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#me when i am looking up every fruit reference in st and miss the very first one
chirpsythismorning · 1 year
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It is without further ado, that I present to you the first ever fruit reference(s) in Stranger Things.
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bqstqnbruin · 3 years
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I hate it when you stare
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Wow here I am with another part, another fic. Ignooooree my typooos. Is this more soft smut? No one told me last time if what I wrote counts so uhhhhhhh
Read the whole series:  I hate the way you talk to me and the way you cut your hair // I hate the way you drive my car // I hate it when you stare // I hate your big dumb combat boots and the way you read my mind // I hate you so much it makes me sick, it even makes me rhyme // I hate the way you’re always right // I hate it when you lie // I hate it when you make me laugh, even worse when you make me cry // I hate it when you’re not around, and the fact that you didn’t call // But mostly I hate the way I don’t hate you, not even close, not even a little bit, not even at all
I really do have work to do for my class at 2:30 tomorrow but instead I finished this, so I hope you like this!
_______________________
“How is it bullshit? Everyone can tell that we’re in love with each other.”
“So, what, because other people believe it, that automatically means it’s true?”
--------------
Evelina was visiting home for the weekend for her mom’s birthday, which meant that you had the apartment to yourself. From Friday after work until Sunday night, you were free to do whatever you wanted by yourself. Or, you thought you were going to be doing whatever you wanted until your boss texted you saying that he wanted your project finished by Monday so you could present it that afternoon. That meant you were posted up on the couch, your hair tied in a bun on top of your head, a mug full of coffee, another of tea, and a cup with water all in front of you, the blanket normally on the back of your couch now draped over your shoulders. It was a full call to the hungover days you had back in undergrad when you woke up late and were struggling to finish the work you had due the next morning.
“It’s me!” you hear a familiar voice call from the door, snapping you out of what might have been the first and only roll you had been on working on the project.
You look up to see Matthew coming over the couch, plastic bags in hand to plop down on the table. “Remind me to change the locks.”
“That would mean you have to get up to let me in, though,” he sends a wink in your direction.
You couldn’t help but roll your eyes at him, even though you felt butterflies throughout your entire body at the sight of him looking so comfortable next to you. It was just because he’s a guy, not because it’s Matthew. You let out a quiet sigh as he fiddles with the remote to your TV. “Who says I wouldn’t leave you in the hallway? Plus, I thought you were supposed to have practice today?” you ask, trying to focus more on your project than on him.
“We’re done, and we don’t have a game for three days for once, so we’re resting up. I figured, why not come see my favorite girl?” he says, resting his hand on your shin once your drape your legs over his lap. 
“Because Taryn is in St. Louis so you settled for me instead?”
He scoffs, slowly running his hand up and down your bare leg while his eyes fixate on the television screen. He had to be able to feel the goosebumps that he was causing with his touch. “Fine, my favorite girl in Calgary unless Taryn is visiting, are you happy?”
“Am I ever happy when I’m around you?” you tease, lifting only your eyes from your screen to look at him. Still staring at the TV, you can see the smile on his face, but it almost looks like his jaw is clenching, like he’s fighting saying something back.
“And how could I not be happy around you when you treat me like that?” Your eyes linger for a second on his smile before scanning the rest of his body. Even under the long-sleeved dry fit shirt he was wearing, you could see the outline of the muscles that graced his abdomen. His arms looked like they were begging to rip the seam of the shirt, and you wanted nothing more than to take it off of him and just let them free. “Do you like what you see, babe?” you hear him say, snapping you out of the thoughts you were convincing yourself meant nothing as he was looking at you out of the corner of his eye. 
“I’m trying to picture you as a more attractive guy,” you lie, “It would be so nice if Elias were here, wouldn’t it?” 
“If you’re implying that you want a threesome, then I don’t think I could do it with a teammate,” he laughs, his fingers tightening around your shin. Would Elias be better than Matthew? Any guy would be better than Matthew, you tell yourself. He’s your best friend, and nothing more. 
“What have I said about being crude?” you ask him, fixating your eyes on the way he’s biting his bottom lip. “I think I’m gonna go get my headphones so I can do this project.” You bolt from the living room to your bedroom, leaving Matthew there by himself while you search for your phone in a panic. 
“Hey, is everything ok?” Evelina says on the other end of the phone call as you try to search for your AirPods in the mess that was your room.
“No, Matthew is here.”
“And that’s bad because?” she asks, drawing out her last word.
Groaning, you drop your phone on your desk, prompting Matthew to call to you asking if you were ok. “I’m fine, don’t worry.” Turning back to Evelina, clearly in a panic that she could hear in your voice, “Matthew is here and I think I’m horny.”
“You’re always horny for him because you’re in love with him.”
“I’m not in love with him and I’m honry because I haven’t been touched by a man in like, three months. It’s starvation.”
You hear her groan on the other end, her parents voices in the background. “Hold on, I need to go into another room,” she says. “Ok, so you really told me two days when you got home that you and Matthew nearly fucked in public  in the liquor store. You have been touched by a man. He was also practically feeling you up at the bar a week ago, might I remind you.” 
“I don’t love him,” you say, unprompted, “And he never even kissed me.”
“Says that hickey that you somehow didn’t notice he gave you?” she says, you turning to your mirror to touch the mark she was talking about. You honestly didn’t know it was there until she said something to you when you walked in the door. “If you don’t love him, why don’t you just tell him to leave?”
“I want company and he’s the only thing I have when you aren’t here. Really, this is all your fault.”
“That was so sweet until you blamed me. If you don’t want him to leave then what’s the problem?”
“Horny,” you say at the same time. “Either do something about it or control yourself, babe, but I’ve gotta go. Miss you, love you,” she says, hanging up when you finally find your AirPods.
Pulling up your playlist so it’s already playing when you get to Matthew, you don’t even look at him as you take your computer back in your lap and throw your legs in his. You can feel his eyes tracing the outline of your body even under the baggy sweatshirt you had on from a college you never went to. 
You had worked for what was probably a solid half hour, Matthew mindlessly rubbing his hand on your leg like he did before, you needing to do everything in your power to stop from thinking about and wanting more. You were interrupted by Matthew reaching over and tugging on the hem of your shorts. “Are you really listening to Christmas music right now?”
“Is it that loud?” you ask, turning the volume down immediately.
“No, I can read your lips. You were mouthing ‘Feliz Navidad,’ and ‘Sleigh Ride.’”
“Oh, then, yes,” your cheeks flushed with embarrassment that you didn’t even realize you were doing that. 
“It’s March, babe.”
“Ok, but Christmas music is fine year round.”
“No?” he questions.
“So I’m going to tell you why you’re wrong,” you start, moving your computer to the table so you don’t drop it, provoking a laugh to escape from his lips, “While I don’t agree with all things in Catholic and the broader Christian doctrine, there are things I can agree with basically because they are up for interpretation, so I interpret them in the way I like. Take, for example, the ninth commandment: love thy neighbor. Some people take it as a literal ‘love thy neighbor’ as in ‘be a good neighbor,’ to the ones who live next door, but I think it’s a matter of caring for those around you, neighbor not being the person immediately next to you wherever you live, but just other people in general.”
“What is your point?” he asks, a devilish grin spread across his face.
“My point is that the Bible, which is the end all be all of Catholic doctrine according to some people, is up for interpretation and people use it the way that benefits them, no matter how wrong they normally are. In Hebrews 13:15, it says, “Through him let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name,” thereby, justifying and promoting listening to Christmas music year round. It praises Jesus, who is one of the persons that make up God, and doing year round is continuous.”
“I don’t think that’s how that works.”
“Hey, if people can be assholes and use a 2,000 year old book to try to wrongly justify their bigotry and homophobia, why can’t I use it to rightly justify my listening to christmas music all year?”
“Are you Catholic?”
“No, but that doesn’t mean I can’t learn about it and keep the things that I like with me. I’m not Jesuit but I follow their ideals like ‘care for the whole person’ and ‘be a man or woman with and for other.’ And Evelina’s parents are very religious, so we kind of put up a front whenever they visit to please them. They still think we go to Mass every Sunday.” 
“Is that why there’s sometimes a crucifix by the door?” he asks, you nodding along. “And that weird Jesus magnet where he has a chefs hat and it says ‘fish and bread are served’ underneath him?”
“Yeah, I think her dad superglued that to the fridge because no matter how many times we’ve tried to get it off it won’t budge. Plus it’s a reference to another Bible passage.” 
“I went to a Catholic high school, remember? I already knew that.” You can’t help but return the smile he was sending your way, this time your eyes flicking down to his lips, you unsure if his were doing the same. You snap out of it, biting your lip and making eye contact with Matthew, both of you breathing slightly unevenly at just thinking about what you could do with each other. Was Evelina right that you two loved each other?
No, she couldn’t be right, because you didn’t love him. You pick your computer back up to get back to work, not saying another word as Matthew turned back to the TV. You hit a deadend, finding yourself back to staring at Matthew’s perfect face while his eyes narrowed and a small smirk formed on his lips at something funny on whatever movie or show he was watching. 
“Ugh, fuck,” you groan, Matthew’s head snapping to your direction as you cover your face with your hands. “I don’t want to do this anymore.” 
He reaches over and pulls your hands from your face, intertwining his fingers in yours. “Take a break, I brought food for us.” 
“You didn’t cook it yourself, did you?” you ask. The last time he had made food for you, you were sick for a week from what you’re sure was food poisoning from something being undercooked.
He laughs, the pad of his thumb rubbing your palms. You could feel your breathing get shallow by this, trying to ignore it while he’s talking to you. “No, I got it from the store down the road, already made. Mac and Cheese!” he says, pulling it out of the bag.
You roll your eyes at his stupidity. “Matthew, we’ve been sitting here for over two hours, why would you leave that on the table instead of in the fridge?”
“It’s still warm!” he argues, opening it, “Oh and it smells so bad.” You burst out laughing as he cringes, closing it immediately. “I’ll order something else.” 
You get up to go throw out the now rancid mac and cheese in the kitchen. “Hey, where do you want to order from?” you hear Matthew call, walking into the kitchen behind you.
The list. 
It’s on the fridge.
Practically throwing yourself at it to try to tear it down in time, you rip it off the fridge and fold it up in your hand just in time for Matthew to come in. “Are you ok?” he asks you, noticing your slightly faster breathing and your hands behind your back.
“Yeah, the smell was just bad,” you lie to him, shoving the list in the band of your shorts. “And I was looking at the Jesus magnet.” 
“That thing is so creepy,” he says, both of you looking at it. Knowing Matthew, you try as discreetly as possible to move the paper to your front so he can’t feel it as he inevitably presses his front to your back, his arms draping over your shoulders. Without thinking, you reach up to touch his hands as he rests his head on yours. “It’s way too white to be Jesus.”
His arms move their way down your body, settling around your waist as he starts to nibble at your ear. “God, you are so sexy,” you hear him let out.
“You’re awfully handsy lately, aren’t you Matty?”
“Oh come on,” he says, turning you around to face him, practically pinning you against the fridge, “You know we’re always like this with each other.” 
You smile at him, cupping his face in your hands as you run the pads of your thumbs along his cheeks. “We have a weird...” you start, trying to figure out the right word to describe whatever it was you had with him, “friendship,” you settle on, not exactly liking the word yourself as your tried to hide the cringe you were sure was appearing on your face. 
He swallows hard at that word. Even relationship would have been better, even if it were more broad than ‘friendship.’ At least it wasn’t such a narrow word. It felt like even if you didn’t finish the list you didn’t know he knew about, you would never see him as more than a friend. “Well, that’s what makes it my favorite friendship.” 
The two of you stand there for a minute, holding each other and gazing into the others eyes. You could feel your breathing slow down studying Matthew’s facial features again, thinking only of how perfect they looked to you in that moment. “We should figure out where we’re getting food from,” you say, dragging your hands down his chest before dropping him all together. 
He could have stared at you like that forever. He really couldn’t think of anyone more perfect than you, anyone he would want to look at besides you. “What are you in the mood for?” he asks, moving over to the counter. Opening your fridge, you remember you still have the list folded in the band of your shorts, throwing it in before grabbing some water out. “What did you just throw in there?” Matthew asked you, having watched your every move.
“Uh, Evelina and I have this weird list that we’re putting together, it didn’t feel right to have Jesus looking over it all of a sudden,” you tell him, “But now that you had mac and cheese on my mind, I kind of want that.”
“Oh, no, you’re not changing the subject that easily,” he says, trying to reach around you to open the fridge. 
“No, come on, it’s mostly Evelina’s and I don’t know if she would want you seeing it,” you lie, batting your eyes at him and trying to contort your face to make it look like you would cry if he tried anything else. He couldn’t see the list of things you hate about it. He couldn’t find out about it. 
He sighs, knowing he wasn’t going to win this one. “I ordered you mac and cheese but I’ll pay for it if you tell me the subject of the list?” he tries to bargain. 
“Uh, it’s a list of kinks,” you lie, not knowing what else to say, and usure why that was the first thing that came to mind.
His eyes go wide, pretending to be shocked. It was the list of ten things you hate about him. It had to be. He grins anyway, trying to hide the pain he felt knowing that the list was already started, and probably nearly finished at this point, “Are any of them your kinks?” 
“Yeah,” you start to lie to him again, a grin on your face, “One of them says, ‘When Matthew leaves me alone.’”
He scrunches up his face, pretending to be hurt by your comment as he walks back to your living room. “Oh you know just how to break my heart, pretty girl.” You follow him, plopping down next to him on your couch. 
You pick up your computer, snuggling into his shoulder as he wraps his arm around you. “I have no desire to do this project.” 
“Why don’t we watch something on TV then and you can work again after we eat?” he suggests. You nod, putting the computer back down, surrendering to his pout. You feel him kiss the top of your head, scrolling through the channels. “What about Lilo and Stitch?” he asks when he finds it on one of the channels. 
“Ugh, I love this movie, but the American treatment of Hawaiians is awful, and I just can’t help but think about it every time I watch,” you say, thinking you were being annoying. “Sorry,” you apologize. Evelina was used to your rants, even if you were sure she normally tuned them out. You didn’t think Matthew wanted to listen to another rant from you. 
“Don’t get me started?” he asks, referring to the game you and the guys played at the bar.
“Don’t get me started on the American colonization of Hawaii. The Cookes’ went to Hawaii and pretty much obliterated the royal bloodline. The king of Hawaii had the Cookes build boarding schools for the royal children, with good intentions that they would be able to educate his children on royal customs to effectively rule their land. Instead, the Cookes took the Hawaiian customs and told them they were wrong, imparting their own customs on them, instead. They wanted he land for America, they wanted to eliminate the Hawaiian culture and make them as American as possible,” you say. “The Hawaiian people were a very sex positive people, but oh no, American Catholic education and their ‘no sex is the safest sex’ ideal stopped the children from living the lives they grew up expected to live. If a boy was found in a girls room doing anything in these boarding schools, they would beat the children as punishment, and probably other things that weren't even recorded. There are actually a decent number of Wikipedia pages that have had this information erased, like when you go back into the edit history. The sources, as they claimed, weren’t valid, but in reality they weren’t the Cookes’ American-centric description of these schools. They even went so far as introducing sports into the schools as ‘an antidote to the worst evil of all: sexual promiscuity,’” you comment, drawing a laugh from Matthew. “Because we all know how much athletes hate sex, right?” 
You look up at Matthew, him beaming down at you as Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride starts ironically playing in the background, “Yeah, we hate that,” he whispers. You swallow hard, trying to ignore any feelings that might be coming up at the sight of Matthew biting his bottom lip. 
“American’s always just insert themselves where they don’t belong,” you finish, settling your head back onto his shoulder as he pulls you closer to him. 
“Why do you know all of this?” he asks.
You shrug, not really sure how to answer, “I don’t know. When I’m doing work I see one word and it sends my mind into this never ending tangent and I end up looking up stuff online and reading for hours.” 
“You really are the smartest person I know,” he says with a sigh, “Why hasn’t Ev told her parents about hiding the Catholic stuff until they come?” 
You shrug, “I don’t know. I never asked, she just told me it was something she needed to do, so I did it with her. That’s her own cross to bear,” you say, taking a minute to realize the really bad pun you just made. “Ah! See what I did there!” you practically yell, Matthew groaning.
“On that note, I think I need to leave,” he jokes, getting up off the couch.
“Oh, come on, no!” you beg, taking him by the hand and trying to drag him back down to the couch. “I don’t want you to leave,” you let out as he pulls you off the couch. 
“Really?” he asks you, sitting back down on the couch, your hands still connected.
Standing over him you nod as he pulls you into his lap, straddling him. He pulls you as close to him as you can, your hands wrapped around the back of his neck. Your mind flashes back to the liquor store, the feeling that came over you as he worked his way along your body like you had a feeling he was about to do again. 
“Come on Matthew, you know this isn’t something we do,” you tease, even though you can’t help but look at his lips, the urge to kiss him creeping up on you as you tried desperately to suppress it. If any guy had taken you into his lap like Matthew just did, you would want to do the same thing. You were just desperate for a man, not desperate for Matthew. 
“We can’t do anything?” he teases, going for your neck again. You let out a moan, praying that he doesn’t leave any more marks that you’ll have to cover up later. 
“Wait,” you say to him, pulling him off of you. He looks slightly upset, not sure what to do next. ‘Ah, fuck it,’ you think to yourself, pulling his shirt off over his head, tossing it to the side and returning the favor of the hickey he gave you. You suck on his skin, listening to the moans that escaped from his lips this time, feeling him grow hard the longer you were at it. He clenches his hands on your butt, pulling you even closer to him. You work your way up his neck and to his jaw, his grip getting tighter the closer you were to his lips. You had no idea what was coming over you and causing you to want to do this, but nothing in that moment felt better. Nothing in your life had ever felt better as you kissed his face the way he did to you the other day, hearing him moan more and more with every connection you made. 
Your lips are millimeters from his, both of you practically begging the other for connection when you’re startled by the sound of Matthew’s phone ringing. You both laugh, foreheads pressed together. One more second and it would have happened. “I think that means our food is here.” 
“Perfect fucking timing,” he mutters, not loud enough for you to hear as you get up to go grab the food. He couldn’t believe you just did that. He checks his neck in his phone camera, seeing it littered with the red marks you had left for him. He reaches up to touch them, smiling for some reason. There’s no way this list would work against him, would it? 
You come back, him practically throwing his phone so you don’t see what he’s doing, settling down on the couch with each other eating the food. Your mind starts racing with thoughts about what just happened. There was no way you really wanted that, did you? Well, you wanted a man’s touch, but it didn’t necessarily have to be Matthew. It could be any guy. 
‘I have another thing for the list,’ you text Evelina, your eyes moving between your phone screen and his hands holding his food, careful not to look up at his face.
‘Good, god, what?’
‘I hate the way he stares,’ you send her, finally looking up, not taking your eyes off Matthew as the two of you can’t help but stare at each other.
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leverage-ot3 · 4 years
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notable moments from The Juror #6 Job
leverage 1.11
it took them three (3) years to get the vargas case on trial ??? that’s so long, the court system is fucked up
- - - - -
Hardison: You are Alice White. It's one of the aliases I made for you, vegetarian, bookkeeper. She had a pretty wild time at her sister's wedding in Phoenix. You should check out her facebook page.
eliot smiling at that rb if u agree
- - - - -
Nate: No. No. Jury duty - A place where you have to follow instructions.
Sophie: Where you have to consider other people's point of view.
Eliot: There's gonna be normal people there, Nate.
eliot emphasizing that there would be NORMAL people there lmfao
- - - - -
the fam sitting together eating pizza we love to see it
- - - - -
Sophie: you know, she's never done that before.
Nate: What, stormed out? Come on.
Sophie: No, asked for our help. (walks out)
(Nate looks toward Parker, then back at Hardison)
Nate: What? Listen, there is a reason we put her in a jury trial.
(Hardison mutes game)
Hardison: You know, man, when I was a, when I was a kid, I was like 8 years old, I had a foster mom who was Jehovah’s witness. She used to dress me up in a suit and a bow tie and take me door-to-door to spread the word. Black neighborhoods, white neighborhoods, didn't matter. I would kick, I’d scream, or whatever, but she would say "Alec, you need to learn how to talk to people." See, everything I learned about people, I learned ringing doorbells and-and-and being in a bow tie. Parker never had that. I mean, jumping from a skyscraper, she's cool. But making small talk? It��s-it's like pure terror. Just cut her some slack.
(Eliot hurries in with a six pack of beer)
Eliot: How about them Cowboys? What'd I miss? (flips his beer)
Nate: Nothing.
(Nate looks at Parker, who is dialing her phone)
like I love learning about their backstories but I can’t believe someone made hardison be a jehovah’s witness
- - - - -
parker is wearing flannel again
- - - - -
Nate: Not if we steal it first. Who plays chess?
Eliot: I play.
Nate: Yeah, of course you do. A chess game has three stages, right? I mean, you got your opening, middle, and end game. In the opening, you want to take control of the board, and you want to line up your attack and you want to protect the king, which, ironically, is the weakest piece you have
nate isn’t even surprised that eliot plays chess. he’s just like yeah, that adds up.
- - - - -
(Eliot is in a dumpster while Hardison is on the ground looking through garbage bags)
Eliot: It's your turn to be in the dumpster.
Hardison: No, man, no. I-I have-I have peanut allergies. What if somebody threw in some extra crunchy Skippy? Then, you know, it's just a (wheezing) all up in my vocal area, man. Do you want to give me mouth-to-mouth? No, none of us want that. Hell no.
(Eliot throws a trash bag at Hardison’s head. Hardison looks up, angry)
Eliot: Heads up (laughs)
they’re idiots
+ ALSO hardison is always in danger of triggering fake allergies,,, this, the rashomon job,,,
- - - - -
Hardison: Quint's on the hook. He went to Mumbai international limited's website to check out Sophie.
Nate: It's a real company?
Hardison: Cover story's better that way. Just, uh, changed this... (hits button on remote, which changes a picture on a website) to this.
- - - - -
Sophie: Okay, today did not go well, but that's all right. You know, we learn when we fail. We're gonna-we're gonna go back to basics, and we're gonna do a little role-playing. Gonna start with-with persuasion techniques. So, Eliot (tosses him an apple) has an apple. Alice (tosses her an orange) has an orange.
Eliot: I love apples. Apples are my favorite fruit.
Parker: Good for you, sparky.
Eliot (to Sophie): I-I don't have to sit here and take this crap.
Sophie: Go on. Just do it for me.
Eliot (to Parker): You have an orange, all right? Now, convince me that I want the orange, not the apple. I'm gonna take a bite. (slowly brings the apple to his mouth and takes a bite)
Parker: I put a razor blade in that apple.
Eliot (spits out the apple): Are you serious?
Parker: Maybe. But do you know what doesn’t have a razor blade in it? This orange. (smells the orange) Don't you want it? (tosses the orange at Eliot and leaves)
Sophie: You fell for that? (exits room)
CHAOTIC OT3
- - - - -
Hardison: O- Okay. Um... you know, I have photos (places a file on the bench) that I would like to introduce from a vacation, the opposing counsel water-skiing. It's all from his website - very public.
Louis: I object.
Hardison: As well you should. You shouldn't be doing that. Seriously? I mean, he doesn't have the body.
r o a s t e d
- - - - -
Parker: Wait! Wait a second. That was a secret. You just told me a secret, right? That's something friends do.
Peggy: Well, I guess so. You're the nicest one here.
Parker: Really? I mean, thanks.
her S M I L E your honor
- - - - -
Earnshaw: Lunch is almost over. Get back to the trial. (opens folder) Joseph Miller, Georgetown pre-Law, Harvard law with honors! This can't be right. This guy's hourly rate has to be more than what our grieving widow makes in a month.
Assistant: Ma'am, it all checks out. Unless Gloria Vargas found some guy who created a CIA Level cover story and fake identity
hardison is just that good and we love to see it
- - - - -
Earnshaw: Wait. Who's that?
Assistant: The guy talking to the Vargas lawyer?
Earnshaw: No. Her. Raid Quint’s computer, his calendar, his e-mails. Pull out the call logs and the GPS records from his phone. I want to know who that is.
- - - - -
Quint: Earnshaw says if we settle, we open ourselves up to other lawsuits.
Sophie: We don't care about more lawsuits. With a billion people in the work force, a few deaths won't raise an eyebrow.
Quint: Government won't crack down?
Sophie: Mr. Quint, it takes five years to get a parking permit
that’s fucked
- - - - -
(Donnie is standing in front of a green screen)
Nate: Good. He's good.
Eliot (turns off camera): What I tell you? (hugs Donnie) Thank you for coming in on such short notice, Donnie.
Donnie: Ah, dinna fash yersel, laddie. What are friends for?
Eliot: Exactly. Beer's on me soon.
Donnie: Oh, you remember tha. (exits)
Nate: He's very good.
Eliot: What I tell you
we love getting more insight on eliot’s past and who his friends are/used to be
- - - - -
hardison, parker and eliot walking to the door and nate and sophie seeing them off like parents (even parker with her packed lunch!!!)
- - - - -
Hardison: Oh, incident. Okay. (referring to file) Would that happen to be the incident on flight 732 out of St. Louis, where you-you fondled a flight attendant's buttocks? Or would that happen to be the incident on flight 1433 out of Chicago, where you drank 17 tiny margaritas, you took your pants off, you stood up on the drink cart, and you sang, quote, "I'm a sexy monkey"?
Patemkin: I have no recollection of that.
Hardison: I'm not surprised, because it was not one, it wasn't two, but it was 22 incidents of drunk and belligerent, grab-assy behavior that landed you on that list.
Judge: Mr. Miller.
Louis: Objection!
Hardison: No, you know what, your honor? The US Government has determined that this man is not qualified to ride on an airplane, like Osama bin Laden. How is this jury supposed to rely on him to render a sound medical opinion
IM SCREAMING
+
parker looks so proud of him
- - - - -
Parker: Oh, sweet mercy, cooked flesh. (takes a bite of burger) Can we have fast food every time we make the bad guys go away
let parker eat as much meat as she wants 2k20
also, eliot is sitting right next to her and finally got to watch his football 😌 we love to see them sitting together
- - - - -
Nate: Did you realize what you just did? What you did? You won a jury trial without cheating.
Hardison: Without chea--I hacked a government no-fly list and used it to humiliate a witness.
Nate: Excessively. "Cheating excessively" is what I meant. But, I mean, think about it, I mean, if you applied yourself, Hardison, you could be anything you want.
Hardison: You know what? I could. I could. You know, next week, I think I’m gonna be an astronaut.
Nate: Well, that's not really what I meant. I meant if you studied, you’d--
Hardison: Yeah, if I--Who needs to study? You know, I’m gonna be a surgeon. A surgeon – ER. Surgeon.
HARDISON IS A GENIUS AND CAN DO ANYTHING HE WANTS SEND TWEET
- - - - -
(Parker gets a text and checks her phone)
Parker: Hey, it's Peggy from the trial! She wants to have coffee next week. Alice made a friend.
Eliot: I'm gonna tell you one more time. You made a friend, not Alice.
Parker: Oh, cool. Well, think she'd want to steal a painting with me?
Sophie: Start small, Parker. Try coffee.
that’s so cute and means so much that she made a friend that even went as far as REACHING OUT to HER !!!
and she doesn’t reject the idea!!!
okay but also if a girl as pretty as parker asked me to steal a painting with her with that smile on her face, bitch you bet I would,,, I am but a simple bisexual with a weakness for pretty ladies
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dopescotlandwarrior · 5 years
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A Hero Among Us-Chapter One
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Chapter One
Claire pushed herself up from the mattress and wiped her nose. The skin was tender and burning from days on end of crying since her husband died. He was buried one week ago and her life had become intolerable, more so every day. The coalition of wine growers was circling around her like vultures waiting to pick her apart. They would buy her property at ten cents on the dollar or burn her out, and they did not care which.
Claire paced in front of the windows of her parlor looking at grapevines as far as the eye could see in every direction. This was Frank’s dream, not hers, and she knew little about viniculture and nothing about running a farm. He had died too quickly to tell her much, a feeling that left her boiling with resentment. “You hateful man, refusing to prepare for your death was a sure way to make me fail.”
Claire was raised in the upper class of London society and enjoyed a refined lifestyle and social status granted by her family’s wealth. When she married Frank Randall, the son of a prominent family, he brought her to America and sunk eighty percent of her dowry on this piece of land in St. Helena California. The remainder was used to build a fine house, vines, equipment for wine production and labor for the first planting. The law allows a widow’s dowry equal to one-third the original but it was all tied up in the dirt she now lived on.
She walked outside to clear her head and ambled down the rows of vines, inspecting the large leaves and berry clusters. She had no idea when the harvest should take place or how she would find anyone to help her. On numerous occasions, she rode into their tiny town and tried to hire the immigrants who were looking for work but they refused her. She scanned the three hundred acres of vines and felt utterly defeated.
Claire walked into the enormous kitchen where misses Crook stood kneading dough for bread. The opulence of this room and others made her choke with resentment. Everything Frank did was grandiose, a symbol of his position and wealth. Up to his death, he had not spent a nickel of his own money and knowing he was dying he had not made provisions for her support. Claire felt the bile rising in her stomach and tried to clear her head.
“Misses Crook, I am riding into town to buy a chicken, hopefully, two. We need eggs and the chicken we have must be laying in the vineyard because I cannot find a single egg.”
Two chickens were in a sack tied to Claire's saddle as she made her way home an hour later. She was lost in her thoughts allowing a group of men on horseback to surround her. She recognized them as landowners in the area who wanted to force her off her land. They were getting pushier with their demands and Claire bit her lip and remained quiet hoping they would leave. One of the men pulled the sac from her saddle and shook it, allowing the chickens to escape into the fields. The men laughed and raced away from her, one of them fired at the dirt in front of her horse making it rear in fright. Claire was unseated and hit the ground hard, knocking the wind out of her. The horse galloped away.
Claire tried to pull air into her lungs and her restrictive corset made that impossible. She felt herself dying and panicked trying to reach the laces at the back. Just before she blacked out she felt strong hands pull her jacket back and an arm reach in to pull the upper laces. This continued until she could take a complete breath.
“There ye go lass, breathe deep and don’t try to get up yet. Yer safe for now. How far is yer home?”
“Not far.”
“Well, I ken that’s where yer horse is about now. Can ye get up yet?”
There was no ladylike way to pull this off she realized and accepted his hand to pull her up. She stood still until the dizziness was tolerable and then let go of his hand.
“Thank you, sir, you saved my life. I am very grateful. Have you seen two chickens running around? Those men let mine go and they are desperately needed.”
“If I had I would have eaten at least one, feathers and all, sorry to say. It’s been a few days for me mistress. Come, I will help ye home and then be on my way.”
Claire noticed the sun sinking into dusk and worried for her safety. She promised him some food and felt huge relief for the escort.
“I am Claire Randell, my vineyard is up ahead. And you are…”
“I am nobody named James Fraser. Pleased to meet ye, mistress.”
He explained how he came to America with the gold rush, funded by several tenants on his estate. He had worked tirelessly, however, he never found any gold before the money was gone. The only work was in the vineyards so he started walking.
“You poor man, I’m surprised you can even stand. Here I can walk faster, let’s hurry.”
Ladies in London don’t walk with purpose, they stroll, to let the world know they needn’t rush after anything. She fell into that pace quite naturally and now felt ashamed to force this huge man to take tiny steps.
“Come in James, let’s get you fed.”
Jamie looked at the huge house and started walking backward, looking in all directions.
“Thank ye, mistress, I will wait out here. Would ye like me to catch yer horse for ye? Is that him, grey dapple munching on some hardy vines?”
“Jesus Christ, yes, please catch her before she mows down an entire row!”
Jamie rushed into the barn and grabbed a scoop of grain to lure the beast away from the vines. He approached her speaking Gaelic just above a whisper as he held the scoop full of grain out to her. She startled at first, still scared from her gallop home but caught the scent of grain and changed her mind. Jamie kept talking to her stroking her neck and letting her nibble at the grain. She walked behind him to the barn and entered her stall gratefully. Her reward was the remainder of the scoop. Jamie looked around the impressive barn with four stalls for horses, hayloft above and storage space, a lot of it. Once he pulled the tack off the horse he returned to stand in front of the house.
Claire opened the door wide so the man could see misses Crook who ordered him to the table where his supper was getting cold. Jamie flew through the door not wanting to provoke this commanding woman. When he saw his meal he almost cried, there was so much there to eat!
Claire and misses Crook were not a minute behind him bringing their own meals to the table. Claire nearly dropped hers when she saw empty plates in from of the man. She looked under the table and on his lap and finally asked where his food went.
“Apologies mistress, I ate it.”
“Oh, let’s get you a little more then.”
She picked up his plate and returned a minute later with the plate piled high with dried beef, vegetables, potatoes, and bread. This plate would have fed her for an entire week but she wanted to demonstrate there was plenty of food here. While Jamie was catching Brimstone Claire ran into the kitchen and ordered misses Crook to make more food and quickly. She desperately wanted to hire this man to help her save the vineyard however she had little money to pay him. Until she sold the first harvest she would prove she could feed him.
“Do you mind if we join you, sir?”
Jamie shot up from his seat and bowed slightly saying it would be his honor. He looked around at the joining rooms, all large, sumptuously decorated and wondered where the lady’s husband was. He fancied the lady but kept his eyes down on his plate. She was speaking to him like it was a Sunday social which confused him. He decided misses Crook was her mother who referred to her daughter as, mistress. That was very odd. Why else would she be dining at the same table? Whenever possible he would look around him for the husband.
“Mister Fraser, may I speak to you about a proposition I have?”
“Of course, mistress.” Responding to her allowed him to look at her and he felt the air evacuate from his lungs requiring a spontaneous deep breath to restore him. He blushed and lowered his gaze.
“I would like to hire you, mister Fraser, to help me run the vineyard if you know anything about this type of farming. I have very little money but I will keep you fed and give you a cottage to live in that is safe and warm. I will also need help hiring workers when it’s time to harvest the grapes. Can you tell me what you know about vineyard management mister Fraser?”
“It isna time to pull the fruit yet, another three months for white and four months for the reds. You watch the sugars when the time is near, every day, early, at sunup. When the sugars rise you harvest the grapes as fast as possible. Extract the juice, add yeast, and put the juice in barrels to age for a few years. Or you take the fruit to the auction and sell it for the highest price possible.
Claire was stunned. In three minutes this man had summarized the answer to all her questions. The questions Frank refused to answer, to give her a fighting chance. Her eyes were wide staring at the strange man. When she could find her tongue again she spit out sentences without pre-thought and nearly gave him her complete life history. She was in a sense, begging for his help. After five minutes she closed her mouth, blushing fiercely at her lack of manners and feeling dread he would refuse her. She looked down at her lap.
“May I ask ye, where is yer husband?”
“Dead. Sorry, didn’t mean to skirt that issue.”
Jamie was too quiet for too long giving Claire the impression he would be leaving this very night. Try as she might to hold her tears at bay they spilled freely from her eyes and dropped into her lap. She held her linen napkin to her face in embarrassment and Jamie felt his heart melt at her sadness. She was so young, he realized, with a monumental task ahead she knew nothing about. Now that he knew she was a widow it clicked in his head that she is the landowner folks were talking about at nearly every post he passed. There was a general warning to stay away from her or face consequences. Jesus lass, yer in a hopeless mess and I wonder if ye even know it.
“Please mistress, dinna cry, I will help ye.”
Claire dropped her napkin and jerked her head toward him with wide red eyes. She smiled, and it lit up her entire face, the dining room, and the whole world that Jamie lived in. When he realized he was staring at her he dropped his gaze quickly.
“Come with me. Let us find you a suitable cabin to live in while you are here. There is one that is bigger than the others for the manager. That is you. Whatever you need for your home I will provide to the best of my ability. You have made all the difference in my life mister Fraser and I am so grateful. When we speak again, please be ready to discuss your compensation and the successful continuance of this vineyard. Do we sell the grapes or make wine, things like that.”
They were halfway to the cabins and she stopped abruptly and turned around. Her smile was radiant, her chest was heaving with excitement or exercise and her eyes latched onto his making his heart pound in his chest. “It has been a very long time, but I feel hopeful again. It is glorious!” She jumped up like a child playing and strode on toward the cabins.
“This is the biggest cabin and closest to the water pump. There are two buckets in each cabin and a small stack of towels. There is a small stack of firewood in the back and six enormous trunks that you are welcome to cut up. I believe the ax is sticking out of one of them.”
Jamie watched her in fascination. In their brief association, he had seen her get thrown from her horse, nearly pass out from her corset, cry with frustration at her horrible circumstances, and then brighten with relief. Through it all her impeccable manners and elegant carriage never wavered. He hated her, in general, for being British, for bowing to the monarchy that crushed his homeland. He would keep his distance and work hard for her. When the grapes were sold he would return to his home in Scotland.
When she bid him goodnight she hummed making her way back to the house. The sound made him feel happy. He closed the door to his cabin and put his back to it surveying the space that would be all his until the fall. It had been so long since he slept in a bed, had a fireplace for warmth, a door to lock, and fresh water right outside. He took deep breaths to lower his heart rate.
Jamie sat on his bed with a great sigh. The weeks of walking with little food or water had taken their toll, he was exhausted and the food was like a sedative in his stomach. He was asleep before his head hit the pillow.
Muscles cramping, bladder painfully full, feet sweating from leather boots. Jamie rolled onto his back, momentarily confused about where he was. He remembered the night before and stumbled in the dark to the door. He walked quickly toward the back to relieve himself taking great gulps of cool crisp air. The sun’s rays were just breaking across the horizon and he watched as they raced across the land and eventually touched the grapes making them glow inside. He turned in a circle to survey the property and it was amazing. Aside from the level acreage, there were steep hills that were terraced with lines of vines. Perfect for the deep reds this region was known for.
Jamie owed his limited knowledge to the owner of the first Vineyard he worked for. The man took him under his wing when he saw what a hard worker he was. He taught him so much in the three months he was there. Jamie had enormous respect and gratitude for the man and felt his face turn hard and angry at the way it ended. He was run off the property when the wife was caught sneaking into Jamie’s hut. He had no idea she was there until he was yanked out of bed and run off the property in his bare feet. His boots and clothes were thrown at him like he was a common thief or the lowest human that lived. He started walking, shaking from the indignity, hurt pride, and sorrow for what the man thought now. Two weeks later he watched Claire get thrown from her horse. That was yesterday.
Jamie pumped water to wash his face and parts of his body he would dare. He felt better after that and walked the rows of vines inspecting for bugs and fungus. The plants looked remarkable. The Sassenach will have a very good harvest if they could just watch the sugars. The whole growing season came down to someone watching the Brix number which equates to the amount of sugar in the grape. Each type of grape was harvested at a different Brix rating. He had confidence the former husband had purchased a hydrometer. He would trouble misses Randell today for some paper to write all these facts down before he forgets.
Jamie was high in hills studying the plants when misses Crook came out with his breakfast. When she couldn’t get his attention she ran back for the bell. Jamie came down the slope at record speed making misses Crook put her hand to her mouth. The man must be part billy goat, she thought watching him.
“Here’s ye breakfast mister Fraser.”
“Yer Scottish misses Crook." How could he miss the burr his ears longed to hear? " How did you come to raise an English daughter?”
Jamie was so shocked at first he didn’t realize he watched the woman through slit eyes. He was very suspicious of this turn of events and thought to be on his guard.
“My daughter? Who might that be laddie?”
“Misses Randell.”
“No lad, I have managed the house of mister Randall for many years, and now I serve misses Randall in the same capacity.”
“How do you take yer meals with the mistress then?”
Misses Crook laughed and told him it was hard getting used to her unorthodox ways after her husband died. She would not be eating without misses Crook so she would either sit and eat or watch her wither away.
“They are British woman, how can ye serve them without poison?”
“Well, I ken it wasna mister and misses Randell that raised arms against the Scottish people or oppressed the traditions that were lost. A babe canna choose which country to be born in and ye’d do well to ken such.”
With that, she gave him a scalding look and walked away taking great strides to put distance between them. Jamie started out loving the sound of her burr and now he was just confused. Stay on task he decided, leave these wicked Brits to their own lives as they will perish in the fires of hell.
He inhaled his porridge and jumped back up the hill to continue his review of the plants. By lunchtime, he was done and beyond impressed with the hardiness and overall condition of the plants. He would have to ask the mistress where the vines were purchased.
For the rest of the day, Jamie went through each outbuilding to find what Randell had purchased for his wine business. There was twice the equipment he anticipated and wondered how shocked Randell was to be dying halfway through his first growing season. He was certain he suffered from that knowledge, why else would he not prepare his wife to take over in his absence. Jealousy, because she would live while he decayed in the ground. Wicked man Randell, glad yer dead. If Jamie had such a thought about anyone else, non-British, he would cross himself and asked forgiveness on the spot. Brits were not human to him and had no rights to decency or moral behavior. Like his father before him Jamie hated Brits.
The last building was locked so Jamie went to the house and knocked on the door. Claire pulled the big door open, walked outside, took his arm, and walked him back in. She led him to the dining room and told him to sit as lunch was being served. Jamie watched her help misses Crook bring plates of food to the table while she talked about her weird day.
“And then I turned around and there they were, looking at me like, well, where do we sleep? It was so odd but I am very happy we didn’t lose those birds and they are already fully feathered so just a few more months until we get eggs. Thank goodness.”
“Mister Fraser, why are you not eating. Are you ill?”
“Mistress?”
“You must eat so you can work hard and not fall over. C’mon, you cannot get up until all this food is gone.”
Jamie filled his plate while his mouth watered and his stomach growled. He was deliriously happy when there were plates of food in front of him, especially with the directive to clear them or be stuck there. He was very good at following orders, Claire and misses Crook watched him eat with widening eyes.
Jamie sat back with a happy contented look on his face that made Claire giggle. He smiled back at her despite his resolve not to. In fact, he would not extend any kindness to her at all now that he knew how badly she needed him. He shook his head at such ridiculous ideas. He could never be anything but nice and accommodating to her. She was a very special person. Fragile and vulnerable and…
“Mister Fraser!”
“Misses Crook?”
“Get about yer business!”
Jamie was looking around at the cleared table and absence of Claire. He must have been daydreaming and lost track. He was allowed to eat in the big house so he better be more conscious of his behavior while here.
“I came to the house for the key to the large outbuilding on the property. I am taking an inventory of equipment. Would you please ask misses Randell for it?”
Claire appeared a few minutes later and finished lacing up her boots before standing and announcing she was ready to go. Jamie walked toward her with a questioning look.
“Do ye plan to go with me, mistress?”
“I can’t wait to stretch my legs and have an adventure. Do you not want my company, sir?”
Jamie didn’t know how to respond to that so he motioned for her to go first and followed dutifully to the outbuilding. Claire opened the door and Jamie nearly fell over.
“By Christ, I had not expected so many barrels, and they’re new, can ye small the oak? What would make him purchase so much equipment if you dinna mind my askin.”
“He wanted my entire dowry sunk into this place so he kept spending until the money was gone I assume. Every acre, vine, outbuilding, house, barn, and all that is in them was purchased with my dowry.”
Jamie could not imagine how much money that would be or why her family would have to offer such for someone to marry her. She was so beautiful and cultured it was unfathomable to him. He looked at the neatly stacked rows of barrels and felt something strange in his stomach. It felt like excitement. What the hell was he excited about? He would help her put up a small portion of the harvest and set it to aging in one or two of the barrels, but for him to get back to Scotland the majority of the grapes would have to be sold.
He felt strange when Claire was nearby and decided solitude was best. He would speak to misses Crook about taking his meals outside, away from the prettiest eyes he had ever seen and away from his need to make her smile.
Jamie looked through piles of equipment and pulled out a hydrometer followed by a genuine smile.
“We have everything we need, well almost. Misses Randell, I need to tell ye somethin. Word has spread around these parts that no one is to work for you. Anyone who does will pay consequences.”
Jamie watched Claire’s face fall into sadness and he ached for her. He thought of only one way to ensure they had enough hands for the harvest but they had to act fast. Some of the men would be walkin.
“I don’t know how much ye know about Scots mistress but we dinna sit well with intimidation. If ye tell a Scot not to sit on that rock or pay consequences the first thing he’ll do is go sit on that rock. Ye ken? Ye need Scots to work the harvest and they’re aplenty in San Francisco but ye have to act fast. Can ye write to the paper there and place an add for Scottish immigrants who want to work? No tellin how long it will take them to get up here and ye may have to feed a number of men long before the harvest but I dinna think ye can hire workers that have been bullied by the coalition.”
Claire was pacing with hands on her hips. She was deep in thought giving Jamie some precious moments to look at her.
“These men cannot be intimidated you say?”
“Aye.”
“I trust you mister Fraser, implicitly. I will go write that letter and pray they come.”
She handed him the key to the outbuilding and turned in a swirl of skirts heading for the house. He had that feeling in his stomach again and grunted in disgust before returning to the plants to start pulling leaves.
By mid-afternoon, Jamie was lost in his thoughts pulling leaves from around the berry clusters to increase the sun that hit them. Large crowded clusters were thinned by dragging his hand down knocking the grapes off. It was California growers who first started thinning the clusters to push more robust flavors into those that matured. When he heard Claire’s voice he almost jumped out of his skin.
“I’m sorry mister Fraser,” she said giggling.
“It doesna sound like it mistress,” he said smiling at her.
“What are you doing?”
“Ye see how big this leaf is? If there are too many around the cluster the sun canna get to the berries and the sugar will suffer. Ye need to leave the very top leaves to protect the cluster from the mid-day sun, but the sides should be free of shade for morning and afternoon sun, see?”
“Why are you knocking grapes to the ground?”
“That is to thin the clusters for the robust flavor this region is known for.”
“I am so grateful to you mister Fraser for teaching me!”
She put her hand on his arm and seemed unaware she was doing so. Jamie didn’t move a muscle and hoped for a few more seconds of contact before she let go. She walked away smiling and he wished she never had to leave him.
“Like this?”
Jamie turned around to see Claire on her second vine. She indicated her handy work for him to check and he smiled at her.
“That’s perfect. Look at yer hands mistress, maybe rub your fingers across yer cheek. They are soft are they nae?” He watched her nod her head. “If ye keep doing that yer fingers will feel like this.”
Jamie rubbed his rough fingers across her cheek making her blush fiercely. She turned her back to him and continued working on the leaves.
“I doubt my fingers could ever feel so rough mister Fraser so I intend to continue this work for ten more plants.”
Jamie was in his head after touching Claire. Canna you see what ye do to me lass, he thought. Ye get my head thinkin impossible things, my guts shake with anticipation of somethin that will never be, and when ye touch my arm I canna move, in fact, I can barely breathe. So please go away. Just when he thought the situation could not get any worse, it did. She started humming.
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seekfirstme · 3 years
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The following reflection is courtesy of Don Schwager © 2021. Don's website is located at Dailyscripture.net
Meditation: Do you listen to Jesus' words as if your life depended on it? Jesus made a claim which only God can make - "if any one keeps my word, he will never see death." St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD), explains this verse from John 8:51:
"It means nothing less than he saw another death from which he came to free us - the second death, eternal death, the death of hell, the death of the damned, which is shared with the devil and his angels! This is the real death; the other kind of death is only a passage" (Tractates on the Gospel of John 43.10-11).
When God established a relationship with Abraham, he offered him an unbreakable "everlasting covenant" (Genesis 17:7). Jesus came to fulfill that covenant so that we could know the living God and be united with him both now and for all eternity. God made us to know him and to be united with him and he gives us the gift of faith and understanding so that we may grow in the knowledge of what he has accomplished for us through his Son, Jesus Christ.
Jesus challenged the people of Israel to accept his word as the very revelation of God himself. His claim challenged the very foundation of their belief and understanding of God. Jesus made a series of claims which are the very foundation of his life and mission. What are these claims? First, Jesus claims unique knowledge of God as the only begotten Son of the Father in heaven. Since he claims to be in direct personal communion with his Father in heaven, he knows everything about the Father. Jesus claims that the only way to full knowledge of the mind and heart of God is through himself. Jesus also claims unique obedience to God the Father. He thinks, lives and acts in the knowledge of his Father's word. To look at his life is to "see how God wishes me to live." In Jesus alone we see what God wants us to know and what he wants us to be.
When the Jewish authorities asked Jesus who do you claim to be? he answered, "before Abraham was, I am." Jesus claims to be timeless and there is only one in the universe who is timeless, namely God. Scripture tells us that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). Jesus was not just a man who came, lived, died, and then rose again. He is the immortal timeless One, who always was and always will be. In Jesus we see the eternal God in visible flesh. He is God who became a man for our sake and for our salvation. His death and resurrection make it possible for us to share in his immortality. Do you believe the words of Jesus and obey them with all your heart, mind, and strength?
"Lord Jesus, let your word be on my lips and in my heart that I may walk in the freedom of your everlasting love, truth and goodness."
The following reflection is from One Bread, One Body courtesy of Presentation Ministries © 2021.
“WHAT WONDROUS LOVE IS THIS?”
“A body You have prepared for Me.” —Hebrews 10:5
The body of Jesus Christ became incarnate in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She conceived by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit. Mary’s fully human nature was freely joined to the Holy Spirit’s divine nature. Thus the body of the Infant Jesus was perfectly formed and prepared for redeeming and saving fallen humanity.
In the Mass, we celebrate the marriage of the Holy Spirit and Mary, as well as the Fruit of her womb, Jesus, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity. Jesus’ Body was prepared by the Spirit for Him — but also was prepared for our benefit, redemption, and salvation.
God gave up His Son out of love for the world (Jn 3:16). Mary offered her body and her Son for our redemption. Jesus offered His Body for our salvation and healing. To be sure we don’t miss the point, Jesus said and continues to say through the priest at every Mass: “This is My Body, to be given up for you” (see 1 Cor 11:24). Therefore, respond by telling Him, “This is my body, to be given up for You.” On this feast of the Annunciation, offer your body to God as a living sacrifice (Rm 12:1).
Prayer:  Father, I am all Yours. May I glorify You in my body (1 Cor 6:20).
Promise:  “Great will be His dignity and He will be called Son of the Most High.” —Lk 1:32
Praise:  The Archangel Gabriel foretold the birth of John the Baptist (Lk 1:13). Then he made the greatest announcement of all time to Mary: You will be the mother of God (see Lk 1:31-33).
Reference:  (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.) (For a related teaching on Jesus’ Incarnation, order, listen to, or download our CD 52-3 or DVD 52 on our website.)
Rescript:  "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for One Bread, One Body covering the period from February 1, 2021 through March 31, 2021. Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio March 31, 2020"
The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements
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ciathyzareposts · 4 years
Text
Eric the Unready – Fair and Fowl – Request for Assistance
Written by TBD
Eric the Unready Journal Entry #4: I found myself in a fair near a fire-breathing dragon. And the dragon’s protecting the Steak of Eternity. Seems simple enough – just need to cover myself from head to toe in fireproof armor and steal a hungry dragon’s meal. I’ve got most of it covered but I still need one more item…
One final Monty Python reference left over from the previous mission
Hi all. Sorry for the rather significant delay between posts here. As is happening to everyone in the world, current circumstances have put all our regular routines out of order. Technically I have more time at home to play and write about adventure games but somehow it feels like I have less – the human psyche is weird. Anyway, on with the show…
Day 5: Stygian Dragon – To Cover My Arse
After shooting out of a cannon in my last mission I landed on a fairground tent. Checking out my new location I find I’m at the St. Barchan’s Day fair, and there’s a herald spouting news. As usual, there’s also a newspaper here.
Good to see people learning from their experiences.
After reading the newspaper I listen to the herald’s proclamations.
Circumstances like the wet tunic contest perhaps? (Sorry – thought I was in a Spellcasting game for a moment there)
Okay, maybe the last chapter isn’t the end of the Monty Python references.
But Snorkle the Herald Angels Sing would make a great hymn.
Moving on, I find a chef roasting a boar while wearing a comedy apron with “Poke me with a fork – I think I’m done!” written on it. I think he wants some spices, but I’m not sure when the game’s giving me a hint or just attempting a joke.
I think he went to the wrong fair.
Seeing as the chef’s clothing is specifically inviting it, and I do have a pitchfork in my inventory, I do what he asks.
I’m in a fourth wall breaking comedy adventure game – if I don’t take things literally I won’t be able to solve half of the puzzles
In another part of the fair ominously named Shady Area is a three handed elf playing a shell game.
If I play, I lose. I was expecting to see some kind of animation with the shells but was disappointed when I just had to guess without having any idea. The prize is some extra minutes of life (which I assume is irrelevant to the game) and some racy woodcuts of a local dancer called Lily.
After a few turns a wandering musician strolls through. He wins the game every time, so expecting shenanigans, I talk to him.
My guess is he bought those glasses from the back of an old comic book and they let him see through the shells.
The musician is missing a reed for his instrument so I figure he’ll give me his X-Ray Specs if I find one for him.
The fair also contains a stockade with some stocks, and as I wait there a man is walked in and put in the stocks.
The prisoner has a speech impediment, which I later worked out is why he was in the stocks in the first place.
Spitting is illegal at the fair
I didn’t remember the illegality of spitting at first, but when I did work it out I felt even sorry for the poor prisoner. Anyway, even without that knowledge I immediately try to free the man, but can’t find a way to do it.
After a little while he’s freed by the authorities anyway, so I continue my explorations. There is a Fool’s Pavilion where I can audition for a job. The three fools tell me that the jester’s hat protects me from thrown objects and is fireproof, all of which will help against unamused patrons. I talk to them.
Good call – I’m sure he won’t do any damage over there.
I try a few things to amuse them or cheat.
Your loss – I was going to do something really funny with those scorecards.
Unable to amuse the fools, I leave and check out the shooting gallery, which is run by a creepy barker who keeps making comments to and about the passing ladies. If I win his game I can have one of three prizes, so I go about getting all three.
Classy!
He gives me a crossbow and I shoot at each of the three targets. I hit every time so walk away with each of the three prizes; a whooppee cushion, a noise maker, and a rubber chicken.
A rubber chicken without a pulley in it – what’s the point!
I go back to the fool judges to impress them with my new prizes – I pull out my whoopee cushion and do what the Fonz told me I should do (I sit on it.)
They look very enthusiastic about my comedy routine.
I am now a fool. I’d love to go back to the knights at home and show them of my achievements!
I try to give my cap to the man in the stocks, but he won’t take it. I was only trying to help protect him from rotten fruit. Anyway, the fair is fairly big compared to most sections of the game, so let’s keep exploring.
I go to the Amphitheatre next and check out the schedule.
I suppose I’ll need to see all three shows at some point. I remember that Lily is the person I can win woodcuts of so that’s clearly a show I’ll have to see.
There is also a Pavilion of Tomorrow – an extremely lame pavilion of tomorrow, almost as lame as Epcott Center (Sorry Disney, I wasn’t impressed.)
There are a bunch of items here:
Portable Window of the Future – a hoop with a shade so I can take my window everywhere.
Cage with a Viper in it – I don’t know if this is supposed to be part of the exhibition or someone just left a pet here but it does seem important.
Kitchen Appliance – the Crush-o-Matic – a 2500lb weight that can be dropped to crush food
Chamberpot of Tomorrow – a chamberpot that is permanently attached to your rear-end to save time going to the privy.
Signalling Device – a gong that you can bang on.
Cat-Jet III Assault Catapult – a model of a state-of-the-art catapult.
Giant Leech – in the future, medicine will improve with the larger than usual leeches.
Iron Maiden Key Ring – from the description it sounds like the kind of stretchy key ring that some security guards in movies use.
Personal Hygeine System – an aardvark. Seriously. Just an aardvark.
Flawless logic
I take a rubber band, which I assume is the Iron Maiden Key Ring. I also take the leech. I try to take other things, but they are too heavy. When I try to take the catapult, it fires.
I sense a puzzle here.
I pull the shade of the Window of the Future in order to stop the catapult from shooting the gong, then try again to get the catapult.
Ah, a babelfish puzzle. Nice.
I try anything I can think of with the snake – putting stuff in the hole or giving stuff to the snake. I try various ways to use the weight, but the game won’t let me press the lever or do anything else I try.
Out of ideas in here, I go back to the prisoner in the stocks and try to upset him with my noise maker.
It’s times like these I really wish this game had a “USE” verb option.
Out of ideas at this point, I go around insulting and mooning people at random, as well as trying to use various items with various other items and trying in vain to somehow make noise with my noise maker.
These are clearly the actions of someone without a plan.
I notice that the apron is fire-proof. I haven’t seen any fire lately, but I’m sure I will soon enough.
Wooo! Spring Break!
At some point I finally realised there was a screen I’d missed – an exit to the west at the entrance to the fairground. I take it.
I already wanted it, but now I know why I’ll need the chef’s apron.
I go to the Amphitheatre and wait for the next show, which is Lily.
After the show, an usher gives me a note.
“I saw you out fwont duwing the show. Please meet me in my dwessing woom. –Lily.”
Accepting the invitation, I go north and end up in Lily’s Dressing Room.
I wonder if she’s related to Pontious Pilate
I talk to her, and again get reminded of the quest to climb the maypole.
I look around to see what else I can do here.
Nice work changing the ‘r’s’ everywhere, game, but I really should have a wubber band in my inventory!
Wondering if there’s anything I need to do here by changing items a-la the T-remover from Leather Goddesses of Phobos, I keep the idea in mind and leave.
I wait around at the amphitheatre for the next show – the jugglers. The jugglers challenge the audience to toss them something they can’t juggle so I look in my inventory for an appropriately unjuggleable item.
Don’t challenge an adventure game protagonist – it rarely ends well.
Now that the jugglers have dropped their gloves in dismay, I take a pair and look at them – the gloves have tiny suckers on them, so I wear them and try to climb the greasy pole in the middle of the fair.
I  neglected to mention the pole earlier so I’ll do that now. There is a greased pole in the fairground with a red feather boa swinging from the top of it.
I take the boa back to Lily, who’s thwilled at my success, and tells me about the second part of my quest.
But I need that weed for the musician in order to get the X-Ray specs so I can get the woodcuts which I can use to solve a different puzzle!
I take the reed to the musician and he swaps them for his shades. As expected, the shades let me see through the shells and I can win the shell game (again, without any animation or change in the graphics to show what I see)
I know exactly what to do with those woodcuts
I take the woodcuts to the overly horny barker in the hope that I will achieve something.
I find it weird that everywhere else it’s spelled Lily but on the woodcuts it’s spelled Lilly. I suspect counterfeit woodcuts!
Having distracted the barker, he doesn’t take the crossbow off me as I leave so I have a new item in my inventory.
I go back to the Pavillion of Tomorrow to see if any of my new items will help. The viper doesn’t want the boa and when I try to shoot anything with my crossbow I miss – including the big gong at the back of the room. I try once again to make the noise maker work, but none of the verbs worked (I even resorted to going through the entire long list of verbs on the left one-by-one)
I note that if I go back to the dragon, he doesn’t always shoot fire at my chest. I’ll need to protect my whole body. So far, I have sunglasses, a boa and a fool’s cap to protect my eyes, head and neck. But I need an apron and the chamberpot of tomorrow to protect my chest and backside.
Because I had no current ideas on how to get either of the required items, I reload an old game to see the Story of the Dragon that I’d missed at the Amphitheatre as it only plays at 11am.
The story doesn’t help me solve my current dilemma, but it does give me information about how this mission will end. The dragon who used to terrorize the countryside was finally stopped – by the power of spam!
It’s obviously setting up that I’ll be the one taken this year.
Note: This game came out before the popularity of the internet, and therefore before email spam was a thing. I’m sure if this game was made now the dragon would be getting hourly invitations to meet single dragons in his area or join some kind of get-rich-quick scheme.
Continuing to explore, I finally have an idea on how to get myself arrested. I didn’t know how getting arrested would help, but I was sure it would be of some use. Listening to Harold the Herald’s proclamation again reminded me about the no spitting rule so I had the obvious next thought.
The guy in the back seems sad that I’m there – perhaps some of my spit hit him.
I insult the people jeering at me, then a man with an apple-bearing son appear. I insult the boy too.
How appropriate – you fight like a cow!
The boy responds to my insult by throwing an apple, which lands amongst my other possessions on a pile next to me.
I wait until my ten minutes in the stocks is up, then take my shiny new apple to the chef and put it in the boar’s mouth because that’s what pigs on spits always have for some reason. Pleased that his meal is now complete, the chef drops his apron and leaves with his newly appled pig.
I take the apron, and now only need the chamberpot to complete my fireproof armour.
And this is where I’m stuck.
REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE
I tried reloading to after Lily gave me the weed and went to all locations to see if the second part of her quest is actually something I need to solve rather than giving the reed to the musician. I had no luck with that, though.
I try using my stuff on things everywhere and eventually decide to wait until nightfall in case something changes when the sun goes down.
Of course, I should have realised this would happen.
I even get desperate and ask the game for help
So I’m asking for assistance. I’m confident I’m near the end of the chapter but slightly disappointed I couldn’t continue my plan of writing a post for each chapter. Oh well, I figure next post will have to contain the conclusion of this Steak of Eternity mission as well as the next one.
Here’s what I know or suspect.
I need the chamberpot of tomorrow
It will somehow involve stopping the catapult from hitting the gong when I brush past it to get to the catapult.
It may involve the crossbow, noise maker or rubber chicken as I haven’t used them yet.
I know sure it’s not related, but I’m still going to blame the social upheaval caused by the coronavirus for my inability to solve this puzzle. Otherwise I’d have to admit my incompetence!
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Session time: 2 hours 40 minutes Total time: 7 hours 50 minutes Score: 395 out of 1000, in 1063 turns Inventory: backpack, Crescent Wrench of Armageddon, Pitchfork of Damocles, crossbow, book, apron, boa, note, noise maker, bungee cord, berries, chicken, rubber band, whoopee cushion, newspaper, apple (wait – why do I still have an apple after I got the apron?), sunglasses, fool’s cap, gloves
source http://reposts.ciathyza.com/eric-the-unready-fair-and-fowl-request-for-assistance/
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apricot-to-rot · 4 years
Text
A Professional Practice: Graduate Strategies File
Contents:
1 Link to power point slides & evaluation
2 Current avenues:
- ‘Apricot to Rot {in progress}: An Independent Artist’
- Curator & Events Organiser- The 372 collective & Spike Island Coordinator
- Art Therapy Career and Volunteering
3 Future Career Plan Evidence & Evaluation
Link to Power Point 
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1nkruGAGsBUJtVLIEc14-UcM0OEtI8TyDUPfYF5qpd8U/edit?usp=sharing
Evaluation
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Looking through my presentation now, seeing the work I was making at the beginning of this project, the visions I had for what this module might be... It is beyond what I imagined. I’m writing this after spending so long in lock down I don’t know how long its been and life at Spike Island seems hard to fathom. Although I miss Spike greatly, in many ways I think think lock down has given me an experience of making that is totally unique and through this it has transformed the work greatly, I think for the better. 
In the presentation when discussing my current work I focused on how I wanted to grown my archive, and how I set out to collect and gather, far/wide and near by. At the time of the presentation my work was dictated by text, although I now realise the words have become an equally woven part to the archive; a component that informs the objects as the objects inform the words. I seem a more developed and experienced practice of techniques with the relationship between text and the other medias. Through the greater importance of the curative environment the parts have become connected, thus allowing loosely for objects to speak a narrative in their symbolic presence. Narrating more so through objects than the words has allowed the text to become more ambiguous. I feel the less informative sensory stories of memory and other themes allows the audience to come on their own journey with me.
I have continued looking into some of the artists or themes within my research back when I did the presentation. I had a great interest in artists who dealt with hospitalised bodies and works that emulate or incorporated bodily experiences. This led me to research around the idea of the decrepit and thus led my interest in collecting and ‘framing the decay’ and treating the broken with fragility. Since the last module, the work has evolved through new avenues of photography and the importance of curation and thus how structures and reflections within these can narrate my themes through the archives in subject. I hope to continue researching around relational aesthetic art.
When making the presentation I was at the beginning of planning these collections, where I would go, what I might hope to find... Through this I wanted to shift the 30 credit module into new themes. The work has grown through moving between transforming concepts around ‘domesticated-ness’ that have carried the collection to integrate with and place under the magnifying glass- the mundane. How do we see things, how do we see differently from each other and what is seeing if not experiencing.
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I am feeling very fulfilled to have made so much progress with the collection I set out to create and how the work has evolved and the exciting prospects of splicing these with sounds. I will continue widening this archive and finding ways to curate them in spaces including digital space, books, places, exhibitions... Now turning to the career aspect of the presentation...
At the time I had undertaken a lot of exciting responsibilities, in particular the role of coordinator for level three and training for an arts facilitator session through St Mungo’s Homeless Charity. On the evening of the presentation I reflected on how I felt I did, I felt I didn’t have much to show for the art making but I had lots of plans to discuss. I felt very excited with where it was going and the possibilities as it was about to take of. However, for the career side I felt there was a lot I didn’t say. It was the part of the presentation I felt most excited to discuss and possibly the pressure I put on myself to talk about it almost made it difficult to fully translate the lengths of my passion and efforts. I guess the lack of visual aid didn’t help when referring to the the presentation, but it was pretty impossible to include pictures. I think I didn’t give enough of a platform in the way I discussed it and its presentation on the slides when in fact both the art therapy and the coordinator role were two things I felt very strong about and was putting a lot of energy and soul into it. I’m not sure...  When presenting things dear to my heart I often loose the outline of my body and find it hard to be sure of what I did or didn’t say.
I feel like I have accomplished a lot since this presentation. I have completed all of my training including additional training for the prospects of learning to work in an arts therapeutic role. I have worked in a complex needs hostel running my own sessions and I joined a team for the Drugs and Alcohol Recovery College at St. Anne’s facilitating art groups. This is something I am keen to pursue further and although this year has been very demanding I am in a position now where I feel my efforts have set me up with new possibilities. Additionally, the experience and connections I have made through being the coordinator with Erin and Esther has enabled my full involvement with Spike Island peers, events and tutors.  Spending most days at Spike has allowed me to be full immersed and develop connections that I hope to carry through. 
Current Avenues, ‘Evidence of Future Plans’
In many ways my practice is a true  reflection of my personality and what I seek in life. I don’t want to be limited within one career when there are many avenues I am keen to pursue. Thus, my many interests in life seem to combine into one globular paradigm, this is equally mirrored in my use of varying mediums and concept based art work and my taste in music. This multi meaning and substance encompassing practice I have developed is a reflections of my equally expanding and shifting interests in many other aspects of my life. Reflecting on this, I decided to focus my efforts and developmental skills within three specific fragments as a way to develop my skills and progression towards a career that can encapsulate some areas of my varying interests. Thus the following is split into three segments of current avenues: 
- Apricot to Rot {in progress}- An independent artist
- Curator & Events Organiser- The 372 collective & Spike Island Coordination
- Art Therapy
Within each section I shall be discussing, analysing and reflecting on my aims to peruse and develop these areas during the past year and looking towards the near future. In addition to this, I will discuss the current situation of Covid-19 in terms of successfully continuing my future career plan within these constraints and the implications of these limitations. 
‘Apricot to Rot {in progress}: An Independent Artist’
- Artist Instagram account 
- Covid-19 limitations and planning
My original vision with becoming an Independent Artist has been some what delayed in terms of selling works as I am unable to produce and distribute during Covid-19. However, working to exceed these constraints I have recently focused more on elevating my online presence. I have created an art account on Instagram to advertise my work so that once I have access to facilities I can set up my website again and continue selling prints. 
372 studio
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26/3/2020 Image: Screenshot of Artist Instagram account, displaying my zine page segmented into 15 images. 
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18/5/2020  Screenshot of Artist Instagram account
In addition to my Instagram, after submitting this Tumblr account I hope to create another account  into a professional space that displays ‘digital books’ of images, sounds and texts for isolated listeners. I think my work is very suited to the formats of installations of photography ‘books’, but I have been unable to produce any in physical form because of limited access to facilities and equipment. Therefore, I am very keen to continue making whatever work I can and use my Tumblr as a space to almost digitally plan the works that I will one day publish in a physical book. I hope to make these digital spaces as immersive as possible and try ensure the digital aspect of it doesn’t change the narrative too much.
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11/4/2020  Screenshot of Artist Instagram account
Research into Digital Books See under DIGITAL BOOKS/ PUBLICATIONS RESEARCH
Curator and Events Organiser
372 Collective
For the past year I have been developing an art/music collective residency at 372 with ten other artists and musicians {including many more who have passed through}. We have decided to stay for another year, for me this collective is integral to being an artist as it gives me the space, peers and creative city that allow me to be fully submerged in setting up myself as an independent artist and forming this collective. Before the out break of Covid-19 I was running events and exhibitions almost every other weekend with the collective at 372 and my plan was to continue running these as a main source of income through this next year however this may not happen quite as I envisioned but the show must go on. My vision is, to get events and exhibitions back on- to give up coming independent artists a space to exhibit work, collaborate, showcase and create and a space for the collective residents to curate and present their work.
6  month Calendar I have created for residents-
Art Based Residents: April Kirkwood, Sadie May, Sylvie Whitfield, Anna Young, Ashleigh Swain, May Bell, Katya Skyes, Charles, Toby George, Oli Camp, Joe Camp, Max 
June Aims: Transform the garden: Build plantiers, wormary compost, risen beds, water system, Grow our own vegetables. With aims for 372 to be a communal and fully sustainable place with our own fresh fruit and vegetables all year.
Repaint house areas- fresh vibes! Enquire for paint from land lord {end of may}
July
Week One: 4 new residents {Ashleigh Swain, Anna Young, Oli Camp, Joe Camp} Walls to be painted in personal spaces, communal areas. 
Week 2: Discuss Covid-19: how can we utilise this collective when on lock down, digital exhibitions, publications, use event spaces as studio spaces, apply for group funding/ research opportunities.
Week 3: Turn the Basement into a transformable studio space so that artists have a space to make work which we can still use for events and exhibitions. 
August Aims:
. Move into basement
. Create one croup art work
. Hold an exhibition {for exhibition plans see section 5}
September {Lock down lifted?}
Week one: Organise an in depth Calendar: When do people have work, university deadlines. When can we do Events. Create off limit days on a calander.
Week two: Social Media take over! Using the social media account I created this year, document everyone's work at 372 and post about up coming exhibitions and opportunities to curate/ rent / attend the space. 
Week 3&4: Everyone split in 4 groups to plan a different exhibitions running everyone other weekend from October- November. Roles and responsibilities to consider: sound system, decorations, event staff, bar set up,  call out posters, clean up team
October: {information to be added} Names of artists, themes, name of exhibitions, roles, equipment needed
Group A Exhibition {Week 1}
Group A Deinstall/ Clean {Week 2} 
Group B: Exhibition {Week 3}
Group B: Deinstall/ Clean {Week 4}
November: {information to be added} Names of artists, themes, name of exhibitions, roles, equipment needed
Group C: Exhibition {Week 1}
Group C: Deinstall/ Clean {Week 2}
Group D: Exhibtion {Week 3}
Group D: Deinstall/ Clean {Week 4}
December/ January Performance Month: Transform the basement into an immersive space used for a ticketed night(s) of performances: sound system, decorations, event staff, bar set up, performers, scripts, costumes, call out posters, clean up team
 Artist CV:
Ebony A Wray/ Apricot to Rot
Tumblr: Apricot-To-Rot
Instagram: EbonyAwray
Artist Statement
I am a ‘visually challenged’  independent artist, part of the 372 residency in Bristol UK. I am a collector. I gather fragments, ‘bits’; these bits can be sounds, rubble, discarded plans, disembodied parts, words or objects. The work questions boundaries between ideas, emotions and objects through space, narrative and sound. My practice is multi-dimensional, dealing with installations, sculptures, photographs, sounds, film, painting and poetry. Too access this archive of work please see my social Media or request my documentation file via email. 
there are no installations- only words, there are no sculptures- only sound. 
Education
Fine Art A-Level, York College 2015, Grade B
Fine Art Foundation Diploma, York College, 2016 Grade Distinction
Fine Art BA Hons Degree, The University Of The West Of England, Present
Exhibitions/ Curation
Tits and Bits, 2019, The Flat . Curated by Clara Troy. Role: Life drawing model & Sketcher. 
Whoever was using this bed, 2019, The Flat. Curated by Clara Troy, Isaac Jordan & Alis Toe.  Work exhibited: Tea cup Rabbit Spatula, 2019, Painting, 1m x 1.7m. Untitled Sketch book works, 2019.
Trust Absolute Unconditional, 2019, The Crypt. Curated by Leah Wellington. Work Exhibited: Untitled, 2018, Sculpture, Dimensions Variable.
Callaborative Painting UK, 2019, Kosar. Work Exhibited: Untitled, 2019, Painting on Canvas, 1m x 1m. Untitled, 2019, Painting on Canvas, 5.3m x 1.6m.
Fine Art Fright Night, 2019, Spike Island. Role: Coordinator & Curator of Events Managment. Work Shown: How to Mourn An Orange, 2019, Installation, Mixed Media, Dimensions Variable. King Barry, 2019, Performance, Costume Design, Make-Up, Cat walk model. 
80s! Prom Fine Art Fundraiser, 2020, Spike Island. Role: Events Coordinator.
Take Two Fine Art Fundraiser, 2020, 372. Role: Events Coordinator. 
Curator and Events Organiser
In this section I will be providing Visual documentations as evidence for the events that have taken place at 372. This section will continue to discuss similarly my role as coordinator of events and fundraising for Fine Art Level 3. This sections aims to demonstrate my efforts throughout this year in developing skills to equip my future career plan in terms of curating, organisations and fundraising music events and exhibitions. 
372 2019-2020
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Coordinator Level 3 UWE
This year I had a joint role of coordinator with Erin and Esther. I took the lead in coordinating for the first half of this year, and I have also ran fundraising events at 372. Through the events at 372 me and Sadie organised a Bursary scheme to offer students unable to pay the £50 degree show entry a free ticket to curate their work. However, since covid this money has been contributed towards an online degree show. My role as coordinator was to ensure the connectivity between each member of the team, to record all information and act as a point of call for any queries within the organisation of all events. I took more of a lead role within coordination in the first half of the year. My main hope was to form a connected group on level three through encouraging people to contribute creative ideas and take of roles within the fundraiser events. I wanted all creative voices to be heard and so I spent a lot of time ensuring and supporting everyone's contributions came to fruition. Looking back now I am very proud of these events and my efforts because I wanted to create a series of exciting events at Spike and bond the year to combine everyone talent. 
Planning meetings, organising roles and keeping track of information to chase people up with their jobs:
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I leased with Wayne and other tutors, musicians and accessed tech support for these events. I ensured everyone working at the events understood the health and safety procedures and kept to the licensing. I bought and transported all the alcohol and used my knowledge of bar work to run a cheap but efficient bar with trained staff. 
Social Media control and encouraging the group to engage:
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Link to rota for events I created: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1eVUXUOf71-J2GYIz4hD5dzNesCW_5xJmly6ZeVvDXUg/edit?usp=sharing
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Link to Power Point Lectures I held:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1yzB5pouN0jlWI-xkKe5cbu9hIUdM8XuKpdb28hmWzRc/edit?usp=sharing
During the events I took on a multitude of roles, including; First Aider, overseeing the bar, ensuring the change and cash flow of the bar through Beckie and our bar team. I would greet all the event goers by standing on the front door and introducing them to the event. I would be the point of call for every team member on the night, ensuring the time plan of the night was kept to and solving any issues and pointing people to the right person to talk to. Finally, I made sure Spike was left in a clean acceptable condition with everything recycled. 
As the year has continued, I have spent an increasing  time in hospital so I took more of a back seat within the coordinating. Esther and Erin did a fantastic job with organising the publication for the degree show and as a group with Beckie we did a lot of expenditure planning for how our fundraiser money would be spent on an ambitious and innovative degree show.  My role was to still ensure all voices were heard in the creative decision making and the decisions around democratising how the fundraising money was spent. I held a series of discussions, power point lectures and workshops for all of Level 3. I recorded this and then me Esther and Erin made the final decisions on where money would be spent most effectively. 
My main hope in doing all of this was to get some really exciting events happening at Spike with the importance of inclusivity by getting as many people involved as possible. I am very proud of the events, I learnt a lot and have made a lot of connections through doing so. 
Event Pictures:
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Spike Island 31/10. Catwalk Models Pose for group photo. Models: Ebony Wray, Clara Troy, Alis Toe, Ashleigh Swain, Joel Mansfield, Lucy Mardell, Fran. Todd Clarke and Sadie Arellano.
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Spike Island 31/10.  Set Design and Installation work by Ebony Wray and Daisy Jones. Face Painitng workshop. 
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Spike Island 31/10.  Ebony Wray Installation Performance.
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Spike Island 31/10.  Ebony Wray Installation.
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Spike Island 31/10.  Set Design: Sheets of paper for event goers to draw illustrations. 
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Spike Island 31/10. Photograph: Ebony Wray. Model: Sadie Arellano, Catwalk Costume.
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Spike Island 31/10. Sadie Arellano and Barry {Ebony Wray}
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Spike Island 31/10.  Barry {Ebony Wray} and April Kirkwood
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Spike Island 14/2. Exhibition space.
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Spike Island 14/2.  Dance Floor, Projections and set desin by Diasy and Ella.
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Spike Island 14/2.
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Spike Island 14/2.
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Spike Island 14/2. Photobooth made by Loulou Jane and Daisy Jones.
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Spike Island 14/2.  Bar area.
Art Therapy: A Vessel for Self Expression
Before studying Fine Art I placed great importance on the ideology of using creativity as a way to heal and enrich the self from experienced trauma. My passion for this has always drawn me to explore a sense of underlying self within poetry, collecting and story making. Although my practice usually explores a multitude of important concepts such as the notion of home, nostalgia and uncomfortability... The underlying cathartic release is the integral experience that  continues my growing practice. My interest in this relationship between therapeutics and Fine Art  is what has led my sought training and PPWE research this year; with the aims to develop basic skills and knowledge to equip me for progressing into  to the industry of Art Therapy. 
[Due to Covid-19 complications, the ‘evidence’ of my efforts to develop these skills will be presented within six screen shots of emails between myself and my employer.]
I went to the UWE Frenchay employment and volunteering fair in November and through this learnt about St Mungo’s Homeless Charity. Since then, through this charity I applied for my DBS check and have undertook a multitude of training programmes. I then set up my own art based group in a complex needs hostel. 
Training completed:
Core Training
Mental Health Training
Conflict Resolution Training
Complex Trauma Training
Borderline Personality Training
Shadowing existing session
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Setting up the Art Group
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Longhill’s complex trauma hostel St Munngo’s: I gained a lot of experiences and knowledge from running these sessions. My next step after this was to join another existing team doing art sessions at The Drugs and Alcohol Recovery College, starting on 27/4/2020.
Covid-19 complications:
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Since Covid-19 I have been in contact with St Mungo’s and I plan to return after the 26th of May. I hope to progress within this charity to develop a career within care that can involve therapeutic art practices for vulnerable people. 
Additional Evidence of Future Plan
Future future? 
UWE Bristol Postgraduate Santander Scholarship of £4,000 to continue full time post graduate study in September 2020. {Deadline 19th June) Waiting for feedback on draft submission to  'My Questions' on InfoHub  {Curating MA, One year course.}
DLA for Adults Application
Evaluation of Future Plans? 
Throughout my reflections on current possible avenues I have already evaluated at lengths the three avenues my efforts have gone into persuing these.  The  Art Therapy role through St Mungos’s, my interest in curation and running events and finally being an independent artist. Advancing on what has already been said, I find it hard to fully create a water tight, logical future plan right now for a society that is constantly changing. My health and abilities are constantly changing and the many innovative opportunities that may arise in the end couple of months are hopefully unimaginable as I’m sure exciting new roles will arise for me. So, with that said I think the plans I have discussed is the best I can provide right now. I am looking into applying for DLA through the government to support me throughout my hospital endeavours. Becoming visually impaired has massively impacted my life and my sight is constantly changing like the world is right now, so I will just have to take life as it come. I am passionate about following these three avenues through and I will think about the curating MA. It is tempting because it is free although I think the opportunities I already have lined up  this year are overwhelming and a masters in art psychotherapy in later years would be better suited to me. I will continue to keep my ears open for open calls and I really am passionate about making exhibitions happen this year at the residency. 
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comicteaparty · 5 years
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May 2nd, 2019 CTP Archive
The archive for the Comic Tea Party chat that occurred on May 2nd, 2019, from 5PM - 7PM PDT.  The chat focused on Moonlight Apparition by Janaka Davis (Darkhalo4321).
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RebelVampire
COMIC TEA PARTY- THURSDAY BOOK CLUB START!
Good evening, everyone~! This week’s Thursday Book Club is officially beginning! Today we are discussing Moonlight Apparition by Janaka Davis (Darkhalo4321)~! (http://moonlightapparition.smackjeeves.com/)
Remember that Thursday discussions are completely freeform! However, every 30 minutes I will drop in OPTIONAL discussion questions in case you’d like a bit of a prompt. If you miss out on one of these prompts, you can find them pinned for the chat’s duration. Additionally, remember that while constructive criticism is allowed, our focus is fun and respectfully appreciating the comic. All that said, let’s begin!
QUESTION 1. What is your favorite scene in the comic so far and why?
Kabocha
Hello~! Yay Dark! :D Honestly -- my favorite scene is probably the scene where Ker starts teaching Jason a smidge more nicely, rather than just being a jerk about things. I feel like we're starting to get past his gruff exterior a bit... Wonder why he's such a grump? http://moonlightapparition.smackjeeves.com/comics/2572727/6-4/ Also, his witch eye is super badass, and I am really curious to learn more about it, bleeding and all.
Sarai
I'd have to say near the beginning, when Jason defeats the....thing (i forget what it was called exactly i'm so sorry ) by calmly sending it on its way instead of defeating it with violence
SpazztastiKim
When Robbie jumps on the well. Because it's hysterical. (I am a simple creature)
Darkhalo4321
a shade monster
Sarai
SHADE MONSTER thank you
i need to reread
Darkhalo4321
It likes to throw shade
Kabocha
So, it's a shade monster -- you mean it's just telling Jason all the failings of his friends right there?
Darkhalo4321
probably
SpazztastiKim
nerds...
Darkhalo4321
toby has an expired library boooook
Respheal
Made it o/
Darkhalo4321
yey
SpazztastiKim
Toby no
Sarai
TOBY NOOOOOO
Kabocha
"Yeah, you think it's real good idea to go jumping on well covers... Just you wait, one of you guys is gonna fall through and I'm gonna laugh my ass off."
Sarai
the worst crime of them all
Respheal
Oh yeah I liked the early scene too
RebelVampire
and here i thought toby was the one we could trust
Respheal
Robbie's antics at that point make me laugh
-kick- oh shit
SpazztastiKim
Robbie no
Letter Bee
My favorite scene is when Jason protected Lark.
Sarai
The first scene introduced me into what genre this story was and the monsters these good kiddos would face, but how jason handled it made me realize what kind of story it would be
Kabocha
Discord blocked my doodle....
SpazztastiKim
rude
Respheal
Rude!
Darkhalo4321
nuuu
discord play nice
Kabocha
[image: Shade monster: You guys think you're hot shit, eh? Too bad Sunny-boy isn't here to enlighten you! Jason: stop](edited)
SpazztastiKim
HAHAHAHAHAHA
Darkhalo4321
meanwhile Lark sneezing off screen not wanting to be involved
crimsonangeltears
haha (and hello I made it )
RebelVampire
my favorite scene is the one where antonio fights the spying hunters and is basically like "im cooler than you now gtfo my property"
Darkhalo4321
yay! thank you! ovo/
SpazztastiKim
that is a GREAT scene
Darkhalo4321
that was probably my favorite scene to draw
Sarai
HOW COULD I FORGET THAT ONE
Respheal
Antonio: Get off my lawn!(edited)
SpazztastiKim
basically
Sarai
his SMILE as he makes his weapon appear
SpazztastiKim
all he's missing is a cane to wave around threateningly
Darkhalo4321
he's not THAT old yet-
SpazztastiKim
lol
Sarai
the face of a man who hasn't been in a fight for a long time and is looking FORWARD to it
SpazztastiKim
ya'll f-ed up
Darkhalo4321
>:3c
RebelVampire
hey you dont need to be old for a cane. you can get one for the aesthetic.
also it can be used for blunt force trauma
Sarai
and for beating people!
see Rebel gets me
Darkhalo4321
XD
Sarai
using canes is a Legit martial art form you know
Kabocha
The only thing that hurts worse than getting cut by Antonio would be the emotional wounds he can inflict.
Darkhalo4321
>_O ooof yeah.
Sarai
or the emotional wounds you'd get just from the fact that you forced him to hit you
RebelVampire
wait if the shade monsters throw shade, is this how antonio fought them? he just learned to throw even more intense shade?
Kabocha
Not only can he kick your ass, but he will make you feel bad about making him kick your ass.
Darkhalo4321
I mean ... look at how well Crow does later on
SpazztastiKim
hmm
might not be the BEST example X'D
Darkhalo4321
:0
I love crow
SpazztastiKim
(yes, I'm teasing crow shhhh)
Kabocha
Honestly, looking at this scene, Crow is lucky that Antonio didn't just maim him right there.
http://moonlightapparition.smackjeeves.com/comics/2290462/4-11/
SpazztastiKim
truth
crimsonangeltears
I really liked when Jason sparred with Toby, it's still one of my favs
Sarai
kabo coming in clutch with those links
Darkhalo4321
I imagine 40 tabs open on kabos computer
Sarai
when Jason rolled with his niece to keep her safe
Darkhalo4321
this was such a fun page to draw :D
Respheal
Later that week, Antonio looks at his socks and has a moment of "like the old days" and "dammit we're out of bleach"
grass staaaaaaaaaains
Darkhalo4321
just make ker do the laundry
SpazztastiKim
HA
RebelVampire
jason sparring with toby was cute but also made me more curious about toby. like jason makes sense for why hes have secret fight knowledge, but why did toby feel compelled to learn.
Sarai
((then he'd get sad because that would be the moment Adelaide would tell him "use vinegar and water))
RebelVampire
i feel if ker did the laundry hed mix bleach with all the chemicals youre not supposed to mix bleach with
fill the house with poison
Sarai
KER NO
KER THAT'S THE ONE THING YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO
crimsonangeltears
I just figured that was an activity toby learned when he was younger. my hubby did taekwon do as a kid (did I spell that right xD)
Darkhalo4321
Probably mixes his red socks with his white shirts...
SpazztastiKim
Piiink
RebelVampire
ker would look dashing in pink probably
SpazztastiKim
Totally
Darkhalo4321
It's really blue'd up, but in the scene after the contact with lark, his shirt is more on the magenta/pink side.
Sarai
a nice pink button-up with a navy blue tie? Very nice
Kabocha
[Image: Antonio saying, "Hey Ker, did you see that chore list I left for ya, eh?"]
Darkhalo4321
just a guy, making dinner... I'm sure...
Sarai
hey my dad makes tacos and cuts fruit with his bowie knife, I'm sure Antonio would do the same
OH NO XD
Darkhalo4321
insert Jason handing Ker some form of cross because- he gon' need it for the grave
better find a saint to save ya
Kabocha
You know, Ker sure mouths off a lot to Antonio... I can't wait to see some form of terror pop up at some point. XD
Sarai
St Jude? XD
(patron of lost causes)
Darkhalo4321
OH NO, that's PERFECT FOR KER
RebelVampire
it turns out we were the shade monsters all along.
Kabocha
Dark -- serious question though. This... Terraphate massacre mentioned in chapter 4... How many people were killed?! http://moonlightapparition.smackjeeves.com/comics/2300366/4-14/
Tenor | Shinavar
“1. What is your favorite scene in the comic so far and why?” Lark's introduction because he's my baby anD HE'S DOING SO WELL I'M SO PROUD. :DD (Also I just deeply enjoy like, a lot?? of?? he scenes but Lark's intro had me immediatly adopt him so- )
Darkhalo4321
more than 7
SpazztastiKim
Oof
Respheal
Lark is very intriguing
Darkhalo4321
it was more of a serial murder case
Kabocha
Lark's a troubled sunshine child
Respheal
sunshine
Tenor | Shinavar
(Also HI EVERYONE + I will be limited in typing, bound to my left had today )
RebelVampire
ah so one of those massacres where they pulled out a thesaurus to make it sound cooler
Sarai
OH i get the "more than 7" reference now
Kabocha
Wait, more than 7 reference?
Darkhalo4321
more than 7 killed
Kabocha
also, you know... if it's a small number like that... Sounds like ................................... A conspiracy.
Sarai
Boston "massacre" had only 7 people killed
((or was it 5 oh no i'm getting rusty))
crimsonangeltears
But was it random or a set group of people at the same time? hmm
Kabocha
o_o I have no idea
Darkhalo4321
it was across town- but like...yanno.... it happened all on the same night so... suspicious still
Kabocha
MAGICAL MASSACRE!
crimsonangeltears
Ohhh
Darkhalo4321
Culprit was apprehended- or were they? dun dun dun >:#c
Kabocha
Theory: all the people killed were Apparition users
RebelVampire
how big is the town?
Kabocha
And that's how Jason got his magic
Darkhalo4321
Uhm... I'd estimate around the 12-17k range. ish
Kabocha
It is literally murder magic
Darkhalo4321
big enough to have a hospital at.
Sarai
oh
Darkhalo4321
but like Bandon Oregon has a hospital, so like. Eh, if there's a need people will have a hospital.
SpazztastiKim
Cause you know... death is a thing
Darkhalo4321
I did try thinking in terms of "would a city of this size have this or this?" and did some comparisons for research
Kabocha
@Tenor | Shinavar [Image: Lark -- "This boy needs to be happy" Ker -- "This one needs to get over his grudge"](edited)
Darkhalo4321
he's an AXE Murderer
Sarai
oh come on we haven't seen him kill anybody yet
Kabocha
you know, honestly, the first time I saw Ker and Lark interacting, I could have sworn that Lark was like, some trickster asshole. And that he'd done something awful to Ker to make him THAT angry and grumpy.
RebelVampire
ya know i was going to say that is a bigger town than i thought itd be but then i looked up comparable towns near me and have now changes my thoughts that 12k is a tiny town
crimsonangeltears
xD
Kabocha
Maybe he ran into Ker one morning, on the way in to town, and made Ker spill coffee all over his nice, clean shirt.
Respheal
UM
crimsonangeltears
LOOK OUT
Darkhalo4321
It's big- but small. Big enough to have a few draws- but not BIG enough for some stuff.
Respheal
Wow I sure as heck don't remember seeing that lmao
RebelVampire
I thought it was only me who got that impression
Sarai
The town i grew up in is 32k - 12k is TINY XD
Kabocha
30k isn't that small...
Darkhalo4321
See- Roseburg is like 26k population- and I was doing a sized down version of THAT
Kabocha
....I mean, the town I grew up in had that many people, and it was kinda busy but we only had like, 3 blocks... ...of actual city...
Darkhalo4321
you wouldn't believe it but BEND Oregon is now... like 80K
crimsonangeltears
I think in terms of crime it really depends on many factors and the type of crime. Where I come from we have a lot of people technically, but when I was younger certain...crime that happened was not exactly heard of for our location..
We've had three serial killers now and it still isn't something that would have normally happened..
Tenor | Shinavar
12k ain't big but it ain't small. Town next to me is 4k.
Darkhalo4321
lark probably did piss off ker, we just don't know what he did yet
Kabocha
Also worth considering: When we were younger, the news didn't like to cover small towns all that much.(edited)
Sarai
my town was super small up until a few years before I was born, so it really isn't that city-like
Tenor | Shinavar
"Younger"
Kabo: u funny
Kabocha
Ey, remember, only 20 years ago, the internet was thought of as a fad
Tenor | Shinavar
Oh I'm refrencing something else, no worrie slol
RebelVampire
QUESTION 2. Of course, our main protagonist Jason is drenched in mysteries. How exactly do you think Jason’s mother was murdered, and why did the event cause so many changes in the world? Why doesn’t Jason’s dad want to explain the event to him? Who exactly sealed Jason’s memories and for what purpose? Additionally, why are the memories now starting to unravel after all this time? Overall, do you think Jason will learn to control his powers? Does he have a contract as Ker suggests might be possible, or will he have to make one to protect himself? Even if Jason gains control of his powers, how will that change his course in life? Lastly, how will Jason’s experiences with Phates in the future affect his choices?
Respheal
“ How exactly do you think Jason’s mother was murdered”
Horribly
Kabocha
She was stabbed.
Tenor | Shinavar
Dibs on eaten
Respheal
omg
RebelVampire
you know whatever you guys suggest im gonna assume its just all of it
Darkhalo4321
sobs
TENOR
RebelVampire
so stabbed, maybe burned, then eaten
Tenor | Shinavar
What? I'd go into a complete amnesiac trauma experience seeing my mom get eaten in front of me
Kabocha
hold on I have an awful idea
Letter Bee
I feel that the Leader of the Hunters slashed Adelaide to death as part of a plan to demoralize Antonio and keep him from fighting the corruption in the Hunters.
Respheal
And if you're very lucky, in that order?
Sarai
It definately involved Jason somehow, but I don't think he was directly responsible
Tenor | Shinavar
If Jason was responsible I'm chalking it up to "Phrophetic" reasons and mom tried to protect him
Respheal
Jason was a witness at the very least, for sure
Letter Bee
And the Leader of the Hunters also cursed Jason as a further hold on Antonio.
Darkhalo4321
:0
Jason has a hard life
Kabocha
[Image: Crossover joke](edited)
Sarai
DON'T CROSS THE STREAMS KABO
Respheal
WHAT
Darkhalo4321
but her hair was LONG
Respheal
LMAO
Okay okay okay geez uh(edited)
crimsonangeltears
I think she was slashed, not exactly just stabbed? Jason witnessed it so his memories were sealed to protect him from that trauma, but I think that if he remembers who it is, it will put him in Danger. (my guess..)
Respheal
Well, we really don't have any clues as to who did it or why
Kabocha
http://moonlightapparition.smackjeeves.com/comics/2341615/4-23/ I've always wondered if Adalaide is the "she" Lark is talking about.
Is she really dead?
Sarai
i think it was caused by something magic-y he wasn't supposed to see/know about
Kabocha
Is she really? Like, dude, maybe she's not dead, but... Disappeared.
And Lark and Jason share a sort of bond because of it (brothers, maybe???)
Tenor | Shinavar
/Insert Brother Bear Meme for Lark + Adalaide?
crimsonangeltears
If it's disney rules...
Darkhalo4321
Sometimes I can STILL hear his voice
RebelVampire
i support this head canon just so lark and jason can be brothers
Sarai
please don't start another twin theory here
Darkhalo4321
:>
Kabocha
They can't be twins, Lark's older. But maybe Adalaide had a secret child with someone.
crimsonangeltears
I love twins...but I'd have to agree xD
Tenor | Shinavar
Fine I'll up a twin Theory: They're the same person split.
crimsonangeltears
No thank you..
Darkhalo4321
jason just didn't leave for a year. nbd
Respheal
Ooh
Kabocha
Two halves of a whole?
Tenor | Shinavar
Ye
Respheal
Actually, y'know what
Kabocha
Lark is the memories, Jason is the power?
Darkhalo4321
a yin or yang theory
Respheal
I see your twin theory and raise you Lark and Robbie are related(edited)
dat curly hair
Kabocha
omg
Tenor | Shinavar
...
Darkhalo4321
oooo
Tenor | Shinavar
Support
You'd never see it coming their personalities are so different :D
Darkhalo4321
they are the same age too
crimsonangeltears
OR...they are related but time travel or au is involved
Kabocha
!!!!
Darkhalo4321
Robbie is the rogue path
Kabocha
A doppelganger from the phate side of the world?
(Lark, that is)
Darkhalo4321
:0
Kabocha
I mean, Lark is a bird, and Oregon is home to Portland, and if y'all haven't seen Portlandia
crimsonangeltears
OR he's a robot that thinks he's not and he was given fake memories
Kabocha
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHmLljk2t8M
Darkhalo4321
Oh nooo
So a doll hm?
Respheal
Oh yeah, regarding the contract part of the question
There was that trippy dream Jason had
Where he looked kinda....corrupted? And someone gave him a cross
I dunno, the timing of that seemed kind of contracty to me
Ah ha, this bit: http://moonlightapparition.smackjeeves.com/comics/2637351/6-18/(edited)
Kabocha
Who's the other person there?
Respheal
We don't know O:
I think
RebelVampire
in regards to the contract thing, im gonna point out it was suspicious metaphysical contracts were brought up, nobody knows how they work, and it potentially kills ppl
SpazztastiKim
MYSTERY
Darkhalo4321
I mean
Kabocha
Well, people, there's two, but I figure the guy's probably someone like Ker
crimsonangeltears
you'd have to be pretty desperate to agree to it then?
Darkhalo4321
what doesn't kill you makes you stronger?
SpazztastiKim
Halo boo
Darkhalo4321
- adviec from Ker... probably
Kabocha
.........That's how he got those scars.
RebelVampire
that does sound like ker advice
Kabocha
"I'm clearly not dead, so it's okay!"
Darkhalo4321
seems legit
Respheal
Oh derp hi like right in the next page from that it shows Jason dreaming about his mom getting slashed(edited)
Darkhalo4321
his dreams suck
Kabocha
Ker sure isn't the prettiest face you'll see for a motivational spokesperson, but he sure is the one that'll make you say "YIKES"
Darkhalo4321
I did have a lot of fun with that dream sequence. I both loved it and regretted it instantly.
Kabocha
Oh?
SpazztastiKim
The true suffering
Kabocha
It's interesting that Jason sees himself as cursed in the dream, though.
RebelVampire
maybe the dream sequence is how jason made a contract to try and save his mom but between that and her dying it was too overwhelming
Kabocha
Unless the curse just sits on top of any self-representational form of himself in his dreams.
SpazztastiKim
oof
Darkhalo4321
ooof indeedly
It's like it's becoming more and more clearer?
Respheal
Ker observed the curse triggers when Jason's thinking about his mom (or, I guess, what happened to his mom), and he was dreaming about his mom at the time
Darkhalo4321
I believe he does make that inference
(is inference the right word?)
Kabocha
Yeah, I think so
But Dark knows all the answers so clearly can't tell us THE TRUTH
Darkhalo4321
yes it is I feel smart
Respheal
The truth is out there
Kabocha
Okay, more seriously though
Darkhalo4321
I c o u l d
Kabocha
I'm not sure Ker wasn't involved in the murder.
Respheal
Nahh
Kabocha
I dunno.
SpazztastiKim
no... :C
Darkhalo4321
he did skip town
Respheal
Antonio would kill Ker if he was 8V
SpazztastiKim
NOOOO
RebelVampire
yeah i agree with res
ker would not be alive right now
or staying in the house
Darkhalo4321
but antonio needs SOMEONE to clean the bathrooms
SpazztastiKim
pffft
Kabocha
Ker probably can't take antonio, honestly
RebelVampire
ker doesnt need to live in the house for that. get a dog house and make ker sleep outside
Kabocha
http://moonlightapparition.smackjeeves.com/comics/2455383/2-9-5/ I feel like Antonio might have suspected Ker's involvement, intentional or not, at one point tho
and clearly Ker has no problems killing rogue apparitions
okay yes he does, but only because Lark's a kid
RebelVampire
i got more the impression that antonio called ker cause he thought ker would actually give him straight answers about certain things going on that he wasnt made privy too. versus necessarily think ker was directly involved
Kabocha
Hm, true.
RebelVampire
ker secretly has lark's bday marked on a calendar so the minute lark turns 18 he can kill lerk with no qualms cause lark is an adult
Kabocha
Okay, revision to the theory then. Ker may have known who was sent out that night to deal with the new Moonlight Apparition. Ker may not have known why someone was sent out, or to where they were sent... But had info, somehow. and then... When he realized what happened, he couldn't face Antonio for 5 years.
SpazztastiKim
ouch...
RebelVampire
that sounds more like ker
at the very least i dont buy ker saying "i vaguely remember"
that is a conversation you would remember XD
Kabocha
Ker probably doesn't want to remember.
Darkhalo4321
Maybe he made himself forget?(edited)
Kabocha
Unless Ker was secretly in some sort of love/hate relationship with Adalaide, and then was in a state of shock when he heard she'd died. (Although it really seems more hate/hate)
RebelVampire
ker got himself one of those jason curses
Kabocha
(so, yanno, no unrequited love shenanigans there, but we can dream)
Respheal
Well, there is memory magic
Kabocha
...Is Ker a puppet?
Is that what you're getting at Res
Respheal
I mean, Dark saying Ker may have made himself forget
Kabocha
Was Ker made to forget so he could easily carry out orders, and being near Antonio is bad news bc it jogs his memory
Respheal
I'm just saying there's a way to do that
Kabocha
shhh
don't stop me from making up crazy conspiracy theories!
Respheal
Although here's a question: Why only Adelaide?
Jason was there
Kabocha
Because Antonio.
Darkhalo4321
Why only jason?
Respheal
I mean like, if Jason was there, why wasn't he killed too?
Sarai
Jason's dream/memory of the event cuts off right at the moment he's threatened by him mom's killer(edited)
Respheal
Instead, he just got the curse on him
RebelVampire
im assuming either they didnt get a chance to get at jason cause he did apparition things or because adelaide was super duper special and therefore had to die(edited)
Respheal
.....What if someone's using Jason
Kabocha
I feel like the killer was interrupted before he could finish the job.
Oh no...
Respheal
Someone needed him alive? :3c
RebelVampire
if i had to pick someone to blame for the murders im gonna pick belial cause belial is one suspicious mofo
Respheal
^
Kabocha
Also his magic and eyes are purple.
Darkhalo4321
Puuuurple
A royal color
Kabocha
I know that logic doesn't make much sense when stated out loud like that, but -- I figure an easy visual hint someone would use (or well, a way to distinguish who cast what) is to tie the magic color back to the magic user.
...UNLESS Purple is just a cursed color.
In which case, Belial is toxic.
Respheal
And if you're going to code someone as having "evil magic", you use red or purple
Kabocha
Or green
Respheal
The danger colors
Darkhalo4321
green is my favorite color. It will never be toxic to meeee
SpazztastiKim
totally toxic
Sarai
but purple IS the color of Jason's curse
Darkhalo4321
:0
SpazztastiKim
purple IS cursed because that's my favorite color
Kabocha
...So, I guess we need to find out if Belial also knows how to use a sword.
crimsonangeltears
It is also my favorite color! But cursed...? I never thought about it.
Kabocha
TBH it's weird that the hunters are working with him or his brother at all.
Respheal
He seems like the type
SpazztastiKim
possibly
Kabocha
I dunno, Belial seems more the type to use a magic sword and use it for blood magic.
....wait
Would that be why the murders happened?
Darkhalo4321
His brother now... thats a fun character >:3c
Kabocha
Some sort of horrific ritual involving the town?
We haven't seen other places enough to know if this is an oddly concentrated population of magic shit.
But... I wonder.
Respheal
Real quick before the next question: re: how powers will affect Jason's life: Hope you weren't plannin' on college, kiddo. Super powers and college don't mix well
RebelVampire
http://moonlightapparition.smackjeeves.com/comics/2637354/6-20/ maybe not jason because i was looking at this page again and the writing that can be read is saying wake up. and while you could argue its a subconscious thing telling jason to wake up from the dream, you could also interpret it as something he heard cause the murderer wanted jason's apparition powers to awaken.
Kabocha
Hmmm...
RebelVampire
super powered jason cant be any worse at college than the thought of robbie at college XD
Respheal
TRUE
RebelVampire
QUESTION 3. Besides the characters, there seems to be a lot going on in regards to the world. Who do you think Jason can trust: the Hunters or Lark? For what reason do you pick that side? Why do you think the other side can’t be trusted? Overall, do you agree with the Hunters’ stance that Phates should be kept secret? In contrast, do you sympathize with Lark’s goals? What crime do you think he’s being hunted for, and why is it secret? Also, what do you think happened to the people Lark is looking for? Finally, what do you think is going on with the Behem Realm in regards to the corruption and can it be fixed? What role might Jason have in regards to that?
Sarai
I DON'T KNOW OK
Kabocha
Honestly? I think Lark's the more trustworthy. The more I talk this out with made-up theories, the less I am really trusting the hunters.
Sarai
this whole situation with hidden information and magican shenanagins is stressing me out
crimsonangeltears
I will say Lark because that sweet child would never hurt my beloved Jason.
Kabocha
I'm sorry, Crow, you poor child, I really can't trust you until you get an anger management class.
SpazztastiKim
-snorts-
trust no one
RebelVampire
jason shouldnt trust anyone. that is the answer. dont trust ppl who have secrets
Respheal
I tend to think both sides are right and wrong :V The Hunters probably didn't explain things well and are probably doing some shady stuff, but Lark proooooobably reacted poorly and got himself in too deep
Also yes
Trust no one lol
SpazztastiKim
@RebelVampire gets it
Sarai
I don't think phates should be kept secret from the general population
Kabocha
Wait.
WAIT
If there are no secrets...
Then the only person we can trust is Robbie.
Respheal
Lark seems to have good intentions, but probably doesn't have the full story
.......lol
SpazztastiKim
@Respheal gets it too yes
Kabocha
I'm sorry, it's TRUE though.
SpazztastiKim
DON'T TRUST ROBBIE ARE YOU NUTS!?
Respheal
It is true and it hurts
Darkhalo4321
robbie is NOT the person you should trust
RebelVampire
robbie is the murderer confirmed
Respheal
because he's Lark's brother
Kabocha
Y'all are saying don't trust people with secrets, and where does that leave us? EVERYONE but Robbie has secrets.
Darkhalo4321
Toby
SpazztastiKim
hmmmmmmm
Darkhalo4321
Toby is a good kid- no secrets
Sarai
with a fire cracker? absolutely not but with the TRUTH????
Darkhalo4321
y e t
Sarai
YES
RebelVampire
im gonna trust antonio. antonio is just a great dad, great businessman, and great taker carer of ker
SpazztastiKim
I trust no one. not even myself... ESPECIALLY myself
Darkhalo4321
-robbie
Respheal
But even Antonio's keepin' secrets :(
Kabocha
If we're going to trust Antonio, it's only because if I don't, he'll kill me if I walk in his yard.
Respheal
Presumably for good (or so he thinks) reason, but....
Darkhalo4321
I'm sure he HAS his reasons
SpazztastiKim
just because there are reasons doesn't mean they're GOOD reasons
Kabocha
Antonio's a parent. Jason is a teenager. In most stories, you can't trust the parents because they're keeping grown-up secrets from their kids.
SpazztastiKim
heh
hehehe
Kabocha
Like, the truth about that college you really wanna go to... It's not happening. I'm sorry. MIT doesn't offer a full ride, Jason. ...Or does it now
anyway point is
You can't even trust JASON
Darkhalo4321
jason sucks at math, what makes you thik he'd get into MIT XD
Kabocha
because he's keeping secrets!
Darkhalo4321
He IS! How RUDE
Kabocha
The one secret I wanna know is how he gets his hair to stand up like that
Darkhalo4321
Ghibli effect
SpazztastiKim
pfft
Darkhalo4321
The wind styles it FOR him
SpazztastiKim
antigravity hair gel
Respheal
He hangs upside down for an hour every morning (actually no this is more of a Robbie thing)(edited)
Kabocha
Jason's never at 100% power because he's using 10% of it to do his hair.
Sarai
maybe he showers before bed and just
lets it dry however it wants
Darkhalo4321
he needs to get it cut. chop chop chop
bye bye fluff
Sarai
no!
crimsonangeltears
So birds don't style his hair?
Kabocha
And then he'll look like a tiny Antonio
Darkhalo4321
he's a regular snow white that kid
RebelVampire
no i already weeped when robbie cut his hair
Kabocha
Crim, are you suggesting that Jason's a disney princess?
Darkhalo4321
wait until he cuts it SHORTER
Kabocha
... Let's count the qualifications
RebelVampire
there needs to be like 1000% more floof for everyone's hair
Respheal
You mean he's not?
Kabocha
He has a bird friend He has a dead mom But can he SING?
Sarai
when jason cuts his hair will he do it in a comb-over(edited)
Darkhalo4321
ACTUALLY
he can sing very well
oh no- I made a disney princess
Respheal
Disney princess confirmed
Darkhalo4321
He's like BELLE because... he loves reading though!
he doesh't get trapped in a castle. but. like...
SpazztastiKim
nerd
Kabocha
I want adventure in the great wide somewhere~
Darkhalo4321
but not this apparition haaaair
RebelVampire
idk jason isnt really singing about he wants more than his provincial life
Kabocha
Jason, when Robbie comes by. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INDnS3vIKCU
SpazztastiKim
He's more like... Tiana
Darkhalo4321
Oh because... restaurant, right?
SpazztastiKim
and hard worker... stubborn.... oblivious
Darkhalo4321
robbie probably DID ask Jason to marry him HONESTLY
SpazztastiKim
three times at the very least(edited)
crimsonangeltears
But wait....maybe he's hercules since Ker is training him??
Darkhalo4321
he DID propose to like... 5 nurses
SpazztastiKim
tru
Darkhalo4321
I can GO THE DISTANCE
RebelVampire
i wonder what robbie wouldve done if one of the nurses said yes
Kabocha
I'm into the Hercules version of Jason. If only because it means Cathy and Melodie are probably muses
SpazztastiKim
HA
Darkhalo4321
Heck yeah!
Melodie has the moves for that!
SpazztastiKim
TRUTH
Kabocha
Welp.
Darkhalo4321
So The Behem realm
crimsonangeltears
Will there be a musical chapter?
RebelVampire
its probably fine. corruption always fixes itself O_O
Darkhalo4321
how would I comic that?... a musical chapter? When the anime happens, I'll have one made!
Kabocha
I still can't help but think that Crow's some sort of shapeshifter or werewolf... Behem... Behemoth... Plus Crow's propensity to growl like some sort of very angry dog...
RebelVampire
if crow isnt a werewolf i will be surprised
Respheal
I am 100% on board with that theory
RebelVampire
cause theres been enough refs to imply it is so
Darkhalo4321
I mean... He takes commands rather well when threatened- so-
dog training?
Kabocha
Crow doesn't listen to Julie real well tho
SpazztastiKim
he tries
RebelVampire
i think how the behem realm is being dealt with is a major reason jason shouldnt trust the hunters. cause while i dont think the hunters are evil persay, i think in their pursuit to do the good they bend ethics waaaaaay too far(edited)
Darkhalo4321
Julie needs to talk louder-
SpazztastiKim
He is basically a puppy
be loud and RIGHT THERE, then he'll pay attention
Darkhalo4321
yeaaaah- wonder why they have a phate trapped in a glass jar in a makeshift lab
SpazztastiKim
spooky
Kabocha
.... Do the stooges know about that
Darkhalo4321
they might
they might not
>:3c
Kabocha
@RebelVampire -- d'ya think the state of Behem might be related to Jason?
what if Jason's unintentionally an avatar of destruction?
SpazztastiKim
why... did that make me giggle so much?!
RebelVampire
i mean id believe it. sorry jason.
Kabocha
This tiny cinnamon roll of a child -- really there because he's a sign of end times.
RebelVampire
you are destined to destroy all that you love
except antonio
Kabocha
With Antonio as his dad, I'd really believe it.
Darkhalo4321
Yeah, I've been forbidden by many to NOT kill antonio
SpazztastiKim
indeed
Darkhalo4321
which means I probably should kill him, right?
Kabocha
Jason can become a razor-sharp weapon of death... But when it comes to his father, they walk side-by-side into the end.
SpazztastiKim
I did threaten to fly over there and shoot you with something. Do I have to again?(edited)
Sarai
it means you should NOT
Darkhalo4321
D:
RebelVampire
no dark this means the opposite. this means antonio needs 10 layers of plot armor
Darkhalo4321
fine fine he's safe... for now
RebelVampire
and when you pretend to kill him it turns out antonio faked his death and it was his plan all along
SpazztastiKim
I have MULTIPLE Nerf guns Halo...(edited)
Kabocha
oh noooo
Darkhalo4321
He'll eat a potato chip and go just as planned
Kabocha
Live footage of Dark, plotting out the story https://tenor.com/6zEs.gif
SpazztastiKim
^^^
Darkhalo4321
you forgot to add in the part where I plot as horrible implications are made known to me
>:3c fu fu fu
Kabocha
. . . So uh.
RebelVampire
i do think jason is tied to the corruption in all seriousness
Kabocha
Anyone got new horrible implications to point out?
I'd agree with you on that, Rebel.... Hold on, I feel like there's visual evidence
Darkhalo4321
oh?
Kabocha
Oh, no nevermind
I was like, "I remember that shot of the blocked off Behem realm being foresty," and linked it to Jason's dream where he got the Rosary... But they don't look similar at all.
But what seems to be a gate(????) to the realm has the same kind of creeping blackness as was surrounding Jason and the corrupted shade
RebelVampire
as far as im concerned the only evidence we need is that jason has amnesia and all the events tie back to the massacre
Kabocha
http://moonlightapparition.smackjeeves.com/comics/2663394/6-32-chapter-end/ http://moonlightapparition.smackjeeves.com/comics/2637351/6-18/ But I'm not sure if that's just Dark's visual shorthand for "dark magic"
So file this under "more evidence needed, but I'm choosing to believe they're tied together somehow"
http://moonlightapparition.smackjeeves.com/comics/2017341/2-10/ Also, apparently the Jason = Apparition user has been hidden from the hunters for a while... So, I wonder if Jason changed that night, corrupted the Behem realm with his awakening (somehow -- maybe it was just some sort of casting in place from the previous apparition user), and then got home after horrific things happened, only to have his mother murdered
The problem with this is, we don't know how casting this sort of stuff works yet, so I don't know if Jason's been in proximity TO the Behem realm if it requires that he physically be there to affect it.
Darkhalo4321
He's a wot? He's an apparition antonio-
Kabocha
So, I think until shown otherwise, if Jason's power is linked to Behem's state... Jason's probably a symptom of the problem, more than the cause??
RebelVampire
to be fair though we cant say for sure the corruption even started in the behem realm can we?
cause it couldve started elsewhere and thats just the first notable place it hit in its spread
Kabocha
true -- it could have been Belial starting shit, and it spread like a wildfire.
RebelVampire
belial please, observe proper fire control procedures at least(edited)
Kabocha
never
Darkhalo4321
a forest fire to burn all the... evidence...
blame it on teens using the beehive burner as a party spot
just as planned
Kabocha
http://moonlightapparition.smackjeeves.com/comics/2663394/6-32-chapter-end/ Also, I wonder why Julie cares so much about the Behem realm? I know you don't need to have a link to a place to care, but... I feel like she has more than just Crow.
RebelVampire
QUESTION 4. Jason isn’t the only character in the comic with secrets. Do you think there are any significant things that Toby might know from the past that are sealed from Jason? If so, what and how will that affect his and Jason’s relationship? What do you think the story is with Robbie and how Jason ended up his friend? Why won’t Jason tell Toby the circumstances, and why is Robbie’s situation with Jason significant? Also, will the relationship between Jason and Melodie develop, or is it doomed to the status quo? Moving to other characters, how do you think Ker came upon his eye and the ability to use Fae magic? How might this event be influencing his choices and position with the Hunters? Last, what is going on with Belial, and what do you think this means for the story?
Kabocha
To be honest, when we found out that Robbie just kind of appeared in their friend group one day, I half expected that Robbie would be part of Jason? Like, that whole part of Jason that got separated out when he developed amnesia, but then the curse was introduced, and it was like... "nah"
Darkhalo4321
Eh- but you have to think back to Annette and Jason's conversation on the back porch-
Respheal
I've had a theory for a while that Robbie may have attempted suicide.... Mostly fueled by "Are you suicidal?!" "Yes?" and the references to Robbie being in a hospital
And that's probably how they met? 'cuz Jason's sister is a nurse?
Kabocha
Yeah...
RebelVampire
itd make sense cause theres a lot of rumors surrounding robbie and well...rumors lead to bullying >_>
Respheal
And that conversation between Jason and his sister was very......real
"is he okay?"
Kabocha
Robbie's a good egg who decided if he was going to be talked about, he may as well give them something to talk about
RebelVampire
and itd actually explain robbie's sort of cavalier attitude. cause if hes actually depressed than he doesnt care about his safety
thus jumps on well covers
Darkhalo4321
when Inspector Toby says "lets not stand on this-"
Kabocha
http://moonlightapparition.smackjeeves.com/comics/2222484/1-17/ Toby's pretty cavalier about risking Robbie for Jason's sake tho
Respheal
And why Jason, being the good kid he is, doesn't drop Robbie like a brick when he's consistently crass
Darkhalo4321
if he don't care about his safety, why should he?
Kabocha
http://moonlightapparition.smackjeeves.com/comics/2222492/1-21/ Because Jason cares
RebelVampire
well yeah, why would toby pick robbie over his best friend? XD
Respheal
I'm still mad at Robbie about the cafeteria scene lol
punk
Darkhalo4321
in the redraw I think I made it worse, but less directed...
if that's possible...even
Kabocha
Toby seemed to join in on it in those pages tho
Toby, why are you so mean to Mel. XD
what did she do to you
Darkhalo4321
Toby-... t o b y
sighs Toby- He's such a complicated nooooodle
RebelVampire
i just assumed robbie acted that way because thats how he handles socially awkward situations he doesnt want to be a part of. and his go to mode is "be a jackass"
Kabocha
.... Mel tried to be friendly, Toby didn't take her being friendly very well because it was a bad day, Mel continued to pester A grudge began
RebelVampire
for the cafeteria scene that is
Kabocha
Well, no, I mean, that could be their history XD
But yes, Robbie being a jackass is default, I think
"I don't know what to do, so go away" only he can't say those words
because then he looks weak
Darkhalo4321
truuue
RebelVampire
toby is a complicated noodle tho. i cant decide if he can be trusted or not. cause he seems honest but then at the same time he feels like he has a secret skeleton closet of secrets
Darkhalo4321
but, Toby Melodie and Jason have been friends for a while now-
his room DOES have a closet Hmmmm
Respheal
When Jason mentioned he had started remembering things, Toby looked like he was ready to whack Jason upside the head if it'd bring on the amnesia again
A definite "nope nope nope bad don't remember" sort of expression
Darkhalo4321
yeah, bad things happen when that... happened...
Kabocha
Maybe Toby has a secret he needs to hide.
Respheal
What are you hiding?
Darkhalo4321
MAYBE
cue law and order theme
Kabocha
Or at least, that was my impression during that first time, but when it was mentioned that Jason gets hospitalized...
It was like, hm, okay. Toby's not suspicious I guess.
Darkhalo4321
f o r n o w
Kabocha
Unless he was that other figure in the bg of that dream
Darkhalo4321
:0
is Toby the contracteee?
Kabocha
Part of the contract, maybe XD
crimsonangeltears
I gotta leave the chat guys, sorry! (gotta make dinner) Thank you for including me!
Sarai
bye! thanks for joining us!!
RebelVampire
thank you for comin @crimsonangeltears ~!
Kabocha
http://moonlightapparition.smackjeeves.com/comics/2637351/6-18/ <- this page, first panel, 3 figures, just fyi
Darkhalo4321
Thanks for coming Crimson! makes yummy food for your family!
Kabocha
Have a good night Crim~!
RebelVampire
ok so it wasnt just me. i tots thought toby's reaction to jason's memories returning was super suspicious
and like he was ready to flee the country
Kabocha
well, if Jason is linked to the destruction of realms
wouldn't you?
Darkhalo4321
there is a lot about the APPARITIONS the hunters DONT KNOW sooo
Kabocha
that's why they want Lark
to counteract Jason.
Darkhalo4321
>;3c
RebelVampire
why only get one when you can have both tho?
Kabocha
They don't want him dead, but captured if possible. Because even if he dies, that power will reappear, yeah? but Lark's like, "Yeah, nah, I'm fine with the world ending."
Darkhalo4321
I'm surprised no one has brought up the lab... with lark...
Kabocha
Well
It's still new-ish information
Darkhalo4321
True-
Kabocha
We don't know who had the forest lab under their control yet, or am I forgetting something
maybe they had all those kids to test corruption on
Test subjects for Belial's brother~
'cause eventually, you need human subjects.
Darkhalo4321
I mean- they are keeping phates in jars so-
Kabocha
Nari was sacrificed for the sake of the Behem realm!
Darkhalo4321
shes a homuraaaa
or a madoka?
Kabocha
Neither
she's Sayaka
Darkhalo4321
THERE we go
RebelVampire
i dont have enough info to theorize on the lab. cause i got more the impression the kids were at a training facility for the hunters than a lab and that the lab came later.
Kabocha
But uh... There were theories on Dark's server about Mr. Grimr...
RebelVampire
maybe theyre pulling an fma and when lark finds nari shes gonna be fused with a phate
Kabocha
Ahahaha oh no
NO
REBEL NO
Respheal
WHY
Kabocha
Don't give Dark ideas!
Darkhalo4321
... l- lark?
>:3c
Kabocha
Lark-oniichan...
SpazztastiKim
S-stop?(edited)
Sarai
ENOUGH
Kabocha
We have found the limit, and it is Nina jokes.
Sarai
I can't take nina jokes in two servers gosh darn it
SpazztastiKim
that will ALWYAS be the limit
Sarai
^^^
Darkhalo4321
this will be the hill I die on
Kabocha
Okay, but seriously, Mr. Grimr has purple eyes.
Is he Belial's bro
Darkhalo4321
:0
Sarai
he might be
Darkhalo4321
purple, and purple makes a connection-
SpazztastiKim
nothing but pain
Kabocha
I mean
we have yet to see ... What was her name?
Sassypants?
Darkhalo4321
he knows stuff
Kabocha
Sizzlebritches?(edited)
Darkhalo4321
YES
XD
Respheal
"her"(edited)
Kabocha
So, I guess we're going to have a scene of this comic in a strip club.
Respheal
WHO
Darkhalo4321
d... did you not
oh dear
Kabocha
Dark, if you skimp out on the bright colored lights, I'll be sad.
Darkhalo4321
my google search history is going to ask questions kabo
Kabocha
Just look up sterotypical pictures from Vegas
it'll be fine
Or watch Showgirls (don't watch showgirls, it's not really good)
RebelVampire
vegas is basically one big strip club
Darkhalo4321
http://moonlightapparition.smackjeeves.com/comics/2616663/6-12/
@Respheal
That's WHO
Respheal
Oh
I uh
I actually meant who's the 'her' Grimr is referring to
Darkhalo4321
I felt very clever about the name.
OH
RebelVampire
i assume the her was nari but now that res brings up that page...lark, did you...did you make a metaphysical contract?
Darkhalo4321
o h
Kabocha
"her" -- probably Nari. Or Adalaide. XD
Darkhalo4321
o h n o
Kabocha
If Nari's not fully dead, she will be soon.
A victim of corruption...
Respheal
r i p
Kabocha
I mean, you kind of sealed her fate with the whole friggin blood shots followed by tears
how else do you interpret that
Darkhalo4321
he just... misses her and regrets his bloody murdering ness or... something
Kabocha
http://moonlightapparition.smackjeeves.com/comics/2685206/7-5/ Lark is fine if the world ends because Nari isn't in it.
Respheal
The red was actually his hair dye
Darkhalo4321
yes
Kabocha
That's why he wants Jason.
FREE NARI, OR I SET HIM UPON YOU
RebelVampire
lark please. what you do is be the distraction and have jason sneak in. cause they wont be expecting jason and thus jason has the element of surprise to wreck their stuff
Darkhalo4321
Jason can barely transform guys, he'd just go in and start screaming XD
might as well SEND ROBBIOE
actually... That would work.He can seduce the guards see.
RebelVampire
that works too. send robbie and jason.
ultimate tag team
Kabocha
[image: Return Nari... Or suffer his curse...](edited)
Darkhalo4321
Jason would have to remind lark that... he's no idea what he's talking about XD curse? What curse? I'm F I N E
narrators voice He was NOT fine
Kabocha
See, I was imagining it to be more like King Ramses...
Darkhalo4321
oh yah?
Kabocha
RETURN THE SLAB....
OR SUFFER MY CURSE....
Darkhalo4321
OH
Yah Lark would try that, huh?
Kabocha
Yep. only Jason is the curse he shall set upon the world
Darkhalo4321
because his curse is FORBIDDEN MAGICwoooooo
and much scarier for some reason
Kabocha
:3
Well, it'll be okay eventually, I'm sure.
RebelVampire
lark's plans always work out
nothing could go wrong
Darkhalo4321
it'll all work out-
maybe
Kabocha
Nari's not doomed. Jason will be fine. And best of all, Lark will get everything he wanted.
Darkhalo4321
it's fine
Kabocha
And Robbie will live a happy life.
Darkhalo4321
the kids are okay
trust me
RebelVampire
theyre all dead
Kabocha
And you're not going to do anything to Antonio.
Darkhalo4321
e x a c t l y
Kabocha
That's it! That's the story.
Everything is FINE
Darkhalo4321
MCR's I'm not okay plays in the background
RebelVampire
COMIC TEA PARTY- THURSDAY BOOK CLUB END!
Sadly, this wraps up this week’s Thursday Book Club chat for now. Thank you so much to everyone for reading and joining us! We want to give a special thank you to Janaka Davis (Darkhalo4321), as well, for making Moonlight Apparition. If you liked the comic, make sure to support Janaka Davis’ efforts however you’re able to~!
Read and Comment: http://moonlightapparition.smackjeeves.com/
Janaka’s Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Darkhalo4321
Janaka’s Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/A0A1K9D7
Janaka’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/Darkhalo4321
0 notes
rtirman-blog · 7 years
Text
9        Foster Avenue
Here’s where life gets a bit fuzzy for me. I can’t remember if I finished 2nd grade at P.S. 208 and then started 3rd grade at P.S. 152, or if we moved before the school year ended. We moved almost every year.  I think that was because the rents went up every year. I tend to think I completed 2nd grade at 208.
 *My thinking is now based on a brief phone conversation I just had with Al.
He has been reading my blog. And called to tell me to keep up the writing! He was very complimentary and encouraging. But some of my memory was faulty regarding the Old Man (referring to Daddy). Naturally, I told him, “Don’t tell me, you remember things your way, and I remember things my way…but what about Daddy?”
He told me, that Daddy didn’t go into the Army until we moved from E. 48th St. to Foster Ave.
 That got me wondering why I don’t have a memory of Daddy on Linden Boulevard. As I told you, I remember those nighttime air raid drills, sitting in front of the fake fireplace…there’s no Daddy in those memories. I suppose that’s why I thought he was in the army.”
 Here’s Al’s explanation: After Daddy graduated from St. John’s University Law School, he was working for a title company doing title searches. During that time, Daddy was also very active in trying to unionize the lawyers in Brooklyn. That activity led to him being blacklisted by law firms in New York. In order to survive, he took a job as a ticket receiver for the Pennsylvania Railroad. He worked second shift, which translates into him hardly ever being home when I was awake. Ergo, mistakenly, I thought it was then, on Linden Blvd., when he was in the Army. Actually, according to my brother, Mother and Daddy split while we were living on 48th Street. Daddy moved downtown, and let the Draft Board know he was no longer living with us.  His draft status went from 3A to 1A, which got him drafted into the Army pretty quickly.
 Thanks to Al, my memory has been “corrected”. I realize I am deferring to him being older, and therefore, he remembers those things more accurately than me. When doing this, there is a caveat or two to think about: Is it always true the oldest sibling has the best memory? And, memories are “truths” which may be important “facts” in the foundation of our individual thinking and decision making.
 Anyway, we moved from E. 48th St. to Foster Avenue. To be exact, to a 5th floor apartment at 2015 Foster Avenue- the first time for me to live west of Flatbush Avenue. In fact, the first corner west of us was Ocean Avenue. I’m pretty sure 2015 Foster Avenue was on the northwest corner of E.21st Street and Foster Avenue.  
 So, I did start 3rd Grade at P.S. 152. For some reason, I’ve always thought 152 was a real progressive public school. Us kids would either go to school for 4 hours a day, in the mornings or 4 hours a day in the afternoons. If you had a hard time learning what they wanted you to learn, you would have to go to help sessions. So the school ran two 4-hour school sessions, a morning session and an afternoon session, with an hour help session in between, around noon. Other than that, I cannot remember a single thing about that school. But I have several pieces of memory about living on Foster Avenue.
 The apartment house was 6 stories. I think we lived on the 5th floor. On the street level there was an awning, shaped like a quonset hut, with the apartment house address.  It looked pretty classy to me.  Funny thing, about two blocks up at Dorchester Rd and E 21st, there was an apartment house with the exact same awning, only its address said “2015 Dorchester Rd”.
Probably, both buildings had the same owner. What is incredible to me is that my Uncle Wally and Aunt Harriet lived on the first floor in the Dorchester Rd apartments.
 It was at the apartment on Foster Avenue when we found out my Uncle Lloyd became “missing in action”.  He was a navigator on a B-24 Liberator that went down in the China Sea. If my memory serves me right, we found that out on D-Day.  Lloyd was a superb football player, and had he lived, he would have played for the New York Giants… of this, I was certain.
 On the 4th of July, there was lots of excitement for me on Foster Avenue. Firecrackers were everywhere. But my favorite was a thing that looked like a badminton shuttlecock.  It had feathers and a head made out of metal. There was also a metal cup that was place over the head. To use it, either match tips (from wood match sticks) or caps were put on the head. Then, the cup would be placed over it.  You would then throw the whole thing in the air, and when it came down hitting the street pavement…BOOM… and you then could watch the shuttlecock, feathers and all, shoot directly up, stories high! Some of them got almost as high as the apartment house.  I never saw those particular fireworks anywhere else in the City or on Long Island.
 My only other recollection related to Foster Avenue is what Flatbush Avenue looked like to me.
Flatbush was just a couple of short blocks east. It had grocery stores with fruit and vegetable stands outside on the sidewalk. The interesting thing to me was so many of the people spoke Yiddish. At least, that’s what I think today. Since my grandmother lived close by, at the time, I assumed everyone was speaking Hungarian because that is what I thought she spoke.  Today, it makes more sense to me that the language was Yiddish.
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Day 5 Leo Carillo to Santa Barbara
The first night camping was enjoyable, it its going to take a while to get used to sleeping on the pad though. I feel like I adjust and rollover every hour when I sleep like that. What I would give to be able to sleep on my back for 8 hours, like a Vampire.  I wonder if animals that hibernate move around during that time? When I woke up my campmates were gone, except the squirls, the brave and determined animals that run that place!  One of them hauled off two bananas from the table and had one open and was eating before I looked up from packing away my tent and realized.  It’s hard to be too mad at squirrels but these sure push you to your limits. I got camp packed away quickly then had time for a quick yoga flow before I took off.  Breakfast consisted of a roll, some jerky, a granola bar and i didn’t make a protein shake because I didn’t know how far it would be to more drinking water, which was limited.  Riding out of the camp was pretty desolate, there was nothing for a while except more hill climbs followed by gorgeous views on the backsides.  Eventually I hit a T in the road and had to turn right under the highway after which I saw a Pacific Coast Trail sign right below the freeway entrance sign. Not what you expect; I peddled half way up it, realized I was getting on a major highway and then double backed because it felt so wrong.  It turned out not to be so I got on and rode on the shoulder of I-101 for one exit, not so bad.  Up the exit ramp, left turn over the highway and drop in on Hueneme rd that takes you into Oxnard. Here I had the highlight of the day, stealing strawberries at the berry fields. Miles and miles of strawberries, I was reminded of the essay I read in the Refer Madness book years ago about the migrant workers who pick the berries and make them available to fulfill our expectations in the grocery store.  I saw them working, hunched over picking berries, and considered so many aspects of our economy of labor, food supply, taking it for granted and the heart breaking lack of compassion and appreciation for the immigrant and migrant worker that makes our happy spoiled American life possible. I probably ate a pound of fresh strawberries as I rode down that road, it was at least enough to satiate my hunger for a while, and thirst, it’s really a nice trick on your senses to satisfy your thirst with all the water in fruit. At the end of the road as you get to Oxnard is the Naval Construction Battalion Center Port Hueneme. It had a couple jets, which is common, on display but also several missiles ranging in size and “effectiveness” I’m sure, a typical military show of force, or power, or machismo.  The little boy in me thinks “COOL” but the rest of me has very mixed feelings about glorifying our ability to create so much destruction. I stopped for the first time at a fast food joint, a Wendy’s, and had a burger and a chicken sandwich, It doesn’t feel as bad for me when I burn it all off immediately in the following few hours, not ideal but cheap and highly caloric. Then on to Ventura, Dulah and several other beaches that all seemed to welcome RV’s to park and spend the days there.  It was full of campers parallel parked for miles at a time.  This was the first day that I had to full head wind experience,  it was ruff at times.  In places I normally would have been traveling 17 mph it was hard to keep up 13.  They warned me this was the case traveling north, I knew it, I just hadn’t seen it yet, but now I know, woohoo!
There was a strong marine layer for most of the day giving me and my thighs a good break from the sun. It’s really great having the arm sleeves and gloves to protect from the sun, watching how dark the tops of my thighs are getting is telling of how important it is to have protection. I wish I had some three quarter link leggings.  That would be a valuable part of a touring kit. I never thought I’d say I wish I had some capri’s….. but putting on sunscreen makes so much road dirt stick to you.  It reminds me of how dirty your front wheels get driving a car, That’s your legs on bike over 60 miles. A few different times I started to notice the bike felt pretty wobbly, If I stood up I noticed so much sway in the back that I knew something was up.  I stopped in Carpinteria for a big salad to counter act the Wendy’s and inspect my bike.   I had a great local IPA as well, there’s something so delicious about a cold one during a bike ride, like you have really earned it!  It was the perfect refreshment for disassembling my gear and figuring out what was up.  It was the quick release axels, they had both loosened up, the rear one a lot, the wheel was wobbing so much back and forth it’s a miracle I stopped before anything went wrong.
Another 15 miles from there to Santa Barbara.  I rode up the main road called State St, full of shopping, it was a nice slight up hill to finish the day with.  I needed some inspiration for the final leg so I put on one of my favorite albums, Albert King and Stevie Ray Vaughn.  Such a blues classic and the high energy of those guitars kept me going.  My legs were shot,  it took a real effort to have them pedal like normal, the exhaustion of 5 days was really getting to me and they were simply not outputting like before.  When I made it to John and Jill’s beautiful new home my old friend, Bella the dog, who used to be Ella Blue’s best friend back in Brooklyn greeted me from the porch with her new partner in crime, Milo.  He looks like he could be here daughter, also a pit mix, he’s a soft tan brindle with the same sweet pale yellow eyes.  Bella and I had a long over due reunion and I believe she remembered me, it was sweet and made me feel good, and miss my puppy of course.  Mia and Bodie were babies when I saw them last and now they are full on people, little ones, yes, but each full of personality and things to say, and each so beautiful!   As with all good friends it was like no time had passed at all, even though so much has and there is very little in my life that’s the same as it was last we saw each other.  Jill and John seem happier than ever being out here, close to family and the beach and having enough space for being a family.  Mia is excited about the garden and the dogs have a huge back yard, I’m so happy for my friends to be living life so right! Their friend Kate came over to help Jill with things for her photo shoot the following day for Apartementtherapy.com and we all ended up hanging out.  She happens to be a massage therapist, was really into my adventure and wanted to help so she offered her craft and gave me a much needed short Thai massage, my trail angel for sure!  Maintaining these legs during all this work is quite a high task, they literally fell swollen, they are.  Kate did a bunch of foot message too which was amazing because I could feel the work she was doing there resonate through out all of my legs and back. I had a beer with John then hit the sack.  This morning there was a lot to do to get ready for the photo shoot of the house, Jill is and was an interior designer. They bought this house gutted, so it was designed and built inside from scratch,  It’s so amazing. After my yoga this morning I saw her sweeping the porch, knew she had better things to do so I grabbed  the broom and didn’t stop helping clean for a couple hours, the giant windows in the living room are spotless too, it was a meditation, and allowed me to procrastinate getting back on the bike.  I am glad that I did because I realized how much I needed rest and after speaking with John, who is the most advanced personal trainer and body guru that I know, decided to actually take a days rest.  Better now than when it’s too late.  Another friend, Jenny, that was here this morning helping connected me with Michelle in Orcutt, CA because my warmshowers.com host had to cancel on me last minute.  So had I not stayed and served I would have been riding north right now, going too hard on my legs with no place in mind to stay.  Instead, because of the wonderful people I keep seeing on my journey I have a safe plan, a new friend to meet that will host me for a night and an opportunity to give back to those I love when they were in need. Life sure does know how to work itself out!
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November 6 - Stark Tower
Pepper was waiting for Tony’s new employees when they arrived just after 6 the first night. Tony had asked her to show them around, give them some directions since the Avengers had been called out and nobody else would be there to do it. They wore jeans and t-shirts (Pepper made a mental note to get a few of the promotional Stark shirts for them until they could get their own shirts made up), and comfortable sneakers. The one with the nose ring was playing with her new badge, pulling it away from her and letting the retractor zip it back up. The other one was glaring at her, finally reaching out to stop the one’s hand from pulling it out for what must have been the umpteenth time.
“If you don’t stop that, Sunny, I swear to God!” Sunny at least had the decency to look sheepish.
“Ladies, good evening!” Pepper went forward to greet them. “You can hang your jackets and bags up in the closet to the left as you get off the elevator.” She showed them the closet and waited for them to get everything settled.
She let them have a look around the common area, it could be overwhelming, she knew. Tony never did anything on a small scale. “I’ve taken the chance to print up a list of duties and had a map printed for you to find your way around.”
The second woman’s eyes bugged a little. “Seriously? This place is THAT big?”
“Well it’s not a tiny apartment, that’s for sure,” Sunny muttered.
“It’s not so very huge as you might think, but when Tony says the towels by the pool need to be washed, or the theater needs to be cleaned, or please make sure to restock conference room 3, you need to be able to find them.”
Sunny squeaked a little. Pepper figured she must do it whenever she was excited. “There’s a pool? And a theater? Really?”
Pepper chuckled a bit. “Yes, really. There’s also a training room, bowling alley, library, mini-golf, lounge, and three conference rooms, as well as the kitchen and dining area you are standing in.”
“Pool? We don’t know the first thing about cleaning a pool.”
Pepper read her badge. “Not to worry, Tony has a robot to clean the pool. Kate, is it? Or do you prefer Miss Murphey?”
She shrugged. “Kate will do fine, but whatever you are comfortable with works for me.”
“Alright then, Kate it is. And Sunny, yes?” Sunny nodded. “OK then, you can call me Pepper when I am upstairs, but if you feel the need to come to my office, you should probably stick with Miss Potts. Shall we get started?”
The other two nodded. Sunny raised her hand, her eyes darting around. “Is Mr. Stark here?”
Pepper frowned just a bit. “No, he is out on business, he might not be back for a couple of days.” Sunny’s face showed a mixture of relief and disappointment. “Anyway, if you check your list, you will find that some basic duties are for every area. Floor, counters or tables, windows.”
Kate interrupted, “I can’t – don’t do outside windows. “
Sunny patted her arm. “I’ll do the windows, it’s fine. She has this thing about heights.”
Pepper nodded. “Just as long as any smudges are cleared, it will be fine. Now in the kitchen/dining area, in addition to the floors and table and counters, you will need to keep the appliances clean and in working order. Please make sure that there is coffee available at all times when residents are in the Tower. So just set up both coffeemakers before you leave. You will be responsible for making sure that the fridge and freezer are clean, and if one of the staples is running low, let JARVIS know so that he can order it.”
“Who is JARVIS?”
“JARVIS is Mr. Stark’s A.I. butler, of sorts. He can tell you anything you need to know about the place, from where someone is located in the building or how to get to any room. Basically, anything you need while you are here, JARVIS can get it for you.”
“Hey JARVIS,” Kate said, “have you seen my sanity? I seem to have misplaced it.”
She was shocked when JARVIS answered. “I’m sorry, miss, but I cannot seem to locate your sanity anywhere in this building. Are you sure you brought it with you?”
Sunny laughed, and Kate did as well after a minute. Pepper apologized, “I’m sorry, Mr. Stark is working on a humor component for JARVIS. I’m afraid it’s not quite ready yet.”
“I dunno,” the woman replied, still laughing, “I think maybe JARVIS has it right. I must have left it at home if I am working here. Anyway, as you were saying.”
“Uh, yes. Back this way we have conference rooms one through three, Tony sometimes has meetings up here, and he requires that they are stocked with water and other beverages, paper, pens, whatever he might need for a meeting. And down here,” she led them into a large room with a wraparound sofa, a couple of easy chairs, coffee table and end tables, a few lamps and a projection TV along one wall. “This is the lounge. Some of the guys are a little messy, they like to leave glasses and cups around, and some of them you can’t get to put the DVDs away when they are done.” She showed them where the DVD case was and how to open the hidden panel with a touch. “There’s no specific order for them right now, but I think eventually someone’s OCD might kick in and they might try rearranging them. So if you come in and there’s half the DVDs lying around in piles, just clean around them.”
Next she took them up to the 92nd floor. “This floor is mostly recreational. It’s divided roughly into thirds. In the center is the bowling and minigolf. To the right is the library, and to the left is the movie theater. Again, sometimes they get a little messy, especially in the theater. Cups, boxes, occasionally popcorn everywhere.”
“Wow,” Sunny interjected, “just like home.” Kate laughed.
The movie theater was regulation width, only 20 or so reclining seats though. As Pepper had warned, the theater looked like there had been some kind of popcorn fight. There were candies scattered around as well, Skittles and M&Ms mostly. The three of them just turned around and shut the door behind them.
Pepper continued the tour, showing them the bowling lanes (3) and minigolf course, complete with windmill and King Kong swiping at planes on a mini Empire State Building. But when she opened the door to the library, there was a collective gasp from the women behind her.
The library was floor to ceiling shelves on two walls. The far end was the window to the Manhattan horizon, also floor to ceiling. There were two tables, and a handful of comfortable chairs, a window seat, and a couple of built in reading nooks. “This is mostly like a regular library, heavy on the reference manuals. Tony has JARVIS, who is connected to the internet, but some of the others prefer actual books. It goes by Dewey Decimal system. Tony had an actual librarian come in and classify each book. They have those tabs on the spines telling you where they go. Mostly, though, you’ll just check in here and make sure there are no wayward drinks or food, empty the waste basket.”
Pepper waited a few moments while the new employees stared at all the books. Obviously they were readers, maybe Tony would let them come read some time. He was pretty good about that.
The final floor held the training area and pool. The training area had mats, free weights, heavy bag, a ring for sparring, and exercise equipment. Pepper explained that they would need to wipe down the equipment every other day. There were showers as well that should be cleaned daily, unless occupied. Linens from the training area and pool should be collected and laundered at least every other day. The pool was Olympic sized, with a roof that could retract in nice weather or close if it got too cold or otherwise inclement. Beyond the pool was a helipad, but they didn’t need to worry about that. Kate looked very relieved to hear that.
As they made their way back to the 91st floor, Pepper asked if they had any questions. “What do we do with the trash? Do we have to take it to the basement?”
“There’s actually a small room on each floor that has all your supplies and a dumbwaiter that takes all the trash down. We have someone who takes care of it down there. Anything else? Oh, one final thing. You might find…stashes of snacks around. Maybe freeze dried fruit, nuts, granola, that sort of thing. Anything like that you can leave where you find it. Mr. Stark tends to hide caches.”
“Just like a squirrel,” mumbled Kate.
They didn’t think they would have any problems, so Pepper left them to their work, instructing them to just ask JARVIS if they had any further questions. When the elevator doors closed, they were rolling up their sleeves, per se, and getting down to business.
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An Emmy For You. An Emmy For Me.
It’s a big night for me. As a lover of all things TV, I am riveted during the Emmy’s. We did, in fact, open a bottle of champagne and have hunkered down for an evening of self-congratulatory back slapping. Oh, famous people with fragile egos.
Let’s face it, Stephen Colbert is kicking ass. You know what, Stephen? Everything IS better on TV. That monologue slayed. But isn’t the clip from the debate about Donald not winning an Emmy really insane? How is that something that he cares about after three years WHEN YOU ARE RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES? I can’t. How much did they pay Sean Spicer to show up and do that bit? That’s good shit.
Onto the awards. We’ve not watched The Crown yet even though we officially have joined the 21st century and have Netflix. I’d like to watch it but Juan isn’t overly interested. It would be very talky, I agree with that. I would have preferred someone other than John Lithgow win just because the Emmy’s often go with tried and true. At least the show is new.
Kate McKinnon won last year. I would have preferred someone else who hasn’t won before. But Kate is funny AF. I guess the whole Hillary thing is likely why. It’s more of a statement than anything else.
Good for Laura Dern and Big Little Lies. That show was L-E-G-I-T. But her speech was meandering. Make a point, girl. You’ve been in the public eye your entire life. Though her dress was killer.
I like Donald Glover a lot. I sort of like Atlanta. But it’s not a comedy. It’s fine that he won for a directing an episode of the show because the show is good. But it’s not a comedy. A funny line or two does not a comedy make. I laugh in almost every episode of Ozark but that sure as shit is not a comedy.
I guess it’s fine to honor SNL as variety sketch winner. It was really good and we recorded nearly all the episodes this past season. Lorne Michaels is void of emotion, isn’t he?
We have not seen The Handmaid’s Tale. I am not sure I want to. It feels a little real, no? But the guy who did some writing won or some shit. I don’t know. The whole thing scares the shit out of me.
Of course Alec Baldwin won. The White House and the whole situation is comedy gold and Alec Baldwin is living proof.
Rachel Bloom is hilarious. We don’t watch Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. That bit about Ernst & Young was fun. Each award show tries to do something wacky with the accountants. This worked for me. So did RuPaul dressed up as “Emmy”. That was a solid idea. And RuPaul is basically mainstream at this point since she won an award for Host of a Reality Competition Show. Sashay, Ru. Sashay Shanté!
Should I know who Ann Dowd is? Because I don’t. I feel like I know most people but I do not know this person. The Handmaid’s Tale is apparently going to win all the awards.
I am truly thrilled for Big Little Lies. Great for Alexander Skaarsgard and Jean-Marc Vallée. Supporting Actor and Director of a Limited Series or Movie. I just really enjoyed that show and I loathed Alexander Skaarsgard’s character. Which is probably what you’re supposed to feel about that character because he’s an abusive mother fucking asshole.
Great for Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. I’m just glad something other than SNL won an award in the variety categories.
Good for The Voice. I like that show. The show can’t produce a legit recording star but whatevs. Adam Levine makes everything better.
It seems to be a trend. The directing award for drama goes to The Handmaid’s Tale. Ugh. Are we going to have to watch this show? If we watch it, does it make it NOT come true? Oooof. Elisabeth Moss needs to wear color. That pale dress washes her out. I guess she also goes by Lizzie. Because everyone has referred to her as Lizzie. But would it be Lizzie or Lissie? I just don’t know what you do when you spell Elisabeth that way.
I like this dude from Black Mirror who won for limited series or movie writing. I’ve heard Black Mirror is very fucked up. I don’t enjoy being scared. No sir. No way. No how.
Don Roy King is quite a name. And to be clear, Don Roy King and Don King ARE very much not the same person.
What is Priyanka Chopra wearing? Nope, nope, nope. I do not understand that dress. Good for John Oliver. Which then allows for Stephen Colbert and Kimmel to do a fun bit about not winning.
I’m fine with Donald Glover winning because he is 100% killing that purple tux. But I stand by my original statement. Atlanta is a very good show. It’s not a comedy. I would barely call it a dramedy.
Why is Debra Messing wearing a fruit roll up? I guess Julia Louis-Dreyfus can’t lose. We love Veep. It’s use of foul language is unmatched. Glad it won Best Comedy. Because it’s actually a comedy. In all honestly, all the nominees less Atlanta were actually comedies. Except that Modern Family needs to stop being nominated.
Who did Jessica Biel-Timberlake’s hair? I’m not feeling the side pony. Good for Riz Ahmed. I like him. Anyone affiliated with Stars Wars gets a callout and love from me. I have not seen The Night Of. Do I care? Please let me know if it’s worth my time. We watch a lot of TV. I want to invest in only what matters.
YAY! Good for Nicole Kidman. She really was excellent. Keith Urban looks more and more like kd lang with every passing day. Bless his country Australian heart. She gave an awesome speech and she wore something that isn’t crazy. Red is a good color on her.
This Black Mirror: San Junipero must be good as shit because it just beat OPRAH’s movie about someone named Heniretta Lacks. No one beats Oprah and lives to tell about it. That pithy British man who accepted the award isn’t going to work again.
I am fine with trotting out Cicely Tyson. She’s a national treasure. But someone needs to tell her that if her dress is eating her. Oh, lord, what is happening? Why can’t she read the teleprompter? Bless her. She’s nearly 93.
Reese Witherspoon is America’s sweetheart. She is also 14 feet shorter than Nicole Kidman. It’s not a shock that Big Little Lies won. It won every other award except writing which is odd because David E. Kelley is a big deal and I’m surprised he didn’t win but whatevs.
Finally. I’m so happy that This Is Us won something. Good for Sterling K. Brown. He is really lovely. “Better than that white family who raised Webster.” That’s funny shit.
I’m not surprised Elisabeth Moss won. Good for her. She never won for Mad Men and Peggy was about the ONLY character on that entire boring-ass show that wasn’t reprehensible. Thought we quit it several years before it ended. Fine. We’ll figure out a way to watch this stupid Handmaid’s Tale shit. She’s got a potty mouth because they are bleeping her as fuck. I like that.
Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere’s OPRAH! And you’re going to Australia. AND YOU’RE GOING TO AUSTRALIA! And you get a car. AND YOU GET A CAR! Wrap it up, Miss Winfrey. Just as long as The Handmaid’s Tale does not come true. We live in weird times. I am concerned every day. Every damn day. Margaret Atwood apparently wrote a very prescient book.
Now it’s time for the new TV season to start. Let’s get ready to rumble!
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11th July >> Fr. Martin’s Gospel Reflection on Matthew 19:27-29 for Feast of Saint Benedict, Abbot, Patron of Europe: ‘What are we to have, then?’ & Matthew 9:32-37 for Tuesday, Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time: ‘Ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest.’
Saint Benedict, Abbot, Patron of Europe Gospel (Europe, New Zealand, Australia, Canada & southern Africa) Matthew 19:27-29 Peter spoke to Jesus. ‘What about us?’ he said. ‘We have left everything and followed you. What are we to have, then?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I tell you solemnly, when all is made new and the Son of Man sits on his throne of glory, you will yourselves sit on twelve thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children or land for the sake of my name will be repaid a hundred times over, and also inherit eternal life.’ Gospel (USA) Matthew 19:27-29 You who have followed me will receive a hundred times more. Peter said to Jesus, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life.” Reflections (2) (i) St Benedict, Abbot, Patron of Europe Today’s gospel reading for the feast of Saint Benedict begins with a question from Peter, ‘What about us? We have left everything and followed you’. Peter and the other members of the twelve had given up a great deal to become followers of Jesus. They may have been wondering if it was really worth it all. We too have responded to the Lord’s call, although not in the same very radical way that those intimate associates of Jesus or men like Benedict answered the Lord’s call, leaving livelihood and family for a very uncertain future. Perhaps on our off days we might be tempted to ask a similar question to that of Peter; ‘Is it worth the effort, this following of Jesus, this struggle to live by the values of the gospel day in and day out’. The answer of Jesus to Peter and to us all is that, ‘yes, it is worth the effort’. Jesus promises us in that gospel reading that when we respond to his call, when we give of ourselves for his sake, we will receive far more than we will give. In particular, he says that we will gain a new experience of family, far beyond the confines of our blood family, the family of believers. We will find ourselves co-travellers with others who are trying to take the same path as ourselves; we will experience the richness of the church, the community of the Lord’s followers. That community who journey with us embraces not only those still on their pilgrim way, but all who have passed beyond this life, including the saints, like Saint Benedict, what the letter to the Hebrew calls that ‘great cloud of witnesses’. And/Or (ii) St Benedict, Abbot, Patron of Europe Benedict was born of a distinguished family and was educated in Rome. He abandoned his studies and his inheritance and he devoted himself to the quest for God. This initially took the form of a period of solitude in a cave at Subiaco just to the east of Rome. His solitude was interrupted by those who were drawn to his way of life and wanted to gather around him. Much against his will, he organized these followers into a group of monasteries and he himself took leadership of one of those monasteries, Monte Casino, which is now considered the birthplace of the Benedictine order. There he wrote his Monastic Rule which set a standard for the future Western Monastic tradition. His rule was marked by moderation, balance and humanity. Community was a key feature of his monastic vision and he stressed the value of community life as a school for holiness. He saw the community as a place of equality where each person was helped by everyone else along the path of holiness. The monk’s primary occupation was liturgical prayer, complemented by the reading of the Scriptures and manual work of various kinds. He was made patron of Europe in 1964. In the words of the gospel reading, Benedict left everything as a young man. Yet, in leaving everything he gained that new family which the gospel reading refers to. Indeed he gained a family of families, a great multitude of monastic families or communities, linked together by his spirit and his rule. He is a living example of that image of the grain of wheat which when planted in the ground dies but in dying bears much fruit. Whenever we give generously, we invariably receive more than we give. Our giving, our dying, creates a space for the Lord to work in a life-giving way in us and through us. ——————– Tuesday, Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Gospel (New Zealand, Australia, Canada & Southern Africa) Matthew 9:32-37 A man was brought to Jesus, a dumb demoniac. And when the devil was cast out, the dumb man spoke and the people were amazed. ‘Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel’ they said. But the Pharisees said, ‘It is through the prince of devils that he casts out devils.’ Jesus made a tour through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom and curing all kinds of diseases and sickness. And when he saw the crowds he felt sorry for them because they were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest.’ Gospel (USA) Matthew 9:32-38 The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few. A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus, and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke. The crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “He drives out demons by the prince of demons.” Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” Reflections (2) (i) Tuesday, Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time There is a sharp contrast in this morning’s gospel reading between the way the ordinary people responded to Jesus’ healing ministry and the way the Pharisees responded. The people said, ‘Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel’. The Pharisees said, ‘It is through the prince of devils that he casts out devils’. The people saw God at work in what Jesus was doing; the Pharisees saw Satan at work in Jesus’ healing work. It is hard to imagine a more contrasting set of responses. It brings home to us that when people look at the same phenomenon, they can see it very differently. The people, in contrast to the Pharisees, were attuned to the presence and action of God in Jesus. The gospel reading invites us to ask ourselves, ‘To what extent am I alert to the presence of God all around me, especially in the good that other people may be doing?’ We can be prone to seeing what is lacking in some situation and to miss the good that is also there. We can be better at naming what is wrong than what is right. We can be more attuned to noticing evil than good. While never being blind to evil, sin and failure, the gospel reading encourages us to be open to the ways that the Lord is at work in our lives and in the lives of others. The Lord himself was sensitive to the good in others, even when they failed to see it for themselves, and others failed to see it. We need something of the Lord’s generous way of seeing, especially in these times when the negative can be highlighted to the detriment of everything else. And/Or (ii) Tuesday, Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time There is a very striking contrast in this morning’s gospel reading between the way the people respond to the healing ministry of Jesus and the way the religious leaders respond. The people were amazed and said, ‘Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel’. The religious leaders said, ‘It is through the prince of devils that he casts out devils’. Both saw Jesus perform the same deeds, and, yet, both interpreted what they saw in very different ways. One group saw the presence of God and the other group saw the presence of evil. One group was open to the truth of who Jesus really was; the other group were blinded by their prejudice. These were two very different ways of seeing. The people’s way of seeing Jesus was like Jesus’ way of seeing people. He saw the goodness in people just as the people saw the presence of God in Jesus. The gospel reading calls on us to be alert to the signs of goodness in others, to the signs of God’s presence all around us, especially in those who cross our path in life. We need the generous vision of the people, and especially of Jesus, rather than the jaundiced vision of the religious leaders, if we are to see the many ways that the Lord is present and active among us. Fr. Martin Hogan, Saint John the Baptist Parish, Clontarf, Dublin, D03 AO62, Ireland. Parish Website: www.stjohnsclontarf.ieJoinus via our webcam. Twitter: @SJtBClontarfRC. Facebook: St John the Baptist RC Parish, Clontarf. Tumblr: Saint John the Baptist Parish, Clontarf, Dublin
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seekfirstme · 3 years
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The following reflection is courtesy of Don Schwager © 2021. Don's website is located at Dailyscripture.net
Meditation: Do you know the healing power of the cross of Jesus Christ? When the people of Israel were afflicted with serpents in the wilderness because of their sin, God instructed Moses: "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and every one who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live" (Numbers 21:8). The visible sign of the "fiery bronze serpent" being lifted up in the sight of the people reminded them of two important facts - sin leads to death and repentance leads to God's mercy and healing. The lifting up of the bronze serpent on a wooden pole points to Jesus Christ being lifted up on the wooden cross at Calvary where he took our sins upon himself to make atonement to the Father on our behalf. The cross of Christ broke the curse of sin and death and won pardon, healing, and everlasting life for all who believe in Jesus, the Son of God and Savior of the world.
Either for him or against him
While many believed in Jesus and his message, many others, including the religious leaders, opposed him. Some openly mocked him when he warned them about their sin of unbelief. It's impossible to be indifferent to Jesus' word and his judgments. We are either for him or against him. There is no middle ground and no neutral parties.
When Jesus spoke about "going away" he was referring to his return in glory to his Father in heaven. Jesus warned his opponents that if they continued to disobey God's word and to reject him as Lord and Savior, they would shut themselves off from God and die in their sins. Jesus' words echoed the prophetic warning given to Ezekiel that people would die in their sins if they did not turn to God and ask for his mercy and pardon (see Ezekiel 3:18 and 18:18). In every age God warns his people to heed his word before the time is too late to seek his mercy and forgiveness. God gives us time to turn to him and to receive his mercy and pardon, but that time is right now.
To sin literally means to miss the mark or to be off target. The essence of sin is that it diverts us from God and from our true purpose in life - to know the source of all truth and beauty which is God himself and to be united with God in everlasting joy. When Adam and Eve yielded to their sin of disobedience, they literally tried to hide themselves from God's presence (Genesis 3:8-10). That is what sin does - it separates us from the One who is not only "all-seeing" and "ever present" to us, but who is also "all loving" and "merciful" and eager to receive us with open arms of mercy, healing, and forgiveness. When God calls you to turn your gaze and attention towards him, do you try to hide yourself from his presence with other distractions and excuses that keep you from seeking him and listening to his voice?
The proof of God's love for us
Jesus went on to explain to people that if they could not recognize his voice when they heard his word, they would have the opportunity to recognize him when he is "lifted up" on the cross. Jesus pointed to the atoning sacrifice of his life on the cross as the true source of healing and victory over sin and reconciliation with God. The sacrifice of Jesus' life on the cross is the ultimate proof of God's love for us.
God so loved the world that he gave us his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).
To fail to recognize who Jesus is and where he came from is to remain in darkness - the darkness of sin, ignorance, and unbelief. But if we look to Jesus and listen to his word of life and truth, then we will find the way to lasting peace and joy with God. The Lord Jesus invites each one of us to accept him as the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Our time here in this present world is very limited and short, but how we live it today has consequences not only for the present moment but for our eternal destiny as well. Which direction is your life headed in right now?
"Lord Jesus, you came to set us free from sin, doubt, fear, and ignorance. Your word brings life, truth, and healing to mind, heart, soul, and body. Let your healing love free me from the blindness of sin and disbelief and from the destructive force of evil and wrongdoing. May I always find peace, joy, and strength in knowing your merciful love, truth, and goddness."
The following reflection is from One Bread, One Body courtesy of Presentation Ministries © 2021.
ABOUT TIME
“With their patience worn out by the journey...” —Numbers 21:4
We human beings live in the domain of time. God, Who is eternal, is outside of time. So obviously we don’t view time as God does (see 2 Pt 3:8).
Jesus is the Redeemer of all things, and so is the Redeemer of time. We know that our Redeemer lives (Jb 19:25, RSV-CE), and is actively making time serve His purposes. If all time is under the lordship of Jesus, its Redeemer, and we are also under His lordship, then it logically follows that there is no need for us to be impatient. Logically, we know that “there is an appointed time for everything” (Eccl 3:1) and that Jesus, the Redeemer of time, “has made everything appropriate to its time” (Eccl 3:11).
Since time always serves God, the problems with timing arise when we are struggling to accept Jesus’ lordship over us. We grow impatient, complain (Nm 21:5), and get frustrated when things happen too fast or too slow for our liking. At the root of this impatience lies a battle over control of time between us and God, the Lord of time. Thus, impatience can be a seed of discontent, which leads to outright rebellion against God (Nm 21:5).
God’s antidote for impatience is for us to beg the Lord for an increase of love, which is patient (1 Cor 13:4), and of docility to the Holy Spirit, for patience is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22). Another way to grow in patience is to gaze regularly on the crucified Jesus (see Jn 3:14; Nm 21:9). Grow in patience. Trust the Lord, the God of time (see Ps 62:9).
Prayer:  “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall be ever in my mouth” (Ps 34:2).
Promise:  “You will surely die in your sins unless you come to believe that I AM.” —Jn 8:24
Praise:  St. Toribio was born in Spain and practiced law. His keen intellect drew the attention of Church leaders. He was ordained a priest and bishop, and assigned to Lima, Peru, as archbishop.
Reference:  (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
Rescript:  "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for One Bread, One Body covering the period from February 1, 2021 through March 31, 2021. Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio March 31, 2020"
The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements
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11th July >> Fr. Martin's Gospel Reflection on 
Matthew 19:27-29 
for 
Feast of Saint Benedict, Abbot, Patron of Europe: ‘What are we to have, then?’
Matthew 9:32-37 
for 
Tuesday, Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time: ‘Ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest.’
Saint Benedict, Abbot, Patron of Europe
Gospel (Europe, New Zealand, Australia, Canada & southern Africa)
Matthew 19:27-29
Peter spoke to Jesus. ‘What about us?’ he said. ‘We have left everything and followed you. What are we to have, then?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I tell you solemnly, when all is made new and the Son of Man sits on his throne of glory, you will yourselves sit on twelve thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children or land for the sake of my name will be repaid a hundred times over, and also inherit eternal life.’
Gospel (USA)
Matthew 19:27-29
You who have followed me will receive a hundred times more.
Peter said to Jesus, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life.”
Reflections (2)
(i) St Benedict, Abbot, Patron of Europe              
Today’s gospel reading for the feast of Saint Benedict begins with a question from Peter, ‘What about us? We have left everything and followed you’. Peter and the other members of the twelve had given up a great deal to become followers of Jesus. They may have been wondering if it was really worth it all. We too have responded to the Lord’s call, although not in the same very radical way that those intimate associates of Jesus or men like Benedict answered the Lord’s call, leaving livelihood and family for a very uncertain future. Perhaps on our off days we might be tempted to ask a similar question to that of Peter; ‘Is it worth the effort, this following of Jesus, this struggle to live by the values of the gospel day in and day out’. The answer of Jesus to Peter and to us all is that, ‘yes, it is worth the effort’. Jesus promises us in that gospel reading that when we respond to his call, when we give of ourselves for his sake, we will receive far more than we will give. In particular, he says that we will gain a new experience of family, far beyond the confines of our blood family, the family of believers. We will find ourselves co-travellers with others who are trying to take the same path as ourselves; we will experience the richness of the church, the community of the Lord’s followers. That community who journey with us embraces not only those still on their pilgrim way, but all who have passed beyond this life, including the saints, like Saint Benedict, what the letter to the Hebrew calls that ‘great cloud of witnesses’.
And/Or
(ii) St Benedict, Abbot, Patron of Europe
Benedict was born of a distinguished family and was educated in Rome. He abandoned his studies and his inheritance and he devoted himself to the quest for God. This initially took the form of a period of solitude in a cave at Subiaco just to the east of Rome. His solitude was interrupted by those who were drawn to his way of life and wanted to gather around him. Much against his will, he organized these followers into a group of monasteries and he himself took leadership of one of those monasteries, Monte Casino, which is now considered the birthplace of the Benedictine order. There he wrote his Monastic Rule which set a standard for the future Western Monastic tradition. His rule was marked by moderation, balance and humanity. Community was a key feature of his monastic vision and he stressed the value of community life as a school for holiness. He saw the community as a place of equality where each person was helped by everyone else along the path of holiness. The monk’s primary occupation was liturgical prayer, complemented by the reading of the Scriptures and manual work of various kinds. He was made patron of Europe in 1964. In the words of the gospel reading, Benedict left everything as a young man. Yet, in leaving everything he gained that new family which the gospel reading refers to. Indeed he gained a family of families, a great multitude of monastic families or communities, linked together by his spirit and his rule. He is a living example of that image of the grain of wheat which when planted in the ground dies but in dying bears much fruit. Whenever we give generously, we invariably receive more than we give. Our giving, our dying, creates a space for the Lord to work in a life-giving way in us and through us.
--------------------
Tuesday, Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Gospel (New Zealand, Australia, Canada & Southern Africa)
Matthew 9:32-37
A man was brought to Jesus, a dumb demoniac. And when the devil was cast out, the dumb man spoke and the people were amazed. ‘Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel’ they said. But the Pharisees said, ‘It is through the prince of devils that he casts out devils.’
   Jesus made a tour through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom and curing all kinds of diseases and sickness.
   And when he saw the crowds he felt sorry for them because they were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest.’
Gospel (USA)
Matthew 9:32-38
The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few.
A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus, and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke. The crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “He drives out demons by the prince of demons.”
   Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”
Reflections (2)
(i) Tuesday, Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
There is a sharp contrast in this morning’s gospel reading between the way the ordinary people responded to Jesus’ healing ministry and the way the Pharisees responded. The people said, ‘Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel’. The Pharisees said, ‘It is through the prince of devils that he casts out devils’. The people saw God at work in what Jesus was doing; the Pharisees saw Satan at work in Jesus’ healing work. It is hard to imagine a more contrasting set of responses. It brings home to us that when people look at the same phenomenon, they can see it very differently. The people, in contrast to the Pharisees, were attuned to the presence and action of God in Jesus. The gospel reading invites us to ask ourselves, ‘To what extent am I alert to the presence of God all around me, especially in the good that other people may be doing?’ We can be prone to seeing what is lacking in some situation and to miss the good that is also there. We can be better at naming what is wrong than what is right. We can be more attuned to noticing evil than good. While never being blind to evil, sin and failure, the gospel reading encourages us to be open to the ways that the Lord is at work in our lives and in the lives of others. The Lord himself was sensitive to the good in others, even when they failed to see it for themselves, and others failed to see it. We need something of the Lord’s generous way of seeing, especially in these times when the negative can be highlighted to the detriment of everything else.
And/Or
(ii) Tuesday, Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
There is a very striking contrast in this morning’s gospel reading between the way the people respond to the healing ministry of Jesus and the way the religious leaders respond. The people were amazed and said, ‘Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel’. The religious leaders said, ‘It is through the prince of devils that he casts out devils’. Both saw Jesus perform the same deeds, and, yet, both interpreted what they saw in very different ways. One group saw the presence of God and the other group saw the presence of evil. One group was open to the truth of who Jesus really was; the other group were blinded by their prejudice. These were two very different ways of seeing. The people’s way of seeing Jesus was like Jesus’ way of seeing people. He saw the goodness in people just as the people saw the presence of God in Jesus. The gospel reading calls on us to be alert to the signs of goodness in others, to the signs of God’s presence all around us, especially in those who cross our path in life. We need the generous vision of the people, and especially of Jesus, rather than the jaundiced vision of the religious leaders, if we are to see the many ways that the Lord is present and active among us.
Fr. Martin Hogan, Saint John the Baptist Parish, Clontarf, Dublin, D03 AO62, Ireland.
Parish Website: www.stjohnsclontarf.ieJoinus via our webcam.
Twitter: @SJtBClontarfRC.
Facebook: St John the Baptist RC Parish, Clontarf.
Tumblr: Saint John the Baptist Parish, Clontarf, Dublin
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