#Wish we had more Mexicans in my city it's so lonely out here :(

[royalarchivist]

Quackity: Check this out -- this one says “For John Smith”. John Smith: I’m in love, bro.

[thewaynemanner]

Wholesome BatFamily Fic Rec’s

Hey All, so here is my BatFam Rec List you all have been asking for! Lol jk no one has asked for this, but I made it anyways! So here are my All-Time Favorite BatFamily Fic Recs, for the most part these Recs are all rated either “G” for General Audiences or “T” for Teen and Up Audiences. So basically, all these fics focus on family dynamics and relationships rather than slash or anything like that. These are all truly amazing fics so give your Kudos and love to the authors! And remember to always read the tags before you read the fic!

And So This is Christmas by DragOnstOrm

Summary: It's not that Alfred isn't happy with his job. It's just that sometimes he really wishes that he had known what he was getting into when he signed up for it.

Rating: General Audiences

Word Count: 1,901

My Comments: Folks, stories don’t get much more wholesome than this fic. After reading this fic I was left warm and happy. Also, it stars my boy, Alfie, which is usually extremely rare for fics. Loved that we got to see Alfred’s perspective in this! Great fic!

Bedside Manner by @fishfingersandjellybabies

Summary: Sometimes Bruce forgot just how great his kid was.

Rating: General Audiences

Word Count: 2,985

My Comments: Anything @fishfingersandjellybabies writes is truly fantastic, but I particularly loved this one since it delved into the sweeter side of Bruce and Damian’s relationship that we don’t get to see often (especially in cannon). I love me a good hurt/comfort fic 😉

 Bet on it by @lysical

Summary: Even Damian could admit that his older siblings occasionally had their uses.

"I need your assistance," Damian said, voice low and tense.

"No," Jason replied, and hung up.

Rating: Teen and Up Audiences

Word Count: 2,495

My Comments: Lysical writes some of the best BatBrother Fics out there, folks. So if you want some wholesome and hilarious Bat sibling bonding, then look no further! Bet on it, is one of my personal favorites of Lysical’s. Great writing and great characterization!

Blood in the Water by MishaBerry

Summary: We all do stupid things when we are lonely, and in faraway lands, we hardly expect the consequences to follow us. Bruce certainly never thought twice about an American woman in Jaipur after one night with her. He hardly expected to see her ever again.

The universe, on the other hand, had different ideas, and the tides of time and chance brought Tim Drake to Bruce's life over and over again.

Rating: Teen and Up Audiences

Word Count: 181,939

My Comments: FANTASTIC AU! One of my favorite Tim Drake centric fics, but still has plenty of the rest of the BatFamily. I also love that we get to see Tim as his sweet six-year self. This story has it all, great characterizations, good plot, angst, fluff, and BatFamily bonding 😊

Cracked Foundation by @cdelphiki

Summary: The last thing Damian expected to happen when he ran away from home was to spend a day crammed into a small space with Jason Todd. His father's second son was a black sheep. An outcast. An angry, insanity driven criminal who enjoyed screwing with the batfamily in every way he could. At least, that's what Damian thought. Maybe he was wrong about Todd.

Rating: Teen and Up Audiences

Word Count: 20,902

My Comments: This is a brilliant fic that examines the relationship between Damian and Jason. I absolutely loved this fic and never wanted it to end. I truly wish there were more Jason and Damian Fics out there, I think it’s a character duo that isn’t explored nearly enough. If you love Damian and Jason brother bonding fics, you’ll love this one and if you’ve never read a bonding fic between these two brothers, you may just find a new love!

Five Times Jason Todd Saved His Brothers, and One Time They Saved Him by laceymcbain, reena_jenkins

Summary: “Did you know I was in here, or did you just blow up the place for fun?”

Damian didn't need to see Todd's face to know he was grinning under the helmet.

“It's not really a rescue unless something blows up. But if Bats asks, it was completely necessary."

Rating: Teen and Up Audiences

Word Count: 6,923

My Comments: This fic is BatFamily feels to the extreme. Jason Todd deserves love and this fic gives it to him. LOVED IT <3 <3 <3

Fly By Night by @lysical

Summary: Damian is thirteen. Sometimes he even acts like it.

"This is an injustice," were the last words Damian had spoken to his father all day.

Rating: Teen and Up Audiences

Word Count: 2,889

My Comments: Another great Fic by @Lysical! This is just a plain ol’ fun Fic, y’all. Great Bat Brother love in this one and it also features my sweet summer child- Jonathan Samuel Kent. Trust me you will love this Fic, it is hilarious and all around good stuff 😊

A Good Place by @lemonadegarden

Summary: Damian Wayne is kidnapped and sent back years through time. Together, he and Father – who's only been Batman for a mere six months –must figure out how to return him to his own time.

Over the course of the next week, Damian discovers that Mexican gangsters do not mess around, that social workers find Bruce annoying, that Bruce might be a little messed up, and that crystal chandeliers create the fondest memories.

Oh. And Alfred has hair.

Rating: Teen and Up Audiences

Word Count: 36,903

My Comments: LemonadeGarden is one of my All-Time favorite authors, so anything written by them is brilliant. But A Good Place will always be a favorite of  mine, it is by far my favorite Damian & Bruce centric Fic out there and is something I have read over and over again. I love getting to see a younger Bruce interact with Damian and in turn, Damian interact with him. It’s overall great and has a fantastic plot!

Let There Be a Bruise by @audreycritter

Summary: Damian is a child who should not have the scars he does; Bruce is a father who has plenty of his own scars, but still wishes he could take his son’s, too.

The silver lining is where they find each other— a broken son and a broken father, putting each other back together.

Rating: Teen and Up Audiences

Word Count: 3,656

My Comments: Audreycritter is the master of Damián & Bruce Hurt/Comfort fics. I honestly would recommend all of Audrey’s fics, so check them all out! But this one will always be a favorite 😊

 Life Happens by @cdelphiki

Summary: While walking home from an event at Wayne Enterprises, Tim and Damian are kidnapped and sent to an alternate dimension. In a world where superheroes are merely comic book characters and the idea of the multiverse is only a theory found within the pages of science fiction, how are Tim and Damian going to return home? How long will they be stranded on this strange Earth? And will the boys murder each other before they figure it out?

Rating: General Audiences

Word Count: 176,966

My Comments: Hoo-boy, folks. I don’t even know where to start with this Fic. I honestly get teary-eyed thinking about how beautiful it is and how much I loved this one. My favorite Tim Drake and Damian Wayne brotherly bonding Fic EVER. I would almost describe this Fic as a love letter to the characters Tim and Damian, in the sense that the author captures their characterizations beautifully and tells one of the best stories of growth and familial love I have ever read. It’s fluffy, angsty, humorous, and full of BatFamily feels. And don’t worry, there is plenty of Dick, Jason, and Bruce as well (If not a little later in the story). I would run to this Fic, if I were you.

 Life, if Well Lived by CaptainOzone

Summary: Jason wakes up from a time-travel mishap to find Thomas and Martha Wayne hovering over him.

Just another day in the life, right?

...Not quite.

Rating: Teen and Up Audiences

Word Count: 10,758

My Comments: A Fic that destroyed me in the BEST way possible. Tears, so many tears were shed during this fic. The best Hurt/Comfort fic I have ever read. Extremely unique in the sense that Martha and Thomas Wayne are two of the main characters and boy did I love it! I can not stress how AMAZING this Fic is. I never knew I needed this fic in my life until I read it. I wish I could re-read it for the first time all over again. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!

My Brother’s Keeper by Forever_A_Thief

Summary: The boy had two options, two roads stretching out before him: stay with Mother, and become the greatest assassin ever known to man, or go to Father, and become a masked vigilante fighting for justice in a city drenched in darkness. Damian looked at these two roads, these two lives he could lead, and decided on a third path for himself instead. He chose his own road.

Jason never let himself think about the kid he had left behind at the desert compound all those years ago. When Talia never got in touch with him after his return to Gotham, Jason had assumed he had just been forgotten like he had been in Gotham. But then that kid, his little brother, showed up one night and Jason couldn’t just continue to push him to the back of his mind. Not anymore.

Rating: Teen and Up Audiences

Word Count: 43,907

My Comments: Did I mention I love Jason & Damian fics? Well I do and this one is beyond FANTASTIC. Overall great Bat-Bros fic that I would recommend over and over again.  This fic is Damian and Jason centric but it does involve the rest of the Bat Family too. I love seeing all the brother’s bonding in this fic and the overall family feels 😊

 Of Owls and Assassins by Cirth

Summary: "Dick," Bruce says, not entirely sure how to react, "who is that?"

Dick blinks at him from his place on the workout mat. There's a broken plate with mac and cheese strewn all over next to him, as well as what seems to be Bruce's old G.I. Joe action figure from the attic. It looks like a child's imagining of a murder scene. "My owlet," Dick states.

Rating: General Audiences

Word Count: 853

My Comments: The adorableness of this Fic is off the charts. I love AU’s where Dick is a Talon, but this one will always hold a very special place in my heart since Dick is just so pure in it. Forever a favorite <3

Party Games by @lemonadegarden

Summary: I can't believe you got into a bar fight at two in the morning. And now you're all in prison. The night before your wedding. What the fuck kind of a family am I marrying into?” Selina said.

Bruce Wayne goes to a series of bachelor parties, each one worse than the last. Set in the same timeline as We, So Much Older, but can be read as a standalone fic as well.

Rating: Teen and Up Audiences

Word Count: 12,659

My Comments: Okay, so technically this is a Selina Kyle/Bruce Wayne Fic and even though the plot premise revolves around their upcoming wedding, I wouldn’t really consider this a “slash” fic. There is definitely more BatFamily vibes with this fic. It’s hilarious, fun, and oh so wholesome! I love this fic beyond measure and even if you aren’t a fan of the BatCat ship, I highly suggest you give it a shot for the amazing BatFam moments.

Second Chance by @cdelphiki

Summary: When Talia al Ghul watched her toddling son start his training, his awful, grueling training, she had an epiphany:

The League of Assassins was no place for children.

(Or: Talia realizes training literal babies is abuse and gets him out of there.)

Rating: Teen and Up Audiences

Word Count: 6,461

My Comments: This is the Talia al Ghul we deserve! This is the Talia al Ghul, Bruce Wayne deserves! THIS IS THE TALIA AL GHUL, DAMIAN WAYBE DESERVES! Loved this fic, great Talia al Ghul characterization. It’s the Talia that could have ben before DC slaughtered her character.

 Running Headlong into My Arms by gleesquid

Summary: Bruce doesn’t like to credit one thing for saving his life, but if he did, it would be Haly’s Circus that Friday night in September, just as summer was beginning to die.

(He'll always be a sucker for kids with sad eyes, no parents, and more fight than the world knows what to do with.)

Or: in a universe where superheroes don't exist, Bruce Wayne finds his family.

Rating: Teen and Up Audiences

Word Count: 54,231

My Comments: I feel like this fic is a right of passage into the BatFamily fandom, so if by some chance you haven’t already read it, I highly suggest you move this straight to the top of your reading list. It’s a classic and has everything you could ever want in a BatFam Fic.

 we are not alone in the dark by @audreycritter

Summary: Damian has a flashback on a family camping trip.

Rating: Teen and Up Audiences

Word Count: 2,218

My Comments: A BatFam camping trip, need I say more? One of my favorite hurt/comfort fics involving Damian. We get to see some super sweet moments between Bruce and Damian, and Damian and Jason. Loved it.

 Where You Go, I Follow by @fishfingersandjellybabies

Summary: In some world, Dick Grayson was never revived by Lex Luthor, and was probably better for it.

Rating: General Audiences

Word Count: 1,427

My Comments: BROKE MY HEART, but in the best possible way. I cried both sad tears and happy tears for this fic. LOVED IT! I have read it at least six times (I’m going read it again after I post this rec). A fantastic Dick & Damian story. I also love the title; it captures the mood perfectly. I’m always a sucker for fics that are inspired by songs, this one was inspired by ‘I Will Follow You’ by Toulouse!

Video message incoming by helenabertinellis

Summary: The League are just wrapping up their meeting when a call comes through the Watchtower servers.

It's for Batman.

Rating: Teen and Up Audiences

Word Count: 1,228

My Comments: I consider this a classic BatFam fic, so I will be shocked if you haven’t read it, but on the off chance that you have not read it, GO READ IT NOW. It’s humorous and all so wholesome 😊

Yesterday’s Voices by @lemonadegarden

Summary: While trying to take down a drug cartel that deals with memory altering drugs, things go awry, and Batman wakes up with no recollection of the last five years.

As a result, his family must now race against time to find the antidote, while also having to deal with a Bruce who still thinks Jason is Robin. A Bruce who doesn't recognise most of them. A Bruce far less jaded and cynical than the one they're used to. A Bruce who still cares.

Rating: General Audiences

Word Count: 49,000

My Comments: Surprise, surprise another amazing fic by LemonadeGarden. I will be shocked if you haven’t read this fic yet, but on the off chance that you haven’t, I am telling you now, to RUN to this fic. It will forever and always be my MOST FAVORITE BATFAMILY fic out there. I honestly wish this fic never had ended, it’s one that will always hold a special spot in my heart. THIS IS THE BRUCE WAYNE WE DESERVE.

For More Fic Recs Check-Out:

BatFamily Fic Recs part 2

BatFamily Fic Recs Part 3

BatFamily Fic Recs Part 4

BatFamily Fic Recs Part 5

[rpmemesbyarat]

RP Meme from Netflix's "A Series of Unfortunate Events: A Bad Beginning: Part Two"

I'm sorry to say that the alleged entertainment you are watching is extremely unpleasant.

From the beginning of this miserable tale to the last melancholy scene, I cannot think of a single line, a single word, that does not chill me to my deepest bones.

"Why?" you may ask.

Do you know what the question I'm asked the most is?

Will you please leave the premises?

Why do I do it?

Why respond to the siren song that the Spanish call 'El Theater'?"

For fame and fortune?

For the costumes!

Where are the costumes?

Stay in the car.

Well, we've got to reach them. Try Peru.

I'm keeping an eye on things best I can

I present it to you now in the hopes that the police inspectors, concerned citizens and television executives might finally leave me alone.

I have an appointment for a haircut right now.

Well, in that case, we're going to need a map of the city.

You'll never get away with this.

I already did get away with it.

Put some elbow grease into it!

Who knows what would happen to us on the street?

At least here we have a roof over our head.

Can I warm that up for you? And also give you some very bad news?

When I was a little boy, I would have given my eyeteeth to be raised by an actor.

I have terrible friends.

It sounds like Latin.

Now, I'm sorry if I have to usher you out posthaste, but I've got work to do.

I'll have my new secretary give you a ride home as soon as he's finished typing up that report.

Shall I let them off the hook?

I spent all morning making these cupcakes for you.

They're store bought!

Aren't raspberries delicious?

I'm afraid I may have acted a bit standoffish.

I want you to participate in my next play.

It tells the story of a very handsome and good-looking man, played by me.

A pretty girl like you shouldn't be working backstage.

It's a very important role

What did you call me?

I'm not sure I'm talented enough to perform professionally.

I would prefer it if you participate voluntarily

The point is, I can order you to participate, and you must obey.

I can't stand looking at you anymore.

Killing us will do him no good.

I have never been married myself.

Are you here to continue your research?

I have quite the interest in theater, you know.

I would give up every last wig just to wear a costume.

I'm actually considering a career in law. I find those books quite fascinating.

There are countless types of books in this world, which makes good sense because there are countless types of people.

[NAME], what's happened to your face?

No, no, no, it should be delicate! Fetching!

I just think, even in changing context, that marriage is an inherently patriarchal construction

Are you leaving?

Oh, there we go, sweet girl.

Does that mean what I think it means?

It means you're going to be a star.

You have got the star quality necessary for a small walk-on role

Now, you can see it.

It's a very important part, although you won't be listed in the program.

All my life I wanted to be a bride

It's almost too good to be true.

Spend some time with your new father.

Seize the children!

I have three kinds of butter cream icing here for you to sample. One's vanilla, one has a hint of nutmeg and the other's a little lemony.

I told you never to say that word.

We'll order takeout.

Let me eat cake.

You can't just keep us in here.

What do you think will happen to you then?

I'm gonna stay up all night with a book.

The book was not at all interesting. The book was long and difficult.

What are you doing here? You're supposed to be in your room.

I was in my room all night, and I know what you're up to.

Me? I'm just having my morning coffee

If you use fancy-pants words first thing in the morning,

you're going to end up a very lonely man.

I figured out your scheme.

You don't know the difference between figuratively and literally, do you?

I'm leaping in the air because I'm very happy.

I'm so happy I could jump for joy, but I'm saving my energy for other matters.

This play won't be pretend. It'll be real and legally binding.

A man like me can acquire any number of beautiful women

What's in it for me?

Can you name me a language that was spoken by ancient Romans and is still spoken by very irritating people today?

Whatever will we do?

I guess that proves reading really is fundamental.

But I'm not old enough to get married.

It certainly is so strange to find a child missing, and one so small, so helpless.

When did you see her last?

Did you hear that? It came from outside.

Oh, you're not looking in the right place.

Oh, don't look so down.

Let her go. She's done nothing to you.

Please, she's just a baby.

Just don't harm her.

I would never, ever marry you.

Any animal owner will tell you that a stubborn mule will move toward the carrot because it wants the reward of food and away from the stick because it wants to avoid the punishment of rump pain.

Would it be so terrible to be my bride, to live in my house for the rest of your life?

You're a terrible man.

I may be a terrible man, but I have concocted a foolproof way of getting your fortune.

What have you done?

I wish I had an inventor here.

You came.

You sent for me.

Things are disastrous. Everything's gone wrong.

What went wrong?

Why would anyone listen to a consultant?

Are you free Friday night to attend the theater?

But what shall we do until then?

Could you cut these ropes for me?

You should get some sleep.

It's my turn.

I didn't help us.

You just didn't finish the job.

Let me keep my promise.

Having a brilliant idea isn't as easy as turning on a light.

But just as a single bulb can illuminate even the most depressing of rooms, the right idea can shed light on a depressing situation.

It's so wonderful that, in addition to your many talents, you have a marvelous eye for fashion.

Tell me if this is too much.

How pleasant that you could join us.

What are you gonna do with me?

It was a grappling hook.

I understand she's yours.

I'm not his bride.

You know, some people say that the hardest job in the world is raising a child.

I'll touch whatever I want.

What happened? Why are we up here?

It's so high. You must have been terrified.

I'm sorry it didn't work.

The invention worked fine. I just got caught.

You're gonna need to flip it a couple of times, like, okay?

And don't touch the baby!

Do you think you could invent something to help us escape?

I am certain that over the course of your own life, you have noticed that certain rooms reflect the personalities of the occupants.

If we had kerosene, we could make Molotov cocktails with those old wine bottles.

What are Molotov cocktails?

They're small bombs. If we throw them out the window, we could attract attention.

It's time for the big event.

Taking the role of a handsome man is certainly a brave choice.

Is it a stretch for you?

I think live theater is a much more powerful medium

than, say, streaming television.

Evil plot?

The wedding will be around 10 PM, followed by champagne toasts, reception with cake and finger food, then the after-party at the Mexican place.

All my anxieties are put to rest.

Don't distract me with idle chatter.

Get it absolutely right.

Change of plans. Sit here. Don't distract her.

Don't suppose you know how to play poker.

Would you like to deal?

I am very handsome, but I am only one man.

He's so handsome.

If I can't have him, my heart will literally break.

That can't be true!

But that piece of paper's not an official document.

I think you'll see that it is figuratively real.

I'm afraid this marriage is entirely binding.

This is absolutely horrendous. I won't allow it!

I'm afraid there's nothing you can do.

You were easily tricked!

It was child's play, winning this fortune.

You promised to let her go!

You idiot! What are you doing?

So, you escaped, you little dishrag.

Well, that doesn't count.

You're just being a sore loser and trying to ruin my special day.

You should never be afraid to admit that you don't know something.

This is a very complicated case.

It would take a formidable legal scholar to solve it.

It was thoroughly impressive and utterly convincing.

I'm even considering firing your associate

I was kidnapped

I'll get my hands on your fortune if it's the last thing I do.

You have to capture him! You have to go after him!

You let the authorities worry about that.

Sorry, but the children must come with me.

Some things in life are difficult to understand, even after years and years of thinking about them while wandering alone through desolate landscapes, usually during the off-season.

The world is quiet here.

As with so many unfortunate events in life, just because you don't understand it, doesn't mean it isn't so.

Things are worse than we thought.

Then we don't have a moment to lose.

What's a woman like you building in a place like this?

Leave no stone unturned.

[boogiewrites]

Never Break the Chain Pt. 4

Part 4 of 5

Characters: Javier Peña x OFC

Summary:  Esme is left with the harsh reality of her feelings with Javi and what loving him means. Lead by her heart and her gut she leaps into action to try to secure her hopes of having a future with him. But in their line of work, things can take a turn for the worse in a second.

Warnings/Tags: Injury. Canon Typical Violence. Life or Death. 

Click on my icon then go to my Mobile Masterlist in my bio for my other works and chapters. (Had to do this since Tumblr killed links, sorry.) Please like, comment and reblog if you enjoyed it! It helps out us writers A LOT!

To hold herself together in times of distress Esme had to fall apart from time to time when she was alone. Tonight was going to be one of those times. She secluded away in her small hideaway in the mountains. She had always enjoyed her own company, knowing the difference between being alone and being lonely, but the latter was heavy on her back as she sat red-eyed on the bed, looking out the plantation shuttered double doors in her bedroom.

Her mind couldn’t decide if talking to Javi had been a mistake or not. She felt every buried emotion in a rush that left her a sloppy, blotchy mess. There was no one around for kilometers to hear her, so she let it all out. The rosary she’d mentioned to Javi was occupying her hands as she bounced her legs, full of anxious energy.

Before, the consequences of knowing Javi were something she could deflect, although the coincidence of knowing a cop from over four thousand km away from her childhood would be a hard sell, she hadn’t worried drastically about it. The more intricate reality of how she felt about him was what she was wrestling with. The fact that she had seen him, touched him, talked to him were no longer what ifs’ or fantasies but hard facts. The fact she was struggling with most intensely was that she was still very much in love with him. Before he was a memory, a myth, a story to be told over drinks. He was now the man in the next town over, sharing her same sentiment in both love and life. They weren’t kids anymore, he’d been right about that. Which meant seeing their lives for what they were in the harsh light of day and not through rose-colored glasses. Where they had wanted to be was no longer a thing to strive for, it’d become a prison of their own making.

She didn’t know if it was her body getting worn or the years of repressed emotions that made her feel so damned exhausted. The thought of going back into the den of the same men that wanted her one love dead suddenly wasn’t as easy to sit with. There were real consequences now. For both of them.

Perhaps it was paranoia, but it’s kept her alive this long. She had her bug-out bag by the bed, rosary wrapped around her wrist, and slept with her shoes on. She rubbed the wooden beads like a worry stone; even though she hadn’t been sure what she believed in for many years. Especially not after the things she’d seen, or the things she’d done. There was a strange comfort knowing Javi had a similar sort of experience. Even if she wouldn’t have wished it on anyone. Maybe he would understand. Maybe he was just as tired as she was. Maybe… she had some hope for a future. She had to talk to him again. This time with a purpose, to ask him to leave with her instead of abandoning him again.

———

As she had following every breakdown, she’d dusted herself off and got back to it the next morning.

In a dress and heels that said, ‘Don't fucking question me.’ She walked into the stone-columned entryway in a powerful man's home. It was a nice morning, not a trace of her collapse the night before remained on her face. She sat poised, with understated jewels glinting in the sun. Yet, her favorite accessories were hidden in places the sun wouldn’t hit, those were her weapons.

She had been establishing herself to get to this client, networking, and performing feats to gain trust in a trust-less circle. Playing it cool, she kept her face set into a lovely neutral but curious. It was a grand promise of cash. She found herself in the right spot for the rule as old as time; supply and demand. If she could seize the articles that had been taken from their owners, she would be compensated with a bigger payday than she’d ever encountered. The sentimentality of the pieces, the danger in the retraction, and the previous failures of those that had come before her secured the pay to be something someone like her could not resist.

“They were in my family... generations ago… before their family decided to fuck over mine we were joined by marriage, then by blood. We have not been able to get them through legal or... other means. But you, Estelle, I believe you have a chance to be successful.”

It was flattering but she was already decided by her motives. Enough money to run. And far. Not to mention a comfortable life on the other side when she sold what she’d accumulated over the years and combined with her savings. She’d played it smart the last few years and pulled the plug on the extravagant lifestyle that had beckoned her to this sort of work in the first place. She saw it as a sign, a dazzling neon one directing her to do it. So with a smile and a handshake, she did.

These people she operated with were not the cartel, but that did not make them just as dangerous. They had their hands in every sort of money stream and political influence. They couldn’t go into this location she was to infiltrate guns blazing, they had to have more finesse and mystery. Which is why they hired out. No connections made for less chance of blowback and made it easier to deny the job was them. And by the time they had to worry about such things, she’d be long gone.

She was being personable, enjoying a cocktail by a sapphire-blue pool and eavesdropping on the conversations around her. While ignoring the guy trying to impress her that had perched next to her she was tuned in to the young man that had a two-way radio by the stone fence that enclosed the pool.

They spoke English from time to time which she found unusual. But if they were looking to not be understood it wasn’t the worst approach. The staff here wouldn’t be able to understand them. Most of the men presumably wouldn’t recognize it either. Esme however spoke fluent English. She was raised by a Mexican mother who pushed her to speak English to fit in in Texas. At home, she was one person, a fluent tongue, and outside she was the brown girl that was berated with “HABLA ENGLAISH?” By every white woman she ran into. It had saved her more than once; when she was younger and especially now.

“The pigs are out today.” A statement she knew wasn’t about the animal was caught.

“Pigs are out every day.”

“They think they’re up to something.”

Esme knew that the people that were being referred to were the drug runners. These mining types didn’t pay much mind to cops, they paid them off when they needed and they were mostly left alone. When you have the foresight to build a public image with legal means of income, it’s easier to hide the sketchy shit.

“The gringo is asking questions.”

One of the white boys must have been trying to gather intel in the force. It could be Javier's partner but she couldn’t know for sure.

“Boss? Do we need to let the boys in town know? Is there going to be anything we don’t want them getting mixed up in?”

He thinks for a moment, Esme seeing him out of the corner of her eye, a squint down the mountain and onto the sprawling city below. “Our boys are in the east today, yes?” a pause and a nod of acknowledgment. “Tell them to come home.”

With that order, her jaw tightens. Esme knew something was going to happen. These men might not be narco’s but they certainly knew them, and ordinarily, they would tip the other off to trouble. Business going as usual was best for all involved. Normally she’d head back to her hideaway, let it all play out. But she knew if there was some trap that Javi’s partner might be falling into, that meant trouble for Javi. She couldn’t stand by idly and wait with that knowledge.

She remained composed, finishing her drink before a schmoozy goodbye, a promise to catch up as soon as plans were made. She acted nonchalant until she was past all the checkpoints, she knew better than to act in any sort of rush. Her little cabana was tucked away out of sight from the road between the deeply nooked mountain homes of powerful men and the city. She tried calling into town, a risk she was willing to take while she scurried to change her clothes and add a gun to her ensemble. She asked for Pena first. When she was informed he was not there she asked for his partner, and the same answer found her. She hung up swiftly, heavily armed but light on information. She knew the east side of the city would be the smallest area she could narrow it down to. She hoped her mind didn’t fail her at calculating where to go.

On her motorbike she darted about the streets, eyes peeled, heading by Javi’s place and finding his car gone, and the oil spots now dry, in its wake. He hadn’t been home in a while. Was it the smartest idea to break into an officer’s apartment? No. But was she? Yes. Javi had always been a researcher, if they were going to be zeroing in on a place, he would’ve been to it already. He was an active learner, not passive. He’d never be satisfied with being told what to do, he had to get in and see, touch, taste, and smell for his own opinion to be formed. She took a quick loop around, finding nothing out of the ordinary and circling back to the front door. The place was nicer than she’d expected, it did smell like liquor and cigarettes but so did he off hours. A little mirror and a catch-all basket by the door on a small table was her target, and inside were matchbooks, places she’d watched him go before buried beneath but one she wasn’t as familiar with on top. A pool hall, which wasn’t Javier’s style, sat like a sore thumb. She took the hint, this must’ve been the place they were headed, or at least close to it. She pulled her hair back and looked at herself once in the mirror before a nod to reassure herself and once again she was back out among the busy streets.

She pulled up and parked by a small marketplace, a casual place to leave her bike while she set off on foot, eyes behind her glasses ready to pick up any little nuance. Sadly seeing a guy with an automatic rifle wasn’t automatically a tell for narco behavior, this part of town was rough, you had to defend yourself. The uptick in the number of guys sauntering in the streets with them did however raise a red flag. She took to the rooftops with light feet, sneaking about and hopping from ledge to tin roof, shimmying up pipes and broken walls to scan. Not many were out on their rooftops, making it easy for her to cover lots of space fast, but that was also a bad sign. Like before a natural disaster happens, the animals clear out. The sentiment was the same.

She found a nice place to camp out, shaded by the sun and out of sight of the street on a corner near the pool hall. She could hear the static of a two-way radio a few buildings over from time to time, each time it made her jolt and she was growing impatient. The only thing that kept her calm was that she hadn’t heard any gunshots, and even that was grasping at straws. She eyes a few streets down, higher-end vehicles in red and blue, one after another. This meant one of two things, narcos or cops. She leaves the safety of her cubbyhole and crawls about to find a way to move quickly. She wasn’t being the most stealthy, leaping from ledges, but she had to follow the cars. Her instincts had been right.

Men in and out of uniform pile out, talking quietly, moving swiftly. Now she had to worry about staying out of sight as she got closer. She saw men on the rooftops she hadn’t noticed before, with sights on their guns and she would bet itchy trigger fingers. The static of a distant radio blurts out, a hushed voice in Spanish says “They’re here. Moving into position.”

It was a trap. The situation made her stomach drop and her pulse quicken. She wanted to be close, to warn them… well, to warn Javi. She was about to insert herself into the narco’s game and that would put a huge target on her back. It would potentially ruin her chances of booking this career-ending job she’d landed. She pulls out her gun, switching the safety off, and lowering herself with burning thighs as she used all her slyness. She could get away with it if she was smart about it... and killed all the witnesses.

She knew between the choices of standing by and watching Javi die, or intervening and getting ousted, she could only live with herself in one of those situations. Better to go out fighting for someone she loved than to be a coward and die with regrets. She jumps ahead, closer to where they seemed to be funneling to, various bursts of static around her as she studies to keep a close eye on not coming across anyone lurking.

She sees that shiny, coiffed head of black hair she’d wanted to run her hands through just days before, the lean build and tight jeans wrapped up in a bulletproof vest. His head was on a swivel, she knew he could look after himself but wasn’t about to take chances. She finds a man on his stomach, gun through a small slot in the wall, and aimed in their direction. She takes her moment patiently, padding foot over foot closer and closer with her gun drawn and her knife at the ready in the other hand. He wore no identifying markings, he wasn’t one of them, he might’ve heard her if he was. He was too zeroed in, potentially coked up so she had to act discreetly. She paused until that coke nose of his itched, hand off the trigger for only a few seconds before she latched and covered his mouth, head back and stabbing in deep to keep him making any sounds. It’s not that she wanted to kill him, she just saw no other way for this interaction to go down.

From here she had a better vantage point and was trying hard to look away from Javi and keep her eyes on every alley and rooftop. She lines up her eye with the scope, seeing it was aimed right at the group, she notices a man across from her, just a slight bit of an angle, an accomplice she assumed. The group moved forward, inching closer to being in between the two guns' direct line of sight. There wasn’t even a need for the sights at this point, a spray could take most of them out in a few seconds. These were calculated kills.

“Dibs on the gringo.” a crackle over the radio in Spanish, then another, “Which? There’s so many.” a hiss of laughter and she hears it from the other side of a half wall. They must’ve had multiple men camped out, she knew they intended to kill as many as possible. She couldn’t scream out, she couldn’t shoot them, she had to find that millisecond between when they would shoot and let their position be known. “When they get to the cars. Wait. Then fire.”

“What if I don’t fuckin’ want to? I want to shoot this smug look off this mother fucker’s face.”

“We won’t get them all if you don’t wait.”

She had pieces of information and tried to see the whole picture. She believed in the car there was a remote bomb being held by one of these sicarios. It’d take a good piece of them out and render them blind. It was a plan that had worked many times, but this time she’d be happy to fuck up a well-laid plan.

“Get the white boy, he’s been snooping. I got the mustache. Asshole fucked my sister.” If this had been any other situation it would’ve made her laugh, or at least crack a smile. But now it gave her a target, a plan of action.

“Maybe if your sister wasn’t a whore.” one laughs then a hiss follows throughout the rooftops among the static.

“Fuck you, man. Shut up or I’ll make sure you get shot today too.”

She moved as quickly as she could, having to backtrack to not be seen and climb over the wall to sneak up on the boy who was claiming Javi as a prize. She hunched over him, taking a chance at being seen, but since she couldn’t make out the placements of any of the other voices, she took her chances. A tension-filled hush fell across the street, no one but the cops out now. She waited for the man to readjust his arm, a sure sign of pulling the trigger shortly. They were holding their breath for the bomb, and she was assuming it was the double-parked cars, waiting for the group to get between them and hit them from all angles.

He swallowed, then popped his neck, settling down, face away from the hole he aimed out of and she took only a second to make up her mind. She shot him in the head as he braced himself.

“TRAP!” she screamed with all the force she could manage, tasting blood as she hit the ground, the cops now on high alert to the rooftops, and the guns fired. She’d given them enough time to duck for cover, having to take out the gunfire from one side of the street herself. She heard the bullets whizzing by as she hunched and ran down to the street, an alleyway where Javi had huddled down a moment before she saw the men barrel down the stairs opposite them. They’d had the same idea. “JAVI!” she screams, gun out and trying to peak from behind a dumpster.

His eyes were wild for the second he met hers. Confusion is all that read on his face, unable to answer under the gunfire.

“FOLLOW ME!” she shouted, firing off rounds to cover him as she motioned him towards her.

“You wanna explain-?” He’s caught off by the bombs in the street going off, knocking him back.

“SHUT UP AND RUN!” she shouts, shoving him forward, “You’re surrounded. Head West!” it’s all they needed, him hitting the pavement as hard as he could and her grabbing him by the vest to jerk him the way she needed. She hoisted him up against walls, all while hearing the men shouting and the stray spray of bullets hitting the corners they’d just passed. She knew they weren’t concentrated west, the men would instinctively run east towards the station, towards the backup, but she knew better.

She raced ahead, a small blocked-off space high up is what she yanks him down into. They don’t speak for a moment, catching their breath and her pushing him down to look out to see if anyone had been able to keep up with them.

“Now can I ask a fucking question?!” he rasps out.

“I got wind of something going down in the east today. So I came. And you should be kissing my ass for saving yours!”

“We were about to-”

“About to get blown the fuck up. Whatever you thought that was, it was a trap.”

“How did you know?” his eyes narrowed at her accusingly.

“I know that look and no, I’m not working with the narcos. I overheard some cronies at my meeting this morning. I narrowed down the options, ran across town and scoped it out, took out two guys, and then...lit the keg and ran.”

He blinks rapidly in response, processing the information.

“Yeah, you’re welcome. They wanted to kill you and your partner pretty bad.”

“Doesn’t surprise me.”

“Apparently you fucked one of their sisters?”

"I stand by my response.”

She smiles at him, something he doesn’t expect. He doesn’t have time to react until a few stray bullets hit something near them causing them to hunker down again.

“You could’ve gotten killed you know.”

“I’ve done it before.”

“Not funny.”

“It’s a little funny.” she rolls her eyes.

“I’m serious.” he grabs her wrist. “I have to deal with you being with these other... assholes and not the ones I deal with. Don’t make me worry twice about you.”

“I’m a big girl. I can handle it. I promise. I wasn’t about to let you walk into an ambush.” she states defensively.

“I’ve made it out before.” he huffs defensively.

“You will until one day you won’t.” when she meets his eyes again, after seeing his soot-covered knuckles wrapped around her wrist, she adds “If I can keep your ungrateful ass around long enough to make up for all the shit I put you through I’m gonna do it.”

He looks her up and down, but not how he had countless times with women, but biding his time to figure out what about that statement he wanted to ask her first. “What do you want me around for if you’re not gonna be there?” It was direct and hurtful, but also a fair point.

She stops looking out and meets his dark eyes to hers, she looked almost offended. “I want to be around,” she says softly. “I just wasn’t sure how.”

“Stay with me. Stop running. I’ll keep you safe.” he moves his hand from her wrist to interlock his fingers into hers.

“Over 20 years and you still haven’t come up with anything else?” she jokes and squeezes his hand. “I did want to talk to you about it. About… us...” she spoke softly and paused, ears perked up to the movement outside.

“What do y-”

“Shh.” a quick and low serious squeeze of his hand. “Someone’s close.”

“Where the fuck are you Javi?” blares out over his radio on his chest. Not a second later, bullets are coming through the back of their hiding spot, scrambling to get out, despite her fighting him, he covers her.

“Rooftop. West.” is grunted out as he and Esme wrestle to be the one to shoot the perpetrator.

She hits his chest and then right in the head, falling in a slump before she notices Javi is no longer hovering and trying to keep her down. A quick turn, intaking the rest of the space, knowing more would be on their way soon, and whether they were cops or sicarios she couldn’t let them find her. In her rush she hasn’t noticed Javi on the ground, she sees his face for only a second, slightly confused before looking at up her the moment she sees his side and hands covered in blood.

“Oh fuck, Javi... no.” She spits out and immediately ducks over him

“S’not... good news sweetheart.” He gives her a smirk, one she’d seen a thousand times on a younger version of his face. She knew with that expression alone it was indeed not good.

She doesn’t get time to react, to even breathe before more shots make her go into survival mode. She covers him, dragging him to a nearby brick wall to at least be safe from one side while she covered the others.

“Can you watch behind me while I look at this?”

“Yeah.” A pause while he holds his gun out. “I can try.”

“Was that your partner on the radio?”

“Yeah should be here soon.”

“Let’s hope so.” She grits her teeth and can’t tell if the shot went straight through, which meant he would probably be okay if it hit in and was now embedded in his stomach. Either way, this wasn’t ideal, to say the least.

“There’s-“

Before he gets it out she’s turned and shooting more men trying to get on the roof, none having the foreign blonde hair and pale skin of his partner.

“You should get out of here... y’know. They’ll ask questions.”

“I’m not leaving you.” She applies pressure to his side and he lets his head fall back to the wall with a heavy breath.

“Now is a hell of a time to start.”

She gives him a hard brow but would normally laugh because he had a point. “I never... ugh.” She grunts in frustration, shooting another man a few rooftops over. “I never wanted to leave you.” She continues trying to figure out the best way to slow the bleeding down. “It's the last thing I wanted to do. You know that right?” She asks to receive no response.

She sees he’s lost consciousness. Now it was proving to be worse than she had hoped. Cursing under her breathe, fighting back tears, the burning making a splitting headache form in her forehead, she uses the only thing in sight she can, taking her shirt off and ripping it tie a makeshift tourniquet around him.

She hears a bark from a man that sounds almost familiar and a dead giveaway as a cop. His partner was almost there. “You’ll be fine Javi.” She whispers, not knowing if she believed it or if he could even hear her. She kisses his cheek and holds his head close for a moment. A few seconds of kissing his hair, trying to forge a deep memory from a rushed moment. Just in case.

“JAVI?!” She hears shouted.

“UP HERE!” she shouts, knowing she had to get away but wasn’t going to leave him until she had to. She was soon not given a choice when orders were barked at her on sight.

She used her savvy, knowing how to get away, even if it was a stretch. “He’s shot.” She says backing away with her hands up to the edge of the roof. “Murphy, please don’t let him die.” She begs as the man’s face softens for a moment, she recognized he must have understood who she was.

The man coming up behind him however didn’t. He fires off a shot, hitting her and forcing her to make an abrupt jump from the rooftop.

“SHIT!” Murphy barks again and shoves the other man’s gun to aim down at the ground. “Don’t shoot HER!” He shouts in the man’s face. “She was helping him! Can’t you see that?!” He runs to the edge, looking down and seeing nothing but a dumpster and a few drops of blood on the pavement. Javi had been right. She was good.

@jaegeeeeer​ @likedovesinthewnd​ @inkededucatednnerdy​  @biharryjames @ladamari68​ @past-romantic​ @weliketomoveit @shikin83​ 

[surveys-at-your-service]

Survey #254

“i hate that it seems you were never enough; we were broken and bleeding, but never gave up.”

What’s the best gift you’ve ever gotten? My late dog Teddy. Well technically, it was a container of puppy chow behind the tree, but in essence, him. Has there ever been a person you regret ever being friends with? I don't think so? Do you think you have a good understanding of love? Yes. What do you want to do on your honeymoon? Relax and enjoy quality time w/ my spouse somewhere great. Do you think Medical Marijuana should be legalized? Yes. If you were forced to dye your hair another color, what color would you get? At this current time, silver. What do you think of your parent(s)? I love them, a lot. Who do you talk to on the phone most often? Actually talk, Mom. But I text Sara more. What’s a song that makes you feel happy? Uhhh "</code>" by MIW came to me first. What celebrity would you like to meet? M-M-M-mARk What is your favorite clothing store? I can't really say. I like Hot Topic's content most, but they're really not all that broad in size range, so it seems unfair to say them. What’s a good idea you’ve had recently? Hell if I know, I don't make those. Do you like to wear high heels? No. What are you most excited about right now? Nothing. Would you like to live in a different country? If so which one? Honestly, if it didn't mean leaving Mom behind, I'd go to Canada by now. Recent events have me fucking livid with America's healthcare system. What’s your favorite song from a movie? Like, it was made for the movie? Man, I dunno. Probably something off Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, though. The soundtrack is magical. Where would you like to volunteer? Realistically, I don't know. A zoo would be incredible, but I handle heat incredibly poorly and also canfuckingnot pick up feces or touch vomit. So, that takes a big chunk out of what volunteers can do there. What’s the last song you listened to? "Another Life" by MIW is on repeat right now and I need to turn it the fuck off because I'm in a bad PTSD episode. Do you like being alone? Sometimes, yes, but not for too long. How do you find new music? YouTube recommendations, usually. What’s your favorite city? I don't have a favorite. I've only ever once been to an even remotely impressive one: Chicago. What’s the last YouTube video you watched? Some tarantula one. I'm fucking addicted to tarantulas now and need a Mexican red knee like now. Once we (hopefully) move, I'm gonna at least try talking Mom into it. Where are you going on your next trip? I don't know. If you had to make a six-hour cross-country journey, would you rather take the train, fly or drive? How come? Fly, if I had the window seat. It's relaxing. How long do your earphones tend to last before the connection goes and you have to replace them? Considering I'm like, constantly using them, Mom says they die fast, judging by how frequently I let her know I need a new pair. She got me a big box of them for Christmas, even. I've got one extra pair left. If you could dye your hair any color in the world, assuming it would look perfect with your coloring, what would you pick and why? Pastel pink bc aesthetic. Are you a fan of musicals? If you are, what ones have you seen live and which ones would you like to see? No. Have you ever had to give up something you were addicted to? Did you actually succeed? Yes. Have you ever had to work (or study) with someone that you really didn’t get along with? How did you deal with it (ignoring them, being nice, etc.)? Maybe at some point, idk. Have you ever had any problems with your wisdom teeth, or have they been taken out already? No. Which one of your senses would you miss the most if you lost it? Hearing, probably. That'd feel so lonely. Do you find your mood changes when you’re hungry or tired? Does eating or sleeping automatically cure you of a bad mood? I can definitely become irritable if I'm extremely hungry and/or tired. Sleeping helps me with a lot of problems, lmao. What’s the stupidest fight you’ve ever gotten into? Did you make up with that person or did you end up losing them over it? Oh idk. Probably something RP-related as a kid. Have you ever gotten really bad travel sickness? Has this put you off travelling or going by certain modes of transport in case it happens again? No, thankfully. What’s your opinion on prostitution? Should it be legal and regulated, or is it something that needs to be gotten rid of completely? I don't support it. Just leaving it at that. If it was a case of prostitution or being evicted from your home, which option would you pick (assuming you’d tried everything else to make money first)? Evict me. Morally, prostituting would kill me. I have family who thankfully I know would let me stay with them. Are you into piercings and tattoos? If not, do you judge people who are, and vice versa? Hell yeah, so I obviously don't judge people who are. What’s your opinion on places like Seaworld? Do you think keeping whales and dolphins in such small enclosures is cruel or a necessary evil? First: I'm not very educated on how similar *all* Seaworlds are. But in regards to keeping whales, it's inhumane as all fuck. They are WAY too big to be held in such a small space for our goddamn amusement. I support zoos who do what they do for conservation and educational purposes, but from my memory of Seaworld, that's not their primary concern. Who is one person that you no longer hang out with? Why did that association end? My former best friend. There's a novel on why I don't associate with her anymore, but the top reason would be she's just a drama magnet that does no wrong. Wonders why her life is so insane and tumultuous while never looking into herself as the potential reason. What was the last item you put into your pants pocket? I don't really wear pants with pockets, but I'm sure in the last case, it woulda been my phone or money. Who was the last person to endanger your life, whether it was accidentally or intentionally? Well I'm certain it was accidental, but idk what the most recent situation would be. What was the last thing you started over on? Job searching, I guess. What was the last task that you completed? Does eating breakfast count? Esp. when you really didn't want it but needed it? Have you ever failed at something extremely important to you? If yes, what? Ah, what a timely question. I dropped out of school for the third fucking time a few days back. When was the last time that you wanted time to move faster? Last night in my regular routine of waking up in the middle of the night twice/thrice. I sleep so poorly that I just want the morning to come at some point so it's "normal" for me to be up. ^Slower? Hm. I dunno. I don't have much reason to want time to slow lately. When was the last time you felt impatient with someone? Currently w/ Mom, but it's at a low level and probably isn't fair feeling impatient in the first place. Who was the last person that you called a “bitch”? I don't know. Probably playfully, anyway. ^Who, if anyone, was the last person to address you by that term? I also don't know. When was the last time you questioned whether or not you were making the right decision? Every time I make one lmao. Has a boy-/girlfriend ever suggested that you might want to lose some weight, or that it might make you look better? lol wow no. What is your idea of “too big” when it comes to weight? Once it comes to a point of infringing on your ability to function normally. ^How about “too thin”? Same as ^, really, it just goes in the opposite direction. Have you ever experienced an overly clinging boy-/girlfriend? Yeah, we lasted two weeks lmao. What is the most annoying thing your family members do on a daily basis, if anything? I only live with Mom, and she doesn't regularly do annoying stuff. With which family member do you get along with the least? The best? Least, my grandma. We've gotten kinda better though now that she's dying. Best, Mom. ^Why do you think that you don’t get along well with that family member? We have very, very averse beliefs and standards. Who is someone that you wish would be there for you more often? My sisters, honestly. Shit's going on with them, I always reach out to let them know I'm here. Something's wrong with me, I never hear a word. Have you ever felt like someone abandoned you? If yes, explain? BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITCH- How often do you find that you are bored? Daily, nearly at all times. This is gonna sound pathetic, but I tend to be so bored so regularly that I experience passively suicidal thoughts now and again because I just feel being dead would almost be more exciting. That's something I'll never act on, but yeah. I have mega bad anhedonia. What activity has the best chance of holding your attention for a long period of time? Hm. Playing a game, maybe. Or if I'm watching a really good video on YT. Have you ever decided that you like/dislike someone based on their survey answers? Yup. What previews did you see at the last movie you saw in theaters? Hell if I remember. How many things are you a fan of on Facebook? Wow, a fucking lot. Back in the day I would "like" lots of those pages that just had funny/relatable names, and man does it pay off (usually) now. I Got The Memes. Do you have more friends on Myspace or Facebook? Probably Facebook? I don't really remember the friending process on MySpace besides the "top 8" thing that destroyed friendships, lmao. Have you ever been to a movie that sold out? Maybe? Idk. Have you ever been to a midnight movie? One. What’s your state’s weather usually like this time of year? Too fucking hot. Do you get those leg cramps in the middle of the night? No. What movie last made you too scared to go to sleep? *shrug* Is your cell phone a qwerty (full keyboard) or no? Yeah. What was the last website you logged onto (besides the one you’re on)? PetSmart to apply for a position as pet trainer. I hate chain pet stores, but whatever, I'm desperate. What’s your home page? Google. Do you have split ends? No. When you’re on a laptop, do you hook up a mouse or use the touchpad? I prefer to have a mouse. If you’re learning a language, what year are you in? I'm not anymore. Do you think you’re done growing or will you grow a couple more inches? I'm sure I'm done. What’s your mom’s mom’s name? Cecelia. Have you ever encountered a creepy neighbor? OKAY at my old place where I used to ride my bike all the time, there was this old man way down the road that liked to talk to me but he creeped me out so much that I started turning back before I got in sight of his place. Do you like the foam soap or the liquidy soap? Foam. Do you tend to lean towards bright colors or more subtle colors? Bright. Do you use British spelling even though you’re not British? No; I even change it in surveys a lot, lol. When was the last time you attended a barbecue? I don't have a clue. I don't like them. Can you handle movies involving lots of bugs and insects? Yeah. Are you borrowing books from anybody at the moment? No. What is one similarity between your parents? Christ... they seem incomparable by this point. Do you keep scissors in your kitchen? If so, where? Yes, in the drawer beside the fridge. When was the last time you used a payphone and who were you calling? I've never used one. Have you met everyone who lives on your street? No. Do you have a boyfriend? No. When did you last write out your name? Recently for something at school. Do you like being kissed on the neck? Yeah. What friend can you tell everything to? Sara. Would you be shocked if the last person you had feelings for texted you? No. What if you had a baby with the last person you texted? We're both cis females so physically can't. And neither of us want kids. Who knows your biggest secrets? Mom, Sara, Jason. Do you have any hickeys on you? No. Is there anyone you wish you could fix things with? Yeah. Who is someone that puts up with you no matter what? My mom. When was the last time you cried? Two days ago I sobbed for a good while. Can you honestly say you’re okay right now? Not really. Is there a girl you would do anything for? Anything? No. Is there a boy you would do anything for? No. Who IMed you on Facebook last? My friend Ian, but I haven't read it yet. What color was the last swimsuit you wore? Black. Have you ever been to an auto show? Yooo I remember as a kid, my family went with our friends to a monster truck show, I think it was? I was so not digging it and wanted to go home the whole time. What was the last thing you cooked for dinner? I had one of those Banquet microwavable dinners last night. Spicy chicken and mac 'n cheese. It's fuckin GOOD and really filling. Do you live in the city/town you were born in? No. Have you slept for longer than usual today? No, I slept terrible. Have you ever smoked a cigarette? No. Have you consumed alcohol today? If so, what? No. What’s your go-to website when you’re really bored? YouTube is my general go-to. Who was the main cook of your Thanksgiving meal last year? My sister. Do you have a passport? If so, how many stamps do you have in it? No. Have you ever been dumped really harshly? WHEEZE Have you ever taken classes for a musical instrument? Yes. Have you ever been on vacation with someone other than your family? Yeah. Do you live with your parents? With my mom. Can you do a blackflip, or anything else of that sort? No. What moment in your life have you been most scared? The night of the breakup, particularly when Mom dragged me back inside and I just literally melted. Do you have any exes you can’t stand anymore? What happened to cause you to feel that way about them? No. Do you ever make your own surveys, or just take them? I just take them. Have you ever actually thought you were pregnant? Were you? Yes, but it was entirely illogical, so I obviously wasn't. Anxiety and being terrified of pregnancy is fun. Are you more of a phone or a computer person? Computer. Do you like to cook, or do you prefer when other people cook for you? I don't cook. How old do you think you’ll be when you move out on your own? Who the fuck knows anymore. Do you have a job? If so, where do you work? If not, do you want one? No; yes. Have you ever ripped your pants in public? I don't think so? Do movies such as Saw and The Grudge scare you easily? No. How many best friends do you have? What are their names? One; Sara. What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever been dared to do? Did you do it? No clue. Can you drive? I mean I can, but I'm terrified of it, and my permit is expired anyway. What do you consider to be a good grade? What do you consider to be a bad grade? B; C and below. Have you ever had a teacher who hated you? No. Can you remember who your grade 5 teacher was? Did you like them? Yes, I adored them both. Do you know anybody that has severe allergies? Multiple people. Who was the last person you slow danced with? laskdjflka;jwe What’s your favourite song at the moment? Ah shit man idk. Do you prefer headphones or earbuds? Earbuds. Headphones aggravate my ears. Do you ever ride the city bus? How much does it cost you? We don't even have one here. How do you get to school? N/A What is the last book you read? Did you enjoy it? The first Wings of Fire book, and yes, very much. Do you scream out the answers while watching game shows on TV? Scream, no. I'll say them sometimes, though. Who in your life do you care about more than yourself? Mom, Sara. Jason, probably, as much as I hate to admit that. Would you ever consider adopting a child with a severe mental illness? HYPOTHETICALLY, if I even wanted kids, yes. I'm very empathetic and care a shitload about mental health, so I think I'd be a very good cheerleader for them. Which wild animal would you most like to have as a pet? Again hypothetically, a meerkat, but I DO NOT support them as pets and get very upset when I see them as such. What bill do you hate paying the most? I don't have any. When is the last time you got drunk and danced on a bar? Never. If you could move anywhere and take someone with you, who and where would it be? Sara to the mountains of NC. Favorite non-sexual thing to do with girl/boy? Play games together. Who from high school would you like to run in to? A handful of people.

[solohqrry]

get to know me uncomfortably well

@eatmyshiftsticky tagged me, this was a long one mama i ain’t gonna lie but ily

What is your middle name?

selene (pronounced like seh-leh-neh).

How old are you?

18

When is your birthday?

January 31st

What is your zodiac sign?

aquarius sun :-)

What is your favourite colour?

yellow!!!! and pink

What’s your lucky number?

i don’t think i have one to be honest

Do you have any pets?

i have two cats, sesame and sage, and two dogs, thor and ginger

Where are you from?

texas yeehaw

How tall are you?

5′7″ (i’m the shortest in m family but apparently i’m tall to other people)

What shoe size are you?

US 7 1/2 or 8

How many pairs of shoes do you own?

i wanna say like 20 pairs, but i haven’t worn like half of them in ages

What was your last dream about?

i have wild, inexplicable dreams i couldn’t even begin to explain what i dream about but last night i vaguely remember there was something about the holocaust involved which is pretty dark, who dreams about that

What talents do you have?

absolutely none, i am talentless my only talent is being a whore, and i’m not even good at that sometimes 

Are you psychic in any way?

i definitely feel like i am, it’s a little mexican thing where we think we have this gut feeling that lets us know when something bad is about to happen, 8 times out of 10 the gut feeling is right

Favourite song?

ugh so many some of my all time favorites are robbers by the 1975, yes i’m changing by tame impala, sign of the times by harry styles, don’t cry by guns n roses, and kashmir by led zepplin 

Favourite movie?

Napoleon Dynamite or Moana

Who would be your ideal partner?

god, i really wouldn’t tell you without sounding like a shallow bitvh. i just want a guy that looks like he hasn’t slept in 6 years, is tall, skinny, has long hair, makes me laugh and loves to kiss and cuddle, maybe a dreamy boy that will write poems about my loving stare and soft kisses who will take me on roadtrips that go anywhere, or maybe a jerk that’s rude and rides a motorcycle and never smiles unless he’s around me, i don’t know though 

Do you want children?

god no

Do you want a church wedding?

no, i want an outdoor wedding during the fall time, in a nice forest with family and friends

Are you religious?

i was raised catholic and go to church but i don’t know if i believe in everything i have been taught. 

Have you ever been to the hospital?

yes i want to say like twice in the past four years

Have you ever got in trouble with the law?

yes :/

Have you ever met any celebrities?

no :(

Baths or showers?

showers

What color socks are you wearing?

pink

Have you ever been famous?

i wish

Would you like to be a big celebrity?

only for the money and to have a bigger platform

What type of music do you like?

indie, rock, punk, rap, spanish music pretty much anything except country, i loathe country music no one can change my mind

Have you ever been skinny dipping?

nope

How many pillows do you sleep with?

four, two under my head, one under my legs, and one to hold onto at night (i’m v lonely)

What position do you usually sleep in?

on my side with one leg hike up and the other stretched out one arm under my pillow under my head the other holding another pillow, or in fetal position

How big is your house?

one story, 3 bedroom 2 bath house, i have a huge front and back yard, i love my house

What do you typically have for breakfast?

a granola bar

Have you ever fired a gun?

never

Have you ever tried archery?

in middle school, i was pretty shit at it

Favourite clean word?

i say heck a lot

Favorite swear word?

bitch!

What’s the longest you’ve ever gone without sleep?

2 and a half days

Do you have any scars?

i have a lot i was a clumsy kid that got into places i shouldn’t have. my most gnarly scars are on my elbows, knees, and one on my hip where a shard of glass stabbed me.

Have you ever had a secret admirer?

i think maybe as a joke 

Are you a good liar?

i am a great liar, i think i could be an actress because i lie so well

Are you a good judge of character?

i am a bit naive if im being honest, it clouds my judgement

Can you do any other accents other than your own?

my british accent is top notch, i can do a super exaggerated cockney accent, and a somewhat good australian accent (don’t quote me on that @eatmyshiftsticky)

Do you have a strong accent?

i don’t think i do, i grew up in a predominantly mexican city so compared to most people here i don’t have an accent but when people from out of town meet me (white people) they say i have an accent, i hear it sometimes in some words but idk 

What is your favourite accent?

i love a french, australian, and spanish accents 

What is your personality type?

neutral chaotic edgy thot, typical aquarius, peace and love, treat people with kindness type bitch

What is your most expensive piece of clothing?

my platform doc martens which cost me a whopping $180, i am very frugal with everything basically so this was a big spend to me

Can you curl your tongue?

if you mean can i make a taco with my tongue, yes!

Are you an innie or an outie?

innie.

Left or right-handed?

right-handed

Are you scared of spiders?

yes i absolutely hate spiders, if i see a spider i am either swatting that thing or running away

Favourite food?

mexican food specifically nachos and enchiladas, and chinese food

Favourite foreign food?

i like italian food 

Are you a clean or messy person?

i’m a tidy person, like i’m messy but not to an extreme my room looks clean at first glance but then you notice little things that make it look messy

Most used phrase?

“on god?” or “no mames” or “mamadas”

Most used word?

i don’t know, i think i say sis and dude a lot.

How long does it take for you to get ready?

ugh makeup and hair and outfit is like a good hour and half, i need time or else i get crabby the rest of the day.

Do you have much of an ego?

not at all

Do you suck or bite lollipops?

suck??? if you bite into your lollipop without sucking it you’re a psychopath

Do you talk to yourself?

all the time, literally i talk more to myself than i do to my family, i’m thinking i should just start a youtube channel so i could talk to myself but with a purpose

Do you sing to yourself?

very badly but yes.

Are you a good singer?

not at all, and i was in choir for two years where did my talent go i wish i knew.

Biggest Fear?

losing my parents 

Are you a gossip?

not really unless it’s like good gossip in spanish it’s called chisme and if someone is a gossip they’re a chismosa, sometimes i’m a chismosa i like drama.

Best dramatic movie you’ve seen?

Gone Girl

Do you like long or short hair?

on boys long hair is my absolute weakness, on myself i prefer my long hair

Can you name all 50 states of America?

i think i can name a solid 30

Favourite school subject?

english or history

Extrovert or Introvert?

i’m very introverted 

Have you ever been scuba diving?

no way being in the open ocean terrifies me

What makes you nervous?

driving, talking to people, ordering my food at a restaurant, school, big crowds, literally everything because i have a generalized anxiety disorder.

Are you scared of the dark?

mmm when it’s outside yes, but not inside my house or room or whatever

Do you correct people when they make mistakes?

idk if it’s my business or affects me than yes

Are you ticklish?

YES the sides of my tummy are my tickle spot and i HATE when people tickle me there

Have you ever started a rumour?

no i would never

Have you ever been in a position of authority?

no, too much pressure is not good for me

Have you ever drank underage?

i was given tequila as a toddler by my grandpa so yes i have had my fair share  of alcohol in my 18 years

Have you ever done drugs?

i have had edibles, i have smoked weed, and i have taken molly (please don’t do that it’s only fun while you’re on it).

Who was your first real crush?

i was in love with this boy named alejandro from like 7th grade to 10th i kissed him once, he was a complete ass and broke my heart.

How many piercings do you have?

my ears, my septum and two secret ones.

Can you roll your R’s?

of course i can.

How fast can you type?

on my phone i type pretty fast on a computer i am very slow

How fast can you run?

not fast at all, i can’t run for shit i have baby lungs

What colour is your hair?

dark brown

What color is your eyes?

dark drown

What are you allergic to?

cats :( and grass :( and pollen :(

Do you keep a journal?

no, my therapist always says i should start one but i just get bored or forget about it.

What do your parents do?

my mom is an elementary teacher and my dad is disabled.

Do you like your age?

i’d say 18 is a pretty solid age

What makes you angry?

the world, america mostly.

Do you like your own name?

mmm yeah, i forget i have a name because no one really says it, is that weird? 

Have you already thought of baby names, and if so what are they?

i know i said i didn’t want kids but i know if i do have them i am going to name them after planets.

Do you want a boy a girl for a child?

a girl

What are you strengths?

i’m free-spirited and intellectual and loving

What are your weaknesses?

i can be mean, i can take out my anger on people who don’t deserve it, i want comfort but push people away

How did you get your name?

my mom named me after the movie with audrey hepburn

Were your ancestors royalty?

no lol

Do you have any scars?

battle scars dude

Colour of your bedspread?

a nice cream color

Colour of your room?

pastel yellow!

i tag @malibubarbievince @kountessbathory @guns-n-crue and whoever wants to do this, this was fun because y’all get to know more about me so thanks for the tag addy baby!!

[qdtquietdownthere]

Day 6- Churches and car boots

This morning I fell asleep sat up in bed. The covers were off me and I had my legs crossed. Completely sat up straight. But I fell asleep.

I think I am a little tired today.

I get coffee in the coffee shop just outside pimlico tube station, I can see Pret a Manger down one of the streets directed towards Westminster and I am happy I am not there, I am happy I am in pimlico, in this “little village” (said by everyone ever in pimlico, 2019).

Today is car boot today and the area has exploded with people. As I get closer to the school carpark/playground there are people everywhere, literal car boots and expansive stalls. There are people standing in the street drinking and eating some sort of stew. They are all Spanish speakers and I notice a man wearing a very Mexican pair of jeans. I try to start conversation and ask what is going on but conversation doesn't flow and I carry on. I have my coffee in my hand still and im just meandering. Wishing I had some stew. The streets are alive this morning.

Being outside in a non-space space, in neutral and mutual space is great. I love European cities for their markets and outside food stalls. I was recently in Mexico and one thing which really stood out was how a city centre square plays such a key role in peoples lives. From socialising, eating or simply just being. Sunday reminds me of these communities which use the city space as a place to mingle and be with each other.

At the market I buy a very gross but very lovely statue of a dog. The lady who sells it to me for the sweet price of £3 makes me go and look in her car at her real dog. He is named after a Russian philosopher and I embarrass myself when i try and say the name back to the owner. The market has young children selling their toys, antique stalls, mirrors and lots and lots of clothes. The whole area is here.

I slowly make my was to midday mass at the Holy Apostles catholic church, something i have never taken part in before. As i walk the groups of Spanish speaking people have disappeared from the streets and there is no stew in sight. I suspect mass will be busy today. I walk in the door of the church and hold it open for a lady coming in behind me. “gracias” she says. I cant help but wonder how great it must be for her to come to a place where she can speak her own language. church is packed and mass has already started. I walk down the centre aisle (for some mad reason) and then decide to sit in the middle of the seats so i’m completely surrounded (for another mad reason). I very quickly become aware that I am probably the only non Spanish speaker in the room. Afterall, who would go to Spanish mass if you don't speak Spanish?

Its nice to just sit there and think and watch. I enjoy it for a split second. I am glad I wore a shirt because everyone is very smart. I wonder if I should have my head bowed. Suddenly everyone gets on their knees and I feel so awkward that im just sat their with my head bowed. Some time later they all say a pray in unison and touch each cheek which signing the cross on their forehead. Again, I just sit. The grand finale comes when everyone suddenly upon the vicars wishes starts Turing round and kissing all the people immediately around them. Im red and shake everyones hand. Despite the embarrassment however, I feel warm.

The places and activities I have felt most relaxed, welcomed and completely enveloped within that micro community has been in places of religion. Nothing compares to the overwhelming warmth of becoming part of the choir which took place in the evangelical church.The hugs and the invites. Its a safe space and it really feels like that. Is it because there is such a spectrum of people, all there for one reason which is bigger than themselves? Old, young and at this mass, even a baby sat next to me. As an Atheist I have no belief in god or a higher power, but I believe, and want to be part of this community which is embracive and looks beyond oneself. I find this aspect of the residency fascinating.

After mass I am kind of on cloud nine, though do have a giggle about the redness of my face when everyone started to kiss. I wonder if they could tell I dint speak the language?

I sit in the park and want to draw.

I buy 3 nectarines for £1 and sit outside the station and devour them.

They are delicious.

I am excited by the confidence and energy I have developed. I though I was like this anyway. But this is different. I don't get at all worried walking into different situations. Sitting in a pub by myself now is something I wouldn't hesitate to do. These activities and the constant genuine human interactions have almost given me a next level in how to enjoy being. Enjoy simply being. I am confident in talking to anyone and I want to do this. I said good morning to my grumpy neighbour who never said anything, back but i don't mind. My dad once gave me a printed out piece of paper titled ’50 golden rules’ . One of the rules on the list was to be a local, or be a regular…something like that. I feel this now. It is a necessity.

The last activity for the day is a concert at Sloan Square Cathedral. It is a different world here. In this church and in this area. The music and the choir are beautiful. There are lots of grey hair white faces and red trousers. Actually, thats all I really see. I have a glass of red wine and at one point want to cover my ears because the organ is so loud its managed to get into the very depths of my brain. I try to talk to the lady sat next to me, but it doesn't go down too well. I sip at the wine by myself and listen and watch. Everyone seems to know one another. I feel like I am at church on Christmas Eve. It is funny because going to church on Christmas Eve has become a relatively recent thing for me and my family. My Dad has been with his partner for I think around 9 years now. Going to church a Christmas was something they have always done because of my step sisters involvement in singing. It too has become an event I have done for many years now too. I feel comfortable and I know whats happening. However there is loneliness for me too, as I am completely aware that everyone around me has been doing it all their lives, more importantly a lot of them know each other. In this second sat here in this performance at Sloane Square Cathedral I feel like a complete outsider.

It is from this experience tonight that I wonder if we can implement loneliness on ourselves?

I wonder if tonight I have a chip on my shoulder. If I am uncomfortable that the room is dominated by white men, do I automatically isolate myself ?  I wonder why in this situation am I more hesitant to go and introduce myself to someone new compared to those in the writing class, or the choir? Was it the formality of the event? A feeling of inferiority?

I think loneliness is effected by our confidence. I am less lonely than I was before I did this residency because I have simply had to do these activities. Going to these events and activities has  both required, and given me confidence.

I enjoy the concert and I end the night with a cup of tea in bed. I will fall asleep horizontal tonight, instead of upright.

​#tags

[junkyuity]

bold tag!!

thank u to @fordobby @seunghunies @mashikyus for tagging me!!! ILUSM 💛

I’m over 5'5 / I wear glasses/contacts / I have blonde hair / I wear sweatshirts a lot / I prefer loose clothing to tight clothing / I have one or more piercings/ I have at least one tattoo / I have blue eyes / I have dyed or highlighted my hair (not rn but yes in the past) / I have gotten plastic surgery / I had braces / I sunburn easily / I have freckles / I paint my nails / I typically wear makeup / I don’t often smile / I am pleased with how I look / I prefer Nike to Adidas / I wear baseball hats backwards

I play a sport / I can play an instrument (piano) / I am artistic / I know more than one language (korean) / I have won a trophy in some sort of competition (basketball LMAO it was a free throw competition like 4 years ago hahhaha) / I can cook or bake without a recipe / I know how to swim / I enjoy writing / I can do origami / I prefer movies to TV shows / I can execute a perfect somersault / I enjoy singing / I could survive in the wild on my own / I have read a new book series this year / I enjoy spending time with friends / I travel during school or work break / I can do a handstand / I have had my first kiss (okay.. technically but it doesn’t Count HAHHAH) / I have gotten drunk / I have told a crush I like them / I have traveled outside of the country / I have flown on an airplane / I have stayed awake for more than 48 hours / I have had a near-death experience / I have caught something on fire / I have performed in a talent show

I have shot a gun (A FAKE ONE THOUGH SKDJ like one of those plastic airsoft bb ones)/ I have been on TV (for cross country/track and field like. 3 years ago. i am!! not an active person LMAO) / I have gone scuba diving / I have broken a bone / I have slow-danced / I have gone on a shopping spree / I am in a relationship / I have been single for over a year (did you mean: My Whole Life skdjf im lonely junkyu where r u HAHAH) / I have a crush / I have a best friend I have known for over ten years (i have friends but not my best friend) / my parents are together / I have dated my best friend / I am adopted / my crush has confessed to me / I am an only child / I give advice to my friends / I have made an online friend / I met up with someone I have met online (BEST day ever uwu i love cy and tiana!! i actually hung out w tiana yesterday asdjs we met online like 3 years ago but then she moved to my city for uni?? fate)

I have heard the ocean in a conch shell / I have watched the sunrise / I enjoy rainy days (TO AN EXTENT!! it rains too often here) / I have slept under the stars / I meditate outside / the sound of chirping calms me / I enjoy the smell of the beach / I know what snow tastes like / I listen to music to fall asleep / I enjoy thunderstorms / I enjoy cloud watching / I have attended a bonfire (i used to go camping every year with my elem it was so fun) / I pay close attention to colours / I find mystery in the ocean / I enjoy hiking on nature paths (also to an extent) / Autumn is my favourite season (no omg.. spring is superior) / I can fall asleep in a moving vehicle / I am the mum friend (but im also the baby LMAO) / I live by a certain quote (YEAH JUNKYU’S!! i wrote it in my agenda... 노력은 배신하지 않는다! he said it in his first diary cam) / I like the smell of Sharpies / I am involved in extracurricular activities / I enjoy Mexican food / I can drive stick-shift / I have memorized an entire song in a day (love scenario and shine) / I dream up scenarios to fall asleep (sometimes!!) / I sing in the shower / I wish I lived in a video game (animal crossing) / I have a canopy above my bed / I am multi-racial / I am a redhead / I own at least three dogs / I am LGBTQ+ !!

i tag: zeen the loml!! @byounggonsgf + my ANGELS @bfyedam @forhyunsuk @yedumb @junkyeu @seunghunn ⭐️💫🌟💛 (ofc u dont have to do this if u dont want to/if you’ve alr done it!!! i hope you’re all having an amazing weekend tho!!! i LOVE YOU SM)

[houseofvans]

ART SCHOOL | Q&A with Martin Ontiveros (PDX)

The art wizardry of Portland based Martin Ontiveros has appeared in various galleries, albums, posters and has even been transformed into diabolical toys and figurines. Ontiveros’s graphic ink and brush style is meticulous and bold, transforming his horned and demonic creations into fun and bad-ass pop occultism. We’re excited to chat with this ink sorcerer in our latest Art School where we talk about technique, studio days, and what is coming up for him the rest of this year. 

Photographs courtesy of the artist.

Introduce yourself?   Hello, I’m Martin Ontiveros, also known as Martinheadrocks, illustrator and wizard. “Marty” to my closest friends and family. I live in Portland Oregon, I’m left-handed/ambidexterous and I have a large ginger cat/familiar named Zeus. Nice to meet you.

How do you describe your art to folks who have never seen it before? Pop-occultism? Creature Chic? What you might find inside an ancient tomb or temple from a previously unknown civilization.

Who were some of your early artistic influences that really inspired you to draw? It started with Star Wars in 1977, and Mad Magazine, especially the work of Jack Davis. Childrens book art by Jim Flora. Books and movies about UFOs, cryptids, phenomena, ghosts and black magic when I was a kid. Later it was Heavy Metal Magazine and the underground artists of the 60s and 70s, S. Clay Wilson, Greg Irons, Spain, etc. 80’s punk and metal pioneer artists like Mad Mark Rude and Pushead. Derek Riggs and his Iron Maiden covers. 

Lots of rock album art. Fantasy/conceptual artists like Mike Ploog, Boris Vallejo, Frazetta, Richard Corben. That was all the stuff that built up the desire, but what really got me drawing were the indie comics of the 80s with people like Marc Hansen, Matt Wagner, the Pander Bros, David Boswell, Dori Seda, Mary Fleener. I really really wanted to make comics by the time I was 17-18. I’ve since discovered it’s not for me. Art of the Ancient World, Mesopotamian and Mesoamerican in particular. There’s more to this list, I’m an old man now and have seen a lot, but we don’t have all day.

What’s a day like in the studio for you? And take us through your artist process –from start to finish on a piece. I used to start work when it was already well into the evening and would go until after the dawn, but in the last couple years I’ve reversed that schedule. Now I usually get up around 4am. I still get the benefits of nocturnal studio time that way, at least until the sun is up—no one bothers me and it’s quiet. I’ve become a Daywalker—I have all of the vamipre’s strengths and none of the weaknesses.

 A typical day is trying to stay focused while fending off my own distractions (I’m ADD) and steering around having to leave the house for anything, ha. I always start with a bit of doodling to warm up a little, then jot down a thumbnail sketch of whatever’s on the agenda that day—usually very small and rough, just to set the composition and borders. 

Sometimes I’ll spend extra time fleshing out details on certain aspects of the drawing, say a helmet or insignia. Then I’ll figure out my dimensions and either draw to size or use my trusty proportion wheel to do it smaller if need be. Next is the hard pencil stage. I like using 2H or 3H lead which is rough on the paper but much less messy than a soft lead. I don’t work with a loose outline, I need a solid and tight map to work from and when I have it on lock, I’ll transfer it to my final surface. 

That method goes for both a black and white ink piece or a painting. I’ll warm the brush up by laying our some strokes on scrap paper and when I feel like I got a grip on it, off I go. If it’s a painting, I lay all the color and shading out first, then put down the linework. And even if my pencils were tight, there’s always room for improvisation, a tweak or two, especially when I’m inking—some happy accidents come up now and then. I should mention that I sometimes have to chuck a drawing and start the process all over again, even if it’s close to completion because if it isn’t working, screw it. It seems wasteful and time consuming and I could probably avoid it by going digital, but I choose to do it old school.

What’s your tool of the trade medium-wise? And is there a new medium you’re looking to try in 2018? I swear by my brush and ink. Nothing gives me more satisfaction. The artists I’ve always admired most are handy with a brush line. Not to say I don’t like pens, it’s just that I’m not as steady using one and leave them for doodling. I love papier mache, it’s not a new medium to me, but I’ve yet to know how to make the time to do it more so let’s say that that is my goal for 2018. If there was any other medium that I’d choose to do over drawing, it would be that.

You’ve worked on many collaborations with bands and created some awesome cover art and posters. What has been your favorite collaboration and what would be a dream collaboration be? Oooh. That’s a toughy. I did a tour shirt for Mastodon this past year and I have to say that was likely the pinnacle so far. When I caught their show later, it was thrilling to see people buying it at the merch table and to know there’s maybe hundreds more out there wearing it. Dream collaboration…probably the Melvins. Or Alice Cooper? But with the Melvins I know I could just probably do me and not worry about whether or not I’m a good fit. I’m not what you would call “conventional”.

What are you listening to when you’re painting your various creatures and demons? Give us five bands you’re checking out at the moment. I listen to music when I sketch/conceptualize and switch to podcasts or play a favorite movie or show when I’m really into the process, it’s comforting to hear people talk during the heavy work for some reason. It’s another long list but some of my go-to bands are High On Fire, Sleep, Windhand, Black Cobra and Slayer. That’s if I want it crushing. If I’m doing something trippier, it’ll be Om, Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, Dead Meadow, that kind of thing. Podcasts are generally true crime or comedy.

What’s been the hardest challenge being an artist? What do you tell folks who want to travel down a similar path? I don’t recall the artist’s name who said it, but to paraphrase, the quote was that art can often be a dark and lonely pursuit for us. I believe he was referring more to the fact that we spend a lot of our time working in solitude which is inherent, yet it can also weigh you down emotionally. That really speaks to me, even more so because I’ve also wrestled with depression for most of my life. 

Your work can be so entwined with your sense of self-worth, so I suppose the hardest challenge for me is to not let my heart sink when something I make doesn’t receive the attention I hope to get for it. People can be fickle though. I try to remember that, and move on to the next thing. With that in mind I guess I tell folks to make sure they get out of their lairs when possible and share their frustrations with other artist friends, foster a support group of sorts because it helps to know you aren’t alone out there with all these feelings. That and maintain a regular paying job when they start out, because man…it can be tough making a living at it.

In another dimension, what would you be if you weren’t an artist? I’d be that weird old sorcerer living somewhere in the woods that the villagers speak of in whispers. Benevolent, but not to be trifled with. So, not too much different from what I am in this dimension, just with blue skin, maybe.

What are your favorite Vans?  Chukka Low? Old Skool? Era? (I had to look up the actual names). Basically low padded ankle with laces, and always dark colors with a black toe because I don’t like my vision being drawn down to my feet moving under me. I honestly don’t wear any other brand of kicks. I keep a pair of Slip-Ons for doing things around the house. Vans makes good jeans too.

What’s the art scene like in your part of the woods? What do you like the most about where you’re living these days? The scene that I know here is primarily illustration, at least that’s what I keep my eyes out for. Lots of sweet, supportive people without attitude and many that are good friends. There aren’t as many galleries as there used to be but there are other venues to get your work out there. I’m now in a part of SE that I’ve never lived in before, at the edge of being outside of Portland proper but only just so. It’s mellow and quiet here and most things I need are within walking distance. I got a couple stores, a good Mexican food place, a bar, you get my drift. I do wish some of my besties lived closer by though. And a decent art supply store.

Since this feature is called Art School, can you give us your most helpful art tip? This probably won’t make me popular by saying it, but learn the difference between homage and theft. Yes, it’s fun to pay tribute to an artist’s style or someone else’s pop culture/intellectual property now and then, I’ve done it, we’ve all done it, not shaming that…but the difference is, if ALL you’re doing is copying, it comes off as creatively lazy. I don’t care how many followers you may gain from it. Come on. If you’re skilled enough to copy someone else’s shit, you’re skilled enough to make up your own content. Raise the bar, people. Don’t lower it.

What’s on the horizon for 2018? New merch in my shop, a group show in Mexico City, more band stuff, my first trip to NY ever, toy releases, designs and customs, a collaboration or two, hopefully a couple of conventions later in the warm months. I’d like get back into painting on a larger scale and figure out how to take it slower in general, make my work really level up, you know? There’s always room for improvement!  

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[thegirlswewanttokiss]

Life had dealt Maggie a shit hand. With her Mexican parents, Maggie stood just about no chance of making it in some nowhere town in Nebraska. Maggie could, at the very least, pass for Italian which wasn’t much better. But the worst part was that she had stupidly confessed her love to a girl when she was fourteen and her father had quite literally thrown Maggie out with nothing more than a bag of her clothes and a demand that she never, ever come back. 

It had absolutely shattered her but she had desperately pushed past it all, determined to make a place for herself in the world. It hadn’t taken long to realize that being a teenage girl living on the streets was a very, very bad thing to be and after a terrifyingly close call with a handful of drunk men stumbling out of a bar, she had cut off all her hair and started dressing like a boy. 

It was easier this way, picking pockets and pawning stolen items. As a girl, no one would have taken her seriously. As a boy, people involved in illegal activity saw potential. She ran weapons and drugs for a while, earning herself a place to live only a year after leaving home. It was hard to keep her sex a secret when she shared a room with four other teenage boys but she managed through raw determination, a blessedly small bust, and very loose shirts. Besides, no one ever expected that she might be a girl because that was positively absurd even if Maggie didn’t grow much if at all after age fifteen. She attributed it to a year of starving on the streets and she let them poke fun at her, knowing that it was easier that way. 

Maggie, going by Sawyer, had worked her way up the ranks, taking charge whenever she saw an opening. She was ambitious enough to catch the boss’s eye and he appreciated her hard work and loyalty. Still, being a boy was… stifling. It was unpleasant, really, and when she got her own living space… she branched out. 

Being Maggie felt liberating after five years of living as Sawyer. Her hair had grown out a bit and it was a little shorter than was normal for a woman but it wasn’t too noticeable. She wasn’t a huge fan of dresses but she felt far more like herself when she went out as Maggie. She was happier like this and she found a balance between being Maggie and being Sawyer, getting the most out of both versions of herself. Maggie felt more comfortable but being Sawyer was her livelihood. 

And then there was the day that she ran into one of her associates while sneaking out of her apartment as Maggie. That had been an awkward conversation, trying desperately to find the best way to spin this. In the end, she lied about being her own sister, hoping to explain the fact that she and her supposed brother looked identical. The lie, though a little flimsy, held and suddenly Maggie mattered. Sure, she wasn’t given a job but the rest of the gang looked out for her, making sure that she was safe when walking home at night. 

The only person who noticed that Maggie and Sawyer had never been in the same place at the same time was James. He had confronted her only a few months after Maggie started showing up. Maggie had been terrified that he would turn her over, humiliating her and sentencing her to any number of horrors because she had betrayed her family with such a heinous crime. Fortunately for her, though, James was a smart man. A smart, ambitious man. And he knew that Sawyer–Maggie–was headed to the top of the food chain. So he had offered her a deal: a promise of keeping her secret and helping her lie in exchange for a place at her side when she ended up taking over. 

It had been a good move for both of them and it was only a few short years before Sawyer took control of things, first branching out into another part of National City before taking everything over completely. As promised, James was her right hand man and Maggie refused to treat him differently just because he wasn’t white even if it might bring to question the fact that Sawyer didn’t quite look white enough. 

Things got easier once she took over and being in charge meant that she could let Sawyer hang back in the shadows and she could do things as Maggie. It meant that she could grow out her hair a bit and she could be both respected and underestimated by her crew. And, best of all, it was easier to find out who wanted what from her–well, Sawyer–well in advance. It was no secret that Maggie was the one who set up Sawyer’s meetings and arranged his schedule. She was, essentially, his secretary to everyone other than James and it also let her smell cops easier. 

They always treated her like an idiot, trying to flirt their way past her defenses which was almost laughable because it was so damn obvious and also because they were barking up a very wrong tree. Maggie’s–Sawyer’s–reign was going strong, business expanding into Metropolis just a hair as she tested the waters. Nothing much yet, just a few teams moving weapons here and there, getting friendly with the locals and feeling it out. Of course, this meant that the heat had been turned up and it had taken Maggie far, far too long to find the rat. 

The kid was a genius with alarms and locks and Maggie was upset that she had to off him. He had real potential and she had to admit that she had been impressed that he’d gone for a bumbling idiot who had fallen on hard times and needed cash. At least he had blended in well and it wasn’t until someone caught him with a cop that they knew what he was. 

A hit was set up for tomorrow and Maggie, though a little frustrated that she had to lose someone so goddamn useful, didn’t give a second thought to it. It was just business, after all, and Maggie had been sixteen the first time she killed someone. Nearly twelve years later and one more body didn’t make much of a difference anymore. 

It was foolish of her to be so brave but being Maggie made her feel free and open and, though Sawyer took home women from time to time, Maggie was lonely. She craved intimacy that was more than just a dark room and unzipped pants with a certain false appendage strapped to her. It felt good, yes, but she wanted more than that. She wanted fingers or lips or tongue between her legs, giving her exactly what she really needed. 

There could be men, of course. Men who would probably be happy to give Sawyer’s sister a night of fun without demanding much in return from her. But the thought of a man touching her like that was more than enough to make her feel a little nauseous and she knew that there would never be a time that she was that desperate. No, she’d settle for never touching another woman again before sharing a bed with a man. 

But Maggie wanted to pretend, for just a moment, that she could be what she wanted to be. It wasn’t a club for this sort of thing but Maggie just wanted to flirt uselessly with some pretty girl who would giggle as if they were playing a wonderfully delightful game. And so she had gone alone–stupidly–and she’d had too much to drink and she’d worn too high heels that made being tipsy even more difficult than usual. Which was exactly why she missed the sudden and suspicious silence by the time she snuck out the backdoor of the bar. 

Maggie didn’t hear him until it was too late; Winn and several other tall, burly cops were hiding in the shadows. There was no mistaking what they wanted and Maggie felt panic bubble in her throat like cheap champagne. She was outnumbered and the only gun she had was strapped to her thigh and there was no way that she would be able to reach it on time. 

She ran as fast as she could, tripping over the uneven ground in her thin heels and she wished that she had spent her teenage years learning to be graceful in these damn things instead of chopping her hair once a month and trying to decide whether or not to stuff her pants with a sock. It didn’t take long before she stumbled, finding herself yanked backwards by a strong hand that had snatched the material of Maggie’s dress, keeping her upright as the fabric was pulled too tightly. 

“We have a message for your brother,” one of the cops said, looking disgustingly smug as he leered at her. “And you’re going to deliver it.” 

Maggie spat in his face, a technique honed as a teenager in countless spitting contests, making his lip curl in disgust. “Fuck you,” she snapped as she flailed backwards in an attempt to knock the man behind her on his ass. But his free hand grabbed her arm roughly and she let out a helpless cry of pain, barely remembering to play her part as Sawyer’s weak, feminine sister through the anger burning in her chest. 

“We’re going to bring him down,” the cop swore and Maggie could see a flicker of regret on Winn’s face, clearly feeling bad for participating in this. Maggie should have offed him sooner. The bastard deserved it for doing this. 

The first punch to the gut was a surprise, knocking the breath from her lungs and swallowing her startled cry. The cop in charge had hit her hard and she stumbled despite the tight grip on her arm. “He’s going to pay for what he’s doing to my city,” he snarled and the next hit split her lip, the backhanded slap almost worse than the first blow simply because it felt more humiliating to be struck like a disobedient wife with a drunkard for a husband. 

“Lord, come on–” Winn began, sounding genuinely upset but a sharp look cut him off immediately. Weak, Maggie thought viciously as she thrashed against the man holding her. 

Lord grabbed Maggie’s chin to keep her still, the hatred clear as day in his expression. “We’ll bring him down piece by piece,” he growled. He grabbed her by the shoulders and threw her down to the ground and she hit her elbows hard on the pavement. He kicked her next, hitting her hip with a surprising amount of force. She rolled, rising onto her hands and knees, realizing that no one was going to pick her up again. She let her hair obscure her face, let her shoulders shake with false tears, hiccuping fake sobs. 

Fingers tangled roughly in her hair and her gaze was pulled up to look at Lord as he crouched next to her, looking smug as he brought his face too close and–

Maggie headbutted him so hard that she saw stars but the sharp crack of bone and the blood already pouring from Lord’s nose was wonderfully satisfying. And she was on her feet a heartbeat later, running for her life. She raced through the dark city that she knew like the back of her hand, kicking off her heels somewhere along the way. She could hear them behind her and she could hear them shouting from somewhere off to her left, clearly planning on cutting off her escape. She turned a corner and spotted one of them and immediately backtracked, trying to put as much distance between herself and the cops. Whatever they had planned for her, she didn’t want them to see it through. 

But they were ahead of her again. And to her right now. In a panic, she bolted down a dark alley, wondering if she could just… hide it out. But, with six cops looking for her in a limited area, her chances were slim to none. She pressed herself against a door, her heart racing violently in her chest as she tried to figure out her next course of action. 

@yourewearingmytshirt

[spicynbachili1]

The greatest facial hair to ever grace a screen belongs to Kurt Russell

When beards get severe, Kurt Russell will get seriouser

Each November a motion happens during which individuals elevate funds to assist help these battling most cancers by not shaving. There’s No-Shave November the place of us are inspired to place down the razor and as a substitute donate the month’s shaving funds to most cancers analysis or to these in want of monetary help as they undergo chemotherapy. Then there’s Movember, the place the main focus is on letting that lovely higher lip hair develop to assist elevate consciousness surrounding prostate and testicular most cancers, in addition to suicide. 

Whereas not one of the workers at Flixist are manly sufficient to develop any facial hair in any respect, in honor of this facially targeted month, we are celebrating our favourite completely groomed beards, mustaches, and Fu Manchus as seen all through cinema. To kick issues off, I current to you the one true best face fluff: Kurt Russell in Hateful Eight. 

“Grizzled” is the very best phrase to explain John “The Hangman” Ruth. His mustache solely amplifies his demeanor as he rides to assert the bounty of the recalcitrant Daisy Domergue. Ruth’s gloriously overflowing whiskers portend his inside angle. He is over-confident and direct, not one to draw back from confrontation or be the one to instigate it. He instructions consideration and the free-flowing facial fur solely bolsters the respect he feels he deserves. In a film with gruff outlaws and demise hiding across the nook, Ruth’s mustache has a je ne sais quoi that simply merely suits the bounty hunter’s aura. 

The Wonderful Mustache Gary (Remaining Area) – Sian Francis-Cox

Gary is a prisoner aboard the Galaxy One, a lonely spacecraft drifting via the void. Serving a 5-year sentence for destroying 92 star cruisers at a Mexican household restaurant (in an effort to impress the gorgeous however aloof pilot Quinn) – properly, life isn’t actually going nice for him. However when he meets Mooncake, a wonderful lil’ gumball of affection of an alien, who occurs to be a planet-destroyer and hunted by an evil overlord, issues begin to warmth up. And with a view to face what lies forward, Gary has to face what’s inside himself.

What’s inside himself occurs to be The Wonderful Mustache Gary, an infinitely superior imaginary iteration of Gary with a wealthy, thick, luscious mustache. He is aware of it. He flaunts it. He even has a tiny little comb to maintain it clear. A comb! The Wonderful Mustache Gary completely embodies all the things Gary desires to be in life, all the things he is aware of he should reside as much as, all the things he’s not. It’s a second of readability, an identification epiphany for Gary: realizing he’s solely human, and may solely be the Gary he’s proper now, mustache or no mustache.

It’s profound. It’s inspiring. And it’s what will get Gary able to face the final word evil. All I can say is that Olan Rogers can have my timeless affection for bringing The Wonderful Mustache Gary into existence.

All of The Dude’s Hair (The Huge Lebowski) – Drew Stuart

Lengthy, flowing, soiled blonde hair. A goatee, fairly unkempt. That is The Dude’s coiffure. And it is excellent. To The Dude, it says that he is a float form of man. He is all the way down to see your band subsequent Friday, and he does not even have to know what vices your lead singer has. Alternatively, he is a slacker. A loser. A halfwit. A numbskull. That is all properly and good too. It is the form of hair that matches in with a T-shirt or a gown. With a desecrated rug. With something, man….

The Dude’s hair is so iconic due to how ubiquitous it’s. Everybody is aware of The Dude. We have all met him, in his many alternative types. And his goatee, his lengthy flowing locks, are a lifeless giveway for somebody who’d favor something however The Eagles.

The Complete Solid of Tombstone’s Higher Lips (Tombstone) – Rick Lash

The wild, wild west. Whiskey. Mud. Gunfights. Gold! Ranches. Cattle. Whiiiiiiiiiskey. And mustaches, the deadliest mustaches that e’er lived. Positive, Tombstone is in regards to the increase and bust mining city of the 19th century, made singularly well-known by the Gun Combat on the O.Okay. Corral involving each Wyatt Earp and Doc Vacation. However extra so, it’s a few civilization constructed round facial ornamentation backed up with chilly metal and sizzling lead. In a world the place tempers ran excessive, fueled by a ne’er ending swimming pools of whiskey, a person might be judged not by his phrase or ethical fiber, however by the machismo, pomp, and circumstance of his whiskers.

Suppose on it. Each desperado, miner, card shark, bartender and cowboy on this movie is adorned with face fungus most distinguished. These soup-strainers are wild, gentle or organized rank and file. The face lace is available in all varieties, however their mannerisms imply, severe, lethal and don’t fuck with me. When a person crossing the road was as more likely to have a gunfight as attain the opposite aspect, one’s nostril bug was the primary line of protection in deterring the riffraff. Positive, the pistol in your hand despatched a message, however your finely trimmed (or careless and unkempt) taste saver backed it up. 

Henry Cavill’s Million Greenback Mustache (Mission: Not possible—Fallout, Justice League) – Chris Compendio

Anybody who is aware of me properly will probably not be stunned that I’m nonetheless far too obsessed over this absurdity. Any cultured moviegoer will keep in mind the predicament that ensued because of reshoots for Justice League and manufacturing of Mission: Not possible—Fallout, with Henry Cavill starring in each. Cavill sported facial hair for the latter movie, and the Superman we all know doesn’t sport any as such. A compromise between Justice League studio Warner Bros. and Mission studio Paramount had Cavill, facial hair and all, carry out as Superman, with stated facial hair being eliminated in post-production. The outcomes had been delightfully eerie, with Cavill trying like he was affected by extreme allergy symptoms at factors, and at some angles, showing as an unintentional John Travolta.

It is all humorous by itself, however what makes the story extra stunning is the truth that Paramount reportedly declined Warner’s provide of getting Cavill’s face shaven and masking the prices of getting CGI facial hair, which theoretically was extra sensible and cheaper, to not point out it in all probability would have appeared higher. However no, the stache needed to keep, as a result of… the facial hair was essential to Cavill’s character? I can solely think about Paramount executives making an attempt to stifle their snickers whereas on a convention name with Warner Bros., and I would wish to assume that this was a deliberate act of sabotage in opposition to Justice League, not that it wanted that yet another factor to make that movie even worse. Having seen, reviewed, and liked Fallout, I could not inform you why the facial hair was important for Cavill’s character of August Walker, however I assume it helped me to distinguish this character from Superman and his Man from U.N.C.L.E. undercover agent character. Cavill is a monster on this movie, a hulking cannonball of testosterone, so in a manner, maybe it was important.

Nonetheless, Warner Bros. may have saved some huge cash if they simply gave Superman a mustache.

Cesar Romero and The Unique Superhero Mustache Coverup (Batman) – Matthew Razak

Chris is manner off base together with his choose and that is due to the straightforward indisputable fact that Henry Cavill’s mustache controversy was merely a pale reflection of the unique superhero mustache kerfuffle. You see, again when the Batman TV collection was casting its Joker the producers wished Cesar Romero, he of the debonair appears and iconic mustache. It’s kind of of casting that on its face worth appeared off as Romero was a Hollywood heartthrob (Sound acquainted?). Romero agreed to play The Joker, however he refused to shave off that horny mustache. The answer? Paint over the factor. 

Here is the distinction between captain digital-no-stache up there, and Romero’s Joker: the unshaved mustache match completely into the splendidly odd and campy manufacturing that was each the Adam West Batman TV present and Batman film. The white mustache is the proper metaphor for the present’s deadpan supply of its distinctive model of madness. Not that we would realize it, however had the Joker not had a mustache he would have been lower than, regular, run-of-the-mill. Romero’s guffawing and manic interpretation of the clown prince of crime was good, but it surely was the not-so-hidden mustache that pushed it into true camp. How was this their resolution to this drawback? The reply, it seems, is as a result of it was the appropriate one. For that, it’s clearly the only best piece of facial hair identified to any display.

Groucho Marx’s Greasepaint Mustache (Marx Brothers movies) – Hubert Vigilla

The perfect cinematic facial hair doesn’t have to be actual. Groucho Marx’s iconic mustache is as pretend as a three-dollar invoice, however that’s by design. It’s facial hair that performs to a budget seats, which had been all paid for with three-dollar payments (I’ll inform you, that millionaire theater proprietor goes to change into a thousandaire very quickly, and a hundredaire by the point I get via with him.). The thick greasepaint mustache was pure serendipity. Groucho didn’t have time to placed on an actual fake-mustache earlier than a vaudeville present. As a fast repair, he painted on a pretend mustache, and a legendary look was born. All through the Marx Brothers’ basic movies, the stache was all greasepaint, on a regular basis. Later in life, Groucho Marx would develop an actual mustache, which might be seen clearly from a budget seats so long as these seats had been close to a TV.

The Groucho Marx look is so iconic that it gave delivery to Groucho Glasses. what they’re: thick-rimmed glasses, pretend eyebrows, pretend schnozz, and an actual fake-mustache. These ubiquitous tchotchkes allowed regular of us to change into the snarky, quip-a-minute nogoodnik everyone knows and love. Groucho Glasses additionally gave financial institution robbers who don’t have time for greasepaint a helpful disguise that might be bought on the nearest Cracker Barrel for a crisp three-dollar invoice.

Mr. Turtle and the Full Lack of Hair (The Grasp of Disguise) – Bradley Sexton

This complete matter was a trick query for those who ask me as a result of clearly, no hair is the very best form of facial hair. Why waste precious time sustaining an unsightly, itchy tuft of facial hair when you possibly can have a easy, clear look and a robust jawline as well. No, facial hair will get in the way in which of the golden ratio faces we anticipate our stars and starlets to have.

Because of this Dana Carvey as Mr. Turtle is the proper sort of facial hair. Not solely does he not have a beard or mustache, however he does not have any hair in any respect! Positive, he often is the most unfunny, obnoxious character in a film that perfected unfunny, obnoxious characters, however have a look at the shine on his head. You possibly can fry an egg on prime of that factor or rattle off a sick bongo solo. If he had hair, this scene could be silly, ugly and dumb as a substitute of simply silly and dumb.

Pei Mei’s Legendary Fu Manchu (Kill Invoice) – Jesse Lab

It stuns me how we have gotten to the ultimate entry on this checklist, but nobody determined to speak about Pei Mei and his legendary facial hair! It could not have value hundreds of thousands of , however I might argue that there is no such thing as a higher facial hair in existence than Pei Mei’s wonderful stache. I am tempted to not even name it a stache since there is a good lengthy white tendril rising down from his chin. In my books, Pei Mei has the very best mustache in addition to the very best beard. 

After which you will have his wonderful beard/stache flip. Let me set the scene for you. The Bride travels the world over to be skilled by Pai Mei, creator of the 5 Fingered Dying Punch. When she meets him, he berates her after which promptly kicks her ass. However that is nothing in comparison with… the flip. Laughing at her face, Pai Mei gently strokes his Fu Manchu and offers it a stable flip up, giving it just some seconds of hold time to actually rub it in her face. His mustache and beard combo turned the cinematic definition of badass facial hair. It is a look that may solely exist on display, by no means in actual life. THAT’S a film mustache.

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[westudentflower]

Reflection on my first “real” internship in Denver, and how to be okay with loneliness

August 8, 2018 

The only indication of being in a financial firm was the black screen of moving green and red numbers of stock prices and headline news upon entering the lobby. 

My internship this summer was in equity research. After finishing up my junior year of college, I was home for less than a week and didn’t feel ready. Was I supposed to prepare for this internship? I was feeling some nerves in anticipation of starting a 10-week adventure in a completely new environment, living on my own for the first time (dorms don’t count). I didn’t really know what to expect. I just knew that I wanted to learn a lot, prove myself, and make meaningful relationships. 

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The first week, I managed to burn the pots, leave the coffee machine on all day, set an oven towel on fire, and boil an egg only to find it still raw. Plus, I didn’t have TV or WiFi for the first week (and intermittently throughout the summer), and even 4G was sketchy—I didn’t find out until the last week that a switch on the wall controls the TV/WiFi signal. Needless to say, it was a rough first week. 

Besides figuring out how to cook on my own, I also got accustomed to taking the bus. I soon realized that I would have to become good friends with solitude. It sounds obvious, but the drawback of having your own room is that you have no one to share it with. There were other interns but some of them had family here, and people weren’t the most responsive on the group chat. Plus, I was living in a separate apartment building from the rest of them. I had plenty of feeling-lonely moments. I constantly felt like I was missing out, that there was so much to explore in Denver and the surrounding mountains that I wasn’t taking advantage of, and I felt awful for that. I just wanted to hang out with someone, anyone??

Hiking is the gem of Denver—but you need a car to get there, which I didn’t have. It wasn’t until 4 weeks into my internship that I went on a hike. I reached out to our intern group chat and coordinated the trip, realizing that with a large group, if no one steps up and takes initiative, nothing will happen. I was hoping it would be a weekly thing, but that would be the last time we went hiking as a group. 

I managed to find things to occupy my weekends. I played tennis a few times, going to doubles events at the nearby public tennis center and hitting once with one of the interns. I found a place that rents out a piano room and made the 30-min bus trek there on Saturday afternoons when I had nothing planned. I enjoyed jogging at the parks, which are pretty nice here, especially Wash Park, City Park, and Cheesman Park. I went to the public library, which was quite large, and the Tattered Cover bookstore at Union Station, which are great places to kill a few hours and read about things that interest you. I also spent a good many Saturday mornings biking on the Cherry Creek Bike Path–luckily the apartment I was staying in rented out bikes for free. And it was probably good that I had spare time, because I had plenty of work to do for my internship, so either stayed in my studio apartment or went to the Starbucks across the street. A couple weekends I was glad I had nothing planned as I was perfectly happy spending the day watching the World Cup and Wimbledon. 4th of July would have been completely miserable if I didn’t have access to TV and Wimbledon (I could watch tennis all day). 

Gradually, I became okay with loneliness. I found there are plenty of activities you can enjoy on your own, and there are certainly perks of being independent. And there are lots of ways to meet new people and join group activities, like a yoga class or tennis event. I also signed up for Meetup; though I didn’t go to any of the events, it seems like a legit way to socialize and do something fun. And it’s not like I wasn’t interacting with people. I ended up getting several meals together with some of the interns, and I was able to do fun things like go to a comedy show and get brunch with a couple of them. 

Towards the end of the summer, I met up with this year’s Girls Who Invest interns, who are interning at various firms in Denver. We went to City Park Jazz (jazz music and food trucks), an ice cream social at Milkbox Ice Creamery, and I climbed my first 14er, Mt Evans! It was brutal and I got pretty bad altitude sickness, but was still glad I did it. After all, you haven’t been to Denver until you climb a 14er. I also went to the Dragon Boat Festival with one of them. 

The firm had its share of fun events too. Highlights were the baseball games, Happy Hours, and patio parties. One day I attended 4 events with food: a tenant appreciation BBQ, a lunch meeting with a company CEO, a bowling intern event (more BBQ), and a positive cash flow celebration (finger sandwiches and fruit)! 

The last weekend my dad came to visit, and since he rented a car, we took the opportunity to drive to the Coors Brewery in Golden, the Rocky Mountains, and Red Rocks Amphitheatre. 

A summary of new things I tried and cool places/events Denver has to offer: 

Reformer Pilates (which apparently is different from mat Pilates and which I didn’t enjoy as much) 

My first comedy show  

Coors Brewery tour (their samples—3 glasses!—were quite generous)

Cherry Creek Arts Festival

Tattered Cover bookstore

Red Rocks Amphitheatre—Film on the Rocks (we saw the Goonies, which apparently is a must see classic—it was pretty funny)

16th St Mall (the street) 

Larimer Square—Coors Field

Dragon Boat Festival at Sloan Lake 

Punch Bowl Social (bowling, VR, and awesome drinks)

Golden downtown 

Rocky Mountain National Park

Some food places I would recommend: Snooze (brunch, specifically their pancakes), Milk Market, Bad Daddys, Hapa Sushi, Cherry Cricket, North (Italian), Mark’s (Mexican), True Foods, Benny’s, Denver Biscuit Company. 

All in all, I had a great experience at my internship, learned a ton, and got to explore a new city. Despite wishing I had spent more time with the interns, I feel like I got to see a good chunk of the Mile High City, and am grateful for everyone I met who helped me make the most of my internship experience.  

[markian-blog]

Once again time to reflect on a year. A little later than usual, but I guess it shows how busy my life has been recently! 

Anyway, here we go. 2016. 

While the external, political world seemed to fall in on itself and cause me to genuinely fear for the future, this isn’t the place for me to delve into that. This is about what 2016 was like for me personally.

As I rightly predicted in last year’s version of this, 2016 really was a life changing year that had many similar echoes of 2012.

And just like 2012, they are beautifully summed up by some amazing trips.

The first, in June. Borth.

When we had last been to Borth, it was the Summer of 2014 and a huge highlight of my year at a time when I really needed it, representing how close I had become with my uni friends. In the Summer of 2016 it was so much more. It came right after the end of exams and the end of our time in Oxford. 

Every time I think of Oxford, my heart breaks just a little. It was the most incredible time of my life and the memories I have there, I will cherish right until the day I die. I thoroughly enjoyed my course and to have achieved a First is something that I still cannot quite believe. However, when I look back, it is not the hours spent in libraries, as beautiful and inspiring as they were, it was the time I spent with an incredible collection of people, from some of my best friends to amazing girlfriends, to bizarre acquaintances, who were like larger-than-life caricatures, who coloured my time there quite exquisitely. To have lost one of them is devastating and I can’t imagine what his closest friends must be going through. While the incredible dinners, decadent balls, ludicrous night outs, massive sessions, and thoroughly enjoyable plays will probably stay in my mind longest, the thing I miss the most is just living so close to so many of my friends and having the time to spend so much time with them. From random decisions to go to the pub on a Tuesday rather than write an essay to coffee breaks whenever and wherever we fancied, that level of closeness to friends is what I truly miss so much. When now, so much of my time with friends is confined to big nights out, those moments are what I miss. I really must make sure they happen more.

A majestic city with wonderful people. Oxford, I will always love you.

Just like in 2012, a ski trip also represented a major new part of my life. To have earned a job at McKinsey was the most exciting way to start off 2016 and to be given a ski trip as part of it was just amazing. Not only do I love my new job, finding it incredibly stimulating and an excellent place to learn huge amounts rapidly, the people are also awesome and I really hope that I become close with the few who I think I will get on with. I had such high expectations for this job that I was terrified it wouldn’t live up to, but so far it really and truly has. Long may it continue.

A trip to Dublin the week (before or after?) was also cool, but can’t really be said to represent a huge part of my life, unlike the New Year’s holiday to Esparron; something that has only become possible because of my new life in London and the new friends that have come out of my living arrangements. The new house is awesome and I really enjoy the company of my housemates. To spend New Year’s in a castle in Provence was just an incredible reminder of the ridiculous way my life is turning out and the great new mates that I am getting close to. I just wish we could spend more time actually getting to know each other. That video really is something quite special. To have the opportunity to visit such a beautiful place, meet some really cool people, and gorge on the most exquisite culinary delights was a real treat. I really hope to return.

It would also be remiss not to mention my holiday to Madeira with the family. It was a lovely island with spectacular views and excellent food. Spending such quality time with my bro and Mum was really special and something I hope we can do again in the future. A really lovely holiday.

And then, finally, we come to America. The trip of a life time. I really don’t know how to sum it up here. A 2 month, fun-fuelled romp around the USA with my best mate. Boston-New York-Phildaelphia-DC-Charlotte-Atlanta-Chattanooga-Nashville-Memphis-New Orleans-Houston-El Paso-Albuquerque-Las Vegas-LA-San Diego-San Fran. What a ridiculous trip. From the raw excitement of starting in Boston and the delicious food there, to trekking in the midday sun on the Mexican border. From the touristic brilliance and crazy bar crawls of New York to the beauty and charm of San Franciso, from the hedonistic pool parties and casinos of Las Vegas, to the Southern music and BBQ food of Nashville. From the wonderful museums of DC to the breathtaking beauty of the Grand Canyon. Memories, photos and videos that will last a life time as well as a journal to match. 

Sure, it’s a little sad that Patrick is so distanced from me now, despite us living together, but that trip will always be something that we shared together and had just the most amazing time. Thank you so much Grandma, for making that possible. It was just so special.

So, that was 2016. A monumental year for me and for the world.

2017 has seemed a little lonely. Let’s see if that’s still true by the next time I do one of these things.

Have a cracking year Markian.

[lovelinelives-blog]

Loveline listener survey

Copy and paste to your own preferred word processor, so that you can save progress, and return to esmelovesll@gmail.com or dm me your completed survey on twitter, @basicallyesme This survey is for all Loveline listeners of any kind, any era, even the occasional listener who just really liked the show but just didn’t listen very consistently. I’m looking for patterns and similarities as well as differences in the listener community. Though respondents to this survey are going to be a much smaller group than what was probably possible when it was when Loveline was still in the format we remember of 5 nights a week on terrestrial radio, I still think it’ll be interesting to see what patterns and surprises arise. I’m that hoping within a year I can have enough data to see some kind of something, which I’ll update on my Tumblr. But after a year I will continue to take surveys as long as people are willing to answer, for as many years as there’s interest. Though I will not share stories or details unless specifically given permission, if you wish to remain anonymous but still want to answer you’re going to have to start an anonymous email or twitter account to answer from (if I dont follow right away tweet me to let me know you’re not a spammer and just trying to answer the survey). I might have questions I would like elaboration or clarification on and may want to ask for permission to use stories, so PLEASE do not close your anonymous reply account right after completeing and returning the survey, I’ll let you know when I’ve read your answers and if I have more questions or not. Heres the really fun part: I’m looking for fans to interview over Skype for an upcoming fan podcast. I can’t say exactly when that will go online just yet, because I want a bit of backlogged episodes and just started the first interviews, but it will definitely be linked to this my Tumblr account and shared on my twitter account as well as on reddit. If you are interested in being interviewed please specify at the top of your reply email. Thanks a million in advance, take your time, please forgive the longwindedness and say as little or as much as you want. But if your fingers get tired and you’re planning on being interviewed just mark answers with an ansterisk (*) at the end if you’d like to elaborate on that topic over Skype. Thank You Mahalo You Live Sex Age Location Occupation past occupations Approximately when did you start listening? If you listened as a minor or school aged, did you ever have to hide that you were listening from parents or guardians? If the adults in your home knew you listened, did you ever stay up later than they thought you did just to keep listening? Where were you living at the time, geopgraphically? What station was it out of if you started listening? OR how were you listening primarily if not through terrestrial radio? Did you ever listen from other cities due to moving and wanting to continue listening? Did you ever have to stop listening because of it not being available in a new city or location? Can you remember the first episode you heard? Describe it briefly, hosts, guests, jokes or calls that stood out? Was there anything about your life or experiences leading up to starting to listen regularly that you think might have drawn you to Loveline? Do you remember why you started listening? as in Stumbled on it, recommended by someone, or another reason? Nightly listener, rare listener or somewhere in between? Did you ever listen via podcast or online to stay caught up on current shows? Did you ever listen to live online streaming somehow? Did you listen regularly in your car during a commute or for other reasons? Did you listen on a traditional AM/FM radio that was not your car’s radio? Were there ever lapses in your listening? Why? Approximately how many years total did you listen? Who were your favorite hosts? Least favorites? Did you listen to the early eras at all? (this is considered anything pre Adam Carrolla) If so, what were your opinions of this time? What did you think of DJ Poorman Trenton? DJ Swedish Egil (Egil Aalvik) Scott Mason? Were you a listener of the "golden era" of Adam and Drew? If so, what were your opinions of this time? Did you hear Adam’s last episode? Did you have any thoughts or opinions on his departure? Did you watch Loveline the MTV show? If so, what was your opinion of it? the Dr Drew and Stryker era? If so, what were your opinions of this time? Did you hear Stryker’s last episode? Did you have any thoughts or opinions on his departure? Dr Drew as a lone host at any time? (this is not days when Drew would be on air by himself because the cohost was out but rather was the only official host? If so, what were your opinions of these times? Did you listen to the last era of Mike and Drew? If so, what were your opinions of this time? Did you hear any of Simone Bienne and or Emily Morse? Any thoughts or opinions on them? or about female cohosts or hosts in general? Did you hear Mike’s last episode? Did you have any thoughts or opinions on his departure? What about the last month with just Drew and sometimes Emily leading up to the end of the terrestrial radio show? If so, what were your opinions of this time? How/when did you find out that the show itsself would be ending or was already over? How did you feel when the show first ended if you stayed fairly current and up to date on the show? How do you feel about it being gone, now that its been a while that its not a daily radio show with Dr Drew? Did you listen to the very last episode live, afterwards on the internet somehow or not at all? Do you still try to get your loveline fix even though its off the air? If so, how? (Lovelineshow.com, livelinetapes.com, Superfangiovanni.com, random youtube clips or some other means) Name some of your favorite guests Did you ever discover new music from the show guests? New movies? Tv shows? Books or any other media? Did you ever discover music, movies, tv shows, books or any other kind of media from the hosts mentioning them? (As in not because the creators of that content were on the show but because the hosts were talking about them not in the context of upcoming guests) Ar you familiar qith the gambling concept? Are you familiar with Germany or Florida? How about ace's Mexican ranchero accordion count down? Do you know about the Geneva convention of bogus calls? what are your thoughts on the smoke detectors? Are you familiar with the game Spencer’s Racial Sensor? What do you think of Spencer? If you could ask Spencer 3 questions what would you ask? Do you know how to play stinky pinky if so prove it with an example of a perfect rhyme AND a perfect clue. If you dont know how to play then in Mr Catherwood’s words “go eff yourself” Do you have any “Mexican superstitions” or crazy non hispanic superstitions or crazy recipes from your own Gramma? (please specify what kind of hispanic if you are hispanic and if not, thats awesome I knew those superstitions existed somewhere and please state what ethnicity. What do you think of Rudy? If you could ask Rudy 3 questions what would you ask? If you could ask Sad Girl 3 questions what would you ask What did you think of Gene? If you could ask Gene 3 questions what would you ask? What did you think of Razmik Hartounian? 3 questions for Razmik? What did you think of Pervy Pedro? 3 questions for Pedro? Do you think Pedro has a Record? if yes, for what? What do you think Pedro does for a living? Did you ever have stories for open forums that you couldnt get through to air? were you on hold and not answered or did you not get past the screener or was it just a busy signal? what was the topic? Have you heard or had things happen to you that would make a good open forum story? Feel free to share and please specify if theres an open forum topic you would categorize it under Do you have ideas for open forums that you wish they had done? Did you ever get Rudy Rolled? Why? Other Favorite bits, games or jokes that you enjoyed from any era or host? Are you familiar with the basically bell and if so do you avoid saying it yourself? Have you noticed any other pervasive over used words in modern american culture? (besides “like”) Do you notice any trends or patterns in the use of the B word? Were there any calls you remember that really hit home, or that actually helped you in your life? Any other lessons you learned from the show that benefited you personally, perhaps not just from one single call, just from your time listening? Perhaps lessons that you used to help another person? Did you ever try to call in and only get a busy signal? Did you ever get through to a call screener and either not get put on hold? Did you ever get through If so please describe, and tell me if it was bogus If a multiple times caller please list your question for each of your calls in the best order you can remember. And if it was bogus and you refuse to specify that then I’m terribly disappointed in you. We’re all friends here, but we will judge. Did you follow advice from the call? Why or why not? How did the problem you called about end up? During any time being even a semi constant listener did you ever ignore advice you heard someone else get on the show that you see now could have been helpful? what was the advice? Were there things covered in the show that you think would have helped you if you had listened earlier in your life, especially if you started listening as an adult? What other interesting or useful things did you learn from the show? Do you have any favorite calls? Do you have any favorite types of callers? Such as non listening hot girls who don't actually want advice, stoners, good or bad bogosity, combative callers, the ones who argue, or maybe even frequent callers, perhaps a type of caller I haven't thought of. Do you now or have you ever listened to any podcasts or radio shows associated with any past hosts? Examples to jog your memory or spark your curiosity, please specify if you are a current listener as well... The Adam Carolla show or any of his other podcasts? Any other podcasts on the Carolla Network? The Adam and Dr Drew show? Classic loveline as it was called on Podcast One (now the Get It On Podcast on superfangiovanni.com)? The Dr Drew show? Weekly Infusion with Dr Bruce? This Life with Bob Forest? Dr Drew Mid Day live with Mike catherwood On 790 KABC? Have you heard Mike recently on the Jason Ellis show on Sirius radio? Any past or no loger airing podcasts or radio shows involving the hosts of loveline? Have you ever consumed any television content, current or past that involved Adam, Drew, or Mike Catherwood in any way? What shows? Have you read any of Adam or Drew’s books? Which ones? Have you seen any of Adam Carolla’s movies or documentaties? Which ones? Are you familiar with Jules Dash? Have you listened to any podcasts involving Anderson including the After Disaster and the Film Vault? Have you seen any of Anderson’s short films? Have you heard of Anderson’s upcoming full leghth movie Groupers? If so did you contribute to the budget? If not, LOOK UP “Groupers the movie” and watch the trailer. you wont regret it. You might regret it, but you’ll still want to see Groupers. Have you listened to the new Loveline podcast with Amber Rose? Do you continue to listen and stay up to date on current episodes? What are your thoughts on the Amber Rose Loveline podcast? Have you ever used or engaged in any of the internet media or social media associated with the show (the old Loveline App, Facebook, Twitter, or any version of the website)? For the longtime listener, or just the late but loyal fan, tell me if you agree with the following statement and feel free to elaborate or interpret however you like: “Loveline is more than just a an advice show that was on the radio for 30 years...” Please add any other thoughts or suggest other questions you think should be asked of all listeners in this survey (if you suggest a question please answer it also): Thanks you so much for taking the time to answer these silly questions, I cant tell you how much I appreciate it. Stay in touch and maybe in a year or two ill have collected enough answers to see some data or patterns... or something.

[topfygad]

Useful tips and how to travel to Ukraine (2020)

Bordering Russia to the east and the EU to the west, Ukraine is a large piece of land barely found by the typical traveler.

Intrepid adventurers will journey to Ukraine for visiting Kiev, after which pay a brief go to to different huge cities akin to Lviv or Odesa, however the remainder of the nation stays fairly unknown to most of us.

Nonetheless, Ukraine has quite a bit to supply and after spending 45 days roaming across the nation, discovering every little thing from intriguing medieval castles to a nuclear missile launch facility, that is one of the best journey information obtainable on the web, containing every little thing you could know for touring to Ukraine, from transportation tricks to prime experiences, cultural info, visas, security and far more!

    On this Ukraine journey information you will discover:

Introduction Visa Greatest time to go to Books Prime experiences Getting in Journey insurance coverage Ukraine and Russia Tradition, language, and faith Meals Security Cash Transportation Web Extra data

  Introduction: why journey to Ukraine?

Touring in Ukraine is a singular expertise, like nowhere else.

Are you aware why?

As a result of right here, you possibly can spend weeks admiring dreamy, Medieval castles and fortresses and perfectly-shaped, cute previous cities and, on the identical time, you possibly can uncover essentially the most offbeat locations in Europe, starting from a nuclear missile launch facility to the ghost metropolis of Prypiat, and an unlimited vary of Soviet and Communist heritage.

There isn’t one other single nation in Europe the place you are able to do a lot of the above in a single single journey.

And one of the best of it’s that, apart from a couple of locations, a lot of the nation stays uncooked, genuine and really, very Ukrainian.

Touring in Ukraine could be a actual offbeat European journey, like nowhere else on the continent.

While you journey in Ukraine, you will notice a great deal of tanks

  The best way to get a visa for touring to Ukraine

Do not forget that Ukraine is in neither EU nor the Schengen space, so totally different visa guidelines apply.

Usually, most nationalities can get a 90-day free visa on arrival.

Nonetheless, WATCH OUT! As a result of there are a few nations, together with Australia, New Zealand, and Mexico whose residents, unexpectedly, might want to pre-arrange an e-visa.

I traveled to Ukraine with my Mexican girlfriend and, since Mexicans can get a free visa on arrival in completely each nation in Europe, we simply assumed that she wouldn’t want one for visiting Ukraine however apparently, she did and, on our arrival, she was deported.

We traveled to Moldova to use and watch for her visa which, by the best way, took virtually two weeks, plus she needed to submit quite a lot of paperwork, from journey insurance coverage to the flight or prepare ticket in a foreign country.

In any case, right here you will have extra data about this painful course of.

  Greatest time to go to Ukraine

Winter – Winters in Ukraine are lethal – as you already know – however if you’re simply planning to go to Kiev, Lviv or some other huge metropolis, so long as you put on correct garments, you need to be positive. In any case, touring in Ukraine, in winter, onboard a Soviet prepare could be a distinctive expertise.

Summer time – I traveled in Ukraine over the last two weeks of August and, whereas Lviv was principally all proper, the countryside was totally scorching, with temperatures round 30-35ºC.

Spring and autumn – One of the best seasons to go to Ukraine. Not so scorching, not so chilly. I spent the entire month of October within the nation and colours had been at their best, completely stunning.

Touring in Ukraine by marshrutka in summer season Most marshrutkas don’t have AC and, for some incomprehensible purpose, previous girls – and so they have full authority to do it – will all the time shut the home windows as a result of they really feel chilly, even when it’s 40ºC contained in the minivan, and funnily sufficient, no one will complain. If you’re backpacking in Ukraine in summer season, concentrate on that.

Sunny Lviv, in summer season – Ukraine journey ideas

  Greatest books for impartial journey in Ukraine

Ukraine journey information by Bradt – One of the best information ebook is, by far, the one written by Bradt, as they supply so many particulars about each area within the nation, together with many mentions of actual offbeat gems and deep and helpful journey ideas for Ukraine.

CLICK HERE TO CHECK PRICES

  Ukraine journey information by Lonely Planet – A great buy as properly, however I want Bradt, because the Lonely Planet doesn’t get that deep into the totally different locations.

CLICK HERE TO CHECK PRICES

  Voices from Chernobyl by Svetlana Alexievich – If you’re visiting Ukraine, it means that you could be go to Chernobyl as properly and, for that, I like to recommend you get this ebook, written by a Nobel prize successful writer, a compilation of testimonies straight associated to the catastrophe. A helpful ebook for anybody eager to empathize with all victims.

CLICK HERE TO CHECK PRICES

  Why go to Ukraine: Prime 5 experiences

Only a small glimpse of among the issues you are able to do once you journey to Ukraine:

1 – Discover one of many best cities in Europe

Kiev is a tremendous metropolis with masses to see, masses to do and a lot happening.

I spent two weeks within the capital and so they had been one of the best days of my journey.

From epic church buildings to weird Soviet locations and nice nightlife, Kiev is a metropolis which it would be best to return to.

Learn my information: The best way to spend Four days in Kiev

Kiev’s major sq.

  2 – Wander round distant mountain villages within the Carpathians

If you wish to go to and take a look at genuine rural life in Ukraine, head to the Carpathians and spend a couple of days mountaineering from village to village.

The mountains are fairly and the area has by no means had a lot publicity to the skin world, not even throughout the us, as these distant lands had been troublesome to regulate.

A really genuine Ukrainian couple, someplace within the Carpathians

  3 – Try the dreamy castles & cute previous cities in Western Ukraine

Most of Western Ukraine used to belong to the Austro-Hungarian Empire after which to Poland, so it’s simple to know why they’ve so many castles, and the totally different cities and villages have Central European-like structure.

Ivano Frankivsk

  4 – Pay your respects to the victims in Chernobyl Exclusion Zone

You already find out about Chernobyl, so I received’t go into particulars, however the exclusion zone is 150km north of Kiev and, although it’s changing into too fashionable and form of touristy, it’s good to go and see with your individual eyes the implications of one of many worst human catastrophe in our historical past.

Learn my information: The best way to go to Chernobyl responsibly

Deserted metropolis of Prypiat, in Chernobyl Exclusion Zone

  5 – Go to a nuclear missile launch facility

An previous Soviet nuclear missile launch facility has been turned was an superior museum the place, moreover trying out all of the navy nuclear arsenal, you’ll be able to go into one of many silos and the underground management room.

A large nuclear missile present in Strategic missile forces museum, essentially the most distinctive place I visited in Ukraine

  The best way to journey to Ukraine

By air – Each Lviv and Kiev have every day flights to just about any nation in Europe and it’s not troublesome to discover a finances flight.

By land – Ukraine shares a border with:

European Union: Hungary, Romania, Poland and Slovakia. Crossing these borders needs to be very simple, with no secret procedures.

Belarus: You’ll be able to cross the border however remember that the visa on arrival (for Belarus) is barely obtainable if you happen to fly in & out from Minsk so, if you wish to enter/exit Ukraine by way of Belarus, you could apply for a Belarussian visa on the embassy.

Moldova: Numerous borders to select from however most individuals appear to want taking the prepare from Odesa to Chisinau. I personally entered Ukraine from the northern Moldovan border, close to Chernivtsi, on my method to the Carpathians. Learn my Moldova journey information.

Russia: Regardless of the continued battle, the border is open. Verify this report to learn the way to do it.

By sea – There may be the potential for touring to Ukraine by ferry from Batumi (Georgia) to Odesa. There are two corporations providing this service, Ukrferry, and Ferrysped, and detailed schedules could also be discovered on their web sites. A ticket prices round 100USD. Learn my journey information to Georgia.

Mukachevo fortress, a barely visited place in Ukraine near the Hungarian border

  Journey insurance coverage for Ukraine

As all the time, don’t overlook to journey to Ukraine with correct journey insurance coverage, and I like to recommend you get World Nomads for the next causes:

The one firm that gives an infinite medical finances

You’ll be able to ebook it whereas on the street

It covers the biggest variety of nationalities

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR FREE QUOTE

  Ukraine and Russia: What the hell is happening

CRITICAL INFORMATION FOR YOU TO KNOW WHEN YOU TRAVEL IN UKRAINE Ukraine shouldn’t be Russia!

Ukraine shouldn’t be Russia the identical manner that Canada shouldn’t be the USA or New Zealand shouldn’t be Australia.

Certain, they share a superb piece of historical past and a few cultural points, however you don’t must spend a lot time within the nation to appreciate that they’re certainly very totally different, particularly once you journey in Western Ukraine, which wasn’t a part of the us till the tip of WWII.

Ukrainians are significantly delicate on this matter, to the extent that they even get offended once you write Kiev as an alternative of Kyiv, as Kiev is the direct Russian transliteration, although each phrases are accepted in English.

At this time, you’ll be able to nonetheless discover masses, a great deal of Soviet stuff

  The Ukraine-Russia battle

At this time, as you might know, there may be an ongoing battle between Ukraine and Russia.

It’s an precise battle.

In 2014, Russia annexed Crimea to themselves and sure, Crimea isn’t a part of Ukraine anymore.

Their map has modified and no matter Ukrainian map during which you see Crimea, is already outdated – sadly.

These days, the continued battle is going on in one other area named Donbas, a historic area in jap Ukraine, as we speak protecting Donetsk and Lugansk provinces (oblasts).

Most individuals residing in these provinces are ethnically Russian and, after Crimea was annexed to Russia, these pro-Russian folks declared their independence from Ukraine and the issue arose when Russia determined to help the rebels.

I don’t know what the tip of this shall be of this however Ukraine’s map may be altered once more within the subsequent few years.

These are the explanation why, in the remainder of Ukraine, particularly within the West, the folks completely despise the Russian Authorities and don’t prefer it when foreigners establish Ukrainian tradition as a mere variant or extension of Russian, so concentrate on that.

A tank graveyard in Kharkiv

  Tradition, folks, language, and faith

Fashionable Ukraine as it’s recognized as we speak, with its present borders had by no means existed earlier than the nation received its independence in 1991.

Over the centuries, totally different components of the nation have been dominated by totally different civilizations, from the Kievan Rus – a federation discovered by Slavic folks which Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus declare their cultural ancestors come from – to the Kingdom of Galicia-Volhynia – which was once a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire after which Poland and it was solely annexed to the us after WWII.

Ukrainians declare that their fashionable tradition straight derives from each the Kievan Rus and the Kingdom of Galicia, so their conventional tradition is a mixture of east and west – properly, not that western however Central European – and their conventional garments are named vyshyvanka, that are additionally worn in Belarus and are fairly much like Polish and Moldovan ones.

Through the independence day, someday on the finish of August, I seen that many Ukrainians had been carrying the vyshyvanka.

A vyshyvanka store

  The folks: Ukrainians

Some vacationers say that Ukrainians are critical, or that they will generally be unfriendly, however that is only a traditional Soviet angle, seen in different former Soviet nations as properly.

Sure, a few of them do look critical however, when you get to know them, Ukrainians are nice folks and are very hospitable as properly, particularly within the rural areas.

Within the Carpathians, for instance, we had been randomly hosted by some locals who adopted us on Instagram and their degree of hospitality was akin to that you just expertise when touring in Iran

This Ukrainian girl was so good to us that I purchased her a few of these hand-made socks

  Language

Ukrainian is the official language and, in an effort to perceive the way it differs from Russian, take Spanish and Portuguese as examples.

Many Portuguese perceive Spanish and vice-versa as a result of each languages are very shut however very totally different on the identical time, identical as with Ukrainian and Russian.

The Russian language, nonetheless, is extensively spoken throughout the nation and, in Donbas and the Crimea it is usually acknowledged as an official language together with Ukrainian.

In Western Ukraine, Ukrainian is the language that prevails.

By the best way, Ukrainians use the Cyrillic alphabet and if you happen to can’t learn it but, I strongly advocate you do be taught it, as a result of it is going to be an actual game-changer for touring in Ukraine.

Kharkiv, positioned in Japanese Ukraine is usually Russian-speaking and the place you discover among the largest Soviet Heritage, like this Stalinist constructing

  Faith

Most Ukrainians belong to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and so they affirm that that is the unique Church of historic Kievan Rus.

One thing that shocked me about Ukraine was that faith performs a vital function of their society, greater than some other European nation I’ve been to.

Ukrainian Orthodox praying in a random church

In smaller cities and cities, church buildings are filled with younger folks throughout Sunday providers and in huge cities akin to Kiev or Lviv, whereas the younger era doesn’t actually apply their faith, they do imagine in God, usually talking.

Visiting the limitless church buildings and wonderful Orthodox complexes will all the time be one of many highlights of any Ukraine journey information and I extremely advocate you go to Pochaiv, the second holiest monastery within the nation, after Kiev Lavra, however the one in Pochaiv is nicer, for the easy purpose that it’s larger and positioned in a rural, mystical space.

The Lavra in Pochaiv, a spot barely talked about in most Ukraine journey guides

  Meals in Ukraine

Ukrainian delicacies isn’t the spotlight of the nation however it’s all proper, not dangerous in any respect.

Generally it���s troublesome to find out which dishes are Ukrainian and which of them are Russian, as you’ll find them in each nations however in any case, Ukrainian delicacies is hearty and made for feeding lots.

Some Ukrainian meals you might be more likely to style throughout your journey

Borsch – The nationwide meals which they’re most happy with is borsch, a beetroot soup extensively eaten throughout all the previous USSR, however Ukrainians affirm and re-affirm it’s initially from Ukraine, and I imagine them, as a result of borsch is nowhere else as obtainable as on Ukrainian menus; properly perhaps in Belarus as properly. Borsch is the best way to go and it’s historically served with bitter cream and with one thing named salo.

Salo – Slices of pork fats, very salty and highly regarded. Ukrainians discover it an actual delicacy however I don’t prefer it.

Varenyky – While you don’t know what to order, you order varenyky, the traditional dumplings obtainable in lots of Slavic nations, however they all the time differ in form, filling and have totally different names. Ukrainian varenyky are often crammed with brynza (native cheese) or potatoes.

Syrniki – Usually eaten for breakfast or brunch, these are some small, thick, native pancakes crammed with cottage cheese, however they will additionally comprise apple and different elements.

Rooster Kyiv – This was bizarre, and never my favourite, however it is extremely conventional. It consists of fried rooster crammed with dairy butter and herbs. An actual bomb.

This borsch was a elaborate one. It received’t be often like that

And there’s extra.

Native eating places in huge cities could have many different selections however, within the rural areas, the choices shall be restricted to borsch and varenyky.

I as soon as had borsch + varenyky for Four days in a row!

Then, within the Western a part of the nation, since that space was once a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire after which Poland, conventional dishes are extra Central European, so you discover issues like goulash, whereas within the Carpathians, you discover Moldovan and Romanian dishes akin to banusz.

This weblog is purely about Ukrainian meals and has some actually good data.

Varenyky is all the time a sensible choice!

  Is it secure to journey to Ukraine?

Due to current occasions, some folks might understand Ukraine as a harmful vacation spot to journey to however belief me, it’s not.

Maidan protests (2014) – In 2014, Kiev witnessed a collection of protests towards the Authorities that lasted for greater than Three months, leading to a number of peaceable demonstrators being murdered by the police.

It was loopy and such was the gravity of these protests and repression, that they had been all around the worldwide information for weeks.

Throughout these Three months, touring to Kiev wasn’t beneficial, in fact, however this was a previous episode that ended with the Prime Minister Yanukovych fleeing the nation and the celebration of recent elections

Donbas battle – As we beforehand mentioned, there’s a battle happening in Donetsk and Lugansk, during which in accordance with the UN, greater than 13,000 folks have died as of 2019.

The battle, nonetheless, solely impacts these two provinces, doesn’t transcend them and, even if you happen to needed to go there, you couldn’t as a result of foreigners aren’t allowed anymore.

Apart from that, moreover all of the common crime-related stuff, akin to pickpocketing, that occurs in any metropolis, touring in Ukraine is secure, very secure, and any Ukrainian will let you know that.

Hanging out on a reasonably cool navy machine

  Cash in Ukraine

In Ukraine, they use the Ukrainian Hryvnia (UAH) and, roughly, 1€ = 26UAH.

Bank cards are usually accepted anyplace and most banks will settle for worldwide playing cards, although they have a tendency to cost a small payment.

How a lot does it price to journey in Ukraine?

As per prices, Ukraine is an affordable nation to journey round, particularly as a result of their forex has devalued massively for the reason that Crimea disaster, when 1€ was once equal to 10UAH.

  Backpacking finances for Ukraine:

Assuming you keep in dorms and eat in finances cafeterias, you’ll be able to simply journey in Ukraine for 25€ a day.

Typical prices (approx.)

Dorm in a finances hostel: 200 UAH (7€)

Funds condominium in Kiev or Lviv: from 600 UAH (25€)

Native meal in a cafeteria: 100UAH (3-4€)

Native beer: 40UAH  (1.50€)

Evening prepare from Lviv to Odesa economical class: 200 UAH (7€)

  Transportation ideas: The best way to journey round Ukraine

The nation is huge however the public transportation system is nice, which makes touring in Ukraine pretty simple.

By prepare

Soviet trains at their greatest. Wonderful method to see the vastness of the nation.

When you have traveled in different Soviet nations akin to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan or Russia itself, their prepare system doesn’t fluctuate a lot. The truth is, it’s the identical.

You will get to just about any metropolis however do ebook your tickets upfront, particularly throughout excessive season, as a budget ones run out shortly.

There are various kinds of carriages however the Soviet system has Three lessons:

berth: no compartments however bunk beds are positioned all around the carriage.

compartment: 4-bed compartment.

deluxe: 2-bed fancy compartment.

When you have by no means ridden a Soviet prepare, I like to recommend you journey in berth.

In case you might be questioning, economical class in Ukraine (berth) isn’t like in India or Sri Lanka, not even shut. They give you clear mattress linen and the beds are comparatively comfy.

You’ll be able to verify costs, timings and ebook your ticket on this hyperlink (official governmental website).

Berth class

By marshrutka

Marshrutka means minivan in Russian and you might use them when going to smaller cities.

In the event you depend by kilometer, it’s far more costly than touring by prepare and round 5 occasions extra uncomfortable, however if you’re getting deep into Ukraine, this may be your solely selection extra usually than you suppose.

By bus

Apparently, buses additionally run between main cities however I don’t see a superb purpose for taking them, other than when prepare tickets to your vacation spot are bought out however in any case, for lengthy distances, it is usually beneficial to ebook your ticket upfront.

In any case, you’ll be able to ebook your tickets on this web site.

In Ukraine you’ll find loads of UAZ. This one is an ambulance

  Web in Ukraine

Ukraine has wonderful 4G protection and getting a SIM Card may be very simple, as they didn’t even ask me for my passport.

I personally purchased Lifecell, however Kyivstar appears to be the preferred one.

Costs are ridiculously low cost and I believe I paid round 75UAH (3€) for a SIM Card filled with 4GB of knowledge.

  Extra data for touring to Ukraine

Ukraine Trek – This weblog has quite a lot of content material about hidden locations within the nation.

Right here you’ll be able to learn some extra posts about Ukraine

If you’re going to Moldova, verify all my Moldova journey guides

And right here you’ll be able to learn my content material about Belarus

Going to Georgia? Verify my final information to Georgia

I hope you loved my Ukraine journey weblog. Please, depart a remark for any query you might need.

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Genesis 41 Joseph The Dream Interpreter: an example of a bold prophet who is both prudent and a planner

We are coming to the end of our sermon series on Joseph and this is the penultimate one, next week Paul is giving us the final sermon, today it is all about dreams.

Dreams … But this week it has all been about dreams certainly in the news and in a couple of newspapers specifically the word dreams.

At the beginning of the week we had in the daily Telegraph Boris Johnson’s dream of Brexit … Being shattered…

Certainly we are at a turning point in our relationship with our European partners, our politicians could certainly do with some of Joseph’s prophetic wisdom.

Then following the disappointment of the defeat by England football team to Croatia, the dream of getting to the finals of the World Cup, were shattered. Interestingly only three of the players were even born by 1990, which is when England were last in the World Cup semi-finals.

Now we all have dreams, whether we remember them or not after sleeping. Or longer term conceptual dreams, which may or may not be fulfilled. Today’s passage highlights the dreams of Pharaoh, interpreted by Joseph, who this time is a bold, brave prophet who also turns out to be a prudent, strategic planner.

Joseph is trusted, this time he is not subject to temptation but instead turns immediately to God. Joseph has no hesitation in saying “God will give you Pharaoh the answer he desires”. Joseph has no problem putting his trust in God, he nails his colours to the mast. He is bold in, even before he gives his interpretation, saying where the interpretation and wisdom will come from. He is happy and proud to point to God. Do we? When asked for our wisdom, our advice point people to the ultimate source of all wisdom. We should make sure we do the same. To take honour for ourselves is a form of stealing from God. So let us not be silent when we know we should be giving glory and credit to God. The success of the Fete and the turnaround in our finances, for example, is not down to one person but a team effort but ultimately it is to God’s glory and for God’s purposes.

Joseph tells Pharaoh that both his dreams, of the fat cows being eaten by the thin cows, and the seven ears of good corn will be swallowed up by the thin ears of corn, are one and the same.

Joseph lets him know that the abundance will be forgotten because the famine will be so severe. God has determined the matter. It is interesting to note that although Pharaoh is given quite gloomy news and the interpretation of his dream is not exactly something you would like to hear. It does not stop Pharaoh seeing good in Joseph. Perhaps there is a lesson here for us. That sometimes we should not shy away from telling the truth, even if we fear the consequences of that truth being told, as long as we do it in love. As it says in Proverbs 27:17 as iron sharpens iron so one person sharpens another.

Yet we see that God was with Joseph both when Potiphar’s wife was throwing herself at him and also in the interpretation of the dreams, as well as the consequences.

In Joseph not only do we have someone who interprets dreams and prophesies but we also have the first Chancellor of the Exchequer! Someone who is not afraid of telling his boss what should be done. He suggests an instant 20% tax on the harvest during the years of abundance. A bureaucrat that even Brussels would be proud of! He is strategic because he knows and trusts God and Pharaoh in turn does the same.

We see in Joseph both the prophet, prepared to give an unpalatable message but also someone who is a prudent person. I’m sure many of you remember the 2008 recession, which many people in the city said I deliberately avoided by turning my collar back to front by going to study theology at Ridley in Cambridge. The recession however came about in large part as a result of our living beyond our means, the drivers agreed and a lack of prudence over secured loans. Some of which as a lawyer I helped orchestrate but at the time like many I didn’t really know what was going on nor the longer-term consequences. But basically loans were being financed on the basis of unsecured lending, which in turn was based on the American housing market, with loans that people could not afford to pay back. 

It what Joseph indicates in the final part of this chapter is saved first, and then when the crisis comes you will manage better. I’m sure many of you have heard me say this before but I try to give away 10% each year of my stipend to the church but they also save 10% for my retirement and put a bit aside for my children. It is good to set aside for retirement… For the children… For the grandchildren… But we should also encourage them to save the things and not have in everything instantly on a plate. Amazon is great but don’t give your children everything on a plate. 

We should as Carolyn said last week look after the environment, not be wasteful but instead be prudent. As it says in Proverbs 19:14“Houses and wealth are inherited from parents but a prudent wife is from the Lord…” It does not mean, being stingy and mean but it does mean not being wasteful. 

Still be generous and compassionate and forgiving, as we later see Joseph was to his brothers when they came begging for food. But it does mean recognising that when we are blessed with abundance, we should put something aside for the future stop Joseph didn’t have to be a genius to formulate a plan to handle what was to fold over the periods of surplus, followed by shortage. 

Yet Joseph did have to put into action wise decisions. The word of God however given is meant to be understood and acted upon. Many of us have heard sermons and said oh yes I must do that. But actually do we do it when we leave this place? Act on something God said to you today like Joseph did. Of course with hindsight one can say that similarly the world doesn’t have to get into the economic messes it gets into from time to time. And yet we should always plan for the future. 

As I’ve said before there are two certainties in life, death and taxes. We know there coming have be planned for them as far as we can. Joseph shows us how to take the long view. To stay calm to ride out the storm. Often what seems like a setback is often set up for come back. The greatest spiritual victory in history was won on the heels of its seemingly greatest defeat, Jesus being crucified. Jesus being let down and deserted by his friends. Led to the great reunion after his resurrection. Yes we will experience setbacks but remember this without crucifixion there can be no resurrection. 

So when we have a setback, don’t take a step back because God is preparing you for a comeback. Jesus longs to accompany each one of us on the journey of life. Whether we’ve been given a cancer diagnosis, are having marital problems, or facing divorce, bereavement or being single or not wanting to be lonely or having mental health issues. Jesus wants to accompany us on our journey and through our struggles. He knows like the cupbearer did, that we all have shortcomings. And yet in today’s story we see qualities of wisdom, endurance and patience that Pharaoh saw in Joseph.

Pharaoh cannot think of a better person to appoint as his number two. It is a story of restoration, of redemption which echoes the story of Jesus. Remember Joseph was betrayed by his brothers. He is far away from his family in a foreign land and is struggling to make his way in an unfriendly country. Perhaps not unlike some migrants might be viewed in this country, which no doubt the Mexican who was beaten up last week would agree with.

If you recall Joseph was once in Potiphar’s favour only to be cast aside as a result of untrue and unfair accusations of adultery by Potiphar’s wife. He then found favour with the prison guards, whilst he was in jail and interpreted dreams for the cupbearer and the baker, only to again be forgotten. But this time as they say is third time lucky. That is like life it has ups and downs. We should remember that however bad life seems, sometimes it through our failures that we learn more. As Winston Churchill said…success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.

For this time he is restored, becoming second in command over all Egypt. God is with him, as he is with us, through the bad times as well as the good. One minute Joseph is a forgotten imprisoned slave the young Hebrew in jail… The next is on his way to the top of Egyptian society.

It’s a bit like the transformation that happens one of my favourite Eddy Murphy movies “Trading Places”. Here as an experiment, for a one dollar bet, a black beggar, played by Eddy Murphy trades places with a white Harvard graduate, who runs a major stock trading brokerage account for the founders Duke and Duke. Eventually the roles are totally reversed and the founders of the company Duke and Duke exchange the dollar, having transformed the fortunes of both parties.

When we go through times of despair let us not forget that God is there, as well as give thanks to those, who have helped us get out of that place and onto the road to recovery.

Wisdom is something this country and our nation needs in these turbulent times. Wisdom is a gift that God wishes to give us, so let us remember Joseph’s example both in being a bold prophet who is prepared to deliver a difficult message but also someone who is wise, prudent and eventually appreciated the being so.

So let us pray both for that wisdom as well as patients and endurance when life’s problems come upon us.

Let us pray Lord we see in Joseph a bold prophet prepared to give it difficult message. We see someone who is patient, full or endurance and prudent but above all trusted, we pray that you give us the gift of prudence and wisdom.