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writing-in-the-impala · 7 years ago

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Hey Darling: Part 7

Pairing: Rob Benedict x Reader

Series Summary: You’re new to conventions but its okay because you meet some pretty amazing people, including Rob Benedict.

Warnings: Angst, fluff, I’m just here to play with your emotions basically, swearing

Word Count: 2190

A/N: Have yet another chapter I feel like this is around a half way point for this fic. enjoy, also don’t forget feedback is really appreciated because I want to make my fics better.

Part 6 | Hey Darling Masterlist

You arrived at the convention late in the evening on Friday, you decided to check the group chat to see what's going on, the girls were recording videos of drunk greenroom baseball, you decided to go and join everyone. When you walked in everyone welcomed you, you couldn't help to notice that Rob wasn't in the room. Not too long after you arrived Rob and Rich walked back into the greenroom with bags of alcohol. "We bought more booze!" They announced and everyone cheered. Rob said hi to you as if nothing ever happened and it was a good night, you were friends? Maybe more acquaintances. But luckily you guys were fine.

Saturday went by smoothly, you spent lunch with Kim, Ruth and Rob, talking like normal. "No Rob you're wrong. It was 'no I am your father' he never says Luke." You said.

"I agree with Y/N on this one." Kim backed you up.

"Fine I'll check on YouTube." Rob said pulling out his phone to check who was quoting star wars correctly.

"Y/N your photo ops start in five minutes we need to go." Your handler said.

"Okay, but we're gonna finish this discussion later." You said standing up and leaving.

"Yeah okay, enjoy the ops." Rob said as you walked away.

"Thanks bye." You replied leaving the room.

After the photo ops you had a panel you went backstage and not too long after Rob and Rich were introducing you.

"Okay before we let Y/N get on with the panel I have a question for everyone is it Luke I am your father or no I am your father?" Rob said making you laugh shaking your head. Most people cheered for what the first option and Rob was happy he had won. "Ha! Told you." He said making you laugh.

"Not so quickly let's play a clip of it shall we?" You said pulling up the video on YouTube and it turned out you were right. You started to celebrate with a little dance and jump around stage and Rob pouted. You were happy to be able to do bits like that with him again. Your panel went by smoothly and after the panel you had some free time where you could chill, you were sitting talking with Rob about something when all of a sudden Rich came up to your face with his phone. "What the-" you started before he shouted "Dickchat!" And Rob laughed, "finally he's doing it to someone else." Rob said and Rich went up to him with the phone.

"What did you say?" Rich said putting the phone in Rob's face.

"I- I said t-t-that I love Dickchat." he said with a grin before you and Rob bursted out laughing.

The rest of the convention day went by quickly and you were excited to go to the bar after SNS. You were all sitting on a large booth, Rob was opposite you and Kim was next to you as you sat on the edge. You were just chatting away when someone poked your shoulder. "Y/N?" The person said and you looked at them to see your old buddy Max.

"Max! Oh my god." You nearly screamed jumping up to hug him. "Sorry," you apologised. "Anyway guys do you mind if my friend sits with us? If you want of course." You said and everyone agreed, you introduced Max to everybody and he simply said "I'm sorry I'll probably forget all you names when I have a couple drinks." Making even laugh, Max always was a people pleaser.

"So what are you doing in Chicago?" Max asked you.

"Oh we're all working." You answered taking a swig of your beer.

"I need to get into acting if all you do is drink." He said and you and Kim laughed as everyone else was having their own conversions.

"So what do you do?" Kim asked.

" He's a musician." You said and Max playfully slapped you.

"I'm not." He said.

"You are."

"I'm not I'm a tour manager, I'm right now managing Green Day." Max explained.

"Wow that impressive." Kim said amazed.

"Yeah and he's a musician." You said dreamily.

"I'm not." Max said looking at you accusingly. "She just thinks I am." He added.

"Why does she think that?" Rob asked after silently listening to the conversation.

"Because he plays live music at clubs, he's amazing." You said.

"I'm not amazing." Max said.

"True Robbie's better but you're a close second." You said making Rob blush slightly but he was still disliking this interaction and your extremely flirty attitude towards this new guy.

"You play?" Max asked Rob with a genuine smile.

"Yeah, I'm in a band Louden Swain." Rob said trying to look laid back but you could see he was uncomfortable around Max.

"That's cool, where do you guys play?" Max asked.

"Oh at conventions, sometimes at random venues around the US mostly and some places around LA my other band the Station Breaks recently played at the attic sounds." He said taking a drink of his beer.

"Awesome I play there a lot actually." Max said.

"Funny I never met you." Rob said looking down sort of spitefully.

"Yeah well I haven't seen this girl in like what four months and we're practically neighbours." Max said putting an arm around you.

"Really?" Rob questioned lifting an eyebrow.

"Yeah he lives on the same street, oh how's Jessie?" You questioned Max about his long term boyfriend.

"We broke up." Max said looking down sadly.

"Aw baby are you okay?" You asked hugging Max.

"Yeah, ate loads of ice cream watched some Rom Coms and read some books while crying so now I'm better." Max said and you laughed slightly.

"Should've called me up I was doing the same thing." You said before smashing a hand over your mouth.

"Really? Did you get back with-"

"Oh no, oh god no, I started dating someone new," you said glancing to Rob who was intensely gazing at you and Max. "Um, yeah it was great for some time and then I fucked it up and spent like a week at work just crying in my trailer over a good book." You said and Max gave you a hug.

"This is why we need to stay in touch more." He said and you nodded, the conversation soon changed and the beers changed to shots.

"We will, we will rock you

We will we will rock you." You, Kim, Max and Matt sang along to the music. You were looking straight at Rob smiling to him and he was smiling back as he applauded the four of you.

"Oooo." You said as you heard the next song come on. "Max it's our song." You said and everyone looked at the two of you.

"Well then we have to sing along." He said making everyone laugh.

"When I'm telling a story And you find it boring your thinking of something to say You'll go along with and then drop it And you Humiliate me, in front of our friends."

You start in the middle of the first verse, laughing after the verse.

Then I'll use that voice what you find annoyin' And say something like "Intelligent input darlin' why don't you just have another beer then?"

Everyone was smiling including Rob who you were looking at.

"Then you call me a bitch"

Then you did something stupid on "you" you pointed to Rob but luckily no one but Rob really noticed it.

" and everyone we're with will be embarrassed, And I won't give a shit"

You rolled your eyes along with the words using gestures as if you and Max were performing the song.

"You said I must eat so many lemons, Cause I am so bitter I said "I'd rather be with your friends mate, Cause they are much fitter"

You pointed to Max for the "you" when for the "friends" you pointed around the group with smirk and Kim just said "yep I'm fitter." Making everyone laugh.

"Yes it was childish And you got aggressive And I must admit that I was a bit scared, But it gives me thrills to wind you up."

Now you were looking at Rob again who decided it was enough. Max had a arm around you and it was frustrating Rob.

"My fingertips are holding onto the Cracks in our foundations, And I know that I should let go, But I can't."

"Sorry to interrupt but I'm going to the hotel bye everyone." Rob said standing up and getting out as fast as possible.

"He has a nice ass." Max said watching Rob walk away.

"Back off he's hers." Kim said to Max.

"You like him?" Max asked.

"I love him but got drunk and cheated and now he's walking away in a strop I'm sorry but I'm going to follow him I'll talk to you later Max okay? Bye everyone." You said standing up and following Rob.

"Rob!" You shouted once you were outside but he just kept walking so you began running after him. "Rob!" You shouted again. "Robert Patrick Benedict!" You shouted and he stopped.

"You know my middle name?" He questioned.

"Of course I know your middle name Rob, I know your mom's name is Vivian, your dad was a dick and your older sister is called Amy and your brothers name is called Matt and apparently he's ridiculously tall, you love the Bachelor and when you met Eddie Vedder you asked someone to ask him for a cigarette but Eddie heard you and handed you a cigarette, funny thing you don't smoke. You told me all this Rob, I know you."

"I can't believe you remember that." He said with his hands in his pockets looking down at his shoes.

"Of course I do, why did you storm out and leave?" You asked him and he looked up.

"God damn Y/N do you think I like watching you flirt with Max? Of course I left."

"Me? Flirting with- wait a second is that why you're in a mood? I would never date Max." You said slightly laughing at the absurd suggestion, I mean Max kept talking about hot guys in the bar and about his ex boyfriend plus he checked Rob out.

"Oh I'm sorry of course you wouldn't date Mr green day tour manager, oh and he's a musician isn't that great, he's also hot and young I mean jackpot." Rob said angrily.

"Yeah he's pretty dreamy I don't understand why you aren't dating him yet I mean even when you were leaving he said you have a hot ass."

"Wait what?" Rob said confused.

"He's gay! Like full on we went to pride last year together I can show you the photos of him kissing a guy while wearing rainbow everything gay." You said breathing out a deep sigh and Rob started to chuckle shaking his head.

"Wow so you think I have a chance?" Rob asked and you playfully slapped his arm. "I'll take that as a no." He said with a smile.

"Rob?" You didn't really know what you were about to say.

"Hm?" He questioned.

"Can we talk? About us?" You questioned quietly looking down at your feet. Rob bought a hand up to the back of his neck and rubbed it with a sigh.

"Y/N..." He said with a sigh.

"Okay I get it you don't want to talk about this, let's go back to being fake friends." You said lifting your hands up in defeat.

"You think I'm faking it? Y/N I love spending time with you, you make me laugh more than anyone else, I'm not faking our friendship."

"Then do you want to go back to my room and watch a movie, as friends?" You asked hopefully.

"Definitely." He said and the two of you walked back to the hotel. So you went back to your room with Rob to watch a movie as friends, you decided it wasn't weird to lay in together watching a movie as friends so you did, the next morning you woke up cuddled up against Rob who's arm was around you as he slept, you began to move and get your phone off the night stand to check the time accidentally waking Rob up in the process.

"Morning." He said with a sexy morning voice that made you crazy but you had to act casual.

"Shit! It's nearly 9 o'clock we have to be downstairs soon." You said in panic. "Oh yeah and good morning." You added in a more calmly making Rob chuckle.

"You're so cute when you're rushing, good night." Rob said pulling the covers back up and closing his eyes again.

"Benedict you have to get out of bed." You said pulling the covers off and ignoring his comment.

"Five more minutes." He said pulling the covers back up.

"No." You said taking the covers completely off him and dragging them to the bathroom with you.

"Ugh, fine." You heard from the other side of the door. "I'll see you downstairs Y/N, bye." He shouted so you heard him.

"Bye." You shouted back as you began to brush your teeth.

Part 8

Big thanks to @mr-robenedict for creating these gifs for me

People who wish they woke up in a bed next to Rob : @waywardswain @supernatural-everyday @winchestergirl-13 @perksofbeingafangirl26 @natasha-cole @girl-next-door-writes @itsfunnierin-enochian

#rob benedict #rob benedict x reader #rob benedict rpf #hey darling

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roni-westbrook · 7 years ago

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She’s A Bad Mama Jama Part 4 (Steve Harrington x OC)

Here is the next part!! Hope whoever is reading these in the ether that is this website is enjoying them!

Part One Part Two Part Three

“Hey Auntie! Is Lucas there? I wanted to see if he wanted to go see a movie,” Val asked over the phone. The Terminator had just come out and she could tell that Lucas would love it by the trailers.

“He’s actually out right now. At the junkyard I think. You can go see if he wants to though,” her aunt replied, “And if you could also make sure that boy isn’t getting into any trouble, it would be a great help to me.”

“Haha, of course,” Val told her, smiling brightly at the wall. She could just imagine the trouble Lucas and his small group of friends would get into. Sitting around and playing Dungeons and Dragons was not very high on the danger list.

“I know Hawkins doesn’t compare to San Francisco but I’m glad you and your father are here,” her aunt said to her, her voice suddenly turning serious and vulnerable.

“Me too Auntie,” Val replied softly, her heart feeling awash with emotions.

0~0~0~0~0

“What the fuck are y’all doing,” Val asked as she walked into the junkyard to see Dustin, Lucas, Steve and a red-haired girl placing metal scraps on an old, broken down school bus.

“Valerie! The love of my life,” Dustin called, eliciting an eye roll from Lucas as the curly haired boy ran over to her, enveloping her in a warm hug. She made eye contact with Steve as the rest of the group walked over to her. She forced herself to keep her eyes on his, but couldn’t help her perusal of his form. She had to admit to herself that in the short time she had gotten to know him she had developed a small crush. She felt her heart began to beat hard as she looked him over. His jeans fit him perfectly and she could just imagine how his butt would look when he turned around. His hair was falling into his face and she just wanted to run his finger through it. She could tell that his hair would be thick and soft, and it was the perfect length to grip onto. Images from her imagination began to flood her mind of Steve kissing down her neck, slowly going lower and lower, her hand in his hair to put him right where she needed his mouth on her the most. She shook her head, banishing the thoughts from her head, now was definitely not the time. Steve smirked at her, his brown eyes piercing, as if he knew exactly what she was thinking.

“Dustin! My boo! How are you,” she asked the preteen that still held onto her, his arm around her waist. He was nearly as tall as she was and her heart became slightly saddened by the fact that her boys were growing up on her.

“I’m better now that you’re here,” he told her cheekily.

“You always know how to treat me right Dustin. That’s why you’re my favorite,” Val told him, sticking her tongue out at Lucas who had exclaimed in insult at her words.

“I thought I was your favorite,” Steve asked, his voice low and husky that it made her belly do a small flip. A small pout began to form on his lips that made her want to kiss him. She wanted to take a bite and make him groan in pleasure.

“What gave you that impression,” she asked instead, a single brow lifting with mock disinterest.

“Doll! You wound me,” Steve replied, a hand coming to his chest in playfulness.

“If you two are finished flirting,” Lucas said loudly, breaking the spell that had fallen over the two. Both teenagers looked at the three kids, blushes gracing both their cheeks and scoffing loudly at his words.

“Flirting? No one was flirting! And I most definitely would not flirt with him,” Val said defensively, her words stuttering lightly.

“Excuse me? I am a catch,” Steve told her, looking affronted at her words. Val had opened her mouth to reply when Lucas cut her off.

“It doesn’t matter,” he practically shouted, “Val, you need to go. It’s too dangerous for you here,” Lucas continued his voice soft and full of fear. Val could tell something major was happening and she immediately wanted to know what it was, because whatever it was didn’t seem to be good.

“Why do I need to go? What are you guys up to,” Val asked, suspicion entering her.

“It’s complicated. Just trust me, ok,” Lucas replied, a dejected look coming over his face.

“Hell no I’m not going. Who do you think I am leaving you shits here by yourselves,” Val said, her tone clearly brooking no argument.

“Val,” Lucas yelled, trying to convince her.

“Lucas,” Val said in the same tone before turning serious again, “What’s going on kid? You know you can tell me anything.”

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” Lucas sighed out, clearly exasperated with her but she didn’t care, his and the others safety were way more important.

She crossed her arms, widening her stance, physically showing she wasn’t going anywhere, “Try me.”

0~0~0~0~0~0

“This is absolutely insane,” Val sighed out, exhaustion hitting her from all sides. She slowly sat down on the floor on the bus, her brain still trying to wrap around all of the information she was just given. A different dimension with creatures that can kill you, and at the heart of it was the sweetest boy she had ever met Will Byers.

“I told you wouldn’t believe me,” Lucas cried out, clearly frustrated by everything.

“Hold up now cuz, me not believing you didn’t once leave my mouth,” Val told him, standing up again once she got some oxygen back into her body.

“Wait,” Lucas paused, staring at her with wide eyes, “What? Why?”

“Because one, I’m pretty sure Steve would not being hanging out with you with his too cool for school vibe. Two, I know you. I’ve seen you when you’re genuinely scared and I saw that look today. You can’t fake that kind of fear,” Val said, wrapping her arms around herself, suddenly feeling cold. She didn’t fully know what her cousin had gotten himself into, but it was something to be feared. She didn’t know if she was strong enough to protect him, any of them. She sucked in a breath when she suddenly felt an arm wrap around her waist and looked over to see Steve’s chest. He held her tightly to his side and she felt grateful at feeling his solid presence beside her. He was her rock in this moment.

“Are you going to tell mom,” Lucas asked in a quiet voice, ignoring the way Steve held her.

“Hell no! Are you nuts? She would kill the both of us before those demi-dogs even got close to us,” Val exclaimed before scrubbing a hand down her face, “I’m gonna help your ass out I guess.”

“What? No,” Lucas began but Val placed a hand in front her effectively cutting his speech off.

“Not another word. I’m staying, that’s final. Besides, I couldn’t leave Max here to deal with you 3 on her own,” Val said, a small smile lifting her lips before reaching out and giving Lucas a long and warm hug. She felt him take a deep breath and relaxing in her embrace. She looked over at Steve and showed him the fear that was being held in her heart.

#steve harrington #steve harrington x oc #steve harrington x poc #stranger things season 2 #i hope this came out ok #we're kicking up in the whole sexy dept though

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brucee-waynee · 7 years ago

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alright, so i'm really tired when people say that Bale!Batman is better than Batfleck when he's actually doing a better portrayal of Bruce Wayne??? do you think so? and could you maybe give some reason to shut down these fools people? lol

I know the feeling entirely and since I agree with the statement and you asked. Here’s why Batfleck is better than Nolanverse Batman:

The idea of Batman/Bruce Wayne has become one with pop culture since before I was born. I enjoyed Batman films when i was young and even the not-so-good film Batman & Robin. It wasn’t until i was older that i realized there was so much more to Batman that people don’t necessarily see when they see the character since the whole pop culture thing.

The reason why Batfleck is better for me and many others when were talking about a comic adaption Batman its because of his raw emotion, his brooding hurt self. Batfleck suffers from PTSD at the loss of his parents. He shows and conveys that pain in so many ways throughout Batman v Superman. Batfleck emodies Bruce Wayne from the comics unlike every other Batman before him in a way that is not just some rich white man with a deep voice in a batman suit, He’s essentially like Logan from X-Men, constantly losing his loved ones but also his parents death is apart of him. The sheer difference between Nolanverse Batman and Batfleck is that Batfleck conveys so much emotion surrounding their death and is quite human where his rage is fueled from things he cannot control. If you just want a short and sweet way to argue that Batfleck is best, here’s a decent article. This will mostly be about uplifting Batfleck as the best batman rather than pitting it against Nolanverse!Batman.

Disclaimer: To start I just want to state that i find great distaste in Nolanverse Batman but i do think the films are entertaining and good on their own accord. As Batman adaptions, they’re so off point from the comics. I will also state that although i’m a huge Batman fan, i am not at all read on every Batman comic. I would not consider myself the most knowledgeable Batman fan. That being said, i think my opinions as well as others who have shared the same opinion are quite valid.

The DCEU thus far have been comic adaptions, maybe not to the T but to the extent that scenes have looked like panels from comics. The DCEU is also in its early stages and when people compare the MCU it makes no sense considering the MCU was started before it. Not to mention, reviewers have related the DCEU to the MCU to put shame to the DCEU. The point of why i started with this is because the DCEU as of now is questionable and has got a lot of bad reviews for its films either than Wonder Woman.

I’m going to skip to Batfleck where we first seen him in Batman v Superman and then talk about Justice League. As i’m doing that i will bring in examples from the Nolanverse trilogy that missed the mark.

Batfleck was meant to be a serious toned Batman and because of Zack Synder’s vision it was pulled off really well. You can read more here from this article I thought fit well. Because of this seriousness, people have either loved or were questionable about him. I think the for me, and others, the serious tone really played off the part well. Batfleck was not meant to be all smiles or cracking jokes every few seconds. No, he was in pain (mental pain to be exact) and that pain is central to his character.

From the death of his parents, we see this pain from the beginning. I could go into talking about Synder’s visuals which were highly deceptive of the comics but i’ll stick to Batfleck.

We have many moments where we can visualize Bruce’s feelings and how they have a connection the death of his parents. His PTSD is tied to him.

The destruction of Gotham

Visiting parent’s cemetery

Batman: Dark Victory parallel

Batman: Year One parallel

____________________________________________________

Back to the theme of Batfleck and parent’s death

In the moments between the big action scenes we see the pain he witholds from his eyes to to his facial expression.

Even in his speech, its clear that there is pain in him and he takes that pain and pushes onto Supes. That pain is not only a result of his parents dying but Jason Todd’s death

This could be suggestive of Jason and/or others who went from hero to villain or something else entirely. Either way there is a malingering grey area about Bruce that is not just good vs. evil, black vs. white, bat vs. supes. There’s more to him and as he fights with Supes, this is shown more.

He has a moment of disbelief with the idea that Supes (Clark Kent) has a mother and shares the same name as his. He’s thinking of his mother in this moment and instead of killing Supes, he gets back in touch with his humanity, something that Martha Wayne would have made him realize if she were alive.

“Men are still good”

There’s so many comics hint or explore Bruce’s pain. Those ones are my favorite. Batman: Ego (2000) is my favorite Batman comic book because it explores it so well. And i see Ego!Batman when i see Batfleck. I could parallel a bunch of comic panels to everything on here but i think Batfleck even on his own is superior.

Hell i don’t even dig Batman: the animated series but look:

Tell me that Batman’s pain and seriousness ain’t part of his character even in a mostly children’s series.

also if you want more lookalike, tell me Batfleck doesn’t look like comic!bruce

_____________________________________________________

Batfleck and fighting especially that one scene™

Straight out of a comic book

again

even when fighting Supes

which are said to be similar fighting style to the critically acclaimed video game Arkham Knight [check the gifs of it here & here since tumblr can only have max of 3mb gif size]

Speaking of video game

This shot in particular says not only video game but Comic Book panel

Justice League trailer coming in hard with the visuals ACTUALLY looks like Batman:

_______________________________________________________

Bruce Wayne™ is merely a persona

The whole idea of rich white Bruce Wayne is suppose to be a persona. And in fact Batman tries to fight poverty no matter if its Batfleck or Nolvanverse. The thing that Nolanverse gets the most wrong is that Bruce Wayne is a shield from his mental health. Its also not to spend too much time as him because that’s not really him. I think another thing that kind of took away from this in terms of Nolanverse is that it didn’t feel that believable even when they tried to split pained!bruce with persona!bruce and i think its cause of how they conveyed persona!bruce as an all powerful being. i also get corporate vibes from bale!bruce so there’s that lmao.

I think the whole sarcastic thing batfleck had with clark outbeats anything we were given from nolanverse when it comes to bruce showing his true side while showing his persona!side. He was confident but had something about him that wasn’t over-the-top where he could be cocky like Nolanverse!Batman

________________________________________________

There’s so much i could say in terms of Batfleck’s strategy and detective work.

There two things are central to Batman as a hero. He does not just go into any given situation without a plan. He is also more than his gadgets. And as much as i love this line:

and this line:

Batman as a hero is quite great cause he’s human but does things that make him superhuman and it goes without saying his big heart.

He came prepared against Doomsday

Also against Supes

Batplane helping Martha Kent and against Doomsday

Detective work with the mafia and “white Portuguese” in Gotham City, which he investigates Lex Luthor as he believes he is the key. He was going to go there as Batman but was invited as perona!Bruce Wayne. This was much better writing in utilizing the persona rather than Nolanverse

Investigating the soon to be Justice League

Showing not only his investigative work but his big heart. He also knows what it feels like to lose people he loves.

_________________________________________________

All in all, Batfleck is the best batman to ever Batman. This is merely based on one film and part of a trailer. We are yet to have a standalone Batfleck film and The Batman dir. Matt Reeves is guaranteed to be a phenomenal film. ‘Reeves has hinted at a possible trilogy of the The Batman film as well as rumors around Jason Todd’s resurrection. He has also expressed interest in telling a noir-driven, detective story that shows the audience what’s going on in Bruce’s head and heart. Its planned to be an emotional story.’

The main features i highlighted in this messy meta are Batfleck & pain, fighting, strategist, detective, big heart, true to himself and not persona!bruce, looking like comic bruce, animated bruce, video game bruce, visually like bruce, etc. and we don’t even have much were going off here. In compared to the Nolanverse!batman, Batfleck has all the balls in his court, considering we’ve only got a taste of him unlike the trilogy from Nolanverse. I realize i didn’t cap and look over Nolanverse but my point was not to tare down Nolanverse for Batfleck but more to highlight that Bafleck is the best batman and there’s no way something that is more popular culture entertainment could out beat him. That’s a rap. Hope you enjoyed and @ me if you have any other questions. I mostly simplified this only cause its more accessible to all and cause i’m tired.

#batman #batfleck #dceu #dceu positivity #ask #anon

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reginasrandomthoughts · 7 years ago

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First reaction after watching Justice League

Incoherent ramblings about how great the film was. It is long and it includes spoilers.

So I just came out of Justice League and HOLY FUCKING COW! It was everything I hoped and dreamed of. I went in there to see Superman come back, be Superman and kick ass and I got that and so much more.

There were just so many cool moments! Like the horseback stunts of the Amazons at the beginning (and yes, the bikini armor is horrendous, idk whose idea was it but that costume designer should be BANNED from future female superhero projects).

Everything with Aquaman that happened in that village was cool especially the whole drink and look pretty strut into the spray of water. His relationship to the ocean (and all water in general) is awesome and I wanna see more of that in Aquaman. I feel really good about that movie now. I also adored the scene where he takes down the parademon through the building? Yea it was in the trailer but it was so much cooler in context. Also I adored the first time he saw Bruce in costume. I also thought that the lasso of truth scene was funny? Yea it is a bit problematic but I see it as a character study of the person Arthur is now, at the beginning of his hero's journey.

I liked the scene with Mera? Yea it was not the best, but I like the potential it has and I trust James Wan to take it to an interesting place.

I adored Diana. I liked how she saved everyone, I loved how she fought Steppenwolf, I loved her fist fight sequence and how she was just fast enough to dodge all those bullets, adored how she could relate to Cyborg, and also all of her badass moments. Like when she sliced through Steppenwolf's axe? It was a great callback to him taunting her with his axe being soaked in the blood of her sisters. I loved how she stepped up to lead when Batman decided to be a bloody idiot and I especially adored it when she smashed her shield with her bracelets instead of merely smashing them together. And how she, unlike Bruce actually noticed that Cyborg was spying on them. I loved how she downplayed how dangerous she can be simply because she did not want to hurt anyone (yet) so there was no need to show it off? At the same time I also liked that since she went into that self-prescribed exile she was still unsure of the full extent of her powers so she relied more on her Amazon training then on those (this is also an explanation to why her fight with Supes was so unbalanced, well, in addition to how she didn’t actually want to hurt him (like she could as she was at the moment)). I am sorry Diana, you are my second favourite, but Superman is first. Also, every time she uses her lasso is so cool? My fav of that has to be the one during the ending when she ties up robbers with it to make them confess everything. And she went up to talk with the children! She is awesome and I will probably rave about her some more later on.

Also the bit about her getting so angry about Bruce’s taunts about Steve that she just shoved him was great. I am so happy that Diana was allowed to get angry in this film and was not just there to smile prettily. But it was nice to see that too of course. To see her come back after her self imposed isolation while she mourned Steve.

Next is, because yes he is the main attraction and I just can't hold it in any more, SUPERMAN! Yes! This and some more please! I loved how he just smacked the JL around, his comment to Bruce about Bruce not letting him neither live nor die, I loved his scene with Lois when she ran ap to him (whoever put in the line about Supes smelling ood should be crucified by the way) and I loved how he saved the JL's asses during the big finale. I loved how he just carried the whole house??? And how he froze the axe? And that he had a race with Barry?? And his smile when the children interviewed him? The only thing that bothered me was how he came back in with the line to WW "is he still bothering you?" bc it was such a jock boyfriend line?? (Yea, there are some questionable line choices in this film). Also, how he helped Cyborg pull the motherbox apart and they shared a laugh after it? Superman laughs in this one and it looks so good in him like it was just meant to be (because it was). Loved it.

And now onto Bruce. He has such a crush on both Diana and Clark??? I love it but I am not quite sure if that is what they were going for here. But that look on his face when Superman joins in on the final showdown? Also he is like a really decent mentor for Barry, like he makes sure to get him out of trouble and he has faith in him being able to step up to being a hero? Never knocks him for being inexperienced and not knowing how to fight. And you can bet your ass that the recommendation came from him. He also seems to have found his dormant sense of humour? His repeat joke about Aquaman being able to talk with fish is great. Like at first I thought that he was trying to insult him but he really believed that he can? But he also still has his asshollery on esp. in that scene with Diana where he talks about Steve (he compares Diana loosing Steve to him loosing Superman, this ship sails itself, at least from his side). His suicide plan was... Meh. It really feels like he is just tired and just started believing again and feels like the only thing he has left to give is creating the League and giving his life??

And on that note, he was ready to die in the fight against Superman as well. Which is wow. I liked how they brought back the "do you bleed" line and put a twist on it. I liked how after the battle Bruce was like, yea something is definitely bleeding. I know that some people don't think that Batman should be jokey, but I think that you kinda need to be able to joke to be able to cope with this shit for as long as he did. 20 fucking years! Holy cow.)

And now that I circled back to that fight for a bit, let me just say how cool I think it was that the whole thing started bc the power of the motherbox that created Cyborg recognized the threat that Superman posed? Loved it. The coolest part definitely was when Superman fought Barry in the .... speedforce-y thingy? (I know it was not INSIDE the speedforce, but how the hell do I describe that slow-mo-y, time stoppy thingy that illustrate Barry’s powers? Speedforce-y thingy it is)

Now back to Bruce. I love how he apologized (or at least tried to) to Diana for what he said about Steve and for poking at that wound. I love how he offered Diana that after that she can .... pretty much be Batwoman if she wants to be. Me thinks someone is rushing a bit ahead.

I also adored Bruce’s comment of “now she’s glad” when Diana said that she too is happy that Superman could be there for the fight. Yea, those two had a really good argument about whether they should bring him back or not.

Also, Lois being the “big guns” when it came to stopping Superman was just great. IDK how much time passed between Supes dying and coming back but I totally believe that Lois just didn’t care about reporting while she was mourning. To me their relationship is just... Like two people who are destined to be together and love each other a LOT but are still so new that they don’t have this “old married couple” level of comfort near each other. It is equal parts fascinating and awkward to watch mostly because I cannot decide if it is intentional or not. I felt that the writing was at its most awkward there.

Also, let’s just talk a bit about that Lois being “thirsty” joke at the beginning. What the fuck is even up with that??? Clark, were you telling your Mum about your sex life or what??? I honestly don’t know how I feel about that even though I know that I should definitely swing towards “it’s bad and degrading”. Like there are only two possible explanations for that: Martha Kent is only pretending to like Lois or Clark was talking about stuff he was not supposed to with his Mum. Also maybe the “you smell good” line was meant to be a call back for that??? IDK, it did not fit. But the most awkward thing was how Lois switched from Clark trying to describe his death to how she has let him down. I am kinda inbetween, oh she just doesn’t want to remember that he ever died and oh, she wants to make it about her??? But to be honest, how do you talk with someone who just came back from the dead??? I would probably end up apologizing for “letting them down” with how I lived while they were gone as well. As I mentioned, this relationship has some growing pains. It will get there (or at least I hope so)

And now before I move onto the last two members of the League let me just say this last (hopefully) bit about Superman: I LOVED his red cape. It popped so well, and it looked so good?? I also adored the part where he changed into his Superman outfit at the end like with the iconic pulling the shirt open? I was kinda hoping that he was walking towards a phone booth but I guess not. Still was great. He is great. Also also, it was great to see how when he returned to being him how different he was with Barry and how he joked calling him slowpoke and all (which, let’s be honest, he probably was bc for Superman to be able to catch up to the Flash when they went for the civilians, yea Barry is definitely still not used to his speed and therefore cannot reach max speeds yet). I loved how he teased him in their mid-credits race. Well, before it really, we didn’t get to see the race itself. Shame.

Now onto Barry. He was really played as socially awkward kid who dedicated so much of his time to trying to get his dad out of prison that he just forgot to live and never really was socialized well? I liked it. I saw some people comment on the weird way he runs, and yea it is weird, but I think it is part of the fact that he is still inexperienced with his powers. I felt like he was trying to mimic at parts how athletes run but failed miserably? I am sure it will get better now that his life will include some actual running (I don’t think he was doing much of that before)

He was getting a really nice mini-hero’s journey in the film, like the first person he ever saved was shown here, how he realized that now he can actually save people and just got the hang of it instantly. He got into his first fight here, which I would count as Superman, because with the parademons he wasn’t really in the fight, he just helped WW reach her sword. (but correct me if I am wrong). And that showed bc he just kept dodging and side stepping when he fought Superman and even with the parademons he tripped? So yea, definitely inexperienced but on the right track.

And his powers look so cool? I just love how the blue lightning just lit up everything when he was using it? And when he triggered the motherbox it was so cool. I also feel like that all these super fast people just gave Snyder a really good excuse to use his slow-mo effects. It didn’t bother me, as a matter of fact I loved it whenever they just twirled the camera around these mostly frozen images.

Now, the last member of the league I haven’t talked about yet is Cyborg and I was a bit worried. The design didn’t win me over in the first place, he looked really serious, unlike in the Teen Titans cartoon, and I was not sure if I will like it. But I did because he faced with the dilemma of becoming more and more robotic and not really knowing at first how to retain his humanity and I am really happy that Diana helped him come out of that bubble he put up around himself bc that might have just saved him. Also, how he and Barry kinda became buds by the end? I really liked the graverobbing scene as well.

Now as for the other awesome stuff with Cyborg... I loved how he evolved at this rapid pace where new and new abilities manifested each day as he was being transformed. I liked how he got surprised by them when something new popped up. But the best part definitely was the hacking. Still, I think his best scene was with his father when he said something alongside the lines of how funny it is that his father thought that when he said that the people in the lab are not yet ready to see the monster his father thought he was referring to himself. That was a powerful scene.

What awesomeness I still need to throw in here is Alfred. He is so sassy and so done with Bruce being single. I loved how he told Bruce when B said maybe Alfred could have called up Diana to ask if she wants to join the team that “ yea, I could have flown to Paris with a piece of paper saying ‘do you want to be my teammate? check yes or no’” savage. He is so bitter over B being single, like how usually mothers are portrayed when they really want to have grandchildren already?? I loved it.

What else I also loved was how finally there were colours that popped? I already mentioned Superman’s cape, but his costume was brighter and bluer as well, Flash’s red costume really popped as well, Diana got a red cape as well in one scene and the lasso really emitted a bright light as well. Also, some scenes like the final battle where Diana cuts the axe and the air is full with these snowflake like particles are breathtakingly beautiful. Some others... yea, those flowers were really obviously CG.

There was also this small cameo of a Green Lantern which got me excited that maybe we will have a Green Lantern (I am hoping for either John Stewart or Jessica Cruz, pretty please) And in the end credits we see that Jesse Eisenberg’s Luthor is on the loose again, which I love bc I liked his Luthor in BvS (yes I know that it is not accurate to comic books but screw it, it worked for me.

Now as for the stuff that might have bothered other people but barely if even registered with me: the jokes. yea, some were weak or I am not even sure if they were jokes (like Flash falling on Diana is like... was that a joke or just a portrayal of how clumsy Flash is still with his powers, his social awkwardness and his hero-crush all mashed together??? IDK). But overall, I liked them. I liked that I had moments of levity where I could laugh and have FUN. Because we still had the dramatic moments as well (and yes, they were better dramatic moments than anything Thor Ragnarök had. You wanna see too many jokes killing the drama? watch that.)

The digitally removed mustache. I did not notice it all that much?? Like there were some moments where I was like... are you sure your face is supposed to look like that? But none of those moments pulled me out of the film. Diana’s clothing was like that as well. I heard some people say that she was wearing more revealing clothing now as Diana but I was not really watching for that so I really can’t tell if it is true. What I can tell, and what bothered me is that there is a scene where her skirt as WW flies up and you can see the bottom curve of her ass really clearly and.... That bit should have been taken out and they should have done a retake. There is something like good taste people.

Steppenwolf being a kinda weak villain was like that as well. Him talking to the motherbox and calling it Mother was weird but in the good way. Made me just say, okay so this guy really is crazy. Also, he was kinda a two dimensional villain whose main goal was: amass power to become a new god (I guess) and really I was happy that we spent the time on the heroes instead of him. Evil guy tries to destroy the whole world. Got it. I don’t need more. Not from this film yet. (though now that I think about it... evil alien invasion lead buy a guy with a horned helmet that wants everyone to bow before him and has a cube... I think I saw this one before. Still works though).

I LOVED the implication that he won’t be able to fight how his parademons in the end and that they will eat him alive. See, if I would have cared for him I would have felt bad about him or at least him being kinda permanently written out but this way? Bone appetite, parademons.

I bet I could say even more, though this post is already definitely long and incoherent enough, so i will just leave with this: I ADORED this film, it will probably will be the first film I will pay to see in theatre twice. IDK what repeat viewing will do to the film but so long as I have Superman to look forward to I will be fine. Overall, IDK if it is a better film than Thor:Ragnarök or not, but I definitely enjoyed and maybe even liked it better. I left the theathre feeling better after this film than I did after Thor Ragnarök, a film I will talk about as well.

#unfiltered jibberish #Regina thinks out typed #justice league hype #justice league spoilers #justice league positivity

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defunctblogtobedeleted · 5 years ago

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10/26/19 3:40 am - Inventing A New Ranking System For People

Alright I don’t know if it’s sexist since I’m bi (LOL Andi would hate when I called shit gay and say that it’s okay because I’m half-gay).

But I did a lot of brainstorming and wanted to show off my new rating scale.

1-10 is trash. We used to parody it by saying it was more efficient to just do Binary where 0 is you wouldn’t smash and 1 is you would.

There’s just no depth there.

The crazy-hot chart is at least a little better because it’s got two factors you’re assessing.

So Here’s what I’ve got for you today.

I spent that one night at Darlin’s watching her stream and drawing this picture because I kept imagining what it would be like to write down all my feelings and have her read about how much I loved her and how highly I thought about her and maybe she’d take me back. I came up with this scale, but didn’t draw that part of this page out until just now.

I’m glad I’m writing the official scale part and all the numbers now that I don’t really want Andi back. It all feels more honest, though the opinions haven’t really changed. One of the things I said to Andi when I was breaking off our friendship was that I felt shitty like I was manipulating her back into a relationship and not being real friends with her.

Honestly I don’t know if I could control myself to try to be platonic friends with her now. Probably not, I’m tryna fuck like everyone I hang out with LMAO.

But anyway, Andi and I loved DnD and so that was the inspiration for this scale. Forreal here it is:

So here’s the rundown. You’ve got your normal 6 stats on the left, Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma.

It helps to fill these out as well, because then you have 12 points of assessment.

For example, Andi’s digestive issues means that there is no fucking WAY she’d be able to pass a constitution check on poison, since she can barely eat most regular foods; hence she has a -2 in that stat. It also helps to remember that when you’re doing real stats that 18 is like supergenius and 20 is literally unachievable naturally so there’s no way you ought to give a real person much higher than like a 16 or 17 intellect.

Okay now here’s the fun part. My made up stats are Hobbies, Spontaneity, Mental Health, Sex, Beauty, and Status/Refinement.

Hobbies are what I consider to be the strength of a relationship. It’s how much you guys have in common with the things you like to do. On these stats I think it’s more natural to fill them out to a max score of 20. Andi gets two points off for not liking drugs and not liking fucked up shit from 4chan or videos where she gets grossed out like Me!Me!Me! but she was damn near perfect in terms of wanting to do stuff I wanted to do. Drinking, video games, sex? Yeah. got it.

Spontaneity is a subjective stat. One person’s SPO 20 is probably another person’s SPO 1, after all. You’d want someone in your life to be as crazy and willing to go out and do wild shit as you are, I’d presume. Or at least I do, which is why in terms of having Andi ready to go on road trip adventures across the country with me she didn’t quite hold up. I’d give her a -2 but she did fuck me in a parking lot the first night I met her. Really thought about giving her a flat stat just for that, but overall I think it’s negative.

Mental Health isn’t just a category for me to take a jab at Andi for having depressive issues, I fucking swear I’m not that much of a dick. Mental Health, or MHP, is a throwback to that Crazy-Hotness chart/meme/adage. You really do have to take into account if someone isn’t going to slice your ass with razor blades when they fuck you lmfao, or if they’re going to fight with you or fuck your friends any chance they get. Some people are just crazy and now here’s a stat for that. But alright yes, I am an asshole and took off points because Andi was depressed so much lmfao.

Sex + Beauty I like these stats being their own categories for the same reason that INT and WIS are different stats. Raw beauty is your natural 1-10 scale of hotness. Of course, it’s more accurate because it includes .5 decimals by going 1-20. I’d give Andi a 7.5 on my hotness scale, where 10s are like Natalie Portman, Britney Spears ~Toxic era, and Kimberly from the Power Rangers. So in DnD Beauty she gets a 15. She had perfect tits, a great ass, a tight stomach, a pretty smile, and legs for fucking days, man. Pretty fucking hot. For sex, I’d say you should rate someone on a scale from 1-18 normally, just because an 18 is the highest stat you can roll naturally before increasing your stats with feats. But then you can continue to add 1 or 2 if they actually have some mindblowing skills. Like if they give the best head you’ve ever gotten or something they can break into that best-in-the-world territory that a 19/20 stat in DnD is supposed to represent. That being said, Andi was one of my favorite fucks. She didn’t have unbelievable stamina on top and didn’t give a legendary blowjob. But she was ALWAYS ready to fuck. And so enthusiastic. And so sexy. And kinky. The only area she loses points from rolling the nat 18 is for kissing and for whatever was causing the puss flavor. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I really honestly think it was just because we were too lazy to shower most of the weekend though so I didn’t want to take a whole second point off for that.

And so that leaves us with Status (/Refinement) Status is a somewhat more nebulous stat, but I wanted to add a stat in for how classy someone is. Does she come from a rich family? Does she have money? Does she make more money than you? How is her taste in music and culture and art? Would you feel shitty not taking her out to a fancy restaurant? Like sometimes you have to acknowledge that you’re tryna fuck a hot piece of trailer trash. It’s fine, man. Like Mungo Jerry said In The Summertime, “If her daddy’s rich, take her out for a meal / If her daddy’s poor, just do what you feel.” It’s not a bad thing to not be classy. For starters I liked that Andi made a little more money than me, but she wasn’t rich enough to take me in and be my sugar momma 😂 I also didn’t think she had Great taste in anime and music, so she ends up in an above-average-but-still-kinda-middling stat.

And that covers it!

I hope this doesn’t make me the worst person ever. But I might start reviewing all the people I sleep with like this. I think it really demonstrates their appeal a lot more than anything else I’ve heard of.

Let me know if I’m the biggest piece of shit ever for this so I know not to do it though lmfao.

Also Andi, if you ever read this for some reason I hope you’re... flattered? I guess? I really hope you meant what you said when you told me I could write about you because... this is probably a lot. I really don’t think I was out of your league though, and when you looked at your porn pics of us and said you couldn’t believe your ass looked so good I hope you know you always looked great.

💕 It really was fun. Unblock me so we can be friends again. It’d be cool to chill now that I’m in a better headspace I think.

I was thinking about calling you when I finally got to this part in my catching up, but I want to give you your space. Forever, I guess. You always said you were the bad bitch Ex’s And Oh’s girl who would have your exes chasing you to the end of the Earth and I’m not about that chase lmao. But you were worth it. You were worth a lot more, to be honest lol, I wish I had gotten my shit together before we broke up instead of after. But you really convinced me to treat myself right, and take better care of myself in a way that nobody outside of my family has and you mean a lot to me for that. So I hope you’re doing well and I don’t want to do anything to fuck that up if you are, so I’m not gonna be that ex that calls you out of the blue that says “oh are you ready to be friends again, sorry for that shit I said.” Also because I’m not. But if you wanted to be friends anyway that’d be rad. 💕 💕

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the-record-columns · 6 years ago

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May 29, 2019: Columns

Amazing talent, missing tables...

By KEN WELBORN

Record Publisher

With our 14th Annual ChickenFest behind us I do want to take just a moment to mention two especially talented young people who were kind enough to play for us this past weekend.

First is 13-year-old Libby Harbour, a fiddle player who just gets better and better. At our opening ceremonies, after the VFW Post 1142 Honor Guard had placed the flag at half mast and played Taps, Libby stepped up and played the National Anthem on her fiddle. It still gives me goose bumps to think about it today. Later she played on the Tut Taylor Spotlight Stage to the delight of everyone.

Another of the many wonderful people who played was a young lady of 16 named Cali Johnson. I first heard Cali play guitar and sing during a couple of the Open Mic events at the 1915 Artisan Center in Wilkesboro. One evening she began with a CCR tune, played a couple of originals she had written, and ended by singing the Coat of Many Colors song by Dolly Parton - and nailed them all. She also performed at ChickenFest on the Spotlight stage and had folks mesmerized.

Speaking of ChickenFest, it is always something of a ritual to put our hands on all of our tables and chairs-what with them being periodically loaned out. This year it was easy, but it still reminded me about the "table" story for the ages.

It involved my dear friend Max Joines

Not too long after we built The Record Park, Max, and his wonderful wife Jane, were planning some kind of soiree for one of their sons who had graduated from college. Max called me to see about renting my tables for the event-note I said rent-he doesn't know how to accept a favor-yet he will do anything for anyone-anytime.

He finally agreed to borrow them and picked them up on the appointed day-12 of them which he securely strapped to a trailer and was on his way.

The event was a great success, and I can personally attest to the food being amazing. The next week Max called to set up a time to return the tables and I went to the park to meet him.

I waited. And waited. Then I got worried-Max is always early, not late. I was about to call Jane to check on him when he finally drove up-looking like his last friend had deserted him. It seems as though while loading up the tables, he only had 11, not 12. He drove the route he had taken with the tables hoping to find the one that had somehow blown off. He made that trip about three times before deciding to give up and come on.

Nothing would do but he wanted to buy me another table. I tried to assure him it wasn't that big of a deal, but he kept insisting. After a bit we unloaded the tables with Max apologizing all the way.

Then I saw it. The 12th table. It had never left the building because it was so covered up in junk that we both missed it. I thought about trying to get Max out of the building without telling him, but soon thought better of it. The simple fact that he never had 12 tables to begin with took a bit to sink in, but relief took over aggravation and he was soon smiling as only Max Joines can.

We decided to end the day by agreeing that "...sometimes you simply cannot see the forest for the trees."

Words to live by, eh Max?

Truth is on Israel's side

By EARL COX

Special to The Record

Israelis are very good at many things but public relations is not one of them. It seems they are always defending themselves rather than pointing out their positives and this is largely due to the way mainstream media reports any and all news about Israel.

One of the major charges of the anti-Israel media is that Israelis are hate-filled, evil people who live in a perpetual state of animosity and fear. Of course, if these critics were to visit Israel, they would see that the people of this special little nation go about their daily tasks with great freedom, purpose and enthusiasm. Public places are bustling with active and smiling people, none of whom seem intimidated or fearful. Ben Yehuda Street in downtown Jerusalem is alive with people from around the world visiting the many shops and restaurants, enjoying the music of street musicians and engaging in activities which underline Israel’s freedom and sense of safety and security.

The young nation of Israel enjoys great freedom of speech and movement which cannot be found in any Arab or Muslim nation in the Middle East. In Israel there is also less crime — whether robberies, rapes or killings — than in any other country of the world.

The international media consistently attempt to paint Israel as undemocratic, discriminatory and racist — even going so far as to accuse Israel of being an apartheid state. Of course, everyone in the country knows that they have a well functioning democratic government, quite different from all the surrounding, authoritarian Arab and Muslim governments of the Middle East. Every Israeli adult, including women, has the right to vote; and what many do not know is that there are more than a million Arabs who are Israeli citizens with the same rights and privileges as all other Israeli citizens — including representation in the Knesset.

Furthermore, most Israel bashers do not realize that more than a million Arabs live in the Jewish cities of Jaffa, Haifa, Nazareth and others without fear of being harmed or discriminated against. And they don’t realize that in the Galilee, dozens of Arab villages are mingled among Jewish villages, with the Arabs free to come and go and do as they please. Half of the Old City of Jerusalem is inhabited by Arabs, and all Arabs have free access to the Muslim shrines on the Temple Mount however the same is not true for Jews and Christians. The Temple Mount is controlled by the Jordan-based Waqf which is an Islamic trust that governs the Temple Mount compound. Jews and Christians are forbidden even to pray on the Temple Mount.

Now, like any other nation on earth, Israel is not perfect; but its critics will have to look long and hard to find discrimination or apartheid. Yet they report such untruths without blinking. Another charge on the list of the anti-Semitic media is that Israelis are hateful and violent people who react with disproportionate force to any small Arab or Muslim provocation. If these critics would honestly compare the actions of the Arabs to the reactions of the Israelis, they would see a great difference.

Palestinian Arab terrorist groups have regularly attacked innocent Israeli civilians ever since Israel was restored as a nation. They have fired explosive rockets into civilian villages, and they have sent suicide bombers on to Israeli buses and into Israeli gathering places. Their leaders have urged people in their mosques and children in their schools to hate and kill Jews.

In response, Israelis have refused to descend to the same level of depravity as their enemies. Only when their patience has been exhausted have they reluctantly retaliated in self defense; and even then, they have been extremely careful to avoid harming innocent civilians — especially women and children.

Through it all, the Jewish people have proved beyond any doubt that God has miraculously brought them back to their ancient homeland, He has justifiably restored their nation, and He has divinely preserved and prospered it. Israel has fulfilled the Torah promise that it would be a good land, “a land flowing with milk and honey.”

The God-given innovation of the Jewish people, along with their indomitable spirit and high ethical values, has made modern Israel a great wonder of the world … in spite of what the anti-Semitic international media think or say.

Stop. Just stop…

By HEATHER DEAN

Record Reporter

"Happy Memorial Day!"

Does anyone besides me want to rip down the signs with that phrase off of business windows, and give a good tongue lashing to anyone who says it?

Discussing plans to sit by the water and barbecue, because "you're so stressed out from of life in general and need a break" isn't showing respect for the Fallen. Let’s discuss their “day at the beach” on June 6, 1944, compared to your lovely long weekend, shall we?

Yes you have a first amendment right, but please don’t be thoughtless- no one says “HAPPY anniversary on the day your momma died” so why would you make the appellation to Memorial Day?

Let me put this into perspective:Just last year hundreds of us in several counties lined the highways, standing in silent respect for local State Trooper Samuel Bullard, who gave his life to fulfill his oath "protect and serve."

The summer before that, thousands of us lined the highways from Wilkes County Airport all the way to Ashe County for Dillon Baldridge, who gave his life trying to protect his friends and comrades, and the freedom we hold so dear.

Putting up American flag window clings, lining your yard/business with tiny flags (that are made in CHINA) that have gotten rained on and knocked over and are lying in the grass, is NOT showing respect for those that gave all. Not to mention against flag code, but that’s another column.

What this is, is a long weekend to reflect on those who are no longer with us. Our Veteran parents and grandparents who fought perhaps; and especially Chris Thompson, Larry Bauguess, Sam Bullard and Dillon Baldridge.I am never happy about the loss of life, but I am eternally grateful, and hold a space at my table on such days to the fallen, and the families left to grieve their absence.

The local VFW Post is holding a traditional ceremony, on actual Memorial Day, May 30, (this Thursday) starting at 10 a.m. I encourage you all to be there, to give thanks to the men and women who gave everything for you.

A Dipper Full for Everyone

By CARL WHITE

Life in the Carolinas

I’ve been spending more time in the garden lately.

It all started at Kindred Gallery at Rosemary House Bed and Breakfast in Pittsboro. It was during an interview with noted folk artist Cher Shaffer.

We were coming to the close of our second on camera visit when I asked her what she would recommend as a good thing for all of us to do in order to have greater peace and happiness in our lives. That’s easy she replied, “Play in the dirt and do it often. It will help you connect with the earth and life.”

I listened as she explained on her thoughts. It seemed reasonable but it would be on my drive home that my mind would give it a good thinking over.I had already done a bit of planting in the garden. However, I had not thought of it as playing in the dirt.

At the same time, I could tell that Cher was serious with her words. So, I committed to the idea. I knew it would be a challenge because it had been many years since I had done anything resembling playing in the dirt. So much so that I honestly could not remember ever playing in the dirt.

While it has been a busy time for the show, I decided that working time in for dirt play was now on my must do list, even though I had no idea how it was going to work out. We had already planted some tomato and cucumber plants; however, I knew we needed more plants.

I decided to visit some new greenhouses in hopes of inspiration for new plants and to question plant people on how they play in the dirt. I soon found out that I was not alone in how I thought about gardening. To some it’s a lot of work and not playful at all. That however was not the case with most of the people I spoke with. As it turns out the smell and feel of dirt brings happiness to many people.

With this idea in mind I purchased a wide variety of tomato, pepper, okra, and other plants. I like dill so I decide that an herb garden might also be a good idea. I may have gone a bit overboard.

As I drove home I though about all those plants and the task ahead and the more I thought about it the less playful I become.

Unloading the car, I realized that I had almost 150 new plants. The first day I planted and watered one flat, the next day I did the same and within a week I had them all planted.

It was on the third day of this process that as I was bending over planting pepper that I become a bit dizzy, so I took a knee in the dirt. For the first time during this process I was feeling the dirt. The smell was sweet, and the dirt was becoming playful.

At that very moment I was flooded with memories of childhood times in the garden with my grandmother. It was as if I was there again walking with her as she was giving each plant a dipper full of water.

I could hear her say, “A dipper full for everyone.” I could see my Dad picking green beans in the summer. I was flooded with warm comforting memories of family now gone but still in the garden. Every morning I get up early and go play in the dirt. I water the plants; everyone gets a hello and full dipper of water.

They are all doing well, and I have learned how to play in the dirt.

And I can tell you one thing for sure, it’s a good thing.

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aurimeanswind · 7 years ago

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Super—Sunday Chats (7-23-17)

Ugh, I have to write about Batman v. Superman and I’m already over it you guys.

So About Superman

Okay, two things first, 1- Batman v. Superman Spoilers ahoy, and 2- this is just my opinion. So fucking chill with the tweets you guys. I’m pretty seriously over it. If you wanna have an adult conversation by some means that isn’t limited to 140 characters, please do. If I don’t know you and you just want to spam my mentions with your hatred of my opinion, I got some block and mute buttons.

I’m putting this caveat here for my non-Sunday Chats regulars, because apparently if you tweet about Superman people will just FIND you.

Alright so this morning I was watching Comic-Con Trailers in my lack of sleep, and I tweet this series of tweets:

So I am gonna elaborate on what I meant here, and that’s gonna be my whole OpEd this week, and I hope you’re happy. Again, just my perspective.

So to give a little history here, MY Superman is the Superman Bruce Tim animated series Superman, which is the same as my Batman, from Batman The Animated series, and then Justice League, and the rest of the Bruce Timverse. I have never been a huge comic book guy, so this was my exposure, and this was when Superman became my favorite superhero. As I’ve gotten older, I think that’s shifted to Batman if I’m being honest, but that’s mostly because I think really good quality Batman multimedia is more easily accessible for me? So my Superman is really not including comics, but I really do want to read Max Landis’ American Alien, don’t worry, it’s at the top of my list. As far as solid first Superman comics to read, that seems like a good one.

Okay so with this in mind, I love the animated Superman. Honestly, there are kind of Spider-Man vibes there, like Supes flying around the city, waving to the people, smiling and helping people.

Like, having gone back recently to watch some episodes, it’s definitely pretty light hearted and aimed more at a younger audience, but I loved it. It was happy. Hopeful. It wasn’t stated or emphasized that Superman was a symbol of hope, it was just kind of... inherent, ya know? And I fucking get it. People hate Superman. Irrationally so, I think, but you know there are plenty of other superheroes out there to be positive about so why folks find the need to trash on the one I like instead of be fun and cool about the ones they like I will never understand. But a thing in this animated Superman show, again, >>my<< Superman, is that he was very vulnerable. He had a lot of weaknesses, like magic and kryptonite, and wasn’t absurdly overpowered. It made him more grounded and made the show tense and fun. He is smart, strong, a little air-headed at times, and happy. Above all, happy. Hopeful.

So with that backstory in mind, when I say that Man of Steel and Batman v Superman did not establish Superman as what they made him out to be in this new Justice League Comic-Con trailer, let me explain why.

In the Justice League Trailer, this is what is said about Superman:

“Superman was a beacon to the world... He didn’t just save people, he made them see the best parts of themselves... I don’t recognize this world”

So like, I’m sorry, what? The responses to my tweet ranged from “Superman fucking sucks” to “clearly you didn’t get the subtlety of Zack Snyder’s work. Don’t you remember the scenes of the people worshipping him and the statue! Don’t forget the statue!” Like okay, you all are describing things to me. Shots and scenes that have both no context, and no substance.

Let me explain. And I’m not trying to start a flame war. I’m kind of over it, but I wanted to write about this. And I’m not trying to sit here and have the “Batman v Superman is a bad movie” discussion. No, I don’t like the movie, but like, you can totally like/love/adore it. That’s fine. I’m not chuffed either way. I’m not about putting folks down for things they love, as I’ve made clear on Sunday Chats in the past, this is just my issues with it, so hear me out.

So we see Superman saving people. We see shots of him stopping missiles and rescuing lost and stranded people. That’s great. But there are a couple very important aspects of these scenes. One, Superman is never smiling in any of these scenes. He seems depressed. He has no joy or hope in his eyes. Why? Is this supposed to convey some kind of internal struggle that saving people makes him sad? If you want to convey that, you need to give me more than an emo Superman face, that is not enough. I’m sorry, it’s just not. The other thing is these scenes never have context. The big ones throughout Batman v Superman specifically are montages. Like, thrown together scenes. I get it, you can tell me he saves people, but you give me context-less scenes of him saving people and he looks fucking miserable during all of them and you honest to god expect that to be enough for me to believe he is just the, QUOTE UNQUOTE, “beacon to the world”?!

No.

That’s not how character development works. That’s not how heroes are made. Think about the scene in Wonder Woman when she steps into No Man’s Land. When she looks into Chris Pine’s eyes and says “Someone needs to help these people”. That shit is giving me chills right now, while I’m writing this. When I saw that in theatres, I fucking cried. A, because I’m a cry baby, and B, because it was fucking powerful. Wonder Woman is a hero. She changed all those peoples lives, and was a sheer force of surreal and reality-bending power in that entire scene, and it’s incredible. Oh my god.

Fuck. Wonder Woman was really good.

Avengers Age of Ultron gets a ton of shit, and I really love that movie, and one of the things I love the most about that movie is the ending scenes where the Avengers save people. Through both Avengers movies there is a constant theme of the heroes banding together to save the people in New York/Sokovia, and I love that. It’s hokey as hell, but so are Superheroes! These scenes of the Avengers saving people have context. The people are there for a reason, it’s relevant to the plot, and the tension and stakes in those scenes is genuine and real. I love it.

None of the context-less scenes of Superman saving people in BvS have literally any of these things and it makes those scenes come across as soulless set dressing. You can show me Superman saving people all day but that doesn’t make me believe he is a hero if those scenes come across as elaborate set dressing (because they were) and especially if he just looks so unhappy to be there the whole time.

You wanna know the scenes that dominated Superman’s presence in BvS? This shit:

And like, I don’t dislike Man of Steel. Like, I really like the “journey of self-discovery” Supes goes on, how he learns of his heritage. But it needed more Superman. Just like The Dark Knight felt less like a “Batman” movie than Batman Begins (imho, still love it), Man of Steel barely had like, legitimate Superman superhero stuff in it. But I like the concern of using your power. I like the killing Zod makes him never want to kill again aspect. I really respect the set up. I also think the movie ends on a really lighthearted positive note (the last five minutes, literally) and sets Superman up to be this imaginary dude that the Justice League trailer is talking about.

But boy oh boy does this dude look so excited to be a “beacon of hope” doesn’t he?

No. No he doesn’t. He looks miserable. And hey, if you wanted to make Batman v Superman partially about Superman’s internal struggle with being seen specifically as “a god” and not just someone trying to do the right thing, go for it. But, uh, hey, guess what? In Batman v Superman’s two hour and thirty one minute runtime, it never really comes up I guess. Actually, pretty sure Superman at some point asks his mother if humanity even deserves his kindness, and she is like “nah”.

I don’t know what movie you all saw, but you can “tell me” that this guy is a hero all you want, but that doesn’t mean you’ve “shown” me it. That’s what Man of Steel should have been about. And there should have been another Superman movie between MoS and BvS specifically about all of this, and had the latter half of it represent a joyous Superman coming into his own as a hero and a symbol, but nope. You had to end MoS will a city getting blown up and then rolling right into Batman hating him. And then them bonding over the fucking name Martha. Uhg.

And then uh, guess what, I would love to see them course-correct and save him as a character and try and rewrite history so Superman is actually the good, cool, complicated character he is meant to be in their cinematic universe, but I’m pretty butthurt about the idea honestly, MOSTLY because you took him, beat him to the ground, essentially only gave context on screen of him being a symbol of controversy, and then went and fucking killed him. You only get to pull the “kill Superman” card once, and you did it when literally there was no reason to like him, and all his character was up to that point was a physical embodiment of the “frowny face” emoji with super strength.

So good fucking job.

But anyway, to end my negative train, I really want Justice League to be good, I am genuinely hopeful, but that is a way too long elaboration of my issues with the trailer, which was literally two lines of dialogue.

So I hope you all are happy.

At least Greg Miller is with me on this one. He’s the real dude.

uhg.

well, fucking anyway...

What’s on Tap

Overwatch

God this game is so good I can’t believe i didn’t play it for sixth months it was so much timeeeeee

I could have gotten so many event-exclusive skinsssss AARRRRGH

Real good. I’ve gotten better recently. Been writing a ton about it. It’s kind of a technical piece. Excited to publish.

Nier Automata

So I just started this, so not a lot to say yet, but I wanted to say this.

Long-time Sunday Chats readers will know that I played through the original Nier recently, and what I’m most surprised by is how much it feels like the original Nier.

Essentially, it feels like a sequel to Nier, which is a weird thing to say, because it IS a sequel to Nier, but it’s been a long time and it’s a different studio (Platinum) but the ins and outs, the meat and potatoes, so to speak, feels like Nier.

About two or so hours in, more to report later

Crash N-Sane Trilogy

This has honestly been taking up most of my time, and I’m really excited about it!

So first of all, I like Crash 1 a lot more than I remember. I also found it a lot more playable and easy to complete than I remember. I get it, flame wars galore this Sunday Chats, but that was just for me. It’s definitely hard.

I also 100%’d Crash 2 and am about half way through Crash 3.

There really just aren’t games that quite feel like this anymore, with that nice difficulty curve, and the kind of tightness you’d hope form a platformer. It’s really rad, and I’ve been playing a lot of PSone games recently, so this just felt like a nice continuation of that.

Destiny 2 Beta

Honestly too much to say about this here. Will write about it later. Must.

Questions

If you’d like to have you questions answered on Sunday Chats, look for my tweets on Sunday afternoons (Eastern Time) with #SundayChats in them, send your question in a reply, and I’ll answer! My twitter, as mentioned above, is @ALFighter27.

Please. Please don’t ask me about Superman. Ever. Never again. You all ruined your chance. It’s gone now.

So I had to look this up because unlike you wrestling nerds I have no idea what the hell this is and jesus good lord christ does this sound like the worst.

No. I mean look at this:

Could you honestly see me surviving in here for longer than 15 seconds? Hell no. No.

No Tyler.

No.

YOOOOOO

Thor Ragnarok looks SO GOOD. And I’ve always loved the Thor movies. And you Thor bandwagon-ers are all welcome to come about the Hems-train. BECAUSE IT’S GOOD ON THIS BEAUTIFUL BLONDE LOCKES.

But seriously it looks so amazing.

Sonic is a good one. I’m really curious to see if that turns out to be rad, because all signs point to a yes on it!

The next game for me is TACOMA!!! Oh my god it’s like two weeks away! I am so excited! Gone Home means so much to me, so I am just gonna take a day off, curl up with a blanket and lose myself to that game and its story.

Past that, the next “big” game is Destiny 2/Danganronpa 3. Very, very excited for those bangers.

So I watched this, and I have never read the book. I actually bought the audio book recently, but I just haven’t dug in yet. I want to! It has all the makings of an Alex O’Neill-ass novel, considering i’ve heard it referred to as a Young Adult novel, which I’m down with.

Now the trailer seemed to feel definitely like “teaser” right, there was no set up to the scenes they were showing. A lot of cool imagery, but no real context to support them, so I don’t know how strong the thru line of it all will be. But just seeing specifically the Iron Giant on display for the first time in so long is really rad. I’m curious to see how the pop culture stuff is handled, since I know there is a lot of it in the book, but being super referential isn’t a bad thing. That’s the heart of that story so I’m excited to see it play out.

I dunno, I know a lot of people didn’t like it, but it definitely got me interested.

It’d be so cool. He is the best. And agrees with me on Batman v. Superman.

Honestly, one of the coolest things I saw was the Stranger Things S2 trailer. Like, whoa dang. That blew me away. Stranger Things was one of my favorite things to come out of last year, and hearing the theme song play at the end of that trailer for the first time in ages I immediately remembered why. That soundtrack was sooooo stellar.

Also, the Westworld trailer got me super excited. I was concerned with where they left it, but if my vibes for the way this season “looks”, again, just vaguely, it’s an unexpected direction, and it has me really excited.

Oh and Thor. Fuck me up Chris Hemsworth.

Oh he is truly wonderful. Very incredibly lucky to have stumbled into a friendship with such a lovely human. While I think he makes declarative statements too frequently, and seems a little too closed to hearing me out on things, haha, I think him and I are on the same page with our perspective on video games as a medium.

Obviously I like Zelda way more than him, but I think we share the core philosophy in our games writing that video games are an art-ass-art medium, and when that’s the epicenter, the evocation at your core and what drives your words, it comes out more passionately. Logan looks at games through a scope of artistic, and above all else, emotional value. When he plays something, he feels it, and above that, he leans into all the things he feels when playing a game. A lot of the time that is emotion, joy, sadness, but past that it’s also frustration, nostalgia, and more. He has a great narrative way of boiling those feelings downs into personal narrative, and weaves those descriptions into his discussions around games in an almost effortless way. He makes poignancy seem second nature, and it impresses me all the time.

For folks who don’t know, Logan Wilkinson writes for my site IrrationalPassions.com, and is on Twitter @LeftyLoggy. Go follow him.

The Checklist

Cool Games Inc: Specifically Episode 5: Glasshouse, Feature Dave Lange. - https://soundcloud.com/coolgamesinc/episode-5-glasshouse-feat-dave-lang - By Griffin McElroy and Nick Robinson

In my continued McElroy brother’s binge, I’ve finally taken the time to get into Cool Games Inc. An aspect of the show I was unaware of was Griffin and Nick taking their pitch to someone else. Essentially, the show is them thinking of an absurd video game idea and then pitching it to someone who has no idea what the pretext was. And it’s brilliant. This one specifically, as I just now begin my Cool Games Inc journey, was stellar. Dave Lange is a fucking G.

Monster Factory - Fallout 4 Episode 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1jGnFt78H8 - By Justin & Griffin McElroy

I don’t know if I have ever laughed at any one thing as hard as I laughed at this. That’s hyperbole, obviously, but jesus christ. This episode is so funny. Oh my god. Watch Monster Factory. It’s brilliant.

Break in Reality Podcast Episode 53 - The Flavor of Love Cast - https://soundcloud.com/breakinreality/episode-53-the-flavor-of-love-cast - By Quinten Hoffman feat. Roger Pokorny & Logan Wilkinson

A very good show with a few of my friends on it. By which to say all of them are my friends and they're very wonderful. There were some audio-syncing issues that I don’t know have been resolved yet, but I thought this episode was super funny. Worth a listen.

This was a very exhausting SC to write. Sorry I was so negative out the gate, it really did bum me out, and I’m like, kind of over the internet for today now. I hate the feeling of sending a tweet that’s just your honest opinion and then getting unsolicited people telling you why you’re wrong or telling you that they think your wrong but won’t say anything. Like, why the fuck bother? I know I let this stuff get to me too much, but I really love Superman and I want better, so I am gonna put the problems I see out there.

Just do me a favor, keep it real

and don’t fucking @ me.

#video games #gaming #dc #detective comics #superman #wonder woman #justice league #comic-con #san diego comic con #nier #automata

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lifeisgoodsotheysay · 6 years ago

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Just when you need it, a smile will appear. However brief, grasp hold!

What a beautiful morning! Seeing the sun shining bright, the whispy clouds scattered ever so lightly, a cool breeze blowing so it’s not so hot already, makes for a great start to the day. If only my start had been on time, that would make it a picture perfect beginning.

You see it hasn’t been so picture perfect lately… I’ve mentioned the devil working overtime, without going into ugly details, he has been demanding with several loved ones. As painful as trials can be, keep your eye on the prize. The devil may try… but he won’t win.

Then the shocking news Tuesday of my friend passing really knocked the breath out of me. Hoss had been sick and unable to work this past year, but he was still doing well. His COPD was taking a toll and he was on the maximum take home oxygen to maintain. He had good days, and some bad days, but he was still just as funny and caring as always. We kept in phone contact, picking on each other about once a week. When you work with someone 5 or more days a week for 30 years you form a bond. Hoss was like a brother to me, and I’m simply heartbroken at this loss. We’re not sure what exactly happened, maybe a blood clot or possibly a heart attack. Either way, we weren’t ready.

Then home life… Travis has been stressed to the max working on their prized possession RV. I say prized possession because after all the thing is the same age as him. That makes it an antique, right? Although Travis has a few miles on him, the miles aren’t as hard on the body as they are on a 31 year old RV. Especially one that sits idle most it’s life. The old saying “use it or lose it” comes to mind. After Bonnaroo last year the Roo Vee got unloaded and put away until a few months ago. If it’s not one thing it’s another. Travis, Dobbins, Tony, Jeremiah, Andy, Josh and others have been working on that baby for months! As soon as one thing gets fixed you discover something else. Some minor, some not so minor. Some comical, to me, not so much to Travis. Like for instance, Andy got the generator rebuilt and running great. There was a power surge and every single light bulb in the whole RV blew. Every single bulb! But the a/c works great and always has. That’s reason enough to keep it to me.

The important things are taken care of, new tires, a/c charged, rewired sound system, generator rebuilt, the list goes on and on. But not without a lot of worry and stressed to the max mood swings. What I’m trying to say is life with a stressed out most impatient person on the planet besides his mother, has not been pleasant. (Looking for my banana runts to show up somewhere.) They pulled out around 7:00 last night with a wing and a prayer the frayed power steering belt doesn’t snap.

When they left I felt a twinge of relief, and the need for sleep. I turned in early but started watching the awards show so I didn’t get sleep, but I got rest. Just as I was going to sleep Spencer come in with Boots the cat wrapped in her arms. Bonna was not happy about that, after all Spencer is her friend. There was a mouse in the house. Well I would suggest leaving the cats downstairs and let them fight it out. Nothing we can do about it at 11:30 pm.

I got to sleep and was startled awake by my phone ringing at 1:15 am. Travis calling. I jump up and answer the phone, heart about to beat out of my chest afraid of what may have happened. “Hi mom, we’re hereeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!! We didn’t have any problems at all, one trailer had a blow out and we all pulled off for that but I didn’t have a single problem with the Roo Vee. We’re waiting in line because they ran out of stickers! How do you run out of stickers? You’re the main gate and everybody has to come through here so why don’t you have enough stickers? Oh what time is it? I’m sorry, go back to bed. Just wanted to let you know we made it, I love you! Woooooooooo Hooooooooo!”

What was that? The most pleasant sound in the world! It’s amazing what Bonnaroo does to a person. I want to bottle that air up and save it for a Tuesday. Any day actually. It’s magical. I couldn’t drift back to sleep right away because I was so relieved. But I did manage to go back to sleep. Just in time for the next phone call at 1:55 am. “Hey mom, we’re moving now! I saw your friend, I heard my name and looked over and it was Sallie, she’s got a coozie for me. Man they wanted to take our beer! You are only allowed 2 cases per person, so we had to put some in Bret’s RV, some in James’s camper, some with someone else. And there was this guy that had six gas cans. They won’t let you take that many in, so he put two in the Roo Vee, put two in someone elses rig, put one in somebody else’s car. I can’t find him to give him his gas back, maybe we’ll see him somewhere. What’s wrong with these people this year not letting us take in what we need. Anyway we’re here. Oh I forgot, go back to sleep. I love you!”

Well there you have it, my bag of banana runts, in the form of voice.

So I wasn’t surprised this morning when a text message woke me up. I called Lori at 7:15 and said, I just woke up, be there soon. Arrival time, 2 hours later than usual, with a smile that’s been missing for a little while.

Life is good, and difficult, but always good.

0 notes

bookgasms-bookboyfriends-blog · 8 years ago

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Heartbeat Series (Rock Notes, Love Notes, Music Notes (Available) and First Beat, First Bass and First Taste (Coming Soon) by: Renee Lee Fisher Rock Notes Love Notes Music Notes

Coming Soon: First Beat First Bass First Taste

BY: Renee Lee Fisher Contemporary Romance Published May 2013

AUTHOR LINKS – Twitter – https://twitter.com/ReneeLeeFisher Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ReneeLeeFisherAuthor Amazon/Author Page – http://www.amazon.com/Renee-Lee-Fisher/e/B00D4OL58A/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1443286425&sr=8-1 Goodreads Author Page – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7114580.Renee_Lee_Fisher

BOOK DESCRIPTION – The Heartbeat Series is a Rock Romance Six Planned Books, The first three are the core of the storyline and the remaining are some of the other band characters.

Begin with ROCK NOTES – Madison Tierney’s a writer, whose husband, Thomas suddenly left her after 10 years; she is destroyed and now recently alone and divorced. She picks herself up slowly trying to restore her lost confidence and ability to love again. She follows her writing passion and ventures to follow a local band – Rolling Isaac’s and write about them, raw and real and how they follow their dreams. Her book is titled ROCK NOTES. Madison’s ex wants back, and she is torn with the safe relationship she had with him and now new feelings that she is falling hard for the band’s vocalist – Max Rand (Madison calls him Rand) who is so handsome, sexy and several years younger than she is. Each moment with Rand is intense and unpredictable. Rand comes to her with baggage that he has tragically lost love and has no love left to give. He fills his time with groupies and late nights. There are many interruptions and assumptions along their journey.While Madison is writing ROCK NOTES…somewhere along the way she begins to write her LOVE NOTES, her own personal love letters for Rand. Both Madison and Rand appear to be able to write their feelings on paper and lyrics effortlessly, but have a hard time conveying them to one another. Will she return to the warm awaiting arms of her ex-husband who still is in love with her? Or will there be a new beginning for Madison and Rand? Can these two empty souls feel love again? Or will what ignites between them simply fade away after the concert lights dim?

LOVE NOTES – Rand: As our bodies joined as one, I felt more in that one moment than I have ever felt with anyone. I never wanted to leave your arms, your body, and our connection. I believe that you complete me, you were made for me. I struggled to keep my feelings at bay and not let you know but I am too emotionally involved with you and to know now that you are with me is beyond belief. Where we head from here together has unlimited paths. I know I will always have this need now to have you fulfill me as I know you can. I see you and just a glance across the room to you makes me want to have us running to the bedroom. Silently I ponder how to relay to you just how much Love I contain for you. Some days I feel like my heart is about to burst. Maddy xo Madison and Rand’s love story continues as they move their relationship to a more passionate, intimate level…but again they are thrown some challenges. Will Madison and Rand be together and move forward or…backward? Read what comes their way to cause doubt in their minds. Just when everything is going fine, sometimes accidents occur. Rand: Oh, God, something horrible has happened. I only remember parts of it and they seem like snapshots that were taken so quickly…I need to feel you near me. I need to reach out and touch you and let you know I love you. Rand, I never felt so in love as I do when I am with you. Maddy xo Madison must fully trust Rand to commit herself to him forever in marriage. Rand must make her see and feel what she truly means to him. This story will pull at your heart and make you tear as you turn the pages that may finally reveal Madison’s handwritten LOVE NOTES. Will they get their Happily Ever After?

MUSIC NOTES – How will Madison and Rand keep their love and music playing? Music Notes (Book Three of the Heartbeat Series) Just when life seems to be going smooth, Madison receives news that leaves her speechless. She’s a writer that for the moment cannot form her words. Rand now is the one to continue their story…his story. Music Notes will take you on the tour with Max Rand as his first Solo Album – Simply Mad is launched. Will his travel for several months put distance in their relationship? Can their love survive? Rand will travel through his own journey of self discovery along the way. Just when Rand is at a high point in his life, a collapse . . . will bring one of them down…Rand? Madison? One person will offer the ultimate sacrifice. See the songs that Rand has written, and where his inspiration comes from. Follow this novel and see how it plays out.

Coming Soon – FIRST BEAT – JILLIAN & RAEFORD FIRST BASS – CECILE/KENT/CONNOR FIRST TASTE – TRISTAN & TABBY

BOOK LINKS- Amazon – http://goo.gl/v1aNNcB&N – http://goo.gl/PH0E43Itunes – https://goo.gl/IUGfZZSmashwords – https://goo mA…Kobo – https://goo.gl/z4ol3L

BOOK VIDEO TRAILERS –

Rock Notes – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Voxuur_Ew3I

Love Notes – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hfQ-ru_rtM

Music Notes – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5HhIvQQld8

First Beat – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZMx-ejWXr4

First Bass – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZBQ_NEpg7E

First Taste – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAqqiWm7WIA

EXCERT ONE – Rock Notes I am in a new part of my life, driving through an early spring day, air thick with falling petals swirling about. I think back to where I was months ago and I remember my marriage ending. It was a horrible cycle of emotions for me, first came so many tears and pain. Then I had so many questions as to why was I suddenly replaced with a woman that he hired to work in his office. I thought we had a solid and secure relationship. His walking away from me was staggering. I then suffered loss of self esteem and later I found anger which was hard for me to release, I kept so much inside. I still carry with me a self-doubt. I’m not sure I can rely on my judgment enough to trust any future partner. My husband ending our marriage knocked me down, but each new road I travel, I will get stronger. I turn on the radio to hear something to sway my mood. The music immediately takes me away on a journey as I travel briefly from traffic light to traffic light through town. Seems like the changing of the light pattern is in a sequence of musical themes like the chorus repeating over and over, red – yellow – green. Go – it is now time for me to go and begin my journey writing about the band. Conveying through my words their passion, their singing, and their playing to becoming seasoned musicians. I follow all the traffic to the concert this evening. This is my story Rock Notes. “Max, Max, Max Rand excuse me, do you have a moment to talk to me?” I closed in on the far corner of the stage. I had purchased a front row ticket to this evening’s local concert to take in tunes and set myself up for the possibility of conversation. “I know you don’t know who I am so let me introduce myself. I am Madison Tierney, call me Madison or Maddy. I am a freelance creative writer, once a columnist and now I’m writing a book titled, “Rock Notes” which I follow a band in depth, and I’d like that to be your band “Rolling Isaac’s.” I didn’t want to intrude on his time, so I simply said, “I know you have so many young ladies wanting you to sign autographs and their bodies,” I smiled and continued to talk in a confident manner, “but I just wanted to give you my business card in case we can speak in the near future or have your band representation contact me.” Looking up at Max and his combination of youthful and mature yet awesome, truly awesome good looks, I shouted out “Oh and I thought the show was great.” I beamed about it trying to remain calm, as I was more mature, rather than getting all flustered by a mere young band playing. Max looked me over from his vantage point above and smiled a kind brim and nodded. I drank in all his chiseled features and his dark chocolate, delicious hair that had tousled all over during the concert, looking very sexy like he had been rolling in bed for hours. It was then that he turned slightly to jump down and he placed his stunning, well built arms on the edge of the stage and the tattoo under his sleeve peeked briefly through. He was wearing a tight white long sleeve tee pushed up onto his forearms, and he was completely soaked with his sweet sweat from singing to the crowd. I wasn’t certain what was inked on him but I knew it drew me in. It was colorful and his tee shirt sleeve was stuck to him. I could see his firm, fit stomach also as the tee clung to his torso. I looked up, startled to see he was now standing in front of me and still smiling tenderly. He took my hand gently and slightly slid his finger over my fingertip as sensation ran through me, it was only for him to take the business card but it left me sort of out of breath, scattered my thoughts for a moment. His eyes pulled me in like an inviting Caribbean ocean, they were a deep tropical blue and his dark eyelashes swept over them. I had to rethink and tell my body to blink as I was captivated. I thanked him and hoped to hear from him and as he walked back I stood and stared at his tall frame and truly awesome body…he did not turn around. I went to finally leave when my feet would allow me to move them and I glanced back to take in the entire empty, darkened stage only to see him leaning on the far side and sending a smile and wink my way. I looked around to see if it was meant for someone else and then back to him where he laughed and nodded his head to me. I walked to my car and thought about Max Rand and our brief meeting and I was concerned about my attire for some odd reason…as it took me hours to decide earlier what to put together which was very unlike me. It was like taking time to prep for a date. I kept reselecting pieces from my closet to make me look a bit more hip and trendy. Finally I had chosen simple jeans, black boots and a black top with open shoulder areas. The appliqué on the shirt was a striking detailed cross with hearts that seemed to dance across the top and wrap to the back, almost like a hug, I added a black gem belt. Checking my look in the mirror, I was content and headed to the concert. I was just about to take hold of the car handle when my cell phone sounded, its timing making me think I set off my car alarm. I reached into my pocket and was surprised to read: I watched your nervous smile, and caught a glimpse of the top you wore, one of my inks looks like it. I sing yes, but I am also believe it or not, involved in the band’s representation…can we continue our conversation at a quiet space tomorrow? Max Rand I fumbled for a reply to him, could this actually be happening, he was contacting me in mere moments? I sent him a voice text as a reply – Yes, sure. Under my breath I said absolutely. That was so stupid of me, an adult to say yes, sure, and he probably heard me say absolutely…what was I thinking, I had to be in control of this proposal for my writing and I should not feel like a school girl, shy and nervous, my phone sounded again. I can meet you in Philly. There’s a coffee house there. It’s the 2nd Street Coffee Café. I began in the biz there and I hang out there upstairs. Meet you at two o’clock. The address is the name. I got the first cup. Wow was this really happening, I decided to take control of my life for once and go after the stories I wanted to write and now I was going to possibly have my foot in the door per se. I replied: Sounds great…I’ll be there Of course I would be there. That is all that I could say to him without sounding too over anxious. I smiled to myself and opened my car and positioned myself behind the wheel ready to start to take control of my life. I drove out of the city skyline to my townhouse. I had just begun to make it my new home over the past few months. The collapse of my marriage was devastating. My husband of ten years, Thomas, came to an epiphany that he just wasn’t in love with me anymore. He had taken me to bed and poured his heart out about how we were soul mates and destined to be together in the end, but there was something missing for him. As we made love that evening trying, I thought, to save or recapture what he felt he was lacking, I was unaware that this was his goodbye to me. He held me in his arms until dawn, but when I awoke he had left and moved out. I broke down and since I was always the one in the shadows of him, I had no real confidence to stand alone or walk tall. I was lost and lacked all confidence in my ability to love another. I didn’t find out right away, but the dark, ugly truth eventually made it out into the open. The fact was that Thomas found someone else, but apparently did not want to come right out and tell me that himself. We met in college, as I was deciding to be an English Major to write or do something like that with my degree; he had all his ducks in a row and set goals and was heading for the big business world. He had followed in his family’s steps and was soon interning with a leading financial company and heading for the top. Great pay, high-rise condo in the city, convertible automobile of the latest year and me as his wing person, just along for the ride and always in the shadows. He loved me I know but I always felt he could do better with someone showier, someone that wanted the life that he sought after. For me hanging in sweatpants and cami tops all day and writing different poems and stories was pure satisfaction. We had been in love and enjoyed so many memories together for ten years. He kept striving for the top so we put off any plans of starting a family and I was content with that as I had come from a slightly dysfunctional family that the peace and calm of just him and I was perfect. We had a beautiful over the top wedding with all the trimmings. Thomas’s family planned it all and the only say I got was that I loved crème tea roses with dark pink edges and so on my wedding day the only thing I remember smiling at was that there were a few of my favorite flowers. I really just wanted it simple but he wanted to show the world that he was getting married, only for me to find out later that the company he was working for wanted their employees married to show a secure status and responsibility. Now I wonder if he was really in love with me or was it a business tactic. Pulling into my driveway, I was finally reaching a comfort level in my life that took so long to get to after my breakdown. My townhome was quite comfortable with several extra rooms. One of the rooms held my desk and all my writings strewn about and another was filled with music for me to enjoy as I wrote. It also contained various art pieces, treasures I carefully selected. These rooms became a source of comfort for me, it became my tiny slice of heaven, a safety net for me to be in and feel secure. I threw my keys on the table in the entranceway and entered my bedroom and saw all the clothing choices I picked through earlier for the evening all over the floor. I laughed at my mess and climbed up onto my bed. I reached for my notebook, tucked my knees comfortably and began to write a handwritten note for Max Rand.

TEASERS and COVER GRAPHICS –

Derailed by: Renee Lee Fisher DERAILED BY: Renee Lee Fisher Suspense Romance Published August – 2015

BOOK DESCRIPTION – When you get hit by it, you will know. Aubrey Tanner is married to her work. With her recent separation from long-time boyfriend and the town’s most eligible bachelor, she definitely isn’t looking for love. Working in her bakery keeps her busy, feeds her the town gossip, and pays the bills, all that she needs… At least until she finds herself under attack with no way to save herself.

You can’t see it, but it takes your breath away. Tate Manning travels where the leads take him, like a tourist town with a bakery full of sugary concoctions, the sweetest of which is the owner. In the right place, he pulls her out of harm’s way, allowing him to see through the town’s sleepy veneer to the crime running beneath the surface. Worse, Aubrey is unknowingly in the center of it all, and he can’t bear another innocent to be lost on his watch.

In that moment, love changes everything. Neither Aubrey nor Tate expects the temptation the other brings nor the complications. Aubrey must choose between the man that held her heart for years or the stranger who saves her from a bad situation. Unfortunately, Tate brings with him secrets and an agenda.

How will he choose between his mission of revenge and the woman who chases away the darkness?

BOOK LINKS- AMAZON-US – http://goo.gl/g0ghy2UK – http://goo.gl/wdm34GAU – http://goo.gl/H4ZVNmCA – http://goo.gl/upj7ly

ITUNES – https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/derailed/id1027546636?mt=11B & N – http://goo.gl/9hdsPg ITUNES – https://itun.es/us/m4Xp9.lITUNES – https://itun.es/us/m4Xp9.lITUNES – https://itun.es/us/m4Xp9.lB & N – http://goo.gl/9hdsPgKOBO – https://goo.gl/qqpojjSMASHWORDS – https://goo.gl/Bwxg5q BARNES & NOBLE – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Renee+Lee+fisher?fs=0&_requestid=384221

KOBO – B & N – http://goo.gl/9hdsPg https://store.kobobooks.com/search?Query=Derailed+Renee+Lee+Fisher

SMASHWORDS – https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/566389

BOOK VIDEO TRAILER –

EXCERT ONE – When you get hit by it, you will know. Aubrey Tanner is married to her work. With her recent separation from long-time boyfriend and the town’s most eligible bachelor, she definitely isn’t looking for love. Working in her bakery keeps her busy, feeds her the town gossip, and pays the bills, all that she needs… At least until she finds herself under attack with no way to save herself.

How will he choose between his mission of revenge and the woman who chases away the darkness?

TEASERS and COVER GRAPHICS –

The Crossing Series (The Knot Hole, The Passage and The Muse) by: Renee Lee Fisher

The Knot Hole The Passage The Muse BY: Renee Lee Fisher Historical Romance Published 2014

BOOK DESCRIPTION – An Endearing, timeless, romantic tale, and adult fairytale. BEGIN WITH THE KNOT HOLE – Reaching through The Knot Hole to past moments in time . . . Taryn always wondered about how realistic her mothers’ tales were that she was told. They seemed like fantastic, creative and fun adventures. Now with Taryn’s mother gone, she will realize that her mother wasn’t just telling stories . . . she was really living them. Time has passed and Taryn has uncovered the power of The Knot Hole and the travels that await her. The Crossing Series: The Knot Hole, The Passage and The Muse will take you on a romantic journey from many years past to the present. Some souls will return as they have come back in time to keep their love alive. There are many exciting ventures for Taryn both in her own mind and soul. She will learn many elements of love and have guidance along the way. What she never thought she would find in an adventure was true love. Silas is the one who touched her from a past time period. He is truly unforgettable. Will Taryn have a second chance to be with Silas in her present lifetime?

THE PASSAGE – The Passage where souls are truly connected forever. It can be seen deep in the eyes of a person even if their body in this time period has changed . . . Taryn’s good fortune keeps coming in masses. Everything is falling into place, but there is one piece that doesn’t quite fit. Her present love seems to be perfect in so many ways . . . but she is constantly reminded of the love that she had so long ago. She often wishes The Passage would allow her to be with him, perhaps just to feel his touch once more, but TIME hasn’t allowed her that. The Crossing Series: The Knot Hole, The Passage and The Muse will take you on a romantic journey that spans time. From friends to family to loved ones, Taryn will encounter so many people that she once knew and their souls have found their way back to her. Being extremely business savvy, Taryn will set many of her dreams into motion, but who will be the one next to her in all of her accomplishments. Will it be someone in the present that has returned from the past?

THE MUSE – Taryn the creator of The Muse will have you follow her journey of everlasting love . . . Creating The Muse was derived in Taryn’s imagination to keep her identity hidden. The delicately winged symbol has touched so many lives. From a fluttering thought to the formation of a business plan, her life is continuing on the path of assisting others. The Crossing Series: The Knot Hole, The Passage and The Muse will take you on a romantic journey that spans time. An endearing exploration through so many lifetimes. Now is the TIME that Taryn can begin to find her true happiness. She has experienced so much, much of it unbelievable. Silas’s soul has returned to her as Lucas which has brought back the love she never could forget, but will he stay with her forever? BOOK LINKS- Amazon – http://goo.gl/v1aNNcB&N – http://goo.gl/PH0E43Itunes – https://goo.gl/IUGfZZSmashwords – https://goo.gl/g1E5mAKobo – https://goo.gl/z4ol3L

BOOK VIDEO TRAILER – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LHhZN5y3ro EXCERT ONE – Chapter One of THE KNOT HOLE –

Image “I hate this old wood paneling,” Taryn said aloud as she poured more Liquid Gold onto the soft cloth, continuing to rub new life back into the old wood. She had been doing this job for years now. Actually, since she had been a little girl. Some people had a favorite picture, piece of jewelry or even a special tree. Her mother had a favorite room, this sewing room, with its four wood paneled walls. It couldn’t be the kind of paneling which required only a quick wipe with a damp cloth, no, for her mother it had to be real wood, the actual smell from the wood carried through the room and you felt like you just walked into a home design store. Each year since her mother’s death five years earlier, Taryn had threatened to tear out this paneling, or paint it . . . or something, but she never did. Taryn would curse and give the wooden walls stern glances. It would seem almost sacrilegious to remove it though. As a child, this wood paneling was at the center of their family. Her father had sanded and stained each panel to perfection, and then added the final coat of finish to make it as smooth and shiny as glass. It had taken her father many evenings and weekends to complete the room making it as her mother had dreamed it should be. Her room in which she could sew, read, relax, and escape to her dreams. When her mother was in this room with the door closed, everyone respected her need to be alone. When the door was open anyone could wander in and out. Taryn recalled these memories of her early childhood as she continued to restore the life back into the paneling. Those memories seemed to surround her in this room, and they appeared like a play in three acts. First there was the joy and love her parents shared during the timeframe that it took to complete the walls. She recalled the renovation party her mother had arranged when it was completed. It was almost as though they were welcoming a new member into the family. The next several months had been spent in finding just the right things to go into the room. Soft shades of yellow were the dominant colors, with beautiful tan thick pile carpeting. Each frame on the walls displayed a picture or painting that held special meaning to her mother. A vision only she could “see” as she created it. The third act occurred every summer. When school was finished for the year, her mother would bring out three cans of Liquid Gold and a bag of soft cloths she’d been accumulating for the past year. She’d hand a can and several cloths to me and to my sister, Carolyn, and we would begin a week long project of rubbing new life into mother’s precious wood paneling. An annual ceremony. It was an almost solemn experience, such was the reverence we were taught in the care of mother’s wood. We worked together for several hours a day, and as we worked, my mother would tell us stories. Each one so descriptive that they gave us a visual we still carry in our minds. We knew she made up the stories and they were very good, we could hang on her words for the entire time. Each year she repeated some of our favorites from earlier years, as well as adding new ones. As I recall some of the stories, I still find them amazing and timeless. They weren’t fairy tales. They seemed real, just as though mother were telling us about a friend of hers and the experiences this friend had; conversations that had taken place. Mother loved to dream, and apparently dreamed so vividly that she was able to tell us such beautiful and seemingly real stories. Taryn raised herself up from her knees and stretched her sore back, rubbing her tight arm muscles and rotating her head to release the kinks. Again she said aloud, “I hate this wood paneling, now that I have to do it by myself, now that there are no more stories.” Taryn stood with her shoulders slumped and felt defeated by this chore. Despite this, to remove it or change it in any way would cause her mother’s spirit to become restless, of this she was sure. She could always feel her mother’s love, her essence, in this room. Taryn wondered if indeed a tiny piece of her mother’s soul had remained in this room to enjoy it, in peace, throughout eternity. Taryn knew she could never change the wood walls in her mother’s dream room. “Well, that’s enough R & R for one afternoon. Reminiscing and Rubbing!” She threw the towel into the bucket making the statement that she was done for this day. Taryn let the water from the shower spray over her body for a long period of time. She felt the soothing sensations of the warm water refresh her from being hunched into the corner polishing the baseboards earlier. Next she quickly dressed as food was needed in her home and the weekly grocery shopping was next, along with several other stops along the way. This was always her busiest week of the year. She was determined to keep to the schedule of devoting several hours each day, in order to finish with the wood panel cleaning in one week’s time. The next afternoon Taryn was back at work, continuing to restore the shine to the walls of the sewing room. As a child she had always been amazed at the many patterns the grains in the wood contained. As she sat back in her mother’s favorite chair taking a much needed break, feet propped up and drinking a glass of iced tea, she followed some of the patterns in the wood. Her hazel colored eyes came to rest on the dream spot. To anyone else it appeared as a flaw in the otherwise beautifully patterned wood. She remembered asking about the one dark spot on the wood, and her mother’s smiling reply. With love in her eyes, she’d said she and her father had searched through many pieces of wood paneling to find the perfect circle that would be her dream spot. It was a perfect six inch circle, darker in color than the rest of the panel. Taryn learned when she was older that it really was just a knot hole. Her mother told the story of how rough that spot had been when she’d found it, and that her father had worked sanding it by hand with very fine sandpaper to make it perfectly smooth. Once, when asked where she got all of her beautiful stories, her mother smiled that twinkle-eyed smile and told them the stories all came from her dream spot. The first year they’d polished the wood, she noticed her mother took great care to polish the panel particularly around this area. The second year she’d told Taryn she could have the honor of polishing that panel. The third year the honor went to Carolyn. And so it went year after year, each taking a turn polishing that distinctive area. Taryn returned her attention to polishing, in order to finish the last panel for this summer’s ritual cleaning. The last panel was always the one with the knot hole. Another half hour and finally it would be done. As Taryn rubbed the familiarly scented cloth up and down with the grain of the wood, her cloth passed over the knot hole. She experienced a moment of shock as she thought it felt hot beneath the cloth. “What the hell!” she said aloud. She rubbed over the same spot again, and yes, it did feel heated. She transferred the cloth to her left hand placing her palm over the dream spot. Several things happened at the same moment. Her hand pushed easily through the knot hole, all the way to her elbow. Her body became rigid so she couldn’t move. Panic and fear immediately set in. However, she seemed unable to move, to react physically to the situation. All she could see before her was the wall and her arm from the elbow up. The rest of her lower arm and hand had disappeared into the wall . . . without a hole to disappear into! In her panic, Taryn thought this must be what it felt like to be confined in a strait jacket, fully conscious, but unable to move a muscle in her body. “Okay, Taryn. Get a grip,” she said, “breathe, in and out slowly.” The fear receded a bit, as she concentrated on breathing. She’d always been the very practical member of the family. Now was the perfect time to be realistic. “Get real here, Taryn. It is impossible that what you think you see is real. Right? Right! My arm is not stuck in a wall with no hole in it.” She couldn’t move her arm. Screaming for help would do no good, since no one was close enough to her home to hear her. A strangled laugh emerged from her very tight throat as she said a silent thank you that no one could see her, or she would certainly be deemed crazy. She slowly became aware of the feeling developing in her missing hand and arm. There was warmth on the skin of her hand . . . no, heat on her hand. No, her hand was enfolded in heat. “Of course,” she said, “my hand is outside and the sun is shining on my hand. Right, Taryn. You stuck your hand through the wall and it’s dangling outside. Where is the blood?” She concentrated on her hand and the heat and felt suddenly calmed. How could she feel so calm when her . . . “Taryn” . . . a long silence followed but she was sure she had just heard her name spoken. If someone called her name then . . . “Oh, my God. Someone IS outside. They see my hand.” “Taryn.” She heard it again. She seemed to recognize the voice, but couldn’t identify it. “Taryn, don’t be afraid. It’s only me it’s your mother.” “Mother!” Taryn screeched, “Mother?” “Yes, Taryn, it’s me. Really.” Her mother’s voice responded. “I’ve been waiting for you to find the secret of my dream spot. I knew you would. Do you feel my hands on yours, Taryn?” “I feel the heat, yes.” Taryn answered. “I’m holding your hand, Taryn.” “Mother, this isn’t real. It’s impossible.” “No, Taryn, it isn’t real. It’s a dream experience. Do you remember the stories I used to tell you when you were little?” “Of course, Mother. I could never forget your stories.” “Those stories were my own experiences, Taryn. I knew you children would be frightened if I told you the secret of this room and the knot hole, so I never did. I knew someday you would discover the surprise on your own, in your own time. And now you have.” “Mother, my arm can’t be stuck in a hole that’s not there. Nor can I be talking to you. You aren’t there either. I must be stressed out and don’t know it. I’m hallucinating!” “No, Taryn. You are perfectly healthy and in your right mind. It’s only that your mind cannot accept what it’s seeing and hearing. It’s a totally foreign concept to your mind. I have been allowed to remain nearby until you discovered this, just as I knew you would. Now that you have found it, my dear child, I can continue with my own journey. Your father has been waiting for me for a long time now, so I will join him. Together, we are off to more adventures. Have a wonderful life my dear Taryn, and enjoy the dream spot. It’s now yours. It will provide adventures you cannot imagine. Remember my stories, Taryn. They were my adventures. I must go now, dear. Remember always that I love you.” Taryn was stunned. She couldn’t speak. She felt her muscles begin to relax and saw her arm and hand slowly emerge from the wall. She stumbled over to her mother’s favorite comfortable chair and collapsed into it, totally drained and exhausted. She fell immediately into a very deep and dreamless sleep. Taryn awakened feeling happy and refreshed. Then she remembered her experience . . . or . . . had she dreamed it while she slept? If it had really happened, it wasn’t real anyway. Her mother had said it wasn’t real, that it was a dream. A waking dream? Still feeling confused, Taryn busied herself and gathered the cleaning supplies together, she quickly realized the can of Liquid Gold was on the floor in front of the last panel. The cloth was on the floor as well, just where she must have dropped it . . . if what she thought she’d experienced really had happened? * * * Taryn slept until almost noon the next day. The long nap the afternoon before had kept her awake until the early hours of the morning. In order not to think about the afternoon’s experience, she read well into the middle of her latest paperback. The heroine’s troubles kept her mind well occupied until sleep finally came. She heated a cup of water in the microwave, added a tea bag and took it out to the deck to enjoy the warm summer sun. All was well with the world that spread out before her eyes, BUT, she wondered, was all well within herself, with her life, with her future? She had a good life, an easy life, a contented life. Then why am I so restless lately, she wondered. She swept back her bangs from her forehead and played lightly with her hair deep in thought. Last night was a perfect example. She enjoyed Brandon’s company and felt comfortable with him. She had been dating Brandon on occasion for about a year, but that’s all it was. It was comfortable. She routinely attended fund raising events for various causes. It was always more enjoyable for her to attend with Brandon, than alone. He wasn’t the great love in her life, and she knew he wouldn’t be. The love that she knew would be hers someday was not there, not like the love her parents shared. She knew she wouldn’t settle for less in her mate, but then, she wasn’t really anxious to get married right now either. She was only twenty-four and felt she had plenty of time. He did serve a purpose aside from good company. His presence seemed to keep others from being as blatant as they might have otherwise been about their expectations of her. Taryn enjoyed a relatively easy life. She had a comfortable income, and most of her peers knew she didn’t have to work for it. As a result, they had expectations that she give to each and every cause. Taryn would have done it anyway, but their attitude soured the experience for her. She had a number of friends, but they weren’t close as she and her friend Ashlee were. Ashlee had moved to the west coast when a great job offer came her way a year ago. She had met Ashlee the first day on campus as a freshman, and it was “like” at first sight. They had roomed together for the next four years. Ashlee had been her source of strength when her mother died so suddenly in her third year at State. Sadly she earlier lost her father who had died while she was still in high school. Her sister, Carolyn, had married during her senior year in college and now traveled from post to post with her career Navy husband. She had only seen Carolyn twice since her mother’s funeral. Taryn was therefore alone when she graduated from college. Ashlee accepted the invitation to come to Virginia with her, to get a job in the area and share Taryn’s home. And so it had been, until Ashlee received a reply to a resume she’d sent to the west coast. It was the job she’d wanted, in order to get started in her Hollywood career as a costumer. She’d moved to California a year ago. It was funny. Just the other day she had been rushing around with so much to do. All busy work! I really don’t have anything important to do, and I’m still not sure what kind of a future I want, she thought. I don’t have a burning desire for a husband or children. I’m a writer, but I don’t have a fiery aspiration to write, I just do it as it comes to me. There is no strong yearning to find that grand, passionate relationship right now or if I ever will encounter that in my lifetime. Mentioning lifetime, hers had taken a very different turn on one particular day a while back. * * * The summer after graduating from college, she and Ashlee had started out early one Sunday morning to spend the day at the shore. They’d stopped at a mini-market to fill their cooler with drinks and to buy some beach snacks. They’d also bought one lottery ticket with the change from their purchases. A few days later they found themselves with the winning ticket. They both already had what they considered comfortable incomes, but now they were guaranteed a very sizable check once a year, for the next twenty years. That’s when Ashlee decided she could pursue her dream of living in California and began sending out resumes. Ashlee would definitely fit into the California lifestyle. She was a beautiful girl with long blonde hair and built very nice as well as already having the look of one of those female Baywatch lifeguards. Her eyes always captivated the people she met. They were a bright blue and she was often asked if she enhanced them with color contacts. Her smile too was not to be missed, it was a great asset and would be a plus to get her into the doors of the Hollywood scene. Taryn had resigned from her job to chart a new course. She started that journey by buying out her sister’s half of the house their mother had left to them to share. She had to consider that this was, at least in part, the problem. She couldn’t help but wonder if it was because she didn’t have to work, that the need to work was missing. During the year she’d worked as a writer for the Sun Times, she had enjoyed it. But when she no longer needed the income, it had been so easy to leave the job and take some time to decide what she wanted to do with her skills that might be a little more exciting, more rewarding somehow. “What are you waiting for, Taryn?” She asked herself aloud. “Where is your new venture? Writing a few articles now and then? Spending long research hours at the library for the Pulitzer Prize novel you plan to write someday? Waiting for love to come and find you?” Enough already! Taryn made it to Wednesday without giving into the nagging thoughts of the dream experience with her mother. She also pushed back her thoughts of what her path in life should be. She had not entered the sewing room since last Saturday afternoon. She knew she was no longer afraid of what might or might not have occurred in that room, but still she hadn’t been ready to go back in and face her questions. Taryn entered the room and walked around slowly, lightly sweeping her fingertips over the sewing machine, the love seat, the picture of a beautiful thoroughbred horse, the lamp her mother sat beside to do her delicate hand work. She stopped and turned. Slowly, she walked to the distinctive panel across the room. She thought, once again, about her hand and arm being IN the wall, of her mother’s touch on her hand, and her mother’s voice. Slowly, she raised her right hand and touched the knot hole delicately with her fingertips. It was cool to the touch, not hot. She hesitated a moment, then placed the palm of her hand completely over the spot. It was still cool to her touch. She waited, with her hand still on the wall. No movement. The wall remained the same. Almost relieved that nothing had occurred, she released the breath she had been holding and turned to walk over to her mother’s favorite chair. She glanced at the door as if it had spoken to her, wondering if her mother had her dreams when the door was closed and the family gave her privacy. She walked over and slowly closed the door. She returned to the chair and sat down, tucking her legs under her body. Feeling comfortable now, Taryn wondered how her mother had used the dream spot when she’d been sitting in this chair. Feeling very foolish, but too curious not to follow her thoughts, she spoke aloud in a sarcastic tone. “Mother said you belong to me now, dream spot, and that you will show me adventures I couldn’t begin to imagine. Do you have an adventure to share with me?” Taryn kept her eyes on the knot hole, holding in her mind the memory of her mother’s warm hands holding her own, as she had the other day. Taryn didn’t believe that anything would occur, but the dream spot began moving slowly, as she continued to watch it and concentrate on it. It gradually increased its counter clockwise movement until it was spinning so fast it was a blur to her wide open eyes. There was a whirring sound, like a top spinning. It was coming across the room towards her. The faster it spun, the louder it sounded, and the closer it appeared to her. The sound seemed to slam hard into her solar plexus and she gasped for breath. It hit her like when the floor moves with a loud clap of thunder during a storm. She then began to spin, faster and faster and in a split second it stopped, she stopped, and there was total silence. Taryn was aware she had squeezed her eyes tightly shut and now hesitated opening them. She didn’t know what she might see, or if she really was being given an adventure. This is silly, this is impossible, she thought. Open your eyes, Taryn! You’ll see there is no adventure, only the sewing room. Right! Okay! Here goes! As she relaxed in order to open her eyes, she became aware of a smell. Quickly she squeezed the lids tight shut again. Smell. What do I smell? Fresh air. Sunshine. Grass. Flowers. I hear water running. I hear birds singing. I’m outside, not in my sewing room. Slowly she opened her eyes again. Very slowly, so she could shut them quickly again if she had to. Silly, silly, Taryn. Eyes open or eyes closed, I swear you are outside, so you might as well look. She peeked through narrow slits between her eyelids, and sure enough she was outside. Her eyes opened wide now in surprise. She was standing in a meadow filled with all kinds of wildflowers. Some she recognized, such as beautiful purple liatris, stargazer lilies, and black eyed susans’. . . others she had not seen before and therefore could not identify but their colors were all so incredibly vibrant. She could smell the light fragrances, and combined they reminded her of a bowl filled with potpourri. She found that she was standing beside a stream. The scent was of a cool crisp rain that just passed over. The water was slowly flowing past her, lazily washing around large stones breaking the surface. The stream was very clean and clear, allowing her to see the pebbles on the very bottom. Taryn began walking, following the direction of the water. It seemed so silent, and yet there were many sounds. The birds, the leaves rustling in the trees, the sound of the water washing around the stones. She felt very peaceful even though there were many questions hovering just out of reach of her mind. She could only feel. Calm, relaxed, peaceful. It didn’t seem important, at the moment, how she had gotten here or even where “here” was. The stream appeared to end just up ahead of where she was walking. As she got closer, she realized it was taking a sharp turn to the right. She followed around the turn and saw a wooden footbridge crossing over the water a little further ahead. The footbridge wasn’t new, but it looked very sturdy. Maybe someone took special care of it as she did with her mother’s wood paneling. She walked part way across the small bridge and decided to sit down. Dangling her legs over the edge of the bridge, Taryn watched the water flow towards her and then pass beneath her. Adventure! The water was having an adventure and so was she. A career, a family, a passion for living and creating a course to follow in her life seemed very far away now, and totally unimportant. Suddenly, she felt more than alone when she saw a movement off to her right. She turned her head and saw a man walking toward the footbridge from the opposite bank. As he came closer he raised his hand in greeting and said, “Good Afternoon.” Taryn could feel him speaking to her, but it felt like he was speaking directly into her head. She knew it was crazy, but she heard him even though she was not really hearing his voice. She wondered if he was a ghost or spirit. She could see him and feel a presence but he wasn’t real. She thought if she put out her had to shake his that his would pass right through hers. Taryn returned his greeting and began to stand, but he raised his hand again indicating for her to stay seated. “May I join you for a few minutes?” He asked. “Yes.” He had nice eyes, smiling eyes, and she felt that he was a gentle man. He was tall and very lean, his skin was pale but his eyes told the story. They were gray in color and looked so deep and endless. She asked, “Are you the owner of this beautiful meadow?” “No I’m only the caretaker or one who oversees things that occur.” “I feel like I’m trespassing. Is it okay that I’m here?” Taryn asked concerned. “Of course, Dear. You are most welcome to be here. Are you enjoying your first adventure?” Taryn was stunned and sure that her face registered the surprise she felt that he should know about her adventure. She asked, “How did you know why I am here?” “Well, Dear, I’ve been the caretaker here for an endless amount of time, and I have dubbed this place The Passage.” “It sounds like the name of a secret place,” she replied. “Not a secret at all but for select individuals to experience.” He smiled at her to put her at ease. “I think it will be fun. Am a little nervous as you can see. Do many people come here for an adventure?” She asked. “Oh, my, yes,” he answered. “Many people have come here for their first adventure. Many people who decide to try a dream adventure have questions and doubts as to whether it’s real. You might say it’s a sort of the training ground for future dream adventures.” “Have you talked with many of these people?” she asked. “Yes, that’s my job. I welcome new visitors and make sure they feel comfortable. Some have expressed great anxiety over their visit here and make the choice of not having any more dream adventures.” “My mother seemed to enjoy hers long ago. She told us such wonderful stories about them. Of course I didn’t find out they were real occurrences until just a few days ago. I always thought she was just a very good storyteller.” “Did you ever wonder how so many writers could write so many books and articles, and all have a different story to tell?” Again surprise registered on her face. “You mean some authors really are writing about their adventures?” Taryn asked. He nodded his head methodically in response to her question. “Are you saying this place is a starting point for would-be writers?” she continued. “Not at all. I would describe this place more as a starting point for a creative person to explore and expand their imaginative powers, no matter what their talent. However, don’t limit your thoughts to that idea, for this place is far more than that.” “My mother was a very creative person in her passion for making clothing. She was a seamstress, but she only produced clothing for me, my sister and herself. And she took great care in creating her sewing room. Is that how she came to visit here?” “Yes. In one sense. Her creativity had no boundaries. She loved to work with fabrics, textures and colors. However, she placed being a mother and wife above a career, so she never allowed her artistic ideas to reach out into the world of fashion, where, I might add, she could have been very successful. Because she was so very inventive, she extended that ability into creating a perfect room for herself. Her innovative essence was still not satisfied and that’s what led her to discover the dream adventure. Many times I told your mother she should publish her stories so other people could appreciate them. She always said they were only for her children to enjoy. It was her boundaries that caused her to decide that she couldn’t take a chance on becoming a known author. In her mind, that would take her away from her family and home.” “I’ve thought about publishing some of her stories. But mother was so against the idea, I haven’t dared to do so . . . as of yet.” Taryn smiled back. “You may do so if you like, for they are now your stories. Your mother gave them to you as she gave you the dream spot to explore if you choose to do so.” “So you know about that?” Taryn questioned. “Yes. We keep track of our visitors and their progress.” “Somehow through that knot hole I got here, but . . . how do I get back?” Taryn questioned as she wrinkled her brow. “Well, as soon as you have decided your dream adventure is completed you will find yourself comfortably back in your chair in the sewing room.” “Is it always that quick and easy?” Taryn voiced. “No, Dear. Not always. Sometimes you’ll find that you’re not finished with your dream adventure, but that you go back anyway.” “How? Why?” Taryn was confused. “For any number of reasons. Your body may require a meal, the phone may ring, someone may come to your door, or you may have an appointment to keep.” “You mean I can never get stuck in an adventure and not return home?” “You, Dear, will never get stuck anywhere. You will always return home. Your mother always returned. It wouldn’t be considered an adventure if you stayed in it forever. It would create a crisis in your world”. He stood up. “I’ll continue my walk now. Enjoy your adventures.” He smiled and raised his hand in farewell. Taryn curved her lips into a soft closed lipped smile and raised her hand, offering the same gesture. Within moments Taryn heard a distant whirring sound and before she could locate its source, she was leaning back in her chair in the sewing room. Her first thought was to wonder how long she might have been gone. She checked the light on her answering machine, but there had been no calls. She turned on the TV and flipped to The Weather Channel. It was still the same date and no more than a half hour could have passed. Funny, it seemed like hours must have passed during her adventure.

TEASERS and COVER GRAPHICS –

Author Spotlight-Renee Lee Fisher Heartbeat Series (Rock Notes, Love Notes, Music Notes (Available) and First Beat, First Bass and First Taste (Coming Soon) by: Renee Lee Fisher…

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