#sunset tonight chicago

[apod]

2024 September 22

Chicagohenge: Equinox in an Aligned City Image Credit & Copyright: Anthony Artese

Explanation: Chicago, in a way, is like a modern Stonehenge. The way is east to west, and the time is today. Today, and every equinox, the Sun will set exactly to the west, everywhere on Earth. Therefore, today in Chicago, the Sun will set directly down the long equatorially-aligned grid of streets and buildings, an event dubbed #chicagohenge. Featured here is a Chicago Henge picture taken during the equinox in mid-September of 2017 looking along part of Upper Wacker Drive. Many cities, though, have streets or other features that are well-aligned to Earth's spin axis. Therefore, quite possibly, your favorite street may also run east - west. Tonight at sunset, with a quick glance, you can actually find out.

∞ Source: apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240922.html

[wyattjohnston]

with the posting of the masterlist, the summer fic exchange 2k24 has come to an end! 33 fics written by 31 people. i am eternally grateful that these exchanges are still going strong and that people are having fun with it!

please read all the fics below, even if it's a player you don't normally read for. a lot of work has gone into these fics and they all deserve your time. make sure to reblog and leave comments when you've read it!

please respect all warnings at the beginning of fics. if a fic has been marked as smut or 18+ and you are younger than, do the right thing and do not read it.

i'm still unsure if i'm running a winter exchange or if i'm going to maybe reconsider the timing, but please come back and feel free to ask questions around november/december if i haven't said anything!

the summer fic exchange 2k24 masterlist

Boston Bruins

Jeremy Swayman

Indoor Cat by @nhl-stories for @ bqstqnbruin

Carolina Hurricanes

Andrei Svechnikov

i’ve been yours since you stepped through the door tonight by @writingonleaves for @ callsign-denmark

Third Time's the Charm by @typical-simplelove for @ kurlyteuvo

Frederik Andersen

But Baby, It Feels Like Love by @callsign-denmark for @ mp0625

Chicago Hawks

Teuvo Teravainen

I Think I Dreamed You Into Life by @kurlyteuvo for @ lila-rose

Colorado Avalanche

Nathan MacKinnon

hide the sun by @ohmyeyesmyeyes for @ wyattjohnston

Edmonton Oilers

Connor McDavid

i'm half-doomed and you're semi-sweet by @offside-the-lines for @ hiding-from-reality-56

Leon Draisaitl

… but you're going to by @senditcolton for @ thewintersoldierdisaster

Blue Hair and Pronouns by @hiding-from-reality-56 for @ nhl-stories

Florida Panthers

Matthew Tkachuk

always attract by @dunnerlars for @ sc0tters

truth or dare by @boqvistsbabe for @ ohmyeyesmyeyes

Montreal Canadiens

Cole Caufield

four weddings and a funeral by @thewintersoldierdisaster for @ prettytoxicrevolver

Juraj Slafkovsky

Summer Vacation by @prettytoxicrevolver for @ lam-ila

New Jersey Devils

Dawson Mercer

Baseball and Love by @lam-ila for @ hischier-papaya

Jack Hughes

CHASING YES by @puckology101 for @ tonsypep

Nico Hischier

home is just another word for you by @fallinallincurls for @ puckology101

felt like magic by @laurenairay for @ selfindulgentpoorlywritten

good luck, babe by @nol-pat for @ fallinallincurls

turbulent by @wyattjohnston for @ dunnerlars

walked in and dream came trued it for ya by @gravestrain for @ nol-pat

New York Islanders

Mat Barzal

First Time Feeling by @huuuuughes for @ ahockeywrites

truth or dare by @dunnerlars for @ writingonleaves

Matt Martin

I can't help it if I like it by @laurenairay for @ comphy-and-cozy

New York Rangers

Alexis Lafreniere

Romance in The Hamptons by @lifeofpriya for @ wildrangers

Matt Rempe

MEDICINE by @lila-rose for @ 2 manytabsopen

Pittsburgh Penguins

Anthony Beauvillier

one night standards by @comphy-and-cozy for @ offsidethelines

Tattoos of You by @bqstqnbruin for @ senditcolton

Ryan Graves

The First Time by @selfindulgentpoorlywritten for @ gravestrain

Seattle Kraken

Philipp Grubauer

Pfirsich by @mp0625 for @ huuuuughes

Toronto Maple Leafs

Joseph Woll

sunset by @hischier-papaya for @ lifeofpriya

William Nylander

I Wish You Would by @wildrangers for @ typical-simplelove

Vancouver Canucks

Quinn Hughes

somehow still stuck on you by @matthewtkachuk for @ boqvistsbabe

walkin' with his head down, i'm the one he's walking to by @tonyspep for @ laurenairay

if the person you wrote for hasn’t read and reblogged your fic, please tell me.

i only tag the person who wrote the fic as there are limited tags.

[cuttergauthier]

The Story Of Us

Kirby Dash x Female Strome Reader

Warning: Trade, Pregnancy, Fluff, Wedding

word count: 2.0k

This insta edit to Follow this pic.

let me know what you guys think🤍

The One Where He Gets Traded

I am currently in Kirby's home town, Kirby and I have been dating for 2 years now. I'm so glad my brother introduced us when Kirby first arrived in Chicago.

For the past 2 summers I've been coming to Kirby's hometown to spend time with him and his family.

It’s late in the afternoon, I am sitting outside on the porch swing reading a book, while Kirby was inside taking a phone call.

It is a beautiful sunny day. I am enjoying the sun shining on my face.

I heard the door open and closed. I looked up to see Kirby making his way to me. He looked stressed so I put my book down. He sat down next to me and let out a breath. 

I put my hand on his shoulder, looking at him worried.

“Everything okay?” I asked.

“Not really,” he sighed. He was looking at the lake. I put my hands on his cheeks and turned his face to look at me.

“What’s going on Kirby?” I asked. He started to worry me, did something happen? Is he going to break up with me? Is he going to tell me to go home?

I sighed before putting his hand on my right thigh. 

“I just got off the phone with my agent… I got traded” he said. My eyes widened. Oh my god.

“I’m so sorry Kirby… where are you going?” I asked. Is he going to break up with me now? I the aren’t going to be in the same city anymore. Is he going to ask me to go with him?

“Montreal, they’re going to announce it tonight at the draft.” He said

“Oh kirbs, it’s going to be okay” I said, he put his arm around me and pulled me closer. I laid my head down on his shoulder.

“What’s going to happen to us?” I asked

He sighed before kissing my forehead.

“I was hoping maybe you would come with me? But if you don’t want to i totally understand, we could always do long distance, all i know is i don’t want to break up.” He said, I smiled softly at him before I raised my head and kissed his cheek.

“I would love to go with you Kirby” I said, his eyes widened.

“Really?” 

“Of course, i love you, i don’t want us to be living in 2 different countries” i said

“I love you so much,” he said, smiling.

“I love you too, here’s to a new chapter in our lives” I said happily 

“I can’t wait to do it with you,” he said smiling.

The One Where He Proposes

Kirby and I have been living in Montreal for the past five months, it’s now the all star break. We have been dating for three years. I couldn’t be happier, as much as I miss Chicago, Montreal is amazing.

My brother Dylan is now in Washington, Chicago ended up trading him also.

Thankfully none of my brothers made the all star team so we all decided to go on vacation together to Hawaii. I've always wanted to come here, it’s absolutely beautiful.

Tonight is our last night here so Kirby said he wanted to take me out on a date so I am currently getting ready. 

I decided to wear a beautiful knee length silky pink dress. I curled my hair and put on some mascara, I didn’t feel like doing my full makeup since we are on vacation.

Once I was done getting ready I left the bathroom to see Kirby sitting on the bed scrolling on his phone. When he heard me he looked up and smiled.

“You are absolutely gorgeous,” he said.

“Thank you, you look handsome yourself,” I said.

“Are you ready?” he asked. I nodded. 

He got up, put his phone in his pocket and took my hand. We made our way to the restaurant.

The food was delicious, we talked and laughed the whole time.

When we left the restaurant Kirby looked at me and smiled, the sun was about to set.

“You want to go for a walk and watch the sunset?” He asked.

I smiled.

“I would love to” 

We walked to the beach which was only like 5 minutes. When we got there we took off our shoes and left them on the sand before we started walking by the water to watch the sunset. 

I kept looking at the sky. It was stunning, it took me a few seconds to realize that Kirby wasn’t next to me. 

I turned around to see where he went only to find him down on 1 knee with a ring in his hand. 

“Oh my god” I said shocked, My hands went to my mouth.

Kirby smiled.

“Yn you have made me the happiest man alive, you have been by my side for the past 3 years, i love you more than you’ll ever know, i want to spend the rest of my life with you, will you marry me?” He asked. My hands are shaking, and tears are rolling down my cheeks.

I started nodding.

“Yes, yes” I said shakily. 

He put the ring on my finger and pulled me in a kiss.

“I love you so much” i said

“I love you more” he said 

We heard cheering behind us. I turned around to see my brother and their wives along with my 2 nieces.

They all congratulated us.

I couldn’t be happier.

The One Where She Finds Out They're Pregnant

Kirby and i have been married for 4 months now and we have been trying for a baby for the past 2 months 

We had no luck.

I woke up a little later than usual, Kirby was already gone for morning practice. I got out of bed and put on a hoodie since it was chilly this morning. 

I went to the kitchen to make myself some breakfast. Kirby won’t be back for 2 hours since Morning practice just began.

I started cooking some eggs and the smell made me nauseous so I put it aside, turned off the burner and rushed to the bathroom to vomit.

Once I was done I brushed my teeth. My eyes widened when I thought about what could make me feel like this.

I rushed to grab my phone to check when my last period was. The last time I should have had it was last month when Kirby was on a road trip but I never did. How did I not realize before?

I rushed to our bedroom and changed into leggings and grabbed my purse and jacket before making my way out the door.

I rushed down the street from our apartment building. There was a small pharmacy.

I went in and bought two pregnancy tests. The cashier lady smiled when I paid and told me good luck. I thanked her and made my way back to the apartment.

My mind was going crazy, could I really be pregnant? Or am I just stressed?

I went straight to the bathroom to take both tests. Once I was done I washed my hands and put a timer on my phone for 5 minutes.

Kirby and I really want a kid, so I am really hoping that the test says positive.

When the five minutes were up, I took a deep breath and turned both tests around.

My hands flew to my mouth, tears started rolling down my cheeks. We are having a baby.

I couldn’t believe it.

I didn’t want to wait to tell Kirby I was pregnant but I also wanted to do something cute. Thankfully Emilia Armina  lives next door to us, and she has 1 kid so I thought I could possibly ask her if she still has baby stuff I could borrow just to put in a box and I could give Kirby once he got home. 

I got out and went to knock on her door.

She opened the door and saw I had been crying so she pulled me in a hug.

“Are you okay?” She asked worriedly.

I nodded

“Yes, sorry i didn’t mean to worry you, i um… just found out I’m pregnant, i was wondering if you still have a little onesie and baby skates i could borrow… I want to surprise Kirby as soon as he gets home and he’ll be here in less than an hour so I don't have time to go to the store but I want to do something cute… i’ll give them back afterwards, "I rambled. She smiled big and pulled me in another hug.

“Oh my god, Congrats! I know you guys have been waiting for this” she said.

“Thank you” 

“Come in, I'll go get the stuff, “ she said smiling.

I nodded. We went in and she made her way to another room. She came back with baby skates and a cute little white onesie.

“Here you go, Kirby’s going to be so excited,” she said.

“Thank you so much, I promise I'll bring it back tonight.” I told her.

“No rush, take your time, and congratulations again, you and Kirby are going to be amazing parents, '' she said, giving me one last hug before I made my way back to my place.

I hate an old box in my closet so I took it out and put the onesie and the baby skates in it along with both pregnancy tests. I left the box on the counter so I can give it to him when he gets home. In the meantime I went and cleaned the food i didn’t eat this morning and decided to eat a bowl of fruits instead.

Once I was done eating I went to put the bowl in the sink when I heard the front door open.

Kirby made his way to the kitchen, when he saw me he smiled before making his way to me.

“Hey babe,” he said before kissing my forehead.

“Hey kirbs, how was practice?” I asked.

“ Not too bad,” he said. He made his way to the fridge and got himself a bottle of water.

“ I have something for you,” I said nervously. He looked at me confused.

“You got me something?” He asked. I nodded and gave him the box.

He looked at me then the box.

He put it down on the counter and I went in front so I could see his face.

He slowly opened it. 

When he saw what was in the box he froze. I stood there nervously.

He looked up at me with tears in his eyes.

“Are you serious?” He choked out.

I nodded with tears in my eyes.

“Yes” 

“Oh my god” he rushed to me and pulled me in a hug

“We’re going to be parents” he said

“You’re going to be a dad” i said

“I love you, and I can't wait for the baby to be here,” he said smiling widely.

“I love you more,” I said before kissing him.

The One Where They're Baby Girl Is Born

My due date was supposed to be yesterday, but the baby decided he didn’t want to be born yet.

We decided to stay in Montreal for the summer since I was 8 months pregnant once the season ended.

My parents came down from Toronto, Kirby’s parents and brother also decided to come down. My brothers and their wives said they would be here today. Everyone wants to be here to meet our baby girl.

It’s now 5 p.m. and I finally started having contractions but they are far apart so I knew I still had time before we had to go to the hospital. My mom called my Ob to let her know, so she’d be prepared.

At around 7:30 p.m. they were much closer apart so Kirby took me to the hospital. Our parents said they would meet us there.

After what took forever at 10:45 p.m. our baby girl was born, she was precious.

I’m holding her in my arms while Kirby sits next to me on the bed.

“She’s the cutest baby ever” Kirby said in awe and kissed the side of my head.

“I’m so proud of you, thank you for making me a dad” he said with teary eyes.

“Couldn’t have done it without you, i love you both so much” I said

“I love you both, my two beautiful girls,” Kirby said smiling.

[transit-fag]

12 trains enter the semifinals, tonight there will now 6 polls to vote in

Meet our lovely quarter finalists

California Zephyr- running from Chicago to Seattle

The City of New Orleans - running from Chicago to New Orleans

Sunset Limited - Running from LA to New Orleans with an extension to Mobile on the way

Empire Builder - running from Chicago to Seattle

Cardinal - Running from New York to Chicago through Cincinnati

Maple leaf -Running from NYC to Toronto

Northeast Regional- Running from DC to New York to Boston

Acela - Running at high speed from DC to New York then to Boston

Coast Starlight - Running from Los Angeles to Seattle

Lakeshore Limited - Running from Chicago to New York and Boston

Cascades - Running from Portland to Vancouver

Capitol Limited - Running from Chicago to DC

[rollypoliesonarock]

Crying seeing all the stuff from The Wonder Years show tonight I couldn't make it to. I wanted to go so badly but I was pressured into going to a family event (people wanted formal family photos taken at sunset, causing me to need to rush back to Chicago in the morning before class because I'm in the suburbs rn) so I had to miss it. They're my favorite pop punk band too and I couldn't make it to their last tour due to lack of funds on my part.

Crossing my fingers next tour I'm able to make it, I don't want this to become a pattern

[torreshalstead]

You make the miles worth it - Chapter 16

Summary - The Chicago Marathon had always been a dream for Hailey. And when she meets a stranger in pink running shoes whilst training, she realises maybe she had been dreaming for more.

Chapters - 17/23

Chapter Summary - It’s Jay’s birthday and Hailey’s invited to celebrated with the Intelligence team.

Notes - the ending of this chapter was not what I originally had planned but I’m pleasantly surprised with it so I hope you are too! Thanks as always for the support on this story! AO3 Link

6 weeks to go

‘So, it’s my birthday this week’, Jay said as the pair jogged their familiar route along the lakefront.

‘Oh really?’ Hailey asked curiously, wondering why he was bringing this up now.

‘Yeah, the guys from work are throwing me a party, even though I said I didn’t want one,’ he huffed. ‘But do you want to come? You can help keep me sane,’ he grinned.

‘Of course, when is it?’

‘Thursday evening at Cork and Kerry. If you’re on shift don’t worry, honestly I’ll just show my face and then sneak out the back’.

‘Not a big party fan?’ Hailey asked.

Jay shook his head, ‘never have been. Will and I have birthdays close together so to save some money we’d often have joint parties as kids and I hated it. So I usually keep when my birthday is on the DL but Kim realised when it was and insisted.’

‘And you wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of her,’ Hailey chuckled. ‘I’m pretty sure I’m not on shift that night but I’ll check tonight and let you know’.

‘Great’, Jay perked up.

‘Is there a dress code?’ she queried as the end of their run loomed in the distance.

‘You can wear whatever you want, you’ll be the prettiest one there,’ Jay said with a smile and ducked out of the way as Hailey threw her arm across to knock him in the chest. He couldn’t help but notice the blush appear across her cheeks at his words.

‘I’ll ask Kim,’ she smirked as they slowed down to a stop at what they had affectionately labelled – their bench.

‘It’s just going to be the guys from work, and Will. If Vanessa is free, feel free to bring her along. Kev might have invited her already but she’s more than welcome’. Jay took a seat on the bench and waited for Hailey to join him, patting the seat next to him with a grin.

‘I can’t stay long,’ she said as she plopped herself down on the bench next to him. ‘Got shift in a bit’.

‘I know,’ Jay said as he threw his arm across the back of the bench, his hand resting just behind Hailey’s shoulder. ‘Just thought we could enjoy the view for a second’. If Hailey had looked at him at this moment, she would have seen his eyes were fixed firmly on her and not on the sunset over the lake.

‘It is beautiful,’ she said wistfully as she relaxed into the back of the bench, feeling Jay’s thumb reach out to draw patterns against her exposed shoulder blade.

‘It really is,’ he said with his eyes still transfixed on the blonde sitting next to him.

The pair sat in silence for a couple of minutes, content just to be in each other’s company before Hailey glanced at her watch and jumped to her feet.

‘Shift time,’ she said with a grin and offered Jay a hand to pull him off the bench. He happily accepted and kept a grip of it once he had risen to his feet.

‘I meant it, you know,’ he said softly, squeezing her hand. ‘About you being the prettiest one at the party’. A soft smile tugged at Hailey’s lips.

‘I know,’ she said softly, returning the squeeze with a smile.

——————————————————————————

As Hailey stood in the wreckage of her bedroom, clothes strewn all around her, she smiled to herself as she remembered the last time she had been in this predicament. It had been 10 weeks ago now, since her and Jay first met up somewhere that wasn’t the running trail. Vanessa had been there to help her that time, but she’d met up with Kevin to grab some dinner before the party and said she would meet them there. Jay was picking up Hailey in 25 minutes, which in reality meant she had a maximum of 15 minutes to find something to wear.

When she had spoken to Kim the day before regarding the dress code, she said to dress nice. The most unhelpful of clothing suggestions but Kim had gone on to say she thought she’d be wearing a navy bodycon dress that hit her knees, paired with a small pair of heels. The boys were unlikely to wear anything other than a shirt and jeans but Hailey decided if Kim was going to put a bit of effort in then she could as well.

That was when it caught her eye, tucked in the back of the closet. The little black dress that she had never found the occasion to wear. It was long sleeved, the sleeves being made of lace, had a sweetheart neckline and fell just above her knees. It wasn’t as form fitting as a bodycon dress would be, but it came in at the waist and then flared out slightly.

She tugged it out, discarding the hanger onto the floor and pulled it over her head. Staring at the mirror, she took a second to look at herself. The dress looked perfect. It fitted tightly in all the correct places and showed off her legs which had become increasingly toned from marathon training. She smoothed her palms over the sides of the dress.

Hailey had never been one to compliment herself freely. She knew she wasn’t unattractive, her blonde hair and blue eyes had always garnered a number of compliments but she was also never one to describe herself as pretty. But as she stood here, staring at herself in the mirror, numerous outfits littering the floor, she felt beautiful.

Grabbing a pair of black pumps off the floor, she quickly finished off curling her hair in the bedroom. It had been in a braid since she had washed it that morning so luckily only needed some finishing touches. This was about all she had time for as her phone buzzed from her bed, the indication that Jay had arrived and was waiting outside.

Jay was leaning against his truck when she exited her building, staring at his feet, hands in his pockets. With the noise of the door closing behind her, Jay lifted his head and his jaw fell open.

‘Wow’, was all he managed to say when she made her way down the steps to stand in front of him. Her smile stretched from ear to ear as she realised she had managed to make the man speechless. This dress had definitely been the right decision.

‘Happy Birthday’, she said as he continued to stare at her, his eyes roaming over her outfit and down her bare legs before raising to meet her eyes again. ‘Approve?’ She asked cheekily.

‘Yeah,’ he said breathlessly. ‘Hailey…’

‘Won’t we be late?’ She asked quietly, rocking back and forth on her feet as he continued to struggle to get any words out.

He shook his head, ‘it’s my birthday. I can be late if I want to’.

‘And do you want to?’ She asked, reaching out to pick a piece of fluff off his shirt, smoothing invisible creases out of his shirt across his chest.

‘I want to look at you for a second’, he reached out to grab her hand. ‘Best birthday ever,’ he said as he squeezed it gently.

‘You can look at me all night,’ she said with a small giggle. ‘Come on’, she tugged on his hand as she walked towards the passenger door.

‘I can assure you, that’s exactly what I’ll be doing’, he whispered into her ear as he reached around her to open the door. Hailey felt the blush creep across her cheeks and chest as she climbed in and watched as Jay walked around the front of the truck to his side, the smile not leaving his face as he did so.

——————————————————————————

‘Thought we were going to have to send out a search party!’ Adam yelled as Hailey walked through the door into the bar, Jay following close behind.

‘It’s my party Ruze,’ Jay said with a shrug, ‘I can be as late as I want to.’ He reached for Hailey’s hand and tugged her towards the table where the rest of his work friends were sitting.

‘Hailey! Look at that dress!’ Kim said loudly as she jumped up to give the blonde a hug. Hailey looked over her shoulder and spotted the empty wine glass on the table, it was clear Kim had started early as she swayed slightly as she hugged Hailey just a second longer than was normal.

‘Thanks Kim,’ she blushed as the women separated. ‘Hey guys’, she said, giving a small wave to Kevin and Dante who were sitting around the table. ‘Hey V,’ she whispered when the young woman got up to hug her as well.

‘Nice dress choice’, Vanessa whispered back with a grin, ‘I approve’ she said slightly louder when she pulled back with a smirk. Hailey laughed softly as Vanessa tucked herself back in next to Kevin, his arm reaching around her to pull her in tight against them.

Hailey smiled at the pair of them, she could see how comfortable Vanessa was around him and he was clearly smitten with her, whispering something into her ear which was met with a small giggle as she turned into him.

Adam appeared a moment later with a round of shots, making Hailey look away from her roommate.

‘Shots already?’ Jay questioned as he placed them on the table.

‘Start as you mean to go on my friend,’ Adam said as he pushed one towards each of them.

‘Looks like you’ve already started’, Jay nodded towards the empty bottles and glasses on the table as he took the seat next to Hailey. Kim had pulled her onto the empty stool next to her which had clearly been Adam’s judging by the bottles that were in front of it.

‘Well, we weren’t just going to sit here and wait for you,’ Kevin said with a grin, ‘even if it is your birthday.’

‘I did tell them to wait Jay’, Torres said as Jay laughed and patted the young man on the shoulder.

‘Thanks man’.

‘Enough of that,’ Adam said loudly whilst Kim giggled from next to Hailey. ‘Cheers to the birthday boy!’ He raised his shot into the air and the table all mimicked with the shots clinking together and a loud chorus of ‘Cheers!’ coming from all before they downed the liquor and slammed the empty cups down onto the table.

The rest of the evening continued in much the same vein, each of the group taking turns buying rounds for the table, getting rowdier with each shot that was downed. Will joined them after about an hour, having been caught up in the emergency room but Jay hugged his brother tightly when he arrived.

Hailey had noticed the more Jay drank, the more touchy he became. Not in a odd way but he would scoot closer to her each time they returned to their seats, his arm either around her shoulder pulling her close to him or his hand resting on his knee. When it made its way up onto her bare thigh, only just above her knee, Hailey felt a warm feeling bubbling in her stomach. She reached a hand down to lace her fingers through his, squeezing tightly but keeping their hands resting on her leg under the table. It felt like a secret, holding hands under the table like a couple of school kids but it brought Hailey great comfort and Jay was clearly happy with it too.

At some point, Hailey wasn’t sure if it was after their seventh round or eighth, Jay leant in close to her ear. His hot breath fanned across her face.

‘Thank you for being here,’ he whispered. ‘Best birthday ever.’ He pulled back slowly and Hailey watched as his gaze flicked down to her lips and back up to her eyes. The feeling in her stomach just increased as she watched his eyes flick down again, lingering slightly longer this time. She felt the arm that was around her shoulders tighten, bringing her even closer towards him, the space between them non-existent.

‘Shots!’ Adam’s voice broke through the haze and the pair shifted apart, though his arm remained tight across her shoulder, his fingers moving over her sleeve. The blush returned to Hailey’s cheeks and out of the corner of her eye she could see the colour rising in Jay’s cheeks too. His finger swiped across his bottom lip trying to mask the grin that had taken up residence.

Looking across the table, she made eye contact with Vanessa who was smirking heavily at the pair of them and Hailey knew she was going to get an earful when they eventually returned home that night. Her roommate had definitely seen what had almost occurred and she knew she wasn’t going to let it go without a mention, or more accurately knowing Vanessa, a full blown interrogation.

[peribirb]

9, 27, and 81 for spotify ask game :3

multiples of 9 mentioned let's goooooooo

9: Chicago - Sufjan Stevens waaaahhh this whole album means so much to me and this song in particular just hits me in so many places in so many ways, especially as somebody who HAS been in that place in my life and Driven To Chicago (All Things Know All Things Know). it's also a great example of the range of the album, between quiet reflective verses and full horn-backed choruses.

If I was crying In the van, with my friend It was for freedom From myself and from the land I made a lot of mistakes I made a lot of mistakes I made a lot of mistakes I made a lot of mistakes

27: You or Your Memory - The Mountain Goats i feel like i can't even really describe this one properly lmao. this song combined with Pale Green Things make the absolute perfect bookends to The Sunset Tree.

And down there in the dark I could see the real truth about me As clear as day, Lord, if I make it through tonight Then I will mend my ways And walk the straight path to the end of my days

81: Short Skirt / Long Jacket - CAKE it's fun :) i didn't even notice this one when i looked through my top songs the first time lmao.

I want a girl with a smooth liquidation (Smooth! Liquidation!) I want a girl with good dividends (Good! Dividends!) At Citibank we will meet accidentally (Meet! Accidentally!) We'll start to talk when she borrows my pen

[cosmicgrapevine]

Apropos of the poll on my main blog, here’s my opening 2,500 words, freshly edited:

The whole world was not ten blocks long and eight blocks wide, but sometimes Melanie Kitz forgot that, because her whole world was. Her school, the pizza place she stopped at every other Friday, and the park she frequented when the weather was nice enough made three corners. Everything else she’d done, seen, or been in seventeen years was contained in the fourth corner, a 1,500-square-foot bungalow on Cicero Avenue—just the bedroom, really. And since this Friday was not an every-other-Friday, and the park in late February was a frozen mass of slush and mud, there was only one corner left. The wind chilled as she tried on foot to beat the sunset. She’d stayed late at St. Aggie’s, workshopping her admissions essay with Mrs. Flaherty. This part of Chicago was safer than most, but still—no sense taking chances.

Her friend Tabby teased her for being a stick in the mud, but there was a lot of mud to get stuck in here. The city’s cops, firemen, and other badge-wavers clustered here like moss to a rock, and the retired ones peeked past their curtains all day and poured gossip into the landlines all night. It just wasn’t worth it to pick up a beer bottle or a can of spray paint around here; not only would your parents find out, the 22nd Precinct Office would too. The boxy bungalows and street-front garages and wrought-iron gates left no room for secrets. Tabby had found that out the hard way.

So Melanie didn’t mind playing the yes-ma’am-no-ma’am game at St. Aggie’s, or the nonexistent social scene, or the sinks that hadn’t dispensed warm water since the ‘40s: It was just high school, still a better one than a lot of kids got, and it would be over in a year and a half. Then her real life would begin. Maybe she’d convince Tabby of that before they graduated. Maybe tonight.   Melanie’s mother Janet was pouring de-icing salt on the front walk. “Hi, sweetie!” She called. “Could you give me a hand here? Put something warmer on first, of course.”

“Sure thing, Mom,” Melanie said. Entering through the garage, she stepped into the mudroom and rubbed her bare knees together to warm them up. She smelled the lasagna baking in the oven and grinned. When Tabby came over, Janet always pulled out the stops for dinner, for someone who rarely got them at home. Racing upstairs, she quickly traded her plaid skirt and white blouse for jeans and a school hoodie. She tried not to look at the blank stack of college application forms on her desk; ‘later’ had sounded so much, well, later from the front half of the school year. Now it was the back half, and her to-do list was piling up fast.

Returning to the garage, she grabbed a shovel. “Is Dad gonna be home for dinner?” While everyone at school had either a dad, uncle, or older brother who was tied to the city police, not everyone’s dad was Fred Kitz. He was a detective with an iron backbone and a stainless steel work ethic, both of which kept him swamped with the kinds of cases the rest of CPD wouldn’t bother with. On his many absent evenings, Melanie liked to pretend he was out saving lives somewhere, rather than just agonizing over conflicting witness statements with only single fluorescent bulb and cup of lukewarm coffee for company, but those fantasies wore thinner the more those days piled up.

“I doubt it,” Janet said. “Sorry, hon. How was school?”

“Fine. Mrs. Flaherty wasn’t much help. She kept saying, you know, ‘what are your accomplishments? What are you proud of?’ And, nothing yet. I thought that’s what you go to college for.”

“Oh, something will come along,” Janet said. “What about that public speaking elective? I’m sure Northwestern would love to see that.”

“Sister Louise runs it, so there’s only four speeches to choose from and three of them are about Jesus. I don’t think Northwestern will care.”

Janet smiled indulgently. “Jesus at a Catholic school,” she said. “Who knew?”

The three of them had long since silently agreed that if Melanie took the College Prep part of Saint Agnes’ Catholic College Prep seriously, she could pass on the Catholic part. There was…something, up there, probably, she thought. But it never showed itself and she didn’t need it to. Melanie had her own little corner of the universe under her control more than God had the whole of it under His.

Something by the sewer grate caught her eye, something too brightly colored for a Chicago winter. Crawling through the gap was a little creature, shaped like a slug but with two rows of knobbly little legs. Its skin was a vibrant magenta with splotches of blue and orange. It lifted its ‘head’, sniffing around for something before turning to Melanie. It looked oddly cute, but also a few thousand miles from whatever jungle it crawled out of.

 She lowered her shovel and let the slug crawl onto it. Carrying it over to Janet, she said “Hey Mom, I’ve never seen one of these before. Do you know what it is?”

“Hm. Not sure. Better put it down.”

“I could take it to school; Mr. Bartkowski might know,” she said, referring to the bio teacher. “Maybe it escaped from a zoo or a lab or something.”

“I’m sure whatever it is, it’s just some kind of pest. No need to worry,” Janet said. She gently but firmly took Melanie’s shovel and dumped the slug on the ground. Opening her canister, she covered it with rock salt until nothing was visible. A few ugly popping and squelching noises drifted to their ears, then silence. Janet kicked the salt away to make sure the creature had been reduced to a few colored stains on the pavement. “Let me know if you see any others,” she said.

Melanie raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Her mom usually would rather hold a window open for a spider than squish it. Janet worked more quickly now, haphazardly dumping snow onto their yard (and the neighbors’) and not saying anymore. “Let’s check on dinner,” she said, her smile a bit too bright. “Tabby’ll be here at six, right?”

Janet gave Melanie the task of heating up some soup and keeping an eye on the oven, while she strolled through the house, humming cheerily and locking all the windows. Melanie looked askance at her; it was just a slug. Maybe it was poisonous, with those colors, but it didn’t even have a mouth to bite with; what was so scary about it?

She overheard Janet talking on her bedroom landline, the one that was reserved for terse, late-night transmissions to and from the police station. Cautiously, she crept to the bottom of the stairs. “…just a small one, but you know how it is; one you see, twenty you don’t. Like roaches,” Janet said. “Yes, dear, I’ll check the Wards, but I’d really prefer that you come home early.” Melanie was puzzled. Ward’s, like the store? She waited by the landing for Janet to return. “Is something wrong, Mom?”

“No.”

Melanie nodded. She knew she’d get a ‘no’, but at least it was a calm ‘no’.

“You’d tell me if there was, right?”

The only response that got was the opening and closing of the basement door. Melanie added a pinch of salt to the soup, looking at the bleak gray world outside the locked window.

***

If Tabby’s house was cold and dark when she came home, she wasn’t surprised. It took more—total silence, or a horrible smell—for her to worry, if ‘worry’ was really the right word. But even on Rita’s good days, the TV’s bluish light flicker through the narrow hallway brought to mind the judge’s words, that she would benefit from a ‘more welcoming environment’. If this place was any less welcoming, it would be a morgue. “Mom, I’m home!” She called.

Rita mumbled something from her living room chair. A half-empty bag of potato chips and carton of dip sat on the kitchen table. “That’s all you’ve had, huh,” Tabby said flatly. “Do you want me to make you something?”

“Erghh…” Rita muttered as she woke up. “Tabby-Kat, honey, could you do me a favor? My leg has just been killing me all day, and I didn’t sleep well—”

“Pills. Got it.” Some days, Tabby didn’t have time for the self-pity. But she felt the chill rise in the room. She was too quick this time. Maybe tomorrow she’d be too slow. “Don’t you mock me!” Rita snapped. “God forbid you ever need to rely on someone else; then you’ll see how hard it is!”

Yeah. God forbid. Tabby thought. She shook two oxycontins from the bottle and gave them to Rita. Rita looked at them and scowled. “Three.” She said.

“You can’t get a refill until March 15, remember? You should save them.”

“Three.”

Tabby held back the sigh this time and complied. “I’m going to Melanie’s,” she said. “I’ll be back by eight.”

“Is she having any boys over?”

“No, Mom. Just us two, like the last hundred times.”

“Don’t be snotty with me. Turn around!” Tabby did so. Despite Rita sitting at home watching daytime TV and eating junk food most days, she still insisted on dressing well, if about ten years out of date. If she looked like a respectable housewife, the logic went, maybe one day she’d become one again, and she could go out for coffee with all the cops’ wives to gossip about their unruly daughters. “You think I don’t know you’ve been slutting around with that Davey boy? And God knows who else. So don’t act all offended.”

Damn right I have, bitch. The boys’ school, Bishop Maloney (or ‘Baloney’, as it was universally called), was right across the street from St. Aggie’s, and Tabby was an occasional guest there before or after class. It was the only way to truly hurt her mother, and that was worth a hundred ‘dirty slut’ notes in her locker. Rita could sense her inner rebellion. “You think it’ll be funny to end up like me? A used-up piece of trash? That will happen to you if you keep ignoring me. These boys don’t care about you, I care about you. I’m trying to keep you safe.”

“I know, Mom. I’m gonna get changed and go.”

“None of your belly shirt crap! Wear your uniform.”

“Mom, you threw that shirt away, and anyway it’s twenty degrees out.”

“Wear your damn uniform, Tabitha Katherine! The least you can do is dress decently.”

Lady, I’ve got some bad news for you about what the boys think of these skirts. Tabby thought. But Melanie was used to this, and Tabby had some regular clothes stashed there for such nights. “OK, so 8:00 is good? See you then.” She barged out the door, but not before Rita got in one last “If you don’t respect yourself, no one will!”

The annoying thing about Rita was that Tabby couldn’t even call her a liar. She really had a tough life, one that got even tougher when her brother-in-law went to jail a few years ago, and her (now ex-) husband sided with him. The divorce had been long and nasty, and Tabby’s father Steve, in an attempt to maintain that he was the fitter parent, spilled all the ugly details about Rita’s past as a stripper, and all the unsavory characters she used to associate with. It backfired on him, though, and Rita had gotten custody.

But at that point, it didn’t matter. In their tiny Catholic neighborhood, word spread fast, and soon Tabby had Rita on one side watching her like a prison guard for any signs of ‘making the same mistake’, and the St. Aggie’s girls on the other sneering that she would inevitably end up a whore anyway. Tabby loathed them all, and she loathed Randall for taking mob money in the first place, and loathed her father for turning his back on her. The Kitzes, in fact, were one of the few families that did stand by her, and Melanie’s warm, bright living room was one of the only places should could pretend it was still 1995, her parents were still married, and she was still a real person.

All the homes around her were locked up tight for the night, but she still felt something; someone was watching her. Quickening her pace, she kept heading for Melanie’s. Her eyes darted around corners and into narrow gaps between houses, but saw nothing. When she saw a pair of eyes meeting hers, from ten feet off the ground on the bare branches of a tree, she cried out.

The eyes belonged to a boy, about her age, with messy black hair and wide amber eyes. He was dressed strangely; a thick black wool jacket and matching pants, with a rough, homemade look to them, and some sort of scarf wrapped loosely over his head and around his neck. He looked surprised to be noticed, and hopped down. “I am sorry,” he said. His accent was as unusual as the rest of him; flat and stretched-out, yet with an unpredictable, almost musical bounce to it. Tabby had never heard one like it. “I did not mean to frighten you.”

“Yeah?” Tabby said, circling to keep him visible. “Well, good thing, because there’s about fifty cops one shout away.” He looked beat up and worn down, like he hadn’t seen a bed, shower, or hot meal in weeks. His skin was pale and his eyes were baggy. Great, Tabby thought. Leave one junkie and find another. 

“Cops? That means…law enforcement, right? I am looking for such a man. His name is Fernando Kitz. Are you acquainted with him?”

What the hell? Tabby thought. How does he know Melanie’s dad? Fernando was indeed Mr. Kitz’s real first name, which he never used. But guys like this usually ran from the cops, not to them. “Never heard of him,” she said. “If you follow me, I will scream. Go creep around somewhere else.”

He didn’t get angry; he simply sighed, deflated, and bowed slightly. “I am sorry for accosting you. I will ask another. But you should seek shelter. It is not a good night to be out.”

Tabby’s muscles stayed tense, but he meant what he said. He turned and walked away. Luckily, his was a non-violent kind of crazy. But who on earth didn’t know what ‘cop’ meant? And if he didn’t, why was he looking for one? And what the hell did ‘take shelter’ mean?

She hoped it was nothing serious. She hoped Fred could explain it. She hoped that “not a good night” just meant the weather.

[pwblogarchive]

October 2004

October 2, 2004

“I Wrote The Word “Regret” On My Hand To Remember To Call You”

Its a fixedcat fight. And I’m going down fast, but I’m winking. Faking it. Tbs tour in chicago. You remeber 3 years ago when us and tbs first played chicago. Yeah to like 20 kids. So thank you for tonight. We are having so much fun. We have so many new songs.

Do you ever see someone just sitting alone and feel so bad. Just low. Like you just know they aren’t connected to anyone? Maybe that’s just me. I want this record to make those people feel okay, cause we all get there sometimes… Go read hey chris’s zine. Its pretty good.

Don’t roll your eyes at me I only want to write a song to suit your every mood.

P

October 4, 2004

“Its Not Gossip If Its The Truth”

Day off in omaha. Got some new tricks for you. Including: a green slytherin tie, members only jacket, and napoleon dynamite on dvd (youknowyouwantityouknowyouwantit). My hair is new black on blonde I don’t know what to think of it just yet. Me and dirty have been making funny videos that I hope you get to see soon. I don’t know why I read the internet- aaron from matchbook told me about our kickball game being written about on absolutepunk (jason tate is my homeboy- however it wasn’t teammatchbook that won it- it was team dirty consisting of: dirty, me, andy hurley, judas mbr, fred tbs, and mark tbs- we smoked the competition… So let the internet know. If you wanna play some kickball come find us. We leave for l.a. To record our record in november- I’m excited. We have these shows coming up on the east coast in december please get your tickets early, they will sell out.

I’ve got sunsets in my veins like you don’t even know.

P

October 6, 2004

“I’m A Headache Kid With Targets For Eyes”

Denver. singing one mile up. Had the best time till joe hit me in the head with his guitar. Yes again. It knocked me out. I apologize. We finished the set and we hope everyone still had a good time. I can’t sleep. I need your heart beat. I’ve been working on my other book, I can’t wait to see the west coast again. Then for florida we got great halloween costumes for you.

You could have taken the place of oxygen for me.

Peterpumpkin eater

October 7, 2004

“This Is A Love Song In My Own Fucked Up Way”

somewhere along the line i stopped believing in this. i stopped trying to match our breathing when we fell asleep. i hear about the way you brag about how all the songs are about you. only someone like you could ever be proud of that.

October 7, 2004

“Lets Walk This Romance Until Its Bitter End”

flew into seattle at 6:45 am today. eyes stuck shut with sleep in them. our entire band and crew was pulled aside and searched. we can’t tune guitars, theres no way we could bomb anything. i hate flying. i find myself assessing my life every time we hit a bump- if someone’s keeping score then i am fucked. got to play with a ton of great bands today. hung with my chemical romance a bunch- me and mikey, their bassist, have a gang called “the sweet little dudes”. we’re gonna make a secret handshake. trust me, you’re jealous. don’t be suprised if you see us on tour together in the future. the lost prophets had a party tonight, where they shot their new video. i did lots of monster faces for the camera, maybe you will see it. got another excerpt from my other book (not the boy with the thorn in his side) over at: www.fueledbyramen.com/journal -

sorry for all the complaining. it just comes so easy to me.

p

October 8, 2004

"atlanta to san jose"

The first thing I ever knew about her was a lie. Her lips curl when she’s talking about the “Q”. her middle name is “Q” she says.

but it’s not. She’s regular. She’s normal just like me. But Her lips still curl when she is hoping she isn’t caught.

Except she always is.

She reminds me of the anecdote about the lab rat who chose the intense pleasure button over the food button. He probably starved to death. 

But I’m sure he’s reliving the glory days up in rat heaven. 

I call her up to tell her to build me a model scale version of San Francisco because I have a great idea for a disaster.

She must be on the internet because the phone just keeps ringing. Right now I want to shoot every single fucking employee at Earthlink.

What do overweight Ethiopians, free money, the tooth fairy- and Q as a middle name have in common?

Liar.

I hate how I can’t stop thinking about the liar.

Freud says love is the sublimation of sexual impulses.

I say we are all lab rats. And consider this a failed experiment.

He says we sublimate our sexual desires to make them palatable to society.

This is what love is.

I say this must be a clinical trial.

And I am the control.

She is the “Stockholm Effect”- you know back in the seventies when victims fell in love with their kidnappers.

Yeah. She’s mostly like that.

She is the middle parts of Great Expectations. You know right before things go really wrong for Pip (and This wouldn’t be my story if I weren’t Pip).

God, I love victim culture.

I love Jeffrey Dahmer being a victim of society.

I love Patty Hearst. I love the “Stockholm Effect”.

The great victims of our culture. Aren’t we all?

Sexuality was first examined scientifically in the 19th century. Before that religion fielded all questions.

That didn’t work so well.

Love was not examined scientifically until the late 20th century.

Erich Fromm suggested that infatuation was a plan by Mother Nature to promote the survival of the species. See with out infatuation cave men would never have overcome the fear of interacting and eventually having sex with other clans. Thus ensuring the survival of the species.

This is what is commonly considered a breakthrough. Freud is spinning in his grave.

Our extinction is a Hallmark card away.

He later suggests that in order to love someone else one must love themselves. A classic “needs before other needs” argument.

Unfortunately, no one really loves themselves. And if they do, they need to get to know themselves better. Unfortunately, no one is really happy. So, let’s be unhappy together.

I call her up to tell her to build a mini version of San Jose for me to devastate.

Her roommate tells me she is on the phone long-distance with her aunt. 

I want to kill every member of her extended family.

Phenylethylamine (PEA), the chemical responsible for the swooning and feelings of adoration, is structurally similar to cocaine. Most people choose cocaine over love when given the chance. 

I wouldn’t say that’s a bad choice. 

The endorphins released during infatuation are similar to heroin; only they don’t make you skinny and pale. Oxytocin, “the cuddling hormone” most often found in new mothers and newlyweds, are like ecstasy- every touch feels a bit tinglier. 

Love exists in a bottle. In a syringe. I want mine diluted with water.

Most people would choose gambling over love when given the chance. We are the rat.

Most people choose pornography over love when given the chance. We are the cave-man.

Hallmark cards and boxes of Fanny-May chocolates will save humanity.

It’s all in the marketing. Kellogg and the original Graham Cracker originally marketed their products as a way to stifle teenage masturbation

I call her up to go over the blue prints for a miniature Atlanta because I crave catastrophe.

Her answering machine picks up. Right now I hate her voice.

It reminds me of how much I think about her.

She is the fraud. The faker. I can’t stop thinking about her.

I miss her lips curling with those lies.

I miss her body- See, she has a body that will go to the pornstar retirement home in her golden years- or prostitute heaven. 

to my favorite liar: you were always/never just a line in a song.

- petey

October 9, 2004

Release The Brats

Canada was amazing. Vancouver. Kissing weather but no kissing was done. If you’re coming out to any shows anytime soon I am in need of this one kind of shampoo its called purple shampoo or its in a purple bottle- it washes the color out of blonde hair- anyway the black is sneaking into the blonde and I need some. You can get it at beauty supply places. Ill hook you up with some merch or clan gear… Here’s the hitch I only need one bottle…

I’ve been calling you late at night in my mind. My bed misses me and you.

Petey

President of the brats.

Sweet lil dudes gang

October 10, 2004

“Status Report: I Am Missing You To Death”

so the update. i got the shampoo so ignore the earlier post, though thank you for even caring at all. im in portland.

i used to have headaches.

then i met you. now im onto

something new.

October 11, 2004

“143”

I could tell she was searching for something. Something punishing. Something unforgivable.

“I hope your plane crashes.”

Somewhere deep down so did i.

she always had this look of awe on her face when i looked at her (i should have told her, i don’t do “awe” but i will settle for “sympathy”). we all settle- sometimes you want chocolate and all they have is vanilla- sometimes you want romance, and instead you got me. im the sick feeling in your stomach the next morning when you remember the night before. i am the trash on the floor after the last dance.

i can only sleep on tylenol pms lately and they cant touch these headaches.

i swear to god i would give this all up if you asked.

the way i’d pretend that i could see you and not have my hands all over you if you would pretend i didn’t know everything.

the way i wrote every song about you, because of you, for you. but you were still always the first person i played them for.

how i cant pull the trigger.

im all the parts of a bullet but the powder.

if you were smart you’d skip this part.

you’d just stop reading.

i know this jumps around everywhere and doesn’t make much sense. i didn’t write this one. my moods did.

somewhere along the way. you decided i was settling.

but i never gave up on anything as pretty as you.

everytime the plane bumps, i think of you.

we cant stand being this close to eachother, even inside of IM windows.

and you said “im turning my phone off, ive had enough of this conversation for the night”.

and i think maybe that theres still a chance.

its like roulette- if the phones on then you still love me, theres still a chance. if it’s off- then i was wrong.

its like roulette, and im putting all my chips on black.

(your phone is off).

i never stood a chance. the house always wins.

imagine me at my worst- and i am just past that.

the sign on the road says “welcome to rock bottom”.

i own all the real estate.

this is us both signing off.

October 15, 2004

“Songs Don’t Settle Scores So How About Me And All My Friends Vs. You And All Of Yours”

If you’ve seen me around lately, I’m not sad or in a bad mood. I’m sick. It gets me really quiet and weird. I apologize. The west coast is so much fun. My mom is the cutest. She thinks someone broke into our house to steal new fall out boy demos, hehe, pretty good. Just on this side of crazy. I love my mom. This journal entry is all over the place. So I posted some pics of the new hair- you gotta look around and you’ll find them… Its not too hard. Got some good news for you soon.

P

October 15, 2004

12:08 am.

fuck your friends page, cause i said so

October 19, 2004

“Jason Tate Doesn’t Ever Call Me Back”

Vegas. The luck only goes one way. Piece of advice. Don’t bet all your merch money on red. Don’t dream of anyone except me. Were half way there. We’ve got even newer songs, some new merch, and some new ways of throwing it all away.

Jared tell jason to call me.

Peter

October 21, 2004

“If Its Any Consolation”

Every song on our next record will be about killing the head cheerleader.

October 24, 2004

“Cowboys And Girls.”

There’s something intensely foreign but endearing about texas. Put the love on hold. We move slow.

Were sitting out dances on the wall of club after the show. You said “I’m faded, but you should think this over cause it could take all night”. But I’m pretty sure you were just faded. My bunk feels like a coffin tonight. The airs humid here, hard to breathe- it makes every pull worth it. You’re lighting cigarettes off of eachother. You say it calms your nerves, but it doesn’t show.

Texas is the reason: apple soda, frozen poptarts, holister kids: ashley, jamie, renee, my dad, long letters vs. Short emails, laguna beach, zombie make up, dirty, cranberry and vodka minus the vodka.

Oh yeah, I guess some people brought me cigarettes to the show. I don’t smoke. That’s joe who posted that. Also, don’t feel like you have to bring anything.

Take this as it is. Spit: this is the curtain call on desperation. So come out and take a bow. Depression is so 90s. Hit it or quit it. There’s a world out there and I’m almost ready to feel alive in it. This is me telling you no one will ever feel like that again.

Lateralligator.

Peterpan

October 26, 2004

“Everywhere I Go I Keep Her Picture In My Wallet”

Sometimes you take chances. You take and and take. And then you take when you should have folded. Read this as: I’m sorry. Please forgive me. And know its true. No love is unconditional.

See you soon.

….fellas like me only spit lines like we’ve got somthing to prove. And all the boys want to dance with girls like you…..

October 27, 2004

“Where America Goes To Die”

Florida: we’re gonna have a new limited shirt just for you, beginning at the st. Pete show.

Also, if anyone wants to carve pumpkins. Come to the show early and ask for me or our tour manager dan. Here’s the catch. You have to supply the pumpkins, the knives and the spoons.

Peter

October 28, 2004

You know the funny thing is I already know how its gonna turn out. 

Get the book: www.clandestineindustries.com  

- petey

October 30, 2004

“My Wrists Are Black And Blue Cause I Don’t Have The Balls”

Fuck. I wish I could scream this into the screen. I don’t feel too eloquent right now.

Icalled you to save me. Voicemails don’t mean shit these days.

Its not worth the wishes on clocks and eyelashes anymore.

[influencermagazineuk]

Martin Mull, Beloved Actor from Arrested Development and Roseanne, Passes Away at 80

Martin Mull, celebrated for his unique and witty comedy style, has passed away at the age of 80. His daughter, Maggie Mull, announced that he died peacefully at home on Thursday after bravely battling a prolonged illness. Mull rose to national prominence in the 1970s with his roles in the satirical soap opera Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman and its spinoff Fernwood Tonight, where he portrayed the talk show host Barth Gimble. His daughter shared in an Instagram post, “He excelled in every creative field imaginable and even had a sense of humor about his Red Roof Inn commercials. My dad’s wit was unending, and he will be deeply missed by his family, friends, colleagues, fellow artists, comedians, musicians, and countless dogs who adored him.” Life, Love, and Pop-Culture, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Born in Chicago and raised in Ohio and Connecticut, Mull pursued his passion for art in Rhode Island and Rome. In the 1970s, he combined his musical talents and comedic flair in Hollywood’s trendy clubs. Reflecting on his career, Mull recounted, “In 1976, I was performing at the Roxy on the Sunset Strip when Norman Lear saw me. He cast me as the wife beater on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, and a few months later, I had my own show.” Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Mull appeared in films such as Mr. Mom and Clue, and became a recurring character on Roseanne. He later gained further acclaim for his role as private investigator Gene Parmesan on Arrested Development and earned an Emmy nomination in 2016 for his guest appearance on Veep. Speaking about his career, Mull expressed pride in his work on Veep and recognized the collective achievements throughout his career, tracing back to Fernwood Tonight. Mull’s talent and kindness left a lasting impact on his peers. Director Paul Feig, known for Bridesmaids, paid tribute to him, saying, “Martin was the greatest. So funny, so talented, such a nice guy. I was fortunate to act with him on The Jackie Thomas Show and cherished every moment with a legend. Fernwood Tonight was profoundly influential in my life.” Read the full article

[garf-core]

to a young love

I

You’ve been stained yellow by the sun-

a photo of a ghost that’s been fawned over more than it was cared for-

I’d never blame you for something like that

II

Every day will get better and better until nothing can fix your heart.

So shallow you become a mirage in the distance,

just an echo of what you long for most.

But in the way that a shark doesn’t yearn to fly

and a shadow will never care for hugs,

you won’t be ashamed of your flesh,

almost undetectable, decaying in the distance

You’ve chosen life

III

Hello, my Panasonic dream,

I hate when guys stop staring at me.

The silliest things take away all my hope,

like when my dog has diarrhea all day.

I can clean a carpet, I can find someone new.

My voice shrinks smaller with every cycle.

Tonight you laid with your feet on my pillow

and offered to give your lungs to me.

“It’s not much,” you said

The sunset glowed orange and pink

IV

Because you’re the Sears tower of my Chicago

you can lose the fight, the novelty and legacy

but the glass always sparkles at sunset,

and my knuckles hold scars from old punches

in your defense, I like how they shape my hands

[sinceileftyoublog]

Sunset Rubdown Live Preview: 5/23, Metro, Chicago

BY JORDAN MAINZER

Metro’s been home to some reunion tours, alright. This past week, it was The Walkmen gracing the stage for four nights. Last night, Phantom Planet celebrated 20 years of their second album, The Guest, in their first Chicago show since they most recently reunited. And tonight, it’s Sunset Rubdown, in the middle of their first tour in 13 years since they initially disbanded. Spencer Krug and company will bring classics from their four LPs and two EPs.

Most exciting, on most nights, the band has been performing a new, as yet unreleased song, “We’re Losing Light”, which judging from some fan videos that have surfaced, gives off a bit of a baroque funk vibe. Whether Sunset Rubdown will release new music in the near future is unknown, but like so many bands these days, they’re returning to the live circuit tight as ever, like they never left.

Tickets still available at time of publication. Doors at 7 PM. Opener Nicholas Merz, a Los Angeles-based country psych singer-songwriter, goes on at 8. 

[sunmarketing]

Point Loma, San Diego

This is Dr. Travelbest's Guide

In this episode: FAQ is: Who sets the standards for airline seats?

Today’s Destination is: Point Loma, San Diego

Today’s Lesson Learned- I forgot the tent poles.

Travel Advice:  Join the US STEP program if you plan to travel out of the country in the next year.

  FAQ: Rebecca asks, Do the airline seats seem to be getting smaller these days? Am I the only one who sees or feels this happening? I would like to know. Also, please give me information on how much space should be on a plane for my seat. I’m struggling with this issue now. Who sets the standards for airline seats?

  Answer: Dear Rebecca, You are being heard. I’m so glad you asked. I’ve wondered the same thing. In the USA, The Federal Aviation Administration is looking at a rule for minimum amounts for the width of airplane seats and the distance between the front of one seat and the back of the seat ahead.  They are gathering public comments on the issue now. Their concern is safety. If seats are too small, it can hurt evacuations in an emergency. How is your legroom? We want to hear from you now, so contact the FAA to give them your concerns.

Today’s destination: Point Loma, San Diego

  Point Loma is a land mass that sticks out in the Pacific Ocean, a large peninsula; on the water, you can’t go from Downtown San Diego without bumping into this point. So it was one of the first places to land for settlers in the land. 

  Why visit Point Loma? The National Park, Cabrillo National Monument, and the lighthouse are the most famous places to visit as a traveler. This is one best viewpoints for the entire city and region. You will want to spend a half day exploring nature and the visitor center. You can see inside the lighthouse and climb the stairs to see what it was like to live there hundreds of years ago. I highly recommend this destination.

  You can see Mexico, downtown, and a lot of ocean from here.

Tonight, I met a couple from Lexington, Kentucky, and they visited the lighthouse today. They raved about the experience of being in the home that was a lighthouse and being able to see afar.

  The tidepools are also worth seeing. If you have never been to a tidepool, it’s when the ocean tides recede, and you can see the small sea creatures like starfish and crabs among the nooks and crannies of the rocks on the beach, walking carefully not to disturb wildlife. 

  My favorite place to eat fresh seafood locally is Point Loma Seafoods. My favorite Coffee shop is Peet’s. My favorite YMCA is Ryan Family Y. My Favorite thrift store is Goodwill San Diego.

Point Loma has Sunset Cliffs Blvd, which has great views and sunsets. You can swim here, too, if you can navigate the hike safely. However, it’s not meant for the faint of heart, as swimming here is not as safe. It’s better to head north to the public beaches. You’ll also see beaches just for dogs, and dozens of them running around the sandy beach.

  You’ll be in Ocean Beach, which is a community next door, almost connected. 

  My first visit was in 1982, as I was relocating from Chicago. Little did I know how this part of the region would impact my life when I prayed in my car that day. I said out loud, “Lord, if it is meant to be, find my subsequent work and life in this city. So I prayed in my car, parked on Cornish Drive, a block from where I lived a few months later. Yes, the same street, about a block from where this prayer happened.

And it turned out great for the past several, well, 40 years, it’s been.

Today’s Mistake- Forgot the tent poles

  I was camping in Nevada along a beautiful river. I brought my tent but forgot to bring the tent poles. So, I slept under the stars. It was decent weather that night, so pretty good. Don’t forget your tent poles as I did. 

  Today’s Travel Advice-Join the US STEP program if you plan to travel out of the country in the next year.

  I joined the US STEP program in 2023, and they will inform me when I travel abroad and see a problem in a country I visit. Also, they will have my information if I need to contact them, making it easier to find and help me.

They help people with problems. I hope I don’t need to contact them, but better safe than sorry.

Check out this Dr Travelbest episode!

[wallpaperpainting]

13 Easy Ways To Facilitate Sunset Tonight | sunset tonight

Chrishell Stause is blockage able and affective on.

Sunset fishing express is a great trip! – Naples Fishing .. | sunset tonight

Last November, PEOPLE accepted the Selling Sunset star, 38, and Justin Hartley, 43, breach afterwards two years of alliance aback the This Is Us actor aback filed for divorce.

Today, though, “she’s accomplishing a lot better,” says Stause’s Selling Sunset costar Mary Fitzgerald.

“She’s such a able woman, I wouldn’t accept been able to go through it like she did in the accessible eye, but she’s actual strong, and she’s aloof so common and a accurate person, which is adamantine to acquisition actuality in L.A.,” says Fitzgerald.

RELATED: Selling Sunset Is Returning to Netflix: See the Official Division 2 Trailer!

Tim Durkan’s tweet – "Tonight from seattle " – Trendsmap – sunset tonight | sunset tonight

Dan Macmedan/Wireimage

Steve Granitz/WireImage Chrishell Stause and Justin Hartley

Back in December, a antecedent provided some acumen on the abominable divorce.

“Yes, they’d had some problems, but she absolutely never anticipation he would aloof go and aback book for divorce, and not alike try to save things,” the antecedent told PEOPLE at the time. “Chrishell had been in added austere relationships in the accomplished … and didn’t booty them added because she was consistently determined that aback she got married, it would be always — she was alone activity to do this once.”

beautifulsky and #sunset🌄 tonight 😁 #sunset #beautifulviews .. | sunset tonight

The cabal added, “It’s partly why she and Justin waited so continued to get married: she capital to be abiding that aback they said their vows, they meant them. And she did — she would accept backward forever.”

Lindy Lin/NETFLIX

RELATED: Selling Sunset’s Mary Fitzgerald & Romain Bonnet Are Married: Inside Their Fall Wedding Album

The additional division of Selling Sunset drops Friday, May 22. In accession to a behind-the-scenes attending at bright Los Angeles absolute acreage and appointment rivalries at affluence allowance The Oppenheim Group, the new episodes acquisition Stause’s accord with Fitzgerald growing.

Our sunset tonight – sunset tonight | sunset tonight

“She and I admit in anniversary added a lot and I’m animated I could be there for her. She’s been there for me aback I go through ups and downs,” Fitzgerald adds. “We’ve got anniversary other’s back.”

Story continues

The afterpiece adventure additionally has admirers clamoring for more, with a abruptness brain-teaser for division 3 actuality appear — in which the annihilation of Stause and Hartley’s relationship appears to be at the centermost of the drama.

The afterpiece adventure ends with a atramentous awning afore announcement the words “still to come.” It again cuts to highlights from the accessible division — including account advantage of Stause and Hartley’s annulment — and Stause in tears.

sunset tonight | Sunset tonight, Sunset, Sunrise – sunset tonight | sunset tonight

Selling Sunset division two is now alive on Netflix.

13 Easy Ways To Facilitate Sunset Tonight | sunset tonight – sunset tonight | Pleasant for you to my personal blog site, on this time period I’m going to show you regarding keyword. And now, this can be the first image:

Majestic Sunset Tonight in Florida Over the Gulf of Mexico — Steemit – sunset tonight | sunset tonight

Why don’t you consider graphic preceding? is actually that amazing???. if you’re more dedicated and so, I’l l show you some picture all over again below:

So, if you’d like to get these fantastic pictures about (13 Easy Ways To Facilitate Sunset Tonight | sunset tonight), press save button to save these images to your personal pc. These are all set for download, if you appreciate and want to own it, simply click save badge on the article, and it’ll be directly saved in your computer.} Lastly if you need to grab new and the recent picture related to (13 Easy Ways To Facilitate Sunset Tonight | sunset tonight), please follow us on google plus or bookmark this blog, we attempt our best to offer you daily up grade with fresh and new photos. Hope you like keeping here. For some updates and latest news about (13 Easy Ways To Facilitate Sunset Tonight | sunset tonight) graphics, please kindly follow us on twitter, path, Instagram and google plus, or you mark this page on bookmark section, We try to present you up-date periodically with all new and fresh pictures, enjoy your exploring, and find the right for you.

Thanks for visiting our site, articleabove (13 Easy Ways To Facilitate Sunset Tonight | sunset tonight) published .  Today we’re delighted to declare we have discovered an extremelyinteresting contentto be discussed, that is (13 Easy Ways To Facilitate Sunset Tonight | sunset tonight) Some people searching for information about(13 Easy Ways To Facilitate Sunset Tonight | sunset tonight) and certainly one of them is you, is not it?

venezia blog: Sunset and Coming Storm: 5 Views from the .. | sunset tonight

Rain today gives way to gorgeous fiery sunset tonight in NYC .. | sunset tonight

Sergey Golubev – newdigital – Trader's profile – Page 153 .. | sunset tonight

Our sunset tonight – sunset tonight | sunset tonight

Nice sunset tonight : Calgary – sunset tonight | sunset tonight

Sunset Tonight High-Res Stock Photo – Getty Images – sunset tonight | sunset tonight

Sunset fishing express is a great trip! – Naples Fishing .. | sunset tonight

The post 13 Easy Ways To Facilitate Sunset Tonight | sunset tonight appeared first on Wallpaper Painting.

from Wallpaper Painting https://www.bleumultimedia.com/13-easy-ways-to-facilitate-sunset-tonight-sunset-tonight/

[fromasgardandback]

The Other Ruzek Kid [2]

Kevin Atwater x Reader

description: Kevin finds out that Adam has a sibling and can't help but falling for his best friend's little sister

word count: 700

warning: fluff; Kevin’s affection

masterlist

It has been seven months since that night at Molly’s. Kevin and you have been dating for six months. He made this whole deal about wanting to do your anniversary right. Taking you back to the restaurant of your first date, buying you your favorite flowers, showering you with love and affection. He was truly the man you’ve been looking for. He might be a tough and intimidating Chicago Police Officer, but to you, he was Mr. Softy. His peers saw his grit and hard work but at home, Kevin was a master chef with a heart of gold. 

“So,” Kevin wrapped his arms around your waist tightly, “I was thinking that we can do dinner first. Then a walk along the river? Get dessert at that new place where they share massive desserts?” He kissed your head, down to your neck, then to your shoulder. 

You leaned into him gently, “That sounds amazing. Thank you for treating me. What’d I do to deserve a man as amazing, wonderful, and attentive as you?” You turned around and gently stroked his face.

“Hm. I am the one who should be saying that. You are all I’ve wanted.” Kevin held you close kissing you deeply. It was those kinds of kisses that made you weak in the knees and high as a kite. 

Friday night came, Kevin was picking you up at your apartment while Kim and Hailey sat on your bed gossiping.

“You look beautiful Y/N, honestly.” Hailey smiled handing you your earrings. 

“I know right. It must be the Ruzek gene.” You all chuckled.

“Yeah except my brother went from preppy schoolboy turning girls heads to the one-woman mountain man.” You chuckled looking at Kim.

“Hey, he still looks good.” Uh-huh’s and reassuring comments came after.

Not a minute later, Kevin knocked on the door with a nice suit and your favorite flowers. He looked fine as hell and it definitely will not go unnoticed tonight.

“Oh, man. I won’t be able to last the night, let alone right now. Damn baby, you look incredible.” Kevin held your hand, spun you around, then continued to purr praises.

“Wow, Kev you got it bad. We’ll go. Have fun!” Hailey and Kim left with laughs.

You took the flowers and put them in a vase, then kissed your dog’s head and were lead out to Kevin’s car. 

He took you to your first date restaurant, which was beautiful sitting outside with the lights and nice breeze. There was an older couple who was celebrating their 50th anniversary. They told you that your relationship resembled theirs at that age. Your dinner was divine, as per usual. The view of Kevin in a suit was even better. He took you for a nice stroll along the water, overlooking Lake Michigan. The water glistened in the sunset. You asked some teenagers to take photos of you. Kevin insisted that the photos were to be posted immediately. The walk turned into dessert with a massive slice of cake and ice cream. Double chocolate fudge cake with sweet vanilla bean ice cream. You both had to share it; although, you would come back for your own portion.

“Thank you for this date. I had an amazing time. Well, every time I’m with you it’s amazing.” You gently kissed his cheek, sitting on his lap.

Kevin held you close. “Hm. You’re the amazing one.” He smiled brightly longingly looking into your eyes. “Y/N, look uhm, I know that my relationships in the past haven’t been as hopeful. You mean the world to me, I couldn’t let anyone hurt you. I-” Kevin stumbled. 

“I love you, Kevin Atwater.” You smiled and blushed harshly. 

“I love you, Y/N Ruzek.” Kevin cupped your face, kissing you. 

This was a night you knew you Kevin was the one. He was what you’ve been looking for this entire time. He showered you with love and affection in a way no one had before. He believed in you constantly. He was your cheerleader and your number one fan. Kevin would be there for every event. Kevin was who you wanted to grow old with. Kevin Atwater was yours now and forever.