#so mind your ps and qs and shut up

[somebodytoundress]

you really are in every drama that the rhaenicent fandom has, subtweeting and now this why don’t you say that the author is molter instead of saying shit without naming? i think its worse having “fans” and sending hate towards that author, the one who actually has been in this fandom from the beginning, i think its worse what you guys (other authors) are doing than whatever molter did, read her post before talking i would say, mean femme was cute for a bit but not anymore

first of all i'm not really "involved" i just knew what was going on because this already happened to me and offered comfort to the author. if a pattern of behavior leads people to the right place then maybe you should start questioning why that pattern of behavior reflects so poorly on them. no one that i was speaking to sent hate or encouraged sending hate (at least that i know of). i think maybe a friend encouraged them to delete the rude and frankly inappropriate asks, but that's all that i know of?

i read her post, i've spoken to flood, you and copyright someone just because someone else has previously strung together the same three words or because they used the same trope. that's not how this works, if that were the case, i'd be throwing fits over every cowboy au in the tag or whatever. it's fanfiction, we're all stealing and yes, it's a little egotistical to assume everyone wants your nachos like this!!! and i say this as someone with an ego!

i'm not sure where the "mean femme" bit has come from because i have been very quiet on twitter for months now because of people like you watching my every single move and trying to muzzle me even though–i'm friends with people in this fandom too and am very much allowed to have an opinion. just because you don't like it doesn't mean i'm some evil person vying to be apart of every drama. flood is my friend, a lot of authors in this fandom are my friends.

and, i wasn't going to say anything about this publicly because it was resolved, but the reason i said anything about it in the first place is because i was dealt a very pressuring conversation that almost led to me deleting all of my works over a very similar thing and it's frustrating! we shouldn't be pitting authors against one another and slandering an author's work and style publicly and encouraging it should never be okay regardless of whatever "vibes" you think they took from you. if you can copyright VIBES, grrm should sue us all and be done with it.

[empressdede]

Me, U & Jealousy - Chapter 3

Previous chapter

This story is written in both present and past. Italics is the past and regular font is written in the present.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

"So, you’ll be able to go?" Jada asked, excitement seeping through her voice.

Sorai rolled her eyes. She was kind of regretting the terms and conditions that came with her going to this party. Especially since Sefa kept trying to tease her about her ‘schoolgirl crush’ as he would call it.

“Yeah. I can go but Joseph’s going to be there.” She explained and Jada’s excitement dimmed just a bit.

“How do you know he’s going to be there?” She asked and Sorai let out a sigh.

“He heard us talking a couple days ago about me wanting to sleepover at yours. I’ve been trying to get him to change for the past three days but he’s not budging.”

“Well…. At least he’s not as bad as his older brothers. Like, that could be way worse. Plus, if he goes that means Monica will be there and Monica is going to distract him for majority of the night.”

Sorai rolled her eyes again. Monica. She couldn’t fuckin’ stand her. But Jada was right, if Monica was there, Joseph would keep his attention on his girlfriend instead of her.

“You’re right; She’ll probably do what she does best and open her legs and keep him preoccupied for majority of the night.” Sorai agreed with a nod of her head but that caused Jada to burst out laughing.

“Girl, no way you just called Joseph’s girlfriend a hoe.”

“Only thing that ever comes out of her damn mouth is ‘He beat my shit up. Girl, when I tell you he sat me down and tore my shit up. Who knew Joseph could eat pussy like that.‘

Sorai mocked in a high pitched tone to mimic the girl she didn’t like, letting out a huff of annoyance when she was done. “I wish she would shut the fuck up sometimes, don’t nobody wanna hear that.”

“Sounds like someone’s jealous.” A teasing voice came from behind her. Sorai let out a sigh before she turned around to face the person. Joseph.

There he was with a smirk on his face as he stared at her. She wanted to smack it off of his face.

“Jealous of what?”

“All the experience she gets to have, that you’re dying to gain yourself.” He easily replied.

“Joseph don’t do that. Cause who knows, maybe Cameron will finally put the moves on her -“ Jada started but Sorai slapped her shoulder to shut her up.

But it was too late, the playfulness got wiped off his face as he stared at both girls.

“If I find out that he puts his hands on you, it’s over for the both of you.” Joseph stated, warning tone in his voice.

“Joseph, you can’t keep te-“

“I can.” He interrupted, the glare in his eyes showing he wasn’t playing with her. “The twins don’t got no plans as far as I know, so Cameron better be on his Ps and Qs if he knows what’s good for ‘em.” And with that he walked away.

She turned to glare at Jada. She knew how much those boys were overprotective over her, and here she go pushing that imagine in his head.

He was already skeptical about letting her go is and she didn’t need another to give him another reason to change his mind.

“Don’t worry about it sis. You know Joseph is the only one who takes it easier on you. He won’t ruin this night for you, he just wants you to be careful.” Jade assured and all Sorai could do is hope she was right.

————————

Joseph had convinced his older brother to let him borrow his car to go out, and since he had already promised to pick Sorai up at Jada’s house that’s exactly what he did.

The two girls sat in the backseat of Joshua’s car doing last minute check ups on each other’s outfits that was all planned by Jada. She wanted to make sure that Sorai looked good tonight. She knows how much her best friend liked Cameron and she was going to make sure this was a good night for her…even with Joseph tagging along with them.

The ride to Aaliyah’s house wasn’t eventful; in fact Sorai kinda wished she rode with anybody else because no matter Joseph promised her, Monica always seemed to be stuck to his side at every event.

“Babe we’ll be able to enjoy ourselves right? I don’t feel like watching kids tonight.” Monica pouted and Sorai rolled her eyes.

She hated being around her, but she had to play nice tonight. Especially if she wanted Joseph to take it easy on Cameron.

“Don’t worry babe, you’ll still be able to enjoy yourself.”

Jada’s eyes locked with Sorai’s and they both fought to keep a straight face. Sorai decided to keep her comments to herself because she wanted to be on Joseph’s good side tonight.

She really wanted to get away and be with Cameron tonight.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

“Aye man, I can’t believe you’re here. Its been forever. How you been?” Josh asked once Sorai got settled in a little corner as far as she could be away from these guys.

She shrugged at the question, “Graduated College and I’ve been dabbling in journalism for a couple years now. The only reason why I’m here is cause of Jada.”

Jon nods his head at her, “Yeah, we don’t really see her much since she’s with the NXT roster majority of the time, helping out with talent creation. Any time we ask her about you, she act like she too busy to talk."

"I’m sure if it was that important to you, you would’ve found a way to reach out." Sorai stated simply with a shrug. At that, all the boys smacked their teeth.

"That’s not true, we’ve tried to reach out but it was never successful. We only knew how you been through our parents." Jonathan states.

"And even then, you blocked us… or me anyway - so it made reaching out to you that much harder." Sefa finally speaks up. The sound of his voice made Sorai inwardly roll her eyes. Damn, hearing him irritated her the most.

"I changed my number like a month after you guys left, but it’s okay. I know how much you guys wanted this, especially since the beginning years of college. Following in your dad’s footsteps must mean so much to you guys. Plus, being a superstar means you’re busy so I understand. I’m happy for you guys." Sorai spoke from the heart, even though their departure hurt her, she was happy they were getting to live out their dreams.

Joe sat on the opposite side of the room of Sorai and was analyzing her body language. Something was off with her, he’s noticed it the first time in the hallway with Kayla. He was getting the feeling that not hearing from them probably hurt her feelings. "We appreciate that Rai, thank you. Just remember, if you need anything you can let us know and we gotchu’ you know that right?"

She nodded at him; "Thank you Joe. So…. What’s it like running the locker room?"

"Nah, let’s get into something else." Jonathan stated, walking towards her. "Earlier, when we said you didn’t have time for heartbreak and you said it was a lil too late for that… you let some bum break yo heart?" He asked, tilting his head at her. How ironic, one of the people who helped break her heart was asking who was responsible for the damage.

Sorai let out a tired sigh, she didn’t want to get into this, especially right now. "Guys, we haven’t seen each other in five years. A lot has happened within that time."

"We know that, but that doesn’t mean we don’t care. A couple years may have gone by but that doesn’t change anything, you still our lil sis, and I hope you know that a couple years didn’t mean you stopped being our family." Josh spoke up this time.

Sorai’s heart felt heavy at the statement because at a point and time she really called these boys her family. Her brothers. Damn, she remembers when she didn’t like calling them that, she loathed it. But now, her heart crumbles at the memories. Fuck she missed them - just when she thought she was over the situation. Being around them did nothing to stop the hurt she still feels even five years later.

"Rai?" Joshua questioned after a pregnant pause took over the room. Sorai’s head snapped up to face Josh, but her eyes scanned the room quickly. All of them were staring at her with concern. "You okay?" Josh tries again.

Sorai hopped out of her seat, sending her most convincing smile towards the group. "Perfect. And I still care too so hopefully during my time here we could rebuild that relationship." She states.

Rebuild?

But before any of the guys could reply, Sorai continues. "I actually have to get going. Maybe we can catch up when we have some free time okay?"

Without giving them a chance to respond, she bolted out of the locker room. The boys looked around at each other in confusion. Each and every one of them having one thought running through their minds: what the hell just happened?

Sorai couldn’t do it, all these years and she thought she had healed from this but seeing them… seeing him made her realize that she’s not over what happened.

Back in the locker room, he wanted to know exactly what happened to Sorai since they’ve left. Did she meet someone who took her time, is that why she didn’t reach out? Did this person hurt her to the point where she was embarrassed and didn’t want to bring it up to them, to him in specific.

He needed to find Jada because something happened to Sorai and he was hell bent on figuring out what it was.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

How we feeling, be honest? 😭😭 The next chapter is where everything falls into place 😭 I hope I’ve done a good job otherwise. Btw Idk if I made it Known but I made the twins 2-3 years older than Sefa instead of a whole 8 soo the story could make sense😂😂

Tagging the lovelies: @southerngirl41 @reci1996 @skyesthebomb @christinabae @leighla3 @whatdoeseverybodywant @harmshake @yana3sworld @angiedawn02 @theninthwonder

[queenetoilewrites]

Survival Guide For Ladies/Maids in Waiting

So you're a noblewoman at the imperial/royal court, when you and your family receive word that you've been selected to become a lady/maid-in-waiting for the Empress/Queen/Princess by the Emperor/Empress. Problem is, you have an idea of what the job entails, but no idea how to survive and hang on to your position at court. According to @inky-duchess​ (thanks for the help!), the key is to remember the acronym LOCS: Loyalty, Obedience, Comportment, and Secrecy. Be loyal to your mistress, know how to follow orders and directions (she says jump and you ask "How high, your majesty/highness?"), know how to behave, and always keep your mistress' confidence. Follow these basics of being a lady in waiting and your female character will quickly become a favorite of her mistress and hold her position for a long time.

Know your place: There’s a pecking order for a reason

Even among the ladies/maids in waiting, there’s an established hierarchy that you're required to follow without question, this hierarchy governs who gives orders to who and who has permanent access to the empress/queen. The textbook ambitious lady will use it as an excuse to kick up a major fuss about precedence when she feels that her treasured position as the favorite is being threatened by a newcomer. For example, the hierarchy for the ladies/maids-in-waiting tasked with serving the Queen of France/Empress of the French goes:

Mistress of the Robes

First lady of honor

Dame d'atour

Dame d'honneur/Dame du Palais

Filles d'honneur/Demoiselles d'honneur (maids of honor)

Première femme de Chambre ('First Chamber Maid')

While the mistress of the robes was the highest ranking in the hierarchy of the ladies serving the Queen, the first chamber maid was the only woman in the queen’s household aside from the maid of honor allowed to have the keys to the queen’s rooms and permanent access to the queen. This gave her the opportunity to filter requests of meetings, audiences and messages to the queen and made her a de facto powerful person at court, where she was often flattered and bribed by the courtiers. Any lady or maid-in-waiting worth her salt will know that she has to be clever and useful to her mistress in order to get far at the imperial/royal court, and willing to know when to concede to those above her in the pecking order. Many court ladies in my WIP have received the honor of being promoted to where she directly served the Empress Consort because she either proved herself to be clever or demonstrated loyalty to the imperial family.

Loyalty: Don't be like Littlefinger

A lady/maid must always be loyal to her mistress, otherwise she could experience a major fall from grace, even more so if her mistress the empress/queen/princess is on the exact same page as her husband the emperor/king/prince and she's not his mistress. That means absolutely no following orders from anyone outside of the imperial/royal household, she was hired to serve the empress/queen/princess only. Without royal favor you are just as expendable as anyone else in the service of the imperial/royal family, they can easily replace you with a new favorite if they discover that you've been disloyal, and if you don't like that and have the audacity to try and read the empress/queen/princess then there's being reassigned to lower in the hierarchy under the excuse that you're still technically serving the empress/queen/princess. Loyalty can earn you honors, jewelry, or an advantageous marriage. Being disloyal could earn you being distanced from the inner circle of the empress/queen/princess. Good examples of ladies/maids in waiting (and good inspirations for a loyal lady-in-waiting character) who were loyal ride or dies to their mistress include Catherine Champernowne of Kat (Kat Ashley; lady in waiting to Queen Elizabeth I), Jane Dormer, Duchess of Feria (lady in waiting to Queen Mary I), and Maria de Salinas, Countess Willoughby (lady in waiting to Catherine of Aragon).

Obedience: No, that wasn't a request

A lady/maid is required to obey her mistress regardless of what her mistress asks of her, even if her orders are ridiculous or dangerous, her maid/lady could be asked to jump and her response is required to be: "How high, your majesty/highness?" Your character does what her mistress asks, when her mistress asks it of her. No back talk, and no refusing, otherwise she'll fall from favor. She speaks when her mistress tells her to speak, and she doesn't speak out of turn. Once again unless she's the mistress to the emperor/king, has an influential family that her mistress' husband the emperor/king doesn't want to alienate, or she can't be banished from her mistress' inner circle for a reason (such as the husband of her mistress using her as leverage against her family because he suspects them of plotting treason), she's just a mere lady/maid who can easily be replaced with a new favorite who will obey her orders without any questions.

But sometimes obedience can lead her to the execution block. If her mistress is sneaking a lover into her bed, and she had a hand in getting the lover there to begin with, she had better pray that her mistress or her lover don't implicate her as thanks for her help because saying "The queen (or empress) was the one who commanded me to help her sneak him in and I couldn't deny her request!" doesn't absolve her of her integral part in helping her mistress cheat on the emperor/king and potentially muddying the royal bloodline since people are going to doubt that the king's kids are truly his if his wife had an affair. If her mistress wanted to make her and her fellow ladies into spies whom she slips into the beds of her enemies to gain intel like Catherine de' Medici did with the Flying Squadron, guess what she’s doing?

Comportment: Mind your Ps and Qs at all times

A lady/maid has to know how to behave herself both in public and in private with her mistress. She can be friendly with the royal she's serving, but she can't hang off her or call her mistress names then claim that she was "just joking" when her mistress takes offense to her behavior, being friendly is okay until you cross the line. The Empress/Queen must be respected even by her best friends, especially if they are in public. Think of it as like being friends with the wife of your boss, you can be playful with her, but up to a certain point. While the lady might be a subject to the monarch or his mistress, her mistress is his legal wife and the crowned Empress/Queen (especially if her husband is the type of man to reproach his mistress for flagrantly disrespecting his wife and her position), you have to play nice with her in order to retain the favor of the Emperor/King. Now if the Empress/Queen is a monarch in her own right, this complicates the matter because she’s not just disrespecting her mistress, she’s basically disrespecting the monarch of another country.

Do not let her behave like Sarah Churchill did to Queen Anne (your husband writing in a letter to you that the Queen “should make good political use” of his victory in battle isn’t a good excuse). A lady/maid is not allowed to verbally abuse her mistress or tell her to shut up about jewels and unlike Sarah, she would (and should) know better. Anyone else would have dropped her from her inner circle on the spot the very first time she verbally abused her. She can argue with her mistress, but only to a certain point. It should never, ever elevate to a shouting match for any reason, especially if the empress/queen is ruling in her own right. Any empress/queen who is ruling in her own right can ultimately spell the end of your social and political advancement, seeing as her favor depends solely on the Empress/Queen.

Secrecy: Don't spill the tea sis!

A lady/maid will be expected to keep secrets for her mistress, no matter what the secret is, even if she doesn't approve of it. The empress/queen has just found out that she's pregnant with a son and wants to keep it a secret so her husband's mistress can't sabotage the pregnancy since the son of the crowned empress/queen will be the heir regardless of if his mistress has a son? Is she planning to switch her seven children to the school that traditionally educates the Imperial/royal family because the former best friends of her eldest daughter have all turned on her and the girl behind it all tried and failed to get her expelled? Has she confided to you that she's worried that if the prime minister finds out about her plan, he might intervene in his capacity as friend to the monarch and convince her husband that it wouldn't be in the best interest of the crown prince and his siblings to abruptly transfer them out halfway through the school year over one child having problems with her friends? She had better keep that secret, otherwise the empress/queen can and will hold you personally responsible for the loss of her son and the long-awaited heir to the throne or if the prime minister does intervene with her husband. This involves anything like leaking letters alluding to a love affair (looking @ you, Sarah Churchill; you’re lucky you weren’t around for Henry VIII) between her and her mistress or anyone else.

The trust of your empress/queen is like a mirror, once you crack it you can put it back together with but her trust in you won’t be the same and she will begin to confide in another lady/maid about her personal matters, seeing as her former confidant has already proven that she cannot be trusted. Her loose lips make her a massive liability to the monarch and the state and any emperor/empress/king/queen who is worth their salt will recognize this and put her in a position where she is virtually useless to those seeking intel on the monarch from the get go.

He's not worth it: Don't bang her husband if she's calling the shots

Listen to what I'm about to say very closely: It doesn't matter how hot the prince consort is, or how nice he is to her, not one bit. If he takes her as his mistress and parades her around openly, the reigning empress/queen will not be very amused with her, and will definitely make sure she doesn't progress socially or in regards to precedence. He may lavish her with money and gifts, but he can't do much aside from that without openly insulting his wife. Yes, he's allowed to see her as the apple of his eye, but she's still banging the husband of her monarch. Everyone at court will ostracize her for disrespecting the monarch, even more so if she's being a pain in the ass for the imperial/royal court and kicking up a fuss about precedence and favoritism. Her lofty position as mistress/favorite to the prince consort only lasts as long as he's consort to the monarch. Once one of his children succeed their mother as monarch, they have no real reason to extend their father the money to keep his mistress once they hold the purse strings, unless they stand to gain something from it.

It's even worse for the lady/maid if her mistress is the reigning monarch in her own right and he's her consort, seeing as if her husband is only her consort, she can only get so far on his favor alone since his wife is the monarch. She's the ruler of the country, and he's nothing at court without being married to her. If she's the mistress/side piece to the prince consort, she'll be openly ostracized by everyone at court save for the prince consort seeing as she's being a pain in the ass and openly disrespecting her monarch/mistress by hopping into bed with her husband. The more powerful people at court (who are favored by the empress/queen herself) will not hesitate to throw shade at her family seeing as the prince consort can’t really come to their defense on account of the fact that doing so would be an open/major insult to his wife.

[esoteric-paradigms]

DAILY READ

PICK A CARD

TOP - BOTTOM = PILE #1 - #3

PILE #1

THUMBNAIL

18+PS(KW)

·       Secrets being revealed about yourself

·       Overcoming fears

·       Going on a journey to uncover a side of you know not much about, but brave enough, and even thrilled to see what this side of you is like

 5W+4C(PW)

·       Dwelling on something…you feel as if you lost, or passed up an opportunity, when in reality, you are being offered a new one, one that you’re not taking notice of, all you have to do is take note of it, realize it (the spark or spunk isn’t gone)

·       [-you are being offered an opportunity to discover a side of you that may have crossed you’re mind before but you haven’t taken any action on it…but now you’re thinking about it. You may or may not see what is being offered at this time but if something is being offered and you may be considering it, go ahead. This will be exhilarating, fresh, adrenaline pumping, and all in all excitement]

WHAT WILL PILE #1 EXPERIENCE TODAY?

7C+04(5C)

·       Making a choice, that would change your reality as you know it

·       Deciding on doing something that makes you feel empowered, something that just feels right within you (as if a change should be made). You may be indecisive at first, may even be convinced that you don’t need to make a choice, or that the initial choice is the right one, but after weighing the options and thinking strategically and logically (which is basically seeing and accepting the truth about how you feel on each option), you make a decision

WHAT ENERGY DOES PILE #1 NEED TO FOCUS ON TODAY?

5P+6S(9S)

·       Leaving a situation that limits your human experience

·       If you feel as if something could make you happy, or something feels promising, go along with it. The universe has put in place in your waking life (you’re reality), a way for you to fulfill this desire. Do not shut it out or bring your ‘this will never work’ energy, if you feel as if you’re going along with what is being offered (may be an opportunity). You may find that you like this experience. It’s like a spiritual shift, one you may not fully understand, unless you choose to

·       It looks a decision to be made because the offering is being tossed around in your head quite a bit. It makes itself noticeable. You may even want to shut the thought out

WHAT ENERGY WILL PILE #1 BE IN TODAY?

KtS+02(8P)

·       Trying to get rid of a thought, or get away from something and find out that in order to get away this, you need to deal with it head on. This seems to be a consultation with yourself (higher self)

·       A transformative energy

·       Manifesting the reality that you want, by making a choice and sticking to it, after some serious consideration

 PILE #2

THUMBNAIL

8S+QW

·       Discovering potential, feeling and being attractive. This is about letting go of self-doubt and taking the opportunity to gain or regain self-confidence in your abilities

·       Feeling free, passionate, and just being you. It’s a ‘you’ll never know until you know (try)’ energy

·       Surpassing limits, and gaining an understanding/new perspective

KtS+AP(4W)

·       Something is calling to you, calling for your attention. An opportunity is coming in, and you’re going towards this. It’s an opportunity to free your mind, you are being shown a way of balancing out mental health

·       Able to enjoy the company of others, choosing to remove a blockage, choosing to have positive thoughts, therefore manifesting positive situations

·       This feels like a character change, or development

WHAT WILL PILE #2 EXPERIENCE TODAY?

04+QP(05)

·       Bossing up and feeling empowered, resilient, determined, gracious, accepting

·       Doing what makes you feel happy and stable, doing things that make you feel comfortable regardless of the decisions you have to make to get there

·       Figuring out how something works, and use it to work in your favor. This calls for you to be trusting, steady, unwavering and determined

·       Being comfortable within your skin and, experiencing desired results from tactful behavior. May even be working with someone, mentored or learning from another’s story/ life experience

WHAT ENERGY DOES PILE #2 NEED TO FOCUS ON TODAY?

AW+PC(8P)

·       Following your dreams. Allowing yourself to be excited about a new idea, a new way of experiencing something, a new experience

·       Do not overcomplicate a feeling or thought. This may be a money making idea, or one that makes you feel prosperous when thinking about, and it may as well bring prosperity

·       Embark on a journey, and commit to materializing an idea (meditate, if necessary). Work on visualizing how you would feel and what the results would be if you embarked on this adventure or a thing/dream that seems far-fetched (believe in the ‘impossible’)

   WHAT ENERGY WILL PILE #2 BE IN TODAY?

08+6C(KC)

·       Reflecting with the intent to understand how things turned out the way they did. Wondering what would happen if you changed course, if you actively work on changing your outcome based on changing the input

·       Embodying humility and acceptance. Focused on intentions and results

  PILE #3

THUMBNAIL

7P+KC

·       Understanding where you are in your life, what has your human experience been like. It’s a feeling of being grateful for where you are, what you have experienced, then making an adjustment

·       Being centered; A turning/tipping point

 17+2S(9W)

·       Changing course. Not being aligned with where you are in your life right now and wanting to change the way you have been living

·       Being open to something different. You have been actively manifesting something in your life but you have not seen any or much result so you’re are starting to feel frustrated, it’s as if to wonder if you should discontinue this or continue to see where it goes

·       Figure out if you’re just going to run that last leg because you are really close, you may be feeling mental tension around this, meaning it is on your mind quite a bit today

WHAT WILL PILE #3 EXPERIENCE TODAY?

7C+9S(2P)

·       Something will be re-occurring in your mind, a decision

·       Something will be weighing on your mind. You’re just in your head about a decision

WHAT ENERGY DOES PILE #3 NEED TO FOCUS ON TODAY?

8C+PC(QS)

·       Releasing hope in something and making a choice that brings you deep joy

·       This is blatantly saying follow your dream/ a feeling, choosing your peace of mind

·       A commitment no longer satisfies you, ha…to hell with that. You’re being logical, speaking your truth and living by it

·       You’re focused on heading somewhere, and this is not it, you’re wiser now

·       Not taking too much in account for things that do not align with your journey to a destination, that is not here

WHAT ENERGY WILL PILE #3 BE IN TODAY?

KS+9P(01)

·       You will not be held down today. You have learnt your lessons, you appreciate the previous voyage but now you’re ready to embark on a new journey, one that brings you great joy and sense of being independent of something

·       You’re making the right decisions, keep doing what you’re doing. It’s like you’re making your way to ending a cycle, you progress, switch course. You are standing your ground

[eakfestforever]

Pilot

Waking up from nappy #1 of the day sky and zeus are each laying on their own couch. Sky moves over to lay right on top of zeus. Zeus looks up for a second, goes right back to sleep.

Waking up from nappy #2 of the day Sky and Zeus are laying on the couch. Stella is on the coffee table. A car goes by and Sky and Zeus jump up to the windows barking 

Sky: Oh hell no, what are you doing on our street...by our house? I know you ain’t comin here! You just keep on keepin on motha fucka. That’s what I thought. Keep on keepin on...

Zeus: I can protect us all! I am Zeus! Protector of… Oh hello friend! Sky, that was the nice man with that nice car that drives by just to say hello all the time. He is so nice.

Sky: You ain’t never even met that man Zeus! He could be a serial killer! A Rapist! Coming here to do terrible things to me and my body! Daddy Almighty expects us to protect this house so stop being such a pussy ass little bitch. Jeez do I have to do everything around here?

Stella: So, ummm, can we all just like, shut up now? The car is so gone now and like, you can’t even see it any more? OMG I can’t even…

Zeus: Stella, how come you do not care about these cars and these humans that go by? Don’t you want new friends? 

Sky: New friends? Hmf… new friends my ass,  more like new crazy ass white people thinking they all that tryina take our shit.

Stella: I don’t know… it’s all Gucci in my world… I just like birds and bugs… and Grandpa. I like Grandpa. Will he be home soon? And also… Sky you are so incredibly racist.

Sky: Your Grandpa, aka Daddy Almighty, is a very busy man. He is out there hunting monies. Lots of monies so that I can has the health care and delicious food and bones and things. And also… I am NOT racist. Whatchu know about someone being racist? Nuttin!

Zeus: But isn’t the monies for all of us? Me, you, Stella, Mummy and Daddy. Don’t we all get those things? 

Sky: Nigga please! If there was to be some extra, which I doubt there will be, I suppose you can get some of those things. But not the health care… definitely not the health care. Ain’t never enough monies for you to has that. Hmf.

Stella: Well I am pretty sure that grandpa would let me have the health care. He likes me best. I mean, he calls me Stella Bo Bella! Hello! Bella! And he plays mouse with me and like shares some sick tea with me when we get turnt on Saturday nights. 

Sky: Girl, he may get turnt with you one night a week but it is obvious that I am his favorite… I mean, look at this (smacks her ass) who could say no to this sweet ass.

Zeus: But doesn’t he like Mommy best? She is the greatest mommy in the whole wide world and he gives her lots and lots of kisses and hugs and 

Sky: and that big ol dick.. That’s right zeus, he gives that whore his big ol godly dick and she is thankful for it, too. Why wouldn’t she be? She is so lucky that he chose her to take his almighty sword. He is so gracious...

Stella: Eeeewww gross…. Stop talking about that stick. Blecht… ewwww…(gags a little) he has much more fun playing video games with me anyway. It’s dope. We get high and drink coffee and hang all night taking names and kick ASS! Woop woop!

Zeus: mummy does not like that gross stuff. Sky. Daddy makes her do those awful things. She would much rather cuddle with zeusy and make him sammiches.

Sky: Y’all are cra cra. She is a h-o-r-e. That spells whore zeus and She Loves doing those nasty ass things and she knows it is her place to love them. God. Y’all just don’t get it at all.

Mailman comes up the road, Zeus and Sky run to the windows again waking up from nappy #3

Stella rolls her eyes and says OMG

Zeus: Sky, it is that really slow man that tries every day to put things in that box in front of our house. He tries to sneak up but I hear him when he turns that corner. I will not let him step foot on...

Sky: You just sit back and let mama handle this situation. He is a t-h-r-e-t ,that spells threat by the way zeus and I am the only one responsible for keeping his ugly ass away from this house every day! See… he is already driving away. 

Zeus: (in an attempt to sound tough, flexing a muscle) What? I ain’t neva scurred. I got this ALL DAY! ALL DAY biotch! 

Sky and Stella look at each other and suddenly burst out laughing and rolling around

Another car pulls up and parks in front of the house and once again zeus and sky run to the windows barking feverishly (tearing up the couch covers and pushing cushions out more and more each time)

Zeus: That car stopped sky… is this serious?

Sky: Alert, alert, this is a code red. I repeat, code red. Yall need to be ready for anything. Stella, are you ready? Stella!

Stella: OMG… what? I just found the perfect sun spot on the floor. What? 

Sky: we are under a high alert Stella… that is what? Do I have to remind you that we are under strict orders from

Stella: I know, i know, from “Daddy Almighty” to like protect the house or something… ugh. 

Zeus: You go away stranger, do you hear me, you go away because this is our house and.. IT’S... GRAMPA! OMG OMG OMG! YAY! I’M SO EXCITED, I’M SO EXCITED. GRAMPAS HERE! SKY! GRAMPA’S HERE! We haven’t seen him in so many years!

Sky: I can see that Zeus, I do have eyes you know. He is here to see me. He always comes to see me. You must just be asleep when he usually comes. I can’t wait until he sees me, he will be so excited. He must have missed me so much. How do I look? Oh Jesus, what am I thinking asking you how I look. I look amazing as always. 

Stella: K well you idiots go on outside with great grandpa, i’ll enjoy some time to myself finally. 

Zeus and sky run to the back door and meet grandpa at the door jumping all over him. Stella jumps up on the shoe rack by the back window of the sun porch.

Grampa: Hey guys how are you today? Ugh, ok, down… down… no jumping. Down. Sit. Goodness, I was just here yesterday, you act like you haven’t seen me in years! Ok, who wants to go outside?

Zeus and sky simultaneously: Me me me me I do I do

Zeus and sky run out the door followed by grandpa. Sky runs right to the bowl of water in the backyard and drinks ferociously. 

Grandpa: geez, sky. Don’t mommy and daddy leave you water? 

Sky: well of course they do but this is the water of the gods. It is left here for me, sky, to replenish any of the awesomeness that is sometimes lost when I am forced to spend too much time with mere mortals (looks accusingly at zeus)

Zeus: well I would like to drink the god water, too sky. Can I drink the god water? I didn’t know it was god water. I just thought mommy put it there.

Sky: Oh you silly ass dog. Mommy put it there. How naive you are. Anyway, yeah, you can drink some but it only gives powers to me so…

Zeus: that’s ok… I don’t need powers. I just need friends and mummy. 

Grandpa: Ok guys….who wants the ball? 

Sky: I do I do. Throw it grandpa. I will get it for you! I am the best ball catcher… well, except for mom pwahahahahaha see what I did there? See what I did? Mom, BALL CATCHER… AS IN DADDYS BALLS....OH I CRACK MYSELF UP! Zeus, don’t even THINK about saying you want that ball. 

Zeus: I would like the ball grandpa but I believe it is only for sky. I am sorry you can’t throw it for me. 

Sky: damn right it is bitch. Don’t even think about trying to get that ball. Get over here dirty whore (sky proceeds to hump zeus angrily while biting the back of his neck) you’re like my ball,.. Got it. I take what I want… just like this…. Take it bitch…uh uh uh 

Grandpa: sky…. Would you get off of zeus

Zeus: it’s ok, grandpa, zeusy doesn’t mind.

(Sky gets down)

Yea well, this is my ball and I am in charge here so you just sit back and watch me get it ya little pussy

Grandpa throws the ball, Sky gets it and lays down with it.

Grandpa: sky, bring it back so i can throw it again. Come on, bring it back.

Sky: well that’s just crazy grandpa, I already have it. Why would I want to give it back to you

Zeus’: because he likes to throw it sky, why don’t you let me bring it back to grandpa, it makes him so happy (attempts to take the ball)

Sky: Oh no you didn’t. You did NOT just try to take this ball away from ME! What makes YOU think that it would be ok to just walk right up to ME and take THIS ball away (sky is so busy bitching with her eyes closed that she drops the ball and zeus picks it up and takes it to grandpa)

Grandpa: good boy zeus… such a good boy. Do you want me to throw it? Are you gonna get it this time?

Zeus: you can throw it grandpa but sky will get it, it is her ball. It’s ok. 

Sky: damn right it is bitch. I cannot even believe you took it like you think who the fuck you are right now

Zeus: ok...zeusy will go and poop now. 

Zoom in on zeus’s butthole and see the “asslings” white hairs that grow out of his butthole and just say mean things when they are “activated”

Asslings: hey shit for brains, think you can make a descent dump this time? Don’t waste my time with one of those useless pathetic pencil turds you lazy son of a bitch. Eat some god damn fiber for christ’s sake. Geez, this aint rocket science, my friend. Ya eat and ya shit it out. 

Meanwhile sky comes over and hears his asslings. 

Sky: what in the? Zeus, are you waking up those nasty ass asslings again? What in the holy hell is wrong with you? Now you listen to me mother fucking asslings… y'all just need to shut the fuck up and 

Asslings: shut your slutty trap you stupid whore. You don’t know nothin bout nothin so mind your own god damn business, capiche? 

Sky: Hmf… stupid ass dirty cock suckers. Trying to tell ME what to do. I will have you know that Daddy Almighty will smite you right off of that asshole if I so much as say the word so you just watch your mother fuckin ps and qs. God damn asslings… 

Asslings: ooooh, we’re shaking in our shit shoes slut. OOOh daddy almighty… we’re so scared

Zeus: it’s ok everybody, can’t we all just be friends? 

Sky: somethin wrong with you 

Grandpa: well guys… if everyone has pooped and peed and is done playin catch, think I’ll head home. 

Sky: Of course, grampa. You are old and tired. I completely understand. I am always more than happy to allow you to spend time in my presence but go and rest now.

Zeus: ok grandpa, we will go back to protecting the house as we do when there are no other humans around. We are brave and will not let anyone do anything to this house. We are on high alert at all times.

2 seconds later both dogs are down for nappy #4

Stella: omg how can they possibly sleep so much?? Oh well, better for me. I can finally look out the window by myself. TBH… I love their nap times. They’re so basic. I’m just like hey let’s just hang and LALL, that’s for live and live let. But you know, enjoy life, have fun, laugh, dance (sees a bird outside and stares intently at it for a moment) Hey bitch, whatchu tryin? I could eat you ya know. You’d be a snack in a (bird flies away)... anyways… they need to chill and spread love, not hate. I just love, love, love, life ya know?

(Stella stares at the dogs)

(Sky opens one eye a little bit)

Sky: Ummmm… can I help you? What are you staring at?

Stella: Nothing… I just don’t know why you sleep so much. This is like nap #4 or something isn’t it? And it’s only like 1:30 in the afternoon!

Sky: I will have you know… guarding this house takes a lot of energy and multiple nappies are IMPERATIVE to keep this highly efficient, well oiled… beautiful…. security machine in tip top condition. (zeus is sitting up looking proud and strong) Do you think this just happens? NO! AND even when it LOOKS like I am asleep, I am still on high alert. As for Zeus well he’s just lazy. (zeus drops his head looking sad)

Zeus: But if zeusy naps just like Sky, why isn’t he a highly efficient something something? 

Sky: Because I know the correct way to nap and you do not… that is why.

ZEus: OOOOOOOH

Stella: But like, I’m a cat and I mean, naps have been called “cat naps” because they nap so much but like, you nap waaaaay more than I do. 

Sky: Exactly.. You are a CAT and you have no real purpose here so you do not have the same sleep requirements. Here… let me try and explain the science behind this. I know you most likely will not be able to follow along very well but I will try to explain it as well as I can so that a simple minded person like yourself can get a basic understanding.

Stella just rolls her eyes… zeus looks on excitedly. Sky whips out a dry erase board and marker, puts on glasses and proceeds to draw a bunch of squiggly lines and nonsense

Sky: You see it is like this… my body has to expel a specific amount of what is called en..er..gy (sounded out slowly) in order to perform the very important duties that have been placed upon me. That en..er..gy (sounded out slowly) needs to be replaced at certain intervals throughout the day or this here machine (runs hands down her body) will fail and THAT is simply not an option. 

(excitedly draws dots and slashes on dry erase board )

Zeus: OOOOH! And is that also why you need to eat most of the food that mummy puts out for both of us?

Sky looks at zeus like he is stupid 

Sky: No dummy… I have told you. I NEED that extra food because I am carrying your babies!

Stella: Ummm haven’t you been saying that for like ever?

Zeus: Stella, these are special babies and they need extra time to be ready for the world. Sky told me so. See… I remembered Sky!

Sky: HMF bout damn time. With that being said, I must get on with nappy #5 now because I 

Motorcycle comes up the road; zeus and sky run to the window barking…. Stella runs away, startled by their sudden movement

Sky: Oh I know that sound! You think you are something else, don’t you speedy gonzalez. That’s right you just keep on going right on by. You know what’s best for you, don’t you. That's what I THOUGHT!

Zeus: We did it again, Sky. We showed him! He won’t be coming round here again, will he sky?

Sky: Well I should hope not! Just the sound of my voice told that stupid ass mother fucker that he needs to just be OUT.

Zeus: Mummy and Daddy will be so proud of us! We didn’t let any bad guys come into this house! I can’t wait until they come home and see what an amazing job we did! WHen will they be home sky? It has been soooooo long since they left to go hunting!

Sky: Well, I don’t know about Mommy… it ain’t like she is hunting monies like Daddy Almighty. Women just don’t have the brains for that. I can’t believe she is even allowed to DRIVE! But I have to trust in Daddy almighty’s decision to let her… as difficult as that may be. Need to just have faith! Anyways… Daddy will be home when he feels he has collected sufficient monies and we just have to be patient. Could be days, could be months, could be years! No one can say!

Stella: Ummmm, pretty sure they leave every morning and come home every evening. It’s like… a few hours. But like there are some days that they stay home and like…

Sky: stay home??? That was WEEKS ago. there’s no telling when or if that will happen again. There is a lot of pressure on Daddy to hunt our monies. We just have to trust in the lord and his decisions. Now everybody just shut up and let me get on with nappy #5 I am already way behind schedule thanks to Mr. speedy gonzalez. HMF

Sky and zeus curl up on a now cushionless, coverless couch. Stella sits on the back of the couch looking out the window and talking to the animals outside

Stella: oh hello mr squirrel… looking mighty brave today, aren’t we? If only gramma and grandpa would forget to close the window one day… you wouldnt be so brave then, would you? I’d slash you taint to tip and dance in your blood while I …. Oh look! Gramas home! Yay! 

Sound of a chainlink gate opening. Zeus and sky jump up and look out the window, tails wagging, wining with excitement.

Zeus: omg omg omg mummy is home I love her so so so so much! She will be so happy to see how we protected the house and she will take us outside right away and walk around with us because she is so proud of us!

Sky: You best believe I will explain to her right away that it was ME who kept us all safe from the evil doers of this god forsaken earth and she will be so happy and give me the most pets.

Stella: (mumbling quietly to herself) at least I didn’t fuck up the couches like these asshats. Pretty sure Grammas gonna like lose her shit when she sees this disaster.

Alicia walks in the back door, zeus and sky and jumping up and down wining excitedly. Stella saunters in,

Zeus: OMG mummy you wouldn’t believe what happened today. You have been gone so long! We thought we would never see you again. Grandpa came over and we scared away so many strangers and…

Sky: ahem… look at me, just me. Zeus has no idea what he is talking about. I knew you would come home and I TRIED to explain it to him but he is just so stupid and yes Grampa came to see ME and I chased away many strangers as I do everyday. 

Stella: Hey Gramma… what up? Wait til you see what these morons did to the couches… it is legit fucked up. 

Alicia: hello hello everybody… down… come on, let’s go outside...how was your day? Were you a good boy? Were you a good girl? 

They all go outside, stella gets up on the shoe rack by the back window. Alicia walks to the mailbox, sky jumping next to her the whole time

Sky: did you hear me bitch? I chased away the bad guys… A-Gain! You should be praising me! Praise me god dammit. 

Zeus just goes off to lift his leg and pee on a plant

Zeus: here ya go little flower… i know how much you like this. It will make you grow big and strong.

Sky: zeus you idiot… you are doing that wrong. Look, you need to do it like this…

Sky squats on the same plant and pees.

Sky: it is MY water that this flower wants and quite frankly NEEDS. You don’t know nothin bout nothin

Alicia: alright guys back inside. Gotta start dinner.

Once inside alicia sees couch cushions on the floor, stuffing from the already ripped cushions strewn all over. Stella sitting on the coffee table waiting for the shit to hit the fan with a big smile

Alicia: what the fuck guys? 

Zeus and sky shrink down and slink off, attempting to go into the bedroom but the door is still closed. Sky proceeds to pee a little on the floor

Sky: OMG this bitch is NEVER satisfied! GOd damn. Goin and scarin me like that, making me piddle a little. And for what? Nothin. That’s what. 

zeus : i’m so so so so sorry mummy… we didn’t realize we messed up the couches. IT will never ever happen again mummy… i promise.

Alicia: I am so sick and tired of piecing these couches back together again! It would just be nice to have a normal looking living room! Sky did you just pee on the floor? Wtf? YOu were just outside! 

Alicia wipes up the pee as she rambles about what a pain in the ass they are

Stella just sits on the coffee table giggling and smirking

Sky: oh no you didnt bitch you did NOT just ask me if I peed on the floor. I mean, I did but who do you think you are asking me that. You would never ask me that if daddy almighty were here. HMF. that’s right, clean that up… clean up my pee. 

Alicias phone chimes, receiving a text

Alicia: well guys, daddy has to work late so no point in starting dinner. 

(walks to coffee table, pets stella for a bit, hair flying all over and then sits on the couch as both dogs proceed to jump all over her in excitement)

Zeus: yay… mummy is ready to snuggle! This is what zeusy lives for! Mummy’s kisses and hugs and belly rubs

Sky: Move over zeus, she wants to pet me really. (one dog on each side of alicia) I will allow her to at least until daddy almighty returns from his hunt. Here ya go bitch, take it all in.

Alicia: guess what guys… it is thursday. You know what that means!

All say simultaneously

Alicia: tomorrow is the start of the weekend!

Zeus: it is almost mummy and daddy all day time!

Sky: father daddy is gonna take what is his tomorrow night from his whore!

STella: grandpa and me gonna get turnt tomorrow night woop woop!

Alicia: just one more day, guys… one more day

Everyones smiling 

[naturecoaster]

Nature Coast State of Emergency Options

What should one do in the Nature Coast State of Emergency? With nearly every public facility, event, and meeting being closed through the end of March, NatureCoasters' lives are being disrupted in a BIG way. Still, panicking is not a good option. Prayer is a good option. Staying in one’s home can get mundane, so what is a NatureCoaster to do? There are many outdoor activities in our area that will allow safe space and provide excellent recreational opportunities. This is a great time to indulge in that kayak trip you have been putting off.

Kayaking opportunities about on Florida's Nature Coast. Here is an image from Pat Manfredo from her trip on the Pithlachascotee River. Walk in the State Forest or any one of our wonderful parks. Take a bike ride on the Withlacoochee Trail. Have you tried walking Brooksville's new Florida Mermaid Trail? Ride a horse. Go fishing. Rent a boat and tour the seas.

This little angel has just helped her mom, brother and grandma pick a bucket of strawberries at JG Ranch, a u-pick farm in Brooksville that offers strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, corn, and assorted produce in season, as well as fresh eggs and locally-made items at their produce stand on the farm. Joan and George Casey, as well as Jeff and Debbie Casey, and their children, run this family farm. Image by Diane Bedard. Go to a u-pick farm. There are several u-pick farms in Florida’s Nature Coast, and this is a great activity with delicious and nutritious benefits. Blueberry season is only a few weeks away. Strawberry season is winding up and several vegetables are in season now. Be sure to call before you venture out for hours and availability. You have choices that fit the parameters of COVID-19 safety guidelines You have the opportunity to make this a special time where you might work on gardening projects, paint or draw, read a book, write a poem or a story, or any myriad of hobbyist activities. Take a minute to inventory what is available in your location and fight the tendency to panic. Deep cleaning and organizing is always an option. You are not alone.

Always good food, good friends and great coffee at Cattle Dog Coffee Roasters on Tompkins Street. Cattle Dog's five Citrus County locations are open for business, following CDC guidelines and now offer curbside pickup with online orders. Image by Margaret Bronder. Restrictions for Restaurants, Bars & Beaches On March 17, Saint Patrick’s Day, Florida's Governor, Ron DeSantis, sent an Executive Order effectively shutting down sales in bars that receive 50% or more of their revenues from beer, wine and liquor sales for 30 days. BOOM Restaurants are allowed to stay open now but must institute a safe space policy of 50% of their capacity. This means that every other dining table is open for business if a restaurant chooses to continue serving food providing the six-foot space we need to keep while under our State of Emergency. Many restaurants are now offering curbside pickup and may have special procedures for that service. For example, Cattle Dog Coffee Roasters began curbside pickup service, but orders must be placed and paid for online. Please call ahead.

If you get out to a restaurant, please tip your servers very generously if you can. Image courtesy of Robin Draper. Servers are being hit hard. If you choose to eat in a restaurant or get take out food, please tip generously – ridiculously generously. That may be what keeps their lights on. Beaches are not closed, but visitors must keep a six-foot distance between each party. Parties should be limited to ten. Gatherings should be less than 50 and outdoors is preferred.

The Valerie Theater in downtown Inverness is one of many public facilities that was temporarily closed to help prevent the spread of the Coronavirus on Florida's Nature Coast. Image by Diane Bedard. Nature Coast Libraries, Schools, Courthouses, and Public Buildings All Nature Coast schools were closed in the last week through the end of March (more or less – check your school’s website for specific dates). Children are home and many parents are working from home. Most public buildings and libraries are closed to the public for indoor activities, like paying bills, renting books and movies and Wi-Fi access. Cultural programs are closed. Movie and live performance theatres are closed. Museums are closed. Libraries are offering Wi-Fi outdoors, but no public computers. Books can be reserved online and picked up at library locations, but there is no indoor service. Jury trials are suspended in the courts and all government offices such as tax collectors and driver license bureaus can be managed online. Please do so.

Navigating the challenges of working from home with your children present requires a new style of balance. Image courtesy of Pixabay. How to Work from Home with your Children there When I was in my early 30s, I started my entrepreneurial journey with two toddlers (Irish twins) at home. It was truly a challenge to manage work around their schedules, but I learned a lot. I want to share some of that knowledge with those of you who are suddenly thrust into the work from home scenario. Balance is key. Children do not innately understand why anything is more important than their immediate “needs.” As they get older, they learn to put others first. This means they don’t understand why you are staring at that computer now instead of playing with them. Try to schedule time for both in the workday.

Sometimes the schedule has to be foregone to keep the balance. Image courtesy of Pixabay. When my children took a nap, I worked. If someone called during the awake hours and I was disrupted, I would say, “Oh, that’s my management team. They’re being cranky.” This would make the client/boss and I laugh. We would reschedule or muddle through depending on the situation. The laughter broke the ice and made things much easier to resolve. Now is a time to give each other lots of grace – including ourselves and our families. Why outdoors?

Get outdoors and get healthy with Florida sunshine and fresh air. Image by Diane Bedard. The Florida Sunshine provides health benefits to our bodies. Our skin absorbs vitamin D from sun exposure. It is good for us. Here is an interesting article on Coronavirus and the Sun by Dr. Richard Hobday, an internationally recognized authority on health in the built environment. Fresh air is a proven aid in the healing process. Indoor air is recycled, so germs are recycled too. Apparently fresh air lets the germs go away – maybe through photosynthesis. Maybe through rain and dew. I don’t know why or how. I just know it works.

When finances look bleak, be sure to ask your creditors for grace. Often by being ahead of the problem, you can work out a solution and skip the sleepless nights. Image courtesy of Dean Moriarty via Pixabay. What about Income? I believe we will all be affected financially by this crisis. Still, panicking does not help. I have read news stating that Congress and the President are talking about printing money and sending each of us $1,000 or so. That will surely help, but I don’t recommend waiting for it. If and when it works out, we will know what to do with it. If it looks like you are going to be short in an area of debt, contact whomever you owe and work out an alternate payment plan. This is a temporary situation. Maybe you can skip this month’s payment, and have it added to the end of the loan? No-one wants to make it worse. Being proactive in this area can save you sleepless nights and credit score drops.

Image courtesy of Pixabay. What Can a NatureCoaster Do? If you are able to help someone out, please do so. Share a roll of toilet paper or two. Call those who are stuck in facilities and cannot have visitors. Mail letters and cards. Donate blood. There is a real shortage right now. Can you volunteer remotely? Nonprofits are sending NatureCoaster updates saying they are planning to continue offering services, but they may be implemented differently. If you can donate time, money or resources to a nonprofit, now is a great time to do so.

What to Do in the Nature Coast State of Emergency

Anglers of all sizes love Homosassa's fishing! Residents of Citrus, Hernando and Pasco Counties are blessed with many outdoor activity resources. Our park systems are large and, although events and gatherings are canceled, the parks, forests, rivers, lakes, and Gulf are still open and ready for you to enjoy. Get outside, while minding your Ps&Qs to thoroughly wash your hands, stay 6 feet from others, and pray for each and every human in this world – may we become better people in a better society through the challenges we rise up to today. There many outdoor activities in Florida’s Nature Coast that allow safe space and provide excellent recreational opportunities.

The Hunter Springs Park beach provides a wonderful launch for any kayaking adventure with the Hunter Springs Kayak team. Image by Diane Bedard. This could be a great time to indulge in that kayak trip you have been putting off. Walk in the State Forest or any one of our wonderful parks and botanical gardens.

Sunset Landing Marina in Port Richey has beautiful pontoon boat rentals to help you catch a coastal state of mind. Ride a horse. Go fishing. Rent a pontoon boat and enjoy the gulf breeze. Go to a u-pick farm. Blueberry season is only a few weeks away. Strawberry season is winding up and several vegetables are in season now. We welcome a new NatureCoaster this week with The Dolan House in Brooksville. Perhaps a stay-cation with Debra and Roger King providing a respite from your home would be in order? They make one heckuva breakfast – and pastries!

Perhaps a staycation at The Dolan House to clear the head? Their motto of ABC of Always Be Clean makes for confidence in their historic B & B. Image courtesy of The Dolan House. If you have small businesses that you patronize regularly perhaps it would be nice to check on them. Shops are still open for business in most cases, as are many restaurants with take-out and limited hours. Florida’s Nature Coast is woven with the fabric of small businesses and we all need each other to make it through the tough times. Take a minute to inventory what is available in your location and fight the tendency to panic. You are not alone. Let us know how we can help you. We are going to feature some local images in the next few weeks as part of our ezine for inspiration. Useful Links courtesy of the Greater Hernando Chamber of Commerce: Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 - Click Here U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - Regional offices closed - Click Here Families First Coronovirus Response Act - Tax-Related Provisions - Click Here Hernando County - Upcoming BOCC Meeting - Click Here NAMI Hernando - Virtual Support Groups - Click Here   Read the full article

[nightofthetriffids]

Vote the Tories out tomorrow: a support worker’s view

For anyone still sitting on the fence regarding tomorrow's general election, let me tell you what has been happening where I work, supporting people with learning disabilities, such as Downs Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy.

I have been supporting people in my organisation, a charity that is totally funded by local government, since 2010. In that year, the organisation's budget was cut by 25% as that local council was told it had to make millions in savings due to austerity measures put in place by the newly elected government. 

My organisation, based in London, dealt with this reduction in core revenue by cutting wages of staff, the majority of whom being support workers, the people who support the people with learning disabilities with every aspect of their day to day lives. They weren't on much to start with, but their wages were cut, and stayed the same for the next 4 years at roughly £16,000 per annum. The London Living Wage is just over £19,000 per annum. 

So what? Well, first, a lot of people left. With increased staff turnover comes more new faces, more reliance on agency staff. Imagine that for the people we support, different faces every day helping you with your most intimate tasks, not knowing how your disability affects you, not knowing what might trigger something really upsetting or stressful.

£16k is pretty difficult to live on in London. Alone, let alone with a mortgage and/or family. Support workers have had to do more overtime. Support work is a rewarding, amazing job at its best. It is also often extremely stressful and hard work. Over-time means doing long days, 12, 13 hours, working on your day off.

Again, translate that for the people we support. The support workers who help them with everything from getting up in the morning, going to the toilet and having a shower to supporting people with achieving their hopes and dreams, are inevitably more fatigued, less motivated, worn out by a tough job for little money, whilst an admin assistant in the same city sits at a computer for at least £20k. People who don't move up move on; more new faces who don't know you and how you like to be supported. At best you have to live with a procession of different people you don't know or trust supporting you with your private and intimate affairs. At worst it creates an unstable environment where abuse is far more likely. 

Have I mentioned day service cuts? People with learning disabilities’ social lives have been ripped apart as day services across the city have been shut down or minimised, deemed to not be a necessity. Having friends is not deemed to be a necessity. These are often people who cannot speak for themselves, who need extra support to make friends and socialise, from specialist services. Cut.

Meanwhile, and especially since 2015, people we support have had to prove that they even have a disability. I know one person who had to prove his learning disability twice to gain Personal Independence Payments payments, after being told his Disability Living Allowance would be ending. He has had a learning disability since birth, which makes work impossible for him. We got to the assessment meetings and the staff had no idea why we were there. It was extremely stressful for him, to have to justify his existence just to gain the means to live. And then we had to go back, as they’d lost the record of our first meeting. 

These are cuts that don't get reported. They are two or three steps down the line from the initial policy, but if you trace it to source it comes back the the initial Tory cut, the failed austerity. 

This is just a microcosm of what is going on across social care and public services. The Conservatives don't care about vulnerable people. They will mind their Ps and Qs whilst instigating processes that down the line destroy people's lives whilst keeping their own heads above water. 

Another five years could make it much worse. Don't sit on the fence. Don't stay at home. Vote the tories out tomorrow.