#the fucking entitlement of people 40+ is ridiculous

[invodka-veritas]

As a former homeless person, I get extremely irritated when someone claims to be homeless but refuses temporary housing because it isn't permanent.

[santae-salt]

To the people complaining in Discord about the event being too time-consuming, grindy, or hard: please just shut up.

It took me 40 minutes to accumulate 1,000 ND and that was with taking breaks and watching TV at the same time, so I was half-assing it. Even if you can ONLY play an hour every few days, you'll still earn enough for at least one shimmer dust.

Staff also gave out a free shimmer dust, so everyone got one regardless.

Why should this game cater to casual players? The goal is to build engagement and have people actively participating in site events - they do this by creating activities and community challenges. There are plenty of items you can get for free, by doing virtually nothing. This just doesn't happen to be one of them (though again, you were given a free dust).

The level of entitlement from people is outrageous. If you can only spend 5 minutes a day on the site, why should you be rewarded the same as players who spend hours? Again, there are many things you can do for 5 min; the site isn't being gate-kept behind long and grindy mechs that mean you only enjoy it if you don't have a life. Staff is consistently generous and gives away freebies of new dusts and pet species so that EVERYONE can still enjoy them. But if you only spend 5 min a day and 3 quests to get ND, why would you expect to have the same experience and rewards as someone who puts more time and effort in???

It's fine if you don't have time to get invested in every event; nobody is forcing you, and any FOMO you may feel is of your own creation and your own responsibility to resolve. Things happen at all times, all around you, that you're not participating in. Just chill the fuck out. It's not on staff to manage your feelings.

It's ridiculously easy to earn SP in this game, so you can always buy whatever prizes you can't earn. And again, if you don't play the game enough to do quests or restock or whatever else to earn $$, then that's your choice. The means to make sp is there, readily obtainable and accessible. Do people just expect there to be a magic button they can press every day to get unlimited $ and items? Like, what is even the point if you're just handed everything?

Pet sites are not video games or apps. They're not sophisticated enough to program dynamic, novel content. Every pet site has grindy quests and events. The Neopets plot is just battling everyday or clicking on buttons to get a prize. It's repetitive and boring as fuck. Even Subeta's slightly more complex events like the masquerade become a grind after a day. Please let's manage our expectations, people. They can only do so much, and the site is still in its infancy. Yea, most of the activities are going to be "go here, click this, go there, click that". But we do it for the rewards, not because the actual activity is so thrilling.

Lastly, you are not entitled to all prizes! As long as it's physically do-able to obtain them all, it's fair. And with the timeline given, and especially the increase in ND payouts, it's very do-able to get all 5 of the bonus rewards. Again, if you don't have time, that's on you - sorry, but this is why handing out participation trophies in kindergarten was a mistake.

Oh, one more thing - the game needs to have some level of aspiration. Items that are expensive or hard to get, rare pet species, pet colours you have to earn...otherwise there's nothing to work for or look forward to. Most pet site players enjoy the goal setting aspect. We grind knowing we're one step closer to that elusive battle item or wearable or gallery item. If you remove the challenge element from the game, then you remove incentive. Nobody WANTS to do quests every day, but you do it so you can buy another adoption paper, and the satisfaction of then creating your new pet is SO MUCH HIGHER than if you were simply given the paper without any effort.

I understand things like adjusting frequency or volume after an event launches because staff realizes it was too low or whatever - it's a test after all. But i really hope they don't dumb this game down to the point there's nothing to strive for or earn just because a bunch of weirdos whined about it.

☁️

[molluskzone]

i wish the people making whiny posts demanding reblogs from people just admitted to themselves that no, its not about "reach," its about Big Number Feels Good. because if you allowed yourself to confront the fact that you ARE a number chaser then youd have a much better chance at fixing it. and you HAVE to fix it if you want your art output to remain sustainable. numbers will NOT make you satisfied never ever especially not on modern social media. and no its not "just big accounts who dont get it" who know this: the MOST followers ive had on ANY art account of mine since 2014 is 600. and i got maybe 40 likes per post and a handful of comments. thats the best i did in 10 years online and i reached that point in like 2016. haven't gotten near that level of "popularity" since that year because the game changed and i was unwilling to change what *I* wanted to do to please an algorithm.

i understand WANTING people to care about your art. i think itd be weird if someone DIDNT want people to care (at least, out of the people posting their art publicly). but lashing out at the audience not only will NOT get you what you want but it also reflects REALLY badly on you and just makes you sound annoying, mean, and bitter. i honestly hate this and this is the main reason i block people, i have unfollowed people for even just reblogging particularly nasty posts because it rubs me the wrong way SO bad

"people dont reblog because theyre all new users who are too stupid to use the site! you NEED to reblog its just how the site works if you dont like it dont come here" its not up to you to decide what people do on their OWN blogs. people have been complaining about this since at least 2015, and honestly likely before that too (thats just the first time i remember seeing it firsthand). its NOT the "fault" of new users. if people arent reblogging your work... ITS BECAUSE THEY DO NOT WANT IT ON THEIR BLOG. this is not a crime. some people just dont reblog everything they see: and if people DID truly reblog every post they saw (which by these posters logic they SHOULD be doing if they Really care about creators), their accounts would be so cluttered the "reach" wouldn't matter anyways. if they have a blog centered around their OWN work, their followers might bail if all they do is reblog random peoples work they didn't agree to see. THIS IS A VALID AND NORMAL WAY TO USE THIS SITE. i've also seen people suggest making a "reblog dumping blog" so you can give number-crazed artists their precious internet points without reblogging something to your main that you don't want to. this is a genuinely stupid suggestion. again, if the point of reblogs is "for reach," then WHAT purpose would a dumping blog have. nobody is going to follow the dumping blog of the average tumblr user. it wouldn't "reach" ANYbody but the op. not only is this pointless but its also STILL trying to control the actions of random internet users who are causing no harm and just trying to use the website as they please: this is ridiculous and entitled behavior.

"its an INSULT to like a post and not reblog it. youre basically telling the artist their work is shit to their face!" / "likes are useless!" honestly i do not have any sympathy for people who say shit like this because it's just so fucking number-greedy i dont even know what to say. like i said before, there are many reasons a person might not reblog something. its entitled as HELL to demand people do with their blogs what YOU want them to. but to say that likes are useless, or worse than useless? absolutely ridiculous. god forbid people want to express appreciation of a piece even if they dont want to reblog it. i would personally MUCH rather get 20 likes and 0 reblogs on a piece than 0 likes and 0 reblogs. again, targeting and being rude to people trying to express appreciation for your work in simple ways because YOU have a problem with being focused on numbers and because YOU are *choosing* to take it personally is inexcusable

"if you like but dont reblog i will block you! you dont care about artists" perhaps the reason you dont get "enough" attention on your posts is because you are alienating any potential audience by trying to control their use of SITE-WIDE functions. the like button is part of tumblr, it is so weird to me to block people who use it. if you want to block people that is your business but i genuinely dont understand why youre blocking potential followers and people who enjoy your art enough to WANT to click the like button if your goal is to grow your account. you don't have a right to complain about lack of attention if you do this is all i'm saying

"im leaving the site because YOU didnt reblog my work enough! im QUITTING ART FOREVER because nobody reblogged it so if youre reading this its YOUR fault! if artists leave the site its YOUR fault. if you dont reblog work THINK about what youve done. artists are quitting and its ALL YOUR FAULT" this is immature guilt tripping and it boggles my mind that grown adults will make posts like these. i have seen many! if you quit art because you didnt get enough reblogs, that's your own problem. it's probably for the best because focusing on numbers so much that your entire motivation for creating is based around numbers is unhealthy and unsustainable anyways. ill give you a fun fact: the numbers will NEVER be enough if that's all youre focusing on. and even if you get to your "goal", it will NOT be forever. the internet isn't even forever and your social media site could be shut down at any time. you need to find other motivations. and again, this is ANOTHER example of alienating your potential audience: if you care about growth, stop trying to manipulate your audience! stop blaming your audience for your personal problems! if you want to quit, just quit. it's not your audience's fault.

basically: no it's not "reach" or "mutual artist support" you just want numbers. numbers feel good so you want them! admit this. there is no other reason you would feel THIS agitated and aggressive over reblogs. and i have seen some REALLY nasty posts before. it's an unhealthy mindset that it would do you good to unlearn. and honestly: im going to call you a hypocrite if you make ANY posts like this. because there is NO WAY that you as an artist are reblogging every piece of art you see. there is just no way. youre reblogging art that you like enough to share with others. and that is simply not every art piece you see. if you understand this for yourself, then you NEED to accept that this is the case for others: people are not reblogging your work because they do not want to. we all know what the reblog button does. we can all figure out that clicking reblog shares the post with all of your followers and gives the post more chances to be seen and reblogged again and again. WE KNOW. if people arent reblogging your work then they just don't want to. accept it! you need to deal with the fact that not everybody likes your art! work on yourself instead of demanding that others cater to your ego.

there is no problem with asking for reblogs. there is no problem with wanting to grow your account. there is no problem in letting people know why reblogs help artists. there is no problem in encouraging people to comment on or like your work. there IS a problem with being rude and entitled about it though

and for artists whos jobs rely on internet attention: you still don't have a pass to behave this way sorryyy... i understand being numbers-focused if you rely on commission work or ad work. but lashing out at others is STILL never okay even if your income relies on it. if you cannot game the algorithm, that is NOT your audience's fault. you have to learn to play the system if you want to make posting online your job, and if you CANT do this (like so many cant), it is not fair to blame it on the people supporting you for "not doing enough". it is nobody's obligation to make your living for you! if you cant convince people to reblog your work and spread your work based off of the content of your posts, that's a YOU problem. people share what they want to see: if your income relies on shares. make what people want to see. and even then it might not work because of how social media algorithms work. this is the risk you take being an online artists and its NEVER your followers fault for not doing enough.

anyways if u like my work i <3 you if you reblog my work i <3 you i never expect notes on my art so any attention i get is much appreciated and i treasure every compliment i get SO much that i screenshot them all and put them in a google folder so i can look at them forever and ever <3

[wordsofapanda]

I love my sister tons but having kids made her super entitled. She moved across country and she still expects everyone back in her home state to act like nothing has changed. Most of the time when people move across the country, their loved ones stop sending as much gifts because postage and it’s just out of sight/out of mind. It’s just the norm. My nephews birthday is coming up so I reached out because I wanted to get him a present. She tells me that she’s bummed mom and dad forgot her kids birthday. I know it’s not intentional but she ends up reaching out to my mom with the intention of getting stuff for her kid which doesn’t sit right with me. My mom, of course, sends her money immediately. Here’s the thing. My sister is struggling financially so I get she needs the extra help but it’s insane the level of help she consistently asks from others while she makes these huge decisions. In her own way, she’s been trying to keep up with the joneses. She chose to move across country so she could own a house for her kids which is valid but her partner has always been very unlucky with jobs and now they have a house at the expense of him having no job. Any time she wants to go somewhere, she whines to my parents and they buy her tickets. Tickets to the Philippines and tickets back here. I learned later on that she’s always been asking my mom for a lot: fridge, money, more. My mom of course never counts it and wants to provide. But my moms trying to retire. And that’s why I have such a huge problem with it. Everything is so expensive now. My sister refused to make any compromises so she could have kids, the house, the electronics, and you name it. But now she can’t keep up with it and mom won’t be able to save her forever. I used to think my sister was so independent growing up but it’s the opposite. Even when she was getting by way and made way more in her home state, she asked my mom to provide constantly. She assumes that because she has kids, everyone will continually bend over backwards for them but they moved to another state. She can’t have everything. Now I can’t talk much shit because I took time off because I went through a mental health crisis, but when I struggle and I need bills paid I never ask my parents or depend on their money like that. I’m fortunate to live under their roof and they want to take care of certain things but it’s a give and take and my sister only takes and takes. She moved out as soon as she turned 18 so I’ve been the one driving my parents if they’re tired, making sure my mom has lunch/dinner, picking up some groceries for them, running errands, making floral arrangements for them, cleaning the house and more. I put in my work and I help my parents where I can because living under their roof and not paying rent is a blessing in this economy. Im just worried my mom will be spread a bit thinner. She’s on the cusp of retiring and everyone in the family is SO used to her spoiling them that they expect it now and I can see my moms just tired. It just bothers me so much about how independent my sister acts but constantly complains when she doesn’t get presents, gets left behind because she moved, and gets upset when people don’t visit her. I love her but she has a level of entitlement and spoiled mentality that is ridiculous. Like girl you’re in your 40s and you wanted THE American dream and like all millennials right now, you can’t afford it. Ive come around to realize I may never be able to live on my own because I don’t make enough but it’s why I’m content with my situation instead of trying to reach for a fucking house. Everything is unattainable nowadays but I feel like I’m the one sibling who has accepted it.

[pale-silver-comb]

So I know absolutely nothing about Leverage except what I've been seeing you post lately and I have to admit you're making it look tempting to watch! Can I ask what are some of your favorite things about the show/reasons you would suggest people watch it? And is there really a poly relationship that is canon?

Okay. Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay. I am going to do my best not to just “asdfghkjl” at you and answer coherently.

In a nutshell, Leverage is about 5 people. 4 are criminals (Parker, Hardison, Eliot and Sophie) with different and unique skill-sets and 1 is an ex-insurance investigator (Nate) who, at one point or another in his career, has tracked down (or at least attempted to) the other 4. The whole show is essentially: man reluctantly reforms 4 criminals to use their criminal powers for good and 4 criminals move into man’s life and stubbornly refuse to leave because, goddammit, now they have morals. 

I’ve got a lot of favourite things about the show but the main ones are as follows:

1. Found family. And I’m not talking about loners who come together to fight crime and happen to co-exist to the point where they realise they happen to have found themselves a family. I mean, Nate and Sophie are the Drunk Uncle and Wine Aunt who somehow become Mom and Dad to 3 beautiful criminal children. Mom and Dad love their criminal babies and the kids love them (as well as each other, but we’ll come to that in a moment). You get amazing family moments such as: Mom and Dad packing the kids lunch before sending them out to kick corporate greed’s ass; Mom and Dad giving the kids ridiculously expensive and personal Christmas presents causing their most Grumpy Kid to go very very quiet and soft as he runs off to gleefully play with his new murder toy; the kids interrupting Mom and Dad’s big Movie Style Kiss to ask if they can please keep their new underground layer and huffing and puffing when Dad tells them no.

2. Found family: the OT3 edition. To answer your question, the OT3 is indeed canon, confirmed by the creator. Now, usually, “confirmed by the creator” infuriates me because most of the time it’s a way for a creator to be seen as “progressive” without doing anything to actually be progressive. That isn’t the case here. The OT3 are built up carefully and while it is obvious the creators didn’t originally intend for all 3 of them to become a relationship in the romantic sense, by mid-season 5 we are given a very clear picture of where Parker, Hardison and Eliot are heading in their relationship. There aren’t any kisses at the end to signal this but there are solid marriage vows in not only one but two episodes. (And by marriage vows I mean literal equivalents of marriage vows: “for better or worse” and “’til death do us part”. I’m not even exaggerating). The OT3 also doesn’t need explicit romantic narratives to convey how much they love each other. Their love is laced through the whole show, from the way they teach each other things to the way they respond to each other and work as a unit. The way they fiercely protect and admire each other. Like someone once said, if you need characters to kiss or say I love you to let the audience know they love each other, you are writing them wrong. 

Aside from that, each of the parings in the OT3 are just. Gah. They are so well done, with friendship being the solid basis for them all. The creators never expect the audience to assume anything about them or fill in the gaps. They give us their relationships on screen and reference many things off-screen to show us how these relationships continue to build in between episodes.

Hardison and Parker are a canon couple and date in the show: it’s approached slowly and they are so goddamned sweet. They are basically every fluffy slow-burn trope with a healthy dash of mutual pining in the mix. They are basically that quote “love is patient, love is kind”. (I would like to add their romance never becomes the focus of the show or overrides the importance of any other relationship they have with the other characters, especially Eliot.)

Hardison and Eliot are the Old Married Couple and from day one are already bickering and looking at each other/making comments that are found in every UST fic ever (not to mention Hardison has a very good knack for making Eliot grin like a little kid, when usually he’s basically an Angry Little Chef Man). They argue, they play, and love each other plain as day. 

Parker and Eliot are more subtle but every bit as wonderful. They have an unspoken connection and understand each other on a level no-one else can. Parker and Eliot are not good with giving themselves over to affection for different reasons (and Hardison plays a central role in helping them realise it’s okay to want it and have it- that boy has endless patience) but there is something so beautiful in the way the two of them come together on their own and develop their own special bond that works for them. Parker and Eliot are that trope where the characters don’t need to speak to understand each other perfectly. They just do. Their love language is a lot of the time non-verbal but speaks volumes. (Parker also likes to annoy the hell out of Eliot and Eliot....just.....lets...her. Because he’s soft. The softest, grumpiest boy.) 

I could go into so much depth for each pairing and their dynamics as a 3 but that's for another post.

3. Subverting stereotypes. There is the occasional hiccup in the show regarding stereotypes but ultimately, Leverage gets an A+ when it comes to writing characters and making them 3 dimensional people who are not defined by certain characteristics or events. Nate could so easily fall into the White Man Pain trope where he uses the trauma of losing his kid as a reason as to why he is entitled to act like a dick. Nate is a dick but he doesn’t use his pain to excuse it and I appreciate that. Hardison is a black man who is soft and nurturing. Easily the most empathetic and patient of the group. He’s nerdy, an actual genius, and has the biggest heart of all the characters. Nate is maybe the glue but Hardison is definitely the heart. Media’s usual aggressive, amongst other, racist stereotypes can fuck right off. Parker is canonically autistic (I am sure this was confirmed by one of the creators) and she is not defined by it. It’s not written as some kind of singular personality trait. It’s part of what makes up Parker but it’s only one facet of who she is and not once is her actions, thoughts or feelings treated like a joke. Sometimes people don’t understand why she does and says the things she does but it’s met with patience and fondness over the course of the show. Equally, it’s not met with over-caution. Parker is just Parker. No-one tries to change her. The other nice thing is Hardison, who always makes sure Parker knows she’s amazing because of who she is and not in spite of it. Finally, Sophie is in her 40s. She’s not treated like she’s past her prime. Ever. She’s sexy, smart and never is she pitted against or compared to Parker (who is younger) for anything. Sophie is amazing and there’s never even a conversation of “I may be older but I am still *insert adjective typically associated with younger women here*”. Sophie is possibly the first female character I’ve ever seen who isn’t just unapologetic about her age but has never had to apologise for her age. It’s a non-issue and that’s that. The women on the show are written so well, right down to secondary characters and it’s beyond refreshing.  

4.) It’s just fun. The show has a “monster of the week” type format. Except instead of a ghoul or a ghost, the monster is some corrupt wealthy and powerful individual or organisation. The show draws on real-life individuals to do this and therefore closely parallels real-life people and events. It addresses important political, economical, social and environmental issues while at the same time remaining fun and light-hearted. The characters constantly get the chance to play dress up and by GOD do they have fun with it. You get to watch Eliot beat up bad guys in the most delightful of ways, usually after a witty non-sequitur and with a weapon you’d never think could be a weapon. The dialogue and back and forth between the characters is everything. And finally - my favourite thing- the team can never resist striking a dramatic pose after they’ve taken down the bad guy, making sure the bad guy sees them. I mean, they COULD just walk away, satisfied they’ve taken the person down, but nope. They gotta be dramatic bitches 24/7 and pose like they are models for every single month of this year’s Criminal Calendar.  

5.) Competence Porn. So. Much. Competence Porn.  

Honestly, I could list a thousand reasons for why Leverage is amazing but to list them would to be spoiling so many amazing moments you’d get to discover for the first time on your own if you do choose to watch it. It’s the kind of show you can watch with an eagle-eye and sink your teeth into. But it’s also the kind of show if, you would prefer, put on in the background for something entertaining while you do something else. Each episode is about the job at hand but it’s made up of so many moments between the characters that show how much the creators and writers care about them. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll do whatever it is you do when something Soft and Wonderful happens that makes your heart melt. I am so beyond grateful for Leverage. It’s everything I always wanted in a show. Nearly every show I’ve watched in the past 10 years has disappointed me in some way, usually either because the writers run out of steam or characters who I love are treated poorly or given some kind of unnecessary “shock value” arc. Leverage doesn’t do that. Leverage is what it says on the bottle. Fandom isn’t something I joined because I needed canon fix-its. Fandom only enhances and celebrates an already excellent canon. 

[fuck-customers]

I recently moved back to an area primarily inhabited by elderly white people and had to switch back to that store location. Jfc i forgot how fucking annoying they are. They literally have no idea what they’re doing or what they want they’re literally just in there bc they have nothing better to do. Everyone who has never had to work retail here is like “awww they’re just lonely” ok you hang out with them then? How about you bring them into your place of work and have them follow you around and ask pointless vague questions that they don’t even understand the answers to? You want them banging on YOUR front doors 30 fucking minutes before you even start for the day? Why don’t you have them yell at YOU for stuff that’s completely out of your control and far above your paygrade?? I literally don’t understand how these people think. Why do they all seem to be under the impression that every employee is good friends with the CEO and can simply change company policies on a whim??? They ask me a simple question and I give a simple answer and they somehow don’t understand that and ask the same fucking question 7 more times and then act like I’m the stupid one. I had a lady on the phone asking me how much developer to mix with a toner. I gave her AN EXACT FUCKING NUMBER in ounces and she WAS STILL CONFUSED. Eventually she just said “so what you’re saying is... I put the toner in and then fill the toner bottle up with developer twice and mix that together?” And I was like yeah you could measure it that way it just has to be that amount that I said. Still fucking confused. If you want to know HOW to measure it then ASK THAT IM NOT A MIND READER! I had to ask her how much developer she had 4 fucking times before she understood what I was asking. How much developer do you have? “it’s the little wella box of toner” ok but I’m asking how much developer do you have? “... it’s the little square box” ma’am I understand that I’m asking you how much developer you have “oh it’s a 20 vol” ma’am HOW MUCH OF IT DO YOU HAVE HOW MANY OUNCES DOES IT SAY ARE IN THE BOTTLE “oh it’s a big one.” We also have been charging $0.16 for paper bags (no more plastic so it’s the paper bag or nothing) for over 6 months now and still every single day people throw a fit about it. Every single old person you ask if they would like one just stares at you like you’re stupid and then laughs and is like “uh no??” Like that’s all you had to fucking say you dumb fuck jfc. None of them know how to use a fucking debit card yet act like we’re the stupid ones when THEY mess up the transaction. I get that they’re old and everything and I feel for them but good god it gets REALLY old after the 10th person in a row. It will never cease to amaze me how even when they do bother asking what to do they somehow manage to do the exact wrong thing. “Just hit the little green box that says yes on the pin pad” 9/10 times they hit the exact opposite red box that says no AND THEN DONT UNDERSTAND WHAT JUST HAPPENED. The parking lot outside the store is a fucking mess bc they’re all wildly impatient and either don’t know how to drive or literally cannot see. They honk at other drivers for literally STOPPING AT THE STOP SIGN! It’s so ridiculous. Whenever old people say that young people now are “rude and entitled” know that it’s 100% projection. I can tell you I’ve never had anyone under 40 throw a tantrum over a 15 cent paper bag. At the store I was working at before this one I talked to pretty much every customer that walked in. At this store you literally just have to stay behind the counter and pray they leave you alone. Once you speak to them they expect to be waited on hand and foot the entire rest of the time they’re in there. So sick of these people. It’s always “this job isn’t that hard! A monkey could work retail!” Until you don’t recommend the perfect hair spray for their bald ass head on the first try 🙄 well Barbara Anne maybe if you had voted to raise the minimum wage someone a lot nicer than me would be here right now!

[thanx-idonttry]

Bakugou x Black Model!Reader

TW: Bakugou being the Reader’s Superman at the end! Protective and Caring Bakugou.

@fanlovedlt because you’ve been my biggest supporter and all my love goes out to you. I love you and thank you!!! ❤️❤️❤️🥰🥰🥰

“I feel ridiculous.”

Those were the three words out your mouth once you saw yourself in a Mirror. They told you that you would’ve been modeling for an Urban Catalog, which made you curious enough to agree. But when you arrived and saw that the entire staff was snooty, rich, white people... You knew it was all downhill from there. All these 40-50 years old white women with cornrows using words like “Hip” and shit, you wanted to sigh so hard and slap your Forehead, hoping to knock you out. The Head designer that was running this whole thing, was the age of Dolly Parton, and you can bet all your money that this Bitch had a MAGA hat in her possession somewhere. (Bitch let the Hat go! He not even President anymore!)

“Ridiculous?! Darling you look fabulous! You’re catalog is going to end racism over night! I mean, all you guys are wearing clothes like this all the time! Once they see {Full Name or Stage Name}In my new “Urban isn’t Just Black” line.. It will HUGE!” You stared at this Bitch in BLACK DISBELIEF!!! Urban isn’t just Black?! REALLY?! BITCH ARE YOU DYING OF DEMENTIA?!?This Catalog would strip you of your dignity, get you jumped in the hood, ruin your profession as one of the Biggest Models in the industry. “You gotta joking. I can’t.” You said to her. She gave you a look with a raised eyebrow, she scoffed. “What do you mean you can’t? You will! Now go to the set, and I don’t want to hear otherwise.” The lady said, about to walk away, her walking away from you flipped that switch inside you.

“Well That’s Too Damn Bad! You can’t force me to this! Who do you think you are?!” You snapped at her, she turned and smirked at you. “The one in charge of your pay. Now you better do what I say or no money, got it?” You looked at her, She had some nerve! You have more pride and dignity than this, even though she’s right about the money, you’re better than this. You’re not gonna sell out like this. “I Quit.” You said, you didn’t sound confident, but you knew you were sure as hell, not doing this Shoot. “You what?” She asked with a very displeased face. “I Quit! Doing this shoot will only please you, not me. And I’m not sorry when I say I’m not a people pleaser.” You said walking off.

“Consider yourself Done in this industry! I’ll see to it that you will never get another opportunity! And get blacklisted, no one will ever see your face in magazines and billboards ever again!”

Your heart broke. Your whole career gone just like that. Refusing to let her see that she got to you, you had rolled your eyes and said that you didn’t care. But you did care, a whole bunch. You gathered your things, and left out that building as quickly as possible. That’s when the tears really fell, the warm wind from the city blew away your tears as you try not to panic about your career. Your mind started to spin, so you wasn’t watching where you going. You bumped into a strong chest, knocking you back a bit. You looked up with tears heavily in your eyes, you sniffed and apologized.

The strong chest you bumped into you was about to aggressively tell you to ‘Watch it!’ But then he saw the tears in your eyes, your face was stunning, even with the tears in your eyes. Bakugou softened, before you got far, he grabbed your arm. “Hey, are you okay?” You turned around to realize that the guy that you were about to punch for grabbing your arm was none other than, Katsuki Bakugou Hero Name Dynamite. You relaxed a bit, he was a hero, you were safe. “I asked are you alright?” He repeated. He don’t know what possessed him on his day off to becoming heroic for you. But something in your beautiful golden face, and your (e/c) eyes. You seemed to glow even when you’re looking like this.

You broke down, you don’t know why, but you let it all out to him. He cradled you in his arms, shocked and upset. “Hey, hey, calm down.... What’s your name?” He asked in his most gentle voice. You sniffed and looked up at him, “{Name.}” you answered. “You’re career is not over. Take me to the agency that did this to you.” He said, you were shocked. “W-What?” You said confused. “No one should suffer because they stood up for themselves. That line you described sounds awful, and they should be punished for threatening your career like that. You’re gonna be fine, I’ll make sure of it.” He looked down at you with a reassuring smile.

You looked at him with shocked at appreciation in your eyes. “You’ll do that for me? I mean, you don’t even know me.” You said, Bakugou stiffened, you were right, you didn’t know his and same vice versa. But something about you, your foreign features to him, amazed him. He could tell you were someone worth protecting, Plus, he had a little time to spare, might as well yell at some racist woman. “Let’s go.” Bakugou simply said. You smiled, grabbed his hand, and started leading him to the studio. When you entered, you had a confident walk, you were excited, it was time to settle this and save your career.

“Hey Bitch!” You called out to the lady, she turned away from her assistant and dropped her jaw, clipboard, and coffee. She was shocked to see Bakugou standing there, you smirked. “You think you can ruin my career?! Well We! Don’t think so! Dynamite, let her have it.” You said giving him his cue. Bakugou glared at the woman, he could tell that she was a rich, selfish, entitled, racist bitch. “Did you threaten her pay and career?” He asked in a seriously low voice. “Sir- Mr. Dynamite! Please understand that she was rude to me! All I did was ask her to wear our product for this shoot!” The lady tried to explain, Bakugou shook his head. “So when she said ‘No.’ You choose to ruin her career?!” Bakugou added with a lil more volume in his voice.

“She had no right! This is my shoot, and what I say goes! And why are you fighting for her?! Don’t you’re people Hate her kind?” The lady asked. Both you Bakugou went wide eyed and inhaled deeply. You were the first to snap, “Why you prejudice, wrinkly ass Rick Sanchez looking-” Bakugou stopped you by grabbing your hand, catching you off guard. Once he collected his words, he let go and started walking up towards the woman with a disgusted look on his face. “Lady, I’m going to need you to check your privilege, and your ignorance. To answer your question, I don’t hate her kind unlike someone I’m looking at right now. {Name}’s kind is fucking great! Everything from their Hair, to their skin, body type, and Creativity. And I know a lot of other Heroes that loves the same thing, and dating them.

To be honest, I hate your kind. Running around thinking you own the fucking world as you step on people’s dreams and freedom just to get on top. Well let me bring you back to reality. The moment I say something about this incident, it’s gonna spread fast. Not only will you go to court, you’ll lose your money, business, and all that Material shit you like. If anyone’s career is ruined, it’s going to be yours.” The lady was silent, completely stuck and realizing how fucked she was. “So, do you want this incident to get out? Or do you wanna forget this ever happened and you can keep all of your money, and Not mess with {Name}’s career. Dealers choice.

“Fine! Fine! I won’t ruin {Name}’s Career.” The lady said, “Now you’re gonna give {Name} the pay she was supposed to receive today, and Give her an apology as well. And it better be genuine.” Bakugou added. The woman was nervous when she started looking at you, you stood there with your arms folded. “{Name}... I shouldn’t have tried to ruin your just because you said no. I apologize for thinking I was above you.” The lady said. You smiled, “Thank you, now my check?” You asked with your hand sticking out like the Littlest Gross Sister off Proud Family. The Lady demanded her sister to fill out the check quickly. Once the check came into your hands, you felt so good and relieved. You turned to the hero.

“Thank you so much, I know you hear this a lot, but you’re my hero.” You smiled brightly, it was so beautiful to Bakugou, he saw the twinkle in your eyes, the glow you possessed because you’re skin was so skin was so radiant. You grabbed his hand again and you both walked out the studio. Once you two were outside, Bakugou stopped and stared at you. “You okay?” You asked, Bakugou smirked. “Yeah.” He simply responded. “I seriously can’t thank you enough for what you said and did for me.” “Hey, it’s what heroes do.” He said. “I guess this is where we part ways... I’m really glad I bumped into you.” You said as you tried to pull away, but Bakugou’s grip got tighter.

“It doesn’t have to be this way... We can, Go to a restaurant and arcade? If you like?” Bakugou offered. You were shocked by the date offer, you smiled because one of the Top Pro Heroes want to go out with you, who would turn down this opportunity?! You jumped with joy and skipped up to him, “Can we go somewhere with Laser Tag?” You asked him, He smiled “Hell yeah, I bet I can kick your ass!” He declared, that caused you to give a cocky smile as you stared at him, “Oh yeah? Then game on Mr. Dynamite.” Bakugou shook his head, “I’m off duty, please call me Bakugou” He said, you raised one eyebrow. “Is that a first or last name?” You asked. “Last.”

“Okay, before this night ends, I’ll know you by first name.”

[all-things-de-niro]

TO ANYONE WHO HAS WATCHED 'DIRTY GRANDPA'

Anyone who thinks or believes that elderly people don't behave that way. You are wrong.

I have more than 15 years experience as a care worker and elderly people never cease to shock me in the things they think about, talk about and actually do. I have walked into the bedrooms of elderly residents in care homes and caught them masturbating, men and women and dementia or no dementia.

Don't be so fucking prude and don't be ridiculous. I get why you all expect that Robert De Niro has done way better movies (I thought Dirty Grandpa was hilarious but I'm very broad minded and always have been and I also have a positively filthy sense of humour), and your far used to him playing more complex characters that do things that are beyond the comprehension of normal people. Don't forget he is human, he wants to keep working (that seems to be his raison d'être despite his age and fair play to him) the man is entitled to have some fun no matter how bawdy it is. He's not exactly at an age now where he could play Travis Bickle 0r Jimmy Conway etc, etc. I get so angry because even though I found it funny despite it not being one of his best films, we forget that human beings, in general behave that way.

I've worked in nursing homes and once walked in on an elderly woman with her hand up her vagina, and she didn't stop when I walked in either. I was only going to find out if she was joining the other residents for dinner and there she getting herself off. I've known male care home residents (again not always with dementia) to go into the bedrooms of female residents when all the care staff are busy, and they got into bed with the female residents and only they know what they were doing before the men got caught walking out of the women's bedrooms.

Seriously folks he's not going to be getting the same hard hitting roles he was getting 20,30, or 40 years ago. Get over it. He's getting old, Hollywood is getting lame and the whole world is fucked!!

He can do whatever the fuck he wants to do no matter what anyone thinks of that. Let the old bugger have some fun.

[normal-thoughts-official]

A few accidents

[Alaric/Luke, crack and fluff, oneshot

Read it on Ao3]

And you see, that’s exactly his problem, because everything about his relationship with Alaric is so easy. It feels natural, like air. They know each other’s coffee orders. They are always on each other’s corner. He wakes up. Alaric can tell he’s on a rush. He makes him coffee. Luke kisses him. It’s normal.

Wait.

He kissed Alaric.

Luke crashes his car.

Luke wakes up without a headache (courtesy of Magnus’ little anti-hangover spell), but with the same feeling of tiredness weighing deep behind his eyes. He supposes there was no helping that. He had a very emotionally loaded night.

He can’t believe that Magnus thought that him and Alaric were already together.

That they were married.

Was Luke the last one to find out?

He groans, rolling around in frustration. He knew Magnus wouldn’t have the solution to all his problems, nor would he forego the inevitable “talk to him” speech. But a guy can hope. Especially when said guy had no idea he was bisexual before his unfortunate feelings for his best friend made themselves known.

It also didn’t help that Magnus didn’t exactly understand. Bisexuality was not a big deal where he was born. He never had a "realization panic" moment. He didn’t know what it was like to have the weight of this knowledge suddenly crash on you.

But he did know what it was like to fear your feelings. Intimately.

And that was why Luke came to him, wasn’t it?

He rolls around again, deciding to avoid these thoughts for now by taking his phone. It’s his and Alaric’s day off, and Alaric will be visiting his mom today, so Luke hopes he can wrap up his panic before the time he’ll have alone at the Jade Wolf today is up.

So, naturally, the first thing he sees is a message from his boss.

There’s been a problem with some of his evidence. She needs him at the station. Urgently, he figures, although she doesn’t say that part. Then again, Commander Kaur never does.

Luke leaps out of bed and gets dressed, swearing the whole time.

*

“Why are you up and wearing your jacket?” Alaric asks, mug of coffee in hand. He’s leaning against the counter, as he usually does, contemplating the mess that is their pack’s home. Alaric’s a big fan of mornings, and Luke can’t say the same. But Alaric enjoys using them for some introspective time, so it still works between them.

God, when did it become important that him and Alaric were morning-compatible?

Instead of thinking about that, Luke answers, “Message from the boss. Nothing major, I can handle it, you go see Inez." He'd like to get this sorted out as soon as possible, of course, and maybe also get a distraction, but he knows Alaric barely gets to see Inez recently, and how important it is to her. It is rare that downworlders can afford to stay close to their families. Luke isn't going to get in the way of that.

“Nothing major and you’re running around the place like a madman in the morning?” Alaric asks, turning back to the coffee machine, but Luke can still see his eyebrow raise.

Luke stops, staring at him. “Just want to get it over with,” he says, a little defensive.

“Fair enough,” Alaric replies easily, in the tone of someone who isn't fooled and just that knowledge is enough for them. It's infuriating, but Luke doesn't have the time to argue that, so he makes it to the door; but before he can go, Alaric stops him and places a cup in his hand. “Here. Have some coffee at least. I already put your cream and sugar.”

Luke smiles, touched. “Thanks,” he says, giving him a little peck on the lips before he takes the mug and moves to get his car keys. Alaric is already back to his leaning place on the counter by the time he closes the door. “See you later,” he calls out, and Alaric gives him a little wave, seemingly distracted.

*

Alaric had the foresight to put Luke’s coffee in a lidded cup, and it tastes perfect. Luke likes his coffee with just cream and two spoons of sugar - not a hard order to remember, but the fact that Alaric got it all ready for him so easily really says a lot. Alaric really - knows him. It was a no-brainer for the both of them.

And that’s exactly his problem, isn't it? Everything about his relationship with Alaric is so easy. And now it suddenly isn’t easy, because he’s overthinking these displays of affection that were always normal to the both of them. And he doesn’t want to be overthinking his relationship with Alaric; he wants it to be the same casual comfort that it’s always been. He loves Alaric because their relationship flows freely. It feels natural, like air. They know each other’s coffee orders. They are always on each other’s corner. They are a part of each other's routine, in the smallest, simplest ways. He wakes up. Alaric can tell he’s on a rush. He makes him coffee. Luke kisses him. It’s normal.

Wait.

He kissed Alaric.

Luke crashes his car.

*

That’s a bit dramatic. He bumped his car into the one in front of him. He lives in New York. There’s traffic. He wasn’t at high speeds.

The girl is understandably pissed, but the damage was basically superficial and also on Luke’s car, so Luke just sighs and gives her a 50 and that’s that. He already has enough drama going on for today, and besides, well. It was his fault. Technically. Or not just technically. More like factually.

He’s thankful it wasn’t a guy, at least. Or a white person. He really wasn’t feeling like getting into a fistfight or something because of traffic. Or like dealing with teary entitlement. He’s having a bi panic and he’s also in love with his best friend. Whom he kissed. And didn’t notice.

Shit.

*

It turns out that Commander Kaur only needed his help with finding a particular evidence box that Luke had moved, which he might have realized if he had paid attention to her message instead of instantly going on a craze. All in all, he’s out of the station pretty quickly, and he gets to the Jade Wolf way before Alaric will. Or most people, for that matter. Which gives him plenty of time to give another deep sigh, and think about what he’s going to do. Exhaustingly.

Alaric barely reacted to the kiss. Maybe he also didn’t register it. Maybe he didn’t want to mention it and open this particular can of worms. Luke could probably get away with pretending that it didn’t happen, and continuing to have his I’m-in-love-with-my-best-friend-slash-partner-slash-roommate-and-also-I’m-not-as-straight-as-I-thought crisis at peace.

But does he want to?

Not only is he obviously off his game, but he is more unhappy with the idea that him and Alaric are acting weird than he is with- well, the rest of it. Him and Alaric are each other’s rocks. They’ve never been anything if not honest with each other, even when it meant that they would get into long, heated arguments.

But they never lasted, did they? They always figured it out. That was the point. Neither of them were able to let things go easily, so it worked a lot better to say what they thought as soon as they did, and go from there. They always respected each other’s feelings. They always found a way. It was the best strategy.

It wouldn’t be different this time.

Would it?

*

Was Luke really going to be the guy who took over 40 years to realize he was queer, and barely even a day to come out and tell everyone and start some relationship drama?

*

He shouldn’t be worrying about that. Alaric is more important than not fulfilling some stereotype.

Luke is more important.

*

Would it be appropriate to call Magnus and have this conversation again? He could take him to lunch or something. The guy probably needed to get out of his loft more.

*

Oh God, Luke has spent the last almost two-decades without dating anyone.

Does he even know how to do it anymore?

*

How did he not realize that at some point he stopped being interested in people because he already had the relationship of his dreams with Alaric?

Fuck. What if he lost that? Fuck.

*

What if work was weird?

*

There’s no going back, is there? It’s already weird.

Luke can’t undo his revelation by not talking about it.

And he won’t be able to let it go. That’s exactly why him and Alaric were always honest with each other. Why he should keep being honest to him.

*

Alaric would probably notice that he was being weird anyway. How could he not? They were always together.

*

What if Alaric thought Luke was just panicking because he figured out he was bi and wanted to experiment?

How could he explain to him that he only figured out he was bi because he was in love with Alaric?

Should he do that?

*

He wishes Maia was there. She could probably distract him. Or tell him that he had always told her to be open about how she felt and she wouldn’t watch him be a hypocrite. Or just smile and make him feel like everything would be okay. Or let him pet that soft, pretty hair of hers.

But it’s not like he is supposed to go to her for his drama.

Especially not with Alaric.

*

If they managed to raise a teenage werewolf together pretty well, dealing with a crush would be a no-brainer, wouldn’t it?

*

He feels like a teenager. He’s being ridiculous. It’s not that complicated.

It’s Alaric.

*

“You’re overthinking something,” Alaric says after being inside their room for approximately five seconds. There isn’t exactly worry in his eyes, just attention. Undivided. Alaric has always had that way of reaching out to him like it’s nothing, of talking about emotions with the same focus and fierceness as he did a case. It’s not a don’t-bullshit-me look, because he knows he doesn’t need it, but it’s still not something Luke feels like he can lie to.

But well, he did decide that he wouldn't. Mostly.

“I am,” he says, sighing. Then he sits up to talk to him properly. “I kissed you this morning,” he says, surprised at the steady matter-of-factness of his own tone. It doesn’t even feel out of place. It’s like he’s not even freaking out anymore.

Alaric frowns. “You-? Oh,” he pauses, almost musingly. “I didn’t even notice. If that’s what you were worried about.”

“That’s the problem,” Luke points out. “You didn’t notice. I didn’t, either, until I was already in my car. It just happened.”

Alaric sits down on his own bed, sighing deeply. “And what do you make of that?” he’s looking at his hands now, rubbing his fingers together in the way he does when he’s preparing to apologize. Luke isn’t sure what to make of that, and that scares him, a little.

“I don’t know.”

Alaric clenches his jaw. “Was it a fuckup? A mistake? Are you worried that I-”

Luke’s voice has never sounded so soft. “No, Alaric,” he says, “I think that I-”

“You?”

Alaric looks so incredulous, Luke is taken aback for a second.

“I just-” he runs his hand through his head, frustrated, “Yeah. Me. I have feelings for you. And I realized that recently, and it’s like everything is different, and I don’t know what we are anymore,” he sighs. “Or, well, I guess I do know. But I don’t know how to deal with it. Everything changed suddenly, but it's also the same. So…”

“Luke,” Alaric half-interrupts, half-continues, as he knew that Luke had every plan on letting that sentence hang unfinished. “We can be whatever you want to be.”

He looks up, and Alaric looks earnest, sincere. “What?”

“I said, if you want… to try, I’d be happy to.”

Luke remembers his previous musings. “This isn’t some experimenting thing,” he says.

Alaric grimaces. “I know, Luke. It isn’t for me, either,” he crosses his arms.

“Oh. So you-?”

“Yes. But I didn’t think you would ever reciprocate, so…” then he looks at Luke’s guilty face and adds, “it’s not like that," he chuckles. "I wasn’t going around crying my woes or anything. I love what we have. Our relationship matters way more to me than what label we put on it, or whether we call it romance or friendship, you know?”

“I do know,” Luke says, tasting the lightest bit of shock that came laced with his voice, because he realizes- he feels the same way.

And it doesn’t make his love for Alaric any less grand. It makes it greater, bigger than any labels or drama could ever make it. He feels shocked, struck by lightening, at this realization.

Alaric smiles. “But I mean, if you’re also in love with me, that’s great.”

“I am,” Luke says.

“Good,” Alaric answers.

They look at each other. There are smiles on their faces. Neither of them move.

Then Luke bursts out laughing.

“What?” Alaric asks, as Luke tries to contain his little snorts, looking offended. “What??”

“Nothing, I just,” he hides his smile behind his hand, trying to suppress the chuckles, “this felt very anticlimactic, is all.”

Alaric huffs. “Well, excuse me if I didn’t have a whole speech at the ready for when you suddenly decided-”

“Oh, come on, it’s not that!” Luke says, resisting the urge to throw his pillow on him or do something equally inappropriate. He just smiles up at him instead, “It’s just, I finally figured this out after over 40 years, possibly got my first boyfriend on the same week, and it was all solved in a 20 minute conversation.”

“Possibly?” Alaric raises his eyebrows, “I thought I was pretty clear that I-”

“See?" Luke counters. "We’re bantering. I just had the realization of my life, and it’s like nothing happened. Even our first kiss was an accident,” then, as the weight of his words downs on him, “our first kiss was an accident.”

He flops down on his bed again, groaning. There's silence for a second. Then some shuffling, and a weight next to him. It comes with the familiar warmth of Alaric, and sure enough, he is now sitting beside him, leaning slightly over Luke, looking down at him. His hair is curly and falling slightly over his eyes, and there’s a smile on his face that couldn’t be described as anything but affectionate.

He’s beautiful, and a similar smile blooms in Luke’s face, like the warmth spreading through his chest.

“It’s not that bad,” Alaric says, voice soft, eyes shining.

“It’s not,” Luke answers, suddenly serious, sitting back up so he can be on eye level with him. He rubs his face with his hands, trying to adjust his thoughts, and Alaric’s hand is immediately around his shoulders. He can’t help another smile, even as it’s hidden behind his hands. He turns so that he’s facing him, and Alaric’s hands fall from his shoulders directly to Luke's own. Like is the one to squeeze them first. “Of course it’s not bad. Just not exactly romantic. I’m very off my game,” he teases. “I promise I can be way more suave than that. Take you out to dinner, proper date, you know.”

Alaric chuckles. “I don’t know,” he says, squeezing Luke’s hand back. “I think that our first kiss coming so naturally that we didn’t even notice is pretty romantic. Doesn’t that mean that it’s always felt right? Easy?” he raises his eyebrows, the little smile on his face an almost-challenge, and Luke almost has it in him to argue with him just for the sake of it, but he can only smile back. Alaric puts his hand on Luke’s face, lightly caressing his cheek, and Luke closes his eyes for a second, savoring it.

When he reopens then, Alaric’s grinning. “I think that says we’re meant to be. Don’t you?”

“Yeah,” Luke breathes out, suddenly aware of how close Alaric is. This is not news for them; he’s had Alaric pretty close to him plenty of times. He thinks of himself, drunk at the Alpha appointment party, shoulders permanently draped around Alaric's, their heads bumping affectionately from time to time, Luke brushing his nose against his when he got too excited. This shouldn't even draw his attention. And yet. “Yeah,” he repeats, breathless.

It’s Alaric who asks. “Can I-”

“Yes.”

His eyes flicker over Luke’s face as he leans in, slowly, not moving his hand from where they rest against Luke's cheek. Their lips touch slowly, but not hesitantly. With purpose. It’s chaste, but still the opposite of that little peck; it’s self-aware and slow and allows them to savor each other, to choose every moment, make it theirs. Luke can feel Alaric’s hands on his face, his own on Alaric’s waist, their slightly entangled legs in the awkward angle, the softness of Alaric’s lips, the way he feels like everything falls into place and his heart sings free. It ends, and he wants to come for seconds, but instead he brings their foreheads together, eyes closed, enjoying how they have all the time in the world.

There's silence. Then, “I still want to take you to dinner,” he says.

Alaric laughs. “Oh, I’m not opposed to that.”

Then they kiss again.

[theunderdogwrites]

2020: The Year I Lost My Ass

Well, we reached the end of that toilet roll only to start another one, because that is what we do for as long as we are allowed to continue revolutions around the sun – we keep going.

2020 was a terrible year for so many. My brain is incapable of processing the number of losses suffered on a global scale. Be it jobs, security, rights, sanity, relationships or life. My brain is not just incapable of these calculations, it has plain refused to entertain those thoughts on behalf of my heart. My heart, that sensitive little blood pumping work horse who not once allows itself to stop. Thank goodness.

I don’t believe the majority of people are willing and able to bring themselves to fully comprehend what was lost in 2020.

Here is a list of a few more losses suffered last year:

- People lost their shit. And over the most ridiculous things like toilet paper, having to wear a mask to secure toilet paper and being held to the consequences resulting from not wearing a mask when asked to while attempting to purchase toilet paper. Pause for a moment and let that last sentence hang around in your mind. 2020 made that happen. I didn’t make it up! Recently I saw a news piece showing a man (40’s) lying down on the floor in a Costco to protest being asked to wear a mask. He spoke loudly, he beat his hands at his sides and wildly kicked his legs when an employee asked him to get up. Now, I am not judging for I too have participated in such behaviour MANY times. Granted I was three, but hey… some of us mature faster than others.

 - People lost their damn minds. 2020 should be dubbed “The Year of The Karen”. For those of you not in the know about the Karen phenomenon, here is a description courtesy of Urban Dictionary:

 “Karen is a pejorative term used in the United States and other English-speaking countries for a woman perceived as entitled or demanding beyond the scope of what is appropriate or necessary. A common stereotype is that of a white woman who uses her privilege to demand her own way at the expense of others.’

 Basically, a Karen is a I WANT TO SPEAK TO YOUR MANAGER type person (There is a male equivalent, but it seems no one can agree on the name… Chad, Terry, Kyle, Kevin, Steve). You can often find a Karen on her cellphone calling the police to report a black man who lives in her neighborhood, simply living his life in her neighbourhood. I didn’t make that up either.

 More recently a Karen was videoed in a UPS store claiming that she didn’t have to wear a mask because that space was government property and not a private business. Would it be safe to say that most Karen types suffer from a lack of oxygen to their brain? Possibly. But that would involve science and Karen types DO NOT enjoy hard facts.

 As always when I download my thoughts into reality, I must go within and search myself. Am I a Karen? My immediate answer is: no fucking way. I can honestly say I’ve never once asked to see a manager or called the police to report someone eating their lunch on a park bench. I do not enjoy confrontation. Unless there is a bully involved. Then I will drag that person to hell with me. I much prefer discussion over going straight to the ‘I triple dog dare you!’ approach to the world. (If you got that reference, you are my new favourite) Because that is who a Karen really is… someone who jumps right to the most extreme action in order to satisfy their need to be superior. Truly, we should feel sorry for these people because instead of engaging they’re raging. And how awful must their insides feel… always full of anger, fear and self doubt. I say instead of judging these Karen types or putting them on blast on social media, we should hug the shit out of them. Just grab them and squeeze as hard as you fucking can until they stop talking. Peaceful solutions my friends, peaceful solutions.

 - Pets lost their faith in us. Children a close second. If you are a proud owner of a pet or a child, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

I’ve always operated under the notion that my cat loves it when I’m home and hates it when I leave. 2020 has taught me it might be the other way around. Because our animals are, well, animals we just believe our presence is the greatest gift in their lives. Remember when you were old enough to be left alone by your parents and once you had the taste of that kind of freedom, you just wanted more of it and couldn’t wait for them to go out? I feel it’s like that with our pets now. We might not think animals have a routine or preferences or enjoy some alone time, but we’d be wrong.

I think at first our pets were thrilled. If we are home more it means more time for prolonged petting, walks and the opportunity to ritualistically train us to respond to their caterwauls for more food and treats than normal. But then as the weeks of lockdown and working from home increased, so did our pets desire to kill us in our sleep.

 I’m pretty sure my cat has asked me several times using her feline glare: “why the fuck won’t you just leave?”. It would be naïve of us to assume we don’t disrupt their day with our constant noise making and snacking and scotch drinking that leads to a good buzz that leads to showing too much affection to our pets. To the point where they run and hide when they see us coming. Please tell me I didn’t describe just my own experience.

 There is such a thing as everything in moderation, we know this, so I think it can be applied here. People, get away from your pets. Give them the space you often desire from human beings. Because if you don’t, that random turd in your shoe could be pointing to a much larger, more alarming problem you’re about to encounter.

 I had the absolute blessing of being able to assist in caring for and raising of my three nephews (12,9,6) for the last 11 years. So, when I say: ‘children are always watching us’, I feel I know what I’m talking about. I’ve been mimicked so often by these young boys that I’ve had to pause due to mortification. Children will hold you accountable without even knowing it. I’ve had some behaviours of mine corrected by a 5-year-old and let me tell you, it stings like hell.

 As adults, when our world was thrown into turmoil because of Covid-19, we looked to our medical health professionals and our politicians for guidance. Basically, we searched for those who would lead us. The children – looked to us. And while many adults handled this responsibility the best they possibly could, many more failed miserably and displayed attitudes I can only describe as juvenile, damaging and pathetic. I suppose it doesn’t help if the people the adults are looking to for help are themselves - juvenile, damaging and pathetic.

 When I say we still have not grasped just how much has been lost over the past year, I’m hinting at integrity, compassion and creditability. Three vital qualities you’d hope people want to instill into their children. But if they themselves are unable to display such valuable traits, what does this say for the children who are looking up to them as an example on how to act when life gets challenging?

 For myself in 2020, I gained by losing.

When they locked our gyms down for four months last spring, I came close to being one of those people who lost their shit. While people were moaning about wearing a mask for 20 minutes in the grocery store, I was contemplating if murdering those people could be considered a cardio exercise and would that hold up in a court of law.

To reflect on that time period now (especially since our gyms are closed AGAIN at the moment) the loss of the gyms brought me the knowledge of how important the routine of going to and being in the gym is to my mental health. I won’t launch into how I feel about shopping malls being open and gyms being closed despite their proven benefit to one’s overall health because then I really will lose my shit.

People always say getting to the gym is the hardest part and once they’re there it’s easy to workout. And for many that is the truth, but for me it’s all a part of the workout. Getting to the gym is the psychological effort. Putting in the work at the gym is the physical. You can’t have one without the other. I became so pathetic that I’d often walk to the closed gym from my house, stare at the closed doors and then walk home. 1.5 hour round trip. True story.

Remember a few years back everyone became obsessed with that Netflix show ‘Tidying Up with Marie Kondo’? It is the show where that lovely woman from Japan showed us all how to declutter our homes by getting rid of anything that didn’t bring us joy. Those acid wash jeans from 1989… sit with them… hold them close to your chest… if they don’t make you happy, remove them from your space. Well, the same idea can be applied to people and ideas and even feelings. And 2020 was a great year for simplifying our lives. I’ve heard so many people talk about how they can’t wait to get back to ‘normal’… not me. I’ve already started my ‘new normal’.

The loss of drama has gained me peace and a better understanding of the importance of remaining true to who I am instead of trying to please others in hopes it wins me points. Because it doesn’t. Because its inauthentic and only brings you more loss and more drama. And anxiety. And sleepless nights. And an overall sense of hatred for everyone. 2020 gave me the option to no longer care about the things that don’t make me happy and to embrace the process of letting all that stupid bullshit fade away.

It was a year of gained focus.

It was a year of gained appreciation.

It was a year of gained gratitude.

It was a year of gained love for myself.

 I’m going to leave you now, but not before I share one of my favorite songs by the Tragically Hip:

In A World Possessed by The Human Mind

Just give me the news

It can all be lies

Exciting over fair or the right thing at the right time

Everything is clear

Just how you described

The way it appears, "A world possessed by the human mind"

 Then I think I smiled

Then I think you said, "it's fine"

And quietly I dressed, in a world completely possessed by the human mind

 We're in awe of no one

We've none of their fear

Fighting's goin' nowhere and we stay right here

Where everything is quiet

A little super dangerous

"In the shadow of the law and with colours of justice"

 Then I hope I smiled

Then I'm sure you said, "It's fine"

They got no interest in a world completely possessed by the human mind

 Everything is quiet

A little super dangerous

Quiet enough to hear God rustlin' around in the bushes

Oh, but it was you

Girl, I was so afraid

You said, "You shoulda seen the look on your face"

 Then I hope I laughed

Then I hope I said, "it's fine"

And quietly undressed in a world completely possessed by the human mind

 Oh it was you

Girl, I was so afraid

You said, "You shoulda seen the look on your face"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgXphurrsE0

[onlyonewoman]

Watching “World’s Strictest Parents” when you’re a Scandinavian, a summary:

1. “There’s no cursing in this house.”  Meanwhile in Scandinavia: My mom: Your room is a fucking mess! My dad: You fucked up. My sister: Fuck you. Me: Fuck you too! Our teachers: You little fuckers! Us students from 11 and up to our teachers: This fucking sucks! 2. “Girls can’t have short shorts, boys can’t have low slung jeans ‘cause that’s filthy and disrespectful.” Meanwhile in Scandinavia: Literally everyone except extremely religious people or psychos: Our summers are short and so will our shorts, tops and skirts be. You control your own goddamn boner. 3. “We all pray together and we expect you to participate.” Meanwhile in Scandinavia: What, pray tell, the fuck are you doing? Your faith is private, keep it fucking private and pray alone and DO NOT make other people’s kids to participate. Jesus FUCK, this is creepy... You wanna come and make a sacrifice to Odin out of “respect”? No? Didn’t think so. 4. “We’ve chosen to homeschool our kids.” Meanwhile in Scandinavia: You mean brainwash and keep them from getting basic education due to your personal, religious beliefs despite you’re not even qualified to teach 1st graders grammatic in your own language? Yeah, that’s... not what the right to a good education means.  5. “We belive sex is between a man and a wife, bound together in marriage. We want to keep our children pure.” Meanwhile in Scandinavia: *laughs in sex ed and free birth control while crying at the teen mom statistics in, for example, the US* 6. “My husband is in the military, and we’re a team.” Meanwhile in Scandinavia: So, basically you believe that a husband being all dressed up in camo and  shouting orders and looking completely ridiculous, while you’re a housewife who simply acts as his little helper, instead of having an identity of your own, is something to be proud of...? 7. “We believe in corporal punishment.” Meanwhile in Scandinavia: So did we - 40 years ago. Not a single serious research in psychology has shown hitting kids is a good way of discipline and no, you don’t get to say spankings are different than hitting to feel justified. And sorry, but your kids being afraid of getting punished, only make them better liars. 8. “We control what our kids read, which music they listen to, which movies to watch and what tv games to play to make sure they have good influences.” Meanwhile in Scandinavia:  My aunt introduces heavy metal to me as a 9 year old. I read gay smut at the local library at the age of 14. Me and my little brother play violent video games when he’s 7. My big sister and I watch scary movies when I’m 13 and then I watch Disney because nightmares. Literally no lasting harm done. We’re all functional adults and my sex debute was late as hell - because it wasn’t that big of a deal or “something forbidden”. 9. “When you address us, you will say “yes m’am and yes sir”. Meanwhile in Scandinavia: Whoa, whoa... We got rid of the use of sir and ma’m because we don’t believe in that kind of entitlement to more respect than others due to age or rank. Your age or your rank doesn’t give you the right to be addressed like you’re some fucking noble, got it? “You’re my boss, Peter? Well, hello Peter.”  Making your FAMILY call you sir and ma’m? Congratulation, you’re officially an uptight asshole who clearly has no interest in forming a close relationship with your kid, but want to keep them a little astranged to you.

Seriously, these strict parents and their kids wouldn’t survive two days up here in our freezing cold atheistic, cursing, smutty and well-educated corner of the world without loosing their shits. I will admit that we HAVE things to learn from others when it comes to teamwork, consequences and - to some extent - your attitude towards school because admittedly, we tend to take education for granted and we’re too self-absorbed in a way that can become isolating, but other than that, watching WSP only makes me proud of living in a part of the world where we don’t make teenagers feel ashamed for having sex and simply be teens.

[celticheartedfangirl]

My OUAT Rewatch -- S5E6 -- The Bear and the Bow

Link to Rewatch Review and Ranking archive

It’s been too fucking long since we’ve had a Rumbelle centric that didn’t shit all over us in the end.  Actually, I don’t think we ever HAVE had one.  So ignoring things to come . . . . . this episode . . . I absolutely LOVE!  

Not that I don’t have complaints.  I DO have complaints.  But they mostly amount to “fuck you A&E” and “why is that shit character there go away.”  Otherwise . . . . lots of good stuff in this one!  

Also before we move on, scrolling though my blog from the time when this aired, I was reminded of two things:

1.  There was some nutjob around this time that was sending a bunch of Rumbellers an anon about Emilie de Ravin’s breasts.  It was ridiculous and stupid and yet hilarious, and I didn’t understand it then and still don’t understand it now.  But this is the point in the timeline where that happened.

2.  The CS fans were whiny, entitled little bitches who were upset that this was a Rumbelle centric and they had to to a whole week without seeing their schmoopy CS shit, and complained that the Rumbellers were using the general OUAT tags (!!!!!!) like they own it or something, and just being all around little pieces of shit.

Also around this time they had their panties all up in a bunch about something to do with Colin’s wife, which was not the first NOR the last time for that to happen.  So fuck them.  

So first of all, I want to acknowledge that this episode garnered some FANTASTIC fan art, which you can see and enjoy in these links:

https://celticheartedfangirl.tumblr.com/post/132010786572/cocoadrops-finally-inspiration

https://celticheartedfangirl.tumblr.com/post/132332673902/bookwormappreciationlife-happy-rumbelle-day

https://celticheartedfangirl.tumblr.com/post/132610950577/stratosmacca-i-have-the-power-couldnt

Also there’s this lovely and amazing fan video to the tune of Zero to Hero that I revist often and you should too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnHACzgQB00

There is also a gif set floating around there somewhere that has the bear deleted out of the scenes with Rumple on the ground that looks like him um . . . . yeah.  I got tired of searching for it, but if you have the link handy, do share!

Lastly, just to do a tiny bit of self-promotion, here’s a post-episode one shot I wrote:  

https://celticheartedfangirl.tumblr.com/post/132446552392/pillow-talk-a-rumbelle-one-shot

So there’s all that.  Plus, before the episode, someone did THIS:

https://celticheartedfangirl.tumblr.com/post/132350683487/waiting-for-tonights-rumbelle-episode

So there was a lot of goodness surrounding this episode.  However -- me always being the cynic -- in addition to my little one shot, I also posted THIS:

https://celticheartedfangirl.tumblr.com/post/133660822987/as-much-as-i-loved-this-episode-and-i-did

My mistake.  I predicted it would the the Rumbelle/A&E relationship for the rest of 5A.  It ended up being the REST OF THE DAMN SERIES.  

So my two favorite moments:

https://celticheartedfangirl.tumblr.com/post/132056525467/midstorm-love-how-belle-doesnt-blush-and-say

https://celticheartedfangirl.tumblr.com/post/132409412752/rufeepeach-woodelf68-thestraggletag-i

Oh excuse me, THREE:

https://celticheartedfangirl.tumblr.com/post/132372618052/i-just-love-how-belle-pointed-out-that-no-one

Fuck these heroes, I swear.  

So what is there to complain about then?

Well . . . . 

1.  Zelena and her fucking onion rings.  Or just Zelena period.

2.  Belle claiming that the heroes were people they should go back for or whatever.

Lily Sparks always knew what was up.

3.  The fucking RETCON of why Rumple injured himself in the ogre wars and the beginning of the many, MANY ISSUES that so many of us begin to have with Belle . . . . . started HERE:

https://celticheartedfangirl.tumblr.com/post/132490121877/the-bear-and-the-bow-rumbelle-meta

Because as much as I love Belle, it wasn’t down the road that I wanted to smack her upside the head.  It was THIS EPISODE.  Who knew it would get WORSE?  

By the way, I mentioned that deleted scene in the first episode.  Well now is where I want to discuss that.

See, in this episode Rumple mention Belle talking to him while he was in the coma.  And I was like, when was this?  Was this a scene that got deleted?

And of COURSE IT WAS, because over the following summer, Emilie talks in interviews and at cons about how they were filming the coma scenes and Bobby FELL ASLEEP while she was talking.  So there’s literally no other explanation than DELETED SCENE.  Which we never saw and never WILL see.  But this shit:

That we get.  

I think we have only one episode left before everything goes to hell in a handbasket?  No pun intended.

Points tally:

40 points to start

25 points for Rumbelle centric

Counting the kiss of the cup as half a kiss so 5 points for that

10 points for Rumbelle hug

5 points for Rumple in character

2 points for Belle in character when she was

2 points deducted for OOC Belle when she was

5 points deducted for Hook

5 points deducted for Zelena

full 25 points bonus for this one

deducting 6 points for the Manhattan retcon bullshit

Total points:  94

Follow #celtichearted OUAT ranking tag for more to come!

[fairycosmos]

hey i’m super sry 2 bother ive just been struggling and i know u understand how i feel..i’ve never been this bad in my life. i feel so stupid agonizing over smth like my physical appearance but my reflection genuinely makes me nauseous and throws me into a breakdown each time i see it. i cant help but feel like id much rather kill myself than spend the rest of my miserable existence being so revolting and grotesque. i hate being conventionally unattrctive- going out in public is just the worst:(

hey angellll i'm sorry 2 hear you're dealing w this rn. you're not bothering me either, it's cool. :(( also i got your other anon and don't worry, i didn't think you were calling me ugly djekdkekk,, but i mean i AM lol. and i can definitely relate to feeling viscerally disgusting in your own skin......you're not over exaggerating, i promise. you are always going to have the right to feel a certain way about something that seems to dictate so much of your life. countless women are going through it. i struggle with this every single day myself and i honestly don't have all of the answers of even half of them, unfortunately. and sometimes nothing can calm me down from the shame i feel about being who i am, but here are a few thoughts/ideas that soothe me and may soothe you if you allow them to:

1. our perception of beauty is always being manipulated. they keep moving the goal posts and narrowing the standards to get us to chase these totally false ideals, purely because it makes money. that's it. they plant the insecurity, market a fake 'solution', and profit. when we look in the mirror a life time of conditioning looks back at us and the only way to get around it is to be consistently aware of that fact. once you begin examining and questioning why certain features are seen as attractive and others aren't, you realize that none of it really holds any ground. it has very little to do with our bodies, and everything to do with controlling them. it's all the result of a never ending advertisment, and engaging with it for too long is certainly going to exhaust you and fuck up your self perception. the way you see yourself is not as accurate as you think.

2. we are all going to be old and therefore conventionally unattractive someday any way. a defining factor of this game they force us to play is that we will never win. due to circumstance, or time, or just cause we're human. seems like for women we're not allowed to reach a day over 40 without being ridiculed for it. but i really do believe that getting older affords a certain amount of freedom. when you get to that point in your life, you're going to know yourself so much more than you do at the moment. your perspective WILL be different. you're not going to be basing your worth off of how you look because you'll have lived what you're capable of, and it's so much more than.......appearing a certain way for a moment in time. curating a life worth living pales in comparison to looking flawless. and i know it seems like you can't do that because you feel so gross, but you can - insecurity doesn't have to stop you from putting your best foot forward. you are worthy because you're here. you deserve to live because you are alive. at the end of the day, you don't have to like yourself, but you have to like BEING yourself. you have to learn how to enjoy your hobbies and opportunities more than you hate your skin or your face or whatever.

3. your body is here to experience and relate with the tangible world. it is the vessel with which you are able to walk, talk, love, eat, play, and enjoy. it is very very unconcerned with being palatable to the masses. ultimately, that is not what you exist for. it always comes back to that, no matter how much the world demands a performance of you - you don't have to give one. even if the so called audience doesn't like it. it takes time to truly accept that, i still can't. but working on neutralising the self is key. if you can't love yourself, just acknowledge yourself. these are my hands that allow me to create. these are my eyes that allow me to see. they are doing their job. they are okay. they can't be right or wrong. they just are.

4. self destructive thoughts are always over dramatic, always temporary, and often entirely untrue. it's ok to experience those urges, but do your best to find the line between having them and acting on them. it's alright if it takes a while to learn how. as long as you're attempting. that's all that matters.

5. try to consciously practice healthier thinking patterns on a daily basis. realistically consider how you judge others and why you're being so harsh on yourself when you would never act like that towards anyone else. understand that your energy, your presence, the way you smile and comfort and work, what you can give and receive - all of that is more important to pretty much everyone, than how you look. after a while, especially when you love or care for someone, their appearance becomes a total secondary characteristic. nobody is worrying that much over these self perceived flaws you're so stuck on, as much as you are. if they do take the time to mull on you, it's more likely they think something simplistic such as: oh there's that girl who lent me her homework or who always wears cool shirts, or whatever. they're too busy stressing about themselves.

6. attempt to build your own confidence. this is another thing i can't grasp either but. basically. you are going to be you for the rest of your life and that is a fact. the only realize you think it's a bad thing at the moment is because that's how you've been taught to feel. but you can unlearn, you can let go of what hurts. and that starts with accepting what you can't change and controlling what you can - your self esteem, your internal narrative, how you take care of your body and mind. even engaging in small, seemingly dumb exercises like pointing out three things you like about yourself in the mirror, can make a difference. you have all of the time in the world to learn how to be friends with yourself. but you might as well start now. baby steps are good. if you hide, spend half an hour outside, even once a week. get used to the discomfort. treat yourself. let it all contradict. growth is totally inevitable.

unfortunately, there's no all encompassing answer. you can know all of this logically and still feel Bad. and you're obviously allowed to be frustrated, to cry and break down, to have moments where you just feel entirely overwhelmed with self hatred - i can't figure out how to stop them, and i think they will remain with us for a while. maybe the goal is to just to cope with them in a decent way and not to prevent them all together. but those episodes are not an excuse to take your own life, ever. i can't think of a bigger fucking tragedy than the world losing you before you even had the chance to attempt living by an alternative narrative. you deserve so much better. i can't stress it enough. you have a whole open future just waiting for you, a healthy body to see it all with - it's going to be beautiful, it's going to surprise you even when you think you're a totally hopeless case. you're not. that's just another lie. your humanity is never going to depend on your physicality and anyone who can't accept that can fuck off!!! anyway i hope you know that there are genuinely so many resources available if you feel like this is getting Too much to handle by yourself. you're honestly not alone and if this is having a big impact on your overall stability then you're totally entitled to professional or medical support. it doesn't have to be a big deal. suicidal thoughts are not normal and there are people who will enable you to dissect and overcome them, you just have to make the initial choice to reach out. even if your brain is screaming otherwise. whether it's through school or a hotline or your doctor - communication WILL put your pain in perspective eventually, in turn lessening it. please consider it. even if takes you your whole lifetime to appreciate yourself, the fact that you're here and trying and navigating this shitty world is more than good enough. i'll be rooting for you from a place of total understanding until the end of time. please take and let me know if you need a friend. i'll be here.

*sorry if this didn't help. the other day i was having an Episode and nothing anyone said could've changed how absolutely disgusting i felt. sometimes it's like that. but this will always be here for you to look back on when you're in a more fair and objective state of mind.

[thassabadtake]

correction from a professional artist who paid attention in business 101:

don’t do this.

opinions on what art is “worth” are super varied and skewed by stuff that has nothing to do with your art’s actual value. if you’re talking to other artists, they might try to keep you from being competition, or give you bad advice based on their own insecurities - if you’re talking to customers, they might try to scam you.

the only reliable way to see how high you can keep your paycheck while still getting customers is to go from the top and work backward. like any other business ever. a general rule of thumb for ballpark pricing is this:

time yourself. see how long it takes you to do each thing you’ll offer - sketches, lineart, paintings, etc. then multiply that by at least minimum wage (preferably $15 if you’re a US citizen).

so the formula is:

[hours worked] x [at least minimum wage] = base price. this doesn’t even account for the cost of materials/production, so it’s already a discount.

how much time you take is affected by if you have disabilities, what medium you use, what techniques or style you have, etc. a lot of beginning artists whose art is actually worth anything close to $20-40 will probably spend less time because their art is simpler. but if you take more time, charge more money.

put out a commission post and advertise, advertise, advertise. Word of Mouth and reputation will land you more commissions than anything to do with style or skill. the more people see your post, the higher the chance you’ll get customers.

if it’s been a while of advertising and no one bites (”a while” being a few days, weeks - however long you can afford), lower your prices a fraction. don’t skip from $50 straight down to $10 - knock five bucks off and circulate the post again. keep doing that until you get people buying. most people will tell you to never go below $10 for anything - and never below $20 for anything fully lined + colored with a background. this lets you determine how high you can keep your prices while still getting commissions. you can lower it more if you’re desperate, but you generally won’t have to - most customers won’t be bothered by a $5 difference, where that can really add up on your end.

learning to value yourself properly is important for everyone.

not only does this benefit you by letting you make more money than you would’ve if you made up a random low number from probably-biased feedback, but it helps everyone else be able to also.

your prices affect how people view the value of other peoples’ art.

a lot of people undersell themselves, which is why the digital art market is so ridiculously cheap compared to traditional art markets. if everyone of higher skill levels would raise their prices, people wouldn’t feel entitled to fully rendered custom paintings for $30.

as is, entry level artists are competing with professionals who refuse to value themselves properly. what your art sells for won’t actually reflect what it’s worth in that kind of market, because underselling artists have created a fucked up perception of how much art is worth, period.

whatever your art sells at, don’t take it personally - do your part to raise the market value for everyone by pricing yourself to demand.

not to a handful of random peoples’ opinions.

[ginalinettiofficial]

so i did a vengeance today because i’m normally p patient but as anyone who knows me can attest, i have ZERO tolerance for people who park like dumbasses in cities. and this dude did just that.

i get home from work, and this dude has a uhaul parked in the middle of our street, blocking off but not actually using a prime parking spot. by prime, i mean this was a FULL size spot, with enough room between the two cars that i could have INCHES of space between BOTH bumpers, in an area of the city and during a time of day when typically you gotta circle around for a minimum of 30-40 minutes before finding any spot - i’ve spent two hours circling on some occasions. parking in a crowded urban area is like the hunger games, okay??? you circle until you’re ready to key someone’s car and then you finally find a spot that you have to maneuver into VERY carefully because you’ve got about three centimeters of leeway between you and these other cars and you have to creep in j u s t right so that your car can fit whilst not bumping either of the other cars. when you get out, your bumpers are gently hugging the bumpers of the car in front and back of you, and you get to congratulate yourself on finessing into a tight spot and reaffirm your status as a True City Driver™.

so anyways. this dude is moving into my building, apparently. and he rented a mini uhaul for his stuff, but he parked it directly parallel to this perfect spot, and left it in the middle of the street. i put my blinkers on and waited to see who would come out, so that i could help them find a better place to temporarily park so that they weren’t blocking traffic AND i could get the spot. i’m not an animal - we help each other out here, and the way to win the parking death battles is always to be kind and respectful to your fellow warriors. there were multiple places on the block where you can’t /park/, as in, leave your car unattended for hours, but where you can absolutely stand for extended periods of time. these spots - some parking lots, some alleys, some hydrants, some loading zones - are perfect for people like this dude, who is obviously moving and therefore will be at the car at least every fifteen minutes, which is all you need to park temporarily - you can park anywhere for fifteen minutes. so after about twenty minutes, this dude comes out, and, having noticed me waiting, comes to my window to talk to me.

“i’m not moving any time soon, sorry.” he says.

“you’re parked illegally,” i say.

“yea, but i tried to reserve this spot by blocking it off and making signs, but people took them down,” he replies. fun fact - that’s also illegal; you can’t “reserve” street parking unless it’s a blizzard and ur using a chair to claim a spot you painstakingly shoveled out. chair dibbing is also /technically/ illegal, but, like, we’re not animals. we all respect snowstorm chair dibs. we do not, however, respect attempts at “reserving” a spot on a busy street in the middle of summer for a full weekday. you didnt have to shovel shit for that.

so whatever. i go “you can park in the lot across the street while you move.”

he goes “yeah i called the number and they don’t have any spots available.” now, some more backstory - directly across from us is a perfectly huge parking lot where the dudes who own the corner store rent out spots for $300 a month. insanely expensive, which is why i choose to participate in the parking hunger games every day, but there is a lot right there. for temporary parking, such as running in to the store or moving your stuff into/out of one of the many buildings on the block, it’s a golden place. you can either use one of the many empty reserved spots, and move if the renter comes back, or just park in the ample room in between the spots, and move if the people from the corner store decide to come yell at you (which they never do). so i’m being friendly, trying to tell this guy he can park there, and he says he called and he can’t. (obviously you’re not gonna rent an entire spot in a lot for one day of moving, why he would even call is beyond me.)

so i begin to tell him how it works re:temporary parking, to be a nice courteous neighbor. i go “oh no but you can - ” but that’s as far as i get before he cuts me off with a sneer (an actual sneer, like he’s draco fucking malfoy or something???) on his face and says “whatever, i’m not moving, you can just find another spot.” and walks away. he then proceeds to grab a suitcase from the truck and head into the building. as he opens the door, he turns around, makes direct eye contact, raises his eyebrow, and gives me a smug, gloating look, as if he’s a suburban mom whose son just made the honor roll.

and maybe on another day i would’ve given up and rejoined the stream of cars circling around us searching for the elusive rush hour spot. but, you see, it’s 90 degrees outside today, and my car has no AC. i’ve already been waiting behind this car for nearly half an hour, and everyone of those minutes that i spent waiting for that spot was another minute closer to the time of the day when circling turns from a 30 minute long activity to a 2 hour long activity. i’m a stubborn person, especially when it comes to people parking like dicks - this dude was obviously not a city driver, judging by the rented uhaul and the fact that he seemingly couldn’t imagine the idea of actually parallel parking said uhaul into the prime spot he chose to block, which, for the record, could definitely have fit the uhaul with at least one inch of wiggle room on either side. in the game of city parking, there’s no mercy. you learn to drive and park with limited space, or your shit gets fucked up. that’s just how it is.

now, again, maybe i could’ve given up - but the other fact was, this dude and his uhaul were actually blocking most of the lane on the street; this is a major street, very busy, and it’s rush hour on a week day in ninety degree weather, and this dumbass has decided to not only park his car directly in the middle of the street, but also to openly share that he intends to leave it there for a good long while. and i’m not one to show mercy to suburbanites who decide they want to drive in the city but not follow common courtesy when doing so. so i circle and find another spot a few blocks from my place. i can see that he is STILL parked there. at this point, it’s been an hour.

so i do the petty thing and call 311 and report his ass, then i head to the grocery store to buy my cat some food. as i’m coming back into my building, a cop car is pulling up behind his truck, and a cop begins to write him a ticket.

i’m not typically one to get satisfaction from seeing people get fined - city tickets are ridiculous and most of the time they’re just looking to fill a quota. but i gotta say, it was VERY satisfying to look out the window just now and see that the truck has moved, and some other brave parking warrior has claimed the golden spot. a $75 ticket for blocking traffic is definitely what that entitled prick deserves.

to conclude, the moral of the story is: if ur trying to drive and park in an urban area, and ur not from an urban area, use common courtesy and stop acting like you’re the only person on the road, or city drivers WILL come for you, whether by leaving you a very rude note, keying your car, or setting the ticketers on you. if you’re gonna act like an entitled PTA mom, i WILL best you in that endeavor by asking to speak to the manager.

[fuck-customers]

Stingy boomer alert & other fuck you moments.

This is a mix of tmshit that has happened at my job. (I'm the one who works in a rural casino in the PNW. Hey all)

So as I stated before my casino is in the middle of like phase 2 remodels, because some spaces desperately need it & others had to be reworked from phase 1. Ok fine.

On 3/30/19 I am told that myself & 2 volunteers have to clear out a bar area for renovation & that I am to continue that action on 3/31. Which is a Sunday (the day I am supposed to get the extra work done from doing 2 other peoples jobs done) AND an inventory day! AND we are open & somewhat busy & short staffed! Fun!

We get a good start 3/30, but then we are told on 3/31 that we moved things to a wrong area. So we had to move all that shit again & finish the project. All the while, I came in at 4pm and still had to put in our alcohol order for the week. AND finish inventory (5 restaurants worth, between 3 people ON TOP OF tearing down and moving a bar).

We got it done, but my ass was still there at 8am the next day (yes. Yes. 16. Fucking. Hours) when 2 of my bosses came in for their shifts. & I had a 3pm shift later that day. (4/1. And no: this is not a joke). And I get snarked at for not having inventory done sooner. My boss kindly overlooked the fact that I cussed at her as I was leaving. But I was still expected to be there at 3. (I asked the AM relief supervisor if she could cover til 4 and she was like "oh but...I have plans..." ME TOO LINDA* LIKE SLEEP SO I DON'T MURDER ANYONE YOU WAFFLE IRON!!) I make it in at 3pm by the skin of mybteeth to find: we still jad to inventory the bar we tore apart. I talked to the inventory queen & was like "that isn't happening but all the alcohol is in the other bar that we *did* inventory so its just paper products & those are now X place want me to just count that off?" And she agrees but Mondays are Hella busy so I don't leave(again) until nearly 1am. Cue 2 days off, half spent just recuperating and being in general physical pain. FUCK my BoH director he was the one who INSISTED that we start the bar remodel now GRR.

So this weekend! (4/7) I come in at 1pm on Sunday to do orders & run one of our restaurants. Someone mentions that one of our renovated areas is to open the following day and I laugh thinking its a joke as it opens on 4/16.

Not a joke! They decided to soft open for the tribe! No one has stocked it except for soda! A fridge, a low boy & a freezer arent working! No one but me knows how to work the smoothie machine! There is no water connected! And best of all: THERE IS NO UPPER MANAGEMENT ON SITE TODAY.

The other supervisors/chefs who have been here for YEARS are like "hurr durr what do?" And I am like OMG GET MAINTENANCE R U KIDDING ME? Omg we have to stock it! OMG ITS EMPTY.

Thankfully AM supervisor #2 (lets call her Rachel) is like

Meanwhile my ass is like

And the 2 veteran chefs are like:

Agdjdkalkdyuejalkdhsyifh

I did have to connect w/ department director (.gif chosen very specifically cause she is kind and a badass but can absolutely challenge you)

& she gave me an attaboy b/c I Handled It & didn't panic & got my important shit done but!

GDI! I SHOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO MAKE UNILATERAL DECISIONS LIKE I DID. THIS IS LITERALLY ABOVE MY PAY GRADE.

My ass left at fucking 2am I worked a 13 hr day & I was STILL FIELDING CALLS THE NEXT DAY.

I WANNA KNOW WHO DECIDED TO OPEN UP A WEEK EARLY AND NOT FUCKING SCHEDULE ANYONE TO STOCK OR PREP? Cause it wasn't Director! UGH CAN WE STOP PLEASE ASSHATS??

And now! The title cunt of this long ass post: THE BOOMER.

So! Our buffet (all the rvcs really) has an 18% gratuity in parties of 8 or more policy. Have had it since I started. This SAME DAY that we are having to scramble to get this rvc stocked and opening ready, an 8top comes in and is charged gratuity. I have been to exactly nowhere in this state that does NOT do this when faced w/ a large party. 8 is the normal cutoff point.

I get a call from my host saying I may wanna talk to the table b/c they said it was forced (if you say no we can't add it, but most people don't say no, they ask 'why') and are being really shitty to the server.

So I ask cashiers: did they day no? No? Ok.

Get to table & one lady is like " this girl is getting 40 dollars of a tip this is ridiculous! Its not like she is BRINGING me my food! I shouldnt have to tip! At ALL." And stuff like "entitled little girl! We are BIG TIPPERS we don't need to be Forced to tip!" And other bullshit like that.

And I exolain its a standard industry policy & if she goes to other local buffet itd haooen there too, amd also clarify that the server is getting 18 something and then ask "Do you have your receipts? *she shoves all 4 at me* OK I can refund your tip, oh hhey who had the credit card & who had x? I can fix all of these..." And everyone else at her table glared at her & were like "No no its fine! We don't need a refund on the tip!"

SHE still insisted though, so I told her I would take care of it & I did. I made sure to ask if everyone else was surr but they declined firmly.

As I walk away I hear them start to argue w/ her & shes just being nasty a.f. & she was nasty when I returned her 3.21 (taxes incl) to her table too & made a point to put all of it but 2 pennies in her purse.

Her entire table kinda stopped talking to her & I assigned a busser to finish out that particular ladies service (drinks, bussing plates etc) b/c even after it was over and done she was making my server uncomfortable.

Tell you what though, every table near hers in my servers section was *appalled* and my server still walked out well compensated but seriously: FUCK that lady. She had no cause to be rude a.f. the server in question is a sweetheart & one of the best.

I hope that bitter twat chokes on a prune.

When it comes down to it: can't or won't tip? Don't eat out!!! Jfc.