#the old married couple vibes are stellar

[liesmultixxx]

I present to you: the old married couple

[absolutebl]

This Week in BL - Cameos & Familiar Faces

Entirely subjective yadda yadda. Organized by favs in each category. No numbered lists anymore, tumblr be buggn'.

End of Aug Start Sept 2023

Ongoing Series - Thai

Laws of Attraction (Sat iQIYI) 8fin - Oh the DRAMA. Why does the insane ex (my true love) remind me of the cartel leader from Romancing the Stone? Even the sides got HEA! It was fucking great!!!!! Charn remains a bonkers spoiled evil murderous brat with a cruel smile beloved by his one true paladin. Also: post it love note trope! Been a long while my old friend. NO SINGING!!!!! I do love that wedding jacket frock coat cape thing Charn wore. 

In conclusion: This is a great gay suspense thriller with several solid couples, fun plot, killer characters, queer rep, and a happy ending. Charn may be my favorite lead character of 2023. However, this show is not entirely BL, more on the fringe, like Manner of Death. Add that to several "singing incidents" and pairs being a little weak in the chemistry arena, and this lands safely in 9/10 territory. It’s tons of fun tho: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. 

I Feel You Linger in the Air (Sat grey) ep 3 of 12 - This show is getting more and more lakorn each ep. Apparently the straights are having a class divide arranged marriage crisis. Who cares? Our boy is ALWAYS in trouble. Crazy that he has to save the people who betrayed him in a previous life - but I guess he chose revenge! That's unexpected.

Had to switch to grey and couldn’t find a working rip. It was frustrating and I wouldn’t have bothered except I like this show so much. Still, it means no screen caps because the rez is naff.

Dangerous Romance (Fri YT) ep 3 of 12 - Uh oh. Kang wants to save Sailom and be his hero. The fact that K’s Pa puts no pressure on him whatsoever, makes me wonder if K's Ma committed suicide or something? It’s definitely the opposite parental dynamic we normally see in BL. I have to say, the pacing is great in the show. And the acting is on point. It’s really great. 

Hidden Agenda (Sun YT) ep 8 of 12 - these two just kiss well. I mean not "rip your clothes off Taiwan-style," but sweet young boyfriends-esk. Joke wants to be claimed so bad. It’s great. I enjoyed this ep, unfortunately it looks like we have a manufactured angst drama drop in the next episode. Is this a 10 episode arc? I thought it was 12. It’s odd to have doom happening next episode already.

Only Friends (Sat YT) ep 4 of 10 - Back story time! Ray and Mew are HARD to watch. Incestuous friend group gay is the worst. Omg I got such QAF vibes from this ep. Nick Boston Sand chats = very throw back 90s gay soaps. 

Location game moment: Top's hotel room is also Chan’s apartment in Laws Of Attraction. 

Naughty Babe (Sat YT) ep 1 of 8 - Ooo. Est is back! Hi handsome. Head of security suits you. Please lead out the new Waterboyy remake? You’re perfect for the role. (If it must happen.) Yi’s Pa is GREAT. Please give daddy a nice boy? Could that be our secondary couple for this series? 

Meanwhile, with the leads (sorry I was distracted by daddy) we got us an arranged marriage, run away bride, and an amnesia trope. Put in a secret baby and it's squarely 1980's Harlequin. Will there be Vikings? Sex herbs? Pirates? Dub con?

Be Mine Super Star (Mon Viki) ep 9 of 12 - Again with lovely sex scenes, it’s just the plot stringing them together is frayed. Also don’t fuck in an onsen. Both yech and ouch.

That goes for all y’all.  

Wedding Plan (Wed YT & iQIYI) ep 7fin - Trash watch here! Honestly this was an okay ending, I’m not mad at it. If you can tolerate Mame and liars (kinda the same thing) you’ll be fine with this show.

Summation: An innocent wedding planner falls haplessly and hopelessly in love with a groom who relentlessly pursued him, even though he’s about to marry someone else. A somewhat lackluster mame offering with less of the usual stellar chemistry, but all of the usual lies and manipulation. 7/10

Love in Translation (Sat iQIYI) ep 3 of 10 - I skip everything to do with Tammy and it’s fine. There’s only about 20 minutes of fine but that’s more than enough. On the bright side. So far. No singing.

My Universe (Sun iQIYI) ep 2 of 24 eps - Cassanova Begins Part 2. Aw. It was sad. Another variation on the “my ghost boyfriend” trope (usually sad). 2/10 I don't do sad BL.

Next up is Merry Go Round featuring the pair from Destiny Seeker (we likey) who want to marry each other, but end up fake engaged to the same woman. Beard squared? Looks silly.

Crazy Handsome Rich (Sun Gaga) ep 1 of 10 - There are 2 things I like about this. I bet you can guess what they are.

Lee Long Shi

The whipping boy trope

There wasn’t enough of either in this first ep. ALSO the captions, sound effects, and voice over are truly next level bad. Utterly atrocious.

The 2 leads fucking around in the end credits was the funniest part of the whole show. 

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

Jun & Jun (Korea Thur Viki) ep 7 of 8 - I am confused and frustrated about what the communication delay is between the two Juns. It feels artificial and narratively manufactured. But since this is a short form KBL and I know it will be resolved quickly, I’m not as annoyed as I would be if this were Thai BL. Still it feels audience manipulative. I also feel sorry for Simon. BUT it looks like it’ll be a sweet boyfriends final episode.

Stay By My Side (Taiwan Fri Gaga) ep 10fin - Omg they’re so cute!!! Taiwan the purveyors of ultimate sappy gay domesticity. I am going to miss having these to nonsencing all over my dash.

This show was an interesting take on the "ghost boyfriend" trope. About a boy who is tormented by hearing the dead, except when he is around one other boy - desperation+proximity = love. Unfortunately, the story was erratic and waffled about. While the leads turned in solid performances and the sappy domesticity was off the charts, it never really had the strength of the narrative convictions such a strong concept should have supplied. Highly rewatchable and enjoyable for that sappy domesticity but not a whole lot more. Still I always give extra credit for the diabetes-inducing sugar content and rewatch capacity. 8/10 

Kisseki: Dear to Me (Taiwan Tues Viki & iQIYI) eps 3 of 13(?) - I love the punching thing - there is a lot of violent flirting in this show. I’m not mad about it. Ugh, poor thing has real abandonment issues. And now trust issues. I see why we’re getting 12-14 eps. This gonna be MESSY.

Meanwhile, does EVERYONE have a guest cameo? Not that I’m complaining. Hi BLIHID boys! Now I need to rewatch that show. 

Love Class Season 2 (Korea Fri Viki) eps 7-8 of 10 - Oh my God the next morning w/ couple 2 was so darn cute. They are all such terrible flirts with each other. Honestly, this show makes me laugh more than any other BL currently airing. I’m not sure it is meant to be as funny as I find it. While couple 3 (the mature characters) is by far my favorite, I actually think they don’t work with the other two pairs, they feel superfluous to the show. I like the show better because they’re in it, but it feels like two different BL‘s stuck together. KBL certainly can’t handle more than two couple threads at the same time. 

Why R U? (Korea Wed iQIYI) eps 3-4 of 8 - Ugh. I am such a sucker for the FighterTutor dynamic. Why so good? Uh oh. Real kiss! KBL you're spoiling us. But, isn’t sad-seme-hyung dating some chick? Argh. Poor Sunwoo. This show is even worse at repping Fighter's character sympathetically. Who knew that was possible?

My Personal Weatherman AKA Taikan Yoho (Japan Sat Gaga) ep 3 of 8 - The date episode! Even Japan is doing it now. And these two who have been living/fucking together for ages still dance around each other like junior high kids. I gotta say, I watch this one twice because Vicki has different subs from Gaga. I feel like it’s easier to understand if I watch two different translations of the same script. But it’s still quite a taciturn piece. 

Minato's Laundromat Season 2 AKA Minato Shouji Coin Laundry Season 2 (Japan Thu Gaga) ep 8 of 12 - Sides are great. It was mostly a cute ep with tiny bits of Progress and a proper Confession. I miss Shin’s siblings. And then… the much loathed amnesia trope. Really?

Everyone say it with me: Must you, Japan? 

Stay Still (Hong Kong Tues YouTube) ep 5fin - It ended happier than I was expecting. Optimistic for one couple, and most likely optimistic for the other.

Summation: What to say about this offering from Hong Kong? It’s different, a mix of early CBL, Taiwanese shorts, and Pinoy visuals. It felt like the story was 2 independent shorts that had been lengthen and then stuck together, and I wish they'd been approached as separate and tighter entities. Nevertheless, this was a complex little piece,  interesting in a sweaty grungy way, with a certain aura of queer authenticity that made it simultaneously tense, unpredictable, and refreshing. I’m not sure I would necessarily call it BL, but any county’s early foray into the genre usually starts out this way, so perhaps nascent BL? Worth watching, especially if you enjoy stuff from the Philippines and Taiwan. 7/10

In case you missed it

Dinosaur Love ended its run but the final 2 eps are behind a paywall. Word on the street is they aren't good anyway (shocker) so I'm marking it as DNF and moving on with my life. If I can find em grey I'll watch 'em merely so I can give it a rating, but I can't imagine it will get more than 5/10. Seriously, do not bother.

Next Week Looks Like This:

Coming September

9/15 You Are Mine (Taiwan Gaga) Secretary has to deal with grumpy boss.

9/15 Bump Up Business AKA Bump Up Project (Korea movie) suspected cinema release? I don't know much about what's going on. Last status update. Love story between a trainee who is about to debut and a celebrity from the same agency. Kpop boy group OnlyOneOf has signed up to star in this idol-based BL (based on a webtoon). They’ve been auditioning for this since Libido IMHO. You can watch me chronicle their BL MV series in this post. It’s from Idol Romance who will do sad but can do good kisses (Wish You, Nobleman Ryu, Once Again, Kissable Lips, Poongduck 304, Tasty Florida, Tinted With You).

9/26 I Cannot Reach You AKA I Can't Reach You AKA Kimi ni wa Todokanai (Japan ????) - Adapted from the manga, childhood best friends: The cool, smart one who’s good at everything, and his average, dorky friend who struggles. Always by the other’s side, but not together in the way they truly want to be. No matter how hard they try, their hearts cannot reach each other.

9/27 Absolute Zero (Thai iQIYI) - from 2021, Studio Wabi Sabi and New Siwaj finally bring us this “time loop to prevent tragedy” romance. We don’t always get HEAs from them, so I'm on my guard.

9/? Venus in the Sky (Thai iQIYI) 10 eps

9/? Mr Cinderella 2 (Vietnam YouTube?)

2023 forthcoming BL master post (see comments, some are inaccurate, NOT KEPT UPDATED).

THIS WEEK’S BEST MOMENTS

Hidden Agenda hitting us up with a hug + lap + kiss. Very nice.

I think these two might be GMMTV's best cuddlers.

Boys, I think your JoongDunk is showing.

(Last week)��

[waugh-bao]

I just realized the Monty Python ad has such an old married couple vibe for Mick and Charlie. You can just imagine Mick leaning back against Charlie once they're alone. I would *love* to see the behind the scenes footage for that whole shoot.

It truly does:

I also love how Mick is scooched all the way into Charlie’s personal space on the couch, not that Charlie seems to mind. Which checks out from what Lucas has shown us in his videos of them watching sports together backstage:

Oh, I would kill to see the behind the scenes footage. Because the little bits of behind the scenes footage they’ve given us from the Exhibitionism ad were so good:

But also because every piece of behind the scenes (sort of) footage we’ve gotten over the years of Mick and Charlie just displays the most old married relationship ever:

Not that they were doing a stellar job hiding it on screen either:

[extremelyblackandwhite]

Hi can you write about steve and reader’s honeymoon like just all of it, i would really love that! and this series has a grip on me, i can’t stop reading it!!! i want more 😭

pairing: steve kemp x dark!reader

warnings: 18+ topics (under 18 year olds do NOT interact/reader)

a/n: reader is wearing reformation dress 1 in this honeymoon. that’s the vibe. 

part of toxic

Steve could care less about Santorini or about their honeymoon. He'd been married once and had a less than stellar honeymoon in Italy, so when the wedding coordinator even asked them about a honeymoon, he said the same thing he'd said about the colour scheme, cake and anything else - whatever his bride wanted. Y/N was the complete opposite to those feelings, she wanted a good wedding and a fantastic honeymoon. Her last wedding had been a shit show put up to Connecticut standards with an even shittier man and her honeymoon had been just her trying to impress him with blowjobs and walking alone in Oslo. This time, things were gonna be different - she even had four folders dedicated to wedding planning. She was excited to sight see in Santorini with Steve; however, he had different ideas.

She had woken up early to go see the island with him, she had even picked a nice blue and white dress to wear around. Steve, on the other hand, had decided that dress would look better on the floor and she was now getting fucked in the lounge chairs by their private villa pool. His thumb was inside her mouth, her lips wrapped around it as he thrusted in and out of her. 

    - I’m gonna fucking handcuff you to the bed if you try and get away from me. - his hips quickened until he came inside of her. He leaned to kiss her, smiling as she pouted. - We can sight see after. 

   - You can’t fuck me on every surface everyday. I wanna do couples stuff. 

   - We’re doing couples stuff. I’m filling you with my cum so you can get pregnant. 

   - I mean it. We are gonna do sight seeing and act like obnoxious tourists or so help me you won’t see me naked ever again. 

   - That’s against our vows. 

   - I don’t remember any of our vows mentioning the amount of sex I had to provide you with during our honeymoon. Now, if you please. 

   - It was implied. 

She crawled from under him, pulling her floral dress down and putting her sunglasses back on. From now on, she had to be avoiding any flat surfaces or she’d surely be against one of them at some point. Eventually, she managed to drag Steve out to do some sight seeing. He didn’t particularly care about Greece or any tropical location; he’d been there several times and over time it had lost its sparkle. However, she was just seeing it and he could drown in those eyes of her, how bright they looked as she pointed at the smallest and oddest of things. 

    - What do you wanna eat? - she looked through the menu. 

    - You’re not on the menu.

    - You know, it’s not as funny when you say it. - she rolled her eyes. - Considering your appetites. 

    - How many more cannibal jokes are you gonna have for the rest of this honeymoon?

    - How many more times are you gonna fuck me this honeymoon?

    - I didn’t know it was a one to one ratio. I am definitely losing here.

    - You had me in the airplane bathroom and then in the back of the boat here. You have no standing. 

    - Alright, how about we get a yatch for a day so you can sight see and I get to sight see you naked?

    - We get to go archaeology sites as well. - she counter offered.

    - Fine but just so you know, I may finger you there. 

    - Deal. 

[grantyort]

Prelude IV: Relight

Post-Surgery: DAY ONE

[Sean sits in the hospital bed, legs crossed, staring into space when he hears a familiar voice.]

Joey: Sean, Sean Diaz? Well damn. I never thought I’d see your sorry ass again!

Sean: Geez Joey. Is that how you talk to all your patients?

Joey: Just the ones I like.

[Sean chuckles]

Joey: C’mere big man.

[Joey gives Sean a big bear hug]

Sean: How’ve you been Joey?

Joey: Can’t complain. These days, they got me up in hospice care. You’re probably the first person I’ve seen today that didn’t need their bedpans changed.

Sean: Sounds terrible.

Joey: It’s all not all bad. Lot of these folks have stories that you wouldn’t believe. One of my patients has lived through five wars and two depressions, tells me I’m a credit to my race.

Sean: Yeesh.

Joey: (shrugs) She means well. It’s almost flattering compared to some of the stuff I’ve heard. Been on this job almost ten years now, some people still treat me like I have no idea what I’m doing.  

Sean: That sucks Joey.

Joey: Yeah... Anyway, you seem to be doing pretty well for yourself. From what I heard, this procedure cost a small fortune. You must have friends in high places.

Sean: Yeah, something like that.

Joey: And no guard at the door this time. I assume everything got cleared up with the police? Not planning to make a break for it again are ya?

Sean: Nah, no daring escapes this time.

Joey: Good. I don’t think I’d survive another blow to the head.

Sean: Listen Joey I’m really sorry-

Joey: (laughs) Relax Sean! I’m just messing with you! It’s ancient history as far as I’m concerned. Say, did you ever end up finding that brother of yours?

Sean: Yeah. He’s actually coming to visit me tomorrow.

Joey: Can’t wait to meet him!

Sean: Famous last words.

Joey: So… what you been up to these days?

Sean: Mostly just cramming for the SATs, drawing, listening to music. Normal teenage shit.

Joey: That’s good to hear. I was worried about you man. You went AWOL after the hospital. I got police and Feds breathing down my neck for weeks. Then a month later, I hear about a couple of kids trying the border to Mexico on the news.

Sean: Sorry I never reached out. I just didn’t want to get you more involved than you already were-

Joey: You made the right call. They questioned me for hours. My apartment was filled with G-men, my girlfriend was freaked. I honestly thought she was going to dump my ass.

Sean: I’m really sorry Joey.

Joey: Don’t sweat it Sean, it was for a good cause. Besides, everything worked out in the end.

Sean: Yeah I noticed, how long have you been-

Joey: Almost a year now. We’re expecting our first baby in the summer.

Sean: Congratulations dude!

Joey: Thanks, but honestly, I’m kinda nervous, don’t think I’m ready to be a father.

Sean: You’ll be a great dad, Joey. You’re awesome at taking care of people.

Joey: You’re damn right. Speaking of which, we should probably take a look at that eye of yours.

[Joey takes off the bandage and gives Sean’s eye a thorough examination]

Joey: Well it looks a helluva lot better than the last time I saw it.

Sean: That’s good to hear. I wasn’t sure it would work.

Joey: Well it’s too early to say if your vision will fully recover. But at the very least you won’t have to walk around with a patch anymore.

Sean: Good. It’s hard enough finding a prom date let alone one that’s willing to go with a pirate.

Joey: Still with the pirate jokes huh? Hopefully, you’ll have to write some new material after this.

[Joey applies a new bandage on Sean’s eye]

Joey: And you’re all set. Now as much as I love our talks, I gotta make my rounds. Buzz me if you need me.

Sean: Later Joey.

Joey: See ya tomorrow Sean.

 [Joey leaves the room. Sean turns to look out the window. The door shoots open, and a small figure comes bursting in.]

Daniel: Sean! 

[He jumps onto the bed and into Sean’s arms]

Stephen: (out-of-breath) Sorry, I tried to stop him, but he outran me.

Sean: You okay Stephen?

Stephen: I am… just need a minute to catch my breath. The old ticker ain’t what it used to be- I need to sit down.

Daniel: Take it easy grandpa.

Sean: What are you doing here, enano? I wasn’t expecting you guys until tomorrow.

Daniel: I made grandpa book an earlier flight. I just couldn’t wait! 

[he hugs Sean again]

Sean: Haha easy. I just had surgery, remember?

Daniel: Oh right, s-sorry.

[There’s a brief flash, followed by a shutter click]

Sean: What’re you doing, gramps?

Stephen: Oh nothing, just commemorating the moment. Thanks to your brother, I finally got the hang of this newfangled smartphone camera.

Daniel (whispering): He had it stuck on selfie mode for days. Anyway, did it go? Is your eye…

Sean: I mean… it’s not 100% yet but I can sort of see again.

Daniel: T-that’s awesome! Can I see it?

Sean: Dude last time I showed you my eye, you almost cried. Besides, the doctors say I still need to keep the bandage on for a bit, while it heals.

Daniel: Right. That makes sense. Oooh this room looks cool. Do they have Netflix or a Playbox?

Sean: It’s a hospital, dude.

Daniel: Lame.

Sean: So catch me up. Did I miss anything interesting at home?

Daniel: Nah… Chris is still on that fishing trip with his dad so there’s no one to hang out with. Oh I almost forgot. He made you this card. Isn’t it awesome?

[Daniel gives Sean a hand-drawn “get-well-soon” card from Chris]

Sean: Yeah. It’s pretty cool. We can have Claire put it up when we get back.

Daniel: Grandma’s still in that feud with the lady from church.

Sean: Which one was that again?

Daniel: Agnes, the one who gives off major Lisbeth-vibes. She says grandma stole her casserole recipe for the church bake-sale. Lying bitch.

Stephen: Language!

Sean: Maybe one of us should try to smooth things over before it gets nasty.

Stephen: Hell hath no fury… lemme tell ya. I’ve been married to your grandmother long enough to know once that woman sets her mind on something… there’s no stopping her. Best to just let things run their course.

Sean: Claire can get a little… passionate sometimes. But I don’t think I’ve ever seen her lose her temper for real.

Stephen: There’s a fire in that woman. It’s part of the reason I married her. Just pray she never turns it on you. I hope I’ll never live to see that day, god willing.

[Sean notices Daniel circling the hospital bed, pressing his hand on various parts of the mattress]

Sean: (laughs) What are you doing, enano?

Daniel: Just trying to figure which side of the bed I want to sleep on tonight.

Sean: Dude. There’s no way this bed’s gonna fit both of us.

Daniel: The one in Mom’s trailer was way smaller!

Sean: Yeah well… you were a lot smaller back then.

Stephen: They have a nice area for visitors down the hall.

Daniel: But I want to stay with Sean!

Sean: I guess I could ask Joey to bring in a couch or something.

Daniel: Who’s Joey?

Sean: The nurse who took care of me after the accident. I told you about him, remember?

Daniel: Oh right! I can’t wait to meet him!

 DAY TWO

Joey: How are we doing today? Any headaches, dizziness, socket pain?

Sean: Nah it’s all good. Still getting used to having depth perception again. It’s kinda weird.

Joey: You’ll get used to it. Anything else to report?

Sean: Nothing major. I’ve just been having some really weird dreams.

Joey: We have a psychiatrist on-site if you need a professional to talk to.

Sean: Nah it’s alright, probably just the drugs messing with my brain.

Joey: Well your vitals look good. We’ll go over some basic tests. You know the drill.

(Sean covers his right eye and tries to read the chart. Joey then shines a light and asks him to follow along. Finally, he asks Sean to put the cap back on the pen.)

Joey: You passed with flying colors. The doctor will be in for a final exam tomorrow and then we can discharge you.

Sean: (sarcastically) Too bad, I was ready to become the first Mexican pirate to attend college. So much for being a trailblazer.

Joey: Good to see you haven’t lost that snarky-ass sense of humor.

Joey: Anyway, I’m taking my lunch now. Want me to get you anything from the cafeteria? Wait… don’t tell me. Chocolate pecan?

Sean: You know it.

Joey: I met your brother in the hall. Cute kid.

Sean: (deadpans) Give it a few days. Then see if you get a “second opinion.”

Joey: He does seem a little… “energetic”. But that’s normal for kids his age.

Sean: Yeah one minute I’m his favorite person in the world. The next, he’s off doing God knows what, and doesn’t want me “bossing him around”. You know how it is.

Joey: Can’t say I do. Grew up in a house with three older sisters. Guess I must have been the annoying one. Daniel’s lucky to have you looking out for him. Must be tough sometimes.

Sean: Oh you have no idea.

[Joey claps Sean’s shoulder, he feels a jolt shooting up his spine, everything goes white] 

(Sean sees a door marked: “Miranda A. Connolly, Hospital Director”)

Connolly: You’ve been a valuable asset to this hospital. Stellar feedback from all of your patients and attendings.

Joey: I sense a “but” coming.

Connolly: But, given the dubious circumstances surrounding your transfer and your past involvement with the law. The Board thinks it might be better for one of the other nurses to take this spot.

Joey: Please. I’ve got a kid on the way. We just bought our first house. Can you at least consider bumping up my pay? I haven’t gotten a real raise since I started here. There are kids coming out of nursing school that make what I make!

Connolly: The hospital has limited resources as it is, and the State just slashed our funding again. I just can’t justify raising anyone’s salary right now.

Joey: I break my back for this hospital, work extra shifts, get to know the patients. You promised me at the annual review that I’d-

Connolly: That was before this new information came to light. I’m sorry Joseph, maybe next year.

[Sean snaps out of his trance]

Joey: Sean? Sean are you okay?

Sean: Sorry, Guess I spaced out. Must just be the medication.

Joey: I can have the doctor come by and adjust your dosage.

Sean: I’m fine Joey. I swear. Weren’t you about to take lunch?

Joey: Oh right. We’ll pick this up later.

[Joey leaves the room, looking slightly puzzled.]

Sean: (thinking) W-what what was that? A dream? But It felt so… real.

[Sean takes out his phone and enters the name of the hospital, He finds their website. Under the ‘About’ section he scrolls to the Executive team bio. There is a photo of the woman he saw in the vision followed by a small blurb]

“Miranda A. Connolly is the President and Chief Director of Mt. Cedar General Hospital. She was appointed back in 2016 as Associate Director and has since made ground-breaking changes to the field of medicine and medical care. Under her leadership, this hospital was able to expand greatly, hiring new diverse staff members and vastly improving quality of care for all its patients.”

Sean: (thinking) Holy shit… it’s real. Does that mean I…?

Daniel: Hey Sean! What you looking at?

Sean: Dude! Don’t sneak up on me like that!

Daniel: I wasn’t sneaking. I was practicing my stealth!

Sean: Yeah sure.

Daniel: Are you looking at the new Playbox Pro? My birthday is right around the corner you know.

Sean: Birthday? It’s still January!

Daniel: Never too early to start preparing.

Sean: (rolling eyes) Yeah cuz everything’s always about you.

Daniel: Oooh I bet you were watching those dirty videos again. I’m tellin’ grandpa!

Sean: Hey hands off my phone you little-

[Daniel tries to grab Sean’s phone. Sean wrests his hand away. There is another a jolt]

[Daniel stands in front of the vending machine, staring at the jumbo chock-o-crisp. He looks around to check that the coast is clear. Then he waves his hand causing the chock-o-crisp to fall off the rack and into the dispenser slot.He gleefully retrieves it and devours the candy bar in a matter of seconds]

Sean: Dude, I told you not to eat any more chock-o-crisps! Do you want another trip to the dentist?

Daniel: What are you talking about? I haven’t had one in weeks!

Sean: Yeah sure. So you didn’t pig out at the vending machine before coming in here?

Daniel: How did you-

Sean: Maybe I have magic powers or maybe… you’ve still got crumbs on your collar.

Daniel: Aw, damn it. Promise you won’t tell grandpa.

Sean: Oh so you can tell on me but I can’t tell on you?

Daniel: (smugly) Exactly.

Sean: C’mere ya little shit!

Daniel: Sean stop! Ha that tickles. Quit it!

(After their little bout, Daniel curls up next to Sean, resting his head on Sean’s lap. Sean ruffles Daniel’s hair absentmindedly)

Sean: You ever wish you were… you know “normal” again?

Daniel: You mean not have my powers? Nah. They’re a part of me now. Besides, being normal is overrated.

Sean: (chuckles) I guess it is. But do you ever get that feeling like you thought you wanted something for a really long time but when you finally get it, it nothing like you thought it’d be?

Daniel: Uhhh… you mean like how I begged grandma to get me a PlayBox Live Subscription, but then the exclusives turned out to be shit? And now I have to act like I love it?

Sean: Yeah something like that.

Daniel: (yawns) Meh I’ll just ask for a gaming PC for my birthday.

Sean: Dude you’re like the greediest ten year-old I know.

Daniel: How many ten year-olds do you know?

Sean: Uh… just you and Chris.

Daniel: So, you want me to be more like Chris?

Sean: Wouldn’t hurt.

Daniel: (imitating Chris) “Only the purest of hearts may wield the power of Captain Spirit!”

Sean: Guess that rules you out.

Daniel: (playfully) Shut up.

DAY THREE

Doctor: Okay Mr.Diaz. I want you to follow the light. Look to your right, up and to the right. Good, good, excellent pupil response.  Now look at the chart, cover your right eye and read this line.

Sean: Uh… A, O, E, P… T? Sorry I can’t really make out the last one.

Doctor: That’s okay, it takes time.

Doctor: Now this is probably the last thing you want to hear, but I recommend that you wear a patch over your right eye. It’ll be temporary of course, just until you learn to see with your left eye again.

Sean: (laughs dryly) And here I thought my seafaring days were behind me.

Doctor: You know… pirate actually wore patches so their eyes could easily adjust to the darkness and see below deck- Sorry my son’s going through a pirate phase.

Sean: I know the feeling. My little brother’s been through every phase imaginable.

Doctor: Kids, you gotta treasure every moment. Because before you know it, they’ll be all grown up, ready to go off on their own. Look at me, rambling on. Anyway, I signed your discharged papers. They’ll schedule you for some outpatient care in the coming months.You’re almost ready to go. 

Sean: Sounds good.

Doctor: And you’re sure you don’t want to get do something about that nasty scar? A good-looking kid like you, it would be a shame to-

Sean: That’s okay, I think I’ll keep it… as a reminder.

Doctor: Alright but if you ever change your mind, I could refer you to a great plastic surgeon.

Sean: Thanks Doc, for everything.

Doctor: The pleasure’s all mine, Mr.Diaz. The groundwork we laid here could help hundreds of other patients in the future. We are making history. Your nurse should be along in a moment to help you get discharged.

[Sean sits in quiet contemplation. Reflecting on his dreams and new “vision”]

Sean (thinking): Be careful what you wish for... 

Joey: Looks like everything’s good to go. Remember to use your eye-drops-

Sean: Twice a day. Yeah Joey, I know.

Joey: Guess it’s goodbye again. Don’t be a stranger this time okay?

Sean: I won’t.

Joey: Here’s my number. Call me if ever need professional advice or just want to shoot the shit.

Sean: Thanks Joey. Let me know how everything goes with the baby.

Joey: Oh don’t you worry about that. Soon I’ll be blowing up your phone with pictures.

Sean: Haha can’t wait.

Joey: Now hospital policy says I gotta wheel your ass outta here. For liability reasons.

Sean: At least it’ll be a smoother exit than last time.

Joey: (laughs) Get in the chair smart-ass.

Beaver Creek, One Week Later

Sean: Okay, you ready?

Daniel: (takes deep breath) Alright. Show it to me.

Sean: So… how does it look?

Daniel: Looks… normal.

Sean: You almost sound disappointed. Were you expecting a bionic eye or something?

Daniel: No. I just… it looks good. I like the scar; makes you look extra tough.

Sean: You think so?

Daniel: Yeah… totally badass!

Sean: Thanks, enano.

Daniel: You need a new codename, like Scarred Wolf or Deadshot Diaz!

Sean: Let’s leave the nicknames up to Chris.

Daniel: Hey! I make up awesome names too!

Sean: Whatever you say,“Superwolf”

[jarofrebuke-transcripts]

Jar of Rebuke Episode 3 Unofficial Transcript

Season 1 Episode 3: Cherry Tobacco

INTRO

The following audio recording is classified documentation for Case [audio distortion] with the Enclosure. Unauthorized access to this information will lead to immediate intervention. Progress further if proper clearance has been given.

JARED

I really need to get into the habit of doing this more often. Dr. Daman keeps asking how this is going, but I rarely have anything to tell her that she seems to want to hear. She really wants me to do this regularly, but sitting at my desk with a sore back didn't sound too appealing, especially if I didn't have to. Even though my back is feeling a bit better after the snipe hunt tournament incident, I'm actually recording this from a bed and breakfast. And I'm tired. Not even a vacation, it's more of a work trip. Not terribly much has happened since my last update. Darius's birthday was recently. He had a little get-together with some friends and he even invited me along, which was really nice. I made sure to get there a little early especially since it was a day off of work for me. We met up at Waytooth, a restaurant that his dads and him frequent often. I got there and just sat outside for a bit fiddling on my phone, then Darius showed up. He was so excited for the party, I could tell. He smiled the second we made eye contact. He jogged over to me and we talked for a bit. The weather is still pretty nice, it's finally starting to get chillier, which is actually nicer, I prefer the layers. So we sat outside and enjoyed the weather as we talked until his other friends showed up. They were all nice, but I kind of stuck by Darius most of the day since he was the only one that I really knew.

After lunch, we all went to a drive-in theater that they've got set up here in town, which is mostly just a projector and a large painted brick wall, but it was still a nice time. His friends all sat in different cars as we watched the movie, but Darius and I sat in the bed of his truck and ate snacks that he had packed. Darius is a really good cook. He's learning a lot of cool stuff from that class he's taking. I gave him a little gift, of course. Well, two things. I got him a new wrench set since he'd been saying that he needed a new one, his old one's been a bit worn down for a while. Uh, gifts to give him in front of his friends, since he really plays up the whole inheriting the family farm shtick around them. But we, when we were in his truck, just the two of us, I gave him his second gift. He said he had really gotten into cross stitching recently and he seemed a little embarrassed about it. But I wanted him to know that I thought that was interesting, so I got him a little pack of stitching patterns and some thread organizers. I wasn't sure what kind of patterns he'd like, so I just got him a couple of different kinds. He was quiet for a few moments after he opened that gift and I kind of panicked for a moment honestly. But he then gave me a really big smile and put his hand on my shoulder. He gave me a really soft thank you and I told him it was my pleasure, as long as he made me something. It was an obvious joke, at least I hoped it was obvious. But he asked what I'd want. I told him I like birds. Birds have so much freedom to just fly around and always sing such pretty songs. Besides geese, I don't like geese. He asked me if I had any favorites. I said I like blue jays. Major assholes, but beautiful. He laughed and he said he'd give it his best shot, but I told him that I’d hang up anything he made me. And that was about it. We barely watched the movie, we spent most of the time quietly talking actually.

What else have I done? Well, Dr. Castillo and I went and investigated the energy signatures from the cornfields after Todd told us to do so and you know what we found? Corn. That's it. Oh, and more corn! No energy spikes, no signs of tomfoolery of the natural or supernatural kind, nothing. It was almost strange how untouched by supernatural energies it seemed. We investigated during the day and at night. No changes. So we've been keeping tabs on the fields but nothing that's been too notable has happened when we're out there. We've been passing a lot of our time in the labs reorganizing files going over the energy spikes that have been recorded and theorizing what we could possibly be dealing with there. But until we can further examine it, there is not much we can do. Ever since they replaced my old lab partner my workload has been much lighter. I actually prefer to be busy than bored, and I think Dr. Castillo isn't used to having idle hands either. They only ever give me small menial tasks and it's becoming more annoying than anything else. But I did recently see my old lab partner, Dr. Lomax in the hall this morning. I've seen them in passing a few times but we haven't been able to catch up much since the sudden change. Dr. Lomax also has no idea why they got suddenly switched to a different lab. Seems that none of us know why the change was made. All Todd said was “just had to rearrange some staff, don't worry about it!”

Speaking of, before I left work today, I got another email from Todd. Typically his emails are him asking us to do something and then him talking himself up for multiple paragraphs and making it seem like it should be a privilege to do what he's asking you to do. But this email was him actually giving me lodging information for the local inn, and explaining that I had to pack up a bag and go. They apparently planned to do renovations or something on my house due to a concern of faulty plumbing. I'd mentioned to Dr. Daman about the less-than-stellar heating system when I wanted to take a bath or do dishes, but I didn't expect anyone to actually do anything about it. But a night without weird tapping on my door sounded nice, and even though I replied to the email basically saying “oh no, you really don't have to, I can live with it”, Todd insisted. I could just see his smug smile on the other side of the screen. He'll subtly hold it over my head for later, but the rule of one denial for good polite measure then acceptance of an offer had been met and I was off home to pack a bag. And here I am now.

The Chronicle Inn bed and breakfast is run by an older married couple, Ester and Laura. I'd met them a few times before my stay here but I hadn't spent much time with them. This place is mostly a restaurant and homemade goods store rather than an inn, considering we don't get many outsiders who stay here any longer than to grab a bite to eat and get gas. But for times like these it's nice to have an inn available. Even if it's only a few rooms, it's much better than staying at the facilities that the enclosure has on site. Work would have likely put me into a temporary on-site lodging space if the inn wasn't available. To be honest I'm surprised they actually put me in the end instead of just tossing me into some temp lodging room for a night. Maybe they remembered how much I hate that place. It's nearly impossible to sleep with the buzzing lights and the beds really aren't made for comfort and the bathrooms are all so claustrophobic. I swear, they make that place as uncomfortable as possible so people want to leave. That, or they just skimped on the prices for a comfortable setup to focus the money elsewhere at the Enclosure. I'd believe that. Though maybe they booked me at this place to have me investigate something while I'm here. Can't even enjoy this nice little one-night getaway, huh? They expect me to work? Do they plan to pay me for looking into things overnight? Probably not, not like they ever pay me for the full work I do anyways.

The room I’m in is kinda known for weird happenings. The whole town knows but there's not a huge fuss over it. No one's died from it, so why be too concerned? Ester warned me about these weird happenings while I was checking in. There's word of a spirit that haunts the upper floor of the building. Been here for as long as anyone can recall. She explained it all to me with a smile and a jovial tone, so she doesn't seem concerned. After the literal run-in with the deer a few weeks ago, I really just wanted some rest. Her wife Laura told me that they serve breakfast at 7 am but they'll be at the desk to take my key as early as 6. Thankfully tomorrow my shift starts at 8 instead of the usual 6 so I might be able to actually get some real food in me before work.

Didn't take me too long to get up here and settled in. I decided to just relax today instead of going out into town. So I did some reading in bed. Not that I could really focus much, the bed here is nice and cozy, but there's definitely a vibe about it. The room, not the bed. The rest of the inn is very homey, lived in, but in a good way. But the second I got to the top of the stairs it was like the air got barely but still noticeably cooler. When I came into the room I saw a little baggie of homemade beef jerky that Ester made and gave me. She's known around town for her jerkies and her woodwork. She's always so hands-on with everything she makes, whether it's snacks or a new set of chairs. She may have actually made the chair I'm sitting in right now, actually. I sat outside for a bit. There's a nice balcony that looks over some gardens and in the far distance I can see the vast fields. The evening felt so nice and I could see the little lightning bugs flying around as I got darker. I've always liked watching their dances. I often watch kids running around catching them in jars and then letting them all go just minutes later, but I prefer to watch them do their own thing out in nature. I watched the stars and the flicking lights of the lightning bugs for a bit, sipped on some sweet tea that Laura had brewed and offered me, ate some of the jerky that Ester made, and relaxed. I let my mind wander to wherever it went off to which as usual was all over the place. But no tapping on the doors, no weird deer staring at me, it was nice. But I keep feeling like something, or someone, is watching me. I feel that pretty often but this is different. It feels closer, if that makes sense. Like right now I'm sitting in a plush chair by the window in the room looking over the nice herb garden out back. The stars are still twinkling, the wind is just slightly blowing, and I've been able to crack the window open for some breeze. But I feel like something is watching me from the doorway. I swear to gods if I turn around and someone is standing there... (deep inhale) nope, nothing.

When Ester was telling me about what I could possibly expect, she said that a spirit had been wandering around in the room I'm staying in. Sometimes the spirit watches people. Sometimes the spirit just walks around and ignores the tenants. Must depend on her mood. But apparently something about the blue lamp by the bedside table really draws her out. Considering my line of work, and that my boss sent me here, I'm obviously going to turn on the light. Even if she's not rumored to be particularly dangerous, if they're just wanting to keep me busy then I could see Todd throwing me here to look into it a bit more. Okay. Hold on, give me a sec, let me see what happens. [lamp clicks on] It's a pretty light. I don't think I've seen a light this shade of blue outside of some of the lights they put up around town in the winter. It's nice. Oh, uh... hello? I don't know if she can hear me but I do see someone standing by the door, on the other side of the room, and um, [sniffs] tobacco?

THE BLUE LADY

I can hear you just fine.

JARED

[startled] Ah! Sorry about that. how are you?

THE BLUE LADY

Why do you ask?

JARED

Manners, I guess? Should I ask- who are you?

THE BLUE LADY

I don't think it really matters now. Besides, it's better I ask who you are.

JARED

Oh, uh, Dr. Jared Hel. I'm a scientist with the Enclosure on the edge of town. I…

THE BLUE LADY

WHO you are, not what you are. I know what you are.

JARED

...What I am is a person who would like to get some rest.

THE BLUE LADY

No, what you are is different. At least different from what I remember.

JARED

From what you remember? Have we met before?

THE BLUE LADY

Not exactly. “Met” isn't the word I would use. But we've interacted.

JARED

How so..?

THE BLUE LADY

I've watched you from afar, I've seen what you do. I guess our paths have more indirectly crossed.

JARED

I've never studied you before. You're not exactly the kind of thing that the enclosure typically sends me to study.

THE BLUE LADY

Then why are you here?

JARED

Well, work decided to fix the plumbing in my house so they put me up here. To get some rest.

THE BLUE LADY

And yet you're not here to study me?

JARED

Well that's actually unclear, I guess. I mean, if they're going to book me in the most haunted room at an inn, I guess they're having me investigate. Or Todd's just messing with me. That seems like something he'd pull.

THE BLUE LADY

Messing with you? [scoffs] When did you start putting up with the antics of people like that?

JARED

Okay, I'm gonna be upfront- if we met more than two years ago I have zero memory of any of that time. So this vague, cryptic talk is going to get you nowhere.

THE BLUE LADY

What are you doing with that thing?

JARED

[rustling sound] This it's an audio journal. It takes less focus and energy than writing. Are you just gonna keep staring at me or..?

THE BLUE LADY

People don't usually understand me this well for full conversations, so it has been quite a while. It isn't as if Ester and Laura can clearly understand me, even if they have tried.

JARED

How long have you been here?

THE BLUE LADY

Longer than I can remember. The rumor is that I've been here since the establishment of this town, whenever that may have been.

JARED

And when did we meet? I mean interact indirectly.

THE BLUE LADY

For the first time? It was many, many years ago. But again, you've certainly changed.

JARED

But again, I don't remember. You keep saying that and, [winces in pain] oh god my head!

THE BLUE LADY

We won't be getting very far right now.

JARED

No wait wait wait no hold on hold on.... and she's gone. [slams fist on table] Damn it! Why won't anyone just tell me anything outright? Oh my head... it's always like this. They disappear for a while and then come back so suddenly. Oh I hate this flesh prison! I'm done recording for now I need to try and nurse this headache now and recover from whatever the hell… oh it seems she left a little gift. Some blue ribbon? It's maybe four or five inches long, a little frayed at the ends. It's the same color as the lamp. There's something written on it. The handwriting's a bit hard to read but it looks like “you need to remember”. Remember what? How am I supposed to remember if no one ever tells me anything? Everyone always pushes me to try and remember but there's nothing to remember if they're making me grasp at thin air! They say they support me, they say they want to help, but what do they do to help, huh? All of this performative support is getting me nowhere. [facing away from recorder] And how is this ribbon supposed to help? You couldn't have given me something a little less vague? [groans] Why is everyone always so damn vague? Are they scared to just say something concrete? Why can't anyone ever give me a straight answer! No, it's fine. It's fine. I'm just… I'm going to go to bed. Right. I'm going to get some sleep. No tapping, no knocking, just sleep. I'm gonna go turn off the lamp and get some rest. Right. Ugh. Whatever. This is Dr. Jared Hel, signing off, I guess.

OUTRO

Jar of Rebuke is written and produced by Casper Oliver, who is also the voice of Dr. Jared Hel. Voice of The Blue Lady provided by Misha Bakshi. The intro is read by Vanessa Rosengrant, and credits are read by Ashley Craft, who has created the podcast official graphics. Music was created by Luke Menniss, spelled m-e-n-n-i-s-s, who you can find and support on Bandcamp, Spotify and Twitch. Find us on Twitter, Instagram and anywhere else you get your podcast fix for more Jar of Rebuke and also to get updates on upcoming official merch for our show. Support projects by this crew on Patreon to further other queer-lead projects and get neat perks. All donations are appreciated and will grant further clearance to special Jar of Rebuke content. You can also make one-time donations on Ko-fi. And special thanks to our patreon supporters Becky Thompson, Perry Bruns, and Tristan Fraud.

[fandom-frenzy]

I have already forgotten the name of this movie. Christmas something. Love? I dunno. It was a short two word one.

Cynthia (I do remember her name though! Props.) is heading out to meet her boyfriend of 5 months before they head to her family’s farm ✔️ for two week. But, uh oh, he’s not so sure about them as a couple! ✔️ She heads out in despair and calls her coworker and apparently best friend? ✔️ who comes over to comfort her. He’s obviously in love ✔️ but hasn’t told her.

Dead mom! ✔️ And her sister is getting married during this time also ✔️ . So she brings the coworker with her as the plus one. ✔️ 

Coworker is making his way towards being a silver fox which I appreciate. Oh no, apparently some guy from her old town is hung up on her ✔️ because he uses his cop privileges to pull her over and say high. So we can bet that he is there to stoke up the jealousy opportunities. Copbuddy is much more the standard Hallmark type (oh, he’s the first boyfriend ✔️ ) so I’ll take budding silver fox please.

I guess she’s a writer. Is this a new movie or? Writing profession was about 4 years ago. What with the wedding planning and the dead mom they haven’t decorated for Christmas so Cynthia has to go find all the things ✔️ . And they run into another ex boyfriend. ✔️ More mild flirting. There are too many men! which one will she start to go for before ultimately ending up with Liam?

Cookie making! ✔️

Oh, the plot appeared! She got a surprise gift, a literal partridge and pear tree. And now I remember that the movie is called 12 gifts of Christmas so I was way off before. And the gift is anonymous but apparently from “her one true love” ✔️ .

She found her mom’s old wedding dress ✔️ .It definitely was not. It is far too modernly stylish to have belonged to a woman who got married in the 70′s/80s. Oh, and apparently the sister isn’t wearing a wedding gown, she’s just got a sensible dress. She is not a romantic, unlike the main character ✔️ .

Oh no, she now got two literal doves. Why. Why would someone be gifting birds. We already know from all the analysis that this is a Bad Idea. Ooh! I smell an old person romance. The owner of the pet shop is giving sentimental eyes to the widowed dad. Copbeau is mentioning birds suspiciously. And she did get the three hens. I really hope the coworker did not do this because I expect better of him.

Oh thank goodness. The four calling birds are fake ones.

Copbeau is again making very strong comments about him being the guy while she’s out with other old ex convinced he’s the guy. Turns out he’s actually a priest now so that’s a nice twist!

She’s now convinced the gifts are from her ex who broke up with her at the beginning of the movie. While everyone else around her is like “it’s the cop. the cop is doing it.” So she drives back to the city to confront him. GIRL. Naturally he has another girl there ✔️ .

The geese are embroidered on pillows. Stellar idea. The 7 is a champagne called seven swans. Tripping and falling led to A Moment. ✔️ 

Dad is giving Liam tips about how to date by vaguely framing it as chess advice ✔️ .

Wow, copbeau really goes for the big gestures. First date and he brought a small choir to sing carols and half a dozen red roses. Chill my man. But now he seems surprised when she mentions gifts. But either way he’s going to run with it and kiss her after the date.

The maids a milking are actual women dressed like milkmaids with pails and everything.

“We both just want her to be happy.” ✔️ 

They’re at a community dance. I miss swing dancing so much. I hate 2020.

Hm, Liam is giving off “I got you the presents” vibes and I’m a little disappointed. But not surprised. Of course the friend is going to do the big romantic gesture. ✔️. Haha, one of the nine ladies dancing is Liam’s old serious girlfriend. Jealousy Glares the other way! ✔️

There’s a very slight off chance that the gifts are coming from the sister’s fiancee and they’re for her. But it’s not going to be since there’s a letter at the end that must be Liam passionately describing his love.

She’s getting miffed at copbeau because he doesn’t know the 12 days song. And then walked out while her dad was giving a toast at the rehearsal dinner. ✔️ And the Realized the Truth About Her Feelings! ✔️ Well, no apparently.

Aha! Liam did not send the gifts. (It will be the fiance). But she asked him about it in the worst way. Basically implying he was the only person left. So he walks out because he’s not gonna do that. ✔️ This way he’ll be able to show up last minute at the wedding! The sadness. The drama.

The sister is having her own little hallmark story on the side.

Day 12! The letter! Oh my gosh. It’s all been for the dad. The mom set it up before she died. I love it. And now Cynthia is having a Realization about herself again. Now she must do a grand romantic gesture and chase after the bus. ✔️ They love each other! ✔️

Apparently the sister has changed her mind and is now wearing the mom’s old dress. Good thing it needed no alterations. ✔️ 

.

.

.

Someone explain to me why the maids a milking and lords a leaping and ladies dancing are at the wedding reception.

8/10 the gift plot gave it enough new interest and it wasn’t derailed by awful other things like the christmas calendar was

and in a plot twist none of you saw coming, I was wrong about being wrong about the title. It is, in fact My Christmas Love so I was right the first time and it is not 12 gifts of christmas, which is apparently actually a movie.

[bvdbones]

✧ ┆ (  dacre montgomery ,  twenty five ,  cis male ,  he / him  ) . I just saw  JESSE WILSON  running around Freeridge, I wonder what they’re up to? Maybe they’re busy working as a  PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY PLAYER . Either way, word around town is that they’re known for being  DAUNTLESS , but also  RESTIVE  but I wouldn’t be so quick to judge them.

( &&. GENERAL )

full name: jesse eugene wilson

nicknames: jess, wilson

current age: twenty five

preferred pronouns: he/him

gender identity: cis male

sexual orientation: heteroflexible

marital status: single ( unless someone wants to snag his gf wc ;)) )

zodiac sign: aquarius

moral alignment: lawful good

language(s) spoken: english, broken french

occupation: professional hockey player

( &&. PHYSICAL )

looks like: dacre montgomery

height: 5′11″

weight: 170 lbs

hair color: brown

eye color: blue

tattoo(s): see here

scar(s): several small scars over his legs, arms, and face from work, as well as a thick scar across his left knee from splitting it open a little when he was a kid

dominant hand: ambidextrous  

distinguishing features: big blue eyes, square jaw

( &&. PERSONALITY )

positive traits: altruistic, boisterous, dauntless 

negative traits: restive, temerarious, headstrong

dominant or submissive?: dominant

emotional, logical or both: emotional

book smart or street smart: both

introvert or extrovert: in between, a little more extrovert

optimist or pessimist: both

spontaneous or structured: spontaneous

instinctual or logical: instinctual

expensive or inexpensive: inexpensive

generous or stingy: generous

polite or rude: polite

day or a night: day

( &&. BACKGROUND )

born and raised in nova scotia, this feller’s a truehearted maritimer

his older brother played with sydney crosby for the cole harbour timbits team. jesse later joined the same team when he was old enough

very much the boy next door / golden boy vibes. he loves his mama, looks up to his dad, has a healthy relationship with his older bro. was always a good kid with decent school marks and a passion for sports

pretty popular while in school, had a high school sweetheart who everyone thought he would marry, volunteered to help coach timbits hockey a couple times.

he played hockey all through his childhood and adolescence years, went on to study kinesiology in college and played hockey on the school’s team. with stellar stats and performance, he was later scouted and recruited into the nhl

playing for a few different teams through trade, jesse has moved around canada and the states, now residing in freeridge ( unsure if it will be permanent or not, depending on where his career takes him )

this is so short compared to the other 2 but im so tired im sorRY ill prob add more later

( &&. WANTED CONNS )

ex girlfriend  hailey ives

a gal he just started dating this year  charlotte dashep

fellow hockey players / teammates yoooo pls

listen ..... i’m tired i’ll add more later but i’m lit up for anything / everything so pls feel free to hmu if you have any ideas !

[elshalarossa]

Hello I'm very excited I'm going on my first trip to the States on my own and am visiting Austin and New Orleans. I should be in New Orleans about a week Do you have any must sees and dos suggestions? Thank you so much if you are able to suggest a couple of things!

Yay, how exciting! Two very fun cities to visit. I haven’t lived there in almost ten years now… but a lot of my favorite spots are still alive and kicking! Here’s a few suggestions, poached from a list I created to share with my wedding guests a few years back: 

This is not an exhaustive list by any means – you can spin around blindfolded in NOLA, start walking, and hit a good restaurant or a fun bar.  But these are some places I love to visit while I’m there! 

Eats:

- Commander’s Palace Classic, upscale New Orleans favorite for special occasions. Go for lunch (11:30-2:00).  Portions are still generous, it’s far less pricey than dinner, and… I mean… 25¢ martinis… hard to argue with that. Also please note the dress code. They take it very seriously.

-Origami http://sushinola.com/origami_new_orleans_sushi_menu-2/>Best. Sushi. Ever.  Not super authentic Japanese, but FANTASTIC cajun fusion. Get the cajun spiced tuna tataki, and the snowcrab stuffed mushrooms.

- Jacques-Imo’s If I had to pick a favorite place to bring out-of-town friends this would absolutely be it. Southern-style comfort food with a Cajun twist. Shrimp and Alligator Cheesecake. SHRIMP AND ALLIGATOR CHEESECAKE. Just trust me. I believe they only accept reservations for parties of 6 or more, so either bring your friends or come early. The line gets insane.

- Cochon The name means “Pig.”  This is not the place for vegetarians. Nor those who keep Kosher. If you don’t have the time or inclination for a sit-down meal, you can also get STELLAR sandwiches at the butcher next door…

- Port of Call Best burger joint in town. Show up early, especially on the weekends, or you’ll be waiting for a while. Get a drink while you wait! Get three! Get drunk! The cocktails mean business.  Not for lightweights. Be warned. Get yourself a Monsoon.

- Superior Seafood The name is accurate. FROZEN FRENCH 75’s. It’s on St Charles Avenue, so you could take a streetcar ride to have a lovely lunch there. 50 cent oysters and half priced drinks at happy hour!

- La Boca Absolutely amazing Argentinian Steak House. I have never enjoyed steak more than I have at this restaurant. Never. I’m pretty sure Mr Staark agreed to marry me largely because this is where I took him on our first date. (And I’m only sort of kidding. ;-) )

- The Ruby Slipper https://www.therubyslippercafe.net/> There are multiple locations for this diner-style cafe. A fucking FANTASTIC brunch option, for cheap.  The Eggs Cochon is orgasmic. The breakfast cocktails are FAB. Great for hangovers.

Sips: While there are many, many great bars all over the city, these are my favorites.

- The Columns Hotel Aside from being my wedding venue, and v sentimental for me, this hotel boasts a bar with one of the best bloody marys you will ever drink.

- Carousel Bar & Lounge The Hotel Monteleone has the famous Carousel Bar, which rotates around the room as you drink. It’s a traditional tourist stop, but actually quite lovely! Very traditional, old-school New Orleans vibe.

- Pirate’s Alley Cafe and Absinthe HouseTucked away behind the St Louis Cathedral, this place just feels like going back in time. Wonderful outdoor courtyard seating, a little bit off the beaten path, despite being in the middle of the Quarter!

- The Country Club Gay bar with a swimming pool.  And two hot tubs. Yup.

Shopping:

- Trashy Diva VINTAGE EVERYTHING! And there are lots of fun quirky shops all around that area of Magazine street, too. Fun exploring!

- French Market Get your souvenirs here. :) I recommend a copy of the River Road Cookbook– it’s a southern staple! (Put together by the Junior League of Baton Rouge many years ago, it has EVERYONE’s Grandma’s best recipes in it.)

Fun Stuff:

- World War II Museum My favorite “tourist” activity in town. Educational, very well-maintained. They also have a theater with shows and a delicious 1940’s style diner inside.

- Audubon Zoo/Aquarium of the Americas/Insectarium Our zoo is cheaper and better than the Bronx zoo, if you’re into that sort of thing. There are Mississippi Riverboat cruises that go between the Aquarium, downtown, and the Zoo, uptown. I have never been to the insectarium (it opened shortly after I moved to NYC) but everyone says it’s amazing.

- Haunted History Tours Silly yet wonderful walking tours that tell the history of allegedly haunted buildings in the French Quarter. If the weather’s nice, it’s a great way to spend an evening!

- Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 and St. Louis Cemetery No. 1Check out a cemetery while you’re there. They’re creepy and strangely beautiful. If you do go to Commander’s Palace, there’s a great one across the street!

HAVE ALL THE FUN. TELL MY CITY I MISS HER!!!!!  

[chicagoindiecritics]

New from Jeff York on The Establishing Shot: “I USED TO GO HERE” FINDS THE FRESH IN THE “OLD SCHOOL”

Vaulted author Thomas Wolfe famously wrote You Can’t Go Home Again but cinema seems to absolutely adore stories about people who try. In I USED TO GO HERE, the naif who thinks she can reclaim past glory is a 35-year-old writer named Kate (Gillian Jacobs). Her life is unraveling so she returns to her alma mater, hoping to find some sort of solace there to soothe her savaged ego. The stunted adult who needs to grow up is a familiar trope to even the casual filmgoer, explored in everything from  GROUNDHOG DAY or BRIDESMAIDS, and while writer/director Kris Rey hasn’t made a gem quite as special as those classics, her new film nonetheless shines brightly.

As the story starts, novelist Kate has had her first book published but it’s bombing in the marketplace. So much so that her literary agents have canceled the publicity tour for the tome. Kate’s already in the doldrums, having recently broken off an engagement, and this setback crushes her fragile ego. Feeling alone and more than a little desperate, she heads to her alma mater to give a book reading there, thinking that her return as a minor celebrity will kickstart her confidence.

Kate is a self-saboteur however, finding fault in almost every situation and taking self-deprecation to extremes. When college folk at the University of Illinois – Carbondale compliment her on her book, she’s far too quick to trash its less than stellar jacket art. Put up at a bed & breakfast, Kate openly bemoans that it’s not an Airbnb. Sure, she may throw her bitter asides away with aplomb, but her negative vibe rubs everyone the wrong way. Even her back-home preggo sister Laura (Zoe Chao) is exasperated as she haplessly tries to cajole her into a good place.

As an actress, Jacobs is wise to not play Kate too disgruntled, though there is a bit of a Larry David feel to her holier-than-thou misanthrope.  Kate is quite unlikeable at times, rolling her eyes, snidely commenting on the minutiae around her, and openly pining for the now married professor (Jemaine Clement) she crushed on back in the day. She’s even a pickled pill when it comes to guiding  students like April (Hannah Marks) coming to her for advice. Her wisdom is doled out with healthy dashes of acrimony.

But just when one might think that the film might be zigging Kate towards an affair with her prof or ultimately becoming besties with sexpot April, the story nicely zags. Kate ends up becoming friends with a mix of students instead that she meets at the house she used to live on campus. She bonds with them through a series of casual adventures that change her for the better (of course) and keep the movie from ever feeling stale.

Along the way, Rey has a field day directing the talented cast she’s put together to play the host of quirky characters she’s written. Relative newcomers Brandon Daley, Rammel Chan, Josh Wiggins, Khloe Janel, and Forrest Goodluck all graduate with comedic honors as they play the students that Kate befriends.

Clement is hilariously droll as you’d expect, sometimes getting huge laughs just standing there staring at a dingaling student. Jorma Taccone stands out too in a couple of hilarious scenes as well. He’s also given the most outrageous line in Rey’s script, an admission about self-pleasure that is a jaw-dropper. Taccone is on a roll this summer, as he and his Lonely Island cohorts Andy Samberg and Akiva Shaffer helped produce this sharp film opening on VOD today, as well as Max Barbakow’s hit comedy film PALM SPRINGS that dropped on Hulu subscribers last month.

Jacobs’ sly performance is mostly a reactive one and she’s expert at conveying so much with how she holds her curt mouth or nonplussed eyelids. There’s a touch of menace in those eyes of hers too – she could almost be Emma Stone’s bitter sister.  Despite Kate’s grievances, Jacobs makes us care for her as she earns her degree from the school of hard knocks. Back-to-school comedies are nothing new on the big or small screen, but thanks to Rey, Jacobs, and a fresh and funny cast, I USED TO GO HERE manages to make “old school” feel surprisingly new.

from The Establishing Shot https://ift.tt/2DLDgRO via IFTTT

from WordPress https://ift.tt/2PBLBKJ via IFTTT

[musicoccurred]

Tedeschi Trucks Band

Who: Tedeschi Trucks Band Where: Tuscaloosa Amphitheater When: June 30, 2018

Aside from being generally unqualified to write period. I'm uniquely unqualified to write a review of the stellar Tedeschi Trucks Band. They have legions of devoted fans that travel to see them, following the band on multiple runs of shows. Taping and sharing, analyzing and dissecting the various performances. I can relate. As a Pearl Jam fan, I can spot like-minded folks a mile away, even with a band I'm relatively unfamiliar with. But it's my site and I love music so here we are. I've been familiar with TTB for ages, bands I like tour with them and people I like listen to them. It took my Father-in-law asking to check them out that spurred me to finally go. One of my favorite bands, the Greyhounds, were the opener and it was one of the finest nights of music I'd ever witnessed. Fast forward a couple months and they announced a show at the under-appreciated Tuscaloosa Amphitheater with the mighty Drive-By Truckers in tow and there was no doubt I'd be in attendance. One thing I've always admired about TTB, albeit from afar, is they take really good bands out on tour with them. That says a lot about their character, they don't simply drag some cheap band around the country, they promote less-famous but highly skilled artists. Giving them a chance to make some cash and spread their name a little more widely. As a music fan and frequent show-goer, I appreciate this on multiple levels.

TTB are a sight to behold, there's no less than ten, usually more on stage at any given time. Derek Trucks, despite his age, has been around for decades and had his own successful band. Susan Tedeschi had carved out an enviable career as a blues artist and when they got married they essentially merged the bands into a powerhouse soul outfit. Two drummers, a horn section, keys/organ and I hesitate to use the phrase background singers, as they all are accomplished singers that sing lead on several TTB songs. They perform the type of unclassifiable music that is near and dear to my heart. Not blues, not pure-soul, not rock, not jam but a mix of all. Truly Southern in sound.

The music gods smiled on us this blazing hot Saturday. My seats were in the upper bowl of the amphitheater in full direct-why-am-I-here Alabama sun. Fortunately, just as the fantastic Marcus King Band opened their set, it come up a cloud, as they say, and blocked the sun all the way to sunset. While on the subject. I have a confession to make, I hate outdoor shows. I just want to enjoy the music, I don't want to worry about weather or mosquitoes the size of Apache helicopters. When I can, I avoid outdoor shows whenever possible. After attending my fair share of summer music festivals set in the South I found myself asking why these weren't in October? I digress.

Regular readers will note that I just saw Patterson Hood a week prior to this show and wrote about it here. So, I was still glowing from that when I got to see the full Drive-By Truckers experience live and in color. As per usual, I was a little late to the DBT party, but I am driving the bus now. I love the crunchy sound, earnest lyrics and the shared connection with my hometown of Florence Alabama makes it that much better. The Truckers have that "any place, any time" vibe. Want them to open? No problem. They play like headliners everywhere they go. Highlight of the performance was when DBT invited music legend and Patterson's dad, David Hood and some guy named Derek Trucks to join them on stage for "Everybody Needs Love" by the late, great Tuscaloosa/North Alabama native Eddie Hinton. This is truly a great band, deserving of far more success than what they currently have. Although I suspect they are happy where they are.

TTB began the show with "Show Me," a Joe Tex cover, and right away the tightness of a band that size impresses. I asked my friend "have they been playing for two hours backstage?" Despite being quite jammy, the TTB don't play marathon shows, nor a large quantity of songs. However, they play long, elaborate songs that feature ridiculous musicianship and vocals to die for. I mentioned earlier my usual disdain for outdoor shows, particularly those in the brutal Alabama summer. Well pass the salt, I'm about to eat those words.. Once TTB settled in and the evening began to cool I was washed over by not only a soft breeze indicative of a distant summer storm but with a feeling that can only be had by witnessing incredible music amidst a sea of like-minded people outdoors. The Tuscaloosa Amphitheater is nestled against the Black Warrior river with an old elevated rail line sitting picturesquely behind it. As if on cue a train rumbled slowly along while the band played. You can't get that indoors.

Prior to creating TTB, Tedeschi toured extensively with BB King. In both shows I attended they performed "How Blue Can You Get" with Susan delivering a vocal performance that BB would certainly approve of. I must add, Susan Tedeschi has blown me away both times I've seen TTB perform. Yes, Derek Trucks is a wizard, yes, the band destroys. But she commands that stage with a powerful voice that just drips authenticity, and she can shred on the guitar whenever she feels like it. We need more Tedeschi's in this world. 

Highlights of the night for me, Eddie Hinton tribute, the train rolling through and forgetting all my troubles during four hours of glorious live music.

-JS

[houstonlocalus-blog]

Glamorous Glue: The Best of The Week

Morrissey. Photo: Jason Jordan

  This week brings in an appearance by English legend Morrissey alongside sets from acts like Killswitch Engage, Madeon and Loudon Wainwright III while a slew of locals, including 30 Foot Fall and Fox Parlor, help fill in the gaps. Houston, here’s how to plan the next seven days.

  On Wednesday you can begin at Station Museum of Contemporary Art for the Station Sound Series.  This edition headlined by Houston’s Colin Hedrick of Splendid Emblem will also feature performances from Edison Carhuaricra of Peru’s Colores En Espiral, Megan Easley and more.  There’s more information here for the all ages event that has doors at 6:30 pm and it’s 100% FREE.

  If that’s not your thing then you can head upstairs at White Oak Music Hall when indie pop duo and married couple Tennis bring their infectious sounds to town.  Originally from Colorado, these two make songs that are hard not to like and their latest release Yours Conditionally is almost like modern day ABBA.  The indie pop rock of Kansas City’s The Greeting Committee will be on as direct support and openers for the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $13 and $17.

  Ku Egenti. Photo: Daniel Paniagua

  At Improv you can get your laugh on with your “favorite African” when Ku Egenti swings by to headline the famed club.  Ku is pretty much the American dream, his jokes are always on point, and the fact that this is his first headlining gig at the club and his DVD taping, means that it will more than likely be packed.  Roxxy Haze, Tressa Eleby, Stacy Anderson, and more will all be there as well for the 18 & up show with doors at 7 pm and tickets for $15.

  Over at Nightingale Room you can enjoy the indie rock of Houston’s VODI.  Like a mix of REO Speedwagon and War On Drugs, their live shows are more intense than their recorded music, and their last single “Talk” is hard not to love.  Houston’s Whit will be on hand as direct support and opener for the 21 & up show with doors at 7 pm and it’s 100% FREE.

  Thursday you should head to Mucky Duck to catch the always rousing sounds of NOLA’s Gal Holiday & the Honky Tonk Revue.  Known for an eclectic dynamic and intense live show, this five-piece makes country songs that remind you of the past without sounding dated, and their last release, Last To Leave, is pretty grand.  The 21 & up show has doors at 7 pm and tickets between $20 and $22.

  Nightingale Room will have the pop punk of Houston’s 30 Foot Fall over to more than likely pack the house.  While they haven’t dropped new music since Acme 143 twenty years ago, these guys are always worth catching live.  The 21 & up show has doors at 7 pm and a $5 cover.

  El Lago. Photo: Jordan Asinas

  Rudyard’s will host the spacey indie rock of Houston-Galveston four-piece El Lago.  Mixing a multitude of pedals with sincere hooks and melodies, the single “Tell Me How It Ends” is great although it doesn’t do their live show justice. Austin’s Jonathan Terrell will hop on as direct support while the rockin’s sounds of Californian-turned-Austinite Elijah Ford will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and a $7 cover.

  Friday you could get your laughs in with Sebastian Maniscalco over at Revention Center.  The comic from the Chicago area is always pretty hilarious, and his 2015 album Aren’t You Embarrassed?  is solid.  While there’s no mention of host or feature acts, the all ages show with doors at 6 pm has tickets between $43 and $253, the latter being a VIP option with meet and greet, photo, signed DVD and more.

  Out in the Woodlands at the Big Barn at Dosey Doe you can catch the always entertaining sounds of Loudon Wainwright III.  Author, humorist, and a heck of musician, this guy knows how to capture your emotions at his shows and his latest single “I Had A Dream (30 Days, 30 Songs Live)” is a trip.  The all ages show has doors at 6 pm with dinner included in your ticket priced between $68 and $108.

  Morrissey. Photo: Jason Jordan

  I’d guess that most of you would be on the lawn at White Oak Music Hall for the legendary sounds of Morrissey. While Moz lead iconic group The Smiths and has had a storied solo career, the fact that he’s eluded Houston stages for several attempts might have some gun shy.  However since you can’t really stream his latest release World Peace Is None Of Your Business, he should make his appearance known at this show with a deep set list.  All of your favorites like “First of The Gang To Die,” “The Last of the Famous International Playboys,” and more will likely find their way onto the set list mixed with newer songs as well.  No matter what, if you’ve held out on catching Morrissey, you should make it out for the all ages show with gates at 7 pm and tickets between $49.50 and $58.

  The Secret Group will host the indie folk pop of Austin duo The Wind+The Wave.  Here in support of last year’s Happiness Is Not A Place and this year’s subsequent acoustic version, these two are known for infectious songs and a fun show. The sultry voiced sounds of Portland’s Haley Johnsen will be on as direct support with Alabama’s Allison Pierce on as opener for the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets for $12.

  Rockefeller’s will bring the punk sounds of Houston’s Blueprint back for what looks like a one-off appearance. Blueprint was on track to get big 20 years ago, and while they didn’t exactly make it, they always had amazing live shows full of energy.  Houston’s The Tie That Binds will be on as direct support with the ska punk of The Inverters on beforehand.  Narrow Head will open up the 21 & up show with doors at 8 pm and tickets for $10.

  Over at Satellite Bar the Final Girthday Extravaganza birthday for Ryan Girth will take place.  Of course, the Bury The Crown and Patterns member will host some killer sets from The Velostacks, Op Ivy cover band Junkies Running Dry, Los de Verdad, and Patterns.  The all ages affair gets going with an opening set from Revels with doors at 8 pm and a $12 cover.

  Madeon. Photo: Paradigm Agency

  You can get your dance on when French producer Madeon swings by Stereo Live to drop a DJ set of his extremely popular brand of nu disco.  After catching this guy go off at Day For Night, I can say that he’s definitely an act you should check out.  With dance heavy jams like last year’s “Shelter” and his fun 2015 album Adventure, he’s a good guy to get down to.  The 18 & up show has doors at 9 pm and tickets between $20 and $25.

  On Saturday you should head to Discovery Green for the annual SpringWorld International Festival.  The diverse and eclectic performances, the food, and the fun are all a part of this event that showcases cultures around the globe while benefitting local youth programs in Houston schools.  The all ages and family friendly event gets going around 10 am and it’s 100% FREE.

  The Mowgli’s. Photo: Paradigm Agency

  Later on in the ballroom at Warehouse Live you can get your pop rock fix when Arizona’s The Maine swing by. Here in support of their latest release American Candy, the five-piece known for heavy hooks and should bring a fun and energetic set.  The indie pop of LA six-piece The Mowgli’s will be on as direct support while the indie pop jams of Beach Weather will open the all ages show with doors at 6:30 pm with tickets between $22 and $25.

  The Secret Group will help you get some money together for Planned Parenthood when the Dead Dialect Podcast presents the Friends with Benefits show.  Featuring a slew of artists, the show will see a headlining set from Second Lovers.  There’s also sets from Whit, Handsomebeast, Whale Bones, Mark Drew, Bernie Pink, and Sherita Perez.  The 18 & up show with doors at 7 pm will get opened by Vaudevillian and the tickets are between $8 and $10.

  Jonathan Toubin. Photo: Alexander Thompson

  Walter’s will host a barn burner when famed DJ Jonathan Toubin brings his Soul Clap set and Dance Off to the venue.  Toubin has been featured in Spin, Rolling Stone, Vice, and basically every music publication due to his impressive skills.  And as the show itself turns 10 years old, he’s taking it on the road away from his home in NYC. This will be an event you don’t want to miss.  This show is the most popular dance party in the US and he’s also the first DJ to get a 7” through cassette label Burger Records.  There’s also a dance contest following Toubin’s set with a cash prize of $100 judged by a pretty stellar panel of judges.  Vockah Redu, legendary artist Archie Bell, Zahira Gutierrez of Wild Moccasins, Darenda Weaver of Here Come The Girls, and Brad Moore owner of Grand Prize and Big Star will all judge as A Fistful of Soul’s Alex Larotta spins jams to dance to. Grab your dancing shoes for the all ages event with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $8 and $10.

  Upstairs at White Oak Music Hall you can catch the grimy blues rock of Houston’s Fox Parlor. These guys write catchy songs, their shows are full of energy, and their release Hell or High Water sticks with you.  The blues heavy guitar of Clay Melton Band will be on as direct support and Houston’s Alex Riddle will go on prior. The all ages show has doors at 8 pm and it’s 100% FREE.

  Purple Bastard. Photo: Mes Sina

  Over at Satellite Bar you can get all the hip hop vibes when Fullmetal drops a set for his latest release For 3.  You might not know this guy, but he can spit and with singles like “Nothing Like It,” he’s a guy you need to see live.  The trippy sounds of Space Villains* will be on as well as a set from Arkansas’ Big Piph.  Purple Bastard will bring his sick instrumental hip hop on as well as Mark Drew and DJ Discipline.  The all ages show has doors at 8 pm and tickets between $7 for 21 & up or $10 for minors.

  Rudyard’s will have the seventies rock inspired doom metal of Houston’s Blues Funeral.  I caught these guys a couple of weeks ago and I was impressed.  They mix in psych elements all over their album, The Search and they’re impressive live.  The metal sounds of Houston’s The Scourge will also be on and the grimy metal of Metalloyd will open the 21 & up show with doors at 9 pm and an $8 cover.

  On Sunday you should swing by Insomnia for the Total F*cking Blasphemy Art Show.  The show, will feature art from the likes of Sawblade, Brandon Bowers, Diablo Macabre and many many more.  Evil art, dark art, and things that aren’t for the little ones will all be on display at the all ages event with brews and food with more information here.  Things get going around 6 pm and it’s 100% FREE.

  Anthrax. Photo: Jimmy Hubbard/Herfitz PR

  Monday at House of Blues you could get all of the metal you’ll need Killswitch Engage and Anthrax co-headline a show that should be brutal.  Killswitch Engage will be here supporting 2015’s Incarnate while Anthrax will bring their old school sounds back supporting For All Kings from last year.  The Devil Wears Prada will also be on hand while the all ages show will get opened up by the insane metalcore of Pittsburgh’s Code Orange.  The doors are at 6 pm and tickets are between $35 and $59.

  Downstairs at White Oak Music Hall you can get all of the feels when second wave emo act Bayside swings by.  The New York group has been going strong for a good while and their latest release Vacancy is pretty solid.  Say Anything will be on as direct support while the silliness of Reggie and the Full Effect will open the all ages show with doors at 6:30 pm and tickets between $21 and $25.

  Walter’s will have the weirdo comedy of Baltimore’s Wham City collective over to perform.  This group of performers make stuff for Adult Swim and they have their own show on IFC.  It’s bizarre but hilarious, and the tour should be a real trip.  The out of the ordinary and all ages show has doors at 8 pm, and tickets for $10.

  Tuesday at Rudyard’s, you can join in on the fun of Bootown’s Grownup Storytime.  The popular show that features funny people reading funnier stories, has become a go to spot for anyone visiting Houston, and it’s always a great time no matter what.  The 21 & up shows have doors at either 8 pm or 10 pm, both with $5 cover charges.

  That’s about all that’s happening around the city this week.  No matter what you decide to do, remember that acting like an idiot and not getting home safely does no one else any good.  Be responsible and know that a safe ride home is just an app away.

Glamorous Glue: The Best of The Week this is a repost

[invitationbyrsquared]

Our Top Five Favorite LGBTQ Wedding Destinations

         We say it all the time at Invitations by R Squared … We LOVE love!  And we LOVE weddings!

We’ve watched the array of LGBTQ wedding destinations evolve over the last several years. The cherry on top is the recognition by the Supreme Court of the United States finally acknowledging marriage equality.

It’s an exciting time to plan your LGBTQ wedding, because there are so many fantastic and magical destinations from which to choose.

We all sat down to talk about our favorite LGBTQ wedding destinations, and it was nothing less than agonizing.  So many amazing and romantic locations.  Finally, we came up with five that we could all agree on. These are the best,

most friendly, magical, memorable and awesome locations.

So, without any further fanfare, here are our five LGBTQ wedding destinations that we are totally in love with:

While New York memorably legalized same-sex marriages back in 2011, look beyond Manhattan to host your ceremony. Montauk offers the Hamptons serenity without all the fuss. A go-to for wedding ceremonies is Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa. This glorious 11-acre oceanfront resort partnered with LDV Hospitality to manage its food and beverage outlet. They’ll help you create fun experiences like a beachside BBQ or a clam bake rehearsal dinner.

If it’s just got to be a traditional church wedding,

you’ll find plenty of open and affirming houses of worship that host marriages for same-sex couples. In Buffalo, for instance, towering First Presbyterian Church, magnificent St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral and striking Temple Beth Zion all open their doors to your special day.

Long Island’s Historical Chapel, a charming 1852 historic structure, rings in your vows with peals from the tower bell.  Or you can take your ceremony ocean-side for a romantic beach wedding. Some venues will put you right on the water, like the Allegria Hotel in Long Beach.

A winery makes for a scenic and festive LGBTQ wedding location.

Atwater Estate Vineyards on the southeast side of Seneca Lake will host your wedding ceremony just steps from the tasting room.  Over 200 surrounding Finger Lakes wineries provide more distractions.

Or maybe modest isn’t your thing. How about getting married in a castle? You can take your storybook vows at Highlands Castle in Bolton Landing. Also, the luxurious and historic Belhurst in Geneva in the Finger Lakes was rated of the “Top 10 Romantic Inns and Resorts.” Other luxurious Finger Lake settings can be found by visiting innsofaurora.com.

There are several LGBTQ wedding possibilities to consider in Palm Beach County:

an area known for great weather, lush gardens, and a pristine coastline. A unique wedding venue in the area is the Addison of Boca Raton.  This historic

1920s estate boasts a grand marble ballroom and a courtyard featuring 100-year-old banyan trees.

Another venue we love is the National Croquet Center.  When you host your wedding at the National Croquet Center you are not only choosing a unique venue you are also choosing to work with some of the most qualified event planners in Palm Beach County.

Whether you go uber traditional or quirky, this venue has it all.  We know of one couple who hosted their LGBTQ wedding at this destination, using an Alice in Wonderland / Red Queen’s Croquet Party theme.  Quirky and whimsical, but still elegant and with an air of sophistication, this wedding was not only magical, but uniquely memorable as well.

The National Croquet Club’s motto is to not only meet your expectations but to

exceed them. They personalize and customize each wedding to make your dreams come true! The combined effort of their catering manager and wedding coordinator will make the job of planning your wedding seamless and flawless.  Not only will they help you with menu choices and decor, but they’ll help guide you through the entire planning process.  Their wedding coordinator will also provide you with day of coordination to ensure that your special day is exactly what you dreamed it would be!

Awesomely quirky and adventurous, Albuquerque offers travelers a range of LGBTQ wedding venues to choose from.

Couples can hold an intimate ceremony high above the city in the magical Sandia Mountains via the tramway or in a hot air balloon (with professionals like Rainbow Ryders, of course) or a more traditional, romantic ceremony at the Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm, with its 25 acres of lavender and free roaming peacocks.

With a diverse and friendly LGBT community, wedding guests will have no problem mingling with locals on the lively Central Avenue, which is filled with shops, restaurants, and three gay bars and clubs.

The desert oasis – Palm Springs – known for its mid-century modern architecture has historically been a popular vacation spot for LGBTQ wedding couples and travelers.

Colorful ceremonies can be created at the Saguaro Palm Springs. Guests will love the rainbow-hued hotel for its bright vibes and mountainous background, plus restaurants by acclaimed chef Jose Garces.

As Palm Springs is a desert climate, the best seasons for weddings are spring and fall, although brides should be wary of booking during the April weekends that coincide with the Coachella Music Festival (unless you’re a fabulous offbeat bride, and a festival wedding is totally your thing!). Although the temperatures are cooler, winter desert weddings do have their own charms, including discounted rates, less visitors to the area, and still not much chance of rain.

As far as resources go, the Palm Springs City Tourism Bureau has a dedicated website to assist with wedding planning.  The Greater Palm Springs Wedding Association is another excellent resource.

Our sole European LGBTQ wedding

destination is Ireland.

Yup … Ireland.  If you’re chasing the fairy tale for your wedding, Ireland is the place to be.  And, under the umbrella of, “Ireland is one of our favorite wedding destinations,” are several venues that are just outstanding.

Clonwilliam House just outside Avoca near Woodenbridge close to the Wicklow -Wexford border is real hidden gem. This 19th century country house is a private haven in which to celebrate in style. Recently renovated to the highest standards, Clonwilliam House blends the very best of old school country house living, with the best of 21st luxury (swimming pool in the basement anyone?) – this is glamour Irish-style, all in one of the most beautiful settings in the whole of Ireland.

If your heart is set on a city wedding, but you’re looking for that very special space to celebrate, then your search may just be at an epic end – Dublin’s Smock Alley, the well-known theatre space, has undergone an extensive renovation and is offering its impressive Banquet Hall for events. With exposed brick walls, ornate plasterwork ceiling, and stained glass windows from the theatre’s time as a church, this room on the river is a sight to behold. Oak benches and tables offer options for the en vogue long dining experiences, but the space is super versatile for ceremony or reception, it’s a blank canvas right in the center of the city.

If you’re thinking of a very intimate wedding in Ireland with just your nearest and dearest, then Fanningstown Castle might be the perfect venue. In the countryside of Limerick, very close to Shannon airport, this grand castle with a history going back to the 12th century, has been converted into an atmospheric private house perfect for a small group on an escape to Ireland.

There you have it … our top five favorites for LGBTQ wedding destinations!

We know wedding planning can be challenging and confusing.  Don’t despair!  We’re here to help.  Fran can help you sort out all those questions that seem to evade answers, and help you choose a stellar wedding stationery suite, including Save the Dates, wedding invitations, and more!  Your wedding colors and fonts can be incorporated into a design that is perfect for you and your fiancé.

Be sure to check out our curated collections of images here, to help keep you inspired and motivated!

Magic!  Your wedding will be pure magic of the most romantic and memorable kind!  Truly, the best day ever!

  The post Our Top Five Favorite LGBTQ Wedding Destinations appeared first on Invitations by R2.

from Our Top Five Favorite LGBTQ Wedding Destinations