#organic weed control services

[weedcontrol]

Organic Weed Control for Residential Spaces ensures Natural and Safe Environment

Introduction:

Weeds can quickly invade residential spaces, compromising the beauty and health of lawns and gardens. While chemical herbicides are commonly used for weed control, they can have adverse effects on the environment and human health. Organic weed control services offer a natural and safe alternative, employing eco-friendly methods to manage and eliminate weeds. This article explores the benefits and features of organic weed control for residential spaces.

Environmentally Friendly Approach:

One of the primary advantages of organic weed control is its environmentally friendly nature. Organic methods utilize natural products and techniques that minimize harm to the ecosystem. These methods avoid the use of synthetic chemicals, reducing soil and water contamination. It promotes the health and biodiversity of the surrounding environment, ensuring a sustainable and thriving ecosystem for plants, animals, and beneficial insects.

Safe for Humans and Pets:

Chemical herbicides often pose health risks to humans and pets, particularly if they come into contact with treated areas or are exposed to chemical residues. Organic weed control eliminates this concern by utilizing non-toxic and safe alternatives. Natural products such as vinegar, boiling water, corn gluten meal, and essential oils are commonly used to target and kill weeds. These organic solutions provide effective weed control without compromising the health and safety of residents and their furry companions.

Preventive Measures:

Residential weed control services focus on prevention as a key strategy. By implementing preventive measures, the growth and spread of weeds can be minimized. Practices such as regular mowing, proper watering and fertilization, and mulching help create a healthy and dense lawn that discourages weed growth. Additionally, proper soil management and promoting strong plant health contribute to weed prevention. By adopting these proactive measures, organic weed control aims to reduce the need for intensive weed removal methods in the future.

Mulching:

Mulching is an integral part of organic weed control. Applying a layer of organic mulch around plants and in garden beds helps suppress weed growth by blocking sunlight and creating a barrier. Mulch also retains soil moisture, improves soil health, and regulates temperature, benefiting the overall health of plants. Organic materials such as wood chips, straw, or compost can be used as mulch, providing a natural and sustainable solution for weed control.

Consistent Maintenance:

Organic weed control requires consistent maintenance to ensure long-term success. Regular monitoring and timely action are necessary to prevent weeds from spreading and establishing a strong presence. By staying vigilant and implementing organic weed control methods on a routine basis, residential spaces can maintain a weed-free environment naturally and sustainably.

Among all, Weed Control Ltd. is a worthy concern which specializes in offering weed removal services for public works. They render spraying service for all weeds irrespective of type and volume. For more details, you can check the information given below:

Name: Weed Control Ltd

Email: weedcontrollimited@gmail.com

Phone: 087-259 5855

[wodeworm]

Gravegnawer Vampire Dragon

Once common throughout Eastern Europe, using the warrens and burrows of other animals and naturally forming warrens to raise and care for their young, even capable of feeding their offspring a layer of fatty skin. Once matured they would adopt a diet mainly consisting of invertebrates, using a combination of their wings and moonlight to attract nocturnal organisms and providing an important ecosystem service by controlling pest species such as Ticks, Flees and other virus carrying creatures.

Eventually with the rise and spreading of modern humanity they're territory and regular appearance were pushed to fringes of the world, which they were poorly suited too, sending the population crashing. eventually humanity consumed these locations as well.

This led to modern humans first major and short lived encounters with the species, often encounters would start with , gibbering, skittering and chewing sounds, leading to the towns people finding a hugely bloated, plump reddish fluid seeping creature seemingly feeding on the dead, living in the towns coffins and graveyards. much to horror of the towns people, seemingly other corpses' began sharing these harrowing traits. the people began thinking this creature was spreading some otherworldly Vampiric plague to the dead and finally the living, a trothing raging hysteria erupted across continent and all sorts of unsubstantiated theory's, throwing theology and world views into a mass panic. this led to a ferocious culling and hunting of both dragon and people, these plodding hyper specialized organisms stood no chance against such a zealous cull against them.

Even more disturbingly grave robbers began trying to domesticate a population of the young, using them to seek fresh corpse bounty's and fueling a huge underground market, keeping the last of the species in inhumane conditions, the hunt finally weeded out these hellish and ultimately last bastions of the species. shortly after ravaging plagues and an eruption in strange diseases, plunging Europe into some of the darkest century's ever witnessed.

[meret118]

The far-right think tank behind the controversial pro-Trump Project 2025 plan is filing a series of Freedom of Information Act requests to find out what employees at NASA said privately about former President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk, Reuters reported on Friday.

. . .

This plan, spearheaded by the Heritage Foundation, "is part of that organization's ongoing push to help Trump weed out uncooperative civil servants if he is reelected to the White House in November," an executives told Reuters.

The Heritage Foundation's Project 2025, which has become a key focal point in the election, advocates for Trump to replace the civil service with GOP loyalists, seize direct control of independent agencies like the Federal Communications Commission, enshrine Christian nationalism in law, and terminate or defund a broad range of federal programs.

-----

Online voting registration ends in days in some states!

I'm so fucking terrified, y'all.

[octuscle]

I don't know any American air ports

How will LAX: 3 turn out for me?

The suitcase is delivered to your office. The lady at the reception is a bit irritated that the suitcase covered all over with stickers is actually supposed to be delivered to you. That's why she knocks in the conference room and asks your assistant if this is correct. And your assistant asks you. Whereupon you have one of your dreaded tantrums and ask if this is really a reason to interrupt the board meeting. Take a deep breath. And then you ask your CIO to explain the figures on the current slide to you again. For you, this is not plausible.

When the meeting is over, your assistant accompanies you to your impressive office. There is a whole series of signatures to be made. And after that, you want to freshen up briefly and then go to lunch with the CEO of the company you would like to take over. On the suitcase standing in the corner hangs a tag with your name on it. An expensive, slightly dented RIMOWA suitcase. Who the hell messed it up with the stickers? Never mind, you'll take care of that later.

When you come out of the executive restroom, you take a quick look to see if anyone sees you. Even as the boss's son, you're not really allowed to use the restroom. But of course you have the code to do it. You have an appointment with the other department heads from Risk Controlling for the lunch break. It took you long enough to make friends here. Son from the boss is always difficult, of course. But you really don't enjoy any privileges (apart from the code for the restroom). You work just as hard as everyone else. And when it comes to promotions, you're even more likely to be ignored than others who are less deserving. At lunch time, you have your fun, gossiping about superiors and subordinates. Down at the entrance you say goodbye, you feel the urgent need to smoke a cigarette and bum one of the colleagues smoking there.

Back in your open-plan office, your group leader takes out his anger on you. Apparently, your old man yelled at the CIO in the board meeting, who then yelled at his division manager, who yelled at the department manager, who then yelled at the group manager. As a rookie, you're now getting it all, and you're now allowed to revise the documents for the CIO in such a way that your father is satisfied. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to join your father's company after all. When you have finished the documents to your satisfaction and that of your group leader, you take a smoke break.

Fuck, you really are a dumbass. When you pick up your suitcase from your father's office, he will immediately smell that you have just smoked. And if you're lucky, he'll check your suitcase right away. And there are things in there that he would not be very happy about. The weed is probably not that bad. But explaining the dildo might be really hard for you. So you call your father's assistant and ask her to bring the suitcase down to the reception. And maybe she can also organize a car from the transport service to take you and the suitcase home. She will do anything for you anyway. She probably still secretly hopes that you will come together with her daughter. If she knew that her son fucks you occasionally….

Good to be back home and what a luck that you could intercept your suitcase in front of your parents. You stow the weed and dildo in your room. And grab your skateboard and your ball. Let's see if one of your lads feels like shooting some hoops.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Don Moynihan at Can We Still Govern?:

Trump has normalized unfounded attacks on lots of people, but public servants in particular. We have seen this at every level of government, whether it be librarians, school teachers, public health or election officials. Whether Trump wins or loses, I worry that this practice will remain a feature of the contemporary American state. Trumpism has fed an era of sustained harassment of public officials even when he was not in power, and for state and local officials that the federal government has no control over.

This is happening while we are seeing an interesting conversation happening about how to revitalize American state capacity. But I don’t see how we can have that conversation while ignoring that more and more American public servants are being asked to live under conditions of terror. Previously, I wrote about the attack on federal employees by Tom Jones and his slime machine, the American Accountability Foundation, funded by the Heritage Foundation and the Conservative Partnership Institute. Jones is conducting opposition research on civil servants with the intent of identifying those that Trump should fire once he returns to office. He has since started releasing the names of “targets”, starting with Department of Homeland Security. “Targets” is not exactly subtle.

A nothingburger case for firing federal officials

The site posts the civil servants name, picture, title and salary. But the actual accusations are weak tea. This is the evidence for firing the “top 10 targets” who we must assume are the worst of the worst, providing the most damning cases:

Worked for American Bar Association, Catholic Charities or other “far left” organizations which help immigrants

Praised Anthony Fauci in a tweet

Worked as an immigration lawyer or public defense attorney

Has credit card debt

Worked for immigration advocacy groups

Said that “homegrown extremism” and “misinformation” were homeland security threats, or served on a disinformation board

Supports DC statehood

Has donated to Democratic politicians in the past - including $10 to Elizabeth Warren in 2019

Donated to LGBTQ supportive groups

Spoke on a diversity panel, spoke on a panel called “The Role of Social Workers in Immigration Legal Services Organizations.”

Was listed on DHS press releases as a point of contact to provide more information about administration policies

Implemented Biden era policies, like setting up virtual screening processes for immigrants, or adding third gender option on citizenship documents

Social media posts critical of Trump and his immigration policies, supportive of immigrants, acknowledging systemic racism

Wrote a law review article critical of the treatment of mentally ill immigrants in detention facilities

Guilt by association: “is on good terms with notorious bureaucrat”

Won an award for excellent performance in her job (I’m not kidding, see below), which means she can't be trusted. Another won an award for helping Afghan and Ukraine refugees resettle in the United States.

So, no actual scandals! The officials are criticized in many cases for simply doing their job, or expressing generic liberal opinions. (If you think I am misrepresenting anything, here is the link to the profiles). Having job-relevant experience is bad, if its suggest any empathy with immigrants. Being good at your job is bad (so much for the claim that Schedule F is there to weed out poor performers). Sharing the same views of homeland security threats that the FBI does: also bad! In no case is there any claim that the actions are illegal, or the statements the employees made were wrong. Without Schedule F, no career official could be fired for these actions. With Schedule F, they are gone.

[...]

Terror and formal power go hand in hand

It is also a categorical error to distinguish between formal powers (in this case, the proposal that Trump use Schedule F to fire the employees) with informal modes of intimidation. When I talk with people studying government, both journalists and researchers, they focus a great deal on the formal authority. But I don’t think MAGAworld sees it in those terms. They see the use of intimidation as central to their goals.

Jones is already well connected with Project 2025, and people who will staff a second Trump administration. He could simply hand them a list of names of the people he thinks should be fired. But the publicity is part of the point. They can’t fire everyone, but they can scare a lot of people into submission. For terror to work, it needs public executions. It needs guillotines. It needs fear. They can weaponize the conservative information ecosystem — from the more respectable media like Fox, to followers who will leave threatening emails and voicemails for people they are told are their enemies — to achieve their full effect.

Jones is not an outlier. Likely Trump appointees have been explicit in threatening career officials. Robert F. Kennedy, the anti-science kook who has said that Trump promised to give him control over health policy, with oversight of HHS, CDC, FDA, NIH “a few others” and the USDA, told FDA officials to “pack their bags.” In the real world, RFK would not be trusted to run a school lunch program. In Trumpworld, he will not just have the ability to impose his whackdoodle ideas on real scientists; he can fire the ones who dare to call him on his bullshit.

[...]

For example, the same people who brought down Harvard President Claudine Gay, and who specialize in accusing Black scholars of plagiarism, recently went after Kamala Harris with the same accusations. The project of surveillance, control and threat includes encouraging students to engage in snitch culture, in the hope of getting their fellow students or faculty into trouble. Charlie Kirk’s operation started with creating a watchlist of “radical professors” before Turning Point became a huge organization fueling campus surveillance. Some states have changed the law to encourage students to record professors to report ideologically suspect comments (they do this in China too). American Accountability Foundation encourages people to send in reports about rogue bureaucrats to its tipline.

Don Moynihan has a solid piece on how Donald Trump seeks to remake the civil services in his fascistic image if he elected again.

[maplegardenfarm]

Chemical Free Farming Tips

Chemical-free farming, also known as organic farming, focuses on cultivating crops and raising livestock without the use of synthetic chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. Here are some tips for chemical-free farming:

Crop rotation: Implement a crop rotation system where different crops are grown in a sequence over multiple seasons. This helps prevent the buildup of pests and diseases specific to certain crops, reducing the need for chemical interventions.

Composting: Create and utilize compost from organic waste, such as vegetable scraps, plant trimmings, and manure. Compost enriches the soil with nutrients, improves soil structure, and enhances its ability to retain moisture, reducing the need for chemical fertilizers.

Natural fertilizers: Use natural fertilizers like compost, manure, and organic amendments (e.g., bone meal, blood meal) to provide essential nutrients to the soil and promote healthy plant growth.

#RenewableEnergyNB#RenewableEnergyNBCanada #humbleOrganicFarmhttps://t.co/j07I3jqoNX

— Maple Garden Farm (@MapleGardenFarm) May 19, 2023

Mulching: Apply organic mulch, such as straw, leaves, or grass clippings, around the base of plants. Mulching helps suppress weeds, retain soil moisture, and improve soil quality, reducing the need for herbicides and frequent watering.

Biological pest control: Encourage natural predators and beneficial insects that control pests. Planting diverse crops and creating habitats for beneficial insects like ladybugs, lacewings, and predatory wasps can help keep pest populations in check.

Integrated pest management (IPM): Implement IPM strategies, which involve monitoring pest populations, using physical barriers, employing trap crops, and employing cultural practices to minimize pest damage. Only resort to approved organic pesticides or insecticidal soaps when absolutely necessary.

Water management: Optimize irrigation practices by using techniques such as drip irrigation or soaker hoses, which deliver water directly to plant roots. This minimizes water waste and reduces the likelihood of fungal diseases caused by excessive moisture.

Weed control: Utilize manual methods like hand-weeding, hoeing, or mulching to control weeds instead of chemical herbicides. Regularly remove weeds before they mature and spread their seeds.

Disease-resistant varieties: Select and grow plant varieties that are naturally resistant to common diseases and pests in your area. Disease-resistant plants are less likely to require chemical treatments.

Soil conservation: Practice soil conservation techniques, including maintaining adequate ground cover, preventing erosion, and avoiding over-tilling. Healthy soil with good structure and organic matter content is less susceptible to pests and diseases.

Remember that transitioning to chemical-free farming may take time and experimentation. Local organic farming associations, agricultural extension services, and experienced organic farmers can provide valuable guidance and resources specific to your region.

Joint blog Post by Chrystale Henry and Zilu Zhang at Maple Garden Farm – a off the grid humble Organic Farm (permaculture ) located on a 10 acre farm producing varieties of vegetables and other farm produce. Joint us on twitter, Facebook and follow our LinkedIn company page to learn more and get great tips on farming strategy and permaculture and alternative energy design ideas.

[beefromanoff]

Project Mockingbird Ch. 12

summary: Charlotte bonds with Calla while the team is gone until something big interrupts the night.

pairing: Bucky Barnes x OC

author's note: wooooo, a long chapter! we're picking up steam over here! let me know what you think!

tag list: @bangtanxberm @scott-loki-barnes (let me know if you want to be added <3)

chapter list

_______________________________________

The compound was fully awake and buzzing with the news of what had happened earlier that morning as Charlotte headed to the hangar for her next challenge — piloting the Quinjet. A particularly bold group of agents gawked at her as they ran by in a pack, whispering to each other. 

“I heard she almost killed Agent Scott,” One muttered to the agent jogging beside her. 

“If you can still talk then you aren’t running hard enough, agents!” Maria Hill barked from behind the group, feet kicked up on the dash of the cart she was riding in. She winked at Charlotte as they drove by.

Taking a deep breath, she let the wave of irritation roll off of her. Most of the actual agents were kind, professional, tactful. It was the trainees that caused the most trouble. The ones who were top of their class at whatever Ivy League school they went to, high ranking in the military or CIA or whichever organization they’d been recruited from. They felt like they were on top of the world after being accepted into SHIELD’s elite training program. It showed. Eventually, the egomaniacal ones would be weeded out. Either by dismissal from the program or being humbled in action. Until then, they’d continue being the thorn in her side. At the very least, she didn’t seem to be the only one who had problems with their egos, if Calla’s lack of disciplinary action towards her opening a can of whoop-ass earlier said anything.

The hangar looked larger than life, even more imposing in the daylight than it had looked before sunrise. Sleek slate gray walls rose high above her head, massive doors open to allow the aircraft to pass in and out. A long row of Quinjets spread down the side of the building, ready for takeoff at a moments’ notice. A few more remained inside the hangar for maintenance, or enhancements being made. 

A seasoned pilot, Lieutenant Rodriguez, awaited her by the hangars entrance. "You ready for this, Agent Rossi?"

"As ready as I'll ever be," Charlotte replied, suppressing the flutter of nerves. “You can call me Charlotte, by the way.” 

Rodriguez nodded and led her towards one of the Quinjets being serviced. They approached the base of the jet, a cool spring breeze blowing through the massive open hangar door. Slowly, they walked around the outside of the aircraft, with Agent Rodriguez pointing out every feature from the hover mechanics to the shield generator to the ballistics hidden beneath the shell. He explained the science behind stealth mode and the adaptations made for the most recent fleet. Finally, he paused at the base of the ramp. 

“Any questions so far?” 

She shook her head. “No sir.” 

He paused, doing a double take at her. “Do you really have that…perfect memory?”

“I don’t know about perfect,” She shrugged. “Let’s just say it’s pretty difficult for me to forget anything without extensive shock therapy. Don’t recommend, by the way.” 

Agent Rodriguez cleared his throat, not sure how to respond. “Well, shall we?” 

They strode up the ramp into the Quinjet, where he did the same in-depth history lesson on the entire interior. Charlotte had a feeling all of this detail probably wasn’t necessary, but she heard him out anyway. They finally made their way to the cockpit where he talked through the controls, explaining each one patiently. The quinjet's complexity was astounding, but it was surprisingly simple to pilot, seeing as it was meant to be flown in high stakes combat situations. They’d evolved to be intuitive and easy to control in case the pilot was under duress while flying. She took a deep breath, trying not to think of her friends who’d flown one into a dangerous place just that morning. After the entire instrument panel had been explained, Agent Rodriguez switched the aircraft into simulation mode, where she could get the feel for all the controls without actually getting airborne…yet.

"First, familiarize yourself with the navigation controls," Rodriguez instructed. "Feel the thrusters respond to your touch."

The hangar echoed with the hum of the quinjet's engines as Charlotte tentatively manipulated the controls. The aircraft responded, but her movements were hesitant.

"Confidence is key, Charlotte. The quinjet is an extension of yourself," Rodriguez advised.

Charlotte nodded, absorbing the advice. She pushed herself to grow accustomed to the controls, gradually gaining confidence. It wasn’t that she was afraid of flying, she really didn’t mind it. It was more of the unfamiliarity, of being in control of something so massive. She’d only really been exposed to this kind of technology for the past two years. She’d never even driven a car before. Skipping straight to the highest-tech aircraft in existence felt like a giant leap. Rodriguez observed her progress as they moved through different aspects, offering guidance when needed.

“Alright, are you ready to take it out for a spin?” 

Charlotte swung her head around to look at him, gaping. “What? Now? Today?” 

“I don’t see why not. You’ve mastered everything I’ve told you so far, and these are equipped with emergency autopilot activation, so if you take your hands off of the controls, it’ll keep you airborne all on its own.” 

She raised an eyebrow, assessing his calm demeanor. “Alright. I suggest you buckle up, though. I don’t even have a drivers’ license.” 

He didn’t seem phased, but clicked the buckle across his chest anyways, chuckling. Charlotte was grateful for his patience as he talked her through how to steer the jet out the open hangar door. When he finished and looked at her expectantly, she bit her lip. 

“Would you mind to…could you just show me first?” She ran a hand through her hair. “I’m more of a…visual learner.” 

He smiled and nodded. “Of course.” As he talked through what he was doing, Charlotte locked in on his movements. The order he flipped switches on, the pressure he applied to the joysticks, the directions his eyes flicked and what he was monitoring. Every detail locked into place in her brain as he gently set the jet down on the landing pad outside the hangar. As sunlight streamed in the massive windshield, she took a deep breath, cycling through the steps she’d just committed to memory.

"Your turn. Remember what I said about altitude control," Rodriguez said, guiding her through the process of lifting the quinjet off the ground. As the aircraft ascended, Charlotte's heart flipped. Her movements were mechanical, perfectly imitating what she’d seen him do, reciting the steps out loud as if she was reading from a textbook.

For the next hour, they practiced navigation, altitude adjustments, and basic maneuvers. Rodriguez praised her improvements, but Charlotte's tension lingered. From her training with Bucky, she was well aware of her own weakness. She could learn, but she had to be able to adapt. It was easy for her to watch Agent Rodriguez perform a maneuver and then precisely execute it in the exact same circumstance, but would she be able to perform this skill outside of this scenario? Could she execute the same sharply banked turn in an airborne firefight with an enemy? Could she pull this steep climb up the face of a cliff during an escape? Would she be able to take off during mass chaos inside the cockpit, where she didn’t have the luxury of pacing herself exactly as he had done it? Her training with Bucky had admittedly given her many useful skills, but it had taken away the blind confidence she had in her abilities to learn and then do. She couldn’t mimic something she’d never seen. Almost every mission would require spur of the moment decisions, flexibility, growth. She wouldn’t have someone to absorb information from. She had to know these things inside and out and be able to perform them when it counted. That’s what was making her grip the controls like a vice. Not the fear of heights, not the speed, but the pressure of truly learning this so that when it mattered…she wouldn’t need to be rescued.

As the lesson progressed, Charlotte found herself settling into a rhythm. 

"Alright, Charlotte, let's try a controlled descent," Rodriguez suggested. “Do you want me to show you first and then we can go back up for you to try?”

She stopped herself before she could say yes. “Actually, I’d like to try this one myself first. Can you talk me through it? Like we’re on comms?” 

He nodded, giving her a reassuring smile before giving her step by step instructions. It was a little rockier than the ascent, with her relying on the human side of her brain rather than the enhanced. As she got the hang of it, they descended more smoothly, and Charlotte marveled at the sensation of control she was gaining. By the time they touched back on the landing pad, Charlotte had logged several hours of flight time. She taxied the quinjet back into the hangar, feeling a mix of exhaustion and accomplishment.

"Great job, Agent Rossi. You've got the potential to be a skilled pilot," Rodriguez commended her, extending a hand for her to shake. “Charlotte.”

______

The atmosphere in Calla's quarters was warm and welcoming as Charlotte stepped inside the next night. The apartment, though much smaller than the communal Avengers space, exuded a cozy charm. The aroma of pasta wafted through the air, instantly making Charlotte's stomach growl.

"Hope you're hungry. I'm no culinary expert, but my Italian blood picks up the slack," Calla said, a playful grin on her face.

"Hungry doesn't even begin to cover it," Charlotte replied, realizing how famished she was after her intensive training session. The team had only been gone two days and she was shocked at how much she struggled with the isolation. She’d been on her own for two years, and in the couple months she’d been with the team, it had become her new normal. Her very much preferred normal. The past two days, she’d avoided the common room as much as possible. It felt too big and empty. Even the grounds with the other agents felt preferable to that. Luckily after yesterday morning’s incident, no one seemed too keen to harass her. Between flight lessons, doing solo simulations in the training room, and her normal strength and conditioning; she was beat. It was a welcome relief when Calla had sent word through FRIDAY to invite her to dinner. 

"So, Calla," Charlotte began, sipping from her wine glass, "I'm sure you've got some interesting stories from your time here. What's it like working with the Avengers?"

Calla chuckled, a warmth in her eyes as she recalled various encounters. "Oh, where do I even begin? Well, there was this one time when Tony accidentally activated his suit's repulsors during a team meeting. Papers everywhere, and he blamed it on a malfunction."

Charlotte laughed, imagining the scene. "Classic Tony. Always the showman, even in mishaps."

"Exactly," Calla agreed, "But it's not just the tech mishaps. I once had to explain to Thor why we couldn't replicate the flavor of Asgardian mead in a pill form. That was a challenging day."

They settled at the small dining table, laden with plates of pasta, fresh bread and two glasses of wine. Charlotte took a bite of the steaming pasta, eyes rolling back at the rich flavor. "This is incredible. You're severely underselling your cooking skills." She took another bite and spoke through a full mouth. “Sam Wilson is a lucky man.”

Calla chuckled. "I'm glad you like it. So, tell me more about your training. Yesterday you mentioned flight lessons?."

"Yeah, it's a learning curve, but I'm getting there," Charlotte said between bites.

“Forgive me for being so forward, but isn’t learning kind of your thing?” Calla’s eyes were kind, not at all teasing or malicious.

“Yeah, you could say that.” Charlotte chuckled, taking a sip of her wine. “It’s complicated. Or maybe I just make it complicated. If I see it, I can mimic it. It’s like my body just…knows what to do. If you tell me something, or if I read something, I remember it. The hard part is with things that I can’t see, can’t imitate. Things like instinct, spur of the moment decisions, situations I haven’t seen before. You can’t teach that stuff.”

Calla paused for a moment, watching her. “That bothers you.” It wasn’t a question.

“Yes.” She twirled the stem of her wine glass between her fingers. “I don’t like feeling incompetent.” 

“From what I’ve seen, you’re far from incompetent. Your abilities make you a force to be reckoned with. Especially considering everything you managed to do before coming here. Getting out of cryofreeze, making your way across the world after not even having seen this decade before? I’d say that’s pretty adaptable.” 

Charlotte chuckled. “Thanks. I know how to survive, I can figure things out. I just feel slower, I guess. I’m used to it being automatic, like it’s programmed into me. Well,” She shrugged. “It is.” 

“I know it doesn’t change anything…but I am sorry. For everything you went through.” She gave a soft smile. 

“Don’t be sorry. We can’t change the past, right? Besides, I wouldn’t ever be able to work an office job anyways.” 

Calla laughed, sensing it was time to change the subject. She volunteered more stories about herself, much to Charlotte’s relief. They talked about her childhood, her experiences in the military, all the juicy details of her love life with Sam. By the time they finished dinner, their stomachs were hurting both from the amount of bread and pasta they’d eaten and the amount of laughing they’d done. 

“So that really makes a black eye go away faster?” Charlotte marveled.

Calla smiled knowingly. "Yep. Cold compresses and arnica gel. Trick of the trade.”

“Damn, where were you when I first got here?” 

“Same place I always am, holed up in the lab!” She winked as she cleared the table.

"So, what's the deal with Bucky?" Charlotte ventured, feigning casual curiosity. “I mean, he and Sam are close, right?”

Calla raised an eyebrow. "You're asking about Barnes? Why? Interested?" She winked.

Charlotte toyed with her hair, "No, no…not like that. Just curious. I mean, he's a bit…prickly."

Calla chuckled. "He’s not exactly warm and fuzzy. You're not the first to be curious. He’s difficult to read. Even Sam wondered where they stood for a while. I think he just decided he and Barnes were friends one day and eventually he stopped fighting it.” 

“That sounds about right,” Charlotte laughed. “The problem is, I can’t tell which one of us is fighting it. I feel like we just don’t…mesh like we should.” 

“Some people would call that sexual tension.” 

“Calla!” 

“I’m just saying.” She shrugged and sipped her wine. 

“It’s definitely not like that.” Charlotte rolled her shoulders, suddenly uncomfortable in her seat. 

“Would you want it to be?” 

“No!” She met Calla’s unconvinced gaze. “It wouldn’t work, it doesn’t make sense. We can’t even make it through a training session together without being at each others’ throats.” 

“Again, some people are into that.” 

Charlotte couldn’t help but laugh at her nonchalance. 

“But seriously, you don’t think Barnes is good looking?” Calla leaned forward on her elbows. 

“Well, he’s obviously good looking. The problem isn’t that. It’s him. He’s too serious, he’s controlling, he’s overbearing and intense and broody. He treats me like I’m helpless, like some stupid kid.” 

“Does he treat you that way or is that just the way you feel?”

“I’m sorry, is this dinner or therapy?” 

“Little of both.” Calla winked. “Well, for what it’s worth, Sam seems to think there’s more to your…dynamic than meets the eye. He said Bucky isn’t easily baited into arguments, but he seems to have a short fuse with you.” 

“Lucky me.” Charlotte rolled her eyes, reaching for the bottle of wine to refill her glass. 

“I’m just saying, the opposite of love isn’t hate. It’s indifference. He is definitely not indifferent when it comes to you.” 

For a moment, Charlotte said nothing. She finished pouring the wine and set the bottle back on the table, taking a slow sip. 

“I don’t see him as the relationship type.”

“So far, he really hasn’t been. Sam, Steve, Nat, and even Tony, have all tried setting him up. But he's a tough one to crack. Even when he obliges them, it usually ends in a polite date at best. He never even calls them back. I think he’s had a few hookups here and there when they go out drinking, or when Stark has parties at the Tower, but he’s pretty private about that stuff. Even from Sam.” 

Charlotte swallowed, throat dry. She hadn’t exactly assumed Bucky had been celibate his whole post-HYDRA life, had she? Truthfully, she hadn’t really thought of it at all. Her life of freedom had only just gotten to the fun part when she was recruited by Natasha. Even so, the fun part hadn’t extended to that kind of fun. Did she expect the same from him? 

Seeming to read the expression on her face, Calla spoke again. “How’s training been? You still feeling okay?” Her eyes flicked to the metal bracelet on Charlotte’s wrist.

“Yeah, more or less. It’s definitely a nuisance, impossible to ignore.” She twisted it around, eying it distastefully. 

“Good. I had a hand in picking out the alarm tone, you know.” She smirked. 

“Of course you did. Just when I was starting to like you.” Charlotte scoffed playfully. “So you’re somehow involved in everything, engaged to one of my roommates, and helped engineer the very bane of my existence…and you stayed completely under the radar the whole time?”

“It’s easy to stay hidden when no one is looking for you.” She smiled. “Were you looking for any signs of Sam being in a relationship? Did you have any interest in the rest of the science and engineering team? Did you try to get to know anyone else in the lab?” 

“I guess not,” Charlotte thought. “You just hid in plain sight.” 

“I’m glad I came out of hiding for this weekend.” Her eyes crinkled at the corners as she raised her glass. 

“Me too.” Charlotte returned her smile, clinking her glass against Calla’s. “I have a question.” 

“Shoot.” 

“Do you get to do your own research, your own experiments? Or do you have assignments?” 

“A little of both. We have projects as a team, goals we’re working towards. Finding breakthroughs for faster healing, perfecting new types of shields and weaponry, things like that. We also have blanket funding for other research we want to conduct. Although, truth be told, I love the research I’m assigned to. It’s hard enough to tear myself away just to eat and sleep.” 

Charlotte nodded slowly. “Are you looking for a new project?”

“Did you have one in mind?” Calla raised an eyebrow. 

“I just…I feel like I’m incomplete. Like they glitched in my programming, or whatever. Mentally, everything is great. I just feel like I’m not where I should be, physically.” She held her wrist up, dangling the bracelet again.

“Charlotte, you’re a genetically engineered super soldier. You’re head and shoulders above the average human in every way. Not to mention the edge you have from your mental enhancements.” Her gaze was wary, her tone more serious. 

“I know, I know. I guess I just wonder what would be possible if someone good had been in charge of…everything. If it could have turned out better.” 

“Human experimentation is a dangerous and unethical game. We don’t condone that here.” 

“What if you had a willing test subject?” 

“Charlotte…are you seiously asking what I think you are?” Her face was incredulous.

“I don’t even really know what I’m asking.” She shifted in her seat. “After you told me your specialties, it just got me thinking. What if we can work together? I mean, HYDRA might still be out there. If they are, they’re definitely working on something bigger and badder. If we want to have an edge, to get to breakthroughs before they do…shouldn’t we try?” Her eyes were wide and genuine. “It’s not like you’d be ruining my life. That train left the station about seventy years ago.” 

Calla chewed her bottom lip, less composed than Charlotte had seen her all night. 

Before she could respond, the quiet atmosphere was shattered by an earth-shaking explosion that reverberated through the compound. The empty plates rattled on the table, wine sloshing in the glasses. Both women sprang to their feet, their eyes wide with alarm.

"What the hell was that?" Charlotte exclaimed, arms out for balance as the tremors slowed down. 

Calla rushed to the balcony, throwing open the door as she ran, her eyes scanning the night sky. "That sounded like an attack outside the shield. But who would dare..."

Before she could finish, the sky erupted in streaks of light as rockets were fired from a distant aircraft. It was a few miles away, but clearly visible in the night sky. They were banking hard, circling back. Their aim wasn’t on the compound itself, but on one of the shield generators. It was deep in the woods, buried underground. Although it was within it’s own protection, if enough damage was done to the ground around it, the displaced earth could damage it even inside the shield. This was one of three generators, but the loss of one would severely increase the load on the others. Another explosion shook the earth as flames exploded into the sky above the treeline. The enemy's assault on the shield protecting the compound was relentless.

Charlotte's heart pounded. She knew the protocols for such situations – rally the Avengers, secure the perimeter, get the agents to the designated safe zones. A sinking feeling in her gut told her there was something more to this. It was nearly midnight, meaning the compound was at its emptiest. The only people here were the few that lived here, the agents on night patrol, and the ones assigned to the mission the team was away on. The mission that drew the most important members of the team the furthest away from the compound, right before it was attacked. 

It was a trap. 

"Calla, we need to go. Now," Charlotte urged, urgency cutting through the chaos.

They sprinted through Calla’s apartment and tore down the halls. After emerging from the back stairwell to the lab, they froze in the night air, witnessing the alarming scene unfolding across the compound. The once serene night had transformed into a battleground. A handful of agents were sprinting from the guard towers towards the main building, an attempt to reconvene and come up with a plan. Looking back from their retreating backs to the hangar, Charlotte willed herself to think clearly. 

"I need to get to the Quinjet. If I can get airborne, we might have a chance," Charlotte declared, her mind racing. “There’s only one of them, and I can fire from inside the shield.” 

“Charlotte, if the shield falls and you’re in close range…” Calla protested.

“We don’t have much of an option right now. If the shield falls at all, there won’t be much left to show for it.”

Calla nodded, her military training kicking in. "Let's move.” 

They sprinted across the compound, the ground still trembling from the last detonation. The usually quiet night air echoed with the sounds of alarms and distant explosions. As they approached the place where the path diverged between the main SHIELD building and the hangar, Charlotte stopped, grabbing Calla’s arm.

"Calla, I need you to go to the main building. Rally all the agents on the property, secure the perimeter, and keep communication lines open. I’ll get on comms as soon as I get to the hangar. I need to know if there really is only one bird up there. We don't know if this is just a diversion. Get word to the rest of the team ASAP and feed them all the intelligence we have so far. I'll take the Quinjet and provide air support. If anything happens to me, do not under any circumstances leave the compound to come for me. Take as many agents as you can into the bunker and wait for backup. Understood?" Charlotte gave clear and direct orders, eyes calculating and intense.

Calla hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Understood. Be careful, Charlotte."

Without waiting for more, Charlotte sprinted for the hangar, her focus unwavering. Stripping off layers of clothing as she ran, footsteps echoing through the empty, cavernous room, she headed straight for the locker room. In less than a minute, she was zipping up her battle suit, more thankful than ever for the self-lacing technology in her boots. She didn’t waste time grabbing weapons, relying on the small arsenal in the Quinjet. Plucking an earpiece from the cabinet near the door, she slid it into her ear and began running again. 

“Command, this is Mockingbird, do you copy?” 

The line crackled to life as a tinny voice came through the other end. “Mockingbird, this is Command. We read you loud and clear.”

“Tell me what you see.”

“One combat aircraft near Generator Alpha, none detected near Bravo or Charlie. We’re picking something else up on radar, but it’s pretty high up and we can’t get a clear read. Could be backup, use extreme caution and keep stealth mode ON.” 

“Roger that,” She emerged back into the night sky, feet pounding the concrete as she ran towards the nearest Quinjet. The one she’d been practicing in earlier that day. She lowered the ramp and scrambled inside, running towards the cockpit so quickly that the chair nearly spun with momentum as she dropped into it. Hands flying over the instrument panel, she brought the aircraft to life. The engines ignited in a familiar roar, a chaotic harmony to the blood pulsing in her ears. Not from fear of what she was about to do, but from fear for her friends, and what they must have flown into. Pushing the thought from her mind, she brought her focus back to the present moment. She couldn’t control what was happening on the other side of the world, but she could sure as hell make sure they had something to come back to. 

“Mockingbird to Command, prepared for takeoff.” 

“Roger that, Mockingbird. All clear. Go get ‘em.”

[ruidosdebosque]

Castlevania: Train Honk of Lateness

Hello, and welcome to Written Literature.

I, Bolivia Oxymoron, have been a train ticket seller for close to three years now.

Originally, I worked at a station located in a working town adjacent to a sprawling metropolitan area. Day in and day out, I helped workers manage their traveling cards, and since the town was a big immigration hub, I got to meet all kinds of people. For a white country bumpkin like myself, it could certainly be described as stimulating.

Of course, I can't say that all interactions were good... As anyone who has worked retail or any other job servicing the public can attest, you see some shit out there in the trenches.

But most people I met were warm and considerate, and I even got to make some genuine human connections every now and then.

And that was just the workplace! My home life was a thousandfold better, thanks to the presence of my beloved partner, Weed Turpentine.

Truly, I had it good.

That is, of course, until a shady government organization saw it fit to upend my entire life.

CHAPTER ONE: THE CIA OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT

There is such a thing as expansionism, even within the flanks of a seemingly cohesive organization like the World Government of Planet Earth, or WoGo, as it tries and fails to be known in its PR campaigns.

Ever since all countries of the world unanimously decided to coalesce into one single governmental body in order to share resources and perform mutual aid, you'd think all conflict would end between members of the human race, and we could finally focus on dealing with those pesky vampires, sabertooth tigers and other natural predators.

But if you voice such a thought in modern day society, you will be labeled a fool who understands nothing about human nature.

Indeed, the infighting and scheming taking place within the structures of power that keep this world of ours together are no joke, and though less overtly violent, they may be said to involve as much complexity and tactical thought as the world wars of old.

One faction that is known even amongst the most ignorant public for its constant grabs for power and disregard for human lives is the one at the center of this story.

It is the organization for which I work, at the lowest of the low levels, facing clients and trying to help them weather its terrible whims.

Trainlike Entity Navigation - Functioning Enterprise.

TEN-FE.

That is the name of those who wish to connect everything.

On the surface, the purpose of this agency might sound quite benign - righteous, even.

"Bring the railway everywhere." "Door to door transportation, all by train." "One rail to connect them all." And so on.

But behind all of those pretty slogans, there is nothing but a thirst for power and glory. They who control the logistics control it all, after all.

And one more thing: railways are mostly made of iron. And what material can succesfully repel most magical creatures who feed on humans, such as the fae?

That's right! Iron!

In conspiracy boards all over the net, you can read all about how TEN-FE is the real ruler of our world government already...

...But I, as a lowly employee, don't think we're quite there yet.

After all, if we really were on top of the world, you wouldn't be able to explain our company's actions.

Why so many power plays, so much mindless expansion, way over what our infrastructure can realistically support, if the top brass aren't desperately grasping at any sliver of a chance at consolidating their influence?

And thus, we arrive at their latest power-hungry ploy, the one that threatens to ruin my life personally, the latest legacy of unbridled ambition.

CHAPTER TWO: A TRAIN STATION IN DRACULA'S CASTLE

"Okay, baby, my break is over. I have to get back in there."

"Alright, Boli", the sweetest, most tender voice in the world replies from the other end of the phone line. "Go get them. I love you."

"I love you too, so much. And I miss you." So much it hurts, I think to myself, but there's no need to be overly dramatic at like, 10 AM.

"I miss you too. And hey, don't run away with Alucard", the cutest angel chuckles.

"I-- First of all, I wouldn't run away with him; I'd send you a cordial request for permission to fuck him and then text you immediately afterwards to tell you it was mid."

My lover wheezes on the phone.

"SECONDLY," I add while giggling myself, "I'm a huge lesbian and his wonderfully androgynous charms will NOT compel me. That is all."

"Hahahahah, then go forth, train soldier."

"Forth I go, captain of my heart."

I blow a few quick kisses onto the phone and finally hang up.

Okay, back to the grind.

I mentioned it's around 10 AM right now, but that might give my respectable audience the wrong impression.

Where this station is located, it's the dead of night right now.

A huge crescent moon reigns over the night sky, tinted with an evil-looking shade of purple.

Now you might think, ¡ah! This must mean you're near one of the Earth's poles, and it's currently the dark half of the year! And you'd be wrong!

The real answer to this riddle is Magic Vampire Powers. To put it another way, you might say Magic Vampire Powers are the MVP of this whole situation.

(A certain red-headed young man of my acquaintance might cry if he read these words.)

As I walk back into the station, I glance at the big sign indicating its name, as well as the number of the line it belongs to, and is in fact the last stop of.

R66 - DRACULA'S CASTLE

I sigh heavily as I unlock and open the ticket booth's back door.

I never wanted to work here, and it escapes me why they picked me, precisely, to get transferred to their newest installation, which I can only assume to be some sort of political move to get on the good side of the most famous of all vampires.

And anyway, why did they even need to transfer anyone at all? Adrian "Alucard from Castlevania" Tepeş, the Count's son, got nepotistically appointed as the first employee for this new station, and let me tell you, two people are not needed to man this station.

Ah, but there I go again, dwelling on my frustrations. That's an express ticket to depression town.

I need to stay positive!

"I need to stay positive, Alucard!", I say to my coworker upon re-entering the booth.

Alucard nods sagely. My attention drifts onto his long eyelashes as his eyes close and he gives me a handsome reply. I mean a thoughtful reply. I mean that intelligent and meditative words come out of his beautiful thin lips, wrapped in a voice deep and susurrous which makes me think of honey being poured directly onto my brain.

"In the face of all happenings in one's life, one must strive to interpret and connect the raw facts in the manner most conducive to one's own happiness."

God, I'm keeping a brave front for Weed, but I wanna do some looney tunes shit to this white boy's prostate.

"Uh-huh! Yeah! My thoughts exactly", I manage to reply, and then, with greater composure, add: "I especially like how you acknowledge that knowable facts are still part of the equation. Optimism doesn't need to involve denial."

"Well put", Alucard murmured. With this, he seems to consider our exchange settled, so I sit on my side of the counter and enter work mode, a placid client-service smile slipping into my expression.

Not like there's much need for my professional people skills here. We have a grand total of two trains arriving and departing each day, and the overwhelming majority of them are completely empty.

The abode of the Lord of Darkness doesn't seem to be as much of a tourist destination as I'd have assumed.

In fact...

"Hey, Alucard?"

"Hmm?" His eyes don't rise from the cheap-looking, softcover book he's reading. Something about ants.

"Why don't we get any goths here?"

"How do you mean?"

"Well, I mean, how come goths worldwide aren't coming in droves to visit THE Castlevania? Look at it! It has hanging towers and shit! Can you... can you see the hanging tower from here?"

"I can't."

"Well, whatever. Do you get my point or not? It's strange, right?"

"One might certainly call this an enigma, yes. Now that you mention it, my father's biography, by that Stoker gentleman, was a very famous piece of gothic literature, wasn't it?"

"Yeah, man! People are obSESSED with fucking a vampire, too. Like it's not even goths, all kinds of people should be coming here to get horny at the stonework and shit."

"Perhaps that will be a fun little mystery for you to poke at while yoi're here." He smiled, his canine teeth showing through the inherent sardonism of his mouth. "If my company isn't enough to liven things up for you."

Oh, if only you knew how you liven up my lady parts.

"Yeah, like this place needs livening up", I quip instead. "Necromancy's in the air."

"Undeath is no substitute for life, I'm told." And with that sentence that could very well be a tramp stamp, our conversation is over for good. Alucard goes back to his book, and I turn on my portable gaming console. This comfortable silence is, in my heart at least, brimming with camaraderie.

For a moment, I wonder if he sees me that way too. As a comrade, a friend... And much to my chagrin, I also wonder if he thinks about my prostate at all.

I physically try to shake these thoughts out of my head and try to focus as my game boots up.

The game?

Oh, uhm, it's just this historical fiction thing.

It's, uh.

It's Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.

CHAPTER 3: OH GOD I'M SUCH A SIMP

23:30 PM.

I should be asleep, but instead I'm leaning against the railing on one of the Castle's many architecturally unrealistic terraces.

The sights are beautiful, if gloomy.

Graveyards, jagged mountains, poisonous swamps... They all have their charm, if you take the time to appreciate them.

Tonight, you can appreciate a gorgeous green and purple aurora formed by the tortured souls of the damned, blowing like a breeze over the landscape.

I wish Weed were here to see this.

She's probably asleep right now, or getting ready to be, so I can't call her.

And I can't take a picture; when I try to photograph any ghostly phenomena around here, my phone camera just shows static.

I'll just have to tell her about it tomorrow.

Sigh.

I'm originally from one of the southwestern regions of the

Eurasian landmass. My partner moved there from her birthplace in the Americas some years ago, and then we met and fell in love.

Since then, our relationship has deepened day by day, and I fully intend to be with her till the moment I die. So even if we haven't been married yet, it's no exaggeration to call us each other's wives.

And that's why this new destination to the center of the continent hurts so much. I can only see her during our sparse vacation days... and neither of us will have any of those for months.

Lost in these thoughts, I feel myself sinking into that doom and gloom that I seem to constantly have to fight back with a stick these days.

"Looking at it that way, this scenery is a perfect match for me, isn't it..."

I laugh humorlessly.

And then, behind me, something else cackles as well.

I know that cackle.

I cautiously glance behind me.

The eternal crescent moon that reigns supreme over this land lends its silvery shine to the blood-curdingly sharp blade of a scythe.

The face of its wielder is only halfway visible through the rags he covers himself with.

That face... is a bare skull, locked in a perpetual grin.

I turn to face the figure.

Before me stands Death.

CHAPTER 4: THAT'S MY MANAGER. THAT GHOULIE IS MY BOSS

0:43 AM.

We've been at the tavern for a while now. Death is on his third goblet of blood, while I continue to sip my very red grape juice.

"It's just really hard. I'm so sad all the time. Without her, I'm just... I'm having to raw-dog reality, you know?"

"I GET IT, YES." His screeching, echoing voice is not something I could withstand on a bad sensory day, but at least it seems the blood has lubricated his ghostly vocal chords a bit. "THE MASTER -THAT'S DRACULA- HAS HAD THOSE SORT OF TROUBLES BEFORE, TOO. OF COURSE, WHEN HE DID, IT WAS A WHOLE THING"

I nod knowingly. I've played the games, after all.

The Dark Lord lost his beloved human wife to the horrifying witch burnings of the era (incidentally, that was Alucard's mother; he's a dhampir, or half-vampire) and, as far as history textbooks are concerned, he used that as an excuse to conduct a horrible genocide on the human population of what then was known as central and Eastern Europe.

It was pretty fucked up!

And uh. Not to virtue signal or anything but as much as I love my wife, if she were to get murdered, I feel like I might kill 10 people about it, tops.

"Yeah, it's exactly the same, I really feel for him", I tell my boss.

"ME TOO, HE'S JUST A POOR FELLER. I MEAN THAT HE'S FELLED A LOT OF PEOPLE." Death cackles irritatingly.

I give him a courtesy chuckle. I probably should quit my job.

"BUT LISTEN TO ME, COLOMBIA."

"Bolivia."

"WHAT?"

"My name's Bolivia."

"WHAT DID I SAY?"

"You said Colombia, boss."

"AH I SEE. I MISTOOK THEM, IT'S A DIFFERENT COUNTRY"

"Huh? What country?"

"WELL... BOLIVIA!"

"Yes?"

Death glared straight into my soul for an entire minute.

"ANYWAY. WHAT I WANT TO CONVEY TO YOU IS THIS, MY LOWLY HENCHWOMAN."

"I believe the modern term is 'employee'."

A thunder roars inside the dingy tavern, rattling every skeletal patron's bones like a set of xylophones.

"YOU SHALL LET DEATH SPEAK!", my manager bellows.

After he makes sure I'm silently waiting for him to continue, he does so. his tone is now gentler, even paternal.

"LOVE TRANSCENDS ALL, MY HUMAN MAGGOT. YOU AND YOUR TRIBADIST LOVER WILL ONE DAY BE REUNITED. THIS, I BELIEVE FROM THE MARROW OF MY FEMURS."

Against myself, I'm moved by his words. He offers his goblet in toast, and so I clink my glass against it, and proceed to drink my grape juice.

"SO KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF YOUNG MASTER ALUCARD, YOU SLUT"

The entirety of said juice, which was about to go down my esophagus, does a hard turn into my windpipe. The ensuing coughing fit is the stuff of legend.

"YOU HARLOT", Death adds while I writhe for air.

"YOU... YOU SEX WORKER, YOU."

"Cough... Ghack... Okay... okay, enough of that misguided name-calling." This is followed by a few noises too undignified to try to transcribe. "First of all, sex work should be protected by law and affordable education should be provided to all those who desired alternatives-- cough, cough-- And in the first place, universal basic income is the foremost way to prevent involuntary sex work as well as many types of criminality and... --burrrrp, cough--"

"DON'T YOU DARE DISCUSS POLICY WITH ME!!", Death roars.

"MY UNDERLINGS HAVE SEEN HOW YOU THIRST AFTER THE YOUNG MASTER!! IT'S UNSIGHTLY!!"

This strikes a chord within me. My blood rises to my face, and I wipe the juice from my face, staining my white sleeve a deep red, just like the rest of my work shirt at this point.

"Okay, well? Tell your underlings that they need to get glasses, because I'm a lesbian. A lesbian, you hear?! I LIKE WOMEN ONLY!! Alucard might be beautiful and alluring and intelligent, but he's a man!! There's no way I'd be attracted to him!"

"SEXUALITY IS FLUID!"

"Not mine it's not!!!"

"OH, SO YOU HATE BISEXUALS?!" At this point, Death is straight-up swinging his gigantic scythe at me.

Tiny scythes are also flying and rotating slowly all over the place, for some reason?!

"Of course I love bisexuals!! My wife is bisexual! I'm in a bisexual relationship and I believe wholeheartedly in lesbian-bisexual solidarity!!"

I shout all this while inelegantly trying to get away from the many scythes that are, for lack of a better word, filling the screen.

"Okay, wait a second, does anyone have a whip?!" I scream while I swing a chair around defensively, only to have it cut into like, bunny shapes and such.

No time to admire the level of skill on these scythes, as from one of the shady corners of the tavern, a long-haired, musclebound man wearing nothing but a loincloth wordlessly tosses me his weapon.

A chain whip with a li'l spiky ball at the end.

"Thanks, mate!"

As I prepare for my final showdown with Death...

...the flat end of his ginormous scythe hits me square on the face and I fall hard to the floor, hitting the back of my head.

"YOU ARE UNWORTHY OF THE YOUNG MASTER'S PROSTATE!!"

Okay, that is spooky. Are these guys reading my mind, or what?!

I bring myself to my feet, painfully setting my nose.

"Get this, Spirit Halloween: even if I wanted anything to do with that man's butthole, that would only be our business as consenting adults!!"

I forget the verb for what you do with a whip, but you can bet I do just that! And then, a second time, hitting Death's skull right on the teeth.

"Not that I do want to. Not that there'd be anything wrong if I did." I strike a pose as the skull falls to the floor and shatters. "But I don't."

The room falls silent. I throw the whip back to the barbatian-looking guy, missing him entirely and spilling his beer instead.

"Thanks, Conan."

"Not my name."

"Whatever, man. I just killed my boss."

I'd like to say that everybody clapped, but in the spirit of truthfulness: nobody left in the tavern gave a crap about my victory, my relationship status OR how many fingers I'd like to slip up anyone's rectum.

Alone and drenched in grape juice and sweat, with one boob out from one of the many cuts my shirt has received, I do the walk of shame all the way to my lodgings, gracefully provided by the Dark Landlord.

The rent is only 4/5ths of my salary, so I consider it a pretty lucky arrangement.

CHAPTER 5: ALL THINGS CONSIDERED

"Alucard, you're the only friend I've been able to make here. I don't mean to insult your heritage, but this place fucking sucks."

Alucard directed a sidelong glance at me, signaling permission to distract him from his fascinating-looking read on the many different lineages of beetle.⁸

The station was utterly devoid of business, as usual. We got like, one train a day, and not a single soul seemed to ever ride it either up or down.

Which made the mystery of the station's unfathomable purpose all the more prominent.

Anyway, back to my woes:

"I hate it here! I had to kill some dude last night, I miss my home and my partner, I miss actually helping people solve their bullshit train problems! A zombie tried to chew on my arm this morning, all like, no big deal!"

A thoughtful pause.

"I do enjoy the giant spiders, though. Very friend-shaped."

"I happen to be quite fond of the giant spiders myself." An affable smile from the most beautiful man this side of Lesbos. "I do believe I know what you need to do, Bolivia."

"My esteemed friend, I am always eager to hear your advice", I simped.

"You should probably help me kill my father. That would solve a fair amount of your problems. Of course, it would also help save the world, but that's neither here nor there."

Music to my ears. My catholic guilty-messianic complex was being appealed to for maximum effect.

"Well, I have always wanted to perform a political assassination. But like, shouldn't you try therapy first?"

My boycrush chuckled softly, affectionately, and I was immediately the tiniest bit wet. Of course, I kept my face as straight as if I'd never heard about the birds and the bees.

Incidentally, English is my second language, so I never did get that exact talk. I just learnt the anatomy of it, so I legit do not know who's supposed to be the birds and who's the bees in this situation. Does pollination come into the metaphor at all?

Like first of all most birds just have cloacas, right??

...Well, anyway, Alucard replied thus:

"Well, in recent years, my father has been getting mired down in certain conspiracy theory rabbit holes and... Well, to put it simply, Dracula has become a train supremacist."

He paused for a moment, to let the gravity of the situation sink in.

Upon discerning in my blank expression that the gravity of the situation was still well afloat, he added:

"This is really bad."

"Okay", I offered, uncertainly.

"He has made dealings with the darkest, most nefarious organization in today's geopolitical landscape: Ten-Fe. Too far, even for him. Associating with them is the worst thing he's ever done."

"Okay, I feel a bit insane. Did he or did he not try to kill all of humanity and succeed in making a significant dent in the global population?"

"Well, of course I opposed and defeated him the first two times he did that, but: those were kinda justified, if you think about it. You people did execute his wife. My mom, by the way."

Awkward eye contact.

"Just saying."

"You know, you really fumbled me just now", I blurted out. "Had me wrapped around your little finger and then just chopped it off like the yakuza. I hear fumbling a trans woman is a mortifying experience, so I'm deeply sorry for your loss."

"I confess I don't understand. I have no interest in you sexually, or frankly otherwise."

"Oh, escape Samsara, Alucard. I'm gonna go kill your dad and get out of this stupid job."

I grabbed the emergency Ten-Fe-issued sanctified chain whip we keep in all train stations and walked out of there.

If i was an omniscient narrator, I might tell you from an objective perspective what Alucard did and said once I left the booth.

But I'm not, so I'm just gonna straight-up lie to you. Feel free to not rely on the narration that's about to follow, I guess.

"BOLIVIAAAAA!!" Alucard hollered in the most plaintive lament anyone's ever heard. "BOLIVIAAAAA!!! SHE WAS SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING LETTING ME HIT AND I LAID IT ALL TO WASTE!!"

The beautiful man cried and cried while he tore his Ten-Fe uniform to tatters.

"NOTHING IN MY LIFE HAS VALUE ANYMORE... BECAUSE I CAN'T HAVE HER FINGERS... HER DEXTROUS, BEAUTIFUL FINGERS... UP MY ASS!! BOLIVIAAAAA!!"

And he also said this, regretfully, solemnly, quietly, like a man who's given up on everything.

"I'm... a big doodoo poopyhead..."

CHAPTER 6: BACK TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED RELIABLE NARRATION

"Show yourself, Dracula! I'm here to end your reign of terror! Of train-ror. Of trorror... No, that's nothing. Dracula, come on! My improv fuel is not never-ending!"

No one answered my summons.

I stopped to appreciate the throne room, and its pointy, melancholy architecture made me wonder that same fundamental question again.

"Man, why do no goths come here? This is literally like the set for like, Hamlet. Hamlet's goth, right?"

I lightly kicked the opulently ornamented throne. The sound it made was a deep vibrato.

"Maybe modern goths don't vibe with like, the aristocracy vibe? It could be a Vampire: The Masquerade thing, I guess. With all the anarchist vampires and stuff."

VtM is another important historical text that doubles as a physics and probability manual of sorts. Very fundamental to society.

"There is a simpler explanation than that."

The voice that uttered that phrase is very deep, dignified, monstruous and tragic, all at the same time.

I turn and there he is. The count himself.

My stomach turns too. He smells really nasty.

I recognize him from his portrayals in historical media; for starters, he's really tall, just like in the games.

But if I were to be challenged to recognize him by his clothing, I'd just call him a random extremely divorced middle aged man with hygiene problems.

I try not to judge in such situations. You never know what people are going through, and I myself have at times neglected myself due to mental health problems.

Maybe there's a different approach to my situation than what I was expecting.

"Hey, Mr. Tepeş. How's it hanging?"

"I think trains should vote."

"An idiosyncratic political opinion, but I'm sure you have your reasons."

"Everything must be trains."

"I agree it's an efficient and, especially when electric, environmentally friendly form of public transportation. I'm a fan, personally. The people need--"

"NO!!" He growls, grabbing me by the neck and lifting me up. "NO PEOPLE!! ONLY TRAIN!!"

"I think I'm beginning to see the problem here. Have you heard of video games?"

15 minutes and 99,5 Romanian Lei later (that's about 20€ or USD 21,5 straight from MY e-wallet), his dark computer had Railroad Simulator 2024 installed and running.

Dracula was smiling peacefully.

"Okay, so I'm gonna leave you with the tutorial, as well as my cognitive-behavioral therapist's secretary's phone number, alright?"

He turns to me.

"Stranger... you've saved me. Who are you? A Belmont? A Morris?"

I smile. "An Oxymoron."

He raises his hand in denial. "You're no moron, friend. But tell me, is there nothing I can do for you?"

"Nothing at all, save for making sure the Ten-Fe directors' board knows that you will kill them all with your bare hands if I don't get transferred back to my usual post."

"Hah hah, you got it, my kindred spirit, the one to whom I'm bound by the steel threads of fate, which are separated by the wooden planks of fate. Choo, choo."

"Choo, choo, Count", I echo, and take my leave.

As I make to open the door leading out of the throne room, it opens on its own, and a skeletal figure is waiting on the other side.

"Hey, I killed you last night, you fuck."

"UMM, I'M LITERALLY YOUR BOSS?", Death points out.

"Not anymore! I'm out of here!" I beamed.

"YEAH, JUST AFTER RESPAWNING I HEARD MASTER ALUCARD REJECTED YOUR ASS THIS MORNING. I'D RUN AWAY IN SHAME TOO."

"I!! AM!! A FUCKING!! LESBIAN!!" I screamed as I whipped his skull out of his body once more. "Plus I rejected him first."

"He was devastated", I add, not very reliably.

"You know, your kind are degenerates", Dracula mused, eyes fixed on the screen, index finger clicking away. "I'm very glad my son's precious prostate wasn't defiled by your filthy lesbian fingers."

"Give me a fucking break", I mutter on my way out.

EPILOGUE:

"IIIIIIHHH!!", I scream in utter delight. It feels like I've never been happier or more relieved than now, walking out onto the train platform, and seeing my beloved waiting there.

Weed Turpentine, the most beautiful woman ever to be born. You heard it here first, folks! The hottest ever!

The sunlight shone on her brown skin with a passion, as if the rays were competing with each other to see which one could bring her gorgeous rounded shapes into relief.

Her hair was done up in braids, skilfully but with just a tiny hint of messiness in a way that prefectly balances being extremely attractive and utterly endearing.

Her smile is radiant as she enthusiastically waves at me.

It's so good to be home.

We share a hug-tackle and I immediately melt into her arms.

"God, I missed you so fucking much", I half-sob, while rubbing my cheek against hers.

"I missed you too. The appartment was so empty without you", she replies softly.

"My life was so empty without you!! I love you so much!!"

Our foreheads touch.

"I love you so much. The fuck?"

We kiss.

She adds, chuckling like the ability to laugh was only evolved at all for her to perfect it: "We're the sappiest people on this train platform."

The hardness of my edges, the protections I put in place for my emotions when she's not present, dissipate, and I start weeping openly.

"Baby, what's wrong?"

"Sniff... Snighf... A-Alucard turned out to be lowkey a genocide apologist..."

"Oh babe..." She strokes the back of my head.

"...AND HE DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO SLEEP WITH ME!!!!", I wail, nose threatening to get a little runny.

She fucking wheezes with laughter.

What can I say?

It's my favorite sound.

[raygirlramblings]

Inspired by @asch2inspire ‘s delightful take on the Scooby gang I just love the idea of Scooby being a therapy dog.  Like, the idea you just rip a cute dog character out of a show because it would be ‘too babyish’ is so dumb when there are so many other ways to adapt the character and make it fit a more ‘mature’ setting.

So overnight I came up with doofy ideas of my own XD

Shaggy suffers from severe anxiety and panic attacks, and has done since puberty.   

He used to do weed hoping it would help but it only made the paranoia more extreme so he quit.  He does however take CBD (as well as prescription medication) to soothe his nerves.  But his time doing weed introduced him to stoner culture and he really loved the mellow energy and tie-dye aesthetic so he never dropped it.  So people assume he’s a stoner when in fact he isn’t.  He is pro-weed though and is all in favour of legalisation and medical marijuana. 

Shaggy adopted Scooby from a shelter he volunteered at.  Scoob came from a puppy mill and was unadoptable because he’s the absolute opposite of what breeders look for in a great dane.  He was due to be put down but Shaggy saved him and the two have been inseparable since.

Scoob is Shaggy’s emotional support animal (fully registered and everything).  When Shaggy is anxious Scoob helps guide him away from trouble, and when Shaggy has panic attacks Scoob lays on his lap and helps him get control of his breathing.

Shaggy and Scoob volunteer at hospitals and care centres introducing Scoob to kids and teaching them about emotional support animals as well as the importance of Adopt, Don’t Shop.  Scoob is so chill he doesn’t mind kids petting him.  

They both still love food, though obviously Shaggy is very conscious and responsible about feeding Scooby right (being a illegally bred puppy means he has various health issues which need to be monitored).  Doesn’t mean he won’t sneak his buddy a bit of hot-dog or half a sandwich now and then ;)  I saw a head cannon somewhere that Shaggy makes his own Scooby Snax for him to share with Scooby and I love it.  It’s a kind of organic brownie cut into chunks which is safe for humans and dogs.

Ultra instinct Shaggy is still very much a thing.  In fact Shaggy can fight like a cornered mongoose in the right circumstances.  But he rarely does as his anxiety tends to keep him controlled, along with his general love for living things, and of course his best buddy Scooby :)  He’s definitely a runner, not a fighter, but heaven help you if you intentionally hurt his friends.

Scooby is 100% loyal to Shaggy at all times.  In fact Shaggy knows to trust or mistrust people based on whether Scooby warms up to them.  Scooby is an excellent judge of character.  

Like fine if you don’t want the dog to talk, but who doesn't love a delightful, devoted service animal companion???

[coolstufftohave]

LAWN CARE MAGIC

Lawn Care Magic is a company that provides lawn care services for residential and commercial properties. They claim to use eco-friendly and organic methods to maintain lawns and gardens, which is a plus for environmentally conscious customers. Their services include lawn mowing, fertilization, weed control, aeration, and more.

Based on customer reviews online, Lawn Care Magic seems to have a solid reputation for delivering high-quality services. Customers praise their attention to detail, professionalism, and prompt communication. Many customers also appreciate the fact that Lawn Care Magic offers flexible scheduling options to accommodate their busy lifestyles.

One thing that some customers have mentioned is that Lawn Care Magic's services can be a bit pricey compared to other lawn care companies. However, many customers feel that the quality of service justifies the cost.

Overall, if you're looking for a lawn care company that uses eco-friendly methods and provides excellent service, Lawn Care Magic may be worth considering. It's always a good idea to do your research and compare different companies to find the one that best meets your needs and budget.

[starrystrawb]

Now introducing Volcanos! She is hot tempered, powerful, and kinda small compared to her fellow Mother Earth epithets. But make no mistake, she hold a power few of them possess. She is known to cause chaos so deep it can effect the other epithets.

She (kinda obviously) is based of Pele! For anyone who doesn't know, Pele is the Hawaiian Goddess of volcanos, wind, fire, lightning, and dance. She is immensely powerful and effects the other gods and goddesses around her. She is known for being quick to anger, passionate, and loving towards her people. Pele's mythos fascinates me and I adore all the stories she has. The most popular one being that she will disguise herself as a beggar woman and ask for alcohol and cigarettes. If you are kind to her, you will be in her good graces, if you fail, you will feel her wrath.

On to our eco tips!

Fire season is upon us, friends! Remember to keep in local ordinances and safely prepare yourself and your home! In some eco-systems, fire is necessary. That is what controlled burns are for! To ensure that the forests we love remain healthy, and to protect other areas, people, and wild life. Some good ground rules are to keep a fire extinguisher close by when having an out-door fire, properly store any wood kept for fires, and keep dry grass cut back away from anywhere you intend to have a fire! When you are enjoying a nice warm fire, be safe and responsible! Keep young children and pets a safe distance away, be cautious of the cinders, and completely extinguish a fire before turning in! Just like Smokey the Bear says; Only YOU can prevent forest fires!

As the seasons change and the temperatures rise, we find ourselves outside more. It's a beautiful day, friends! Be sure to enjoy it! If you are leaving the house or out in the sun, wear sunscreen! And reapply every 30 minutes - 2 hours. If you're able, use reef safe sunscreen, or sunscreens with environmentally friendly propellants if you prefer the spray kind! Most reef safe brands will have "REEF SAFE" printed on their packaging. I've used Blue Lizard and Hawaiian Tropic and liked them both!

Once you're sunscreen has run out, what do you do with the bottle? It's unfortunate but true that many beauty products are not curb-side recyclable. Some companies like Sephora, Nordstrom, and Terracycle have been advertising that they now take empty beauty product containers for recycling! If you can, consider taking your empty sunscreen bottle, blush container, or shampoo bottles to a company that provides these services! If you don't have that option, maybe repurpose the container if you can. It's not single use if you use it more than once!

I don't like yard work. I'm going to be very honest with you. I love being outside, and sometimes I even love sweating. And when my family is out there with me, damn I am just so happy! Until I am raking, or shoveling, or pulling weeds. I think it's the worst. But that doesn't mean I cant be environmentally couscous while I bitch about the work! Use paper or compostable bags when throwing out your yard debris. If you have room, you can compost weeds, leaves, sticks, and grass! If you garden, you can make a Lasagna Bed, where you layer compostable materials between layers of dirt! If you're trying to fill a hole or a large area, consider throwing those sticks and leaves and grass and whatever other organic materials in as a space filling base layer before you will it with dirt or rocks or mulch or whatever you want! The only thing I don't think that works for is a water feature.

Be brave, friends! It can be hard confronting people about problematic behavior or calling out big companies and big celebrities. I'm not saying you should berate the person in front of you at the coffee shop for not having a reusable cup, or neg someone for forgetting reusable bags! But if someone you know is supporting companies and people that are causing harm, let them know. If they choose to continue to support them, that isn't your problem. But at least you tried! Don't support companies that back Israel, like Starbucks. Boycott places that refuse to release their environmental impact statements, like Temu. Tell that one guy you know who thinks that they can't make a difference that they can! One person is all it takes to start a trend. Look at mom jeans or reusable straws!

Base

[lxspedeza]

because drugs are always a good solution, right? @abyssaldespair

„What do you mean you’re leaving?!” Slender fingers curl around the dealer’s arm, the blonde looks absolutely flabbergasted. It’s her first time purchasing shady stuff, from a shady looking guy in the shadiest little corner of the campus. She’s already glad she made it here without somebody finding out.

Professors were fine, the least of her concern, there’s no mishap on her side that Yamanaka money couldn’t solve. If her friends found out however, that she’s out here buying drugs to repress the immense pressure just for a little while… they would throw a fit, possibly organize an intervention and tail her in every waking minute. Ino loved her friends, but she would rather not listen to Sakura’s drug prevention campaign speech ever again, if it was avoidable.

“You can’t expect me to smoke it alone.” a tug on his sleeve, blue hues accusing. “You didn’t even give me a tutorial brochure, which is just poor costumer service by the way. How do you expect me to know how to take this?! Look at me, Tobi. Do I look like someone who’s rolled a single cigarette before?” Her free hand moves to clasp at her head, painted fingernails digging into the scalp. She looks positively pained, the walls closing in, she struggles to control her quickening breathing. Another tug. “I can’t do this alone. You have to stay with me, okay? You seem tough but you don't want me on your bad side, trust me - so just make a weed cigarette thing and smoke it with me.”

[vishnuvardhankummetha]

Expert Sprinkler Repair Services | S&L Sprinkler Repair

A lush, vibrant lawn is a captivating sight that can enhance the beauty of any home. Achieving and maintaining such a lawn requires the implementation of proper irrigation techniques and thoughtful landscaping. At Sands Sprinkler Repair, we understand the significance of a healthy lawn, and we are dedicated to providing exceptional sprinkler system services to help you achieve your dream yard. In this blog post, we will explore various aspects of lawn irrigation, the contribution of landscaping to a healthier lawn, the benefits of drip irrigation, and the importance of drainage systems. So, let's delve into the details!

Lawn Irrigation:

Lawn irrigation is a process that involves the controlled supply of water to your lawn to ensure it receives adequate moisture for healthy plant growth. An efficient and well-designed sprinkler system is crucial for the uniform distribution of water across your lawn, preventing issues such as overwatering or underwatering. Our team of experts at Sand Sprinkler Repair possesses the knowledge and experience to assess the specific needs of your lawn and install a customized sprinkler system that will keep your lawn well-hydrated and flourishing.

Landscaping and a Healthier Lawn:

Landscaping plays a vital role in nurturing a healthy lawn. Thoughtful landscaping practices contribute to enhanced drainage, weed control, and improved soil health. Proper grading of landscapes facilitates effective water drainage, preventing waterlogged soil and the potential for root rot. Strategic placement of plants, shrubs, and the application of mulch inhibit weed growth, reducing competition for essential nutrients and moisture. Landscaping practices such as aeration, soil amendments, and the use of organic mulch promote healthier soil conditions, supporting robust root development and optimal nutrient absorption.

Drip Irrigation and Its Benefits:

Drip irrigation is a highly efficient method of watering that delivers water directly to the roots of plants through a network of tubes and emitters. This irrigation technique offers numerous benefits, including water conservation, weed reduction, and improved plant health. By precisely delivering water to the areas where it is needed, drip irrigation minimizes water wastage through evaporation and runoff. Targeting water to the root zone of plants limits water exposure to weed seeds, effectively minimizing weed growth. Additionally, drip irrigation ensures a consistent and controlled water supply, preventing overwatering and reducing the risk of diseases caused by moisture-related issues.

The Importance of Drainage Systems:

Adequate drainage is essential for maintaining a healthy lawn. A well-designed drainage system prevents waterlogging, soil erosion, and minimizes the risks of diseases and pests. Excessive water accumulation can suffocate grass roots, leading to poor growth and yellowing. Proper drainage ensures efficient water drainage, preventing water logging issues. It also prevents soil erosion, which can result in the loss of topsoil and nutrient depletion, compromising the overall health of your lawn. Moreover, a robust drainage system eliminates stagnant water, reducing the risk of infestations and the spread of diseases.

 Conclusion:

Investing in a high-quality sprinkler system and adopting proper irrigation techniques is a wise decision when it comes to nurturing a healthier and more vibrant lawn. At Sands Sprinkler Repair, we are committed to providing exceptional services and expertise to help you achieve the lawn you've always envisioned. With our customized sprinkler systems, landscaping knowledge, and understanding of the importance of drainage systems, we can assist you in transforming your lawn into a thriving oasis. Contact Sandal Sprinkler Repair today and witness the remarkable transformation.

[arnoldstrees02]

Our year-round services by Arnoldo’s Tree Service

While Arnoldo’s Tree Service has a focus on trees built right into our name, we also offer other services such as snow removal. We utilize the best machinery that can effectively remove any amount of snow, taking the hassle out of snow days for our customers. Our goal is to allow you to safely get in and out of your home as well as have the ability to pull your car out with ease. We not only remove snow from residential homes, but we also have the experience and equipment needed to take care of commercial parking lots and side walks, allowing your customers/workers to easily access your business.

Early Spring: Granular. Pre-emergent crabgrass preventer plus fertilizer. Spring: Complete balanced. Granular, organic-fortified fertilizer with slow releasing properties and broadleaf weed control. Summer: Granular 100%. Organic, slow releasing fertilizer. Broadleaf weed control applied as needed. Late Summer/Early Fall: Complete balanced. Granular, organic-fortified fertilizer with slow releasing properties and broadleaf weed control. Fall: Special granular. Winterizing fertilizer. Reduces winter stress and damage while promoting root development. Gives an early spring green-up.

Arnoldo’s Tree Service focuses on the safe, effective removal and trimming of trees throughout all five Burroughs. We are dedicated to the health and well being of your property so we always consider the safest course of action during tree removal. Our team is full of experts who will ensure that your trees and property are treated in the most effective way with everyone’s well being in mind. Maybe you have a tree on your property that does not necessarily need to be removed, but has branches that are becoming intrusive or is riddled with unsightly broken limbs. If this is the case, our team of experienced pruners is well equipped to rid the tree of these branches, which improves the health of the tree and allows you to enjoy its natural beauty once again. Not only do we have the capabilities to remove and trim trees, we also plant them with the goal of contributing to the beautification of your property. Being tree lovers and experts, we are able to choose the right tree species that will perfectly fit into the landscaping of your property. No matter your tree needs, Arnoldo’s Tree Service is ready to handle them. We will assess your specific situation and ensure that we utilize the best plan of action that also fits your specific budget. Our goal is not only the effective and safe care of your trees and property, but also your complete satisfaction.

Often, what comes along with snow is ice, which can be extremely dangerous to pedestrians. Arnoldo’s Tree Service will salt and sand the walkways, roads, or parking lots to ensure general safety. We have a strong focus on the safety of our customers as well as their convenience. We understand the dangers that come along with a snowstorm and shoveling a large amount of snow can be straining and can interrupt your daily routine. Arnoldo’s Tree Service’s snow removal can take this huge inconvenience and hassle off of your hands allowing you to safely carry on with your daily activities.

For more details on our products and services, please feel free to visit us at: Tree Removal Services Brooklyn, Tree Removal Services in Brooklyn, Commercial Tree Removal Services Brooklyn, Tree Service in Brooklyn & Tree Removal in Brooklyn.

Please feel free to visit us at: http://arnoldstreeservice.com/

[dtelandscape-us]

Landscape Maintenance: Essential Care for a Beautiful and Healthy Landscape

The Importance of Landscape Maintenance

Landscape maintenance is a crucial aspect of keeping your outdoor space attractive, functional, and healthy. Whether you own a residential property or a commercial space, regular maintenance ensures that your landscape thrives year-round. Proper maintenance not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of your property but also protects the investment in your plants, trees, and hardscape features.

From mowing the lawn to trimming trees and maintaining irrigation systems, landscape maintenance covers a wide range of tasks that require attention and expertise. Hiring professionals to handle these tasks can save you time and effort, allowing you to enjoy a well-maintained outdoor space without the stress. This article will discuss the key aspects of landscape maintenance and the benefits of investing in regular care for your landscape.

Key Services in Landscape Maintenance

Lawn Care and Mowing

A well-kept lawn is the foundation of any beautiful landscape. Lawn care is one of the most essential elements of landscape maintenance. Regular mowing, fertilization, and pest control help your grass grow thick, green, and healthy. Lawn mowing is typically done on a weekly or bi-weekly basis, depending on the season and growth rate of the grass. Proper mowing not only enhances the visual appeal of your lawn but also promotes healthy grass growth by preventing weeds and encouraging strong roots.

In addition to mowing, landscape maintenance includes seasonal fertilization to provide the necessary nutrients for optimal growth. Fertilizers help grass and plants maintain their health and color throughout the year. Aeration is another important service, allowing water and nutrients to reach the roots more effectively, especially in areas with compacted soil.

Tree and Shrub Trimming

Trees and shrubs add beauty and structure to your landscape, but they also require regular care. Overgrown or dead branches can detract from the visual appeal and pose potential hazards. Landscape maintenance companies provide trimming and pruning services to ensure that your trees and shrubs remain healthy and aesthetically pleasing. Pruning encourages better growth, improves the shape of the plants, and prevents disease spread by removing infected branches.

In addition to trimming, some trees and shrubs may need pest control treatments to prevent infestations from damaging the plant or spreading to other parts of the landscape. Proper pruning and trimming also help reduce the risk of damage caused by storms and high winds, which are common in certain areas.

Irrigation System Maintenance

Irrigation systems are essential for keeping your landscape hydrated, especially in dry or hot climates. Over time, irrigation systems can become clogged or malfunction, leading to inefficient water usage or dry spots in your lawn. Regular maintenance ensures that your irrigation system works effectively, preventing water wastage and keeping your landscape properly watered.

Landscape maintenance companies typically provide irrigation system checks, repair services, and adjustments based on seasonal changes. They may install rain sensors or timers to help conserve water while ensuring that your plants receive the right amount of moisture. A well-maintained irrigation system ensures that your plants, grass, and shrubs stay healthy, even during periods of drought.

Weed and Pest Control

Weeds and pests can quickly take over a landscape if not properly managed. Regular weed control prevents invasive plants from crowding out desired plants and grass. Landscapers use environmentally-friendly herbicides and organic methods to control weeds and keep your lawn looking pristine.

Pests, such as aphids, grubs, and termites, can also damage your plants and lawn. Landscape maintenance services often include pest control, targeting specific insects or rodents that can harm your outdoor space. Early intervention prevents pest problems from escalating and protects your landscape from costly damage.

Seasonal Clean-Up and Mulching

Seasonal clean-ups are a vital part of landscape maintenance. This service includes removing fallen leaves, debris, and dead plants to prepare your landscape for the changing seasons. A thorough clean-up helps maintain the health of your plants and prevents the buildup of organic matter that can attract pests or mold.

Mulching is another key component of landscape maintenance. Mulch helps retain moisture, regulates soil temperature, and suppresses weed growth. It also enhances the aesthetic appeal of your landscape, giving it a neat, finished appearance. Mulching is typically done in spring or fall, depending on the local climate.

Benefits of Landscape Maintenance

Enhances Curb Appeal

A well-maintained landscape significantly boosts the curb appeal of your property. Regular care, such as trimming, mowing, and weed control, ensures that your landscape looks neat, polished, and inviting. Whether you are selling your home or simply want to enjoy a beautiful yard, professional landscape maintenance is essential for keeping your outdoor space looking its best.

Increases Property Value

A beautiful landscape adds value to your property. Homes with professionally maintained landscapes tend to have higher market values and sell faster than homes with neglected yards. Investing in landscape maintenance ensures that your property remains attractive to potential buyers and provides a strong return on investment.

Saves Time and Effort

Maintaining a landscape can be time-consuming and physically demanding. Hiring professionals for landscape maintenance allows you to focus on other priorities while experts handle the upkeep of your outdoor space. Professional landscapers have the tools, knowledge, and experience to handle all aspects of landscape care efficiently, saving you both time and effort.

Summary

In summary, landscape maintenance is essential for keeping your outdoor space healthy, beautiful, and functional. Regular care, such as lawn mowing, tree trimming, irrigation maintenance, and pest control, ensures that your landscape thrives year-round. By investing in professional landscaping services, you not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of your property but also increase its value and protect your investment. Whether you need routine lawn care or seasonal clean-ups, landscape maintenance companies offer the expertise to keep your outdoor space in excellent condition.