#please come back in season 8b

[echowithpain]

Alrighty!!! Here we go! ✨✨✨

First, -1/2 point for the old dude who beat up the "cart cop"

Don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with the fact that he beat him up. I think it was a decent twist cause I was originally expecting the security guard or someone else who got him from behind. My problem was "Why the heck did he turn out to be an escaped convict in hiding or whatever?"

Literally why??? He could've just been an old dude who was pissed at the kid for causing trouble and "stealing his job". I was so on board with everything until they revealed that the old guy wasn't actually the old guy. And Athena said she figured it out because he was "too camera shy"??? Lots of people are camera shy?? Yes he was hiding his face but I figured that was just because he was used to the kid being there so he was more annoyed than angry, or he just really didn't like being recorded. I know people like that and they aren't criminals (at least I hope not lmao 😂)

I get that 911 wants to do the "bet you didn't see this coming!" thing all the time, but why do the stakes have to be so high? I get it's a drama but I literally said in my last Echos Essays that I wanted Athena to get a bad feeling about someone but they DON'T turn out to be a serial killer or anything like that, they're just a regular person who maybe needs to talk a couple things out in therapy

They didn't need to go to the extreme or come up with a reason for why the old guy was capable of such violence, just having the small twist that it was him who beat up the kid instead of the security guy was enough.

So yeah... -1/2 point cause it took me out of the episode (even though it was at the end)

...

Umm... Is there anything else that I have problems with?? 🤔🤔🤔 I can't think of anything off the top of my head so I'll just list the things I loved until I remember something ✨

THINGS I LOVED: 💖Brad💖

Brad was freaking incredible this episode 😂💖😂 From watching his own show with the entire fire station (and repeating his lines), to being overdramatic and thinking everyone hated it and blaming the things they criticized on the network 😂, to being at the accident with them and seeing someone was passed out in a car and trying to help (yes he didn't know about the c-brace and gurney, but he was learning and genuinely wanted to help someone 💖), to the way I couldn't tell if he was angry or turned on when Bobby yelled at him 😭😭😭, to his serious heartfelt talk with Eddie about their kids 🥺-

F U U U U U C K !!!!!!!!!!!

I just remembered that Maddie's PREGNANT!!!!! AND SHE GETS KIDNAPPED NEXT EPISODE IN MARCH!!!!!!

Holy shit holy shit holy shit!!!!! HOLY FUCK IT DIDNT EVEN OCCUR TO ME THAT THAT WOULD BE HAPPENING WHILE SHE WAS PREGNANT!!! I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT HER GETTING KIDNAPPED AGAIN AMD HOW LAST TIME SHE WAS IT WAS HER ABUSIVE EX HUSBAND WHO SHE ENDED UP HAVING TO KILL!!!! THE FACT THAT SHE IS PREGNANT DIDNT EVEN CROSS MY MIND HOLY FUCK!!!! WHAT THE SHIT!!!!! OH GOD WHAT IF THIS HURTS THE BABY 😭😭😭😭😭😭

Shit fuck wait but that's the promo not this episode I gotta focus, holy shit, fuck.... FUCK!!!! Okay ummm... Shit my fucking train of thought... fuck... Brad was great and dramatic and I still love him. Also loved the fact that he helped(?) the guy who was trying to kill himself to not want to kill himself anymore while also contemplating jumping himself and having to be talked down by the guy who was going to jump in the first place??? This dude is so dramatic and emotional ❤️‍🩹 Brad's back on his show but I hope we still get to see more of him 💖

Plus the fire fam guest starring in the episode he wakes up from the coma but being horrible actors? 😂😂😂 Do you think Christopher is gonna see the episode his dad is in? 🥺❤️‍🩹 (Also real quick, idk how much skill it takes for an actor to act as a character who's bad at acting but props to them because I just know it's always hilarious 😂 First thing that comes to mind is that one Supernatural episode where Sam and Dean were transported to "the real world" and replaced their actors 😂)

Hen and Bobby not being in the scene, probably by choice, was a mood and a half 😂 ALSO HEN USING THAT MED SCHOOL DOCTOR KNOWLEDGE LETS GOOO??? They remembered she went through that arc???? You could write it off as paramedic stuff, but paramedics know the stuff that'll get you to the doctors alive, and the doctors deal with the rest of the stuff (usually, this show is pretty lenient on what the paramedics are supposed to do. ie, when Eddie had to extract a bomb from a dude's thigh, Hen sticking her hand in a patient to keep them stable, Eddie doing the whatever he did to the kid who was ass backwards so he wouldn't die, etc.) I'm chosing to believe they remembered she studied to be a doctor 🥰

EDDIE!!!! EDDIE CALLED CHRISTOPHER AND HAD AN ACTUAL CONVERSATION WITH HIM 🤩💖🤩💖🤩💖🤩 AND IT HURT MY FEELINGS 😭💔😭💔😭💔😭😭💔😭💔

"I can get an autograph and you can put it up in your room!" "So you'll send it to me? 😃"

Like, damn dude I really wasn't expecting that 😭😭😭 Why did the show have to hurt me like that? What did I ever do to you except love you and criticize you when needed? 😭😭😭 That doesn't give you an excuse hurt me like that 😭💔😭💔😭 Ow geez. Not funny. Cried. Bitch.

Okay um, sewer water rescue was nice. I love how I made a joke about kissing under the sewer water rainbow, and then a couple kissed under the sewer water rainbow 😂😂😂😂😂 I swear you can't write this shit

...Do I really not have any complaints besides the old dude being a secret criminal?

Oh, no, wait

-1/2 point for the brief mention of Temu. Still gotta be petty 🤭💅✨

Buuuut it did give us the scene of Eddie enjoying Bucks baking and Buck (and the audience) finding out that he's looking to move back to El Paso 🥺🥺🥺

Nah, I'm still gonna be petty 😘

But also EDDIEEEE 😭😭😭😭😭 anD THE COUCH MENTIONED AGAIN?!?!?!? They were so domestic holy shit I've missed them hanging out 😭💖

...I'm trying to remember anything else but that's genuinely all I've got. To be fair, I had a bunch of fun this episode and was laughing a LOT 😂😂😂

So yeah! I think that's it 😁

FINAL SCORE: 🌈9/10🌈

-1/2 point for the old dude being a secret criminal, and -1/2 point for the brief Temu mention ✨

I legit had so much fun this episode, I was laughing so much I was interrupting the people I was watching the episode with 😂😂😂😂😂 When Brad said he finally felt like a real hero and then immediately banged his head on the firetruck mirror, I cackled so loud and my grandmother was confused/upset with me because it was so fast that she missed it and wanted to know why I suddenly burst out laughing 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Ah man, I love this show 🥰

...damn, it's not gonna be back until M A R C H 😭

Welp, see you then babes! I'll be lurking in the walls until it comes back 🙃

TCHAU!!!! 😘✌️✨

[buddiebeginz]

I get that some of you are nervous of Eddie leaving and Buddie not happening but trust me when I tell you Ryan isn’t going anywhere. There are zero signs that he wants to leave the show.

All of the main cast seem very happy and like a family and like they want to be working together for as long as possible. They’re also working in roles that you can’t do in just any other acting job, doing these crazy emergencies regularly. You don’t just leave a work environment like that for no reason. It’s also not like Ryan can’t do other projects while working on 911, he just worked on a movie not too long ago. So no he’s not leaving.

When it comes to Buddie I think some of you have gotten so used to storylines that play out instantly on streaming you’re not used to a network slow burn where you have to wait.

I get being scared of being let down by the show. I know how much we’re all hoping and waiting for Buddie to happen. But Buddie has been in the works for years. It was originally supposed to happen in s5 (Buck was supposed to come out in s4) but Fox refused to let it happen. So Tim left and then the show moved to abc and so Tim came back. When he did he started putting the wheels in motion for Buddie canon and that started with Buck coming out in s7. Buddie going canon has already started we’ve been in the storyline since last season when Buck’s coming out was heavily connected to Eddie.

If I didn’t think Buddie was going to happen or that it was a big maybe I’d say so but in all the years of watching the show I’ve never been as certain it’s happening as I am now.

The other thing is I think there would be zero doubt right now if Buddie was a straight ship. But because they’re two guys and they’re breaking new ground with being the first real slow burn queer ship on a primetime network show people will question if it’s happening the whole way.

Tim knows how a significant portion of the audience for the show loves Buddie. Tim, Oliver, and Ryan have all shown support for Buddie over the years which btw isn’t common for non canon queer ships. A lot of things are in our favor. If Tim didn’t want to make Buddie happen he would have made that clear when he came back and it’s been the total opposite. In s7 they were together more than ever and they’ve still been joined at the hip in s8 even if hey haven’t had a ton of scenes while Tim was closing up other storylines. We can see with 808 and recent interviews that the bulk of Eddie and Buddie’s s8 storylines are going to be in 8b.

I’ve seen people say why doesn’t Eddie just go get Chris and bring him home. I believe he will eventually but this storyline with Eddie contemplating moving to Texas isn’t as much about the Chris storyline as it is about the Buddie storyline. You have to have obstacles in a will they/won’t they that makes the audience think they aren’t going to end up together. There is always lots of angst leading up to the moment when they finally get together or get back together. This makes for a more emotional dramatic moment and some of the best tv.

We’re meant to think Eddie is leaving but even if he goes to Texas for a minute it won’t be permanent. I’m confident in saying we’ll have Buddie canon by the end of the season and Chris back too.

Please don’t let fandom’s tendency to catastrophize make you worry about where the story is going. Also take all the interviews with a grain of salt because they can’t and won’t tell us exactly where things are going. Like with the most recent Tim interviews and him making it sound like Eddie is moving. That makes sense because we’re right at the beginning of that storyline he can’t say what will happen.

Things with Buddie will take a little time to play out but we’ll get there. We are going into this hiatus in the best possible place we can be in right now and we should all be incredibly excited for what’s to come for Buddie in 8b.

[tevanbuckley]

If you could take Tims place for 8b how would the rest of the season play out? Would you put Tommy and Buck back together and if so, how?

oh where to begin...

tbh i think the bucktommy stuff is the easiest to fix, because the biggest problem (outside of needlessly losing an interesting new character) is it puts buck back to square one, so it could be solved by pretty much any variation of them getting back together. personally, i think the cleanest way would be to have tommy reach out after the kidnapping. would that be the most satisfying resolution? no, but it would stick with the theme of tommy showing up for buck and could be nested within the maddie storyline without taking up a ton of limited screen space. then i'd have buck actually think about his sexuality for thirty seconds (and say the word bisexual).

eddie is difficult bc his arc is dependent on how much truth there is to the speculation of ryan wanting out, but either way for the love of god PLEASE bring up shannon! my thing with that situation has always been eddie's refusal to accept that for all intents and purposes he didn't lose his wife, he lost his ex-wife, and i think having him finally grapple with that would be a good way to conclude his arc (whether he moves to texas or not).

athena is...frustrating, i think there's maybe something in her training new recruits. it would certainly give a bit more structure to her storylines than "random cop shit." i know a certain amount of copaganda is inevitable but 911 is especially bad for it (and imo has actually gotten worse over the years), partly because they refuse to take an actual stance (like why tf was the lady who got shot a sovereign citizen? the audience isn't stupid we know that's not the average victim of police violence). in theory the training stuff could help illustrate how policing is rotten all the way down the chain and potentially challenge some of athena's beliefs (i will be shocked if this happens)

for bobby i'd bring back some of the stuff that was touched on last season. he was an active suicide risk for christ's sake and are we really gonna drop all the tragic backstory about his family and then do nothing with it? perhaps his brother reaches out and causes problems or passes away.

madney and henren meanwhile i fear are a bit of lost cause this season. presumably madney is gonna be wrapped up with the kidnapping/pregnancy shit, which again forces chim into the position of "maddie's worried husband," don't get me wrong i think we'll get some stellar acting from kenny (and jlh) but "madney being sad," is not particularly interesting at this point.

similarly all the really juicy stuff with mara/ortiz/gerrard has already been pissed away — could've been especially interesting if hen and chim were still on the outs during the kidnapping but oh well — if tim's serious about wanting to "blow stuff up," one way to do that would be having hen consider a move to captain at another station. which (assuming they get s9) could even facilitate bobby taking a promotion down the line and her coming back to the 118 in his place.

[azaharinflames]

what if all of this is just part of the will they/won't they slow burn- plan, make us believe buck has moved on in ep7-8? have him being single and dating other people of screen for a few months, so when 8b starts we can see how much he still misses tommy?

not giving up hope yet(unless eddie comes out in ep 7-8 or something, that would be the end of bucktommy).

Inside me lives two wolves:

-They are setting up Buck finally deciding to fight, for once, and this is a misdirection. As in, Maddie and Chimney insist he has to move on and get back there, but Buck instead decides he wants to work on himself, see what Tommy meant, and then fight for him.

-They will end the episode with Buck packing his baking stuff up, and looking at life in a new light, ready to move on and take on the world or whatever.

Because, as much as I want to be an optimistic person, I am not, right now my bet is for the second option. I would love more than anything for the show to prove me incredibly wrong, but with how bizarre they've been writing this season...

It's like @seddair mentioned in the reblogs of my other posts - this is the show that had the famous quote 'you don't find it, son, you make it'. That was something that deeply impacted Buck, and something that for once should motivate him to make it. Yet the show somehow has forgotten this. Because why make our characters grow when they can go on endless cycles.

As for Buddie, without wanting to sound mean (please know it is never directed at you, anon):

No.

If there is one thing Ryan has made crystal clear lately, is that Eddie is straight. And his reasoning behind this is one I admire and I deeply respect. Could one argue he is bluffing to not reveal spoilers? Sure but it doesn't make sense. He's very clear in his intentions, and we know Tim won't force his actors to do something they truly don't want to do, so I honestly don't think he'd force Ryan to do Buddie if Ryan truly doesn't want to. Which, we are seeing, he doesn't.

[sugdenlovesdingle]

I'm feeling very zen this morning about bucktommy.

Maybe it's because it's been over a week since the shoddy ending to 8x06 and it feels less raw.

Maybe it's because even if Tommy never comes back at least 8x07 gave more proof/weight (can't find the right word) about how much the relationship meant to Buck by showing how much he's struggling, something he never got with any other LI except Abby.

Maybe it's because knowing how much balderdash the interviews are with dropped plots and things that never happen mean I have no more anxiety about them.

Maybe it's because from Ryan saying that Tim changes things last minute, and Tim gaslighting fans about creating plots he himself hinted at (madney/henren tension wtf?) means again ignoring what he says in interviews and that the door is wide open for a Tommy return.

Maybe it's because angst with a happy ending it's my favourite trope and the fic I've read this week has been so so achingly good it'll keep me fed throughout winter like a squirrel hoarding nuts.

Maybe it's just because it's sunny where I am today and it's put me in a good mood.

Also, I love your blog as a bucktommy (and tarlos) fan and also an old robron fan who hasn't watched since robert left but I can still get updates here 😄.

Anyway, I'm sorry for waffling in your inbox, I hope you have a great day!

Feel free to always come waffle in my inbox anon! i didn't think there was anyone out there with the same weird mix of hyper fixations as me! bucktommy x tarlos x robron ftw! 😂

But yeah I think the door is definitely open for Tommy to return in 8B. But knowing the show won't be back until March 6th after next week, I doubt Tim will even finish the scripts before March 1st!

The episode shows Buck being sad and miserable (and LONELY!! how much time were he and Tommy spending together these past 6 months??) and wanting to reach out, Tommy wanting to contact him too, Tommy constantly being on Buck's mind and if you just take everything you see at face value, that tells you those two aren't done with each other. And then tim comes and babbles in interviews almost saying the exact opposite of what's happening on screen.

Also - I only got into the fandom after the first bucktommy kiss but it seems like these post ep interviews are becoming more frequent? I don't remember seeing Tim quotes on my dash after EVERY ep - only for the big ones like season premier/season finale.

I read that it's the journalists (and I use that term loosely) that ask for these interviews and not necessarily the show sending Tim (or Oliver or Ryan or Lou or anyone) to do them and I'm just like... what is the point? Why do we need the 'boss' to run us through every episode and tell us what to think or feel? I mean the pit of despair we all plunged into after last week's ep was mostly because of the interviews. And even then, when you pull just the quotes from them (like someone has done - i forget who) it makes it so much easier to see what exactly Lou especially was saying.

Maybe we should just decide to ignore these post ep interviews as a fandom, enjoy our fics and gifs and meta - and apparently a newfound love for mpreg (lol i don't know where this came from but you do you, guys!) this winter, and see where it's at in March.

(also, please send me some of that sunshine! it's foggy and miserable and cold here!)

[kinardscake]

What do you think about the theory that this could be 911 last season and that this is why certain storylines seem rushed through or scrapped entirely? I could see it with the Madney pregnancy and Ravi being gone and now Tommy. The finale could show a montage with the new baby, Eddie reunited with Chris and closure over Shannon. Bathena in their new house, Buck well, perpetually single I guess and Henren with the kids maybe also one more

There’s a chance it could be the last season. There’s always a chance, isn’t it? With shows getting cancelled left and right. But I think 9-1-1 will have at least one more season. (Ending on s9ep11 lol )

To be completely honest, with the way thr storylines are going, I wouldn’t mind the show ending because there’s been barely any development for most of the characters for a long time. If the writers can’t come up with new ideas, maybe it’s for the best to let the show end, eh?

Personally, I think Maddie could end up being pregnant until the next season premiere airs and will give birth in the middle of the opening disaster (just so the show can traumatize Madney a bit more).

And Eddie could find some peace and reunite with Chris in 8b. But if Chris is more comfortable living in Texas, I could see Eddie struggling to make a decision in s9, whether to leave everyone behind and move with Chris to Texas or stay with Chris in LA. (Which would be a nice call back to his decision to move to LA)

We haven’t seen HenRen outside of the expanding family-foster care-adoption storylines since like s3-4, so I’d actually love it if the focus shifts to them. I am begging the writers to give them a storyline that doesn’t involve kids or losing kids for that matter. Shows us them as a couple, not as parents.

I’d watch anything that involves Bathena, so just because of them I want at least one more season.

I’m on the fence about Buck, because I want them to move him up the ranks in the FD. But… Buck being perpetually single? I can’t accept that. Even in s1 he was looking for a connection with another person, and to deny him that would be a crime, really. I want him to end up as a Captain but I also want him to be happy.

And I don’t want the writers to rush through all these storylines trying to wrap everything up in a neat bow. So one more season. Please.

(Although it all depends on the actors and their contracts too, so who knows what will happen)

[moonstone27ls]

Chucky-He Has Risen

Spoiler warning....

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Warning....

Seriously....

SPOILER WARNING.....

Though in truth.... 

Don’t feel much to talk about?...

Anyway last spoiler warning...

Sooo the ep was kinda boring. Not that I’m completely complaining. Devon and Lexy saved Andy. Soooo LOVE YOU KIDS! Both him and Kyle are alive... I mean poor Andy’s been tortured and Kyle lost an ear.... soo... ...all the more reason I want these kids to surive this season!

So Don Mancini please don’t kill off my original heroes! If Andy is dead because of Chucky or that stupid psychiatrist I’ll be pissed. I mean I’m super sad about Nadine ... explains her actress’ instagram though....again she was becoming my fav of the group... but should have saw it coming. I mean she was sweet, naive to the group and the bigger picture, .... lets be honest I think we all kinda knew their “less than a day” brainwashing wasn’t gonna work.

And if Jake falls for this I’m not gonna lie I’ll roll my eyes... mostly cause well I don’t know if Don Mancini is getting too “thought provoking” with Chucky’s character (s) ... but pft I’m sorry I don’t see Chucky as someone who was turned evil. That crazy psychiatrist helped .. I guess but like Tiff I just see that these characters just honestly chose to follow evil/murder, yada, yada.

So what I assume is an “exorcism”  or some form of demon purging? Part of me is skeptical but aslo curious... as far as I know this series has never tried you know “mixing  cultures” or religions? I dunno cause I assume Chucky’s soul jumping is due to voodooism? so... using a Catholic/Christian stuff to defeat him... uhh interesting but still skeptical becausee we got two more episodes. Plus not gonna lie be almost funny if the “excorcism” or whatever backfired and he possessed the priest. Not funny haha just I dunno.

Any thoughts.... uhh the supposed fight that happened between buff Chuck and “Colonel” Chuck was kinda disappointing... I mean arsenic? Really would had been cool to see a real fight but ahh well. Maybe Mancini couldn’t afford it.

Sooo... Glenda is either not sure what they want or maybe changing minds on following the killer family footsteps. I’m not against the idea but two more eps lets see what happens.

The psychiatrist knew Chucky as a kid... okay...still not buying she made him evil. More of wondering whats her ultimate goal? Does she have a thing for killers? Is this like a ref to that ”Cult of Chucky” where she’s some disciple? I’m just “What is your endgame?”.... Sister Ruth’s nuts 8B. But I think it was obvious when she saw the dumb doll as god. And maybe the next Tiff? I dunno the part were steroid Chuck was all “you should dye your hair blonde”. Felt like a nod to Tiff. Maybe we’re getting a new teamup (if Mancini gets another season)

Though endgames again whats gonna happen to Tiff and the twins? Glenda’s having... identity crises? or conflict of feelings... will the twins really return to their old vessel? Tiff and Tilly... are the group gonna make them switch back? I just I dunno whats gonna happen here. If by some miracle Tiff switches back, Tilly’s still in a bind cause she’d be somewhat framed for the crimes Tiff committed. Plus I really wanna see Tiff get her punishment for what she put Nica through.

Think thats about it. Sorry to see Nadine go. Hope the original kids Andy/Kyle survive this season. I admit I dunno what  Mancini has planned for them, but I’d rather have them retire instead of being killed off. Just let the kids retire if he ever plans to shelve them.

Want Nica freed too. Kinda feel if  Mancini ever retired them, she’d be the new “andy” to take on that mantle. Don’t have anything else cause we got two more eps.

[jovialyouthmusic]

Protect and Serve

Masterlist

Featuring my OC, Sophia Turner who arrives at the Royal Palace of Cordonia just before Prince Liam’s social season starts, to work on the staff. She is closely watched by the dark haired head of security, Bastien Lykel… This fic will eventually become NS*W, no under 18s please

1 Arrival - Drake

2 Settling In - Leo

3 Finding her feet - Maxwell

4 Just Routine - Liam

5 The Protector - Bastien

6 A spoke in the wheel - Riley

7 Temptation - Sophia

8a Intimate - ??

coming soon…

8b  Intimate - Sophia and Bastien (to be posted 24 hours after 8a)

9 Back to Earth

10 Feeling Special - first time

10a Feeling Special - three and maybe more

[sharpeshelen]

(1) As a Suits & Darvey fan from day one 8 years ago, I think 8.15 was the first time I was really upset with Donna and didn't agree with her actions in telling Thomas what Harvey told her, which he only did bc she begged him to and then accused him of "putter her in this position". So I was really apprehensive about how everything would go down with the firm being sued and if Darvey would finally get together in the finale. The whole of the finale I was actually on my toes and wasn't sure how

(2) it would all play out, but I had a feeling it would be Robert bc of how he had been acting the past few times we saw him about Louis’s mugging and Samantha helping him. So I was really emotional when it all happened and he took the fall, I’m really gonna miss him and Samantha together - and I adore Katherine Heigl but wasn’t sure how she’d fit into the show but I do love Samantha now. Esp after how she said “I’d never let her go” to Harvey about Donna, and Louis talking to Harvey about Donna(3) Louis talking to Harvey about Donna too - loved all that foreshadowing. I really missed Katrina in this finale. So I’m really OCD and while the ending was something I happily screamed about, something felt kinda off about it and I think it’s the way it was shot. Like the way their hands were moving on each other felt a little too staged and careful, and I wanted to see more of Harvey’s face, esp when Donna leads him to the bedroom. And also, I’m really hoping Thomas and Donna had broken up(4) up by then, and that Harvey would have known that or something, because the whole cheating thing is just no thanks. So 9.01 better start with them in Donna’s bed together!! and I was reading an interview Gabriel did with Tv Line I think, about how he’d love for some of the humor to come back and I totally agree! Strawberries and whipped cream and banter and CAN OPENER, please!!! Mike HAS to come for the final season, really sad Meghan most likely won’t be able to make, and I also saw a Korsh(5) Korsh interview where he mentioned a baby, wedding, and death - and the death is making me really anxious. anyway, sorry this got so long but I just have a lot of feelings to share with a fellow suitor - glad to have you back!

Hey there nonny! First of all thank you, I’m glad to be back as well!

As for Suits, I decided to stop watching after 8A cause the show wasn’t IT for me anymore. The season 7 finale really disappointed me and I tried to give 8A a shot but I wasn’t feeling it, and with my life being a little bit busy at the moment I thought it was the right moment to stop (especially since Darvey was going nowhere). When 8B started I wasn’t watching but I kinda followed the story through my twitter feed and saw what was happening. I knew about Thomas, I knew about the 8x13 ending, etc. But, since I wasn’t properly watching and still haven’t fully catched up on 8B yet, I can’t really judge Donna’s behavior. 

As for the show, for me, there has been a huge decrease in terms of consistency and quality of the writing and that’s what made me stop. That being said, I still love the characters with all my heart and my love for Donna and Harvey (who have always been my number one OTP) came back full time when I saw the season 8 finale. I’ve also been loving Samantha since the beginning, and I love how her character has evolved. I’m sad Katrina isn’t getting a full-time storyline considering I love Amanda Schull’s acting and I won’t comment on her storyline with Brian (KORSH WHAT THE HELL WENT THROUGH YOUR MIND WHEN YOU WROTE THAT STORYLINE!!!!!!!)

So… overall 8x16 felt like old Suits, I won’t say it was as good as its beginning but it was better than what they’ve done in a while. I’m really excited to see where season 9 will take the show and Darvey. I’m so happy we’re getting a full season of them being together for REAL, and I’m so glad they all want their earlier banter back cause that’s what I’ve been missing for a while and I always wanted them to be like that when they’d be together. (And I really enjoyed the last scene, I thought it was staying pretty close to their true selves. The fact they didn’t have to say a single word but they just knew by looking into each other’s eyes speaks volumes. And trust me, I’ve been disappointed by ships who got together a bit too late before…) 

Here’s to my unability to stay away from Suits for more than six episodes but more importantly, here’s to DARVEY FINALLY BEING CANON!

[whateverisbeautiful]

Reveling in Richonne

#106: The Bond (8x09)

Michonne is pretty much the definition of “every woman” in that she is so many wonderful things in one. She has the ability to be a courageous warrior, compassionate friend, loyal wife, and wise leader. It’s all in her, y’all. 😊

And what I love is that throughout her relationship with Carl and Judith we got to see another layer to Michonne; the protective mom. 

And this episode is no exception, cuz Michonne is with Carl after the explosion goes off and then she turns around and tries to take some matters into her own hands. 

She gets up and briskly walks over to Dwight and demands for him to “Make it stop.” And then she throws him against the wall. Sis ain’t come to play with nobody. 👏🏽💯

It’s impressive to see Michonne take action despite everything, because she knows the last thing Carl needs right now is to be dealing with their community being blown up. 

It’s also sort of great to see Michonne get to have this assertive moment because, while Dwight has done his part to show he’s changed by now, he is still the one who captured her, Rosita, Daryl and Glenn in 6x15, so she deserves to throw him around a bit lol. 

She repeats for Dwight to “Make them stop” and then Dwight looks at her with what does seem like genuine remorse and says, “I can’t.” 

Michonne, with more desperation but also determination in her voice, says, “You can. You’re one of them. They’ll listen to you.” And then in more of a plea she says “Please” twice. 

And the second “please” really gets me because that’s when you really hear how vulnerable she is. 😥

We’ve seen the pain and emotional state she’s in since Carl’s bite reveal but this moment with Dwight is when it really hits home just how much she’s hurting and scared to have to lose yet another son.

So then Rosita steps in knowing that Michonne shouldn’t have to deal with this rn, which imo is the most likable thing Rosita’s done on the show.

She says they should go to Hilltop and then this becomes a whole conversation with Daryl, Tara, Rosita, and Dwight. And Michonne is still in the huddle but you can tell she’s not truly in the huddle, as it’s clear the only thing she truly can focus on right now is Carl.

They end up deciding to wait and then Michonne walks back over to Carl, where she’s meant to be.

And now we get into the heartfelt exchanges of the episode. 😭  Like from here on out this episode puts the foot on the gas in terms of emotional interactions. 

Michonne is back with Carl and lovingly tending to him as he looks up at her. Again, I’m glad Carl has Michonne as this woman who can be that maternal comfort. 

He tells her “You left. You were supposed to be resting.” and then Michonne sweetly says “I’m not tired.”

I adore this. ☺️ It’s sweet seeing Carl concerned about her and I think it’s also precious that she wants to be reassuring to Carl that she’s okay despite the fact that she probably is extremely exhausted, especially considering she just recently had to fight off that grown man Savior who grabbed her earlier.

So then Carl smiles and says, “Yeah, you look great” and it’s cute that he wants to be lighthearted with her, knowing how much she’s hurting. 

This whole situation is so heavy so I appreciate that their exchange serves as a reminder of the more playful side of their bond. Cuz we’ve seen throughout the years how Carl and Michonne were always so good at making each other smile, and I’m glad we get to see that in their final episode together.

Carl then takes this opportunity to communicate to Michonne his outlook on this whole war and their current circumstances by saying,  “It’s gotta stop, Michonne. It’s not supposed to be like this. I know it can be better.”

(Y’all I’m trying to tell TWD these exact words lol.)

It’s sweet that Carl really wants both Rick and Michonne to understand his hope for peace, cuz he wants both Rick and Michonne to be at peace once he’s gone.

And then the next part is another one of my favorite moments of the episode. Because Michonne hears Carl out and then we see Rick look over to her and then place his hand on her arm to offer comfort and y’all I am so here for this.😊

Up until this point R&M’s focus has been on Carl so I love that we get a brief moment of seeing Rick connecting with Michonne and wanting to be there for her too. She always has his attention.

And it’s just a sweet visual to see the three of them together in this moment because they are 100% family. Like it’s crystal clear that she is in their immediate family and that not only is she meant to be here with them but you can also sense how grateful Rick and Carl are to have her here with them as well. 

It takes me back to season 4 when the three of them really officially became family and now here we’re seeing how they’ve only gotten closer since.

So then Daryl and some guys head up to check out the aftermath of the Saviors attack and Daryl hands Judith to Rick while trying to offer Daryl’s form of comfort in patting Rick’s shoulder. 

It’s sweet seeing Rick take Judith, as sad as it is knowing that she’ll be his only living kid by the end of the episode. 😭

There’s then another clip of red-eyed Rick and then another dream sequence, this time including Eugene, which at the time I was like...

And then it again cuts to Rick and Michonne shoveling which hurts even more having now seen some of how Carl spent his final moments with them.

So next, Rick is sitting with Judith and Carl in the tunnel and then Michonne returns over to them after getting the update of what the group’s next move will be. 

I really appreciate that Michonne is able to be Rick’s partner in this and can be the one to get info and relay it to him so that he doesn’t have to leave Carl’s side.

Rick sees her and stands up and I just realized that Michonne is the only person that Rick was really able to talk to apart from Carl and briefly Siddiq in this episode. And it makes sense cuz for him, the only people he has on his mind right now are his kids and his wife.

So Michonne lets him know the Saviors are gone and they can get everyone to Hilltop. 

She says, “We can get Carl there.” And Rick responds saying, “Carl? No.”  Michonne suggests that Daryl can get one of the cars and then the line that punches my heart every time is Rick then saying, “Carl won’t make it.” 😥😥😥

It’s painful to see this dad have to come to terms with the fact that his son doesn’t have much time left and how it’s hard for him to even utter that sentence. 😭

Rick says, “He can’t leave here, I have to stay with him.” We hear Michonne say Rick’s name and then Rick says “He can’t. I have to stay” As tragic as it is, he’s right. 

But what I love is that as high as emotions are for the both of them, there’s still something so loving and patient in the way R&M speak to each other.

So Michonne looks at this man she loves and she understands where he’s coming from as a parent, so she reassuringly says, “We’ll both stay.” Which I love of course, because Sis is staying by his and Carl’s side no matter what.

There’s a quiet moment between them and then Rick says, “Would you take Judith? She needs to be there. If she…” and then we see Rick more fully break down. 

You can tell the idea of losing both kids is just too much for him to even think about. So he’s finally allowing himself to cry and I like that he knows he can be this vulnerable and emotional with Michonne. It’s yet another testament to the depth of their relationship.

Now y’all, at first I was like “Rick, you have to know there is no way on this earth that Michonne could just leave without you or without Car”l. But then I realized the reason he asked is because Michonne is who he trusts most, with everything in life but especially with something as important as Judith. 

So he asks because at his most vulnerable he wants Judith in the best hands, and also he wants both his girls to go and make it somewhere safe.

Daryl luckily steps in and says he’ll take her and he’s got this which is nice to see Daryl taking this initiative as a close friend of the two, and allowing Rick and Michonne to stay together. Cuz fr, if Rick and Michonne do nothing else, they need to stick together, especially at this time. 

I’m glad that in this moment the two people closest to Rick, apart from his kids, make it so clear to him that they are going to do everything they can to be there for him. 

Michonne and Daryl didn’t know Rick before the apocalypse, but it’s great to see how they’ve spent enough time with him and built a strong enough bond with him that they could be by his side and supporting him during the literal worse moment of his life, as he loses his only son. 

(Side note: I still think at some point in 8B Daryl needed to more fully acknowledge his contribution to the plan going wrong tho, but that’s another conversation lol)

So then realizing this is it, and Judith will be heading out soon Carl says “Let me say goodbye” and y’all when I heard that I was legit like...

Before it even happened I knew this next moment with Carl saying goodbye to Judith was going to be super emotional. And it absolutely was. 😭 So this next post might just be 50% break down and then 50% breakdown lol. But the moment is so beyond heartwarming too so we gotta go there. 

As far as the moments in this post go tho, I’m glad that these exchanges illustrated the bonds built between characters.

And I especially appreciate that the layers of playfulness and protectiveness between Carl and Michonne were on display, cuz those two have always had one of the most genuine bonds in TV.👌🏽

[statusquoergo]

Thanks for the answer. Very enlightening. Especially Korsh’s interview. Now I’m sure I won’t watch 8b. 8a was so boring if the rest will be the same caliber then I’m done.

The video Lawyer react : I found him sometimes ago and I was waiting for him to do a reaction to Suits. I was a little disappointed that, at the interview, he didn’t seem to understand that they weren’t law students and they weren’t there for a « summer associate » position. It through me off a little because I couldn’t understand how he could make that mistake. To me it was clearly said that Harvey was suppose to hire a full time lawyer who graduated to be his associate. It was bizarre. Other than that, he gave interesting informations, he was very enthusiastic and explain pretty well. And it was funny how many times they were facing disbarment in just one episode. And the witness tempering, awesome : they don’t even do it right. 

Thank you for the article. It was fun to read. Almost made me want to watch 8b so I could read another review like that. I went and read other Suits review from him and they were as entertaining as this one.

One thing I got from all of them is that there is basically nothing accurate in Suits. And I’m not even surprised. I knew they were exaggerating, I knew that they were solving cases to quickly and too easily and I always wonder why they were fighting each other as they’re suppose to be on the same side. But, damn, I didn’t know it was that bad. And according to him, it’s getting worse. I knew that about the writing but it’s also the case for the law. The worst is that they don’t even care : mistakes at the beginning, I can understand, but after 8 years. You’d think that they’ll try to makes things a little more accurate. No, what for ? Apparently they’re writing everything last minute, that explains why nothing is verified.

Thanks for the laugh. Strangely, it made me feel better about watching last season. Felt lot less like I was wasting my time than before I read the article.

Sure thing! Glad I could be of some assistance.

I think he understood that Harvey was looking for an associate of his own, but he used the summer associate model to describe the closest thing he could to the process that was going on in the show; especially since so much stress was put on the fact that Pearson Hardman only hires from Harvard, the implication seemed (to me at least) that they were hiring recent graduates. Also (someone please correct me if I’m mistaken) I believe that major corporate attorneys don’t generally hire “personal associates”; associates at large firms would do well to find mentors, and of course partners might favor certain associates over others, but they tend to be hired as part of a pool rather than attached to one specific partner, senior or otherwise.

Korsh has said that Suits wouldn’t be Suits without some kind of internal strife; well, he didn’t use the word “strife,” but he indicated that personal drama is a cornerstone of the show, so pardon me for dressing it up a little. Though I’m sure that real law firms encounter their fair share of infighting, I sincerely, profoundly hope that it doesn’t devolve into partners fighting against partners, jockeying for what is apparently a largely fictitious position. (Though the fact that firms rarely rebrand does make all of Pearson Hardman etc. etc.’s name changes even more ludicrous, which is actually kind of funny.)

The writers certainly do seem to think that the main character interplay is the thing drawing people in, which makes me wonder why they won’t just admit that the show is a soap opera and give up on the legal pretense entirely. They clearly don’t have the slightest clue as to what they’re talking about, so I say either learn, or shut up about it. But no, they keep stringing along the two threads side by side, hoisting up their law-adjacent plots as though they’re captivating the audience; really, though, does anyone give a damn anymore? The cases are insanely convoluted, as though the writers are trying to prove what adept legal scholars they are when in fact it’s just the opposite, but all that does is make me so confused that I completely give up trying to follow them practically as soon as they begin. (Until yet another ham-fisted parallel raises its ugly head, but that’s not even about following the case, that’s just me waking from a doze to point out that they’re recycling yet another plot from an early season and either hoping we don’t notice, or hoping we make the connection and find them just so terribly profound, even though they usually don’t make anything of the connection.)

In previous articles, Korsh has said that he plans out seasons in advance, but then they somehow get through everything he had planned in the first half and have to scramble to come up with filler for the back half. I’m not sure if that’s still their model, or if now they’re forgoing planning anything at all, but either way, it doesn’t demonstrate a whole lot of respect for their audience to be flying blind like this. I would think that at least, they’ve known since the beginning where they want to go with Samantha’s character, but apparently not! They’ve got so many plots they’re juggling now, they don’t know if they’ll even get around to her. (They sure dropped that bit about her time in the armed forces awfully quickly.)

I guess I was hoping that, with the departure of Mike and Rachel, they would’ve plotted this season out in excruciating detail to make it the best that it could be with the new dynamics… I know, I know, a foolish thought, but don’t worry, I’ve learned my lesson.

[sienna27]

TWD Spoilers - How it’s Gotta Be (8x08)

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Huge fucking sigh to open these comments.  WHY?  ! Because we were RIGHT back to the fuckery of last season wherein nobody that we wanted to see was on the GOD DAMN SCREEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

FUCK!!!!!

Seriously, no joke, Rick had about seven minutes, five of those were at the end.  Carol and Daryl (SEPARATELY, I’ve had enough of that bullshit) had maybe six to seven.  Tara and Rosita had probably seven to eight minutes because they got that extra little opening scene together.  And I actually remember when they were filming this episode because Norman would be randomly tweeting in what was the middle of the night EST, and I’m now wondering what the hell they had him doing all that time, because I can’t believe it took them like nine days to film that tiny bit of on air time that he had.  I’m sure he showed up just to watch some stuff that he wasn’t in, but still.  I was honestly shocked that the core cast had so little screen time after this whole season finally turning that stupidity around.  It’s like the producers just can’t learn and retain information about the things we don’t want.  

Now bullets on random things, then some commentary.

Tara being funny and sarcastic.  Missed that.  It kind of reminded me that I just genuinely miss the show being ‘enjoyable’ where our little core group was a family that spent actual time together.  

So glad they offed Oceanside Grandma.  One more needless, named, character removed.

If they’ve always had these magic exit tunnels under Alexandria then maybe they could have used them the last time Negan showed up to huff and puff and blow the walls down.  Just saying.

Also not disappointed that they demolished Alexandria and totally fucked up both the Saviors compound and the Kingdom.  The only way we’re going to downsize the cast is to downsize the damn communities.  It does annoy me that The Hilltop set is the only one currently, completely, intact, because it is my least favorite location (besides Oceanside) but one thing at a time.  I believe I said a few episodes back that I’d be fine if they ended this season on the road finding a new camp to settle in.  I’m still fine with that ending because the show was/is always at its best when it’s the core group out in the world, just surviving.  

Maggie getting teary after shooting that Savior was very out of character so I’m chalking that up to pregnancy hormones, but it better not happen again.  She did what needed to be done there and yes, she should have been ‘regretful’ that it came to that, but again, actual tears, didn’t work for me.  It made her seem ‘feminine weak’ if that makes sense.  Also, if she was going to kill a random Savior it should have been that douchebag Jared who had demonstrated (to her) that he was dangerous (we already know what he did before they ever got there), but yeah, kill the Red Shirt who did nothing to anyone instead because that makes no sense.  Just like killing the Red Shirt Hilltop guy in the car.  Literally NOBODY cared that you shot that dude in the head!  I don’t even think he had a name until Maggie mentioned it for burial!   But whatever, this is the kind of crap that is annoying.  Opportunities to get rid of the detritus, and they just leave them there.

I muted most of the Negan/Carl crap at the gate because I don’t want to listen to Negan talk anymore.  And God knows I don’t want to hear that whistle.  I was actually SO pleased with Rick saying to him later on, “don’t you ever shut up,” because that’s exactly what I was thinking too.  Dude, just shut the fuck up.  And that episode with Negan being so pervy in the trailer with Father Gabriel (remember he talked about dicks like constantly) ruined the character for me.  Not that I was a big fan of the character to start, but he’d lost whatever cool factor he had and just ended that whole thing as coming off as a pathetic tool.  So all I could think even seeing him onscreen tonight was ‘God he’s such a tool,’ and how much I want him off my show.  Unfortunately he didn’t die but Christ I’m just done with the war.  I don’t even want to watch 8B if this shit isn’t going to be wrapped in the first episode back.  

And I already knew that Carl was leaving because that was the only way to interpret the season premiere.  Really based on Rick’s devastation it was either him or Michonne and I didn’t  think it likely that they’d kill off their only other black heroine right after they killed Sasha, so that ruined any surprise Carl’s death might have been.  Which in retrospect made that whole foreshadowing thing kind of dumb.  Though I guess not everyone really thought he was going to be offed because he’s in the core cast, but to me it seemed obvious enough that they did blow the suspense. MUCH in the same way that they blew the suspense in the premiere itself by pre-releasing most of the scenes in the official trailers.  I don’t know who is in charge of that shit, if it really is AMC pushing them to release more to be ‘tantalizing’ but Jesus they need to stop.  I don’t seek out any spoilers and I still end up seeing most of these twists coming because they SHOW us, they’re coming.  It’s just a bad way to run a series and I don’t understand their angle in doing it.  

Anyway, back to Carl’s death, not to sound like a douche, but he was never a favorite anyway so I had no emotional reaction.  They spent too much time making him a little brat the first couple of seasons, then they turned him into a borderline sociopath/total dick to both his mom and his dad, before it finally became Farmer Rick and the Semi-Redemption of Carl.  But by then I was just eh, about him because again, too much time making him act like a little schmuck to really get on board with being a fan.  I’m sorry for Rick’s sake that he’s dead, or will be, because clearly this will break his heart and Andy will SHOW us that broken heart, but that’s about it.   

Also, side point here, super annoyed that yet again they have Carol off saving the Kingdom rather than being with Team Family when someone dies!  I mean WTF?!  That’s HER group, she’s been with Carl from the beginning, and yet again removing her from the trauma of the moment, makes her connection with them, LESS.  It genuinely irks me.  I guess Carl could maybe live long enough for her to reunite with them in time to say goodbye but I sincerely doubt it.  That’s going to have to be an FF thing. 

The only good thing to come out of this episode was Daryl getting his vest back, (actually ripping it off of Dwight was good) and this image right here below of him and Judith.  And I do understand that only about 72 hours have passed in their world, but seriously if Carol and Daryl aren’t back on screen together by say, the end of the first episode of 8B, I’m out.  I do genuinely believe the plan is to put them together this season, but they’ve used up ALL of their goodwill on dragging it out.  They’re already going to lose a percentage of viewers for killing off Carl (he has a vocal little contingency) so why would they continue to piss off this portion of the fandom when ALL they have to do is give us a proper, CANON, scene with them kissing/confirming they are now together, and they know that we will all then stick with them to the end?!  It’s just so STUPID to not knock that out!  I don’t know.  I mean obviously I know it’s just a TV show, but stupid, pointless, things irk me in any context.  And denying us that one moment (and again separating Carol from the group) when it would engender SO much good will, is utterly baffling.  It’s the basic fucked up principle of any ‘will they or won’t they’ couple ever, in that they drag it out to the very last minute, and then complain that viewership fell off after they put X characters together.  NO!  Viewership fell off because you WAITED to put X characters together until nobody gave a fuck about your damn show anymore.  This goes back to Moonlighting and The X Files and Bones, and Castle and honestly, every damn show.  They all do it this exact way, and everytime the viewers gets sick of it and say fuck it, then the producers are all, ‘oh no wait, look, look, kissing!’  Too late.  We’re done.  I don’t want to be done, but they’re working my last nerve.  

So anyway, finish up here with the sweet picture of Daryl and Judith.  More of this would be good also.

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[blazerina]

Here Comes the Sun (Sean x MC)

Author’s Note: This deals a little bit with mental anguish and the basic types of anxiety or stress that happen to anyone after or during a traumatic life event. Just want to say that up front.

Rating; PG-13? (I stink at ratings but there are some mature themes, nothing more than that though)

This is the first time in a while that I’ve entered something into the Choices Creates competition with the prompt of TRAVEL.  Tagging @angelschoices and @hollyashton.  I know this is a late submission so I apologize for missing the time deadline.

I wrote this because there’s just not enough Sean Gayle love in this world.

Hope you enjoy!

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A wave of ice-cold water ran up and down his spine. He felt his extremities shiver and seize, tensing up one final time before giving in and becoming completely numb. Soon the water was pouring over his head and his breath began to quicken. The same ice water that was freezing his body, began to rapidly fill his lungs and as they tightened with each shallow breath, it felt as if life was being squeezed and pulled from every vein within him.  Somehow, while he was struggling for air and feeling intense, frigid tremors from head to toe, he was also feeling warm.  Strong, penetrating waves of heat were making their way up and down his body, but the hotness was mainly pooling at the top of his head, as if he was sweating, all while he struggled and wrestled with himself beneath the water.

He could hear the blood-curdling screams of his friends at the surface of the frozen lake. All of them were calling for him and yelling out his name. Taylor’s voice was piercing and could be heard louder, longer and above the rest. He could feel her hand slipping over his forearm as he was pulled further and further below the surface. Images of her face flashed like a slide-show in his mind.

Her gentle and bright blue eyes that were such a contrast to her dark hair. Her confident smile that reassured him more times than he could count. The way she absentmindedly brushed her bangs out of her eyes and tucked them behind her ear. This was the last memory and thought that flickered in his mind before total darkness hit.

–

“Taylor! TAYLOR!” Sean sat up quickly, calling out to her, breathing heavily and holding his head. His temples were throbbing. In his sleepy stupor, he laid back down and rolled over in bed. His arms reached out for her, fumbling his way through the empty sheets.

“Why do these dreams keep happening? It’s been 7 years…” he mumbled, knowing in a matter of moments he’d feel her arm, or her body next to him, if he continued to feel around for her.

“T?” He opened his eyes and then let out a heavy sigh.  Looking around the room, he realized he wasn’t home. He was on the road, in another hotel for what felt like the billionth time.

—

One week later…

“Ladies and Gentlemen, on behalf of our airline, I’d like to be the first to welcome you to Chicago. Please keep your seatbelts buckled until the captain has turned off the fasten seatbelt sign.  We will be arriving at our gate in just a moment. If you need connecting information, please check the monitors in the terminal. For those of you staying with us here in Chicago, your luggage will arrive at carousel 8B…”

The calming tone of the flight attendant’s voice woke Sean from his slumber.  He was groggy and shook his head quickly to wake himself up.  “Wow.” He muttered under his breath, realizing he slept for the entirety of his flight.  His doctor had given him a new prescription for his flight anxiety, due to the fact that the medication he had previously been using stopped helping. He travelled too much these days and was on an airplane at least twice every other week. Sean hated using any kind of medicine to help calm him down, but there really wasn’t any other remedy.

Looking around, he stretched his arms above his head, careful not to disturb the person in the window-seat next to him. “S’cuse me.” He nodded, making eye contact with the man on his right.

“Mr. Gayle.” A flight attendant knelt next to Sean’s chair. “I know you were asleep for the flight, but is there anything I can get you before you leave?”

“No, no thank you. I appreciate it, though.” He smiled, and then bent over to reach underneath the seat in front of him for the leather satchel-briefcase that Taylor had given him for Christmas.  He ran his fingers over his monogram “SMG” that was ghost-stamped on the front, and thought of her.  He missed her so much.  He was painfully aware of his need to have her with him, and never felt completely himself unless she was by his side.

He opened the bag and found his phone, holding down the button to turn it on.  He wanted to call her.  He craved the sound of her voice.

“Sorry to disturb you again, Mr. Gayle.” The flight attendant returned.

“I don’t typically do this, especially when I’m working in the first class cabin…” she fixed her gaze to the floor of the plane, not making eye contact with Sean, all of a sudden appearing nervous.

“It’s no problem.” Sean assured her, realizing what she was doing.  The plane lurched to a sudden stop and a clear bell rang out, signaling freedom for the passengers. While everyone began to stand up and gather their belongings, the attendant stumbled a bit into the Sean’s chair.  He steadied her, offering his hand.

“My son would just be so incredibly thrilled if you could sign anything…a napkin, a gum wrapper, anything at all!” She gushed, clapping her hands together, hoping he would comply with her request.

“Sure thing. Uh, let’s see what I’ve got here…” Reaching into the pocket of his sport coat, Sean retrieved his boarding pass.  “Do you have a pen, by chance?”

Working quickly to sign the autograph before more passengers made their way to the front of the plane, Sean asked for the boy’s name and signed the ticket with one of his favorite lines “Every moment matters. Always give your best, Sean Gayle.”

The flight attendant giddily read the autograph out loud and thanked Sean over and over again, following him off the plane, promising that he had made her son the happiest boy in all of Chicago that night.

As Sean walked down the long corridors of the airport, he realized how tired he was.  He felt so alone when he took trips like this.  After everything that happened once the group returned from La Huerta (the interviews, the phone calls, the articles, the movie premieres, the book deals), it was all such a blur.  Before he knew it two years of his life had passed. He was drafted by the National Football League, and played professional football, but only for one-and-a-half seasons.  He blamed his retirement on an injury, but really it was his mind that wasn’t up to the task of playing football anymore.

He was a high school football coach now. He didn’t really know anything other than football, at least that’s what he told himself.  He loved the kids he worked with and really felt like he was able to make a difference. Every year more and more school districts from around the area tried to recruit him to come coach their team. They had all kinds of reasons why they wanted him – they tried to lure him away with more money, more prestige, more access to colleges who could one day offer him an even bigger and better job but he always said no.

He loved the small-town life that he and Taylor had created for themselves.  They lived in a modest home, drove regular cars, and had pretty normal jobs and lives – well, as normal as life could be after all they experienced together.  They still couldn’t go anywhere without someone recognizing them, or asking them “What was it really like?” when they were in line at the gas station, or doctor’s office, of all places.

Even just a few days ago, a large cable news network called both Taylor and Sean, asking if they would be willing to come in for a reunion interview with the rest of the La Huerta gang. Sean immediately said no, while Taylor told them she’d think about it.  She always handled people with more grace and kindness than he did.  She handled everything better than he did. Most of the time, Sean felt like a fraud.  He felt like a fake person living inside his own mind and body.

When it wasn’t football season back in the district where he coached, he traveled all over the country to various speaking engagements booked by his agent.  Some seven years after his return from La Huerta, people still clamored to hear Sean Gayle speak.  He talked to CEOs, doctors, high school students, colleges and universities – he was even a featured as a guest at a mega-church one time – and that totally blew his mind because nowadays especially, he was feeling anything but worthy of speaking from a pulpit.

No one but Taylor really knew the toll that La Huerta took on Sean.  Outside he may appear to be the same positive, hard-working, loyal and sacrificial leader that everyone knew him to be prior to that summer trip from hell; but on the inside, he was crumbling.  The nightmares (or in some cases memories turned dreams) had gotten worse over the past year. The flight anxiety had gone away for a while, but once again returned with a vengeance.  He was suffering from mood swings and he could never find a way to work out or go for a run that was long enough, or hard enough to truly rid his mind of the “what-ifs” that plagued him. Even when he was focused on something happy, something that truly brought him joy…in the back of his mind he constantly heard a voice whispering to him: Remember what you went through. Remember how close you were to losing it all. What have you done with the life you’ve been given? You’ve got to keep working, keep moving, focus on the future and what lies ahead.

 He and Taylor had been together since the moment they made it back to Hartfeld.  She had no family, and was pretty much alone.  His family had taken her in from day one and they never looked back. Taylor stayed by his side through his short stint in the NFL. They soon settled into the home they now shared, and she was the most loyal and constant source of support for him throughout that difficult time as a pro.  To keep her company when he was out of town, Sean suggested they get a pet.  Taylor immediately knew she wanted a dog.  She refused to even look at a kitten or a cat. Because of their experience with saber tooth tigers and Furball, she couldn’t bring herself to do it.  She had an aversion to cats and couldn’t bring herself to be around them.  Yet another weird change to everyday life that their time on the island brought them.  They settled on a dog, a German shepherd. They named him Aleister, in honor of one of their closest friends.

They had not married yet; weren’t even engaged.  Taylor didn’t bring it up, and oddly enough, neither did Sean.  Yet, every morning during their daily phone call, his mother would ask, “When are you gonna marry that girl, baby?”

As far as he knew, Taylor loved the life they were living.  She was a counselor at the same school where he coached.  She had written some books (under a different name, of course – not wanting more publicity) after getting two psychology degrees.  One of her books was about being an orphan or an abandoned child, and another focused on living through a stressful or traumatic life-event. She also took great care of the students she was responsible for, and had worked through a lot on her own, after La Huerta.  

Sean was in Chicago only overnight. His flight landed early in the evening and he was now making his way to baggage claim, where he would meet up with his driver, get into a black town car and be taken to a convention center downtown.  He would eat dinner and rub elbows with important people, speak about the power of positivity and leadership, sharing examples and stories from the island, as well as the gridiron.  He’d sleep in a hotel near the airport and head home the next day.  Everything felt like it was on auto-pilot.  There just wasn’t a lot of passion or emotion behind anything he was doing these days.

While he waited for his bag, he was finally able to have a moment to call Taylor.  The background picture on his phone instantly made his heart ache for her. It was a picture that had been sent to him and taken by another coach’s wife. She wasn’t looking at the camera, and the photo was black and white, but he knew she was wearing the high school colors, maroon and gold, while holding a homemade sign that read “Sean Gayle is my HERO.” She was holding it above her head and yelling passionately, but also smiling with her eyes at the same time.  Sean always marveled at her ability to combine fierceness with gentleness; strength with peace; protection and loyalty, with genuine care and concern for others. That picture summed up everything he loved about her and who he knew her to be.

Often, he wondered what people would think if they truly knew how much he relied on her.  The Sean that so many imagined to be strong, tough, valiant and courageous was weak, tired, scared and helpless without the support, encouragement and dedication of the woman he loved.

Sean exhaled as he pressed her name on his phone and listened to the phone ring…and ring…and ring…he desperately wanted to hear her voice tonight, but wasn’t surprised that she didn’t answer.

When her voicemail picked up, he left her a message, even though he knew he could have sent a text, he wanted her to hear from him how much he missed her.

“Hey – it’s me.  I landed in Chicago, just waiting for my bag.” He paused, his voice about to break and tears pricking his eyes. “I’m sorry for the way I left you. I’m so, so sorry, babe.  You didn’t deserve any of that and I don’t have any excuses.  Please forgive me.  I want to know you’re okay. I know you probably don’t want to talk to me, but somehow let me know you’re doing alright. I’m going to fix this. I promise you. I’m going to get better, and we’re going to be okay, and I’m going to be the man you deserve. I miss you so much. My heart hurts. I love you and I’ll call you later.”

“Mr. Gayle?” A gentleman in professional attire approached Sean just as he ended the call.  “I’m here to take you to the conference.”

“Hey man, thanks. Let me get my stuff and I’ll be ready.” His bag was one of the only ones left on the baggage claim, spinning around. He grabbed it quickly and followed his driver out to the car.

–

“Where are you going?” Taylor asked in disbelief.

“I have a flight to catch.” Sean was furiously digging through a drawer looking for something.

“You’re just going to leave?! Sean! Do you have any idea what you’re saying to me right now?” She was calm, but furious.  He always hated how scary she was when he pushed her to the point where she finally got mad.  The more calm and collected she remained, the worse it would be for him.

“I’m done.” He said, zipping up his suitcase.  “We are not having this discussion again.” He quickly turned on his heel and walked towards the closet, pulling of his shirt and tossing it on the floor.  He rummaged through some athletic shirts hanging up and grabbed a faded gray one.

Taylor blocked the doorway, trapping Sean in the closet.  He shimmied out of his pants and started to put on some shorts, when she startled him. “So this isn’t enough for you?”

He pulled his running shorts up to his waist and snapped the elastic across his middle, dramatically.  With a sigh, he responded, “That’s not what I meant.”

“That’s what you said, Sean. You said this,” Taylor gestured wildly, her arms flailing, “…isn’t enough for you.”

“I need to go for a run.  I’ve gotta be on the road in less than an hour. They’ve got a car coming to get me.” He brushed past her. Taylor glared at the wall, remaining stoic, and silent, but wiping a tear off her cheek with the sleeve of her shirt.

When Sean got back from his jog, the house was silent.  Aleister had not even come to the door to greet him, which was unusual.  He mind raced as he thought about the possibility of Taylor being gone, and having taken the dog with her.

As he slowly walked into the bedroom, he could hear Taylor sniffling.  She was still in the closet, slumped on the floor with her back against the wall. Aleister was curled up next to her. When he saw Sean, he got up and wagged his tail.

“Taylor.” Sean got down on his knees next to her.

“You made it clear that we’re done talking about this.” She almost whispered, taking a deep breath.  He couldn’t help but realize for what felt like the millionth time, how naturally beautiful she was.  Her hair was straight, falling just below her shoulders. She was wearing one of his old long-sleeved t-shirts from Hartfeld.  Her face was now red and splotchy from crying so hard. A few dark streaks of makeup were left around the corners of her eyes.

He reached out to her, pulling his legs out from under him so he was fully sitting on the floor next to her. While he tried to put his arm around her, Taylor shrugged him off and stood up on her own.  Looking down at him, she said, “What’s really sad to me about all this,” she once again gestured enthusiastically with her arms, sure to emphasize the word this, “is that while it’s ‘not enough for you’” she made air quotes when she recited what he had said only moments earlier, “sometimes, no most of the time, it’s TOO MUCH for me.” Taylor looked him in the eyes and struggled with her own thoughts and desires in that moment.

Part of her wanted to hold him and be held by him, but the other part was so mad, so angry, she felt in that very minute, she’d be okay never seeing him again.

“Travel safe.” She stepped over him and walked out of the closet, Aleister following her.  Sean could hear her get the leash out of the front closet and then the front door open and close. Sighing heavily, Sean stood up and started the shower.  He laid out a pressed shirt, fresh from the dry-cleaner, some khakis and sport coat on the bed, next to his suitcase.  “Time to go.” He told himself as he looked in the mirror.

–

The next morning, Sean was back at the airport.  He still had not heard from Taylor and he was beginning to be nervous about what he would find when he returned home later that afternoon.  He text Craig, who was always good about giving him moral support in times like this.

 Sean: I know I put too much pressure on her. I rely on her too much. She’s my everything and she knows that…maybe she’s tired. Tired of me. Tired of us.

 Craig: Buddy! No way! Taylor is totally loyal to you, dude.  It’ll be fine. Say your sorry and don’t be mean. She loves you. Just chill out!

For some reason, Craig’s encouragement was not helping the situation.

While Sean waited for his flight, he nervously tapped his foot, watching planes take off and land in the distance.  He realized he was still tired.  Tired of traveling.  Tired of re-living La Huerta every day of his life. What he meant when he told Taylor “this isn’t enough” is that this life is not what he envisioned for himself. He knew there had to be more to life than the monotony he was experiencing. Sean made the decision that when he got back home, he’d take a break from the speeches and the conferences and the interviews.  He’d ask Taylor to marry him. They’d have a real life; no more emotional outbursts and worrying about each other and if they were “really doing okay.”  He was going to take control of his life and stop letting his island experience still control him after all this time.

“Ladies and gentleman waiting in the area for flight 1152 out of Chicago, we want to let you know that the flight has been delayed for, it looks like, about 2 hours.  There are some heavy storms approaching our destination and we want to be safe.  Of course we will let you know of any updates and will do our best to get you out of here as soon as possible, but the weather seems to be against us…”

The gate attendant’s voice droned on and on as Sean tightened his fist, frustrated that he was stuck, yet again, in another airport, away from Taylor, when all he wanted was to be home.

–

A few hours later, Sean finally made it on the plane, headed home.  He had a window seat this time, which also added to his grumpy mood.  He preferred the aisle, it was always more comfortable to him.  He felt like he had an easier exit if he needed one.  Once he sat down, he tried to get comfortable and decided one more time he’d try to call Taylor.  He at least needed to let her know when the flight would be landing.

To his surprise, she answered on the 2nd ring.

“Hey.”

“Hi there.” He responded, turning towards the window to try and make the conversation as private as possible, even with someone sitting a few inches away.

There was a moment of silence on the phone before Sean immediately asked, “Did you get my messages?”

“I did.”

“Are you okay?”

Taylor took a while before responding. “I’ve been better. But I’m okay.”

“Alright.  Well, I wanted to let you know I’m on the plane.  We should be landing in about 2 and half hours, then I’ll be home.”

“Mmhmm.”

“Taylor – I love you.”

She exhaled, before responding. “I know.  Travel safe.”

“Travel safe.” That’s what she always said to him.  Before he could respond, she had ended the call.  He knew he had a long road ahead of him if he wanted to make things better between the two of them.

–

Looking out the window, at the clouds the plane was flying through, and seeing the sun that was setting in the distance, Sean began to daydream about Taylor.  Ever since they had come back home from the island, and especially after he retired from the NFL, whenever he’d be down or have a hard day, she would have on hand or be able to recall from memory, some kind of quote about the sun. She would often tell him things like, “Remember, the sun will still shine tomorrow, even if it’s behind a rain cloud, it’s always shining somewhere.”

She had this way of always looking for the sunshine, or positive outcome, in every situation.  Yellow was one of her favorite colors.  She was always begging Sean to take a walk through the park near their house so they could watch the sunset, and she often got up extremely early to sit outside on their back porch and watch the sunrise.  The sun symbolized so much to her; the dawning of new opportunities with each new day; another opportunity to live this life; the promise that life goes on and the world keeps turning even when circumstances and situations make it seem like life is over.

He remembered one particular day a few years ago.  It was a day that that would seem regular and ordinary to her – but one that would forever stand out in his mind.

Taylor was cooking in the kitchen as Sean walked in, sweaty and tired from his last two-a-day practice before school started.  It was his second season as the head coach at Fairview High and he felt a lot of pressure to have a winning season, since the year before had turned out to be quite dismal. Feeling especially defeated and uninterested in talking to anyone, he tried to paste on a fake smile upon seeing Taylor when he entered from the garage.

Music was blaring, as it often was when Taylor was home alone. She didn’t like silence.  She was humming along to “Here Comes the Sun” by the Beatles.

“Of course.” Sean smiled, muttering to himself.  

The meal she was preparing looked like breakfast for dinner, one of his favorites.  He could smell bacon and instantly his stomach rumbled. She was cutting out biscuits she made from scratch, with a circular cookie-cutter. As she pressed the cutter into the dough, she began to sing some of the lyrics to the song out loud:

 Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting Little darling, it seems like years since it’s been clear Here comes the sun, here comes the sun, And I say

It’s all right It’s all right

She still had no idea that he was there and he loved getting a little glimpse into her when he wasn’t around.  He leaned against the doorframe and continued to watch her, mesmerized not only by her beauty, but who she was; who she was made to be; all the pieces that made her the woman he loved more than life itself.

As she continued to place the biscuit dough on the baking sheet, he noticed a few patches of flour on her face, and as his eyes traveled down her body, he realized she had some on her rear as well.  She became frustrated with her bangs falling into her eyes over and over again, letting out an exasperated sigh every now and then.

Slowly, he crept up behind her, putting his arms around her waist and lightly kissing her neck, gently and sweetly. She jumped quickly and tensed up immediately as she felt his arms around her, but then relaxed just as quickly, when she realized what was happening.

“Good God you scared me to death!” She turned around, to face him, looping her arms around his neck, but careful not to touch him with dough and flour on her hands.  He smelled so good to her.  She loved it when he came home after being outside at practice.  She knew he had been working hard, and that he was not feeling especially hopeful about the upcoming season.

“How’d it go?” She asked, searching his eyes for the real answer.

“Been better – the kids say their ready but it doesn’t look like it.” He sighed.

“Well, you know what I’m about to say, don’t you?” She grinned, keeping her eyes locked on his.  “You know what song this is?”

Sean smiled, biting his lip, holding back a laugh.  Not laughing at her in a silly or stupid way, but feeling especially joyful and content; happy to know he had someone in his life who had his back no matter what.  She was always there for him, in his corner to encourage him and be there for him when he was at his worst.  She had seen it all.

“I know.  Here comes the sun…it’s gonna be okay…blah blah blah.” He looked down, resting his forehead against hers.

Instinctively, she closed her eyes and pressed herself closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder.  “I love you.” She sighed, hugging him, no longer worried about the mess she may leave on his shirt.

Sean stepped back, and held her face in his hands, gazing at her. “I could not live without you.” He smiled, running his thumb over a patch of flour on Taylor’s cheek.  

“You almost didn’t.” Taylor smirked, raising an eyebrow.

Still holding her face in his hands, he brought her lips to his and kissed her fervently, gently guiding her back, up against the counter. She put her hands down to steady herself, losing her balance a little bit. Breathless, she pushed him away playfully.

“Go on. Get your shower.  Dinner will be ready soon.” She tried to return to the dough on the counter but Sean grabbed her hand.  

“You’re coming with me.”

Pretending to be put out, and frustrated, Taylor sighed and threw her hands up in the air.  “Fine. I guess if I have to…” She beamed as she held Sean’s hand and followed him out of the kitchen.

–

Sean had now been in the air a total of 4 hours and on the plane almost 5.  The weather had turned ugly again and they kept circling the airport, above the storm, hoping it would clear enough for them to land.  If they didn’t get down on the tarmac soon, they would run out of gas, and would have to land somewhere else to fuel up.

He was just about to reach into his bag for more medicine when a voice overhead announced the flight had been cleared to land.  Sean thought, for a brief moment, he had never been so happy.  About half an hour later, he was exiting the plane. He could feel a weight had been lifted from his shoulders when he was finally free from the confines of his window seat and the plane’s cabin in general.  

This time, he didn’t even check his bag as he wanted to be able to exit the plane, get out of the airport and be on his way home as soon as possible.  It had started to rain now, and he had made his way outside to the line of taxis, each one waiting for eager passengers to pay exorbitant amounts of money to get to their destination.  

A few people were in line in front of him.  With a heavy sigh, he watched as a bright green mini-van pulled up to meet him and take him where he needed to go.  He felt like this was a fitting way for this trip to end. It had started on an awful note and would end that way, too.  

“61st and Treeline.” He said to the driver through the window, while he opened the door to climb into the cab.  As he went to close the door, he heard the faint melody of “Here Comes the Sun” coming from his bag.  He set that song as Taylor’s ringtone, the day after he walked in on her singing it.

Standing next to the cab, in the pouring rain, he answered it while asking the driver to “Hang on one minute.”

“Taylor? What’s going on? You okay?”

“I’m great.  But you’re a little wet.” She sassed, into the phone.

Looking around, over his shoulder he held his bag over his head, shielding his eyes from the bright security lights, hoping to see her somewhere.

“To your left.” She instructed him. His face lit up when he recognized her, leaning against her car.  She had parked in the pick-up area, underneath an awning to stay dry.  He sprinted from the cab towards her, not worried in the least if he was making a scene.

She lightly jogged toward him too, laughing as she watched him make his way to her.  “Did you really think I wasn’t going to come and pick you up?” She asked, trying to catch her breath.

It was their tradition for her to pick him up whenever he came home from being out of town. He assumed she wouldn’t be there this time, given all that had transpired in the last 48 hours. “How do you run like this every day?”

Sean laughed and immediately kissed her.  She jumped into his arms and encircled her legs around his waist, not wanting the moment to pass them by.

“I’ve always wanted to make out in the rain.” He told her, again leaning his forehead against hers.

“Welcome home.” Taylor whispered to him, as she kissed him again.

“Home.  You’re right, Tay. I’m finally home.”

[twdmusicboxmystery]

On Beth’s Action Figure

Sent in by Nonny:

I honestly think Beth won’t return until like Season 9 but if not, then 10. I think she’ll return in season 9 because of these links:

https://mcfarlane.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/WebReady_TWD_TV_S9_Beth_02.jpg 

https://mcfarlane.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/WebReady_TWD_TV_S9_Beth_03.jpg 

https://mcfarlane.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/WebReady_TWD_TV_S9_Beth_04.jpg 

https://mcfarlane.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/WebReady_TWD_TV_S9_Beth_05.jpg 

https://mcfarlane.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/WebReady_TWD_TV_S9_Beth_06.jpg 

I know that these are just pics of her action figure but have you ever noticed something about the link of the pic that might tells us something. I know that the toy series are completely different than the actual TV show but what if that’s not the case for the Beth figure? I mean look at the way how mcfarlane did a photo shoot of her figure. Her poses especially with her two guns is something that we’ve never seen her before do that before on TV even with her infamous yellow polo with her pale-cloud ribbed cardigan. 

What if this is Gimple’s plan to make Beth return in the next season after Season 8B finishes airing if she doesn’t return after it finishes airing? What if Gimple’s way of telling us that Season 9 is actually our season of Beth finally making a return to our TV screen and that Season 8 was just a big preparation of her big return? 

I mean look at this: https://i.imgur.com/ytnGWTo.png 

I found this at the wikia website and they’re never wrong about posting details of the TV shows after/during it airs. Honestly, I can only think of Beth being re-introduced to the series of the TV show in season 9 from what Gimple stated about Season 9. 

If once again, that’s not the case, then there’s always the “Red Machete” series ;) I mean Claimer Joe returned, so, why can’t Beth return and take over the Red Machete series? I mean it’s a good way to catch up her story to Rick’s and rest of TF’s so that it wouldn’t interfere with the main show’s story. 

Do you understand what I’m getting at here? Any thoughts, opinions? Please let me and rest of your followers, friends, peeps, and family members know! :D

 TWDMusicBoxMystery:

I’m totally with ya, Nonny. Actually, TD has suspected for a long time that the Beth action figures hint at her future arc. There’s all kinds of things that make no sense based on what we’ve seen of her so far in the show. Here are a few that I’ve written: X, X, X. But I know there are tons more. BGWP and BGIHU have both done a lot more on this subject than I have, but I don’t have their links in front of me.

And actually, the middle link above has a figurine of her in her Grady scrubs, holding up a pair of scissors. It’s really not in me to see that as a coincidence.

You say the toys are different than the show, but I disagree. I think they base the figurines on the character arcs in the show. That’s why it’s so weird that they put these things out or do photo shoots, as you said, in poses or with weapons that we never saw in the show.

Some of these were taken back in 2015, but some in the links I provided above were later than that. We always think they’re suspicious, and it’s true that she hasn’t shown up yet. It’s like they do something with the figurines each year to keep her fresh in our minds and hint that there’s more to come.

As for what Gimple said about S9, that does actually make a lot of sense. While I do think we’ll see Beth this season, if we only see her briefly, then S9 may be the season where we get a lot more explanation, flashbacks, etc. pertaining to her arc. And hey, Heath’s return being tied up with hers would just mean we were right about all those symbols around him in S7.

Can’t wait to see how it all plays out! Xoxo!

[ladystylestores]

7 Day Healthy Meal Plan (Aug 10-16)

posted August 7, 2020 by Gina

A free 7-day, flexible weight loss meal plan including breakfast, lunch and dinner and a shopping list. All recipes include calories and updated WW Smart Points.

7-Day Healthy Meal Plan

I hope everyone is doing well this week! As many of you know, I live in Long Island NY, and we were hit pretty hard from tropical storm Isaias. We had some property damage and have been out of power since. I am thankful we are all OK, but I am asking for patience this week as my internet accessibility is pretty much non existent at this time. Crossing fingers that the electricity is back on soon, I know there are so many without!

Why Should Everyone Meal Plan?

Meal planning is a great way to organize your meals for the week ahead. You also save time and money in the supermarket! And of course, planning ahead helps you stick to your goals!

About The Meal Plan

If you’re new to my meal plans, I’ve been sharing these free, 7-day flexible healthy meal plans (you can see my previous meal plans here) that are meant as a guide, with plenty of wiggle room for you to add more food, coffee, beverages, fruits, snacks, dessert, wine, etc or swap recipes out for meals you prefer, you can search for recipes by course in the index. You should aim for around 1500 calories* per day.

There’s also a precise, organized grocery list that will make grocery shopping so much easier and much less stressful. Save you money and time. You’ll dine out less often, waste less food and you’ll have everything you need on hand to help keep you on track.

Lastly, if you’re on Facebook join my Skinnytaste Facebook Community where everyone’s sharing photos of recipes they are making, you can join here. I’m loving all the ideas everyone’s sharing! If you wish to get on the email list, you can subscribe here so you never miss a meal plan!

Also, if you don’t have the Skinnytaste Meal Planner, now would be a great time to get one to get organized for 2020! There was a print error last year, but it’s perfect now! You can order it here!

THE DETAILS:

Breakfast and lunch Monday-Friday, are designed to serve 1 while dinners and all meals on Saturday and Sunday are designed to serve a family of 4. Some recipes make enough leftovers for two nights or lunch the next day. While we truly believe there is no one size fits all meal plan, we did our best to come up with something that appeals to a wide range of individuals. Everything is Weight Watchers friendly, I included the updated WW Blue SP for your convenience, feel free to swap out any recipes you wish or just use this for inspiration!

The grocery list is comprehensive and includes everything you need to make all meals on the plan. I’ve even included brand recommendations of products I love and use often. Cross check your cabinets because many condiments you’ll notice I use often, so you may already have a lot of them.

And last, but certainly not least, this meal plan is flexible and realistic. There’s plenty of wiggle room for cocktails, healthy snacks, dessert and dinner out. And if necessary, you can move some things around to make it work with your schedule. Please let me know if you’re using these plans, this will help me decide if I should continue sharing them!

MONDAY (8/10) B: Loaded Baked Omelet Muffins* (2B 4G 2P) with 1 cup strawberries (0B 0G 0P) L: Turkey Club (7B 8G 7P) D: Zucchini Rollatini (recipe x 2) (8B 8G 8P) with Vegan Caesar Salad (3B 1G 1P) Totals: WW Points 20B 21G 18P, Calories 1,003**

TUESDAY (8/11) B: Loaded Baked Omelet Muffins (2B 4G 2P) with 1 cup strawberries (0B 0G 0P) L: LEFTOVER Zucchini Rollatini (8B 8G 8P) D: Turkey Taco Lettuce Wraps (0B 5G 5P) with 2 tablespoons cheddar (2B 2G 2P) and Fiesta Lime Rice (2B 4G 2P)

Totals: WW Points 14B 23G 19P, Calories 994**

WEDNESDAY (8/12) B:  Loaded Baked Omelet Muffins (2B 4G 2P) with a peach (0B 0G 0P) L: LEFTOVER Zucchini Rollatini (8B 8G 8P) D: Spaghetti with Sautéed Chicken and Grape Tomatoes (7B 9G 2P)

Totals: WW Points 17B 21G 12P, Calories 871**

THURSDAY (8/13) B: Blueberry Banana Oatmeal Smoothie (½ recipe) (7B 7G 7P) L: Chickpea Avocado Salad (3B 8G 3P) D: Grilled Rosemary Lamb Chops (6B 4G 6P) with Houston’s Couscous Salad (7B 7G 4P) Totals: WW Points 23B 26G 20P, Calories 868**

FRIDAY (8/14) B: Blueberry Banana Oatmeal Smoothie (½ recipe) (7B 7G 7P) L: Chickpea Avocado Salad (3B 8G 3P) D: Basil-Parmesan Crusted Salmon (3B 6G 3P) with ¾ cup brown rice (5B 5G 0P) and Massaged Raw Kale Salad (2B 2G 2P)

Totals: WW 20B 28G 15P, Calories 956**

SATURDAY (8/15) B: Stuffed Bagel Balls*** (5B 6G 5P) with a peach (0B 0G 0P) L: Creamy Shrimp and Celery Salad (2B 3G 2P) D: ORDER IN!

Totals: WW Points 7B 9G 7P, Calories 391**

SUNDAY (8/16) B: Crustless Quiche Lorraine (5B 7G 5P) with 1 ½ cups mixed greens and 1 tablespoon light vinaigrette (1B 1G 1P) L: Easy Margarita Pizza (6B 7G 6P) with 8 baby carrots (0B 0G 0P) D: Grilled Bourbon Chicken (4B 8G 4P) with Cauliflower Fried “Rice” (1B 2G 1P) Totals: WW Points 17B 25G 17P, Calories 1,000**

*Freeze any leftover you/your family won’t eat. **This is just a guide, women should aim for around 1500 calories per day. Here’s a helpful calculator to estimate your calorie needs. I’ve left plenty of wiggle room for you to add more food such as coffee, beverages, fruits, snacks, dessert, wine, etc. ***Double dough recipe, adjusting baking powder, for lunch Sun.

*Google doc

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Shopping List

Produce

5 medium peaches

1 (1-pound) container fresh strawberries

1 (6-ounce) container fresh blueberries

1 medium banana

5 medium lemons

5 medium limes

2 medium heads garlic

1 (2-inch) piece fresh ginger

1 small bunch radishes

1 medium head cauliflower

4 large zucchinis

1 small and 2 medium cucumbers

1 small red bell pepper

1 medium ear of corn

1 small bunch celery

1 small bag baby carrots

1 small (5-ounce) Hass avocado

2 medium bunches scallions

1 small container/bunch fresh chives

1 large container/bunch fresh basil

1 small container/bunch fresh mint

1 small bunch fresh cilantro

1 small bunch fresh Italian parsley

1 small container/bunch fresh rosemary

1 medium head Iceberg lettuce

1 medium bunch Lacinato kale

1 small container microgreens (optional, for Vegan Caesar)

4 small heads Romaine lettuce

1 (5-ounce) container mixed greens

2 dry pints grape or cherry tomatoes

2 large vine-ripened tomatoes

2 small yellow onions

Meat, Poultry and Fish

1 package center-cut bacon

3 ounces sliced deli turkey breast (I like Boar’s Head)

1 1/3 pound 99% lean ground turkey

3 pounds (6) boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

1 ¼ pounds (4) salmon fillets

1 pound cooked peeled and deveined shrimp (can buy raw and cook yourself, if desired)

1 ¾ pounds (8) bone-in lamb loin chops

Grains*

1 loaf whole grain sliced bread (such as Dave’s Killer)

1 small package quick oats

1 package unbleached all-purpose flour

1 package regular or whole wheat spaghetti

1 package dry long grain rice (can sub 1 ½ cups cooked brown rice, if desired)

1 package dry brown rice (or 3 cups pre-cooked)

1 package dry whole wheat couscous

Condiments and Spices

Extra virgin olive oil

Canola oil

Cooking spray

Olive oil spray (or get a Misto oil mister)

Kosher salt (I like Diamond Crystal)

Pepper grinder (or fresh peppercorns)

Regular or light mayonnaise

Crushed red pepper flakes

Dijon mustard

Garlic powder

Cumin

Chili powder

Paprika

Oregano

Vanilla extract

Unfiltered apple cider vinegar (I like Bragg’s)

Bagel Ball toppings such as everything bagel seasoning, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried garlic flakes, or dried onion flakes (optional)

Old Bay seasoning

Nutmeg

Reduced sodium soy sauce*

BBQ sauce

Sesame oil

Light vinaigrette dressing (or make your own with ingredients in list)

Dairy & Misc. Refrigerated Items

2 dozen large eggs

1 medium wedge Gruyere cheese

1 (8-ounce) bag shredded cheddar cheese

1 (15-ounce) container part-skim ricotta cheese

1 small wedge fresh Parmesan cheese

1 medium wedge fresh Pecorino Romano cheese

1 (8-ounce) block reduced fat cream cheese

1 (4-ounce) chunk whole milk mozzarella cheese

1 (8-ounce) part-skim shredded mozzarella cheese

1 pint half and half

1 small tub light sour cream

1 (8-ounce) bottle 2% milk

1 (8-ounce) container unsweetened vanilla almond milk

1 (17.5-ounce) tub nonfat plain Greek yogurt

Frozen

1 small bag peas and carrots

1 small package chopped spinach

Canned and Jarred

1 jar marinara sauce (or ingredients to make your own)

1 small jar capers

1 (4-ounce) can tomato sauce

1 (15-ounce) can whole San Marzano tomatoes

1 small jar unsweetened apple sauce

1 (15-ounce) can black beans

1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas

1 (32-ounce) carton low or reduced sodium chicken broth

Misc. Dry Goods

1 small bag sliced almonds

1 small package hemp seeds (if buying from bulk bin, you need 2 tablespoons)

1 small package raw cashews (if buying from bulk bin, you need ½ cup)

1 small package raw sugar

1 small package raisins (if buying from bulk bin, you need ½ cup)

Baking powder

1 small package brown sugar

1 small bottle bourbon

*You can buy gluten free, if desired

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posted August 7, 2020 by Gina

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Black Pepper – Herb of the Month

By Maryann Readal

Black pepper, Piper nigrum, is a ubiquitous spice that can be found on tables anywhere in the world where food is served. But what is the story behind this popular spice that is used in kitchens the world over? 

P. nigrum is native to the Malabar Coast of southern India. It is also grown in other parts of the tropical world, including Vietnam, which has taken the lead in production by exporting 287,000 tons of black pepper worth $722 million in 2019. This is about 35% of the world’s black pepper trade. 

Pepppercorn drupes. Photo credit: Missouri Botantical Garden

Black pepper is a perennial vine with heart shaped leaves and pendulous flowers. It is grown for its fruit, which is dried and then used as a seasoning. The black pepper vine grows in my Zone 8b garden; however, it has yet to produce any peppercorns, although it bloomed for the first time this year. Maybe one day I will have peppercorns.

“Pepper” comes from the Sanskrit word pippali, which means energy and spiritedness. When we say “peppy,” we are referring to the taste of black pepper that can “pep” us up.

Black, white, and green peppercorns come from the same plant. Black pepper is the dried, unripe fruit. White pepper is the seed of the dried, fully ripe fruit. Green pepper is the dried unripe fruit that is brined to preserve its flavor and color. Pink peppercorns are not a pepper at all, since they come from the Peruvian pepper tree, Schinus molle, which is in the cashew family.

Archaeological evidence shows that black pepper was used as a seasoning in India as early as 2000 BCE. Exportation brought it to Egypt, where it was used as a spice and as a medicine. Containers of peppercorns have been found in Egyptian tombs, and they were even found in the nostrils of Ramses II who was mummified in 1213 BCE. Egyptians were early users of toothpaste, which they made from rock salt, dried iris flowers, black pepper, and mint. Cleopatra is said to have had skin lotions made with black pepper.

With exploration came the spread of black pepper to the Roman Empire, where it was considered so valuable that large quantities were stored in the Roman treasury. The first century Roman cookbook, Cooking and Dining in Imperial Rome by Apicius, featured recipes in which 80% of them called for black pepper. Pliny the Elder (25-79 CE) could not understand the reason for pepper’s popularity. He remarked, “Whereas pepper has nothing in it that can plead as a recommendation to either fruit or berry, its only desirable quality being a certain pungency; and yet it is for this that we import it all the way from India!” Romans used black pepper as a treatment for digestive problems and gas relief. They also used it as currency. When Alaric the Visigoth laid siege to Rome around 400 CE, he demanded a ransom of three thousand pounds of black pepper, along with gold and silver. 

After the fall of Rome, the Persians and then the Arabs were in control of the spice trade. They created fantastic, frightening stories about where pepper grew in order to scare other traders away from the source of black pepper. Their trade created a new empire – the city states of Venice and Genoa. The black pepper trade was responsible, in part, for the wealth of these two cities that sold the commodity to the rest of Europe. 

Due to the high cost of trading between Europe and India, black pepper and other spices became a luxury and a symbol of wealth, as the taste for flavored foods and a belief in the medicinal qualities of spices grew.  Again, it was also used as currency: a pound of black pepper could free a serf, and many a young maiden was married with a black pepper dowry.

With the explorations of Vasco Da Gama and others in the 15th century, trade in black pepper fell to the Portuguese, then to the Dutch, and then to the British East India Company. At one time, pepper accounted for 70% of the world spice trade. As it became more available, prices dropped, and more people were able to use black pepper. As a result, many world cuisines developed special spice/herb blends that included black pepper.

Annual Peppercorn Ceremony in Bermuda. Photo credit: nothingtodoinbermuda.com

An amusing story about black pepper plays out in Bermuda, where each year, the 200 year old Annual Peppercorn Ceremony occurs. During this event, Freemasons present the Governor of Bermuda with one peppercorn on a cushioned silver platter in exchange for their rent of the Old State house. The idea of “peppercorn rent” is still practiced today in England and in other countries, where a nominal fee is charged to rent a property. This refers back to the time when peppercorns were used as currency. 

Piperine, a key constituent in black pepper, is being explored for its antioxidant properties and as a treatment for vitiligo, which is the loss of skin pigmentation (Mihăilă et al, 2019). In addition, piperine is found to fight inflammation, improve digestion, and increase absorption of some herbal and conventional drugs (Streit, 2019). A relatively recent study showed that smelling hot pepper oil helps to reduce the craving to smoke (Cordell & Buckle, 2013).

Black pepper is used extensively in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine to treat digestive tract problems. Traditionally, it was used to treat worms, coughs and colds, sinusitis, dental problems, diarrhea, etc. The oil was used to treat scalp infections and skin diseases. 

Who would have thought that this common culinary spice played such an important role in world history? It was used to pay taxes, ransoms, rent, and dowry. As a medium of exchange, it was called black gold. It was, and still is, an important medicinal ingredient. And, it was the reason sailors set sail on perilous journeys to find a passage to India. Although no longer considered a luxury spice, the world’s demand for black pepper has not abated through the years, and continues to be an important spice in most cuisines. It has a peppery hold in many of our kitchens and still reigns as the “king of spices.”

For more information and recipes using black pepper, go to The Herbs Society of America’s Herb of the Month webpage: https://www.herbsociety.org/hsa-learn/herb-of-the-month.html

Cordell, B. and Buckle, J. (2013). The effects of aromatherapy on nicotine cravings on a U.S. campus: A small comparison study. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 19 (8). Accessed May 27, 2020. Available from https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/acm.2012.0537

Mihăilă,B., Dinică, R.M., Tatu, A.L., and Buzia, O. D. (2019). New insights in vitilago treatments using bioactive compounds from Piper nigrum. Exp Ther Med, 17 (2): 1039-1044. Accessed May 27, 2020. Available from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6327422/

Streit, L. (2019). Is black pepper good for you, or bad? Nutrition, uses, and more. Healthline. Accessed May 27, 2020. Available from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/is-black-pepper-good-for-you

Medicinal Disclaimer: It is the policy of The Herb Society of America, Inc. not to advise or recommend herbs for medicinal or health use. This information is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered as a recommendation or an endorsement of any particular medical or health treatment. Please consult a health care provider before pursuing any herbal treatments.

Maryann Readal is the Secretary of The Herb Society of America. She is a member of the Texas Thyme Unit in Huntsville, TX and is a Master Gardener. She gardens among the pines in the Piney Woods of East Texas.

Black Pepper – Herb of the Month published first on https://marcuskeever.blogspot.com/