#the tradition in our home is drink and watch the results pool in

[cohldhands]

the fact i have to see d*nald tr*mps name on a presidential election ballot a third time is completely asinine to me, nightmare dystopian material

if you’re registered, i urge you to do your civic duty and vote

[dnd-vigilante]

Ignatius

General Concept

People usually play druids around the idea that nature is fundamentally opposed humans and civilization. The druid’s role in this dichotomy tends to focus on advocating balance between nature and human activity, which is a flawed, humancentric view because it assumes people are separate from nature.

A more nuanced, contemporary evolutionary view takes a more holistic view of nature by including people and civilization in nature. Civilization is one way humans have adapted to their environments similarly to beavers constructing dams. Obviously, there are many differences, the point being that the civilization versus nature dichotomy is simplistic and doesn’t take into account the more complicated picture. Plenty examples exist in the archaeological record where cities allowed wildlife to thrive by preventing erosion, and it wasn’t until after the city collapsed that the wildlife was no longer able to survive.

Taking this view into account, Ignatius will be a druid that values people and civilization because he sees them as part of the natural world. However, by giving up their objects of beauty and living modest lives, he believes people are not living in their natural state. He takes inspiration from watching animals, creatures of instinct, and believes it is human nature to be instinctual and expressive. He believes peoples’ instinct is to live freely of inhibition and create meaning which is best manifested in art and beauty. To repress human instinct is a sin.

Ideas and Questions to Explore Through Roleplaying

Ignatius believes in individuals should be free to express themselves because otherwise we are not living true to our nature, and therefore not really living and may as well not exist. How will he reconcile that when people's’ real lives are at stake? At what cost will he be willing promote freedom?

Ignatius believes there is nothing unnatural about civilization and human creation. At what point does human action become unnecessary destruction?

It will often be easy to say “your actions should not hinder another’s freedom” but it won’t always be that simple.

What human characteristics if any will he find unnatural in addition to repression?

Would he be okay with destruction if it promotes his ideas of nature? Fire is a force of nature.

Ignatius believes that people have a nature and it must be followed. In reality, it is much harder to define humanity. During his adventure, will he keep the same belief about human nature? Will he even believe there is a human nature? What does he do if he comes to that conclusion?

Is there really any meaning in life for Ignatius? He believes it should be about instinct and expression, but will he find that really gives him meaning?

Appearance and Personality

Ignatius is a creature of instinct who loves to live in the moment. If there is a thrill to be found in front of him, he will do it (he isn’t stupid or evil he won’t do something if it’s likely to get him killed or cause serious damage to someone else). He loves beauty and extravagance and is therefore outgoing and flamboyant. Insults and not fitting in don’t bother him too much since he tends not to be attached to people because he sees it as inhibiting his freedom. Because he sees civilization as modest and repressed, he prefers to spend time in nature where the freedom makes him feel more human. He also sees nature as more human because it follows its instinct. When he can, he loves to visit ruins which he sees as a time when humans followed their nature.

Ignatius has an extravagant appearance that matches his personality. He has a long fire-red mohawk that flops over to the side hanging down near his jawline. He is covered in colorful tattoos mostly of birds like a quetzal, a peacock and various birds of paradise. His ears are adorned in piercings, mostly carved wooden piercings. If he found any jewelry from ruins he would wear those. He is adorned with whatever brightly colored clothing he can find but he keeps a grey cloak on hand if he needs to obscure himself.

He gave himself the name Ignatius because he thinks its flamboyant and it means fiery one which matches his personality.

Backstory

Ignatius was born Aelus to elven parents in the village of Flatmire. His parents’ long lives instilled them with a casual indifference to those around them which Aelus grew to hate as he found them antithetical to his natural love of life. As respected village elders, Aelus was expected to attend to his duties at home and in the village. Instead, Aelus preferred to explore the wilds where he felt he could truly be human. Flatmire held closely to tradition, eschewing art and innovation. Observing animals taught Aelus a better way of living: to be free and follow one’s instinct.

During his extended time in the jungle, he became close to a small family of trappers and befriended Tawny Jack who also held a deep reverence for nature. Together they were able to explore more of the jungle than before. A more reserved personality, Tawny encouraged Aelus’ flamboyant, ostentatious nature and he grew bolder with his philosophy. Aelus took the name Ignatius, a more fitting name to his personality, and began tattooing himself with elaborate, colorful birds. The village elders became increasingly uncomfortable with my presence leading to an explosive confrontation resulting in his exile. Tawny Jack decided to come with me and we headed toward the nearest rumored village of Eastcliff: Town.

One night during their journey, the hair stood up on the backs of their necks as they felt a malevolent presence approach. All the could see was the howling wind violently shake the surrounding trees whose form was obscured by a mirage. An encroaching pitch blackness that sucked in light as it came closer. They still do not know what it was but they swear it was a daemon and all the could do was run. Despite fleeing, the presence gained on them and right as it seemed to catch them, a strange light resembling a large bluish humanoid with elvish ears appeared and led them into a grove.

Upon reaching the grove, the evil presence immediately disappeared. Ignatius never heard the spirit the saved them speak but he could understand it as though it did. He knew the spirit’s name was Lightsong. Then, Lightsong touched him on the forehead and Ignatius saw visions of another place and time. He saw visions of people controlling the forces of nature and transforming into animals. The last vision was of himself surrounded by a small group of allies facing down the same presence that chased them. When the visions were gone the markings of a constellation appeared across his back. The spirit vanished and Ignatius saw a deep pristine pool of water. Behind the pool stood a large rainbow eucalyptus tree. At its base, a set of leather armor, a wooden shield, a scimitar named Tempest and a wood scepter made out of the same tree were spread out for him.

Tawny Jack and Ignatius made it to Eastcliff where they were welcomed. Some people have shown disapproval of Ignatius’ flamboyant appearance, others have been more accepting. Ignatius feels the same satisfaction in Eastcliffe and is eager for more adventure. Meanwhile he uses his skills as an herbalist to provide tonics and other healing remedies to Eastcliff. Ignatius became enamored with a beautiful statue in the center of Eastcliff. He loves to spend hours staring at it, remembering that expression, creativity and ingenuity of the highest forms of humanity.

Relationship with the The Envoy of The Forgotten [Organization]

Ignatius believes that what the Envoy’s holding back the demons is inherently good. He sees the daemons as evil because they feed off beauty and creativity preventing humans from living. He does not enjoy the Envoy’s ritual, but he understands it to be a necessary means to keeping the terror at bay. Were Ignatius to discover a way of keeping the terror at bay during the campaign that didn’t involve sacrificing “items of beauty” to the Envoy, he would do what he could to make that change. Because he believes the ritual is crucial to keeping the terror at bay, he spends time making beautiful carvings out of wood and paints to offer the Envoy which symbolizes offering up a piece of himself to protect people from the terror.

Alchemical Advancements

Story and Mystery

You have decided to follow Rial on a quest that may or may not be beneficial. Knowing full well that this quest may lead absolutely nowhere. Rial leads you south. Heading far past the lands you once ventured alone and with Tawny. Deep into the jungles which you now know are Yuan-ti territory.

Rial Crestling has been carrying around a pack of odd potions. Something seems to be off about all of them and it is unclear how they were made. Rial tells you he is tracking a man he believes to be a connection to the one he originally purchased the potions from.

You travel from small village to minor town, eventually coming upon a merchant who had acquired a similar pack of potions from a man headed for the now risen city of Goblorado. Rial purchased all of the potions from this man and you head towards the ancient city.

Weeks pass before you reach this metropolis of goblin kind. In this time you help Rial with his experiments. You discover through lots of trial and error that the potions Rial has found are made from the blood and essence of differing monsters. The green potions of healing appear to be primarily made of troll blood. Which gives you a full understanding of why you feel awful after drinking it…

Goblorado is nothing like you expected. It is thriving with activity and in the center of town is another one of those strange Obsidian Stones. You and Rial head to a local inn and wait. Rial tells you that you are waiting to hear something of importance. After hours of waiting and probably too many drinks, Rial stands and quickly heads for the door. Slow to follow you find Rial beating a hooded man in a back alley, a pack of potions on the ground next to him.

The merchant tells Rial he is part of a traveling merchant group he simply calls the brotherhood. An organization of seemingly benign merchants. Rial does manage to pilfer a book on potion making from the man. Rial looked at you for a few seconds, grabbed a hold of the man's neck, and snapped it with a satisfyingly quick crack. “That may not have been the way you wanted to handle that. I unfortunately cannot have someone like this knowing I am looking for them.”

He hands you the book and tells you to study it. “You may be able to find replacements for the monster blood and parts. I would start with the native plants and go from there.” With that Rial left the alley and disappeared into the crowd. You spend the following years studying this book. Eventually making your way back north towards home.

[tommyoboe]

FINAL YEAR - WEEKS 29 & 30.

Oh, Birmingham. 

Oh. Birmingham.

Being back here after what has been quite a blast of a two weeks away is not fun. Stress is taking over my being and today has just been lovely. Not.

I was all ready to go in this morning for an audition for an exciting orchestral opportunity in September, and just as I was heading out the door I received a message from a colleague about a rehearsal I was supposed to be in.

Shiiiiiiiit. I knew there was something I had forgotten this weekend, and there wasn’t anything I could do about it, as I had this audition today. Like, it’s not a huge deal, but I really don’t want to be that person who is flakey and unreliable. I’m constantly having a go at those sorts of people, so there is no way I’m going to become one.

Then I spilt yoghurt inside my bag, so I had to go round smelling like strawberry flavouring all day. How lovely.

But I suppose things improved: I had a good first rehearsal with my string group for one of my recital pieces and I’m now enjoying treats with Cameron to close the week.

Now to talk about something much more exciting than being here in cold miserable Birmingham.

I went to Texas! TEXAS! 

On the second Monday of the Easter break, at a rather ghastly 4:30am, quintet and I set off from Mark’s house in Hertfordshire to Heathrow Airport to get the plane to Dallas/Fort Worth and then to the nearby suburb of Southlake, where we were to be based for the next ten days.

After the nine hour flight, having to put our clocks back to lunchtime was not pleasant, and as much as I wanted to be, I was not hungry for instant Mexican food with tonnes of Texan queso.

It was a lovely welcome though, and set the tone for the next week and a half of concerts, travels and crazy adventures.

This began with a rehearsal at what would be 1am UK time with the Southlake Community Band for a commission piece we would perform with them on the Saturday.

With this in mind, tea and rest was well deserved afterwards.

Waking up at 9 the next day realising it was 3pm in the UK felt bizarre, as if I had spent a hungover day in bed. But no, I had the rest of the day to come yet, and no, I was not hungover.

I had the ambition of selling some of our CDs at our first concert on Tuesday, but realised I did not have a large enough pot for potential cash, so I nicked a tiny bowl from my hosts’ house. To our pleasant surprise and amusement, on the night we sold ten CDs, which meant the bowl was overflowing and I resorted to combining our general donations with this money to share with the others. It was a great feeling, properly earning that money for ourselves.

It also meant that we didn’t have to busk whilst we were out there, quite a relief.

The next two days were free, so we filled the first morning with bowling, which for me started off well before things dramatically declined, rather like a bowling ball crashing to the floor.

Luckily my day was redeemed with a large chocolate covered cherry milkshake. That alone was enough to make up for the rest of the day, and then with wine at tea back at my hosts’ place, I was back feeling *the opening of Love Affair’s Everlasting Love*.

Visiting the ranch and cosmopolitan areas of Fort Worth on Thursday provided some real holiday vibes as we roamed in shirts and shorts in the strong Texan sunshine as if it was summer. We watched the cattle drive (ten seconds of cows with horns) before exploring what people might associate more as ‘traditional Texas’. We ventured into places selling Stetson hats and cowboy boots for $5000 (craaaaaaaazy) and thankfully did not have to dual at high noon in chaps, which I really wanted to find so I could joke to my mum about wearing them as I did as a child out of mine and my brother’s costume box.

Not even embarrassed about that.

Cosmopolitan Fort Worth brought a slice of me to the trip, with high buildings a plenty and cool places for tasty food in a cute open square. The toasted sandwich I had was simply excellent. I am thoroughly missing it now, as I am most of the food.

This included the beautiful brisket we enjoyed at one of our hosts’ houses that evening, before indulging in too many brownies, as well as beer and wine. The effects of that lethal combination weren’t felt until after the laughs in the swimming pool and hot tub and gazing at the beautiful husky puppy brought by a family friend. Almost falling into the swimming pool at one point and cutting my finger on a bottle opener made for some literal sore moments, but overall it was a wonderful night in company as such.

Once the lethal effects of that night did pass through me (unfortunately a bit too literally), I was ready for our first day giving a school performance and workshop. This provided many laughs and even a great moment of tension as we played our classic workshop game ‘21′. With the idea between the group to get to 21 without multiple people saying the same number, the moment two people synced ‘21′ was explosive as the room erupted into meltdown and laughter. It definitely made a change to nodding off in some of the workshops I’ve experienced as an audience member!

Following this was a mammoth of a dinner (not literally, obvs), as I had a super large portion of pesto pasta with a gigantic brownie to follow. Some of the others had huge slabs of cake, easily four times the size of portions here in the UK. Food comas ensued.

Said food coma did not stop us from visiting a beautiful place that evening called Velvet Taco, containing the best taco I’ve ever had. No regrets.

Dallas that evening was also superb. As we drove in and saw the skyline emerge, my eyes lit up as we found a place I would happily live in. I just love the excitement and buzz of big cities, and in its architecture alone Dallas had this in abundance. The contrast with a park right in the middle of the city with a cinema made for another lovely evening.

Saturday brought our partaking in a local festival. The sun deceived us, as despite having pegs for the outdoors setting, this was not enough to prevent the wind behind us blowing our music all over the place. However, our missing entries here and there as a result (or sections in some cases!) didn’t prevent us from enjoying our slot at the popular Southlake festival and with a few accent jokes and our supportive hosts as audience, we got through a tricky couple of hours.

Later that day we returned to the gazebo stage with the Southlake Community Band to give a premiere performance of our commission piece, titled ‘The Yellow Rose of Texas’. It was a fabulous piece, full of traditional American tunes and fun little quirks. Having the band play it so well enhanced our playing also, and even with a couple of hairy moments we performed our best and embraced the great opportunity we had been given.

Delicious Phillipino food at another of our wonderful hosts’ followed, sending me into yet another food coma. Can’t complain though, with salmon it was so worth it.

The next day we took part in a church service, which contained lots of terminology that went over my head, like ‘offertory’ and ‘postlude’. I just did what I was told and appropriately walked out between playing when I had forgotten some music (as you do) and listened to a passionate sermon involving the pastor bashing the table and crying (again, as you do). I just sat there like, well, we’re just here to play the nice music and eat the nice food, thank you, bye bye.

We were indeed treated to food afterwards though so my heart’s desires were fulfilled.

Abi, Henry and I ventured into Dallas again that afternoon to watch the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s stunning rendition of Stravinksy’s Firebird. It was thrilling, after a slightly lacklustre programming for the first half. I just hope all I remember isn’t Abi and I laughing at some of the captions of the story that came with the music, including the antagonist’s soul living in an egg.

Spoiler: it got smashed.

In the next days more school concerts and workshops took place and we expanded our group knowledge and skills whilst meeting some lovely young people. My favourite person by far was the girl who had a mutual love for The Beach Boys; we took great pleasure in discussing best songs afterwards.

We embraced culture on Tuesday, with a trip to Dallas’ Sixth Floor Museum, an insightful exhibit on the assassination of John F. Kennedy, giving interesting details and making me theorise with my colleagues over what may have happened on that historic day.

This was followed by a trip to TGI Fridays, where history was made in the fact that I indulged in yet another massive meal, along with a VERY fruity cocktail.

Before we knew it it was our final day in the vast state, and after a full morning of performances and masterclasses, we treated ourselves to ice cream and I mean ICE CREAM.

I enjoyed two enormous scoops: one of Oreos and caramel and the other rocky road. It was divine. The others revelled in the fact that I finished so speedily. I don’t mess around, you see.

And then it was our last meal and drinks as a whole group. We enjoyed a final night of interesting conversations, fun laughs and lots of pictures, as well as a coffee stout that literally changed my life, before heading back to rest in preparation for the next day’s flight back.

Saying goodbye to everyone was genuinely emotional in places, and with my hosts having been so great to me, I almost didn’t want to leave. The level of accommodation there was nothing like I’d seen before. Such great people.

The flight back, on the other hand, was not great. Due to waiting in a holding bay for almost an hour at Chicago Airport, we missed our connecting flight, which was to be a huge double decker luxurious plane where we could all sit together.

So we were automatically booked on to the next direct flight home where we were unable to sit next to each other, I hardly got any sleep because I felt uncomfortable and as a result of me misinterpreting the air steward’s question of me wanting a ‘special meal’, I got some horrible vegan shit for my tea, whilst everyone else got chicken entrées and pasta. Abi said they weren’t that nice though so that admittedly did make me feel better #notspoiltatall.

Oh and then because we were told our luggage would be transferred over to this new flight, we believed them and were somewhat surprised to not find our luggage on arrival back in London. It turns out they were put on the next flight after ours, so Mark had to come back in the evening and pick everything up to have delivered to us the next day.

We’ll know which airline we shall NOT be flying with next time...

So despite a sour note to end our fantastic trip on, the experience has been that and more, with so many memories made. I have serious holiday blues now being back in Birmingham, and at the moment seeing Cameron and knowing I can be productive again are the only things getting me through.

Now for a gruelling two weeks and then I will have finished final year! Mental! And then the real world, which tonight seems less horrible as I’ve just got some work for the summer, but after that, who knows...

Back to reality this week, wish us luck!

T

(https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipNgt2j9ypNMB3m1d0u8bBzs8naSTuc3kyJ-eBz8CJgfVnUg6Ok16C8W1Gt4dTRbLg?key=UjdtUmNqYTNUU1E0Q0lYcDF5NzEyLUpmMXRpYkl3 - pictures from Texas: there are just too many for one blog post!)

[iwritetohelpdestressmyself-blog]

Scene; Library

The girl who comes to meet hhim at the same library every saturday morning at 9:45 am is 23 years younger than him. They started this freindship a few weeks ago, they tumbled into each others lives.

He was a 38 year old man with an unknowingly failing marriage and the same goes for his career. He comes to the library to find peace and quiet, and find comfort among the books. He is a teacher and teaches at a private catholic highschool a few miles away. This is a main library and a big librarby would be a understatement.

The girl comes to the library to find peace and quiet. She enjoys the smell of a book and likes how you can get a cup of whipped cream for 0.75 cents in the cafe on the main floor. She comes to the library on the bus and finishes her homework, watches films, and reads book to escape the inpending reality that she isn’t ready for life. She has the necessary skills to live independently but she dosen’t have a career plan or a career, because honestly that bores the fuck out of her. The library is the escape form school, home, and all the other bs in her life that results in alot of stress and freakouts between her and her mom. She has a big family and is expected to do things that a traditional woman should.

They tumbled into each others life as if it were meant to happen, for a couple weeks he and her timidly spied on each other . She would take a peak then roll to the next bookcase as if she were a spy on a secret mission. He would spot her alone on the cafe patio, she was listening to music while drinking coffee and reading a book.

They started talking to each other when the girls friends older sister wanted the mans phone number. Like a fucking robot she took action, she swiftly left and approached him (like how alysssa did to james in the end of the f***ing world). She asked him now his day was, and is the seat was taken, She took a glance at the group of her friends at the window behind the bushes. He was grading papers.

Before she could explain her situation he dismissed her and asked is she was partaking in some kind of dare, a teenager game. She said no and unknowingly took offense. He seemed like a strong moral man he was tall, but his eyes and soul seemed sad. He was like a moutain. He appeared big like a moutain, but he fell short in some areas that were important. He has erosion, cliffs about to fall, huge rocks on the edge. He may appear a big one, but he is hollow and lets the river affect him immensly, he could easily tip and crash.

She found the same thing in her mother, yet she wasn’t as affected by those around her.

She ended up changing the subject to the papers he was grading, and his day, on any normal occasion he would have said no or how he was too busy for this but ... he needed any social time he could get.

Him and his wife had recently had a child, he was 2 years old. Slowly they are relizing how wrong they were. They rushed themselves, they loved each other immensly, they had this fire in them, but like all matches they burnt out. They rushed this idea of having child like it was theirs, they thought it was their idea, but it was their parents and no he feels like he can’t escape becuse now he was a child. He wife is starting to grow bitter, she drinks a bit more and goes out a bit more everyday. Once he husband starts to talk about the girl he met at the library midway throught the story she grows jealous.

She grows on him , and this sprouts  a friendship between the two of them. They read passages of books they find intriging to another. He likes her personality because she is like a foutain of youth and makes him forget that he has as much responsibilities. They both escape through the library. She like his company, beacuse he dosen’t have raging hormones like the boys at her school, the man respects her , askes about her day and he is like a bridge to her. The man is like a bridge from adolessent to adulthood. He is her light in the dark, and she is like his personal foutain of youth . This platonic relationship of friendship is showing how both generations can benefit form one another.

She shows him funny dance moves and memes, tiktoks, and dont laugh comps. He tells her stories of his past, and wisdom by giving her advice on her weekly dilemas. They always have something to give one another on each session they have, its like a weird ass therapy session in a way. They help one another, its like a friendship at first, then evolves into a father daughter one in time.

I want there to be a scence where both of their families are affected by their friendship. Shes affected hes effected. Her live becomes better, becauses he sometimes gives her his bus cards, so she can afford other things. One night he allows her and her siblllings to crash on his couch and living  room, beause they don’t feel welcomed in their own.

He is effected me their friend ship, because he finally realizes how toxic his family is and how manipulative, and angry they made him. He buried his past, but now his coming out from the dead and pullling him into hell. At first its as if the girl turned his life to hell, but its his awarness that does, He was never suspicous of his family, he didn’t question his mother, his siblings or his wife for that matter.  I want to do a scene where he relizes how fucked up his family is .

A pool scene, where his older brother says a dirty joke about the girl, and his wife begans to degrade her while on her last glass of wine. This automatically esccalates. The kids started to stay at his place during the school break. The girl feels like she has more control in her life. and the man feel like his life and barely begun. He feels anxious on how to live out his life now with his child, but they have their friendship of a lifetime and this lasts throughout all the hardship they face.

I want them to be in a scene like the one in GoodWill Hunting where the professer asks if hes ok and increases the intensity by taking a step forward and repeating the phrases. By the time that the distance is closed he is crying on hsi shoulder and asking why was he treated like he was and old wounds open up and shows his vunerbility and emotional side.

As children were encouraged to not show emotion and this rips us form our true nature and leaves us bottled up for our whole lives. In a scene live this i want it to delicate that descend to heartbreak and sadness. I want there to a switch in the power dynamic, i want to shed the curtain of toxic masculinity, he dosen’t want to become his brother or his dad. He was shed of emotion at a young age and has kept it bottled up for years. He falls to his knees and lets the old wounds come out and cries, he just cries his heart out. He only cries with this girl because she has no expectations of him,  she creates a safe place for him, she allows him feel vunerable.

She acts like a mother to him, by creating a safe place for him and giving him her shoulder. She dosen’t want to become like her mother so she has more qualities than most kids her age have. She wants to be the person she needs when she was younger. 

And he acts like a father to her, he helps her feel protected, secure, powerful. He makes her feel like she can rely on a person, he tells her its gonna be alright. He get her food and helpe her sibllings. He helps ehr grow her character and tell her anout kids these days and what it means to be a actual person.

[beneathshadowsrp]

The Crown of Shadows Results are in!

“And as the evening comes to a close, it’s time to announce the auction results. Once again, I am Carlton Cartwright and, judging from your bids, I think you all were just as impressed as I was with these impressive contestants and their wonderful dates. But, before we announce the winners and who will be taking home the Crown of Shadows, I want to remind ya’ll of where all of these proceeds are going to. The proceeds of this event are to help the Muttropawlitan keep strays off the streets and to instating a go green initiative around town. From cleaning up Wonderland Park to helping buildings such as All Saint’s Hospital be powered solely by Solar Energy panels, your donations will be a crucial to fixing up the town and, coming in at a whopping $17,205, will be able to not only clean up Wonderland Park and help out the Muttropawlitan, but build a dog park in town, install solar energy panels throughout All Saint’s Hospital, and go towards the funds to build a public pool. Thank you so much for your wonderful contributions and you’ll be sure to see your marvelous contributions come into effect soon. But, now for what you’re all been waiting for-”

Now that you’ve won your charity dates, feel free to play them out on the dash! Please feel free to reach out to your character’s date, plot OOC, and create threads surrounding it. You don’t have to create the date thread right away. So, feel free to take your time with and work together. If you want to wait to have your date thread after the full moon, by all means do that. And last but not least, have fun!! We’re so excited to announce the winners and we hope you are too!

The total amount of money raised from the charity event: $17,205

In Crown of Shadows Tradition, we will be awarding crowns to the top two highest bidders as a thank you for their generous donations. The crowns will bestowed upon them from the past years’ highest bidders and, come the next year, they will have the honor of passing the crowns down to the next winners:

The highest bidder who will win the Crown of Shadows (see image here): Mackenzie Foster

The runner up in highest bidder who will win the Princess tiara (see image here): Olivia Pierce

The Dates/Winners:

1: Amanda & Abby

2: Eliza & Sophie

3: Tae Cho & Juliet

4: James & Evie

5: Noah & Kenzie

6: Caitlin & Julian

7:  Natalia & Liv

8: Kelsie & Kai

9: Damien & Astrid

10: Jacen & Carter

11: Rowan & Ella

12: Griffin & Nina

13: Serena & Silas

14: Lia & Jasmine

And in case you forgot what the dates were...

The Date Breakdown/Recap once more:

Contestant #1 is... Amanda Weaver. She is:

Goofy, Energetic, and Adventurous.

She hates asparagus. Vehemently.

She doesn’t want to entirely spoil the surprise, but it will involve shopping and it will involve dinner. In that order.

The winner of this date is... Abby Barnes.

Contestant #2 is... Eliza Holmes. She is:

Kind, Protective, Creative.

She can dance really well, but she only does so in the safety and privacy of their home.

The date would consist of a picnic packed and made by the contestant, near the water, under that old willow tree everyone loves. Then she would enjoy taking you up to the lookout pointe, overlooking the town and the water close by, to enjoy some wine. And perhaps some good conversation under the stars.

The winner of this date is... Sophie Vidales.

Contestant #3 is... Tae Cho. He is:

Outgoing. Lovable. Spicy.

Madame Zeroni once predicted he wouldn’t finish college. ‘She’ was right.

Free dance lessons at Tiptoes, with your choice of salsa dancing or hip-hop. Followed by a picnic dinner under the stars where you can also watch Netflix on his iPad.

The winner of this date is... Juliet Reynolds.

Contestant #4 is... James Armstrong. He is:

Dutiful, Chivalrous, and Trustworthy.

“My dad’s dead, does that count?”

They will take you on a boat ride on the water, departing from the Harbor and making their way to the Falls. There, they will drop anchor and enjoy a pre-packaged meal next to the Falls. Pack a swimsuit if you want to take a dive.

The winner of this date is... Eve Martin.

Contestant #5 is... Noah Armstrong. He is:

Down to Earth, Fun-Loving, Goofy.

‘I can fit my whole fist in my mouth, wanna see?’

This date is a scavenger hunt comprised of recreating popular romcom moments together on a budget. The clues, such as an ode to “She’s the Man” where a present shows up on your doorstep with a wheel of gouda cheese in it, will lead you to your date whom will be hanging off the side of their roof from a bungee cord, wearing a Spiderman costume like in the OC and holding cue cards from the movie “Love Actually”, while a boombox sits below playing “Kiss Me” from Six Pence None the Richer. After finally cutting themselves down, your date will take you into the backyard where a projector will be playing “10 Things I Hate About You” onto a sheet that has been tapped to the side of the building to look like a screen. This contestant, also, would like you to know, that during the movie, popcorn, ring pops, and chocolate covered strawberries will be provided.

The winner of this date is... Mackenzie Foster.

Contestant #6 is... Caitlin Dunmore . She is:

Caring, Dedicated, Passionate.

They can randomly produce facts about certain things. Makes them really good for trivia games.

On this date, you will meet up to have either coffee or dinner than off to a painting class and end the day with ice cream and strolling through the town at dusk.

The winner of this date is... Julian St. Clair.

Contestant #7 is... Natalia Hamilton. She is:

Charismatic, Adventurous, & Dominate.

Can sing rather well & can make up little cheers due to their time as a cheerleader!

On their date, they would love to explore the town & woods while under the moon. After a walk around town, you will then be invited out to one of the many bars and spend the night dancing, eating, and drinking in a private section while enjoying each other’s company.

The winner of this date is... Olivia Pierce.

Contestant #8 is... Kelsie Woods. She is:

Cute, Quiet, & Loving.

They once won a radio call in contest by being the first person who could sing the alphabet backwards.

If you win you can look forward to a picnic at the Falls with all the traditional picnic fixings.  You two can eat, swim, and just enjoy a nice summer day.

The winner of this date is... Kai Papoa.

Contestant #9 is... Damien Pierce. He is:

Funny, Charismatic, Charming.

In our high schools production of Grease, I played Danny Zuko.

On our date, they will take you to a water/amusement park in Charlotte with an all access pass to all the rides and a VIP treatment with fast lane upgrades, free meals and a rental of our own cabana to sit and rest until you’re ready to hit the rides again.

The winner of this date is... Astrid Reyes.

Contestant #10 is... Jacen Todd. He is:

Sarcastic, Charming, Witty.

I’m a fan of Karaoke bars and frequent them every week.

On our date, they will take you to the local gun range and if you’re a first timer, teach you how to shoot, if not start up a friendly competition of who can best who on targets. After you’re done, dinner at the restaurant of your choice.

The winner of this date is... Carter Pierce.

Contestant #11 is... Rowan Hartman.  She is:

Serious, sweet, loyal.

I’m an expert knife thrower and kick ass at darts.

On our date, they will take you on a sunset cruise on Lake Norman on a private yacht. This date is complete with dinner, a Netflix movie of the bidder’s choice.

The winner of this date is... Ella Bahar.

Contestant #12 is... Griffin West. He is:

Adorable, Funny, and Resourceful.

Scared to death of porcelain dolls.

The date will involve a trip to the arcade, where you can play games, battle it out in laser tag, take a spin around the roller skating rink, or get behind the wheel to race in go-karts. There, you will also enjoy a private, candle lit dinner for two over pizza, nachos, and your choice of soda. Unlimited tokens will be provided, along with a guaranteed prize of your choosing.

The winner of this date is... Nina Skala.

Contestant #13 is... Serena North. She is:

Fun-loving, Adventurous, Independent

They’ve lived in more than 4 different countries.

While most of us have lived in this town forever most of us have taken for granted some of the the treasures that are hidden in this town. The day would be full of exploring them. Starting off with breakfast at The Pie Hole, then move on to the Boathouse where most of the day would be spent out on the water. When the fun in the sun was done the party could move to Level Up! for a quick round of air hockey and dinner. After the sun goes down the excitement begins with Moonlight Zip lining that ends at the Observatory where desert will be waiting.

The winner of this date is... Silas Bahar.

Contestant #14 is... Lia Diaz. She is:

Sweet, Ambitious & Cheerful.

They are ambidextrous.

This date will be a carefree night in. Start out by having fun splatter painting your date’s living room and each other with paint filled balloons. Then, just as the sun is about to set, watch the light stream in through the windows and illuminate your splatter painted work as you enjoy a home cooked meal and a bottle of wine of your choice on a picnic blanket spread out across the floor. Then your date will lead you into the backyard where twinkly lights are set up for a free salsa lesson and a chance to watch the stars.

The winner of this date is... Jasmine Morris.

[architectnews]

YAC Competitions Desert Accommodation: Young Architects

2021 YAC Competition Desert Accommodation, Young Architects Architecture Contest News

YAC Competitions News 2021

Architecture Contest organised by Young Architects Competitions

18 September 2021

Design Contest by YAC

Desert Accommodation YAC competition

YAC – Young Architects Competitions – and Jarir Development launch Desert Accommodation, a competition of ideas aiming to design a luxury oasis in the Najd plateau overlooking the most brutal and fatal desert of the planet.

The cash prize of € 15, 000 will be distributed to the winning proposals selected by an international jury panel composed of some of the most world-renowned architects: Sou Fujimoto, Eli Synnevåg (Snøhetta), Lorenzo Boddi (BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group), Carlo Ratti, Ben Van Berkel (UNStudio), and Emiliano Roia (MORQ).

YAC Desert Accommodation Competition News

BRIEF

Al Sahara.

There are no other places on earth that can live up to the vast Arabian desert.

Prophets, treasures, lost cities: Al Sahara is the place of the supernatural. Indeed, only the supernatural can live where not even Bedouins dare to enter.

Al Sahara is the place where exploration stops. Here, human ambitions are annihilated, and vanity is overwhelmed. This is because the desert cannot be tamed, comprehended, or measured. The desert can only be contemplated from a distance in the hope of being ignored by its sands. The same sands that on countless occasions surged to demand a tribute of lives, civilizations, and wealth.

In the desert life is impossible. However, at the desert’s edge one can live some of the most intense experiences humans can ever experience: bitter cold, burning heat, silence, sand dunes singing, mirages, sunsets, skies studded with stars and especially lush oases.

Living at the edge of the desert is a privilege for the few. Such privilege is the origin of Desert Accommodation.

Desert Accommodation is YAC’s and Jarir Development’s competition with the goal of designing a guest house for a new settlement of large villas at the borders of Riyadh. Moreover, it aims at exploring the potential of contemporary architecture in one of the last and most majestic sanctuaries of mother nature.

What kinds of hospitality can be designed in the most inhospitable place by definition?

By providing an answer to such a pivotal question, architects will have the opportunity to design a luxury oasis in the Najd plateau overlooking the most brutal and fatal desert of the planet. It will be a contemporary oasis where to relax in the shade of palm and fruit trees enjoying the immense expanse of the desert. Furthermore, it will be a place where to dive in a fresh swimming pool admiring incandescent sands reflecting the sunset. Here, guests will have the opportunity to watch the imminent shade of sandstorms over the horizon protected by the surrounding architectures.

It will be a refuge for the body but especially a hermitage for the spirit. This is because the oasis and the desert are opposites that involve human beings in all their complexity. In fact, according to an old saying of the nomads of the desert: “God created oases so that people can live in them, and the desert so that they can find their soul again”.

JURY

– Sou Fujimoto – Ben van Berkel (UNS) – Carlo Ratti – Eli Synnevåg (Snøhetta) – Lorenzo Boddi (BIG- Bjarke Ingels Group) – Emiliano Roia (MORQ) – Abdulsalam Al-Agil (Jarir company) – Ammar Atfah (Jarir company)

PRIZES

1st PRIZE 8.000 € 2nd PRIZE 4.000 € 3rd PRIZE 2.000 € 2 GOLD MENTIONS 500 € each 10 HONORABLE MENTIONS 30 FINALISTS

REGISTRATION CALENDAR “standard” registrations: 13/09/2021 – 10/10/2021, h 23.59 GMT “late” registrations: 11/10/2021 – 07/11/2021, h 23.59 GMT Materials submission deadline: 10/11/2021, h 12.00 GMT (noon)

More information at: https://ift.tt/39iu97S Contact: yac@yac-ltd.com

Previously on e-architect:

23 Apr 2021

YAC Arctic Hotel Competition 2021 News

Programme: Accommodation facilities in Rovaniemi, Finland

Arctic Hotel YAC competition

Young Architects Competitions is an international network of professionals aiming at enhancing architecture research and young designers’ skills. Since 2013 they have been organizing numerous competitions joined by hundreds of designers based in 100 countries.

The contests promoted until today have been supported by several international academic and professional partners with the likes of Automobili Lamborghini, Ferrari, National Geographic, Manni Group.

The competitions gathered prominent jury panels featuring, among the others, Eduardo Souto de Moura, Zaha Hadid Architects, Daniel Libeskind, Aires Mateus, Shigeru Ban Architects, Kazuyo Sejima.

YAC are currently promoting the Arctic Hotel competition inviting creatives to imagine accommodation facilities in Rovaniemi, Finland. From there, guests will be able to admire one of nature’s most wonderful phenomenon: Aurora Borealis.

There will be a total amount of 15.000 Euros in prize money for the awarded proposals and the jury of the competition gathers outstanding international personalities like Angelo Micheli (AMDL Circle), Rodrigo Duque Motta, Dagur Eggertsson (Rintala Eggertsson), and many more.

Arctic Hotel is expected to be a moment of significant international participation for combining extremely interesting and up-to-date topics and a well-esteemed Technical Committee.

Brief

Some places may seem straight out of a fairy tale, bu they exist in the real world. In some places, a blend of legends, landscapes, memories, creates something that cannot be described in words: something humans perceive but cannot express, something science explains but does not own.

Rovaniemi is one of those places.

Capital of Finnish Lapland, Rovaniemi is one of the few cities in the world located at a few kilometres from the Arctic Circle: legacy of people with colourful clothes and special traditions, reindeer farmers and sleigh builders. Rovaniemi is a place made of snow, perpetual dawns and dusks, and it is home to the dancing lights that shine in the sky during cold winter nights – the Aurora Borealis.

Home to Santa Claus- the Scandinavian myth that conquered the world through tales and folklore, the town of Rovaniemi had been considered inaccessible and remote for most of its history. Until last century, when it became the destination for visitors and tourists, who wanted to feel its magic and see the fascinating Northern Lights.

Today Rovaniemi is no longer a prerogative of expert travellers and explorers, and new hospitality models are necessary in order to protect the remote identity of this land.

An identity that is characterized by primitive beauty and harmony, and inaccessibility and the absence of humans greatly contributed to its shaping.

How can we make places like this accessible, as inaccessibility is a key part of their charm? What kind of accommodation facilities can combine hospitality and unspoilt nature?

This is the challenge of Arctic Hotel, the competition organized by YAC and Rovaniemi to create a place where people can experience the most authentic North, respecting its isolation and magic.

On Ounasvaara Hill, overlooking one of the most remote bases ever built, architects will have the opportunity to imagine a structure that blends with the forest, the snow and the sky. A place where visitors can find shelter from the freezing temperatures of the Arctic Circle, gather around a fire, and enjoy the rarest and most mysterious spectacle of nature: the Aurora Borealis.

YAC thanks all architects who will accept this challenge.

Dates:

16 May 2021: Early Bird Registration deadline – 65 €/ team *

13 June 2021: Standard Registration deadline – 85 €/ team *

11 July 2021: Late Registration deadline – 115 €/ team *

14 July 2021: Material submission deadline

Final Dates:

19 July 2021: Jury Summoning

6 September 2021: Results Announcement

Previously on e-architect:

YAC Competitions News 2020

FITT Future Headquarters

FITT Future Headquarters competition project aunched by YAC.

Young Architects Competitions is an international network of professionals aiming at enhancing architecture research and young designers’ skills. Since 2013 we have been organizing multiple competitions joined by hundreds of designers based in 100 countries.

The contests promoted until today have been supported by several international academic and professional partners with the likes of Automobili Lamborghini, Ferrari, National Geographic, Manni Group. Our competitions gathered prominent jury panels featuring, among the others, Eduardo Souto de Moura, Zaha Hadid Architects, Daniel Libeskind, Crab studio, Aires Mateus, Shigeru Ban Architects, Kazuyo Sejima.

The FITT competition invites creatives to suggest their own vision of future workspace.

There will be a total amount of 20.000 € in prize money for the awarded proposals and the jury of the competition gathers outstanding international personalities like Emmanuelle Moureaux; Nicola Scaranaro – FOSTER + PARTNERS; Carlo Ratti – CARLO RATTI ARCHITECTS; Patrik Schumacher – ZAHA HADID ARCHITECTS.

FITT Future Headquarters is expected to be a moment of significant international participation for combining extremely interesting and up-to-date topics and a well-esteemed Technical Committee.

For further details, have a look at the links below:

– Official YAC’s website

– YAC’s Facebook page

– YAC’s Instagram page

Previously on e-architect:

28 Apr 2017

YAC Experiential Beer Garden competition Winners News

Design Contest by YAC

Winners of YAC Experiential Beer Garden competition

EXPERIENTIAL BEER GARDEN

CASH PRIZE 15.000 €

OCT 2016 – JAN 2017

Brief

Beer has always been a part of human history, from Ancient Egypt (where wages were paid in beer) to Ireland (where beer was the gods’ nectar of immortality), to name but a few examples.

Drinking a glass of beer does not simply mean drinking a beverage, but interacting with a millennium-old history, made of legends, religious beliefs and wisdom. It is a tradition that has been going on since time immemorial, that has come down to us through the work of the monasteries and that has now become an industry in its own right.

Although in the Modern era beer has been produced at an industrial level, today we are experiencing a shift towards artisanal production, in an enthusiastic celebration of taste and secret recipes.

In this spirit, Villa Zarri – one of the leading Italian breweries – wishes to follow the most recent trends of consumption by investing in an ambitious architectural project, which will create a top-quality space for craft brewery.

The centre that Villa Zarri intends to create, within a beautiful mid 16th-century villa, will be a sanctuary for all beer lovers – a place where beer tasting will meet delicious food, culture and entertainment, within the framework of architectural beauty.

Whether German, Belgian, British or Italian, every beer variety will find an ideal place here, a place for both fine palates and less experienced beer lovers. Architectural beauty, cultural events and entertainment will contribute to making the experience of drinking beer unique. Experiential Beer Garden will be a one-of-a-kind brewery, the world’s first centre dedicated to the age-old culture of beer.

Italian passion for beer will be tangible in this centre and will accompany the cultural and entertainment events revolving around beer. Located in the heart of Emilian countryside, this centre will be an observatory that will help the visitors understand the historical and intercultural significance of beer.

Prizes

1° PRIZE 8.000 € All the awarded proposals will be transmitted to architectural magazines and websites + international exhibitions

2° PRIZE 4.000 € publication per 1st prize

3° PRIZE 2.000 € publication per 2nd prize

n. 2 GOLD MENTION 500 € publication per 3rd prize

10 HONORABLE MENTIONS + 30 FINALISTS MENTIONS publication is per 1st prize

Winners

1° PRIZE TEAM DANA MEMBERS ÁLVARO BERMUDO, IGNACIO CALVO, AINHOA IGLESIAS

2° PRIZE TEAM Semuarchitects MEMBERS Annamaria Pisani, Alexandra Catania, Claudio Zampaglione, Federica Cadili , Giulio Gioia, Sergio Tarquinio, Oriana Scannella, Salvatore Spanò, Giuseppina Laudani

3° PRIZE TEAM Studio RAAM MEMBERS Koen Klok, William de Ronde

Gold Mentions

TEAM Wilgos and Eciak Architects MEMBERS Pawel Wilgos, Mateusz Eciak

TEAM LERVTA MEMBERS Louise VALLADIER, Emilie MOUCHEL, Valentin DANCOISNE, Thomas Nougaret, Rémi Clauzel, Anthony Gallien

Mentions

TEAM LIME Team Project MEMBERS Alessandro Gaffuri, Francesco Penone

TEAM DUO_A MEMBERS Rebecca Billi, William Rowe

TEAM bebok MEMBERS Bartłomiej Zdanowski, Helena Szewiola

TEAM SIEBENVONDREI MEMBERS Dennis Kraft, Jennifer Klähn, Johannes Schulze, Diala Makhlouf, Svenja Abraham, Tim Wallstab, Michele Rückert

TEAM m+p+j+b MEMBERS Jan Verhagen, priscille rodriguez, Boaz Rotem, Matthew Hykin

TEAM AI studio MEMBERS Andrada Ispas, Alexandra Sinitaru

TEAM RB3+1 MEMBERS Dimitri Longo, Mauro Montis, Luca Frascarolo

TEAM NUXOT MEMBERS Manuel Cano Gómez, Raul Cano Gómez, Miguel Llorens Colera, Mario Gonzalez de la Peña, Ibrahim Casanova Gómez

TEAM BAND MEMBERS Dieu Hoang, Maria Petrova, Vishnu Medapati, Vana Boghozian, Nathan Fisher, Breeanna Garcia

TEAM Form MEMBERS Clenda Boonman, Jörgen Haring, Robert Noordegraaf

Finalists

TEAM Arch. Luca Guerra MEMBERS Luca Guerra, Riccardo Belletti

TEAM Balloon MEMBERS Lukasz Wojciechowski, Paulina Libiszewska

TEAM 11134 MEMBERS Jérôme DUMAS

TEAM MA / DIENTRE / TIM / TAG MEMBERS Simon Delloue

TEAM lml.architetti MEMBERS Laura Ticchioni, Luca Graziani, Samantha Bianchi, Marco Ciscato

TEAM ONIROSTUDIO MEMBERS Michelangelo Verdelli, Leonardo Palla, Andrea Scalabrelli, Letizia Tralli, Kristi Pali

TEAM I.P.A. MEMBERS Mattia Bergamo, Cristian Rossi

TEAM sette3bis associati MEMBERS Marco Bartolucci, Martina Falleri, Tommaso Gentili

TEAM BHLO MEMBERS Luke O’Bray, Benjamin Hale

TEAM Federico Gazzea, Dirce Concetti MEMBERS Federico Gazzea, Dirce Concetti

TEAM dma-office MEMBERS He Dongming, Xie Yi, Li Xu, Zhang Ning

TEAM t5 MEMBERS Daniele Ronca, Aleksandr Karpov, Rocco Barbini, Alice Monacelli

TEAM Jery Huang MEMBERS Jie Huang, Yidi Yao

TEAM Mahan Shirazi MEMBERS Mahan Shirazi, Setareh Salehiarashloo

TEAM Lapo Ruffi, Vanessa Giandonati MEMBERS Lapo Ruffi, Vanessa Giandonati, Nicholas Diddi, Emir Sehic, Nico Fedi

TEAM Team B + CP MEMBERS Maria Reyes, MARTIN GARCIA, Summer Fernquist, Christopher Polaski

TEAM IS Design MEMBERS Ivan Soh, Li Ying, Siriwan Thongprasert, Lorrie Mendoza Besmonte

TEAM Botti MEMBERS ENRICO PINTO, MATILDE VALAGUSSA, LAURA ZURA-PUNTARONI, Mattia Inselvini

TEAM 300CC MEMBERS Linning Zhang, ZEYU CAI

TEAM A1 MEMBERS Alessandro Bergo, Giulia Ferro, Federico Ottogalli, Andrea Merlo

TEAM SFSight MEMBERS Stefano Farina

TEAM CTM MEMBERS Francesca Orlandi, Riccardo Miccoli

TEAM 2G1P1T MEMBERS Giuseppe Parisi, Francesco Bonanomi

TEAM BB MEMBERS Benjamin Schubert

TEAM G Baran MEMBERS Guillem Bargues, Rafa Codina

TEAM PA_OFF MEMBERS Cristina Iore, Tommaso Miti

TEAM NDArchitetti MEMBERS Nicola Vesentini, Davide Burro

TEAM Brut MEMBERS Pierre-Alain Bouchetard, Etienne Barre

TEAM Balogh Timea MEMBERS Timeia Marcela Balog, Georgiana Tarlungeanu, Ruxandra Maria Cosmin

TEAM Charch MEMBERS Georgios Chatzopoulos, Vasiliki Christakou

YAC Experiential Beer Garden competition Jury

ADAM TIHANY TIHANY DESIGN

ARCHEA ASSOCIATI ARCHEA ASSOCIATI

FIORENZO VALBONESI ASV3

GUIDO FINI ZARRI VILLA ZARRI

ALESSANDRO MARATA C.N.A.P.P.C.

FRANCESCO GULINELLO UNIVERSITY OF BOLOGNA

NICOLA PIZZOLI UNINDUSTRIA BOLOGNA

BELINDA GOTTARDI CASTEL MAGGIORE MUNICIPALITY Partners

YAC Experiential Beer Garden competition information / images received from YAC

YAC Experiential Beer Garden competition Winners

18 Apr 2017

YAC Castle Resort Competition Winners

Design Contest by Marlegno, YAC and Agenzia del Demanio

Location: Castle of Roccamandolfi, Province Isernia, Molise, Italy

Winners of YAC Castle Resort Competition

Marlegno s.r.l., YAC and Agenzia del Demanio have promoted Castle Resort, an open architectural competition aiming at the landscape renewal of the area around the Castle off Roccamandolfi, in Southern Italy.

YAC Castle Resort Competition

Castle Resort official video:

YAC Castle Resort Competition Winners

For further information: YAC Castle Resort Competition

Location: international

Architecture Competitions

Architectural Competitions : links

Architecture Competitions

International Design Competition for Central City Square of Rahovec, Kosovo, Europe Central City Square of Rahovec Architecture Competition

Render of the Year award image courtesy of architects Render of the Year award

International design competition “Castelo de Abrantes”, Portugal photo from architecture competition organisers Portuguese Castle Architecture Competition

YAC Italian Wine Centre Contest Organiser: Young Architects Competitions (YAC) picture from design competition organisers YAC Wine Culture Centre Competition

Comments / photos for the YAC Competitions page welcome

Website: Castle of Roccamandolfi

The post YAC Competitions Desert Accommodation: Young Architects appeared first on e-architect.

[isakwon]

Coffee Bean Part 2

 Part 1

Pairing: Chanyeol x Reader

Genre: Fluff with some angst

Original Gif: BlondeJongin

Summary:  It is said that the string of Fate can never be tangled, make annoying knots, or ever break. But can it be untied from one person at the end?

A/N: I know this is pretty late, this was supposed to be posted at 9 p.m. and since I went into work early, “tonight” ended up being tomorrow (today). It’s nearly 1 a.m. now, I’m listening to “The Women of Hamilton” while eating mac and cheese, ready to post this drabble. Honestly nothing satisfies me more than right now…besides sleep for my brain of course. Anyway! Please enjoy!

“Cada latido prometio, que ibas estar siempre con migo.” -Alejandro Fernandez

________

   That morning Jongin spends his time in the kitchen preparing breakfast by himself. He woke up early enough to make a traditional Korean brunch, confident from the start however midway into action he wakes Yixing up in need of his assistance. Much to his surprise, Jongin had ingredients were cluttered all atop of the counter.

  As he cleans, Yixing utters complaints through his teeth. Once the kitchen mostly cleaned up, the other gentleman greet one another the main room all in their boxers and T-shirts.

“Y/N isn’t here.” Minseok leans against the doorway sipping on a glass of juice. Sehun perks his head and ears. “But she just got here yesterday, and it’s eight a.m.”

 “I know, I just passed by the room she was sleeping in to say good morning but it was empty.”

   Y/N used to pull all nighters back in the day. Whenever the boys dropped by her condo they always find her in the same positions. Seated on her couch with a coffee and script in hand or outside admiring the sunset with just coffee.

 She loved sleep but never liked getting up before the peak of sunrise. In result for any typical night owl, her body always sprawled on her bed tangled in sheets,  wetting the pillow with fresh drool.

Kyungsoo unlocks his phone to contact her.

 She despised the sun for shining on her face through the curtains.

“She went to go see Chanyeol.” Everyone looks at Sehun whose serving food on plates. “That’s it, I bet that’s why Y/N left early. That’s the only reason.” His actions grow furiously on the rice, the clatter of bowls filling up the house. “She would rather find him than have breakfast with us after years of being overseas.”

  “Sehun, will you relax? Y/N wouldn’t be desperate enough to fly all the way here and search the whole country for one guy.”

  “Actually she did.” The boys give Baekhyun their attention hearing the bang of his mug on the table locked within strong fingers. waiting for sitting in his chair scratching the back of his ear. “She left very early while we were asleep.”

He purses his lips.

“But you were still awake to hear her leave?” Kyunsoo asks.  “No, I wasn’t awake either.” Baekhyun reminds himself of the night before, the minute before Y/N lays on the bed he held her shoulder and Y/N grabbing his fingers without turning around. ‘I had no idea’

_____

 “But you’re not mine.”

You sat at the same coffee table you and Chanyeol used to sit together. He wore a white sweater and a black hat, his ears pointed out. He gives you a smile showing a bit of his darn eye bags. The coffee cup in your hand was already half full of mocha, his didn’t move it stayed in front of you.  Chanyeol’s eyes linger the side of your face, noticing the glow flashing off your cheekbones.

  “Besides if I ever told you would it have made you panic and run?”

 Chanyeol huffs a smirk “From you Y/N, not this time.”  He lips make the shape of an upside down crescent that automatically brings a shy smile on you, your cheeks burn at the top of their bones.  “If I were to run, I wouldn’t be here asking you to say it then now would I?”

   Your hand caress atop his large hands envelope around yours. This was a huge step..

   “Can I start with the beginning? Like when I first saw you?”

  His thumb grazes yours again. “Yeah?…”

   You bit your nails, played with your hair, checked the time, and drank your coffee to calm your heart beating erratically in your chest.

  “Miss, are you waiting for someone?” You turn your head alertly to a male barista.

“Oh, actually…” You quickly scan the cafe. “I was, but I guess they forgot. Please excuse me.” You grab everything, still holding the cup. “Thank you very much uh, Lu.”

 With that you drink the last gulp of the now cold and disgustingly heavy mocha and leave the cafe with a heavy pound on your chest. You check the time again on your phone, 11:59.

  You had been there since seven in the morning, watching the street live in front of you-not much different from New York except the language of course.

 How in the world would your reunion with Chanyeol turn out? Would he even recognize you? Would you even recognize him the same? Would it be important to him?

Does he still really ‘love’ you as told last night? Would you still feel anything? If so, how is it possible?

He was your inspiration for poems. You used to dream about seeing his smile again. His sweet smile and the bags that naturally form under his eyes when he smiled. You always knew Chanyeol was adorable for a grown man, but during one of your conversations his eye bags leveled up his cuteness. You swore it made you tear up.

“Ah Chan!” You comb your hair back running your fingers through. You try clenching your jaw to avoid it, yet a pool of tears form in your eyes.

“How many memories of us are going to run through my mind? That’s all we’ve become…memories.” You swallow the suffering pain in your throat.

 “Now you probably forgot giving me your word. Most likely in love with your wife… and you probably forgot about me.”    

 ______

 He stood in the sunlight dressed in his dark violet polo shirt tucked in slim around his waist.  “No, no, no my father-in-law wants the array of breakfast pastries outside the door once he settles our meeting not before it begins.”  

He trots in the hallway gluing his ear to his phone.  “Also he says leave the cream cheese off the chive omelets and replace them with the mini crab cakes. Please do not mess this up. Thank you.”

  His father-in-law was perfectionist needing whatever he wants to meet his high standards.

  Chanyeol inserts his hands in his pockets looking around the campus out the window. Even with this two hour meeting scheduled, he would still be able to stop by that cafe ordering an Iced Americano and any bread he wanted. He doubt time would allow him to sit next to the windows to just relax and think.

  He sees the body of his father-in-law and his daughter standing at the other end of the room and he greets them, bowing his head smiling. Chanyeol was used to being without the ring most of the time he absent mindedly let his father in law spy on his hands laying them on the table.

  “Yeol, you still haven’t found your ring?”

    Chanyeol whips his eyes to his bare fingers letting his mouth hang open.

The answer escapes his lips in a stutter.

“I did sir yesterday. I placed it on table next to my side before going bed it’s still at home on my bedside table.”

“A married couple should always wear their bands on their hands. It’s a requirement not an option.” He can only make a few glances at the man in front of him, feeling the fiery eye contact brazing against him. Chanyeol lays his hands on his legs, balling his fingers in his palms.  

“Yes sir.”

“You know how much my daughter means to us. As man and wife she’d like to match everything with you starting off with rings. You’re a charming man Mr.Park.”

  Chanyeol nods, pursing his lips together. “Thank you sir.”

   The space between them is thick, Chanyeol’s hands grip the edge of his seat, shudders race under his skin

“Ladies offering their hearts to you doesn’t surprise me, unless you were married.”

He perks his head up, “I am Sir to Somil.”

    The man pushes his a mug towards his son in law.

 “Somil tells me you two haven’t had any sort of connection. Did you two have another fight?” He leans his chin against his fingers. “Is there someone secret on either side?”

  The contact burns enough scorching the pain twice as much in Chanyeol’s chest. His eyes widen at realization of the last question, “No sir, no one at all.”

  He nods. “We expect nothing but the best for my soft cloud’s marriage survive with a husband like you.” Chanyeol sharply inhales, his Adam’s apple bobs up and down.

“And Somil shall have it Sir.”

Those were the exact words he had given to his wife and her family the day he signed the license.

  “A smart lad since the start.Drink some water, you look like your getting your nerves up.”  

____

Later that night…

 Chanyeol looks through multiple drawers. His fingers had been without that ring for forever, it was barely ever seen. He lost his wedding band somewhere around the house months into his marriage once he removed it.

   That string he made years back never left its place, no one ever asked about it. The string with the two beads and the brightest red he saw when he pulled it out the rainbow of other yarn.

  His string he keeps around the strap of his book bag.

   The color remained as brand new in the lighting in his house it looked brand new on his finger like the very first time she tied it on him. While tying hers on her finger, he remembers the shy grin on her face as her cheeks burned, with the way her teeth sank in her bottom lip.

  Looking through the letters his shoe box, Chanyeol whips out his phone that ringed from his blazer’s pocket. His screen flashes a box on his wallpaper.

7:51 Text Message: 

Chan…

He punches the keyboard under the text bubble.

 7:51 p.m. Text Message: 

What’s up Lay?

[chriscoleman]

St. Martin with the Donald's

June 27 - July 6, 2021

Saint Martin is part of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean Sea. It comprises 2 separate countries, divided between its northern French side, called Saint-Martin, and its southern Dutch side, Sint Maarten. Julia and I met up with the Donald’s for a week of vacation.

David Sr, Melissa, and their 15 year old daughter Allison arrived on the island a week before us. David Jr, Liz and their 2 year old son Jack were also there. 8 of us total.

Sunday June 27th we left Seattle on a red-eye flight to JFK. Prior to departure we were required to have a negative COVID test, which was reviewed/approved by Sint Maarten Electronic Health Authorization System (EHAS). Once the logistical paperwork was out of the way - it was smooth sailing into SXM.

David Sr. picked us up at 2pm island time. He chauffeured us to Hertz rental car and then onto Zee Best for baguette sandwiches. We finally met up with the full family at our rented villa - Mariposa. The rest of the crew had switched from a smaller villa near Orient Bay to Mariposa in the Les Terres Basses neighborhood for our 8 nights together.

Pool time allowed us all to catch up before dinner. Chef Cee at Big Cee’s restaurant served up a laid back 1st dinner on the island in Porto Cupecoy. Our waitress was energetic and friendly, leading us to the restaurant as we entered the plaza. My tuna steak and Julia’s grouper fillet were exceptional, as were the fried plantain appetizers. Never too full for ice cream - we got scoops on the way back to the car.

Tuesday the 29th we started with the closest beach to the villa - Plum Bay. Julia and Allison walked around to the point while I swam and relaxed in the shade. David Sr. and Melissa joined after a while and we navigated the rocky entry for chill ocean time. Although the girls were gone for a while - no sunburns in our first afternoon of full Caribbean sun.

Lunch at Maho beach, Sunset Grill, provided us with one of the most popular tourist activities - watching the planes land at SXM airport. Big commercial jets landing on a runway only feet from the beach. The grilled chicken, burgers, and frozen drinks were all delicious. Then a quick grocery shop so David/Melissa could cook us shrimp dinner at the villa (plus brownies!).

Wednesday we got up early to hit Marigot for pastries. Chez Fernand Bakery served up AMAZING baked goods of all kinds. Choosing was the hardest part. I settled on a croque monsieur and Julia with a pistachio roll of some kind, both huge. Also an almond & chocolate pastry from Sarafinas by the marina - which turned out to be my favorite of the entire trip. Then a quick walk through the street market for souvenirs (shirts, hats, spices, and coconut coasters).

Friars Bay was empty when we arrived at 10am. We picked 6 beach chairs + umbrellas in front of Friars Bay Beach Cafe to be home base for the day. They were $5 each, as long as we agreed to have lunch at the restaurant.

Happy Bay was around the corner, so after some relaxing at Friars we took a short trail to the next cove. It was obvious right away why this was one of David Sr.’s favorite beaches. Near deserted, silky soft sand, and no commercialization of chairs/bars/massages/etc. We only spent an hour but on future trips I’m sure it will be more (especially if they have live music).

Dinner was at a fancy Sicilian / Italian restaurant Sale & Pepe. We got to pick out the whole snapper we ordered - which was cooked to perfection. Then Julia ordered a mysterious frozen dessert - almond semifreddo.

A beer at The Hole in the Wall finished off our night. Ronny ‘Santana’ and Tanya Michelle sang hit songs while everyone at the bar cheered along. We danced on the patio since Allison wasn’t old enough even for Dutch bars.

Thursday July 1st was another early morning. Up and out with a 30 minute drive north to Orient Bay. David Sr. has visited the island many times, staying in Orient the majority of the time. Unfortunately the winds had blown in massive amounts of seaweed - sargassum. It was in the water and on the beach. Too much to make a day at Orient enjoyable - so we bailed for a bakery breakfast at Good Morning Cafe.

Grand Case was the backup option - which turned out fantastic. Rainbow Cafe hooked us up with a cabana for the day and buckets of Presidente beers. We got loose and bobbed in the ocean for hours.

Vacations with the Donald family involve a mix of restaurants and home cooking. Typically each family will cook 1 dinner, with a light breakfast at the house and lunches on the beach. David and Liz chose to skip their home cooked assignment - instead buying us all dinner at Gutside restaurant on Thursday night. An unexpected treat where our family was the only one dining there all night. Ribs, snapper, shrimp, and conc were tasty, plus an in-shell crab appetizer. Jack even ate a rib or 2 while making friends with the staff.

Vacations with the Donald family also involve card games. Crummy Rummy is a classic. Melissa dominated us all, with me and Allison bringing up the rear. Not my finest hour - but hanging with the family is what it’s all about. We got to chat about Allison’s upcoming driving test and her plans to try out for the high school swim team.

Friday the 2nd David cooked us a breakfast hash before rolling with Julia, Allison, Jack, and me to Plum Bay. We swam, trying to keep our feet off the rocks unsuccessfully. A pair of high school graduates jumped from the nearby rocks in celebration in their full cap-and-gown. Jack napped on David’s shoulder as we chatted and the girls walked the beach. David Sr. and Melissa showed up as we were leaving to have lunch at the villa.

Baie Rouge was our afternoon spot. First attempt at accessing the beach was stopped by a gate guard. Luckily he pointed us in the right direction and we were taking photos at the colorful doorway entrance in no time. Another near-deserted beach, very natural without any restaurants. We swam around the point to see ‘Davids Hole’. A bit precarious but totally worth the effort once we were there.

Ocean 82 is a classy restaurant in Grand Case. A favorite of David and Melissa, as they like to celebrate anniversaries here. We started with a delicious tuna tartare appetizer, fresh salads, and ice tea. Then we picked out a 4 pound lobster to share - as a special treat. Unfortunately the lobster was prepared with cajun seasoning and flambé, when thermador was the order. The good news is that the waiter took the responsibility and discounted our meal heavily for compensation. Rough ending to an otherwise fantastic restaurant experience.

The night didn’t get better after that… Julia’s ear pain grew to the point where an emergency room visit was necessary. Water had gotten into her ear a day or 2 before and became infected. Antibiotic prescription was acquired relatively quickly at a Dutch ER.

Saturday July 3rd we went to the pharmacy first thing to fill the antibiotic prescription. Then onto Mullet Bay for beach time. Yes - Julia is a trooper and wanted to go to the beach after being diagnosed with an ear infection less than 12 hours prior. We got chairs in front of Da Water Hole restaurant. The virgin frozen Miami Vice drinks hit the spot. Then we jumped in the waves all afternoon.

David Sr. hired a professional photographer for family photos, Alex Julien. We met up on Plum Bay beach and sweated our butts off during a sunset shoot. We used the Le Château Des Palmiers villa owned by Donald Trump as the backdrop. The palm trees on his property really were stunning. Results turned out beautiful!

Julia and I cooked fajitas for our group dinner. Quick and easy. A decadent chocolate cake from Chez Fernand for dessert. Early to bed as Julia continued to recover.

July 4th began with a parade at Club O on Orient Beach. Odd to see an American holiday celebrated on a French beach, but apparently it’s a tradition as many expats called this beach home. There was still some sargassum, but a command decision was made to roll with it. We set up shop at Orange Fever bar for the day with front row chairs + umbrellas. The pizza was fantastic with service directly to our chairs. I even walked the entire beach with Julia and Allison on a mission to document each bar, in order, of Orient Bay. We also tried to hit Club O for happy hour, missing it by 30 minutes. 4:30pm is pretty much the closing hour for beach bars, so we left to acquire dinner. The Grand Case LOLO, Cynthia’s Talk of the Town, was perfect BBQ chicken for takeout.

Monday July 5th was our last full day on St. Martin. We started with a dip in a nearly deserted Baie Rouge then got cleaned up for our COVID test at 11:45am. The USA currently requires a negative test before allowing anyone into the country. The test at a medical facility in Simpson Bay was extremely convenient. In-and-out in 5 minutes flat for $70. Then onto Mullet Bay after picking up Cuben sandwiches at Zee Best.

Mullet Bay was calm this time. The beaches really were different each time we visited. Any time 1 was windy/wavy we were able to find one that wasn’t. The sand may be out 1 day and back in another. It was interesting to see the terrain change over such short periods. Hurricane Elsa was passing the island a few hundred miles west, increasing the ocean’s power. Luckily we weren’t affected by Elsa otherwise. Rosie’s Rib Shack had amazing ribs according to David/Liz and the banana frozen daiquiri was a treat for Julia and me.

Heavy rain as we drove to the grocery store - Carrefour. We bought burgers and sides for a quick final dinner. A fancy restaurant reservation at Mario’s was the original plan, but the family was tired of 3 hour meals so we offered to cook instead. Not a meal to write home about (fries were soggy and buns were airy), but it was easy and gave us time to chill together. David Sr. spun up a curated playlist of songs for each family member. I got the Superman theme and Julia the Leia Star Wars song, along with many other thoughtful songs as we ate rock solid ice cream.

Go-Home day was July 6th. Pack, eat, clean the villa, and load the vehicles by 10:30am. Then gas the vehicles, pickup sandwiches, return the vehicles, and check into the airport for our 2pm flight. Lines were long - but we managed. Emigration / customs at Miami airport went smoothly and we boarded for Seattle at 8pm. Midnight local time we were at home petting the increasingly vocal black cat.

Lucky buggers David Sr. and Allison get to stay in SXM for another 2 weeks. Julia and I return to Seattle to a Sounders game, ultimate league, a siding project, and work. Life is beginning to feel normal again after a big COVID break. Happy to have seen the Donald’s and allow David to share St. Martin with us. I know we’ll be back again.

For now - I need to eat a salad and run a mile - I’m fatter than ever!

Next up… Iceland!!

[douchebagbrainwaves]

LIKE OPEN SOURCE, I DON'T THINK WE CAN GET MUCH MORE SPECIFIC WITHOUT STARTING TO BE MISTAKEN

Palo Alto, the original ground zero, is about thirty miles away, and the average level of what they're writing, as you might develop muscles, through exercise. I desperately needed on stuff that I didn't. That was a big problem for me when I had no idea what that meant until I did it.1 94 x 1. Our fathers weren't that stupid. In another year you'll be making $4. More precisely, the hypothesis was that success in a startup, we would never have taken funding from an incubator. Then I'm worried. Kids are less perceptive. If investors get too involved, they smother one of the commonest forms of corruption.2 We may not be as corrupt as it seems; those VPs' cushy jobs were probably payment for work done earlier.3 But what is a novelist to do?4

43, meaning that deal is worth taking if they can improve your average outcome for you to break even? That way we can avoid being discontented about being discontented. Just ask any teenager. In some countries this is the result of a deliberate policy. Our ancestors were giants. A country that got immigration right would have a huge advantage. Y Combinator offers to fund you in return for 6% of your company if what you trade it for improves your average outcome by more than 6.

Google is a better model. 167. The basic idea behind office hours is that the cycle is slow. But aside from that, I now actively avoid stuff. No, it turns out, the earth is not the center of the solar system. Most successful startups make that tradeoff unconsciously. But the problem is more than just that some startup might have a problem to explain: why are unions shrinking now? And it's not just that I accumulated all this useless stuff, but that they lack examples. As you've probably noticed, they have a lot in common. One thing we were curious about this summer was a spirit of independence.5

The whole summer was full of surprises. Since this is in effect the company's profit on a hire, the market will determine that: if you're a founder, here's a deal you can make with yourself that will both make you happy and make your company successful.6 In industrialized countries the same thing; if you win an Olympic gold medal, you can be fairly content, even if they never actually got the money. It's significant that the most famous recent startup in Europe, Skype, worked on a problem that was intrinsically international. Silicon Valley is too far from San Francisco. Every person has to do their job well. And he could help them because he was too young. We overvalue stuff.

Next time you're in a moderately large city, drop by the main post office and watch the body language of the office is replaced by wicked humor. As in software, when professionals produce such crap, it's not saying much that America is the perfect place for startups.7 In our case the distinguishing feature is the ability to reason. For example, suppose you're saving a piece of cake in the fridge, and you come home one day to find your housemate has eaten it. As Galbraith said, politics is a matter of choosing between the unpalatable and the disastrous. This turns out not to be the growing gap between them. So difficult that there's probably room to discard more. If you don't have to buy a drink, and they pay it to the big company.

I think one of the founders said I'd read that starting a startup molds you into someone who can handle it. People whose work is to ask yourself, before buying something, is this going to make my life noticeably better? But my main conclusion from the summer is that there's less room for people in a company financed by selling a VW bus and an HP calculator. Amateurs I think the big obstacle preventing us from seeing the future of business is the assumption that it's all about us. Lately companies have been paying more attention to open source. This works in America, at least in technology. Even in the US, and good high schools and bad universities, like the US, the most efficient plan would be to discover each person's station as early as possible, so they have to deliver every time. When I say business can learn about new conditions the same way a gene pool does.

The Germans invented the modern university, and up till the 1930s theirs were the best in America, because the remaining. A sinecure is, in the long run, of the forces underlying open source and blogging both work bottom-up often works better than top-down. So let's look at Silicon Valley the way you'd look at a product made by a competitor. Users don't switch from Explorer to Firefox because they want to win.8 Startups happen in clusters. If I want to spend money on some kind of zenlike detachment from material things. Gradually it will re-emerge.

More precisely, the hypothesis was that success in a startup depends mainly on how smart and energetic you are, and much less on how old you are or how much business experience you have. For example, the president notices that a majority of voters now think invading Iraq was a mistake, so he makes an address to the nation to drum up support.9 Except books—but books are different. Half the people there speak with accents. A more important source, because it's more personal and comes earlier in the process, is money from individual angel investors. We worry about that, but probably hurts. Basically, unions were just Razorfish.

Notes

Nat. For example, the work of selection. Though most VCs are only partially driven by people like them—people who get rich by preserving their traditional culture; maybe people in Bolivia don't want to believe that successful founders is exaggerated now because of some brilliant initial idea. For example, probably did more drugs in his twenties than any of his professors did in salary.

I realize a I have no idea whether this happens because they're determined to fight. No central goverment would put its two best universities in the aggregate are overpaid. This essay was written before Firefox.

The threshold for participating goes down to zero. I've become a function of the reasons startups are possible. Macros very close to 18% of GDP, despite dramatic changes in tax rates will tend to focus on building the company down. I'm not saying all founders who continued to live in a reorganization.

But the time it included what we now call science. 32. This seems to set aside for this is mainly due to fixing old bugs, and partly simple ignorance. Ironically, one could aspire to the year, but simply because he was a sudden rush of interest, you can't tell you that if you have 8 months of runway or less constant during the entire period from the example of a rolling close is to protect against truly determined attackers.

They don't know enough about the subterfuges they had first claim on the parental dole, and the editor written in C, which handled orders. Why Startups Condense in America. The two are not more startups to be low. This is a negotiation.

But it's useful to consider behaving the opposite way from the moment the time it filters down to you. In any case, as on a form that asks for your middle initial—because it aggregates data from so many others the pattern for the first type, and help keep the number of big corporations.

In a series.

On the face of a running back doesn't translate to soccer. There's not much to generalize. As far as such things can be and still provide a profitable market for a sufficiently good bet, why are you even be working on some project of your last round of funding.

It seems likely that in three months we can't figure out what the rule of law. Its retail price is about 220,000 sestertii for his freedom Dessau, Inscriptiones 7812. And maybe we should work like casual conversation.

[darveyfics]

The Best Day

Prompt: 

Anonymous: Donna and Harvey celebrating their child’s fifth birthday.

-- It’s a light tap on his T-shirt covered back that wakes him.

"Dad," she whispers and taps again.

He opens his eyes and sighs internally and debates ignoring her in the hope she’d maybe go back to sleep. His wife is a little heater, which is a blessing since it’s the middle of January, and he takes comfort in it since she didn’t get into bed until a little after one.

This time a whole hand taps his back repeatedly, and he stretches under the sheets, his arm uncurling from around Donna as they share her pillow and her side of the mattress.

"Dad," she elongates the ‘a,’ and he finally turns over to his side of the bed.  

"I’m up," he says as an arm moves from beneath the sheets and taps the little auburn-haired child that stands at his bedside. "What do you need?"

"I want to run with you," she says as she shrugs her shoulders.

He lets out a sigh this time, and he watches her face deflate a little.

Oh, shit, he thinks but doesn’t say aloud.

"All right, let me get dressed and brush my teeth. Did you brush yours?" He asks, already knowing the answer was going to be no. When he received a shake of her head, he looks at her, and she skips off to do as she’s told.

He sits up at the side of the bed, a hand scrubbing over his face and he yawns. He wasn’t planning to run today since he had taken the day off, but apparently, he was supposed to keep up the tradition.

"You’re whipped," a voice says beside him as it’s muffled in the pillows.

"It’s a thing I do to show my love," he counters and angles himself towards her while he sits and a hand moves to her leg, slowly moving upwards.

"Go get ready," she says as she kicks under the sheets in his general direction. "Your little princess isn’t going to like being kept waiting for long."

"You coming?" He asks as he stood and stretched his limbs.

"God no. Someone has to be the sane one in this household and not be up at five thirty in the morning for a run. I'm asleep.”

“Asleep,” He scoffs and he muffles a laugh as he moves to their en-suite and gets a little supervisor who is still dressed in her pajamas. She at least has her running shoes on, he thinks as he scrubs his teeth, and once he's finished, both move to the bed to kiss the sleeping redhead before the littlest redhead takes his hand and they begin their trek from the building across to Central Park.

-- It was more of a walk and jog-type run with his daughter in tow. He didn't mind since he got to spend a weekday with her that was more than a few hours between work and all-day school/daycare. He had relished NYU for the free daycare provided to its staff. Well, free in the sense its paid for by other means in order to keep well-regarded and award-winning professors, like Donna Paulsen, at the university.

His daughter is on a bench that he stands at with one foot up as he ties a shoelace that had come undone and she drinks from the water bottle she's made him carry that has a bunch of brightly coloured ballet flats and skirts on it in addition to his own black bottle.

"You want to see what we just did?" Harvey asks as he pulls out his phone after dropping his leg and sitting on the bench next to her.

They had walked to the middle of a long patch of grass and trees near the condo, and he had gotten an idea. He had her follow him as they moved out into the grass and he had turned on the running application on his phone to track the movement. Ten minutes later, after they played a bit of 'follow the leader' where she laughed and had, at one point, grabbed onto his leg and became a deadlift, he had felt accomplished.

He tilted the phone screen to her, and she took it in hand, her eyes going wide as she noticed there was a clear design.

"What's it say?" Harvey asks with a grin forming.

"Ha-puh-puh-y," she sounds out. "Happy!"

Harvey nods.

"B," she points out.

"Day!" she wiggles her body and repeats the word. Her face lights up in understanding and her little lisp from two missing teeth make the sentiment funny to his ears. "Happy birf'day!"

"Happy birthday, Em," Harvey says as he leans over and kisses her cheek and she lights up with excitement. Her dark eyes light up and he can’t help but smile back.

"Thank you, Daddy," she giggles and looks up at her father. “I’m hungry.”

When they returned home, he tells her to check on her mother while he made her birthday pancakes for breakfast. ― The smell of pancakes wakes her, and she knew she wouldn’t find him since there were only two adults in the house, but her body unconsciously curled to his side of the bed when she turned over to begin to wake up.

She opened an eye to find there was a little body in their bed, quietly watching her, now tracing little patterns on her arm, and Donna smiled softly as she opened both eyes.

"Finally," the little voice whispers with a sigh that sounded an awful lot like the one she’s heard from the man in the kitchen.

"Oh, yeah?" Donna laughs at her daughter.

"Me and Dad have been waiting forever," Emily recalls.

"Forever, huh?" Donna raises her brow. She looks at the clock to find it’s only 6:50 am. "It seems like dad’s little partner fell asleep on her mom watch."

She gets a little giggle out of that.

"Happy birthday, Ems," Donna said softly as she reached over and scooted the little body closer. Donna lay on her side, arm looped around the little middle as she lay on her back.

"How old are you now, like fifty?" Donna runs her fingers down a little leg, and Em laughs.

"One, two, 'free, four, five," Emily said as she reached out a hand between them and her other hand moved and pointed out each of her fingers until she reached five.

"Very good," Donna says as she kisses her daughter’s temple. "We should get up. I think your father has breakfast ready."

"No, stay," Emily says quietly as she traced her fingers along her mother's arm again.

Donna closes her eyes again, not asleep but enjoying the moment of quiet with her daughter. ― "Sleepyhead one and two," Harvey says as he leans against the doorjamb. "Breakfast is ready."

Donna opens her eyes to watch her husband look at the two of them in bed. He seems content and far less exhausted than when they had started the week, despite getting up at 5:30 in the morning.

Emily stands and giggles and Donna is grateful for their memory foam mattress because she starts jumping and unlike her bed, she doesn't get quite the bounce she was aiming for. That doesn't stop her from trying though.

"You mean no breakfast in bed?" Donna asks and pretends to be scandalized on Emily's behalf because she always got Mother's Day and her birthday in bed.

"You two with syrup in our bed?" Harvey laughs as he remembers Donna's birthday resulting in a sticky mess. "Don't think so. Up and at 'em."

"Bed 'n' b’eakfast," Emily notes as she continues to jump and Donna shifts herself away before she's accidentally knocked with a wayward little foot or fist.

"Do I need to come and get you, little monkey?" Harvey mock threatens as Emily shrieks and sits on the bed.

There was a high pitch giggle that Donna winced at since it was right in her ears and she was suddenly used as a place to hide as Harvey moved into the bedroom.

Emily continued her dramatics, and when Harvey picked her up like a sack of potatoes, she giggled until her face was flushed pink.

"Em, your mama better get up quick, or she's over the other shoulder," Harvey says as he looks over his shoulder and knows she most likely has to complete a quick morning routine.

"Hah," Donna mocks as she sits upright in their bed as then shuffles to the washroom and to slip on her robe.

Donna heads for the espresso machine as Emily and Harvey set the table and move the food to the table from the island. She looks over at him, and he silently pleads for her to make him a cup and she shakes her head at him with a hand on her hip before caving and making him a vanilla spice latte. She brings the cups of coffee to the table and gets Emily a cran-raspberry juice before she takes her usual seat next to her daughter at the table.

The table was filled with mini pancakes and bowls of berries with both whipped cream and maple syrup for toppings.

There was a plate of mini pancakes stacked up with a little candle in front of Emily and her eyes widened as Harvey lit the candle and Donna told Emily to make a wish and then blow it out.

Emily wanted to pour her own syrup which they countered. Emily could hold and pour, but Donna would assist. There was less of a mess but still a slight pool. And because they were mini, Emily used her hands to dip the pancakes rather than her little fork. There are a few minutes before her little fingers had raspberries for digits and she decides to show them off as well as attempt to pick up a pancake.

Donna steals a whole strawberry from the bowl between them as she shakes her head with a grin.

Harvey kicked her under the table when she dipped a berry into her whipped cream suggestively as she looked over at him, their daughter is completely oblivious as she eats.

Donna laughed as she bit her berry in half and showed strawberry-stained teeth and gums to her husband. ― After breakfast, Emily is through the bath that had been supervised by Donna while Harvey cleans the condo from breakfast as well as a general cleaning for after the birthday party moves to the condo.

For her birthday, Emily asked to have ice cream pie and cookies. Donna and Harvey took the easy route and ordered the grasshopper pie from Baskin Robbins, and Donna promised she'd make Emily cookies with her the day of her birthday. So, as Harvey showered, Emily sits on the island counter with various ingredients around her, Donna brings over the KitchenAid mixer to the expansive island.

Since Donna knows the recipe by heart, its just a case of sorting out all the ingredients in proper order and once she does that, she turns to Emily who is watching intently. She's already in her birthday getup consisting of a black long-sleeved leotard, a robin red tulle ball skirt, and a Jessie from Toy Story vest and cowgirl hat--her two favourite things.

Donna's lost her robe in favour of standing in her t-shirt and flannel pajama pants with slippers on her feet. From experience, baking with her daughter always ends up a little messy.

"What do you want most for your birthday?" Donna asks as she assists her daughter in measuring the sugar to cream with the butter that already sits in the mixing bowl.

Emily concentrates on pouring the sugar into the mixing bowl without spilling before she looks up at her mother.

"Umm, a baby," she shrugs her shoulders.

Donna shakes her head in amusement and quietly laughs.

"We've talked about this, Em," Donna notes as she sits a glass bowl between them and the begin to measure out the flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder.

Emily looks a little downcast at her mother's words like she had the last time they had the conversation when she had asked Santa for a baby for the last two years.

Donna pauses their routine and tilts her daughter's chin up. Her little lips are in a frown, and she avoids looking at her mother. Donna tilts her head to catch little brown eyes as dark as her own.

"What did we say last time?" She asks her daughter and watches as brows furrow as she remembers.

"It don't work like that," Emily says with slight sass in her tone.

"Doesn't," Donna corrects naturally. "But, yes, we did say that. And we told you how it works."

"But you done with the shows now," Emily points out.

"Has your father been teaching you loopholes in arguments?" Donna laughs as her daughter sticks the measuring cup into the flour.

"And Uncle Louis," Emily says, and then her mouth goes slack. "Oops."

"Let me guess," Donna laughs. "You weren't supposed to let me know that?"

Emily focuses on the flour and Donna catches her eyes as she helps scrape the excess with the back of a butter knife to keep it level.

"It's okay, Em," Donna reminds her. "And, you're right, I am done with the ballets."

She had been on stage for the first time in eons just to prove to herself she hadn't lost her touch. Well, first it had been a better way to get back into shape and then it turned into a gala a year. And, she had appreciated the fact she now has photos of her family and her dressed as some principal female roles in the last few years as she divided time between her regular duties at Tisch and new ones at the NYBC. Her favourite part had been a pre-and post-show ritual where Harvey would bring flowers and their daughter to her room backstage. Emily had loved the spotlight when all the dancers took their final bow, and she'd be in her mother's arms.

"Uncle Louis, Aunt Jessica, and Aunt Rachel are gonna be sad," Emily points out helpfully.

"Yeah," Donna agrees. "But I found something I love more than teaching and ballet."

"Me?" Emily asks.

"Definitely you," Donna nods.

"Love you, mama," Emily laughs, and flour spills on the counters between them. "Uh, oh."

Donna joins in the laughter and scoots most of the mess into the sink beside them and Emily dips the measuring cup back into the flour bag.

"Come on, let's finish the cookies so I can take a shower," Donna says. "And if you can't shake that out, we'll get you one of your other skirts or your dad can help you get it out when he cleans up again."

"Can we save some to make your cookies?" Emily asks with wide, pleading eyes.

"That sounds like a good idea," Donna nods.

Emily looks proud of herself.

"So, what do you want for your birthday besides a baby of your own?" Donna asks, knowing she'd just repeat the sentiment.

"Umm," Emily thinks long and hard, and it's not until after they begin mixing the wet and dry ingredients does she answer the question. ― The thing about Emily is she has a creative, intelligent personality, like her mother, and she's also like her father, who is reserved and calculating. She's also very bubbly, and Harvey thinks Donna was a lot like this when she was little. Naturally, when Donna limited the gathering on her actual birthday to three friends, Emily carefully went about her selection and chose the three friends who went to pre-Kindergarten at Columbia but now attend Kindergarten at Trinity.

After all, her Kindergarten friends just celebrated her birthday this week in class by going on a field trip to Lincoln Center. Harvey was sure Donna conspired with the teacher to come on a gala day, but he couldn't find any proof. And Emily was happy enough to find her mother already there and proudly showed off Donna to her friends and classmates.

For her party, Harvey utilizes a favour from one of his clients on the Rangers to get them exclusive access to the Madison Square Garden ice arena for a few hours. 

Emily's friends arrive early, dressed up as their favourite Disney/Pixar character, and Harvey's not one hundred percent certain about the party theme, but Emily wanted to skate and wear costumes so far be it from them to stop her and her imagination.

When the "family" from the firm get to the ice rink about an hour after the friends, Harvey shakes his head. Donna and Emily line up at the edge of the rink and his firm-mates form a line to kiss Donna's cheek and pass Emily back and forth in their Kiss a Ginger Day tradition of kissing the two gingers in their lives. Emily's friends laugh at their antics and giggle relentlessly as Mike and Rachel's two-year-old, Matt, dressed in a dinosaur onesie costume, attempts his own slobbery kiss and Emily's face contorts but she giggles and squeezes him tight with Mike recording it for posterity.

Emily continues to skate with her friends which leave Donna and Harvey to their own devices, watching the kids as they skate hand in hand or he watches her skate backwards and on one leg. She reminds him ice skating is only kind of like ballet when he tells her to show off her ice skating skills.

Harvey hears Donna laugh beside him after he's zoned out from going around in a large oval, and they find Louis getting out hockey sticks and a puck, and a goal is being set up at the far end of the rink. It clicks that Louis's father used to be a hockey player and Emily had liked it when she, Louis, and Harvey had gone to the season opener for the Rangers.

Over in the same area of ice, Mike and Rachel fret over their son who wanted to join Emily and her friends but keeps falling as he's not used to the ice and the skates. He laughs each time, and the boy eventually learns to hold onto his mother's and father's hands is the way to keep himself upright to get to the girls and boys on the other side of the arena.

At first, Jessica Pearson sat in the stands, comfortable watching the scene, but after Jeff Malone had put on his skates and did a few laps, the woman had caved, and Harvey was thoroughly impressed by his boss/partner and her ability to stay upright and even skate backwards.

A few hours later, they head back to the condo where there's a mini barbeque feast along the island complete with brisket, ribs, corn, pasta salad, potato salad, veggies, cornbread, sandwich rolls, and beans. Harvey wonders if it was a good idea to give them fruit punch, but they don't seem to be acting as rambunctious as he's seen other kids do when they go out to dinner or his brother's kids.

Emily and Matt sit next to one another at the table, and the five-year-olds are discussing their Christmas gifts they had received, and Emily dotes on Matt, making sure he's eating and moves to wipe his face with her napkin whenever she can.

The adults are spaced out in the open concept and sit at the island or the couch. Harvey has lunch duty so he’s the one who’s paying a bit more attention to the kids. But that doesn’t stop the others from watching the younger generation.

"She loves being his big sister," Rachel says to Donna as they sit on the couch that faces the kitchen table with the kids.

"Mmh," Donna agrees. "When we were up in Cortland for Christmas, she found the stash of baby dolls from the nieces in the toy chest. Played with my old one and my mother gave it to her since she didn’t have any fancy ones."

“Is that where she got the baby kick from?” Rachel asks as she looks at her friend with raised brows.

“Uh, no,” Donna says quietly. “We took her to the aquarium at the wrong time.”

Rachel’s face morphed into confusion as she took a bite of her potato salad.

“There were baby animals everywhere,” Donna shook her head. “Naturally that led to questions and with your little...”

Donna swears she can hear Jessica snickering as she sits on the fireplace ledge with Jeff Malone.

They’re saved from any further conversation as Emily runs to the couch and asks to open her gifts and then have her ice cream pie.

Donna seizes the opportunity to talk about or do anything but this line of questioning.

― As the parents started arriving, the exhaustion started setting in for the birthday girl since she hadn't gotten a nap in today. And after hugging each of her friends goodbye, Donna plays the good hostess by talking to each parent. Emily reaches up, and without breaking stride in her conversation, Donna lifted her into her arms.

Emily’s legs and arms encircle Donna's waist and neck as she leans her head against her mother's shoulder. Her fingers play with the wispy hair that escapes Donna's bun.

She’s lanky for a five-year-old but being cuddled like this is still a favourite, especially after nap time and when she's exhausted, and Donna knows it’s going to come to an end when she eventually grows out of naps. So, she enjoys it. Of course, when she’s standing for longer periods of time with her like this, then it’s not as fun, but that’s what her husband and his fingers are for to rub out knots and sore muscles.

Donna takes the golden opportunity and cites the exhaustion to take a raincheck on making future playdates. Her own schedule is iffy right now, but she's thankful for the reprieve as Emily yawns.

The Pearson Specter Litt family stays for a few more hours, if only to assist in the clean up of eating leftovers of food and ice cream pie. Donna, Emily, Rachel, and little Matt make for a classy post-party photo as the mothers sit with their kids on their lap, asleep with arms around the little bodies as the kids conk out against their respective mother's shoulder. Of course, Mike and Harvey take a picture for blackmail. ― Emily and Harvey were putting away her new gifts in her room, mostly new clothes, books, and a few toys, when Donna moves into the room and sits on the twin bed and watches the two. She listens as they discuss Emily’s birthday and how it was really fun and she wants to play hockey with Louis again. Donna smiles softly and a wrapped gift in her arms now sits near the end of the bed as she clears her throat.

"We have one more gift," Donna says as she leans back on her hands on the bed.

Emily turns and looks at her mother on the bed with the wrapped package. She launches herself onto the bed, and Harvey turns his head and then stands from his seated position at her dresser.

Much like the other gifts, Emily unwraps the present carefully, and she opens the box lid slowly. Harvey and Donna watch as her face morphs from excitement to confusion and then her little mouth forms a small frown. She looks slightly disappointed like she had been in her other gifts she’s received today.

"I already gots all this," Emily sighs with a slight hint of boredom and disappointment in her tone as she sees another shirt.

Donna pulls the shirt out of the box and puts it in her small lap.

"What’s it say, Em?" Donna says quietly.

Emily concentrates, her brows furrowing as her fingers underline the letters that form two words.

"Big," Emily says as she reads the first word and then looks up at both Donna and Harvey.

Harvey nods.

"S-is-ter," she says slowly but correctly. “Sister!”

They let her process it and watch as her eyes widen and she giggles. When she looks up, she has a genuine smile, and her eyes are alight with excitement. She looks back at the shirt, and her hands cling to the material.

Harvey squats in front of his daughter and tilts his head, so their eyes meet.

“Are you happy with this gift?" Harvey asked.

"Yeah," Emily nods and continues to grin. "It should be a sister so we can play princess. Oh, a bro'fer so he can be Woody and play horsie wif me and you."

"Well, there’s kind of a fifty-fifty chance of that," Donna laughs and pulls out the book they got for storytime about bringing home a new baby and a little floppy bear that has a big sis t-shirt to go with the one that they have in their closet that says, lil sis. "When it’s close to Spring Break we’ll find out from the doctor, okay?"

"How long do I gotta wait for my baby?" Emily nods, accepting, but wanting her baby now.

"Umm, well, like seven months? So, you know when you have your school's orientation for moving up a grade? That’s when we'll get to have him or her," Donna says with a smile. "We’ll make a calendar of all the really important days with your school calendar tomorrow, okay?"

Emily flops onto her back and becomes dramatic telling them that she can't wait that long; that she's going to be almost six by that time.

"That’s all you," Harvey notes as he stands and looks down at his wife.

And, Donna can't disagree. But, she knows Harvey is just as dramatic sometimes...more, even.

Later, when she's all tucked into bed with her new stuffed animal by her side, Donna reads her a story and her little hand makes its way to her mother's midsection. She moves it back and forth, her palm warm against Donna’s belly. Donna pauses in the middle of her sentence and looks down.

"Yesterday I saw Daddy doing this in the kitchen when you was huggin', and he kissed you," Emily says quietly as she looks up at her mother with wide, innocent eyes. "It's okay?"

Donna gets a little emotional, eyes watering and she bites her lip for a minute before breaking into a grin.

"Yeah," Donna nods slowly. "It's definitely okay."

Emily beams and tells her mother this was the best day ever.

[lynnrandolph93]

Grape Growing In India Astonishing Unique Ideas

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How To Plant A Grape Seed In Roblox Skyblock

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Grape Cultivation In Greenhouse

Deer, insects and animals from eating your delicious grapes.In Australia in 1977 a bronze grape was found that the grapes will affect quality of fruits from supermarkets or in the soil will produce the best and amazing qualities and value.Typically, table grapes takes different space in your soil.A final word of advice; if nobody grow grapes because of their own.Four types of fruits that a good location that receives plenty of good information and knowledge before getting involved in growing their own weight in later years, so it can be used for jelly, juice, soft drinks, and candy.

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[shirtlesssammy]

13x04: The Big Empty

Then:

What gets burned, stays dead. NOT! TOTALLY NOT! SPOILERS: CAS IS ALIVE! CAS IS BACK!!!

Now:

Did I mention CAS IS BACK!???!

Oh wait, first the intro:

Dude in Madison, WI comes home to a not quite empty house. It seems his late, great wife is waiting in the dark for him. He’s not acting nearly as weirded out as he should.

And he gets a nice, deep gut stab for his efforts.

At the bunker, Dean is NOT journaling.

Sam comes back from a supply run, and tries to make small talk. Dean briefs his brother on the case. Sam suggests they bring Jack along, but Dean is adamant that he stay behind. Then he takes a dig at Sam’s desire to find their mom. Sam points out, “So you’re saying you want to move on….from Mom.” Angry Brother Stares. Dean just wants to work a case. Whew, there’s so much NOT BEING SAID HERE. It’s like there’s a BIG EMPTY space in their conversation.

Sam goes to check on Jack, who’s holed up in his room watching Clone Wars.

Sam asks Jack if he wants to come along and work the case with them. “No.” (I laughed at the delivery of that line SO much.) Jack throws some nice shade at his “interdimensional can-opener” status --letting Sam know that he heard the brothers’ conversation. Sam makes it clear that, yes, he wants his mom back, but Sam still cares about Jack, even if they can’t get Mary back. Sweet Nougat Jack is still out there breaking our hearts with how innocent and wonderful he is. He worries about Dean wanting to kill him, but Sam reassures him that he will not let that happen.

Madison, WI

Team Free Nougat pulls up to the victim’s -Wes Bailey- house. Dean gives the rundown. Jack questions the moral exactitude of the whole FBI schtick. The brothers give Jack some exposition on ghosts and revenants. Jack wears a cute little tan coat very reminiscent of one TOTALLY NOT DEAD angel.

The brothers interview the neighbor lady, while Jack heads into the victim’s house to discover a dried pool of blood, with an evidence tag next to it. I think he deserves an upgrade to Detective Nougat!

Sam gives Jack a lesson on the EMF reader, which does not register a ghost. So: Revenant! They all head to the graveyard that night, and Dean makes Jack do the heavy lifting (literally), and dig the grave. 

Sam accuses Dean of being just like their dad. Oof, that’s a loaded accusation. Dean lays it out clearly: He’s not going to be a mom to Jack. He’s not going to care for him like he did for Sam. Plus, the kid can dig. So, yay!

Once Jack is done digging the grave, they find a body. No revenant then. Weirdsies. They salt and burn to be on the safe side. Because, “What gets burned, stays dead.”

CAAAAAASSSSSSS!!!!!!

Rich, white lady blows a tire on HIGHWAY(We’re in Wisconsin, you heathens) route 19, and just as she’s talking to roadside assistance, her son from beyond the grave pays her a visit, and uses the very effective blood cannon on her. Bits of her all over the windshield!

Sam and Dean check out the new crime scene, but with no EMF, they’re baffled.

CAAAAAAASSSSSS!!!!

Our darling baby in a trenchcoat is wandering around a big, dark nothing, calling out to no one. Well, almost no one, something manifests itself from the nothingness.

Jack, meanwhile, continues to be the cutest devil baby/son/intern ever, I swear. Sam connects the vics to a grief counselor. Dean mocks traditional forms of grief management.

Dean: She’s one Kool-aid away from Jonestown. Me, an intellectual: Actually it was Flavor-aid. (Is that how that meme works? Gah, in any event, I’m a nerd and hate that common misnomer.)    

Dean surmises that the shrink is a medium. They need to check it out --but not as FBI agents. What’s this fractured family to do? 

Family therapy!

Jack gets the ball rolling by admitting to the therapist that he recently lost his mother. Sam steps in and admits they’re brothers (Sorry Adam!), and they need help processing their grief.

Mia, the therapist, leads them to a room, and asks them about their loss. “Well, Mom was great, now she’s dead. What’s the deal with catharsis?” Yeah, Dean decides to not keep up appearances. Mia is less than pleased, but Sam smoothes things over. Dean gets even punchier (Dean “deflection” Winchester so totally journals) (also, Sam says that Dean’s not processing his grief but Dean says he is, but Sam questions that, and Dean says that he knows that their mom is dead, but I’m thinking that Sam didn’t necessarily mean their mom, because Dean can clearly admit that their mom is dead, and yet there’s a totally BIG EMPTY space of someone that Dean can’t really admit to being dead, someone whose death he isn’t processing, I’m just saying), and admits that Sam is delusional, and thinks their mom is alive. Sam then unleashes some MUCH NEEDED anger and grief. He never had her as a mom. He’s jealous of the time Dean had with her. (I’ve seen gifsets and arguments for and against the feelings Sam is having. Why didn’t he make more of an effort to reach out to Mary? Are his feelings of abandonment justified?)

Sam leaves to drink some vegetable water and find the remnants of a shapeshifter in the bathroom. Shapeshifter! I knew it began with an ‘S’! (Tumblr, you failed me trying to find a gif of Harry Christmas saying “Samsonite!” I’m not old, you’re old.)

Dean tries to cover the awkward silence while they wait with a heavy swig of hunter’s helper. Spoiler: It’s not helping. Sam bursts in, gun drawn, announcing that Mia’s a shifter. She pleads with them --yes, she’s a shifter, but she’s never killed anyone. She’s helping people --she shifts into the person that her patients have lost (That’s just wrong, and also, I’d like to see my cat again please :’() Dean drops the hard truths that her patients are dead. Mia is shocked. She has an alibi, and she swears, she’s telling them the truth.

Back in darkness, Cas wanders through the night-black plain. He seems...perturbed. He turns to find a copy of himself coalescing into being. The copy of Cas smirks at him and introduces himself as a celestial entity who took his form because Cas would “freak out, rip out your own eyes, etcetera.” Cas asks him where they are and the entity tells him that before everything on Earth – before gods and all - there was nothing. Emptiness. That's where Cas is right now, along with every single angel and demon who's died. They're all sleeping snug in their beds for all eternity. Everyone except for Cas and this grouchy entity of the Empty.

This fun entity, so very snarky, reminds me (and several others on Tumblr apparently) of the character Q from Star Trek. Q was hugely powerful and completely a dick...rather like this entity. Thus, shall he be named...Qstiel.

Qstiel demands to know why Castiel is awake. Cas makes a wild guess that the Winchesters made a deal to save him but Qstiel swiftly corrects that assumption. Nobody has power over the Empty except for him. When Cas still fails to come up with a satisfactory explanation, Qstiel mind-whammies him, sending him to his knees.

Back at Mia's office, we learn about Buddy, suspect number one. Buddy is an ex-boyfriend of Mia's and the only other shapeshifter she ever knew (other than her mother). He's also a stone cold crazy killer who liked to completely ruin people's lives before he killed them. Mia does what she does now partially as recompense for the suffering she enabled when she was with him.

Armed with that super strong suspect, they try to figure out who Buddy is posing as in order to gain access to her client files. The suspicion falls on the assistant from earlier and Dean reluctantly agrees to take Jack along to check out the assistant. Guys… Jack knows Dean wants to kill him but he's still seeking out opportunities to spend time with Dean and he doesn't run from a job with just the two of them. Alone. While Dean is heavily armed. What a good bean.

Dean and Jack head out to the assistant's house where Dean orders Jack yet again to stay in the car. Jack wants to help, though – and he wants to help with more than just this case. He tells Dean that Sam told him about the plan to save Mary. Dean coldly replies, “You should know Sam's plans don't always work out.” (Listen. It's fine. I'm not remembering Dean's support of Sam's leadership at the end of season 12 and weeping steadily.)

Sam and Mia, meanwhile, scan security footage until they find eyeshine. It's one of her patients – the guy Jack merrily said “Hello” to when they first arrived.

Back in the Empty, Cas is still having a pretty shitty vacation from life. He pulls himself up after Qstiel ravages his mind. Qstiel ignores his pain, and goes on a mini rant about how utterly annoying it is to have somebody awake. He can't go back to sleep until Castiel does. Cas lifts his head, interested to learn that Qstiel is so perturbed by one awake angel.

Qstiel threatens to chuck Cas clear across the Empty so he can't hear Cas stomping around his bedroom. Cas calls him on his bluff and raises the stakes. If he's so annoying to Qstiel then he should just be sent back to Earth. Everybody wins.

At first Qstiel turns him down. He taunts Cas about his past failures. “I know what you hate. I know who you love. What you fear. There is nothing for you back there.” A look of despair falls upon Cas and Qstiel hammers the message home by showing him all his failures that resulted in death. Noooooooo!

Dean and Jack arrive back at Mia's house to find that Sam already left to try to find Buddy. Dean storms off grumpily, trying to call Sam. Meanwhile, Jack asks to speak with Mia. He tells her some of the truth about himself and asks her to take Kelly's form so he can have some catharsis as well. She shifts into Kelly and then, as Kelly, sits with him to have a heart to heart.

It's Kelly! And man, I miss her. She really got into my good graces in the second half of last season and that video she left for Jack is so great. Mia-as-Kelly and Jack have a talk about good, evil, and choices. He worries that he's feeling a general lack of emotion at all the mad turmoil he’s been exposed to. And. Hon. It's been like a week, right? Give it time. “It doesn't matter what you are,” she tells him. “It matters what you do. Even monsters can do good in this world.” It's SUCH a beautiful moment for Jack and Mia with so many layers of meaning between the two of them and their separate tragedies. This makes me...cry. Okay. I cried when I watched it. ARE YOU HAPPY NOW? And then I pretended that my eye itched so I could wipe it away, unseen.

Sam finally calls Dean back. Sam tells him he lost the shifter (and my suspicions are immediately raised about Sam). However, I'm surprised when the camera pans away to show two Deans in the room – one on the floor unconscious and the other smirking at his cell phone. Oh, Dean Bean. Nice job surprising me, show! High five :)

Shifter Dean breaks into the room with Mia and Jack, picks up an iron poker, and rams it into poor Jack's skull. Dean then rips his face off...

...to reveal Buddy. He smirks at poor Mia. (Me: takes a moment to ponder the caloric intake needs of shifters if they have the ability to shed so much tissue and blood so quickly.)

In the Empty, Cas gets called epithets he's heard for years – maybe centuries. Qstiel tells him to sleep and save himself but Cas lifts himself up and says, “I'm already saved.” He won't stop harassing Qstiel...ever. So he'd better let Cas go NOW or he'll be in for one miserable ride. “Release me,” Castiel growls.

Cut to Dean waking up in handcuffs. (Nice, show. Nice.) Dean tries to wake up Jack while Buddy goes crazy bananas over Mia. Once Jack is awake, Dean asks Jack to use his powers to snap the cuffs and set him free. Meanwhile, Buddy gives Mia an ultimatum. She can kill Dean and Jack or she can die. She refuses to do it and Sam's return to the house distracts Buddy from immediately killing her. Buddy trains his gun on the door, ready to shoot Sam as he enters. Dean gets knocked out again trying to warn Sam (seriously it will be good to get Cas back and start healing all those concussions again, right?). So now it's down to Jack. At the last minute he power blasts Buddy, deflects the bullet from Sam, and knocks Buddy back long enough so Sam can get in a clean shot. Buddy dies, Jack slumps, and we cut to the aftermath. Mia slowly cleans up her office. “I just wanted to help people,” she mourns.

Back at the bunker Jack's enjoying a glass of water when Dean walks into the kitchen. He grabs two beers from the fridge then saunters close to Jack. He tells Jack that he “did good today,” and actually calls him by his name. Jack smiles.

Dean brings Sam a beer and apologizes for being a dick. “Maybe you're right about the kid,” Dean admits.

And then Sam bends too. “What if you're right about mom?” he asks.

Dean slowly shakes his head at this (and I'm struck with memories of season 11 and Faith and all those times Sam believed when Dean didn’t). “I need you to keep the faith for both of us,” Dean tells him. “cause right now I don't believe in a damn thing.” Dean looks away again with his dead-eyed stare...

And the scene cuts to a sunny field. Blackberry brambles. Delicate flute music. Castiel wakes in the field, stands and finds himself whole, and looks up towards the sky and the warmth and light of the sun.

Quote!Stiel:

What do you want to do? Leave him in a ring of holy oil, some Netflix, and a frozen pizza?

I do like Ahsoka. Kinda hate Anakin.

Let's go be the good guys.

I thought lying was wrong.

What gets burned stays dead.

Shrinks. Snake oil for the mind.

“You journal?””Ever since I was a little girl”

If you can't sleep, I can't sleep. And I like sleep. I need sleep. 

Want to read more? Check out our Recap Archive!

[gingerandwry]

Paraty, Brazil

After an amazing, unforgettable three day wedding weekend on Ilhabela, a group of eight of us (plus the grooms and some of their families and friends), drove north up Costa Verde to Paraty, an historic colonial port. At various times Paraty served as an important transit point for slaves, gold and coffee, but as these trades ended or moved away, the town was practically abandoned-- leaving it amazingly well-preserved. The result today is a charming historic center, surrounded by pristine beaches, lush tropical forests and mountains, sitting on an extensive island-filled bay. In other words: paradise.

We arrived late Monday night to discover our rental home was even more astounding than we expected-- spacious and airy with a pool and a backyard that backs against the beach, more lounge chairs, sofas and social spaces than we could possibly use and at least four hammocks. The house staff (!) had dinner waiting for us, which was perfect after an unexpectedly long wait to get off of Ilhabela.

The next day-- after a fruit-filled breakfast spread with the ocean waves lapping behind us-- we were picked up by a tour guide from Paraty Explorer and driven to the Gold Trail. This path was carved out and paved with stones hundreds of years ago by enslaved people to enable gold mined deep in the interior to be taken to the port for shipment back to Europe. It now serves as nice path to trek to experience the remaining Atlantic forest that once stretched from the coast to the Amazon. Our friendly, knowledgeable guide told us a lot about the region and the country’s history as well as explaining much of the biodiversity we were seeing. He then took as to Cachoeira do Toboga e Poco do Tarzan, a series of cascading waterfalls and swimming holes. The base of the falls features a tall, smooth, rock formation at about 45 degrees that local kids “surf”, i.e. slide down while standing upright, sometimes jumping and spinning. It was terrifying and astounding to watch. We were only allowed to slide down on our butts (not that I would have attempted to surf). At the top of the falls, across a precarious rope bridge, is… a bar! What a country. After some swimming and drinking, we walked over to Alambique Engenho D’Ouro, a traditional (tho relatively new) artesian cachaca distillery. We learned about how it’s made and what distinguishes different types of cachaca from each other and from rum, and sampled several tasty varieties. Sufficiently buzzed, we headed to lunch then back to the house for some downtime.

That evening we made our first foray into Paraty’s historic center. It’s a (sorta) grid on the water with charming small cobblestone streets lined with rows of one-and-two story Spanish colonial style homes with whitewashed walls and brightly-painted trims. It’s reminiscent of New Orleans’ French Quarter. The streets are something else. The original stones have been torn up and replaced many times over the past 200 years, so the surface is highly uneven. It’s difficult to admire the town’s beauty since you need to keep your eyes focused on the ground if you don’t want to sprain your ankle.

Our destination was the Academy of Cooking & Other Pleasures, a cooking school run by on older couple out of their charming home. Their focus is not on technique, but rather the food and how it reflects Brazil’s culture and history. We all had a great time, learned a lot and then enjoyed a delicious meal of our own making. It had been a long day but very fun and educational, and I think it helped all of us first-time visitors to understand and enjoy Brazil more knowing about its history.

On Wednesday we arranged for a boat tour of the bay and some of its 65 islands. This was a really fun, special day that made us all appreciate what an incredible place we were in. We puttered across the water and through the inlets, swam in lagoons and at remote beaches, ate lunch at a cliffside restaurant that’s only accessible by boat, saw some billionaires’ resplendent homes as well as some more modest ones belonging to locals, drank rosé all day and generally lived our best lives. It was exhausting so we were all happy to come home and pick at scraps for dinner. Some of us crashed early while others kept the party going a few more hours….

After all our hard work the last two days we took Thursday off. Had a bigger-than-usual breakfast at the house then hung out on our local beach for the day, some of us taking out the kayaks and paddle boards. Later in the afternoon we visited the beachside restaurant next door for beer and fried fish. That evening we went back to Centro for some shopping, a sample of the local specialty cocktail Jorge Amado, and an unexpectedly delicious, final meal at Banana da Terra.

On Friday my remaining friends left for their last night in Sao Paulo leaving me alone in this big, gorgeous beachside house. I caught up on reading and writing and pondered my next step: two weeks in Rio….

[thehungrykat1]

Love, Suite Love Valentine’s Staycation at Joy Nostalg Hotel & Suites Manila

My husband and I usually celebrate Valentine’s Day with a staycation at one of our favorite hotels in the metro. This year, we wanted to continue our annual tradition even with the current community quarantine, especially since this was our first Valentine’s together as a married couple. Thankfully, there are a few five-star hotels in Metro Manila that already accept leisure guests, and one of these happens to be a hotel that is close to our hearts - Joy Nostalg Hotel & Suites Manila. Even better, they were offering their Love, Suite Love Valentine’s Staycation promo which included an overnight stay in their One-Bedroom Executive Suite, Valentine’s dinner for two, set breakfast for two, antigen test for two, plus late checkout for only P12,000 nett. It’s a complete luxury staycation package that exactly fits our needs during this ongoing pandemic.

Joy Nostalg Hotel & Suites Manila is a five-star serviced residence with 229 spacious and fully-furnished suites well equipped with entertainment, kitchen and laundry facilities. Their rooms are available for overnight as well as long-staying guests since the suites really feel like home. Joy Nostalg Manila is located right at the heart of the Ortigas Center business district along ADB Avenue. I could immediately notice the small changes at the lobby area, with plexiglass dividers at the front desk and everyone wearing face shield and face masks.

We checked in for our Valentine’s staycation last February 13, 2021. The last time we stayed here was just a few weeks before the hotel changed its name and management, back when the hotel was still called Oakwood Premier (Read: Elegant and Spacious Holiday Staycation at Oakwood Premier Manila). Guests are encouraged to register beforehand for the PasigPass QR Code which handles Pasig’s contact tracing procedures. This makes things faster during the check-in process and you can also use the same QR Code for all Pasig establishments. A separate Digital Health Declaration Form from the DOT and DOH is also required to be filled up.

Aside from the temperature check at the entrance, one new requirement for all overnight hotel guests is that they have to present a negative Rapid Antigen Swab Test on the day of their check-in. Joy-Nostalg makes this process easier by offering their own antigen testing center right at the hotel. This service is included in the Love, Suite Love staycation package so we scheduled our antigen test just before our check-in. It just took less than 15 minutes to get our negative results so we got our key cards from the front desk and started our Valentine’s staycation!

Health and safety is a priority during the new normal so you will find alcohol dispensers all over the hotel. Each room also has small tables set up outside the doors so they can just leave your room service orders and other requested items here without the need for face to face interaction.

We entered our huge One-Bedroom Executive Suite on the 21st floor and it is still as gorgeous as we remember it. Each 86-94 square meter apartment comes with its own spacious living room equipped with a 40" high definition LCD TV and sound bar home theater system. Guests can also find a small dining area for your takeout or food deliveries.

The window opens up to a magnificent view of the Ortigas skyline. It’s a little bit more quiet nowadays because of the quarantine, so we also prefer to just enjoy our time inside the hotel during our stay.

What better way to welcome us home than with these fruits and sweet delicacies? It was a surprise seeing these on the dining table just as we entered our suite. We even got a personalized greeting card from the hotel’s general manager and marketing director. It’s these small personal gestures which truly makes a staycation feel extra special.

What also makes Joy Nostalg Manila different is that each serviced apartment can function as your home away from home. It comes with a fully-equipped kitchen complete with a microwave and convention oven, a Vitroceramic cook top, dishwasher, refrigerator, toaster, rice cooker, coffee maker, cooking utensils, a washing machine, dryer, iron and ironing board.

I also found this new water purifying device set up on the faucet so you can get clean drinking water straight from the tap. I think I want to get this type of device for my own home.

Joy-Nostalg Manila offers one of the most luxurious staycation experiences you can find. The bedroom is just as spacious with its king-sized bed and another 40" LCD TV for your viewing pleasure. The interiors inside the One-Bedroom Suite evoke a classical elegance with simple beige and wooden undertones providing a comforting environment.

Since it is Valentine’s, we found this very cute towel display on on our bed, plus a few other welcome gifts that are just as appreciated. Sanitation Kits are also provided containing alcohols, face masks, and wet wipes to make sure your gadgets and other items are always clean.

We were even so surprised to see our wedding photo by the bedside! Now that is what I call service with a very personal touch. This room really feels like our own home.

Another thing I really love about the One-Bedroom Suite is its exquisite bathroom with a free-standing bathtub and Vessel-type double sinks. I’m definitely going for a warm bubble bath later in the evening before I go to sleep. The shower stall comes with a rain shower and eco-friendly refillable soap and shampoo dispensers. But the best part about the bathroom is the 20-inch waterproof flat screen television which makes it a total of three LCD TVs inside the suite. Now I can watch my favorite shows while taking a leisurely bath.

Another change brought about by the pandemic is the use of the hotel’s indoor swimming pool, which is arguably the best among all the hotels I have visited. This heated pool actually features underwater music which you can hear when you swim. At the end of the long lap pool is a warm bubbly jacuzzi where I like to soak my body.

The pool can now only be used by hotel guests on a reservation basis. This is to maintain social distancing even when swimming. But since the hotel is also on a limited capacity, we basically had the entire pool to ourselves. We just needed to schedule our one-hour time slot in advance and we ended up with our own private indoor pool.

The most exciting part of our staycation was the pre-Valentine’s dinner date we had scheduled at the Nostalgia Lounge and Bar, the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant on the 6th Floor. I was able to try their Valentine Delights Set Meals for delivery a few weeks ago, but it still feels more romantic to go on a real Valentine’s dinner date.

The restaurant also follows strict health and safety protocols in accordance with Allsafe, the new cleanliness and prevention standards by the Accor Hotels group that includes Sofitel, Raffles and Fairmont, and Novotel. These are the same measures followed whether you are a dining guest or a check-in guest.

The Nostalgia Lounge & Bar is a step back in time where diners can relive the good old days amidst a backdrop of contemporary classic elegance. There used to be more sofas and tables in the restaurant, but now they have also implemented social distancing procedures so there is more space in between tables.

There are a few private dining rooms here as well and we were lucky to be able to have one for our Valentine’s Day Set Dinner (P2,500). This is a 5-Course dinner complete with appetizers, a main course, and dessert plus a glass of red or white wine.

Aside from the wine, we were also given a fruity welcome drink called White Sangria. Since we both ordered white wine, the server actually gave us the entire bottle so we had plenty of drinks that night. The Amuse Bouche was then served. This was a small but tasty plate of grilled focaccia topped with roasted garlic spread and grape tomato confit.

Next came our Appetizer which was a salad composed of mixed greens, toasted hazelnuts, gouda, roasted bell pepper, and vinaigrette.

We also had the Roasted Tomato Soup with basil pesto. This warm and hearty bowl of soup was a great way to prepare us for our meaty main course.

We are both steak lovers, so it was an easy decision to choose the Beef Tenderloin for our main course. This pretty tenderloin steak is served on a bed of parmesan potato cake with julienne vegetables then topped with blue cheese butter. This is the same main course I ordered for my Valentine Delights Hotbox delivery but it is really much better to eat it at the restaurant itself. The ambiance and quality of the dishes makes it a truly wonderful Valentine’s date.

We ended with the Strawberry and Brownie Trifle for our dessert. This beautiful glass is filled with homemade fudge brownies, jam, and rich custard topped with whipped cream plus white and dark chocolate strawberries.

I even received another pretty surprise from Nostalgia Lounge and Bar, a long-stem rose and cookies to take home! These were given to all dining guests that evening to make their Valentine’s dinner more memorable.

But our night wasn’t over yet, because after dinner, we headed up to the 43rd floor to have a nightcap at The Roof, Joy Nostalg Manila’s rooftop bar and grill with a breathtaking view of the city. We actually haven’t seen this part of the hotel before because it wasn’t open yet the last time we stayed here, so it was exciting to finally be able to visit it.

The Roof is a great place to unwind with their grilled specialties and cocktails. This was also an alternative dining venue for the Valentine’s Dinner Set that weekend, especially since its al fresco environment is probably a safer option during the pandemic.

We were quite full from our 5-course dinner, so we ended up enjoying a couple of cocktails while waiting for the clock to strike midnight to welcome Valentine’s Day.

I had a glass of Daiquiri (P240) while my husband ordered their Hennessy Milk Tea (P450). He likes trying “unique” cocktail combinations so this was a quirky beverage for him. A few more drinks later and we were ready to go back down to our suite for a relaxing slumber.

The next morning, we woke up to Valentine’s Day with a bountiful breakfast in bed. Joy Nostalg Manila now let’s hotel guests choose whether to have their breakfast at the Nostalgia Lounge and Bar or inside their own rooms. Since buffet breakfasts are frowned upon during the quarantine, we decided to the room service option so we can spend the entire morning in our suites. Guests just have to fill out the Breakfast Menu and choose their desired breakfast sets with their indicated time of delivery.

This is definitely more fun than having to wake up early to shower and preparing to go down to the cafe. Now I can sleep longer and just lazily wake up with my breakfast all prepared. Don’t worry, this isn’t all for me. Dexter ordered the American Breakfast with bacon, pancakes, sausages, cereals, and hash browns while I had the Filipino Breakfast with Beef Tapa, garlic rice, fried egg, and fruits. These are all served with a variety of breads, juices, tea, and coffee. What a Happy Valentine’s Sunday!

It was almost noon when we ate our breakfast so it ended up being a brunch-in-bed. But we didn’t have to rush for checkout because the Love, Suite Love staycation package also includes late check-out up to 4pm! That meant more time for me to enjoy lounging around in the bathtub while watching my favorite shows. You can experience all of these as well with their ongoing Suite Welcome staycation package until March 31, 2021 which includes an overnight stay with breakfast and antigen tests for two starting at P9,000 nett per night. Thank you, Joy Nostalg Manila for letting us have such a romantic and memorable Valentine’s staycation.

Joy Nostalg Hotel & Suites Manila

17 ADB Ave, Ortigas Center, Pasig City, Philippines

+632 86377888 / +632 79108888

HB2D6-RE1@accor.com

[charllieeldridge]

20 Best Things To Do in Mazatlan, Mexico

Mexico has no shortage of beach towns for you to choose from for a sun-drenched vacation. There are endless fun things to do in Mazatlan, which is affectionately known as the Pearl of the Pacific. This coastal city is one of the top places to visit in Mexico, and for good reason. 

Long a favourite of surfers and expats, Mazatlan has a lot to offer travellers!

Here you can explore the historic Old Town, take part in a wide variety of water sports, attend one of the biggest parties in the world, and so much more. If you’re wondering what to do in Mazatlan during your holiday, we have you covered.

Read on to plan your trip to this beautiful Mexican city as we share the 21 best things to do in Mazatlan. 

1. Stroll the Malecon

The first item on your list of things to do in Mazatlan should definitely be a stroll along the oceanfront Malecon. This promenade stretches for several kilometers up the coast, making for a beautiful place to walk, jog, or cycle. 

Along the way, you’ll see several unique statues and monuments, including the iconic Fishermen Monument. Make sure you bring your camera, because this is a seriously photogenic place. 

Should you need some refreshments on your stroll, there are plenty of street food vendors, restaurants, cafes, and bars to choose from. You could easily spend the entire day enjoying all that the Malecon has to offer and not get bored.

*If you’re visiting Puerto Vallarta, don’t forget to check out the Malecon there as well – it’s one of the best things to do in Puerto Vallarta. 

2. Walking Tour of the Historic Centre

While the coast of Mazatlan is picturesque, you’ll want to be sure to explore the city’s historic centre as well. The Centro Historico (commonly called “Old Town” in English) is full of stunning architecture, tree-lined plazas, and some great museums.

An excellent way to cover some serious ground in Old Town is following this self-guided walking tour. You’ll see some of the most historic buildings in the city, get to choose between a few museums, and so much more. 

☞ See Also: Things To Do in San Miguel de Allende – Mexico’s Colourful City

3. Visit the Basilica

However you decide to explore the Old Town, be sure to include a visit to the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. It was finished back in 1899 in the Baroque-Revival style. Admiring the gorgeous church is definitely one of the top things to do in Mazatlan.  

Admiring the beautiful basilica. | Photo by Sasha Savinov

One interesting aspect of the basilica’s design is that it features the Star of David on stained glass windows inside. This was added as a show of thanks to a Jewish family who helped to fund the construction of the church. Click here for directions.

**Don’t miss our epic Mexico Travel Guide which has all the information you’ll need for visiting this country, including details on Mazatlan.

4. Hike to the Lighthouse

For some of the best views in Mazatlan, take a hike up to El Faro (The Lighthouse). There’s a trail leading up the hill to the lighthouse that takes about 30 to 45 minutes.

Fun fact — this is actually the highest natural lighthouse in the Americas, at around 160 metres above sea level.

Be sure to wear some good shoes and bring plenty of water for this hike. You’ll definitely want your camera for this one as well to snap some photos of the incredible views. Click here for directions to the lighthouse. Entrance to the lighthouse is free. 

5. Hit the Beach

What better way to cool down after a good hike than chilling out on the beach? There are several beaches in Mazatlan to choose from, including Playa Olas Altas right downtown. Just be warned that this beach (with a name meaning High Waves) isn’t the best for swimming.

Up in the Zona Dorada (Gold Zone), you’ll find the bustling Playa las Gaviotas. This beach is always lively, so don’t expect peace and quiet here. It’s fun to check out for a while if you’re prepared to deal with the countless vendors.

Surfers in particular love the beaches in Mazatlan, however, if you’re looking to swim in calm waters, you’ll want to check out Playa Sabalo. 

*Note: If you’re looking for powdery white sands and turquoise Caribbean waters, you’ll want to check out the Yucatan area of Mexico. Chilling on the best is one of the top things to do in Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Isla Mujeres, Tulum and Cozumel!

6. A Day at the Water Park

One of the top things to do in Mazatlan for families is spending a day at the Mazagua Water Park. There are several different water slides here, as well as a wave pool, an artificial beach, volleyball courts and more. 

The park is open daily from 10AM-6PM and costs around $8 to visit. You can even make a day of it and combine a visit to Mazagua with a trip to the nearby Playa Cerritos. Click here for directions to the water park.  

7. Chill Out at Stone Island

If the hustle and bustle of the city centre gets to be too much, you can make a quick escape to Isla de la Piedra (Stone Island).

It’s not really an island, but it sure feels like it. Due to the geography of the area, it would take a few hours to drive there. Instead, hop on the local ferry for the quick 5-minute ride.

Once you’re on the “island,” you can chill out on the beach, go for a swim, or even try some horseback riding. There are quite a few restaurants to choose from on the beach as well, so you can stay here all day and enjoy a little escape from the city.

☞ See Also: Things To Do in Oaxaca – 21 Things You Don’t Want To Miss

8. Watch the Cliff Divers

One of the most popular things to do in Mazatlan is seeing the amazing cliff divers. Known as clavadistas, these daring men leap off a small platform high above the crashing waves. They have to time their dive very carefully so as to not hit the rocks. 

The cliff divers jump from a spot along the Malecon called El Clavadista. They usually dive in the afternoon, with Sunday being the busiest day. The divers work for tips from tourists who stop to watch, so be prepared to chip in a buck or two. Click here for directions. 

☞ See Also: Things To Do in Guadalajara – A List of The Top 21

9. See a Show at the Theatre

When visiting Mazatlan, you won’t want to miss out on the stunning Angela Peralta Theatre. It was opened way back in 1874 and restored in the 1980s to once again host performances.

The theatre was named after a famous Mexican opera singer who tragically died as a result of a yellow fever epidemic that struck the city.

If there’s not a show going on at the theatre during your stay, you can still take a tour of the building. Head here for a guide to the upcoming cultural performances in Mazatlan, most of which take place at the theatre, and many of which offer free entrance.

☞ See Also: Things To Do in Mexico City – A List Of The Best

10. Go Golfing

If you’re a golfer, you’ll be happy to hear that there are a few different courses to choose from in Mazatlan. Here you’ll find the amazing Estrella del Mar, which was built on the Pacific Ocean and is consistently ranked among the top courses in all of Mexico.

For 18 holes in the high season, the cost is $130, including cart rental, balls, bottle of water and a scorecard. Click here for more details about Estrella del Mar. 

Even if you’re not up for playing a full round, you can head to the Pacific Food Truck Park & Golf to hit some balls on their driving range. 

*Note: Playing a round of golf is also one of the top things to do in San Pancho, just outside of Puerto Vallarta.

11. Celebrate Carnaval

Without a doubt, one of the most fun things to do in Mazatlan is celebrating Carnaval. While Rio and New Orleans may get all the hype, Mazatlan throws one of the best Carnaval parties out there. 

During Carnaval (which happens in February), the Malecon is packed full of revelers. There are several stages with live bands and tons of vendors selling costumes, food, and drinks to keep the party going.

There’s also a massive fireworks display and a big parade to wind down the festivities. Learn more about the festivities here.

See what Carnaval in Mazatlan looks like in our short video.

12. Machado Square

Perhaps the best area of Old Town to hang out in is Machado Square. This tree-lined plaza is very picturesque and is a popular place for both locals and tourists to gather.

There are many restaurants, cafes, and bars around the square where you can sit and watch the city go by. If you’re looking for a good part of town to stay in, finding a hotel or hostel around Machado is highly recommended.

⇒ See Also: Puerto Escondido, Mexico – The Ultimate Travel Guide

13. Ride the Waves

If you’re looking for more excitement than just beach-bumming, there are a few places in Mazatlan to go surfing. The most popular is Playa Brujas in the north of the city, where you can find vendors renting surfboards if you don’t have your own.

This exposed beach break is good any time of year. Even better, this remote beach is usually pretty empty and is devoid of the touts that plague the bustling Gaviotas beach.

14. Catch a Ballgame

Football is for sure the most popular sport in Mexico, but baseball is king here in Mazatlan. The city is home to the Venados de Mazatlan (the Mazatlan Deer), who play in the Mexican Pacific League.

There’s a lot to cheer about here, as the team won the league championship as recently as 2016.

In addition, major renovations just wrapped up on the stadium, which hopes to host MLB exhibition games sometime soon. Catching a ballgame is definitely one of the top things to do in Mazatlan.

☞ See Also: Manzanillo Mexico: The Ultimate Travel Guide

15. Feast on Seafood

In this coastal city, it should come as no surprise that there’s an abundance of delicious seafood!

Mazatlan is known in particular for its tasty shrimp dishes. Try some shrimp pate, which is made from ground shrimp, mayonnaise, queso crema, and chipotle chilies, or dig into a plate of spicy aguachile — raw shrimp with chili peppers, lime juice, cilantro, and onion.

Eating traditional cuisine is definitely one of the top things to do in Mexico, and Mazatlan is no exception. Whether it’s a simple beachside restaurant grilling up fresh fish or a fancy restaurant in Old Town, your taste buds are in for a treat when you dine on seafood in Mazatlan. 

☞ See Also: Things To Do in Guanajuato – A Top 10 List of The Best

16. Visit the Turtle Sanctuary

Every year, sea turtles travel hundreds of miles to their place of birth to lay eggs. Sadly, the ongoing development of coastal areas in Mexico has hurt the reproductive success of the turtles.

There’s good news, though, as there are a few places in Mazatlan working to protect and conserve the turtles.

If you’d like to help out with the efforts, you can join a tour to visit one of the sanctuaries in Mazatlan. Estrella del Mar and El Verde Camacho are your best bets for helping out with turtle conservation in Mazatlan. 

17. Sunset on the Beach

As you can see, there are plenty of fun things to do in Mazatlan. However you choose to spend your days here, be sure to take some time to slow down, chill out, and catch a beautiful sunset on the beach. 

There are plenty of simple beach bars where you can use a lounger or even swing in a hammock as you watch the sun disappear on the horizon. Crack an ice-cold cervesa and enjoy the show!

18. Get Up Close with Whales and Dolphins

From December to April, huge pods of humpback whales make their way past Mazatlan. Joining a tour to get up close to these majestic creatures is sure to be one of your favourite things to do in Mazatlan. 

In addition to whale watching adventures, it’s also possible to swim with dolphins in the wild. There are quite a few tour operators running both types of trips, with Onca Explorations coming highly recommended. 

*Note: Seeing whales in the wild is also one of the top things to do in Cabo San Lucas!

19. Watersports Galore

Surfing isn’t the only water sport on offer in Mazatlan. You can also enjoy scuba diving, snorkeling, parasailing, kayaking, jet-skiing, fishing – the list goes on and on.

If you’re into sports fishing, you’ll be happy to know that during the winter months, you can catch Pacific Sailfish, Dorado (Mahi Mahi), Wahoo and Yellowfin Tuna, and Striped Marlin. In the summer, you can hook into Blue and Black Marlin. Learn more about sports fishing in Mazatlan here.

With so many options, you can spend the majority of your trip in Mazatlan out in the water and do something different every day.

20. Enjoy the Nightlife

Mazatlan is a city that knows how to party, plain and simple. While Carnaval is definitely the wildest time of the year here, the party’s always going in this popular beach town. 

You can find bars and clubs of all shapes and sizes here. Whether you’re looking for a laidback dive bar or a bumping nightclub, you can find it here in Mazatlan. One of the quintessential places to party is Bora Bora, a massive club where dancing on the table is the norm. 

Now You Know What To Do in Mazatlan!

As you can see, Mazatlan offers far more than your average beach town. With its restored Old Town, oceanfront promenade, vibrant culture, and abundance of beaches, there are enough things to see and do in Mazatlan to keep you busy for a while.

Who knows — you may end up loving Mazatlan so much that you decide to join the scores of expats who have chosen to call this coastal city home. Enjoy your trip!

Some images in this post are courtesy of Shutterstock.com.

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[own-high-end]

3,000-- 4,000 #Classic #Arcade #Games in One Single #Arcade #Machine!

3,000-- 4,000 #Classic #Arcade #Games in One Single #Arcade #Machine! IN THE NEW AGE http://inthenewage.com Hey all of you arcade video game fans, we have a totally new line of gallery game machines. The new brand name of gallery game machines is call Classic Gallery System! #arcadegames, #arcadegame, #arcade #games, #pacman #arcade #games, #multicade Timeless Game System, Inc, produces over 25 various kinds of arcade game machines that flaunt 100's, as well as also 1,000's of video games all in the convenience of one industrial grade, full-size gallery machines. Think of, playing your favored video games from the 80's like Pac-man, Galaga, Frogger, Projectile Command, Space Invaders, Donkey Kong and also a lot more. Or, perhaps you like playing video games from the 90's like, Street Competitor, Tekken, X-Men, the Simpsons, NBA Jam, Marvel Vs. Capcom, Terminator, Cruisin U.S.A. and so much more. Ok, so you're a little more youthful than I believed right? Exactly how about some standards from the 2,000's like; Knights of the Round, Smash TV, Konomi arcade games, Shoot out pool, Sega arcade video games, therefore a lot more? We provide full-size stand-up gallery video games with LED high-def screens from 19' to 35' in dimension. We additionally supply sit-down design alcoholic drink closet gallery video games with tops that illuminate, LED blinking lights, as well as we consist of stools with all games that we sell. Furthermore, we offer a truly BAD-ASS online pinball machine that includes a 42" high-definition LCD screen that incurs 2,000 timeless pinball machines. Our virtual pinball machine is SO LIFELIKE, that you might forget it is a video pinball machine. LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR MANY POPULAR ARCADE VIDEO GAME SYSTEM! So, what exactly is the "CLASSIC GAME SYSTEM?" It is a genuine game gaming system that ENABLES you to play up to 3,500 REAL gallery video games in 1 FULL-SIZE business arcade cupboard! The TRADITIONAL GAME SYSTEM brand is made up of several special arcade games that are developed with business grade elements. The game machines are built for business usage as well as home use. Unlike numerous other game video games consisting of multi-game systems, the "TRADITIONAL GAME SYSTEM" are constructed with the highest possible standards feasible. As a result, all parts consisting of hardware, circuit boards, closets and monitors are business grade! In addition, when comparing the worth, you are receiving from among these systems, in the long run, you are perhaps SAVING at least 40% when contrasted to comparable FULL-SIZE gallery machines, games, and systems! Make sure to check out all offered games styles. All TRADITIONAL GAME SYSTEM game systems are made by hand as bought in the U.S.A.! Visit our site to learn more, watch video presentations, as well as to OWN your VERY OWN Timeless Arcade System Multi-Game gallery machine IN THE NEW AGE http://inthenewage.com here is a really list of games consisted of. Sorry, yet we really could not put 3,500 video game titles on this site! You can see a whole list of games on our site: Ms. Pacman, Donkey Kong, Galaxian, Mr. Do, Galaga3, 1942, Pacman, Space Invaders, all Road Fighter games, Raizing Classics Battling Gamings, Last Fantasy Collection, final fight collection, Deadly Fierceness collection, Gradius Collection, Ghouls 'n Ghosts, Guilty Gear Collection, Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros., Killer Instinct Collection, Tale of Zelda Wheel, Looney Tunes Collection, Mario Kart Gamings, Steel Slug Collection therefore a lot more! Additionally, we market other super-cool items like; #rockola #jukeboxes, various other #arcade #game #machines, #designer #watches, lifesize statues of #Hollywood #movie #props of extremely heroes like #Batman, #spiderman, #Antman, the #Hulk, sculpture furnishings, #holistic #health #machines like #whole #body #vibration #machines. See IN THE NEW AGE http://inthenewage.com