#WTF is darn a sock

[alacritysparked]

[ x ]

“What do you mean ‘darn’ is a verb?”

[jordannnnnnnn]

If you're not darning your socks wtf else are you doing?!!

[stevishabitat]

OK I should probably stay away from Pinterest. But wtf...

People really buy clothes every year... People who have reached their full adult size buy clothes annually???

Is THAT what fast fashion means???

Here I've been feeling guilty if I have to replace Walmart leggings and tank tops before they hit the five year mark. I mend and patch to try to get a bit more time out of them.

My medications can cause weight fluctuations so sometimes I need to add a few things in a size up or down. And sometimes I just want a new shirt from my favorite soccer teams.

But I would definitely not consider it noteworthy to go one or two years without buying anything for myself (my growing kiddo is another story of course!)

I mean, I'm still wearing socks from the fandom that must not be named, even though I gave that shit up years ago. But the socks fit well and I've darned them a few times to keep them from getting too thin and they're no-show so no one knows what they are.

[joandfriedrich]

I don't think that Jo is demisexual. Her reaction to meeting Fritz is "Hnnngh; I liiiike. No wait. He's not remotely conventionally attractive. WTF me."

This ask is honestly bewildering to me. If you don’t think she is demisexual, then what do you think she is?

The way you worded it make it seems like Jo is only interested in conventionally attractive people, and I am not sure what makes you think that, especially since she is described, even by her own words, that she is not conventionally attractive either, and we know she isn’t vain in that way. If this was the case, how come she didn't see Laurie like that when he was described as being conventionally attractive? It’s again that weird idea that only conventionally attractive people can only be desirable, and if you find someone sexy that isn’t attractive then there is something wrong with you.

For those who do not know, demisexuality is when a person does not feel sexual desire for a person unless they have developed an emotional connection to the other person, and only after that connection is made will they feel a sexual desire for that person. Looks do not play a part in the demisexual’s feelings of desire, so the “He's not remotely conventionally attractive. WTF me” doesn’t work because she never desired anyone before him.

The first time she ever sees the professor, though it was not their official meeting, it was him doing something that immediately touched her and made her like him.

“As I went downstairs soon after, I saw something I liked. The flights are very long in this tall house, and as I stood waiting at the head of the third one for a little servant girl to lumber up, I saw a gentleman come along behind her, take the heavy hod of coal out of her hand, carry it all the way up, put it down at a door near by, and walk away, saying, with a kind nod and a foreign accent, ‘It goes better so. The little back is too young to haf such heaviness.’

Wasn’t it good of him? I like such things, for as Father says, trifles show character.”

After that, she begins to learn more about him before properly meeting him, and finds that he is a good man despite his unconventional looks. Just as it is said in the novel, she questioned why people liked him, not he’s unattractive and therefore can’t be liked.

“Why everybody liked him was what puzzled Jo, at first. He was neither rich nor great, young nor handsome, in no respect what is called fascinating, imposing, or brilliant, yet he was as attractive as a genial fire, and people seemed to gather about him as naturally as about a warm hearth. He was poor, yet always appeared to be giving something away; a stranger, yet everyone was his friend; no longer young, but as happy-hearted as a boy; plain and peculiar, yet his face was beautiful to many, and his oddities were freely forgiven for his sake. Jo often watched him, trying to discover the charm, and at last decided that it was benevolence which worked the miracle.”

“ ‘That’s it!” said Jo to herself, when she at length discovered that genuine good will toward one’s fellow men could beautify and dignify even a stout German teacher, who shoveled in his dinner, darned his own socks, and was burdened with the name of Bhaer.”

Does this sound like Jo is thinking to herself “WTF me?” No, it’s her understanding why everyone else likes him, and through what she observed of him. Also, here is the passage in which she writes to home about her first time of seeing him, and this is one of quite a few moments in which Jo is checking out the professor.

“I was thanking my stars that I’d learned to make nice buttonholes, when the parlor door opened and shut, and someone began to hum, Kennst Du Das Land, like a big bumblebee. It was dreadfully improper, I know, but I couldn’t resist the temptation, and lifting one end of the curtain before the glass door, I peeped in. Professor Bhaer was there, and while he arranged his books, I took a good look at him. A regular German—rather stout, with brown hair tumbled all over his head, a bushy beard, good nose, the kindest eyes I ever saw, and a splendid big voice that does one’s ears good, after our sharp or slipshod American gabble. His clothes were rusty, his hands were large, and he hadn’t a really handsome feature in his face, except his beautiful teeth, yet I liked him, for he had a fine head, his linen was very nice, and he looked like a gentleman, though two buttons were off his coat and there was a patch on one shoe.”

“...she coolly turned round and studied him—a proceeding which would have much surprised him, had he known it, for the worthy Professor was very humble in his own conceit.”

Jo was totally checking him out, and not at all thinking “Ugh, he’s not attractive, why do I like him?” She ends her letter with “On reading over my letter, it strikes me as rather Bhaery, but I am always interested in odd people...”

So, yes, I maintain Jo is demisexual, and she very clearly is into the professor, even if she doesn’t quite know it or even willing to admit it until much later. He may not be attractive in the same way that Laurie is, but that doesn’t stop him from being perhaps the most attractive male in the book, as his good heart and gentle ways enthrall not only the other characters, but to many readers everywhere.

[safespacespence]

SOCKS !!! FOR CHRISTMAS !!! HAPPY REID !!!

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS: 1 DAY LEFT

[summary] it’s your first christmas together and you struggle to find the perfect christmas gift for spencer. [pairing] spencer reid x gn!reader [warnings] none, i mention leisurely drinking briefly [category] fluff [word count] 1.5k [a/n] i havent watched me before you, but i know there’s that sock gift scene so i thought of that. also, spencer’s christmas gift to y/n is the cutest fucking thing if anyone ever got me id ask them to marry me. thank you. this was also the first one that i wrote, and saved it for last heh. reblogs are appreciated!!

“i’m really excited, i can’t wait to see your reaction.” spencer chuckled.

“and i hope you like mine.” you lied.

spencer gave you a cheeky grin and kissed you on the forehead. as he disappeared into the living room, the panic you hid started to settle in. gift-giving wasn’t your strong suit at all, and seeing spencer so excited for the exchange only made you feel worse about the fact at hand--you had absolutely no clue what to get him. sure, you knew him well, you knew his quirks and little joys in life, but he seemed so absolutely content with life that you had no idea what he could possibly want for christmas. you had less than a week left to find something for him, something that could possibly equal what he had gotten you. so, so, easy.

spencer and the team left on sunday for a (hopefully) quick consultation in los angeles, and you decided that you would properly use the week to find a gift for him.

on monday, you went to a bath store. maybe, somehow, a little bath set would be nice? you knew how much you both loved to take long, quiet baths together to help him unwind after a bad case. but like, baths? wtf are you thinking. you walked out of the store with a candle, a pity purchase after spending an hour pestering the staff with questions on soothing scents and the products they carry.

spencer called you up that night to talk about the team’s jet discussion on dumbledore being a villain in harry potter. harry potter was your favorite, and he read all the books in a day to learn about it because of how much he loved you. darn spencer reid and his ability to show his love language.

on tuesday, you drove to a specialty coffee shop to maybe, somehow, get a custom coffee blend for him. it was one of those pretentious, overpriced, so-called ‘artisanal’ coffee shops. does he even like coffee that much, though? you’re his girlfriend. literally anyone could buy him coffee. exasperated, you debated calling up penelope for help. but that would be the easy way out, and you wanted to give him a gift that was fully your making. spencer didn’t call that night, but he texted that he’d be back on thursday. okay, you have one more day to do find the perfect gift. you spent the night awake, listing things you knew about spencer and how you could translate them into a gift.

at 4:23am, you finally figured it out.

on wednesday, you got up groggily and drove around town to gather what you needed for the gift. it took up your whole day, but after four youtube videos, an accidental nap, and an unhealthy amount of coffee, your gift was finally finished. you packed it away and kept it where he wouldn’t look (your shoe cabinet) and immediately crashed on the couch.

“afternoon nap, huh?” you heard spencer’s voice break the silence of the apartment.

your eyes adjusted to the light and you felt his fingers brush the hair out of your face.

“hi.” he said, seeing that you weren’t as disoriented.

“what time is it?” you asked, slowly sitting up.

“two-thirty pm.” he said softly.

what he said just registered, and you jolted up. “i’ve been asleep for ELEVEN HOURS?”

his eyes widened. “yOU’VE BEEN ASLEEP FOR ELEVEN HOURS?”

you made up an excuse that you were up watching tv and fell asleep, and quickly went to start a bath for the two of you before he could question you any further. you’re not giving him any clues that you crammed his christmas gift.

the two of you spent the day catching up and settling back into your routine, preparing your joint gift for each team member, and buying a cake to bring to rossi’s bau christmas eve celebration.

you greeted each member of the team with a warm hug, with a lingering one saved for penelope.

“oh you look amazing!” pen giggled.

you couldn’t help but smile. “thank you, pen.”

penelope made a face that you easily read as ‘please tell me what you got reid for christmas’.

“i’m not telling you what i got him, you know that.”

“oh darn you!” she huffed. “you’re no fun.”

you laughed and sipped your wine.

you felt spencer’s hand wrap around your waist. “what are we laughing about, here?”

“oh, nothing, nothing.” you responded.

the late afternoon was of flowing wine, endless laughter, and teasing. at nine-thirty pm, everyone started going home slowly to spend the hour countdowns with their families. will and jj left first with their kids, knowing that they’d be asking to open their stockings. hotch too, having to make sure jack got to open his gifts from everyone in the comfort of his own home. derek and penelope left together, derek having to drive a very tipsy penelope. emily left about the same time, too, to partake in her own christmas traditions (most likely with sergio). you and spencer left last, with a ton of leftovers that rossi forced you into taking home.

when you got back into the apartment, spencer immediately got to making hot chocolate and grabbed a sweater each for you and him. you smiled and got cozy, melting into his warm embrace.

“we’re exchanging at exactly twelve, right?” he asked, all giddy.

“yeah, that sounds good.” you nodded.

“five, four, three, two, one!” you cheered.

“merry christmas, my love.” spencer said, coming in for a kiss.

you softened when his lips made contact with yours, and felt your cheeks warm. you could feel his smile forming against your lips, and you slowly pulled back to find an overjoyed spencer reid. in all of his complexity, you couldn’t help but admire the way his face looked when he was genuinely so happy. god, you really love him.

“me first! i can’t wait.” spencer stood up and went into the coat closet to fish out a box or chest. he was dragging it across the living room to get close to where you sat. you were confused, trying to figure out what this could possibly be. probably not a dog, we said we wouldn’t get a dog.

“go, go, open it!” he was elated.

you tore through the wrapping he so-clearly-had-done-himself, as he sat beside you, almost on the edge of his seat, waiting for you to open it. when you finally got to opening the actual box, your eyes were filled with parchment covered books. you picked one up to examine them closely. it was definitely a book, but it was wrapped in brown parchment, so you couldn’t see the title. what you could see, however, was permanent marker in spencer’s handwriting, ‘OPEN WHEN YOU WANT AN ESCAPE’. you processed what it was and a smile involuntarily formed on your face.

he started rambling to explain. “it’s a collection of open when books! if you’re feeling sad, or-or you miss me, or you want to learn about music, there’s a book for it! and there are corresponding annotations inside! so-so if you’re sad there’s a happy book and i put comments to make you happy so that you can be happy when you’re sad because i wouldn’t want you to be sad and--”

you slam your lips onto his. “i love it, spence. this must have taken forever, i-i’m at a loss of words.” you kissed him again. “thank you. so much.”

you hugged him tightly.

“your turn, your turn!!” he said.

“okay, okay.” you stood to grab a little bag kept inside your shoe cabinet and sat next to him as he opened it.

you were suddenly nervous again, worried that maybe your gift would be too simple.

he pulled them out, ten pieces of socks in a flurry of colors and textures. he went silent. he only stared at them, ten different socks in crazy colors and patterns, some with lines of fluffier cloth, some with small quirks sticking out.

“spence--?”

and a split-second later, you were in his arms in the tightest hug he’d ever given you.

“I LOVE THEM! THEY’RE SO DIFFERENT AND NONE OF THEM MATCH AND THEY’LL KEEP ME OCCUPIED AND THEY’RE PERFECT!”

you relaxed and gave a belly laugh. “they’re from different cloths, so there’s different textures. and this one has beads on the hem, they spell S.R., you see? and this one has a little trinket, it’s a book! i found it at this little bead shop. oh, and this one is kind of a glitter cloth, so it’s texturally different too and you can mix and match, because i know you don’t like matching, so--”

“is that what i sound like when i ramble?” he smiled at you.

you blushed. “um--y-yeah possibly.”

“this is the most thoughtful gift anyone could have ever gotten me. you don’t know how much this’ll keep me occupied when i get all fidgety. it’s perfect. you-you’re perfect.”

he brought you in closer.

“merry christmas, spencer.” you said against his cheek.

“merry christmas, my love.”

read the rest of the series: athena's twelve gifts of christmas

read more of my work read my favorite works send me prompts or requests navigation

join my taglist @sinnxagain @literaila @sheslostinbooks @reidsmilf @pretty-boys-book-club @writer-in-theory @simonsnowsblog @foxy-eva @reidsbookclub @spencerreidat3am @shooting-a-star-at-the-moon @belongwithreid @alexontheinternet @writingquillsandpainpills @lil-stark @fightingdragonswithreid @hoshihiime @samuel-de-champagne-problems

[oldguy56-world]

A Man For All Seasons

Canadians are famous for four distinct things:

We are polite. (That myth can be dispelled any day of the week by driving down the 401 in Toronto)

We love Tim Horton's. This one is indisputable. Look at the line up at the drive through any time any day. The only problem here is when the person in the car in front of you acts like they have never been there before and take forever to decide what they want. When this happens witnesses will also state they have proof we are not always polite based on the drivers' reactions in every car in line.

We love hockey. So much so that evolution has created a scenario where all of our babies are born with no teeth! (this is true). The reason is that people, especially women, fall in love with babies so they are willing to overlook the fact they have no teeth. This comes in handy when years later all the male adults in the country are missing teeth but women still fall in love with us. (yes I have had a tooth knocked out in a hockey game. Honest. Others may lie about where their tooth left their head but I would never.) This cycle was necessary to perpetuate our way of life.

We hate the weather. Doesn't matter what time of year it is we hate what is happening outside.

It is point #4 that I will be concentrating on. If you didn't guess that by the title, well, I hope I am never behind you in a lineup at Timmy's.

We are a country that experiences all four seasons in a year (sometimes in a day) and we should be thankful for this. For some reason we are not. Some people live for the moment. Canadians live for the moment we are not currently in. Let's look at the seasons individually.

Winter: (might as well start with the one we are most famous for). We want a nice snow fall for Christmas but it doesn't happen. When we get that snowfall in January, we curse it. Who out there likes February? I thought not. Thank goodness it is only 28 days except for the stupid year when it is 29. We pray for warmer weather. You can go south but you still have to come back. Sometimes that is worse.

Spring: This one comes too soon for the crops, or comes to late for the flowers to bloom. Do you wear a coat or shorts when you go for a walk. (If you are in Calgary you wear a coat and shorts, along with sandals with socks. The ultimate WTF fashion statement.) Every thing is too muddy, except for that one year when you were young and everything was perfect. It rains too much or not enough for things to grow. If the gardens grow, so does the grass and you have to cut it. You wish it was the fall. Always nicer in the fall.

Summer: Rent a cottage to get away. You get there and it rains for the first time all year so you have to sit inside and talk to your family, the very thing you were trying to avoid by going there in the first place. You look at the weather app on your phone and see that your home city is having wonderful weather that will last until you start to head back to it. Bugs everywhere you go. Stores run out of slushies because everyone wants them. Power grid goes down in your neighborhood because everyone has their AC at full blast. Now no one has it. We pray for cooler weather because it is too darn hot and sticky.

Fall: Kids hate it because they have to go back to school. Adults hate it because of how much it costs to have your kids go back to school. There is a day, usually the second week of September, when it looks like warm weather is coming back. This should be National False Hope Day. When I go for a walk with my wife I have to tie our wrists together so she doesn't blow away. It took me too long to find her the first time. Not letting her go now. You wish it were the spring because it is always better in the spring.

Remember when you were young and the weather always seemed so much better? Was it really or were we just stupid? Try to remember a perfect weather day from the past. Now try to remember a major storm day from the past. Which one came easier to your mind?

I'm just saying.

THOUGHT OF THE WEEK: Whether the weather can be weathered depends on whether we choose to weather it or not.

[blackirisposts]

I just watched Space Sweepers and GOOD LORDS I am not okay. That was wonderful and had so much more heart that I ever thought omg.

Below the cut is me live blogging this shit. And by shit I mean all the feels and slakjdflkasjdlfadkjgmawefhdkshinbal. I'll be okay eventually. That was glorious but when I tell you I Cried-I was Not Prepared.

- Oh no, is it his child? His sister? Yall throwing the trauma and we’ve JUST started

- My dude, I know you have bigger problems, but your socks. Plz fix them, or let me show you how to darn them -I say as I hem a garment while watching this movie-

- Omg your socks

- ALL THE LANGUAGES, I both love this and its hurting my head, but I mostly just FREAKING LOVE IT

- Oh all the swearing xD

- How did they make that little chase scene so freaking cool?

- Ha. Bubble gum. Nice.

- OMG YOUR SOCKS BBY BOI YOUR SOCKS

- I love the robot, Bubs?

- Dude has had his ass handed to him, bro are you okay?

- This kid is freaking adorable

- *gets left by crew and chased by child* omg *looses rock paper scissors* OMG XD

- This fool is adorable and I cant deal with it.

- HARIBO FTW! *immediately wants gummies* damnit.

- HOW IS SHE HEALING THE PLANT!?!?!

- ‘you cant be scared’ okay mr. jumps at everything

- Is captain, can fly, knows smartphone and tech stuff, claims no tech knowledge… what are you hiding from my guy?

- The voice modulator O.O

- Why wouldn’t you give him a high five?

- Panic drinks soda. Same.

- Omg theyre bonding over art, and im in love. This kid is going to steal everyones heart, huh?

- The police? The not police?

- I love Captain Jang, shes freaking awesome.

- Someone give this dude like 5 minutes to cry and calm down, bro is on panic mode 24/7

- Never mind, im on panic mode.

- Its 40minutes in and im kinda attached to these idiots already. How?

- The double mask / aviators combo is cracking me up, but like also, is a look. Pandemic brain approves

- The baby saved the babies!

- Uh whats with killer droids with the human face?

- Oh these idiots are found family-ing and im like *freaking heart eyes*

- Pierre is an idiot and I love him.

- Them selling tomatoes omg its adorable.

- Ffs, theyre child soldiers

- Kim Tae-ho’s back story? RIP MY HEART OUT WHY DON’T YOU IT WOULD HURT LESS. Imma die with all this traumatic backstory shit, my heart cant take it… no wonder Song took this role. Omg.

- Yeah, thanks I didn’t need whats left of my heart, thanks. Like I could FEEL THIS DUDES TRAUMA AT THE BEGINNING BUT GODDAMN. The bracelet tracker thingy. I just. My freaking heart. Cant. Take. This.

- Tiger’s sewing, yet Tae-ho is just holes-in-socks-rampaging through the pain.

- Never mind, Tiger’s rampaging.

- Richard, we get it, youre the bad guy, day-um.

- omg the tension.

- So theyre gonna die with an hour left, you cant fool me. Idk how this;ll get better, but also fuck.

- Kot-nim gonna fix the whole ship isn’t she?!

- Omg wtf

- Wow so theyre all just straight up amazing? Im more in love

- Twist of fate? Dude, no, I hope they find you and end you you creep

- Ahhhh, the sweet moments, its K I L L I N G ME

- Folks my infertile ass is having a really hard time with this movie and these very sweet moments

- Song as the grieving but protective dad type is too much for me, okay? Okay.

- Can he go back to the physical slap stick humor plz

- Okay thank you for the mini water fight

- Oh I don’t trust it. We have trust issues folks. Brace yourselves!

- Annnnd break my heart again with the reunion

- Tae-ho, my heart

- Omg, I knew it. But some how this feels worse?

- Yes, yes, its worse. Tae-ho and I are retraumatized, thanks

- He’s going to adopt Kot-nim. Right? At the end of this. Right? After they kill James the bad-y, right?!?!?! RIGHT!?!

- HOW IS THERE 40 minutes LEFT

- I’ve never hated Richard so freaking much omg

- Kill him. Kill him. Kill him.

- He’s closer now, stab him! Get him! (the father-figure-loki that sits on my shoulder agrees with me!)

- That was a brutal 3 minutes, thanks film

- Why am I Abso-fucking-lutely not surprised that he has a giant projection of himself over the space city?

- Oh my heart. At least they don’t blame him for still trying to find his daughter.

- I don’t have a heart any more, theres just a fucking crater now

- Song’s crying. IM CRYING. MOVIE. STAWP

- I love Bubs with all my heart.

- Tae-ho. Tae-ho! TAE-HO BUDDY

- Is this were Luke lost his hand?

- Tae-ho and Kot-nim finally high five, thank you

- Tae-ho to save the day with his flying, immediately gets knocked out. Ya know. You can let him have a moment, please.

- What is going on? How is this chick super powered?

- Tiger? *flails*

- Is he gonna do what I think…yes. Yes he is.

- OMG HE DID IT. AND BUBS GETS A HAND OMG

- “Captain Jang! C’est moi!” HAVE I MENTIONED THAT I LOVE PIERRE!?!

- Was that one space sweeper guy in Descendants of the Sun?

- HOW IS HE STILL ALIVE!?! Damn the close up was terrifying.

- No Captain Jang!

- BUBS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- This guy is like a goddamn tick

- Omg. Omg. Omg. Omg.

- Theyre self-sacrificing!?! I am CRYING

- The moment I just had thinking they were all dead.

- OMG BUBS YES YESSSSSSS

- Pierre! Omg you’re adorable

- He’s gonna have a moment with Su-ni? IMMA CRY AGAIN

- This hurts worse than when I thought they all died.

- Theyre so beautiful. Their family.

- Im so happy for Bubs

- Bby boi bought 10 pairs of shoes. GOOD.

[abthepoet]

Honestly, at this point in human history I think "I Love Lucy" should be mandatory viewing.

Yes, I'm aware people are still alive that grew up watching this. I used to watch it on Nick at Nite as a kid (Along with Mr. Ed and Green Acres; bonus points if you even knew those were old TV shows) but recently I've been watching I Love Lucy on the regular thanks to dvds and my partner's absolute love of the show from watching it with grandparents as a child.

because our technology evolved so fast, this show from the 1950's is such an amazing, living, time capsule. For example, the first time I heard Lucy say to Ricky,"You didn't give me enough allowance" I thought Lucy was fucking joking. But no, she wasn't. Apparently that was a real thing. He treats her like a misbehaved child! And she addresses Ricky as sir! And they dont share a bed! Over the seasons it goes from two separate twin beds and then they eventually get pushed together.

And the technology! It's so bad! The one episode where the door to door salesman comes by with the latest in electric vacuums . . . and the guy is breaking a sweat trying to suck up dirt because vacuums were weak pieces of shit that could barely pick up paper. And the washing machine episode? Go look at that fucking tiny dinosaur of an appliance while Lucy and Ethel fight over it to make their lives a fraction easier. Same goes for the dishwasher episode. All Lucy wants is an electric dishwasher. She calculates, by hand on Paper mind you, all the dishes she's washed over the years, and longs for a dishwasher. They fucking call it, 'an electric dishwasher' that's how new the god damn concept was. When they use the phone, they get an operator!

And! Even the food! The one episode, I think it's called Job Switching- First of all, the gender stereotypes go hard here- secondly, Ricky pulls an uncooked, whole, chicken out of a pot and it's the scrawniest little carcass. . . . because we hadn't fattened up livestock with corn, hormones and gmos yet, so it was a normal fucking chicken. Lucy sews up Ricky's fucking sock with a darning egg (I dont sew, I had no clue wtf that was) and then when she sews up the top, Ricky swings it like a club and was like, "I can use it as a blackjack!" What the fuck is a blackjack?! i assume it's when you stuff a sock with something heavy and hit someone with it. For me, I grew up on 'In Living Color' with Homie The Clown who had such a sock and would hit people over the head and say, "Homie don't play that." That show was comedy gold. But he didn't call it a blackjack! So much to be learned.

Just watch the entire episode titled "Equal Rights" it's fascinating and eye opening in regards to social and cultural attitudes of the time. What kills me too is that in these early episodes of "I Love Lucy" Ricky and Lucy are supposed to be in their late 20's/early 30's . . . . . And They're Always Dressing So God Damn Formal. I'm actually that age and I dont ever look that fucking mature.

it's also really fun to see how Lucy and Ethel embody early feminist principles. . . or don't sometimes, but fascinating none the less.

I also love the random ads for Philip Morris cigarettes. You know, cuz back then, cigarettes were good for you.

And you know what? Despite all the stuff that's changed from then to now, the show is still hilarious. It's not so nostalgic that the jokes are stale. I'm watching the Job Switching episode right now (where Lucy works at the chocolate candy factory and stuffs them all in her mouth;very famous scene) and Lucille Ball is just ridiculous from her faces to mannerisms.

In conclusion, go watch I Love Lucy and be amazed.

[wenirenix-blog]

Subscribe to our mailing list for exclusive content, new videos, giveaways, and free nannies. (Okay, that part's a lie...): http://eepurl.com/SJxVj SUBSCRIBE on Youtube: SUBSCRIBE: http://goo.gl/QSV97m Follow us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MomCaveTV Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MomCaveTV Pin with Us: http://www.pinterest.com/MomCaveTV Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/momcavetv Our blog/giveaways: http://www.MomCaveTV.com Are Essential Oils B.S.? Not these (made-up) ones! MomCave's Jen holding a bottle of essential oils and asking if essential oils are B.S. By Heather Jones of hmjoneswriter.com “Have you heard about essential oils?” Yes. Yes, we have. Ad nauseam. And we are beginning to wonder about this essential oils B.S. Whether it is a friendly MLM sales rep, the latest viral wellness post, or Judy at the grocery store, people are eager to get the word out about the miracle that is essential oils. Unfortunately, science says that while essential oils are helpful for some things, like relaxation, some topical skin uses, etc., the vast majority of the benefit claims are not true. Darn. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to have an oil for everything that ails us? But as long as we are imagining essential oils to be a cure-all, let’s get creative. Here are some essential oils we really could use.

ESSENCE OF EFFOFF

Someone a little too up in your business? Annoying comments on your social media post? A few drops of Effoff should take care of that. APOCOLYPTUS The world is a steaming garbage fire at the moment. Let the calming scent of Apocolyptus whisk you away from the reminder that everything sucks, and we’re all doomed.

YOULANE MYLANE

Diffuse a bit of this in your car to take care of idiot drivers who cut you off and never signal.

CRANKINCENSE

Instantly calms overtired babies and angsty teenagers.

SORRYANDER

Have a partner who is never wrong? A colleague who keeps screwing you over? Grab that necklace infuser and they won’t be able to resist owning up to their mistakes and misdeeds.

ALLNICE

Seriously, can’t we all just get along? Well, now we can! Turn your tense living space into a den of “I love you, Man”s.

REDAWAY SEED

Tired of getting stuck at every red light when you’re running late? A healthy dose of Redaway Seed will ensure all your traffic lights are green, the way they should be.

CHEERMINT

Need some encouragement? We’ve got you covered.

RAGE OIL

Burn some of this to rid your house of the energy created when the toilet seat is left up – again. Or when someone eats your last cupcake. Or when you step in cat puke with clean socks. Basically, when you find yourself saying, “Are you friggin’ kidding me?” it’s time to whip out the rage oil.

REMEMBEROL

Why did I come in this room? Where are my keys? What day is it? Who am I and wtf am I doing? Sound familiar? Sounds like you need a touch of Rememberol.

STAETHAFUCLEAN

We spend all day tidying and washing floors and furniture, doing laundry, cleaning counters, washing dishes, only to have it messed back up again moments later. We could use some help extending that fresh clean house feeling.

ORDERITE

Ask for a double-double, get a no cream-twelve sugars? Swing through the drive thru to avoid hauling your small army of children out of the car, only to discover halfway down the road that part of your order is wrong or missing? Next time, use some orderite first.

LAUNDRANIUM

This turns the demeaning, boring, menial task of laundry into Club Med-worthy excitement.

METABOMILE

Add one or two drops to your food and eat whatever you like while maintaining your desired body weight.

BITCHRONELLA

Each drop gives you the ability to complain honestly and emphatically about anything to anyone for thirty seconds without consequence. Science is science, there’s no denying it. Maybe most essential oils are B.S. But I, for one, can’t wait for the day that there really is always “an oil for that.” About the Author Heather is a freelance writer and mother of two young boys. She is a regular contributor to online parenting publications such as Yummy Mummy Club and the Savvymom group of sites. She’s also been a featured writer on the CBC, HuffPost, Ravishly, and others. Read more at hmjoneswriter.com.

[internerdionality]

I also think this speaks volumes to the power of group culture, tho.

Prior to Blackbeard coming on board, Stede is this guy from outside their culture, telling them how to behave. Of course they react badly—but you can also see how a lot of them really like what he's offering (during the tour, they are, in fact, engaging in a lot of the activities he's made available, they get really invested in craft time, story time, etc.) but they don't feel comfortable to admit that they like it, because the group culture is against him. It's classic toxic masculinity, in fact—none of them are willing to admit they like The Soft Emotional Stuff (TM) because their culture tells them they have to be Manly Men.

But then Blackbeard, the ultimate Manly Man, comes on board and says the Soft Emotional Stuff is AWESOME and he's 100% into Stede, and that makes it and him socially acceptable (Fang being into Lucius also likely helps a lot as well, especially given Izzy's vocal disapproval). And that cultural "permission" allows the crew to explore and discover the thing they were actually pretty into from the beginning.

In fact, one thing that struck me even while I was watching it, but even moreso on a second watch, was how much the show plays up classic modern toxic masculinity tropes even when it's massively ahistorical. Like, I'm sorry, SAILORS who don't know how to sew? What happens when a SAIL gets torn? Or a fishing net? Sailors could make their own fucking ropes and a hundred types of knots, they damn well knew how to do basic sewing. For that matter, while the really advanced fabric crafting, like weaving and embroidery, was classically women's work, pretty much everyone from a basic working class background in the 18th century would know how to patch, darn, and hem. Those were crucial skills not just for sailors, but anyone who can't afford to buy new clothes any time something rips. And sewing a straight seam is really not hard, it takes about 30 mins to learn the basics. Knitting was also often a nongendered task in most cold-weather cultures—WTF else are you going to do in the winter, and keeping everyone in socks takes a LOT of knitting. And tailors were FREQUENTLY men.).

There is something about Stede and his inability to form a bond with his crew, and the way that changes after Ed enters the picture, that I find very interesting (and btw, thanks @bookshelfdreams for letting me bounce ideas off your always insightful brain).

I mean, think about it. Up until the end of episode three the crew is very much not sold on his idea of piracy, and Jim explicitly tells him (while he is about to get hanged) "You are the worst fuckin' pirate captain in history" (which, I mean, fair, since his incompetence and naivety had a direct impact on them). But something changes enough between episode 3 and episode 9 that the entire crew comes to Stede's rescue when Badminton's tells him he is not a real pirate.

And the thing is… Stede has this idea that he wants to be a pirate, but he doesn't really like pirate "activities"? I'm not just talking about the very violent aspects of raiding and pillaging, but also like the idea that the pirates have of "vacation" in the second episode (like when Wee John and the Swede are play-fighting on the beach, and he gets very upset because "that was not what he was talking about" when he said that there was no way of messing up a vacation). I know we often compare the way he acts with the crew as acting like a father to them, but I actually think Stede is more teacher than parent (might be professional bias, might be the sheer number of "children"): a teacher that is trying to change the way pirating works but he's doing it on his ideals, not taking enough into consideration what his "students" are actually like. His heart is mostly in the right place but his head still has a lot of work to do.

Of course this role he takes on has to do with his being part of the aristocracy, the self-appointed civilized and morally superior (though I find interesting that he didn't even consider that most of the crew would probably be illiterate: it both shows his disconnect from reality AND a disposition to see this weird group of people as fundamentally the same as himself). But I also think he has received enough pain from the aristocratic environment to understand, at least at a subconscious level, that it has a violent way of suppressing anything that is different from itself. And that's why he's so ambivalent in this "teacher" role: he really wants to foster the gentler side (the side of him that got bullied and ridiculed and squashed by his society) but keeps getting very annoyed when he finds out that being different doesn't always mean being different in the same way as he is.

Enter Blackbeard. On one hand you have this like… powerful cool vibe that he just emits, and makes everything he's interested in cool. It's not just the Blackbeard legend, it's just… him. And he finds Stede's weirdness compelling, so the crew probably would have to reconsider? But he also brings some piracy to the crew's life. Life on the Revenge is different when Blackbeard's there, and the crew gets to live in this "best of both worlds" scenario, where they can be real pirates while also experiencing that emotionally open and accepting space that Stede was so willing (but pretty much unable on his own) to offer them.

But also! Stede getting to know Ed, learning piracy from him, helps him to get a little more grounded and open to the things that his crew enjoys. His attitude towards them changes, and of course their attitude towards him AND his bizarre ways changes too.

So on one hand there's the very stong message that the show is explicitly going for which is "you don't have to change who you are to be loved"; both Ed and Stede fall in love with the current version of each other, but then they DO change each other organically and this has this beautiful ripple effect on everyone around them (to the point that I would almost like to say that the muppet-world magic/liminal space of the Revenge properly starts existing when they are both on it... but I haven't thought about this enough, so I'll just leave it here for future thought).

[asreadbydana]

The Darkest Minds Series | Reading Reactions

Hey guys! I decided that in preparation for the new book coming out at the end of July I would (finally) read The Darkest Minds series by Alexandra Bracken. I also thought, hey, why don't I post my reactions while I'm reading it? And so that's what I'm going to do! I'll be adding to this post with my thoughts as I work my way through the series. Feel free to keep up with it if you are interested 😊

The Darkest Minds

Update #1

Thrown right into the story, ok!

I can't even imagine how scary it would be to have children dying at such an extreme rate

The way the children are treated in this is just a little too real.

Alright Alexandra, the powers have intrigued me... I wonder why she chose the colors she did? And why is there never purple? Lol

So far, not too much has happened but I'm excited to see where the plot goes, although I have a good guess...

Update #2

First impression of Martin? DO. NOT. LIKE.

Well if that ain't the sketchiest memory to see when meeting a new person! Like, hi, I'm a murderer???? wtf

Ooohh, new friends!

And now it's time for some action! Finally got a glimpse of some of the powers. Yellows seem pretty scary tbh, nothing like Pikachu

Ok, yeah, definitely not Pikachu. Holy heck! If yellows can do that, I can't even imagine what oranges have done that's made the adults fear them so much (that was an odd sentence to read in my head lol fear the fruit!)

Update #3

Is it bad that I haven't read Watership Down so I don't really know what the significance is? Maybe I'll ask my brother, I know he's read it.

Also the whole sock exchange was very awkward and I'm impressed with the second hand embarrassment it gave me.

I'm glad Ruby and Chubs finally found some common ground! I mean, I understand Chubs' suspicion, but it's definitely a better group dynamic when THE CHARACTERS LIKE EACH OTHER. Just sayin'

The orange power is pretty crazy!

Okay, finally seeing what Ruby did to her parents was really sad, but also frustrating.

Hey look, they found the camp.

Yay, school! I hope if the world turns dystopian children will continue to do what they can to learn.

I was wondering when this guy was going to show up!

Tbh, not really feeling the romance. I think I'm just more interested in reading about friendships nowadays than about relationships. Maybe it will grow on me...

Update #4

This Clancy kid is kind of creepy. I definitely don't trust him.

OK wait, this better not turn into a love triangle, I swear...

Why am I not surprised that oranges are rare and oh so powerful?

Still sad about what happened to her parents

Does anyone else find Clancy's teaching sketchy? Like, yes Ruby, show him all your embarrassing memories and things you want kept private, nothing can go wrong there!

No, Zu is leaving us! Also, did we find out why she doesn't talk and I just missed it??

Fight, fight!! (But in all seriousness, calm down boys)

Give the girl a break, she hasn't had years to train and hone her skills like you, sheesh

Wow, way to bring new meaning to mind rape (p.s. I knew Clancy was a bad egg)

Ruby, sweetie, that's not gonna help

Would Liam have believed her if he didn't see/feel what happened?

Seriously?! In the last 2 chapters?? Dang, Alexandra Bracken. You really know how to play with my emotions!

Well, onto the next one...

Never Fade

Update #1

Right away we've got some new characters, alright cool

Oh, and the League is being sketchy yet again!

Were Vida's looks really that important to Ruby?

Jude seems sweet, kind of like a little brother

And we've got a lead on Liam! Knew he wouldn't be gone long 😜

Can I just say that it's so scary that in these dystopian novels the adults are always so willing to kill children? Like what the heck!?

Very unsure about Liam's brother...

I feel very unclear on what the League actually wants. Are they pro powers or against? Or are they just using the children with powers as a means to an end?

Update #2

Well they didn't stay there long!

I like that Ruby is more open to using her powers in this one. Embrace who you are!

The exchange with Andy is how I hope a lot of the adults in this world are feeling. Fear makes us do crazy things, but you can only justify it for so long.

🎶 Reunited and it feels so good 🎵

Well hello, Vida, you snake! Do I trust her? No. Am I supposed to? We'll see...

Another group of young adults abusing their power? You would think they'd want to stick together and help one another!

Update #3

Ick, do all the leaders have to use people in that way????

Whoa, finally seeing what Clancy was talking about in the last book is pretty crazy. I hope we learn more about what he did to the reds.

Ruby to the rescue! (Again)

Well they knew it would be a trap, but they went anyway

Holy heck, Jude has got some crazy skills and quick thinking! I'll say it again, yellows are not to be messed with!

That went bad fast!

Omg, is that the true power of an orange? Damn, Bracken, you know how to cause some nightmares.

Also, does anyone else get an uncomfortable feeling reading some sentences? Not even gory ones, but like, about digging nails into asphalt for example? When I read that I can picture myself doing it and let me just say, no thank you that is not a feeling I like!

Update #4

I'm curious how Internet and other connections even work when the world is so messed up. And how hackers can navigate them!

Ah, Clancy, we meet again. NOT nice to see you.

"I blew out the breath I didn't realize I had been holding" omg. Bracken has used some variation of this several times so far in this series and let me just say, I have noticed Every. Single. Time. Why is this concept/sentence so popular in YA, my gosh?

Wow that tunnel would make me claustrophobic!

Oh shit! That's the thing about oranges! When you are around them you can never really trust what you are seeing, ahhhh

"He let out the breath he'd been holding" really?? Again?? 😧

Ok, this professor has me intrigued. I can't wait to find out what Bracken set up as the reason the children have developed these powers.

Also, Cole? Didn't expect that!

Dang, who is that kid and where did he find the nerve!? So much for peace!

How was Ruby not smart enough to figure out that's what L.G. was doing as soon as she saw the research? I mean come on, that's pretty obvious.

Thanks for breaking my heart Bracken! The next book just won't be the same...

In the Afterlight

Update #1

Why is it that adults are always obsessed with money? And how come they never want to PROTECT the children who are different

Oh ok, I’m gonna be reminded of the sadness throughout this whole book, aren’t I?

I knew they were in California, but I didn’t even think about those other kids !!!!

Also, can I just say, poor Chubs and breaking his glasses. I feel you, bro.

Update #2

Why can’t Cate just accept that Ruby and the others are right?! Ugh!

I was waiting for Vida to display her true emotions. But to think that Ruby doesn’t care? She’s obviously not very observant.

Brothers, eh? Can’t live with ‘em… that’s about it lol

I wonder what the government hides from us in regards to other countries…

I don’t understand why Cole doesn’t just tell Liam? Would it really be so bad?

Truth: I’m still not feeling the romance. And I could do without the kissing scenes.

There’s that darned Watership Down again

Clancy is still such a mystery. I get why he’d want to embrace his powers, but doesn’t he also want to know why he got them?

Chubs and Vida get to spend some quality time~

Ok, no more sparring matches you two!!

Update #3

Those poor kids. Afraid even to be rescued.

Why did Liam hide this from Ruby???? Maybe she would have been a bit more open to it had he been honest.

Also, don’t like the reporter lady.

Omg! Zu!!!!

I can’t believe people think it’s fake? Why would children lie about those kinds of things?

Ah, yes, the red army.

Again, don’t like Alice.

Finally Cole! Was it really so hard?

Ok, this is sad but I totally care more about the side romantic relationship than I do the main one. I just don’t see their chemistry, honestly. It seems like it’s more a relationship of convenience than feeling.

Man, another one? Come on, Bracken, why you gotta do that to us?

I was wondering why the sleepwalking was relevant… not the answer I would have wanted, but alas

Update #4

Still going through with the plan, huh, Ruby?

I guess it makes sense that you can erase memories but not feelings. And that Sam would have images once Ruby’s influence was gone

Wow that wrapped up quickly

Tbh, even though he was horrible, it sucks Clancy had his ability to choose taken from him

Family reunion ♡ not so sad anymore!

Where do they go from here…?

[himbowelsh]

I have been thinking about this since I read your fic about moore and spiers as roommates and I feel that I need more information about them. I mean, everyone fears spiers and he is a magpie. But somehow Moore seems to be even mORE of a magpie. Everyone wonder HOW moore survive every night and he just look smug when they ask him if he isnt afraid of him. Wtf?? And does it happen that people blame spiers for lost things when it actually was Moore? Spiers should've killed him ages ago - how?? Plz

(2/2)I just. It would just be amazing. Like, More doesn’t do stuff often and is mostly quiet so people forget about it (tho they’re always surprised someone survived all night sharing a room with spiers). But then he DO something and everyone notice it because Spiers is FURIOUS. But he cant do anything because More is THAT good, there’s no evidence. Spiers have probably turned their room up and down more than once because of it? More is just all smugcalm, he has survived all bets about his death 

this is amazing and i love this headcanons, but consider this -- speirs knows EXACTLY hat’s going on, and has proof.

okay, look, having two compulsive magpies in the same room is chaos

their room has stuff hidden everywhere. like, there’s a few watches in the sock drawer. they don’t own 80% of their DVD collection. technically their pillows aren’t theirs. there’s a picture of someone’s grandmother on the wall, and no one knows whose. that’s not even speirs’s laptop. don’t look under the bed.

and people just??? blame speirs for everything?? more doesn’t know a darn thing, don’t look at him. everyone knows who he lives with. he’s innocent.

“alton, why do you have all my textbooks?” “oh, speirs just gave them to me. i thought they were a gift.”

also, more is like??? helpful?? like, he helps people look for their stuff.

it’s a trap.

the thing is, they both KNOW. more knows exactly what speirs gets up to, but he could never say anything, because speirs knows about him. they both have all this proof, and they hold it over each others heads like lead weights, but they’ll never let it drop. it would be mutually assured destruction.

so they have an unspoken agreement. they leave each other’s stuff alone, and wreak havoc on everyone else.

(they also have certain people they care about, so they’re automatically excluded as well. speirs refuses to let anyone put their hands on lipton or grant’s stuff, and more respects winters too much to let anything of his go missing. nix is still fair game, though, so speirs can live with this.)

they’ll even compete with each other to see who can get the most stuff. speirs is shameless about it, just picking things out of people’s hands and walking away. more is way subtler.

they’re absolute terrors. if something goes missing, everybody knows to go to more and speris’s room, because it’ll probably be there.

[angel-macabre]

wtf no one told me you were cute wtf 🥺

cute, excellent cook, can darn a sock, good with children. i won't even say it