#throwback thursday tracks

[yuuana]

Throwback Thursday Track #2: MISIA - Everything release: October 2000 genre: Jpop, J-R&B

Remember when I started this serial way back in the middle of last summer and then immediately dropped the ball on doing it ever again because Thursdays are actually really horrible? No? Yeah, it's fine. But since I'm trying to be better about these things ... jumping back into the wayback machine to the year 2000!

I have no idea what happened to the master that this janky rip off of a VHS copy is the best the official account could do, but here we are. I am ... mostly sure this was not my first time hearing MISIA, but seeing as I've been listening to her for over twenty years oh my god, don't ask me to tell you when I started. I can't even remember how, because let me tell you, kids, the internet was a very different place back then and if you wanted to listen to Japanese music, you had to Go Through Hoops, to put it mildly. And while her music is and was exactly up my alley, she didn't really do the music show circuit even when she first debuted, so all I can think is some sort of happy accident? Whatever the case, this was certainly one of my earliest exposures to MISIA's angelic voice. At seven minutes, "Everything" is about twice as long as the usual pop radio hit song. Moreover, between the opening strains in full orchestra and the wistful tone to MISIA's voice throughout, "Everything" feels much more like something you would find on a drama OST than in a karaoke box or on pop radio. Which didn't stop it from debuting at the top of the Oricon chart nor keep the single from racking up enough sales to make it the all-time third top selling single by a female Japanese artist and MISIA's signature song, despite not actually showing off her full vocal range (5 octaves!) The video has a very Christmas-in-Japan feel going for it, between the snow and the love song lyrics. It's not the most dynamic video, the story parts all shot for slow motion and then MISIA herself delivering her performance with minimal movement, but that, too, fits the mood of the song. It's also an older style of making a music video - the solo diva delivering a song while mostly just standing in place - that MISIA's always favored for herself. "Everything" was the second single off her third studio album, Marvelous, and has been included in each of her best of collections since, so your favorite streaming service should have at least one version of it. Last month (February 21st, to be exact) marked MISIA's 25th anniversary of her debut, so if you liked this, there's a lot more out there. Want to sponsor a song selection? You sweet angel! For the low, low price of one (1) KoFi, I'll write up the song of your choice. ANY song of your choice. Yes, even that one that's been played to death. Yes, your obscure faves too. Sponsor a current CB for the next open Music Monday slot or sponsor a throwback for a Thursday feature! DW | Twitter | Mastodon | Ko-fi | Patreon | Discord | Twitch

[the-football-chick]

Florence Griffith Joyner "Flo Jo"

[suchelegantmonsters]

Since there’s no new racing this weekend, here’s a clip from Lance’s first points race. Alonso DNF’d in Montreal 2017, but not before a nice little battle with Lance for 11th.

[kookaburra1701]

Fandom Throwback Thursday

What are some "old" fanworks you have lurking on hard drives, in abandoned LiveJournals, or have just generally forgotten about? Do you have ancient fics that have survived several site migrations, old sketches, pics of your first cosplay? If so, I wanna see 'em!

My bit of show 'n tell comes from 2010! My main fandom was Transformers.

While decluttering a media cabinet this week, I came across a Transformers (G1) Tracks/Raoul Fanmix I had put together and for which I made a CD label and jewel case insert. Judging by the dates on the file names when I found the originals on an old USB (I originally posted it to LiveJournal on 6/14/2010) I must have put them all together on my EeePC 701 SD netbook. It must have been excruciating working on that tiny screen, but all I can remember is how much fun I had picking songs and printing out the pictures to put in the jewel case.

The files for the inserts and labels are here.

[princetonarchives]

Throwback Thursday: A group of spectators at an international track meet at Manhattan Field, 1895. This photo is found in an album made by a member of the Princeton Class of 1895.

Historical Photograph Collection, Student Photograph Albums Series (AC061), Box 85.03

[petrescatraian]

On the trip

[princessbrunette]

⊹ ᜊ(ᜊ ´ ˘)੭ ♡ … TASTE ♡

track one of the short n’sweet series. pairing: bunny!reader x puppy!reader — based loosely off the song taste by sabrina carpenter. disclaimer: this story is based in a separate universe to the usual pogue!puppy / bunny!reader universe! enjoy ໒꒰՞ ܸ. .ܸ՞꒱ა

sometimes, relationships just don’t work out.

it wasn’t totally surprising — and looking back on it, to pup — it seemed as though it were doomed from the start. they were from totally different worlds, rafe being a kook and pup being a pogue and at first, truly she found it kind of romantic. the whole montagues versus capulet type of vibe that made her only wanna pin herself harder to rafe cameron’s side.

what made her love him was ultimately their downfall. he was downright mean most days, from the way he’d tug her about to the way he’d shake her head anytime she did anything he deemed too pogue-ish. rafe cameron is one of those few men that are so gorgeous that they could get away with murder, quite literally — so it wasn’t to anyone’s surprise that she put up with him for so long. that cruelty that she allowed was a reflection of how she truly felt about herself on the inside. undeserving of respect. each time he’d fuck her into the mattress with her face planted into a pillow, creaming uncontrollably around his base — she’d be revelling in the physical affection no matter how rough and violating it came across— even more so when he’d hold her at the end of it. always short lived, always fleeting, always made her feel better.

she’d escaped that relationship to learn how to love herself. with experience now under her belt gained from the kook himself, she was free to navigate the world and search for someone that just might touch her with a gentle hand. gone were the days she craved a strike to the cheek or blunt fingernails gripping into her ass. softness was what she needed, and by god she’d find it.

she didn’t actually think she’d care to think about him much more down the line a few months later— he was merely a thing of the past and honestly puppy was doing a lot better because of it. but unsurprisingly, old feelings were surely drug up when the kook boy who she forgot to unfollow all but jumpscared her on her instagram feed. not his usual self worshipping post of him on a yacht, no— it was her old rafe, with a girl on his arm. clinging to him just like pup did.

the girl was tagged, and puppy didn’t hesitate to press. it was just curiosity, she told herself as she scrolled down the sea of pink feed this mystery girl had created— a couple of pictures with rafe already posted. she was jaw dropping, a kook no doubt from the looks of her bedroom in the background of her mirror selfies. a prom queen, as titled in one of her posts with a tiara from a good few years ago at the bottom of her feed and an ex beauty pageant baby judging by the throwback thursday pinned in her highlights. there was this gentle yet pampered and spoiled energy around her like the world fell at her feet. a fluffed up, well fed bunny rabbit in a hutch of gold.

pup started to see bunny around more and more since finding her instagram. the pogue girl would find herself ever so slightly ducking out of vision upon spotting the two of them loading up onto rafes boat as she sailed past. her skin seemed to glow in the sunlight and pup wondered if rafe was the one to massage the sunscreen oil into her skin, taking extra time to massage it into the plush skin of her ass, even smirking when she squealed and told him to watch his hands in public. as they stand at the pier, rafe has a gentle hand on her lower back, fingers tucked ever so slightly into the waistband of her bikini. he looks… soft, and non threatening. touching her like she was made of glass, touching her gentler than he ever touched puppy.

puppy’s heart all but stopped in her chest when she served bunny at the checkout of the store she worked in. she supposed rafe couldn’t have been far, sending bunny in alone as to not have an awkward run in with her knowing she worked there. a part of pup wanted bun to be rude. she was a kook after all — and aren’t exes supposed to hate the new girl? of course, she was nothing of the type. sweet and patient, with good eye contact and a perfect smile. it should have made pup’s blood run cold. should have.

instead, pup buried herself in the weird guilt that sat on her chest when she’d find herself typing bunny’s instagram handle into the search bar and sliding a hand down her shorts a few nights later, in need of quick relief. she told herself it was purely physical, a strange bodily reaction to jealousy and comparison — and the fact that bun had her tits hanging out her top in every picture, and pup could distinctly remember the way her ass cheeks jiggled as they hung beneath her short hemline when she exit the store she works at. nothing more than a quick, weird orgasm.

bunny had heard whisperings of the girl rafe was with before she arrived in kildare. a pogue, not that it mattered but she was simply surprised. by the way rafe spoke so ill of those from the other side of the island, bun couldn’t help but wonder what that relationship looked like, why it ended, how. she tried to be subtle in asking around of course, purely out of curiosity — but words to quell a non existent insecurity were thrown vaguely her way instead, quick to put down the other woman. “you’re so much better with rafe. it just makes sense, you know? that girl before you… sheesh, i don’t know. pretty girl, but a real scruffball. i don’t know what rafe was thinking.”

the same thing carried through when she even tried to ask rafe, who simply scoffed and shrugged her off with a ��why? who— who cares about that bitch.” before continuing on with his heavy petting, moving in to kiss her jaw. bunny turned her head away in thought.

bun’s heart rate picked up a bunch when they started to kiss. she must’ve been a sick perv for feeling curious, because each time rafes tongue passed over hers she could only imagine how many times the same wet muscle would glide through the pretty pogues folds to land up near her clit. she wondered if he ever treat her that well. she wondered if you deserved it.

when puppy heard that rafe had been speaking ill of her at the country club once more, she didn’t think — just immediately marched to tanny hill to confront him. perhaps it was unwise of her to think rafe cameron could be mature enough to handle a breakup without talking down on her — but regardless, she had done too much healing and growing to let things slide.

with blood pumping in her ears and anger thrumming in her gut she marched right into the open doors of tanny hill, figuring he’d be home. but after calling his name a good few times, demanding his presence in the foyer — she decided to go looking for him herself, mary-jane converse plodding up the stairs in the direction of his bedroom. a chill settles over her skin at not only the eerie silence, but the fact it had been a long time since she’d taken this oddly familiar journey.

swinging open the doors, pup is met with a gut wrenching sight. it wasn’t him stood before her, but bunny— and she’s clad in a stupid little pink silk robe.

“oh i’m not — i was coming to find rafe because— he’s — he is being an asshole.”

bunny looks nothing close to surprised. infact, she moves slow— blinking her dolly eyelashes as she takes it all in. pup was the last person she’d expected to see, and yet it was not unwelcomed. she wondered why she wasn’t shocked regarding an acquaintance barging angrily into the house. why she’d felt her presence from a block away.

“i know.” she breathes, and it’s all she says.

twenty seven minutes later, and pup finds herself on her back in rafe cameron’s bed once more— months after she told herself it was the last time. though it wasn’t rafe that had her throwing her head back and digging her pastel-painted nails into the sheets, it was the glittering cloud of woman between her thighs, lapping up each drop of juice that seeps from the peak.

bunny is hungry— she’d never eaten a girl out before but god does she know what she likes, twirling her tongue like a tiny ballet dancer in circles around pups poor swollen clit. the pogue is beside herself, feet pressed flat to the bed so she could raise her hips and hump against the girls mouth. she’s sure she’d had a dream like this once that she tried to erase from her mind.

knocked back by the force of puppy’s humps, bun pulls back to look at the girl all bleary eyed and fucked out, lips glossy despite her makeup being wiped off a while ago from their frantic, confused and desperate kisses.

“s’it your first time? rafe never…” she whispers, like saying his name made it more likely they’d get caught.

pup shakes her head, broken out of her trance with a wobbling bottom lip. “n—no. never. he said— said i wasn’t — he just wouldn’t—”

“oh gosh.” bunny sighs in disappointment. “literally can’t imagine why not.” her manicured fingers spread pups puffy folds, and she whimpers in arousal as she watches the pogues pretty clit twitching in desperation to be sucked on again. “i jus’ dont know what it is…” her hot breath kisses pups clit anyways. “but ever since i knew who you were… jus’ wanted to know what it was like…” she smears her lips around the area pup needed her the most, if there was any lipgloss left over it would have transferred to her skin. “to taste you.”

pup had to say, the feeling was mutual.

[lateatnewyork]

HEY STEPHEN…

charlie bushnell x singer!reader

warnings: fluff, smau

summary: you release a new album !!

a/n I SWEAR ILL HAVE THE CHEST OF LOVE OUT BY THIS WEEK potential pt two if i finish the chest of love this week

liked by sabrinacarpenter, ynln and others celebgossip rumours say that yn ln is releasing a new album featuring sabrina carpenter andtaylor swift comments are closed

liked by iamcharliebushnell, sabrinacarpenter and others ynln all those other girls are beautiful…but would they write a song for you? view comments

hearts4yn WERE GETTING AN ALBUM iamcharliebushnell no they would not 💯 ➔ dior.n.goodjohn she wrote a whole ass album 😭 ➔ ynln 🙈 gracieabrams AHAJWJJSNSNS ➔ ynln STOP ILY sabrinacarpenter yall are not ready for the photoshoot 🫣 ➔ ynln 😘 walkerscobell HEY STEPHEN !! ➔ ynln I KNOW LOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING ➔ leahsavajeffries i taught him this. leahsavajeffries ALBUM !! ALBUM !! ALBUM !!!!!!!!! ➔ ynln ALBUM !!!!! dior.n.goodjohn IM IN LOVE WITH THIS ➔ ynln i’m in love with YOU ➔ iamcharliebushnell … i.am.andrewalvarez 🤫🧏‍♀️ ➔ ynln get out ➔ aryansimhadri 🤫🧏‍♀️ elliebellykim i’m so excited 😆 ➔ ynln MY GIRLLL ➔ aryansimhadri wtf man leenascobell RELEASE IT EARLY !!!! ➔ ynln @treepaine PLSSS this comment is now deleted ➔ ynln my manager won’t let me 😞 honeymoon oh my baby’s all grown up ➔ ynln PLS ILY taylorswift it’s ur 3rd album already !! i’m so proud of you 🤍 ➔ ynln CANT WAIT FOR TTPD

liked by sabrinacarpenter, gracieabrams and others ynln i’m in love ‘fictional daydream’ version is now available on my store, with the bonus track “book of love” your support on this album has been so unwavering i thought i’d give you a couple of little presents.

as you know my album is coming out in 3 weeks (so close already), as a little thank you to everyone who has showed their love on this album i will be releasing ‘cherry on top’ NEXT WEEK !!

and for everyone who has been there for me since i posted covers with my bestie sab on youtube; IM GOING ON TOUR, the i’m in love world tour starts in 3 months !! tickets will be available at the same time as cherry on top releases

i love you guys 🩷 view comments

ynloml MOTHER IS FEEDING US iamcharliebushnell i’m so proud of you 🫶🏻 ➔ ynln ilysm char<3 ➔ hearts4yn their so cuteeee dior.n.goodjohn 😍 ➔ ynln BBYYYY leahsavajeffries you’re so pretty ➔ ynln leah babes ur my favourite ilysm user34 this albums going to be shit ➔ hearts4yn this album is NOT based off of u liked by yn sabrinacarpenter charlie is shaking ➔ dior.n.goodjohn uh huh ➔ i.am.andrewalvarez can confirm

*1 month later*

liked by ynln, dior.n.goodjohn and others grammysofficial we present to you the future of the music industry AND best dressed of this years grammys view comments

taylorswift my childrennnn ➔ honeymoon our* children hearts4yn the first time in forever i felt like the grammys weren’t rigged moonchildswift help what am i doing wrong yn is 19 and has 2 grammys 4 vmas acting in two of the biggest shows of 2024 and a model ➔ user78 wait what were the shows ➔ moonchildswift she’s thalia in pjo and she’s flora in damsel (the new movie on netflix) ynloml MY QUEENSSSSS ynishearteyes YNNNNN ➔ iamcharliebushnell ur username is so real ➔ ynln 🙈 ➔ ynishearteyes HELPP

liked by ynln, milliebobbybrown and others ynslove throwback thursday to when yn starred in two of the biggest shows of 2024 and released her third album (I GOT TICKETS TO THE IM IN LOVE TOUR LA N2) view comments

hearts4yn IM GOING ON DUBLIN N3 ➔ ynloml SINGAPORE N6 ➔ ynismywife CINCINNATI N1 user56 YN LIKED fcklife MILLIE LIKED

liked by sabrinacarpenter, walkerscobell and others ynln lil bf appreciation post view comments

walkerscobell ew… ➔ ynln who gave him his account back iamcharliebushnell 💕 ➔ walkerscobell whipped ➔ iamcharliebushnell loud and proud liked by creator and 5400 others leahsavajeffries CUTIESSS dior.n.goodjohn MY girl elliebellykim aryan could never ➔ aryansimhadri EXCUSE ME ➔ ynln LOLLL

liked by ynln, taylornation and others ynsminions yn at opening night of the ‘i’m in love’ world tour !!! see you tomorrow nyc 🩷🖤 comments are closed

a/n i’m literally gonna crash ramadan has started 😭 and we’re going to india on 5th of april so i’ll be afk for a month 🫶🏻 ALSO TT IS BANNED IN INDIA IMA HAVE TO DELETE IT 😭

[kimmipettie]

7/30/24 - A recent Christeen Classic

1/11/24 - # unknown - Boy Ballet - Mademoiselle boys begin to master all the nuances of ballet on their journey to life as lovely misses under the guidance of their Matrons and doting parents and guardians like Aunt Julia.

While identified as being on Carole Jean's now defunct Petticoat Punishment Art site, today's Throwback Thursday is a hidden gem and a classic Christeen creation whose origin and provenance I have been unable to track down.

Fellow Tumblr jennygoodgirl has this in her wonderful Christeen collection identified as debuting around July of 2007.

________________________________________________

Femininely inclined boys (or boys with moms desiring girls) come to enjoy pink attire more suited for the softer gender.

(0)

[daggerzine]

Throwback Thursday #69!- Young Marble Giants- Colossal Youth (1980 Rough Trade)

This Welsh trio of Alison Statton and the Moxham brothers, Stuart and Philip, weren't around long, a few years, but released a couple of excellent EPs and this, their lone LP in 1980. 

Stark and minimal doesn't even begin to describe it. You've got ultra-nominal guitar/bass/organ and a hushed drum machine. Oh and the recited vocals of Statton, all to create this totally unique record. 

You have stellar cuts like the opening "Searching for Mr Right," the echoey/jagged "Include Me Out," and the weirdly haunting "The Taxi," ...and that's the first three songs. 

Elsewhere, "N.I.T.A." comes directly out of the future, while you can almost dance to the title track, and "Credit in the Straight World"  (covered in the 90s by Hole) stabs a plastic fork in every direction, and hits each and every time.

The EPs are totally worth your time as well, but man, Colossal Youth is the one. A magical debut by a band that wasn't long for this world, but made the most of it.

www.dominomusic.com

[sw1tchbackli]

Throwback Thursday 🇺🇸.

I’d say they’re heading to the track 🏁

[welcomingdisaster]

throwback thursday!!

in march of 2023, i wrote enemy of good! actually probably one of my fave russingon pieces i've written.

Fingon’s eyes are brown and dark, now, his back to the fire and his face to Maedhros. He reaches for him, lays his hands upon him. They are warm, his hands. Maedhros is keenly aware of them, or rather of the warmth trapped between them, in his wool stockings.  Fingon’s thumb on the one hand curls over Maedhros’s big toe. The tips of Fingon’s fingers, his nails, dangle off his foot, buried in the fur of the bearskin. His his other hand is slung over Maedhros’s knee. It holds no tension; the fingers lay loose and parted slightly, as though in sleep.  Maedhros feels as though he is two points in his body. He is his foot, his toe. He is his knee. His heart beats there, frantic against Fingon’s hands.  “I think they are having an affair,” Fingon says.  “What?” Maedhros’s voice comes sharp and fast, and he is ashamed of it. More than that, he is angry. Do no ask me where I went, he thinks, do not ask me where I go.  “The riders,” Fingon says again, and Maedhros swallows down his building irritation. Drop the damn riders. “I think they are having an affair. It is horribly scandalous.” 

thank you for the tag @melestasflight @zealouswerewolfcollector @sallysavestheday tagging!! @outofangband @starvels @polutrope @eilinelsghost @that-angry-noldo & whoever else hasn't been tagged yet! tis hard to keep track

[slybluehologhost]

Throwback Thursday ＞ Enzai Fan Disc [Comiket 64, 2003]

Wow, this one really is a throwback, huh? I finally found a copy of this over 20 (!) year old fan disc & had a really fun time working on this project! This was one of those discs I would always see pictures of floating around online back in the day, so it was somewhat surreal to actually see it in person after all these years. It surprisingly has a lot more content than I was expecting & even included some images that were totally new to me! I’m also happy to report that just about everything should still work on Windows 11.

Special thanks to Amu-Bun for their helpful insights regarding the calendar widget — you can check out their YouTube channel for more Enzai-related content, including a few videos that cover the contents of this fan disc. I wrote up a guide for the widget since I know some other folks out there ran into trouble while attempting to install it — it’s been included in the calendar subfolder in case you’re struggling to get it running.

Package details & link are under the cut, or you can click here for a static page.

＞ [ L I N K ]

2-Disc Set — 2003 ＞ Includes main cover scans, booklet scan (with user manual & mini novel), original drama CD (3 tracks), original soundtrack (27 tracks), desktop accessories collection (with calendar widget for Windows, staff data, & wallpapers), complete Disc 2 file source, & fanmade calendar installation guide

[solar-halos]

odesta week. day #4 - throwback thursday

summary: beach meet cute. 1k

The beach is safe. Not a lot of things are, especially after Annie’s Games. 

Lucky for her, the beach is right outside her house. It’s the one nice thing about living in the Victor’s Village. 

She dives under the water until her lungs feel like they’re going to explode. Then she pops back up and does it all over again. It’s nice and repetitive and puts her mind at ease. 

She comes back up. She stops in her tracks, stunned into silence by some fucking creeper suddenly in the water with her.

She whips some sopping wet strands of hair out of her face. Oh. That’s not a creeper—that’s Finnick Odair.

“Dude!” she protests, because who the fuck just sneaks up on someone like that? Especially a victor? “What gives?”

“Huh?” Eloquent. Annie thought he was supposed to be a poet. “I didn’t even see you out here! You’re the one who scared me.”

Oh. Something about that is so incredibly funny—she scared Finnick Odair—that she starts to laugh. Some people at the Career Academy were intimidated by her, sure, but take away all her throwing knives, and what was there to be scared of?

“I can hold my breath for a very long time,” she explains. “It’s like you didn’t even watch my Games.”

She purses her lips to keep from laughing again, because she’s pretty sure she’s not supposed to be joking about that stuff. She’s still fresh out of the arena, so no one says anything about it to her, but sometimes when she’s having a really good day she’ll sprinkle it into a conversation. Kinda like she’s taking the power back.

Finnick takes a step back. She wouldn’t have even noticed if it wasn’t for the water rippling.

“Right…” he says, like he’s not sure if he should laugh with her or start running home. Annie doesn’t know how to feel about that. “Well, it was nice running into you.”

Annie considers that. She supposes it was. She’s hardly talked to anyone since she got back, so it’s nice to know she’s still capable of normal things. Looking back, it’s a miracle she didn’t start swinging after he spooked her.

“Same here,” she says. “I’ve never seen you out here. Do you visit a lot, or are you already tired of the beach?”

“I don’t think anyone could get tired of the beach,” he replies, but he looks a lot less awkward now. He even stops taking steps back. “I usually come a lot later in the day, but I couldn’t sleep. You know how it is.”

Annie nods. She does. “Winning isn’t anything like the Academy said it would be. Night terrors are not the same as nightmares.”

“Yeah. They really need to update their curriculum.”

Annie laughs—that’s such a ridiculous thing to say, even if she can’t put her finger on why—and she knows that she reacted the right way when Finnick laughs with her. It’s strange—she saw him all the time when she was reaped, but she never spoke to him. Not really, unless they were talking about the arena, and even then he was always too drunk to tell her anything useful.

Annie leans closer so she can examine him. He seems very, very sober.

He leans back. His laughter fades into a tight-lipped smile. “What are you doing?”

“I dunno,” she admits. Of course he was sober. “It’s strange. Meeting you, I mean.”

She doesn’t need to explain what she means. He nods, obviously pleased with the fact that she’s not invading his personal space anymore. “I’m not mad about it. Like, meeting you.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I mean—I didn’t love being jumpscared—”

“You snuck up on me!”

He’s the one that laughs first this time. “—but you’re very nice to talk to.”

That’s such a sweet thing to say that all she does is thank him. No one’s ever said that to her before—not even before she was reaped—but she’s glad that Finnick Odair thinks that she’s a pleasant conversationalist. She doesn’t ask him about it this time—or the next time they talk, or the next time—but she finally mentions it when they’re waiting for the cookies in his oven to bake. 

He grins at her. “I liked how unsettling you were.”

“What?” That was definitely not the answer she was expecting. Kinda—she knows that the Capitol thinks she’s fucking crazy, and that most people in the district think she’s a disappointment, but she has no idea why Finnick would find that appealing. “Finnick! You didn’t!”

“I did. I still do.” Ugh. It’s just like him to start firing up compliments to soften all their banter, so she crosses her arms over her chest and pretends like she isn’t blushing. “Cmon, dude—you have those big eyes and a very unpredictable mind. You kept me on my toes.”

Annie’s stomach sinks, genuinely disheartened by this information. She hopes it doesn’t show on her face.

“Oh,” she replies. She’s not sure what else there is to say. 

Somehow, he figures out she’s in a mood. He turns to her, the beginnings of a frown beginning to pull at his lips. Annie allows herself to frown, too. What gives? She’s not the one who called him unsettling and unpredictable.

“I can see how that might sound bad,” he admits. Annie rolls her eyes, suddenly a bit less offended. Boys are so stupid. “I mean, it does sound bad. I just mean that you’re very genuine. You talk to me like you’d talk to anyone else. And you ask me questions no one ever asks.”

True. And he always, always answers them. Sometimes, he’s the only person that ever does.

“So you don’t think I’m unsettling and unpredictable?” she presses.

“I retract my statement,” he confirms. Yeah—boys were stupid. Finnick makes it work. “You are not unsettling and unpredictable. You are fascinating and original.”

“Well, I’ve always been huge on free thinking,” Annie agrees.

Finnick smiles. Someone close the blinds. “That’s what I mean. I never know what you’re going to say.”

“And you like that?” She needs to be sure. 

“I like that.” 

“Okay. Well, if you were curious, I like hanging out with you because you’re the only person who ever listens to me.”

“You do like hearing yourself talk,” he says, but he’s joking, so she only bumps her shoulder into his.

“Yeah, right!” Talk about throwing stones in glass houses. “Why don’t you go recite another shitty poem?”

She’s not being mean. One time, he told her that he’s been making his poems progressively worse, just to see if the Capitol would say anything. It was a strange thing to say as someone that’s supposed to be a Capitol fanatic. Good thing that Annie knows he is not a Capitol fanatic.

“You love my shitty poems,” he shoots back. It’s true. She does (not that he needs to know that, though, so she rolls her eyes). “Annie Cresta, borne of the sea—”

Not this again! Thankfully, the timer for the cookies goes off, so she is spared from hearing him do a dramatic retelling of the poem he wrote for her. It’s a lovely poem—she just blushes too hard whenever he brings it up, which gives him a ton of leverage. 

Two can play at this game. She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a pair of socks she knitted for him. His feet always got way too cold, prompting him to steal the blankets from her during their late night chats. She was gonna package it up for him, but if he was gonna be like this, she might as well fight fire with fire.

He doesn’t even try talking over the timer. He examines the socks like she just revealed another world wonder to him. “Woah,” he says, his cheeks turning just as pink as hers feel. “Thank you. You didn’t need to…”

He trails off. She doesn’t even have to interrupt him anymore, because he knows she didn’t need to—she wanted to, just like how he wants to do nice things for her, too.

He puts them on, sliding all over the floor the entire time Annie takes the cookies out of the oven. It’s not very long before he topples over and eats shit.

Annie crosses over to him. And then she melts onto the floor in solidarity.

“Are you okay?” she asks.

“I’m okay,” he says. “Are the socks okay?”

She rearranges herself so she can tug at his ankle, examining the socks for any wear or tear. “Yup,” she says. “Good as new.”

He nods again. “Thank you again, by the way. I really love them.”

“I’m glad. Maybe now you won’t hog all the blankets.”

“As if!” he replies. It’s his favorite phrase of hers to borrow, and her favorite phrase to hear. 

She makes a face at him anyway. He makes a face back. Then, they promptly laugh so hard their stomachs cramp up.

Huh. Maybe being a victor wasn’t all bad.

[m0tiv8me]

Throwback Thursday:

Can I ask a favor? I’m hoping to kickstart more activity on my blog again after my 6 month hiatus. Reblogs are welcome to help me reach new and active bloggers. I’m actively working to get back into this condition and struggling a bit with my confidence right now. I know I can get there but some days are harder than others. Seeing how far I’ve let myself slip is discouraging and I’m hoping Tumblr can once again be a positive resource to keep me on track.

Don’t misunderstand my intentions. I’m not looking for a bunch of comments or praise and I definitely won’t be spamming anyone’s DM’s or inbox with messages. I’m a happily married guy not here for hook ups or chatting beyond positive words of encouragement. I’d like to find and follow other like minded blogs. Please don’t be offended if I don’t always follow back comment or like everyone’s posts. I prefer to keep my dash in the same vein as what I post. I’m certainly not here to judge anyone else’s blog, who they are or what they post. I don’t engage with hateful or malicious people or messages. I focus pretty hard on keeping my blog a safe positive space for all.

Just really feeling like I could use some added visibility right now to help inspire me to keep going. And hopefully continue to inspire those who are trying to reach their own mental and physical goals for the 1st time or the 100th time. Let’s continue to help each other by just being an active positive presence each and every day!!

[lindsaywesker]

Good morning! I hope you slept well and feel rested? Currently sitting at my desk, in my study, attired only in my blue towelling robe, enjoying my first cuppa of the day (green tea!) Welcome to the weekend and welcome to September!

Wow! Here we are again: Friday! Where did that week go? No, seriously, where did that week go?

First of all, many thanks to everyone that got involved with Throwback Thursday on my page. Yesterday’s word was HOME. Again, another emotive word! It has both good and bad connotations for people. I could lay my hat in all sorts of places but it wouldn’t feel like home! I like my bed, my sofa, my armchairs, my remote, my fridge, my study. You know I’m a creature of habit and routines, so I need to things to stay the same. Am I a little OCD? Maybe I am?

Looking forward to the weekend. After the show, we are popping down to Hove to see Lady Wesker. She’s been a bit out of sorts. A Curry’s delivery van totally wrote off her car (while it was stationary) and Curry’s stingy insurance company only gave Mum £2k. What can you buy for that? Anyway, she’s sorted now, so hopefully we can go out in her new (second-hand) car? The last thing your mum needs is some big oaf in a big van destroying the key to her independence. We will not be shopping at Curry’s again! Heartless corporate bastards!

A quick word on the England squad. The word is pathetic (and that’s being polite!) Maguire, Phillips and Henderson? Really, mate? Where are Sterling, Watkins, Bowen and Ward-Prowse? Southgate must think it’s still 2020?

Naturally, I’m very grateful to receive a lot of promos via email. However, it takes a lot of time to work through them all. I wouldn’t mind this if most of them were decent and playable, but most of them are NOT! Even new music by established names! Maybe I’m fussy but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. Doubtless, loads of people will say, “Oh, there’s plenty of good, new music, Lindsay!” Well, it might be good enough for YOU but I’ve been collecting top quality music since the late sixties and most of this new stuff is not cutting it! I look at the charts to see the most popular tracks, check them out on iTunes and, more often than not, I am seriously underwhelmed!

Really hope you can join me tomorrow at 1.00 p.m. for ‘The A-Z Of Mi-Soul Music’: The final part of The Letter P. We will have one week of Q, then move on to the next letter. I have made contact with the executive producer of The Letter R (Pt. 1) and she has built a superb show! We’re going to Jamaica in mid-September for a wedding, so I’ll miss one radio show but I’ll be back in time for the start of The Letter R on September 23rd.

Absolutely buzzing! Friday: my favourite day of the week! No work ‘til Monday, The Mighty Josiah arrives, Chinese for dinner and my team are on telly! Very excited!

Have a fabulous and funky Friday! I love you all. You’re probably thinking, “You don’t even know me!” but, if people can hate for no reason, why can’t I love?