#Florida Outsider Art

[amegeddon]

Since Vergil did not appear by mission 15 of DMC4 I am assuming he got lost in the Florida Everglades. Someone please find and rescue this poor man, he can only survive so long on motivation and pond scum.

#ngl I headcanon the sparda bros as florida men #like obviously they aren't canonically but also they totally are #they are florida man coded and you cannot convince me otherwise #dante in the 'florida man does crazy shit- promptly thrown in jail' way #and vergil in the 'florida man sits outside in lawn chair during a hurricane- does not move at all' way #shitpost #art #digital art #shitty art #devil may cry #devil may cry fanart #dmc shitpost #dmc vergil #vergil devil may cry #devil may cry vergil #dmc

[mokeonn]

I gotta say, really glad that the main criticisms for my "artists have more options" post has been that it is very USA centric and doesn't work for people in low populated areas without an art community. This has led to people giving more perspectives and options, which is always appreciated, and also because it's a completely correct criticism. Like yeah it is in fact made from the perspective of a USAmerican who lives in a highly populated state with a thriving art community especially in rural areas, you got me there, can't argue with that, gimme some fresh perspectives I love to hear that. Thank you for not making my notifications hell, and thank you for giving me more perspectives im going to give you a little kissy on the forehead

#simon says #i was worried that since it hit 10k notes #I was gonna deal with a lot of people with low confidence getting mad at me bc 'they are too much of a failure to do this how dare you' #but im so glad because it hasn't been that #it has been people bringing up good counterpoints and perspectives I appreciate hearing! #like yeah I knew it was gonna end up being US (and probably Canada) centric because I'm American and never left the country before #so my perspective on career artistry outside the country is very VERY limited to say the least #but I didn't even consider that my perspective is also skewed by where in the US I live #I live in Florida which I mentioned before and feel safe mentioning because it's a very populated state #and a majority of the economy is tourism based #so there's a pretty huge thriving art community here because there's LOTS of people visiting who want cool art for whatever reason #and LOTS of retirees with money to spend and a new florida house to decorate #and LOTS of college age kids without money but an apartment they wanna furnish so they'll buy art anyways #shows and shops and gallery work are huge here for a reason #5 percent of the entire population are snowbirds. people from the north who live here during the winter #so needless to say it's far easier to start making art selling prints and handmade magnets at a booth for a weekend event here in Florida #compared to say... rural Nebraska #so I didn't even consider that because my journey as an artist started in a state with a small but passionate and growing art community #and my journey as a PROFESSIONAL artist started in another state that has a large and thriving art community even in rural areas #that it would absolutely have an effect on my perspective #i still believe there's always more options out there than you would believe and it's always good to explore and look #and if you're able to start building an art scene in a place that doesn't have one you should #but I definitely understand some folks better when they say that it's not always accessible to do so #art careers are not about fame or social media following but rather networking I still believe that because it's true #but yeah if you're in an area where your only option IS to sell online there's no shame in that #anyways hopefully that was coherent I just woke up from a nap and now im gonna play Frog Detective for the first time #smooching you all on the foreheads gently and lovingly thank you for opening my mind and not making my inbox hell

[bladevenus]

the weight of the world isn't so crushing if I just keep moving

(April 14th, 2024. Eagle Lake Park, Largo, Florida USA)

#photography #nature #nature photography #outdoors #summer #mine #florida #trees #trees and forests #outside #green #spring #southern goth aesthetic #southern gothic #art #aesthetic #lake #river #rivers #lakes #hiking

[gaykarstaagforever]

This song is 16 years old.

This amazing remix of it, one of my favorite songs ever, is 14 years old. The link to the mp3 is dead so this is all we have until the channel disappears.

#mark gormley #outsider art #indie #Youtube #uncharted zone #this guy is a legit talent #he is 66 and lives in florida

[leggett-photog]

#florida #orlando #canon #canon photography #usa #summer #documentary #documentary photography #art #trash #photo #image #outside #concrete

[disneyprincemuke]

driver’s parade * ls2

it's never fun feeling like an outsider, so you'd sworn that nobody would ever feel the way you did all those years ago

pairings: logan sargeant x platonic fem!driver

notes: HEHEHEHEHEHE

| "wanna hang out?" | driver's parade | american burgers | american football | the thanksgiving incident | another williams adoptee | beating the heat | you’re embarrassing me | santa baby | the favourite driver | the situationship | it's nice to have a friend |

“hey, florida man!” you call out, jogging to catch up to the taller man ahead of you. “heading to the driver’s parade?”

“aren’t we all?” logan answers, turning around to glance at you. “hi.”

“hi,” you greet back with a proud smile. lunch had gone great with alex and george the day prior. though, it was still a little awkward from the obvious disconnect between you and the american driver.

he was slightly more withdrawn and only talked to alex and george when he needed to. he only ever spoke to you when you spoke to him. alas, you are still very committed to make a best friend out of the younger man.

admittedly, his tendency to be quiet and a little shy is very reminiscent of when you attempted to make a friend out of lewis a couple of years ago. and kimi, when he was still around.

though, kimi was a lot different from lewis and logan. he still had his moments.

“how’d you enjoy your first race weekend?” you ask, glancing at him as you take a sip from your water bottle. “have fun?”

“it’s okay so far,” he shrugs, dropping his head slightly. “have you seen alex anywhere?”

“you don’t like hanging out with me?” you frown jokingly. a smile stretches your lips when his head shoots up, eyes wide as strings of apologies start to spew from his lips.

“no, i didn’t mean it like that. i’m sorry. it’s just-“

“i’m kidding!” you laugh, patting his shoulder. “i’ve only seen you with alex anyway, so it’s probably just a preference.” you turn and scan the pitlane, lips pressed together. “he should be around here with george.”

“how come you aren’t with them?” logan hums hesitantly, glancing at you shyly with his hands in his pockets. “i always saw you guys together last year.”

you laugh. you’re typically sighted with george and alex by default: george is your teammate and alex is his best friend. it’s just a natural thought that george and alex come together as a package deal to you.

“yeah, but i try not to intrude when they’re out dating,” you wave off his concerns, “makes me feel like a third wheel.”

“they do kinda have that effect, don’t they,” logan mutters, shaking his head. “so, um…”

“oi, you’re late!” you look ahead, finding your teammate with his hands on his hips. behind him in the truck that’s supposed to take everyone around the track collectively. “come on, we’re waiting for you guys! and max. where is max? have you seen max?”

“why are you asking us like we’ve seen him?” you scoff, watching george hop onto the back effortlessly. “i haven’t seen him. ask checo.”

“you don’t suppose he’s ditching,” george whispers, bewildered at the though.

“is he allowed to do that?” logan asks softly, glancing at you.

“no, but he’s max,” you point out. you rest your water bottle on the surface of the truck and hold your arm up to george. “he can do whatever the hell he wants.”

“yeah, we’ve stopped asking questions,” george giggles. he grabs your extended arm, yanking you up easily to the elevated surface of the truck.

somehow, in the past year of being teammates, you and george have perfected the art of lifting you onto the back of the truck effortlessly.

you pick up your water bottle before you turn around to face logan. you extend a helping hand towards him and smile. “come on.”

george watches you with his eyebrows furrowed, also yanking the rookie up to stand between you. “aw, that’s kinda sweet,” george teases as logan walks past them after alex calls for him to walk further in. “you reckon you guys are friends now?”

you huff, shaking your arms. “he’s a tough nut to crack. he’s very shy.”

“now you know what it’s like trying to be your friend.”

#logan sargeant #logan sargeant x reader #logan sargeant x you #female driver #fem!driver #f1 female driver #f1 x you #disneyprincemuke #disneyprincemuke imagine #disneyprincemuke imagines #disneyprincemuke f1 #logan sargeant platonic #disneyprincemuke 3k celly

[theoutcastrogue]

Cartoon depictions of the homeless increasingly reflect the hostility of today’s political leaders toward people on the streets. We’ve gone from images of charming hobos with bindles to zombies taking over cities. If you consume any news at all, you’ve probably noticed that the United States is pathologically cruel to its homeless citizens. This May, the brutal killing of Jordan Neely—who was strangled to death, at the age of 30, simply because he was unhoused and shouting on the Manhattan subway—captured the national spotlight, but it was just one of many such cases of unprovoked violence. In January, two cops reportedly kidnapped a homeless man in Hialeah, Florida, drove him to an “isolated and dark location,” and beat him unconscious. That same month, art dealer Shannon Collier Gwin faced battery charges after he sprayed a homeless woman with a hose outside his San Francisco gallery, barking “Move! Move!” at her. (Predictably, Gwin got a lenient plea deal of just 35 hours of community service.) Elsewhere in the city, homeless San Franciscans have been attacked with chemical bear spray on at least eight occasions. Other assaults have been more impersonal but no less vicious. On July 14, the city of Houston abruptly closed its only public cooling center in the downtown area, potentially condemning anyone without shelter to suffer heatstroke in 90-degree weather. Among the property-owning class, the phenomenon of hostile architecture—sidewalks with spikes that stab anyone who tries to sleep, benches with iron bars, and the like—has become de rigueur. The widespread callousness and lack of compassion are both infuriating and hard to comprehend. How on Earth, we might ask, did things get this bad? [...]

Looking back at older cartoons, one of the things that stands out immediately is the absence of negative attitudes toward the homeless. In fact, during the Golden Age of animation, creators seemed to have had a real affinity for the poor and unhoused, often placing their most iconic characters in that role. There’s a wonderful 1948 Warner Bros. short called “Riff Raffy Daffy,” in which Daffy Duck is looking for a place to sleep—first on a park bench, then a trash can, and finally a furniture display in a shop window—and has to dodge the harassment of the police, as represented by Porky Pig in a little blue uniform. (Literally, the cop is a pig!) Or, in the 1950 cartoon “Homeless Hare,” Bugs Bunny’s rabbit hole is destroyed by a new construction project, leading him to unleash his usual slapstick mayhem against the developers until they put it back. In these cartoons, homelessness is something inflicted on people by outside forces—gentrification and the real estate business, in Bugs’ case—and something which can be successfully resisted. Even Disney cast a homeless dog as a romantic lead in 1955’s Lady and the Tramp, contrasting Lady’s sheltered naivety with Tramp’s superior knowledge of the world. The title invokes the memory of Charlie Chaplin’s “Tramp” films, which similarly brought dignity and humanity to the role of a homeless man. (Bugs Bunny, too, takes inspiration from Chaplin, and multiple Warner animators have drawn him as the Tramp.) In 1961, Hanna-Barbera’s profoundly underrated Top Cat followed the adventures of a gang of wisecracking Manhattan alley cats, who, like Daffy, are always outwitting a meddling policeman. At worst, classic cartoons may trivialize the suffering and danger associated with homelessness—there’s a certain recurring image of the carefree hobo carrying a bindle, which paints the whole subject in a romanticized light—but the homeless themselves are rarely disparaged or made the butt of the joke. Quite the opposite. 

It took a few years, but cartoons caught up to the Reaganite turn. In episodes from the ’90s and early 2000s, there’s a palpable shift in the way homeless characters appear compared to earlier decades. The perspective is different: we’re now seeing them through the eyes of comfortably housed characters, rather than their own. Often they don’t even get proper names. [...] This trajectory leads us, perhaps inevitably, to SpongeBob SquarePants. [..] Squidward gets accused of stealing a dime by his comically greedy boss, Mr. Krabs, and quits his job in a fit of outrage. We then flash forward to see Squidward, now bedraggled and unshaven, living in a cardboard box on the street and begging for change. [...] Mercifully, the ever-cheerful SpongeBob gives Squidward a place to stay—but the moment he’s safely off the street, Squidward turns from a sympathetic victim of circumstance into a lazy, entitled freeloader, straight out of a Reagan speech. He makes no effort to find work and loafs around SpongeBob’s house for ages. [...] Eventually, an exasperated SpongeBob writes “GET A JOB” in his alphabet soup, before shoving him (bed and all) back to work at the Krusty Krab. [...] Worst of all, though, the episode suggests that homelessness can be solved on an individual basis if the people in question simply stop being lazy and “GET A JOB.” This is the biggest myth of all. In 2021, a statistical analysis by the University of Chicago found that 53 percent of people in homeless shelters, and 40.4 percent of unsheltered people, do have jobs. The problem is that their wages are too low, and rents are too high. According to statistics from the same year, it’s impossible for someone working a full-time, minimum-wage job to afford a single-bedroom apartment in 93 percent of U.S. counties, and there are no states in which someone can rent a two-bedroom space on the current federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. In other words, homelessness has little or nothing to do with personal responsibility, or lack thereof. It’s a consequence of large-scale economic decisions made by landlords and bosses. [...]

— Alex Skopic

#Alex Skopic #theory #the ramblin' rover

[mauesartetc]

FREE PALESTINE MASTERPOST

Trying to keep this blog more art- and creativity-focused in general, so I'll be removing the Gaza-related reblogs that are about a month old. But I'll use this post as a permanent archive that will update periodically (some of this information will grow dated as the situation develops, but I think it's important to keep a record of just how fiercely opposed people were to Israel's actions from this moment forward). We should all continue to raise our voices about this, and refuse to support politicians who enable genocide. Remember, they work for us, not the other way around. Keep going.

October 2023

-Donation links

-Social media links

-US congress ceasefire script

-Decolonizepalestine.com (information, mythbusting)

-More donation links

-Ways to pressure politicians for a ceasefire

-HUGE resource list

-"Is there anything I can do to help Palestinians besides call my representatives and beg them to stop killing people?"

-"We are isolated now"

-Palestine and landback

-210 PAGES of dead people's names.

-Bail money for Palestine Action

-Article list

-US action items

-Boycott info

-Grand Central Station shut down by protestors

-Message to white American citizens

-UK ceasefire petition

-How YOU can help Palestine (regularly updated!)

-"Please try amidst all this fury and grief to still have faith in the common people." (+donation links)

-Reminder about protest etiquette and privacy

-Prints for Palestine

-"We have no communication with the outside world. They are using their military might to harm us. We have no power but the power of God, no one but God. Please, pray for us." (spoken over mosque speakers)

-DAILY donate button + more donation links

-"Doesn't Israel have a right to exist too?"

-Script for US Congress calls

-Queerness under apartheid

-Sudan is also at war

-Hundreds of thousands of protestors in London

-Half a million.

-Tips for folks with phone anxiety

-This comic got real

-European and Canadian ceasefire scripts

-"The people of Gaza see the protests. That is reason enough to come even if nothing else." WE HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN YOU. WE ARE HERE.

November 2023

-More genocides than just Palestine

-How to buy e-sims to circumvent Gaza's internet blackout

-"Occupying territories is illegal. Resistance to occupying forces is legal."

-MASSIVE resource list

-"For decades now the media has told us Muslim men are savages, terrorists, wife beaters and everything in between. I want you to challenge this trope the next time you see it in the media. Let these photos serve as a reminder."

-"Don't stop talking about the Palestinian genocide. IT'S WORKING."

-UN resignation letter

-Israel won't allow Irish or Brazilian citizens to leave Gaza

-"Palestine must never be forgotten. Promise me that." (from the documentary "Children of Shatila")

-Gifs of pro-Palestine rallies around the world

-Support Palestine's last kufiya factory

-Protestors flood the streets in Washington DC

-Explanation of why calling representatives is a numbers game

-FREE ebooks on the history of this conflict

-Petition to screen films by Palestinian directors

-Call to boycott Gal Godot's work

-Indigenous activists block weapons shipment to Israel

-If you're attending a protest, DON'T TELL YOUR GOVERNMENT SHIT. Y'know, friendly advice.

-Links to support Palestine Action and Palestine Legal. Get in the way.

-Parallels between Israel and the surveillance tactics used by NYC mayor Eric Adams

-Don't spiral into doomerism. Persevere.

-Want a different strategy to contact your representatives? Try faxing them!

-Florida rep Michelle Salzman calls for the death of all Palestinians

-"The phone doesn't stop" :)

-Indian trade unions call on the government to scrap deals with Israel

-An overview of Israel's human rights violations, and two major political groups that have exacerbated Zionism in the US

-Israeli man explains why he's protesting

-"Whoever stays until the end will tell the story. We did what we could. Remember us."

-US House of Representatives votes to send billions of dollars worth of weapons to Israel

-Canadian email campaign and petitions

-"Canada's First Nation standing with Palestine"

-"Freedom is infectious as it is just and no one is free until they ALL are."

-Israeli forces invade al-Shia hospital

-Leaked list of weapons the US has sent to Israel

-Only 32% of Americans believe the US should support Israel

-Cop City action demonstrates how to protest effectively

-Refugee grandmother "doesn't have to imagine a multicultural and integrated Palestine- she remembers it".

-Protestors block the Bay Bridge in San Francisco (plus bail fund)

-Israeli forces attack schools in northern Gaza. SCHOOLS.

-Journalist shares an update from an Indonesian hospital and pleads for others to spread it around as it "may be the last video we are able to send"

-Scottish Parliament votes overwhelmingly to demand a ceasefire

-Sobering texts from a friend providing humanitarian aid in Gaza. "They have been distributing guns to the civilian settlers and allowing them into the West Bank to terrorize people" "We have been given option to leave. None took it"

-"the absolute bare minimum in this situation is 1) a complete ceasefire and immediate humanitarian aid in Gaza, 2) complete halt of all military foreign aid to the Israeli government, 3) the Israeli government being prosecuted for its war crimes in the International Criminal Court, and 4) land back and reparations for the Palestinian people. free Palestine means free Palestine, not just temporarily stop carpet bombing Palestine."

-"It's important that you keep posting and speaking about the ongoing genocide. This 5 day agreement isn't the end of things."

-Boosting the incredible, FREE daily donate button again

-Protests at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

-"REMINDER THAT ANTISEMITES AREN'T WELCOME HERE AND WON'T BE TOLERATED"

#free palestine #masterpost #master list #long post

[art]

Meet the Artist: @camilicy

Hola! My name is Cami. I’m a Peruvian Freelance illustrator residing in the sunny lands of South Florida! I enjoy doodling silly animals and cute stuff using lots of warm colors like yellows and browns. Aside from digital art i enjoy learning all different types of mediums, including watercolor being my top favorite medium. My goal with art is not only to have fun but that others can look at my art and feel a sense of nostalgia and happiness. Outside of creating art, i love traveling and playing video games, especially if they include farming! (I’m MINECRAFT’S #1 fan and have been playing since beta) Thank you so much to Tumblr for this awesome opportunity to this silly little artist!

Nice to meet you, Cami! We’ve asked them to share some of their work for you all here:

For more of Cami’s art, check out their Tumblr, @camilicy!

#meet the artist #meet the artist on tumblr #artists on tumblr #art #camilicy #cami

[hometoursandotherstuff]

Beautiful 1916 Queen Anne in Tarpon Springs, Florida has been completely renovated and it is very modern, but it has the most amazing features still intact. 4bds, 3ba, $1.9M.

It's sometimes so weird when they renovate and leave things disjointed like this. I wish they would show more of that fireplace, b/c it looks like it has carved figures in the top.

You can tell that walls were taken down, but they left the fireplaces standing wherever. It just looks a little weird.

Look at it from the side.

The kitchen is large, modern, and features 2-tone cabinetry. It has a cozy niche for the kitchen table and chairs.

Plus, a larger casual dining room outside the kitchen. They painted the wood white, but looking at the high wainscoting, we can safely assume that this was the original dining room.

The new configuration is a very open floor plan. Here's a family room.

The wood work seems to combine some Craftsman elements as well.

When you get up to the 2nd level, they opened a loft space that is accessed by a spiral staircase.

The primary bedroom is large and has windows down to the floor.

This is very different. So many levels.

Maybe this bedroom with the sitting area is the primary.

The bath looks Art Deco.

Then the spiral stairs lead up above these rooms to a loft.

Look at how they opened the ceiling. This is a cool way to redo an attic. Isn't that unusual, how they found beams with designs on them.

It's so beautiful up here.

Vintage tub and pedestal sink in the bath, plus a gorgeous stained glass window.

It's like an A-frame and has a built-in bureau and benches, plus what is likely an original architectural detail.

Isn't this a sweet little office?

And, there's also another lovely bedroom. This home was completely gutted and redone, but in a very interesting, unusual way.

There is a large deck and yard on a .33 acre lot.

Right across the street is the Whitcomb Bayou.

And, it's also near these parks that are on 2 islands.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/115-S-Spring-Blvd-Tarpon-Springs-FL-34689/47053423_zpid/

#renovated victorian #houses #house tours #home tour

[mikefrawley]

It's all About Forgiveness Mike (04-06-24)

I'm not quite sure why just yet, but today for me was my first ever be good to Mike Day. It was a beautiful Spring Day here in South Florida and I just knew it was time to spoil myself, which is an action I haven't taken in a very long time. Before I get into this story too deep, I want to pause a moment and thank my many friends for your love and support as I've started taking baby steps on a path I've been afraid to walk and addressing some inner child issues which have troubled me for most of my life, Okay, back to spoiling myself, but first I really want let all of you know just how much I love and appreciate you. Thank you! So, where was I? It was early Saturday Morning and I took a nice leisurely drive to the nicest Publix in town for my weekly shopping, and I realized that it was time to stop living like an active addict who can barely pay the rent and enjoy life a little bit. So, aside from the usual groceries I also bought some gourmet k-cups of coffee to share with my friends at work and took a different way home so I could tryout a new Starbucks which is my weekly splurge. Then armed with my Vanilla Latte I returned home and relaxed for a bit. At home I wrote a new poem which as is the case with many of us here is my true love. After finishing I just felt like getting out of the house and enjoying my day. I haven't bought a new book for myself in well over twenty years, so I decided to take a mini road trip to Barnes and Noble. After leisurely browsing a bit, I grabbed an excellent book by my favorite teacher, author, and poet, Thich Nhat Hanh, or Thay (teacher in Vietnamese) as he is known. The title is ZEN AND THE ART OF SAVING THE PLANET. After that I must confess I did go over the top a bit and stopped by a second Starbucks which was right next door and treated myself to another fancy coffee. Hey, as I said, it was be good to Mike Day. Sunday I leisurely sat outside reading my new book, meditating and just enjoying the moments as they passed. Please forgive me if this is a bit boring but my wish is that someone else suffering with self-destructive thoughts and feelings, may realize that they too are good enough and very much worthy of love. Well I guess that's enough (too much), but please do remember that you are indeed much loved!

#prose #personal #self love #be good to you #books #Starbucks #you are good enough #It's all About Forgiveness Mike (04-06-24)

[incorrectsmashbrosquotes]

Mario: What are ya’lls favorite anime genres?

Link: Yu-Gi-Oh ones where all of society has altered to revolve around one stupid thing or sport. Like, we could solve this diplomatically, but how about we play a game of Super Basketball instead?

Samus: Vaugely horny and homoerotic Sci-fi.

Bowser: Hentai. It’s art.

Marth: Mecha but only if its gay.

Sonic: Isekai.

*Sonic was later found beaten to death in a ditch outside of Miami, Florida.*

#incorrect super smash bros #super smash bros #incorrect quotes #smash bros #Mario #Link #Samus #Bowser #Marth #Sonic #Super Mario #Legends of Zelda #Metroid #Fire Emblem #Sonic the Hedgehog #anime

[joe9cool]

Invisible String- Collide

This takes place after the story and before the epilogues. Just a cute little story while listening to Invisible String by Taylor Swift

Mike Wozniak was in his attic, normally this was something his wife would be doing, but this was something that was driving him nuts since he discovered the tall young man that stole his youngest daughter's heart.

Justin looked familiar, but he couldn't put his place on it. Then the lightbulb went off in his head when he remembered Justin was from Oregon. He had never gotten a proper chance to mention it since everyone had been fussing over him the entire time he was visiting

After hours of searching through photo albums, he made an "Aha!" Noise as he grabbed the two photos he was looking for

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Dad, I thought you were taking this slow. You just had a medical emergency." Sara had decided to go home for a week to check on her dad before Justin's training camp started. She had just finished wrapping up promotional press for the shows new season premiere. Sara was cleaning her home when her dad surprised her with food and an envelope. "Where's mom?"

"Probably at her art class. Who knows?" Sara laughed and crossed her arms. "And how pissed would she be if she knew you were here with Chinese food?"

"Really pissed. But she will be gone for a few more hours and there's the farmers market on her way home. Plenty of time to hide the evidence." He set the food down as Sara got out the paper plates and plastic utensils. "What's in the envelope?"

He slid it across the dining room table as he began to plate some of the food. "Take a look for yourself."

Confused, she tucked a piece of her dark hair around her ear before opening the envelope. It was a series of photos. She studied the first one. It was a picture of her, Alyssa and their dad outside what looked like a stadium. She looked at the back, in her moms handwriting

7/12/2002

Autzen stadium, Eugene Oregon 

"Oh my god. How do I not remember this?" Sara examined the photo. She and Alyssa were dressed in typical early 2000s kids clothes. Their hair in pigtails, and they looked like they would have rather been anywhere but there. "I told Justin I'd never been there before but I guess I'm a liar."

Mike laughed. Taking a bite of his food. "It was an overnight business trip and I took your girls at the last minute since you were upset about Katie and Brittany going to Florida with your cousins. I didn't know anything about the area, saw this massive football stadium with Duck gear everywhere and got you this since you cried." There was a bag that he reached in. He pulled out a small stuffed Duck with an old Oregon logo on it. "Maybe one day, you could give it to your baby."

Sara took the duck and smiled. "I don't even remember having this." Her dad smiled. "Well you kept it in your room for a few days until Brittany made fun of you for having too many stuffed animals and then you threw them in the basin. You're lucky your mother is a sentimental hoarder."

He picked up the envelope and took out another photo. "This was when I went to New York for work because my company was sponsoring the college football awards. In 2019 I attended the national college football awards banquet to see my buddy Steve present the William Campbell trophy to a young man. I didn't know much about him, but he was very smart and polite in the brief moment I shook his hand."

He flipped the photo over and there was a group photo. All of the big execs surrounding Justin, and sure enough her dad was all of the way at the end.

"Who would have thought I'd be meeting my future son-in-law." Mike smiled as his daughter rolled his eyes. "Dad please."

"I'm just saying." He held his hands up.

—

"Wow. Now I feel bad, I didn't even recognize your dad when I met him in the hospital." Justin smiled as she showed him the two photos and the stuffed Duck. Sara laughed. "How would you have known?"

"True." He smiled. "You're a liar though." She looked confused. "Huh?" He got up and walked towards her, cornering her, he spoke slowly. "You told me you've never been to Eugene" She smiled, catching on by his tone. "I guess technically I did lie. Does that mean I'm a bad girl and need to be punished?"

She squealed as his hand snaked around her to squeeze her ass hard. "Bad girls always get punished."

—-------------------------------------------------------------

A week after she showed him the photos something else had happened. She was scrolling on her tiktok page when a photo she recognized came across her for you page.

It was an old photo that her college roommate Cameron had posted back in 2017 on instagram. Fans must have dug up the photo as the old friend's profile was open.It was a photo of them at a UCLA football game, one of the few she attended. They were on the field, her name starting to pick up as she gotten some guest star roles on tv shows and was gaining traction in movies. Her and Cameron were by the end zone. She captioned it

One day she will get into football.

The person who posted it had used the song 'invisible string' as the sound

Isn't it just so pretty to think All along there was some invisible String, Tying you to me

Sliding over the person had zoomed in on the same photo. Sara gasped as she recognized the guy on the field throwing a few feet behind them

It was Justin, her Justin.

She smiled widely. She vaguely remembered that game. From what she did remember, she was bored and on her phone messaging a douche that she was dating while waiting for call backs.

How close she was to meeting him. His hair was buzzed short, and he paid no attention to the chaos around him as he was getting ready for the game. Typical Justin.

Smiling, she made a few calls.

—--------------------------------------------------------------

A few weeks later, Justin was at camp as Sara had just gotten in from another day of protesting for the writers. She was cooking dinner when he walked in. "Hey babe." He kissed her. "Smells good, as usual. I'm going to change."

"Okay when you're done I have a surprise for you." He lifted his eyebrows. "Oh?" His earlier task was forgotten. "Is it another workout?" He wiggled his eyebrows in a suggestive manner.

"That's for later. I'm talking about an actual gift."

Justin sighed and Sara laughed, deciding to show him earlier, she grabbed the frame from one of the drawers. He took it and was confused for a second. "Who is the girl with you?"

"My roommate Cameron this was when we went to the UCLA Oregon game." She smiled as she saw the recognition on his face. "Hey that's me in the back!" Justin looked up and laughed. "This was in 2017. Oh my god."

She smiled. "Who would have known? It's too bad you had that shaved head otherwise I would have definitely tried to fuck you." He rolled his eyes. "You know I had a girlfriend at this time?"

“So was I, well kinda, we were seeing other people on the side.” He narrowed his eyes “Hey I was a hoe when I first got into the La/Hollywood scene”

“I don’t want to hear about that.” She laughed at his jealousy. “You know the chicken needs some time to cool off, I need to keep busy.” She dragged a finger down his chest. Catching on, he put her over his shoulder and immediately went into the room. Unbeknownst to them, the music playing in the background begun playing ‘invisible strings’

A.N. This was just something cute I thought of while listening to the song

#justin herbert #sara and justin canon #nfl imagine

[fourcornerstar]

Random assorted Moral Orel Headcanons:

Moral Orel HCs

Orel:

- Likes to draw comics of Barthalomew- similar to the DC superpets

- Wants to grow up to be either a pastor or an artist. Doesn’t know what an animator or film maker is but is interested in movie production

- Doesn’t like to spend much time outside after the camping trip. Finds comfort in movies, comics and video games.

- He saves up all the money he earned by working for Stephanie to buy a Nintendo system (the show takes place around 2005, so probably a ds)

- His favorite game is Nintendogs, he owns all different versions and loves going on walks with his ‘pet’

- But he thinks Pokemon is satanic.

- Fav movie as a kid is Prince of Egypt

- Veggietales kid.

- Catches himself singing “where is my hairbrush” when he’s looking for something.

- Wears “virginity rocks” merch when he’s a teen. No one can tell if it’s ironic or in sincerity. It’s a bit of both.

- LOVES Paramore when he’s first in his emo phase. Slowly grows to like My Chemical Romance once he fully dips into Emo music.

- As he gets into his teens he has an indie phase- Florence and the Machines is his favorite along with The Mountain Goats and Cage the Elephant. Likes some Hozier, Noah Kahan, They Might Be Giants and Jack Stauber. (this is if we assume their in universe would have access to our discography)

- His favorite extra curricular class is art, which Clay disapproves of, but Orel is really good at it- near prodigy level. Loves painting and chalk pastels in particular

- Hardcore Disney fan. For his graduation he and Christina go to Florida Disney World for the first time

- A Goofy Movie and Goof Troop are his favorite comfort media

- Wants to go to California or Florida for College, secretly is applying to Loyola University or other Christian campuses. Wants to take religious studies with a minor in art.

- Has never been to the beach/seen the ocean in person but has always dreamed of it.

- Quit his scout troop after the hunting trip bc camping would make him spiral into panic attacks. It took him years of exposure therapy to ever go into the woods ever again

- After the camping trip, the go-to family vacation for the Puppingtons would usually be road trips cross country. But it was always awkward and tense, so Orel would spend the majority of the trip reading, listening to music, or playing a card game with Shapey and Block.

- He always lets Shapey or Block win

- Uno was banned in the puppington house because “it wasn’t in English.” But he had no problem playing it at school behind his parents backs

- Is interested in learning other languages, but a bit scared of it. He eventually took ASL courses when he was in college

Shapey and Block:

- Both have an extensive stuffed animal collection, at least where they can hide them under all the storage and mess of his room.

- Tends to steal or borrow Orel’s stuff when no one is home to see. Is particularly fascinated by the viewfinder and Orel’s record player.

- Shapey suffers from night terrors. Orel would comfort him sometimes, other times Block would help.

- Both are Introverted. They helped each other transition to school when they, eventually, went. But they were loners in the class and had trouble assimilating.

- Other than cake, Shapey’s favorite foods are pb and j

- Block really likes cookies and pastries

- Shapey and Block snuck out a lot as kids and teens, sometimes they would go to the corner store, other times they would just wander around town or even up to the nature reserve.

- Christmas is their all time favorite holiday, more so than any other.

- Orel sometimes helps them clear up their shared room so Shapey and Block can actually have a clear space to walk around and play in.

- They steal Clay’s credit card to buy some actual furniture when they’re teens. Clay never brings it up, he probably never noticed.

- Both struggle at keeping a space clean. Struggles with routine, chores and scheduling all through their life, sometimes Orel or even a therapist helps

- Shapey’s favorite Disney movie of all time is Alice in Wonderland

- Block adores Peter Pan, he even went as Peter for halloween 2 years in a row

- Both love adventure movies

- Shapey loves showtunes, favorite musical as a kid was Matilda

- Block finds showtunes kind of annoying, but won’t say anything. Block prefers softer music, indie, folk, country but even LoFi when he discovers it later.

- Both love cooking and baking. They weren’t allowed to learn when they were kids, but when they moved out they read Bloberta’s old recipe books to teach himself. Block preferred online recipes

- Shapey was Diagnosed with ODD and ADHD as a toddler, Orel tries to find some resources at the library to figure out how to help Shapey, at least where he can. Unfortunately, the library is a bit of a dead end. But the constants in Shapey’s life help him a lot.

- They never talk with Clay. They are complete strangers to one another. Shapey and Block consider Orel to be the closest thing they have to a father figure

- When everyone is grown up; Shapey gives a speech as best man at Orel and Christina’s wedding that makes everyone cry

Bloberta:

- Has an extensive record collection of her favorite bands from when she was a teenager.

- Clay has pestered her to get rid of it but she can’t bear to part with it. She keeps it hidden in the dresser and closet alongside her other unmentionables.

- Loves doo-wop, 60s pop, rock and roll and even some modern punk and metal. Doesn’t actually like listening to Christian rock but will put it on to be a “good influence”

- Was interested in student council and politics herself before she married Clay, but was pressured out of it bc “godly women let men take the lead” (ew)

- Her mom forced her to babysit as a first job when she was a teenager and she despised it.

- When she’s home alone she likes to put on romcoms such as Pretty Woman or Dirty Dancing. But she’ll mute the volume and block out the windows so no one can hear or see her.

- But more often then not they leave her crying wishing for something better. One day after watching one of her movies she locked Clay out of the house for a week because she couldn’t bear to even look at him.

- She’s a lot more supportive of Orel going to an out of state college than his father. She doesn’t want him to feel trapped like she does.

Clay

- Took ballroom dance in high school- is an amazing dancer but doesn’t like showing off.

- Has Irish ancestry, his great grandparents emigrated during the great famine.

- Likes to read when he gets the chance- favorite book is Catcher in the Rye or In Cold Blood (yes, they are supposed to be red flag books, remember who we’re talking about)

- Loves true crime- extremely fascinated by serial killers and mysteries.

- He likes movies, but rarely is ever able to put them on. But he likes Wolf of Wall Street and Fight Club (all the red flag films) (Call me By Your Name and Beauty and the Beast when he’s in private, would never watch them unless he’s completely alone) (once again, RED FLAGS)

- Believes all colleges are satanic propaganda. At least that’s what he told himself as he got older. When he was a teen thought about art school but could never afford it on his own.

- Never graduated with a full 4 year degree, but out of high school he was in and out of trade or secondary schools. He tried nursing, mechanic/auto shop, accounting, and technician work and hated everything. Bloberta suggested politics and somehow he had enough charisma and writing prowess to sell competency.

- Loves Queen. Could listen to any album any day- but has a particular soft spot for “I want to Break Free” and “Somebody To Love” has made him sob uncontrollably . He puts on Queen when he’s driving alone.

- Loves to drive. Before he started drinking it was his one escape. Sometimes he would just take his keys and a handful of his father’s cash and drive off for a few days without telling anyone. He’s been all over the country, but particularly loves to see the Grand Canyon or even up north near Niagara and the lakes.

- Even after he got married he would drive off on a bender for a week or two not to be seen. Bloberta never brings it up. He only HAD to stop when Orel was born.

Reverend/Rod Putty

- Never imagined himself as a pastor, when he was younger he was more interested in the hippie subculture. But he’s good at talking. He originally tried his hand at standup comedy, and that was a total flop. So when it came time for him to settle on a major/career he went religious… Partially to dodge the draft.

- Agnostic leaning. He believes in a God, but struggles with connection.

- Grew up in the south, but moved to the midwest in his teens. Sometimes his accent slips through when he’s tired.

- Scarily good at poker. Feels very torn about this skill.

- Banned from at least 4 casinos in a 100 mile radius.

-

Stephanie

- Was a straight A student all through school, but decided against University for financial reasons and pressure, she goes to the community college closest to Moralton. She dreams when she saves up enough she could go to a music or art college

- Had a band once but all her band mates moved away. She does try to pursue music herself. Has an album lined up but she doesn’t feel ready to put it into the world yet.

- A friend from out of state gave her her first tattoo in his garage. Since then she’s been interested in learning but doesn’t know how to practice back in Moralton. Is saving up for a machine.

- Hates the cold and cold weather, she’s always bundled up when it hits below 60 and it always complaining about how cold it is until the weather warms up

- But she loves rainy days.

- Her mom tried to sign her up for an after school Christian youth program but Stephanie always ditched to go hang out around town with Kim and others.

- She uploads song covers to Youtube when she has time, and has amassed a huge following

- She likes snapchat as well, she can keep in touch with out of state or online friends easier, it makes her feel more connected to people in similar situations

- Her first guitar wasn’t the best quality, but it’s one of her favorites for the sound, she covered the entire face with stickers and intricate drawings

#moral orel #clay puppington #bloberta puppington #orel puppington #reverend putty #headcanon #most of this is projection lol

[tex-treasures]

Amanita Addams

Pronouns: she/her (with strangers), they/them & xe/xem/xyr/xyrs (with trusted loved ones)

Age: ~30

Height: 5'0"

Occupation: Homicide Detective

Symbols/aesthetics associated: shadows, tea cups, mushrooms, spiderwebs, mantises, snakes, vultures, obsidian, deer, shrikes, mimic and blue ring octopuses.

Universe: one very whimsically macabre universe that combines the Addams Family, BBC Sherlock, and NBC Hannibal

Birth Order in the Addams household: Firstborn child of Morticia and Gomez Addams

Siblings: (in descending order): Oliver Greyson (@sincerely-bats s/i), Merope Constantine-Addams (@sugar-and-pearls s/i), Wednesday Addams, Pugsley Addams, and Pubert Addams.

Partner: James "Jim" Moriarty

QPP: Molly Hooper

Adopted additional siblings: Sherlock, Mycroft, & Eurus Holmes, Hannibal Lecter

Best friends not related to xem: John Watson, David Black (@13leighstreet s/i), Will Graham, Luke Walker (@knightfallships s/i) Aurian Furukawa (@goldfish-notepad OC),

Skin colour: brown (cookie dough, caramel, cinnamon tones) with chocolate brown freckles

Eye colour/shape: dark russet brown (malta, cognac, rum)/almond shaped

Hair colour/length/texture: dark brown/black (dark chocolate)/mid-back/curly-wavy

Colours worn: jewel toned dark greens, reds, purples, and blues. Dark and mid-tone browns, black, off-white. Silver. Regarding makeup, Amanita wears dark lipstick colours, mascara, and will choose eyeshadow that compliments their outfit at the time or will wear a smokey eye look.

Taste in clothes: high waisted trousers, tucked in blouses with lantern sleeves, suspenders, waist coats, lace trim, brooches, ribbons, belts, playfully ruffled or sleek dresses, stockings and tights, elegance and refinery with a hint of sensuality.

Personality: Exceptionally polite, kind, and emotionally alluring. Amanita radiates elegance and grace, and is skilled in getting information from others without much prompting. She values knowing everything about everyone, and is highly protective of those xe decides to claim as their own. Providing for others is a love language, their favourite way to provide being baking/cooking for another. They have little tolerance for rude behaviour from those outside her family and enjoy subtly exposing people's worst qualities to be judged by others if crossed and not apologised properly to.

Amanita does not take kindly to people talking down to xem or any of xyr family members and indeed, Amanita took the family motto, "Sic Gorgiamus Allos Subjectatos Nunc"---We Gladly Feast On Those Who Would Subdue Us--- literally, and is always rather happy to 'have' those who cross her or her family over for dinner.

Pet: Amanita owns a 7ft long male eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon couperi) named Quetzal, a pet she found out in the wild one year when xe was 10 years old and on a family trip with Morticia and Gomez who took her down through Florida to visit the Everglades and later, the Bermuda Triangle to try and look for Uncle Fester.

Fun fact: they are non-venomous yet part of their eclectic diet includes highly venomous snakes. This fact amuses Amanita to no end.

Magic: shadow magic (travel through shadows, blend into shadows, manipulate forms of shadows, use shadows as spies, make shadows tangible), some (vague) fortune telling via tarot card readings, potion making, seeing and speaking with ghosts.

Hobbies: letter writing, hosting tea / dinner parties, visiting art galleries, making homemade tea, gardening, swordfighting, cooking/baking, reading, drawing, photography, visiting cemeteries to commune with spirits, playing chess and other board games with loved ones, going on long walks throughout London.

Poison of choice: Amanita prefers using death cap mushrooms (Amanita phalloides) since the genus in which they are part of are her namesake--Morticia often calls xem her "precious little death cap". Amanita usually administers it through brewing and serving as tea and comes paired with sugar cubes.

Amanita moodboard

Writing snippet ft. Amanita and Moriarty

#tex talks #amanita addams #s/i #self insert

[ohblackdiamond]

paulventures in florida

first off, this would not have been remotely possible without my dear friend @elrohare who generously, and incredibly, asked if i'd be her +1 to this event. I'm eternally grateful for a wonderful time.

friends, romans, countrymen, lend me your ears--

wait, that's not right.

HEY, PEE-PUL--

On 2/23/24, Cynthia and I met Paul Stanley and had dinner with him. 

Our full weekend adventure eventually ended up taking us all around the sovereign state of Florida, a state I have not (been) driven around since 1998, when my family went on a trip to Disney World.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many palm trees or so much Spanish moss.

But you don’t wanna hear about the insane roads of Florida, you wanna hear about Paul.  We’ll get there.

I was running on approximately four hours of sleep due to having taken a 7 a.m. flight in order to ensure I would be able to see Paul in the first place.  Was Paul actually due to show up around 7 p.m.?  Yes.  Did I care?  No.  It was not exactly a short drive from the Orlando airport where Cynthia picked me up  to the Hard Rock hotel/casino in Hollywood (Florida) where the gallery was.  We had to guarantee our presence (and I had to guarantee that there would be room for error should my flight be delayed!).  Once we were at the Wentworth gallery, Cynthia’s art broker, Laura, showed her one of her pieces. Laura also mentioned offhand that “he (Paul Stanley) was just here earlier” and I believe she may have showed us a picture of him at the gallery– I know she said he was nice.  Inside of the gallery was a small section with a table full of different sharpies (gold, silver, black) and he had scribbled on a piece of paper or something on the table to test one out. 

Cynthia determined she could only fit one of the paintings in her trunk and would have to have the other shipped.  She took care of those details and afterwards asked when we should be there for Paul– we were told that, of course, around seven was it but if we wanted to poke over at 6 or 6:30, we could.  She encouraged us to hang around and shop/etc. if we wanted, but honestly, the mall aspect of the casino was fairly paper-thin and if you weren’t gambling and weren’t super-enamoured with the (admittedly cool) water/fountain light show, you weren’t going to be entertained for hours on end.  Fortunately, obsessing over our upcoming meeting/dinner was entertaining enough when it wasn’t nerving us both out! 

We had some discussion on whether we should show up at the gallery again right at 6 or not, and ended up kind of poking over and realizing that the gallery hadn’t exactly filled up at that point.  We ended up poking back in at 6:30, which was ideal.  Directly outside the gallery (you could only really stick around in there if you’d purchased or were very interested in purchasing a painting, due to the meet and greet aspect that was going to happen there in the back) was starting to get a bit crowded and that only continued– fans with things they were hoping to get signed/hoping he would look at (there was a gorgeous drawing of eighties Paul that a girl was holding up that she’d done!)-- but I think a lot of them just wanted to get a glimpse of Paul. 

Cynthia and I made some small talk with the other gallery-goers, including a nice couple, Heather and her partner, Eric. Heather was wearing a really pretty purple gradient dress while Eric had a blazer with a custom-made purple shirt underneath that had the Starchild makeup on it.  They were pretty invested, especially Eric, though they’d done these events before.  It was cute how Heather would come back over and say “I think he’s bought another one….” (Heather also was trying to ensure there would be a non-meat option at the dinner for Eric due to Lent.)  

I noticed that every so often someone from the gallery would open a door at the back (near the Sharpie table), say something, and then shut it, so I was pretty sure that Paul was right behind there, which terrified me.  But then he just suddenly appeared only a couple feet from us, which was more terrifying (to me) and I sort of immediately tried not to look his way for fear of– aw, geez, I don’t know; I have a lot of feelings.

“Who’re you here to see?” he said, and the small crowd (myself included) immediately answered back with “Paul!!” 

He was smiling– he was smiling a lot.  I have encountered Paul prior on Kruises and I’d honestly never seen him look nearly that happy at those.  Maybe it’s because he’s really a mermaid and is really bitter every time KISS goes out to sea, but honestly, it’s probably mostly because he gets seasick and getting stuck on a ship for five days with a couple thousand rabid fans is probably not his idea of a good time. 

Dinner with about 20-30 rabid fans apparently was right up his alley, though!

We had been told prior to Paul’s arrival that we were third in line for him.  I had brought Mandate but this was more something I’d feel out– I’d said to Cynthia way beforehand that if it didn’t get signed/didn’t feel right to try to get signed, that was fine because after all, I was there as a plus-one.  I will honestly admit that seeing him look like he felt that good made me feel like maybe the magazine would ruin his demeanor– anyway, while we could’ve watched any and all of the other meet and greets, I really wanted to let everyone else have their space/time– I did not want to be creeping around trying to get extra shots of him or anything. 

I was also just extremely nervous.  I think we both were! 

We were called up around maybe 7:10 or 7:15.  I wanted to make sure I didn’t cut into Cynthia’s time and also make sure I was not weird, either.  Paul was great. He immediately complimented Cynthia’s star dress, which she said she’d worn in his honor and curtsied very cutely.  She introduced herself and shook his hand; then I introduced myself and shook his hand, and then she talked to him about seeing the last MSG show and about Evan being there and how cool that was (to have him opening for KISS’ last show); he said it wouldn’t be the last time (for Evan).  He said something about how MSG was special (paraphrase) or that it was a special time, something like that.

Then he said he guessed it was time to take some pictures– they brought out first the Starchild picture, took a picture of us (one of my feet was shaking by this point so I didn’t stand too close to him), and then he said to the photographer, “I blinked” (he did not) and said quietly to Cynthia, “You get two.” 

Next was the Gene picture. Cynthia said she liked the crystals on it and he said that they were Swarovski and that they were hard to put on or took a long time to do, something along those lines. Once the photos were over, he wrote her dedication (“Cynthia, Make life a work of art, Paul Stanley”) on a black sheet of paper– I noticed as he was writing it that he went back to fix one of the letters) and Cynthia seized the chance to ask him to sign her copy of his autobiography. He was really quick about it– “Yeah, I’ll sign that,” and immediately signed the front cover.  (I told Cynthia afterwards that of course he signed the front– it had his face on it; he couldn’t help himself!)  As either this or the paper-signing was going on, the photographer handed me Cynthia’s phone back and I was so dumbstruck by everything that I just kind of looked at the phone in sheer confusion for a second or two– I think a part of me somehow thought there was something he wanted me to do with it, when in actuality he was just giving it back!  He said he’d see us soon and Cynthia corrected that we’d see him at dinner. 

“Three points,” I said as we exited (to the main area of the gallery). (I don’t usually give him any points. I have a lot of conflicting feelings about Paul, but had promised Cynthia I would not say anything disparaging about him during the duration of our time together.) We were both in a state of giddiness mixed with that feeling of it being all over mixed with anticipation. It was really the sort of feeling I’ve only had at meet and greets, but the night wasn’t over.  We stuck around the gallery, still talking to other KISS fans (one guy had the most amazing KISS shoes with the RARO cover art on them that either he or his boyfriend had painted, can’t remember– he said that Paul wanted them and he wouldn’t let him have them!).  Heather said that Eric had moved his timeslot down to the very end, but there were people that came in way later than everyone else, so I’m not sure if he actually got the last timeslot or not.  And as we were waiting, we got another meet and greet.  

This one was not so good and it was my fault.

This one was Doc McGhee’s would-be meet and greet. 

I had met Doc on a couple occasions, the last one being most memorable even if we didn’t speak.  I had a very good seat at the next-to-last MSG concert and as Doc walked down to his own seat before the show started (or possibly a song or so in– might’ve been as I was standing up!) he reached over and quickly pressed something into my hand: I opened my hand and found it was a guitar pick (I couldn’t see whose it was at that point), and immediately closed my hand and held onto it for dear life for the next two hours, only sticking it in my purse when I felt certain I wouldn’t lose it.  It’s a (worn) Paul pick– a good omen. 

Anyway, Doc just wandered in the main entrance, as Doc is wont to, and spoke to a couple people. Doc not being anywhere near as intimidating as Paul, I told Cynthia, “I’m gonna say hi to Doc” and walked over to him.

“Hey, Doc! You gave me a pick at Madison Square Garden!” 

“I did!” (I don’t think he remembered. Maybe he did.)

“Thank you!” and I shook his hand. 

Then he stood there. And stood there. He thought I had more to say to him or that I’d ask him for a selfie.  He did not expect that that was all I had to say to him. 

Doc slunk off into the shadows of the art gallery. Sorry, Doc.

Around about 9:30 or so was the dinner.  We were seated and then Paul walked in, giving a couple fistbumps on the way to our table.  There were three tables, each with 10 or less people there, and he’d be seated at the middle for each.  We were first, so we ate Caesar salad and a charcuterie board full of appetizers (salami, cheese, those little stick things, etc.) with Paul.  Paul was catty-corner to me which was insanely intimidating.  He looked me in the eye twice that I was aware of (without saying anything) and I just dove into the salami like a girl that got stood up for senior prom devouring the refreshment table.  My nerves were killing me.  Paul still looked… intimidating. I was riddled with the wounds of past experiences and the knowledge that I could say absolutely nothing to him that he had not heard before.  I couldn’t think. I could only mindlessly eat and wince as Cynthia excitedly kicked me under the table when Paul began to eat himself.  It was pretty funny, because the first couple times she kicked me, I thought that there was something she wanted me to say to Paul, but she just wanted to point out that he was eating!  

I ran out of salami and the waiter refilled my glass of water (I didn’t order any alcohol) about four times while I tried not to pay too much attention to Paul Stanley being that close to me.  That is to say, I was paying attention, but trying not to be a creep.  He was talking to a dark-haired lady sitting next to him and due to how loud it was in the restaurant, I could hear less than half of what he was saying (and only because I was straining) and basically none of what she said (he did say something about Soul Station, but as Cynthia said, we heard entirely different things regarding that particular venture, which says a lot for the amount of noise in the restaurant!).  After a point, he looked over our side of the table with an expression that was a bit “well?” i.e. “you can talk to me” without actually coming out and saying it.  He was pretty well aware that nobody on our side had really said anything to him as he consumed Caesar salad, various cheeses, etc. at our table, and he did want to give everyone the opportunity.  I was, apparently, incapable of taking said opportunity. 

Enter Patrick, who was sitting directly across from me/on the other side of Paul and whom (along with his wife, Nicole, sitting next to him) Cynthia and I had been talking with from the time we got seated on.  He had made small talk with us on the typical topic (KISS) and the two of them had been collecting Paul’s artwork since he started around ‘08 or so– this wasn’t their first rodeo.  Patrick had a loud voice that carried well.  Patrick did something that he really didn’t have to do at all, that I dearly appreciated– after talking briefly to Paul himself, he gave me the floor.

“I think you need to talk to your youngest fan (at the table).”  

Paul looked at me again.  I did not die. 

“I’m not all that young…”

I can’t remember if Paul actually asked me how old I was or not, but I said I was thirty-four.  Paul said “what?” (he didn’t hear me).  I held up my fingers in a 3 and a 4.  Paul did not understand. (I cannot overstate how hard it was to hear in that restaurant.)  Finally, I got my volume up loud enough.  “I’m thirty-four!” 

I want to say he looked surprised, but that might be wishful thinking.  I’m of mixed Asian and white descent and am very short and small.  Anyway, he responded with, “I have shoes older than you.” 

My incredibly brilliant response was “I know. … My mom’s your age so it’s fine.” (What’s fine? His 35+ year old shoes?)  Paul found this witty repartee hard to answer.  Probably because he likely couldn’t hear it.  

Patrick made an additional extremely kind effort just a second later.  I think he must’ve known how much I wanted to say something and how paralyzed/starstruck I had ended up.  It was exceptionally nice– he could’ve monopolized Paul easily, and he chose not to.  He didn’t have to go out of his way like that. 

“She’s been on the Kruises!”

“Oh?”

“Y-yeah I’ve been on the last three (technically four, I did both the back to back Kruises)--” Inspiration. Stupid inspiration. “I was the one that asked you– no, actually I asked Gene– about Dark Shadows.” 

Great, now Mr. Paul Stanley thinks I have an undying fascination with Dark Shadows. Okay, I do, but my life’s goal definitely wasn’t to ask him about that at dinner. 

“I remember that (show).  Barnabus…. It came on in the afternoons. (I think he said he watched it. … So did almost every baby boomer in the mid/late-sixties)”  He actually looked like he might’ve been contemplating the show, but he might’ve actually been contemplating whether the salad he spilt on his lap made a stain on his pants; I don’t really know. 

Patrick is the true hero of this entire story.  If Paul got three points, Patrick gets thirty. Patrick somehow kept introducing the stuff I had just told him to Paul (i.e. my first KISS record was “Rock and Roll Over,” and said something about “Hard Luck Woman”) and I manage to spill several things I am not sure that Paul heard at all (because I could barely hear myself) including (quickly) that I had only gotten my mom to come with me to a KISS show during EOTR, and that when she finally did she’d wished she’d gone to see them sooner. Paul was looking at us, nodding, and was trying to follow the general convo but honestly, if I was only getting a little over half of what Paul said, he was getting a fourth of what I said in general, best case scenario.  I don’t fault him.  Cynthia told him something about Phantom of the Park, but I could barely understand her! 

Probably a couple minutes after that, he went to the next table for the main course (he spent roughly half an hour at our table). He waved as he left and we remained with a surprisingly good vantage spot to see the back of Paul’s head and occasionally his profile.  Also his phone, which he never got out at our table but did get out for the main course’s.  It has a pink case. 

We saw him move to the final table– I think he may not have gotten dessert, but I could be wrong there.  (I had veal parmesan as a main course and split tiramisu with Cynthia. I only had about four bites of the veal due to having eaten every piece of salami on our charcuterie board, but it was pretty good. The tiramisu was also great.)  After that, he left, but he waved as he went and he still looked happy.  That meant a good bit to me.  I gripe about Paul a lot but I do want him to be happy.  I want them all to be happy.  

Cynthia thanked the art gallery director (not sure of his title) prior to us leaving the restaurant and we were told she could pick up her painting tomorrow morning at ten. It was very late at night at that point– not sure when we got back to our hotel, but I do know we were talking until two about everything that had transpired and the whole rest of the weekend was filled with talk of Paul. 

The verdict: Very good event.  Paul was sweet, engaged and definitely wanted to be here.  The only real negative I have is how loud that restaurant was!  It was something else to be that close to him– I had tempered my expectations due to my own cynicism and wariness, but he was great.  Really incredible time that I’m going to remember. 

Paul, if I see you again, I promise not to bother you about Dark Shadows. 

We’ll move on to Bonanza or Match Game or something.

#kiss the band #paul stanley