#gonna buy like a gazillion to celebrate

[1luckyrubberducky]

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT:

Happy National Rubber Ducky Day!

:D

[daggxrsanddrxamers]

blue eyes and rainbow flags

i wrote a FirstPrince fic

umm so first time writing for this fandom, hope y'all enjoy!! Henry and Alex attend their first pride together!! that's it, that's the fic

Word count- 1102 words of fluff

not tagging anyone...but tell me if you wanna be tagged in any future fics

Morning at the brownstone were sometimes lazy, Henry with his sleepy eyes and mussed hair, Alex with a cup of coffee glued to one hand and his phone in the other, blearily scrolling through his news alerts, kisses traded between two joined souls as they made their way through their daily routines. Other days, it was rushed, beeping alarms and text messages from Zahra, telling them to get their asses to the gala, or trans-atlantic flights and hurried kisses before one of them runs out the door, and then doubles back for one last kiss.

This morning, though, it was different, there was such excitement and nervousness in the air. It was the day of the famed NYC pride parade, Henry’s and Alex’s first pride and also their first pride together. Pez, June and Nora would be here anytime to go with them.

Alex makes his way downstairs to the kitchen where Henry was making their morning drinks, he was caught up in the glorious sight that was Henry, the way only he ever got to see him, all rumpled clothes and blond hair catching the sunlight streaming through the kitchen window. He stood there for a second taking in the gloriousness that was Henry Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor. And then Henry was turning towards him and smiling, that godsdamned glorious smile that still made his heart stop, and Alex was crowding him against the kitchen counter, kissing the living daylights out of him.

“Excited for your first pride parade?” Alex mumbled against his lips, trying not to break away from him.

“Yes, of course” was Henry’s answer, before he went back to kissing him.

Alex, in his years of planning, had never thought that this would be his life. Making out with Henry in their little brownstone kitchen, getting ready for their first pride parade, kissing him whenever he wants to, being happy and confident and for the first time feeling something slot into his heart.

The bell rings, pulling him out of his thoughts. Henry slips away from between him and the counter and backwalks to the door with a wink, Alex’s laughter following him out of the kitchen and to the door.

Voices spill from the entryway, June, Nora and Pez, they argue their way into the kitchen talking over one another. Henry laughs at something Pez says and Alex feels so so happy. He probably has a dopey smile stuck on his face but he hardly cares. June comes up to him and hugs him.

“Long time, no see, baby bro.”

“That’s because you’re so busy writing that book of yours, how’s it going? Have you written anything amazing about me yet?”

June hits him on the shoulder and laughs, “I don’t need to help you grow that big head of yours, anymore!”

They dissolve in laughter, and the brownstone kitchen is filled with friends, laughter and the sounds of love. In seconds, Pez’s voice cuts over the cacophony, “Come on kids, Auntie Pezza’s gonna give you a pride make over” he says with a dangerous twinkle in his eyes.

Nora brings out her phone in a flash and snaps a picture of the gang, all bright smiles and twinkling eyes. Alex will later print out the picture and use it as a bookmark, but right then his eyes find Henry’s and the brilliant smile on his face almost knocks him off his feet. The only person missing right then was Bea, but she hadn’t been able to come, they’d placated her last night with promises of a gazillion pictures and at least one embarrassing video.

And then Pez drags them away and sits them down on the assorted furniture in the living room, and attacks them with colourful paints for an hour straight, by the end Alex has the bi colours smeared across his cheeks in a messy pattern, and Henry has the gay flag neatly coloured in on one of his cheekbones. Alex is half tempted, to kiss him on the flag and maybe make it messier, but the glare Pez shoots him at his look is enough to turn his thoughts away from Henry and his cheekbones.

They video call Bea, and all of them scream something unintelligible at each other, before they calm down and then Bea has them cat walking down the hallway in their outfits, showing off their flags and colours.

The bright colours and glitter and paint is everywhere, and so is the laughter and the love and right then, if the world stopped spinning, Alex would be very very happy.

They somehow finally make their way out of the brownstone, pride flags trailing behind them like capes and heads held high, and feeling invincible in a world that feels like it was made just for them. Like some kind of modern gods in their own world, the sun streaming down on their faces and arms around each other, ready to celebrate their love in a Dionysian parade across the streets of one of the world’s most famous cities.

Nora’s continuously clicking pictures as if anyone can ever encompass what they feel into a couple of square inches of the phone screen, and then June grabs the phone right out of Nora’s hands and kisses her, while simultaneously snapping a selfie. Alex yells at them to take their PDA elsewhere and Nora just sticks her tongue out at him.

And then there’s more selfies, and more laughter and finally, finally they reach the parade, and it’s an explosion of bright colours, loud sounds and gorgeous smiles. Alex buys a bi pin and tacks it onto his shirt with a wide grin on his face, Henry puts on a weird wide brimmed rainbow at Pez’s insistence, and June immortalizes the moment in a picture.

Nora drags June off to get more merch, and Pez goes to get a few flags, and Alex is left with Henry. Henry pulls him in by his belt loops and kisses him hard under the shade of the tallest buildings, they’re smiling too much, it’s more of a clash of teeth than a proper kiss, but right then it doesn’t matter.

“We broke down that wall, didn’t we?” Henry says in his soft voice, the one reserved only for him, and Alex’s mind flies back to a crumpled note in Henry’s handwriting that he’d found, professing their love to be a tragedy.

“Yes we did, baby” Alex says onto his lips and slips his arms around him and holds him tight.

People come up to them and tell them that their story has inspired them to be themselves, and Henry, for the first time, doesn't mind the attention. Alex sees the way he’s relaxed, even though there are people taking pictures of them, and he can’t help but feel as if he’s on fucking cloud 9.

The day’s perfect, streaming colours and happy faces and later when Alex looks through the photos, he’ll see one taken by Pez, one of Henry kissing him with the rainbow flag surrounding them like a blanket of safety, and he’ll smile, and then save it as his lock screen, ready to fight all the injustices of the world as long as he has his perfect piece of heaven in that cozy brownstone.

[fanfic-shiz]

Happenstance (A Tom Hiddleston Story)- Part Three

Part Two

“Tell Addy I’m not wearing anything hideous with puffy sleeves.” I said around a mouthful of coco puffs.

My mom sighed loudly on the other end. “She’s not going to pick something you won’t like, Estella.”

“Oh, should we talk about the birthday tea incident?” I reminded her, taking us headfirst into an event that had happened almost fifteen years ago. “When she insisted we all had to wear those stupid straw hats with the flowers on them? In public?”

“That’s a little overdramatic considering how young you both were.”

“I’m just saying, mom. I get that it’s her day and all that, but shit I’m not wearing anything that resembles grandma’s wallpaper.” I tossed my empty cereal bowl into the sink, grabbing my apron off the kitchen table.

I heard the sound of a door close on the other end and knew my mom had left the kitchen where she and my sister were busy wedding planning so she could say something to me without her overhearing. I braced myself, punching the down button for the apartment elevator.

“Honey, I know you’ve had a tough year but I need you to be a little more accommodating. Addy is really excited for you to be her maid of honor…you could show a little excitement too.” My mom pressed.

I felt a stab of guilt as the doors slid open and I stepped inside. “It’s just that…she’s twenty-two, mom. That’s a little young to be getting married. And she’s only been with Mason for-”

“It’s her decision. Not mine, not yours. I know you don’t believe in getting married in your twenties, but you’re not your sister.”

I was quiet for a moment, biting back a torrent of statistics and facts on why young marriage hardly ever worked out. Along with all the bitterness I felt at having suddenly found myself very single and alone the day my sister had announced she was getting married, almost one whole year ago. “I know.” I finally sighed defeatedly. “I’m sorry. Tell her I’ll get whatever she wants. Just tell me where to go and what to buy.”

“You’ll look perfect in anything, honey.”

I smiled a little, leaning against the elevator wall. “Thanks, mom.”

By the time the elevator had reached the ground floor, I’d averted yet another wedding crisis with my sister (once again thanks to mom) and was on my way to work. I still was having a hard time getting used to the fact that my baby sister was going to be a married woman in just a few months. And I knew I’d been a pretty awful maid of honor. It all had just been sprung on me at the worst possible time, though. It made me feel extra shitty to know that instead of putting my time and energy into helping Addy, I’d used it to mope around and complain and make her feel less important. I chewed my lower lip as I sent a quick text to her, letting her know I was sorry and asking what she needed help with. At least I had a few months to try and make up for being so crappy.

Maybe if I’d paid a little more attention, or I’d been a little stronger, I could’ve avoided having my heart stomped all over by Shawn or at least come out of it on top. It seemed like he’d walked away from the situation with everything- the apartment, my best friend, my laptop….I felt myself sinking and knew I needed a distraction fast.

I put in my headphones and hit shuffle on me ‘pick me up’ playlist for the rest of the walk to work. And against my better judgement, sent a text to Mia.

S: If you’re dragging me to this shindig, I’m gonna need something nice to wear.

She answered almost right away, catching me by surprise.

M: Consider me the fairy god mother to your Cinderella…maybe I can even snag you a Prince Charming.

S: Unfortunately I live here in the real world where there are no Prince Charmings.

M: Trust in me, ye of little faith.

The corners of my mouth quirked upwards in a smile as I shook my head. The world would have been a much better place if ex-boyfriends happened less and Prince Charmings happened more. Fortunately, I knew better than to lose myself in fairy tales.

#

It was a slow morning, the usual rush dying down early. I was finished by noon and itching to finally pick up my laptop from the shop down the street. The guy who slid it across the counter towards me look apologetic but assured me “it’d get me by for a little longer’. So naturally, I wasn’t exactly ecstatic to give him my credit card.

Regardless, I was happy to have a keyboard and screen back. I tucked it underneath my arm as I sipped on a caramel macchiato and walked back outside into the cloudy gray afternoon. The weather on my phone promised a rain storm, but so far not one actual drop had fallen from the sky.

I postponed heading back towards the apartment and instead wandered from shop to shop, searching for nothing in particular but not ready to go home quite yet. It was Friday, which meant Mia’d be working late. It’d be a good night to get in some writing.

I was absentmindedly flipping through a rack of scarves when there was suddenly a loud clap of thunder. I jumped and looked out the window just in time to see a flash of lightning followed by a sheet of rain suddenly plummeting from the sky full force.

"Ah, shit.” I muttered. I rummaged through my purse for my mini umbrella only to realize, that quite stupidly, I’d forgotten it at home. Sitting on the kitchen table right by the front door. “Joyous.” I mumbled.

I pulled up the hood of my sweatshirt and pushed out into the rain. People around me were opening up umbrellas and ducking for cover. I stepped out onto the curb and began trying to flag down a cab. I was drenched within minutes, my clothing completely soaked through. “Come on!” I pleaded under my breath as yet another occupied yellow car rushed past.

I waved my arm frantically as a cab came closer. The next five seconds seemed to happen in slow motion. It was like a scene from a horrible 90’s sitcom as the cab not only failed to slow down, but splashed right through a puddle near the side of the road and unintentionally doused me with water. I sputtered, wiping dirty puddle water from my face.

“Are you kidding me!” I shouted after the retreating yellow cab. I huffed, hugging my laptop closer to my chest and silently thanking Jesus above that I had thought to bring a case for it.

And just as I thought things couldn’t get worse, I felt a pair of eyes on me. I lifted my gaze towards the opposite side of the street and my mouth fell open. “This is a joke. My life is a never ending, cruel joke.” I muttered to myself, shaking my head in disbelief.

For right directly across from me, on the other side of the busy intersection, was none other than Tom Hiddleston. Unlike me, he was completely dry, carrying a black umbrella and looking like he’d just stepped off a fashion show runway. I was hoping he wouldn’t recognize me, considering I looked like a drowned rat, but the way he was smiling at me said otherwise. He held up a hand, signaling me to wait right where I was. Lucky for him, I seemed to be frozen to the spot.

What were the chances? One in a million? No, one in a billion. One in a gazillion trillion so on forever and ever because how was this even happening? A one time run-in with an apparently famous celebrity was one thing, but twice in a week? Either he was stalking me, which honestly was the most laughable joke on planet Earth, or the Gods were conspiring against me to make me look like an idiot in front of the most gorgeous man I’d ever laid eyes on. First the huge brown coffee stain on my shirt, and now this.

The pedestrian walk sign came on and he was across the street in less than a minute and at my side. The rain abruptly stopped as he stood close to me, holding his umbrella over both of us. And lord, he smelled good. I fought the urge to lean in closer. How dare he lure me in with his perfect face and his equally perfect scent?

“You.” I was saying before I could stop myself. “I mean Tom. I’m not stalking you, I swear.” My god, I was a true idiot. Just what every famous man wants to hear.

He let out a surprised laugh. It was an incredibly contagious sound and even more of an incredible look for him. I was helpless. Completely helpless. “Considering I was debating going back to the coffee shop just to see you again, perhaps it’s me following you.” He teased, giving me a grin. “You look absolutely miserable by the way, love. Adorable, but very wet.”

I managed a shrug, trying not to reel too much from the words leaving his mouth. Something about adorable and wanting to see me again. Or had I imagined that? What was wrong with me? “I’m soaking wet, stuck in the middle of New York City and can’t catch a cab to save my life.” I managed to say.

“Care to share a ride? My cab flagging skills are quite impressive.” He offered with another heart shattering smile.

I hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Go ahead, let’s see these said skills.”

He held out his arm and seconds later, a yellow cab was pulling up to the curb.

“It’s only because you’re so tall and they can see you better.” I joked, still in a daze and trying to wrap my head around what was happening.

He let out another laugh as he pulled open the cab door and gestured for me to climb into the back. “You’re absolutely right, that must be it.”

I glanced around quickly, expecting to see hordes of photographers or ogling fans, but no one was paying either of us any attention. Too busy trying to stay out of the rain.

I scooted over to the other side of the cab, the dry, warmth enveloping me. I pushed my hood back and tried to comb through my wet tangles with my fingers. Tom tossed his closed umbrella onto the cab floor before climbing in after me. Was I really about to share a cab with Tom Hiddleston? I tried to side eye him without him noticing. He was dressed in a light blue colored button down that matched his eyes and I immediately kicked myself for having such a cliche, idiotic thought. I tore my eyes away before he could catch me staring.

“Where to?” The cab driver called over his shoulder.

“Do you mind taking us to two addresses? I’ll pay the difference.” Tom offered.

“Oh, no. You really don’t need to.” I said hurriedly, fumbling for my wallet.

“Look, you let me hide out from paparazzi in the middle of your work shift. Therefore, let me pay for the cab.”

I hesitated for a moment before nodding. I cleared my throat and gave my address to the driver, trying not to listen to closely as Tom gave his. Or to wherever he was going. I didn’t want him to think I really was a stalker who’d memorize his address and show up at his house. Although I was sure there were plenty of people out in the world who were crazy like that.

“What were you doing out in such a god awful downpour?” He asked curiously as the car pulled out into traffic.

“Picking up my laptop.” I explained, remembering the rectangular device I was still hugging close to my chest, as if it were some sort of life support. “Where’s your entourage?”

He gave me an amused look, a smile curving his lips. “Suppose the rain must be keeping them at bay.” His eyes flickered to the computer I clutched in my arms. “You must have the answer to the secrets of the universe on that laptop…”

I realized he was teasing me about my death grip on the device. I rolled my eyes and tried to relax. “Not exactly. Just my writing.”

Tom’s eyebrows lifted. “So you’re a writer then?”

I wrinkled my nose and shook my head. “It’s more like a hobby. I’m not published or anything.”

“But you’re trying to be?” He asked.

I shrugged, feeling weird and for some reason embarrassed about sharing my far-fetched dream to be a writer with a famous man who was about a thousand times more successful than I could ever hope to be. “Maybe. I’m pretty good at making coffee, so I don’t want to let that talent go to waste.”

He laughed, eyes crinkling at the corners in a manner that was entirely too adorable. Oh lord, save me. He placed a hand over his chest. “I can personally attest to that.”

“Thank you, maybe you could promote me to all your fellow super hero actor friends.”

“I can, although they might be more offended than I am about the fact that you have a strict policy against super hero films.” He said playfully.

“It’s not my fault I have such refined tastes.” I shrugged and immediately was hoping I hadn’t offended him. He was still grinning at me, though, looking more amused than ever. Sarcasm was like an automated shield. Anytime I felt awkward or unsure of myself, it immediately went up. I was on fire at the moment.

“And where does a girl with such meticulous, refined taste come from I wonder?” He asked.

“Connecticut.” I answered.

“Small town?”

I narrowed my eyes slightly. “You ask a lot of questions. Aren’t you worried I might secretly be some super stalker and not knowing who you are is just an elaborate scheme?”

He shrugged. “I’m just curious. You seem entirely to sweet to be a born and bred New Yorker. And if it’s an act, well I’d say you could take my job as it’s very convincing. Fancy playing a super villain in a green cape?” He asked with a crooked grin.

I shifted in my seat. “Green’s not my color.”

“Of course it isn’t.” He chuckled. “Tell me, Stella, what would it take for me to convince you to let me buy you a drink sometime?”

I felt a momentary lapse in brain function. Was he asking me out? “I don’t date actors.”

His eyebrow knitted together, a curious look in his blue eyes. “Really? Bad experience?”

“No,” I paused, shaking my head as I fought for the right words to explain my current feelings on relationships. “I just don’t. Actually I don’t really date at all. Anymore.”

“I see.” He mused. “That’s entirely a shame.”

He faltered for a moment as the cab pulled up to a curb. “Damn, I was prepared to spend the rest of the cab ride trying to change your mind…but I suppose rejection from a beautiful girl every once in a while is a healthy thing.” He winked at me before pulling out his wallet and handing some bills over to the driver.

I was surprised by the slight disappointment I felt that we were already parting ways. And I highly, highly doubted a third chance encounter was likely. Two was already something unheard of.

Outside, rain still poured onto the city streets in sheets. I was surprised when Tom suddenly pressed his umbrella into my hands. “Here, to protect those secrets of the universe.” He smiled, nodding at my laptop.

“But-”

“Trust me, darling, a little rain won’t bother me.”

I was stunned for half a moment by the god damn chivalry of it all. Who was this guy exactly? “Thank you.” I said. “I mean, I’ll have to sell it on Ebay when I’m done but I’m sure you understand.”

My stomach jolted a little when another impish grin flashed across his face. “Entirely understandable. Until next time then? It was a pleasure…” He shook his head. “Bloody shame about the no dating policy, though.”

I stared at him wordlessly as he abruptly left the car and disappeared out into the downpour. He slid his hands into his pockets, and with his head bowed against the storm, walking in the direction of sleek chrome building.

“Is he the one in that Avengers movie?” The cab driver suddenly called back to me.

I shook my head. “Something like that.”

God, what a weird day. What a weird week.

As we pulled away from the curb, I tore my eyes away from Tom’s retreating back and studied the black umbrella in my lap. Had it not been there, I was sure I could have convinced myself that the entire thing had been just a very vivid, realistic dream.

[nightwhite13]

Give me 1 to 70 since you can't fall asleep ANSWER THEM ALL

omg this ass

1.I think im gonna with Final Fantasy X, because i played it like a gazillion time, even before I know about the new and hidden boss

2. Final Fantasy series, sorry i cant just pick one. Final Fantasy world where magic and technology exist at the same time really intrigued me as a kid and im just “im gonna create a world similar like this,  but the main character is a girl” and I thanked the God for my wife, Lightning Farron from Final Fantasy XIII series

3,my family, i know, shocking.

4. no one since i hate my family and all of them turned into these people that hates video games

5. bahahahaha, well duh, but mostly just for the sims. still wish that we can use motherlode in real life

6.back when internet wasn’t a thing yetand myspace is still cool

7.soooooo many of titles, but mostly Final Fantasy X cause im really obsessed with that game as a kid

8.hmmmmm, i think im gonna go with the rarest video game. Crimson Sea. the game actually cool and also Shadow Hearts.

9.so far, none

10.nope

11. i’ve met with a Final Fantasy lovers community when i was in high school, and they really helped me through a lot, and i dont give them that much credit, now that ive think about it. im so sorry guys

12.i dont really remember, but i guess no?

13.fallout. BECAUSE THERE’S A GIANT COCKROACH!!!!! AND I LOSE MY SHIT WHEN I SAW IT FOR THE FIRST TIME AND MY DAD JUST FUCKING LAUGHED AND SAID “see i was right, when its nuclear apocalypse, theres gonna be a mutated cockroach” i hate him so much

14..Final Fantasy music, sorry i cant pick. and also LIARA’S THEME AND AN END, ONCE AND FOR ALL FROM MASS EFFECT 3

15.i would get between the logo of Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII and im gonna tattoo it on my sternum/chest/whatever you call that area

16.The Sims. it was fun to watch my friend refusing of using the motherlode cheat and struggling like in the real life, like whats the point?

17.nope, i never play any competitive game with a friend

18.hmmmm,nope. gaming is a big part of my life and i cant imagine be with someone that hate it

19.PSP

20.Final Fantasy X

21.none cause i always like video game even if i dont understand it

22.I had Lightning’s gunblade keychain but i lost it i hate past me, now all i have is squall’s gunblade

23. Final Fantasy X, I still remember one of the save files i had was around 100 minutes (?) and im shock because it was the first time i had a game with minutes/hours (?) logged into? and the second is Dragon Age Inquisition aka please give me the wedding between inky and josie

24.I never play any, im sorry. nintendo wasnt really that famous when i was a kid and when i grow up, its really hard to find any shop that sell nintendo and im not that rich to buy it from amazon/ebay

25.yup.

26.nope.

27.right now, I think DA:I is the closest one because of that egg and they didnt give any wedding scene for my josie and WHERE IS THE HERO OF FERELDEN?? LET THEM AND LELIANA HAPPY!!!

28.noooooooo and ever interested anyway

29.according to every website i shouldn’t be able to play DA:I, yet here i am, playing that game really smooth. im sorry, idk, but it just your ordinary laptop and not super gaming pc

30.i have ps1 and ps2

31.virtual boy….gives me a headache i guess?

32.YES!!! i remember playing celebrities deathmatch?

33.nope

34.shockingly. yes. my mom loved tetris and zuma while my dad liked rambo game on sega? lol

35.no for both of them

36.sweat and tears, yes, many times. blood? never. at least not yet, we’ll never know

37.nope, sorry

38.none, why would i be ashamed of liking a video game?

39.FRONT MISSION!!!! GIVE ME MORE FRONT MISSION SQUARE-ENIX PLEASE IM BEGGING YOU!!!

40.i want them

41.horror, because im a coward

42.Final Fantaxy X, god love that game so much

43.lol, why are u draggin me like this?

44.street fighter arcade game?

45.never play it, sorry

46. well of course, i wanna try animal crossing

47. no, not really

48. around 30 minutes to one hour,sometimes more

49.yes, i always choose rogue or warrior

50.A GAME WHERE THE CHARACTER TURN INTO A DRAGON OR POLAR BEAR OR MAYBE HYBRID OF A DRAGON AND A POLAR BEAR?????

51.of course, what kind of question is this?!

52.i always buy it with my allowance money

53.its depends on the DLC tho, but im gonna lean over to the NO side.

54.*looks at my empty wallet and cries* yes

55.god no, why would i do that?

56.i never play this game and now i must

57.i tried, but im not that patience

58.final fantasy series, mortal kombat, the sims

59.yes, currently im playing we bare bears match repair

60.is this the code on metal gear solid cd box?

61.i keep them forever

62.im not that rich, lets get real here

63.no i hate crowded place

64.again, im not that rich

65.honestly, it never work for me, idk why

66.of courseeeeeeeeeeeee

67.i think its when my family still love playing video games? like we waied for our turns to play and shit like that

68.yes but i dont know where the tickets and its expire, i guess

69. this is a tough one. my heart says Final Fantasy XIII series, because god even tho the first installment was sucked because of the battle system, but i love lightning so much. my brain say Mass Effect, because it was my first game where I can be a female character AND romance another female character. my gay ass past self was so happy and im pretty sure i shed a tear when shepard and liara finally kissed

70.it was either Final Fantasy X or Shadow Hearts.

good, now i really cant sleep

[themomsandthecity]

I Ditched My Infant to Travel Abroad - and You Should, Too

Image Source: Diego Ramirez Fotografia The first moment of being torn between my pre-mom self and my mom self occurred, ironically, on Independence Day. Blue and white stripes hugged my 8-months-pregnant belly and fireworks sparkled above us as we celebrated my cousin's bridal shower on a rooftop in Brooklyn. It was absolutely lovely - until my cousin Julia asked me to be her bridesmaid. Four years younger than me, and 40 times braver (she moved to Chile after college without knowing a soul), my cousin is the little sister I always wanted. So I felt terrible that my answer was anything but hell yes. "I want to," I stumbled. "I just don't know . . . where I'll be . . . by then . . ." English translation: At that point I'll have a 6-month-old baby, and I have NO idea what that's like. What he'll be like. What I'll be like. Related: What I Learned When I Left My Breastfed Baby For a Week Because here was the issue (and the part that's so amazing): While in Chile, Julia had fallen madly in love with a Chilean guy. And after years of a long-distance Brooklyn to Chile love affair, they were getting married. In Santiago, Chile. Image Source: Marisa Ramel Game-Time Decision: To Go or Not to Go? My husband and I decided we couldn't commit until after our baby was born (August 13) and the wedding date neared (February 13). In my mind, there were two options: * All three of us go. * None of us go. A few months into parenthood, my husband suggested a third option: I could go alone. No, I said. Definitely not. I couldn't leave him. Here was my infant son, who was so precious to me, who I was breastfeeding almost exclusively, who still felt attached to me as if by a heartstring umbilical cord that couldn't possibly stretch from Brooklyn to Chile. Image Source: Marisa Ramel But as the wedding date neared, going solo became the only option that made sense. Because the flight was 11 hours direct. Because the wedding was from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. (and our baby crashed by 6:30 p.m.). Because the logistics of getting a car seat, stroller, crib, and a week's worth of organic purees on another continent made my head spin. And because luck was on my side. My husband was willing to play Single Dad for a week. My son's daycare had agreed to take him extra days. I hemmed and hawed. One day I was definitely going, the next I could never do such a thing - abandoning him felt akin to child abuse. Three weeks before the wedding, I texted a travel-savvy friend: I think I'm gonna pull the trigger. She sent back a screenshot of a great direct flight, and I booked it on a whim. I forwarded the flight details to my cousin: we decided to leave the guys home, but your bridesmaid will be standing beside you. Image Source: Marisa Ramel Remembering I'm More Than a Mom After pumping a gazillion freezer bags of milk, buying the most matronly bridesmaid dress I could find (motherhood had left me feeling like a nun), and worrying my son would need years of therapy for his six-day abandonment, I packed my duffle with two breast pumps (in case one malfunctioned), 30 double AA batteries (for said breast pumps), and doubted my decision the entire way to the airport. Exhausted, I slept all 11 hours on the flight to Santiago, Chile. Everyone else complained about the red-eye; it was the best sleep I'd gotten in months. I arrived refreshed and was greeted by my dream team: my cousins, my dad and stepmom, aunts and uncles, and family friends. To my joy, there was always someone who wanted to hear about my baby. I missed him most in the mornings, when I woke up to an electric pump instead of his sweet little face. Image Source: Marisa Ramel But there were times when I - gulp - didn't miss him at all. That feels terrible to write - thank God 1-year-olds can't read the internet - but it's true. For the first time not just in six months, but close to a year-and-a-half (once you factor in the pregnancy), I was able to drink. Because the distance was so far, I pumped to keep up supply, but it was all pump-and-dump. Bye-bye, liquid gold, I thought as I spilled it down the drain. Hello, Pisco Sours! Hello, Chilean red wine! My, how I've missed you! Ya know what else I missed? Conversation! Glorious, beautiful, uninterrupted chit-chat. I listened to my cousin fret about last-minute wedding details. I sympathized with another cousin's work dilemma. I did it all without pausing to find a rag for my "happy spitter" son's latest projectile of pureed peas. I realized that I longed to do what I used to do best: listen. And I remembered I used to be fun. Image Source: Diego Ramirez Fotografia I made funny comments at the rehearsal dinner (or maybe it was the Pisco). At the wedding, I paused midpump and ran out of the bathroom to dance with my dad to Erasure. I chatted with our Chilean cab driver - actually that was a minor fiasco, as my rusty Spanish led the driver to believe that I'd abandoned my baby and run off with my cousin's boyfriend. (No amount of backpedaling resolved that; he was still muttering under his breath when he dropped us off.) And despite my son's dependency on me, and frankly my dependency on him, I could still thrive on my own. The best part truly was standing by my cousin's side. In each wedding photo, I'm gazing at her like she's the most gorgeous bride in the world (because she was), and because I was so in awe that I had made it. Despite the demands of new motherhood, I could still be there for someone else. And despite my son's dependency on me, and frankly my dependency on him, I could still thrive on my own. Image Source: Courtesy of Diego Ramirez Fotografia Reunited and It Feels So . . . Normal Six days later, after performing my last feat - pumping in a miniscule airplane bathroom - I returned home. Would my baby be elated to see me - or furious with me for leaving? He was napping in his crib, and I sat agitated on the couch until finally he let out a small cry. I rushed into his room. He looked up at me, content but unimpressed, as if I'd left for a few minutes to get a coffee. So if you go, here's my advice: book a longer trip. http://bit.ly/2JA2Iv1

[daddaughterdynamicduo-blog]

𝕦𝕟𝕖

Isabelle Rowe stares at the piece of paper in front of her.

The reality of what has been the most amazing day of her life seems to have been forgotten. Six hours earlier she was on top of the world, throwing her graduation cap into the ceiling as she celebrated her freedom, at last, with the newfound title behind her surname.

Eleven years old, they mocked. Incapable of understanding the complexity behind the human body.

Thirteen years old, they muttered. Too young to face the brash reality of the medical world.

Sixteen years old, they gushed. Near perfect GPA, fresh faced, curious, hungry for knowledge and perhaps, power.

Now she’s seventeen and she’s forced back to reality.

Quietly, she counts the number of zeros behind the twin six’s. One, two, three. Sixty six thousand dollars, and that hasn’t included the other list of numbers on the second page. Her eyes feel blurry and the room feels muggy as she realizes that there is no possible way she can pay this on her own.

She’s poor, for god’s sake! She’s still staying in the shitty apartment her foster parents had bought for her years ago before leaving two years later, sure that she’s capable to solve every problem coming her way. She’s a genius, with IQ surpassing Einstein’s.

She doesn’t even want to take a peek at her bank account, knowing how much she has in there. Not enough to pay back her student loans, that she knows.

Taking a look around her apartment, she feels hopeless for the first time in six years. Medical school was tough but it was nothing she couldn’t handle with studying until ungodly hours of the night and chatting with her friends. But this, this is not medical school.

Well, this is the result of medical school.

She’s underage. Not old enough to have a job, not rich enough to continue her studies. She can apply for scholarship, but what about her bills? Food? What they gave to her was only enough for her to eat crappy bread and jam every morning and some variation of packed pasta from 7-11.

And so Isabelle walks back into her own room and does what she rarely does—open the box of things her mother had given her before she passed.

Her mother had been very brave to raise her alone even until she was only four. Alone, poor and ridden with a terminal disease, she tried her best to raise Isabelle into the person she is today. As soon as she knew that she couldn’t raise Isabelle anymore, she gave her up for adoption but still kept in contact until eventually, she couldn’t fight.

Isabelle finds something that irks her as soon as she opens the old piece of paper in her hand. Inside, written in old ink with a few tear marks here and there, is a letter from her mother. There’s something that boggles her mind about the letter so she reads it over and over and over until-

The clock strikes midnight and she jolts up. The letter is shaking, thanks to her shaky hands.

This is crazy, she tells herself. It might not even work. I have a hundred grand to pay and about a twentieth of it in my bank account, and I’m going to do this?

But this might work! Another tiny voice in her head appears. We only have hope now. Even your wit can’t save you this time.

Isabelle mumbles ‘this is insane’ a thousand times as she packs her clothes into one duffel bag. She still mumbles ‘this is insane’ as she buys a one way ticket to New York. Things still feel insane as she looks at the number 54 in gold, hanging several inches above her on a door, and she knocks.

After the death of her mother, Isabelle was given to foster care. In no time at all she had already found an incredibly rich, ambitious as all hell, yet old pair, ready to give their foster kid whatever they wanted. Their unreached dreams became Isabelle’s and they were more like two CEOs and their employee rather than a kid and their parents.

They were loving, of course, to some extent. Isabelle had enough but she was never spoiled. She had everything she needed, but she had to work for what she wanted. But as soon as she expressed her genuine interest in med school and showed a bit of proof that she’s more than capable to take care of herself, they let her go.

Now, the problem is, Penelope and Indi Clarke haven’t seen their foster daughter in years.

They have kept up with her, of course, it’s hard not to notice one of the smartest teen in the world, studying in one of the best medical schools in North America. They see her everywhere, even Buzzfeed did an article on her a few months back (Indi bookmarked it, of course).

They have thought about reuiniting once or twice, the sound of all of them meeting again is quite exciting, but seeing the brunette at three in the morning, everything she’s got in an ugly duffel bag, standing in front of their door with hope in her eyes isn’t the way they want their reunion to be.

Penelope almost has a heart attack seeing her.

“Don’t freak out!” Isabelle grins, shaking her hands with a wild, frantic look in her eyes.

Indi stares at the girl as she takes off her shoes and drags her duffel bag across their expensive marble floor. Her mouth is spouting words a mile a minute, her hands are flailing around as she explains her crazy idea.

“-and then you know, I read through my mom’s letter and it’s there, she never stopped talking about dear ol’ dad like he had been there loving her and being a good fucking partner but we all know that he abandoned her after they banged, like, does everyone hump and dump nowadays? Anyway, I don’t think I should ask you two for anymore help but I’m seventeen and I can’t do anything without people questioning me so I’m here now and you two are Proper Adults and you won’t get questioned so I think you should help me find my biological dad.”

Indi blinks. Penelope screams.

Isabelle has the biggest, craziest grin they have ever seen.

“Have I told you guys that I’m so happy you two are still awake at three am? And I’m also happy to see you guys again, it’s been like, what, seven years now? And-”

“Isabelle,” Indi finally mutters quietly, half in disbelief and another half in pure exhaustion, “first of all, we weren’t awake, but you rang our bell five times.”

Isabelle’s face still looks crazy to them.

“Second, can you repeat what you just said? Slowly.” Indi massages the bridge of his nose using his thumb and index fingers. He’s too old for this shit, God damn it.

Penelope looks at her husband, then Isabelle, then back at her husband. “I’m gonna get us all a cup of tea.” She sighs as she walks to the kitchen, turning the lightswitch on as she goes.

Indi guides Isabelle to their sofa—very nice velvety texture, Isabelle used to sleep here a lot when she was younger—and sits down next to the girl.

He takes in her appearance. An old sweater, ripped jeans, worn out sneakers, her dark hair tied into a messy ponytail, her glasses perched on top of her head. Her blue eyes are bright though her pupils are dilated, showing signs that she has probably consumed three bottles of energy drink.

Typical.

She’s still bouncing in her seat, her fingers are tapping a steady rhythm against her bony knees. He can even feel her buzzing with excitement.

“Alright, now from the top, but slower.” He placed one hand on her shoulder and she begins to talk.

“I graduated today, right.” She starts slowly. Indi nods.

“But then when I got back to the apartment I found these stack of letters,”—she took out the letters, neatly folded inside a brown large envelope—“and they’re my expenses, books and stuff my scholarship apparently didn’t cover. I don’t know how to pay for this stuff and I barely have enough money, so I thought I would go look for my biological dad, maybe he can help. Mom used to talk about him all the time, saying he was wealthy, a billionaire, a genius. But I’m underage, I can’t even drink alcohol yet and adults question me whenever I ask questions so I think you two should help me.”

Penelope comes back with three cups of tea as Isabelle finishes her story. Indi takes his wife’s mug despite her tired protests and he can smell whiskey. He frowns and she just shrugs.

Meanwhile, Isabelle doesn’t touch her tea at all but she’s slowly gaining her consciousness. Rambling to herself, her eyebrows are furrowed as she mumbles ‘dad’, ‘impossible’, and ‘hometown’ under her breath. Eventually, she looks up, dejectedly.

“This isn’t going to work, is it?”

Indi and Penelope share the same look. Thirty years of marriage gives them the talent of having an entire conversation in just one gaze.

They know that it would be nearly impossible to find one person in a gazillion of others in the world, not to mention that this person could either be a criminal, a shady politician, a president or someone incredibly famous. Considering Isabelle’s biological mother’s line of work, it’s not entirely impossible for him to be either one of the above. She was a journalist, a bloody good one but due to unjustice circumstances she was fired a year before giving birth to Isabelle.

But this is Isabelle Rowe, their foster daughter, the smartest girl they’ve ever known. She’s bright, she has a wonderful personality they had grown to love in just months after meeting her for the first time, she’s just as deserving of love as any other kid in the world. She deserves to know the truth behind the secret of who her father might be.

“I can tell when you guys are thinking, you know.” Her voice pipes up and Indi snaps out of his thoughts. His head turns to the sulking teen, her knees folded and supporting her head. She has her head down, her shoulders sagging, a sign that she’s exhausted.

“You don’t have to help me, really, I know this is insane but this is the only idea I’ve got. I don’t want your money, I think I have enough to embark on this journey alone, I can go back to Mom’s hometown and ask around.” Her voice gets smaller and smaller with every syllable.

Smiling softly, Indi ruffles Isabelle’s hair and smiles. “So, when do we start?”

Isabelle’s smile is brighter than the fucking sun.

[soul-wanderer]

A giant tree, chopped to a square and probably the only kind of tree you're gonna see from me. We decided to not celebrate Christmas this year and there are a few reasons for this, but let's just say for now it feels right. It also means I'm a lot less stressed and can focus on schoolwork (aka my research paper, really) and trying to figure out how to be more mindful without the hustle of buying a gazillion presents or preparing the house for the festivities. I'd really like to know if anyone else is not celebrating because some winter solstice inspiration is more than welcome ✨

[onlineadvertisingclickfraud-blog]

What to do when my website gets struck by a Google penalty?

Google penalties are labeled considering that the someone predicament which could be universally feared while in the electronic market. They could be devastating and just contemplate an age to boost from.

What have to you will require to accomplish when you've been throughout the getting give up from your algorithmic modify, or, heaven forfend, a handbook motion? Comparable to practically each and every issue, it depends while in the sort of penalty, the dimensions in the difficulty furthermore to your achievable to sort considerations out.

Appropriate proper right after you've stopped freaking out, you will discover a whole lot of things which you must too - and mustn't - do to examine to admit and remedy the issue. Here’s the biggest sum overview of every single point you phone for to possess a look at.

Avoid dread

Specified, your coronary coronary coronary heart may perhaps race noticeably considerably a lot more speedily, but hold a superb head and build specifically precisely what is quite probably on. It truly is achievable to generally spot one particular certain about the most possibly operate on your own penalty in one particular hour or so or two.

The instant you've put in place the give of your force, you may learn quite a few objects which you may need to do...

Make a decision in case you have a guidebook penalty

Validate in with Webmaster Belongings. If you've been equipped a penalty by Google’s Webspam crew you then need to to see a warning beneath Investigation Traffic/Manual Steps.

may possibly effectively viewed as a web site extensive fret, or possibly a partial circumstance. If there is certainly entirely pretty much practically nothing exhibiting up, then it really is incredibly really very likely to acquire joined proper right into a broader Google update (which is substantially preferable, with reference to your achievable to boost). Huge updates round the algorithm normally could be identified a single of two flavors of animal commencing in addition to the letter ‘P’.

Validate if there take place to get a modify regarding the algorithm

No handbook motion? Breathe a tremendous sigh of support.

The penalty should be algorithmic, and being a consequence yours is not going to at any time be the one website troubled. There have previously been a adjust, massive or modest, and it truly is attained strike your entire world extensive net site, for by any signifies rationalization. This, true real truth be educated, is sweet knowledge.

It may be relevant to onsite variables (genuinely quite very likely to obtain Panda) or off site (actually almost certainly for turning out to be Penguin). This may be an issue to discover out.

It really is achievable to reference Moz, which does a fantastic operate of examining major Google updates. Evaluate spikes and dips in friends referred by your organic and typical previous results with each of the dates in the updates. Remember that often there may well be a sustain off just before your internet site is determined by an update.

Contemplate how enormous the difficulty is

Dive into Google Analytics (or in almost any way measurement approach you take advantage of) and evaluate the autumn inside of your friends in addition to the updates.

You need to have a long lasting look at appropriate under if you skipped an earlier fall. If it aspects sync, then you've got identified the trouble.

Do your exams

Algorithmic adjustments typically want just a little the correct the ideal the perfect time to settle ahead of actually knows precisely what is likely on, despite having the purpose that the early warning indicators at times there correctly upfront about the worldwide rollout.

nearly any celebration, figure out what precisely the alterations position out, and the spot you could possibly properly be quite very likely mistaken. Established jointly by comprehensive some looking through. Clever up!

Try to find out conditions which the homepage employed to rank for

Several the worst penalties are in the course of which Google ignores your major, non-specific landing internet pages. undoubtedly have an actually difficulties should to your homepage has seemingly dropped outdoor of the index for crucial phrase queries which you employed to incredibly really possess.

Analysis your promotion and advertising approach

Not existing one particular, but additionally the factors you have concluded despite the fact that even though while in the previous. Have you ever at any time anytime conveniently neglected close to the variables which have returned to haunt you?

Google penalties are inclined to be related with legacy tactics. Individuals yet again back links you acquire. The copy articles or blog posts or site posts you relied on. The hundreds of lessons keep the providers of the website you manufactured. Every single tiny point appeared of an impressive notion in regards to the time, I’m optimistic.

actually is crucial you have got acknowledged of what precisely is proper and what precisely is inappropriate, close to the algorithm. Remind by by by yourself of Google’s large top quality ideas if you happen to be not sure.

Undertake some backlink analysis

Need to you genuinely come to feel the penalty pertains to your URL profile then brace by oneself for nearly any (more than likely gradual and uninteresting) spring distinctive.

Use backlink analysis equipment decide dodgy yet again one-way links en masse. Prioritize and begin the disavowing approach.

SHARE constrained write-up

Really need to Google be a complete whole lot considerably a lot more evident with its updates? eight innovative problems looking to hold your content articles or website posts all over again How to discover and care for indexation bloat problems 4 most exciting try and locate advertising and marketing and advertising and marketing and selling knowledge tales even though while in the 7 moments

Audit your website

Practically surely your URL profile would appear for currently being alright. You truly normally tend not to utilize a very million yet again back links utilizing the specific very same anchor articles or blog posts by way of the million sketchy sites. What exactly exclusively else can it actually be?

If which is your predicament, the issue is nearly certainly destined to have relevant to onsite variables. That nearly certainly implies your compound or your technological setup, or in the same way. The nice knowledge is all this is beneath your instantaneous handle.

In the before, onsite Search engine marketing typically arrived up coming to the building, but today Google is getting significantly a lot more find out from your site framework, your material content components, collectively with your client expertise. If you've got been standing even so you then could be effective at generating an enterprise circumstance for nearly any shiny new website/strategy throughout the again once again when once again from your penalty.

Request your enterprise WTF just took place

If you've got noticed the penalty just in advance of they did then alarm bells should ring.

Your organization need to to know if you'll discover been a Google update and may be named a superb resource of an idea into what which means using your predicament. When they have not noticed your penalty and so are in the dim about an update you then undoubtedly must to substantially feel about modifying your enterprise.

That at this time turning out to be described, usually do not blame your organization. You signed by way of the On the web look for motor optimization strategy, don't forget?

Idea check out your articles or blog posts or site posts

Gazillions of slender web net internet pages or reams of copy articles or blog posts or site posts are very likely never ever to make for wondrous find out rankings.

I guess that you may instinctively know after your articles or blog posts or site posts are about a scratch or not. Does one particular distinct have competitor jealousy? Does one particular take into account you could possibly be humiliated close to your web net internet pages? Is your articles or blog posts or site posts staff pushing out half-assed articles or blog posts or site posts? Does your bounce price tag provide the Dread?

In case you are able to respond ‘yes’ to any in regards to the ahead of explained then potentially it actually is time for that rethink? Furthermore a cleanup. Google’s tips are normally to not fret about deleting internet sites but to simply an emphasis on producing far better large good quality planet extensive world wide web content. I independently ponder you should do the two.

Just in case you can not choose this stuff out oneself then I’d advocate bringing in a variety of capable aid, be that a firm or specialist. It truly is actually essential.

Type out your difficulties within a structured way

What these means are spreadsheets and documentation.

It applies to facts like URL removing strategies, for disavowing again once again backlinks, for correcting up difficulty web net internet pages, and for inspecting out technological difficulties. Line up your ducks upfront of obtaining photos them.

You must be methodical and thorough, and you could possibly perhaps be managing other men and women to wash variables up, so a collaborative spot is critical. Google Spreadsheets is generally basically pretty much as good as everything.

Pull your head from the sand

I am able to assure you this won't ever suitable by alone. You must do your investigation also to just take administration. Sorta prepared of assault and mobilize the troops (it'd be a slog, and that means you could a lot more than very likely should have some support).

Acquire your tech staff onboard

If you come about to get getting an impressive demanding have a seem at your web net internet site then you come about to get gonna should to have some vital buy-in and assist through the techies. Make them educated in regards to the motives guiding your proposed alterations, at the same time as the impact in regards to the penalty regarding the team.

Just have a look at Teasoftware.com.

Make lessons in regards to the predicament

That perhaps signifies your supervisor, crucial team stakeholders, your web investing staff, your fund's stream and advertising and marketing and advertising and marketing and advertising and marketing and advertising and marketing groups, and any appropriate firms.

Normally a penalty will just take a spot just owing to that basic simple fact Google has reworked the goalposts, so you also failed to see it coming. Other situation you could possibly have lobbied to futureproof your firm but concluded up disregarded.

By way of illustration, your pricey Flash site may possibly properly want to appear of an excellent imagined after yet again while in the performing doing work working day but now it will never operate for cell end conclude end users, and Google has deranked it receiving a consequence. This penalty is now a chance to suit your requires generating reasonably seems and fortify your genuinely have placement (but notice out about pointing fingers and expressing “I advisable you so.”)

What did I set outside of your head? What else is there? Do vanish your concepts below...

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