#postal highway

[autotrails]

American Auto Trail-Postal Highway/Ozark Trail (Sayre to Mangum OK)

American Auto Trail-Postal Highway/Ozark Trail (Sayre to Mangum OK) https://youtu.be/B54UQWAJKY0 This American auto trail travels from Sayre to Mangum in southwestern Oklahoma along portions of the Postal Highway and Ozark Trail auto trails.

[postcard-from-the-past]

Resting stop along the highway, next to the Lake Chiemsee, Bavaria, Germany

German vintage postcard

[roguekhajiit]

A man walked up to me today with his peen hanging out.

I'm a mail carrier on a highway contracted route in Alaska. I do work for the USPS, but I'm not employed with them. These are routes that are too spread out and too rural even for the USPS employed rural carriers, so they contract these routes out to independent carriers like us.

So, that's what I was doing today when I got an eye full of a 50 yr old penis. This is how it happened.

I pull up to a stop, and since this particular stop was what I consider to be the halfway point of my route, I decided to check my email. I was waiting for something important and I didn't want to miss it. I wasn't even there a minute when I looked up to see a big white truck pull up in front of my little Forester.

I decided, ok, I'll wait a little more and proceed to mess around on my phone while this dude gets out of his truck and goes to check his mail.

He gets back into his truck, and I wait another minute, but he doesn't leave. OK, I think to myself, maybe he decided to read his mail before he drives off. So, I get out, grab the next bundle of mail, and pull the arrow key out of my pocket to open the first CBU (Cluster Box Unit), and I start delivering the mail all the while I'm acutely aware of everything around me. I'm delivering mail on the side of a highway with only my car to shield me from the traffic going by 20 mph over the posted speed limit. By now I can tell by the sounds of the tires on each car if they are just driving past me or if they are going to stop behind my car and ask me some inane question like "Do you have anything for me?" You're a complete stranger to me. Am I supposed to know who you are? But on this particular day, the traffic on that road was nearly non-existent

Since he hasn't left yet, I decided to deliver the mail to each CBU before I even start on the packages. I don't care that he's sitting there as long as he stays in his truck. I get halfway done with the third unit when I hear his truck door open again. I can hear the snow crunch under his feet as he approaches me. So, I close up the CBU all the while mentally preparing myself for yet another stupid question. He doesn't disappoint, either. Upon seeing that I closed up the CBU, he asks, "I guess I have to go get my key then?" I turn to answer him and tell him that yes, he needs his key to get his mail when I see something that I never once saw in all my seven years of working retail.

Don't get me wrong, though, I've seen a lot of shit working retail. Some of it even included actual shit. But seeing a grown ass man piss himself in the produce section while snacking on grapes still could not mentally prepare me for what I saw today.

This man stood there and asked me if I finished delivering the mail for box #5 all the while free ballin with his little Vienna sausage poking out of his fully unzipped and unbuttoned pants. It was roughly 20 degrees outside today. How could he not feel his Vienna sausage shrivel up like a piece of Jerky?

I quickly told him no and finished locking up the CBU. Then, as he was walking back to his truck to get his key, I walked back to my own vehicle and fully noped the fuck outta there. It didn't matter that I hadn't finished delivering the letters, nor did it matter that I never even started delivering the parcels. I just had to get away from there. I circled back, of course, after completing all the other stops on that street. But I found he was still sitting there in his truck. So I passed the stop up again.

Later, after all my other stops had been completed, I would circle back one more time to find he finally vacated that stop. The folks got their mail and packages, just a little bit later than usual, thanks to their free ballin neighbor.

[shadowsandstarlight]

I love that the central theme of this Hermitcraft season is shaping up to be… a municipal government? Public works and infrastructure?

[nepalenergyforum]

Powering Up Nepal's EV Future: NEA Commits to Adding 500 More Charging Stations

KATHMANDU, Nov 13: With the increase in the import of electric vehicles (EVs), the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is going to build 500 more charging stations. The authority has planned to spend Rs 2 billion to build charging stations on the main highways and urban areas of the country. Kulman Ghising, Managing Director of the NEA, said that with the increase in the use of electric vehicles,…

[whencyclopedia]

Inventions & Innovations of Ancient Persia

Ancient Persian culture contributed many of the aspects of the modern world which people take for granted as having always existed. The designation “Persia” comes from the Greeks – primarily from the historian Herodotus – but the people of Persis (Pars, modern-day Fars) referred to themselves as Iranians, from Aryan, meaning “noble” or “free” and having nothing to do with race.

While that is understood, any reference to ancient Iranian culture – in the West at least – continues to be called “Persian” as that is the legacy left by the Greek writers.

The Persians established an empire which stretched from modern-day Turkey to India, up through Syria and down through Egypt and, further, invented and maintained amenities, policies, practices, institutions, and aspects of religion which are well-known – but not often properly attributed – in the present day. Among these are:

First Declaration of Human Rights

Irrigation and Refrigeration

Landscaped Gardens and the Word 'Paradise'

Birthday Celebrations, Animation, the Guitar, and Dessert

Monotheism

Elite Military Units and Uniforms

Windmills and Air Conditioning

Postal System and the Highway

The Teaching Hospital

Heavily Armored Cavalry

While these contributions may be understood as commonplace in the present day, they were entirely novel in their time. Although there were gardens in other cultures, and monotheism had been suggested by the Egyptian pharaoh Akhenaten (r. 1353-1336 BCE)) centuries before, the Persians were the first to develop these concepts fully.

First Declaration of Human Rights

The Cyrus Cylinder is a clay canister-shaped artifact inscribed with cuneiform script issued by Cyrus II (the Great, r. c. 550-530 BCE) c. 539 BCE. It is an official document that tells of Cyrus the Great's conquest of the various regions which made up the Achaemenid Empire (c. 550-330 BCE) and how they had embraced his rule. He then speaks of how he elevated the lives of the people through the rights and liberties granted them. This document has long been (and continues to be) understood as royal propaganda establishing a monarch's grandeur but, since 1971 CE, it has been increasingly recognized as the first declaration of human rights in the world. The Achaemenid Empire granted its citizens freedom of religious thought and practice as well as many other liberties denied those of other cultures, including almost equal rights for women.

Continue reading...

[ruinedholograms]

(2000-2007)

• Queens Of The Stone Age - Rated R

• Andrew Bird - Weather Systems

• Nine Inch Nails - And All That Could Have Been, and Still

• Clint Mansell + Kronos Quartet + Mogwai - The Fountain

• Animal Collective + Vashti Bunyan - Prospect Hummer

• Xiu Xiu - Fag Patrol

• Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Lift Yr Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven

• Sigur Rós - Takk…

• Kanye West - Late Registration

• Queens Of The Stone Age - Lullabies To Paralyze

• Ray Lamontagne - Trouble

• Tim Hecker - Harmony In Ultraviolet

• Elliott Smith - Figure 8, From A Basement On The Hill, and New Moon

• LCD Soundsystem - Self Titled

• Xiu Xiu + Grouper - Creepshow

• Slipknot - Iowa

• Nine Inch Nails - The Hand That Feeds, With Teeth, and Every Day Is Exactly The Same

• Thom Yorke - The Eraser

• Tom Petty - Highway Companion

• Thom Yorke - Spitting Feathers

• The Postal Service - Give Up

• The Knife - Silent Shout

• Air - The Virgin Suicides

• The Knife - Self Titled

• Stars Of The Lid - And Their Refinement Of The Decline

[quackity1999]

[✉️ MAINTENANCE REPORT

FROM: [REDACTED]+mt@lnv.com

TO: cslime@lnv.com

cc: Foolish, Quackity, Sam

Attachment: 1 file]

Howdydoo, Mr. Slimecicle! Got another memo to pass it up the rung with ya, along with an apology 'bout the informality again 'cause the usual guy's out cold from another incident down in the Casino! Clumsy old dogs, safety last, reckon the team's due for another of Mr. Foolish's trainin' on workplace safety.

'thout further ado, here's the stuff we've been fiddlin' with and hammerin' back to shape:

- Cleaned up some blood and bullet holes in a Strip alleyway, some odd fellows were dukin' it out with flintlocks I heard.

- Some crook tried to run off with an ATM with a truck and a dream, but chickened out midway and the poor thing was layin' there all undignified in 8th St! We got it all covered, but I'm forwardin' a request to update the ATM security cams plus one unit repair order since the poor thing looks all sad and beat-up mucho-thank-you.

- It's gift-givin' season! Well, not really, but a quick little reminder from the postal office that there's a few packages out for Mr. President for when he's back from the business trip. And a few for the staff!

- Patched out some worryin' loose windows up in the Needle, reimbursement request for some glass windows up and attached in the email, if you'd kindly check 'em out.

- Order to re-tarmac the outer highways are done and out, but folks on the field would like to report that there's an odd tall fellow always poppin' by for a bother, if Security would kindly check that out.

Thats all for now!

Best regards,

[REDACTED], Maintenance Supervisor

TO: [REDACTED]+mt@lnv.com

CC: Foolish, Sam, Purpled, President Quackity

FROM: cslime@lnv.com

SUBJECT: Re: Maintenance Report

Howdy, Main-man!

I can ........ forward this to @ourpl3d from Las Nevadas! For the fancy shmancy security stuff. He does it super well. I have always loved his talent. Wow. :D

CHRISTMAS IS REALLY COMING! CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT. I think Christmas is amazing. There's all these big decorations around Las Nevadas now, to hide all the dishonesty and tax fraud and the really unreliable ways in which this nation works, because all Quackity from Las Nevadas knows how to do is hide from what haunts him! Haha. I LOVE BAUBLES.

Sam from Las Nevadas might be sad about his ATM. I like sticking my arms in them. What a pity! I hope it can get fixed.

You are amazing at emails, too. I think you and I are best friends now.

Love ya! (In a professional way as always!)

Charlie Slimecicle, Also Known As Gunker 90000000000000. Crazy, right? Haha! When do I stop typi

[numberonenat]

i asked chat gpt to make a playlist based on each one of the brothers of obey me…

here's part 2 and 3: the dateables + luke / the side characters

here's what it gave me:

lucifer:

"sympathy for the devil" by the rolling stones

"smooth operator" by sade

"devil inside" by INXS

"demon" by imagine dragons

"lucifer" by SHINee

"bad guy" by billie eilish

"personal jesus" by depeche mode

"no rest for the wicked" by lykke li

"highway to hell" by AC/DC

"dark horse" by katy perry ft. juicy j

"i put a spell on you" by creedence clearwater revival

"power" by kanye West

"black magic woman" by santana

"boulevard of broken dreams" by green day

"wicked game" by chris isaak

mammon:

"can't stop the feeling!" by justin timberlake

"money" by pink floyd

"material girl" by madonna

"don't stop me now" by queen

"irresistible" by fall out boy ft. demi lovato

"i want it all" by queen

"rich girl" by hall & oates

"break free" by ariana grande

"gold digger" by kanye west

"born to be wild" by steppenwolf

"counting stars" by onerepublic

"uptown funk" by mark ronson ft. bruno mars

"i love it" by icona pop ft. charli XCX

"shut up and dance" by walk the moon

"take a walk" by passion pit

leviathan:

"nerd" by three loco

"all the small things" by blink-182

"the real slim shady" by eminem

"anime" by riton & kah-lo

"superhero" by 5 seconds of summer

"loser" by beck

"gamer" by karliene

"virtual insanity" by jamiroquai

"no tears left to cry" by ariana grande

"in the end" by linkin park

"radioactive" by imagine dragons

"the middle" by zedd, maren morris, grey

"numb" by linkin park

"gangnam style" by psy

"last friday night (T.G.I.F.)" by katy perry

satan:

"bitter sweet symphony" by the verve

"imagine" by john lennon

"bohemian rhapsody" by queen

"hotel california" by eagles

"hallelujah" by leonard cohen

"smooth" by santana ft. rob thomas

"time in a bottle" by jim croce

"wish you were here" by pink floyd

"somewhere only we know" by keane

"black" by pearl jam

"dust in the wind" by kansas

"vincent" by don mclean

"blackbird" by the beatles

"under the bridge" by red hot chili peppers

"sultans of swing" by dire straits

asmodeus:

"vogue" by madonna

"glamorous" by fergie ft. ludacris

"beautiful" by christina aguilera

"i'm too sexy" by right said fred

"fashion" by david bowie

"confident" by demi lovato

"glam" by christina aguilera

"fancy" by iggy azalea ft. charli XCX

"manicure" by lady gaga

"glamourous indie rock & roll" by the killers

"G.U.Y." by lady gaga

"primadonna" by MARINA

"supermodel (you better work)" by rupaul

"gold digger" by kanye west

"diamonds" by rihanna

beelzebub:

"sugar, sugar" by the archies

"banana pancakes" by jack johnson

"all star" by smash mouth

"don't stop believin'" by journey

"i want to hold your hand" by the beatles

"lean on me" by bill withers

"stand by me" by ben e. king

"with a little help from my friends" by the beatles

"three little birds" by bob marley & the wailers

"can't help falling in love" by elvis presley

"i'll be there for you" by the rembrandts

"count on me" by bruno mars

"lean on me" by club nouveau

"i just called to say i love you" by stevie wonder

"better together" by jack johnson

belphegor:

"enter sandman" by metallica

"lose yourself" by eminem

"don't wake me up" by chris brown

"sweet dreams (are made of this)" by eurythmics

"lazy song" by bruno mars

"sleeping in" by the postal service

"dreams" by fleetwood mac

"mad world" by tears for fears

"lucid dreams" by juice WRLD

"wake me up when september ends" by green day

"hotel california" by eagles

"boulevard of broken dreams" by green day

"i don't want to miss a thing" by aerosmith

"talking in your sleep" by the romantics

"no sleep 'til brooklyn" by beastie boys

this was fun lol

except for the repetitive ones, i acctually liked this - even with the ridiculous or that make no sense...

i'll definatelly make a part 2 with the side characters and maybe with characters from another fandom. i'll put the link here when i do it.

[charlesandmartine]

Tuesday 10th December 2024

Reluctantly, we left, heels dragging, Dingo Beach this morning. The accommodation was fine and comfortable, but the location was gorgeous. I could live there tomorrow. The people were friendly and to sit having a beer on the beach, turtles doing backstroke and waving as they passed, fish jumping with a little wink, as it got dark each evening was absolutely out of this world.

We have now progressed southward down the Bruce Highway, and our first stop was Proserpine, a town like many in this area built on the sugar industry. Its skyline was dominated by the refinery and, no doubt a significant employer. George Elphinstone Dalrymple named the Proserpine River on an expedition in 1859. Proserpine derives from the legend of the Greek goddess Persephone (whose Latin name is Proserpine). The British moved in in 1860, pretty much straight away, really. The Crystal Brook Sugar Company was formed in 1882 and established a sugar industry in the region a year later. Since then, it has developed into a major industry in the region. We drove 125 km to firstly a small town called Marian and then on to Finch Hatton and it was sugar cane all the way, with their little narrow gauge cane trains weaving across the road networks, first alongside the roads and then through fields, trucks filled with produce.

Marian was a pleasant little town named Marian after the town station, which in turn was named after a local large house called Mary Ann.

The town's other claim to fame, apart obviously the sugar refinery, was the Soprano operatic singer Helen Porter Mitchell, (1861-1931), who later became known as Dame Nellie Melba, taking the name from her home town of Melbourne. Well, no doubt she had a good set of pipes, but I don't have any of her CDs.

We are now ensconced for the next 3 nights in a truly lovely old property, the Old Post Office. Finch Hatton is set close to various National Parks, one famous for platypus around here and also close to the mountains with Dalrymple Heights featuring quite well. The town certainly by first impressions is extremely fetching, and despite us occupying a post office, a replacement thankfully was provided further down the street. Shame really because I rather fancied using a big rubber stamp and sorting postal orders.

The visit in Marian earlier to Woolworths ensured the store cupboard is fully refurbished with rubbery chicken and SB. The great offer on the Banrock SB, 33% extra free, is still on, and the cellars are now well stocked.

A short walk around the town familiarised ourselves with the facilities and we were able to bore witless one or two locals vis-a-vis our travels so far. They look interested for 5 minutes or so, then they glaze over and mutter, sounds like you've been more places than most Australians! This is causing real problems for us now. Magnetic Island was fabulous, Dingo Beach, terrific, and now Finch Hatton we find we love too. It is such a lovely little town, and we have already been invited to the Christmas bash tomorrow night! Decisions, eh?

ps. Temperatures sizzled today circa 37 degrees. The locals all seem to agree it's going to tip down over the next couple of days. Something to do with the wet season. They all look forward to it!

[asexual-fandom-queen]

My Canadian 9-1-1 Spin-Off Dreams

Okay so this post has reminded me that I have a whole Canadian 9-1-1 spin-off plotted and ready to go, so I'm gonna scream about it here in case anyone cares

It's called 9-1-1 True North obviously (the lyrics in the Canadian national anthem refer to Canada as the "true north, strong and free" and since they went the nickname route with Lonestar, I think True North tracks)

It's set in Vancouver, primarily because if Hollywood is gonna film fucking half their shows there, the least they could do is set something in the actual city! Also, as far as Canadian winters go, it's on the milder side, so they can do one or two snow episodes a season without needing to make it their entire personality. They have the ocean for water emergencies, they're on a faultline for earthquake drama (even if they don't actually feel most of the earthquakes they get like California does), and BC unfortunately also has a terrible wildfire season.

And that's just on the natural disaster front! Vancouver as a city has a lot of interesting social issues to bring in that human element 9-1-1 likes so much. Vancouver's Downtown East Side is often referred to as "Canada's poorest postal code." The city has an incredibly deep socioeconomic divide that exacerbates an ongoing housing and cost of living crisis. It is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in Canada, an estimated 55% of its residents are non-white, and Indigenous folks have called the Vancouver area home for over 10,000 years, specifically members of the Squamish, Musqueam, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.

Since I've sold you on location, let me line up some vague character profiles to get invested in (bearing in mind, it's gonna feel a bit like the intro to Lonestar where it's just a Diversity Carousel, but I promise, they're actually fleshed out and 3-dimensional in the show, this is just the pitch)

DETS Social Worker Girl. She's a late 20-something with a brand new MSW working at a not-for-profit in the Downtown East Side. Her whole thing is harm reduction and de-escalation and finding ways to help without involving the police. She's got a heart of gold, but also grew up upper-middle-class and has a bit of a White Savior thing going on the show absolutely gets to call her on, and a big part of her arc is learning to be of service without centering herself as the hero.

The Crystal Highway Of Metro Vancouver. If you've watched the Canadian medical drama Skymed (which if you're a 9-1-1 fan who hasn't, get on that immediately) you're familiar with Crys's whole archetype. An Indigenous character who isn't just Indigenous but who the narrative also deeply respects by allowing their Indigenous identity to be a core aspect of who they are. I see his character struggling a bit with that "foot in two worlds" feeling. He brushes elbows with DETS Social Worker on various calls, and their budding romance gets to be the Buck/Abby slash TK/Carlos romantic backbone, at least of the first season.

Every Buck Needs An Eddie (And Vice Versa). Because what's an ensemble cast procedural without a Work Bestie dynamic? Buck and Eddie. Chim and Hen. Paul and Marjan. You get it. He's first-generation Indian Canadian, he's a bit of a goof, a sweet sunshine child. Also, since Vancouver is very much Canada's Portland, I don't think it's off the table for him, 9-1-1's Crystal Highway, and DETS Social Worker to end up getting poly with it in later seasons. (Also, I think in the hands of a respectful writing team who ensure their characters are fully fleshed out and not just tokenized representation to tick boxes, a running gag of "not that kind of Indian" between the Work Besties could land)

Disabled Dispatcher Rights. Which I'm a bit surprised neither the OG 9-1-1 or Lonestar has done. 9-1-1 as a franchise does a lot to ensure diversity in its cast, but I think it's time network TV really steps it up with better disability rep. Like Bobby in Trackers proves (and like Felicity Smoak could have proved if the writers hadn't magically fixed her spinal injury) you can be a badass from a desk and contribute just as much to the success of the team, thank you very much.

Firehouse Mom Who Is Tired And Gay. And so butch. So, so butch. Please, ABC I'm begging you. One butch woman on my screen. You can do it. I know you can. We've had Bobby, and we've had Owen, but it's time for a Lady Cap. And while I'm not saying you have to cast Jane Lynch... I just think you should think about it.

In short, the next 9-1-1 should be set in Vancouver, and if I can get just 10 minutes alone in a room with Tim Minear, I think he'll see the vision...

[postcard-from-the-past]

Hotel of the highway rest area in Bernau am Chiemsee, Bavaria, Germany

German vintage postcard

[longliveblackness]

The Negro Motorist Green Book, popularly known as the Green Book, was a travel guide intended to help African American motorists avoid social obstacles prevalent during the period of racial segregation, commonly referred to as Jim Crow.

The book listed businesses that would accept African American customers. The book was the vision of Victor Green, an African American US postal employee from Harlem, New York. The first guide focused on Metropolitan New York. The next year, in 1937, Green expanded listings to other locations.

His book would eventually include every state and several international destinations before ceasing publication in 1964.

Before its demise the book was the most popular of several tourist guides created specifically for an African American audience.

These types of travel guides were necessary during the Jim Crow era because African Americans were subiect to acts of discrimination and occasional intimidation as many businesses refused to accept them as customers. African American motorists, for example were warned to avoid sundown towns which required minorities to be outside the city limits before sundown, hence the name. African American travel could be fraught with risk and guides like the Green Book were an important resource.

Green wrote that his book would not be necessary "when we as a race will have equal opportunities and privileges." He died in 1960 and the last edition of his guide was published in 1964.

The 1956 creation of the national highway system diminished the need for these travel guides because highways minimized contact with local communities, decreasing chances for discrimination against African American motorists. Eventually, the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act made the Green Book and similar publications obsolete, just as Green predicted.

•••

The Negro Motorist Green Book (“El libro verde del conductor negro”), popularmente conocido como el Libro Verde, era una guía de viajes que tenía la finalidad de ayudar a que los conductores afroamericanos evitaran obstáculos sociales que prevalecían durante el periodo de la segregación racial, comúnmente conocido como la era de Jim Crow.

El libro contenía una lista de negocios que aceptaban clientes afroamericanos. El libro fue la visión de Víctor Green, un empleado postal afroamericano, originario de Harlem, Nueva York. La primera guía se centró en el área metropolitana de Nueva York y al año siguiente, en 1937, Green lo amplió a otras ubicaciones.

Su libro eventualmente incluiría todos los estados y varios destinos internacionales antes de dejar de publicarse en 1964.

Antes de su desaparición, el libro era el más popular de varias guías turísticas creadas específicamente para una audiencia afroamericana.

Este tipo de guías de viaje fueron necesarias durante la era de Jim Crow porque los afroamericanos estaban sujetos a actos de discriminación e intimidación ocasional, ya que muchas empresas se negaban a aceptarlos como clientes. A los conductores afroamericanos, por ejemplo, se les advirtió que evitaran las ciudades del atardecer, estas requerían que las minorías estuvieran fuera de los límites de la ciudad antes del atardecer. Los viajes de afroamericanos podían estar llenos de riesgos y guías como el Libro Verde eran un recurso importante.

Green escribió que su libro no sería necesario "cuando nosotros, como raza, tengamos las mismas oportunidades y privilegios". Murió en 1960 y la última edición de su guía se publicó en 1964.

En 1956, con la creación del sistema nacional de carreteras, se disminuyó la necesidad de estas guías de viaje porque las carreteras minimizaban el contacto con las comunidades locales, lo que disminuía las posibilidades de discriminación contra los conductores afroamericanos. Eventualmente, la aprobación de la Ley de Derechos Civiles de 1964 hizo que el Libro Verde y publicaciones similares quedaran obsoletas, tal como predijo Green.

[rabbitcruiser]

Pony Express Day

Pony Express Day celebrates those brave souls who made up the unique mail delivery system of the same name. Back in the days of the wild west, there was no Fed Ex, no Postal Service that ran that far west, no planes, and delivery by ship were likely to take months if it ever got there at all.

Seeing this need for a specialized delivery service, Leavenworth and Pike’s Peak Express Company took an opportunity to expand into this void. From this important decision was born one of the most iconic pieces of American History, whose influence is felt in hundreds of Pony Express Day Festivals throughout the American Midwest.

History of Pony Express Day

The Pony Express existed for 18 months between the days of April 3, 1860, to October 1861. In these days there was no airmail, no great American Highway, all there were was hundreds of miles of wide-open spaces with not much in between but animal-filled wilderness and bandito filled hollows.

During this time, if you wanted to send a letter or small package from anywhere East past the gateway of St. Joseph, Missouri, there was only one way to go. The Pony Express was a massive employer for its time, with up to 80 young riders employed at any given stage, with stringent requirements on their age, size, and weight.

The Pony Express preferred to employ the youngest riders they could, in part for their resilience, and in part for how light they were. The lighter a man was the longer the horse could run and the more cargo the rider could carry, and since the horses were put to go full tilt for 10 to 15 miles at a stretch before changing, this was of vital importance.

The rider changed out every 75 to 100 miles, but the mail never so much as slowed even in the worst of weather. While the average trip from coast to coast (On Horseback!) took 10 days, when they delivered Lincoln’s Inaugural Address, the trip was made in a mere 7 days and 17 hours.

How to celebrate Pony Express Day

With Pony Express Day Festivals being a staple all throughout the United States, there are tons of opportunities to celebrate the bravery of these young mailmen. You can spend Postal Express Day dressed up as one of these adventurous young souls who served as the heart of America’s fast-tracked postal line while watching equestrian events commemorating the challenges they faced.

Speaking of equestrian events lets not forget the true heroes of this endeavor, the horses that carried men and post across the nation time and time again. These events often have a broad range of related events, including food-related events.

Chili was one of the staples of the old American West, and as you might imagine there was often a pot of this spicy staple bubbling to keep the riders fed as they came in and out with the packages.

If you find yourself without a local event, you can host one at your home. Make Chili and Cornbread, find logos and the like to print out online, and get the 1953 movie ‘Pony Express’ featuring Charleston Heston and Rhonda Fleming!

This is a classic about this amazing American institution and the trials and efforts of the men and women who fought to make it a reality. So get together with your friends and family on Pony Express Day, and celebrate the Pioneer spirit of the Old West!

Source

[dcbbw]

WIP Wednesday 5.24.23

Hi, tumblrs! It’s still Wednesday where I am, and I have two WIPs to share. It’s two new ideas that somehow cut the line and demanded I write something out.

One was supposed to be my submission for #WorldWhiskeyDay, although it may be better suited for Halloween; not Fingers … I had the idea, but no cohesive thoughts have made an appearance yet. Although knowing me, this will probably post Halloween 2024.

The other is yet another take on the Applewood scandal. This is what, my third or fourth one?

And just to put us all on the same page and keep my brain on track, top priorities during writing time over the holiday weekend are: NYC AU, Waiting Room, and these two stories. The MC lunch ask is still floating around in my head as well and thoughts on a companion piece to Cocktail.

Anyways, excerpts are below the cut. As usual, everything is in a rough draft and final, published version may differ. Hope you like it!

Middle of Nowhere (tentative tile)

Song Inspo: Death Letter, Johnny Farmer, Organized Noize

The house sits on a bluff in the middle of nowhere overlooking a large, lazy river, as it has for the past century and a half. It’s almost picturesque, gleaming white clapboard covered with blue sky and bathed in early spring sunlight. Freshly mown grass is interspersed with wildflowers; pussy willows surround the bases of moss-covered trees.

The house has no postal address; it sits on Highway 62 East at Marker 129, in the unincorporated hamlet of Tannerton, equidistant between two bigger towns; not larger … bigger. Fifteen miles to the east is Potter’s Farm where residents and visitors enjoy the movie theater, gourmet Chinese food, a public library, and shopping at big box stores. Fifteen miles to the west is Easton, home to blue collar businesses, public parks and a hiking trail, and long stretches of road filled with fast-food chains, pizzerias, an ice-cream parlor, and a combination barber shop/hair salon.

The house sits empty as it has for the past five years; rumor, legend, and lore say the domicile is haunted, the land it sits on the site of brutal and unnecessary massacres. History tells of previous occupants who met grisly ends, or simply vanished as if the house’s walls and floorboards had swallowed them alive. There is no way to separate fact from fiction. Tannerton’s population is zero; the once-bustling waterway town is no more, save for the house.

Any eyewitnesses to the horrors of the house are the disappeared.

Except for two.  

The realtor stands on the front of the house’s wraparound porch, her blue eyes taking in the slow-rolling waves of the Acheron River. In Greek mythology, the River of Acheron was known as the River of Woe and was one of five rivers that led to Hell. As far as the woman knew, no one in this godforsaken corner of the world is aware of that interesting tidbit.

But she is. Her husband is, as he should. He named the river.

She is adjusting the long sleeves of her beige linen dress when her husband joins her on the veranda.

“Is everything ready?” she asks as she turns to face him. The realtor is an older woman, but her face gives no indication of that. Her skin is smooth and unlined even devoid of cosmetics, her sapphire-blue eyes clear and alert, her mouth a cupid’s bow with pale-pink tinted lips.

Her glossy brown hair is still long and wavy, but silver liberally threads her tresses. Her hands are liver-spotted and knotty with veins; her fingers are gnarled, the brittle nails yellowed with age. She tells anyone foolish enough to ask she suffers from arthritis.

“Is everything ready?” she asks, her tone distant as if her thoughts are otherwise occupied.

The man nods stiffly. He is tall and trim; like his wife, his appearance is youthful despite his graying hair. Unlike his wife, his hands and fingers were neither aged nor disfigured.

“It is. They’ll be arriving soon, it may be best to set out the refreshments.”

She nods absently as she scans the front yard. The setting is charming, inviting. A frisson of excited energy courses through her body at the thought of selling the house. There’s a buyer; a younger couple looking to escape the three C’s of a growing city: crime, clubs, congestion. Today is the final walkthrough. The house has sat empty too long; the whiskey untouched even longer.

Annabelle Beaumont walks around her husband to pull the screen door open. “Come, Barthelemy; we have to make sure the Walkers feel right at home when they arrive.”

Come on, come on, come on home

Scandal

Song Inspo: Delusional World Champion, Jean Dawson

Tariq Keriakos stared in puzzlement between his room door and Bastien Lykel, who stood in front of it barring the minor noble’s entry.

“There was a flood?” Tariq repeated stupidly.

The head of the King’s Guard nodded affirmatively. “A pipe burst while the hunt was going on. None of your belongings were harmed; maintenance noticed it almost immediately, but at the moment your quarters are without water.”

“Just my room?”

“Yes, m’Lord. The damage was contained in a timely manner, but we are awaiting parts to arrive. To avoid further inconvenience, another room has been secured for you. It’s Room 4 South.”

“South wing? Isn’t that where the suitors are housed?” Tariq questioned while Bastien pressed a key into his palm.

The sentry was briefly taken aback; the housing arrangement for the visitors at Applewood wasn’t a secret per se, but it wasn’t common knowledge. Bastien quickly recovered.

“It is; given that this is the last night, and all rooms have private baths, I do not foresee an issue.”

Tariq exhaled a long breath. The time at Applewood had been exhausting, this day more than usual. Between Lady Penelope passing him letters from Lady Riley, the horse ride to and from the Ruins, and now his room unavailable to him, Tariq was pretty much done.

“Fine. But my clothing? My toiletries?”

“Already moved and set up in your new quarters,” Bastien assured him.

With a resigned nod, Tariq made his way from the east wing, thinking only of a hot shower and a long sleep.

In the south wing, Riley Brooks, the suitor from America, sat at the vanity in her room re-thinking and possibly regretting every life choice that led to her being in Cordonia.

Tagging:  @jared2612 @ao719 @marietrinmimi @queenjilian @indiacater @kingliam2019 @bebepac @liamxs-world @mom2000aggie @liamrhysstalker2020 @twinkleallnight @umccall71 @superharriet @busywoman @gabesmommie1130 @tessa-liam @beezm @gardeningourmet @lovingchoices14 @mainstreetreader @angelasscribbles @lady-calypso @emkay512 @princessleac1 @charlotteg234  @alj4890 @yourfavaquarius111 @motorcitymademadame @queenmiarys @walkerdrakewalker​ @choicesficwriterscreations​

[journaloftomfooleryandjapery]

If I had an autism diagnosis I could make my work make incredibly minor adjustments to my working conditions that would make it so that being in the office wasn't completely unbearable, but the waiting list for a diagnosis is 8 years so I will just have to put up with being on the verge of going postal over minor shit no one else there understands. With the kind of cunt my boss is I know if I bought it up without something like that I'd just get a my way or the highway lecture even though it is such a small change. I wish I could kill her. If it wasn't for the work from home days we get I would of left just because I hate being in the office so much