#why are online calendars so exhausting

[webs-the-raccoon]

Me desperately clinging to the last shreds of my innocence (I have to make a schedule and do grown up tasks yet again and my child like nature is dying/J)

[esamastation]

Shizuroth, part four.

-

Sephiroth's phone isn't a proper smartphone and has no internet, and he's being very brave about it.

Well, it has something. It is… kinda like a half-assed smartphone? Sorta. It's like that old flip phone his grandfather used to use - probably still does, if he's still alive, somewhere in another universe. It was more brick than a phone - no touchscreen, and the closest it got to any kind of smart features was running an email app, somehow. Sephiroth's phone is a bit like it. It has email - or just mail, apparently. It also has tutorials? Which is useful. Also online shopping? But no apps, no search function, no internet, no wikis, no websites, nothing. It doesn't seem to have photo or video options either - but apparently it keeps track of all his missions.

It's like somehow people invented most of everything that goes into a smartphone - but no one got around to inventing the internet, or anything like it. What a waste!

The tutorials are useful, admittedly, though they're more like manuals, really. Not like cultivation manuals, sadly, more like user manuals. "How to use your PHS" and "what key card opens what floor" and "missions, what are missions" and "materia, what is it and how does it work". There's dozens and dozens of tutorials on the phone, just like you might expect to find in a videogame that couldn't trust its users to remember how everything works. 

The mission roster is, uh. It's definitely something. There's categories, subcategories, levels, and then under those there's info and completion status. And Sephiroth, apparently, does a lot of missions. Like. A lot. He kinda despairs at the idea of having to keep up with it, because it looks like Sephiroth is a workaholic. Though, thankfully, half of the missions are training, experiments in the labs, or experimental training. Still! Isn't he supposed to be the Big Bad? Why is he working so hard?!

The shops' menu on the phone, though very bare bones and lacking any pictures, has his heart leaping with joy - as does the adjacent menu detailing Sephiroth's wallet situation. Which is… very good. Like, Shen Qingqiu wasn't exactly short on change either, he was the second Peak Lord of the most powerful sect in the world - but comparing the Gil Sephiroth has to the price of stuff in the various shops listed on his phone…

Sephiroth has that fuck you money. Guess that's what you get from being a workaholic Big Bad, the strongest and scariest in the evil dystopian planet-sucking mega corporation! You get money. And lots of it.

… Which, along with the details of all the clothing stores on his phone, makes his wardrobe situation even sadder, doesn't it? He should've definitely been able to afford a coat that actually fit him.

Ultimately though, what he figures to be most useful is the mail. There's a lot of it, and it looks like mailing lists are all the rage these days. Because Sephiroth's barely got anything else in his inbox.

News mailing list, SOLDIER mailing list, Shinra mailing list - professor Hojo telling him to go to the labs - another news mailing list, Shinra business mailing list, Wutai News mailing list - Genesis telling him to meet him for a spar - another mailing list, mailing list, mailing list - urgent meeting with Director Lazard - and some more mailing lists.

There are not that many personal messages, honestly. A few requests for a spar, and that's about it. Is that all he does for fun? What is Sephiroth, Liu Qingge 2.0? All he does is work and spar! Just skimming through his schedule makes him feel exhausted.

At least thanks to the mailing lists - and phone's bare bones calendar app - he'd figured where he's at, story-wise. Pre-Crisis Core, pre-Genesis' whole thing, pre… just about everything he remembers from each game.

Wutai war is still going on. And, rather distressingly, Sephiroth has a lot of Wutai missions coming up.

That's… not ideal.

Resting the phone against his lips in thought like he once held a fan, he sighs and tries to think it through. 

There's a squeak as the other SOLDIER steps out of the stall. Must've been the door hinges. "Sir," the SOLDIER says, carefully.

"Mn," he answers and tries to look as Sephiroth-like as he can while also projecting an aura of don't talk to me, I don't even know your name at the man. It works, because the man clearly doesn't want to talk to him.

It's very useful, having a villain halo.

The SOLDIER washes his hands like he can't wait to get away and then hesitates at the door. "Sir, I - there's someone -" the SOLDIER says, tentatively and then flounders at his slow blink. "Someone will be here soon."

With that said, the SOLDIER flees before he can think of a suitably Sephiroth-like answer.

Someone will be here soon? …Okay? Why? 

Making a face, he looks around in confusion and notices that one of the bathroom lights is burned out.

Oh, someone will be here for the light? Right, of course, he's the scary Big Bad here, can't subject the scary Big Bad to a less than stellar environment. Heh, guess that's an upgrade of sorts!

He… really didn't want it. 

It's all rather concerning, really. What is he actually supposed to do here? Go on missions, train, clad himself in barely fitting leather with a ridiculous amount of buckles, and go to war? Over building a life-sucking factory? By a vaguely western, very unsubtle Big Oil Allegory, at that. In what was a vaguely Chinese-coded land, too. The whole thing was very iffy, from what he remembers! He doesn't want to get involved!

And then what is he supposed to do, play out Sephiroth's life to its fiery, insane conclusion? Resurrect and then attempt to destroy the world?! Like all the good Big Bads of old! But he isn't even sure when that is supposed to happen! The timeline in these games is super vague!

At least with PIDW there was a very clear end goal, ah! It was awful and trying to survive had given him grey hairs, but there was a clear forward momentum and an end point! If he survived past it, then… then he won? Maybe?

He hadn't survived past it, though.

He'd died.

… Again.

Closing his eyes, he sighs against Sephiroth's phone, shaking his head. Depressing, depressing, it's so depressing! He'd really grown to like his life as Shen Qingqiu too! All his cute disciples, his books on Qing Jing Peak, his art works, all the things he'd got… all the things he'd done… the friends he'd made…

And Binghe…

Ah, his sweet, terrifying Black Lotus. As scary as Binghe had been towards the end, he's really sad he wouldn't be able to see Binghe grow into his own! Reading about the protagonist growing stronger and overcoming all obstacles had been his favourite part. And he'd rather been looking forward to watching it. Safely at a distance, mind you, disguised in another, unknown, body, under a new name and everything. Because if Binghe found out he survived…

Well.

Probably just as well. This is a new world and maybe, just maybe, he can now -

There's a sound that is an awful lot like an explosion, and he nearly drops his phone in shock as the restroom door is nearly blown off its hinges with the force it opens.

"What torment hath your soul suffered," espouses the runaway idol standing dramatically in the doorway, "to find the end of your journey here, of all places?"

In the immortal words of Airplane Shooting Towards The Sky.

W. T. F?

-

No System needed to gamify the world when the world is already a video game!

[she-karev]

Halloween (Andrew DeLuca x Alex Karev’s Sister Family Imagine)

Age Rating: 12+

Chapters: One of One

Fandom: Grey’s Anatomy

Ship: Andrew DeLuca x Amber Karev (Alex Karev’s Sister)

AN: Happy October everyone! I hope you guys have a great Halloween as I give you this one shot that shows my head canon couple celebrating this spooky holiday. The GIF above is Amber's costume. Like and reblog below and let me know what you think.

Summary: Andrew and Amber get their baby Lucy ready for her first Halloween with Amber anxious about Lucy finally taking her first steps. Lucy is able to take her first steps after trick or treating with her parents excited to witness this.

Words: 1196

October 31, 2023

“Okay baby you got this, you are strong, you are confident, and you can do anything you set your mind to.”

Andrew enters the living room to see what all the commotion is about, “What are you doing?”

Amber looks up from the floor and Andrew sees the dark makeup she put on to go with her Wicked Witch of the West costume. She sees he is already in his Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz costume with only his hat missing.

And to follow the theme their 1-year-old daughter Lucy is Dorothy with a baby blue flannel dress and a red bow headband pulling her short dark brown waves back. The mother daughter duo are on the floor of the living room with Amber sitting criss cross in front of Lucy who is using her baby walker. Amber is filming the baby with her phone hoping this is the first time their daughter walks but that is not the case due to Lucy still clinging to the walker.

Amber sighs and stops recording letting Lucy roam around freely, “I’m trying to get her to take her first steps but why walk when you have a colorful toy do it for you instead?”

Lucy giggles as she pushes the walker at high-speed causing her to tumble on her knees to the floor. Andrew smiles at his adorable baby before picking her up and carrying her to sit with him on the couch. Amber stands up and groans in pain.

“Oh god when did my knees turn 80?” Amber sits on the couch rubbing her knees under her black dress, “All the books say 12 months is the average time a baby starts to walk and her birthday was last week.”

Lucy's Birthday Here

Andrew kisses Lucy’s cheek, “You know you can’t plan her first steps, right? With babies they are full of surprises, and they don’t keep calendars.”

“We’re super busy and I can’t have her taking her first steps in daycare I’ll wallow in shame and regret. Would you want to miss that momentous event in our child’s life?”

“No, I would not.” Andrew holds Lucy under her armpits so she she can stand on his legs while facing him, “Bambina, let’s make a deal if you take your first steps in front of us at home and not at daycare, I will grant you any wish your heart desires. Do you understand me? Cammina solo per mama e papa, si?”

Lucy is busy teething her toy to listen to her dad causing Amber to laugh, “You know the wizard didn’t grant wishes, right? He just gave them items you can buy online and told Dorothy the key to going home was on her feet the whole movie.”

“Then what was the whole point of the road trip?”

“You’ll have to see Wicked to understand.”

Andrew faces the baby with a smile, “Are you excited for your first Halloween Lucia? You get to dress up and get free candy from strangers. I know your mama is excited to dress up and get candy with you.”

Amber and Andrew consider this their first Halloween with Lucy since she was born on October 20th and they spent last Halloween exhausted from taking care of their newborn daughter. Now with Lucy turning 1 they decided to take her trick or treating so they can spend time as a family.

Amber chuckles, “Well since I’m too old to go trick or treating I have to go out dressed with my baby so I don’t look ridiculous going alone.” Amber gasps before taking Lucy from Andrew and holding her against her hip, “Okay my little good witch we’re gonna take you trick or treating for the first time yay! You get candy for free just for looking so cute and you are already the cutest kid on the block!”

Lucy giggles before Andrew smiles standing up and joining his family, “Now you can’t eat candy yet but we’ll let you eat it vicariously through us. After we x ray it of course.”

Amber smiles at Lucy who gives a wide toothless smile, “Let’s get some candy baby lets go!” Amber puts Lucy inside the stroller while Andrew puts his hat on. They walk out the door ready to have their first Halloween as a family.

Midnight

“How can one kid get so much candy?” Andrew asks sitting on the couch checking the 100th piece of candy from the basket that is overflowed with treats for Lucy. Meanwhile, Lucy is playing with a stuffed puppy with her mom on the floor still clad in their costumes. The TV in front of them is playing The Nightmare Before Christmas.

“Because this one kid is the sweetest and cutest kid anybody ever saw.” Amber giggles putting the stuffed puppy in Lucy’s lap before standing up and joining Andrew on the couch to help with the candy, “Raisins? Would it kill them to buy quality candy? Halloween is for rotting teeth not boosting metabolism.”

Andrew chuckles as he inspects a snickers bar, “Well here this one is good, enjoy.”

Amber takes the mini bar and pops it in her mouth to chew before inspecting a skittles. While they inspect the candy Lucy begins to stand up on her own with her parents oblivious before carefully taking a step forward towards the TV. Amber has skittles in her mouth when she turns her head towards Lucy causing her to spit the candy out in shock.

Amber slaps her husband’s arm to get his attention, “Andrew!”

“Oh god she’s walking!” He hurriedly digs around his pockets while Lucy takes her second step as Amber laughs in joy kneeling down to help Lucy, “Where’s my phone?”

“I got it, I got it!” Amber quickly pulls out her phone and starts recording with a wide smile as Lucy gives a wide smile with her attention towards the screen causing her dad to kneel down behind his wife to wave around the puppy plush, “Walk to mommy Lucy. Don’t walk to Jack, walk to mommy and daddy come on baby, come on.”

“You got this bambina, vieni da mama e papa.” He makes the plush squeak to get Lucy’s attention. The baby turns to her parents with a quizzical expression before taking a small step causing Amber to gasp in wonder, “Yes you are doing so good baby I’m so proud of you! Come on just a little bit further.”

“Do it for mommy.” Amber encourages her daughter in a baby voice still recording, “Walk for mommy and daddy sweetheart, you can do it come on!”

Lucy stands still for a moment to find her footing before taking another step followed by another until she finally reaches her proud parents who stop recording. Amber laughs in pride picking their daughter up who laughs with them.

“Thank you for listening to your daddy, you are so getting a Tesla for your 16th birthday that is a promise.” Amber kisses Lucy’s cheek happy that she was here to watch this milestone along with her dad who takes the baby complimenting her in Italian before kissing his wife as they keep celebrating.

[randomquadballpun]

DAY 44 (attempt no 8)

"Dad? I need fairy lights for my Halloween costume, can we order some?"

John stopped on his way to the stairs, his daughters hamper of dirty laundry in one hand, and took a few steps back to peer into her messy bedroom. "Fairy lights?"

She nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! Green ones, if we can find some, but normal ones are okay too. And they need to have batteries instead of being plugged into the wall."

He raised his eyebrows. "Sure, we can have a look online later", he assured her. "Anything else that you'll need?"

Rosie shook her head. "No, I have everything else here already."

He chuckled. "Am I allowed to ask what you are dressing up as?"

She shook her head more vehemently this time around. "It's a surprise! Obviously!"

"Obviously."

He was almost by the stairs again, when she piped up once more, her tone a bit more timid. "Dad?"

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"Could you check up on Sherlock, maybe? He's been looking a bit rough."

John felt his heart clench at the honest concern in her voice. "Of course I will, dear. And if I have to bully him into a couple of hours of sleep again, I will do so too. Don't worry. He just sometimes gets this way for a couple of days."

Instead of taking the laundry all the way downstairs to the washing machine, he stopped one floor down and peered into the kitchen cautiously. As expected, Sherlock sat at the kitchen table, bent over a couple of plastic tubes and Petri dishes and evidently so deep in thought that he did not even acknowledge the other mans presence.

And John could not deny Rosies unflattering observation, Sherlock did look rough. His hair was sticking up in all directions, he was sporting entirely too much stubble for happy Sherlock standards and looked like he had not showered or changed clothes in a while.

In fact ... "Is that the same shirt that you have been wearing since Saturday?", he asked, his voice a bit more incredulous than what he had been aiming for. He was trying to approach this as non-judgemental as possible after all.

What he did not expect was Sherlock almost jumping out of his skin at the words and whirling around in his chair, eyes wild. He took in John with a baffled expression, staring at him for a couple of seconds before colour shot into his pale cheeks and he averted his eyes. "I did not hear you come in", he rumbled with badly feigned dismissiveness.

John snorted, left the hamper by the door and stepped up behind Sherlock, laying a gentle hand against his shoulder and feeling the pulse that still hammered underneath the other mans skin.

"I can see as much. Still working on your experiment I see?"

"Obviously."

John rolled his eyes. "Obviously. For how many hours straight?"

"I'm fine", he mumbled in a tone that did nothing to convince his partner.

"Oh yeah, so is there any reason why you haven't found the time to shave or change into fresh clothes at any time in ... I guess at least 4 days now?"

Sherlock hands wandered up, stroking across his bristly cheek for a moment, before he caught himself in the act and winced audibly. "I am ... it's not ... The clothes are intentional."

John sighed, drew out the chair next to the detective and sat in it, his hand gliding down to rest loosely on the other mans wrist. "And what exactly are those intentions? It's a nice enough shirt, but I am not quite sure I follow your reasoning."

Sherlock avoided any direct eye contact with the skill of a much-scolded school boy. "You are going to laugh at me", he mumbled petulantly.

"I promise you, I won't!"

He let out an exhausted breath. "Last time I successfully performed this kind of experiment, it was for a case. The one that you called 'The Engineers Toes' back in June." John nodded, vaguely remembering the investigation in question. "We took on that case late in the evening on the 17th, meaning that I must have started doing the lab work the next day, on Tuesday. I checked your calendar. Tuesday morning we did what?"

John pulled out his phone with his free hand and started scrolling back to June. "We were in court for one of Gregsons cases til 11."

"Exactly!"

The doctor frowned. "I am still not following. What does that have to do with your clothes?"

Sherlock picked at the cuff of his shirt, giving the other man a baleful stare. "Just think, John!" Given the the detectives dazed expression John was not quite sure who - out of the two of them - really was the more rational thinker at this very moment. "I was in court, therefore I must have worn one of my good shirts."

"Yes?"

"Gregson always wears those ghastly cheap red shirts for court, so I would not have worn the wine-coloured shirt lest someone thinks we colour coordinated." He shuddered theatrically. "And the dark green one must have still been with the dry cleaners because I got blood on it during the Solitary Cyclist case early in June. _Ergo,_ blue shirt."

John was finally catching up to the other mans train of thought. If you could call it that. At least he did not really feel like laughing at the other mans reasoning, mostly because his concern for Sherlock trumped any amusement that he might have felt. "Let me get this straight, you have been wearing this shirt nonstop since whenever because you think you also wore it the last time this experiment worked fine?" John was now very sure that he was in fact thinking more clearly right now. "That sounds a bit superstitious, don't you think?"

"I told you that you would want to laugh at me."

"I am really not laughing."

"When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." He gave John a pleading look. "I have tried everything else, at this point. There is no other variable left!"

He looked so miserable that John saw little point in arguing this logic. Instead, he allowed his boyfriend to slump against him and extended one arm to gently stretch around the thin shoulders.

"When will you know if this attempt worked?"

"By Friday."

"Alright then."

--------------------

Troubleshooting, part 22/?

-> Having a bit of a rough week myself, for no particular reason. So I am very much feeling Sherlock and I promise that things will turn around soon!

-> Check out the next part over here.

-> Until then you can start reading this series at DAY 0 (tumblr/ao3) or read the previous snippet here.

[gacmediadaily]

Destined at Christmas is a fan favorite from 2022, and since its release, fans have been clamoring for a sequel.

Great American Family is very responsive to feedback, which is one reason why Destined 2:  Christmas Once More is in the 2023 holiday lineup.

In the first movie, Kim and Theo meet while shopping on Black Friday, but they lose each other and must use the few clues they have to try to reconnect.   Their lives nearly intersect several times during the movie, but the timing is off just enough that they keep missing each other.  After a while, this becomes tedious, over-exaggerated, and highly unlikely.

The timing in the sequel is much better.  Theo plans to propose, but the opportune moment keeps eluding him.  First, Kim announces big news from work, and Theo doesn't want to overshadow her moment.  The next time he attempts to propose, Kim is exhausted from babysitting and falls asleep.  Losing the engagement ring throws a monkey wrench into his third shot.  Kim isn't home when he tries a fourth time.  Finally, he's separated from her on the Christmas train ride and misses his opportunity yet again.

Despite all of these failed attempts, the viewer doesn't feel frustrated because the delays are understandable and not herniated like they were in the first movie.

Fans have gotten so attached to Theo and Kim that they are already asking for a third installment that focuses on the wedding and a fourth movie that celebrates the Halls having children.

Will Great American Family continue Theo's and Kim's story in 2024?  We'll have to wait and see. Destined 3:  A Christmas Wedding sounds like a good idea to me.  They could keep "missing each other" on the wedding planning.  A Destined 4 movie could revolve around Kim not finding the right time to tell Theo she's pregnant.  This could work!

The Countdown to Christmas Calendar Is Back!

Everyone loves the Countdown to Christmas calendar featured in Destined at Christmas and its sequel.  In 2022, Amazon sold out after viewers found the item online and snatched them all!

As Kim unpacks Christmas decorations, she is delighted to find the calendar again.

Fans can't help but point out, however, that the calendar counts UP to the 25th and not DOWN to one day before Christmas.

This wall calendar is selling rapidly again in 2023.  If you haven't already ordered yours, you better grab one before they are gone.  You can find it here:   

So Much to Love About Destined 2:  Christmas Once More

Did you know that Theo's daughter, Ashley, is Casey Elliott's real-life daughter, Eve?  This precocious 10-year-old is very entertaining.  Her facial expressions, mature comments, and comedic antics are delivered perfectly and land well.

One of my favorite scenes is the one when Ashley is sent to bed and told to say her prayers.  She ends her prayer with, "In Jesus' name, amen."  What a statement of faith!  Most networks avoid any reference to Jesus.  In rare cases, "God" might be mentioned, but in such a generic way that it could represent any religion.  I LOVE that Great American Family is bold enough to speak the Name that is above every name!

Theo and Ashley have an annual tradition--the 12 Days of Christmas--where they anonymously gift someone a special gift for 12 straight days.  It's a wonderful reminder that it's better to give than to receive.   

What's Next for Shae Robins and Casey Elliott?

According to IMDb, a new movie titled Passport to Love starring Shae Robins is in post-production, and it is written by Brittany Wiscombe--the same writer credited for both Destined movies.  There is no indication yet regarding what network will air Passport to Love, but maybe Great American Family will acquire the rights to it.

Shae Robins has been married since 2013 to musician Brad Robins from Gentri.  The two have a daughter, Sadie Jane, who was born in June 2021.

As for Casey Elliott, no upcoming movies are listed for him, but maybe he's too busy.  He is currently touring with the gentlemen trio group, Gentri, along with Robins' husband. Those who are familiar with his vocal talents are suggesting that Great American Family produce a movie in which Elliott's character sings.

Gentri recently released a Christmas album called Season of Light.

Let Great American Family Know What You Think!

Great American Family wants to hear from you!  Be sure to share your review of Destined 2:  Christmas Once More on their website here.  You can also let them know if you'd like to see more future movies about Theo and Kim.

If you haven't had the opportunity to watch Destined 2, you can check out the trailer below.

#GreatAmericanChristmas #Destined2ChristmasOnceMoreReview SHARE

[toomanysurveys9]

[chasingghosts @ bzoink]

What can you smell right now?   Lilli’s rat cage because it’s in the living room and needs cleaned. Again.

What was the last thing you bought online?   Decorations for Erin’s baby shower because she was freaking out and talking about canceling it.

If you drink coffee, when was the last time you went a day without having one?   I do drink coffee. But most days I go without it.

Do you have any appointments coming up?   Not currently.

Do you put appointments in your phone’s calendar app to remember them?   I try. But I’m better at writing them down in my agenda.

Will you be visiting anyone’s house in the next week or so?   We will be going to Nick’s dad’s house for my sister’s baby shower.

Have you ever been to a petting zoo? What animals did you pet?   Yeah. I always pet goats and bunnies.

What was the last movie you saw in theatres?   The newest Guardians of the Galaxy movie.

Do you know anyone who has done a PhD?   I mean, my doctor obviously. One of the BCBAs that worked at my job was super close to getting their PhD but they left at the beginning of the month.

How many unread emails are in your inbox right now?   In the main mailbox part, probably at least 100.

What four apps do you keep on the home bar on your iPhone? (Sorry, I’m not sure if Android has an equivalent!) I don’t have an iPhone. But I have contacts, messages, camera, and google I think.

Have you ever used Tumblr? Do you still use it today?   Obviously I do, although not nearly as much as I would like to these days. BUT I’m almost done done with school and hopefully that will free some time.

Are you tired right now?   I am absolutely exhausted.

What’s your favourite day of the week and why?   Fridays. It’s the start of the weekend and that’s usually when Jake is able to do things with me, like go to dinner.

How far away is the nearest major city?   Not that far.

Do you own an electric kettle?   Nope.

Are your eyebrows wispy or bushy?   Bushy.

Have you ever lost your wallet or purse? Did you have to replace a bunch of things?   I lose my wallet ALL THE TIME. It’s probably one of Jacob’s pet peeves about me.

Where are you right now? Describe the room or place to me.   In the living room. It has a bookshelf full of DVDs and VCR tapes. A multi-level rat cage. A couple toy boxes overflowing with toys for Nora, as well as some bigger toys that don’t fit in the toy box. A couple black shelves that are full of all sorts of random shit, mostly Jacob’s, although it also has some piles of miscellaneous books on it too. There are two couches that are a dark-ish gray, and a black recliner.

Do you prefer big dogs or small dogs?   Big dogs are my favorite, but I don’t mind little dogs either.

Are you good at understanding heavy accents? Which accents would you say you’re the best at understanding?   It just depends on the accent I guess.

Have you ever played on a real life pinball machine, or just on the computer?   I’ve played a real one at an arcade.

Do you have a lot of word documents or notes on your computer?   I have a ton of word documents because I use my computer for school, which involves writing a lot of papers.

What’s your favourite Ben & Jerry’s flavour?   I don’t know. I don’t really eat Ben & Jerry’s too often.

Have you ever been to a school reunion? How was it?   I have not been to one. We were supposed to have one not too long ago because we didn’t get to do one last year but it never happened.

How many nights a week do you generally cook at home?   I cook two nights a week. My mom cooks two nights a week. And Brian cooks two nights a week. Then we have one night for leftovers or whatever you want.

What colour are the street signs in your neighbourhood? Are they the same all over town or do they vary?   Green. They are all mostly green although I guess I’ve seen a few blue too I think.

Do you have good grammar and punctuation skills?   For the most part. Then there are times when I obviously do not care.

Have you ever tried vegan chicken? Did you like it? I have not had it, nor do I want to.

[anniekong]

1) I saw the job posting and expressed my interest in applying to S.

2) S knows the hiring manager and makes the introductions via email. ( I've also reached out to others who may know him to gain insights)

3) Admin schedules the introductory meeting on the same day-it was a snow day too

4) I went to this initial introductory meeting a little underprepared to meet M

5) I went home and worked late that night. E saw that I was online and we had a quick catch up call. I told him about my day and my job search process and it turns out that M was his mentor during his time in the US. E offers to put in a good word for me.

6) I wrote a thank you note to M and inquired about the predecessor to learn more about the role.

7) It was SA and I write him a cold email and set up an initial call. I met with him to gain further insights on the role such as the day to day.

8) S puts in a good word for me explaining my performance rating in 2022 but M expresses his concerns due to lack of marketing experience and leadership skills.

9) I applied for the job and resumed working.

10) I went to Zurich to give a workshop and I saw the interview meeting pop up on my calendar for the following week. It’s a panel interview of three people in total. I shared the news with J who was co-hosting the workshop with me. She was extremely happy for me and offered to help shape my stories during my time in commercial operations. "All you have to be is yourself," she said. I wish it was that easy. We are both big believers that things happen for a reason so a rejection would not be the end of the world.

11) Exhausted after a long week, I crafted and practiced my stories on the plane ride back and continued to practice until the night before. ( Everything from my tone, hand gestures, eye contact, eyebrow twitch etc).

12) It was D-day and my first hybrid interview. I have not had an in- person interview since 2019. I had to balance looking at the screen and addressing the folks in the room. It started out well just as I've practiced. However, I was stump on questions like why should we pick you over someone else, what does success look like for you in this role, most people start from sales and work their way up to global/corporate- why are you going in the other direction, what do you hope to deliver in 18 months. I must’ve looked like a deer in headlights. They were asking me what my favorite color was and I answered 28. The interview took an hour vs the initial 45 mins meeting, which further portrayed how inefficient I was in conveying what they wanted to hear. They were challenging me and I wasn’t given them the right answers. I might have redeemed myself with the questions I’ve asked towards the end but felt defeated completely.

13) I was pretty sure I didn’t get the job at this time and shared my experiences with my work besties starting with I and sharing the questions that had stumped me and my tired and jet lag brain. “The why would they choose you is a personal branding question! You are supposed to showcase your strengths”, she said. Well it makes sense now, since you put it like that wishing that I had known that 20 minutes earlier. I took it as a learning opportunity.

14) The day after, S asked how the interview went. The corporate response for I bombed it is "This helped me understand the level of detail that is necessary to really standout in those interviews."

15) I caught up with N at the cafe and M sees me and waves at me walking in one direction. S comes walking from the opposite direction and they meet in the middle. S had asked how the interview went then and there…not awkward at all. (I found out about this later but somehow I had a feeling they were talking about me and shared my uneasiness feelings with N since it was too soon!)

16) S shared that he’s still interviewing and there’s a McKinsey consultant that they are also considering. Well that's nice… I thought. He/she will definitely be a thousand times more polish than me. S also recommended that I ask L to reach out to M to endorse me on my performance.

17) I’ve never done this before and had to double check with someone who has worked with HR to see if this is normal (I realized how risk adverse I am during this process). She convinced me that it's not only normal, but a necessity when applying internally. I wrote an email to L, having saw her and caught up with her in the office the day before.

18) L replied and to my surprise, said she was proud that I was asking for endorsement when most people shy away from it. She mentioned that she had already put in a good word for me.

19) I started applying for other jobs because I was coming to terms with not getting the job.

20) S follows up with M the following week. I’m embarrassed at this point because he was pushing for an answer and I’m pretty sure he doesn’t have an answer because I got rejected.

21) 8 days from the interview date, I’m sitting at lunch with a neighboring finance team and shared my interview experience during this busy time at work. When I got to my desk, M pings me and asked if I have time to chat. I replied asap and he called me right away.

22) “I got some feedback for you,” he said. “I welcome any feedback you have,” I replied, having already made peace with myself that I will have to resume the job hunt. “ You got the role,” he said….and I haven’t stopped smiling since that moment.

I wanted to highlight the amount of effort it took to apply for one role. I could have easily gotten rejected and this process would have to occur again before I land on my next role.

I understand the power of networking, sponsorship and personal branding.

Although the future is exciting, I’m even more touched by the amount of people who are willing to help me, expecting nothing in return throughout this process- most notably, all of my sponsors ( S, L, A & E), E who is an informal mentor to me, D who consistently sent me job postings, AD who offered to help with interviewing, I connecting me to everyone she knows on the Global Oncology team. The countless number of coffee chats with the oncology marketing team who took time out of their day to educate me with nothing to gain.

I pinged I when I received the good news and she was so happy and excited for me. "You did all the magic," she said. "Not at all, it felt like a teamwork." It sure wasn't because of my stellar interviewing skills.

I’m so thankful for them and will continue to pay it forward.

As J and I agreed on, it's this cycle of good karma and positivity that will continue to expand.

“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity”

A

[survey--s]

533.

What can you smell right now?    My scented candle, which apparently smells like “smoked roses”.

What was the last thing you bought online?   A cooling blanket and some air freshener for my car.

If you drink coffee, when was the last time you went a day without having one?   Whenever I had that horrendous flu/bug thing - it must have been back in February, I think?

Do you have any appointments coming up?   I have two jobs to do in a couple of hours. I have to go and feed Monty and then pop in on Charley the cat.

Do you put appointments in your phone’s calendar app to remember them?   Yeah.

Will you be visiting anyone’s house in the next week or so?   Yeah, my job involves going in/out of people’s houses lol. I also see my in-laws most days as they look after the dog for us while we work.

Have you ever been to a petting zoo? What animals did you pet?   Yeah, loads of times - goats, lambs, pigs, calves, hamsters, rabbits, guinea pigs, chicks, ducklings - all sorts.

What was the last movie you saw in theatres?   I haven’t been to the movies since before COVID lol.

Do you know anyone who has done a PhD?   Yeah, quite a few people.

How many unread emails are in your inbox right now?   Zero, I check/delete my e-mails as they come in.

What four apps do you keep on the home bar on your iPhone? (Sorry, I’m not sure if Android has an equivalent!) Phone, Spotify, Safari, Messages.

Have you ever used Tumblr? Do you still use it today?   No, this is all a figment of your imagination.

Are you tired right now?   A little bit, but not full-on exhausted or anything like that.

What’s your favourite day of the week and why?   It depends on the week and what I have planned, but generally weekends are the best for obvious reasons lol.

How far away is the nearest major city?   About two hours away.

Do you own an electric kettle?   Sure.

Are your eyebrows wispy or bushy?   Both lol.

Have you ever lost your wallet or purse? Did you have to replace a bunch of things?   I’ve lost my bank card a few times but I just froze it via the app and ordered a new one.

Where are you right now? Describe the room or place to me.   I’m in the living room as it’s bloody roasting outside. There are windows at each end - the front door is at one end, the kitchen door at the other and the upstairs door on far left as you come in. The walls are painted a mix of red and grey, the carpets are grey and so is the sofa, with red blankets/cushions to match the walls. All the furniture is white. There are fairylights all around the room and a scented candle burning above the fireplace.

Do you prefer big dogs or small dogs?   Medium sized dogs - around 15-25kg is perfect for me. Anything bigger and they’re generally too strong for me to handle safely, and any smaller and they’re just not really my thing, I guess.

Are you good at understanding heavy accents? Which accents would you say you’re the best at understanding?   For the most part I manage fine. I guess British accents.

Have you ever played on a real life pinball machine, or just on the computer?   Both.

Do you have a lot of word documents or notes on your computer?   No, I don’t think there any saved on here actually.

What’s your favourite Ben & Jerry’s flavour?   I’m not a fan of Ben & Jerry’s anymore. I loved it as a teenager but now it all tastes really sweet and artificial,.

Have you ever been to a school reunion? How was it?   No, and I have no interest in going to one.

How many nights a week do you generally cook at home?   I eat at home pretty much every night but I don’t always cook.

What colour are the street signs in your neighbourhood? Are they the same all over town or do they vary?   Like, the signs with street names on them? White with black lettering. That’s the same everywhere in the UK.

Do you have good grammar and punctuation skills?   Yes.

Have you ever tried vegan chicken? Did you like it? Yeah, I used to love Quorn stuff but now it makes me sick lol.

[alllinesarebeautiful]

Day 380 Art Meditation, April 23, 2024

I just spent a week’s worth of mornings writing my essay for my May Art Drop Video - for all of 4 pages. It was one of the most vulnerable, mentally exhausting things I’ve ever done. I feel like I came through something and it was worth it. I feel lighter now. So does G.

My art print for today is “Be Vulnerable”, by which I mean the Vulnerability of building our heart-spaces. I try to do this with my art meditations. To find that fulfillment, I have to spend time getting grounded into my words and art. 

Also, for our Heart-spaces: “Confuse your logical mind. (That’s your Heart-Space). Then use both.”

I love the writings of Anne Lamott because she has Jesus qualities, in a way that Jesus might never have healing for me. In Anne Lamott’s  book ‘Bird by Bird’, she  explains:

“Annie Dillard has said that day by day you have to give the work before you all the best stuff you have, not saving it up for later projects. If you give freely, there will always be more…

… You are going to have to give and give and give, or there’s no reason to be writing. You have to give from the deepest part of yourself, you are going to have to go on giving, and the giving is going to have to be its own reward.”

I know I’m not the only person for whom ‘Giving’ is something I really only know how to do for other people, and I do it so well. I also love doing it. I don’t think I have plans to give it up, just for now while I commit to my creative plans …What her ‘Giving’ section unearthed for me is to reject the judgment against me that my journey is selfish in a bad way. That I am giving TO my writing and art. To write 4 pages over the course of 7 days, meant to go into my heart over and over again, deeper and deeper.

I love my beloved former life coach’s words to me when we first started years ago, “Yes. It IS all about you. You have no idea yet how much it IS all about you.” 

I’ve added Anne Lamott onto my parent team, making it 6, although I am aware that she is yet another imaginary, one-sided relationship in my life. I am aware of this and working on it… Her parental superpower is that she loves that I am writing an art memoir. 

I’m late for Earth Day, but sending photos of my walks and the driving I do for work: the ocean, breezes, flowers, sand, teal and green waters, and blue blue blue sky. All of which I will use for my photography art.  

Check out my online annehunsicker.com SHOP - photography art, Advent calendar and Cookie-of-the-Month.

O, one more thing, what I love (!) about my clunky phrasing for my art, I imagine the little toddler-me trying to help the world. Children come up with better ideas than adults do sometimes, cutting to the chase - “why don’t we all just love each other?” I somehow feel like I’m tapping into that little-girl-me when I write these messages. 

◉

Love, 

Anne

◉◎⦿◎◉

[apexart-journal]

Mvelo Mahlangu in NYC, Day 4

The beautiful sun showed it face today and bathed New York in sunshine. From the apartment, the illusion was that it was warmer out. I was very wrong. It in fact felt a little bit colder than the previous days.

Today, I was headed to Brooklyn again for a class in Tree pruning & care. Once I got out the train station in Brooklyn, I knew where I was. I was right by the Domino Sugar Refinery that I saw from yesterday's cruise tour. I definitely knew I wanted to stop by the factory after the class. Walking towards the community garden, I noticed a little Japanese convenience store and quickly went in. I felt like I was in a genuine Japanese store back in my grandparents hometown and when I saw all the deserts, nostalgia hit me.

With an onigiri in one hand and packaged mochi in the other, I happily continued the walk. I really liked the area of Brooklyn I was in. It was a lot more quiet, not a lot of tall buildings, and very residential areas with many coffee shops around. In Manhattan, it's very easy to feel isolated, where as here, I felt like I could bump into an old friend.

The community garden was a little slice of nature surrounded by residential buildings. It was refreshing too see as I haven't seen any parks or open land yet. The instructor William started talking to us about trees and how they grow, what organs they have and their functionings. Sometimes in the rush of life, it's easy to forget that trees are also these living organisms that are trying their best at each moment to survive and are not just in existence for the purposes of humans. William spoke to us on why we prune trees, what to identify and what tools are needed. The primary reason we prune trees is for human aesthetic choices, then comes the other reasonings like keeping tress healthy or giving it the best chance to live longer.

As we went around pruning and sawing parts of the trees off, I must say, I really did think about how we humans keep trying to bend nature to the confines of our society. Cutting or 'pruning' a young trees branch off because we predict it to grow into the building next to it which will cause a problem in the future... If there were no buildings around would we still do the same thing? Supposedly pruning does not harm the tree if done correctly and is done in winter as opposed to summer to avoid infection & disease from entering the 'wound'. So another question begs "At what point do we let nature run its course and at what point do we step in to intervene?"

I'm definitely caught in this thought that we've separated ourselves so much from nature that we forget we are a part of it too.

After the freezing walk about and pruning of trees, I decided to quickly walk to the Domino Sugar Factory. It was refreshing walking based on line-of-sight as opposed to constantly looking at my phone for directions. The building was incredibly huge. What fascinated me the most was the relationship between the former original brick exterior and the use of glass as the new interior/exterior. So almost like a glass box with a dome above, nestled into a big brick box. That is the best use of architectural coexistence in preserving history that I've seen so far. I need to do more research on the building to contextualise and understand its functions better.

I sat by the river, ate some lunch and made my way back to the apartment to go rest. Body clock is still adjusting so I was really exhausted. Once I got to the apartment, I extensively cleaned the space and prepped for the last activity on my calendar which was a guided meditation class. I took a 15 minute nap only to wake up 3 hours later and 20 minutes before the online class. feeling a bit drowsy I pushed on into the meditation class which helped me relax more as I called for affirmation "I forgive myself and everyone" amongst other affirmations. Apparently each area of your body houses a chakra which taps into different aspects of emotion/feeling. This took me back to the conversation the night before I had with someone who also attended improv jam where he spoke on chakra's and how his meditation journey has helped keep him looking and feeling youthful.

Right afterwards, I fell asleep and reminded myself to watch the movie "Into the woods" in the morning.

[destinyimage]

The Hebrew Calendar: Unlock New Prophetic Dimensions and Revelations

The Hebrew calendar is God’s original design and dates originally from the first day of creation.

Back in the year 325, Constantine and the First Council of Nicaea introduced a 7-day week; and later in 1582, Pope Gregory XIII made additional adjustments due to the equinoxes for our Gregorian solar calendar, which has 365 days and its focus is the sun.

In contrast, the Hebrew Calendar is lunar-solar and its focus is the moon. It adjusts the solar to the lunar, which is 12 months and is 12 days shorter than the solar calendar. This 365-day prophetic declaration book is designed so you can look at the Hebrew calendar day starting with Nisan 1 on the first day of the new moon, which God says is the “first month of the year” and have a prophetic declaration for the corresponding month on the Gregorian calendar, which is adjusted to the vernal equinox or the sun. There will be 29-30 days of reflections each month.

Then there is the issue of the solar calendar having 365 days, vice roughly 360 lunar days. This issue is resolved when you simply follow the Hebrew calendar dates, which will overflow the other five or so days.

As far as leap year is concerned, move on to the Adar 2 prophetic declarations. Why? Because the Torah says that Passover, or Pesach, must be celebrated in the first lunar month, Nisan, when the solar and lunar calendars get out of sync; so a new Adar is added. The month Adar must always celebrate Purim, which is a joyous time of Jewish redemption remembering when Queen Esther offered her life to save her nation, and evil Haman was hung. So the true month of Adar each year is when Purim is celebrated. You will need to read the devotionals for Adar again when there is a leap year, which is 7 of every 19 years on the Hebrew calendar. When there is a need for two Adars, you will find Purim always in Adar 2 closest to Nisan.

My heart’s desire is to draw you closer to Jesus through understanding the Hebrew calendar. While this isn’t exhaustive, it is a good introduction to the power of the Hebrew calendar and its prophetic significance on earth today.

The Moon as a Guide

The month of Nisan is considered to be God’s first month on His calendar. In Exodus 12:1-2 (NIV), God spoke to Moses saying, “The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, ‘This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year.’” Now how do you know it’s the first of the month? You need to look for a new moon.

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The most practical way, with no help from any other means is to use your eyes and look up at the sky at night. First, you are looking for a full moon to help you navigate the middle of the month. Once you pass through seeing a full moon phase—which lasts about three days to the naked eye—then roughly 14 days later, the new moon will arrive, and this represents the first of the month. This moon will not be as bright as a full moon; it will be completely round, but pale in comparison. That is the easiest most natural means for daily calendar readers to use.

You will open this 365-day prophetic devotional on the first day of the new moon of the corresponding month on the Hebrew calendar. If it is springtime, you will be starting around March or April. It may be hard to know which exact Hebrew calendar month it is (March or April) without a little help from other sources. Many websites provide dates and moon phases, or you may choose to buy a lunar calendar that shows what phase of the moon is on certain days. I suggest you buy a Hebrew wall or desk calendar that has the year of creation on it as well as the Gregorian calendar year. These are sold in bookstores or online.

You can simply type into any Internet browser, What day is it on the Hebrew calendar, and up will come the day. Then you can begin here. Some smart phones can mesh the Hebrew calendar with your Gregorian calendar. Simply type, How do I get my Hebrew calendar on my phone, and instructions will pop up for you to set your phone.

Maybe you want to see the moon on your phone or on your watch if it is connected to your phone; choose the lunar moon option and the current moon view will be on your phone to watch daily. You can also type in, What is the moon doing today, and up will come pictures of the moon today so you will know if it is one of the two main options, a new moon (beginning of month) or full moon (middle of the month).

Then the cycle repeats itself every 29.5 days or 30 days. These are easy practical ways in today’s world to follow along. I have written a book that details the prophetic nature of each day of the Hebrew calendar. It is researched using a variety of sources but some dates could not be exactly recorded because this book is designed for use year after year. Due to the lunar calendar some calendar months will change from 29 to 30 days. I also left out exact days of specific Shabbats, or Sabbaths, which go from Friday night at sundown to Saturday night at sundown, because of this reason too.

I have listed the special Shabbatot and Jewish holidays under the historical dates on each day but they are fluid and are only for generality, as technically they change based on the year and the laws set by the sages. There are some dates historically and even Shabbatot that could be missing based on the sources I used to gain my dates. All these dates are only given as a general guide.

Again, I encourage you to look at your technology resources and let them tell you exactly, and then read the prophetic declaration close to that day. Technically, as this book moves prophetically with the calendar, you will have a few days before and after each day that the declaration is relative to what is happening in universe. The universe and its spiritual dominion is always flowing year after year in a circular motion through the months. Change happens every three months, about four times a year according to the calendar. You will prophetically in your life move through warfare, repentance, and promotion, and back again every three months as you move from glory to glory each year.

Now that you know how to match the Gregorian calendar day with the Hebrew calendar day, all you need to do is open your heart and begin to read the prophetic declaration for that day. Each Hebrew month consists of 29 to 30 days; you choose the month and day that it is and keep going. I encourage you to enjoy the beauty of this devotional by going outside a few times a month and look at the night sky. Learn for yourself when God is speaking through the declarations the heavens are making. Each month God has something to say and you can really connect with His heart and love for you if you see His message in the night sky.

The Word of God and Torah reveal the times that the new moons and feasts of the Lord were announced. God is very particular about His new moons and feasts. They are His moedim, Hebrew for “appointed times” and seasons. You will love to see in the Word when He is speaking to you in the heavens at the same time each month and what He is saying. Yeshua knew all of this too, and He practiced the feasts and knew when the new moons were. Luke 22:7-8 (NIV) refers to the Passover feast and says, “Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, ‘Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.’”

Also, in Numbers 10:10 (NIV) the Lord speaks through Moses on the new moons and says, “Also at your times of rejoicing—your appointed festivals and New Moon feasts—you are to sound the trumpets over your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, and they will be a memorial for you before your God. I am the Lord your God.” These new moons are also called Rosh Chodesh and last about two days, as the new moons go for two-three days if you watch them in the night sky and are very special times on the Hebrew calendar when the portals of Heaven are open.

If you want to really be blessed, then you need to be able to recognize the Rosh Chodesh and new moon feasts as you prepare your heart with prayer and Bible reading. God speaks so clearly during the new moons and feasts times. It is a brand-new month and all the old of the last month is gone. Won’t it be wonderful for you to know what God is saying each month to you in His Scriptures and the days it corresponds to what is written?!

Once I learned this, it changed my life so much, because I grew in knowing God’s love for me and for His people every moment of every day. He knows everything about every day and wants us to fellowship with Him on those days through His Word. I pray this book helps you receive a special daily word just for you, direct from His heart; and as you look outside in the night sky, you will see His love in the moon as it bears down on you in the time and season of the life He ordained for you, even before your birth.

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[foggyparadisecandy]

[Trauma dumping - scroll on by if you are looking for horny stuff]

I know, I know ... another one. I'm just purging it out as fast as I can. Catharsis in a public blog. Why not?

This one in particular is written for my ex-partner even though I know she won't read it. I just have to play pretend to feel remotely good about things.

Hey D - I want to start off and say that I love you, I care about you, and I forgive you for anything and everything. Please remember that you can always reach back out to me.

Yeah, what you did was pretty shitty tbh. But ... it's ok. I mean ... yeah ... do better. Good people do shitty things on occasion and IDK.

Maybe I'm way off base but everything points to a horrible trauma response. I could be wrong. I don't think so though.

Either way, who gives a shit at this point. I forgive you and the point of this letter is to ask that you don't use your treatment of me or us to beat yourself up.

It hurt. It still hurts. It probably will hurt for awhile but I'm going to come back stronger than I was before so, in the end, it will be a net positive for me. Except for losing you. That ... really ... is awful tbh.

I've told you how much you brightened my life in other letters so I'm moving past that one here. Let's talk about me for a moment and where I'm at and where I'm heading so you can feel like "hey ... Foggy is going to be ok ... I didn't permanently harm him and it seems like he's actually doing well."

And let's really quiet that subconscious that makes you want to feel bad - at least on this particular issue. It's all going to be better than fine for me in the end. I know that and you should feel ok about me.

I've made a lot of new friends who have been very kind and accommodating to my pain. You know I'm a curious dude and it's been very interesting to hear so many stories from other people. Love it.

I've reconnected with some old friends - online and in RL. I've got a pretty full social calendar these days which is a first in ... a loooong time. Pretty ironic considering how much I was always telling you to build connections and my own were thin.

I've started working out. It's only been 7 weeks and I'm doing pretty freaking good tbh. I started doing pushups and planks every time I thought of you but ... that got exhausting fast ... you are always on my mind lol. So I cut back to 30 minutes per day.

I've had it out with my wife about everything. Well ... not exactly everything but most things. I'm not sure where that goes but I know I don't want to go back to a boring status quo situation. You opened my eyes to a new way to exist and I want more, not less. It'll be ok either way - I know that for sure.

I've lost 8 pounds in 7 weeks. This one isn't really a blessing lol. I couldn't eat or hold food down for the first five weeks. Only really started eating again recently. But it is what it is. I wasn't heavy at all but I'm happier thinner so ... a win?

I've ... mostly ... started to be able to sleep through the nights again. For the longest time, the most I could sleep was 3 or 4 hours then wake and could not drift back off. I still ... am struggling ... a bit. Woke up the other morning at 4 am crying. That wasn't fun. But it's rare lately and I'm guessing will be gone soon enough. Not sure if this is a win or if it's me just feeling sorry for myself. I'm guessing the latter but I'm leaving it in here because it *is* better than it was early on so it's progress.

I've started therapy to figure out why I chase after helping others (mostly women) to fill the sad little hole in my soul. Actually ... I already know why. You know all the shit with my mom and ... yeah ... I'm working on it. Trying to get healthy for the first time since I was a ten year old kid. Kind of silly that it took you breaking up with me for me to figure this stuff out. It is really breaking me down to realize my life since ten has been so fucked up with trauma. Can you imagine not clearing your trauma away for that long? Can you imagine that? I hope not. Did you get that hint? I hope so.

I've refocused on work for the first time in a decade. I've set some huge fucking goals. I want to hit it big and I've given my team through the end of next year. I'm going to do it and then I'm going to fuck off from work and shift my priorities to something else - something more fulfilling. It's still to early but I want to take some of those self-improvement things we did together and do something with them for others. I'm using them on myself so I can see how they work and where they need to be fine-tuned. We'll see how it all goes.

I'm trying to figure out what makes me genuinely happy. All of my belief systems have been shattered tbh. I ... don't know yet if that's bad or good or just is what it is. I don't know anything atm about love or happiness or fulfillment or ... anything. I'm still more than a bit lost. You untethered me from everything I knew about myself. I'm not saying this is a bad thing ... I'm saying ... I don't know what comes next. Knowing me, it's going to be fucking great and better than it was. I've always been pretty good at solving problems and making great things happen for myself and those around me (as you know).

I'm doing my best to be kind to myself. I am not sure when the last time I was kind to myself was. I honestly can't remember when I've had a decent thing to say about myself. It's always been "do better" "be better" stuff. I'm working on it as fast as I can. Beating yourself up is an awful way to live. Not sure why I need your splitting on me to figure that out.

I have realized ... despite everything ... I am a good and decent and kind person. I lost sight of that for a hot minute there. I'm not perfect. Hah. Nope. But I do the best I can and I am quick to take steps to change up when I know I've fucked up. But yeah ... I'm good and decent and kind. I know those things now better than I ever have.

And ... you are good too. I know it deep down in my soul.

I see it in you. You are not your father. Far from it.

And you didn't permanently hurt me here. Lots of good will come from this. Believe it. Thank you for everything.

And I believe good things will happen for you. I have full faith in you.

I am no longer in a position to tell you what to do but ... please work on your trauma. For your own sake. And find a new path in life. I know you feel like your current job is your life but ... that job will bring you nothing but misery and sorrow and trauma and damage.

You deserve better. You know that. Deep down, you know everything we shared showed you a different path.

You deserve far better.

You might need to go through some pain to get on a new path but I know who you are. I know you are a fighter and know how to get shit done. You can and will do it. Start planning. Start doing.

And legit ... I'm still here and willing to boost you along in life.

I've always wanted one thing: to see you reach your full potential. It's amazing. The world is waiting to see it.

One final thing that I have discovered and honestly I feel really good about this one - even if you never reach out again:

I love you sincerely and wish nothing but the best.

[lunarvalleysonagentleplanet]

We joke that Taylor IS the music industry, but I don't see anyone else coming close to the records. Taylor Swift is to Billboard, what Katie Ledecky is to an Olympic swimming pool.

Any time I see data like this I can't help but think how crazy the stats actually are. Then the chaos in me whispers things like "only 4?"; I think we can do better.

How crazy would it be to have folklore & evermore sell another million this year‽ But then why stop there? Red TV & Fearless TV & Speak Now TV.!? What if they all show up to the party.

Imagine an artist's entire recognized discography selling at least 1 million copies EACH in ONE YEAR. A master catalogue Platinum-ification, in one calendar year.

*Addendum: Her pure albums are already in the top 13 for the decade, so it is within the realm of possibilities.*

Could we do it? Of course we could!! The only thing we as a collective cannot do is guess when she's releasing Debutation 😂

... Imagine if she released them this year though‽ What better way to celebrate reclaiming your voice than by irrevocably breaking the records of the industry that tried numerous times to break you. Breaking them in such manor that they quite possibly will never be broken again. That's a gilded middle finger to the institution who kept moving the line every time she crossed the ribbon.

Over the course of her career she has not only reinvented herself but the industry as a whole along with her own growth. Using her voice to literally and figuratively give a platform to those in need. Raising awareness of the lopsided foundation of the music business; the ill-favored tilted scales creators were forced to abide by. Speaking up for those who are discriminated against just because of who they love. The exhausting gendered double-standard. The parasitic Jekyll & Hyde syndrome that comes with stardom in the age of social media.

I'm glad to be part of this historic, collective moment. I am but a single bead on this eternal friendship bracelet; a mirrorball on an invisible string, that is this quirky community. A common bond that multifacetedly lives in the real world and online, in truth and in speculation. A shared connection that defies explanation.

Someone on TikTok put it eloquently succinct: "We made the right one famous."

[frommygmailemailaddress]

New for you: 60 tiny + powerful ways to connect

As a parent, you're responsible for getting everyone where they need to go, from school to extracurricular activities to doctor's appointments and more.

And in between all that, you want to nurture a loving parent-child relationship that will last into the teenage years and beyond. Building a strong bond takes time, so you know you can't treat it like cramming for a big test the night before.

Here's the solution.

The secret?Family bonding activities.

To be clear, I'm not talking about planning pricey day-long excursions or tackling elaborate craft projects that call for 42 random supplies you don't have.

Why this is so important.

Nurturing a strong family bond now will pay off for years to come. For example, research shows children in families with a strong family bond are much more likely to flourish—they feel a sense of purpose in life, enjoy positive relationships with others, experience self-acceptance, possess an ability for personal growth, and more.

Sounds great, right?

But when you're an exhausted parent who's barely keeping up with doing the laundry, helping out with math homework, and getting dinner on the table, you don't have a lot of extra time to sit around and brainstorm meaningful activities that will make your family feel even closer.

So here's a handy list for all the tired parents of the world:

60 tiny + powerful ways to connect as a family (without adding to your to-do list)

To put together this list, I read every list of family bonding ideas I could get my hands on in books and online, talked to friends and neighbors to hear about their favorite family activities, and surveyed the more than 100,000 readers in this community—then I compiled all the most-loved ideas into one epic list.

As you scroll through the list, keep an eye out for one or two activities you'd like to try, and make a plan to do them within the next week. Add them to your calendar or put a reminder in your phone if you need to.

Enjoy! Kelly

[eis123456]

All Generators

But if you know the place to look – and you aren't too picky about value – you presumably can still get your hands on a home-sized generator this weekend, or by the middle of subsequent week. This generator makes use of high-performance Yamaha technology. This compact generator with a one-gallon tank and number of shops is protected to make use of to cost electronics. Furthermore, level the generator’s exhaust away from the home. If it’s possible to orient the generator relative to a prevailing wind so that it’s down-wind of the house, accomplish that. Secure the generator with a high-strength chain and padlock.

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To the most effective of our knowledge, all content material is correct as of the date posted, although provides contained herein might no longer be available. The opinions expressed are the author’s alone and haven't been offered, approved, or in any other case endorsed by our partners. You can manually add the wattage of each generators durban of your major appliances or check your utility invoice to be completely certain. You also can use online instruments to get a greater thought of what you’ll want. The Honeywell 10kW Home Generator had the quietest engine of the whole house generators we evaluated, with a relatively low fifty seven decibels of noise.

For a retail institution, you could need to power some or all your cost terminals, lights, safety methods and mission-critical knowledge servers. Prices and availability of services and products are topic to vary without notice. EPA regulates hazardous waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act to ensure these wastes are managed in ways in which protect human well being and the setting. Generators of hazardous waste are regulated based mostly on the quantity of hazardous waste they generate in a calendar month, not the dimensions of their business or facility. Samantha is an editor who covers all subjects home-related including residence enchancment and restore.

A portable generator is a handy method to safely produce your own power when the grid goes down, either as a outcome of pure or man-made causes. Whether you’re new to utilizing a generator, or well-experienced, there are a few things you need to know to operate it safely. Minimizing downtime is key to reaching ultimate productiveness, which is why the T4F RS range is designed to maintain servicing and maintenance to a minimum. When routine upkeep is due, you’ll find it easy and speedy.

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A rocket quick, light-weight and flexible static site generator. HastySite is a minimalist, self-contained, and highly-extensible static web site generator. A stunning and actually distinctive documentation engine and static site generator. State-of-the-art development and manufacturing tools is used for electrical machines and control expertise within generators the production centre in Biberach.. GSD synchronous generators are developed particularly for use in DEP techniques of mining trucks. Thanks to using progressive technologies, they impress with their long service life and optimised maintenance intervals - properties which are greatly appreciated in mining.

Before an outage or severe weather hits your neighborhood, purchase a transportable generator from certainly one of our featured brands, including Generac, EGO and more. That way, you can make sure that you are never without energy, especially when you need it most. While you shop for a new backup power generator, consider how long you might must energy up your own home throughout an emergency. We suggest buying a backup generator that may run lengthy sufficient to protect your personal home and your beloved ones if a storm knocks you off the facility grid for longer intervals of time. The generator you choose will also finally rely on your finances.

[propertytaxplussolutions]

Why Automating Property Tax Bills Is A Pre-Requisite For Your Business

Automating Property Tax Bills:- Are you still relying on a manual system to effectively process your property tax bills? If so, not only does it mean your system is not as efficient or effective as it could be, but you are also putting your business in a disadvantaged position.

How?

1. It costs more: While there isn’t an exact figure for the cost of manual invoices, various experts, like Sterling Commerce, have found that the average cost of a paper invoice can range anywhere between $12 to $30. However, companies with a more complex AP process can expect costs to peak at nearly $40 per invoice. Sterling states that fully-automated invoices cost just $3.50 per invoice to process.

2. It’s time-consuming: With a manual system, it takes days or even weeks to process bills. As your team spends more time on such non-essential activities, more important activities such as analysing and reducing assessments are impacted.

3. It’s prone to human error: Excel spreadsheets and other manual tax tools are prone to human error, and you may be doubling your risk by using different systems for tax payments and tracking deadlines. There is often no way to trace mistakes, which leads to more wasted time, effort, and if penalized, money.

4. It makes compliance tracking difficult: The jurisdictional standards of compliance are varied, which may get strenuous to keep track of, especially if you are processing large volumes of tax bills across numerous states and counties. A lack of compliance could mean the loss of property or incurring additional interest and penalty costs.                                                                              ��                                                                           

5. It adds to discrepancies: Missing bills become much more difficult to identify and track as you may have to go through scores of records to determine bills that are expected but not received. 6. Duplication: Duplication of work becomes a large drawback as every bill needs to be reviewed for accuracy. Automation cancels the need for this, while avoiding costly data errors and enabling timely filing and payments.

7. Managing Documents: Hard copies of tax bills need to be kept which requires maintenance and storage space.

Why automation with Property Tax Plus (PTP)? Property Tax Plus (PTP) has years of experience and expertise in technologies to automate processing of property tax bills and offers the following benefits

Lowest Cost per Bill with Maximum Data Accuracy PTP uses an exhaustive data extraction and validation process by combining in-house developed Artificial Intelligent algorithms, text analysis scripts and, and domain experts’ review to ensure complete accuracy of data extracted from property tax bills. We also set up rules in our process to incorporate nuances from each jurisdiction for each client to make sure the bills are processed to meet all specific requirements.

PTP provides the most comprehensive automation solution for Property Tax bills at the lowest cost per bill!

Centralized Management of Property Tax Bills PTP offers a web-based online portal that gives you 24-7 access to upload, track or export property tax bills. Scanned copies of paper bills can be zipped and uploaded into our cloud system within minutes and you can track the progress of each bill in real time, search archives of all bills and download bill information in excel or csv formats.

PTP provides system calendars, integrated approval workflows and ability to manage exceptions in the system!

Seamless Integration PTP builds an automated integration using direct FTP transfers with your Property Tax System or Accounts Payable system so that the processed bills can be approved and processed for payment. As bills are processed, they are scheduled for export based on their actual due date.

Analytics Platform PTP’s advance Analytics and Reporting platform helps you make informed decisions in a fast-changing environment where data is continuously getting collected. Get access to standard reports such as taxes per month, by jurisdiction, etc. or create your own reports using easy to use drag-n-drop feature and selecting a range of reporting options including pivot tables, bar charts or summary tables. 

Share or download reports in different formats!

How It Works

We do a onetime set up of the process and integration with your existing property tax system or AP system

Files are uploaded to your secure online portal

We process each bill using specific rules and extract the data

Extracted data is exported to your AP system using automated transfers