafe right now. I don't know what is going on and I just need a place that feels safe for the night that is not my house. If what I am afraid of is real? I need a safe place to stay. If I'm just freaking out? I need a safe place to stay. Please let me and my dog stay here tonight." He refused to let me into my family's home. He refused to hear anything more I had to say. He told me I was crazy, I was freaking out, I'm scaring people and I need to go home. And he fucking hung up on me and turned his lights off.

All he had to do was unlock the door and go back to sleep, and I'd leave a note saying "I stayed the night in my old room because I was alone and detoxing off of meds and deeply scared, and I just needed a place that felt safe for the night. I will leave without disturbing any of you in the morning. Signed, your son." But no. He hung up on me. And told me to go fucking home and go to sleep.

I left. I drove. It was like probably 3AM at this point. I connected with the nurse person, she helped me calm down a little bit. She was blown away at how my brother treated me, and she wished me good luck in finding a place to crash. I surprisingly got another call back that I took. It was from the guy I lived with and was trying to join a band with back in the day. I remember vividly as I was driving back on the road that led to my house... the phone cut out and I lost service, and I saw a fucking shooting star moving super slow across the sky in front of and above my car, going north. It was huge. Another surreal moment, it felt like... you know in books the illustrations at the beginning of chapters? I felt like the possum was one, and the shooting star was the other. And it started to snap me out of it a bit. I remember thinking of how cool it would be to find a meteorite, or to make jewelry out of one, or just to polish one as a precious object.

I got service back when I got back by my house. It was kind of a... crossroads. The kid on the phone said I could go and talk to his dad. His dad lived 15-20 minutes up the road. I had never met him before. Despite how me and this kid had a big falling out years later, that was a really thoughtful thing to do. To call his dad who I found out later he did not get along with... to wake him up... to say "my friend is freaking out and just needs someone to talk to and help him calm down and feel safe". That should really be a more normal thing to do... Weird that the kid himself didn't offer that considering we were supposed to be friends and he was already on the phone with me... but, I'm sure he had his reasons. So... I said "fuck it". And I drove to his dad's house.

I got there, I pulled in the driveway. It was awkward as fuck. I had my dog with me. I introduced myself. We sat on his porch and I told him a super condensed version of where I was at. I'm having weird ear popping shit and surreal feelings. My dog having ear problems, my "friend's" dog was having what looked like similar but worse problems. I didn't want my dog to end up like that. I had a theory it was infrasound, and that it might be coming from the windmill. I took a recording, here's the data. He looked at my phone like it was in Japanese for like 5 seconds and faked interest, then handed it back to me. He said the results were nonsense, that it doesn't mean anything. ... I... don't really know how he came to that conclusion... but yeah. Probably just acting confident to make the situation end quicker. And he just echoed the same shit the others said to me, just... in a less aggressive tone and with slightly more of an appearance of compassion. That I was being paranoid and this isn't a problem with the windmill, it's all in my head, I just need to go get some sleep.

After the way I had been treated so far that night, that was the kindest anyone had been to me. To tell me that this physical evidence of at very least a contributing factor (maybe the infrasound wasn't even coming from the windmill, maybe it was another source, who knows?) was "nonsense", and without any other credible connection... I guess GG? And I just resigned. I had no explanation, somehow less evidence than I started, and no theory at all about what was going on with my dog. He proposed "allergies", because... he had allergies and there was a lot of pollen that year. And I guess it was good enough for me. We said our goodbyes and I got my tired and confused pup back into the car and we headed home as dawn broke. I remember very clearly the color of the sky and fog rolling over the fields as I drove back home. Daylight definitely eased the fear.

Yeah. That was... that was a very defining moment in my life. A very small moment that came from just... normal everyday interactions... and then my trauma was set off... and I tried to be responsible and smart and use science and logic to provide security, to assuage the panic, to seek answers rather than jump to conclusions. I still feel like this was absolutely the correct way of handing that situation, over 4 years later. Then... in response to my trauma being set off... my healthy methods of addressing those trauma responses were met with... trauma. I was yelled at, threatened, gaslit. That fucked me up in ways that... I really struggle to put into words. It was like... that summer? It was like fucking They Live or something. I keep using the term "Twilight Zone" because it's the franchise like this I'm most familiar with that is the most similar. That summer was legit like one gigantic Twilight Zone marathon. Where I just woke up and every person in my life was suddenly just saying shit to me that made my jaw hit the floor in disbelief. "I just told you I'm having a panic attack... and I just need a place to crash where I feel safe... and you're telling me... to get over it and go home?" Like... Those moments, and that many in quick succession... it fucking rattled me in ways I am just now recovering from. It went right past anxiety and panic responses. I was straight up in shock. I wasn't angry. I wasn't scared. I wasn't nervous. I was completely and utterly in disbelief. I struggled to process how it was really happening, whether it was actually reality. I was looking at the equivalent of some 3000 ft tall octopus god that materialized out of the fog and my mind just... couldn't process what was happening. It was just... still. In disbelief. Shock. I really don't know how to articulate that feeling clearly. It really did feel like... "Lovecraftian", like the kind of horror that your brain and body just can't really process at all. It just short-circuits your brain and you just kinda... almost go catatonic for a bit there. Then you need a forklift to get your fucking jaw off the floor.

So yeah, not long after that I was seeking sanctuary of any kind. I didn't give a fuck about the windmill after that. I discovered the real threat. The real danger. It was under my nose the whole time. It was the reaction to my fear. It was how others around me would react to my anxiety and my trauma responses. My anxiety was never the problem, me not expressing my anxiety outwardly my entire life - instead internalizing and suffering great mental distress, fucking up my entire life and permanently physically damaging my body - that was never the problem. It was a symptom. It was a symptom of an environment where it was not safe to express fear. Where expressing your anxieties without zealous conviction of them being absolute truths, rather being inquisitive and seeking support to form educated, informed decisions... was viewed as... delusion? Somehow? Or... a threat? I legit do not understand it at all. But I have verified this in spades over the years since.

So... yeah. On one hand... I would do anything to go back in time and just never connect the dots between that dude's dog's ears and my dog's ears... and connect that to my feeling of surreality in that house... and connect that to infrasound. But, on the other hand... that cinematic journey... was probably one of the most important catastrophes of my life. Because it illuminated exactly how unhealthy not just my family was, but the other people around me as well. How damaging that environment was for someone who had been clinically diagnosed with PTSD for several years at that time, who was tapering off of medications alone, who no one would check in on despite living less than 5 minutes away from him, who no one believed in, who no one supported. It is very lonely out here, starting from scratch and being in a new city. But holy fuck, I feel so... so much more free. I feel safer being my authentic self.

Which really makes me dread... having to give that up. And I really do fear that giving up my art as my primary time/labor sink... will turn into me losing myself. To someone else's will, I guess. Or, like... I lose my agency in my life. Or like all of this was for nothing. Just because I was too scared to go out and meet the right people, or too scared to apply to galleries, or too scared to reach out to my old teachers or something. I don't feel like it's too late for that. I don't feel like it's time to give up yet.

I have come so far and sacrificed... nearly everything... to get where I am today. And there are really two things outside of material possessions that honestly... they're all a coin flip, I don't really care too much, very few are essentials... two things that I have left. My idea of who I am and what I want to do with my life. They're not that different, either.

But I'm not here to talk about my career, because that's a bit much for tonight, I've already stopped myself like 4 times before that fun campfire horror story.

There's a reflex that kicks on whenever I think about related jobs, or something to just pay the bills. It feels like giving up. It feels like turning into the people who treated me like shit, like I'm doing what they did. They all fucking gave up. Or never even tried. Taking the easier route and learning to love it. Yeah, I could be an artist... or I could just go be an artist's assistant or a teacher. And then do that for 10 years... and then go... "remember when I used to make art?" "Yeah, I still do it in my spare time, but man... I'm just so busy nowadays, who has the time?" Kinda like the way I treat video games nowadays, there just aren't enough hours in the day.

I could mentor or tutor. I could teach private lessons - art, music, art history, you name it. I could host events for intuitive and improvised drawing, teaching the meditative techniques that I've learned, the kinda occult shit you won't learn at the community college. Come by the studio, smoke a bowl if you want, maybe break out some wine, or meditate or do some breathwork first, get yourself in The Zone however you like to, and we're going to do some fun art experiments. I could read tarot. I could do art pieces on peoples' clothing, like tattoos. I could sell jewelry. I could sell carved staves, walking sticks, even carved and decorated wooden wind-chimes was one I really want to do. I can sell mini Zen Gardens, and cool little accessories for them, like hand-polished stones, or hand-made mini rakes. I could also finish my abstract series and submit it to a gallery, or submit my bird illustrations to a gallery as a series as well. I can paint peoples' grip tape. I can do all of these at the same time. All I need is to find people who are actually interested in paying for these things. And with that big of a menu, it's really hard for me to believe that I won't be able to pay rent. Like... if I charge $50 for a 3-card tarot reading (which is cheap)... I'd need like... 60 readings per month make a profit. That's an average of 2 per day, every day. I'm never going to get that many, I get that. But... with other forms of income added in? If I offer more comprehensive spreads for higher prices? If someone there wants to buy crystals or minerals from my display case, or a necklace or talisman or something? It could make up the difference. But I really think if I can find a way to do private one-on-one art/music lessons, group activities with a ticket fee, and tarot readings... I could stabilize on that. I think I could. All I really need is... to get connected socially. Because streaming and social media are very unkind to people who don't have built in social networks.

So... that's the next step. So today, I was in social "fuck it" mode. I reconnected with someone I know who, in my life, is the closest person I've ever met to a female Adam Savage. If we synergize, this could be life-changing. I'm planning on going to the nude model drawing session at the local art collective this week, and I'm planning to email the person who runs it to see if I could just meet up and talk about the local art scene, maybe before the session? Or after? Or another day? Just to make a one-on-one impression and get to know them.

So yeah. A lot is turning around and I'm very grateful for it. And I really want to say this before I go. Thank god for skateboarding. I had a lot of mental health tools in my pocket, skills on deck, ready to go. I just... didn't have a place to go to socialize with people similar to me that didn't cost fucking money. And... the skatepark is exactly that. It accepts all kinds. Skateboarding is the true American spirit - give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. We all just want to feel some wheels under our feet and push ourselves to take a leap of faith. And to feel the rewards of taking those leaps of faith, that rush of accomplishing something you previously didn't think you were capable of doing, that you battled over. That's what skating is all about. Now that I've gotten over my insecurity about being "bad"... mostly... I actually feel like... a local skater. People recognize me. I'm a regular. There's a place that people can expect to see me. And that's how things start. Skating helped me break through and get there. And it would've been much fucking easier if one motherfucking person would've gone with as support and just sat on the sidelines and watched. But hey, all's well that ends well.

It's late. I gotta turn in. If you stuck through to the end here? Thank you for reading this story. It's... not the happiest of tales. But let's consider it a cautionary tale. You never know what someone else is going through. My brain just kinda... ground to a halt here. Like I was going for some mic-drop ending and just kinda... sputtered out. Just... you never know when you might need a shoulder to cry on, or when you just suddenly feel like a scared 6 year old who had a horrific nightmare and just need someone to talk to about it, or someone to just silently pat you on the back for a few minutes, to help you feel a sense of comfort and safety in a world that can feel so infinite and empty and cold and mindless. You never know when you might need that. So... don't be afraid to offer it if you can, because you might be that person for someone else. That's what community is about, that's what friendship is about, that's what relationships are about. Give and take, mutually support each other. Compassion. That. That's really the most loving and kindest thing we could all do.

Good night!

[thejacksmit]

First Take: Joy Ride - The Hangover meets Girls Trip with some extra Rogen spice

SYNOPSIS: Follows four Chinese-American friends as they bond and discover the truth of what it means to know and love who you are, while they travel through China in search of one of their birth mothers.

Sometimes cinema chains like to surprise people from time to time with mystery screenings of upcoming films, and at the minute, basically everyone seems to be jumping on board the old Screen Unseen train - so last night, Vue, Odeon and Cineworld customers were treated to this new Seth Rogen produced comedy. And it seems to have played very strongly across the board, even in a relatively empty screen 3.

I think the reason Joy Ride went down as brilliantly as it did was due to a combination of a good script and good direction - this is Adele Lim’s directorial debut, and she does a cracking job turning around a 1 hour 35 minute comedy that is all killer and no filler, even if some of the editing leaves a bit to be desired in terms of moving from one plot point to another. She also had a big hand in the story, with Family Guy writer Cherry Chevapravatdumrong and Teresa Hsiao finishing a really well thought out script that passes the 6 laugh test very easily, and this is before we mention how crazy the humour gets within this proud 15 certificate film. Paul Yee’s cinematography does the job, as does Nathan Matthew David’s score, and that ultimately allows the cast to excel in this very authentic film that happens to have comedy as a key bit.

And that cast is lead brilliantly by Ashley Park, with Sherry Cola, Stephanie Hsu and Sabrina Wu making a group who are able to sell this story - even as contrived as it gets - incredibly well, and make it very believable. Supporting this cast is Ronny Cheng, Desmond Chiam, Daniel Dae Kim and many others, and considering the release slate in the UK when it officially opens next month, it will run unopposed within the comedy genre to allow what could be a surprise success to happen - it opened strong in the States this weekend, and based on the reactions from cinemas who screened it last night, everything looks very encouraging for distributors Lionsgate.

THE VERDICT

Joy Ride has plenty of laughs, a lot of emotion, and an air of authenticity to it that not many studio comedies have these days - and even with the gross out humour you would expect from a film that Seth Rogen has been involved with, it still feels like a big breath of fresh air. This is one definitely suited for a night out with mates at the local cinema - and a nice way to cap off a marathon 4 film review session too.

RATING: 4/5

[linkbusinessnz]

Liquor Store For Sale: What Are The Things To Look For?

You've decided you want to buy liquor business for sale, but now you're wondering what to look for. This post will give you tips on how to evaluate your potential purchase.

Size of the store

The size of the store is important because it will determine how much space you have for inventory and how many employees you need to run the store. You should also consider the location of your liquor store, as well as its proximity to other businesses in that area. If there are many restaurants nearby, then you may have more customers coming in during lunch hours or after work than if it were located in an office building's parking lot with no access points other than through one main gate--or worse yet, in an industrial park where most businesses close before 6 pm on weekdays!

The number of customers who come into a liquor store varies widely depending on what kind they are selling (i.e., beer only vs spirits only) but typically ranges between 100-500 per day depending on location/size/etc.. You'll want to make sure there's enough parking available so people aren't have trouble finding spots when they visit; otherwise, they'll go somewhere else where there isn't such limited availability (and take all those potential profits with them!).

Competition

If you are looking to buy a liquor store, it is important to understand the competition in your area. If there are 10 other stores within a mile of your location, then you have some challenges ahead of you. You need to determine whether or not these competitors offer anything different than what you can provide.

If there are many other stores like yours nearby, then it may be worth looking into opening up shop in another area where there is less competition and more opportunity for growth.

Workforce

It's important to ensure that your staff is properly trained and well-equipped to handle the responsibilities of their job. The right training will help them understand their role in the company, as well as how they can contribute towards its overall success.

Training should be ongoing, so make sure you have a plan in place for employee development that includes regular feedback sessions and goal-setting exercises. This will allow employees to grow within their roles while also giving them clear direction on what needs improvement at any given time--and how they can improve it!

You should also think about workplace culture when hiring new employees: does your team share similar values? Is there enough flexibility between workers so that everyone feels comfortable expressing themselves openly (and safely)? Does everyone feel valued by management? These questions should all be answered before adding new faces to any organization because if there isn't an immediate connection between coworkers then chances are high that turnover rates will increase over time due lack of engagement from within.

Inventory and product range

The first thing you should be looking at is the inventory and product range. A liquor store that has a good selection of products, but no customers will not be successful. You need to make sure that your inventory is up-to-date, well organized, and covers all the bases. If there's one thing that people want when they're buying alcohol it's variety!

Conclusion

A liquor store for sale is a great business opportunity and can be profitable if done right. You should know what your strengths are, what kind of products sell well in your area, and have experience running a similar business before buying one.

Source Link: https://businessvaluationnz.blogspot.com/2023/04/liquor-store-for-sale-what-are-things.html