#time to jam;; F2F

[jelena-scissors]

MONDAY, 7:12 AM

Lily: Good morning, honey! I'm making waffles.

Skip: No, thanks. I don't have time to wait for them to cook.

Lily: It'll just be a few minutes. Come on, honey, I can take you to school if you think you'll be late.

Skip: No, Lily. I'll have some of this strawberry jam and take a bus to school. And please, don't call me honey. __________________________________________

Trevor: I think I'll ask Jordan out sometime this week.

Giovanni: Oh, she's hot. And really cool.

Trevor: I know, right? She's like unintentionally cool and different from the other girls. The only problem is - I have no idea where to take her.

Giovanni: What do you mean? Just take her out to dinner.

Trevor: Every guy takes every girl to dinner, it's boring. I want to suggest something outside the box for her.

Giovanni: I don't know why you're overthinking that. Girls love it when you take them out to get some food. You can take her to my dad's restaurant and I'll talk to him about giving you a discount.

Trevor: That's generous, but I think I'm good.

Giovanni: OK, man. Let me know if you change your mind.

Trevor: Sure, thanks. Now come on, we have to shower before class. __________________________________________

Brendon: 'morning, sis!

Monica: Hey, Brendon! How did you sleep?

Brendon: Not so good... I've been texting Bianca until like 3 AM so I didn't get much sleep. That was a mistake.

Monica: Oh, wow... I can't imagine texting someone for so long in a row. Isn't it better to just talk face to face?

Brendon: Well, it is, but she brought something up and didn't want to go to sleep until we've resolved it.

Monica: And did you resolve it?

Brendon: Actually... Not really.

Monica: Talk to her in person in school today. Now, come sit, I'll make some breakfast. __________________________________________

Nora: I can't believe mom let's you eat ice cream for breakfast.

Jodokus: She doesn't, but do you see mom anywhere?

Nora: Good point. Wanna take the bus to school or should I drive?

Jodokus: Can you drive us to school and then drive me to fencing after?

Nora: Of course. I'll then go to a friend's house to work on a project. Do you want me to pick you up later?

Jodokus: No, don't worry about it. Dad said he'll pick me up after some meeting.

Nora: Alright, but call me if you need anything. __________________________________________

Stella: You know, it's really rude to text during a meal.

Monica: Yeah, bro, haven't you sent enough texts during the night?

Brendon: I'm sorry, but Bianca's driving me crazy!

Monica: Oh, yeah, sure... Blame it on the woman.

Brendon: Come on, I didn't mean it like that! She's just... Dropping these bombs of arguments out of nothing!

Monica: I told you like 10 minutes ago - talk to her in real life. It'll be so much easier to tell her everything you mean.

Brendon: I know, I know... __________________________________________

MONDAY, 2:07 PM

Bianca (over text): how can you not understand what im saying?! ive been repeating my self all day come un pappagallo!

Brendon (over text): yeah on text, why didnt you talk to me in school?

Bianca (over text): cuz i cant deal with you rn and i dont want to make a scene in front of everyone

Brendon (over text): can we pls talk in person? maybe you can come over or we could meet somewhere outside

Bianca (over text): no im doing a project today, i dont want to talk to you

Brendon (over text): your impossible!! how can i make things right if you dont want to see me or tell me f2f what i did wrong

Bianca (over text): you know what? mi hai rotto, v*ffanculo

Brendon (over text): bianca? Brendon (over text): babe? Brendon (over text): cmon lets finish this convo __________________________________________

MONDAY, 5:42 PM

Monica: Please, have another drink! I'm buying!

Matthew: I'm staying as long as you're buying, haha!

Monica: I'm really excited about this promotion... I've been working my *ss off for so long and I really thought my job is going to revolve around bringing coffee to f*cking Ignacio and Margrit all day.

Matthew: Oh, come on Mon! I'm sure it's exciting working around figures like the mayor and the soon-to-be vice president.

Monica: Please... I work in an office full of stuck-up people who are there because of nepotism. I had to do like four times as much work as some of the others to get the same recognition as them.

Matthew: That sucks, but at least you did it. Good job, I'm so proud of you!

Monica: Thanks, thanks, but enough about me! Please tell me about that kid you arrested at the pool the other night. I found the title of the article so funny, but then I read what happened and it was so... I don't know, like the journalist lost all his inspiration on the title and didn't have any materials and information to work with.

Matthew: Well, sorry to disappoint you, but it wasn't really exciting.

Monica: Can I at least know who was it?

Matthew: Oh, yeah! It was that Federico's kid... Giorgio? No, Giovanni!

Monica: OH... Bianca's brother?

Matthew: Umm, I think so? I don't know... All three Pietri brothers have like a hundred kids together. Their family tree is more complicated than the Kardashians.

Monica: It's not that bad. Think of any generic italian name and you'll probably find someone in their family who has it, haha!

Matthew: True...

Monica: But, anyway... My brother's dating Bianca and they've been fighting all night and all morning, as far as I know, so I guess being a troublemaker runs in the family.

Matthew: I think all teens in this town have a dose of rebellion in them, even my niece and she's like mega smart.

Monica: I guess... I just never experienced that when I was a teen. I had to take on the mother role when I was 18 so those years were cut real short for me.

Matthew: We're still young, we can still have fun like that! The only difference is that we can drink legally!

Monica: Cheers to that! __________________________________________

Trevor: Good game, guys! And special thanks to you, Carter, for practicing with Javier and me today since we were two men short.

Carter: That's fine. We're all a team until the match day, haha!

Deron: Yeah, man, don't worry about it. What happened to your guys anyway?

Trevor: I actually don't know...

Skip: I've heard from Luke this morning, he has a flu. He wasn't even in school today.

Javier: Whoa, OK, if Luke skipped school that means it's serious.

Trevor: What about Brendon? I think I saw him on the hallway at some point.

Skip: Yeah, me too. He looked kind of stressed, though.

Trevor: Whatever, I'll contact him later to see what happened. Thank you guys again and see you tomorrow! __________________________________________

Nora: So, "In order for alhamiado literature to really fully form, the arabic alphabet had to be phonologically adapted to non-semitic languages". How can we rewrite that so it sounds a bit more... formal?

Bianca: I don't know, my head hurts... I feel like I'm going to have nightmares about fatÌa, kasra and ∂amma symbols... Do you want to take a break?

Nora: Sure... I think we've done a lot today. If we continue at this pace, we'll be done way before the project's due.

Bianca: That's good to hear.

Nora: So...

Bianca: So...

Nora: When's your brother coming home?

Bianca: Which one? Haha!

Nora: Giovanni, obviously...

Bianca: Right, yeah. Umm, I think he's at soccer practice so like... In an hour? But sometimes he goes to the gym after practice so maybe in two hours... Why?

Nora: Well, he asked me to stay over tonight so I was just wondering how much time we'll have to hang out.

Bianca: Riiight... Well, f*cking guys and their soccer practice.

Nora: Isn't your boyfriend on the team as well?

Bianca: He is, but he's not my boyfriend anymore.

Nora: What?! When did that happen?

Bianca: Like literally 3 hours ago.

Nora: But... We were here working on a project 3 hours ago...

Bianca: Yeah, I ended it over text.

Nora: Really? How come?

Bianca: Look, we're not friends. I don't owe you an explanation or a report about my personal life.

Nora: Fair enough. Sorry. __________________________________________

MONDAY, 7:24 PM

Brendon: THEN she said I don't pay enough attention to her! How can I not pay attention to her?! I literally skipped like 10 practices to hang out with her, I took her out every weekend, I replied to her every text in the span of 20 minutes... And she's still f*cking unhappy! What MORE does she want?!

Oscar: Sounds like she's trying to find or invent an excuse to break up with you.

Brendon: And after that she said- Wait... Really? You think she wants to break up with me?

Oscar: Look, man, I know you. I know that everything you said is true and I think she knows it too. And if she was still into you she wouldn't stay awake until 3 AM on a school night just to list off the reasons why you're such a "bad" boyfriend. I think she wants to justify the break-up to herself.

Brendon: Oh my god... But, how did that happen? Was it something I did? See... It sucks I can't ask her that because she doesn't want to f*cking see me!

Oscar: I'm so sorry, man... When was the last time you two were "okay"?

Brendon: Literally on Friday. She texted me "Good morning!" and said she won't be at school today because she's sick and that she hopes I'll have a great time at your party. I checked up on her every hour, asked her if she's really OK with me going to your place or would she rather I came to take care of her and she was like "No, babe, go to the party and have fun!"

Oscar: So something changed during this weekend... We should investigate that!

Brendon: Honestly, man... I'm really tired and sad and don't want to think about that anymore.

Oscar: Wanna get some food?

Brendon: I could eat. __________________________________________

Nicole: Luke? Hey, Luke!

Luke: Oh... H-Hi, Nicole!

Nicole: I didn't see you at school today, are you OK?

Luke: Y-Yeah, I'm grea- I mean... I'm doing okay. I think it was just that 24-hour flu or something.

Nicole: Oh, right. I'm glad you're feeling better. What brings you here, though? At this hour.

Luke: Well, as soon as I started feeling better my Carol- I mean, my stepmo- umm... Caroline, my stepmom, asked me to come get some burgers for dinner.

Nicole: Are you sure?

Luke: W-What?

Nicole: You seem really nervous.

Luke: Sorry... I'm sorry. I'm OK, I just get nervous around yo- I mean... What?

Nicole: You're cute. I'll see you around, Luke.

Luke: Hey, Nicole?

Nicole: Yeah?

Luke: Do you already have a partner for that presentation in physics we have to do?

Nicole: I don't. Do you want to work on it with me?

Luke: I wanted to ask you that.

Nicole: Of course. We'll talk about details tomorrow, OK? I have to get going now.

Luke: Yeah, yeah... T-Thanks, Nicole.

Nicole: Bye, Luke! And bon appetit!

Luke: Thanks, bye!

Brendon: Was Luke just talking to Nicole Mills?

Oscar: Yeah... I think that was her. Why?

Brendon: She's great. Looks AND brains.

Oscar: Hah, yeah, so - What do you want to get?

Brendon: Why do even nerds like Luke get to talk to beautiful girls and all I get are mean ones that lie and hide something from you?

Oscar: OKAY, I guess this w*ed isn't hitting you too well... C'mon, man, what do you want to eat? I heard they have great taquitos with a lot of cheese and chicken inside! And we can get a ketchup-mayo combo for that! Mmm, aren't you thinking about how delicious that food sound?

Brendon: I want my Bianca back! F*ck her! She's so evil and heartless! I love and miss her so much!

Oscar: Oh, man... Brendon, you have to snap out of it! The high will pass quickly if you eat something and then you'll feel a lot better.

Brendon: Hey, Oscar?

Oscar: What is it?

Brendon: I'm hungry... Can we get some burgers? And pizza?

Oscar: Of course, buddy. Let's go. __________________________________________

MONDAY, 10:03 PM

Nora: Where were you for so long?

Giovanni: I was at soccer practice, babe.

Nora: That was like 5 hours ago...

Giovanni: Yeah and then I, umm, went to the gym and then shop for groceries and then I, umm, ran into someone on the street an we lost track of time talking.

Nora: Really, who'd you ran into?

Giovanni: I, umm, I-Ian! Ian Morgan.

Nora: Isn't Ian like 2 years old?

Giovanni: Yeah, well, he was with his dad so all three of us talked!

Nora: Mhm... And what did Stephen have to say?

Giovanni: Who, oh, yeah, Stephen... Umm, someone from his office got a promotion? So they had like a celebration at work?

Nora: Are you asking me or telling me?

Giovanni: Telling you. Come on, babe! Don't overthink it. Let's go to sleep.

Nora (thinking): Don't you break my hear, Giovanni Pietri.

[nickgerlich]

Back To The Future

The last two things I did in Oklahoma City this weekend was grocery shopping? Two? How’s that, DrG?

Simple. After I had a delicious lunch at Flower Child, I ventured across the street to Trader Joe’s, and then back down the street to Whole Foods. The two stores, both of which carry a slew of organic foods and target upper-income customers, could not be more different from one another.

I spent a fair amount of money at both, buying the things I cannot find in Amarillo. But it was at Trader Joe’s that I spent the most money. It’s the store with less—far less, to the tune of only about 4000 SKUs—and a vibe that screams 1970s. In contrast, Whole Foods is high tech, with both F2F and self-check, as well as the ability to wave my palm to pay.

Yeah, I know. We’ve discussed some of this before. It’s just that Trader Joe’s just dropped a podcast episode in which they unashamedly affirmed their opposition to all things tech—aside from bar code readers at the checkout stand—in return for a very social, old-school shopping experience.

It is hard to imagine any supermarket, especially in the post-COVID era, that does not have online ordering, curbside pickup delivery, self-check, and in-store media, but that’s Trader Joe’s. They don’t want them. They want shoppers to engage with employees. In fact, on a recent episode of the Freakonomics podcast, the host interviewed someone who found employment at a TJ’s. He told the story of how all job candidates were herded into a room, only to find the leader stirring discussion. The company, it turns out, was looking for extroverts, and they wanted to see how the candidates would perform in a room full of strangers.

TJ’s even eschews much of the social media landscape. It has some token accounts, with the majority of its efforts going into Instagram and YouTube. Their podcast is massively popular, especially among loyal shoppers. And their printed newsletter—the Fearless Flyer—is a fan favorite at a time when hardly anyone ever reads a newspaper.

It was a madhouse at TJ’s. Sure, it was Sunday noon, and there was a combination of heathens (I use the word jokingly) and after-churchers pawing over fresh fruits and veggies, frozen and canned items, beer and wine. The carts are smaller than what you find everywhere else, and the modest physical footprint of the store meant there were traffic jams in every aisle, not to mention long lines to get out.

There was a buzz in the air. You just knew this was the highlight of many peoples’ week. Oh, and flowers anyone? That’s got to be one of the highest margin items in the store, because you can’t even go 10 feet inside before tripping over them.

In contrast, Whole Foods was moderately crowded but decidedly more sedate and cerebral. I didn’t have to navigate through mazes of people and carts other than once. The aisles are wider. Shoppers have the choice between a traditional large cart, or a tiny one. There are many thousands more items than at TJ’s. And, as per usual, I just waved my palm over the scanner, scarcely a word of interaction with my checker. At TJ’s, though, my checker engaged me in conversation as if we were old pals.

Trader Joe’s is not interested in customer data. They only analyze what flies off the shelf, or languishes there. Whole Foods, owned by Amazon, knows every last thing I have purchased, at which store, and how much I spent. One store is in the 1970s, when bar code readers were just becoming popular. The other is firmly rooted in the here and now, with an eye toward tomorrow.

And both are doing well. It’s just that TJ’s is doing better, with an industry-leading $2100 sales per square foot. In comparison, Walmart, the nation’s leading grocer, only averages about $400 per square foot, while While Foods comes in at $1000.

The nostalgic in me kind of likes the throwback experience of TJ’s. They don’t have everything I want or need; hence, my visit to Whole Foods. But they always get the lion’s share of my out-of-market grocery shopping. It just resonates, and while I am adamant about using self-check at Walmart, I would never think of using one at TJ’s. I will never have to worry about that, though, because they will never install any.

What a contrast! Give a listen to that TJ’s pod, as well as the one from Freakonomics. There’s a lecture or two in there that is best given by those closer to the source. Just remember that there can be a future in the past. In Oklahoma City. Dallas. Albuquerque. Or wherever you do like I do, my cooler and reusable shopping bags always packed and ready for the task.

Dr “What’s In Your Cart?” Gerlich

Audio Blog

[jammedmuses]

@donewithyourschmidt said:

Standing in the office doorway, Mike raises the hand not clutching his crutch in greeting. "Uh, hello there. Guess you're the other nightguard they hired, right? Management just told me I'd be getting a partner yesterday."

Why Fazbear Entertainment had chosen to hire additional staff was a mystery to him, given their track record of cheapness, but he certainly wasn't complaining. It seemed they were still too lazy to get the office a second chair, though... "There's, uh, some things I better...brief you on before our shift starts."

(For Banshee!)

At first, the female guard was sat on the office chair, fidgeting with the monitor in her hands; it seemed she was trying to get a feel of the security system beforehand, which could be considered smart thinking.

For some reason though, it looked as if she was having some trouble keeping the monitor in both of her hands.

She looked up upon hearing her newly-assigned co-worker's voice on the doorway, her unusually long bangs covering basically the entire right of her face, while the left was visible because she had her hair tied in a left side-bun. Her visible eye evidently wandered slightly until it landed on the other's crutch, and as response she immediately stood up, giving up the chair.

" Oh! It must be so! " She almost beams in response, carefully setting the tablet down on the desk. " I was told I'd have a fellow co-worker too! So I got myself coffee on the way here, and would've gotten one for you too, but sadly I had to let it pass since I had no idea how you'd like yours. " She explains with a sheepishness; Maybe next time? Her own coffee was noticeable on the desk, an XL Starbucks cup with "BANSHEE" written in marker on it. Those silly, silly baristas!

The lady can't lie, the other guard seemed... a little younger than whatever she'd expected. Or maybe that's just because he's exactly as short as she is. Poor guy.

But nevertheless, he has her attention; if he's been in this job position unlike her who's starting fresh and innocent, it's a given he has important information.

" Is it about the mascots moving? Someone briefly told me they lack a 'night mode' so they try seeking the night workers out thinking they're audience, but to not let them into the office to avoid equipment damage. "

Oh god, this poor lady...

[jammedmuses]

Perhaps it's good the entirety of the Flipside isn't common knowledge; many of the inhabitants could possibly be driven to existential crisis at the very least, otherwise.

It's uncertain if Banshee would be one of those. Maybe. But that's neither here nor there. Even though she's being asked to get involved, this isn't about her, or at least not about her only.

She nods along to Fredbear's words; She wouldn't say she's sharp really, though (she's only sharp when having coffee, don't get your hopes up Fredbear.) But his thought-process made sense, and soon the glimpse of a potential IDEA clicked.

" So, by going by that logic... if we were to start by somehow fixing the AutoChippers, and especially helping our friends- " Her voice seemed to have gotten slightly caught on her throat at her mention of the word "friends"- like a silent fear that notion was and would always be one-sided; " - somehow come back to normal... we could be on our way to fixing the Flipside as well! "

Sure there is probably WAY more than the AutoChippers and their "rogue" friends in that equation, but those are the ones Banshee knows are a thing for certain. " But the question is HOW, Fredbear. How do we fix the AutoChippers? How do we make the others return to normal, exactly? "

[Fredbear's mention of the Flipside wasn't taken lightly, but he was grateful for that; the others couldn't quite grasp the severity of the Flipside's involvement in their problem. It wasn't their fault, really -- Fredbear had always been evasive about the matter of the Flipside, as well as the nature of their world. He knew more than he let on...but the others were better off clueless. They had all the information they needed.]

[Just as she said, the corruption on their end had to be caused by something on the Flipside -- which meant that they had two ways of going about this. They could either seek entry into the Flipside ( which was virtually impossible from their end ), or they could try to use the mirror effect to their advantage. By influencing the Flipside on their end, they might be able to repair the damage on their own.]

❝ You're pretty sharp. That's exactly what I'm talking about; our Auto-Chipper, our animatronic villagers...they've all gone haywire because of whatever's going wrong on the Flipside. ❞ [Fredbear nodded in acknowledgment; she'd caught on before he fully explained, which was a feat in and of itself.] ❝ Fortunately for us, we might not have to enter the Flipside at all. Remember, everything that happens here also has an effect over there -- we might be able to fix everything from our end. ❞

[taste-in-music]

taste-in-music’s top 30 songs of 2022

Hello everyone! Welcome back to my annual countdown of my 30 favorite songs of the year. 2022 had a lot of great music releases, and I’m so excited to recount the songs I replayed throughout the year. Now, on with the list!

This year was so jam-packed I have ten honorable mentions to share before we get to the list proper: tears in the club by FKA Twigs ft. The Weeknd, Destination l’amour by Pi Ja Ma, Little Freak by Harry Styles, Fast Times by Sabrina Carpenter, EMPATHY 4 BETHANY by Saya Gray, Be Cool by Maggie Rogers, This Hell by Rina Sawayama, Heavy Heart by Bartees Strange, Karma by Taylor Swift, and Shotgun by Soccer Mommy

F2F by SZA: “F2F” was a fast favorite that came late in the year, mostly for how pleasantly surprising it was. The 2000s pop-punk revival has been percolating for the past few years, and SZA’s entry into the genre suits her frighteningly well. She’s written on the complications of revenge sex and missing an ex before, but the area-ready bombast of the guitar-driven instrumental elevates it to the next level. It may have looked to the past for sonic inspiration, but it feels fresh.

君に夢中 (Kimini Muchuu) by Hikaru Utada: I didn’t know what to expect when I clicked play on J-pop icon Hikaru Utada’s new album on a whim, but when I heard “君に夢中,” which translates to “crazy about you” in English, I was immediately struck by a feeling of familiarity. It may be because the opening synth riff reminds me of “Boys Of Summer,” it may be Utada’s impassioned delivery, it may be the rattling hi-hats that instate an undeniable groove on the song’s back end. Whatever it is, Utada managed to capture something ethereal on this track, and I can’t wait to explore more of her catalogue in the future.  

Flower (In Full Bloom) by Luna Li ft. Dreamer Isioma: Romantic angst never sounded so damn dreamy. On “Flower (In Full Bloom),” Luna Li pleads with a lover that refuses to put in the effort in a relationship, while Dreamer Isioma provides the opposing perspective speaking about how the spark has already died. As the song progresses, the cushy soundscape of twinkling keys escalates to a bitching guitar solo that makes for one hell of a final moment.

Kissing Lessons by Lucy Dacus: If nothing else, “Kissing Lessons” is a marvel of concision. Each detail Dacus compiles, bracelet charms, hair tosses, dreams of buying a three-story house, all come together to form a rich vignette about a young girl’s budding sexuality and growing inculcation into gender roles in just under two minutes. Place those details over a rollicking rock instrumental and you’ve got on special sucker punch of a song that gives you just enough to want to know more. The only choice, then, is to hit repeat.

It’s Raining by Superorganism ft. Dylan Cartlidge and Stephen Malkmus: For Superorganism, there is no sample too silly, no instrumental flourish too strange to throw into their melting pot. Describing “It’s Raining” from their sophomore album World Wide Pop means describing the barrage of baffling moments it throws at warp speed. Frontwoman Orono Noguchi sings about a “cyborg grilled-cheese-sandwich machine” over thunderclaps. English rapper Dylan Cartlidge spits bars about Elon Musk over a backing chorus of what sounds like demented Muppets. Pavement frontman Stephen Malkmus’s lyrics about riding a horse-drawn carriage are ushered in with clip-clopping hooves and a sample of a neigh. These moments come together to form a loopy, loping confection that’s as absurd as it is addictive.

Superfan by Chelsea Jade: On “Superfan,” Chelsea Jade navigates the blurred lines of talking to a crush, a situation where you’re trading adversarial jabs and confrontational quips and you can never tell if you’re flirting or fighting. Ultimately, Jade reveals the obsession lying beneath the surface, identifying herself as a “superfan” trying to play it cool. Driving home the playful awkwardness is Jade’s use of vocal samples throughout, whether they’re narrating along to her conversation or splicing through the chorus with hiccup-y clips of harmonization. It’s a song that cuts through the guise to reveal the vulnerability at its core.

Holding Back by BANKS: In the years since her debut, BANKS has become my go-to artist for electropop bangers that conjure emotional vulnerability and goddess-level confidence alike. “Holding Back” may be an outpouring of memories in the wake of a doomed relationship, but the hard-hitting electronic groove and boosted bass breathe new life into a familiar concept. As BANKS switches between vulnerable coos and full-chested belts, she unleashes the innermost desire for her care to be reciprocated. “I wrote you a melody,” she sings in the chorus, “can’t you see that?”

Whatever Fits Together by Skullcrusher: Skullcrusher has perfected the art of weaving immersive tapestries from whispy sonic fragments, a strummed guitar here, a gossamer synthesizer there, a lyrical fragment about leaving home to tie it all into a single package. “Whatever Fits Together” pulls disparate pieces from their distinct places in the ether to form something transient and melancholy, the mournful tone of Helen Ballentine’s voice balanced by a sunny tambourine. It’s ephemeral, it’s beautiful, it all fits together perfectly.

Another Man’s Jeans by Ashe: Ashe may have broken onto the pop scene with brokenhearted ballads, but there’s always been a confidence and cleverness to her delivery that’s made her stand out. On her comeback single “Another Man’s Jeans,” she douses her witty songwriting with pure funk concentrate and struts through a kiss-off to a situationship with more swagger than she’s ever showcased on tape before. It makes for one of the most fun party jams of the year.

girlfriend by hemlocke springs: I first encountered hemlocke springs via an Instagram Reel where she posted a video propositioning “do u wanna hear the weirdest bridge you’ll ever hear in ur entire life?” The subsequent bridge shows springs hurling her voice up and down the scale with reckless abandon over a spritely synth groove, and wile it might not be the “weirdest bridge” I’ve ever heard, it certainly was one of the most memorable the year had to offer. The rest of the song, a blasé kiss-off to a potential suitor, pulls of the rare achievement for a viral song and lives up to the catchiness of the initial clip.

Spitting Off the Edge of the World by Yeah Yeah Yeahs ft. Perfume Genius: “Spitting Off The Edge of the World” is awesome in the archaic sense, encapsulating the simultaneous awe and terror that comes from facing something so much bigger than yourself. It’s a song that earns it galactic sense of scope from the quiet moments it provides to contrast it, as Karen O and Perfume Genius trade demure, flitting verses before the chorus kicks in on the heels of a larger-than-life barrage synths and guitars. It’s titanic, it’s triumphant, it’s just awesome, (in that it’s also just damn great.)

The Loneliest Time by Carly Rae Jepsen ft. Rufus Wainwright: I remember when this song was released just ahead of The Loneliest Time album and questioning how this collaboration could possibly work. As soon as I heard it, the answer was clear: never question Carly Rae Jepsen. At this point, Jepsen has boiled pop music down to a science, but that doesn’t mean it’s sterile or forced. The string-adorned, disco-inflected groove on “The Loneliest Time” is the perfect landscape for Jepsen and Wainwright to trade verses about giving an old flame a second chance. It all culminates in that excellent bridge where Jepsen enthusiastically declares “I’m coming back for you baby / I’m coming back for you!” I, too, will continue coming back to this song, and Jepsen’s catalogue as a whole, when I need a pick up from my own personal loneliest times.  

fairy song by beabadoobee: Throughout her second album Beatopia, beabadoobee’s jaunty melodies and sugar-sweet vocals just barely cover a greater desperation for care and connection percolating beneath the surface. The best demonstration of this is “fairy song,” where a running list of self-care tasks atop perky pianos slowly cracks apart until it fully breaks into a buzzy whirlwind of distortion and beabadoobee’ screams just barely audible in the background. Then, just as the pandemonium reaches its peak, the song pulls itself back together and returns to the chipper atmosphere it began with. Ignoring one’s distress will only take you so far before the weight becomes too much to bear. Sometimes, drinking water and going outside isn’t enough. Letting the mess fly free every so often might just be the key to moving forward.

Cardigan by Sophie Cates: “Cardigan” is my silly pop song of the year, the track I turned to when I needed an instant sugar rush of endorphins. Sure, Sophie Cates rhymes “again” with “again” with “cardigan” with “again” again on the hook, but when it's set against the most instantly catchy melody of 2022, I hardly even notice. That’s not a slight against Cates’s writing though, the other choice details she employs throughout the song paint a vivid picture of a romance that’s lost its sparkle, and the wistful desire for the magic to return. It’s that undercurrent of longing that elevates “Cardigan” from being just a silly pop song to a great silly pop song, one that sticks around long after the initial rush has passed. 

Bump by Dora Jar: Dora Jar’s music captures the dark whimsy of a fairy tale, but the real fairy tales where the pixie dust and glass slippers come with a hungry wolf or vengeful witch lurking in the shadows. It’s a musical world that’s a little spooky, rife with curiosity, and lit up with a flicker of excitement. “Bump” is one of the best demonstrations of this quality, with Dora Jar describing the wonder of a chance encounter that may escalate into something more. The song is accented with astonished gaps, a swampy chorus of backing vocals, and an air-tight beat. It’s sweet and wondrous and a little claustrophobic, sonically capturing that tight-throated, heart-hammering anticipation to see what comes next.

In The Eyes Of Our Love by Yumi Zouma: “In The Eyes Of Our Love” is good in a way that just feels obvious, providing a breezy yet danceable energy that’s poised to play out the romantic climax of a teen movie from the 90s. Beneath its cheery surface, though, is a tremor of anxiety. Lead vocalist Christie Simpson signs of crumbling walls, splitting lips, and looming storms, worries that accelerate and melt away over the song's duration. Every great pop song grows all the greater with a sense of urgency, and “In The Eyes Of Our Love” threads that needle effortlessly while still being danceable as hell. What more could you want?

Part Of The Band by The 1975: Over the past few years, The 1975 have twisted the anthemic pop-rock that put them on the map to reveal the absurdity and anxiety at the heart of modern life. On “Part Of The Band,” the band’s first single off their 2022 album Being Funny In A Foreign Language, frontman Matty Healy’s musings on social upheaval are equal parts hilarious and insightful. After stuffing the song full of dizzying rhymes, (“vaccinista tote bag-chic baristas” with “communista keisters” especially comes to mind,) Healy finishes on a searing moment of self-reflection: “am I just some post-coke, average, skinny bloke / calling his ego imagination?” With a twitchily elegant backdrop crafted from plucky string swells, chopped-up vocal samples, and quivering synths, it’s a song whose catchiness, cleverness, and creativity lives up to the critiques on display.

ALIEN SUPERSTAR by Beyoncé: It was difficult to pick a favorite track from RENAISSANCE, an album so consistently excellent in its delivery of dancefloor euphoria. In the end, I had to go with the self-love celebration “ALIEN SUPERSTAR.” Every element of this song oozes self-assurance, from the spacy disco instrumental to Beyoncé’s vocals, which switch from sensual cooing to a British accent-inflected declarations to braggadocious belting at the drop of a hat. The result is a track poised to dominate dancefloors across the galaxy for years to come, and who’s surprised? She’s one of one. She’s number one. She’s the only one.

Nothing Gives Me Pleasure by Girlpool: I clicked play on Girlpool’s fifth album Forgiveness without any clear expectations. I certainly wasn’t expecting to be blasted with a wave of distorted synths followed by the most memorable opening line of the year: “Do you even want me if I even have to ask? / Break it to me gently with your fingers up my ass.” It’s an unforgettable one-two punch that immediately establishes the core themes of the album, trying to reconcile the desire for emotional and physical intimacy, and how those desires often conflict with and contradict one another. “Nothing Gives Me Pleasure” walks the power balance in a relationship built on mismatched expectations, trying to sate yourself with sex and coming up short. The soundscape skitters and heaves, the distortion ratcheting up as Harmony Tividad reiterates the title line over and over: “Nothing gives me pleasure like the words I know you won’t say.” 

cool by Uffie: Uffie made a name for herself in the bloghouse scene of the early 2010s, a musical moment defined by glitchy earworms, a punkish dedication to keeping the party going as long as possible, and lots and lots of glitter. For her 2021 comeback single with Company Records, “cool,” Uffie evolves the quirky maximalism of her past into something slick, modern, and effortlessly, well, cool. On “cool,” Uffie digs for gold in moments of stillness amidst chaos, chronicling moments of reprieve during a night out: sleepy Uber rides, poolside kisses, eating cereal with her partner. The best demonstration of this comes when, at the precipice of each chorus, all the music cuts out for a moment before Uffie ushers in the razor-sharp groove with a simple utterance of the song’s title, delivered with a blasé surety of someone who’s seen it all. As she sings in the song’s third verse, she’s “got nothing left to prove.” 

HENTAI by ROSALÍA: Amidst the raucous genreclash that makes up the rest of the MOTOMAMI tracklist, the gentle pianos of “HENTAI” may initially feel a bit out of place. But if you listen closely, there’s much to discover beneath its deceptively simple surface. First off, the lyrics are filthy as hell, (I know, big surprise for a song literally called “HENTAI,”) but the cheeky references to bike riding and tape making are balanced out by a tender backdrop that knows when to up the bombast. Whether it be the barely-there string flourishes, fluttering vocal runs, or the skittering blast of drums that drives the song’s closing moments home, “HENTAI” provides just enough off-kilter details that make the song transcend from mere sexy piano ballad into only “La ROSALÍA” could provide.

Simulation Swarm by Big Thief: Despite Big Thief’s fifth album Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You dropping all the way back in February, I found “Simulation Swarm” shamefully late in the year. But as soon as I heard it, I knew it would be on this list, and pretty high up too. Adrianne Lenker crafts songs that are immediately familiar, like I must have been listening to them from childhood. The details she employs throughout "Simulation Swarm” balance beauty and malice, painting the dark fairy tale and casual terror of modern life “crystal blood like a dream true,” “swallows in the windless field,” “river of light who I love / That I sing to in the belly of the empty night.” Set against a locomotive folk instrumental, “Simulation Swarm” feels like a gentle hug from the abyss, voicing the ability to face danger and walk forward with hope. 

Till We Run Out Of Air by Hatchie: I thought I knew what to expect going into Hatchie’s sophomore album Giving The World Away. Early singles like “Quicksand” and “This Enchanted” delivered another helping of the joyful shoegaze pop she’s been delivering for years. It’s a sound I’m always willing to gobble up, but there was an echo of something greater hovering right beneath the surface. With the final song on the album, Hatchie delivered a falcon punch of a finale that transforms that spark into a fireworks show. With its susurrus of swirling, watery synths and arena-ready chorus, “Till We Run Out Of Air” plows right through me with each repeated spin. It’s a song enraptured in the fine line between destruction and exhilaration, tracing the final moments in a romance with larger-than-life bombast. Perhaps the best encapsulation of this euphoria comes at the precipice of the chorus. “Open the curtains and let in the light,” Hatchie sings, before a glowing blossom of synths barrels the listener right into the song’s most anthemic refrain. It’s like the light at the end of the tunnel finally breaking through the darkness at just the right moment.

doomsday by Lizzie McAlpine: On her second album five seconds flat, Lizzy McAlpine elevated her personal songwriting with a cinematic scope. This approach is immediately introduced on the album’s opening “doomsday,” a slow-burning ballad chronicling a breakup though the lens of hindsight. McAlpine circles through deathly metaphors throughout the song: pulling the plug, violent ends, her partner as a “murderer” initiating their split on Halloween, the sample of a bone being split in half. This ghoulish gravitas of is backed up by an orchestral swell that makes the melodrama feel earned. These compounding elements build up the song’s momentum until McAlpine’s final revelation slams into you at full force: “I would’ve married you / If you’d stuck around / I feel more free than I have in years / Six feet in the ground.” The relationship may be dead and gone, but McAlpine makes it clear that she’s only getting started.

Lullabye by Grace Ives: Throughout Janky Star, Grace Ives concocts idea-stuffed soundscapes that vacillate between the anxieties and thrills of young adulthood. The earworms come so casually that they even materialize in the album’s moments of brevity. “Lullabye” is a perfect example of this. As the album’s closer, it shows the chaos winding down, giving way to moments of reflection. Ives’s breathily narrates the “lovely mess” of her life: watching movies on repeat, casually attempting gymnastics moves in the kitchen, and swapping confessions with a loved one late into the night. Set against gauzy landscape of synths, skittering drums, and chirpy backing vocals, I turned to the casual wisdom of “Lullabye” all the times this year when life got overwhelming. “No it’s nothing to be sad about,” Ives sings in the song’s closing moments, “It’s just something I’ve been thinking about.” It’s a welcome reminder of the power ruminating on small joys can hold.

Say It by SASAMI: On her latest album Squeeze, SASAMI took to flipping white male-dominated genres like punk and metal to articulate her own rage. One of the best examples of this is “Say It,” an unapologetic frenzy of glitchy rock scuzz. In an Apple Music interview, SASAMI stated that the song was “about the pain of someone not communicating with you,” carried out as she trades places with a bassy, distorted mirror of her own voice. Situated atop a strutting groove concocted of squealing guitars, grumbling bass, and booming drums, it all comes together to form something equal parts cathartic and terrifying. “Say It” might be one of the best rock songs the year had to offer, but amidst the ruckus, it’s first and foremost a call to throw your repentance to the wind and speak your mind. 

Yuck by Charli XCX: If you’ve been on TikTok for the past year or so, odds are you’ve come across the idea of “the ick,” the moment in a romantic relationship where something as simple as watching your beau chase a ping-pong ball across the floor flips your feelings of adoration into disgust. It only makes sense that one of pop’s most forward–thinking artists would capture this cultural phenomenon with masterful specificity and simplicity. Over a bouncy synth-heavy beat, Charli XCX lays out the moment when her love interest’s gooey romantic devotion starts to drive her away. Throughout “Yuck,” she takes romantic tropes like puppy dog eyes and bouquets of roses and flips them on their head. The result is the definitive song to throw on when the candy hearts get cloying. After spending the last few years of her career pushing pop to its very limits, her latest album Crash was a welcome reminder that even without all the hyperpop flourishes, she can still write damn good and effortless catchy bangers like this.

Free by Florence + The Machine: How do you persevere in the face of suffering? seems to be the question Florence Welch fixates on most throughout her projects with Florence + The Machine. She’s turned to several places in the past: making a break for freedom on her breakout hit “Dog Days Are Over,” self-destructive love on rock bangers like “Ship To Wreck” and “Shake It Out,” and reconciliation on her previous album, High As Hope. While the definite answer for such a question may never materialize, Welch has recognized how music can be one of the most potent salves for such woes. Her 2022 album Dance Fever provides several welcome additions to Welch’s growing catalog of musical catharsis, but it was “Free,” a free-spirited banger co-written by Jack Antonoff, that ended up hitting me the hardest. “Free” taps into something primal yet graceful, a raucous recognition that sometimes, the most inspiring feelings of freedom come hand in hand with singing at the top of your lungs. “For a moment, when I'm dancing,” Welch declares with titanic vocals over a propulsive drum beat and glittering keys, “I am free.” This relief may be temporary, but for the moment, it’s nothing short of magical.

American Teenager by Ethel Cain: On her debut album Preacher’s Daughter, Ethel Cain chronicles a journey of adolescent ennui and religious turmoil through sprawling, atmospheric ballads. Before she gets into all that, she also proves that she can write a teen pop anthem for the ages. “American Teenager” is the first official song on the album, and while it may be shorter and more immediate than its predecessors, it’s no less deftly crafted. Cain harnesses the larger-than-life, anthemic synth pop of the 80s, accenting the soundscape with shining synths, booming drums, and a bright saxophone solo. While the song relishes in altruistic Americana imagery of crying on the bleachers and whiskey-fueled rebellion, Cain also acknowledges the darkness lurking beneath the jubilation on the surface. The opening verse describes her neighbor’s brother being shipped home in a coffin, “another red heart taken by the American dream.” Still, despite this darkness, there’s a hope at the core of “American Teenager” that catapults it into the stratosphere, that suggests that maybe someday, those promises might come to fruition.

touch tank by quinine: I first came across “touch tank” as a fragment on TikTok, a looping clip of quinnie lip synching along to the first few lines of the chorus: “He’s so pretty / when he goes down on me.” And what an attention-grabbing set of lines they are, it’s not everyday that you stumble across a sweet, unassuming bedroom pop song explicitly discussing cunnilingus. But it isn’t just the refreshingly matter-of-fact  references to sex that make “touch tank” stick in the memory, it’s the atmosphere of intimacy quinnie builds around those lines. In its final form, “touch tank” builds an aqueous wonderland of small yet palpably intimate moments, freshly laundered t-shirts, discovering new tattoos, choosing to be gentle. “touch tank” is a tribute to those early stages in a relationship where you’re poking and prodding with care, trying to reach tender places without drawing blood. Rounded out with warm guitars, cooing flutes, and just a twinge of vocal distortion, it’s a song that feels lived in, welcoming, drawing you deeper into its depths with each repeated spin. 

What were your favorite songs from this year? Did I miss anything? Leave a comment or tag some in the reblogs and let me know.

This year has been an absolute whirlwind, and I hope you all have some good memories from it. Here’s to a safe, healthy 2023! 

[tinseltownevents]

WEEK TWO ITINERARY

SUNDAY, 03.13 to SATURDAY, 03.19

Post tweets, gif chat starters, open paras/f2f.

Please tag EVERYTHING ttownspd22.

Please @tinseltownevents​ for all gif chat starters and open paras/f2f.

Message us if you’d like something added to the calendar.

CLICK HERE FOR ALL DETAILS OF THIS EVENT!

SUNDAY, 03.13

10AM – Heritage Bus Tour of Cultural & Historical Sites – Meet at Brades Pentecostal Car Park

3PM – Wet Dreams by Imperial Entertainment – Club VIP Poolside

8PM – ‘Birthright’ by Silk Cotton Theatre Company – Cultural Centre

8PM – Emerald Community Singers – Old Salem Primary School

8PM – Live Band Music – Time Out Bar & Grill

MONDAY, 03.14

10AM & 1PM – Heritage Bus Tour of Cultural & Historical Sites – Meet at Brades Pentecostal Car Park

10AM – 7PM – Afro-Strat Market Day – Salem Park

5PM – Afro Madras Fashion Show – Moose’s Place

8PM – Live Band Music – Time Out Bar & Grill

10PM – Leprechaun’s Revenge & Breakfast Fete by Hypnotik Montserrat

TUESDAY, 03.15

10AM & 1PM – Heritage Bus Tour of Cultural & Historical Sites – Meet at Brades Pentecostal Car Park

1 – 11PM – Family Fun Day & Beach Lime by Dubstar & Friends – Carr’s Bay Gun Battery

8PM – 2AM – Old School Reunion Ball – Vue Pointe Hotel, Old Towne

8PM – Live Band Music – Time Out Bar & Grill

11PM – All White Affair by Immortal Promotions – Cultural Centre Parking Lot

WEDNESDAY, 03.16

6AM – Scriber’s Tours Freedom Hike

11AM – 4PM – Soaked Boat Rides by Fabulous Entertainment – Little Bay

12PM – 5PM – St Patrick’s Cultural Explosion – Festival Village, Little Bay

3PM – Reggae vs Soca – The Ultimate Day Fete – Moose’s Place.

7PM – National Awards Ceremony – Cultural Centre

8PM – Small Beginnings ‘The Way it Used to Be” – Old Salem Primary School

10PM – Gold Rush 3 -Featuring Farmer Nappy – Salem Park

THURSDAY, 03.17

4AM to 11PM – Leprechaun’s Dust by Island Diva Mas

10AM – Scriber’s Boat Tour & Party – Little Bay

2PM – Blues & Country Reggae and Pans – Isles Bay Beach Bar

3 – 9PM – Emerald City Fest ft. Sanchez, Jr Kelly & Turbulance – Salem Park*

7PM – Gospel Explosion – Cultural Centre

11PM – All-Inclusive VIP Penthouse & Pool Party – VIP, Cudjoe Head

FRIDAY, 03.18

12AM – Drum Jam – Starts in St Johns

5AM – Heritage Jump Up (Wet Fete) with Asa Banton – MSS to Salem

5:30AM – Freedom Run & Walk – Cudjoe Head

1PM – St Patrick’s Day Parade & Slave Feast – Heritage Village, Salem*

10PM – Stratify ft. Kes the Band & International Acts – Salem Park

DEPARTURE - SATURDAY, 03.19

We hope you’ve enjoyed your stay!

* - MANDATORY

[marleyjanemusic]

SHE’S IN MY BONES ↠ F2F

@profdharps​

Marley didn’t know how she had gotten the courage to even be standing outside of the classroom right now. Reeling from last night, the tiny brunette wasn’t even sure how she wound up getting out of bed. She texted her professor, her music professor late yesterday afternoon and wound up reconnecting with the person who had shaped the better part of her life. Savannah, Dani’s younger sister was Marley’s best friend, from cradle to grave, fast friends in preschool, the pair shared an unbreakable bond. From kindergarten to college, to every moment in between, they were never apart. And wherever Savannah was, Dani was always there with a warm but critical eye, always looking out for the pair, especially Marley. Dani always made sure that Marley and her mom were taken care of, whether it was help with math homework or babysitting Marley after school, to leaving groceries on the front stoop  For Marley, growing up in a single parent, low income household, Savannah was her sister, the Harpers, her family and Dani, her biggest supporter. When the Harpers disowned Dani, Marley, who was fourteen and a half at the time, cried for a month and stopped coming over. Not because Dani of course, but in silent protest to in support of the Harpers’ treatment. Savannah agreed and came over and that’s how it went. Marley moved away, Savannah did too and with their weekly FaceTime calls and visits for the holidays, not much had changed between them. But Marley had changed, the shy and awkward teenager was now a taller, slightly less awkward and shy, talented musician. She studied composition specifically, wrote her own songs and found solace in the notes and lyrics when words were hard. And she never stopped thinking about Dani. Savannah would tease you about how much you talked, wondered that you stoped And those thoughts, whether Marley was willing to acknowledge it or not, meant something; in the reasons why she had given herself a once over in the mirror or was now fidgeting awkwardly in the door jam of Dani’s classroom, waiting for the other to notice her, or not. “Um, hi.” she nearly squeaked, almost too stunned to make eye contact.

[jammedmuses]

This poor distressed lady likely having to help on the diagnostics.

“ Good thing I went for the extra 15 shots of espresso on my coffee tonight... ”

—   Michael   on   standby   because   he   knows   he's   gonna   have   to   fix   at   least   one   of   these   idiot   bears.

[brodyweston]

Jamming In The Quad || Open F2F

Normally, Brody wasn’t one that often had free time on his hands, but when he did, he was usually playing music somewhere. Deciding to get out and enjoy the cool fall day, and save his roommate from listening to his jamming, he headed for the quad with his guitar. With a black henley shirt on, and a nice pair of black jeans, he sat on the edge of the fountain and began to strum his guitar. The notes were familiar, easy, and it wasn’t long before the people that made their way through the quad paid attention to him - some stayed, some gave appreciative nods as they walked by, and others simply ignored him as they continued on their way - but Brody didn’t focus on that.

No, what he focused on was the feeling that came with playing music. While the audience was something that certainly had him feeling good about himself, he just loved playing music and over the past few weeks, he had found himself doing less and less of it because he had just been so busy. That’s why, even as he finished one song, he began to transition to the next with effortless ease, simply enjoying the breeze at his back and the notes that came with each strum of his fingers against the guitar’s strings.

[castleportrpg]

PLOT DROP #2: CHAOS AND CONSEQUENCES 

Darkness had fallen, and the tall trees surrounding the large cabin on all sides seemed to block out the stars. With only the moon high, giving off an eerie glow it was easy to move around. Everything had worked according to plan, objects in place and them, completely unsuspecting. If they’d been suspicious, it wasn’t entirely obvious. The texted demands were followed, and it was easy then, for the rest to fall into place. 

The cold was biting, but the prospect of good old fashioned revenge provided a bit of warming comfort. The quiet crunch of snow under heavy boots was the only sound when leather gloved fingers reached the welcome mat and plucked the gold nail file from its hiding place. It was the last piece to the puzzle, the kickoff to the real fun beginning and there was an almost gleeful hop to the side of the massive Clarington cabin to the fuse box outside. Quietly, the lock was picked, fingers curling tight around the handle of the nail file before jamming the sharp end of it into the tightly wound mess of wires and board. 

The hiss and crackle of electricity was instant, and the muted pop that followed was just the thing to blanket the cabin in darkness. All that was left was to leave the note before scurrying down the driveway, footsteps swift and silent and only pausing to pluck a large stone from the lawn. That came in handy, shattering the back windshield of the Jeep with ease, even as the sound echoed through the night, surely loud enough for them to hear from inside. 

Which was precisely the point. 

Now the real fun could begin.

LATE SATURDAY EVENING in the midst of a party, the cabin inexplicably goes dark. With the lights out and tensions high, our cast find themselves at odds, and perhaps in danger. Each pair will write a F2F based on the assigned prompt. How they react to the discoveries, and whether or not they reveal the potential parts they’ve played in the mayhem is entirely up to you! Please be sure to read the prompts carefully, and above all, have fun with it!

PLOT A: When the power goes out, BREE & HUNTER decide to check the fuse box, located outside towards the back of the cabin. Once there, they discover Santana’s nail file jammed into a section of wires, with a note attached to the front panel saying ‘did you forget to lock the front door?’. They also hear the shattering of glass from the other side of the house, and vaguely make out the outline of a figure in the thicket of woods.

PLOT B: With the power gone, RYDER & SAM volunteer to go build a fire in the living room and head to the wood shed outside. While gathering wood, the doors slam shut, and they hear the click of the lock, trapping them inside. They find Quinn’s purse, with a notepad tucked inside, the header on top reading ‘From the desk of Sue Sylvester’, with Bree’s name written and crossed out in black marker below. They spot what appears to be the shadow of footsteps outside the locked door, lingering for a moment before disappearing.

PLOT C: FINN & SANTANA decide to head out to the cars and grab flashlights. They discover Sam’s smashed back windshield with Bree’s phone inside, and the flat tire on Hunter’s car with Tina’s scarf tied around the driver’s side mirror.

PLOT D: Left alone inside, TINA & QUINN hear the loud shattering of glass coming from the first floor bedroom and decide to check it out. They find the window smashed, a large rock the culprit, with a note wrapped around it saying ‘I see you’. The creak of footsteps prompts them to check the back porch where they discover large, muddy prints leading out into the snow. They also discover, in the hot tub, a soaked duffle bag belonging to Ryder.

A Reminder that the CABIN IN THE WOODS event officially ends on THURSDAY, JANUARY 31st at 11PM EST. Regular dash activity will resume then, and you’re more than welcome to continue writing any F2Fs to their conclusions afterwards. Please keep in mind that completing F2Fs help build the overall plot and storyline, so we ask that you gauge your time accordingly.

[jammedmuses]

Now, of course her name wasn't "Banshee." But just about anyone who knows of Starbucks also knows that when attaching the customer's name to their order, Starbucks will get always get people's names wrong in the most ridiculous ways possible then some. It's basically tradition at this point.

But the lady doesn't mind so long she gets what she had ordered. And if people take to calling her ridiculous Starbucks pseudonyms, she has no issue simply rolling with the accidental nickname.

" Dear, you're talking to someone who's gotten up to 19 shots of espresso on her coffee before, I'm not going to judge you for going with extra sugar. " She giggles; if anything, she also likes her black coffee on the sweeter side. " But good to keep that in mind for next shift! " Well then, apparently she plans to make that an habit.

Well... what's the worst that could happen if the animatronics think they're an audience to perform to? Get them cornered somewhere and sing and dance for them for 6 hours straight? Sure she understands why it's still important to keep them out of the office-- it's a very tiny room for the large mascots to safely waltz in without accidentally breaking something, or themselves. " If I were to guess, they're trying to seek the audience by following noise, which in this case would be you and me in the office. " Which... is a pretty solid concept, actually. But is that really what's happening...?

" Either way, yeah; I'll just quickly go borrow a chair then you brief me on whatever I could be missing on, um? " The lady says, politely excusing herself out of the office for the moment. She doesn't mind standing up for some time, but for 6 hours straight sounds like tempting fate; And she's not about to 'fight' over something as trivial as a seat, especially when it's obvious that Mike's the one who needs it the most.

His coworker looks similar to him, at first glance. As she rises from the chair (a kind gesture already), Mike can see they’re both short as can be. It’s nice not to have to look up, for once. Additionally, they wear their hair in a similar way, bangs covering one eye, though the side is mirrored. It’s surprising enough to be amusing to him. Maybe management wanted a matched set.

Her greeting surprises him further - she had wanted to buy him coffee? It touches him that someone would want to do something so nice. It’s not often the guard encounters that sort of grace. “Well, I, uh, appreciate the thought!” He smiles warmly, eyes drifting to the cup sitting on the desk. Banshee? Now that was an unusual name - not that he was going to say anything about it. God knew this poor woman had probably heard every joke under the sun about her name, and he wasn’t going to be rude! “For, uh, future reference, I’ll drink pretty much any coffee, t-though I’m guilty of putting way too much sugar in, heh...”

It seems they’ve told Banshee more about this place than they did Mike. She already knows the animatronics will move, though the reasoning she gives as to why is different from what he learned from the recordings. Truthfully, he doesn’t think either is correct, not anymore. “Yep, that’s the thing. There’s a lot more to it, though.” He forces his voice to remain steady and cheerful, despite his hesitation to divulge exactly what sort of hell this poor woman has stumbled into. “Once the clock hits twelve, they, umm, start wandering, so we have to be in the office by then. They’re...gonna be really persistent about finding us, so you don’t want to be away from safety.”

A quick glance at the time shows they have a few minutes before it all starts. “Speaking of that, we can borrow a chair from the party room, if you want. We just...better grab it now.”

[jammedmuses]

learnedrage followed!

" Gasp! A mouse in our diner!? "

Ketut exclaims to no one in particular just barely above a whisper, likely not wanting to alert anyone else. Despite being a young kitten, she doesn't appear driven to hunt the rodent at all, but was clearly worried about what that could mean for the diner if someone else found out.

" H-hey pumpkin. You shouldn't be here; if Fredbear sees you, I'm gonna get fired! " Ketut you gremlin, Fredbear straight-up adopted you, not hired you!

[vieskamislang]

Good evening/ good morning to u people, this is the first day of blogging about what's happening to my life. Now I'm going to tell you a story to what happened to my day today. So, today is monday so we had a f2f class this day. My class time was 1pm so I can get up late, first thing that I did in the morning was watch something random on my phone, check my unread messages updates if ever I receive one. Then I get up by 9 am to have breakfast, then I just watched some cartoons. (It's one of my favorite things to do in my free time). Anyway, Then by 10 I took a shower then then spend most of my time watching tv shows then by 11 am. I went to school to give my sister's lunch. I was so early so I'm the first one that got in our room. I doubled check my answers on our assignment. Then I was just jamming by myself to spend my free time. Time pass by the class starts after the 1st subject, our 2nd subject teacher just did an election to our classroom. And surprisingly I just got elected as one of the sgt. at arms🤧. Anyway, after the election the class starts again and we had fun in class because of our subject teacher's way of teaching even though we quite having a hard time understanding their lesson but we had fun. Moving on the class ends at 6pm. I went home after the class ends cause it's getting dark that fast and I'd rest when I got home. Then after the resting phase I did my homework's then that's how I spend my day. Life do really must go on even if u had a rough time, u need to cheer yourself up to move on to tell yourself that it's going to be okay, but it's okay to not be okay you just really need to put your hopes up so you can go on.

[jammedmuses]

" Okay okay, maybe he wouldn't fire me. But a lot of our patrons would complain about "How can there be mice with a cat here??" " She even mocks a "Karen voice" when quoting the complaint. Her relationship with Fredbear is more complex than that of a subordinate to a boss; he had no obligation or even necessity to take her in, yet he did.

" That's a bit of a long story, pumpkin. Lets just say I wasn't doing sweet in life, and Fredbear took me in when he caught me attempting to steal food from his diner, instead of kicking me out. " As it turns out, a lot of people have a dislike of black cats based on superstitions.

" Look pumpkin, I know I just said you shouldn't be here but I'm not about to kick you out either! " She reassures. " I mean, you're probably here for a reason in the first place, right? Are you perhaps in need of something? "

❝ Fredbear? ❞ There was a bear here?

Still, Verm supposed he was happy the kitten didn't want to kill him. Verm was able to make peace with these god beasts if they seeked it.

❝ Why is a Felidae working for a bear? ❞ As much as he had questions, the cat had already been so kind to him that he was working on removing himself from the Pizzaria as they spoke.

[mjisnotawriter]

Hello, Tmblr!

Guess what?? May f2f class na kami! Hahahaha yabang! Anw, hindi ko alam kung bakit pero hindi ako gano'n ka-excited noong nag-announce na may f2f class na... Siguro dahil two weeks notice ang announcement nila malamang garalgal kaming mag-asikaso ng school requirements, bale hindi pa nag-uumpisa pagod na agad. Badtrip pa dahil ang nipis ng tela ng uniform ko feeling ko boldstar ako na naglalakad sa daan. Nag-order din ako ng sapatos sa Zalora tama naman yung size, 39 kasi size ng paa ko. kaso ang laki pala ng sizing nung store na pinagbilhan ko so binalik ko pa. Hoping na lang talaga ako na sana mapalitan yung sapatos dahil lagot ako sa nanay ko.

So 'yun, pumasok na nga kami. First day nagdikdik kami ng tae haha char 1/2. Pero actually, medyo iyan talaga ginawa namin dahil fecal analysis ang activities namin. Buti nalang rin at nakatae ako ng bongga dahil bring your own tae kami. Nakakapagod. Ang daming restrictions. Hindi ko pa ma-gets 'yung ibang instructions sa activity sheet. Ang hirap pa gumalaw dahil paminsan minsan binabantayan kami ng prof ko, badtrip talaga!! Nakakainis pa kasi namantsahan ako no'ng lunch time. Natapon kasi 'yung sarsa ng ulam ko sa bag, e kinandong ko sa lap ko yung bag kaya ayun namantsahan, kulay orange pa! Grabe, imbyerna!! Natapos ang araw na tumambay kami ni Jam sa burger king. Wala kasing sakay pa-Express kaya nag-coke float muna kami at chumika.

Second day, naghanap kami ng parasites. Out of 16, mga 5 or 6 lang 'ata nahanap ko. Nahirapan talaga ako magdistinguish ng parasite kasi it looked the same sa other substances na nasa slides, plus hirap pa akong magfocus ng microscope. I'm just so grateful sa mga kaklase ko dahil they were giving me an answers. Ang bobo ko lang talaga dahil hindi ko agad pinacheck sa prof ko. Ayan tuloy, aabot pa ako ng next meeting. After ng class, nagpunta kami sa bluebay tapat lang kasi ng school. Daming tao, jusko!! Puro bata pa! Saglit lang din naman kami, hindi ko nga naubos yung lemon juice na iniinom ko.

Nakakapagod. Dalawang araw palang pero parang pang isang linggo na yung bigat ng pakiramdam ko. I feel so restless. I mean, masaya akong makita ang mga kaklase ko, gusto ko lang silang makakwentuhan maghapon. Masaya rin naman kapag may nakikita ako under the microscope or kapag nagagawa ko 'yung procedures... Pero at the end of the day, I didn't find the fulfillment that I was aiming for... HAHA tangina, ito na naman ako sa fulfillment na 'yan! Bakit ba ang hirap hirap para sa akin maramdaman 'yan? Hindi ko na talaga alam. Ang alam ko lang gusto ko ng umalis sa situation na 'to. Gusto ko na grumaduate, gusto ko na matapos 'tong ka-bullshitan na 'to!!

Nov 9 2021

[kycxrthy-blog]

f2f // finn + ky

[He didn't want Finn to go. He really didn't want Finn to go. Over the past couple of months, the other had gone from someone who he just jammed with from time to time, to one of the best friends he'd ever had. He was kind, supportive, and Ky loved him too much to let him go. He had rushed to get ready, and was now shivering slightly in the truck as he parked up outside of Finn's place, wearing basketball shorts and a sweatshirt, like usual. Jumping out and locking up, he headed up to Finn's front door, knocking loudly before tugging his sleeves over his hands.

@finneganwildeeee