#Local Experience

[techdriveplay]

7 Places to Visit in Mexico Where You Can Avoid the Crowds and Enjoy Culture and Outdoors

Do you want to experience some of the best in Mexico but want to avoid the crowds? Mexico is one of the most visited countries in the world, with its spectacular Mayan ruins in Yucatan, world-class museums in Mexico City, and incredible gastronomy in Puebla, Oaxaca, and Jalisco drawing droves of visitors. It also boasts 3,000 miles of coastline with some of the best beaches in the…

[gallusrostromegalus]

I was raised agnostic and tend to remain ambiguous on theological matters.

-but my house has a porch on the second story that affords me a terrific view of my neighborhood and the Colorado Front Range and I was partaking of some peace before the 4th Of July Finger-Loss Festivities begin, and I have had a

~*Spiritual Experience*~

I just watched my neighbor try to unload an actual wooden pallet that had to have been forklifted into the back of his insecurity pickup worth of fireworks.

Except that he does not have a forklift in his garage.

He does have so much sports memorabilia and cardboard boxes of unsold MLM Merchandise and patriotically themed camping gear and posters of women in bikinis and flags of suspect political organizations in his garage that there is only BARELY enough space for the fireworks and certainly none for his truck.

So he had to unload the individual boxes of recreational explosives from the back of his truck and stack them in the minimal space he had cleared by hand. This is a tedious and time-consuming process as this neighbor has purchased a wide variety of recreational and locally illegal explosives instead of many of just a few types, so the individual boxes are rather small.

He begins, and this is crucial to what happens next, by cutting apart the industrial-grade saran wrap his explosives dealer had so carefully wrapped his merchandise in, and discarded it unsecured on his lawn.

Where Outdoor Conditions sometimes happen.

His process for unloading the fireworks is to 1. Climb up through the gate into the bed of his pickup truck (a feat made unusually difficult due to the slope of his driveway, and this man's fascinating decision to wear the world's Siffest and least Flexible Denim Overalls. 2. Once in the pickup bed, he selects ONE (1) box from the pile He is apparently from a niche religious institution that doesn't believe in stacking things. 3. Carries it awkwardly around the palette that barely fits in the truck bed 4. His wife yells "Be careful!" when he nearly falls out of the pickup. 5. He Yells "SHADDUP!" back at her. 6. The Large German Shepherd barks from inside the house. 7. He yells "SHADDUP!" back at her too. 8. He sets the (1) box down on the gate 9. Slowly and awkwardly climbs out of the pickup bed 10. picks the box back up, and carries it into the garage.

Question: Aren't you going to help this poor man? Answer: Absolutely Not.

There's four military veterans, MANY dogs, and several people with dementia in this neighborhood, all of whom are terrified by this chicanery every year and many neighbors have repeatedly asked him to maybe do the fireworks somewhere else. (This is the Eighth Year Running he's held a major demolition event in his driveway, and for those of you who can do math, you may be able to guess the precipitating incident to this little ritual) Additionally, I live in Colorado, a state marginally less prone to spontaneous and catastrophic conflagrations than a rotting grain silo, but only marginally. Our recreational explosives laws are written accordingly.

I am in fact calling the Non Emergency line to report Fireworks violations, and reading off the brand labels to someone named Dorothy, who is gleefully totaling up a SPECTACULAR fine for my oblivious neighbor.

However, while I'm on the phone with Dorothy, I notice the wind begin to pick up. and by "Notice" I mean "The Industrial Saran Wrap he left on his Lawn earlier is suddenly swept up about 100 feet into the air by an updraft intense enough to make my ears pop" And by "Pick Up" I mean "I look up to see the sky has turned a fun and exciting shade of glass green, and the bottoms of the clouds are bumpy and rounded, and the overall effect is not unlike looking up through the bottom of the cup at God's Matcha Boba Tea."

For those of you who do not live in places with Inclement Weather, these conditions mean "You have about 30 seconds before a Major Meteorological Event Occurs."

I move under the eaves. "Hang on Dorothy." I say, nose filling with Petrichor. "The show is about to be cancelled." "Oh, that doesn't matter!" Dorothy cheerfully informs me. "It's illegal for him just to possess those, no matter if he actually gets to set them off or not." "Terrific, because he's gotten maybe five boxes out of a hundred inside."

Sometimes, the weather gods are Merciful and give you a verbal warning, typically in the kind of thunderclap that makes your ears ring.

The Gods were not merciful today.

It's not often that I am in the time, place, correct angle or in a properly observational frame of mind to see this, But I got to see it today. Huh. I thought. I've never seen a cloud just DIVE for the ground before. Oh. I realized as it got closer. That's RAIN.

Sometimes, a thunderstorm will form in such a way that the rain that would normally be distributed over an area of say, five to tent square miles, is instead concentrated into an area of say, my neighborhood exactly.

So today, I was granted the rare privilege of being able to actually see the literal wall of water descend from On High and DIRECTLY onto my porch, my street, and my neighbor's truck, and his pile of unwrapped fireworks.

The sheer impact force of the downpour immediately scatters the teetering pile of fireworks boxes in the back of the truck, like the wrath of God striking down the tower of Babel. Boxes tumble, then are washed out of the bed of the truck by the deluge. Smaller Boxes are carried down the road in a little line by the stream forming in the gutter, like little impotent explosive ducklings.

My neighbor was definitely yelling something, but I could not hear what over the DEAFENING noise several million gallons of water makes upon high-speed contact with the earth's surface, but there was a lot of arm-waving and faces turning red as he went looking for the saran wrap that had probably blown to Nebraska by now, while his wife started disassembling the complex three-dimensional puzzle of interlocking material goods in search of a tarp. They do not have a tarp. They have one of those wretched Thin Blue Line flags though, and my neighbor jogs out in a futile effort to cover what's left in the truck.

Which is when the hail begins.

"HELLO?" Yelled Dorothy. "HI!" I shouted. "WE'RE HAVING SOME WEATHER!" "OH GOOD!" she shouts back. "WE NEED THE MOISTURE!"

I watch for a minute longer, but the loss was immediate and catastrophic- the hail is the size of marbles and dense and cares not for your pitiful cardboard and cellophane, ripping the boxes asunder and punching holes in the few things covered in plastic. The colors on the Thin Blue Line Flag are seeping all over the remains of that it was supposed to protect in a particularly apt visual metaphor. Not even the few boxes that made it into the garage are spared, as the German Shepherd escapes from indoors, and in an attempt to assist her humans, jumps directly into the small stack of not-yet-ruined boxes, scattering them into the driveway and deluge. She even picks one up so her humans will chase her around the yard, before dropping it in the gutter to be swept away.

So. I was raised Agnostic -but even I can recognize when God slaps someone upside the head and shouts "NO!" at them.

---

(If you laughed, please consider supporting my Ko-fi or preordering my book of Strange Stories on Patreon)

[zephyyyrr]

[trapangeles]

Discover West Hollywood: Travel Expert Sarah Dandashy's Guide to the Ultimate Staycation and Night Out

When it comes to enjoying a memorable "staycation" or a thrilling night out, few places rival the allure of West Hollywood. We had the privilege of sitting down with renowned travel expert and author, Sarah Dandashy, to gain insights into the best spots for an unforgettable local experience.

Sarah Dandashy, with her extensive knowledge of travel and hospitality, has a knack for uncovering hidden gems that transform any outing into an extraordinary adventure. In this exclusive interview, she reveals her top recommendations for those seeking a perfect West Hollywood getaway.

For those who crave relaxation and rejuvenation without venturing too far from home, Sarah suggests exploring the city's finest hotels that offer a serene escape from the hustle and bustle. Indulge in luxurious amenities, lavish spa treatments, and top-notch dining—all within the confines of West Hollywood's world-class accommodations.

But West Hollywood isn't just about unwinding. It's a hub of vibrant nightlife that caters to every taste. Sarah highlights a diverse range of establishments, from chic rooftop bars with breathtaking views to intimate live music venues that come alive after dark. No matter your preference, West Hollywood offers a plethora of options for a night out on the town.

What sets West Hollywood apart is its unique blend of energy and relaxation. Whether you're seeking a day of pampering or a night of excitement, Sarah Dandashy's insights provide a roadmap to creating the ideal "staycation" or night out in this dynamic city.

If you're ready to experience the magic of West Hollywood like a true insider, Sarah Dandashy's expert recommendations are your ticket to an unforgettable local adventure.

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[pinklavenderdoll]

[spellboundcities]

firefight

[koheletgirl]

ok so there's this phenomenon i have encountered with some of my mutuals and now im curious

no option for nosy english speakers come back in a week

[robinspinknest]

[draayder]

The steps to scheduling top surgery when you are totally grasping for straws and don't know any surgeons or how to find any surgeons

Call the nearest hospital's main phoneline

While the phone rings brace for having to out yourself to a stranger

Say "Hi, I'm female-to-male transgender and I'd like to find a surgeon who can perform a bilateral mastectomy for me."

The receptionist will say "Oh, um, okay, let me transfer you."

After a brief pause, once again say "Hi, I'm female-to-male transgender and I'd like to find a surgeon who can perform a bilateral mastectomy for me."

Repeat steps 4 and 5 until you are numb to outing yourself and the newest receptionist in the chain instead says "Oh, hi, sorry, we just spoke a minute ago."

[marmialadee]

Writing poetry because crying in my mothers’ arms isn’t an option.

[scorpiomoondoll]

[chubs-deuce]

The lovely @hazbinhobo has begun a new fic project, First Bite and I was given the honor of proof-reading the first chapter before it went live and have been inspired to make fanart for it! :D

This fic essentially follows the same plot as their previous fic, A Tail of Beignets, but where that one was told in Charlie's romcom-flavored POV, First Bite now retells the story from Alastor's POV, who actually had a lot more going on than we previously had insight to and he actually experiences it all a lot more like horror :'D

This honestly might be my favorite characterization of him in a charlastor fic to date, he's so messed up about this jfjdjd

[escapismatitsfinest]

being a philosophical girl with big brown eyes is a full-time job

[cryptke]

[pinklavenderdoll]

[ames-draws]

but it also knows stories are a tool and can therefore be misused - just like itself 😭😭😭