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research--blog · 2 years

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Frozen Food Market Worth $408.05 Billion by 2029

According to a new market research report titled, ‘Frozen Food Market by Product (Ready Meals, Meat & Poultry, Seafood, Dairy Products, Bakery Products, Vegetables, and Fruits), Type (Raw, Half-cooked, and Ready-to-eat), and Distribution Channel (B2B and B2C) - Global Forecast to 2029,’ the frozen food market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.2% from 2022 to 2029 to reach $408.05 billion by 2029.

Download Free Sample Report Now @ https://www.meticulousresearch.com/download-sample-report/cp_id=5313

Freezing is one of the easiest, quickest, most versatile, and most convenient methods of preserving foods. Frozen foods maintain their original color, flavor, and texture. Frozen foods are a convenient and affordable way to incorporate healthy foods from every food group, including whole grains, fruits, vegetables, protein, and dairy.

The major factors driving the frozen food market include the increasing demand for convenience food, the growing global cold-chain market, and changing consumer tastes and preferences. Furthermore, the increasing digitalization in the retail industry and emerging economies in Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa are expected to provide significant opportunities for the growth of this market.

However, the rising preference for fresh and natural food products and constant temperature monitoring requirements for frozen food products hinders the growth of this market to a notable extent. In addition, the lack of cold chain infrastructure in developing economies poses a major challenge to players operating in this market.

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Frozen Food Market

The COVID-19 outbreak caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus created a severe public health emergency globally, with its quick spread in more than 150 countries. NUMEROUS countries worldwide declared emergencies and announced complete nationwide, statewide, or citywide lockdowns to combat & control the spread of this disease, halting all travel, transport, manufacturing, educational institutions, and non-essential trade, significantly impacting many industries globally.

However, the pandemic positively impacted the frozen food industry. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the frozen food industry has witnessed steady growth. For instance, according to the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI), in 2020, frozen food products witnessed a 21% increase in sales compared to 2019. The British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF) claimed that the sales of the retail frozen food industry increased by £872 million to over £7 billion a year in 2020 in the U.K.

Speak to our Analysts to Understand the Impact of COVID-19 on Your Business: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/speak-to-analyst/cp_id=5313

Furthermore, the frozen food products supply chain has been mostly shifted from food service to retail as the demand for frozen foods, such as frozen bakery products, has shifted from food service to household consumption. According to AFFI, during the COVID-19 pandemic, frozen food sales, including frozen bakery, witnessed a 75% increase. Thus, the increase in online sales of frozen food has positively impacted the frozen food market.

Based on product, the frozen food market is segmented into ready meals, meat & poultry, seafood, dairy products, bakery products, vegetables, fruits, and other frozen products. In 2022, the ready meals segment is expected to account for the largest share of the frozen food market. The large market share of this segment is attributed to the changes in consumers’ lifestyles due to the fast-paced work environment, particularly among the working-class population, and the growing preference for ready frozen meals due to their convenience. In addition, the rising popularity of ready meals among the younger generation and the adolescent population and their easily accessible at different convenience stores and supermarkets contribute to the large market share of this segment.

However, the seafood segment is expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period. The growth of this segment is driven by the increase in fish consumption due to their high protein content and the growth in global aquaculture production. In addition, the growing demand for frozen seafood as a thickening agent in various end-use applications drives the growth of the frozen seafood market.

Based on type, the frozen food market is segmented into raw, half-cooked, and ready-to-eat. In 2022, the raw material segment is expected to account for the largest share of the frozen food market. The large market share of this segment is attributed to the rising consumer awareness about the nutritional properties of raw frozen food and the increasing number of raw frozen food product launches.

However, the ready-to-eat segment is expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period. The growth of this segment is driven by the rising demand for frozen ready-to-eat food coupled with the increasing demand for specific meal solutions. Also, the growing demand for ready-to-eat food, high nutritional value, high shelf life, and easy availability drive their global demand.

Based on distribution channel, the frozen food market is segmented into business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C). In 2022, the business-to-business segment is expected to account for the larger share of the frozen food market. The large market share of this segment is attributed to the growing B2B frozen food trading, the growing number of Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs), and rising demand from hotels, restaurants, food chains, cafes, and the food service sector

Quick Buy – Frozen Food Market Research Report: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/Checkout/72718668

However, the business-to-consumer segment is expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period. The rapid growth of this segment is mainly attributed to the rising population density in urban areas, the increasing trend of online shopping, the rising popularity of the franchising concept, growing preference for personalization, consumer convenience, and greater product selection

Based on geography, in 2022, Europe is expected to account for the largest share of the frozen food market. The major market share of Europe is attributed to the rising preference for ready-to-eat food, favorable regulations, a well-established cold chain in the region, innovative practices by key players in the industry, technological innovation in the frozen food sector, busier lifestyles of consumers, introduction of various healthy and diet-related frozen meals, and the growing import of frozen foods.

In 2022, Germany is expected to account for the largest share of the frozen food market in Europe. The large market share is attributed to the rising popularity of seasonal frozen food, the increasing number of high-quality frozen bakery products, and the increased demand for frozen food.

Some of the key players operating in the frozen food market include General Mills, Inc. (U.S.), Conagra Brands, Inc. (U.S.), Nestlé S.A. (Switzerland), Unilever PLC (U.K.), Kellogg Company (U.S.), McCain Foods Limited (Canada), The Kraft Heinz Company (U.S.), Tyson Foods, Inc. (U.S.), Associated British Foods plc (U.K.), Ajinomoto Co., Inc. (Japan), Vandemoortele NV (Belgium), Lantmännen Unibake International (Denmark), Cargill, Incorporated (U.S.), Europastry, S.A. (Spain), JBS S.A. (Brazil), ARYZTA AG (Switzerland), and Nomad Foods Limited (U.K.).

To gain more insights into the market with a detailed table of content and figures, click here: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/frozen-food-market-5313

Scope of the Report:

Frozen Food Market, by Product

Ready Meals

Meat & Poultry

Seafood

Dairy Products

Bakery Products

Bread

Pizza Crust

Cakes & Pastries

Cookies & Biscuits

Doughnuts

Waffles

Other Frozen Bakery Products

Vegetables

Fruits

Other Frozen Products

Frozen Food Market, by Type

Raw

Half-cooked

Ready-to-eat

Frozen Food Market, by Distribution Channel

Business-to-business (B2B)

Food Services

Food Manufacturers

Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs)

Business-to-consumer (B2C)

Offline

Supermarkets & Hypermarkets

Convenience Stores

Other Stores

Online

Frozen Food Market, by Geography

North America

U.S.

Canada

Europe

Germany

U.K.

France

Italy

Spain

Rest of Europe (RoE)

Asia-Pacific (APAC)

China

Japan

South Korea

Australia

India

Rest of Asia-Pacific (RoAPAC)

Latin America (LATAM)

Brazil

Mexico

Argentina

Rest of Latin America (RoLATAM)

Middle East & Africa (MEA)

Request Free Customization of Report @ https://www.meticulousresearch.com/request-customization/cp_id=5313

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brattyfics · 3 years

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Lucky | Fall Fluff Challenge

summary:

❥ a submission to my fall fluff challenge. “soothing kisses" + ‘black cat’

pairing: angel reyes x black!reader

tags: fluff

word count: 1.1k

When the doorbell first rings, you don't budge from your spot on the bed. The new pillow you bought on a seasonal sale is way too comfortable to leave. Angel's closer to it anyway, re-watching his favorite scary movie for the tenth time this month in the living room. The door opens, and you listen with curiosity as another deep timbre travels from the doorway to the center of your home. Soon enough, you're standing and slipping on a pair of house shoes to investigate.

Angel's Mayan brother in leather and chrome, Creeper Vargas, stands in the center of your living room holding a medium-sized box with a lid. You know the two of them well enough to know that it could be anything in that damn box. Maybe even something you'd rather not know about, so you turn around to retreat into the peace of your bedroom, but Angel notices you before you can.

"Babe, come say hey to Creep."

"Hey, Creeper." You smile politely as you make your way over to them, reaching over to give him a quick side hug.

"What's good with you? You weren't going to speak?" Creeper tilts his head in damn, it's like that? fashion.

"No, I was. I just wanted to give you a minute if you needed it." He nods his understanding and looks to Angel with an expression you can't place. "Do y'all need a moment?" You check, looking between them.

"Yeah-" Creeper answers in a hesitant tone. At the same time, Angel shakes his head. "No." Then the two of them silently communicate something with their eyes while you watch with interest and mild amusement.

"Sit down, babe." Angel directs, gesturing to the couch behind you. You're confused, but you trust him, so you follow his lead.

Angel gestures Creeper forward, and the Mayan gently sets the box down at your feet. From this point of view, you can see holes in the lid. You lean forward to get a better look, and something inside the box shifts with a loud yelp. You flinch backward, looking at Angel with alarm. "What the hell?"

Angel doesn't look concerned at all. If anything, he's smug, excitement shining in his eyes as he tells you, "Open it." You nibble on your bottom lip as you consider it. He and Creeper look a little bit too happy with themselves for your taste.

"What is it?"

"Open and see, mama."

Whatever's inside is squeaking and scratching at the sides with fervor now. You shake your head and point to the box with your foot. "You open it."

"I can't. It'll ruin the surprise." Angel Reyes and his surprises were a known dangerous pair, but you lean forward anyway, sighing heavily. "It better not be a fucking rat." Your fingers hover over the now-shaking lid until Angel promises, "It's not a rat." You look to Creeper for confirmation. "Cross my heart, hope to die, sis."

Slowly and carefully, you remove the top, eyes zeroing in on the tiny dark head that immediately pops up. Striking neon eyes and the faintest little white whiskers follow. "Oh. My. God." You gasp loudly as the gorgeous kitten purs its protest at having been closed up in the dark box.

For the past week, Angel seemed to be spending more time on his phone. At one point, you noticed him deleting text messages and almost confronted him about it. Some part of you knew there must have been a perfectly reasonable explanation, and you were grateful you listened.

You scoop the kitten up for cuddles while Creeper quickly explains that she's from his cat's litter and that although she's old enough to be away from her mother, she will still need tender care over the next few weeks. You nod along while Angel rushes Creeper through the explanation so that he can cuddle up next to you now that he no longer has any secrets to hide.

"It was so hard not to tell you." Angel muses, running a heavy hand down the back of your head. "Are you happy? I know we never officially agreed to get a pet, but I figured with the year we've had-"

"-I'm really, really happy. She's everything." You coo at the shaky kitten, hugging her to your chest for comfort. It would take some time for her to adjust to her new surroundings, but you would be patient. "I'm in love."

"Good." Angel sighs, laying his head on your shoulder as he strokes her back. "Cause I'm already kinda attached to her too. As soon as I saw her, I knew. All the others had white patches, and there she was, looking like a tiny little panther."

"I can't believe you purposefully picked an all-black cat." You giggle, shaking your head as you admire her dark coat. She didn't creep you out at all.

"Wait- why?"

"Cause they're bad luck. Allegedly." You shrug while Angel's expression changes. He had forgotten about that old myth. "But you're not bad luck, are you, baby? You're too cute to be bad- Oh, what do you think about Lucky as a name? That's cute, right?"

"Very cute, mama." Angel agrees, adjusting to stretch out on the couch and lay his head in your lap.

"Wait, big head! We have someone else to think of now in our cuddle pile." You switch over to your baby voice as you speak to Lucky. "We can't have you getting squished, can we?"

"How should I lay then?" Angel asks earnestly. He was used to laying across your lap or on top of you with his head on your chest, but he'd get in anywhere he could fit. Angel hadn't considered that Lucky might take up some of his space. You shrug and push him to sit up. "I don't know. Just sit for now. I have to hold her for a little bit so we can bond, and then I'll put her down so she can explore and get to know her new home."

Angel's eyes narrow on the soon-to-be spoiled kitten who's already sagging against your chest in preparation for a nap.

"My luck is changing already." He grumbles. "At least give me a kiss to tide me over. A real one. I don't want to hear not in front of the baby."

With a giggle, you lean over kiss him sweetly, holding little Lucky firmly to your chest. Angel's arms come around to hold you both, rubbing soothing circles into your back. You sigh into his mouth, needing the closeness just as bad. Kissing him was always an experience. One that made you light and pliant to his wishes and desires. If he wanted to kiss you silly, you would be. Dazed and just a little woozy, willing to do whatever he wanted. This time, it's slow and passionate but not sexually charged. Soothing. A reminder with his tongue and lips that isn't verbal. Shit has been rough, but I got you. Whatever you need. Always.

Nuzzling your nose against his, you break away to whisper breathlessly, "Happy?"

"More than you know."

General Taglist:

@woahitslucyylu @sheeshgivemeabreak @breakingnewsin-no-oneasked @blessedboo @glimmerglittergirl @apantherinmypastlife @brownsugarcoffy @marvelmaree @starrynite7114 @scuzmunkie @sadeyesgf @pearlkitten33 @imanerdychubbyqueen @literaturefeen @ourlittlesecretsoveragain @everyhowlmarksthedead @yourwonkywriter @trulysuccubus @sparklemichele @luckyharley1903 @thesandbeneathmytoes @amorestevens @relaxing-najee @tremendousdinosaurhideout @appropriate-writers-name @bugngiz

Mayans MC:

@cant-decide-at-this-moment

Angel Reyes:

@claytoncardenasbabymama @adaydreamaway08 @berniesilvas

#mayans mc #angel reyes #angel reyes x reader #angel reyes x black!reader #BFFF Challenge

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amazinglydumb · 4 years

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I wrote a letter for myself to give me strenght in my endeavors to get HRT + all related things, maybe someone out there can get some use out of this self pep-talk so here you have it.

Dear me..

If you ever need to remember why you're still fighting for HRT when you some times even thought it pointless, just think of your whole life for a second. Got it? Sure there's good days and fun times... but aside from being far and few in between, you've always had the lingering feeling of awkwardness, like you're in the wrong body, what a shocker! You already know that by now! But for many years you didn't...... You only had an awkward youth and many bad moments that you rather forget..... Untill then..

After years of confusion, maybe as mere curiosity or that weird dare with your BFFF (best female friend forever), there came the first time at 16 when you changed your appereance to be more femenine.... And you felt it.... You've never since forgotten that feeling .....

Have you?...

You know the one i'm talking about.

That feeling of one day looking at yourself in the mirror and seeing the real you looking back. Not some odd teen that felt weird everywhere they were, but a cute girl awkwardly recognizing herself in the mirror for the first time, as if they'd never seen their reflection ever before and at last they could.

You even realized what was wrong back then as a kid! Of course! It's so obvious now! You were a girl! The girl that always felt kinda bad when anyone called "hey (deadname)!" or talked to them with what she felt were pronouns and words meant for someone else. All this time you were stuck in the wrong body and you can't even believe how could you have been living like this all these years! No wonder why you don't remember even half of your life, that wasn't you!

You finally saw that girl, that gorgeous girl that had been waiting to see herself in the mirror for years without even knowing it, and the only thing you could do is cry.... a lot.

Yet in the mix of emotions, through the sadness and the tears from all those awkward and hard years, you felt glad, you finally felt good and truly happy. You know who you are now, time to fight back for a happy life.

After that day, you've had time, you dealt with your inner fears and demons, there's finally nothing left but to tell your doctor that you're ready to do everything in your power to become yourself.

That self you couldn't even see in the mirror at all for the first 16 years, always trapped in the façade of another person's life. The person you are in your truest self arrived, and they're here to stay.

You'll get your rightful diagnosis, then your HRT, and finally be the person you were always meant to be.....

I believe in you, in us. We can do it, I know we can, if we endured an entire youth of this hardship, what challenge comes next is nothing compared to it!

We're getting our life back!

Don't ever give up, you always dragged yourself throughout life, it's time to finally live it.

#trans #amab trans #trans pride #lgbtpride #early transition #lgbtqiia+#transgender #trans girl #trans problems #letter to myself #Hope #lgbtq community #trans rights #lgbtq positivity #there's always hope #Life is meant to be lived #Sounds dumb but it's never been so true

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officialmenu · 4 years

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"There's no way of knowing for sure where the safest place is, so the best you can hope for is to have some good company." (How I Met Your Mother) . Six years ago I moved to London for good and although I'm not there right now and although I have been SO mad at Her this year, I can't just not thank her for all the blessings she's sent my way. And yeah, for the hurdles, too. . She's given me three extremely different but equally challenging jobs, a first flat that made it so much easier to call my current house a home which I objectively obsess over improving. She's given me breathtaking views and unforgettable experiences, wisdom from strangers and fleeting, way too short bonds that left me forever changed before fading out of my frame. A hectic, odd cradle where I truly have had chances to be someone I dreamed of becoming, as unimaginable as that someone could be. London has taught me to actually hug people (on rare occasions), listen to peers (after earning mutual respect), adventure out of my comfort zone (even though some think I haven't changed), experience my deepest, most defining passions on a daily basis and concretely now, not merely inside my head. I have had tons of friends, of any kinds, nationalities, beliefs...Some I now have to miss, some I wish I had never known, some have become family to me despite not seeing me the same way, but all in all I think I have left a good mark on all of them or at least I have tried. And I surely know they have known me for who I really am, whether they could fully understand me or not. . London has freed me and pushed me around at the same time and even though right now I feel so far away from the city and everything in it...even though at my lowest I let my mind whisper that it would be easier to leave her...even though she's been taking stuff and people away from me this year, way more than she's been giving...I know, like you know this about a sibling you occasionally need to stay away from in order not to punch them on the nose...I know I wouldn't be as happy as she's been able to make me, literally anywhere else. . The city, me and my people in between. 🧡💛 . . #london #6years #londontake2 #bfff #friendship (presso London, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/CEp5KZCo1DD/?igshid=1bvxdko7jgf8f

#london #6years #londontake2 #bfff #friendship

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c-cracks · 5 years

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SmashTheTux - 0x01

The second challenge off SmashTheTux demonstrates improper use of the printf function.

If user input alone is provided to the function, printf will evaluate user input as both a command -to compensate for the lack of format specifier- and input to print.

For example, if our input is “a string %x”, printf(text) would ultimately resolve to printf(”a string %x”)- as an argument has not been supplied for the value of ‘%x’, printf will simply pop the first hexadecimal number from the stack in compensation (I hope this is a satisfactory explanation behind the vulnerability!)

Now, onto the actual exploit, I opted to overwrite the GOT entry of exit with the address of a malicious environment variable holding simple execve(”/bin/sh”) shellcode- this isn’t a completely foolproof exploit as it also relies on the user having the permissions to actually create environment variables; in the situation of a privileged user attempting to gain root privileges via an SUID binary or alike, it’s actually very effective.

This was what I came up with:

The first 8 bytes here shows the GOT entry of the binary’s exit function plus the address+2 (this is because $hn writes 2 bytes at a time, thus we need to perform 2 overwrites on the GOT entry- a 4 byte pointer. The lower 2 bytes start at 0x08049754-%4$hn, the upper 2 at 0x08049756-%5$hn.)

Next, I filled the stack with 49143 characters via the %<int>x specifier- this sends the current address at the top of the stack to stdout padded with whitespace to match the specified length. %5$hn will write the current amount of characters in the buffer to the fifth address on the stack (this is 0x08049756 the second address in the first section, the location discovered by leaking the stack with the %x format specifier.)

I then repeated this step for the lower two bytes at address 54.

You’re probably wondering what the Hell’s going on if you’ve never seen a format string exploit; it’s actually pretty simple once you grasp the logic:

The two large numbers above correspond to our desired address in hex- 49151=bfff while 65482=ffca. Since %n overwrites the specified value with the length of the buffer thus far, this is (one of) the only ways to achieve a value overwrite in the event of a format string vulnerability.

You can attempt to use %n to overwrite all four bytes at once; this can take a considerable amount of time to execute as stdout then has to display these characters (which can be well over a million, should be enough to make you understand!)

I discovered the location of my variable on stack via GDB:

Can you spot my code environment variable I’m too lazy to highlight? The difference in address is due to taking the screenshot at a different time (atleast I think- I definitely got 0xbfffffca from this command when executing the exploit!)

I also put an NOP sled at the beginning to change the length of the shellcode from 23 to 32 bytes (keeps the stack neatly aligned and reduces the chances of leftover stack values interfering with the shellcode execution.)

Not the best screenshot as the exploit produced a lot of whitespace but you can see by the need to close the process that it was successful.

The hint provided was this:

So yeah, I think I can consider this exploit a bit more of a success: I didn’t make any alarmingly obvious noob mistakes and I also learned a little more about the effect environment variables can have on a vulnerable application.

I think I’ll be using pwntools in the future though: it seems to be a cleaner way of ensuring stdin doesn’t close upon execution of /bin/sh as I had to use ‘(./exploit.py ; cat) | pwnme’ or something similar to prevent this issue.

#exploitdev #hacking #penetesting #32bit #formatstringexploit #printf #c #linux #offensivesec #cybersecurity

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travelnursebabes · 7 years

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Santa Barbara

Day 1 Santa Barbara:

This weekends road trip is to Santa Barbara. Annette left from Venice and I went with our coworker bfff Darlene and her 2 kids, Callie & Bodie. Our timing was somehow perfect, and we all arrived at the Moxi Children’s Museum at the exact same time. We spent a few hours acting like kids & exploring the fun and educational activities/exhibits. Lunch at Enterprise Fish Co. was amazing, and the lobster bisque is highly recommended. Annette, Darlene, and I, along with the 2 kids, rented a Surry bike aka a ginormous bike with a cover over it. The hills were a challenge but Bodie jumping off and pushing us somewhat helped. We checked out the pier/Stern’s Warf, bought a bunch of candy, watched the sunset, and then it was time for the Addison’s to go home. Annette and I arrived at our Airbnb but since it was pitch black out, we felt as if we were breaking into a stranger’s property, as we missed our entrance to the guest house.

Our home for the night was beautiful— quaint and decorated like a museum. The mini bar & the coffee bar were stalked and we had chocolates on our pillows. We ventured into downtown SB and enjoyed an evening of music by John Goodwin and Jeff Bridges along with a few others. Like always when I watch live music, I wanted to go home and practice the guitar that I brought all the way from WI to CA... We ended up sitting with 2 locals for the show who knew one of the musicians, Jason. We were invited to see him play at the Red Piano bar the following night, which we took him up on.

Day 2:

We packed up from our little home and drove to Carpenteria, we’re we had a 90 minute reservation for horseback riding on the beach. Annette hopped on a brown spotted horse named Sprinkles, while I hoped on a white horse named Scout. Side note- the last time I was on a horse (Banner) it was also white and it farted with every single trot we did... here goes nothing. Our nerves quickly diminished mostly because we were barely moving on these things (we didn’t want to hurt them so we rarely kicked their sides to speed up). Over the 101 highway, and down to the beach, what an experience.

We stopped by the Summerland winery for a break and to help ease the saddle pain we were now feeling. We checked into our new hotel and made it just in time to The Boathouse for a beautiful sunset. We discovered a new favorite Chardonnay, Rombaur 2015. Our waiter also made the local lobster special of the night extremely appealing, leading Annette & I to make a potentially risky decision. Backstory: about 6 years ago I had a horrible allergic reaction to shrimp— a swollen tongue and lips plus my face covered in hives, which ended with me in the ER. Since then, I have avoided all shellfish for fear of a cross allergy. After the waiter was done explaining the lobster dish, Annette & I looked at each other and nodded nervously. She looked up the nearest hospital and I double checked that I had my Benadryl on me like usual. Dinner was delicious and I survived! Our early dinner gave us a full night ahead of us. We got front row seats at The Red Piano, where Jason greeted us immediately. Such a fun place! We made friends with two elderly Veterans, one of which was 90years old. His secret you ask? “A lot of hot sauce. And dancing.” As the night went on, they became a bit territorial of us, and were hesitant when we met two British guys our age. Nevertheless, we thank them for their service... Happy Veteran’s Day! After a few hours of dancing, we checked out the next live music venue, James Joyce. Here we listened to a huge band of NOLA-like jazz music.

#santabarbara #california #travelnurse #travelnursing

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ageloire · 6 years

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One Year Later: A CMO’s First Year in Retrospect

Some say hindsight is 20/20. To me, hindsight, at least when it comes to the last year—my first year as the Chief Marketing Officer at Marketo—is not 20/20… it is a loud, colorful blur.

This last year both flew & crawled depending on the week or the day. But the one constant throughout all of it? I was learning and growing every single day, as was my team and the company and product we love, all at lightspeed.

With the holiday season upon us, I’m reflecting on the last year and what I am grateful for. I’ll spare you the long, emo deep-dive by sharing three perfectly crafted insights, gathered after hours of thoughtful soul-searching and 360-degree reflection—OK. Who am I kidding? I haven’t had a quiet hour to reflect on life since early 2017.

So, here’s a rapid-fire list of the seven ‘things” top-of-mind for a CMO too busy to write a flawlessly authored post worthy of a year of rewarding work… and instead, here’s my grateful, most-thankful-year-ever hit list, without any promises that I’ll go into a deeper dive on at a later date. Just ask my content team. They were promised this almost three weeks ago.

The Top Seven First-Year Takeaways from Marketo’s CMO

1. 365 days ago, and 365 days later—the one thing that hasn’t changed? This job is still very much my dream job. And every day it gets more exciting.

2. The right marketing leadership team changes everything. Literally everything. The “kind-of, mostly right” leadership team is just as challenging as the absolute wrong one.

3. When you finally do get your team right, savor every single moment. Because nothing lasts forever. And as soon as something is good enough for you to wish it would last that long and longer, something will inevitably change. So, revel in the moments when you know it’s right—especially when you have absolutely no time to pause to do so.

4. No CMO ever got a trophy for underspending their budget by 1 or 2%. And no one ever gets fired for going over budget by that same amount. What people remember is when you fail or succeed in highly visible, memorable moments. No one will forgive the corners you cut with praise for your noble budget management.

5. On that note, BFFF: Best Friends with Finance Forever. Find a way. Find a buddy. Overshare. Overcommunicate. Be transparent to a fault. And build the CFO-CMO alliance as a cornerstone of your marketing strategy to effectively drive business growth. It’s key.

6. Don’t ever miss an opportunity to make a memory for your team. And don’t be a moron and fail to realize when that opportunity is in front of you and also your influence as a leader.

7. When you finally have the opportunity to shine…Don’t just win, run up the friggin’ score. We all have something to prove, so prove it loudly, boldly, fearlessly, and leave no doubt you are the right gal or guy for whatever job you hold.

Thank you again to my team and everyone who has made the last 365+ days possible, inspiring, and absolutely unforgettable. I hope the Marketing Nation of fearless marketers—no matter where you are in the world this holiday season—take some time to reflect and be thankful. Because we have the best job in the world.

The post One Year Later: A CMO’s First Year in Retrospect appeared first on Marketo Marketing Blog - Best Practices and Thought Leadership.

from Marketo Marketing Blog https://blog.marketo.com/2018/11/one-year-later-a-cmos-first-year-in-retrospect.html

#Marketo Marketing Blog

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pen-masta · 8 years

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The Girlfriend Guru Part 2

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Castel has been visiting every single weekend since the start of the semester…sometimes even during the week too. He comes to the campus and takes Joy out for dinner, or ice cream, or just curls up in her room watching movies on her laptop. Maggie tags along sometimes if they invite her, but she wants to give them their time.

However, the few times she has gone out with them has given her a chance to make several notes. She opens her little brown journal she keeps only for her observations–what kind of Girlfriend Guru would she be if she didn’t take notes? Ha!

From what she’s seen Castel and Joy are very close friends and she means very close friends. When Joy is sitting on the couch trying to find something good on the television, Castel plops down in the seat next to her. Seems normal right? Wrong! Sure if he was just sitting next to her it’d be nothing, but Castel sits as close to Joy as he possibly can get. His thigh pressed against hers, wrapping his arm around her, hugging her into his side. Look she’s sorry but, no. No “just guy friend” she’s ever known just sits like that with his BFFF–best female friend forever. It’s very physical with them too. He’s always hugging her, holding her hand, poking her, tickling her, cuddling with her, you name it! Anyway he can be close to her he does it! Oh but it’s not just Castel who’s touchy feely though. Joy is just as guilty!

When he sits next to her like that she will automatically place her hand over his, easily intertwining their fingers without missing a single beat! If they are sitting across from each other at a table she places her feet in his lap. When watching a movie she curls up and cuddles into him. If he stays a night at their place they’ll watch movies all night long on her bed or on the couch. Falling asleep curled up against each other, his arms secured around her and her head nestled into his chest. Not to mention, when they had their first college party they had run out of seats by the time Castel got there. But no worries, it wasn’t even an issue. Joy had seen him and waved him over while she continued her conversation. She had stood up giving him her seat, only to sit back down in his lap. Not once stopping her conversation!

And they’ve kissed! Ok well more like just little pecks hello or good bye on the cheek, but still! Lip contact! And does she even need to mention the cute little pet names? Oh these two need guidance serious, serious guidance. Guidance that the Girlfriend Guru was eager to give them.

Maggie skims over the rest of her notes. Castel is extremely intelligent and seems to be more of a realist, of course he has a moment here and there but he seems to be more of a think-it-through kind of guy. Joy on the other end of the spectrum is extremely artistic, dramatic, and colorful. She is beyond the meaning of a dreamer and Castel seems to just adore her for it. They really are opposites, and yet the perfect match! Every dreamer needs a realist to keep them from flying too high into outer space, and every realist needs a dreamer to help them cut loose and be silly and have fun.

Although he is a realist, Castel isn’t boring. In fact he’s down right hilarious! He’s interesting, he’s got a wealth of knowledge always throwing out fun little stories about something or other–always grabbing Joy’s full attention. He’s very sarcastic and sassy just like Joy which allows them to play off of each other. He’s always trying to make Joy laugh too. Maggie has noticed everywhere they go he tries to at least make her giggle and when he does his grin grows in triumph and his eyes crinkle in utter happiness.

Joy has a bubbly personality but when Castel is around she’s extremely giddy. She’s always wanting to do something with him, watch a movie, walk downtown, play a game, anything. She’s also very competitive, and she loves challenging him. And she doesn’t always like to win, several times in their play-fights she will give in or let him win just to see him laugh in victory–which in turn makes her smile. She teases him a lot too, which then gets him to tease her which leads to another play-fight. She blushes a lot when she’s around him too. She’s always blushing and giggling with him, of course to the untrained eye it looks friendly but Maggie’s seen that look before. It’s the I-really-want-to-flirt-but-at-the-same-time-don’t-want-to look. Oh her poor roommate all flustered and caught in between friend-zone and relationship.

They bounce ideas off each other too. Castel is always mapping out new routes for their big West Virginia trip after she graduates. Or he’s making blueprints for a new product for his company. Either way he asks her what she thinks of this shape, or this route, or what they should hunt, or if they’ll need knives or stakes…Maggie doesn’t know what that means but hey it’s whateves. Likewise, Joy uses him for critiques on her projects, or ideas for a painting, or she even uses him as her model for her body art ideas.

They both seem to be flirting really. Castel showing his vast knowledge and making getting her to laugh his goal, Joy blushing and giggling and teasing and playing. Both flirting but not flirting. Not to mention the way Castel watches Joy leave to go to the bathroom, the look in his eyes is a pure mix of love and longing…but something stops him. Obviously, neither wants to be the first in moving their friendship into something more serious–probably both worried about the other not feeling the same and possibly ruining what they already have. That’s why they need a mediator like Maggie.

Maggie hums as she scribbles some more notes in her journal. But she’s pulled from her thoughts by the very loud voices coming from the little living room. She smiles and walks over to the door that’s ajar. She peeks out to see them standing in front of the couch. Joy is holding a Wii remote outstretched away from Castel and Castel is crossing his arms–both smiling a teasing, playful grin.

“I demand a rematch,” Joy says firmly.

“Joy just because you are not good at Smash Bros doesn’t mean the rest of the world gets punished for it.” Castel chuckles.

“I’m not punishing the rest of the world,” she grins. “I’m punishing you.”

“Kirby is the weakest character,” Castel shakes his head. “If you stop playing as him maybe you’d actually win.”

“Don’t you dare spew your lies about my sweet little Kirby!” Joy gasps and Castel chuckles again. “I want a rematch.”

“No dice sista,” he grins and holds his hand out. “Give me the remote.”

“No way hose-ay.” Joy shakes her head, “My apartment, my game, my television, my remote.”

“My, my, my,” Castel mocks in a nasally voice and laughs in said voice, causing Joy’s face to sour.

“When you do that voice you sound like,” she starts but Castel cuts her off.

“Don’t say it,” he warns pointing at her.

Joy smirks and narrows her eyes, “You sound just like.”

“I’m warning you J-bird,” he growls. “There will be severe repercussions if you say it.”

“Say what?” Joy asks with mock innocence, batting her eyes.

“You know what,” he hisses. “Don’t say it Jo-jo.”

“Fine, fine.” Joy huffs and crosses her arms. They are both quiet before Joy lets out a small taunting, “Janice.”

“That’s it!” Castel roars and lunges at her.

Joy yips and runs away, they both run around the coffee table a few times before they stop. They both laugh and look at each other panting a little.

“We could do this all day,” Joy says.

“You’re right,” Castel smirks. “But I won’t!” He says as he leaps up onto the coffee table.

Joy squeaks and dashes for the bedroom door, but Castel is faster. He jumps from the table to ensnare her in his arms. Joy yelps when he lifts her off her feet and grips her in a tight bear-hug. They both giggle for a moment before Castel rests his chin on her shoulder.

“Take it back Curtis,” his deep voice rumbles into her ear.

Joy glares at him over her shoulder with a smirk, “Make me Cubs.”

Castel flashes a very evil smile showing his pearly white teeth, “Gladly.”

Joy lets out a distressed squeak before dissolving into laughter. She squirms in his arms and almost breaks free, but he lifts her up off the ground just enough so her feet dangle–she can’t run away. Joy laughs helplessly as he tickles her belly, holding her tight in his arms.

“Take it back,” Castel taunts in a sing-song voice.

“Neva!” Joy squeaks before laughing harder.

“You sure about that?” He grins before burying his face into her neck.

She squeaks at his stubble that tickles her and she let’s out a high pitched squeal when he blows a raspberry into her neck.

“Cassie! No! Not fair!” She laughs and kicks her feet, trying to break free.

Maggie giggles herself at the warm sight of the two.

“Ok! Ok! You win!” Joy yells before laughing again.

“You take it back?”

“Yes! I take it back!”

“I want you to say it,” Castel smiles evilly still tickling her belly.

Joy squeaks again, “I take it back!”

“Take back what?”

“Cassie!” She whines through a laugh.

“Just say it and it’ll be over,” Castel taunts and chuckles.

“I-take-back-what-I-said-about-you-sounding-like-Janice!” Joy yells in one fast breath before succumbing to laughter again.

Castel stops and smiles still holding her. Joy hangs her head, leaning over his arms as she catches her breath. A few giggles are still hanging on as she glares at him over her shoulder.

“Good girl,” Castel grins. “See now was that so hawd?” He coos tauntingly.

“It’s not fair. You’re so much stronger than I am,” Joy pouts. “You’re just a big bully.”

“Oh don’t even try it Joy,” Castel laughs. “It is a universal fact that you are an instigator who then turns into a big baby when someone knocks her off her pedestal.”

Joy giggles and nods, “Very true.”

Castel nods and smiles as Joy’s staggered breaths return to normal.

“Now…give me the remote.” Castel grins tickling her again.

Joy squeals and tries to run away, but he lifts her up again.

“Not fair! Not fair!” Joy cackles, clutching the remote close to her chest. “You’re mean! You’re just mean!”

“Give me the remote Joy,” Castel teases and blows another raspberry into her neck.

After a shriek and a peel of giggles Joy shakes her head, “No!”

Joy’s eyes fall on the semi-open door of the bedroom and she sees her roommate.

“Maggie!” She calls out in desperation and Castel stops in his ‘negotiation tactics’ to look up at the girl.

He smiles a little not stopping his play, “Hey Maggie.”

“Hey Cas,” Maggie smiles as Joy continues to giggle and squirm.

“Are you studying? Were we too loud?” He asks concerned.

Well…she’s sort of studying in a way.

“Just a tiny bit,” she nods.

“Sorry about that we’ll tone it down for ya,” Castel nods and promptly covers Joy’s mouth with one of his hands. “You heard what she said you’re too loud Jo-jo.”

Joy’s laughter comes out muffled against his hand as he continues to taunt her.

“The remote Joy,” he says in her ear. “Drop it. Drop it.” He teases prolonging ‘drop’ as if he were commanding a puppy.

Joy squeaks and in a desperate attempt of escape she elbows him in his gut. Castel lets out a very audible grunt and lets Joy go to hold his injured stomach instead. Joy runs to the other side of the room, before bracing herself against her knees panting.

“So not cool J-bird,” Castel smirk and coughs.

“Hey,” Joy giggles and stands up. “I cannot be held responsible for the injuries that occur when you tickle torture me against my will C-bear.”

Castel moans and rubs his stomach in pain. Joy giggle and walks back to the couch.

“Serves you right you big bully,” she taunts and he sticks his tongue out at her. “Now where was I?…oh! Yes! Rematch!” Joy pipes and happily fiddles with the commands on the remote.

“Fine, fine,” Castel grins and sits down on the couch next to her. “But don’t be Kirby this time. He’s weak.”

“Blasphemy!” Joy howls as she scrolls through the character options.

Maggie giggles and rolls her eyes before going back to her desk. Ok so they both obviously like each other, the question is how can she get them to admit that? She skims over her notes again just as the light bulb goes off in her head. Psychology!

After hugs and apologies for sustained injuries and little cheek pecks good bye, Castel leaves. It’s late in the evening now and Joy really wants to just kick back with some leftover pizza and some mindless cartoons before her early morning lecture. Maybe Maggie will want in on it too.

“Yo Mags,” Joy calls as she opens their fridge. “You wanna take a break?”

“Sure Joy,” Maggie smiles and skips out into the living room. “Whatcha have in mind?”

“I’m thinking we finish this pizza and watch some cartoons to mushify our worn out brains.” Joy grins and takes out the pizza box.

“Sounds like a fantastic plan roomie.” Maggie smiles.

The two girls plop onto the couch and dig into their pizza. Just as Joy is about to turn on the boob-tube Maggie stops her.

“Wait hold that one second J,” Maggie says.

“What’s up Mags?”

“I have an experiment I have to do for my psychology class.” Maggie rolls her eyes, “It’s just one little test I forgot about it, but I have to do it on someone. Would you mind very much if I use you as my lab rat?”

Joy contemplates the question for a moment. Her mind envisioning a giant rat in a stark white lab coat, glasses, and clipboard. She giggles a little and shrugs.

“Eh why not.” Joy smiles and bites into her pizza slice. “What do I gotta do? And will it take less than thirty minutes? I’ve really got my heart set on some childish cartoons.”

“It will take even less time,” Maggie giggles and puts her pizza slice down. “Ok I need you to face me and sit very still.”

Joy nods and does as she’s asked.

“Ok now you know how some people will deny things over and over again, but in their minds they can’t deny it?” Maggie asks and Joy nods, “That’s what this test is. One of the easiest things people deny to everyone but can’t deny in their minds is who they are in love with. Often times they will cover that love with a crush of some kind to help deny their ‘true love’ to others.”

“Makes sense,” Joy shrugs. “Continue.”

“Alright so the project was to form an argument. I argue that, that statement is false. I say you can deny it to everyone including yourself. So I’m going to conduct this experiment to see if my hypothesis is correct.”

“Sounds good chica,” Joy smiles eager to help her friend.

“Alright so in order for this to work I need to close your eyes. Clear your mind. Don’t think about anything but my voice. All your worries, your defenses, your troubles, your walls. Forget them all, leave your mind a blank space.”

Joy nods and closes her eyes.

“Ready?” Maggie asks

“Rootin’, tootin’, ready for shootin’.” Joy smiles with her eyes closed.

“Ok now I want you to tell me who you have a crush on. It can be anyone serious or not just anyone for the sake of the experiment.”

Joy hesitates, “If I tell you, this isn’t gonna come back to bite me, right?”

“Everything that is said here is said in complete and utter confidence. You have my word.” Maggie reassures.

“Ok well…I do have a crush.” Joy says and fidgets a little in her spot, “This really cute guy in my astronomy class. His name is Todd and he sits right in front of me. I really really like him.”

“Ok why do you like him?”

“He’s funny and really knows his stars,” Joy giggles a little. “And he’s really cute.”

“Have you thought about him a lot?”

“Yeah,” Joy blushes a little. “I think about him every morning when I wake up and I know I have that class.”

“Does it make you nervous?”

“Like a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs,” Joy giggles.

“Ok, so do you see yourself ever going out with him?”

Joy pauses before nodding, “Yeah. Yeah I can see us together.”

“Do you want to be together?”

“It’d be nice yeah.” Joy smiles.

“Ok good so we’ve established you have a crush. Would you have told me before or would you have denied it?”

“Denied probably,” Joy says.

“I’d agree considering how fidgety you got when I asked.” Maggie giggles, “Ok, now what I want you to do is go back to an open space in your mind. Now, think of the ideal guy you’d want to be with. The one guy you’d give everything to. Your time, your future, your last name, everything.”

Joy nods, “Ok.”

“I want you to really think about it. Get every detail just right. What’s he look like, what’s he sound like, what’s he smell like. How does he stand, how does he walk. What does he wear, is he clean shaven or full on beard, what are his quirks, what are his interests, how is his sense of humor. Everything you’d want in the guy you’d marry and spend your life with.”

Joy’s expression softens and a tiny smile curls her lips. Maggie grins wide herself eager to finish the “experiment”.

“Do you have his image in your mind?”

“Yes.”

“Do you have every detail?”

“Yes.”

“Do you know everything you’d want about him. Every single aspect down to the tiniest little quirks?”

“Yes,” Joy hums a little.

“Good. Now listen carefully this is where things will get messed up if you don’t do exactly as I say.”

Joy nods, “Listening.”

“Ok. Now when I say open your eyes I’m going to follow that with a question. But I don’t want you to hesitate, I don’t want you pause, I don’t want you to think. Just open your mouth and let the image of your ideal guy flow out. Don’t stop it, don’t hold back. Understood?”

“Gotcha,” Joy says.

“Ok ready?” Maggie bites her lip in excitement, “Open your eyes.”

Joy’s brown eyes open and smile brightly at her roommate.

“Who is your ideal guy?”

“Castel,” Joy says without missing a beat.

His name rolls off her tongue with so much love and searing desire as his image fills her mind. His cute mass of curls, his rough facial hair, his chocolaty brown eyes, his deep voice, his nerdy-ness, his nervous ticks, his pen clicking when he’s concentrating, his humor, his intelligence, his sense of adventure, his curiosity, his love for monsters and mystery, his adorable freckles, his heart-stopping smile, his shyness, his compassion, his tenderness, his strength, his silly and over all goofiness, and all the things she loves about him that would take an eternity to list. Her dork-a-doo, her dork-asourus-rex, her goober is perfect. Yes her goober and hers alone.

The sweet little smile that had curled her lips slowly disappears and her eyes widen as she realizes she hadn’t said Todd’s name. She hadn’t said the name of her crush. She had said the name of the guy she’s in love with. In fact Maggie hadn’t asked her to say a name at all! She just wanted her to tell her about Joy’s ideal guy…and she said Castel’s name!

Joy covers her mouth as her expression grows with more and more shock.

Maggie’s smile grows and she shrugs. “Well…I guess I’m wrong.”

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krisrampersad · 5 years

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Introducing these Caribbean-Flavoured Festival Fables for children from 3 to 103, complete with startling scenery, dynamic action, witty dialogues, and singalongs that explore interconnections between the natural and cultural worlds.

I the Sky and Me the Sea, is the first book in the adventures of Munnie Butterfly and Danny Dragonfly, Munnie’s Multicultural Musical Masquerade series. It includes two infectious singalongs, ‘Splish Splash with Me,’ Song of the Sea to the Silent Sky; and the Sky’s response, ‘See What I the Sky Spy from Up High’.

Ask About Our Stimulating CSR Development Partnerships, Sponsorships & Collaborative Associate Initiatives

Work with us to get copies for schools, libraries and communities. Contact for bulk discounts and our unique sponsorship partnerships an collaborative product placements.

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To discuss corporate and other stimulating development fill out contact form or contact the author.

A Few More Words From the Author:

Stories were the first form of journalism. They inspired my entry into journalism and study of literatures and travel through many lands. My father told us stories from his imagination every night as children growing up in the Caribbean. The story of Munnie and her world of travels began as I wrote for my Nephew, Saiesh, when he was only three years old. I found it difficult to convey the realities of many of the children’s books available to stimulate his creativity and imagination from not one but multiple dimensions. His mom read the stories to him. He was its first critic. He grew into an avid reader. His enthusiastic reception and wish for more encouraged these Festival Fables. Read about Saiesh’s achievements here.

Over the last decade, these Munnie stories inspired other children in oral traditions of storytime, theatre workshops, and in my activities as an independent educator and journalist trying to stimulate interests in reading and cultural heritage in stimulating literary tributes and tours (LiTTributes & LiTTours) – our Reading Room Outside the Reading rooms, available on request in any city.

The purpose is to integrate entertainment with education, nurturing curiosity while encouraging appreciation of diversity, respect, value and appreciation of others. I now move the stories from private to the public spheres to be available to all. I hope these encourage family activities with children, even while they integrate new technologies with multimedia animation, musical and dramatized versions. Subscribe to my website http://www.krisrampersad.com for more exciting, entertaining, educational interactive lifelong learning materials and events. Contact me for bookings and downloadable activity workbooks for all ages.

It’s GLOC@l – Global, Local, Caribbean Travels an Adventures for All

The multicultural canvas of the broad Caribbean, its diaspora across the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe and Africa, and its interconnections with the globe through Atlantic and Pacific Oceans form the backdrop of a new series of Fables.

In I the Sky & Me the Sea, Book 1 of Leaves of Life Festival Fables, MUNNIE, an adventurous butterfly explores new lands and makes new friends. She meets Danny a Dragonfly. These two Best Flitter-Flutter Friends (BFFFs) share different views of the world and learn to appreciate their differences. They celebrate the world of flitterers and flutterers, in a beautiful sing-along with the Sea and Sky.

Visually and aurally appealing with refreshing insights into our interconnections, the new Festival Fables are written by award-winning international heritage educator and journalist, Dr Kris Rampersad. (https://krisrampersad.com/; amazon.com/author/krisrampersad). Even before its release, the Fables have already received kudos, having been named a winner in an international short story contest for its musicality.

Dr Rampersad is an award-winning international author, educator and journalist. She is a cultural heritage specialist trained by the United Nations Educational, Science and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) who has explored many lands. Her special interests are presenting the rich and vibrant global multicultural milieu and interconnected heritage of the world and stimulating the imaginations of children from ages 3 to 103.

Encourage Curiosity & Critical Thinking

With captivating dialogue, startling scenery, and memorable singalongs, this is the kind of novel new age early childhood reading material that may appeal to Disney, Sesame Street, parents, teachers and others working to inspire our inner youth. With broad global appeal, the stories at the same time, fill a need in the Caribbean, for intelligent material that stimulate curiosity and creative thinking, promote cultural confidence and self-esteem and build resilience against many of life’s challenges from an early age.

Returning Confidence to Imagine an Create

“The Fables are meant to restore and faith in our imaginations to help us unearth our innate superpowers and strengthen us through the many life challenges we face,” said Dr Rampersad. She noted that these are part of her collective knowledge pot of material that sit as the foundation of her outreach initiatives, Leaves of Life.

These delightful festival fables for all take a close look at the diverse world. They explore our linkages to each other and to nature, through interconnected natural and cultural heritage. They help understand migration, peoples and cultures of many lands. They entice readers to unearth their innate superpowers by encouraging curiosity about our world and everything in it.

Subtly injected into the story, young readers can learn colours, shapes, numbers and word appreciation, enjoy rhyme schemes, word play, puns and sharp insights into human nature as well as sharpen listening and observation skills, sensitivity to natural sights and sounds and be awed with refreshing wonders in our world.

Though simple Fables, they incorporate an integrated vision of merging perceptions of the arts and science, environment, numeracy, literacy, cultures and heritage, and treat them not as separate disciplines, but holistically, as an interconnected collective whole.

Foster intangible skills: Care, Respect, Value

They also foster other intangible skills: to listen, observe, care, respect and appreciate.

Dr Rampersad said they aim to subtly transmit critical thinking with lifelong learning tools that break down established biases and prejudices. Workshops, workbooks and learning tools to accompany the books will replace defective forms of receiving and viewing the world with novel ways to integrate diverse disciplines.

“I hope to awaken and stimulate confidence in our imaginations to imagine and inculcate new values of our interconnections and create the world we want,” she said in an interview.

Develop innate superpowers

Music Festival Winner Andre Mangatal perform with LiTTscapes at LiTTribute to the Republic

EDUCATE

Said Dr Rampersad. “The stories are expressions of my inner child as I hope they draw out the same in readers of any all age. The world is grappling for an integrated vision for sustainable development. We are trying to advance development that encourages us to use resources that serve our current needs, while replenishing so these can be enjoyed by future generations. However, much of the current generations are inducted in ways of thinking and feeling and being that go against sustainable ethics.

The challenge has been how to reverse what existing educational materials have done to promote this sense of wholeness from an early age and redirect early childhood thinking and feeling about the world from notions of separateness to concepts of collective oneness. These tales, while they are enjoyable and easy to read, present the many fields of study as a united whole, rather than separate them into subjects as our school systems do. By this I hope they work to revise how we think about our place in the world, our innate superpowers, and how we view and value each other. The stories have all been presented and tested with real pre-kindergarten children, drawing out their responses. The multimedia lifelong learning tools that accompany each story are designed for various age groups, so readers, parents, child carers, and teachers, discover new elements in all of their favourite Festival Fables that grow with them. They are made for children from ages three to 103, under the umbrella of our Leaves of Life GLOC@l Knowledge Pot – a world of knowledge and new lifelong learning materials drawn from my Global, Caribbean to Local engagements. Look out for others in this series, as well as other exciting new collections of stories of other lands and landmarks.

Rampersad promises others in the series. Book 2 to be released soon: The GREAT GREEN ONE-EYED GIANT.

Also look out for the stimulating heritage travel adventure series POSTCARD FROM by Dr Kris Rampersad.

Singalongs of I the Sky and Me the Sea

I the Sky and Me the Sea – The Adventures ofMunnie Butterfly and Danny Dragonfly, Book 1 by Dr Kris Rampersad is available on Amazon (amazon.com/author/krisrampersad).

Other exciting travel experiences through multimedia with animation and music, and interactive colouring Interactive learning tools and sessions with the author are available through https://krisrampersad.com.

Explore the Adventures of Munnie and Danny and, fun activity workbooks and lifelong learning tools. to stimulate critical thinking and creative imagination. Join the author in stimulating sessions at her knowledge portal, Leaves of Life Global, Local, Caribbean (LOL GLOC@L) Knowledge Pot, http://www.krisrampersad.com.

DR KRIS RAMPERSAD is an award-winning international author, educator and journalist. She is a cultural heritage specialist trained by the United Nations Educational, Science and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) who has explored many lands. Her special interests are presenting the rich and vibrant global multicultural milieu and interconnected heritage of the world and stimulating the imaginations of children from ages 3 to 103.

EXPLORE ENTERTAIN EXCITE EDUCATE EMPOWER with Multimedia Heritage Educator, Dr Kris Rampersad. The website offers Lifelong, Interactive Leaning Tools for all. Build Self-Esteem. Intangible learnings with think tools! Stimulate Imagination Curiosity & Confidence. Learn to Respect! Care! Understand! Appreciate!

ThinkTools: Colours. Sounds. Shapes. Words. Rhymes. Listen. Read. React. Respond. Share. Spell.

Develop Literacy & Numeracy skills and integrated approach to The Arts, Mathematics, Music, Science, Nature, History, Heritage, Culture, Language, Literature, in every Adventure.

Visit our Interactive MultiMedia Gallery. For Sessions with the Author, Colouring & Activity Books Learning Journeys, Virtual Tours, Events, and to make a request, share your thoughts or to keep track of exciting new releases, Subscribe to the Website http://www.krisrampersad.com.

Message from the Author:

Stories were the first form of journalism. They inspired my entry into journalism and study of literatures and travel through many lands.

My father told us stories from his imagination every night as children growing up in the Caribbean.

The story of Munnie and her world of travels began as I wrote for my Nephew, Saiesh, when he was only three years old. I found it difficult to convey the realities of many of the children’s books available to stimulate his creativity and imagination from not one but multiple dimensions. His mom read the stories to him. He was its first critic. He grew into an avid reader. His enthusiastic reception and wish for more encouraged these Festival Fables. Over the last decade, these Munnie stories inspired other children in oral traditions of storytime, theatre workshops, and in my activities as an independent educator and journalist trying to stimulate interests in reading and cultural heritage in stimulating literary tributes and tours (LiTTributes & LiTTours) – our Reading Room Outside the Reading rooms, available on request in any city. The purpose is to integrate entertainment with education, nurturing curiosity while encouraging appreciation of diversity, respect, value and appreciation of others. I now move the stories from private to the public spheres to be available to all. I hope these encourage family activities with children, even while they integrate new technologies with multimedia animation, musical and dramatized versions. Subscribe to my website http://www.krisrampersad.com.

Authors Preface

The story of Munnie and her world of travels began unfolding as I wrote for my Nephew, Saiesh, when he was only three years old. I found it difficult to convey the realities of many of the children’s books available to stimulate his creativity and imagination from not one but multiple dimensions. He was its first critic. He grew into an avid reader. His enthusiastic reception and wish for more encouraged these Fables.

Over the last decade, these Munnie stories inspired other children in oral traditions of storytime, theatre workshops, and in my activities as an independent educator and journalist trying to stimulate interests in reading and cultural heritage. The purpose then as now is to integrate entertainment with education, nurturing curiosity while encouraging appreciation of diversity, respect, value and appreciation of others. From this long gestation, they are now reborn in print form. Stories were the first form of journalism. My father told us stories he spun from his imagination night after night when we were children growing up in a rural district in the Caribbean. I hope these encourage that kind of family activities with children, even while they integrate new technologies with multimedia animation, musical and dramatized versions in the making. Subscribe to my website www.krisrampersad.com for new ways of using these stories, new learnings forms and participate in interactive sessions, with new activities and exciting online and events.

MUNNIE, an adventurous Butterfly, explores new lands and make new friends in this delightful new series for children.

In the first of these New Age Festival Fables, Songs of I the Sky and Me the Sea, Munnie meets Danny a Dragonfly. These two become Best Flitter-Flutter Friends (BFFFs). They share different views of the world and learn to appreciate their differences. They celebrate the world of flitterers and flutterers, in a beautiful sing-along with the Sea and Sky.

Pumped with joy of living, the Caribbean is the canvas as a meeting place of the world in these New Age Fables meant to develop early childhood sensibilities to the complex and diverse world in which we live.

Re-Envisioning Early Childhood Education

The series represent a remarkable departure from conventional approaches to children’s education that sacrifice understandings of the intricacies of life. While each is a simple and enjoyable Fable, each story explores and responds to the complex fabric of our interrelations and connections to others and the natural and cultural universe, that are discernible even to children. The series adopts an integrated approach to early childhood teachings and learnings, with exposure to a range of fields spanning numeracy and literacy and the tangible and intangible natural and cultural universe.

They nurture and feed early curiosity about the diversity in the world around us. They tell of our linkages to each other and to nature, through our natural and cultural heritage. Be prepared to discover the extraordinary in the ordinary, adventure in the everyday routine.

Interdisciplinary thoughtful material

In keeping with preparation for understanding, valuing, respecting and appreciating and grappling with the challenges of the inherent diversity in our communities, they treat with a range of disciplines simultaneously. The arts, sciences, mathematics, geography, geology, anthropology, archaeology, heritage, history, environment, ecology are all part of the collective creative canvas on which these pages unfold. All this through simple, enjoyable reading material to stimulate and feed a child’s curiosity about the world around with quick, thoughtful and intelligent responses.

The story of Munnie and her world of travels first began unfolding for my Nephew, Saiesh, when he was only three years old. He was its first critic and his enthusiastic reception and demands for more encouraged the unfolding of these stories. In the decade of gestation, it was pitched to children of many age groups. This tested how it may be utilised and applied to broader social educational and entertainment functions of nurturing curiosity, while encouraging reading, it was. Storytelling in the Park. was adapted and dramatized by the Trinidad Theatre Workshop for a special interface with underprivileged children through the Rotary Club

Get curious in a world of diversity of interests, people, places, animals and many other things. Others in the Series: Book 2: The GREAT GREEN ONE-EYED GIANT

Coming Soon, Other in the Series: Munnie MultiCultural Musical Masquerade:

Inside the Dragon’s Mouth

The Devil’s Woodyard

Dinosaur Tales … and many more.

Get all the Adventures of Munnie and Danny. Explore the multimedia series with animation and music, and interactive colouring, activity and workbooks to stimulate critical thinking and creative imagination. Join the author in exciting sessions.

DR KRIS RAMPERSAD is an award-winning author, educator and journalist from Trinidad and Tobago. She is a cultural heritage specialist who has explored many lands. Her special interest is presenting the rich and vibrant global multicultural milieu and interconnected heritage to children from ages 3 to 103.

EXPLORE EXCITE ENTERTAIN. EDUCATE EMPOWER with Multimedia Heritage Educator, Dr Kris Rampersad. Visit Leaves of Life Glocal, Local, Caribbean (LOL GLOC@L) Knowledge Pot at www.krisrampersad.com.

Lifelong, Interactive Learning Tools

Ages 3-6 ImagineTools Colours. Sounds. Shapes. Words. Rhymes.

AGES 5-8 ThinkTools: Listen. Read. React. Respond. Share. Spell

For Any Age: Build Self-Esteem Learn To: Respect. Care. Understand. Appreciate. Think! Imagine!In Every Adventure find The Arts, Mathematics, Music, Science, Nature, History, Heritage, Culture, Literature, Language.

Leaves of Life GLOC@l Knowledge Pot is located at www.krisrampersad.com.

Find More Adventures. Explore Our Interactive MultiMedia Gallery. For Sessions with the Author, Colouring & Activity Books Learning Journeys, Virtual Tours, Events, Subscribe to the Website. To make a request or to keep track of exciting new releases visit http://www.krisrampersad.com.

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Caribbean Flavoured Festival Fables Introducing these Caribbean-Flavoured Festival Fables for children from 3 to 103, complete with startling scenery, dynamic action, witty dialogues, and singalongs that explore interconnections between the natural and cultural worlds.

#Action #Adventure #Children&039;s Literatyre #Climate Change #Exploration #Fable #Fantasy #music #Story #travel

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sualkmedeiors · 6 years

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One Year Later: A CMO’s First Year in Retrospect

Some say hindsight is 20/20. To me, hindsight, at least when it comes to the last year—my first year as the Chief Marketing Officer at Marketo—is not 20/20… it is a loud, colorful blur.

The Top Seven First-Year Takeaways from Marketo’s CMO

1. 365 days ago, and 365 days later—the one thing that hasn’t changed? This job is still very much my dream job. And every day it gets more exciting.

2. The right marketing leadership team changes everything. Literally everything. The “kind-of, mostly right” leadership team is just as challenging as the absolute wrong one.

6. Don’t ever miss an opportunity to make a memory for your team. And don’t be a moron and fail to realize when that opportunity is in front of you and also your influence as a leader.

The post One Year Later: A CMO’s First Year in Retrospect appeared first on Marketo Marketing Blog - Best Practices and Thought Leadership.

from http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/modernb2bmarketing/~3/VR7A05BIMaw/one-year-later-a-cmos-first-year-in-retrospect.html

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research--blog · 2 years

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Frozen Food Market Worth $408.05 Billion by 2029

Download Free Sample Report Now @ https://www.meticulousresearch.com/download-sample-report/cp_id=5313

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Frozen Food Market

Speak to our Analysts to Understand the Impact of COVID-19 on Your Business: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/speak-to-analyst/cp_id=5313

Quick Buy – Frozen Food Market Research Report: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/Checkout/72718668

To gain more insights into the market with a detailed table of content and figures, click here: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/frozen-food-market-5313

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brattyfics · 3 years

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summary:

❥ boy meets girl, except the girl is a mermaid with the ability to steal breath from the boy if it suits her. believe it or not, this is a submission to my fall fluff challenge. "squeezing hand for comfort and encouragement" + 'blackberries'.

pairing: ezekiel reyes x black!ofc [mermaid]

tags: i call this genre horror fluff, sexual content, dry humping of a mermaid so monster-humping? manipulation, lots of mentions of nudity, dark stuff surrounding reproduction? please let me know if i'm forgetting something.

word count: 6.6k

credit: mermaid prompts ⎈ smutty one-liners ⎈ gif 1 ⎈ gif 2 ⎈ special thanks to the lovely, brilliant @isisafrofairy & @thesandbeneathmytoes who helped turn this shitty fever dream into something somewhat legible. i appreciate it more than you know!

A little while ago, the siren would have scared him, but now all Ezekiel Reyes could feel was relief. The unmistakable, rhythmic sound of water splashing at the foot of his boat meant she was alive and well. She, being the other-worldly seductress with a long, shimmering tail for legs. At least until she dried out, shed the scaly skin, and sprouted a shapely pair of human legs.

"Mister Reyes." Adah sang his name, her mesmerizing voice muddled but distinct. He followed the sound with urgency, catching a glimpse of the tips of her tail as she disappeared back under the water. Her giggles rang out wild and child-like past the sound barrier, so familiar but so far away.

In the past month, Ezekiel learned a lot about the siren, the main thing being that she liked to play games. They ranged from harmless, like the one she played now, a little underwater hide and seek, to extremely dangerous, like the time she insisted he join in on the fun, nearly drowning him when she yanked him down into the water for a deep-sea game of Marco Polo. She didn't call it that, of course, but the concept was the same.

It amazed him really, the things that were universal, whether on land or in the ocean. That he had more things in common with a sea creature than he ever would have guessed.

Ezekiel's neck worked double-time trying to spot her underneath the dark water. Just when he thought he'd seen a flash of her long tresses that crinkled like seaweed or ashen brown skin, he blinked, and there was nothing.

Adah was fast, unbelievably so. She was also an apex predator with the ability to steal breath from him if it suited her. Deep inside, he knew better than to let his guard down, but he was only a man. When she called out his name again, Ezekiel sunk to his knees and peered out into the water.

The ache in his chest didn't subside until her head peaked past foamy surface bubbles.

Her eyes were as hypnotizing as they were haunting, a beautiful blue-green shade he had never seen on a human being. The first night she showed herself to him, it took over an hour for them to transition into a deep brown shade he was much more familiar with, the same as his brothers' or the woman that bagged his groceries.

The more she changed, the quicker the process became. If Ezekiel's estimations were correct, it wouldn't take longer than a few minutes tonight.

Her webbed hands gripped the edge of the boat, not for stability, because she could float upright as long as he could stand, but in invitation. Ezekiel wasted no time placing his hands over her water-logged skin, sighing as he absorbed the cool, thin layer of slime like it was the natural thing to do. It probably should have scared him, or at the very least, grossed him out, but when he was with her, he felt nothing but fascination. It was reckless, but he only ever wanted to see and learn more.

Adah blinked rapidly as her eyes adjusted to the nitrogen above the surface; the action almost amphibian-like in a peculiar but captivating way.

"E.Z." She chimed his nickname like a bell, angling her neck this and that way as she studied the planes of his face. No matter how hard she tried to remember every little detail, nothing did him justice. Especially when he smiled wide like that, tawny skin and hazel eyes sparkling with the help of the moonlight reflecting on the water's surface.

"Mi tesoro. My treasure." He breathed. Ferocious underwater warrior she was, but to him, just a woman. One with shark-like teeth and tough, alligator-like skin for a tail, but still.

"Miss me?" She asked in a distorted tone. Once, she explained to him that her organs started shifting mere moments after breathing air instead of water. The seawater itself had nothing to do with the transformation.

"Like the moon misses the stars." Ezekiel indulged, knowing that Adah loved when he used land expressions on her. He had to explain himself most times, but she liked hearing their origin just as much. Growing up, she heard stories about the moon. Adah knew that it determined their migration patterns and how much light there was down under, but there was nothing like hearing it firsthand from someone who walked the land.

"Aww." She cooed in a deep tone. Ezekiel laughed at the nearly identical imitation of him. It was the sound he made whenever she was tender or sentimental.

Ezekiel finger-combed the heavy, tangled curls away from her face so that he could see her clearly, full lips forming an 'O' at the gradual changes happening before his eyes. Tiny hairs sprouted from her previously bare brow bone, pointy teeth withdrawing from her mouth up into her skull, while ashen skin peeled and shed away to reveal a more golden undertone.

In a word, it was remarkable. As a man of science, he never believed much in what couldn't be seen or proven. If mermaids truly existed (and they did, he now knew), there should be evidence more substantial than a few old sailor's stories. The whirlwind romance with his very own siren seemed to explain that phenomenon.

From the moment Ezekiel met her, he was in her orbit. It wasn't supreme beauty or unbridled lust, at least not at first; she looked like nothing like the beautified, commercialized mermaids they showed on television in this state. Perhaps it was that she came to him vulnerable and weak that first night. Maybe it was all a part of her allure, a tool for survival the same as any other species, but he had only ever wanted to protect her. Just the thought of sharing her existence made him light-headed and queasy.

"Need. To. Change." Adah reminded him, panting through the mind-numbing pain.

What does it feel like? He asked once. Nothing and everything was the only explanation that made sense. How could one possibly explain how it felt to be squeezed and stretched in every direction, to feel turned inside out?

Ezekiel pulled her up and onto the deck while she gasped for water, dragging her several feet to rest in front of the saloon table, just across from the boating cockpit. Instinctively, her appendages flailed, searching for home, safety the same as a goldfish would. He fished the bright, industrial flashlight he kept close out of his backpack and stuffed it in between her lips. Adah bit down in preparation. Next, he scrambled to lay heavily across her chest, just enough to keep her anchored but still avoid the wild thrashing of her sharp tail.

This part of the process wasn't so pretty.

Adah fought the instinct to kill for the saltwater she so desperately thirsted for, screeching and clawing at the boat's floor to keep from shredding him to pieces while Ezekiel held on for his life.

That very first time, he'd left with a concussion and a severely bruised side. Everyone in his life wondered, where did a wealthy doctor who spent his free time alone on a catamaran get hurt like that? He spun some story about an unexpected gust of wind and jerking the wheel recklessly in reaction, but he was a veteran sailor. One that had spent too much time and money on boating lessons to make an amateur move like that.

Ezekiel learned to hide his injuries better, but it didn't help that his brothers suddenly weren't invited to tag along. Angel complained about being downgraded to the regular, degular ambiance of his living room on weekends. Miguel didn't mind as much, preferring the company of whatever new girl he was seeing for the week to get him through his divorce.

If the buck of her strong torso sent him flying backward and he hit his head, or her tail slit his throat, no one would be able to help him. This far out? It might be a week before anyone found him. He'd be half-decomposed by then, and his brothers might struggle to identify him. His father would have to bury him without the closure of an open casket funeral.

Still, time and time again, he showed up to meet his Sirena.

There were five vast oceans and seven expansive continents. What were the chances of them ever being in the same place at the same time? Of her being injured, dazed, and desperate enough to expose herself? There had to be a reason for it all. He refused to believe otherwise.

When Adah stilled, the only sound to be heard was water lapping at the sides of the boat in waves. Not a finger twitched, nor an eyeball shifted as she lay perfectly still; heart stopped temporarily. He hated it. It wasn't necessary, but Ezekiel shifted to breathe for her, full lips covering hers as he exhaled and inhaled deliberately. Breathing her in was an experience of its own. She always tasted like something he couldn't quite place. Salty, yet cool and refreshing, strangely calming. There was nothing like it.

It took a few minutes, but when her organs finished contorting and recuperating, she breathed back into him. "Mi tesoro." He groaned into her mouth, cupping her face as her eyes blinked open, warm brown and familiar.

"Ezekiel." Her way of speaking emphasized each syllable. "Hurt?" She blinked, voice heavy with exhaustion as she looked him over.

She couldn't see blood or scratches, but he'd explained internal injuries to her that first night. Through her blue-green sea eyes, skin was translucent. Therefore, all injuries were injuries that could be seen. Other animals like wolves could smell sickness and weakness. Mermaids saw it. Through human-brown eyes, though, Ezekiel was all sinewy muscle and attractive flesh. Nothing weak about that.

"I'm fine." He breathed, scooting back a foot to rest against a wall. His arms flexed as he shook the tension and terror away. Adah crawled to him and pressed her hand to his chest. His heart thumped erratically, and she felt her own chest tighten in response.

Adah curled into his side, gathering his hand in hers and squeezing. It was what they did in the water during times of conflict with other tribes, linking themselves to each other in solidarity. I'm still here. Whatever you are going through, I am too. An attack against you is an attack against me. Ezekiel felt the sentiment through her touch.

Several minutes later, his heart rate returned to normal, and she cupped his face the way he had hers. "Better?"

"Yes," Ezekiel reassured her, standing on shaky legs. He helped her to her feet and smiled reassuringly. "Much better."

Without fail, he found himself drawn to her wide-set, upturned eyes that were always unbelievably dark and striking. Next, his gaze traveled to her button nose and defined cupid's bow. He was utterly stupefied by her ethereal beauty now that she stood before him as a human.

Adah shifted, adjusting her weight between feet in search of balance. After all, it was a considerable undertaking transforming into a completely different being, but all the movement did was draw his attention to her equally alluring body. His hands itched to cup her small, pointy breasts, and pull her close so that he could feel her taut stomach against his own. And then there were her healthy legs and butt, toned by the constant swimming. Despite the stark darkness of the night sky, her dark skin glistened, and he felt himself swell beneath navy slacks.

"Kiss?" She asked expectantly, so used to literally being swept off her land legs and carried off upon arrival. Ezekiel exhaled deeply. It took everything to resist his desires to pull her close and steal her breath away, but he needed to have a clear mind, free from the euphoria of lust for the conversation he wanted to have later. He grasped her hand in his and pulled her with him towards the cozy cabin.

The cabin was small, but it served its purpose. There was enough space for a small bathroom with a shower, a bed with built-in storage, and a small coat closet. Ezekiel headed for the bathroom and came out with a towel, gently drying the excess water from her shoulders before wrapping it around her mountain of coils. She thanked him with a slight shiver. It was ironic, but wet hair while on land always made her uncomfortable.

Next, Ezekiel fished a t-shirt and pair of boxers out of a drawer; he needed her to cover up so that he could focus. Adah still didn't quite understand the need for clothes, but she took them and dressed anyway.

By the time she returned her attention to Ezekiel, he had produced a circular charcuterie board topped with colorful fruits and vegetables, meats, cheeses, and crackers; all arranged in a pretty rainbow for her viewing pleasure. Adah liked food almost as much her games, bouncing with excitement as he peeled away the shiny, clear wrapping that felt funny when she rolled it between her fingertips.

"For me?"

Ezekiel laughed. "For us." She had a hard time sharing, but he didn't mind. It was just fun to tease her.

"Yes." She agreed seriously, crawling to the center of the bed where he had placed the board. She looked at it from above while Ezekiel settled across from her. Adah stuffed her face with a handful of purple grapes, sighing at the fresh and tart taste before grabbing another handful. One of Ezekiel's warm hands rubbed circles on her bare knee while she ate. He watched her with mild amusement, enjoying her pleasure more than anything. Adah reached out and offered him the next handful.

"For you."

Ezekiel opened his mouth and accepted the fruit, kissing her hand quickly before she could pull it away. She roared with laughter. The pattern of feeding herself and then him followed through a bunch of blueberries, crunchy red cabbage, and tangy kiwi. When he arranged her food according to color, she finished each ingredient in its entirety before moving to the next.

Even in his blur of musings, Ezekiel noticed details. "The blackberries are this way." He frowned, pointing to the dark fruit as he chewed. He knew she favored them over other fruits. "Yes." Adah chirped, crunching adorably on a stalk of celery. "Saving them." Was her simple explanation. Ezekiel watched her and the board until it made sense. "For last?"

"Yes." She nodded, enjoying the yellow bell peppers Ezekiel had sliced and deseeded himself. He worked long shifts at the hospital and rarely had the time to cook for himself, but he was heavily involved in preparing her food. Only buying organic, washing and drying it thoroughly himself, and breaking out the cutting board when necessary.

Whatever it took to make her happy.

"Because they're your favorite?"

She looked to him with a bashful smile.

"Yes."

"You could have them all the time."

The words tumbled out of his brain and past his lips before he could stop them. Ezekiel had wanted to broach the subject more delicately, but now that he had an opening now seemed like as good of a time as any. Adah was never more willing to bend to his will than when he was feeding her, and he never could hide much from her anyway.

Besides, she seemed open and relaxed, smiling affectionately at him like something she treasured and couldn't live without. At least, he thought so.

Adah looked up from constructing a cracker sandwich the careful and meticulous way he had shown her, picking up on the sudden tension she felt from him more than what the words implied. Though she picked up language and the things he taught her easily, intention and tone were sometimes lost.

She took a break from stacking meat and cheese cubes to dissect his body language. Ezekiel's forehead wrinkled at the center; Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed, and then he clasped his hands together with finality. "On land, they're everywhere. I could buy you a basket a day." Adah giggled with excited eyes, reaching out to grasp his shoulders. "That is my…." She racked her brain for the right word. "...dream."

It was his too. How could he make her understand?

Adah's eyes zeroed in on him then, cracker forgotten, as she sat up on her knees to inspect him closely, hands dropping to rest on the tops of his thighs.

"Hurt?" She checked again, sure that must be the source of his distress.

"No," Ezekiel said assuredly, pulling her into his lap. She leaned into the familiar position, stroking the back of his head and neck as he readied himself. The short hairs tickled her fingers with each stroke. He leaned into the embrace, looking up into her eyes with a serious expression.

"It doesn't have to be a dream." Her fingers paused as she focused her attention on what came next. "You could- you should come home with me. We can be together, and not just for a couple of hours. It wouldn't be easy, I know that, but I'll take care of you. Same as I do now."

Adah blinked at him silently while Ezekiel tried to place her expression. His grip on her hips tightened when she shook her head.

"No."

Ezekiel's skin heated just below the surface. It was unlike him, but he hadn't planned on what to do if she said no. Working in the OR had taught him always to have a Plan B and C, but it hadn't seemed possible in this case. If she felt the way he did, it would be a no-brainer. He'd do the same for her if the roles were reversed. Right? No one had ever asked him to abandon the only world he knew, but he felt like he loved her enough to leave it all behind- his family, his career, and the comfort that came with wealth and extravagant material possessions.

His thoughts were in disarray as he scrambled for a new strategy. "You said there are others, like you, that live on land now. If you wanted to, you could, right?"

It was much, much, more complicated than that.

"Others are not- Can not just-" Adah stuttered and stopped, feeling herself get more frustrated by the second as she searched for the right words. None came to mind. Did Ezekiel understand the gravity of what he asked of her? Her voice shook as she spoke over the lump in her throat.

Mermaids that chose the land permanently were shunned by their families and banned from ever returning home. Rumors circled that a long-term life on land could lead to respiratory and joint problems, or worse, premature death for those born in the water. Adah wasn't sure if it was fact or fiction. The elders had good reason for telling those stories. With pollution in the water making it harder to conceive and birth healthy babies, they needed as many merpeople building the next generation as possible.

Adah's mother, Nerissa, was a pillar in their community. To some, she was the most important leader (besides the elders with their immeasurable experience and wisdom). Nerissa patrolled their territory daily, settled disagreements between clan members before they escalated to violence, and even led them into battle when circumstances called for it. One day, their community would expect the same of Adah. She was her mother's daughter, fast and ferocious when necessary, equal parts competent and cunning.

Unfortunately, she was also curious and open-minded in a way that would be frowned upon. If anyone ever found out she was considering living on land instead of doing what was best for the community... She didn't even want to think about what would happen. Her gaze darted between Ezekiel and the stairs that would lead her to the water. Home. This moment felt like the end, or maybe the beginning.

Ezekiel or Family?

"Ezekiel does not understand." Adah shook her head and tried to create space between them, all the while, Ezekiel refused, pulling her closer.

"What don't I understand?"

"It is hard to... explain."

"What is?" Adah refused to meet his eyes, instead focusing on the threads of the comforter set. Ezekiel gently grasped her chin, forcing her to face him, all the while searching her eyes for answers. He gave her his best reassuring smile, but her beautiful brown eyes didn't look any less said.

With a heavy sigh, she held both palms out. "Life on land. Life in water." She dropped one hand. "Can not choose land."

Ezekiel could barely contain his frustration, matching her exasperated sigh as he scratched the back of his neck. He took in a deep breath and reminded himself to be kind.

"Okay. How come? I mean, why?"

Her mouth opened and closed several times before she gestured the sign for family. Again, he found himself perplexed by her abilities, lips pouting as he eyed her with wary eyes. The only reason he knew ASL was because of a college course. Where did a mermaid learn something like that? Did they communicate with each other like that?

Suddenly, the reality of the situation began to creep in.

Ezekiel was only a few weeks into the deepest connection he had ever felt. Yet, he knew nothing about Adah's other relationships and nothing beyond the superficial about her life underwater. He could have sworn he asked her about her family at one point, but he couldn't recall her answer. There was a mental block. Somewhere along the way, he had formed the opinion that mermaids were similar to other animals in the wild. Parents raised their offspring until they could be on her own and then moved on. But she was saying differently?

Rationally, Ezekiel understood her hesitance to take that next step. He hadn't exactly discussed Felipe, Angel, or Miguel at length either. That didn't make them any less real. Maybe they should take the time to deepen their connection past the superficial, but he couldn't force himself to want her any less. He was beyond that now, so he persisted.

"I could be your family."

A noise that he had never heard escaped her throat. Her expression softened, but no words came. Ezekiel stroked the side of her face, outlining the unbelievably high and pronounced cheekbones. Adah reached up to unravel the Egyptian cotton from her head. Wet, beautifully wild, and tangled hair fanned out around their faces, engulfing Ezekiel in her presence. Being so close, suddenly, all he could think about was living in the moment. She'd asked for a kiss earlier, and he had denied her. What a fool he had been then.

Ezekiel leaned forward with parted lips, his Sirena meeting him halfway. Adah still tasted distantly salty as her tongue roved over his, but the added sweetness of the fresh fruit made Ezekiel's brain swirl. He licked inside of her mouth greedily, groaning as she rolled her hips in search of friction.

Over time, she had learned to tolerate him on top, but it wasn't her favorite. Predators didn't like becoming the prey, but she indulged him anyway, allowing him to pin her to the soft bed. The position and perceived shift in power dynamics made his head dizzy with desire. Even in this small way, capturing her was almost too exciting to handle, especially when she laced her arms and legs tightly around his midsection. He was effectively trapped, but couldn't see it through the haze of lust.

"I dreamed of this, of your legs wrapped around my back," Ezekiel whispered, his ever-growing erection pressed against her clothed center more than sufficient proof. Adah sighed into his ear and grabbed hold of his face. "That is silly to dream."

Ezekiel dropped wet kisses to her neck, finding himself annoyed with how well his t-shirt covered her body.

"You can ask. I will do. For you."

His heart and dick throbbed almost simultaneously. He just barely contained the gasp that threatened to escape his throat. Ezekiel pulled away, seeing the lascivious sincerity in her darkening eyes.

"Just for me." He remarked possessively, almost trance-like. Adah clutched him tighter. "Yes. Just Ezekiel."

His hips jerked forward as if forcibly compelled by her honeyed tone. The light side of him that comforted patients and families alike thought she deserved better- more tender kisses and sweet words at least- before he rutted against her like a wild animal. The darker side of him, the primitive side he tried to keep safely locked away, thought it was what she deserved. She made him lose control in this way.

"What are you doing to me?" He panted, moaning as she pushed up into his lap despite the layers of clothing between them. Each movement was just right, calculated, and formulated to drive him crazy. Adah was always perfectly in-tune with what he needed. So much so that he found it hard to separate his thoughts from hers at times. The worst part was that the realization didn't alarm him, even as she cooed his name and pulled him away from his thoughts once more.

His resolve grew weak, hot air from his delectable mouth sending shivers down her spine as he buried his face in her neck. It was so good, better than anything he had ever felt, and intense that Ezekiel forced himself to choke back sobs. They weren't even connected- bare skin to bare skin- in the way he was used to. Adah's fingers slithered up his shirt and stroked his skin as she repeated something he couldn't understand. Whether it was English or not, he couldn't tell. He didn't care.

Ezekiel lifted his head to look at her with glassy eyes, needing to see the gorgeous face that kept him spellbound before it was all over. Instead, he found himself transfixed by the flashes of blue-green peeking through dark brown.

"Your eyes-" Adah's vice around his midsection grew impossibly tighter, and despite his shocks, he rutted forward without missing a beat.

"What?" Even her voice sounded different to Ezekiel, but he chalked it up to the lack of oxygen getting to his brain.

"You're. Making. Me. Lose. My. Mind." He choked out in between thrusts, moving harder and faster despite the slight pain accompanying his pleasure.

"Yes," Was the last thing she puffed out before he saw stars beneath his closed lids.

It felt like mere seconds when Ezekiel opened his eyes again, but he couldn't be sure. Adah had a way of making him lose track of time. Somewhere in between his long blinks, she had found the time to undress and clean him up. Sweaty sheets were haphazardly thrown across his midsection to preserve his modesty. Ezekiel laughed to himself. Adah was slowly but surely learning the ways of the land.

Maybe there was hope for them after all.

Ezekiel looked around the room for his singer, wincing at the chafing between his legs as he moved to sit up. He called out her name, at the same time as sound returned to his ears. Two loud thumps caught his attention, making him look towards the door he hadn't remembered closing. The third finally stirred him from his sleepy, lazy haze.

Adah emerged from a corner then, moving to stand at the bottom of the stairs with an uneasy expression. Ezekiel studied her through heavy eyelids, having never seen any emotion too far off from joy. When she turned the door handle and looked as if she would leave him, he called out her name once more. Adah turned to face Ezekiel as he scrambled clumsily to stand on shaky legs. He reached out to her with one hand, the other holding the bed sheet to his lap.

"You don't have to go! A fish probably just jumped on board. I'll-" Adah threw out an arm that stopped him in his panicked tracks. "No!" She hissed as he flinched backward. It was a natural reaction, his basic fight-or-flight instinct kicking in, but it didn't make him feel any less guilty. She was the love of his life, no more capable of harming him than a fly.

"No. Me." She softened her tone, but it didn't ease his concern. Her neck and back were tense, body coiled like a snake preparing to strike. Ezekiel wanted to hold her, wrap her up in his arms and squeeze, but something in her stance told him to exercise caution. Could she sense something that he couldn't? Even seeing her in this new light, as more than the alien creature that needed saving or the sweet girl he had grown to love, he decided there was no way he'd let her go alone.

"Together," He declared simply, dropping the bedsheet as he rubbed sleep from his eyes.

Ezekiel had never said no to Adah in any capacity. When she wanted him to join her in the water despite his better judgment, he did. When she asked for bigger portions of food, he delivered. And the times they were wholly intimate, and she insisted he finish inside of her, he did it without much hesitation. It was more than reckless considering the circumstances, and in any other situation, he would never. He hadn't even decided he wanted kids or a wife definitively before they met. There was no guarantee a child of theirs could even exist, but he would do anything to make her happy and keep her safe, even when she didn't like it.

When he reached for her hand again, she accepted, letting him lead her up the stairway. In Adah's mind, the action confirmed that moment that she had made a good choice. Ezekiel was strong and brave. Capable and understanding, willing to learn.

He would make an excellent partner.

The rattling continued on board, growing louder with each step, and Ezekiel felt his earlier theory slipping away. Adah clutched his hand tighter. She wasn't entirely sure what to make of the noise either. The same human body that helped her get close to Ezekiel now betrayed her, leaving her with weakened senses.

The galley was empty as they had left it, but fresh puddles of saltwater shined on the boat floor. Ezekiel guided Adah over to the cockpit. He unlocked the air-tight first-aid-kit, rummaging past antiseptics and bandages in favor of a bright orange flare gun. Then despite everything in his instincts telling him to turn around, to go and barricade himself in the cabin with the make-shift weapon, he pushed on. His feet moved purposefully as if compelled until he saw that a much bigger fish had joined them.

More than one, actually.

A baby-faced mermaid desperately clung to the side of the boat, moaning and groaning pathetically while another crouched over the edge in support. His gaze excused their nudity in exchange for the pure terror on the youthful, familiar face. "Azalea," Adah gasped as the young woman crawled onto the deck with the help of her older companion. Ezekiel couldn't tear his eyes away from her, especially as she shook violently and shrieked like a woman possessed. The sound of bones cracking and shifting and the sight of muscles rippling just underneath the skin was unforgettable, yet just as jarring each time.

Perhaps it was the healer in him, but the concern Ezekiel should have felt for himself, he felt for Azaela and the pain she was in. The older mermaid with chunky sun and saltwater bleached braids hanging just past her breasts perched next to the young woman and whispered something in her ear. The ghost of a chant Ezekiel wasn't entirely sure he wasn't imagining hung heavy in the night air.

When blood gushed from her nose, even to Ezekiel, it was apparent that she was struggling more than she should be. He went to help her, but Adah snatched him back. "No. It is first time. Azaela must do alone." Ezekiel frowned. Adah hadn't been alone that first time, so why did her baby sister?

Azalea squealed, and then like a pack of wolves in a horror film, more joined her in her screams. Ezekiel's human ear couldn't discern whether there were only a few or dozens more out in the open water. Not when the sound rang out around the boat, simultaneously, surrounding him wholly. A shiver ran down his spine, but he couldn't look away.

Not until Adah pushed him to stand behind her, baring her teeth at the third mermaid he hadn't taken notice of yet because she approached from the rear. She was the tallest out of the four sirens, standing at the same height as Ezekiel. She, too, bore a striking resemblance to Adah. A near carbon copy with the same eye shape, cheekbones, lips, and skin tone. It was almost like looking at Adah in a time machine, except instead of loose, kinky tresses, her mother sported hundreds of micro braids as a signifier of her status. They hung heavily down to her rounded hips, swaying as she walked.

In some alternate universe where they were all of the same species, he'd have been excited to get a glimpse of what Adah would look like as she got older.

"Now, daughter, what have I told you about playing with your food?" Nerissa flashed them a dark smile and then lifted a webbed hand to brush her dripping wet hair behind one shoulder. Ezekiel followed the trail of shape-shifting skin as it transformed, seemingly painless and at her will. Adah had been changing for weeks and still didn't have nearly that much control. If the ease came with time or if it was just pure skill, he wasn't sure. Either way, this one wasn't in any way helpless or needy. At last, his self-preservation kicked in, and he felt fear.

"That was joke, Ezekiel." Her mother giggled with delight. "We do not eat people." Why did he feel like the main course being served up on a platter then? Nerissa's use of his name made him even more uneasy, especially as she laughed, looking between him and Adah as if waiting for something.

His singer refused to look at him squarely in the eyes even as he tugged on her hand. Instead, she faced forward, glaring in her mother's direction.

Nerissa said something in their native tongue that caused Adah to hiss once more. Eventually, she switched back to English so Ezekiel could understand. "So nice to finally meet you. Up close." Her mother emphasized as she analyzed his face through her blue-green eyes. "I met you before." She stepped forward and twirled Adah's coils around her sharp fingernails. "Even before my darling daughter." He felt Adah stiffen against his chest, but she didn't make any move to step out of her mother's reach.

Ezekiel glowered at the older woman over Adah's head. Trying to figure their interaction out was like trying to complete a puzzle without all of the pieces. He had never met this woman a day in his life, but for some reason he couldn't explain, he felt inclined to believe her.

Ezekiel looked to Adah for guidance. "Talk to me." He tugged on her arm harder, all the while keeping an eye on her daunting mother. Adah snatched her arm away and faced him with her lips pressed into a thin line.

"What's going on?" He asked through clenched his teeth, hands instinctively balling into fists. Her gaze dropped to them and back up. "Do not hate me, please." She touched his forearm lightly and Ezekiel's irritation simmered to a cold calm.

"I don't hate you, but I need to know what's happening right now. Can you tell me?" In the corner, Azalea was helped to her feet and he remembered their earlier conversation. Can not choose land. Family. "Please, just tell me." Ezekiel sighed. With each passing second of silence, dread set in.

"I am sorry." Adah grimaced as she stepped backward, closer to her family and farther away from him, her body language telling the story her mouth couldn't.

Ezekiel felt his chest tighten. Nerissa and Adah joined hands while Azalea and the other did the same, forming a small circle around him before he could even realize what was happening. His mind was still frozen in the moment that Adah made her choice.

She tried to convey her remorse with pouted lips and pinched eyebrows, but he wouldn't look at her. It didn't matter anyway. Ezekiel couldn't go home because he knew their secret. There were only two choices: water or death. She'd rather he live to hate her than meet his untimely end on a hard, cold boat deck.

The chanting started then, repeated phrases in an ancient language Ezekiel didn't understand, making him light-headed and weak in the knees. Dozens of dark heads peaked past the water's surface one after the other in a never-ending, profoundly dark, and disturbing deep-sea version of Pop Goes the Weasel. They bobbed continuously, filling their lungs with the saltwater needed to breathe before their bodies betrayed them and forced the change.

His feet were forcibly frozen in place even as his neck swiveled in a futile search for escape. He caught a glimpse of himself in one of the boat's tinted windows, gasping at the sight of himself.

Ezekiel's usually neatly groomed mustache and goatee were overgrown down his chin and neck. The same hair he hadn't allowed to grow long since middle school, wave at the top of his head. How the fuck? He had just gone to the barbershop a few days ago... He looked to Adah, who's already watching him intently. She took a break from chanting to speak to him. "It will hurt, but you are strong."

"What? What will hurt? What are you talking about? I wanna go-"

"Thank you for your sacrifice." Nerissa breathed and then threw a menacing glance in Adah's direction. "Focus. The transformation must be successful."

An hour later, when Ezekiel curled into a naked ball of flesh and fins with bones jutting out of his hips and shoulders, Nerissa crouched down to caress his side. Ezekiel wheezed desperately through the split skin that will form gills. "It is time, son." She took his weight under one shoulder while the other adult female did the same on the other side. Azalea drug his feet while Adah looked on pitifully as he was tossed overboard.

There was nothing to do now but to wait and see if he would sink or swim.

Yes, mermaids walk the Earth, but not for the reason anyone tinks and definitely not for puppy love. Natural, water-born mermaids are female, always, thus the need to constantly scour the surface for males to mate with. Making matters worst, most men didn't survive the first change.

That was why Adah had spent the better part of a month slowly acclimating Ezekiel to his new conditions. Their transference of bodily fluids, the time she forced him to spend in the water, as well as the spells she spun in his head would all make the transformation easier for him. Things wouldn't get easier for Ezekiel though, even after he changed. He would become nothing more than a round-the-clock sperm donor.

Adah knew it was a necessary evil, one that she had committed before, but for Ezekiel's sake, she found herself wishing things could be different. That they could be different, two beings in love without the weight of responsibility or manipulation affecting their feelings. But she was a mermaid tasked with bettering her community, and soon he'd be a merman, destined to father countless children across the seas.

Mermaids walked the Earth in search of hidden treasures; brilliant, strong, and adaptive men to birth the next generation.

Love had nothing to do with it.

notes: I spent tons and tons of time on this, so please let me know what you think. Did you suspect something all along? Would you classify this as horror? Do you think Adah genuinely cared/cares for Ezekiel? Are there any questions you have for me? I'd be happy to explain because there are so many ideas/theories in my head. I'm just hoping they all come across.

Eventually, I would like to maybe create another one-shot set within this universe, maybe one where Miguel is involved based on this photo set? Personally, I don’t feel too strongly about Emily one way or another, but many of you seem like you would get enjoyment out of her taking a knife to the chest, so let me know. Lol 👀

General Taglist:

#mayans mc #ezekiel reyes #bfff challenge #ez reyes x oc #ezekiel reyes x oc

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