#we got rid of cable tv a few years ago so i just watch the next day on cw.com

[literallybyronic]

is it completely insane to get hulu liveTV just to watch the last season of spn live, i had to wait till 1 am after seeing a spoiler tonight and i was wigging out over it like i haven’t done in forever

[elistariel]

I'm bored off my ass, so here's what going on in my life as of Sunday, September 27, 2020 at 11:44 pm.

- Still working from "home." (Grandparents' house, but close enough 🤷🏻‍♀️).

- work finally picked back up, I had been working one to two days (3-6 hours) a week due to cancellations and whatever else. I managed to get 20 hours this week.

- Herman, my cat has been less than helpful. Nothing like being tethered to your laptop by your headset and your cat decides to start clawing the furniture and you cannot reach him. I'm pretty sure they call monitors that still have to listen to us are getting a great kick of me yelling at my cat between phone calls. "Stop licking the floor you weirdo!" must be a favorite by now. I'm still waiting for him to loudly MEOW right into the microphone as I'm doing a survey.

- one of my great aunts (in her 90s) passed away. She had been declining for a while for a while. Not to be Debbie Downer, but her husband and one of her sisters don't seem far behind. (Maybe a few years at best 🤷🏻‍♀️). It's weird, in a a way, to see people you saw as the grown-ups, those who knew how to handle everything and knew what was what - get OLD. It puts a certain perspective on where you and those closest to you are in life. One day, everyone you looked up to, everyone you looked to for advice, will be gone. (Not literally, there will technically be experts the same age and younger, but hopefully you get my meaning there).

- We had been cleaning out my great grandma's house. (She's still around, just old, nearly blind, dementia and in facility.) Still have a metric fuckton to go through. So. Many. Photos and cards and clothes and pens and buttons and porn and scarves and coat hangers and obituaries and notes in phone books from 1997...

- No, you didn't need to do the double take on that list. I said porn. Nothing like finding your great grandpa's VHS porn stash. I loved how he had his porn in the living room TV cabinet, but had the box of home movies (birthdays, beach trips and Christmas under the bed.) My Pa was a WWII vet who died in 2005.

- Been trying to finally organize Christmas photos from at least 1995 on up into albums. I have earlier, but with the amount of photos I have and the types of photo albums I have the 1995 ones were just a good place to start.

- Wasn't exactly sure what year some of the Christmas photos were taken, so I figured out some tricks to use when trying to date photos. Just so we are clear, this is for actual paper photos. I mean I guess this could work for digital photos too, but with this I was working with the actual paper photos like from the 35mm film that we used to use way back in the day. Also I have a large extended family.

1.) Babies. My older cousins had their babies between 1996 and 2003. I was looking to see which of my younger cousins were in the photos. One baby? 1996 or 1997. Two babies? 1998, 1999 or 2000, etc. 2.) Outfits / Pick one person, and pull out all of the photos of that one person in that particular outfit. Then look at a photo where they are in a group and pick another person, repeat. Soon you'll have a stack from that particular day. 3.) Presents can help date a photo. You aren't going to get the 1999 Christmas Barbie in 1997.

- Been binge watching Haven on Tubi TV. I watched it on Syfy when it originally came on back in 2010, but I didn't really keep up with it back then and I wasn't sure what was going on with the show entirely and I'm pretty sure I never finished it. While I moved into the house I'm in now in 2008, 2010 feels so long ago that it feels like I should have watched the show when I was in my last place I lived in (2006-2008).

- that last bit where it feels like it should have been longer ago than it was, is probably due to some like inadvertent furniture arranging. I've gotten newer couches over the years and I've also kind of moved from my living room to my like office area over the years. Basically, I sort of inherited a large iMac desktop and the only place it would go is in my living room or my old TV was. Then I got rid of cable and just started using my Roku. Because I had the Roku I was using it in my office, as that's where my flat screen TV was now. In a way (slightly), it's almost like I "moved", so it just feels different now than back in 2010? Does that make a lick of sense, I know what I mean, but I'm not sure how to word it exactly. Lol

- I honestly, can barely remember what it was like having to choose what I watch based on what's currently on TV, at this very moment. Bless streaming TV.

- This is random, but I don't even remember what month I started binge watching Time Trax to keep me entertained during the pandemic, but it feels so, SO long ago.

- A cousin had her third son this past Thursday. Had no clue she was expecting. Neither did anyone else at my great aunt's funeral. FYI she and baby did not come. We found out from her aunt. Many, many people did not come, which of course is understandable.

- Shit. I still need to write someone a thank you card for the birthday gift they actually took time to make me. My birthday was in August. 🤦🏻‍♀️

- Been cutting up really old gel pens and using them to make inkblot art. When I say old, I mean like from 2001 to 2003ish. Using a embroidery? needle to get the ink out and smear on the paper. if you're wondering why I've kept gel pens, from nearly 20 years that don't work ... Because hoarder. Actually I've just had them so long and that I've just gotten used to them being around and normally don't even think about them.

- Can masks still be a thing after the pandemic? I don't mean a required thing, but like we should be able to wear masks in public if we have the flu, just don't feel like doing makeup or whatever. I want to be able to voluntarily wear a mask and not get flack for it. Make it like a fashion accessory. Just so we're clear, this is coming from a person who wears glasses and can't see shit with her mask on.

-claimed (won for 75¢) a couch slipcover on Geek. I have absolutely no idea how to properly put it on the couch and my grandparents house, but my cat has claimed The wanted fabric as a bed. So, I'm calling it a win. I also claimed a pet bed through the limited quantity deal, I didn't think my cat would pay any attention to it, but he actually loves it. Epic win. Oh, and I b also claimed a cat tree. I did have to leave the little cat house off of the top of it as it was WAAAAAY too small for my cat.

[anxiousstark]

Sparks fly up | p r o l o g u e

MASTERLIST 

Pairing: Billy Hargrove x Reader.

Summary:  003. She had always been replaced by the same person, Eleven. First, it was Papa who replaced her, then Jim Hopper. Maybe she was replaced because Eleven was younger and had to learn to manage her powers. Or maybe it was because 003 didn’t remember what she could do. Billy Hargrove seems to be the only person who wouldn’t replace her.

Disclaimer: I do not condone Billy’s actions or behaviour on the show nor do I intend to romanticize abuse.

Warning: Swearing, mentions of abuse.

A/N: Starts in season 2 and of course, there will be some scenes from Stranger Things. Flashbacks are in italic. BILLY WAS 17 IN SEASON 2 BUT HE IS GOING TO BE 18 HERE.

All Rights Reserved. The author, me, don’t allow any type of copy or adaption.

"Where has she gone?" Jim Hopper let the smoke out through his mouth and nose, not giving a fuck if the inside of the trailer was filled with that horrible smell of cigarettes. "I don't understand. Is it so difficult for her to listen and stay here?" He took off his hat by throwing it toward the nearest couch. "You have never done this! You have always followed the rules for your own safety!"

But I am not Eleven and Eleven is not me.

"She has something to look for." The girl got up from the couch grabbing Hopper's cap and moving it to the table, knowing the next day he would forget where it was left in his rage. "She has Mike and the others. I don't." Hopper's face showed softness for a couple of seconds. 

“Three, listen since Eleven came here we haven’t had time to t-”. He stopped talking when he heard a few footsteps, knowing that Eleven had returned home. Before either of them could do anything, the door opened, showing an Eleven who tried not to show that she was a little scared of Hopper's reaction.

El didn’t look at either of them and began to walk quickly to her room. That caused Hopper to yell, pissed off at how she had ignored him and disobeyed the rules he had imposed for the safety of the three.

“You put us in danger.” Hopper walked around the room, while Eleven followed him with her gaze and Three simply watched from the couch. “You realize that, right?”

Three could see how El's eyes filled with tears and she knew what was going to happen. She knew that facial expression herself. The little girl was going to explode. “You promised...” She pointed her finger at Hopper. “I go! And I never leave! Nothing ever happens!”

“Yeah! Nothing ever happens and you two stay safe!” He screamed back while punching one of the furniture inside the room. Three swallowed, feeling nervous about the situation.

“You lie!”

“I don’t lie! I protect and I feed and I teach!” He continued screaming while walking out of the room after whining about El not following the simple rules you all had agreed to a long time ago. Three rose again from the couch when Hopper began throwing things away and getting rid of the objects Eleven used most. "And not TV for a week.”

She followed him with her gaze and both of them noticed that he couldn’t grab the TV. Three looked at Eleven, seeing her nose starting to bleed. 

“Alright, knock it off. Let go.” This time his voice was softer but El shook her head, not wanting to be separated from the only thing that made her feel close to Mike. Hopper began to extend Eleven's punishment time while she continued without letting him take the TV. "Well, congratulations." He walked to the back of the TV. "You just graduated from no TV for a month to no TV at all.”

“Hopper...” Three whispered. But it was too late when Hopper broke the cables that were attached to the TV. 

Eleven became restless and started to shout all over again “No.”

She turned around to look at him. “You are like Papa!” That made Three wince at the thought of that horrible shit of a man.

Hopper began to get even more upset, explaining to Eleven that if she wanted she could go back to the lab, then he called her a brat, throwing the dictionary softly for her to catch. But Eleven made it levitate with her powers and then threw it. Hopper was able to avoid the blow with his hands.

“Hey!” He started walking towards her. “What the hell is wrong with you?” Eleven used her powers to move the couch and hit Hopper. Then, she threw a shelve to the floor.

"Ok, that's enough." Three decided to intervene before things got worse, but the youngest and oldest kept screaming and throwing stuff. "I said it is enough!"

"Don't get into this, Three!" He shouted, pointing his finger and looking at her quickly.

"Then stop!" She shouted back. "El needs to relax and she won't relax until you stop screaming!"

"Oh, so now you're defending her?" You could see the pain on his face. But Hopper was wrong. She didn’t try to defend Eleven because she knew that what she had done was wrong, but she didn’t believe that the problems would be solved in this way.

"No! If you stop screaming maybe you will understand what I mean!" She stopped looking at Hopper to look at the young girl. "You have to calm down. I understand you want to see Mike but you know those bad men will come looking for us again."

"Shut up! No! No! No!" Eleven was still upset.

Three looked at Hopper and he looked back. He knew she was asking him to stop screaming and that they could have that conversation when things were calmer and maybe reach an agreement where they would both be satisfied.

Hopper felt irritated when Three acted as if she were an adult. She was only 18 years old and shouldn’t have to act that way. "You don't understand it because you're probably not in danger since the lab doesn't need you anymore!" He Shouted. "Without powers, you are nothing to them or to anyone!"

Eleven dropped some books and chairs that she was holding in the air with her powers. Her gaze was fixed on Hopper but upon hearing those words she couldn’t help but look at Three.

When Hopper let her stay with him, Three was already there. She knew more things than her and spoke better than her. But she never saw what powers Three had and knew that this was a sensitive issue for her.

"Good job, Hopper." She whispered while looking at the floor. She grabbed one of the jackets that had hung on the coat rack and left the house, sitting in a rocking chair that was on the porch.

Hopper felt a great pain in his chest when he had uttered those words and wanted to leave the house to talk to her and apologize. For some reason, Eleven was more pissed off than before. "You hurt her!" She entered her room closing the door with her powers and while he kept shouting, Eleven cried loudly.

Three hugged herself due to the cold of the night and thought again and again about the words that Hopper had let out through his mouth.

"Why, Papa?" The younger Three asked with tears in her eyes looking at who she called Papa. And even though the other children also called him that, everyone knew that he had a special love for her or perhaps greater interest in her powers.

But now she wasn’t needed.

She had been exploited to show and use her powers so many times and in large amounts of energy that one day she fainted, waking up a week later and without powers.

She was useless for Papa but they wouldn't let her go so easily. They had tied her to a bed, putting something in her mouth and on her head, giving her electric shocks to the point where she forgot any clue she had about what her powers might be.

Papa's explanation to Jim Hopper about what they had done to her had been that her powers were too dangerous not to be supervised under the laboratory. And there would be a chance that if she ever remembered what her powers were, she could have them back. So they made her forget like how they made her forget who her true parents were.

So, Three was locked in a room for years without any visit from Papa because a younger girl with exceptional skills had been brought to the lab. Eleven. The girl who owned Papa's heart, which caused Three to feel jealous until she knew how evil Papa was.

And when she lost her powers, she began to rebel against them. Papa saw no reason why she should remain with them since she had no powers. Therefore, Three was again subjected to several electric shocks and then sent with abusive families until Jim Hopper decided to investigate the laboratory after the disappearance of Will Byers and decided to take care of her, welcoming her. Later, he welcomed Eleven.

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[tinywriter2018]

Chapter Twelve 

Feng Teng sat across from Xiao Nai in his office.  He felt his maker’s glare at him grow with each passing second.  

“He called her Shanshan.”  

“Well-” 

“He knew her name progeny.”  He cut him off before he could defend himself.  

“How am I supposed to know how he got it.  Contrary to what you believe sometimes, I do not go out of my way to talk to your enemies.”  Xiao Nai spoke, trying to keep his voice calm.  

“He knew somehow!”  Feng Teng wasn’t calm, yet he wasn’t yelling.  Something Xiao Nai knew from past times, was not a good combination.  

“The only time I can think about a data leak was when we were hacked by the hunters…”  Feng Teng looked up at him, both knowing the answer the question they asked.  

“He would be the only one dumb enough to use vampire hunters to do his bidding.”  Feng Teng stood up, his eyes moving to the girls’ apartment across the way.  He could make out shadows moving in the light.

“Or smart enough.  Who would suspect a vampire of using vampire hunters to get the data he needed.”  Xiao Nai grabbed his glass of blood, downing the rest of it.  He tasted the bitter brandy he had put in as well.  The fire going down his throat. “Brilliant.  I would have thought of that.”  

“Well I always did like the smart ones.”  Feng Teng mumbled, finishing his blood.  Yu Banshan came running in, a list of names that haven’t reported back.  

“I checked with all the vampires in each district for you Feng Teng.  All the sheriffs have been notified and all accounted for.  Three of our vampires are missing,  Zhan Tianxia, Diemo Weixing, and Youming Guilao.”  

“Guilao, hes a massive son of a bitch if I remember correctly.  Taking down him wouldn’t have been easy.” 

“Is anyone else missing?”  

“Hao Mei hasn’t responded.”  A knowing look passed between the sheriff and his second.  

“Yu Banshan, Lock Qiu Younghou in, make sure someone has eyes on him at all times.  He’ll be a main target.” 

“What about Hao Mei?”

“The human? Why is he special?”  Feng Teng leaned against Xiao Nai’s desk looking at his progeny’s worried expression.  

“Hao Mei is a friend.  He’s been nothing but loyal.  Hao Mei is more a friend to vampire kind then any human we know.”  Yu Banshan spoke up.  

“He’s someone both Yu banshan and I have kept very close to us.  The most trustworthy person we can have.  If we need eyes in the daylight, hes the guy.”  

“More importantly-”  Feng Teng held up his hand stopping the love speech that Yu Banshan was about to give.  

“I understand.  But you can’t go after him yourself.  Neither of you can.” 

“We can’t just leave Hao Mei with him.”  

“If he is even alive.”  Feng Teng interjected. 

“Hao Mei is alive.”  Xiao Nai stood in between the two of them, placing a hand on Yu Banshan’s chest, trying to keep him calm.  He pushed him to back off, nodding for him to cool down.  Balling up his hands, he took a few steps back, his anger getting the best of him.  

“Fine...I know a guy who can help find him.  We just need an article of his clothes.”  Feng Teng stood up, pulling out his phone.  

“None of us have been invited in yet.”  

“I thought you said he trusted you?”  Feng Teng looked at them puzzled.  

“We never had time to visit his new place.”  Xiao Nai reasoned.  

“Weiwei and Shanshan have.  They are human, so they can-” 

“No.”  Feng Teng cut him off speaking over Xiao Nai’s “Out of the question” remark.  

“I’ll escort them myself.  They are in the same apartment building, 3 floors down.  I’ll even block out that part of the building so no one can leave or enter until they grab the clothes.  Put them right back in their apartment safe and sound.”  Yu Banshan reasoned again.  Both of them stayed silent, a conversation between them, that only a progeny and his maker can have.  “Boss.”  Yu Banshan said softer.  “It’s Hao mei...They would want to help, no matter what you decide.”  

“Don’t let them out of your sight.”  With a nod, Yu Banshan quickly left, heading next door to the apartments.  Feng Teng stood up straight, putting his phone back in his pocket.  

“The contact will meet Yu Banshan at apartment.  Make sure the girls don’t leave until he’s left the building.  I trust this man to get the job done, but that’s about how far I trust him.”  He started to walk out the office, an exhausted Xiao Nai quickly followed him.  

“Where are you going?”  Feng Teng pushed the first floor button, the doors closing in front of him.  

Someplace other then here.”  He stated, leaving Xiao Nai frustrated and alone in his office.  Getting his maker to do anything against his will, was not something he was cable of doing.  That he learned a long time ago.  

♣♥♠♦

Weiwei came out of Hao Mei’s bedroom holding a sweater he liked to wear, while Shanshan sat on the couch, holding his jacket.  She tried to keep from crying, only to feel hopeless.  Weiwei wrapped an arm around her, wiping away her own tears.  Yu Banshan stood outside of the doorway, pacing back and forth.  

“Did you find anything yet?”  Shanshan walked over, holding his jacket and sweater in her arms.  

“He must have done laundry recently, these are the only things that seem unwashed.” 

“We just need-”  Before he finished his sentence, he paused, quickly catching the scent of someone else.  His eyes darting down the hall to the elevator.  Just as soon as it dinged, a vampire was in front of him.  He had a good foot on him, fangs out and ready for an attack.  Weiwei ran next to Shanshan pulling her back, while Yu Banshan brandished his own fangs.  

“Is that Shaoxiang?”  Weiwei asked, looking at the new stranger.  

“No.  I don’t know who that is.”  The Vampire turned his gaze on the girl’s smelling the air, his eyes glancing at them a little too hard before turning to the other vampire, he stood up straight clicking in his teeth.  

“Yu Banshan?”  

“Yes?”  He answered, not getting rid of his weapon.  

“Feng Teng asked me to come.  You need help finding someone?”  Shanshan quickly ran over holding the sweater and jacket out the door.  

“He’s a human, about her height maybe a little taller-”  She pointed to Weiwei.  “He’s-”  The vampire held up his hand, stopping her.  

“I just need his scent.”  She pushed both articles of clothing closer to him.  Taking the sweater, he bowed towards them before leaving without another word.  

“Who was that?”  Weiwei asked, leaving Hao Mei’s place.  

“I believe that would be K.O.  The best tracker in Shanghai.”  Yu banshan escorted them to the elevator, hoping to get them back inside their apartment sooner rather than later.  “I wonder what Feng Teng has on him to get him to do this kind of work.”  

“Feng Teng isn’t like that.”  Shanshan spoke up almost instinctively.  Yu Banshan gave a sort chuckle, closing the elevator doors.  

“Whatever you want to believe.  But I know he will kill me, if you aren’t back in your apartment soon.”  Weiwei pinched Shanshan’s elbow, giving her a glare.  

“Snap out of your daydream.  Feng Teng is the King of Shanghai, the most deadly vampire in the city, how do you think he got there, kissing puppies?”  

“More like eating them.”  Yu Banshan mumbled, but both girls heard him.  

“He may be the most dangerous to you, but to me...he isn’t.”  Weiwei shook her head.  Her thoughts went to Hao Mei, hoping he will be safe with them soon.  

♣♥♠♦

Feng Teng gazed out at the harbor, the sea just beyond it.  A world out there, he’s been to, yet this was always his home.  

“I remember when you brought me here for the first time.”  Zhen Shaoxiang said from behind him.  He came to stand next to him, his gaze on the ships leaving and coming.  The night sky shined brightly, yet the knew dawn was fast approaching.  

“I also remember the last time I brought you here.”  He looked at his progeny, who started to sizzle with rage.  He turned on him, gripping his collar.  Feng Teng seemed unamused and unbothered.  

“The last time, you ripped off the head of the only woman I ever loved.”  With little strength, he tore his hands from his shirt, pushing him back.  

“She was a hunter, she was going to kill you-”  

“I was going to turn her!  She was the love of my life.”  He cut him off.  “You ruined that.  Put her head on a spike!”  

“We are vampires, we don’t have loves of our life.  We have the love of blood.”  He watched Zhen Shaoxaing smirk at him.  

“Is that what she is too you? In all my years of knowing you, working beside you, you never once treated blood like how you treat Shanshan.”  Quickly wrapping his hand around his throat, he squeezes tight enough to make him go off his feet.  

“What makes you think I won’t kill you now?” Shaoxiang pulls out his phone, a live video feed is coming through.  

“You see, one thing you always taught me was to have a way out.  Insurance.”  Feng Teng put him down, taking the phone from him.  It showed a snipper on a building, the gun aiming right towards a window.  The video zoomed in, showing Shanshan in her night gown.  She was sipping on wine, her phone in her hand. “I wonder who is calling…”  Shaoxiang taunted.  A few seconds after she put the phone to her ear, his phone began to ring.  

“You will die soon.”  Feng Teng pushed him away throwing his phone at him.  

“I’m not the dumb progeny you left abandoned and forgotten in the waters.”  Shaoxiang smiled watching his maker rush off.  He looked at the camera once more, Shanshan smiling into the phone before quickly looking up and running away from the window.  

♣♥♠♦

Weiwei was lying on the couch, while Shanshan was asleep on the chair, curled up hugging a pillow.  Neither of them felt safe in the rooms after Feng Teng had called telling her about the sniper.  All the window drapes were shut and they had the TV going so no one could hear them talk.  The front door opened, with both Feng Teng and Xiao Nai walking in.  Feng Teng went over to Shanshan, softly waking her up.  Weiwei stood up, going to Xiao Nai who took her to the kitchen, hiding behind a wall for visible privacy.  

“Is Hao mei found?”  Weiwei asked, but Xiao Nai shook his head.  

“Feng Teng thinks K.O. will find him soon.”  Weiwei wrapped her arms around his waist holding him tightly.  He kissed her forehead, hugging her back.  

“I was worried all day. Shanshan and I haven’t been able to go near any windows without getting scared.”  

“I came as soon as the sun went down.”  Leaning down he kissed her softly, breathing in her scent.  Xiao Nai wanted to get lost in her again and again, yet he knew he couldn’t.  “I can’t stay long.  During the day, Shaoxiang’s men struck the district 3 vampires, their coffins were set a blaze with them inside.”  

“I wish there was more I can do to help.”  He nudged her nose with his, smiling at her.  

“Being here is helping me.”  She smiled, leaning up she kissed him.  

“Just please come back to me.”  Weiwei whispered, tears prickling the back of her eyes.  “The only person who ever seems to come back is Shanshan.”  

“I will.”  Xiao Nai promises, kissing her.  He pushed her gently against the wall, her hands wrapped around his neck holding him there.  Their lips moving in sync with one another.  

Feng Teng was kneeling in front of Shanshan, ignoring his progeny’s time.  Sometimes he wished he couldn’t hear everything.  

“Feng Teng.”  Shanshan leaned closer to him in her chair.  He looked at her smile, wondering how something so sweet and innocent could ever love something so horrible and evil as him.  

“I won’t be away long.  Just king business I have.”  

“You know with me, you never have to act tough.”  Shanshan leaned in kissing him.  “I’m not going anywhere.”  Feng Teng kissed her moving his lips against hers, wishing to hold on to her longer.  But just when he wanted to he knew he had to stop.  Breaking the kiss he stood up, placing his hand under her chin.  

“I’ll be back.”  He whispered, his thumb tracing her bottom lip, before turning to walk in front of the wall, the two were currently pressed on.  “Xiao Nai, enough, let’s go.”  He staid sternly.  Weiwei blushed, placing her feet back on the ground, unwrapping themselves from his waist.  Xiao Nai, kissed her on the forehead, giving her a smile, before straightening his shirt.  He walked around the wall, not smiling at his maker.  They walked out the door, exiting to the elevator.  “You know I can hear right?”  Feng Teng asked, while Xiao Nai shook his head, a grin not leaving his face.  

“I got carried away.”  Feng Teng slapped him on the back of the head, the smile leaving his face. 

Weiwei came around the corner again, sliding under her blanket on the couch.  Shanshan came to sit next to her.  

“Sometimes I wish we never left the small apartment.”  Weiwei gripped her cousin’s hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.  

“Sometimes I do too.  Life seemed easier then.”  Shanshan leaned her head on her shoulder, both falling asleep to the TV. 

Masterlist

[on-cliffhanger-universe]

[MF] Later was better

Sorry for the length

This happened more than 20 years ago before my first wife and I were married. I was dating a girl from north Jersey and her and I were having a nice evening together at a hotel. She lived with her parents in a small house and i had two roommates so the only time we could see each other intimately was when she or I spent a few $$ and got a hotel room. Apparently she had decided to do something special that day and wore very sexy lingerie under her clothes for the evening events.

We got to the hotel and everything had started off well until she started talking about moving out west with her during her last year of grad school. She was obviously trying to get me to change my mind with sex but it wasn't happening. Found out later from a friend of hers that she was trying to get pregnant by me so my choices were limited.

A few months before that I had finished up my tour with the marines and when I got out I found a very good job doing what I liked plus i got paid really well for myself. I calmly removed her from on top of me and we had the argument right there that what she was asking from me wasn't going happen right now. Long story short we broke it off an hour after she had been sucking my cock and 10 minutes after she was doing a slow ride on me. Go figure.

Now here is the interesting part.

I packed my things, grabbed my pack, got on my cycle and was out of there. 10 minutes later I could tell I was going to not like the 2 1/2 hour ride home so I stopped at a rest stop and made a call or two to see who was still up that could give me a place to crash for the night.

A female friend of mine (call her Shelly - not actual name)from high school who I always chatted with was up so she was glad to have the company. I was about a half hour away so I was able to get there before 1am.

A few details about Shelly:

Body type was average but she was very well endowed in the breast size. I would say at least a DD or E cup so easily more than a handful. Medium sized butt but really what made her stand out from the rest of my friends was her eyes and smile. Shelly has the most wonderful smile that is both beautiful as well as seductive and her eyes are something any guy could fall for. Here is the rub. She is married.

For all that would call me a home wrecker remember it takes two.

I pulled up and knocked on the door and Shelly came to the door wearing a tshirt and pair of shorts. Nothing seductive just the norm. After our hello's she mentioned that she was just watching tv and asked if I was tired yet. Worked up from the my new ex plus a drive on the cycle and i was currently very wired so i said sure. We went to the family room and kicked out on the sofa and started to watch tv. Her husband had gone to sleep a few hours before so it was just her and I. Cant remember what was on the tv but i think it was an action movie or something. Cinemax commercials started up and she asked if I was thirsty and went into the kitchen to grab some drinks.

Now I dont know if she had thought about it but I noticed when she got up that she was not wearing a bra nor could I see any lines from the seams of her underwear. This woke me up for sure.

When Shelly got back in the room she asked if I could rub her shoulders a bit since she had a knot in her neck & shoulder she couldn't get rid of lately. I gladly obliged and had her sit on the floor in front of me while I did what I could. After a few minutes the next movie came on and I was one of those old soft porn series for late at night on cable tv. I was only out of the service for a few months so I really didn't know about such things but I noticed what it was about and saw the content rating and asked if she wanted the remote. She said she liked the series and if I didn't mind she wanted to keep watching.

Sure enough not even 10 minutes into the show there were some very racy scenes I was enjoying. I made some off hand comment about a great position that one of the females were in and she chuckled. She then said that if kept up what I was doing to her neck and shoulders she might be in that position very soon. I was a bit taken back by the comment and stopped the rubbing. She immediately said to please dont stop so I picked up the rub again but I could tell there was a bit of tension in the air that was not there before.

I knew that Shelly and her husband were going through a bad patch and I certainly didn't want to add to that so I kept myself in check till she was really the one to change things up. A few moments went by and she brought up the question of what happened to the girlfriend. I left out the intimate details but explained the gist of the night. She then asked me to stop the rub and she turned around to face me and asked if i wanted to talk about it. Honestly that was the last thing i wanted to talk about but i was not going to tell her what was on my mind at that very moment.

This is where it was really hard to hide the thoughts. As of now we had been watching a soft porn for almost 20 minutes, i was rubbing and touching her soft skin for a while now and i was just talking about my newly minted ex whom was just doing what was on the tv not more than a few hours before. To top it off she was now turned around and her chin was at my knees. What more could a guy ask for. Needless to say I was getting worked up again and I'm sure she was noticing the strain in my pants. Shelly got up slightly on her knees and completely turned around and when she did I could see she looked directly at my crotch. She then looked at me and asked if she did that or was it the movie.

Now here is me, a veteran marine who could command a platoon to push into an enemy stronghold knowing full well they had plans to kill us all yet I couldn't offer up one syllable for this question other than ummm... so much for combat training.

Shelly then placed her hands on each of my thighs and pushed her hands slowly north till she was literally just a bit of fabric away from the tip of my cock. I said what about??? As I looked up at the ceiling. She knew I meant her husband and her response was forget about that ass. She then proceeded to climb up onto my lap facing me. Moving in close she then kissed me with a passion I had very rarely seen or felt myself. We broke the kiss off and she then began kissing my neck moving up to my ear. When she got there she whispered take me but we need to be quiet.

It took no more prompting from me and just moments later my hands were exploring the rest of her body. Eventually I made my way down to her pussy and found she was thoroughly wet. She told me that she likes to watch the movies and then plays on her own since the husband doesn't provide. Taking que I told her to take my cock out and sit on it. She absolutely endeavoured to follow my instructions and once I was free she then moved her shorts aside and proceeded to slide down onto me.

From what I have been told I'm fairly well endowed so she had to slide down slowly. Even then she couldn't get all the way there immediately. Once she got to where she was comfortable she looked at me and I told her to fuck me slow. Honestly I was in heaven and after a few minutes of that she was able to move all the way up and down my cock. She was starting to pick up the pace so I took one hand and moved it to her nipple to begin rolling and kneading it while my other hand move to her throat to gently squeeze and hold.

She moved in to kiss me and after a moment or two there she whispered she was close. I then squeezed her throat and pulled her into me and whispered that she is not to stop till I say so. Again she said she is close so stared to squeeze the nipple that I had been gently playing with. That sent her over the edge and as she did I pulled her up to me and told her dont stop. Keep going and she was not to look away from me.

This was driving her wild yet she was keeping the sound in check. I honestly don't know how she did it but after a full minute of riding and cumming I finally let her come down. Once she had stopped and was done shaking I lifted her chin to me and told her to suck my cock dry, not a drop left. She then moved to my side and then leaned over me and started sucking my cock very well. She was laying on me at this point and I told her I want her on her knees so I can play while she continues. Moving into position she was now on her hands and knees head bobbing on my cock while I played with her nipples at will.

I could tell I was close but I wanted to extend things a bit so I reached into her shorts and split her with my fingers but then started to work her clit with my thumb and first finger. She was sucking for all she could but came up for air and said she was cumming soon. I told her she is to not stop until I say so. Her simple response was yes. She then went back to what she was told while I physically did everything I could to torture her clit. She moaned softly and started to slow her mouth so I took my free hand, placed it on her head to help her maintain the pace. Within moments she was bucking her hips and sucking my cock till I came deep in her throat. Once I had been sure she couldn't handle any more I let her rest.

She got up and walked to the kitchen for some water then came back over and kissed me. She then told me that next time tell me what I want as soon as I walk in the door.

This lasted for a little more than a year but then I met my future wife and that relationship was over. By the way, her husband and her are still together yet the last I heard they were staying in separate rooms now.

I have a few more of times with Shelly if you're interested

submitted by /u/LongrideBiker [link] [comments] from Gonewild Stories https://ift.tt/3pMuMj3

[purplesurveys]

1315

If you have a job, how long is your shift? It’s technically 8 hours but I always work through my lunch break and log in overtime hours a few times a week sooooo I never really get to follow it anyway.

What was the last thing you received in an envelope? I have not received anything in an envelope in a while...my packages usually come in layers upon layers of bubble wrap and protected further with cardboard boxes eheh.

Do you ever wear your hair in a pony tail? Yeah, I actually just tied it in one before starting this survey.

When was the last time you got a new phone? Nearly four years ago. I really wanna get a new one already, but I can wait till I finish my Christmas shopping before I can finally prioritize a phone.

Do you wear your watch on your left or right arm? I don’t usually wear watches; but when I do I wear it on my left wrist.

What was the last kind of pop you drank? I dunno, I don’t normally drink soda. My best guess would be Coke since the people around me typically don’t get Pepsi.

Do you think you’re single because you repel the opposite sex? Nah, it’s just my choice. And if I do turn out to repel guys, I honestly couldn’t care less; I swing whatever way, anyway.

What language did you take up in high school? I didn’t get to take up any language class in high school; and even my college curriculum didn’t include language electives :( Whenever I’ve wanted to take up a certain language I usually just download Duolingo hahaha; then a few months ago I also dabbled in enrolling in a legit class, which was for Korean lessons.

Why are you home? Because I socialized SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO agonizingly fucking much last Friday that I easily threw out all my plans to sit at a coffee shop and roam a mall by myself this weekend. Momma needs to recharge as fuck.

Do you like sunflowers? Sure! They’re not my ultimate favorite but I do love them, and they hold a special personal meaning to me too so there’s that.

Whose bedroom were you in last? Just mine.

Are you counting down for anything? Not actively at the moment.

Are you watching TV? What’s on? Not right now.

Have you ever been bitten by a mosquito? Yes, but I’ve been very fortunate in that my mosquito bites have never led to dengue. Seeing the blood sucked out of me right after I swat a mosquito away always makes me woozy though :((

Do you have a sweatshirt on right now? Nah, too warm for that.

Where is your ex? Fuck if I know; I stopped caring when the clock struck to 2021.

Have any pictures on your dresser mirror? I don’t have one of those but on my work desk I have a portrait of OT7 and an image flag of V that I still can’t believe I impulsively bought a few months ago lol.

Did you hang out with anyone today? What did you do? Just Cooper when I took him to the vet this morning. No further plans for me for the next few days plz.

Have you had any beer this week? Eugh, hate beer and only really ever have it when I’m drinking with a group and they all go for a bucket of beer; so no.

What channel did you last watch on tv? I don’t reall watch...channels anymore haha. We got rid of our cable subscription over a year ago. That said, I last used the TV for YouTube.

What was the last alcoholic beverage you consumed? I had red wine with my co-workers last Friday.

Currently waiting on something/someone? I’m waiting for myself to get started on working on that briefing document I’ve been planning to do for the last two weeks hahaha. I think today is finally the day I put my ass into it, which I’m not too happy about because weekend work.

Last time you painted your nails? Years ago; it’s not a part of my routine.

What was the last thing you watched on television? Run BTS if I remember correctly.

Is your shirt yellow? Nope, it’s red.

How old will you be in 12 months? I’ll be 24.

What did you do last night? I watched some YouTube, finally got started on my Christmas shopping for a few relatives :D :D and ordered in yangnyeom chicken and spicy tuna salad. All in all a well-spent evening where I just let myself unwind.

What woke you up this morning? The heat, which is always the worst way to be woken up at least in my opinion.

Do you sleep naked? No, because my mom doesn’t really understand the concept of knocking. Even if I lock my door I still have the feeling she would use a key to open it sooo I’d rather be safe.

What should you be doing right now? Technically I should get started on that dumb document I mentioned earlier just so I can finally get it over with but I'm still cherishing my quick weekend, so that’ll just have to wait a little bit more today.

Looking back, did you ever think you would be where you are now? A year ago I didn’t even expect to still be alive beyond like, April; so everything since then has been a pleasant, welcome surprise. I’ve said this before in surveys but I’m happy I stayed.

Does the person you have feelings for start with any of these letters: Whoops, no letters. But to make things easier I don’t have feelings for anyone at the moment.

Do you have make-up on? Nope.

Have you kissed anybody in the last 4 days? I have not.

Have you ever held hands with someone in a car? Sure.

The last person you kissed name started with a J or R? No, neither of these.

Are you taller than 5 foot 7 inches? Nah, I just barely make it to 5′2″ hahaha.

Would you rather be called honey or baby? Both is fine. I was called baby a lot before but I imagine I’d be fine with honey, too.

The person you have the most feelings for calls you right now, what do you do? Not into anyone so I’d be very surprised if someone called me haha.

Why aren’t you texting the last person you kissed? Because they aren’t in my life anymore and haven’t deserved to be.

Could you go the rest of your life without smoking a cigarette? I’ve already smoked a handful of times, so no. I don’t look for it, though. I’ll only ever do it socially.

Your last kiss meant nothing to you, right? It did at the time.

Where is your phone? It’s set on the bed, near me.

Will you kiss the last person you kissed again? Nope, don’t think I ever will again. 

What if you had a baby with the last person you kissed? Wouldn’t be biologically possible to begin with.

Where did you get the shirt you are wearing? I don’t even remember, it’s been a while since I got this...Feliz, maybe? in one of their cute stalls for clothes.

Do you think you’ll be married in 5 years time? Nah. But who knows? I’m definitely not closing the door on marriage.

Would you ever try being a vegetarian? Sure, emphasis on the word try. I can give it a shot but I have a feeling I’d ultimately fail. Filipinos love their meat lol. 

Did anyone call you babe yesterday? Nopes.

Did you ever slam a door on someone? It’s very possible I’ve done this, yeah.

Have you ever walked on the beach at night? Yes, I love being able to do that.

I bet you’re thinking about someone right now? Not really about someone, but I am mulling over a couple of things at the moment.

Are you in love with someone right now? Nah, none of that for me for now.

What have you watched so far today? Not a lot, actually. I spent the early morning playing a rhythm game on my phone then went straight to taking my dog to the vet. While dressing up though I did watch a few BTS clips; that’s the only content I’ve watched so far today.

What is the weather like right now? Ugh it’s so humid it’s gross. I might turn on the aircon after posting this.

Are you talking to anyone on AIM right now? Who? I never used AIM but I’m not talking to anyone. I did just finish a quick conversation with my sister on Messenger, which had been about the Jungkook image picket I asked her to order for me. It’s a gift for aunt who’s balls to the wall crazy about JK these days so I cannooOOOT wait to give it to her heehee.

What is your favorite card game? Eh, don’t really like card games.

What kind of pet do you have? Any certain breed? I have Kimi who’s an aspin; and Cooper the beagle.

What color shirt are you wearing right now? It’s red. Well more on the maroon side than anything, but yeah.

Do you wish someone was dead? That’s pretty harsh; no I don’t.

What’s your favorite ice cream? Cookies and cream or chocolate chip cookie dough. These flavors are the only two instances I’m completely fine with encountering chunks in my ice cream, because otherwise I hate when it’s mixed in with nuts or marshmallows or whatever.

Have you ever given a toll collector 75 cents in pennies? We don’t have pennies but no, I have never paid for tolls entirely in change. That would seem like such a headache for both of us.

Give me the link to your favorite Youtube video: This is definitely one of them; it was when Andrew of BuzzFeed went all the way to Japan to cook the famous Kichi Kichi omurice, under Chef Motokichi himself. I still go back to that video when I find myself clueless on what to watch on YouTube.

The last time you hurt yourself-how did it happen? I had an intense pins and needles attack when I woke up a week ago - and the thing was that I was too groggy I didn’t even notice it happening to my left leg, so when I got up to make coffee, my leg immediately buckled and I crashed hard on my knee. It turned into a nasty bruise at first but it ended up as a wound anyway; but fortunately it’s like 95% healed now.

What’s the name of dance you can actually dance to? I don’t dance dance but I do memorize the choreogaphy to a number of songs, mostly Beyoncé and BTS since I’ve seen dozens of their performances.

If you could have any pet you wanted, what would it be? I’m ok with two dogs.

Did you ever have an invisible friend? Yeah, I made up a short-lasting imaginary friend when I was 5.

How many emails were you sent today? I haven’t checked and I will not check. I’ll worry about that crap tomorrow.

Favorite sleeping position? Either side, with an arm and a leg clutching a pillow.

What are you drinking right now? Caramel coffee.

What’s your favorite alcoholic drink? Long Island Iced Tea.

How many hours of sleep do you get each night? It usually varies but it ranges between 4-8.

Are you a good morning person? Eh, it varies. It ultimately depends on my workload for the day haha; like if I’m swamped as early as 9 I am more likely to be cranky.

Have you ever been on a diet? No, never really needed to be.

What’s your favorite dessert? Cheesecake or macarons.

What was your favorite Christmas gift you got last year? The CM Punk shirt + Petals for Armor physical album + handwritten letter I received from Andi. The letter is still pinned up on my bulletin board and I have no intention of taking it down ever.

What have you thought up yet for this year’s list? Like a bucketlist? Maybe an out-of-town trip with my friends before the year ends, which I hope actually pushes through.

What’s the best activity you’ve done so far this summer? I didn’t do anything...summery...this past summer HAHA but work-wise, I loved being able to handle a campaign that involved BTS :D One for the books for damn sure.

[the-fiction-witch]

The Deputy and The Inventor

TV SHOW: GODLESS COUPLE: WHITEY WINN  X READER (INVENTOR) RATING: SMUTTY AF

WHITEY’S POV:

I wondered though La Belle as many Ladies wondered the streets most of them not paying any attention to me till I suddenly heard a few little screams and a huge clatter and I saw y/n with another contraption trying to go down the streets so I ran to her making her stop “what the Hell is that!” I ask her

“I call it the go-atron” she giggles hopping off this device

“what does it do?” I ask her

“it works like a train, it’s kinda like a train and a bike bad a baby” she explains

“does it work?” i ask her

“Mostly” she giggles “it cuts out sometimes, and it tends to drop red hot coals on the ground behind it, and it tends to overheat” she explained

“Y/n take it home, work on it and test it up in the hills not though town” I tell her

“Oh...your starting to sound like bill” she sighs “what happened to fun whitey” she giggles

“I don’t know, all I know if you cant ride that thing though town” I tell her so she sighs sticking her tongue out at me turning it back on and turning it around going back to her house 

“that girl’s gonna bring the whole town down someday” Sheriff McNue sighs

“well she tries to help” I shrug 

“your just saying that cause your sweet on her” he laughs

“I am Not!” I answer 

“Ohh Please whitey, you and the inventors daughter have been sweet on each other since you where kids” he laughs

“I just like hanging around with her, even when we where kids, she was like the only person around my age around here” I sigh and just as I finish there was a huge bang 

“Best go see what’s she done” he sighs so I grab my jacket rushing off to the hill to Y/n’s little house bangs and clatters coming from the back of the house so I go around and see her hitting and working with a huge machine 

“Y/n are you alright?” I ask her

“Ohh fine whitey, nothing to worry about just the generator playing up again” she explains as it blew again sending bits of metal everywhere and a small fire to start 

“It doesn't look alright” I laugh

“It’s fine it’s meant to be on fire” she smiles “thats how it works” she laughs putting all the little bits of metal back covering the thing completely “so..what did you want?” she asks

“not a lot sheriff went me up is all” I tell her

“ohh come on in then I’ll make you a cup of tea” she smiles rushing inside so I slowly followed her the house full to the brim with little inventions she or her father had worked on at some point she problem is she’s rather forgetful she’ll start something put it down and then completely forget what it even was so her house is a bit dangerous when her father was around he used to make sure she kept up with things and made sure she didn’t kill anyone or herself with these things but...she’s all alone now, her mother passed away giving birth to her little brother and her father died down in the mines her brother, I haven’t seen him in years he ran off to find work in the fields on some ranch out west, I guess I’m really all she has now, I’ve known y/n almost as long as I could remember she was only a few months younger then me her father used to drop her with me when they went down into the mines leaving us to sit outside playing together till they came back “Ohh be careful the pipe is hot” she says 

“which one?” I ask her

“Uhh most of them, I forget which one” she says as she pours tea so I carefully sat on a chair at the table and she sat across from me bringing the tea I took a sip at it tasted awful like hot wet mud so I quickly put it down leaning back on the chair “Oh no whitey don’t-” she begins as the chair fell backwards making me land on the floor “the back has a gear so it reclines, its broken though” she says

“its fine” I sigh in pain getting up and sitting again making sure to lean on the table when suddenly something across the room starting beeping very very loudly “WHAT IS THAT!” I ask her

“WHAT!” she yells

“WHAT’S MAKING THE NOISE!” I yell

“I DON’T KNOW IT JUST DOES IT AT 3PM EVERYDAY FOR A MINUET OR SO”  she yells

“WHAT!” I ask her just as it stopped “you really need to clean this place out go knows what you’ve got in here” I tell her

“look who’s bloody talking I’ve been to yours whitey i’m pretty sure you have a animal living in there” she laughs

“yeah me” I laugh “but seriously y/n do you even know half the stuff you have in here?” I ask her

“Not really-” she begins as the lights began to flicker “Oh not again” she sighed grabbing a broom and going outside “go On shoo, shoo you little theifs” she yells trying to shoo some raccoons away from her generator so I got up wondering around the house looking at all her little things the only clear space, from the door to the kitchen and table and from the kitchen and table to her bed everywhere else covered floor to ceiling in little inventions so I followed the cables on the floor two leading under her bed, what’s she hiding under there? I followed the cable with my hand it giving me a tiny shock 

“Oww” I complain before trying to follow the cable again

“Whitey what are you doing?” she asked 

“Ohh nothing” I laugh getting up “I should be uhh getting back” I tell her 

“Oh yes go on back to work then” she giggles so I give her a tight cuddly hug before going to the door “whitey?...where’s my kissy?” she giggles

“alright...” i laugh “come here” I sigh and she runs over jumping into my arms so I gave her lips one tiny sweet kiss and she happy kissed back she tried to kiss more but I pulled away “you said one you got one you greedy girl, now get off I got to get back to work, the sheriffs already starting to ask questions I can’t be to long” I tell her 

“fine” she sighs letting go so I gave her one more kiss before going back off into town...what? fine I’ll come clean, I am in love with her, we started dating only a few months ago but we agreed to keep it a secret from the rest of the town these ladies are already nosy in our business anyway dont need them knowing whats going on with us, well I say going on the most we do is kiss we haven't even done anything yet funny how I’ve known her so long and have seen her naked thousands of times over our lives, when our parents send us down for a bath by the river and I had to...Keep watch, well I watched that bit was right, not much of anything else, but we still haven't done anything 

TIMESKIP: Y/N POV:

I stood cooking up some dinner until there was a knock at the door “who is it?” I ask going over and looking though the spy hole 

“It’s me Y/n, let me in” whitey says clearly in pain so I opened the door and he looked rather hurt scratched in places and even bleeding

“find the animal in your house?” I ask and he nods “did you try to get rid off it?” I ask and he nods “did you lose?” I ask and he nods “do you need a bed for the night?” I ask 

he nods “my house belongs to the Bob cat now” he sighed

“come in” I laugh and he happily came in so I shut and locked the door “have you had dinner? or did the bob cat get your dinner too?” I laugh

“the he got it” he sighs so I giggle serving the now done dinner and giving him half 

“here, you can stay tonight, I’ll take the cat trap I made over tomorrow morning” I laugh eating some dinner “I’ll fix you up after dinner” i tell him tapping his hand and he smiled at me taking me hand tightly once we had finished up dinner I bandaged his little ingures up and giving him some pain killers and went sitting on my bed in my little nightie reading my book whitey slipped off his shirts sitting beside me in the bed and cuddling me closely “why are you so cuddly?” I laugh

“I dont know, maybe its you being beautiful, maybe its the pain killers” he laughs

“it’s the pain killers whitey” I laugh

“Ummm I love you” he smiles

“no you don’t its just the pain killers whitey, there making you all giggly” I laugh “what’s in theres anyway?” I ask grabbing the bottle “Cocaine, Heroin, sativa, Eww water plants” I read “you’ll be fine it will wear off in a hour” I tell him 

“Your very sexy when your being smart” he giggles 

“Oh am I?” I laugh “you’ve not told me that before” I laugh

“snuggle” he giggles holding me closer to him 

“aww you get so cuddly when your on these things, I might keep you on them” I laugh

“Ummm snuggly y/n” he smirks pulling me closer and I felt it 

“WHOA! Whitey!” I yell moving away from him

“what? what did I do?”he asked

“your-” I begin looking down

“Ohh...can I blame that on the pain killers?” he asked

“No” I laugh

“fuck!” he sighs “well...I uh...I don’t know what do to now” he sighs

“relax whitey, i get it your a guy hormones and stuff I get it” I giggle

“Okay....Y/n can I ask you something?” he asks

“course whitey” I smile

“what are the hidden inventions under your bed?” he smirked

“there arnt any under my bed” I giggle 

“really?” he smirked ducking under my bed “Whoa! what the hell are these?” he smirked

“nothing” I giggle

“come on tell me” he laughs 

“there sex toys” I explain

“you made a sex toy? does it work?” he asks

“yes” I giggle 

“but why did you make two?” he asks

“well” I giggle putting my book down and sitting on his lap shuffling down him so I sat over his thighs getting one of them and smirking at him undoing his pants

“Y/n, I’m not sure about this” he says a little scared

“it’s okay whitey, if you dont want to-” I begin

“No no it’s not that, I want to believe me, its just I know what your inventions are like for....going wrong” he explains 

“Hey!” i complain “trust me I use these everyday, they work” I giggle

“everyday?” he smirks “you dirty girl” he smirks as I give him a little kiss pulling his pants down far enough for his cock to jump free hitting him in the stomach I sat shocked for a moment surprised by his size

“Umm whitey, so thats what you’ve been hiding all these years” I giggle UN plugging the decided and setting it up on him he looked both excited and scared “Relax it’s not like it’s going to cut your dick off” I laugh

“It might” he laughs as I plug it in again and turn it on “Uhhhh FUCK ME! I take it back! I take it back this is so good” he moans his head hitting the pillow his hands gripping my bed sheet tightly his eyes rolling back in pleasure until his hand moved to turn it off “fuck...it feels so good, I’m sorry I doubted you” he smirks

“its fine whitey, you can keep using it if you want too” I giggle

“I will, but...where’s your’s?” he smirks so I grab the other one and hand it to him laying in the other side of the bed “Okay your gonna have to explain this to me” he asks

“its easy whitey, first pull that bit up” I tell him and he does “Now...just keep going forward till i tell you stop” I giggle and he looks very scared slowly doing as Ive asked him “Uhhh Whitey!” I Moan 

“should I stop?” he asks

“No keep going” I giggle “okay stop” I giggle “then put that down and clip the clips on the sides to the bed sheet” I explain and he does that so I pull him closer giving him a sweet kiss as we kiss his hand moved to the little switch on mine turning it on “UHHH WHITEY!” I moan

“Holy shit! it actually fucks you...” he says in suprise

“what did you think it would do?” I laugh

“i dont know” he laughs turning it off again making me groan in annoyance “how about...I’m in charge of your little machine, and you get mine” he smirks so I giggle moving my hand to his and 

“three, two one” we both giggle both of us turning them on at the same time 

“UHHH Y/N!” he screams

“Uhhh Whitey!” I scream

“Ummm Baby baby please stop it...its too good!”he moans and I just giggle shaking my head 

“Your just not used to it” I giggle betwen my breaths “have you not been giving him much attention whitey” i giggle

“Not lately” he smirks “haven’t had too...just imagine you is normally enough” he smirks

“me doing what?” I giggle

“pretty much this actually Y/n” he maons so I giggle moving his hand still ridgit on my machine moving his hand alittle down “OHhh theres another speed” he smirks quickly turning it on high

“UHHHHHH WHTIEY! UHH WHITEY PLEASE PLEASE!” I scream

“Ummm Y/n I’m close baby” He moans

“ohh are you” I giggle turning his up to high too

“UHHHHH Y/N Y/N Y/N UHH Y/N MY DARLING UHHH!” I screams as he came so I quickly turned it off taking it off him letting him pump himself trying to elongate his climax it made me giggle seeing my lose control like that only one world could decribe how he looks right now...Orgasmic, “come on baby why wont you cum” he smirks kissing me 

“I’m close whitey” I groan 

“Lets just see how close you are?” he smirks turning off my toy and pushing his fingers inside me and that was it I came squirting a little on my bed roughly pulling him to kiss me as I orgasmed till I began to fall from my high and he removed his fingers “you where close” he smirked laying beside me both of us sweaty and exhausted “you need to like pattern them y/n, make a lot of money out of them” he smirks 

“Maybe” I giggle putting the toys away and laying my head on his chest cuddling him closely “but for now, we can keep it our little secret” I giggle “our little play things” I smirk

“no need, you are my little play thing my darling” he smirks holding me close to him “when did you make them anyway?” he laughs

“well I made mine a year ago, been using it ever since, I started work on yours when we started dating only finished it yesterday” I laugh

“you hadn't even tested it yet! and you just put it on me like you knew it would work! I could have lost my dick y/n” he yells

“did you?” I giggle

“No” he sighs

“see so stop complaining” I laugh “you liked it didn't you?” I giggle

“Of course I did, can’t wait to really have you doing that to me” he smirks

“one day whitey, if your good” I giggle giving him a kiss “Night night” I smile snuggling on his chest

“Night” he smiles giving my head a kiss 

WHITEY’S POV:

y/n had been asleep for a while now, she was so peaceful laid on me i was kinda half asleep awake enough to think but asleep enough to not move till I heard gun shots from down in town so I carefully moved y/n’s arm from around me and her head off my chest laying my pillow there instead and she happily snuggled there like nothing had changed so I quickly got my pants on properly as more gun shots fired only putting one shirt on I dont have time for two grabbing my guns giving y/n a little kiss before rushing out down into the town as many men rode around firing and trying to grab ladies “where the hell have you been whitey?” the sheriff asked as he tried to fire missing completely 

“Long story” I tell him trying to shoot too not doing to well they where too fast I moved to stand in the road trying to shoot but I ran out of bullets “Ohh fuck” I sigh but suddenly y/n stood beside me in her nightie with a huge gun she had clearly messed with it firing like five shells a second taking them down and the others run off “what the hell is that?” I ask her

“super gun, takes shells direly from this wired set, if your holding the trigger it keeps firing” she explains 

“I love you” I laugh pulling her by her waist to kiss me she happily kissed back

“i love you too” she giggles before the gun began firing again making us pull away after a few little ties she made it shot “sorry” she said to everyone who she just gave a heart attack too in town

[chendersonfic]

Fall River Street

The yellow cab exhaled as it rolled to a slow stop in front of the quaint four-bedroom house nestled at the end of Fall River Street. The house reminded Addison of a mausoleum, untouched by the passing of time and preserving everything on the inside without any discernment. The golden red fall leaves swept along the front yard like a royal cape. This picture was exactly why local real estate agents would favor fall as the best time for their listings, the foliage added a type of natural magic that you simply couldn’t conjure up or recreate with photoshop.

He stepped out of the cab and closed the door behind him, gazing at the house with childish apprehension. His father was dead, and this was going to be a long week. He was here to help his mother prepare the house for sale. She didn’t need four bedrooms all to herself, and she had long forgotten her past dreams of having grandchildren that would run through the hallways and bring the house alive with their noisy laughter. She was ready to downgrade to a one-bedroom apartment close to him and planned on spending the rest of her time volunteering and knitting scarves for the homeless.

But first they had to tackle a lifetime worth of accumulated garbage. If hoarding was a woman, his mother was her cousin. Nowhere near as bad as ceiling-tall piles of useless trash, but prone to collecting tchotchkes, broken kitchenware, and sentimental rubbish. Now they had a week to sort through it all before the realtor would come back with a photographer and list the empty house for sale.

“There you are honey,” said the tiny silver-haired woman who came out to greet him on the stoop. His mother looked so small, much smaller than he remembered her. Then again, it had been years.

He walked up the stairs which still had a print of his boyish hands embedded in the concrete. 

“Hey ma,” he said, and gave her a long overdue hug, then followed her inside back into his past.

Everything was just as he remembered it, down to the creaky floorboards in the hallway and the janky seashell vintage living room lamp that would provide erratic light bursts in capricious intervals.

“I made you lunch,” his mother said, making her way into the kitchen. 

“I’m not that hungry,” he called back from the living room, still looking around at all the familiar yet long-forgotten details that painted the picture of his childhood.

“You have to eat,” she replied, walking back in with a tray of soup and sandwiches. If anyone really had to eat, it was her, but he decided to skip that conversation for now. This wasn't the time to stress her out about her food intake.

He grabbed the tray from her, and they ate in the living room, surrounded by silence. If there was one thing he appreciated, it was the fact that his mother knew better than to cry in front of him. He wasn’t good at handling people’s emotions anymore, he only had room enough for his own. 

“The house is in good shape,” Addison stated, taking a sip of the chicken soup. His mother nodded.

“You know, Tom Hadley comes by to help with it,” she replied casually. He felt the soup suddenly stuck in his throat. 

“He does?”

“Yes, he’s been a big help. He came by the other week and fixed the refrigerator. Are you boys still in touch?” Addison tried to swallow, but the lump remained. He shook his head no, not being able to utter a word. 

There was a time, so long ago it felt like another lifetime altogether, when it wouldn’t have crossed his mind to leave his town and move away. He had no grandeur plans of making it out, or the need to test the waters anywhere else. He would have been content staying right where he was, close to his best friend Tom.

“Oh, before I forget. You wouldn’t mind going to check on Mrs. Beckett next door, would you? I try to look in on her at least once a day, but I think seeing your face might be good for her.” When Addison appeared confused, she added. “She has dementia now, her memory fluctuates. I think it started with Mark’s suicide you know,” she added with sadness. “I think it just permanently broke her.” The boy’s face flashed in Addison’s memory with vivid cruelty. His green eyes, his brown curly hair, and the smile that seemed almost a permanent feature of his mouth.

“Mark Beckett killed himself?” He wanted to make sure he didn’t mishear her.

“Hung himself right there in the bedroom,” she said, shaking her head. “He was a good friend of yours, wasn’t he?” Good friend was a stretch, Addison thought to himself. Mark was universally beloved at Fall River High, and if he was ever in Addison’s vicinity, it was because he was good friends with Tom. Really if he thought about it, all of his friends were Tom’s friends. He had a natural knack for it, getting people to like him. Addison was the opposite. His nose had been mostly buried in books growing up, apart from the occasional hoop session with Tom, or riding his bike through the neighborhood. His friendship with Tom started out mostly due to convenience, as the boys lived down the street from each other. But it had quickly developed into a strong bond. 

“Can I sleep in the guest room?” He asked, finishing his soup.

“Sorry honey, it’s packed with stuff. You’ll have to sleep in your old bedroom until we clear it out tomorrow.” He nodded in defeat, and after cleaning the dishes, he slowly made his way upstairs, back to his childhood bedroom. It was a museum, with everything preserved just as he had left it. The blue bed sheets, the wooden desk with carved words and scribbled phrases, and the deflated basketball abandoned in the corner. 

He put down his bag and sat down on the small twin bed. He had spent countless hours in this room, and many of them had included Tom. But he left it all behind the second that he turned 18. He first kept afloat with a restaurant job while going to a community college in the evening. And now he made his living as a video editor, making just enough to be comfortable. His small apartment housed two plants as his only company. 

He got up and walked over to the desk and opened the drawer. It contained two old textbooks, four pens, a yo-yo, and an old notebook. He opened the notebook and flipped through the pages, until he found it. A list of names scribbled over and over again, like a mantra or a spell. The ink was dark, and it looked as if he had stabbed the pages with the pen that wrote it.

Steven Hades Michael Dornes Sean Trevley Mark Beckett

The list of names went on for a countless number of pages, in that same exact order. Until he got to the last page, where a new name appeared.

Steven Hades Michael Dornes Sean Trevley Mark Beckett Tom Hadley

He closed the notebook with force, then shut the drawer in a hurry. He would get rid of it tomorrow, burn it or throw it out with the rest of the garbage. Bury it forever, never to be found again. He turned off the light and tossed and turned on the small bed for the rest on the night. 

In the morning, feeling sleep-deprived and emotionally empty, he turned on the coffee pot, hoping the brown liquid would keep him awake enough to tackle the boxes he needed to sort through in the garage. It wasn’t an easy task, and he spent the next hours rummaging through countless cords and cables, old tv remotes, Christmas decorations, pictures, and even managed to find parts of his old bicycle. 

On his lunch break, he took a beer from the fridge and sat on the front porch, watching the street. He noticed a group of people walking down the sidewalk on the other side of the street. He spotted Tom’s distinct shuffle right away. He raised the beer to his lips and tried to remain calm. He wasn’t going to run back into the house like a coward. The group got closer, and he recognized Tom’s wife and his childhood friend, Jodie, walking next to him, along with her parents. In his arms there was a small toddler.

The group decided to stop right across from him—because God possessed a dark sense of humor—as Jodie bent down to tie her shoelace. That’s when Tom’s gaze drifted in his direction and froze. The two men made eye contact, and it wasn’t until Jodie pulled Tom by the hand a minute later, that he finally looked away and continued walking. 

Addison took a few shaky breaths. He tried to focus on something, anything, to take his mind off of what had happened. He looked at his small handprints in the pavement. His father wasn’t thrilled when he saw what Addison did to the brand-new stairs. In fact, if he remembered correctly, he caught a few belt lashes for the stunt. 

He brought his right hand and placed it over the handprint. “Nothing happened. Nothing happened. NOTHING HAPPENED!” He heard the chant in his ears and dropped the bottle of beer, letting it crash on the pavement. The yellow liquid slowly seeped into the cervices of his childhood fingers. He looked at the broken glass for a long moment, then slowly began to clean it.

The next day of cleaning was no better than the first. He finally got through the garage, then made his way into the office, while his mother still worked on the guest room. Later in the day they had lunch together, after which his mother asked him to go check in on Mrs. Beckett. 

He walked over to the house next door and knocked. There was no answer. He knocked again. Still nothing. Just as he was about to leave, the window curtain fluttered. He stopped in his tracks.

“Mrs. Beckett? It’s Addison, your neighbor,” he called out, hoping he hadn’t scared her. A moment later the door opened, and a small older woman in a silk vintage robe and hair rollers appeared, scrunching her eyes at him, as if she were trying to place his face.

“Remember me?” He asked.

“Well of course, of course my dear. Come on in,” she replied, smiling. He felt strange about accepting her invitation, still unsure if she really remembered him, but he decided to walk into the warm living room anyway. 

“Sit down, please. I’ll make us some tea,” she motioned towards the couch, and Addison listened obediently. A few minutes later she came back, a tray with tea rattling in her shaky hands. He quickly took it from her and put it down on the table. 

“Here, your favorite,” she said, handing him a small plate with toasted bread, butter, and honey. Addison stared for a moment, trying to remember if he ever ate that food combination before in his life, but he decided not to comment. 

“So, how are you?” She asked excitedly while adding sugar to her tea.

“I’m good Mrs. Beckett. I’m here helping my mom with the house. I’m sure she’s already told you that she’s selling it,” he replied, trying to make polite conversation. She chuckled.

“My silly boy. Always with the jokes. How is school going?” She asked, and Addison was starting to get the feeling that something was not quite right.

“Uhh, I graduated many years ago, Mrs. Beckett,” he replied, but she cut him off, slightly flustered.

“Will you stop calling me Mrs. Beckett? It’s not funny anymore.” Addison stared in confusion.

“Who…who do you think I am?” He asked, and she rolled her eyes.

“Well you’re my son, of course. You’re Mark,” she replied, smiling at him with fondness. “Eat up,” she said, watching the toast in his hand. Addison took a bite, unsure of how to proceed.

“I’m not Mark, Mrs. Beckett, I’m Addison. We went to the same high school. I lived in the house next door. Don’t you remember?” He asked, and something flickered in her eyes.

“Oh, don’t. No, please don’t. Don’t talk about him, Mark, you know it makes me sad,” she said, her voice quieter now. 

“Why does it make you sad?” He asked.

“What those boys did to him…it’s terrible Mark, truly awful,” she said.

“What those boys did to who, Mrs. Beckett?” He pressed on, already knowing the answer. 

“Addie, of course,” she replied, and his childhood nickname caused a sudden sharp pain in his chest.

“More tea?” She asked, smiling all of a sudden. 

“Who told you about that?”

“Who told me about what?”

“About what they did to…Addison,” he said, his name feeling clunky coming out of his own mouth. 

“I don’t know what you mean honey,” she replied confused, then brought the delicate china up to her lips and took a sip, forgetting she had said anything. He left shortly after, with Mrs. Beckett still thinking he was Mark. He didn’t have the heart to tell her twice.

He came back home and continued to work until it got dark. After dinner, he went to his bedroom and looked out the window, onto the back yard. Him and Tom would lay on that same grass and look for their constellations in the sky. They would spend hours, shoulder to shoulder, diligently making their way through the stars. They could always spot Addison’s large Pisces constellation with ease, but no matter how hard they tried, they could never find Antares—the star that marked the Scorpion’s heart.

On the fifth morning he found that the coffee machine which allowed him to get any work done while running on no sleep, broke. And despite the fact that his mother had every other unnecessary extra kitchen appliance, she did not have another coffee machine, so Addison walked over to the local breakfast spot in order to get one. He sat sipping on the hot coffee and waiting for the waffles his mom had requested, happy that her appetite seemed to be returning, when the door opened and Tom walked in, carrying his son. There was no time to hide, he saw Addison right away, and walked straight on over to him.

Tom hadn’t changed all that much, except for the beard and the few wrinkles that now surrounded his tired blue eyes. 

“Still pulling on those fingers eh?” He said by way of greeting after 17 years. Addison quickly untangled his hands, embarrassed by his nervous tick. The curly blonde child in Tom’s arms clung to him like a baby koala. 

“He’s got Jodie’s hair, but he has your eyes, nose, and lips,” Addison replied, studying the beautiful boy. Tom smiled.

“Jude,” he said, then to clear up Addison’s confusion added, “That’s his name. Jude.”

“Ah, the patron of lost causes,” Addison said. 

“Let’s just say he came to me at the right time,” Tom replied, and Addison finally met his gaze.

“He’s a beautiful child.”

“How long are you in town for?”

“Just until Sunday.” Tom nodded. 

“I’m sorry about you father,” he said, and now it was Addison’s turn to nod.

“Selling the house?”

“Yeah, my mom’s downsizing, and moving closer to me.”

“You on your own?” He asked, and both men felt the strangeness of the question.

“Yep, just me and my books and my work,” Addison replied.

“Sounds like a good life,” Tom replied. 

“I heard about Michael…Beckett.” He didn’t know what made him say it. Tom looked embarrassed. 

“Yeah,” was all he could come back with. “Dornes is doing 20 in prison for distributing drugs. And Trevley was hit by a drunk driver. Died on the spot,” he added.

“And Steven?” Addison asked, barely able to get the name through his mouth.

“He’s still around. Drinking his way to the grave,” he replied. Another name hung between them in the uncomfortable silence, but neither one of them said it.

“Here you go,” the waitress appeared and handed him the bag of food. 

“Thank you,” he replied, getting up to leave.

“Listen, why don’t you and I go out for a drink?” Tom suggested. Addison thought about it for a moment, then slowly shook his head.

“I have too much work to finish up at the house. Some other time,” he lied. He opened the door and walked out, but Tom followed him.

“Hey,” he called out and Addison stopped. “I’m sorry,” he said, “I was a coward.”

“Don’t,” Addison pleaded, but Tom continued.

“I should have stopped it. I don’t know why, I don’t know why I froze,” but Addison couldn’t listen anymore. He walked briskly, until the voice behind him faded. 

On his way back he tried to block out the swarming memories of his childhood best friend that were now viciously attacking his mind. He couldn’t allow himself to remember. Not now, not when he had a whole day of work still ahead of him. For the next eight hours he tirelessly threw out boxes of trash, then sorted through more boxes in the attic, until his hands were black from the dust and dirt. He was so tired that he felt like he would finally be able to get some sleep. Only two more days, and he would be out of here for good. But while he could control his thoughts and memories in the daytime, he couldn’t control his dreams. 

The grass felt cool underneath his body, making him break out in goosebumps. Tom was right next to him, staring at the sky yet again.

“Still can’t find it Addie,” he complained frustrated, as his constellation continued to evade him. He had just changed the brand of his deodorant, and Addison inhaled the pleasant citrus scent. The soft white cotton shirt that clung to Tom’s rapidly growing teenage body was illuminated by the moonlight. Addison turned towards him, laying on his side. Tom turned his head. He would usually make a stupid joke, but not that night. He studied the other boy’s face carefully, then slowly leaned in. The first kiss was as soft as a feather. But when their lips touched and the world didn’t end right then and there, Tom went in again, this time more forcefully. His mouth tasted like the orange popsicle he ate on their way home from school.

Addison woke up with a start, his shirt soaked in sweat. He never thought anything could be worse than the nightmares he’d had on and off for years. But he was wrong. This was far worse. This memory that he had so carefully locked away years ago, felt like hell on earth. 

He took off his drenched shirt and changed into a dry one. It was still dark outside, but he turned on the light and began to pack his room. He needed to finish everything as quicky as possible, before he’d end up like Michael Beckett, hanging from the ceiling, waiting for his poor mother to find him.

On the 6th day Addison and his mom finished cleaning the kitchen. All that was left was the living room. They met a couple buyers who picked up some of the furniture, although his mother had insisted on keeping the unreliable vintage lamp. They were eating lunch, when the house phone started ringing. It was another neighbor. There had been a tragedy out on the lake. 

“Tom Hadley? No, not possible,” he heard his mother say, and his heart felt still. Suddenly, he remembered it as clear as day. Waiting outside of the building for Tom, who was taking longer than usual. Deciding to walk in and meet him in the locker room, where he would shower and change after hockey practice. But Tom was still talking to the coach. It was Steven Hades and Sean Trevley that he bumped into that day. 

“What the fuck are you doing in here, weirdo?” Steven spat out, his voice venom in Addison’s ear. 

“Where’s Tom?” Addison asked, uncomfortable but not yet afraid.

“Where’s Tom?” Steven mimicked him in a girlish voice. “Tom, Tom, Tom. Why do you follow him around like a creep?” He asked, approaching him. Addison felt his throat tighten. Michael Dornes walked in, and he hoped the stupid encounter would be over, but Steven continued.

“Answer me, weirdo!”

“He’s my friend,” Addison replied, his voice shaky now. Dornes ignored the scene and started changing out of his uniform. Addison prayed for Tom to come, but instead he saw Mark Beckett enter the locker room next. His famous smile still in place.

“You wanna know what I think?” Steven said, ignoring everyone else in the room and zoning in on Addison. He was inches away now. “I think you’re a fag.” Addison saw Michael’s smile vanish from his face.

“Come on Steve, leave him alone,” he said. Steven’s head snapped back to him. 

“Why are you defending him, are you a fag?” He asked. Michael laughed nervously.

“No man, come on,” he replied, then went silent.

Steven turned around and walked towards his locker, and for an incredibly naive moment Addison thought he was leaving him alone. Until he saw him grab the hockey stick.

What followed next was a blur. He was on the floor, Steven’s massive form pressing into his back with his knee. He couldn’t breathe. He heard Steven shouting for Michael to hold down his legs, which he didn’t realize were flailing around, trying to kick off the larger boy. And then he felt his pants and underwear being roughly pulled down, and everything went white as the piercing pain tore him in half. At some point he looked up, and saw the blue eyes staring back at him in frozen horror from the locker room’s entrance. They were Tom’s.

He was discovered by the coach, about 10 minutes later, who ushered him to the nurse. When they asked him about what happened, all he could reply was, “Nothing happened. Nothing happened. Nothing happened!” If he said it enough times, it would surely come true.

“There was an accident,” his mother said, sitting down across from him and waking him up from his memories.

“What happened?” She wasn’t sure yet, but the neighbor said it involved a dead body and Tom Hadley. It was later that night that the woman would call back with the full story. 

In the early hours of October 4th, a small fishing boat containing two men left the local harbor. Only one man returned: Tom Hadley. Steven Hades’ body was fished out by divers a few hours later. Tom Hadley was let go almost instantly, without any suspicion of foul play. He told the sheriff that they had been drinking, and he fell asleep. When he woke up, a drunk Steven had gone overboard. The sheriff had no reason to doubt the story. Steve was a notorious drunk.

The next day was his last day in town. The house was almost empty, apart from a few more pieces of furniture. His mother was going to stay with her sister for a week, and then come down to her new apartment. 

Later that day, without even really knowing why, he found himself at Tom Hadley’s house. He stood at the front door for a moment, but just as he had decided to leave, the door opened, and a curly haired blonde woman popped out.

“Addie!” She chirped. “I didn’t know you were in town!” He smiled.

“I’m leaving tomorrow morning just thought I’d pop in and say goodbye.”

“No! If I knew you were here earlier, I’d have invited you over for dinner. You’re catching me at a bad time now, I’m getting ready to fly out for a conference in a couple hours. But please, come on in. We can catch up while I pack!” He wanted nothing less than to catch up with Jodie, but he didn’t want to be rude, so he followed her inside.  

He sat on the edge of the bed as she stuffed her suitcase with clothes. 

“Is Tom here?”

“No, he took Jude for a ride. That little sweet monster is teething and being a complete nightmare. He only calms down in the car for some reason.”

“The joys of parenthood,” Addison replied, not knowing what to say. The good thing about Jodie was that you didn’t have to say much, she usually had the conversation covered from all angles on her own. 

“Tell me about it. I thought I was going to be the good parent. Turns out I’m the one that can’t get away fast enough,” she laughed, stuffing another blouse into the already overloaded suitcase. “Don’t tell anyone this, but Tom didn’t want him when he found I was pregnant. He asked me to get an abortion. I told him no way was I killing a baby. You know what his stupid answer was? That murder was justified in that case, because he was going to be a shitty father.” She shook her head in disbelief. “But he’s way better at it than me now. He has a lot more patience,” she mused, and Addison nodded. “Frankly, I wish he’d agree to move out of this damn place and it’s nonstop rain. I want to go somewhere tropical, like Florida. Can you imagine the three of us in Florida, with a beach house that has an outdoor shower? But I can’t even see Tom anywhere else. This town’s gloom has almost become a permanent part of him, you know?” 

“What happened with Steven Hades by the way?” Addison asked, changing the subject.

“Oh gosh, what a freak accident, right? I mean we all know Steven and the bottle were best friends, but I didn’t realize how damn bad it was. But you know the strange thing?” She asked, scrunching her nose is deep thought. “Not many people knew this because he was embarrassed about it, but he was deathly afraid of water. Couldn’t swim. Not sure how Tom even got him to agree to go fishing to be honest,” she replied, then went back to talking about Florida. 

As he was leaving, Jodie promised she would tell Tom that he visited. 

On his last night Addison walked out onto the back porch and popped a bottle of beer. Four miles away, Tom wrangled with his son, who wouldn’t stop crying. His wife had already left, and it was too late to get his parents to help. The little boy continued to wail for no particular reason.

“What is it, Jude?” He asked, but got no reply expect for the continued screams. He was slowly losing his mind. The stress of the week catching up with him finally. And now his son wouldn’t stop crying.

He brought him outside into the back yard, into the cold air, hoping it would calm him down. But the crying continued. It was the most helpless feeling, not knowing what to do, and not being able to ease his pain. “Please, please Jude,” he begged the little boy, bouncing him in his arms. “I don’t know what you want. I don’t know,” he stammered. Then finally he broke down in a long sob, startling the boy into silence. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled through the tears, “I’m sorry.” His legs felt shaky, so he sat down on the grass, holding onto Jude tightly, and looked up at the sky.

Four miles away, and halfway through his beer, Addison’s eyes also drifted to the sky. They both saw it at the same time. The large star shining as bright as the sun. It was Antares, the Scorpion’s heart. 

The beautiful sight made Addison breathless for a long moment. He smiled and felt shivers run down his arms and back. Tom held onto his boy, suddenly feeling the weight of the world release from his shoulders. “It’s okay now,” he said. “Daddy’s got you.” After a long while, they both went back inside. Addison to his childhood bedroom, and Tom to the living room couch.

The next morning, Addison woke up early and gave his mother a kiss goodbye. He took the box with the vintage lamp, then grabbed his bag and walked outside shivering in the brisk morning air, passing his handprints on the front steps, and getting into the waiting yellow cab. The low hum of the idling engine was the only sign of life on Fall River Street.

[dizzyrosebud-blog]

New blog reaction

Uh-oh. So many of our previous chapters have been building up to this exact moment: the television. If our world was set in game of thrones it was be called, “The Destroyer of Media.”  We have read about how television nearly ruined magazines, books, radio, newspapers and I am sure other helpless little forms of media that never stood a chance. So it was nice to finally read about such a medium.

The thing that fascinated me about all three of these chapters film, radio, television was to think about what an absolutely revolutionary thing each of them must’ve been for the people of the time. Pictures don’t move, oh wait now they do. You can now bring the opera into your bedroom. You can watch people live whole other lives every single night.

My grandpa passed away last year. He was 96 Years old and told me stories about the great depression. He said that his family would gather around the radio every single night because it distracted them from what they were going through. My mom has told me so many stories about how she would hear a song on the radio in the 80s and she would go to the record store desperate to find it and take it home for her vinyl collection.

On another personal note I loved the section about I Love Lucy. My mother was actually born in Jamestown, New York. I still go there to visit my grandparents often. The entire city is like a shrine to Lucille Ball. They have a museum for comedy and her face is literally everywhere. One of my favorite things about the town was the statue spooky Lucy. It was supposed to be a tribute to Lucille, it turned out terrifying. They got rid of it a few years ago and replace it with something much more appropriate and true to life. But still, it was pretty funny.

I will let you guess which one is the before.

I just thought it was so awesome that Lucy paved the way for television to be what it is today. It is a very cool thought that somebody so close to us in a weird sort of way was one strong, kick ass woman who wasn’t gonna let anybody tell her no.

To bring it back to television, I really do find it so interesting that it was what so many other mass mediums fell to as far as popularity and reliance. Now, I guess it is somewhat poetic that TV itself is beginning to fall to other platforms. Cable television is starting to fall to Netflix and Hulu and streaming platforms as a whole. And it got me thinking, what’s next? Maybe virtual reality will be the new Television and streaming platform soon. I guess only time will tell as technology grows and expands and gives us something totally new.

Regardless of what the future holds, And as cliché as it sounds, I hope that with my blog has shown this week is that music, movies, and television shows can hold a close place to our heart for more reasons than one. So, now, I am going to log off for what little time I have left of my weekend. I’m going to cuddle up with my dog and a heated blanket and I am going to watch a movie on Netflix. It is my favorite way to spend free time. 

[preciousmetals0]

Will Netflix Bow to Baby Yoda?

Will Netflix Bow to Baby Yoda?:

All We Are Saying

Ev’rybody’s talking ’bout revolution, evolution, regulation, meditations, United Nations…

But all the Federal Reserve is saying is give quantitative easing (QE) a chance. Actually, the Fed isn’t saying that … directly, anyway. (Sorry for the poor lead-in, John.)

Today, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell held U.S. interest rates steady and promised to keep lending markets stable. Practically everyone on Wall Street expected this, and practically everyone is talking about steady interest rates.

However, what few are talking about is the fact that the Fed just flooded the repo market with $70.2 billion in temporary liquidity. This is at least the fourth time the overnight lending market (aka the repo market) has created enough of a stir to gain Great Stuff’s attention. And if it’s getting my attention, it should get yours.

The repo problem first reared its ugly head back in September, when the Fed dumped $128 billion into the repo market to stabilize liquidity for bank reserves. Wall Street brushed the occurrence off like it was no big deal.

But it happened again in October, prompting the Fed to establish a program to provide $60 billion in liquidity per month to address the problem.

And, as you already know, that $60 billion wasn’t enough. This time, the Fed needed to drop $70.2 billion in temporary lending funds into the market.

The problem here is that if the repo market dries up, there is no “lender of last resort” to financial institutions, hedge funds and, apparently, publicly traded real estate investment trusts (REITs).

But while REITs got a bad name following last month’s revelation on AGNC, a recent study by the Bank for International Settlements indicates that big banks and hedge funds are more to blame. With banks concentrating more of their holdings in U.S. Treasurys, it’s limited “their ability to supply funding at short notice in repo markets,” the report said.

The Takeaway:

The time for downplaying the repo market’s woes is gone. The Fed’s balance sheet has ballooned to $4.07 trillion from bailing out the repo market. That’s no small feat.

Something is seriously — possibly systemically — wrong with the financial markets right now … and the Fed is running around like a cartoon character on a sinking ship, plugging holes with its fingers.

What’s more, the problem isn’t limited to the U.S. Issues are now becoming apparent in Europe’s $9 trillion repo market.

Nobody likes the term quantitative easing (QE), but when the Fed dumps billions into the market to rescue financial firms, what else would you call it?

It’s time Wall Street and the Federal Reserve address the elephant in the room. Something is decidedly wrong. A large financial institution — maybe a large bank or hedge fund — or two (or three) is in trouble. Right now, we’re putting Band-Aids on the problem, hoping it’ll go away.

It won’t. There’s a reason why Credit Suisse believes that the Fed will need to launch a “QE4” to help shore up the repo market’s cash crunch. And the sooner we find out what that is and address it, the better.

The Good: The Wearables Wonder

I don’t get the wearables market. Specifically, things like Apple Inc.’s (Nasdaq: AAPL) AirPods and Apple Watch do nothing for me. I haven’t worn a watch since I got a smartphone, and I have a set of Bluetooth earbuds that I paid less than $30 for.

Clearly, I’m not Apple’s target market. But while I might be a curmudgeon when it comes to wearables, the market is reportedly huge. Both Bank of America and Evercore ISI lifted their price targets on AAPL shares today — BofA from $270 to $290 and Evercore to $305 from $275.

Both ratings firms cited strong demand for AirPods and the Apple Watch. Both cited strong margins on Apple’s wearables products, with favorable sales figures sure to come out of the holiday season. Both also noted low expectations for the iPhone 11, stating that the iPhone would outperform this year.

Personally, I’m more hyped about the growth in Apple’s services business … but not hyped enough to recommend buying the stock just yet.

The Bad: Down on the Depot

Home Depot Inc. (NYSE: HD) is holding its analyst day tomorrow, and the company decided to get out in front of the event to set expectations.

Unfortunately, there appears to be a bit of a disconnect between HD and analysts on this front.

Home Depot says it expects 2020 sales growth of 3.5% to 4%, same-store sales growth of 3.5% to 4% and operating margins of 14%.

Analysts, however, expect 2020 sales growth of 4.4% and same-store sales growth of 4.3%. Kind of a bummer, right?

Investors think so, and HD shares are down nearly 2% as a result. Home Depot will have some ’splaining to do at tomorrow’s event.

The Ugly: Nothing but Netflix No Longer

The Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS) launched Disney+ and is revamping Hulu. Viacom and CBS completed the merger to become, well, ViacomCBS Inc. (NYSE: CBS) and is backing Pluto TV hard. Even Apple’s Apple TV+ is gaining traction.

The streaming world just got a lot more complicated for Netflix Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX). The OG content streamer is still king of the market, but everyone is gunning for the top. And they’re doing so with much lower prices than Netflix.

Because of this, Needham analyst Laura Martin downgraded NFLX to underperform this week. Martin believes that Netflix will lose 4 million U.S. subscribers in 2020 due to these lower-cost competitors. To offset the competition, Martin said that Netflix needs to launch a lower-cost subscription option and consider supporting this tier with ads.

The lower-cost plan isn’t a bad idea, but ad support will turn many subscribers off. I know that I cut the cord to both lower my costs and get rid of ads. I pay for the higher-tier Hulu plan just to avoid ads.

I still remember that time long, long ago when there were no ads on cable TV. (Anyone else remember that?) I hated when they started appearing on cable. I paid for the service, not for the ads. It’s the same with streaming. Start putting ads in my streaming, and I’ll find somewhere else to spend my money … or go the free route with Pluto TV. (Seriously, ViacomCBS is onto something big here.)

That said, if Netflix does lose 4 million customers next year, it may have no other choice but to follow Martin’s suggestions.

There’s so much Great Stuff out there today that we’re giving you a two-for-one deal on funny today. (This is getting out of hand; now there are two of them!)

Aah … a throwback to the infamous “people familiar with the matter.”

Umm … thanks, SEC? I don’t know if it’s funnier that the SEC tweeted this or that it really should be taken as serious advice.

Great Stuff: Help Your Friends Make Billions!

Are you hoarding all this Great Stuff for yourself?

I don’t blame you. If I had a financial e-zine with a trading chart that could help me make billions, I’d keep it quiet too.

But no … no! Shame on you for not sharing!

Where’s your holiday spirit?

Sharing is caring, and Great Stuff cares.

So, if you have a friend who still gets their daily financial news in that dry, Waspy old format from the major financial publications, forward them today’s copy of Great Stuff.

Liven up their day. Help them make billions too!

They’ll thank you for it.

Finally, don’t forget to like and follow Great Stuff on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

Until next time, good trading!

Regards,

Joseph Hargett

Great Stuff Managing Editor, Banyan Hill Publishing

[goldira01]

All We Are Saying

Ev’rybody’s talking ’bout revolution, evolution, regulation, meditations, United Nations…

But all the Federal Reserve is saying is give quantitative easing (QE) a chance. Actually, the Fed isn’t saying that … directly, anyway. (Sorry for the poor lead-in, John.)

Today, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell held U.S. interest rates steady and promised to keep lending markets stable. Practically everyone on Wall Street expected this, and practically everyone is talking about steady interest rates.

However, what few are talking about is the fact that the Fed just flooded the repo market with $70.2 billion in temporary liquidity. This is at least the fourth time the overnight lending market (aka the repo market) has created enough of a stir to gain Great Stuff’s attention. And if it’s getting my attention, it should get yours.

The repo problem first reared its ugly head back in September, when the Fed dumped $128 billion into the repo market to stabilize liquidity for bank reserves. Wall Street brushed the occurrence off like it was no big deal.

But it happened again in October, prompting the Fed to establish a program to provide $60 billion in liquidity per month to address the problem.

And, as you already know, that $60 billion wasn’t enough. This time, the Fed needed to drop $70.2 billion in temporary lending funds into the market.

The problem here is that if the repo market dries up, there is no “lender of last resort” to financial institutions, hedge funds and, apparently, publicly traded real estate investment trusts (REITs).

But while REITs got a bad name following last month’s revelation on AGNC, a recent study by the Bank for International Settlements indicates that big banks and hedge funds are more to blame. With banks concentrating more of their holdings in U.S. Treasurys, it’s limited “their ability to supply funding at short notice in repo markets,” the report said.

The Takeaway:

The time for downplaying the repo market’s woes is gone. The Fed’s balance sheet has ballooned to $4.07 trillion from bailing out the repo market. That’s no small feat.

Something is seriously — possibly systemically — wrong with the financial markets right now … and the Fed is running around like a cartoon character on a sinking ship, plugging holes with its fingers.

What’s more, the problem isn’t limited to the U.S. Issues are now becoming apparent in Europe’s $9 trillion repo market.

Nobody likes the term quantitative easing (QE), but when the Fed dumps billions into the market to rescue financial firms, what else would you call it?

It’s time Wall Street and the Federal Reserve address the elephant in the room. Something is decidedly wrong. A large financial institution — maybe a large bank or hedge fund — or two (or three) is in trouble. Right now, we’re putting Band-Aids on the problem, hoping it’ll go away.

It won’t. There’s a reason why Credit Suisse believes that the Fed will need to launch a “QE4” to help shore up the repo market’s cash crunch. And the sooner we find out what that is and address it, the better.

The Good: The Wearables Wonder

I don’t get the wearables market. Specifically, things like Apple Inc.’s (Nasdaq: AAPL) AirPods and Apple Watch do nothing for me. I haven’t worn a watch since I got a smartphone, and I have a set of Bluetooth earbuds that I paid less than $30 for.

Clearly, I’m not Apple’s target market. But while I might be a curmudgeon when it comes to wearables, the market is reportedly huge. Both Bank of America and Evercore ISI lifted their price targets on AAPL shares today — BofA from $270 to $290 and Evercore to $305 from $275.

Both ratings firms cited strong demand for AirPods and the Apple Watch. Both cited strong margins on Apple’s wearables products, with favorable sales figures sure to come out of the holiday season. Both also noted low expectations for the iPhone 11, stating that the iPhone would outperform this year.

Personally, I’m more hyped about the growth in Apple’s services business … but not hyped enough to recommend buying the stock just yet.

The Bad: Down on the Depot

Home Depot Inc. (NYSE: HD) is holding its analyst day tomorrow, and the company decided to get out in front of the event to set expectations.

Unfortunately, there appears to be a bit of a disconnect between HD and analysts on this front.

Home Depot says it expects 2020 sales growth of 3.5% to 4%, same-store sales growth of 3.5% to 4% and operating margins of 14%.

Analysts, however, expect 2020 sales growth of 4.4% and same-store sales growth of 4.3%. Kind of a bummer, right?

Investors think so, and HD shares are down nearly 2% as a result. Home Depot will have some ’splaining to do at tomorrow’s event.

The Ugly: Nothing but Netflix No Longer

The Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS) launched Disney+ and is revamping Hulu. Viacom and CBS completed the merger to become, well, ViacomCBS Inc. (NYSE: CBS) and is backing Pluto TV hard. Even Apple’s Apple TV+ is gaining traction.

The streaming world just got a lot more complicated for Netflix Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX). The OG content streamer is still king of the market, but everyone is gunning for the top. And they’re doing so with much lower prices than Netflix.

Because of this, Needham analyst Laura Martin downgraded NFLX to underperform this week. Martin believes that Netflix will lose 4 million U.S. subscribers in 2020 due to these lower-cost competitors. To offset the competition, Martin said that Netflix needs to launch a lower-cost subscription option and consider supporting this tier with ads.

The lower-cost plan isn’t a bad idea, but ad support will turn many subscribers off. I know that I cut the cord to both lower my costs and get rid of ads. I pay for the higher-tier Hulu plan just to avoid ads.

I still remember that time long, long ago when there were no ads on cable TV. (Anyone else remember that?) I hated when they started appearing on cable. I paid for the service, not for the ads. It’s the same with streaming. Start putting ads in my streaming, and I’ll find somewhere else to spend my money … or go the free route with Pluto TV. (Seriously, ViacomCBS is onto something big here.)

That said, if Netflix does lose 4 million customers next year, it may have no other choice but to follow Martin’s suggestions.

There’s so much Great Stuff out there today that we’re giving you a two-for-one deal on funny today. (This is getting out of hand; now there are two of them!)

Aah … a throwback to the infamous “people familiar with the matter.”

Umm … thanks, SEC? I don’t know if it’s funnier that the SEC tweeted this or that it really should be taken as serious advice.

Great Stuff: Help Your Friends Make Billions!

Are you hoarding all this Great Stuff for yourself?

I don’t blame you. If I had a financial e-zine with a trading chart that could help me make billions, I’d keep it quiet too.

But no … no! Shame on you for not sharing!

Where’s your holiday spirit?

Sharing is caring, and Great Stuff cares.

So, if you have a friend who still gets their daily financial news in that dry, Waspy old format from the major financial publications, forward them today’s copy of Great Stuff.

Liven up their day. Help them make billions too!

They’ll thank you for it.

Finally, don’t forget to like and follow Great Stuff on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

Until next time, good trading!

Regards,

Joseph Hargett

Great Stuff Managing Editor, Banyan Hill Publishing

[amykate96]

[part 8 - 26/10/2019]

It’s been a while I guess

So much so that I had to hunt down the last part to figure out where I was.

so update, me and my mum now live with my gran, which is… I don’t know. It is what it is. She’s 87, nearly 88 with memory problems and has a stubborn attitude, my mums a 50 year old alcoholic, and I’m a 23 year old hermit who has ever growing anxiety problems thanks to this house… which is just … great.

So lets back track.

My mum and my step-dad were still drinking everyday, using each other as their excuse of course, cause what else are they gonna do? Rightfully admit they have problems with drinking and go and get help? I don’t think so. They were arguing alot, normally petty things. “Well hes doing this, don’t you think that’s selfish”? “well your mother wants this, so I’ll do it cause I don’t want her to leave” (because let’s add guilt tripping and side playing onto me from both of them into the mix as well). Now my step-dad made it very clear that he didn’t want us to go, he loves mum and he Isn’t as bad as she’s making out, yadda yadda yadda. And she’s made it very clear that shes going (not forgetting she has a guy on the side that she still hasn’t told him about). Now here’s the thing, he doesn’t wash, change his clothes, doesn’t want to get out of bed, doesn’t take any medication doctors prescribe him, gets drunk every day which he says is because of “boredom” and forms and unhealthy attachment to, not really my mother, but the feeling of people being in the house, (seeing as he doesn’t bother coming out to talk to those people). What does all this sound like to you I wonder… If you tell him to go to the doctors for it however, he’ll just tell you your'e being stupid. And mum is just selfish and emotionally manipulative, but hey ho, we new that already.

In between this and us moving, I have a weird mid-life crisis. I had had arguments with 2 different friends, petty reasons, but it was due to happen, previous tension and all that, and because of the arguing, and it turning into winter, I felt so… empty. I wanted to move away, but I couldn’t afford it, I wanted to get a new job, but I felt so stuck to the pub because of the circumstances… But out of no where, I got a decent tax rebate from the bank, so I quit my job (to find a better job after, I’m not dumb, I didn’t just quit to live off a rebate) and booked a tour holiday by myself to Bali… cause why not, told you, mid-life crisis. I needed to get away from the situation, and I missed the sun, it was a win win really (even if the tour started 2 days after moving).

So moving day, 18th of September, it was alot. I already had boxes packed for weeks just sitting around because mum kept changing the dates of when we were going, and when the day came, she had a couple of her friends from the pub, one of which owns a van, to help us move. But here’s the real kicker. She told them it was only her stuff going, and maybe a couple bits of mine going.

SHE WAS NEVER PLANNING ON ME MOVING ON THAT DAY WITH HER

AND SHE DIDN’T BLOODY TELL ME THAT

So there I am on that morning, taking apart any furniture I need to, and any little bits that still needed to be packed. And she kept walking in and out not saying anything. I only found out when the guys with the van came and they were shocked with how much stuff, and I overheard my mum apologising to them. So that’s just great for the emotional range of not feeling wanted. Lets make a check box shall we.

When we get to my grans, which is only 10 minutes away, I go up to the room I’m going in, which is like… that Tetris piece that looks like a bridge, thin with nibs on the end I guess. But anyway, all my grans stuff is still in here, her clothes are in the crappy wardrobe, which I asked my gran if we could get rid of since it’s falling apart, her stuff is still in the teeny walk in closet, her clothes are on the bed, there’s stuff under the bed, my uncles fishing stuff is all over the room and there’s just her clutter everywhere.

So not only was I not meant to go with mum on that day, apparently i wasn’t expected there either, according to my gran. Let’s add another strike to the feeling of not feeling wanted.

So I hide in the front room and have a panic attack, because me and mum had already had an argument about her not telling me I wasn’t meant to be coming, and her cousin who was helping us, found me. And after I explained it, she calmed me down and got my mum, she saw the state I was in, and we talked. Eventually mum understands why I’m upset and she helps me sort out my room first, before her own. So all my grans clothing (except the stuff in the wardrobe) goes back in her room, mum takes the fishing stuff in her room, and the other crap just gets hidden underneath my grans bed and we still hope she doesn’t find it.

(and btw, I still can’t use that wardrobe, I’ve got a box on-top of it, and that’s it, I don’t need it, and it@s falling apart, but I can’t touch it because it has her stuff still in it. And because of that, I can’t fit my desk in my room. So any work or drawings I want to do, I have to do in bed… You can imagine how that comes out.)

Day 1 is fine, no wifi or sky, but we were dealing with it

Day 2, I’m off to Bali

I won’t talk about Bali here, but what I will say, is that it is exactly what I needed. I got away, I got to be independent, I got to be myself. And when I came back, everyone noticed the difference in me. But that only lasted a week, tops.

(Side note, the day I landed I went to the pub to say hello to people, my step-dad was there. I went to hug him to say hello, and basically what I got was “I miss you both, I wish you’d both come back, also can you look at this phone please, because it’s linked to your email”… Yeah thanks, the holiday I went on by myself for two weeks was great btw… Thanks for asking)

So now really started when I’d be living with my mum and gran, and I assumed mum would be so much happier and better. But very shorty i started realising that mum hadn’t changed at all, if anything, she’s started getting worse.

Because “wine” had entered the chat.

Now I’ve said before what she was like on wine, and why, even she’d admit, we agreed she would stay away because she can’t control herself, and she becomes a completely different person on it. Someone I don’t like.

But here we are, she spends nearly every night out getting drunk, or going to see her man, and drinking in the process. And this has all been a long winded way to explain why I’m writing again, after nearly a year. Because wouldn’t you guess it, I’ve just had to work myself out of a panic attack. Fun fun fun

Context (take note, I am aware this is all small stuff compared to other things, but it is on my mind and I need to vent), a few days ago we were having the sky installed for the 3 T.Vs. I had a pretty bad cold this day, so mum did offer to call in sick for work. But I said no, it was fine, the main reason being because I thought it was pretty cheeky for her to use that as an excuse to call in sick. The window for the sky was 8am - 5pm, big window. But of course he comes a 4pm. Meaning I’ve had her on the phone nagging me all day asking if hes been. And the poor guy, he was expecting a quick job activating their new sky infinity thing, not 3 old sky boxes which all require their own cables connected to the new aerial hes just put in as well. He was here for over 3 hours, and during this, he asked me (in mums room) if she had a cable to plug her TV in, cause he wanted to check the sky box was working. I couldn’t find one, I called her up, and she couldn’t work out what I was on about. So I had to drag my TV out of my room and into hers just so he could check it worked. She then called me up “ask him if hes got one in his van, ask him where to buy one, ask him for an extra remote control, bla bla bla”. Now, ngl, I was kinda annoyed that she had finished work, she knew the guy came late and was still here, and the only issue thus far was with her TV, but she still went out to see her guy, which she only conveniently told me, in the middle of the day, not before she went to work. And I know her, she plans these things, it wasn’t last minute.

She comes back, drunk again, digging through her old bags and draws looking for the TV wire (even though I’d gone through them earlier like she asked me to). But in case she couldn’t find one, her guy lent her a cable, so she asked me to help with. Again, still slightly pissed off, and she hasn’t said one word to me except for help, baring in mind I stayed in, helped the guy with mums TV and I was ill, a thank you would have been nice. Funny enough though, it was the wrong cable. So she has an emotional breakdown cause she can’t watch TV in her room that night (not like it was a new thing) and I just say (passive aggressive, I know) “well what do you want me to do about it, it’s the wrong cable, so it’s not gonna work” and what I get back is a drunk, sarcastic, and moody “oh well thanks for your help then”. I lost it, told her I was pissed off and why. And her side was that she told me she was going out, and that she did offer to call in sick. We argued and went to our separate rooms.

We didn’t really speak for a couple of days, if anything, she made me more pissed off at her because she decided to throw the charger for my toothbrush outside my bedroom door like a child instead of bringing it in… Shes 50 years old baring in mind. So if she wanted to be childish, then so would I, I left it there.

Again, not spoken for days (Yes I know that’s petty, but remember we work opposite shits and she likes to go out, so…) and today is the 26th, I went to comic-con, (by myself btw, cause apparently everyone else had already planned to go with their other friends, another check in that unwanted box please), but I go for a couple of hours, buy some stuff and come home around 4. I asked my gran where mum was, she said she was food shopping with “Trish”, a friend she only started talking to again recently, cause mum has a habit of getting bored of people and forgets about them until she needs something from them. But wouldn’t you know it, Trish is also a red wine drinker. You can see where this is heading.

So I hear mum come in around 5/6 or something, cause she just came in to tell me she had been out. Then at 8 I get a text saying she’ll be back home in 5 mins. Well first off, I didn’t even know she went out, she’s not exactly the “I’m off now” kind of person. And second of all she’d only text me that if she was drunk, she doesn’t bother texting me much when she’s sober, unless she wants something. And vodka doesn’t get her drunk that quickly. So of course she comes into my room just to complain that there’s 2 pairs of sky buttons downstairs for some reason and neither of them are working. I’m annoyed (take a guess why) but I go down, it was only a case of my gran using her old TV buttons out of habit and changing the source. Easy fix. But my mum was drunk enough that she didn’t remember bringing down the second remote (it was in her room, my gran wouldn’t have even gone in there in the first place) so when I come out the living room, she tried to say something, but tripped and started laughing, so I just “ffs”‘ed and started going upstairs, she tried calling after me, but I told her to leave me alone. And then we have her calling me rude, and other stuff under her breath.

And to top it off, 10 minutes later she’s calling up the stairs for my help again, because the volume on the sky buttons isn’t working. So I yell back telling them to use the TV buttons. And that makes me rude again because I didn’t go downstairs to help, I just yelled back down to her yelling up to me.

If you want my help, come and get me. Don’t call me out for copying the shit you do.

I know these seem like such small things, and they are. But after coming back from Bali and having an amazing time, then coming back and feeling just as I did before we moved. Makes you wonder doesn’t it, whether it was the situation, or her.

All i know now is, I have an accepted holiday working visa to NZ as of now, and I want to leave as soon as possible. I cant live here much longer. I cant keep getting dragged down by her! I just cant do it anymore!

[feedbaylenny]

If you want to do something well, watch someone else do it. That’s the way to improve in most skills in life.

That’s one reason I read Scott Jones’ blog, FTVLive.com. Say what you want about him or his spelling, but he’s usually right on the money when it comes to facts, and won’t make claims without backing them up. In other words, I trust what he writes.

This morning, he had two blog posts about the latest attempt to create the nation’s largest local television station owner: Nexstar Media Group’s effort to buy Tribune Media. (Last year, after a lot of opposition, Sinclair Broadcast Group was not allowed to make the purchase.)

When you get this big, things get complicated. The company gets up against against Federal Communications Commission ownership limits, as well as Department of Justice antitrust regulations.

Nexstar owns or operates 174 television stations in 100 mostly small to mid-sized TV markets, reaching nearly 38.7 percent of American households. The limit is 39 percent, and that’s with the FCC’s UHF discount, which only takes half the market’s people into account. Tribune owns or operates 42 stations, including the nation’s biggest cities.

The deal is that Nexstar will pay $4.1 billion for Tribune. Sinclair had offered $3.9 billion but according to USA Today, “breached its contract by misleading regulators during the transaction’s approval process.” Nexstar’s last major purchase was in 2017, when it bought 71 stations from Media General for $4.6 billion.

The ownership limits, which I explained in this post from last March, come into play because two large companies will already own stations in the same markets competing against each other, and will together own too many as a whole. That’s why some stations will need to be sold.

Briefly, the four categories of FCC rules are 1. national TV ownership, 2. local TV multiple ownership, 3. the number of independently owned “media voices” – 4. and at least one of the stations is not ranked among the top four stations in the DMA (that’s the “designated market area” or city, and ranking based on audience share), and at least eight independently owned TV stations would remain in the market after the proposed combination. (Keep in mind, these rules seem to get loosened every time a company comes close to hitting the limit.)

In the case of Nexstar and Tribune, there would be a long list involving about 15 cities. (Nexstar would do well by being honest in its effort to buy Tribune, as opposed to what Sinclair did and had been doing for years.)

Perry Sook, Nexstar’s president and CEO, started the company in 1996 with one station in Scranton, Pa. He has been buying ever since.

“We have no aspirations to be a national anything,” Sook said, according to Variety. “Our company goes from Burlington, Vermont to Honolulu and each of those communities have different needs and different tastes. We do three things that are vitally important: We produce local news content. We deliver entertainment and information. And we help local businesses sell stuff. Those are our reasons to exist.”

That’s contrary to Sinclair, which was reportedly interested in creating a national news network and using must-runs on its stations to spread its ownership’s conservative beliefs.

COMING UP: Why Nexstar would spin off WPIX and WSFL, why it wouldn’t want stations in New York and Miami, and what the options are in those important cities.

Anyway, this morning, Scott wrote,

“Sources tell FTVLive that Nexstar is not planning on keeping WPIX in New York City after it purchases the station as part of the Tribune deal.”

So if Nexstar pretty-much owns so many stations in small to mid-sized TV markets, and claims to be solely interested in local broadcasting (while probably taking advantage of some scale), why leave out a station in the #1 TV market in the country, which itself broadcasts to about a whopping six percent of American households?

According to Scott,

“The spinning off of WPIX will help bring Nexstar under the ownership cap and it will likely put a lot of money back into the Nexstar back account.”

I’d rather see competition remain in New York. I can’t imagine Nexstar losing the power of selling ads on stations in every one of the biggest, influential, most lucrative cities (New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Washington, etc.). And it could probably make money selling off many of its smaller market stations, have fewer people doing the same jobs on payroll, pay less for benefits like health insurance, have less regulatory paperwork to do, etc. But it could possibly achieve what Scott suggested in just one move.

Instead of Nexstar, I dread a New York competitor coming in and gutting WPIX’s news department, which has grown over the years from 30 minutes at 7:30pm and an hour at 10, to include morning and early evening news.

Among competitors, WCBS already owns WLNY (Long Island). WNBC already owns WNJU (Telenundo). WNYW (Fox) bought WWOR and got rid of its news department. That pretty much leaves WABC, which is said to be in the buying mood since owner Disney hasn’t bought stations in years, is not up against ownership limits, and has been said to be interested in Cox’s stations (especially its ABC affiliates in Atlanta, Orlando and Charlotte). A duopoly in New York would be good for WABC, but not the public, which owns the airwaves. But considering the other major stations already own second stations in the Big Apple, could WABC be refused?

Of course, Disney/ABC is already buying most of 21st Century Fox’s assets, including its TV and movie studios, and cable channels except news and business, for $71 billion. The New York Post reports the closing is expected in February or March, and Sinclair may end up buying Fox’s regional sports networks which Disney can’t keep (it already owns ESPN) and nobody else seems to want them.

The so-called New Fox would consist only of its TV stations, and its news and business cable channels. (Comcast/NBC wanted Fox’s entertainment assets but Disney/ABC offered more. Comcast is ending up with Fox’s share of European telecommunications and pay-TV giant Sky.)

Scott also wrote,

“Along with spinning off WPIX in New York, Nexstar plans on selling off WSFL, the Tribune station in Miami.”

We’ve been through this before. Fox has a great Miami affiliate, WSVN, which is owned by Ed Ansin’s Sunbeam Television Corporation. In the 1980s, he wouldn’t sell to then-affiliate partner NBC, so the peacock bought WTVJ in early 1987 and took away WSVN’s #1 primetime programming on Jan. 1, 1989. WSVN became a Fox affiliate on the few days the new network broadcast back then and put its future into local news, more sensational back then, which has worked out well.

Then, just a few years ago, the same thing happened with Sunbeam’s WHDH in Boston. Ansin refused to sell to NBC so the peacock invented a station pretty much from scratch to put its programming. Since Boston already had a Fox affiliate (Miami’s went to CBS in 1989), WHDH is now completely independent, without a network, and worth much less.

So Fox has been selling off assets but is interested in buying TV stations (with a deal to buy several from Sinclair after its merger with Tribune that fell through) and rights to live programming, especially sports and especially the National Football League. In the past, Fox wanted stations in cities with NFC teams because it broadcasts NFC team away games on Sunday afternoons. Then, it bought the rights to Thursday Night Football, which includes the whole league, so now it’s interested in stations in cities with AFC teams, like the Miami Dolphins.

I’ve shown you how networks have dumped highly-rated, loyal, long-time affiliate stations and went all-out to own stations in cities around the country, even if it meant starting a news department from nothing, which is exactly what WSFL has when it comes to news.

Why would Nexstar sell Tribune’s only Florida station when it doesn’t have much to show for itself in the Sunshine State? Good question! Nexstar only owns WFLA in Tampa, WKRG in Mobile/Pensacola and WMBB in Panama City. Maybe it knows it could get a great deal from Fox (perhaps part of a multi-station deal where Nexstar and Tribune have too many stations competing), or it knows global warming will have Florida under water sooner rather than later.

  One thing I disagree on with Scott about Fox possibly buying WSFL is that WSVN would probably not exchange affiliations with that current CW affiliate and become the new one. That’s because CBS is a part owner of The CW and that affiliation would likely go to its second Miami station, WBFS, which would probably mean WSVN ends up with WBFS’ MyNetworkTV affiliation.

On the other hand, Philadelphia MyNetworkTV affiliate WPHL (owned by Tribune) airs off-network syndicated reruns from 8 to 10pm (a great idea!) and its MyNetworkTV obligations (pretty much syndicated dramas) air overnight. It also got rid of the “My” on its logo.

I checked because WBFS-Miami and WWOR-New York air the same shows from 8 to 10 (and Fox owns both WWOR and MyNetworkTV, so the shows will definitely run in pattern).

Anson’s WHDH – which has been independent for two years – airs Family Feud for an hour at 8 and local news from 9 to 11:35pm. So there are alternatives.

What’s going to happen? Are the reports from Scott true? If so, are they subject to change?

Again, we’ll have to sit back on our couches, and wait and see.

Disappointing news and news coverage

Last night, a woman was shot to death two blocks from my parents (and where I lived from the end of kindergarten, to leaving WSVN and moving to Connecticut, minus my three college years). It happened at about 5pm. I found out when my sister-in-law sent me a TV station’s screen-grab.

Turns out, the victim was a well-known real estate agent, who’d had her face and her dog on many bus benches while I was growing up. It happened outside her daughter’s house (same high school, two years older) and the gunman was her estranged son-in-law, who later killed himself.

In the early evening, between 7:30 and 8:30pm, I couldn’t find anything on WSVN’s website, and nonsense with very few facts from the network-owned stations.

WTVJ was a block off and WFOR had no location.

WPLG had the best coverage, with the right block and video with a reporter at the scene during its newscast which ended at 6:30, but supposedly the latest was on a different reporter’s personal, private Facebook page. We never met, but I went to school with his brother years ago, so he was from the area and had contacts. I found out about his Facebook coverage when I got a call from one of our dozens of mutual friends (28, to be exact), and asked him about it – on Facebook.

Me: “Why did you put Highland Lakes shooting privately on your personal page, but not on your professional page for any interested parties?”

Him: “The station posts on my public”

Me: “I’m sorry. That sucks.”

Him: “Ok sorry”

Me: “I meant for you. I’m sure not everything they’ve posted has been perfect, or the way you would have.”

He doesn’t know what I do and have done for a living, and you see he didn’t realize I felt sorry for him apparently not being able to publish on social media pages with his name and picture, and depending on others to do it right! His public Facebook page hasn’t been used in almost a month, and his work Twitter account was only used sporadically, not daily like someone with contacts who goes out in the field, working to uncover facts.

We know people on-air are not decision-makers but they should be trusted to publish on pages with their names and pictures, along with certain folks in the newsroom. Those people on-air with their names and pictures online will probably be the best at making sure what’s reported there is accurate and presented properly.

Who else would care as much?

If you appreciate what you read here, subscribe with either your email address or WordPress account, and get a notice whenever I publish. Don’t rely on social media with its hacking issues and censoring like this, this, this and this. (I explained the reason for the fourth “this” in my last post.) I just became certified as an IT Support Specialist and am also available for writing/web contract work. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennycohen

Reports: Nexstar says no to WPIX-NY, WSFL-Miami If you want to do something well, watch someone else do it. That’s the way to improve in most skills in life.

[technicalforweb-stuff-blog]

Here Is A Quick Cure For iptv gratuit

"Say good-bye for your cable payments and get your tv free of charge," boasts an advertisement for the loose television field in Canada.

A U.S. Enterprise promotes its tv box because the "iptv gratuit."

"you may have on the spot get right of entry to to observe each episode of any tv show … and never pay a month-to-month invoice!" guarantees the agency's website.

Customers do must pay for the tool, which sells for around $one hundred to $two hundred, depending at the version. But the promise of television with out monthly payments is actual, and it's a fast growing commercial enterprise.

Right here's how it works: providers begin with a primary Android television box. The devices are similar to Apple television, however they use the Android running system. That means companies can load them with special software so the system can get admission to an nearly limitless quantity of television indicates and films.

Customers connect the loaded container to their tv and movement some thing they need, without a classified ads. There are not any monthly costs, just the up-the front price of the device.

The device will be a threat now not only to cable businesses but also to video streaming offerings.

"it works very much like Netflix, besides you get to observe whatever you want to watch," said Joel Adams, who sells loaded Android boxes on-line from his domestic in Hubbards, N.S.

"And it's loose."

So, what's the seize? Seems, legally, there may not be one in Canada, as a minimum now not yet. Yes, now and again customers are looking copyrighted content material, however they aren't downloading that material. They're streaming it, and streaming falls right into a felony grey region.

"it's now not unlawful," claims Adams. "it is up to your self to decide if it's immoral."

Need to you pay in case you get an illegal download notice? Netflix border crackdown cuts off a few customers, but unblocking services fight lower back The unfastened tv business Adams runs his organisation, Astro television containers Canada, as a side process, however he says enterprise is so right, final month, he made extra money peddling his containers than running at his full-time activity at a printing corporation.

"it's quite remarkable," he says of his product. "I bet it is why they sell so nicely."

The entrepreneur explains he orders Android bins from China and then masses them with extra software program and apps. His maximum famous model sells for about $one hundred twenty.

Adams says clients can use the device to access almost any present day display or movie or ones that have been popular within the beyond. He makes use of his box to observe popular suggests including Dr. Who, recreation of Thrones and The taking walks dead.

"i have never had cable in a long time," he stated.

One of the loaded Android packing containers that Joel Adams of Nova Scotia sells online through his domestic-based totally commercial enterprise. Adams explains the container's apps offer get right of entry to to large content material libraries. The content material comes largely from fabric people across the globe have uploaded and made available on document-sharing web sites.

While a viewer types in a display title the use of the container and does a search, numerous hyperlinks will pop up. The individual then clicks on a link and streams the show. However, Adams cautions, now not each link works.

"If it does not, you attempt the next one. You continually locate one that works in the end," he stated.

Visitors can already get right of entry to numerous free streaming services on line — and could just connect their laptop to a television reveal — however Adams says the advantage of the loaded field he sells is that it consolidates a large amount of content material in one vicinity.

"it's in order that tons extra convenient," he says.

'We even bumped off Netflix' Jenna Galloway says the opposite day she watched the movie Zoolander 2 the use of her Android television field. The blockbuster continues to be in theatres in Canada.

She's additionally looking the cutting-edge season of the British display call the Midwife, which certainly might not air in Canada until the spring.

"it is loopy. It's already paid for itself," she stated.

Galloway, who lives in Cole Harbour, N.S., says she cancelled her cable  years ago. She felt her tv invoice became too excessive, so she signed up for Netflix as a substitute.

However in September, Galloway needed to cross on  month's mattress relaxation for the duration of her pregnancy, so she offered the box to fill the time. Now, she's says, it is all her family makes use of to observe television shows and films.

"We even got rid of Netflix," she admits.

"I do not know what we might do with out it."

Galloway says she's convinced lots of her friends and own family to also buy the box.

Is it criminal? Because the loaded Android container enterprise grows, so do the prison questions.

A few of the shows customers are watching are intended to be watched by using paying subscribers to cable or streaming services that have struck distribution offers with the owners of the content.

Canada's Copyright Act prohibits unauthorized downloading of copyrighted content. But viewers using a loaded Android box are handiest streaming, now not downloading material.

"Streaming falls a touch bit into that grey place," stated internet regulation professional Michael Geist.

It's due to the fact streaming video might be considered a "transient, transient display," he says.

"it's called the Copyright Act for a cause, and, of direction, there are questions as to whether or now not a copy or infringing reproduction is even being made in a streaming context," stated the college of Ottawa professor.

Copyright attorney Ariel Thomas of the company Fasken Martineau in Ottawa has the same opinion. "Receiving a circulation, in itself, isn't something focused by using the Copyright Act," she said.

She argues, however, that the loaded Android containers could potentially run into problem. It is because the regulation prohibits offerings that exist often for the motive of "permitting copyright infringement."

But the Android bins also can stream plenty of felony content, which include YouTube films and Netflix suggests.

Geist notes that the one celebration that is definitely jogging afoul of the law are the web sites offering up the content material for streaming.

"If they're doing so with out authorization, they may be infringing, and there's law that can cope with that," he stated.

However some of the streaming web sites operate out of doors Canadian borders.

CBC news requested the federal authorities to weigh in at the legality of streaming.

"whether or not or no longer a selected internet site, app or carrier infringes copyright would be decided by the courts on a case-by way of-case basis," stated Canadian historical past spokesperson Simon Rivet in an e-mail.

Will cable kill unfastened television? Adams believes if all people is successful at shutting down his business, it will be the cable agencies.

"i am positive they may make a few kind of flow to counter this," he said.

It's why he is not quitting his day task.

Galloway also fears the day could come whilst loaded Android containers are run out of enterprise.

She says if that takes place, she'll don't have any regrets because she's already gotten her cash's well worth.

"despite the fact that i am getting a 12 months out of it, despite the fact that i get six months out of it, it is well worth it," she stated. For more visit technical forweb

[newstfionline]

The best way to spend less? Cut back on the big stuff!

Get Rich Slowly, 19 Mar 2018

You don’t need a high income to achieve Financial Independence.

Making more money helps, sure, but if you’re diligent about cutting costs, it’s possible to reach financial freedom on even an average salary.

I want you to meet my friend, John. John is an 81-year-old retired shop teacher. He’s a millionaire--but you’d never know it.

John started life as a carpenter. In his thirties, he went back to school to become a teacher. He spent the next twenty years teaching shop at a junior high school in a poor part of town. He retired to financial freedom at age 58. He never had a huge income and he didn’t inherit a fortune.

So, how’d he get rich? He pinched his pennies and doted on his dollars. John achieved Financial Independence by ruthlessly cutting costs.

John doesn’t live in a mansion. He lives in the same small ranch house he bought for $10,500 in 1962. He paid off his mortgage early, and has now lived in the place for 53 years!

John doesn’t drive a brand-new Mercedes or BMW. He drives a 1998 Chevy minivan he bought for cheap five years ago. It’s ugly, but he doesn’t care. It meets his needs and he has no plans to upgrade.

John doesn’t take lavish vacations. He spends his summers in southeast Alaska on an old 38-foot fishing boat that he bought with cash in 1995. He spends his winters doing volunteer work on farms and ranches in New Zealand.

John doesn’t like to dine in fancy restaurants. He’d rather make his own meals at home. “For me, restaurants are a waste of money,” he says. “I don’t appreciate them.”

We’re constantly bombarded by messages that wealthy people enjoy lavish lifestyles filled with luxury. From my experience meeting with dozens of millionaires over the past decade, this kind of lifestyle is the exception, not the rule.

Most wealthy people I know are like John. They’re quiet millionaires. They practice stealth wealth.

But don’t just take my word for it. Let’s look at what the experts say.

In The Millionaire Next Door, authors Thomas Stanley and William Danko share what they learned through years of academic research into the habits of America’s wealthy. Here’s one key takeaway:

What are three words that profile the affluent? FRUGAL FRUGAL FRUGAL…Being frugal is the cornerstone of wealth-building.

They write that millionaires tend to “play great offense” with money--their incomes are much higher than average--but they also “play great defense”. They’re not big spenders. They’re thrifty. They opt out of consumer culture, making purchases based on their personal needs and wants rather than status and fashion.

“Few people can sustain profligate spending habits and simultaneously build wealth,” write the authors. “[Millionaires] became millionaires by budgeting and controlling expenses, and they maintain their affluent status the same way.”

Study after study shows the same thing. To get and stay rich, you have to manage your lifestyle. You can’t outearn dumb spending.

Great. You get it. To achieve your goals, you’ve got to cut costs. But how?

There are two schools of thought:

Most money writers emphasize saving on small stuff. They teach how to clip coupons, conserve electricity, and spend less on entertainment. These small wins are usually quick and easy to achieve.

A few folks urge readers to pursue “big wins”. They argue that the quickest way to wealth is to spend less on big-ticket items like your home and your car. The downside to this approach? Big wins take a lot of work, and opportunities to pursue them are rare.

I believe that a smart money manager does both. She practices thrift on a daily basis and she seizes every opportunity to slash spending on the big stuff.

You could save maybe 50 cents a day by drinking a glass of water instead of a can of soda. That doesn’t mean much if you only do it once, but over the course of an entire year that single change would increase your personal profit by nearly $200. When taken together, many such small economies make a noticeable difference.

Small amounts do matter.

Rather than provide some made-up examples of how much you could save, here are actual numbers from my own life. When I dug out of $35,000 in debt a few years ago, I decided to:

Switch my cable TV package from $65.82 per month to $12.01 per month, saving $645.72 every year.

Get rid of my home phone line (roughly $46.50 per month) and my subscription to Audible ($21.95 per month), saving $821.40 per year.

Cancel my magazine and newspaper subscriptions, saving $137 per year.

Make use of the public library instead of shopping at bookstores, saving $391.95 in the first year.

Plant a vegetable garden to grow my own produce, saving more than $300 per year. (Yes, I’m such a nerd that I kept a spreadsheet to track how much I saved!)

With these changes alone, I increased my cash flow by $2,281.61 per year. That’s an additional profit of almost $200 every month.

You won’t get rich--slowly or otherwise--by cutting your cable bill or growing your own tomatoes. But when small changes are a part of an ongoing campaign of saving and investing, they can bring big changes indeed!

True story: I recently had a friend ask me how to get out of debt. “You can start by getting rid of your $200 cable package,” I told him. “No way!” he said. “That’s the first thing everyone says, and it’ll be the last to go. TV is important to me.” Right. More important than being debt-free, apparently.

While it’s important to save money on everyday stuff, it’s even more important to watch how much you spend on major purchases. By making smart choices on big-ticket items, you can save thousands of dollars in one blow. If you spend fifty grand less when you buy a house, that’s fifty grand (or more!) you never have to earn.

Housing: Housing is the biggest expense for most Americans--and by a wide margin. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2015 Consumer Expenditure Survey, the typical American household spends 32.8% of its income on housing, which includes mortgage (or rent), maintenance, insurance, interest, and utilities.

In an ideal world, you’d slash your housing expense by buying an affordable home in a city with a low cost of living.

While relocating to a cheaper home in a cheaper city would probably provide a huge financial reward, it’s not exactly easy. A more practical alternative might be to move within your current city. Sell your home (or move out of your rental) and choose something more affordable.

Think about it: If you’re an average American who spends $1534 per month on a place to live, dropping that expense by 10% would save you $150 per housing payment. Drop it by 30% and you’ll save more than $5000 per year!

Transportation: Transportation is our second-largest expense in the U.S. We spend an average of $792 per month (17 percent of the typical budget) to get around, including vehicle payments, gasoline, insurance, and repairs. I know Americans love their automobiles. They’re loath to let them go, even in the face of logic. But imagine how much you could save if you could cut your car costs in half! How do you do that?

Sell your current car. Replace it with a used vehicle, one that’s fuel efficient. (Side benefit: An older, used vehicle will cost less to insure!)

Drive your car only when necessary. When possible, bike or walk to reach your destination. (Side benefit: Increased fitness, which also saves you money!)

Make use of public transportation. (Side benefit: Time to read!)

When I recommend people change the way they get around, I’m usually met with a wall of objections. But let me suggest that instead of looking for reasons you can’t do this, instead look for ways you can. You’ll save buckets of money.

Other expenses: Together, housing and transportation consume half of the average American budget. There are enormous opportunities to save if you choose to economize on these two categories. But you can achieve big wins in other areas too.

The Consumer Expenditure Survey shows that the typical household spent $1846 on clothing in 2015, $4342 on health care, $2842 on entertainment, and $7023 on food.

Because each of us is different and we spend in different ways, opportunities for big wins vary from person to person. After tracking my spending for the last half of 2013, for instance, I realized that I was spending way too much on travel. In 2014, I cut my travel costs in half. This allowed me to save money for other goals, such as buying a motorhome.

The Best Way to Spend Less: A few years ago, I asked my friend John if he had advice for young people who want to retire early.

“Here’s the secret to financial freedom,” he told me. “I don’t care how much you make--you spend less than you earn. You don’t have to like it. You just have to do it. Because that is the secret.”

The best way to spend less is to optimize the big stuff.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t make your own laundry detergent or plant a vegetable garden. By all means, do these things! But understand that if all you do is the small stuff, your only hope is to get rich slowly. You can do better.

[foursproutwealth-blog]

The best way to spend less? Cut back on the big stuff!

New Post has been published on http://foursprout.com/wealth/the-best-way-to-spend-less-cut-back-on-the-big-stuff/

The best way to spend less? Cut back on the big stuff!

Important note: If you received this article by email, you are subscribed to the old daily GRS email list, which is going away soon. If you’d like to read Get Rich Slowly by email, subscribe to the new, weekly GRS newsletter here.

You don’t need a high income to achieve Financial Independence.

Making more money helps, sure, but if you’re diligent about cutting costs, it’s possible to reach financial freedom on even an average salary.

I want you to meet my friend, John. John is an 81-year-old retired shop teacher. He’s a millionaire — but you’d never know it.

John started life as a carpenter. In his thirties, he went back to school to become a teacher. He spent the next twenty years teaching shop at a junior high school in a poor part of town. He retired to financial freedom at age 58. He never had a huge income and he didn’t inherit a fortune.

So, how’d he get rich? He pinched his pennies and doted on his dollars. John achieved Financial Independence by ruthlessly cutting costs.

John doesn’t live in a mansion. He lives in the same small ranch house he bought for $10,500 in 1962. He paid off his mortgage early, and has now lived in the place for 53 years!

John doesn’t drive a brand-new Mercedes or BMW. He drives a 1998 Chevy minivan he bought for cheap five years ago. It’s ugly, but he doesn’t care. It meets his needs and he has no plans to upgrade.

John doesn’t take lavish vacations. He spends his summers in southeast Alaska on an old 38-foot fishing boat that he bought with cash in 1995. He spends his winters doing volunteer work on farms and ranches in New Zealand.

John doesn’t like to dine in fancy restaurants. He’d rather make his own meals at home. “For me, restaurants are a waste of money,” he says. “I don’t appreciate them.”

Does John sound like a typical millionaire to you? If you were to believe TV, movies, and magazines, you might think most millionaires live like this:

We’re constantly bombarded by messages that wealthy people enjoy lavish lifestyles filled with luxury. From my experience meeting with dozens of millionaires over the past decade, this kind of lifestyle is the exception not the rule.

Most wealthy people I know are like John. They’re quiet millionaires. They practice stealth wealth.

But don’t just take my word for it. Let’s look at what the experts say.

Lifestyles of the Rich and Fameless

In The Millionaire Next Door, authors Thomas Stanley and William Danko share what they learned through years of academic research into the habits of America’s wealthy. Here’s one key takeaway:

What are three words that profile the affluent? FRUGAL FRUGAL FRUGAL…Being frugal is the cornerstone of wealth-building.

They write that millionaires tend to “play great offense” with money — their incomes are much higher than average — but they also “play great defense”. They’re not big spenders. They’re thrifty. They opt out of consumer culture, making purchases based on their personal needs and wants rather than status and fashion.

“Few people can sustain profligate spending habits and simultaneously build wealth,” write the authors. “[Millionaires] became millionaires by budgeting and controlling expenses, and they maintain their affluent status the same way.”

Study after study shows the same thing. To get and stay rich, you have to manage your lifestyle. You can’t outearn dumb spending.

Great. You get it. To achieve your goals, you’ve got to cut costs. But how?

There are two schools of thought:

Most money writers emphasize saving on small stuff. They teach how to clip coupons, conserve electricity, and spend less on entertainment. These small wins are usually quick and easy to achieve.

A few folks urge readers to pursue “big wins”. They argue that the quickest way to wealth is to spend less on big-ticket items like your home and your car. The downside to this approach? Big wins take a lot of work, and opportunities to pursue them are rare.

I believe that a smart money manager does both. She practices thrift on a daily basis and she seizes every opportunity to slash spending on the big stuff.

Frugality is an Important Part of Personal Finance

You could save maybe 50 cents a day by drinking a glass of water instead of a can of soda. That doesn’t mean much if you only do it once, but over the course of an entire year that single change would increase your personal profit by nearly $200. When taken together, many such small economies make a noticeable difference.

Small amounts do matter.

Rather than provide some made-up examples of how much you could save, here are actual numbers from my own life. When I dug out of $35,000 in debt a few years ago, I decided to:

Switch my cable TV package from $65.82 per month to $12.01 per month, saving $645.72 every year.

Get rid of my home phone line (roughly $46.50 per month) and my subscription to Audible ($21.95 per month), saving $821.40 per year.

Cancel my magazine and newspaper subscriptions, saving $137 per year.

Make use of the public library instead of shopping at bookstores, saving $391.95 in the first year.

Plant a vegetable garden to grow my own produce, saving more than $300 per year. (Yes, I’m such a nerd that I kept a spreadsheet to track how much I saved!)

With these changes alone, I increased my cash flow by $2,281.61 per year. That’s an additional profit of almost $200 every month.

You won’t get rich — slowly or otherwise — by cutting your cable bill or growing your own tomatoes. But when small changes are a part of an ongoing campaign of saving and investing, they can bring big changes indeed!

True story: I recently had a friend ask me how to get out of debt. “You can start by getting rid of your $200 cable package,” I told him. “No way!” he said. “That’s the first thing everyone says, and it’ll be the last to go. TV is important to me.” Right. More important than being debt-free, apparently.

The Magic of Thinking Big

While it’s important to save money on everyday stuff, it’s even more important to watch how much you spend on major purchases. By making smart choices on big-ticket items, you can save thousands of dollars in one blow. If you spend fifty grand less when you buy a house, that’s fifty grand (or more!) you never have to earn.

Housing

Housing is the biggest expense for most Americans — and by a wide margin. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2015 Consumer Expenditure Survey, the typical American household spends 32.8% of its income on housing, which includes mortgage (or rent), maintenance, insurance, interest, and utilities.

In an ideal world, you’d slash your housing expense by buying an affordable home in a city with a low cost of living.

While relocating to a cheaper home in a cheaper city would probably provide a huge financial reward, it’s not exactly easy. A more practical alternative might be to move within your current city. Sell your home (or move out of your rental) and choose something more affordable.

Think about it: If you’re an average American who spends $1534 per month on a place to live, dropping that expense by 10% would save you $150 per housing payment. Drop it by 30% and you’ll save more than $5000 per year!

“If you’re not yet wealthy but want to be someday, never purchase a home that requires a mortgage that is more than twice your household’s annual realized income. Living in less costly areas can enable you to spend less and to invest more of your income. You will pay less for your home and correspondingly less for your property taxes. Your neighbors will be less likely to drive expensive motor vehicles. You will find it easier to keep up, even ahead, of the Joneses and still accumulate wealth.” — The Millionaire Next Door

Transportation

Transportation is our second-largest expense in the U.S. We spend an average of $792 per month (17 percent of the typical budget) to get around, including vehicle payments, gasoline, insurance, and repairs. I know Americans love their automobiles. They’re loath to let them go, even in the face of logic. But imagine how much you could save if you could cut your car costs in half! How do you do that?

Sell your current car. Replace it with a used vehicle, one that’s fuel efficient. (Side benefit: An older, used vehicle will cost less to insure!)

Drive your car only when necessary. When possible, bike or walk to reach your destination. (Side benefit: Increased fitness, which also saves you money!)

Make use of public transportation. (Side benefit: Time to read!)

When I recommend people change the way they get around, I’m usually met with a wall of objections. But let me suggest that instead of looking for reasons you can’t do this, instead look for ways you can. You’ll save buckets of money.

Other expenses

Together, housing and transportation consume half of the average American budget. There are enormous opportunities to save if you choose to economize on these two categories. But you can achieve big wins in other areas too.

The Consumer Expenditure Survey shows that the typical household spent $1846 on clothing in 2015, $4342 on health care, $2842 on entertainment, and $7023 on food.

Because each of us is different and we spend in different ways, opportunities for big wins vary from person to person. After tracking my spending for the last half of 2013, for instance, I realized that I was spending way too much on travel. In 2014, I cut my travel costs in half. This allowed me to save money for other goals, such as buying a motorhome.

The Best Way to Spend Less

A few years ago, I asked my friend John if he had advice for young people who want to retire early.

“Here’s the secret to financial freedom,” he told me. “I don’t care how much you make — you spend less than you earn. You don’t have to like it. You just have to do it. Because that is the secret.”

The best way to spend less is to optimize the big stuff.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t make your own laundry detergent or plant a vegetable garden. By all means, do these things! But understand that if all you do is the small stuff, your only hope is to get rich slowly. You can do better.

Exercise

Pull out your personal mission statement. With that in front of you, brainstorm ways to reduce your spending. No idea is too small. No idea is too big. No idea is too stupid. Do a rapid braindump of any (and all) actions you could take to cut costs. If all your spending were aligned with your goals and mission, where would the money go?

After you’re finished brainstorming, pick three specific ways — large or small — you’ll reduce spending starting this week. (Examples: I’ll walk to the grocery store. I’ll sign up for a library card. I’ll finally cancel my landline.) Also pick one “big win” that you will work to achieve in, say, the next two years. Make this a big, hairy audacious goal. (Example: We’ll go from a three-car family to a one-car family.)

Note: During the month of March, I’m migrating old Money Boss material to Get Rich Slowly — including the articles that describe the “Money Boss method”. This is the fifth of those articles.

Part one answered the question, “What is financial independence?”

Part two looked at why you should run your life like a business.

Part three explained how to write a personal mission statement.

Part four explored the importance of saving rate.

Look for further installments in the “Money Boss method” series twice a week until they’ve all been transferred from the old site.

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