#but we're meeting up later to travel to a concert!

[lee-rambles-about-rwby]

another one

(a larger one)

(a birthday gift lol)

This picture makes the little one look so much worse than it does irl, rip

“Don’t speak to me or my son ever again”

They haven’t been charging under a light for long or else they’d be a bit brighter, but I just wanted a photo before I go to bed lol

[jokeroutsubs]

[NEW ENG TRANSLATION] I write songs in Serbian so my grandma can understand us too: The Joker Out frontman talks about Eurovision, his origins, and Belgrade Beer Fest

original article Written by Ljubomir Radanov for Kurir.rs english translation by @moonlvster proofread by X @ klámstrákur

Even though this year's Eurovision ended a while ago, some of the participants, like the band Joker Out, are still talked about. We're referring to one of the most popular pop-rock bands in Slovenia, whose frontman, Bojan Cvjetićanin, has become a real music star. It was this great European festival that allowed his popularity to reach beyond the borders of Slovenia. Ahead of their performance at the next Belgrade Beer Fest, which will be held from the 15th until the 18th of June [2023] in Belgrade, the 24 year old of Serbian origin, otherwise a sociology graduate, talks about his Serbian origins and upcoming visit to our capital city.

This is not your first time in Belgrade?

We had our first performance at the MAC event, but this is our first concert.

What do you have planned for it?

We'll perform as long as scheduled, around an hour, plus two songs, just enough to go over the limit (laughing). We are scheduled to play for about an hour, which means we'll be able to play a good percentage of our repertoire. If the audience is quiet, we'll have to talk to them and we'll play more songs (laughing).

Will you have some time to visit Belgrade?

Unfortunately, our plan is to leave immediately, because we are to perform in Slovenia the next day. Last time, we visited commercial places, met lovely people who promised us they will show us the real Belgrade and the places that only the locals know sometime. Ask me in a year and I believe I'm going to give a much better answer.

You attracted a lot of attention with your Eurovision performance.

How satisfied are you?

Eurovision is one of the biggest festivals in Europe, maybe even in the world.

It took six months of our lives and it was like a giant school trip or a travelling circus, carried out on the most professional level. We met a lot of creative people with whom we will be able to build a career abroad. We have gained a huge amount of fans. The only thing that didn't turn out how we imagined was our result, but in the end, that's less important to us than what we achieved with the audience.

Were you pleased with the score from the Serbian jury and the audience?

I thought I was going to burst with happiness when I heard we received 12 points! It was a magical moment.

Have you stayed in contact with the Serbian representative, Luke Black?

Of course. We became friends and we will probably meet at our concert in London in July.

Did you actually lose your phone at Eurovision?

It happened after the final, at an afterparty. I left it somewhere and it ended up with another country's delegation, but I got it back two days later. Still, I enjoyed not having a phone. The day after Eurovision, everyone was writing messages and being active on social media, and I spent that time with my family and friends. It was like I was in a different universe, completely calm and relieved.

How would you explain your music in terms of genre?

In 2017, we called our music 'shagadelic rock 'n' roll', based on the movie 'Austin Powers', which we adore. Our sound is an interesting mix of ex-Yu rock and roll and British pop-rock.

Who are your idols?

The Beatles, Arctic Monkeys, and Slovenian bands such as Siddharta and Big Foot Mama, and the Balkan bands Bijelo dugme, Indexi, Idoli...

What do you listen to in terms of modern sound from these areas?

The bands Buč Kesidi, Keni Nije Mrtav... We haven't had time to listen to music in the past year, we were constantly in some kind of chaos and noise.

Where did the idea of expressing yourself in your mother tongue come from, like, for example, in the songs 'Ona' and 'Demoni', which are in Serbian?

Every time I play our songs to my family, my grandma, who is from Banja Luka, can't understand the lyrics entirely. I wanted her to be able to understand perfectly what the poet wanted to say, and that's how the songs 'Ona' and 'Demoni' came about. With the song 'Ona', we wanted to capture the essence of the band Idoli¹.

¹The band 'Idoli' was one of the most remarkable new wave bands based in Belgrade, active during the early 80's. They are considered one of the most outstanding and influential representatives of the Yugoslav rock music and their album 'Odbrana i poslednji dani' ('Defense and The Last Days') was voted as the greatest Yugoslav rock album of all time.

Your family's origins are interesting.

My mom's side is from Banja Luka and Lebane, and my dad's side is half from Ličko Petrovo Selo, and the other half from Croatia and Slovenia.

You also act and host. Do you have ambitions in acting?

I would love to act more and I would be very happy if I acted in more serious roles. I've always played characters that were similar to me and I couldn't fully surrender to the charms of this profession. In high school, I acted in theatre, and if I get the opportunity to do that again or to film a movie, I wouldn't run away from it.

How do you see yourself in ten years?

I would love for Joker Out to be an established band around Europe, to have two children, and to live a normal life.

[jmdbjk]

Mid-year recalibration

It's been a year since Festa Dinner 2022. A LOT HAS HAPPENED SINCE THEN.

And on January 1, 2023, I posted my "predictions" for the year. "Predictions" in quotes because most everything I write is sort of slightly unserious, not to be taken TOO seriously, begs for you to please use your common sense... also I haz a little sarcasm dripping here and there when I express my thoughts. Drip, drip.

So let's see the status of my "predictions":

Solo albums... wellll, I sort of got that right, Jimin's FACE was released before Yoongi's D-Day. We're still waiting for Tae and Jungkook. RM keeps putting off enlistment to work on new music. I'm gonna have to drag him by the ear to training camp... get yer ass in there so you can come back sooner than later!! But we did get to see him for Festa and I'm thankful for that.

New prediction: Jungkook comes through with a chart topper that doesn't involve a collab.

Speaking of Tae, I said he'd do more acting before music and though it's not really acting, he's been in a few reality TV shows: "In the Soop: Friendcation" and "Jinny's Kitchen." There are rumors he was spotted on the set of a K-drama and now possibly he was in Spain for a movie...or was that for an upcoming solo MV? Surely he'll have at least a little bit of music before he enlists? Honestly, I wouldn't mind seeing him actually acting in a drama... we wait.

New prediction: Piano bar listening party for his solo release.

Military enlistment... wow so far I've struck out. Joon is still hanging around. Yoongi has extended his world tour (which I'm happy to say I've been to a concert). And HOBI IS ALREADY ENLISTED....

😭

So 3 strikes I'm out because obviously their enlistment timing is unpredictable. Right now I'm just hoping that by May 2024 (yes almost a year from now) they'll all be in so we can have a New Year group reunion on Dec. 31, 2025. Of course, I hope they go much sooner though it kills me to know we have to watch them enlist again and again.

My other predictions were hit and miss:

Yoongi did cut his hair so I was wrong about that. Also sad. I loved his long hair. And this NBA ambassadorship came outta left field. The D-Day world tour was the bomb he dropped on us, his big project. Oh well, guess there won't be any tangerine soju coming from his non-existent citrus orchards. Ha!

Hobi DID release more music, On the Street, and it WAS a collab with J. Cole. AND he became fashion ambassador for his fave: Louis Vuitton. God I miss him so much. Instagram is so quiet without him. Everything is so quiet without him.

We finally got PJM1 and it has a name now, FACE and Like Crazy has broken records. Jimin as an artist has broken records as we knew he would and he is still making music. And he's travelling the world being a Dior and Tiffany ambassador and snatching everyone's wig, eating everyone alive and just being Jimin. His constant happy smile has been the most meaningful thing to me this year. I'm so thrilled he is happy.

Jungkook... the Bunkoo has stumped me. The Calvin Klein contract is amazing. His spontaneous lives have been wonderful. Cooking for us has been awesome. None of that could have been predicted. He's the sweetest king of spoilers and support for Jimin's stuff. I also did not predict I would love him even more this year. But here we are.

NOT ON THE PREDICTION RADAR WHATSOEVER:

Jimin on a Fast & Furious franchise soundtrack collab. I NEED MORE JIMIN!

Tae and Jennie "soft" revealing their relationship publicly. Like WHAT? But they did that.

Also blonde Tae... I never thought we'd see a blonde Tannie again.

Attending a Suga/Agust D concert and meeting up with Army friends I met on the internet. HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR!

[I can't believe I saw Yoongi in real life. This close.]

2023 is already half way over. I have no idea what will happen this second half of 2023. It's a mystery.

As much as I am reveling in having so much to look forward to every day and every week, and as much as I wish this didn't have to happen...I (selfishly) really want them to get enlisted so they can be back together as soon as possible in 2025 (at any point in 2025). The first time I see them together in 2025, I am going to cry with relief. However I am always the first to say BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR so I know I shouldn't even been saying any of that...

Anyway...

I guess at the end of December, I will be looking back and saying "well, who would have thought THAT would happen?" More of "not on the prediction radar." By December, Jin will only have six months left. Time is flying faster than I thought it would when back on June 13, 2022. After that heartbreaking Festa dinner, we were staring down a bleak two and a half years of being Bangtan-less....well that didn't happen did it?

[falloutboydescribed]

Boys shoot for big time (Pioneer Press, August 21, 2003)

Written by Matthew Pais, staff intern

[Image description: A newspaper clipping of this article as it appeared in Alternative Press #303's "The Oral History of 'Take This to Your Grave'". It is captioned "Full page write up in the Pioneer Press." End ID]

For the young members of Fall Out Boy, homecoming no longer means football games, dancing and formalwear. Instead, it means a day-long stop in their hometown and the rare opportunity to sleep in their own beds. 

Which is exactly what three out of the four band members were doing one recent afternoon. The Boys had arrived on the North Shore at 5 a.m. that morning after playing a show in Lincoln, Nebraska. At 1 p.m., singer Patrick Strump, 20, guitarist Joe Trohman, 18, and drummer Andy Hurley, 23, were still sound asleep. 

Bassist Pete Wentz, 24, has learned to survive on no sleep. 

With tattoos running down his arms and a logo-free blue cap twisted on his head to a 30-degree angle from his forehead, Wentz may not be the prototypical alumnus of Winnetka's North Shore Country Day School. But he just might be the busiest. 

Fall Out Boy performed approximately 200 shows in the past year, traveling across the country in a run-down van to play their energetic brand of emotive pop-punk. 

On the road 

"We have to drive with the heat on when it gets hot," Wentz said, during a conversation at an outdoor table of a Wilmette sandwich shop. "You've never had it worse than driving with the heat on in 120-degree weather through the desert." 

Touring has its downside. "The first four days, it's really good and fresh," Wentz said. "Then homesickness sets in." 

According to Wentz, the band is rarely short on subjects worth arguing about, from the cost of a tour bus to the prospect of the music industry ever seeing another Beatles or Elvis. He said that the disputes never last long. "Five minutes later, we're laughing about it," he said. "These guys are like brothers to me, so our arguments are like family arguments." 

Wentz, a Wilmette resident, is not the only member of the band with a North Shore connection. Stumph, a native of Glenview, graduated from Glenbrook South, and Trohman lives in Winnetka and is a New Trier alum. Hurley is from Milwaukee. 

Early ambition 

Wentz learned to play the guitar when he was 7, and picked up a bass guitar at 14. "I kinda always wanted to be in a band," he said. "It's like the best job in the world." 

"I had no idea he was as talented as he obviously is, but it doesn't surprise me that he would be inclined to express himself in that way," says North Shore Country Day School teacher Kevin Randolph, who had Pete (or "Peter," as he calls him), in his 11th grade U.S. history class. 

"Some kids are just there for the grades, Peter was there because he had questions he wanted answers to." And even as a teen, Wentz was no follower. 

"He didn't take his cue from what was popular in terms of what to wear or what to listen to," said Randolph. "He clearly did not look like a kid out of Abercrombie and Fitch, but we are a school that values diversity." 

Falling in

Fall Out Boy started when Wentz and Trohman, already good friends, began writing songs just for fun. After meeting Strump, the three musicians soon added Hurley, an old friend of Wentz, to complete the band. 

The band soon moved onto the fast track. "When it took off, we dropped everything," said Wentz, who left DePaul University in his junior year to concentrate on music. 

He found leaving school an easy decision. "Nobody really looks back on their life and thinks they should have taken less chances." he said. 

In the past year, Fall Out Boy has released its debut album, "Take This to Your Grave," on Fueled by Ramen records, and has appeared at the South by Southwest exhibition in Texas, a prestigious showcase where record companies watch up and coming talent in concert. Wentz said the white-collar crowd did not really get a taste of what Fall Out Boy is all about. "Our performance was way more low-key and didn't really represent who we are." 

When watching the video for Fall Out Boy's "Dead on Arrival," it's hard not to think of the footage from the Beatles final concert or the video for U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name." Though the music may be faster and fiercer, the rebellion is undeniable: the police shut down Fall Out Boy's concert after only four songs, Wentz said. "It was just one of the most insane experiences of my life," he explained. 

The video was filmed at Arlington Heights' Knights of Columbus, where the band had previously played a show for a packed crowd of fans who sang along to all of the songs. Wentz said that experience proved that Fall Out Boy was on its way to something special. "We were like, 'Whoa, this is bigger than us,' " Wentz said. 

He adds that though he gets nervous before performances, ""As soon as I step on the stage, I know exactly what I'm doing," he said. "Afterwards, sometimes I throw up." 

Wentz's modesty reveals itself in his reaction to fame. "Why would anybody want my autograph?" he wonders. 

Dark side 

He may be young, but Wentz's lyrics, which comprise 90% of the songs on "Take This to Your Grave," reflect bitterness toward love. Consider "Chicago is So Two Years Ago," on which he writes, "You want apologies girl, you might hold your breath until your breathing stops/The only things you'll get is this curse on your lips: I hope they taste of me forever/With every breath I wish your body will be broken again." 

Writing has always been a way for Wentz to deal with his emotions. "Lots of times I'd rather sit at home with a pen on a Friday night than go out," Wentz said. He said that he often writes with acid in the pen, as evidenced by "The Pros and Cons of Breathing," in which he writes, "My pen is the barrel of the gun/remind me which side you should be on/I wish I was as invisible as you make me feel." 

You would never know it from his quick smile and easy manner, but sadness seems to be Wentz's best inspiration. On the band's Web site, he describes his favorite pastimes as "Misery, horrible thoughts and writing." 

Music as therapy 

Wentz said that he is not alone in his use of music as therapy. "Everyone medicates themselves with music," he said. "It's really important for music to be involved in everyone's life." 

The bassist adds that everything he writes is drawn from real-life feelings. "We write honest lyrics and honest music," he said. "I feel like these are issues that everyone can relate to." 

The band's commitment to honesty is reflected in Wentz's musical likes and dislikes. He lists The Police, The Cure, Elvis Costello, Green Day, and a slew of New York hard-core punk bands as influences but says he has little respect for the pop-punk posers on MTV. "These TRL guys who act like they have their hearts on their sleeve really just have their egos on their sleeve," he said.

Wentz is grateful for what the band has accomplished thus far. "I think we're the luckiest band around," he said. "I hope I can look back on it and remember it as a really important part of my growing up."

[spnfanficpond]

Weekly Pond Newsletter

Halloween is almost here! Do you have your costume ready? Are you or have you ever dressed up as an SPN character? Share pics if you've got 'em!

Old Business:

Manta Ray chat postponed. Admin MJ had to postpone her scheduled chat due to adulting. Please keep her in your thoughts as she continues to brave the real world as an adult who adults very adultly. Adulting sucks but is necessary, sometimes.

The New Member Spotlight post is late due to some technical difficulties. We're working through them and trying to rebuild! Hopefully, it will be posted soon!

Last week's #TweetFicTues prompts were:

New Business:

SPN Rewatch: Fanfic Edition - 1x03 and 1x04. We had a good chat yesterday in the Discord server about the episodes Dead In The Water and Phantom Traveler. We decided to add thematic docs to the Archives in addition to the docs for each episode. These docs are listed at the bottom of the masterlist doc after all the episodes. So far, we have added, John's Parenting, Dean's trauma - mutism, Sam's trauma - anger, Sam underestimating Dean, and Dean is Smart™. Some of these are still under construction, but keep checking back for updates! Click here to access the masterlist and find links to the new docs!

Fishing for Treasures at the @fanficocean is next weekend. November's theme is Gen fics! No romance here! If you're in other fandoms and you're looking for fics that don't include smut or focus on relationships that are not romantic, check out the Ocean's blog next weekend. If you write gen fics for other fandoms, submit links to your fics for the Ocean to reblog by midnight Friday, Eastern US/Canadian time!

#SPNJAX is next weekend! If you're going to the con and want to find fellow Pondies to meet up with, head into our Discord server and the channel we have created for the con. Arrange meetups, find a roommate, or share ideas for photo ops and autographs. You can even ask questions and get answers from con veterans!

Manta Ray in the Discord server. On Saturday, Admin Michelle will be in the discord server just hanging out! Feel free to come on in and get help with fic ideas (she breeds plot bunnies in her backyard), vent about editing, or ask questions about the Pond.

Paul Carella on Lounges.tv later today. Paul is trying out a new platform, so head on over, create a free account, and enjoy some fun and good music! Click here for more information and to get tickets.

Jason Manns on UrsaLive for another Tuesday Tunesday! This week, it's going to be extra early for the US folks, but more accessible for those in Europe and further east. Click here for more information and to participate!

Daylight Savings Time ends in the US next weekend! For some in other parts of the world, it ended this weekend. For others, they don't mess with this shit and never have to worry about changing all of their clocks, the lazy bastards. 🤣 No matter what, be sure to double-check time zones and DST specifications when making plans with your international friends! (We use TimeZoneConverter to make our posts, which tells us about national holidays and DST and other cool stuff that helps us schedule things!)

(Divider by @glygriffe!)

That's all for this week! To see all Pond events, and also other SPN-related things like conventions and online concerts, check out our Google calendar! Click here for a static view in Eastern US/Canada time (desktop only, no mobile app access, sadly), and click here to add our calendar to your own Google calendar! We try to keep it as up to date as possible. If there's something you want to see on the calendar that's not there (maybe a convention we missed, or cast birthdays, or something similar), send us an ASK and let us know!

Hope you have a great week! - From your Admins and Manta Rays, @manawhaat, @mrswhozeewhatsis, @mariekoukie6661, @thoughtslikeaminefield, @katbratsupernaturalwhore and @heavenssexiestangel!

[justasadgroupie]

Rockstar Diary, Day 1

Just a little warning! This may have come from the mind of a crazy 19 year old with a distortion of reality... Or maybe not, you choose what to believe MINORS DNI!! this story gets kinda nasty ngl.

What rock & roll fan girl hasn't dreamed of being close to the rock star who dragged her into that world? Nikki Six, Tommy Lee, Axl Rose... Well, I'm going to tell you my case, Maybe to vent or maybe to prove that this is real..

We're not going to name names to avoid getting him into trouble... and me too.

To sum up, I have been a fan of this band since I was born practically, they have been with me all my life, in my best and worst moments, but it was not until Agst.2023 that I was able to see them live for the first time, the concert was great, but the best part came after it. I was able to meet the band, we were waiting until 4am for the drummer to come out, my favorite member, and when I saw him in person I couldn't help but burst into tears, he was so loving, so sweet, His affectionate attitude contrasted greatly with his reputation for being controversial. He gave me a kiss on the cheek and I was able to take a photo with him. He promised me that one day he would throw me a drumstick for me to keep.

It wasn't until Jan.2024 that I got to see him again, The group held a record signing for the release of their new album, And I became close with a girl in the line, who turned out to be a Close friend of the Band (This isn't relevant now, but it will). He Remembered who I was, which town he met me and my name (Which was a bit shocking because I didn't remember telling him my name lol). He took special time with me even when the staff of the event was trying to make the meet and greet really quick, He made me promise him I was gonna go to the Tour first concert and gave me a special dedication on the Album, again, I was Shocked, weirded out and falling more for that guy who literally has my mom's age.

It was chaos going to the first concert of the tour, since it was in the capital of my country and I am from the north, so we had to book a hotel, a train... I spent quite a bit of money, But I was able to be in the front row, the only problem was that the bus back to my city left practically two hours after the concert and I couldn't stay to say goodbye to the band. Later I found out from some friends in the capital that when he found out that I was no longer at the venue, he refused to take any more photos with people and went to his car, which also seemed strange to me, ngl.

But things heated up the next time I saw him, thanks to having gotten good grades in my last year, I was able to ask my parents for some meet&greet tickets for a concert, Once again outside my city, at first everything was normal, the band greeted me since nowadays we have a fairly close relationship, but He practically lifted me up in his arms when he hugged me, And he had a pretty big erection in his pants, I didn't know how the fuck to react, he was glued to me the whole time before the concert, as if I was the only one at the meet & greet, We even left the concert hall together to have a cigarette. There was already tension between us, but after that concert they were starting their tour abroad.

I wasn't able to see them until August, and on top of that I had to leave my city again. This was the first time I was traveling alone with friends, so I was especially nervous. The concert was amazing, the best one I remember from this tour. He finally gave me the drumstick he promised me literally a year ago. We wanted to stay and say goodbye to them and at the end of the concert, But as it was 3am, and they weren't leaving, we went to the hostel that my friend and I had booked. When we were already in our pajamas, that girl I met in the capital called me, Saying she was with the band and that someone wanted to talk to me, she put me on the phone to the drummer, he kept calling me honey, love the whole call, saying he was sorry we couldn't see each other,Everything was very nice until he said "you turn me on so much every time I see you" "You turn me on so much, do you think you'd like to have sex with me?" Of course, I didn't know how to react, but damn, all I wanted to do was say yes and run to his hotel, but it was too late and they had to take the road to play in a different town, But still, since my friend gave him my number, he insisted on giving me money for the taxi to the station and the train back to my city, He gave me extra money and I insisted on giving it back, he refused, telling me to use it to eat with my friend in a good restaurant before we catched the train.

It's been almost a week and he's been talking to me to ask how I am and if I'm okay, when he found out that next week I'm going back to the capital to see him in concert, He sent me money again, and the transfer said "I hope you look sexy the night we meet" He knows that I love to wear makeup (since I usually wear makeup to concerts) and he gave me that money for makeup and shoes.

I have to say that I'm very nervous and very excited for next week's arrival, but at the same time I don't know how the hell I went from being just another fan to practically being his groupie in a year(? Of course, and let's not mention the age difference (he's 55, I'm 19) but... I was the one who wanted the rockstar lifestyle, so why back down now?

I'll write about what happened after the week of the concert... Or maybe not.

[akadeos]

Introductions in Order

Ah, hello. It seems like you've finally arrived. Some might say the early bird gets the worm. I say that everything works in concert - if the bird wakes too late to get the worm, the worm will thrive and provide for others later. So in a way, your timing benefits someone no matter when it happens.

Well, seeing as we're only meeting formally now, allow me to introduce myself.

I know it's a bit odd for a professor to use Mister instead of Doctor, but I like to maintain a level of familiarity outside of formal titles.

As for us, I suppose it's about time we learned about our mission here today. As some of you are no doubt aware, we live in a world of simple pleasures, amazing discoveries... and strange beings we call Pokemon.

They act as companions for us, helping us in our everyday lives or fighting on our behalf. Many professors have made names for themselves studying the amazing nature of these beings, with new discoveries found every day, in some corner of the world. But perhaps the most ironically overlooked aspect of our world is how we as people interact with them. That is what I chose to study.

And that is why you are here.

You, the most typical person around here, will travel the region, facing every trainer you encounter and discovering the dynamic we have with our sometimes-pocket-sized companions. For compensation in this difficult task, you will be provided two things -

first, a specially designed application for your telecommunications device known as the Akadeos Pokemon Index, which will provide useful information for every Pokemon you encounter.

And second, a starting companion to provide extra security on your journey, as per standard Pokemon Professor guidelines.

SHOTILE - The Firestarter Pokemon, a reptilian species that shoots fire from finger-mounted ports. The strange golden armor upon its body is a natural growth, and its shine indicates good health.

MOISTATE - The Calm Waters Pokemon, a kind of humanoid fish that keeps all beings around it tranquil. It is a friendly sort, willing to interact with even the most dangerous beings.

ROOTAPPER - The Greenhorn Pokemon, a large pine martin-type who will valiantly stand up to any foe it can. Legend has it that they can use the natural energies of the environment around them to enhance its blows.

Good luck, young trainer, and I wish you well on your journey.

[benedictscanvas]

here's the anon again who tries to do more stuff on their own! reading your answer put a big smile on my face 💕 overcoming the things that held me back and being able to enjoy things that used to be scary and connected to a lot of anxiety--it's fucking great and I love that we're both feeling the joy this brings.

And yes, the Maya Hawke concert was pretty great! The location was quite small so it felt almost cozy in some ways. I bought a shirt and her album there and it's so nice having little souvenirs to remind me of, well, a great experience but also my growth.

As for travelling, I was in London for 9 days and I think that was a really good city for travelling alone. I've already been to London a few times so that definitely made it a bit less scary. I stayed there in an airbnb, had a really kind host who invited me to have tea with her and gave me great recommendations. A friend of mine really likes staying at hostels and meeting people there when she's travelling alone but I enjoyed having a room to myself. I think what was the most helpful for me was having a few things planned in advance, like I was at the star wars celebration for two days, I went to the theatre to see To Kill A Mockingbird and A Little Life, I had booked trains to Liverpool for a day. In between there was enough time to do other things but I never had this feeling of being lonely or wandering around aimlessly.

I'm very excited to hear about your concert experience and if you wanna talk about travelling or whatever, you can message me @croissantmoonknight ☺️ I'm always a bit shy reaching out to others here but my inbox is open 😇

hi hi again! i'm so glad you're back <3 and that we're both so fucking joyful rn!!

ahhh i've always thought i'd love a cozy concert but haven't done one yet. it sounds so fab. souvenirs are so cool! it's like such a visual reminder when you need it - yeah, i did that and i was fucking cool for doing it.

ah london! i don't know if you're already from the uk like i am or that's abroad for you - either way, wow!!! i think if i was travelling alone i'd have to do somewhere quieter first - i really admire the bravery there. like so much. and it sounds like such a wonderful itinerary!! star wars celebration!!!! omg sign me up. and to kill a mockingbird is one of my all time faves. honestly hearing about your trip has me even more excited to book one for myself later this summer :D

aaaa thank you for telling me who you are!! haha i know from experience how much easier it is on anon but now when i go to my concert/need travel advice, i can come to you direct. i hope you're having a fabulous day/night wherever you are @croissantmoonknight <3 <3

[machifuwa]

- Sunshine - Sunny Side Episode 10

[Sunnyside Festival] Last morning, at the landing place

Leo: Hmm. Is Anzu on that ship over there? Or this one?

Anzu~ Which ship are you going to come out of~?

Ritsu: It doesn't matter where she is. Just wait and she'll come out eventually.

Leo: Eh~? That's not good. She's not like us. She's coming alone. I want to welcome her as soon as possible.

Tsukasa: ...Aah, I see Onee-sama! She's on the ship over there!

Arashi: Oh my, you're right! It looks like she also saw us. She's coming this way and she's also waving at us.

Leo: Ugh, I wanted to be the first to find her though~

Anzu, good job on traveling alone! It must have been tough on the road, huh~? Sitting all the way down, you'd think your butt would explode~♪

Hmm, you didn't think that? I guess it's just me, wahaha!

We've all got flower leis for you, so take them! I'll give mine first...☆

Welcome Anzu, welcome~! Enjoy the everlasting summer on this island!

Tsukasa: I've been waiting for you, Onee-sama. Please leave it to me to show you around the island.

Izumi: You should be honoured to be greeted by me, 'kay? Here you go.

Ritsu: Welcome, it's hotter here than Japan, right?

Hydrate often to avoid drying up, okay?

Arashi: I've been waiting for you, Anzu-chan. Here, a flower lei from me...♪

Leo: ...You didn't expect to be welcomed like this? Yay, yay! The surprise was a great success! ☆

Yesterday, when we were all out shopping, I saw a flower lei. We decided to give them to you.

It's a token of gratitude and a dedication to someone important. You've always taken care of us, after all~♪

By the way, why are you carrying so much luggage? It seems like a lot for two days and a night.

Akiomi: ーThat's because she has a special mission assigned to her.

Arashi: Ku-Kunugi-sensei...!

...A hallucination? Delusion? Is this a dream?

Leo: Na-ah. It looks real. Look, you can touch it.

Akiomi: Please don't touch me like that. You don't have to do it that way, you know it when you see it, right?

Arashi: Ah, I'm in trouble. If I had known you were coming, I would have prepared a flower lei for you, sensei.

Anzu-chan, what's wrong? What about giving him what I gave you instead...?

No, that's the one I chose for Anzu-chan. You're the only one who can have it.

I'll manage to give you one before we leave. Wait for it, sensei♪

Akiomi: Haah. Please don't force yourself. Just your feelings are enough.

Tsukasa: Sensei. The thing you mentioned about Onee-sa... Anzu-san earlier, something about a Mission, what is it?

Akiomi: Well, you see, at first, no agency was interested in participating in [SSF], but it became a hot topic both in Japan and abroad, didn't it?

The "P Agency" has been paying attention to it. I was also invited to visit the site for the purpose of inspection.

Since we're here to meet with people from other countries in the entertainment industry, we'll be staying here for a few days.

Leo: In other words, you guys aren't going to leave right away!

That's great, Anzu. It's better to spend more time staying and having fun than spending most of your time travelling and doing nothing!

And of course, you're going to watch our performance too, right?

If you're just gonna work here too, you're not going to be in the mood for a holiday though.

At least during our performance, you can forget your work and have fun!

A few hours later, stage of the [Sunnyside Festival]

Ritsu: "♪〜♪〜♪"

(...Ah, it's so bright with the reflection of the water. I usually find it annoying but...)

(I'm having so much fun that it blows that feeling away.)

Arashi: (This area is built to be pretty windy, so it feels good. This way, I can sing forever...♪)

(Fufu. It seems like Ritsu-chan's having a good time.)

(Of course, I'm doing good as well♪ Many people are paying attention to me after all.)

(I want my fans who support me to watch me closely. Thanks to their constant support, we are standing here.)

(Thank you, everyone...♪)

"♪〜♪〜♪"

Izumi: (Unlike our fans who come to our concerts all the time, the people here are just watching the show while they're at it.)

(Really... this feels like a freak show.)

Izumi: (I don't mind it though. I'll just sing and dance perfectly, like I always do.)

(I'll do it with confidence and pride.)

(...Because this will surely lead me to the future.)

"♪〜♪〜♪"

Tsukasa: (...I was worried about whether our Japanese songs would be accepted or not.)

(Everyone was very interested in what we had to show. As Leo-san taught us, it doesn't matter what language you speak.)

(But... as the heir to the throne, I would have liked to have noticed it myself if I could.)

Tsukasa: (As the king of "Knights", I want everyone to devote themselves and grow every day.)

(I hope that one day, all of us, including the newcomers, will be able to stand on such a big stage...♪)

"♪〜♪〜♪"

Leo: (Multiple stages are going on at the same time, so you can hear different sounds from all over the place, and it's like being a part of the music.)

(I'm so happy to see everyone, Suo, Naru, Rittsu, and Sena, having fun!)

Leo: (Songs have lyrics, but they don't really need to be explained thoroughly. After all, music is something that simply touches one's heart.)

(Let our feelings fly high! Wherever the wind may take us!)

"♪〜♪〜♪"

< EPISODE 10 END >

Story: "Summer Breeze!" [Sunshine Shimmering in a Foreign Land]

Story by: ゆーます

Collaborator: 日日日

Season: Summer

Characters in this Episode: Leo, Tsukasa, Izumi, Ritsu, Arashi, Anzu, Akiomi

Reminder: I did not create this story, but I translated it, so please refrain from reposting my translation on other social media platforms.

I apologize if there are any mistakes as well.

(Prev - All - Next) Thank you for reading!

[hanjifuck]

.˚｡⋆ ༊ .˚｡⋆ stray kids ideal types - series .˚｡⋆ ༊ .˚｡⋆

lee know version ʕっ•ᴥ•ʔっ

based on their birth charts! s2

✧*:.｡. t/n: i’ll be using SIDEREAL astrology on this one. it’s also important to say that when we talk about romance in astrology we have to fully analyse the couple’s birth charts individualy at first and only then apply compatibility analysis so we’re able to check out the synastry overlays.

✧*:.｡. t/n: kinda proofread.

firts of all, i'll be taking a different approach to minho's birth chart as his' way different from chris'. with him we're gonna look at other placements.

let's use Lacan (1985) as a method to examine the relationship he has between the "i" and the "others". when we look at a Möbius strip it's possible to see that if we turn one side of the two surfaces of the band, we find ourselves outside, while the other finds itself inside the circle. which leads us into thinking about how much of "i" is in the "other" and how much of the "other" is in "i". even if we look at houses of the self, it's percepcion will only be seen on others. our notion of individuality is created trough the mirror offered by the other (the mirror stage).

the basics:

someone who has the sun in gemini, libra or aquarius;

moon in cancer, scorpio or pisces. leo and aquarius moons are a NO;

venus in aries, aquarius or sagittarius;

jupiter in gemini.

obviously there’s way more aspects to look into to see if a relationship would work but i’d rather not go too deep into it right now.

a person who above all things is his friend first. he wants to make friends with the person he likes because he's not the most romantic.

someone full of surprises, who excites him in differents ways everyday. boi wants an adventurous and unique love. he loves the drama and the unexpected.

a person who has knowledge about unusal things/likes to read about all types of things. interesting personality is a MUST for him. he loves being around strange people because he doesn't want to be bored. when it's about fun he likes to engage in all sorts of not-usual activities, what seems the strangest is also what’s best.

not-into-fairy-tales-romance type of person. he wants to be around someone who's interesting and makes him curious, so their meetings are most of the time unusual. i don't think you should expect the whole wine and dine type of thing from him, specially because he can give you way more. <3

someone who likes being around groups and is good at socializing. i know this can trigger some people but hear me out, he's happy when collaborating with others and functioning in groups. when he's having fun he wants to be part of the noisiest events, so it’s normal to see him at concerts or big art related events.

a non-judgmental person. it's not that he's scared of you "not accepting" him or whatever, believe me he does not care about this. he has to live to the fullest and to be unusual. he expresses his creativity in his own way. he wants to feel excitement when it comes to a relationships, so if you're too worried about what other people will think it won't work.

a person who wouldn't be a strict parent, if it's a long-term relationship we're talking about. his kids are very likely going to have strong aquarius/uranus energy on their birth charts, meaning his chiquitos would be as accentric as he is. he wants his children to express their individuality and be themselves. he's really good with children as well, having a great way of communicating with his kids, making them mentally strong and independent. yet he may tend to stress his kids with education stuff related cus he feels they should pursue their interests. cool dad™. will be good friends with his kids (the children will be as funny as he is).

someone who's not traditional. a rebel when it comes to love and don’t prefer to date the traditional way. he wants to fall in love with your mind. his dating ways can be unusual, maybe online since he has a kick for technological advancements. he can be strange when it comes to sex as well.

but is still a 100% monogamy. the king needs to rule ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. he wants to be the center of attention, he can be a bit domineering even. he may be a bit possessive or jealous, but tries to hide it. expects absolute loyalty from you. his kinks? a lot of love, affection, and admiration.

a person who's not scared of experimenting. he wants to try everything at least once.

a "modern" person. minho has always been interested in technology. he gives me big nerdy energy. he's quick to respond to his creativity urges.

someone who has a longing for learning. he enjoys traveling and learning about technology, psychology, philosophy etc. deep and philosophic conversations are a must (but don't get it twisted he enjoys humor more than anything). he's unhappy with what he's being given, he's always looking to improve things and his thoughts.

a person who's comfortable with silence as well. even tho he loves having fun with other people he's still kinda a loner who doesn't need to interact with other humans or to talk very much.

someone passive. would like it better if the person's willing to give him the spotlight. wants to be paided attention to, wants you to worship him. his fantasies probably revolve around devotion. ofc he enjoys giving his effort to you as long as he receive the same back, too. disobeying is a no.

a feminine and elegant person. rude or harsh behavior and crudeness about sex are a no. you must have a sparkling physical appearance as well.

easy conversationalist. def not into monosyllabic communicators. he's prideful, he won’t back off from a conflict that involves his own principles so it's essential for you to be good with words, too. fights can be commom in the relationship.

someone who enjoys praising him. don't forget to show your appreciation for all that he’s doing. wants you to see him as the confident man that he is and the man that will fulfill all your dreams.

a 100% honest person. you deceive him, he will just leave and not turn back. he finds it hard to forgive. again, he wants his partner to worship him. he works hard to make sure you leave idolizing him, so his feelings will get very hurt if he finds out later on that you were “faking” things. he will feel inadequate and insecure.

patiente. he can be easy to offend or to be hurt quite easily. you may need to walk on eggshells sometimes. when you first meet him, he might come off as a bit unattainable but don't be discouraged.

a person who doesn't get scared by his feelings. when he's actually in love, he will fall head over heels. if he thinks you're a match he wants to make sure nobody else will ever get you. he can easily get caught up in the moment and be impulsive. he wants to attract your attention as soon as possible after he realises he loves you, and it will be in an obvious and eccentric way. he wants you to remember him for a lifetime. his placements makes him one of the most emotional individuals, he feels love, anger, disappointment, happiness and so on, at a much greater level.

someone who stands out. he has always attracted a lot of attention since he has a gravitational energy, so it won't be just anyone who's going to catch his eyes. as a child, he felt very different from the people he was surrounded by. he loved and still love anything that is labeled as odd by others and he likes to feel like he's strange.

someone who's interested in humanitarian work.

a person who's flexible. he needs someone who's willing to take risks with him. someone who's in to enjoy the ride.

[rootsrockweirdo]

The September issue of Honky Tonk Times is available now at thehonkytonktimes.com. This month I interviewed Mario Carboni and Norm Hamlet, who served as Merle Haggard's bandleader and steel guitar player for over 49 years. These interviews are a dream come true!

Carboni, Hamlet carry on Bakersfield tradition of music and kindness

Mario Carboni might be the nicest guy you’ve never met. From the start of our half-hour-long interview, Carboni exhibits the personality traits not of a traveling musician but of a man who genuinely concerns himself with the happiness of those around him. The 35-year-old piano and trumpet player extraordinaire is driving across Alaska in a van purchased specifically for runs in The Last Frontier. A mix-up has caused him and his lone bandmate to miss their hour-long set at the state’s largest festival. Instead of dogging the head of the event, Carboni simply says: “They’re busy. They have so many acts in there it’s understandable.” It’s not the reaction I expected, but as our conversation continues, it becomes clear that perhaps his heroes have not only influenced his music but his attitude toward life as well. A native of Oregon, Carboni’s lifelong affair with music began at 9 months old when he started playing the piano (yes, you read that correctly). By the age of 10, he added the trumpet to his repertoire. “I started out playing ragtime and improvising,” he says. “I ended up playing the trumpet in various school bands, then figured out how to play the two of them together when I was about 20. I ended up going from there, starting to play shows – I did a year of college, and it was not at all what I wanted to do – so I went over to Bakersfield and started meeting folks I considered to be my heroes and met Red Simpson in 2015.” One of the originators of “truck driving country,” Simpson rose to popularity as both a recording artist and songwriter in the mid-1960s, scoring hits such as “Roll, Truck, Roll” and “Hello, I’m A Truck.” The Bakersfield native remained a permanent fixture in the area's music scene, coming to the aid of many aspiring musicians until his death in January 2016. “Red was always helping younger folks and kids,” Carboni says. “He’d record a record with somebody in their little home studio, mention them in a radio interview or tour with them. He toured with me; he didn’t have to do that. The two of us recorded two records together; they were the last two records he ever recorded.” Following Simpson’s death, Carboni received an invitation to play at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace, where a chance meeting with Norm Hamlet would change the trajectory of his career, forming an unlikely duo billed as “The Rebel and The Stranger.” As a member of Merle Haggard’s Strangers, Hamlet served as bandleader and steel guitar player for nearly 50 years, playing on more than 30 No. 1 hits and performing in some of the most recognizable concert venues in the U.S. Upon Haggard’s death in April 2016 and despite his age at the time, Hamlet too found himself wondering what would come next. “We were both hired to play in a band at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace, and we started talking that night,” Carboni recalls. “I asked him if I could have his number and eventually called him up and told him I’d like to shoot a video of the two of us playing three songs; I’d pick my three favorite songs that he’d recorded on. We filmed this series of videos and put them out. I think there was one of ‘No Reason To Quit,’ another of ‘The Roots of My Raising,’ and it was really special to me because he’d played on the original hit with Merle in the ‘70s. I told him I could never afford to pay him what it was worth, and he was very nice to do that for me. “We put them out on social media and turned around a week later, and they’d hit 600,000 views each or something like that. I called him up and said, ‘Hey, this is significant. We should start a project.’ We started talking a little more about it, touring a little bit more and more dates started coming our way. It seems like the more stuff that we do, the more stuff people want to hire us for, and it just snowballed from there to the point where we’re touring the country.” For 86-year-old Hamlet, whose career began nearly seven decades ago and whose resume also includes working with Rose Maddox, The Farmer Boys, and once as part of a band opening for Hank Williams, the decision to return to the road

seemed like the natural course. “Mario had such a charisma about him,” Hamlet said. “When he played music, everybody loved his singing and playing, and I thought the same thing. It had been a long time since I’d seen a piano player that plays as good as he does, so I thought, ‘Well, I might still try to go out there and play a few things.’ This turned into a good job. At my age, I didn’t know how long I’d be able to go out and do it. As long as I can do it health-wise, we’ll keep going out there.” In addition to their busy tour schedule, the two recently completed their debut album, "Hello Heartache," a collection of 10 songs recorded aboard Carboni's tour bus, affectionately dubbed "Ol' Red," on the streets of Bakersfield. Of the 10 songs, eight were written by Carboni and Hamlet. “Most of the songs are upbeat in the Bakersfield sound, traditional style, with a slight twist of the piano being the rhythm and bass instrument instead of a traditional instrumentation,” Carboni explains. “. . . The album also features dobro played by Norm on one track called ‘Miss the Mississippi and You.’ We brought the instrument out of the museum in Nashville to record the album. The last time it was on a recording session was in 1969 on Merle Haggard’s ‘Same Train Different Time’ album.” For now, the album is only available at the pair's live performances, which Carboni says features a mix of songs made famous by some of Bakersfield's heavy hitters, including Haggard, Buck Owens, and Simpson. "They call it a second career when somebody does what Norm's doing, I guess," Carboni says. "He helps me out by playing with me; we help each other out. I get to be his rhythm section, and he lends his incredible reputation to what we're doing, and that's a really special thing, that's important." The pair has several dates scheduled for September. To view their complete schedule, visit www.honkytonkrebel.com. As for the aforementioned festival performance, Carboni and Hamlet were given a time slot for the following day, proving once and for all that nice guys don't always finish last. At least not the ones from Bakersfield.

[astramachina]

My chaotic ass just picked up a random book off my shelf and had a bunch of documents and photos spill onto the floor. I bend over to the pick them up and that's when I see it: a photo that violently threw me back to the wildest most uncomfortable night I lived through back in 2016.

STORY TIME:

I used to work for an afterschool program that was predominantly staffed by old farts for the exception of three of us in our 20s. In true capitalist fashion, we were severely understaffed and the director continued to enroll older students because "you younger folks can handle the workload". A load of bullshit, obvs. But anyway, one day we were abuzz with the news that a new hire was coming in, a young one, and naturally I was hype at the prospect of having someone to talk to during down time.

The day the new hire comes in I was lounging at the front desk, taking my 15, and I nearly fell out of the chair. This woman was 6'0. She was thicc. A total dolled-up goth bombshell and a little "!" instantly lit up over my head. She was wearing a Deathly Hollows necklace and that was my plan of attack. We hit it off swimmingly, bonded over similar music and movie tastes, etc.

One Thursday, she bursts into my classroom. Says: "I got us two tickets to see the band I really like".

She was a hardcore groupie. Like a "I've traveled all over the US to catch these guys perform and hangout backstage with them" type of groupie. I said cool. The concert was the next day. A little short notice but I was down to hang out outside of work.

Friday night, she picks me up. In a 2017 Mercedes. Obviously daddy's car, but I didn't question it. I got in the passenger's seat and shit instantly started going downhill. She started talking about high school style drama she was having with other groupies who wanted in this band's pants. I rolled with it, laughed, whatever. Two hours later and we're in the city, she meets up with one of the girls she was just ripping to shreds in the car, hugs and kisses all around, and she treats us all to dinner before the show.

At the pizza joint, these two girls begin talking about how they didn't plan on voting but hoped Donald Trump would win because it was unfair for their families to pay more taxes and because the thought of a woman president gave them nightmares.

I want you all to know that I am a queer brown person. Openly so.

I sat there, LOUDLY sipping my milkshake and rapidly texting one of my friends that this is B A D. SO VERY BAD. They offer me an out. I say no, gonna at least try to make it through the show.

My dumbass, being a flamboyant homosexual, dressed for fashion rather than practicality. It was late October. It was cold. I thought hyperthermia would do me in before the show even began. Sadly, It didn't. When the venue opens and we flash our ID's, the girl I'm with gets her hand stamped with a black X. Horrified, it occurred to me I never asked her age. She says "don't worry about it, I'll wash it off in the bathroom" and I know I need to GTFO pronto. But then there's a commotion. The wave of people push me to a corner of the venue where some guy is sitting down playing the guitar and singing, everyone around me is wearing the "I just creamed my pants" face and my co-worker explains to me that he's the lead singer of the band we're here to see.

I know my taste in men is questionable at best, but he was basic even by my standards. White boy looked like he was two months away from graduating high school.

Fast forward 30 minutes and the opening numbers start taking the stage. We have Imagine Dragons knock-offs, some weird synth-pop funk number with hair big enough to hide his entire face, and some basic alt-rock. Not bad, but okay.

The girls my co-worker was talking shit about show up and she vanishes to hang out with them, leaving me there, at the very font, awkwardly tapping the railing as the show finally began. Just sandwiched between all these thirsty chicks. The temptation to swing by the bar and grab a drink was strong but I had a feeling she wouldn't be suited to drive once this was all over.

Show starts and it wasn't so bad. Some bangers. They had this alt Harry Styles vibe to them with their drum set literally covered in weaved-together flowers. At one point the lead singer does the thing where they kneel in front of someone and sings at them.

Motherfucker had the audacity to kneel in front of me.

Now, I'll admit that the attention was enjoyable. Seeing all these people wildly clamoring at him while he was staring at me in what was definitely done as a bit to piss off everyone there. He held out his hand at one point and I just reached over and give him a high-five before he wandered off again. The chick beside me just stared and shouted "CONSIDER YOURSELF LUCKY" over the music. I'm still unsure if that was meant to be a threat or not.

Show ends with a rousing cover of Pour Some Sugar on Me and by this point I've slinked towards the back of the venue, dancing with a bottle of water that cost me way too much money. I swing by the bathrooms once it's over, and there are girls standing outside of them popping pills and chasing them with beer. Not even bothering to hide it. I want you all to know that the wildest event I had ever been to prior to this was Comic Con.

My co-worker finds me, says "I want you to meet the guys!"

And that's the story of how I have this photo of me dressed in casual goth wear, linking arms with five other guys who look like they wanted really hard to be 5 Seconds of Summer but edgy, on the night I got asked out by an underage white supremacist who got fired from our job two weeks later for getting into a literal fistfight with the school director.

[lccsoutheast]

Day Five

With a later departure time scheduled for the morning of tour day five, everyone was able to get a few more minutes of rest as we prepared to leave Savannah and travel to Charleston. After a two hour drive, we arrived at the Magnolia Plantation & Gardens in South Carolina. We had some time before lunch to go through the petting zoo where we were able to get up close and personal with deer, tortoises, snakes, goats, foxes, and several beautiful but incredibly loud (and fairly aggressive) peacocks.

After eating our boxed lunches, we headed over to the plantation house where one of the nature train drivers approached our group. It turns out that this man, Dick Winters, actually grew up between Walton and Galveston and is a 1966 graduate of Lewis Cass! He told us all a tale of the rivalry between Logansport & Lewis Cass. It seems that the students at the two schools liked to steal items of importance from each other. During one Lewis Cass-Logansport basketball game at the old Berry Bowl, a group of students took the stuffed Felix from the center of the court, passed it up through the student section and out through the top windows where two Lewis Cass students were waiting to grab him and drive off. What those two students didn't realize, however, was that the bottom of Felix was filled with sand so that he could stand up on the floor, which made him pretty heavy. When the doll was dropped from the top of the Berry Bowl, it came crashing down on the waiting students who broke an arm and a wrist. But they managed to drive off with Felix (even if they did have to give him back soon after). It also turns out that Dick is a distant cousin to Susan - which neither one of them knew - and that Dick's brother Bob was a partner in practice with Dr. Herb Price from Logansport. Small world!!

After meeting Mr. Winters, we performed a short concert for visitors in front of the plantation house. Everyone then had free time to explore the beautiful grounds. Some of us were able to observe a family of armadillos and some even saw an alligator. The grounds and gardens were really beautiful and the weather was perfect for a leisurely stroll. After our free time, we all boarded the nature trains (one of which was driven by Mr. Winters), and headed out on a tour of the plantation where we saw several alligators and countless egrets and herons and heard the history of the plantation which grew rice as its main crop in the 19th century. At the end of our tour, we sang Back Home Again in Indiana for Mr. Winters, which brought a tear to his eye. After saying goodbye, it was off to our hotel for the next three days for a quick check in and a bit of time to relax before once again boarding the buses and traveling into the city of Charleston. Upon our arrival, everyone had a chance to grab a bite to eat at the various restaurants in the City Market area after which we all gathered at the US Custom House to begin our ghost tours through the streets of Charleston.

Each of our four groups heard various stories of haunted happenings around the city including stories of the origins of Annabel Lee of Edgar Allan Poe fame and a tale of the ghost of a mother captured on film, mourning her baby at their grave in the churchyard of St. Philip's (where we'll be singing on day six & seven). Many of the groups also heard the story of a plantation owner who had squandered his wealth and hoped to rebuild his life by shipping his last crop of cotton to England, only to watch the ship burn in Charleston harbor. He supposedly haunts the building from where he watched his fortune go up in flames. Still other groups were told the tale of the Gentleman Ghost who, having been rejected by a girlfriend at college, visits room number 10 in a local bed & breakfast, looking for someone to fall in love with him. Whether you believe the stories or not, the ghost tour was an entertaining way to end our first evening in Charleston.

We're looking forward to seeing more of the city on tour day six