#they did achieve their goal of cheering sophie up

[ghostlyarchaeologist]

"You wanted a distraction. He's the distraction."

Leverage Redemption S01E01 The Too Many Rembrandts Job.

[mysillycomics]

Hi everyone! This is Claire. I am writing to let you all know that we did it. We saved Bailey and Tiger Fluff, and we all live together in an apartment in Illinois, my home state. We really, really did it!!!

You can read our thanks, thoughts, and more under the read more :0)

(note: Oliver also goes by Bailey! She has two names.)

There are many important people on this journey that we would like to specifically thank.

First, all of our friends (especially Peregrine, Sophie, and Jackson) who were there on the day Bailey was evicted, who listened to me and helped me figure out what to do when I felt more lost than I’ve ever been. Without them we wouldn’t have been able to act so quickly and efficiently. Because of them, we were able to formulate a plan.

Speaking of Jackson, he and his partner Cherri need to be thanked once again. Jackson drove all the way from his home, Bailey’s motel, and back to get both her and Tiger to a place to stay while we figured out what to do next. They provided a warm, quiet, and safe place for both of them in a time when something like that was so far away. For the first time in a long time, I knew that Bailey was truly somewhere safe. For that, we will be forever grateful.

While we do not have their names, we would like to thank the staff of the airport and airline who helped make this journey objectively possible. They also made Tiger into a little celebrity on the flight, and everyone, including the pilot, went to greet her and congratulate her for being so brave. She really is the bravest little kitty we know.

Next are my very close friends Elle and Callan, who invited Bailey and Tiger to stay at their house not far from mine while we secured a place of our own. They, like Jackson and Cherri, gave both of them the space to simply be. I was able to visit a couple of times, and being with my favorite people made an extremely difficult time so much better. It made me think “this feeling is what we are fighting for”.

Finally, we’d like to thank you.

To all of you who read and shared our story, you helped us to feel seen and heard and not alone. Reading words of support in the comments, quote retweets, and tumblr tags truly made me feel like we could do this with everyone cheering us on.

To everyone who donated, your generosity this financially possible. As of writing, we received $19,381 from the GoFundMe. We are now able to use the rest of funds that have been tucked away in savings for rent, food, and bills. I cannot overstate how grateful we both are. What you did for us will never leave our hearts.

…

While Bailey and Fluffy were at Elle and Callan’s, we found an apartment. It was small, but perfect. We toured. We applied. And we got it.

And on December 9th, 2023, we moved in and started living together! Our goal, our dream, our driving force for so long was achieved. After three years of long distance, we finally made it.

Our home is small, and has some quirks as all homes do, but it’s ours. The love of my life, the best little cat in the word, and I are all together. We are safe, warm, happy, and loved. The future we fought so hard for us now the present. Forgive me for being long-winded. I just have so much to say about all of this! Sometimes I still can’t believe that we actually did it. But we did, we really did!!!

I’m going to keep the GoFundMe up for a little bit, but once things settle more I will close donations.

Thank you!!!!!!!!! 🧸💕

____

Hey everyone Bailey here, I cannot overstate just how grateful I am to every single one of you and how thankful I am that this journey has been able to come into fruition. It was very scary being in that motel not having a plan or knowing what I was gonna do next while everything was crumbling around me. If it wasn't for Claire and our incredibly kind and caring friends I don't know what I'd do. They helped me press on and get through this with Fluff and we finally did.

Finally we're in a place that brings nothing but peace and comfort, my anxiety has dropped and I'm doing things I've never thought possible and building up strengths I never knew I had, I feel whole in a way that I've never felt before and I'm just, happy.

I am so grateful to have Claire, for years she's been so supportive and comforting and has brought this dream we've had into reality and every day I am so thankful to have her, she is the love of my life and my best friend. The life that her, myself and Fluff now share will forever be together and we can finally begin living. 💚💜

Thank you everyone, thank you to our friends who let Fluff and I into their lives to be able to be safe while we get our bearings, thank you to everyone who said such kind and wonderfully compassionate words, cheering us on as we go, every day I was looking at the community post I made on YT and it was just filled with people being so supportive, and thank you everyone who donated and got us into where we are. We could not have done it without all of you. 🐟 ❤️ 🐟 ❤️

[writerig]

events !

THRONE -

summary: Everything seems to be alright in the nation of Suzdal, or is everything not so fine in the country? With the rumors spreading that Her Imperial Highness plans to destroy almost everything that the King has. Is it true or false? And what about the demon child, Medea? What exactly is she? Will they ever know-?

CHARACTERS: MEDEA. IRINA. XAVIER. ETHAN.

ANY WORKS? ↳none as of now.

ADDITIONAL NOTES?! this wip is in the second draft, hence, it's editing. the second one in the series is being written.

FORBIDDEN -

summary: What happens, when everything you have known turns out to be a lie? When everyone has back stabbed you? When you are not sure who you even are? That's how Achilles has been living his whole life, losing people he cares for. And then comes a Lady, who gives comfort, not for long. But he still wants to believe that she loves him or has she never cared-?

ANY WORKS? ↳ none as of now.

CHARACTERS: ALBERT. OLIVIA. CASSENDRA. ACHILLES.

ADDITIONAL NOTES?! this is still being written, it's a romance novel and has many tragedies. please beware what you are signing up for.

THE CASE -

summary: Yumi's older sister has been dead and as far as she knows, the authority will not solve the case. She knows her sister had not killed herself, she knows it well enough. And she also knows she would drag her sister's killers no matter what.

CHARACTERS: CHARLIE. SOPHIE. YUMI. ALEKSANDER.

ANY WORKS? ↳ starting.

ADDITIONAL NOTES?! this is being written and is pushed back as of now, though the story is figured out. this also has darker themes, please beware.

WISTERIA -

summary: A princess and a prince. They fall in love and have children! Sounds repetitive and a little too cheerful to be true? In truth there are tensions brewing between the nations. Deep dark secrets burried down the road. And did the princess...run away? Who knows?

CHARACTERS: WISTERIA. LILY. PARIS. THE EMPEROR. THE EMPRESS.

ANY WORKS? ↳ the problems. the ball. the disappearance.

ADDITIONAL NOTES?! this is being written and has it's bit and pieces ready.

BARREL -

summary: How does it sound being an overachiever? How does it feel like to have powers and a high ranking job, which requires you to be a marionette? Or framing it better, how does it feel to be an assassin? That's what Lia asks herself everyday too. She's a mystery who has goals no one knows. Will she ever achieve them?

CHARACTERS: ADONIS. LIA. ASTRO. ANNABEL. PHOBES. ANGELICO. KORE. DYLAN. ASTRAD.

ANY WORKS? ↳ to be a mother.

ADDITIONAL NOTES?! this is being written as of now. the plot is figured out.

if anyone is wondering what I am writing, it's Sakura, That Mortal and Forbidden. Yes, romance novels. Please feel free to ask about them <33. all these belong to @writerig. do not edit any of these without permission.

[treason-and-plot]

2021 Simming Goals

I was tagged by @ghostwaltzsims and @sophi-x-sims, thank you Groovers!

But before I list these goals, I thought it would be interesting to review the goals I set for myself for 2020. This has turned into a wall of text, so it’s under a cut for anyone who’s foolhardy enough to want to read further.

My first goal is to not take one year to complete a story arc! Well, I did complete some story arcs, but not very many. So I’d say overall I failed to complete this goal.

My second goal is to not let myself or my output be affected by naysayers and negativity in the community. If we can survive the TumblrApocalypse of last Dec 17th, we can survive anything, Possums! When I wrote this of course I had no idea that one of the biggest threats to my output would be a global pandemic! And it seems so cringe and ingenuous now to read that last line in the wake of such unprecedented times. But I suppose all things considered, I did achieve this goal. Working out how to rescue my creativity when it felt stifled by doom and gloom was pretty huge, but Tumblr’s despicable habit of hiding posts from the dashboard sent my poor muse into a coma time and time again. But I’m still here and still on Tumblr after ten years, so that must make me something of a survivor? And probably also something of masochist!

My third is to find more time to write that doesn’t involve getting up at 3 am. Working from home allowed me to get up at 4 am instead, so w000000t, goal achieved!!!

My fourth is to concentrate more on developing my OCs’ romances and relationships: Particularly that of Sonia and Violet, and a certain couple in Isla Paradiso… I feel like I achieved this goal. 

I am also determined to finish that short story centered around Irene/ Carla that @lifeasasim expressed such kind interest in, and that airport scene for @braxensims! I was actually advised by a proof-reader friend of mine not to post my story online, because if I ever want to submit it anywhere I won’t be able to because technically it will have already have been published. (You can read an excerpt here.) I still haven’t finished it though so...*sad trombone noise* HOWEVER I did post that airport scene! Go me! So maybe I can get half a star for this goal.

MY GOALS FOR THIS YEAR:

1) Complete Naomi’s story. I was appalled to discover that Naomi has only made one solitary appearance this year, and that was for a meme. I need to carefully plan how I am going to tackle this, because few readers will remember the events leading up to the climax of the story...some reblogs or a complete rewrite may be required. Or even a side blog! Anyway, I want 2021 to be Naomi’s. She has languished long enough.

2) Have Mia return to Paris. I also want to focus on her mother Nanette, and Nanette and Mia’s relationship.

3) Have Anita pop out that nooboo!

I would like to tag @nocturnalazure, @shhhushhh @simfables @wannabecatwriter @whimsy-pix and @jolifleurbleu​. Cheers, dears!

[kbrown78]

My Thoughts: Torn by Rowena Miller

Before going into this book, it sounded like there were a lot of things in it that I would like. It seemed similar to the Swords and Fire series and I was looking for similar books until the last book came out. There was also the appeal of having a protagonist that is a really good tailor. I've actually been looking for stories with characters that are good at sewing or weaving, and this is the first one that I was able to get (outside of East by Edith Pattou, which is really good). Starting out this book had a lot of potential: the protagonist was a good tailor and business savvy but naive and the conflicts between nobility and working class are building. Unfortunately the book quickly fell apart. The characters suffered no development and became increasingly annoying, the conflicts between the classes was kind of problematically written, and the climax felt more like an anti climax. I finished this book feeling pretty disappointed.

Characters: So Sophie, the protagonist, is a 26 year old woman that is unmarried and enjoys running her dress shop. I would say it's good to have an older, more mature protagonist that isn't in their mid thirties, but as the story progresses Sophie makes worse decisions and shows that she really isn't that mature. I do give a thumbs up for her insisting on staying single because she wants to keep her independence and knows that her job provides plenty of money for her, but this part of her becomes insulting when she falls head over heals for a noble but turns down every working class man that is interested in her. She's a good business woman because she cares about her work and adds her own charms to her work which appeals to the nobility and brings in more money and customers. I almost thought that the author was going to make Sophie and unlikeable protagonist: she considers everyone but nobles beneath her, only cares about her own work, but she's very good at what she does and cares very much for her shop. I actually hoped for this, and I usually don't like unlikeable protagonist, but nothing that I hoped for happened. She tries to portray herself as this sweet, innocent girl that doesn't like conflict (which is understandable) but she ignores any problem that she faces hoping that will make it go away and she constantly lies to and subtly insults almost everyone she knows. The cherry on top was when her shop gets shut down because it's under investigation. The one thing that she has made very clear is that she loved her shop and it's reputation was important to her. But instead of trying to something about it, she just walks away like it isn't her problem. Her passive and passive aggressive attitude made her so insufferable, to the point where she was one of my least favorite characters of this year. There was also her brother Kristos, who was selfish, stupid, and manipulative. He keeps pressuring Sophie to participate in his rebellion, but when that doesn't work he essentially uses her and manipulates her into compromising her morals and getting other people hurt just so he can achieve his goal. During this whole time he keeps glorifying the main villain Pyord, who is clearly a slimy character that has created a cult of loyal followers, and Kristos comes off looking rather stupid for not seeing that Pyord is only out for himself. He is passionate and has good ideas but he gets easily carried away, isn't as smart as he thinks he is, and really doesn't respect anyone least of all his sister, so again another very unlikeable character. There's Theodor, Sophie's love interest, who I did like. He's a in line for the throne but his passion lies in botany. He's very sweet and I prefer love interest who are nice guys, but he was a little bland, maybe because he didn't face any development or conflicts. Then there was Lady Snowmount, or Viola, who I liked but I think was underutilized. She's well liked among the nobility, has a flair for planning social gatherings, but is also shrewd and a progressive. But she only served two purposes: introducing Sophie to Theodor and bring Sophie into the nobility's social circle. She had the makings of a great character but she wasn't in the story much. There are plenty of other side characters I could discuss but I'm only going to briefly bring up two: Alice and Penny, who both work in Sophie's shop. Penny was very simply written, she's a romantic who, much like Kristos, gets carried away. She had a bit of negative character development, starting out being a cheerful character but ending up being quite a brat who is rather mean when Sophie gets her out of jail because of her connections to the nobility. On the other hand is Alice, who is much quieter than Sophie but is hardworking and very loyal. She does display some internalized prejudice, which means that she has room for development, but is still a decent character. I think Alice and Viola were my favorite characters because they were only ones I actually liked. Everyone else was at best flat, at worst completely unlikeable with no real redeeming qualities.

Relationships: I think another aspect of this book that was disappointing compared to the Swords and Fire series was that there was way too much of focus on the romance and there wasn't any healthy family dynamic. I was okay with Sophie and Theodor's relationship, particularly in the beginning because of how sweet it was. Then that sub plot began to overwhelm the narrative and put an emphasis on how forbidden there romance was. Also Sophie constantly lied to Theodor and withheld information from him, which wasn't only stupid on her behalf but also added an unhealthy feel to the romance. Sophie and Kristos are siblings but really don't act like it. They both look down on each others interests and make it very clear to each other. Sophie does make enchanted caps to keep Kristos safe, which is good, but how does Kristos thank her. He fools around with her workers even after she's told him not to, tells Pyord about her sewing circle which is very special and private to her, pretends to be held hostage so that she is forced to sew a curse (which she is against doing) which results in several people getting hurt, then tells her it's all for the greater good. I didn't think Sophie was a great sister, but Kristos was a terrible brother who was willing to risk his sister being arrested or even killed just to achieve his own goals. Sophie is something of a mentor to Penny and Alice, and her only friends are the group of charm casters, but she doesn't treat any of them well. Again she lies to Penny and Alice, even after Alice gets hurt, only gives her young Pellian friend a job when it's convenient for her and them lets her prejudicial attitude dictate what this friend is allowed to do. Viola is immediately willing to take Sophie in as a friend, but again when she's attacked at her house Sophie says nothing, and it's clear that the character isn't much more than a plot device. All in all I would say that Sophie makes a bad sibling, a bad love interest and a bad friend. So not someone you would want to be attached to, in my opinion.

World Building: I believe this world is inspired by the French Revolution, and it does feel like that. With the nobility having all the positions of power and the working class beginning to revolt. Then we get glimpses of other countries, like how Kvyest is closely tied to it's church, and that Pellian is very backwater but is known for creating charms and curses. Unfortunately, that's about it that I get of the world building. Part of the reason for this is that Sophie is so ignorant about the world around her that she would be able to tell you anything other than the latest fashion trend of the nobility. She doesn't grow in her knowledge though, isn't curious about learning new things that are very relevant to the conflict currently happening, so we get at best impressions not just of what other countries are like, but also what her home city is like. I personally love detailed worlds and the fact that this is an adult fantasy with minimal world building is definitely disappointing.  

Writing: This is going to hard separating the material for this section from the material for the dislike section, because I do think the theme of the book was solid and there were some valid points, but the author went about it the wrong way. First there's a very obvious caste system, even though no one talks about it. The only obvious distinction is between the nobility and the working class. Again the nobility hold all the seats of power while the working class have to struggle to ensure they have a job everyday. It's shown that groups can just take another culture's history and identity and use it for their own gain, which can be wrong. Riots are messy because it's a weighted game of who said what and usually the people that need the change the most are the ones that are most affected by the riots. A few leaders speaking for the best of everyone, without actually discussing it with various people and groups. This are all valid issues that are good for conflict and discussion. The problem is that the author clearly favors the nobility, to the point where she portrays them all as sweet and innocent, with no issues or wrong doings, while the working class are always portrayed as a mindless mob that is eager for violence. This is rather problematic. The world is not black and white, and while there are some good nobles like Theodor and Viola, I refuse to believe that all the nobility is pure. Then, to add insult to injury, portraying the working class as mostly brute males that trigger happy and only interested in really furthering their own goals is unrealistic. Would those people exist? Yes. Would they be a source of conflict? Absolutely. Would all working class people be just like that? No, so don't portray them as that. I was initially interest in the problems of men speaking up for the women and telling them what's good for the women, and the women standing up for themselves, but that isn't brought up at all except when Sophie is rejecting another marriage proposal. Also, there being not just classism but racism that needs to be dealt with, though that's never addressed. This book has several good sources of conflict for debate that could span a whole series, but reduces it down to nobles are good and any one else isn't. Not only was that a problematic narrative to read about, but it was also so irritating.

Dislikes: So I've made it clear that there are several characters I hated, mostly Sophie, and that the narrative had good source material but took a rather snobby tone with it, but there were a few other issues I had with the book. One was the racism. I've already stated that Sophie and Alice insists that Sophies one friend stay in the back while working so that they maintain the appearance of a wealthy business. This girl is Pellian, and they are described as having tan skin. Sophie is Pellian but dresses and acts very Galatine, while her one friend doesn't. So there's that and the fact that Pellia is always described as back water makes it clear that those in Galathia think less of that country. The real kicker though, as when Nia, a foreign diplomat, is killed. Now Nia was a competent character and she had distinctly dark skin. When I read that she had been killed I rolled my eyes and thought that the one character that was killed off was the one with the darkest skin tone. I don't think the author intentionally but in those racist elements, but they are there and it's a problem. The other problem I had that I haven't previously talked about was the ending. It was super rushed and just a blur where I didn't really get what happened. Everyone seemed fine then suddenly we are told the king was killed but that's it. A new king is crowned, Theodor becomes the crown prince, and Kristos somehow redeemed himself. First, I don't think Kristos really redeemed himself because it was so quick and he didn't really do anything. Also there was a lot of build up to this ball, and then almost nothing comes of it and Sophie is just hiding for the majority of it and is told what all transpired. There is so much telling and not showing in this book in general, but here it's particularly frustrating.

Final Thoughts: This book started out with so much potential for growth, but never delivered on any of it. The conflict is quite shallow actually and all the morals and world building is portrayed as very black and white, which I don't like seeing in a narrative. Sophie was an annoying and frustrating character that undergoes no character growth even though she sorely needed it. There were really no good, wholesome relationships in this book, of any kind. Basically this book was just a disappointment and I have no idea if I'm going continue with this series.    

[clarekelly3-blog]

The Australian Dream?

Adam Goodes; Adnyamatheanha and Narunggaman, fierce social justice advocate and champion AFL player. A man all at once personifying a nation’s deepest shame, racist foundations and yet, the spark of reconciliation.

As an AFL player, Goodes holds an elite place in AFL history as a dual Brownlow Medallist, dual premiership player, four-time All-Australian team, member of the Indigenous Team of the Century and representative of Australia in the International Rules Series. In addition, he has held the record for the most AFL games played by an Indigenous player. He is a bonefide champion of the game. But more importantly, it is his work off the field where he has had his biggest impact. Goodes is a proud Aboriginal man and leader of his community. He works tirelessly with aboriginal communities and is a strong anti-racism activist and was awarded the honour of Australian of the Year in 2014 for his exceptional social justice advocacy.

Yet, during the Indigenous round game in 2013, Goodes was subject to racial abuse by a 13 year old supporter of the opposition, who called him an ‘ape’. This event proved to be the catalyst for a tumultuous 3 years in which Goodes’ actions, motivations and ‘Australian-ness’ became public fodder. He was subjected to targeted, loud and sustained ‘booing’ at the game by opposition supporters. The motivations for, and acceptability of this booing became the subject of rabid national debate. Everyone from Tony Abbott to Sam Newman shared their varying opinions as to why they felt it was occurring. Sadly, the media coverage of the issue only served to escalate the booing. These same supporters who had vilified Goodes, were incensed during the Indigenous round in 2015, Goodes celebrated a goal by performing an indigenous war dance in which he mimed throwing a spear in the direction of the Carlton cheer squad. Goodes said after the incident that the dance was based on one he learned from under-16s indigenous team the Flying Boomerangs, and that it was intended as an expression of indigenous pride during Indigenous Round, not as a means of offending or intimidating the crowd. In an act of advocacy and bravery, paralleled with Nicky Winmar’s iconic lifting of the jumper, Goodes yet again, inadvertently fuelled racially motivated supporter booing and commentary from the media. Tragically, the toll of the sustained systemic, institutional and direct racism suffered by Goodes led to him prematurely retiring in 2015. Goodes has yet to engage with the AFL on the matter.

Was this booing an opportunity for racists to jeer or simply, tall poppy syndrome? Where did the AFL stand on the issue? And what were the responsibilities of the clubs to educate their supporters on issues of racism and Australia’s dark history?

Two recent documentaries offer records of this sad chapter of Australian sport and have reignited discourse on the racism suffered by Goodes. The Final Quarter (2019),offers archival footage, unaccompanied by narration. Whereas, The Australian Dream (2019) serves as the perfect sequel, and explores the racism surrounding these events and offers a glimmer of hope towards reconciliation. Interestingly, on the eve of the premiere of The Final Quarter, the all too silent AFL and all of its 18 clubs issued an unreserved apology for the sustained racism and events which drove Goodes out of the game. They said: ‘Adam, who represents so much that is good and unique about our game, was subject to treatment that drove him from football. The game did not do enough to stand with him, and call it out. Failure to call out racism and not standing up for one of our own let down all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players, past and present. Our game is about belonging. We want all Australians to feel they belong and that they have a stake in the game. We will not achieve this while racism and discrimination exists in our game... We will stand strongly with all in the football community who experience racism or discrimination. We are unified on this, and never want to see the mistakes of the past repeated’ (AFL, 2019).

Too little too late, AFL.

The national and institutional racial violence and suffered by Goodes during these years serves as a grotesque reminder of the deeply racist and misguided attitudes held by many Australians. Goodes’ experience echoes Ahmed’s idea that ‘those who embody diversity should pay increasing costs for not inhabiting institutional norms would further the injustice of how those norms support and enable the progression of some more than others’ (Ahmed, 2017 p.129). Australian Dreamdirector, Stan Grant offers ‘Australia needs to get past the idea that because you speak up and you speak against the idea of what other people may think Australia is, it doesn't mean that you don't also love your country and want the best for your country’. This echoes Ahmed’s (2017) experience of being a minority, where she shares that you can try to pass by not trying to be ‘that’ kind of minority. That you should not try to make demands because you know they will perceive you as being demanding before you even turn up; because you turn up. Goodes turned up. He was outspoken. He ‘took up space’, and made people feel uncomfortable by reminding us of Australia’s past genocide, the Stolen Generations and the continuing intergenerational trauma experiences by Indigenous Australian.

Baldwin wisely said ‘To accept one’s past – one’s history – is not the same thing as drowning in it; it is learning how to use it. An invented past can never be used; it cracks and crumbles under the pressures of life like clay in a season of drought (Baldwin, 1995, p81, as cited in Rudolph (2018) et.al).’  Thisis our challenge as social justice educators. It is essential our students understand, genocide and all, our colonial history. They must understand the ongoing ramifications of intergenerational slaughter, poverty, incarceration, health and vocational discrimination and disadvantage. Further, our students need to appreciate, celebrate and actively engage in our rich national history. With over 65, 000 years of continuous habitation, cultural richness, language groups and connection to country, students have many and varied ways to engage and learn from and with our Indigenous peoples. We want them to accept, not drown. We want them to learn how to use this knowledge. We want our students to act.  ‘We need to deal with what Aboriginal people call the 'unfinished business of Australia', what is left over from our settlement. We are the only Commonwealth country not to have a treaty with our first peoples. The only one’ (Grant, 2019 as cited in The Age). We need to work alongside our students to fight for constitutional recognition, to close the gap and works towards genuine reconciliation.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/2019-06-07/afl-statement-in-response-to-adam-goodes-films

Ahmed, Sara (2017) Living a Feminist Life, Duke University Press. ProQuest Ebook Central

Darling, I, (2019) The Final Quarter, Madman films

Gordan, I, Grant, S (2019) The Australian Dream 

Sophie Rudolph, Arathi Sriprakash & Jessica Gerrard (2018) Knowledge and racial violence: the shine and shadow of ‘powerful knowledge’, Ethics and Education, 13:1, 22-38

https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/the-australian-dream-watch-adam-goodes-doc-with-an-open-mind-and-feel-hope-20190801-p52d20.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Goodes