#vacation condominium

[wtfrjk]

Great Room in San Diego Small minimalist limestone floor great room photo with white walls

[concertphotos]

Park Hill Condominium at 355 Buena Vista Ave in San Francisco by David Oppenheimer Via Flickr: Park Hill Condominium at 355 Buena Vista Ave building in San Francisco aerial - © 2017 David Oppenheimer - Performance Impressions aerial photography archives - www.performanceimpressions.com

[emperornorton47]

Laguna Beach

[carpe-cullen]

Transitional Sunroom - Compact Idea for a small transitional sunroom made of porcelain tiles and featuring a regular ceiling

[sssammich]

For supercorp 💗 🥹🥹

💗 slow kiss / gentle kiss / inevitable / soft

thanks for your patience, anon! alas, i have gone overboard once more because i cannot help myself.

ask meme

---

she's been given a mandatory month off from supergirl duties. she's not sick, she hasn't solar flared, and she's not hurting for any freelance work that requires her attention. she had simply been told that she needed to take the time off and to avoid any caped hero work unless absolutely necessary.

so that's why she's here now, without superhero work for the next thirty days. free to do whatever she wants.

after the initial shock washes over her, she places her hands on her hips and nods towards alex and j'onn. she knows exactly what she wants to do with her freedom.

"okay."

"look, before you fight th--okay?" alex stares at her, wide eyes mirroring kara's. "really?"

she shrugs, already heading towards the elevator. no need to fight the inevitable. "really."

as the elevator doors close in front of her, she can't help smirking in amusement at the identical confused expressions on both of their faces.

she has one destination in mind.

-

she knocks on the massive wooden door, though she knows she doesn't need to. it's a formality at this point considering the unrestricted access that she's been granted to enter the top floor of this condominium highrise.

still, she waits, because the anticipation is half the fun.

her face splits into an easy smile when lena opens the door to her with her own toothy grin.

"heya," she greets, stepping foot into what she calls home: within lena's arms.

"hello to you, too," lena says, swift yet careful in wrapping kara in her arms. her hands are open as they rub circles on kara's back. kara sinks further into lena's embrace, pulling lena further into her. "how are you?"

"i'm great."

lena stares into her eyes. "yeah?"

"oh yeah. i'm on vacation." she emphatically nods.

lena beams at that. "funny you say that. me too."

she quirks a brow at that, though she shouldn't be surprised. a month vacation doesn't just fall into people's laps without explanation. "yeah?"

"oh yeah," lena mimics her.

kara, still holding lena in her arms, pulls the other woman back in, the two of them swinging in place. "what a coincidence, right?"

lena throws her head back in laughter.

-

they arrive in a private villa off the coast of naples.

it's a modest hillside two bedroom house that overlooks the gulf below. when the local guide roll their suitcases for them, he unknowingly wheels lena's to one room and hers to the other. she smirks and lena tips him handsomely--enough that his olive skin tinges in embarrassment at just how much is in his hands. when their eyes meet after he leaves, they break into a giggle.

because they know the truth, despite not uttering a word of it: why bother taking up more room when right by each other's side is all the space they'll want to take.

despite the destination of her luggage, her body follows after lena to the other room, the one with the better view of the water. just as well, lena's body follows after her when they busy themselves in the kitchen to make themselves a quick dinner. when they finish, they share the hammock sitting out on the back deck, lena's head on her chest and her arms around her waist, while kara's arms wind their way in holding lena against her, their limbs tangled.

when lena yawns a few too many times, they call it a night. lena leads, their hands entwined, and they end up on lena's bed, drawing back the thin covers enough to stave off the inevitable cool night air.

-

they walk everywhere, always touching. a hand on the arm the elbow the bicep the small of her back. an arm slung over a shoulder or hooked together.

it's when they reach a destination that kara's courage grows, that lena's bravery broadens.

when they travel to the town square market as they shop for groceries that lips find their way on one another's skin; the temple the cheek the forehead.

when they treat themselves to a picnic right by a vineyard and lena is leaning back on her between her legs, lips chance on a bare and pale shoulder.

when they lounge in the hammock and lena is resting on her chest, lips chance on collarbones and behind the ears.

when they tire themselves out from full days, fuller stomachs, and fullest hearts that they are in bed and lena is facing her and their legs are tangled with one another, lips chance on entwined hands and fingers.

each one given freely, each one received gracefully.

soon, kara thinks, this will all change. especially when they cross the final threshold between them. though that's a formality at this point, all things considered.

still, she will wait until that happens, more than happy to be exactly where she is.

-

thirty days is long and short and is plenty and is not enough.

on their last day while they wait for their local guide to collect them, they stand on the corner edge of the back deck, lena in her arms as they overlook the gulf for the last time.

"i don't want to go back to work," she murmurs into lena's ear. lena twists in kara's arms until they're facing one another.

"you don't have to, if you really don't want to."

"we can move into this villa. i'll learn to fish. you can sell them at the market."

lena laughs in her arms and kara holds her tighter, like trying to capture lightning in a bottle.

"you're no good as a fisherman, sweetheart."

kara pouts because it's probably true. but she'll learn for lena.

"well, next time we're on vacation, we ought to come back."

"anything you want," lena says, her eyes dipping down to where kara's lips are.

"anything?"

lena nods, assuring, her eyes darkening. kara's smile widens and she leans forward just enough, their noses brushing.

kara is ready for what's to come. she's ready for lena.

still, she waits, because the anticipation is half the fun.

[deadmotelsusa]

The Hollywood Beach Resort was built 98 years ago and is the epitome of old Florida.

Aside from being a hotel, the property has lived many lives. It was once the home of a naval training facility during World War II, a massive convention center in the 50s and Florida Bible College in the 70s. In recent years, it transitioned back into a hotel, timeshare and condominium complex. Some units have even been rented as Airbnbs.

In May 2023, the city of Hollywood declared the property unsafe and forced all guests to vacate the building. Currently, the future of the once-grand, now-decaying hotel is uncertain. A group of developers are hoping to buy the hotel to demolish it and build two luxury condominium buildings. In order for this to happen, at least 80% of the condominium owners would have to agree to sell.

Underneath the hotel is the dead, borderline-abandoned Oceanwalk Mall. A review from two days ago says that the mall is now being used by the military for training. Other reviews state that the property is "at the end of its life," a "ghost town" and "haunted". Located in Hollywood, Florida. Sources: 1, 2 + 3

[beardedmrbean]

AURORA, Colo. (TNND) — Newly released security footage inside a troubled building in Colorado showed an alleged brutal attack on a man identified by the landlord as the apartment manager.

The apartment buildings in Aurora have gained national attention after locals and top political figures alleged that aVenezuelan gang, known asTren de Aragua, have taken over - allegedly conducting crimes.

CBZ Management, the company who operates the apartment complexes, posted a photo the apartment manager with a bloodied and bruised face.

The post on X accused the city of Aurora of not stepping in to help, " The situation in Aurora, CO has gained attention, as gangs and illegal immigrants have taken control of our properties. However, the larger issue is that the government not only ignored the crisis but also scapegoated us to avoid accountability."

According to a CBZ representative, the manager was brutally attacked at the end of 2023 when he refused to take a $500 bribe from a group of men who had occupied a vacated apartment.

A video of the alleged attack was also shared on the company's newly created X account.

A person is seen falling to the ground and repeatedly kicked by the group.

A CBZ representative claimed the manager had to be hospitalized for his injuries. Screen shots of text messages allegedly sent to the manager threatened him after the incident.

A police report obtained by local media showed that the property manager did seek legal action.

The report identified one of the alleged attackers asYoendry Vilchez Medina. Medina was documented a Tren de Aragua gang member, according the city of Aurora who released a statement in August addressing gang concerns.

According to that statementMedina was arrested on August 5 on a warrant for an assault that happened in November 2023 at the Whispering Pines Condominiums. That property is operated byCBZ Management, according to its website. Medina was charged with menacing and assault.

According to CBZ Management, the purpose of the newly created X account is to prove that the Venezuelan gang has taken over its complexes and has a presence in Aurora.

The company says it's pulled workers back from its properties for safety reasons.

Over the last few months, concerns have increased about the Tren de Aragua gang taking over and taking advantage of the Biden administration’s "Advance Travel Authorizations" program.

The parole program allows Venezuelans, Cubans, Haitians and Nicaraguans to travel within the U.S., according the federal government.

During a town hall on Wednesday, former Donald Trump brought up the takeover allegations.

He said, "We had in Aurora, Colorado, where Venezuelan street gangs have taken over a big chunk of the city, taken over apartment buildings, and everyone is petrified. The governor of the state is petrified. He's a radical left guy, he has no idea what to do. We can't have that. Every state is afraid of this."

[slafkovskys]

Summer vacation with Matthew Knies, maybe traveling to Florida for a week and just spending time together after a busy couple weeks in the NHL

you were hesitant about flying and wanted to make sure that he was 100% after his injury, so maybe you insist on waiting a couple weeks longer even after team doctors clear him. as soon as you’re able, though, your tickets are booked to a quaint little condo that overlooks the beach and you’re so relieved to finally be alone with your boyfriend for what feels like the first time in forever.

you don’t even leave the premises of the condominium for the first three days, but then you finally venture out when you both come to the conclusion that staying within the same three hundred yards isn’t really a vacation. your phones are on do not disturb for the entirety of the trip and maybe you overindulge in junk food but it’s fine because he’s not starting training for another week anyway.

by the time your week is up, matthew is burnt and you so desperately do not want to leave. matthew surprises you with an extra three days and breakfast in bed and it’s really just the greatest trip.

[gonelike-ach00]

ᴛᴡᴏ - renjun

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summary:

They weren't aware of it but they were beginning to write their future as the days finally welcomed their youth. Now, as the sun begins to rise and the cold days of childhood leave them, they are welcomed into the warm—sometimes too hot—hug of youth.This was their start--the first taste of the warmth of youth.

genre:

fluff, angst, slice of life, high school romance, reoccuring anthology

word count : 1.9k

pairing: high school! renjun x high school! female character

ᴛᴡᴏ - renjun

Renjun has never known true peace.

He was an only child born to parents who were always busy with their jobs but made sure to pester him with how his day had gone. He was an only child yet lived with three of his elder female cousins, all of which have decided to live in South Korea just as his family had decided to. He used to live in one of those high-rise condominiums, but with the decision to house more than the average size family and more paying adults, they ended up buying a house closer to the edge of the city.

Except, his parents forgot to mention an important factor that pushed them to decide whether or not they were moving or not.

They moved right next door to the house Kim Bona lived in.

Kim Bona was his greatest nightmare and the most constant thing in his life.

She was even more constant than the alarm clock he knew he had set for 6 am in the morning. He hears knocks on his window that sit at the bottom part of the house and right beside the space that separates their homes from each other.

"Junnie!" Bona calls out their old childhood nickname.

All the teenage boy could do was growl at her presence. He pulls the covers up over his head as he hears another round of knocks from his window.

"Renjun!"

"What?" He shouts back.

"It's 6 am!" She shouts back at him.

He groans and pulls out his phone to check. The bright light of his phone blinds him momentarily. It wasn't 6 am—no, he could have had a few more minutes of sleep. It was 5:49 am, and in the morning the difference of 5:59 am and 6:00 am was crucial to making sure he didn't go crazy while he was at school.

"It's not 6 am!"

"It is!"

She continues to knock on his window. He was growing tired of her knocking on the door so he decided to sit up from his bed and pull his curtain to the side. He catches her in the act when her palms are wide open and she is about to knock on his window with her whole palm. Except, there was a certain shock on her face that wasn't just because he had opened his windows.

"Don't you have keys to the house?" He reminds her of the keys his parents had given her all those years ago. She was the only one in her family to have keys to their home and he was the only one who had keys to the Kim's place.

Bona blinks her eyes a couple of times before she turns her head around. This was when Renjun took notice that she wasn't even in her uniform yet. She was just there knocking on his window to wake him up and yet here she was acting all shy about it.

"What's your—"

"Why aren't you wearing a shirt?" Bona sighs out as she continues to look away.

Renjun looks down at his bare chest and then back at her. He couldn't understand it. She has seen him without his shirt countless of times. When they went on beach vacations when they went on lake visits, and even when they would play with water in their backyard.

"Nothing you haven't seen before." He sighs as he stands up from his bed and grabs the shirt he had taken off last night.

"I'll change into my uniform and eat breakfast at yours." She finally turned to look at Renjun, who was finally looking more decent than when he had first greeted her.

"Did you wake me up for that?" Renjun runs his hand through his messy hair.

She was about to return to her home when she stopped walking and nodded her head.

"Kim Bona!" He called out her name in frustration and then she started sprinting as Renjun could walk through his windows—he could definitely climb out of it if he wanted to— and chase her down.

Walking out of his room after a shower and dripping wet hair with his uniform on, he could hear the noise in the dining room. There sat a sight he had grown far too familiar with, three of his older cousins sitting together and sharing the breakfast table with Bona, who was busy talking to them about the first day of the second semester. She was talking about her new classes and what she found interesting with his three older cousins listening to her with the most attention.

"Morning," he greets everyone on the table.

"Renjun," the eldest of his three cousins, Yue, makes sure to scold him as soon as he catches a glimpse of the drippings on his uniform, "dry your hair or you'll get sick." She stands from her seat to walk into the bathroom and grab a towel.

"Its barely the second day of school, do you want to get sick?" The third eldest cousin, Aihan, shakes her head. Aihan had just recently graduated from university but was still studying to become a doctor. She had yet to become one and spent most of his early medical degree using Renjun as her little dummy for checking his health—the only thing she didn't to do him was practice her needle skills on him.

"If he wants that just give it to him." The second eldest cousin, Yitze, rolls her eyes.

They were three very mean older sisters, but there Yue was drying Renjun's hair off like he was still eight years old and Yue had to stop getting ready for class just so she could help Renjun get ready for grade school. At the time, it was just the two of them, Yitze and Aihan were still in China finishing their high school diplomas. She would even go out of her way to cook him his breakfast, but most days they would just walk to the convenience store and eat their breakfast there with the money Renjun's parents left the two of them.

"Want me to drive you to school?" Yitze asked the two as she stood up from her seat after seeing that Renjun finished his breakfast and was drying his hair on the floor of the living room.

"Would you?" There was a hopeful tone in Bona's voice.

Yitze couldn't help but smile. "It's in the same direction anyway." Yitze used to look down at Bona. She had moved to Korea when she was 18 years old and Bona (and Renjun) was 9 years old and barely stood by her shoulders, but now she was looking at Bona straight in the eye—no, she was sure that Bona was now taller than her.

Bona turns around and looks at Renjun, who is finished styling his hair. "Renjun!" She runs up to him and stops right before they crash into each other. "Hurry, Yitze's going to bring us to school."

"She doesn't have to—"

"Oh, come on, do you really prefer to walk to school than be driven there?" She basically tries her best to pull Renjun up from the ground. He wasn't budging no matter how much she tried to pull him off the ground.

Bona never realized when things really changed for the two of them. Physically, Renjun has always felt the same, except this morning. He looked different, far different from what he used to look like. They were no longer the same small child, it was like she was being left behind as Renjun grew taller and stronger than she was. She could no longer just pull him around nor could she drag him wherever she wanted him to go.

"Fine." He sighs after her multiple attempts of trying to make him stand.

He stands up on his own. Bona could only watch as he easily stood up from the ground and her arms remained around his. As they stood there in the middle of the living room, she was left speechless with the realization that she was now tilting her head up to look at him. Her arms kept them close and his arms sat between a valley he never knew was there.

"B-Bona," he coughs his name as he tries to wiggle his arms away from her.

"Right." She lets go of his arms.

Lunch break at their school was weirdly depressing, especially for the Eunji-Naeun-Bona group of friends. Bona was leaning forward with her empty tray of food lying there. Her eyes were emptily staring across the room and her two friends were busy listening to her repetitive sighs. It was like clockwork with every passing minute.

"You have to tell us what's wrong." Naeun initiated the questioning.

Bona sits up and looks between Naeun and Eunji, who is busy playing with the food on her place. Lunch times were the only time she would let go of her books to finally interact with human beings other than Lee Jeno in class. "It's weird."

Eunji and Naeun exchange looks with each other.

"What's weird?" Eunji asks Bona.

Bona's eyes travel across the room to see five guys playing a very intense round of rock, paper, scissors. Their plates were all gathered and ready to be picked up from the table and it looked like they were just deciding who would bring the trays back to the busting station of the cafeteria. Among that group was their shortest member—yet somehow still taller than her—Renjun who was always oddly competitive when it came to not losing.

"When did things change this much?"

"Oh, honey, the more you talk, the more confused I get. What's going on?" Naeun shook her head at the fact that she couldn't decipher what she was saying.

"Do you ever notice that the guys in our grade are so different now?" Bona leans her head on her hand as she stares at that specific group of friends. As Naeun and Eunji exchange glances, they notice that she is now staring at one specific group from across the hall. They were loud—they always were a loud bunch—and easily caught anyone's attention when they walked the halls together. Oddly, that same group of friends were individually really quiet individuals.

"Are you talking about Renjun?" Eunji asks.

Bona doesn't hide it and nods her head. "I used to be able to drag him around—like physically, but now it barely affects him at all."

Naeun pushes her eyebrows together. "He's a guy—isn't it natural for it to turn out like that?"

"No!" Bona looks at Eunji and Naeun as if she were stuck on trial trying to convince the jury that she wasn't guilty. "This is Renjun we're talking about."

Naeun nods her head. "He's still a guy."

"The same Renjun that I used to pull around and carry. The same Renjun that would fall down when I pushed him. The same Renjun—"

"Bona!" Eunji puts both her arms over her shoulder. "You just never realized it, but we've been changing for a while too. It's not just them."

For a moment, she was silenced. Her eyes searched Eunji for any malice, but she was definitely not telling her a lie. Of course, she knew she was changing. It was her body, she would definitely notice if things were changing—and things have been changing for a while. She was yet to get used to the pains of her periods. She knew that the other gender was bound to change, but why did she only notice it about Renjun now?

Has Renjun been like this since—she shudders at the thought. No, there was no use in denying it anymore. Renjun knew earlier than she did, he was probably aware before she was. It was exactly why he's been in love with her older sister for years. It's the reason why he has refused to enter her home after last year.

Oh, how odd this feeling was.

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[mcuntainbcrn]

//wow - i never intended to be gone this long, but i think the real weight of everything that happened over the last 8 months hit me like a freight train

to not go into excessive detail, someone i had known and been friends with for over a decade made a post about how their then landlord had assaulted (hit) them and that their living situation was no longer safe - i had a spare room, and offered it to them and their husband, letting them know that the most i could give them was 6-12 months at most due to a special assessment that would most likely leave my condominium condemned.

i never charged them any rent, as i wanted them to build their savings for their goal of returning to the husband’s country on a spousal visa, with the only four rules being that they be actively working or seeking employment, that my space is respected, that they respect my cat’s boundaries and they keep their space clean; within three weeks of moving them in, i contracted covid and during a night i was just trying to find a position to sleep in on my easy chair, they threw a bag of cough drops at my head.

realistically, i should have made them leave right then and there…but i was sick, and too exhausted to really process what they had done; this was just the tip of the iceberg of what wound up to be months of mental and emotional abuse that escalated to the point we no longer spoke (by their request - saying they would approach me when they were ready to talk) and i no longer felt safe sleeping in my own home; after what happened to my dad and grandpa simultaneously, i moved myself and my cat out - that’s right, i left my own home because i just couldn’t take it anymore.

after a month of being back at my parents, i had enough, and gave them a 60 day notice to vacate - more than enough time to find somewhere else to go; during this time, my property management was finally addressing a massive leak that had blown out part of my guest bathroom’s ceiling and wall, and had the audacity to lock the door behind them so no randos could waltz inside in my absence…i only found this out when, after months of no communication from them, i was threatened with a call to the police if i didn’t unlock the door for them - i had no idea they’d even gone anywhere, but i digress…i drove an hour and a half and let them back in (stupid, i know) and left.

the next time i was by, they had taped up my doorknobs so the key couldn’t be used and taped notes everywhere about how they had to be consulted to move anything of theirs in my guest bathroom and that i had no authority.

i thought things really couldn’t get any worse, but they did - my mom decided to go by and remind them of their vacate date and to offer to pay for a moving truck for them…and no sooner had she arrived, then they got in her face, screamed at her that she had no right to be there and that they was going to spread my mom’s image everywhere while thrusting a phone so hard in my mom’s face she actually thought they were going to hit her - their husband did nothing during all this and remained silent.

we had to get lawyers and the police involved…it was ugly, and i hate that this has made me question their story about their former landlord and wonder if the reality is that they prodded and pushed and harassed them until they snapped.

at any rate, they finally left, i’ve gone no contact with them, i’m back in my condo and i don’t feel comfortable living here anymore and have every intention to sell it when i have new accommodations arranged and the overwhelm of it all has left me laid out creatively; all that to say, i’ll be on and get out everything i owe tonight and putting out a starter call and prompts tomorrow

tl;dr? my life went to shit, i’m still recovering from my decades long friendship imploding, and i miss writing…so i’m back

[vannahfanfics]

Catching Crabs (And Feelings)

Word Count: 2750

Romance, Fluff, Getting Together

Summary: Ochako and Katsuki go hunting for crabs on the beach the first night of their class' summer vacation. Turns out that they've already caught something else...

“Wow!” Ochako breathed in wonder as she pushed herself onto her tiptoes and leaned over the white metal railing of the balcony, brown eyes gleaming as she gazed at the beach in the near distance. The full moon and the bright stars reflected on the indigo waves, making it seem like diamonds flickered in the depths; the frothing seafoam glowed in the soft white light, as did the dunes of pure white sand making up the slithering shoreline. The crashing of the water rang in Ochako’s ear, even several stories up on the condominium balcony. She closed her eyes and cupped her hands around her ears, savoring the gentle to and fro of the tide. 

Class 3-A had decided to pool their funds (and milk their parents’ pockets a little) to scrounge up enough money to rent a beachside condominium for a week of their summer vacation. Of course, considering their hero-in-training status, several of the U.A. teachers had to chaperone, but they were giving the students their relative privacy and were staying in the flat next door. They’d spent most of the day driving in, shopping for beach essentials, and enjoying a meal at one of the local seafood restaurants. Many of them were buzzing to hit the beach, but the night had closed in before they’d had the chance. 

Some of her classmates were debating going down to the pool as a substitute, but Ochako craved the squish of the toes in her sand and the deafening crash of the waves. She flitted back inside, leaving the glass sliding door open to allow the salt-kissed breeze to flow into the condo’s living room. She carefully picked her way across the collection of pallets and air mattresses strewn around the furniture (after all, they had to do their best to fit twenty-one students in a condo made for ten) to the collection of beach toys, inflatables, towels, and other odds and ends crammed in the entranceway. 

“Hey, does anyone wanna go hunt crabs with me?” she declared while plucking up a bucket and a shovel. She spun on her feet, beaming excitedly and holding up the plastic tools. “It’ll be fun!” 

“I dunno, Ochako, it’s kinda dark!” Tooru fretted from where she sat cross-legged on her air mattress, squirming. “I think I’ll just go to the pool… I want to show off my new swimsuit, anyway!” she gushed with a sidelong glance at Mashirao, who was leaning against the kitchen bar chatting happily with Koji and Rikido, who had all donned their swim trunks in preparation for hitting the pool.

Ochako puffed out her cheeks, annoyed that Tooru was abandoning her to flirt, and looked at the rest of the girls. 

“Mina and I are prepping everyone’s beach bags for tomorrow!” Momo reported from the couch, where she and the pink-haired girl were folding up towels and putting them in cloth bags, along with sunscreen, plastic bags for their cellphones, snack bars, and other necessities. 

“I’m going swimming too, ribbit,” Tsuyu croaked as she walked out from changing, sporting her cute frog-patterned two-piece. 

“Denki and I are going across the street to the surf store to check out the tee-shirts,” Kyoka reported, lounging on a bar stool while sucking on a popsicle. “Sorry, Ochako,” she added when the girl’s face obviously revealed how crestfallen she was.

All of her friends were otherwise busy, and the boys were all getting fired up about a pool volleyball tournament, so it seemed she wouldn’t be hunting crabs tonight. 

“Oh…” she murmured as her arms fell, the bucket swinging limply by her side. Each clack of the attached shovel against it made her heart clench sadly. “That’s okay!” she smiled, trying to cheer herself up. “We can always go another night. We’ll be here for a week, after all!” She knew that was true, but it didn’t really abate the disappointment much. 

As she was miserably setting the bucket down, someone hit her on the top of the head with a plastic shovel. 

“Oi, Cheeks,” Katsuki huffed when she looked up at him in shock. “What’s the deal, are none of us guys good enough for you? Didn’t bother to ask any of us.” 

“O-oh!” she exclaimed, heat flushing into her face as embarrassment flooded through her body. “I-I’m sorry, you all seemed so pumped up about playing volleyball, so I thought all of you were going to the pool…” she explained meekly, straightening up and rubbing the back of her neck. 

When she laughed nervously, Katsuki narrowed his eyes slightly. He then just nudged her with his bucket, pushing her towards the door. 

“Come on. Let’s go, Cheeks,” he grunted, snatching up two flashlights and dumping them in his bucket while he continued to bump her down the hallway. Ochako could only sputter in confusion as he corralled her to the elevator. She clutched her bucket to her chest, staring down at the fancy tiled floor as her cheeks burned bright red. Her mind whirled in confusion, and she glanced at Katsuki out of her peripheral vision to see him standing there with his hands in his cargo shorts pockets and the bucket resting on his wrist, watching the numbers count down to the garage floor. 

I’m so confused! I know that Katsuki would much rather be playing volleyball with all the guys, so… why is he so adamant to take me crab-hunting? she thought wildly. The pleasant ding of the elevator provided no answer.

She meekly followed him out, walking in silence across the condo’s parking garage and through the gates that led to the pool. A few young teens frolicked in the water, splashing each other and laughing as they played Marco Polo. Several college-aged students lounged in the hot tub, drinking from red plastic cups.

They marched across the concrete poolside to a set of wooden stairs that had a gate leading to the beach. Katsuki lifted the latch and allowed her to pass, then followed behind her. She felt her hair stand on edge as he loomed behind her, prompting her to scamper across the sand-strewn wooden boardwalk down into the sand. 

“Here, Cheeks,” he said, joining her in the sand and handing her a flashlight.

She flipped it on, and the circle of white light puddled over the dunes, making the particles glow beautifully. Her flip-flops squeaked with each step as she sunk down into the thick sand, occasionally crunching on dried-up seaweed and discarded driftwood. She cast the beam of the flashlight around, and the light refracted on the crashing waves in the near distance. 

As they came to the shoreline, the thick white sand gave way to water-saturated, grainy brown. Ochako could see tiny white crabs scuttling in the surf. Their little pinchers waved to and fro as they dodged the swirling white seafoam; a few of them didn’t scamper fast enough, and their wee round forms were swallowed up by the frothing water and carried back into the sea. Occasionally, they’d come trundling back, disgruntledly snapping their claws as water dripped from their carapaces. 

Ochako skipped up to the edge of the water with a delighted squeal, sending a few of the crabs skittering away. 

“Look, Katsuki! They’re so cute!” 

“You can hardly see the little bastards,” he sniffed in disdain, leaning down with squinting eyes to inspect the crabs zig-zagging around the wet sand and leaving itty-bitty tracks in their wake. “Why do you wanna catch ‘em?” 

“Because it’s fun!” she answered, detaching her shovel from her bucket. She set the bucket down away from the surf so it wouldn’t be carried away before stalking along the shoreline, creeping up on the oblivious crabs. She snuck up on one plucking at some wet green seaweed; with a shout, she dove down with the shovel and scooped it up. She grabbed it by a little leg, holding it up triumphantly to Katsuki.

“My parents are of poor means, but every year we still made a trip to the beach. After the sun went down, we would all hunt crabs together!” she explained, ignoring the way the crab squirmed in her fingers and snapped irritatedly. 

She smiled nostalgically as she walked up to her bucket and gently dropped the crab in. It circled the bottom, tapping at the plastic sides, before relaxing to sit quietly and snap its little claws. 

“None of us get to see our parents often these days… I guess being at the beach made me realize how long it’s been since I’ve seen them, so I really wanted to go.” 

There was a period of silence, during which Ochako realized what she said. She snapped her hand to her reddening cheek, looking at him in embarrassment.

“So-sorry! That was weird, wasn’t it?” 

“No,” he huffed, tilting his head as he looked away at the rolling waves. “I figured it was something like that, which is why I dragged your ass out here,” he admitted in a small voice, walking up next to her to drop her bucket in the sand. Through the beams of the flashlights, she could just barely catch his face turning pink as she gaped at him in shock. “Wh-what’s that face for, Cheeks?” he snapped, grabbing her chin and squishing her chubby cheeks. 

“Nuh-nuting!” she squeaked through his grip. “I’m jusht shuprished…” 

He released her face with a small grunt. Ochako rubbed it, the nerves still tingling from where he’d teasingly grabbed her.

“That’s really nice of you… I know you’d rather be with the guys.” 

“Bah,” he huffed and turned around, shining his flashlight around to see the crabs scrambling about. “If I’d gone, I’d’ve spent the whole night thinkin’ about how sad you looked…”

Ochako inhaled quietly, the bubbly feeling of gratitude and awe rising up in her body. He did it because he didn’t want me to be sad… 

Smiling sweetly, she skipped up beside him. 

“You’re really sweet, you know?” 

“D-don’t call me that!” he cried, jerking away from her and hiding his face with a hand. Though his fingers covered most of his face, she could still see his bright red blush peeking out through the gaps. “Let’s just hunt these stupid crabs for a while and then go back, okay?” He stiffly dove down to scoop up some unsuspecting crabs, then cursed as he tried to pick it up and it pinched his finger. “Ow! You little fucker!” he said, dropping it into the sand and sucking angrily on his cut fingertip.

Ochako laughed, retrieving the crab and holding it up by its back leg. 

“Like this,” she said. He glared at the wriggling crab, flipping it off while he continued to suck on his injured finger.

Ochako laughed and carried the crab to her bucket, where it acquainted itself with the current occupant. As she turned back, a cold breeze rolled across the beach, making her shiver. Now that she looked at it, the water was a murky black, and the crashing of the waves seemed to echo unnaturally around them. 

“What, Cheeks?” Katsuki asked, squatting down and unsuccessfully grabbing at another crab. He scowled as it jumped away from its fingers and sought safety in the frothing water.

She walked up to him, looking around with scrunched eyebrows. 

“Well, it’s just… It’s kinda spooky.” 

“Wait, you gettin’ cold feet?” he sneered as he straightened up. He put the flashlight under his chin, casting strange shadows over his face. “Oooooooooo, I’m a ghost,” he warbled while wagging the fingers of his other hand.

Ochako snickered and pushed him in the shoulder. 

“Don’t make fun of me! It’s a little creepy out here!” she complained, stomping her feet in the wet sand. She wrapped her arms around herself as the breeze blew, shuddering with cold and a little bit of apprehension. 

“Jeez. You’re such a girl,” he smiled with a roll of his eyes. She squeaked as he abruptly grabbed her hand, holding it tight. “Creepy sea ghosts or whatever, I won’t let anything happen to you. I am gonna be number one someday,” he grinned haughtily.

Ochako was too busy turning to mush to comment on his overwhelming self-confidence. 

He’s… he’s holding my hand… She certainly did feel safer. His hand was so warm and surprisingly comforting despite the hard calluses on his palms from his explosion Quirk. His skin was soft, probably from the nitroglycerin. A shy smile found its way onto her lips, making her sheepishly curl in on herself.

“Thanks…” 

“All right. Now let’s hunt some crabs,” Katsuki smirked, his red eyes glinting with clear affection. 

True to his word, he held her hand, which made it a little awkward when she stooped down to pluck up the crabs. Still, it was fun, too; she’d tugged on him playfully, making him stumble, and he’d respond by yanking her around randomly while they were trawling the wet sand for more critters. Soon the crab hunt was abandoned and they were just playing tug-of-war with each other, spinning around and kicking up sand. They stumbled into the surf, the water splashing around their calves. They stood there in the water, panting slightly with their cheeks shining in exertion, staring into each other’s eyes as the moon bathed them in its beautiful white glow. 

“Thanks for coming out with me tonight, Katsuki. It means a lot,” she said after a minute. “You’re a good friend.” 

He narrowed his eyes slightly, making her wonder if perhaps she’d said something odd. Then, he inhaled sharply, fear flashing in his eyes like he was about to tumble into the depths. 

“Do you really think I came out here with you because I wanna be a good friend?” His voice was soft and deadly serious, a combination that made goosebumps sweep over her arms and legs. She stared at him in confusion, heart thumping in her chest, as he stepped a little closer to her. “You know how I said I would think about how sad you looked all night?” He was still holding her hand, so he brought it up to his face; he held it between them for a moment, internally debating, before gently turning her hand so he could press a kiss to the smooth skin of her palm. “I can’t stand the sad look on your face, Ochako, because I’m stupidly in love with you. Dufus,” he spoke gently against her skin. 

She pressed her lips into a thin line as a thousand feelings welled up in her at once. Her mouth continually opened and closed as her face tried to process the rapid succession of emotions she was trying to process, and what the hell she was supposed to say to that. 

“I can’t believe you just confessed to me and insulted me in the same sentence,” she managed finally, her tone flat.

Katsuki just snorted, his mouth still pressed to her hand. 

“Is it really that much of a surprise?” 

“No,” she laughed, his calm demeanor and snark allowing her to finally recover from the shock. She smiled warmly, eyes gleaming as he continued to peer at her over the tops of their linked hands. His red eyes glinted like rubies, making her marvel for the first time how beautiful they really were. “I have to admit, it’s surprisingly effective, too,” she said cheekily, biting down on the tip of her tongue as she raised her eyebrows suggestively at him. 

“Oh? Look at you, trying to flirt,” he chuckled, finally pulling his lips away from her hand to smirk at her. “Cute.” He used his free hand to swipe a finger down the bridge of her nose, smirk widening. “As much as I would like to stare at your round chubby cheeks all night, it’s cold as hell out here.” Now that he mentioned it, the temperature had dropped considerably as the sea breeze began to roll in. “Whadaya say we set the crabs free and get goin’, huh?” 

They tossed their collection of crabs into the waves, where they sunk to the sandy bottom and went about their crabby business. Hand-in-hand, they walked slowly back up towards the condominium, Katsuki swinging their arms in between them. Ochako had already been excited about their summer beach getaway, but now she was very curious as to what the rest of the week would hold. She knew one thing for sure—her new boyfriend was going to make sure that she would be as happy as she could be! 

[ronbrown900000]

Navigating the Hidden Gems: Port Aransas Real Estate Market Unveiled

In the realm of coastal paradises, Port Aransas stands out as a shimmering jewel along the Gulf of Mexico. Known for its pristine beaches, vibrant community, and charming atmosphere, this Texan coastal town is not just a vacation destination; it's also a promising real estate market. Whether you're seeking a permanent residence, a vacation home, or an investment opportunity, Port Aransas offers a diverse array of properties to suit every taste and budget.

A Coastal Haven: Port Aransas, affectionately referred to as "Port A" by locals, boasts a unique blend of natural beauty and small-town charm. With miles of sandy shores, clear blue waters, and an abundance of recreational activities, it's no wonder that it's a sought-after destination for beach enthusiasts, anglers, and nature lovers alike. The town's laid-back vibe and welcoming community make it an ideal place to call home or to escape to for a relaxing getaway.

Real Estate Landscape: The real estate market in Port Aransas is as diverse as its natural landscape. From cozy beachfront cottages to luxurious waterfront estates and everything in between, there's something for everyone here. Whether you prefer the convenience of a condominium, the privacy of a single-family home, or the potential for rental income with a vacation property, Port Aransas offers a range of options to suit various lifestyles and preferences.

Investment Potential: Beyond its allure as a vacation destination, Port Aransas also presents promising investment opportunities. The town's popularity continues to grow, attracting not only tourists but also investors seeking to capitalize on the area's appeal. Vacation rentals, in particular, are in high demand, offering the potential for lucrative returns on investment. With proper management and marketing, owning a vacation rental property in Port Aransas can provide a steady stream of income while allowing owners to enjoy their own slice of paradise whenever they please.

Market Trends: Like any real estate market, Port Aransas experiences fluctuations influenced by factors such as seasonality, economic conditions, and external events. However, despite occasional fluctuations, the overall trend in Port Aransas real estate has been one of growth and resilience. The town's strong appeal, coupled with its limited supply of waterfront properties, helps maintain property values and sustain demand even during uncertain times.

Navigating the Market: For those considering investing in Port Aransas real estate, navigating the market effectively is key to success. Working with a knowledgeable local real estate agent who understands the nuances of the area can provide invaluable insights and guidance. Whether you're buying, selling, or renting, a trusted agent can help you navigate the process with confidence, ensuring that you make informed decisions that align with your goals and priorities.

Conclusion: Port Aransas is more than just a picturesque coastal town; it's a vibrant community with a thriving real estate market. Whether you're drawn to its natural beauty, its recreational opportunities, or its investment potential, port aransas real estate offers something truly special for everyone. By understanding the unique characteristics of the local market and enlisting the support of a skilled real estate professional, you can unlock the door to your own piece of paradise in Port Aransas.

[truecrimetime]

The Disappearance of Maura Murray

Maura Murray was a 21-year-old nursing student, completing her junior year at the University of Massachusetts Amherst at the time of her disappearance. On Monday, February 9, after midnight, Murray used her computer to search MapQuest for directions to the Berkshires and Burlington, Vermont. That same day, the first reported contact that Murray had with anyone was with her boyfriend, at 1:00pm. She emailed him: "I love you more stud. I got your messages, but honestly, I didn't feel like talking too much of anyone, I promise to call today though. love you, Maura." She also made a phone call inquiring about renting a condominium at the same Bartlett, New Hampshire, condo association that her family had vacationed with in the past. Telephone records indicate that the call lasted about three minutes. The owner did not rent the condo to Murray. Murray called a fellow nursing student for reasons unknown, at 1:13pm.

On February 9, at 1:24pm, Murray emailed a work supervisor of the nursing school faculty stating that she would be out of town for a week due to a death in her family. However, according to her family, they did not have a death in the family at that time. At 2:05 pm, Murray called a number which provides recorded information about booking hotels in Stowe, Vermont and the call lasted about five minutes. At 2:18 pm, she telephoned her boyfriend and left a voice message promising him they would talk later. This call ended after only one minute.

In her car, Murray had packed clothing, toiletries, and college textbooks. When her room was later searched, campus police discovered that most of her belongings had been packed in boxes and the art had been removed from the walls. It's not clear whether Murray packed them that day, but police at the time said she had packed between Sunday night and Monday morning.

 On top of the boxes was a printed email to Murray's boyfriend indicating that their was trouble in their relationship. Around 3:30 pm, she drove off the campus in her black 1996 Saturn sedan. Classes at the university had been canceled that day due to a snowstorm.

At 3:40pm, Murray withdrew $280 from an ATM and closed-circuit footage showed that she was alone. Murray then purchased about $40 of alcoholic beverages from a nearby liquor store. At some point in the day, she also picked up accident-report forms from the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles.

Murray left Amherst between 4 and 5pm, presumably along interstate 91 north.  She called to check her voicemail at 4:37 pm, the last recorded use of her cell phone. To date there has been no indication that she informed anyone of her destination, or any evidence that she had even chosen one.

After 7:00pm, a Woodsville, New Hampshire resident heard a loud thump outside her house. Through her window, she saw a car up against the snowbank along Route 112, also known as Wild Ammonoosuc Road. The car pointed west on the eastbound side of the road. The woman reported the car accident to the Grafton County Sherriff's Department at 7:27pm. According to the 911 call log, the woman had claimed to see a man smoking a cigarette inside the car but she later set the record straight and said that she had not seen a man smoking a cigarette but rather what appeared to be a red light glowing from inside the car, potentially from a cell phone.

 A passing motorist, a school bus driver who lived nearby, stopped at the scene. They claimed to have seen the car, as well as a young woman walking around the vehicle. The motorist noticed that the woman was not bleeding or visibly injured, but appeared to be cold ad shivering. he had offered to call for help but she asked him not to call the police, assuring him that she had already called AAA, but AAA has no record of any such call. The motorist continued home and called the police, knowing that there was no cellular reception in the area. His call was received by the Sheriff's Department at 7:43 pm. He was not able to see Murray's car when he made the call but he did notice several cars pass the road before police arrived to the scene. Another local resident driving home from work claimed to have passed the scene around 7:37pm, and saw a police SUV parked face to face with Murray's car. She pulled over briefly but did not see anyone inside or outside of the car, then deciding to continue home. However, this witness's statement contradicts the official police log, which has Haverhill police arriving nine minutes later. When the police arrived at the scene, at 7:46pm, the woman driver had disappeared. Both inside and outside the car, an officer discovered what appeared to be red wine stains. Inside the car there was an empty beer bottle, a damaged box of Franzia wine, AAA card issued to Murray, blank accident report forms, compact discs, gloves, makeup, diamond jewelry, Murray's favorite stuffed animal, driving directions to Burlington, Vermont, and Not Without Peril, a book about climbing in the White Mountains. Missing items included Murray's credit and debit cards, and cell phone, none of which have been found since her disappearance. Police were able to trace the vehicle to Murray, and initially treated her as a missing person, with the belief that she may have voluntarily disappeared. This speculation was based on her apparent travel preparations and no obvious evidence of foul play.  In 2009, Murray's case was given to the New Hampshire cold case division, and authorities are handling it as a "suspicious" missing persons case.

Sometime between 8:00 and 8:30pm, a contractor returning home from Franconia, saw a young woman, on foot, moving quickly eastbound on Route 112 about 4 to 5 miles east of where Murray's vehicle was discovered. He also noticed that the woman was wearing jeans, a dark coat, and a light-colored hood. He did not report this to police immediately due to his own confusion regarding the dates, barely discovering three months later that he had spotted this person on the same night that Murray had disappeared.

The responding officer and the bus driver drove around the area searching for Murray. Just before 8:00 pm, EMS and a fire truck arrived to clear the scene. By 8:49 pm, the car had been towed to a local garage, and at about 9:30 pm, the responding officer left. A rag believed to have been part of Murray's emergency roadside kit was discovered stuffed into the Saturn's muffler pipe. Authorities would refer to Murray as simply "missing" at 12 pm the next day, almost 24 hours after the last confirmed sighting of her.

At 12:36 pm the following day, February 10, a "Be on the Lookout" report for Murray was issued. She was reported as wearing a dark coat, jeans, and a black backpack. A voicemail was left on Fred Murray's home answering machine at 3:20 pm stating that her car had been found abandoned. He was working out of state and did not receive this call. At 5:00 pm, Murray's older sister contacted her father to make him aware of the situation. He then contacted the Haverhill Police Department and was told that, if Murray was not reported safe by the following morning, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department would start a search. At 5:17 pm, Murray was first referred to as "missing" by the Haverhill police.

On February 11, Murray's father arrived before dawn in Haverhill. At 8:00 am, New Hampshire Fish and Game, the Murrays, and others began to search. A police dog tracked the scent from one of Murray's gloves 100 yards east from where the vehicle had been discovered, but lost the scent. This suggested to police she'd left the area in another car. At 5:00 pm, Murray's boyfriend and his parents arrived in Haverhill. He was interrogated in private, and then was joined by his parents for questioning. At 7:00 pm, the police said they believed Murray came to the area either to run away or attempt suicide but her family believed that this was unlikely.

Murray's boyfriend had turned off his cell phone during his flight to Haverhill. At some point, he had received a voicemail that he believed to be the sound of Murray sobbing. The call was traced to a calling card issued to the American Red Cross.

On February 12, Murray's father and her boyfriend held an evening press conference in Bethlehem, New Hampshire, and the next day the first press coverage was published. At 3:05 pm, the police reported Murray might be headed to the Kancamagus Highway area, and she was "listed as endangered and possibly suicidal". The police report also stated Murray was intoxicated at the crash site, although the bus driver had said she did not appear impaired. The Haverhill police chief said that, "Our concern is that she's upset or suicidal."

A week after Murray's disappearance, her father and boyfriend were interviewed by CNN's American Morning.  Murray's family expanded their search into Vermont, dismayed that authorities there hadn't been informed of her disappearance.

Although missing person cases are normally handled by local and state police, the FBI joined the investigation ten days after she disappeared. The FBI interviewed family from Massachusetts and the Haverhill police chief announced that the search was now nationwide. Ten days after her disappearance, New Hampshire Fish and Game conducted a second ground and air search, using a helicopter with a thermal imaging camera, cadaver dogs, and tracking dogs. Murray's older sister discovered a ripped white pair of women's underwear lying in the snow on a secluded trail near French Pond Road on February 26, but DNA tests found that the underwear didn't belong to Murray.

The police returned the items found in Murray's car to her family, at the end of February. On March 2, the family checked out of their motel, exhausted from the search. Fred Murray returned nearly every weekend to continue searching. In April, Haverhill Police informed him of complaints of trespassing on private property. 

The March 2004 disappearance of Brianna Maitland in Montgomery, Vermont, 66 miles away from Murray's last sighting in Woodsville, drew comparisons from media and law enforcement due to the similarities in disappearances. However, state police have stated there are no links between the two cases.

In April and again in June, New Hampshire and Vermont police dismissed any connection between Murray's case and Maitland's. In a press release, they stated they believed that "Maura was headed for an unknown destination and may have accepted a ride in order to continue to that location," adding that they had discovered no evidence that a crime had been committed. They dismissed the possibility that a serial killer was involved.

On July 1, the police retrieved the items found in Murray's vehicle from her family for forensic analysis. On July 13, a one-mile radius search was performed by nearly 100 searchers, including state troopers, rescue personnel, and volunteers. This was the fourth search around the crash area and the first search performed without snow on the ground. Authorities were most interested in locating the black backpack Murray had in her possession but not found in her car. Police stated the search discovered "nothing conclusive".

In late 2004, a man allegedly gave Murray's father a rusty, stained knife that belonged to the man's brother, who had a criminal past and lived less than a mile from where the car was discovered. His brother and his brother's girlfriend were said to have acted strangely after the disappearance, and the man's brother claimed he believed the knife had been used to kill Murray. Several days after the knife was given to Murray's father, the man's brother allegedly scrapped his Volvo.  Family members of the man who turned in the knife claimed he had made up the story in order to obtain reward money in the investigation, and that he had a history of drug use.

In 2005, Fred Murray petitioned New Hampshire Governor, Craig Benson for assistance in the search and appeared on The Montel Williams Show in November of 2004 to publicize the case. On February 9, 2005, the first anniversary of Murray's disappearance, a service was held where the car was found, and her father met briefly with New Hampshire Governor, John Lynch.

In late 2005, Fred Murray filed suit against several law enforcement agencies, with the aim of seeing files on the case. On November 1, 2005, a user named "Tom Davies" logged into a message board called "Not Without Peril", which was dedicated to discussion of Murray's disappearance, and claimed to have seen a black backpack behind a restroom at Pemigewasset Overlook, around 30 miles east of Woodsville on Route 112. Murray had owned a black backpack. Senior Assistant Attorney General Jeffery Strelzin stated that law enforcement "was aware of the backpack," but did not disclose whether it had been taken for forensic testing.

The New Hampshire League of Investigators, ten retired police officers and detectives, and the Molly Bish Foundation started working on the case in 2006. Tom Shamshak, a former police chief and a member of the Licensed Private Detectives Association of Massachusetts, said, "It appears...that this is something beyond a mere missing persons case. Something ominous could have happened here." The Arkansas group Let's Bring Them Home offered a $75,000 reward in 2007 for information that could solve her disappearance.

In October 2006, volunteers led a two-day search within a few miles of where Murray's car was found.  In the closet of an A-frame house approximately 1 mile from the crash site, cadaver dogs allegedly went "bonkers", possibly identifying the presence of human remains. The house had formerly been the residence of the man implicated by his brother, who had given Fred Murray the rusty knife in 2004.  A sample of carpet from the home was sent to the New Hampshire State Police, but the results were never released to the public. In July 2008, volunteers led another two-day search through wooded areas in Haverhill. The group consisted of dog teams and licensed private investigators.

Murray's case was one of many cited by proponents of a statewide cold case unit for New Hampshire in 2009. Her case was subsequently added to the newly established cold case unit later that year.  In 2010, Fred Murray publicly criticized the police investigation for treating the disappearance as a missing persons case and not a criminal matter, and called on the FBI to join the investigation. Jeffery Strelzin said in February 2009 that the investigation was still active: "We don't know if Maura is a victim, but the state is treating it as a potential homicide. It may be a missing-persons case, but it's being handled as a criminal investigation."

In 2014, on the tenth anniversary of Murray's disappearance, Strelzin stated that "We haven't had any credible sightings of Maura since the night she disappeared." In an article published in the New York Daily News on the tenth anniversary of his daughter's disappearance, it was reported that Fred Murray believed she was dead and had been abducted the night of her disappearance.

On February 9, 2017, the thirteenth anniversary of Murray's disappearance, Strelzin wrote in an email to The Boston Globe: "It's still an open case with periods of activity and at times it goes dormant. There are no new updates to share at this time."

In February 2019, the fifteenth anniversary of Murray's disappearance, Fred Murray reiterated his belief that his daughter was dead, as well as his suspicions about the nearby house that cadaver dogs responded to, stating, "That's my daughter, I do believe." In early April, excavation was done within the basement of the house. Fred Murray had previously wanted to search the home, but the owners did not cooperate. Following sale of the property, its new owners allowed several searches of the property since February. The excavation conducted in early April found "absolutely nothing, other than what appears to be a piece of pottery or old piping."

In early 2021, the tree at the site where Murray was last seen—which had been marked with a blue ribbon as a memorial—was cut down by the property owner. Shortly thereafter, a request from Murray's family to have a New Hampshire historical marker placed at the site, which had been submitted in late 2020, was turned down by the New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources. 

On September 14, 2021, New Hampshire State Police announced that bone fragments had been found on Loon, Mountain in Lincoln, New Hampshire, approximately 25 miles east of the site of Murray's crash. Murray had been to the mountain before and had knowledge of the area, according to her sister. The bone fragments were described as "pretty small," and it was expected to take at least two months to determine if they were the remains of Murray or not. In November, it was announced that the remains did not belong to Murray.

In January 2022, FBI issued a national alert in Murray's case and created a Violent Criminal Apprehension Profile, allowing multiple law enforcement agencies to share information regarding her case. In July 2022, law enforcement in New Hampshire initiated a search in the towns of Landaff and Easton.

It's important to note that before Murray had disappeared, she had showed some rather irregular behavior. In November 2003, three months before her disappearance, Murray admitted to using a stolen credit card to order food from several restaurants, including one in Hadley, Massachusetts. The charge was continued in December, and dismissed after three months' of good behavior.

On the evening of February 5, 2004, while she was on duty at her campus-security job, Murray spoke on the phone with her older sister, Kathleen. They discussed Kathleen's relationship problems with her fiancé. Around 10:30 p.m., while still on her shift, Murray reportedly broke down in tears. When her supervisor arrived at her desk, Murray was "just completely zoned out. No reaction at all. She was unresponsive." The supervisor escorted Murray back to her dorm room around 1:20 am. When asked what was wrong, Murray said two words: "My sister." The contents of this call remained unknown until October 2017, when Kathleen publicly explained the conversation: Kathleen, a recovering alcoholic, had been discharged from a rehabilitation clinic that evening, and on the way home, her fiancé took her to a liquor store, which caused an emotional breakdown.

On Saturday, February 7, Murray's father Fred arrived in Amherst. He told investigators he and Murray went car-shopping that afternoon, and later went to dinner with a friend of his daughter. Murray dropped her father off at his motel room and, borrowed his Toyota Corolla, and returned to campus to attend a dorm party. She arrived at 10:30 pm. At 2:30 am on Sunday, February 8, she left the party. At 3:30 am, en route to her father's motel, she struck a guardrail on Route 9 in Hadley, causing nearly $10,000 worth of damage to her father's car. The responding officer wrote an accident report, but there is no documentation of field sobriety tests being conducted. Murray was driven to her father's motel and stayed in his room the rest of the morning. At 4:49 am, there was a cell phone call placed to her boyfriend from Fred's phone. The participants and content of the phone call are not known.

Later Sunday morning, Fred Murray had learned that the damage done to his vehicle would be covered by his auto insurance. He rented a car, dropped Murray off at the university, and departed for Connecticut. At 11:30 that night, Fred called his daughter to remind her to obtain accident forms from the Registry of Motor Vehicles. They agreed to talk again Monday night to discuss the forms and fill out the insurance claim via phone.

Maura Murray has never been found.

[silverjetsystm]

“You need a vacation,” she whispered in his ear.

PROMPTS FOR WORKAHOLIC CHARACTERS WHO PUSH THEMSELVES TOO HARD | Closed

The City never slept and allegedly neither did one Mr. Grant. For the past twenty minutes, he had been somewhere between disassociation and dreams in front of his laptop on the kitchen table. 'Resting his eyes,' he would have claimed. Autosave had kicked in, preserving the progress he had made on a budget.

Work hadn't always this difficult. He had used to get by with little sleep and endless cups of coffee. He used to have staff. Used to have money. Others may have been worried about feeling useful but Grant was not one of those people. Everyone had purpose. His reputation, eccentric as it was, and name brought attention as always. He didn't want Spector to continue his Midnight escapades, even if he had been ripping off the best kind of people.

Cordelia breathed in his ear, strong arms wrapping around his broad shoulders. "You need a vacation."

Grant tilted his head from side to side, chin slowly orbiting down in acquiescence to gravity and her words. Chuckled, shifting his weight to face her while he spoke. "So do you. Don't think I haven't noticed. The building and the other job have been hectic as of late."

He knows the score. The double duty of world and street level practically her entire adult life. Lockley would argue about semantics of what her title was. Manager? Supervisor? Landlord had such a negative connotation. She had saved her neighbors from gentrification. If it hadn't been the Russians, it would've been real estate interests wanting to slice apart and wreck the buildings for high dollar sign condominiums.

Perhaps Spector isn't the only one of the system who throws out distractions. Blue light blocking glasses are pushed up towards his forehead as he rubs sleep out of his eyes. "Where would you like to go? Check from the latest film should hit the account on Friday. Points take care of the rest. By this time next week, we can be somewhere tropical. Or escape to somewhere with more of a fall feel. I hear Maine is gorgeous this time of year." Hands lowered, the glasses fall on the bridge of his nose.

"Wherever it is, I want to spend it with you." He laughed, pushing the glasses up with a knuckle. "Even if we don't leave the apartment or Mission for a week straight, in various stages of undress."

[mariacallous]

It’s a phenomenon from New York to Dallas to Fresno and Los Angeles, one that seemed inevitable to some from the moment millions of Californians became the first Americans ordered to work from home as a way to fight the spread of COVID-19.

The pandemic is not yet over despite the public being fed up with it. COVID’s viral variants still dog the world as their third winter of plaguing humans begins to wane. Millions of white-collar workers who got a taste of setting their own hours and creating their own work environments, though, still resist going back to the office more than once or twice a week. As a result, hundreds of millions of square feet of office buildings are vacant now in California alone.

The empty offices made it obvious from the pandemic’s first onslaught that apartment conversions would become a major part of the solution to California’s housing shortage, if not its dominant answer. Now that’s becoming reality, the only inexplicable thing about it being the fact it has taken three full years to morph from obvious concept to major reality.

This is how real the conversions of office buildings have become: The website rentcafe.com reports that more than 4,130 apartments and condominiums will be created through conversions of office space this year in Los Angeles alone. Another 1,000-plus new units are planned this year in Fresno, with more than 500 more coming in San Francisco, 450 in Sacramento and about 200 in Oakland.

Even cities that have never gotten into this game are now active in conversions: 372 converted units are due to open in Alameda this year, 250 in San Clemente and 250 in the San Pedro section of Los Angeles, not counted in the city’s announced total. Altogether, at least 10,000 new units will open for residential use in former office space before the end of this year.

None of these conversions will be very controversial, as they take up no new ground space, do not alter existing neighborhood views and profiles and therefore don’t provoke the environmental lawsuits that hold up so many California building projects, including a major annex to the state Capitol.

For sure, many more units will follow, especially when this year’s already-permitted crop begins drawing significant rents and purchase prices. That is a virtual certainty, as the new units vary from street-level apartments with significant exterior noise to ocean-view penthouses.

The number of units underway debunks naysayers who claimed when the idea first arose just after Gov. Gavin Newsom issued the nation’s first stay-at-home orders in early 2020 that conversions would be more difficult to get permitted and built than new construction. That’s been untrue, especially since the state passed a law last fall making such permits virtually automatic when applied for.

Objections that office floor plans are completely different from residential ones have been quickly overcome, as necessary plumbing and electrical changes, plus moving drywall barriers around within existing indoor spaces, proved less complex than some expected.

What’s more, the conversions are already becoming fiscal godsends for beleaguered local governments with property taxes that were beginning to fall as office building vacancy rates stayed up. So long as office rental revenues dropped, so too could assessed valuations that control the amounts of property tax money coming to local schools, sewer and water districts and other local government agencies.

When the converted units are sold, though they become subject to Proposition 13’s 1% tax on the most recent purchase price of any property. While commercial property tax rates usually remain relatively stable for decades, residential taxes can rise rapidly when units change hands.

At the same time, the conversions are starting to rescue real estate investment trusts, the office rental income of which was dwindling, as were the dividends they pay investors. That’s all happening as onetime office space finds new, productive use.

The bottom line: Office conversions, first recommended by this column in April 2020, are now the wave of the future in California and elsewhere, and they’re a boon to everyone from first-time home-buyers to renters to property owners and local governments.

[usbeaches]

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