#orange bowl saga

[majorproblems77]

HI MAJOR!!

so idk if you remember my orange bowl i glazed, but i’m in a ceramics class rn and we were making cups recently (awful. awful awful time… ive never felt so humbled before in my entire life) and i decided to make an orange themed one to go with the orange bowl and it looks quite atrocious- HOWEVER! im hoping once i glaze it itll look… not horrid. but shes quite sad looking as of now

but the better, more interesting, definitely more exciting news is that now we’re making bowls!! and for some reason, i can DO bowls. i kept accidentally making them on the last assignment some how- cups? couldn’t make a good one if my life depended on it. shapes? depends on the day. but for some reason it was like Bowl was something i was made to make, so the first two i did turned out pretty good (fingers crossed they stay that way when i trim them-) AND IVE DECIDED TO MAKE JUST A BUNCH OF BIGGER ORANGE BOWLS. the one i glazed is quite small, i keep trinkets in it, but these are like decently large “i can fit a hell of a lot of oranges in these” bowls

but yeah i just wanted to tell you, if you’re interested at all because i think you did seem invested in the first one (my memory is bad forgive me if thats not the case) and i thought id let you know im about to make a bunch of orange bowls >:) and actually make the bowl this time too!! and im very excited about it because after spending 11 whole hours across 3 days (in a row) in the damn pottery studio this weekend, after taking yesterday off the clay decided to show mercy today and was quite nice to work with and did make Bowl Shape exactly how i wanted it to >:) so i have decently high hopes for the orange bowls turning out okay

anyways i hope you’re having a good day/night, remember to drink water and take care of yourself :)

(i am trying to talk to people more because i like talking to my mutuals but i get a little nervous to reach out sometimes and when i get anxious i ramble 💔 so if this bothers you feel free to ignore lmao 😭)

- crazylittlejester

@crazylittlejester

YES IT WAS ME I LOVED THE ORANGE BOWL PLEASE CONTINUE TO RAMBLE ABOUT THE ORANGE BOWL AND CUPS CAUSE I LOVE THEM

IN FACT JUST RAMBLE ABOUT ANYTHING YOU WANT I LOVE READING RAMBLES IT BRINGS ME JOY

WE ARE CONTINUING THE ORANGE BOWL SAGA IM SO EXCITED

We live and hope the orange cup survives bur in the meantime we can be excited about the orange bowl that. Wait larger orange bowl means you can make an orange bowl for oranges and that just brings me joy this is great I'm 10/10 invested the orange bowl saga has another stage I'm so excited for you.

Then if you have a few you can then have them in several places so you get a little bit of joy each time.

This has me excited again. I love it

[majorproblems77]

I LOVE THE ORANGE BOWL SO MUCH OMG

BEST ORANGE BOWL

@majorproblems77 ORANGE BOWL RETRIEVED!! (it looks weird because the place im in has bad lighting but this is the orange bowl!!!!!)

[13eyond13]

How many of these "Top 100 Books to Read" have you read?

(633) 1984 - George Orwell

(616) The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald

(613) The Catcher In The Rye - J.D. Salinger

(573) Crime And Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky

(550) Catch-22 - Joseph Heller

(549) The Adventures Of Tom And Huck - Series - Mark Twain

(538) Moby-Dick - Herman Melville

(534) One Hundred Years Of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

(527) To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee

(521) The Grapes Of Wrath - John Steinbeck

(521) Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov

(492) Pride And Prejudice - Jane Austen

(489) The Lord Of The Rings - Series - J.R.R. Tolkien

(488) Brave New World - Aldous Huxley

(480) Ulysses - James Joyce

(471) Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte

(459) Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte

(398) The Brothers Karamazov - Fyodor Dostoyevsky

(396) Great Expectations - Charles Dickens

(395) To The Lighthouse - Virginia Woolf

(382) War And Peace - Leo Tolstoy

(382) The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway

(380) The Sound And The Fury - William Faulkner

(378) Alice's Adventures In Wonderland - Series - Lewis Carroll

(359) Frankenstein - Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

(353) Heart Of Darkness - Joseph Conrad

(352) Middlemarch - George Eliot

(348) Animal Farm - George Orwell

(346) Don Quixote - Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

(334) Slaughterhouse-Five - Kurt Vonnegut

(325) Les Misérables - Victor Hugo

(320) Harry Potter - Series - J.K. Rowling

(320) The Chronicles Of Narnia - Series - C.S. Lewis

(317) Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy

(308) Lord Of The Flies - William Golding

(306) Invisible Man - Ralph Ellison

(289) The Golden Bowl - Henry James

(276) Pale Fire - Vladimir Nabokov

(266) Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell

(260) The Count Of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas

(255) The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy - Series - Douglas Adams

(252) The Life And Opinions Of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman - Laurence Sterne

(244) Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert

(237) Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackery

(235) The Trial - Franz Kafka

(233) Absalom, Absalom! - William Faulkner

(232) The Call Of The Wild - Jack London

(232) Emma - Jane Austen

(229) Beloved - Toni Morrison

(228) Little Women - Louisa May Alcott

(224) A Passage To India - E.M. Forster

(215) Dune - Frank Herbert

(215) A Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Man - James Joyce

(212) The Stranger - Albert Camus

(209) One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest - Ken Kesey

(209) The Idiot - Fyodor Dostoyevsky

(206) Dracula - Bram Stoker

(205) The Picture Of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde

(197) A Confederacy Of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole

(193) Mrs. Dalloway - Virginia Woolf

(193) The Age Of Innocence - Edith Wharton

(193) The History Of Tom Jones, A Foundling - Henry Fielding

(192) Under The Volcano - Malcolm Lowry

(190) The Odyssey - Homer

(189) Gulliver's Travels - Jonathan Swift

(188) In Search Of Lost Time - Marcel Proust

(186) Midnight's Children - Salman Rushdie

(185) An American Tragedy - Theodore Dreiser

(182) The Book Thief - Markus Zusak

(180) Siddhartha - Hermann Hesse

(179) The Magic Mountain - Thomas Mann

(178) Things Fall Apart - Chinua Achebe

(178) Tropic Of Cancer - Henry Miller

(176) The Outsiders - S.E. Hinton

(176) On The Road - Jack Kerouac

(175) The Little Prince - Antoine de Saint-Exupery

(173) The Giver - Lois Lowry

(172) Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh

(172) A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess

(171) Charlotte's Web - E.B. White

(171) The Ambassadors - Henry James

(170) Infinite Jest - David Foster Wallace

(167) The Complete Stories And Poems - Edgar Allen Poe

(166) Ender's Saga - Series - Orson Scott Card

(165) In Cold Blood - Truman Capote

(164) The Wings Of The Dove - Henry James

(163) The Adventures Of Augie March - Saul Bellow

(162) As I Lay Dying - William Faulkner

(161) The Hunger Games - Series - Suzanne Collins

(158) Anne Of Greene Gables - L.M. Montgomery

(157) Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand

(157) Neuromancer - William Gibson

(156) The Help - Kathryn Stockett

(156) A Song Of Ice And Fire - George R.R. Martin

(155) The Good Soldier - Ford Madox Ford

(154) The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown

(153) I, Claudius - Robert Graves

(152) Wide Sargasso Sea - Jean Rhys

(151) The Portrait Of A Lady - Henry James

(150) The Death Of The Heart - Elizabeth Bowen

[some1s-sista]

Attic Clean Out Continues

Yup. Still going through it all. 20 years off stuff collected up there. Donate. Keep. Sell.

I’m almost through all the clothes. A couple more bins to go through. These I donate. Another bin of boys 3T and 4T to go through today.

I found this table up there. I wish I had taken a before picture. Tightened up the loose joints with Swel-Lok, removed some paint drips, slathered on the dark scratch cover oil, and when that dried, finished with orange oil. This is a keep. Put it in the guest room.

Have started in on the piles of toys. Need to vacuum off Mini-me’s doll house then cover it with a sheet to keep the dust and spider/mouse/bat poop off of it Found my older girls’ easy bake oven from 1997! Along with their little child chef sized mixing bowls, utensils, aprons, pot holders and oven kits. So cute!!! I think I will sell the oven on EBay. Works, nothing missing, and in original box. The other stuff I can sell in FB Marketplace.

The saga continues

[tisiphonewolfe]

Writeblr Intro

Heyo!

I'm Tisiphone - or Tiss, or Tizzy, I don't mind (she/her). I mainly write SFF, but I intend to try my hand at horror and potentially espionage thrillers in the future. I also can't seem to write anything without women being very gay in the middle of it all, so I'm leaning into it.

I follow from @princessw0lf

About me:

I'm a disabled trans lesbian from the UK

What I like seeing in books? Mysteries woven through the plot that resolve satisfyingly. Characters that bounce off each other and grate against each other in interesting ways. Weird romances that don't dominate the plot, but are a key part of it. Great character development.

Favourite books? The Locked Tomb Series by Tamsyn Muir, The Unspoken Name by A.K. Larkwood, Malice by Heather Walter, The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon. And a lot of Terry Pratchett.

Fiction I probably won't enjoy? Something where the plot is purely interpersonal drama or romance with nothing interesting happening outside of it. Literary fiction. YA.

Outside of writing? By day I'm a software developer. The rest of my time is spent drawing, playing games both video and tabletop, and playing electric guitar (badly).

DMs/Asks/Tag games? Fire away!

@sam-glade is my pal and you should go check them out too!

With this blog I'm aiming to post writing updates, inspiration, and probably writing-related memes.

About my writing:

At the moment I'm primarily writing high fantasy/epic fantasy, with a view to trying out some more genres later on.

Admittedly a lot of the classic elements of western fantasy are in there, but I've been trying to get back to the mythological roots of creatures like elves, gnomes, and dwarves, and to present them as not being all white and vaguely British.

The world of The Tectomancy Saga is also, like that of my childhood writing hero Sir Terry, an odd shape. There's a reason for that, and we'll get to it eventually.

While my stories are currently third-person multi-pov stories, I intend to experiment on that at some point in the future.

My stories will probably all revolve around two things; a central mystery and a central relationship. I love a plot where you can pick at the smallest words and phrases, theorise about absolutely everything. I want to write stories where people have a thousand ideas about what the truth is, and each one of them knows there's a good chance they could be correct. I also, as a queer trans lady, want to write about sapphic relationships and include many people who are not cis.

My favourite themes to write are anti-authority, people breaking out of systems they've been trapped in for a long time, people being more important than power.

I'm definitely a plantser. I know kind of where I'm going, but let's see where the journey takes us along the way!

Finally, you can expect the tone of my writing to be trying to find that sweet spot between serious and dry humour that makes you groan, with a healthy sprinkling of subtle meme references.

Current projects below the cut

The Tectomancy Saga

On a bowl-shaped world suspended far above swirling blue mists, nine goddesses, witches, or geniuses, blessed their peoples with divine magics, then disappeared. Now, the world is decaying, tensions are rising, and people scramble to control the magics in order to shape the future.

Made with Crown and Claw

WIP Intro

High Fantasy: The classic Princess-in-a-tower-guarded-by-a-dragon story, but we see the machiantions that put her there, and what happens afterwards.

Releine Sholt is hand-picked by the heir to Tectomancy, Princess Almyra Tectus, to be her new bodyguard. The role has one ominous stipulation: nobody can ever speak to the Princess, on the threat of dire punishment.

'There was only one bed' turns out to have horrifying consequences.

Progress: Fourth draft done at 129.5k

Bound by Stone and Blood

High Fantasy: The saga continues from different perspectives, having different adventures, that will eventually conjoin.

Almyra vies for control of her kingdom. Ellimane tracks down two misfits who are being hunted by a rogue automaton. Releine visits hell. A new threat rises in the shadows of Versewelt, the decaying land.

Bitter exes who technically never dated are definitely not thinking about each other.

Progress: First draft underway at 69k

Snippets and Short Stories:

Flash Fiction Friday: On the Edge

Flash Fiction Friday: I Can't Tell

Her New Captain (Alternate Chapter)

Other

Naenia, through Murder

WIP Intro

Naenia, the reaper who is responsible for death through murder, is shellshocked when a murdered homicide detective returns to life before her eyes and promptly asks her out on a date.

Detective Carina Choudhry has an odd - very Goth - new girlfriend, who saved her from the serial killer she was on the trail of.

Progress: Complete at 46k

Fay and the Red Kite (Title pending)

Fay Orrel, a trainee mech pilot, finds that her beaten-up old training machine holds an AI that has replicated its deceased former pilot. She tries to keep the other woman secret from the PMC that owns the mech, who would be certain to wipe the AI's memories, destroying Mina forever.

Progress: Well, I wrote the prologue and some of the first chapter. Being dabbled with!

[personifiedmachinery]

Making whipped cream; A Saga.

I had a lot of heavy whipping cream + orange flavored milk that i needed to use. So i decided to see if i could use the milk to flavor whipped cream.

The internet was acting like it couldn't be done. No matter how i worded my search, i came back with nothing. But i didn't want the ingredients to go bad! I have a stand mixer and nothing to lose, so i took matters into my own hands and decided to experiment. I knew it had to be possible. And i was right! It takes a few extra ingredients than your standard whipped cream but i made it work.

Of course, i first put my mixing bowl+whisk attachment in the freezer. Most recipes say to do this for 15 minutes. Well, immediately i forgot about it, ate dinner, and sat watching tv for maybe around 3 hours. This is fine. Honestly.. i say the longer the better. Makes the bowl stay cold longer (maybe, i don't actually know. But my brain says yes.)

I had exactly 3 cups of whipping cream. I added 1/2 cup of the orange flavored milk. My recipe asked for 2 cups of whipping cream and 1/2 cup of powdered sugar. That's about a 1/4 cup of sugar per 1 cup of cream, so i increased it by 1/4. I realized my milk may also count in this so i added another 2 tbs (half of 1/4 if you weren't sure). For a stabilized whipped cream you need about 2oz of cream cheese. I didnt want to increase this much as the flavor of cream cheese can be overpowering. So i put in maybe around 3oz. And then i got to mixing.

Normally when i make whipped cream it takes maybe 5-ish minutes to whip up. But 5 minutes came and went with little changes. It was at this point i realized my flavored milk was not actually whole milk as i had initially thought! Whole milk is needed because the fat content is essential to make it whip. To fix the fat content of milk, you need butter. But i couldn't find a ratio for the small amount i had. So here i measured the butter with my heart. I added maybe 2-3tbsp. I can't be sure. Then i kept mixing. Time passed. It's been another 10 minutes and sure, it's thickened, but it hasn't whipped. I was considering calling it a fail and just using the extra thickened cream in milkshakes or as a coffee creamer. But hey, the evening is young, and i have nowhere to be. I kept going.

My last ditch was adding a bit of cream of tartar. Just about a teaspoon. Yes, it adds a tang, but it's already orange flavored so who would notice, really? Not i. I threw it in. Another 5 minutes with only nominal thickening. "Damn," i think. "Maybe it really can't be done?"

But i'm not quitter. Or at the very least, i am extremely stubborn before quitting. "It has thickened!," i say to myself. So i continue mixing. Another 5 minutes, i'm watching it so closely now. And finally... it whips! A glorious moment and it whips up thick, and fluffy, and delicious!

Admittedly it's not quite as airy as when i usually make it, but it formed peaks and holds shape, and that's all i can ask for in a whipped cream. And of course, because i am an adult and can decide what i eat for myself, i put a nice helping in a bowl and ate it alone like a wonderful fluffed, pudding dessert. Could i put it on a cake? Sure, but i don't have a cake right now, nor was i willing to make one as the entire endeavor took around 30 minutes. While i do have mostly an abundance of time, i do lack stamina. So i'm calling it mousse now and feeding it to everyone because it's delicious.

Now maybe all of this would've been obvious to others, and they could have just avoided the whole kerfuffle and just put the cream of tartar from the beginning, but it was not obvious to me, and maybe for a lot of others. Especially because i could not find a single recipe with flavored milk added in.

For those who would like to do this, here is the recipe:

3 cups heavy whipping cream

1/2 cup flavored milk

2-3 tbs melted butter (skip if the flavored milk is whole milk)

3/4 cup + 2 tbs powdered sugar

2-3 oz cream cheese

1 tsp cream of tartar

1 tsp vanilla (optional honestly, i sometimes forget it)

Chill your mixing bowl and attachment for 15 minutes (or a few hours, whatever). Mix the cream cheese and powdered sugar until creamed. Then throw in everything else. I like to mix it around medium speed for a little after added the liquid just so it doesn't splash everywhere. When it's more creamy, turn the speed on high. Wait. You want soft peaks and it should hold shape when you scoop it with a spoon. Have patience, but keep an eye on it. Don't overmix. Enjoy on whatever you like whipped cream on or on its own. I'm not your mom.

[clochanamarch]

it's not their fault, even if the universe insists that it is. hangovers fade to dull and persistent headaches, and somehow the usual bacon and eggs don't tickle her fancy. so instead, she appeals to her sweet tooth. fresh squeezed orange juice settles in a frosted glass. she grates the remaining zest into a bowl of waffle batter, stirring with a pinch of cinnamon and a generous spoon of brown sugar. in a separate pan, crispy strips of bacon sizzle, coffee bubbles in a pot, and cinnamon rolls soak up a crown of orange icing. carbs, caffeine and citrus. the perfect solution.

where did you learn to cook?

as she spoons the batter into the waffle iron, chewing a strip of bacon while sliding the jug of orange juice over to @ppctts, pepper's curiosity prompts a grin, and she takes a quick gulp of coffee before commencing with her saga.

" stanley taught me. he figured i had nowhere to go, but i kept trying to leave out of guilt for taking up their apartment. so he made a deal. he needed someone working in the diner while new york got rebuilt. he'd train me, teach me whatever i needed to know, and i could stay here. it was a load of shite. we both knew it. but we both needed it, so we shook hands. twelve years later, he still makes a better chilli than me, but i'm happy to let him keep the secret! cinnamon roll? "

[madnesshere]

Raiden Shogun, The Cooking Saga

btw I wrote this with my friend but almost all of it was me

-DAY 1

Xiangling: GREETINGS!!!

Xiangling: WE have gathered here today to try and accomplish an impossible task...

Xiangling: Educate one Raiden Shogun how to make food!

Xiangling: Any food! Preferably something easy that doesn't involve fire

Venti: So like, half the options then

Raiden Shogun: You all need not to worry, Yae has been giving me pointers recently

Furina: You realize that doesn't make it better right?

Furina: What do you at least have an idea of how to cook?

Raiden: ...

Zhongli: How about Osmanthus-

Venti: NO

Xiangling: Alright lets start with... Onigiri! That's simple enough!

Venti: Morax I bet you 10,000 mora that this building will be on fire by the end of this

Zhongli: I shall not participate

(Xiangling brings out the ingredients)

Xiangling: First we need to cook the rice! Ei, would you like to do the honors?

(Pulls out rice cooker)

Raiden: What is that contraption? It looks like technology from Snezhnaya or Fontaine

Xiangling: Naw, its from 2024 but tomato tomato, ANYWAY Raiden would you please?

(Raiden grabs rice and puts it in the rice cooker, then pulls out a firework and match)

Venti: EI WTH?!

Raiden: What? I'm supposed to heat up the rice, am I not? And Miss Naganohara made these fireworks herself so the quality is guaranteed I can assure you

(Xiangling breathes heavily and sighs)

Xiangling: Raiden, there is a reason we have a RICE COOKER

Xiangling: you will not cook rice with those fireworks you will KILL US ALL

Raiden: oh..

(puts away the fireworks)

Xiangling: Alright back to cooking, now while the rice is cooking we have to start getting the filling ready

Xiangling: Venti, Zhongli, this seems like a task for you to help with imma go take a nap

Zhongli: Alright, the first step is to mix together the seagrass and fish

Raiden: Seems simple enough

(actually does a good job)

Venti: Now we add the spices!

(Raiden takes the bottle and shakes, but can't get any flakes out of it)

Raiden: It appears to be stuck...

(Raiden shakes harder, and the whole bottles worth of spice comes out)

(Zhongli and Venti don't see because they are looking for the other ingredients and wrongly assumed that this would be easy for her)

(Raiden mixes it all together)

Venti: Ayyy, how we doin'?

Zhongli: It looks a bit... oranger than in the cookbook but still looks edible

Xiangling: AND IM BACK!

Venti: Xiangling I think the second Cataclysm is upon us, Ei's doing a good job

Xiangling: Excellent! I assume your done with the filling, so now all we need to do is assemble!

(brings out the Nori)

Xiangling: Now for the hard part which is getting- EI WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING?!

(Raiden was trying to take the freshly cooked rice out of the cooker and put the Nori and filling into a bowl)

Raiden: Was I not supposed to put them together?

Xiangling: I said ASSEMBLE, not MIX

Venit: lol EI I think your deaf

(Raiden pulls out the Musuo no Hitotachi)

Raiden: Choose your last words carefully, Barbatos

Furina: Calm down guys, lets just get back to the teaching aspect of this show

Zhongli: Miss Furina, when did you get here?

Furina: The scriptwriter forgot about me for a bit, but I'm here now

Xiangling: Alright, I agree with Furina, Back to business! Though ig Ei ever turns this into a business then I'm calling the Sangonomiya Samurai and starting another rebellion

Xiangling: First we have to strain the rice of any moisture so it sticks better

(They strain the rice)

Xiangling: Now we need to take half a hand of rice and put filling in it

(Proceeds to put a copious amount of filling atop her rice)

Furina: That seems like a bit too much...

Zhongli: Maybe it helps with the flavor?

Xiangling: Yeah!! that's what I'm talking about! Go big or go home! Now we just need to put another half a hand of rice and stick it to encase the filling inside

Xiangling: And do it slowly and gently

(Raiden makes a bit of a sloppy but still mostly good looking onigiri)

Furina: That looks kinda good actually

Venti: low bar

Xiangling: Alright, last step! Which is putting the Nori on the onigiri!

Xiangling- What you want to do is carefully fold it till it sticks-

(This continues for several hours)

Raiden: ...

Zhongli: I think you need to be gentler

Raiden: Pure strength is all I need

Furina: I'm not sure that's a good answer

Raiden: It worked on Orobashi

Venti: And look how well that turned out for you

Venti: *COUGH tatarigami *COUGH

Raiden: Venti I will wring your neck like the chicken you are

Zhongli: Raiden you can kill him later, finish the task at hand

(finally completes it)

Raiden: At last... my creation is complete

Xianlging: Now for the taste testing, any volunteers?

Furina, Zhongli and Venti: ...

Xianlging: Fair enough, I guess I'll take one for the team-

Furina: WAIT! I have the perfect judge in mind! Monsieur Neuvillette!

Zhongli: Isnt the Iudex in Fontaine?

Furina: Worry not, for I shall summon him with the power of the

Furina: ORATRICE MECHANIQUE D'ANALYSE CARDINAL

Neuvillette: *Crashes through the roof like batman

Chef Mao: MY ROOF

Zhongli: I'll pay

Venti: Brokeass

Zhongli: I stand corrected

Neuvillette: Miss Furina what do you need?

Furina: We need someone to judge this dish

Neuvillette: Thats all? Alright then

(He takes a bite, then promptly collapses on the floor)

Venti: HOW? We didn't put anything weird in it!

(He takes a bit for himself)

Venti: HOLY MOTHER OF ISTAROTH AND EGERIA

Xiangling: Whats wrong?!

Venti: I SWEAR ITS LIKE MURATA LIT A WILDFIRE ON MY TONGUE!

Xiangling: RAIDEN WHAT DID YOU DO?!

Zhongli: ...How much spice did you put in?

Raiden: The whole bottle

Furina: IT SAID HALF A QUARTER!!

Zhongli: wait why did Neuvillette collapse?

Furina: His spice tolerance is that bad

Zhongli: ah

Venti: guzzling water like his life depends on it

Venti: Thats why it was so orange huh

Raiden: I suppose we should start anew

Xiangling: Respectfully, no

Zhongli: I uh, have consultant business to get to

Venti: I need booze

Furina: I need to get the Iudex to a hospital

(All of them practically run out of there except Furina who is staggering under the weight of Neuvillette)

Raiden: Then I suppose I shall head back to Inazuma

(She too, leaves the restaurant)

Xiangling: WAIT YOU GUYS NEED TO PAY FOR THE ROOF!

-THE END

[fiftytwotwentythree]

Wellness Wednesday:

Making Core Memories

This entire week has been a countdown to some quality family time.

I've had effing blast and honestly didn't have single disappointment or setback.

Things went as plan - things were loose and chill. I may have lost a little sleep but it was well worth it.

Oh, and... I broke the plateau and finally surpassed 80 pound mark - just the cherry on top for the this entire week.

.

.

31st CHECK-IN:

Current Goals:

Lose 52 lbs

Completed as of 4/12/2023

New Goal: Maintain or Continue on The Weight Loss Path

Avoid "Junk Food"

Minimize Take-Out / Fast Food Consumption

Short Term:

Vegetarian-ish Diet: Completed

End Date: 4/09/2023 - 46 Days Total

.

.

Stats from July:

Food:

Oranges: 34

Salads: 28

"Bags" of Popcorn: 26

Leftover Meals: 16

Cans of Soup: 3

Take Out: 0

Candy/Sweets: 0

Workout:

Jumping Jacks: 6,200

Push-Ups: 3,100

Glute Bridges: 3,100

Assisted Push-Ups: 3,100

Reverse Leg Lifts: 1,550

Leg Kickbacks: 1,450

Sit-Ups: 1,500

Plank (mins): 80

Squats: 0

Weight Loss:

Weightloss This Month: -3.6 lbs

Average Weightloss per Week: -0.9 lbs

Total Weightloss: -80.8 lbs

Entertainment:

Movies Watched: 19

Favorite from the Month:

Barbie

Hours of Television Watched: ~ 17 hours

( Crime Scene Kitchen, The Bear, The Righteous Gemstones, I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson, Adam Eats the 80's)

Reading

Books:

Books Completed This Month: 0

Book Title(s) Completed This Month: -n/a-

Book Total for the Year: 2

Comics:

Comics Completed: 2

Trades Completed: 15

Comic/Trade Titles Completed:

Flashpoint

The Last Ronin

Doom Patrol (2016-2018) Vol 1: Brick by Brick

Chew Vol 1: Taster's Choice

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Vol 2: Squirrel You Know It's True (2015)

Rick and Morty Vol 1

Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe

Fantastic Four (1961) Issue #1

Incredible Hulk (1962) Issue #2

Paper Girls Vol 1

Bitch Planet Vol1: Extraordinary Machine

Umbrella Academy Vol 2: Dallas

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The IDW Collection Vol 1

All-Star Superman

Batman '89 (2021)

All New X-Men Vol 1: Yesterday's X-Men

X-Men: Dark Phoenix Saga The Complete Collection (Uncanny X-Men (1963-2011))

Favorite Comic/Trade Read:

The Last Ronin

Magazine(s):

Magazine(s) Completed: 0

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Meal Tracker:

THURSDAY

Lunch:

Bowl of Progresso Tomato Basil Soup

- 10 Crackers

(1) Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Snack:

Serving of Blue Diamond Almonds

Bag of Orville Redenbacher Ultimate Butter Popcorn

(1) Glass of Chocolate Milk

Supper:

Large Plate of Dirty Rice mixed with Dice Hashbrowns & Peppers

- Wild Rice

- Italian Sausage

- Onions

- Celery

- Carrots

- Kidney Beans

- Steak Seasoning

- Cumin

- Chicken Broth

(1) Glass of Chocolate Milk

FRIDAY

Lunch:

Large Leftover Plate of Dirty Rice

(2) Servings of Blue Diamond Almonds

(1) Glass of Chocolate Milk

Supper:

Large Leftover Plate of Dirty Rice

- Fried Egg

- Diced Hasbrowns with Peppers

Burrito

- Dirty Rice

- Diced Hasbrowns with Peppers

- (Runny) Fried Egg

- Roasted Red Salsa

- Sour Cream

- Cholula Hot Sauce

(1) Glass of Chocolate Milk

SATURDAY

Lunch:

StarKist Ranch Flavored Tuna on a Croissant with (2) Slices of Pepperjack Cheese

Great Value Teriyaki Tuna & Rice Bowl

(1) Glass of Chocolate Milk

Snack:

Bag of Smartfood's White Cheddar Popcorn

Bag of Orville Redenbacher Ultimate Butter Popcorn

Supper:

Large Plate of Spaghetti

- Parmesan Cheese

(3) Scoops of Cottage Cheese

(6) Scoops of Green Beans

(2) Garlic Parmesan Rolls

(2) Glasses of Chocolate Milk

SUNDAY

Lunch:

Bowl of Cesaer Salad with Croutons

(2) Scoops of Cottage Cheese

(1) Glass of Chocolate Milk

Snack:

Serving of Blue Diamond Almonds

Bag of BBQ Corn Nuts

Individual Bag of Wonderful's Shelled Sweet Chili Pistachios

Bag of Orville Redenbacher Ultimate Butter Popcorn

Supper:

Bowl of Leftover Cesaer Salad with Croutons

(2) Scoops of Cottage Cheese

(1) Glass of Chocolate Milk

(2) Small Oranges

MONDAY

Lunch:

Cobb Salad

Snack:

Serving of Blue Diamond Almonds

Supper:

Santa Fe Style Salad

(2) Small Oranges

(1) Glass of Chocolate Milk

TUESDAY

Lunch:

Chef Salad

Serving of Blue Diamond Almonds

Supper:

Spinach Dijon Salad

(2) Oranges

WEDNESDAY

Lunch:

(4oz) Bag of Sahale Snacks Pomegranate Vanilla Flavored Cashews Glazed Mix

(4oz) Bag of Sahale Snacks Pomegranate Flavored Pistachios Glazed Mix

Supper:

(4) Oven Baked Ham, Pastrami, Corn Beef, and Pepperjack Cheese Sliders

(2) Small Oranges

(1) Glass of Chocolate Milk

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Workouts:

THURSDAY

(200) Jumping Jacks [4 sets of 50]

(100) Glute Bridges [4 sets of 25]

(100) Push-Ups [10 sets of 10]

(100) Assisted Push-Ups [2 sets of 50]

(50) Reverse Leg Lifts [5 sets of 10]

(50) Leg Kickbacks [5 sets of 10]

(5 min) Planks [5 Sets of 1 min]

FRIDAY

(200) Jumping Jacks [4 sets of 50]

(100) Glute Bridges [4 sets of 25]

(100) Push-Ups [10 sets of 10]

(100) Assisted Push-Ups [2 sets of 50]

(50) Reverse Leg Lifts [5 sets of 10]

(50) Leg Kickbacks [5 sets of 10]

(100) Sit-Ups [5 Sets of 20]

SATURDAY

(200) Jumping Jacks [4 sets of 50]

(100) Glute Bridges [4 sets of 25]

(100) Push-Ups [10 sets of 10]

(100) Assisted Push-Ups [2 sets of 50]

(50) Reverse Leg Lifts [5 sets of 10]

(50) Leg Kickbacks [5 sets of 10]

(5 min) Planks [5 Sets of 1 min]

SUNDAY

(200) Jumping Jacks [4 sets of 50]

(100) Glute Bridges [4 sets of 25]

(100) Push-Ups [10 sets of 10]

(100) Assisted Push-Ups [2 sets of 50]

(50) Reverse Leg Lifts [5 sets of 10]

(50) Leg Kickbacks [5 sets of 10]

(100) Sit-Ups [5 Sets of 20]

MONDAY

(200) Jumping Jacks [4 sets of 50]

(100) Glute Bridges [4 sets of 25]

(100) Push-Ups [10 sets of 10]

(100) Assisted Push-Ups [2 sets of 50]

(50) Reverse Leg Lifts [5 sets of 10]

(50) Leg Kickbacks [5 sets of 10]

(5 min) Planks [5 Sets of 1 min]

TUESDAY

(200) Jumping Jacks [4 sets of 50]

(100) Glute Bridges [4 sets of 25]

(100) Push-Ups [5 sets of 10]

(100) Assisted Push-Ups [2 set of 50]

(50) Reverse Leg Lifts [5 sets of 10]

(50) Leg Kickbacks [5 sets of 10]

(100) Sit-Ups [5 Sets of 20]

WEDNESDAY

(200) Jumping Jacks [4 sets of 50]

(100) Glute Bridges[4 sets of 25]

(100) Push-Ups [10 sets of 10]

(100) Assisted Push-Ups [2 Sets of 50]

(50) Reverse Leg Lifts [5 sets of 10]

(50) Leg Kickbacks [5 sets of 10]

(5 min) Planks [5 Sets of 1 min]

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WEIGHT TRACKER:

Starting Weight (Noon, 1/01/2023): XXX.X lbs

Weight at Last Check-In, 7/26/2023: -0.4 lbs

Weight As of Noon, 8/02/2023: -2.4 lbs

Total Weight Loss: -80.8 lbs

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Closing Thoughts:

The Good:

Had a blast hanging with family.

Saw a great movie.

Got play some old and new, but all fun video games.

Broke 80 pounds.

The Bad:

If I had to make a complaint... I couldn't. This week was very chill.

The Ugly:

Nada.

[fairestbeard]

The Bear “Pop” episode (S2x05) and the use of signs.

*so this meta is based on the assumption that The Bear is using magical realism in its story telling. Take it as seriously as your delusion can carry cos we love being delusional in here and having a marvelous time.(Yeah, Carmy! Fun. Get it?)😁

I noticed a few things upon re-watching the show for the umpteenth time. I never liked episode 5 because it was so Claire-centric and seemed very bleh but because I was still trying to be objective about it, I tried to watch it again and I couldn’t escape the way danger signs were grabbing me throughout the episode.

The abundance of red:

 Red could signify passion, desire or even adventure. It could also signify danger. It took a while to get it; why I had the feeling of unease throughout the episode before (I had chalked it up to just the corny dialogue and cringe dramatics), now I strongly believe it was intentionally shot in the way it was, both the cinematography and dialogue to create that effect within the viewer (hypothetically, of course, one can’t be entirely sure).

 The use of red flagging:

-At the beginning red tapings are shown throughout the restaurant as part of the renovations.

-We see Carmy trying to get a hang of the mechanics of the prep markings and never making time on it much to his frustration. He is repeatedly shown against a red backdrop. This already sets up the idea that Carmy might be in danger of some sort.

- Uncle Jimmy comes in and takes over the background. We would later discover along the show (season 3) that he’s having money problems- basically going broke.

-They show Carmy tearing down a red barrier to gain access, which might be indicative that he isn’t reading the signs. Later he calls Claire, despite showing signs of feeling discomfort about it. This feeds the major progression of the episode.

-After a lackluster errand posting mail with Claire, They attend a party (I’m not even going to go into the cringe/disturbing segue into the party invitation, just focusing on the use of signs). Once, they get into the venue there is an unmistakable abundance of red- from the cups, bowls and various containers to the decorations- it’s just glaring red.

-Also before the party scene, we see Nat breaking the news to Syd that Carm has been hanging out with Claire and there’s red peppered throughout Nat’s background and she’s wearing a red inner top.

-His misery at that party is palpable as well but we won’t focus on that. Neither will we focus on the recoil inducing Logan saga. When Carm and Claire have their (romantic?) aside they are enveloped in a sea of red.

-Carm invites Claire to the restaurant and even there she is constantly against a red sign. She meets Syd and both of them immediately seem to be placed in a conflicting position as Syd is irked about Carmy abandoning his duties (and possibly also jealous). Claire is mostly flanked by a red sign, Syd is shown against an orange backdrop (orange could signify optimism, happiness, etc).

Syd leaves soon after.

-While Carmy and Claire are hanging out in the restaurant, Claire asks “What’s with all the green?” She doesn’t notice the red tapes and plasters but she wonders about the greens, which basically indicate the things he actually needs to be working at, at that time and in general green is also associated with growth, progress, etc. On the whiteboard, “carm/syd menu review” is written and circled in green.

While showing her around, he explains that ideally the prep should pass from station to station in five seconds and she comments that it’s fast. Carmy agrees “we’re very fast”, which seems to be a double entendre signifying that the relationship is moving too fast.

-Fak interrupts them as they try to kiss. He goes to send Fak away and when he turns to rejoin Claire, she is seen framed in taping, in what looks like a red question mark with the clock in view. ?! This is the first thing I had noticed and what made me re-watch the episode more closely.

 

Then I found this bone chilling clue:

This had been one of my personal worst part of the episode and seemed like a complete waste of scene- until it didn’t !!

While going into the house hosting the party, they are accosted by a weirdo who calls Carmy “bro” and claims to have been in the same wrestling team as him. Carmy doesn’t even recognize him. He then asks Carmy,

“What are you doing?”

Not, what are you doing here? Not, where have you been?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING????

And it sounds spookily like an accusation, a plea, a warning: A message.

Carmy is making a mistake! Maybe the mistake is the person, maybe the timing, maybe the approach. But Carmy in that moment is making a mistake.

We’ll see in consequent episodes that Carmy is quite spiritual. That whenever he looks up he actually is sending up a prayer. He was actually the only one who took the “our mother of victory prayer” seriously, whereas it was more tongue-in-cheek for his other siblings. So maybe he was receiving a message from his higher power, or maybe from Michael, even(bro?).

 

But in true Carmy fashion, he just wouldn’t listen!

[bigchampa]

Champa vs Z:Pilaf Saga.

Champa had been given a large bowl of funsized jaw breakers. When one felt a lot harder to bite than the others. An orange ball with red stars.

He already had a cheek full of the jawbreakers. When he moved onto the strange one, he lets out a growl as he bit into it. "Hey, what the- What even is this?!" He shouted at what is clearly a dragon ball but of course, he is stubborn. "Oh, I get it. This one isn't supposed to be chewed." Then he shoved in his other cheek where it comically bulged out.

[majorproblems77]

I WILL LITERALLY PUT A REMINDER ON MY PHONE IM DOING IT RIGHT NOW

IM PAINTING AN ORANGE BOWL. ORANGE BOWL. ORANGE BOWL FOR MY MENTAL HEALTH

[vulpes-fennec]

Pumpkin Fields Forever (Part 3) 🎃

Summary: The Harvest Festival saga continues as Elain and Lucien finally have a conversation longer than 5 minutes and begin to ~see~ each other. 

TW: Mentions of violence/gore

“Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see. It’s getting hard to be someone but it all works out, it doesn’t matter much to me”

Read: Part 1 | Part 2 | AO3

Elain had made a beeline for the apple cider booth after the corn maze. She was parched, and hungry. Lucien had wordlessly stepped in front of her to pay for the drinks, but Elain silently muscled him out of the way. She would sooner rip her daisies out of the ground than be indebted to him. Allowing Lucien to pay was also too close to courting, and she would not allow their interactions to cross that line today.

In the end, neither of them won. The vendor recognized Elain as Feyre’s sister, giving them the ciders free of charge and adding sweet rice cakes on the house. Elain forced down her annoyance and thanked the vendor for his generosity.  

Elain hesitated when it came to picking up the food. What if I accidentally accept the mating bond by casually passing food to Lucien? She hesitated so long that Lucien ended up putting the refreshments on a tray himself.

Elain managed to pay for two slices of pumpkin pie at another booth, adding them to Lucien’s tray. Her gaze lingered on a delicious-looking pear crumble, but she decided to walk on. The two silently settled in a small table under an orange and yellow-leaved oak. 

“Wait here,” were Lucien’s first words to her in a while. Elain stared at Lucien’s retreating back, confused. I just want to eat. Does he really trust me to just stay here? Because there’s nothing stopping me from leaving…Elain glanced around, noting how everybody at the Harvest Festival was in an easy, happy mood. She seemed to be the only one who was a ball of nervous energy.  

He returned in less than five minutes. Elain’s eyes widened eagerly: Lucien had gotten the pear crumble from the pastry booth earlier. “I saw you were eyeing these…” he trailed off, tan face darkening with blush when she looked up at him. 

“Thank you,” Elain mumbled, mindful of her fingers when she took the bowl from him. He took the extra effort just for me. Elain didn’t know how to feel about it. She felt touched by the gesture, but…perhaps he was only motivated by the mating instincts to provide for her. 

Every item was perfectly spiced and sweetened, cooked to perfection. It was agonizing to be eating the food in silence, when all Elain wanted to do was comment on the dishes. She could’ve sworn Lucien smiled a bit when she inhaled the pear crumble, washing it down with a gulp of hot apple cider. 

She would have to recreate this masterpiece in the kitchen next week. Ginger seemed to be the special warming ingredient, and maybe even cinnamon…

“You didn’t like it when Daniela’s mother referred to you as Feyre’s sister. Or when the vendor gave us free food after recognizing you as an Archeron.” 

Elain blinked slowly, looking up from her rice cakes. “There’s nothing wrong with being an Archeron,” she replied neutrally. 

Lucien arched an eyebrow. “Does disliking special treatment make you feel ashamed? Because you’re worried it’ll come off as ungrateful?” 

Elain squirmed with discomfort. “Are you asking me or are you speculating?” 

“I think you feel bad because you’ve relied on Feyre your whole life.” Lucien’s gold eye focused on her with a whirr. “You’re struggling to break out of that cycle, am I right?”

“Is this interrogation happening because I didn’t let you pay?” Elain stabbed her rice cake with a little extra force. She regretted eating the pear crumble now. He must’ve given me it to butter me up, she thought with dismay. 

“Let you pay? With what money?” Lucien chuckled. Elain seethed at his taunt, his foxy countenance. She couldn’t recall the last time she’d been so annoyed at an attractive male. Men and males—especially handsome ones—tended to be agreeable with her.

“Fine. I may not have an official job.” Saying it out loud cemented how she didn’t have a major role at the Night Court, no matter how many charities she worked or parties she planned. Elain hated it.

Lucien has a bigger role than me and he’s hardly here. That’s not fair. She found a way to retort, and proceeded to use it. “But Rhys and Feyre pay you, so you’re relying on Feyre too, aren’t you?” 

That seemed to knock Lucien down a few pegs, but he recovered quickly. “It seems my lady and I agree on one thing: we don’t like being on the Night Court’s payroll. But the difference between you and me—” he leaned closer, his scent and smirk making Elain’s head spin “—is that I don’t pretend to enjoy it.”

Elain felt like a deer staring at a notched arrow. She’d spent less than a whole day with this male over the last few years, yet he’d already identified something she kept hidden from everybody else. This is precisely why I don’t want to spend time with him. He’ll be running once he knows my horrible thoughts. “You can’t just peek into the bond—” 

“You hardly send anything down the bond,” Lucien replied dryly. “Everything I’ve said has been the product of my prior knowledge and current observations.” 

Elain glowered at him as she took a sip of her cider. So he HAS been reading me like the emissary he is. That is hardly any more reassuring than knowing he isn’t using the bond. “Well, congratulations,” she said sarcastically. “You are correct. I don’t like it when people treat me differently because of my sisters.” 

Lucien clenched his jaw slightly at her tone. “I take no happiness in your misery, my lady.” 

A small silence passed, with Elain struggling to get ahold of herself while Lucien slowly munched his pie. “Speaking of the…the bond. You send things to me.” 

Lucien froze mid-bite. He set down his spoon apprehensively. “When? What did I send?”  

“It wasn’t very often. When you t-tugged on it? In the townhouse. And during the Solstice, I felt you were…disappointed.” The words were sludge in her throat. Speaking them into existence meant acknowledging that she played a part in that disappointment when she spurned his gift. “And today, twice. At the petting zoo.” 

“Ah. I’m sorry.” Lucien’s eyes flicked down, avoiding Elain. “I try to keep things to myself but it looks like some things have slipped through.” 

Hiding his emotions must be a massive mental strain. Elain understood the strain all too well. But if I let him relax his hold, then the constant connection would remind me of the bond waiting to be addressed. 

Lucien is a permanent fixture for the rest of my immortal life…does he even WANT such responsibility? Would he want me if the bond did not exist?

“You come out swinging while I’m trying to enjoy some dessert,” Elain huffed, trying to break the awkwardness. “My turn. How did you lose your eye? And why are you ashamed of it?” 

“I’m not ashamed of it,” he replied defensively. “I just…I know it’s intimidating to look at. I used to be quite the handsome male, you know.” He smirked again at Elain, waiting for her reaction. 

Elain only blinked at him with an expression of neutrality. She bit the urge to tell him he was still good-looking. “So you’re self-conscious,” she supplied instead. 

Lucien shrugged. “I had a mask stuck to my face for 49 years.” He paused, glancing down at his hands. “Seeing how old friends looked at my new face differently, how children shrank back in fear…that was why I glamoured myself around Daniela. I’m still self-conscious around new people.” 

“You didn’t glamour yourself when you met me,” Elain pointed out. 

Lucien’s russet eye flicked towards her. “You’d already seen me at Hybern.” His voice quiet at the horrible memory. “But you did look at me differently with the glamour. So if you prefer me to keep it on—”

“No,” Elain said sharply. “No. I’d prefer it if you appeared to me…as you are.” Lucien’s face was hesitantly relieved at her admission. 

Perhaps her acceptance of his face was what prompted him to ask, “You know who Amarantha is, right?” 

She nodded. The Hybern general who trapped all the High Lords, who assaulted Rhys for 50 years, who killed Feyre and Clare Beddor. “Well, Tam wanted me to deliver a message as emissary. A rejection of her romantic advances wrapped up in a political package and let’s just say that the witch did not take it well. Her sheer entitlement and cruelty reminded me of my father, Beron…I lost my temper and told her to go back to the shit-hole she crawled out of.” 

If Lucien’s use of coarse language bothered Elain, she didn’t show it. “And then what?” she breathed. 

“Amarantha did not take that well, either. One minute I was standing in front of her, the next I was on the ground, unable to see out of my left eye.” Lucien grimaced, and his metal eye stuttered in distress. “With my right eye, I saw her holding what remained of my left one. She swiftly crushed it under her boot.” The image of such violence shook Elain to her core. 

Lucien shuddered, paling visibly. It took all of Elain’s self-control to not reach for his hand, to steady the rapid thump-thump-thumping of his heart. He continued. “I staggered out of the room, blood pouring down my face. I managed to winnow back to Tam’s manor before passing out…and when I came to, I realized that no amount of Fae healing could remake an eye. Or heal the scar she’d left on my face. That was how deeply she raked her poisoned nails into me.” 

Elain felt sick. Feyre’s right, she thought angrily. Amarantha did not suffer enough. For what she did to everybody. What she did to Lucien. He didn’t deserve any of it. 

A roaring sound arose in her ears. “I hope she’s rotting in hell,” she muttered with deadly venom. A desire for vengeance turned her normally soft eyes into hardened stone. Lucien’s gold eye whirred and spun while his russet one regarded her unflinchingly. 

“I’ve upset you.” His gentle voice reminded Elain’s instincts that he was alive, that he was safe from any danger. She blinked, realizing she was breathing hard and gripping her fork with a clenched fist.

It was a moment before she could speak again. “I’m not upset at you…just upset because you feel the need to hide it,” Elain said quietly. “If people knew what you’d been through…how you survived…they would recognize your bravery like Daniela’s father.” 

She meant every word of it. Even though the logical part of her brain was telling her to stop engaging with Lucien, the softer side of her wanted to comfort him, to gently trace his scar and take away the pain he felt over his looks.

This isn’t real, she told herself. It’s the bond, making you feel this way. Right?

“Thank you, my lady.” Lucien hesitantly touched her hand on the table, sending a thrill through Elain. His broad palm was warm in the autumn chill. “Your words mean a lot to me.” 

Elain nodded, throat closing up. If they were having a heart-to-heart now, perhaps she could ask him about things like her father’s final days or Lucien’s experiences living in the human lands.

But Lucien seemed to have other things in mind. He’d shrugged off the somber mood with a wry grin and stood up. “No more moping about my past. How does a carnival game sound?” 

Read: Part 4

**I bought some pears and I’ve been thinking of making a pear crumble dessert because fall baking is Eluciencore 🍐// Also the title is a play on “Strawberry Fields Forever” because the lyrics are major Elucien angst**

[illusion-reality-steve]

Reaction to Rainbow Void’s debut and Rainbow Steve’s Funeral - Rainbow Quest Eps. 132 and 133

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1f8KedPXMU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThTFzEPfBU4

Rainbow Void’s debut

Sabre’s acting is really good in this episode. He’s really going through the stages of grief. I can feel him digging his hands into his scalp/hair if the webcam was on.

Also, the restored time dimension is BEAUTIFUL

And now we know what purpose the time dimension has. In the Steve Saga, the time dimension was just there to imprison Elemental Steve. I love the office/security vibes of the RQ version of this setting

Elemental Steve: I think I’m gonna hurl Let this be a lesson on why you shouldn’t binge eat pumpkin pies

[ID: A screenshot from Rainbow Quest. Time Steve is standing at a workstation in the Time Dimension, with Elemental Steve crouched at the corner. End ID.]

Is the kitchen-like build the reason why the Cooking with Time Steve joke exists?!

Rainbow Steve’s funeral

Me: *watches the funeral episode* Me: *realizes that Orange Leader isn’t here* Me: *realizes that Orange Leader is going to hear some heartbreaking news once he’s freed from the Darkness* Me: Oh no.

Not to ruin the mood, but can you imagine what would happen to RQ’s pacing if the characters stopped to hold a funeral for every good Steve that got destroyed?

Violet Steve Leader talking about Rainbow Steve: You’ve helped spread some kindness to all the other Steves. Me, who only remembers the Reverse arc for how reactive the heroes were: Did he really though?

Sabre: I’m glad that Rainbow Steve created a community for all of us to come together. Me: That was Elemental Steve and the refugees who did that, not Rainbow Steve. Did you see the town next to the Rainbow Bunker? Ok, to be fair, Rainbow did create the new and improved Rainbow Hub, so I’ll give him credit for that. I still wish Rainbow Steve did more though.

Funny and Sabre: *break into an argument* Me:

[ID: a gif of Jason Momoa swiftly pulling out a folding chair and getting ready to sit in an audience of people with tense expressions. End ID.] 

Sabre: *breaking down as lightning strikes near* Me:

[ID: a gif of Jennifer Morrison sitting on a couch and eating a bowl of popcorn. She is focusing on what she is watching. Then she gasps and widens her eyes as she reaches for more popcorn. End ID.]

Wow, that was a cliffhanger! I expected Sabre to go corrupt in the next episode, but based on the preview, that doesn’t happen yet.

So let’s end the reaction post here. I’ll react to the next episodes in another post!

[city-witch-magix]

Yule, the Winter Solstice

Begins on Winter Solstice and lasts 12 days (Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year, December 21st) 

Focuses on rebirth and renewal as the sun makes it way back to the earth. New beginnings with magical workings and welcome light and warmth into your home 

History: There are many variations of yule throughout the world. The Norse people celebrated Jul and viewed it as a time for feasting and merrymaking. Icelandic sagas believed it was a time of sacrifice. The Yule log, decorated Christmas tree, and wassailing can be traced back to the Norse people. Little is known of what the Celts did as celebration but it is said they sacrificed a white bull and gathered mistletoe in celebration. The Romans had a week long party full of merrymaking and debauchery that involved gift-giving, sacrifice, special privileges for slaves, and feasting. Ancient Egyptians celebrated the sun daily until they realized the cooler weather and cycle of life coincided. 

Decorate your altar with blues, silvers, reds, greens, and whites for the season. The reds help with chakra work because it is associated with chakra root. White helps focus on purifying. Gold can also be incorporated because it is associated with the sun and coincides with Yule. 

Symbols of Yule include gold discs, yellow candles, anything bright and shiny, a large pillar candle with solar symbols, evergreen boughs, sprigs of holly, pinecones, Yule log, Santa Claus, Antlers/reindeer, fruits (fresh apples/oranges), nuts (walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts), snowflakes, icicles, bowl of snow, candy canes, bells, and sunwheels 

Prayer to the Earth- Cold and dark, this time of year, the earth lies dormant, awaiting the return of the sun, and with it, life. Far beneath the frozen surface, a heartbeat waits, until the moment is right, to spring.

Yule Sunrise Prayer- The sun returns! The light returns! The earth begins to warm once more! The time of darkness has passed, and a path of light begins the new day. Welcome, welcome, the heat of the sun, blessing us all with its rays.

Yule Sunset Prayer- The longest night has come once more, the sun has set, and darkness fallen. The trees are bare, the earth asleep, and the skies are cold and black. Yet tonight we rejoice, in this longest night, embracing the darkness that enfolds us. We welcome the night and all that it holds, as the light of the stars shines down.

Prayer to the Winter Goddess- O! Mighty goddess, in silvery ice, watching over us as we sleep, a layer of shining white, covering the earth each night, frost on the world and in the soul, we thank you for visiting us. Because of you, we seek warmth in the comfort of our homes and hearths.

Prayer for Counting Blessing- I am grateful for that which I have. I am not sorrowful for that which I do not. I have more than others, less than some, but regardless, I am blessed with what is mine. [If you have a set of pagan prayer beads or a witch's ladder, count off each bead or knot, and consider the things you are thankful for, like so:] First, I am thankful for my health. Second, I am thankful for my family. Third, I am thankful for my warm home. Fourth, I am thankful for the abundance in my life. [Continue counting off your blessings until you have thought of all of the things that enrich your life and the lives of those around you.]

Prayer for the Beginning of Winter- See the gray skies overhead, preparing the way for the bright sun soon to come. See the gray skies overhead, preparing the way, for the world to awake once more. See the gray skies overhead, preparing the way for the longest night of the year. See the gray skies overhead, preparing the way for the sun to finally return, bringing with it light and warmth.

Nordic Yule Prayer- Beneath the tree of light and life, a blessing at this season of Yule! To all that sit at my hearth, today we are brothers, we are family, and I drink to your health! Today we do not fight, We bear no one ill will. Today is a day to offer hospitality to all that cross my threshold in the name of the season.

Snow Prayer- From the reaches of the north, a place of cold blue beauty, comes to us the first winter storm. Wind whipping, flakes flying, the snow has fallen upon the earth, keeping us close, keeping us together, wrapped up as everything sleeps beneath a blanket of white.

Prayer to Old Gods- The Holly King is gone, and the  Oak King reigns— Yule is the time of the  old winter gods! Hail to Baldur! To Saturn! To  Odin! Hail to Amaterasu! To Demeter! Hail to Ra! To Horus! Hail to Frigga, Minerva Sulis and Cailleach Bheur! It is their season, and high in the heavens, may they grant us their blessings this winter day.

Celtic Yule Blessing- The food is put away for the winter, the crops are set aside to feed us, the cattle are come down from their fields, and the sheep are in from the pasture. The land is cold, the sea is stormy, the sky is gray. The nights are dark, but we have our family, kin and clan around the hearth, staying warm in the midst of darkness, our spirit and love a flame, a beacon burning brightly in the night.

Elemental Prayer- As the earth grows colder, the winds blow faster, the fire dwindles smaller, and the rains fall harder, let the light of the sun find its way home.

Prayer to the Sun Gods- Great sun, wheel of fire, sun god in your glory, hear me as I honor you on this, the shortest day of the year. Summer has gone, passed us by, the fields are dead and cold, all of earth sleeps in your absence. Even in the darkest times, you light the way for those who need a beacon, of hope, of brightness, shining in the night. Winter is here, and colder days coming, the fields are bare and the livestock thin. We light these candles in your honor, that you might gather your strength and bring life back to the world. O mighty sun above us, we ask you to return, to bring back to us the light and the warmth of your fire. Bring life back to earth. Bring light back to earth. Hail the sun!

Some recipes: https://www.learnreligions.com/yule-cooking-and-recipes-2562933 (Yule Plum Pudding, Savory Sun King Soup, Baked Spaghetti Squash, Sunshine Skillet Casserole, Divine Yule Peppermint Fudge, Chocolate Yule Log, Wassail, and Hot Buttered Rum)

Source: https://www.learnreligions.com/all-about-yule-2562972

[lorirwritesfanfic]

The Curious Case Of The Fur Babies

Author's note: Today is the birthday of one of my favorite people here and I wrote this for her. @thequeenchoices​ migaaaaaaaaaaa! Happy birthday! I know I owe you Hayden x MC Christmas fluff, but here's something else I've been working on. [Leading characters are owned by Pixelberry Studios and original characters are creations of the author] Book: Perfect Match Pairing: M!Hayden Young x F!MC (Natasha) Rating: T Word count: 1307 Summary: Hayden is a little worried about his pet child behavior lately. But his certainly not ready to fin out what is going on with Dipper.

A salty and fresh oily smell spreads in the air while Natasha turns off the stove burner and pours melted butter over the bowl of popcorn. Movie nights with Hayden became more common than either of them expected once life returned to normalcy in New York. Given how their lives were turned upside down after they started dating, normal and boring days may be just what they need.

Picking up the bowl, Natasha returns to the living room and takes a seat next to her boyfriend, who's looking through the options in the movies catalog of the streaming app.

"Okay, popcorn and drinks are ready. Now tell me what we're going to watch," said Natasha.

"Twilight saga."

She doubles over. "Really?"

"I know online reviews and people nowadays say it's a terrible story. But it has been trending on Quickflix for weeks. It kinda made me curious."

"Well, when you put it that way…" Natasha ponders about it as she pours orange juice in her glass.

"So, is it a yes?"

She nods.

"Awesome!" Hayden smiles proudly, picks up the remote control and presses play.

Along the movie, the couple comments on a few scenes and laugh. Still, Hayden's eyes eventually land on the corner of the room, where his border collie sleeps soundly. Between the second and third movie, he makes a beeline for the corner, then crouches down to pet the dog.

"Babe?"

"Yeah?"

"Everything okay?" 

Taking his time to respond, he stands up and returns to the couch. "I don't know… Don’t you think Dipper's behavior is strange lately?"

"How so?"

"She sleeps a lot, she gets tired easily and she's cranky sometimes. Normally, she would be with us here, interrupting the movie to play, asking to be petted, sleeping here near me." He looks down his hands then glances at the dog still sleeping.

“Hmm…” Natasha looks away, lost in thought.

“What?”

“It’s probably nothing, but I noticed she’s eating a lot lately. She threw up this morning…”

"Ugh..." Hayden whines.

"We should take her to the vet. Maybe it’s nothing, but we can’t be too careful, right?”

"Yeah, I guess…" His shoulders slump as he sinks into the couch.

"You know what?" Natasha stands up. "We should go right now."

"Now?" He stares as his girlfriend in confusion. "But how about the movies?"

"Dipper's health is more important. Go get your wallet and her documents while I get her travel bag."

Hayden nods in agreement and quickly grabs everything he needs to take his dog to the vet.

Later that day

"I'm sorry… Dipper is what now?" Hayden asks as he tries to absorb what he just heard.

"Your dog is pregnant, Mr. Young," the veterinarian says with a smile.

Hayden sinks into the chair near the gurney where Dipper lies down, letting out a yawn as she rests her head on her pet parent's hand.

"Really?!" Natasha grins.

"Yes. Though she didn't cooperate during abdominal palpation, all her signs check and her blood test came out as positive," the vet explains.

"Yeah, sorry about that, Dr. Sanders. Usually, Dipper is more docile." Natasha simpers.

"It's alright, Miss Park. Some dogs experience these mood swings during pregnancy. She's definitely not the first dog that doesn't like palpation exams."

"Can we know how far long is she?" Natasha asks.

"Well, she hasn't gained much weight yet, but she already has vaginal discharge, so I'd say she's about a month pregnant."

"Does it mean she'll deliver in a month?" Hayden inquires.

"Something like that. We should take Dipper to the other room where we can confirm her pregnancy through the ultrasound," the vet says.

"Sure. Let's do it!" Natasha beams.

"Excellent. I'll see if the exam room is ready and be right back."

"Thank you, Dr. Sanders."

"Of course. I’ll give you three a minute."

As the veterinarian leaves, Natasha turns to the dog with a broad grin. "Giiiiirl! You're going to have fur babies!" She cheers and pets the dog, who wags her tail.

Her pet parent, on the other hand, still seems somewhat lost, fiddling with the ends of his scarf.

"Hayden? Are you okay?"

He gives his shoulders.

Natasha approaches her boyfriend and cups one side of his face. "What's going on, babe?"

"It's nothing. I'm just trying to understand how."

"You know how..." She gives him a knowing look.

"Fine…” He makes a face. “But when?! She never leaves my side when we go out for walks. She only was in heat once. Then Sloane told me Dipper was in estrous cycle last month. I think..." He scratches his head in confusion. "I should have scheduled her spaying sooner…" He says, running his thumb between the dog's sleepy eyes.

"Babe, we had a lot going on ever since we returned to New York. You're getting your engineering degree, you decided to move out and live by yourself. Then I moved in…" She smiles softly, caressing his cheek. "You heard what the doctor said. Dipper is healthy, she is eating well, she has the right weight. Now we just have to take care of her so she can deliver healthy puppies."

Hayden lets out a tired sigh.

"Come on… Don't tell me you're not even a little excited to see new cute furry faces in one month," Natasha says, nudging him playfully.

Hayden looks back at his dog and a coy smile spreads on his lips. "Maybe… She will have the cutest puppies."

“Of course she will! Look at this adorable face!” Natasha blows an air kiss to the dog, who wags her trail frantically.

Just then, the door opens. "We're ready to take Dipper for the ultrasound and hear some heartbeats. Will you help me take her to the other room, Mr. Young?" The vet looks at Hayden expectantly.

"Yes." With a resolute nod, he stands us, picks up Dipper and turns to Natasha. "See you in a few minutes."

Eight weeks later

"Oh my God! They're too cute!" Nadia squeals holding one of the five Aussie Collies near her face. "You are too cute! I just can't with you!"

"I can imagine how much trouble they get you, but oh man!" Steve beams petting another one of the puppies. "When did you say we can pick one?"

"Six weeks. They'll be bigger and more independent then. The change will be less hard for them," Hayden smiles idly scratching Dipper's fur.

"I always preferred cats, but Dipper definitely changed my mind about dogs," Sloane adds.

"Wait until you take one of Dipper's puppies home. Hamza will lose it," Natasha jokes.

"Oh, he already is. That's why Khaan and I didn't tell him the puppies have born. He'd want to go back home with one of them. And we're soooo not ready to have a puppy at home now," Sloane shakes her head frantically, making everyone laugh.

"So… Did you figure out who mated with Dipper?" Steve asks.

"Yep. It's our landlord's Australian Shepherd. He helped with some of the vet bills and will stay with one of the puppies too," Natasha explains.

"Oh, he's pretty! Nice catch, Dipper!" Nadia winks at the dog.

Everyone chuckles.

"Okay, I think it's time to let Dipper feed the puppies," Hayden announces as he stands up to give space for the tiny dogs to follow their mother to her bed.

"Aww… Hayden is a protective pet parent. That’s so cute!" Nadia praises as everyone leaves the spare room Dipper is with puppies.

"He seems pretty attached to them. Are you sure he's going to agree on giving the puppies away?" Sloane whispers.

"He was struggling. But I reminded him that we live in a small apartment and we can't have five mini Dippers growing as big as she is and making as much mess as she does," Natasha murmured.

"Good call," Sloane nods, suppressing a giggle.