#Valley Toyota

[bradyoil]

Comic Actor and Improvisational Wizard Pat Finn Plays To The Whistle.

Improvisational genius/comic actor Pat Finn is on this very special episode! Pat and I have been collaborating together for almost 20 years making on Valley Toyota spots, and it’s always a blast. Agency folks always like casting actors that can improv, but Pat is next level. And he happens to be the one of the top three nicest humans in Hollywood. From sitcoms “Seinfeld” and “The Middle” to films…

[tomwindeknecht]

Post-Thanksgiving visit to Valley of Fire State Park 🔥

I arrived extra early for a clear view without any cars! Shot on my Pixel 7 Pro and edited in Lightroom and Photoshop.

[nsdclassic]

Toyota 4Runner

[probablyasocialecologist]

Internet politics have been shaped by a cyberlibertarian framing best exemplified by the writings of Electronic Frontier Foundation cofounder John Perry Barlow, whose Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace became a key statement of principles for digital activists. His manifesto targeted its ire at governments, telling them, “You have no sovereignty where we gather.” He made no mention of the harmful influence corporations could have on online spaces, which was a reflection of Barlow’s personal politics. He was not only a speechwriter for Dick Cheney in the 1970s, but the Declaration itself was published at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland in 1996. This cyberlibertarian framing of digital politics and its focus on speech over political economy has proved beneficial for tech companies for many years. As US tech firms went global, digital activists frequently opposed government efforts to regulate or restrict tech platforms as threats to their citizens’ digital rights and freedom of expression, largely ignoring the economic impacts of US economic imperialism in those countries. In the process, US companies were able to dominate international markets and few countries were able to establish the necessary economic protections to develop serious competitors to the American giants. In countries like China, where protections were effectively implemented, digital and human rights groups rarely paid any mind to the economic component of those policies; they were narrowly positioned as censorship measures. The Great Firewall is used to restrict what Chinese internet users can access and post online, but it is also an economic measure. China protected its tech sector in a similar way that Japan and South Korea protected their automotive and electronics industries in decades past, spawning globally competitive, export-oriented companies like Toyota and Samsung. China’s Great Firewall allowed it to do the same, creating serious competition for Silicon Valley that would have never happened without economic protectionism. Digital rights activism served the global ambitions of the tech monopolies forming in Silicon Valley and Greater Seattle by positioning attempts at restricting platforms and making companies abide by local rules and norms appear as overbearing government intrusions on people’s rights. In the cyberlibertarian framing, government — not corporations — are the enemy, and that was reflected in the way many activists long approached tech policy. It certainly doesn’t seem like a coincidence that it also served US commercial and geopolitical ambitions. Where countries previously placed ownership restrictions on its media and telecommunications sectors and invested in public broadcasters, that was all out the window with the internet. Foreign governments were expected to accept the dominance of US firms, or else be accused of breaching their citizens’ rights.

6 September 2024

[cartierdreamx]

𝕯𝖊𝖘𝖙𝖎𝖓𝖊𝖉 𝕿𝖔 𝕱𝖆𝖑𝖑 *1*

OMG HI MY SWEET LOVES <3, I hope you’re doing well, and your week was great! I am so so so excited to share with you the first chapter of my new Mafia AU series, and I am even more excited to write it (the love you showed to FAD and my drabbles warm my heart so so much), I don’t want to reveal but because I want you to read that, but I will say both you and Jenna are 25 in this story, something about 25 just seems like the right age for this. Anyways, I hope you enjoy and if you do, please consider reblogging, following and commenting! Thank you all for your constant love and support! J <33 

If you would like to be apart of a taglist so you know when the next chapter comes out, comment down below or let me know thru asks!! 

Pairings: jenna ortega x fem! Reader 

Warnings: slight angst, slight dark themes, swearing, mentions of weapons and violence. 

This fic is STRICTLY 18+, as it involves adult themes, minors DNI, you are responsible for your own social media intake, which includes reading entertainment which this fic falls under, so one last warning- this fic is 18+. Thank you!

FYI: JENNA IS G!P IN THIS FIC!! 

~~

Words flow through you with ease, you inhaled words the same way oxygen seeps into your body, and like carbon dioxide leaving, what left instead, was art. Your art. So, journalism was destined for you, it was your calling, you would have gone into publishing but there was something about people that drew you in, and there was the fact that you lived in the Bay area, your home, well developed into your home, you moved a few years back because something in you sparked and said to move, you knew the opportunities would be great, and you proved yourself right. You found yourself working for an independent, yet big journalism company right in the heart of Silicon Valley, the tech city, right where the hearts of Google and Apple reside. They pay good money, having saved enough to rent out a loft close to work and have your own car, a black Toyota 86 with a custom spoiler and a lip kit wrapped around the body and the colour so deep and rich, Batman would be jealous. But there was one thing that was missing, rumination would fill your mind, if journalism was destined for you, why couldn’t the heart of someone be too. Love. You were missing love, what’s yours will come to you and everything happens for a reason would be a constant mantra of yours, but patience was a draining one, and love is a losing game. Not to worry, your words would keep you company and that would be enough, right?

“Y/N!” Solana calls out for you, your boss, manager, bff, mother, every occupation under the blazing sun, she’s that to you.

The corner of your mouth connects to your ears and your eyes widens as the auditory sounds hit your ear drums. You loved her with your whole heart,

“How’s my sweet girl doing?” She rushes towards you with such sass, it makes you giggle.

“Better now that you’re here.”

“Awww, I love youuuu.”

“Huh?” You giggle, extending your hand out to grab the drink she clearly bought for you, then giving her a mocking wink.

“Oh, you dickhead.” Solana exclaims as she realises your sweet confession was directed towards the ice latte.

A soft tsk leaves her mouth as she rolls her eyes at you, as she leans over your shoulders, she reads over what you’re writing. You were a talented writer, everyone wanted you and not just journalism, anything that included writing, they wanted you. But for some reason Solana’s company ‘Bayseyes’ reeled you in, it felt like second nature to you, it felt like home, electricity rooted in your fingers when your touch met with the keyboard during your trial shifts when you were a rookie, no other branch made you feel this way. And plus, you really loved how ‘Bayseyes’ wasn’t toxic, the information was fished out and you and your colleagues had high rating articles, but no negative connotation was linked to you guys unlike other journalism and tabloid companies.

“This is good y/n.”

“Aw, thank you.”

“If you worked at TMZ.”

“OKAY OUCH, if you hated it just say that smh.”

“Y/N, it’s good, but I know you to be amazing, scrap this and write a new one.”

“Okay, be honest, are you trying to murder me? I feel like a 10-inch knife has just been plunged deep into my heart, I’ll write a new one but you’re giving this story to a rookie, this is too beautiful to be deleted off this sweet universe of ours.”

“You are so dramatic you know that? Fine.” She was right, you are dramatic, but in a fun, ironic way, it’s what made people laugh and what this world needed was more laughter, as sad as it sounds, you used that same dramatics and turned it into a play when foster parents would meet you, whilst at the same time, flaunting that big heart of yours. However, fostering is easier said than done, every change of parents and every house you had to learn the layout of, was never your fault, you were so loved, but you can’t help but blame the change on you each time, if you were so loved, why didn’t you have a home. You were close once, almost about to have your forever home but problems with the system always won. Almost is never enough.

A bright, mocking smile paints you face as Solana scoffs at you, she always gave into your needs and want, but you always provided her with what she needed, in every form, so she can’t help but have a soft spot for you, giving in to your commands.

“So, what is my little rising star going to write about?”

“Hmmm royal family? The coronation, OH! There’s talk that there was a paparazzi high speed chase with Meghan and Harry.”

“Like every other journalism branch? We’re not TMZ babes, we’re better.”

Folding your arms and leaning back into your chair, suffocating Solana’s fingers, you scoff out of disappointment. Feeling Solana’s fingers squirm out from the space between your back and your chair, you swivel around to face her.

“Well, I don’t know what you want, everything has been milked.” As the words leave your tongue, you see her mouth form a smirk paired with a smug look. “Sol, what did you do?”

“Yes, everything has been milked, but not this.” You see an emerald, green paper with hints of gold flash into your eyes, the glossy material reflecting off the lights. Your lips purse inwards and your eyebrows scrunch down, if confusion ever knew your name, now was when it screamed it.

“What is that?”

“Well Ms. L/N, this, this is rarer than any diamond, pearl or ruby out there, you’ve been invited to Jenna Ortega’s annual masquerade ball.” Her smirk now turning into a cheese, a cheese so wide it was starting to creep you out.

“As in, mafia leader Jenna Ortega?”

“Yup!” She says ever so positively.

“As in, most feared women in San Francisco, HELL, maybe in America?”

“Oh well, that’s subjective.”

“NOOO, it’s fact.” An obvious annoyance paints your face as you bite the right side of your lip, knowing there was no fighting this, as much as you didn’t want to attend, you couldn’t say no to her, and plus, this invitation is so exclusive, more exclusive than the MET, which you, not to sound snobby, you’ve been to, not as a guest though, but obviously as a journalist.

“You’re going Y/N, that’s final, I’m speaking as your boss, we need this, YOU need this. No one has ever been close enough to her to get an exclusive, it’s always been assistants on top of assistants on top of body guards, I need you to work your charm.”

A big sigh escapes your mouth, your sign of submission and defeat, looks like you’re going to attend. You can’t help but feel a small strike of lightning hit your aortas though, but your pride was too big for you to ever admit that to Sol, to be fair, you can’t remember the last time you went out and enjoyed yourself, though you can’t promise you’d enjoy this ball, you can’t remember the last time you got dressed up, baddie up, just in general felt pretty about yourself. So that, and only that had you excited, oh and maybe the little fact this story could make you, Sol, and anyone under the name of the company MILLIONS.

“Okay fine, but only for work.”

“Oh sweetie, I want you to get laid too.” The same cheesey smile back plastered on her face as wide as the curve of a banana was really starting to get to you now.

“If I say fine, will you stop leering at me with that monstrous smile of yours.”

“Yes.”

“Fine.”

“Okay my smile is back to normal now, but I’m serious, thought I want you to write a global hit, I also want you to have fun, you’re 25, Jenna is 25, I want some grandbabies.”

“WOAHHHH SLOW YOUR ROLL, first of all you’re 33, no grandbabies, second of all, no! I’m not hooking up with the head of the Ortega mafia family, and definitely not getting pregnant.”

“But she’s hot.”

You throw your hands up in the air and swiftly placed your face in them once you brought your arms down.

“Just because she’s hot does not mean I’m getting pregnant.”

“AH HAH, so you agree she’s hot!”

“Okay that’s it.” You stand up and start grabbing your things, trying to shake off what Sol just insisted.

“Waitttt, where are you going?”

“Lunch, away from you.”

“NOOOO, I was kidding, okay fine, at least have lunch with me, you can try on your dress.”

“You have my dress already? Wait- when is it?” Sounding hesitant, thinking you had more time until the ball.

“Heh, tonight.”

You freeze and stop in your tracks, a million thoughts illuminating your mind, what’re you going to wear, make up, shoes, hair, hookups??? And maybe the fact that you’re going to be in a room highlighted with the word danger. Not saying that weapons would be blazing all over the room, but you felt a sense of caution attending, Jenna had enemies, it’s the mafia, without enemies are you really in the mafia. Her main enemy though was the other mafia family, the hierarchy goes Ortega and then Marcello, they were also feared but Ortega was more liked. You never liked that life, the whole mafia thing, sure it was family oriented, and they never killed anyone who didn’t deserve it, no women, no children, well Ortega anyways, Marcello ran on different values, they were ruthless, but they knew better than to cross Ortega’s lines, it was the one thing they feared, and they could never find a way to make Jenna vulnerable, Jenna would loves herself and the family too much to let herself be vulnerable. She is Bay city’s most feared and most eligible bachelorette.

“ARE YOU INSANE? THERE’S NO TIME.”

Sol cups your face and blows on you “there is plenty of time, you’re leaving early, we’re going to get lunch, then you’re going to try on your dress, you get ready, and I will do your hair and makeup, make Jenna fiend for you.”

“You have got to calm it with Jenna.”

“Yeah, whatever come on.”

~~

Back at your green infested loft, adorned with all the books, warmth, and plant babies you could ever imagine, you get Sol to place a blindfold on you so the first time you’d see the dress is when she takes off your blindfold in front of your mirror.

“Are you ready?”

“Very.”

As she takes off the blindfold, your eyes take a second to focus on your figure in the mirror, a floor length, ruby red dress drapes and cherishes every beautiful curve of yours, the high slit showcasing your leg accentuates your ass, every cinch of the corset top pushing up your ample bosom, with just enough fabric draping over your shoulders, but not enough to call them sleeves.

“Wow.” Was all you could muster up to say, shocked at how glistening your beauty was, you can’t remember the last time you felt this way about yourself.

“Wow, indeed, but honestly, you deserve more than a wow, you’ll capture everyone’s eyes, and especially Jenna’s eyes.”

You let out a soft giggle, opening your arms and taking her in, “thank you so much for this.” She was taller than you so one hand rests on your head and the other around your back and waist whilst your arms bear hugged her entire waist.

“You deserve it, love, now come on, we have to do your hair and makeup.”

~~

Stepping into Ortega towers was every bit of excitement and nervousness all at once, like you were going to throw up but instead of germs and digested food, it’d be confetti. A red carpet was rolled out for guests and paparazzi hugged both sides of walk behind golden ropes, you were a nobody, so you wanted to swift your way into the building. You couldn’t help but take in the city views even if you were at ground level, and the towering building in front of you captured every breath in your lungs, it was an architectural dream, heights reaching mountains but curves and twists and openings everywhere you looked. There were two main towers, the roots of the building curving towards each other and then straightening up with a long adjoining room, connecting one tower to the next, assuming that is where the ball is being held. And as if that wasn’t enough to impress you, there was one more adjoining room at the very top, like a princess keep at a castle, but instead of being the size of a small bathroom, it was the width of both towers and the gaps in between, you could only assume that is Jenna’s penthouse. Sources online stated that the towers was home to the Ortega family, where Jenna spent the most time, where missions and meetings were officialised, an office space for hundreds of workers, and a tactical space for hundreds more body guards and loyal subjects, and a small rumour suggests that there is an unground vault filled all the riches you could imagine, and of-course, every weapon they needed.

The blinding lights stung your eyes, but luckily it took a matter of seconds for you to get in. Though your gold mask with intricate designs hugging your face didn’t help as the lights just reflected gold flashes into your eyes, part of that mask covered the top left side of your face and your entire forehead, leaving the right side naked but the mask hid your identity enough. You were met with security looking at every guest’s invitation, handing them yours, you were given the okay, batches of people swarm the elevators trying to get to the ball. Luckily you didn’t have to try that hard as, despite the hundreds of guests attending, everyone was calm, collected and all listening to security, though it might’ve been the fear that coerced them to submit to their instructions.

Once the elevator doors open the lively music entered your ears which made you laugh a bit, despite this ‘party’ being a masquerade ball, there was youth in the air, no boring classical music, but you were sure that they’d be some of that later in the night. Your first instinct was to dash for the bar, free drinks, free food, and you planned to make Jenna’s pockets hurt even just the tiniest bit, but then that motivation was short lived when your slow ass finally realised that this ball would have thousands of sponsors and donations.

“Hey! What can I get you?” A bartender greets you with a warm smile.

“Pornstar martini, please.” Keeping it on the sweet side, and plus you didn’t want to make a face every time you took a sip out of your drink because the alcohol taste was too strong.

“I like your style, ma’am, coming right up.”

You take mental notes of your surroundings and what your vision is telling you, you would’ve brought along a small note pad or pulled out your phone, but now was not the time, and you’d be caught dead before someone thought of you as that cliché quirky girl trying to be different so you could catch someone’s attention. Noting your surroundings, you see a bunch of masks, no shit, but you realise all the workers and body guards had matching suits, uniforms and masks, workers and body guards having different looks but under those subcategories, they were all matching, it was cute but a bit cliché you admit. Not wanting to expose yourself as a journalist straight away, you make small talk with the bartender, asking questions that wouldn’t compromise you.

“Soooo, I’m kinda new to this scene, who do you think is worth my time?”

“Well ma’am, look around and try to scan people’s faces and mannerisms, I’m sure you’ll be able to spot out some celebrities, find the ones you love and charm them, they’ll make great company for tonight.”

“And the host?”

“Heh, Ms. Ortega likes to keep it on the downlow, if you catch her attention, she’ll come to you, but her groupies always get to her first, and because their hearts are filled with greed and lust, they’ll never give her back to the party.”

“Lust rearranged is slut, KIDDING, KIDDING, I’m sure they have their reasons of wanting her.”

“No, you’re right, cus all they want is money, never genuine, always just sex.”

“But Ms. Ortega is a playgirl, she enjoys it too much to let them go?”

“Right on the nose ma’am.”

You give gratitude to the bartender for keeping you company and allowing yourself to get comfortable and adapt to the scene, but you had to let them go and do their job or I’m sure someone would’ve complained or worse, someone might’ve thought you were hitting on them or vice versa. Making small talk with strangers always pained you but you were good at it, one of the many perks about journalism, the information you want, you’d get it one way or another. But alas the open bar finally catches up to you when a tall, with a heavy dusk scent interrupts a rather pleasant conversation with the superiors of a pharmaceutical company.

“Heyyy, baby.” He slurs, trying to inch closer to you grabbing your waist but you wiggle out of his grasp, standing your ground behind your company.

“Sir, you have no business disturbing this young woman.”

“Well, you have no business disturbing the party in my pants, this young woman was going to attend.”

His comments made you sick, your shoulders tense up as you try to shake the feeling of his touch away. You had the tendency to shut down during situations like these, you want to scream, want to stand your ground, but your body wouldn’t let you, instead you hold your fort and protect yourself, shielding your cage from any comments that came towards you.

“Aw, now you’re silent, come here and I could have you screaming all night.” He reaches out for your wrist but luckily security got to him first, and they were anything but gentle, you were glad though, he got what was coming to him. It did surprise you that security apologised for his behaviour, giving you a gentle smile all at the same time inducing a fear into the man who disturbed your evening.

“Oh my, Ms, are you okay?” A man from your company asks you, sounding genuinely concerned.

“Yes, thank you, I’m okay, I’ve been through worse.”

“We’re glad to hear that you’re okay, would you like anything? Water?”

“Nooo, thank you for the offer though, but I’m really fine, thanks for calling security though.”

A look of confusion clicks on their face, almost simultaneously too.

“Uh, as much as we wanted to, we didn’t call them, we couldn’t find one in time.”

“Oh, weird, but luckily they saw, anyways, it was really lovely chatting to you guys, but I’m going to head out for some fresh air.”

“No worries at all Ms. L/N, you were a pleasure, please, you’re more than welcome to come up and chat again when you come back.”

Their comments warmed your heart, you shook all their hands, giving them a smile and moved towards the nearest door to a balcony. Once you stepped outside the cold yet refreshing breeze wrapped around your skin, making you shiver a little, but your body warmth and adrenaline was enough to calm the goosebumps down. To keep time going, you admire the city lights, you were so in love with San Francisco, and you were convinced it was in love with you too the way it welcomed you into its economic heart. Out in the distance you could see the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, blinkering and flaunting its lights to the entire city whilst providing guidance to the cars and vehicles passing through. You were in a trance, but there were no complaints coming out of you, just serenity. Too hyper focused on the view you didn’t hear the door open behind you and you certainly did not feel the presence of another body walking towards you.

“Enjoying the view?” Anonymous asks, after the whole fiasco with that grotty man, you were sure to be careful of random people coming up to you but something in you told you not to worry, the city spoke to you, and you listened.

“Very much, I’m so in love.” To your obliviousness, you don’t realise the other body with you is her. Jenna Ortega. The head and heir to the Ortega mafia family.

“Any right-minded person would be jealous of the love you have for the city.”

You giggle, and realise you feel your blood raise to your skin and your heart rhythm picks up a pace but wanting to keep their anonymity and for your own mysterious fun, you don’t turn around.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means any person would be jealous a city is getting your love rather than them.”

“Who says my love is worthy?”

“A beautiful woman like you? I can only imagine a small amount of the love you hold.”

“Beautiful? You don’t know what I look like.”

“Oh, please Ms L/N, you’ve been grabbing my attention all night, everywhere I looked, there you were, the light reflecting your beauty. But then an ugly man stood in your way, so I had to send security to escort him out, well throw him out, as you saw.”

Your heart fastens, you were sure it was going to jump out in a second, oh how badly you want to look, but you can’t. This was too much fun. However, this was the way to grab your attention, definitely not like how that man was doing earlier.

“You know how to charm a lady.”

“I try, might I ask, what do you think about the host.”

You let out a small huff of air, ironically this was your line, but now you’re the one being asked, you were at a standstill.

“Jenna? I don’t know, she’s a hard book to read.”

“And you’re good at reading people?”

“The best, but I don’t know, people are scared of her, the most feared women in America.”

Jenna giggles.

“You’re not scared?”

“Hmm, no, mind over matter always, she can have all these weapons and power, but I don’t know her mind, her true mind, so I have nothing to fear.” There was a slight bluff in that line, of-course you were slightly scared of her, who wouldn’t be? But that fear was surface level, just guns and weapons and power.

Though you couldn’t see who you were talking to, you could feel a smile form on their lips, but more of a proud smirk.

“Do you think she’s hot though?”

Okay, now that, that definitely grounded you to reality, that question hit you like a brick, it was so out of place, so unexpected, curious as ever, you finally turn around to greet the other soul aligning with yours.

Jenna. Fuck, y/n you’re so stupid, should’ve turned around earlier, just stay calm.

“Cats got your tongue? Or were you lying about not being scared?”

Both.

She’s wearing an emerald green suit that hugged her curves and angles, leaving the top few buttons undone, with an undone bow tie around her neck.

“No,” letting it out accompanied by a breath out, “I’m just surprised that you would come up to me.”

“There’s a pretty lady at my party, I want to talk to her, I go talk to her.”

“There are other pretty ladies here, and you can’t see half my face, I can’t say the same for you though, the host of a masquerade doesn’t wear a mask? That’s a Pandora’s box.”

Her eyebrows raise, a slight smirk forms before her mouth forms an O, clearly showcasing her tongue poking the side of her cheek.

“A mask means I have secrets, and I, have no secrets, an open book.”

“That’s ironic” you mumble.

“What’s that?”

“You say you have no secrets, but it’s a mission and a half to get an exclusive with you.”

“Journalist?”

“Rising star journalist.” Her eyes squint at your attempt to boost your ego.

“I could give you an exclusive upstairs.” You may be oblivious but you’re not naïve, you play along though, you were exclusive hungry, but you definitely weren’t going to open your legs for her.

“Lead the way.” She offers her hand, and you accept, now with each other’s arms linked, she leads you to an elevator, only accessible by her and her most trusted companions.

“Holy shit that’s Steph and Ayesha Curry!”

“Oh, hahaha yes, they’re close friends of mine, now do you want the Curry’s or the exclusive?”

“Both?”

“Don’t be greedy.”

“You’re the one whisking me away, so you can have me all to yourself.”

“Maybe, but you were the one who asked for something.”

“Touché.

Though there were two of you, the negative space in the elevator was filled with tension, making sure not to make eye contact with the mafia leader.

“You never answered the question, do you think Jenna is hot?”

You lean in, making sure to work her up in all the right places, even placing your hand on her waist.

“Hmm, nope. Desperate? Maybe. But hot? That’s a different story.”

“You’re playing hard to get.”

“Awe, poor baby, it’s tough not getting everything you want.” You flaunt a comedic pout at her but all she does is rolls her eyes.

As the elevators open, your mouth drops in sync with the slides, her penthouse was breath taking, though it was night time, the city lights lit up the room giving it a dark, twilight feel.

“Wow.”

“It’s okay.” She shakes it off.

“Way to be humble.”

“I am rich, sexy, kind, loving and humble.”

You scoff and roll your eyes, your subconscious taking a hold of you as it drags your physical body in.

Jenna starts pouring two glasses of Dom Pérignon for you two to enjoy. Making you laugh because no one had access to this downstairs, yes, downstairs had top shelf drinks, but not Dom, they didn’t have Dom.

A simultaneous “cheers” escapes your mouths as your glasses clink in unison.

“Before I start rambling on about me, tell me about yourself, I want to know you, the true you.”

“That seems fair, well since you already know my name, let’s skip that.” Jenna winks at you. “I never knew what a home was growing up, I was in foster care my entire childhood and teenage years, in many houses, but never homes only leaving the system because I turned 18, I never knew who my birth parents were, nor do I care, I’ve made it through life without them, made something out of myself, made my own name, and that’s when I learnt I could build a home for myself. And I did, I moved here, landed an amazing job at Bayseyes, and the CEO of the company? She’s my lifeline, my saving grace, she is my home. Oh, and uh, my favourite colour is red, evidently.” You smile, looking down at your dress. Making Jenna smile too as she analyses each body part of yours and skin that shows.

“You are one interesting book Ms. L/N.” Jenna darts her eyes to yours, soul to soul, down at your lips and back to your eyes, you know what she wants, she wants you. But doubts ran your mind asking if you want her.

You gasp and take a step back.

“Do you hate me?”

“What?”

“You have a chance with America’s most lusted woman, and you’re turning me down.”

“Okay first of all, that ego of yours, too big, second of all, who says I want this.”

“Who doesn’t?”

“Watch it.”

“Watch yourself, like you said everyone fears me, don’t forget how powerful I am.” Her tone sounds awry, evidently you pissed her off, but maybe she deserved it.

No words could leave your mouth after that, maybe then you truly knew her mind, her true mind, and that made answering no to her earlier question even easier, no, you didn’t find her hot, you found her revolting. You mouth a wowww, your eyes widening and your lips purse in, and you swear for a slight second you see Jenna vulnerable; you see her weak.  

“I should go, thanks for the drinks though.”

As you turn to leave the elevator doors open, a woman dressed, definitely not for the ball struts in, her scent reeking of desperation.

“Jenna, sugar bear, where have you been. I miss you! What, who’s this slut?”

As if you thought your eyes couldn’t widen anymore, you were wrong. As if Jenna couldn’t get more pissed, you were wrong, the fury in her pupils, your rejection already knocked her off course, she didn’t need a groupie barging in without announcement.

“This slut is about to leave.”

“Good.” Both exclaim.

But before you could turn and leave the doors open again, this time, a very aesthetically pretty lady, 5’5, brunette hair, adorned with layers and tan skin rushes in.

“JENNA, oh my, I’m so sorry, I tried to stop her.”

“No, it’s fine, Viv, she can stay, she, however, was just leaving, please show her the way out.”

She nods and you follow, but before turning your head, you see Jenna land a kiss on the other girl’s cheek, whispering in her ear, you guess it was something along the lines of meeting her in the bedroom, since the pattering legs ran to the bedroom. You don’t care though, it made you sick, that’s all you know.

Before the doors close, Jenna tries one more time, determined not to give up, rejection was something she never knew.

“Leave me with a kiss?”

You let out a slight laugh, almost mocking her, she was everything you were against, how could you open your soul to someone like her.

“No.”

“No?”

“Not when you’re everything I’m against.”

“How so?”

“Well, there’s a glock attached to your lumbar underneath your blazer.”

“Protection.”

You smile.

“Goodbye, Ms. Ortega.”

~~

Viv was there to witness every interaction she could have seen, and wow, she was shocked, she had never seen someone with such fire blow off Jenna like that, she liked you.

“I’m Viv, by the way.” She smiles, offering to shake your hand, you accept.

“Vivian?”

“Vivica!”

“Oh, how pretty, I’m-.”

“Y/N, uh yes, sorry ahah, I know, you’re the talk of the towers.”

“WHAT?”

“Just the staff and guards and the subjects, so uh, maybe the whole Ortega family.”

“Fuck.”

“No, no, we all like you, we find you interesting, we’ve never seen Jenna fiend for someone like that, it was refreshing, but you know, she’s not always like that, the way you saw her, in her penthouse.”

“Forgive me if I find that hard to believe. So, are you like her right-hand man? Woman?”

“Yeah, something like that, I handle mainly the business side, but I could whoop ass if I wanted to, her other right-hand man, the physical, more mafia side is Bruce, he was the guard that threw the guy out, the one who was harassing you.”

“OH! He was sweet, he smiled at me.”

“Lucky you, that means he likes you.”

As you step out the elevators into the main lobby, you can’t help but feel a sense of the unknown, there was lingering fire in you that you couldn’t pinpoint the origin, was it desire? Hatred? Lust? Regret? Hell, maybe even hunger.

“Thank you, Viv.”

“It’s no problem, Y/N, it was very nice to meet you, I hope our paths cross again!”

You hug her and she reciprocates it, just before hopping into your uber to take you home.

~~

As you got home, you had a sense of urgency to write, that electricity was back, you didn’t care about changing or freshening up, the words were flowing out of you and you needed to let it out, you are so sure this is your best work, you want this article published tonight so you type away. You have no control over your fingers, they were doing all the work, you just had to trust them.

… whether it be by her heart, her touch, or her gun, anyone that knows the elusive Ms. Ortega is destined to fall.

~~

Thank you for your support <3 I hope you enjoyed! 🦦

[kimkaelyn]

Serenity - k. bakugou

It has been a couple of hours since the two of you left the sprawling city behind. The surrounding cars that joined you at the beginning of your journey had slowly trickled down to only a hundred, to sixty, to twenty, to five, until yours was the only one occupying the single-lane highway. You and Katsuki are the only humans for miles; your grandfather’s old Toyota the only piece of machinery in an otherwise untouched landscape- minus the road, of course.   

You leisurely watch the landscape go by. The only sounds in the car are the music emitting from the speakers and the soft tap tap of Katsuki’s fingers on the steering wheel in tune with the beat. You think you doze off for a bit, but it’s hard to tell with your surroundings never changing for miles.

It’s quite tranquil, you think. The repetitive beauty of the rolling valley hills and the steep cliffs that protect them ease your soul. Eventually, Katsuki turns onto a dirt driveway. You sit up in your seat and begin to fumble with your fingers until your husband takes your hands into his own. He squeezes them lightly. The car stops a couple of hundred feet before an old farmhouse that is neatly tucked in a small forest clearing. The trees are far enough apart to not feel suffocating and allow some sunlight to shine onto the land. You both get out of the car and come around the hood to stand side by side as you both take in your new home; the place in which the unforgiving world won’t be able to find you. You and Katsuki will build a peaceful life, one in which the Bakugou family will grow without worrying about prying eyes and whether that noise was an intruder or the floorboards creaking due to the air conditioning. There would be no more stress.

This was the start of a new beginning.

Copyright © by kimkaelyn. All rights reserved. No plagiarizing, re-uploading, translating, or copying of any kind or on any platform of my writing. Please notify me ASAP if you see my work posted on other sites.

[sapphyreopal5]

Hello love. Anything new on Jensen?

Hello Anon thank you for the ask. I know that Jensen's been awful quiet about the stuff he's said to be working on with the "if things go as planned, it's gonna be a busy year" comments he's made in recent months. I know I speculated on another post when someone here on Tumblr posted about a photo where Jensen was spotted with Justin Hartley, his wife Sofia and a man named Jason Checcini that he may be on his way to go film The Boys, which reportedly started filming April 8 according to this site (although we all know that filming dates can be pushed back). This post was made April 7, 2024.

However, after seeing another post that posted today April 18, 2024, I do believe that he may not only possibly be filming The Boys season 5 but he may have also landed a role on Justin Hartley's show Tracker. Tracker reportedly films some in the Vancouver area, according to IMBD.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lexi Jensen-DesJardins (@lexi.jendes)

Being who I am, I decided to look up the tour dates for the artist she mentioned seeing in her post where she says she met him in Vancouver. According to Ticketmaster.com, the tour dates for Noah Kahan are as follows:

What cities will Noah Kahan play on his upcoming tour? The We'll All Be Here Forever Tour will take Noah Kahan across North America in the following cities: 03/26 – Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena  03/28 – Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome  03/29 – Edmonton, AB @ Rogers Place  03/30 – Saskatoon, SK @ SaskTel Centre  04/02 – Winnipeg, MB @ Canada Life Centre  04/06 – Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena  04/07 – London, ON @ Budweiser Gardens  04/09 – Ottawa, ON @ Canadian Tire Centre  04/10 – Quebec, QC @ Centre Videotron 04/13 – Montreal, QC @ Centre Bell  04/14 – Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena 04/16 – Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena 05/20 – Asheville, NC @ Harrah’s Cherokee Center  05/22 – Asheville, NC @ Harrah’s Cherokee Center   05/24 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena 05/25 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena   05/28 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH @ Blossom Music Center  05/29 – Burgettstown, PA @ The Pavilion at Star Lake  06/04 – St. Louis, MO @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheater – St. Louis, MO 06/05 – Bonner Springs, KS @ Azura Amphitheater  06/07 – Saint Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center  06/08 – Saint Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center 06/11 – Dallas, TX @ Dos Equis Pavilion  06/13 – Woodlands, TX @ The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman  06/14 – Austin, TX @ Moody Center  06/18 – Chula Vista, CA @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre  06/21 – Hollywood, CA @ Hollywood Bowl  06/29 – George, WA @  Gorge Amphitheatre 07/01 – Ridgefield, WA @ RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater  07/03 – Wheatland, CA @ Toyota Amphitheatre  07/05 – Berkeley, CA @ Greek Theatre - UC Berkeley  07/06 – Berkeley, CA @ Greek Theatre – UC Berkeley   07/09 – West Valley City, UT @ USANA Amphitheatre  07/13 – East Troy, WI @ Alpine Valley Music Theatre  07/15 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden 07/16 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden  07/18 – Boston, MA @ Fenway Park 07/19 – Boston, MA @ Fenway Park

As you can see, the Vancouver concert took place on Tuesday March 26, 2024. The photo post with Justin Hartley, his wife and Jason was posted on Sunday April 7, 2024. Remember, this is just me speculating at this point along with everyone else but I do think it's possible Jensen has gotten a couple roles or is at the very least spending some time in Canada "networking". That's really all I have for you at the moment Anon but I hope this is at least somewhat useful or some interest to you otherwise.

[beechersnope]

short preview of a thing that's in itself a small part of a longer thing

***

They'd decided to do fully matching costumes this year instead of contrasting costumes with a similar theme. Lando had splurged on them, hiring someone on Etsy to handmake shimmering metallic bodysuits with glow-in-the-dark circuitry and fully functional LED buttons that littered the colored panels of both the front and back of the suit, along the breastplate and hips, down each arm, and along the length of the spine. The only difference between the two is the color: Lando’s bodysuit is a pearlescent fuchsia while Oscar’s is a shimmering teal.

The silvery face paint and white iris contact lenses pushes it over the top—in Oscar’s opinion, Lando has gone so far that even with the skintight bodysuits, they are firmly in the realm of scary versus sexy.

“I don’t think you’re going to get laid this year,” Oscar tells Lando honestly, turning to find a matching cyborg face staring back at her.

“There’s a zipper in the crotch,” Lando counters, the implication going miles over her head. “Easy access. I planned ahead.”

Oscar just turns back to Lando’s vanity and lets out a soft sigh.

The party is in full swing by the time they arrive at Daniel’s mountainside—well, Oscar still doesn’t like calling it a mansion, but calling it a McMansion seems worse, even if that’s exactly what it is. Regardless, they have to park halfway down the narrow street at the very end of a line of cars that spills out of Daniel’s already outrageously expansive driveway.

Oscar eyes Lando’s beat-up Toyota with a dubious frown, slightly worried that the parking brake won’t hold its own against a seven-percent incline.

Lando doesn’t seem similarly concerned, locking the doors with a carefree whistle and then tossing her keys as well as both their cellphones into her purse. Their bodysuits might have crotch access, but they sure as hell don’t have pockets.

By the time they ascend the foothill Daniel’s house sits atop, where it overlooks the tiny city in the valley below, Oscar is somehow sweating from exertion and yet freezing all at the same time.

The front door is wide open, and inside, the soft orange overhead lights that Oscar remembers from her previous visits have all been switched out with black light bulbs instead. The décor is different, too. It looks like Daniel plundered an entire warehouse full of Halloween kitsch to achieve the effect he’s gone for, which seems to be turning his entire house into a walk-through haunted house experience.

Oscar follows Lando closely as they move from the foyer—which has ghoulish portraits that shift between scenes, reminiscent of the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland—into the living room—which is now a museum of cryptid taxidermy, around which partygoers converse with glowing concoctions in their hands, though Oscar spies more than one couple with their hands down each other’s pants as she and Lando traverse the room.

They finally find Daniel in the kitchen: presently, a mad scientist’s laboratory, complete with bubbling potions and blinking machinery lining the walls. And of course, Daniel, as the host and de facto bartender, is dressed as none other than the mad scientist himself.

He looks elated when he glances up to find Lando and Oscar standing in front of him at the island in the middle of the room after waiting for the half-dozen people in front of them to be served first.

“Can I get you ladies something to drink?” he asks with a broad grin. “I don’t mean to brag, but I make a mean mojito.”

Oscar’s heart jumps a beat. It’s impossible to tell from Daniel’s expression or tone whether he meant to use the phrase they agreed upon previously, but just in case he had— “Yes,” Oscar says emphatically as she scoots a bit closer to the bar. “I’d love something to drink.” She’s aware of Lando giving her a strange look, but Oscar ignores it, focused entirely on the brief flash of recognition that crosses Daniel’s face. Even if he hadn’t intended to ask her permission, he now knows he has it.

[1loser-going-2-hell]

Richard Ramirez

Born February 29, 1960, Died June 7, 2013 (Age 53)

Richard Ramirez was an American serial killer who was active during the mid 1980s, who was mainly known as the Night Stalker, but was also known as the Valley Intruder and the Walk-In Killer. Ramirez killed at least 14 people and committed 21 assaults, most of which took place during home invasions in the Los Angeles area, which caused a panic that caused gun sales to go up.

CHILDHOOD

Richard Ramirez was born in El Paso, Texas, on February 29, 1960 and was the youngest of 5 siblings. His parents, Mercedes and Julian Ramirez, were Mexican immigrants, and his siblings all had birth defects due to the fact that his mother worked in a boot factory that exposed her to harmful chemicals while pregnant with them. Richard's father, a former policeman in Mexico, was prone to having violent fits of anger that caused him to be physically abusive to his family. When Richard was 2, a dresser fell on his head, which caused a large laceration, a swing hit his head when he was 5, which caused him to have epileptic fits, and according to Biography.com he also suffered multiple other head injuries when he was young. He was also diagnosed with epilepsy after he had seizures in class.

When Richard was 12, he became close to his older cousin, Miguel, who also went by "Mike." He used to be in the military, and fought in the Vietnam War. Miguel told Richard about the torture he had inflicted onto multiple Vietnam women, and shared some polaroid photos with Richard that showed Miguel posing with the decapitated head of a woman. Mike also taught Richard things that Mike had learned in the military, like how to fight.

One quote from Richard Ramirez's biographer when he spoke to A&E network states: "When his cousin showed him those photographs, Ramirez became sexually aroused. And it was right around the age of 13." Also when Richard was 13, he witnessed his cousin, Miguel, shoot his wife, Jessie, fatally in the face with a revolver. Miguel was found not guilty by reason of insanity and was released after four years of incarceration at the Texas State Mental Hospital. After he was released, he and Ramirez continued contact with each other. When Richard was 15, he got a job at the Holiday Inn, and was given the master key to all the rooms. He would watch people in their rooms until they were sleeping, then broke into their rooms to steal their valuables. One night while Richard was doing this, he wanted to rape a woman. He hid in the closet of the woman while she was in the bathroom, then tried to rape her. Her husband caught him, and successfully fought him off. Ramirez was arrested, but the charges were dropped.

EARLY ADULTHOOD When Richard was 18, he moved to Los Angeles, California, where he was homeless and living on the streets. He also became an alcoholic and a cocaine addict. He befriended many friends that were similar to himself, and they all started living at the bus station. Richard spent the last of the little money he had on a master set of keys to Toyota and Honda cars, and every night he would steal a car and drive around Los Angeles to find a house to burglarize. One night, a woman asked Richard to buy her PCP, but later at her apartment she turned down Richard's advances, and then he raped her. Within two years of repeating this process every night, he began committing more severe crimes. He started raping women and robbing them when he was through. By the time he was 23, he had lost contact with his family.

VICTIMS Victim #1 - Mei Leung

Mei Leung's story has been embellished in multiple news articles for publicity and shock value, which is rather disgusting because she was only 9 years old when she was raped, stabbed, and strangled by Richard Ramirez. According to the most recent news stories of Mei's murder, Mei was walking back home from a friend's house with her younger brother, and while they were walking up the stairs in their apartment building, Mei dropped a dollar bill down the stairwell and into the basement. She went down to go get it but she never came back. Eventually, her brother came back to look for her but instead he found her hanging from a spigot.

A police officer on the case, who was interviewed on the New York Post stated:

“If you can picture Christ on the cross, that’s the way she looked. Her head was drooped and her chin down. It was a sad sight to see. She kind of got to me.”

The case was not tied to Richard Ramirez until 2009.

Victim #2 - Jennie Vincow (age 79)

Jennie's body was found by her son, Jack Vincow, in their shared apartment. Her body was found with a slashed throat and multiple stab wounds. She was killed on June 27, 1984.

Victim #3 - Dale Okazasi (age 34) Richard Ramirez murdered Dale Okazasi on March 17, 1985, by shooting her in her own home. During this attack, Ramirez also murdered Maria Hernandez, who was 20, but she survived.

Victim #4 - Tsai-Lian “Veronica” Yu (age 30)

On the same day (March 17, 1985) of the murder of Dale Okazasi, Ramirez dragged Veronica from her car and killed her.

Victim #5 - Vincent Zazzara (age 64)

Ramirez broke into Vincent's home and killed him while Vincent was asleep.

Victim #6 - Maxine Zazzara (age 44)

Maxine was killed during the same attack of her husband, Vincent Zazzara, on March 27, 1985.

Victim #7 - Willaim Doi (age 65)

Ramirez fatally shot William Doy when he broke into his house in Monterey Park on the 14th of May, 1985.

Victim #8 - Mable "Ma" Bell (age 84)

Mable Bell was killed after Ramirez attacked her at her home in Monrovia, California, on June 29, 1985.

Victim #9 - Mary Louise Cannon (age 77)

Mary was killed at her home in Arcadia, California, on July 2, 1985.

Victim #10 - Joyce Lucille Nelson (age 61)

Ramirez beat Joyce to death, and also burglarized her home in Monterey Park on July 7, 1985.

Victim #11 - Max Kneiding (age 68)

Max was killed by Ramirez, and was attacked with a machete as well as shot on July 20, 1985.

Victim #12 - Lela Kneiding (age 66)

Lela Kneiding, the wife of Max Kneiding, was also killed on the same day after Ramirez broke into the home the couple lived in, in Glendale, California. He also robbed their home.

Victim #13 - Chainarong Khovananth (age 32)

On July 20, Ramirez was shot and killed while he was sleeping in his some in Sun Valley.

Victim #14 - Elyas Abowath (age 31)

Elyas was shot and killed on August 8, 1985, in Diamond Bar, California. He was killed during the burglary of his family home.

It is now known that Richard's crime were all acted out in a similar way. He would steal a car, drive around Los Angeles for multiple hours at a time, then find a house that was dark. Then, he would park his car and look around for a way in the house. While Richard was doing this, the people within the house were always asleep. Richard would then look into all the bedroom windows and figure out who was home, and then he would shoot all the men in the house directly in the temple so that they were killed instantly. However, this action would cause a loud noise which woke up the women in the house. Once the women were awake, Richard would tie them up with whatever was available while he went to go get the children out of bed. Richard would torture and rape the women in front of the children before he killed the women, and then he would let them beg for their lives and then rob them.

RAMIREZ'S BELIEFS IN SATANISM

When Ramirez was around 18, he started reading books by Anton Lavey, the founder of the Church of Satan. Then, he stole a car to attend one of Lavey's Satanic ceremonies. After this, he called his mother to say he'd been 'touched by Satan.' He believed that his Satanic impulses were in line with what Satan would have wanted. Later on, he would also carve inverted pentagrams on his victims' palms and even yelled "Hail Satan" in the middle of court.

SOURCES Note: please let me know if I got anything wrong! And if I did get information wrong, I am sorry. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xghc6gxWvi0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAnyT4JsnKs

[meluisart]

Title: Kiss Me Better Fandom: Last Tango in Halifax, Collateral (2018), Happy Valley Ships: Gillian Greenwood/Caroline Mckenzie-Dawson, Catherine Cawood/Jane Oliver Rating: Teen and up Wordcount: 4088

Prompt: Stitches TWs: Past Domestic Abuse, Graphic Injury description

Summary: Jane's old rickety Toyota has finally breathed it's last, and unwilling to part with it she's requested Gillian's services. Unfortunately, nothing goes as planned and nothing is ever straight forward. What are friends for, if not to help you?

Read here on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/55011199

[juneboba]

Hey, everyone! My close friend, Colin Truong (@ihungers), is missing as of yesterday around 3pm.

Known facts:

- He was last seen yesterday at 2:50pm getting into his Grey Toyota Camry. He works as an Uber/Lyft driver and services the LA to Inland Empire areas.

- His location is not currently on so his family and friends are unable to track him.

- We have called all over LA, OC, and IE county hospitals and jails to see if there have been any reports or admissions. None as of now.

- We are using every method we can to get in touch such as Facebook, Discord, and other social media to gather more information.

- A missing persons report has been filed.

- His last known location was in Hacienda Heights and he frequents San Gabriel Valley, LA, and OC!

If you have any info, please reach out to the number in the post. Please reblog and share with friends, family, and your communities!

If you're on Instagram, please share his sister's post (click here) and if you're on Facebook, please share this post (click here). Thank you.

[mortifiedandawesome]

I walk in, crack of dawn. I call her darling, I call her bird, I call her Stacy, I call her hell!

and that's why we're the top Toyota sales team in the southern valley five years running

[diaryofaproudblackie]

Here is a renovation of the House Plan B home in Sunset Valley. I originally remade this house for my 2 male sims, but you can recolor everything to make it for your female sims. :) 

EPS USED: Ambitions, Generations, Late Night, University, Showtime, Seasons 

SPS USED: None

I did use a bit of cc, so here are the links to the items and if you will like everything to be included... 

CARS: 

1997 Toyota Camry: https://www.freshprincecreations.com/97camry 

2003 Lexus IS 300: https://www.freshprincecreations.com/2003lexusis300ts3 

KITCHEN/DINING ROOM: 

CABINETS/COUNTERS: Martassimsbook- Modern Victorian Kitchen Set: https://martassimsbookcc.wixsite.com/website/post/the-sims-4-vampires-modern-victorian-kitchen 

DINING CHAIRS: Martassimsbook- The Sims 4 Get To Work - Crystalline Bottom Holster: https://martassimsbookcc.wixsite.com/website/post/the-sims-4-get-to-work-crystalline-bottom-holster 

DINING RUG: Artvitalex Yankton Rug https://www.thesimsresource.com/downloads/details/category/sims3-objects-furnishing-decor-rugs/title/yankton-rug/id/1643203/ 

LIVING ROOM: 

GAMING CONSOLE: Twinsimming GoldiBox Gaming Console Conversion: https://twinsimming.tumblr.com/post/702968283302887424/the-sims-4-high-school-years-added-a-bunch-of 

SPEAKER: Twinsimming Groove Tube Wireless Speaker Conversion: ^under the same set.

HEDGEHOG PLANT: Martassimsbook- Novvvas Bathroom Set: https://martassimsbookcc.wixsite.com/website/post/novvvas-lycka-bathroom 

LIVING ROOM WALLPAPER: Bioniczombie Quiet Morning Wall Conversion: https://bioniczombie.tumblr.com/post/619401064189394944/these-are-some-of-my-favorite-walls-and-since-i

BATHROOM: 

MIRROR: Martassimsbook- Novvvas Bathroom Set 

TOOTHBRUSH CUP: Martassimsbook- Novvvas Bathroom Set 

GREEN BEDROOM: 

SHELF: Wooden Desk Shelf by johziii: https://johziii.tumblr.com/post/705293086455201792/wooden-desk-shelf-hey-guyss-happy-new-year-im 

CARE PRODUCTS: Martassimsbook- Novvvas Bathroom Set 

DRESSER: Twinsimming Drawers For My Drawers Conversion: https://twinsimming.tumblr.com/post/695336253357473792/contemporary-teen-bedroom-set-hi-everyone-ive 

DESK: Twinsimming Simple Yet Stylish Wooden Desk Conversion: ^ under the same set. 

RED BEDROOM: 

BED FRAME: Twinsimming Slightly Sneaky Storage Double Bed Frame: ^under the same set.

BED MATTRESS: Twinsimming Slightly Sneaky Storage Double Mattress:  ^under the same set. 

POSTERS: Carcass Band Posters: https://modthesims.info/d/674651/carcass-band-posters.html

PLANT: Onyxium Madison Small Plant: https://www.thesimsresource.com/downloads/details/category/sims3-objects-furnishing-decor-plants/title/madison-small-plant/id/1634815/ 

SPEAKER: Twinsimming Groove Tube Wireless Speaker Conversion 

DESK: ? 

DOWNLOAD: https://www.mediafire.com/file/yoetccdicu269q8/House_Plan_B_Revamp.package/file 

[charlesandmartine]

Wednesday 28th June 2023

Three surprises: firstly the Australian Pinot Grigio was ok, secondly an error message came up on the Toyota telling us we have a slow puncture, possibly, and thirdly it was 34 degrees today! In Canada!

Naramata was founded in 1907 by a highly successful Irish born soft fruit farmer, John Moore Robinson. He was offering acreage to people interested in fruit ranching. The new town was to be built for people of good character, no riff raff. And that is by all accounts pretty much the way it still is today. It is the thinking man's Penticton; large town down the road.

About the same time as all this, the Kettle Valley Railway was being constructed linking Naramata to Hope where we came from yesterday. The name of the town has a interesting story behind it. Our John Moore Robinson had a bit of an interest in spiritualism and the wife of the local postmaster, Mrs Anna Gillespie, was a prominent medium. In a seance she channelled the voice of the Sioux Indian Chief Big Moose. The Chief spoke of his dear wife 'Narramattah', calling her the 'Smile of Manitou '. Robinson was moved by all this and the name stuck. Naramata, not Big Moose. Interesting thing was that Mrs Gillespie was caught up in the San Francisco earthquake, so she clearly didn't see that one coming!

Well enough of all that. Naramata is a cumly little town and anyone with a few bob would find it highly agreeable. We just needed a few things to do in the short time we are here. The local museum equipped us with a little map and a few ideas. We rejoined therefore the Kettle Valley Railway trail just up the road and walked 7 km along it as far as the tunnels and then 7km back. A British engineer, Andrew McCulloch, apparently designed it in 1910 but the really impressive part of it is that a) it was built at all and b) the skill and sheer hard graft involved in building it. Men came from Italy, Scandinavia and central Europe and it is said it took black powder and muscle to build it. Today it is a fantastic recreational facility so high up above the Lake Okanagan with such great views across it. We were regularly overtaken by cyclists buzzing along the wide gravel avenue of Apache Pines. It felt very Mediterranean as the sun beat down and we were engulfed by the strong perfume of the pine forest which hung heavily on the breeze and all in peace and total silence save for the scrunch our feet made on the gravel path. Unlike the Mediterranean, there were no Cicadas chirping in the undergrowth.

High scores for bird watching. Red Tailed Hawk, Pileated Woodpecker, Barn Swallows and a female Hummingbird!

Bryson, who always has high praise and a passion for Great Britain says that we might be a very small, over populated country but we all too often underate what we have. He says that we might not have the highest mountains, the largest lakes, the longest rivers, but what we have is an awful lot of fantastic stuff packed into a very small space. What we have witnessed here is a sort of Great Britain on steroids. Huge mountains, massive lakes and vast rivers. What we have seen so far is totally mind boggling and we can't wait to see even more.

ps. We went to get some more of the Australian Pinot Grigio from the local very expensive store and they've run out, completely!!!! So now we are down to cheap Australian Riesling!!! Not sure how Martine will cope with that!

We will have better economic choice when we can get to a saver supermarket.

pps No bears on the trail, but apparently we have something else to worry about now. Rattlesnakes have been spotted! I don't know about anyone else, but sucking venom from a third party backside would truly make it a memorable holiday.

[melody-everbelle]

Fanfiction Masterlist

I’ve decided to compile a list of all the fanfics I’ve posted on here. This list will be updated as soon as new fanfics are posted.

Nathan Chen X Reader

Watch You Skate -  As Nathan is skating through the ice in Sun Valley, he can’t help but admire you from the crowd.

Skating With You -  Y/N learns how to ice skate with Nathan Chen for the first time.

On Sunday Morning -  Nathan wakes up to find a Sunday morning routine that Y/N does.

Under the Weather -  When Y/N is sick, Nathan steps in to take care of her/him/them.

Hope You’re OK -  Nathan comforts you when he finds you crying.

Pretty in Pink -  You and Nathan go on your first date… in pink.

Just Keep Breathin -  Nathan does his best to calm you down from a panic attack.

Imagine Nathan noticing you singing

Nightmare -  Nathan comforts you after you wake up from a nightmare that he and Mariah Bell are together.

Songwriting -  You and Nathan write a song together.

Under the Mistletoe -  You and Nathan spend your first Christmas since getting together.

Santa Tell Me -  All you ever want for Christmas is someone to love you all year long... and you know just the right person for it.

Blue Christmas -  Despite Christmas being the happiest time of the year, you and Nathan spend the day missing each other.

Cheer Up! -  Nathan figures out how to cheer you up when you’re depressed from an exhausting day.

Lucky in Lingerie -  Y/N gives Nathan a very sexy surprise 😉

Smut Alphabet (April Fool’s)

It’s Showtime -  Nathan hosts SNL while you're the musical guest for the first time.

Sally’s Song -  Considering Nathan’s future after skating, Y/N is left with uncertainty.

We’re Simply Meant To Be -  Before Nathan goes back to college, he decides to give Y/N a surprise.

Michael In The Bathroom -  When Y/N discovers that Nathan is acting flirty towards Mariah, they go to the bathroom whilst suffering from a panic attack.

Pulled (In A New Direction) -  You've been a goth all your life. One day, however, a certain Olympic figure skater changes your life forever.

The Tennessee Tango -  During the 7th Annual Scott Hamilton and Friends, Nathan and Y/N get buzzed and things get out of hand.

Coming Clean -  When Nathan finds out about the fanfictions you've written about him, you have no choice but to come clean to him.

Nathan Chen X OC

Toyota Sports Festival -  Elizabeth Simmons has dreams of meeting Nathan Chen in person... One day, her dream finally comes true.

R.E.M. -  After the Toyota Sports Festival, Elizabeth has a dream.

Stan Laurel (Laurel and Hardy) X Reader

For the First Time -  Y/N meets Stan for the first time, and sparks begin to fly.

In Lugh -  When Stan begins notice your romantic feelings, he explains these feelings to you.

The Morning After -  An irritable Ollie causes you and Stan to remember what happened last night.

Ticklish -  What was supposed to be a make-out session between you and Stan turns into an all-out tickle fight.

Wally Darling (Welcome Home) X Reader

Sweetener -  Wally comforts you when you have a bad day

I Won’t Say I’m In Love -  You try to convince yourself that falling in love with Wally is a bad idea. However, your neighbors think the opposite. 😉

I Won’t Say I’m In Love (Part 2) -  After the events from last night, you tell Wally about how you feel.

Imagine Wally comforting you after a breakup

Pee-wee Herman X Reader

If I Let You Go -  When Pee-wee confesses his feelings for you, you struggle to reciprocate them.

Enchanted (Taylor’s Version) -  At the night of a party in Puppetland, you tell Pee-wee how you feel.

Bailando -  During tonight’s ball, your friendship with Pee-wee becomes more than that after an encounter with his enemy.

Sing Me To Sleep -  When you’re struggling to fall asleep, Pee-wee steps in to help.

Crossover Fanfics

Pee-wee Meets Hoops and Yoyo -  Hoops and Yoyo spend a day at Pee-wee’s playhouse.

[baohouse]

Personal framework for running a global engineering team

Five months in being Director of Engineering for a fintech startup, overseeing a small team that spans south Asia and North America, I'm building a global engineering culture that produces a high-quality technology product. Greatest challenge I've ever faced. What is helping me?

1. Being a systems thinker.

As a child my uncle would go to a used computer store, Weird Stuff, in Silicon Valley and bring home junk. I would take apart and rebuild computers. At the same time, on weekends, I would help mom look after our garden filled with abundant fruit trees.

Looking after a garden helped me practice managing micro-ecologies. I played a lot of video games growing up, notably SimCity, Civilization, and SimEarth. It was fun to explore different ways of managing complex systems (cities, nations, planet).

2. Understanding culture via ethnic studies.

I became interested in understanding my Vietnamese heritage while entering college. I became involved in Vietnamese student organizing at the school, regional, and continental level, especially organizing conferences.

I took a course in Native American Studies and Asian American Studies to help compare. What was important was to have a statistical and anecdotal view of culture. Traits can manifest by many, or by few who still see themselves part of the group.

Also important was tweaking or implementing new cultural practices. A big focus during my time as a student organizer—credit which goes to my peers—was building social cohesion among people in different geographies via group activities, e.g. scavenger hunt, trò chơi lớn.

Sometimes it failed. Other times it succeeded. Either way, a lesson learned: utilize one's upbringing, or design a way to introduce people into a new practice. Which segues into...

3. Practice marketing and product development.

I practiced asking/answering: What do people do? Is there something (a product) that exists to fulfill their needs? How can it be improved? I practiced via student community organizing, and continued having joined many tech startups.

At every startup company, we created a tech product (I developed my software engineering skills), and had to test and validate its viability. And in the context of a startup, I learned product development processes such as Agile methodology.

Culture is a product too, e.g. instituting a mentorship program, or Vietnamese New Year festival. They're not software, but it benefits from asking the same questions. Can't just do things just cuz it's always been done that way. Why do it? Otherwise people flock to alternatives.

4. Study leadership.

One way to approach it is learning the levels of leadership. The first person you lead is yourself. And then you learn to lead peers/groups, then organizations, then communities, societies, etc.

For each level one had to learn different skills. Level 1 (self) you learn self-awareness and self-love. Level 2 (peers) you learn empathy, chit chat, paired activities (hanging out; dates). Level 3 (group) you learn things like conflict resolution mediation.

Learning and practice never ends. Just because I practiced how to do it with peers my age, as time goes on, you just end up practicing with people of different backgrounds: age, origin, beliefs, life circumstances, disabilities, etc.

5. Learning and applying industrialization.

So it's one thing to learn how to create products. It's another matter to make it accessible at scale. I'll watch videos on how things are built such as how Coca-Cola Company makes soda. Or how McDonald's churn out burgers quickly.

It helps to be a systems thinker, to really identify where things get slow. When I played SimCity, I loved identifying and clearing out traffic bottlenecks. It also helps to understand lifecycles (thanks high school biology), because a lot of problems come down to timing issues.

Now... I don't have a formal training in industrial processes like Six Sigma or Toyota Production System. But it's definitely something I'm interested in. Why? Because I like to model after good practices that already exist. Which segues into...

6. Leverage partnerships and external inspirations.

An important lesson I learned while organizing in the Vietnamese nonprofit community is: if you can't do it yourself, partner with someone who can. Build their work into your flow. Or model their process.

I worked with nonprofits, so I only had shoestring budgets or volunteer hours to work with. My mentees created youth development programs by inviting staff of other nonprofits to participate. DIY is cool, but if it's not an option, collaborate.

Or if limited resources, introduce an abbreviated form. Set a goal for each team member to learn and apply one new thing each month to steer the team towards a framework. Sometimes it's about introducing terminology, because words shape our reality and the way we do things.

Sorry this is so long; really this is a brain dump. I need it because I needed to create my own personal framework for how I am running the engineering team.