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riseeduo · 2 years ago

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The Ultimate Guide to the Best Free AI Tools

Introduction

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools are revolutionizing the way we work and interact with technology.

With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to find the best free AI tools that are both useful and reliable.

In this blog post, we will explore some of the top free AI tools that you can start using today to enhance your productivity and creativity.

1-Chat GPT

Chat GPT is one of the most popular and widely known AI tools. It offers both a free and paid version, with the free version already providing great value.

Chat GPT can be used for various purposes such as getting advice, generating ideas, and even creating content like video titles and copy-writing.

It is highly versatile and easy to use, making it a must-have tool for anyone looking to leverage AI technology.

2-Google bard

Google bard is a powerful chatbot that recently received an update with Gemini Pro. It excels in browsing the web and providing accurate and detailed information.

Whether you need recommendations for the best burritos in San Diego or any other query, Google bard can give you comprehensive answers. It also highlights the confidence level of its responses, adding a layer of trust and reliability to its results.

3-Claude

Claude, developed by anthropic, is an AI tool that specializes in summarizing long content. With a context window of up to 200,000 tokens, Claude can summarize lengthy PDFs and articles effectively.

This tool is perfect for researchers and content creators who need quick and concise information. Additionally, Claude allows for back-and-forth conversations, providing an interactive and personalized experience.

4-Character AI

Character AI is a fun and entertaining chatbot that allows you to have playful conversations with fictional characters. It is very popular among the younger generations.

While it may not have the same level of utility as other AI tools, it offers a unique and enjoyable experience. Whether you want to talk to Elon Musk or create your own character, Character AI provides a platform for imaginative interactions.

5-Perplexity

Perplexity is a versatile AI tool available as a Chrome extension. It can search for information within a specific website, making it a valuable research assistant.

By simply clicking on the Perplexity icon, you can easily find relevant content or even summarize articles.

This tool is a great asset for content creators and researchers who want to streamline their information gathering process.

6-Text Effects

Text Effects, a collaboration between Google and Lupe Fiasco, is a creative tool designed to help overcome writer's block.

It offers various features, including creating acronyms, building word sequences, and finding similarities between unrelated things.

Whether you are a musician, poet, or writer, Text Effects can spark your creativity and help you find the right words for your work.

7-Hub Spot Academy: AI for Marketers

HubSpot Academy offers a free course called "AI for Marketers" that equips you with the knowledge and skills to leverage AI in your marketing efforts.

From optimizing content creation to gaining predictive insights, this course covers a wide range of AI-related topics.

It is an excellent resource for marketers who want to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.

8-Image Generation Tools

There are several free AI tools available for generating images with stunning visual effects. Leonardo AI and Dolly 3 are notable options.

Leonardo AI allows you to generate up to 50 images per day, upscale images, and remove backgrounds.

On the other hand, Dolly 3 specializes in prompt-adherent image generation Like ( Microsoft Image Creator, Ideogram , AI Playground ).All tools offer remarkable capabilities for creating eye-catching visuals.

9-AI Image Editing Tools

If you need to edit images, Magic Eraser and LeiaPix Converter are two AI tools worth exploring. Magic Eraser enables you to remove unwanted elements from images seamlessly, while LeiaPix Converter can transform 2D images into captivating 3D animations.

-Create and fine-tune any 360-degree world with Blockade Labs.

-Auto Draw allows everyone to draw quickly. Get Sketching Quickly Method It moves more quickly, the faster you click.

-AI Image Upscale.

These tools provide creative ways to enhance your visual content.

10-Audio and Video AI Tools

AI is not limited to images; it can also greatly enhance audio and video content.

Tools like Adobe Speech Enhancer, Mubert, and Vocal Remover offer capabilities such as cleaning up audio, generating music, and separating vocals from music tracks.

Check these tools : ( Text to Song , Suno AI , Audiobox , Pinokio , Plazmapunk , PlayPhrase.me)

These tools can be invaluable for content creators, musicians, and video editors.

NOTE : For All Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools take around here .

Conclusion

The world of AI tools is vast and ever-expanding, offering countless possibilities for innovation and creativity. In this blog post, we have explored ten of the best free AI tools available.

From chat-bots to image generators and audio enhancers, these tools can revolutionize the way you work and interact with technology.

Whether you are a marketer, content creator, or simply curious about AI, these tools provide a glimpse into the exciting future of artificial intelligence.

Remember, the AI landscape is constantly evolving, and new tools are being developed every day. It is essential to stay informed and explore the latest advancements in AI technology.

#online #business #ai #free #tools #chatgpt

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emotionsofthesoul · 6 years ago

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Chapter 30 _ Cordialmente Invitada

Juliana’s first semester ended in a flash. Her second semester was off to a great start as well. She was two weeks into her classes when she received an invitation through the mail. It was an invitation to attend New York Fashion Week specifying that she was 1 of 25 candidates to go on this trip, all expenses paid.

The first person she told about the news was her father. He was one of her biggest cheerleaders and he knew going to New York was one of her childhood dreams. He told her to meet him and her mother for dinner to celebrate the opportunity she had earned.

Her second call was to Valentina. It was an exciting call for the both of them because Valentina had just received her own Fashion Week invitation. Renata and the institute had officially hired Valentina as their Fashion Photographer and her first assignment would be to accompany the group to New York and photograph the shows and the students in attendance.

That evening Juliana had a celebration dinner with her parents and toasted to her grandmother who instilled her love for fashion without knowing it. Lupe told Juliana how proud she was of her for not letting anyone, including her mother, get in the way of her dreams. Their night ended with a slice of banana bread and a cup of milk.

The following day the 25 students along with the 5 staff members met up during lunch to plan their sleeping arrangements and their assignments. Valentina was introduced as the new photographer. Juliana was put in a room with Valentina, Josie, Penelope, and Renata. The rest of the group was also split into teams of 5. They would be leaving that Thursdays and return the following Friday.

When Thursday rolled around they all met at the airport and were all seated near each other on the plane. The flight took five hours and throughout those five hours Valentina edited some images while Juliana leaned on Valentina’s shoulder, watching her work and eventually falling asleep. They arrived in the city around 11am. They got a shuttle bus and were taken to their hotel.

They would get Thursday to explore a bit and settle in. Given Valentina’s easy going nature she instantly made friends with some of Juliana’s classmates. Once in their room, Renata told the girls to decide between the two beds and she’d sleep on the pullout couch. Josie and Penelope couldn’t believe they were going to spend the entire week with the face of RIC. The Saltzman family was well acquainted with the Carvajal family but Josie had never actually gotten one on one time with Renata and she was a big fan of her work. Penelope on the other hand didn’t know them much, aside from Valentina these past few months. She hid it well but she too was very excited to be around one of her favorite designers. When she found out that Renata was opening her own fashion school she knew that was her opportunity to learn from one of the best so applying was a no brainer to her.

Renata being the bright spirit she is insisted the girls called her by her first name, no Mrs. Carvajal just Renata. She even joked that that title belonged to Juliana which caused everyone to laugh and a huge blush to spread across Juliana’s face. Renata and Juliana had become great friends and Valentina was very happy that they had the friendship they did. Renata was not only a mentor to Juliana she was almost like an older sister.

The girls were getting ready to head downstairs to meet up with the rest of the group while Renata explained the plan for the day. “We’re going to lunch as a group but then you have 5 hours to do whatever you want. The rest of the professors and I will be doing our own thing as well. Just meet up back at the restaurant by 6pm so we can have dinner and then head to bed. We have an early morning tomorrow.” Renata said as she wrapped her scarf around her neck.

“Do you want to come with us Natty? We’re all sticking together anyway. We have our own itinerary for today. I’m sure Josie and Pen would love to spend some time with you.” Valentina offered her sister in law.

Renata agreed under the condition that she get to add one location to their itinerary but wouldn’t say what it was because it was surprise for Valentina.

After dinner they took off to their sightseeing adventure. Since it was near the restaurant, their first stop was the Empire State Building. Then they went to the Macy’s because seeing that Macy’s was on Juliana’s NY bucket list. After Macy’s they grabbed an Uber to Renata’s stop. Valentina was skeptical at first because they were dropped off outside of a Chipotle yet she knew that her sister in law couldn’t stand that restaurant so this stop didn’t make sense.

Seeing Valentina’s confused face Renata giggled as she began to speak. “No. We’re not here to get you a burrito. We’re actually going across the street.” She said making all 4 of the girls turn around and see what could be across the street for Renata to insist they add this stop.

They began to cross the street and when Renata made a left turn which they followed. The girls crossed 26th street and Renata began to fidget, something only Juliana noticed. As they approached the store, it all made sense to Juliana and she gasped. Valentina on the other hand couldn’t put two and two together.

“What are we doing here?” Valentina asked completely clueless.

“Val. Are you serious?” Renata and Juliana said simultaneously.

“Yeah why are we in buybuy BABY?” Once she said the name of the store it finally clicked. “No! Are you serious!?” She said covering her mouth trying not to burst before getting confirmation.

Renata nodded and Valentina pulled her in for a hug and she squealed. “Oh my god! I’m gonna be a tia!”

Juliana and the other couple had huge smiles on their faces waiting for their turn to congratulate Renata on her pregnancy. They were all invited into a hug once Valentina was done squeezing her sister in law. Valentina had happy tears streaming down her face as did Renata and Juliana.

Once they settled down, they walked outside to find a place to sit.

“Wait so how long have you known?” Valentina asked sitting on Juliana’s lap as she looked at Renata.

Renata smiled knowing what Valentina’s response would be. “Last Monday.”

“So you’re telling me you’ve known for over a week but I’m only finding out now?” Valentina said with a look on her face that made her sister in law laugh.

“Yep. I told your brother that night and then we told your dad and Lucia on Wednesday but I asked them not to tell you anything because I wanted to tell you on this trip.” Renata said clasping her hands together.

Meanwhile, Josie, Penelope and Juliana laughed at Valentina’s reaction to knowing she found out after her father. Juliana tightened her hold around Valentina as she nuzzled into her right side.

After talking a bit more about the pregnancy they took another Uber but this time towards Time Square. They enjoyed the rest of their free time and eventually met up with the rest of the group for dinner.

The rest of the week consisted of attending select shows. Valentina was having a blast taking pictures of the runway and sneaking in a picture of her girlfriend’s reaction every now and then. She also took many pictures of the rest of the group. By the time the following Friday came along Valentina had more than enough content to keep her busy editing nonstop for an entire week. Renata promised to give her a bonus if she finished the images by the following Sunday.

Juliana and the rest of the girls on the trip were convinced by Valentina to do a last minute photoshoot in their room. Everyone had gotten to know each other pretty well and by now they could consider each other friends. Juliana felt content knowing when they got back things would be easier on campus because she’d have people to talk with throughout the day and she wouldn’t just third-wheel Josie and Penelope.

Valentina took Juliana to dinner that same night. They hadn’t gotten much time to hang out during the shows because Valentina was busy working. Valentina had spoken to Renata and convinced her to switch the couple’s return date for that Sunday. She wanted to spend the weekend with Juliana in New York. She had an apartment in the city and she wanted Juliana to be able to see more of the city since they didn’t have too much time for exploring.

“Baby, how did you enjoy New York?” Valentina asked Juliana as they waited for their meals to arrive.

Juliana put her phone away as she gave Valentina her full attention. “It’s beautiful, I just I’d had more time to explore it. There’s still so much to see.” She said taking a sip of her water.

Valentina smiled knowing that would be Juliana’s answer. “How do you feel about spending a few more days here, just the two of us?”

Giving her a questioning look Juliana turned her head sideways and said, “I’d love that but we leave tonight with the rest of the group, babe.”

“I might have gotten Renata to change our return date.” Valentina said biting her lip nervously.

“Of course you did. Well I just gotta tell my parents to not pick us up tonight then. Why didn’t you consult me though?” Juliana said, not angry just curious. “Did you expect me to say no?”

Shaking her head Valentina responded rapidly, “No, I just wanted to surprise you, I didn’t think it’d be a big deal.”

Nodding her head unconsciously Juliana bit her lip before responding, “It’s not, I’d just like to have some input when it comes to situation where we should both agree on something.”

Valentina instantly knew what Juliana meant and she internally agreed to slow down a bit and take her into consideration more often, “Okay, I promise next time we’ll discuss and plan things out properly, together.”

“Thank you, that’s all I ask. I wanna feel like I have a say in some of these decisions.” Taking a hold of Valentina’s hand and giving it a gentile squeeze Juliana continued, “I know we’re both very independent but if we’re an ‘us’ then that means it’s you & me so we gotta make decisions together when it’s something for the both of us.”

Just as Juliana was ending her sentence the waiter came back with their food and drinks. The girls ate their food silently enjoying every bite. Halfway through their meal Juliana began to laugh realizing tomorrow’s date. “Val., why don’t we start celebrating the 14th of September as our Valentine’s Day instead of the 14th of February? I just remembered our talk from last year.”

As a blush grew across Valentina’s face she joined Juliana in her laughter, “I’d completely forgotten about that mix up. I’m on board though, it can be our own little inside joke.”

“Okay, so now that we’ve agreed on making decisions together, what’s the plan for tomorrow then? What would you like to do.” Juliana said with a big smile on her face.

Valentina liked the idea of making it this date a tradition and agreeing on what to do on that day. “Well, I’ve been here multiple times so what else in on your New York bucket list?” She said content to do whatever Juliana wanted.

Juliana pulled out her phone opening her notes and passed it over to Valentina so she could see her travel list along with the places she wanted to visit within those destinations. After deciding how they would distribute their time the following days they headed back to the hotel to grab their belonging and say their goodbyes to the group.

Penelope jokingly told Juliana “don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” causing a laugh to erupt from Josie because their were very few things Penelope wouldn’t do.

Valentina asked Josie to keep an eye on Renata and told Renata to let her know as soon as they landed and she got home safely so Valentina didn’t worry. Knowing how much of a worrier Valentina was, Renata happily agreed.

Once everyone was on the bus and heading to the airport Juliana and Valentina got into the Uber they ordered and went to Valentina’s apartment to rest for the night.

#juliantina #juliana valdes #valentina carvajal #juliantina fics #juliantinafics #forever #Forever update #forever ch30 #chapter 30

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geweke-kia · 2 years ago

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5 MEXICAN RESTAURANTS WORTH THE DRIVE NEAR YUBA CITY, CA

1. EL ZARAPE RESTAURANT

El Zarape Restaurant is a bright and comfortable eating spot with a cozy atmosphere. This venue has a vast menu, so it’ll surely have something for everyone. The highlights include delicious enchiladas and vegan burritos with authentic Mexican seasoning.

The staff will make sure to help you feel at home at this family-owned eatery. You’ll find it at 1005 Stafford Way.

2. LOS CHARROS TAQUERIA

If you’re a true taco fan, we’ve found a lunch spot you’re going to love. You can enjoy a variety of dishes, including seafood and vegetarian options, at Los Charros Taqueria. This venue even shows major sporting events on giant screens, so you can enjoy a game while savoring your food.

The staff is always very friendly and determined to make your visit an unforgettable experience. You’ll love the irresistible quesabirrias and super nachos. Los Charros Taqueria can be found at 425 Colusa Avenue.

3. CASA LUPE

You’ll always feel at home dining at Casa Lupe. The kindness and the excellent service of the staff will make sure of that. Make sure to try the famous and delicious enchiladas at least once. The prices are very affordable here. Plus, if you’re in a hurry, you can order your meal to take away and enjoy at home. Casa Lupe is situated at 655 W Onstott Frontage Rd.

4. FERNANDO’S CALI KITCHEN

If you want a unique culinary experience, this restaurant will not disappoint you. There are so many delicious dishes on the menu, from fish tacos to burritos and pozole.

There is surely something here for the whole family to enjoy, so why not pack them into your 2023 Kia Soul, and treat everyone to a memorable culinary experience? There’s plenty of room in this comfortable vehicle, but we’re sure they won’t want to drive home in a hurry. The restaurant is at 450 Center St.

5. MARISCOS EL CAPITAN

At Mariscos El Capitan, you’ll find a menu full of flavor and diversity. The garlic mojo tilapia is highly recommended, as are the shrimp and cheese empanadas.

Every bite is an explosion of flavor and freshness at this restaurant. You won’t regret visiting. See for yourself by driving to 112 Garden Highway Ste B.

We’re blessed with such a wide range of delicious Mexican food spots in Yuba City. If you’re looking to buy a new Kia vehicle here, make sure to pay us a visit at Geweke Kia so our experts can show you our huge range of new and used vehicles.

Photo by Chitokan C.: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-photo-of-rice-and-tacos-2087748/

#Mexican Food Near Me #Restaurants Near Me #Tacos Near Me

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zheraa · 2 years ago

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3165.

me in a nutshell emotional. stubborn. whole hearted. goofy. nerdy. a smartass. a softie. ridiculously shy. insecure. closed-off. reserved. considerate. short-fused. kind. creative. a dreamer. loyal. faithful. quiet. reckless. oblivious. a bitch. a contradiction. incapable of saying the right things or sometimes even anything when it matters most. i’m a lot to handle. i laugh at everything and am always smiling. my family means everything in this world to me. i have a few best friends who i’d do anything for. i swear if you judge me before giving me a chance you’ll have me all wrong. it takes me a little longer to warm up to people and be comfortable enough to open up a little more. i worry about things most people don’t even think twice about. for as tiny a person as i am, i have such a big heart. i often let my emotions get the best of me, too often actually. i’m in love with the idea of starting over some place completely unfamilar to me. i get hurt really really easily, more so than anyone knows. things seem to happen at extremes for me with no middle ground.

artists I’ve heard of Mayday Parade. The Scene Aesthetic. Dashboard Confessional. Eminem. Chris Brown. J Cole. Kid Cudi. Lupe Fiasco. Jason Aldean. Blake Shelton. Trey Songz. Death Cab For Cutie. Drake. Kanye West. Craig Morgan. Britney Spears. Daughtry. Lifehouse. Julia Sheer. Linkin Park. Maroon 5. Mike Posner. Rascal Flatts. The Script. Zac Brown Band. Jeremih. 50 Cent. Tupac Shakur. Nelly. Destiny’s Child. Young Money. Four Years Strong. The Killers. Nicki Minaj.

names of people you know Caleb. Anthony. Christian. Rashad. Trevor. Ian. Bradley. Corrine. Isabelle. Nicole. Ashlynn. Ella. Auden. Renee. Chloe. Jeremiah. Aubrynn. Elana. Kieran. Corey. Desirae. Mikayla. Jacob. Anna. Henry. Elijah.

shows i watch vampire diaries. the buried life. true life. intervention. hoarders. law & orders. house. jersey shore. wild boyz. juvies. greys anatomy. army wives. one tree hill. bad girls club. one on one. teen mom. cops. americas funniest home videos. that 70’s show. real world/road world challenges.

specifics with fast food joints bacon cheeseburgers @ 5 guys. fries @ burger king. burritos @ taco bell. curly fries @ hardeez. fruit smoothies @ mcdonalds. chicken nuggets @ mcdonalds. cheesey fries @ outback steak house. chicken noodle bread bowl @ paneras. corndogs @ sonic. quesadillas @ qdoba. meatball marinara sub @ subway. chicken nuggets @ chick-fil-a. cheesesteak subs @ solanas. fried rice @ sakuras. pancakes @ dennys. fribbles @ friendlys. pizza @ papa johns.

other foods i enjoy tater tots. baked beans & hotdogs. bagels. fruit. pitbeef sandwiches. deep dish pizza lunchables. yocrunch yogurts. hamburger helper. fruit salad. chicken. grilled cheese with tomato soup. uncrustables. milkshakes. kit kat bars. cereal.

clothing you own flannels. necklaces. jeggings. ripped skinny jeans. hoodies. nikes. moccasins. form fitting clothes. wet seal. daisy dukes. lace. studded clothing. solid color tops. cute shit. scarves. rings. pacsun. never childish or tacky graphic tees. outfits are always well put together. sweatpants are inside the house clothes only. cardigans. shirts with the empire waist belts, along with dresses too. heels. braided hair. bobby pinned hair. never coloured or patterned jeans or bottoms. no obnoxious colors. newer version converses. boots. layered tops. delias. macys. cute bras and underwear.

movies Half Nelson. Because I Said So. Step Brothers. The Hangover. The Notebook. Crazy/Beautiful. Harry Potter movies. Diary Of A Mad Black Woman. Love & Basketball. I Can Do Bad All By Myself. Date Night. Step Up. Girl, Interrupted. Fight Club. Never Back Down. Remember Me. Edge Of Darkness. The Haunting In Connecticut. Law Abiding Citizen. Inception. The Blindside. Shutter Island. The Time Travelers Wife. Gridiron Gang. The Crazies. Our Family Wedding. Why Did I Get Married. Why Did I Get Married Too. P.S I Love You. Freedom Writers. 500 Days Of Summer. Thirteen. Friday Night Lights. The Butterfly Effect. Transformers. Disturbia. Bad Boys. Bad Boys 2.

things I like late nights at hookah bars. grey goose. mikes hard lemonade. smoking blunts. the beach. being in the water. sunflowers. sundance film festival movies. having money to my name. when i actually make decisions that are good and worth being proud of. texting. tattoos with meaning. my kindle. nicholas sparks books being better than the movies 99% of the time. sleeping with a bajillion blankets and pillows. surprises. graffiti. photography. writing. individuality. creativity. manners. summertime. harry potter. fairs & carnivals. my family. tumblr. xanga. youtube. nikes. vivid dreams. the feeling of deja vu. hot chocolate. fruits. traveling. good hair days. the warmth of my clothes when they’re fresh out the dryer. tennessee. dyeing my hair. dressing up. addictions. alcohol. substance abuse. me time. meaningful conversation. learning new things. foreign languages. the little things. my best friends. fresh out of the shower feeling. jersey shore. the things that the situation says. gaining independence. the feeling of contentness with things in my life. all animals. holding hands. long car rides. change. having a good time. laughing. genuine smiles. the feeling of butterflies in your stomach.

#mar 22 #survey #queue

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eric-fi · 7 years ago

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Tino’s One Shot

Tino double knotted his shoes, pulled up his white socks, and picked up a basketball. The noise from each dribble rattled the empty and worn-down bleachers. He shot from the three-point line, smiling not because the ball went in, but because no one was around to see his fantastic airball.

“Tino! Pick up that ball and sweep the floor real fast would you?” Coach Jacobs and the team burst through the door, the team laughing and roughhousing while star player Jackie Hernandez spun a ball on his finger. Tino was the team manager for the Keller High basketball team, mostly out of pity, and partly because Tino loved to sweep. Nothing could rival Keller High’s wooden floor after a Tino sweep.

“Sir, yes sir!” said Tino, always giving his best attitude in hopes one day he would get promoted to a backup position. But his dream seemed to be running out of time since tomorrow was one of their final games, the Regional Championship.

For lunch that day, Tino sought out his best friend Lupe, who sat with his food spread out on the steps to the band hall, his trumpet beside him.

“All you have to do is chant my name. Chant my name, Lupe!” Tino grabbed Lupe by the shoulders and shook.

“Why am I chanting your name?”

“Tomorrow is the Regional Championship, and it’s a no brainer we’re going to dominate.”

“That’s great. But why would I cheer for you if you're not playing? You just sweep and hand out water.”

“Not cheer, I didn’t say cheer. I said chant.” Tino spoke with a determined precision. “When a team has a huge lead like we’re gonna have tomorrow, coaches sometimes put in the second strings, so they can get some practice. You know? But, if you chant my name, and the crowd joins in, he might put me in, and I’ll finally be able to play. See?”

“So, I just chant, Tino! Tino!?” Lupe asked while manhandling a burrito. “And why would he put you in over a someone who can actually shoot?”

“Because it’s the Regional Championship! Think about the headlines! Team Manager Plays in Region Finals! It’s a Cinderella story. People live to see stuff like this. It’s a win-win. I get to play, Coach Jacobs looks like the best coach in the state for giving the team manager a shot, and we win region. A win-win-win. If Coach was interviewed he’d probably say something like, ‘Oh I always had faith in the boy, and I wanted to give him a shot because I knew he could do it,’ and he’d look like a saint.” Now the plan was clear to Lupe. And it was true, everyone waited their entire lives to see a moment where the underdog is given a chance. Everyone loves it when a nobody becomes a somebody. “Yeah, ok I get it. Alright,” said Lupe. “You’ll be a hero. Coach Jacobs will look like a saint. I might even be a hero for starting the chant!” But the chant has to be something catchy.” Lupe said with a mouth full of beans. “Something with a little umph. Like, put Tino in.”

“Yes, oh that’s good. Say that, put Tino in. You're a section leader in pep band, right? Tell all the freshmen if they don’t follow along you’ll make them run laps or something. Make everyone join in, blow your trumpet if you have to.”

“But I’m only supposed to do this if we are winning, right? Like if we are up by thirty points or something?

“Or twenty-five. Even twenty. It doesn't matter, nobody can resist a chant.”

“And what makes you so sure you’ll be up by that many points?”

“Uh, have you seen Jackie Hernandez play?”

The fourth quarter came. The home team of Keller High was leading Central by twenty-five points. Jackie Hernandez could, in fact, play. Tino tripled knotted his shoes and caught Lupe’s eyes in the packed stadium, giving him a slight nod of his head. After Jackie Hernandez sunk his tenth three-pointer, Central’s coach called a timeout, the home crowd of Keller High roared, and the team exchanged hugs and high fives to the fight song.

“Hell yeah!” Said Coach Jacobs. “Keep it up, and we’re going to state!” Coach Jacobs yelled as he slapped Jackie Hernandez’s butt.

“Don’t slap my butt,” Hernandez said.

“This has to be it,” Tino said to himself. And as the roar of the crowd settled, Tino heard Lupe’s voice.

“Put Tino in!” Lupe said in a slow rhythm. “Put Tino in!” He clapped his hands three times to the words and nodded for the rest of the trumpet section to join in. “Put Tino in!” The trumpets section started chanting in unison.

Murmurs in the crowd, “The sweeper boy? That scrawny kid with no athletic ability?”

“Put Tino in!” The rest of the band chanted. “Put Tino in!” The whole right side of the stadium chanted. “That nobody? That kid who was never even given a shot?”

“Put Tino in!” the entire crowd, even the away team, chanted. Coach Jacobs stared at the crowd and gave out a laugh, “Haha, would you look at that? Aw what the hell? Tino, get in there!” Tino shot up and held his hands over his head, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Popcorn flew in the air and the drumline played a cadence. It was as if they had already won the state title. It was as if Tino were already a hero. It was as if this was the moment everyone had been waiting for their entire lives.

Game on. Tino squatted low and spread his hands wide as Central High’s number ten dribbled up to meet him. Number ten dribbled in between his own legs and spun in an attempt to pass up Tino. The entire crowd gasped. But with quick wits, Tino reached out his arm, just barely slapping the ball the ball away, gaining possession as the crowd hollered and shook the stands.

“There you go!” called out Coach Jacobs. “You got it!”

Tino dribbled the ball three times, jumped up as high as he could, and shot. Tino watched the ball soar in slow motion, perfect. The crowd moved their heads to follow the arc, watching as the ball went into the wrong basket. Three points were added to the away team’s score.

The crowd went silent, not a single player moved, and the basketball awkwardly bounced back to Tino’s feet.

“Hey,” someone from the crowd said, his voice confused and betrayed. Hardly anyone moved a muscle. Tino turned to face the man in the crowd who went by the name Eddie. “We all chanted for you man.” Eddie shook his head, partly because he wanted to be part of a Cinderella story, partly because he placed his hope in Tino. In fact, the whole crowd wanted to be a part of something special and cool, something that could be shown on the news to cheer up people's day. Tino didn’t know every man woman and child wanted to see him succeed, as the success of a nobody is impossible not to love. And with love comes elation, and with elation, there is no room for fear. What was the crowd afraid of? Death, maybe. Becoming jaded and hopeless, probably. I personally think everyone in the gym knew they would all turn out to be nobodies, which is why even Jackie Hernandez started to tear up. They just wanted something to believe in, anything. They wanted proof of goodness and God, proof that life was, in fact, worth living, proof they were not worthless, good for nothing, powerless in the face of oppression and evil. They wanted proof that time was not void of beauty, that being a good person actually means something, that it’s not wrong to put complete faith in a person. Was it too much to ask? Apparently.

Eddie’s eyes started to water, “Take Tino out,” he said, breaking into a sob. This was the first time Eddie had left the house in over a decade, as he suffered from depression ever since the great fire station accident of 2013. He left to see this basketball game. The woman standing next to Eddie was named Shauna. When her father past away with cancer, she refused to believe in heroes, fate, and God. “Take Tino out,” she said.

“Take Tino out,” the crowd chanted. “Take Tino out.”

“Wait!” Shouted Tino, his heart beating fast under the pressure. “Don’t you guys get it?” Eddie wiped his eyes, Coach Jacobs took off his hat, and the crowd gave Tino their full attention. “We are not a single drop in the ocean,” he said. “We are the ocean in a single drop.”

Eddie said, “That’s a quote from the 13th-century Persian poet, Rumi.”

And Tino said, “So what?” His words rung throughout the gym. “So what? So what if we’re nobodies, if we’re deadbeats, has-beens, never-weres, never-will-bes, stuck in the past, forgotten, broke, ugly, stupid, poor? So what if my words were his words, if his words were their words, if I’m me and you’re you? So what if I just shot a hoop in my own basket and ruined everyone’s Cinderella moment? So what if we all die, and everyone forgets our names, if the bad guys win, if love is never enough, if it’s impossible to believe, if perfect things don’t exist. It’ll never change the fact that we shared this moment together. It’ll never change the fact that we are an ocean.”

And Eddie was no longer afraid of death.

And Shauna once again believed in heroes and fate and God.

And Jackie Hernandez went on it make it big.

And Coach Jacobs became a saint.

And Lupe cured cancer.

And Tino was never taken out.

Other Summer Short Stories

#short story #Tino's One shot #eric fi #fiction #surreal #absurd #writeblr #creative fiction #summer writing #summer goals #stories #spilled ink #excerpt from a book I'll never write

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fuckyeahleen · 7 years ago

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Thinking about these Surf N Turf (Shrimp & Steak) Fries and this California Burrito w/ Hot Cheetoes 😩 Thank you @selenaleighton for introducing me to this place! 🔥🤤🍴 (at Lupes Taco Shop) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnO-DJxHQo9/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1rm9rzb4lju48

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ketoconnect · 5 years ago

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Keto Walmart

What to Buy for Keto at Walmart

Everyone knows Walmart is the land of cheap and convenient and there are more Walmart stores in the U.S. than any other grocery store chain. It is no wonder everyone wanted to know what the best keto Walmart options are. There are so many great keto buys at Walmart, so this is going to be a big one.

We like Walmart because it is very budget friendly and there are a lot of great keto friendly staples you can buy. There are a lot of essentials, but there are also some products you should avoid. Check out the list below and watch the video for more in depth (and fun) descriptions of our favorite keto finds. Lets get into the Keto Walmart shopping list!

What to Buy for Keto at Walmart

1. Keto Frozen Meals at Walmart

# Real Good Foods pizza, enchiladas and chicken nuggets.

# Atkins frozen meals

# Large selection of keto ice cream

Real Good Foods makes low carb and keto friendly pizzas, enchiladas, and chicken poppers. Their products are made with great ingredients, and Megha loves the snack bites while Matt loves their cauliflower pizzas. The great thing about getting them at Walmart is you don’t have to buy them in bulk!You can use our code: KETOCONNECT for 10% off.

Another frozen option are Atkins frozen meals. The ingredients aren’t great, but it’s a convenient option!

ICE CREAM

There is a large selection of keto ice cream at Walmart. We did find some no sugar added So Delicious flavors , which are great tasting and pretty low in net carbs. Megha’s favorite is the butter pecan..

Walmart had a lot of Halo Top ice cream, but make sure to read the labels because the newer flavors are higher in carbs!

# Halo Top

# So Delicious – Make sure it is the “No Sugar Added” variety.

# Breyers Carb Smart

Continue reading for more keto desserts to buy at Walmart, there is quite a large selection!

2. Keto Snack at Walmart

It seems like every time we go shopping we find more keto products at Walmart. It’s great to see so many options.

# Slim Fast Keto Fat Bombs – ONLY the fat bombs. The other keto products from Slim Fast are not suitable for a keto diet.

# Quest Bars and Cookies

# Atkins Bars (Some) – Look for maltitol in Atkins products. If you see maltitol on the ingredients it will have a significant impact on blood sugar levels.

# Cheese Crisps

# Portable Protein Packs

# Sardines

# Mixed Nuts

# Beef Jerky and Sausage – Check for added sugar. It can be hard to find beef jerky without any sugar added, but you can usually find some sausage links.

# Panino Fingers – Cheese sticks wrapped in meat.

# Sugar Free Jello Cups

We have a lot of great fat bomb recipes on our site and also in our Fat Bomb Bible ebook, but if you don’t want to make your own, these new SlimFast fat bombs are convenient and tasty. They are also a lot cheaper at Walmart than other places we have found them. Don’t be fooled though, see below for a product to avoid from this company!

We love making movie snack bags with these fat bombs or reaching for them when we need a small treat.

3. Keto Chips at Walmart

People are always looking for replacements for chips on a keto diet. It’s understandable since sitting on the couch with a big bag of chips and watching TV is one of the most relaxing and enjoyable things to do. Luckily, as keto has become more popular there are more alternatives to potato chips. Give some of these keto chips at Walmart a try and see what you think.

# Quest Protein Chips – The “Tortilla Style” chips are much tastier than the original ones (in our opinion)

# Wholesome Provisions Protein Chips

# Chello Cheese Crisps

# Pork Rinds

Protein chips are typically a highly processed food made with less than desirable ingredients. That being said, they are a great movie snack and they do a good job of replacing potato chips. Cheese crisps and pork rinds are going to be better alternatives to protein chips, but they may not be what you’re looking for if you truly want chips.

3. Meats on a Budget

GROUND BEEF

If you are on a budget, Walmart has all the deals. We found 10 pounds of ground beef for only $20! You could easily get enough protein and calories every day at a very discounted price. This would be perfect for meal prep.

LAMB & BISON

While Walmart meats aren’t usually the highest of quality, we were surprised that they offer some higher quality options. We found meats like lamb and bison which are great for those of you searching for cheap, yet higher quality meats.

BACON

We get asked a lot of questions about sugar in bacon. Cured bacon will contain sugar because it is required for the curing process, but there is such a small amount that it isn’t something we worry about!

If you don’t want to purchase bacon that is cured with sugar, a great option is to look for the bacon that is uncured. This bacon usually is less processed and has less preservatives too. Our advice is just to look at the labels, and then if you want to consume it, make sure to count the carbs.

4. Fats & Oils

We were really surprised by the higher quality options available in this section at Walmart. We use lots of oils and fats on the keto diet, so this is something that is essential.

# 4th & Heart Ghee

# Fatworks Duck Fat and Beef Tallow

# Extra Virgin Olive Oil

# Avocado Oil

# High Quality Coconut Oil

We definitely did not expect to find Fatworks duck fat and beef tallow in the oil section. We love to use animal fats to cook our food in, as well as coconut oil. For coconut oil, virgin coconut oil packaged in a glass jar is best. We also recommend picking up a quality olive oil or avocado oil. You want these to be packaged in a dark glass bottle for the highest quality. We like to use nut oils to flavor meals rather than cook meals in. We were very impressed with the options we found here.

5. Sugar Free Sauces & Syrups

RAO’S HOMEMADE MARINARA

A really great option for a keto pizza sauce at Walmart is Rao’s Homemade marinara and sauces. It’s one of the best options for tomato sauce with only 4 grams of total carbs per 1/2 cup. They were the cheapest we’d ever found at Walmart!

G. HUGHES BBQ

Another sauce we love to pick up at Walmart is G. Hughes BBQ sauces which are sugar-free and keto friendly. This is Megha’s favorite condiment and she pairs it with ever meal!

TORANI SUGAR FREE SYRUPS

One thing we get asked about are these Torani sugar free syrups. They are sweetened with acesulphame potassium and sucralose, so they aren’t the best, but they can be used on a keto diet to help you stay on track and won’t likely mess with your ketone levels.

We like to use the Better Stevia flavored drops to flavor and sweeten our foods or drinks. Unfortunately you can’t find these at Walmart.

6. Keto Bread at Walmart

That’s right, there is keto bread at Walmart now (at least at certain locations). They also have a small selection of low carb tortillas which are great for making keto friendly tacos and burritos. One thing to keep in mind with most store bought keto bread alternatives is that they are not gluten free, for the most part.

# ThinSlim Foods Low Carb Bread

# Mama Lupe’s Low Carb Tortillas

# Joseph’s Lavash Bread

# Mission Carb Balance Tortillas

It’s incredible that there are so many keto breads at Walmart now! We usually opt for the low carb tortillas or the Lavash bread because you can really load them up with high fat ingredients and make a filling meal.

7. Keto Sweeteners at Walmart

The sweetener section at Walmart had a ton of different products. We found multiple sweeteners that are great options for keto like Pyure, which is powdered stevia. The liquid Splenda bottles are also a good option.

We also found a generic product that contained only stevia and erythritol, so that could be a great option as well. No need to buy only brand names, you can find generic versions that are cheaper and contain the same ingredients.

We like to stick to three sweeteners: stevia, erythritol, and monk fruit.

8. Dark Chocolate Bars

Dark chocolate is the best chocolate option for the keto diet, and Walmart has some pretty budget friendly options. We usually buy unsweetened dark chocolate. If we buy sweetened chocolate, we buy the brands that are sweetened with stevia, monk fruit, or erythritol.

When these brands aren’t available at your grocery store, you can still have chocolate. Dark chocolate is generally not sweetened and contains fewer carbs per serving.

If you can’t stand the 100% dark chocolate, this 92% dark chocolate would be a nice low carb sweet treat after your meal. This is a great options for those chocolate lovers out there!

9. Keto Protein Powder at Walmart

# Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey

# Isopure Zero Carb Protein Powder (highest quality)

# Ancient Nutrition Keto Protein

# Quest Protein Powder (best tasting)

There are a wide variety of keto protein powder options at Walmart. We typically look for whey isolate when shopping for protein powder. Whey isolate is lower in carbs than whey concentrate proteins.

To find a suitable protein powder there are two things you want to check.

# How many carbs per scoop?

# What type of sweetener is used?

Look for protein powders that have less than 3-4 carbs per scoop, and try and find one that is naturally sweetened (although this can be tough). We prefer protein powders that use stevia, but will often have to settle for those that are sweetened with sucralose.

10. Other Keto Products at Walmart

There is even more keto products available at Walmart. We’ll get to the keto products that you should avoid after this, but there are some other useful products worth mentioning here.

# Grassfed Collagen Peptides

# Premade Keto Shakes

# Omega Power Creamer

# MCT Oil

That rounds out the list of everything you can get for your keto diet at Walmart. There are definitely some downsides to Walmart, but the large selection more than makes up for it. You’re not likely to find the best quality products, but you will find a bunch of good keto products in addition to meats and veggies to set you up for success on a ketogenic diet.

Now lets talk about some things to avoid!

Keto Pills at Walmart (Avoid)

Keto pills are made for the express purpose of taking advantage of the uninformed consumer. They do contain ketones, but they are in such a low dosage that they will have no effect. Additionally, they are sold at very high prices when compared to ketone powders.

You do not need supplemental ketones, focus on eating a keto diet instead. If you do want to give ketones a try you are better off buying a powdered supplement so that you get the recommended dosage, as opposed to the keto pills at walmart.

# Perfect Keto Ketone Salts

# Ketologic Keto BHB

Keto Strips at Walmart (Mostly Avoid)

Walmart sells urine strips that you can use to test your ketones. The problem is, urine strips only tell you the amount of ketones that you are excreting and not the amount that is in your blood. This can be fun as a test when starting keto to make sure you’re producing ketones, but these strips should not be used to accurately measure your ketone levels.

Sugar Free Candy (Avoid)

You might have seen sugar free candies (like Russel Stovers) before and thought they were perfect for keto. Think again. These candies usually contain maltitol, which is a sugar alcohol that spikes your blood glucose similar to white sugar. That means that you can’t subtract those carbs from maltitol when counting net carbs because they impact your body.

We do not recommend these candies for anyone on the keto diet. The sugar alcohol we like to stick to is erythritol which has no blood sugar effect.

To see which sweeteners have an effect on your blood sugar, check out our Ultimate guide to low carb sweeteners.

Keto Shakes at Walmart (Avoid)

All of the keto shake options at Walmart are pretty bad. There are some that use really bad ingredients, and some that use decent ingredients but don’t taste very good. You’re much better off buying a keto friendly protein powder and mixing it with a milk replacement and using that as a keto shake. We would personally avoid all keto shakes at Walmart.

Keto Burn Xtreme at Walmart (Avoid)

The truth is, if you’re still in the “fat burner mindset” then you are not likely to have success with whatever diet you are trying. Whether it be ketogenic, vegan, or a standard american diet. Pills don’t burn fat, sustainable diet and lifestlye changes do. Nothing about this supplement is keto. The word keto is on the label to confuse consumers.

SlimFast Keto Meal Bars (Avoid)

The SlimFast Keto fat bombs were one of our top 10 finds at Walmart, but you should avoid the SlimFast meal bars. They contain unwanted ingredients that could potentially affect your ketosis. They contain IMO fiber which can’t be subtracted in order to get net carbs because this fiber actually does impact your blood sugar levels. If it can affect your blood sugar levels, it can impact your ketosis level, so these bars should be avoided.

Is Stevia In The Raw Keto? (Avoid)

You would think that Stevia In the Raw is just what is sounds like, raw stevia. Well, it is not only stevia, in fact the first ingredient is dextrose. Dextrose can spike blood sugar. You should avoid this product, because there are definitely better options that don’t include dextrose.

We like to stick to products that are mainly erythritol, stevia, or monk fruit (with no other ingredients), so just make sure you check the ingredients label when buying sweeteners.

Keto Coffee at Walmart (Avoid)

Coffee is already keto.

Everyone is trying to capitalize and make money off of the keto diet by making products that say “keto” and “mct oil”. We found this keto coffee product by Mighty Coffee. Usually these are the products that have a ton of unnecessary ingredients and some of those ingredients actually might not be good for the keto diet.

Instead of buying these products, it might be better to just buy some MCT oil or heavy cream for your coffee. We like to use butter too! Be wary of these products and check the labels on everything you buy. Just because it says it is keto, does not mean that it is the best for keto.

Salad Dressings “Made of ” Olive Oil

Ever since everyone found out olive oil and avocado oils were actually healthy for you, they started adding them to a lot of dressings and different products. Don’t be fooled when you see an olive oil salad dressing.

They are usually sneaky and include other oils (canola or soybean) which are high in omega 6 fatty acids and can increase inflammation. Just be aware that the oil in these dressings is not only olive oil. We try to avoid these products and check the labels of all of our dressings.

We like using Primal Kitchen’s avocado oil salad dressings which does not contain any other oils.

In Summary

There are many keto options available at Walmart that we recommend! We couldn’t hold the list to only 10, so we added in a lot of extra options! Always be sure to read the ingredients that an item contains, even if it says keto or looks keto friendly. A lot of the items contain unwanted ingredients!

1. Keto friendly frozen foods and ice cream

2. Keto chips

3. Keto snacks

4. Animal fats and quality oils

5. Sugar free sauces and syrups

6. Keto bread and tortillas

7. Keto sweeteners

8. Dark chocolate

9. Keto protein powders

10. Even more keto products

That wraps up our top 10 keto buys at Walmart.

Comment below and let us know what keto friendly foods and products you love to buy from Walmart! We love giving you guys some ideas about what to buy at different grocery stores, so if you have any more store suggestions, let us know!

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#Keto Walmart #Buy for Keto at Walmart #best keto Walmart options #Keto Walmart Shopping List #Keto Walmart Grocery List #ketoconnect

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anorthwestdynamic · 8 years ago

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Tagged by @kirisumis :)

Never really done one of these but here we go

1. gender/pronouns (+ sexuality):

He/Him Hetero? You can call me whatever you want

2. nickname:

Amrit is the short version of my name and I go by that. Mocha/Mocha Bear (yea I know hahaha), Scammy, Pad/Paddingnton.

3. star sign:

Leo, apparently.

4. height:

six feet’s tall. Maybe a little more

5. time:

3pm PST

6. birthday:

aug 3rd ‘94

7. fav bands:

those who have stood the test of time for me (get ready to cringe) Greenday, Coldplay, RHCP, Fray, Blue Scholars, Young The Giant, Onerepublic, Lupe Fiasco, Kanye, and hate me if you want but ride or die since ‘09 for my boys Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

8. song stuck in my head rn:

LOVE-Kendrick, Conqueror-AURORA, Amsterdam-Coldplay, (and I have no fucking idea why but) Bad At Love-Halsey

9. last movie i watched:

Thor: Revenge of the Big Sis, Ironman: Rich guy get another new suit

10. when did i make my blog:

2012ish

11. what types of things do i post:

Oh man, mmmm it’s a mess. Zelda stuffs, GoT, anything I find funny, gifs of motion I find cool, some trees n shit here and there. It used to just be pictures of butts so I feel like I’ve evolved

12. last thing i googled:

the word Blasé

13. do i have other blogs:

yes, one celebrating the Wheel of Time series (GO READ IT)

14. do i get asks:

never

15. why did i choose my url:

It was some dumb thing my friend came up with when we would rap after school

16. following blogs:

Over 300

17. followers:

Less than 200. Maybe 100 are not pornbots

18. fav colors:

Cyan (like turquoise), Deep Dark Red

19. average hours of sleep:

Anywhere from 4-10

20. lucky number:

21. what am i wearing right now:

Aslan t shirt, red beanie, and those hipster cut off sweat shorts

22. how many blankets to sleep with:

2 or 3 and a doggo. All but one blanket remains on the bed by morning

23. dream job:

Pilot

24. fav food:

California Burritos(wid da fries), SUSHI, My mom’s gobbi and butterchicken, and Mudslide icecream

25. fav drink:

Canada Dry ginger ale

Whiskey

Cheers👌🏽

#anorthwestdynamic #kirisumis #this was fun #asks

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mushylily · 6 years ago

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Mama Lupe's Low Carb Tortillas are delicious. Unlike other low carb tortillas, Mama Lupe's taste just like regular restaurant tortillas. Use Mama Lupe's Low Carb Tortillas to make a low carb snack or meal. Make a breakfast burrito or replace bread in your favorite sandwich. However you use Mama Lupe's Low Carb Tortillas, you are sure to enjoy them. Packaged in a resealable bag: 10 tortillas, net weight 12.5 oz (360g).

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geniusorinsanity · 8 years ago

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streets a little kinder (when you’re home)

for @nurseyweek day 7: memories

Even as Derek hits the call button, he hears Dex’s voice in his head, telling him how privileged he is to be able to do this.

And full disclosure: like, he gets it. For all the baggage that’s written on his skin, that he carries on his body, he knows what his family’s money gives him. He’s never once not been grateful for it, especially not on days like this, when the quiet of Samwell gets under his nails, when he thinks he might literally kill for a burrito that wasn’t made by a white kid in the dining hall, when somehow even the fresh air coming off the lake feels so stifling he feels like he might choke on it.

He calls his mom, and when she picks up on the second ring, concern in her voice (because he hates phone calls, prefers either texting or FaceTime--would rather have simple typed letters or full contact, not voices without faces, where he has to read too much into tone without expression), he blurts out, “Can I come home for the weekend?”

There’s a moment of silence on the other end of the line, and Derek holds his breath. “Sweetheart,” his mother says. And then, “Are you okay?”

Derek hears what she isn’t asking. “I’m okay,” he says. “I just.” He swallows. “I don’t have a game this weekend, and I only have one class on Fridays and I can get out of that, and I just need--”

I miss you, he doesn’t say, but he knows she can hear it in his voice. She always does.

Sure enough, she says, “Oh, hayiti,” softly, in the same voice she’s used since he was small. “Of course, love. Of course you can.”

Less than five minutes later, he has an email from his mama, confirmation of a train ticket leaving South Station on Thursday night.

Derek closes his eyes, and feels something loosen in his chest.

…

The express Acela from South Station to Penn takes three and a half hours. Derek leans back in his seat and leans his forehead against the cool glass of the window, watching the scenery flash by, fast enough that it makes him dizzy, a little. He closes his eyes and dozes for part of the time, writes for a little more of it--small, half-formed lines of poetry that don’t really go anywhere, that tumble between languages even as they scrawl across the page of his notebook.

Around eight, just as he can start to see the lights of Manhattan in the distance, his phone buzzes. He shakes himself out of his reverie a little, and opens the message.

Mamaiiiiiiiii: will meet u in pennsy! :)

Mamaiiiiiiiii: text when ur train gets in <3

Derek laughs despite himself. Mama has a PhD from NYU. He’s read her dissertation; it’s a work of art. And yet, given an iPhone, she texts like a twelve-year-old.

Me: will do. Love you mama

Mamaiiiiiiiii: <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 !!!

He smiles, slipping his phone back into his pocket, and leans head back against the window again.

The skyline draws closer, bright and glittering. It’s a clear night, and this far out, it looks like a photograph.

Hello, beautiful, he thinks, and smiles.

To his surprise, the train gets in on time, and he shoulders his backpack--he packed light; it’s just a weekend, and he’s got clothes at home--and heads off the platform. He slides through the crowds with an ease born of long years of practice, moving half on autopilot, headphones in and music on.

The Pennsy is about as full as it usually is on a given weeknight, that weird mix of commuters, travelers, and late-night office workers. He takes advantage of his height, scanning the food court for--there.

It only takes a glance for him to realize that she must have come from the gallery tonight, not her studio. She’s head to toe in black, heels-tights-dress-coat, stopped by the pop of violet of the scarf around her neck and the turquoise of her earrings. Her curls are swept into a loose knot at the back of her head, her eyes fixed on her phone, lips pursed in the way she does when she’s composing an email to someone she doesn’t want to be dealing with.

Derek grins, adjusts the strap of his backpack, and creeps closer.

“Don’t even think it, quapito,” she says, not looking up from her phone, when he’s about a foot away.

He falters, caught. “How did you--”

She slips her phone into her handbag. “Tienes dos metros de altura, mijito,” she says, but she’s smiling. “Come here, baby.”

He has to bend down to hug her--and fair, she’s right, he is too tall to sneak, though he’s not quite two meters tall, Jesus--and he takes a deep breath, inhaling the familiar scent of her jasmine perfume. “Hi,” he mumbles.

“Hi, honey.” Mama squeezes him tight, firm, deceptively strong. She pulls back after a moment, studying him with dark, calculating eyes. “You look tired. Are you sleeping?” He shrugs, and she flicks his ear. “Mijo.”

“Mama,” he whines. “I’m in college. I’m not supposed to sleep.”

She snorts. “You don’t get that line of bullshit from your mother,” she says. “Oh, I almost forgot. Here.” She reaches behind her to the table she’s leaning against, and hands him a warm bag. He raises his eyes and peers into it, and is immediately hit with the hot, sweet smells of coffee, chocolate and salt.

“Fuuuuuuck, yes, Mama,” he says, reaching in. “Sea salt espresso cookie?”

“Like I’d forget your favorite,” she says fondly, reaching up to pat his cheek with a manicured hand. “Come. Eat and walk, Ammi’s making dinner. Do you want to get a cab, or--oh, Derek, honestly.”

Shameless, he swallows around the mouthful of cookie in his mouth--Mario by Mary gets him, okay, they get him in his soul--and shrugs. “We can take the train if you don’t mind swiping me, my card’s super expired.”

Mama hums. She reaches into her bag and pulls out her wallet, flipping through the card pockets and pulling out a Metro card. “Here,” she says. “Should have about forty on it, I got it when I left mine in my other purse last week. That should last you the weekend.”

He slips it into his back pocket and leans down to kiss her cheek, careful of the cookie crumbs. “Gracias, Mama.”

She takes half of his remaining cookie, eyes sparkling, and says, “Alright, let’s go.”

…

They take the 1 uptown because the C looks like a crowded mess, and have a brief staring contest over which of them should sit down in the open seat on the train. Derek wins because Mama’s wearing three-inch heels, and then has to deal with her gloating from 59th to 66th when he stumbles exactly once when the train hits a bump.

“This is homophobic,” he tells her.

“Try me, my baby,” she says dryly, blowing him a kiss. A teenager a few seats away who has Upper West Side baby queer written all over him giggles, and Derek winks at him. The kid blushes. Mama rolls her eyes at Derek, and he sticks his tongue out at her. She beckons him down for a kiss, and flicks his ear again. Business as usual.

They get off at 86th and walk from there, Mama’s arm looped through his. He keeps his steps even to match hers, but what she lacks in height she makes up for in working in Midtown, so their paces end up pretty similar.

Compared to the rush of downtown outside of Penn, their neighborhood feels almost like the suburbs, quiet and relaxed. They pass a few neighbors Derek’s known since he was little and stop for passing greetings. Mrs. Gomez’s aging pitt mix, Lupe, remembers him, and slobbers happily all over his face. Derek finds himself on his ass on the sidewalk with sixty pounds of dog in his lap while Mama snickers above him, and hears the click of her phone camera. He’s sure this will be on her Facebook later.

Finally, with a last scratch to Lupe’s ears, they say their goodbyes and walk the last half-block to the brownstone. Mama fishes the key out of her purse and unlocks the door while Derek bounces slightly on his heels, suddenly full of a slightly nervous energy.

He hasn’t been home in weeks--in months, not since the summer. What if everything’s different; Ammi’s been saying for years that she’s going to redo the kitchen, what if all his favorite things are gone, what if they painted, what if they turned his room into a yoga studio or something like Mama used to tease him about, what if--

“Mijito?”

Mama’s hands are firm on his arm, and he realizes with a jolt that his breathing is coming faster. He forces himself to take a long, slow inhale, and meets her sharp, worried eyes. She takes one hand off his arm and puts it against his cheek instead, gentle. “¿Estás bien, baby?”

Derek swallows. “Yeah,” he says hoarsely. “Si, Mama, estoy bien.”

She studies his face for a long moment, and then smiles softly, inclining her head toward the door. “Come see your mother, love. She’s missed you.”

Her cool fingertips pat his cheekbone, once, and then she gives him a firm push into the house.

And it’s home.

It smells the same, looks the same, feels the same. The walls of the entryway are still the same soft sage that Mama’s been threatening to repaint since Derek was twelve; the pair of Vans he left by the door in July are still sitting on the shoe rack; Ammi’s familiar pocketbook is carelessly tossed onto the entry table.

“Hang up your jacket,” Mama calls to him, but Derek’s moving on autopilot, towards the sound of singing in the kitchen.

Ammi’s sweet, easy alto is lifted along with an LP of jazz standards, drifting in from the old record player in the living room. Her back is to him as she stands at the stove, moving something in a pan. Derek inhales deeply, smells saffron and garlic and ginger, and grins.

His mother turns absently to open the spice cabinet, and when she closes it again, she catches sight of him leaning against the wall and yelps, nearly dropping the bottle of what he thinks might be paprika before turning the heat down on the stove. “Derek,” she exclaims, face lighting up. “Marhabaan bik fi albayt, baby, hi!”

She pulls him into a close hug, and he grins, letting her fold him into her arms. He’s been bigger than her since he was fourteen, but her hugs never fail to feel like safety to him. In her arms, the world isn’t terrifying; he doesn’t have to be afraid of anything, not even his own head.

It feels like a long time before she pulls away, and her eyes are bright and glistening at the corners. Derek clears his throat and brushes at her eyelashes carefully, more for his own benefit than for hers, really. “’ant aldhdhahab alatakhat alttarkib alkhass bik,” he says, a little hoarsely.

She clicks her tongue dismissively. “Nahyk ean ’ann,” she says. She switches abruptly to English. “How was your trip?”

“It was good. Fine.” He glances over his shoulder at Mama, who’s come in behind him, rolling her eyes when she sees he’s still wearing his jacket. “Thanks for sending the ticket so fast.”

“Of course, hayiti.” She tiptoes up to kiss his cheek--she’s five-three without heels, and unlike Mama, who doesn’t mind keeping hers on for the extra height for a little while, kicks hers off the millisecond she can--and then turns the pan on the stove back on. “You’re always welcome to come, baby. This is your home, too.”

“I know, I just…” He shrugs, and goes for false lightness, draping himself into one of the stools at the breakfast bar and drawling, “that anxiety, doooe.”

Ammi glances over her shoulder at him, frowning slightly. “Are you taking your medicine?”

He rolls his eyes. “Nem, Ammi.”

Mama takes his hat off his head, ruffles his hair a little firmly, and smushes his beanie back on. “Don’t use that voice,” she says. “She’s allowed to worry.” She leans over and kisses Ammi’s cheek. “Did you tell him about his surprise, cariña?”

Derek perks up, because he’s got a depressive, insecure streak a mile wide, but he’s still a youngest kid. “Surprise?”

Ammi chuckles. “In your room, habibi,” she says.

Derek shoulders his backpack, and barely catches her yell of “dinner in ten minutes!” before he’s halfway up the stairs.

The door to his room is closed, and he opens it without thinking, figuring that Filipa, the housekeeper, probably just shut it after the last time she dusted. He flicks the light on and tosses his backpack onto the bed, just as something solid and human flings itself into him from his closet.

“¡Qué demonios mierda!” Derek yelps, staying on his feet because he regularly takes hits from people way bigger than whoever just jumped out at him, but then the person starts cackling in his ear in the way a burglar or axe murderer definitely Would Not, and it clicks. “I--Farah?”

“Sup, baby brother?” She climbs off his back and he turns around to face her, reeling slightly. Farah grins up at him, her hair falling loose around her face in its short, curly bob, their shared green eyes sharper and a little more mischievous in her narrower face.

“What the fuck,” he says, and then pulls her into a proper hug. Farah laughs, hugging him back. “What the fuck, what are you doing here?”

“Ammi texted and said you were coming home for the weekend, of course I came home, tonto!” She pulls his beanie down over his eyes, and he pulls her hair in retaliation.

They grapple for a few minutes--he pulls his punches, because he’s 6’2” and an NCAA athlete; she does not, because she never has, and he’s pretty sure she’s learned a few dirty tricks since they last did this. They end up on the floor, him on his stomach, her perched cross-legged on the small of his back. “She also said you were having a rough time,” she adds, conversationally, like they never stopped talking. “What’s up, papi, is everything okay?”

Derek rolls his eyes. “Everything’s fine,” he says. “I was just, like--” He squirms. “Will you get off?”

“No,” she says.

“Ammi,” he yells.

“Farah,” Ammi yells back. “Get off your brother!”

“Baby,” Farah says, but climbs off and plops down on the floor. “You’re telling me later.”

He sits up. “You totally only came home for the free laundry,” he says.

She smiles, showing very white teeth. “Tal vez,” she purrs, and gets to her feet. “C’mon, Ammi’s making saffron chicken and couscous and I’m literally gonna die if I don’t get some, I’ve been inhaling the fumes for like an hour.”

Derek snorts. “Until you were hiding in my closet.”

“Yeah, where I was inhaling the fumes of your old hockey gear, which, gross.”

He adores her.

...

Dinner tastes like all the best parts of his childhood, sweet and spicy and savory, hot in the ways that build soft and subtle and warm, not in the ways that burn at the back of his eyes and throat. Ammi gives him firsts and seconds and hovers like she’s worried he won’t want thirds, and Mama finally pushes her into her seat and says “he’s a grown boy, Amali, he can serve himself.” The conversation flows in a mix of English and French, since those are the only languages all four of them speak, and there’s always been a house rule about speaking languages that anyone isn’t fluent in at the dinner table. Farah tells them about her thesis research--she’s in her last year at NYU, getting her degree in Media, Culture, and Communication, writing her research in depictions of psychotropic medications in mass market media.

Derek’s pretty sure he could write that for her, but he’ll read her version. Hers will probably be more nuanced.

They’re halfway through clearing the dishes when someone’s phone starts buzzing. Ammi and Mami both check theirs, and Farah, blinking, looks at hers and shrugs.

Then everyone looks at Derek.

He blinks. “Oh, shit, me?” he says, confused, because pretty much the only people who ever call him are in this room. His phone is on the breakfast bar, and he picks it up, flipping it over and startling when he sees Dex’s name on the display. “Uh,” he says, and gestures to the hallway. “I’m just gonna. Uh.”

Farah smiles like a shark. “Oh, don’t let us stop you,” she says, picking up Derek’s plate.

He beats a hasty retreat to the stairs, picking up the call right before it would go to voicemail. “Dex?”

“Nursey?” Dex’s voice comes through tinny and confused. “Dude, where the fuck are you?”

“I’m at home?” Derek sits down on the stairs. He has no idea what’s going on. Dex sounds worried, which makes exactly zero sense.

“What? I went by your room, you weren’t--”

“No, like--Like, I’m home home. In the city. New York.” It feels weird having to clarify that.

There’s a beat of silence. “You’re...what? Is everything okay? Are you okay?”

Why does everyone keep asking him that? Derek rubs the back of his neck. “Yeah,” he says. “I just--We didn’t have a game, I just, I needed to get off campus for a little bit, you know?”

A thought occurs to him, and his anxiety spikes. “Is everything okay there? Are you okay?”

“What? Yeah, man, we’re all fine, just, like--no one knew where you were.”

Derek feels a guilty twinge. He’d emailed the coaches to let them know he’d be gone over the weekend, but yeah, he hadn’t told anyone on the team. “Sorry,” he says. “Sorry, I...I didn’t think you’d miss me.”

“I didn’t say I missed you,” Dex says, but he doesn’t sound pissed. More...fond. Exasperated. “When’re you coming back?”

“Sunday,” Derek says. “Seriously, dude, I’m sorry. I’ll let you know next time.”

“Yeah, yeah. Have fun in the city, Nurse.”

He says it dryly, but with a laugh curling around the edges of the words, and Derek’s smiling despite himself as he hangs up.

Both his mothers and Farah are lingering in the doorway to the stairwell when he comes back, clearly eavesdropping. “Wow,” he says. “Subtle.”

“Who was that?” Farah asks, linking her arm through his as he squeezes past them to get to the living room.

Derek flushes. “No one,” he says.

“It sounded like a boy,” she chirps.

“It was a guy from the team,” he corrects. “So like, you know, technically.” Farah arches her eyebrows. “Like,” Derek backpedals. “Like, he’s a boy, but he’s not a boy, he’s--oh, fuck you, Farah.”

“Ammi,” Farah says, “Derek’s swearing.”

“You hear worse on the subway,” Ammi says dryly, flicking both of them on the back of the head as she motions them towards the couch. “Come. You can come help me beat Mama at scrabble.”

Farah sticks her tongue out at him. Derek considers pulling her hair again.

Instead, he plays JUKEBOX on a triple-word score and dominates the game, which he figures is just as good.

…

His moms have an early morning, like always, so they say goodnight after the game, pressing kisses to his head and Farah’s. “I’m glad you’re home, baby,” Ammi murmurs to him, holding him close enough that he can smell her shampoo through the folds of her hijab, and he closes his eyes and hugs her back.

“Me too,” he says, his throat suddenly thick. “Thanks, Ammi. I love you.”

“I love you too, habibi.” She kisses his forehead again, and then takes Mama’s hand, and the two of them head upstairs together, leaving him and Farah in the living room alone.

“So,” Farah says, after a moment. “Roof?”

“Roof,” he agrees. “Meet you in ten?”

She nods. They high-five, and head up the stairs.

In his room, he pulls a pair of Andover sweatpants a worn henley out of his dresser. The shirt’s a little tight across the shoulders now--he’s put on more muscle in his arms since starting Samwell--but he’d packed his SMH hoodie, so he tugs that on to compensate. He grabs the strawberry-patterned pencil case from his backpack and then, as an afterthought, the comforter from his bed, and meets Farah in the hallway, and they head up to the roof garden together.

It’s a cold night for October, but clear, or as clear as it gets, for Manhattan. Not that they can see stars, really, but the dark sky is inky and smooth. Farah has the blanket from her bed as well, and they both wrap themselves up and sit down in the adirondack chairs by the roof garden, stretching out the long legs they’d both inherited from their dad, along with the strength of their facial features and a tendency to bottle up their emotions and drink too much.

“Alright,” Derek says after a minute. “I’ve got weed, what do you have?”

Farah laughs, a soft, startled sound. “Liquor,” she says, producing a flask from inside her pajamas, which he’s pretty sure are actually a onesie. “Wasn’t sure if I should actually offer you any. What are you taking now?”

He makes a face at her. “Zoloft,” he says. “And it’s fine.” He elects not to tell her that he regularly throws caution to the wind and gets bitch-ass shitfaced, mostly because he’s not in the mood for a lecture. “I’m literally a giant, and there’s not enough in there split between the two of us to cause a problem.”

She shrugs. “I trust you.” She nods to his pencil case. “Packing us a vape, then?”

“Bowl, if your delicate lungs can handle it.”

“Querido,” she drawls. “I was smoking weed before your innocent ass even arrived at dear Phillips Academy.”

“It’s adorable that you think I never did drugs before I got my ass dragged out to Andover,” he says, but unzips the case. He starts picking apart buds with practiced hands, setting them into the grinder, and then packs the bowl easily.

As a courtesy, he offers her the first hit. She laughs, and extends the flask to him. They spend a few minutes exchanging substances in easy, companionable silence.

“So,” Farah says finally, soft and calm, comfortable. “Why are you really home, papi? Out of nowhere?”

Derek exhales smoke, tilting his head back. Samwell’s silence makes him crazy, but damn, the stars are fucking pretty. “Do you ever,” he says, and then pauses, trying to think of the right words. Farah’s been back in the city for for four years, so she may have forgotten. “When you were at Andover, like. Did you ever feel this--just this itch, under your skin? Like the quiet was too much, like there was too much open space? That the smells were wrong?”

“Mm.” Farah closes her eyes. She looks soft, her features visible in the city lights. It’s never dark here, Derek thinks. He’d missed that. He’d never had to learn to sleep in the dark until he was fourteen, in his dorm room at Andover. It’s still strange to him, sleeping in darkness, in silence.

“All the time,” she says finally. “You might have been too young to remember, but I used to call home. Like, I’d--I’d beg, and beg, and ask to come back. But Dad got sway in schooling, remember?” Derek makes a disgruntled noise, the one that means yeah, and she huffs. “Yeah, of course you do.”

He trades her the bowl for the flask, and takes a sip of the whiskey. “Have you talked to him lately?”

It’s false lightness in the question. Her shoulders move in a shrug. “No,” she says. “You?”

“No.”

That’ll be the last they talk of it, he’s sure, until Father’s Day rolls around and Ammi makes them call. Farah hits the bowl and then says, “So, your boy.”

Shit. “He’s not,” he says, and then, “I don’t have a boy, Farah.”

“You were blushing when you hung up the phone.”

“I’m black, I don’t blush.”

“Bullshit,” she sing-songs at him, sweetly intoxicated, and then she laughs. “You sounded like you like him.

“He’s on my team,” he whines, and she laughs again.

“Okay,” she says. “Does your heart know that?”

“Yes,” he insists.

“Does your dick know that?”

Derek chokes on whiskey. “Farah!”

She cackles. “I’m just saying,” she says.

“You’re the worst,” he grumbles.

“Me amas,” she teases, sugar sweet, reaching out to slip one hand under his beanie and scritch at his curls.

He sighs. “I do,” he says. “I really do.” He leans his head back again, looking up.

Something feels loose in his chest, being here. He’ll have to go inside soon, he knows, but for now, he’s happy just being here, listening to the sounds around him. He can hear a siren--there are always sirens--a train, farther off, a dog barking. Someone laughing, down on the street. Someone singing. Music playing.

“Hey,” Farah murmurs. Her hand, cool and slim, slips into his. “Are you okay?”

Derek takes a deep breath. “I am,” he says. He smiles, a soft, easy thing that comes to his lips gently and without force. “I really, really am.”

She squeezes her fingers around his. “Good,” she says.

They finish the bowl and the flask, and then, long after both are gone, sit together in silence, watching the starless sky, and listening to the city breathe.

#nursey week #nursey #derek nursey #nurseydex #if you squint #otp: you'd totally sing to me #derek malik nurse my hipster poet son #not on ao3 yet because the archive's being a DICK #but hopefully soon #this was going to be a much longer love letter to nursey and nyc but then i got grumpy and sleepy oh well #7 FOR 7 FOR NURSEY WEEK GOODNIGHT ALL

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wanderingaldecaldo · 3 years ago

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Spare 🥀 🌺 and 🍌 for the ask meme pls?

Thank you for the ask @setaflow! 💖 ...Also these are not quotes but excerpts. 😬

🥀 favorite angst quote from a published work

Ooooh I was hoping to get this one again. I answered here before so I'll go with my second fave, but also from No One's Gonna Love You:

“Did you fuck things up with her already?”

Mitch rarely gets angry, even less so with Panam, but he’s borderline furious. He sucks on the cigarette and recalls the way his name fell from V’s lips, the look in her eyes when he ran off to pilot the panzer alone, how she clung to him at their reunion days ago.

“That what she tell you? That I fucked up?” Staring at the ground he grinds his teeth, then looks up with a shrug and ashes the cigarette. “Maybe I did. Wouldn’t be the first time. But if I did, I wanna know how because I'm pretty goddamn certain I did everything right.”

“She hasn’t said shit to me about it other than asking me to return Scorpion’s bike because she’s clearly not talking to you, meanwhile days ago you two were practically banging in public.”

“Dunno what you want from me, Pan. I’m giving her the space she needs.”

“Space?” Panam’s voice grows shrill. “You think V needs space right now?”

“What she told me, but sounds like you think I’m wrong for listening to what she says she needs. So tell me, Pan,” Mitch snarls, and he hates the tone his voice takes when he gets cruel like this but he hurts too much to stop, “what exactly should I do for the woman who tells me she needs space after coming to me for a pity fuck?”

Panam gawps at him. Even he thinks he went too far.

🌺 favorite poetic quote from a published work

From "Blaze of Glory", one of the best lines I've ever written:

Mitch thinks back to the day she helped send Scorpion off. He hadn’t wanted to handle it alone, and this city girl who barely knows him drives out to the desert and helps send his best friend and lover to the next life—not that either of ’em believed in that shit. There was a moment when they stood there on the bridge, beers in hand, and he saw his opportunity with her. Grief was always good for short-cutting that emotional connection and there he is, collapsing under the weight of Driss’s death; he will never be more vulnerable in his life.

She stands before him, red curls flaming in the sunlight, her beautiful lips twisted in pain, fingers twitching around the beer in her hands. He’s slumped against the railing, heart bare on his face. He just has to step to her, set his beer down. Let his fingers linger on hers as he pulls the bottle from her grip, then place it beside his. Cup her face, lean in.

But he doesn’t do it, can’t. Driss wouldn’t like it—not Mitch railing V, that he would’ve approved of, but the ‘dishonesty’ of using his emotions like that—and probably neither would V, after the feelings settle and all that’s left between them is the beautiful ghost of a panzerboy.

🍌 favorite funny quote from a wip

From "This Must Be the Place (Home)," the next installment of the Into My Arms series:

“I hope you’re hungry, Mitch. I always cook for V—that is, whenever I can get her to show,” Lupe says with a pointed look.

Mitch smirks at V then answers, “Reckon your food was some fraction of why we’re staying with you. I’ve heard stories.”

“When V came to live with us she was skin and bone. She looked like a drowned rat. The way she ate, you’d think she lived off those vending machine burritos her whole life.”

“And now she probably wishes she still lived off those burritos.”

Cheeks burning she mutters, “Bad idea putting the two of you together.”

“Gotta disagree, Val,” Mitch answers with a grin, and Lupe swivels her head so fast V wonders if she pulled a muscle in her neck. Lupe narrows her eyes and purses her lips as she looks at V, but she says nothing. “You’ve got everyone at camp to dish out all my secrets but I don’t know the first about yours.”

#thank you for the ask! <3 #setaflow #ask meme #writing asks #wash's writing #no one's gonna love you #blaze of glory #this must be the place (home)#excerpt #mail time!

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halsteadproperty · 8 years ago

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Best Mexican Restaurants in New York City

By Peter Cohen, Lic. R.E. Salesperson in our East Side Office

Perhaps one of the final frontiers of cuisine in New York City, excellent Mexican restaurants have been far and few between compared to Chinese or Italian pizzerias which are the international cuisines that locals have grown to appreciate as New York City staples. As of late, a shift has occurred and New York now has Mexican food that is undeniably authentic and undeniably delicious. We caught up with Halstead agent Peter Cohen to get his insight into the finest Mexican restaurants the city has to offer.

LUPE’S EAST L.A. KITCHEN

My favorite is in my old neighborhood on the western edge of Soho. It’s a little place called Lupe’s. Excellent food, casual environment, and friendly staff. The food is American-Mexican comfort food with favorite menu items like burritos, tacos, tamales and enchiladas with homemade pico de gallo salsa.

OSO

The opposite of a humble spot in a fancy neighborhood would be an upscale place in an up and coming neighborhood. That would be Oso on 140th and Amsterdam. The ambiance is artistic and chic with warm lighting and wooden tables. The tortillas are handmade with innovative twists on classics like a braised octopus tostada and delicious guava chipotle glazed ribs.

BURRITO BOX

For takeout, Burrito Box on 9th Avenue is outstanding. Traditional style food but with some non-traditional items that cater to the fussy nature of New Yorkers when it comes to food. I’m not a fan of soy cheese but if you want it, they got it.

LOS TACOS

A more straightforward menu for takeaway can be found at Los Tacos in Chelsea Market. The Tijuana-inspired tacos are the best in the city. I regularly get lunch there with a friend who works for MLB Advanced Media. We usually head up to the Highline for with our grub for some quality people-watching. A local delectable secret is to order the off-menu ‘queso taco’ that replaces the tortilla shell with a disk of fried cheese.

SUPER TACOS

And no discussion of Mexican food would complete without a mention of the Upper West Side intuition that is Super Tacos, or as it is commonly referred to, the taco truck. Perfection in its simplicity with menu items starting at $2, this food truck is an authentic local favorite.

If you are looking for excellent, innovative and authentic Mexican cuisine, try these excellent eateries curated by Halstead agent Peter Cohen. Peter has a wealth of real estate experience in New York City and helps his clients formulate successful strategies to achieve their goals. If you are looking to buy or sell your next home in New York, please reach out to Peter via email.

#Mexican #Mexican Restaurants #Mexican Cuisine #Best mexican restaurants in new york city #New York City #Manhattan #Peter Cohen #Halstead #Halstead Real Estate #Exploreyourhood #Super Tacos #Los Tacos #Burrito Box #Oso #Lupe's East L.A. Kitchen

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ashnadir · 6 years ago

Text

thatwhichbindsus‌:

“Which part is fun?” She asked, but was smiling back. “I’m just in practice of being very careful. Spontaneity was dangerous. So I want to include you in my calculations, one of those fundamental constants.”

Ciara had opened her heart in her reply to him, letting that careful bleed run loose. Always showing him, always trying to let him know, because he was so bad at reading it. Or perhaps too obstinate. But when he didn’t even deign to reply, the doors of her mind swung shut, and she retreated a little. This wasn’t meant to mean anything - she was still learning this.

“Just considering variables.” Ciara said of Miguel, although it wasn’t entirely true. Miguel had somehow become a central part of her life, which she hardly minded. “Must be heritable,” Ciara commented lightly, running her fingers through her hair. She wished Miguel would sometimes think of himself a little more, he was so generous sometime she felt like she was exploiting him. Of course, Lupe would never allow that, but Lupe’s reach was far from infinite. While Iann wasn’t as bad as his brother, he still had a habit of putting himself in the background, considering himself less interesting and less important. How much of that was how Ciara had treated him early on versus how he was, she had no idea.

“Great, I will do.”

“Do you not have any fluorescent jackets?” She asked, stretching around to look in the back, but he’d already hopped out. Lips pressed together, she reached into his glove compartment and picked out a few bits and pieces, so that when she climbed out and surveyed the engine with him, she could hand him his duct tape right away, able to see that it was hardly the first time iann had had to fix something inside his engine. Ciara would have offered to step in herself to do some of the work, but Iann was so particular about his Westfalia that she assumed the answer, instead pulling out her phone before he’d even suggested it.

Instead of trying to squint at the distant signs, Ciara climbed over the barrier as Iann got out his duck tape, and she looked on her map where the next exit is. “No dice. Next exit is eight miles and just leads to some motel, and the next couple after don’t lead anywhere useful either. What about calling your insurance?”

“The part where the - you know. The you, and the me, and the talking...” Iann spun a hand and then laughed helplessly. “Don’t make me try to articulate, ayy carajo! You know I’m bad at it! You already get it. Yeah,” Iann fwapped Ciara’s elbow lightly with the back of his hand. “Yeah, you get what I mean.”

His guffawing hiccuped slightly though at her words. ‘Fundamental constants’, she said. So casually, like a side note she made in her accounting book. Checks and balances. He couldn’t avoid the meaning of her statement this time though because he was just so hooked up on the wordplay of all things. Her clever little analogy compelled him to pause, process, feel a thrill, and give her props.

Iann glanced over at Ciara, his ears red under his baseball cap as he tried to school the beaming expression from his face.

“Keep talking math at me, guapa. It’s hot.”

Ciara complied, bringing up variables and Iann snorted at her little snarky comment. “The only thing I ‘inherited’ from our mutual sperm donor was being an asshole. And Miguel’s kind of an ass in his own way.” But Iann then felt he had to amend, compelled by the image of big-eyed, hopeful-faced Miguel in his mind. “A cute way, though, just like a little ass. El burrito.”

Head halfway in the engine compartment, Iann called out. “I did have a nice bright orange jacket once. Loaned it out to someone, then I lost it when she insisted on giving it back.” He knew what she meant - so responsible of her - but he had to snark back.

As Iann made his makeshift repair, he listened to Ciara’s report on their chances. He wasn’t particularly upset though, not in the slightest. This wasn’t the first and it wouldn’t be the last time his van copped out on him, first of all; and it wasn’t like Drew was going anywhere. And he was with Ciara. No, Iann wasn’t much bothered by their current predicament.

“Hm. Hm hm hm,” Iann leaned back, folding an arm and tapping his chin with his other finger. “I don’t really...have insurance. The plates are just charmed,” Iann said, squinching his face as he tried to explain.

“Insurance means having my name in some government file! And I don’t really, ah, exist legally in the system. I mean I did use an alias once, like when I got married to Penny? But man that was a long process and expensive. And all that documentation’s long gone, like. Twenty years ago, before things got all hella-digital and shit. Not that any of that matters - bottom line is, I don’t have insurance. But you know what - I’ll bet you if we get to the motel, someone there is bound to know some hick friend who can fix cars. Hm?”

Iann grinned. “We’ll be fine. Just might take a little longer. Hope you didn’t schedule any appointments for tomorrow, nena.”

trippy

#ciara

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eatbcstx-blog · 7 years ago

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iPhone Repair College Station

Bryan-College Station Restaurant Guide : Mexican Restaurants

Here’s our guide to some of the best Mexican Food in the Brazos Valley. Several excerpts from complete articles on our favorite places are included below, click on the links for the whole story on each featured Mexican eatery.

Take Our Poll

Abuelo’s Mexican Restaurant 840 University Dr. E., College Station, TX • 979-260-3400

Abuelo’s does catering too. Custom fajita spreads are a popular option.

Abuelo’s Mexican Restaurant combines homemade cooking with rich flavors of coastal and interior Mexican cuisine.

Casa Rodriguez Mexican Restaurant 300 N. Bryan Ave., Bryan, TX • 979-779-0916

Taco Loco at Casa Rodriguez.

Casa Rodriguez has been a family tradition in Bryan since 1978.

Cilantro Mexican Grill 106 N. Parker Ave., Downtown Bryan, TX • 979-704-6751

Concha ice cream sandwich at Cilantro Mexican Grill.

Cilantro Mexican Grill serves authentic Mexican and Tex-Mex dishes in Downtown Bryan.

Chimy’s – College Station 203 University Dr., College Station, TX • 979-703-6106

Chimy’s College Station.

Chimy’s – College Station serves up great Tex Mex and American favorites right across from the Texas A&M Campus.

Chuy’s (College Station, TX) Hwy. 6 & Harvey • 979-329-6022

Burrito En Fuego at Chuy’s College Station. Image by Chuy’s.

Chuy’s serves authentic Tex-Mex food in an eclectic atmosphere full of color and personality. The menu offers family recipes from South Texas, New Mexico and Mexican border towns, all made to order from the freshest ingredients.

El Sol De Mexico 705 N. Texas Avenue, Bryan, TX • 979-821-2400

Menudo at El Sol De Mexico. Image by customer Maria Porcayo.

El Sol De Mexico is situated just North of Downtown on Texas Avenue in Bryan. Well known for their Menudo.

Fuego Tortilla Grill 108 Poplar St., College Station, TX • 979-703-1804

Faves at Fuego Tortilla Grill. Image by Blonde Creative.

Fuego Tortilla Grill : Fresh, Hand Made Mexican Food… Fast! I got a little adventurous on this visit and tried the Dr. Pepper Cowboy ($3.79) taco with brisket, grilled onions, Dr. Pepper BBQ sauce, chipotle Cream corn and jack cheese on a hot, thick, hand made flour tortilla. The brisket was impressively prepared, tender and flavorful enough to be the pride of a small town barbecue joint. The chipotle cream corn and barbecue sauce were a perfect compliment to the brisket. I like a lot of sauce and flavor and the Dr. Pepper Cowboy did not disappoint. While eating this saucy taco had the potential to be a messy affair if the tortilla were to break, that didn’t happen and is unlikely to because the tortillas are so darned thick.

Jesse’s Taqueria & Bakery 3310 East 29th St., Bryan, TX • 979-485-9841

Jesse’s Taqueria is situated near Blinn College in Bryan.

Jesse’s Taqueria & Bakery is well known for fresh tacos, lunch plates, Mexican sweet breads, flan, fresh baked cookies, and friendly “know you by name” service.

La Carreta Mexican Grill 1605 San Jacinto Ln., Bryan, TX • 979-823-5929

Authentic Mexican food at La Carreta in Bryan. Image by La Carreta.

Established in 2011, La Carreta Mexican Grill is family-owned and strives to offer great quality service and delicious authentic Mexican food.

La Espiga Dorada 210 W. MLK in Bryan • 979-779-9594

Empanadas by La Espiga Dorada.

After a night of good times and great music at Revolution on Carnegie Alley in Downtown Bryan, local burger legend Charles Stover introduced me to his favorite local taco stand, El Nopalito on MLK. He also pointed out La Espiga Dorada, the bakery right behind El Nopalito and raved about the breads and sweets. Read more.

Los Cucos Mexican Restaurant 1521 S. Texas Avenue, College Station, TX • 979-689-8896 Los Cucos Bryan 920 N. Earl Rudder Fwy. Bryan, TX • 979-776-7800

Los Cucos is a popular Houston-based chain with two Brazos Valley locations. They are well known for great Mexican Food and an innovative drinks menu. One in Bryan and one in College Station. Image by Los Cucos.

Los Cucos Mexican Restaurant strives to delight you every visit with Always Fresh food, awesome drink specials, and the best possible “wow” service.

Lupe Tortilla 813 Texas Avenue South, College Station, TX • 979-693-6761

Dining room at Lupe Tortilla College Station. Image by Lupe Tortilla.

Lupe Tortilla makes it their business to serve the best tasting, most creative, colorful, and consistent Mexican food possible. Casual dining. Kids are welcomed.

Mad Taco 404 Jane Street @ University Dr., College Station, TX • 979-704-6266

Chiles en Nogada Specialty Taco by Mad Taco. Image by Mad Taco.

Mad Taco Stands Out For Its Tortillas… & Lack Thereof The Chile Rubbed Salmon Taco featured seared salmon with cheese, avocado, marinated red onion, chile oil and cilantro aioli. It was all wrapped up in one of the best tortillas I had ever tasted. About the thickness of a Gordita shell, warm, soft, slightly sweet, heavenly!

Michoacana Taqueria 1322 S. Texas Ave., Bryan, TX • 979-823-1177

Michoacana Taqueria. Photo by Greg Deeter.

Michoacana Taqueria Is “Mind Blowing” Good The tacos were served from hot holds and then you add your own toppings from the bar like onions, cilantro, marinated purple onions, pico, limes or cucumbers. Cucumbers? Yes. There are also four types of sauce that you ladle on, two red and two green.

Papa Perez Mexican Cuisine 200 S. Main St., Downtown Bryan

Shrimp ceviche at Papa Perez in Downtown Bryan.

A picture may be worth a thousand words, but even the succulent photo accompanying this review cannot do the Shrimp Ceviche at Papa Perez Mexican Cuisine in Downtown Bryan justice. Marinated shrimp, tomatoes, onions and avocados in their famous ceviche sauce. Heaven on a fork…or cracker. The salsa and chips were good, and the sour cream enchiladas were well prepared. They offer charro or refried beans, so I got beans and rice. Both sides were flavorful and fresh. Nothing compared to the ceviche though. Papa Perez nailed it! Best in town.

Pepe’s Mexican Cafe 3312 S College Ave Bryan, TX • 979-779-2457

Pepe’s Mexican Cafe in Bryan, Texas

Pepe’s Mexican Cafe has been located in the same Bryan, TX spot since 1969. They serve delicious Tex Mex food including tacos, burritos, fajitas, specialty queso, and more.

Polly’s Cocina 12675 Wellborn Rd., Bryan, TX • 979-695-7500

Tacos at Polly’s Cocina. Image by Greg “Taco Monster” Deeter.

Polly’s Cocina is one of the most excellent Mexican restaurants in College Station. Great prices, just fantastic food and service and once you walk inside and see all of the walls covered with full 8×12 photos of all of the people that have eaten here, you will get it. One of the most popular Mexican restaurants for A&M staff at lunch. Lunch for three today was under $20 for nice big full plates and they have some of the best queso cheese on the face of the planet. (Words by Greg Deeter)

Raspas El Payasito 1005 S. Coulter St., Bryan, TX

Raspas El Payasito tacos. Image by Raspas taco afficionado Rhonda Holley.

Raspas El Payasito is one of our favorite places to go the morning (to us…like 11am-ish) after a night of revelry on Northgate. Authentic Mexican deliciousness!

The Tacobar 1411 Wellborn Rd., College Station, TX • 979-704-6636

El Carnal Taco by Tacobar.

Tacobar On Wellborn: Marinated Meats Make The Menu That’s the simple formula The Tacobar is executing to earn rave reviews for their newly opened Taqueria, specializing in authentic, border-style Mex fare.

Taco Crave B/CS 308 N. Main St., Bryan, TX • 979-485-5460

Street tacos by Taco Crave in Downtown Bryan. Image by Taco Crave.

Taco Crave B/CS specializes in simple, homemade, authentic Street Tacos, Burritos, Quesadillas, Tortas, Bowls, Desserts, Kids Meals. Street Food. Mom & Pop vibe. Small business. Friendly, kind service.

Taqueria El Nopalito 216 Martin Luther King St., Bryan, TX • 979-402-2414

Brisket tacos at Taqueria El Nopalito.

Taqueria El Nopalito: Authentic Mex, Fast & Fresh That 1am taco run from Revs became the start of a regular love affair between me and El Nopalito. My favorite is the Brisket Taco. They make the tacos street style, wrapping them all up together in foil so they keep each other nice and warm. Cilantro, onions and meat on your chioce of tortilla…simple goodness!

Taqueria El Tio 911 N. Bryan Ave., Bryan, TX • 979-775-8054

Taqueria El Tio offers outdoor dining, carry-out and drive-thru.

Taqueria El Tio : Hidden Gem In Bryan Offers Fresh, No Frills Mexican Fare If you weren’t looking for it, you’d likely drive right by this humble looking Mexican eatery without even noticing it’s there. Luckily for them, and local Mexican food afficionados, lots of people know right where to go for their El Tio fix, as they more than make up for what they lack in location and signage with excellent, fresh-made food at very fair prices.

Taqueria La Perla 111 N. Brazos Ave., Bryan, TX • 979-775-7116

Taco Perfection! by Taqueria La Perla in Bryan.

Taqueria La Perla is an authentic Tex-Mex taqueria in Bryan, just east of Downtown. Open until 3am on weekends.

Torchy’s Tacos (College Station) 1037 Texas Ave. S., College Station, TX • 979-329-6900

Torchy’s is situated on Texas Avenue between Cane’s and Layne’s.

Torchy’s keeps it simple: Damn good tacos.

Yole’s La Familia 14725 Fm 2154 Rd., College Station, TX • 979-690-5760 Yole’s La Familia 300 N. Texas Ave., Bryan, TX • 979-822-9192

Mexican buffet at Yole’s La Familia.

Yole’s La Familia Taqueria previously known as “La Familia” was established in 1990 by Yolanda and Otilio Agguire in Bryan, Texas. Today, 25 years later the legacy of “La Familia Taqueria” continues to strive strong in the Bryan-College Station area. The late Yolanda Aguirre passed in August of 2013, but her husband (Otilio), daughter (Melissa Serna), and son-in-law (Fidel Serna) are still keeping the business alive in booming today. The restaurant was recently featured in the Texas Monthly (December 2015 Edition) for The 120 Best Tacos You Must Eat Before You Die.

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Vote for the best #BCSTX Mexican Restaurant iPhone Repair College Station Bryan-College Station Restaurant Guide : Mexican Restaurants Here's our guide to some of the best Mexican Food in the Brazos Valley.

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