#so. woe. blue monday upon you.

[friesian]

MARWYD FANCAM *NOW*

(@bonethot)

WELL.

my joke answer would be 'she thinks my tractor is sexy' because honestly of course i would go for that joke. of course. it's the lowest fucking hanging fruit. and i'd snatch it. however. i love sharing music i actually love. SO.

fuck it. blue monday fancam. sorry.

[starswornoaths]

Prompt 16: Lucubration

Moen. Why did you give me this troll ass word. Why did this word, of all of them, give me Immense Emotions.

Have an Academic AU set 600 years after xiv. Do not perceive me.

To say that discovering what had happened to those closest to the Warrior of Light from the Seventh Astral Era, now some six hundred years past, was the culmination of Ciri’s life’s work was a gross overexaggeration, though it was the first project she had been approved for grant money to pursue out of graduate school. It was an interesting enough period in history that there was ample interest in the nitty gritty of it, though the obtuse nature of the way that era was chronicled had made it an intimidating one to approach.

Ciri didn’t know the concept of being intimidated by academic research, however, and had leapt into it headlong, eager to know what had become of the historic figures that had risen up in the wake of the Serella Arcbane of legend.

It had been fairly easy to reverse engineer her path of adventuring, and from there, Ciri had managed to discover so much more than she had thought she could in some case, in others, almost nothing. Which had ultimately led her travels to Ishgard, tucked away in one of the recently restored Scholasticate libraries, pouring over tomes and records by low lamplight to help with her migraine.

It was late enough that everyone else in the building had long since gone home, save for the janitorial staff. It was a common enough occurrence that Ciri made it a habit of buying the lot of them takeout while she was there. Half as a bribe to not kick her out, but mostly so she could continue her work unburdened with the worry that they hadn’t eaten enough in the day. 

There were reasons she was their favorite academic.

“Still here?” A dulcet voice asked from the doorway to the archives.

Emil. She didn’t even have to look up to know. She would know him anywhere.

“As ever.” She called back. “What on earth are you still doing here?”

“You should know me better than that by now.” With the echoing clack of his footsteps approaching her, she was spared being startled when he set a thermos on the table for her. “I couldn’t well enough just abandon my partner in crime.”

She spared him a plain look from over the tome she had been pouring over.

“You just don’t like going through that one street alone, do you?”

“Have you seen the way those dancers leer at me?” He gave an exaggerated shudder. “I can’t tell whether they’re trying to lure me in to seduce me or put me to work.”

“The woes of bountiful beauty.” Ciri sighed, and snapped the book she had been reading shut.

She tossed it to the side of her in half disgust, along with the veritable mountain of other tomes that had proven to be just as uninformative.

“You would know far more than I.” He cooed around a saccharine smile, preening at the way she flushed at the compliment.

“You do this on purpose, I swear it.” She grumbled goodnaturedly.

Though Emile laughed, his eyes scanned the discarded tomes, pursing his lips. “Still having trouble finding him, then?”

“Technically.” She heaved a sigh, her back thumping against her chair as she took a moment to pout in a manner most unbecoming an academic. “I keep running into dead ends. He was a goddamn world leader, how does history lose someone like that?!”

There yet remained one final piece of the mystery she needed before her work was done. She could not leave it to be lost to the annals of history for no other reason than her lack of due diligence, that was for damn certain.

“Quite easily, I assure you.” He replied, and finally held up a bag of takeout he had brought up with him and set it on the table. “Take a break with me, rest your eyes.”

He set out a variety of containers, each more fragrant and savory than the last. Betraying her own neglect, Ciri’s stomach growled loud enough that he paused in divvying up food to arch a brow at her.

“When did you last eat?”

“...Monday…?” She said hesitantly once she had ticked back the hours. 

It was only Tuesday, right? That wasn’t so bad.

“Cirilla Anne Dubois! It’s Wednesday!” Sparing a glance at his watch, he grimaced and amended, “Thursday, by now! Eat!”

He set a large soup container in front of her to punctuate his command, and the scent of beef broth filled her senses. She had to swallow heavily from how her mouth watered.

“Udon…?” She asked hopefully.

“Of course. And a shared order of tempura.” He promised, laying out another container between them.

A ritual for them, to share meal and knowledge alike. Something that had carried over from their days in uni, and even before then. She had been glad for Emil’s constant, comforting presence throughout their travels and research. They could be doing nothing but laughing over a silly video on his tomephone, and sharing bits of food, and still, she would be the happiest woman in the world.

Emil somehow seemed to always know when she needed a break. The food had been exactly what she had needed, she realized the moment that the first bite had settled on her tongue. He had even brewed her tea, she realized when she popped the thermos open and sniffed at the delicate complex and slightly sweet aroma. 

Truly, these were the moments that made her work worthwhile.

“Review with me, like we always do. Something to break up the lucubration by lamplight, if you will.” Emil brought her back, the bright amber of his eyes comforting in the low lamplight. After he chewed around a mouthful of curry and rice, he continued, gesturing with his chopsticks. “Tell me of the other Alliance leaders, and how their stories ended.”

“But you know. You’ve been with me every step of this research trip.” Ciri whined after a long dreg of her tea.

“Sure, but isn’t it important to look again? To make sure you didn’t miss anything?” He encouraged. 

He had a point, even if Ciri didn’t want to admit it.

“Where to start…” She tapped her fingers on the table. “Lyse Hext and Hien Rijin formed a bridge between the Doman and Eorzean Alliances when they were wed, paved the way for current world politics in that regard, though they ultimately focused on adopting refugee children and rebuilding Doma and Ala Mhigo respectively. Admiral Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn adamantly refused to retire until she had found a suitable replacement.”

“Only for her First to ultimately convince her to do so that she might marry the love of her life.” Emil supplied, food all but abandoned to focus his attention solely on her.

“Y’Shtola Rhule, of all people.” Ciri snorted. ““The only woman to keep me honest. I would have no other.” It was so recorded she had said in her wedding vows.”

“Good for them.” He nodded.

“Raubahn Aldynn eventually retired from his position as General of the Ala Mhigan army, and had lived a content life as a hobbyist carpenter and full time grandfather to his son’s children.” She paused to chew on a mouthful of noodles. “For the life of me, I couldn’t confirm who Pipin Tarupin had settled down with, though there is some suggestion that it was eventually Nanamo Ul Namo, having all but disappeared upon successfully dissolving the sultanate of Ul’Dah.”

“It’d be a neat end to several loose threads.” Emil shrugged a shoulder. “Can’t blame popular theory for running with it.”

“I just hate that I don’t know— and I’d asked Kan-E-Senna in that interview, too, lest you wonder.”

Kan-E-Senna didn’t count as a reliable source of information on the whole, the crone. Eternally youthful and blessed by the Twelveswood, Ciri had squared her away with a simple interview. The Elder Seedeer had been a bit of a dead end for damn near everything but Merlwyb and Y’Shtola’s wedding, citing that she had simply not been very close with anyone else, preferring the company of the wood itself.

Ciri still couldn’t tell whether that was the truth, or she was just being an obtuse old bat having a laugh at a young academic’s expense.

“Dead ends, all, for what on earth happened to the last of them.”

She blew a curly bang out of her face with a frustrated huff. Infuriatingly, it sprang right back to where it had hung in her eyes. With an agitated grunt, she sat up and gathered all of her hair to hold back with a head scarf. Plucking a zucchini tempura piece from its container and popping it in her mouth, she went back to the tome she was pouring over when Emil arrived and flipped to the page she had been on. 

“I’ve solved what happened to all the rest. But what happened to him?” She hissed almost under her breath, the blunt end of her pen tapping against a specific portrait of a historic figure depicted in the text.

Inky hair swept over bright eyes, a young man barely in his thirties draped in gilded armor and blue finery. Lord Commander of the Temple Knights of Ishgard during and after the Dragonsong War. Speculated beloved of the Warrior of Light. Aymeric de Borel. 

“I can’t figure out what happened to him after he retired.” Ciri frowned at the portrait of the handsome man. “He was barely thirty-seven, and was in good health, by all accounts. The Borel Manor is still in the family name, even centuries down the line, though none of them are of blood relatives.” She tapped her pen to her bottom lip in thought. “Family trees confirm he adopted his children, though he himself was also an adopted kid, so the Borel bloodline had already died out before he had even retired, in a manner of speaking.”

“But when did he adopt them? Did he have a spouse? And why— and how— in the ever loving fuck did he just vanish from all record?!”

“You keep thinking of him as a historical figure.” Emil noted patiently, setting down his chopsticks and reaching across the table to gently hold her hand. “Think of him as a person. What, considering all of the other people in Ell— the Warrior of Light’s life chose for themselves, what would you think he would want, above all else?”

“...You know something I don’t.” Ciri accused after a moment of scrutiny, eyes narrowing in suspicion.

“A rarity, but just this once, yes.” He nodded. “Though for disclosure: I only came about the knowledge tonight.”

“Why not tell me sooner?”

“I wanted you to eat, my dear.”

There was something that struck her as deeply familiar about this moment. The dark brown of his skin was stark against the rolled up sleeves of his pale blue shirt, and yes, he was distractingly handsome all the time, and yes, they had always shared food and conversation before, but this…

Ciri had never been to Ishgard before her academic research. Not once. And yet, it felt as though she had been here, with him, having this conversation before.

It might have been a trick of the light, but for a moment, his eyes were a peculiar kyanite blue.

Odd.

“Have you been down to the Vault’s archives?” At her nod, he smiled wider and pushed away from his seat, hand held out in offering. “Come, let me show you something you might have overlooked.”

“Bold of you to imply I’m not thorough in my work, Emil.” She pursed her lips, even as she accepted.

“I would never— I only mean that you didn’t know to look for this.”

His smile widened when she placed her hand in his. As if she would ever refuse him. As if she ever could.

The toe of her boot caught on the ankle of her opposite foot when she made to stand— ah, new boots, damn it all— and she braced for a fall. Emil, always happy to help, had easily braced and caught her before she had truly fallen, and helped right her on her own feet. 

“Falling for me at last, my dear?” He asked with a dazzling smile.

“Fuck’s sakes, you know I fluster easily.” Ciri sputtered around her blushing, though she did use the excuse of wobbly legs to press close to him for a moment. 

Ahh, they never did talk about what they were after that one college party…

“Come on, I promise it isn’t long— and we’ll be back to finish our food, lest you worry.” 

Hand in hand, Ciri and Emil made their way down, down, down the winding steps of the Congregation, deeper and deeper still into the Vault, past the chapel, beyond the stained glass windows, until they were again wrapped in nothing but lamplight. 

How was this so familiar? How did this feel like they had done this before?

“You’re being silly!” The low alto voice of a woman rang in her mind. Ciri almost tripped on the steps.

“And dramatic, lest you forget, but pray allow me this.” She would have almost swore it was Emil that had spoken, had the dialect not been so old. 

What was happening to her? What was in that Udon?

The Archivist waved them through with barely a glance at their badges— they had become familiar faces at that point— and popped a grape in his mouth distractedly, eyes never leaving the book in his hand. With a word of thanks, they continued on their way.

It was in the darkest corner of the archives, one of the last bookshelves, where Emil finally came to a stop. The hand not holding hers thumbed through the volumes until he found an unmarked tome of deepest black and pulled it from the shelf.

“Look at this.” He said quietly.

Ciri studied the cover a moment with trembling fingers. Unable to contain that strange ache in her chest, that sense of longing and...fear? Bracing herself she opened the book.

It was such a worn thing, it practically fell open all its own. She nearly dropped the thing for how her hands trembled. A thoughtful frown marred her face as she read the title, written in neat penmanship. 

“The Last Will and Testament of Aymeric de Borel?” Ciri whispered. “But...I don’t understand—”

“Read it.” Emil whispered, close enough she could feel his warmth, a welcome, gentle hand at the small of her back. “You will, I promise you.”

Its first entry was, perhaps, its most telling. The last piece of the puzzle. The end of her journey— and the beginning of something so much more personal, as she recalled a life she never lived.

"Today I am married to the love of my life. Today, Aymeric de Borel dies. In his place, Aymeric Arcbane will find a thousand different happily ever afters, both here and on the road, as long as her hand is in mine."

In different handwriting, a cheeky remark of, “A bit of a dramatic exit, given we’re only going on an adventure, but it’ll do.”

“He found them.” Emil said softly. When she looked up at him, his bright eyes bore into hers. “Every one of those happily ever afters. He found them all, every time, with her. This was all he ever wanted.”

Ciri remembered being a full fulm taller, broader in shoulder, lighter in skin that was heavy with scars, and having two different eye colors. She remembered feeling her shoulders pulled down with a weight she herself couldn’t fathom. She remembered fighting, over and over and over again.

For him. For his smile.

Her eyes swimming with tears, Ciri gently closed the book, and with the hand not cradling such a precious treasure to her chest, she reached out to him.

Of course she had already loved him. She always had. Of course he had loved her in kind. He had never stopped.

“That’s alright, then.” She said.

They left the Vault together again, for the first time in six hundred years, laughing just as brightly as they had before.

[kkintle]

Map: Collected and Last Poems by Wisława Szymborska; Quotes

Dreams flickered on white canvas.

The future—who can guess it. The past—who’s got it right.

Trite Rhymes     A great joy: flower upon flower, the branches stretch in pristine blue, but there’s a greater: today’s Tuesday, tomorrow will bring mail from you, and still greater: the letter trembles, strange reading it in spots of sun, and still greater: just a week now, now just four days, now it’s begun, and still greater: I kneel on top and make the suitcase lid shut tight, and still greater: the train at seven, just one ticket, thanks, that’s right, and still greater: rushing windows, with view on view on view on view, and still greater: dark and darker, by nighttime I will be with you, and still greater: the door opens, and still greater: past the door, and still greater: flower on flower. —Ohhh, who are all these roses for?

Do you open each human fate like a book, seeking feelings not in fonts or formats? Are you sure you decipher people completely?

Are people really so simple as far as people go?

Lovers     In this quiet we can still hear what they were singing yesterday about the high road and the low road . . . We hear—but we don’t believe it.   Our smile doesn’t mask our sorrow, and goodness needs no sacrifice. The pity we give to nonlovers is even more than they deserve.   We’re so astonished at ourselves, what’s left to astonish us? Not a rainbow in the night. Not a butterfly in snow.   And when we sleep we dream of parting. But it’s a good dream, it’s a good dream, since we wake up from it.

Nothing can ever happen twice. In consequence, the sorry fact is that we arrive here improvised and leave without the chance to practice.

One day, perhaps, some idle tongue mentions your name by accident: I feel as if a rose were flung into the room, all hue and scent.

Why do we treat the fleeting day with so much needless fear and sorrow? It’s in its nature not to stay: today is always gone tomorrow.   With smiles and kisses, we prefer to seek accord beneath our star, although we’re different (we concur) just as two drops of water are.

If we haven’t had enough of despair, grief, all that stuff, lofty words will kill us off.   Then we’ll stand up, take our bows: hope that you’ve enjoyed our show. Every patron with his spouse will applaud, get up, and go.   They’ll reenter their lives’ cages, where love’s tiger sometimes rages, but the beast’s too tame to bite.

I TEACH silence in all languages

FOR PROMISES made by my spouse, who’s tricked so many with his sweet colors and fragrances and sounds— dogs barking, guitars in the street— into believing that they still might conquer loneliness and fright, I cannot be responsible. Mr. Day’s widow, Mrs. Night.

We know ourselves only as far as we’ve been tested. I tell you this from my unknown heart

An Effort     Alack and woe, oh song: you’re mocking me; try as I may, I’ll never be your red, red rose. A rose is a rose is a rose. And you know it.   I worked to sprout leaves. I tried to take root. I held my breath to speed things up, and waited for the petals to enclose me.   Merciless song, you leave me with my lone, nonconvertible, unmetamorphic body: I’m one-time-only to the marrow of my bones.

Leave me, leave, but not by land. Swim off, swim, but not by sea. Fly off, fly away, my dear, but don’t go near the air.   Let’s see each other through closed eyes. Let’s talk together through closed mouths. Let’s hold each other through a thick wall.

Since eternity was out of stock, ten thousand aging things have been amassed instead.

Everything’s mine but just on loan, nothing for the memory to hold, though mine as long as I look.

One day the answer came before the question. Another night they guessed their eyes’ expression by the type of silence in the dark.   Gender fades, mysteries molder, distinctions meet in all-resemblance just as all colors coincide in white.

Sunny. Green. A forest close at hand, with wood to chew on, drops beneath the bark to drink— a view served round the clock, until you go blind.

Parable     Some fishermen pulled a bottle from the deep. It held a piece of paper, with these words: “Somebody save me! I’m here. The ocean cast me on this desert island. I am standing on the shore waiting for help. Hurry! I’m here!” “There’s no date. I bet it’s already too late anyway. It could have been floating for years,” the first fisherman said. “And he doesn’t say where. It’s not even clear which ocean,” the second fisherman said. “It’s not too late, or too far. The island Here is everywhere,” the third fisherman said. They all felt awkward. No one spoke. That’s how it goes with universal truths

Ballad     Hear the ballad “Murdered Woman Suddenly Gets Up from Chair.”   It’s an honest ballad, penned neither to shock nor to offend.   The thing happened fair and square, with curtains open, lamps all lit:   passersby could stop and stare.   When the door had shut behind him and the killer ran downstairs, she stood up, just like the living startled by the sudden silence.   She gets up, she moves her head, and she looks around with eyes harder than they were before.   No, she doesn’t float through air: she steps on the ordinary, wooden, slightly creaky floor.   In the oven she burns traces that the killer’s left behind: here a picture, there shoelaces, everything that she can find.   It’s obvious that she’s not strangled. It’s obvious that she’s not shot. She’s been killed invisibly.   She may still show signs of life, cry for sundry silly reasons, shriek in horror at the sight of a mouse.                      Ridiculous traits are so predictable that they aren’t hard to fake.   She got up like you and me.   She walks just as people do.   And she sings and combs her hair, which still grows.

I let myself be invented, modeled on my own reflection in his eyes. I dance, dance, dance in the stir of sudden wings.

Exiled by style. Only their ribs stood out. With birdlike feet and palms, they strove to take wing on their jutting shoulder blades.   The thirteenth century would have given them golden halos. The twentieth, silver screens. The seventeenth, alas, holds nothing for the unvoluptuous.   For even the sky bulges here with pudgy angels and a chubby god— thick-whiskered Phoebus, on a sweaty steed, riding straight into the seething bedchamber

He grew rozes with a “z.

(...) the rest of your life? Old age is a precipice, (...)

I am too close for him to dream of me.

Silence—this word also rustles across the page and parts the boughs that have sprouted from the word “woods.”

Funny little thing How could she know that even despair can work for you if you’re lucky enough to outlive it.

The Railroad Station     My nonarrival in the city of N. took place on the dot.   You’d been alerted in my unmailed letter.   You were able not to be there at the agreed-upon time.   The train pulled up at Platform 3. A lot of people got out.   My absence joined the throng as it made its way toward the exit.   Several women rushed to take my place in all that rush.   Somebody ran up to one of them. I didn’t know him, but she recognized him immediately.   While they kissed with not our lips, a suitcase disappeared, not mine.   The railroad station in the city of N. passed its exam in objective existence with flying colors.   The whole remained in place. Particulars scurried along the designated tracks.   Even a rendezvous took place as planned.   Beyond the reach of our presence.   In the paradise lost of probability.   Somewhere else. Somewhere else. How these little words ring. Alive     These days we just hold him

But this is ancient history. I can’t dwell on it forever or keep asking endlessly, what’s next, what’s next.   Day to day I trust in permanence, in history’s prospects. I can’t gnaw apples in a constant state of terror.

Arduous ease, watchful agility, and calculated inspiration.

Old Folks’ Home     Here comes Her Highness—well, you know who I mean, our Helen the snooty—now who made her queen! With her lipstick and wig on, as if we could care, like her three sons in heaven can see her from there!   “I wouldn’t be here if they’d lived through the war. I’d spend winter with one son, summer with another.” What makes her so sure? I’d be dead too now, with her for a mother.   And she keeps on asking (“I don’t mean to pry”) why from your sons and daughters there’s never a word even though they weren’t killed. “If my boys were alive, I’d spend all my holidays home with the third.”   Right, and in his gold carriage he’d come and get her, drawn by a swan or a lily-white dove, to show all of us that he’ll never forget her and how much he owes to her motherly love.   Even Jane herself, the nurse, can’t help but grin when our Helen starts singing this old song again— even though Jane’s job is commiseration Monday through Friday, with two weeks’ vacation.

Sell me your soul. There are no other takers.   There is no other devil anymore.

I’m bound to pass by all these poppies and pansies. What a loss when you think how much effort was spent perfecting this petal, this pistil, this scent for the one-time appearance, which is all they’re allowed, so aloofly precise and so fragilely proud.

The abyss doesn’t divide us. The abyss surrounds us.

In Praise of Dreams     In my dreams I paint like Vermeer van Delft.   I speak fluent Greek and not just with the living.   I drive a car that does what I want it to.   I am gifted and write mighty epics.   I hear voices as clearly as any venerable saint.   My brilliance as a pianist would stun you.   I fly the way we ought to, i.e., on my own.   Falling from the roof, I tumble gently to the grass.   I’ve got no problem breathing under water.   I can’t complain: I’ve been able to locate Atlantis.   It’s gratifying that I can always wake up before dying.   As soon as war breaks out, I roll over on my other side.   I’m a child of my age, but I don’t have to be.   A few years ago I saw two suns.   And the night before last a penguin, clear as day.

True love. Is it normal, is it serious, is it practical? What does the world get from two people who exist in a world of their own?

Let the people who never find true love keep saying that there’s no such thing.   Their faith will make it easier for them to live and die.

And it so happened that I’m here with you. And I really see nothing usual in that. 

Under One Small Star     My apologies to chance for calling it necessity. My apologies to necessity if I’m mistaken, after all. Please, don’t be angry, happiness, that I take you as my due. May my dead be patient with the way my memories fade. My apologies to time for all the world I overlook each second. My apologies to past loves for thinking that the latest is the first. Forgive me, distant wars, for bringing flowers home. Forgive me, open wounds, for pricking my finger. I apologize for my record of minuets to those who cry from the depths. I apologize to those who wait in railway stations for being asleep today at five A.M. Pardon me, hounded hope, for laughing from time to time. Pardon me, deserts, that I don’t rush to you bearing a spoonful of water. And you, falcon, unchanging year after year, always in the same cage, your gaze always fixed on the same point in space, forgive me, even if it turns out you were stuffed. My apologies to the felled tree for the table’s four legs. My apologies to great questions for small answers. Truth, please don’t pay me much attention. Dignity, please be magnanimous. Bear with me, O mystery of existence, as I pluck the occasional thread from your train.   Soul, don’t take offense that I’ve only got you now and then. My apologies to everything that I can’t be everywhere at once. My apologies to everyone that I can’t be each woman and each man. I know I won’t be justified as long as I live, since I myself stand in my own way. Don’t bear me ill will, speech, that I borrow weighty words, then labor heavily so that they may seem light.

Non omnis moriar—a premature worry.

Thank-You Note     I owe so much to those I don’t love.   The relief as I agree that someone else needs them more.   The happiness that I’m not the wolf to their sheep.   The peace I feel with them, the freedom— love can neither give nor take that.   I don’t wait for them, as in window-to-door-and-back. Almost as patient as a sundial, I understand what love can’t, and forgive as love never would.   From a rendezvous to a letter is just a few days or weeks, not an eternity.   Trips with them always go smoothly, concerts are heard, cathedrals visited, scenery is seen.   And when seven hills and rivers come between us, the hills and rivers can be found on any map.   They deserve the credit if I live in three dimensions, in nonlyrical and nonrhetorical space with a genuine, shifting horizon.   They themselves don’t realize how much they hold in their empty hands.   “I don’t owe them a thing” would be love’s answer to this open question.

Dentistry turned to diplomatic skill promises us a Golden Age tomorrow. The going’s rough, and so we need the laugh of bright incisors, molars of goodwill. Our times are still not safe and sane enough for faces to show ordinary sorrow.

Our solitary existence exacerbates our sense of obligation, and raises the inevitable question, How are we to live et cetera? since “we can’t avoid the void.

No way out? But what about the door? No prospects? The window had other views.

You think at least the note must tell us something. But what if I say there was no note— and he had so many friends, but all of us fit neatly inside the empty envelope propped up against a cup.

(...) to linger longer, not to go home again. Since only prisoners want to go home.

In Praise of Feeling Bad about Yourself     The buzzard never says it is to blame. The panther wouldn’t know what scruples mean. When the piranha strikes, it feels no shame. If snakes had hands, they’d claim their hands were clean.   A jackal doesn’t understand remorse. Lions and lice don’t waver in their course. Why should they, when they know they’re right?   Though hearts of killer whales may weigh a ton, in every other way they’re light.   On this third planet of the sun among the signs of bestiality a clear conscience is number one.

I know nothing of the role I play. I only know it’s mine, I can’t exchange it.   I have to guess on the spot just what this play’s all about

The star is large and distant, so distant that it’s small, even smaller than others much smaller than it.

Small wonder, then, if we were struck with wonder; as we would be if only we had the time.

God was finally going to believe in a man both good and strong, but good and strong are still two different men.

“How should we live?” someone asked me in a letter. I had meant to ask him the same question.   Again, and as ever, as may be seen above, the most pressing questions are naïve ones.

Whatever you say reverberates, whatever you don’t say speaks for itself. So either way you’re talking politics.

Who knows you matters more than whom you know. Trips only if taken abroad. Memberships in what but without why. Honors, but not how they were earned. (...) Price, not worth, and title, not what’s inside. His shoe size, not where he’s off to, that one you pass off as yourself.

Nothing’s sacred for those who think. Calling things brazenly by name, risqué analyses, salacious syntheses, frenzied, rakish chases after the bare facts, the filthy fingering of touchy subjects, discussion in heat—it’s music to their ears.

During these trysts of theirs, the only thing that’s steamy is the tea.

May delivery be easy, may our child grow and be well. Let him be happy from time to time and leap over abysses. Let his heart have strength to endure and his mind be awake and reach far.   But not so far that it sees into the future. Spare him that one gift, O heavenly powers.

For the sake of the children that we still are, fairy tales have happy endings. That’s the only finale that will do here, too. The rain will stop, the waves will subside, the clouds will part in the cleared-up sky, and they’ll be once more what clouds overhead ought to be: lofty and rather lighthearted in their likeness to things drying in the sun— isles of bliss, lambs, cauliflowers, diapers.

I prefer, where love’s concerned, nonspecific anniversaries that can be celebrated every day.

A miracle, just take a look around: the inescapable earth.   An extra miracle, extra and ordinary: the unthinkable can be thought.

When I see such things, I’m no longer sure that what’s important is more important than what’s not.

Hatred is a master of contrast— between explosions and dead quiet, red blood and white snow.

Perhaps all fields are battlefields, those we remember and those that are forgotten: (...)

Without us dreams couldn’t exist. The one on whom the real world depends is still unknown, and the products of his insomnia are available to anyone who wakes up.

Every beginning is only a sequel, after all, and the book of events is always open halfway through.

We agreed to death, but not to every kind. Love attracted us, of course, but only love that keeps its word.

We were besieged by doubts. Does knowing everything beforehand really mean knowing everything.   Is a decision made in advance really any kind of choice.

We’re extremely fortunate not to know precisely the kind of world we live in.

I am who I am. A coincidence no less unthinkable than any other.

They aren’t obliged to vanish when we’re gone. They don’t have to be seen while sailing on.

The Three Oddest Words     When I pronounce the word Future, the first syllable already belongs to the past.   When I pronounce the word Silence, I destroy it.   When I pronounce the word Nothing, I make something no nonbeing can hold.

But how to answer unasked questions, while being furthermore a being so totally a nobody to you.

Talking with you is essential and impossible. Urgent in this hurried life and postponed to never.

Understanding came only later: not all misadventures fit within the world’s laws and even if they wanted to, they couldn’t happen.

And what can you say about one day of life, a minute, a second: darkness, a lightbulb’s flash, then dark again?   KOSMOS MAKROS CHRONOS PARADOKSOS Only stony Greek has words for that.

There must be an exit somewhere, that’s more than certain. But you don’t look for it, it looks for you, it’s been stalking you from the start, and this labyrinth is none other than than your, for the duration, your, until not your, flight, flight— (...)

Life on Earth is quite a bargain. Dreams, for one, don’t charge admission. Illusions are costly only when lost. The body has its own installment plan.   And as an extra, added feature, you spin on the planets’ carousel for free, and with it you hitch a ride on the intergalactic blizzard, with times so dizzying that nothing here on Earth can even tremble.

At times I get fed up with her. I suggest a separation. From now to eternity. Then she smiles at me with pity, since she knows it would be the end of me too. 

Assassins     They think for days on end, how to kill so as to kill, and how many killed will be many. Apart from this they eat their meals with gusto, pray, wash their feet, feed the birds, make phone calls while scratching their armpits, stanch blood when they cut a finger, if they’re women they buy sanitary napkins, eye shadow, flowers for vases, they make jokes on their good days, drink citrus juice from the fridge, watch the moon and stars at night, place headphones with soft music on their ears and sleep sweetly till the crack of dawn —unless what they’re thinking needs doing at night.

It’s good you came. Sit here beside me. He really was supposed to get back Thursday. But we’ve got so many Thursdays left this year.

Page after page at a snail’s pace. But we’re still going in fifth gear and, knock on wood, never better.

We eat another life so as to live. A corpse of pork with departed cabbage. Every menu is an obituary.   Even the kindest of souls must consume, digest something killed so that their warm hearts won’t stop beating.

In the end I stopped knowing what I’d been looking for so long.   I woke up. Looked at my watch. The dream took not quite two and a half minutes.   Such are the tricks to which time resorts ever since it started stumbling on sleeping heads.

[xlonelysoulxx]

Which Archangel Are You?

Archangels Uriel and Cassiel → Aquarius. (January 20 - February 18) : The sign Aquarious is ruled by the Archangels Uriel and Cassiel, bringing the energies of being idealistic and a humanitarian. Archangel Uriel works with the Ruby Ray with a focus upon your life path and soul mission. Archangel Uriel is responsible for the North and rules the zodiac sign of Aquarius and the planet Uranus. Archangel Cassiel rules the planet Saturn, the star sign Aquarius and Saturday, and is a ‘shepherd’ angel. Aquarians tend to be independent, progressive in outlook, and humanitarian. Aquarians love the idea of helping humanity as a whole – but they often come unstuck when faced with the messy petty problems which arise in one-to-one human relationships. The Aquarian whose high ideals inspire him to work positively for humanity, is usually extremely loathe to become embroiled in the world of personal relationships. Positively, Aquarians may come across as cold, aloof and unsympathetic. His courageous, enthusiastic ideals can easily turn to stubborn fanaticism. The Aquarium mind is usually highly developed, but their earnest nature often gives rise to friction.

Archangels Asariel and Zadkiel → Pisces. (February 19 - March 20) : The star sign of Pisces is ruled and overseen by the Archangels Asariel and Zadkiel, making those influenced by Pisces artistic and emotional. Archangel Asariel rules the planet Neptune and the star sign of Pisces. Archangel Zadkiel rules the planet Jupiter and Thursday. Archangel Zadkiel works on the Violet Ray with the focus of self-transformation and spiritual growth. Pisceans are by nature a ‘feeling type’ who acts and reacts according to how they feel rather than what is logical. They tend to be idealistic, romantic and sensitive, as well as self-sacrificing. They will sacrifice a great deal in the name of love. Pisceans love to be in love. They are romantic about everything, especially love affairs. Every aspect of life must contain some element of romance for them – otherwise they become bored and lose interest. The general characteristics of Pisces are those of kindness, peace-loving and being responsive to the woes of others. Pisceans are great champions of the ‘underdog’. They are generous, sympathetic and understanding, although their sensitive natures can make them moody and/or irritable. Pisceans are resourceful, inspirational and imaginative. The angels of the Zodiac rule and oversee each of the individual star signs of the Zodiac, assisting us to understand and work with our personality traits, life lessons, experiences and influences throughout our life time.

Archangel Camael → Aries. (March 21 - April 19) : Archangel Camael oversees the star sign of Aries, bringing the qualities of assertiveness and confidence. Archangel Camael relates to the Golden Ray as well as the ‘solar angels’. Archangel Camael rules the planet Mars, the star sign Aries and Tuesday. Those born under the sign of Aries are generally outgoing, impulsive and full of ideas. They tend to be enthusiastic and often dramatic and are willing to take on challenges. Aries has a dominant personality – but this is often to cover their feelings of inadequacy and insecurity. Ariens may often present a front of bravado, but deep down inside they are very unsure of themselves, so can be very insecure. Aries has little or no patience for details and are easily angered. Their rages are short-lived, and grudges are quickly forgotten. Aries will explode in a fit of tempter one minute, but will have no recollection of what it was about the next.

Archangel Hagiel → Taurus. (April 20 - May 20) : Archangel Hagiel rules the star sign Taurus, and invokes the qualities of reliability and practicality. Archangel Hagiel rules over the planet Venus, the star sign of Taurus and Friday. Taurus is earthy, acute and appreciative of both physical and material comfort. Taureans enjoy luxury, beauty and high quality goods and thrive on anything which pleases the senses. Taureans like to be production, and put that energy into power. They must be careful though, as that power must not become ‘control’. Taureans are naturally attuned to nature and are very practical. Their life lesson is to learn ‘patience’. Tarueans have a natural leaning towards stability and security, but they must be careful not to become trapped in the material world.

Archangel Raphael → Gemini. (May 21 - June 20) : The zodiac sign of Gemini is overseen by the Archangel Rapheal.  This gives those born under the sign of Gemini the traits of adaptability and of being very social. Archangel Raphael is one of the principal angels of healing and has the capacity to guide all healers, both orthodox and complimentary. Archangel Raphael rules over the planet Mercury and Wednesday, and is responsible for the East. Gemini can sometimes be depicted as presenting as two separate people. People under the influence of Gemini are often very clever and gifted, and their main tool is their mind. Geminis have a great need for variety and this may leave them with scattered energies, and this sometimes leads to nervous exhaustion. They often appear to have an insatiable thirst for learning and knowledge and have endlessly curious minds. They are gatherers of information, but don’t always share this with others.

Archangel Gabriel → Cancer. (June 21 - July 22) : Archangel Gabriel works with the color Orange and rules the Moon, the star sign of Cancer, and Monday. Archangel Gabriel is responsible for the West. Those under the sign of Cancer are overseen by Archangel Gabriel, bringing the attributes of sympathy and sensitivity. Cancer tells of the need to balance the emotions on all levels. Those individuals born under the sign of Cancer can be instrumental in helping others, particularly in encouraging the growth and development of their emotional potential. Cancerians often appear to be quite passive, but are extremely active underneath the surface. On the down-side of Cancer is the ability to let go of any person or chattel they consider to be theirs. This results in the negative tendency typical of the sign; a possessiveness and tenaciousness. Relationships are extremely important to Cancerians, but although they long for intimacy, their vulnerability in the realm of emotion makes them mistrustful.

Archangel Michael → Leo. (July 23 - August 22) : The Zodiac sign of Leo is ruled by the Archangel Michael, who works on the Blue Ray and rules of the Sun and Sunday. Archangel Michael and the star sign Leo and is responsible for the South. Archangel Michael aids with communication and protection and inspires one to become a seeker of higher truths and hidden knowledge. Those under the sign of Leo are given the personality traits of generosity and ‘open-ness’. Leos are gifted with excellent organizational skills, particularly in areas where they will earn recognition. Leos thrive on praise and being in the limelight. They are prepared to go to great lengths to achieve credit and both public and private acclaim. Leos are competitive and certainly like to win. Their greatest attribute lies in their capacity to be intensely individual, while at the same time loyal and generous towards those they love. Leo’s positive qualities include warmth and sincerity, protectiveness and affection. They carry a genuine self-assurance and are generally able to tackle all that comes before them. On the negative side, Leo’s can be vain, over-proud and extravagant.  At times they have a tendency to show-off. Archangel Raphael → Virgo. (August 23 - September 22) : Archangel Raphael rules over the star sign of Virgo, the planet Mercury, Wednesday and is responsible for the East. Archangel Raphael is one of the principal angels of healing. Archangel Raphael is the ruler of the Zodiac sign of Virgo, and brings the attributes of efficiency and an analytical mind. Virgo’s are known to be hardworking, paying great attention to detail. They like to be able to discriminate and scrutinize every possibility before making their selection. The positive qualities of this sign are also apparent in their helpful, unassuming, dependable natures, while their more negative qualities often appear as over-fussiness, fault-finding and indecisiveness. Virgos are often shy and modest, unwilling to project themselves into the limelight. Virgo prefer to work away quietly behind the scenes without too much fuss or attention. Virgo is methodical, painstaking and industrial, able to master the intricacies of any subject they choose to tackle. Archangel Hagiel → Libra. (September 23 - October 22) : Archangel Hagiel is the ruler of the sign of Libra, and imbues those under this sign with the traits of being harmonious and diplomatic. Archangel Hagiel rules over the planet Venus, the star sign of Libra and Friday. Libra seeks to weigh things up and come to an impartial judgement, not ruled by emotions and Librans seek to always balance the body and soul, mind and spirit. Those born under the sign of Libra are known to be diplomatic, lovers of harmony needing a stable, balanced environment. Librans are known for their logic and diplomacy. Librans can see both sides of an issue, but can have difficulty making decisions. Librans like to constantly circulate and love to socialize. Their energy is one of cultivated refinement and charm. Because Libra is an Air Sign, those born under it often displays a distinct intellectual streak and a love of knowledge. They like to use language exquisitely; and ‘communication’ is very important to them. Archangels Azrael and Camael → Scorpio. (October 23 - November 21) : Scorpio is overseen and ruled by the Archangels Azrael and Camael. Archangel Azrael is a ‘shepherd’ angel who rules the planet Pluto and the star sign of Scorpio. Archangel Camael rules over the planet Mars and Tuesday. Those under the influence of the angels of the zodiac sign of Scorpio are given powerful and intense personalities. Scorpio is ruled by Pluto, the planet of ‘hidden things’. Because of this, the Scorpio personality can become a little paranoid and obsessed about what is going on around them in their lives. Scorpios are well known for their powerful emotional natures. They will hold on tenaciously to what is theirs and refuse to yield anything without a fight. But once a Scorpio looses interest in anything or anybody, the lack of feeling is suddenly and instantly apparent. The quality of ‘fixity’ is not one which changes easily, and fierce determination can thus reveal itself negatively and ruthlessness. The more positive Scorpio qualities include tremendous loyalty and a sense of responsibility, but their negative aspects can be possessiveness and jealousy, and a tendency to be self-destructive and outwardly destructive. Scorpios can be quite relentless with those who hurt or betray them. Archangel Zadkiel → Sagittarius. (November 22 - December 21) : The star sign of Sagittarius is ruled by the Archangel Zadkiel, who works with the Violet Ray with the focus of spiritual growth and self-transformation. Archangel Zadkiel rules the planet Jupiter, the star sign Sagittarius and Thursday. Those born under the influence of Sagittarius have the attributes of being optimistic and adventurous. Sagittarians are by nature, intuitive and imaginative, but it often out of touch with the limits of reality. Sagittarius finds restrictions of all kinds to be extremely tiresome. Sagittarius is full of wonderful ideas and creative visions, but putting them into practice is a chore which he prefers to leave to other people. Sagittarians often make for wonderful philosophers and teachers, as they enjoy sharing their opinions with others. They dislike being told what to do at any time. While the positive qualities of Sagittarius include positivity, generosity, enthusiasm, action, creativity and a fervent love of life, the negative qualities include a tendency to be dogmatic, opinionated and often tactless. Archangel Asariel → Capricorn. (December 22 - January 19) : Capricorn is the sign of the zodiac sign that is ruled by the Archangel Asariel.  Archangel Asariel rules the planet Neptune and the star sign Capricorn. Those influenced by Capricorn are careful and responsible in all that they undertake. Capricorn is a sign which desires status and a high position in the world, therefore, social acceptance is of great importance to them. In realizing their ambition, Capricorns are not afraid of hard work and will suffer many hardships and obstacles to reach their goal. There is a strong sense of determination and a powerful willpower which eventually carries Capricorns to their desired goals. Whether this is goal is financial, acclaim or power, Capricorns will set out with the utmost resolution to attain the goal. Capricorn’s greatest talent lies in the field of organization and control. They are disciplines and structured, wasting no time or resource that are not absolutely necessary. They are also great upholders of family traditions, society and the correct way to behave within the context of family and society. Capricorn is concerned with amassing wealth for the security it brings.  This will generally bring them a position of authority and leadership, but they can be pessimistic and worry themselves unnecessarily. Capricorns like to be organized and can be overly cautious.

[surfersofbole]

Poetry Dump VI: Low Quality Love Poems

My poetry dumps tend to have a hit or miss sensation about them as a whole. Currently, I’d say that this collection is lacking something. I don’t know if it’s the emotion in the words or the structure of these works that make them feel half-hearted. Perhaps because I’ve never had a love whose sentiments imparted great feelings upon me that I’ve started to question if the works I mentioned are really worth their birthing.

Also, this is the third poetry dump to be collected around the theme of love. Every poem in this collection was written in one sitting.

Please note that the asterisks are tied to notes that are left intentionally hidden.

Unnamed Poem

Y’ gave your love t’ me an’ said, “Hold it, keep it growin’,” I don’t know. It’s tough, I guess, ‘cause I sold it in a moment.

In the moment

Think we both feel distraught 'n' distressed, Remember the hands that you had caressed.

Goodbye, darling.* Feel so blue. Think of moments I held you.

Breaks my heart to leave you so. If I could stay... well, I think you know.

What can we do when called to rest? The ache I impart is within my chest.

Come Together**

Wish it weren’t true, there’s something the winds brew. All the storms that blew and all the lives they slew… all the bullets drew blood coming over me.

Unnamed Poem

I can tell that you’re all shook. I couldn’t say they doubletook.

We looked swell in the yearbook; things don’t age well on FaceBook.

Notice everyone mistook us for strangers that onlook.

We looked swell in the yearbook; things don’t age well on FaceBook.

2 Haiku

Writing is mastered, but ornery men will oft(en) try to squeeze out work.

Writings are mastur- -batory. Men will often try to squeeze one out.

Unnamed Poem

For so long, I missed the sun beams. Now, I’m an enlightened Jesus. Days go on, drift back and forth for people reclined on their forearms. Shall we have our sun-kissed daydreams pass us by like summer breezes? In the morning, we will hide or question how serene the skies are.

When I woke (up all alone)

When I woke in Sunday morning, I found you wide awake. I asked you, “Hey, what are you wondering?” If only I had known.

You asked me what you were to me and I was chasing dreams within your eyes and all you’d see… my mouth was wide agape.***

Sensing lust, you became violent, but I did you mistreat. If only you knew what I meant, but I was too sloppy.

You left my room, ashamed of being what devils must defile. All the souls – with'ring and aging – were never worth their weight.

I thought to drink your lilac wine.**** I swigged it all and winced; it tasted like a cooking brine. I cried and hid my face.

While you’d up and hide off elsewhere, my fair-haired love, amiss, a lonesome world, I’d watch and stare until I went adrift.

Within my dreams, I thought to speak each and every thought. Into the day, those visions leak… those that I had of you.

Now I wake this Monday, mourning my maddening mistake. The words – flutt'ring and floundering – unwound all on their own;

butterflies wander within me. My tongue is stone, it seems. Released, my breath begins to flee to nestle in your nape.

Scents I’d loved: vanilla, violet. You’d probably retreat off into the ancient islet. Fields of blood red poppy…*****

You left my world, ashamed of seeing an angel caught on fire. All my facts were disagreeing; was truth worth the wait?

The great creator, all divine, is soon to be convinced that what I did was never fine and ever hide your face.

This heavy heart hopes you’re aware and are magnanimous. You truely are my only care. A kiss I ask you gift

if I’ve had not what you would seek, but love surely’s been wrought produced its own proper physique between both me and you.

En il stilo di “Paperface”*******

She melts your eyes and turns you blind. She twists your head ‘nd separates you from your spine.

She severs ties and bursts your mind. She breaks your heart t' turn your blood into a wine.

I do not know*******

As the sun begins to rise I question wrong, ask if it’s right. Well, perhaps I’m not all bright or wise. I do not know why they should fear the night.

Others seem to be forlorn to not find secrets so discrete. Wearily, I trudge and scorn the morn’; indeed, the dark’s complete mystique is neat.

Blackbirds from my bed all flew.******** The skies feel blue and full of woe for I long that night begin anew. That joy that filled my heart, I do not know.

When a night’s mystery, it strips on down in knowing, showing light and I salivate to lick my lips, I close my eyes to find the dark of night.

Stargazing, I find a dream I do not know. I do not know why the twinkle in your eye should seem to come and hide... to please my mind and go.

*This poem was inspired by a letter that a trapped miner wrote to his wife. This line is a direct quote from said letter. **Originally untitled, I decided at the last minute to title it after the Beatles song of the same name. ***This stanza is about a guy wanting to suck on tits. ****A reference to Jeff Buckley’s Lilac Wine. *****A reference to In Flanders Fields. The intention is to evoke a sense of ancient sorrow, one that no one really understands anymore because they didn’t live through it. I suggest in this that the subject of the poem learned from a grandmother or great-grandmother figure that poppies evoke sentiments of pain, though not the same ones that the subject now feels. ******The title is nonsensical, but if it were to actually mean anything, it’d probably mean In the style of “Paperface,” a song by Weezer. *******A poem about dark-skinned women. ********A reference to the Beatles’ Blackbird.

[dfroza]

“Embrace the power of salvation’s full deliverance, like a helmet to protect your thoughts from lies.”

Today’s reading of the Scriptures from the New Testament is the 6th chapter of the Letter of Ephesians:

Children, if you want to be wise, listen to your parents and do what they tell you, and the Lord will help you.

For the commandment, “Honor your father and your mother,” was the first of the Ten Commandments with a promise attached: “You will prosper and live a long, full life if you honor your parents.”

Fathers, don’t exasperate your children, but raise them up with loving discipline and counsel that brings the revelation of our Lord.

Those who are employed should listen to their employers and obey their instructions with great respect and honor. Serve them with humility in your hearts as though you were working for the Master.

Always do what is right and not only when others are watching, so that you may please Christ as his servants by doing his will. Serve your employers wholeheartedly and with love, as though you were serving Christ and not men. Be assured that anything you do that is beautiful and excellent will be repaid by our Lord, whether you are an employee or an employer.

And to the caretakers of the flock I say, do what is right with your people by forgiving them when they offend you, for you know there is a Master in heaven that shows no favoritism.

Now my beloved ones, I have saved these most important truths for last: Be supernaturally infused with strength through your life-union with the Lord Jesus. Stand victorious with the force of his explosive power flowing in and through you.

Put on God’s complete set of armor provided for us, so that you will be protected as you fight against the evil strategies of the accuser! Your hand-to-hand combat is not with human beings, but with the highest principalities and authorities operating in rebellion under the heavenly realms. For they are a powerful class of demon-gods and evil spirits that hold this dark world in bondage. Because of this, you must wear all the armor that God provides so you’re protected as you confront the slanderer, for you are destined for all things and will rise victorious.

Put on truth as a belt to strengthen you to stand in triumph. Put on holiness as the protective armor that covers your heart. Stand on your feet alert, then you’ll always be ready to share the blessings of peace.

In every battle, take faith as your wrap-around shield, for it is able to extinguish the blazing arrows coming at you from the evil one! Embrace the power of salvation’s full deliverance, like a helmet to protect your thoughts from lies. And take the mighty razor-sharp Spirit-sword of the spoken word of God.

Pray passionately in the Spirit, as you constantly intercede with every form of prayer at all times. Pray the blessings of God upon all his believers. And pray also that God’s revelation would be released through me every time I preach the wonderful mystery of the hope-filled gospel. Yes, pray that I may preach the wonderful news of God’s kingdom with bold freedom at every opportunity. Even though I am chained as a prisoner, I am his ambassador.

I am sending you a dear friend, Tychicus. He is a beloved brother and trustworthy minister in our Lord Jesus. He will share with you all the concerns that I have for your welfare and will inform you of how I am getting along. And he will also prophesy over you to encourage your hearts. So may God shower his peace upon you, my beloved friends. And may the blessings of faith and love fill your hearts from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus, the Messiah. Abundant grace will be with you all as each of you love our Lord Jesus Christ without corruption. Amen!

Love in Christ,

Paul

The Letter of Ephesians, Chapter 6 (The Passion Translation)

Today’s paired chapter of the Testaments is the 10th chapter of the book of Jeremiah that warns against the worship of other gods:

This message is for all of Israel. Listen to what the Eternal is saying to you.

Eternal One: Don’t learn the strange practices and beliefs of other nations.

Don’t be terrified by signs in the sky

just because the other nations are.

For their traditions and customs are useless; there is nothing to them.

A tree is cut down in the forest;

then an artisan takes out a tool and carves it into an image.

They dress it up with gold and silver to make it more impressive.

Then they nail it down so it won’t fall over!

This is what they worship? The idol just stands there—

lifeless, powerless like a scarecrow in a cucumber patch.

It cannot speak. It cannot move. They must pick the thing up and bring it along.

Do you see why there’s nothing to fear from these dead pieces of wood?

They cannot harm you, and they cannot help you either.

O Eternal One, there is no comparison.

You are great; even Your name is powerful.

Who wouldn’t worship You? It is only right;

You are the King of all kingdoms.

The wise and powerful men of all nations in their realms

are still nothing compared to You.

They are stupid fools for taking their cues from blocks of wood,

as if that idol could lead them anywhere.

Beaten silver from Tarshish, and hammered gold from Uphaz—

materials made by artisans and goldsmiths—

Draped with royal blue and purple,

even with the work of craftsmen—still a lifeless object!

Just look at the contrast! The Eternal is the True God:

He is the living God and eternal King, not some lifeless idol.

The whole earth trembles when He is angry; nations crumble beneath His wrath.

Say this to anyone still worshiping idols: The so-called gods you worship did not make the earth and starry sky above it. And one day, they will all be blotted from the earth beneath those stars.

Know whom you’re dealing with!

God alone is powerful enough to create the earth.

He alone is wise enough to put the world together.

He alone understands enough to stretch out the heavens.

His voice thunders through the heavens, and the waters gush from the sky;

He summons the clouds to build up over the earth.

As the rain falls, the lightning flashes at His command;

the wind rushes in from where He alone can store it.

All of humanity is stupid and bankrupt of knowledge.

Those who make idols are shamed by their creations.

What they fashion out of gold are imposters—

breathless, lifeless frauds.

Their idols are worthless, the work of their hands an embarrassing mockery.

They are doomed to perish under God’s judgment.

The portion of Jacob, the Eternal One, is not like any of these.

He was not fashioned out of human hands.

Instead, it is He who made all things and appointed Israel to inherit it all.

His name is the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies.

Pack up what you have; take what you can from the land.

You’ll soon be under siege!

The word I have from the Eternal is clear:

Eternal One: Look, I will pitch out these people who live in the land of promise.

Now is the time for Me to bring hardship on them, so they may be found.

When I think of what is about to happen,

I can’t begin to express my hurt; the wound is so deep, so painful.

But I keep telling myself,

“This sickness is mine to bear.”

Like a tent, my nation has collapsed, all the ropes cut apart.

My sons are gone,

And there is no one left to help me put things back together.

So I am exposed, with no tent and no shelter.

The shepherds of my people have lost their senses;

they never thought to ask what the Eternal would have them do.

So now they are in trouble,

and all their flocks are scattered.

Listen! The news we’ve dreaded is finally here:

Rumblings are being heard in the north; an army is moving into our land.

The villages of Judah will be laid to waste;

their rubble will be the haunt of jackals.

Jeremiah: O Eternal One, I know our lives are in Your hands.

It is not in us to direct our own steps—we need You.

Discipline me, Eternal One, but do so fairly.

Hold back Your wrath, or I’ll be destroyed completely.

O God, pour out Your wrath on those nations that do not acknowledge You,

on those peoples who never call on Your name.

For they have ravaged the land of Jacob and devoured it completely.

They have made sure nothing is left of our land.

The Book of Jeremiah, Chapter 10 (The Voice)

A link to my personal reading of the Scriptures for monday, August 23 of 2021 with a paired chapter from each Testament of the Bible along with Today’s Proverbs and Psalms

A post by John Parsons about the Torah reading this week:

Shalom friends. Our Torah portion this week (Ki Tavo) includes instructions for the people to ratify the Sinai covenant in the promised land by means of a special ceremony performed in the valley between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerazim (that was later fulfilled by Israel, see Josh. 8:30-35). During this ceremony the blessings for obedience and the curses for disobedience would be declared, and Moses warned the people by providing a seemingly endless description of terrible consequences that would befall the Jewish people if they disobeyed the terms of the Sinai covenant (Deut. 28:15-68). In Jewish tradition this litany of woe is called the “tochachah” (תּוֹכָחָה), a word that means "rebuke" or "reprimand."

Reading the tochachah is difficult and painful, though it serves as a bitter medicine to wake us up and prevent us from falling into a lethal coma. In that sense the tochechah may be regarded as a great blessing, since it shocks us into experiencing the gravity of God’s grace. This is similar to Yeshua’s grave warnings about the dangers of hell. If we refuse to listen or rush past his words, we are missing the substance of God’s lament given through the Hebrew prophets. Sin is a lethal problem, and we must turn to God for healing or we will die. As Blaise Pascal once wrote, “Between heaven and hell is only this life, which is the most fragile thing in the world.” Therefore shuvah! -- turn to God and receive the blessing of life! [Hebrew for Christians]

and another about opening up to see Light:

Shalom dear friends. The great holiday of Rosh Hashanah (i.e., “Yom Teruah”) will begin in about two weeks (i.e., Monday, Sept. 6th at sundown). During the time leading up to the High Holidays, it is customary to engage in cheshbon ha-nefesh (“soul searching”) and to derive comfort that God is forgiving and loving to those who sincerely turn to Him. Because of this, the Jewish sages chose seven “Haftarot of comfort” to encourage us to make our hearts ready for the upcoming High Holiday Season.

The haftarah for Ki Tavo (i.e., Isa. 60:1-22) is the sixth of the seven readings from the prophets that are consecutively read before Rosh Hashanah. These “haftarot of comfort” foretell of the restoration of the Jewish people and of the coming of the Messianic Era. In this week’s reading, the haftarah portion describes the long-awaited future salvation of the nation of Israel. The LORD promises to shine His glorious light upon the Jewish people and to reveal His glory, despite the hour of darkness and tribulation that comes upon the earth: "Arise and shine (קוּמִי אוֹרִי) for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD (כְּבוֹד יהוה) has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will shine upon you (וְעָלַיִךְ יִזְרַח יהוה), and his glory will be seen upon you (וּכְבוֹדוֹ עָלַיִךְ יֵרָאֶה). And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes all around, and see; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried on the hip" (Isa. 60:1-4).

Sometime during the “plague of darkness” that represents the time of the Great Tribulation (i.e., the Day of the LORD and the judgment of the world, or Yom Adonai), Israel will finally turn to the LORD and receive Yeshua as their long-lost Messiah (Zech. 12:10). The veil will finally be taken away, and all Israel will be saved (Rom. 11:26; Isa. 59:20). The Light of Salvation (אור הישועה) will be revealed and the glory of the LORD (כְּבוֹד יהוה) will radiantly shine (זָרָח) upon the Jewish people. The land of Israel will be like Goshen during the times of the plagues of Egypt as the world powers are all judged and destroyed. Then the survivors of the nations will understand that the LORD is indeed with Israel and will turn to Him in surrender as well. "And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken" (Isa. 40:5). Yeshua will return to Zion to establish the Kingdom of God upon the earth (Zech. 2:10-13).

The LORD said to Moses from the midst of the shining flame: 'Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you stand is holy' (Exod. 3:5). The Chofetz Chaim comments: We all need to rise higher... Never say, I will be able to lift myself up at another time or different place. By faith see that this place, right now, is holy ground, and awaits your response. May God open the “eyes of your heart” to help you see (Eph. 1:18-19). [Hebrew for Christians]

8.22.21 • Facebook

Today’s message (Days of Praise) from the Institute for Creation Research

August 23, 2021

Offering Willingly

“Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.” (1 Chronicles 29:9)

As the people brought gifts for the construction of the temple in Jerusalem, it is mentioned no less than six times in this chapter that their offerings were willing offerings (once in verses 6 and 14, twice each in verses 9 and 17). In fact, they were not only willing but also joyful in their giving.

Joyful giving is not the usual response to a fundraising effort for a religious cause. The great proliferation of causes today—not only for churches but for multi-church or para-church projects, usually associated with high-pressure solicitations by professional money-raisers—has developed a growing cynicism in Christians toward all such appeals.

That is not the way it should be, “for God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). The churches of Macedonia, though going through “a great trial of affliction” and in “deep poverty,” nevertheless “abounded unto the riches of their liberality,” and they did so in “the abundance of their joy” (2 Corinthians 8:2). What made the difference was that they “first gave their own selves to the Lord” (2 Corinthians 8:5).

No doubt another vital factor leading to the joyful offerings of the people for the building of the temple was the example set by David’s great personal joyful generosity, followed by that of all the other leaders of Israel (1 Chronicles 29:3-8). This encouraged the people also to give “with perfect heart” (today’s verse). They had evidently, like the Philippians of Macedonia, also first given themselves to the Lord. David had led them by example, not coercion, reminding himself and his people as he prayed a prayer of thanksgiving that “all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee” (1 Chronicles 29:14). HMM

[km-davidson]

kaden-kingsman​:

Kaden sat up even straighter at the compliment, a small smirk on her features as she continued to stare, “Of course I was right.” She’d never doubted her color choice, the only potential issue she’d seen was Kyle’s ability to veto such a decision. He seemed satisfied. The black on black would reign as it rightfully should. His first impression would be all too important for how to pack decided to receive him. He might have teetered on the precipice between boy and man at the age of newly eighteen, but there was no room for error. They had to see him as a capable leader. Nobody wanted to be lead by a boy. “Obviously, I think it’s perfect,” there’d been so many ideas thrown out, so many color choices and designers, “And I think you owe me an apology for all the hours I’ve spent convincing you to not wear that awful blue.” Far too homecoming. Far too prom where all he was missing was a corsage and a date in a tacky bejeweled dress.

Kyle rolled his eyes at her attacks, but he knew she was telling the truth. It’d been hard. Nights upon nights, Skype calls between him and his friends. The designs sent over to Kaden. He was fine with the choice now that he saw it all put together, but would it always be this difficult? Maybe he could do multi-coloured ties? But he also didn’t want to be that eccentric little boy that felt like he had to look cool. “I’ll take you to the Adidas store on Monday to treat your woes,” he smirked, turning back to face the mirror. The cuff links were a type of crystal that held in power, or whatever Kaden told him they did. He didn’t believe in it, but maybe eventually he would. “But it’s good? Not too shiny?”

[justinemiracle-blog]

Winnipeg has now gone five games without a power play goal

Their habitat mostly includes semi open landscapes with old hollowed trees. They have a good sense of hearing that helps them locate their prey in any type of habitat. They prefer habitats with oak, mixed pine and oak, and sycamore. Nobody pays an athlete $90 million to endorse shoes because fans react to him rationally. Nike isn't hoping to appeal to his fans' sense of cool headed logic. They're going for the gut, for the instinct, for the rah rah part of a sports fan that says, "That's my guy." LeBron James has, for better or for worse, sold his own image as something greater than a business asset for seven years.

wholesale jerseys His agent said:"There is no problem. When Alexis sees a football, he cannot stop himself."That is why he will be in all probability a frustrated figure when Arsenal take on Southampton. His appetite is also the reason that Wenger wants him to stay at the Emirates for many years to come. Cheap Jerseys free shipping Liverpool FCJamie Carragher and Liverpool fans go into Twitter MELTDOWN as Reds pull out of deal to sign Virgil van DijkAfter Liverpool released a statement apologising for their conduct in chasing the Dutchman and pulling out of the deal, the club's fans were not a happy bunchSummer transfer windowTransfer news LIVE: Liverpool end interest in Virgil van Dijk, plus latest on Kylian Mbappe, Hector Bellerin and every dealThe summer sales are on the way as clubs look forward to a busy few months.  wholesale jerseys

nfl jerseys Tom+Chee will be bringing comfort food classics like tomato soup and grilled cheese to Carrboro. The Cincinnati based chain, which had its beginnings as a food tent, https://www.wholesalejerseyslan.com/ has experienced tremendous growth since its successful feature on Shark Tank. The ABC TV Network reality series features entrepreneurs making presentations to prospective investors.  nfl jerseys

Cheap Jerseys china In the spring summer and fall month's racers strike out across the state to enjoy long standing events like the RiverRock Festival, Middle Mountain Momma, or the Shenandoah Mountain 100. Middle Mountain Momma offers a variety of race lengths and classes in the Shenandoah Valley region of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Shenandoah 100 is an epic, highly coveted accomplishment in the rugged terrain of Blue Ridge Mountains offers only 1 race distance, 100 miles.  Cheap Jerseys china

wholesale nfl jerseys from china I have been a loyal football fan since I was a child. By 7th grade I knew the name of every player on my favorite team, which happens to be the New York Giants. wholesale nfl jerseys When I was studying abroad and they were in the Super Bowl, I cheered for them from Italy.  wholesale nfl jerseys from china

wholesale nfl jerseys from china I know, this sounds like I am your school teacher when I say this, but it's true. The more you set your priorities and are more organized with your time, the more you are "on top of your game." And, when you feel in control of your time and schedules, you feel better about yourself. (And, when you feel better about yourself, you are more apt to do more for yourself.)Rule 3 Start differentiating between what others expect from you and what you want and expect from yourself.  wholesale nfl jerseys from china

wholesale jerseys This technique works great for subjects that are not moving, like people sitting down or a picture of a statue or tree. Here is how you do it: 1. Using the viewfinder's focus point, http://www.okcheapjerseys.com/ move the camera until your subject is in the middle of the frame, and press the shutter release button half way down.  wholesale jerseys

Cheap Jerseys free shipping New Jersey fans watch New York television than watch Philadelphia television, said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. Is what you get in a state with no dedicated TV station, and no Major League Baseball team. Do, however, have two National Football League teams: the New Jersey Jets and the New Jersey Giants even if they don admit it.  Cheap Jerseys free shipping

Cheap Jerseys free shipping Yes, in the Jets' 3 1 win over New Jersey the power play was 0 for 5 and in Sunday's 4 3 OT loss to Minnesota it was a woeful 0 for 8, including 90 seconds with a two man advantage. wholesale jerseys But the woes date back further than that. Winnipeg has now gone five games without a power play goal, a stretch of 18 chances..  Cheap Jerseys free shipping

Cheap Jerseys free shipping We will not forget about this during spring break, and upon our return to the practice field on Monday, March 23, we will continue to address this issue in our media opportunities and by wearing black during our practices. We cannot express how grateful we are to Coach Stoops and the coaching staff for supporting each and every action we have taken, even when these actions may have seemed extreme. We simply cannot wait to get back on the practice field in our pursuit of a national championship, but even a national championship is not more important than using our platform as student athletes to make our university and our nation a better place.  Cheap Jerseys free shipping

Cheap Jerseys china 13:40, 22 JUN 2014Rando Bertoia (Photo: George Hunter) Get daily updates directly to your inbox+ SubscribeThank you for subscribing!Could not subscribe, try again laterInvalid EmailFOR most of his life, Rando Bertoia rarely spoke about the morning he and his father were snatched from their home along with hundreds of Scots Italians at the height of World War II.It is only in recent years that he opened his heart to talk about being one of the survivors of the Arandora Star tragedy when 800 perished after a ship carrying the prisoners to an internment camp in Canada was torpedoed.Former trauma counsellor Sue, https://www.cheapjerseys18.com/ who has spent much of her life working with war veterans often left mentally scarred by the sights they have seen, says most people who lived through the horrors of the two world wars rarely spoke about the events they witnessed.And by not speaking about them, many individual stories such as those of the hundreds of Scots Italians locked up and even shipped to workcamps abroad after Italy joined Hitler's Germany in the war have never been passed on to younger generations.Sue hopes her book, which she wrote after interviewing Rando, will help raise awareness of the plight many Scots Italian families suffered during World War II.

The 54 year old, from Glasgow, said: "There was real censorship during the war official and unofficial, where people did not talk about their troubles as everyone was going through the same. People didn't tell their individual stories, which is why so little is known by the younger generations today about what happened and that includes the stories of the Scots Italians who were taken from their homes."I didn't know anything about the fate of the Italians who were living in this country when Italy went to war on the side of Germany."It was quite shocking what happened to Italians living here, many of whom had been born here, had fought with the British Army during World War I and may even have been fighting with the Army during World War II."But the British government panicked and, as soon as Italy entered the war, all Italian males were rounded up and sent to internment camps."Retired watchmaker Rando, who died last October, was 20 when fascist dictator Benito Mussolini declared war on Britain and France 74 years ago. Overnight, all Italians living in the UK were declared enemy aliens, with Winston Churchill allegedly ordering: "Collar the lot."Rando and his dad Gildo were arrested at their home in Glasgow's south side at 4.30am on June 11, 1940 Cheap Jerseys china.

[douglasacogan]

Reviewing the sentencing dynamics as more parents get (minimal) prison time in "Operation Varsity Blues" college admissions scandal

This lengthy USA Today article provides a kind of mid-season review now that 19 parents out of 35 charged have pleaded guilty in "Operation Varsity Blues" college admissions scandal. The piece, which I recommend in full, is headlined "Parents cry desperate times in college admissions scandal.  A judge opts for prison anyway."  Here are excerpts:

One couple, Gregory and Marcia Abbott, told the judge they paid $125,000 to have someone fix their daughter's college entrance exams because she was suffering from chronic Lyme disease and needed a boost.

Attorneys for a father, Robert Flaxman, said he was desperate to help a troubled daughter remain in recovery — so he paid to cheat in hopes of getting her into a college where she would be safe.

Lawyers for another parent, Marjorie Klapper, said she was trying to help her epileptic son who'd suffered a brutal physical assault feel like a "regular" student.

The wealthy parents are among 10 sentenced in the last two months in the nation's college admissions scandal. Each insisted they didn't cheat for the status symbol of their child getting into an elite college or university. Instead they were driven by a feeling people endure regardless of economic class — desperation. They were families in crisis, the parents said, and the scheme's mastermind, the manipulative college consultant Rick Singer, found them at their most vulnerable and seized upon their weakness.

But their stories, each deeply personal with some details sealed from public court documents, have done little to sway the sentences handed down by U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani. Attorneys for the Abbotts, Flaxman and Klapper each asked for no incarceration but got prison anyway. Only one of the 10 sentenced parents has avoided prison altogether.

“Just because you’re a good person in tough circumstances doesn’t mean you can disregard what you know is right," Talwani said last week to Flaxman, a real estate developer from Laguna Beach, California, who specializes in luxury resorts. “Even good people who are doing things for people they love can’t be breaking the law."

Flaxman, who sobbed in court as he apologized to students who "work hard and don’t cheat no matter what,” received one month in prison for paying $75,000 to Singer to have someone change answers on his daughter's ACT exam to improve her score.

The ongoing round of parent sentencing continues today with Jane Buckingham, of Los Angeles, the founder of a marketing firm and author of a self-help book series called, "The Modern Girl's Guide to Life." She's admitted to paying Singer $50,000 to have someone take the ACT exam for her son.

Two more parents will be sentenced in the coming weeks by other Boston federal judges. Four additional parents pleaded guilty in court Monday, bringing the total to 19 parents out of 35 charged who have pleaded guilty in the case. The latest four won't be sentenced until 2020.

Parents sentenced to date pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud charges. Those citing personal crises tend to have paid into the test-cheating plot and are not part of the group who paid Singer significantly more to have their children tagged as college recruits to facilitate their admissions. Talwani, during a hearing last week, said a level of "elitism" was at play with the latter.

Daniel Medwed, professor of law and criminal justice at Northeastern University School of Law, said a fallback defense strategy in any case is to develop "mitigation evidence" — often hardships — to demonstrate extenuating circumstances.  "With clients from impoverished or challenging backgrounds, the argument is to often cite those backgrounds — that this person never had a chance, they grew up without a roof," Medwed said.  "But when your defendants are white privileged folks you can't make a classic hardship argument.  So you have to come up with a different hardship."  Some of their arguments might not resonate with judge, he said, because it's difficult to "connect the dots between the hardships and the behavior."

The theme of this article seems to be that the defendants' various tales of woe are having little impact, that these deeply personal stories "have done little to sway the sentences handed down by U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani."  But, critically, federal prosecutors have generally advocated for longer prison terms for nearly all defendants than have been imposed by Judge Talwani, and it is generally unusual for any federal prison terms to be measured in weeks rather than in months and years.  So I am inclined to believe these arguments are resonating with the sentencing judge, but that she is still eager to impose (minimal) terms of imprisonment to send a message about misbehavior and equal justice.

Prior related Varsity Blues posts:

Mapping out next possible celebrity sentencings in wake of indictment in college admissions scandal 

Big batch of federal plea deals (with relatively low sentencing ranges) in college admissions scandal

Summer sentencing (with notable particulars) for first college admission scandal parents to enter pleas in court

Federal district judge rejects feds request for significant prison term in first sentencing of college bribery scandal

Gearing up for the federal sentencing of Felicity Huffman and others involved in college bribery scandal 

Feds recommending incarceration terms from 1 to 15 months for parents involved college bribery scandal 

Noticing the interesting (but perhaps not too consequential) guidelines "loss" issue lurking in the college bribery cases

Gearing up for the next round of sentencings in college admissions scandal

Next parent sentenced in college admission scandal gets four months in federal prison

Next parent up in college admission scandal sentencing also gets four months in federal prison

BigLaw partner gets one month federal time as latest parent sentenced in college admissions scandal 

Napa Valley winemaker gets five months of imprisonment, the longest sentence so far in college admissions scandal

US Attorney in college admission scandal makes plain how trial penalty works even for celebrity actresses

Catching up with another round of sentencings in "Operation Varsity Blues"

The trial penalty on fine display as parents in college admissions scandal get hit with new federal bribery charges

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8247011 https://sentencing.typepad.com/sentencing_law_and_policy/2019/10/reviewing-the-sentencing-dynamics-as-more-parents-get-minimal-prison-time-in-operation-varsity-blues.html via http://www.rssmix.com/

[luigizfd9056211-blog]

Split Liquid Crystal Displays Obtains Deep.

Me and http://maxsport-fitnessblog.info my Better half spent a couple of days at this gloriously Wonderful, Historical Urban area as well as found it is actually Beauty greater than just skin deep with a riches of Society. After we've completed packing all that car parking and clearance onto the website, there isn't actually adequate area left behind over for six private condominiums on this internet site, not to mention the hypothetical restriction of eight must the site be actually zoned L-4.

Well enough ranting and discussing, time for the genuine chicken of the article; the excellent, the poor and the terrible of laser device reduce western side properties. The award series, which occurred Monday night at Broadcast Urban area Music Hall in The Big Apple Metropolitan area, had whatever coming from sensational outfits to kooky ensembles, which is part of what creates this carpet therefore enjoyable. The pyramidal designs led him to equate them with Egypt's pyramid, and the comparison stuck - today, that component of Southern Illinois is actually contacted Little Egypt", and the community label of Cairo (inaccurately obvious KAY-roe" due to the residents) substantiates the suspicious hookup. Given that of the merging of dangerous blue-green algae coming from Lake Okeechobee and also the reddish tide affecting Fla's Basin Shore, fishing guide Larry Conley has certainly not possessed a charter in full weeks. While road concept seems like a technical concern for planners and also city authorities, it is actually a topic that touches each people rather essentially whenever our experts leave our homes. On these 10 unique city tours, you'll venture right into the Bronx with an old-school rap artist, find deserted buildings in Portugal's 2nd metropolitan area, and go longboarding via Amsterdam's most renowned playground. People who typically journey in between locations including freelance authors, professional photographers, salespersons, professionals and also seeing house health experts utilize slips for tax obligation reasons to state reductions. Credit: public domaina love of photography early in lifestyle, and also he became one of the much better known expert image photographers around. Call me vintage, however I still favor wired headphones to cordless ones, as well as a 3.5 mm port indicates I may charge my phone while paying attention to songs concurrently. While you can't in fact go into system 9 3/4 by going through the wall structures in between platforms 9 and 10, the metropolitan area has put together a cart that looks undergoing the wall surface bring about system 9 3/4. Bear in mind, nonetheless, that this trolley is actually not actually positioned specifically where the system will be thus accurate enthusiasts might intend to take an image along with it and after that yet another in between systems 9 and also 10. Considering that it is among the largest learn terminals in London, King's Cross terminal gets on many tube series, consisting of Victoria (light-toned blue), Piccadilly (dark blue), Northern (dark), Hammersmith as well as Area (pink), Circle (yellowish) and Metropolitan (purple) significance that the terminal is quickly available from any kind of point in Greater london. In the beginning i was unsure, unsure and suspicious, however i merely gave it a in 7 times when i came back to Canada, my guy( now hubby) called me through himself as well as concerned me apologizing that every little thing had been settled with his mommy as well as family members and he acquired a new job interview so we must acquire married. Analysis presents that just how your residence is actually arranged as well as embellished quick guides your eating actions - whether that implies ordering an apple when you are actually feeling famished or mindlessly raking with a bag of potato chips while enjoying TELEVISION. Our properties can either be made to keep us well-balanced or even developed to make us fat deposits," points out Brian Wansink, Ph.D., director of the Cornell Meals and Brand Laboratory at Cornell University and also writer of Slim deliberately: Mindless Consuming Solutions for Everyday Life." Coming from changing your refrigerator to tidying up your property, here are 10 means you can easily keep your home coming from undermining your healthy consuming efforts.Normally rock n roll is actually a woes shuffle rhythm along with backbeat tones given through net drum. ( HealthDay)-- Senior high school students that can look upon at least a patch environment-friendly landscape from their classroom may do far better academically, a new research advises.Jodpur is the second largest metropolitan area in India as well as is actually referred to as heaven urban area as a result of it's wonderfully painted blue properties. Currently Thanks to Randy Lilya, Sonny Hess, the Spare Area and an award winning checklist of Rose city musicians, a perk will be actually held to aid Mike off-set the huge expenses of his procedures.

[dontesmalls9965-blog]

The Treatment And Also Eating Of Soldiers.

Here is a checklist of the top seven cities you will most definitely find in Europe honeymoon trip deals These are a must-visit as well as they would certainly produce your honeymoon a memorable occasion. Albany, New York's condition capital, is situated on the west financial institution of the Hudson River, north of New york city Urban area and southern of Montreal. I am under aged and I do not drink like all the people below my grow older do so I am considering down the times up until our experts return to the metropolitan area. I assume living in the metropolitan area's or country side, does not matter. A very long time ago these blue cats were multiplied as hunting felines. After the failure LC, lots of collectives including our own, promoted for the Autonomous Maoist Collective version, pushing the notion of celebration structure to an undetermined potential opportunity.

I have over 20 years of spell casting knowledge, and also i have efficiently directed incantations to aid numerous folks improve their love life, economic situation, and also joy and happiness. , a solution provided through may help you combat your traffic signal ticket and also obtain it put away. " When you observe this caution tag, you know that that item has greater than the total volume of sodium that you need to eat in a solitary time," metropolitan area Health and wellness PHYSICIAN Mary Bassett mentioned Monday at an Applebee's in Moments Square as 40 of the establishment's The big apple City-area areas introduced they had incorporated the labels in front of the target date. Coming from speaking with customers i find that folks are are actually deciding on the place over your house typewith urban places around me on the decline my consumers are bending towards additional rural areas and also subsequently paying a great deal even more for shane-gymlifestyle2018.info there home as well as making concessions on being actually separated and so on The scientists found topographical variations and also clustering in degrees of life contentment as well as specific personality type For example, individuals clustered around city and also central locations were actually the absolute most open - and, to a smaller level, the best expansive - along with levels lessening when moving to exterior regions. You might even look at acquiring a tailored keepsake box in order that you can take out those sentimental trinkets as well as discuss them with your little one as he or she matures. These ornaments and their linked memories will definitely come to be an aspect of their beloved childhood recollections, all with accounts to be provided their own youngsters and grandchildren someday. The very first was the fantastic fire of Boston ma in 1760, when the glare from nearly three hundred structures, all in blazes at the same time, shone by means of the windows of the District House, and threw a ferocious lustre upon the gilded vegetation as well as cougar's head of our old chair. Feel free to note that if you are actually making use of a firm phone you will need to contact the BES Supervisor to see if you have Surveillance Cooking timer Reset" consent, which is required to maintain the phone's display screen from going blank while you are utilizing it to acquire directions. It would not have actually made a purposeful difference previously, but given that I know the future won't look like the past, I think warranted in opting for my opinion that in the brand new era, one through which real estate will likely be a harder organisation than it has been actually, a decrease in fanciness and also an increase in simple vanilla are going to be actually extra cherished through those who commit via everyone markets (particularly given that absolutely nothing in the backtest, however tenuous its own importance, suggests I would certainly have harmed myself possessed I applied this common sense previously). His 2nd better half, Barbara Bosson, co-starred in Mountain Street Woe," and also his sis, Joanna Frank, possessed a reoccuring role on L.A. Legislation" as the better half of solid companion Douglas Brackman, participated in through her real-life husband (as well as thereby Bochco's brother-in-law), Alan Rachins. Water Top Quality & Conservation - The area of Seat used a 1% water preservation system within a targeted period from year 2000 to 2010 as well as yearly reports deliver a great revealing regarding the continuing decline in the metropolitan area's per capita income consumption.

[allisonswrittenwords]

It’s my Music Monday, and I’ll cry if I want to.

Only because it is Monday, not because of the music.

It’s my birthday this week.  Not sure how many more times I’ll admit to that, but since I’m still in my thirties for a few more years (four, to be exact), I’ll reveal my age until I decide otherwise.

I choose not to have birthday parties and such – I like simple things, going out to dinner, spending time with good company, experiences, well wishes, and gifts.  I’m more interested in actually doing something rather than getting something for my birthday these days.  This past weekend, I celebrated my 36th birthday a week early and attended a convention in Valley Forge, PA.

I partied like I was 3 years old and met Jem herself, Samantha Newark.

We also met Larry Kenney, the guy behind “ThunderCats…HO!”

And yes, I was rocking a sweet She-Ra sweatshirt (with cape!).

This early birthday was sweet (I’ll celebrate it on the actual day, but this was the pre-Birthday celebration), but not everyone’s birthday is.  And that killjoy reminder is the subject of Music Monday this week.  It’s a song about a birthday party that’s only memorable because of what happened to the birthday girl.

May it never happen to you, but if it did, you’d probably commiserate with her.

“It’s My Party” is a 1963 song by Lesley Gore, who was a junior in high school at the time of the song’s recording.  The song was the first to be produced by Quincy Jones.  The song was originally recorded in 1962 by The Chiffons, and again (recorded in February 1963) by Helen Shapiro. However, Shapiro’s version was perceived as a cover of Lesley Gore’s song by the time it was released in October 1963 (Gore’s version was released in April 1963).

The song tells the story of a birthday party, in which the birthday girl’s boyfriend (Johnny) disappears from the party, returning with Judy (presumably the girl’s rival even before the infamous incident of the song), who is (gasp!) wearing Johnny’s ring.  “Wearing Johnny’s ring” means Judy is his new love interest.

How dare he do this to Birthday Girl!

  The song is actually about songwriter Seymour Gottlieb’s daughter Judy’s Sweet 16.  Judy, horrified at the prospect of her grandparents being invited to her big party, cried (the horror!).  I love the irony of that because the party isn’t even for Judy in this song!

At the time of its release, Quincy Jones was overseas, and upon returning, he was unhappy with the rush release of the song.  Turns out he wanted young Lesley’s name to be changed to something more pleasant than “Lesley Gore.”  Aaron Schroder of the Aaron Schroder Music Firm said it didn’t matter what her name was, but that the song was a #1 hit.

And after you listen to the singer’s story of teenage heartache and birthday party blues, you’ll understand her pain!

“It’s My Party” reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, R&B, and Cash Box Top 100, and was #29 overall or 1963 on the Hot 100.  Turns out teenage woes at a birthday party makes for popular songs, but then again, it works for breakup songs all the time!

As for Judy, she got hers in the end, in the form of a sequel song, “Judy’s Turn to Cry,” which reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1963 (#83 for the year).  In this song, the narrator, coming to realization that she was foolish for shedding a tear over Judy and her beloved Johnny, kisses another boy.  This doesn’t sit well with Johnny, who punches that prospective beau and getting back in Birthday Girl’s good graces, upsetting Judy in the process.

These days, there wouldn’t have been a sequel – Birthday Girl would have told them both off.  Because she’s strong, she’s power, she’s woman.  Hear her roar!

At least, we hope this is how it would fly in modern times.

But in 1963, no boyfriend meant the world was coming to an end.

As for Lesley Gore, she went on to act, compose songs for the 1980 movie Fame (with her brother Michael), and host an LGBT-oriented public television show, In the Life, in the 2000s.  She released albums until the early 1980s, a comeback in 2005, and revealed in 2004 that she was a lesbian and had been in a relationship since 1982.  Lesley Gore died of lung cancer in 2015, but her music was made for a generation of teenage girls fed up with their fickle boyfriends.  She showed all the self-assertion of a feisty girl through her music.

  It was her party, and she chose not to cry.  All girls should be so confident!

The song was featured in the movie Problem Child, as upset birthday girl Lucy watches on in horror as her party is ruined by Junior Healey and his rather devilish pranks.

Folks, the EXACT reason to cry at your birthday party – someone else ruining it in a whole other way!

And there you have it, a birthday-themed Music Monday.  I figured I could find something that fit the theme.  I had to go back to the 1960s, but appealing to the audience is what I like to do.

After all, it’s my blog, and I’ll post what I want to.

Have a great Monday (is there such a thing?), and enjoy the music!

On this #MusicMonday, I'll cry if I want to (and you're just going to have to understand why)! It's my Music Monday, and I'll cry if I want to. Only because it is Monday, not because of the music.

[musiccosmosru]

Transitioning temps can take a toll on oily skin, so it’s important to refresh your beauty products as the seasons change. Whether you’re headed back to school or just looking to update your regimen, face masks could be a great addition to your skincare routine this fall. While a single face mask won’t cure your woes instantly, investing in a few different options and creating a habit can make a difference. So if you’re looking to treat your skin to some TLC, here are four at-home face masks that work wonders on oily complexions.

The Tech: Neutrogena Light Therapy Acne Treatment Mask

If your skin is acne-prone – but topical medications dry out your face – the Neutrogena Light Therapy Acne Treatment Mask should be your new go-to. It uses blue light to kill bacteria and red light to reduce inflammation, which is a colorful (and effective) skincare match made in heaven. The treatment is clinically-proven, FDA cleared, chemical free and UV free, so you don’t have to worry about harmful consequences to your skin.

To use this mask, simply wash your face with your usual cleanser, pat it dry and turn the tech on. All it takes is 10 minutes! You can sit back, relax and let the lights do their magic, or go about your day while the treatment takes place. The mask comes equipped with temples (like the sides of your sunglasses), so it won’t fall off if there’s no time for rest.

Arguably the best part about this high-tech mask? You can purchase it at Meijer for under $40.

The Charcoal Mask: Yes to Tomatoes Detoxifying Charcoal Mud Mask

Another mild remedy for acne-prone complexions comes in the form of charcoal mud masks. Charcoal is used to draw impurities out of the skin, which is especially great for those of us with oily faces. Oil and dirt clog our pores making them look bigger, but charcoal pulls those toxins out, ridding us of pesky blackheads in the process.

Charcoal is an ingredient in the Yes to Tomatoes Mud Mask, but it also features additional elements like salicylic acid and aloe. The charcoal works to remove oil and dirt from the face, while the other components fight acne and re-hydrate our skin. This gentle mask is also natural and paraben-free, so dry skin due to harsh chemicals will be a thing of the past.

The detoxifying charcoal may feel cool and tingly upon application, so test a small spot inside your arm before covering your face. When you’re ready, apply the product to clean skin and leave it on for 10 minutes, then rinse with warm water and pat dry with a towel.

If mud masks aren’t your thing, opt for the paper sheet version instead. Just peel, stick it to your face and go!

The Clay Mask: L’Oreal Pure-Clay Mask, Detox & Brighten

To detox oily skin after wearing makeup all week, try the L’Oreal Pure-Clay Mask. When mixed with three kinds of pure clay, charcoal acts like a magnet – it draws impurities out of the skin and tightens your pores, which will make your face feel clean and refreshed. The formula is also designed to even out your complexion, so your skin may appear brighter after regular use.

After work on Fridays or before you go to bed, say goodbye to stress and its toll on your skin by applying this mask to your face. Leave the mask on for 10-15 minutes, then rinse it off with warm water and moisturize. Clay masks often stimulate circulation and blood flow, so don’t be alarmed if there’s facial redness upon removal. Make sure to test the mask on your arm first, just in case!

The Citrus Peel: Yes to Grapefruit Pore Perfection Brightening Peel

To prepare your skin for the week ahead and leave your face glowing, use the Yes to Grapefruit Pore Perfection Peel (available at select Meijer locations) before heading to work on Monday. Grapefruit is high in antioxidants, which means this peel helps counteract wrinkles, even out skin tone and reduce the appearance of pores. The product is natural and paraben-free, so it’s the perfect finishing touch for your skincare routine.

Apply this peel to your skin post-cleanse, relax for 10 minutes, then rinse it off. You can use it up to three times per week!

Want to learn more about the best fall face masks? Check out our post about achieving flawless skin.

<a style="display:none" rel="follow" href="http://megatheme.ir/" title="قالب وردپرس">قالب وردپرس</a>

The post The Best Face Masks for Oily Skin – Style appeared first on MusicCosmoS.

[wherearchthou]

Portugal

Portugal brought us blue skies, tiled sidewalks, castle views, cheap wine, abundant fresh seafood, and our first hostel experience of this trip. If you make it to the end of this far too lengthy post, you will read my ‘wise’ words of wisdom about my experience as a 30-year-old in a hostel.

We landed in Lisbon, or Lisboa, in Portuguese, on Saturday afternoon. We got our bearings exploring the city on foot. We walked along the waterfront and then trekked uphill for stunning views of the city at sunset. We had dinner at a restaurant called Bota Alto, where the waiter gave us a crazy look because Nick and I ordered, “What the Portuguese order.” The waiter served us a sample to make sure we liked what we were going to eat. Little did this waiter know that we eat basically anything.

Sunday morning we walked up hilly cobblestoned streets and flights of stairs to the Alfama area to see a castle. We didn’t end up going inside the castle, but we did enjoy gorgeous views of Lisbon from above. We stumbled upon a restaurant for lunch, thanks to the Rick Steve’s guidebook, that was the perfect meal for a hot day after a long walk. We enjoyed sitting on a vine-covered patio while sipping on vinho verde (green wine, which is wine that is aged for a shorter period of time than my usual boxed red wine) and eating cheese, a salad, and prawns. We ended the day at Time Out Market, which was recommended by many people. The huge market is essentially a food hall mecca for locals and tourists alike. One side has authentic Portuguese food while the other side has hamburgers, Chinese food, pizza, and pretty much any other food you could imagine. We stuck to the Portuguese side and were pleased with our choices of (more) cheese, (more) local wine, and (more) seafood. If you’re sensing a trend with our dining habits in Portugal, you are correct. 

Monday morning we finished our last Rick Steve’s self-guided walk in the Bairro Alto/Rossio area of Lisbon. Before catching a train to Sintra, we had an interesting detour to the US Embassy. To make a long story short, I had to get paperwork notarized for my new job. I tried to get the paperwork before we left, but it didn’t come via email until after we left, and of course, the paperwork has to be notarized before we come back to the US. We tried to get an appointment in London to no avail and were very lucky to snag an appointment at the Embassy in Lisbon. US Embassies are not easy places to get into. After presenting documentation and explaining why we were there, they almost made Nick wait outside. I pulled the, “We are on our honeymoon card” which possibly made the guard feel sorry for us, so he let Nick accompany me into the heavily gated- yet beautiful looking- pink building with a ceramic tile roof. Annnddd this is now a very long story. 

Our time at the Embassy brought us an important travel lesson at the expense of a woman who was in a very unfortunate situation. While we were waiting in the very boring waiting room (no cell phones allowed- the guards hold them for you before you are allowed to go in), people were coming and going, many were dual citizens and working out passport issues, etc. Anyway, one woman from the US came in hysterically crying. She explained to the people behind the giant glass window that she had everything stolen. Passport, license, credit cards, debit card. Everything. She walked 2 hours in the afternoon heat to get to the Embassy. While she had her credit cards and passport information online, she was not allowed to actually withdraw any of the money that was being wired to her because she didn’t have a valid form of identification. The Embassy credit card machine was broken that day, so she couldn’t even have money wired directly to the embassy. This was a good reminder to us that when you are traveling, you should try to keep your important documents spread out a little. Potentially, if she had her credit card in a different bag, or her passport back at her hotel room, or her debit card buried in the bottom of her bag...maybe she would have had at least one thing working in her favor. After an annoying wait, and a lot of money for a damn stamp, I got my papers signed and notarized declaring that I am in fact a US citizen. I went up to the crying lady to give her the 4 Euros we had, where she politely kept declining them until I essentially threw them at her and said, “Do something good when you can!” before I hastily ran away and quickly put my sunglasses on because I wanted to start crying for her.

After that not so exciting side trip to the Embassy, we were finally able to board our train to the adorable town of Sintra. Luckily, Sintra is only a 40-minute train ride west of Lisbon, so it was really simple to get there. We got off the train and headed to our hostel to check in. Our room legitimately had an unobstructed view of 2 amazing castles, so I was in heaven. We realized we had time to get to the Moorish Castle before it closed, so we quickly hiked uphill and were in awe of the views and the architecture of this castle. To put it simply, the castle looked just like those sand castle molds you use at the beach. That evening, we had my favorite dinner yet: arroz con marisco- rice with seafood (and an amazing sauce not included in the name). 

Tuesday morning brought some travel woes, but they’re bound to happen, right?! We had some transportation struggles (missed buses, delayed buses) trying to get ourselves to the cute little beach town called Cascais. For starters, I had some major pronunciation issues with the name of this town. After working hard on pronouncing it- which meant me repeating it over and over to myself- I still butchered the name, big time, while trying to tell the bus driver where we wanted to go. When we did finally make it to the adorable beach town, I realized I forgot to pack my bathing suit for this day trip. These were all ‘me’ problems, so let’s just say it’s a miracle Nick hasn’t already moved onto our next destination without me. We ended up having a lovely lunch and walk along the water in Cascais and headed back to Sintra in time to see the amazing architecture of the beautiful and colorful Pena Palace....where we even found a courtyard named for us, further convincing me of my destiny to be royal, even with a new last name!

Our last full day in Portugal brought us back to reality. While we squeezed in a trip to the town of Belem, just 4 miles away from Lisbon (to see the monastery pictured below), we also faced the reality that we really needed to finish travel plans (activities, lodging, food) for the latter half of our trip and that we needed to do laundry....in a hostel....

Which leads me to my lessons learned in a hostel as a 30-year-old. I will preface this by saying: we did not stay in any shared dorm rooms. I’m gathering that if the guesthouse/hostel offers a shared dorm option, they still call themselves a hostel. We opted for the private room with a shared bathroom in a centrally located area. Knowing the duration of this trip, we knew there would be sacrifices including staying in places with shared bathroom facilities, minimalist rooms, and loud street noise. If we’re focusing on positives...our hostels have included nothing but kind people, clean linens, and lovely breakfasts...for about $60/night, which you can’t beat. I should also note that when I booked these hostels (yes, I booked these, not Nick), I was apparently feeling more adventurous than I am now. Not unsurprisingly, my biggest hurdle has been the shared shower, even though the showers haven’t been thaaat bad. But I learned that there are only 2 ways to get through it: either make sure you don’t have your contact lenses in and/or make sure you’ve at least had half a bottle of wine. Depending on if I shower at night or in the morning, one of those things has to happen for me to leave the shower feeling clean. Quite the task was me trying to rinse out our laundry in the said shower, which was also on a 20-second timer (so you had to keep pushing a button to keep the water going), which also ended up flooding some small pools of water into the hallway, while trying not to drop my now somewhat decently clean laundry on the floor while also not touching the walls of the shower. In between swear words, I kept repeating to myself, “Beach. Beach. Beach.” Another part of the reason we stayed in a place with a shared bathroom is so that we can stay in a somewhat nice place when we get to the beach part of our trip. That ridiculous story aside, it really hasn’t been too bad. And if it allows us to travel on this amazing trip (that we will never replicate again), then I suppose that it’s well worth some of the minor inconveniences. 

After a very long day of travel, we just made it to our next stop, Thailand. Thailand which will no doubt be much more chaotic, but we couldn’t be more excited for the next leg of this adventure.