#Abilene Music

[melodieyvonne]

Abilene Quartet wsg Celtic Woman's Chloë Agnew Deliver Stunning Show at The Palladium

[ask-sebastian]

One of my favorite re-editions of Bach's pieces. Takes me away to another moment in time.

Oh yes, a favourite!

[eugenionegro]

Short mystery story "Flood Line" published on Defiant Scribe

Go over to the ever-excellent Defiant Scribe now and read their latest edition (after an absence of harrowing duration), which includes Negro’s short mystery “Flood Line” for your education, enjoyment and reflection! Defiant Scribe are doing the ancestors’ work, go read all of it and support them any way you can.

[stevenvenn]

Old Fire (f. Bill Callahan) - Corpus (from Voids) Don’t know much about John Mark Lapham (Earlies, The Late Cord) but really liking this new track he does with Bill Callahan from Old Fire’s new album Voids. That also features Emily Cross, Julia Holter, and more. His website also has a great link to a music mix of spooky stuff. Love it. Listen to Ballad, String, and Bone on Mixcloud.

[goatsandpals]

Infinity Paradox redesign! Below is the first time I drew them! (Also don’t mind the background I was just having fun. I’ve been watching the Appetite of a People-Pleaser music video and it shows)

Infinity Paradox (Dee) Updated lore and slight redesign. (Keep in mind that they still have their original outfit I just wanted to draw them in something new I guess.) looking back I changed their lore every other week, so this is the official lore unless I say otherwise.

Pronouns: They/Them

Age: Like….11 in human terms. (I make a ton of characters younger than me, but definitely not because I’m scared of growing up and miss my childhood, or anything like that!!!)

Race/Species: Half Human, half demon, and Wasian. (Like me! I mean, not the demon part. Probably.)

Abilities: Future reading, can make unstable portals. Also they CAN create fire, but unlike most demons, it burns them, because of their human blood.

Likes: Toast, snails, mathematics, weirdcore, graphic novels, stars, vocaloid, and crimes.

Dislikes: Bill Cipher, liars, manipulation, parent figures, fire, the end of the world, small spaces, and themself.

Personality: more complex then most of my ocs, because I used my own personality as a base for theirs, and then worked off of that, resulting in a character that isn’t that much like me, but has a lot of different sides. They have experienced extreme trauma, but deal with it by making jokes/taking revenge. They are happy and cheerful, but some times just completely shut down and can’t talk to anyone. Not great at reading people, tends to say random things. Scared of everything but doesn’t show it, keeps it bottled up and then just breaks down every once in a while. Naturally chaotic but doesn’t want to hurt anyone. They have a sadistic side.

Birthday: August 5

Zodiac sign: Leo

Chinese Zodiac sign: Year of the Dragon

Tarot Card: Probably closest to The Fool, but maybe could also be The Tower or The Hermit.

Design notes: I made a few changes, like giving them a extra streak of white hair, and making the infinity symbol a hair clip instead of glasses. This is because I always forget to draw it as glasses. They have bandages because they are clumsy as fuck and trip all the time. They got their scythe that one time when they fought death. (And won). Their eyes are naturally black but turn white then having a prophecy. One of their eyes is grey because of this, and they eventually lose sight in that eye altogether.

Backstory: Dee’s mother was a demon, named Sorites, and their father was a human, whose identity is unknown, as he left the family before Dee was born. Dee had an older sister named Abilene Paradox, who has a personality that is completely opposite to theirs. Abilene is a lot older, and left the left the family to live on her own. Sorites’s loved Dee very much, but never understood them. Dee was a strange child, and didn’t speak until they turned five. That was when they had their first prophecy. When they have prophecies, their eyes turn fully white. After their first prophecy they wouldn’t stop talking, but always said the strangest things. Sorites hid their powers to keep them from being taken away,

Around this time, Sorites completely snapped, and had to be brought to rehab. Dee went to live with their closest relatives, the Ciphers. The Cipher’s were a family of lowly triangles, with many talented children. When the Cipher’s discovered that they had seer abilities, they saw a good financial opportunity, and basically sold them to the Oracle as an apprentice.

Their job was to have prophecies and record every moment in time. The Oracle lives in the In Between (From the owl house) so Dee recorded every moment from the boxes in the water. In doing so, they noticed a strange pattern: aimless violence and killing, hurting of others for no apparent reason. The thoughts of cruelty plagued them.

But overall, Dee was happier under the Oracle’s care, and saw her as a mother figure. However, The Oracle is not a being of emotion, and only does things for the greater good of the universe. One day, the Oracle foresaw that Bill would destroy Dee’s home dimension, and that he would have to, in order for the Pines to kill him later on. The Oracle knew that this had to happen, and that Dee would try to stop him, so The Oracle ordered them to stop looking into the future for ‘mental health reasons’ (a seer can go insane by looking to far into the future. More on that later.)

But Dee still sensed that something was going on, so they decided to check on their home dimension, and found it in flames. They rushed over to try to find their family in the fire, and The Oracle caught them by the door to the dimension. The Oracle pleaded with them to stop, to go back to the temple, but in their anger and betrayal, Dee struck out with their scythe, and injured The Oracle, a crime above all others. Dee then ran through the door, and searched helplessly for their mother, only to find her corpse, chard and broken from the fire. Their sister also died in this fire, but that was only like a temporary thing.

Suddenly, they realized that they were trapped, with walls of fire surrounding them. The fire burned away at their flesh, until they were saved at the last minute by the absolute worst demon. Bill saved/captured them, in order to use their seeing abilities. I actually wrote a short fic about this part of their life, since this post is long enough already, I’ll just summarize it:

Infinity: okay, so you basically killed my entire family, destroyed my home, and probably traumatized me for life. Are you going to apologize and make amends?

Bill: lol NOPE. Since you have seeing abilities you get to be chained to a chair and plugged into a machine for the rest of your life, a machine which will purge out all of your prophecies and destroy your mind in the process. Also I will be there every day, hiding my own trauma by taking it out on you, by reminding you how it was all your fault that your family died. You, a literal eight year old. All your fault. Also I’m going to dissect and experiment on you. Lmaooooooo.

Bill: There’s no way this could ironically backfire. Like, say, them escaping and plotting revenge on me.*

*They escaped and plotted revenge on Bill.

Dee escaped to the human realm, and was drawn to a town called Gravity falls. Never heard of that one, I’m sure. They were pretty paranoid about looking into the future, and were basically a train wreak after losing their family. Around this time, they befriended Stanford Pines, a newly graduated collage student studying the anomalies of Gravity Falls. By ‘befriended’ I mean more like, they broke into Ford’s house to steal his food and Ford allowed them to stay because they were an interesting specimen. I wouldn’t say that their relationship was a ‘father and child’ one, more like a ‘Twenty year old who sees annoying demon as a experiment and doesn’t care as much about their well-being because at the time his ego was supper big’. Fiddleford was the one who actually took care of Dee most, because they realized that they were homeless. This argument worked for a while, until Bill realized where Dee was and possessed Ford and made him try to kill them. Dee escaped but the Mystery shack was no longer safe for them.

Okay wow this was a lot of lore. I’ll type out the rest of the story later, but let’s just say that they got a job from a very mysterious collector.

Also to summarize:

They basically went from a silly little guy to a silly little guy with ungodly amounts of trauma and trust issues.

Original meme:

(Please ask questions or make fanart! I love that stuff!)

[lustrous-dawn]

Abilene hesitated, eyes on the ring she twirled in her grasp. She had secrets of her own, not willing to utter them. It would pale in comparison but she looked up as she felt a gentle touch. 

"Hey, you know I was joking, right?" 

There was a time when Abilene rarely said so much of two words between them. Troubled, filled with worry. It was always him taking the first step. Always listening. It went unspoken, not unheard. 

"It's so hard to hide things from you. But tonight, it isn't about me," she smiled, slowly placing the ring on her finger. "It is about you." 

Zhen blinked once. Twice. 

He sure as hell was not imagining the beautiful woman in front of him, who nervously bit down her lip as she idly twirled a loose strand of golden hair, speckled with white. When she tilted her head to face him, her hazel eyes gleamed, a golden glow in her irises. 

"Your jaw is dropping to the ground, Zhen." Her voice was a melody, filled with amusement. Dimples formed on her cheeks as she smiled, the moonlight highlighting a splash of freckles on the bridge of her nose. Her skin of a bronze color, she placed her hand beneath his chin as if to raise it. "If I didn't know any better, I would think you were crushing me instead of Pecs in there." 

He shook his head. "Pecs?" He focused on her words when his mind was in such disarray. 

"He does have a chest, no?" 

Zhen stifled his response to her cool words. A sharp reaction to her playful interest. "I can't tell." His voice came out sharper than intended. He was, of course, none of his damn business. 

"Zhen." She held his hands in hers. Still, she was small in this new form, barely coming past his abdomen as they stood in the silence of night. "I'm not interested in your man. Put the talons away."

"I-"

"I know." She understood he was trying to figure his way around. "I was much like you, remember?" A lingering smile on her lips. A sad one. "I lashed out at you when you said he wasn't good enough for me."

Zhen's gaze went flat. "He wasn't. That's something different altogether." 

She gave a small shrug, tugging him along out of the gazebo, into the open space, onto the pathway. "It's not so much different at all. We do wild things when we love someone. I can't fault you." She adjusted the garland upon her hair, sunny blooms of carnation coming to life when fully exposed. "You're still learning. One day you'll not bite my head off for making shots at him," she grinned.

"How can you be so-"

"Happy? My friend realizes there is someone he wants to spend time with. How can I not be happy for my friend? The jealousy thing is natural for first-timers. It happens and I know it's not on purpose. As long as he makes you happy, I'm happy you see." She answered this nonchalantly as if it was the most obvious answer out there while he struggled to wrap his head around it. "He is making you happy, right?" 

He pursed his lips, reluctant to answer. When he did, he let out his breath, his posture relaxing. "...Yes." 

"Then let him in, Zhen. Let us all in. Tell us. We can't see what you're going through. We really mean well, just as you helped us out." 

She was flawless at this moment, a glimmer in the darkness that had been all-so-encompassing as of late, suffocating. 

Zhen finally smiled, the emotion reaching his eyes. "I don't deserve a friend like you. Fine…" He mustered up the courage, falling into step as he took her hand. "Now I haven't danced in a decade. You can't fault me if I trip up."

"Avoid the hooves and we'll be peachy~" 

At first, the pair stared, unmoving, Zhen hesitant while Abilene was one of confidence. Then she began to move with him following suit, her slow movement leading the flow. It was this when it all fell into place for him, the slow rise and fall of his chest as he followed the rhythm she set, following the reassuring confidence of her flow. 

They danced to no music but one of their own, one of calm that reaffirmed his footing. 

He was moving.

He grinned, her smile growing wider in response.

This heat she felt emitting from him, the subtle glow on his chest as he became more graceful, even mesmerizing. It was warm. 

It healed the subtle aches she felt in the tips of her fingers.

For a moment… this moment. 

It connected. 

[monstersinthecosmos]

September 14, 1973

It’s mid-afternoon and he can barely keep his eyes open. He lowers the window, stops for bitter gas station coffee, musters the energy to sing along to the radio but his eyes are still so heavy.

Those things aren’t enough. He knows that. Running on fumes at this point but some part of him, tiny left over ember inside that used to be a person, reminds him that he needs to sleep. 

And a giddy, frenzied thing inside him says it will be okay. He can find Lestat and persuade him. Please don’t rush. Please don’t wreck the car nodding off. Take an extra day to drive, you will have all the time in the world.

He found a Buddy Holly 8-track under the seat. Reminds him too much of home but nice to change up the music. He and his mom used to dance around to Not Fade Away after school when he was little and he tries not to think about it as he drums his fingers along on the steering wheel.

Too much, though. He switches to FM and lights a cigarette. Approaching Abilene and he wonders if they have any stations. And it’s fuzzy country music but he prefers it to the silence, or the ghosts. Anything to make the last twenty minutes easier as he watches for the exit.

It’s odd, how clear he actually feels as he pulls off the highway. Over-exhausted, but for the first time in days he feels a little bit rational. A little calmer. Maybe too tired to freak out or something. He rubs his eyes as he cruises towards the city, ready to just pick the first motel he sees. It makes sense from here, thinking about it now. He can picture himself checking in, and pictures the long shower he wants to take, and pictures falling asleep while the sun is still up. Maybe he can stay asleep until it rises, too. 

Surely he must have gotten this much sleep recently; his life in San Francisco was full of lazy mornings. Up all night doing interviews, with no obligation in the morning. Rising whenever he felt like it, dropping tapes off at the station. Wandering around. He knows, little ember inside of him knows, that maybe two weeks ago he had mornings like that, but he can’t remember.

Well. He picks a spot. Too tired to be anxious about talking to the front desk. He thinks he makes it through the transaction like a person. Makes it into the room in one piece.

It’s not horrible. Hideous curtains and slippery gold duvet but it’s clean. He puts the tapes in the top drawer. Double locks the door. 

And shower first. Scalding hot, and he isn’t sure how long he just stands there under the spray. Back stiff from all the driving. He presses his face to the tile wall and breathes the steam. He wonders if anyone has noticed he’s missing yet.

Soft pants after. He remembered to bring pajama pants. No shirt. He shaves over the bathroom sink and feels more alert. He starts picking at the scabs again, wincing at how hard it is, how he has to dig his nails into the flaky edge, but seeing himself in the mirror gives him the strength to stop. 

Fine, fine. Be a person.

He gulps water from the tap.

Turns the TV on with the volume low, just so it’s not so quiet in here. 

Smokes a cigarette, reclined on top of of the ugly bed, staring at the TV screen but not really following it.

It’s depraved, the way his mind spins and spins. Depraved, like the way he keeps trying to dig into the scabs, like how he’s driving across the country, like how he knows he’s a changed thing. Depraved like how, for a moment, he considers jerking off before he goes to sleep, knowing he’ll be remembering Louis’s cold hands on his body.

But he rises off the bed, without planning to. Grabs his keys. Goes out to his car in his bare feet, ignoring how hot the asphalt is.

Can’t sleep like this, not without getting some of the transcription done. His eyes are sore but he promises he’ll just do one tape. Just one tape, just to get some of it done, and then he’ll sleep. He will.

So he lugs the typewriter case inside, and a ream of paper. Sets it up on the little table by the window. Grabs the set of copies, and the ashtray, and the whiskey from the bottom of his bag. 

He’s listened to the tapes a couple times now. Keeps pacing his motel rooms to them, or lying awake in the dark, pretending that Louis’s voice will lull him to sleep, instead of flooding his insides with adrenaline. It’s easier now, typing the words, taking it slow, like he’s finally really hearing them.

Play. Pause. Rewind. Play. Pause. Play. Pause. And tap tap tap on the keys. And the quiet rhythm of the TV in the background.

Play. Pause. Snap of his lighter, hit of nicotine. Little rasp of the screw top and a slosh of whiskey. 

He breathes. He listens. Feels normal again.

“What I mean is,” Louis says from the tape, and his voice drags across Daniel’s body like a cello bow. “The moment I saw him, saw his extraordinary aura and knew him to be no creature I’d ever known, I was reduced to nothing.”

Pause.

His nails tap on the edge of the table. Heart skips a beat.

Rewind.

I was reduced to nothing.

Rewind. Play.

Tap tap tap.

He stares at the words on the paper and wants to cry. 

[previous day] | [next day]

[freetheshit-outofyou]

The list of US K.I.A.'s from Operation Just Cause December 20, 1989 – January 31, 1990.

Army

Name    Home of Record

SSG Larry Barnard            Hallstead, PA

PFC Roy D. Brown Jr.       Buena Park, CA

PVT Vance T. Coats           Great Falls, MT              

SPC Jerry S. Daves            North Carolina

SGT Michael A. Deblois   Dubach, LA

PFC Martin D. Denson     Abilene, TX

PFC William D. Gibbs       Marina, CA.

SPC Phillip S. Lear            Westminster, SC

SPC Alejandro Manriquelozano*               Lauderhill, FL

PFC James W. Markwell  Cincinnati, Ohio

CPL Ivan M. Perez            Pawtucket, R.I

PFC John M. Price            Conover, WI

PFC Scott L. Roth              Killeen, TX

PVT Kenneth D. Scott       Princeton, WV

1LT John R. Hunter           Victor, MT

CW2 Wilson B. Owens    Myrtle Beach, SC

CW2 Andrew P. Porter    Saint Clair, MI

PVT James A. Taber Jr.    Montrose, CO

Navy

LT(JG) John Connors         Arlington, MA

BM1 Chris Tilghman        Kailua, HA

ENC Donald McFaul         Deschutes, OR

TM2 Issac G. Rodriguez III           Missouri City, TX

Marine Corps

Name    Home of Record

Cpl. Garreth C. Isaak                      Greenville, SC     * denotes service member is laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery.

[earthcalled]

* PLAYING: 16 CARRIAGES BY BEYONCE.

(  taylor russell  .  cis woman  .  she/her  )       ✧       entering through oldham’s shore,  we’ve spotted  annabelle jackson,  as usual carrying her worn-out tote bag. the tides had let us know she's a  twenty-four  year old  banshee  with her sun in cancer,  and her day mostly occupied by arranging books at genevieve oldham public library.  the spring breeze whispered she quite enjoys a full night’s rest, unplagued by dreams ; a mid-afternoon nap, taken in the sun ; folk & bluegrass music, listened to through an old speaker ,  which might or might not be responsible for her timid, avoidant, melancholic, kind, empathetic, encouraging nature.  evangeline isn't an oldham local,  yet the ocean’s waves brought us tales about them regardless,  about how she  often mourns the home they can never go back to; can be found walking along the beach at nighttime, cursed by unrest; appeared in oldham under mysterious circumstances; feed the stray cats in the alley & watch the amusement park lights from afar, although we can never know for sure when it comes to oldham,  in the end,  it could be only rumors,  right ?

BASICS:

full name: annabelle lee jackson nickname(s): annie, anna, belle, ann, lee age: twenty-four gender: cis woman pronouns: she/her sexuality: closeted bisexual date & place of birth: june 30 in abilene, texas occupation: librarian faceclaim: taylor russell piercings: none tattoos: none similar to: angela weber (twilight), haruhi fujioka (ouran high school host club), katara (avatar: the last airbender), sandy olsen (grease), violet parr (the incredibles)

* warning for parentification, miscarriage, spousal death, religious trauma

BULLET POINTS:

– y'all i'll be so real i don't have much yet ... here is her bare bones ... – grew up in rural texas ! oldest of five siblings and grew up taking care of them. she was considered very "plain" in her mother's eyes, which disappointed her because she wanted her daughter to be a pageant queen (yes this gives her a complex) – they were poor, she's used to giving up most of what she has to make sure her younger siblings were more comfortable – got married at 18 to her high school sweetheart (she loved him more than life itself) (this will end badly) – got pregnant shortly after, which she was very happy about. annabelle felt stifled at home and took the chance to move out with her husband -- they struggled, but they were happy. – until she started getting ... dreams. visions, almost. always superstitious and riddled with religious trauma, she didn't bring this up. she didn't want to ruin the "perfect" life she thought they had – the screams start later. she wakes up and the force of the scream is enough to rattle the walls, crack the windows. he thinks she's crazy and so does she, but he still loves her – he dies soon after, on the eve of her nineteenth birthday. the night after another scream, but that one was different. near deafening. the police show up and she's got his blood on her hands. she takes what cash she can find, her husband's rosary, and she runs – for a while she survives on odd jobs, always hiding her face and taking the greyhound as far out of state as she can. she leaves her entire family behind and it eats at her and will forever and ever etc etc . they think she's dead too – another dream and this time it's her bleeding. the scream this time feels like anguish and sounds like grief. she loses her baby soon after from stress – ends up in oldham after traveling across the country...she's only been here for around six months, but she felt it calling to her. and she's got nothing to lose now, so starting over seems like the best thing she can do – she's quite timid and shy (both bc of her nature but also because she is literally wanted for murder) – loves animals and nature. prefers both over people sometimes – quiet, soft-spoken. often has to be asked to speak up (she hates it), but can be giggly and kind if you get it out of her. very avoidant and flighty and always looks like she's hiding something/trying to get out of conversation (she is) – it will take so long. it's like pulling teeth to be her friend but it's worth it! eventually she becomes less avoidant and will like pick you flowers or something -- argh she loves to people watch. especially at the amusement park, the beach, the park. she wants to be a part of something so bad but she's always keeping herself distant bc of her history. ough

  WANTED CONNECTIONS:

— unrequited love maybe ... idk she gives the vibes she falls head over heels three times a day with every other stranger on the street – the usual. bffs, enemies, one night stands (maybe only like one of these tho idk she's scared of intimacy), a love interest ... throw em at me – oh does anyone want to be her roommate. actually. she doesn't have enough money to live alone UGUIFKJWDNHS – a bad influence ? she's pretty straight edge she should be at the club – who isn't vibing w her ??? who is like "this bitch is weird"

[bigbigtruck]

Comics stream! Runs 3:15-6PM US Central. Working on Shot & Chaser pages 126 + 127 plus some SFW panels from Sweet Abilene. Mic on, music on. Come by and say hi!

[unitcd]

Michael Mon Matthews

GENERAL DETAILS.

FULL NAME:   Michael Mon Matthews NICKNAME(S):  Mon, Matthews, Texas (do not call him Michael or Mike) AGE:   23-28 DATE OF BIRTH:   March 24th (year is dependent on verse) PLACE OF BIRTH:  Abilene, Texas CURRENT LOCATION:  Abilene, Texas ETHNICITY:  American/White GENDER:  Male RELIGION: He's spiritual but not religious. OCCUPATION:   Rancher EDUCATION LEVEL:  High School Graduate EXTRACURRICULAR:  Rodeo man LIVING ARRANGEMENTS:  He owns his home on a large plot of land, it's a 2 bedroom 1.5 bathroom home, approximately 1600 sq feet, ranch style that includes a barn and he built a room for Tex (his dog) on the back so that he has his own spot to go hang out. FINANCIAL STATUS:  Lower middle class SPEAKING VOICE AND ACCENT: West Texas SPOKEN LANGUAGES: English VOICECLAIM: Scott Eastwood in Longest Ride (?)

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE, ETC.

FACECLAIM:   Scott Eastwood HAIR COLOR AND STYLE:  Sandy brown, short or medium length COMPLEXION:  Fair, but he's tan because he works outside all the time. EYE COLOR:  Blue (hints of green) EYESIGHT:  Good HEIGHT:  5'11" WEIGHT:  (dude idfk) BODY AND BUILD:   Athletic & Muscular TATTOOS:  None PIERCINGS:   None CLOTHING STYLE:   Western DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS: This eyes and calloused hands from his line of work. SIGNATURE SCENT:  

HEALTH.

MENTAL DISORDER(S):  PHYSICAL DISORDER(S):  He has injuries that have not healed from his rodeo days. ALLERGIES:  Bullshit (i had to put something funny in here okay?) SLEEPING HABITS:  8 hrs EATING HABITS:  3 meals a day SOCIABILITY: He can make friends fairly easily. ADDICTIONS: Does Rodeo count bc like, there's songs about this shit. DRUG USE:  None ALCOHOL USE: Once a week

PERSONALITY.

LABEL(S):  (?????) POSITIVE TRAITS:  Hard working, humble, a go-getter, handy (he built his own barn and the room off of the house for Tex with electricity) NEGATIVE TRAITS: Hardheaded, short tempered. LIKES:  Honesty, hard workers, laughing, friendliness DISLIKES:  Lazy people, his parents, people that judge him for how he lives his life. FEARS: Dying alone, not having a successful life doing what he loves. HABITS:  GOALS AND AMBITIONS:  To have a successful ranch and homestead. MORAL ALIGNMENT: PRIMARY VICE:  The Rodeo circuit. PRIMARY VIRTUE:   WEATHER: Sunny COLOR:  Green MUSIC: Anything by George Strait MOVIE:   BOOK: SPORT:   Football BEVERAGE:  Dr Pepper FOOD:  Texas BBQ ANIMAL:  Horses SEASON: Fall

FAMILY, RELATIONSHIPS, ETC.

MOTHER: Rhea (estranged) FATHER:  Logan (estranged) SIGNIFICANT OTHER: Verse Dependent BEST FRIEND:  Verse Dependent EXES: N/A SIBLING(S): None CHILDREN:  None EXTENDED FAMILY: N/A PET(S): Tex (blue heeler), cattle, horses,

[jasmariswonderland]

Assorted Lore Part 9 ~ Lyrics to Guilty Heart

Hello everyone! 

Chapter 15 of Shining Hearts should be out sometime this week, I’m hoping maybe Wednesday but Thursday at absolute latest. But in the meantime, today I’m sharing the full lyrics to the Black Swan Quintet’s VDC song. I decided to rename the song from Guilty Kiss to Guilty Heart to better reflect the overall change Danica and her teammates go through during the story. And the shift in how Danica’s relationships with her dorm leaders change throughout Book 5. I think that sounds a lot better now too, yes the final edits to this story will reflect the title change. 

~~~

[GUILTY HEART]

Lyrics by Danica Ledelle. Musical arrangement by Taima and Lilianne Abilene

Lyrics under the cut!

+++

[T/IM] Look at me

[V]Before I vanish forever

[T/IM] Hold me

[IO] The chains become tighter

[T/IM] Love me

[D] Before regret poisons us both

Even if you swear yourself to me, your guilty heart will never again take me captive

+++

[D] The weight of my heart pulls me under 

I know this is my end, but I won’t have it

I’m going to make my way to the surface

You cannot save me anymore

[IO]Your smile was my miracle, under your gentle hand all my dreams came true

[V]But why has my dream become a nightmare? And why can’t I look away?

[D]Your love is beautiful, but I will not be your slave

+++

[T/IM]Never again will I dance to your whim, from this moment I strive forward

[V/IO]Breaking the chains and carving out my own destiny

[T/IM]Look at me

[IO]Before I vanish forever

[T/IM]Hold me

[V]The tears run down my face

[T/IM]Love me

[D]This sweetest poison dripping from your lips

Even if you swear yourself to me, your guilty heart [ALL] will never again take me captive

+++

[D]Against the current I’ll forge my path

[D/V]A shining future is within my grasp

[D]In time the scars will fade

[D/IO]My broken heart will guide my way

[V]I followed your radiance to my happily ever after, standing by your side, anything was possible.

[IO] But why has my dream become a nightmare? And why can’t I look away?

[D]Delightfully sweet poison, betraying my innocence

+++

[T/IM]Do not try to beg, no plea will sway me now

[V/IO]I will be stronger, never again will I be someone’s possession 

[T/IM]Look at me

[V]Before I vanish forever

[T/IM]Hold me

[IO]Fighting against these feelings

[T/IM]Love me

[D]The poison won’t take me a second time

Even if you swear yourself to me, your guilty heart [ALL] will never again take me captive

+++

[D]You were my everything, you were my miracle, and before you I never knew what it meant to be loved.

All I want is to return to the way things were. I want to love you again. 

But why has my dream become a nightmare? And why can’t I look away?

[D]No more! I refuse! [ALL] I will set myself free! 

+++

[D/T/IM]Never again will I dance to your whim, from this moment I strive forward

[D/V/IO]Breaking the chains and carving out my own destiny

[T/IM]Look at me

[V]Before I vanish forever

[T/IM]Hold me

[IO]Fighting against these feelings

[T/IM]Love me

[D]No, but I’ve found the antidote

Even if you swear yourself to me, your guilty heart [ALL] will never again take me captive

[D]And never again will your guilty heart enchant me

[karmacommon]

I have not been updating my blog! My first journey out this year was in February and March. I was fortunate to visit my cousins Eric and Dianne Common in Guntersville, Alabama. My dOg and their Roscoe, Winston, and Teddy (cat) got along well. It's so welcoming at their home. I stayed in Nashville on my way south to Alabama. It actually *snowed* in Nashville when we were there. I had my Sorel boots and dOg had his snowsuit, so we were cozy. It all melted in two days!

I went back to Michigan for the Celebration of Life on April 2, 2022 for my brother Chris L Common and his wife, Cindy Jones Common. They were tragically killed by a distracted 17 year old girl driver in Sarasota, Florida just after Christmas, 2021. They were out running as they did on a regular basis, and the girl hit them. My two brothers were at the celebration. My niece and nephew, Kelly and Chris, did an absolutely wonderful job in this remembrance gathering for their parents.

I stayed at my son's house in Ferndale. I flew out to see our mom on her 93rd birthday on May 27, 2022. I surprised her! I hadn't seen her since she moved from Michigan to California in December, 2021. She showed me all around her beautiful new place, Emerald Court, Anaheim. Mom introduced me to her new friends. I feel her move was a very good one. I got her full keyboard set up for her to play. She also can play the baby grand at Emerald Court. It's amazing how the mind puts out the music! She's an incredible pianist. She enjoys going to activities, but I know she misses regular church attendance.

I left Michigan again on June 17, 2022. I picked up my trailer in Piqua, Ohio and proceeded to Indiana. Next I went through Kentucky, and then stayed in the Nashville area for about a week. My journey route was dictated at first by available RV sites.

Then it was across the great Mississippi River to Arkansas! This was my first time to this state. I thought about two friends' experiences in Arkansas.

Then I made it to Texas! We stayed at a Love's Truck Stop south of Texarkana. That will hopefully never happen again in hot weather. Hardly slept; my Jackery battery ran out of steam to power the fan. The only good thing about it is that we were on the road by 6am! Traveling when it's 80° rather than the afternoon temp of 107° was a bit easier. You know travel at that time of the day will not happen often for me!

I finally got to San Antonio, where my cousins live. Charlie and Debbie Common, originally from the Flint, Michigan area, are raising their 18 month old granddaughter. The four of us plus dOg hung out, and went out to dinner for their 45th anniversary.

Next we drove a bit out of our way, but I wanted to see the Tesla Giga Factory, SE of Austin. It was a sight to behold. Huge! Previously, I'd seen its grand opening on TV - the Cyber Rodeo!

Then we stayed at a state park near Burnet, Texas. This was my first time not having cell service! Couldn't pick up any TV stations on my antenna, either. What to do, what to do? I'd just bought my new Purple mattress, plus I had a book given to me by Kim. I read a bit and went to sleep.

Currently we are at Abilene State Park. The state parks are generally prettier, have bigger sites, and are less expensive than private RV parks. I have water and a much-needed power supply, so all is well. The rate is $20/night. Even dOg is ready to come back inside because of the oppressive heat. There's a warning out again today from the National Weather Service about the high temperatures. So far the Texas power grid has provided us with unending AC. I think it's safe to say that I can mark Texas off of my list of states to potentially move to!

I've caught you up on our adventures so far this year. I will be writing more frequently and posting pictures of the incredible things in our big country.

Bai bai for now!

(Japanese for Bye bye)

[beerselfie]

#Repost @theartofbeers Beer: Looks like Haze Brewery: Destihl. Brewing Style: IPA ABV: 7.0% Taste: Blended with Columbus, Mosaic and Idaho 7 hops for a tropical and citrus flavors and a nice pine aroma. This brew was part of their Deadhead IPA series and this one was double dry hopped! * * Heat advisory for the area today which means pool time all day! Crystal clear water, iced down cooler, music, and friends. Home is where the heart is! * * Cheers from The Art of Beers 🍺! * * #thislife #theartofbeers #texas #abilene #craftbeer #craftbeergirl #craft #craftbeers #beer #beerbabe #craftbeerbabe #beersofinstagram #drinkcraftbeer #drinkcraft #drinklocal #beerlife #beeradvocate #brewery #lifestyle #hops #swimming #bikini #weekend #music #pool #sundayfunday #friends #sunday https://www.instagram.com/p/Cebw06aPOki/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[anewnewcrest]

Caroline: "You've got it so good, Sav, you're done with school now!"

Savannah: "Good? I wish I were back at school! I liked it there, and staying at home all day with nothing to do is so boring!"

Caroline: "Nah, sounds awesome. I'd play the violin and the piano all day!"

Savannah: "You know I'm not into music... the most exciting thing I do all day is clean! I can't even help with the kids because Abilene won't let me take care of precious Garrett and little Abby only wants her mom or Priscilla."

Priscilla: "Ugh, that little brat won't leave me alone! So annoying!"

Caroline: "That's toddlers for you! But, Sav, if you're so bored, what about a job? Or college?"

Savannah: "Hell will freeze over before dad allows that."