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thedanceronthestreets · 3 years

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PEDRO PASCAL GQ GERMANY - OCTOBER 2020

Original text by Esma Annemon Dil

Fotos by Doug Inglish

Styling by Simon Robins

Translated by @thedanceronthestreets

Intro: A broken tooth could almost have been the reason for our meeting with Pedro Pascal to be cancelled - and with that our conversation about roots, his new movie and times of change.

Interview: It is almost eery how empty the streets of Los Angeles are under the gleaming sun. While Europe is finding its "new normal", people in L. A. are cutting their own hair even without being neurotics. Many of them have not seen their friends in half a year. The pandemic is out of control. So are the reactions to the situation. Inviting someone to a "distance drink" in the backyard can lead to the same consternation as proposing a relationship partner exchange.

All the more of a surprise was Pedro Pascal's immediate confirmation. To the drink, not the partner exchange. He is one of the winners this year - and if Corona had not forced the movie industry to go on a holiday, he probably would not have had the time for this drink. After "Game of Thrones", the series in which his head was squished, followed 2015 the leading role in "Narcos" as a DEA agent on the hunt for Pablo Escobar, and now the leap onto the big Hollywood screen. As of 1. October the Chilean will appear in the blockbuster "Wonder Woman 1984". Furthermore, the second season of the "Star Wars" series "The Mandalorian" will start in October with him as the main character - unfortunately underneath the helmet. But we all seem to be under the same helmet in 2020. It is this man we want to meet, who worked as a waiter in New York a couple of years ago. Whose parents are political refugees that settled in Texas, and one day their son decided to walk into a drama club in high school.

And then the cancellation. While we were preparing the house and garden for Pedro's drink and fashion shoot, which isn't an easy task under L. A.'s restrictions, his management called in with terrible news: Pedro has - no, not Corona - had to receive emergency surgery due to a sore tooth and is now lying in bed with a swollen cheek, making talking or shooting impossible. The sun shines onto empty streets. And our empty garden.

A few days later, he stands in front of the door anyway, no huge bulge in his face, but stitches in his gum. No limousine service that dropped him off, he arrived in his own car and picked up his makeup artist on the way. He helps her to carry in all the equipment and states first and foremost: "I've got time today!" What a star! It does not seem like we are about to ask him how he managed to become a Hollywood sensation, but rather him asking us that question. Pedro Pascal! So, what kind of star is he then?

Pedro Pascal: Sorry for ruining your plans. The operation was a total emergency.

GQ: Really? We were wondering whether the swelling was the result of a secret trip to the plastic surgeon. Apparently, because of the quarantine in Hollywood, their schedules are packed.

Sorry to disappoint you. A few days before our appointment I raced to the hospital with a tooth fracture and the worst pain I've ever felt - a hospital where the severe Corona cases are treated. I was unable to contact any dentists! Right before I parked, a specialist called back. I'll spare you the details of the surgery, gruesome. The pain was excruciating despite the 10 anaesthetic shots. The doctor said I wasn't the only one going through this, a lot of people grind their teeth at night thanks to stress.

What are you most afraid of at the moment?

The way the government is handling the pandemic scares me more than the virus itself. The lack of intelligent crisis management is a moral disgrace. The leadership crisis makes orphans out of all of us - we're left to fend for ourselves.

How have you spent the last few months?

With frozen pizza in jogging trousers in Venice Beach. I live in a rear building that's in the garden belonging to a family. In reality there are enough good takeout restaurants around that area, but for some reason I like salami pizza from the supermarket.

That doesn't exactly sound like the movie star lifestyle. What does it feel like to be forced from top speed to zero?

Considering the things happening in this world, my own state really isn't the top priority. But I would have to lie, if I said I wasn't disappointed. The entire cast and crew of "Wonder Woman 1984" put so much heart and soul into the production. We had so much fun on set. I had hoped to carry this feeling of exuberance around the globe to the openings of this movie.

You are part of a political, socialist family that fled the Pinochet regime in Chile. What do you remember from back then?

My sister and I were born in Chile, but I was only nine months old when we claimed asylum in Denmark. From there, we moved to San Antonio in Texas, where my dad worked as a doctor in a hospital.

Texas isn't exactly considered to be socialist utopia. How well did you settle in?

San Antonio isn't a cowboy city but rather very diverse with large Asian, Afro-American and Latino communities. In my memory it's a romantic place, culturally inclusive. The cultural shock only hit when we moved to Orange County in California later. Suddenly, the environment was white, preppy and conservative.

How were you welcomed in California?

To this day I'm ashamed when I think about how I let my classmates call me Peter without correcting them. I'm Pedro. Even without growing up in Chile, the country and language are part of me. I was quite unhappy in that place. At least I was able to switch schools and visit one in Long Beach, where I felt more comfortable. With its theatre programme, I found my path.

Could you visit your family's homeland as a child?

Yes, after my parents ended up on a list of expats that were permitted to re-enter the country. First, there was a big family gathering, then me and my sister were parked at some relatives' place for a few months while my parents returned to Texas. They probably needed a break from us. They'd had us at a very young age, had a vibrant social life, and my mother was doing her doctorate in psychology.

Was your mother a typical young psychologist that tested her knowledge at home?

You mean whether I was her lab rat? Absolutely. I can remember weird sessions camouflaged as games, where someone would watch my reactions to different toys. Even though I couldn't have been older than 6, I knew what was happening. My favourite thing was to be asked about my dreams. That was always a great opportunity to make up fantastic stories.

Was that your first performance?

Definitely! My strong imagination alarmed my mother, because I'd rather live in my fantasy world than in real life. I didn't like school. I ended up in the "problematic kid" category. At some point the subjects got more interesting and my grades improved. So many children are unnecessarily diagnosed with learning disabilities without considering that school can be daunting. Why is it acceptable to be bored out of your mind in class, when there are more stimulating ways to convey knowledge?

With everything happening in the world this summer: Do you believe that social hierarchy structures are genuinely being reconsidered?

Hopefully. After the lockdown my first contact with people was at the Black Lives Matter protest. The atmosphere was peaceful and hopeful until the police got involved and provoked violence. At least during these times we can't avoid problems or distract ourselves from them as easily as we usually do. It seems that the pandemic provided us with a new sense of clarity: we don't want to go on like this.

The trailer of "Wonder Woman 1984" represents the optimism of the 80s. That almost makes one feel nostalgic nowadays.

That holds true. It's two hours of happiness. Patty Jenkins, the director, managed to make a movie full of positive messages. We shot in Washington, D. C., then in London and Spain - which now sounds like a different time.

Do you miss travelling?

I've only now realised what a privilege it is to just pack up your things and fly anywhere. With an American passport you can travel freely. And that's why the small radius we live in now is kind of absurd. Over the last few years I often retreated in between takes, because I was always on the road and overstimulated. Friends complained about how comfortable I had become. We all took social interactions for granted and realise now how reliant we are on human connection. Now, I wistfully think about all the party and dinner invitations I declined in the past.

In L. A., people spend more time indoors or in nature than in other metropolises. Could this city become your safe haven after New York City?

My true home is my friends. Ever since I was young I've lived the life of a nomad and haven't set roots anywhere. Until recently, my physical home was a place for arriving and leaving and hence I didn't want to overcomplicate living by owning lots of things. The opposite actually: Without having read Marie Kondo's book, I got rid of all the stuff that was unnecessary and lived a very minimalistic lifestyle.

Is there something you collect or could never say goodbye to?

Books! I still own the literature I read during my teen and university years. Recently I found a box of old theatre scripts and materials back from my uni days at NYU. I can't separate from art either, same as lamps or old pictures. Furniture and clothes are no problem though, they can be chucked.

Do you remember any roles that were defined by their costumes?

Yes, "Game of Thrones" comes to mind immediately. During that time I first understood what it means, as an actor, to be supported by a look. I owe that to costume designer Michele Clapton. She developed these very feminine robes and brocade cloaks for my role that looked very masculine when I wore them. I felt sexy in them. And very important were of course Lindy Hemming's power suits and Jan Sewell's blond hair for the tycoon villain Maxwell Lord in "Wonder Woman 1984". Relating to the style, I couldn't really see myself in the role since the shapes and colours of the 80s don't really fit my body. My type is the 70s.

Do you adopt such inspirations into your private closet?

At this point in time, I'll choose any comfortable outfit over a cool look. Sometimes I mourn the days when I defined myself with fashion. It's a bit mad when I think about how, in the 90s as a teenager, I would go to raves; a proper club kid with crazy outfits: overalls, chute trousers, soccer shirts and a top hat like in "The cat in the hat knows a lot about that!" by Dr Seuss. Later in NYC I was part of a group that placed immense value on wearing a certain style. The fact that I only walk around in joggers nowadays is actually unacceptable!

Normally, actors who work on comic screen adaptations become bodybuilders and eat ten boiled chicken breasts per day. You don't?

My body wouldn't be able to handle that. I find it difficult enough to maintain a minimum level of fitness. As of your mid 40s, you suddenly need a lot more discipline. Until the tooth incident happened, I worked out a couple of times a week with a trainer to keep the quarantine body in shape.

What would annoy you the most, if you were your own roommate?

I can be very bossy. I have to gather all my goodwill not to force my movie choice on to everyone else. When I want something, I'm not passive aggressive about it, I attack head on. Also, I can get caught up in tunnel vision: When i feel down, I can't imagine that I'm ever going to feel better again. I have difficulty with seeing the bigger picture when experiencing problems or emotions. Method acting really wouldn't be my thing. That's why I try to only work on projects that feel good and where people encourage and lift each other up.

While you were trying on the outfits you pointed out a lack of self-esteem. How does that coincide with your career?

Isn't it interesting how traits and circumstances go hand in hand? Self-esteem comes from the inside, but it's also influenced by what society believes. We use critical stares from the outside against ourselves. I lived in New York for 20 years, I studied there and worked as a waiter up until my mid 30s, because I couldn't live off acting. It was always so close. The disappointment of always just barely missing a perfect part or opportunity is exhausting. When is the right time to stop trying and what's plan b? That's not just a question actors ask themselves, but anybody who struggles to earn a livelihood - unrelated to how much potential they have or how close their dream may seem. We are beginning to see now how our narrow definition of success is destroying our communities. At the same time, it's becoming obvious that, until this day, your family background and skin colour determine your chances of living a dignified existence.

What are the positives of becoming a leading man later in life?

I have the feeling that I've got control over my life - without the pressure of having to accept projects or be a social media personality. That surely also has to do with the fact that I'm a man. Women are surely pressured to appear quirky at any age.

Life is always a management of risks - especially at this time. For what would you risk losing something?

Usually, if you don't play the game you're not going to win anything. That applies to friendship, love, work, creativity. Anything that really means something to me, is worth the risk.

Wonder woman 1984 will appear in cinemas 01.10. The 800 million dollar earning DC comic franchise is moving into the New York 80s with its sequel. It looks spectacular - only Pedro Pascal with blond hair in a three piece Wall Street suit looks better.

#pedro pascal #gq germany #Gq

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trustyourgutblog · 5 years

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When Shit Got Real - My Journey to Digestive Disease Diagnoses

Greetings everyone! C Here :]

One of the reasons that S and I decided to create this blog is that we both struggle with chronic health conditions. I thought a good place to start would be talking about my journey of how I got diagnosed. In May of 2016, I graduated from my clinical social work master’s program. The previous 2 years had been among some of the most stress-inducing years of my life and I have a feeling that the life stressors, along with genetic predispositions, were significant catalysts to my diagnoses.

I had grown up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (s/o to all da Yoopers reading this) and in order to pursue my dreams of attending graduate school to become a mental health provider, I had to move away from my family, friends, and the place that I had always called home.

*Enter huge stress catalyst number 1*

A few weeks before I was scheduled to leave for graduate school, I started to experience some major anxiety about moving so far away from my family and friends and attending school (thanks to the semester that I had taken off). I wasn’t experiencing full blown panic attacks, but my episodes of racing thoughts, rapid heart rate, and shortness of breath were enough to make me ask my primary care provider for anxiety medication. Thank the universe that she was a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) and encouraged me to try more holistic ways to manage my anxiety such as going for walks, staying active, and seeking out help from natural supports.

Fast forward to finding an apartment, completing the 400 mile move, and entering graduate school. The first few weeks were pretty difficult, but eventually I made friends and began to somewhat relax. The academic and scheduling demands of grad school were constant and I was experiencing a baseline level of stress at all times (juggling classes, homework, reading, my internship, and a side job). Not to mention, I also pushed myself out of my comfort zone to study abroad in Europe for 2 weeks during the summer between my first and second year. Don’t get me wrong, I was having a blast and the busyness of my new life was exhilarating. But, I was putting my body under months and months of ongoing stress without pause.

Grad school seemed to fly by and before I knew it, it was May of 2016 and I graduated with a 4.0. You guessed it – I’m Type A and a self-proclaimed perfectionist (I’m including my GPA here to illustrate the level of chronic stress that I was experiencing – if you’re a control freak like me, you know this type of stress). A few weeks after graduation, I continued to work my student assistant job as I looked for a job in social work. I was also on the hunt for a rural location so that I could get more assistance with my student loans. Seven applications later and I had gotten a call back from a Community Mental Health agency requesting to schedule an interview.

A few days after the interview, I received a phone call stating that I had landed the job! Praise be! I was so excited that thinking about the stress of finding a new place to live and the 2- hour commute hadn’t even occurred to me. It turns out that they were short-staffed (big surprise in social work, I know) and wanted me to start right away. So, I gave a 2 week notice at my other job and began looking for a place to live. I started working a few days a week at my new job (since commuting 2 hours a day, 5 days a week is enough to make anyone go mad), and was able to able to find a place that was halfway in between my boyfriend’s job and mine. About a week after my boyfriend and I had signed the lease, he was given another work assignment and he would no longer be working at this site – he was now going to be assigned a traveling job where he would have to visit sites all over the country. So here I was. Stuck in a 1-year lease in a town with no friends or family and facing the cold, hard reality of a long distance relationship. Well, shit. I was now going to be separated from my best friend who I had lived with since I was 17 years old.

*Cue mental breakdown*

I tried to stay positive and began my new job with my typical enthusiastic, bright personality. However, your first job as a social worker, fresh out of graduate school, is anything but bright. Don’t get me wrong! I gained some invaluable experience and met the most phenomenal people. But, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that it was confusing, stressful, and straight up terrifying.

*Enter gut health spiral*

A few weeks into my job, I started noticing some changes in my digestion. If you feel uncomfortable with females talking about their bowel movements, then you may want to stop reading here. Seriously - there’s gonna be a lot of poop talk. As a kid, I’ve always been a 3,4,5 times a day pooper (where’s the poop emoji on this thing?!). My bowel movements always seemed “healthy” and I never had any trouble going. So, it was very strange to me that I was starting to experience constipation.

Huh, that’s odd, I thought.

Too busy to think much of it, I “just kept swimming” with my fast-paced life. After a few weeks of on and off constipation, I started noticing that I had blood in my stools.

Woah. That’s not right.

My mind immediately thought of my older sister. She had been diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease within the last 2 years. My first cousin had also recently been diagnosed with Crohn’s after a major hospitalization and the removal of some of her colon. Naturally, I began to panic. I immediately thought I must have it too and texted my sister. She texted back a few minutes

later –

“You need to go get a colonoscopy.”

So, I went about finding a primary care doctor as I had barely been moved to the area for a month and hadn’t been established with anyone yet. The provider I found was nice enough, but she totally dismissed my concerns as some mild constipation and potential hemorrhoids. I requested that she refer me to a gastroenterologist for a colonoscopy and instead she sent me to a colorectal surgeon.

*eye roll*

Looking back, I wish I would have advocated further for myself. This provider was clearly dismissing my concerns and referring me to a surgeon would get me off of her back. She expected him to examine me and find that nothing was wrong. No, I’m not making a judgment. The next time she saw me I had already been diagnosed and she was genuinely surprised. I should have trusted my gut (see what I did there ;]) and pushed for a colonoscopy right away.

At this next appointment, the provider (who, mind you, was a dude) performed a Sigmoidoscopy. This means that he put a long tube with a camera attached to it up my butt (WHILE I WAS AWAKE) and promptly told me that he was seeing inflammation and I needed a colonoscopy.

NO FUCKING SHIT.

So, after spending an uncomfortable $40 at this appointment, he referred me to a gastroenterologist and said that there’s a potential that I have Ulcerative Colitis. Phew. Anything was better than a Crohn’s diagnosis. Since I had that appointment with the surgeon, I was able to skip right to a colonoscopy without a GI consult prior. I had to call my boyfriend (who was currently across the country in Utah) and ask if he could fly home for a few days to drive me to and from the appointment. Being the supportive angel that he is, he agreed to come home and a few weeks later I had my first colonoscopy.

My new GI doc - a pretty, blonde, and particularly cold woman, explained that she couldn’t figure out if I had Crohn’s or not. Basically, the inflammation in my colon that was causing the bleeding and constipation was so far up in my tract that they needed to try an Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Aka go in the other way. She prescribed a mild steroid to help control the inflammation while they tried to figure out exactly what was going on. Thankfully, my boyfriend was home for a week, so I was able to schedule the EGD while he was home. Another round of prep (aka pooping my brains out), another 2 days off of work, and a procedure later and they STILL couldn’t definitively diagnose me with Crohn’s.

So, another procedure was recommended.

“We’ll need to complete a Capsule Endoscopy.”

Aka swallow a giant horse pill that is actually a camera and it takes pictures of your insides while it moves through your digestive tract. Am I actually in an episode of the Magic School Bus? Another day of prep and another day taken off of work to walk around with a giant fanny pack (and not the cute kind) of wires taking pictures of my insides.

Finally, here I sit in an exam room at my new GI’s office - four months later. Anxiously waiting at my GI doctor’s office for her to come in and inform me of the results of the plethora of testing that I had undergone. It had been 6 months since I first noticed the blood in my stool. Six months of labs, procedures, and office visits. If there was ever a drum roll moment, this was it.

My GI doc walked in, greeted me, and said, “Well, it looks like you have Crohn’s.” My heart stopped and ironically, my stomach dropped. Watching my sister endure the complicated symptoms of her Crohn’s over the last 2 years did not give me a hopeful look into my future. She had told me horror stories of having to poop in the woods while on a run because she just couldn’t hold it any longer, extreme fatigue that caused her to feel like she needs 12+ hours of sleep per night, and stomach cramping that was so unbearable it caused her to double over.

I wanted to cry, but I didn’t (see earlier reference to my doctor being cold AF). We discussed treatment options, she prescribed medications, and told me to “eat bland foods like bread, grilled cheese, and rice,” and sent me on my way. I got into my car after the appointment, called my boyfriend, and immediately broke down. The way I saw it, a Crohn’s diagnosis was a “see you later” to my former, happier existence. I couldn’t believe that this was my reality. My next call was to my sister, who I appreciate beyond belief. Because she knew the heartache that I was experiencing at that exact moment.

Okay, pity party over – flash to present day. I’ve now been living with Crohn’s, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) for 3 years. Surprisingly, I am doing pretty well. My health isn’t perfect, but I’ve come a long way from 2016. If I’ve kept you entertained this far, I’d like to share more of my journey on how I’ve made my way to this healthier place in my next blog post.

As much as I felt like my diagnoses were a death sentence – I can now see that they were just a beginning to a new chapter in my life. This new chapter includes becoming more aware, mindful, and attuned to my body. In my upcoming blog posts, I’ll share how I have been able to improve my self-care, nutrition, and lifestyle in an effort to lead a more fulfilling, aligned life.

#crohn's problems #crohn's #crohn's disease #ibd #diagnostic #chronic disease #procedures #gi #ibs #inflammatory bowel disease

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swan2swan · 6 years

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The issue of bloodlines and their burdens is not limited solely to Star Wars. Another story that tackles the issue perhaps even better than the Original Six (and a heck of a lot better than the Sequel Trilogy) is Avatar: the Last Airbender.

I know you’re all thinking of the same character, but we’ll get to him in a bit, because first, we need to study our Original Three protagonists, starting with Aang.

1. Aang is the Last Airbender, but he’s not some Air Nomad Prince; we still have never met his parents, and their legacy is irrelevant because of the monastic order he was raised in, but his heritage is one far more significant than blood: he is the Avatar. He is a reincarnation gifted with the ability to push past the boundaries of those already deemed exceptional. He can bend all four elements, he can enter the Spirit World at will, and he is capable of communicating with his past lives for advice and counsel. This is power people would kill for...and the theme of his story is coming to grips with it. Throughout his story, he rejects it, embraces it, runs from it, succumbs to it, and finally finds a way to balance it with himself. He decides that he is both the Avatar and the Last Airbender, the protector of all four nations and the one responsible for preserving the culture of Air. During all of this, he also balances himself with his titles, retaining his connection to his friends and his love for his family. We learn in the next series that it was a struggle up until the day the died, but he managed to do it...this is what makes him an Epic Hero. From the day he was born, he was destined to save the world, but he did it his way, and never allowed his responsibilities to erase his identity, or his personal attachments to let the world fail. He trusted in those around him and was able to save the world by sharing the burden.

2. Said burden, of course, falls on the shoulders of Katara and Sokka--or rather, into their willing hands. They are, amusingly enough, royalty themselves: Sokka is the son and heir to the chief, and Katara (like Luke) is the last practitioner of a power she inherited from her deceased parent (of course, Kya wasn’t ruling the Fire Nation, but we’ll get to that later). What does this royal lineage get them?

Absolutely nothing. When the Fire Nation ship rolls in and the soldiers storm their village, Zuko doesn’t go around saying “I need to speak to the chief!” and then sit down in a tent with Sokka for a diplomatic discussion: he has the villagers all lined up and bullied without regard for rank or status. It’s highly doubtful that Hakoda even had any royalty in his bloodline--he was probably just a big, strong man with a smart head on his shoulders who a lot of other villagers decided “hey, let’s follow him and listen to him and let him protect us,” and that’s how he became the chief. With some good strong genes and excellent parenting, he was able to raise his children to be strong, too...and that sums up what those two have going for them. The Northern Water Tribe doesn’t let Katara train because she’s a fellow princess; she fights and claws her way to the top (and then is trained anyway because Necklace Ex Machina, but the fact that it’s a Northern Water Tribe tradition and her grandmother’s migration are all well-done plot points makes it work), and her superpowered healing abilities are also something she masters with a lot of hard work...okay, so Katara’s a little OP, but she works hard, and she’s an example of someone who comes from nothing becoming a superhero.

Sokka, on the other hand, waltzes right into the first derelict island village he finds and says “Wassup, ladies, I’m the most powerful warrior among my people, feel free to ogle!” and is promptly trussed up and tossed to the floor...where he then returns to beg for forgiveness and training, because he learned that his rank, privilege, and power don’t mean a thing in the real world, and if he’s going to survive, he needs to be willing to humble himself and learn. And learn he does--studying hunting strategies, making traps, shadowing guerillas, infiltrating cities, protecting princesses, doing chin-touches, strumming guitars, faking diseases...all until he goes to train with a master swordsman, who does little more than help him to produce a weapon, because by this point Sokka’s seen so much action and drama that he’s a full-fledged warrior. Sokka’s journey is one of a boy earning his position as the heir to his father’s seat: he’s left with almost nothing, but keeps learning and adapting until he’s strong and clever enough to rescue his father from prison. Sokka began with the responsibility of having to inherit his father’s position, and he earned it.

3. Toph and Suki, the other members of Team Avatar, are also special, but neither of them really has responsibilities; Toph is wealthy and privileged, but her privilege is a cage, and she chooses to reject it to pursue her own goals. She trains Aang, she fights for freedom, and eventually opens a school and forms a security group...and then dumps all that on her daughters and runs away to a swamp, but that is yet another essay. Suki, on the other hand, is very similar to Hakoda: she’s in charge of a bunch of fighting women on some shanty island off the coast of the Nowhere Peninsula, a place so worthless it was the final tidbit on some ancient conqueror’s wishlist, and then it just broke from the land and moved away so it didn’t have to be involved with any drama. Suki runs the gym there. That’s literally what she does. She’s a part-time fitness instructor, part-time policewoman, and eventually she decides that she’s going to go off and help police other parts of the world, because what the heck else is she going to do with her life? Then she hijacks an airship and rescues other heroes during the apocalypse or something. The point is, Toph and Suki could have both stayed home and done nothing the whole time if they’d wanted, but they chose to do more.

4. All right, now it’s time for the one you’ve all been waiting for: Azula! Oh, sorry, were you expecting Zuko? Nah, we’re starting with his sister. Because she is everything Lucasfilm wants a bloodline legacy to embody: wealthy and privileged, proud of her genes and her talents, taught by the best, raised to be the best, and completely ruthless and uncaring...even cruel. It’s Azula who delivers one of the greatest speeches in the show, the speech that sounds like it belongs anywhere besides a Nickelodeon Cartoon: “I can see your whole history in your eyes. You’ve always had to struggle, and claw, and connive your way to power. But true power? The divine right to rule? Is something you’re born with.” The creepiest thing about the speech is that it uproots the classic literary promise of “Anyone can be a hero!” while still maintaining the theme of the show. It can be argued that Azula is right. She’s a main character, one with her own design and color palette, with more than two outfits to her name; the world isn’t going to be saved by Chong the Nomad or the hapless cabbage merchant, and it’s not going to be destroyed by one of the Rough Rhinos or Fire Nation Soldier 13. She coldly delivers a smackdown and leaves not only the lesser villains, but the audience questioning everything: are there those born to lead, and those born to serve? The grim answer the show provides...is yes.

5. This is where Zuko comes in. Prince Zuko. Royalty. Strength. Discipl...disciplin...dis...hehehe...”Discipline”. Zuko. HA. *ahem* No, but really, when we meet Zuko, he’s a fantastic villain. He has a giant metal ship, glittering armor, rippling black hair...and a menacing, terrifying scar. Fire comes from his fingertips, he seethes with rage, and he is Prince Zuko of the mighty Fire Nation: all of the world will tremble at his coming. But for a moment, a soft moment, we see his armor hidden by a cloak in the middle of the night, as he quietly seethes to his uncle about finding the Avatar and restoring his honor, and we hear him muse about his father to Aang, and see hints of a person beneath that.

Everything becomes clear in the third episode. Prince Zuko’s ship, which dwarfed Sokka’s village, sits timidly in the shadow of a line of much larger vessels. Commander Zhao towers above Zuko and wears much fancier armor, and then outplays Zuko in a mindgame. We see suddenly that Zuko’s status as a prince is all but worthless...his own father has rejected him. The scar on his face is not some amazing battle scar, but a mark of shame from a duel he lost--a duel we later learn was lost to his own father. Zuko triumphs in a fresh duel, showing honor and restraint, and a glimmer of kindness and mercy...but he continues to try and defeat the Avatar throughout his journey. Time and again, we see Zuko, this privileged prince, try to overcome the heroes...and he loses it all. He barely escapes being collected by his smarter, deadlier sister, and spends a whole season on the run, forced to conceal his true identity from everyone he meets out of fear and shame. He bears witness to the crimes his people have committed: broken villages, scarred legs, starving refugees. He’s given a choice, then, to stay among them...or to betray them all and return home. In his fear and impatience, he chooses the latter: he rejects goodness and chooses the privilege and power. He returns home, he is a hero, he has his father’s respect, his girlfriend’s love, everything he ever wanted...and this is a story that could not be told if he were anyone else.

Because then he realizes that this isn’t making him happy--he, too, has responsibilities. So he throws it all away, and marches to his father and tells him, straight-out, that he cannot live in safety and comfort while the rest of the world cowers in terror. He won’t turn a blind eye to the suffering of others. He leaves, flying off, and risks death time and time again, until finally he fights to win back the crown...and almost loses it to save the life of one of those peasants he’d tormented back in another life. Then, he stands tall and takes his place on the throne, and vows to use his privilege and power to better the world...and we see that he does. How? Because he’s royalty. The story is not about how “a good person can make a difference”, but that “people who can make a difference need to be taught how to be good”. Azula boasted about the “divine right to rule” giving power...yet Zuko’s mind was swayed by a peasant girl with a scarred leg, a boy who decided to fight soldiers with a knife, and a young rebel who couldn’t stand the sight of starving refugees. The core of power can be swayed by many who work together...and that’s the point of the show. Everyone has power. It’s how you use it that matters.

#atla #the world isn't saved by lee the earthbender who threw some rocks and started an avalanche #I may do a part 2 where I talk about yue mai and ty lee who are ALSO privileged individuals who contrast one another #especially yue because princess and sacrifice and blessing and SO MUCH #but this will do for now #my brain just died #tlj #tlj criticism #long post

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plumbobpost · 6 years

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Fanfic Friday: Spotlight on Skell’s Fortune & Romance

Sul sul!

Today Week of Woohoo continues with a very special twist. I have had the opportunity to ask Skell a few questions as part of a new series of posts about storytelling in The Sims community.

Skell’s Fortune & Romance serves as a prequel to the Pleasantview and Strangetown storylines in The Sims 2 from the perspectives of the Caliente sisters, hence the title which references their aspirations. Her story takes place in the time period between the first and second games and fills in the gaps between the contradicting timelines of The Sims, The Sims 2, and The Sims 3. Although the story is largely from Dina’s perspective, it features most of the iconic The Sims 2 characters ranging from Olive Specter to the Tricous to Bella and Mortimer Goth, establishing its own vivid mythology in the process.

In addition to writing, Skell has also created beautiful Maxis-Match content for The Sims 2 and is a frequent contributor to the Totally Maxis Tumblr and the fansite Garden of Shadows.

Without further ado, I’ll let Skell speak for herself.

You’ve said in the past that Fortune & Romance started out as your attempt to make sense of Maxis canon for the premade characters of Neighborhood 1, Pleasantview, and Sunset Valley. How did this evolve from your personal headcanons into a full-fledged story?

“I had played TS2 off and on for years before I was part of the fandom, mostly just goofing around but I had a lot of fun taking pictures and experimenting with posing. One day I discovered Strangetomato’s “Strangetown Here We Come” on TVtropes and was amazed at the way she fleshed out the premade stories from the game. Through her comment section, I discovered the whole fandom and started paying better attention to the premades. Eventually I came up with a backstory for Dina that I really wanted to write and share.”

Why did you choose Nina and Dina Caliente to be your protagonists? Did you ever consider different lead characters?

“It was always gonna be Dina because I was intrigued her backstory with the mysteriously inconsistent Michael Bachelor and the fact that she’s part alien. I wasn’t as interested in Nina until I noticed that she was shy (like me in RL) and also autonomously beating people up all the time. That’s when I realized she was gonna be a co-star and balance to Dina’s antics.”

Instead of ignoring Maxis’ characterization of Dina as a gold digger, you embraced it and made it a focal point of her character. Similarly, you fully acknowledge Nina’s romance aspiration while not making her a heartbreaker. How did you find a balance between their implied “villainy” in The Sims 2 and making them more sympathetic characters?

“I enjoy classic movies where Marilyn Monroe or Thoroughly Modern Millie is like “teehee I’m gonna marry a millionaire,” and it’s quirky rather than villainous. In those stories, she usually falls for a poor guy and chooses love over money (and often he turns out to be secretly rich.) Since Michael didn’t give her a “married a rich sim” memory, I wanted to write Dina the gold-digger as a modern version of that kind of story.”

“Maxis kind of setup Romance sims for “villainy” by not allowing for casual or open relationships, but of course that can be fixed with mods. With Nina, it’s interesting that she doesn’t really fit the “outgoing party girl” type. I think of her as a quiet person with a very intense energy. She needs lots of exercise and woohoo so that she doesn’t explode.”

There are a lot of unconventional relationships in your story. Nina and Servo. Olive and Ichabod. The Tricous. Even Dina and Michael. That being said, there is very definitely a theme of “love conquers all.” What motivated your approach to these relationships? How does that relate back to your attempts at reconciling Maxis canon throughout different games?

“I have a thing for mixed supernatural relationships. Dina and Mike bonding over their hidden supernatural heritages was always key once I figured Michael had a magic side. I knew I wanted to have Nina be intimate with a servo because that’s HAWT, but I didn’t foresee how intimate things would get until I figured out Servo’s character. The Tricous’ happy polyamory was my explanation for all the weirdness going on with their relationships and family tree. And I wanted Olive, Ichabod, and DJ make up this very loving and weirdly “normal” Unholy Family.”

Speaking of reconciling Maxis canon, you created your own version of Michael Bachelor in order to match his appearance in The Sims better and to create a resemblance between him and his famous sister, Bella Goth. Why do you think Michael was depicted so differently throughout the first three games? What did you draw inspiration from in creating “The Ultimate Michael Bachelor?”

“I think it mostly comes down to them wanting to use a familiar name for Bella’s brother/Dina’s husband in TS2, and carrying that forward. In TS3, I saw a boy who had his life all planned out for him by his father. In my headcanon, he screwed that all up and became the graduate of TS1 who had no idea what he wanted to do with his life. His relationship to Bella is the reason why he’s still single by the time he reconnects with Dina, who helps him find direction.”

There is an abundance of strong female characters in F&R, some of which were not originally portrayed that way. Why did you feel that it was important to write them as such?

“Well, because I’m a proud “SJW,” of course! But seriously, it’s less about being strong and more about seeing them as people?”

^Best answer that I could have asked for.

A large portion of Fortune & Romance is dedicated to the mythology of The Sims universe(s) and to supernatural sims. How did you go about the process of world building? Did you draw inspiration from different games in the series and/or from outside sources?

“My biggest worldbuilding is the explanation of where the supernaturals came from. The fairies are sort of fallen angel types who each have an animal form, and their magic rubbed off on human sims to create the supernatural life states.”

“I try to base the worldbuilding off things in game or aspects of game play. The fairy backstory was heavily inspired by fairy tales, in the way they morally test humans for punishment or guidance.”

Aside from premade supernatural sims such as the Smiths, Calientes, and Summerdreams, how did you go about deciding which premade sims were supernatural and which weren’t? How did you decide what life state they were?

“Bella has that awesome bio about being descended from “occultists, decadents, and mystics,” but then in TS3 the Bachelor family is uber-normal, so it eventually became that Jocasta is a squirellier version of Samantha from Betwitched.”

How has Fortune & Romance evolved since you started? Are there things you would do differently if you were to restart it?

“I was such a younger, different person when I started it, and yes there are many things I would do differently. (Michael’s skintone, for example. I tried to split difference between games with a custom skintone in between S2 and S3, but everyone assumes he was whitewashed to S2.)”

“When recreating families for TS4 I came up with a backstory for Dulcinea and Nestor’s relationship as well as a backstory for Don that explains how he got to be the way he is. I still can incorporate these things, but it would have been nice to bring them in earlier.”

With your story having reached a climax, many readers are wondering whether or not F&R will come to an end sooner rather than later. Not to spoil anything, but will the story continue after the party and if so, do you intend for it to last until the events of The Sims 2?

“I never intended for it to last until the events of TS2 because then it would be really depressing. There is more stuff planned for after the party though!”

Aside from writing Fortune & Romance, you have also created a variety of Maxis-match custom content. Why do you prefer working in this aesthetic? How do you feel it complements your writing?

“The game is cartoony, and I like to use that style to tell the story. I prefer to keep things heightened and silly rather than realistic, which very much fits into The Sims aesthetic.”

Speaking of Maxis-match, you have been working on a project for The Sims 2 that involves adapting Maxis-based custom content to blend in better with the game files. Would you mind elaborating a bit on The Maxis Match Repository Project?

“The TS2 repository project is made up of conversions/separates/or otherwise adapted Maxis which pull their textures from the ones that are already in your game, rather than creating new ones. This makes the files much much tinier. I also wanted to create a catalog where you can easily find it all in one place rather than hunt all over the internet. Check it out and don’t miss out on the gems in the back of your catalog!”

You’ve played every main game in The Sims franchise, and you’ve even made some very popular 2t4 recreations of the Calientes and Michael Bachelor. Do you have a favorite game for playing? Creating sims? Making Content? Building?

“I enjoy a lot of things about TS4. The game looks great and CAS and Build Mode are the best of any game. My favorite aspect is making sims, especially that you can share sims with traits/careers/skills so they have their own little story packaged with them. However, it is much more difficult for storytelling since there’s not even a way to pick up sims and move them around.”

“TS2 is still the best as far as premade sims go, and it’s the only one I make content for. I’m a bit of a control freak with my sims, and TS2 has been mastered by fans at this point where you can have ultimate control.”

Why do you continue to play The Sims? Do you feel that the games provide a creative outlet?

“I always loved playing with Barbies as a kid and The Sims really is the ultimate dollhouse. The first time I ever heard about TS1 I knew I HAD to have it. My aunt bought it for me while I was on vacation, but I couldn’t play it until we got home! During the car ride back home and I read that manual from cover to cover multiple times, so many ideas buzzing in my head.”

Any parting comments, teasers, spoilers, public service announcements, etc.?

“I’ve been on hiatus a long while and am just now getting back into the swing of things. I’m currently working on finishing up the chapter I started posting on Tumblr but never finished. It was FreddyAirmail who got me back in the TS2 spirit by asking me to help out with the Crystal Springs neighborhood project. It’s a community hood with houses based on each of the Stuff Packs, and I made the families for Teen Style and Family Fun!”

Thanks again to Skell for answering my questions. To those of you out there who aren’t familiar with her work, go check out her Tumblr and make sure to catch up on Fortune & Romance.

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, feel free to visit my ask box. If you are interested, give Plumbob Post a follow, and reblog for anyone else who you think would enjoy this blog. Stay tuned for upcoming posts!

Dag dag!

*Photo Credits go to Skell*

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rocky-alex · 7 years

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Motels Won’t Cut It Anymore

Word count: 1034

Warnings: Nothing this time

Pairing: Reader x Sam

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Chapter twenty eight: Daddy’s Twisted Nerve

Your dad had told you everything about the rising. He’d told you exactly what you had to do, exactly what you had to give. You’d be hanging onto life by a fingertip if things went south, which they very well could. He didn’t even seem to care much, which, granted, didn’t surprise you, but made you question whether he ever really cared about you or your sister. How long had he been planning this? Was having kids just another step in his plan? Everything just kept running through your head over the next two weeks while he made preparations. In your short time back with your family, you’d already seen that he had become damn near paranoid. He didn’t trust many people, and only you, your parents, uncle Bill and Arnie would be there for the rising.

The first night in the mansion you heard sounds coming from the woods around you. When you asked your father he said the energy surrounding this place right now was drawing the attention of every monster close by. They could feel the ground moving in a way humans couldn’t.

“And you’re totally cool with that?” you asked with raised eyebrows.

“The area has been sufficiently warded against any and all monsters.”

“Again, this is totally fine?”

“Yes, it is. They can’t even come close to us.”

“They’re close enough to be heard from the house.”

“Y/N, would you just trust me on this?” He looked frustrated.

“Dad, there are monsters literally surrounding us, probably waiting for the first opportunity to rip us to shreds.”

“I know! But it’s almost time, and the wards will hold.” He seemed very sure of this. You took a deep breath.

“Okay. I’ll trust you on this.” Not likely.

You’d expected your father to start the ritual as soon as he had you in his clutches, but that wasn’t the case. After spending a night at the mansion you were taken to the nearby town. You parked outside a tall apartment building. You’d told your dad that he’d have to kill you to get you to leave your bike behind, and he relented. As long as you stayed close to his cars.

In the downtime, between your arrival and the rising, your father did his best to introduce you to his organisation. Your stay there was precarious as best, and the best you dared to hope for was that he needed you alive for the ritual, so you listened intently, trying to appear as if you were taking in his every word. After a few days, it started getting to you, and you actually got invested in what your father was doing. The first thing he did was go over the basics of the operation, giving you insight to something that had been in motion long before you were even born. You learned that the business was mainly located in Europe and North America. Thin branches stretched to other continents, but the Ritchies had realised long ago that their biggest advantages lay close to home. Going global hadn’t been an option way back when, and the family had, before your father took the reins, decided to stick where there was history.

The family made it’s profit from buying and selling rare artefacts, providing safe-from-human-law hunting grounds for monsters, and running a black market on human organs that were definitely not intended for illegal transplants. Shudder… Another part of the operation was lining the pockets of other criminal families, with interest of course. Families that just happened to consist entirely of monsters. You remembered hearing the brothers mentioning Chicago, and a few days after reuniting with your family they confirmed what Sam and Dean had said about the monster mob.

“Our biggest alliance lies with the Chicago Families. They hold great power among the monsters and have, for the most part, been accepted as intermediaries between us and bigger, more widespread, monster communities.” “For the most part?”

“In some cases, it’s not possible to efficiently gather monsters, or organise them into a working society. Chicago, in a way, is a rarity.”

“What cases?”

“Take, for example, rugarus-”

“What’s a rugaru?”

“That’s part of the explanation. See, they start out human. Some of them have no idea what they are, but they can mate with humans and pass on the gene. They grow up normal, but around 30 years old, they start changing. The biggest change is their hunger, it grows until the inevitably take a bite of the biggest prize.” “Which is…?”

“Long pig.” Okay, ew. “Once they have a taste, they change fast. They become inhumanly strong, their flesh rots, and they can’t go back. They’re uncontrollable and not always self-aware.”

“Does that harm you business in any way?” All part of the charade? Right? Shit. Your dad tried to hide his smug grin.

“Well, keeping monsters a secret is necessary for this all to work. That’s why hunters exist. If all monsters could be controlled we would have no need for hunters. Hell, they’d probably be extinct by now…”

You thought about Sam and Dean, getting to live a normal life… Selfishly, you immediately discarded that thought. You’d never have met them if they had lived a normal life. And your own family would still be as twisted as it was today. You hated to admit it, but you were intrigued by how this family conducted it’s business, despite the organ dealings. It made you sick to think that, if it hadn’t been for Leah’s death, you might have eventually joined your father of your own free will. However, despite already knowing one of his biggest secrets, you were still positive he was hiding things, and you hated to think what it could be. Interest in the business aside, your goal was still clear; stop your father from resurrecting the goddess, preferably without dying in the process. You didn’t see how you could do it, though, with so many guards around. The only thing you could think was that it would have to happen during the ritual, and you’d just have to play along until then.

“So back to your alliance with Chicago…”

“Ah, yes. You see…”

@bookchic20

@hey-bxtch

@winchesterxtwo

Note: Thank you so much to @carryonmyswansong for the amazing reviews on the last chapter, you make me so happy and encourage me to write :D Your feedback gives me another perspective on my writing, and I see things differently, which helps a lot and I realise things about my story that I don’t while writing. Thank you! :D Kudos to whoever guesses the song that inspired this chapter :P

#supernatural fanfiction #supernatural fanfic #supernatural reader insert #sam winchester #dean winchester #sam winchester x reader #sam winchester x you #dean winchester and reader #dean winchester and you #motels won't cut it anymore

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dreamin-of-somewhere-else · 7 years

Text

I’m Sorry, It’s Just a Memory

Charaters: Dean, Sam, younger sister!reader. (Kinda Sam’s POV)

Words: About 2000

[Angst, Character Death.]

A/N: So, I’ve been having a writer’s block, honestly, besides just being busy. But, I scrolled through this document that I write my stuff in before posting it, and found this unfinished piece. So, yeah, it sparked my inspiration, and even though I wasn’t really in an angst mood when I found it, it was angst I had in mind when I started, so that is what this is. Angst. A lot of it. Also, this is could be anytime, it’s not a specific season. The reason Sam looks like he did in like season two is only because it was a pretty gif :)

”(Y/N), I could’ve been at the bar right now, talking to a beautiful woman. And then later we could’ve—”

”Dean, stop being such a party pooper and shut up, please? We’re almost there.”

Your voices feels like a warm blanket over Sam. So familiar and comforting.

Because, you and Dean are everything he has. You’re home to him, the two people he loves most in the whole wide world. You three siblings are probably the greatest love story of Sam’s life, platonically of course. It’s awkward to think about and he would never say it out loud, but he knows deep down that it’s the truth. Because who else would it be? Jess? Sam loved that girl with his whole heart, but he knows now that if it came down to it and he had to choose — it would be you and Dean. He knows because he’s had that nightmare several times, and he knows the answer now.

You and Dean are bickering, as usual. But in some weird way, that just adds to the whole feeling of familiarity. Sam smiles to himself, as he lightly shakes his head.

The three of you are walking through the forest, up a steep hill. It’s dark out and it’s starting to get chilly — your breaths already coming out as little clouds of mist. And for a moment Sam wonders why on earth you are walking through the forest. Without your guns up and ready. With smiles on your faces and your hearts light and free and for once not heavy. Instead, you’re cheeks are rosy and your eyes bright. You’re happy.

And no matter how much Sam appreciates that, he still feels like something’s wrong. Why are you even there? Shouldn’t you be hunting? Something is nagging in the back of his mind, just waiting to be remembered and ruin the whole carefree atmosphere with stress and anxiety.

So, Sam pushes the thoughts away for now. He needs this little moment, to breath, to smile and maybe even laugh, because he hasn’t done that in a while. He needs a break, and now he has a chance to take one, even if it’s just for a little moment. So Sam closes his eyes just for a moment, rolling his shoulders back, stretching them until he lets them drop, relaxing. He listens to the light wailing of the wind brushing through the treetops. He takes in the scent of forest, trees, cold and night. The air is fresh and crisp. And he hears the footfalls of his own and of you and Dean. It’s peaceful.

Sam’s eyes opens once again when Dean’s voice break the silence.

”How far is it left? This is a workout.”

”No need to whine anymore, Deano.” You declare contently as you come to a stop. You’ve been walking first and now you looked over your shoulder at Sam and Dean with a grin on your face. ”We’re here.”

Sam and Dean looks at each other and climb the last bit of the hill, and the view that greets them is actually quite breathtaking. Even Dean is stunned.

From the hill, you can see all over town. The houses, the streets, the cars, the football fields, the forest surrounding it, and then, the mountains. Now, since it’s late in the evening, you can only see the lights. A network of golden yellow electrical lights, and Sam can tell where everything is placed by the pattern of it. Everything looks so small. Sam knows thousands of people, each with their own little complicated lives, live there, but it’s just really a small, little town in the whole wide world. The shadows of the towering mountains makes the community look even smaller. So does the spectrum of glistening stars scattered across the midnight blue sky.

”Wow.” Dean utters, mostly to himself. His moss green eyes scanner the whole view, taking notice to the details.

Sam nods agreeably. ”It’s beautiful.” He murmurs.

You laugh a little. ”I told you.”

It’s a reminder. That if these people’s lives — and frankly, their whole world — are so small, if one should be honest, then so was his. All the crap that goes on in Sam’s, Dean’s and your lives, it’s not everything. Somewhere, someone lives blissfully unaware of everything bad here. It’s not insignificant, but it’s a reminder. That it doesn’t have to be this way. It’s not everything.

But then, Sam takes his gaze away from the view and looks at something else instead — you and Dean.

Right now, you’re all happy. It’s been a long time since a moment like this. Sam notices how young you, his beloved siblings, look. With bright eyes and pearly white smiles that light up your faces. How young you look, when the chaos of the world isn’t weighing down your shoulders — even if it’s just for a moment. Because even though a lot of people are blissfully unaware of the pain you’ve been going through, sometimes it affects them too. And if you three can’t stop what’s about to happen, it might as well do. Who knows how many in this little town are alive just because you three exist and do what you do.

But anyway, don’t think about that right now, Sam. He focuses on you and Dean again and that’s when he catches you looking up at him. Your eyes are glistening and holds that special little glimpse that they’ve always had. The famous (or sometimes more like infamous) (Y/N)-glimpse. On your lips a mischievous little smile plays. You look so happy.

Sam smiles back, his dimples showing. But then, his eyebrows knot as he frowns a little.

”I thought we lost you.” He says to his own surprise. He doesn’t even know where the statement comes from, why would he say that?

He did say it though and now he’s waiting for your answer. He quickly glances out over the view, looking out over all of its lights. And then images of other lights suddenly penetrates his mind.

The lights are so bright that it hurts. Sam’s heart jolts with fear, and for just a split second he feels numb — like he’s outside of his own body. Like he can’t control his own limbs. ”Sam, watch out!” Your horrified screams reaches his ears and he slams on the breaks as he quickly turn the wheel, away from the truck heading straight towards the Impala. Screeching tires. Losing control. Horns blaring. Getting thrown around inside the car. Coming to a sudden, harsh stop. A deafening noise, pain and then blackness.

Sam blinks, and once he’s returned to the moment, and he has realized that he’s in fact back on top of the mountain with you and Dean again — you’ve moved closer, now standing right in front of him. You tilt your head upwards, looking up at Sam. Your pretty, soulful eyes stare right into Sam’s and they provide that comforting, reassuring warmth in Sam’s chest as they always have.

You bring up a hand and place it on Sam’s cheek. Sam leans his head into it. The corner of your lips curl into a small, gentle little smile. ”But you did.”

At first Sam doesn’t know what you mean. But then he remembers his own words. I thought we lost you.

His thoughts are suddenly shattered by a bloodcurdling scream. It’s loud and Sam’s heart clenches painfully as he realizes that it’s his older brother’s. Sam’s eyes race to Dean, and you quickly turn your head around, facing him, your hair whipping around with it.

But Dean is watching the stars, calmness across his features. He’s happy, content and relaxed, and Sam can’t connect the dots until he gasps awake.

Hands are wrapped around his arms, pulling him away from… what exactly? Sam’s so confused and it takes a few seconds for him to return fully to consciousness and realize that Dean is in fact screaming.

Two men, dressed in light blue scrubs, are holding his older brother back, and Dean’s just frantically howling. He’s more distressed than Sam thinks he’s ever seen him. Tears are escaping his eyes that are filled with endless fear that Sam never wanted to see in them. The eldest Winchester looks beaten up. He has dried blood in his dark blond hair, and his right cheek bone is decorated with dark purple. Something tells Sam that Dean probably has more injuries hidden underneath his jeans, dark t-shirt and leather jacket.

Sam’s brain continues to process the situation as the hands pull him up from the chair he apparently has been sitting in — sleeping, dreaming. Dreadfully, he looks down in front of him — and there are you.

His eyes widen as they latch onto your almost translucent skin. The dark bruising over it. The bandages around your head. The way your eyes are closed, your long eyelashes perfectly feathered out. The way your hair is laid out over your shoulders and chest, without its usual sheen and with streaks of red tainting some strands. The way your lips are tinted blue. All the tubes and wires connected to you. The way stressed hands of doctors begin working on you. The way you look so small, so young, so broken… and dead.

The beeping of the heart monitor flatlining reaches his ears. No.

Dean has already been shoved out of the room when Sam’s on his feet, legs weak and wobbly, head throbbing painfully.

”Sir, please. We need you to leave to room so that we can help your sister.”

(Y/N). My little sister.

Sam absentmindedly nods and begins to walk with the nurses that was dragging him towards the exit, where Dean stood, hands carded into and pulling his short hair, desperately watching the scene in front of him. The doctors working on you are exclaiming things he doesn’t want to hear.

Soon, Sam’s outside too, standing next to his older, shorter brother as both of them stand in the doorway, staring. Neither of them want to see, but they can’t look away. They physically just can’t.

And, it doesn’t feel real when the doctors tried the defibrillators for the third time, without result. It can’t be real when they call out ’time of death, 10.21 am.’

It has to be a dream. Dean’s crumbling besides him, yelling his heart out again, tears pouring. Sam feels numb. Like he can’t move. No. This isn’t happening.

Just a moment ago, you were fine. Happy, smiling, watching the stars. You had met Sam’s gaze and Sam had seen the spirited glimpse in your eyes. You had touched him.

Sam slowly reaches up his own hand and places it on his cheek, half expecting to find your smaller hand there, but it’s just his own skin.

No, you are lying still inside a hospital room as solemn and defeated doctors put away the defibrillators and all the other medical equipment, heads hanging low.

And then Sam catches Dean looking up at him, just like you had done by the viewpoint. But his eyes are filled with agony. He looks so confused, so scared, so lost, and so heartbroken. He doesn’t know what to do, and he looks at Sam, his little brother, for help. Dean looks at Sam for guidance, and Sam knows it’s really bad and so wrong.

Dean lets out a shuddering sob, and he’s about to fall to his knees, when Sam automatically open his arms. Dean stumbles into them, and they hug like they haven’t in a long time. Sam’s vision blurs and it takes a while to realize that it’s blurred with the stinging tears of a brokenhearted boy that just lost his little sister.

Meanwhile doctors are exciting the room, passing the pair of brothers. A couple of them step forward and apologizes, saying that they’re sorry for them. Sam doesn’t have the energy to be angry with them for not saving you.

Instead, he closes his hazel eyes and hides his face in Dean’s slightly trembling, leather clad shoulder. And then he let’s himself cry.

Your eyes are glossy as you look up at him. You’re back under the stars again, before Sam was forced out of his slumber and into reality. Back in the peaceful moment, and you are all there, you, Dean and Sam. You’re all happy, healthy and alive.

”I’m so sorry, Sammy.” You breath a shuddering breath. ”But you just lost me. This is just a memory.”

Worth mentioning is that I don’t know how this is how it would work in that hospital scene, I just winged it.

Tags: @daughters-and-winsisters @evyiione @samanddeanshotsis @darkestgrungeuniverse @fabulouslycassie @delessapeace-blog @mariairwin666 @1amluke @saveprettydays @cookee50 @yoursmilemakesmeloveyou @infamati--et--obliterati @stillcooli0

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bbcky-barnes · 7 years

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Destiel Fanfics RecList

(Reminder that these are not in any specific order!!)

1. Painted Angels

Words: 105K

Summary: Author Castiel Novak has finally hit the big time, with a book based on his failed college relationship with a brilliant painter. He's put all his pain behind him, but at a book signing, he comes face to face with Dean Winchester for the first time in twelve years, and the reunion doesn't go like Cas hoped. Dean's a broken man, with a lot of scars and secrets, shoulders weighed down by his demons and self loathing. Cas sees a second chance with the man he's never stopped loving, but Dean's moved on, and is about to get married. Sam launches a "brilliant" plan to reunite his brother and his best friend, but Cas is worried it will all blow up in their faces, and he'll go through the agony of losing Dean a second time.

2. Easy Now, With My Heart

Words: 50K

Summary: Dean Winchester is a kindergarten teacher. Castiel Milton is a writer slash works-in-a-coffee-shop. He also happens to be the extremely hot one-night stand that Dean never intended to see again other than in his own fantasies (he’s classy like that). But suddenly Cas is everywhere and Dean is convinced that Fate is out to get him. And maybe they do this thing backwards, but that doesn’t have to mean they can’t make it in the end, right?

3. Sweaters & Cigarettes

Words: 150K

Summary: Dean Winchester is in high school, crushing hard on Castiel Novak, the unbelievably hot goth who Dean does his very best to convince himself he hates, despite the fact that he can’t really stop staring at him. Dean tries, but when the two of them finally cross paths, their first conversation takes a surprising turn. And suddenly, they both find themselves falling harder and faster than they ever could have expected.

4. Freefall

Words: 129K

Summary: Kindergarten teacher Dean Winchester spends his days elbow deep in play doh; the most exciting his life gets is when he plays mechanic in his uncle Bobby's shop on the weekends. That is until a birthday party goes tequila-nova and he trips into a one-night stand with an incredibly hot firefighter named Castiel.Dean's life gets a lot more exciting after that.

5. California Waiting

Words: 173K

Summary: Dean and Castiel's relationship has evolved over time- from strangers to roommates, roommates to friends, friends to best friends. The most troublesome evolution came to pass when they went from being best friends to "We're just friends."

6. Appoggiatura

Words: 121K

Summary: Castiel leaves the religious commune of Heaven Farms to study classical piano after winning a full scholarship paid for by the Deanna Campbell Memorial Foundation, and answers an ad in the campus newspaper: 1 bedroom to let. Meals provided. 50mb wifi, quiet odd music student preferred.

7. Heaven & Hell Escort Service

Words: 124K

Summary: Loosely based on the film 'The Wedding Date'. Castiel Novak is a high class escort, and an expensive one at that. He likes to help people, and being an escort allows him to do that... barely. Dean Winchester is a mechanic/waiter who may have accidentally told his father he has a long-term boyfriend to bring along to Sam's wedding. Desperate times call for desperate measures... an escort service might not be what he wants, but it could be exactly what he needs.

8. Cursed or Not

Words: 115K

Summary: While experimenting with magic when he was a kid, Sam accidentally cursed Dean. Now, Dean is forced to wear a spelled amulet constantly, or he'll turn into a random animal. For a little over a decade, he's learned to live with the curse, and has even found it useful in some cases, but he sure would be happier without it.When he meets a witch named Castiel, he's offered a deal. Instead of assuming all witches are bad, Dean can spend a season getting to know him. If at the end of the season, Dean still thinks he's evil Castiel will send him away with his memory wiped of the whole experience. But if he learns that Castiel is not the monster Dean assumes he is, he'll lift Dean's curse.It's an offer Dean can't bring himself to pass up.

9. Satin and Sawdust

Words: 160K

Summary: When Castiel moves out of Jimmy's house and into his own place for the first time, he saves money on buying a home by investing in a Fixer-Upper. He knows nothing about how to fix the many problems the house has, but he figures he's smart enough to figure it out. Unfortunately it's not too long before he learns that he's way in over his head.Thankfully his new neighbor Dean is a handyman, and agrees to help him out. He knows Dean has a bit of a crush on him, but he's not taking advantage of it, really. Dean's a great guy, and quickly becomes a good friend.But a flash of satin under Dean's toolbelt changes everything.

10. Muscle Memory

Words: 20K

Summary: Dear Castiel, Hello – it’s Castiel. This must all seem very confusing, and I’m sorry for that. Dean says to tell you that this isn’t some kind of ‘time-travel stunt’, although I’m sure that won’t be your first thought. I know it wasn’t mine. I’ve told Dean to leave now, as this is my notebook and I want everything in it to come from me – or rather, from you. I know you think it's the fifteenth of January, 2010, but it isn't. At the time of my writing this, the date is the fourth of October, 2013. Dean Winchester is your boyfriend of a year and a half, and you no longer work at the library, and in early 2010 you were hit by a car and hospitalised. I’m sorry.

a.k.a the 50 First Dates Dean/Cas AU where Castiel wakes up on a day just like any other, except that three years have passed without his knowing, and Dean Winchester is in the kitchen wanting to marry him.

11. Morning, Teach

Words: 174K

Summary: Art teacher Castiel Novak has just turned 29 when he meets Dean Winchester at a gay club. After sleeping with the boy, he leaves in a hurry, trying to cope with the guilt over betraying his girlfriend and his overly conservative parents. But forgetting Dean becomes close to impossible, when Castiel's new job at a High School in San Francisco reveals Dean to be a most troublesome student.

12. Hot Water

Words: 151K

Summary: Castiel hated public showers. In which Castiel is forced to use the company shower after hours and ends up doing unspeakable things he never thought himself capable of...

13. Waves

Words: 55K

Summary: Dean Winchester is the average guy: football, college, kid brother, nice car, girls and beer; his life is black and white, that is until he meets Castiel Collins: pretentious, slutty, sweater-wearing genius, who won't even take the time to look up at him from his obscure novel while he insults him. And then everything is shades of gray and Dean is drowning.

15. Soft Touch Raw Nerve

Words: 152K

Summary: Due to a hunt gone wrong, Dean has an injured leg; he has to stay in a rehab-center for the next six weeks, while Sam continues the hunter's life on his own. The only glimmer of light is Castiel, Dean's physiotherapist, and how they come closer to each other as time goes by.

16. How To Save a Life

Words: 48K

Summary: Having lost both of his parents in a terrible car accident, Dean Winchester lives a life filled with guilt and self-hate. That is until he calls a suicide hotline and the soothing voice of 'Cas' turns his life upside down...

17. Porcelain

Words: 73K

Summary: High School AU ~ Dean Winchester has it all. He's captain of the football team, a self-confessed ladies' man and one of the most popular guys in school. But, is all of that about to change when he meets the mysterious Castiel Novak in an online chat-room?

Side note: do NOT read this if you’re looking for fluff and no angst at all bc even though this shit is amazing, it’s also sad as fuck :)

18. The Open Sky (Is Mine Tonight)

Words: 22K

Summary: Castiel Novak is a wedding planner in San Francisco who doesn’t have the time or the energy for a relationship right now. After an accident introduces him to the charming pediatrician Dean Winchester, he thinks that might change. Unfortunately, Dean is engaged to Castiel’s new favorite client, Anna Milton, and it’s suddenly a game of tug-o-war between what Castiel wants and what Castiel needs — but as he comes to find out, often times those things are exactly the same.

19. Peace And Good Luck To All Men

Words: 32K

Summary: Christmas in the Milton household was difficult enough without the added complication of guests- and if Luke and Gabriel placing bets on who can get with Sam first wasn’t bad enough, then Cas developing a ridiculous crush on his sister’s boyfriend definitely is.

20. Danger Danger

Words: 101K

Summary: Life turns upside down for Detective Castiel Novak, when his partner and lover Balthazar is shot by a member of a crime syndicate. Life gets even weirder with rookie Dean Winchester showing up as his new partner and somewhere in between revenge and grief the explosive duo becomes closer than they thought they would…

21. Small Town Charmer

Words: 82K

Summary: By ten a.m. Dean had seen his dream of expanding the hardware store dashed. By one, his baby had been impounded off the street. By midnight, Dean's personal space had been invaded by an angry, wet bookseller with hot blue eyes and an armful of natty first editions. There was also a cat. Maybe we should start at the beginning..

22. The Breath Of All Things

Words: 66K

Summary: Dean Winchester was twenty-six years old when a car accident killed his father and left him paralysed from the waist down. A year and a half later, Dean is in a wheelchair and lives in a care home in Kansas, where he spends his days waiting to die. It's only when Castiel Novak starts volunteering at the care home that Dean starts to wonder if a changed life always equals a ruined one.

23. Kiss The Baker

Words: 113K

Summary: Jo is pregnant and craving something a little bit unusual. When she sends Dean on a mission to find her some chocolate cake donuts with bacon sprinkles, he's sure that he'll fail. Luckily his partner Benny comes to his rescue and introduces him to a quirky little bakery that sells all kinds of weird (and delicious!) baked goods. And they do special orders!Dean finds excuses to keep going back, and Castiel finds excuses to keep giving him special treats.

24. Like Real People

Words: 135K

Summary: Dean Winchester is a respected literature teacher at Lawrence's best private school, yet he feels like he's still a complete and utter travesty of a human being. Months after his father's death, he's yet to come to terms with the negative impact John Winchester had on his life. Though he's determined never to admit it, the only thing Dean's ever wanted was an Apple Pie Life: it's something that's been dangled in front of his face, though he's certain he could never deserve it.While Dean struggles to come to terms with the isolated, lonely life he's made for himself, a disruption comes in the form of Castiel Novak, Lawrence Private's newest faculty member. Those blue eyes and raspy voice are things Dean can't ignore for long, and when he's forced to stop fighting his affections, Dean finds his lonely life turned upside down.Is it possible he could deserve an Apple Pie Life after all?

#destiel #supernatural #reclist #destiel ff #destiel fanfic #destiel fanfic list #spn

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mysteryshelf · 6 years

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FRIDAY SF & FANTASY - Blaze

Welcome to

THE PULP AND MYSTERY SHELF !

DISCLAIMER: This content has been provided to THE PULP AND MYSTERY SHELF by Xpresso Book Tours. No compensation was received. This information required by the Federal Trade Commission.

Blaze Sierra Cross (Spelldrift: Coven of Fire, #4) Publication date: December 13th 2017 Genres: New Adult, Urban Fantasy

The demon is still out there.

Tenebris—the monster who killed my parents, violated my mind, and destroyed my coven sister Callie—has gone into deep hiding. I won’t rest until I find him and personally take him down.

Luckily the vampires have a bead on him, and they want me along for the demon-hunting ride. But with his brand new skinsuit and the magic amulet he stole from a witch, Tenebris is more powerful than ever. I’m not dumb enough to go up against my mortal enemy without the Coven of Fire at my side. The vampires, however, flat-out refuse to let my “non-traditional” coven in on the job. It seems that no one in the magicborn community respects us, no matter how many lives we save or how many sacrifices we make.

Callie was one sacrifice too many.

So screw the vampires. Forget working within a system that won’t accept us. Matt, Asher, Liv, and I may be misfits, but we’re a coven. And our coven is not complete without Callie. Somehow, we’ve got to track her down and find a way to save her. Then, we’re going to avenge our loved ones and take down Tenebris once and for all…but we’ll do it as a coven. As a family. One witch for all and all for one, no magicborn left behind.

Goodreads / Amazon

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Every day of the blitz, Enigmatic Books is giving away FIVE free e-copies of the Spelldrift Coven of Fire Books 1-3 bundle on their Facebook page. Enter HERE!

—

For a limited time you can grab RISE, the first book in the Coven of Fire series, for just 99 cents!

—

EXCERPT:

“I’m sorry, Director,” I said. “Something’s come up. I’m afraid I can’t get on that plane.”

Bonaventura spun and sucked in a breath in that almost soundless way only a vampire could. He’d already thought I was a flaky amateur, now he probably thought I was a nutcase. Even Matt and Asher were looking at me like I’d lost my mind. I could really see how it might look that way.

Didn’t matter. Callie was my coven sister, and she needed us to save her. Family first.

“So am I to understand,” Bonaventura’s voice dripped with condescension, “that after begging me to help with the amulet, insisting you be present when Tenebris is killed, you’re now refusing to accompany me?”

“Believe me, if it weren’t absolutely necessary, I wouldn’t do this.” My magic was begging to come to my fingertips. But starting a brawl with a vampire seemed like one of those “poor life choices” they’d warned me about in middle school.

Bonaventura composed himself with a smooth exhalation, then turned to Liv. “I suppose you’ll have to do.” Another finger-snap. “Let’s go.”

“It’s a coven matter that has come up,” Liv said. “None of us can go.”

“We’ll send you the deactivation spell,” I said, not caring in the least that I was giving up the only leverage we had with the Director.

If Bonaventura could’ve killed me with a look, I’d be bleeding out right now. I’d seen what he’d done to Wes, his own son. I got the feeling he was picturing doing worse to me. “Not an option, Ms. Hill.” The terminal dropped ten degrees in an instant. “One of you two witches will board the plane. Or I will release you from your pitiful existence.”

Strange what a difference a little blood could make. More than scaring me, those words hurt. I’d disappointed him. I took a deep breath and shrugged off his compulsion. Vampire mind tricks aside, I owed no loyalty to Bonaventura. And as badly as I wanted to take Tenebris down, I needed to do this more. “If you want to try,” I said, “have at it.”

Matt, Liv, and Asher had already flanked me, ready to fight at my side even if they didn’t fully understand. Bonaventura’s crew did the same for him. The Director narrowed his eyes, looking at each of us in turn. I couldn’t decipher the calculations he was making behind those ice blue eyes. “Know this, witch—and this goes for your whole coven—when our paths cross again it will not be a friendly encounter.”

My heart was racing. Did I really want to make the director of the Council Suprema my enemy? But what choice did I have? We had to follow up on that phone call. We had to find my coven sister. “If that’s how you want to play it.” I hoped there’d be a way to make things right with Bonaventura later.

The Director turned on his heel and all the other vampires followed suit. I watched as they disappeared through the gate door.

“Alix, luv.” Asher turned to me, his voice sweet as saccharine. “Be so kind as to tell me why I just voluntarily incurred the wrath of the one of most powerful vampires in the northern hemisphere?”

Author Bio:

Spells and skyscrapers. Warriors and warlocks. Coven secrets and forbidden romances. Sierra Cross lives for urban fantasy, for modern magic and the bold supernatural beings who stalk our contemporary world. Her Spelldrift universe stars kickass witches and their heroic guardians, as well as vampires, shifters, mages, Fidei, and the dark demonic forces that threaten them all.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Amazon

GIVEAWAY! a Rafflecopter giveaway

FRIDAY SF & FANTASY – Blaze was originally published on the Wordpress version of The Pulp and Mystery Shelf with Shannon Muir

#shannon muir #pulp and mystery shelf

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asfeedin · 4 years

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Friday Finds & Reader Recommendations – 05-01-2020

HAPPY FRIDAY and… It’s MAY!!!!! Today’s Friday Finds today provides is another batch of awesome sounding books to choose from and book news to squee about!!!

NEWS!!! So much awesome news!!!

1.) Twilight author, Stephenie Meyer HAS AN ANNOUNCEMENT SOON & maybe it’s about our long awaited “Midnight Sun”? OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!! I remember when I was so obsessed with this series (it’s what re-started my love of CONSTANT reading and… my blog!!) And I read what was available of this (loved it so hard) and felt like CRYING when I realized it wasn’t coming out. AND NOW…. it is?!!??!!!!!! P.S. Here’s a blast from my blog past about this: When I first read Twilight… a look into the start of my book obsession (and THIS blog).

OMG IT’S TRUE!!!!! When you click on “Midnight Sun” on my blog post reading order (that linked to what Stephenie Meyer had up on her website for it) it NOW goes to a countdown!!!!! *thud*

2.) Jewel E Ann news (“Fortuity” Transcend book #3!!) <— OMG YOU GUYS!!!! I THINK this is book #3 in the Transcend duet (coming out in June!!!) YES IT IS & I want to say THANK YOU to the author for this!!!!!!!! OMG OMG OMG I LOVED THAT DUET like crazy!!!!!!!! Now it’s a trilogy? Our book crew lost our minds over this duet!! And I 5-starred both books!!! P.S. Book #3 “Fortuity”, is going live JUNE 1st 2020 (so do NOT read #3’s synopsis until you’ve read #1 & #2. <—Trust me on this). !!!! So this is now… a trilogy. P.P.S. Book Review – Transcend – 5 stars & Book Review – Epoch (The Transcend Duet Book 2) – 5 stars

3.) M. Robinson “El Diablo” #2!!! <— DARK READ ALERT + BREAKING NEWS UPDATE!! Guess what has just been announced?? Book #2 is up for preorder my friends!!! And each one can be read as a standalone. P.S. Many in our crew went CRAZY for book #1!!

Samatha: I’m so excited for this!!!! My heart is exploding with happiness!!

TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE FOUND FOR THE WEEKEND !!

And…

Artful Lies (The Hunt Legacy Duology Book 1) by Jodi Ellen Malpas <— LIVE!! JODI ELLEN MALPAS ALERT!! “...When aspiring antiques dealer Eleanor Cole is handed the chance of a lifetime to work for the Hunt Corporation, the renowned antiques dealers, she doesn’t think twice. Only to discover she’ll be working up close and personal with the notorious and insanely irresistible Becker Hunt. He is a man famous for getting what he wants, and Becker wants Eleanor. But as Becker pulls her deeper into his world, she discovers there’s more to him than meets the eye...”

The King and the Quirky by Heather Siegel

#RedTeam Attack: A techno thriller (Darknet series Book 2) by SJ Grey

Truth Game: Ocean Bay #3 by Chloe Walsh

Socially Distanced: A Quarantine Novella by Shay Savage <— LIVE!! QUARANTINE RECENT RELEASE!! “…Locked away in an isolation facility in Atlanta, Sean exists but doesn’t really live in his silent, bleak environment. When Kendra moves into the quarantine pod next door, Sean finds meaning in his life again. Separated by a wall, they can only communicate across a balcony, and she helps him find some creative ways to relieve the tension and monotony. Together, they’ll find a new normal...”

Immortal Divorce Court Volume 1: My Ex-Wife Said Go to Hell by Kirk Zurosky

Three Blind Dates by Meghan Quinn <— COMEDY ROMANCE!! Laurie LOVED IT!

Laurie: I just finished Three Blind Dates by Meghan Quinn. Lots of flirty texting with the perfect touch of comedy.

Insta Lovers: A Collection of Steamy Novellas by J.L. Beck & C. Hallman <— LIVE!! FIVE STEAMY INSTA-LOVE NOVELLAS!!! “…If instalove is your jam, then welcome to the party. Five steamy-novellas that will melt your panties and your heart. Each book contains an alpha hero, a heart-warming heroine and a happily ever after that will leave you deeply satisfied...”

J.L. Beck: Insta Lovers by J.L. Beck and C. Hallman …We would love to do a $25 amazon gift card.

Maryse: YAY!!! So here it is everyone!! They are sponsoring today’s newsletter and celebrating with a giveaway, so don’t forget to check out this latest release and to leave a comment on the giveaway post. It’s open to INTERNATIONAL! ➔ J.L. Beck & C. Hallman’s “Insta Lovers” is LIVE and they’re giving away a $25 gift card!

Becky: I am also obsessed with Alyson Santos. I’m reading Falling North right now. …Love those angsty rocker books.

Kathy: Samantha Christy has a new book out today and it is the start of a rock star series. It is called Reckless Obsession. I loved her Perfect Game Series which was about baseball.

The Devil: A Paranormal Vampire Romance Novel (Devil Series Book 4) by Raven Steele

Dance For Me: Club Avalon Book 1 by Kay Elle Parker

Almost Never by Melissa Toppen <— LIVE!! UNREQUITED LOVE ALERT!! “…Alec didn’t notice me. At least not in the way that I wanted him to. He noticed my best friend instead. I stood by and watched their relationship blossom. An outsider looking in, wishing things were different. Torn between my loyalty to my best friend and the boy who had unknowingly stolen my heart. Weighted by feelings I could never express out loud, I wrote them all down. Every thought. Every feeling. I poured them all into a letter. A letter he was never meant to read…”

After Sundown by Linda Howard <— Kathy is enjoying this one!!

Kathy: I’m reading Linda Howard’s After Sundown and enjoying it so far. I have never read any of her books. It is about a catastrophic solar storm that takes down the power grid. Fitting right now as the town has to survive with limited resources.

Maryse: Oooooh I love books and movies about stuff like that. Not that I ever want to live that… (but this books always fascinated me). And yes right now, it’s fitting.

Archer’s Voice by Mia Sheridan <— RECLUSIVE HERO ALERT!! OMG ONE OF MY 5-STAR FAVORITES IS SUPER-BARGAIN priced right now!!! THIS IS A MUST READ!!

Diana: Ahhh, one of my many favs.

Heather: One of my favorites! I always recommend this one when I’m asked for a book recommendation

Nancy: I loved this book & another I found through your recommendation.

Niki: Read this book already and it was darn good

My Midnight Moonlight Valentine (Vampire’s Romance) by J.J. McAvoy <— LIVE!! J.J. McAVOY ALERT!! VAMPIRE THINKS SHE’S HIS SOULMATE… “…Druella Monroe is a vampire, but she hasn’t been one for long. Ever since her rebirth a year ago, she’s done her best to live a quiet, peaceful life as an art conservator and restorationist at The National Gallery of Art. All she wants is to blend in with the humans. However that all gets thrown out the window one night while hunting in Great Falls Park, where Druella comes across a naked vampire with no memory of how he got there, or the last century for that matter. All he seems to be sure of is that she is his soulmate…and he won’t leave without her…”

Zack (Carolina Cold Fury Hockey #3) by Sawyer Bennett <— HOCKEY STAR ROMANCE & one of Mony’s favorites!

Mony: One of my favourites is part to this series. Zack (Cold Fury Hockey #3) by Sawyer Bennett was fantastic. 5-star read…one of my top sport romances.

Harvest of Sighs (Thornchapel Book 3) by Sierra Simone <— LIVE!! SIERRA SIMONE ALERT!! “…Delphine Dansey carries her heart on the outside of her body; she’s looking for love and chasing dreams. She’s spoiled and selfish, the kind of beautiful that’s made for money and fame. But somehow she’s ended up in my keeping: a pretty submissive I can’t seem to resist, a lover who obsesses and tempts me. I thought I’d locked my heart away a long time ago, along with all my other weaknesses. But some doors won’t stay closed, no matter how hard I fight to keep them shut. She unravels me, just like our friends are unraveling…”

So That Got Weird by Amelia Kingston <— BACK ON THE LIST ’cause Shara loved it too!

Shara: Just finished “So that got weird” by Amelia Kingston. She’s a new author to me and I really enjoyed the book! Completely recommend.

The Host by Stephanie Meyer <— WE LOVE THIS ONE SO MUCH so when the big news was hinted at for Stephenie Meyer, many were hoping it might be for more of this! Not that it NEEDS a sequel (it reads well as a standalone but… we loved it so much, how could we not want more?)

Meredith: Don’t get me wrong because I loved Twilight but I would much rather have a sequel to The Host. The first time I read it it, I closed the book, hugged it to my chest and tried to figure out what to do next….which was to immediately start rereading it. I still get the same feeling every time I read it now, I 100% don’t want it to be over.

Taylor: Meredith, I was literally here to say this. I WANT A HOST SEQUEL

Bonnie: Meredith, by far her best book. There’s so much potential there, even if the sequel was a totally different group in the same universe.

Maryse: OMG I CRIED AND CRIED during the Host. One of my favorite books ever!!!!!!! I even had to stop in the middle – watched a funny movie – and when I picked it back up, I immediately started sobbing again.

Erin: Meredith, saaaame. The Host was great.

Viola: I agree. …I would rather have more of the Host. I have read that book too many times to count. Just love it.

Meredith: Viola, I’ve read it so many times, I own the hardcover (which I actually bought after borrowing it from a friend for my first 2 read through a and needed my own copy), the paperback (which had the extra scene) AND the kindle (because I wanted to read it and didn’t have either physical version on hand).

Viola: Meredith, yep brilliant.

Heather: I love The Twilight Saga but I have yet to read The Host.

Meredith: Heather, OMG GO READ IT!!!! You will not be sorry. Maryse linked her review up above and it’s spot on. It does start slow but it’s like a slow burn love story. Takes a minute to get there but once you are it’s perfection. I remember I had raved about to both my sisters and when they were reading it they both texted being like when does this pick up. I told both to just keep going and when they got to the end they understood why I loved it so much. I promise you won’t be disappointed!!

Jessica: Meredith, yes! I was thinking this as I read the post! I need a Host sequel!!

AUDIOBOOK LVERS!

Not a member of Audible yet? Get a free 30 day audible trial (which includes 1 free audiobook + 2 audible originals)

AND! Audiobook Matchmaker!! <— Find out which of YOUR Kindle books are available as audiobooks at a BARGAIN-PRICE! This is how it works. Click on that link & Amazon will show you all of your Kindle books that are also available as an audiobook at a seriously discounted price. This way, you can switch back and forth, seamlessly between your ebooks and your audiobooks. VERY COOL!

➔➔ Audible now has an “Escape” package membership (30 day free trial) – used to be called the “Romance” package <— this one is SO cool, and worth it (unlimited listening for all of the audiobooks in the program, and there are tons – kind of like Kindle Unlimited)!!

and…

Little Secrets by Jennifer Hillier <— PSYCH-THRILLER & SHIRLEY LOVED IT!!

Shirley: Little Secrets was ABSOLUTELY AWESOME! Highly recommend on audio…the narrator was terrific. SO many twists and turns, I could never guess what was going to happen next! This will definitely be one of my fav’s for 2020! Maryse, you have to read/listen to this. 5++++ stars!

PREORDERS (going live soon!!! )

➔➔➔ Get Maryse’s Book Blog updates delivered by email (you’ll get one daily email that will have each post from that day consolidated on it).

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Tags: 05012020, Finds, Friday, Reader, RECOMMENDATIONS

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huginsmemory · 4 years

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50 Unusual Questions

1-What is the colour of your hairbrush?

It has a wooden handle, so... light honey brown I guess?

2-A food you never eat?

I'll eat pretty much everything but I hate peppers.

3- Are you typically too warm or too cold?

Too cold :/ my circulation is probably shit, and I hate it cause I get really cold if I study for too long without getting up which I do way to much

4-What were you doing 45 minutes ago?

Finally getting out of bed, lol

5-What is your favourite candy bar?

Kinder bueno I think? I fucking love any kinder chocolate bars, there's also the one with puffed rice in it? Delicious.

6-Have you ever been to a professional sports event?

Surprisingly enough I have! I've seen a couple hockey games of the ones that play in the city nearby, and the opening game of women's world cup when it was in Germany a while back- it was Canada against Germany. Also I've watched the 2010 winter paralympic slalom, which was really neat even if I froze my ass off.

7-What is the last thing you said out loud?

Probably something to my dad about him taking lampchops out as a celebration of both my sister and I finishing the school year. Something like, "yeah sounds good"

8-What is your favourite ice cream?

Matcha or mango, absolutely love those.

9-What was the last thing you had to drink?

This botched dirty chai latte, we didn't have any milk left so it's more just chai tea, a expresso shot and a bunch of condensed milk. It's pretty good I guess.

10-Do you like your wallet?

Yeah it's ok, like it fits money in it and I have been meaning to get a new one that's leather with more pouches since its more of a coin purse then anything. It does have an owl on it tho which is cool.

11-What was the last thing you ate?

Apple cinnamon left over porridge! I dumped in this walnut apple raisin sauce mic thing we made for crepes a little while back and it was really good

12-Did you buy any new clothes last weekend?

Nope. Haven't bought really anything since covid started other then embroidery thread I guess.

13-The Last sporting event you watched?

No idea honestly. I don't really watch a lot of sports

14-What is your favourite flavour of popcorn?

Probably salt and vinger or white cheddar. Depends on if I'm going for more zangy or sweet flavour

15-Who was the last person you sent a text message to?

Malaurie, a friend I met while I lived in Brazil.

16-Ever go camping?

Yup! My family loves to go wilderness camping on my home territory so we usually go for a week every summer. We rarely tho actually use and go to those 'proper' campsites where you have to pay and they actually have facilities. If you need to pee then you can enjoy it the way we used to do thousands of years ago.

17-Do you take vitamins?

Occasionally, like my sister takes vitamins so I'll sometimes eat hers, but I don't go out of my way to have them.

18-Do you go to church every Sunday?

Not really, my family is religious but I have a lot of difficulties with the church we go to and the church in general. Sometimes I still go cause my parents still think I'm Christian (I don't really know what I am or believe at this time) and they'd be really disappointed if I told them I'm not.

19-Do you have a tan?

Not really? I probably have a bit of one since I really like being out for walks and gardening but I also wear a lot of clothing still currently so it's probably only on my hands and face if I do.

20-Do you prefer Chinese food or pizza?

Oh man, honestly probably Chinese food. I love ethnic food and I rarely actually have Chinese food so I like to have it when I can, although I always feel terrible afterwards since I love the sweet dishes. I eat a lot more pizza so it's less preferred I guess hahaha.

21-Do you drink your soda with a straw?

No, straws and bubbly drink are always kinda wierd. If it's like, not very bubbly then it's ok with a straw but otherwise no. Only fancy drinks gets straws for me.

22-What color socks do you usually wear?

I have a bunch of different sock colours but they're all pretty much neutral toned, so grey's, purples and blues. My favourite socks tho are these socks that says I fucking love it out here in a speech bubble coming from the middle of a forest since it's a mood.

23-Do you ever drive above the speed limit?

Yup. The speed limits where I live are really slow I find.

24-What terrifies you?

I guess being forgotten by all those I love. I'm not that bothered by a lot of the common fears people have oddly enough. I don't particularly care for maggots but I also find them fascinating in a way.

25-Look to your left, what do you see?

Shower curtain :/ I'm currently in my bathroom, rip.

26-What chore do you hate?

I don't really hate certain chores? I find it soothing to clean and it's only really when someone is pissing me off and I'm stressed and have other things I need to do that I don't like cleaning. But I do hate dealing with anything money wise so I hate dealing with banks when I have to and that's kinda a chore?

27-What do you think of when you hear and Australian Accent?

Australia I guess? The outback? I dunno I'm also not that good at distinguishing accents so I might think it's like English, rip.

28-What’s your favourite soda?

Ginger ale probably, or iced tea. I don't really like soda as I find it too sweet.

29-Do you go in a fast food place or just hit the drive thru?

Drive through, although it depends on what situation it is. But majority of time drive through.

30-Favourite cut of beef?

I don't really know the cuts of beef so I can't really say. But sirloin steak is always really good when barbequed rare and with spices on it so I'll go with that.

31-Who’s the last person you talked to?

My sister, and Amy who runs a research station. I was just on a call about going up to the research station to help with field work (were both going to have to do two week quarantine).

32-Last Song you listened to?

Fool for Love by Lord Huron

33-Last Book you read?

I haven't finished it yet but the Master and Margarita by Mikhail bulgakov. It's a lot funnier then I was expecting, and I recommend it if you need a read (I'm used to really dry Russian authors)

34-Favorite Day of the week?

Hm not sure. I like Wednesdays on principle (don't know why) but I'm actuality it's probably Friday.

35-Can you say the alphabet backwards?

Absolutely not.

36-How do you like your coffee?

If I'm having coffee it's with a fuck ton of sugar or in something else.

37-Favorite pair of shoes?

Currently these knock-off blundstones since I can just slip em on and theyre decent looking and decent for doing anything in. But I have a pair of fluevog boots and I love those as well.

38-At what time do you normally go to bed?

Currently between 1am-3am. It's not a good schedule.

39-At what time do you normally get up?

9-10 ish, depending on how motivated I am and the weather.

40-What do you prefer sunrise or sunsets?

Neither. I see a lot more sunsets cause I get up really late usually, so I guess when I do see sunrises it's more special. So actually those I guess.

41-How many blankets are on your bed?

I have a big duvet and a smaller throw squished against the wall for my cat to sleep on.

42-Describe your kitchen plates?

Ikea white cream round and kinda bulky. We also have older bone white thinner round plates and other thinner ones with dark red print showing a hunting scene. The last two we don't have many left of tho.

43-Do you have a favourite alcoholic beverage?

Probably wine actually, red or white both is good I really enjoy cocktails as well but I don't have them as much. Although we have a maple liqour that I'm really enjoying recently before bed.

44- Do you play cards?

Not a lot recently. I really do enjoy playing tho, and when I've lived communally I've always played a lot of cards.

45- What colour is your car?

I don't have one but I kinda share one with my sister and it's a cherry red convertible smart car lol.

46-Can you change a tire?

I've done it before a while ago, so I think I could?

47-What is your favourite state/providence?

Where I live hands down, sorry everywhere else. So British Columbia the good old PNW.

48-Favourite job you’ve ever had?

Uhhhh probably when I made an animation for a art gallery involving my indigenous heritage and rights. That was really an amazing opportunity and I even got paid for it.

49-How did you get your biggest scar?

I was younger and was jumping on my omas bed and fell and cut open my head so I have a big scar on the back of my head that doesn't grow any hair. I had to get helicoptered out since my oma lives in a remote area where you can only get out my boat or my plane/helicopter. I don't remember any of it tho.

50-What did you do today that made someone else happy?

I guess I was discussing with my sister about her sweater she wants to buy, and was more excited about going to the field station then earlier.

I tag @timugamaileilani and @petrichordragon and anyone who also wants to do this!

#muninspeaks #queries #i think i just failed my chem class but alright

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beaver-time-blog · 7 years

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RTBC #11

Here’s a good Reason to be Canadian

You Have The Right To Be Canadian II

Welcome to 2017, where feminism mean elitism (nothing new), racism means safety (an oldie but a goodie), and irony is a dear departed memory of our past (Like compassion, trust, and rationality). Now we could dwell on the socio-political nonsense the previous year had been, but that would be a bigger waste of time than the governor general pretending to not adore thick black cock. SO! Let us do our finest imitation of a 69-ing Tom Cruise and look forward… to the future… not David Miscavige’s alien-probed butthole. Today we take a trip down south to Canada’s biggest neighbor, the United States of America! Yes the land of the brave and the home of the free, or whatever, is Canada’s biggest trade partner, and very much our social sister. Take any Canadian, and simply remove everything altruistic and neighborly about them. Ta-Da! Instant American. Now I’ve had many people claim that our differences are obsolete and irrelevant, but I’ve also had Tom Mulcair look me dead and the eye and say his favorite food group wasn’t cum, so I have trust issues. Now I bring up the U.S. because of an incredible moment that was overlooked by some during the 2016 presidential election, which may well have defined the fate of both countries occupying North America. Before we bring up that subject, however, please allow a message from our sponsors…

Quick ad read then to the laughs...

Today’s reason to be Canadian is brought to you in part by “Shutting the fuck up!”. Are you full of rage and tears over the electoral decision of your country? Do you perhaps toss and turn every night over something somebody said that wasn’t perfectly in line with your predetermined beliefs? Are you by chance someone who identifies as a feminist? Are you Jenny McCarthy? Try “Shutting the fuck up!”!! “Shutting the fuck up” will provide you with all the time in the world to do things like; Checking the mail! Educating yourself on an issue! Appreciating how good you have it! Getting the fuck off of my twenty-dollar bill! “Shutting the fuck up” is the only service which will let you calm down and respect other peoples opinions! Try free today, or use the promo code “Hey, just because somebody disagrees with me doesn’t mean they’re evil” To receive the added benefit of no longer being a dick. Now I hate ad reads as much as the next guy, but this is a service I truly believe in. Across the united states of America, there has emerged a group of people determined to de-throne the currently elected President, Daffy Trump. Daffy here has infuriated countless classes of clowns with his language and laughable political intent, causing many to protest and refute his right as an elected official. These guys we’ll call the Bald Eagles. Forewarning though, If you want to read in depth about the choices Daffy has made to create the Eagles, go watch John Oliver. I won’t lampoon Daffy for the same reason I won’t hunt an unarmed man. No Sport. If something is easy, it’s not worth doing. Ever jerked off? Easiest thing in the fucking world. Probably not going to share it at the dinner table. Ever fucked Justin Trudeau? No you haven’t because that shit is impressive and you would have told EVERYONE, and you wouldn’t have walked right for a week. Guys is packing heat. Seriously ask anybody, taking that dude is like playing ring toss with a hula hoop and the Eiffel tower. No way bud.

Everyone’s their own protagonist.

Back on track to the Bald Eagles though, there is some comedy that wrote itself I’d like to point out. During his campaign, Daffy spoke how if the vote came out against him, he would not accept its results. Naturally this pissed off every self-respecting Bald Eagle living south of our border, as it should. A politician disregarding the very system designed to elect them is more dangerous than an armed Hillary Clinton on her period. Not that her love cave has cried red tears since 1984, but that’s irrelevant. Now the comical part of all of this is that Daffy won the election, and never needed to cast doubt on voting reliability at all! But what happens next? Bald eagles took to the streets and their Tumblr’s to repeatedly shout things like: “not my president!”, which was meant to resist and deny their new elected leader. If you haven’t noticed the irony yet, I hear buzzfeed has a new top ten list, maybe that’s more your reading level? I’ll spell it out though; Refuting the results of the election moments after you had judged a politician for doing just that is evidence enough to suggest you seek only an opponent to fight, not a cause worth fighting for. IF at this point you STILL haven’t picked up on the irony, let me then be the first to welcome you to Beaver-Time, Mike Pence. Fuck you, Mike Pence. This unfortunate trait of the Bald Eagles is not unique to them however. Look at what goes for feminism today; a bunch of glue sniffing self-identified “Victims” of the patriarchy. For fucks sake. There too, along with the “black lives matter” community (a bunch of chimpanzees that make even Martin Luther King blush) you can find hordes of people that fight careless to the cause. Don’t believe me? Go to any coffee shop within two kilometers of a university, and wait for somebody (ANYBODY) to voice an opinion, ANY opinion, and deny it for as long as you can without laughing. So that bitch thinks bunnies are cute? Take her down. Your mother was RAPED by a bunny god damnit. I mean all the bunny did was accidentally make eye contact while he was eating a carrot, but sill that is RAPE! Watch what happens. Their entire existence is now committed to how evil you are, how you are definable as negative as Hitler. Be sure to wear sunglasses and part your hair differently, because you are now the star of their blog. Oh my god aren’t you that guy form Allmenarepigs.org? Can I have an autograph?

Onward to reality.

I specify then rationalize the poor judgement of the bald eagles to be as fair to them as possible, because despite my jokes and jabs, they are incredibly important to me. Alex Jones knows how I feel, the guy is always having to bash the faggot community on his show, but tell me… have you ever seen him and Chaz Bono in the same room? I’m onto you Jones… Truth is, these bald eagles are going to help shape Canada in the years to come, which brings us to that fateful day in November. Once the vote began to turn toward the favor of Daffy’s republican Party, the Canadian government website dedicated to immigration crashed from over use. In that beautiful moment, bald eagles everywhere decided that their best bet was to flee the scene, and fly north for the winter. While these birds were publicly shamed across numerous sources of media, truth is, that was the right decision. If you live in a democratic state, you only have two options when a politician you don’t like is elected: deal with it, or fuck off. Canada says, for better results, fuck on. But spare a thought for the long-term ramifications of these migrants coming to Canada. Those infuriated by the election were the same people who valued equality and freedom. They may be confused about the best way to achieve these ideals, yet still they remain their central influences. So, these progressive, equality minded eagles come north, and what happens? Well, less and less of these great birds will occupy their native country, so more and more racist and sexist legislation will be allowed to exist. This will in turn provoke more eagles to come out of hiding and make the trip to Cancukville, and by now you can see the pattern. Within a decade, the divide between the progressive eagles and the regressive pigeons will no longer be a civil matter, but rather one dividing Canada, and the U.S.. Just as the lack of progressive minded people will slow the evolution of American politics, the surplus of these forward-thinking eagles will speed up Canada’s evolution. Daffy may be the final nail in the American coffin, but he alone will transform July 1st into an international holiday. But wait there’s more… The one real positive aspect Daffy provides is economic reform. He has promised to reset and kick-start the American financial system, yet this benefit is not exclusive to the states! Canada’s own market directly mirrors Americas own financial success. When they’re good, we’re good. When they’re bad, we’re still ok. So come to Canada, where you can enjoy every benefit, yet no punishment, from Daffy Duck’s administration. And don’t worry about all of this creating a country populated exclusively by people from 1945, if they get too rowdy, we’ll just build a wall on our southern border.

But can people just come on over?

Oh yah, and travel will be a piece of cake. You know why? Even if for whatever reason you get turned down as an immigrant (you won’t) you can still get in as a refugee! How’s this? Well I’ll tell yah. American Government is like the strap on dildo Meryl Streep would use to butt fuck Bill O’Reilley. Looks like a dick… feels like a dick… makes him cum like a howler monkey….like a dick…but that aint no dick. I won’t go into detail, but here’s the problem: American government does not elect its leader based on the popular vote. When an American votes, they vote for who the STATE should vote for. If the majority of the state votes democratic, then the entire state is labeled as democratic, and a number of what’s called Electoral College Votes are given to the person who won that states majority. The problem here is each state has a different number of votes to give out, and the number of these votes IS NOT dependent on population. Meaning, that your vote means a lot less than somebody form a different state. Because of this system, Daffy was elected yes, but he lost the popular majority to his opponent. This means you hail from an oppressed country, and you can file for refugee immigration! Yay! If America was a true democracy, the white house would be staffed by a washed up half dead housewife that couldn’t even suck dick properly. But because of this unfairness, the leader of the country who thinks they are the leaders of the free world (they’re not), Is a sexist, racist, hypocritical liar. Please, come to Canada. You can do so much good here.

Not that we’re perfect...

I throw these stones from the relative comfort of my glass house. Canada is no more democratic than the U.S. Remember, we have the Senate. A group of cunts, who was elected by this one cunt, who in turn was elected only by this other cunt, who only has power because she was born into the right family. Now, it is legally treason for me to suggest that if anybody ever has the chance to give her the cobweb cleaning she deserves, to contract HIV first, so I won’t suggest it. Nor can I or anybody else ask that the next time she waddles out onto the taxpayer-funded palace gardens, that the closest person there do us all a favor and bounce a rock off her skull. Seriously, it’s illegal for me to ask you to do it! So please don’t hurt the queen. Besides, if you really wanted to kill her, you could just run for MP, put in a private member bill to separate from England, and at the ceremony that will be held to say goodbye, as you shake her hand, lean in and whisper, “Downtown Abbey isn’t very good”. Bitch will keel over right there.

Welcome to the tribe!

But enough of that dick-breathed sex-demon the union calls a queen (only queen I respect wants to ride their bicycle), and focus on the eagles immigrating. Like Kanye West’s first attempt at prostate probing, there will be some tension at first. The Bald Eagles themselves will feel intimidated, until they realize that even though they were always a symbol of America, Canada has way fucking more. Welcome home guys. There will be of course, Canadian tensions as well. We haven’t forgotten that these new additions are still the annoying as shit causeless rebels that haunt many attempts at progression, despite being progressively minded themselves. However, there is a fast and simple solution to instill some logic and empathy into our American friends. Try “Shutting the fuck up” free today.

Things to take back to the dam... 1. Utilize difference in opinion to make friends, not enemies. 2. Democratically elected officials should be respected. 3. Non-democratic elected officials should get off the twenty dollar bill. 4. Shut the fuck up a minute.

#trump #canada #feminism #equality #rapedbybunny

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type2diabetestreatments-blog · 7 years

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Diabetes CASE Studies

New Post has been published on http://type2diabetestreatment.net/diabetes-mellitus/diabetes-case-studies/

Diabetes CASE Studies

With all the medical gear we PWDs have to carry around, it can be difficult to find the perfect bag to comfortably tote around all this stuff. (See Wil's rant on the man-purse for PWDs, for example.) At the AADE expo last week, we saw a few new options worth mentioning. All of these companies are also started by entrepreneurs — and we do love supporting small D-businesses here at the 'Mine!

First up is Sugar Medical Supply. Inspired by bags that her mother used to make for her and her sister, Carolyn Jäger launched Sugar Medical Supply with a glucose meter case that comes in seven different patterns.

As Carolyn says, "Sugar Medical Supply was created to bring style into the lives of people living with diabetes. Our supplies allow them to show a little personality, bring in some color, and make it fun!" The bags are a bit bigger than the traditional black bag provided with a glucose meter, giving space to slot in your meter, strip container, lancet, and an insulin pen. It also comes with an inside pocket and a front pocket for little extras. The "Universal Strap System" is flexible, which means that folks with different meters can use the bags with ease. It fits both my OneTouch Ultra and Amy's OmniPod PDA!

Thanks to Carolyn, Amy and I both received our own bags to try out and review.

I like mine. It's pretty and not too big and not too small. The only thing I found a little odd is that it unzips from right to left, instead of left to right as my Lifescan meter bag. Certainly not a deal-breaker, but it was the opposite of what I was used to.

Here's What Amy Had to Say -

"I have to admit that I love, love, love my new case from Sugar Medical Supply! It is the first stylish case I've found that actually fits the OmniPod (due to that clever Velcro-enabled "universal strap"). It's a little smaller than the equally pretty bag I received a while back from StickMeDesigns, and is simpler on the inside, i.e. fewer extra flopping zipper compartments. And to me, less is more! Yet there's still enough room, and just the right straps, to hold a backup insulin vial along with my meter supplies. This is something I should have been carrying around for a long time now — would have circumvented many a mad dash to my car or house for emergency backups!

"In addition, the material is less canvas-y with more of a slick polyester-ish surface, which is much better than it sounds: it's so darn easy to wipe off!

"I picked their blue, black and silver paisley design that matches perfectly with my metallic purse. It just makes me smile now whenever I see my new case. It's so attractive, and so clean and organized on the inside, that I almost feel like I'm sporting a whole brand new meter system.

"The only slightly weird thing, as Allison notes, is the direction of opening. In order to be able to keep the OmniPod strapped in while testing, with my test strip vial still in place, I have to sort of use the case upside-down. So now it opens like a book, unzipping bottom-to-top. This will take some getting used to! I'm also so used to zoning in on that little black square (my old Omnipod case from the manufacturer) that I often think I've forgotten my PDM - yikes! But no, no, there it is in its pretty new house 😉

These bags retail for $29.95, which isn't super-cheap, but I have a feeling they'll hold up really well to wear and tear."

Pak Bara

Another exhibitor was Pak Bara, a company founded by sisters Karen Mucciaccio and Andrea Graham. The name "Pak Bara" is in honor of a small tropical island off the coast of Thailand, where their motto is "no limits, no worries!" Oh, if only diabetes was that easy... But in that spirit, Pak Bara is designed as an alternative to a fanny pack or purse, compact enough to be worn on an arm or waistband, but large and flexible enough to hold the essentials for diabetes, or for anything else you need to schlep around.

Pak Bara wasn't designed specifically for diabetes, but the founders soon realized the bags could be adapted to hold insulin pumps, glucose meters, glucose tabs, and another medical supplies. Purchasing a Pak Bara bag comes with a free strap attachment (arm band, leg band or clip), so the bags look especially useful for exercise, traveling or for anytime you don't want to worry about carrying a huge purse. And listen up, Men: This is an ideal option for anyone hunting for an alternative to the man purse!

Pak Bara is also reasonably priced at $32.95 (plus shipping + handling).

BellaSoul:

Ever search for an evening bag and come up short, unable to find anything big enough for you to cram your D-supplies into? BellaSoul, founded by the aunt of a type 1, has a line of both classy patent leather evening bags and embroidered shoulder bags that have built-in pockets for your diabetes supplies. Their mission? "Support diabetes management without compromising style and femininity."

The small shoulder bags come with built-in supply pockets, while the larger handbags have space for one of BellaSoul's diabetes organizers, which are sold separately and double as wristlets. However, both the small bags and the diabetes organizers seem to have only generic elastic bands to hold supplies in place, and I had some trouble figuring out how to arrange the various sizes of products without needing to put something large, like a meter, inside one of the inner pockets. That's a drawback, IMHO.

I enjoyed looking over their new line of evening bags, which are not yet available on their website. But I noticed that these bags also didn't seem to have an easily accessible place for the meter and lancet, other than the large inside pocket. There were two elastic bands in the center, but that's not enough to hold a glucose meter, test strip bottle and lancet right up front where you need them. Maybe they need to "beta test" these bags on some real type 1s...

We also find the price to be a bit steep: $80+ for the handbags and shoulder bags, and another $78 just for the organizer/wristlet. But the bags are handcrafted and very pretty, so if you used it every day, instead of just on special occasions, it certainly could be worth the investment.

Now it's your turn, Readers: what do you all use to carry around your D-stuff? Do any of these options look appealing to you?

Disclaimer: Content created by the Diabetes Mine team. For more details click here.

Disclaimer

This content is created for Diabetes Mine, a consumer health blog focused on the diabetes community. The content is not medically reviewed and doesn't adhere to Healthline's editorial guidelines. For more information about Healthline's partnership with Diabetes Mine, please click here.

Type 2 Diabetes Treatment Type 2 Diabetes Diet Diabetes Destroyer Reviews Original Article

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mysteryshelf · 6 years

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FRIDAY SF & FANTASY - Everything Under the Sun

Welcome to

THE PULP AND MYSTERY SHELF!

DISCLAIMER: This content has been provided to THE PULP AND MYSTERY SHELF by Bewitching Book Tours. No compensation was received. This information required by the Federal Trade Commission.

About the Book

Everything Under the Sun

Jessica Redmerski

Genre: Dystopian YA/NA Crossover

Date of Publication: August 28, 2017

ISBN: 1546413081

ASIN: B074W372G6

Number of pages: 657

Word Count: 203K

Cover Image by Perrywinkle Photography

Cover Design by Okay Creations

Tagline: Can love survive in such dark times, or is it fated to die with them?

Book Description:

Thais Fenwick was eleven-years-old when civilization fell, devastated by a virus that killed off the majority of the world’s population. For seven years, Thais and her family lived in a community of survivors deep in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains. But when her town is attacked by raiders, she and her blind sister are taken away to the East-Central Territory where she is destined to live the cruel and unjust kind of life her late mother warned her about.

Atticus Hunt is a troubled soldier in Lexington City who has spent the past seven years trying to conform to the vicious nature of men in a post-apocalyptic society. He knows that in order to survive, he must abandon his morals and his conscience and become like those he is surrounded by. But when he meets Thais, morals and conscience win out over conformity, and he risks his rank and his life to help her. They escape the city and set out together on a long and perilous journey to find safety in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Struggling to survive in a world without electricity, food, shelter, and clean water, Atticus and Thais shed their fear of growing too close, and they fall hopelessly in love. But can love survive in such dark times, or is it fated to die with them?

Kindle Paperback

Interview with the Author

What inspired you to write EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN?

Daryl and Beth on the television show The Walking Dead – If Beth had been just a little older, a relationship between them, forced by survival and the post-apocalyptic world they lived in, would have been sweet. But because that could never happen, I made it my duty to tell the love story inspired by them, that grew in my heart.

It took you a long time to write this book; were there any aspects of the story that changed as you wrote?

Yes, definitely. I started this novel long before the 2016 election, so, let’s just say that I had the perfect opportunity to address many things that have deeply affected me since then. This type of book is perfect to show what could—and likely would—happen if society ever broke down and a dystopian world emerged as a result. Aside from all that though, EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN, more than anything, is a story about love.

Do you personally relate to either of the main characters in the book?

I think so, yes. Thais and I want the same things in this world, so through her I’m expressing them the only way I know how.

It seems EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN isn’t a standalone; tell us about WINDS OF THE IRON FEATHER. Is this going to be a series?

It was going to be a standalone when I started, but there is way too much to tell in only one book – but it will definitely not be a series. EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN by itself is like two books in one. There was no possible way to split it up into two books, and there definitely wasn’t a way to wrap everything up by the end. So, halfway through I realized it was going to be at least two enormous books long. It will end up either as a duology or a trilogy, but there certainly shouldn’t be more than three. I’m hoping I can end it in the second book, WINDS OF THE IRON FEATHER. In that book, Thais will become a great figure, and a leader, who through everything she has learned and everything she stands for will begin to change the world. This story as a whole is ambitious, I admit, but it’s in my heart and I desperately need to tell it.

Excerpt 1

“One more night,” I said, not looking at her. “Give me one more night and I’ll get you out of this city.” All I could see in front of me was the scenario: I’d wait until very late, after most of the city was sleeping, and then I’d dress her in my military clothes, make her pin up her hair underneath a cap, strap a rifle to her shoulder, a backpack full of goods on her back, and set her atop the mare waiting at the stables.

“But there’s nothing for me anymore,” Thais said, wiping away the lingering tears on her cheeks. “There’s nowhere for me to go, and no one waiting for me there if by some miracle I make it alive. My mother and father are dead. My sister”—she looked up at me, and although I didn’t meet her gaze, I could feel her eyes on me—“my whole family is dead, and this world is dead and my soul is dead and everything that was once good and beautiful and right, is dead.”

I looked at her then, her words stirring me.

“That’s not true,” I said, and got up from the chair and crouched in front of her. “You may be the only good thing left in this world, and I’ll be goddamned if I let your light fade.”

Tears tumbled down Thais’ cheeks.

I took the gun that had fallen from her hand, tucked it into the back of my pants.

“Promise me you won’t try anything,” I said as I went toward the door. “Promise me on your sister’s soul, that you’ll stay in this room and wait for me.”

“Where are you going?”

“To get your supplies.” I placed my hand on the doorknob. “Don’t open this door for anyone.” I opened it to blackness; the candles that had been lit in the hallway had burned down.

“Wait,” Thais called out, and I stopped.

She stood up on wobbly legs.

“You said to get my supplies—are you sending me away alone?”

I thought on it for a moment. I’d never had any intention of going with her. I couldn’t. Not if I was going to keep others from following her.

“No,” I finally said. “You’re not going alone. I’ll go with you, at least until I can get you somewhere safe.”

“Is there anywhere safe, Atticus?” Her voice was soft, hopeless, and hearing her say my name like that did something to my heart. “Do you know where you’re taking me?”

I sighed. And I looked at the wall.

“Yes,” I lied, and then stepped out into the hallway.

Just before I closed the door I added, “Promise me.”

Thais nodded.

About the Author

Jessica Redmerski is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, international bestseller, and award winner, who juggles several different genres. She began self-publishing in 2012, and later with the success of THE EDGE OF NEVER, signed on with Grand Central Publishing/Forever Romance. Her works have been translated into more than twenty languages.

Jessica is a hybrid author who, in addition to working with a traditional publisher, also continues to self-publish. Her popular crime and suspense series, In the Company of Killers, has been optioned for television in the United States by actor and model William Levy, and a film exclusive to the Dominican Republic.

She also writes as J.A. Redmerski.

Web Site: http://jessicaredmerski.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5437976.J_A_Redmerski

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JRedmerski

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FRIDAY SF & FANTASY – Everything Under the Sun was originally published on the Wordpress version of The Pulp and Mystery Shelf with Shannon Muir

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