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brightgnosis · 8 months

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I keep hearing from various sources that this Winter's supposed to be a fairly bad one.

I'm ok with losing the Absinthe Wormwood and Mugwort because they're fast growers, if it comes down to it. But the Hyssop was such a slow grower ... I'm wondering if I should just go ahead and dig up the Hyssop, repot it, and bring it in for winter to ensure it keeps- or just leave it and see what comes of it.

Repotting it risks loosing it regardless. But there's still a chance it might keep inground. But I'm still leaning towards repotting it just because it took so dang long for it to even grow the tiny amount that it did and I really don't want to rebuy it next season if I don't really have to because I was able to keep it going, y'know?

Digging almost anything up right before winter, though, is usually such a risky move. Eugh. I'm so conflicted on this one, and I have zero experience with this plant to guide me on it.

ETA: My Husband and I uprooted it and pulled it in tonight, and I'm really glad I did.

I'd checked on everything in the garden before our temps started dropping into the 30's the first time and it was doing ok; about as well as it had been all year- which is to say not great, but at least green. But when we went out today about 90% of it's growth's already died off completely since the temps started doing their switchback* nonsense.

Oklahoma's famous "is it or isn't it" seasonal intermission where it flips back and forth between ~90f and ~30f randomly, and you never know what it's going to be from day to day. Not until it finally decides to get its act together more consistently- which is always a tossup for timing; could be a week of the nonsense, could be 3 months. You literally never know. Just the perks of being in a massive ecological transitional zone.

The plant never got any bigger than my palm throughout the year, despite it supposing to be a semievergreen subshrub that gets quite big- and by this point it should be roughly rivaling my Rosemary in size. But there's only about 4 living stems left on it now, out of the 7 it originally had, and the leaves that are on the remaining ones are shriveled to Antarctica and back. The roots were unhealthy and had significant dieback already, too. Especially compared to some of the healthier plants I dug up alongside it and chucked (because I'm not keeping them).

We'll see if it survives, but it looks kind of grim either way.

ETA 2: For those saying Hyssop "should be hardy to my Zone" ... Yes ... I do know enough to know that it reasonably should be; reasonably speaking, at normal times, in normal seasons, my area shouldn't routinely get cold enough to make it an issue, especially with good Winter protection.

Unfortunately in the last 3 years our Winters have gotten particularly brutal; we've had Ice Storms (a rare phenomenon that only typically occurs about every decade or so, and most frequently in January) occurring twice or more in a season, as early as October. And we're seeing regular temperatures as low as -25f for weeks at a time. We're also getting snow (a phenomenon we don't usually get here that much or for that long, where we mostly just get Sleet- or frozen rain, for those unfamiliar with it- for about a week) more often and in larger quantities than before.

Hyssop is really only cold hardy down to roughly -13f. So even the best Winter protection is not really going to protect Hyssop from those kind of conditions. Especially not in a year when the coming Winter is predicted to be even worse than usual (which includes being even worse than the last 3 pretty bad years that we've already experienced) ... But it's especially not going to protect a palm sized, 1 year old Hyssop plant that's already been struggling all year long to begin with.

Very respectfully and appreciatively: "It should" means absolutely nothing in this circumstance and ultimately doesn't really help me. I'm just going to delete those comments because you're being unhelpful and irrelevant.

#Personal #2023 #My Garden #Garden 2023 #Verderer #Gardening #Green Witch #Green Witchcraft #Oklahoma #Witchy Gardening #Witches Garden #Witch's Garden #Gardenblr #Plantblr

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gerudoevernight · 1 year

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Divine Beast of Darkness, pt.1

Trigger warning: emotional manipulation, person brushing off concern, person who looks ill.

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Twilight had been looking...odd...all day.

Okay fine, Time admitted to himself as he glanced yet again at his descendant's pale face, Twilight looked ill. He was oddly pale; Twilight's skin was tanned from the long hours he worked on a ranch and traveling in the sun. His face should not be chalky. Nobody's should, granted, but it was especially concerning for Twilight.

The afternoon sun of Wild's era was currently blocked by trees. They had landed on the Great Plateau several hours prior, early in the morning, and Time had declared a rest day. He had many reasons for this, not the least of which were the nice weather, few to no monsters, the days of exhaustion they'd just gotten through, and Twilight's quite concerning condition.

That hadn't started until they'd landed in this era.

"Twilight," Time heard Sky begin, "you don't look so good."

"I'm fine," the rancher snapped.

He'd snapped at all of them when they asked.

"No seriously," Sky pushed. "You look like something's wrong." Time caught the wince Twilight tried to hide.

"For the last time, I'm perfectly fine, just exhausted."

"Bullshit," Legend said from where his nose was buried in a book, laying on a tree branch. "When you're tired, you get irritated and snappy, yes. But your face doesn't imitate snow, and even when you're exhausted, you never snap at Sky or Wild."

It was quite plain to see that Twilight was pissed now. "For the last time, I. Am. Fine."

"Your attitude says otherwise," Time said quietly. Twilight shot to his feet.

"You know what," he snapped. "I know this place well enough, I'm going to go take a walk. Since nobody here seems to believe me."

As the wolf-like rancher stormed past him, Time caught his sleeve and leaned in to whisper in his ear. "If you just want to be by yourself for a bit, I'm not going to stop you. But please remember that if you're ill or something, it's perfectly fine to tell us, nobody would be surprised after the last few days we've had."

Twilight shot him a Look.

I know that, but I'm still pissed.

As his pup turned away, Time spotted the brief - very brief - flash of red that briefly lit up his eyes.

As Twilight disappeared from sight, Legend dropped down to the ground. "Did you guys feel that?"

Time furrowed his brow. "No."

"I did," Sky murmured. Legend hummed.

"Magic," he told Time. "There's something bothering him. It's not as strong now that he's left, though."

"Hmm," Time considered.

You know there is no point to your resistance, my Divine Beast.

"Says the disembodied voice in my head," Twilight muttered. "Who even are you?"

It's funny that you haven't figured it out.

"So of course you're not going to tell me," Twilight said. He turned another bend in the forest; though none of his brothers were following him, he still wanted to ensure they couldn't.

They didn't follow you, the voice mused, a deep, rumbling baritone tinged with mirth. They don't care enough to make sure you're alright.

"They do too," Twilight bit back. He sat down against a tree, away from a path. "It's a rest day and we just got through a week of fighting." The healing wounds in his side ached.

You aren't even healed. A strange, shifting sound. I could take care of that for you.

"Hah," Twilight huffed. "No."

So arrogant. You reject simple aid, and you disrespect your better.

"Considering that I don't even know who you are, you have very little place claiming to be better than I am."

Arrogant indeed. My sister did say that you would reject me.

...what?

Indeed, the voice purred. You were given to me, my Divine Beast. Given to me by my sister, your patron, as a...mending of fences, of sorts. A laugh. You are mine, and no matter what you do or think, you will answer my call.

"I...don't have a patron," Twilight said slowly.

Oh but you do. She used to be the same goddess who looked over all the Heroes. But I am your patron now, and in return for the power I offer, you will obey me when I give an order.

Gears turned in Twilight's mind. Old stories came to the forefront of his memory, an outcropping of rock, an elder whispering tales of old, bitter words from an otherwise sweet mouth.

Something clicked, and Twilight's back went ramrod straight.

So you figured it out.

"Demise," Twilight said slowly, clearly, "what the hell do you want with me?"

A malicious yet victorious laugh sounded in his head. What do I want, my Divine Beast? Nothing less than total victory over my sister's land and pawns.

It was sunset now as the Links made camp overlooking the rest of Hyrule. They might have been laughing, telling stories of their days, except for one thing.

Twilight had yet to return from his "walk".

Instead of joyous, their laughs were tense. Instead of stories, they shared fretful glances. Wild was hardly focusing on the cooking pot, instead fiddling with his Slate. Time swept a careful look around the camp.

Wild stood up like a snap, clipping his Slate to his belt. "We have to find Twilight," he stated.

"While I agree with you, Champion," Warriors began slowly, only to be interrupted by Wild.

"What?" Blue eyes blazed with anger, fear, and worry. "He's been ill all day, are you actually suggesting we leave him alone, tonight of all nights?"

The camp went silent as Wild's words sank in.

"Champion," Time said haltingly, "why is tonight particularly dangerous?"

Wild bristled. "There's a blood moon tonight!"

The camp was once again quiet.

"Didn't those stop when you beat Ganon, though?" Wind asked, breaking the silence.

"They did," Wild bit sullenly. "But I know what they feel like."

"Why didn't you bring this up earlier?" Legend hissed.

"Because I only felt it once the sun started going down!" Wild rounded on the veteran, glaring with such intensity he looked as though he could cut a mountain open with his gaze. "If I'd known before, then I'd said something before!" He began pacing violently back and forth. "Twilight's been looking sick all day, there's a blood moon tonight, and we don't know where he is! We need to go find him! Why is everyone just sitting there!"

"We were waiting for you to finish snapping," Legend bit at him, but stood up and grabbed his things.

"Absolutely not!" Twilight snapped at the apparent god of destruction.

You have no choice in the matter.

"You seriously think I'm going to fight my brothers?"

You still call them your brothers? Demise laughed. You of all people should know they'd turn against you the moment they knew the truth.

"They wouldn't," Twilight stated calmly.

That so-called mentor of yours seems to have different ideas.

"Time? He's my dad. If I trust any of them, I trust him." The setting sun glared into Twilight's eyes as he looked in the direction of the distant camp.

Then why did he see you as so weak when he knew who you'd become?

A memory slammed to the forefront of Twilight's mind, his first meeting with the Hero's Shade. The disappointed, sharp tones. The blatant insults to his skill.

All things he'd excused eventually.

He still sees you as weak.

"No he doesn't," Twilight said.

Oh? Then why does he still see you as a lesser?

"He doesn't," Twilight spat.

Dangerous to take that tone with me. I'm still right.

"You're not."

And Sky? Hylia's favorite, the oh-so-beloved shining light of this pathetic world? Do you really think he tolerates the darkness? Darkness which you hold in yourself?

"He's kind like that. He doesn't care. Also he already knows it's dark magic."

But does he know you use it so often?

The scene replayed in Twilight's head. Walking in to Sky holding bunny Legend, the conversation that ensued, and how it turned out.

Never once did Sky give any indication he thought Twilight used the crystal so frequently.

Told you.

"Shut up."

A sting of pain raced through him, and Twilight straightened up in surprise, his head banging against the tree. He winced.

Don't take that tone with me.

Twilight didn't say anything.

What was that Time said again? To be rid of the darkness in Hyrule?

"Hyrule is a land of light. It-"

And yet it fell so easily to the darkness.

This was true; Twilight had experienced it firsthand. The land slathered in shadow, every crevice corrupted.

This land was destined from the start to return to the darkness from whence it came. An odd feeling crept over Twilight, like being the center of attention of a large crowd. You shall be the catalyst. Tonight, when the Blood Moon rises, you shall begin.

"I think not."

A sigh. You are so stubborn, fighting for people who will turn against you so easily.

"They won't!"

Then prove it. If they wouldn't turn against you, then you should have no problem walking into the camp right now and telling them all about your magic, so dark, so antithesis of what a Hero of Hyrule represents. A chuckle. But then, with Hylia's denouncement, you aren't one anymore.

Twilight was stuck in place. The sun was low on the horizon now, visions of how that conversation would play out dancing across his eyes.

They wouldn't understand.

Sharp blades, soft skin.

Glares, angry, hateful.

One-eyed glare.

Teary blue eyes.

Other blue eyes, looking at him like a monster.

So you do know I'm right.

"It's just nerves."

We both know it's not. We both know you know that if you tell them, they will try to kill you.

"Stop."

Did you ever tell them why you are called the Divine Beast?

The memory of that day splashed against his mind.

"Not all people are blessed with that icky Light! Tee-hee!"

"Midna!"

"What? You know it's true. You're a wolf after all."

"That doesn't mean you need to call me a beast!"

"It's a compliment, silly! Did you not see that battlefield? Or were you too lost in the violence? Tee-hee!"

So many innocent people dead. Of course, neither of us care. The Heroes would though.

"You do remember I'm one of those Heroes, right?"

You do remember you aren't anymore, right?

Something pulled at his mind, and his attention was turned inwards, towards his aura. His aura, and the utter lack of any Light.

You were forsaken by Hylia. Not even Hylian without a Light; you're certainly not a Hero.

"There's more to being Hylian than magic," Twilight jumped.

Oh? Such as what? Pointed ears? The Gerudo have those, too. As do the Twili.

Twilight shut his mouth.

Exactly. What do you honestly think awaits you from those Heroes?

He didn't know.

You know where to go.

He did.

And then the sun fully set over the horizon.

#linked universe #lu twilight #legend of zelda #corruption #manipulation #loz demise #fanfic

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mysteriesofmilo · 2 years

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Everyone knows no one ever keeps their New Year's Resolution!

Well, almost no one.

You know how, in Snow Way Out, Zack decided that he would be more like Milo -- in that he would be more confident about facing the chaos that surrounds Milo and always try to put a positive spin on it?

That was it. That was his resolution.

And though this episode takes place immediately after Christmas break, Zack actually kept his resolution for the entire season.

In Pace Makes Waste, Zack does everything in his power to announce the "warm-up lap" and even encourages Melissa to help him. This all despite Bradley's best efforts to pin the blame for the rocket attaching to the pace car on the two of them.

By The Ticking Clock, Zack has become confident enough around Milo to make a game out of walking past parking meters and seeing what happens.

He does struggle a bit in Cast Party with his injury discouraging him from doing more interpretive dance, but by the end of the episode Zack is feeling a lot more confident about going into dangerous situations despite the risk.

At the WiBAs (Ride Along Little Doggie), Zack is scheduled to do an interpretive dance with Lydia, but recognizes that she is in no condition to perform and tries to get her to quit. This is another part of his development because, while facing down danger is great, it's also important to know how far is too far.

(And while writing this post, I came to the conclusion that those two episodes are in the wrong order in TV listings. This is because Zack said in Cast Party that he was "trying something new" with interpretive dance, but at the WiBAs he had been practicing with Lydia for 3 weeks. So he actually did take Melissa's advice and got back on the interpretive dance train.)

In The Mid-Afternoon Snack Club, Zack admits to feeling overshadowed by Milo -- "like a bystander in my own life," as he puts it. So Milo decides to give him control when the mice get out and turn on the Bunsen burners, and he manages it quite effectively by first using tongs to screw the wheel back on the sprinkler system, and then sucking up the mice into a hose so he could put them back in their cage.

This all comes to a head in Sphere and Loathing in Outer Space, when we get this exchange:

Melissa: How we doin'?

Zack: Um, I'm OK!

Melissa: Really? Cause I'm a little freaked out. I mean, we just crash landed a UFO on an alien planet.

Zack: Exactly! And that's why I'm OK! Look, we've faced time traveling nut monsters, more wayward construction equipment than I can count, and now we're halfway across the galaxy on an alien world trying to find our friend! Dude, I think I'm done being afraid.

Basically, Zack spent season 2 fulfilling his New Year's resolution to be more like Milo.

(It's not just Zack either. Milo's resourcefulness and positive attitude towards the chaos rub off on Amanda in episodes like Cake 'Splosion! and Managing Murphy's Law, and on the Octalians in Sphere and Loathing in Outer Space. Whereas season 1 featured Milo pretty much being the only one cool, calm and collected enough to face the danger head on, the other characters start to really follow his example in season 2.)

#i just love this arc #zack underwood #milo murphy's law #mml #Milo Murphy

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juarezesdeporte · 10 months

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UTEP Football Opens ’23 Season, CUSA Action at Jax State Saturday on CBSSN

EL PASO, Texas – UTEP will open its 106th season at new Conference USA program Jacksonville State on Saturday, Aug. 26 with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m. MT/4:30 CT in Burgess-Snow Field at JSU Stadium in Jacksonville, Ala. The Miners and Gamecocks will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network and can be heard on 600 ESPN El Paso

The Miners are opening on week 0 for the third consecutive season, while the Aug. 26 kickoff is the earliest UTEP will open a campaign.

UTEP Head Coach Dana Dimel returns for his sixth season under the helm. The Miners are looking to be bowl eligible for the second time in three years after their 2021 New Mexico Bowl appearance.

Thirteen Miners who were All-CUSA in 2022 will suit in the new adidas gear as Praise Amaewhule, Deion Hankins, Tyrice Knight, Angelo Tejada, Marcus Bellon, Steven Hubbard, Kobe Hylton, Elijah Klein, Justin Mayers, Andrew Meyer, Joshua Sloan, Keenan Stewart, and Tyrin Smith will suit up in 2023. UTEP returns seven starters on offense, six on defense and five on special teams. Overall, 41 letterwinners return with the Orange and Blue.

Jax State finished its final campaign as an FCS program with a 9-2 overall record and 5-0 mark in Atlantic Sun Conference action. The Gamecocks rushed for over 2,900 yards, while averaging 251.0 yards per game and scored 37 TDs. JSU ranked first in the ASUN and fifth in FCS in rushing. It’s scoring offense (36.2 ppg) ranked 10th in FCS and first in conference.

“Any time a team goes 9-2, they know how to win, I mean, that's a strong season for them.,” Dimel said. “They did a great job. They're very, very athletic. They have great team speed on defense. On offense, they have their version of Frank Harris, a seventh-year quarterback coming back. So, I think he's got a little bit of experience to what he does. He's a very good player and very athletic. They got a bevy of runners in the backfield. They've got a lot of depth in their backfield. They got four of their five starters coming back on the offensive line, so they have a lot of depth there.”

UTEP came up short of bowl eligibility finishing 5-7 overall and 3-5 in CUSA play. The Miners’ run defense was something to talk about last year as they allowed the least rushing yards per game (136.0) since 1967. UTEP’s rushing attack gained over 2,000 yards for the first time since the 2016 season.

For Jax State, it’s the first time playing as an FBS program, while the Gamecocks are entering their first season in the new CUSA after playing in the Atlantic Sun Conference in 2022, and the Ohio Valley Conference the previous nine seasons (2003-2021).

The Miners will not only face a nine-win team on Saturday, the late-August forecast is calling for a high of 97 degrees and 66 percent humidity.

“We've had a very warm summer, as we all know, in El Paso, and we've run and conditioned at a higher level than we ever have throughout the summer. Our guys are very well conditioned. Our guys are very prepared to handle the elements that the first game will bring,” Dimel said.

UTEP (0-0, 0-0) at Jax State (0-0, 0-0)

Date: Saturday, Aug. 26

Time: 3:30 p.m. MT/4:30 CT

Location: Jacksonville, Ala.

Venue: Burgess-Snow Field at JSU Stadium (24,000)

Twitter Updates: @UTEPFB

TV: CBSSN

PxP: Rich Waltz

Analyst: Aaron Taylor

Sideline: Amanda Guerra

Radio: 600 ESPN El Paso

PxP: Jon Teicher

Analyst: Cole Freytag

Sideline: Mando Medina

WHERE TO WATCH & LISTEN

The contest will be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network with Rich Waltz (play-by-play) and Aaron Taylor (analysis) calling the action, and Amanda Guerra on the sidelines. Fans can tune into 600 ESPN El Paso with “The Voice of the Miners” Jon Teicher calling play-by-play in his 43rd season. ‘Teich’ is joined by former UTEP WR Cole Freytag (2012, 2014-16) in the booth providing analysis in his second season and Mando Medina reporting from the sidelines. The action can also be heard on the UTEP Miners app.

SERIES VS. JAX STATE

The Miners and Gamecocks will square off for the first time ever on August 26, 2023.

ABOUT JAX STATE

The Gamecocks, under the direction of Rich Rodriguez in his first season at the helm, finished 9-2 overall and 5-0 in the Atlantic Sun Conference during the 2022 season. Jax State, in its first season as an FBS program, returns 22 starters and 50 letterwinners for the 2023 campaign. Last season, the Gamecocks averaged over 36 points per game, while yielding just under 23 points. JSU averaged 423.6 yards of total offensive and gave up 398.7 per game. Leading rusher RB Anwar Lewis returns after gaining 818 yards on 115 carries (7.1 avg.) and eight TDs. QB Zion Webb also returns after rushing for a team-high 13 scores and 647 yards (5.6 avg.). Webb added 10 TD passes with 1,737 yards in the air and nine interceptions. Webb completed 55.2 percent (111-210) of his passes with a long toss of 76 yards. RB Ron Wiggins also returns after rushing for 461 yards and four scores. Leading receiver WR Galban Sterling returns after hauling in team bests in receptions (28), receiving yards (433) and receiving scores (three). Four of Webb’s O-linemen are returning: LT Will O’Steen, RG Clay Webb, C Treylen Brown and LG Brock Robey. FS Jeremiah Harris returns as the team’s leading tackler with 68 (third on the team in ’22). DE Chris Hardie returns after leading the defense with 5.5 sacks. BANDIT (OLB/Nickel hybrid) J-Rock Swain tallied 5.0 sacks, ranking second on the squad. Nickel Kolbi Fuqua led the team with two INTs. Rodriguez will enter his 26th season as a head coach and has 172-career victories.

EARLY START, AGAIN

For a school-record third straight season, the Miners will kick off the year in the month of August. UTEP had previously christened the campaign in the month on consecutive seasons twice, doing so in 1985 and 1986 and 2002 and 2003. Furthermore, the start date (at Jax State, Aug. 26) is the earliest in school history, eclipsing last season’s opener (vs. North Texas, Aug. 27) by a single day.

LEAGUE PLAY TO START

For the second straight season, UTEP will be tasked with playing a conference opponent in the opener. It marks the first time that has occurred in 31 years, when the Miners had a three-year stretch (1990-92) when they were members of the WAC. The Orange and Blue will battle new league member Jax State on the road on Aug. 26, hoping for a better start than the 31-13, setback in the season opener against North Texas on Aug. 27, 2022, in the Sun Bowl.

BEEN A LONG TIME

UTEP claimed its league road opener in both 2022 (W, 41-35, at Charlotte, Oct. 1) and 2021 (W, 26-13, at Southern Miss, Oct. 9). If the Miners can pull out a victory at Jax State on Aug. 26, it will mark the first time they’ve won their first conference road contest in three straight seasons since also doing so from 1948-50.

SMITH CHASING HISTORY

Tyrin Smith reeled in 71 receptions for 1,039 yards in 2022, giving him a chance to become the first player in program history with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons if he can surpass that total again this year. He has already helped the Orange and Blue achieve something that had never happened before, teaming up with former Miner Jacob Cowing (1,354, 2021) to give UTEP 1,000-yard receivers in consecutive campaigns.

AMAEWHULE VYING TO BECOME SACK KING

Praise Amaewhule heads into the 2023 campaign with 17.5 career sacks, which is second at UTEP behind Gonzalo Floyd’s school standard (20, 1990-91, 93). He took sole possession of second place in the category last year by recording a pair of sacks, which propelled him past both Herman Whiting (16, 1979-82) and Chris Mineo (16.5, 2002-05).

SUSTAINING SUCCESS UNDER DIMEL

UTEP enters 2023 in search of a third straight season of at least five wins, something it hasn’t achieved since it did so from 2004-06. The Miners are also hoping to earn a spot to a bowl game for the second time in the past three seasons, which would make head coach Dana Dimel the first UTEP HC with multiple bowl bids since Mike Price. Prior to that, it hadn’t occurred since 1965-67.

LOTS OF ROAD GAMES EARLY ON

UTEP will play its season opener and three of the first four games of the year on the road. That’s the first time it has occurred since the 2015 campaign, which included three consecutive road contests out of the gates.

(PHOTO CREDIT: UTEP Athletics // REPORT BY: Mark Brunner)

#local

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just-anka · 2 years

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Another week of skiing ahead 😍 I take so much of my annual leave in the winter haha but its definitely worth it. We've got an Airbnb up the mountain, in the resort but not really - okay to get to but quiet, and it's just *perfect*. Dragging all of our stuff including food for a week up here was hard work but now we're here and I'm so excited. Had a great day of skiing too. Can't wait for entire week of worrying about work or life admin or decisions, of skiing hard, doing some serious tours and hopefully tick off some season goals (although conditions are... uh, questionable, if the snow in the picture looks yellow that's just the Sahara sand, lol), eating nice food, sitting on the balcony in the sun after touring, spending allllll the quality time with ben, having time for journaling and writing, board games... ahh!!!! So good. It took us ages to decide where we wanted to go for this one - last year we spent our spring ski week in a really really nice place in a super nice airbnb and it was perfect weather and we were just learning to tour so everything was awesome, but the snow was terrible and a lot of tours required hiking (like, on grass 🤣) first and this year we kind of wanted better conditions if possible, and going to the same place again felt like it might be disappointing if it's not as perfect. But I think we made a good decision!

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elishamanning · 3 years

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Kramer: "Well, with us... we ask ourselves, how can something like (the Leverkusen game) happen, and we notice our surroundings asking that, we on the inside ask ourselves that, sometimes we come to a weird conclusion, what, do we have two faces? But we only think that because we only look at ourselves. But what do the Dortmunders think, winning 5-1 against Frankfurt, thus German champions obviously, then they lose 2-1 in Freiburg and everybody's thinking, well, they're not that good, are they. Will Bayern show their Supercup face, or their face-against-us, or against 1. FC Köln? The Leipzigers, do they show their Mainz-face or that outstanding show they put on against Stuttgart? These "problems of consistency" when you're a Gladbach fan, or a Gladbach player, you think 'these are Gladbach-only problems', but the others have them as well. It's always a matter of how you handle it and that you don't let it... well, tear you down emotionally. The important thing is to avoid a negative spiral, mentally, because, as everybody who's ever played football will know, in the end the decisive issue is always in your head (((aaaah, that's a bad translation. It's a mental issue, is what he says.))), and it always will be." Knippi: "Completely agree. And by the way, that's not limited to football." Kramer: "Well, exactly. It's not even worth discussing, when you enjoy doing something, when you're positive about it - it's not exactly a brand-new psychological finding - it'll always turn out better than when you're negative about it. So let's not, after the second matchday, tear everything down, and let's not, after the first matchday, praise everything to the heavens." Knippi: "Did you expect that? Becoming professional footballers, all that stuff that comes with it, besides playing football, all that stuff raining down on you?" Neuhaus: "Well, it just happens, it just all happens automatically. In the end, you become a footballer because you have fun playing football, and you don't much think about that kind of stuff that comes with it. You grow into it and you learn to handle it." Knippi: "So you're not actively getting prepared for that? Because in the last podcast you (Chris) said 'that's the guys from the NLZ' So it's not part of your training there?" Neuhaus: "No, it wasn't a subject in mine." Kramer: "Well to be completely honest, looking back, I thought football would be funnier, or at least less serious, and a bit more honest. That's also why I like this club so much, because I know that here at least you get an honest basis, like, I feel understood here, I have a certain relationship of trust to, for example, Max Eberl, but I wouldn't have imagined, without spilling any beans now, that football's such a not-really-nice business. So this is one of the best things here, for me, knowing that I have an honest and trustful basis that can be built on. And I really wouldn't have ever imagined it all to be so grossly serious. Sometimes I think inappropriately serious, because football is such a beautiful thing and when you get to do it as a profession, plaiyng football, there's nothing easier than joyfully going somewhere every day. These are the best conditions to have, the working hours, just turning your hobby into a profession - everything about football is 'geil', but still you get this completely inappropriate seriousness about it making you go, aw, it's tough. That's a shame I think, I wouldn't have thought so when I started out. I always wanted to be a footballer because, well, for one it's my passion, but also I thought every day would just be fun, and I think it should be, and that in the end that would be performance-enhancing, I'm quite sure about that. (laughing, saying that)." Knippi: "What do you think?" Neuhaus: "Always hard to disagree. The gist is we're all playing football because it's great fun being on the pitch. Of course there are always periods when it's a little harder but all in all and especially looking back you always regard things much more positive

than maybe you felt in that particular moment. (I don't really understand what he's saying there), but anyway the positives should always be front centre." Knippi: "What you just said, Chris, the seriousness, I also think it's too much sometimes. For example if a team's not playing well and the people on the pitch get personally attacked/insulted. I get to witness that when I'm down there, and sometimes I think 'what is wrong with you?', like, I get being unhappy when the team that has your heart isn't doing well, being unhappy, or sad, or disappointed, I get that, but not attacking the players personally. Well thank God that isn't an issue currently, and there's no reason why it should be." Kramer: "No, I don't think that's happened to me in my career... Well, once, playing with VfL Bochum in Aue, I was pelted with snowballs by our own fans but, in retrospect, that was quite funny." Knippi: "Like how?" Kramer: "Well, because we lost 6-1 playing in the snow. I'd say I'm a good player on snow, but, well, Ronny König is the best snow-player on this planet. He (literally he says 'he put four cherries into our basket', meaning he scored four goals... as you probably would have guessed.) So then our own fans, who'd travelled to Aue on a Monday night, threw snow balls at us, and we completely deserved it. And I do think every fan is right, and has the right, to use this outlet, that they're paying money for, to let off steam. Because football, in the end, is entertainment. Only, it doesn't help. What I meant with the seriousness is the whole stuff around it as well. Football is just a game. It's supposed to be fun, but sometimes I think, looking at the newspapers, all the sociopolitical issues, and seriousness... it's still football." Knippi: "Did I just understand you correctly, you're saying it's a fan's right to pelt you with snowballs?" Kramer: "Well... it gets its down dynamic, and it's not too bad. If someone insults me, say, I don't really have a problem with that. I don't take it personally because I don't think it's meant that way. It may not be the right approach and I may not understand their motive, but... that person is angry, they've had a bad week at work, then they come here, and we play badly ("nur hintenrum" - too defensively) so they have a right to...-as a fan, of course, you have to question whether that's doing any good. We've not really had that here in Gladbach and when there were beginnings of it, we had talks with the ultras, and stuff, we're quite close to the fans, so we don't really have that issue here, but you do see it with other clubs, and close friends of mine, they have had situations where I'd really say, now this is too much (I wonder if he's talking of Leon/the end at Schalke here), and that's just not on, but generally, we are an outlet for many and football is entertainment. When you're not being entertained you're entitled to boo. I don't mind. There's just this double standard - look at me, talking again for ten minutes straight (Knippi and Flo laugh), and you have to cut it all afterwards- once again I take ten minutes to get to the point, but you can't - you want to play with a young squad, and they'll make mistakes. You can't boo them. Or you can't say you want to play with a young squad. Very simply put." Knippi: "Tommy Schmitt, your successor at 11Freunde put it quite well there, I thought. It's very counterproductive to boo and whistle." Kramer: "Yes, well, you have to ask yourself, no matter what you do - I mean when you get to the office and everybody's scowling at you, thinking 'what an idiot!', you'll feel that as a person with empathy, like every footballer, and when you're booed, that does something to you... I can promise everybody: booing a player will never make them better, not ever." Knippi: "'Snow-player' you just said. You're not a good 'snow-player'." Kramer: "I'm a GREAT snow-player!" Neuhaus: "They lost 6-1, I don't think he's that great. They wouldn't have lost 6-1, would they?" Kramer: "Well Leon, Leon Goretzka

and I, we still talk a lot about that day. I'd say, Leon and I, we both have these long levers, we really are good snow-players, on a proper layer of snow, like there in Aue. But Ronny König! He's Messi on snow. Awesome, really." Knippi: "Wouldn't it be better to have short legs and a low centre of gravity?" Kramer: "I don't know. I don't think so. I mean, looking at Leon, and myself, AND Ronny König you can conclude the tall ones with the long legs are good on snow." (very scientific, this.) Knippi: "What kind of a snow-player are you?" Neuhaus: "There weren't any snow-games anymore in my time." Kramer: "NLZ, dude!" Knippi: "I know but..." Kramer: "No!" Neuhaus: "Climate change." Knippi: "But in your youth you must have played on snow once, haven't you?" Neuhaus: "Hardly." Knippi: "You're THAT young?!" Neuhaus: "At 1860 we had astroturf with undersoil heating." Knippi: "Did you ever play on clay?" Neuhaus: "...and anywhere in the stadiums today. There just aren't snow games like that anymore these days." Kramer: "He's from Bavaria, they don't have clay. They just have meadows and pastures, they play on the most beautiful pitches. Here in NRW when you're playing Galatasaray Mühlheim you know what's going down? You know what's going down, playing on clay?" Neuhaus: "I can just imagine." Kramer: "You take two weeks before you can go back to school because your legs - you simply can't walk anymore..." Knippi: "You've never played on clay?" Neuhaus: "No, never." Knippi: "You don't know that feeling when your grazed-open thigh is stuck to your jeans?" Neuhaus: "Yes, well, as a little child I played on the street..." (It goes on a bit yet, but I've already fallen asleep twice and I'm not sure these "translations" are making much sense anyway, so I'll leave it at this, now, alright? Flo played on asphalt, so he knows about open wounds from football. And Knippi claims he's still got remnants of clay in his thigh from decades ago. Hehe. I'll do the rest another time.)

first of all THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH

it's always interesting to hear about a player's mindset

it's really interesting to see how an athlete's relationship with their changes over time. like to have something that was for fun and a hobby turn into your job is a pretty incredible transition. it's something a lot of people experience to an extent, but to have it on this high a level is pretty unique.

Kramer: "No, I don't think that's happened to me in my career... Well, once, playing with VfL Bochum in Aue, I was pelted with snowballs by our own fans but, in retrospect, that was quite funny."

chrikra???? please??? what is this... snowballs???

i also agree that while fans are allowed to show their discontent, it does often cross a line. idk if he was referring to something like leon's ending with schalke, but that instance of schalke fans chasing and attacking the players is something that definitely comes to mind here. i think i actually draw a shorter line than chrikra here.

Neuhaus: "There weren't any snow-games anymore in my time." Kramer: "NLZ, dude!" Knippi: "I know but..." Kramer: "No!" Neuhaus: "Climate change." Knippi: "But in your youth you must have played on snow once, haven't you?" Neuhaus: "Hardly." Knippi: "You're THAT young?!"

omg flo please

i do love the idea of chrikra and leon reminiscing about their old games together... my heart

anyway i love this podcast and i hope they do more of it

and thank you again SO MUCH

#answered #anonymous #christoph kramer #florian neuhaus

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jammerlea · 3 years

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So yeah, this shit about Texas power failing is crazy. I grew up in Michigan. I've been through some pretty cold and snowy winters, some where we've lost power. But Michigan is well prepared for that, and most people know how to get through the freezing cold.

But here in Texas... nah. I'm in San Antonio. I've been told the city has all of one plow. And I get it, temperatures are usually warmer here. You wouldn't think you'd need that stuff. In the 10 winters I've been here, this is only the third time it's snowed.

But usually it's just a bit of snow that melts the next day like nothing ever happened. This time it snowed on Sunday night, and there's still snow on the ground Wednesday morning. We're finally above freezing at the moment, so it's melting more.

Wildly(?), this polar vortex was predicted a good while ago. I definitely heard about it FROM MY PARENTS IN MICHIGAN over a week ago. This weather wasn't unexpected. But for a while I forgot about it, because Texas did shit to prepare. No major warnings or information about how to prepare and deal with the cold. No pre-closing of the many elevated highways until it was obviously a problem due to MULTIPLE accidents, which I saw a good few of driving to work Sunday morning at 6am. They didn't start closing them until 12 hrs later. This was a few days AFTER the deadly pile-up in Ft Worth due to icy conditions.

No info on how to insulate pipes to keep them from freezing. Which I say as I work at a home improvement store that offers such products, but they were NEVER set out as a priority display item for cold weather. They absolutely should have. I honestly feel stupid that I didn't think to look into getting some, because we DEFINITELY have pipes that froze up, restricting our access to water, and drainage of water.

No recommendations for stocking up on food and necessicities in the event of power outages, which, by the way, they PLANNED to have rolling power outages to help with power consumption. After things HAD to shut down, people were struggling to get to the stores to get food, etc. Lines at least a block long and empty shelves reminiscent, if not worse, than at the beginning of the pandemic.

And the rolling blackouts... on Monday it was about every 10-15 mins for us it would be on, off, on, off. So frustrating, because our house doesn't have central heating and is old and drafty. We couldn't keep our space heaters on to keep things warm. By Monday night though, our power was just out. Thankfully for us we have two rooms with gas heaters, so we could at least get some heat. It came back on for a good chunk of Tuesday, but then was out again Tuesday night. It's on again this morning, but who knows for how long. Some people don't have gas either.

We're the luc-

The power JUST WENT OUT as I typed that lmao

Anyway, we're the lucky ones. There are people who have been without power for over 24-40+ hours. I don't understand this at all. And supposedly customers are going to be charged higher for the extra power consumption? What a great system.

Should I mention that I hear sirens from emergency vehicles a lot more often tgat usual?

And I had to yell at my roommate's dad for trying to run the washing machine today when the pipe it drains to is broken and hasn't thawed completely?? Water was backing up into the house!

Our stupid governor is out there blaming windmills, but taking no responsibility for not preparing and educating Texas citizens on how to make it through a situation that was reported as coming up over a week ago. We have people and animals freezing and dying and a severe lack of resources and warming centers for people who absolutely need them. But sure, gotta blame the frozen windmills which could have been regulated to be more cold tolerant, and aren't even our main source of energy anyway.

Again, I don't expect Texas to handle freezing weather as well as Michigan does, but this was a HUGE failure.

#texas #texas blackouts #politics #long post #sorry #just really frustrated #we're still supposed to have a couple more freezing nights #just jumbled thoughts

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