#the weather today was supposed to be like 60 and cloudy

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12/16/2022 DAB Chronological Transcription

Ephesians 1-6

Welcome to the Daily Audio bible chronological I'm China. Today is the 16th day of December. Welcome. So glad to be back here with you today. I hope that you've had a great week as we head into the weekend. It has been such a sweet, slow week. I've seen the peeks of the sun. And it wants to come out, and then it goes back in. I missed the sun. I missed the sun. Oh, man. I've I've had this, like, red light that it doesn't like. It's just the infrared light that this. You know, the sun has infrared light, and so it's just kind of like a way to it's not tricking your body, but there's benefits of it. But I've been pulling that out a lot more recently in the winter just to increase my vitamin D levels and just to put warmth on my skin. And then anytime the sun peeks out, I'm like running outside and going and trying to get some sun exposure. But, man, it has been very overcast dreary. No signs of the sun. I'm like, listen, I miss the sun. We need him. We need him to come back. Okay. I would love some snow. Maybe maybe in like another month or so. Here in Nashville, we don't really get snow until January or February. Now there is some rumors that we may get snow Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but you cannot hold your breath or count on that or take stock in that because you'll just get real disappointed. So don't know where you are in the world, but are you a white Christmas or no, I prefer sunny and by the beach or by the water. Sunny and outside in my short sleeves. Either one is a very merry Christmas. And truly would be happy with either one of them. Or maybe you get like a 60 degree day and it's partly cloudy. I think that's great too. Whatever your heart desires and also whatever your heart is longing for, maybe just close your eyes and picture it not Christmas morning yet, but soon enough, nine days. But just picture your ideal weather in your head and let's read the word of the Lord together in your ideal weather situation. Today we are in the book of Ephesians, chapters one through six, continuing on with the English Standard version for this week.

Commentary:

Something that really captivated my attention is the very beginning of chapter 5 where he’s saying therefore be imitators of God as beloved children and walk in love as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us- a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Kinda goes with what we were talking about yesterday, where it’s just this really beautiful calling us to a higher standard. Because like be an imitator of God. Wow. That really should cause us to stop in our tracks. To really think like ok what are some attributes of God to imitate you know? If I’m gonna imitate someone, you gotta be like- it’s the copy cat game, right? You are doing everything that they’re doing, you’re saying everything that they’re saying. And in order to play that game you have to know what they’re saying, you have to know what they’re doing and what they’re saying, like you have to be right there listening and paying attention. And so I think that that’s such a beautiful challenge really to imitate God, to do as He is doing, to say as He is saying, to be as He’s being. And again, it causes us to reflect and to just kind of evaluate our own lives and to recognize, ok these are the areas that I need to shift and again, like we were talking about yesterday, the beautiful part is we’re not expected to do it on our own. The Lord comes beside us and with us and encourages us and says, I’ve been waiting for you to ask me. Of course, I’d love to do this together. You’re not supposed to do this on your own. You can’t. We are in need of a Savior.

Prayer:

And so Father, again I thank you that you are showing us that in our weakness You are strong. And so I pray that we would learn to imitate you, to seek you and to be rooted in You. Just as Paul was writing, we would be grounded in Your love and in your grace. And that we would freely receive and freely give, freely extend. I just thank you for how good and true your Word always seems to be, how right on time things are being spoken and read over us. And I just thank you for Your goodness and Your mercy that follows us all of our days. And it's in Your name we pray. Amen. 

Announcements:

If you have prayer requests and things that we as a community can come alongside of you and can encourage you. You can call in 800-583-2164. And these are recorded, sent in and played at the end of everyday's podcast. That is all for today. I'm China. I love you and I'll be waiting for you here tomorrow.

Community Prayer Line:

This is Candy or Unraveled by God's Grace. Today is December the 12th, and I just heard Amanda in Nebraska making a comment about Jill's commentary on judging from December the 7th. Don't feel so bad because we've all done it. And, I mean, I've been there and. So what I have learned throughout these years is that God wants us to look at people through his eyes and. He's the only one who can judge, not us. So I've learned to see them the way God sees them. And I look past all their sins. Even though I don't agree with their lifestyle or the things that anything that they do or say, I look at their heart and know that God desires them because he loves them. And so just look at them that way with love and just know that God is working in them. Just pray for them. So, sister, know that you are loved and that God knows your heart and that he knows that you are zealous for Him. So just forgive yourself for that and just keep on growing. We love you. And I just pray for everyone that says prayers as they're praying. I pray with those and those who are asking for prayers. I'm praying with you even though I don't post them mostly most of the time. But just know that your love, god bless and peace be within you all.

Hello, DABC family. This is Diana from Florida and I want to lift up Jeanette from Tulsa. But before I do, Jeanette, I just have to encourage you and say praise God for your vulnerability in your recording. My goodness, it is so refreshing to see your honesty pour through as far as your struggles with establishing a quiet time and feeling that the Lord is near and feeling like you have a connection with God. And I think a lot of people struggle with this. It's a common thing where they may be going through the motions or they don't understand the Scriptures fully, so it makes it very difficult for them to connect. But I just want to encourage you. That God is indeed at your side. He says, Draw near to me and I will draw near to you. And I encourage you to just continue in the process. Just continue in the process and things will begin to click for you. Dear Heavenly Father, I pray for Jeanette. I pray that you would honor her desire, oh Father God, to draw closer to you and to know you more, to experience the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through her life. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ that you would begin to unveil the words of scripture to her, Lord God, that as she studies out your Word, that you would begin to reveal to her what exactly it is you want to speak to her about in this season of her life. I pray that as she is consistent in prayer and her quiet time and in reading the Word, that you, Oh Lord God, would fall fresh upon her. In Jesus name we pray and we love you. Amen.

Hi. This is Chastity from Kansas. I wanted to call for prayer. It's been a very long couple of weeks. Our family has just been going through viruses pretty much since Thanksgiving. Our son woke up getting sick everywhere on Thanksgiving and has pretty much been off and on with that since. We do have some tests pending to see if there's something more going on with him. My husband and I have been kind of better for the most part. My husband has had sinus issues, which is something he has every year. But then this past Sunday he was very sick, vomiting all day long. So that has made it very hard for me to take care of the both of them. And also working, I had to even leave work yesterday because I was not feeling well. Our finances are a little bit rough right now because of just having to miss work for all of us being sick for three weeks. So please pray for us. It's a struggle and it's so hard. And also the woman who had called I'm so sorry, I don't remember your name. And you even said where you were from, but you had mentioned how you aren't making quiet time for the Lord and you were confessing that that just resonated with me so much. Because that's something I honestly have struggled with the past week or so. And also before. But it's something that's really been on my mind constantly. Why am I not given the Lord time? I know I should, I know how much he loves me, but it's it's been a very big struggle for me to make that quiet time. So I pray for you. I love you all. I pray that you all have a blessed week and I ask that you please pray for me in that as well. Thank you all so much. God bless all of you.

[kayliemusing]

30

1: Name - Kaylie

2: Age - 23

3: 3 Fears - Spiders, failure, loss

4: 3 things I love - Reading, writing, Taylor Swift

5: 4 turns on - Kindness, nice hands, humor, someone who has a really warm heart.

6: 4 turns off - Arrogance, moustaches lmao, narcissism, basket ball shorts *shudders*

7: My best friend - Her name is Megan (but also my mom lmao)

8: Sexual orientation - Heterosexual

9: My best first date - I have never been on a date.

10: How tall am I - 5'2

11: What do I miss - My childhood mostly

12: What time were I born - 2:45 pm

13: Favorite color - Red, but sometimes a nice summery, pastel yellow

14: Do I have a crush - no

15: Favorite quote - I have so many that I can't say my utmost favourite, but one that I always think about is from Richard Siken "He was pointing at the moon but I was looking at his hand." I'm not even sure how this is supposed to be interpreted, but I just love the detail of this. Of someone looking at the moon and pointing at it, but you're looking at their hand because you're that consumed by them and also they're like your moon. anyway-

16: Favorite place - My house lol

17: Favorite food - Cheesecake

18: Do I use sarcasm - Yes, but very dryly

19: What am I listening to right now - Nothing actually. I'm just sitting in the quiet.

20: First thing I notice in new person - I used to think it was physical, like eyes or their smile, but I think it's actually their demeanor. i.e., confidence, if they're laid back, talkative or quiet, etc. Or even just how they handle things. Like when I'm at work and I meet a new co-worker I'm always noticing how they are with people.

21: Shoe size - 6.5 US but I can manage a 7 US too.

22: Eye color - Grey

23: Hair color - Ashy blonde, but I usually get it highlighted to be a brighter blonde

24: Favorite style of clothing - I'm super into the French girl vibe right now (elegany, classy, ribbed sweaters tucked into high waisted jeans or dress pants, a blazer thrown over and a nice gold necklace) but I'm also really into a summery boho look (flowy maxi dresses and skirts)

25: Ever done a prank call? No

27: Meaning behind my URL - On this account, it's just my name and then 'muses' because this account is just me talking to myself tbh. My main account is called autumnsletters which is just a combo of my fav things: autumn and handwritten love letters, and finally, my embarrassing taylor swift account is called sixteenavenue which is a lyric from her song I Think He Knows where she mentions her heart skipping down sixteenth avenue.

28: Favorite movie - I feel like i don't have one answer bc I always have a different answer to this question lmao. I think it's called A Christmas Carol (the 2009 version w/ Jim Carrey). It just makes me feel cozy and warm inside. Also: Clueless.

29: Favorite song - All Too Well by Taylor Swift I think.

30: Favorite band - Of Monsters and Men

31: How I feel right now - I actually feel really happy today, which is a change lol. I had an awful week last week, but over the last couple of days I've just felt more creative and happier.

32: Someone I love - My mom

33: My current relationship status - Single

34: My relationship with my parents - Excellent.

35: Favorite holiday - Christmas

36: Tattoos and piercing i have -0 :'(

37: Tattoos and piercing i want - I want to get my ears pierced again bc the holes grew over. Low key want a nose piericing and low key want a tattoo on my collarbone (or somewhere around there)

38: The reason I joined Tumblr - Because everyone else had it and I felt left out LOL

39: Do I and my last ex hate each other? - I don't have an ex

40: Do I ever get “good morning” or “good night ” texts? - No

41: Have I ever kissed the last person you texted? - No i've never been kissed rip

42: When did I last hold hands? - never but it's ok bc i can hold my own hand

43: How long does it take me to get ready in the morning? - Depending on what I'm doing. If I showered the night before and I'm just doing a very low-maintenance look, roughly 15-20 mins. On a normal day in which I shower in the morning and am trying to actually be presentable, roughly an hour.

44: Have I shaved your legs in the past three days? - Have YOU shaved MY legs? No. Have I shaved my own? Yes

45: Where am I right now? - My room

46: If I were drunk & can’t stand, who’s taking care of me? - Most likely I'm not drunk, but IF I WAS, it would be my friend, my mom, or my sister (my sister would probs make fun of me and film me tho tbh)

47: Do I like my music loud or at a reasonable level? - Loud if I'm jamming with nothing else to do but sing along. If I'm trying to do something, I'll turn it down bc I can't focus with loud music (especially if I'm trying to write something/talk to someone/text someone)

48: Do I live with my Mom and Dad? - My mom bc my dads dead

49: Am I excited for anything? - My sister and I are going to Banff in about three weeks so I'm excited for a getaway.

50: Do I have someone of the opposite sex I can tell everything to? - No

51: How often do I wear a fake smile? - I work in retail so

52: When was the last time I hugged someone? - I don't know. I think I hugged my mom at some point this week lol

53: What if the last person I kissed was kissing someone else right in front of me? - Bye bye babyyyy

54: Is there anyone I trust even though I should not? - my cat

55: What is something I disliked about today? - I had to go to work

56: If I could meet anyone on this earth, who would it be? - Taylor Alison Swift baby

57: What do I think about most? - Probably Taylor Swift.

58: What’s my strangest talent? - I can make stomach gurgling noises with my mouth closed.

59: Do I have any strange phobias? - Nah, pretty generic ones

60: Do I prefer to be behind the camera or in front of it? - Behind the camera

61: What was the last lie I told? - Some lady asked if a product was good and I said yes so I wouldn't have to help her find another one

62: Do I prefer talking on the phone or video chatting online? - Neither what the hell

63: Do I believe in ghosts? How about aliens? - Neither

64: Do I believe in magic? - No

65: Do I believe in luck? - No

66: What's the weather like right now? - It's calm, but a little cloudy. It was really warm and sunny earlier, but it's gotten a little grey.

67: What was the last book I've read? - I just finished this series called The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski and it was so good but so stressful omg. Still 5/5 stars.

68: Do I like the smell of gasoline? - Yes

69: Do I have any nicknames? - Not really, but sometimes my coworkers call my Kayls

70: What was the worst injury I've ever had? - Oh my god when I was like 10 I fell during grounders and the bar hit me right on the cooch. Most painful event of my entire life.

71: Do I spend money or save it? - Spend it bitch

72: Can I touch my nose with a tongue? - No

73: Is there anything pink in 10 feet from me? - yes!! my blanket!!

74: Favorite animal? - I love hippos and I don't know why.

75: What was I doing last night at 12 AM? - Reading on my phone to avoid sleeping so I could prolong not going to work

76: What do I think is Satan’s last name is? - Devil. Kind of like Satan The Devil is his full name

77: What’s a song that always makes me happy when I hear it? - Shake It Off

78: How can you win my heart? - Learning Taylor Swift's entire discography for my sake

79: What would I want to be written on my tombstone? - tbh I really don't know

80: What is my favorite word? - Wonderstruck

81: My top 5 blogs on tumblr - n/a

82: If the whole world were listening to me right now, what would I say? - stream fearless taylor's version

83: Do I have any relatives in jail? - no

84: I accidentally eat some radioactive vegetables. They were good, and what’s even cooler is that they endow me with the super-power of my choice! What is that power? - Healing

85: What would be a question I’d be afraid to tell the truth on? - N/A

86: What is my current desktop picture? - it's a misty forest

87: Had sex? - no

88: Bought condoms? - no

89: Gotten pregnant? - no

90: Failed a class? - yes

91: Kissed a boy? - no

92: Kissed a girl? - no

93: Have I ever kissed somebody in the rain? - no but it's a dream

94: Had a job? - I've had two so far

95: Left the house without my wallet? - Yes, sometimes I do it on purpose so I can make my mom pay for something lmao (chill i'm talking something small like candy)

96: Bullied someone on the internet? - no

97: Had sex in public? - no

98: Played on a sports team? - no

99: Smoked weed? - no

100: Did drugs? - no

101: Smoked cigarettes? - no

102: Drank alcohol? - yes

103: Am I a vegetarian/vegan? - no

104: Been overweight? - I feel overweight, but technically no

105: Been underweight? - No

106: Been to a wedding? - Yes

107: Been on the computer for 5 hours straight? - Yes, but not since I was younger. I'm mostly on my phone now.

108: Watched TV for 5 hours straight? - Oh yeah lmao

109: Been outside my home country? - No

110: Gotten my heart broken? - Yes

111: Been to a professional sports game? - No

112: Broken a bone? - No

113: Cut myself? - Yes

114: Been to prom? - Sort of. I'm Canadian so I had grad.

115: Been in airplane? - No

116: Fly by helicopter? - No

117: What concerts have I been to? - Jonas Brothers when I was about 10 lmao and Marianas Trench when I was 15

118: Had a crush on someone of the same sex? - No

119: Learned another language? - Tried to

120: Wore make up? - Yes. I do work at a makeup store.

121: Lost my virginity before I was 18? - no

122: Had oral sex? - no

123: Dyed my hair? - not a funky color, no

124: Voted in a presidential election? - Sort of; I voted for a prime minister

125: Rode in an ambulance? - Yes

126: Had a surgery? - No

127: Met someone famous? - No

128: Stalked someone on a social network? - No

129: Peed outside? - No

130: Been fishing? - No

131: Helped with charity? - Yes

132: Been rejected by a crush? - No bc I never fessed up to any crush lol

133: Broken a mirror? - No

134: What do I want for birthday? - A jewelry box

[purplesurveys]

962

Do you have a pair of Beat headphones? I used to have a pair. I mean it’s still around in my closet, but it’s completely broken now with the cable all given out and the cushion for the left ear has been missing for a while. I just don’t have the heart to throw it out because it was my absolute favorite pair of headphones that gave me good memories during a particularly shitty time in high school.

How was your week? A little better. I’ve gotten into the groove at work so I’m no longer shy when it comes to asking questions and giving inputs, and I’ve gained a better grasp of the workplace’s dynamic so it’s also been easier to communicate with people. Heavy life stuff is still around and it won’t be leaving for a while, but they were easier to ignore this week.

Are any of your electronics not working properly at the moment? Not really, but my phone’s charger cable recently stopped working. I have a backup that I’m using at the moment and while it’s able to charge my phone, it’s starting to fray and I’m not feeling too good about the wires that I’m starting to see hahaha. I just don’t know how to take care of my cables, guys. Anyway, this question made me paranoid so I took a few minutes to wrap a shit ton of electrical tape on the frayed area so I think it’s all good for now.

Are you excited to pick out your wedding dress one day? I like thinking about my wedding but I truthfully dread the wedding gown part. I’ve never been able to decide what look and style suits me best and I’ve just never been good at determining things like that. I like to imagine that I’d leave that bit to whoever my maid of honor will be, because I’d definitely prize a second opinion more than my own.

When was the last time you felt relieved? Yesterday, 6 PM when I exited the last Google Meet for the day. It was a Friday night and it meant my work week was over :)) I mean I love what I do, but Friday nights will always hit differently.

Does it bother you when an artist remakes a song that one has previously done? I wouldn’t say it bothers me but covers are definitely a hit or miss for me, with way more misses than hits. Nothing wrong with acts putting their own spin on an already existing song, but I’m personally the “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” type when it comes to music.

What brand of chapstick do you use? I don’t use any mainly because I’m bound to lose them within a week. Same goes for other care products.

Do you really think someone could be perfect? No. Everyone has their flaws and that should be okay to acknowledge.

When was the last time you cried? Wednesday, I think. It’s been three days! I’d count that as an achievement. But idk, my sadness comes in waves so I shouldn’t be celebrating too early. I’m sure I’ll feel a pang soon and be crying again over the weekend.

What’s a food that you like every once in awhile but not often? Cake. Too sweet and rich; I wouldn’t enjoy eating it every day. What letter is the song you’re listening to under? Not listening to music, but I have a YouTube video on.

Would you rather visit the 60s or 70s? 60s would be the lesser evil, I guess. I would NOT want to live through Martial Law in the 70s...I originally wasn’t even going to go with 60s because I think the world was a bit chaotic at the time, but I think my country was mostly unaffected by the political/cultural things happening then so it’s whatever.

Are you the type of person that enjoys getting hugs? I don’t actively seek them out but it feels nice when someone likes me enough to extend their arms out to me for a hug. I haven’t been hugged for a while and I feel kinda empty.

Do your socks say anything on them? I think some of my socks have the brand name on them but that’s it.

Name a TV channel that only has three letters in it. AMC.

Have you found out who your true friends are? For now, yes.

Gray or Grey? I use both spellings for no particular context. I simply like changing it up lol.

Will you be buying concert tickets any time soon? LOL of course not. And I’m very picky when it comes to concerts that I choose to attend anyway, so I doubt I would’ve bought any tickets in the last six months even without Covid unless it was for Paramore or Beyoncé.

Have you seen the movie The Perks of Being a Wallflower? Did you like it? Nope, but everyone was hyping that movie up when it came out. It never really looked like my thing < Yeah pretty much. I feel like it’s such a teenage-y movie so I was never drawn to it. I also think it would be too triggering for my depression, so I’ve felt wary about checking both book and movie out.

Is there something you’d fall apart if you didn’t have? One of my biggest fears is to end up alone, so I always have to have some form of a support system to fall back into. I would be very lost if I didn’t have at least one person to rely on.

How many weddings have you been to? I can think of four off the top of my head. I was either a flower girl or a junior bridesmaid for all of those.

When you smile, are you confident? Most times I am; I like to smile. But sometimes I smile just to fake it and avoid any questions.

Have you ever not done something because you were afraid of getting in trouble? Yesss, all the time. I’ve always been all about following the rules and I’ve never seen the appeal in breaking them. That makes me sound boring but at least I’ve never gotten in serious trouble lol.

Was the weather beautiful today? For me it is, but only because I like the rain and cloudy weather. Others might find it bleak and sad, but I feel right at home.

Do you have to have a fan on when you sleep? Yeah, all year long.

Would you rather have an orange, red or gray bedroom? If I had my dream modern/brutalist home, grey would be soooo fucking perfect for the bedroom. 

Would you ever dye part of your hair blue? I’m open to it, but I don’t think it’ll be a good match for my black hair as both are darker shades as it is. If I could dye my hair I’d pick lighter colors like green or even go all the way to blonde.

Have you ever gone to a private school? Yeah, from kindergarten all the way to high school. Private schools here typically give a better quality of education and they don’t give off the for-lazy-spoiled-kids vibe that I always hear from private schools in other countries, which makes them the norm for middle and upper-middle class families.

Is Finding Nemo a favorite movie of yours? I have other favorite animated movies, but that doesn’t stop me from loving Finding Nemo. :) I would always tune in for the whole thing if it were on.

Does/Did your school have a uniform? I had to wear one in my first school, but I didn’t need one for college.

Turn on the TV. What channel are you on? No TV where I am. I think my parents are watching a movie on their TV, but it’s on Netflix rather than a channel.

Does your house have security cameras? It does not.

Does a popsicle sound good right now? Eh, I guess it sounds fine but I’d rather have a pint of ice cream. I think that fits better with the weather and the mood that I’m in today.

What’s your favorite exercise workout? My weight training class last year was a lot of fun. I always felt dead after every session haha but I definitely felt healthier. I wish the semester had gone on longer just for that one class.

What’s your favorite thing to do? Lol I love doing many different things < Same lmao this question is so vague??? My favorite thing to do these days is binge-watch Rhett and Link content, but I like doing so many other things too.

What did you do for your 17th birthday? I was with Gabie that day and we went to a local art museum, as well as to a restaurant that she had wanted to take me to.

Does your local Walmart have benches in them to rest? We don’t have Walmarts.

Was your favorite stuffed animal really a teddy bear growing up? I never had stuffed animals. Well I was given a few of them as gifts, but I was never into them and they always ended up being owned by my sister.

If your house was haunted, what would you do? Not even think about it. Just show them that I couldn’t care less, lol.

Are you good at swimming? I can do a few strokes and am pretty good at treading, but I'm prone to panic-kicking when I can tell that the water is too deep.

What’s worse: Slow internet or slow walkers? Slow internet is such a pain in the ass. Shouldn’t even have to be an issue in 2020 anymore.

What is the rudest thing a guy has ever done to you? Cat-called, whistled at, winked at, lunged at. One good thing about this lockdown is that I haven’t had to deal with men as much as I used to. Do you sleep with the sheets tucked in or out? Well I only have one layer of bedsheet and it’s the one that covers up the mattress, so it’s tucked in by default. I have a blanket to cover me up when I’m cold.

What do you do to fall asleep faster? I find a few videos to watch as that tends to make me feel sleepy the quickest.

Do you carry a bottle of water wherever you go? I used to have a tumbler/water bottle in college but I forgot it at the gym one day and when I came back for it, somebody already stole it :( It was such a handy water bottle because it kept my water cold all day, so it sucks that I lost it. I’m planning to buy the same model again soon.

Are you afraid that one day you might get cancer? It doesn’t really run in my family save for one grand-aunt who had cancer, so I’m not too worried. But I’ve accepted the fact that it is at least a possibility.

Are you a fast or slow walker? I like being in the middle. Slow walkers are annoying so I try not to be one, and walking fast just reminds me of my mom and how quickly she walks at malls when she’s supposed to be spending time with her family lol.

Do you usually have to wear a belt with your pants? No. They all fit me just fine.

Does it bother you when people’s underwear hangs out? Eghhh, it really does. I know it shouldn’t but it really does. I just feel like it’s so invasive and it gives me a lot of secondhand embarassment.

Are you usually the person to try new things with your hair? Not really. I like staying safe with my hair. The most daring thing I’ve done with it is get bangs tbh, and I don’t plan on going any further than that.

When’s your birthday? April 21st.

What age do you look forward to reaching? I don’t feel that way about any age. Whenever I reach ultimate satisfaction and security will be a good enough age for me.

Name a state that begins with the letter M. Minnesota.

What’s the first thing you do after a car accident? Think about how to tell my parents. D:

What do you use to get rid of bad breath? Brush my teeth, drink water.

What exercise do you hate the most? Pull-ups.

What do you do at a party? Drink, socialize, tell stories, eat allllllll the food ha.

[lockdownuk]

Lockdown Diary Part 2

A personal account during the lockdown in the UK due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

23/03/2020 8:30pm Boris Johnson, UK Prime Minister, gives a live address to the nation to, effectively, put the country on lockdown to stem the spread of the deadly coronavirus strain, Covid-19.

Many of us have been self-isolating for days but this latest development within the UK in reaction to the pandemic feels very serious and very scary. I decided to keep a simple diary and where better but online.

Day 31: I went to Tesco’s at Hampton at @8pm. It was weird. But I made it less weird by buying (amongst all the legit stuff I needed and some stuff for Karen’s mum) more booze. I have, atm about 30 assorted cans and 60 assorted bottles. I’m gonna stop buying booze now until I’m down to the last dozen. I don’t want owt to happen and I leave many behind!

Day 32: More than a calender month! I was rung up by a recruitment agent today about a contract with DHL as a remote support engineer to their aviation section. €400 a day! I’ve applied. Few beers tonight, watching a new Netflix release (Extraction) and catching up with Fog, Ham, Andy and Rog later at 10:30pm - yikes, might be pissed.

Day 33: Typing this on day 34. Dossed around during the day, few beers and another video call with fog, Ham and Rig plus I invited John Monk along. He was his usual self and signed off from the call with a moonie! Later on I had the pleasure of Scottish Louise video calling me! She was pissed, in her shed drinking den at her home with some neighbour called Ronnie and her daughter Ellie. She was her usual outrageous self who imaprted such gems as “Tim, you look old” and “Roger on coke is the only time I’ve taken it up the arse”. Nice.

Day 34: Today I skyped Laurie and ‘met’ Matthew and Nicholas for the first time. It was bloody fantatsic. Janine was there as well.I cannot believe it takes lockdown (plus an idea to get Laurie to add me to his regular Monday skype chat with Dad) that managed to get us doing something that should have happened years ago! It was so great to talk to them all face-to-face. Janine hasn’t changed a bit, Matthew is very quiet with Nicholas being the more gregorious twin. And Laurie is still Laurie. I’m reminded of how much I sort of miss him! It was all so comfortable. I loved it! Tomorrow is Dad’s 85th hence the 3-way chat idea. I hope it comes off!

Day 35: So dad and Laurie and I skyped. It was OK but my video feed was very dark, (still dunno why) and Lauire’s kept freezing. I dropped out so as to leave them to it, my thinking being the extra person takes up bandwidth, with the promise I’d call dad later. Before I could, Rita called me and suggested Dad and I skype, which we did. So, all in all, a good day of comms! And Dad seems his happy usual self - 85 years old! Amazing.

Day 36: I am really struggling to motivate myself this week. Today, I’ve done fuck all of note. That is all.

Day 37: A similar day to yesterday. All I have really managed to do is lay down audio from Pink Floyd (Absolutely Curtains) to a video I shot of a cow on yesterday’s walk. I am having a downer of a week without any good reason why, ld aside. I have worn my new walking boots today (’cos my old ones are leaking, I found out yesterday) and they fucking hurt, despite having tried to wear them in for months, albeit pathetically. Also, a few days ago (Friday 24th April), I got notification from HM Revenue & Customs that I’m getting tax rebate (from 2018-19) of £392. Yay!

Day 38: I received notification today that I’ve got a speeding ticket…last Thursday back from Tesco’s - 87mph somewhere between the A1 and Elton. I am hoping it’s a fixed penalty. I dunno whether it is yet, I just have to send the form off confirming it’s my car and I was driving. I spoke with Lynda from Woodfords asking her to ask for a rent reduction before I sign for another year. Plus, I let her know that I will be Howard and Sue’s eyes as the look at rental properties in Oundle - I do hope they return although it would be a shame for them that their plans have been scuppered (she’s lost her job in Oz due to Covid-19)

Day 39: Today I started another piece of exercise - up and down the stairs 26 times. Not sure why 26 - it was some thing online to do with the London Marathon, I think. It fucking killed. I used 13 clothes pegs for a counting system. I asked Karen to pick up some stuff when she was shopping (burgers, radishes) - Dan dropped them off, He was with Shaggy (driving his van) and going to see Jonah. That pisses me off - they should be social distancing, ffs.

Discoevered, today, that Cornershop, post-Brinful are fucking excellent. listening to the album ‘England is a Garden’ as I type.

Day 40: That 26 times up and down the stairs is fucking hard. I did videos about it today. My legs are aching like fuck right now.

Day 41: Just done Young Sam’s (Sam Clews) quiz. 3rd week running and it’s now become a habit and something I look forward to. Out of all the internet driven socialising I’m undertaking in ld, this is the weirdest - I feel totally detatched from all others taking part but, now, would feel pissed off if I didn’t or couldn’t join in. I got 47/70 this week. My best score and only about 8 off the winning score  -  most others aren’t doing it on their own!

Today’s walk was a cloudy one - I captured some fine, dramatic pics of the clouds. I am getting into this photography lark, albeit very amateurish. But, when I post any pics online (mostly FB), they seem to be widely appreciated, which is nice.

Day 42: Applied for a remote service delivery job with a firm called TTEC. £60k. Finished watching The Outsider. The creepiest TV show I have seen in years. Really great use of background music.

Day 43: Finished Mindhunter S2 last night. It’s so good but I cannot quite put my finger on why. Today has been a nothing day apart from day 2 of me not typing the letter ‘e’ in any post or comments on FB for a week. It’s hard.

Day 44: Watch Anna last night. A Luc Besson film that starts a kick-ass suprermodel. It’s right down my street. Today I have been lazy af. I need to pick up my online learning again…tomorrow, maybe! I watched Andy Murray Resurfacing. A documentary on Amazon. Fantastic. What a top man he is. Completely human and completely inhuman!

Day 45: Much talk in the news of possible lockdown relaxation. I am off the opinion we should stay the course until we are completely assured of beathing this thing i.e. a working, widely available vaccine. Dad and I Skyped - he is doing well, as usual. So is Rita. They both seem very happy in lockdown! Today has been a glorious day, weather wise. I had my walkk at 10ish this morming and it was very warm. Hottest day of the year so far I reckon.

Day 46: Bank holiday Friday (75th anniversary of VE day). Nice walk. Chat with Karen letting her know about being caught speeding just in case I am banned and need some out of town shopping. Watched second episode of DEVS by Alex Garland. It’s good and intriguing. Now, @7pm, gonna eat and hit the beers and smokes.

Day 47: Typing this at 15:45 on day 48. I had lots of beers and a good old chat with Rog…

Day 48: Today’s daily press conference was eagerly anticipated today with rumours of a relaxation in lockdown. It seems it was a fuss about nothing with no clear instructions - I didn’t watch it but, skimming the BBC news site, I shan’t be doing anything different over the next few weeks, not that I would anyway - furlough and self isolation are the order of the day and I won’t change that until I am sure it’s safe. Meanwhile people, including Danny flaunt the rules, it’s been pointed out to me plus I know he spends time with Jonah and Marc. It really fucks me off. So, the actions of the few mean I will lock myself down for as long, if not longer, as it takes. Attended Sam Clews quiz again. It passes the time. Also, I had half a scotch bonnet chilli with tea tonight (roasted veg, cous cous and sausages). Ridiculously hot!

Day 49: Received the speaker I ordered a few days ago (from eBay). It’s an AudioPro Addon T10. I got it for a very reasonable price from a German shop. As a result, the power lead isn;t three pin and that has seriously fucked me right off!

Meanwhile, I did my 26 stair climb before my daily walk today. It was easier than usual (surprise surprise) and I did 7km - but that was tough! ‘Cos I am on (yet another) free trial of Amazon Prime, I am ramping up watching stuff available. Last night I watched Booksmart - really nice little film with a great soundtrack. I am listening to Dan the Automater as I type. Today I watched half (3 eps) of The Night Manager and the film ‘The Founder’. The former is a superb series, the latter an OK film about Ray Kroc - the supposed founder of McDonald’s. Except he wasn’t; he was the wrong side of ambitious and a cunt.

Day 50: Stripped the 2 pin cable from the speaker I received yesterday and wired up a 3 pin plug and it worked. Win. And it sounds great. Win-win. Went to go shopping in Hampton but the car wouldn’t start. Loss. But it was the battery so I managed to borrow Karen’s jump starter which worked. Win.

Spent £107. Loss. But just under £40 was booze plus £10 for two big pizzas, two sides (dirty fries) and some dips. Win. Didn’t do any online learning - seriously fucking letting myself down. Loss.

Did my usual walking and 26 stair climb. The latter is hard but defo getting easier. Win. Day 51: Sam’s 51st birthday on day 51 - coincidence! Today I received my face mask from Lou - House of Stewart tartan. I’m pleased with it and that I have got a mask now. I managed to get up at a reasonable hour, just left 09:00, and revisit my web design course. Module 1, lesson 5 and I am fucking stuck. Trying to code an online CV with a side nav bar and I cannot get it to fucking work. Grrrrrr. Later, i got into a FB dispute (easily distracted due to the above) with someone over his statement of fact (Tim Martin’s treatment of Whetherspoons’ employees) when he doesn’t know it’s fact. It probably is, but that is not the fucking point.  I wish I could leave these sort of spats alone. I am drinking, at 20:45, peppermint tea as I type. Jeez, what’s happened to me?

Day 52: Well, last night took a swift chnage. Rog message me and, to cut a long story short, I hit the beers, also called Foggy later, got trashed. I got up today at gone 1pm. Sam posted on fb that Paul had forgort her birthday yesterday. Oh dear! The 26 stair climb and walking each day is noticeable for how knackered my legs feel all the time, I noticed today!

Day 53: My birthday! Nice comments and banter of FB. Rachael brought round a bottle of whisky; gobsmacked. Karen popped round some beers and sausage rolls. Sam sent a card, as did dad with a £50 cheque. Dan’s ordering me a pizza later.

Chuffed! Day 54: I went to bed late after a lot of beers, huge pizza and chips, a few smokes and a long call with WWJ and video chats with Fog then Rog. Got up around 1pm and dossed with my usual exercises and I made fish pie with a scotch bonnet. Day 55: Late one last night but up early today (11ish). Really fretting about hospital tomorrow. Nervous anyway but the safety aspect, in terms of Covid-19, isn’t helping.

Day 56: Hospital appointment was just for an eye scan so the consultant can review it. I was very surprised to see how few people were wearing face masks! I did two lots of washing today. (After the hospital) I went to Morrsions, Asda (queue too long though), B&M (queue too long though) then Tesco’s. All to buy a baseball cap ‘cos I’m fucked if I’m going to wet my hair each time I go out and want it to look presentable! In Morrsions (no mens’ clothing apart from underwear!) I stocked up of 10 cans of sugarfree apple Caraboa….I was only thinking of this drink just the other day. Yesterday I finished The Night Manager on Amazon. I liked it a lot but, also, expected much, much more from it consdiering the hype. Hugh Laurie has come a long way from comedy sketches with Stephen Fry!

Day 57:Received an email from Sueanne yesterday asking ( as designated spokesperson for everyone) how I am. The most interestring piece of news in a rather uninformative email was that the US has started to open resorts!

Day 58: I am writing this on Day 59. I started a two walk a day regime. The first walk I do is shorter, around 4km. my aim is to be ready for 1,000,000 steps Diabetic UK challenge (throughout July, August and September). I need to do just under 11,000 steps a day. The relaxation in ld rules makes this achievable. On that score, I am allowed to visit a friend’s house, as long as it’s just the two of us, outside, 2m apart. I went round Karen’s last night. I was desperate to have a Happy Hour (I allow myself a midweek beer - today (well, yesterday) is/was Wednesday!) of sorts with another human (rather than a video chat). I was there for about 2 hours, very enjoyable, and then came home. Then I had usual roasted veg with rice and sausages but I couldn’t eat it. I used half a scotch bonnet rather than the usual birdeye chillis. It was too hot, had to sling it! Had a few more beers and, hence, neglected my diary duties!

Day 59: It’s 01:20am. I don’t know why I am still awake and up, but I am. But, also, I am now going to bed. Nothing else to report, really.

Day 60: Half way through 12 weeks furlough. I was discussing this with Dad and Rita earlier - I am expecting that, at the end of 12 weeks, I’ll be laid off. I hope I’m wrong but I reckon it’s well on the cards. Off to have a beer round Karen’s in a sec which will be pleasant. Just a hour or so. It’s fucking windy today so I shall wrap up!

[eldritchsurveys]

392.

Do you like bread crust on pizza or do you prefer it cut off? >> I don’t usually like the crust. It’s just... bread. The part of pizza I enjoy isn’t the bread, it’s the stuff on the bread. The bread’s just the convenient delivery system. What is your favorite lunch meat? >> Turkey or chicken breast. Have you ever driven while drunk/intoxicated? >> No. What is the worst/hardest drug you’ve taken? >> Heroin. What is the worst/hardest drug you’ve been offered, but declined to partake in? >> Crack, probably.

If you’ve ever tried drugs or alcohol, what was your reason for first trying it? >> Curiosity. It’s always curiosity. Do you think you could ever have an abortion if you expectantly turned up pregnant? >> I did have one. What is the weirdest ailment a pet of yours/your family’s has sustained? >> --- If you were far from home and needed to sleep for the night, would you choose to rent a crappy motel room for $60 or sleep in your car for free? >> I suppose it’d depend on a few other factors than just that. Have you ever ran a toll booth? Why? >> No. Is there a color shirt you’d NEVER wear? >> Neon orange, probably. Is there a situation where you caved into peer pressure and regretted it? >> I can’t think of any. What is your favorite thing to do at a park? >> Get on the swings, or lay in the grass and read. Would you ever bleach your hair platinum blonde? >> No. I did have to bleach it pretty far blond when I coloured it grey that one time, though. What is your favorite video game console? Why? >> I prefer to play games on PC. Do you like the band MGMT? If so, can you recommend another band that sounds similar to their style to me? >> I don’t know anything about that band. Do you like vanilla candles? >> Meh. Have you ever been in a relationship that was going great, and then suddenly something weird happened and you just KNEW it was going to be over soon? >> My relationship instincts have never been all that great, so no. I usually let the weird shit keep happening until it becomes so unsustainable that shit just blows up, because I was always a bit of an idiot about relationships. What are your plans for the weekend? >> The weekend is now over. We went to a tailgate that Sparrow’s sister was having for her birthday (the sister’s birthday, not Sparrow’s), and then we went to see It Chapter Two, and then we went to the Wayland house and stayed overnight, did laundry, and went to the wedding shower this afternoon. A much busier weekend than usual, but it went pretty smoothly, all told. Are you graduating soon? >> --- How many people have you kissed? >> Hm. What’s your worst habit? >> I have no idea. Are you good with your money? >> Sure. Who are you interested in? >> --- What do you like about the person you’re currently interested in? >> --- Which of the guys you’ve been interested in hurt you the most? >> --- Do you like your job? >> --- Are you trying to get over somebody? >> No. Do you know anybody who is engaged? >> I don’t know, maybe. I don’t pay too much attention to that sort of thing. Do you know anybody who is pregnant? >> No. How old will you be in 12 months? >> 33. Hiding anything from your parents? >> --- Can you handle being alone? >> Yeah. What is something you realized recently? >> Whatever it is, I’ve forgotten it for the time being. Do you know what your ex is up to? >> *shrug* Are you happy with the choices you’ve made? >> I’m not always happy with the choices I make, but I stand by them, and I weather the consequences as best as I can. I’m happy with that. Are you currently arguing with someone? >> No. Have your friends disapproved of someone you were seeing, but you decided to pursue anyway? >> Yeah, and you know what, they were right. But one always has to learn for oneself. What was the last thing you purchased? >> The last thing I personally bought was... hmm. Good question. I don’t remember. What was your last phone call about? >> My name change hearing. Can you handle the truth? >> Sure. Not always well, but eventually I come around. What is your relationship status on Facebook? >> --- How tall is the last person you kissed? >> King Crimson is stupid tall. What do you usually doodle? >> I rarely doodle. Could things possibly get any better? >> I mean, sure, I guess, but I don’t really need them to. How are you feeling at the moment? >> My normal neutral mood. Do you have feelings for someone? >> What are feeeeeelings What was for dinner tonight? >> Noodles and Company. Would you be able to name everyone you kissed? >> Nope. Are you in a good mood? >> Yeah, my neutral mood could be considered a “good” mood, because it’s... not a bad one, I guess. Where is the last person you kissed? >> Somewhere inworld. What color shirt are you wearing? >> A black undershirt. Do you think you could ever make it as a rap singer? >> No. How important are looks to you? >> I mean, I like looking at people I find physically attractive, and I don’t like looking at people I don’t find physically attractive. But I don’t know how important that is. Like, that has no real relevance to anything. Did you have a fling this summer but it didn’t really go anywhere? >> No. Do you get jealous? >> No. Why did you kiss the last person you kissed? >> Because I like to. What is something you currently want? >> Nothing, really. What was the weather like today? >> It was mostly cloudy and definitely a little chillier than I expected. Do you like sushi? >> Sometimes. Is your hair longer than your shoulders? >> No. Ever kissed anyone with a nipple piercing? >> Yeah. What about a lip piercing? >> Yeah. Nose piercing? >> Yeah. Do you like your hair? >> Eh, it can be a pain in my ass most of the time. But it’s not, like, ugly or anything. Have you ever kissed someone who had a boyfriend/girlfriend? >> Yeah. Did you like kissing the last person you kissed or the one before that more? >> --- Ever made out in a pool? >> No. The shirt you’re wearing, does anyone else have it? >> It’s just an undershirt, I’m sure billions of people have one just like it. What was the last movie you watched? >> It Chapter Two. 

[jswdmb1]

January Hymn

“April all an ocean away.  

Is this a better way to spend the day?

Keeping the winter at bay”

- The Decemberists

It doesn’t seem like there is much to write about right now.  With all of the cold and snow out right now, there just doesn’t feel like a whole lot is going on.  I was going to write something about the government shutdown, but do we really need anything more said about all of that stupidity?  I suppose there are other interesting things going on that could use my own brand of observation, but nothing is striking me as particularly interesting (except college basketball but I’m certain you’ve heard enough from me on that subject for now).  The most interesting thing we have going on here in the Chicago area for the next couple of days is the weather, so why not talk about that?  Isn’t that always the go to topic when the conversation goes dry?  Let’s give it a try.

First of all, this is not a post about global warming.  While I believe it is 100% real and definitely having a direct impact on our weather in general, I don’t feel like getting into that topic right now (for the record, my small part is driving an electric car, but even with that I feel helpless about such an important thing.  It’s very frustrating, and like I said, I don’t want to talk about it).  Anyway, this is a post about the day-to-day impact of the weather on our lives and our moods.  

If you are a regular reader of this blog (thank you and you have my sincerest apologies), you know that I am big on living day-to-day.  When I switched over to that mindset, one of the first things I did was quit paying attention to whether forecasts.  Why worry about what is coming tomorrow when today is what you have to deal with?  Besides, even with technology, forecasts are incredibly inaccurate no matter how much we think otherwise (true story: I was with someone once, who I will not name, who while standing outside in the rain was looking at his/her phone and said “according to weather.com it is not raining right now”.  Ugh).  I would rather just experience the weather when I wake up and plan from there.  I get caught off guard once in a while, but most days it saves me from a lot of worrying about the probabilities of things happening that are truly out of my control.

Now, these past couple of days it has been impossible to do that.  We have a record breaking cold snap coming and it could be dangerous.  This is a case where I think looking ahead a bit is awfully prudent as preparations could be made to ensure safety and comfort.  As I have been watching some of the forecasts, I have to admit I find the whole thing fascinating.  I have always been a weather nerd since I was a kid.  When I was five or six I kept a daily weather log in a loose-leaf notebook for no particular reason other than I like to keep track of things and found the weather a good place to start (this foreshadowed my career choice of accountant).  While nice sunny 70 degree days make for a pleasantly comfortable experience, they aren’t that much fun to document if you are really into weather.  The possibility of record-setting cold strangely has me a bit excited and awfully curious about what that is going to feel like.

I do remember the last time we got this cold in 1985.  It was a lot of time inside, but those few moments outside were insane.  I won’t go crazy this time around, but I will go outside at least once on Wednesday to experience this rare event (dressed properly, of course).  It’s all part of my plan this winter to embrace it the best I can and not let it have more effect on my mood than it should.  Some people suffer greatly from seasonal mood disorder and for a while I thought I had that (until I figured out it was just annual mood disorder).  A couple of years ago, though, I tried to keep in mind some of the positive attributes that winter brings.  For starters, it’s quieter.  When you walk outside, there is a calmness that just doesn’t happen when it’s nice out.  The cold weather forces everyone to slow down a bit and that works just fine for me.  It also seems to encourage a bit more appreciation for the social events that do take place.  In the summer, it’s event after event as we rush to get everyone in before the season ends, but is that really necessary?  Is it worth doing all of that stuff if we can’t stop once in a while to reflect and enjoy ourselves.  In the winter, don’t get out as much, but the things we do seem just a bit sweeter because we weren’t stopped by a little cold or snow.  Every time I do something during this time of year, no matter who I am with, we always end up saying how much better it was to get out versus just staying home.  There’s a real satisfaction that comes from rising above the dreariness that comes with the season and finding something worthwhile to enjoy.

I’m certain anyone still reading this post is saying to themselves “boy, he’s really gone stir-crazy”.  Well, for one I have not gone crazy because that ship already sailed a long time ago, and for two you are the one talking to yourself so which one of us has the problem?  Anyway, my point of writing about this is to try and convince myself not to go crazy but to take the cold as it comes and appreciate whatever each of these days for what they bring and leave it at that.  To help myself along, I am going to keep a journal of the next few days to memorialize this epic winter event and I will share it with you at some point, but not right away.  I’ll instead wait and make a blog post out of it in July when it’s 100 degrees and everyone is complaining about how hot it is.  Because, in the end, don’t we really just want to complain about the weather because that in it of itself is a true pastime of ours. I say that is great, but let’s try to turn those complaints as much into just observations as we can.  

While it may seem mundane, the weather is the one common experience we can all share.  Whether it is hot or cold, sunny or cloudy, rainy or dry., or anything in between, the weather always gives us to talk about, especially in a place like Chicago.  In a time when we have so little in common, I think having something as crazy as 60 below zero wind chills is a welcome relief to all of the nastiness going on in this world.  Finally, we can all come together on Friday after the deep freeze has passed (for now) and join hands saying in unison with total agreement that WINTER SUCKS!!

Stay warm and safe, and seriously do your best to enjoy what these days bring.

Jim

[raleighliving]

The Weather's Nice, What Now?

I gotta pump this out really quick, I live in one of those parts where today's gonna be a really really SHIT day weather-wise and my internet's probably gonna drop hard once the 60+ mph winds hit.

So (today aside) the weather for the upcoming weeks looks like it's gonna be really nice. Upper 60s, mid 70s weather with sunny and cloudy days that mark the arrival of spring (until we fall back into sub-30 frostbitten cold as punishment for getting comfortable). If you're inclined towards doing things other than writing semi-cynical blog posts all day and taking sub-amateur pictures of parks and buildings, then this means you'll probably want to spend the next week outside!

"But RL," I hear you say between sips of your Bojangles 64oz sweet tea and fistfuls of biscuits, "We're still in a pandemic and I'm afraid of the sight of my own shadow. I've illuminated my house with over 400 lamps."

That first point is true and the second point is terrifying. We're starting vaccine rollouts for more people soon, but that doesn't mean we throw caution to the wind and start licking doorknobs again. That being said, there's still plenty of fun things to do that will let you enjoy the warm breeze and scents of blooming flowers across Raleigh.

So to start with, you know the State Fairgrounds? That place where the State Fair is held each year and the flea market on weekends? Did you know that they have a website, and did you know they list all of their upcoming events on said website?

Super useful too, it's organized month-by-month with an admin that actually updates things fairly reliably (at least in my experiences they've been quick with updating regarding cancellations). Looking for something you and your family can do, you can consult the list and see.

For example, a drive-thru Dino Expedition event just ended but it's going to be replaced soon with a Drive-In Laser Light Show from the 18th through the 21st of March. Gun and Knife shows, a Reptile convention, and more are on the docket for this month so give it a go and see if anything strikes your fancy.

Similarly, you can use the visitraleigh website to find events happening across the city (although it does tend towards downtown). The site's mostly geared towards tourism but if you're the type to not really go out looking for adventure (Like I was), sites like this can be a godsend for getting ideas for things to do.

Don't wanna leave the immediate area of your house? Don't want to deal with Raleigh drivers and their flagrant disregard for traffic rules? Then maybe while the weather's nice, now's the time to consider a DIY project or two to keep yourself busy on your days off.

If you've got any amount of backyard space or a balcony to hang planters off of, many Americans find gardening to be a relaxing and fun hobby. In college, I nurtured a lily to keep myself sane (Until a door opening sucked it out an open window, smashing the flower's plastic container against the building's AC unit) and it worked for the most part.

The act of crafting something or nurturing something is cathartic, and then having a tangible result as proof of your hard labor just intensifies the feeling.

Don't know what to build? Not sure what's good to grow? Well, since you're reading this blog I guess I don't have to tell you what the internet is and how to use it; but I will recommend looking at Big Happy Backyard, a website dedicated to maintaining your yard space with projects and tips most Americans would be able to perform.

"RL!" I hear you scream, upsetting all the dogs for the next 2 city blocks, "I don't want to go outside! I have to be on Zoom calls all day! I hate people and just want to enjoy the weather without having to risk interacting with them in any way, shape, or form!"

That's valid. Sometimes you can't or won't go outside but still get the urge to enjoy the weather, and I have a simple solution for that exact problem!

Open your windows.

That's not sarcasm either, if you're stuck indoors and it's the most glorious day outside there's no reason you shouldn't be able to at least let in some fresh air.

Fresh air can be important too! According to the Long Island Weight Loss Institute, fresh air contains fewer pollutants than indoor air, helps you feel more energetic, and can apparently even improve your digestion.

Essentially, don't let a busy life or a fear of the outdoors deprive you of an easy health benefit! It's super easy and the only thing you have to fear is pollen (which may be a reasonable fear given how much we get around this time).

Today's gonna be shit. We're looking at winds up to 60 mph, it's supposed to rain, hail, AND thunder, and some areas of Raleigh are definitely gonna flood (lookin' at you Crabtree). Once it's over though, the nicer days ahead will be something we can look forward to as flowers start to sprout and things start to stabilize into spring.

[alyssasoutfitdiary]

2023 03 06 Monday

What I am wearing today to the office.

Today is a transition day in weather, in two ways. Overall, today is the transition from the recent warmth to cold (more like cool, really) that is supposed to start tomorrow. The day itself is also supposed to transition, as the first part of the day is supposed to be sunny and fairly warm, while it is supposed to start raining later this afternoon.

I found an outfit that is a perfect transition look, in my opinion. My top will be bright and cheery, for the morning; my skirt will be mostly gray, but light, and with a print that is full of life, just like what is expected midday, for the transition; and gray nylons and black shoes, for the drab afternoon.

I started off thinking I'd wear black (to match my shoes) or gray (to match my skirt) earrings and necklace, but that introduces drab into the bright part of my outfit, so that doesn't fit. Silver, though, does match gray, yet is shiny, so that seems to be a better match for the theme.

End of day thoughts: We had more sun than expected. It clouded up a little by the time I left the office, but the rain held off until well after dark and I was already home. It was still a transition day, but I think a slightly brighter skirt would have been better for what actually was.

My outfit details:

Weather: Low 30s, sunny ☀️ (morning), Low 60s, cloudy ☁️ (afternoon)

Hair down

Pink button front shirt: Express

Skirt: Target @targetstyle

Pewter nylons (66 denier): Wolford

Silver chain dangle earrings: Target @targetstyle

Silver chain necklace: Target @targetstyle

Silver watch: Target @targetstyle

Beige blazer: Express

Black leather braided belt: Falari

Black purse: Target @targetstyle

Black coat: Target @targetstyle

[kansascityhappenings]

Joe’s Weather World: No White Christmas for KC this year (TUE-12/24)

Merry Christmas from all of us at FOX 4 and FOX 4 Weather.

Overall we’re going to be in shorts this Christmas…or at least the kids will be..and the adults will be able to work off some of those holiday cookies this year as mild weather has settled into the area and will linger through Thursday before turning colder heading through the weekend.

While no significant snows are expected at this point…we may get a pretty decent shot of rain before the end of the weekend as a system in the Pacific comes our way.

The bottom line is that Santa will need the wheels tonight…and not the skies for the sled. I’ll be tracking him for you all night on FOX 4 News at 5/6/9/10

Forecast:

Today: Filtered sunshine, breezy and warm with highs in the low>mid 60s…just shy of the record high of 66° first set in 1893.

Tonight: Mild for Santa with lows in the 40s

Tomorrow (Christmas): Mild with highs in the mid 60s. Record is 67° in 1922

Thursday: Turning cooler with partly cloudy skies and highs closer to 45-50°

Friday: Partly cloudy and seasonable with highs in the 40s

Discussion:

This weather has got a lot of folks talking…and if you’re not a snow lover…you’re liking this…a lot!

Temperatures actually couldn’t been warm yesterday…we got well into the 50s…and today with a mild start in the mid 40s up at the airport and with enough wind and filtered sunshine…we should get into the 60s this afternoon…and do that again tomorrow.

Here are the warmest days for Christmas Eve and Day…you can clearly see that we’ll be somewhere in the Top 5 more than likely.

So we’re going to end up in there solidly.

What could be interesting is the 2 day average temperatures…and I wonder where these next 2 days will end up when combined together.

Here is the warmest Christmas Eve and Day when you look a the average for the two days…

Might be tough to beat 1889…

Regardless warm…and not white.

Here are some previous White Christmas times in KC…

A handful of record highs are possible in the region for the next couple of days.

Our next change in the weather will come on Thursday thanks to a weak cold front coming through…it will be enough to send temperatures back into the 40s though…still reasonable for late December.

The more significant change comes on Saturday as a storm off the western US…comes into the Rockies and then towards the western Plains region. You can see it clearly out there west of the western US.

That storm later today will be off the coast of San Francisco…then drop towards southern CA.

This means rain and some mountain snows for the western US…especially CA

That’s a good shot of moisture in the southern quarter of CA especially. Flooding is likely with that look. 1-2 FEET of snow is possible for the higher elevations of the mountains in S CA.

This system then comes through the SW US…

Rain in the deserts of AZ with snow in the mountains in N AZ…in the Flagstaff area

As the storm comes through the SW…our winds will again return towards the south and bring up milder air and moisture from the southern US.

It won’t be a crazy saturated air mass…but for late December not too shabby either…that means some decent rains are possible, main ly on Saturday…perhaps 1-1.5″ worth and there may be some rumbles of thunder as well.

Colder air behind the system will drain in the region on Saturday and that will set the stage for colder weather for the game.

I’m not too excited about seeing a transition to snow…I guess there could be a couple of flakes on the MO side…but it’s something to watch heading into the weekend at least.

It will be colder though for the game on Sunday…probably only in the 30s…overall seasonable.

The overall pattern is sort of all over the place…ups and downs with temperatures but any cold shot looks transient at best with brief hitting shots of chilly air followed by moderation into the 1st week of January.

Of note as well is the cold up in Alaska. 1) it’s supposed to be cold up there…but 30-60° below morning low temperatures are not out of the question heading into the New Year.

That’s a lot of cold weather up there and typically at some point it gets to the States…but there aren’t too many strong indications of that happening soon.

Our feature photo comes from Diane Caryl‎ taken this morning…

Merry Christmas!

Joe

  from FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports https://fox4kc.com/2019/12/24/joes-weather-world-no-white-christmas-for-kc-this-year-tue-12-24/

from Kansas City Happenings https://kansascityhappenings.wordpress.com/2019/12/24/joes-weather-world-no-white-christmas-for-kc-this-year-tue-12-24/

[animenicolesmith]

Answer 1-104!

you thought i wouldn't do it1. You woke up naked next to the last person you texted, what would you say? tbh I'm trying to wake up naked next to him so???2. What’s going on between you and the last person you kissed?absolutely nothing, just friends lmao3. If your boyfriend or girlfriend was into drugs, would you care?as long as it was only like... casual use... and not something like hardcore... it's fine??4. Is your last name longer than six letters?my full name is 30 letters long ok5. Was your last kiss drunk or sober?slightly drunk, mostly sober6. Have you ever wanted to have someone but you messed it up?not really? i don't think so at least.7. What does your last received text say?its dumb8. How many times have you kissed the last person you kissed?a few times9. Where was your last kiss at?outside my house10. When is the last time you saw your sister?almost 2 years ago 11. What do you drink in the morning?decaf chai lattes12. Where did you sleep last night?briefly on my bathroom floor lmao13. Do you think relationships are hard?yes 100%14. If you could go back and change something in the past 5 months, would you?i mean maybe15. You’re locked in a room with the last person you kissed, any problems?if he tried to kiss me again yeah we would have a problem. 16. Would you rather it be sunny or rainy?rainy17. Do you know anyone with the same middle name as you?no18. Are you wearing jeans,sweatpants,or pajama pants?jeans19. Do you think you will be in a relationship 3 years from now?hopefully??20. Does anyone like you?ye21. Have you ever kissed someone with a name that starts with an S?a guy named sean kissed me once and then freaked out because he was so excited about kissing me and then we stopped talking22. Is the last person you kissed gay?nop23. Is there a person you CANNOT stand?everybody has someone they cant stand i think24. Have you ever considered getting a tattoo?i have one25. In the past week have you cried?i hurt someone's feelings and i cried about it a bunch a few days ago 26. What breed was the last dog you saw? i saw doggos fight in the sculpture garden today it was sad :c27. Do you dry off in the shower or out of the shower?out of the shower28. Have you ever kissed a football player?yes29. Do you think you’re old?YES i'm internet grandma30. Do you like text messaging?ye31. What type of day are you having?p good32. Have you ever thought about getting your nose pierced?would not look cute on me33. Do you prefer warm or cold weather?cool, cloudy weather34. Is there a person of the opposite sex who means a lot to you?yes, p important to me35. Would you prefer a relationship or a fling?i don't know36. Are you a simple or complicated person?i think i'm simple but approximately 8% of the things i do make sense to me so maybe not??37. What song are you listening to?reebok blood38. When you say you’re sorry do you mean it?usually39. Is there a girl that knows everything or almost everything about you?nope40. What made you start liking the person you like now?he cute and nice and i don't know i just like him??????41. When did you last receive a text message?45 minutes ago RIP42. What is wrong with you right now?very very sleepy43. How well do you know the last female you texted?i wan't to be better friends with her tbh44. Does anyone disgust you?u kno who u are :-)45. Would you date someone right now if they asked?maybe, if it was the right person46. Are you in a good mood right now?i'm sleepy47. Who was the last person you talked to in person?my dad48. What color shirt are you wearing?blu49. Has someone recently told you something you didn’t want to hear?people tell me things i dont want to hear all the time50. Anyone you’re giving up on?nah51. Do you hate the person you fell hardest for?i hate everyone52. Have you ever thought about giving up on someone but couldn’t?i mean yeah??53. Do you like rain? i love rain54. Do you care if your boyfriend/girlfriend drinks?nop55. Have you ever liked somebody and never told them?in my youth56. Do you like to cuddle?usually no but like.. with the right person yes57. Are you shy?incredibly58. Do you get along with girls?i'm trying to!! i'm workin on it!59. Have you dated the person you texted last? nop not as of yet60. What do you carry with you at all times?phone, keys, tiny picture of Noctis61. If you were paid 1 million dollars to spend the night in a supposed haunted house, would you?i will live there for $1,000,000 a day62. Do you think you can last in a relationship for five months?my last relationship was over 2 years???63. Think back to October, were you in a relationship?nah64. The person you like kisses you on the forehead, do you find this cute?yes very65. Did anything “cute” happen in the last week?a boy told me he liked me??66. How old are the last three people you kissed?uhhh... embarrassingly old I don't want to say x2, 2467. Would you rather pay to get your nails done or do them yourself?    my nails are terrible always68. Which do you like better- Zebra print or leopard print?    is it 2008 again?? i guess leopard69. Do you have any stickers on your car?    i don't have a car70. Would you rather listen to Luke Bryan or Lil Wayne?    holy fuck it is 200871. Blackberry, Anroid, or iPhone?    these questions are from 200872. When’s the last time you had pizza from Pizza Hut?    i have no idea many many months ago73. Do you like diet soda?    i don't even like soda rly???74. What color are the walls in your room?    hideous75. Are you 16 or older?    i'm old as hell76. Do you watch Pretty Little Liars?    i'm a grown ass adult woman so of course I do, yes77. Do you have a job?      I need a job78. What are your initials?     CAWL they almost spell crawl and it makes me mad that they dont79. Did you ever have braces?    no80. Are you from the south?   technically 81. What does your last status on facebook say?    i don't rly use facebook i'm not gonna check82. Do you still talk to the first person you ever kissed?    aha no83. Are you closer to your mom or your dad?    i guess my mom?84. Have you ever done cheerleading or gymnastics?    yeth85. What’s the last movie you saw in theaters?    beauty and the beast86. Do you smoke?    nop87. Would you rather wear heels or flip flops?    heels these questions remind me of 8th grade or something i'm gonna puke88. Is your phone touch screen?    i'm not an animal89. Do you normally wear your hair straight or curly?    wavy90. Have you ever snuck out of your house?    i snuck out of my house once after I was already 18 and had moved out of my house lmao91. Would you rather swim in a river, lake, or pool?    pool92. Have you ever made out in a car?    yes?93. …Had sex in a car?    maybe94. Are you single or in a relationship?    single95. What were you doing last night at midnight?    i thought i was going to throw up so i was sitting on my bathroom floor96. When’s the last time you saw fireworks?    new years i think97. Do you like the camera on your phone?    it could be better98. Have you ever had a friend with benefits?    not officially99. Have you ever passed out from drinking?    i guess?100. Are you friends with people on facebook that you actually hate?    i dont know maybe?101. Have you ever had a pregnancy scare?    fuck102. Name your favorite Kesha song:    your love is my drug103. Do you have any tan lines right now?    i'm winter pale all over 😎104. Would you ever wear cowboy boots with shorts?    i've done it before

[kidsviral-blog]

Ticketmaster glitch sells out Inaugural Ball early; ‘There go my hopes, dreams’

New Post has been published on https://kidsviral.info/ticketmaster-glitch-sells-out-inaugural-ball-early-there-go-my-hopes-dreams/

Ticketmaster glitch sells out Inaugural Ball early; ‘There go my hopes, dreams’

http://twitter.com/#!/sdaglas/status/288175769841176576

D’oh.

Tickets to Obama’s inaugural ball will cost $60. They will go on sale on a first-come, first-served basis tomorrow on Ticketmaster.

— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) January 6, 2013

Alas, that didn’t happen. A Ticketmaster glitch sent out an email offering public Inaugural Ball tickets for sale a day early. The tickets then sold out, before they were even supposed to go on sale.

Ticketmaster apologizes for botching the inaugural ball ticket purchase process.

— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) January 7, 2013

Ticketmaster’s apology did little to salve the pain of disappointed, squeeing Obama fans.

Bitter, party of two, for not getting tickets to the inaugural ball. #ticketmaster #fail #romneysrevenge

— Christy A. Tweddle (@verybrightgal) January 7, 2013

I’m getting way too anxious waiting for this email from @obamainaugural. They messed with my life accidentally sending that email yesterday.

— Paul S. John (@Paul_S_John) January 7, 2013

@obamainaugural We were all told Inaugural ball and parade tickets would be available Monday, not Sunday. Huge disappointment. Please help.

— Maxsane Mitchell (@maxsanem) January 7, 2013

Literally so close to getting inaugural ball tickets #disappointment

— Alice Guerrieri (@ChippedAndSober) January 7, 2013

So sad today!! Ticket master put the tickets to the inaugural ball and parade on sale yesterday instead of… fb.me/1rayxt7l8

— Sibyl Wiley Davis (@SibWileyDavis) January 7, 2013

My son got The Inaugural Ball e-maill but after trying for 30mins all of the tickets were sold out. BLAH! @usinauguration. We are sad in NYC

— Cassandra Tennyson (@SublimeMoments) January 7, 2013

@jdub321 I got the email for inaugural ball tickets but it is crashing Ticketmaster. Im crushed.

— AC(@ArykanotErika) January 7, 2013

Ticketmaster crushed all my inaugural ball dreams!!!

— Naima P (@NaimaDC) January 7, 2013

Well, getting inaugural ball tickets today was a fail. Ah well, holding on to 2009 memories will have to do, I suppose.

— Chrisi West (@PittGirly) January 7, 2013

So mad!!! Got the official email for official inaugural ball tickets and the damn link isn’t working!! There goes my hopes and dreams. #sad

— ~ Regina E. ~ (@regibaby05) January 7, 2013

Nooo!!! #Internetfail #Comcastsucks #Obama twitter.com/regibaby05/sta…

— ~ Regina E. ~ (@regibaby05) January 7, 2013

Oh, honey.

Did anyone get Inaugural Ball tickets? #Ticketmaster #Fail twitter.com/msemilyjane/st…

— Emily Jane (@msemilyjane) January 7, 2013

Has anyone tried 2 get tix 4 inaugural ball? Practically impossible. Ticketmaster screwed up-This is when hvg lots of $$$ wld come in handy!

— Nikki (@jrpaws) January 7, 2013

Inaugural ball ticket site officially closed after Ticketmaster screw up. Unclear if more tickets will be available tomorrow.

— Raf Sanchez (@rafsanchez) January 7, 2013

No. No, they aren’t available. From the official Inaugural website:

Ticketmaster gets an earful. Or, tweetful.

epic @ticketmaster fail on the Inaugural Ball tickets. emails not going out right, site is down, what a shitshow

— Leo Zhadanovsky (@leozh) January 7, 2013

.@ticketmaster completely screwed up the Inaugural ball tix – they are sold out & were due to go on sale this morn!

— Melinda York (@Melyorkie) January 7, 2013

Pretty sure @ticketmaster‘s email about screwing up the Inaugural Ball ticketing process could NOT have been any more dickish.

— DCBadger (@DCBadger) January 7, 2013

It really is stunning that @ticketmaster could not fulfill the basic task of SELLING TICKETS when they were scheduled to be sold.

— Kiara Pesante, MPA (@kiarapesante) January 7, 2013

If the Inaugural Ball was prom, then @ticketmaster was the date that texted me she was “sick” to go with a football player. #inauguration

— Erick Sanchez (@erickmsanchez) January 7, 2013

Sign and share the Inaugural Ball petition, in light of the @ticketmaster blunder: wh.gov/PKlm#inauguration #p2

— Erick Sanchez (@erickmsanchez) January 7, 2013

Count me as one who got burned by @ticketmaster in trying to buy inauguration tickets. buzzfeed.com/andrewkaczynsk…

— Steve Fogleman (@BaltoBeerBaron) January 7, 2013

Did you get an email to get Inauguration tickets for $60? @ticketmaster sold out before public! #conspiracy dcist.com/2013/01/ticket… via @dcist

— ClotureClub.com (@ClotureClub) January 7, 2013

Conspiracy!

@kiarapesante Shockingly, when I think of @ticketmaster, what I think is “if you want to fuck up selling tickets…”

— Malnurtured Snay (@MalnurturedSnay) January 7, 2013

Not surprised. @ticketmaster is the WORST RT @rollcall “Ticketmaster’s Inaugural Screwup” HOH hoh.rollcall.com/ticketmasters-…

— Kenny Day (@KennyDay) January 7, 2013

@ticketmaster I am confused about what you guys did with my ticket order for a concert taking place in February.

— Omar Cruz (@Omar_Cruz) January 7, 2013

Good luck getting an answer on that one; they kind of have their glitch-ridden hands full right now. Wait! Perhaps this customer provided a much-needed “look over here” distraction.

@omar_cruz Hello.How can we help you?

— Ticketmaster (@Ticketmaster) January 7, 2013

The non-crushed take it in stride and provide some snark as only Twitter users can.

I like how the inaugural Committee tried to turn Inaugural Ball ticket purchasing into the Hunger Games.

— Tiffany (@msflowerstweets) January 7, 2013

Choosing Ticketmaster to sell inaugural ball tix is like choosing Applebee’s for a state dinner. #fail

— DC Wrapped Dates (@dcwrappeddates) January 7, 2013

I don’t know why they put the Romney digital team in charge of inaugural ball tickets.

— Nu Wexler (@wexler) January 7, 2013

Is it just me, or is it really crass to raffle tickets to the inaugural ball? Like sticking a contribution envelope in a wedding invite.

— james wigderson (@jwigderson) January 7, 2013

Ticketmaster is attempting damage control on Twitter, and failing.

@hapabella Sorry, we can’t offer additional info. At this time we’re waiting on official response from the Inauguration Committee.

— Ticketmaster (@Ticketmaster) January 7, 2013

@hapabella Hello, sorry for any confusion. There was a follow-up email; please let us know if you’d like us to send it to you. Thanks.

— Ticketmaster (@Ticketmaster) January 7, 2013

Oh, well. A follow-up mail. After the tickets were already sold out early.

Ah. Thanks, TM. RT @fastcompany: Ticketmaster Glitch Leaves Obama Campaign Workers Sans Inauguration Ticketstrib.al/EWxgSHs

— Dave (@dwsNY) January 7, 2013

If the Obama inaugural committee screws over its campaign volunteers like this, what will happen the next 4 years? Lol! wapo.st/VKOFQe

— Allen Echiverri (@peaceloveandal) January 7, 2013

Heh. It would be funny, if it wasn’t so frightening! There may be hope yet; perhaps more tickets for the pesky public will be offered, since they may come in handy now.

Concern Growing About Low Turnout at Obama Inauguration nation.foxnews.com/obama-inaugura…

— Fox Nation (@foxnation) January 7, 2013

Unless, of course, Team Obama pulls the old “We totally meant to have a way smaller crowd.” Stay tuned!

Related:

#EmptyStadiumDay: Obama didn’t fill that

Zing! Fox News’ Bret Baier shows Obama’s empty stadium shrinkage in one photo

Cloudy with a chance of Eastwooding: Obama’s DNC speech moved to smaller venue due to ‘weather’

Read more: http://twitchy.com/2013/01/07/oops-ticketmaster-early-sale-glitch-sparks-inaugural-ball-outrage-heartache-there-go-my-hopes-and-dreams/

[jflemmm17]

so how is your weather doing? -cold in the morning and hot in the afternoon californian

Same! Today it was pretty cold in the morning and then by the time school was out it was like 70ish I could actually be outside in a tshirt! But it’s supposed to be in the 60’s and cloudy/rainy the rest of the week ugh how’s your weather forecast lookin?

[tired-collegestudent]

Imma do this bc I'm bored af

1. You woke up naked next to the last person you texted, what would you say? 'Well fuck' 2. What’s going on between you and the last person you kissed? Broken up lol 3. If your boyfriend or girlfriend was into drugs, would you care? Yes, drugs are bad 4. Is your last name longer than six letters? Yep, it's 9 5. Was your last kiss drunk or sober? Sober 6. Have you ever wanted to have someone but you messed it up? Every goddamn day of my life 7. What does your last received text say? Stein was a nice guy but a boring teacher 8. How many times have you kissed the last person you kissed? Like 10 ish 9. Where was your last kiss at? Hallway in school 10. When is the last time you saw your sister? Earlier today lol 11. What do you drink in the morning? I don't drink anything ever 12. Where did you sleep last night? My bed 13. Do you think relationships are hard? Yeah 14. If you could go back and change something in the past 5 months, would you? I would redo fucking everything 15. You’re locked in a room with the last person you kissed, any problems? I haven't talked to them in months so probably 16. Would you rather it be sunny or rainy? Cloudy 17. Do you know anyone with the same middle name as you? Loads of people, my middle name is common af 18. Are you wearing jeans,sweatpants,or pajama pants? Shorts 19. Do you think you will be in a relationship 3 years from now? Idk I fuckin hope not 20. Does anyone like you? Idk probs not 21. Have you ever kissed someone with a name that starts with an S? No 22. Is the last person you kissed gay? Not that I know of 23. Is there a person you CANNOT stand? Everyone? 24. Have you ever considered getting a tattoo? Of course I'm an edge lord 25. In the past week have you cried? Yep 26. What breed was the last dog you saw? Boston Terrier 27. Do you dry off in the shower or out of the shower? Out 28. Have you ever kissed a football player? No 29. Do you think you’re old? I feel 95 but I'm actually 15 so idk 30. Do you like text messaging? Yes 31. What type of day are you having? Meh 32. Have you ever thought about getting your nose pierced? Yes I'm an edge lord 33. Do you prefer warm or cold weather? Cold 34. Is there a person of the opposite sex who means a lot to you? Yes, my best male friend 35. Would you prefer a relationship or a fling? Relationship 36. Are you a simple or complicated person? Complicated, sort of ig 37. What song are you listening to? All Those Pretty Lights - Andrew Belle 38. When you say you’re sorry do you mean it? Most of the time, sometimes I say it just to say it 39. Is there a girl that knows everything or almost everything about you? There are 3 actually 40. What made you start liking the person you like now? God I have no fucking idea, someone please explain it to me 41. When did you last receive a text message? A second ago 42. What is wrong with you right now? I'm scared about school 43. How well do you know the last female you texted? Besties 44. Does anyone disgust you? Loads of people, racists, homophobes, terrorists, rapists blah blah blah 45. Would you date someone right now if they asked? Depends who asks 46. Are you in a good mood right now? Meh 47. Who was the last person you talked to in person? My stepdad??? 48. What color shirt are you wearing? Multiple, it's tie dye 49. Has someone recently told you something you didn’t want to hear? Not really 50. Anyone you’re giving up on? Everyone 51. Do you hate the person you fell hardest for? Yes 52. Have you ever thought about giving up on someone but couldn’t? No 53. Do you like rain? Yes 54. Do you care if your boyfriend/girlfriend drinks? Yes 55. Have you ever liked somebody and never told them? Yes 56. Do you like to cuddle? Idk 57. Are you shy? Depends on my mood 58. Do you get along with girls? Yes 59. Have you dated the person you texted last? Unfortunately not 60. What do you carry with you at all times? My phone and earbuds 61. If you were paid 1 million dollars to spend the night in a supposed haunted house, would you? fuck no 62. Do you think you can last in a relationship for five months? I already did bitch 63. Think back to October, were you in a relationship? Yes 64. The person you like kisses you on the forehead, do you find this cute? Cute and awkward because we're really good friends and they're super fucking tall 65. Did anything “cute” happen in the last week? No 66. How old are the last three people you kissed? 1. 15 2.16 3. Lolololol 67. Would you rather pay to get your nails done or do them yourself? I don't have nails, I bite them 68. Which do you like better- Zebra print or leopard print? Zebra 69. Do you have any stickers on your car? I'm 15 70. Would you rather listen to Luke Bryan or Lil Wayne? Neither tf 71. Blackberry, Anroid, or iPhone? iPhone 72. When’s the last time you had pizza from Pizza Hut? Like a year ago 73. Do you like diet soda? I don't mind it 74. What color are the walls in your room? Off white 75. Are you 16 or older? No 76. Do you watch Pretty Little Liars? Sorta, I'm still on s1 77. Do you have a job? Yes 78. What are your initials? MNS 79. Did you ever have braces? No 80. Are you from the south? Is Kentucky the south? 81. What does your last status on facebook say? I don't use Facebook 82. Do you still talk to the first person you ever kissed? Yes 83. Are you closer to your mom or your dad? I'm not really close to either 84. Have you ever done cheerleading or gymnastics? No 85. What’s the last movie you saw in theaters? Everything Everything 86. Do you smoke? No 87. Would you rather wear heels or flip flops? Heels that are wedged 88. Is your phone touch screen? Yeah 89. Do you normally wear your hair straight or curly? Straight (natural) 90. Have you ever snuck out of your house? No 91. Would you rather swim in a river, lake, or pool? Pool 92. Have you ever made out in a car? No 93. …Had sex in a car? No 94. Are you single or in a relationship? Single 95. What were you doing last night at midnight? I have no goddamn idea 96. When’s the last time you saw fireworks? Like the 8th of July 97. Do you like the camera on your phone? Yeah 98. Have you ever had a friend with benefits? No 99. Have you ever passed out from drinking? I don't drink 100. Are you friends with people on facebook that you actually hate? Of course, I'm in high school 101. Have you ever had a pregnancy scare? Every time my period is late, although I've never had sex 102. Name your favorite Kesha song: Fuck um Tik Tok? 103. Do you have any tan lines right now? On my shoulders 104. Would you ever wear cowboy boots with shorts I'm in Kentucky, it's practically the culture. But no.

[hudsonespie]

Op-Ed: The Pacific Ocean's Ecology is Under Threat

  [By Jodie L. Rummer, Bridie J.M. Allan, Charitha Pattiaratchi, Ian A. Bouyoucos, Irfan Yulianto and Mirjam van der Mheen]

The Pacific Ocean is the deepest, largest ocean on Earth, covering about a third of the globe’s surface. An ocean that vast may seem invincible. Yet across its reach – from Antarctica in the south to the Arctic in the north, and from Asia to Australia to the Americas – the Pacific Ocean’s delicate ecology is under threat.

In most cases, human activity is to blame. We have systematically pillaged the Pacific of fish. We have used it as a rubbish tip - garbage has been found even in the deepest point on Earth, in the Mariana Trench, 11,000 meters below sea level.

And as we pump carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, the Pacific, like other oceans, is becoming more acidic. It means fish are losing their sense of sight and smell, and sea organisms are struggling to build their shells.

Oceans produce most of the oxygen we breathe. They regulate the weather, provide food, and give an income to millions of people. They are places of fun and recreation, solace and spiritual connection. So, healthy, vibrant oceans benefit us all. And by better understanding the threats to the precious Pacific, we can start the long road to protecting it.

The ocean plastic scourge

The problem of ocean plastic was scientifically recognized in the 1960s after two scientists saw albatross carcasses littering the beaches of the northwest Hawaiian Islands in the northern Pacific. Almost three in four albatross chicks, who died before they could fledge, had plastic in their stomachs.

Now, plastic debris is found in all major marine habitats around the world, in sizes ranging from nanometers to meters. A small portion of this accumulates into giant floating “garbage patches”, and the Pacific Ocean is famously home to the largest of them all.

Most plastic debris from land is transported into the ocean through rivers. Just 20 rivers contribute two-thirds of the global plastic input into the sea, and ten of these discharge into the northern Pacific Ocean. Each year, for example, the Yangtze River in China – which flows through Shanghai – sends about 1.5 million metric tonnes of debris into the Pacific’s Yellow Sea.

A wildlife killer

Plastic debris in the oceans presents innumerable hazards for marine life. Animals can get tangled in debris such as discarded fishing nets, causing them to be injured or drown.

Some organisms, such as microscopic algae and invertebrates, can also hitch a ride on floating debris, travelling large distances across the oceans. This means they can be dispersed out of their natural range, and can colonize other regions as invasive species.

And of course, wildlife can be badly harmed by ingesting debris, such as microplastics less than five millimeters in size. This plastic can obstruct an animal’s mouth or accumulate in its stomach. Often, the animal dies a slow, painful death.

Seabirds, in particular, often mistake floating plastics for food. A 2019 study found there was a 20 percent chance seabirds would die after ingesting a single item, rising to 100 percent after consuming 93 items.

A scourge on small island nations

Plastic is extremely durable, and can float vast distances across the ocean. In 2011, 5 million tonnes of debris entered the Pacific during the Japan tsunami. Some crossed the entire ocean basin, ending up on North American coastlines.

And since floating plastics in the open ocean are transported mainly by ocean surface currents and winds, plastic debris accumulates on island coastlines along their path. Kamilo Beach, on the south-eastern tip of Hawaii’s Big Island, is considered one of the world’s worst for plastic pollution. Up to 20 tonnes of debris wash onto the beach each year.

Similarly, on uninhabited Henderson Island, part of the Pitcairn Island chain in the South Pacific, 18 tonnes of plastic have accumulated on a beach just 2.5km long. Several thousand pieces of plastic wash up each day.

Kamilo Beach is referred to as the world’s dirtiest.

Subtropical garbage patches

Plastic waste can have different fates in the ocean: some sink, some wash up on beaches and some float on the ocean surface, transported by currents, wind and waves.

Around 1  percent of plastic waste accumulates in five subtropical “garbage patches” in the open ocean. They’re formed as a result of ocean circulation, driven by the changing wind fields and the Earth’s rotation.

There are two subtropical garbage patches in the Pacific: one in the northern and one in the southern hemisphere. The northern accumulation region is separated into an eastern patch between California and Hawaii, and a western patch, which extends eastwards from Japan.

Locations of the five subtropical garbage patches. van der Mheen et al. (2019)

Our ocean garbage shame

First discovered by Captain Charles Moore in the early 2000s, the eastern patch is better known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch because it’s the largest by both size (around 1.6 million square kilometers) and amount of plastic. By weight, this garbage patch can hold more than 100 kilograms per square kilometer.

The garbage patch in the southern Pacific is located off Valparaiso, Chile, extending to the west. It has lower concentrations compared to its giant counterpart in the northeast.

Discarded fishing nets make up around 45 percent of the total plastic weight in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Waste from the 2011 Japan tsunami is also a major contributor, making up an estimated 20 percent of the patch.

With time, larger plastic debris degrades into microplastics. Microplastics form only 8 percent of the total weight of plastic waste in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, but make up 94 percent of the estimated 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic there. In high concentrations, they can make the water “cloudy”.

Each year, up to 15 million tonnes of plastic waste are estimated to make their way into the ocean from coastlines and rivers. This amount is expected to double by 2025 as plastic production continues to increase.

We must act urgently to stem the flow. This includes developing plans to collect and remove the plastics and, vitally, stop producing so much in the first place.

Divers releasing a whale shark from a fishing net

Fisheries on the verge of collapse

As the largest and deepest sea on Earth, the Pacific supports some of the world’s biggest fisheries. For thousands of years, people have relied on these fisheries for their food and livelihoods.

But, around the world, including in the Pacific, fishing operations are depleting fish populations faster than they can recover. This overfishing is considered one of the most serious threats to the world’s oceans.

Humans take about 80 million tonnes of wildlife from the sea each year. In 2019, the world’s leading scientists said of all threats to marine biodiversity over the past 50 years, fishing has caused the most harm. They said 33 percent of fish species were overexploited, 60 percent were being fished to the maximum level, and just 7 percent were underfished.

The decline in fish populations is not just a problem for humans. Fish play an important role in marine ecosystems and are a crucial link in the ocean’s complex food webs.

Not plenty of fish in the sea

Overfishing happens when humans extract fish resources beyond the maximum level, known as the “maximum sustainable yield”. Fishing beyond this causes global fish stocks to decline, disrupts food chains, degrades habitats, and creates food scarcity for humans.

The Pacific Ocean is home to huge tuna fisheries, which provide almost 65 percent of the global tuna catch each year. But the long-term survival of many tuna populations is at risk.

For example, a study released in 2013 found numbers of bluefin tuna – a prized fish used to make sushi – had declined by more than 96 percent in the Northern Pacific Ocean.

Developing countries, including Indonesia and China, are major overfishers, but so too are developing nations.

Along Canada’s west coast, Pacific salmon populations have declined rapidly since the early 1990s, partly due to overfishing. And Japan was recently heavily criticised for a proposal to increase quotas on Pacific bluefin tuna, a species reportedly at just 4.5 percent of its historic population size.

Experts say overfishing is also a problem in Australia. For example, research in 2018 showed large fish species were rapidly declining around the nation due to excessive fishing pressure. In areas open to fishing, exploited populations fell by an average of 33 percent in the decade to 2015.

So what’s driving overfishing?

There are many reasons why overfishing occurs and why it is goes unchecked. The evidence points to:

poverty among fishers in developing nations

fishing subsidies that enable large fishing fleets to travel to the waters of developing countries and compete with small-scale fishers and keep ailing industries going

poor fishery and community management

weak compliance with fishing regulations due to shortfalls in local government capacity.

Let’s take Indonesia as an example. Indonesia lies between the Pacific and Indian oceans and is the world’s third-biggest producer of wild-capture ?sh after China and Peru. Some 60 percent of the catch is made by small-scale ?shers. Many hail from poor coastal communities.

Overfishing was first reported in Indonesia in the 1970s. It prompted a presidential decree in 1980, banning trawling off the islands of Java and Sumatra. But overfishing continued into the 1990s, and it persists today. Target species include reef fishes, lobster, prawn, crab, and squid.

Indonesia’s experience shows how there is no easy fix to the overfishing problem. In 2017, the Indonesian government issued a decree that was supposed to keep fishing to a sustainable level – 12.5 million tonnes per year. Yet, in may places, the practice continued – largely because the rules were not clear and local enforcement was inadequate.

Implementation was complicated by the fact that almost all Indonesia’s smaller fishing boats come under the control of provincial governments. This reveals the need for better cooperation between levels of government in cracking down on overfishing.

What else can we do?

To prevent overfishing, governments should address the issue of poverty and poor education in small fishing communities. This may involve finding them a new source of income. For example, in the town of Oslob in the Philippines, former fishermen and women have turned to tourism – feeding whale sharks tiny amounts of krill to draw them closer to shore so tourists can snorkel or dive with them.

Tackling overfishing in the Pacific will also require cooperation among nations to monitor fishing practices and enforce the rules.

And the world’s network of marine protected areas should be expanded and strengthened to conserve marine life. Currently, less than 3 percent of the world’s oceans are highly protected “no take” zones. In Australia, many marine reserves are small and located in areas of little value to commercial fishers.

The collapse of fisheries around the world shows just how vulnerable our marine life is. It’s clear that humans are exploiting the oceans beyond sustainable levels. Billions of people rely on seafood for protein and for their livelihoods. But by allowing overfishing to continue, we harm not just the oceans, but ourselves.

The threat of acidic oceans

The tropical and subtropical waters of the Pacific Ocean are home to more than 75 percent of the world’s coral reefs. These include the Great Barrier Reef and more remote reefs in the Coral Triangle, such as those in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.

Coral reefs are bearing the brunt of climate change. We hear a lot about how coral bleaching is damaging coral ecosystems. But another insidious process, ocean acidification, is also threatening reef survival.

Ocean acidification particularly affects shallow waters, and the subarctic Pacific region is particularly vulnerable.

Coral reefs cover less than 0.5 percent of Earth’s surface, but house an estimated 25 percent of all marine species. Due to ocean acidification and other threats, these incredibly diverse “underwater rainforests” are among the most threatened ecosystems on the planet.

A chemical reaction

Ocean acidification involves a decrease in the pH of seawater as it absorbs carbon dioxide (CO?) from the atmosphere. Each year, humans emit 35 billion tonnes of CO? through activities such as burning of fossil fuels and deforestation.

Oceans absorb up to 30 percent of atmospheric CO?, setting off a chemical reaction in which concentrations of carbonate ions fall, and hydrogen ion concentrations increase. That change makes the seawater more acidic.

Since the Industrial Revolution, ocean pH has decreased by 0.1 units. This may not seem like much, but it actually means the oceans are now about 28 percent more acidic than since the mid-1800s. And the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says the rate of acidification is accelerating.

Why is ocean acidification harmful?

Carbonate ions are the building blocks for coral structures and organisms that build shells. So a fall in the concentrations of carbonate ions can spell bad news for marine life.

In more acidic waters, molluscs have been shown to have trouble making and repairing their shells. They also exhibit impaired growth, metabolism, reproduction, immune function, and altered behaviors. For example, researchers exposed sea hares (a type of sea slug) in French Polynesia to simulated ocean acidification and found they had less foraging success and made poorer decisions.

Ocean acidification is also a problem for the fishes. Many studies have revealed elevated CO? can disrupt their sense of smell, vision and hearing. It can also impair survival traits, such as a fish’s ability to learn, avoid predators, and select suitable habitat.

Such impairment appears to be the result of changes in neurological, physiological, and molecular functions in fish brains.

Predicting the winners and losers

Of the seven oceans, the Pacific and Indian Oceans have been acidifying at the fastest rates since 1991. This suggests their marine life may also be more vulnerable.

However, ocean acidification does not affect all marine species in the same way, and the effects can vary over the organism’s lifetime. So, more research to predict the future winners and losers is crucial.

This can be done by identifying inherited traits that can increase an organism’s survival and reproductive success under more acidic conditions. Winner populations may start to adapt, while loser populations should be targets for conservation and management.

One such winner may be the epaulette shark, a shallow water reef species endemic to the Great Barrier Reef. Research suggests simulated ocean acidification conditions do not impact early growth, development, and survival of embryos and neonates, nor do they affect foraging behaviors or metabolic performance of adults.

But ocean acidification is also likely to create losers on the Great Barrier Reef. For example, researchers studying the orange clownfish – a species made famous by Disney’s animated Nemo character – found they suffered multiple sensory impairments under simulated ocean acidification conditions. These ranged from difficulties smelling and hearing their way home, to distinguishing friend from foe.

It’s not too late

More than half a billion people depend on coral reefs for food, income, and protection from storms and coastal erosion. Reefs provide jobs – such as in tourism and fishing – and places for recreation. Globally, coral reefs represent an industry worth $11.9 trillion per year. And importantly, they’re a place of deep cultural and spiritual connection for Indigenous people around the world.

Ocean acidification is not the only threat to coral reefs. Under climate change, the rate of ocean warming has doubled since the 1990s. The Great Barrier Reef, for example, has warmed by 0.8 degrees C since the Industrial Revolution. Over the past five years this has caused devastating back-to-back coral bleaching events. The effects of warmer seas are magnified by ocean acidification.

Cutting greenhouse gas emissions must become a global mission. COVID-19 has slowed our movements across the planet, showing it’s possible to radically slash our production of CO?. If the world meets the most ambitious goals of the Paris Agreement and keeps global temperature increases below 1.5 degrees Celcius, the Pacific will experience far less severe decreases in oceanic pH.

We will, however, have to curb emissions by a lot more – 45 percent over the next decade – to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees C. This would give some hope that coral reefs in the Pacific, and worldwide, are not completely lost.

Clearly, the decisions we make today will affect what our oceans look like tomorrow.

Jodie L. Rummer is Associate Professor & Principal Research Fellow, James Cook University.

Bridie JM Allan is a lecturer/researcher at University of Otago.

Charitha Pattiaratchi is Professor of Coastal Oceanography, University of Western Australia.

Ian A. Bouyoucos is a Postdoctoral fellow at James Cook University.

Irfan Yulianto is a lecturer of Fisheries Resources Utilization, IPB University.

Mirjam van der Mheen is a fellow at University of Western Australia.

This article appears courtesy of The Conversation and may be found in its original form here.

from Storage Containers https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/op-ed-the-pacific-ocean-s-ecology-is-under-threat via http://www.rssmix.com/

[nostalgiaispeace]

230.

Do you like meatball subs? no.

Are you severely sleep deprived? not today.

What music are you listening to? I’m watching TV

What is your favorite smell on earth? um..on the earth? a new book.

What are you doing tomorrow morning? going to work -_-

What are you supposed to be doing right now? nothing.

Have you ever killed your elbows on an inflatable obstacle course? no..

Ever gone a whole day without eating? lol

Do you feel that you need to improve your spiritual life? yeah.

Can you curse fluently in Spanish? Nope.

If you go to school (HS or college) does your school have a rival? -

What’s your school’s mascot? -

Do the numbers 44 and 53 mean anything to you? Nope.

Ever had banana pudding flavored ice cream? no, i dont think so

If you have a sib, do you call him/her “brother” or “sister” sometimes? i call her “sis” sometimes.

Has the weather been odd lately where you live? yeah.

Remember “Kenan and Kel”? Yes.

Does the mere mention of that show make you crave orange soda? no. i had some yesterday and it wasn’t satisfying.

Are you *this* close to falling asleep? yeah...basically.

Do you own a Wii? yeah

If not, do you want one? -

Did you ever collect stickers? probably

Isn’t Hello Kitty just the cutest thing ever? No.

Are there any songs you could just listen to over and over and over? Yes.

Do you have a favorite basketball team (NBA or college?) no

Ever had chicken curry and basmati rice? not that i can recall

Do you have a weird obsession with numbers? yeah

Does your job (if you have one) involve sitting at a computer for hours? nope.

Do you get major shoulder/upper back pain from that? Or think you would? -

Do you have someone who will give you a massage when you need one? sure.

Ever seen Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas? Nope.

Do you own any diamond jewelry? yeah

Do you have an American-made car? i’m not sure

Have you been baptized in any religious tradition? Yes.

Do you drink alcohol at all? once in a blue moon.

If not, do you like the smell? i don’t like the smell.

Are you in a chair, on a couch, in bed, on the floor, what? couch

If your best male friend got a mohawk, would he look good or ridiculous? um..going by Matt ... I think he’d look hilarious and should totally do it lol

Do you love the smell of sunblock? no

Internet Explorer or Firefox: which do you prefer? firefox

What are you going to do now? chill

Have you ever fallen asleep thinking about a boy/girl? Yes.

Do you have a favorite pair of jeans? no

Have you ever just felt like you could cry an ocean? every day

Have you ever woken up to wonder why you even bother? Yes.

How long do you spend on your hair each day? not long at all. a few minutes.

Describe what you would call the perfect weather. in the 60s and cloudy.

Do you have Twitter? yeah

Do you eat cereal? sometimes

What is your favorite meal of the day? dinner i guess

Do you have bangs? No.

When was the last time you got your hair done? last year in like Feb.

Do you like the dentist? no

Would you rather study a foreign language or history? history

Do you wear house shoes/slippers? sometimes.

Is there a person in your life that you know you’ll never forget? Yes.

Do you like to draw? Nope.

What is on your bedroom walls? posters and photos.

What kind of cell phone do you have? iPhone 6s

Do you own a lot of hairbrushes? no

What’s the first line of the last song you listened to? i don’t remember the last song i listened to.

Who did you first talk to this morning? Matt.

How many email accounts do you have? 4

Do you still watch movies on a VCR? No.

Have you ever known someone online, then met them in real life? yeah

Do you believe in a God? yeah

Do you like windy days? no

Do you have a deep, dark secret? yeah

What’s in your pocket? i don’t have pockets.

Have you ever wanted to be on TV? I’ve been on TV.

Have you ever been pushed into a pool? Probably.

Do you have birthday parties? Nope.

Have you ever attended a costume party? Yes.

Do you still drink Mt. Dew even though it’s bad for you? Yes

Have you ever cried over another person? yeah

Are you listening to music right now? [If yes, what song?] no

Do you like classical music? yeah

Do you believe in forever? yeah

When did you last eat Cheetos? dunno

Have you ever talked on the phone more than an hour? Yes.

Do you take a lot of pictures of yourself? LOL no

Do you know anybody who is afraid of clowns? probably.

What time did you wake up this morning? 10amish

Were you ever afraid of the dark? when I was little.

Do you have a mirror in your bedroom? Yes.

What type of computer do you have? MacBook Pro.

Do you put pepper on mostly everything you eat? yeah

Have you ever seen a zebra? yeah

When was the last time you had hiccups? thursday?

Have you ever had toe cramps? yeah

What’s your middle name? Nicole

How tall are you? 5′4″

What grade are you in? -

Do you like the taste of burnt popcorn? Nope.

Are you a forgiving person? mostly.

When was the last time you brushed your teeth? last night.

Have you ever touched a snake? yeah

Do you wear make-up? Yes.

Have you ever had a rolling back pack? when i was a kid.

Are you cold at the moment? Nope.

What season were you born in? Winter

Do you have a person you could tell everything to? sure

What colour is the soap in your bathroom? Does it have a specific scent? red; yes

Do you have a favourite towel? What colour is it? no

Have you seen any films with Judy Garland in them? not yet.

How did you feel when you woke up today? Why? tired. because i’m always tired

Do you have a friend named Nick? What’s his favourite food? no

Have you ever been to the cinema to watch a film, and found that you disliked it? yeah

What do you plan to do tomorrow? work, read, sleep