THIS FUCK RIGHT HERE BEING AGENT 4 ⬇️

Only in a Sitcom

Fandom: WandaVision Pairing: Darcy Lewis/Jimmy Woo Rating: T

Summary: Darcy has no idea what the hell’s going on with this WandaVision thing, but neither does Jimmy. It’s kinda fun to have somebody to binge-watch alternate reality TV with.

read ch. 1 one / 2 two / 3 three / 4 four / 5 five 6 six / 7 seven / 8 eight / 9 nine / 10 ten 11 eleven / 12 twelve / 13 thirteen / 14 fourteen 15 fifteen / 16 sixteen / 17 seventeen / 18 eighteen

this fic is now complete!

Darcy, Jimmy, and Monica have been working their way across Westview in as straight a line as possible, knocking on every door in every cute little cul-de-sac in their path. It was Jimmy who asserted they should never put their backs to a dangerous situation, but Monica who overruled that statement, pointing out that they were more likely to stay focused if they didn’t keep staring at the fight in the sky.

Darcy thinks they were both right. There’s a tingle rippling up and down the back of her neck, like she gets when she’s up in the middle of the night, spooked by shadows her anxious, overtired mind is too eager to turn into monsters, but the heebie-jeebies give her the energy to work quickly. She takes on an entire crescent on her own, readying people for a departure she’s certain they’ve been longing for. As she’s coming out the crescent’s other end, she realizes the Hex is getting brighter; the red storm clouds are being sucked back into themselves to leave a thin daylight.

Standing at the corner, she watches Jimmy and Monica emerge from the street opposite. Darcy jogs over, wincing. Wanda could’ve put orthotics in these Escape Artist boots. They’re blistering her feet.

“This has to be a good sign, right?” she asks, motioning to the calm skies.

“Look,” Monica instructs. She jerks her chin and Darcy and Jimmy follow her line of sight to see Wanda, Vision, and the twins coming up the main road.

Darcy gasps.

Wanda’s gone from bumming-around-the-house sweats to battle-ready chic. With her armour-like bodice, gloves that leave those magic fingers free, and an usually-shaped tiara framing her forehead, she’s both intimidating and otherworldly. But she’s smiling. Darcy would call it a sad smile and it hurts her heart to see it, even though she doesn’t understand.

As Wanda passes them with her hand held fast in Vision’s, she turns her head to nod at Monica. It’s in her eyes too, the same thing that’s in her smile. Something tired but present. Gone are the comedically darting glances of her persona as the bumbling new girl in town and the frazzled energy of a mom trying to corral a couple of superkids. It looks like she’s finally letting go of the illusion/delusion.

“Can we do anything for her?” Jimmy asks as the family continues on down the middle of the street.

“No,” Monica says. “The rest is for Wanda to do on her own.”

“We might as well head back towards the center of town,” Darcy says. “We don’t need to waste time at the edges. They’ll be the first to wake up.”

She points to where the Hex is shimmering on the horizon. The seconds pass and the shimmer looks messier, a weave of overlapping wires fritzing with energy. The edge is coming closer, but unlike when Wanda pushed the boundary farther, closing it around Darcy and her S.W.O.R.D. nemeses, this isn’t menacing. Wanda’s powers are no longer looking to consume more territory, they’re contracting. Faster than the incoming wave of the walls, the Hex goes dark. The red glow is intensely magical in the sudden night.

The three of them fan out, hitting the houses in their new route, and make their way back to the town square. They’ve been telling everyone to remain in their homes until they receive further instructions to evacuate, but Darcy spots a figure on the sidewalk by the department story. It’s Agnes, except… not as they saw her lately. No wild hair or billowing, layered outfit. No levitation. Darcy’s wary in the face of the woman who appears so much like her former self, the one supposedly under Wanda’s control. This Agnes has a damn Peter Pan collar poking out of her sweater! She couldn’t look much less threatening.

“What do you think?” she asks Monica when she joins her.

“I don’t know.” Monica peers across the street at Agnes in the dark and when Agnes notices, she flashes a wide smile.

“Well, maybe we should— Hey, no, wait!”

But the Captain strides across to meet Agnes. Darcy almost follows in her idol’s wake, but she quickly remembers that Monica has powers to protect herself that far exceed the right hook Darcy used to drop Agent Handcuffs. Whatever Agnes’s deal is, Darcy knows she’s an entirely different kind of beast from an asshole S.W.O.R.D. agent.

“What’s going on there?” Jimmy wonders, coming up beside her.

Thanks to the stress of trying to speak to as many citizens as possible in a short amount of time, including looking dozens of people still under mind control in the eye and aching for their lack of agency, the fear of and for Wanda as she witnessed that clash in the sky, and, really, the car crash that’s still pretty recent, Darcy reacts to her boyfriend’s presence by wrapping her arms around him tightly. With his tie pressed to her cheek, she feels him hug her back.

“I don’t know,” she says, carrying on the conversation without pulling away an inch, “but Monica’s finding out.”

“Agnes looks like an average Westviewer again. It’s disconcerting.”

“She must’ve been faking right up until she went head-to-head with Wanda.”

“And now she’s one of them for real.”

“Seems like,” Darcy agrees.

When Monica returns to confirm Agnes’s newly mind-controlled status, Darcy peels herself most of the way away from Jimmy, leaving her arm around his back, beneath his FBI jacket. He rests his arm around her shoulders.

“I don’t know what we do with her,” Monica says, hands on her hips. “We can’t undo what Wanda did, but do we leave Agnes here in Westview, trusting that she isn’t able to hurt anyone? Do we bring her in?”

“If it’s beyond our power to help her, maybe we just leave her here,” Jimmy suggests. “Wanda knows where she is, so we let Agnes stay in a place she can be found when or if Wanda decides to release her.”

“It’s tricky,” Darcy says slowly. “Agnes is capable of doing so much damage, and I’m sure she’s going to get good and angry while Wanda has her trapped inside herself. You and I know how that feels,” she says to Monica. “But that Agnes is secure—as far as we know—inside Sitcom Agnes, like little Agnes nesting dolls. I don’t know if this is the kind of punishment she deserves for pushing Wanda to the brink, but I do know it’s not going to be pretty if that inner Agnes is unleashed with nobody around to mitigate the consequences.”

“Sentient Weapon Observation and Response Division,” Monica says softly.

“Hmm?”

“S.W.O.R.D. That’s what we’re supposed to stand for. I think, without Tyler Hayward around, it’s high time S.W.O.R.D. went back to its roots of trying to understand exceptional people, circumstances, and technology instead of just attacking them.”

“Sounds as though you might have a plan, Captain,” Jimmy says. Darcy glances at his face and catches his small, knowing smile.

Monica beams back.

“The former Director may have kicked me off the base, but I’m still S.W.O.R.D. and I still believe in my mother’s original goals for the organization.”

“Hey, it’s your legacy,” Darcy says. “You have my vote for Director.”

“You want to put Agnes under S.W.O.R.D. observation?” Jimmy asks.

“Not just Agnes. Not if Wanda’s willing to listen.”

With the sky rapidly lightening, Monica roughs out a plan that involves a partnership between S.W.O.R.D. and Wanda Maximoff. A partnership because any other dynamic would surely fail. After what they all witnessed today, it’s obvious that someone as powerful as Wanda can’t be held against her will. In exchange for Wanda making reparations to the people and town of Westview (not the least of which will be repairing all physical damage, which Monica knows Wanda’s capable of, since there’s no longer a Monica-sized hole in her living room wall) and an agreement to be held in the custody of S.W.O.R.D., under the leadership of Director Monica Rambeau, Monica thinks she has plenty to offer Wanda.

“You think she’ll do that deal?” Jimmy asks.

“That’s my question too,” Darcy says. “I mean, without the deal, Wanda can go where she pleases, right?”

“But she’ll be alone,” Monica counters. “We know what her loved ones mean to her. That’s what all this has been about—Wanda doing whatever it takes in order to go through life less alone.”

“What can you give her?”

“Vision,” Jimmy says abruptly. “The other one, the one who left. You think he’ll be back.”

“I think he’ll want answers,” Monica agrees. “Whatever Hayward did to him, he did at S.W.O.R.D. and I’m betting that Wanda will see that’s her best chance to reunite with Vision.”

“Vision will come back,” Darcy says, putting it together, “and Wanda will be there waiting.”

“And in the meantime, we use her expertise as we continue our work in a… more transparent vein. Give her access, keep her busy.”

“Keep her happy,” Jimmy cuts in. Monica nods her acknowledgement.

“Yes. Show her what it’s like to help people again. What better way to remind her there’s more to the world than her artificial paradise than to have her consult on the work we’re doing in space?”

“If you need somebody to sell Wanda on the space angle, I’m your girl,” Darcy volunteers.

“I’ve already had some ideas about that,” Monica promises with a smile.

Her eyes focus beyond Darcy and Jimmy and they turn to see what she’s looking at. Black hood drawn up over her head, Wanda’s walking back into the downtown. Alone. Darcy hopes that the fact that she’s black-hatted doesn’t mean she’s already decided against working to redeem herself to rejoin the good guys.

“You better stay in touch too,” Monica tells Jimmy, shifting as she prepares to intercept Wanda.

“If you reach out to Darcy, I’m sure I won’t be far,” he says. Darcy’s heart performs quick, happy thumps.

With that, Monica walks purposely towards Wanda. Darcy watches her cautious body language and Wanda’s tension in response to being accosted, but there isn’t any visible escalation. When FBI vehicles and the team Darcy assumes belongs to Major Goodner roll up the street, Wanda doesn’t flee. Darcy looks to Jimmy.

“You better go take charge,” she suggests.

He gives her a bashful smile.

“I will in a minute. The evacuation should run like clockwork after all the prep we did. With the Hex removed, everyone’s free.”

“They’re free, I’m free…”

“Are you free Saturday?” The smile’s a little slyer now.

“After all this, I don’t even know what day of the week it is,” Darcy admits, “but yes.”

He laughs.

“What are you thinking?” she asks, twisting to face him as his hand moves from her shoulder to her waist. “Quiet night in watching TV?”

“You know, I think I need a break from TV for a while. How about a movie?”

Darcy grins.

“You buy the tickets, I’ll buy the snacks?”

“Deal,” Jimmy says, and smiles against her mouth when he ducks his head to kiss her.

Iron Fist Rewatch 1x04: Eight Diagram Dragon Palm

Danny, struggling to pull himself onto that light post thing with his probably now bruised chest: "I dedicate myself to the service of all beings of K'un Lun-" *falls* So is this a recitation they do in training - is he trying to use that mindset to help him climb this beam? Is he doing some sort of traditional ask-the-gods-to-bless-me-with-strength thing?

Lol somehow I had remembered it as Danny crawling up again anyway after the initial push. I forgot they actually went and collected him. Guess that makes them look more favorable to him than my own recall though...

On the coffee table directly facing Danny when he wakes up, probably meant to be a sign to him about where he is and who has so kindly rescued and tended to him after his unfortunate tumble off a building: the formal pic of Harold and children, another photo hard to make out - my first thought was the vacation photo of the 6 of them but it's very sepia, could be something else. Maybe if I look back at other photos we've seen before I could match it.

Danny: "What happened to me? Last I remember I was climbing up-" Ward: "Yeah, like goddamn Daredevil." LOL

UGH THIS WHOLE HAROLD INTRO SCENE UGH Danny mad at Ward one second and then Harold appears and it's like the breath is punched out of him. Looking at Ward and Ward just calmly looking back because he clearly knows what's going on and Danny doesn't - it's as if they're bringing him into their confidence on something. This is a form of offering Danny something he wants - to be a part of something with the only family he thought he had left, not to mention the miracle of one of his parent-figures being alive again. (Wow, what a journey. From finding out Harold is dead and then Ward and Joy both quite clearly rejecting him and denying him a place in their lives to Joy actually doing something to indicate maybe at least she still wants him around after all? To wait, Ward and Harold bringing me in on something too? It's like the dream he clung to in K'un Lun got snatched away and now seems to be trickling back, and - UGH.) "You see him too?" because Danny thought he was seeing things that night at the hospital but this- this is real? Ward's sad, small nod because he knows so much more about Harold than Danny does, and he's seeing this innocent joy (word choice intended) while knowing himself to be wary and that this is almost definitely another manipulation (but what if it's not? What if-? But Harold is still dangerous, he can't help it, there's a reason Ward wants to protect Joy from him even while knowing that Harold favors her so dearly, because there are other ways to hurt your children-)

Harold calmly walking forward while wearing a black suit and confirming "I did die," followed by Danny's "You look the same age as when I last saw you..." - Vampire AU??? (Ugh but why did it have to be Harold? Not a fan of monsters as the bad guys.... need a non-evil vamp to balance him out....)

The way Ward just keeps looking silently between the both of them, like a witness, like - UGH.

"You're home now," GOD DAMMIT and Danny's relief and gratitude and Ward's somber look down I -

Cancer lasted 3 years

Ward: "Dad, are you sure you should be saying this?" Harold: "It's ok. Danny needs to know this." Casting Ward in the opposition role

Ward sits down in the chair adjacent to the couch Danny is on. Harold crosses over from where he was standing near the left side of the couch to sit on the farther right side instead - specifically sitting in between Danny and Ward.

Harold: "I still remember my last breath. Scariest shit I've ever experienced." Ward looks up and away, taking a breath, before turning back again. Combo of eye-roll at dramatics and genuine pain at the thought because that's his dad and Ward remembers those years of pain and decay and - ?

I forgot Danny originally thought of the Hand more like a fable than a reality - and finding out they're a real, present threat combines with being told it's not K'un Lun that they're threatening, but that this whole time, they've actually been digging their claws into his home?

Ward rolling his eyes with his whole body when Harold encourages Danny to think about this as ~embracing his destiny~ hahaha

Ward: No offense, but Danny has zero idea how to do business and therefore maybe shouldn't be running a company with again, absolutely zero training??? Harold: Don't mind Ward being a petulant brat who wants to keep you from your rightful place in our family, Danny. I need you. :)

Harold to Danny: "We've needed a fighter like you back in the family." - right in front of Ward, yet another small "unlike you, who are weak" jab. In line with the whole "Joy can close the deal, you, Ward, can not do anything" lines in the previous episode.

Ward warning Danny about Harold!! But not really doing it great so it could be taken as another 'othering' where Danny could hear 'Harold's not YOUR dad' instead of Ward's intended 'Harold's not your DAD' - made much better by his clarification that Harold only cares about Harold and helping to show he meant 'not a good supportive dad you can lean blindly on' than if he had just. left it at that. I'm glad for Ward's continuing with that line and for Danny's long, considering look at nothing afterward. Gives the sense that Danny feels that something is off, even if he's not sure what.

Colleeeeeeeeeeeeen and her shame and her truly believing in honoring the code of bushido and her teaching these children to get them "the scholarship" to help them in a legitimate, meaningful, honorable way (SOB) and believing that their skills should be about the code and not be about flashiness or showing off or being able to lord their power and ability over others or money -

Code of Bushido (Includes eight virtues, and this episode title is Eight Diagram Dragon Palm. Coincidence???)

1. Rectitude or Justice (refers to PERSONAL rectitude - “one’s power to decide upon a course of conduct in accordance with reason, without wavering” “the bone that gives firmness and stature...without Rectitude neither talent nor learning can make the human frame into a samurai.”)

2. Courage (Bushido distinguishes between bravery and courage - “Courage is doing what is right”)

3. Benevolence or Mercy (“Love, magnanimity, affection for others, sympathy and pity, are traits of Benevolence, the highest attribute of the human soul”)

4. Politeness (Courtesy is rooted in benevolence - “Politeness should be the expression of a benevolent regard for the feelings of others; it’s a poor virtue if it’s motivated only by a fear of offending good taste. In its highest form Politeness approaches love”)

5. Honesty and Sincerity (interestingly, rather than what *I* personally think of when I hear the words “honesty and sincerity”, the info in the Bushido code text about this virtue mostly centers around the idea of disdaining money and riches - probably what Colleen is talking about with her whole “fighting for money breaks the bushido code” thing)

6. Honor (referring to non-martial behavior)

7. Loyalty (bushido text about this seems mostly in context of loyalty to a superior, to your leader, to people you are indebted to. Applies tragically to Colleen and her personal experience with Hand culture. To me, of course, I am more interested in the idea of those leaders deserving your love and your loyalty hand-in-hand with it. Given the other virtues, this IS probably what the code meant to include, but from a modern standpoint it seems like one of those things where especially paramilitary organizations or cults like the Hand could twist the letter of it into an expectation of blindly following orders, even perhaps against your personal devotion to the other virtues)

8. Character and Self-Control (“Bushido teaches that men should behave according to an absolute moral standard, one that transcends logic. What’s right is right, and what’s wrong is wrong. The difference between good and bad and between right and wrong are givens, not arguments subject to discussion or justification, and a man should know the difference.” I get the ideal of this, but something about the wording sits weirdly with me... maybe the implication that they can’t make a mistake?)

Ageless qualities of manliness: choosing compassion over confrontation, and benevolence over belligerence <3

“The tie might be a touch effeminate” Shut UP Ward

Danny, at a press conference: *waves at Jeri* “Hey.” Jeri: *shakes her head*

Danny: “Yes, I was in a mental hospital.” Joy, despairingly: “Oh, Danny”

Jeri smiling. Maybe she worked with Danny on how to handle the press conference and likely questions he would face? My headcanon from this anyway. Ward and Joy looking at each other, seems like in surprise at Danny’s answers and spin?

“Kindness is the eternal law”

The way Danny slips in to this conversation with Joy about the Red Hook property for his Hand investigation is very well done. Reminds me of watching the Netflix trailer and thinking that it made IF look like a show where Danny was some form of government agent going undercover as himself for an investigation.

SO CUTE how Danny goes “woah, I have a first appointment of the day? Who is it?” and then he turns around and it’s his friend Jeri! Hahaha. Danny: “J-money!!” *goes in for a hug* Jeri: “Woah, we don’t do that.”

Jeri: “Your father’s office. Even found his old desk.” Meaning she was the one working on this - Ward is the one who had to set Danny up there after his sarcastic remarks in the penthouse, but Jeri brought in the sentimentality. (Jeri, directly after basically admitting to putting a bunch of effort into a very sentimental gesture here: “Now don’t get all weepy on me.”) Jeri in IF is so soft I love it

Danny: “I pretty much had to raise the dead.” *smirks to himself at his own inside joke*

Jeri, trying to give Danny advice: “For most of these people, you are a hostile takeover.” Me: JERI, HE DOESN’T UNDERSTAND THE NUANCES OF YOUR CORPORATE SPEAK.

Jeri asks if Danny wants the door open or closed. He chooses open. Open to Megan, open to all his new coworkers and employees. Danny is, at his core, for people.

LOL Did Danny just steal Ward’s chair?

Danny: *forces half the board to move so he can sit next to Joy* Me: DANNY

If these guys really wanted to persuade Danny to their point of view on the sell-at-cost thing, they should have emphasized the “funding new research” part of it instead of just repeating “this is just business” ad nauseam. Obviously Ward is actually trying to do the opposite right now and get Danny driven out, but idk what the rest of these people are thinking. Danny acknowledges that they can still make profits elsewhere, which is his side offering a dialogue to meet them. Their counter is that the WHO will be buying it from them and subsidizing it from other people. If they wanted to meet or even just appear to be meeting Danny partway, they could have suggested an initiative to work with the WHO on a program for that? Although since none of them want to actually do that and don’t really care what Danny thinks about it, I know why they didn’t.

Joy raising her eyebrow at Ward’s declaring that they’ll go to market at cost like “I see you Ward and how many times have I told you to leave the maneuvering to me you are unsubtle and unskilled”

Danny looking back at Ward significantly on his way to his discussion with Joy about the pier deal

Ward taking The Drugs before he has to answer Harold’s late night phone call

Harold: You did a great job today. Ward: *baffled expression* Harold: Now, son, this isn’t the time to point fingers, it’s the time for solutions. Ward: There it is. Harold: Also, you screwed up in the meeting and you need to make it up. Ward: *sigh*

Danny: white sneakers with the suit

Joy casually placing the monks and their traditional robes in a lower class position to them and their white collar formal business attire

Time for Joy to play the angle on Danny, curb his at-cost behavior for the future

The ringmaster choosing the second fighter for Colleen followed by that “look, you guys know all the rules” line - I like this guy. He probably remembers how the last dude Colleen fought was a rule-breaker and wants to keep all his fighters safe as possible in an already dangerous 2-on-1 fight like this.

Again with the camera slowing and the noise fading and the blood splattering camera work giving the “losing control” vibe

“The problem was, I never thought through WHY I wanted this job. I mistook my stubborn will for a sense of... destiny, or something.” (Danny, earlier: “My shifu would have called this destiny.”)

“Every moment was a struggle. Failure... led to a beating. Victory... led to another fighting style. To the next lesson.”

Joy flat out calls it abuse and Danny doesn’t deny it.

Vodka and tonic, light on the tonic.

Danny clearly still shaken by the borderline flashbacks to his life at K’un Lun.

Is this the first time the Hatchets appear? Just storming the apartment and punching Joy in the face? Danny and Joy must both be like “WHAT IS HAPPENING”

Joy tries punching one of them. Good for you, Joy.

Ah yes, Ward flat out telling one of the more shark-like reporters that the drug is a huge deal that would save millions of lives and that Rand was of course planning to really boost the price to make a “huge” profit. “That is a loss of hundreds of millions of dollars [that our one company wanted to make off of the millions of people who needed this drug to save their lives]. He’s worse than those bleeding-heart-liberal-trust-fund hipsters wandering around Williamsburg.” (Note: Williamsburg: hip neighborhood that draws the young and fashionable. Boutiques, cafes, street art, outdoor concerts and food markets. Dance clubs, bars, music halls. East Williamsburg is ranked one of the 5 most LGBTQ+ friendly neighborhoods in Brooklyn.)

“Ellison, don’t give the front page to Karen”

Ward just looks at her retreating back and rubs his hands together like “Ah yes, a job well done.” Biggest question for the viewers in this scene is probably: Did Ward tank this on purpose or is he really that far removed from the reality of the non-Elite?

Colleen: still bloody from her illegal cage fighting and hears noise outside her door. Last time she heard noise, it was attackers breaking in for what probably seemed to her like retaliation. Then it’s Danny and she has the relieved exasperation, but - oh ho, Joy Meachum?

“Wasn’t he stalking you?” “It was a misunderstanding.” “Right. I guess being a millionaire covers a multitude of sins.” (Danny: “Billionaire.” Colleen in the background: *disbelieving huff+head shake*)

TRIADS. Time for my triad rant: Every drama show ever to involve Asian-Americans - even just in one-episode specials - includes triads. I’m so sick of it. I know organized crime is a real problem that actually exists, but - why are the Asians always evil? It’s like having the mafia be a plotline every time an Italian character exists on screen. Plz diversify. Media colors perception.

Danny: literally just walks into a restaurant and says he needs to speak to the head of the crime gang. AND THEN NONE OF THEM EVEN BOTHER TRYING TO DENY IT. The Hatchets literally just open the door to their backroom where you can clearly see their illegal activity and come out to talk to Danny. What if he was working with the cops, guys?

It’s so scary how the Yangshi Gonsi react to the mention of the Hand. Well done, IF.

“Joke around the house was that Danny and I were pledged to be married.” (“In another life, this would have been romantic.”) (THIS CREEPS ME OUT THOUGH in a very personally specific triggering way as someone who spent their childhood running around with a boy that I found out later people thought was gonna “knock me up someday.” #BARF)

Colleen has a billionaire in her dojo learning how to punch on a dummy held together with duct tape because she can’t afford to fix it. (Also: Colleen's dojo is also for self-defense classes. Joy was just attacked by hatchet-wielders.)

Danny: "The hatchets won’t be a problem anymore." and then doesn’t elaborate. DANNY THAT SOUNDS SO SHADY. YOU LOOK SO SHADY RIGHT NOW.

Danny: *reaches out and touches Colleen’s hand* Colleen: *flinches back* What are you doing? DANNY. DANNY, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. You seriously have no idea how you come across. Joy is watching all this like “wow....ok.”

Danny used to fight in illegal fight clubs on his way back from K’un Lun. Along with his obtaining an illegal fake ID. New headcanon: Danny is actually super connected to the criminal underground worldwide. Mob bosses everywhere have a soft spot for him. He’s somewhere on a mission with Ward/Colleen/Defenders/HfH and acting like he knows the area, someone recognizes him and he starts chatting cheerfully with them, suddenly they’re being greeted and helped out by people deep in the black market scene while Danny bear hugs someone that most people clearly fear and his companions look on with wide eyes.

Danny, a literal billionaire: Remember how I offered to pay you six months rent for helping me out? Colleen, broke as hell: My denial stands.

Danny: So how are we gonna tell Ward? (framing them - all three of them - as a team) Joy: lmao, are we thinking about the same Ward? You want to tell the most overprotective big brother in the world that men with hatchets attacked his sister? Do you remember what he did to those bullies when we were 8?

Gao: *black bags Harold, refuses to tell him where they’re taking him, doesn’t reveal that this particular instance is him landing on the ‘good’ side of the scale until the last possible second.*

Ugh, he just puts that sword back in the scabbard with all the blood still on it? Improper blade care

Oh yeah, I guess this is the audience’s first scene showing that Harold is capable of cold-blooded murder

I notice that this article may be the front page of the business section, but is NOT the front of the newspaper. Sorry, Jennifer.

[I had initially transcribed the article here, but have made it it's own post which can be found here. Notes on the article, though: Jennifer was very kind to the Meachums in it, given what Ward was actually saying. Also, which Bulletin employee fell down on grammar checking that thing?]

Danny’s Jeri-given apartment doesn’t have a number on the door, but does have some sort of cherry blossom branches etching in the plate?

The Hatchet box!!! (congrats again @Sholio LOL) Yang Hai-Qing wants Danny to get rid of the Hand too. He wasn’t gonna mess with them, explained they didn’t know about the Hand's involvement when they went after Joy, and apologized, but then the Hand came to his restaurant and killed one of his men anyway.

Ah yes, the great tattoo reveal. Also, is that a bullet’s pucker scar on Danny’s left shoulder?

Star-Spangled Douchebag--   Part 2

CarryOnCap Masterlist

Series Masterlist

WC: 1,503

Warnings: none? Some Dean fluff, typical SPN mystery, and no Marvel characters in this one.

A/N: This is a flashback to help set up a little of what was going on in Part 1. Steve will be back in the next part! :) Catch up on Part 1 Here.

[minor edits made 8/4/2020]

A Few Weeks Ago

“Guys, I think I might have something.”

You stopped pacing and tossed the lore book you’d been reading on the war room table. It seemed like it had been ages since you and the boys had caught wind of a case and you were starting to go stir crazy.

As you made your way into the library, you saw that Sam was leaning forward, intently scanning the screen in front of him. Dean had his feet propped up on the table and was cleaning his pistol-- a habit that seemed to become more frequent when he was feeling frustrated or impatient.

“Whatcha got, Sammy?” you asked.

Stopping behind Dean’s chair, you snaked your arms around his shoulders and rested your chin at the crook of his neck. He hummed happily and twisted in your arms to place a soft kiss on your cheek.

“Ugh. Look, I’m glad you guys finally sucked it up and admitted you’re into each other. But can you try to keep the PDA to a minimum?” Sam groaned.

Dean smiled and wrapped a large hand around one of your forearms, holding you in place when you tried to pull away. “C’mon, Sammy. Can’t you be happy for your big bro and prettiest friend?”

“‘Prettiest friend?’” you swatted Dean’s chest lightly with your free hand and wriggled out of his grasp. “And here I thought you liked me for my personality, Casanova.”

Sam rolled his eyes while you took a seat in the chair beside Dean. “Of course I’m happy for you two, it’s just...whatever. Ok, so get this. Apparently there’s been so many bizarre incidents in New York City lately that people are demanding answers from the CDC. Everything from higher rates of people going missing to more crime-- and lots of reports of people acting out of character before turning up dead. Basically all the family members, friends, coworkers, or anybody else that knew the suspects say something along the lines of ‘none of us saw this coming,’ ‘they’d never be capable of something like this-- it has to be some mistake.’ The CDC’s claiming there hasn’t been like, an outbreak of anything to cause weird behavior and there’s no reason to panic but--”

“So New Yorkers are stealing stuff and might have a serial killer-- so what?” Dean interrupted. “Doesn’t exactly sound like our kind of thing, Sam.”

“See, that’s what I thought, but something still wasn’t adding up. So I kept looking into it and even for New York the rates are weirdly high. There’s not a link that they can see, but it’s like across the board these incidents are getting more intense. And the last body to turn up? Turns out it was a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent.”

“S.H.I.E.L.D.?” you asked. “Like...real life agents?”

“Yeah,” Sam continued. “And before that, an NYPD officer. There’s been other stuff with ATMs, convenience stores, and now jewelry stores and bank robberies.”

“Could be demons, maybe? Or even--”

“You guys can’t be serious.” Dean kicked his feet down and cut you off. “Do you have any idea how long of a drive that is? It’s gotta be at least 20 hours.”

“Oh, come on. You’re telling me you guys have never made that kind of a drive for a case before? And what if it is something? High stakes robberies and a dead S.H.I.E.L.D. agent? It’s worth checking out, especially since it’s been ages since we’ve had a case. Even if it does turn out to be nothing, we can at least get out of the bunker for a while. And how cool would it be to get out of the Midwest and go some place like New York for a case?? Pleeeaaasseeee?” 

After stating your argument, you leaned over to wrap yourself around Dean’s upper arm. Resting your head on his shoulder, you peeked from under your lashes to give him your very best puppy dog pout.

“She’s got a point, Dean,” Sam said gently. “It’s not like we’ve got anything else going on right now.”

Dean sucked in a large breath and held it for a moment as he debated.

“Fine,” he finally sighed.

“YES!” You jumped out of your chair and pumped one fist in the air like the last scene of The Breakfast Club. “Think we’ll see any of the Avengers? Oh! We should go see the Statue of Liberty!”

Sam laughed as he shut his laptop and rose from his seat. Dean simply shook his head and tried to suppress a smile. When the two of you stood up, he casually slung an arm around your shoulders and guided you down the hall to pack.

***

You groaned, stretching your arms to the sky as you bent this way and that. “Jeez, that was a long drive.”

“Yeah, well whose idea was that?” Dean grumbled as he slammed his door shut.

“Oh, don’t be a Grumpy Gus,” you snapped.

Sam had made some calls to the NYPD to get more information on the robberies, believing they were the best place to start. When you were about 20 miles south of the city limits, he received a call that there had been another bank robbery so you had stopped off at a gas station to change into your FBI clothes before arriving to the scene.

“Agents.” An officer nodded in acknowledgment as the three of you flashed your badges and slipped passed the police barricade. “Your timing is impeccable. I’m Lieutenant Hunt.”

Dean shook the man’s hand as he made introductions. “Lieutenant. I’m Agent Rossington and these are my associates, Burns and Collins. Any leads so far?”

“This one more than past robberies, actually.” He waved for you to follow him and turned to lead the way up the steps into the bank. “I’m surprised the Bureau took an interest in these robberies, but I’ve gotta say I’m glad because I’m at a loss. We’re starting to suspect it’s the work of some sort of organization. Can’t find a link between any of the suspects, but their families are beside themselves. Genuinely believe the individuals were good people and could never do such a thing…”

When he trailed off, you saw Sam snap his head to the side as he made some sort of connection. “Lieutenant, do you happen to know anything about the deceased police officer or S.H.I.E.L.D. agent?”

Lieutenant Hunt cleared his throat and paused before answering. “Not the agent. But the officer… He and I were in the same class at the Academy years ago. Good man. We stayed in touch over the years, even got together with our families for barbecues once in a while. When I heard he’d robbed a jewelry store at one of the shopping centers…”

“You found it hard to believe,” Sam finished for him. Lieutenant Hunt nodded but said nothing more.

You arrived at the security office and the policeman ushered you in the door. “Seems these individuals keep getting bolder. They don’t even bother wearing masks or avoiding cameras. This one is particularly interesting.” 

He motioned to the security guard to play the footage of the robbery. A woman entered the front of the bank with a large automatic weapon in hand. She fired a few rounds in the air, prompting the patrons to panic and duck to the ground with their hands in the air. She pointed the weapon at one of the tellers, presumably demanding money. When the bag was full, she looked up at one of the cameras with a smirk before darting down a side corridor.

“We know who she is?” Dean asked.

“That’s where it gets interesting,” Lieutenant Hunt answered. “We looked her up and she’s a lower level S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. Does some sort of data entry over at the Avengers Tower. Turns out she didn’t show up to work yesterday or this morning. She was in and out of here in just under 15 minutes and we’ve got no clue where she exited the building from. None of the alley or street cameras picked her up after she slipped through an office door in that side hall.”

“Can you run it back again and freeze on her face?” you asked.

The lieutenant quirked an eyebrow. “We already identified her but, uh, sure.”

The security guard ran the footage back and let it play through once more before hitting pause--at the precise moment her eyes flashed white. Dean shared a look with Sam before glancing at you. He licked his lips and pressed them into a firm line, trying to hide his impressed smile.

“Damn technology,” the guard muttered. He hit play before immediately pausing it again and the woman’s eyes returned to normal. “There we go.”

“Thank you, gentlemen,” you said while committing the woman’s face to memory. “I think it’s time we pay a little visit to the Avengers.”

Part 3

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Shows With Good LGBT+ Rep

Now for starters, I’ll admit that I do not watch Riverdale. I tried it, didn’t like it, that’s basically it. The show does have LGBT rep (but not ace rep), I would never dismiss that, but they make sure to do the bare minimum. Based off the people I follow who are fans, scenes for the characters, more specifically Chonie (Cheryl x Toni), are either constantly deleted or they are nonexistent. 

They have romantic scenes together but not nearly as many as the rest of the leading cast. This matters because one of the girl in the relationship, Cheryl, is advertised as a main, but yet she’s treated as a side character, and Toni is given even less. From what I’ve heard of the show, they dedicate an immense amount of time to the pairings of the main characters, but this focus does not seem to apply to Cheryl and her relationship with Toni. This applies to them as individual characters and as a pairing, as I’ve heard that neither character get much screen time. 

I understand wanting representation and I understand wanting to support representation, but the point that I’m trying to make is that Riverdale is not the show to put your desire and need into because they will never give the proper treatment or storylines that these characters and relationships they deserve. You can still watch but just know that there are shows out there with much better rep. So I’m here today, writing this long essay that no one asked for, to inform you guys of LGBT+ rep that actually gets treated well by their writers and is given the screentime and love they deserve. 

Warning: Some of these shows have been cancelled. If they do not say they’ve been cancelled, then that either means the show is still going or that it ended on it’s own terms.

Also this list does not include shows with the bury your gays trope.

Feel free to add on! This list is mainly comprised of some of my favorites. I tried to very best on the descriptions but I am a tired student with little free time. 

#1: The Bold Type ~ Kat x Adena

Kat Edison, the head of the social media department of Scarlet magazine, meets Adena El-Amin, a proud Muslim lesbian photographer in episode one. The two bond and grow closer and closer, eventually causing the “out and proud hetero” Kat to question her sexuality and acknowledge her romantic feelings for Adena. Adena, as I said earlier, is a lesbian and Kat is bisexual. 

#2: Black Lightning ~ Anissa x Grace

Ah, the first black lesbian superhero! The second season is currently airing on Tuesday’s at 9pm on the CW. Being the daughter of the infamous vigilante Black Lighting has it’s unexpected perks, like having superpowers! The intelligent activist Anissa Pierce discovers her powers of super strength and decides to use them for good and defend her city under the name of Thunder.

Grace Choi was in a few episodes of season one, but her relationship status as girlfriends with Anissa in the comics assures us that she will be coming back and we will see her and Anissa’s relationship develop further.

#3: Doctor Who ~ Bill x Heather

Throughout all of time and space, these two manage to come back to each other. After being split up by an alien in ‘Pilot’, Heather comes back to Bill’s rescue in the season finale, kissing her and making her immortal, leaving the both of them to travel across the universe together. Their journey has sadly come to an end in the series, but it came to a spectacular and happy one!

#4: BBC Class ~ Charlie x Matteusz

Part of the Doctor Who universe comes Class, a teenage sci-fi drama that takes place in Shoreditch. Now, first I should say that this is one of my favorite shows and you don’t need to watch Doctor Who in order to watch it. It is its own separate show.

Charlie Smith, an alien prince from the planet Rhodia, comes to earth to escape the Shadowkin, the monsters that killed his race. Him and the only other survivor of his planet, Miss Quill, come to earth and are instructed by the Doctor to hide themselves as human. Charlie attends Coal Hill Academy while Quill teaches.

Once prom comes around, Charlie asks the Polish boy, Matteusz, to be his date. The prom is hijacked by the Shadowkin and it is revealed to Matteusz that Charlie is an alien, but he doesn’t mind because it does not change the way he feels about him. The two continue to date throughout the series whilst fighting off aliens with four of their friends and Miss Quill

This show has been cancelled, but audios have been made since then to fill in the gaps between episodes and there is a chance there might be more! Also there are three books!

#5: In The Flesh ~ Kieren x Simon

The dead have come back to life! Kieren and Simon are both PDS sufferers, meaning they have partially deceased syndrome, meaning that they died and were brought back to life. Series 1 is centered on Kieren Walker, a 18 year old boy who died back in 2009, who is adjusting to his new zombie life and dealing with the people who want him back in the ground.

In series 2, Simon is introduced as a part of an PDS activist who is fighting for equal treatment for PDS sufferers while trying to find the first risen to bring on the second rising. Connected by a mutual friend, Simon and Kieren are introduced to each other, and the two strike up a relationship which develops into something romantic.

#6: Faking It ~ Multiple Characters

In an attempt to gain popularity, Karma and Amy fake being lesbians, but after a kiss at the school’s prep rally, Amy realizes that she isn’t as straight as she thought she was. In fact, she is head over heels in love with her childhood best friend, Karma. She confides in the out and proud Shane about her feelings for Karma and asks for advice on how to get a girlfriend. This show, while not always perfect, is incredibly diverse. Amy is bisexual, Shane is gay, Lauren is intersex, and in season 3, Shane forms a crush on the new student, Noah, and after their first kiss Noah comes out as trans to Shane. 

The show was unfortunately cancelled after three seasons, leaving much of the story still left unsaid, but the show still has an enjoyable and satisfying ending, even if it wasn’t the ending the creator wanted. The creator’s ideal ending, had he been given the chance to write it, was that Karma would eventually realize that she herself is bisexual too. 

#7: Hit The Floor ~Multiple Characters

Jude x Zero

Junior sports agent Jude Kinkade brings basketball sports star Zero to LA on the promise to be a star. One night in a limo before Zero flies to an away game, Jude, to his surprise, kisses Zero. When Zero comes back, the two begin a friends with benefits relationship that develops into something deeper, and the two fall in love.

Lionel x Eve

Lionel’s sexuality has never been explicitly stated in the show. She had sex with many men and the majority of viewers assumed she was straight. That was until the cunning Eve came in. The two decide after a brief meeting to go and get drinks together which ends up with them having sex. Later, Lionel admits to Jude, that she has slept with many women before Eve. Their relationship is complicated and it’s much different from the other relationships on the show. 

Jude x Noah

Due to the show’s unexpected renewal and switch from VH1 to BET, not all actors returned. Adam Senn (Zero) did not want to return, but never fear, because the show’s creator wasn’t about to let the beautiful Jude Kinkade go to waste!

A year after his break up with Zero, Jude’s best friend Lionel takes him out for drinks in the hopes to find him a hunk and get him laid. Later that night, Jude and Noah meet, hook up, and move on with their lives. Until the next day when Jude sees Noah at the Devils arena and finds out that the two will be working together. 

Hit The Floor has not been renewed or cancelled.

#8: Wynonna Earp ~ Multiple Characters

Waverly x Nicole 

i’m sure many of you have heard of these two, but incase you haven’t, let me introduce you to Waverly and Nicole! Waverly, the younger sister to the Earp heir, and Nicole, a sheriff at the Purgatory police department, strike up a romantic relationship after Waverly ends things with her shitty boyfriend Champ. These two are so cute and are head over heels in love with each other. 

Jeremy x Robin

Jeremy is introduced in season 2 and Robin is introduced in season 3. After discovering a murder tree, Robin goes to the police station in search of help. Directed to Jeremy, Robin explains everything he saw, then the two go on a date to investigate the murder tree, and after that the two become boyfriends.

Warning: The show, while amazing with LGBT characters, does not treat their POC characters well. 

#11: Brooklyn Nine-Nine ~ Holt and Rosa

Raymond Holt is captain of the 99th precinct. He is married to his longtime partner Kevin, who often guest stars on the show, and the two of them are truly iconic. Holt has fought hard for gay rights in the police department since joined the force. As a out gay black man, Holt had to fight and work hard to get to his position as captain. 

Rosa Diaz is bisexual and she is played by a bisexual actress. Rosa is a secretive, hard, ruthless, and a soft bean of a character. She is one of the key characters to the Nine-Nine. She has yet to have a steady girlfriend but here’s to hoping that she will have one next season!

#10: BBC Cuffs ~ Multiple Characters

Jake x Simon

Don’t sleep with the enemy. New PC Officer, Jake Vickers, joins the police force and meets the well known and disliked solicitor, Simon Reddington. Despite the fact that they are on opposing sides that hate each other, the two begin dating. They try to keep their professional life out of their relationship to avoid conflict. But alas, that’s where the sweet angst comes in. 

Donna x Alison 

The time these two start dating it unclear, but when the show begins it is said that they’ve been together for a few years. They’ve been living happily together for quite some time. Donna is part of the main cast as a police officer and is given a lot of screen time in action. Alison is a side character who makes a few appearances throughout the show but her interactions with Donna are sweet, beautiful, and realistic. 

This show has been cancelled.

#11: Shadowhunters ~ Magnus x Alec

Ghaad, these two are the best. A gay shadowhunter and a bisexual warlock fall in love. Malec has good communication. Magnus and Alec have their own storyline and a storyline with each other, making them both equally important and have intimate/emotional scenes. The show also makes sure to tackle harmful bisexual stereotypes. (Thanks to @spicychipsdemon for helping me write this one.)

This show has been cancelled but it’s being given a special to wrap up the story.

#12: Superstore ~ Mateo x Jeff

An employee and district manager meet at the Cloud 9 store during a strike. Mateo is a out gay man and so is Jeff, the thing is that his cannot date the employees at the store so the two of them keep their relationship private from the other coworkers, because they would not be able to keep it a secret from Jeff’s boss. These two are actually really cute and they’re hilarious and underrated to be quite honest.

#15: Orphan Black ~ Multiple Characters

Besides the white girl dreads, these two are nice. They are the sci-fi couple that beat the shit out of the bury your gays trope. A clone and a woman who is assigned to look after that clone, uncoincidentally meet. What starts as an assignment is developed into something much deeper, leading Delphine to realize she’s bisexual. These two are happily living their life making crazy science with each other.

There are more LGBT characters in the show. There is a trans clone but unfortunately he is only in one episode. One of the main clones, Sarah is revealed to be bisexual in s4 and her foster brother Felix, a series regular, is gay. 

#16: Picnic at Hanging Rock ~ Multiple Characters 

Three schoolgirls and their governesses mysteriously disappear on Valentines Day in 1900 at the infamous Hanging Rock. This show, while slow in some areas, transformed the 1967 book written by Joan Lindsay. What was initially about the disappearance of three girls and the attempt to find them was changed into a six part series about the repression of sexuality and expression of young girls. Miranda, Irma, and Marion, are the three young women that go missing, and they are all lesbians. There are two more characters in the story: Mike and Albert. They had a close relationship in the book but the tv show made their relationship canonically romantic. 

The show does suffer in the sense that hetero couples that barely existed in the book get more screen time and make out sessions than they should. I included this show because character wise it’s so drastic from it’s original content and it ends up putting wayyyy more focus on the girls than the book did. It turned a simple plot into a meaningful story about gender roles and sexuality and three girls trying to break free of them and two boys falling in love and running away together. Not a perfect show, but damn if it didn’t do some things right. Still recommend.

This show is a miniseries. Unlike other series, it ends where the book ends.

#17: One Day At A Time ~ Elena x Syd

If you haven’t watched these two then I don’t know wtf you’re doing. This show is precious and they are precious and god just watch it already honestly. Elena is a lesbian and Syd is a non-binary lesbian. Once a criminal breaks loose and the two have to cancel their plans to go to comic con, the two are trapped in their home with the rest of their family. As the evening builds up, Elena finally gets the courage to kiss Syd.

#18: Crashing ~ Sam x Fred

This show and this relationship is f*cking wild and it’s amazing. The show surrounds a group of people who are guardians to an abandoned hospital and they live in it. Sam meets Fred on his birthday when the two are paired up for a scavenger hunt. They relationship is odd at first with Sam constantly flirting with Fred and blatantly ignoring his feelings for him. These feelings rise to the surface and force Sam to confront them when Fred gets a rich bf who wants them to move in together. 

This show has been cancelled. The show does not end with a cliffhanger. The show does end with Sam finally leaning in a kissing Fred. 

#19: Charmed (2018) ~ Mel x Niko

Now this show is only one episode in so who knows where this show and relationship will go but it’s off to a good start with having the Mel and Nico relationship as the only romantic relationship in the show so far. I did not pay attention to the advertising of this show but as far as I know the show kept this relationship under wraps as a happy surprise for it’s premiere. The pilot has it’s flaws but it is cute, and to me personally, it works for me better than the original. These two have been dating for a while. Nico is a detective while Mel is just finding out months after her mothers death that she is a witch. A lot is going on. The pilot was interesting enough to get me to continue. The sisters are amazing and I hope the writers keep this relationship up front. This show not only has a lesbian relationship as it’s main love story right now but the three sisters are all women of color. 

This show and the actresses have been facing a lot of racist backlash so any support to ensure a future seasons be amazing!

#20: The Halcyon ~ Toby x Adil

(Ayyyeeee I got to use my own gif go follow at @tlmedits please)

Honestly f*ck BBC for cancelling so many good shows with LGBT characters. The Halcyon is a tv show that takes place during the 1940′s. Now, unlike many other periodic shows, this one is diverse, including poc and gay characters in the cast and giving them good storylines. The Halycon hotel is own by the Hamilton family, and Toby is the youngest son. Adil is a bartender in the hotel lobby. One night, while Toby is hiding from a woman his mother had set him up with, he runs into Adil who then kisses him. The two the next day begin a relationship. 

As I mentioned before, this show was cancelled.

Random SWTOR Blather

Not interesting at all if you don’t play and only slightly interesting if you do.

I’ve basically been off and on SWTOR since it came out.  My longest break was less than a year after I lost most of my credits to a GTN scammer, back when 8 million credits was a LOT that I’d spent like months of intense crafting to save up.  

At the beginning of 2017 I decided to get serious about playing and joined a guild.  They were great for a few months, then things got slow and I dropped out of SWTOR for awhile after Andromeda came out and then my summer was crazy like it always was at my last job and then job drama started happening in the late summer through fall.

In November I went back and things got really awesome again in the guild, and for over two months it was daily log-in and fun, fun times.  There was heavy recruitment and we’d have like 20+ on at night and we were running FPs and Ops like, daily, working on Vet mode Ops.

And then the new WoW expansion came out and overnight attendance dropped like a stone, and there was a little officer drama, and then the GL had some RL drama and left and... now the guild is completely dead again.  We still hang out on Discord some but no one is playing.

So I guess I’m back in search of a guild of ADULT, MATURE (not in the ERP sense, just you know, like, actual grownups) guild of nice people and no drama on Star Forge.  My DPS Trooper and healing Scoundrel are both Command Level 300 and both are well outfitted.  Those are my mains.  RP Optional, I could do it, I’d be OK with not.  So if you know of an active, established guild an oldie like me (I’m over 40) would fit into, let me know.

Anyway, other stuff...

I have spent an insane amount of time and credits decorating.  Ever since Strongholds were introduced it’s maybe been my favorite aspect of the game.

I spent just... dozens of hours making my Tatooine Stronghold awesome.  Tat was my #1 choice for a main Stronghold because it feels like a place you would actually live, even if it is you know, on a barren desert planet.  It has nicely sized, well-sectioned rooms.  It really just makes such SUCH good use of the space and hooks it has. It’s exactly the right size to feel like if you live there and have it decorated it’s where a wealthy person would live.  I love it.  It’s been my Trooper Bethlany’s home for two years now, though I think of it as a “family home” for all my characters.  Now I’m constantly now trying to figure out what hooks to remove so I can add new, cool stuff.

It’s not only got an awesome party Cantina/dance hall/casino/sportsbar combo, but a full-service medical clinic, an indoors science room and an entire outdoor science section.  An awesome garden, a marketplace, a garage with a welcome area, droid repair section and full monitoring, a decked out master bedroom and Vos-ka inspired guest room, a diplomacy / meeting room, a sculpture garden, a techno war-camp for Aric, and a Rakata / non-technical training / archeology site, a small area dedicated to celebrating Life Day all year round, and a small oasis for large and small animals alike. 

But like, I never stopped buying decorations.  And when Manaan was introduced I decided this would be the home for my Inquisitor.  Manaan is gorgeous, even though the hook situation there is completely wtf.   Oh yeah, let’s put a ton of tiny hooks on narrow, already decorated walls.  Lets only put narrow hooks along the walls in this huge, open room.  Let’s make most of the ceiling hooks angeled, so almost nothing can be put there and look even halfway not-stupid.  The entry outside is great, the narrow hallway is terrible, the big room upstairs is so, so frustrating, though the patio is generally nice.  The downstairs mostly needs better ceiling hooks.   IDK.  But, it looks amazing.  And I did a pretty good job making it feel like a breezy vacation home, with a very dark and private undersea area fit for training a new generation of Sith.  It’s got the majority of my statues out in the entry area, and not a neon sign or non-organic plant in sight.  And there’s a lot of plants and stone and water everywhere.

All of my characters use it as a vacation home, my lightsiders (which is... almost all of them) just avoid the undersea part.  They’ll go back to their ships for sleeping after a dip in the hot tub, thanks.

I was going to start on re-making Naar Shadaa next and then Umbaraa came out, and I knew that train belonged to my Imperial Agent, Croach.  Dark and moody with an urgent feel.  I filled it with all the “Cargo” and “precious resources” I could find, with a couple of makeshift sleeping areas for the guards and a slightly nicer car for the Agent and her companions.  So many centerpiece hooks to finally put so many misc huge things I had no other use for.  Hey, yeah, we totally would be transporting this huge machine and this droid in a big ‘ol jar and there’s some rancor and huge turrets and ginormous droids up top along with most of my collection of rotating Zakuul turrets guarding it.  Drop in a bunch of Imp guards standing around, and even made use of a lot of the destroyed speeders and walkers and turrets then slap some blaster marks on the walls to give the place a “we’ve already seen some shit” feel.

And then... my Secretly-a-Double-Agent-For-The-Republic got her Vector back and holy shit the Imps mistreated the Killks, and then oh shit (huge spoilers for Nathema in the IA storyline here) Shara Jenn found out she’s a double agent and welp... any cover she ever had was now blown.  Despite going with Acina on Iokath, Croach told Lana to make a deal with the Republic.  Might as well finally make the move officially.

So now in my head, the Umbara home is a covert mission, and everyone there is actually working for the Republic... with the train made up to look Imperial to sneak through some checkpoints.  Also, her ship resides on Tatooine, Beth is watching out for it (it’s hidden in the garage, while the Thunderclap sits out on the visible landing pad.)

With finally getting the Umbara Stronghold feeling “Done” (though it and Manaan are only like 70% filled each, I don’t want to cram more stuff in there just TO when aesthetically they look good) it’s time to turn my attention to Naar Shadaa.  For the first year or so of Strongholds, it was my main Stronghold, but I grew out of it easily and moved to Tatooine, and have always meant to get back to it.

It’d always meant to be my Smuggler’s home, she was my second Main, after all.  I’d also bought the Mandalorian War Camp pack in hopes of making my BH a home someday.  Because of the server merge I have two Nar Shadaas, and I figured one for each.  But looking at my available decos, it’d be a long time until I could make it happen.  When Rishi was announced I was excited, thinking I could make it work for the BH, but after watching Dulfy’s walkthrough Video I was disheartened.  It is definitely beautiful and awesome for guilds, but it doesn’t really feel like a home for a person. I feel the same way about Yavin 4, btw.  It’s an amazing place to visit, and great for guilds, but it’s just not a functional home.  Too damp, and no actual rooms, especially not rooms with doors.  I’ll hang out there all day, but I’m going back to my ship to sleep.

I still eventually might try to make the base of Rishi work, IDK.  It will probably come down to cost.

Anyway, back to Naar Shadaa.  I started decorating it for my Smuggler and quickly realized that if I was going to ever get to Coruscant and Dromund Kaas, compromises would need to be made.  My BH defected to the Republic at the end of her class storyline, as little good as that did in canon.  I think she, too, is going to make a deal with the Republic when I finish her storyline.

Which means either my Counselor or Knight is gonna take a turn for the Imps, I haven’t decided which yet, just to bring back a little bit of balance, and also, see that side of things.  It’ll be interesting.  I’m going to wait to see what making that decision actually does in the next bit of the story before moving either of them along.

So anyway, my BH and my Smuggler always knew each other in my backstories for them, they were contacts, helped each other with jobs, etc.  So when Orna heads to the Republic, she and Red went into business together.  They each have a suite of rooms near the front, but the rest of it is their shopping center, battle arena (place your bets!), casino, spa, dance club, and sports bar business. Please, come and spend all your money there, and feel free to use a private booth to make your deals.  As soon as possible I’m going to find a second spa to add in that service, too. Torian is happy with the Mandalorian flair the place has, and Theron has a monitoring/spy station.  Where better to pick up the best information than the most popular nightlife spot on Naar Shadaa, anyway?  The only part that sucks is just one starship hook, so I’ll be rotating which ship is parked there occasionally.

That’s still in progress, but coming along.

Next I’m moving to Coruscant to make it a Jedi training hall and haven for Annakie, Jyn’leeviyah, Kira and Nadia, along with a medical clinic for Doc and an information outpost for Felix.  

And then making Dromund Kaas into a Sith academy and Imperial for Sith Warrior Frevi and moody, romantic hideaway for her and Malavai.

...I really need to start crafting and finding more expensive stuff to sell on the GTN.  I’m usually careful to stay over like 90 million credits, but I’m running out of good shit to sell. >.>

Anyway, so much rambling.  I should actually like... go play.

LSAT prep, DJ sets and virtual golf

4:30 PM IST

Ohm Youngmisuk

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ESPN Staff Writer

Ohm Youngmisuk has covered the Giants, Jets and the NFL since 2006. Prior to that, he covered the Nets, Knicks and the NBA for nearly a decade. He joined ESPNNewYork.com after working at the New York Daily News for almost 12 years and is a graduate of Michigan State University. Follow him on Twitter »  Ohm’s chat archive »

Malika Andrews

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ESPN Staff Writer

Staff Writer

Joined ESPN in 2018

Appears regularly on ESPN Chicago 1000

ON APRIL 18, instead of concocting a game plan to possibly defend Giannis Antetokounmpo on the opening day of the NBA playoffs, Garrett Temple was locked in on antithesis passages in his online LSAT prep course.

With the 2019-20 NBA season on hold since March 11 due to the coronavirus, the Brooklyn Nets wing has been putting in the hours studying, listening to law podcasts and talking to professors as part of his weekly preparation for the Law School Admission Test.

While some players have tried to fill the basketball void with video games or training routines, others have taken on new challenges to stay sharp. From mastering a second language to becoming handy around the house to diving into a Lego world, players are finding ways to stay engaged.

And one might even be law school-bound, with sights on a perfect 180 LSAT score.

“I can’t let — what’s-her-name on ‘Legally Blonde’ got a 179 — Elle Woods [beat me],” Temple said. “I really want to do it and get a great score.”

MORE: When will the NBA return? Latest suspension updates

Garrett Temple has been spending his time away from basketball with LSAT prep. “It’s providing structure. I’m really enjoying it,” he said. Courtesy of Garrett Temple

BEFORE THE SUSPENSION, Temple had long been contemplating life after basketball. The 10-year journeyman graduated from LSU in 2009 with an undergraduate business degree and considered getting his MBA. His father, Collis Temple, told him that a law degree would be more beneficial.

Collis is an entrepreneur in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and was the first black varsity basketball player at LSU after Temple’s grandfather, Collis Temple Sr., was not allowed to attend graduate school at LSU because of his skin color.

Temple’s interest in pursuing a law degree was further piqued after watching a TED talk by Adam Foss, a former assistant district attorney in Boston and advocate for criminal justice reform. The final push came when Temple met Bryan Stevenson, the nationally acclaimed public interest lawyer and social justice activist depicted in the 2019 film “Just Mercy.”

“I think you can create a lot of change in your own community,” Temple said. “Help change the prison industrial complex and school-to-prison pipeline in my community, the black community.”

Temple has immersed himself in science podcasts and magazines with help from his fiancée, Kára McCullough, a scientist with a concentration in radiochemistry.

She has also often forced Temple to take breaks from hours of studying. The veteran guard just can’t help himself.

“It’s providing structure. I’m really enjoying it,” Temple said.

“I mean, we ain’t got nothing else to do. So I’m studying, man. Just trying to better myself.”

CODY ZELLER KNEW next to nothing about carpentry before the season went on hiatus. But a month and a half in, the Charlotte Hornets center can now build a closet befitting a 7-footer. (It’s a skill that has been quicker to learn than playing the guitar, which others such as Antetokounmpo and Patty Mills have also picked up.)

Zeller’s brother Tyler, a free agent who most recently played with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2019, purchased a home in Indiana, and Cody has been helping with do-it-yourself home improvement projects.

“I took responsibility for [Tyler’s] master closet,” Zeller said. “I had no woodworking ability before. I’ve learned how to use a miter saw, a table saw. We put it together.”

“Everybody and their mother is gonna have a podcast when we are done with this quarantine.”

Georges Niang

Lack of experience? That was nothing a few YouTube tutorials couldn’t solve — almost.

“I will say, full disclosure, I had to [build] it twice,” Zeller said, “because the first time I messed up.”

Zeller cut, sanded and painted all the wood and built a seven-tier shelf rack. But when he went to fasten the frame to the wall, he had forgotten one tiny yet crucial detail.

“I realized I hadn’t accounted for the space between the closet rod and the shelf above it, so there was no room for the hangers to hang on the closet,” Zeller said. “So it was back to the drawing board.

“That was like three days’ worth of work down the drain. Anyway, long story short, it looks great now.”

THIS EXTRA DOWNTIME has given John Collins the chance to master a second language and get more in touch with his family heritage. Collins, whose mother is part Puerto Rican, has been taking Spanish lessons via Rosetta Stone and the Duolingo app.

The Atlanta Hawks big man took Spanish classes in high school in West Palm Beach, Florida, before continuing courses during his two years at Wake Forest.

“I never had a chance to finish — obviously I left school early,” Collins said. “But it’s always been something that I’ve wanted to finish just ’cause I have been around it so much, and I want to learn.”

Monday through Friday, host Mina Kimes brings you an inside look at the most interesting stories at ESPN, as told by the top reporters and insiders on the planet. Listen

Although he could grasp what his grandfather and other relatives were saying during conversations, Collins found writing in Spanish to be difficult. After the first few weeks of quarantine, Collins wasn’t sure how much his Spanish was improving.

“I’m better than where I was,” Collins said. “To get real growth, I got to go over to a Spanish-speaking country.

“Hopefully one day I will get the opportunity.”

USED TO MAINTAINING a strict in-season schedule, Utah Jazz forward Georges Niang found the extra free time jarring.

The team dropped off a stationary bike and weights so he could keep up with daily exercises, but video games have grown boring, Netflix has provided only so many hours of entertainment, and sleeping in has lost its appeal.

So he started the “Drive & Dish” podcast and video series with help from the Jazz.

“Everybody and their mother is gonna have a podcast when we are done with this quarantine,” he said.

After an unsuccessful foray into Instagram Live — “It was horrible content,” Niang said — “Drive & Dish” debuted on March 31 and has delved into quarantine life with Jazz All-Star Donovan Mitchell, the Olympics postponement with two-time soccer gold medalist Amy Rodriguez and the Michael Jordan Game 6 winner with former Jazz player Bryon Russell.

Niang even has his own theme song and logo.

#DriveAndDish Episode 𝟐 is LIVE!

@GeorgesNiang20 interviews @spidadmitchell about that night in OKC, what he wishes he’d known as a kid & his strangest superstitions

#NBATogether 𝘍𝘜𝘓𝘓 𝘝𝘐𝘋𝘌𝘖 » https://t.co/7uQk59B8Po pic.twitter.com/MCY4rAUsaj

— utahjazz (@utahjazz) April 3, 2020

The podcast’s name is inspired by his team nickname. In the Jazz locker room, Niang is known as “the minivan” because he likens his teammates to Ferraris while thinking of himself as a less luxurious vehicle.

“I need a couple laps around the block before I get warmed up,” Niang said. “Hop in the minivan and drive and dish.”

KENT BAZEMORE HAS been teeing it up at some of the best golf courses in the country. Virtually, that is.

The Sacramento Kings swingman has been regularly retreating to the basement of his Atlanta home, honing his skills on a golf simulator that would rival Tiger Woods’ personal setup. Video cameras and sensors track Bazemore’s every hook, slice, chip and putt.

“It is about as in-depth as I can get without being a professional golfer,” said Bazemore, who earlier this month took down former teammate Stephen Curry in a virtual match at Pebble Beach.

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Now the lefty has a chance to get serious about his golf game. On Tuesdays and Saturdays, Bazemore takes virtual golf lessons with his instructor, Jon Tattersall, the 2014 Georgia PGA Teacher of the Year.

And Bazemore still drives to a real golf course once a week — Georgia is one of a handful of states allowing courses to stay open.

“I am on a quest to become a scratch golfer,” Bazemore said. “My handicap right now is at 8 and I need it to be down to 0.”

To get over the next hump, Bazemore said he plans on working with a sports psychologist.

“There’s a lot of things that go into becoming [a scratch golfer],” Bazemore said. “I’m on the fringe. This is the closest I’ve ever been.”

THOUSANDS HAVE FLOCKED to social media over the past month to listen to DJs such as D-Nice spin sets on Instagram Live.

Now Andre Drummond has joined the wave.

On April 20, the Cleveland Cavaliers center kicked off “Drummond Quarantine Radio,” which features Drummond with DJ Drewski from the center’s Miami home.

Last week, Drummond hosted a “ladies night” set, when viewers could make song requests. And he put on “Talent Show Thursday,” which featured an appearance by actor and comedian Michael Rapaport, among other special guests.

Andre Drummond, also known as DRUMMXND, has been busy on Instagram Live during the NBA’s suspension. David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images

Drummond’s no novice. He goes by the rap name “DRUMMXND” and is planning on releasing his second album, “FYI 2,” soon.

He won’t be the only NBA player releasing new music during quarantine. Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon dropped his Dwyane Wade- and dunk contest loss-inspired diss track “9 out of 10” on Monday.

On Tuesday, Gordon made a guest appearance on the seventh episode of “Drummond Quarantine Radio.” Drummond pointed out that for as long as they’ve known each other, he never knew of Gordon’s desire to put out rap songs.

“I mean, we got a lot of time on our hands right now, ya hear me?” said Gordon, who started making music before this season and is working with Grammy Award winner Austin Owens, also known as Ayo The Producer.

“I get to tap into my creative side,” Gordon added. “Get in touch with emotions and express myself.”

Gordon then gave DRUMMXND his next quarantine endeavor — to deliver some new rap hooks.

“We putting together a project, [with] athletes, with Ayo,” Gordon said. “We need you on the project.

“We need a couple of verses for the project. Please.”

LOCAL GYMS SHUT down after Dallas County issued a shelter-in-place order on March 23, but Myles Turner had to find a way to get in weight training while staying in the guest house of the Texas home he built for his parents.

So the Indiana Pacers center jumped online to find the nearest squat rack — more than 100 miles away in Waco.

“In Texas, that’s nothing,” said Turner, who embarked on the four-hour round trip along Interstate 35. “That’s just an easy drive, right down the street.”

Turner then built the multipurpose squat rack and bench press in under two hours with help from friends. It’s now the centerpiece of a once near-empty garage he’s converted into his personal gym, complete with medicine balls, adjustable dumbbells and a padded floor.

“I gotta improvise,” said Turner, who last week shared his passion for yoga via a live class on the NBA’s Instagram page. “I’ve always kind of been into just putting stuff together.”

And when he didn’t have a screwdriver or wrench in his hand, Turner was still busy building. He assembled one Lego set, and his latest creation — a 2,000-piece Star Wars jigsaw puzzle — was completed in about a week.

“I am about to go to Target right now,” he said, “and get a basketball hoop for outside.”

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Tags: Andre Drummond, Cody Zeller, daily, DJ, Garrett Temple, Georges Niang, Golf, John Collins, Kent Bazemore, LSAT, Myles Turner, NBA, Prep, Sets, virtual

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Plot: Canyon Conquest - Part 1

((On that one faithful day, the Great Zapfish went missing for a week. And Callie was nowhere to be found in Inkoplis. Will the entire city's power run out? Or will they find a solution to bring it back? The answers will suprise you.))

((WARNING: This story contains spoilers to Splatoon 2. For those who haven't owned the game or completed story mode, please keep scrolling ahead. Thank you and enjoy.))

Agent 7 belongs to @agent-7-at-your-service

Eimie (mentioned) belongs to @marchant-girls

It's been a week since the disappearance of the Great Zapfish and also, Callie and Fynn were also missing. The new idols from Inkopolis Square, Off The Hook broadcast the breaking news to the citizens of Inkopolis. In other news, someone spotted a shadowy figure, stealing the power supply and hauling them on an unknown aircraft. Everyone was worrying about the blackout like the one, 2 years ago when the Great Zapfish disappeared.

Fynn's mentor, Tundra was sitting alone at the bar, having her third glass of beer. The Mimic Octoling was a tad drunk, worrying about Fynn even more. Last week, she told Eimie the bad news and she's been feeling awful for a whole week. And then, there's Angie. The enitre team continued searching for Fynn but to no avail. Tonight has been a huge mess.

"Pardon me, but are you the one who met Eimie?" A forest green Inkling approached to Tundra. He looks he came straight from a 1940's movie just by looking at his attire.

"Oh, yeah? Who's askin'?" She began to hiccup, mid-sentence. Tundra was having a hard time, focusing on the inkling. Whoever he is, must be a friend of hers or Fynn's.

"Agent 7, at your service." He tipped his hat to Tundra and sat down. He noticed a few empty glasses of alcohol and then, stared at Tundra. "Are you feeling alright? You're not looking too good."

Tundra groaned as she slumped onto the counter top. Three glasses are her limit for the night. "I'll be fine.. But for losing Fynn, I'm far from fine... All of this happened because of me... She was talking about the day when her former allies kidnapped Fynn for a purpose. If it was Tundra taking the plunge, Fynn wouldn't be in this fix.

Agent 7 placed a hand on her shoulder. "Miss Tundra.. This isn't your fault. Fynn must've did this to protect you.. How about I take you home and explain to me what happened." He has her arm around the shoulder as he escorted her out of the bar.

After a bit of struggling, Tundra made it home at last. She gave him a noogie before heading inside. Once they settled down, Tundra explained the whole story about her past. How she became a wanted criminal for leaving the force. This story, surprised 7 to no end. "So, there you have it.. I'm a rogue elite who just wants to have some peace and quiet.. Now that my girls have captured him, there's nothing I could do to save him.." She rubbed her temples together from the minor migrane, she's having.

"..And you chose not to tell him during his training?" He asked sitting next to her on the sofa. Sometimes, it's best to keep it quiet until it's necessary.

"I'm planning on revealing my Octoling self until his training is complete, but... yeah.." Tundra lowered her gaze to the floor for a few seconds until she stared up into 7's eyes. "I'm not use to asking for help, but please... bring him back to Inkopolis.." She pleaded.

Agent 7 shook his head in response. "I'm sorry, ma'am.. I'd love to help find Fynn. I really do, but I've got some other things I need to take care of.. Marie is still searching for a new agent to rescue Callie. I'll give you my advice, before I go. Go out to Octo Canyon and try to reason with them, yourself." Agent 7 got up from the sofa and was ready to leave.

("Lady Marie...") Tundra knew about Marie after her departure. Marie was the one who taught her how to use to Splat Charger. After alot of thinking, Tundra slowly nods. She got into this mess, she can get out of this. As Agent 7 left her apartment, she fell onto the couch and rested her head against her pillow. She's too buzzed to think about her decision. Her eyes were getting heavy and heavy until they close for now...

On the next day, Cheryl sent Dawn out to play some Turf Wars. Of course, she has to drag her out of bed, because Dawn has been watching too many ghost documentaries. "Dawn, for the last time.. You can't be laying around in bed, watching paranormal shows all day. I know, you're not use to being in Inkopolis Square but you have to make some friends while you're here." It was almost noon and she's dropping her daughter off at the entrance. "Sweetie, you'll be fine. I promise you. Make sure to call me, once you're done." And with that, Cheryl dropped her off near the entrance to the Square.

Dawn stood out there, where her mother drove off into the streets. "Yep.. This pretty much blows.. Thanks, mom..." She sighed, deeply. She stood in front of the entrance where all squids and kids, hanging. If only Azalea and Hanzo were there with her. She made her way to the center of the square and it's fairly busy than Inkopolis Plaza.

She looked around to see the Galleria on her left. She was still in her recent gear that she had purchased from the Booyah Base. ("Hm.. I need some new clothes..") She continued looking around until she noticed a women near the Ammo Knights store, holding her umbrella down to hide her face. She appears to be in a yukata. Dawn could've sworn it was someone she recognize. Not caring about the situation, Dawn continued her approached to the Deca Tower to start battling.

Once she entered the tower, Dawn is waiting for a new lobby to join. As for her weapon of choice, she's using the Splatling for now. Unfornately for the Splatling Deco, Sheldon already locked up all the custom weapons for the time being. After a few seconds of waiting, she found a lobby to join. Today's matches for Turf Wars are Inkblot Art Academy and The Reef. For a Splatling user like herself, she'll keep her distance from enemies.

The 8 players emerged from each spawn points. Dawn gazed into the buildings of the academy. This place is where most artists graduate from this academy. Just another art stage like Museum D'Alfonsino.

Meanwhile on the other side of the map, a lime green Inkling emerged from his spawn. He was wearing a Squiddor Polo from the sketchy company, Grizzco. Also, he's well equipped with the Enperry Splat Duelies. It was a gift from his older brother before that incident, a few days ago... He's still in the hospital after a beating from an unknown figure.

The battle got started as the 8 Inklings charged torwards the middle. Like the veteran players like Dawn, she placed a Sprinkler to cover the entire spawn point. It did consume her ink tank, it'll recover shortly. Dawn kept her distance and reved up her six barrels. And then, she released a barrage of purple ink on the battlefield. ("Alright.. I should start moving before..") Her thinking was interrupted when an intruder appeared in front of her. She recognized this person.. Sage, was it? This is the same neighbor who won't stop talking about boring stuff. Dawn quickly charged up her weapon and fired at him.

Sage performed a dodge roll, making Dawn miss her shot. He wastes no time in splating her into a puddle of lime green ink. He proceed to infiltrate their base.

Dawn respawned after 4 seconds, thanks to Quick Respawn. Dawn's eye twitched as she got up. "UGH... I really don't wanna deal with HIM of all places..." The matchmaking system is still and always will be unfortunate. The rest of her team are struggling back there. She charged into the battlefield. One splat after another, Dawn couldn't get him because of Sage's obsessive dodge rolling. The match ended, before she tried to claim back her turf.

Once the match ended, there's a stage rotation and breaking news from the new stars in Inkopolis Square, Pearl and Marina from Off The Hook. "That's a wrap for today's stages. Now, onto the next rotation!" The idol on the left, Pearl spoke first.

"Before we move on to the next stages, we got an important news update" The Octoling on the right, Marina was standing in front of the DJ booth. The screen showed a picture of the missing Zapfish, along with Callie missing.

"It's been a week since the Great Zapfish is still missing. And there's no sign of Callie anywhere.. What do we do, Pearlie? Without the power supply, battling could get dangerous. We might have to cancel Splatfest if this continues.." Marina asked, looking worried.

"I'm sure, they'll come back in one peace. But, what about that mysterious figure in the footage? It's givin' me the shivers, yo." And then, they showed a footage on the shadowy figure who was leaping from building to building. It appears to be carrying something small in his hands.

"Could he be the culprit of the missing power supply? I totally doubt it." Marina responds, getting a closer look at the figure.

"We'll keep you posted if something unusual happens. But for now, here are the next stages. Check it!" After the stages were revealed, Pearl and Marina did their new slogan and pose before they went off-air.

Dawn stood outside the lobby, staring at the stores. It appears that her skills were getting stale for a while. She hasn't playing Turf Wars much in the Plaza. She was too hooked on ghost investigation shows. "I'm not sure if I have enough money to shop in one of the stores.. Maybe, moving here was a bad idea anyway.." Sometimes, she wished she stayed indoors but couldn't. Most of all, she wished Fynn was here to cheer her up. Right now, she's on her own.

"Pssst.. Hey you, young squid.. Over here." The woman in a yukata spoke to her in a quiet and calm tone. Something was fishy here. And Dawn was not referring to her breath.

Dawn noticed the squid from earlier who was standing on the grates. She slowly walked up to the woman with a look of uneasiness on her face. "Are you... talking to me..?" She pointed to herself and watched the woman nod, slowly.

"It's been a while, since I've seen a skilled battler like you. You may be aware of what's going on in Inkopolis, right..?" The woman kept her umbrella down, not letting anyone see her appearance.

"Yeah.. The Great Zapfish is missing and worst of all, Callie is missing as well. If we don't do something, there won't be a Turf War or Splatfest for that matter." Suddenly, Dawn realized something. "Wait a minute... You look vaguely familiar..." Dawn's not use to talking to strangers in yukatas, but someone about her seems very suspicious.

The woman said nothing, until she cleared her throat. "So, you know.." She responds with a smile. If only Dawn could see her smile under the umbrella. "If you wanna know the truth, follow me through the grates.. There's no time to explain.." She submerged through the grates, leaving a splash of green ink before Dawn's eyes.

"Hey, wait..!" She silently, called out to her. She looked around to see anyone was watching. Actually, not one squid or jellyfish seem to care about her and the stranger in a yukata. Without warning, she morphed into a squid and went down the drain. Who knows, where Dawn is heading to. Once Dawn left the Square, Sage saw the whole thing from afar. He looks curious in where Dawn was going. And so, he followed her.

A couple of minutes later, she arrived at a deserted area with a shack right next to her. She spotted the stranger and approached to her with caution.

"The Octarians..." The woman spoke, calmly. Then for a split second, she turned around to face Dawn. The stranger was none other than Marie of the Squid Sisters. "Hey.. Glad, you can make it.. Say no more, you probably know who I am.. I've seen you before.." Marie bowed, politely to Dawn.

"I knew it was you, all along. Just what are you doing here in Inkopolis Square, Marie?" She asked, tilting her head.

"Well, you see... I've been searching for the right turf battler for this task.. And you seem to fit the bill. Just by looking at you, you seem to have the spinning image of Agent 3. You're the same age and everything." Getting back on topic, she walked closer to Dawn. "Getting back on track, the power supply was stolen by the Octarians again. 2 years ago, they've stolen our Great Zapfish. And now, they're at it again.. This is where you come in, kid. As Agent 2 of the New Squidbeak Splatoon, I hearby recruit you t-" Marie cut off, when an Inkling popped out of the grates with a soft landing. "...And you are?" She was fixated on the boy.

Dawn turned around to face Sage. She looked disgusted when she saw him. "You..!! What are you going here..?! Were you spying on me..?!" Dawn cried.

"Heheh.. I'm sorry.. I was wondering what was that about.. So, I followed you through this grate. As for my name, I'm Sage Evergreene. I'm Dawn's next-door neighbor!" He happily greeted the woman. He was not aware of who Marie is or the Squid Sisters.

"Well, a friend of Dawn is a friend of mine.. I'm Marie. Y'know, as in THE Marie of the Squid Sisters. You've heard of me?" She asked, doing the traditional Squid Sisters pose. If only Callie was here with her.

Sage raised an eyebrow at her. "The what now? I've never heard of that group. Are you guys new?" Once he answered, both Marie and Dawn fell silent.

"....You can't be serious.." She stared, blankly at him. She forgot that most of the squid haven't listened to the Squid Sisters's music. Now that Inkopolis Square is the new and hip culture.

"..For eel?" Marie was taken aback at this, but she cleared her throat. "Whatever.. I was about to recruit this brave squid to help get back the Zapfish. Now that you're here, you want to join? Having 2 new agents is helpful enough."

"Wait, Marie. You can't be serious in asked him for help, are you..? This task might be dangerous for him. Why not send him home?" Dawn looked to see Sage. She may not like him, but she doesn't want him to get hurt out there.

"Y'know, I would leave you two but... I want to analyze on the different gadgets that the Octarians are using. I've read a book about all the weapons and gadgets in Octo Valley and Canyon. I want to see them up close!" Sage's indigo eyes were sparkling like diamonds.

"You kinda remind me of Sheldon when it comes to machinery... I guess, I'll have to recruit you too. But, please don't get too close or you'll be grilled."

"Yesss!! Thank you, Marie! I won't let you down!" Sage would jump up in the air for joy, but contained his cool. Dawn on the other hand, groaned from his approval.

"Alright, you too. From now on, you're Agents... er.." Marie remembered when her grandfather named the inkling, Agent 3. She wanted to step it up a notch. She examined the little ghost symbol on Dawn's Backwards Cap. She continued thinking of a better codename for Sage, until she remembered how Callie freaked out when a praying mantis leapt onto her hair when they were kids.

"Agent Phantom and Agent Mantis..." Marie had finally come with the two codenames. "Yes! Your names are Agents Phantom and Mantis of the New Squidbeak Splatoon. Welcome aboard!" Marie walked over to her shack and presents them with a pair of Hero Suits for this task. "Put these on. The Hero Suits will protect you from the Octarian ink."

Phantom decides to change first, before Mantis. After she was done, Dawn checked herself out. This new suit is a bit hot, because of the summer weather. Mantis changed his gear, as well. He came out of the shack, looking good in his new suit.

"Perfect fit. Next up are the Hero Headphones and your standard weapons, the Hero Shots. It's dangerous to go alone without weaponry. So, take these." Marie could've sworn, she heard it from somewhere.

They both equipped their headphones and weapons. Now, they're both prepared for battle. "All set, Marie. Now what?" Phantom glances over to see the first area of the Canyon.

"Shoot ink to reveal the Octarian lair. That's where the Zapfish are kept. I'll be giving the both of you some instructions, along the way. Now, get going! The fate of Inkopolis lies in your hands." Marie ordered them as she pointed her umbrella towards the entrance to Tentakeel Outpost.

"Let's rock n' roll, Da- I mean, Phantom!" He said, as he took off into the 1st area. He's very excited to research on octarian machinary. As long as he's safe from harm.

"We'll rescue the Zapfish, ma'am. We won't let you down." Phantom took off to catch up to Mantis. She regretted teaming up with her neighbor, but she'll make sure that he's okay. Even if it splats her.

As Marie watched them leave the shack, Marie sighed, deeply. "You can come out now, Agent Freeze.." Marie peeked over to see a Mimic Octoling from the distance. The agent was known as Tundra, Fynn's teacher. She made her decision by helping the New Squidbeak Splatoon. And search for Fynn and Callie's whereabouts.

"They seem pretty young, don't ya think?" Freeze asked, keeping an eye on the two from afar. "They don't seem to get along, those. Huh,.. Kinda reminds me of a certain Splatfest."

"Yeah.. I'm worried about them.. I just hope, they'll make it through.."

Freeze placed a hand of Marie's shoulder, giving her grin. "If that'll make you feel better, I'll keep a close eye on the two. I'll contact you once they finish their first mission, m'kay?" She said, patting her shoulder.

"Make sure, they're both unharmed.. I have a bad feeling that someone might be out to get them." She just hoped to Cod that they'll complete this mission. ("Hang in there, Callie.. Help is on the way...")

End of Part 1

D-Day and Beyond June 9th

I’m really looking forward to today.  We’re going to Disney-Paris!!!!  The entire gang was psych’d and ready to get their Micky going!

Last night we searched the route out.  Disney Paris is about an hour by Train from the house.  The train station is a short five minute metro (subway) ride. Great. 

Next morning everyone had the usual “eat anything in the cabinets” for breakfast. I had a baguette with cheese and ham.  I think Andy ate a small child from next door. Cheryl ate plain pasta.  Liz, Hannah, and Max had the more traditional and shall I say boring, eggs for breakfast.  During breakfast we semi-planned the day.  Gates open at 10:00 so, let get there a bit early. plan to leave the house at 8:30. Oops already missed that deadline. Out the door by nine. Because Cheryl was nursing a bad hip, they took an Uber to the train station and said they would meet us at Disney. By the way, Cheryl is going to have hip surgery the week after we get back. What a trooper!

The rest of us walk to the Metro and ride to the station.  Unfortunately for Emma since she speaks french,we ask her to do all the mundane tasks like buying the tickets.  After about a ten minute discussion, Liz and Emma come out and say the ticket lady had a hard time understanding Emma and that we couldn’t get there the way we thought.  We had to ride the Metro to a different train station and go from there. None of that made sense. 1) Emma speaks flawless french. All the locals remark on how she speaks without an american accent.  2) I can read a rail map. It says we can get there from here.  Anyway, we go with the ticket agent plan, hop the metro to another station and make the ride to Disney.

The train ride was pleasant, though we did go thru some of the seedier parts of Paris, places I would not want to walk around.  When we pulled in the station, we immediately saw the lines to get in.  As it turns out, its the security line with metal detectors and the whole smear.  We talked with Ron and Cheryl, they beat us there by 30 minutes. They took the train I wanted to take.  I think the ticket girl was having a bit of fun with us Americans.  Ron and Cheryl made it thru security and as was at the customer service desk.

Because of her hip, Cheryl was going to get a wheelchair and hopefully a handicap pass, the “golden ticket”. If she get the handicap pass, her and four other can go to the head of the line at all the rides. Wow!

While inching forward thru the security queues, we notice the occasional person walk up to what appears to be another security check point off to our right.  They would do the security dance and go thru. I’m thinking it might be a VIP security line. After a few minutes of moving only inches forward, I asked Hannah to drop out of line and head over to that security point and see if a kid in a stroller would get us through security.  Hannah was reluctant considering how long the line was. Liz and Emma said they would hold our place.  Hannah, Max and I went over there.  The security agent, waved us over, didn’t say a word. He inspected us and waved us thru. Liz, Emma , and Andy make a dash over and cleared security.  As it turns out, it was a normal security checkpoint., just nobody queued up to it.  Again, we humans do have a herd mentality.

Even though we cleared security, we had to go thru the main park entrance. With tickets in hand we inched forward. I will say this about the french, they’ve never met a queue line they wouldn’t jump.  It seems its a sport in France to cut in line.  If that were to happen in the States, they would have been dragged out of the line and beaten to death with a stuffed Mickey Mouse.

Once thru the line we got to eye main street.  This Disney has a weird look to it.  Its as if it’s a 5/8 scale version of the one in Florida.  Disney Paris is smaller, tighter, and shorter. The same look of Disney World, only in miniature.

Inside, we hook up with Ron and Cheryl.  They did it. They got the Golden Ticket!!!

First thing we did was do the paratrooper ride.  Max was excited. We strolled up to the front, waved out golden ticket and was ushered to the front of the line.  We rode and had a great time.  Max squealed with delight.

Cheryl, below, at the photo-op place.

Next stop, Ttower of Terror.  That is my all time favorite ride at Disney. I’m hoping this one with thrill me as well.  Again, with the magic ticket, we went to the head of the line.  Once in, the ride was familiar but smaller.  I will give a shout out to the ride attendant, she spoke both french and english. Every instruction was given in french then english.  Once in the ride I was expecting the elevator ride to be crazy.  It turns out to be about half the ride of the one in Flordia, fun , but not crazy fun. So, instead of Tower of Terror, it should be called “Bump of Mild Discomfort”.

Here’s Emma in front of the Bump of Mild Discomfort.

I will say the ride that did impress us was Ratatouille. It was an amazing combination of physical and technological sophistication.  You really felt like a mouse running thru a kitchen.

We took the required pictures at the castle.

Lunch was an an adventure. At Disney Paris they have a centrallized area for the restaurants.  Its more or less like a food court in a mall.  All the restaurants line the walls, with seating in the middle. Being good southerners, we wanted to eat lunch early.  So around 11:00 we make our way over to the food court.  With such a large group we thought it prudent to snag a large table. We found one, and Emma, Andy and I went for food.  The lines were incredibly long even at 11:00. We jumped into the shortest one. The lunch choices were your standard Disney Fare except more fruit options. Nice.  After, no kidding, 45 minutes in line, we get our food and sit down.  As usual something was missed on the order but we didn’t want to go back and deal with it. We just split what we had amongst us. By this point, there was nowhere to sit. People were piling on top of garbage cans, sitting in the aisles. The way everyone was looking you’d thought, we were at a red cross relief center.   Within an hour we noticed no lines for food.  I thought, “Hey, I’ll get another order of Fries”. I walk up and I now know why there were no lines. The restaurants closed at 1:00.  They have a 2 hour window to eat lunch?! How bizarre, how French. That would never fly in Florida.  

After Lunch we did some thrill rides.  Well, actually not thrill rides, more like moderately bumpy rides. Again the scale is is smaller than Disney World.

We decided to call it a day at around 4:00, with the goal of eating dinner around 6:00..  We load up and head out. As usual, the tickets we bought would not open the turnstiles to the train gate. After several tries, Liz and company head back to the ticket office. Fortunately, the ticket person said that the tickets get demagnetized quite easily and re-issued us the tickets.  We board and we’re off.  After the train and metro rides, we’re walking back and decide to eat out. Everyone is tired and didn’t feel the need to cook. We stop at a rather upscale, restaurant and ask for a table for 6. The maitre d smiled and lead us to a table.  He didn’t see Hannah and Max with a stroller. Once he saw them, the color and smile drained off his face.  He made it clear he didn’t want the “baby” in his restaurant. Being arrogant Americans, we sat down anyway. The waiter had a pained look on his face, thinking he has to deal with us Americans.  Emma began talking to him in french and suddenly he was all smiles.  Service went well, the food was great. We pulled back from the brink of disaster.  The Maitre d would walk by with a snear. We answered with a pleasant, condescending smile that said “bite me”.

After we dinner, it was short walk back to the house.  We sat down at the table, played Unno for and hour and retired to our separate chambers. Quite french.

Jamworld876’s selection of May 2020 releases

Check out our selection of last month’s releases. You may click on the the art covers in the gallery below to go directly to the album/single, or take a look at our listing by clicking here.

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May 2020 Albums

Anthony B – King in My Castle (Born Fire Music)

[Next: Lila Ike – The Experience]

5 years after the release of “Tears of Luv,” Anthony B is back with a brand-new album titled “King in My Castle,” also produced by Born Fire Music.

Despite sounding very classic, the title track is more than decent, and has a very catchy hook… “King in my castle, king in my castle, I’m a king in my castle.” The album incmudes a few other good tracks such as “Liberator,” and “Talk, Talk, Talk,” featuring Zamunda, on a modern recut of the “Boops Riddim.”

Some tracks like “Great China Wall,” which a cover of “Let It Be,” and “Be With You Everywhere,” featuring Chatal, are dispensable. One could add on top of this list, the couple tracks Anthony B voiced on commercial mainstream Dancehall riddims, such as “What’s a Woman Worth,” featuring Pressure, on a pop-oriented remake of the teribly annoying “Hold Yuh Riddim.”

“King in My Castle” info:

Release date: May 1, 2020

Label: Born Fire Music

Total length: 1:11:55

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Lila Ike – The Experience (In.Digg.Nation Collective DR)

[Next: Cali Roots Riddim]

Protoje‘s protégé Lila Ike comes forth with her debut EP produced by In.Digg.Nation. “The Experience” features 7 tracks, on which she experiments fusing Reggae with other genres such as Hip Hop, and R&B. She also delivers a couple Reggae tracks such as “Chance,” on a rejuvenated version of the “Promised Land Riddim.”

“The Experience” info:

Release Date: 18 May 2020

Label: In.Digg.Nation Collective/Six Course Music/RCA Records

Copyright: (P) 2020 In.Digg.Nation Collective under exclusive license RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment

Total Length: 26:07

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May 2020 Various-artist albums & compilations

Cali Roots Riddim (Ineffable Records)

[Next: Sounds & Pressure Vol. 8]

Bermudian Reggae Dancehall artist Colin Patrick Harper best known as Collie Buddz rose to fame in the mid-2000’s with the release of the ganja anthem “Come Around,” produced by Crown N Kah So-Real, and featured on his eponymous debut album (Source: Discogs).

This year, Collie Buddz has decided to show off his composer’s skills and came up with the “Cali Roots Riddim,” featuring Anthony B, Jesse Royal, Gentleman, and many more.

“Cali Roots Riddim” info:

Release Date: 22 May 2020

Label: Ineffable Records

Copyright: ℗© 2020 Ineffable Records

Total Length: 1:19:53

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Sounds & Pressure Vol. 8 (Pressure Sounds)

[Next: Agent Sasco – Loco]

The UK-based label Pressure Sounds releases the 8th volume of the series of compilation “Sounds & Pressure.” This compilation gathers singles alongside their version, that were recently re-issued on 7″ or 10″ records by the label. It features Ronnie Davis, Prophets, The Upsetters, The Aggravators, and more.

Sounds & Pressure Volume 8 by Pressure Sounds

“Sounds & Pressure Vol. 8” info:

Release date: May 29, 2020

Label: Pressure Sounds

Total length: 1:07:53

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May 2020 Reggae Dancehall single tracks

Agent Sasco a.k.a Assassin – Loco (Soul Circle Music)

[Next: Beenie Man – Make Money Plenty]

Agent Sasco delivers a mad Dancehall track titled “Loco,” produced by Soul Circle Music.

Watch “Loco” official music video on Youtube

“Loco” info:

Release date: May 21, 2020

Label: Soul Circle Music

Copyright: ℗© Soul Circle Music

Total length: 3:03

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Beenie Man – Make Money Plenty

Beenie Man has just released “Make Money Plenty,” a brand-new Dancehall single that was recorded on the “New Money Riddim.” The “New Money Riddim” sounds extremely familiar. Indeed, it includes samples from the “Unda Wata Riddim,” produced by Tony ‘CD’ Kelly.

[Next: Buju Banton ft. John Legend – Memories]



“Make Money Plenty” Info:

Release date: May 29, 2020

Label: Platinum Camp Records

Total length: 3:10

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Buju Banton ft. John Legend – Memories (Gargamel Music)

Buju Banton collaborates with John Legend to release the single “Memories.” The song is recorded on a riddim based on a savory blend of Reggae, and R&B.

[Next: Busy Signal – Di Na Na Na]



Info:

Release date: May 8, 2020

Label: Gargamel Music Co.

Total length: 4:01

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Busy Signal – Di Na Na Na (Channel 17 Records)

Because of the corona virus pandemic, clubs have been closed for months in many countries. Nevertheless, Dancehall artist Busy Signal releases the catchy single “Di Na Na Na,” produced by Channel 17 Records, to keep you dancing until you find your way back to the clubs some time after this summer.

[Next: Daddy Freddy – Number One]

“Di Na Na” Info:

Release date: May, 2020

Label: Channel 17 Records

Copyright: ℗ 2020 Channel 17 Records – Johnny Wonder © 2020 Channel 17 Records

Total length: 4:18

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Daddy Freddy – Number One (High Power Music)

UK-based artist Daddy Freddy releases the single “Number One,” produced by General Lee for the Jamaican Reggae label High Power Music. Here, Daddy Freddy delivers an good old-fashioned Dancehall song on a recut of the “Taxi Riddim,” with an authentic Deejay style.

[Next: Elephant Man – Quarantine]



“Number One” Info:

Release date: May 29, 2020

Label: High Power Music

Total length: 3:19

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Elephant Man – Quarantine (Energy God Productions)

[Next: Jah Cure – Chatty Mouth]

Elephant Man delivers a new self-produced Dancehall single about the covid-19. In this single titled “Quarantine,” he highlights the importance of staying at home, and following the measures of social distance in order to prevent the propagation of the covid-19. On a pitched recut of the classic “Martial Arts Riddim,” Elephant Man spits some meaningful rhymes in style, and proves that the “Martial Arts Riddim,” still has impact in contemporary Dancehall music, despite dating from 2002.



“Quarantine” Info:

Release date: May 6, 2020

Label: Energy God Productions

Total length: 2:24

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Jah Cure – Chatty Mouth (Yard Vybz Ent.)

[Next: Jonnygo Figure – Unemployment]

Jah Cure releases “Chatty Mouth,” produced by Baby G (Jammy’s) for Yard Vybz Entertainment.

“Chatty Mouth” Info:

Release date: May 8, 2020

Producer: Baby G (Jammy’s)

Label: Yard Vybz Ent.

Total length: 3:43

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Jonnygo Figure – Unemployment (Rebelmadiaq Sound System & Records)

[Next: Luciano ft. Runkus – Use Jah Words]

Jonnygo Figure delivers a social commentary about unemployment with an old-school style flow in a brand-new track titled “Unemployment,” produced by Genius T for Rebelmadiaq Sound Records. 



“Unemployment” Info:

Release date: May 22, 2020

Label: Rebelmadiaq Sound System & Records

Total length: 9:18

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Luciano ft. Runkus – Use Jah Words (Oneness Records)

[Next: Mr. Vegas ft. Topo La Maskara – Go Go]

Runkus remixes Luciano‘s 2007’s single “Use Jah Words.” This new single was voiced on the very same riddim as the original, which was produced by Da Baron & Umberto Echo for Oneness Records (Source: Discogs).

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Info:

Release date: May 22, 2020

Label: Oneness Records

Total length: 3:50

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Mr. Vegas ft. Topo La Maskara – Go Go (HVB Music)

Mr. Vegas and Topo La Maskara delivers a modern Dancehall club banger titled “Go Go,” produced by HVB Music.

[Next: Wayne Marshall – Everybody Talking Bout]



“Go Go” Info:

Release date: June 5, 2020

Label: HVB Music Group S.R.L

Total length: 2:50

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Wayne Marshall – Everybody Talking Bout (Covid) (Yard Vybz Ent.)

In a brand-new semi-acoustic song Wayne Marshall highlights that “Everybody talking bout corona corona corona corona corona…”



“Everybody Talking Bout (Covid)” Info:

Release date: May 1, 2020

Label: Yard Vybz Ent.

Total length: 4:27

[Back to Top ↑]

Summary of May 2020 Reggae Dancehall releases

Albums

Anthony B – King in My Castle

Lila Ike – The Experience

Various-artist albums & compilations

Cali Roots Riddim

Sounds & Pressure Vol. 8

Single tracks

Agent Sasco a.k.a Assassin – Loco

Beenie Man – Make Money Plenty

Buju Banton ft. John Legend – Memories

Busy Signal – Di Na Na Na

Daddy Freddy – Number One

Elephant Man – Quarantine

Jah Cure – Chatty Mouth

Luciano ft. Runkus – Use Jah Words

JohnnyGo Figure – Unemployment

Mr. Vegas ft. Topo La Maskara – Go Go

Wayne Marshall – Corona

[Back to Top ↑]

May 2020 Reggae Dancehall Releases Jamworld876's selection of May 2020 releases Check out our selection of last month's releases. You may click on the the art covers in the gallery below to go directly to the album/single, or take a look at our…

Caught Somewhere in Time - Part 3

Word Count: 1,896

Pairing: None (Maybe a very slight OFC x OMC)

Main Characters: Sam, Dean, OFC - Andi, OMC - Max

Warnings: Mentions of injury, Mentions of death, Swearing 

Part 1   Part 2   Part 4   Part 5   Part 6   Part 7   Part 8   Part 9 (Final)

Series Masterlist

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters from Supernatural, only my OFC and OMC. Also, the plot line is basically a mash-up of a couple different episodes so I don’t own those either.

Previously:  In the moonlight streaming through the window, I read the time of midnight. I silently get up, somehow managing to make it all the way downstairs to my bag. I pull out my iPod and my earbuds and miraculously make it back upstairs and down onto my temporary bed without waking either Winchester. I insert the earbuds into my ears and scroll through my playlists. I select one with more calming melodies. I relax and focus on my breathing. Slowly feeling like I’m being dragged under into unconsciousness, I begin to feel myself drift into sleep. Sleep finally welcomes me into its warm embrace as “Stairway to Heaven” plays quietly in the background of my mind.

         Around twelve hundred hours the next day, after getting no particularly useful information from the police or the two victims families, we’re once again sitting around the table, this time eating lunch. I’m dining on some exquisite chinese food from the “modest” place down the street. I finish it rather quickly, throwing the empty container and chopsticks into our makeshift trash can, the plastic bag from last night’s gas station dinner.

         “I’m going to get started on some research,” I announce, taking my Raging Bull .44 Magnum out of its holster and placing it on the table. Sam nods, setting down his salad, saying,

         “That’s probably a good idea. Want the case files?”

         “No. ‘Cause it’s totally possible to know what we’re dealing with without even knowing how the victims died,” I reply sarcastically, “Yes. Of course I want them.”

         “Here you go,” he says, retrieving a few manilla folders with pictures and news clippings taped onto them from their place on the floor a little ways from the table where they were unceremoniously dropped when dinner arrived. I set them next to me and pull out my laptop. I turn on my WiFi hotspot, plug in my headphones, crank my music, and get down to business. I rummage through the folders until I find the ME’s reports. Both victims were mummified, that much was obvious, although the how had escaped the ME. The police reports were of no further help. Aside from their COD, the vics had no connection to each other. After today’s many interviews, that much was certain. To further my growing level of frustration with this case, none of the signs were pointing to a ghost or any of the usual suspects. I opened up a new tab on my browser and started rummaging through the surprisingly extensive archive of information on monsters that can suck the life out of a person. It couldn’t be a Shtriga, those fed on children and all our vics were well past adolescence. I found a few sources that spoke of a time god, but all the old gods had long ago lost their powers along with their worshipers and there wasn’t a whole lot to suggest that this god could do this to people. Mainly, it seemed he just had people sacrificed to him and, if you summoned him correctly, he would tell your future so I skim over him. I’d heard of witches being able to give and take years of a person’s lives.

         Maybe that’s what we’re dealing with here, I think. I run a search for other deaths across the country with similar MO’s. Sure enough, the map lights up like a christmas tree. Dozens of deaths across the country in different towns in different states. The victims are always mummified inexplicably and they always pop up in sets of three. There was another string of these deaths in Chicago in the 1980’s... and the 50’s going back and back and back. I’m looking over an old version of the Chicago Defender from the 1910’s when I spot him. In the picture, the man is wearing a suit, trenchcoat, and a fedora. He appears to be in his 30’s. He looks very familiar. It hits me like a bulldozer. I’d seen this man before. I look at the article from the 80’s. Just as I thought, in the background is the man from the picture, looking exactly the same.

         “Hey guys,” I say, spinning my laptop around so they can compare the picture on my screen to the clipping picture, “I think I might’ve found our culprit. You ran into a warlock that could give and take years before, right? Well, what if that’s what this man’s doing?”

         “Could be our guy,” Sam says, “Says here that the person who found the body was a young girl, Lisa Carstairs, on her way home. Maybe she knows who he is.”

         “Yeah,” Dean chimes in, “How ‘bout you track her down and Andi and I will start asking around that area to see if anyone remembers him?”

         “Sounds like a plan to me,” I say, getting up, “Let’s go.” I put my Raging Bull back into its holster and walk out to Baby, sliding into the shotgun seat. Dean hops in, turns on the ignition, and she purrs to life.

         About two hours later, we get a call from Sam letting us know that he tracked the lady down. Turns out, the guy's name was Ed Snider and he used to live down the street from her. After thanking him and hanging up, Dean and I pull up to yet another bar.

         “I hope this goes better than the last twenty bars we’ve gone to,” I say to Dean.

         “Me too,” Dean agrees as he pushes the door open and walks inside. We walk up to the bar and signal the bartender over; she nods to let us know she’s coming. She walks over after about a minute after finishing serving the person she was with.

         “What’ll ya take?” she asks, pulling out a glass.

         “Actually, we won’t be taking anything,” Dean says politely, pulling out his FBI badge. I do the same. “I’m Agent Bonham and this is Agent Jett. We’d like to ask you a few questions.”

         “What d’ya wanna know?” she says sounding slightly skeptical.

         “We’re wondering if you know this man,” I say, holding up the photo of the warlock, “He may go by the name of Ed Snider. Have you seen him around at all?”

         “Why should I tell you?” she retorts.

        “Because we can have you arrested for impeding a federal investigation,” Dean states matter-of-factly.

        “Well… When ya put it like that,” she says, “Ed’s a regular here. Usually comes in around seven for a drink or two. Plays a round or two of pool or darts. Takes a few shots and leaves. Is he in trouble?”

        “I’m sorry, ma’am. But it’s part of an ongoing investigation and we’re not at liberty to discuss. My apologies,” I say sincerely. It’s always heartwarming to see people get concerned about their friends. “That’ll be all for now. Thank you for your cooperation.”

        “Sure thing,” she says, walking over to another customer.

        “So,” I say to Dean as we walk out of the bar, “I’ll call Sam and we can rendezvous back at the house.”

        “Let’s do this thing!” Dean says excitedly.

        After calling Sam, who sounded very relieved that we had finally found a way to track the guy down, we met back up at the house.

        The boys let me have the room upstairs to change in so I grab my duffel and walk up to the room. I make short work of getting my fed suit off.

        God, how I hate that thing, I think to myself. My hunting clothes are much more my pace. I pull on one of my Metallica tank tops. Over this goes a black men’s long sleeve Henley that I found at Goodwill (best purchase of my life, ever!). Next on is one of my looser pairs of blue jeans, and my black combat boots. Next up are my holsters. First, I put on my two thigh holsters. Each holds one gun to the outside of my leg with one band of leather going around my thigh and two straps that hook into the belt loops of my pants, one in front and one in back. A chance meeting with a gamer who’d seen me wearing my full hunting get-up had told me that they looked like the ones in the video game Rise of the Tomb Raider. Secondly, I put on the one that goes around the lower part of my abdomen with pockets for two guns in the back. Next comes my shoulder holster, which holds two guns on the outsides of my abdomen. Finally, I put on my custom one. It holds one around the center of my back by attaching to the shoulder holster. It’s a bitch to get on, but the gun is easy enough to retrieve. After putting all the holsters on, now it’s time to load up. I put the Smith & Wesson Model 29 .44 Magnum in the one on the center of my back. The Taurus Raging Bull Model 500 .5 Magnum and 6” Desert Eagle .50 AE Mark XIX Pistol go in the thigh holsters. The two guns that go in the holster on my lower back are the 7” Mateba Model 6 Unica .44 Magnum and the Smith & Wesson Model 629 .44 Magnum Stealth Hunter. Finally, my Taurus Raging Bull Model 444 .44 Magnum and 8” Colt Anaconda .44 Magnum go in my shoulder holster. Over all this, I throw on my leather trench coat. It keeps me from looking like a walking armory if we have to be out in the open at all. I had also sown some pockets onto the inside so it carried my extra amo.

        I make my way back downstairs and find the boys ready to go.

        “So how are we going to do this?” I ask, raising an eyebrow, “We going to try and jump him outside the bar before he goes in? After he leaves? What’s our plan?”

        “Me and Sammy here were thinking that we’d wait for him to show up at the bar. We’ll wait at the exits and let the others know when he leaves. From there we’ll trail him until we can figure whether or not he’s actually our guy,” Dean says, “We don’t want to take any chances that this is all just some wacked up coincidence and accidentally kill an innocent person. How’s that sound?”

        “Sounds like plan,” I say enthusiastically, “Let’s gank this he-witch and go home!”

        He’d shown up right on time. Nineteen hundred hours sharp. Shortly after that, we split up. Dean stayed with the Impala in the front, Sam took the side exit, and I took the service exit in the back. I’d been standing there for what felt like hours, but my watch told me it had only been one. Time always seemed to slow down when I had to wait for a monster to show itself. Finally, he appeared from within the bar. He came out my exit and began down the street.

        I text Dean and Sam,

He came out through the back. I’ll start tailing him. You guys tail me. See you soon. 

        I follow at a safe distance. Far enough back that he won’t notice me and I’ll have time to hide quickly if he decides to turn around, but close enough that if he makes a move, I’m within killing range. I’ve been following him for about half a mile when he stops, looking behind. I quickly dart behind a building.

        Shit! I think, I hope he’s not on to me. That’d make things awkward. I peer around the corner.

        “Son of a bitch!” I say under my breath. He’s gone. I walk up to where he was and look around. He’s nowhere to be seen. Just as I’m about to give up hope, I hear a sickening scream. It’s coming from within the alley, I run towards the sound. I can hear Sam and Dean running not too far behind me. I turn the corner of the alley. That’s when I see the poor homeless man lying there.

To Be Continued...

Why Lyme Disease Is on the Rise

https://healthandfitnessrecipes.com/?p=1288

By Dr. Mercola

Ticks are widespread throughout the U.S., and while bites can be harmless they also hold the potential to transmit serious diseases. Lyme disease — which is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria spread through the bite of blacklegged ticks (also known as deer ticks) and western blacklegged ticks — is thought to affect more than 300,000 Americans annually.1 As you can view for yourself in the video above, ticks are stealthy creatures that have developed an elaborate system to feed off human blood.

Whereas other bloodsuckers like mosquitoes bite, suck quickly and leave, ticks’ goal is to stay embedded in your skin for days, and as such they have specially developed mouths just for this purpose. In addition to the needle-like hypostome, which is covered in backward-facing hooks, there are two rod-like chelicerae, which help to drive the hypostome into your skin.2 You can’t feel it when a tick bites you, nor when they feed.

Their salvia contains anesthetics for this purpose, along with anticoagulants and immune suppressors that facilitate the ticks’ feeding while also allowing the transmission of diseases like Lyme.

“On a human host, their saliva numbs the skin so you don’t feel the bite, and an anticoagulant keeps the blood flowing. The tick saliva also combines with a protein from B. burgdorferi to suppress human immune systems, so our bodies don’t muster antibodies to kill the bug,” the Adirondack Daily Enterprise reported.3

“Reading about the elaborate and effective ways these tiny creatures defeat our body’s defenses can make you rethink the conception that humans occupy the top spot on an evolutionary ladder. They have been around far longer than we have, and from all indications, they will persist when we have faded away.”4

How Do Ticks Spread Disease?

In order to transition to each of its life stages (egg, larva, nymph and adult), ticks must find a blood meal to survive. Ticks can live up to three years during this process, although many die prior to this when they are unable to find a host to feed on. Ticks will lie in wait on a leaf or piece of grass, waiting to detect a potential host via breath and body odors or sensing heat, moisture, vibrations and even shadows.

If you happen to venture too close to a tick’s hideout, it will climb on board and begin the process of attaching, which can take anywhere from minutes to two hours.

As a tick sucks blood over the process of several days, it ingests any pathogens found in the host animal. In the case of Lyme disease bacteria, white-footed mice infect 75 to 95 percent of larval ticks that feed on them.5 Such pathogens within the tick may then be transmitted to the host via saliva released during the feeding process.6

There are more than two dozen tick-borne diseases in the U.S. that can be transmitted to humans, including Colorado tick fever, rocky mountain spotted fever, Powassan disease and increasingly prevalent Lyme disease.

In most cases, tick bites cause no symptoms, but it’s possible to experience pain, a rash or burning. If you develop a red spot or rash near the site of a tick bite, it’s a possible sign of tick-borne disease and should be evaluated by your doctor. A characteristic “bull’s-eye” rash is often associated with Lyme disease, but this rash occurs only in about half of those infected, so absence of such a rash does not exclude the possibility of a tick bite.

Lyme Disease Is on the Rise

While only deer ticks are known to transmit Lyme disease, cases have now occurred in half of the counties in the 48 continental U.S. states.7 Lyme disease is the most commonly reported vectorborne illness in the U.S., according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with 95 percent of confirmed cases in 2015 coming from the following 14 states:8

Connecticut

Delaware

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Minnesota

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New York

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

Vermont

Virginia

Wisconsin

According to the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS), since U.S. surveillance began in 1982, the number of annual Lyme cases reported has increased nearly 25-fold.9 The disease is also spreading geographically. The longer a tick is attached, the higher the chances of transmission of an infectious agent. In most cases, Lyme disease is transmitted by young nymphs, rather than adult ticks, simply because the nymphs are smaller and therefore less likely to be discovered and removed.

According to the CDC, the tick must typically be attached for 36 to 48 hours or more before the Lyme disease bacterium can be transmitted,10 but ILADS notes that it’s possible to get Lyme disease even if the tick has been attached for less than 24 hours.11

Many patients with Lyme disease do not ever recall being bitten by a tick and, according to Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt — one the leading authorities on Lyme disease — the bacteria that cause the disease can also be spread by other biting or blood-sucking insects, including mosquitoes, spiders, fleas and mites.

Many Challenges Surround Lyme Disease Diagnosis, Treatment

Lyme disease usually starts with fatigue, fever, headaches and joint or muscle pain. It can then progress to muscle spasms, loss of motor coordination, intermittent paralysis, meningitis and even heart problems. Early treatment is critical to prevent complications, but there is no reliable test for diagnosis.

According to ILADS, up to 50 percent of patients tested for Lyme disease may receive false negative results, and the average patient sees five doctors over nearly two years before being diagnosed.12 Many are told the disease is “all in their heads” before finally receiving help.

One of the reasons blood tests are so unreliable as indicators of Lyme infection is that the spirochete that causes Lyme disease (a cousin to the spirochete that causes syphilis) is capable of infecting your white blood cells. Lab tests rely on the normal function of these cells to produce the antibodies they measure. If your white cells are infected, they will not respond to an infection appropriately.

In order for Lyme tests to be useful, you actually have to be treated first. Once your immune system begins to respond normally, only then will the antibodies show up on a blood test. This is called the "Lyme Paradox" — you have to be treated before a proper diagnosis can be made. Also problematic is the controversy over whether Lyme disease is a chronic condition.

The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) has long recommended a short course of antibiotics for treatment, even though many patients do not get better following the treatment or relapse shortly thereafter. As a result of the IDSA guidelines, insurance companies typically will not pay for extended treatment. As noted by the Adirondack Daily Enterprise:13

“Patients suffering from long-term Lyme disease symptoms are often forced to seek out expensive testing through private labs and expensive treatment from specialists that they must pay for personally, then struggle with insurance companies for reimbursement …

In Texas, Lyme disease patients have filed a lawsuit against the Infectious Diseases Society of America and several large insurance companies, claiming the IDSA’s development of the Lyme practice guideline, which recommends a short course of antibiotics, was influenced by insurance consultants trying to keep down costs. Lyme patients need a longer course of antibiotics — perhaps many months — to eradicate the disease, the lawsuit claims.”

Natural Treatment Options for Lyme Disease

Antibiotics are often ineffective in treating Lyme disease, and can seriously impair your gut bacteria and raise your risk of antibiotic-resistant infections, especially when taken long term. I recommend trying natural strategies first, such as the Nutramedix line of herbal antimicrobials, recommended by one of the most prominent alternative medicine experts, Dr. Lee Cowden.

The best feature of this natural treatment for Lyme disease, often referred to as the "Cowden Protocol,” is that it rotates various herbal antimicrobials, so you don't have to worry about bacteria developing resistance. The following table also lists a number of nutritional supplements found to be useful in the treatment of Lyme disease by those embracing natural methods.

Probiotics to improve immunity and restore microflora during and after antibiotics

Curcumin is helpful for reducing neurological toxins and brain swelling

Astaxanthin to neutralize toxins, improve vision and relieve joint pain, common in Lyme

Whey protein concentrate may help with nutrition, often poor in Lyme patients who don't feel well enough to eat properly

Grapefruit seed extract may treat the cyst form of Borrelia

Krill oil to reduce inflammation

Cilantro as a natural chelator for heavy metals

Serrapeptase helps to break biofilms

Resveratrol may treat Bartonella, a co-infection and also helps detoxification

GABA and melatonin to help with insomnia

Artemisinin and andrographis, two herbs that may treat Babesia, a common coinfection

CoQ10 to support cardiac health and reduce muscle pain and brain fog

Quercetin reduces histamine (often high in Lyme)

Transfer factors can help boost immune function

Klinghardt also has a Lyme disease protocol that can help you recover from the infection. His website explains the protocol in detail, but here are the basic steps to give you an idea of what it entails:14

Evaluate all external factors and address as appropriate. These include molds, electromagnetic fields, electrosmog and microwave radiation in connection to wireless technologies. Klinghardt advises shielding your home using Y shield (special graphite paint) in order to reduce microwave radiation coming from the outside. Cloth coated with silver is used for curtains. Patients are advised to turn off all fuses at night and eliminate all cordless telephones until they recover from the illness.

Address stress and emotional issues. Energy psychology tools like the Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) can be helpful to address the emotional components of Lyme.

Address parasitic, bacterial and viral infections. Parasites need to be addressed first, followed by bacteria and then viruses. Klinghardt uses an antimicrobial cocktail composed of wormwood, vitamin C, phospholipids and different herbs. Viral infections are addressed with BioPure's Viressence, a tincture of Native American herbs.

Address other lifestyle factors. Determine your need for supplementation (antioxidants) to address nutritional deficiencies.

Steps to Avoiding Tick Bites and How to Remove a Tick

If you’re venturing into a natural area where ticks may be present, taking the following precautionary steps can help you prevent tick bites:15

In tick-infested areas, avoid contact with soil, leaf litter and vegetation.

Wear light-colored clothing with a tight weave to spot ticks easily.

Wear enclosed shoes, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Tuck pant legs into socks or boots and shirt into pants.

Check clothes and any exposed skin frequently for ticks while outdoors and check again once indoors.

Walk in the center of trails.

Stay on cleared, well-traveled trails. Avoid contacting vegetation.

Avoid sitting directly on the ground or on stone walls.

Keep long hair tied back, especially when gardening.

Once indoors, do a full-body tick check, taking care to check harder-to-spot areas such as hair, behind your knees and between your legs. Pets, clothing and gear should be thoroughly checked as well. Another option is to take a bath or shower soon after coming home, which will help wash any ticks away. You can also put clothing in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes, or wash them using hot water, to kill any lingering ticks.16

If you find a tick attached to your skin, use a pair of tweezers to remove it. Grasp the tick as close to your skin’s surface as possible, then pull it straight out (do not twist it or jerk it out). If mouth parts are left in your skin that cannot be removed, leave them alone and the skin will heal on its own. Be sure to wash the area and your hands thoroughly with soap and water once removed.17

If you’re not sure what type of tick it is and want to be able to identify the tick to determine if it can transmit Lyme disease or other infections, take a picture of it before disposing of it. Remember that most tick bites are harmless and do not cause any symptoms, but do be vigilant in watching for signs of potential tickborne disease, especially if bitten by a deer tick.

Source link

Are Ticks Winning?

By Dr. Mercola

Ticks are widespread throughout the U.S., and while bites can be harmless they also hold the potential to transmit serious diseases. Lyme disease — which is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria spread through the bite of blacklegged ticks (also known as deer ticks) and western blacklegged ticks — is thought to affect more than 300,000 Americans annually.1 As you can view for yourself in the video above, ticks are stealthy creatures that have developed an elaborate system to feed off human blood.

Whereas other bloodsuckers like mosquitoes bite, suck quickly and leave, ticks’ goal is to stay embedded in your skin for days, and as such they have specially developed mouths just for this purpose. In addition to the needle-like hypostome, which is covered in backward-facing hooks, there are two rod-like chelicerae, which help to drive the hypostome into your skin.2 You can’t feel it when a tick bites you, nor when they feed.

Their salvia contains anesthetics for this purpose, along with anticoagulants and immune suppressors that facilitate the ticks’ feeding while also allowing the transmission of diseases like Lyme.

“On a human host, their saliva numbs the skin so you don’t feel the bite, and an anticoagulant keeps the blood flowing. The tick saliva also combines with a protein from B. burgdorferi to suppress human immune systems, so our bodies don’t muster antibodies to kill the bug,” the Adirondack Daily Enterprise reported.3

“Reading about the elaborate and effective ways these tiny creatures defeat our body’s defenses can make you rethink the conception that humans occupy the top spot on an evolutionary ladder. They have been around far longer than we have, and from all indications, they will persist when we have faded away.”4

How Do Ticks Spread Disease?

In order to transition to each of its life stages (egg, larva, nymph and adult), ticks must find a blood meal to survive. Ticks can live up to three years during this process, although many die prior to this when they are unable to find a host to feed on. Ticks will lie in wait on a leaf or piece of grass, waiting to detect a potential host via breath and body odors or sensing heat, moisture, vibrations and even shadows.

If you happen to venture too close to a tick’s hideout, it will climb on board and begin the process of attaching, which can take anywhere from minutes to two hours.

As a tick sucks blood over the process of several days, it ingests any pathogens found in the host animal. In the case of Lyme disease bacteria, white-footed mice infect 75 to 95 percent of larval ticks that feed on them.5 Such pathogens within the tick may then be transmitted to the host via saliva released during the feeding process.6

There are more than two dozen tick-borne diseases in the U.S. that can be transmitted to humans, including Colorado tick fever, rocky mountain spotted fever, Powassan disease and increasingly prevalent Lyme disease.

In most cases, tick bites cause no symptoms, but it’s possible to experience pain, a rash or burning. If you develop a red spot or rash near the site of a tick bite, it’s a possible sign of tick-borne disease and should be evaluated by your doctor. A characteristic “bull’s-eye” rash is often associated with Lyme disease, but this rash occurs only in about half of those infected, so absence of such a rash does not exclude the possibility of a tick bite.

Lyme Disease Is on the Rise

While only deer ticks are known to transmit Lyme disease, cases have now occurred in half of the counties in the 48 continental U.S. states.7 Lyme disease is the most commonly reported vectorborne illness in the U.S., according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with 95 percent of confirmed cases in 2015 coming from the following 14 states:8

Connecticut

Delaware

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Minnesota

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New York

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

Vermont

Virginia

Wisconsin

According to the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS), since U.S. surveillance began in 1982, the number of annual Lyme cases reported has increased nearly 25-fold.9 The disease is also spreading geographically. The longer a tick is attached, the higher the chances of transmission of an infectious agent. In most cases, Lyme disease is transmitted by young nymphs, rather than adult ticks, simply because the nymphs are smaller and therefore less likely to be discovered and removed.

According to the CDC, the tick must typically be attached for 36 to 48 hours or more before the Lyme disease bacterium can be transmitted,10 but ILADS notes that it’s possible to get Lyme disease even if the tick has been attached for less than 24 hours.11

Many patients with Lyme disease do not ever recall being bitten by a tick and, according to Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt — one the leading authorities on Lyme disease — the bacteria that cause the disease can also be spread by other biting or blood-sucking insects, including mosquitoes, spiders, fleas and mites.

Many Challenges Surround Lyme Disease Diagnosis, Treatment

Lyme disease usually starts with fatigue, fever, headaches and joint or muscle pain. It can then progress to muscle spasms, loss of motor coordination, intermittent paralysis, meningitis and even heart problems. Early treatment is critical to prevent complications, but there is no reliable test for diagnosis.

According to ILADS, up to 50 percent of patients tested for Lyme disease may receive false negative results, and the average patient sees five doctors over nearly two years before being diagnosed.12 Many are told the disease is “all in their heads” before finally receiving help.

One of the reasons blood tests are so unreliable as indicators of Lyme infection is that the spirochete that causes Lyme disease (a cousin to the spirochete that causes syphilis) is capable of infecting your white blood cells. Lab tests rely on the normal function of these cells to produce the antibodies they measure. If your white cells are infected, they will not respond to an infection appropriately.

In order for Lyme tests to be useful, you actually have to be treated first. Once your immune system begins to respond normally, only then will the antibodies show up on a blood test. This is called the "Lyme Paradox" — you have to be treated before a proper diagnosis can be made. Also problematic is the controversy over whether Lyme disease is a chronic condition.

The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) has long recommended a short course of antibiotics for treatment, even though many patients do not get better following the treatment or relapse shortly thereafter. As a result of the IDSA guidelines, insurance companies typically will not pay for extended treatment. As noted by the Adirondack Daily Enterprise:13

“Patients suffering from long-term Lyme disease symptoms are often forced to seek out expensive testing through private labs and expensive treatment from specialists that they must pay for personally, then struggle with insurance companies for reimbursement …

In Texas, Lyme disease patients have filed a lawsuit against the Infectious Diseases Society of America and several large insurance companies, claiming the IDSA’s development of the Lyme practice guideline, which recommends a short course of antibiotics, was influenced by insurance consultants trying to keep down costs. Lyme patients need a longer course of antibiotics — perhaps many months — to eradicate the disease, the lawsuit claims.”

Natural Treatment Options for Lyme Disease

Antibiotics are often ineffective in treating Lyme disease, and can seriously impair your gut bacteria and raise your risk of antibiotic-resistant infections, especially when taken long term. I recommend trying natural strategies first, such as the Nutramedix line of herbal antimicrobials, recommended by one of the most prominent alternative medicine experts, Dr. Lee Cowden.

The best feature of this natural treatment for Lyme disease, often referred to as the "Cowden Protocol,” is that it rotates various herbal antimicrobials, so you don't have to worry about bacteria developing resistance. The following table also lists a number of nutritional supplements found to be useful in the treatment of Lyme disease by those embracing natural methods.

Probiotics to improve immunity and restore microflora during and after antibiotics

Curcumin is helpful for reducing neurological toxins and brain swelling

Astaxanthin to neutralize toxins, improve vision and relieve joint pain, common in Lyme

Whey protein concentrate may help with nutrition, often poor in Lyme patients who don't feel well enough to eat properly

Grapefruit seed extract may treat the cyst form of Borrelia

Krill oil to reduce inflammation

Cilantro as a natural chelator for heavy metals

Serrapeptase helps to break biofilms

Resveratrol may treat Bartonella, a co-infection and also helps detoxification

GABA and melatonin to help with insomnia

Artemisinin and andrographis, two herbs that may treat Babesia, a common coinfection

CoQ10 to support cardiac health and reduce muscle pain and brain fog

Quercetin reduces histamine (often high in Lyme)

Transfer factors can help boost immune function

Klinghardt also has a Lyme disease protocol that can help you recover from the infection. His website explains the protocol in detail, but here are the basic steps to give you an idea of what it entails:14

Evaluate all external factors and address as appropriate. These include molds, electromagnetic fields, electrosmog and microwave radiation in connection to wireless technologies. Klinghardt advises shielding your home using Y shield (special graphite paint) in order to reduce microwave radiation coming from the outside. Cloth coated with silver is used for curtains. Patients are advised to turn off all fuses at night and eliminate all cordless telephones until they recover from the illness.

Address stress and emotional issues. Energy psychology tools like the Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) can be helpful to address the emotional components of Lyme.

Address parasitic, bacterial and viral infections. Parasites need to be addressed first, followed by bacteria and then viruses. Klinghardt uses an antimicrobial cocktail composed of wormwood, vitamin C, phospholipids and different herbs. Viral infections are addressed with BioPure's Viressence, a tincture of Native American herbs.

Address other lifestyle factors. Determine your need for supplementation (antioxidants) to address nutritional deficiencies.

Steps to Avoiding Tick Bites and How to Remove a Tick

If you’re venturing into a natural area where ticks may be present, taking the following precautionary steps can help you prevent tick bites:15

In tick-infested areas, avoid contact with soil, leaf litter and vegetation.

Wear light-colored clothing with a tight weave to spot ticks easily.

Wear enclosed shoes, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Tuck pant legs into socks or boots and shirt into pants.

Check clothes and any exposed skin frequently for ticks while outdoors and check again once indoors.

Walk in the center of trails.

Stay on cleared, well-traveled trails. Avoid contacting vegetation.

Avoid sitting directly on the ground or on stone walls.

Keep long hair tied back, especially when gardening.

Once indoors, do a full-body tick check, taking care to check harder-to-spot areas such as hair, behind your knees and between your legs. Pets, clothing and gear should be thoroughly checked as well. Another option is to take a bath or shower soon after coming home, which will help wash any ticks away. You can also put clothing in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes, or wash them using hot water, to kill any lingering ticks.16

If you find a tick attached to your skin, use a pair of tweezers to remove it. Grasp the tick as close to your skin’s surface as possible, then pull it straight out (do not twist it or jerk it out). If mouth parts are left in your skin that cannot be removed, leave them alone and the skin will heal on its own. Be sure to wash the area and your hands thoroughly with soap and water once removed.17

If you’re not sure what type of tick it is and want to be able to identify the tick to determine if it can transmit Lyme disease or other infections, take a picture of it before disposing of it. Remember that most tick bites are harmless and do not cause any symptoms, but do be vigilant in watching for signs of potential tickborne disease, especially if bitten by a deer tick.

from HealthyLife via Jake Glover on Inoreader https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2018/04/24/ticks-lyme-disease.aspx

Are Ticks Winning? Dr. Mercola By Dr. Mercola Ticks are widespread throughout the U.S., and while bites can be harmless they also hold the potential to transmit serious diseases. Lyme disease — which is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria spread through the bite of blacklegged ticks (also known as deer ticks) and western blacklegged ticks — is thought to affect more than 300,000 Americans annually.1 As you can view for yourself in the video above, ticks are stealthy creatures that have developed an elaborate system to feed off human blood. Whereas other bloodsuckers like mosquitoes bite, suck quickly and leave, ticks’ goal is to stay embedded in your skin for days, and as such they have specially developed mouths just for this purpose. In addition to the needle-like hypostome, which is covered in backward-facing hooks, there are two rod-like chelicerae, which help to drive the hypostome into your skin.2 You can’t feel it when a tick bites you, nor when they feed. Their salvia contains anesthetics for this purpose, along with anticoagulants and immune suppressors that facilitate the ticks’ feeding while also allowing the transmission of diseases like Lyme. “On a human host, their saliva numbs the skin so you don’t feel the bite, and an anticoagulant keeps the blood flowing. The tick saliva also combines with a protein from B. burgdorferi to suppress human immune systems, so our bodies don’t muster antibodies to kill the bug,” the Adirondack Daily Enterprise reported.3 “Reading about the elaborate and effective ways these tiny creatures defeat our body’s defenses can make you rethink the conception that humans occupy the top spot on an evolutionary ladder. They have been around far longer than we have, and from all indications, they will persist when we have faded away.”4 How Do Ticks Spread Disease? In order to transition to each of its life stages (egg, larva, nymph and adult), ticks must find a blood meal to survive. Ticks can live up to three years during this process, although many die prior to this when they are unable to find a host to feed on. Ticks will lie in wait on a leaf or piece of grass, waiting to detect a potential host via breath and body odors or sensing heat, moisture, vibrations and even shadows. If you happen to venture too close to a tick’s hideout, it will climb on board and begin the process of attaching, which can take anywhere from minutes to two hours. As a tick sucks blood over the process of several days, it ingests any pathogens found in the host animal. In the case of Lyme disease bacteria, white-footed mice infect 75 to 95 percent of larval ticks that feed on them.5 Such pathogens within the tick may then be transmitted to the host via saliva released during the feeding process.6 There are more than two dozen tick-borne diseases in the U.S. that can be transmitted to humans, including Colorado tick fever, rocky mountain spotted fever, Powassan disease and increasingly prevalent Lyme disease. In most cases, tick bites cause no symptoms, but it’s possible to experience pain, a rash or burning. If you develop a red spot or rash near the site of a tick bite, it’s a possible sign of tick-borne disease and should be evaluated by your doctor. A characteristic “bull’s-eye” rash is often associated with Lyme disease, but this rash occurs only in about half of those infected, so absence of such a rash does not exclude the possibility of a tick bite. Lyme Disease Is on the Rise While only deer ticks are known to transmit Lyme disease, cases have now occurred in half of the counties in the 48 continental U.S. states.7 Lyme disease is the most commonly reported vectorborne illness in the U.S., according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with 95 percent of confirmed cases in 2015 coming from the following 14 states:8 Connecticut Delaware Maine Maryland Massachusetts Minnesota New Hampshire New Jersey New York Pennsylvania Rhode Island Vermont Virginia Wisconsin According to the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS), since U.S. surveillance began in 1982, the number of annual Lyme cases reported has increased nearly 25-fold.9 The disease is also spreading geographically. The longer a tick is attached, the higher the chances of transmission of an infectious agent. In most cases, Lyme disease is transmitted by young nymphs, rather than adult ticks, simply because the nymphs are smaller and therefore less likely to be discovered and removed. According to the CDC, the tick must typically be attached for 36 to 48 hours or more before the Lyme disease bacterium can be transmitted,10 but ILADS notes that it’s possible to get Lyme disease even if the tick has been attached for less than 24 hours.11 Many patients with Lyme disease do not ever recall being bitten by a tick and, according to Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt — one the leading authorities on Lyme disease — the bacteria that cause the disease can also be spread by other biting or blood-sucking insects, including mosquitoes, spiders, fleas and mites. Many Challenges Surround Lyme Disease Diagnosis, Treatment Lyme disease usually starts with fatigue, fever, headaches and joint or muscle pain. It can then progress to muscle spasms, loss of motor coordination, intermittent paralysis, meningitis and even heart problems. Early treatment is critical to prevent complications, but there is no reliable test for diagnosis. According to ILADS, up to 50 percent of patients tested for Lyme disease may receive false negative results, and the average patient sees five doctors over nearly two years before being diagnosed.12 Many are told the disease is “all in their heads” before finally receiving help. One of the reasons blood tests are so unreliable as indicators of Lyme infection is that the spirochete that causes Lyme disease (a cousin to the spirochete that causes syphilis) is capable of infecting your white blood cells. Lab tests rely on the normal function of these cells to produce the antibodies they measure. If your white cells are infected, they will not respond to an infection appropriately. In order for Lyme tests to be useful, you actually have to be treated first. Once your immune system begins to respond normally, only then will the antibodies show up on a blood test. This is called the "Lyme Paradox" — you have to be treated before a proper diagnosis can be made. Also problematic is the controversy over whether Lyme disease is a chronic condition. The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) has long recommended a short course of antibiotics for treatment, even though many patients do not get better following the treatment or relapse shortly thereafter. As a result of the IDSA guidelines, insurance companies typically will not pay for extended treatment. As noted by the Adirondack Daily Enterprise:13 “Patients suffering from long-term Lyme disease symptoms are often forced to seek out expensive testing through private labs and expensive treatment from specialists that they must pay for personally, then struggle with insurance companies for reimbursement … In Texas, Lyme disease patients have filed a lawsuit against the Infectious Diseases Society of America and several large insurance companies, claiming the IDSA’s development of the Lyme practice guideline, which recommends a short course of antibiotics, was influenced by insurance consultants trying to keep down costs. Lyme patients need a longer course of antibiotics — perhaps many months — to eradicate the disease, the lawsuit claims.” Natural Treatment Options for Lyme Disease Antibiotics are often ineffective in treating Lyme disease, and can seriously impair your gut bacteria and raise your risk of antibiotic-resistant infections, especially when taken long term. I recommend trying natural strategies first, such as the Nutramedix line of herbal antimicrobials, recommended by one of the most prominent alternative medicine experts, Dr. Lee Cowden. The best feature of this natural treatment for Lyme disease, often referred to as the "Cowden Protocol,” is that it rotates various herbal antimicrobials, so you don't have to worry about bacteria developing resistance. The following table also lists a number of nutritional supplements found to be useful in the treatment of Lyme disease by those embracing natural methods. Probiotics to improve immunity and restore microflora during and after antibiotics Curcumin is helpful for reducing neurological toxins and brain swelling Astaxanthin to neutralize toxins, improve vision and relieve joint pain, common in Lyme Whey protein concentrate may help with nutrition, often poor in Lyme patients who don't feel well enough to eat properly Grapefruit seed extract may treat the cyst form of Borrelia Krill oil to reduce inflammation Cilantro as a natural chelator for heavy metals Serrapeptase helps to break biofilms Resveratrol may treat Bartonella, a co-infection and also helps detoxification GABA and melatonin to help with insomnia Artemisinin and andrographis, two herbs that may treat Babesia, a common coinfection CoQ10 to support cardiac health and reduce muscle pain and brain fog Quercetin reduces histamine (often high in Lyme) Transfer factors can help boost immune function Klinghardt also has a Lyme disease protocol that can help you recover from the infection. His website explains the protocol in detail, but here are the basic steps to give you an idea of what it entails:14 Evaluate all external factors and address as appropriate. These include molds, electromagnetic fields, electrosmog and microwave radiation in connection to wireless technologies. Klinghardt advises shielding your home using Y shield (special graphite paint) in order to reduce microwave radiation coming from the outside. Cloth coated with silver is used for curtains. Patients are advised to turn off all fuses at night and eliminate all cordless telephones until they recover from the illness. Address stress and emotional issues. Energy psychology tools like the Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) can be helpful to address the emotional components of Lyme. Address parasitic, bacterial and viral infections. Parasites need to be addressed first, followed by bacteria and then viruses. Klinghardt uses an antimicrobial cocktail composed of wormwood, vitamin C, phospholipids and different herbs. Viral infections are addressed with BioPure's Viressence, a tincture of Native American herbs. Address other lifestyle factors. Determine your need for supplementation (antioxidants) to address nutritional deficiencies. Steps to Avoiding Tick Bites and How to Remove a Tick If you’re venturing into a natural area where ticks may be present, taking the following precautionary steps can help you prevent tick bites:15 In tick-infested areas, avoid contact with soil, leaf litter and vegetation. Wear light-colored clothing with a tight weave to spot ticks easily. Wear enclosed shoes, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Tuck pant legs into socks or boots and shirt into pants. Check clothes and any exposed skin frequently for ticks while outdoors and check again once indoors. Walk in the center of trails. Stay on cleared, well-traveled trails. Avoid contacting vegetation. Avoid sitting directly on the ground or on stone walls. Keep long hair tied back, especially when gardening. Once indoors, do a full-body tick check, taking care to check harder-to-spot areas such as hair, behind your knees and between your legs. Pets, clothing and gear should be thoroughly checked as well. Another option is to take a bath or shower soon after coming home, which will help wash any ticks away. You can also put clothing in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes, or wash them using hot water, to kill any lingering ticks.16 If you find a tick attached to your skin, use a pair of tweezers to remove it. Grasp the tick as close to your skin’s surface as possible, then pull it straight out (do not twist it or jerk it out). If mouth parts are left in your skin that cannot be removed, leave them alone and the skin will heal on its own. Be sure to wash the area and your hands thoroughly with soap and water once removed.17 If you’re not sure what type of tick it is and want to be able to identify the tick to determine if it can transmit Lyme disease or other infections, take a picture of it before disposing of it. Remember that most tick bites are harmless and do not cause any symptoms, but do be vigilant in watching for signs of potential tickborne disease, especially if bitten by a deer tick.

september: week four

18: i woke up before my alarm went off. i didn’t sleep well for the last few hours of the morning... i’ve only been getting 6 hours of sleep on average lately x_x; i did get myself to do a weighted leg workout and then i showered and made my first chocolate peanut butter banana smoothie -- i fell in love. i washed all the dishes before leaving and then said goodbye to kevin. i got to the train platform 10 minutes earlier than usual but i still got to work at the same time -__-’ there were delays again. oh well. then i did a bit of work, played with the surface pro we have at the office, organized my spam email because outlook thinks everything is spam -_-, took a break with cole so he could give me guava candy LOL. so cole slacked me and told me he brought in candy so i thought it was something suspicious but then he gives it to me and it’s the guava candy i can find at the asian grocery market. apparently, he bought two large bags full from amazon -- he’s so funny. well, we talked about food and what we ate as children before heading back to work.

i didn’t have much to do so then i ate lunch and went to figaro’s with cole so he could get his lunch. i got a chocolate chip brownie and ate it all... steve, cole, and i ate in the office supply office LOL and talked about random things like horror movies and birthstones. it was a great time. then we all headed back to work. i headed back and realized i only ate 1/3 of my lunch. i ate another third and then packed it away -- i was too full. then i got on stand up and went right into a meeting with phil. after that, it was already 4 pm. so i headed over to steve and cole’s office and then chilled with them for a bit. i brought over the surface and drew on it and they were impressed with my drawings ;D the surface makes my handwriting look so nice :3 they just finished their work but then i think something broke? so i went back to my office, did a little bit more work and then took my laptop over to their office to work while they finished up their stuff. dave left me all alone in the office for a meeting; joe left early because he wasn’t feeling well. then i walked to south station with cole, took the train home, got all of our mail, tried talking to erin but she was gone, got my first eggie shirt, and went upstairs to the apartment. i got my $200 visa card for my laptop trade in and i got my try again tee from eggie. the tee isn’t as nice as i thought it would be, but it’s still pretty awesome.

after i sorted through the mail and stuff, i got myself to do my butt workout and i died doing the bulgarian split lunges. i think my legs were exhausted from my workout in the morning still. i think i need to cap my lifting to 30-50 min max per day until i get stronger. the workout should have taken 30 minutes but i think i took 40-45 minutes x__x; the struggle was real. i also lifted 5 lbs heavier for basically everything... ded. my legs pretty much felt like numb jello after. i stretched and foam rolled a bit before showering. then i made myself another delicious chocolate pb banana smoothie before washing the dishes. i ate the leftovers from lunch with congee and more tofu and beef while watching youtube videos. then i made kevin a greetabl for our upcoming 2 year anniversary and then did internet errands. oh, i also managed to get tickets back to chicago for thanksgiving for only $4.50 more than my previous christmas tickets. (((: so i’ll be back in chicago! oh, kevin went out to meet up with old friends and i didn’t want to go so i spent my time at home doing my own thangz.

kevin got back and then we talked and cuddled and i ended up falling asleep on the bed for 30 minutes -- i was so tired from lifting. i just wanted to ko. i got myself up and made pico de gallo while chicken cooked the chicken thigh for lunch tomorrow. i stayed up for a bit longer but then just brushed up and went to sleep at some time... probably around 12 am. kevin also showered early and then played a few games and went to sleep early. we were both tired for some reason. well, i know why i was tired. i think kevin went to sleep late last night LOL.

19: i slept in today and woke up extra sore. i ate a pork bun for breakfast and then got straight to work. i took a break when kevin woke up and decided to work from home as well :) i made us the chocolate peanut butter banana smoothie i’m in love with right now and he loved it too! he says it tastes like ice cream LOL. then i went into meetings basically for the rest of the day -- it was a day for design meetings. kevin got the entryway bench from the package room and built it while i was on a design call then i got a short break to eat lunch. i helped move the bench to the entryway and moved the shoe rack over to the other wall. then i went on to stand up and then into another design call. i managed to do some errands and ordered a new toilet brush on amazon prime now. i also booked us a river tour because i forgot about a groupon i bought and it reminded me today. so this weekend will be packed: apple picking and charles river boat tour. i felt pretty dead... maybe it’s because of the weather. x_x; after that, i did some work, took a break to do some yoga, and watched some videos and then hopped on a call with phil so i could prepare more training stuff.

i started reading ‘sourdough’ by robin sloan and i instantly got hooked. i read until kevin gamed, played guitar, and before leaving for the fitness center. it was my recovery day today so i thought i would try doing the elliptical; it was a mistake. it’s nice that i can watch food network but the motion and quad work required of the elliptical were too much for my quads because they were super tired from yesterday’s 60 minute lifting session... it felt weird and i got really bored and kept looking at the clock until 30 minutes were up. kevin ran alongside me and then we stretched and showered. we ate leftovers for dinner plus some of these glutinous rice balls filled with purple sweet potato filling and mandu! yummm. we watched 1 1/2 episodes of agents of shield and then kevin went to game and i continued reading for the rest of the night. i actually finished the book before going to sleep! it was a really great book. it’s not one of my favorites but still a really good read. i felt good. kevin and i actually went to sleep at around 12:30 am. we were both tired. x_x;

20: i woke up at 8 am and then fell back asleep until 8:30 am. then i got up and did a hiit workout but my thighs were burning... i don’t think i rested it enough. i need to rethink my workout schedule again lol. i also managed to hurt my wrist a bit too? it was a really hard workout. i stretched my quads after and then foam rolled. i showered and went to work before making my fave smoothie. kevin wanted some but didn’t tell me so i drank all of it by the time he came out of the bathroom xP i guess it’s time to buy bananas in bulk :) then i went back to work and so did kevin. we both wfh again because we were getting our ikea package today. it was a pretty packed day for me with all the meetings. we had a design meeting that kind of went over on time but then we stopped so dave and i could have lunch. kevin and i snuck in an episode of agents of shield while eating. then i hopped on stand up and then i got on a call with phil to plan out what to do for the upcoming training sessions. at this point, i got really annoyed because phil wanted me to do a run through of the first session and i wasn’t feeling it. i feel like it was kinda overkill to have me do it again. he kept commenting and he told me to slow down (which i do need to do but i was doing it fast because it was a run through). i think he’s very stressed and worried about this but my nerves have come and gone and i’ll do it like i do usually.

well, during the call, the ikea guys came and then it happened so that phil needed to get on another call and so i got off and opened the door for them. then kevin got to building the dining table. i was annoyed and just frustrated about what my role is at t7. i feel like i’ve been a shared asset in which i don’t really have a solid place in training or design so i feel like i’ve been tossed back and forth. in the future, i have a feeling that i will be set to more training and i don’t know how i feel about that. i would rather design than teach different customers something over and over again. yeah, that’s the thing, phil wanted me to prepare for something i will be doing SO much in the future and that bothers me. it seems so monotonous. sigh. i vented to cole a bit and then i hopped off the computer after work and did oblique workouts without weights and on my mat. apparently, there are a lot of isolated ab and oblique moves that make you lose your hourglass figure, especially with weights so i’ll keep weights to a minimum for now. kevin went back to working for a bit before cooking. i put on agents of shield while he cooked.

we ate and watched agents of shield and then washed up. kevin went on a run and took some cardboard with him. after i showered, i took some cardboard and recycled it, washed the wok left in the sink, checked if our new keys opened the storage room, took some suitcases back there, and then took out all of the garbage. kevin came back and showered. oh, we also took out the mirror first when our package came and put it in the room. it looks so nice! it was getting late so i brushed up and hopped into bed while kevin gamed. i think i went to sleep at around 12 am or something. i was tired.

21: i got up at 8:30 am and then did a back workout in the morning. i took it easy on the back because later in the evening, i’d be doing arms. then i came back, showered, and kevin and i got in a small morning argument but then made up before he left lol. man, i am moooody. i made 2 eggs for breakfast and tried mixing pb, cocoa powder, and milk with a spoon in a cup; it failed miserably D: i drank it anyway too. then kevin went to work and i started working. i hopped on a design call and then ate lunch while watching the ‘masterchef’ finale! then i talked with phil, hopped on another call, then went straight to stand up. yup, lots of calls today. after, phil took a break from all the calls and then i finished up the finale while working. i’m so happy dino won. this is the first time i am happy with all three finalists, actually. i wanted jason to win the most but i really liked dino throughout the competition.

anyway, after doing some edits, i hopped on a call with phil again and then made some more edits and ended my work day at 5:30 pm. then i headed over to the yoga studio and did my arm workout. it was my first time working out my biceps and they burned T__T then i came back, relaxed, and showered. kevin started cooking dinner and i watched some youtube videos. then we put on agents of shield and ate our first meal from the dinner table! yay (: then we moved to the sofa and watched another episode. well, kevin went to wash dishes and i walked around while watching to get in some activity. then kevin decided to make the ikea chest and then run. i helped make the drawers and did any two person thing but it was mostly kevin building it. the last time i made a drawer was last year and i the drawer is now falling apart because i built it angrily... LOL. so i let kevin handle that. it actually took us 3 hours to build it... i knocked out after we built all six drawers and then woke up to check in on kevin. i drooled on my shoulder... then i helped a bit and ko’d again until kevin asked for my help. then i just stayed up watching kevin hammer nails into the back and then we moved it into place along with the drawers. lol it was like 2 am and i was ded.

i brushed my teeth, kevin was not going to run so he showered, and i fell asleep before he even got in the shower. lol the first time i ko’d was at like 12 am. i am weaksauce hahah. i think we went to sleep at around 3 am...

22: kevin and i basically rolled out of bed and then kevin went to work and i hopped on my computer. then i made myself an egg sandwich with pico de gallo and a glass of chocolate peanut butter milk. i watched ‘girl’s trip’ while working and then went to practicing teaching my training module. phil pinged me to catch up and then timed myself. i got the first part of the session down in just the right amount of time, but i kind of rushed the second part. i looped back around and talked with phil and both of us felt good about going into this. then i think kevin came back and he went to do something??? probably cook. so i did an intense stretching session for about 40 minutes. yeah, i think i watched some ‘beat shazam’ while kevin cooked and then we put on shield and that’s when i finished up stretching. lol we spent the rest of the night watching agents of shield. we got up to the last episode before the season finale!! i noticed i only walked like 6k steps and tried getting to 10k steps in the last 15 minutes of the day. i got about 2.5k steps before it hit 12 am T___T kevin ended up getting more steps than me today...that’s sad tbh LOL. well, i think we stayed up a bit longer just chilling and thriving in the friday night bliss before the weekend~ we went to sleep pretty late LOL.

23: we woke up hella late. we woke up too late to go apple picking T__T lol. i think i got out of bed at 12 or 1 pm. kevin and i were so tired. mmm we ate breakfast and we moved furniture around in our bedroom. i hated the way it looked and brooded over that for a while and i got super frustrated. kevin left to game and then i got up and started watching an episode of ‘beat shazam’ while walking to lift the bad mood i was in. i felt a good deal better after walking around. then we meal planned and drove over to the mall where bdubs is. it’s our two year anniversary on the 26th and we didn’t really plan anything for it. i wanted to but we’ve spend so much money on the new furniture so we didn’t really want to spend more money on a fancy dinner. so what did we do? we went to bdubs, got fried mushrooms, and split a medium boneless chicken wing platter for only $25 to celebrate LOL. we got the right amount of food to finish everything. we tried their blue moon wings and they were pretty good. the thai curry wings taste like the golden curry sauce haha.

after lunch, we went to auntie anne’s to get buy 2/$6 pretzel nuggets. mmm. we got the original nuggets with the limited edition pumpkin spice one. the pumpkin spice one tastes exactly like the cinnamon sugar but with pumpkin / nutmeg flavoring. we walked over to target and then kind of got lost in buying stuff. i got thinkthin protein bars because i couldn’t find the oatmega bars, we tried looking for the glass bowls but they were all gone, and then i found a polar bear hooded blanket and kevin and i fell in love with it. we then found really cute appetizer plates with a clever print on them by cheeky and decided to try to find where the polar bear blanket came from. the one we found seemed like it lost its packaging? it was in aisle c10 according to the scanner but there was no c10... there was a c9 and c11... we found someone and he told us the display was c10 LOL. we looked but couldn’t find another one. :( but then we stumbled upon a bear night light that would look really nice on our chest that was placed in a spot i hated in the room. so we ended up getting that bear. we also got the last of this bear box!! it was meant to be!! we were looking for a box to fit under our entryway bench cubby to make it look more put together.

at this point, we needed to get out of there so we wouldn’t go back for the polar bear hooded blanket. on our way to the register, i found the oatmega bars and got the chocolate coconut flavor. then we checked out, went to kam man for groceries, went to bj’s for the rest of our groceries, and came home. we put away everything and hooked up the night light and put the box in its place. ahhh, everything is starting to look so nice. we were both pretty full still so kevin went to game and told me he’d come by to run while i went to work out. i did a total body strength workout for 50 minutes. i actually extended my workout because i was wondering where kevin was? LOL. oh, i also love doing clean presses. anyway, i went back, showered, and kevin was still gaming... this boy. then he cooked and i believe he did run at some point. i washed the dishes and tried out the oatmega bar -- it’s delicious! i hope the whey concentrate isn’t too kfjnskjdf for my stomach. after kevin came back and showered, we had rice cake soup again while watching the last episode of agents of shield’s season 4. woooo. the ending is super ambiguous. we cleaned up and we might start watching game of thrones and westworld now. mmm. i think i was super tired after and i went to sleep while kevin gamed. well, that’s usually how it goes haha.

24: i woke up at 9 am and then did a hiit cardio workout. then i showered and woke kevin up. we ate breakfast just in time to leave to get to our charles river sightseeing tour. i ate a thinkthin protein bar after my workout and it hurt my stomach :( it’s probably the sugar alcohols. i think i’ll stick with my oatmega bars for now. we made it just in time for the train and then kevin needed to use the washroom right after getting off the train so we looked around but couldn’t find a public restroom. we walked to the mall where the boat would leave and kevin used the washroom there while i waited outside so that the boat wouldn’t leave us. well, we got there 10 minutes early and kevin had time to use the washroom. we were the last people on, we got a ginger ale to share, and we enjoyed the rest of the ride. we spent half of our time in the front to feel the sunshine and breeze and the other half inside to just sit and chill. the boat wasn’t going fast so there wasn’t that nice breeze but overall, the ride was so relaxing. we got off and got taco bell at the food court and walked to the train station. we entered through the wrong side of the kendall train station and then went to the other side but had to wait for kevin’s monthly pass to work again. the attendant didn’t have her badge and did her best to help us though. lol. i can’t blindly trust kevin when it comes to these things now LOL. we both gotta check what side we’re entering xP

we took the train back and then we drove to the target in stoughton to check if they had the anchor hocking serving bowls. it said online they had a limited stock. we checked in the aisle and they were all gone and asked someone for help and he said there were no more T___T so we got kevin’s shaving cream and drove back home. it was a rollercoaster ride of emotions today with the boat ride, the train situation (it takes the monthly pass 20 minutes to become usable at the same stop), not finding the bowls, and then coming back home stressed because i still needed to do chores and i wanted to get a good night’s rest for training tomorrow. well, i got a tension headache and ended up sleeping on kevin’s shoulder and taking an hour nap. lol i snapped at kevin for leaving me on the couch LOOOL but then i fell back asleep. i woke up and right away, i made myself some food. i think the bar effed up my stomach. then i started the laundry and guess what happened? the washing machine drum made a dent in the metal outer structure of the washing machine and it was making sounds like it was going to explode.. it was really scary. so we had to call the emergency maintenance line and they couldn’t do anything about it. @_@ so we put it on quick rinse and finished our laundry. i feel like everything wasn’t properly cleaned though...

kevin helped me clean the kitchen and i cleaned the bathroom. he vacuumed a bit and then we both worked out. i did another hiit workout and he ran. he showered when we got back and then i waited for the laundry to dry because i had no underwear. he cooked and then i showered. we watched some youtube videos while eating and then kevin cleaned up and i folded the laundry. then we played ‘crawl’ together to see if we liked the game -- we’re keeping it. i still had a bit of a headache so i rq’d for the night and he went to game on his computer. i went to sleep at like 12 am because i was going to work from home because i didn’t want to be distracted by anything while leading training. i also learned that uni are sea urchin testicles....