#the winners of which will be graced with a fun visit from the god of their choice

[bruh-haikyuu]

REQUEST: Can you do a scenario where lev meets his s/o because she playing the piano or singing. Thank you. Love your writing.❤️

A/N: Thank you for requesting!! Ok Sasha storytime 😳😳 I used to be in a piano class since I was 5 (I quit, but I still play just for fun). And I joined this competition when I was 9 and got selected as one of the finalists - and I was so fucking surprised bc jesus, I play averagely for all I can say... I’m not the best, but I’m definitely not the worst. But there was this messed up system where more familiar faces/winners would definitely be chosen. And despite some other kids messing up a lot, the MCs removed me first bc “Sorry, no one knows you around here. You played better than some others, but maybe if you talked more, you could win. No one really wants a winner they’re not familiar with.” I couldn’t really say anything. I knew they were right. So I left with a Certificate of Participation and not even proof that the judges chose me as a finalist. THIS particular event got me so fucked up for so long that I tried to get myself sick/injured so that I wouldn’t have to go to my piano classes for 4 weeks straight. Eventually, I pulled out after my exam and started playing for myself, with the songs that I enjoy, whenever I want. So,,, fuck those MCs and my teacher, I’m a bad bitch you can’t kill me 😎 *plays Superbass by Nicki Minaj* FEM!READER BELOW

duende. | haiba lev

summary: in which lev has no sense of direction, but finds a lone sugarplum fairy along the way.

word count: 2438

warnings: none

(n.) the feeling of profound awe experienced when viewing a piece of art, watching a performance or listening to music that has deeply moved a person

It’s difficult to tell precisely... but Lev was definitely lost.

It wasn’t his fault the school had to be so large! What’s the point of having so much staircases when they weren’t going to lead to one conjoined hallway? It was like a maze, except Lev knew he wasn’t getting anywhere near a familiar area.

Crap! he cursed, pawing nervously at his empty pant pocket. I left my phone in the clubroom.

Light was already fading from the west-side window and he hadn’t come across anyone for the past 15 minutes. He recalled something Taketora said about a part of the school being dead deserted. Was this that place? He couldn’t tell.

He was getting impatient. If Lev didn’t hurry up and submit his additional worksheets to Sakamatsu-sensei before sundown, it was over. Goodbye to the club’s training camp. Goodbye to becoming the greatest ace Nekoma has ever had. Goodbye to everything he ever cared about.

Instinct taking over, he ran as fast as his legs could carry him and called out to the empty hallways for someone. Anyone. “Hello?! Sakamatsu-sensei...?!”

And when the vacant corridors replied back to him, Lev stilled, frozen.

“...Piano?”

Alisa had told him something about ghosts once. It was right after she’d gone out to watch some horror movie with her friends. Lev couldn’t remember exactly her words, but his sister had “slept” with her eyes open that night and he wondered if he should be taking her advice seriously.

But this didn’t sound like a ghost. Something that sounded so beautiful wouldn’t have any murderous intention behind it... right?

The melody reminded Lev of those old ballets his grandmother would play on TV when she visited. Every glissando a delicate spin by one of the performers, and every perky note a tiny leap. He could almost see them, those beautiful dancers, and Lev wondered—if he were to trace the music to its source, would he find a charming sugarplum fairy waiting for him?

His feet were already ahead of his thoughts. Lev couldn’t even tell where he was in the gallery of clubrooms. His senses of direction numbed, he relied on his ears and the sweet, sweet melody of the piano that was getting warmer. And warmer. Warmer.

Hot.

“Or...chestra Club?” he read out, the placard’s kanji wrapping itself around his head. Peering through the rectangular window of the doors, Lev zeroed in on the bareness of the room, save for the large grand piano settled in the center.

This is the place... right? he thought, retreating slowly. No one’s here.

Looking around for good measure, Lev scratched his head. Ah, geez, I don’t even know where I am anymore. He reconsidered throwing away his curiosity and return to his quest for the third year’s Teacher’s Room before his Biology teacher could scold him for his incompetence. But the little fluff of hair peeking out from behind the piano swayed him over and he didn’t even stop to think when he barged through the doors.

“Fairy!”

The girl who squeaked in shock really did convince Lev for a millisecond that she was a fairy. Straight out of that stage his TV had replayed for him. Tiny in stature, eyes shining like morning dewdrops and fingers pressed again the white keys, thin and graceful as if you were producing magic. All excluding the lack of a pair of shimmering wings sprouted on her back, you were an enigma in this barren universe.

“I’m human,” you said, voice like air. Breezing and pushing like wind.

Lev approached the center of the room, speculating if your glamour would disappear if he were to come closer. “T-That song you played. That was from a ballet, right?”

“It’s Tchaikovsky,” you replied bluntly, grinning. “I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere before, can’t recall... We’re not too familiar, but you’re awfully rude for a first year, aren’t you? At least address me with the proper suffixes if you’re going to assume my species like that, Giant-kun.”

Speak for yourself! he thought, becoming more and more amused by this fanciful person. “I mean, you don’t look like a high school student either—”

You, completely ignoring him, returned your attention the piano, playing another song. This one faster, more fluid. Seeing your hands up-close, Lev eyed the muted details of your hand. A gentle blush on its skin, illuminated by the sunlight from the large window sitting ajar. His sister would kill to have a hint at your manicure routine.

So this is what a pianist’s hands looks like.

“Oh, I remember now,” hands coming to a rest on your skirt, the fairy girl turned to him, as elegant as ever. Now that the room was silent, there was a nervousness that lingered in the air. “You’re one of Kuroo’s boys, aren’t you?”

Hearing the familiar name of the no-nonsense captain of the Volleyball Club, Lev perked up, “You know Kuroo-san?”

“Of course, we’re in the same class after all.”

Same class. That would mean—no way!

“Y-you’re older than me?!”

You gave him a bright smile. Added to your fairy-like personage, Lev couldn’t help but to notice that this upperclassman of his was aware of his existence. There was actually a girl—who was awfully cute and just his type if he thought about it—in this godforsaken school who knew about Nekoma’s ‘ace’, Haiba Lev.

This was a dream, right? No, he shouldn’t be saying such a thing. In fact, Lev had gotten so engrossed in this reality that he didn’t realize how much he was staring into your beautiful face before you piped up again.

“Oh, it’s almost time for me to lock up. I forgot to ask, did you need anything when you came in here?”

Wait, what time is it?!

Lev let out a strangled noise between a dying boar and a tearful sob. Collapsing on the floor before his worried senpai, he squeezed the papers in his hand. Oh, it was over now. Over, over, over. Hello wretched make-up exam, goodbye glorious training camp...

Kneeling down next to him, you peeked at his wincing face. “H-hey, are you okay? Is there anything I can do to help?”

Raising his head to look into your swirling eyes, Lev pursed his lips. Damn, you were totally going to think he was uncool after this. Grabbing you by the shoulders, he lowered his head in a bow.

“Senpai, could you show me the way to the third year’s teacher’s room? I’ve got an assignment to submit before 5 pm and I don’t know where I am! Please, senpai, I need to—”

No more words were exchanged when you grabbed Lev’s collosal hands in your delicate ones and dragged him through the door. You sped and hurtled down the corridors, bringing him along with you in this strange joyride. It was a funny sensation, similar to being towed around a park by a wild dog on a leash—except you weren’t a dog, but simply a shorter person whose size reminded him a bit of Yaku-san...

“S-Senpai—?!” he wheezed out, long legs pedalling in front of him. For someone nearly half his height, you were really fast; he wondered if you should’ve went for the Track and Field Club instead of the Orchestra Club.

Just as he had thought of letting go before you became a physical hazard to him, you skid to a halt in front of a door. Panting, you smiled up at him. “Here we are. Y-You’re not late, right?”

Eyes darting between the doors to the teacher’s office and you, the burning intention of a hug fuzzed out Lev’s brain—unfortunately, that would have to wait until later. Shoving the door open, he dashed inside the near-empty office and handed over his pile of crumpled assignments to the jaded Sakamatsu-sensei, face red.

Filing through the papers, the Biology teacher griped. “Well, all the assignments I asked for you to do are here... I’ll inform the Volleyball Club supervisor that you’ll be able to join the training camp this weekend.”

Saved. He was saved.

Exiting the office, he bowed before you—his fairy godmother—and murmured. “Thank you, senpai! You saved my life... ”

“Y-You’re welcome,” you said. “But I don’t think I went as far as “saving your life”, um... what was your name?”

“Haiba! Haiba Lev. Thank you so much!”

When you giggled, Lev heard the choirs of angels fill his head. God, he really wanted to hug you, stuff you in his pocket and bring you home with him to coo at and cuddle.

“The pleasure is mine, Haiba-kun. You’re an interesting person, you know? I’m glad we met.”

Lev really felt like he’d won the lottery. Was this finally his chance? Was he going to get a super cute, older girlfriend before his intolerable seniors? Unthinkable! Yet here he was, indulging in the soft smile of Nekoma’s resident sugarplum fairy, as if his entire gag reel of clumsy flukes never existed.

“Ah! I forgot to lock the doors to the clubroom!” you yelped. Even in panic, Lev thought you looked cute. “It was nice getting to know you, Haiba-kun. The main staircase is right over there, so you’ll be able to get back without getting lost. Be safe!”

Before he could offer his hand in accompanying you—at least being next to you for as long as possible—you had already sped off into an indistinct corner, the amber light of sundown fading with your shadow. And once again, Lev was alone.

Damn. He didn’t even ask for your name.

══════ ⋆★⋆ ══════

“You’re asking me... if I know a girl in my class called ‘Fairy-senpai’?”

The gaze in Lev’s green eyes were resolute. “Yes.”

Kuroo sighed, wiping off his sweat with a towel. Day by day, he swore, the first-years were getting more and more difficult to deal with. “Someone named Fairy who hangs around in that derelict part of the third floor sounds shady as hell. And what club did you say she was from?”

“Orchestra Club.”

“We have an Orchestra Club?”

Lev was getting nowhere with the rooster-headed captain; it was either that, or Kuroo was intentionally leading him to a dead-end out of sheer mischief. Anything could happen with him.

It had been a total of 18 hours since he’d last seen you, and Lev’s head had never felt any emptier. He’d startled his parents and Alisa enough by playing one of his grandmother’s ballet DVDs once he’d arrived home. But it wasn’t the same. Even the visual movements of the ballerinas and the skill of the ensemble didn’t amount to your solo rendition.

Yours was more natural, more sturdy. Something he could feel and see without opening his eyes or reaching out to it. Smitten with your performance, Lev slept that night, head filled with the thought of seeing you again, his little sugarplum fairy in the maze of doors and desolation. And maybe, he’d even get your number this time.

“She’s really good at the piano and has a twinkly smile. Fairy-senpai is a bit short too, really tiny,” Lev hesitated to continue, looking around for safety “... A bit like Yaku-san’s height.”

“What’s this I hear about my height? Hey, Lev! Why aren’t you practicing your digging receives?!”

Wincing at the stinging kick thrown at his back, Lev pouted miserably. Watching the poor behemoth being dragged away by the demonic upperclassman, an implausible feeling of pity struck through Kuroo, and he called out for the libero.

“A cute girl who looks like a fairy, can play the piano and is in the Orchestra Club? In our class?” Yaku repeated after Lev and Kuroo’s explanation. Tapping his chin in deep thought, he replied dubiously. “Doesn’t that sound a bit like L/N-san to you?”

“Ehh? L/N-chan can play the piano? I never knew that.”

Yaku clicked his tongue indignantly. “That’s because you barely talk to her. Maybe if you attended cleaning duty properly, you would’ve realized that when you’re paired up with her.”

The sound of his seniors bickering was already white noise to him. L/N. Repeating the syllables on his tongue, Lev tasted a sugary relish linger in his mouth. What a beautiful name. A fitting name, and suddenly, he already sensed that your first name would be just as wonderful.

“Though I’m impressed that you managed to get a full conversation out of L/N-san. Did you scare her or something?” Yaku snickered at Lev’s unappreciative scowl. “It’s just that L/N-san only says something when she’s required to. Otherwise... she’s really quiet. I’ve only heard her say ‘thank you’, ‘I’m sorry’, ‘yes’ and ‘no’ for the past three years, everything else we know about her comes from gossip.”

Lev’s chest swelled up and he smirked. “Maybe she likes younger guys like me.”

“I think she likes you because you’ve got nothing going on in your head at all,” the team captain scoffed attracting the giggles of his surrounding teammates. “You are right though, Lev. L/N-chan is a really cute person... I might get interested one of these days.”

“H-Huh?! C’mon, Kuroo-san! I’ve got dibs on her first!”

Nearly there, the captain thought. Lev’s ears were already burning red, a clear sign of his impulsive outburst. And when the timing was right, the Volleyball Club loved to use his recklessness for profit.

Crossing his arms in faux doubt, Kuroo shrugged. “I don’t know... I highly doubt you’ll attract her attention if you’re not even a regular on the team...”

Furrowing his brows deeply, Lev snatched a ball from the ground and stared deeply into the captain’s lacklustre eyes. “I-I’ll show you! I’ll become a regular on the team and the ace! That’s why I’m going to go practice right now, right, Yaku-san?!”

Even Yaku, completely amused and alarmed, had to do a double take. “R-Right... Do your best then.”

“I will!”

Chuckling at Lev’s shrinking back, Kuroo patted himself on the back for a job well done. Kenma, who had watched the entire nasty exchange go down, was stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Weakly punching his childhood friend on his shoulder, he grumbled. “Great... Now that he’s fired up about some girl, he’ll keep asking me for more tosses. Kuroo, if I pass out because of your ‘encouragement’, you’re paying for my health insurance.”

Lev couldn’t hear the new conversation happening between the team’s setter and the captain, but that didn’t matter right now. He was going to practice, become better, then the best. Then ask you out, his sugarplum fairy in the third floor’s Orchestra Club clubroom. Lev felt invincible.

[beca-mitchell]

Beca and the Intern (1/1)

Summary: Beca doesn't have a wandering eye. Fluff. No angst.

Word Count: 1,674

This is really short, but I wanted to share with you guys. Part of the now i see daylight universe. Could potentially be read as a quick standalone too.

Read below or on AO3.

* * * * *

February Los Angeles Age: 35

 Some people might say that Beca Mitchell has a problem. The problem being that she has blinders on whenever it comes to her and her family.

It’s not her fault, it really isn’t. Her family is just kind of her number one priority, which she assumes must be some weird blip in Hollywood or maybe Los Angeles at large.

But still.

It’s not a problem.

* * * * *

 “So...what do you do around here?” the intern—Jane or Jenny or Jessica—asks, leaning over Beca’s shoulder as she fiddles with controls. It’s not quite enough that their bodies are touching and Beca’s just a bit too distracted to notice just how close she’s standing.

Also, the audacity of the question itself—as if Beca Mitchell, world-reknown artist had simply “things” to do “around here”.

It’s a set up.

One that Beca doesn’t notice or perhaps she just chooses not to care enough to notice.

Josh seems to notice, however, and coughs behind his hand, tapering off into a snicker. Beca cuts a glance at him. “What is it?”

“Sorry,” he mutters. Beca raises an eyebrow, but he simply shrugs, going back to his laptop.

Opting to ignore her favorite co-producer’s weird antics, Beca returns to the task at hand. The task being that she volunteers to introduce new interns at Epic Records to the ins and outs of recording and producing. It surprises most people because of her continuously-growing celebrity status and how easily this could all go downhill, but Beca has been doing it for a few years now and she likes the drive she sees in most interns.

It reminds her of where she once was.

“So this is where I do most of my recording,” Beca explains, straightening her back as she turns to smile at the intern. “I guess you’ll be shadowing me here and there during your time here.” She tries to offer a grin. “It’s a lot more boring than it sounds, I promise. I’m mostly done with most of my tracks.” Beca’s brow furrows. “Sorry, what was your name again?”

Her intern’s eyes seem to light up. “Jen.”

Beca snaps her fingers. “I’ll do my best to remember that. Sorry, I’m really bad with names. Better with faces.”

For whatever reason, Jen seems to brighten even more at that, offering Beca a megawatt smile that hurts Beca’s eyes just by virtue of looking at it.

Interns seem to get younger and weirder, Beca muses.

 * * * * *

 “And...that’s it!” Beca says, gesturing at Jen to shut off the recording session. She’s impressed when Jen does so with ease, fingers seemingly flying across the soundboard. She exits the booth, nodding approvingly. “What did you think?”

“Your voice is...amazing,” Jen says breathlessly. “You just make it look so easy, I swear.” She clasps her hands and looks up at Beca. “That was a lot of fun. Will we get to do it again?” Her eyes cut to Josh. “Would you be able to show me more things? T-techniques, I mean. Just the two of us?”

Josh coughs again.

Beca is scrolling through her phone, distracted already.

“Beca?”

She smiles apologetically at her intern. “Wait, you have to see this. You just reminded me of something my daughter did.”

Jen’s smile freezes. “Daughter?”

Josh snickers, fully this time. “Didn’t you know that the famous Beca Mitchell is completely domesticized? Two kids and a high school sweetheart of a wife. Pretty sure that exact line is on her Wikipedia page.”

Beca blushes, still distracted as she searches for the video she’s looking for. “That...was a joke line that Chloe put up. I took it down.”

“After a week,” Josh quips back.

“Right,” Jen says. “I knew that. Your family is super cute. It must be hard though, being away from them so often. You must get lonely...” Jen trails off, clearly noticing that Beca is too fixated on her phone to really be responsive to her words.

Josh’s eyes cut to Jen again, completely bemused at the sheer amount of literal hearts shooting out of her eyes.

And the fact Beca still has yet to notice. In fact, Beca barely seems to have noticed that Jen had been speaking to her, undertones of something more clipping into her tone.

“Oh my God,” Beca exclaims finally once she pulls herself away from photos of Chloe and their babies. “Here, look. This is Emma. She’s five now.” Her smile is blinding as she hands the phone to Jen, immediately bending over her shoulder to watch as well. “I brought her into the studio one day on a weekend and she just...went to town on this thing.” Beca puts her hands over her chest. “She’s already so musical.”

Jen hands the phone back. “That’s great—you and your family...your family sounds lovely.”

Beca beams. “Thank you.”

She doesn't notice the longing on Jen's face.

 * * * * *

 “You’re unbelievable,” Josh says once Jen is carted off to another department for the rest of her tour of the label.

“What?”

“What do you mean what? That poor girl was about two seconds away from literally jumping you.”

Beca chokes on the sip of water she had been taking. “What? No she wasn’t.”

“Yes she was. What would Chloe have to say about this?”

Beca panics briefly at the thought of Chloe storming through the office. “I didn’t do anything.”

Josh grins and kicks her chair gently. “I know, I was just kidding. It’s not like you even noticed when she was undressing you with her eyes.”

“Stop saying that!” Beca exclaims, covering her face with her hands. “Oh my God, these interns are so young and weird. Why do I even agree to do this?”

“Because you’re a good person,” Josh chirps, laughing when Beca has yet to remove her hands from her face. “And so, so humble,” he mocks, kicking her chair again. “Okay miss Grammy Award winner.”

Beca scowls, peeking at him. “Shut up.” She glances around the empty room. “I feel like I should call Chloe. I should do that, right? Like. Just a feeling.”

“Why?” he asks, laughing again. “Like you said, you didn’t do anything. And really, you didn’t. You weren’t even encouraging her. You were just like...obsessed with your kid. Again.”

Beca chooses to ignore that last part. “I’m scared. What if she corners me.”

Josh snorts before bursting into full-blown laughter.

“Help me!” Beca exclaims. “I’m—I’m so bad at—Hey, where are you going!”

Josh’s laughter haunts her as he exits the room, laptop tucked under his arm.

Beca waits until she’s totally alone and picks up her phone.

Beca Mitchell Chlo?

Chloe Beale yes? what did you do?

Beca Mitchell Want to bring Grace and Emma by work today so we can grab dinner after?

Chloe Beale ...again. what did you do now? Also yes. :) i love you and i was kidding...i know you didn't do anything 

Beca Mitchell stop that Love you too

And she means it. She really does.

 * * * * *

 Chloe pokes her head around the corner of the door to Beca’s favorite studio. It pretty much doubles as her own personal workspace with how often she uses it compared to other artists and producers. Chloe’s lanyard and visitor’s pass clicks against the door and she smiles sheepishly when Beca turns in her chair, clearly startled.

“Hi,” Chloe greets. It’s all she can get out before Emma is squealing excitedly and pushing past Chloe’s legs to throw herself against Beca’s knees.

Beca gasps, mimicking Emma’s excitement as she picks up her child (doing her best not to wince as she does so, marvelling at how big Emma’s gotten already) and presses kisses against her face. “You came to visit me!” Chloe steps into the room, nudging the door but not closing it completely. Beca’s heart pounds at the sight of Chloe carrying their (almost) two-year-old, Grace, in her arms.

It is a sight that will never get old.

Additionally, Chloe is smiling at Beca in that specific way that makes Beca’s knees weak—the smile that Beca knows is representative of how much Chloe loves her and adores her.

And how much Chloe loves and adores their little family. It makes Beca feel less crazy, knowing how obsessed Chloe is with documenting literally every aspect of their life together.

“We came to visit you!” Emma shouts, bringing Beca right back to the present, stopping her from being lost completely in her wife’s eyes. At five, Emma has developed a penchant for yelling at the top of her lungs, regardless of her emotion.

“Emma, indoor voice,” Beca hushes.

“Hello wifey,” Chloe murmurs, leaning in to greet Beca herself. Between them, Grace is contentedly resting her head against Chloe’s shoulder, clearly still tired from the short drive over. Beca can’t blame her. And Emma—Emma is giggling happily as Beca steals a quick kiss from Chloe. “Dinner plans?” Chloe questions. “That was sudden of you.”

Beca is about to respond, but she notices Jen poking her head around the corner of the door at that exact moment. She fumbles and presses her lips to Chloe’s again, mindful of their babies between them.

Chloe gasps against her mouth, clearly surprised, but she lets Beca take the lead, clearly interested in where this goes.

“Not that I’m complaining,” Chloe says slowly when they part. Emma giggles between them like she knows exactly why Beca is so frazzled. She probably does, the rascal. Beca wonders if she can bring her kids into work more often...or at least spend more time at home. She smiles, nuzzling Emma's rosy cheek before leaning over to tickle Grace. Chloe clears her throat, eyes shining with mirth, but mostly love and affection. “But what was that for?”

Beca clears her throat and makes a mental note to not stop by Josh’s desk on the way out. “It’s a long story.”

But it’s not a problem because Beca has her family and she wouldn’t change any of this for the world.

fin.

*see more of this universe—now i see daylight.*

[doodlydoki]

#5 Honey, I Won~

Heya @three-space-kittens!! Sorry for the long wait, but I promised you it would be a long one😉 I hope you enjoy, because I sure did writing this 😂

Summary: Aizawa's wife, the #5 pro hero in Japan, is asked to run a training simulation with class 1-a. What the students didn't expect was for their teacher to show up with his daughter and a lovely surprise for YOU.

Words: 4500~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The clicking of your heals echoed through the empty hallway. Lesson plans settled in your arms, together with some student files, as you made your way to the designated classroom. Your husbands classroom, class 1-A. When the principle reached out to you, asking if you were interested in guiding the young teenagers in their stealth skills, you were thrilled. This was the perfect opportunity to meet your lovers class and to help them grow skillswise. (Admittedly, spending more time with your love was also in the back of your mind when you accepted the principals request.)

You halted in front of the classroom door, hearing your tired husband explain to his students that they’ll have a special program for the day. Upon hearing his introduction of another pro teaching them for the day, you stepped in, head raised high as you greeted the to-be-heroes. 1-A was in an uproar, It’s the fifth ranked hero! They’re going to be trained by one of the top 5 heroes in Japan! No way!

“That’s Umbra, the shadow hero!!” Exclaimed a green haired teen enthusiastically, “She’s known to cloak herself with the shadows around her, making her invisible at night which gives her the best opportunities to land sneak attacks!! She can manipulate shadows for offence attacks and defence barriers and-”

“Shut up nerd, we know!”

Their homeroom teacher shushes them, giving you the chance to take over his class while he sits back and takes a break from these rowdy teenagers. “As you’ve already heard from your homeroom teacher, today’s lessons will be quite different from what you’re used to.” You started, taking your husband’s position at the classrooms front desk. “Your classes for today will consist of stealth training and support item checks and upgrades. By the end of the day, you will all be given an individual evaluation about your new learned skills and ability to avoid unnecessary casualties. Are there any questions?”

A green haired boy’s hand went up, “Yes? Midoriya, is it?” You recognized his messy green hair and studious nature from his student file. Which described the boy’s heroic nature and curious tendencies perfectly.

“Yes miss, I have a question, if you don’t mind me asking!” he said nervously.

You smiled kindly not wanting the boy to feel any sort of hesitance when asking you a question, or any student really. “Questions are never a problem. Ask away!”

That’s when Shouta’s phone went off (at the worst timing). He picked it up and looked at the screen. “I have to take this one, I’ll be right back.” He said, before he made his way towards the classroom door.

“Yeah, no problem.” You answered before you turned your attention back to midoriya again, signaling him to ask away.

That seemed to get his usual gears running, as he eagerly shot an array of questions your way “If this is a stealth exercise, then why would we need a support item check? You said we will get upgrades, are they general upgrades or stealth upgrades? How will we train our stealth skills? And how will you evaluate our ability to avoid casualties exactly?”

O Boy. A soft heated laugh echoed through the classroom, yours to be specific, “No worries, all your questions will be answered the moment we arrive at the allocated training facility.” You pressed the button of the remote that opened the case closet, containing their costumes “For now, you and your classmates can change into your hero costumes and meet me back here in 20 minutes.”

All 20 student happily rushed to get their costume case and went to the changing rooms to change, leaving you behind in an empty classroom. Not long after that, Shouta entered again, phone still in hand, signalling he just ended the call, “Hey I have to go home to grab a new set of clothes for (D/N).”

“Oh, did something happen?” You asked confusedly.

“Nothing much. A kid at kindergarten spilled his drink over her, it’s left quite a stain so now she wants dry clothes, they had no spare set left there.” He sighed, “And here I thought she wouldn’t worry about such thing at the age of three, figuring out it would dry on its own and just keep drawing… or something.”

You giggle at his remark, “Seems like she’s already turning into a little lady.”

“O god, I hoped we could just stay at the fingerpainting stage for another year.” He groaned annoyed.

You laughed at his remark, before tauntingly replying: “Did you already forget about last time she had a little too much fun with paint~?”

He groaned again, recalling last times event clearly in his head,  “Of course not, the walls were covered in pink and I had to paint it over.”

You grinned, “So, are you sure that’s any better?”

He sighed again wrapping his arms around your shoulders, mumbling his reply, “Nevermind.”

You giggled a bit as you planted a kiss on his cheek, before pulling away from his embrace. He expected to see a loving smile on your face, the one you normally wore when you two had a moment like this, but was instead met with a smirk gracing your lips.

Oh no…

“Just go home and get her majesty her clothes, dear.” You said teasingly, then you proceeded to kick your husband out of the classroom. “Don’t worry, Dear! I’ll take care of your other 20 kids.” You gave him a wink before you shut the classroom door. Laughing quietly to yourself as you can only imagine him having to struggle with your 3 year old daughter, who will most likely not let the men leave after his arrival.

Your daughter was a bit clingy when it came to her dad, she never misses out on a chance to either nap together, hug or play hero/villain with him. It’s quite adorable how she runs around the house, wearing your husband’s goggles and claiming to become a ‘Night’ hero just like her dad! And due to this favoritism, Shouta started claiming that she’ll have his quirk when she grows a bit older, to which you, of course, didn’t agree too, for your quirk can also be quite handy in the late hours. This started a small bet between the two of you. The loser will have to take the winner out on a date! Truely, there was nothing at stake for the loser, but Shouta is so dead set on the thought that she is gonna have his quirk, so in his case, it may still be quite a big loss.

You couldn’t stop a small chuckle from escaping your lips as you thought about the man pouting when it does turn out that she has your quirk.

“Why are you laughing miss, did something funny happen?” It was Ochako, ready in her hero suit with midoriya and Iida by her side.

“No, no nothing happened-” You shook your head and smiled,  “-just a funny thought that came to mind.” Then you looked at Iida’s costume, “Hey, that’s Ingenium’s design, Isn’t it?”

You noticed the boy's proud demeanor as he wears it, for it is basically a family heirloom, “Yes it is! As a proud son of the Iida family, I hope to join my family at our hero agency after my graduation here at UA-” but you didn’t miss the sad gloss over his eyes by the mention of his brother’s hero name. “and carry on my brothers legacy as the hero called ingenium.”

“That sounds wonderful, Iida! Your brother is very proud of you taking over his hero name, ya know? He told me so himself”

The boy seemed surprised, “You know my brother?”

You smiled softly at him hoping to help him ease his trouble,“Yes I do, we’ve went to UA together actually. Last time I spoke to him, I went to visit him in the hospital and he told me this, ‘To know my little brother will carry my hero name as an emblem, making sure the name ‘Ingenium’ doesn’t die and will continue where I left off, eases my worries. I know he’ll be a fine hero someday. All I can hope for now is that he will make the name ‘Ingenium’ his own, I really hope he does.’ Your brother has high hopes for you kid, but he’s already so proud of you. I’ve talked to a few other heroes as well and we all agreed that you show a true heroes virtue. I myself believe you’ll stand with the top, best heroes of your generation! So when the time comes, I hope I get the chance to work alongside you! What do you say, Ingenium, wanna team up someday?” You held out your hand to him, smiling as you hoped for the boy to agree with your proposal.

Your smile faltered as you saw the shocked look he wore, tears forming in the corners of his eyes. “O, I’m so sorry-” You say in a panic, “-are you okay, i’m really sorry if I-”

“-Thank you, miss.” Iida removed his glasses and wiped away the watery beads that had threatened to fall, “I’m glad you told me.” He put his glasses back on and looked at you, determination filled his gaze, “I’ll keep working hard to become worthy of the name Ingenium. When I join my family’s hero agency, it would be my honor to work alongside you.”

“Can’t wait till your graduation kid,” You placed a hand on his shoulder, sincerity filling your voice, “I wanna see up close how you turn out to be as a hero, although I can already suspect you’ll be on top of the chart.”

You withdrew your hand of his shoulder and turned your attention to all 20 students, who were all dressed up and ready to rumble. “Okay heroes, now that we’re all geared up, let’s make our way to the front of the school! A bus will take us to the training facility.”

The students followed you in excited spirits to the bus, still talking lively amongst themselves when they choose a seat for the short journey. Midoriya, Ururaka and Iida who were chatting when Kaminari came to sit beside them together with Ashido, “Hey Iida, what where you and miss Umbra talking about? You seemed upset for a moment.”

“Well...miss Umbra and I talked a bit about my brother, apparently they’ve known each other since their years together at UA.”

“Wow, it’s pretty cool they went to UA together! Right?” Ashido said, tuning in on the conversation. “But if that’s all you talked about, what is it that made you upset?”

“Well, that isn’t all we talked about,” He began, his hands gesturing away. “Apparently she and my brother talked a bit about me taking over his hero name and that he hopes I’ll be able to make his hero name my own. It’s not that I’m upset, I just got little emotional is all.”

Kirishima, who was sitting opposite of his five classmates, also joined in. “I can see how that strikes a nerve, bro. Are you okay?”

“I am perfectly fine, thank you. Miss Umbra told me she has talked to other heroes about my hero capabilities as well and that they all seem to see great potential in me.” Iida smiles a little as he explains, “It appears she wishes for us to team up some time after my graduation.”

“Wow dude, she asked you for a team-up herself? that’s amazing!” Kaminari exclaimed loudly.

“Yes, it is quite the honor. She has high expectation of me, I hope I can abide them.”

“Out of all of us, Iida, you abide rules and expectations the best.”

“No doubt about that!”

“Seriously, you haven’t even graduated and you’re already high in demand!”

You giggled a bit as your husbands class went on about Iida, they were so supportive of him and seemed all so close to each other in general.

“No wonder he like this class so much.”

You turned on your phone and texted the tired man:

You: Me and the kids are on our way to the USJ, any idea when you’ll be joining us?

You figured Shouta would be way too busy to reply when suddenly your phone started ringing, a picture of him napping with your daughter on the couch lit the screen. You smiled as you tapped the green button to answer the call. “Hey, why did you call me, everything okay?”

“(Y/N),” His low voice came from the speaker in a pleading tone, “Help me.”

You giggled as you already guessed your husbands predicament, “What’s the problem?” You could hear the man tell your daughter to take the phone and tell what the problem is before you were met with her high pitched voice.

“Hi, mommy!”

You laughed at her enthusiasm as she got to call you, “Hey sweetie! Is everything okay?”

“Yes, but daddy has to stay! Can daddy stay?”

Of course he called you, the poor man was incapable of saying no to your daughters pleading puppy eyes. “Sweetie, daddy has to go back to work.”

You heard her gasp, an idea popping into her head, before she asked excitedly, “Can I go to daddy’s work?”

“Hmm, could you give daddy back his phone? I’ll talk with him about it.” You heard some rustling and talking on the other side before you heard your tired husbands voice again, “You okay with that?”

“Wait…you’re actually considering taking her to UA?”

“She’s been asking for a while now, one time couldn’t hurt.” You were surprised that he would even agree to it. You two had made clear boundaries in the beginning of your relationship about PDA and who the few people were to actually know about your marriage due to safety concerns. Letting the students know will certainly result to wildfire gossip.

“Are you sure, Shouta? I don’t mind her coming along, but your students will know about her then. Are you not worried about gossip amongst the students?”

There seems to be a pause at his end of the line and your pretty sure he’s contemplating his decision. You hear some rustling and mumbling on his side again before you finally get a reply, “Don’t worry momma! I’ll tell them to keep ‘shh’. Is it okay if I go to daddy’s school then? He says it’s okay!”

You sign in defeat, there’s no reason to say no now. “If daddy says it’s okay, then i’m okay with it too.”

You hear your daughter squealing on the other side of the line, yelling to her dad that it’s okay. ��Thank you mommy!! I’ll give daddy the phone, bye bye!”

Once you suspected he had the phone to his ear again, you spoke in a flat tone of voice, “Was it the puppy eyes?”

“It was the argument actually.”

“So convincing you couldn’t bring any counter-arguments in?”

“Exactly.”

You grinned at the fact that your husband was so stubborn, that even you couldn’t sway his mind when it came to work-related things with the most rational of arguments...and here he was, unable to say no to his 3 year old daughter when she puts the puppy eye wildcard on the table and with the silly argument of telling the students to keep it ‘shh’.

“Seems like her majesty got her knight to bring her a new dress, and on top of that, a magical ride to the USJ kingdom.”

“That was the second argument, I can’t refuse her majesty’s wishes.” You could hear the grin he’s wearing through the phone.

You chuckle at his statement,  “Dear, you should really learn how to say no to her.”

“I reserved that part for you.” He replied in a smug tone.

“Wha- no! Sho-”

“See? You’re saying it agai-”

“O HUSH, I’ll see you two soon.”

You were answered with some lighthearted laughter at the other side of the line and some rustling in the background. You could faintly hear your husband say: ‘Say goodbye to mommy’ before you heard him pass the phone one more time. “Bye bye mommy!”

“Bye bye sweetie, i’ll see you and daddy soon.” You heard your daughter say ‘okay’ before you heard Shouta take the phone again and end the call. You laughed a bit to yourself at the silly conversation. Your daughter knew exactly how to pull her stubborn father's heart-strings, maybe one day she’ll tell you how she’s doing it.

“Miss Umbra?!” You turned around in your seat to see the bubbly pink student wave your way.

You hoped you didn’t talk loud enough for the students to hear that they’ll have an unexpected visitor during their training. “Yes, Ashido?”

“Are we almost there yet?”

You sighed inwardly as you checked your phone for the time, before showing the bubbly teen a smile, “Just a few more minutes.”

And as promised, the bus stopped before the USJ not too many minutes later. All students stepped out and made their way inside, listening to Umbra as she made her announcement. “Today’s training will take place in the Ruins Zone. We’re going to act out a scenario in which the ‘bad guys’ will discuss their evil plans in a secret location, in this case these ruins. there will be three groups of ‘bad guys’. All groups will receive three different topics of secret information that they’ll have to discuss with their group members, make it seem real! The heroes will infiltrate the ruins and try to collect information, undetected, from one of the three criminal groups. The criminal groups will discuss later on, which group was listened in on. If they don’t know which group it was, and if the heroes collect enough information that was given by one group, then the heroes have succeeded this exercise.”

Asui's hand went up, “Miss, why would there be 3 groups, if we only need to collect information from one?”

Midoriya’s hand shot up as well, “I think I know! Is it because if there was only one group, then they know for sure they’d be listened into? In real life criminal groups are never sure if they are listened into or not so if they know for sure now then there wouldn’t be a good indication for the heroes their stealth skills.”

“Midoriya is completely right! Criminals are always on the lookout for eavesdropping heroes, but there is a difference in expecting a hero or detecting a hero to be there. Now that i’ve explained the exercise, let’s get on with the support items for the heroes.” You pulled two pads out of your utility belt. “These pads can be placed under your shoes. The underside of the pads are soft and sound absorbent, this way your footsteps will be damped so you can move faster and get closer to the enemy without making your presence known. With that being said, let’s form the groups! ” You gave the pads to Bakugou and Ashido. “For the first round, you two will be the heroes.”

Ashido squealed happily because she gets to test out the support item first, while bakugou claimed he’ll ace this test. Shouta told you once that they both have a ‘noticeable presence’, which is the opposite of what you’re supposed to have in a stealth based mission. You hope to see great results at the end of this training session, or at least improvement.

“Now for the criminal teams.” You pulled out three different sheets of paper. “Midoriya, Iida, Uraraka and Yaoyorozu will be team 1.” You waved them over and handed them a piece of paper.”

Topic: Drug dealing

Boss: Ando Kojiro

Drug: Cocaine

City base: Musutafu, Japan

Base: Abandoned Warehouse (edge of the city: South)

“This is the information you’ll need to convey into your conversation. Your team will get 20 minutes to think up a conversation and, if necessary, to research some information about drug-cartels. After 20 minutes please try to have given everyone a role and some dialogue. Try to put yourself in a drug-dealer’s shoes and to make it convincing! This exercise is a chance for you guys to step into a criminals mind and try to get a better understanding of how they operate, which is both informative and fun! If any of you have any questions then don’t hesitate to ask.”

The four of them started setting up a plan while you went to give out information to the other groups. The three groups were busy planning out their dialogue when you heard an excited voice call out for you. “Mommy!!” Shouta came walking towards you and the students, your daughter tucked into his arms and oversized yellow goggles covering her eyes as she waved enthusiastically your way.

“MOMMY!?” The whole class exclaimed as they stared at the little, black haired girl as she jumped out of their teachers arms and gave you a hug. Then she jumped up and down happily and pointed to the goggles “Look mommy, looook!!! I put daddy’s glasses on!”

“Wait, DADDY!?” The little girl obviously had their teachers goggles on, so does that mean..?

You laughed at her boisterous claims, “I can see that, sweetie! But aren’t they a little to big for you?”

“Yes, but if I grow SOOO big,” She stretched her arms as far as she could above her head, “then they aren’t anymore and then I can be a hero just like you and daddy!!” She ran over to her tired dad and hugged his legs, “Right, daddy?”

Shouta couldn’t suppress a smile as he ruffled his daughters hair, “I’m sure you’ll be an amazing hero, kiddo.” He crouched down and looked at you for a second before he looked back at your daughter again, smirking as he said, “Why won’t you show your mom our little secret?”

The little, raven haired girl turned around to you and showed you a mischievous smile as she made her way back to you, uncovering her eyes to reveal the white eye-pad that was hidden beneath the goggles. She peeled it off quickly to which her hair flew up and her eyes colored a bright yellow. “Mommy~”

AAAHHH…. dipshit

“Daddy won!!” She giggled as Shouta came to stand beside you.

“Hear that, Honey? I won.” He showed you his infamous grin as your daughter hopped around you two and squealed in delight that her dad won. After the two of them had their fun, Shouta took the eye-pad again and placed it back on her eye. Her hair went down again and her eyes turned back into their normal colour, the same eye colour she shares with you. It didn’t take long for the 20 students to introduce themselves to your daughter, very surprised to discover their homeroom teacher had a wife and a child.

You were watching your daughter run around the students, jumping into their arms and wanting to know everything about them. It was cute how she thought the lot of them were already heroes, cuter how she recognised Iida’s costume as ingenium’s and claimed that he was one of her favorite heroes, and the cutest that they all played hero and villain together as she pretended to be just like her dad, wrapping her fluffy scarf around the ‘villains’ to capture them. Shouta stood beside you, enjoying the sight of his students and his daughter getting along so well.

“Isn’t that the same dress she put on this morning?”

“I’ve discussed with her teacher that she would call me if she developed her quirk. Turns out she had mine, so we wanted to surprise you.”

You looked at him, eyebrow already raised, “Surprise me?...or to rub it in~”

He grinned, “Maybe both.” and pulled you in for a hug.

You chuckled, hugging him back. You booped his nose when you pulled back, returning his grin in the process, “Next kid will have my quirk.”

“How are you so sure we’ll have another kid?”

“Daddy!!!” Your daughter runs to her dad and crashes right into his legs, before she reaches her arms out, wanting to be picked up. Shouta chuckles and complies, picking up his cheerful kid. “What is it kiddo?”

“The heroes-” She pointed towards his students, “-said I could maybe be the number one hero if I try, but I was like no, because I can only be the number two hero.”

Shouta frowns, confused that his daughter wouldn’t dream at such an age of being the number one hero, “Why the number two hero? Why can’t you be the number one hero?”

“Because you and mommy are my number one heroes, so of course I can’t be number one, because you are.” She huffed, exclaiming it like it’s the most logical answer in the world.

Shouta looks shocked by your daughters answer, unable to give her any sort of reply.

You smirked as you whispered into his ear: “That’s why.”

He turns his head to look at you and blankly says, “We’ll come back to this conversation later.”

“As I expected~” You sing-songed happily, pretty sure it was your daughter’s sweetness that made his brain malfunction just a moment ago.

You smiled as you watched your husband make silly faces, successfully getting your daughter to giggle and pull at his face to get him to make silly faces herself.

If you two do come back to this conversation, you’re pretty sure he won’t say no to having another kid

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Damn this is long!!! Sadly I can't put a keep reading in the middle, because my phone'll space 'm. Hope ya'll enjoyed!!

Have a good day buttercups~!! 💜💛💙💚

[desparikon]

Murdoc/MacGyver fluff (+ bonus Murdoc/Bozer)

I knew I wouldn’t commit to any Flufftober prompt lists, but I still wanted to post something, so here are a few ficlets/misfires/small-things-that-probably-won’t-turn-into-actual-fics.

First up is a gift for @murdocsmacattack:

Murdoc stretched out on the couch, letting his muscles relax. He already felt calmer, and he’d been in MacGyver’s house for maybe ten minutes. Great decision, extending his trip so he could force their paths to collide.

How could he be wrong when his heart’s pull to Angus is this strong? They belong together. Keeping them apart left their lives incomplete and unnecessarily painful. Why couldn’t the world understand that? He would always be part of Angus’ life. They were inseparable now, nosy friends and “The Law” be damned.

"What're you doing here?" Mac took a few hesitant steps into his living room.

The waiting, loneliness, near misses. They’d all paid off tenfold. He'd dropped in on a half-naked Angus. No shirt, just PJ pants. Murdoc always had an appreciation for the beauty that is Angus MacGyver. Perfect mind, perfect body, but he’d outdone perfection this time.

MacGyver had been working out. His abs were smoothly defined, with a visible six pack. And his arms. Oh fuck. His arms were huge. God. Murdoc needed to touch them, feel the strength. There were so many things MacGyver could do to him. Give him a hug, hold him, maybe even carry him, punch him--

Or Angus could hold him down with them. If he started a fight, Angus would be willing to use force. Let MacGyver get the upper hand, then pretend to tire himself out. Angus would think he’d won, but the real winner would be Murdoc, as Angus restrained his arms and pressed that hard body against him...

"Hey!" A blush started to spread across Mac’s cheeks despite his glare; Murdoc's ogling hadn’t been subtle at all.

Murdoc blinked. "Hmm?"

Oh. Right, yeah, he wasn’t looking at a screen this time. Angus could actually see him.

"Why're you in my house?"

"Because I wanted to see you."

He didn’t look convinced, so Murdoc changed the subject before he accidentally said something sappy in reassurance.

"I was going to ask what you've been doing with yourself, but obviously. Like damn, there’s no way to ignore your immaculately toned arms! You belong in an art museum. A perfectly sculpted marble statue!”

“I’m not all that. You say stuff like that because you’ve built a fantasy of me. Some ideal that I’m never going to live up to. Then I’ll disappoint you, so you’ll have an excuse...” Mac sighed as he pulled his arms across himself and let his gaze drop. “You should know by now what’s wrong with me. That I’m not a work of art.” Murdoc followed his line of sight down to where he was letting his fingers brush over a spot on his chest.

Ah, yes. His bullet wound scar. Lots of emotional baggage attached to that one. But this wasn’t just about that. He’d apparently caught Angus on a bad day, and while he didn’t mind being an outlet for Angus’ feelings, Murdoc was probably better at the physical side of comfort.

“Let me make you feel better.” Mac didn’t hesitate to cross the room and lay his hand in Murdoc’s offered one.

Murdoc smiled as he pressed a few kisses to the back of Mac’s hand. “Well, I think you’re perfect the way you are. You know you’ll always be the masterpiece in my art museum.”

A small smile appeared on Mac’s face. “You don’t know when to quit. I feel like you’re about to pull out a bad pick-up line, saying something sappy like that.”

“I can set a mood.” Murdoc broke out his most charming grin. “If I said you had a nice body, would you hold it against me?”

Murdoc planned to use Mac’s laughter as distraction to pull him down onto the couch, but he reacted too quickly and pulled his hand free, grabbing Murdoc’s wrist instead. He instinctively pulled his arm back, giving Mac momentum to flatten him back into the couch and straddle him. He pulled Murdoc’s arms above his head and ran his hands along them, firmly pinning them down when Murdoc tested his hold.

"Does this set the mood?" Murdoc fought back a moan as Mac emphasized the question by squeezing his wrists.

That little smirk was going to kill him.

"Oh, definitely."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

“I want to take a shower with you!” Mac playfully bumped against Murdoc as they walked down the hallway to his bedroom. “I’m gonna be lonely!”

“Should’ve thought about that before you pushed me into that bottomless mud pit.”

“Mud puddle. And I didn’t push you. You just lost your balance. Suddenly.”

“After-- Nevermind. Point is, now it’s dry, and it’s stuck to my skin, and it’s itchy.” He gestured toward his bed. “Why don’t you go make yourself at home on my bed? I know how much it appeals to your inner puppy.”

Mac couldn’t deny that. There’s something irresistible about a huge bed that begs him to roll around on it while rubbing his face on the soft blanket.

The sound of the bathroom door shutting caused Mac to whip his head around. “Hey!!” He rushed to the bathroom door and tried to turn the handle, even though he knew it’d be locked. “That’s cheating!”

“It’s not my fault you’re desperate to get into my bed.”

As he turned back, he noticed that Murdoc had forgotten his towel and clothes on the bed. Judging by the muffled groaning coming through the door, Murdoc had just come to the same realization.

"Ohhhh no! Who forgot this stuff on the bed?"

“Come on, MacGyver!”

“Oh my god! Are those--” Mac went over to the bed and picked up the pants Murdoc had laid out. “The best lounge pants ever! I love these! And they’re still warm from the dryer!” He kicked off his jeans and put them on, sighing happily at how well they fit. Why were Murdoc’s clothes always so comfy?

“These are mine now. Too bad for you, the dryer’s downstairs.”

“You think I won’t walk around naked in my own house?”

"Is it me, or is it a little hot in here? I’m gonna go turn the thermostat down, like, 10 degrees, and put this stuff back in the dryer, but don’t worry, I’ll be waiting right outside the door for you!”

It’d be great. Murdoc wouldn’t be able to dry off, so he’d be dripping water everywhere, with Mac hanging off him while he tried to get dressed—because how was Mac supposed to resist a naked Murdoc?

“Angus!” Mac knew from the whine that he’d won.

“I want a hand massage.”

“What?”

“You thought I was asleep that time, but I wasn’t.”

“Fine.”

“And I get to pet your hair! So. Fluffyyy~”

“You’re killing me, Angus.”

“I’m just acting as dramatic as you do.”

Murdoc opened the bathroom door and pointed toward Mac’s legs as he moved past him to get to his bed. “Take my pants off.”

“Gladly!”

Mac tackled Murdoc from behind, knocking him to the floor. Murdoc squirmed under him, trying to pry Mac’s hands from around his waist, where they were starting to unbuckle his belt.

"That’s not what I meant, and you know it!"

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bozer hummed as he finished winding the last light strand around his arm, and placed it onto the driveway next to the other rolls. The sun’s heat was made comfortable by the light breeze. When the weather was nice like this, he didn't mind that he’d spent the day untangling a box of lights.

And really, the worst part of decorating was yet to come: getting up on the roof, being careful to not fall off and die while hanging the lights. It'd be worth it though. Mac and he enjoyed the aesthetic of Halloween lights, and he couldn't wait to surprise Mac with a decorated house. Plus, the soft glow of holiday lights seemed to make everyone happy.

Now that all the strands were organized, he could better see what designs had been in the box of "Mystery Assorted Halloween Lights" he'd gotten for cheap. Pumpkins, black wire bats, ghosts, friendly-looking spiders, icicle style lights with whimsical skeletons. Those were Bozer's favorite. They'd definitely be going above the front door.

As he began lining up the piles in the order that he wanted to hang them, his back made contact with something. Furrowing his brow, he turned to look. He wasn't even close to the basketball hoop…

"Hey, Bozer."

Of course. Murdoc has the uncanny ability to detect when someone's having a good day. Then he’d ruin it because how dare people enjoy life.

Bozer rolled his eyes at Murdoc's self-satisfied smile. "Can't you ever greet people like normal?"

"You bumped into me before I could yell boo."

Bozer huffed and he turned his attention back to the lights. "Look, I didn't untangle all these lights just to have you murder me five minutes after. You better be ready for me to come back as a ghost and haunt you."

"Why does everyone assume I only appear to commit murder? I'm visiting."

Bozer debated whether to admit that he was home alone. If Murdoc knew Mac was gone, he might leave since flirting with Mac is his main entertainment, but it could also convince him to get on with whatever he'd planned, which didn’t bode well for anyone except Murdoc.

"Well, you'll have to cut your visit short. Mac's busy."

"I know he's not here."

A rush of fear ran through Bozer’s veins. How long had Murdoc been watching?

He crossed his arms, hoping to feign confidence. "Then...?"

"I’m visiting you, Wilt. You looked lonely. Figured you could use some company as you make your house all festive."

“No way. You’ll decide to make things “fun” and knock the ladder over, and then I’ll fall 500 feet to my death.”

“What if I said I’d get on the roof for you?”

“...Really?”

Bozer’s excitement must’ve been contagious because Murdoc’s smile lacked malice as he shrugged. “Sure.”

“I’ll get the ladder!” Bozer headed into the garage before Murdoc changed his mind. He saw a blur of movement in his peripheral vision and turned in time to see Murdoc launch himself up from the nearby raised planter, run up the house, \then pull himself onto the roof. Murdoc lived for the dramatics, but did he have to make it look so graceful?

And why did he have to parade around on the roof like a model owning a catwalk? Tall and confident. He knew he looked good. Although, maybe Murdoc wasn’t doing it on purpose. Mac wasn’t around to impress. Surely Murdoc didn’t like Bozer enough to want to impress him, right? No, Murdoc probably just enjoyed being up high so he could pretend to be a king overlooking his kingdom.

“Halloween!!!” Bozer bounced along the front of the house, amazed that all the lights worked. They were going to look fantastic when the sun set! “See! Even you aren’t immune to Halloween spirit. It’s chaotic. Just like you.”

When he looked up, Murdoc wasn’t standing there anymore. He’d moved to the part of the roof above the driveway, apparently considering it an acceptable spot to jump down to.

“NO!” Bozer ran over, frantically waving his arms. “You can’t jump off there! You’ll splat on the concrete!”

Murdoc’s mischievous smirk made Bozer nervous, and he unconsciously took a few steps back.

“Not if I land on you.”

“You’re not using me as a landing pad! Besides, you could probably still break something!” Murdoc didn’t look deterred. Risking injury usually didn’t, but it’s not like the situation was urgent. If he was going to be stupid and not wait for Bozer to get the ladder, then he’d have no one but himself to blame when he got hurt.

...But Bozer knew he’d feel bad if Murdoc got hurt. He sighed in defeat. “Fine.”

Murdoc’s face lit up. “You’re going to let me tackle you?”

“If it’s between that and you getting hurt, then yeah.”

Murdoc studied Bozer, his head cocked slightly. After a few moments, he walked to the side of the house, and carefully lowered himself before dropping the remaining few feet. He strolled over to stand by Bozer.

“Crazy,” Bozer mumbled.

“I try!” Now that he’d gotten some distance, Murdoc could better admire the lights. “I like it.”

“You did a good job.” Bozer hesitated before throwing his arms around Murdoc, trapping him in a sideways hug. “Thanks, Murdoc.”

[komatsunana]

Chronicles of Exandria: The Legend of Vox Machina II

I did this for the first volume, so I bought this artbook right away just to do it again. <3 My Winter’s Crest gift to all the critters.

The art. Once again I cannot overstate the stunning artwork of the critter community. I know some fans balk at the price, but all the artists are paid to have their art in the book - and I think the big price tag is well worth artist getting some compensation for their work (do correct me if I’m wrong). I won’t be sharing any photos of of the art, but most of it is available online already.

However, I will share this photo of the print on the box the book came in:

Excerpt of the Foreward:

“The memories in this book are real. They were created with love and laughter around a table with friends, and let loose on the wind to find what ears would listen.  The joys and pains of every winding turn still occupy our minds daily and if you are reading this, I suspect they live on in yours as well.  We were there.  We witnessed it unfold.” 

Vox Machina was only able to scry on Scanlan once, as seen in the episode Jugs and Rods, but some time after Scanlan warded himself against arcane sight.

The Mantle of the Tempest is described as “eternal autumn leaves.”

Keyleth goes on to rule with wisdom and grace.

Usually the Cobalt Soul has problems researching historical figures for whom there is little written word about...... With Taryon they had the opposite problem: there was too much! lmao. And 90% of it is believed to be embellished or flat out lies.

Nicknames that Taryon gave himself and were never used by anyone ever: “The Winsome Winner of Wildemount,” “Talented Tary,” “Golden-Maned Guardian of Good,” and “The Vindicator.”

Uvenda, the gnome in Vesrah, is still alive!! She’s stepped down as leader now and is the tale-teller of Vesrah.

The Ashari call the kraken that VM fought for Keyleth’s Aremente “Ulugrah the Requisite.”

Uvenda claims that Ulugrah, upon learning that the creatures it had trounced were legendary heroes (I’m assuming they mean Vox Machina), it boasts about it’s victory against them to anyone who will listen any who come to its lair in the Plane of Water.

Tova went by different epithets including: “The Bear,” “Little Half-Ear,” “The Bloody-Handed,” and “The Skin Changer.” After surviving the Hells thanks to Vax’s ring of invisibility, she gained the name “The Unseen Death.”  Little else can be verified about Tova, but none of her friends she went to with Dis survived.

Grey Hunt Lore

Lord Wolf de Rolo and Lady Melanie van Musel de Rolo were the leaders of the 4th reign of Whitestone. It was a political marriage and Melanie was particularly unhappy. She had a garden filled with flora and fauna from her home in Wildemont. The garden is now known as the Widow’s Garden and many of the plants were poisons that she used to slowly assassinate Lord Wolf with.  

After being injured in the Great Whitestone Fire, he couldn’t recover because of the poison and he died leaving Melanie the ruler. She decided to redraw the lines of the city walls, pushing into the Parchwood Timberlands which didn’t go well. Construction was plagued by accidents, animal attacks, and phantoms were reported (such as of Lord Wolf) - though the construction of a Temple of the Dawnfather went unhindered.  

Lady Melanie’s cousin was Ivan van Musel, a cleric, and he declared that Melanie had pissed off the Dawnfather by expanding without showing reverence. Ivan went into the forest after much mediation and was later found battered but alive atop a felled Direwolf.  Ivan had a vision in which the Lawbearer agreed to the expansion no further than where Ivan had felled the Direwolf and that from here on, a citizen of Whitestone must venture into the Parchwood when called to do so and be tested. 

Melanie created the title Grand Master of the Grey Hunt, the third ruling house of Whitestone, for Ivan.  The third house has since forth been in change of the Grey Hunt and managing the city’s relationship with the world beyond the city walls.

Hundreds of gold in property damage during Vox Machina’s stay at Dalen’s Closet while VM “relentlessly pranked” each other.

Whitestone became a thriving metropolis during VM’s year off - in part because of Allura keeping it safe during Thordak’s reign while everywhere else was ravaged.

K’yrrn - the dark elf that kidnapped Taryon - is from Xhorhas!

Though Tary could be called a fool, a braggart, a coward... in the moment he stood against his father’s selfishness and bigotry and forgave and reconciled with him is described as being more valiant than slaying.

Lionel Gayheart had “an unusual case of amnesia.”

JB Trickfoot continued to work in Whitestone’s library and it’s thanks to many of her notes that the Cobalt Soul has as much as they do on Vox Machina.

“Uh, yes, the very first thing I remember about meeting Vox Machina was when the red-haired lady jumped off a mountain.  It was grisly.  But what I’ll remember forever is what happened afterward.  The coin that Lady Vex’ahlia used, the glow of light, the power.  It brought her back to life.  They really were like gods.”

Taryon’s autobiography’s dedication:  “This book is dedicated to Lawrence.  But it is for my family.”

Taryon thinks his father was actually proud of Tary’s Darrington Brigade.

Tary never liked his father, but after returning home Tary began to love him.

Mariya, Tary’s mom, was part of the Brigade and took care of the injured warriors.

Maryanne, Tary’s sister, became the driving force behind the Darrington Fund charity and even gave up her home for those less fortunate than herself.  When she called Tary “brother” it was no longer an insult.

Tary is most proud that his mother finally has a united family, one to be proud of.

Kaylie Shorthalt talks a bit about Lionel - says he was a goofy son of a bitch. He kept talking to her about ducks though.  He once tried to show her his house, but he just took her to an oasis in the middle of desert that was full of ducks.

The Cobalt Soul doesn’t like to spread rumors but they do have theories of Lionel’s Marquesian mallard heritage.

Aes Adan, aka the Meat Man, rise to power coincided with the disappearance of several low to mid level criminals.

A scholar once went to visit Scanlan to interview him to see if the rumors were true that Scanlan had been the Meat Man.  The Scribe returned, unable to remember anything from his visit.  In his notebook were only crude drawings of ducks.  Scanlan still using that Modify Memory...

The fucking Cobalt Soul knows that Scanlan sacrificed the 9th level spell he was saving for Vax to stop Vecna from leaving.  It’s history folks.

For the folks out there who love the Briarwoods’ love for each other, some of an excerpt of Delilah’s journal:  “No matter the cost, my love, I will do it.  I care not how many must die, or how grave the sins must be that I commit.  I broke the world once for you, Sylas.  I shall do it again, and again, and again, for you.  For us.  Forever.”

Vecna envied the Raven Queen, as her followers did so not just because they feared her, but because they loved and respected her too.

Vecna threatened the assembled protectors of Vasselheim, saying that it would be the perfect place for ambush, but that’s no fun when there are many less-protected loved ones.  People he threatened include Earthbreaker Groon’s daughter (Desir), Vord’s family, J’mon’s concubines, all of Whitestone and particularly Cassandra.  And Young Velora Vessar, “playing alone in her room.”

The Everlight: Redeemer of All

“Comprehension is the only true measure of dominion.”

Pelor, The Dawnfather: The Primordial Light

“Faith is defined by the darkness we have not conquered.”

Ethrid Brokenbranch AKA Sprigg the Obnoxious gets his own book of history by the Cobalt Soul.  Autobiographical writings were found in the wreckage of his house

The Goddess Ioun: Our Knowing Mistress

“Comprehension is the only true measure of dominion.” (This is the same quote as for the Everlight - idk which one is the error.)

The Raven Queen: The Matron of Ravens

“By my grace, all are rendered equal.”

It is forbidden to study Arkhan the Cruel.

Vox Machina lived out the rest of their days in relative happiness and peace.

Percy’s magnum opus is the Clock Tower of Whitestone - a national treasure of Tal’Dorei.

Vex continued to rule as Baroness for a time after Percy’s passing.  Vex saw her bother’s spirit after the birth of her first child.  She reconciled somewhat with her father and showered Velora with love and blessings.

Kaylie went to school at the Alabaster Lyceum in Emon on Scanlan’s dime.

Pike and Scanlan had a lengthy courtship.

Tary’s book The Daring Trials and Tribulations of Ser Taryon Darrington contained an accurate account of his time with Vox Machina, even if nothing else is accurate.

Grog helped Earthbreaker Groon restore the Temple to the Stormlord while staying Vasselheim, defending his title in the Crucible.

The final, actual words of the book that aren’t a dedication or part of an image:  “And as the story is told: ‘Everyday that raven comes to visit.’” ;’(

There is a stunning four page fold-out page of Percy’s clock tower. I cannot emphasize enough how lovely it is.  The end of it dedicates it to Vex and is quoted with, “I couldn’t have asked for a better dream.”

On the other side of the fold-out are some... sketches of Percy’s notes? It seems that Diplomacy is now powered up by Cabal’s Ruin.

 As part of “Cobalt Souls” thank you page: “Within a book, a story can only sleep. It requires a reader to give it life.”

[finderkeeperloser]

© Photo from Amazon

Author: Garth Stein

Publication Date: May 13, 2008 (first published January 1, 2008

Series: Standalone

Publisher: Harper Collins

Pages:  321 pages

Edition: Hardcover

Source: Booksale (owned)

Genre: Fiction, Contemporary, Adult Fiction

My Rating: 5/5

Goodreads Summary:

Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul (and an obsession with opposable thumbs), he has educated himself by watching television extensively, and by listening very closely to the words of his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver.

Through Denny, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the human condition, and he sees that life, like racing, isn’t simply about going fast. On the eve of his death, Enzo takes stock of his life, recalling all that he and his family have been through.

A heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of family, love, loyalty, and hope, The Art of Racing in the Rain is a beautifully crafted and captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life … as only a dog could tell it.

My Review:

‘La macchina va dove vanno gli occhi,’ the boy says. The champion laughs then looks at the sky. ‘Si,’ he says.

The car goes where the eyes go. It is true, my young friend. It is very, very true.

Excuse me while I cry and smile at the same time. This is a damn success in Enzo’s part and I could tell the real and fictional world agrees with me. I am relieved, but more than that happy, to know the outcome of Denny and Enzo’s story. I won’t say the end because god knows a chapter has ended but the story goes on and so far, a new chapter begins for both of them. I like how clear the author is in incorporating racing and Mongolian belief in producing this book, let alone allowing a dog to narrate the story. That is an automatic five stars for me considering that I, myself, is a dog lover and there’s nothing in this world that will make me happy than reading a book in perspective of a dog.

Kudos to Garth Stein for entrusting this story in the hands—err, paws of the dog and for doing a great job in writing this emotional masterpiece. There are so much originality and realness in this book that guarantee genuine emotional investment from its readers. I will be damned if I wouldn’t admit that my heart melted and wept while reading it and honestly, at some point, I cried because of Denny’s mishaps in life; however, I was also happy to see how Enzo played a huge part in keeping Denny, his emotions and sanity intact. In my opinion, what happened to Denny is too much and if I were in his position, I will surely lose my shit. But then again, Enzo was Denny’s saving grace. I am actually amazed how a dog can master such awareness that even his own decision makes more sense than that of Denny. Their friendship was so pure that if only Enzo can speak, they can definitely finish each other’s sentences. Of course, inability to speak is a hindrance, but because their friendship goes beyond their differences communication barrier is nothing. Like, when Denny was so stressed out about his legal problems, he wants to get drunk and Enzo knows Denny should not be resorting to alcoholism – that alcohol is not the solution to his problems. So he went on a strike—purposefully avoiding Denny by not sleeping in his room. Moments later, Denny came in telling him he did not drink anything and apologized to Enzo as if he knows that move made his dog upset. Ghad, that scene solidified everything—that those two have this special friendship bond way too personal that they don’t need words to understand each other. People, I am simply fascinated by how they affect each other and I would like to believe all dogs have such kind of consciousness. Like, in my case, sometimes think my dogs know me better than myself – same reason why I am so in love with this book.

Anyway, I want you to know guys that this book touched my heart in more ways than one and there’s no denying that my reading experience in this book is the soundest and silliest ever. (Silly ideas are learning ideas, okay) It was a fun and uplifting read complete with heart-warming scenes from a dog’s account of human life and its ups and downs, all the while embracing death like a God-given opportunity. It was wittingly original and consistent, fueled by excellent word choice and relatable plot. Somehow, to read this masterful book is like having the peace of mind I needed in evaluating my life and how I chart my course towards the destination I want…or dared to reach.

“That which we manifest is before us.”

This is my biggest takeaway from Enzo and Denny’s story and I am proud to say that I have learned life-changing truths about human life in this book that I haven’t in any other places and dammit, I learned it from Enzo – the dog! So, if you are lost and uncertain about the direction you are heading and the choices you are making, please do read this book. Enzo’s warm hugs and contagious outlook in life is ready to outweigh your problems in real life. 

My rating:

Cover – 3.8

Title – 4.5

Plot – 5.0

Character Development – 4.3

Writing style – 5.0

Extras (includes chapter introductions, in-book illustrations, freebies, discussion guides, etc.) – 4.0 Includes quick factoids about the book.

Bonus

Happy tears and ugly crying catalyst – + 0.50

Total: 4.93

Final Rating:

Exceeds my expectation a.k.a classic (may/may not be a literal classic)

About the Author:

Photo from Goodreads

Garth Stein is the author of four novels: the New York Times bestselling gothic/historical/coming-of-age/ghost story, “A Sudden Light”; the internationally bestselling “The Art of Racing in the Rain”; the PNBA Book Award winner, “How Evan Broke His Head and Other Secrets”; and the magically realistic “Raven Stole the Moon.” He is also the author of the stage play “Brother Jones.” He has a dog, he’s raced a few cars, climbed a bunch of really tall trees, made a few documentary films, and he lives in Seattle with his family. He’s co-founder of Seattle7Writers.org, a non-profit collective of 74 Northwest authors working together to energize the reading and writing public.

To know more about the author, visit him online at http://www.garthstein.com/

Book Review: The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein © Photo from Amazon Author: Garth Stein Publication Date: May 13, 2008 (first published January 1, 2008…

[racingtoaredlight]

The degenerate’s guide to college football TV watch ‘em ups, 2019 season, week 1, part 3

Time to kick back and stop writing so much. I’ve earned it. I’m not going through all of my gambling advice to see if I did really awesome. Pretty sure Georgia Tech beat the spread against Clemson. Direct hit! So I am your guru.

Gambles with me and find the worst college football a viewer can find, I says. That’s the best way to live on a Saturday in the fall. Well, close enough.

What is there to say about this slate of games that hasn’t already been said? The schedules are per FBSchedules. The gambling infos are per Vegas Insider. If you lose money that’s on you. If you win money I’ve earned a commission. I’m just going ahead and taking this all the way through Monday because I’m already bored of this season.

Saturday, August 31

Matchup                                                               Time (ET)          TV/Mobile

South Alabama at 24 Nebraska                          12:00pm              ESPN

Nebraska is ranked. USA is probably not the team to expose them but that’s a mistake. Scott Frost is going to have to rely on an even lower tier of Florida talent to win in a tougher conference. He’s got believers for now.

Indiana vs. Ball State (in Indianapolis, IN)           12:00pm              CBSSN

Indiana is a 17 point favorite. Is that a typo?

Toledo at Kentucky                                               12:00pm               SECN

There are way too many footballs for me to deal with right now. I’m just gonna start listing off winners and throwing out numbers that have nothing to do with betting lines. Kentucky by 4!

University of Mississippi at Memphis                  12:00pm                ABC

Memphis by 18!

Northern Iowa at 21 Iowa State                              12:00pm                FS1

I was wrong about David Montgomery! Sort of. I said he wouldn’t go as the first running back and wouldn’t go in the first round. Direct hits!

Indiana State at Kansas                                          12:00pm                FSN

Oh, shit, here we go! I actually stopped to look this one up because of course I’m interested in Les Miles at Kansas. His presence has probably changed this from a pick ‘em to a -4.5 for Kansas. Plus: Kansas is favored! Minus: Indiana State has one good athlete in school history and he played basketball for them 40 years ago. And Kansas is only favored by 4.5.

Mississippi State vs. Louisiana (in New Orleans, LA)   12:00pm       ESPNU

Never going to learn which directional LA school goes by Louisiana. Miss State by 1!

Howard at Maryland                                                 12:00pm               BTN

Talent usually wins out. Howard by 14.

Florida Atlantic at 5 Ohio State                               12:00pm               FOX

FAU by 35.

East Carolina at NC State                                        12:00pm              ACCN

NC State by something.

Boise State at Florida State                                     12:00pm          ESPNews

LOL - this was such a good game when it was scheduled. Who would have guessed that neither team would be ranked and it would air as an ACCNe alternate? Boise by 20.

Akron at Illinois                                                         12:00pm              BTN

Poor poor Illinois.

James Madison at West Virginia                               2:00pm             ATTSN

Not sure I’m ready for the next chapter of WFV football, tbch.

Rhode Island at Ohio                                                   2:00pm             ESPN+

Is ESPN+ considered a higher tier or lower tier than ESPNNews?

Bucknell at Temple                                                       3:00pm            ESPN3

Finally, the Manny Diaz Era kicks off for Temple football.

Eastern Washington at 13 Washington                       3:00pm           Pac-12N

Jacob Eason is going to get drafted over Jake Fromm. UDub by 58.

Eastern Michigan at Coastal Carolina                         3:30pm            ESPN+

CCU by 32. Book it.

Georgia State at Tennessee                                          3:30pm           ESPNU

Tennessee still sucks. At least we all have that.

Holy Cross at Navy                                                        3:30pm            CBSSN

Navy has been destroyed by injuries the last couple of seasons but maybe they can get some good luck this year and get back to winning 10 and beating Notre Dame? Middies by 600 rushing yards.

ETSU at Appalachian State                                            3:30pm            ESPN+

Appy State by 32.

South Carolina vs. North Carolina (in Charlotte, NC)    3:30pm            ESPN

Mack Brown is back in Chapel Hill but there isn’t a lot of talent there. There’s a decent amount of talent at USCe but Coach Boom is still there. Sakerlina by 12.

Duke vs. 2 Alabama (in Atlanta, GA)                               3:30pm             ABC

Bammers by 64, Tua back in the good graces of Heisman voters.

Colgate at Air Force                                                         3:30pm         ESPN3

Toothpaste by 8.

Idaho at 15 Penn State                                                    3:30pm           BTN

Idaho self-relegated and rewarded themselves with a trip to Stepford. Penn State is going to win by 80.

Portland State at Arkansas                                             4:00pm          SECN

Virginia Tech at Boston College                                    4:00pm           ACCN

This might be two good teams. I’m not sure. 

Northwestern at 25 Stanford                                           4:00pm          FOX

I don’t think I can do any more of this. Let me check back in the morning to see if I want to update the rest of these.

IN THE MEANTIME ENJOY OUR HOLD MUSIC

CONTINUED!!!!!!

Montana State at Texas Tech                                         4:00pm          FSN

Lubbock is less handsome this year but they could be better for it. Montana State by 3.

Campbell at Troy                                                               6:00pm     ESPN+

This is a huge rivalry between former frat brothers. Troy by 27.

Incarnate Word at UTSA                                                   6:00pm        ESPN3

Isn’t Incarnate Word working towards D-1A or some nonsense? The FKA Cokers are still ESPN3 material, which means they’re better than FSU and Boise State. UTSA by 33.

Sam Houston State at New Mexico                                 6:00pm       MWN

New Mexico is only a 9 point favorite. That seems bad. Sam Houston State Houston Sams with the big upset here. 5 point win, 8-3.

22 Syracuse at Liberty                                                       6:00pm      ESPN+

I have no doubt in my mind that Bernie guy actually was a child molester but ESPN’s story was based on a guy saying they had sex when he was like 21 years old. I never understood that. Anyway, you absolutely hate to see Syracuse ranked in any sport. It’s an affront against god and man. Liberty is also an affront against god and man. But at least the Falwell’s pay their young male escorts exceptionally well. Liberty by 12.

UC Davis at California                                                       6:30pm   Pac-12N

Berkley vs. Davis. At least one of these starting QBs will be a mid-round prospect next year that some NFL fan base is forced to pretend they’re excited about.

VMI at Marshall                                                                  6:30pm     Stadium

Marshall by 47.

Monmouth at Western Michigan                                     7:00pm     ESPN3

Monmouth in a blowout, 14-13.

Stephen F. Austin at Baylor                                              7:00pm    ESPN+

As much as I want the Six Million Dollar Men to beat the only athletic program as hateful as Sparty or Penn State, I don’t think they have the bionic powers to do it. Six million dollars isn’t really very much for a football player in Texas.

SMU at Arkansas State                                                     7:00pm       ESPN+

Oh, yeah, Arkansas State is the one that’s FBS-level, not Central Arkansas. Oh, well, nothing we can do about that now. Fade SMU and take the over. Whatever that may mean.

Norfolk State at Old Dominion                                          7:00pm    ESPN3

Soon to be the state’s premier football rivalry, no doubt. The ODU #45s are the obvious favorite here. I bet they win by 22 points. So gamble accordingly.

Nicholls at Kansas State                                                     7:00pm     ESPN+

The excitement is palpable! Can Les Miles lead his gang of criminals to victory over the world’s premier screenwriting fellowship? YOU COULDN’T WRITE A BETTER UNDERDOG STORY THAN THAT!

Illinois State at NIU                                                             7:00pm   ESPN+

Fuck this game. NIU by 3 or so, I guess.

Alcorn State at Southern Miss                                            7:00pm      ESPN+

25 years ago Air McNair II was leading Alcorn State and he should have won a Heisman and I have no other thoughts on this.

Abilene Christian at North Texas                                       7:30pm       ESPN+

Go Spencer’s school! Beat the fucking Christians! I hate Christians!

16 Auburn vs. 11 Oregon (in Arlington, TX)                         7:30pm       ABC

Oh, this is why they were showing the “for all the Tostitos” game yesterday. Well, my gut tells me the War Eagle Tigers are a better team than the Ducks but that’s just SEC bias, to be honest. Patrick Nix’s kid starts as a true freshman which, if history serves, means he’ll ball out tonight, get progressively worse through the season, get benched at some point, then get humiliated when he comes back as the starter in a rivalry game (the rivalry game in all of college football tbch) and then he’ll show up somewhere else next year with immediate eligibility because he’s not moving for some frivolous reason like his mom is dying and his family’s going bankrupt.

3 Georgia at Vanderbilt                                                         7:30pm     ESPN

Vandy got the homefield for this one. Weird opener UGA. But a “tough” conference win in the early going is worth some #1 votes. Georgia by 84.

Georgia Southern at 6 LSU                                                  7:30pm       SECN

LSU has the best player in college football this year. Expect him to be injured either this week or next.

Miami (Ohio) at 20 Iowa                                                        7:30pm            FS1

Iowa has some shiny NFL prospect on their roster but I forget who it is. Is this where the ePenis plays? Whatever, this game is for the kids. Every Iowa home game is for the kids. Hawkeyes by 23.

Middle Tennessee at 7 Michigan                                          7:30pm         BTN

I have an inexplicable fondness for Jim Harbaugh but I can’t deny the joy I would get from seeing the Wolverines crash and burn in week 1. That’s always fun for everybody.

Missouri at Wyoming                                                             7:30pm   CBSSN

Mizzourah by 46.

Virginia at Pitt                                                                          7:30pm      ACCN

I could have sworn UVA was ranked. Guess not. Pitt is the pits (!!!) so the Hoos should dominate. Virginia by 6.

Louisiana Tech at 10 Texas                                                     8:00pm        LHN

Horns at #10 seems dangerous. That’s a bad idea, isn’t it? I’ve got Texas unranked until proven otherwise. And UT losing week 1 would be even funnier than Michigan doing it.

Grambling State at ULM                                                          8:00pm     ESPN3

So Monroe isn’t the one that goes by “Louisiana” now.

Houston Baptist at UTEP                                                       8:00pm      ESPN+

Oh, come on. This game does not need to exist. UTEP -17.5 is probably fine.

UAPB at TCU                                                                            8:00pm       FSN

TCU is unranked so they’ll go undefeated this year. Arkansas-Pine Box is going to get buried by 50+.

Weber State at San Diego State                                            9:00pm  Facebook

Oh, yeah, here comes the fun stuff. The dumb stuff. Let’s hear it for the Mountain West! What SDSU rusher will capture my heart this season?

Southern Utah at UNLV                                                        10:00pm    MWN

Last home opener at Sam Boyd Stadium, a place hated by all who ever visited it. I am not in that number yet but when it cools down I might feel compelled.

New Mexico State at 23 Washington State                        10:00pm Pac-12N

The very heart of Pac after darkness. Mike Leach has a new QB. Now what? Wazzou will still score but they will probably go back to stopping nobody. A year further removed from Alex Grinch is not going to help.

Fresno State at USC                                                            10:30pm     ESPN

USC had a real solid opportunity to fire Clay Helton but didn’t because it would have been too expensive. Think about how stupid that is. Go (CS)FSU.

Sunday, September 1

Matchup                                                                           Time (ET)    TV/Mobile

Houston at 4 Oklahoma                                                   7:30pm        ABC

Holgo to Houston feels like a circle is being completed somehow. Will the ghost of Jack Pardee smile down on the Cougs? D’Eriq King could go a long way towards becoming a national name with any sort of highlights in this one and, remember, Oklahoma’s defense has been remarkably bad the last several seasons. The o/u for this game is 83! Houston plus the points, baby, do it!

Monday, September 2

Matchup                                                                             Time (ET)  TV/Mobile

9 Notre Dame at Louisville                                                 8:00pm        ESPN

Brian Kelly really got a kid killed and the university paid his way out of it and he’s still coaching there and they’ll probably win 10+ games again this year. What a terrible world we live in.

[ncfn]

Nothing Comes from Nothing Part 10: Excerpt

Ruby Lucas nervously rocked back and forth from toe to heel as she waited for someone to answer the front door of 108 Mifflin Street. She glanced around, as it had been a while since she had last visited, and spotted a few loitering Crows Guard in the driveway. When one met her eyes, she smiled and gave a short wave. She bit her lip as the guard gave her a chin-up nod. Finally, the broad, white door opened wide to reveal Jason Sirtis. “Hey, Jason, how’s it going?” she questioned, quickly slipping inside.

“Good afternoon, Miss Lucas,” the guitarist greeted with a soft smile. However, he kept his interactions strictly professional and befitting a queen’s guard. “Fine, thank you. Her Highness and Lady Emma are waiting for you upstairs in the master bedroom,” he supplied, closing the door and locking it.

“Okay,” the waitress drawled and acknowledged with a nod before she trotted up the winding staircase. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Jason cross the foyer, and not for the first time, she pined over his handsome, younger brother who was still in high school until spring. When her foot reached the top of the stairs, she called, “Emma? Regina?” She sniffed the air and noted there were far fewer scents on the second story.

“In here, Ruby,” Regina casually replied from the chaise in her bedroom, dog-earing a corner of her catalogue before turning the page. She paid no mind when the wolf slinked into the room.

Hesitantly crossing the threshold, Ruby quickly scanned the inner sanctum of the evil queen and was rather disappointed. She pursed her lips at the clean, yet muted, color scheme with tastefully classic décor. “Um, I got your text. Cryptic much?” she supplied, stopping to stand next to the sheriff who sat cross-legged on the end of the queen-sized bed.

A broad smile spread across Emma’s face as she looked up at her friend. “Yeah, I have some bad news,” she answered, picking up a magazine from off the bed. She held it out to her part-time deputy as she explained, “We need to start wearing uniforms.”

“What?” the waitress blurted, taking the offered publication and flipping through page after page of bland, utilitarian clothing. She paused and sneered at a particularly ugly ensemble. “Like what Puma wears?” she asked for clarification, wrinkling her nose. “Those are hideous,” she declared, resuming her appraisal of the clothing. Stopping, she tossed the catalogue back on the bed, and with her hands on her hips, she whined, “I’m only part-time.” She’d quit right there, right that instant, if she didn’t like the extra pocket money so much. It was how she kept Granny placated with DirecTV, among other things like ding-dongs.

Chuckling softly, the former mayor appraised the two women by the foot of her bed and flatly stated, “It’s a moot point, Dear. The city council decided last night. It was unanimous.” She couldn’t fault the decision when she actually approved of it. With the Sheriff’s Department representing a unified front both visually and politically, things were bound to stabilize in Storybrooke.

“Damnit,” Ruby hissed, crossing her arms and jutting her hips to one side. She sighed softly before pouting, “So, I had to come all the way over here for you to tell me this.” Scowling, she glared down at her boss.

“No,” Emma drawled, picking up on her friend’s ire and dropping her grin. She wasn’t happy about it, either, but at least the city council had given them the option to select a uniform instead of assigning one, which would have been absolutely horrible. Quickly glancing over at the lounging brunette, she elucidated with only a hint of excitement, “We have to pick one.” She tried to be excited over it, but she really wasn’t.

Frowning, the waitress quickly demanded, “What do you mean pick one?” If the blonde thought this was how she wanted to spend her precious off-time, she had another think coming. She had a chore list twenty items deep at the bed and breakfast.

Rolling her eyes, the sheriff stood and headed toward the walk-in closet. She gestured for her friend to follow her. “I thought you’d like to help us decide on the new uniform,” she explained, walking inside the luxurious closet. “But we could stick with something just as fugly as Puma’s,” she quipped with a mischievous smirk, looking over her shoulder at the trailing brunette.

However, as she entered the room of full of pretty things, Ruby’s annoyance evaporated as her eyes caressed over all the beautiful clothing on display, and she cooed in utter delight. Idly, she reached out and lightly touched the soft, silky materials of blouses, blazers, skirts, dresses, and trousers. Then, her eyes fell on the blonde’s meager selection of clothing off to one side, not even coming close to filling the generously allotted section. She smiled with a hint of sadness but good-naturally tutted, “You need to up your wardrobe game, Em.” Although the light-weight sweaters didn’t look that bad, the collection of tanks and skinny jeans clashed against the cashmere, silk, and satin.

“Whatever,” Emma grumbled with a pronounced pout, crossing her arms and gesturing to the three uniforms hanging one of the rods. “Anyway, we’ve narrowed it down to three options: solid black, khaki and green, or khaki and black.”

The waitress forced herself to focus on the task at hand. “Those are real winners,” she muttered, reaching out and touching the stiff material. Sighing, she scrunched her face while saying, “Well, let’s get this over with. So, I’m modeling scratchy poly-wool blend all afternoon?” This wasn’t how she had wanted to spend her afternoon. She wanted to be doing something fun or getting something done, even if it was just renting a movie and painting her nails or completing a few things from her never ending to-do list.

Rolling her eyes, the sheriff reminded her, “I offered to feed you.”

“Feed me what?” Ruby countered, unable to keep the sassy smirk off her face. “You were just complaining about the chemistry lab set up in the kitchen,” she needlessly reminded her favorite blonde. She pushed the first two uniforms out of the way to look at the third. None of them looked appealing on the hanger, especially next to the rest of the closet.

“Don’t tell me you didn’t smell the Guinness beef stew and the bread bowls in the oven,” remarked Regina from the chaise. She was almost finished with her catalogue and would be forced to actively endure the civil servant fashion parade. Why had she let Emma talk her into helping?

Moving to the doorway, the waitress cocked her head at the former mayor. “Well, yeah,” she started but stopped to sniff the air again. “But I didn’t want to assume I’d be getting any of it.” Boy, did it smell good. She loved warm, fresh bread and soft, tender meat, then, dipping the bread in the leftover juice. She almost shuddered with excitement.

Smirking devilishly, Regina closed her magazine, resting it against her stomach. She tilted her head to one side and silkily praised, “Oh, the wolf’s housebroken.”

“Har har,” Ruby dryly retorted, shaking her head and rolling her eyes. Immediately, she flashed a toothy grin and said, “Granny made sure I had appropriate wolfy manners. I only bite when asked.” She was warmed by the other brunette’s soft, deep chuckle. Taking a deep breath and basking in the scent of food, she turned around and looked forlornly at the three uniforms. “So, I have to change into these?” she prompted, moving to take one down and examine it more closely.

“Nope, that’s what she’s here for,” supplied Emma, again donning a broad grin, happy Regina was in an accommodating mood. She bit her lower lip while focusing on the uniforms, lightly, playfully stroking her magic against the other woman’s.

Clearly confused, the waitress regarded the blonde for a moment before asking, “Regina’s going to model them?” Somehow, she didn’t believe Regina Mills would ever wear a uniform, but that woman could probably make a potato sack look good.

“I think not,” the former mayor quickly and fervently countered. Shifting on the chaise after discarding her heels, she curled her legs under her and smoothed her blouse. “Let’s get this over with, I have plans with a book and a tumbler of cider this evening.” Sundays were supposed to be her day, an arrangement easily agreed upon early on between herself, Emma, and the Crows Guard.

Laughing at the prickly prodding, the sheriff explained, “No, she’s going to help move things along and maybe save us a few hundred bucks.”

“Okay,” Ruby drawled as she was suddenly surrounded by purple smoke. “Wait, what?” she startled. But as the magic cleared, she smirked, exclaiming, “Oh, cool!” She glanced at the blonde beside her before moving to the full-length mirror at the end of the closet. The khaki and green wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great, either. “I don’t know,” she hesitantly muttered. Turning, she frowned and disdainfully added, “I look like a forest ranger.” Then, she focused her full attention on her boss and snickered, “That doesn’t do anything for your hair.”

Releasing a heavy sigh as she checked herself out in the mirror around her deputy, Emma reluctantly agreed, “Yeah, not so much with this one.” She glowered, realizing her part-timer actually looked good in the first uniform.

“Well, step out so I can see,” Regina instructed, as she was curious. After all, if she was going to magically dress them, she was going to get some kind of a show. She smirked as the two women exited the closet. Easily, she capitulated in a low tone, “I am going to have to look at you all day. I should have a say in this.”

“Oh, my God, it’s like trying on things for Granny,” the waitress admitted with a little giggle. She strutted out into the bedroom with the sashay and grace of a runway model, completing the walk with a twirl.

However, the sheriff was not amused. She stomped out sulkily. “See? Satisfied?” she queried in a dramatic huff, raising her arms halfway and dropping them. The palms of her hands smacked against her thighs. Upon seeing silent signal to turn, she groaned and slouched, but she did as she was instructed. “Oh, my God, this is going to be just like trying on those suits in Manhattan,” she melodramatically complained.

“Hmm. I see what you mean, Ruby,” the former mayor commented contemplatively, ignoring the blonde’s tantrum and the agitated frolic of her magic. “Fine,” she agreed before enveloping the pair in another swirl of magic.

Looking down at herself in a khaki and black uniform, Ruby nodded with satisfaction. “This is kinda sharp, but a tie? Really?” she pondered, cocking an eyebrow at the other two women. Like the unisex uniform wasn’t emasculating enough?

“That’s supposed to be for dress,” Emma remarked with a frown, playing with her own tie. It already felt too tight, although she knew it wasn’t. She slowly wandered back toward the mirror. “I don’t know,” she sighed uncertainly. “Maybe?” She fidgeted, tucking her hair behind her ears.

“That would be acceptable,” Regina finally decided, approving of the clean, crisp lines of the black trousers and tie as well as the black pocket flaps and epaulettes on the shirt. Of course, she was partial to black, anyway. “Ready for the last one?” she inquired, saving what she thought was the best for last.

“Hit me!” the waitress agreed with glee, finally getting into the process. Once the purple cloud dissipated, she looked down and grinned at the all black uniform. “I’m a ninja,” she quipped, striking a pose she had seen on television. Her hand bumped the brim of a hat, and her focus quickly shifted as she readjusted it on her head. “Oh, a hat!” she cooed. Anything other than a hairnet was a welcome change.

Exiting the closet, the sheriff had a dubious expression. “I don’t know about the hat, Regina,” she nervously admitted. Of course, she knew she looked good in hats, but any uniform with a hat made her uncomfortable. It reminded her of her days running from the law.

“It’s quite fetching,” the former mayor simply stated after quick appraisals of both women. Both appeared as serious civil servants and exuded the expected level of authority. And if the women seemed this sharp, Karl Puma and Jackson Hart would certainly toe the line quite nicely.

Quickly agreeing, Ruby put in her two-cents with a simple, “Yeah, I vote for this one.” She continued to appraise herself in the mirror, running her hands over her hips and posterior.

“Do keep in mind, Emma, the khaki shirts would be more likely to reflect light at night and give your position away to any criminals,” Regina clarified her selection, hoping to waylay the doubt ebbing off of the blonde. She watched her friend closely, silently admiring the way the uniform accentuated her athletic physique.

Defensively, Emma scoffed with a dramatic roll of the eyes, “It’s not like we have a huge crime rate, here.” She crossed her arms and cocked her hips to one side, glaring down at the still sitting brunette.

“Well, there has been a rash of power-hungry megalomaniacs, lately,” the waitress supplied, still fiddling with her uniform.

“Well, I guess that’s it, then,” the sheriff relented with a sigh, taking off the hat. She looked down at herself. Her eyes crept over to the former mayor and reflexively returned a soft smile as she fingers drummed along the hat’s brim.

Content with their choice, Ruby took an akimbo pose and promptly inquired, “So, we’re going to eat, now. Right?” She inhaled deeply and sighed with contentment. Stew and bread filled her nostrils, and her mouth watered in anticipation. She could already tell it was going to be better than Granny’s.

“And there go those manners,” Regina retorted with dark amusement, uncurling. She effortlessly slipped into her heels, stood, and sauntered out of the bedroom, leaving the sheriff and deputy in their new uniforms.

“Hey, aren’t you going to change us back?” Emma called, tossing her new hat on the bed. She released a breathy chuckle at the rich, wicked laughter coming from the stairs.

FF.net / AO3

[blondepomeranian]

WIP Meme

mfw I saw that @aban-asaara​ had tagged me in the thing!!!

List 10 things you’re currently working on in as much or as little detail as you’d like, then tag some friends to see what they’re working on. This can be writing, arts, gifsets, whatever.

*crackles knuckles* Little did you know I am the master of beginning things and never finishing them in a timely manner... In no real order, here we go:

The Girl Who Struck Lightning (working title, 39,509w)- original fiction, fantasy - my current babby. Loosely originally inspired by the Surana da:o origin story, it follows a feral mage girl, who can only use her powers to destroy, as she has to understand and master her powers so she can reunite with the girl whom she loves and has sworn to protect. Bonus! Favorite line thus far: You were so afraid of what I'd become that you tried to turn me against everything that I am. Well, here I am, just as I am. And I am Everything, everything that you feared: Uncontrollable, uncontainable, wholly and entirely wild.

An Affair of the Heart (working title because holy shit gayest title ever first place blue ribbon winner, 5,739w) - fanfiction, hurt/comfort - essentially just a one-shot (???) between Act II and Act III in which Hawke drinks too much and Fenris takes it upon himself to have to escort her home. He knows she only drinks to inebriation when something is really, really bothering her, and by the Maker, this is the worst he's ever seen her get. As he helps her home, they have a tryst from their separation and they help each other find home along the way. Bonus! Scene setting: The Hanged Man was as busy as it should be on a Saturday night. Its usual stench of vomit, piss, and ale flirted with the smell of hot body odor and the belches of the throngs of patrons inside. The clamor of shouts, hoots, and hollers made it difficult to carry on any conversation, but if you played your cards right, a game of Wicked Grace needed no background noise. Conversation was for the losers. Fenris knew this well. Very well. It’d been about half a day since Hawke’s group had returned from their latest expedition at the Wounded Coast. Big gang of bandits, big group from the guard—one giant clusterfuck of a battle. They’d made it out relatively unharmed, along with the guardsmen, less than helpful as they were. The bandits, of course, were not so lucky, but that’s what happened to those who got between Hawke and her desired result. Still feeling the rush of a flawless victory, it didn’t need to be said where you could find the group this evening. Fenris had joined Varric, Donnic, and a few of the other regulars for a few rounds—cards and drinks. He’d heard that Hawke would be spending the evening with Isabela and Merrill “playing bar kitten”… whatever that meant.

[A Follow up One-Shot to An Affair of the Heart] (659w) - fanfiction, hurt/comfort/romance? - the morning after, they have to come to terms with what happened between them, and what it means... if Hawke remembers any of it. Bonus! Favorite part to write: When he was with her, he felt glimmer of hope, of happiness, of rightness in the world—none of these had a place in the mind of a slave, and so his body rejected it like venom. Physical pain, rewiring of the pathways in his mind, taking him down roads to memories he hadn’t known existed, to have a chance at knowing the boy before the wolf… that there even was one… and then to have it ripped out of his head, gone without a trace… And all for what? What was the point of fighting against the numbness if all it brought was misery above all else? Maker, did he ever want to love her, but love is not for the weak.

Friction (1,579w) - fanfiction, flirtations, a companion piece to this lovely piece of artwork that asked for a story behind it - click the link. The picture... speaks for itself. Bonus! Favorite piece of dialogue thus far: “Oh, the only one who cares about that is mother,” she’d said of Fenris' concern of an elf making nighttime visits to her Hightown manor. “But then I remind her that she ran away to Fereldan with an apostate mage as a pregnant teenager, so really there’s nothing more to say that hasn’t already been said.”

Trigger Stacked - fanfiction, psychological study? - a take on what the heck happened leading up to the first FenHawke romance scene that tries to explain why it played out how it did, dealing with the repercussions of integrating back into mainstream society (kinda?) after Fenris' life as a slave. No bonus for this. I'm currently mad at it and it is in the Shame Folder.

That Man, Our Lady of Liberty (1,728w) - original fiction, short story - a piece I've been trying to put together for like a year now. I'm actually really fond of it, but I just... can't seem to tie it all together. It explores the different, assumed stories and personalities of someone from an outsider's perspective. ...Wow, that sounds like a terrible description. Let me just give an excerpt instead: He’s there, every day, our Lady of Liberty. Sometimes he waves to you as you drive by, sometimes he only nods. Sometimes he looks like he’s out there having the time of his life. For a small fraction of a second, you almost envy him on those days, but then you keep on driving and you remember why you don’t. No one you know knows who he is, by name or by mention. Most people you know might not even see him. Well, they see him, but he just kind of blends in with the scenery, like a ridiculously lanky offspring of the weeds that grow between the cracks in the sidewalk and the people that trod past them day after day. Rooted in the crumbling cement, he sways in the wind, then bobs his head in time with the music coursing through his earbuds. When you drive by and see him nodding, you like to imagine that these aren’t the prime years of his life. He’s seen better days, and he’s only doing this to hold him over until something better comes along. There’s nothing wrong with that. At least he’s trying.

Perfection (~44,695w) - original fiction, realistic fiction - my burnout piece. A story that's more about the characters than the story that ties them all together--god, do I ever love the characters in this. Basically, it's the story of the recovery of a family after cancer tears them apart and reveals their worst imperfections, a story about people moving forward each in their own direction. Bonus! Fun fact: each main character's part is narrated in a different POV: Lucian's is first person past, Seraphina's is second person present, and Dr. Young's is third person past. Also I've been working on it since 2007, fml.

HERE BE DRAGONS (working title, ~4,141w) - original fiction, fantasy - a religious warrior earns the respect of the king and goes on a journey to rescue her best friend, the princess, from the clutches of the almighty dragon god she worships... while accompanied by the princess's younger, pain-in-the-ass brother.

Spirit (working title, 3,191w) - original fiction, fantasy-ish? - the story of a little boy accompanied by a guardian spirit whom he wants to turn human.

The Quiet Sunrises - original stage play, realistic fiction - a happenstance meeting between two couples, both biking across the country, changes everything and helps them find why they set out in the first place. Technically, this is a finished stage play, but I don't think anyone would want to pick it up because it still needs a lot of work and revision to make it palatable by a lot of audiences. Bonus! Theme: I dunno what you’ve been told, but here is what I know: It doesn’t matter where you’ve been, It matters where you go. Now I dunno much about going, Right here is fine for me. But still some say I should head out To see what I can see.

Wow, I didn’t think I’d actually make it to ten AND STILL HAVE SOME THAT I LEFT OUT. I don’t know whether to be proud or ashamed...

Thanks again SO much for the tag!! <3 This was fun and it helped remind me that, hey, there’s a LOT that I still have to work on, so next time I feel like I want to write but UGH NOTHING TO WRITE I will know that I am so, so wrong.

Tagging @scrawlers​ for sure because obviously, @superservicedogs​ (wasn’t sure which one you feel comfortable talking ‘bout yer writin’s on, so I just tagged your main), and @doragonnomizu . No big deal if you don’t wanna put your stuff out there though. :) And also, of course, anyone who wants to do this is considered tagged, as well!

[natrohne]

Ya Win Some, Ya Lose Some

Ya win some, ya lose some. About eight weeks ago, I was pretty positive I had won something big. And I wasn’t wrong. I have been blessed by an amazing support group who have faithfully supported me and my adventurous spirit. I have been blessed with a father willing to leave home a few days a week so that I can travel for free, or almost free internationally. I have been blessed to meet and befriend people all over the world. This has come to me by the grace of God and the work ethic He placed in me to accomplish my dreams and go after my goals. Eight weeks ago I marched onto Lufthansa flight 447- service to Dusseldorf, Germany. The flight went without a hitch. I even made friends with the girl next to me, who was, ironically enough, also visiting her past German foreign exchange student. The weeklong visit with Franzi, my wonderful friend who lived with my family six years ago, and her wonderful boyfriend, Fabio, who was extremely friendly and hospitable, was awesome. They were perfect hosts and I was so incredibly blessed to finally see Franzi’s life and home. 

The next few days were spent south of Manchester, England with my good Triangle Y Ranch Camp counselor friend, Tim. We have talked for years about him giving me the grand tour of Sheffield and I was so blessed to finally partake in that tour. He took care of everything and was a gracious host and friend as always! I’ve been blessed with some real winner friends. Then the fire came. 

On the way to the Manchester Airport, Tim and I ran into some traffic and did not get to the airport nearly as early as I had hoped. Then once I tried to check into my flight at the front with RyanAir, they charged me extra fees for my bag (which I had already paid for once) and for my carryon (which I didn’t know was even a thing) and for printing out my boarding pass (just a few extra dollars, but still!) So after figuring all that out, I headed to security, thinking the hard part was over. Not so. 

Once at security, I pulled off my shoes and pulled out my small Ziploc of toiletries and laptop as I’ve done hundreds, if not thousands, of times. My bag got pulled to the side to be double-checked, behind about 20 other bags. I was starting to sweat at this point. They were going so slowly through each bag and I was wracking my brain for what else could be hidden in there I didn’t remember to check or pull out. When it was finally my turn for them to look through my bag, they took 20 minutes to find a tube of chapstick. Yup, my little tube of Burt’s Bees set it off. Once the threatening chapstick was removed they scanned my bag once again. And again, it rang red! So they had to pull out all the contents AND check through my other bag just in case, even though it had gone through without a hitch. Meanwhile, they pull me to the side and two different women patted me up and down, in addition to the two who had already patted me down. Finally, they gave me the all clear and barely said sorry as I flew off to the gate. With heaving breaths as I neared the gate, I saw the jetway pull away from the plane and the gate agent shut the jetway door. I had missed my flight. Something I had never, ever done before. I could not believe it. RyanAir does not believe in rolling a passenger over to the next flight (nor do they believe in anything being their fault) so they said they would either charge me €150 simply to roll me over to the next flight (not including the baggage cost, which I had officially paid for no reason at this point) or they would walk me back out to the front of the airport so I could list myself on a different flight. I started to ask about other airlines and ran off to Aer Lingus. After a few hours of arguing and frantically trying to figure out the Manchester Airport, all on only a few hours of sleep and 30 minutes of free wifi, I finally had myself listed on a different flight on a different airline with all new fees and a whole other security checkpoint. Of course, this security check went without a hitch. How typical is that! But hey, I got to Ireland and only a couple hours after I was supposed to. It could have been way worse, but I definitely lost that one. 

Dublin was a bit difficult to adjust to with such a rocky start. My roommates posed an interesting group of people to live with which has been both fun and insightful. After this trip, I think I will have officially covered all the bases when it comes to types of people to live with… But nevertheless, the first few days were stressful and frantic. I found myself not trusting anyone, not even myself. I have traveled. I should have known. I could have done better. But I did not transition well at all. As I wrote in my last blog, I packed my last semester as much as I possibly could! I was completely burnt out from the way I conducted my life but once I had some time to rest, I had no idea what to do with it. My motto on gap year two years (can you believe it’s been two years?!) was, “don’t waste it.” And I was determined to apply that to my stay in Dublin even though I was simply exhausted, and honestly, (as much as I hate to admit it) scared. 

My internship while in Dublin consists of me working for our in-country supervisor (basically our Dublin Mom) Ms. Olwyn Mannix. She is an independent travel agent aspiring to start, or continue to pursue her own travel company. She needed help to boost her Internet presence, so, with my blogging and general computer experience (which is limited to be fair), she hired me for the semester. Two weeks in, Olwyn paid for me to attend a workshop across town where I would acquire beginner and intermediate knowledge about Wordpress, a commonly used blogging and website design site. The workshop was incredible and I am now nearly fully capable of building a website all on my own, which I am hoping to do for small businesses or charities back home. On the way home, I was taking a train I used for the first time that day called the LUAS. It runs from the North to the South side of Dublin and I rode it the entire way, getting on at the farthest south stop and getting off at the farthest north stop. On my return trip, however, I apparently did not correctly scan my student charge card to pay for my ride. I know this because only two stops into the ride back, a large man with a heavy, non-Irish accent with a bright orange vest approached asking to see my ticket. I presented my card for him to scan but he began to write me a ticket saying I had not paid to be on the train but I definitely thought I had. It had been raining at the stop and there was no awning so I rushed to make it on the train before the door closed and I guess I didn’t wait for the card to scan long enough to fully pay for the ride. So now I was in trouble with the Irish law and had a ticket looming over my head. I tried to appeal it but there was no sympathy for the rushed, stupid American. I definitely lost that one! 

Two nights later, I was with two of my roommates and another friend trying to blow off some steam at a live local concert at the famous Dublin venue, Whelans. I was leaning against the railing overlooking the unique and cool venue, my jacket along with my roommates on the chair right behind me. One minute it was there, the next we were relocating and my jacket was completely gone. My roommates’ was there but mine was taken. Thankfully there was nothing in it but it was the only nice jacket I owned and it was stolen. I called a few times in the days to follow but got nowhere. I lost that one for sure. 

I’m intrigued by the art of travel. Don’t you just see and experience the most random and interesting situations and people at airports or when in other cultures? If you have ever sat in an airport for more than 30 minutes and simply watched what was happening around you, you probably saw a person running to catch a flight. You have no idea where they are going or where they came from or why they are running. They desperately run past you and are out of your life forever. You’ll never know their name or if that day was really as rough as it seemed in that single shared moment. Have compassion on those poor people. No one I ran past in the Manchester Airport had any idea that I was about to live alone in a foreign country I had never been to for four months. No one had any idea what January 25 was supposed to look like for me. I lost that day. I had a terrible attitude and I let it affect the first few weeks of my disgruntled and disjointed trip. Things just got weirder and harder as the time went on in Dublin. Life is expensive. Mistakes are expensive. Expenses are stressful. Stress is torment to an injured brain and good for absolutely no one. 

But as I sit here, sipping on a delicious margarita given to me by a random flight attendant, I am reminded of what I have won. Today has been one of the smoothest, cheapest, and easiest travel days of my life, even though based on the destinations; it should have been very stressful. Today should have been WAY harder than that one-hour flight to Dublin nine weeks ago but here we are, an easy couple flights, a free margarita, and an excellent Spotify playlist to make for an incredible day. It’s the incredible days that are the most forgettable. Why is that? As humans we remember the days that sucked beyond all compare. We remember when we got screwed over or scammed. We remember the stuff that went wrong. We remember the times we lost. 

But here’s a cheers (or slainte) to appreciating this time among many that I have won! I am blessed by the life I have. I am blessed by the people in it- JC, for being the home I have always wanted, Rachel, for being my best friend no matter how many times I leave and what country I end up in, Katja and Isaac, for emailing me and including me in their lives, my parents for letting me take advantage of Dad’s job so much ;), Kelly, for being a stellar direct roommate, and Madison for being an incredible other roommate ;). You girls are the highlight of Dublin. Along with the very random St. Patrick’s Day parades and pub outtings, and day trip excursions, this journey has been incredible. There are so many others but I just wanted to thank you. We have all won some and lost some. I hope all of you win some today!

[thirdman-seventhson-blog1]

Vault Chat

Keep in mind, jack was probably on for about 10 minutes, and there were 200 people on the chat!! Here’s the part of the vault chat that I got.

<Apple_Blossom> check out the paintings of RomIne Brooks... she was friends with Rimbaud@Jack White

·       <Hunter Arias> Thanks for the input!

·       <Jack White> @Rodney Flater hmmmmm......

·       <DonTazeMeBro> @Jack White I have been heavy into Sturgill Simpson, you like him?

·       <MaWaiDu> @Jack What was the last project you weren't sure if you could actually finish?

·       <Christina Kinzler> @KRIST3N Sucks

·       <DanielleMeiling> @Jack White Hi Jack. Any news on when American Epic is getting released?

·       <gabbyalucas> Favorite album at the moment?

·       <RRRecords> @Jack White What is your favorite baseball movie? Mine is The Natural.

·       <Jack White> @MaWaiDu life

·       <Jack White> lot of peoples in here

·       <Nick(Boat)> @Jack White What's your thoughts on United on Chestnut?

·       <MaWaiDu> lol

·       <Trale Merz> Favorite 3 ball parks

·       <Maxman142001> Hints for the next vault?

·       <msmaggie> see you at Zolli for coffee? 10 minutes?

·       <Dina Grace Zoe Sciortino> Lol

·       <Apple_Blossom> @Jack White are the new presses up and running at Cass???

·       <Christina Kinzler> @Jack White Too many ppls boo

·       <Marjorie Hernandez> @Jack White might be worth the investment 😉

·       <Jack White> @RRRecords i like the natural very much, quote me a line from it

·       <bloomooks> We missed you, Jack. That's why

·       <Dina Grace Zoe Sciortino> righhhtttttt

·       <RobScarr> @Jack White enjoyed reading your words in 'the drum thing' book very inspiring as a drummer myself

·       <Bill Vouronikos> what r the chances of another raconteurs album?

·       <Morgan McPheeters> @Jack White Did you have fun in Deep Ellum with WarStick? It's the coolest neighborhood in Dallas.

·       <Billy Daneau> for how long you haven't talked to meg

·       <Mat Kancler> @Jack White looking for interns? I'm your guy!

·       <Kerri Grendel> Jack, you are loved.

·       <RACHELSWENS> Bout time you came on here, i didnt think anyone actually used it

·       <Christopher Merritt> @Jack White - have you heard the new Washington Phillips cd?

·       <Janet Hall> @JackWhite I ordered your guitar pics, can't wait to get them!

·       <Kelly McCleary> @Jack White we're all jonesing for news

·       <Drebin> Thank you for everything Jack. Can't wait to see your next project!

·       <Pabs> Any plans to tour last Dead Weather's album?

·       <Rob Frost> too many peoples. i go sleep now

·       <Francscoxvier> Greetings from Saskatoon

·       <gabbyalucas> So so so stoked about the new Lillie album. Huge fan of her stuff. Can't wait another second!

·       <Apple_Blossom> ha

·       <Abbie Stein> @Jack White have you listened to Cindy Wilson's new EP yet?

·       <gabbyalucas> So many people, slightly breaking the chat haha

·       <Maxman142001> @jack have you picked up any new guitars lately?

·       <Kate Cox> Favourite Nick Cave track?

·       <Mandy Thomas> Loved the last Vault Package...it was my first! Came on Christmas Eve!

·       <Marjorie Hernandez> You draw quite the crowd, jack!

·       <caity> Did you guys get a lot of new subscribers for the package? I loved the vault package, the pendant is dope!!! !!! !!! !!!

·       <Breanna Gibitz> Jack. I think you're great. just wanted to say that.

·       <Christopher Merritt> This is insane btw

·       <Karen Proffitt> I think we missed you.....

·       <LordKhan> @Jack White You can't spell it, but it eats pretty good, don't it?

·       <Lindsey Crooks> It's been so long! I thought you might have died.

·       <Sarah Sparks> @Marjorie Hernandez what up lady?! Did you have a good b-day?

·       <Jack White> @Kate Cox red right hand

·       <Mallory McClain> @Jack White thoughts on any of the festival lineups that have been released? they seem a little lacking imo

·       <MaWaiDu> @Jack would you ever open up a new upholstery shop?

·       <caitinlv> @Jack White big ups to Bump Bailey

·       <Christina Kinzler> @Jack White Whats the word on the pressing plant opening?

·       <Lucas Marinho> What kind of drumsticks do you use, Jack?

·       <STL_Ben> remember 10 minutes ago when there was only 4 people logged in?

·       <gabbyalucas> I'm actually in class right now. I cant learn knowing Jack's online

·       <RACHELSWENS> See what happens when you leave us for too long

·       <Rodrigo Cortes> Live at Disgraceland was awesome

·       <jen&juice> Did you have a nice Christmas with the kiddos?

·       <KYLOSIS> Congratulations on 30 Vaults!

·       <Mommaboat> @Jack White missed you at New Years!!

·       <RRRecords> @Jack White "pick me out a winner Bobby"

·       <Mommaboat> @Jack White love me some Lillie Mae

·       <tanzaib> New raconteurs lp this year

·       <Sarah Sparks> @Jack White did you ever watch

·       <Bill Vouronikos> what r the chances of another raconteurs album?

·       <Jack White> @caitinlv you mean baortholemew bailey

·       <Vinnie Vrhovnik> Holy shit this is moving fast today

·       <Billy Daneau> why the single on the last vault package wasn't red and blue just one color

·       <RACHELSWENS> Hi Jack! What did you do for the holiday?

·       <TWS_Andre> The Raconteurs I miss them so much!!

·       <Sarah Sparks> aky Blinders"? great soundtrack (mostly because of you!)

·       <Jessica Russell> @jJck White I've missed you! Best twitter notification all day

·       <Norm bethune> @Jack White Any live shows coming up Det or Nash

·       <Christina Kinzler> @Jack White Missed you at the Magic Stick

·       <Apple_Blossom> @Jack White would you consider using the film from 2 against 1 to make an official video from the film 2 Guns??

·       <MFSSkinny> @Jack White Pick me out a winner, Bobby

·       <KYLOSIS> @Sarah Sparks Great show!

·       <Breanna Gibitz> I'm running out of wall space for all the rad stuff you guys put in packages

·       <Maxman142001> @jack white - have you given Blackwell any tips on his drumming?

·       <Bill Vouronikos> what r the chances of another raconteurs album?

·       <gabbyalucas> Hey Jack, what did you get for Christmas?

·       <Jack White> @RACHELSWENS hunted whompus kitties

·       <KRIST3N> I recently framed some of my favorite TMR silk screens. Wanda looks so purdy in her magenta mat board

·       <DonTazeMeBro> @Jack White its 8 below zero in Minnesota want to visit

·       <MaWaiDu> @Jack favorite episode of Twilight Zone?

·       <LordKhan> Red, it took me sixteen years to get here. You play me, and I'll give ya the best I got.

·       <Isfeld> @Jack White any vacation plans for the summer?

·       <Pabs> Btw congrats you guys have the best customer service!

·       <Sarah Sparks> @KYLOSIS right?!

·       <Morgan McPheeters> @Jack White Did you like our twitter submissions for the Tin Man scavenger hunt contest? That was really fun

·       <Tuesday Cummins-Smith> @Jack White did the shop girls get their top hat from The Rad Hatter?

·       <Jack White> @LordKhan suit up

·       <Dina Grace Zoe Sciortino> meow

·       <KYLOSIS> @Sarah Sparks Better soundtrack!

·       <Sarah Sparks> catty wampus!

·       <Apple_Blossom> @Jack White is it a blizzard in Nashville now??

·       <Abbie Stein> @Jack White I thought you would like this...I found a 1956 Ford Thunderbird Christmas post card flexi disc at an antique store recently!

·       <Christina Kinzler> @Jack White What is the word on the Diecast RRS? Is that going to happen?

·       <Janet Hall> @JackWhite Tour some more please!

·       <MFSSkinny>

·       <RACHELSWENS> You hunted whompus kitties over the holiday?

·       <Jason Koffman> How about releasing a Slim & Slam LP?

·       <Breanna Gibitz> JACK, will you fund a replica TMR store I can live in? I love the style of it there

·       <caitinlv> @Jack White when a guy runs into the wall like that he should be called Bump

·       <AlleyOops> When are you coming back to Austin? :D

·       <chuck hosner> Working on a new solo album by chance?

·       <MaggieMay> Jack. Any plans to release the Masonic lazaretto show?

·       <Billy Daneau> solo album?

·       <Hannah Geere> Did you enjoy being on Prairie Home Companion enough to come back to Minneapolis again in the near future??

·       <Lucas Marinho> I don't like to be this guy, but please come to Brazil. There's so many new bands around my city. I'm surge you'd love them

·       <Cameo Kraft> Have any new years resolutions??

·       <KYLOSIS> @Jack White Are you in the touring mood this year?

·       <Apple_Blossom> @chuck hosner !!!!!

·       <Bill Vouronikos> what r the chances of another raconteurs album?

·       <Jack White> @KYLOSIS hmm...

·       <Jack White> @KYLOSIS hmm...

·       <Maxman142001> @Jack White have you been to Johnny Walkers new studio?

·       <jo7981> Would you ever come to Newfoundland again?

·       <staci freeworth> @jack I love all the cool things you are doing but I must admit, I miss some jack white music......

·       <Breanna Gibitz> I truly want my house to resemble the style of TMR in Nash

·       <Lucas Marinho> sure*

·       <Isfeld> @Jack White Gotten into any new bands lately?

·       <Dina Grace Zoe Sciortino> Stop don't even tease like that!

·       <EngineDriver> Have you seen the new Star Wars?

·       <Apple_Blossom> @Jack White are you going to play on OJs new release?

·       <DonTazeMeBro> @Jack White Fuck YES

·       <Sarah Sparks> @Jack White a soul like you can't sit still for long!

·       <Jack White> @jo7981 god i hope so, i loved newfoundland

·       <MaWaiDu> @Jack I saw Karen perform with Rufus Wainwright at the Roman for Christmas, did a great job

·       <DonTazeMeBro> i will take this as a yes

·       <Patricio Pinto Castro> @Jack White new raconteurs record soon?

·       <Mandy Thomas> I'm with KYLOSIS....touring?? come to Texas!!

·       <MaWaiDu> Ryman*

·       <Able_And_Want> 2017 is a good year for touring

·       <KRIST3N> My New Years resolution was to go to a Jack white show...help me out!

·       <KYLOSIS> @Jack White Canada misses you!

·       <Jeff Harrow> @Jack White how's the upholstery business

·       <gabbyalucas> How do you think this year's gonna go in comparison to last, jack?

·       <jen&juice> I visited Galco's! What's your favorite soda or pop? Which is it?

·       <Michael Stevens> @Jack White will we ever get the full Worlds Fastest Record show?

·       <Kate Cox> do you have a cat?

·       <Jonathan> you should invite Ryan Adams to do something at your headquarters. He tweeted the other day that he's a big fan of you and what you're doing after teasing his fans with record booth recordings from the machine at electric ladyland

·       <Breanna Gibitz> If you do tour this year, please don't skip Cleveland, Ohio :) We miss you

·       <Mat Kancler> @Jack White Looking for interns? I'm your guy!

·       <RRRecords> @Jack White "I guess some mistakes you never stop paying for."

·       <ThirdSon> @Jack White Time for a TMR NYC, right?

·       <matthewvh> @Jack White Any idea on when Pokey's Blue Room show will be released?

·       <KRIST3N> Rochester, Buffalo...even Syracuse!

·       <RobScarr> @Jack White will there be a vault package dedicated to Icky Thump in its 10th year (this year)?

·       <Trale Merz> Top 3 MLB ballparks

·       <Roxxan> @ThirdSon Oooh. Yes. TMR NYC please!

·       <Shane Rennie> Yes!! We need a Ryan Adams live at third man!

·       <Morgan McPheeters> @Jack White Please come to Dallas if you tour again! Deep Ellum :)

·       <Nick(Boat)> @Jack White, what have you been listening to in the car lately? RTJ3?

·       <David Jamieson> going to spain for my honeymoon -- any favorite spots you can pass on?

·       <Jessica McConaughy> @ThirdSon LA first!

·       <Bill Vouronikos> what r the chances of another raconteurs album?

·       <Aidan Abbott> Jack, will you come to my high school graduation?

·       <Karen Proffitt> How about Cincy?

·       <Jack White> @RRRecords "you had an amazing gift, but it's not enough....i think you're a loser"

·       <RACHELSWENS> Yeah play in buffalo

·       <Apple_Blossom> @Jack White favorite tracks in paramount 1 and 2??? i just picked both of the up

·       <DonTazeMeBro> @Jack White tell Ben we need another contest soon, pick a number trivia anything

·       <Billy Daneau> any tour youre thinking about?

·       <Maxman142001> @jack white any pop up stores for TMR in 2017?

·       <Jeff Harrow> @Jack White how's the upholstery business

·       <Abbie Stein> @Jack White you should come hang out in Athens, Ga! SO much music history

·       <Jack White> @Aidan Abbott no

·       <Travis Krause> @jack white What was the last thing you listened to?

·       <Travis Krause> @jack white What was the last thing you listened to?

·       <Rick Kanas> Will TMR ever put out the Complete Tommy Johnson Recordings?

·       <Dina Grace Zoe Sciortino> Was so close to getting into Jimmy Fallon, walked around the city all day :) but I missed it by one person. Performance was one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen

·       <caitinlv> "we have two lives, the one we learn with and the one we live after that."

·       <LordKhan> I coulda been better. I coulda broke every record in the book.

·       <RACHELSWENS> It's cold and dark you'll like it

·       <Christopher Merritt> @Jack White - how's about some more Sun Records reissues...?

·       <tanzaib> What's next to be released on tmr

·       <thirdgirlll> @Jack White do you own any pets

·       <Jettkoral> @Jack White can I have a job

·       <Aidan Abbott> Please

·       <KRIST3N> @Dina Grace Zoe Sciortino watching jimmy now

·       <Jack White> @Christopher Merritt yes!

·       <thirdgirl> @jo7981 i'm from newfoundland too! ten years since the one note show :)

·       <gabbyalucas> What did ya get for xmas, jack?

·       <MaggieMay> Love vault #30. Thank you!

·       <Brandon Attal> Tubbalicious says hello Jack & he would like his butt scratched

·       <Michelle Erb> Hows the record plant coming along?

·       <Vinnie Vrhovnik> Jack can you send the RRS to CLE to break up my boring shitty winter a bit?

·       <Apple_Blossom> @Travis Krause weve been missing you

·       <MaggieMay>

·       <EngineDriver> Thoughts on what's happened to Conan's show?

·       <Jeff Harrow> @Jack White how's the upholstery business

·       <Lucas Marinho> What is you favorite MUTANTES song, Jack?

·       <Christopher Merritt> @Jack White - more Prisonaires please!

·       <Angela Bell> Jack, what are you listening to today?

·       <Mommaboat> @Jack White. Come to Indy with Margo Price for my birthday! 💙

·       <Apple_Blossom> hahaha

·       <LazyDynamite> What does Third Man have in store for the new year

·       <Janet Hall> @Jack White HI Jack!

·       <Jack White> @gabbyalucas not much, a skeleton of a sea lion from 1918

·       <rscott11> @Jack White Are the Dough Rollers still making music?

·       <Billy Daneau> vault number 33 will be awesome

·       <MaWaiDu> @Jack have you seen the movie La La Land?

·       <Mallory McClain> @Jack White have you heard about Jessi Zazu of Those Darlins? She's a badass musician who's been diagnosed with cancer. It'd be cool if TMR would put out a record or something as a benefit.

·       <Sierra> @jack white I'm listening to your acoustic in Idaho right now. It's my favorite!

·       <MFSSkinny> @Jack White "my life didn't turn out the way i expected"

·       <Shane Rennie> How many guitars do you currently own?

·       <Breanna Gibitz> @Vinnie Vrhovnik YES PLEASE

·       <Breanna Gibitz> @Vinnie Vrhovnik YES PLEASE

·       <ThirdSon> @Jack White what color is Lillie Mae picking for her limited edition LP?

·       <Marjorie Hernandez> Jack, what things from third man can we expect this year? Or maybe just expect the unexpected?

·       <RRRecords> @Jack White "I could have been better. I could have broken ever record in the book."

·       <Apple_Blossom> @Jack White we've been missing you too

·       <Jeff Harrow> @Jack White how's the upholstery business

·       <Bill Vouronikos> what r the chances of another raconteurs album?

·       <Stoffel> how about another green series

·       <Breanna Gibitz> we need it in Clevland

·       <Jack White> @Shane Rennie 33

·       <Dina Grace Zoe Sciortino> lol damn

·       <DonTazeMeBro> @Jack White what is the best new album you heard this year

·       <Patricio Pinto Castro> @Jack White what have been you doing?

·       <LazyDynamite> I heard your an antique clock collector?

·       <LordKhan> I just quoted that!

·       <LazyDynamite>

·       <Morgan McPheeters> @Jack White I'm finally seeing Margo Price in March in Dallas-- can't wait!!

·       <KRIST3N> Jack can I apprentice at your upholstery company. Please?

·       <Abbie Stein> @Jack White did you ever meet/work with Johnny Cash before he died?

·       <Jack White> @Stoffel they dont sell well, but i dont care

·       <Jessica McConaughy> @Jack White much love! (Gotta hit the road and catch a flight) 💜 Thanks for being awesome

·       <jen&juice> Have you heard of Reignwolf? Would make a killer blue room show- lucky to have great bands to see here in Seattle

·       <Jack White> @Abbie Stein never met him, wish i had

·       <gabbyalucas> Saw Karen's Instagram post of the kids' first day of school, warmer my heart. You have a beautiful family, you should be proud :)

·       <Nick(Boat)> @Jack White, United on Chestnut ever going to press records again?

·       <MFSSkinny> @Jack White "I coulda been better. I coulda broke every record in the book"

·       <tanzaib> Has cass pressing plant started yet

·       <tgonger> For 2017 - produce or perform?

·       <Maxman142001> @jack white got any old Detroit material to release on TMR this year?

·       <Cameo Kraft> Any random thoughts for today??

·       <Ira Washburn> Jack, what sound do You prefer- Rhodes or wurlitzer?

·       <Sierra> @jack white what is your favorite song to play live?

·       <Stoffel> @Jack White

·       <rscott11> @Jack White Are the Dough Rollers still making music together?

·       <Jack White> almost bought cash's house, but didn't want to live in a museum

·       <MaggieMay> Jack, the lazaretto Masonic show was life changing. Thank you

·       <Jeff Harrow> @Jack White how's the upholstery business

·       <Breanna Gibitz> I've been reading a book about Cash. It's been great, such an interesting dude.

·       <LordKhan> @Jack White What's for dinner today?

·       <RobScarr> @Jack White you going to get the new Tesla model 3?

·       <Patricio Pinto Castro> @Jack White new raconteurs record soon?

·       <Apple_Blossom> @Jack White its also haunted

·       <Stoffel> @Jack White i love them, would love to see another one some day

·       <Jessica Russell> @Jack White any big surprises in store for us in the coming months?

·       <Abbie Stein> @Jack White the one in Hendersonville?

·       <Tracy Christian> Barry Gibb took that off of your hands.

·       <LazyDynamite> Can you play a banjo clock

·       <KYLOSIS> @Jack White The JC museum is my second favourite spot in Nashville.

·       <Jack White> @Maxman142001 so much you dont even know! lot of production from me in detoit, but i wonder if people would like a vault release of some of it or not

·       <Christina Kinzler> @Jack White Any chance of a diecast RRS??

·       <Jack White> @Abbie Stein mmm mmm

·       <Sierra> Of course!

·       <Morgan McPheeters> @Jack White Do you like Hamilton the musical? Ever thought of doing a collab w/ Lin-Manuel Miranda?

·       <EngineDriver> Jack, check out the album Piper in the Holler by Tim Cummings. He does Appalachian songs with smallpipes accompanied by banjo, guitar, etc

·       <Celina Johnson> @Jack White Do you have a house in Tulsa?

·       <Natalia Fallon> Any chance of a guest appearance at Loretta's Ryman shows?

·       <Jeff Harrow> @Jack White how's the upholstery business

·       <Breanna Gibitz> We'd pretty much like a vault release of anything. Well, me at least.

·       <jo7981> you know we would

·       <Apple_Blossom> @Jack White stooges vault possible???

·       <Abbie Stein> @Jack White that would have been pretty cool

·       <Jack White> @Morgan McPheeters i prefer the millard fillmore musical

·       <MaWaiDu> @Jack Hardest worker you've ever worked with?

·       <Ashley Lorenz> Did you do anything with John Doe when he was in Detroit?

·       <Ashlyn Scoggins> How was your New Years?

·       <gabbyalucas> What's TMR's stance on internships? I'm heading over to Nashville for college to study the music industry and interning over there would be a dream!

·       <RACHELSWENS> Can you upholster something for me

·       <Sarianna> That's an amazing Vault idea

·       <Vinnie Vrhovnik> Dude you know we'd love the Detroit stuff in a vault

·       <Keith Thraen-Borowski> Favorite record store in midwest (outside of Detroit)?

·       <Hannah Geere> @Jack White thanks so much for releasing Get Behind Me Satan on vinyl, it's always been my favorite

·       <jesssy> @Jack White so i have this old, tattered chair.......

·       <Michelle Erb> Yes we want oldies from Detroit!! At least I do

·       <Jack White> @MaWaiDu you're looking at him

·       <Peppermint7> are you going to make it back to L.A. for the Grammys?

·       <Angela Bell> Upholstered anything fancy lately? Besides famous couches...

·       <DonTazeMeBro> @Jack White I would like the Margo Price austin city limits as a vault

·       <Maxman142001> @Jack white I'd love to see a reissue of Von bondies Nite Train!

·       <Melissa Gonzalez> @JackWhite yes a vault release please ❤

·       <Isfeld> @Jack White Any TMR event in europe this year or the next?

·       <Breanna Gibitz> Do you have a favorite guitar you always go back to?

·       <Jack White> @Maxman142001 me too!

·       <Jack White> @Breanna Kibitz yes

·       <Bill Vouronikos> what r the chances of another raconteurs album?

·       <Marjorie Hernandez> @Jack White has record store day officially been moved to April 22nd this year instead of the 15th?

·       <Jeff Harrow> @Jack White how's the upholstery business

·       <KYLOSIS> @DonTazeMeBro That was a great perforamnce!

·       <Aidan Abbott> You sound just like my dad

·       <EngineDriver> Can we get a blue series of trad. Scottish and Irish tunes? You could record my seision group here in Denver!

·       <Apple_Blossom> oh well...

·       <DonTazeMeBro> I know Christie V from the Von Bondies

·       <LazyDynamite> What kind of antiques do you collect

·       <DonTazeMeBro> I used to work with her

·       <Nathan Wiseman> Jack! Thank you for the newest vault release! I absolutely love it!

·       <RRRecords> @Jack White can I pitch batting practice to you someday? It would be an honor to strike you out.

·       <jen&juice> Yes Detroit Vault!

·       <DonTazeMeBro> at the Mud Pie

·       <Robert Cowley> Any of the Glastonbury shows gonna be in the vault soon

·       <Dina Grace Zoe Sciortino> Always? What color is she?

·       <Melissa Gonzalez> @JackWhite any new year resolutions?

·       <Jack White> @DonTazeMeBro that must be after i worked with them

·       <Mallory McClain> @Jack White Do you like Gibson electrics? I know you're a fan of the vintage acoustics

·       <MaWaiDu> @Jack what are you working hard on now?

·       <Patricio Pinto Castro> @Jack White something special about the 20 years of the white stripes?

·       <Rodrigo Cortes> Who would you like to collaborate this year with?

·       <Sarah Sparks> @Jack White RTJ sold out at Marathon! You gonna be there?

·       <gabbyalucas> Trying to teach myself bass. Any tips on self-teaching?

·       <Ira Washburn> @Jack White u like David lindley?

·       <Jack White> @RRRecords you can't strike me out

·       <DonTazeMeBro> In Minneapolis

·       <Morgan McPheeters> @Jack White saw you and your elephant on American Pickers reruns. Picked up any cool treasures recently?

·       <Eileen Corsano> hi Jack Happy New Year

·       <Jack White> @gabbyalucas one string at a time

·       <Abbie Stein> @Jack White heard from Loretta lately? Her Christmas album was great

·       <Breanna Gibitz> Have you ever visited the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cle?

·       <trickster> @Jack White is Vault #31 ready to be announced?

·       <Sierra> @jack white what is your favorite thing to drink/eat?

·       <KRIST3N> Jack please come to Rochester ny. It's where Son House came to hide

·       <tanzaib> @Jack White how about the upholsterers unreleased tracks

·       <Jack White> @Breanna Kibitz nope

·       <KYLOSIS> @Jack White American Epic, what up?

·       <jacqu_marie> did Trump ask you to perform at the inauguration?

·       <Karen Proffitt> How about Breakstone concert for a vault?

·       <jesssy> @Jack White have you aquired any new instruments?

·       <RRRecords> @Jack White I hear you can't hit a curve ball...

·       <LazyDynamite> did you have say in what music went into mlb the show?

·       <vickendom> If you wanted to test a turntable, what would be the 1st vinyl you'd play?

·       <Marjorie Hernandez> How's warstic doing, jack?

·       <Jack White> @Breanna Kibitz and i've never been invited to see it

·       <Michael Stevens> @Jack White you should come back down to Austin during SXSW, I know this great record label that throws great parties away from all the chaos. ;)

·       <Rick Kanas> "the magic eye sees all"

·       <Nick(Boat)> @Jack White, did u get a chance to see the Dirtbombs/Soledad show in detroit over NYE?

·       <Vinnie Vrhovnik> Jack in inviting you to the Rock Hall

·       <Jack White> @vickendom the beatles revolver, check the left and right signals

·       <caitinlv> this chat is sticky tiday

·       <Jeff Harrow> @Jack White how much would one of your couches cost

·       <Alwaysin3s> @Jack White Jack I hope this New Year blesses you and keeps you well. That you find inspiration in the little things. Peace and love to you dear man

·       <Apple_Blossom> @KYLOSIS great question... its likely gonna be on the tele in parts or serials

·       <Rodrigo Cortes> Yes! SXSW!

·       <DETROITSAINT> @JackWhite I could hear records pressing during the blood drive! Is it close?

·       <MaggieMay> JW III your bens did a great show on NYE

·       <Breanna Gibitz> ever have a desire to visit the Rock Hall just on a whim? Sad you haven't been invited ha

·       <EngineDriver> Can we get a blue series of trad. Scottish and Irish tunes? You could record my seision group here in Denver!

·       <vickendom> Thanks man!

·       <Mandy Thomas> I love Revolver!!! come back to Dallas Jack!

·       <Isfeld> @Jack White Any TMR related events in Europe some day soon?

·       <Maxman142001> @Jack White will "Thats where it's at" ever get released?

·       <Morgan McPheeters> @Mandy Thomas Amen!

·       <Ira Washburn> When is your Detroit pressing plant going to be up and running?

·       <Jack White> @Rick Kanas "i bet you i can tell right now, within a dollar either way, how much money you have on you.........you got ten bucks."

·       <RACHELSWENS> Jack have you ever met Paul McCartney? He's my hero.

·       <MaWaiDu> @Jack I relate to your song about entitlement, maybe the most true lyrics you've written, entitlement is everywhere!!!

·       <DonTazeMeBro> Margo coming back in April to First Avenue have you played there

·       <LazyDynamite> When will Tom Waits do a blue series?

·       <Eve Jarman> Revolver's my favourite beatles album. Not a bad shout ;)

·       <EngineDriver> Did you see that Beatles Eight Days a Week doc?

·       <Nick(Boat)> @Jack White, any plans for a third store?

·       <Patricio Pinto Castro> @Jack White come back to latin america soon please

·       <Rick Kanas> "...and the silver?"

·       <gabbyalucas> Bought my first vinyl copy of Lazaretto and I must say I was quite surprised when I discovered the hidden tracks. You weirdo :) can't wait for the new record to be even weirder

·       <Jack White> @RACHELSWENS i saw him nearby once

·       <STL_Ben> @Jack White you have released both mono and stereo recordings......when will we see a quadraphonic release from TMR?

·       <DonTazeMeBro> the natrual

·       <Ashlyn Scoggins> Jack, do you type with both hands or just one?

·       <Abbie Stein> @Jack White what happened to the wax-o-rama in Nashville

·       <Mandy Thomas> Going to see Margo at The Kessler!

·       <MaggieMay> @jackwhite. I think a bone marrow registry during the blood drive would be awesome!

·       <Marjorie Hernandez> Spent New Year's Eve in the Ryman this year... ever think about doing an acoustic show there yourself, jack?

·       <Troo> Hi Jack !

·       <RACHELSWENS> I dont think that counts.

·       <Jeff Harrow> @Jack White how much would one of your couches cost

·       <jen&juice> I was at The Gorge when you played the whispering sea and it was incredible! @jack what are some of your favorite venues?

·       <Cameo Kraft> Have any plans to open a new store anytime soon??

·       <Melissa Gonzalez> @JackWhite are you currently reading anything interesting? Or have a recommendations?

·       <Jack White> @gabbyalucas those tracks took a long time to write and record

·       <chudd13> @Jack White "you can't spell it but it eats pretty good"

·       <Dina Grace Zoe Sciortino> what make JW smile?

·       <Nathan Wiseman> @JackWhite will the Dead Weather tour again?

·       <Jeff Harrow> @Jack White how much would one of your couches cost

·       <gabbyalucas> I'm sure! But they were quite the surprise

·       <DJRobbyRob> @Jack White Anything in the works with Dolly Parton?

·       <Apple_Blossom> @Jack White did you like your colored pencils?

·       <vickendom> I did "The Sound of Music" & Maria Callas' "Carmen" for 2 different TMR turntables.

·       <MaggieMay> Jack white, give your blood.

·       <ashleyredefine> Hello Jack-O!

·       <Maxman142001> @Jack White have you recorded any solo material since the break?

·       <RobScarr> @Jack White isn't one of them about smoking weed? haha

·       <MaggieMay> Like the poster

·       <Jack White> @Dina Grace Zoe Sciortino a woman asking if i'd like to go for a ride

·       <MaWaiDu> @Jack we really appreciate your time, it's awful kind of you

·       <Brandon Attal> My niece loves Weird Al, any chance you will release something from him?

·       <Hunter Arias> That white house Hey Jude performance was great! cool to see you could be there

·       <Dina Grace Zoe Sciortino> When can I pick you up?

·       <Jeff Harrow> @Jack White how much would one of your couches cost

·       <Jack White> @Hunter Arias i think paul was there

·       <Alwaysin3s> @Jack White nice

·       <Kelly McCleary> @Jack White Wanna go for a ride?

·       <Breanna Gibitz> What do you do when you start falling for someone but you know it just won't work?

·       <Apple_Blossom> did you here about the pipelines in cleveland and detroit???@Jack White

·       <LazyDynamite> I love the new Tribe Called Quest... Ego is awesome!!!

·       <KRIST3N> Jack would you like to go for a ride?

·       <Apple_Blossom> very sad

·       <Able_And_Want> Do you ever just pop in unannounced to talent shows at kids' schools or malls or places like that. I get worried about the future of our world, and then I see kids genuinely loving the music they're playing and dancing too and it makes me feel a little better. There's a lot of talent out there to be nurtured!

·       <Jack White> have to go y'all, getting this pressing plant up and running is not easy....

·       <Mallory McClain> @Jack White any news on the Luck Reunion sessions w/Margo et. al.?

·       <Dina Grace Zoe Sciortino> I can chauffer you :)

·       <Jack White> have a good day

·       <Rodrigo Cortes> Ever been to Marfa, TX?

·       <Cameron Fucile> good luck!

·       <Rodrigo Cortes>

·       <Rodrigo Cortes>

·       <RACHELSWENS> Bye boy

·       <Breanna Gibitz> have fun with that! Thanks jack

·       <ashleyredefine> Bye bye

·       <Ashlyn Scoggins> Keep working hard boo :)

·       <KYLOSIS> Thanks for hanging out with us!

·       <MaggieMay> You too!!!

·       <Kelly McCleary> nice! bye!

·       <thirdgirlll> @Jack White❤❤❤

·       <Brandon Attal> Word

·       <Jack White> make sure to do something positive for someone else

·       <Daryl-Anne Fletcher> Bye Jack

·       <Dina Grace Zoe Sciortino>

·       <Marjorie Hernandez> Later jack!!

·       <Rick Kanas> take care Jack!!

·       <tanzaib> @Jack White any news on the release of Voscovo stuff

·       <gabbyalucas> Have a good day man, thanks for this!

·       <Melissa Gonzalez> Have a nice day JW!! ❤❤❤

·       <DJRobbyRob> @Jack White Thank you!

·       <meohmy> @Jack White Thanks, Jack! Love you!

·       <bloomooks> You too, Jack. Thanks for dropping in

·       <DonTazeMeBro> will do

·       <jen&juice> You have a better one!

·       <STL_Ben> and time to funnel back down to 4 people

·       <Jack White> without them knowing about it....

·       <Breanna Gibitz> thank you

·       <Hunter Arias> Thanks! Have a great day!

·       <Sierra> @jack white bye jack💙☺

·       <Apple_Blossom> @Jack White thanks

·       <Janet Hall> Will do

·       <Sarah Sparks> love you! Best of luck in 2017

·       <thirdgirl> thanks jack, happy new year to you

·       <staci freeworth> thansk for saying Hi jack. Miss your music!!

·       <Mommaboat> @Jack White 💙💙💙

·       <KRIST3N> My bf will appreciate that advice

·       <Melissa Gonzalez> Always ❤

·       <Dina Grace Zoe Sciortino> love you

·       <RRRecords> @Jack White peace and love, peace and love

·       <LordKhan> Thanks Jack!

·       <Sarianna> Thank you for saying hello!

·       <ashleyredefine> For sure!

·       <Rodrigo Cortes> Happy New Years Jack!

·       <STL_Ben> DOH I missed jack! What did he say? Who has a transcript?

·       <Sierra> You're the best ❤️

·       <DJRobbyRob> I missed like the first 13 minutes

·       <Nova_Jane> I just found out that my friend is Billy Wayne Davis' cousin. Small world!!! :)

·       <Mandy Thomas> @Hunter Arias---Mother Nature's Son was amazing!

·       <caitinlv> have a good one Jack & taje care

·       <MaWaiDu> bye

·       <Mandy Thomas> @Hunter Arias---Mother Nature's Son was amazing!

·       <Mandy Thomas> @Hunter Arias---Mother Nature's Son was amazing!

·       <Michael Stevens> have fun!

·       <Mommaboat> @Jack White 💙💙💙

·       <Mandy Thomas> Bye Jack

[silkclient90-blog]

Honey Boo Boo and the other Dancing with the Stars Juniors cast members

by Andy Dehnart 25 Sep. 2018 | 9:11 pm

The cast of the new Dancing with the Stars Juniors was just announced live on Dancing with the Stars’ second episode, and includes actors, reality stars, and kids who are famous themselves or who have famous parents.

The cast includes Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson, who’s now 12, and Miles Brown, best known as one of the twins on ABC’s Black-ish. Stevie Wonder’s son Mandla Morris and Scottie Pippen’s daughter Sophia Pippen are also both competing, as is Tripp Palin, the son of Sarah Palin’s daughter Bristol Palin; Bristol came in third on her season of Dancing with the Stars.

It seems like a strong group and a decent range of competitors, and more contestants I recognize than this current season of DWTS.

Each contestant will be paired with a young professional dancer, plus a Dancing with the Stars pro who will mentor them. Here are those trios:

Addison Osta Smith with Lev Khmelev, mentored by Keo Motsepe

Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson with Tristan Ianiero, mentored by Artem Chigvintsev

Akash Vukoti with Kamri Peterson, mentored by Witney Carson

Ariana Greenblatt with Artyon Celestine, mentored by Brandon Armstrong

Hudson West with Kameron Couch, mentored by Hayley Erbert

Jason Maybaum with Elliana Walmsley, mentored by Emma Slater

Mackenzie Ziegler with Sage Rosen, mentored by Gleb Savchenko

Mandla Morris with Brightyn Brems, mentored by Cheryl Burke

Miles Brown with Rylee Arnold, mentored by Lindsay Arnold

Sky Brown with JT Church, mentored by Alan Bersten

Sophia Pippen with Jake Monreal, mentored by Sasha Farber

Tripp Palin with Hailey Bills, mentored by Jenna Johnson

Judging the series are choreographer Mandy Moore, DWTS pro Val Chmerkovskiy, and DWTS winner Adam Rippon. Frankie Muniz and Jordan Fisher are co-hosting.

The show will be pre-taped, airing one-hour episodes on Sundays starting Oct. 7.

Dancing with the Stars Juniors judges Mandy Moore, Val Chmerkovskiy, and Adam Rippon. (Photo by Ed Herrera/ABC)

Here are the new cast’s bios from ABC’s press release:

ADDISON OSTA SMITH (age 13) – Addison Osta Smith was the first girl and youngest contestant ever to win “MasterChef Junior” at the age of 10. Winning “MasterChef Junior” led to multiple television and media appearances, including cooking demonstrations and interviews on the “Late Late Show with James Corden,” “Hollywood Today Live,” “Good Day LA” and “The Steve Harvey Show.” In 2015, she was cast in the ABC pilot, “Dream Team,” which was filmed in spring 2016. She is currently working on her first cookbook and wants to inspire kids and adults to do what they love and to help others while doing it. Addison is partnered with Lev Khmelev and mentored by Keo Motsepe.

  ALANA “HONEY BOO BOO” THOMPSON (age 12) – Alana Thompson, or more famously known as Honey Boo Boo, started her career on “Toddlers & Tiaras” when she was 5 years old and quickly rose to fame. She then starred in her own show, “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.” Now you can see her on “Mama June: From Not to Hot,” which is in its second season on WEtv. Alana loves being on social media, texting her friends, hanging out with family and doing her makeup. Alana is partnered with Tristan Ianiero and mentored by Artem Chigvintsev.

AKASH VUKOTI (age 9) – Akash Vukoti is a SPELLEBRITY. He started reading and writing at a very early age and competed in his first spelling bee when he was just 2 years old. He became a member of Mensa at 3. When he was 6 years old, he became (and is currently) the youngest boy ever to compete in the history of Scripps National Spelling Bee. Akash is partnered with Kamri Peterson and mentored by Witney Carson.

   ARIANA GREENBLATT (age 10) – Ariana Greenblatt is a small-but-mighty star on the rise, who just wrapped filming Disney’s “The One and Only Ivan,” where she stars opposite Bryan Cranston, Sam Rockwell and Angelina Jolie. Ariana has always loved dancing and took her first class at age 2. Currently, she is playing Daphne Diaz on Disney’s “Stuck in The Middle” and has starred in “Bad Mom’s Christmas” and “Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity Wars,” where she played Young Gamora. Ariana is partnered with Artyon Celestine and mentored by Brandon Armstrong.

HUDSON WEST (age 10) – Born in Dayton, Ohio, Hudson West booked his first commercial at the age of 6. Currently, he can be seen as Jake Spencer in ABC’s “General Hospital.” Shortly after relocating to Los Angeles, he was cast as Andy in “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2” and also appeared in “True North,” directed by Tom Nittoli, as well as “Roads, Trees & Honey Bees.” His other television credits include the recurring role of Jesse on Showtime’s “I’m Dying Up Here” as well as the recurring role of Marcia Clark’s son Travis on Fox’s “American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson.” He can also be seen on Netflix’s “Grace and Frankie,” Nickelodeon’s “Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn,” Cartoon Network’s “Clarence,” TV Land’s “Teachers,” TNT’s “Major Crimes” and ABC’s “Modern Family” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” Hudson is partnered with Kameron Couch and mentored by Hayley Erbert.

JASON MAYBAUM (age 10) – Jason Maybaum stars as Levi in Disney Channel’s live-action comedy “Raven’s Home,” a spinoff of the iconic comedy series “That’s So Raven,” now in its second season. In addition to his role on “Raven’s Home,” Maybaum starred in the critically acclaimed Hulu movie “Becoming Bond,” has guest starred in “Workaholics,” “Teachers,” “Blunt Talk” and “Superstore” episodes and has appeared in numerous commercials. He is also featured in the upcoming Disney Channel Original Movie “Freaky Friday,” a contemporary musical update of the classic comedic story. Jason is partnered with Elliana Walmsley and mentored by Emma Slater.

MACKENZIE ZIEGLER (age 14) – Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Mackenzie Ziegler has quickly become one of her generation’s most influential rising stars. The singer/songwriter and actress was most recently seen starring in the YouTube series “Total Eclipse,” for the digital network Brat, of which she also serves as an executive producer. Her first novel, “Kenzie’s Rules for Life,” was released on May 8. Mackenzie is partnered with Sage Rosen and mentored by Gleb Savchenko.

MANDLA MORRIS (age 13) – Mandla Morris, the son of iconic singer/songwriter superstar Stevie Wonder, is an aspiring fashion designer who loves to draw and sketch clothing.  With his five brothers, four sisters, one dog Cairo, and one exotic cat King, he is also into music and enjoys playing the piano. His parents inspire Mandla every day to be the best person he can be. With a love of travel (he recently visited Milan and Paris), he also likes to hang out with his friends, going to the movies and playing video games. Mandla is partnered with Brightyn Brems and mentored by Cheryl Burke.

   MILES BROWN (age 13) – Miles Brown stars in ABC’s Emmy®-nominated and critically acclaimed comedy series “black-ish,” from creator Kenya Barris. He recently wrapped production on the independent film “Emmett,” opposite Rita Wilson and Nora Dunn, a coming-of-age comedy directed by Bridge Stokes. In addition, Miles is a member of the Jr. NBA Leadership Council, which is a select group of NBA/WNBA players, legends, coaches and celebrities tasked with providing thought, leadership and insight as it pertains to growing the Jr. NBA brand. Miles’s past credits include “The Thundermans,” “Shameless” and “Raising Hope.” Miles is partnered with Rylee Arnold and mentored by Lindsay Arnold.

SKY BROWN (age 10) – Sky Brown is known as a skateboarding and surfing phenom, which has led her to become a viral video media sensation with over 50 million views. Sky, who learned to skateboard at the age of 3, is one of the youngest girls to compete and medal at a professional skateboarding competition and uses her platform in skateboarding to spread her message of positivity, empowering young girls around the world and to globally give back to children in underdeveloped areas. Sky is partnered with JT Church and mentored by Alan Bersten.

SOPHIA PIPPEN (age 9) – Sophia Pippen is the daughter of six-time NBA champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist, Scottie Pippen and entrepreneur Larsa Pippen. At a young age, Sophia signed to Wilhelmina Kids and Teri B. Talent to begin pursuing a career in the world of fashion and beauty. In a short time, Sophia has catapulted herself to the top by becoming the face of Oscar De La Renta Kids and walking down the runway for childrenswear brands including Aliva Simone and KidPik during Kids Fashion Week in NYC. Sophia is partnered with Jake Monreal and mentored by Sasha Farber.

TRIPP PALIN (age 9) – Tripp Palin loves traveling between Alaska and Texas, where he’s embraced by a large, active family, including his mother, former “Dancing with the Stars” contestant Bristol Palin, and grandmother Sarah Palin. He is an all-outdoors-all-the-time all-American boy. He loves fishing, four-wheeling, snow machines, dirt bikes, football, soccer … “his little sisters and God,” Tripp reports! Never having danced before, Tripp looks forward to the athleticism required in this competition, and mostly just wants to have fun. Tripp is partnered with Hailey Bills and mentored by Jenna Johnson.

Source: https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2018/09/dancing-with-the-stars-juniors-cast/

[the-record-columns]

May 1, 2019: Columns

Children and food revisited...

By KEN WELBORN

Record Publisher

This past weekend, as you all know, was MerleFest time.

Well, for me, the very best part of the weekend was getting to see and visit with my children — my daughter, Jordan, son, Sam, his wife, Mary Ellen, their daughter, Carter Grace, and my youngest daughter, Cary — who have always enjoyed the event. I make sure to adjust my schedule so I can be with them as much as possible.

I especially enjoy any time we can have a meal together.

One of those meals was last Sunday’s lunch with Cary, and her boyfriend, John McLean, who were both in from Wilmington. For whatever reason, I didn’t have a huge appetite, and there was some food left on my plate.

This being unusual for me, Cary made a comment about it, to which I replied, “…but I ate all the money stuff.”

Cary smiled, remembering that expression from childhood and reminded me of a story.

Some time ago I wrote a piece about children and restaurants, and, for lack of a better way to put it, wasting food.

One part concerned trips I used to take to Myrtle Beach with my children and our favorite eatery called Steer's, where the feature was a 50-foot all you can eat food bar. My admonition to the kids was to stick to the last four feet of the bar where the crab legs and shrimp resided, reminding them in no uncertain terms that I could find Jell-O and macaroni and cheese at home—for far less than $20 a head (and this was years ago).

I would also mention to them how many times my daddy, The Preacher reminded me to not “...let your eyes get bigger than your stomach,” when I was a kid, because I would surely clean my plate before leaving the table.

Well, that column must have been read by many folks with kids, because it sure seemed to resonate with many—all with their own story. Several people saw me out to eat and asked me if I had eaten all the “money stuff” on my plate, a reference to my way of making sure if something got left on the plate, at least it wasn't the steak or shrimp or—well, you get the idea.

Another thing that reminded me a bit of myself was told to me by several parents who said they would make it clear to their children they were at the beach with sand and surf, and that the hotel's swimming pool was virtually off limits.

One guy said he told them “There is a swimming pool at the YMCA and the Country Club and several other places at home. No ocean, however.”

I always loved any opportunity to play in the sand and hauled enough shovels and hoes to the coast to build a sand castle realtors would envy. As the day wound down, we would all often stand on the balcony and watch the inevitable destruction of our work by the tide, vowing to beat it the next day.

In general it was a fun column to write and a fun one to talk about. My favorite conversation was on a Saturday at what was then Woodhaven Restaurant on D Street in North Wilkesboro. There was a couple there I would see virtually every Saturday morning, and, when I sat down we began to talk about the column.

The lady spoke about babysitting her grandchildren and how their eyes sometimes did get bigger than their stomach, but, being a grandma, I got the feeling she was pretty easy on them. I got particularly amused when she said she sat down to eat with them and one of the boys wouldn't eat a bite—claiming he had a blister in his lip. I told her that kid should be glad he was with grandma; if my Pa had been there, the blister might have been on my bottom.

But the most memorable story came from her husband. We had talked back and forth about everything from our parents dealing with hard times, to children just being children. As our conversation was ending, he told how his own mother dealt with the not cleaning ones plate issue. His mother cooked on a wood stove and, like most women of her day, was a wonderful cook. A kid being a kid, however, sometimes he didn't want to eat everything he had put on his plate.

This was apparently no big deal to his mother—she would take his plate without a word, carefully placing it in the warming closet atop the wood stove—and faithfully bring it back out at the next meal. That's right, he finished that meal before he got the next one.

Way to go, momma!

Another wonderful lesson learned.

O (possum), baby!

By HEATHER DEAN

Record Reporter

They say everything happens for a reason.

There have been times we read about extraordinary events happened, and people being spared injury, or worse, because they couldn’t find their car keys or overslept etcetera, which made them late, and in turn they avoided being involved in an accident.

Well, I’ve never been in that situation that I know of — at least, I’ve never been spared the diatribe of a less than happy boss at my tardiness. But I digress.

During MerleFest, I help run the VFW Post 1142 campground office. Saturday night I was to attend a birthday party of a friend after my shift was over at 8 p.m. I left later than expected, since the Saturday night dance at the Post was well underway, and I was still selling ice and taking pictures of dancers to put in this weeks edition of The Record. I made promises to Commander Blackburn and Christy Sherwood — who was gracious enough to work the raffle table while her husband drove the shuttle bus — that I would be back to take pictures of the raffle drawing winner at 10 p.m.

Well, about 20 minutes later, after missing the exit I was to turn on, then traversing down a back road because I was miffed at myself for missing said exit and was just too stubborn to get back on the highway, I found myself in the middle of the road, after dark, with two baby opossums, tails wrapped around my fingers, and heading down into a drainage ditch to find another that I could hear crying, but couldn’t see. I know what you’re thinking. “Heather! Really??”

Really.

So what had happened was….

I saw an opossum coming into the road from the field, and just knew the car in front of me was going to hit it. In fact, they swerved to hit it on purpose. I was far enough behind them to see the atrocity, and then panic when I saw the asphalt come alive. Or at least it seemed to. There were babies all over the place. I put on my flashers, stopped the car and started scooping up babies by the tail. Sadly, three of them were killed on impact with the mother. One was in the middle of the road, one was going back into the field, and one had rolled into the steep ditch on the other side of the road.

No, I don’t have any idea how to raise baby opossums. No, I didn’t stop to think about calling the vet first, and no, I was not thinking about how I was going to transport them in my car. After all, babies in the road is an emergency, I can deal with the rest later.

As it happened, I had my VFW Campground tote bag in the passengers seat, and with thee baby opossums now in hand, I slung the contents out in a frenzy (I still can’t find my favorite ChapStick) and gently deposited the babes into it.

I walked into the party with the bag clutched at my side, hoping someone would give me a pointer how to keep them alive until the morning.

I sent messages to vet techs, and made a Facebook post. Almost immediately my friends came to my rescue on social media.

As it happens, the birthday boy and his wife knew a lady who was involved with those who recue opossums. They called and she was there within the hour.  And I was glad to recognize her too, because I wasn’t just letting this precious cargo go home with just anyone. Besides, they had gotten cozy in the tote bag that I now had tucked under my shirt to keep the wee marsupials warm. Meanwhile, I had texted Christy and told her of the situation, and asked if she would be kind enough to take pictures of the raffle winners, as I was otherwise engaged.

I got sad looking at their sweet little faces, wondering what would have happened if I hadn’t been there when I was. And even sadder still, knowing that they are so misunderstood that people want to run over them on purpose. They eat ticks, which carry Lyme disease, so that makes them keepers in my book.

Here are some links to read about these amazing- and smart- animals.

www.littlethings.com/possum-facts/

www.caryinstitute.org/discover-ecology/podcasts/why-you-should-brake-opossums

https://www.care2.com/greenliving/10-reasons-to-love-opossums.html

Trading territory for terror

By EARL COX

Special to The Record

In the United States the term “settlement” generally refers to an agreement, an arrangement, a resolution or an understanding of one sort or another.  In Israel, the word “settlement” means something quite different and is a hot button for those who are anti-Israel.  

By definition, “settlements” are civilian communities inhabited by Israeli citizens who are mostly Jewish. When the liberal, anti-Israel media presents a story about one of these areas, they intentionally create the image of a “settlement” as being an illegal encampment on land owned by the Palestinians.  This causes the uninformed to believe that Israel stole land belonging to the Palestinians.  Now let’s look at the true facts in a nutshell.

An excerpt from The Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel says, “The land of Israel is the birthplace of the Jewish people.  Here their spiritual, religious and political identity were shaped, and it was here where they created cultural values of national and universal significance and gave to the world the eternal Book of Books.” 

Throughout the Diaspora (Jewish exile from the land of Israel), Jews maintained physical, cultural and religious ties to the land.  They kept their faith and never ceased to pray and hope for their return to their national homeland which was deeded to them by God Himself. Following the horrors of World War II and Hitler’s concentration camps where millions of Jews were tortured and murdered, the problem of Jewish homelessness became a matter of urgency. On November 29, 1947, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution calling for the establishment of a Jewish state in the land of Israel and proclaimed it irrevocable.   

On the very day Israel became a nation on May 14, 1948, this tiny, fledgling country with no organized army and very few weapons was attacked by five surrounding and well-armed Arab nations.  The fighting continued into 1949.  Although at a great disadvantage, Israel was not defeated.  Armistice lines were drawn up between Israel, Egypt, Lebanon, Transjordan and Syria. These armistice lines held up until 1967 when Israel was again attacked by Egypt, Jordan and Syria.  The outcome of this war significantly changed the map of most of the Middle East and served as the catalyst for the geopolitical issues which we read about almost every day.  Israel’s attackers had well-trained armies and ample stockpiles of munitions and hardware.  During this fighting which became known as the Six Day War, Israel learned that Egypt was planning a major air offensive.  The IDF (Israel Defense Force) launched a preemptive air strike which crushed the air forces of Egypt and her allies.  Israel then launched a successful ground operation which resulted in the capture of the West Bank and East Jerusalem from Jordan, the Golan Heights from Syria and the Sinai Peninsula and Gaza strip from Egypt.

In a war Israel fought in self-defense which resulted in the capture of land from her hostile Arab neighbors, Israel began to rightfully and lawfully establish villages, towns and cities.  These communities are located in the areas many of us know as Judea and Samaria or the West Bank and Gaza strip.  But Israelis are not newcomers to this land.  For thousands of years Jewish “settlements” and communities have flourished in these areas.  The Jews made the deserts bloom.  

Today the world is pointing an accusing finger at Israel claiming that the “settlements” are illegal.  Legal opinion states that a country acting in self-defense may seize and occupy territory when necessary to protect itself and its citizens.  Should the occupying power elect to withdraw, it has every right to require assurance that it will not be harassed or attacked again from that territory.  

Time and time again Israel has held out the olive branch to the Palestinians and her other Arab neighbors only to have it rejected and trampled upon.  Israel has a right to defensible borders, and this is why the issue of “settlements” is so important.  In 2005 Israel’s then Prime Minister Ariel Sharon unilaterally withdrew from Gaza hoping for peace, but peace never came. What Israel received, and continues to receive, from Hamas and the Palestinians in Gaza, is more rocket attacks and more terrorism.  In other words, Israel traded territory for terror.  By Israel giving up Gaza, terrorists did not stop terrorizing they only moved their bases of operation closer to Israel’s population centers.

Soon the people of North Carolina will have an opportunity to hear personally from the mayor of Ma’ale Adumim which is a suburb of Israel’s capital, Jerusalem. This beautiful and peaceful city is located less than three miles from Jerusalem’s city limits.  Ma’ale Adumim was established in 1975 by 23 families on a hilltop 1500 feet above sea level overlooking the Judean Desert. Today this “settlement” is a thriving municipality and the largest Jewish city within the “territories.” Ma’ale Adumim is vital to Israel’s security and is a place where Jews and Palestinians work side by side in peace and harmony.

[tagamark]

Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge: February 2019

New Post has been published on https://tagasafarisafrica.com/sabyinyo-silverback-lodge-february-2019/

Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge: February 2019

February has been another great month at Sabyinyo – a fun month!

It’s been mostly sunny days, except for a those days where the weather proved a touch fickle. For a spell of 10 days in succession, clouds and rain, (sometimes heavy), descended on us between 10.30 am and 2.30 pm. What was nice though is that this downpour did not dampen the spirits of any of our guests, or even the spirits of the Gorillas. On the contrary, all of the guests this month returned from treks with smiles of sunshine and stories of pleasure in direct contrast to their wet gaiters and muddy boots. Well done to all the Gorillas for comprehensively defeating the Rain Gods, and for smiling down on our guests – good job!

This wet spell though did teach us one thing – not to listen to the manager! Every morning he would look skyward and say with conviction ‘I think it’s going to clear. The sun will lift these clouds for sure’. Obviously he needs some training in meteorology!

In February we particularly enjoyed the return of Nelis Wolmarans, previous manager of the Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge from 2011 to 2014. Nearly all of the staff of course knew Nelis very well – so his stay was not so much a visit, but a reunion. It was also a nice opportunity to congratulate Nelis for winning the Windland Smith Rice Wildlife Photographer Of The Year 2018, which he achieved with the most beautiful photo of a mother and baby Gorilla. Congratulations Nelis! Your stay was too short Nelis, but it was great to have you back!

‘Mother and baby’

Grand Winner of the Windland Smith Rice Wildlife Photographer Of The Year 2018

Photo credit – Nelis Wolmarans

We also very much enjoyed the company of Roger and Lisa Woods – they provided much excitement because they came and left by helicopter. Roger is Chief Flight Instructor for Leonardo Helicopters, and he was in Rwanda providing refresher training for Akagera Aviation Pilots. Thank you Roger for our private helicopter display over the Lodge – it was enjoyed by all! By the way, we will be sending you the bill for replacement of all the lodge umbrellas damaged in the fly-over!

Akagera Aviation comes to the Mountain – photo credit Michael Hughes

And from the manager of the lodge, Michael Hughes, a very special thank you to the Jornvall family, especially to Ann-Margreth who opted out of a second Gorilla trek in order to go birding, and offered offered our manager her place on the hike. The result was one happy man!

Our trek to Kwitonda Family, courtesy of Jornvall Family – photo credit Michael Hughes

We must also mention our guest Charlotte ‘the whirlwind’ Adams. Charlotte stayed with us for two nights in the beginning of February. It was a short stay but enough time to learn a little about SACOLA (Sabyinyo Community Livelihood Association – local community trust whom we are partnered with). Only a week later Charlotte had extended her African safari and returned to Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge for a mere 24 hours, specifically to donate cows to the community here. This generous gesture was very much appreciated by the community and on the back of this donation we are hoping to launch a scheme called ‘Charlotte’s Scheme’, where the recipients of the cows pledge to donate the first born female calf to another family – thereby creating a continuously perpetuating donation project that helps needy families. So, ‘thank you very much Charlotte – we look forward to seeing you again at the launch of your scheme in March’.

We officially started the ‘Turengerubuzima Sewing Centre Project’, one of our new SACOLA projects. Already 90 unmarried mothers have started ‘seamstress training’. On-the-job training is scheduled to take three months and in this period we are hoping to make contact with different organisations that require bulk purchase of uniforms. We at the lodge might be their first big customer!

Group #3 undergoing seamstress training – photo credit Michael Hughes

February has also been a very exciting month for the staff of Sabyinyo too as we managed to finally pin down our staff Christmas outing to Lake Kivu! Many of our staff were of course working over Christmas and throughout January and so February was the first opportunity to take a break! We had a group of 33 which took a very enjoyable boat trip on the lake – it was interesting to see the Congo/Rwanda border from the water! Gisenye town on the Rwandan side is small, whereas Goma on the Congo side is a massive bustling metropolis!

Christmas in February on Lake Kivu – photo credit Michael Hughes

The Christmas outing was followed by the wedding of Christine (daughter to Leonard Harerimana, our HR manager) to Pastrome. Weddings in Rwanda are all day affairs that start with settlement of the bride price. The bride price might already be set, but a comic mock-negotiation has to take place with arguments and innuendos going back and forth between the bride and groom’s families. Also this part of the ceremony requires the exchange of peacekeeping gifts – mainly wine!

Once the bride price is settled (3 cows in this instance), then the wedding ceremony takes place. For Christine and Pastrome it was a traditional Christian ceremony. After the couple are wed, there is traditional giving of gifts and the bride has to prove her expertise in hospitality – which she did with a big wedding banquet! The whole ceremony accompanied by lots of song and dance! What a great day it was. Congratulations to Christine and Pastrome and we wish you all the very best for your future together.

Christine and Pastrome’s ceremony – photo credit Michael Hughes

Our new staff block is approaching completion – it will be ready for occupancy in the 1st week of March. As you can imagine, all the staff are hugely excited – there will be lots more room and comfort for all!

The new staff block – almost ready! Photo credit Michael Hughes

In other news, Seb and Yo (two resident ravens who form part of the ‘cast of characters’ at the lodge, continue to grace us with their presence. These two are particularly clever birds – they know exactly how far, and with who, they can push their luck!

Our two Golden monkeys are still paying frequent visits to the property too. But they are difficult to see when the weather is poor. Like Humans they take shelter in the rain and then are difficult to find, but it is really nice to have them around.

Our family of sheep produced 5 new lambs, over five consecutive days, between 2nd to 6th February. The Sabyinyo flock now numbers 21! We use the sheep to help with our grass cutting, especially in the rougher outer reaches of the lodge grounds and where we have cleared land for reforestation.

Some of our flock plus the new lambs – photo credit Michael Hughes

And a final word … a BIG welcome to our new neighbours! In a very elaborate ceremony attended by Portia de Rossi (for Ellen DeGeneres), the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund broke ground for their new research and education centre – which will be, quite literally on our doorstep! The build is planned to take two years and will consist of a research, an education, an information and a cultural centre.

Portia de Rossi ‘groundbreaking’ for the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund – photo credit Michael Hughes

The new centre will be extremely beneficial for the community, tourism and related businesses in Rwanda and especially for the Gorillas. We are very much looking forward to their arrival and working alongside them.

By Michael Hughes, manager at Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge.

Post courtesy of Governors Camps

African Safaris by the Pioneers who Live in Africa

[goodnewsjamaica]

National Motivation and Affirmation Day

New Post has been published on https://goodnewsjamaica.com/culture/national-motivation-and-affirmation-day/

National Motivation and Affirmation Day

A member of the Tivoli Dance Troupe that performed for National Motivation and Affirmation Day

The day was October 16th, the third Tuesday of the month and history was made. Emancipation Park in Kingston, Jamaica was venue for the inaugural staging of an empowerment event. That event was celebrating the proclamation issued by Governor General Sir Patrick Linton Allen. Based on Sir Allen’s decree, every third Tuesday in October will be considered as National Motivation and Affirmation Day in Jamaica.

The journey didn’t start there though.  It started back in 2009 when Mr. Altano Morgan received a direct message from God to start a company which made books.  As much as Mr. Morgan had no idea what that meant, he took the leap of faith and has not looked back since.  Through that first step, he created I-Can Stationary and More where they make exercise books, pencils, pens, etc., all of which have motivation messages on all their products. The companies website explains the concept in this way;

Words create thoughts, thoughts create action, actions create destiny. If we want to change our society let us come together to transform the lives of individuals to make the world a better place for you, me and all of us.  We need to get this message of “I CAN!” out which brings hope, self-worth, positive values back into the lives of all people to bring forth individual change. Before we can reach out to save the world; the change has to come from within.

Thinking that making these items was enough was far from the truth.  Mr. Morgan received another message that he should conceptualize a super hero to carry the empowerment message and concentrate on children. In April of 2014 the 8 feet tall robot was created for this purpose.  His name is Captain I-Can!.

Captain I Can! is an interactive 8 ft. robot and superhero which motivates the listeners, by telling them positive words, giving them high fives, shaking hands, poses for the cameras and even dances. Yes, he is a bundle of fun! His famous greeting is “Hello! I am Captain I Can! Leader of the I Can! army”. He is here to destroy all the negatives. He interacts with individuals and recruits members to join in his army. You are considered a member of his army by repeating the positive words about yourself and from here on you are expected to continue to speak the positive. “Words like I will not give up!” “I will not give up my dreams!” “My dreams are not too big”. “I can achieve”.

He captures the attention of both young and old. We can now say, Captain I Can! is Jamaica’s first super hero. Oh and by the way, because Captain I Can! is a superhero, he will not disclose his identity!

Jermaine Edwards

What is lovely to see is that even though it started out with Mr. Morgan, now the entire family is involved with this empowering message.  Mrs. Sonshine (yes it is spelled the way they mean it), explains the companies mission:  “The mission of the company is transforming lives through renewing thoughts.  However the mission of Captain I-Can and Mrs. Sonshine is to speak living positive words highlighting strengths and potential, thus making a wholesome contribution toward national development.”

These sentiments have come a long way. Now they represent a day when Jamaicans globally will celebrate a national day for motivation and affirmation. Positive words will ring loud on this day, empowering people. The launch at Emancipation Park was a wonderful way to start this annual reminder of how great we all are.

Gracing the stage was young Courtney Green with a poem asking every child in the audience if they really know who they are.  The poem was “Hey Black Child” by Useni Eugene Perkins.  A message from the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Information was brought by Mr. Andrew Pitkin, who stated that the initiative is timely as the country is grappling with the lack of motivation of our youth and the sometimes negative role models that continue to impact their lives. He went on to explain the stance of the Ministry, “We welcome the  message of positivity being championed by Captain I-Can!, Mrs. Sonshine, and their team, as they not only motivate and inspire children in our schools, but have now sought a way to impact the entire nation. With the designation of National Motivation and Affirmation Day, the Ministry endorses and supports Captain I-Can! and the message he brings.”

Jermaine Edwards blessed the audience with both his well known anthems such as Hallelujah, Beautiful Day, and Winner. We were floored by his accapella rendition of Hallelujah which gave the audience a really close up experience of the power, precision and velvet sound of his voice.

Rev. Neva Campbell who read the Proclamation.

Little Azaria Thompson had the audience singing and clapping along to the Bob Marley great anthem, “Redemption Song”.  Without hesitation, she received a standing ovation and requests for an encore.  For the encore, her father and little 3 year old sister joined her on stage and the younger sister gave the audience a treat with her own rendition of Redemption Song which received huge approval.  It was obvious that the sisters have a great future in music, should they choose it.  Also to grace the stage was a Wolmerian student, Andrew Montague speaking of the power of motivation.  He explained that until he met Captain I-Can!, he was a student who just could not focus.  The Captain visited his school and in one day, his view on life and school changed drastically.  Whereas he was known to be just scraping by before the encounter, he turned his life around and ended his primary days with the highest GSAT scores at Jessie Ripoll Primary School. Now Andrew attends “The Wolmers Boys School” as he puts it.

Captain I-Can entered the stage to great uproar and applause  and as if the evening could not get any better, the audience was swarmed by yellow t-shirt clad young people.  When they were invited to address the audience, we learned that they were from the Pelican Gate school in Tortola, British Virgin Islands and they have been planning and saving to come to Jamaica to be immersed in the culture.  They stated that they were very happy that they came to Emancipation Park when they did so they could witness the historical moment.

Captain I-Can!’s message was about using motivation messages to change the self image of the person you are speaking power to.  He explained that in Jamaica, we are in a war against negativity,  and that love and commitment to motivation and affirmation is the best strategy to be triumphant.  Captain I-Can and Mrs. Sonshine also performed some of their signature songs such as, “It’s time to learn”, “Blast Off” and “Never Give Up”.  The audience was on their feet dancing and singing along with the I-Can! family in a display of solidarity for the impact of this National Motivation and Affirmation day.

The penultimate item was the reading of the Governor General’s proclamation by Rev. Neva Campbell for this day to be celebrated every third Tuesday of October from now on.   The evening ended with chorus of the National Pledge and a renewed feeling that we all were in this movement together.

The Tivoli Dance Troupe

Andrew Montague of Wolmers Boys School

Oshane Mais

Captain I-Can! and Andrew Montague

The Thompson Family entertaining the audience at

From Left Sara Morgan, Tamara Morgan and Jermaine Edwards

Azaria Thompson

Captain I-Can! Jamaica's 8 feet tall motivational Robot

Courtney Green - Poet extraordinaire

Mrs. Sonshine and Rev. Neva Campbell

M.C. Pastor Fitzroy Kerr

Mr. Andrew Pitkin of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information

Oshane Mais

The Pelican Gate School representatives from Tortola, British Virgin Islands

Sara Morgan and Joseph Morgan

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[heyheymarya]

Bye Bye Miss American Pie

Hello. Miss America has done away with the swimsuit competition, evening gown competition, oh, and the word pageant. Kate Spade committed suicide. Sigh. It’s been a long, hard week. 

I realize many people from pageant land and outside spectators have spoken out with their thoughts on the Miss America Organization’s decision to no longer include the swimsuit or evening gown competitions in their now America’s Got Talent with interview portion contest. But what kind of former journalist/occasional blogger would I be if I didn’t throw my two cents in?

It’s easy to hear of news that somewhat affects you or your world and immediately become enraged and want to start a riot (just me and my friends? Oh, okay.). But despite the indignation I felt at the decision to eliminate two important pieces of the Miss America pie (see what I did there? :)), I held off. Mainly because I deleted social media off my phone and had less access to share my thoughts with the world. But also because I didn’t need another excuse to post old photos of myself in a swimsuit-- ahh, sweet memories. 

But then. A friend of mine who I love and admire and often look to for wisdom and insight said something that really stopped me in my tracks. She has a podcast that I listen to weekly because I’m proud of her and I miss her, and she briefly touched on the Miss America decision this week. She didn’t have a ton of time left to speak about it but nonchalantly said something to the effect of “Honestly, I’d be okay if Miss America went away all together because I don’t really see the good pageants contribute to society anyway.” *Insert wide-eyed face emoji here* I thought I’d shake it off, but the more I thought about it, the more I wondered if that’s how a lot of people feel. Which surprisingly to me left me feeling unsettled. Let me explain. 

For background, in 2009 I went off to a little place called God’s Country, aka the University of Georgia. Up until then, I had been a pretty “successful” individual for my 18 years. Nothing Nobel worthy, but essentially if there had been a grade or award to achieve, I did. With little to no effort. I’m baring my soul here, but I will tell you that I was one of those kids who, yes worked diligently most of the time and when the going got tough I cracked down and got it done, but GENERALLY good grades and achievements were things that came naturally to me. It was a little bit of natural giftings/Myers Briggs type stuff and a little bit of environmental factors. I had little to worry about because I grew up a white girl in suburbia with loving parents who believed in me and sacrificed for me to have anything I wanted (not like a Mercedes when I was 16, but like piano lessons for every week of my school-aged years and band practices and drama camps and voice lessons and a black escape to get myself to all these extracurriculars after I drove the mini van for a few months). When I was a freshman in the high school marching band, I thought it would be fun and good practice to try out for Drum Major so that when I was old enough to be Drum Major in a year or two, I would have more experience. I got Drum Major as a Freshman. I didn’t even know that was possible and apparently it wasn’t really a thing until then. Sophomore year, I randomly competed for a new pageant in town and because of previously-stated outgoing personality and piano lessons, I won. As a senior, I was beat out for Class President for the first time and was devastated I wouldn’t be able to give a speech at graduation. But the administrators asked me to anyways-- what. When I went to UGA, I got into my top choice sorority, earned a competitive spot as a Tour Guide on campus as a Freshman, and generally got by just fine without a ton of effort but a good bit of gratitude. I HAVE A POINT TO THIS OBNOXIOUS LAUNDRY LIST: when you spend the majority of your life breezing through, the first sign of turbulence is a doozy. I started not getting stuff just because I showed up (the horror!). My dad’s health hit a rough spot. I started experiencing some real boy drama. And because I hadn’t really had to deal with hard things, I turned to all the wrong places for solace. Boys, nightlife, social media, striving HARDER, putting unrealistic pressure on myself; for the first time my self-esteem was plummeting and I didn’t even realize it, let alone know how to healthily handle it. 

I hit a pretty hard low and it took some really true friends to be honest with me about the person they didn’t recognize anymore whom they were living with. Slowly, I started learning what it looked like to live like the person I actually wanted to be. One day, a favorite teacher from high school reached out inviting me to compete in my hometown’s Miss Cherokee Rose pageant. It was a preliminary to Miss Georgia and the winner of that went on to Miss America. I didn’t really have dreams of becoming Miss America, but I did have noble aspirations of having abs on spring break that year, so I said yes. And it was the first time in my entire life that I set a goal and worked towards it. And, truly, by the grace of God (and probably the whole Myers Briggs and voice lessons and working out thing) I won. And when the crown was placed on my head, you could’ve knocked me over with a feather (partly because my legs were giving out from squatting as the crown was being pinned on my head) when one of my future mentors looked at me and said “You’re going to Miss Georgia!” I knew that was the next step, but I didn’t really start out on this thing to go to Miss Georgia! I didn’t belong there! I was quirky (weird) and petite and brunette and wasn’t THAT great of a singer and said silly things to make people laugh but was certainly not polished or poised enough to compete in a state pageant. But for the next 6 months, I worked toward become stage-ready inside and out. Turns out, there were several girls from UGA that were competing as well so we started texting and hanging out before Miss Georgia week even arrived. Many of them had competed before so I learned the tricks of the trade like putting hemorrhoid ointment on the bags under my eyes and how to apply butt glue so your swimsuit doesn’t show more of your hiney than is appropriate even for a swimsuit competition. But the more time I spent with them leading up to the pageant and during the week, the more I realized the depth that each of these young women contained, the passion for their communities, the dedication to their craft, the love for people that showed up through actions like visiting Children’s hospitals and investing in girls younger than them. I was in awe. After months of eating grilled chicken and spinach and spending time at the gym instead of the bars and reading about foreign affairs and local policies rather than binge-watching TV (well, we still did that a lot), I competed at Miss Georgia and won a preliminary swimsuit award and non-finalist interview award. For the first time ever, I was awarded a trophy based on my hard work and dedication rather than being in the right place at the right time. And that felt good-- empowering even. 

I continued for two years in this crazy world we call pageant land, and my last year competing anyone who knew me knew I KNEW I would be crowned Miss Georgia that year. My fitness was at an all-time high. My platform was relevant. My gown was amazing. My interview was darn-near flawless-- I think I can say that... I had the HIGHEST interview score out of EVERY other contestant that year! It was in God’s hands! Annnnnd I lost. Like, really lost. Like had the highest interview score and still didn’t crack the top ten. If this had happened to the girl that showed up at UGA four years prior, a trainwreck would have ensured. Yes, I was upset and disappointed and confused. But never, ever, in that moment or any after did I doubt my ability or worth or value BECAUSE of the lessons I learned in the process of competing in the Miss America Organization. You don’t spend three years intentionally working to become the best you you can be without learning the true power and meaning that lives inside you. It wasn’t my plan, but I knew God was making it all work for my good and looking back on the past four years since, I was right. 

I will tell you I’ve never met more serving and loving men and women than the ones who spend their free time volunteering for the local Miss America and Miss Georgia boards serving as mentors and coaches to the 18-24 year olds like me who often just needed a grown up other than our parents to speak encouragement and truth into our lives. I met some of my greatest friends and the mother of my God-children through rubbing ourselves down with fake tan, eating dried fruit and Puffs on couches while problem-solving the world’s issues, and coaching each other on the perfect French turn or confident gown walk. To you, it seems like just a pageant. To me, it was the foundation of much of my adult life and the reason I am who I am today. 

Now I spend much of my days coaching, encouraging, and pointing young men and women to truth about themselves as the Director of People & Development over three Chick-fil-A stores in Athens, a leader of first-graders in our church’s elementary school environment, and a small-group leader for a circle of college girls. I would say the large majority of my weeks are spent with college-aged or right-out-of-college-aged individuals exploring the unique gifts God has given them and how they can use those talents to better themselves and the world around them. I teach first graders that we should make wise choices and that we can trust God no matter what. I remind college girls that they can do ANYTHING through the power of the Holy Spirit within them and that they are worth so much more than their grades, achievements, or failures. I would not be able to do any of this if it weren’t for my time competing in the Miss America Pageant because it is there that I learned that MY true value wasn’t in winning a pageant, but in the ways God has gifted me, in the way I love others, and ultimately in the way God loves us by teaching us hard lessons through something even as trivial as a swimsuit competition. My time competing for Miss Georgia is where I learned what it looks like to live intentionally, working towards something with my eyes never wavering from that prize. Back then, that prize was a shiny swimsuit plate or even a shiny crown. Now, I use those same muscles and skills I learned then to run toward the prize set before us which I believe is freedom in Christ. 

So, yeah. I would say pageants, and Miss America specifically, contributes good to our society. When you have an organization that encourages young women (and, for me, during the most formative years of my life) to become the best they can be mentally, emotionally AND physically, all working to better their communities while learning what is looks like to compete not against the friends beside them but against their former selves... that is game-changing. These are the women who have become and are becoming our future doctors, lawyers, teachers, mothers, politicians, and influencers who at the very beginning of their adult lives learn the value of hard work (physically, mentally and emotionally), the importance of not living life solely for yourself, and that their value cannot be found on a scale or even in someone else’s opinion of them. In today’s society of selfies, SnapChat stories, and finding value in Instagram likes, what is better for our society than that?