#going from upbeat and fun songs to deep and personal ones

[rosicheeks]

Thinking about being snuggled up with someone. All soft and warm. Playing our favorite songs and artists and music we think the other would like. Eventually falling asleep on their chest listening to the rhythm of their heartbeat…..

[eveninggstar]

can I request a fic where reader and Jake go to the beach and he rough houses with her and they just have fun?

Beach Day

Summary: you and your boyfriend, Jake, go to the beach on a whim.

(requested)

Warnings: fluff, slight sexual innuendo;), beach fun time, kissing, reader has hair that can be flicked passed shoulders, readers looks not specified,reader intended to be female,no use of y/n

A/N: pretty cute request by anonymous tysm! Hope you enjoy it. Also tysm for all the love on my first Jake Webber fic (I just wrote it off handedly didn’t expect the love it got)

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

When an outsider looked at you and your boyfriend, Jake, it wouldn't be hard to tell that you were irresistibly in love with each other. With being a youtuber, he had a more upbeat personality and was a kind soul. Luckily enough for you, all of those attributes translated into off-camera Jake.

Today, you had suggested to take a day off and just chill at the beach in the hot, June weather. Jake, as always, immediately agreed.

Sitting in the passenger seat of his car, you were blasting a song to get you ready for the beach. The windows were all rolled down, giving you the perfect breeze-as Jake went slightly over the speed limit. You were wearing khaki green shorts over your bikini bottoms and left your bikini top out. At the exposed part of your legs, your left thigh was currently being grasped by Jake with the occasional squeeze.

Finally, you arrived at the beach. You took the liberty on picking up the small bag that held all of the essentials, yet you had a loving and caring boyfriend.

"Excuse me," Jake interrupted your actions, pursing his lips with his eye brows raised and a open and closing hand. "That's my job." He then accompanied his faux irritation with a hand on his hip.

"Oh i'm so terribly sorry, how can i ever get your forgiveness?" You rolled your eyes as you hauled the bag with two hands into Jake's one hand. Obviously he lifted it with ease.

"Sorry ain't gonna cut it sweetie." He jokingly glared at you, then (quite literally) strutted off with his hips swaying.

"Please, i'll do anything!" You begged, your voice going more breathy as you continued. Luckily no one was at the car park that overlooked the fresh waters. At the sound of your begging Jake stopped and slowly turned towards you, with a dark sultry look.

He walked closer to you, readjusting the bag, "Anything?" He questioned and brushed your hair behind your shoulders. The deep sultry voice he had matched the way he looked at you. The quick fleeting brush of his calloused skin against your bare shoulders ignited sparks beneath your skin.

You bit your lip and nodded as you looked up at him. Hopefully this conversation will go the direction you were hoping. Jake leaned in close to your face, noses side by side and lips millimetres away. "Will you play mermaids?"

The tingly feeling that Jake gave you had almost distracted you from the absurd question. "Yeah-Wait what?" You pulled a face as he started to giggle in a childish manner.

"I love you~"He dragged out, pouting his lips ready for a kiss. You left him hanging for a few seconds, before he realised you weren't going to kiss him. "Fine!" He sassily exclaimed before reaching down to your knees and flipped you over so your front was down his back.

After setting up everything, you both took the time to rest together. It had been a stressful weak. Jake seemingly recorded everyday and it drained him the slightest, whilst you had the title of being the pretty girlfriend weighing on your back.

Your sunbathing was interrupted by Jake with a bucket and spade in his hands with a cheeky smile. Opening your eyes, you saw that Jake was practically buzzing to do something.

"Yes, Jake?" You pushed yourself into a sitting position.

"So, i was wondering if-" he started swaying side to side, "We could build sandcastles..." he stopped swaying as he looked at you.

You paused, a finger on your chin, "Um..." he dropped to his knees, being level with your lying figure and brought his hands up in a prayer motion. "Of course, baby!" you smiled and brought him in for a quick kiss.

"Awww, yow know how tow make a girl blush!" He smiled with his country accent and his cheeks having a slight pink hue to them as he flicked his wrist at you.

After building sandcastles, and apparently making homes for the multiple crabs Jake has miraculously found, you and Jake headed for the sea.

This is wear Jake's attitude flipped. Suddenly the sweet, patient boyfroend you had gotten used to today had gotten bored. Now you had a funny, erratic boyfriend! But he was still sweet.

You suggested that the two of you could jump the waves. Jake seemingly enjoyed this idea, only that he had started to go deeper into the sea with you. You had sat down in the deeper waters and began to play with the sand beneath your fingers.

Realising Jake had been quiet for an awfully long time, you looked around for the black haired boy. After looking around three, even four, times you began to worry.

Jake wasn't the strongest if swimmers, only elevating your concerns. You repeatedly started yelling 'Jake' hoping he would hear, answer, and be okay.

Your worried calls were interrupted by you getting lifted out of the water and being spun around. Looking to your side, you saw Jake’s shaggy black hair drenched in water. He set you down and held your hands and swayed them.

“Hi.” Jake smiled, the golden hour shine perfectly accentuated his perfect smile. He squinted a little because of the sun, yet still looking perfect.

“Hi,” you reciprocated the smile, hopefully giving Jake the same feeling that you felt beneath your skin every time he smiled, kissed, or even looked at you.

He pulled you into his wet chest, holding you close as the two of you looked out into the sunset. His chest vibrates as he said something, you were too caught up in looking at the pink to blue in the sky to realise what he said.

You lifted your head up and furrowed your brows. He leant to your eye level, not breaking eye contact. “I love you.”

The feeling was back. The feeling a young school girl would get with their crush, but you weren’t a school girl with her crush. You had found the love of your life .

1012 words

[hausofneptune]

songs that give the same energy as these aspects/placements [3]

[astro notes no. 009]

hey! i'm back with part three of this series bc i'm having far too much fun with these posts (click here for part one and part two). as a pisces sun/mercury i'm trying to use more upbeat songs and less of the "sad and yearning" ass songs i always listen to, as always keep in mind that the energy for these aspects/placements manifests differently for everyone. if y'all have any input, or music recommendations, feel free to let me know! ₊˚ʚ ᗢ₊˚✧ ﾟ. ༄.

disclaimers | masterlist | ask

18+, mdni

 ༊*·˚ ˗ aquarius in big 6 | uranus / saturn aspecting ascendant / sun | uranus / saturn in the 1H: alien superstar — beyoncé

mastermind in haute couture label whores can't clock, i'm so obscure masterpiece, genius, drip intravenous patty cake on that wrist tiffany blue billboards over that ceiling we don't like plain, always dreamed of paper planes mile-high when i rodeo then i come down and take off again

(alien superstar is literally the theme song for aquarians, uranians, and saturnians. i don't make the rules.) people with these placements typically grow up feeling ostracized by others and find it difficult to fit in with their peers, almost as though they’re “from another planet” in a sense, as their worldview completely contrasts with the perspectives of those around them. there’s usually something about them categorizes them as “different”, or even weird or eccentric in some cases. in the end, though, the things that make these natives “outcasts” are ultimately their greatest assets. i feel like people can conflate the restrictive nature of saturn so much so to the point where we forget that saturn is the ruler of time.

hence why over time saturnian people become experts in the areas of their life and personality that the planet is affecting. specifically, people with saturn aspecting the ascendant or sun, or with saturn in their 1H, typically struggle with self expression and their identity. they can also struggle in terms of feeling like the weight of the world is on their shoulders, due to being perceived as responsible and accountable for everything and everyone around them. fortunately, with age (and self-realization) that weight forges them into individuals who’s originality and self-assurance is something that’s admired, and potentially envied, by those around them. overall, these natives are pioneers within their fields, and more often than not the ones to set trends instead of following them.

 ༊*·˚ ˗ moon in the 12H (synastry): dreams — baby storme

they ask me "where have you been?" and i wanna say but they won't understand that i've been in my dreams i lay here all alone and watch the time go on i see you in my dreams and that's enough for me

12H synastry tends to be spiritual in nature. because the 12H houses the needs and desires that lay in our subconscious, when someone’s moon falls there it can often result in a connection that feels very “dreamy” in a sense, and can quite literally manifest as them showing up in your dreams. this can be especially impactful if you’re someone who has vivid, lucid dreams, as it can result in being able to visit the person you have this connection with in the astral realm, or vice versa. while this can be a very deep, soulful connection, it can also manifest as having an emotional connection with someone that feels too elusive at times.

if one or both people in this connection aren’t evolved enough in a spiritual sense to handle moon in the 12H synastry, it can definitely lead to feeling as though one or both people hide their feelings from the other, resulting in feelings of deceit or betrayal between the two. i feel like 12H synastry is very beautiful and deep when both parties can handle it (similar to 8H synastry), but it can be very difficult to energetically cut ties with someone that you have this synastry with.

༊*·˚ ˗ venus square / opposite mars (synastry / natal): modennaminute — smino ft. lucky daye, phoelix

i just bought you new cartiers now you crying in it and now it's hard to walk away 'cause we blind in it don't know when to quit, my love never should’ve crossed that line you said i’m the shit, my love then tell me i ain't shit, my love

in synastry, venus square or opposite mars can indicate both deep desire and attraction, as well as a love/hate relationship between the two natives. the square/opposition between these two planets can definitely ignite a passionate, sexual nature in this relationship, and can potentially influence one or both people (typically the mars person) to behave in possessive or jealous ways at times. specifically with the opposition, there can be a tug of war in terms of energy, and while having this aspect alone in a synastry chart isn't the end all be all (the entire chart, alongside the individual charts, must be considered), it has the potential to manifest as an on-again-off-again relationship.

with the square, there's more of a conflict in timing/tastes. while mars may be more aggressive or rough in their approach, it may turn venus off, as venus may want something more sensual and romantic. both parties typically have to sacrifice in some way shape or form and adapt to their partner's wants and needs for the relationship to work. in the natal chart, the square / opposition is indicative of someone who may struggle in love due to an inner conflict between their feminine/nocturnal and masculine/diurnal energies. these natives typically find it difficult to exist in relationships without turmoil, and may have to work towards balancing both the venus and mars energy they house within themselves.

༊*·˚ ˗ saturn / neptune / chiron in the 11H: friends that break your heart — james blake

and they tell you "just you wait it kills you, and only love can break you more the more you care and all, and all in love is fair" but it's not fair i have haunted many photographs in the background, in the fore and as many loves that have crossed my path in the end, it was friends it was friends who broke my heart

these placements are indicative of strife or struggle found in one’s ability to form and maintain connections to those around them. these natives usually have to put more effort in facilitating productive and healthy interpersonal relationships, and often feel a sense of "lack" in this area of their lives. those with neptune in the 11H specifically could find themselves in friendships where they feel blindsided or betrayed, or they may behave in ways that their friends perceive as being sneaky or deceptive. with chiron in the 11H, there can be negative experiences surrounding friendships or failed connections. saturn in the 11H can indicate feeling "rejected" or invisible in group settings, especially in youth.

these placements (specifically saturn) may also indicate social anxiousness and a tendency towards being more withdrawn. others may mischaracterize them as being rude or "too aloof", when in reality, these natives genuinely want to connect with others, but feel like they encounter obstacle after obstacle upon trying to do so. despite their challenges, these placements can end up being beneficial in the long run, as they can gift the native with the ability to empower their communities. they can be drawn towards careers where being able to connect with others, regardless of differences, is prioritized (i.e. politics, social work, community organizing, etc). the 11H is also the house of hopes and dreams, therefore someone with the more "progressed" side of these placements will typically feel that their soul's path is deeply ingrained in being able to help, protect, and provide for their loved ones, their community, and the collective at large.

༊*·˚ ˗ ruler of the 7H in 4H / 6H | venus / juno in the 10H: feathers and wax — vicktor taiwò

i'll help you grow we rise in feathers and wax, child don't stray too far we rise in feathers and wax, child i'll help you grow wings that won't burn in the hot sun can't watch you go we rise in feathers and wax, child

people with these placements are typically the types of lovers who seek partners who are reliable enough to build a stable foundation with, and are most drawn to relationships where they're able to build their partner up, and feel that effort reciprocated by their loved one as well. with the ruler of the 7H in the 4H, one's domestic life, family, and lineage is innately integrated into how they navigate partnerships. these natives tend to seek out a partner they feel safe enough to depend on, and may view building a family and a secure home as a high priority. with the ruler of the 7H in the 6H, there's a similar sense of wanting to build with one another, but less in regards to building a home/family and more so in regards to aiding one another in day-to-day responsibilities. these are usually the types who enjoy going to the gym with their partner, running errands with them, and are overall very keen on giving and receiving acts of service. they could also meet their spouse at work or want to work with them in terms of collaboration.

generally, venus in the 10H can manifest as being highly regarded in terms of one's profession, as well as being perceived in a positive light by one's peers. in regards to relationships, venus in the 10H can point to being drawn towards a partner that benefits your own reputation in someway shape or form. as a couple, they may receive a significant amount of attention from others, as the 10H rules the public. alongside juno in the 10H, these natives may meet their spouse in a professional setting, and could even end up working together and becoming business partners later on down the line. there's often a feeling of wanting to be both prosperous in one's own right, alongside wanting a partner that is just as successful and committed to building a life that is balanced, or is at least perceived that way by others.

༊*·˚ ˗ venus in taurus, leo, or libra | venus sextile / trine / conjunct jupiter: angels in tibet — amaarae

fountain baby, wash her, make it wet diamonds hit the sweat tattoo on her chest i like when my remedies connect that pussy and a bed like angels in tibet louvre and armani, i like how you say it feeding me body, i like how you cater i took a trip to the stylist today i spend the bitch like i'm spending the paper, stop

those with venus in taurus, leo, or libra are typically extremely dedicated and loyal to their loved ones. these placements could also make for someone who is deeply enamored by grandiose, material gestures, not necessarily in a materialistic sense (although it can manifest that way), but more so in the sense of wanting to pampered and taken care of by their suitor/partner. venus in taurus / libra can influence the need for interpersonal balance, as well as a craving for a "physical harmony" (especially with taurus). these natives tend to have very high expectations, and find thrill in being "courted" by their love interests, they tend to enjoy giving and receiving gifts as well.

those with venus harmoniously aspecting jupiter in their chart tend to be very lighthearted, creative individuals, and are very generous in love. they enjoy dramatic, flamboyant gestures of love, as well as gift-giving and recieving. they genuinely enjoy seeing their partner happy above all else, and seek reciprocation of that fulfillment in return. with the conjunction here, there can be a learning-curve in regards to knowing when to reign jupiter's "excessive" nature in, but those with the trine / sextile typically know how to show their love (and want to be loved) in a way that doesn't go overboard.

༊*·˚ ˗ venus in gemini / aquarius | uranus in the 5H / 7H: too sweet — hozier

don't you just wanna wake up dark as a lake smellin' like a bonfire lost in a haze? if you're drunk on life, babe i think it's great but while in this world i think i'll take my whiskey neat my coffee black and my bed at three you're too sweet for me

the chokehold this song has had me in ever since it dropped? insane. these placements (and this song) are very reminiscent of running away from a love that lacks spontaneity. natives with these placements tend to need a level of excitability in relationships, those with venus in gemini / aquarius specifically are innately drawn towards people who mentally stimulate them or that they have to “figure out” in a sense. these placements are easily prone to disengage and become bored with a relationship once the “chase” phase is over. these venus placements (the gemini venus girlies specifically) tend to get mischaracterized as people who can’t sustain romantic relationships, and in my opinion it’s more so that these placements inherently need connection in more of a “cerebral” way, rather than in a stereotypical, lovey-dovey kind of way. the idea of love for these natives can be very unconventional in nature, and they crave a connection that is ever-changing and exciting to them.

with uranus in the 5H / 7H, one’s approach to romance and partnership can be atypical. natives with these placements tend to be deeply passionate and expressive in love, and could even be the types to view their partners as their muse. they also tend to be drawn towards relationships that don’t impose upon their sense of independence. natives with these placements, including the venus ones, could remain single or even prefer being single over being in a relationship, as these placements all share the common trait of needing their freedom and not liking to feel restricted. being able to experience life and express their individuality is a priority for them, and it can be of greater importance to them than finding love at times.

divider by plutism

[nirvanawrites111]

Wedding Secrets (Sub!Taemin x Dom!Reader)

Pairing: Sub!Taemin x Dom!Reader

Pronouns: none used, written as an afab! reader. Reader does wear a dress.

Genre: Exes to lovers, non-idol au, Taemin is a famous cherographer and you two see each other at Hoshi's wedding.

Warning: smut of course, pussy eating, dom!reader, femdom, cheating, pulling Taem's hair, and grabbing his shirt. Y/n is called mommy

Word count: 1789.. it was supposed to be only 1000 words.

BTW, this is NOT the story I teased a week ago. I'm still working on my Yandere!Taemin fic.

I'm just so in love with Taemin y'all.. but y'all already knew that.

Happy Subby!September! Thank you to everyone who is reading, writing, and reblogging. We are just getting started!

Smut below the cut! Enjoy.

The wedding reception was vibrant and full of energy. But, your heart drops when you spot him from across the room.

Your ex.

At Hoshi's wedding, of all places? You both shared a mutual surprised look, and suddenly, the upbeat song seemed a bit too loud.

Memories of old times flashed by as you caught his eye. This was going to be an interesting evening for you.

Not to mention, the woman by his side is drop-dead gorgeous, and you're sure she's a model or some influencer.

Being a choreographer, you know he makes his rounds around the entertainment industry.

You get up from the table and head to the bathroom. The last thing you want is to show any emotions and make this about you. This is about celebrating your good friend, and you don't want to draw any attention to you.

You retreat to the bathroom and look at yourself in the mirror. Your makeup is still perfect, your hair is flawless, and you look amazing in your outfit. You take a couple of deep breaths.

"I don't have feelings for him anymore.. so why am I tripping?"

"You don't have feelings for me.. anymore.. mommy?" Taemin voices announces into the bathroom, and you glare at him as you stare at him in the mirror.

While you thought hearing that name would feel foreign to you, instead, you miss it. A little more than you would like to admit.

You can't even hide your facial expressions, so you turn around to face him. You wrap your arms around your body, holding yourself in hopes that you can keep it together.

"No, we're over... remember?" Your echo of the truth is a reminder that he doesn't belong to you anymore.

He wanted to end things because he felt like monogamy wasn't something he wanted to continue. So, he walked away from you.

"I know that, but you haven't answered the question. Because if I'm being real with you. I'm not over you. Every person I sleep with, I have to close my eyes and imagine that it's you that I'm with."

Of course, the most infamous choreographer and dancer in your home country has been with other people since the split. That was the whole purpose, right? But it still doesn't feel good hearing it.

But, simultaneously, you feel a little emotion stir inside you, because he still isn't over you.

"Does my answer even matter?" You challenge him.

Taemin tilts his head, and studies your body language. His piercing dark brown eyes, and you know that right now, he's the bold, confident, loudmouth Taemin. In a snap of a finger, if you step into "mommy mode," he will be a whimpering mess under your control. He can get into his subspace so easily for you.

"For me, it does," he responds softly.

A surge of memories hits you – the late-night rehearsals, the impromptu dance sessions at dawn. The way you two would hook up at his dance studio. The passion between the two of you is undeniable. But you know, along with those fun memories comes the bitter ones, the fights, and the jealousy.

"Why now?" you ask, trying to keep your voice steady. "After all this time, after everything that happened, why bring this up now?"

You watch him take a deep breath, looking down momentarily, before returning his mesmerizing gaze to yours.

"It's simple. Everywhere I go, all I see and imagine is you. You used to choke me the way I liked, spank me, spoil me, love me, touch me. Make me submit like no one else could. I'm still in love with you, Y/n."

You want to speak, and you open your mouth to do so, but you stop yourself. You take a moment to process what he just told you.

Your relationship with him was such a whirlwind. He's never been your typical type of guy you like to date. You are quiet and reserved around people you don't know. Only a selected person gets to see your true personality shine.

But, Taemin is outspoken, flirty, and outgoing all the time. He's always the center of attention in some type of way. You never wanted to dim his light or stop his beautiful energy. But, at times, his innocence gets misinterpreted by someone dying for his attention.

Which created issues in your relationship. He has five million Instagram followers, which is more than some of the idols he choreographs for.

He's pretty much a big deal to a lot of people. But, no one has ever experienced him in the way that you have.

"Kiss me," you mumble.

You get out of your head and try to ground yourself back into your body. You know you will ruminate over this if you don't let your body take the lead.

Taemin steps closer into your presence and presses his soft, juicy lips against yours. Your eyes shut immediately, and you allow him to take the lead momentarily. He deepens the kiss and wraps his hands around your waist, and you pull him closer to your body.

You pull back from him, and you feel that familiar feeling come over you. That surge of energy allows you to take control of the situation.

"Mommy? Can I taste you?" The words slip off his tongue so quickly, and you wanted nothing more than to shove his face right into your pussy.

How did he know that you even wanted him in that way?

You removed Taemin's suit jacket and laid it on the sink, and you hiked up your dress so that you can prepare his meal for him.

How could you deny yourself the satisfaction of having the best head in your life? Even if it meant this was just a one-time hookup.

You spread your legs for Taemin, and you are already wet with excitement.

"Come on and eat it before your girlfriend comes looking for you," you taunt him.

"She doesn't care. She's just with me for her social media page."

You run your finger down your slit and feel how wet you are just from kissing Taemin. It never fails how you always react to him so easy.

Taemin smirks and kneels before you just enough to be at eye level at your core. He places his hands on your thighs for leverage as he jams his tongue inside you.

You instantly realize how much you have missed his tongue deep inside you. The feeling of his tongue warms you in a way that you can't explain. It's familiar, and it feels even better as he begins to lap at your folds.

"God, I've missed your tongue, Taem. You're still the best head I've ever had that."

You expect Taemin to respond to your comment, but he's lost himself inside of your sacred world. He mixes up his technique from sucking on your clit to giving you very slow, but passionate kisses that cause your body to jilt every time.  To do it all over again in between speeds and variations.

The feeling of having Taemin eat you out like it's his last meal on Earth has your mind spinning a bit when he services you like this. You know that his words are really true.

There is no way that he eats out that IG model like this.

Taemin is way too good and knows exactly what you need when you need it.

He's so good at reading your body language since he's an empath. He knows what you want before you even say it. That's how in sync you two are.

But, you snap out of the state of euphoria, and you grab him by the hair. "Taem, now I know you heard me when I praised you... Is that how you respond to Mommy?"

"No, mommy. I'm sorry, you just taste so good. That's why  I was in my own little world with your pussy. Thank you for praising me. You know I love when you do that. Can I continue to worship you?"

You instantly felt the aching of your sex when you pulled him away from you. You want to regret it, but you also know he must obey you.

"Fine, but you know I like it when you respond to me. Got it."

"Yes."

You stare into his eyes with his hair still in your hand and his beautiful plump lips covered in your juices.

"Yes, what?"

"Yes... Mommy."

"Good boy."

You release his hair and guide the back of his head back to your pussy. Not that you needed to guide him, but you like being able to control him in this way.

Taemin returns to pleasuring you like he never stops. He licks away at your pussy, and the gushy sound of his tongue and your juices mixed has you hornier than ever.

"Mommy.. I love pleasuring you."

"I can tell. You see how wet I am."

"I love it.. can I feel your juices on my fingers?"

"Yes.."

Taemin turns his hand over and sticks his thick middle finger inside you, and you clench around him. He runs his thumb over your clit in circles.

You look down at him, and you can't get over the fact that you never expected to be on a bathroom sink with your legs spread with Taemin's head in between them during your bestie's wedding.

As if on cue, Taemin runs his tongue across his top lip slowly to savor your taste.

You grab him by the shirt and pull him in for a kiss. You slip your tongue into his mouth and savor the taste of yourself. These are the wild moments you miss.

Your tongue swirls around in his mouth as you two are locked in a passionate kiss. The combination of kissing him and his fingers working their magic on you is enough to tip you over the edge.

Taemin's skillful digits continue to pump into you, and you already feel yourself squirt on his middle finger.

"Finish me off," You pull away from Taemin and push his head back down.

Taemin holds onto you as he buries his face deep into your center, and he tongue fucks you because he knows that's what you like.

You both know your body is already so sensitive, and by the way, your hips are starting to buck you. The time to release is approaching.

You moan uncontrollably as Taemin's expert tongue explores every inch of your core, intensifying the pleasure coursing through your body. The anticipation builds, and with one final flick of his tongue, you explode in a mind-shattering climax.

Taemin comes back up and licks his lips again. "I will never get enough of how you taste, Mommy."

You hop off the sink and adjust your dress. Your legs are wobbly, and Taemin helps you with your dress.

You kiss Taemin on the cheek and say, "I might let you taste me again."

[maggie-004]

(Un-) Lucky coincidence – 11

Jenna Ortega x Fem reader

Summary: Jenna and Y/N's night of music, laughter, and cultural exploration leads to a heartwarming collaboration with Y/N's best friend, Toni. As the sun rises, their deepening connection blossoms into a passionate and tender moment, sealing the magic of their newfound love.

Warnings: Fluff

Words:2486

As we drove off, there was a subtle sense of tension in the air, perhaps lingering from the earlier paparazzi encounter. However, that tension quickly dissipated when the catchy beats of Fergie's "Glamorous" started to fill the car. Jenna couldn't help but be affected by the infectious rhythm, and in no time, she had transformed the somber atmosphere into a lively one with her impromptu performance. I couldn't hold back my laughter as I watched Jenna's playful rendition, showcasing her natural talent for entertainment. Feeling the positive energy emanating from her, I decided to join in on the fun. Together, we sang and danced along to the music, our carefree spirits intertwining like the melodies. However, Jenna's playfulness didn't stop there. She suddenly turned to me with a mischievous glint in her eyes and said, "Hey, why don't you show me something in German from Austria, like what do you listen to? I grinned at the challenge she posed, delighted that she wanted to explore my cultural background through music. I quickly scrolled through my playlist, the one for the getting ready for going out to party, when we already are drunk, everything sounds good when you’re Drunk, I personally don’t listen to much Austrian stuff, but still trying to find the perfect Austrian gem to share with her. "Alright, brace yourself," I teased, before pressing play on a song by an Andreas Gabalier, his songs always brought back fond memories of home. The upbeat folk-pop tune filled the car, its catchy chorus and cheerful melodies reflecting the spirit of my Austrian roots, we listened to “Hulapalu” I couldn’t play marching music, I can’t already lose my girlfriend because of culture shook. Jenna seemed intrigued by the foreign sounds, and as the song progressed, she couldn't help but tap her foot to the rhythm. "This is so cool! I love how music can connect us to different cultures," she remarked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. We spent the rest of the car ride exploring various Austrian songs and discussing their unique styles and influences. Jenna's enthusiasm for experiencing something new was contagious, and it brought us even closer together, bridging the gap between our different backgrounds. As the kilometers passed by, we continued to bond over music, exchanging favorite tracks from our respective countries. It was a beautiful reminder that despite the differences in our lives, music had the incredible power to unite us, transcending language and borders. By the time we reached home, the initial heaviness in the air had completely evaporated, replaced by a shared sense of joy and connection.

As Jenna headed for a quick shower, I retreated to my studio, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness as I prepared for my upcoming streaming session. This would be the first time I'd be showing my face on my social media platforms, a step that felt like a significant leap of faith for my career as a DJ and content creator. Sitting in front of my computer, I took a deep breath and reminded myself of the countless hours I had spent honing my craft, perfecting my DJ sets, and building a loyal online community. But despite my confidence in my skills, there was still that nagging voice of doubt that questioned whether my audience would embrace the person behind the music. As I started putting together a new playlist for the stream, my thoughts kept drifting to Jenna, who was just a room away. Her presence had already brought a newfound sense of joy and inspiration into my life, and I couldn't help but wonder how she might react to seeing me live on camera. Lost in my thoughts, I didn't notice the time passing until Jenna emerged from the shower, a towel wrapped around her and her hair dripping with water. My heart skipped a beat at the sight of her, but I quickly composed myself, trying not to show my momentary distraction. "Feeling better?" I asked, hoping to keep the conversation light while internally trying to quell my nerves about the upcoming stream. "Definitely," Jenna replied with a smile, reaching for her clothes and starting to get dressed. "Your shower is amazing, by the way, you could have told me like two or three days ago that you have an rain shower." "I'm glad you enjoyed it. By the way, if you want, you can join me later for my Twitch stream. It would be really cool to have you there." Jenna's eyes lit up with excitement, and she nodded eagerly. "I'd love that! It'll be a first for me too, watching you in action, you know first stream without mask and hoodie. You're such a talented DJ, and I can't wait to see you in your element again." Her encouraging words meant the world to me, and I felt a renewed sense of determination. With Jenna's support, I knew I could face the challenge of streaming with confidence. “OH yeah by the way if you want to you still can borrow some of my clothes, even though you have your suitcase, ok?, “Awesome thank you, I really love your clothes” she said blushing a little. She gave me peck on the lips and left my studio again. As the day progressed, we continued our separate preparations. While Jenna decided to relax and catch up on some reading, I immersed myself in the creative process, fine-tuning my playlist and setting up my streaming equipment. I even decided to incorporate some of the Austrian songs I had shared with Jenna earlier, a way of connecting my love for my heritage with my passion for music.

As the evening approached, nerves and excitement battled within me, but having Jenna by my side gave me the reassurance I needed. With a final glance at myself in the mirror, I took a deep breath and clicked the "Go Live" button on Twitch. “Hello Guys, I know, I know, I said I will never show my face but I guess never say never is still a thing. Anyways let’s get this started” The next few hours passed like a whirlwind, as I played my carefully curated tracks, interacted with my viewers, and let my passion for music shine through. Jenna was there with me, cheering me on, and her presence brought an extra layer of joy to the experience. In the end, the stream was a resounding success, and the positive feedback from my audience overwhelmed me with gratitude. It was a night I would cherish forever, not only for the milestone it represented in my career but also for the connection it strengthened with Jenna.

As we wrapped up the stream, the excitement of the evening lingered, and I couldn't wait to introduce Jenna to my best friend, Toni. With a playful grin, I asked Jenna if she'd be interested in meeting Toni and potentially recording a video together. Jenna's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as she replied, "I'd really love that! I have an off day tomorrow, so we can stay up the whole night if needed. I don't mind at all; I simply love listening to the magic you two produce together." With our plans set, Jenna and I settled in front of my PC, and I dialed Toni on Discord. As the call connected, I quickly muted myself and winked at Jenna, instructing her to step out of the frame for a brief moment. The anticipation of Toni's reaction was almost too much to contain, and we both giggled like mischievous schoolgirls.

"Hellooo, how are you?" Toni's cheerful voice greeted me as her face appeared on the screen.

"Thanks, I'm really, really good," I replied with a sense of satisfaction.

“Hey I’m also really good thanks”, Jenna casually walked back into the frame and took a seat next to me.

Toni's eyes widened in utter shock and amazement. "Oh my god. You are Jenna Ortega. How did you end up at Y/N's?" she blurted out, clearly starstruck."Oh, hold on, let me guess. Somehow, she helped you with her nursing skills. I bet that's it." The playful tone in Toni’s voice infectious grin on Jenna’s face.

"You're a hundred percent right!" Jenna exclaimed, clapping her hands with excitement. "

Y/N has a way of helping everyone she meets; she's got such a big heart." Toni chuckled.

With introductions made, Jenna and Toni quickly hit it off, exchanging stories and jokes as if they were old friends catching up after years apart. I couldn't help but feel a surge of joy seeing the instant connection between two important people in my life. The idea of collaborating on a video together quickly became a reality, and we brainstormed hilarious and creative content ideas, well we ended up on doing what we always do, DJing for 45 minutes for the video, but with an little extra on the end, Jenna got supervised by me an Toni as she did 15 minutes of DJing towards the end of the video, Jenna had to make sure that her management was okay with her being in a YouTube video, they were super happy with the idea of Janna showing her interest in other stuff than acting and reading so it wasn’t a problem and Toni and I were allowed to upload it with Jenna in each video. It was is called “Jenna Ortega learns how to be an DJ?” The camaraderie and genuine laughter in that virtual room were beyond infectious, and we knew this collaboration was going to be something special. As the hours passed, the initial awkwardness of meeting a celebrity slowly melted away, and the three of us felt like a tight-knit team. Jenna shared some behind-the-scenes stories from her acting career, leaving us in awe of her talent and dedication. As the sun started to rise, we decided to call it a night, but not before exchanging heartfelt promises to meet again soon. Jenna expressed her genuine gratitude for the warm welcome she received from Toni, we assured her that she was always welcome in our little creative haven.

As the clock struck 6:40 a.m., the sky outside began to softly illuminate with the first rays of dawn. Jenna and I had been up all night, filled with excitement, laughter, and creative energy. But now, fatigue was catching up to us, and we decided it was finally time to call it a night. I told Jenna I needed a quick shower before we hit the bed, and as I stepped into the bathroom, I couldn't resist turning on some music to keep the energy alive. The sound of music filled the air, echoing through the apartment, and I imagined Jenna sitting on the edge of the bed, waiting patiently for me. As the warm water cascaded over my body, I felt a sense of rejuvenation, washing away the weariness of the night. I couldn't help but smile, realizing how incredible this day had turned out to be The steam enveloped the bathroom, creating an almost dream-like atmosphere. I took my time, savoring the last few moments of solitude before rejoining Jenna in the bedroom. The music continued to play in the background, providing a soundtrack to my thoughts.

As I stepped out of the shower, I wrapped myself in a fluffy towel, feeling refreshed and ready to embrace the comfort of my bed. With my heart still fluttering from the events of the night, I walked into the bedroom to find Jenna exactly where I had imagined her – sitting on the edge of the bed, her eyes heavy with exhaustion, but her smile still radiant. "Hey, you took your time in there," Jenna said playfully, patting the spot beside her. "But I enjoyed the music you left me with." I chuckled, joining her on the bed, my damp hair sticking to the pillow. "I'm glad you did. I needed a little extra pep in my step after such an eventful night." Jenna's hand found mine, and our fingers interlocked effortlessly. "It really was an incredible night, wasn't it?" she murmured, her gaze locked on our joined hands. "I never expected to meet your best friend and collaborate on a video together." "Life has its way of surprising us," I replied, leaning my head on her shoulder. "But I'm so glad it brought us all together. You and Toni hit it off so well." "Yeah, Toni is amazing. I felt so comfortable with her, like we've known each other forever," Jenna said, a touch of gratitude in her voice. "She's got that effect on people, just like you do too" I said with a smile. "She's genuine, kind, and has a heart of gold, just like you." Jenna blushed, but her smile widened. "You both are incredible people, and I feel so lucky to have met you." The music in the background slowly faded into a soothing melody, and I felt the weight of the night's excitement finally settling on my eyelids. Jenna must have felt it too, as she gently suggested, "I think it's time to get some rest now." I nodded, snuggling closer to her, finding comfort in her presence. "Yeah, you're right. I'm exhausted, but in the best way possible.” And with that shred thought Jenna lifted up her head, with a soft smile, Jenna leaned in, and our lips met once again, igniting a fire of passion and tenderness. The music continued to play softly in the background, providing the perfect backdrop to our intimate moment. Her kiss was both passionate and pure, conveying a depth of emotion that words could never capture. It was a beautiful dance of love and desire, and I couldn't help but be overwhelmed by the warm feeling of comfort and connection that spread through my body. As we finally pulled away from the kiss, I found myself nestled in Jenna's arms, my heart beating wildly in my chest. Her touch was gentle, and I felt safe and cherished in her embrace. "Good night, my love," Jenna whispered, her voice barely audible, but it resonated deeply within me. My heart skipped a beat, and I blushed at the endearment. "Good night, Jen," I replied softly, a fond smile tugging at my lips. I could see the glimmer of delight in her eyes at the nickname, and I couldn't help but feel a wave of affection for this incredible woman lying beside me. As we drifted off into a peaceful slumber, wrapped in each other's arms, I couldn't shake the overwhelming sense of contentment and happiness that enveloped me. It was as if all the stars had aligned to bring us together, and I marveled at the beauty of this unexpected connection. In the gentle embrace of the morning, our breathing synchronized, and I could feel the rise and fall of Jenna's chest against mine.

A/N: I am incredibly intrigued by the unfolding of this story; I honestly have no idea which direction it will take, as I let my thoughts flow freely onto the page. Just to let you know, English is not my first language, but I hope you still enjoy the narrative as I do my best to express the enchanting connection between Jenna and Y/N.

[your-ne1ghbor]

Knowing What I know Now IS REALY BAD...So lets fix it!

Knowing What I know Now from Wish 2023 is a song...I don't like

My problems with the song mainly is shown that there is NO ONE that is joining into the fight. And yes, the people in the story represent community and how we should work together despite differences, ya ya I get it. But it doesn't work, and they only did that part at the end of the story, when it should have been the main progression which would influence how our characters would react.

Someone did a deep dive into the song so here (a lot of the points I would say is similar so just watch that video):

So what I would do to fix this is....

Remove everything and start over. Yes, the song cannot be saved, and I feel like changing everything is the BEST way to fix the song for me personally.

So what the song should have is...

Have more of a chorus which would be the people of Rosas chiming in. There should also be a progression in the story to what is happening in the song, like time passing to show what their plan to overthrow the king to the audience without making it too obvious and not reveal so much, but give evidence that the king and queen knows most of the plan, but not so much to were the audience would know.

The song can start of slow, somewhat like prince of Egypt with the song plagues. But upbeat like the Court of Miracles.

Instead, they are passing the news to overthrow the king.

The chorus grows louder and more and more people come to a location in Rosas where they will start the planning I guess.

Asha can sing at this part, and it should be triumphant. This is her moment to shine as a character since she is nearing her ARC in the story.

Her friends can chime in and tell their stories and why the king isn't as good as they think he is. I feel like it would give depth and fun lines to them that show their personality better than the original song.

At this point, the song can go into 3 directions:

1. The crowd is unconvinced and leaves, leaving the characters to try harder in the next part of the song

2. The crowd leaves, but there is spark in their eyes and they have a whisper chorus, like they are thinking about it.

3. Most of the crowd leaves, but the rest that stays have a chorus with the main characters.

I'm between 2 and 3.

The song gets louder and louder in chorus, as they, shall I say, do strikes I guess. They aren't showing up for work, not going home after curfew and instead doing marches to the castle demanding the freedom for their wishes.

We can get comments from the king and queen, distressed and confused to all the demands, and gets angry about it. You can say, their chorus is how they DEAL with the "heritics".

The differences between the choruses, like the anger of the Rulers of Rosas, and the rage of the people should be like this:

People of Rosas: Mixed choruses, like Plagues from Prince of Egypt.

Rulers: Imagine it like the chorus from Hellfire from Hunchback of Notre Dome.

(Damn, "This is the Thanks I get?!" literally committed suicide. This song is just so damn good holy shit. And the quality is better too wtf)

We can get a glimpse to what they are planning, with Asha saying stuff here and there, and the mixed reactions to the chorus from the people of Rosas.

We can have a instumental montage with the chorus holding up the song that would show what they are doing. But it will mix with the Rulers of Rosas chorus, where they are snuffing out the people and we see what they do with them. The people don't back down, since as all revolutions, they want freedom. Asha can comment her doubts of the plan, wondering if all the pain is nessesary to get what is best for everyone.

As we near the end of the song, it should be with Asha and Magnifico's notes.

Despite her doubts, Asha won't back down, knowing if she does, it will all be for nothing, but wondering if there is another solution.

Magnifico is reckless and will never back down, and we can see is insanity at play here. He is desperate for control of Rosas, and this is his breaking point.

The chorus can be quiet at this point, with only humming from both choruses, syncing with the music and have their voices be the driving part of the song.

The very end should be something like Asha's voice being snuffed out by both the queen and king, as everyone ends on a high note, and only Asha's voice and the people's voices get lower to show the power they have

OR

The King's and Queen's voice and chorus gets lower because the people's voices are the only ones to be heard. Think, Plagues from prince of Egypt again.

The music should be like the court of miracles from hunchback of notre dome with a mix of plagues and hellfire.

Ah well, idk. I dont write songs so yeah take this idea if you want :3

(But seriously, I would like a song like this in my AU, idk how to execute it though, since again, idk how to write songs 🧍‍♂️)

[fckedupnerd]

Willy Wonka X Felix Fickelgruber playlist

Nobody asked for this, but yes I am that weirdo who makes playlists for my ships and I am OBSESSED with Willy/Felix at the moment so for anyone who wants it here is a playlist I put together for them… it’s under the cut because I’ve included both a playlist link, and a pretty lengthy analysis of why I thought each song fit them, in case anyone wants to hear more of my rambling thoughts about this pair ❤️🥰🫶

1) A Change in My Life by Rockapella - this one is super sappy but I LOVE IT FOR THEM 🥹💜🫶💚 so I imagine this is Felix, who has had to do so many things with the cartel that he feels guilty about, and I think Felix is deep down a genuinely good guy, but who just did what he felt he had to do in his life… but because of that I think he has regrets and a lot of shame about some stuff in his past (and even still some shame about his origins and coming from a ‘poor’ background), and this song is about how Willy makes him feel like he doesn’t need to be ashamed anymore. Willy has changed him and changed his life and given him someone to care for and ‘give back’ to, and to pour all of the nurturing and love he has into, and how much he appreciates the way Willy has brought him real love and purpose and lifted him out of some darkness. (Shut up yes it’s sappy but they’re ADORABLE and SWEET and I just love this dynamic… obviously Felix takes care of Willy a lot as the dom/sugardaddy but Willy also helps Felix in a lot of ways and he may not even always realize how much Felix needs him too 🥺🫶). Also, they’ve BOTH changed each others lives for the better so this could very well be how Willy thinks about Felix also because he has had a tough life up until now also. 💚💜🙌🏼😭❤️

“Now I don't mind working so hard every day

And I don't pay no mind to what people say

'Cause after all the pain I've been through

Lord knows I'd give up everything just to love only you

All my life I've held my head bent in shame

But now I've found you, and with you I'll remain

I've been lonely, I've been cheated, I've been misunderstood;

I've been washed up, I've been put down, and told I'm no good

But with you I belong, 'cause you helped me be strong

There's a change in my life since you came along”

2) Incredible by Gary Barlow - just a really joyful upbeat love song… has celebratory vibes and I kinda dig the idea that Felix is actually a little mesmerized/dumbfounded by the deep emotions he feels for Willy. Like he didn’t realize someone could actually make him *feel* something beyond just having fun with them, and then along comes Willy and just absolutely takes over his heart 🥰💯

“Some might say true love is a myth

Some say, ‘True love? No, it doesn't exist’

If you say that, then you haven't seen this

This love, I tell you, no, I can't resist

When your reputation's only fabulous

That's what love is, what it's supposed to be

You and me

'Cause it's incredible, absolutely unforgettable

People say it's only chemical, but it can't be

It's incredible what you're doing to me

If I say it all, every word and every syllable

Put you high up on a pedestal, then you'll see

It's incredible what you're doing to me

Incredible what you're doing to me”

3) The Edge by Robbie Williams - okay so in my head this is how Felix would feel reflecting on his past with the Cartel and the things they did to stay in power, and how Willy changed him for the better. Also reflecting on how he used to go through multiple partners without much emotion, but how now he looks forward to waking up next to the same person (Willy) all the time. 💚🫶💜🥹

“I had to lose myself for years to find this

Mistook the cruelty and abuse for kindness

Didn't know yet what to keep zipped shut

My own blindness stole the view

But now I wake up next to you

And the nights are still as long as they ever were

All the things that could go wrong, well they still occur

But when the violent sun breaks the morning air

It will find me there, next to you

I'll always walk back from the edge

Find a way to you”

4) Word on a Wing by David Bowie - Ugh, in true pretty-boy-twink-loving fashion, I’m also OBSESSED with David Bowie. So, couldn’t have a Willy/Felix playlist without some Bowie and this is the PERFECT song for them imho. Felix *never* expected someone like Willy to come into his life and captivate him the way he has. Felix has meticulously laid out plans for his life and for someone like Willy to come in and make him want to make room for him in Felix’s already perfectly crafted existence is something very special indeed. 💜💚

“In this age of grand delusion

You walked into my life out of my dreams

I don't need another change

Still you forced a way into my scheme of things

You say we're growing

Growing heart and soul

In this age of grand delusion

You walked into my life out of my dreams

Sweet name, you're born once again for me

Sweet name, you're born once again for me

Oh sweet name, I call you again

You're born once again for me”

5) Pretty Boy by Poutyface - Actually headcanon that both Willy and Felix could probably sing/think this about each other. They’re both such pretty boys and I completely headcanon that they both like being called pretty and feeling feminine/delicate so yeah. This is both of them and I will hear no arguments ☺️✨💜💚✨

“You look better in that dress than I do

Imagining you wearing white, sayin' ‘I do’

Lipstick on my neck, borrow my skirt, won't get it back

I'm obsessed, I've never met someone like you

Oh, I want a pretty boy

Ah, ah, I like 'em soft, I like 'em skinny, boy

Ah, ah, don't need a macho man to treat me like a toy

Want him lady-like and poised, want a pretty boy

Ah, ah, yeah, you're so pretty, boy”

6) Nancy Boy by Placebo - Again, could easily apply to either of them. I think I mostly imagine Felix in this song because I have a very strong headcanon about his having slept his way to the top and used his sexuality and appearance to make money and business connections when he was younger. I think he worries about Willy falling into a life like this too, but I don’t think he has yet very much luckily. That’s why I’m glad Willy met Felix so young, that way Felix can take care of him and protect him. 🥰💯🫶 but yeah Felix was definitely taken advantage of and used for his body/sexuality when he was younger as a way to build his career.

“Comes across all shy and coy

Just another Nancy boy

Woman man or modern monkey

Just another happy junkie

Fifty pounds, press my button

Going down

And it all breaks down at the role reversal

Got the muse in my head she's universal

Spinnin' me round she's coming over me

And it all breaks down at the first rehearsal

Got the muse in my head she's universal

Spinnin' me round she's coming over me

Does his makeup in his room

Douse himself with cheap perfume

Eyeholes in a paper bag

Greatest lay I ever had”

7) Control Freak by New Medicine - This song is just SO Felix-coded to me… especially headcanon that this is him before he met Willy. Like I think Willy helps him ease the reigns that he has SO tightly on himself, because the healthy dom/sub relationship with Willy gives him a positive outlet for some of his type-A/perfectionist tendencies, and caring for/having compassion for Willy eventually helps him be a little gentler with himself, too. 🥹💚 but yeah, this song totally speaks to the intense obsessive control and fastidiousness he displays especially in his early life.

“I'm a control freak

It ain't healthy

I got a laundry list of things that bother me

I'm quite the psycho

Just watch my mind go

I try my best to chill but it's impossible

It's a, goddam disease

I can't, get no relief

I'm a control freak

Control freak

I think I owe myself an apology

I made my whole damn life a catastrophe

By being way too over zealous

Maniacally jealous

I'm broken in my brain”

8) A Drink to Death by That Handsome Devil- This one is angsty AF, but I think of Felix when I hear it and his obvious self image and self worth issues and how the more he falls for Willy and the closer they get, the more afraid he would become of Willy eventually leaving him, because there obviously is a big age difference and I know I’ve said this before but especially for someone with such a deep perfectionism and need for control, time/age is especially scary and depressing because it’s one of the few elements of your life (and appearance) that you don’t have control over. Time happens to everyone, no matter what you do, and Felix would really lament getting older, especially while he’s in love with someone so young and innocent like Willy. So this isn’t actually how it would happen because I do think Willy really cares about Felix and wouldn’t hold his age against him, but this song does reflect how Felix’s poor self esteem makes him fear Willy will feel eventually 😭💚🥺💜 I wanna hug Felix so much.

“I wanna drink myself to death

There will be no candles, there will be no romance

I will be alone, we will not hold hands

There will be no toasting, there will be no romance

You are young, I am an old man

And if I pass out, wake me up

I may be drunk, but I'm not drunk enough

And everything keeps fucking up

We were nice together, weren't we once?”

9) Limelight by Alan Parsons Project - BIG dreamer-Willy vibes. This song is about someone with a dream who wants it to come true so badly and just keeps pushing on despite repeated rejection and I just really associate it with Willy. I feel like this is how he would explain his need to succeed to Felix, and Felix would see that it was deeper than just being about the chocolate itself or the business to Willy. Part of his drive is this need to fulfill what he believes is his purpose. And I think Felix would empathize with that and that’s part of why he would actually end up wanting to be a mentor to Willy, not just a lover and sugardaddy, but someone who supported those dreams and that ‘destiny’ Willy felt he had also. 🤩💜✨

“I can see the glow of a distant sun

I can feel it inside

Maybe this day could be the one

I can hear the roar of a distant crowd

They are waiting for me

Calling my name

Shouting out loud

Holding on isn't always easy

I ain't gonna change my mind

Limelight you were all I ever wanted

Since it all began

Limelight shining on me

Telling the world who I am

Limelight don't let me slip right through your fingers

There's a long way to fall

After the years of waiting

I'm gonna show them all”

10) Aphrodisiac by IAMX - ending with a happy one after some of the angst lol and oh this is SO Felix/Willy coded because they are DOWN BAD for each other. 😍 I think with the term ‘sweetheart’ used, I imagine this more Felix thinking about Willy, but honestly it is perfect both ways because yeah they’re both hopelessly into each other 💯🥰🔥💚💜🫶

“Sweetheart, where do you come from?

Oh, you're burning like a fire in my head

You're the perfect vision

Baby, beautiful heathen

I will love you like I've never loved before

You're my hardcore obsession

I want your contact

I think I cannot fight your aphrodisiac

Can't know that only you can make me whole

Only you can make me whole”

Anyway I love Willy/Felix very much. They’re my favorites and they both deserve allllll the love and hugs and the best things in the world ( which includes each other!) 💚💜

[paradox-oflife]

Top 10 albums 2024

Tagged by my mate @lememecollector, last time I did this was.. I was still in high school 💀I had a lot of stuff from the Killers, Mitski, twenty one pilots lmao so let's see how much I've changed

In Rainbows - Radiohead

To me, this is the golden record and the most perfect album. It gets better and better every single time I listen to it. If you want to listen to it on a more normal level, it's so fun to groove and jam to. If you want to dig deep, you'll realize every single track is actually pretty complex from a musical perspective. 15 Steps being in 5/4 signature, Bodysnatchers being in something of a syncopation, Weird Fishes in a very layered polyrhythmic soundscape, Faust Arp changing time signatures every few measures etc. The closing track, Videotape still confuses me with it's rhythmic patterns. The lyrics seem to contrast the vibes of the music, e.g. 15 Step opening up with "How come I end up where I started?" and that feeling of never being able to escape your old faults. Even the track order is so perfect, it's ordered in a way where it never feels like it drags or rushes, and everything just flows so seamlessly into each other. Upbeat, depressing, innovative, experimental all at once.

What puts this at first place is really the musicality of it. It's very much what I think of as an objective perfection. I think some of the other albums I put on this list isn't as polished, but it's more about the emotional and rawness of the music. Like, I would blast In Rainbows if I'm on aux, but I wouldn't blast like. Shoegaze. I've never been much of a fan of Radiohead for their lyrics bc ngl I don't even know what Thom is singing half the time, but it's always been about the actual musicality for me.

Favorite is Jigsaw Falling into Place! The bass player in me is obsessed.

2. bury me at makeout creek - Mitski

My first love <3 musically speaking. I was in like 7th grade when I heard "Francis Forever" play on Adventure Time then immediately going to search it up. Then I heard First Love/Late Spring, then Townie, and something in me flickered. It was the first time I ever heard an Asian American in the indie rock scene. Back then, Mitski was such a small artist and relatively unknown. I remember journaling about her music in 7th grade lmao. The explosiveness of Texas Reznikoff, the teenage angst in Townie, crushing First Love/Late Spring, the yearning self-affirmation on Francis Forever..etc. It's actually quite musically simplistic but it's so catchy and manages to have some of the most personal and confessional lyrics at the same time. And it's not like Mitski doesn't know how to be "musically complex", she was literally a studio composition major and you can really feel that bleed through in Retired from Sad, New Career in Business.

Bmamc feels like something you would sing to yourself on a guitar in your bedroom, or perform in your garage, or something you would write in your diary. It's meant for yourself, not for a large crowd of a sold out stadium. It's raw, cathartic, intimate, and says everything it needs to say about love, insecurity, anger, grief, youth in a short 30 minutes. It meant everything to me and it still means everything to me. I hold it very close to my heart.

It's so hard to choose favorites for this. I have a special place in my heart for Francis Forever but every track means so much to me. I think Jobless Monday is so underrated though.

Side note: I have a lot to say about Mitski. I hate gatekeeping music but honestly like. I hate how her music has been dumbed down into "sad/yearning" or "for the gays", and that makes it feel sorta bland and discredits a lot of the depth. Like sure, a lot of her songs sound sad on surface level but when you really pay attention to what she's saying.. e.g. First Love/Late Spring is about loving someone so much that the feeling scares you. It's not even negative, by any means. Or Your Best American Girl is about never measuring up to the standard of your non POC partner. And her relatively recent success seems to have had a terrible impact on her, with concert behavior and the whole recording controversy, it's unfortunate to see her grow really uncomfortable with her fame as she's known to be a very private person.

3. Grace - Jeff Buckley

I've always known about Jeff Buckley since I was a small kid because of his cover of Hallelujah, but I never really dug that deep into his discography until later in high school. The first time I heard Grace I was so blown away by how powerful his voice was. I had Grace on repeat for a month when I first discovered it. The soft rolling guitar in Mojo Pin.. the intensity of the title track Grace, the summer break up vibes in Last Goodbye, the fragility of his voice in Lilac Wine, the odd chord progression in So Real.. "I love you, but I'm afraid to love" being whispered.. His voice is SO profound. Etc, He is probably one of my favorite lyricists ever, every line he writes is straight poetry. Not to mention the Sufi influences from Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.. He has such an odd vibrato and singing technique. He was such a sweet and sensitive guy. Also quite an underrated guitarist. He's like the King Midas of covers, every cover he makes turns into gold.

It's funny how a lot of my favorite artists have been influenced by him in some way. From Radiohead to Mitski to Lana Del Rey.. even people like Adele, Brad Pitt?, Jimmy Page, Phoebe Bridgers, literally you name it. The way he died was so tragic. I always wonder what he would have went on to accomplish if he had a little more time. The demo for My Sweetheart the Drunk was such a large departure from Grace, I genuinely wonder what public perception would've been if that ever released properly. Maybe he would have only been remembered for Grace and considered a flop after that, a one-album wonder. Maybe dying young cemented his legacy.

Favorite track is either Mojo Pin or So Real.

4. OK Computer - Radiohead

alright alright yeah I know two albums from the same artist on a top 10 list can be cheap but here me out. OK Computer is typically seen as the white edgy incel doomer album and is "overrated" but. From a musical perspective it's extremely impressive. Its place in alt rock history cannot be understated. At a time where grunge was dying, this album brough rock back in relevancy but in a different approach. This idea of a more artsy, experimental rock was a new and fresh flavor. The layered instrumentation and complexity.. it was very "out there" because the new computerized electronic noises were new for artists, and Radiohead was out there messing around with it. Paranoid Android was the first time I ever heard a guitar solo in 7/8 and it absolutely blew my teenage mind. There's a bit of political commentary though I don't know enough about UK politics to really say anything about that.

The themes in this album have aged beautifully. The paranoia of our world being engulfed by technology, a society where we're so advanced but even more alienated and isolated from each other, the fear of what would happen to humanity once technology became our rulers. The feelings of overstimulation and digital numbness. Fitter happier is often joked upon, but I think the lyrics really do sum up the album so well. The mundanity of life, a painful reflection of reality.

Picking a favorite is hard because I always listen to this album from start to finish. I think Climbing Up the Walls is very underrated. It captures the feeling of paranoia and losing your mind so well. I'm stopping myself from putting the rest of Radiohead's discography on here.

5. Did you know there's a tunnel under ocean blvd - Lana del Rey

Lana is... a messy person to say the least. She's made very questionable and controversial choices but honestly? She's somehow always in every single one of my playlists. But ocean blvd might be my favorite album to come out in the past 5 years, and i rank it above NFR. I love a good orchestral album, and when it lost every single grammy it was nominated for I almost saw red. I think A&W is a masterclass in songwriting and storytelling. The beat switch is so Jack Antonoff core. The themes of loss of innocence, trauma, family, identity... BEAUTIFUL!! Even the title itself is so interesting. The idea of something iconic slowly fading into irrelevancy, the question of will Lana's legacy end up just like that tunnel? I really love how personal the lyrics are compared to her previous works. I started crying at the opening track lmao.

I know she considered Chemtrails Over the Country Club to be the album that represented who she was, but Ocean Blvd nailed who she really is. I'm curious for how her next album is going to sound like. Never been a country fan but I believe Lana can nail a very specific aesthetic in the country genre.

Favorite is A&W and Kintsugi. I thought Kintsugi was a bit too slow paced for me at first but then when I heard "Daddy I miss them" I bawleddd.

6. Either/or - Elliott Smith

I'd always heard his name a lot but I never got around to checking him out until not too long ago. I knew Phoebe Bridgers cited him as a major influence, but then I kept hearing more and more people citing him like Frank Ocean, Alex G, Sufjan Stevens, even like Mac Miller, and I think I got tired of wondering who he was. When a lot of famous artists cite someone as an influence, I gotta check them out. You could immediately tell where Alex G got his low quality production vibes from haha.

I think what really drew me in is this feeling of a just a guy with a guitar singing to himself in his bedroom. I really like how soft and vulnerable his voice is. Could you argue he's not a good singer? Yeah, sure, I guess. But that's not really the point, is it? His chord progressions are very interesting and trying to learn like any of his songs on the guitar is such a nightmare, he's extremely skilled with the guitar. I love a depressing song, what can I say?

Favorite: Between the Bars, No Name no. 5, and Say Yes.

7. Melodrama - Lorde

I'm not an avid pop listener by any means, but Melodrama is the most perfect pop album I've ever heard. There are literally no unskippable tracks on this album and every time I listen to it, I feel like I have to listen to the whole album instead of single by single. Because her first album was slow paced and minimalistic, she received some flack for going more towards the maximalist pop approach, the very thing she was changing in the beginning. Despite all of the early criticism, Melodrama's aged beautifully. The lyricism is just gorgeous. It paints such a distinct picture.

It's interesting to follow Lorde as she grows older, and all of it is reflected in the music. Pure Heroine is the "growing up" album, Melodrama is the "growing pains", and Solar Power is really about settling into herself. Melodrama is her late teens/early twenties sophomore album, where she goes from the early teenage experiences to the more mature experiences. Talks about doing makeup, partying, breakups and heartaches... It's about the growing pains of moving past teenagehood. It's perfect. Listening to it while walking around college campus at night is an out of body experience. I would pay to have the album cover as a painting on my walls.

Favorite track: Hard Feelings/Loveless or Perfect Places. Love that weird experimental noise in Hard Feelings

8. Loveless - my bloody valentine

They were not lying when they said this was one of the best shoegaze albums ever. If you want to start getting into the shoegaze genre, this is the album to go to. The heavy distorted guitar banging in on the first track, the drum patterns and memorable melodies. It's very rhythmic. Shoegaze as a genre has always been so interesting to me - To have the vocals take a backseat and let the soundscape do the work, and you let this wall of sound wrap you up like blanket. It's less about what you're trying to say with the words and more about the sound itself and how it makes you feel. That fuzzy distortion makes me feel unlike anything else. When You Sleep is probably the most stand out track and the most popular, but there are many tracks that don't have any vocals, just repeated guitars. Yet somehow, somehow it's not boring to listen to.

My favorite one is Sometimes, probably the closest thing to a love ballad they'll get to. It makes me feel complete and empty at the same time. Drowsy and intimate, the mumbled lyrics. When that song came on in that one scene in Lost in Translation, it became one of my all time favorite scenes ever. That feeling of derealization and staring at a world that's right at your feet but you can't really enter it. Idk. But I think that's the point.

9. Vessel (And Regional at best) - twenty one pilots

This album has such a special place in my heart. I was going through the early teenage angst and it was the first album where I heard where it was saying "It's okay, we feel this way too." It felt a lot more personal that what I was used to hearing in middle school, like Despacito or whatever was trending that time. Yeah it's a bit reminiscent of the mid 2010s but it was also my gateway to more alternative music. It combined so many genres where it didn't feel like a particular genre. I don't really listen to twenty one pilots as much anymore but Vessel always will take me back.

I'm combining Regional At Best in this because it has a few overlapping songs and it's technically not a real album. But I would kill for a remastered version of RAB, esp songs like Slowtown. The songs meant so much to me and my younger self. However, I think Trench is the objectively best record twenty one pilots has put out.

Not sure what my favorite track would be. RAB has some golden ones. I think I would choose Kitchen Sink, but Anathema also means a lot to me.

10. Continuum - John Mayer

This album was quite influential towards my perception of guitars. I used to be obsessed with the bass guitar and I used to want to play the drums until I really listened to this album. I guess I used to think about guitar solos as flashy - Something you could shred on to show off your talent. I thought people like Van Halen and maybe Slash were talented, but the intensity and difficulty didn't really appeal to me. But I guess because Continuum is more heavily inspired by blues and souls, you don't really feel any of that (except for the Hendrix cover Bold as Love). Each solo is melodic and laidback. Mayer's known for his virtuostic guitar talent but here, he's demonstrating that he knows when to strip back.

Overall, it's just a very clean and solid album. No very skippable tracks, very ummm "friendly" to listen to. Like anyone can enjoy soft rock playing in the car, y'know.

Favorite tracks: Either Belief or I'm Gonna Find Another You

Honorable mentions (some other 10/10s)

Sam's Town - the Killers

My once favorite album.. I still love it a lot. I guess I've discovered a lot more stuff since then it took a backseat in my list of favorite albums. But I'll gladly do a rewrite of why I love it so much

This album makes you feel patriotic but not in a nationalistic, America is the best country on Earth, racist way. It's more of a cowboy, rugged individualism, independence, No Country for Old Men, western saloons and faded glamor type of feeling. Red Dead Redemption 2 type of feeling. It makes sense since they were trying to escape from the Hot Fuss era where everyone thought they were a British band. So they went the opposite direction and made this whole album is this declaration that they were Americans. Sam's Town has such an iconic opening, very "guns blazing", very Bruce Springsteen feeling. Read My Mind changed me as a person and I have no idea why exactly. It must have been my favorite song for 2 years. That final verse after the guitar solo is soul ascending.

Kessoku Band - Kessoku Band

Bocchi the Rock was the first anime I'd watched in a while and really got hooked on. Chainsaw Man was going on at the same time, but I'd already read the manga so many times I guess it wasn't the same. But BtR being a spiritual successor to K-On just really made me fall in love. The rotoscoping, attention to detail, the amount of inside jokes that only musicians can really understand. The humor is unmatched, and imo it's the embodiment of anime at its creative peak. The plot is heartwarming and relatable, the character dynamics are so great. It reminded me of my high school band lol

Overall, extremely well produced album and they got some of the best musicians in the j-rock industry like tricot haha and the peggies. The lead guitars go HAM with every solo and riff, the drum fills and patterns, not to mention how good the basslines are.

Blonde - Frank Ocean

Admittedly I was late to the Frank Ocean train, but this album in unmatched in its circle. It's such a good concept album, I just know Frank Ocean had been cooking this up for a long time. The ideas of duality, masculinity, and femininity and how the album is perfectly split in the middle at Nights during the beat switch, and how the album starts diving into the "masculine" part. Less singing, more rapping. Femininity is expressed through those pitch shifts and the topics of the songs. Blonde was even released as blond in some versions. I think my soul ascended a bit the first I heard Seigfried - Could literally pinpoint where Johnny Greenwood contributed, also the verse about dreaming about a thought. Close To You is such an underrated track. Also one of my favorite album covers.

twenty one pilots - Twenty One Pilots

Their first album and of course, it has a very fundamentally different feeling than the rest of their work. It was made in the basement Tyler Joseph and the original members of the band were staying at, and you can honestly feel it lol. It's overtly a lot more religiously themed (or more so the struggle with faith) and I guess you could say it's a lot more darker in sound, Songs like Addict With a Pen.. whew.. The songwriting is already pretty strong here, and it's a lot more piano heavy. The thing I might not like the most on that album in the way he sings. The midwestern emo accent/enunciation pops out so hard LOL. But I really appreciate this album for what it is. I'm also obsessed with the album cover.

I think my music taste has definitely evolved a bit, but I also lowkey sound like a white male/alt girl on tiktok 💀 I think compared to my last post I ever made, I've definitely improved at expressing a lot of my thoughts on music and why it's so special to me. I also really just enjoy blabbling a lot about music even though no one will probably see this haha. I have a lot more albums that I absolutely love and picking just 10 is impossible. Maybe I'll do this challenge again in another 5 years and see what's different haha

[married-2-the-music]

K-pop Discography Deep Dives: The Rose (Supplemental)

A Disclaimer: I was planning, when I first started Tumblr, to be a lurker, but then I began an office job and needed something to listen to to keep myself occupied. And then, I started going through entire K-pop groups’ repertoires, album by album, and jotting down my thoughts. And then, I stumbled into K-pop tumblr and decided, you know what, there’s at least four people on this hell site who would read in depth rants about these discographies and at least five who wouldn’t read it and then get mad because it’s kind of our job as K-pop fans. My lukewarm takes should be taken with an entire silo of salt and the knowledge that this is completely for fun and occupying my very bored, very neurodivergent brain. All this to say, for the love of god, I’m a sleep-deprived student and I don’t have time for internet hate, so don’t kill me. With that being said, enjoy!

So, since I’ll probably be tackling some groups with large discographies, both now and in the future, I thought it’d be good to shine lights on some smaller groups and soloists who either aren’t as popular and/or have much smaller repertoires, so that’s what we’re doing today! These are going to be a lot more chill than my deep dives because they’re really more of a fun break than anything else.

Here are my credentials: I’m absolutely a fan of The Rose, enough to consider myself a Black Rose (their fandom name), although I’ve only been one for four months or so. I’ve heard most of their songs, and liked basically all of them, but since I’m going to see them in concert soon, I figured I should get to know their b-sides and so they’d be a good choice to be my first supplemental. Two birds, one stone, sort of thing. Let’s get started!

The Rose was formed a bit differently to most K-pop groups, because they aren’t exactly K-pop. They fall more in the category of an indie-rock band, with Woosung doing vocals and guitar, Dojoon on keyboard, Hajoon on drums, and Jaehyeong on bass. They also met organically while busking and then joined a company already formed, rather than the company putting them together. They later left that company and began their own, which they still work under.

They were a band for a few years before, but officially debuted in mid-2017, with the song Sorry. Sorry is different from many k-pop songs of the time; it’s slower and feels more grown-up, not in the least because it’s an apology, which, contrary to public opinion, is one of the most grown-up things a person can do. By the time everyone’s voices came in in the last chorus, I was completely invested. The combination of the guitar and very obvious piano was lovely, and I especially liked the piano solo at the end.

Like We Used To, the other song from this first single, also falls into the emotional indie rock category, but focuses more on the electric guitar and is a little more upbeat. I like them both, but this one just a little bit more. Also, I love Woosung’s voice. It’s not a “usual” k-pop voice at all; it’s a little raspy and incredibly emotive, and doesn’t sound the same in every song, which, speaking as someone who sings (albeit not this publicly), is harder than you’d think

For another quick digression…The clear emotion on display here in both of these songs is precisely one of the reasons that I think more k-pop idols should be given the ability to write their own songs, because when they sing them, it feels so much more genuine and they can bring their own thoughts to life in exactly the way that they want to.

I.L.Y starts much slower than the other singles so far, which makes sense given the subject matter and the very careful vulnerability portrayed. For an indie rock band, I really appreciate how much they use and center their piano and the quiet guitar plucking and a-capella in the last verse. I liked it, but didn’t love it.

From Void, the EP, I had trouble choosing between Candy and Baby, so I’ll talk about them both. Candy is chill and the guitar gives me gentle surf rock vibes. Baby, meanwhile, is also emotional rock, although leans more into the outright rock than the other songs have before, to great effect. Unlike a lot of rock songs, it has time to breathe between those great choruses.

Red feels more like a K-pop song than the others before (which I want to stress isn’t a bad thing). I liked this one right away, from the more electronic production to the clapping in the background to the anthemic nature of the chorus. I especially enjoyed how pared back the instrumental is in the verses, how it builds in the pre-chorus, and how it lets loose in the chorus, especially the last one. California, the b-side, is a bit more calm, and feels like a road trip song.

It’s not technically a single, but I wanted to give a shoutout to Strangers, their OST for the k-drama Strangers From Hell, because its tense building fits perfectly, and I had no idea when I watched it the first time, which is quite funny in hindsight.

She’s In The Rain has an acoustic background that I wasn’t expecting after the electric driven ones before, and I really liked how it kept their central sound but expanded upon it, using the same components but in such a different way. It’s such a lovely message of solidarity to anyone going through a difficult time and the change in the choruses between “I’m in to the rain” to “she’s in the rain” to “we’re in the rain” really affected me, especially as they all start to sing. I loved this one. My favorite b-side from Dawn, the EP, was definitely Take Me Down, which was actually the first song I ever heard of theirs. I love the melodic vocalizing that bookends it and especially the last chorus.

Black Rose is a special song for their fans that they made right before Dojoon, Hajoon, and Jaehyeong enlisted for military service. Song-wise it actually isn’t one of my favorites, but meaning-wise it never fails to touch me. Plus, the movie video is so sweet that it won me over. Basically, it’s not a song I’ll search for on my own, but if it comes up on my playlist, I’m not going to skip it. I quite like the “love is the way” ending too.

Beauty & The Beast is their first song after their return from military service and I think it’s one of their best combinations of melancholy vocals, guitar, and piano. It has an excellent build-up (that’s earned), with each verse and chorus just a little brighter and happier than the one before, and just like the original fairytale, it feels like it pulls you out of the darkness.

Cure is backed by a sunny piano and thundering drums, and its message of enjoying the world wholeheartedly, whatever the context, really touched me. It’s a way of life that I try to embrace when I can. I enjoy the gentle acoustic guitar in the chorus and of course, the anthemic vocalizing, especially towards the end. It’s probably one of the ones I’m most excited to see live.

Childhood is a gut punch of a song that, despite being so quiet with such minimal instrumentation, had me hooked from the first verse. By the time of the bridge, I had stopped my multitasking and just sat there for a minute to think about it and process, which in my view is the mark of an excellent song. As has been clear since the beginning of my time reviewing, I am, first and foremost, a sap. Give me a song about friendship or growing up and I’m a mess on the floor.

Sour is almost ethereal in its blurred blend of guitar, vocals, and drums, and I liked it more than I thought I would. It’s the lead single from the album and I admit I liked the other two singles better. That doesn’t mean I don’t like this one, which I did, especially the breakdown and the ending, but it feels like it’s in the middle of the quietness of Childhood and the loudness of Cure and it doesn’t quite find the right path to take.

Hidden gems from Heal are definitely Yes (whose feature I enjoyed more than I thought I would) and Time (which balances sadness and maturity so well) , with a special shoutout to the a-capella section in Definition Of Ugly Is. Shoutout to the intros and outros from both Heal and Dual by the way, they really help give them balance.

Clearly I didn’t know what I was talking about when I called Sour ethereal because You’re Beautiful is practically the dictionary definition of the word. It’s so atmospheric that it feels like floating, and the lyrics add to it perfectly. This is a perfect example of a song that achieves exactly what it sets out to do, knows exactly what it is, and is still exactly not for me. I enjoy songs like this in certain contexts, but I have to remember that they exist when I’m in a certain state of mind or I won’t enjoy them the right way. So this is more of a personal preference thing.

Alive, like Sour, fits right in between the softer, slower track of You’re Beautiful and the jump-up-and-down rock of Back To Me, but I feel like it still manages to carve out its own route that sets it apart. It’s…how can I say this without making myself sound five hundred years old…groovy? Well that didn’t work. But I don’t know a better word to describe it. It had me nodding my head and feeling like I should be listening to it walking down a city street in a party dress. I especially liked how odd it is, with the off-beat instrumental, chopped vocals, and electronic breakdown before the end.

Back To Me is my favorite song from this album, and despite not being the first song I listened to of theirs, is the one that made me a Black Rose and the one that made me immediately think of buying tickets and phoning my friend to make him come along when I heard that they were doing a tour. I’ve called so many of their songs anthemic, but like “ethereal” with Sour and You’re Beautiful, the word has no meaning until you hear this song.

It got stuck in my head from my first listen, then made its way onto my running playlist, and then just became an absolute favorite. That chorus is golden, and they all sound like they’re having the time of their lives when performing it, which only makes me like it more. Hidden gems from the album are Lifeline (which has a more understated catchiness), Eclipse (for its sense of grandeur and classical background), and Nauseous, (for making me genuinely laugh.)

So, as is becoming a theme here, I’m very glad I did this. I’m surprised by how many songs I actually hadn’t heard of theirs, so it’s good that I know them now, and it made me both appreciate the diversity in their work more, and appreciate the evolution of their sound. It’s hard to keep every song feeling like “yours” while also diversifying, but I would say they did a pretty great job.

My top 5 songs of theirs are Back To Me (shocking I know), Cure, Red, Childhood, and She’s In The Rain. Honorable mention goes to Eclipse. The Rose gets a 9/10 from me, which I can acknowledge is personal bias. But, I think that everyone should check them out. If nothing else, I’d wager you’d find yourself at least one new song to enjoy. As for me, I’m watching their Mindset series for Dive studios, and I have a couple more singles to memorize since I’m now even more excited to see them live (with, of course, the friend that I dragged along).

Next week I’ll be doing a female soloist supplemental and Part 2 of the BTS deep dive, so stay tuned. Tschüss!

[twotangledsisters]

🔮, 📺, and 🌙 for the ask game?

🔮- Something you wish had happened in the series?

This I could write suuuch a long list for!

So, without going too deep into stuff that I wish had happened to fix other mistakes... I wish we'd had an episode digging into Eugene's past.

I know we got extra backstory in regards to the Dark Kingdom but honestly, first time watching I thought it was stupid, felt like they wanted Eugene to be a prince for the sake of prince and princess because they never did enough with it for it to be worth it for me.

Now, I love it a lot more now but because of what the fandom did with it and not what the show did.

But I wanted an orphanage backstory! I wanted to know about orphan Eugene! I wanted to see a little Eugene and understand what had led him to become Flynn Rider. We got so many 'to survive on the street' and similar quotes, but I wanted to see it! I wanted to know!

I just feel like so much of Eugene's backstory we're guessing and that seems like such a shame when we got a three season show, so much time to give us more!

Honestly, there are other characters I wished we got more backstory for too but, Eugene and Lance I definitely was wishing for the most!

📺- Another show you’d like to see have a cross over with Tangled?

This one I've never ever thought about... What Disney shows are there?

You know what, Little Mermaid!

But not Ariel, some other side characters! Mermaids are confirmed in tangled, so why not? The Little Mermaid animated show holds a special place in my heart, show us some random character from that show only a handful of people would recognize and not believe their eyes. It'd be great!

🌙- Favorite Moon Character? (E.g Cass, Varian, Eugene.)

Well, boring as it may be, Cass is my fave for moon characters, Eugene coming in at a close second! And then Rapunzel in AUs third.

Although I'm not a fan of all the writing choices behind Cass' villain arc, her being the 'moon' holds a special place in my heart. Even when acquiring so much power, she's still second to the sun, still only shining with the light she reflects off the sun... The symbolism is soooo good! And she just gets so happy bouncing around with the stones. I can't help but enjoy that. Crossing the line is a song I hold close to my heart after 'waiting in the wings' tried its best to break it.

But of course, Eugene close second because the sun and moon imagery with New Dream! Plus, all Moon-Eugene fics have such amazing explorations of Dark Kingdom stuff and the drama! No matter what the reason he acquired it I can assure you there is one type of drama or other.

And Rapunzel in an AU setting, mostly just the aesthetic but there's also something very appealing about Rapunzel's gentle upbeat personality holding the power of destruction, you know?

Anyway, hope these answers were satisfactory! They were a lot of fun to think about so thanks a ton for the ask!

[endcant]

i listened to the album Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) by Eurythmics all the way through today. aside from the titular single, my favorite songs on the album are “Love is a Stranger”, “I Could Give You (A Mirror)”, and “The Walk”.

I feel like “Love is a Stranger” and “Sweet Dreams” are in a whole other echelon from the rest of the album. The rest are too much part of the “relic of the era” soundscape that make 80s new wave and synthpop music difficult for me to stomach. Not a criticism, obviously. Just a matter of taste. That said, the entire album is danceable from beginning to end. If the fastwalk-pace beat of the single “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)” gets you moving, then the rest of the album will do the same.

Despite my lack of personal taste for 80s synthpop, I’m glad I’m taking the time to explore it, especially in the wake of years of waves of pop cultural synthpop nostalgia. The nostalgia around the genre seems to cause revival artists to manufacture a retrospective impression of tried-and-trueness, or a veneer of pure optimism. People recall being free of mental burden, perhaps due to their childhood naivety or the lens of nostalgia, and so recreations of 80s synthpop are more consonant and ironed out, even when they’re emulating the darker sounds. Dissonance and experimentalness are missing. But I feel there WAS clearly an experimental and ironic element to 80s synthpop and new wave music actually made at the time that is neglected by the nostalgic.

I thought about this while listening to “This Is The House”. If I had listened to this song much as a kid, I probably would have remembered the vocals as less lilting, the random synth interjections as less dissonant, the lyrics as less fixated on the way that time is a robber that slowly takes everything from you. The disco-like bass, the chipper beat, the somehow-definitively-80s-british way that some of the harmonized background vocals are sung— these things signal danger to a part of my deep-down childbrain that was conditioned to “ick” at continuous, contextless exposure to the song “Our House” by Mädness. I have to actively work against these basic associations with the sound of early 80s british pop in order to even think in a way that lets me see beyond the… corny-washing? Because, honestly “This Is The House” is not otherwise too far out of line with what I do like, right? I like weird synth music. I like upbeat sounds paired with explorations of humanity’s most base fears. I can appreciate this.

I also appreciate the way that Eurythmics flout song form. That’s something I like about a lot of purpose-built dance music in general. It’s so fun when an all-hooks dance track becomes a pop radio hit and people start saying things like “it’s so weird that this works! this isn’t how pop songs are supposed to be!” but it works because it’s a dance track rather than a Song written for the Popular Music Canon. l think we all kind of instinctively understand that the track “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of These)” would not be improved in any way by wedging verses between the hooks and various synth solos and ad lib wail interludes. It has already said everything it needs to say in words, it drives those words home by repeating them, and it does everything else it needs to do to make you buy in and dance along via vocal delivery and synthesized soundscape.

The whole album Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) makes good on the dream title. It does structurally sound like how music sounds in my dreams. It’s just explorations of a very limited amount of unique lyrics and melodies, put to cliche-yet-undeniable rhythms, interspersed with odd musical interludes. As an extension of that dreamlike impression, the two tracks I like the most are the ones that seem to emulate some of the most emotionally affecting dreams I experience. Without going too much into tangible musical properties, what I like about “Love Is A Stranger” is that it sounds like the optimistic nonsense-dreams that are so enticing they make me regret waking up. What I like about “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)” is that it sounds like the stress dreams that are jam-packed with unlikely inconveniences and absurd nightmarish embarrassments that somehow feel realistic even upon waking.

I guess the last thing I’ll say is that, if you like “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)” as a track (i don’t understand how someone could dislike it tbh) but you haven’t listened to any other Eurythmics songs, you should just listen to some other Eurythmics songs. The vocals are dreamy and insistent, the mechanical 80s dance beats are mechanical 80s dance beats. These are inherently enjoyable things and all of the songs on this album have those things.

[golden--doodler]

Doodler! DOODLER! Surprise ask! Which song from your fav musicals do you think fits each of the Belchers (or any other bb muppets)?

<Gasp> You always know what wonderful things to ask me to make my day better! Thank you as always 🤌🏼

This is such a good one!!!

Let's start with Bob.

This might be a weird one, but I feel like Waving Through A Window from Dear Evan Hansen perfectly captures his self-doubt. How he always feels as if he isn't good enough, even with his restaurant (but even then, he struggles to look on the bright side when they're almost always going under) and he struggles to connect with people a lot (except for Linda and his kids, of course). Dead Mom from Beetlejuice is also a good one for him, for obvious reasons. I feel like that song just really applies to him, especially the line "Every day dad's staring at me, like all 'hurry up, get happy. Move along, forget about your mom'".

For Linda, she was definitely a harder one to pick out a song for. But, I think Tomorrow from Annie just perfectly captures Linda's unstoptimistic spirit. That no how no matter what trials and tribulations she, Bob, and the kids go through, she'll always look forward to tomorrow. And also, My Favorite Things from The Sound of Music also perfectly captures her willingness to look at things that bring her joy rather than strife. I could easily imagine her randomly singing this to the kids.

For Tina, she was also a harder one to pick out a song for. But Helpless from Hamilton definitely captures her upbeat, romantic side. This song could easily be a fantasy she's dreamed up in one of her Erotic Friend Fiction stories starring herself and Jimmy Jr. Also, Kindergarten Boyfriend from Heathers makes me think of Tina and Jimmy Jr. because of the whole "I love you and always have, but even after all this time, I still can't have you" vibes.

For Gene, Rose's Turn from Gypsy suits him because of how it deals with the singer feeling as if they've been overlooked, and it's also just a super fun, showstopping tune that I think Gene would adore. Also Dancing Queen from Mama Mia (and also by Abba) suits Gene as well. Not for any deep reason, it just gives off Gene vibes to me because of how it's about making the most of your life, and I think he would enjoy that.

For Louise, If I Were A Man from The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical fits her absolutely perfectly. It's basically her in song form in my opinion. This is definitely her anthem, wanting to break free from gender norms and societal expectations, but still being unable to. I also think Defying Gravity from Wicked suits Louise, because of her wanting to be different, and once again, break free from expectations that are placed upon her.

As a bonus, Only Us from Dear Evan Hansen would be a nice Boblin song. And also, Friend Like Me From Aladdin would be a good fit for Teddy. I could totally imagine him singing this to Bob out of nowhere one day. It suits his enthusiastic personality well, and how much he desires to prove himself to other people, especially Bob.

[beenjen]

It’s the simple pleasures in life… yes? Lately….

1) I bought some high quality towels for C and my bathroom. They are luscious, fluffy, and I picked up the matching hand towels too…they were clearance at a high end department store, still though, this was the first time I have bought towels in over a decade. That’s ridiculous - also, I’m happy every time I see them, every time I use them. Well worth it.

2) the plant eating dog has really been a struggle. He has eaten a couple plants I’ve had for a very long time. That may seem silly to some, though as plants mature, some have unique characteristics and become larger and more beautiful. They take a place or prominence. I had 4 or more like this and he destroyed them all. I thought they were safe and guarded…. Too, I haven’t had an 80 lb puppy before so…..

I mentioned that I angry ordered some hanging baskets, etc and also have been to some local nurseries as well as propagating some pieces to regrow. It’s a process, and while it’s sad to start over with some of my more prided pieces, I love this part too -

I showed many pics earlier, this latest is a splash plant, and the round leaves is a pilea pepermioides - this baby was given to me, as he is sunburnt. I can’t even. The story is that they are shade plants and do well indoors, often called a friendship plant as many are gifted, and when they do have direct suns exposure, their leaves turn red/yellow. The only treatment is to repot and get them to an ambient sunlight temp.

Between nursing my snake plants, which my one baby is doing so well with a new root sprout and baby leaves, and this project, as well as a watermelon I’ve been gifted and the zz I have rooted for salvage, it’s been super therapeutic and I want to make a plant space either in the garage or a lean on model of greenhouse to continue doing this as the months cool, also to store my outside ferns. C and I also have big garden plans this coming year and I drew it all out as I used to a few years back so that makes it a real thing yes? Please make it a real thing universe.

3) I made a club play list. It’s silly really an upbeat- jump around-dance songs from 20 years back and a few newer ones. When I’m super funky, I pump it up. It juices me for the day and to get through whatever I’m struggling with.

4) my yoga studio is closing. I have really gone through a deep sadness over this loss. It’s transitioned to thankfulness that they did remain open during Covid as well as my obtaining my teaching cert. it’s sad. I’m very particular regarding yoga studios - I don’t want a packed space with 50 people. I don’t want someone who teaches the same class over and over. I don’t want an unauthentic space… though the local Y has weights, cycling, swimming, personal trainers, and we get a family discount as we have our daughter placed in their daycare as well as me working the job I do, so I’ve flipped it into a positive for when later this fall we have less going on with travel and kids will have a place too, and it will be fine for now.

5) there are more, the BIGGEST is that c and I will be going to Vegas in September. It will be the first time we have had a chance to vacation solo for over 6 years. We are super excited to meet with some friends who are traveling midway to jet set with us for some fun times and birthday celebrations, and also for the chance to get lost in the desert at night, taking astral photos. C has been so excitedly researching local ghost towns and isolated yet easy to get to spots for unique sky views out from town.

The thought of having Chris to myself, for a whole conversation, for a whole meal, for a whole day, I can’t express. I on a whim booked this conference through my job and grant funding came through covering it all, a created boon is that all we have to foot is extra food and his Flights. Just give me my hubs at night after class, I could care less.

Finding gratefulness in it all. It’s sometimes east, sometimes hard. It’s there though and yes, I’m grateful xx

[breadlistens]

March favourites

With another month done, it's time to look back at my favourite tracks and albums of March, whether these are freshly released or have been round a while, here's some of my top listens from the past month!

BRAINWASHED- Waterparks

Waterparks are pretty well known in the scene by now, so even if you aren't a fan it's hard to ignore their new releases. 'BRAINWASHED' might be one of my top songs they've released as singles for their upcoming album 'Intellectual Property' as I'd previously heard it when I saw them live, but hearing the actual studio version just made it more impactful. With a catchy chorus that can be played over and over again, I'd even go as far as to say this is one of the best singles they've released in the build up to their new album.

listen to BRAINWASHED here!

18+- Scene Queen

Scene Queen came back with a bang as you can tell as soon as you listen to this song, and calling out predators in the scene has never been so forward. This is an issue Scene Queen is very passionate about, and this song definitely got alot of attention, with even people who aren't her usual listeners commenting on her bravery for releasing a song that isn't sugar coated at all. This song sums up all you need to know about Scene Queen, that being that she isn't afraid to be loud and proud about what she believes in. The lyrics are clever and the screams brutal, so make sure to support her in her debut album that should be coming later this year!

listen to 18+ here!

Hold Me Like a Grudge- Fall Out Boy

Fall Out Boy definitely know how to make a banger comeback, and this album just proves it. My personal favourite was 'Hold Me Like a Grudge' as its such a fun song to listen to. You get the usual amazing lyrics paired with an upbeat instrumental that honestly reminds me alot of 'Save Rock and Roll' from 2013. The music video also sticks out to Fall Out Boy fans as it is a continuation of their previous video for 'This Ain't a Scene' which is of course a fan favourite and perhaps one of their most iconic songs, which really tops off this song for me.

listen to Hold Me Like a Grudge here!

$20- Boygenius

This one may seem odd compared to the others as it is less alternative and more indie leaning, however the trio consisting of Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, and Julien Baker never fail to impress, and this is the song from their debut album 'The Record' I'd reccomend the most. It's the most upbeat song on the album, and contains a spine tingling guttural scream from Phoebe Bridgers, which usually you wouldn't expect from an indie trio. It won't be for everyone, however I feel like both the lyrics and the vocals stand out on this track, each voice complimenting the other two without any outshining.

listen to $20 here!

Freak Of Nature- Heart Attack Man

Heart Attack Man are a band I'd reccomend to every alternative person, and hopefully will be a band that becomes a staple in the scene. With a discography full of deep cuts, there's something for everyone while still keeping a distinct style that makes you instantly recognise it as them. Although the previous still being applicable, this new song still feels fresh, and would go amazingly hard live, so let's hope for a UK tour soon

listen to Freak Of Nature here!

[goldenmusicmoments]

A Look Into Kelsea Ballerini's 'Subject To Change':

Kelsea Ballerini just released her fourth studio album. It’s been an exciting journey for her from her debut till this moment. She’s shown growth from one record to the next, in every aspect of her craft. This record is no different as she delivers her most cohesive and focused record so far. 

The album opens with the title track ‘Subject To Change’, it’s an upbeat moment that highlights life and how inconsistent things can be. That also includes herself as she says that she finds herself constantly changing whether that is to do with her appearance, style, moods or who she is. We hold on to an essence of who we are, however throughout life experience changes. It kickstarts the album with a perfect intro that lets you know you are in for an unexpected journey. ‘The Little Things’ serves as the follow up and on this one Kelsea shows appreciation for all the little things that many seem to bypass in a relationship in terms of the gestures made by their partners. It’s a lively track with its drum and guitar led production, you’ll surely find yourself lost in its groove as you sing along. 

‘I Can’t Help Myself’ gives us a sassy country inspired moment and it’s a light track that you’d envision playing at a bar or a country themed event. She sings about not being able to say no to a little fun, even though she seems to want to avoid it. So far Kelsea isn’t letting you have a break, as this one will also keep you moving to it. Both the production and the vocal delivery assist in making you feel what she is putting across through the lyrics. Now the next track ‘If You Go Down (I’m Goin’ Down Too)’ is a head bopping tune about a loyal friendship. Here she declares that if one out of this friendship pair go down then the other will as well. They're in it together till the end, no matter what happens they’ll be there for each other. This also hosts that country twang, that follows the vibe of the previous track. 

We move on to the mellow ‘Love Is A Cowboy’ that leaves you in your thoughts with its contemplative vibe. A beautiful western cinematic moment, that you get lost in. Here she compares love to a cowboy, where you can’t exactly tame it. However it’s an experience that feels wild and exhilarating. Kelsea’s vocals on this track are breathtaking and captivating. It is a track that makes you want to sit outside and watch the sunset as it plays in the background. By the end you feel like taking a deep breath and then letting it go. Then ‘Muscle Memory’ picks the pace back up again with its infectious groovy bass driven production and this one has been an instant fan favourite out of the unreleased tracks. She sings about how no matter what when they come back to each other everything comes back to them as though they’d never been apart. The verses have an emotional and longing feel to them, then the pre-chorus and chorus lift up the mood. The track closes with a revisit to the opening line providing it a full circle moment. 

Kelsea immediately gets into ‘I Guess They Call It Falling’ as the track opens with the first half of the chorus. That in itself catches you by surprise and then she dives into the first verse. This moody track talks about jumping into love only to find that it isn’t all that it is made out to be. She uses the entirety of falling in love to depict how once love comes to an end you feel as though you are falling from a high. There is this fierceness that is put forward through her vocal with a hint of resentment for him letting her down. The song fills the entire space around you and you find yourself completely immersed in it. ‘Weather’ then lighters up the mood with its upbeat and catchy vibe. She uses the changing of the weather to depict how the person of interest seems to constantly be changing his mind. 

Now we are given the most dreamy moment on the album with ‘Universe’ that just takes your breath away. This gentle track gets you feeling emotional as you are left mesmerised. She strips back the production and places her beautiful vocal at the front. On here Kelsea is completely in love and drawn to this person. You feel as though you are laying in the grass at night staring up at a star filled sky. She continues that gentle feel with ‘Walk In The Park’ that features a surprise opening. On this guitar driven track she sings about the challenges in a relationship, that it isn’t always going to be easy. She’s letting him know that he should expect a mixture of highs and lows. It’s another one of those contemplative moments and she slows it down in the end, closing off with a more faded version of the opening moment. ‘Heartfirst’ brings back the lively feel and has you moving your head to the beat of the kick drum. This blissful track is about jumping in heart first regardless of the potential of things going downhill. She’s fallen for this guy that she seems willing to bypass the red flags. 

Kelsea invites over Carly Pearce and Kelly Clarkson to provide vocals on ‘You’re Drunk, Go Home’ which is the most prominent country track on the album. The trio seem to be feeling this guy who’s had a little too much to drink and is now being quite the pest. It’s a fun track that makes you feel as though you are at a rodeo. You feel like letting loose to this track and with company this would provide for such an enjoyable moment. The three make for quite the combination and Kelly’s what sounds like her saying ‘babe’ is a highlight of its own. ‘Doin’ My Best’ follows and changes the mood to a more reflective one as she looks over her life on this upbeat hand clapping and finger clicking tune. She sings about how she’s doing the best she can, she references moments from her past which draw your attention. The opening line to the second verse in particular will have your jaw drop. You find yourself completely taken by the chorus and then the bridges group sung vocal feels liberating. She brings the pace down for the final chorus and then builds it back up to close the track.

The second to last track is ‘Marilyn’ a self-written track that provides the album with its most vulnerable moment. It seems to continue on with what she explored on ‘Homecoming Queen’ and makes you really think on life and the choices we make. Here she sings about whether it is worth it in the end, putting on this front when underneath you are hiding all this pain. She uses Marilyn Monroe’s life as a way to depict that. The production fits perfectly with her vocal enhancing its emotive nature. It’s a heartbreaking and thought provoking track, and the lyrics make an even greater impact if you are aware of Marilyn’s life. She closes the track with a sample of Marilyn speaking. ‘What I Have’ is the album closer and this acoustic guitar driven track is one about being grateful with what she has. She looks at everything around her and comes to realise that she’s got all that she needs. She’s content with where she is at in life and that is all that matters. It’s the perfect note to end on.

Kelsea’s always been a writer who gets really personal in her songwriting and she doesn’t hold back here. She delivers a great album that depicts her life and who she is so well. The album is one that leaves an instant impression and takes you through a journey of a range of emotions. The album unintentionally seems to in places resonate with what she is currently going through in her life, even though she’d completed it prior to the divorce. You also feel the confidence she’s developed with her voice as she explores more of her vocal range on this record. Her team haven’t done a great job with the rollout, if they started out with better single choices and spaced them out correctly alongside the promotional singles, it surely would have debuted higher. There are so many perfect single options that they can still make use of and that in turn would help get the album more recognition. She definitely deserves more credit as an artist. 

[pjstafford]

A non-obligatory 2022 year-end wrap-up

I am old enough to remember when it was really easy to lose contact with folks when you or they moved to different states. Without social media or instant messaging, there wasn't the easy type of access to knowing what is going on with a person as there is today. Long-distance phone calls were expensive - for emergencies, chats on birthdays, the weekly call to your mother timed so as to not cost so much. There were no digital Christmas cards. We mailed old fashion, snail mail cards with chatty family newsletters to tell everyone what the family had been up to that year. One letter summarizing the year for everyone - your friends from high school, co-workers, extended family, old boyfriend's parents- everyone got one really chatty and carefully worded letter.

It wasn't that different than today's social media, in its way. We generally put on the best face. If we bought a new home, did renovations, or purchased a new car, then generally the family pic was taken in front of that big purchase - or there would be a family pic of this summer's great beach trip. We would tell about our pets. If we started a new job. If someone graduated from school. If we were planning a move. I loved receiving and writing those letters until the year I got a divorce. Then, I didn't know how to put that in a charming, fun letter. It didn't seem Christmas spirit-like to tell people who didn't already know what was, for me, the absolute most devastating news. So I sent signature cards - no time to write more - love you and miss you. I was surprised by the number of friends I hadn't seen in a few years calling to say - "What the heck is going on? What's the matter?"

It's been a long time since those once-a-year newsy letters were needed. We post our most commonplace days and even our commonplace meals - on social media. I started,a few years ago, doing a New Year's blog which is not so much "here is the news" and instead "here is where my mind is at right now". One year I wrote about my journey as a super fan. Another of my favorite books of the year. The third year of my New Year's resolution. In the last couple of years pandemic New Year's Blogs. This year, I seriously decided not to write one. No one will miss it. Not sure who reads it. No one cares, but, then, I was reminded of not wanting to tell people I was divorced. 2022 deserves a blog.

For me, this will always be the year my best friend died. I don't mean my BFF. I mean someone I met in 1975. Someone I lived with on four different occasions. Someone I had argued and fought with and laughed and been silly with and the one person in the entire world I knew would be there for me no matter what. There are a couple of paragraphs in Bob Dylan's new book The Philosophy of Modern Song describing "Come Rain or Come Shine" which perfectly describes Tyoka's and mine friendship. "Whether you're in good humor or dissatisfied it's all the same, and your affection for each other is lodged in the brain, the nervous system. Whether you have peace of mind or you're down in the mouth, this friendship is longstanding and formidable. Upbeat or downbeat, fidelity is beyond question. Your involvement unchanging with wholehearted respect, this love is conclusive and deep in your subconscious."

Last Thursday afternoon as my work week was ending and I was happy to have a four-day Holiday to enjoy, I thought to myself - "Oh, I should call Tyoka" and, then, I burst into tears. Throughout the weekend, I missed her - not because I spent every holiday with her - but because, if we were not going to spend Holidays together there would be phone calls, texts, gifs, connection, and communication.

Those, then, are my thoughts this New Years. I am grateful for the fact that I live in a day when we don't even know the meaning of a long-distance call. We can zoom, and we can text. Those days of the nice, long Christmas letter are, in fact, behind us for the good -mostly.

This brings us to 2022 as a whole. I attended a Dylan concert. I traveled to Seattle to see my friend Cathy and my favorite writer, David Duchovny, I went to see Tyoka twice this summer and, also, met my friend Charmion and her daughter IRL for the first time. It's good face-to-face and back in person. It's, also, terrifying as so many people I know have been really ill this year. I did less of the virtual entertainment activities I did in the previous two years - they were not as available. I find that sad. I feel changed forever over the last two years. Some of the changes are good. Some are not. I don't think we know yet what the last two years will bring in terms of permanent changes to the way we approach the world.

I am fine. If you knew me when I was twenty, forty, or today, I am as quirky and odd as always. Still don't seem to fit anywhere in this life. I am quick to make a joke, but sadness, fear, and uncertainty are close enough to the surface that I still make a lot of stupid personal decisions and wrong choices. I'm still most excited when I have good work to do. I still am writing. I still dance when alone throughout my day. I can still be extremely passionate about the lyrics of certain songs. My primary resolution for the next year is to learn to cook a variety of foods so that I don't waste food by throwing it in the garbage - so, yes, apples can become apple sauce or an apple/ carrot soup. It's not so much about eating healthier or cheaply as it is about feeling guilty for buying and then throwing out food. That is guilt I can get rid of. It is a thing over which I have control.

Perhaps, I would have more to say about the state of the world and be able to express wise words if I wasn't so preoccupied with my own grief and day-by-day adjusting to a changing world. That is 2022 for me and yet, there isn't a day when I don't find some joy.

Here is something I've been thinking about which I will use to end this blog. As I age, I find the bounce in resiliency to be very different. I don't bounce back from a fall, a fail or a hardship well as I once did, but, maybe, the true bounce should come from standing strong and letting things bounce off of you - not to fall, not to see things as failures but as opportunities for growth, That's a second resolution, I guess, to practice a different type of resiliency.