#at least love is real. they’ve been married for 45 years and she’s on top of her shit taking caring of him all by herself

[stuckinapril]

And on this Valentine’s I almost broke down in tears at a wife’s dedication to her heart surgeon husband whose brain is deteriorating with a rare case of dementia

[dcbutinamrev]

Twelve, anger, for Lams

Hehehe. Angsty lams. My favorite-

Modern au for this one but with their historical apperances of course.

Not as angsty as I had hoped it to be, but at least it's still something-

***

Seventeen-year-old Alexander Hamilton huffs out a breath as he leans back against his chair at his desk in his dorm, running a hand through his tangled auburn hair, massaging his brow as he lets out a yawn, checking the time on the bottom right corner of his laptop.

12:45 AM.

He groans again and flops his head down on the desk, letting his arms completely drop at his sides and bangs his head over and over again and whimpers. He's been sitting in this same exact chair, staring at this computer for more than he should, working on an essay for Mr. Washington, not only his English teacher at King's High School but also his foster father. Yet, despite his powerful way with the English language and its words, Hamilton could not somehow come up with words. For once, he's actually speechless.

Hamilton groans as he tips his head up, resting his chin on top of his desk as he stares back at the screen, grimacing at the bright light despite the dimness of the lamp on his desk. He wants to stop. He wants to take a break. But he knows that if he does so, he will never have the inspiration or motivation to pick back up where he left off.

He sighs heavily sitting back up, cracking his knuckles and craning his neck side to side, quaffing down his cup of coffee in one gulp and cracks his knuckles before continue typing once more, soft music blaring in his ears to help him concentrate.

"Oh my God, George," Hamilton grumbles as he types away, his fingers jittery. "Why do you do this to me?" A scoff, which sounded more like a laugh. "Your own son!"

Hamitlon huffs again and continues nonetheless. After roughly ten more minutes of work, Hamilton smiles to himself as he hears the bed creak from behind him and the bedsheets ruffle. He glances over his shoulder and he feels all his burdens wash away when he sees his beautiful Laurens asleep on their bed, his legs curled up to his chest, the bedsheets up to his chin as he snores, his face buried into his pillow, his golden honey hair flowing around him like a halo.

Hamilton's angel: John Laurens, his boyfriend and a military man.

Hamilton sighs and saves his document before finally decides to call it a night, turning off the lamp and straightening his workspace before finally being able to get into comfy pajamas before clmbing into thier bed. He lets out a long sigh, followed by a deep yawn as he tries to cover it with the back of his hand. But fails.

Hamilton smiles softly as he gazes up at his dashing soldier. Tucking wisps of blonde hair out of his eye, cradling his hand against Laurens's jaw, leaning up to press a kiss to his lips. Hamilton pulls back slightly and frowns when he hears a soft ding. He furrows his brows, shifting slightly so he could see Laurens's phone on the bedside table, wondering who on Earth could be texting him this late at night.

After a few seconds, Hamitlon crawls back down, brushing it off. He curls himself agaisnt Laurens's arms, his head just beneath Laurens's chin and closes his eyes.

It's about forty-five minutes later, does Hamilton hear the ding again. More digging coming through. He groans irritably and snaps his eyes open, his back agaisnt Laurens's chest now as his arms are around Hamilton's waist, his cheek against Hamilton's shoulder. Hamilton grunts and shifts around as he crawls over Laurens to figure out just who the hell is texting his dear Jack at nearly 2:00 in the morning.

Which is a mistake.

Manning: I am your girlfriend, Jack. I am and will always be.

Hamilton's heart stops, his breath catching in his throat as he reads the name "Manning" and the word "girlfriend." He glances down at the sleeping blonde before back at his phone in Hamilton's hand.

He never recalled Laurens having a girlfriend during the time they've known each other.

Manning: I am to be engaged to you. As your wife by the end of the school year.

Hamilton gasps, nearly dropping Laurens's phone but catches it. He flops back down onto his side of the bed, watching the screen, his eyes blinking fast and chest squeezing.

Manning: Your father arranged me to be your wife, John. In hopes it would cure you. And in all honesty, I hope so too. As you were truly made for me. Not him.

Hamilton doesn't know what to think. Doesn't know what to believe. He glances at Laurens and then back at the phone in his hands before back at his Laurens and then back at the phone again. He had never been in a realtionship with anyone beisdes Laurens. He had never had sex with anyone but Laurens. In the school's eyes, Hamilton is truly the most kind and trusting person.

But to this...this...Manning?

To Laurens?

"Is all of this real?" Hamilton whispers to himself.

"Is all of what real?" a deep rumble coming from beside him.

Hamilton yelps, Laurens's phone flopping onto the bed, hiding under the covers. He glacnes down to find Laurens smiling softly, his cheek in his palm and his strong, muscular arm around his waist. Hamilton swallows and pulls Laurens's arm off before rolling over onto his side, his back facing Laurens.

This catches Laurens by surprise. "Alex...?"

Hamilton doesn't respond. Just stares blinking at the window above his desk across from him. He grimaces and hisses when he feels Laurens's hand on his bicep.

"Alexander...? What's wrong?" Laurens asks, his voice pleading.

"Who the hell is Manning?" Hamilton grumbles through clenched teeth, his voice tight and flat.

Laurens stiffens, wanting to explain himself for not telling Hamilton about his arranged girlfriend in which his father gave him in hopes it would "cure" him but news flash, it didn't. But in all honesty, Laurens was a coward. He was afraid for if he did tell Hamilton, he would lose him.

"Alex..." Laurens begines but Hamilton cuts him off.

"No. Don't 'Alex' me," Hamilton hisses, rolling over onto his side to face Laurens. "Just get to the fucking point. Who the hell is she?"

Laurens doesn't reply.

Hamilton only shakes his head, sitting himself up. "Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you tell me about her?"

Laurens ducks his chin, avoiding Hamilton's eyes.

"John..." Hamilton tries, his voice calmer.

Laurens sighs as he turns back to face him.

"Was anything you said real?!" Hamilton snaps. His chest starts to heave as he fumbles over his words, tears blurrying his eyes as he tries to understand, tries to comprehed. "The future you invisioned us having? Us, graduating high school and college together, you proposing to me and marrying me and becoming your husband. Us raising a family...is...is...is all of that...was any of that real?"

"Alex..." Laurens huffs, trying to reach for Hamilton's hands but Hamilton yanks them back towards his chest and glances over his shoulder, sniffing. He feels somethig wet trickle down his cheek. Laurens sighs and clears his thraot. "I don't love her."

"Bullshit," Hamilton scoffs, rolling his eyes.

Laurens shakes his head. "No. I'm serious. I don't."

"Then...then why--" Hamilton slowly cranes his neck over his shoulder, his vision blurried.

"It was arranged," Laurens admits. "My father...well...my father thought it'd be best to get me a wife in hopes it would cure me of this...of us..." He gestures with his hands at the both of them. Laurens ducks his chin towards his chest once more. "I was a fool. A coward for not telling you about Martha. I was...I was afraid..."

Hamilton sniffs and crawls closer towards him. "Afraid?"

Laurens nods sheepishly and glances over his shoulder. "After Kinlcoh...Francis...my ex...I also thought it would help, in all honesty. But you. You showed up."

Hamilton smiles sheepishly to himself, his cheeks flushing with color. Laurens grins slightly and presses his lips to Hamilton's forehead.

"And you changed my life," Laurens continues, leaning against the pillows as he wraps his arm around Hamilton, Hamilton resting his head on Laurens's shoulder as he listens to his voice. "You changed my whole life, Alexander. I love you." Hamilton looks up at this. "I love you so much. And only you. I should have told you sooner, but...I was a coward...all I can do now is hope that you wil forgive me. Though I don't fully expect you to forgive me instantly, in fact I understand if you need more time--"

Hamilton cuts Laurens off with a kiss, pressing his lips firm to Laurens.

Hamilton pulls away slowly and strokes Laurens's cheekbone. And chuckles. "John...you ramble."

"My apologies," Laurens laughs nervously, scratching the back of his neck before turning to Hamilton, his expression softening and his smile fadiing. "I truly am sorry, my dear boy. You know I never intended to hurt you. I'd never. I'd give you my life."

Hamilton feels his lips turning upward as he nods in agreement, grasping Laurens's hands in his. "And I'll give you mine."

"My dear boy," Laurens huffs which sounds like a laugh as he lays back against the pillows, pressing his cheek against Hamilton's head, kissing his temple. Hamilton curls up beside him.

"I'm yours forever, Jack."

[ultimaid]

[holds out hands] Jimothan Thoughts Pretty Please ?

[cracks knuckles] ALL RIGHT

this is gonna be long so it’s going under a readmore but this is a short list of my jimothan headcanons. cw for alcoholism mention & religion mention

he was born and raised in southwest texas!

his ethnicity is mexican-italian on both sides

he has a large extended family, mostly on his mother’s side. his dad’s family isn’t really in contact with them as much but they still sometimes saw his dad’s family

his parents are ✨divorced✨ and split up soon after jimothan’s younger brother was born. jim was only like three at the time so it doesn’t bother him much to think about considering he has no memory of it, but he knows his older brothers were upset

jimothan has a relationship with his dad, but since he and his brothers grew up living with his mom, he’s much closer to her. he still calls her at least once every two weeks to check in on her and see how she’s doing

jimothan and his mom actually used to cook together a lot when he was younger!

he’s got three brothers! his older two brothers are twins, they’re 4 years older than jimothan. his younger brother is 3 years younger than jim. he’s close to all three of them

his younger brother is gay and didn’t tell anyone until they were all adults and he was celebrating his 5-year anniversary with his boyfriend. the response from the brothers was mostly “well you never had a girlfriend and you’re the prettiest of the four of us so we kinda figured. congrats we love you”

i’m not clear on jim’s brother’s names yet but i know they all have names that start with j. listen, mama botch has a theme and shes valid for it

jimothan’s dad is like... he isn’t a bad guy, he just has old-fashioned values that he instilled in his sons growing up even if they weren’t that close. jimothan has always been super loving and accepting of those around him but he also grew up with a very clear vision in his mind of what a man is, what a straight man is, what a gay man is, etc.

jimothan was also raised catholic! he doesn’t have a real attachment to religion, but he could tell it meant a lot to his mom. he stopped going to church after he moved out though

anyways. jim had a pretty decent childhood! got a big loving family, weird but not awful relationship with his father, pretty popular in school. he played football in high school and while he wasn’t very GOOD at it, he certainly enjoyed himself a great deal.

he met emiliana his junior year of high school and they started dating pretty soon after they met. emiliana was very sweet, very funny, and jimothan’s family liked her a lot. she wasn’t afraid to speak her mind and was very stubborn, which jimothan found endearing. they had fun together

so... they got married pretty much as soon as they graduated!

they lived in texas in a small place for a while longer. emi went to school to try and get a marketing degree while jimothan took up cooking and bartending

once emi got her degree, they moved to chicago (where emiliana was originally from) so she could work on her career. jimothan happily followed her and got really into the food industry. and while he couldn’t ever get a job as a cook (for some weird reason...), he did get steady work as a bartender.

yeah, jimothan’s vision started to go around the time he and emiliana got married. that man can’t see shit, but he refuses to get his eyes checked.

when they’d been married for about 5 years, jimothan and emiliana had parsley. jimothan was ELATED to be a dad and was so excited for parsley to join the botch family. emi had really high expectations of their kid academically, whereas jimothan really wanted a kid he could play sports and talk about girls with. he was a little disappointed to have had a “daughter”, but no matter—he adored the kid just the same, and anyone can play sports!

parsley grew up really intelligent and shy, and he never made friends very easily. he wasn’t very popular and preferred to spend his time holed up in his room reading books. jimothan obviously loved the kid, but they argued a lot because he didn’t understand parsley as a person at all.

when parsley was in middle school, jimothan and emiliana got a divorce. problems had been brewing for a long time, but they came to a head at last and neither jim nor emi could stay in the relationship any more. parsley was crushed, especially since his mother became increasingly cold to him afterwards since he reminded her so much of the things she couldn’t stand about jimothan.

jimothan got full custody (though emi had unlimited visitation rights), and he and parsley moved to new york state after the divorce was finalized.

soon after the divorce, parsley came out as trans. while jimothan had some trouble getting it at first, once he understood, he was VERY excited. he loved parsley just the same whether he was his son or his daughter, but hey, maybe now he could talk about sports or girls with him! maybe they’d start to get along better now that they could relate more!

but that... didn’t happen.

parsley stayed the same shy, nerdy kid, and no matter how much jimothan tried to connect to him, he couldn’t figure out how. he and parsley tried to have conversations, but they always devolved into arguments and miscommunications. as soon as parsley turned 18, he moved out and went to college.

and... for a long time they were estranged. jimothan was extremely lonely for years after that. it wasn’t until parsley was 28 that they reconnected again, this time at the habitat.

they’ve mended their relationship really well! they’re better at communicating now. while jimothan was a little hurt that parsley got married AND divorced over the decade he was gone and never told jimothan, he understood why parsley never said anything and promised to be a better and more present dad from now on.

parsley also helped him realize that he’s bisexual!

he and parsley are now very close! parsley is also close to his dad’s side of the family, especially his grandma, jimothan’s mom!

some miscellaneous jimothan hcs that i couldn’t fit in here:

he started developing arthritis around the age of 45, it mostly affects his knees and elbows

this man. has the THICKEST texan accent. jesus

he developed a mild dependence on alcohol during his estrangement from parsley as a way to cope with his depression. he’s now in recovery and doing very well! he is a connoisseur of virgin cocktails

parsley started to suspect his dad might be bisexual after the habitat closed and they started to hang out more. this man would not shut the fuck UP about “that weird vampire fella who used to come down to the lounge right when i was about to close”.

parsley was correct, and now jimothan has a vampire fiancé.

jimothan makes awful food because of his poor eyesight, but he still makes really good drinks because he can identify different kinds of beverages from the smell. why he can’t do the same with food, nobody knows.

he is the only one of his brothers who is capable of growing such an impressive mustache and he is IMMENSELY proud of it

tiff did his nails one night while jerafina and parsley did Very Drunk Bathroom Karaoke. he and tiff are now very good friends and he has her top three drink orders memorized

[volleydorkscentral]

ANSWER ALL OF THE QUESTIONS IN THE UNUSUAL ASK GAME, YOU COWARD.

First of all: 

Second, questions under the cut: 

Spotify, SoundCloud, or Pandora? - Spotify! all the way. i hoarse my bf’s account so he can never listen but i don’t care it’s mine now it’s full of my music and my playlists and whenever i’m listening to it and it suddenly changes cause he tries to use it on his phone I call him, “are you using spotify?” “oh. i mean i can listen to something else?” “cool, thanks!” and i get my music back. :D

is your room messy or clean? - it’s somewhere in between. my actual ROOM (bed room, i assume) is pretty clean, except i never make the bed. but the house is .. a work in progress. it’s not dirty but it’s cluttered so my bf and I are having to work together to clear that and build shelves and stuff for more storage space.

what color are your eyes? - dark brown! (with little green flecks when I cry)

do you like your name? why? - Not really? i don’t hate it. My mom wanted to name me Savannah but they had her sign the certificate while she was still drugged from her c-section so it ended up as Crystal?? Idk. She named her dolls Crystal when she was a kid.

what is your relationship status? - dating for almost six years. 

how many times a week do you shower? uhhh idk. I don’t shower every day (unless i get gross). AT LEAST four times… but I don’t wash my hair every time cause that’s bad for my hair. I SHOWER WHEN I AM DIRTY.

favorite tv show? does Haikyuu!! count? that’s probably a given. HM. Well, we don’t have cable so I don’t watch a lot of NEW shows? …. OH. Duh. Fuckin me I’m a dumbass. Bob’s Burgers. I literally have it on ALL THE TIME. I don’t like silence so it’s ALWAYS on in the background if i’m not listening to music. I’ve seen every episode a zillion times. I can usually pinpoint every scene and the major lines/jokes.

shoe size? most brands it’s 5 1/2 

how tall are you? SHORTER THAN NISHINOYA BUT TALLER THAN YACHI. I’m like… 5ft-5’1 depending on how much my back hurts. (i used that earlier and someone said it was funny and i’m trash so i’ll repeat it here!)

sandals or sneakers? i wear Bobs LOL. (knock off toms) and i’ve got one pair of sneakers and sometimes I wear my ballet flats around even though my bf says they look dumb fuck u they’re comfy.

do you go to the gym? No. I used to, but where I live now it’d be like a 45 min drive. I don’t really LIKE gyms though? working out is boring to me. No matter how hard I try. I’d love to start dancing again for real.

describe your dream date - April 25th because it’s not too cold and not too hot. Okay but jk that’s a lie where I live it’s balls hot in april. Idk. I’d like to go hiking when it’s not very hot? Take my dog, let her run around. Take a picnic. Sit in a grassy field and talk about dumb shit cause we know each other’s dreams and hopes by now.

how much money do you have in your wallet at the moment? UHM. fuck like…. $27? i know there’s a twenty and a handful of ones. And a handful of change.

what color socks are you wearing? - NONE. MY FEET ARE COLD. FOREVER COLD.

how many pillows do you sleep with? - pft like 6.

do you have a job? what do you do? - No; I quit after being over worked, under appreciated, cheated out of my paychecks a few times, and no job still due to lingering health issues.

how many friends do you have? answered this already!

whats the worst thing you have ever done? - UHM. Idk i haven’t murdered anyone. I don’t like this question cause if i really try to answer it i’ll spiral into a frustrated, furious depression and self-hatred so… NOPE.

whats your favorite candle scent? i’ve got this candle i got from etsy that’s like… Scottish Highlands? It’s grassy and kinda MAGICY.

3 favorite boy names - i don’t really have favorite names?

3 favorite girl names - answered already

favorite actor? god idk. i’m so bad with names and celebrities. uhm. I really like don’t have a favorite. I LIKE a bunch. Benedict Cumberbatch; Freddie Highmore… uhm. uh. Hugh Laurie? 

favorite actress? IDK OKAY?? I LIKE a bunch but i don’t favorite?? I really like Gwendoline Christie. Uhm. Anne Hathaway makes me laugh. MAGGIE SMITH. how could i forget!??!

who is your celebrity crush? I LEGIT don’t have one.

favorite movie? CLUE takes the top spot most days.

do you read a lot? whats your favorite book? I used to read a lot more. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

money or brains?  personality, bitch.

do you have a nickname? what is it? not *really* but people online used to call me Chrys. My bf calls me ‘sweetie’ sometimes but he also calls the dog that so… ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

how many times have you been to the hospital? - uhm. like the er? Once when I broke my arm. Doc in the box? Not since 2017.

top 10 favorite songs - PFT. Uhm. Jesus just let me die a little. Excluding all Disney; Not in any order:

No One - Biometrix

Danser - Lisandro Cuxi

A Single Moment of Sincerity (E) - Asking Alexandria (the band I was listening to when I designed my rockstar MC that I love so much)

The Annabel Trilogy (a series of 3 albums) - Alesana. Can’t pick a single song because they’re all a part of a huge story. Listen to them.

Chucky vs. The Giant Tortoise - Dance Gavin Dance

Anticoagulant - Sianvar

Ohioisonfire - Of Mice & Men

Coincidance - Handsome Dancer (Watch the Video for the love of god. THANKS ASH FOR THIS GEM)

Devil’s Backbone - The Civil Wars

Still Here - Digital Daggers (i’ve been listening it to a lot for inspiration for a new AU so… yup. That’s gonna be fun and painful)

do you take any medications daily? - yup

what is your skin type? (oily, dry, etc) - i got dry ass skin it sucks

what is your biggest fear? - uhm… physical fear? idk. Heights is a big one that I developed? I used to not care but a while ago I was walking on a bridge and I just… looked over and got FUCKING DIZZZY with nausea and fear that I was gonna fall and almost fainted. 

how many kids do you want? - HONESTLY… one or two.

whats your go to hair style? - tried to brush but gave up so just threw it in a claw clip

what type of house do you live in? (big, small, etc) - moderate? one story, four bedrooms. big ass yard though for the dog

who is your role model? - I don’t really have one.

what was the last compliment you received? - answered already

what was the last text you sent? - actual TEXT message? ‘as long as there’s someone with her overnight she’ll be okay during the day cause of the dog door and stuff. just play with her before you go to work and maybe hide some treats around the house for her to hunt for’ - texting my friend that’s gonna house sit while we go on a family vacation soon.

how old were you when you found out santa wasn’t real? - UH idk the age? i know I saw my mom writing scavenger cards though. My fam has never had a lot of money so to make Christmas more interesting my mom/grandparents (we lived with them till I was in 3rd grade) would make these elaborate scavenger hunts for me and my cousins to do to find our presents around the house or out in the barn or, on one memorable occasion, at the bottom of our pool! Good memories. 

what is your dream car? - one that RUNS and has badass AC and speakers

opinion on smoking? - hate it. please don’t do it around me. my bf’s family alllllll smoke all the time and i get so sick when i have to go on vacation with them and be around it for a long time. 

do you go to college? - i DID. I went to Culinary school and majored in Baking & Pastry

what is your dream job? - Author or Dog Trainer

would you rather live in rural areas or the suburbs? - rural as all hell. give me trees, cows, and horses. 

do you take shampoo and conditioner bottles from hotels? Not usually? but usually the people i’m with do. 

do you have freckles? Not on my face (except one) but i’ve got more like… on my arms and just randomly all over but i dont think ‘freckles’ would be what anyone thinks of when they think of me

do you smile for pictures? - only if i’m forced to be in them

how many pictures do you have on your phone?  - HAHAHAHAHAHA. Well. Before I got my new phone it was over 10k. Now though its only about 2k. 

have you ever peed in the woods? - Only when I was camping. 

do you still watch cartoons? - ALL THE GODDAMN TIME

do you prefer chicken nuggets from Wendy’s or McDonalds? - neither. but i HATE WENDYS and can tolerate McD’s fries and they’ve got ballin’ sweet tea so I guess McD.

Favorite dipping sauce? this honey dijon creamy thing at my favorite French restaurant but idk what is is.

what do you wear to bed? - t-shirt 

have you ever won a spelling bee? - YUP. 2nd grade.  

what are your hobbies? - writing, crocheting, photography, reading, uh… i forget what else

can you draw? when i was doing it all the time i did ok? but i’m WAY TOO IMPATIENT now a days to do it. 

do you play an instrument? - no but i wish i did :(

what was the last concert you saw? - i’ve never been to a concert. crowds are icky

tea or coffee? - tea!

Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts? - already answered this

do you want to get married? - Yes pls

what is your crush’s first and last initial? - (bf, but I suppose i still have a crush on him? is love considered a crush?) J. Y. 

are you going to change your last name when you get married? god yes. my current last name is my shitbag of a sperm doner and i hate it. my mom kept it after they divorced only cause she thought her maiden name would be too hard for me to spell but i would give anything to have that name instead

what color looks best on you? - idk. i prefer black but i’ve been told green and certain shades of pink/yellow. 

do you miss anyone right now? - not until i thought about it, thanks

do you sleep with your door open or closed? open so my pupper can go in and out

do you believe in ghosts? not until i’m faced with darkness and creepy things 

what is your biggest pet peeve? people chewing their food loud. people not picking up after themselves. people interrupting me (but not in the excited, OMG way. that we can work though) but in the ‘i don’t care what you’re saying i’m going to talk now’ way

last person you called` - my bf to discuss plans for his brother’s bday

favorite ice cream flavor? cookies n’ cream!

regular oreos or golden oreos? DOUBLE STUFF OF EITHER

chocolate or rainbow sprinkles? FUCK SPRINKLES

what shirt are you wearing? a shirt that has my dog’s face on it :D

what is your phone background? - the art that Ash drew of Bokuto from my fic Just a Taste!!

are you outgoing or shy? - i hate talking to strangers but with my friends i’m pretty fucking loud and chatty

do you like it when people play with your hair? only people i know

do you like your neighbors? nope. he’s an asshole who neglected his dog and i wanna skin him alive

do you wash your face? at night? in the morning? i do my best to remember to do it at night but i always do it when i shower

have you ever been high? yup. 

have you ever been drunk? yup

last thing you ate? BIRTHDAY CAKE

favorite lyrics right now - idk? i guess the first lyrics that came to mind, even though they’re not my favorite, just ones that i like and were stuck in my head for a while: “All of the handsome fiction / will melt away / and when the flame burns brighter / Evaporate” Evaporate - Dance Gavin Dance

summer or winter?  WINTER FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. IT’S SO FUCKING HOT IN SUMMER I DIE EVERY DAY

day or night? both have their merits

dark, milk, or white chocolate? - all chocolate but i prefer white to just EAT. 

favorite month? uhm. uhh. November maybe? for NaNoWriMo. 

what is your zodiac sign - pftt.. i think i used to be a Gemini? i don’t believe in all that stuff 

who was the last person you cried in front of? - ….. my dog? but probably my mom and Grandmother when my GM basically said my bf didn’t love me and was a shit human being and i was a shit granddaughter for loving him. i was both upset and furious and i walked away from them. (my mom called and apologized, but i haven’t spoken to my GM since)

THERE ASH ARE YOU GODDAMN HAPPY. that took so long LOL (I hope the formatting came through I had to redo it on this tumblr page UGH)

[obtusemedia]

In Ascending Order: Top 50 Songs of the ‘90s

The ‘90s have become sort of an idyllic period that many Millennials and Gen Xers look fondly upon. It makes sense — the economy was good, Seinfeld ruled televisions, we weren’t worried about either the USSR or North Korea nuking us — but if there’s one thing that has really kept the ‘90s beloved, it’s the music.

There’s something for everyone at the end of the 20th Century, from grunge to gangsta rap to boy bands to Britpop. The ‘90s featured rock’s final years of pop relevance, as well as the blossoming of its underground movements. Hip-hop became a massive cultural force. And although pop wasn’t as strong as it was in the ‘80s, it did have a nice bounce-back period near Y2K.

Capturing the essence of the wildly-divergent ‘90s in just 50 songs is difficult, but I took a swing at it anyways. Let’s dive in:

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

> “Even Flow” by Pearl Jam (1992): Since I’m a Puget Sound native, I should love Pearl Jam more than I do. But sorry, I’ve never been able to muster too much love for the iconic grunge act. That said, “Even Flow” has a great, energetic groove that goes nicely with Eddie Vedder’s bellow.

> “Not If You Were the Last Junkie On Earth” by the Dandy Warhols (1997): By 1997, Nevermind seemed like a century away, as bright-and-shiny pop tunes took over from Alt Nation. So how did indie rock respond? By making a snarktastic, uber-catchy power pop jam about how “heroin was so passé,” complete with a music video featuring dancing syringes. The ‘90s were wild, guys.

> “Crash Into Me” by Dave Matthews Band (1996): If Greta Gerwig gets to admit that this song is actually good despite the oddly skeevy lyrics at times, then so do I. Just forget about the time they dumped 800 pounds of poop in the Chicago River and let Dave’s froggy voice whisk you away.

> “Metal Detektor” by Spoon (1998): America’s most consistent indie rock band wouldn’t reach their heights until the early 2000′s, but “Metal Detektor” is a solid lo-fi preview of the groovy, nervy tunes to come.

> “All Star” by Smash Mouth (1999): Forget the memes and Shrek and remember that this song is iconic for a reason. Did it age badly? Absolutely. But that’s part of its dorky, wonderful charm. And like every young Millennial, I know every word by heart. HEY NOW

#50: “Inbetweener” by Sleeper (1995)

One thing I love about Britpop is its fondness for character vignettes. Pulp were masters of this, and Blur occasionally dipped their toes in that pool, but even the B-listers knew how to nail a depressed-suburbanite character study.

“Inbetweener” tells the story of a married couple who settled for each other. They weren’t each others’ first-choices, they were just supposed to be “inbetweeners.” By the time they’ve settled into adulthood, their lives have descended into complete boredom, but they’re also too lazy to change anything. It’s the black hole of mediocrity.

Sleeper does a stellar job making the story pop, with a sunny sound to balance out lead singer Louise Wener’s deadpan vocals. In a way, it’s a bit ironic that a pop-rock song with a chorus this anthemic would be about the most boring lives imaginable, but I imagine that was sort-of the point.

#49: “When I Come Around” by Green Day (1994)

Bay Area legends Green Day went 100 percent into the pop side of pop-punk with the infamous graduation anthem “Good Riddance.” But I’ll always prefer their earlier, snottier side, which balanced the two genres perfectly.

“When I Come Around” is a song so maddeningly catchy that it doesn’t even matter that drummer Tre Cool utterly fails to stay on beat, occasionally slowing down and speeding up. Thank god for Billie Joe Armstrong’s timeless melody and crunchy guitar tone, both of which keep this song afloat, along with a solid slap-bass. 

Honestly, the amateur vibe of “When I Come Around” is endearing nearly 25 years later, when most mainstream rock feels aggressively focus-grouped. Even Green Day would become much more polished later on (not that this was always bad), so it’s nice to see the youthful energy and passion on display.

#48: “Jesus Freak” by DC Talk (1995)

There were many subgenres that peaked in the ‘90s that I’ve already mentioned, but there’s one more movement that had its prime years in this era: Christian rock.

...wait, wait, don’t click away yet! I’m not trying to proselytize here — some ‘90s Christian music could pass as the real deal. A few, like Jars of Clay, even notched a mainstream hit. But no Christian rock band was bigger among the youth-group set than DC Talk, who never really crossed over to secular audiences. And their signature song, “Jesus Freak,” is absolutely ridiculous — and that’s what makes it great.

Christian music in the ‘10s is mostly bland and focus-grouped to death. If you can tell one Hillsong or Lauren Daigle tune apart from the next, you have better ears than I. But “Jesus Freak” was a strange beast. Instead of joy or thankfulness, its primary emotions are defiance and rage. They even worked with the same music video director as Nine Inch Nails! Amy Grant would never. (although she certainly had her mainstream pop sellout moment in the ‘90s)

Does “Jesus Freak” have some embarrassing lyrics about John The Baptist’s belly? Of course. Does it blatantly rip off “Smells Like Teen Spirit?" Definitely. But, most importantly — is it a banger? HELL (err...heaven) YEAH.

#47: “Vapour Trail” by Ride (1990)

Shoegaze is definitely a sound that I respect more than I actually like. Personally (as you’ll see later on this list), I prefer its more structured, catchier cousin, dream pop.

But Ride managed to find the sweet spot between My Bloody Valentine and top-40 with their sweetly melancholy “Vapour Trail.” It definitely has all the hallmarks of shoegaze — it’s very spaced-out, the lyrics are both romantic and depressing, and there’s a definite wall-of-sound feel to it — but there’s also an actual hook. Thanks to its jangly guitars and orchestral coda, it almost feels like The Smiths’ take on the subgenre.

#46: “Enter Sandman” by Metallica (1991)

Why yes, I am that loser that’s never been able to get into metal, yet loves the simpler pleasures of “Enter Sandman.” What can I say — it’s a total jam and the hooks are plentiful.

It’s honestly kind of hilarious that this song became a massive success right as R.E.M. and Nirvana were rapidly shifting what popular rock sounded like, because “Enter Sandman” leans much heavier towards cheesy, over-the-top hair metal than grunge. I can’t get enough of James Hetfield hamming it up on the mic, literally cackling like a Disney villain at a few points.

For me, the corniness is part of the fun here, along with the raw energy that the band brings to the song. “Enter Sandman” let the masses headbang along with the metalheads, and for that, I’m grateful.

#45: “...Baby One More Time” by Britney Spears (1998)

Here’s proof of how massive Britney Spears’ debut single was: I was in preschool when it was released, and I knew it just as well as the Sesame Street or Arthur theme songs at the time. “...Baby One More Time” was a staple of Radio Disney, which was my main exposure to non-Christian music before elementary school (that, and Thriller, of course). Those opening piano stabs were etched into my brain from a very early age.

There’s a good reason it’s stuck with me: Britney’s breakthrough smash is a pop classic. “...Baby One More Time” captures the passion of a teenage crush better than almost any song from its era. And Max Martin’s crystal-clear, melodramatic production is untouchable. Frankly, it might still be Britney’s best song, over 20 years later.

#44: “Animal Nitrate” by Suede (1993)

One of the first major Britpop anthems, “Animal Nitrate” is a swaggering, cocky ode to the UK’s finest glam rock. Marc Bolan would’ve killed to write something this seedy and catchy.

In a way, it serves as sort of the mid-point between Blur and Pulp’s winking snark and Oasis’ hard-charging stadium-fillers. Just add a nice dose of sleaze. Suede weren’t able to keep up the momentum from their landmark debut, but at least they have classic singles like “Animal Nitrate” that cemented their legacy as pioneers.

#43: “Born Slippy .NUXX” by Underworld (1996)

I’m not normally a fan of super-long electronic songs. In fact, this will be the only representative of electronica — a fairly popular scene in the late ‘90s — to show up on this list.

But “Born Slippy” is special. First off, to be completely honest with y’all: I’m a bit biased, since the track was famously featured in Trainspotting, one of my favorite ‘90s movies. So it was always going to have positive connotations for me. Beyond that, “Born Slippy,” more than any other classic electronica song of its time, is bonkers. After a long, atmospheric intro, it’s essentially five and a half minutes of rambling, drunken chaos over a thudding drum beat (with one little break in the middle).

It’s both minimalist (a good chunk of the song is just a drum machine and chanting) and maximalist (IT’S SO LOUD). “Born Slippy” is the audio equivalent of losing your mind, and I love every second of it.

#42: “Groove Is In The Heart” by Deee-Lite ft. Q-Tip (1990)

And here’s a dance song with the complete opposite vibe! While Underworld turned their thumping beats into cold, confusing chaos, Deee-Lite only has one mission with their classic one-hit-wonder: to soundtrack the greatest party of all time.

“Groove” just about succeeds in that goal, too. The bassline and clattering percussion are untouchable, the lyrics are pure nonsense in the best way (more dance songs should throw in Dr. Seuss references), and the group even snagged funk legend Bootsy Collins to throw in some random ad-libs here and there. 

Q-Tip, a budding legend in his own right, contributes a nice verse, but the real draw here is Deee-Lite’s aggressive quirkiness. Where else will you find a dancefloor filler that includes slide-whistle solos?

#41: “This Is How We Do It” by Montell Jordan (1995)

New Jack Swing — the subgenre that mixed R&B smoothness with hip-hop beats and attitude — might have peaked in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, but its best track came way after its pinnacle.

“This Is How We Do It” will always be an effective crowdpleaser. Somehow, Montell Jordan found a way to balance street smarts with a squeaky-clean jam perfect for a Bar Mitzvah. He essentially perfected Will Smith’s formula, but Jordan had an extra advantage: his golden vocals. Yeah, his rapping is a bit corny, but you can’t deny that voice.

The ‘90s had plenty of gangsta-lite party jams like “This Is How We Do It,” but thanks to Jordan’s charisma and a deathless chorus, this one stands above the rest.

#40: “Movin’ On Up” by Primal Scream (1991)

If you’re going to rip off the Rolling Stones’ “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” you might as well go for the jugular and only steal its massive ending.

“Movin’ On Up” is absolutely shameless in that regard, but I’ll be damned if it isn’t effective anyways. This gospel/classic-rock pastiche is four minutes of straight euphoria: Uplifting lyrics! Jazzy piano! Soaring guitar solos! And of course, a gospel choir so powerful that their voices break through the noise like the Kool-Aid Man. 

Primal Scream were smart enough to let the choir take over the second half of the song, just letting the vaguely-religious vibes ride itself out. Because of this brilliant decision, “Movin’ On Up” is somehow more danceable than the rest of its album, the acid-house landmark Screamadelica.

#39: “Just A Girl” by No Doubt (1995)

Riot grrrl, an aggressively feminist brand of indie rock, was an important ‘90s subgenre, but rarely a commercially successful one. Still, there were some acts that polished up that style of angst and packaged into something different yet still great, and one of them was No Doubt.

Although Gwen Stefani might be more well-known to most millennials for teaching us all how to spell bananas, her best song might still be “Just A Girl.” It’s a pretty simple concept — woman is righteously upset by how society coddles her because of her gender — but Stefani sells with her flexible vocals and loads of personality. She shifts from an exaggerated Betty Boop pastiche to a Californian alt-rock wail within seconds.

The rest of No Doubt are able to keep pace with their frontwoman, bouncing back and forth between the springy verses and mosh-friendly, speedy choruses. It’s a good fit for Stefani’s manic energy, and a nice burst of bright energy to bring a close to a dreary era of rock.

#38: “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem” by DMX (1998)

Forget shiny suits: If I’m listening to late ‘90s hip-hop, I’ll take the rawer pleasures of DMX every day of the week.

On his breakout hit “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem,” DMX began to hone his now-legendary untamed style, although it’s a bit more subtle than how he would sound a few years later. It’s not quite as bombastic, but in some ways, that makes this feel a little more like the real X. It literally sounds like a mobster making threats, and it just happens to rhyme and be over a killer beat.

There’s all the ridiculous lyrics you’d expect from DMX here — highlights include the wonderfully emo couplet “All I know is pain/all I feel is rain” and a coda that’s simply a machine gun firing and X yelling “TALK IS CHEAP, MOTHERFUCKER!!!” But for the most part, it’s proto-DMX, and it’s interesting to see a larger-than-life figure somewhat grounded.

#37: “Friday I’m In Love” by The Cure (1992)

The first couple years of the ‘90s are flooded with awkward ‘80s leftovers, but one wonderful (and very ‘80s) song that snuck into the next decade is “Friday I’m In Love,” The Cure’s final hit.

It’s shocking that something this bouncy, simple and optimistic came out the same year Nirvana and Pearl Jam dominated the airwaves, but great music can succeed at any time. Robert Smith’s nursery-rhyme melodies and lyrics are so simple that it’s shocking that this song wasn’t actually written ages beforehand.

And it’s refreshing to hear a band famous for getting angsty pull out a happy-go-lucky love song tailor-made for romantic comedies. At some point, Smith had to write an upbeat song, right?

#36: “Everlong” by Foo Fighters (1997)

There’s an argument out there that “Everlong,” written by Foo Fighters frontman and former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, is better than any Nirvana song. I cannot remotely agree (spoiler: Nirvana places much higher on this list), but I can understand why “Everlong” has such a strong reputation.

Easily the best Foo Fighters song, “Everlong” is everything you’d want in a radio-friendly alt-rock single. It’s catchy, but still has some legitimate grit and bite. Propulsive and anthemic, yet still angsty and relatable. Grohl somehow took a grimy post-grunge banger, added romantic lyrics, and made it work. I certainly can’t imagine Bush or Everclear pulling that off.

#35: “Wannabe” by Spice Girls (1996)

In less than three minutes, five British women kicked down the doors of alt-rock and birthed the late-’90s bubblegum pop boom with one song. And what a glorious burst of energy that song is.

"Wannabe” might be the most purely fun song on this entire list. From the springy piano beat to each of the five girls showing off their bold, feisty attitudes (except for Posh Spice...sorry, Victoria), to Scary and Ginger Spices’ cheeky rap breakdown at the end, it’s impossible not to like. The song is a bit repetitive, yes, but when you have nuclear-grade weapon hooks like these, you might as well use them. ZIGAZIGAHHH

#34: “Fake Plastic Trees” by Radiohead (1995)

And now to the exact opposite side of British music!

Not to be that annoying contrarian, but I’ve never been able to get into Radiohead. A lot of their music is too cerebral for my tastes — I don’t mind thoughtful lyrics or experimentation, but I need a hook or a groove to grab onto.

Still, I do have a fond spot for their early years. And “Fake Plastic Trees,” my favorite song of theirs, is the perfect midpoint between grunge angst and sweeping Britpop balladry. 

The lyrics are abstract, yet Thom Yorke’s yearning, cracked vocals convey more than any words could’ve. Like one of my favorite modern acts, Japanese Breakfast, his voice acts simply as another instrument to convey the heartbreak. Match that with a slow-burn power ballad fit for a rom-com credit roll, and you’ve got an instant classic. It’s really too bad Radiohead got bored with this sound...

#33: “It Was A Good Day” by Ice Cube (1992)

Ice Cube is not normally a happy guy in his classic songs. Whether he’s pissed at the cops or his former bandmates, he’s usually in a bad mood for some reason. But for his most beloved track, Cube imagines what a day with no problems would be like, and it’s sublime.

He nabs a triple double on the court without trying. He gets to bang a chick he’s been trying to have sex with since high school. He seemingly wins every game of bones and craps he plays. And most importantly, the police and gangs didn’t hassle him.

Many gangsta rap songs are about turmoil and chaos, but “It Was A Good Day” shows that even the toughest thugs just wanted some peace and to have a good time.

(although if it was a really good day, the Supersonics would’ve beaten the Lakers...)

#32: “Hunger Strike” by Temple of the Dog (1991)

This song is so Seattle that the CD single probably came with a complimentary damp flannel, a Dick’s deluxe, and coffee stains.

It’s a bit surprising to me that there hasn’t ben any Seattle artists on the list proper yet, seeing as the city was the epicenter of ‘90s culture. Obviously, grunge played a role, but this was also the decade when Starbucks, Microsoft and Amazon blew up; the decade when the Sonics and Mariners had superstars like Gary Payton and Ken Griffey, Jr. (the Seahawks had to wait another decade to hit their stride); the decade where the Emerald City’s reputation changed from South Alaska to one of America’s iconic locales.

And before Nirvana and Pearl Jam took led that charge, “Hunger Strike” was the first grunge breakthrough, and for good reason. In a way, it’s sort of the Watch The Throne of grunge, with Chris Cornell and Eddie Vedder exchanging vocals. The chorus, when Vedder sings the hook while Cornell bellows “I’M GOING HUNGRAAAAAAAAAAAY” like a madman, gives me goosebumps every time. 

Honestly, I like this lighter-waving ballad more than any of Pearl Jam or Soundgarden’s actual songs. Not sure why this connects with me more — perhaps it’s the four minutes of raw emotion and wailing vocals over gorgeous harmonizing guitars. Vedder and Cornell work shockingly well together, too. I wish the duo made more music.

#31: “Connection” by Elastica (1994)

There is no Britpop song that’s cooler than “Connection.” While most of the subgenre is all about wink-wink cleverness or gigantic classic-rock riffs, Elastica dispenses with both of those for Justine Frischmann’s snarling attitude.

Elastica kept things very simple on their most iconic single. There’s a rudimentary guitar riff (which yes, they stole from Wire, but who cares), a steady beat, and Frischmann rolling her eyes over the whole thing. “Connection” is not a song that needs a lot of explaining: one listen, and you’ll instantly understand why even American teens couldn’t resist the snark.

#30: “Alison” by Slowdive (1993)

Slowdive’s masterpiece, Souvlaki, might have been a bit late to the shoegaze party by 1993, but it and its iconic leadoff track, “Alison,” have stood tall over the movement regardless.

My favorite shoegaze song, “Alison” is a hazy soup of distorted guitars, hypnotic drums and hopelessly romantic lyrics about a druggy (and possibly imaginary?) relationship. About half of the lines are about drugs and confusion, and lead singer Neil Halstead describes the titular woman as his anchor through the chaos of life. It’s a slow-dance made for a goth prom, and it lingers in your brain long after it’s over.

#29: “Baby Got Back” by Sir Mix-a-Lot (1992)

“Baby Got Back” has unfortunately become sort of a punchline by this point. Not because it’s a clunker —I think most people seem to love it as much as I do — but because of its constant feature in kids’ movies (I first heard it in Shark Tale as a child...the early ‘00s were a strange time) and the fact that the song has been boiled down to just a few lines. 

“I like big butts and I cannot lie.” “Oh. My. Gawd. Becky, look at her butt.” “My anaconda don’t want none unless you’ve got buns, hon.” Those moments define “Baby Got Back” more than anything else.

Which is a shame, because it’s a masterpiece of trashy fun. Seattle icon Sir-Mix-a-Lot somehow found out how to make solid punchlines about booty for four minutes — you try coming up with that many iconic moments in a short timespan! And the dizzying production, with its sharp horn bursts and super-tight bassline, is no joke.

"Baby Got Back” might be a goofy novelty track, but there’s actual effort put in. It’s a formula more artists should strive for.

#28: “California Love” by 2Pac feat. Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman (1995)

Yes, this is the cliché 2Pac choice. But “California Love” is difficult to resist.

Backed by a rowdy Dre beat (and a great opening verse from the Dr. as well), Pac’s comeback single after being released from prison is truly timeless. You go to any L.A. party or sporting event and it’ll inevitably be played (partly because it’s strangely clean for a gangsta rap anthem). And 2Pac is game to shout out the entire state — he even gives Sacramento props over 20 years before Lady Bird!

Pac has some deeper, more introspective songs than “California Love.” But sometimes, the basic pick is the right one.

#27: “Summer Babe (Winter Version)” by Pavement (1992)

Pavement has always been the cool kids’ ‘90s band. While the massive alt-rock acts put their raw, bleeding-heart emotions on display, Pavement kept things sardonic and snarky. They were willing to poke fun at The Smashing Pumpkins. They’re essentially the Jim Halpert of rock — kind of lazy and self-removed, but with too much charisma to ignore.

Yet, for all their snarky bonafides, my favorite song of theirs is one of their more emotional. “Summer Babe” still features Stephen Malkmus’ famously flat, dry vocals, but the song has some real heft to it regardless. The deep-fried guitar shredding its way though the track and the noisy drums work well amongst the sloppy-but-charming sound. It’s meandering, but when Malkmus puts some juice in his vocals for the final minute, it still strikes a chord. 

#26: “Deceptacon” by Le Tigre (1999)

By the late ‘90s, punk icon Kathleen Hanna had already moved on from her massively influential riot grrrl band, Bikini Kill. Distorted guitars were so 1992. What was next? ‘80s nostalgia, of course!

“Deceptacon,” by Hanna’s other famous band, Le Tigre, is a sizzling slice of new wave perfection. With its proudly-analog synth stabs and dance beat, the song perfected the indie-band-goes-disco formula 10 years before everyone else tried it. Seriously, this sounds way more like 2009 than 1999, and it’s shocking that its somehow from the 20th Century.

But “Deceptacon” isn’t purely a Duran Duran tribute — there’s still that same fury that Hanna was famous for. Her raw vocals make for a strange, yet captivating combination with the poppy beat. It’s a punk song you could dance to, just like the Ramones always wanted!

#25: “Fantasy (Bad Boy Remix)” by Mariah Carey feat. Ol’ Dirty Bastard and Puff Daddy (1995)

There might not have been any ‘90s popstar bigger than Mariah Carey. She racked up 14 number-one hits, including “One Sweet Day,” a monster R&B collaboration with Boys II Men that is still tied for the longest stay at the top of the charts (if only it was a better song). 

However, she’s never been my favorite — overwrought R&B ballads really aren’t my thing. But she did release one single that I unabashedly love, and that’s partly due to an assist from one of hip-hop’s weirdest stars.

I’m still not sure why the powers that be felt that Carey, a super-polished pop balladeer, and Ol’ Dirty Bastard, a rapper who sounded and acted like a homeless man on bath salts, was a good combo. But it worked beautifully! ODB’s weirdo charm proved to be a nice balance to Carey’s more sanitized sound. And the pop structure reigned in ODB just enough — although that didn’t stop him from spending the first 45 seconds just shouting out random places (“JAPAN ARE YOU IN THE HOUSE?!?”) and later quoting Donny and Marie Osmond. The man was a maniac.

But arguably what makes the song work better than either artist’s contribution is that sparkling production. The remix of “Fantasy,” helmed by Bad Boy mastermind Puff Daddy, strips back the original song’s heavier sampling of the ‘80s classic “Genius of Love” to just the groovy bassline for most of the song, letting the synth burbles wait until the chorus to pop. The result is one of the few truly great American pop songs of the mid ‘90s.

#24: “Blue Jeans” by Blur (1993)

Despite their relatively low placement on this list, Blur are my absolute favorite band of the ‘90s. They helped create one of its prominent movements, Britpop, with their 1992 single “Popscene,” and went on to dominate the subgenre. And when they got bored with that sound five years later, Blur proved they could do angsty, distorted alt-rock just as well as the Americans. (And five years after that, lead singer Damon Albarn started a fun little side project — you might have heard of them.)

But my favorite song of theirs doesn’t really fit into either Blur’s eras. Technically, “Blue Jeans” was released on their first Britpop album, Modern Life is Rubbish, but it doesn’t really have the same witty, uber-English vibe as their hit singles from that time. Instead, it’s a low-key, almost dream-pop song that’s simply about being content in a relationship. 

Sounds a bit boring, until you actually listen to the track — Albarn’s melody here is stunningly beautiful, yet down-to-earth, and the quaint music backing him matches the vibe of the song exactly. And his lyrics nail the early stages of love — “I don’t really wanna change a thing/I wanna stay this way forever.” There’s few songs that capture the simple joys of a romance like “Blue Jeans,” particularly in the honeymoon period.

#23: “Forgot About Dre” by Dr. Dre feat. Eminem (1999)

The defining sound of West Coast hip-hop — the squealing synths and trunk-rattling bass of G-Funk — was mastered by one man in the early ‘90s. Dr. Dre’s The Chronic was a landmark for the genre in 1992, and his iconic style can be heard from MCs throughout most of the decade.

But by 1999, things had changed. The biggest names in hip-hop sounded nothing like Dre’s signature sound, from Puff Daddy’s sample-heavy pop-rap to the chaotic Southern twang coming from No Limit Records. Dre was seen as a has-been, a relic.

However, “Forgot About Dre” ended Dre’s slump that year. The funky Chronic beats were supplanted by a sharper-edged, metallic production over which Dre publicly shamed the world for ignoring him and his legacy. It’s a ballsy move to already anoint yourself as a legend just 11 years after you burst onto the scene, but with Dre’s track record, he could afford to do so. And although he’s not the greatest rapper technically, he spits with enough force and charisma to sell his snarling lines.

Dre also had a partner to give him a boost: the then-newbie Eminem. A lot of Em’s big 2000′s hits have aged badly in my opinion — the production is awkward and there’s too much homophobia — but he sounds sharp as hell on “Forgot About Dre.” His verse is arguably the song’s highlight, as he unleashes a rapid-fire, charmingly random verse with endlessly quotable lines.

“Forgot About Dre” cemented Dre’s status as a titan of the industry who could seemlessly create new trends and stay afloat through multiple decades. And with it being one of Eminem’s breakout moments, it also proved Dre could be a kingmaker.

#22: “You Oughta Know” by Alanis Morissette (1995)

The ‘90s were the decade of angst. So what better climate was there to release a scathing takedown of an ex, who may or may not be one of the dudes from Full House?

Okay, so it’s never been confirmed that “You Oughta Know” is actually about Dave Coulier. But that doesn’t lessen its rage and impact. Morissette is seething with rage about this breakup, writing all-time classic lines like “Does she know how you told you’d hold me until you die/’Til you die, BUT YOU’RE STILL ALIVE” and of course, “Are you thinking of me when you fuck her?!”

Morissette perfectly uses the era’s classic quiet-loud dynamic shifts to her advantage, creepily whispering at the start of the verses, and slowly growing louder and angrier until she’s screaming her lungs out by the chorus. Her ragged, off-kilter vocals perfectly capture the blinding emotion she feels. It’s a karaoke staple for those who’ve just been dumped for a good reason.

#21: “Big Pimpin’” by Jay-Z feat. UGK (1999)

That Timbaland beat. Dear lord. How can it sound so good against three radically different flows?! The man is truly a genius.

Yeah, Hov and Bun B and Pimp C all deliver here too, but let’s not pretend that beat isn’t the reason why this is a top-shelf Jay-Z single.

#20: “Larger Than Life” by Backstreet Boys (1999)

Yeah, it’s better than “I Want It That Way.” Not by a lot — they’re both perfect — but I’ve always preferred upbeat boy band songs to ballads.

“Larger Than Life” was named accurately. From the second the thumping beat kicks in, the song is a stadium-filling anthem, the kind arena-rock bands would’ve written a decade prior. Does it have a chorus that’s easy to scream along to at concerts? Check. Does it have a beat you can awkwardly groove to? Check. Does it have a bad-ass guitar solo thrown in? Shockingly, yeah.

Boy bands were the true rockstars of the late-’90s (apologies to, uh, Matchbox 20?), so it would only make sense to have one of them create a bonafide rock anthem. And when you match the Backstreet Boys’ sugary hooks with a roaring atmosphere worthy of Def Leppard, you’ve got a classic on your hands.

#19: “The Fly” by U2 (1991)

‘90s U2 is the best U2. I love Joshua Tree and Unforgettable Fire as much as the next guy, but I’ll take their weirdo, aggressively-ironic decade over their more earnest years any day.

Perhaps no song encapsulates U2′s ‘90s ethos better than “The Fly.” It’s got a slinky, nocturnal feel to the music, with The Edge’s guitar distorted slicing through like a machete. The swirling, tripped-out guitar solo here might be his greatest ever.

But like many U2 songs, “The Fly” belongs to Bono. In it, he plays the titular sleazebag from hell (literally — the song is about a crank call from down there), whispering sweet nothings into the listener’s ear. Do the lyrics actually mean anything? Honestly, I’m still not sure, but they still somehow sound transgressive and witty, if a bit corny. But you’ve got to expect a little corn when U2 is involved. And when Bono duets with himself on the sublime chorus, both as The Fly and in a piercing operatic falsetto, it’s one of the best hooks of the band’s career.

“The Fly” was the world’s introduction to the new U2 in 1991, and although it might have shocked people expecting another “With Or Without You,” it’s aged beautifully over 25 years later.

#18: “Heaven Or Las Vegas” by Cocteau Twins (1990)

Cocteau Twins are usually held up as dream pop’s forefathers, helping create a distinct, hazy sound that would inspire future artists from The Cranberries to Beach House to Washed Out. One listen to “Heaven Or Las Vegas” proves why the Scottish trio was such an inspiration.

“Heaven Or Las Vegas,” the title track to Cocteau Twins’ flawless 1990 album, is one of the most immaculate, gorgeous songs of the decade. Invoking both heaven and Las Vegas was accurate: the track is graceful, yet also drenched in neon synths and glitz. It perfectly toes the line between holiness and kitsch.

And here’s where I admit that, like most people, I can’t make out 90 percent of what vocalist Elizabeth Fraser is singing. Beyond belting out the title of the song in the chorus, the rest sounds like French, or speaking in tongues. Regardless, her ethereal alto is a perfect compliment to the swirling keyboards and gauzy guitars floating around her in space.

#17: “All The Small Things” by Blink-182 (1999)

In the classic video for “All The Small Things,” Blink-182 spends the entire runtime clowning on the TRL-era boy bands of the time. Here’s the ironic thing about that video: “All The Small Things” is secretly the greatest boy band song of the ‘90s (yes, that means *NSYNC didn’t make the list...their best songs came out in the early aughts, sorry).

Blink-182 are technically a pop-punk band, not a boy band, but you wouldn’t really know that from their most iconic, and best, hit. “All The Small Things” is direct, punchy and has a monster sing-along chorus. Sure, Tom DeLonge’s nasal whine isn’t a typical teen heartthrob voice, but young Justin Timberlake had an unusual voice too (“IT’S GONNA BAY MAAAAE”). 

The fact that “All The Small Things” is basically a bubblegum Trojan horse for Hot Topic kids is exactly what makes it so great. Chugging guitars can peacefully coexist with a TRL-ready melody and surprisingly romantic (if simple) lyrics. 

#16: “Gin & Juice” by Snoop Doggy Dogg (1993)

Nowadays, Snoop Dogg is probably more known for his intense love of weed, unwillingness to turn down collaborations, and friendship with Martha Stewart more than any new music. But Snoop’s earned the right to ease into being a hip-hop elder statesman, thanks to his landmark album Doggystyle and its standout single, “Gin & Juice.”

The young Snoop (only 22 at the time!!) had already nailed down his trademark, chilled-out drawl by 1993. He uses it to great effect on “Gin & Juice,” describing a wild house party filled with sex, drugs and alcohol like it’s just another regular day at the office. You can practically hear his knowing smile in the verses, and the chorus sung by D-Ruff is infectious as hell.

Of course, major credit has to be given to Dr. Dre’s G-funk production. It’s my favorite beat of his from this era, and its dog-whistle synths and shuffling beat perfectly fit the early-’90s California party vibe. 

#15: “Semi-Charmed Life” by Third Eye Blind (1997)

This is probably the only song in history to take heavy lyrical influence from the Doug theme song and simultaneously be about crystal meth.

It shouldn’t be hard to explain why “Semi-Charmed Life” is a classic, right? It turned an insanely bleak topic into one of the sunniest, most propulsive jams of all time. The rap-singing in the verses is a blast to keep up with, and that falsetto “goodBYYYYYYYE” in the chorus is the ‘90s equivalent of the high note in “Take On Me”: often-attempted in karaoke, with a very low success rate.

The late ‘90s had no shortage of great, weird pop jams, and “Semi-Charmed Life” is near the top of the pile.

#14: “Say It Ain’t So” by Weezer (1994)

My favorite ‘90s album will always be Blur’s Parklife. But my second choice would probably be Weezer’s self-titled “Blue Album,” a nerdy power-pop masterpiece. It’s an angstier mirror of The Cars’ 1976 debut, also self-titled; appropriate, seeing as Cars frontman Rik Ocasek produced Weezer’s first album.

The record’s centerpiece is the heartbreaking “Say It Ain’t So,” a perfect power ballad. The band nails the quiet/loud/quiet dynamic shifts from the mumbling verses to the supercharged chorus. There, Rivers Cuomo scratches his vocals, displaying his emotional wounds after alcoholism tore apart his family. 

For a band known for very silly songs like “Buddy Holly” and “Beverly Hills,” the passionate bridge, where Cuomo first wails away vocally before making his guitar do the same in a fiery solo, is truly heartbreaking. “Say It Ain’t So” proved that California dorks could pull off sadness just as well as the flannel-wearing Seattleites, if not better.

#13: “My Heart Will Go On” by Céline Dion (1997)

Earlier this year, Avengers: Endgame moved past Titanic on the all-time box office charts. As much as I enjoyed Endgame, this feels wrong. Sure, Marvel is a big deal, but was Endgame as much of a phenomenon as Titanic? No. Frankly, it’s not even a top-5 Marvel movie (although it is better than Avatar, which Endgame could pass soon for first place). 

Why has Titanic cemented itself in pop culture history? Part of that is because the movie is a stone-cold classic, featuring a frothy romance between two of a generation’s greatest actors that ends in unspeakable tragedy and heartbreak. But I believe there’s another aspect to the film that’s helped keep its legacy strong: its unsinkable theme song.

“My Heart Will Go On” is one of the greatest movie themes of all time, precisely because it mirrors its movie. Like Titanic, Céline Dion’s signature song starts as a tender, soft romance, before bursting into a dizzying climax that pummels the audience into submission, forcing tears.

I don’t think I need to emphasize that Dion is a fantastic singer — there are very few singers that could nail both the cooing opening and the Whitney Houston-esque belting at the final chorus. But “My Heart Will Go On” is still occasionally considered a punchline, and that’s just wrong. Any song with this much emotional heft and force cannot be taken lightly.

#12: “What’s The Frequency, Kenneth?” by R.E.M. (1994)

Two of Gen X’s longest-lasting and most important acts, U2 and R.E.M., switched roles in the ‘90s. U2 shifted their image from overly-earnest arena-rockers to weirdos dabbling in underground sounds. Meanwhile, their American counterparts went from mumbling college rock jams to radio-friendly ballads.

Not to be a total snob, but I’ve always preferred R.E.M.’s jangly ‘80s sound over their blockbuster early ‘90s albums. But the lead single off their underrated 1994 record Monster might be my favorite song of theirs.

“What’s The Frequency, Kenneth?” sounds like very few other R.E.M. songs. There’s no mandolins, and Michael Stipe’s lyrics are much clearer (although they make little sense). Instead of being bouncy and light, the guitars are a blast of crunchy distortion, not far off from a typical Smashing Pumpkins song.

In fact, Peter Buck’s guitar work here is what makes “Kenneth.” His echo-y sound adds a raw texture to the tune. And although the lyrics are a bit cryptic (apparently it’s about Boomers trying to advertise to Gen Xers? I have no clue), Stipe’s melody is on-point, as usual.

Although the sound of alt-rock had long passed by R.E.M.’s original style, “Kenneth” showed that the Georgia legends were more than able to keep up.

#11: “Steal My Sunshine” by Len (1999)

This sunburnt ode to being young and dumb in the gloriously young-and-dumb late ‘90s is the greatest summer anthem of all time. And the greatest one-hit-wonder of all time.

“Steal My Sunshine” is the soundtrack to driving with the windows down, goofing with your friends and pretty much any positive aspect of summer. Gloriously dumb and kitschy-fun summer songs like this are perfect examples of why the late-’90s was a golden age for pop.

#10: “Man! I Feel Like A Woman!” by Shania Twain (1997)

While we’re talking about that late-’90s pop boom, how crazy is it that the era’s best single is technically a country song? 

Of course, “Man! I Feel Like A Woman!” is barely a country song — yes, there’s some violins and slide guitar buried in the mix, but there’s also a thundering synth riff and Twain barely has a Southern twang (makes sense, seeing as she’s Canadian). And there’s no mention of any country tropes like pickup trucks or whiskey in the lyrics.

What “Man!” does bring to the table is a tongue-in-cheek, groovy pop-rock jam that’s just as easy to love as it is to make jokes about. Sure, it’s corny as hell — see the obvious joke in the song’s title — but Twain is clearly having way too much fun to care. And in a decade filled with angst and irony, a super-cheesy pop jam like this probably seemed like a needed salvo.

And the Mutt Lange production on this has some serious oomph to it. Before his extensive work with Twain, his then-wife, Lange was arguably best known for mastering the roided-out arena rock sound of the ‘80s, assisting on classic tunes from The Cars, AC/DC and Def Leppard. He even gave us this beautifully ridiculous Billy Ocean track, which might be the greatest song ever written. Lange brings some weight to “Man!”, making Twain’s female-empowerment anthem an actual anthem.

Listen, if this song isn’t for you, I get it. But for those of us who have the prerogative to have a little fun, “Man! I Feel Like A Woman!” is the pinnacle of one of pop’s greatest eras.

#9: “Check The Rhime” by A Tribe Called Quest (1991)

A lot of ‘90s rap hasn’t aged well, even if it’s still a ton of fun. Albums from Dr. Dre and Puff Daddy and even Jay-Z can sound like time capsules. But that’s not a problem that A Tribe Called Quest has, as their smooth jazz-rap still sounds timeless and perfect.

“Check The Rhime” is the Queens group’s brightest highlight off of their 1991 magnum opus, The Low End Theory. It’s a simple setup: MCs Q-Tip and Phife Dawg introduce the other rapper by reminiscing about freestyling on street corners back in the day. Then, both Tip and Phife get their own verse, each stuffed with playful lines and life advice — Industry Rule 4080 still holds to this day.

Unlike a lot of ‘90s hip-hop that was trying desperately to either be menacing or cool, Tip and Phife ooze effortless charisma on their verses in a playful, almost childlike way. Phife starts his verse reminding everyone “how nice I am” (before proclaiming that he flips off “punk MCs”). Tip even seems to diss MC Hammer by saying “rap is not pop/if you call it that then stop,” but apparently, this was meant as a defense of the then-megastar. Maybe.

“Check The Rhime” works partially because of its funky, minimalist production, but also because the Tribe’s two rappers were born to spit non sequiturs and awkward brags over a jazz-rap beat until the end of time.

#8: “I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone” by Sleater-Kinney (1996)

I’m not sure how flamingly hot of a take this is, but I’d say Sleater-Kinney is the greatest band in Northwest history. Yes, better than Nirvana. 

1997′s Dig Me Out is a flawless masterpiece, and there’s not a single dud in their eight-album discography. Unlike many of the major Washington acts from this era, the Olympia three-piece never lost relevancy, releasing some of their strongest work in the 2000′s.

But Sleater-Kinney’s best single, “I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone,” is actually from one of their early albums. And it serves as a thesis statement for the decades of great music to come.

Legendary guitarist Carrie Brownstein takes over vocals here, nailing both the sardonic verses and the thrilling, off-kilter chorus. “Joey Ramone” tackles an interesting subject: how almost all of indie rock’s heroes up to that point had been male. So when Brownstein wails about wanting to be Joey Ramone or Thurston Moore, she’s placing Sleater-Kinney in the pantheon of rock greats. And this was just their second album.

Luckily, Sleater-Kinney had the goods to back up their chutzpah, and “Joey Ramone” became prophetic.

#7: “Supersonic” by Oasis (1994)

Just a couple months after Kurt Cobain’s death, two unibrowed guys from Manchester (and the rest of their band) completely upended the rock world with their band Oasis’ debut album, Definitely Maybe. After a few years of gloom-and-doom dominating the genre, it, along with fellow hit albums from Blur and Pulp, helped usher in the brighter world of Britpop in the mid-’90s.

That album’s first single, “Supersonic,” is still the greatest thing Oasis ever produced. (Yes, it’s better than “Wonderwall.”)

“Supersonic” is a blast of rude, snotty rock-n-roll cranked up to 11. In an era of irony and sarcasm, lead singer Liam Gallagher was spouting out nonsense lyrics like they were the most important and coolest thing in the world. And for the four-and-a-half minutes of this song, they probably are.

Everything about “Supersonic” is boneheaded perfection, from the thunderous drums to the dual guitars, one crunchy, one soaring; all the way to Liam’s sneer. This is prime Oasis, the band running on all cylinders. Based on how ramshackle this sounds, it’s no wonder the band only stayed great for two albums. But at least we’ll always have that legendary start.

#6: “1979″ by The Smashing Pumpkins (1995)

On the opposite end of the cool spectrum as Oasis and Sleater-Kinney, you have Billy Corgan — singer/songwriter/control freak of The Smashing Pumpkins and alt-rock’s most weaselly, petty figure. But say what you want about him as a person, Corgan wrote some incredible alt-rock pop nuggets.

“1979″ is a major outlier in the Pumpkins’ discography. It’s not an angsty shoegaze/grunge banger or an orchestral power ballad. It’s a low-key, skeletal new-wave track that perfectly captures the boredom and aimlessness of youth.

While many songs about being a teenager capture either its euphoric highs or angsty lows, “1979″ is one of the few classic songs that nails the in-between moments. It’s the feeling of walking to the 7-Eleven with your friends, cracking jokes that you’ll probably forget the next day. It’s about sitting in a parking lot and just waiting to leave your hometown.

"1979″ isn’t a grand gesture, but in a backwards way, that makes it even more profound. And from a band who typically dealt in soaring, intensely emotional songs, it was a brilliant change-of-pace that will no-doubt be relatable to teens for a long time to come.

#5: “Rebel Girl” by Bikini Kill (1993)

Two massively important alt-rock movements came from the Puget Sound in the early ‘90s. One is grunge. The other is riot grrrl, centered around a group of furious, political women-led bands in Olympia. And although Sleater-Kinney may be the subgenre’s longest-lasting act, its brightest moment came in 1993 with Bikini Kill and their incendiary single “Rebel Girl.”

Lead singer/songwriter/punk icon Kathleen Hanna is the focal point of “Rebel Girl,” wailing away on the microphone about an unnamed woman who is just the absolute coolest. The woman is described as a confident, revolutionary lesbian figure who would serve as an inspiration for angsty teens across the globe.

And oh yeah — “Rebel Girl” absolutely shreds. It sounds like there’s maybe 18 guitars going at once on the track, and Tobi Vail’s drum work is fearsome. Just to give more rock cred to the song, it was produced and features guitar work from Joan Jett. The rock legend and Bikini Kill made a great pairing, creating a song that sounds angry, with its distorted guitars and punk drums, but is actually a triumphant feminist anthem for the ages.

#4: “Linger” by The Cranberries (1993)

In an early-’90s rock scene filled with distorted guitars and raw angst, The Cranberries broke out in 1993 with a song that sounded nothing like the crowd. And over 25 years later, their stunningly gorgeous single “Linger” has aged far better than most of the grunge and alt-rock it was surrounded by.

The Irish four-piece took inspiration from Cocteau Twins’ and Galaxie 500′s dream pop and just made the hooks even more bulletproof and melancholy. “Linger” is the kind of ballad that’s a perfect fit for a longing prom slow dance and for crying with a tub of Ben & Jerry’s on the couch after a break up.

The late Dolores O’Riordan’s lilting vocals are a miracle here, able to express both hope and resignation. Her heavy Irish accent helps the vocals become another instrument in the band’s sweeping wall of sound, alongside the jangly guitars, marching-beat drums and orchestral swells.

It’s the most beautiful song of an ugly (in a good way!) decade, and arguably the greatest dream pop song ever written. The Cranberries would later adopt the heavy guitars of their Seattle peers, but “Linger” is still a high-water mark for the subgenre.

#3: “Juicy” by The Notorious B.I.G. (1994)

The first verse alone could’ve gotten “Juicy” into this list’s top 10. It’s one of the most-memorable and quotable verses of all time, exquisitely detailing The Notorious B.I.G.’s rise to fame. And then we get two more stellar verses?! 

“Juicy” is frequently cited among one of the greatest hip-hop songs of all time, and it’s deserving of that reputation. Biggie penned the definitive rags-to-riches story in just five minutes (honestly, more like four, as he and producer Puff Daddy let the beat ride for a bit at the end) and then blessed it with his silky-smooth, commanding flow.

What separates “Juicy” from other come-up anthems is the vivid detail Biggie gives us, both about his impoverished Brooklyn upbringing (“We used to fuss when the landlord dissed us/No heat, wondered why Christmas missed us”) and his stunning rise to fame (“Girls used to diss me/Now they write letters cause they miss me”). He even brags about owning a Super Nintendo AND a Sega Genesis, which was the biggest early-90′s flex possible.

Of course, knowing the tragic ending of Biggie’s story, “Juicy” has a bit of a bittersweet feeling to it now. But its ‘80′s-retro beat and infectious glee can still bring a smile to my face every time I hear it.

#2: “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana (1991)

Well, duh.

There is no song that encapsulates an entire decade and generation like “Smells Like Teen Spirit” does for the ‘90′s and Gen X. It famously changed the entire rock landscape nearly overnight from sleazy hair metal to grimy alt-rock. It’s one of the most famous and iconic songs ever written. And shockingly, it still retains all of its revolutionary power nearly 30 years later.

How does “Smells Like Teen Spirit” pull off the balancing act of being a time capsule, yet still sounding remarkably fresh? I believe it’s because it captures the raw feeling of visceral rage and confusion better than nearly any song. Most angry songs have a target, whether its racist politicians, stuffy adults, or even a crappy ex. “Teen Spirit” has no tangible reason for its angst. Kurt Cobain’s lyrics are famously nonsense. And that’s what makes the song so brilliant.

Because the song is so emotionally powerful in a visceral way, it really doesn’t matter that the lyrics are meaningless. All you need to love the song is to connect with the anger buried deep, and start moshing the moment Dave Grohl’s instantly-recognizable drum fill meets the clanging guitars. It’s a total banger.

Cobain might not have had the intent of creating a generational anthem that would last beyond Gen X. But as long as people feel “stupid and contagious” alongside a creeping rise of angst, waiting to burst, “Teen Spirit” will remain relevant.

#1: “Common People” by Pulp (1995)

For a subgenre entirely built around a particular country’s culture, most major Britpop acts surprisingly refrained from politics. Oasis never sniffed the subject, and while Blur got close, songs like “Parklife” or “Stereotypes” were more winking jokes than bold statements.

Then there’s Pulp. Their most beloved track, “Common People,” is a scathing attack on the British upper class who indulge in poverty tourism, unaware of how the other half really lives. And it’s the best song of the ‘90s.

There are few things I love more than a perfectly executed story-song, and lead singer/songwriter Jarvis Cocker gives listeners a doozy here. “Common People” is about a rich woman talking to, well, a common person, and she decides she wants the poor guy to show her how to “live like common people.” Cocker’s songwriting is very literary, going into detail about the woman’s history and her botched attempt to act poor while shopping for groceries, as well as all the lower-class problems the wealthy will never understand. As Cocker bluntly puts it, “If you call your dad/he could stop it all.”

“Common People” is just as furious as “Teen Spirit,” but Cocker has clear targets here: the one-percent, and the misguided idea that poverty is somehow cool. The song starts calmly, almost at a whisper, but by the final, heart-pounding climax, Cocker is wailing away, condemning the upper-class with gusto.

The swelling disco-rock groove channels this anger into an absurdly catchy tune — an odd combination of musical tone and lyrics, but one that’s effective. It’s a giant middle finger that you can sing along to.

Britpop might have ended, but the sentiment of “Common People” is still fresh today as a righteous anthem for the trod-upon. 

[alette-stars]

Tagged by: @joohoneymoney (thank you ily)

I’m going to tag: @heybinnie (I want to be your friend)  @vonseal (I am very weirdly curious about everything about you?) @kiheons (talk. I like reading your answers)

THE LAST…

1.Drink: Orange Fanta 2.Phone call: my older sister 3.Text message: my (other) older sister 4.Song you listened to: my sis was playing Blood, Sweat and Tears on her phone’s speaker; on my own phone it’s ASTRO’s Star ^^ 5.Time you cried: 2 days ago? wifi was being shitty and I was very hormonal :)

HAVE YOU EVER… 6.Dated someone twice: nope 7. Been Cheated on: no 8.Kissed someone and regretted it: no 9.Lost someone special: no 10.Been depressed: I don’t know? Last year I experienced something that might have been mild depression but I really don’t know 11.Gotten drunk and thrown up: nope

LIST 3 FAVORITE COLORS: indigo purple, sky blue, white

IN THE LAST YEAR HAVE YOU… 15.Made new friends: yes! ^^ 16.Fallen out of love: no 17.Laughed until you cried: yes, thank goodness 18.Found out someone was talking about you: ahaha yes :) don’t care :) 19.Met someone who changed you: I don’t think so 20.Found out who your true friends are: I have like 0.3 friends anyway so... 21.Kissed someone on your Facebook list: nope

GENERAL… 22.How many of your Facebook friends do you know in real life: all of them, though I’m not close to a lot of them ^^ 23.Do you have any pets: no :( 24.Do you want to change your name: nope, but an author pseudonym sounds inviting 25.What did you do for your last birthday: it fell right during finals :) so I studied :) 26.What time did you wake up: today? Around 10 :D 27.What were you doing at midnight last night: studying for my math mid >.> 28.Name something you cannot wait for: VIXX comeback, it’s called Do Won Kyung in Korean, roughly translating into Eden or Paradise, and is a Korean-Western fusion with mythological elements; stan gods stan VIXX 29.When was the last time you saw your mother: about an hour ago :> 30.What is one thing you wish you could change about your life: fewer exams, fewer assignments, fewer lab reports, more money (not exactly one thing)

31.What are you listening to right now: nothing, but Yong Junhyung’s Wonder If is running in my head

32.Have you ever talked to a person named Tom: no 33.Something that is getting on your nerves: my professors and the insane workload they’ve simultaneously dumped on the class 34.Most visited website: tumblr (sad, I know) 35.Elementary: Like primary school? Yes 36, High School: I am a homeschool freak, sorry to disappoint you kids :,) 37.College: 3rd year uni student :,) 38.Hair color: black 39.Long or short hair: just past my shoulders, so I’d say mid-length 40.Do you have a crush on someone: someone non-famous? No haha 41.What do you like about yourself: I think I’m an empathetic person, or at least I hope so. I am a good listener 42.Piercings: both ears ^^ 43.Blood type: AB+ 44.Nickname: Taz  45.Relationship status: single!  46.Zodiac sign: Aquarius 47.Pronouns: she/her

48.Favorite tv show: I don’t know? I don’t watch a lot of TV nowadays :/ 50.Right or left hand: my left hand is useless :) 51.Surgery: had some dental surgery, otherwise, none  52.Piercing: I think I answered this before?  54.Sport: rolling around on a bed should be a competitive sport 55.Vacation: I want to go to a ton of Asian countries (Japan, Korea, China, Nepal), and Hawaii sounds cool too! 56.Pair of trainers: I prefer sandals ^^ 57.Eating: had lunch a while ago, so nothing right now 58.Drinking: nothing 59.I’m about to: write the next chapter of my fic :> 61.Waiting for: graduation :) or just a semester break :) 62.Want: all the stress in my life to disappear :) 63.Get married: in the future, sure 64.Career: author, a distant dream 65.Hugs or kisses: hugs! I love skinship! 66.Lips or eyes: in a partner? eyes 67.Shorter or taller: taller (I’m like 5′1″ so...) 68.Older or younger: older, I tend to baby younger people 70.Nice arms or nice stomach: stomach  71.Sensitive or loud: a good mix of both, I guess 72.Hook up or relationship: I prefer being single, but if I had to choose, relationship 73.Troublemaker or hesitant: I am very hesitant, so for a partner a troublemaker would be better?

HAVE YOU EVER… 74.Kissed a stranger?: no 75.Drank hard liquor? : never 76.Lost glasses contact/lenses? : don’t wear any ^^ 77.Turned someone down?: once. It was super uncomfortable 78.Sex on first date?: never 79.Broken someone’s heart?: ahaha not that I know of ;) 80.Had your heart broken?: no 81.Been arrested?: nope 82.Cried when someone died?: yes. I cry very easily as it is 83.Fallen for a friend?: thankfully no

DO YOU BELIEVE IN….

84.Yourself?: I try 85.Miracles?: I try to do that too 86.Love at first sight?: I don’t think I could, but I think it does exist 87.Santa Claus?: nope 88.Kiss on the first date?: for other folks, sure, but not for me 89.Angels?:  yes

OTHER…. 90.Current best friend’s name: my sisters (not sharing their names without their permission, sorry) 91.Eye color: black 92. Favorite movie: I’m not sure? I’ve never thought about it. I like animated movies a lot, and off the top of my head I’m gonna say Wall-E

[saturnsovereign]

All of the asks!!!

Unusual Asks

Spotify, SoundCloud, or Pandora? Spotify

is your room messy or clean? mostly clean

what color are your eyes? brown almost black

do you like your name? why? eh, its weird but pretty uncommon so i don’t usually have to worry about sharing it

what is your relationship status? taken

describe your personality in 3 words or less tired gay dork

what color hair do you have? black

what kind of car do you drive? color? Rav4, dark grey

where do you shop? target 

how would you describe your style? i get clothes on and try to at least look decent

favorite social media account tumblr and maybe snapchat

what size bed do you have? twin in dorms, queen at home

any siblings? 2

if you can live anywhere in the world where would it be? why? probs back in the bay area, i miss the business there

favorite snapchat filter? i like the flower crown and like those greek ones with like the shiny crowns and stuff

favorite makeup brand(s) none really

how many times a week do you shower? 5 times

favorite tv show? rn its probably Lucifer

shoe size? 7-7.5 depending on brand

how tall are you? 5′2″

sandals or sneakers? sneakers

do you go to the gym? haha no

describe your dream date a date where we don’t have to worry about anything after 

how much money do you have in your wallet at the moment? $240 but i plan on depositing 200 in the bank later

what color socks are you wearing? white

how many pillows do you sleep with? three

do you have a job? what do you do? volunteer guard instructor

how many friends do you have? i can count maybe like on 2 hands

whats the worst thing you have ever done? i hurt my gf

whats your favorite candle scent? i like cucumber melon from when we used to sell candles for a fundraiser in my elementary school

3 favorite boy names Fabian, Santiago, idk

3 favorite girl names Bella 😉, Noelle, idk

favorite actor? the only dude that comes to mind is Drew Seeley and even then he’s not my favorite

favorite actress? Katie McGrath

who is your celebrity crush? Katie McGrath

favorite movie? Beauty and the Beast, Treasure Planet, Lovestruck

do you read a lot? whats your favorite book? not really anymore, 

money or brains? brains, then you can figure out how to handle money

do you have a nickname? what is it? Feliz Navidad

how many times have you been to the hospital? like once unless you count yearly appointments and stuff

top 10 favorite songs DJ Got Us Fallin in Love, The Nights, Say You Won’t Let Go, etc. 

do you take any medications daily? no

what is your skin type? (oily, dry, etc) its a bit on both oily and dry in different places

what is your biggest fear? fear of abandonment

how many kids do you want? maybe 2

whats your go to hair style? half up half down

what type of house do you live in? (big, small, etc) i mean i feel its big after living in an apartment for a while

who is your role model? dont have one tbh

what was the last compliment you received? this morning when my gf snapchatted me the usual ‘good morning beautiful’ snap

what was the last text you sent? “if you want to use additional sources you have to annotate them too 😒”

how old were you when you found out santa wasn’t real? i came from the philippines and they don’t really have a santa there when i was little so there wasn’t really a big reveal, just played along to get presents i guess

what is your dream car? a pick up

opinion on smoking? not for me

do you go to college? yeah

what is your dream job? i wanna be a billionaire from helping people somehow

would you rather live in rural areas or the suburbs? suburbs, i’ve lived and am living in a somewhat rural area and i like being close to them cities

do you take shampoo and conditioner bottles from hotels? haha yeah i’m asian ofc

do you have freckles? no

do you smile for pictures? yeah or else i just look weird

how many pictures do you have on your phone? 3,000+

have you ever peed in the woods? i can’t remember the last time i popped and squated

do you still watch cartoons? yeah

do you prefer chicken nuggets from Wendy’s or McDonalds? McDonalds my dude

Favorite dipping sauce? depends on what i’m eating

what do you wear to bed? a shirt and either a pajama bottom or shorts

have you ever won a spelling bee? no

what are your hobbies? calligraphy, drumming, (knitting)

can you draw? to an extent

do you play an instrument? drums

what was the last concert you saw? none really

tea or coffee? coffee

Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts? starbucks

do you want to get married? yes

what is your crush’s first and last initial? ahaha BJ

are you going to change your last name when you get married? maybe get it hyphenated

what color looks best on you? dark colors for me and maybe some white thrown in there

do you miss anyone right now? yeah

do you sleep with your door open or closed? closed

do you believe in ghosts? eh, yes and no

what is your biggest pet peeve? idk

last person you called`  my brother bc we were trying to figure out where he went in target

favorite ice cream flavor? rocky road

regular oreos or golden oreos? regular

chocolate or rainbow sprinkles? rainbow

what shirt are you wearing? class of 2017 shirt

what is your phone background? pic of my two best friends and me during my graduation

are you outgoing or shy? shy

do you like it when people play with your hair? only like one person

do you like your neighbors? i dont know them tbh

do you wash your face? at night? in the morning? morning and when i take a shower

have you ever been high? no

have you ever been drunk? nope but im curious

last thing you ate? burrito bowl

favorite lyrics right now none come to mind

summer or winter? winter

day or night? night

dark, milk, or white chocolate? all?

favorite month? don’t have one

what is your zodiac sign capricorn

who was the last person you cried in front of? i was crying in front of my gf bc i saw a video of a cat that was too cute last night.

Other ask bc i didn’t know which one you were referring to but imma do it anyway

1. Think of the last person who said I love you, do you think they meant it? yeah2. Would you date an 18-year-old at the age you are now? yeah3. When’s the last time you were aggravated and happy at the same time? a while ago4. Would you ever smile at a stranger? i do it bc i like awkward5. Is there someone mad because you’re dating/talking to the person you are? idk6. Have you heard a song that reminds you of someone today? i havent listened to anything today7. What exactly are you wearing right now? sweatshirt, shirt, pants8. How often do you listen to music? sometimes everyday, depends on my mood9. Do you wear jeans or sweats more? jeans10. Do you think your life will change dramatically before 2013? …yeah?11. Are you a social or an antisocial person? im antisocial12. Have you ever kissed someone whose name begins with the letter ‘A’? no13. What about ‘R’? no14. Can you drive a stick shift? nope15. Do you care if people talk badly about you? a bit 16. Are you going out of town soon? if you mean back home by friday yeah17. When was the last time you cried? see previous ask18. Have you ever told someone you loved them? yes19. If you could change your eye color, would you? idk i feel like any other eye color would just look weird on me20. Is there a boy who you would do absolutely everything for? no21. Name something you dislike about the day you’re having. i have to keep writing my papers22. Is it cute when guys kiss you on your forehead? when my girl does it yeah23. Are you dating the last person you talked to? no24. What are you sitting on right now? my bed25. Does anyone regularly (other than family) tell you they love you? yeah26. Have you ever wanted someone you couldn’t have? yeah27. Who was the last person you talked to before you went to bed last night? my gf28. Do you get a lot of colds? i get the occasional cold29. Where is the shirt you are wearing from? last year?30. Does anyone hate you? idk maybe31. Do you have any empty alcohol bottles hidden somewhere in your room? no32. Do you like watching scary movies? no33. Do you want your tongue pierced? no34. If you had to delete one year of your life completely, which would it be? idk they’ve been pretty important to my character so35. Did you have a dream last night? i dont remember it but yeah i think so36. When was the last time you told someone you loved them? a few hours ago, i texted my gf37. Do you think you’ll be married in 5 years? idk, we’d still be in college38. Do you think someone has feelings for you? i mean i hope she does39. Do you think someone is thinking about you right now? idk40. Did you have a good day yesterday? …eh41. Think back 2 months ago; were you in a relationship? yeah42. In the next 48 hours, will you hang out with a girl? yeah43. Has anyone told you they don’t want to ever lose you? yeah44. What’s the best part about school? friends and some sense of purpose45. Do you have any pictures on your Facebook? yes46. Do you ever pass notes to your friends in school? haha yeah47. Do you replay things that have happened in your head? oh boy do i48. Were you single over the last summer? no49. Is your life anything like it was two years ago? no, its changed drastically tbh50. What are you supposed to be doing right now? sleeping51. Do you hate the last guy you had a conversation with? no52. Are you nice to everyone? most of time i hope53. Have you ever liked someone you didn’t expect to? ha yeah54. Do you think you can last in a relationship for 6 months and not cheat? well yeah55. Are you good at hiding your feelings? …56. Do you think you like someone? i mean yeah my gf57. Have you kissed someone whose name starts with a ‘J’? oh haha yeah58. Do you prefer to be friends with girls or boys? girls59. Has anyone of your friends ever seen you cry? yeah over a movie60. Do you hate anyone? myself61. How’s your heart? its beating62. Is there something that happened in your past that you hate talking about? what happened last year before school started63. Have you ever cried over a guy? yeah64. Who is probably talking a load of crap about you right now? idk65. Are your toenails painted pink? nope66. Will your next kiss be a mistake? i don’t think so?67. Girls love it when boyfriends cry; correct? what?68. Have your pants ever fallen down in public? they weren’t pants but it was a kilt69. Who was the last person you were on the phone with? see above?70. How do you look right now? tired71. Do you have someone you can be your complete self around? yeah72. Can you commit to one person? yeah73. Do you have someone of the opposite sex you can tell everything to? no74. Have you ever felt replaced? oh yeah75. Did you wake up cranky? haha maybe bc i didn’t wanna get out of bed and face the world76. Are you a jealous person? :/77. Are relationships ever worth it? you gotta make them worth it78. Anyone you’re giving up on? i don’t think so?79. Currently wanting to see anyone? i can see people outside my window80. Name something you have to do tomorrow? college81. Last person you cried in front of? see above82. Is there someone you will never forget? my gf83. Do you think the person you have feelings for is protective of you? i think so?84. If the person you wish to be with were with you, what would you be doing right now? cuddling85. Are you over your past? never have been probably never will86. Have you ever liked one of your best friends of the opposite sex? well yeah87. Is there anyone you can tell EVERYTHING to? oh boy lord you wouldn’t want that88. If your first true love knocked on your door with apology and presents, would you accept? define first true love? if its my gf i’d accept her empty handed89. So, the last person you kissed just happens to arrive at your door at 3AM; do you let them in? yeah90. Have you ever liked someone who your friends hated? uh they eventually disliked her after i stopped liking her91. Will you be in a relationship in 2 months? hopefully92. Is there anyone you know with the name Michael? thats weird cuz no XD93. Have you ever kissed a Matthew? nope94. Were you in a relationship in January? How was it going? yeah, it was going95. Were you happy with the person you liked in March? yeah96. Don’t tell me lies, is the last person you texted attractive? the last person i texted other than my group chat is my gf and yeah i definitely find her attractive97. Who do you have texts from? my friends and family?98. If the person you like says they like someone else, what would you say? cool99. Have you ever kissed someone older than you? thats weird… no XD100. Who’s in your profile picture with you? tigger101. Ever kissed under fireworks? no actually102. Has anybody ever given you butterflies? yeah

[littlesmoosh90]

Things about me...

1.The meaning behind my url: littlesmoosh is what I called my son when he was in my tummy. I've wanted to change it to a Taylor URL so many times but I won't. 2. How many tattoos i have and what they are: 2. One is a black hearer on my hip which used to by a red one with an ex's name in it because I was once 17 and stupid 😂 the other is song lyrics on my neck saying 'she floated away' which is a song by a band called husker du. It's a song me and my dad listen to together and also my mum isn't with us so the lyrics are symbolic of her passing. 3. Last time i cried and why: I cry a lot. The last time was probably due to over thinking. 4. Piercings i have: ears although I don't often wear earrings, belly button and I did have my lip pierced so I'm left with a little hole 🙈 5. Favorite band: inme 6. Biggest turn offs: liars. Closed minded people. 7. Top 5 films: Forrest Gump, father of the bride part 2, titanic, the wedding singer, all the twilight films. 8. Tattoos i want: I don't think I'll ever get any more actually 9. Biggest turn ons: humour, kindness and foot rubs 🙈 10. Age: 27... 28 in March 11. Ideas of a perfect date: something outdoorsy but with good comfort food. 12. Life goal: actual life goal is to be the best mum I can be and raise Dexter to be an amazing man who respects everyone. But if we aren't including that then of course my life goal is to meet @taylorswift maybe I can have both? 13. Piercings i want: no more 14.Relationship status: I've been with my Thomas for three and a half years now and hoping to be together for about another 80. 15. Favorite song: you're not sorry by Taylor Swift. It makes me feel so empowered and said everything I needed to say at a time in my life where I really needed it. 16. A fact about my life: I work in a school supporting children, my area of expertise is the autistic spectrum. I am absolutely fascinated by how different people are who are labelled under the same category. There is something really beautiful about it. I love moulding myself to fit each person and always being able to find some common ground with them. 17. Phobia: ugh, spiders! 18. Middle name: I am the only person in my whole entire family without a middle name and I'm not bitter about it at all... 19. Height: 5ft3 20. Are you a virgin? I have a five year old son so... 21. What’s your shoe size? U.K. Size 4 22. What’s your sexual orientation?: I like to just view myself as 'open' 23. Do you smoke, drink, or take any drugs?: I drink when I go out, probably about once a month. 24. Someone you miss: my best friend moved to Canada and I live in Scotland! We stay in touch all the time but I miss being able to cuddle her! 25. What’s one thing you regret?: not getting my university degree. 26. First celebrity you think of when someone says attractive: Taylor. She is beautiful. 27. Favorite ice cream?: I tried dragonfruit ice cream recently and it was magnificent 28. One insecurity: my stomach. Some days I'm a fierce mum who is proud of her stripes and other days I'm just a girl, standing in front of a mirror, asking it to change her. 29. What my last text message says: it was telling Thomas that I'll wait for him before I watch the newest episode of the walking dead. 30. Have you ever taken a picture naked?; I'd be lying if I said I hadn't. 31. Have you ever painted your room?: when I was 13 I painted a heartagram on my bedroom roof with black gloss paint! It's the symbol of a band called HIM! 32. Have you ever kissed a member of the same sex?: yeah 33. Have you ever slept naked?: yeah but I'm not a big fan of it, I'm a cold tattie and also... monsters. 34. Have you ever danced in front of your mirror?: so often, especially this last month because every song Taylor has released mirror dancing worthy! 35. Have you ever had a crush?: only about a thousand 😂 36. Have you ever been dumped?: yeah, a couple of times! 37. Have you ever stole money from a friend?: I've never stolen money. Period. 38. Have you ever gotten in a car with people you just met?: only taxi drivers.. 39. Have you ever been in a fist fight?: yes. Two boys attacked my very lovely very innocent gay friend and I seen red and attacked them like a squirrel monkey. I'm not even sorry. 40. Have you ever snuck out of your house?: I never had to. 41. Have you ever had feelings for someone who didn’t have them back? Yeah when I was younger. 42. Have you ever been arrested? Never. 43. Have you ever made out with a stranger?: yes, back in my student days! 44. Have you ever met up with a member of the opposite sex somewhere?: yes 45: Have you ever left your house without telling your parents?: I do it every day because I live on my own lol 46.Have you ever had a crush on your neighbor?: no 47. Have you ever ditched school to do something more fun?: it's been a long time since I was at school but yeah I did 48. Have you ever slept in a bed with a member of the same sex?: of course 49.Have you ever seen someone die?: no.. touch wood. 50. Have you ever been on a plane? Yeah a couple of times 51. Have you ever kissed a picture?: hahaha maaaaybe 🙈 52. Have you ever slept in until 3?: yes! One time I slept for 19 solid hours without waking once. 53. Have you ever love someone or miss someone right now?: I literally seen my boyfriend this morning and I love and miss him already. 54. Have you ever laid on your back and watched cloud shapes go by?: my favourite pastime ☺️ 55. Have you ever made a snow angel?: every year without fail. Although I confess I actually hate snow! 56. Have you ever played dress up? Yeah 57. Have you ever cheated while playing a game?: I've put in cheat codes for crash bandicoot to open all the levels before.. does that count? 58. Have you ever been lonely?: I feel lonely almost every day even though I really ament lonely. It's okay not to feel okay. 59. Have you ever fallen asleep at work/school?: both 😂 60. Have you ever been to a club?: lots of times 61. Have you ever felt an earthquake?: no, touch wood. It's not something that really happens in Scotland. 62. Have you ever touched a snake?: held a few to be brave in front of Dex. 63. Have you ever ran a red light?: I don't drive. I tried to learn but I am too much of a nervous person and it just wasn't for me: 64. Have you ever been suspended from school?: no. 65. Have you ever had detention?: no 66. Have you ever been in a car accident?: touch wood again, no. 67. Have you ever hated the way you look?: on a daily basis. I'm sad to say. 68. Have you ever witnessed a crime?: several. Nothing major though 70. Have you ever pole danced?: no, I'd be horrendous at it!!! 71. Have you ever been lost?: lots of times! 72. Have you ever been to the opposite side of the country?: Britain, yes. Europe, no. 73. Have you ever felt like dying?: yeah, labour was so painful I can't even tell you how terrible it felt! 74. Have you ever cried yourself to sleep?: several times 75. Have you ever sang karaoke?: actually no! Although I reckon it's something I'd enjoy, I've just never been in that situation! 76. Have you ever done something you told yourself you wouldn’t?: every day I each rubbish and every night I say I'll be better the next day! 77. Have you ever laughed until something you were drinking came out your nose?: yes and it hurts! 78. Have you ever slept with someone at least 5 years older or younger?: no, biggest age gap was four years older! 79. Have you ever kissed in the rain?: yeah but it's not as romantic as the movies make it out to be! 80. Have you ever sang in the shower?: on a daily basis! 81. Have you ever made out in a park? Yep 82. Have you ever dream that you married someone?: I don't think so actually 83. Have you ever glued your hand to something?: hahaha yes!!! 84: Have you ever got your tongue stuck to a flag pole?: no, I'm not that silly 🙈 85. Have you ever ever gone to school partially naked?: omg no thank god! 86. Have you ever been a cheerleader?: no, it's not really a big thing in Scotland 87. Have you ever sat on a roof top?: sure have 88. Have you ever brush your teeth?: omg imagine if I hadn't?! 89. Have you ever ever too scared to watch scary movies alone?: I literally can't! I can barely watch them with people never mind alone! 90. Have you ever played chicken?: no! 91. Have you ever been pushed into a pool with all your clothes on? Nope 92. Have you ever been told you’re hot by a complete stranger?: yeah, usually drunken old men! 93. Have you ever broken a bone?: no, touch wood! 94. Have you ever been easily amused?: always! 95. Have you ever laughed so hard you cried?: yeah so many times! The best times! 96. Have you ever mooned/flashed someone?: yeah, not strangers though! 97. Have you ever cheated on a test?: no! 98. Have you ever forgotten someone’s name?: literally every day at my job because I recently moved schools and there's soooo many names to remember? 99. Have you ever met someone who didn’t seem real?: yes 100. Give us one thing about you that no one knows.: I feel like everyone knows everything about me because I'm a pretty open book. But one thing people won't know unless they've caught me doing it is that I like to pull my eyelashes out and eat them. I don't know why. I've just always done it since I was little. I guess it makes me feel comforted in some weird way. I can't explain it. It's not something I'd announce to people though!

[danithebookaholic-blog]

Long-Distance Relationships

I feel like handling long distance relationships is something that I should be good at by now. While Jack and I were high school sweethearts, we did not attend the same high school. Actually we didn't even live in the same town. We lived 30 minutes from each other, and for a couple of teenagers, 30 minutes is long distance. Then once we got married we moved around a lot with him being in the military, and then of course there were the times he was on deployment as well. My life has been built around long distance relationships, and yet I don't feel like I do a very good job of managing them.

Now, don't get me wrong, over the years I have become better with maintaining them. In the beginning I was terrible at it. Remember I got married practically straight out of high school, so my maid-of-honor was my best friend in high school. And you know what? I haven't spoken to her in almost 10 years. She was my best friend, my rock, we did everything together. She stood by my side and supported my marriage to my husband, and I haven't talked to her in almost as many years as I've been married. How sad is that? It makes me sad!

But I get it. People change. They grow up for one, and move in different directions and grow apart. It happens every day. I mean, think about it, when was the last time you spoke to your best friend from high school? Are you even still friends? Or are you now just acquaintances? Or are you complete strangers?

Jack somehow got lucky on this front. His friends from high school were not only his groomsmen in our wedding, but they're still his best friends and Fantasy Football teammates. How in the world this man still has friends from high school is beyond me, other than his friends try very hard to keep the friendship going. Since he has joined Fantasy, their lines of communication have been a bit better, but it wasn't always so. Most of the time, Jack's friends know that if they really need to get in contact with him they have to call me and I hand him my phone.

But me, I try. Or at least I think I do. I was in a sorority in college, and I haven't spoken to pretty much all of my sisters since my wedding. Granted, it didn't help any that I was in it one year before getting married and then bounced around between a couple different colleges due to the military life, but they're my sisters! We should have had a closer relationship, right? Even my college roommate I pretty much don't talk any more. We occasionally like something of the others on social media, but that's it. At least it's more communication than I have with my BFF from high school.

Somehow or another I, like Jack, lucked out when it came to my closest friends. Mine just came later in life. Ashley, Laurel, Shelby and Sheri are the best of friends that I could ever ask for (not that my MoH or roommate aren't amazing too!) Laurel has never met the others. She only knows them through stories, and they her the same way. The other three have met, but mostly just in passing or during a random run session when two of them wanted to run on the same day. They all are complete opposites, but yet exactly the same, and I think that's why I get a long with them so well, and try extra hard at keeping their friendships, even though they all live at least a couple hours away.

Ashley is exactly like me when it comes to loving with all of her heart (and that includes wine!) She is always looking for a new workout to keep herself in shape and sane (you can thank her for the weekly workouts, I started making those for her!), and she is always there to lend an ear when you need it. However she is exactly like Jack in every other way! And I know this is what makes me love her even more than our similarities. After all, they say opposites attract.

Laurel is my fun-loving, cool-mom friend. She is the only one with children out of my close gal pals, but she is the coolest mom! She's an educator and a real life librarian! (Now you see why I love her! - She loves books just as much as me!!) But I love her for more than her love of books. She's funny and always keeping me on my toes. She wonders where her daughter gets all of her silly crazy faces. Well, Laurel, they come from you! The best person personality wise that I can equate Laurel to is Taylor Swift. And I know she will take that as a compliment!

Shelby is a lot like me. Probably more so than the others. She's quiet, strong willed, and when she speaks you probably need to listen. She is my personal running coach. She's the reason why I ran my first half-marathon at the pace in which I did, and it's because she is a gazelle and no hill could ever wear her out! Ha! Seriously, she would run circles around me during our long runs while I was barely standing because I couldn't breathe! I also consider her my "educated" friend - not that the other aren't educated, one is an educator, another a doctor, and the other recently went back to school for a doctorate degree - but I say this because she knows something about everything, and on the rare occasion she doesn't, she has no problem admitting that she doesn't, followed by researching the topic until she knows just about everything about it. While most people would think that the fact that we're so much a like would probably be what I love most about her, it isn't. It's her "educated" status that I love most. 

Sheri is my youngest and fun-loving friend. On top of this, I'm not 100% positive, but she might be part of the mob. Just kidding. But I do know that if I ever came to find myself in a bind - possibly with a body that needed taken care of - she's the friend that I would call. She's that kind of friend. She's full of life and ready for adventure, and still has those wonderful childlike virtues. Not that she's virtuous in the slightest (as I'm sure the mob comment above implied.) Besides Jack's childlike behaviors, she's the reason that I'll stay young and I love her most for this.

These four women have have somehow gotten me to do more to keep our relationship alive than all the other people I have met in my life. I randomly send them "thinking of you" texts, have 20-minute catch-up phone calls, and even go 45 minutes out of my way just to catch a quick bite to eat on their lunch break. To be honest, these are things I don't even do for my own brother! (Sorry Osc!) But it's something that I wish I could do for all of those really great friends I once used to know - my BFFs from high school, my college roommate, my KD sisters - and I wish they could do it for me. 

"Surround yourself with greatness and you too will become great." I don't know who said these words (I'm positive someone famous did), either way, I agree with them wholeheartedly. Without Jack and these women and their spouses in my life I would not be great. I don't know why I work so incredibly hard on these long distance relationship more so than I do others, but I'm sure that when I made the decision to do so it was because subconsciously I saw something great in each of them and knew they were people I needed to surround myself with. They've got a death-grip on my heart, and this is what I really love most about each of them!

 From one loving bookaholic to another, I hope I’ve helped you find your next fix. —Dani

  Love this post? Check out The Dixie Swim Club by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten. While it's not an actual book, but a screenplay, these five women remind me so much of me and my adult BFFs. Their friendships with each other are something I strive for in my own.

Five Southern women, whose friendships began many years ago on their college swim team, set aside a long weekend every August to recharge those relationships. Free from husbands, kids and jobs, they meet at the same beach cottage on North Carolina's Outer Banks to catch up, laugh and meddle in each other's lives. THE DIXIE SWIM CLUB focuses on four of those weekends and spans a period of thirty-three years. Sheree, the spunky team captain, desperately tries to maintain her organized and "perfect" life, and continues to be the group's leader. Dinah, the wisecracking overachiever, is a career dynamo. But her victories in the courtroom are in stark contrast to the frustrations of her personal life. Lexie, pampered and outspoken, is determined to hold on to her looks and youth as long as possible. She enjoys being married—over and over and over again. The self-deprecating and acerbic Vernadette, acutely aware of the dark cloud that hovers over her life, has decided to just give in and embrace the chaos. And sweet, eager-to-please Jeri Neal experiences a late entry into motherhood that takes them all by surprise. As their lives unfold and the years pass, these women increasingly rely on one another, through advice and raucous repartee, to get through the challenges (men, sex, marriage, parenting, divorce, aging) that life flings at them. And when fate throws a wrench into one of their lives in the second act, these friends, proving the enduring power of "teamwork," rally 'round their own with the strength and love that takes this comedy in a poignant and surprising direction. THE DIXIE SWIM CLUB is the story of these five unforgettable women—a hilarious and touching comedy about friendships that last forever… (source)

Start a conversation: What do you do to keep long distance relationship going? Is there someone out there that you wish you could reconnect with?