#smaltzy they are

[screwpinecaprice]

Ew they're flirting again.

[infernomicia]

In the pictures of Henry that you posted, he looks so tired and fed up. He looks like he’s checked out emotionally and doesn’t want to be there.

I’m not he has to be Mr Happy guy all the time but you’d expect him to look happy/cheerful especially after he’s announced that he’s going to be a first time dad.

It just goes to show that even if you are relatively famous, well off financially and good looking, doesn’t mean you get your happy ever after.

I think this relationship was a cover for something and the pregnancy is unplanned (although if they were having unprotected sex, obviously I don’t know about that, it can’t be that much of a surprise)

It looks like he has now settled and given up on finding his happy ever after without being too smaltzy. I feel a bit sorry for him in that regard but then he knew what he was signing up for and is a fully functional adult so who knows

[unseemingowl]

Well, sick leave it is.

Any media recs on uplifting, but not smaltzy media will be well received.

[vexx-ation]

365 Albums in 365 Days: 4/365

Date: Thursday January 4th

Album: haha and then what ;)

Artist: Jawbreaker Reunion

Released: 2016

Genre: twee

Review: I always found obscure bands charming, especially when the imperfections are shown more readily than more heavily processed mainstream artists. This album is the platonic ideal of this— the mixing is a bit questionable, with vocals being buried by instrumentals and guitars being a bit too loud. It doesn’t matter, though, because the talent of all involved parties is clear. It captures all the bright, sometimes smaltzy sentimentalities of indie bedroom pop, but maintains that critical bite and self-awareness that prevents it from veering into cheesiness. It walks a fine line between relatability, precision, and authenticity. The lack of attention this album has gotten, for all the talent and polish on display, is downright criminal. If you need some new indie hits but are tired of the chart toppers, check this out. It’s a masterful 20 minutes.

Favorite Track: Patches

[mamamittens]

Okay picture this female feral reader with yandere WB pirates

If she looks anything like Ace, several members are going to wake up after drinking very confused.

"Didn't we do this already?"

"I thought we did????"

Ace standing next to them offended. He's the best shot at getting her to crack early as The Feral Mountain Pirate. He gets not trusting the smaltzy family vibe WBP got going on. It's weird to get that without actually... Earning it or anything.

Not that the rest of the crew is inexperienced with feral pirates. They got Ace after all!

Unlike Oh Sweet Child of Mine, a feral reader will get a lot more pushback about their displeasure. Might get some mild sedative to help key them down when it gets too... Intense. And ah, man, look at that.

She's sick and not feeling well. Good thing she's got this brand new family to help in her time of need 😃

Fuck help them all if they decide that what she needs is physical affection to help tame her. Not like the way--thats no fun and she's more than earned those fangs--but enough to stop snapping at her new family at least.

She'll (you'll) come around eventually.

[kendrixtermina]

It's half the size of Berlin.

I appreciate how they're strategically angling it so the most flattened part goes on the historic city centers, to make ppl imagine what that would be like, since I read a lot about famous mosques and Churches being destroyed, but I think it would have a bigger impact if they'd picked Frankfurt, Cologne or Munich as an example.

I don't think people would miss Berlin that much. French and US cities have songs about how ppl are fond of them or how ~aesthetic~ they are, meanwhile all the songs about Berlin are about how much people fucking hate Berlin. There are all kinds of different genres of "I hate Berlin" songs. Techno? Rap? Smaltzy Pop ballad? It all exists. There is even a semi-popular song, recently, about how glad people would be in Berlin was destroyed by an atom bomb so they could live in the post apocalyptic ruins and just not having Berlin anymore.

...im just humorcoping at the absurdity of it all, ovsly. nothing funny at all about like, all the culture and memories and little nooks and crannies of a city, ANY city, being destroyed.

My town isn't listed. Israel has murdered at least 150 more people than the amount of people who live in my town.

Consider looking up the population of your own city or town. When you call your reps, use that information to compare to the death toll in Gaza. Ask the staff member who answers the phone if your rep would hold the same position if it were your town.

[hoaxghost]

Your angels are beautiful! Do you work with angels in spiritual practice or is it mainly through your art? I pray to angels but I'm super beginner and dont know too much, but maybe youre not the right person to ask 😅

still glorious though thanks for sharing your art 🙏

Thank you for enjoying my art!!! And boy what an interesting ask...

Im afraid I can't say much about the spiritual aspect that would be useful advice... any words I do got are pretty subjective personal interpretations. I'd say it's mostly in art where I explore all these different concepts and ideas I had that were never answered in all the religions schools I attended growing up.

The biggest question I always had was if we were supposed to love our enemy, does that apply to Satan and all the demons too? Is foreigveness solely impossible for the fallen? Do angels truly have free will if they're never allowed to change once they make a mistake and slip up? Is it possible for a human to ascend into becoming an angel? How do angels operate without time and all the knowledge of the universe at their fingertips?

I also just want to create a story I woulda loved to read as a kid in school, that would also be banned by my teachers.

[adobe-outdesign]

I can’t stop thinking about the idea of a good wholesome ending where Henry manages to take Boris home with him, so here you go:

Boris and Henry, both covered in ink and multiple wounds, slowly walking out to Henry’s car and then collapsing as the adrenaline wears off. They don’t actually leave for another 15 minutes.

Boris is instantly adopted as a member of the family. Linda sets out an extra plate for him during meals and Henry sets up the spare guestroom with a hammock and a radio.

Linda was obviously surprised at first, but after hearing what happened and that Boris was basically the only thing Henry managed to salvage she wasn’t going to say no.

“Does he eat people food or dog food?“ “...Both?“

Henry goes to the pet store and asks for the largest dog bone they have. “You have a Great Dane?“ “...Sure, let’s go with that.“

Henry wakes up in the middle of the night from a nasty PTSD-induced nightmare only to find Boris wide awake for the exact same reason. He fixes a midnight snack for the both of them and they both play cards until morning.

Boris setting his snout on Henry’s shoulder whenever he’s feeling stressed, and Henry giving him a little head pat in return.

Henry’s kids absolutely adore Boris, because what’s cooler than a talking cartoon dog? They tell all their friends at school, though thankfully none of them believe it.

(“Our dog talks!“ “No he doesn’t!“ “Yes he does! His name’s Boris and our dad made him!“ The teachers think they just have an overactive imagination.)

Boris and Henry go on strolls at night, Boris wearing a trenchcoat and sunglasses in case anyone happens to glance their way. Somehow no one ever really notices.

Henry sketches Boris in his free time and does small rough animations of him. it’s the first time he’s done any animation in years.

Boris, unable to leave the house during the day, helps Linda out with the household cleaning and looking after the kids.

Whenever the family goes on a long car trip Boris sticks his head out of the window, true dog-style. There have a few minor traffic accidents caused by this.

Henry is both amazed at how true-to-character Boris is and how he’s  developed and grown beyond just the bit of personality Henry wrote for him. He can’t say he minds.

[theambivalentagender]

So I've been playing with the Market Day mod on a new save. Once again I was working toward romancing Shane, though at that point I had literally just gotten him to 8 hearts.

During the market day that week he apparently went over to the stall and bought most of the eggs I was selling. And my smaltzy-rotted brain came up with a headcanon for it.

I ended up putting more time than I expected into this. Might actually add color since I'm trying to learn grayscale shading anyway.

[bigtheif]

tunnel of love may be all smaltzy and overproduced 80s pop songs, but they’re my smaltzy overproduced 80s pop songs <3

[screwpinecaprice]

I heard she beat someone up to death when she was in middle school, just because he bumped on her and made her drop her books.

Connie's college friends teasing her about Steven somehow, requested by Sharkman Jhones at Patreon!

Also featuring my OCs that barely seen the light of day! Well I mean until today.

[solaceinprose]

SING (Like No One’s Listening) - Vanessa Jones: Review

GoodReads Synopsis

A moving story of grief and healing - sure to be a pure joy for any musical theater aficionado. Nettie Delaney has just been accepted into a prestigious performing arts school--the very same school her superstar mother attended. With her mother's shadow hanging over her, Nettie has her work cut out for her--and everyone is watching. To make matters worse, Nettie hasn't been able to sing a single note since her mother died. Whenever she tries, she just clams up. But if Nettie's going to survive a demanding first year and keep her place in a highly coveted program, she'll have to work through her grief and deliver a showstopper or face expulsion. All may not be lost, however, when Nettie stumbles upon a mysterious piano player in an empty studio after class. Masked behind a curtain, can Nettie summon the courage to find her voice? Or will the pressure and anxiety of performing come crashing down? All about finding and raising your voice, and not throwing away your shot, Vanessa Jones's well-crafted journey of grief and healing will pull readers along with its strong narrative voice and satisfying sense of mystery.

I want to preface this review that there appears to be two different versions of this book by two different publishers. I was given an ARC of the 2020 edition that does not come out until Sept. 1, 2020 published by Peachtree Publishing. There’s an edition by Macmillan Children’s Books that came out April 2019. The review is for the Sept. 1, 2020 edition with this cover.

Vanessa Jones' novel, SING (Like No One's Listening) is a musical theater or musical person's wet dream. It's a mixture of FAME!, Center Stage (there's ballet), one of the many Cinderella Story movies that involves the really hot guy and the girl with the desire to be a singer and has a really great voice, and every other musical movie out there. It can be a bit smaltzy at times, but for the most part, I enjoyed it for what it was; a really cute and breezy YA novel about a singer and her first year at a performing arts college.

Nettie Delaney lost her singing voice after her mother suddenly dies from a long term illness. Her mother was a pretty well known ballerina in her hey day and was a student at Duke's College of Performing Arts or whatever its actual name was. Nettie botches her audition, but somehow made it, and thinks, after finding out that the director (whose family owns the school) were friends with her mother when they were much much younger. As she struggles to find her voice, she meets new friends, a new boy that captures her interest, as well as a few enemies. Because what book about a performing arts school doesn't have drama and cattiness.

The great thing about this book is that Vanessa Jones actually did go to a performing arts school and was in musical theater. It's obvious this woman knows her stuff, and it shines in the novel. The history of ghost singers that becomes a project between Nettie and her crush, Fletch (because why not?) was fascinating. I do wish, however, that there was more focus on that project than a lot of the unnecessary drama that felt shoehorned in for the sake of page count.

Speaking of the unnecessary drama, the two girls that become enemies with Nettie felt almost as if they were caricatures  of actual performing art students. Yes, it is highly competitive and yes, people are looking out for each other, but the drama wasn't about talent. It was over a boy, and that felt lazy and contrite. I would have believed Jade and Natasha finding Nettie competition regarding talent, but over some dude who has a pretty smile, plays the guitar, and can carry a tune? Oh, and he's white so now we have White Guy With Guitar happening, and it couldn't be more cliched if it tried.

WGWG, by the way, is Fletch. Shocking, I know.

The other issue I had with this book is the obvious hand holding that the teachers did with Nettie. Home girl went through almost her entire first term unable to sing a note. She's awful at ballet, can pass a dance class, but her whole point of being at this school is singing/musical theater. And it isn't until last maybe 100 pages, possibly less, does she actually belt a tune out and show exactly why she should be at that school in the first place. I did appreciate that Miss Duke basically told her that if she doesn't show up that her time at the college was through after the summer. But even still, she got far more allowances that actual students would have gotten. Tragic backstory aside.

The other highlight of the story are the secondary characters, Alec, Leon, and Kiki. They were all great, fleshed out, and weren't just side notes in Nettie's story. Alec was written almost stereotypical of a gay dancer, but his arrogance and confidence wasn't really all that out there. Jones probably ran into dancers like Alec all the time. Either way, I really did adore him and Leon and Kiki.

I wanted to give this 4 stars because I really did enjoy the hell out of it, but the lack of resolution about Nettie's mother's history really brought it down. There was so much the writer could have done with Nettie finding out who her mother was and why she gave up ballet and cut off ties to that world, but we never got it. Instead we had to have another scene where Nettie was all "bad headspace" over Fletch and that drama. There was so much potential there, and I saw it there, shimmering in the distance, but it never happened. I wanted less smaltz and more history. Because of that, this got stuck at a solid 3 stars for me.

GoodReads Rating: 3 Stars

[sobeautifullyobsessed]

Sherlolly thought of the day:

Molly’s rainbow striped sweater is the visual representation of all the emotions that Sherlock has kept bottled up inside for so very long.  She’s the ultimate key to their release, as we see in The Final Problem.  She’s his rainbow at the end of the long, dark storm that began with Victor Trevor’s disappearance/death--and she shines with bright hope for their future.

[stuffandwonder]

So I’ve been wanting to write something in this fandom for a while but theres so many good writers and fics its seemed kinda pointless, but then I had this little idea after watching IT 2 and its so random no one else was going to write it…

So here. Please be gentle. A bit angsty but also smaltzy? (Also you don’t have to have seen the movie/read the book for this to make sense I promise.)

The things we fear

They hung out after the movie, staying for drinks and milling with the other guests. Rhett was unusually quiet, but Link was mostly distracted by Britton’s enthusiastic analysis and having to make small talk with other guests, and thankfully didn’t seem to notice. When it came time to leave they separated from Britton, leaving him to go off with friends whilst they waited for an uber. As the others dispersed to their various lifts and cabs, leaving them alone, Link tisked “Where the hells this uber got to man?”

There was a pause before Rhett responded. “I didn’t order one.”              “What?!” Link exclaimed. “…the crap man, you said -” He was cut off by a somber toned Rhett; “We need to talk. Walk with me?” before Link could respond he had set off, walking in long strides down the dark sidewalk.

Link turned and hurried to catch up with the taller man. “Well?” the annoyance in his tone was evident, but he was tired and confused and in no mood to play one of Rhett’s stupid guessing games. Rhett sighed but said nothing, slowing as he dragged a hand through his hair, searching for words. Finally they came to a stop. “Link…” Rhett shifted uncomfortably before blurting “Do you think I’m like Ritchie?”

“What?” This is what Rhett had dragged him away to ask? If he was like a character in a movie? He looked at Rhett in the weak amber streetlight, hunched over with hands in pockets, teeth worrying his bottom lip absently. His annoyance slunk away, abashed. Rhett was uncomfortable and clearly serious. He sighed. “You mean an emotionally stunted jerk who deflects from his emotions with jokes? …I dunno man. A little, yeah.” even in the poor light he can see Rhett physically wince at the accusation. “You’re funnier though,” he grins, trying to soften what was maybe too blunt a response. “Hmm” Rhett smiles, but his eyes don’t crinkle at the corners like they should.

Quietly, “ ‘I don’t want to be like Ritchie. I don’t want to go my whole life not saying…making jokes, avoiding saying the one thing I’m too afraid to say until it’s too late.” Somethig in Rhett’s voice makes Link’s stomach go tight. He swallows, finding no words in his troat.

Rhett puts a hand on Link’s arm, squeezing his bicep like he’s afraid Link will turn and walk off if he doesn’t keep him in place. “I love you,”

It’s so quiet it feels more like distant music carried on the breeze, but he knows it was Rhett. He smiles softly, fondly, trying to sooth away the tight knott at the pit of his stomach. “I know man. You tell me all the time. You’re not like Ritchie.” He pauses, huffs self consiously “Maybe I am. We both know you’re way more likely to say it than I am.”                                                                                        Rhett’s face is inscruitable.

“That’s not what I meant Link. I’m IN love with you. I always have been.”        Link freezes, the air is suddenly too thick in his chest, too heavy on his limbs and he can’t react even he could process how.

In the dark, barely able to discern Link’s features to read them, the silence from Link is the loudest thing Rhett’s ever heard, and he fights the pang of panicked nausa at the back of his throat. “I had to say it. I’m sorry. I was so scared I’d ruin everything….and now I probably have anyway… I just…didn’t want to be scared anymore. Link, I…” hes obviously nearly in tears, and the sharp ache that drives into Link’s chest, is enough to shake his own fear from his shoulders. He reaches out, hand cradling around the side of Rhett’s neck, squeezing gently. “I love you,” his insides quiver, but the words are steady.

Rhett sighs and smiles, and its the saddest he’s ever looked, “as a friend. Like a brother. Right?” his voice cracks on the question and Link feels his own throat burn hot with tears and regret. “No,” he whispers, “Just. Like that. I love ya. It never should of mattered how. Just that I did. I do.” he smiles in a way he knows is as sad as Rhett’s “Guess you weren’t the only one who was scared.���

Rhett closes his eyes, huffs a laugh even as tears wet his cheeks. He thinks about how much time was wasted being so afraid of wrecking what they were, they never gave themselves a chance at what they could be.

“Dear God, we’re idots”

“Losers?” Link quips.

Rhett looks at him softly, “Nah man, as long as I had you, I was always always a winner. That was the thing…I had so much to lose.”

Link’s chest aches in a whole new way, he wonders what he did to deserve to win so big. And now they’re here, finally known in the dark, leaning in to to kiss Rhett is the easiest thing in the world, so natural its not even a thought.       Rhett closes his eyes as he leans into the kiss, lips softly parting to welcome Link home, and its both new and old, like a memory you don’t remember forgetting.

Slowly they part, reluctant yet shy. “This just got hella complicated. I’m sorry about that.” Link nods slowly. “Don’t be. I’m scared. But I ain’t sorry,”

“Good.” Rhett says softly, and then, “Its okay if we’ve scared together ain’t it? 'Cuz loves stronger than fear.”

[mryddinwilt]

26,27,28 for the ouat meme!

26. What surprise shocked you most?

I feel like the earlier surprises were more shocking because I hadn’t yet gotten into the mode of looking for the surprises. And as they leaned on shock value more it felt like the whole point of many of the storylines was to surprise you generally with zero clues. Also the further I got into the fandom the more shooting spoilers and the like meant I was heavily speculating. That being said I am going to go with Graham dying. It was the best kind of surprise and plot turn. 

27. Which was your favorite adaptation?

Cruella. Not for anything clever they did with her story or her “power” but just for the sheer thrill of how she was played and the hilarity every time she appeared on screen. I didn’t much care about other Disney version but I would watch that character go grocery shopping. 

28. Who is your favorite princess?

I personally don’t count Emma in this category. I think I would go with Snow White, despite my issues with some things later in the show and Ginny more or less being half there due to family stuff.  I can’t help the fact that some of her hope speeches were truly inspiring. I know they made a big deal about her being a BadA Princess pulling out that sword in the Pilot, being a forest thief, leading a war/rebellion ect. But I always found that the real heroic part of Snow was her capacity to love and forgive. Her ability to bring a stranger into her life and care for them, or to not give up against impossible odds. At times it felt smaltzy and over time it became inconsistent but that core of kindness that she carried with her made her unique and I loved her for it. 

Ask me about OUAT (repeat a number and I’ll give a different answer…)

[krispyweiss]

Album Review: Heart - Live in Atlantic City

Live in Atlantic City casts such a wide net looking for an audience it’s likely to satisfy no one.

Culled from Heart’s guest-filled, 2006 appearance on VH1’s “Decades Rock Live,” the just-released audio documentary - it’s also out on video - is a hodgepodge of music that doesn’t hold together as it spans country, grunge, pop and rock.

Fans of Ann and Nancy Wilson as Robert Plant and Jimmy Page will thrill to the sounds of “Bébé Le Strange” (with Dave Navarro, who plays on several tracks) and covers of “Rock and Roll” and “Misty Mountain Hop,” the former with Ann’s aural doppelgänger Gretchen Wilson.

Carrie Underwood joins for an extra-schlocky version of the smaltzy “Alone,” while vocalist extraordinaire Rufus Wainwright proves he is uniquely incapable of singing “Dog and Butterfly.” Even less congruous is the inclusion of Alice In Chains and Duff McKagan performing AIC’s “Would?” and “Rooster” with little input from the Wilsons.

Signature Heart song such as “Even it Up,” “Barracuda,” “Dreamboat Annie” and “Crazy on You” round out the collection with varying levels of success. Like the album as a whole, these songs range from poor (“Crazy on You”) to unnecessary (“Barracuda”).

Grade card: Heart - Live in Atlantic City - D+

2/4/19