#greer fest

[romirola]

Après (A Milo/Sweetheart Redactedverse Oneshot)

Read Après on AO3!

Rating: T ; WC: ~2K ; Characters/Pairings: Milo Greer/Sweetheart

Tags: Drama, Dinner Date, Early Relationship, Romance, Love, Friendship, Communication, Support, Trust, Kindness, Emotional Buildup, Vulnerability, Oneshot, Prequel, Gender-Neutral Sweetheart

Summary: Early on in their relationship, a date-night conversation between Milo and Sweetheart reveals the stark difference between “before” they came into each other’s lives and what “after” could be.

Hi, everyone! In March 2025, I put out a call on tumblr for prompts to micro fics. I was so grateful to receive six prompts, which I turned into six oneshots in my Snapshots of Dahlia collection, the last having been recently posted. It’s always a privilege to be trusted with others’ prompts, and I hope everyone enjoyed. To conclude ‘Romi’s Microfic Fest ‘I thought I’d write this Milo/Sweetheart oneshot depicting a moment I’ve had in my head to celebrate. Thanks for reading! Any and all feedback is welcome and cherished! 

[duranduratulsa]

Up next on my 90's Fest Movie 🎬 🎞 🎥 🎦 📽 marathon...The Green Mile (1999) on classic DVD 📀! #Movie #movies #drama #thegreenmile #stephenking #tomhanks #MichaelClarkeDuncan #RIPMichaelClarkeDuncan #DavidMorse #SamRockwell #doughutchison #MichaelJeter #RIPMichaelJeter #JamesCromwell #BarryPepper #bonniehunt #JeffreyDeMunn #PatriciaClarkson #harrydeanstanton #garysinise #GrahamGreene #dabbsgreer #williamsadler #christopherjoelives #scottyleavenworth #DVD #90s #90sfest #durandurantulsas4thannual90sfest

[ghost-bleus]

can we have an update on the lord of the fly fest book? it seems absolutly hilarious, and i need to know more.

oh my god yeah! i was gonna make another post earlier but um. i forgot.......

the general premise of it is a bunch of like celebrities and content creators are sent this invitation to fly fest which ends up being a scam and now they're stuck there but when they do get wifi they don't call for help they just post tiktok's because they're STUPID. also all of them are adults

simon is this girl named sierra who doesn't know what a podcast is and goes missing like.two days in. i originally thought simon was river because he goes out with jack and rafi (ralph) to explore the island but then sierra was introduced and she was looking out into the sunset and gave rafi a flower crown and i was like. yeahhh that's simon

there's also greer who i think? might be a representation of the littluns? shes crying all the time and is the one who saw the "beast" first (river's (roger's) ex(?) gf who's also really famous). we also have samneric but they're both big buff tall jocks who aren't actually related and are. a little stupid

atp its kinda just turning into ralph x roger 😭😭😭 every time rafi has an inner monologue it's some shit about how handsome river is and how muscular he is and how charming he is and how he never skips leg day but it's okay because she's trying to prove he killed somebody and she does NOT!! find him attractive!!!! her 50 billion photos of him shirtless she owns is absolutely crucial to this

oh also jack started a cult

really great book i'm having a wonderful time

anyways here's a random quote collection

[rrcenic]

i’m reading a book called lord of the fly fest by goldy moldavsky and it is. literally a lotf au and i love it so much

it’s about a group of teens, a mix of musicians, influencers, and fans, who are stranded on a tropical island after a trending music gathering called fly fest turns out to be a scam

the main character is rafi (ralph), who has a podcast and is currently investigating whether musician river stone killed his girlfriend. she is wandering in the woods when she meets peggy (piggy), a non binary techie who is the only one able to figure out how to access wi-fi (the specs)

rafi has a microphone (the conch) and calls everyone together on the beach. there she meets many other kids, including twins paul and ryan (sam and eric)

then, the dangerously self absorbed influencer crowd shows up (the choir) lead by queer makeup artist and all around asshole jack dewey (jack obvy). he, rafi, and river go explore the island while peggy keeps track of the others.

next, rafi meets sierra madre (simon) a beauty influencer thought of as the prettiest person ever with a strange but sweet personality. she quietly assures rafi it will all be okay because everything will always turn out good and gives rafi a flower crown. sierras a bit looks-focused but is still kind:

it took me a while to figure out who rivers lotf equivalent is, but as soon as rafi saw him brutally gutting a fish in the dead of night i knew he was roger. he acts very roger-y as well.

other cool little details:

-greer (percival). they are greer at the first meeting, smaller than the rest, and always crying about something. she wants her villa, she wants her vegan sandwich, she wants her mom, she’s worried all the time, etc

-instead of painting their faces with blood, jack wannabies cover themselves with his beauty products which i think is silly

-peggy is highly revered and respected for their ability to get wi-fi, but jack and his gang eventually break into their tent and steal their router (stealing the specs)

-sierra does not die like simon, but goes missing, and rafi suspects jack and/or river killed him

-in a nod to jack merridews hunting obsession, jack says “are you saying there are wild hogs on this island? if i wanted to party with wild hogs, i would have gone to my cousin lionel’s seventh birthday party”

-in the first scene with the influencers, one of them passes out, and jack says “probably from secondhand embarrassment”

so. basically.

this book is really cool so far because. its literally lotf. it’s an interesting au as well?? like rafis one of the only people who isn’t a very stuck up influencer. it was written in 2022 so it has commentary on gen z culture, social media pros and cons, the pandemic, and good queer rep. it also stays true to the dangerous nature of children that lotf has, just with less murder lmao.

i really recommend this book to the lotf fandom in general!! i got it at my local library but i’m sure you can find a free audiobook version or get it online.

[redrusty66]

Zombie Fest : Maggie (2015)

Discussing the 2015 Zombie Apocalypse Horror Film : Maggie

Starring : Arnold Schwarzenegger, Abigail Breslin, Joely Richardson, Bryce Romero, JD Evermore, Douglas M. Griffin, Raeden Greer, Aiden Flowers, Mattie Liptak, Rachel Whitman Groves

Director : Henry Hobson Writer : John Scott 3

My Score 8/10

IMDB : https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1881002/

Trailer :  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQ5Vz8qE8R8

My IMDB : https://www.imdb.com/user/ur48636572 My Letterboxed : https://letterboxd.com/Redrusty66/ My Poetry : https://allpoetry.com/Redrusty66

#review #horror #zombie #thriller #moviereview #film

[bigboxochristmas]

Yuletidings 2024, Pt. 2: Christmas Jam 4

1. The Sleigh - The Sportsmen 02:41

2. Good King Wenceslaus - Manfredo Fest 04:02

3. You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch - Fareed Haque 05:22

4. Winter Wonderland - Shirley Horn 04:05

5. Drummer Boy - Jacques Lesure 05:46

6. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

                - Les Brown and His Band of Renown 02:33

7. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Earl Rose 03:46

8. Santa Claus is Coming to Town - Jacob Fischer 05:10

9. Silver Bells - John Basile 03:35

10. Wrap Yourself In A Christmas Package

               - Randy Greer & The Ignasi Terraza Trio 02:25

11. Ding Dong Merrily On High - The Roy Budd Trio 02:47

12. Christmas Blues - Holly Cole 02:51

13. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer - Don Patterson 03:07

14. March Of The Toys - Hal Mooney & His Orchestra 03:28

15. Up On the Housetop - David Ian 03:11

16. Auld Lang Syne - John Basile 02:33

17. Jingle Bells - The Firehouse Five Plus Two 02:48

------------------

Yet another all-jazz collection to accompany the main event posted below. I must admit that I’m not familiar with most of the names in this year’s Christmas Jam collection; I just plow through albums and compilations listening for tunes that seem to fit my admittedly somewhat vague criterion without concerning myself too much with the names of the artists.  Still, there are definitely a few recognizable names here, e.g. Shirley Horn, Les Brown and His Band of Renown and the somewhat lesser-known Holly Cole.

Highlights include:

The Sportsmen, who started off as a barbershop quartet, appearing many times on the Jack Benny program (both radio and TV) between 1938 and 1961, as well as on the soundtrack of several Looney Tunes cartoons, most notably, “What’s Opera, Doc?”.  They also appear on one of my earlier compilations performing a song called “Reindeer Rock” and here perform a frenetic version of “The Sleigh”, a popular Russian folk song (also known as “The Russian Sleigh Song”).  The song has been covered by many artists, most notably Woody Woodpecker.

Jazz guitarist Fareed Haque does a virtuoso acoustic take on “You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch” with bass accompaniment.

Les Brown and His Band of Renown swing out with their 1952 recording of “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!”.

Barcelona-based Randy Greer & The Ignasi Terraza Trio bring a nice touch of bluesy funk to “Wrap Yourself In A Christmas Package”

The Roy Budd Trio share a highly caffeinated, knuckle-busting take on “Ding Dong Merrily On High”.

The Firehouse Five Plus Two (not to be confused with The Firehouse Five Plus Too, which was Ray Stevens doing chicken clucks to the tune of “In the Mood”) was a Dixieland jazz band, popular in the 1950s, consisting of members of the Walt Disney animation department.  And here they pretty much set fire to “Jingle Bells”.

Cover art swiped from the internet.

DOWNLOAD

[cliffandsusan]

Fiddle & Keys - Cliff & Susan | Greers Ferry Lake Fest 2024

[crowdvscritic]

round up // AUGUST 23

Well, it’s been a month. In August, I…

Quit a job

Started a new job

Went to the emergency room for two unplanned surgeries to remove my gallbladder

Celebrated a birthday

Yeesh, I’m exhausted just thinking about it, though not nearly as exhausted as I was just after surgery. My recovery has been steady, but it’s also been slow, which means little victories have included eating solid food and going a full day without napping. With that energy level, you can bet how I spent my short waking hours: watching a lot of movies! (I also read two books—I had some time!) My viewing in the two weeks at the hospital and recovering at home was a combo of Turner Classic Movies’ annual Summer Under the Stars celebration (with 24 hours of programming dedicated to classic movie stars like Stella Stevens, Jackie Cooper, and Greer Garson) and of comfort food faves (including ‘90s action flicks, ’00s rom-coms, and…Mary Kate and Ashley movies). You can see everything I watched in those two weeks on Letterboxd because between the sleepiness and pain meds, I needed a way to remember what was going on. I’m not sure what it says about me, but the idea of staying overnight in the hospital for the first time became a lot easier once I realized their cable packaged included TCM…

It’s also been four years. Yes, August marks both my birthday and the birthday of these Round Ups. In the last four years, I’ve rounded up…

6 stage shows

10 museums

14 concerts and events

15 series of Saturday Night Live sketches

20 podcasts

21 books

46 musical selections

49 TV shows

52 collections of articles, social media fun, and new movie trailers

421 movies 

Yes, I’m excited just thinking about all those Crowd and Critic selections, though my pace going forward will slow some. Going through so many life events in just a few weeks makes you take stock of how you’re spending your time and energy, and my motto is becoming, “If it ain’t easy, it better be worth it.” If I hate cooking, why do I make myself do it every week? And if writing a Round Up with 20 picks is challenging to squeeze in every month, then it’s time to make adjustments. Author Ingrid Fetell Lee summarized this philosophy well (and provided some practical suggestions) in her blog post “12 Ways to Be Gentle With Yourself” this month. In that spirit, Round Ups are becoming more exclusive as two Top Fives. Keep reading to see which movies, concert, book, album, and articles earned coveted this month's coveted spots...

August Crowd-Pleasers

1. Meg 2: The Trench (2023)

I could summarize the plot of this big dumb shark movie, but Bill Hader said it best on SNL: 

Since the trailer surprisingly didn’t give most of the best moments away, I’ll remain coy and just say I spent a lot of Jason Statham’s newest charisma-fest laughing out loud. Crowd: 9/10 // Critic: 6.5/10

2. Jonas Brothers: The Tour

68 songs! 5 albums! 1 night! As I have recommended Jonas content no fewer than four times in the last 4 years of these Round Ups, you should not be surprised to see this here. Like in 2019, I turned into an embarrassing fangirl freak at this show, singing along with every single song (though finding I really need to beef up on few Happiness Begins tracks) and shaking my sister with excitement every 15 minutes. (I think she was vibrating at the same energy? It's also possible she's just learned it's better to smile and nod when I'm like this.) The boys’ showmanship and knack for shelling out bops do not disappoint.

3. Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld (2023)

A jaded comedy writer (basically Tina Fey) for a late night sketch show (basically Saturday Night Live) discovers a spark with a singer-songwriter rock star hosting an episode (basically John Mayer). So yes…this is an extreme overlap of my interests. Like SNL, this novel does at times lean into saucier and cruder content than I prefer, but the descriptions of the TV show’s behind-the-scenes process and of the relationship between a celebrity and a normie felt so authentic I had to Google Sittenfeld to see if these were based on her own experiences. The best part? A third of the book is a series of email exchanges in the style of You’ve Got Mail. Again, I told you it’s an extreme Venn diagram of my interests!

4. You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah (2023) 

I mostly avoided Adam Sandler until 2020—somehow I’d only seen Happy Gilmore and Bedtime Stories before the pandemic. But since May of that year, I’ve watched 17 of them, and it’s time I finally just admit I’m an unironic fan of his, and now of his daughters, too! Bat Mitzvah is the update to Sixteen Candles we didn’t know we needed, and one of its pleasant surprises is Sandler is happy to stand back and watch his daughters shine (as Taylor Swift would say). His supporting role is the perfect choice for a comedy designed to launch his daughters’ Sunny and Sadie’s careers as leads, and Alison Peck’s sincere, funny script describes the pre-teen girl experience honestly. While there’s plenty of overlap with Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret., it’s not a rehash, which makes the pair a perfect double feature. Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 7/10

5. The Rocketeer (1991)

This action-adventure lives in the world we only imagine 1940s Hollywood to be, one where you could date an Errol Flynn-esque movie star (Timothy Dalton) after he notices you on set, one where you could accidentally find a rocket designed by Howard Hughes, and one where Bonnie and Clyde-style drive-by shoot-outs are everyday occurrences. With Billy Campbell, Jennifer Connelly, Alan Arkin, and a dash of the spirit of Indiana Jones, my only regret is I didn’t watch this years ago. Crowd: 10/10 // Critic: 8/10

More August Crowd-Pleasers: Elvis goes gaga in Hawaii for Girls! Girls! Girls! (1962), a musical comedy both corny and winning; Arnold Schwarzenegger goes ham on militants who kidnap his daughter in Commando (1985), an action flick both corny and thrilling; Michael J. Fox is a former child star who discovers a future child star in the comedy Life With Mikey (1993), the kind of family movie we don’t get enough of today; Sally Hawkins tells the true story of an amateur historian who discovered the remains of The Lost King (2022) Richard III in a drama with a fantastical twist; Paramount+ continues to abuse my nostalgia, but I continue to let them because Carly and Freddie are finally together in the third (and best) season of the iCarly reboot; like every Muny production, Sister Act was a blast on stage

August Critic Picks

1. Carole-thon!

Fun fact: Every Carole Lombard movie I’ve watched since starting this Round Up has become a monthly recommendation—why stop now? Lombard was TCM’s star of the day on August 18th, and it only took one viewing to realize I wanted to marathon everything on my DVR. Most of these titles are short and sweet screwball rom-coms, which means you can knock out quite a few of these in just an afternoon:

No Man of Her Own (1932) - Lombard falls for a con man (real-life future husband Clark Gable)—could she be the one to set him straight?

The Gay Bride (1934) - Lombard marries a gangster for his money, but her true love might be his second-in-command

Lady by Choice (1934) - Burlesque dancer Lombard “adopts” a mother for some positive PR, but she ends up getting more than she bargained for

Hands Across the Table (1935) - Lombard is a manicurist seeking a rich husband, but Manic Pixie Dream Boy Fred MacMurray throws a wrench in that plan 

The Princess Comes Across (1936) - Lombard is a con woman pretending to be a princess on an ocean liner, but her plans get tangled with another person's secrets (MacMurray)

True Confession (1937) - Lombard is a compulsive liar married to a compulsive truth-telling lawyer (MacMurray again) defending her for a murder she didn’t commit

Swing High, Swing Low (1937) - Lombard and MacMurry (for the last time) are musicians caught in a romantic, bi-continental melodrama

Fools for Scandal (1938) - The cutest little rom-com about a hotheaded American actress falling in love with an affable European fellow this side of Notting Hill!

In Name Only (1939) - Lombard and Cary Grant fight for their relationship even though his bitter wife won’t allow for a divorce

2. Executive Suite (1954)

1950s Glengarry Glen Ross! William Holden, Barbara Stanwyck, June Allyson, Fredric March, Walter Pidgeon, and Shelley Winters vie for the seat at the head of the executive table when the president suddenly dies, and together they create a summum bonum of character dramas. Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 9/10

3. No Secrets by Carly Simon (1972)

I know I’m the actual last person on Earth to realize the greatness of this album from a career that, among many accomplishments, paved the way for songwriters like Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo. “You’re So Vain” is a banger with no less bite than 50 years ago, and the record is filled with gems start-to-finish.

4. Edge of Darkness (1943)

TCM’s August 5th star Errol Flynn and their August 28th star Ann Sheridan are fighting for their small fishing village, their families, and their love against brutal Nazi occupiers. I couldn't find comprehensive resources to clarify how much of this action-thriller is historically accurate (the novel it’s based on doesn’t even have a Wikipedia page!), but this gritty story of Norwegian resistance captures a similar spirit to some of the best World War II films, equal parts Indiana Jones and Casablanca. Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 9/10

5. Good Reads

#BillionGirlSummer: 

"It's #BillionGirlSummer: Taylor, Beyoncé and Barbie Made for One Epic Trifecta,” NPR.com (2023)

“Talking With ‘Swiftie Dads’ at a Taylor Swift Concert,” GQ.com (2023)

“Nearly 1 Out of 4 of ‘Barbie’ Viewers Hadn’t Gone to the Movies Since COVID,” IndieWire.com (2023)

Hollywood appears to be meeting a long-overdue reckoning: 

“The Binge Purge,” vulture.com (2023)

"Anonymous Strike Diary: ‘Our Souls Were Cracking … but Then the AMPTP F***ed Up,’” HollywoodReporter.com (2023)

“Orange Is the New Black Signalled the Rot Inside the Streaming Economy,” NewYorker.com (2023)

“Mandy Moore Says She Once Got a Check for a Penny for This Is Us Streaming Residuals,” HollywoodReporter.com (2023)

“David Zaslav, Hollywood Antihero,” NewYorker.com (2023)

Film history and criticism: 

“The 100 Best Movies of the Past 10 Decades,” TIME.com (2023)

“The Fate of the Critic in the Clickbait Age,” NewYorker.com (2017)

“The Instrumentalist,” NYBooks.com (2022)

“The Bradley Cooper “Jewface” Controversy Isn’t Really About That Nose,” slate.com (2023)

And a grab bag of worthwhile thoughts, interviews, and news: 

“Reese Witherspoon Is Starting a New Chapter,” HarpersBazaar.com (2023)

“To Help Cool a Hot Planet, the Whitest of White Coats,” NYTimes.com (2023)

“Beyoncé, Tumblr, and ‘Harlem Shake’: Revisiting Pop’s Most Pivotal Year,” TheDailyBeast.com (2023)

“Elon Musk’s Shadow Rule,” NewYorker.com (2023)

“Why You Rarely Believe Celebrity Apologies on Social Media,” BBC.com (2023)

More August Critic Picks: The kid-and-his-dog dramedy about one of the goodest doggos who ever did live, Tough Guy (1936), hits you right in the heart; Errol Flynn thrills again in a search for sunken treasure that might claim his soul in Mara Maru (1952)

Also in August…

The world’s slowest Best Picture Project continues with 1942’s Mrs. Miniver, a genuinely moving piece of war propaganda. Read my Crowd and Critic reviews.

Until September wraps, you can follow what I’m watching creating lists for on Letterboxd. In August, I updated my rankings of 2023 product movie rankings and Christopher Nolan films by Dead Wife Energy, and I also found some weird overlaps between the August releases Blue Beetle and Meg 2 (warning: spoilers!).

Photo credits: Jonas Brothers, Romantic Comedy, Carly Simon, Good Reads. All others IMDb.com.

[13adluck]

Greer Fest II, we all know Emma would be so glad to see this banger.

[romirola]

My friend!!! I’m so here for your requests!! For me, I would love to request David and Angel and “bandage.” For you, I would also love to see Milo and Sweetheart and “panic.”

Thank you!!! ❤️❤️❤️

-Baz

My BUDDY, @us3rnam3-r3dact3d!?!? You bestow upon me the privilege to write these incredible prompts for you? I am honored. Given our deep affinity for these characters, I took the liberty of writing Angel with he/him pronouns and Sweetheart with she/her pronouns for that immersive vibe. Thank you and I hope you enjoy! 

Rating: T; WC: ~700; Prompts: David/(masc!)Angel, Milo/(fem!) Sweetheart, bandage, panic

Read this oneshot on AO3!

[karenstensgaard]

Last weekend, I braved the mobs, so you don’t have to! I spent a full day at D.C.’s convention center standing in line and squeezed into seats. I attended what may be the biggest free to the public book festival hosted by the Library of Congress.

According to the Library of Congress, their 18th annual festival included a diverse lineup of 115 authors featuring U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, eminent historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, acclaimed novelist Amy Tan, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith, and two-time Newbery Medal winner Kate DiCamillo. As usual, I took another route with detours right from the start.

Entering the grand hall when the crowds were more manageable!

On my way to hear Dave Eggers, I could tell the crowd was growing and saw a panel on Spywork and John le Carré. The title sounded mysterious, and since my next novel will include some espionage, I ducked in to get a seat. John le Carré (real name: David Cornwall) wasn’t there. Authors David Ignatius (The Quantum Spy), Joseph Kanon (Defectors), and Adam Sisman (John le Carré: The Biography) with Pulitzer Prize-winning author and moderator for the panel, Kai Bird (American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer) chatted about le Carré spy stories and his influences on storytelling.

Afterward, I hustled down three escalators and over to the Fiction room to hear Jeffrey Eugenides (well-known author of The Virgin Suicides) and a new book, Fresh Complaint. After waiting over 20 minutes, we were complaining. Since he was running late, the event was canceled.

With time to kill, I slipped across the hall and heard the second half of murder mystery and spy novelist Hank Phillippi Ryan’s update on her new book, Trust Me. She encouraged fellow career changers doing this later in life. She didn’t start her writing career until she was in her 50’s. My husband asked me if Hank was a man. Her real name is Harriet, and Hank was a nickname from college. She has a definite edge since statistics say men writers sell more. Just look at J.K. Rowling: her new books are penned by Robert, not Roberta, Galbraith. A sad fact, since Joanne, of all writers, can afford to be a woman!

At the book fest, authors were grouped mainly by topic or type of book (history & biography, main stage aka big names, teens, poetry & prose, understanding our world – a catch-all mix, fiction, and genre fiction. A few I didn’t check out – two children stages, and a Library of Congress Hall. Each author or group had an hour to discuss their book with an interviewer and a few minutes for Q&A.

On the right, interviews for TV channels were conducted later:

I met my husband for a book discussion by David Ignatius for his spy thriller, The Quantum Spy, about the Chinese ruling the world via computer. David was part of my first lecture on Spywork. Besides being a novelist, he is a journalist and writes a column for the Washington Post. He might have noticed me if he’d learned from his characters. Spies supposedly watch their surroundings closely. But with the packed crowd, I blended in and was undetected. But just wait for my run-in with Security!

After another wait for lunch, I returned to the Fiction salon to hear Andrew Sean Greer talk about his novel Less. Less really means More since he won the Pulitzer Prize with his edgy modern travel love story. Congrats! And the award couldn’t go to a nicer guy. Andrew came across as laid back and friendly joking with the crowd. When he found out one of his teachers was in the crowd, he didn’t hesitate to get to the edge of the stage to hug her.

Now my plan fell apart, and I almost pitched my free book tote bag in disgust. I had hurried across what seemed like miles of convention room carpeting while dodging attendees who are either are from the UK or prefer walking on the wrong side of the hallways. I followed the signs to Room 146, but somehow, I’d left, without leaving the building, and had to ask a security guard for help.

After another delay with another security check and backtracking, I found one of the hundred plus Ask Me volunteers lingering everywhere. She pointed out the best route to the elusive Room 146. But when I arrived, many others had too, and a large line snaked around the corridor.

Here’s why. Room 146 had a captivating title: Understanding Our World. So necessary anytime, but perhaps mission critical if you live in DC. I knew I wouldn’t hear any of the Conversation: Americas Great Struggle for Racial Equality featuring Brooks D. Simpson and Isabel Wilkerson.  But it was the next event that was on the top of my wishlist: Conversation: Sea Creatures.

What would the authors share with us on behalf of these creatures from the ocean and 70% of planet earth‽  (The ‽, a question-explanation mark combo called an interrobang, is official and grammatically correct. I couldn’t resist using an interrobang for the first time in such a deserving situation.)

The sea creature conversation included an interview with Sy Montgomery, the author of a book I loved: The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness. Who knew octopi have such personalities and are as smart as a whip‽Times eight, of course. Sy has a new book: Tamed and Untamed Close Encounters of the Animal Kind. Juli Berwald’s book also sounds fascinating. Spineless: The Science of Jellyfish and the Art of Growing a Backbone.

I hate to admit with these long afternoon lines; I’d lost my can-do festive mood. Instead, I found a seat and watched the long line hover and grow resembling the long leg of you know what. My seat buddy, armed with what looked like an ordinary cane, told me about the good old days in D.C. when it was a two-day event held on the Mall under massive tents. She lamented how much easier it was to see inside and hang around outside the tents if the seats were full. And except for the possibility of rain and mud, or scorching heat and humidity, book lovers managed just fine.

Right next to us, the doors opened for the next session in Poetry & Prose with a short and manageable line. So I went high-brow listening to the panel on Literary Lives with authors Mark Eisner (Neruda: The Poet’s Calling) and Kay Redfield Jamison (Robert Lowell: Setting the River on Fire” A Study of Genius, Mania and Character). Fiona Sampson, the author of In Search of Mary Shelley: The Girl Who Wrote Frankenstein, was ill and couldn’t leave the UK. Her book was of particular interest since Mary Shelley and Frankenstein are in my second still to be published novel.

My sixth and final event was again in the Poetry & Prose room: How Writers Think and Work. So apropos since I’m a novelist. I continually compare notes with the experts. But from what I’ve learned in writing, there are no rules, and if there are, no one agrees. Some renegade writers even urge you to break any you happen to find.

This last discussion included authors Lorrie Moore, See What Can Be Done: Essays, Criticism and Commentary, and Richard Russo, probably best known for his novel and TV show, Empire Falls. His recent book, The Destiny Thief: Essays on Writing, Writers, and Life was another book I had read. Two, out of about 200 new books, isn’t too bad.

The book fest ended for me since I lacked the energy for the last few lectures scheduled elsewhere. Isn’t this blog exhausting? In the Amazon carousel below, I’ve added a link to some of the books by the authors I heard speak, including one from yours truly.

[amazon_link asins=’1521210519,0393254151,0765393077,031631613X,1451697724,1524732486′ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’karenstensg01-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’128fc14f-b47e-11e8-8899-c9d48c37cf6b’] P.S. If you were hoping to see another library blog, here is a photo of the beautiful Carnegie public library at Mt. Vernon Square across from the convention center. Since it looks like a beautiful spot, when the renovation is done, I’ll be back. And here’s a photo of me with an adorable portable library on the way to H Street behind Union Station and my favorite D.C. restaurant, Ethiopic.

Get an insider's view of Washington D.C.’s 18th Library of Congress National Book Festival. Last weekend, I braved the mobs, so you don’t have to! I spent a full day at D.C.’s convention center standing in line and squeezed into seats.

[alleventsalert]

Greer Family Fest 2021

Greer Family Fest 2021

Greerchamber.com – Greer Family Fest 2021 are organized by Greater Greer Chamber of Commerce It will be held on 01 October – 02 October 2021 in Greer, USA How To Enter Greer Family Fest? You just need to follow the steps to participate in Greer Family Fest Open your default internet browser.Type www.greerchamber.com in your address bar. Fill in all the required details.Fill in the verification…

[jazzytrait]

(Transcript under the cut)

London: Welcome back to The Motive Trials, ladies and gentlemen! I am your host, London Greer, and we are about to begin challenge #3. But first, let's take a look at where we stand so far in the competition. Last week, we saw the curtain come down on Lauren Mack after a tangle with a hungry cowplant. She joins Kendall Shockley who, in our first round, kicked things up too many notches in the kitchen and went "bam".

This week's challenge will give our competitors some much needed time to relax those tired muscles and recharge. They'll each be hanging out in their own luxury sauna, but there can always be too much of a good thing! The challengers will need to stay cool under pressure because the first to overheat will be getting some rather permanent rest and relaxation. Let's head over to The Arena to begin the challenge!

And we can see those saunas beginning to fill with steam.

Grim: I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm actually a little jealous of our competitors.

London: In need of a spa day, Grim?

Grim: This weather has been really hard on my skin.

London: Well, this doesn't seem to be hard on Carter at all.

Grim: Bernard is a little sweaty, but still seems to be relaxing.

London: Chen is looking downright invigorated! She looks like she wants to go for a run any moment now.

Grim: Meanwhile, Kendall and Lauren seem to be taking turns trying to scare one another.

London: I can't tell if that's a friendly game or not...

Tianna is starting to look like she has had enough of this spa treatment.

Grim: Chen still looks like she's getting pumped for that marathon after this round.

London: Aubree, on the other hand, looks like she really wants a shower.

Grim: Bernard has stood up. Is he feeling well?

London: I'm not sure, Grim. He looks pretty sweaty. He might be beginning to overheat...

Oh my! He does look a little overcooked, doesn't he?

Grim: Reminds me of Harvest Fest at my sister's house.

London: What?

Grim: Nevermind.

London: And once again, ladies and gentlemen, a purple curtain has come down in The Arena and this time it has come down on Bernard Harper! What an absolute shame it is. Let's go ahead and sit down with him and see how he's feeling after his elimination from the competition... and life.

Bernard, you put up such a good fight in this challenge. How are you feeling?

Bernard: I'm ok, I guess, but is it still hot in here? How can I still be sweating as a ghost?!

London: It's normal to retain a bit of the feeling of how you died. Sorry about that. Grim, this must be kind of interesting for you too. We know that The Harper Family is very closely guarded by their Watcher and are all granted immortality. Is this a first for you?

Grim: It is, London. Though, as we know, this Harper is just a clone and the real Bernard Harper is safe at home.

London: Well, Clone Bernard, we're not done with you yet. You'll be hanging out in The Arena with us for the rest of the competition.

Well, it is time for us to wrap this us, ladies and gentlemen, but tune in next week as we pit sim against snack in another action packed episode of The Motive Trials! I'm London Greer saying goodnight!

@akitasimblr @comfyinn @potionofquestionablecontents @natiesims @yeshummingbird @simsinfinitylt @moonfromearth @wildmelon

(Just realized I got no shots of Lavender this round. That's my bad. SORRYYYYYYYY)

[merlintarotfest]

Very interesting idea!! First, it's not April Fool's day kind of thing I hope? Second, now to my question, do you have any suggestion on which tarot to pick other than visual preference? (which I might go for in the end because I don't know much about tarot and their different types, I think there are at least 2?)

Lol, it's definitely not an April Fools joke! I'm very excited to launch this, I've been sitting on it for a while.

I don't have any Lenormand decks, which might be the 2nd type of tarot you're referring to. All the decks I have follow the traditional 78-card tarot structure. Choosing a deck based on visual style is perfectly valid and often a good indicator of how well you'll work/vibe with that deck and its cards. You can also research the decks' creators or read reviews to see if there's a deck on the list that matches a particular characteristic you're looking for.

I can also give a quick breakdown of the different decks available for the fest:

Rider-Waite-Smith: probably what you think of when you think of tarot. I used the Magician card from this deck in my initial promo post. Many other decks take their inspiration from the Rider-Waite-Smith artwork

Everyday Tarot: simple, minimalistic cards based off the Rider-Waite-Smith art, done in white, gold, and purple

Fifth Spirit Tarot: queer and inclusive deck that expands tarot archetypes beyond the gender binary

Ink Witch Tarot: done in a limited color palette. References Arthurian legends as well as Norse and Greek myths, pagan witches, and fairytales

Light Seer's Tarot: uses contemporary characters in a brightly & richly colored style

Morgan-Greer Tarot: similar to Rider-Waite-Smith but more colorful and more intimate, as a lot of the illustrations are more zoomed-in

Next World Tarot: features a world based on radical redefinitions of love and social justice. Also features diversity in body types and abilities

Queer Tarot: based on the Rider-Waite-Smith but features models/characters of a wide range of queer identities (including gender expressions and sexual orientations) in a very brightly colored style that references queer history

Sasuraibito Tarot: a deck designed to aid the curious wanderer, featuring contemporary Western characters as well as Japanese and Buddhist concepts

Spacious Tarot: this deck features no human characters. Most cards feature only nature, and the court cards feature various animals

This Might Hurt Tarot: a modern, queer, and diverse take on the Rider-Waite-Smith artwork

I hope this at least serves as a good jumping off point for you!

[wileyfern]

After the little vampire fest Greer got really energized and went for a jog!

[amphoraeus]

This is Lavender Fields, a lot I made last summer. I really love it but for some reason SGI doesn’t like this lot. It takes a while to load which I theorize is due to the overabundance of lavender harvestibles and the lavender plants from WA. Too many plants can indeed be a bad thing, no matter how pretty they may be :(

I’m pretty sure that it’ll run better in another world since Saint Greer can be a lag fest no matter the situation, however. In fact it runs just fine in Vintage Champs Les Sims. Admittedly, I have a lot of overly decorated lots in this world which doesn’t help matters at all D: