#yesterday was 12 hours today has been 4/5 so far but!! CONSISTENT WORK

[girlboyburger]

LONG overdue customs for @breakintolife !!

[davidmann95]

Superman’s 10 Best of the ‘10s

Good Miracle Monday, folks! The first third Monday of May of a new decade for that matter, and while that means that today in the DC Universe Superman just revealed his secret identity to the world on the latest anniversary of that time he defeated the devil, in ours it puts a capstone on a solid 10 years of his adventures now in the rear view mirror, ripe for reevaluation. And given there’s a nice solid ‘10′ right there I’ll go ahead with the obvious and list my own top ten for Superman comics of the past decade, with links in the titles to those I’ve spoken on in depth before - maybe you’ll find something you overlooked, or at least be reminded of good times.

A plethora of honorable mentions: I’m disqualifying team-ups or analogue character stories, but no list of the great Superman material of the last decade would be complete without bringing up Cave Carson Has A Cybernetic Eye #7, Avengers 34.1, Irredeemable, Sideways Annual #1, Supreme: Blue Rose, Justice League: Sixth Dimension, usage of him in Wonder Twins, (somewhat in spite of itself) Superior, from all I’ve heard New Super-Man, DCeased #5, and Batman: Super Friends. And while they couldn’t quite squeeze in, all due praise to the largely entertaining Superman: Unchained, the decades’ great Luthor epic in Superman: The Black Ring, a brilliant accompaniment to Scott Snyder’s work with Lex in Lex Luthor: Year of the Villain, the bonkers joy of the Superman/Luthor feature in Walmart’s Crisis On Infinite Earths tie-in comics, Geoff Johns and John Romita’s last-minute win in their Superman run with their final story 24 Hours, Tom Taylor’s quiet criticism of the very premise he was working with on Injustice and bitter reflection on the changing tides for the character in The Man of Yesterday, the decades’ most consistent Superman ongoing in Bryan Miller and company’s Smallville Season 11, and Superman: American Alien, which probably would have made the top ten but has been dropped like a hot potato by one and all for Reasons. In addition are several stories from Adventures of Superman, a book with enough winners to merit a class of its own: Rob Williams and Chris Weston’s thoughtful Savior, Kyle Killen and Pia Guerra’s haunting The Way These Things Begin, Marc Guggenheim and Joe Bennett’s heart-wrenching Tears For Krypton, Christos Gage and Eduardo Francisco’s melancholy Flowers For Bizarro, Josh Elder and Victor Ibanez’s deeply sappy but deeply effective Dear Superman, Ron Marz and Doc Shaner’s crowdpleasing Only Child, and Kelly Sue DeConnick and Valentine DeLandro’s super-sweet Mystery Box.

10. Greg Pak/Aaron Kuder’s Action Comics

Oh, what might’ve been. In spite of an all-timer creative team I can’t justify listing this run any higher given how profoundly and comprehensively compromised it is, from the status quo it was working with to the litany of ill-conceived crossovers to regular filler artists to its ignominious non-ending. But with the most visceral, dynamic, and truly humane take on Clark Kent perhaps of all time that still lives up to all Superman entails, and an indisputably iconic instant-classic moment to its name, I can’t justify excluding it either.

9. Action Comics #1000

Arguably the climax to the decade for the character as his original title became the first superhero comic to reach a 1000th issue. While any anthology of this sort is a crapshoot by nature, everyone involved here seemed to understand the enormity of the occasion and stepped up as best they could; while the lack of a Lois Lane story is indefensible, some are inevitably bland, and one or two are more than a bit bizarre, by and large this was a thoroughly charming tribute to the character and his history with a handful of legitimate all-timer short stories.

8. Faster Than A Bullet

Much as Adventures of Superman was rightfully considered an oasis amidst the New 52′s worst excesses post-Morrison and in part pre-Pak, few stories from it seem well-remembered now, and even at the time this third issue inexplicably seemed to draw little attention. Regardless, Matt Kindt and Stephen Segovia’s depiction of an hour in the life of Superman as he saves four planets first thing in the morning without anyone noticing - while clumsy in its efforts at paralleling the main events with a literal subplot of a conversation between Lois and Lex - is one of the best takes I can recall on the scope on which he operates, and ultimately the purpose of Clark Kent.

7. Man and Superman

Seemingly geared on every front against me, built as it was on several ideas of how to handle Superman’s origin I legitimately hate, and by a writer whose work over the years has rarely been to my liking, Marv Wolfman and Claudio Castellini’s Man and Superman somehow came out of nowhere to be one of my favorite takes on Clark Kent’s early days. With a Metropolis and characters within it that feel not only alive but lived-in, it’s shocking that a story written and drawn over ten years before it was actually published prefigured so many future approaches to its subject, and felt so of-the-moment in its depiction of a 20-something scrambling to figure out how to squeeze into his niche in the world when it actually reached stores.

6. Brian Bendis’s run

Controversial in the extreme, and indeed heir to several of Brian Bendis’s longstanding weaknesses as a writer, his work on The Man of Steel, Superman, and Action Comics has nevertheless been defined at least as much by its ambition and intuitive grasp of its lead, as well as fistfuls of some of the best artistic accompaniment in the industry. At turns bombastic space action, disaster flick, spy-fi, oddball crime serial, and family drama, its assorted diversions and legitimate attempts at shaking up the formula - or driving it into new territory altogether, as in the latest, apparently more longterm-minded unmasking of Clark Kent in Truth - have remained anchored and made palatable by an understanding of Superman’s voice, insecurities, and convictions that go virtually unmatched.

5. Strange Visitor

The boldest, most out-of-left-field Superman comic of the past 10 years, Joe Keatinge took the logline of Adventures of Superman to do whatever creators wanted with the character and, rather than getting back to a classic take absent from the mainline titles at the time as most others did, used the opportunity for a wildly expansive exploration of the hero from his second year in action to his far-distant final adventure. Alongside a murderer’s row of artists, Keatinge pulled off one of the few comics purely about how great Superman is that rather than falling prey to hollow self-indulgence actually managed to capture the wonder of its subject.

4. Superman: Up In The Sky

And here’s the other big “Superman’s just the best” comic the decade had to offer that actually pulled it off. Sadly if reasonably best-known for its one true misfire of a chapter, with the increasing antipathy towards Tom King among fans in general likely not helping, what ended up overlooked is that this is a stone-cold classic on moment of arrival. Andy Kubert turns in work that stands alongside the best of his career, Tom King’s style is honed to its cleanest edge by the 12-pager format and subject matter, and the quest they set their lead out on ends up a perfect vehicle to explore Superman’s drive to save others from a multitude of angles. I don’t know what its reputation will end up being in the long-term - I was struck how prosaic and subdued the back cover description was when I got this in hardcover, without any of the fanfare or critic quotes you’d expect from the writer of Mister Miracle and Vision tackling Superman - but while its one big problem prevents me from ranking it higher, this is going to remain an all-timer for me.

3. Jeff Loveness’s stories Help and Glasses

Cheating shamelessly here, but Jeff Loveness’s Help with David Williams and Glasses with Tom Grummett are absolutely two halves of the same coin, a pair of theses on Superman’s enduring relevance as a figure of hope and the core of Lois and Clark’s relationship that end up covering both sides of Superman the icon and Superman the guy. While basically illustrated essays, any sense of detached lecturing is utterly forbidden by the raw emotion on display here that instantly made them some of the most acclaimed Superman stories of the last several years; they’re basically guaranteed to remain in ‘best-of’ collections from now until the end of time.

2. Superman Smashes The Klan

A bitter race for the top spot, but #2 is no shame here; while not quite my favorite Superman story of the past ten years, it’s probably the most perfectly executed. While I don’t think anyone could have quite expected just *how* relevant this would be at the top of the decade, Gene Yang and Gurihiru put together an adventure in the best tradition of the Fleischer shorts and the occasional bystander-centered episodes of Batman: The Animated Series to explore racism’s both overt and subtle infections of society’s norms and institutions, the immigrant experience, and both of its leads’ senses of alienation and justice. Exciting, stirring, and insightful, it’s debuted to largely universal acknowledgement as being the best Superman story in years, and hopefully it’ll be continued to be marketed as such long-term.

1. Grant Morrison’s Action Comics

When it came time to make the hard choice, it came in no small part down to that I don’t think we would have ever seen a major Golden Age Superman revival project like Smashes The Klan in the first place if not for this. Even hampering by that godawful Jim Lee armor, inconsistent (if still generally very good) art, and a fandom that largely misunderstood it on arrival can’t detract from that this is Grant Morrison’s run on a Superman ongoing, a journey through Superman’s development as a character reframed as a coherent arc that takes him from Metropolis’s most beaten-down neighborhoods to the edge of the fifth dimension and the monstrous outermost limits of ‘Superman’ as a concept. It launched discussions of Superman as a corporate icon and his place relative to authority structures that have never entirely vanished, introduced multiple all-time great new villains, and made ‘t-shirt Superman’ a distinct era and mode of operation for the character that I’m skeptical will ever entirely go away. No other work on the character this decade had the bombast, scope, complexity, or ambition of this run, with few able to match its charm or heart. And once again, it was, cannot stress this enough, Grant Morrison on an ongoing Superman book.

[skgway]

1823 July, Fri. 18

7 55/60

12 50/60

1/2 hour in the stable (look after the horses, giving Hotspur oat-cake) and just walked a little down the lane to see that the hay-makers were at work – At breakfast at 9 1/2 from 10 to 11 10/60, sauntered with my aunt into the Allan-car to see the hay-makers there – And weeded the quick-wood hedge planted there in the winter – Making dye and blacking for the gig after M– [Mariana]’s receipt –

At 11 40/60 took George in the gig, and drove the black mare outside Skircoat moor – In returning called at Mr. Wiglesworth’s and brought back Baines’s Yorkshire Directory etc. 2 volumes which Mr. W– [Wigglesworth] yesterday promised to lend us –

Got home at 1 10/60 – Went into the hayfield (the Pearson Ing) with my aunt and did not come in till 1 3/4 – Curled my hair, had it pinched ready for evening – Note from Miss Pickford, a line or 2 to say her nephew Sir Joseph Radcliffe was come to Savile hill, and she could not walk with me this afternoon – We were to have met at Whitley’s at 4 1/4 – Sent the servant back with my compliments no answer required –

Mean to write her a little note relative to her question when she last drank tea here about the funeral rites of the Scythians – Looking over Larcher’s notes on the subject; turned according to his reference, to libro iv. capitulo 1. Ælian – Hustled over Plutarch’s lives at the name Theodosus; but of course could not find what I wanted, not having Plutarch’s libro αὐταρϰῪϛ Ὑ ϰακία etc. An vitiositas ad infelicitatiene sufficiat vide Ælian as above, and Larcher volume iii. page 491 –

Wrote the last 9 lines of today, dressed and went down to dinner at 4 55/60. At 5 3/4 down the old bank to Well-head, got there at 6 by the church – Only the family – Mr. and Mrs. W– [Waterhouse] and their 3 oldest daughters – Speaking of parliamentary elections said there was no subject on which I felt more warmly – Wished for another contested election, and that we might be able to bring in 2 ministerial members –

Mr. Wortley we all observed was likely to have a seat with the pews – When should we get in his place – Lord Harewood had not a son fit for it – We did not know whom to mention – But so far from 2 blue members Mr. W– [Wortley] feared we should not have one – I maintained Mr. Lascelles had lost his contested election thro’ want of better management and the rascality of his York attorney, not Woolley, who kept letters (respecting votes) in his pocket unopened till it was too late for them to be of use –

But the other party always outwitted us – We were always too late, or too supine – Coupled Mr. W– [Wortley] on his good judgement in not voting at all at the election of a law – Against to the navigation company – He said it was neither forgotten nor forgiven by some of the party (of course) Mr. and Mrs. James Stansfield) who said Mr. W– [Wortley] acted thus on account of religion – and “the election was lost for righteousness sake” – (Mr. James S– [Stansfield] is a unitarian) – This led me to remark that Mr. W– [Wortley]’s vote could not have gained the election: as it was 2 gents voted who had no votes; and, to say nothing of this, my uncle as chairman would have had the casting vote, and thus must have given the election to Mr. James Norris –

I then observed pretty severely upon the means the Messieurs Rawson and Briggs had taken in favour of Mr. James S– [Stansfield] their instigating Mrs. Christopher Saltmarshe’s note to me (of Tuesday 27 May 1823) begging me to use my influence with my uncle “that in case” (to use Mrs. S– [Saltmarshe]’s own written words) “Mr. L– [Lascelle] had promised has vote to Mr. N– [Norris] and at the same time, did not feel interest in his obtaining the appointment: but had given his vote, as many do – to the first applicant and not from wishing him to succeed. And if it would not be taking too great a liberty to ask such a favour – that he would have the goodness not to present himself, at all, at the election but preserve a neutrality”  –

I observed that a note to ask me to ask my uncle to break his word if given, was an insult; that, if almost any one else had ventured to do such a thing to me, I should never have spoken to them again, but then I excused Emma; it must be her ignorance – Her yielding to her brother Mr. Stansfield Rawson; I knew, I felt assured, she did not mean an insult; she had even so excused herself and so apologized in her note that I would not take any serious notice of it, but, being out when the note arrived, I had never written any answer to it but merely called, and turned it off in joke – Adding that they little thought how much I was the last person in the world to whom such a note could be addressed with impunity, and that, so far from influencing my uncle as they wished, I had done just the contrary; –

For, in fact, my uncle’s vote was not promised – He was at liberty to stay at home if he chose he had made no promises, he had merely said to Mr. N– [Norris]’s oldest brother when he called, that he “thought he should not be his enemy” – But I told my uncle the easiest way would be to say at once, he had promised his vote – And if it was possible that he should be determined to go to vote for Mr. N– [Norris]. Thus, said I, they absolutely defeated their own ends –

Said I had merely laughed to Emma, saying her note was far too late – She ought to have written a week before – I mentioned too, to the W– [Waterhouse]s having drank tea at Lightcliffe some time before this, and that what Mr. P– [Priestley] said had put me a little on my guard, for he, Mr. P– [Priestley], was anxious not to have Mr. N– [Norris] elected, but tho’ I did not then agree with him (knew nothing of Mr. N– [Norris]’s alleged setting himself up – Being too meddling – Too blabbing – Likely to injure the navigation – Concerns by too much influence, his older brother being clerk to the company) yet I had merely laughed and said Bless me, we must think of all this –

We have all been gulled into thinking Mr. N– [Norris] a very proper person and said if we had a hundred votes we should give him them all – But I would tell my uncle what he (Mr. P– [Priestley]) said, and we must think of it – Determined then to advise my uncle to give Mr. N– [Norris] his vote, tho’ it was quite unnecessary to tell the P– [Priestley]s this –

It appeared that Mr. and Mrs. W– [Waterhouse] had gone to the Saltmarshes about 1/4 hour after Mrs. Saltmarshe had sent the note – They condemned it at the time, so did Mrs. Rawson of Stony-Royde; and Mr. Saltmarshe declared, if he had been at home, Emma should not have sent it – But said I, the matter did not rest here; for afterwards there came a note (I believed in Mr. Stansfield R– [Rawson]’s hand-writing) written in the names of the bank-firm to my uncle himself, making the same request Emma had done; and still, not satisfied with this, Mr. Briggs, bringing with him Mr. William Priestley (of Lightcliffe) had after this called on my uncle; and Mr. B– [Briggs] had the effrontery or ignorance to make the same proposal to my uncle of staying at home – Of breaking his word if given –

I believed my uncle was a little agitated (he looked so when he returned to us in the breakfast room) that any man should make him such a proposal – But he calculated on the ignorance of the person – Knew he could not mean to insult him – Kept his temper, and calmly said –  “He could not do it – He must be consistent with himself” – Mr. W[illiam] P[riestley] knew too well what he was about to say a word of such a thing – He said nothing but simply that he thought if his uncle had been alive (the late John Walker Esquire of Crownest) he would have given his vote to Mr. Stansfield –

Both Mr. & Mrs. W– [Waterhouse] quite agreed in the justice of my remarks – Mr. W– [Waterhouse] quite surprised that Mr. Stansfield R– [Rawson] – Should have written such a note – He never knew of this near of Mr. Briggs’s calling – He knew they had done this to a Mr. Crossley (at or near Rochdale) whom they had persuaded to stay away, after he promised to give Mr. N– [Norris] his vote; – He knew they had tried to persuade Mr. Thomas Dyson of Willow-edge to do the same; but he had never thought they would make such an attempt with my uncle – Broadly insinuated, he did not think they durst – It was an insult to a gentleman –

The subject turned for a minute or 2 to Mrs. Empson – Mrs. Waterhouse had heard something I had said of her (Mrs. W– [Waterhouse]) and she had “long meant to give me a wipe” – I saw Mr. W– [Waterhouse] was a check upon her – He did not wish her to name it – At last I succeeded in learning that I “was very cool”, but I had said “I never saw Mrs. Empson so like Mrs. Waterhouse” that is as she (Mrs. E– [Empson]) was when she was telling her mind – I replied I had no recollection of making such a speech: it was very unlike me to do so: nor did I believe I had made it – But I perhaps I might  

Mrs. W– [Waterhouse] must be aware the similitude might be good in 2 points – I had seen Mrs. W– [Waterhouse] out of temper and she had once behaved to me in a very unintelligible way: but I had forgotten or rather overlooked it, and it was very unlike me to revert to it in such a many –

If I had said it at all, it must have been merely to my uncle and aunt at home; but certainly if I really had said it elsewhere it was in confidence to Mrs. Rawson of Stony Royde or more probably to Mrs. Saltmarshe (which however I did not could not believe to be the case unless one of them should assert it); and I should know better how to say things in confidence in future –

However; I begged Mrs. W– [Waterhouse] to understand that said or unsaid I was very happy to make her any and every apology in my power, laughing and adding I knew her to be really good at heart – I would not quarrel with her – She was now a privileged person, and might say what she liked – As for Mrs. E– [Empson] “Love rashly formed too often ends in hate”, and I dared say she how hated me as much as she had ever done the contrary –  “No! No! You are mistaken she does not do that” – “Then”, said I, “I have done her unjustice but it is too late now to say anything about it – It is a dead cut between us – I may speak to her at other places or how I did so in York – But here perhaps I may take no notice of her at all” –

Mrs. W– [Waterhouse] and I parted very good friends and I came away at 8 55/60 – Mr. W– [Waterhouse] set off to walk a part of the way home with me, came all the way, I persuaded him to come in to see my uncle and aunt, and he sat with us till 10 55/60 – As we walked along, I asked if he did not think this business of the Greenups a rascally thing: of course, he did not like to say yes, at once but certainly did not contradict it, quite the contrary –

He said no attorney in the town would have done for them for Mr. James Norris has unless it was a young man, and had a character to lose – But he had gone thro’ a great deal – He had been kicked out of the room, and buffeted about, and abused – Ashewed, very worthy man (a creditor of the G– [Greenups]) had said to Mr. W– [Waterhouse] that they ought to be very much obliged to Mr. N– [Norris] they ought to make him a very handsome present, but perhaps he had done himself more harm than any good the G– [Greenups] could do him – 

I said, had my uncle known all this before the election, he would have staid at home – For he had too much the feeling of a gentleman and the principle of an honest man to countenance, or appear to countenance such conduct in any one – I thought the G– [Greenups] would make £20,000 by this business – Mr. W– [Waterhouse] thought they would make half thin debt – That if they owe as was said fifty-thousand pounds according to Mr. W– [Waterhouse] they will clear £25,000 – I thought such things ought not not to be overlooked – such people ought not to be noticed – Mr. W– [Waterhouse] agreed; but, said he, “these things get over, and in a few years are forgotten” –

Sat up talking to my uncle and aunt till 11 50/60. Spiriting up my uncle about the pride of the family about Shibden etc.  Having Pontey or Mickle improving the place which I always take every opportunity of urging and I think I shall succeed at last –

After coming upstairs began thinking of a contested election and a plan for bringing two blue members. Thought of writing anonymous from Bradford (but to be dire[c]ted to me here) to ask the chancellor of the exchequer whom we should choose if Wortley is made a peer. Began building castles about the result of my success, the notoriety it would gain me, an introduction at court perhaps, a barony etc. etc.

A glass of hot red wine neguss taken with Mr W[aterhouse] (I never take any) heated me. I thought of myself how slight the partition between sanity and not. The blood seemed in my head. I was not likely to sleep. I tried to compose myself by thinking [of] that almighty being who had created me. I had already said my prayers fervently and on getting into bed began repeating the lord’s prayer aloud again and again for ten minutes till the tears trickled down my face and at a little after it struck one fell asleep –

No rain today except a slight shower about 2 o’clock which could not do much harm to the hay – Yet a dull day – No sun – No drought – Yet got in nine loads – Very soft, and damp, too much so I fear –

[purplesurveys]

1084

survey by trixie11

Yesterday

What time did you wake up? I woke up at 9:30 AM, extremely parched and hungover from the night before. Though I dunno if I should say the night before, since I was in a video call with my college friends from 9 PM to 5 AM, lol. But anyway, we drank a lot and talked a lot and it was SO much fun. I can’t believe it took us 10 months to do this.

Where were you sleeping at? I slept in my own bed, as always.

What was for breakfast? My dad made pancit with pork and vegetables. He also made a bowl of lugaw meant for both my mom (who’s currently on a diet) and for me (since he saw I looked wrecked, and lugaw is a popular hangover food).

What did you wear? I was wearing a black halter top and shorts during the day, but I took a shower in the afternoon and changed into a striped tank top and a new pair of shorts.

Did you go to school? Nope. I did visit UP with Andi last Friday and it felt so uhfjfdlsfsdfh being there. It was such a range of emotions, knowing I haven’t been there since March, I never got a proper senior year experience, seeing all the barriers blocking the streets that lead to the buildings that now double as COVID isolation facilities; and, of course, knowing that this was the place I shared with Gabie for four years and now she isn’t even a part of my life anymore in any way.

Did you go to work? No, it was a Sunday.

What was for lunch? My family always has breakfast really late, so it already doubles as our lunch. I think we were all in the living room to watch a mass livestream during noon.

What was for dinner? My mom made some kind of creamy pasta with toasted bread on the side.

Where else did you go? I stayed home yesterday since I had already gone out last Friday night with Andi and to recharge from my 7-hour call with friends last Saturday. Plus, going out would just tempt me to spend when I have barely anything left from my last paycheck, hahaha. 

What did you do there? I just had a Worth It marathon all day. I also finally got up to speed on the independent channel of BuzzFeed people Shane Madej, Ryan Bergara, and Steven Lim called Watcher. I remember subscribing as soon as they launched the channel a year ago but never had time to watch their any of their series. But I finally did, and it turns out I was missing out so bad; their content is pretty great.

Who did you talk to? Well I was up until 5 AM from the night before, and in that call were Blanch, Lui, Jo, JM, Kate, and Laurice. The day after, I talked to my dad, mom, Nina, Andi, and Angela.

Who did you hang out with? Just myself. Me time is super important to me, especially on Sundays.

Who did you text? My phone remained off for most of yesterday.

Who did you call? Didn’t need to call anyone, either.

Anything else about yesterday? By 5 AM only Kate, Laurice, Jo, and I were left in the call since the others got sleepy; we ended up talking about Nacho and thinking back to the time he passed away and sharing our own stories. That was sad, but also therapeutic. Andi also shared photos of them wearing the skirt I gave them for Christmas and I was super happy to see them feel confident in it.

Today

What time did you wake up? I first woke up at around 6:45 AM, but I went back to sleep and woke up again at 7:30. I usually get up to start work at 8, so I spent the next half hour trying to wake myself up and shake off the anxiety I was feeling.

Where'd you wake up at? Again, my bed.

What's for breakfast? Skipped it. It’s my lunch break now and my stomach’s been growling like crazy all morning, so after this survey I might go downstairs and find something to munch on.

School today? No school for me. In general, I think law school is off the table for good. JM told a lot of horror stories covering the toxic culture in law schools all over the country and it’s just...I just don’t think it’s worth it to go through the things he touched on just to get a law degree, especially since I’m not even passionate about being a lawyer. I just thought it could be an option since I like memorizing stuff, lol.

How about work? Yeah, I have work but it’s 12:10 so we’re on lunch break.

What's for lunch? I still have to see.

Dinner? Not sure. My dad usually makes delicious dinner though so I don’t think too hard about this.

Who did you talk to today? I’ve talked to some of my colleagues at work - Ysa, Bea, Denise, Danielle, Pia, and our newest associate Aimee, who starts today and who I already know since we went to college together and took up journalism - and I’ve also talked to Nina, Angela, and Kate.

Who'd you text? Nobody; I don’t really text anymore unless it’s for work. My weekly promo actually expired yesterday so I wouldn’t be able to text unless I redeem that promo again.

Who'd you call? I was in a video call with my work team this morning for our weekly check-in. Then I have three more work-related calls lined up this afternoon.

Anywhere else you're going? I plan to be at home for the rest of my shift and to stay home in the evening so that I have enough time to recharge before tomorrow morning.

What are you doing there? ^ Oop, already touched on that.

What did you wear today? I’m still wearing the same striped tank top + shorts combo from yesterday.

Anything else about today? I hate how anxious I get every Sunday evening/Monday morning before work when things have always ended up being more than okay 10 times out of 10. I don’t know where the nerves come from when I do my tasks correctly and on time, anyway. What matters is I’m settled now at work and I’m just looking forward to finish my shift.

Tomorrow

What time are you waking up? Same time, since I have the same routine every weekday. Sigh, I miss the variety that college life gave me - even things like having my first classes at different hours of the day every weekday already provided a lot of excitement. The 9-6 set-up + WFH can feel so lonely sometimes.

Where will you be waking up? I sleep in my bed like 98% of the time but I also end up passing out on the living room couch sometimes. I can never tell, so this is a question mark for now.

What are you going to eat for breakfast? I will probably skip breakfast as always. If not, I imagine having scrambled eggs, hotdogs, and a couple slices of white bread.

What are you going to wear? I’ll just pick out housewear items from my drawer.

Are you going to school? No.

Are you going to work? You know it.

What are you going to eat for lunch? I don’t plan this far ahead.

What are you going to eat for dinner? No clue but again, my dad will 100% whip up something delicious as he always does for dinner.

Where else are you going? I’m only staying at home since I will need a strong, consistent internet connection to be able to work. This goes for every weekday too.

Who will you talk to? The people I’ll surely talk to are Ysa, Bea, Pia, Danielle, and Aimee since I work with them daily. My parents and sister, too.

Who will you text? I still can’t tell, but probably no one.

Who will you call? I have one Google Meet call scheduled for tomorrow, but we’re 26 in the group and I’m not in the mood to list everyone’s names down.

Who will you hang out with? I’ll only be with myself. My friends are busy with their own stuff on weekdays too, so it’s okay.

Anything else about tomorrow? It’s one day closer to the weekend so it’s something to look forward to.

In conclusion...

What day of the week was yesterday? Yesterday was Sunday.

Today? Monday.

Tomorrow? Tuesday.

What was the date yesterday? January 17th.

Today? 18th.

Tomorrow? It’ll be the 19th.

Which of the three days do you think will be the best? Sunday was obviously the best.

Why? It was the weekend andddd I got to sleep in.

Which one do you talk to more people? Monday is usually the busiest day at work, so I think it would be safe to assume I’ll be talking to more people today compared to yesterday and tomorrow.

Call more people? My Monday schedules will occsionally be flooded with scheduled work-related video calls. I have four for today alone, but I’m already done with three; the last one isn’t until 4 PM.

Text more people? It always differs.

[whatdoesshedotothem]

Friday 11 May 1838

8

12 35/..

fine but cool (cold) morning F58° at 8 ½ am breakfast in about ½ hour and over at 10 20 – very civil note between 8 and 9 this morning from Mr. Delporte – the best work on the cold field ‘Sur le terrain houiller la province de Liège est ‘le mémoire sur la constitution géognostique de la province de Liège par M. Dumont 1 vol. in 4to’  but M. Delporte ‘in connait pas d’ouvrage sur les mines des environs de Mons ou d’Anzin, si ce n’est la mémoire de M. Chevalier sur les houillères de Mons qui se trouve dans l’année 1832 des Annales des mines, et que l’on ne peut se procurer séparément – Mr. Delporte aura l’honneur d’aller rende ses devoirs à Madame Lister – Vendredi Matin’ – wrote the above of today and at accounts till 12 – then prepared for going out – took Lion (Mr. Lyon anglice) and A- and I walked to the palace d’Orange now musée de l’histoire naturelle Bibliothèque de Bourgogne etc. etc. – at the latter  at 12 40 till 2 ½ A- looking at the plate of Denons’ Egypt and I skimming over the work – mémoire par Mr. Dumont (vid. line 3 of today) – at 1st the concierge shewed us thro’ the library and could tell nothing – espied or the librarian – applied to him, and all was right – a crack-brained old Flamand (native of Brussels) with a little croix d’honneur at his button-hole, talking vociferously to the librarian and came and entered into conversation with me, and would have taken up my time terribly but for the charity of the librarian in telling him my time was precious and getting him off – laughing heartily at his absurdities – all peoples and languages originally Flamand – Marcus Aurelius and the Romans and all – Marcus Aurelius did nothing – the French and English likewise doers of nothing or of nothing worth – nothing right Flamand – soon however turned to my book from which (the librarian fearing I could not get it) I made several little notes – the impression consisted only of 120 or 130 copies – probably all sold – published by M. Hayez, Imprimeur de l’académie Royale Rue de la Montagne – determined to go ourselves by and by

Bibliothèque de Bourgogne 150,000 volumes

References to pp. 199 et seq.

201. 83 couches de houille

202, 205. 206. 207. 210x211. 217. 220 224 Le Sacrament (n°1 of table p. 21 1st exploité à 700 ou 800 metres au Nord du château d’Oupeye – I see now this is not what I meant – the 700 ou 800 metres are not of depth . p.281 vide reference to ‘Observations sur la division des terrains, lues à l’académie de Bruxelles le 3 Avril 1830 par M.J.J. D’Ornalius d’Halloy’ –

1st bone cavern found in Belgium that of Chokier in April 1829. Description of the cavern at p. 326.

SH:7/ML/E/21/0095

while we were reading at the Bibliothèque de Bourgogne, sent Lion to see if Mr. Delporte was returned home from the tribunal, and not to let him call on me while I was out – not returned home at 2pm – A- and I came home for a few minutes at 2 35 – she had a couple of biscuits and a little Médoc and water – our again and at the church of St. Gudele about 3 ¼ for some time – sent Lion home to take care I did not miss M. Delporte, and A- and I remained in the church – the pulpit certainly very fine oak-carving – the finest of the 3 (by Verbruggen) at Antwerp, Malines and here – Adam and Eve driven out of paradise – conversion of St. Paul at Malines – already forgot what at Antwerp – too much taken up with the Rubens (descent from the X) there to think much of anything else in the church – A- and I sauntered by ourselves inquiring for M. Hayez.  went into very civil little shop – bought garters for A- the woman directed us to the r. de la Montagne – en route turned in to the Bazaar and walked thro’ the rez de chaussée floor – chiefly furniture and knick-knacks – then to the r. de la Montagne low down in it to M. Hayez – a small brass plate (plaque) on the door – little or no appearance of shop – shewen into his little bureau (at 4 10) – very civil middle aged or rather younger? man – had only one copy of Dumonts’ mémoire and found that only this morning – in bounds with 2 other memoires forming volume 8 of the memoires of the académie  1829 and 1830 – could not separate the memories – By no means said I – mentioned my wish to see the mines at Liège – he said we should be much pleased with the country – recommended as 1 of the 1st in the Europe the travaux métallurgiques (iron foundry) of Mr. Cockerill at Seraing village of --- but not take gentlemen with us, or he might not let us see his works – jealous of gentlemen foreigners for fear of having his secrets stolen – the village of Seraing about a lieue from Liège – had 2 houillers (coal works) in his establishment – go to the Pavillon Anglais hotel – should find guides and guide-books and all ready – supposed I wished to see La mine de nouvelle Espérance – a celebrated Romancier (Balzac?) of Paris had lately written a notice of this mine – of his feelings etc. on going down that he brought this mine into great note – thanked our friend M. Hayez – he recommended 2 other works – Essai couronné par l’académie sur la constitution géognostique de la province de Liège par J.C. Davreux – Bruxelles 1833. 4to = 12/70 and mémoire sur la constitution géognostique de la province de Brabant par H. Galeotti. Bruxelles 1838. = 7/. – and bought also for a brochure notice on the life of Rubens – gave my address – M. Hayez to send the books immediately – he said M. Dumont was quite a young man – about 23 – get off yesterday with M. D’Ornalius d’Halloy to England – M. d’O. d’Halloy the great man – the Cuvier, said I, of Bruxelles – oui, oui, much pleased with our luck in finding our book and M. Hayez so communicative and civil – said I, this will do, if M. Delporte cannot come – on coming in at 5 5 (bought 6 plates lithographies of Brussels for A- and the railroad for myself in returning) 1st thing was M. Delporte could not come – trop occupé at the tribunal – sent Lion with the servants to see the church of St. Gudele and from 5 5 to 7 at accounts and writing so far of today – dinner at 7 ¼ in an hour – then planning route from here – doubt whether to go to Liège by the railroad – do not much like leaving the servants here, nor much like being without our carriage and comforts – A- starved and rather poorly – had a good coal fire made, over which slept a while while I looked at maps and finally determined up going to Waterloo early in the morning and being off in the afternoon for Louvain at last – A- has not been quite [so well] since she has been here – sat talking till after 10 – then had Oddy and prepared for bed – fine but cold day F61 ½° at 10 20 pm

[anne-lister-adventures]

Wednesday, 8 April 1840

5 50/’’

11 3/4

Incurred a cross last night thinking of Pi-Mariana Fine but dull morning Reaumur 11 1/4º on my window near my bed at 7 a.m. breakfast over at 8 1/4 – Paid George - A soldier brought in yesterday afternoon égorgé terribly cut and maimed – Went to the woods for firewood his horse returned without him about 5 p.m. and he was found soon afterwards and brought home to his wife and children – The soldiers here chiefly from the Government of Tchernikoff – 

Off at 8 3/4 so thick we could hardly see the mountains close by – In 1/2 hour arrive at wood - The wood and about the place where the soldier was murdered yesterday and come near to the broad bouldery bedded Terek – Not much water no difficulty in fording hereabouts – 

At 9 40/’’ at and pass thro’ the little village of Redante on the hill right – Here Persian petticoat like trousers and Circassian and Persian costume 1st time and enter the defile – Défilé de Terek – High calcaire compacte wooded rock close above us right, and river perpendicular below left, and broad bed and a stripe of wood and yellow sedge grass take up all the breadth of the defile – Closed on the other side by thickly wooded high mountain – Very picturesque willows and sedge between the streams of the river here and there – Defile 1/2 mile wide? up and down road along the ft.[foot] and side of the mountain and now and then in the bottom – 

Traditional Circassian clothes. (Image Source)

Tcherkess (Costume Perse) at work squaring stone (perhaps for the new bridge at Vladicavkas – To have all stone piliers and cost 60,000) and in the little streams finest water cresses I ever saw – Strata dip from S.[South] to N.[North] a few Pinus Sylvestris looking like shrubs sprinkled on the perpendicular faces of the rock –

All the rest beech and oak – Many fine hazels close to the road and some white thorn and much barbeny[barberry] – The rock (right) high and very fine, and the loud murmuring Terek very interesting – Too thick to see far before us – By and by river within deep sand rock banks – White cottage like building (a little farm or fort?) on little hill above us right and enter the narrow gorge at a sharpish angle at 10 20/’’this brêche in the mountains (our pass) very fine for some distance before we came up to it –

And at 10 20/’’ 11 or 12 of the little square huts mills on the streams – Just room here (on entering this narrow part) for broad bed of river (divided into little streams) and our 6 or 7 yards broad road – And now and then a little margin of wood on the other side the river – 

At 10 40/’’ 6 or 7 poor little huts and 5 minutes after walled up remains of old road cut out of the rock a little to our right – We in the bottom below – And soon afterwards pass lime kiln – And soldiers burning the lime – Hazel, barberry, white thorn and Kisil, as small wood by the road side – A little sun and clearer now at 10 55/’’ – Some of the hill-mountain tops clear – 

At 11 1/4 on 2 hills on the other side the river (left) 2 white buildings farms or fortress over a little gorge winding to the left, and one stone building a fort? close above us right – Merely little dots of snow here and there on the mountains – 11 3/4 at Tower above us right and slaty rock dipping perpendicularly – 

At 11 52/’’ on rock-hill in the middle of the gorge picturesque fort of Lars a tall square tapering Tower and little old castle-like building – That we pass under right and thro’ little street of low poor little cottages and at 11 55/’’ stop at the goodish white Station House (left) at Lars – A porticoed doorway and 2 windows on each side, one story high – 

Very picturesque little white village at the foot of the partly bare bouldery and partly wooded mountains – Not much more than room for village and river – A-[Ann] got out and sketched – I wrote so far of today till now 1 10/’’ and then went to A-[Ann] sketching the old ruined fortress from just before our entrance into the little town consisting a street of about 9 little white washed cottages – Huts on a side, and the Station House about the middle of the street side next the river – A good barrack at the other end of the Town 1 story high 7 windows on one side 6 on the other side the door – The defile very fine from here – Very narrow and the rocks high – Just room for street and river – The old fortress very picturesque – The rock a black schistose shale with an appearance of containing organic remains – Large cylinders as in trunks of trees – They had waited for us – 

Off at 1 40/’’ – At 1 55/’’ little cascade (right) the 1st and only one we have seen in the mountains so far not much water – But height considerable and the little fall pretty – At 2 22/’’ 1st of the 3 bridges over the river between Lars and Dariel – Narrow bouldery rocky foaming Terek – The stream 4 or 5 yards broad? not more tho’ the bridge five or six times as long – A small hut at the other end of the bridge and a soldier on guard – Fine narrow naked rock pass – The defile strewed with big and less boulders and masses of fallen rock – Passed one enormous mass (larger than the famous one in the Val d’Heas aux Pyrenees) about 10 minutes ago – (About 2 10/’’) – Granite soon not long after Lars – 

2d.[2nd] bridge said Mr. B-[Bachmetieff] about 1/2 verst from 1st stopt about 100 yards from it for 5 or 6 minutes at 5 28/’’ – 2 wheels of the servants Kibitka so broken obliged to tie them up as well as one could – The road here close upon the precipice of the rapidy river, and here, on the other side close upon the stream, the arch Mr. B-[Bachmetieff] spoke of as being so interesting – I understood from him it was an arch belonging to the old road – It is simply a piece of natural rock from under which the water has wash the stratum of indurated sand at top white and darkish and bituminous looking at bottom – This stratum 5 or 6 feet thick is seen here between the immense mass of superincumbent rock and the rock beneath lying like what my colliers would call seat-earth – 

“The Pass of Derial on the River Terek, north of the Caucasus range” by Sir Robert Porter, 1817. © British Library, used here under fair use rules.

3d.[3rd] bridge at 2 50/’’ and at the far end of this as of the 2d.[2nd] little hut and sentinel as at the first – The mist cleared off a little here, so as to shew the singular conformation of the rock in tall pointed cones, and at 2 53/’’ about 200 yards from the 3d.[3rd] bridge Dariel on right bank of river –   

Stop here to shew podarojna and to pay 4 Silver Rubles in addition for having 12 horses instead of 6 – The man said his salary was very small – It was very triste being there without his wife and children and begged me to give him something – Paid 15/- + one S.[Silver] R.[Rouble] = 18/50 ∴[therefore] he 4 1/2 Ruble assignats for himself which seemed to satisfy him tolerably – Dariel is merely a good barrack consisting of 3 or 4 white buildings round a little oblong court, capable I should think of containing 500 or 600 or more? a chevre de frieze gate running on a little solid wheel –

This plan common here for heavy gates or gate-doors – The old ruins B-[Bachmetieff] spoke of are small remains of old fort or castle on high conical rock projecting forwards into the defile, at a little beyond the properest barrack-fort on the opposite or left bank of the river – B-[Bachmetieff] said Pliny mentioned there being a fort here – Antique Porte Caspienne – Dariel (pronounced Dār-yŏl) is in the very neck, narrowest part, of the pass – 

Off from Dariel 7 v.[versts] from Lars at 3 13/’’ – Soon afterwards pass a Teleaga and 4 horses and the Post in Teleaga with 4 horses – The latter had been detained 4 days in consequence of the snow and the Teleaga not being able to pass the mountain at the summit, but the bags were forwarded Mr. B-[Bachmetieff] told me – 

At 3 1/2 gneiss or schistose rock with perpendicular stripes (veins) about a foot broad some legs of black schist – Granite boulders by and by and the mountain sides covered with gravel and debris so as to look like conglomerate mountains – Enormous boulders and masses of tumble down rock, black, green, irony, granity, and calcareous? – Spots and streaks of snow on the mountains now at 4 p.m. – At 4 20/’’ just room for road and river – A shingly small bouldery versant left, and on the right the rock broken into perpendicular ragged conical sharp pointed summits a stunted style of the sketch on the last p.[page] – Then the defile widens a little but the whole bottom a rough bouldery torrent-bed – How the river must be swollen at times to roll over all this breadth 200 or 300 yards+? 

“Darial Gorge” by Rufin Sudkovsky.

At 5, left at a little distance on high ground but almost enveloped in mist (damp drizzling small rain frozen into small hail) an old cracked leaning tapering square Tower of rough stone and mortar like the old fort at Lars and old ruins at Dariel, the sides gathered up so as almost to meet and cover the over in a sort of rounded pyramid top – A sort of chimney on one side – This queer Tower must be ancient – Then descend on the little stone walled tapering square towered old fortress like fort and village of Kasbek – Enter the modern white washed barrack fort and soon comfortably lodged in the Government Inn – 2 rooms for us all – A-[Ann] and I have never been packed in such little room but we do very well – Paid for our horses -/14 per horse per verst 41 1/2 v.[versts] – And gave our 3 Cossacks a Silver Rubel this time – Never so liberal before – 

The Mareschal employed for Government (a soldier of course) engages to find 3 good new wheels for 14 S.[Silver] R.[Rubles] = 49/- to be ready by 12 tomorrow – The wife of the soldier who has care of the Inn and strangers, is a Pole, just returned from 1 1/2 year captivity hard worked among the Tcherkess – 600 v.[versts] from here – Near the Caspian – At Anadan or some such name – Her husband petitioned the General of the District who came this way, and the made one of the Princes Soumis answerable for finding her – 100 S.[Silver] R.[Roubles] paid for her ransom – Taken at the entrance of the narrow part of the Defile (vide p.[page] 146) going to Vladicavkas – An officer with her (unarmed) – He killed and the driver wounded – Only 2 Tcherkess – Another woman with her who could speak a few words of their language said she was the slave of our little Pole ∴[therefore] they let her go home with her infant that she had with her – Our poor little Pole was stripped and made to travel (ride) 5 nights with nothing but her shift on – 2d.[2nd] week in Carême 2 years ago and colder than now – the people live in very sorry huts – Immense fine forests, immense trees, near where she was – She refused to change to be Mahometan – Several more Russian prisoners there – The wife of a Cossack Captain still there has changed her religion – When the troops go, the prisoners are driven away into the woods, and the people say they are Soumis – The troops return and the prisoners remain unfound – 

The whole of the Pass today from the narrow part especially very fine – From Dariel it is a chaos sublimely wild and desolate – The Terek is about like the Gave below St. Sauveur? One fried trout lukewarm for breakfast this morning and much better quite cold at tea between 7 and 8 this evening – Had our little Pole for 10 minutes or more just before tea – George interpreted – Domna stood by sighing in deep interest at the terrible tale – 

Darial (or, as Anne calls it, Dariel) ravine. (Image Source)

Fine day but never clear and damp and drizzling frozen small hail and foggy for some time before our arrival this evening – Had just written so far now at 10 p.m. –

8 3/4 to 11 55/’’ Vladicavkas to Lars

1 40/’’ to 5 10/’’ L-[Lars] to Kasbek

 [symbols in the margin of the page:]         X

[in the margin of the page:]             Defile du Terek

[in the margin of the page:]             Narrow part of Defile

[in the margin of the page:]            Bridges over the Terek

[in the margin of the page:]            Natural arch in stratum of indurated sand

[in the margin of the page:]            Dariel

[in the margin of the page:]            Ruins of old fort

[in the margin of the page:]            Tapering square Tower

[in the margin of the page:]            Kasbeck

[in the margin of the page:]            our hostess taken by the Tcherkess

[in the margin of the page:]            Observation on the Pass

Page References: SH:7/ML/E/24/0076 and SH:7/ML/E/24/0077

[lovemesomesurveys]

The last time you were in the fridge, what were you looking for? Shredded cheese.

Do you like clowns? Just Pennywise.

Have you answered all of these questions honestly so far? Uh, we were just two questions in and they were simple questions, no need to lie about what I got out of my fridge and whether I like clowns lol.

What's the third text in your inbox? Doesn’t work that way.

Are you listening to anything at the moment? An ASMR video.

Do you twitch when your falling asleep? >> Yeah, sometimes. Or I have that sudden falling feeling and jerk awake. <<< Ugh, same. I hate that.

Are your dishes in the dishwasher clean or dirty? Clean.

Are you at home or with friends more often? I’m always at home, even before the quarantine/lockdown stuff began. For the past few years, actually. 

When is the last time you were on a bicycle? Never.

What have you eaten today? So far just ramen.

Would you date someone 15 years older than you? I don’t think so.

Do you own a strapless bra? Yeah.

Does the person you like know it? I don’t like anyone in that way.

Did anything brighten up your day today? It’s only 5 in the morning, not a whole lot as happening. I don’t see much happening later on either, though.

How are you feeling at this exact moment? Tired.

Are you someone who worries too often? Yepppp.

If you could date somebody who would it be? No one right now.

Do you ever wonder how other people see you? Sometimes, but it scares me. I’d really rather not know.

What is one good thing you're known for? I don’t know.

How about one bad thing? I don’t know.

Are you taller than most? >> Most children, yeah. LOL <<< Ha, same. 

When was the last time you sang an ENTIRE song? It’s been a few days since I’ve listened to music.

Are you the type of person who likes to be out or home? I like to be at home, which like I said is where I spend all my time.

What time do you normally go to bed? Between 7 and 8AM. :X

What is one thing that is currently bothering you? The usual things.

What did you do today? So far just ate ramen, watched some YouTube videos, went on Tumblr, did surveys, played some Animal Crossing, and listened to ASMR videos.

Do you consider yourself to be attractive? Nope.

What was the last thing that you drank? Starbucks Doubleshot energy drink.

Is anything annoying you now? Yes.

Has anyone ever said i love you to you and not meant it? I’m sure. Some people throw those words around too easily.

Do you regret going out with the last person you did? No.

Do you realize it when you curse? Yeah. I don’t curse often, so when I do it really stands out.

When was the last time you showered? Yesterday.

Who did you last talk to in person? My brother.

Do you ever have days where you just don't do anything? I don’t do much day to day, but yes there’s days where I’m really having a hard time or don’t feel and I don’t feel up to doing anything besides lie down, sleep, and stare at the TV.

Have you ever been extremely tired but refused to go to sleep? Yes. I do that often for some reason.

What is your favorite episode of True Life, if you have one at all? I’ve seen some episodes of that here and there, but I can’t think of any particular episode at the moment. I know there’s news episodes coming out about people’s experience in quarantine.

Have you ever experienced something paranormal? No.

What's the longest amount of time you've been stuck in traffic? A couple hours. I don’t even like spending a few minutes being stuck in bumper to bumper traffic.

Best field trip experience? I loved all the field trips as a kid.

Have you ever been to New York City? No, but I’ve always wanted to go.

If so, is it all its cracked up to be?

What is the most amount of money you've spent on a meal before? Hmm. Probably like $50. It was a nice, pricey restaurant. 

What museums have you visited, if any? Several.

Have you ever had a group project and one of your partners bailed on you? Yes. I hated group projects, they added way more stress. 

What's your worst traveling experience? The drive to and from Idaho to California back in 2010. We went to Idaho to see my grandpa who was very sick and his wife told us he didn’t have much time left, so my parents, brother, and I made the 12+ drive there. We left at night and it was during the wintertime, so we drove through snowy, dangerous conditions, something we’re not used to because it doesn’t snow where we live. The trip back home was worse because we were all very emotional and tired and our patience was real thin. It was a rough trip back home. At one point during the night we had to find a hotel because the roads were too slippery and dangerous to drive on from the snow and because a lot of people had to do the same, it was hard finding somewhere. We fortunately got a one bed room and made it work, with some of us sleeping on the floor. Something that I don’t want to get into happened that night that made me extremely angry and upset to the point I was literally shaking and that is not normal for me. 

Sims 1, 2, or 3? Why? Sims 3 out of those options, but Sims 4 over all of ‘em.

Have you ever dealt with noisy neighbors or roommates? How did that go? Yeah, we’ve had a few noisy neighbors over the years. The current neighbors we have we had an issue with their dogs barking excessively. They left them outside all day and they just barked all the time. We eventually had to say something and thankfully we got things sorted out. 

Who was (or is) the teacher that gave you the hardest time in school? I had 2 horrible math teachers in community college, but otherwise I never had any issues with my teachers.

Best muffin you've ever had? I love banana muffins (no nut), lemon poppyseed, and blueberry muffins. Have you ever taken a woodshop class? For an elective in middle school.

If so, was it required? No, it was an elective. <<<

How much time do you spend on Facebook, if you have one? I go on there for a few minutes at at a time a few times a day. 

What area of math are you best at? Worst? I was always horrible at math.

How do you feel when you meet someone with the same music taste as you? It’s cool to bond over shared interests. @gic-ga and I just recently obsessed over Linkin Park together haha.

What is the strangest thing you've ever seen outside of your house? A freakin’ bat flying around one night. That’s most definitely not a common sighting here. I had never seen or heard of any such sighting prior to that. It was crazy.

Do you believe in luck? Why or why not? No.

How often do you "half-ass" things (put little effort in)? These past few years I haven’t put much ass at all into things. :/

Do you ever feel self-conscious when you eat around other people? Yes.

Has a teacher ever made you hate yourself/your work? Those 2 awful math professors I mentioned before made me feel even worse about not understanding the material.

How reliable is your internet connection? Very. There’s very rarely an issue.

Have you ever missed a meeting/event that was required/necessary? No.

What's something that makes you incredibly nervous? Uh, a lot of things. That’s how I am.

What's the latest you've ever stayed up to finish homework/a project? Many late nights or early mornings in college.

If you don't have glasses, how would you feel if you had to get them?

If you do have glasses, how would you feel if you didn't need them anymore? I honestly like my glasses. I’ve had to wear them since I was 9, they’re apart of me. I look and feel weird without ‘em.

How many vegetarians do you know? I’m not sure. 

Have you ever considered going to art school? No. I have no artistic talents or abilities. I never had the interest in trying just a class either, like with a drawing class or something, so definitely not an art school, a school devoted to the arts.

Is there anyone in your life who consistently angers you? Myself.

How quickly can you write an essay? For me I struggled with getting started, but once I did I’d get in my groove.

Have you ever had problems falling asleep in class? No.

Have you ever been on the barrier or front row at a concert? No. I always get the nosebleeds seats cause that’s where the handicap seating tends to be. They’re cheaper up there; though, so hey.

If you have a job, who is your least favorite coworker/manager?

Favorite episode of Spongebob? I don’t have a favorite. I’ve seen episodes cause my younger brother and cousins watched it all the time, but I was never really into it myself.

Do you have any silly/odd emotional connections to anything/anyone? To inanimate objects cause of memories attached to them. Like, I have a hard time getting rid of anything.

Are your parents supportive of you? Yes.

How often do you take the train to go places? Never.

Do you play with your phone in awkward situations? Ha, yeah.

[lasercruz]

@quarterdollar​ fuck you and im sorry that i took so long to answer and i hope that im mostly coherent because i am. very tired as im typing this

1: Full name Nicky Jackie Marie Cruz !!

2: Age 21

3: 3 Fears Mold, tall heights if I’m not secured (like, I’m not scared of rollercoaster heights but I’m scared of like, cliffs), and balloons esp balloon animals

4: 3 things I love I love so many things uhh hh h. Jjba, adventure zone, and my friendssss 💞

I know turn ons/offs aren’t inherently sexual but i never know what to say for them so im skipping them :0

7: My best friend you 🥺🥺

8: Sexual orientation bi

9: My best first date ive never really been on a actual date :0

10: How tall am I 5′3

11: What do I miss being with my friends physically and just watching stuff or goofing around on the floor 😭

12: What time were I born 11:02pm

13: Favourite color Dark blues

14: Do I have a crush yes shh

15: Favourite quote there so much sappy quotes that are on uquizzes a lot that i like a lot the first that comes to mind is “ You’re in a car with a beautiful boy, and he won’t tell you that he loves you, but he loves you.” and so on and also “if i loved you less i might be able to talk about it more”

16: Favourite place As far as just physically and not like people or other stuff that comes with with a place, I miss VT campus a lot tbh more than I thought I would. To pick a more specific place, the gazebo at the duck pond cause its where I’d go if I wanted to be alone or like if my roommate was sleeping or working and i didnt want to worry about being quite and it was always super peaceful

17: Favourite food I dont really have One favorite food it just depends what I’m in the mood for but my go to answer for favorite food category wise is either chinese or seafood

18: Do I use sarcasm Depends who I’m with ?? Generally no not often but if im close with someone and just goofin yeah

19: What am I listening to right now My love song playlist. its my go to thing to listen to cause my playlist with all my music has so much on it that i end up skipping half the songs until i find something im in the mood for and this one has a lot less that i end up skipping. the current song its on is day without you by keep for cheap

20: First thing I notice in new person It depends on the person like if they have something that stands out about them, thats what I tend to notice but like. How they carry themself i guess ? cause i feel like thats a easy way to get a read on somebody before talking to them

21: Shoe size 5 mens / 7 womans

22: Eye color Brown

23: Hair color Naturally dark brown but currently dyed black with rainbow bangs

24: Favourite style of clothing this question is on so many ask games and quizzes and I never know how to answer it cause i feel like i dont really have one specific style,, I like colorful and fun stuff i guess ?

25: Ever done a prank call?  No and if you prank call a place of business youre annoying. i used to answer phones at work and we didn’t get them super often but GOD i hate prank callers

27: Meaning behind my URL emu is an old nickname and what i mainly went by until i settled on Nicky and this. is my blog.

28: Favourite movie Baby driver !!

29: Favourite song my go to answer for this is community gardens by the scary jokes

30: Favourite band THE SCARY JOKES

31: How I feel right now sleeby,,,,

32: Someone I love i love , my friendz ,, 🥺🥰

33: My current relationship status single ✌️

34: My relationship with my parents im close to my mom but i dont really get along with my dad ,

35: Favourite holiday Christmas !

36: Tattoos and piercing i have no tattoos, 3 piercings in each ear (2 on each earlobe and 1 on the top on each side)

37: Tattoos and piercing i want I want a interrobang on my wrist and an Aquarius symbol on my ankle and MAYBE the joestar birthmark, i wouldn’t mind more ear piercings and i want a septum piercing but ive seen videos of them getting done and they make me squirm i dont know if id go through with it

38: The reason I joined Tumblr sdklgkjgh i had a my little pony roleplay blog before i made my personal account

39: Do I and my last ex hate each other? no we’re good friends !!

40: Do I ever get “good morning” or “good night ” texts? no not regularly at least

41: Have I ever kissed the last person you texted? no

42: When did I last hold hands? my mom tried to hold my hand when i was half asleep on the couch the other day but like i was so out of it so like it was more our fingers together and the rest of my hand just loosely dangling so if that doesnt count, you

43: How long does it take me to get ready in the morning? i give myself about 2 hours if im doing full makeup but thats purposefully longer than i need so i dont have to worry about rushing and i can relax and take my time

44: Have You shaved your legs in the past three days? no i only shave them if they’re gonna be showing or if the Urge to be Smooth comes over me

45: Where am I right now? my room at home on my bed

46: If I were drunk & can’t stand, who’s taking care of me? probably Kaylie cause she doesn’t drink and i assume if im drunk with other friends there she’d be the only sober one

47: Do I like my music loud or at a reasonable level? Reasonable, if i have it too loud i cant think so the only time i  have my music loud is if im doing nothing and want to Not Think

48: Do I live with my Mom and Dad? Ye

49: Am I excited for anything? short term im excited for the ai crushes all banks stream tonight and long term im excited to move into our apartment 

50: Do I have someone of the opposite sex I can tell everything to? no im not a tell everything to someone type of person .

51: How often do I wear a fake smile? i smile most of the time like, at work (before we wore masks) id always be smiling to look nice and like. just in general if i want to Not Look Unhappy or whatever

52: When was the last time I hugged someone? my mom probably like, yesterday

53: What if the last person I kissed was kissing someone else right in front of me? ive never kissed any1     .

54: Is there anyone I trust even though I should not?  nope i don’t think i really trust easily so like this doesnt rlly happen,

55: What is something I disliked about today? i woke up late cause i was up late last night so ive been tired all day I dont like the feeling

56: If I could meet anyone on this earth, who would it be? language barriers aside itd be super cool to meet hirohiko araki

57: What do I think about most? Whatever media im currently most into so right now adventure zone and magnus archives

58: What’s my strangest talent? umm i dunno im kinda flexable i guess ? not like ~contortionist~ level but like enough that i can freak people out sometimes

59: Do I have any strange phobias? i mentioned balloons as a fear in an eariler question so yeah that but im a lot better about it than i used to be

60: Do I prefer to be behind the camera or in front of it? in front tbh

61: What was the last lie I told? i was on phones for the last hour and a half of my shift on friday and like. when people call and ask if an item is in stock and i can’t confirm it i, just tell them its not. like, someone asked if we had a specific kayak and i usually just search the walmart app or run over to where itd be to check but the kayaks are to far for me to run to and the app said limited stock which usually means little to none so , i just put it on hold for a bit then tell him we’re out.

62: Do I perfer talking on the phone or video chatting online? i like video chatting in theory cause its nice to see people visibly react to stuff but i tend to get too self conscious about how i look so i  just do audio only

63: Do I believe in ghosts? How about aliens? yes to both !! i am both

64: Do I believe in magic? yes in some ways i suppose

65: Do I believe in luck? yes im v superstitious

66: What’s the weather like right now? its a pretty good day its sunny but not too hot :oo

67: What was the last book I’ve read? its been ages since i last read a book in full 😔  i honestly dont knwo what the last one would of been 😔 😔

68: Do I like the smell of gasoline? yes !!! love it

69: Do I have any nicknames? not anything i get consistently called no

70: What was the worst injury I’ve ever had? ive never gotten super hurt that i can think of ??

71: Do I spend money or save it? save it

72: Can I touch my nose with a tounge? no

73: Is there anything pink in 10 feets from me? doppio bean plush ,,,,

74: Favourite animal? hedgehogs!!!!

75: What was I doing last night at 12 AM? on my phone probably on tiktok or something waiting for jojo to come on toonami

76: What do I think is Satan’s last name is? I? dont think he has one i guess ??

77: What’s a song that always makes me happy when I hear it? butterflies by samsa but it makes me happy in the “im crying now” kinda way itss cute

78: How can you win my heart? just by being nice and respectful tbh ,

79: What would I want to be written on my tombstone? idk i dont really want anything fancy just my name (chosen name please god im so scared of dying and geting my birth name on my tombstone if that happens i WILL come back as a vengeful ghost) and my birth and death dates

80: What is my favorite word? saccharine

81: My top 5 blogs on tumblr by my tumblr crushes (which its been YEARS since i looked at) ; frostios, 27names4tears, smollpurrito, happynaru, and warpedlamp

82: If the whole world were listening to me right now, what would I say? if we being real id just get so scared dsjkfsldjglg  theres so much i could say i dont know :((

83: Do I have any relatives in jail? not ? that i know of 

84: I accidentally eat some radioactive vegetables. They were good, and what’s even cooler is that they endow me with the super-power of my choice! What is that power? why are all the questions worded super basic except this one skdlskdjfj. Shape shifting

85: What would be a question I’d be afraid to tell the truth on? i can really think of anything really as long as a friend is asking i tend to answer truthfully ?

86: What is my current desktop picture? Sobble BUT this reminded me that i wanted to change it to a xenoblade pic so its this now :

90: Failed a class? no

91: Kissed a boy? no

92: Kissed a girl? no

93: Have I ever kissed somebody in the rain? no but oh god just thinking about that im 🥺🥺🥺🥺 id die id melt 🥺🥺

94: Had job? ye i was a cashier for a year in highschool and then i work in wamlart apparel in the summers

95: Left the house without my wallet? not when I know ill need it no, but ive left it home if im just going to a friend or family member’s house or i have my mom’s card or some cash in my pocket

96: Bullied someone on the internet? no !!

98: Played on a sports team? no lmao i dont do sports

99: Smoked weed? no

100: Did drugs? i had a weed brownie like once but it was such a small piece i didnt really feel anything

101: Smoked cigarettes? no

102: Drank alcohol? Ye

103: Am I a vegetarian/vegan? not currently i was vegan for a little bit to encourage a friend that was doing it though

104: Been overweight? no

105: Been underweight? no

106: Been to a wedding?  yes three, my grandma’s when she got remarried, and both my brothers

107: Been on the computer for 5 hours straight? probably yes lmao often

108: Watched TV for 5 hours straight? not TV TV but if netflix and the like count then yes

109: Been outside my home country? no :(

110: Gotten my heart broken? not ? really no

111: Been to a professional sports game? ive been to a handful of Yankee games

112: Broken a bone? no

114: Been to prom? yes i went to my highschool’s and a friend’s highschool’s my senior year

115: Been in airplane? no

116: Fly by helicopter? no

117: What concerts have I been to? none :((((

118: Had a crush on someone of the same sex? ye

119: Learned another language? i took 3 years of Spanish in high school but i wasn’t any good at it and dont really remember much of what i did learn

120: Wore make up? yes i do often :0

123: Dyed my hair? ye a lot

124: Voted in a presidential election? yes ever since iv been old enough to i vote

125: Rode in an ambulance? no

126: Had a surgery?  dental surgery yes

127: Met someone famous? Not anyone i’d count no

128: Stalked someone on a social network? depends on what you count as stalking i guess but like not ever in a creepy way like ive been on people’s social media to find out stuff about them like. if theyre in a relationship or especially after highschool ill wonder about someone i havent talked to in awhile and ill see what theyve been up to and what theyre doing with their life and stuff

129: Peed outside? no

130: Been fishing? yes like once

131: Helped with charity? donation wise yes

132: Been rejected by a crush? ive never confessed to anyone and been rejected but once a friend told my crush i liked them and they confronted me about it and rejected me but it made me more mad at the friend that told them than it made me sad about being rejected because i knew it’d probably go like that  and it justmade thing awkward between us for awhile  😔

133: Broken a mirror? ive broken the little mirrors inside eyeshadow pallets but i havent broken full ones

134: What do I want for birthday? usually just money lol or something thoughtful and cute

135: How many kids do I want and what will be their names? i aggresivly do NOT want kids BUT hypohetically Elliot or Xander for a boy and idk what i’d nam a girl

136: Was I named after anyone? no

137: Do I like my handwriting?  its messy so no not really but if im writing something for myself like a not or whatever i dont mind as long as i can read it

138: What was my favourite toy as a child? even as a little kid i always played computer games but other than that, this guy :

139: Favourite Tv Show? Jojo

140: Where do I want to live when older? New york or japan

141: Play any musical instrument? i can kind of play harmonica

142: One of my scars, how did I get it? i burnt my thumb kinda bad on the oven a while ago its still kinda healing but right now it looks like its gonna stay a scar

143: Favourite pizza toping? i like everything/suprieme pizza but if i have to pick one single topping pepperoni

144: Am I afraid of the dark? yes :((

145: Am I afraid of heights? mentioned it earlier but yes if im not strapped in or secured etc

146: Have I ever got caught sneaking out or doing anything bad? no im so scared of being caught doing something bad that i just. dont

147: Have I ever tried my hardest and then gotten disappointed in the end? i mean yes but thats life babey

149: What my greatest achievments are ive gotten awards for grades and stuff but that boring BUT i got the english department award or whatever that was called im very proud of that

151: What I’d do if I won in a lottery i donate some and save the rest tbh

152: What do I like about myself i can be pretty  sometimes 👉👈 im cute or whateva ,,,

153: My closest Tumblr friend i dont really havent “tumblr friends” aside from friends i know irl and also tey have tumblrs ,,

154: Something I fantasise about just. growing up and having my own place maybe with someone and. being comfortable and  okay and not having to worry ,,

155: Any question you’d like? dkfjhdskhf japan :000

[12setsofchopsticks]

White Day 2019

Alrightty folks, it’s that time of the year again for my favorite holiday, WHITE DAY. Yes, again this year I have worked hard. I have spent the past several months meticulously crafting relationships, exceeding expectations, and perfecting my winged eyeliner and TODAY is the day that it all pays off. I made heart-shaped cookies for Valentine’s day again this year and coupled them with a personalized, hand-o-made-o heart-shaped cards of about the same size. As is the tradition, I will log the events of the day in real time as they happen. I am absolutely buzzing because I have high expectations and a good feeling about them.

Speaking of expectations, here is the forecast for White Day 2019:

Low chance of gifts from the English teachers as Vancouver sensei tends to forget and EPS tends to not care, BUT I WOULDN’T MIND BEING PLEASANTLY SURPRISED.

Will this be the third year in a row that I don’t receive a gift from my friend Dekashita sensei? PROBABLY.

Big hype for the third year teachers since we’re all buddies.

As a general rule, I think it is safe to expect gifts from all the teachers who have their Valentine on display.

Feeling confident that I will get gifts from a few teachers, like sumo sensei and softball sensei, since they have been consistent the past two years. Let’s see if this trend keeps up.

Shimichan is a bit of a wildcard this year, and I feel like he could go either way. What will happen? No one knows!

I was thinking to myself yesterday, “Lolen, what if your expectations are too high? What if, god forbid, you don’t receive ANY gifts?” The thought gave me a chuckle. There is no way. I am Lolen, the Beloved. I am a goddamn gaijin goddess and gifts WILL BE bestowed upon me on this day.

Wednesday, March 13th, 2019 – THE DAY BEFORE WHITE DAY

1:45 pm –I was caught off-guard while eating my lunch when a teacher has come over to give me my first white day gift! How delightful, I think, as I try to thank the teacher with a mouthful of salad. This is not my cutest moment.

Thursday, March 14th, 2019 – WHITE DAY 2019

8:25 am – I have arrived at school at precisely the time I am expected to. 

What they see: a beautiful blonde waltzing in to the teacher’s room. My hair looks good, eyeliner is looking sharp and, oh, could it be? Yes…! Her outfit even matches her nails! 

What they don’t know: ya girl stayed up too late watching Netflix the night before so she’s running off 5 hours of sleep and literally ran to catch the bus this morning. She is beauty, she is grace, she is out of breath. 

8:27 am – I reach my desk and sit down. There are four additional gifts that weren’t here before. This brings the total so far to five, before the bell has even rung! I have confidence that this will be a bountiful harvest.

8:35 am – There is a shuffle as teachers begin to get up and go to their first period homeroom class. Within the chaos, I feel a tap on my back. I turn around and, heavens to Betsy, can it be?? I can hardly believe my eyes that it is actually Dekashita sensei giving me a bag of chocolate! The two year curse has been lifted and my soul can finally be at peace.

8:45 am – Sumo sensei has just come over and dropped a literal handful of chocolate on to my desk. I will award an A for intent, but I have to give a C for execution because come on, my dude, at least put them in a lil baggy or something. Regardless, choco is choco and I will accept your offering graciously.

9:01 am – I have just received two more gifts within a few moments from each other; one from the teacher who sits behind me and the other from softball sensei. So far my predictions have been accurate…will EPS and Vancouver sensei defy my expectations and come through with gifts?? It’s the question on everyone’s mind!

9:07 am – In an interesting turn of events, one of the female P.E. teachers has just given me a gift! This sets a precedent for the women here at school, I am now expecting chocolate tokens of friendship from everyone.

9:50 am – My lovely supervisor came over to give me a little baggie of white day treats! A+ execution from an A+ supervisor, 10/10.

10:32 am – The morning is swiftly passing by. Currently, I have eleven gifts but I haven’t received any more in some time now and I am wondering if this may be it for me this year. There are a few teachers that I have been lowkey watching all morning to see if they will make their move. Like a cat in the shadows, I wait.

10:39 am – JUST as I was about to abandon hope, I am approached by the cute married teacher (he’s cute, he’s married, alas) and handed a nicely boxed gift. Extra bonus points since he spoke to me in English. I didn’t even know he spoke English, today is full of surprises.

10:50 am – I am rereading my post from last year. Boy, what a wild time 2018 was! But, I am noticing that amount of gifts I am receiving and the time at which I am receiving them is REMARKABLY SIMILAR. At 10:35 am last year, I also had 12 gifts. Everything is going according to plan.

10:55 am – Bobsled sensei has just given me a gift! As an interesting note, he has opted to give cookies as opposed to a more traditional chocolate confection. On second thought, this really isn’t all that interesting.

11:04 am – One of the female English teachers just came over to give me a very cute heart-shaped cake sort of thing. I have decided that this will be the first item I eat when the time comes.

11:25 am – I have fourteen gifts now. I am wondering if, out of all the teachers, I have the most gifts. I know it *shouldn’t* be a competition but I am absolutely *treating* it like one in the deepest narcissistic pit of my heart. I think I will walk around the teacher’s room later and take some cheeky peeks at the other teachers’ desks.

11:40 am – Another female P.E. teacher just gave me a nice gift, complete with an English note of appreciation! I seem to have made some new friends in the P.E. department with my cookies this year. Exciting times!

11:45 am – Oh, these are exciting times, indeed! Just now, I have received a gift from Kocho sensei, also known as the principal. Based on his status as principal-sama, I expect that these chocolates must be of the highest kocho quality. This brings my total now to 16. At this point, I am projected to top my number from last year.

11:55 am – I have not seen EPS all day, despite him being here today. Should I call the police? Send out a search party? I’m worried that he is lost or dead. Actually, he is dead. Dead to me until he gives me white day chocolates.

12:30 pm – Another gift from another P.E. teacher! It’s quite a large box as well. I seem to be popular with the P.E. department this year, with about 60% of the teachers reciprocating chocos. My hard work is paying off and my ROI is looking great.

12:35 pm – It’s time for lunch but I’m afraid to leave my desk in case someone steals one of my precious chocos. I feel a strange attachment to them, like a dragon jealously guarding her hoard. But alas—I must go, for I am hungry. Is it strange to go out and buy lunch when I probably have over $100 worth of gourmet chocolate on my desk? I make a mental note of exactly how many chocolates there are; I will not tolerate thieves!

1:45 pm – I’m back from lunch. All seems in order. I also used this opportunity to check out some other desks. I am the clear winner in this battle royale.

2:30 pm – It’s been quiet for a while now. BUT ACTUALLY, as I was typing this, another teacher came over to deliver a gift! CONFIRMED: I am a psychic.

3:30 pm – I was just beginning to think that the gift-getting might be finished, but to my surprise I have received another! It’s getting exhausting trying to keep track of all these gifts. Interesting note: despite all NINETEEN of the gifts that I have received today, I have yet to receive one from any of the male English teachers. Just so we are clear, there are FOUR of them. This must be what the sharp knife of betrayal feels like.

4:10 pm – I couldn’t wait any longer and I ate the heart-shaped cake sort of thing. It was a delicious choice. I also made the executive decision to put all of my snacks in my desk since 1.) I was running out of space on my desk and 2.) At this point it just looks like I’m bragging (I am). Furthermore, as I mentioned above, I have a zero tolerance theft policy and these are my loss-prevention measures.

4:12 pm – I ran out of space in my designated “snack drawer” so I had to take advantage of the space in my lesser-used “lesson plans” drawer.

4:15 pm – O shit waddup, ya girl is officially at TWENTY GIFTS!! My boi Shimichan pulled through in the homestretch. If I can get my-age amount gifts does that mean that this will be my golden year?

4:17 pm – Time is precious and there are only about 45 minutes left in the day. The guy in the office must have felt the minutes squeezing by, because he just came up and gave me gift number 21. There is still time for you, EPS!!

5:01 pm  – Well, it’s time to call it a day and head home. Overall, I have to say I am very pleased with the way this year turned out. Many of my predictions turned out to be true (LOOKING AT YOU, EPS), with the notable exception of Dekashita sensei who actually pulled through this year. Now all that’s left to do is to enjoy my snacks...all TWENTY ONE OF THEM!

5:30 pm – Just got home. Can’t wait to see what my real white date has in store for me tonight <3 

[steamishot]

skincare and warmth

in my 30 years of life, i have finally developed a skincare routine. i may have panicked when i saw how bad my skin was looking in photos recently. however, i also have been avoidant when looking in the mirror - i knew i didn’t like my skin, but i’ve always acted avoidant and helpless with it. after watching youtube videos and reading reddit threads on skincare, i decided to purchase: vitamin c serum, toner, moisturizer with retinol for the night, and moisturizer with vitamin c for the day. i used to wash my face with my cleanser for only 10-15 seconds before washing it off but now i started washing it for about 60 full seconds and there is a huge difference in how clean my skin feels (facepalm). i am also planning on washing our pillowcases at least once a week. i am taking progress photos of my skin and hope to see changes.

my morning routine: gentle face wash, vitamin c serum, moisturizer, sun screen

my night time routine: face wash, toner, serum, moisturizer 

the weather has been warming up and my mood has been much better. i went outside the other day and thought “i like NYC” again. the more i am out of the apartment, the less i mind that it is a small space (duh). 

last sunday, i met Thu, a girl from vietnam who came to texas for college. she then moved to charleston and stayed for 3 years and had just moved to NYC two weeks ago. meeting her reminded me of why i like NYC. i get to meet interesting and smart people from all over the world. she was the shyest/most reserved girl i’ve met so far which made me feel comfortable around her. she also smelled really good lol. we got along fine in person but i think our texting “chemistry” isn’t that great. she’s also 4 years younger than me and seems she has a lot more capacity for socializing. so, i’m not sure how this friendship will play out, but i like her! 

this sunday, i have plans with Tanvi, a girl from india who came for college and has stayed 5 years since graduating. she made it into a girls brunch thing so i’ll be meeting her and two others. Tanvi and i had really good texting chemistry - will see how we interact in person. 

matt is currently on night shifts for two weeks and i’ve been enjoying having the apartment to myself to unwind after the work day! night shift definitely feels less lonely than when he was on long day shifts, i.e. i’d rather be alone through the night than through the day. i feel a bit guilty enjoying the space knowing he’s out there suffering lol but it is what it is. matt’s been really good at consistently running even after 12+ hour shifts and has lost about 10 lbs so far. he says that he’s more energetic/feels more awake overall. him taking care of himself has definitely been beneficial to our relationship. he’s happier and more emotionally regulated, so there’s been a lot less (stupid) arguments between us. i thank the white lady therapist for pointing us in this direction. we only had 2 sessions, but the results have been great.

note: yesterday there was the brooklyn mass shooting in sunset park area. they finally captured the suspect today.

[awhilesince]

Thursday, 12 June 1823

5 1/4

12

Clean bed, comfortable enough, and I believe well aired tho’ I slept in my drawers flannel waistcoat and great coat for fear of damp – could not go to my uncle yesterday or today which makes me rather feverish –

Off from Ilkley at 7 – very pretty drive very good road to Addingham, 3 miles – Had we gone to the small Inn on our right some distance before we came to the town, we should not probably have been so well off as at Ilkley – a few scattered houses; a neat, rather modern church; and, near it, a large probably cotton mill, form the commencement of Addingham, which then becomes a regular street, Extending considerably up the hill, and puts on the appearance of business –

we missed the turn, about 1/2 way thro’ the town, to the right to Bolton, and went 1/2 mile out of our way, to the top of the hill, within 6 miles of Skipton, which seemed likely to be a bleakish road – turned back – the 2 miles from Addingham to Bolton bridge very pretty

Stopt at Bolton bridge Inn, the Devonshire arms, kept by – Wilson, at 8 1/2 – had a good breakfast – café au lait – could not sleep there tonight – 9 people coming today – at least, there were 9 beds ordered – the mistress did not know what to do – only 2 double bedded and 2 single bedded rooms, without some of the family sat up all night – much consideration what we were to do – Mr Wilson lent us Greenwood’s map of Yorkshire mounted in 3 – the 3 ridings – Determined to see Bolton abbey, and then go forward to sleep at Kilnsey ‘14 long miles’ –

Off at 10 1/2 – Took a guide at the abbey (from one of the cottages near) at 10 55/60 – the nave and its side aisles now a neat church – the choir and transept form a fine ruin – the cloisters gone – one side traceable by the archwork along the south wall of the church § – what used to be the entrance gateway, is now the lodge, fitted up for the reception of the duke of Devonshire when he comes in the shooting season – the view from the Hartington seat (a rustic covered seat near the abbey, to the north) is perfectly beautiful – wood, water rock and ruin form a scene as perfect as the fancy of a Claude could imagine – the scenery as we proceeded northwards, for ever varying, and every variation in this singularly beautiful spot strikingly picturesque – Had we been a week earlier the hues of the foliage would have been more varied; at present they are rather too much mingling into one shade – Mr Carr’s house near the abbey (he is the clergyman, but has charge of the grounds) is in the abbey style, and very pretty – carriages not allowed to go down to the abbey; but the woman allowed us to go, all along the fields and the private road thro’ the woods –

Ludstream island a mile from the abbey – the Strid 2 miles from Ditto then the Hawkstone rock, and near it the Hawkstone seat, then the Pembroke seat, so called from the lady Anne (Clifford) countess of Pembroke, Dorset and Montgomery, because overlooking her residence of Barden tower – in ruins – a fine object – went to the woodman’s cottage – returned by a higher and nearer road – the lady Harriet seat. beautiful view of the south nab which is in the deer park. to where we left the gig just above the Strid; drove it thro’ the fields into the high road to Kilnsey, and, afterwards a delightful stroll of 2 hours, set off again – Indeed my aunt had gone in the gig as far as the turn down to the strid –

stopt 25 minutes at Barden tower – something in the style of Kenilworth, but smaller – went into the old woman’s cottage in what appears to have been an entrance to the chapel which she shewed us – very plain – no ornament – Mr Carr preaches there in the morning the 1st Sunday of every month, and in the afternoon of the 3rd Sunday –

Beautiful drive all the way along the drive to Burnsall (but very hilly and in some parts roughish road tho’ tolerable – very fair – on the whole) where I am now writing having arrived at 2 3/4 – the rain which we feared in the morning has kept off – it has been cool and pleasant and we could not have had a day more delightful for our purpose – Percy did not eat quite so well this morning – I fear he is more lame – George says it is in the fetlock – then it is the old sprain – or perhaps in the coffin joint – at all events I have no hope of his even being good for anything again – How shall we get? – we saw Burnsall some time before we arrived – very picturesquely situated along the river – (Wharf) – but a small village – saw looms in a few of the cottages, and the people (women) wearing calico – sauntered out about an hour – along the river side – a neat stone bridge of 3 or 4 arches over it – a wide, shallow stream – pebbly bottom – the water perfectly clear –

sauntered into the church yard – looked thro’ the windows – read the monument of the Battys of Thorpe, the family of the late Mrs Wiglesworth of Townhead – an inscription over the church door, purporting that the church had been repaired in 1612 at the cost of sir William Craven Knight, who had been lord mayor of London – the same sir William founded and endowed the school adjoining into which we sauntered – several children there – all of the lower orders – the building now become old, and shabbyish-looking –

Set off from our Inn (Red lion, John Emsley) where we had sat in a neat double bedded room upstairs – the low room smelling of smoke tobacco etc – set off from our Inn at Burnsall at 4 55/60 a very narrow rough, hilly, road between 2 high amorphous – stone walls – we turned down to Linton by mistake a nice looking village with a shallow stream running thro’ it – to the left a large stone building an hospital, rather to the right a pretty house little lawn and green before it belonging to a Mr Robinson – an intricate road – went along the back of Thresfield, Grassington looking well on our right – at last crossed the great road from Skipton to Pately bridge, the guide post, quite a godsend for there are none hereabouts (scarcely a guide post or mile stone since we left Bradford) marked 11 to Pately bridge 21 to Otley, 10 to Bolton 6 to Kettlewell –

a large whitish building had for some time appeared in the distance on rising ground in the valley – about a mile from this guide post, we passed it close; and struck by its appearance, imitation of the antique, Elizabethan, we fortunately got out at the farther gate, and went the back way to the house – the rough stone of the country Except the portico consisting of 3 arcades, surmounted by the arms of the builder Mr Noel (a man of large property near Kirby Lonsdale, and a place 50 miles below London pronounced Hedgington 1) vide page 39. and dated 1820. the portico stone what we should call tooled – a gothic door studded with nails opens in a handsome square hall (light from a dome at the top) with a gallery round it into which open 4 doors communicating with parallel passages into which open the lodging rooms – Ground floor the hall out of which 4 doors opening, one on the right to the best stair case, and then the other to the drawing room – opposite the great hall or entrance door, the library – the 2 doors on the left opening one to the kitchen etc, and the other to the dining room opposite the drawing room – upstairs the best bed room over the library, and one lodging room and a dressing room opening into the passage on each side of the hall gallery – down the passage leading to the rooms over the kitchens etc a water closet (and another underneath it) and then a bath – capable of being supplied with hot water in 1/4 hour – capital attics – I went out upon the leads – the dome and the chimnies capitally managed –

the house 2 gable ends etc house body and kitchens attached – gable ends and all in straight line save the protection of the portico – garden

(Sunday 13 July 1823 § who married Miss Atkinson (of Linton) an only child, and, by her mother’s side, niece and heir to, Mr Noel of Netherside house; her father Mr A– [Atkinson] made his money as a fringe-maker Mr Robinson is a clergyman brother to Mr R– [Robinson] the attorney of Settle, who married Mrs William Priestley’s friend Miss Peart, daughter to the banker, formerly an attorney of that name at Settle according to Mrs William P–‘s [Priestley’s] account

half-moon shaped – the man who shewed us over the house (not yet finished) a sort of under gardener – Mr N– [Noel] keeps about 20 servants – married but no children, ætatis about 60 – the house stands on fine ground which from the back wooded down to the water’s edge descends steeply – A fine object several times as we wound along our road to Kilnsey whose majestic cragg is from the 1st glimpse caught a very fine feature in the landscape – the drive to Kilnsey very fine – limestone rocks on our right, reminding us of the Elwsy near Llangollen – All who go to Bolton should come here (Kilnsey) –

Stop at the 2nd house the Tennants arms, kept by Harman Trueman – much the best – Ordered our dinner at 8 1/4 having arrived at 7 10/60 – In the mean while walked perhaps 1/2 mile beyond the crag – very fine – Jackdaws building and flying about it –

Got back at 8 1/4 – and sat down to dinner at 8 3/4 – enjoyed it very much – cold roast beef and ditto legs of lamb – Excellent potted trout – gooseberry tarts, Cheshire cheese and old milk ditto which they were surprised at our preferring – Had the master in. Determined to go to the top of Whernside, etc tomorrow – If we had had the weather for wishing for, it could not have been better – no sun and cool and pleasant till from between 5 and 6 to 7 the sun tinged the hills beautifully –

Architect of Netherside house, Mr Webster of Kendal; master builder Mr Gibson of Ditto; – painter Mr Lockwood of Skipton – he had done the plaster work pannels in imitation of oak most naturally and beautifully the pannels in the hall are all plaster above the Skirting board – wrote the latter part of this of today after dinner –

E .. d.. – never enjoyed our dinner more than today – cold roast beef – Ditto some leg of lamb – potted trout (very good) gooseberry tarts and cream, Cheshire and very good old milkcheese – drank nothing but water –

left margin:

§ Put our names down in the abbey book ‘Mrs and Miss Lister, Shibden hall’ –

§§ about 1 mile from here are the remains of a Roman camp. vide

Baines’ Yorkshire Directory i. 442 (Tuesday 12 August 1823.) –

Addingham. §§

Bolton-bridge.

Bolton-Abbey.

Kilnsey. p[ages] 39. 40. 41

the Crag. p[age] 40. 41.

reference number: SH:7/ML/E/7/0023 - 0024

[keywestlou]

MODERN DAY AUTHORITARIANS BEGAN WITH THE LIKES OF HITLER, STALIN AND TOJO.....MOST RECENT TRUMP.....NOW THE WANNABE MCCARTHY

I had an 8 o’clock appointment at the doctor’s office this morning. Blood work. I was done by 8:15. My choice to return home and keep my self quarantine Simon pure or go out for breakfast. Breakfast won out.

Harpoon Harry’s. My intent was to leave if many people were there. No problem. I made customer #6. There were more workers that customers.

The bar was empty. All 12 seats. I took the one at the end. Wanted to be sure I would not be sitting next to anyone. Even placed my cane on the seat next to me to discourage company.

A guy came in. Sixties. What did he do? Sat next to me. In fact, sat on my cane and did not realize it. All other seats at the bar empty.

All I could think was what an asshole.

I politely said “…..my cane.” He apologized. I then quietly and politely asked if he would move one or two seats away. I told him I was “…..coronavirus crazy.”

He was a good guy. Moved one seat. Better than nothing. Embarrassed, though I was also.

California Republican Kevin McCarthy is dying to be Speaker. He presently is Minority Leader.

Over the past few months, he has become consistently more bullish. Now threatening.

Thirty five companies have had their records subpoenaed by the Congressional January 6 Committee. McCarthy upset. Probably because some of those records will contain material adverse to his well being. He will never become Speaker if revealed.

Yesterday, McCarthy claimed the 35 companies were violating the law if they turned over the information requested in the subpoenas. I am unaware of any such law, nor has anyone in the media been able to identify one so far.

McCarthy said,  “If these companies with Democratic orders to turn over private information, they are in violation of federal law and subject to losing their ability to operate in the United States.”

The next paragraph he uttered was even worse: “If companies still choose to violate federal law, a Republican majority will not forget and will stand with Americans to hold them fully accountable under the law.”

Would you believe such words could be spoken by a high political leader in our society? One that were he to become Speaker, would be second in line to the Presidency.

Ida did a job on New Orleans, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Vented further as it raced north. Ida hit New York City yesterday.

Flash floods! The Big Apple flooded.

Subways flowing rivers. Inoperable. Internet photos of water pouring down the stairs unbelievable.

All New York City rain fall records were shattered. In one hour, 3.5 inches of rain fell.

The National Weather Service’s New York office declared a “flash flood” for the first time in New York City.

Today is the anniversary of the worst hurricane to hit the Keys up to 1935. Considered by some to be the worse ever. Even more terrible than Andrew.

It is called the Hurricane of 1935. Male/female names not in use at that time.

A Category 5. Passed over Lower Key and Lower Matecumbe Key. Winds 200 mph. Tides 18-20 feet above normal. Four hundred killed.

The number of dead occurred because most were involved in building Henry Flagler’s Overseas Railroad. Lived in tents by night and worked by day.

Miami knew a big wind was on the way. Sent a train down the Keys to where the men were working. The train was blown off the tracks and destroyed just as it reached the workers.

Not only were hundreds killed, the storm also put the Overseas Railroad into bankruptcy. The end of Flagler’s dream.

Forget not this is hurricane season. Nowhere near over. Ends November 30.

I share this because another hurricane is already on its way. Harry. Now a tropical storm. Projected to be a Category 4 on monday. A Category 3 on sunday.

Described as a “mega storm.”

The cone shows it way out on the Atlantic at the moment. However, moving fast.

There is a good factor. The cone indicates Harry turning north well before it hits U.S. shores. It may hit New York. Appears it will not hit the southeast U.S.

Big few days in Key West this week. The women have taken over the town. It is Womenfest! From 9/1-9/5.

Thousands of lesbians and transwomen are in town.

The event began 20 years ago. It is for females 21 and older.

It is dubbed the HOTTEST party for women in the Florida Keys. Most events are clothing optional.

The Supreme Court Republican majority is sick, except for Chief Justice John Roberts. The Court yesterday voted 5-4 to uphold the new Texas abortion law. The worst anti-abortion law since Roe v. Wade was decided.

The law simple in its application. Once the fetus has a heartbeat, an abortion is banned. The heart beat generally makes its appearance in the sixth week. Most women do not know they are even pregnant in 6 weeks.

There are other negatives involved. You will have already heard them by the time you read my blog.

Something has to be done! We cannot survive with the Supreme Court as constituted. Fairness gone in most instances.

The Court is presently 6-3 Republican. There is not enough time and Democrats in power to adjust the Court’s balance by normal means. It is time for Congress to act.

There is nothing sacred in the number 9 as the number of judges permitted to constitute the Court. The number has varied over the years.

The number of Justices must be increased legally by Democrats and Democrats must be in power throughout the process. Otherwise, the job will not get done. My solution is to increase the number of Justices to 13. Now! While the Democrats have some degree of control. Thirteen will make for a 7-6 Democrat plurality.

I do not suggest the change because I am a Democrat. I want it because the present Court is destroying our country. All Republicans seem to be on a radical path I never thought I would see. From the Texas legislature to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Another example of coronavirus getting out of hand because of an ill planned event.

In the last week of June, a church camp was held. A one week event for teenagers 14-18. Masks and social distancing not required.

Two hundred ninety four campers and 41 staff. To date, nearly 200 have been infected with the virus.

Two comments in today’s Citizens’ Voice worthy of note.

The first provides food for thought.

“Can someone explain why it is OK for hundreds of thousands to enter the USA illegally at the southern border and a few Cubans fleeing a communist country have to be returned.”

The other indicative of a proper thinking Governor. One Florida lacks.

“The Governor of Hawaii is pleading with tourists to avoid the islands right now. What are our leaders doing? Scheduling more super-spreader events and giving their TDC millions of dollars so they can tell tourists to come here. Hawaii is a good example of competent leadership.”

I conclude with a be careful and be aware admonition.

This week and continuing through Labor Day weekend, the Monroe County Sheriff will be participating in Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. Such is not merely a Keys program. It is part of a national effort to reduce drunken driving.

Enjoy  your day!

MODERN DAY AUTHORITARIANS BEGAN WITH THE LIKES OF HITLER, STALIN AND TOJO…..MOST RECENT TRUMP…..NOW THE WANNABE MCCARTHY was originally published on Key West Lou

[thesimplyluxuriouslife]

280: The Importance of Daily and Weekly Rituals & Routines You Love (12 Ideas to Incorporate Now)

"You would think weightlessness is a good thing, but it's not. Because people weren't meant to float. Without gravity, we lose blood volume, bone density, muscle. Without it, we're untethered. So when you feel yourself being pulled toward something, it's not necessarily a bad thing. It may keep you centered. It may keep you safe." —Grey's Anatomy, season 16, episode #17, Shonda Rhimes

Thoughts, thoughts, all sorts of thoughts. With an abundance of time on our hands as we stay home, if we have not exercised our brains in this way, it may feel uncomfortable, and in these times we find ourselves collectively, understandably unsettling.

The above quote caught my attention this past week as it feels our attentions are being being pulled toward the necessities of life, what we sincerely need to simply live. Don't get me wrong, the past eleven years, economically, have been much needed and appreciated, and while each of our journey's is unique, perhaps we've forgotten what we truly need, what others truly need, to live well. At the moment, we are all being pulled to our homes, to our sanctuaries, to our immediate families with whom we reside with but perhaps never see often because of our busy schedules. Admittedly, some of our loved ones may be far away due to age, relationships, work, etc., but we at least have the phone, video chat and other technological ways of communicating.

Becoming grounded in what roots us, is what reminds us of what truly is a priority in our life, helps us to make better decisions to remain true to those values when the choices are vast. And sometimes when the choices are so vast and so ubiquitous for such a long time, we would only be being human to lose sight of our roots. I am not suggesting that we need to have a pandemic to root us, but that is where we find ourselves, so I am determined to see some good in this perilous situation.

There will be good that will come out of it when we come out of it on the other side, but as well, there is good we can partake in during this time of staying home.

Today, while I had originally planned a different topic for the episode to be shared, I have decided to focus on something that will hopefully be helpful to direct our attention to, to elevate the time we have indoors, wanted or unwanted. The gift and mood lifting power of daily and weekly rituals.

Under the umbrella of daily and weekly rituals lies our daily and weekly routines. Consciously creating routines in which we know boost the quality of our lives from our health, to our rest and rejuvenation to our productivity are ways to rest more easily which benefits our mind and well-being and decreases our stress. Each of these efforts strengths our immune system and ultimately strengthens our overall health, both physically and mentally.

Today I would like to share with you rituals you can incorporate into your daily and weekly routine even while you stay home.

1.Wake up well

Design a morning routine in which regardless of whether you are heading out the door (when our routines get back to normal) or staying home, you want to get out of bed and partake in. In episode #243 I share 12 Ways to Make Your Mornings Magical, Mindful and the Foundation of a Great Day.

2. Create a daily routine you love

As I shared with my students what would be expected of them while we stepped into our extended break (Oregon has announced they will be closing all schools through the entire month of March.), one student immediately decided she would find a favorite place she enjoyed being, give herself this window during her day to complete her schoolwork and then be done. I was so tickled to hear such thoughtful and conscientious attention to both her academics, but also her well-being by compartmentalizing and stepping away from work so she could relax and just be.

All of us, whether at home, and especially now that we are home, would benefit from creating a schedule in our day for productivity, but also meals, rest and exercise. Knowing we have accomplished something will let us rest more easily and make it easier to sleep at night. As well, we will be giving our bodies and mind a healthy balance to remain strong.

3. An afternoon brain break

Whether you enjoy an afternoon tea or an afternoon nap or an afternoon outside exercising, create a ritual that will be something you look forward to as you make your way through your day. If you are like me, and live alone, this may be a good time to call loved ones to check in. If you live with others, it may be a great time to be together if you are busy doing your own thing throughout the day. Either way, make a point of intentionally not doing work, but rather something relaxing and enjoyable. Something that elevates the everyday even more so that each day you look forward to such moments.

4. Welcome the flowers

I shared on Instagram yesterday (see below) how one of the items on my grocery list this weekend (I went early and wore gloves as well as washed my hands before and after) was to welcome a few bouquets of flowers into my home. Recent researched has shared that having fresh flowers can "lower blood pressure and heart rate, lower ratings of pain, anxiety, and fatigue, and more positive feelings and higher satisfaction [about one's home]". So while, we need to stay home as much as possible, if possible keeping in my sanitation requirements, welcome some flowers into your home and perhaps bring a bouquet for your neighbor and leave them on their doorstep with a note. You may help their health more than you realize.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9wz7UJHcOY/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

5. What to listen to? What brings you joy.

Create a listening ritual that carries you through your day. From the classical music I wake up to on WRTI with host Gregg Whiteside and Breakfast with Bach at 5am to the jazz in the evenings from my Spotify playlist, as well as podcasts about food and France enjoyed while I walk the dogs along the river, around the neighborhood or through the trees, what we turn on melodically has a tremendously powerful effect over our well-being. Choose what you love and let it elevate your days.

Music I listen to:

WRTI - classical and jazz

KUSC - classical

TSLL playlists

Escape to France . . .

Luxurious Classical Music (more than 10 hours of music)

Everyday Jazz

French Cafe Jazz (no lyrics)

Jazzy Dinner playlist (Spotify)

Podcasts I have been loving recently:

The Land of Desire (French history and culture)

MilkStreet Radio

Inside Julia's Kitchen

The Splendid Table

6. Fitness Habits That Energize

The key to sustainable exercise routines is to keep them seemingly small, yet consistent and intentional. As I shared in the first episode of 2020 on the podcast, #272, 8 Ways Tiny Habits Will Welcome the Great Changes You Seek, tiny habits have a powerful way of instituting the change we desire. Why? Because they are more likely to stick, and truly become habituated into our daily routine.

From waking up and doing one set of sit-ups (by the end of the week you will have done five sets!), to meditating for one minute each morning, to sipping a glass of water upon waking up in the morning, when you choose thoughtfully the habits you want in your life, reduce them down to seemingly so small, there is no reason not do the task, and before you know it, as you see the positive change, you won't want to reduce your effort and may even want to increase it.

So as we find ourselves with more time at home and being unlikely to attend our favorite fitness class or gym, find exercise habits at home that will fulfill the exercise routine you need, but in a way that you enjoy. I am shifting my weekly yoga classes to a YouTube yoga instructor for the time being (but I cannot wait to return to the yoga studio), and my walks will be where I can keep my social distance at a healthy length from others, for their sake as well as mine.

7. Create an evening ritual for winding down before going to bed

Something I look forward to every day, weekday or weekend, is my evening routine. After the work on the blog has been completed, after dinner has been made and savored, it is this hour or two before I drift off to sleep that is priceless. My dogs as well have become accustomed to our routine and even though they do not know the time of day we humans live by, they know when bedtime is near.

From calming down the house, dishes washed, kitchen cleaned, work put away, to lighting a candle in the living room, turning on a pre-taped show or picking up a book or magazine I want to slip away to for a while, these simple activities tell my mind it is safe to rest, to relax, to be done for the day. All the while sipping some tea and nibbling on a piece of chocolate truffle, the ultimate signal to my body and brain that the day is done.

8. Be Conscientious About Your Daily News Intake

Going along with #5, what media we choose to be part of our daily routines has a profound effect on our mental health. I shared and encouraged my students to limit their news intake as it can easily overwhelm us. I did not suggest sticking their head in the sand and ignoring the news, but rather choose one or two times a day in which you check in with a credible news source, and then go about your day.

9. Work space set-up

Cultivate a welcoming work space whether it is temporary or where you work on a normal workday. Provide a clean work desk (check out this post - 10 Ways to Make Your Desk Space Efficient and Inspiring), welcome the natural light, reduce unhelpful distractions and decorate or rearrange in such a way to beckon you to work well.

10. Befriend water

Choose to bring and drink water with you throughout the day. Staying hydrated has oodles of benefits, but on the immunity side of things, it will help rid your body of toxins. Even if I am enjoying my regular cup of tea in the morning, afternoon or evening, I regularly will have a glass of water as well or have my Hydroflask full of water if I am out walking (it is in my car for when I return). Cultivating this habit will satiate your appetite, refresh your body and elevate many arenas of your life that we take for granted.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BzGjIGCABD7/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

11. Turn your ideas into gold

Yes, William Shakespeare may have written King Lear during his quarantine tenure in the 16th century, and while we may not produce such masterpieces, we can use this time let our creative ideas run free so that we have time to see what they want to reveal. Keep a notebook or small journal handy and write down what pops into your mind. You may be able to tend to the idea now or it may be an idea you can implement later, but either way, it will be a positive exercise to focus on positive, hopeful, inspired things. Our mind is a muscle, and it finds the tracks we repeat again and again. So practice thinking in such a way that lifts you up, gets you excited and who knows where your creative thoughts will take you.

As for me, I am planning TSLL's upcoming British Week (the third full week in May), pulling together April 1st's TSLL's Spring Shopping Guide and whatever else wishes to reveal itself to me. :) Excited to see what I will discover. Have fun!

12. Incorporate regular self-care and model it for others in your life

That hot bath you used to take infrequently, but love and look forward to deeply . . . take it regularly, every week, every other day, but make it a ritual you look forward as well as savor when you slip into the hot bubble bath of comfort. Last year, I shared 31 Ways to Practice Self-Care, episode #242, and as I shared in this episode, while the bubble baths and other pleasures are certainly part of this regular self-care routine, self-care needs to go deeper. When self-care goes deeper, it has even more powerful and long-lasting positive effects on our life. Be sure to check out the show notes and/or episode for much more information on this topic.

The current situation in which we find ourselves is unprecedented in our times, but it has the potential to reveal a tremendous amount about our strengths, compassion and ability to rise in ways we may not have known we were capable. I am confident that while the unknown has the potential to paralyze, it can also teach us an abundance about ourselves, those around us, the world and then reveal to us what we should truly be focused on for a better world moving forward.

SIMILAR POSTS/EPISODES YOU MIGHT ENJOY:

The Benefit of Daily Rituals

Why Not . . . Establish Weekend Rituals?

34 Inspiring Daily Rituals to Ignite Your Creativity, episode #255

Petit Plaisir:

~Begin to cultivate a candle cupboard/closet.

I first learned of this idea from Queer Eye's Tan France when during his tour of his home for Architectural Digest he opened up a small closet (I would call it a cupboard) and shared his stocked candles. Now, mind you, my current Candle Cupboard has two candles in it waiting to be enjoyed, but as I come across candles that I love, if they are on sale, I purchase one or two more than I normally would. I don't expect my Candle Cupboard to ever be as full as Tan's, but I love this idea as a Petit Plaisir.

My Candle Cupboard is only barely stocked, but I love this idea and will continue to add to it as my budget and sales and treasures are found. Thank you Tan for sharing this wonderful idea!

~The Simple Sophisticate, episode #280

~Subscribe to The Simple Sophisticate: iTunes | Stitcher | iHeartRadio | YouTube | Spotify

Tune in to the latest episode of The Simple Sophisticate podcast

[auburnfamilynews]

John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Turns out beating your rival in one of the best games of the year is a good way to impress recruits. Weird right?

After going a month without a chance to host any of their top targets, the month of November has been a godsend for the Tigers’ recruiting efforts. But no weekend quite has the star studded list as the Iron Bowl. It’s even better when all that talent gets to see the Tigers bring home the win. There was an impressive list of visitors on campus this past weekend who got a chance to experience the awesomeness that is a rocking Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Big Friday Night Boom

Before diving into the response to Auburn’s epic Iron Bowl victory, I think it’s important to talk about what happened the day prior. In case you missed it, 4* DE Zykeivous Walker told reporters Friday afternoon he planned on announcing his commitment that evening. Hours later, he announced his pledge to the Auburn Tigers.

pic.twitter.com/rbmoKcUOSI

— Zykeivous Walker (@Zykeivous10) November 30, 2019

This was an absolutely monster win on the trail for this coaching staff. Make no mistake, this is a kid Georgia not only wanted but expected to be in their 2020 class. Auburn though always felt like it had a shot. Like previous recruitments of Marlon Davidson and Big Kat Bryant, Walker just had the feel of an Auburn man. He clicked with the staff pretty much immediately but the big move came following his official visit last month. Walker is expected to not only sign later in a few weeks but will be an early enrollee as well. Don’t be surprised if Walker is making plays for this Auburn defense immediately next season.

Recapping Official Visits

This past weekend was obviously a big weekend for recruiting and the Tigers welcomed four official visitors to campus. Here’s a quick rundown on who made it and where things stand in their recruitments:

4* DT Omari Thomas - Auburn’s recruitment of Thomas started slow as the Tigers liked him at offensive tackle but he sees himself as a defensive lineman. However, now that Auburn is willing to take the top 100 player on the defensive side of the ball they have become a factor. This was Thomas’s first time seeing a game live in Jordan-Hare and from all accounts came away very impressed. He’s expected to announce his commitment next Monday, December 9th. The home state Vols are thought to be the current leader in the clubhouse but we have seen already that Rodney Garner can make a move in a hurry if he wants a guy. Definitely an announcement to keep an eye on next week.

4* DB Eric Reed - Reed’s commitment to Ole Miss had been on shaky ground ever since Auburn and Georgia dished out offers earlier this fall. With Matt Luke’s surprise firing, Reed announced this week he was no longer committed to the Rebels.

Thankyou❤️ pic.twitter.com/B4LoJ2HyAR

— Eric Reed Jr (@EricReedJr3) December 2, 2019

This is now an Auburn vs Georgia battle with the Dawgs possibly holding the edge. Auburn wants at least one more defensive back and would take Reed in a heartbeat if he wanted on board. Reed reportedly enjoyed his visit to the Plains but will be in Athens this weekend. We will see what unfolds over these next couple of weeks.

4* DT Josaih Hayes - Another former Ole Miss commit, Hayes has only recently popped up as a top target for the Tigers. Like pretty much everyone in attendance, Hayes came away very impressed with the atmosphere in Jordan-Hare Stadium per AuburnUndercover’s Keith Niebuhr. Did Auburn do enough to steal the Mississippi native away? That remains to be seen but a decision is expected in December so we won’t have to wait long to find out. The Tigers all of a sudden have just a few spots left on the defensive line so Auburn can afford to get picky late.

CB Emmanuel Appiah - Still unranked, Appiah has had one of the more interesting recruitments. His offer list currently consists of Auburn, Rutgers and Tennessee. He’s put up video game numbers this fall for his JUCO team and the coaching staff is reportedly very high on the Ghana native. But will he have a spot come early signing day? It’s really hard to tell because there could be a major move at that position very soon...

Loved my time this past weekend at Auburn! Amazing atmosphere and experience! Thank you for having me! WAR EAGLE @MarcusWoodsonAU @coachcrimedawg pic.twitter.com/0pdMmRR63s

— Emmanuel Appiah (@Apemmanuel) December 3, 2019

Boom Coming Soon?

There was a pretty big late addition to Auburn’s visitor list this past Saturday. The nation’s #6 overall JUCO prospect 4* DB Brian George traveled north to the Plains to witness Auburn’s epic Iron Bowl victory. From the sound of things, the visit went as well as anyone at Auburn could have hoped.

That was probably the most lit game I ever been

— BrianGeorge (@briangeorge1100) December 1, 2019

George told reporters after the game he had made his mind up on his recruitment. He’s expected back for an official visit this weekend. It would not at all surprise me if George’s name is added to Auburn’s 2020 commit list this time next week. This has been a recruitment with a lot of twists and turns so things could always change at any moment but as of right now Auburn appears to once again be in the driver’s seat for one of the best JUCO prospects in the country.

Elite 2021 Talent On Campus

There were plenty of important 2020 prospects on campus this past weekend but where Auburn will likely really see the effects of Saturday’s game is in next year’s class. One game obviously doesn’t change recruitments but it can definitely have an affect. Look no further than Owen Pappoe who said that it was seeing Auburn take down Alabama and Georgia in person that made him really decide to consider the Tigers.

Auburn’s 2021 list was as loaded as it gets including five 5* recruits. Here’s a quick look at those recruits a long with two other names to watch in the coming weeks.

5* OT Tommy Brockermeyer - Ranked the nation’s #3 overall player in the 2021 class, Brockermeyer got a chance to see Auburn in action Saturday afternoon along with his brother 4* C James Brockermeyer. Both appeared to be impressed. He’s long been pegged a Texas lock due to his family ties but Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia and LSU are all real threats in this race. I fully expect to see him and his brother back on the Plains in the coming months.

Had an unbelievable time this weekend at Auburn. Definitely game of the year. Can’t wait to come back again! #WarEagle @AuburnA1 @AuburnFootball @CoachJBGrimes pic.twitter.com/Nad6qads5A

— Tommy Brockermeyer (@TBrockermeyer) December 1, 2019

5* S James Williams - I am not sure there is a more clear future NFL 1st round draft pick in the 2021 class than Williams. A 6’5” 218 lb safety, Williams is a freaky athlete you just don’t find very often. Auburn, like everyone else in the country, is working hard to snag the elite defensive back and they have a legit chance at getting it done. Williams has been to Auburn a number of times and was back for the Iron Bowl Saturday. There is a feeling that early this might be an Auburn-Georgia battle but I think Clemson is one to keep an eye on as well.

5* OT Amarius Mims - It’s early and things could obviously change but this feels like a longshot for the Tigers. After all, he told AuburnSports.com he was actually cheering for Alabama Saturday evening... With that said, Mims is an elite prospect at a major position of need so Auburn is going to give it their best shot. Right now UGA is considered the clear favorite but we will see if Auburn can change things with Mims. Landing someone else on this list in a few weeks would do a lot of good in that regard....

5* DE Dylan Brooks - Follow the visits is a common refrain in the recruiting world. Applied to Brooks, the state’s #1 player in the 2021 class, it points to Auburn being in a VERY good position for the Roanoke, AL native. Brooks, by my count at least, made it to every single home game this fall on the Plains including some clunkers like Kent State. He’s obviously going to get a ton of pressure from every program especially the Tide but as of right now, you really have to like where Auburn sits for the elite pass rusher. Auburn landed 5* DT Lee Hunter yesterday. Pairing Hunter with Brooks would be a monster haul for Rodney Garner.

5* CB Ga’Quincy McKinstry - Nicknamed Kool-Aid, McKinstry is one of the more unique prospects in next year’s class. Not only does Gus Malzahn want the talented Pinson Valley standout but Bruce Pearl does too. He holds offers from both coaches and has been given the assurance he would be allowed to play both for the Tigers. I fully expect other programs to follow suit as McKinstry seems excited about the idea. This race is likely to go the distance and it’s going to be a battle between Auburn, Alabama and Clemson. Right now the Tigers sit in a good spot but this one is far from over and given Auburn’s history (or really the lack thereof) in signing 5* DBs, I would approach this recruitment with cautious optimism.

4* OT Micah Morris - Morris has been known in the recruiting world since he was a freshman in high school. The 6’4” 316 lb lineman could play anywhere on the line at the next level but I would think Auburn wants him at offensive tackle if possible. It’s rare that he and Mims aren’t on a visit together so landing his pledge would be a major boon in Auburn’s efforts to get involved with Mims. Morris is expected to make his commitment later this month. It’s an Auburn-Georgia battle with the Dawgs having long thought to be the team to beat. This is a very important recruitment in the 2021 cycle and one Auburn desperately needs to win as they look boost their OL recruiting efforts.

3* OT Caleb Johnson - Auburn was the first Power 5 school to offer Johnson. He’s since blown up sporting offers from the likes of Arkansas, Florida State, Louisville and others. It’s early so don’t let the lower rating full you, Auburn likes Johnson and would love to get him on board soon if possible. 247 national recruiting expert Steve Wiltfong Crystal Ball’d (aka predicted) Johnson to Auburn following the Iron Bowl. Will be interesting to see if a decision comes soon or not for the 6’7” 295 lb offensive tackle out of Ocala, FL

Three New Offers

At this point in the recruiting cycle, any offers Auburn doles out deserve scrutiny. With early signing day just a few weeks away and very few spots left in this class, any offers sent out now either mean Auburn is concerned about filling a current spot, expecting some attrition or stumbled onto a player that put together a big time senior campaign (think DJ Williams). So far this week, Auburn has put out three new offers of note.

The first one was probably the biggest surprise. Monday afternoon, Tennessee commit 4* ATH Jimmy Calloway announced on Twitter he had been offered by the Tigers.

Blessed to receive a offer from Auburn university @MarcusWoodsonAU pic.twitter.com/O8D2Hpurvu

— jimmy calloway (@Jimmycalloway1) December 2, 2019

At first, I thought this offer was related to Auburn’s effort to land another defensive back. But later, Calloway told AuburnUndercover’s Keith Niebuhr that the Tigers actually want him on offense, possibly at wide receiver. So does this mean Auburn could be losing a WR commit? Maybe... Ze’Vian Capers was giving North Carolina a hard look just a month ago but it looks like Auburn might have firmed up his commitment. Elijah Cannion is a name that hasn’t shown up a ton on Auburn’s visitor lists this fall while appearing in Gainesville a couple of times as well.

Or it could just mean they really like Calloway and are looking to add more weapons to the offense. His recruitment is expected to last until February so there is still time for things to get sorted out. He plays quarterback for his high school team so there’s maybe a chance he gets a look there as well. Either way, definitely a recruitment to watch over these final months.

The second came not long after Calloway’s announcement. Auburn might not be done landing JUCO offensive tackles.

I’m blessed and honored to receive another D1 offer from Auburn Football pic.twitter.com/xGtECOp0yl

— Jeremy Flax 6️⃣6️⃣ (@BiggFlax) December 2, 2019

3* OT Jeremy Flax just recently bumped Auburn commit Kilian Zierer from the top JUCO OT spot after a big year for Independence C.C. Auburn obviously already holds commitments from six offensive line prospects including three JUCOs so why in the world would they push after another?

Well, there’s also a very good chance we see some attrition amongst this current crop of offensive line commits. 4* OT Javion Cohen is very seriously flirting with Alabama and plans to take an official visit there this weekend. There are grade concerns with 3* OT Jonathan Buskey who no longer is expected to graduate in December and enroll in the spring. My guess is this offer is a move more directed at the latter development. Auburn will have to get him on campus soon if they want to make a move as he’s expected to make his decision later this month.

Finally, Auburn put out another JUCO offer but this time on the defensive side of the ball.

Blessed to receive an offer from Auburn Unversity @_CoachMartin_ @IndyFBHC @CoachDonerson @coachg76 @Coach_BSaunders @AuburnFootball pic.twitter.com/lbVIIHky2o

— DRE BUTLER (@DreButler23) December 3, 2019

Deandre Butler plays at the same JUCO as Flax so the Tigers apparently liked what they saw in Independence, KS. Ranked the #5 JUCO prospect in the country, Butler has an impressive list of offers but Auburn’s stands out. Butler told AuburnUndercover’s Keith Niebuhr he plans to take an official visit to the Plains this weekend. It’s been expected for much of this cycle that Auburn would take a JUCO prospect on the defensive line for some immediate depth next season. Interestingly Butler has three years of eligibility left so that likely makes him an even more attractive option in Auburn’s eyes.

War Eagle!

from College and Magnolia - All Posts https://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2019/12/4/20991211/auburn-football-recruiting-iron-bowl-buzz-omari-thomas-eric-reed-brian-george

[stalkhome-sindrone]

All 200 of the asks

200: My crush’s name is: [get fucked]199: I was born in: a hospital in Canada somewhere198: I am really: messed up197: My cellphone company is: Rogers196: My eye color is: Mud brown195: My shoe size is: 10 1/2194: My ring size is: Excuse me?193: My height is: 6 ft192: I am allergic to: my own satisfaction191: My 1st car was: probably crashed in a past life 190: My 1st job was: probably ruined in a past life189: Last book you read: A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Heaven by Corey Taylor188: My bed is: really nice at this time of day187: My pet: is not here yet, ask me in a few years186: My best friend: is a bit of a cunt, but aren't we all?185: My favorite shampoo is: no real preference184: Xbox or ps3: Xbox183: Piggy banks are: for losers, get an old fashioned jar182: In my pockets: nothing181: On my calendar: also nothing180: Marriage is: a waste of time and resources179: Spongebob can: see question 200178: My mom: does her best177: The last three songs I bought were? what are the last 3 songs on Hybrid Theory?176: Last YouTube video watched: video about how Louis CK writes jokes175: How many cousins do you have? too many to count here174: Do you have any siblings? 2 stepsisters and 1 brother173: Are your parents divorced? Nope172: Are you taller than your mom? Yup171: Do you play an instrument? Multiple170: What did you do yesterday? Probably what I did today but slightly happier

[ I Believe In ]169: Love at first sight: HA HA HA see question 200168: Luck: Yup167: Fate: To an extent, yes166: Yourself: On good days...who am I kidding, in vey few areas165: Aliens: Why not?164: Heaven: Nopenopenope163: Hell: If this isn't it, nopenopenope162: God: see question 200, also I'm agnostic161: Horoscopes: to an extent, fun reads though160: Soul mates: Jury is out on this one159: Ghosts: Sorta158: Gay Marriage: Hell yea (the best kinda ally is only an ally)157: War: Nopenopenope156: Orbs: ...huh?155: Magic: ...eh

[ This or That ]154: Hugs or Kisses: Both153: Drunk or High: Neither152: Phone or Online: Online151: Red heads or Black haired: both150: Blondes or Brunettes: both149: Hot or cold: neither, warm148: Summer or winter: Summer147: Autumn or Spring: Spring146: Chocolate or vanilla: Vanilla actually145: Night or Day: Night144: Oranges or Apples: Oranges143: Curly or Straight hair: Always been envious of straight hair142: McDonalds or Burger King: Burger King141: White Chocolate or Milk Chocolate: Milk chocolate140: Mac or PC: PC139: Flip flops or high heals: Flip flops138: Ugly and rich OR sweet and poor: Ugly and rich just to try it out137: Coke or Pepsi: Pepsi136: Hillary or Obama: Obama135: Burried or cremated: Pass134: Singing or Dancing: Dancing if I must pick133: Coach or Chanel: ...huh?132: Kat McPhee or Taylor Hicks: ...heh?131: Small town or Big city: Biiiiiig city130: Wal-Mart or Target: Walmart129: Ben Stiller or Adam Sandler: Adam Sandler128: Manicure or Pedicure: Both127: East Coast or West Coast: Both?126: Your Birthday or Christmas: Birthday125: Chocolate or Flowers: Both, I'm greedy, probably chocolate124: Disney or Six Flags: Disney123: Yankees or Red Sox: Neither

[ Here’s What I Think About ]122: War: Don't have it, don't support it, conversation works better.121: George Bush: Couple bands wrote some hate songs about him.120: Gay Marriage: IF YOU DON'T SUPPORT IT WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING FOLLOWING ME? see question 200 and piss off.119: The presidential election: AHAHAHAHAHAHA next118: Abortion: AHAHAHAHAHAHallow it, their kid, their prerogative117: MySpace: 10/10 great ironic joke to make116: Reality TV: Big Brother was fun till 2017115: Parents: They were fun till 2006114: Back stabbers: see question 200113: Ebay: ....eh112: Facebook: kinda dead now111: Work: ...huh?110: My Neighbors: cool people, rowdy dog109: Gas Prices: Overcharged like everyone says108: Designer Clothes: Overcharged like everyone says107: College: Not as bad as the perception is106: Sports: ...eh105: My family: ...eh104: The future: It depresses me in all honesty, but so does everything

[ Last time I ]103: Hugged someone: ...shit...102: Last time you ate: 3 hours ago101: Saw someone I haven’t seen in awhile: today100: Cried in front of someone: maybe last week...maybe99: Went to a movie theater: 6 months at the least ago98: Took a vacation: 3 weeks ago..sigh97: Swam in a pool: A long ass time96: Changed a diaper: Maybe a few years95: Got my nails done: Maybe a few years94: Went to a wedding: 2 years93: Broke a bone: never, lucky I know92: Got a piercing: never91: Broke the law: 4th grade90: Texted: 1 minute ago

[ MISC ]89: Who makes you laugh the most: My friend Sayem because he is consistently a dumbass and I love him for it88: Something I will really miss when I leave home is: banana bread87: The last movie I saw: Amelie 86: The thing that I’m looking forward to the most: when my new album comes in the fucking mail85: The thing im not looking forward to: tomorrow84: People call me: Donatello actually (y'all are not allowed to) (I'll block you, don't think I won't block you)83: The most difficult thing to do is: be happy82: I have gotten a speeding ticket: nope81: My zodiac sign is: Taurus80: The first person i talked to today was: Might've been @lovelyformylove but I dunno79: First time you had a crush: age 9, it didn't ruin me till 1178: The one person who i can’t hide things from: myself, duh (hide shit from people all the time)77: Last time someone said something you were thinking: maybe today76: Right now I am talking to: nobody (COME HERE)75: What are you going to do when you grow up: make a thing for people to consume or pirate as entertainment...or die first74: I have/will get a job: see question 7373: Tomorrow: but far away is tomorrow?72: Today: I will suffer for who I chose to care about71: Next Summer: I will be in another country [see question 72]70: Next Weekend: I will sleep in69: I have these pets: not yet68: The worst sound in the world: Forks on plates67: The person that makes me cry the most is: easily myself, duh66: People that make you happy: too exhausting a list65: Last time I cried: last week64: My friends are: really great for tolerating me63: My computer is: finally decent62: My School: a waste of a perfectly good Indian burial ground61: My Car: sitting in a dealership, still waiting60: I lose all respect for people who: fuck with people's emotions (I break my own rule because I am a hypocrite)59: The movie I cried at was: ....can't remember58: Your hair color is: Black/really dark brown57: TV shows you watch: Elementary, The Blacklist, Archer...can't remember the rest 56: Favorite web site: this dumb piece of shit, I mean Tumblr55: Your dream vacation: probably a recording studio to be honest54: The worst pain I was ever in was: something stupid and emotional53: How do you like your steak cooked: medium well52: My room is: pretty dark51: My favorite celebrity is: Corey Taylor?50: Where would you like to be: see question 5549: Do you want children: sure48: Ever been in love: tragically47: Who’s your best friend: Jeremy/Sayem46: More guy friends or girl friends: Real life: guys, here: girls45: One thing that makes you feel great is: a really good riff44: One person that you wish you could see right now: myself in 10 years (most answers witm "myself" are cop outs for real people)43: Do you have a 5 year plan: fuck no42: Have you made a list of things to do before you die: not yet, but I procrastinate on most important things41: Have you pre-named your children: Michael/Micayla so far, very small shortlist40: Last person I got mad at: myself (that one is authentic)39: I would like to move to: Denmark (escapism capital of my mind)38: I wish I was a professional: composer

[ My Favorites ]37: Candy: Hershey's Cookies n Cream36: Vehicle: pass35: President: Obama I guess34: State visited: nowhere33: Cellphone provider: Rogers?32: Athlete: pass31: Actor: pass30: Actress: pass (I've gone numb)29: Singer: see question 5128: Band: changes, currently Foo Fighters27: Clothing store: pass26: Grocery store: FreshCO?25: TV show: Elementary maybe24: Movie: Ameline currently23: Website: this dumb waste of time, I mean Tumblr22: Animal: TURTLE21: Theme park: Wonderland?20: Holiday: New Year's Day19: Sport to watch: Wrestling probably18: Sport to play: Not wrestling xD17: Magazine: Probably some guitar magazine16: Book: Maybe 198415: Day of the week: Saturday easily14: Beach: haven't been to many memorable ones13: Concert attended: see question 1412: Thing to cook: egg, ham, and cheese bagels11: Food: see question 1210: Restaurant: August 8, no joke9: Radio station: the one with the nice classical music8: Yankee candle scent: pass7: Perfume: Chanel something6: Flower: Magnolia5: Color: Green or red, never at the same time4: Talk show host: John Oliver3: Comedian: Bill Burr or Jim Jefferies2: Dog breed: Beagle1: Did you answer all these truthfully? Yes

[wozman23]

Roller Coasters and Car Wrecks: Both The Physical and The Emotional Kinds

I’ve recently taken a couple of trips to Six Flags, but those haven’t been the only roller coasters I’ve been on. And I’ve recently been part of or witnessed a few car wrecks. In every instance, these last few months have been absolutely absurd in the most beautifully nerve-racking of ways. For my own well being and sanity, I’ve needed to severely cut my time at Aldi for quite some time. Despite the fact that I’ll be losing about $1000 a month, I’ve now done that. I’m two weeks in to being a part timer. Yet I fear I pushed myself a bit too far for those eight months. The constant lack of sleep has seriously impaired me, yet I continued to push my limits despite countless signs. First off, many months ago, after a gym split shift that started at 5 AM and ended at I-don’t-even-remember-how-late PM, I backed into someone pulling out of a parking space in a Walmart parking lot. It was the most minor accident imaginable, but my insurance company didn’t give a damn. So when it came time to renew, they raised my rates, and I decided to stop carrying collision and comprehension on my 12 year old car. Then a few months back I destroyed two tires after falling asleep at the wheel. That was the most literal of wake up calls, and a $400 mistake. It was really the turning point that made me question how hard I was pushing myself. I’m still grateful that the situation wasn’t much worse. Then again, yesterday, while not paying enough attention while trying to maneuver my way out from a gas station and in to a turn lane through a few lanes of traffic stopped at a light, I took too narrow of a path when squeezing between vehicles and put a nasty scrape across my passenger side rear door and quarter panel when I brushed up against the bumper of a semi. On one hand I was pissed off! Why wasn’t I paying more attention?! It’s either something that’s gonna cost quite a chunk of change to fix, or it’s something that won’t be worth fixing and I’ll just have to stare at my mistake until it’s time for a new ride. On the other I was relieved that the semi driver didn’t care since the rigid metal bumper took pretty much zero damage, so all we did was shake hands and agree that we didn’t need to exchange insurance. So now my car, which looked alright when it moved to California, is in much worse shape these days. The right side alone has taken a rock to the windshield (hey, at least that one wasn’t my fault), some chipped paint on the rear bumper, and now a giant war wound. Like many cars on the road out here, it is beat up. I now joke that it’s my badge that I’m a true Angeleno. But, contrary to how it sounds, my life hasn’t completely been a series of car accidents. It’s had its ups as well. I’m fortunate that my gym job is a pleasure. I absolutely love it, my clients, and the vast majority of my coworkers. I couldn’t imagine a better, more fulfilling job. And just tonight I cemented a promotion by barely squeezing out the required amount of training sales dollars and supplement sales - largely in part thanks to my amazing clients and coworkers who pulled some favors for me to get close enough to those requirements, and me throwing a few hundred down on supplements knowing I will make my money back in the next three months.

But just as I lessened my role at Aldi, I’ve also lost some good clients. While my paychecks have been on the up-and-up, my overall net pay is in a state of flux right now. And if those sales numbers don’t maintain - which they’re trending not to - I take a demotion back to where I was after another three months. So I’m really uncertain on where that roller coaster is heading next. Couple that with the fact that I’m still clearly mentally and physically exhausted from both jobs and the continued effort of trying to make that relationship I was interested in work, I’ve been in a really weird headspace. That physical exhaustion also means that I’ve curtailed my workouts. I haven’t consistently run since my injury around six months ago, and my lifting has been the most inconsistent it’s been since I began this journey a few years ago. I don’t doubt that’s also influenced the uneasy feeling I’ve been having. Most days I’m still filled with chipper whimsy, but I’ve noticed my mood start to swing in less desirable directions. While it’s nowhere near as crippling as it once was, I’ve finally began to feel a normal, acceptable amount of anxiety about my future, which is to be expected from such chaos. I’m actually surprised it took this long. But that small level is actually nice to have again, because it lets me know I’ve crossed my limits. I wish it would have let me know months ago. Maybe then my car - which seems to be more and more representative of my battered psyche every day - wouldn’t have taken the brunt of the damage it has. Maybe this steam of consciousness would be more coherent, and maybe I’d have the energy to proof read it. Then the pinnacle! Tonight we were supposed to celebrate promotions at work by meeting for dinner. Reservations were made around a month ago, but it kept getting pushed back. Finally hitting my goals, I was invited hours before the event. So after putting in a full day at the gym striking out on getting that out of pocket cost of my supplements any lower- because I’m still not that great of a salesman - I picked up another $200 worth of amino acids, creatine, joint flex, and multivitamins, drove over to the place we were supposed to meet... and found out it had closed down a few weeks ago due to a fire. A backup plan hadn’t materialized yet, so being mentally and physically spent, I laughed it off and went home. And on the way home what should I find: a traffic jam. The cause: the same generation Corolla as mine with a crushed front end after rear ending someone on the 5 (see again I’m a true Angeleno because I don’t call the interstate I-5 anymore). I’ve had some pessimistic moments. I’ve laughed. I’ve cried. I’ve been angry. I’ve been desperate. I’ve questioned whether or not moving here was the right choice. Yet, despite all of my turmoil and absurdity, there are constant reminders that things could always be worse. My place of employment didn’t burn down and while my car may be unsightly, it is still drive-able. Thanks to killing myself with two jobs, I’ve nearly replaced all the money in my savings that I blew through to get established. Overall, I remain predominately optimistic. My roller coaster has the potential to be heading up. I’ll be making around $4 more per hour when training clients, which equates to around $22/hr. I’m coaching an all-time high of 7 Gold’s Burn classes a week, which gets me $32/hr. I’m getting more full nights of sleep, which is the thing I need the most. I’ve got more free time. I’ll have most weekends off. I went for a run today with a client and her husband - the one who I resigned that put me literally $10 over my sales goal. (As a thank you I bought her some protein powder.) I’m hoping I can make those runs a semiweek(end)ly occurrence with a few clients/friends. I’ll have more time to catch up on video games, a month’s worth of Conan episodes that I haven’t watched, and a few other shows. And despite a few missed opportunities on previous invites, I might have finally talked Lisa into coming to Six Flags with me and our mutual friend on July 10th. And maybe we’ll hit the water park later next month. When I went to Six Flags last weekend, one roller coaster was shut down almost the entire day. But it reopened just before close. We hopped in line, got all the way to the front, literally waiting to be the next to hop on... And then a car got stuck on the climb... We waited while they tried to fix it,and watched as the next person-less test car got stuck again. Many people behind us left. But in the end we stayed, they got it up and running, and we got to ride arguable the best ride there.

That’s me: I push through shit, stubbornly. I’m determined. I’m always looking to move forward. When I want to hit a goal for a half marathon, I do so at the expense of my ligaments. When I hit a curb, I don’t put the car in reverse. I just run it over. When I start to hear my car door scraping against a semi, instead of stopping I just let it scrape the whole way. It’s not always the smartest decision - clearly. Had I stopped, fixing a single small blemish on the door would have been a relatively cheap repair. But in other, not-car-destroying related instances, it can be a benefit. Life is fucking weird, and that’s why it’s fun. It reminds me of a snippet from a song I fell in love with that I found not long ago, Incandenza by Waking Aida. I posted it before, but it bears repeating: “When you open your hands to catch and wind up with only blisters and bruises; when you step out of the phone booth and try to fly and the very people you want to save are the ones standing on your cape; when your boots will fill with rain, and you'll be up to your knees in disappointment. And those are the very days you have all the more reason to say thank you. Because there's nothing more beautiful than the way the ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline, no matter how many times it's sent away. You will put the wind in winsome, lose some. You will put the star in starting over, and over. And no matter how many land mines erupt in a minute, be sure your mind lands on the beauty of this funny place called life" - Sarah Kay

That poem eviscerates my soul for so many reasons. It exemplifies the last few years of my life perfectly. It reduces me to tears - happy tears. I honestly have no clue where this roller coaster is headed, but I’m enjoying the ride, the people I’m riding it with, and all its ups and downs. If you’ve made it this far into this post, or even just cared enough to skip to the bottom, thank you for being in my life. Thanks for the encouragement. Thanks for laughing with or at me. Thanks for inspiring me. I hope you see life through the same glasses I do. If I can give you but one thing, I hope it’s that childlike optimism.