#I think Delight is my fave from this year she's october

[dgdraws]

My art year in review!

I learned so much this year and made a ton of cool stuff! These are my favorites from each month, but it was so hard to choose. A lot of stuff didn't even get posted--I'll be sure to at least post the ones that made it to this list!

It's amazing to see how much I've changed and learned over this year, and to see the things that are emerging as part of "my style."

Here's to another year of delight, creation, connection and fun!

Some monthly reflections beneath the cut, but here's the highlights:

I participated in 3 art challenges, Artfight, OC-tober and Huevember.

I made fanart for the first time!

I created a piece I conceived of before I started drawing

Made some big breakthroughs in techniques and skills in April, July and November

January: My first branch into full character design, Rodd is the culmination of training on Hero Forge renders to make dnd portraits! I was doing this cool thing with neon rim lighting, I should bring that back!

February: I saw a piece on here with this amazing glowing effect, so I color picked it and experimented to figure out what relationship between the colors was making it do that! The answer was saturation. This rose is meant to be glowing from within, and I think I did a good job for my knowledge level at the time! As Chuck Tingle would tell us, it's beautiful because only I could have made it in that moment on the timeline.

March: I spent a million years on every detail of this one, it has at least 5 clipping overlay/saturation layers for lighting, multiple line work groups and I want to rework that background but! I never felt more accomplished than I did when I finished this one. I learned a lot, especially about things I could skip or simplify. And the symbolism really pops off ngl

April: I read Gideon the Ninth for the first time this month and I immediately needed to draw Jeannemary Chatur, Cavalier of the Fourth House, the worst teen to do it. She's the first fanart I ever made and posted! I also discovered a new pen tool with this one, which CHANGED THE GAME.

May: This one is an idea I had written down before I ever picked up the tablet and stylus. I thought I might commission someone to make it, the image of it came to me so clearly during our VTM session I just had to make it real somehow. Well I did it! This is one I will come back to redraw in like 5 years bc I love the concept so much. Also rife with symbolism and inside nods to the Low Kings.

June: I made a bunch of ref sheets in the run-up to Artfight in July. Caleb hadn't even been in my plans to upload, but I had time and inspiration! I will be uploading this and a few more of him <3

July: This is one of my faves from Artfight! This character is Blueberry, by way of OrchidEatsBread on artfight. I have still never played... rainworld? But I love me a slug cat. In July I drew a TON of people, it really drilled anatomy basics into me and how to get clothes looking like actual clothes a bit more. Also solidified some things I would consider "my style" at the moment, like no irises, and my approach to noses and mouths and fingers!

August: Another fanart for the Locked Tomb series, I never posted this!!! Will be rectifying that soon.

September: I got really into javascript and css this month, and I made this to be a landing page image on my neocities website XD I'll get back around to that eventually...

October: At the last minute, I discovered OC-tober and the prompts from @/bweirdart, a worthy follow up to the rush of Artfight two months previous. I developed so much stuff for the Low Kings, including this drawing/character, Amayah/Girl-Z, who has been a figment of my pintrest board for 2+ years.

Huevember: Chasing that OC-tober high, I found Huevember! I did not expect to actually do every day, but it proved to be an amazing exercise! I learned so, so much about color, discovered amazing new brushes and techniques and found I really enjoy working in those one day capsules! I loved a lot of the stuff that came out of this month, including my highest note post ever!!!, but this one is still my phone background and I'm maybe developing an OC world around it. We'll see what happens in 2024.

December: I got hit HARD with the writing bug this month, so this was my only choice for this month but I WOULDA CHOSEN IT ANYWAY. I unlocked something here that I'm really excited to visit again, in fact I'm working on a companion piece rn! This is also fanart btw, prepare for me to get even weirder about this guy in the coming months.

If you've read this far, thank you so much! I have so much fun writing these little reflections and making my posts on here.

xoxo, wren

#my stuff #reflections #low kings #oc tober #huevember #artfight #year in art #year in review

[emilyjunk]

I posted 2,279 times in 2022

93 posts created (4%)

2,186 posts reblogged (96%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@averagemrfox

@mike-mills

@snowonebutyou

@thelastwarriornun

@ajmichalka

I tagged 2,199 of my posts in 2022

Only 4% of my posts had no tags

#q - 1,037 posts

#critical role - 150 posts

#warrior nun - 135 posts

#the locked tomb - 79 posts

#avatrice - 76 posts

#cr3 - 69 posts

#the wilds - 46 posts

#personal - 46 posts

#star wars - 44 posts

#ya - 43 posts

Longest Tag: 132 characters

#depsite knowing all these references o thought this was throwback fun and didn't place at all that it took place in 2002 omg 🤦‍♀️😭

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

When I stop daydreaming and write my fic it's over for u bitches

38 notes - Posted December 5, 2022

#4

Bemily Week 2022 - Day 5: Wrong Number

Beca: Hey dude, congrats on the album release, 10 Years of Ari is already on its way to number one! Thanks for letting me be part of it

Unknown Number: Uh I think you have the wrong number HOLY CRAP DO YOU THINK THIS NUMBER BELONGS TO ARIANA GRANDE

Beca: ....

Beca: Sorry dude... Number was one digit off. My bad...

Unknown Number: MY PHONE NUMBER IS ONE DIGIT AWAY FROM ARIANA GRANDE’S?!

Beca: My bad

When music producer Beca Mitchell means to text a refused-to-be-officially-named colleague of hers but accidentally texts the wrong person, she doesn’t think anything will come of it. Why would it? But through a series of continued texts, she strikes up an unlikely friendship with grad student and resident dog walker, Emily Junk. Suddenly Beca finds herself texting all night, sending endless Snapchats, and sharing several specifically curated playlists. So maybe she has a crush on this random girl she’s never met. It doesn’t mean anything, right? Right?!

39 notes - Posted March 17, 2022

#3

Are there any angsty jori fics you’ve read that you could recommend?

These are basically the only jori I can remember reading lol there's not much angst sorry in advance. I'm a fluff kinda gal.

This series is nicknamed the Virgin-Verse if I'm not mistaken and is my favorite jori ever and I've read it a bunch. This one actually does have quite a bit of angst but it's a mixed bag of angst and fluff and, as it goes on, smut. It follows them through canon and into the way future. The twists are delightful and the buildups always pay off. It will take you days and days to read. It's very long.

The Motion series is by one of the same authors and is set during school and also a little in the future. There is a little angst in this but it's very minimal and fades quite quickly. But it's well written and cute.

TweetDick is one of my faves in terms of characterization. It's really short and there is zero angst lol so sorry about that. But it's funny and cute and I've read it several times to remind myself of these characters.

45 notes - Posted February 25, 2022

#2

Maya Hawke in Do Revenge, pre makeover..... Gotta be one of my favorite genders

58 notes - Posted September 17, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

I'd like to see Jean Jacket come for HIM

258 notes - Posted October 8, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

#tumblr2022 #year in review #my 2022 tumblr year in review #your tumblr year in review #YES BLUCIFER AS MY TOP POST IS WHERE IT'S AT #also damn my blog is super lame this year... ik im busier but also bc im not writing wah

[hexquestt-art]

Did a year of art thing! I got a lot of improvement done around the middle and then uni happened and I had a lot less opportunity to draw ;-;

#art #year of art #I think Delight is my fave from this year she's october

[faraway-wanderer]

BOOKS BY ASIAN AUTHORS MASTERLIST #stopasianhate

In light of recent events and the growing anti- Asian hate in the US and UK over the course of the pandemic I wanted to put together a masterlist of books by Asian authors. Obviously, it’s not extensive and there are HUNDREDS out there, but supporting art by Asian creators is a way of showing support; read their stories, educate ourselves. It goes without saying that we should all be putting effort into reading stories of POC and by POC because even through fiction we’re learning about different cultures, countries and heritages. So here’s some books to start with by Asian authors!

Here is a link also for resources to educate and petitions to sign (especially if you don’t read haha). It’s important that we educate ourselves and uplift Asian voices right now. Your anti-racism has to include every minority that faces it.

https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/

for UK peeps, this is a good read: We may not hear about the anti Asian racism happening here, but it is definitely happening. https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/culture/culture-news/a35692226/its-time-we-stopped-downplaying-the-uks-anti-asian-racism/

 THE BOOKS:

·         War Cross- Marie Lu ( the worldbuilding in this is IMMENSE.)

For the millions who log in every day, Warcross isn’t just a game—it’s a way of life. The obsession started ten years ago and its fan base now spans the globe, some eager to escape from reality and others hoping to make a profit. 

·         Star Daughter- Shveta Thakrar

A beautiful story about a girl who is half human and half star, and she must go to the celestial court to try to save her father after he has fallen ill. And before she knows it, she is taking part in a magical competition that she must win!

·         These Violent Delights- Chloe Gong (I told my little sister to read this book yesterday bc she has a thing for a Leo as Romeo- so if you want deadly good looking Romeos, badass Juliet’s and to learn about 1920s Shanghai- this is for you.)

The year is 1926, and Shanghai hums to the tune of debauchery. A blood feud between two gangs runs the streets red, leaving the city helpless in the grip of chaos. A Romeo and Juliet retelling.

·         The Poppy War- R.F Kuang (My fave fantasy series just fyi- it’s soul crushing in the best way. Rebecca Kuang is a god of an author).

A brilliantly imaginative talent makes her exciting debut with this epic historical military fantasy, inspired by the bloody history of China’s twentieth century and filled with treachery and magic, in the tradition of Ken Liu’s Grace of Kings and N.K. Jemisin’s Inheritance Trilogy.

·         Loveboat Taipei-  Abigail Hing Wen  (Really heartwarming and insightful!)

When eighteen-year-old Ever Wong’s parents send her from Ohio to Taiwan to study Mandarin for the summer, she finds herself thrust among the very over-achieving kids her parents have always wanted her to be, including Rick Woo, the Yale-bound prodigy profiled in the Chinese newspapers since they were nine—and her parents’ yardstick for her never-measuring-up life.

·         Sorcerer to the Crown- Zen Cho (if anyone is looking for another Howl’s Moving Castle, look no further than this book)

At his wit’s end, Zacharias Wythe, freed slave, eminently proficient magician, and Sorcerer Royal of the Unnatural Philosophers—one of the most respected organizations throughout all of Britain—ventures to the border of Fairyland to discover why England’s magical stocks are drying up.

·         Emergency Contact- Mary H.K. Choi (very wholesome and fun rom-com!)

For Penny Lee high school was a total nonevent. When she heads to college in Austin, Texas, to learn how to become a writer, it’s seventy-nine miles and a zillion light years away from everything she can’t wait to leave behind.

 ·         Jade City- Fonda Lee (I am reading this currently and can I just say- I think everyone who loves fantasy and blood feuds in a story should read this.)

JADE CITY is a gripping Godfather-esque saga of intergenerational blood feuds, vicious politics, magic, and kungfu. The Kaul family is one of two crime syndicates that control the island of Kekon. It's the only place in the world that produces rare magical jade, which grants those with the right training and heritage superhuman abilities.

 ·         A Pho Love Story- Loan Le

When Dimple Met Rishi meets Ugly Delicious in this funny, smart romantic comedy, in which two Vietnamese-American teens fall in love and must navigate their newfound relationship amid their families’ age-old feud about their competing, neighbouring restaurants.

·         Rebelwing- Andrea Tang

Business is booming for Prudence Wu. A black-market-media smuggler and scholarship student at the prestigious New Columbia Preparatory Academy, Pru is lucky to live in the Barricade Coalition where she is free to study, read, watch, and listen to whatever she wants.

·         Wings of the Locust- Joel Donato Ching Jacob

Tuan escapes his mundane and mediocre existence when he is apprenticed to Muhen, a charming barangay wiseman. But, as he delves deeper into the craft of a mambabarang and its applications in espionage, sabotage and assassination, the young apprentice is overcome by conflicting emotions that cause him to question his new life.

 ·         The Travelling Cat Chronicles- Hiro Arikawa

Sometimes you have to leave behind everything you know to find the place you truly belong...

Nana the cat is on a road trip. He is not sure where he's going or why, but it means that he gets to sit in the front seat of a silver van with his beloved owner, Satoru. 

 ·         Super Fake Love Song- David Yoon

From the bestselling author of Frankly in Love comes a contemporary YA rom-com where a case of mistaken identity kicks off a string of (fake) events that just may lead to (real) love.

  ·         Parachutes- Kelly Yang

Speak enters the world of Gossip Girl in this modern immigrant story from New York Times bestselling author Kelly Yang about two girls navigating wealth, power, friendship, and trauma.

·         The Grace of Kings- Ken Liu ( One of the Time 100 Best Fantasy Books Of All Time!)

Two men rebel together against tyranny—and then become rivals—in this first sweeping book of an epic fantasy series from Ken Liu, recipient of Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy awards.

·         Wicked Fox- Kat Cho

A fresh and addictive fantasy-romance set in modern-day Seoul.

 ·         Descendant of the Crane- Joan He

In this shimmering Chinese-inspired fantasy, debut author Joan He introduces a determined and vulnerable young heroine struggling to do right in a world brimming with deception.

 ·         Pachinko- Min Jin Lee

Richly told and profoundly moving, Pachinko is a story of love, sacrifice, ambition, and loyalty. From bustling street markets to the halls of Japan's finest universities to the pachinko parlors of the criminal underworld, Lee's complex and passionate characters--strong, stubborn women, devoted sisters and sons, fathers shaken by moral crisis--survive and thrive against the indifferent arc of history.

·         America is in the Heart- Carlos Bulosan

First published in 1946, this autobiography of the well known Filipino poet describes his boyhood in the Philippines, his voyage to America, and his years of hardship and despair as an itinerant laborer following the harvest trail in the rural West.

 ·         Days of Distraction- Alexandra Chang

A wry, tender portrait of a young woman — finally free to decide her own path, but unsure if she knows herself well enough to choose wisely—from a captivating new literary voice.

·         The Astonishing Colour of After Emily X.R Pan

Alternating between real and magic, past and present, friendship and romance, hope and despair, The Astonishing Color of After is a novel about finding oneself through family history, art, grief, and love. 

·         The Gilded Wolves- Roshani Chokshi

It's 1889. The city is on the cusp of industry and power, and the Exposition Universelle has breathed new life into the streets and dredged up ancient secrets. Here, no one keeps tabs on dark truths better than treasure-hunter and wealthy hotelier Séverin Montagnet-Alarie. When the elite, ever-powerful Order of Babel coerces him to help them on a mission, Séverin is offered a treasure that he never imagined: his true inheritance.

·         When Dimple met Rishi- Sandhya Menon

Dimple and Rishi may think they have each other figured out. But when opposites clash, love works hard to prove itself in the most unexpected ways.

·         On Earth we’re briefly Gorgeous- Ocean Vuong

Poet Ocean Vuong's debut novel is a shattering portrait of a family, a first love, and the redemptive power of storytelling.

·         Fierce Fairytales- Nikita Gill

Complete with beautifully hand-drawn illustrations by Gill herself, Fierce Fairytales is an empowering collection of poems and stories for a new generation.

 BOOKS BEING RELEASED LATER THIS YEAR TO PREORDER:

·         Counting down with you- Tashie Bhuiyan- 4th May

A reserved Bangladeshi teenager has twenty-eight days to make the biggest decision of her life after agreeing to fake date her school’s resident bad boy.

How do you make one month last a lifetime?

·         Gearbreakers- Zoe Hana Mikuta- June 29th

Two girls on opposite sides of a war discover they're fighting for a common purpose--and falling for each other--in Zoe Hana Mikuta's high-octane debut Gearbreakers, perfect for fans of Pacific Rim, Pierce Brown's Red Rising Saga, and Marie Lu's Legend series

·         XOXO- Axie Oh- 13th July

When a relationship means throwing Jenny’s life off the path she’s spent years mapping out, she’ll have to decide once and for all just how much she’s willing to risk for love.

·         She who became the sun- Shelley Parker-Chan- 20th July

Mulan meets The Song of Achilles in Shelley Parker-Chan's She Who Became the Sun, a bold, queer, and lyrical reimagining of the rise of the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty from an amazing new voice in literary fantasy.

·         Jade Fire Gold- June C.L Tan- October 12th

Two girls on opposite sides of a war discover they're fighting for a common purpose--and falling for each other--in Zoe Hana Mikuta's high-octane debut Gearbreakers, perfect for fans of Pacific Rim, Pierce Brown's Red Rising Saga, and Marie Lu's Legend series

  Keep sharing, signing petitions and donating where you can. The more people who are actively anti-racist, the better. And if your anti-racism doesn’t include the Asian community then go and educate yourself! BLM wasn’t a trend and neither is this. We have to stand up against white supremacy, and racism and stereotypes and we have to support the communities that need our support. Part of that can include cultivating your reading so you’re reading more diversely and challenging any stereotypes western society may have given you.

 Feel free to reblog and add any more recommendations and resources of course!

#stopasianhate #books by asian authors #anti racism #i'm so sickened by everything that's happening and i hope that this list does encourage people to read books by asian authors!!! #ya #poc authors #fiction #i haven't all of these yet #asian writers #asian authors #masterlist #antiasianracism

[argentconflagration]

Lex / argentconflagration's fic year in review 2019!

Part 2: Aug-Dec: Good Omens

Continuing my fic-by-fic reflection on 2019, here are the Good Omens fics. All of these are Aziraphale/Crowley.

August:

Let the mountains skip with gladness - 3.1k - M - metaphysical sex

I love this one a lot! For a while I was kinda down on it because I felt it was poorly received, but it wasn't really? And that's even though it's probably too sexy for people not looking for smut and not sexy enough for people who are looking for smut. But I like it! It's beautiful and sweet and transcendent. 

A Reprieve - 0.5k - T - 18th century first kiss

Not much to say about this one, it's short and sweet. I normally wouldn't publish something so short, but I've been working on writing more of the things that come into my head, and I'm happy this exists. 

 September:

Maybe, someday - 0.5k - T - angsty 'we can never do this again' kiss

And similarly I never would have written this if I hadn't been specifically making a point to write more things down. Which would have been a shame, I really like this bit of angst! Oh, it hurts so good.

Aziraphale and (Sexual) Innocence - 1.5k - T - meta about sexual subtext

This is the first time I've posted nonfiction on AO3! I feel a little weird about it now, cause I have a lot of meta thoughts but this is the only one I wrote down. I liked fleshing out my thoughts with @ineffable-endearments, and I think the analysis holds up 4 months later. Also, it got podficced! Which is crazy flattering!

The Blessed Postal Service - 1.0k - G - a human reads Aziraphale's confession letter

I LOVE this one! The letter itself was an excuse for me to be sappy and poetic, and everything that's not the letter is so delightful! It's so short but it feels like it gets a lot done in a thousand words. Outsider POV is rad!

The Official Mr Fell Quarantine Thread - 1.7k - T - internet forum, genderfluid Crowley

Oh boy, this one. It's kind of funny because I feel like this is one of my most derivative works -- it's basically just the first 'internet thread about A. Z. Fell & Co.' fic mashed with the 'people are confused as to whether Aziraphale has a husband or a wife' tumblr post. But people sure got a kick out of it! It's easily my most popular fic, and I finally stopped being able to keep up with all the comments (but I love every one!). 

 October:

if spirits embrace - 4.0k - E - the body swap is erotic

Oh, hell yeah. (I guess the lesson of this roundup is I like a lot of my fics! Great!) In addition to being hot, I really feel like I did a good job of portraying the intimacy and trust involved in both bodyswapping and the sex it turns into. I love writing soft, vulnerable things.

No other news to report - 1.3k - T - Crowley mercifully restrains Aziraphale

THIS ONE IS ALSO RAD. Basically, Aziraphale is told by Heaven to make sure a kid dies an 'inspiring' death, and Crowley ties him up so that she (Crowley) can save the kid and Aziraphale doesn't have to defy his orders. Ugh, it's so gutwrenching and sweet-- finding a way to be compassionate within the confines of this callous game they have to play with their superiors. 

 December: 

Sky and Sea - 5.5k - E - getting together, seaside holiday, wing grooming

This was written for a holiday exchange and I think it's one of the best things I've written as a gift! It's not quite up there with my absolute faves from this year, I would say, but honestly I'm pretty impressed that I managed to write 5.5k "on demand" like that. Also, I've been making a point to keep my characterization of Aziraphale and Crowley consistent regardless of what pronouns they're using, and I think I did a good job of that here (they both use ‘she’ in this fic).

Most Grievous Fault - 1.8k - M - Slow Show meta-meta-fic, consent issues

This is a fanfic for the fake TV show Warlock, from the fic Slow Show, and expanded on by the fans of Slow Show. That's kind of a wacky premise, but the fic itself is very serious. I decided to use the freedom afforded by those degrees of separation to make William even more tortured and repressed, and the fic deals with the consent issues that happen when you're really repressed. This isn't the most perfectly-crafted fic I've ever written, but it conveys some feelings that I don't think I'd ever been able to put to paper before this, so it's really important to me. I sort of wonder if I could have only written something so emotionally honest in the context of such a wacky premise. And I'm glad I've reached the point as a writer where I can write something like this. 

#loquacious lex #mine #myfic

[sazandorable]

so im gonna do that AAW meme thing! cw: tmi about aza’s thrilling life, some cringey or vaguely depressing/upsetting anecdotes, some happy things in a silly way, and fandom

1.      Sunday, 21 October:

o   Describe your experience of finding out about asexuality/the ace spectrum.  What source(s) did you find it from? How did it feel to find out about asexuality? How did it change your life?

~Sherlock BBC fandom~! /o/ Yeaaaaah.

To be precise, the kink meme, on livejournal. just a random prompt asking for something exploring the arrangement between asexual sherlock and uhhh probably john but tbh i don’t remember that. maybe Irene. I’m almost sure this was right after the Scandal in Belgravia episode had aired, and that episode was why people were playing with the idea of Sherlock being uninterested in sex.

I don’t remember my exact feelings when I read that word, but I do remember that I was delighted at the concept (+ the discussion in the same episode about falling in love outside of your sexual orientation) and immediately convinced, that I jumped into researching asexuality, and that barely a few weeks later I was very deep in contemplating and musing about my own levels of attraction and sorting out all that stuff. I do think I just instantly realized this concept applied to me; I found the AVEN site and its definitions very fast, and grey-a felt good instantly. (I found demi later, and it took me a bit longer to claim it for myself, though I don’t remember much details about that.)

Like, years later I’m very much bitter about and Over™ Sherlock BBC, its writers, and that episode in particular and their stance on the sexualities and orientations of all their characters, but... it did bring me something very precious, that it would have taken me years to find out about otherwise.

It did change my life in that this is when I realized that I really, really, really didn’t have to date, have sex, marry or whatever “one day” if I never wanted to and I wasn’t “late” on anything. Took off a lot of pressure, and also made me stop trying to dub-con myself into accepting things I didn’t actively want just because I didn’t actively hate them.

2.      Monday, 22 October:

o   Talk about your coming out experience.  Of course, one many never be finished coming out, but you could describe how you came out to friends, what reactions you have gotten, how you have felt by coming out, and more.

Mm, two:

not quite coming out, and I don’t remember how it came up, but I mentioned “ok but what about asexuality” at my mother, perhaps a year or two after finding out about it, and she just scoffed and said “that’s not a thing, it’s just being scared of sex,” and I just... froze. Blanked out. Zoned out. Possibly shook a little. This was my first first-hand experience of being just... disacknowledged, erased, denied out of existence, and I had absolutely not expected it, nor the violence of it, nor the casual quality of that violence. I couldn’t say anything in reply, and I don’t think my mother noticed anything at all.

on another hand, I once explained to a gay male friend of mine that, well, I don’t call myself a lesbian, I like girls but I don’t call my super-duper-precious-friend my girlfriend, we are extremely close but we don’t have sex or really date, I’m asexual; and his reaction was “?? THAT’S SO COOL. That fits you! I’m glad for you that you can just do whatever works for you without following conventions about relationships! Cool, great!” and that just made my day.

3.      Tuesday, 23 October:

o   Describe your experience of confronting stereotypes.  There are many stereotypes or expectations of what being on the ace spectrum is like, but of course aspec people are just as diverse as any other group.  How have you defied or corrected these stereotypes?

uuhhhhh

Mostly this happens when I talk about asexuality with people who are questioning themselves, explaining the many different flavors it can come in, that yeah you can be asexual at the same time as enjoying sex, masturbating, having fantasies, wanting to date, etc. Not so much smashing established stereotypes, more confirming that nop this thing that you think would “disqualify” you from being asexual doesn’t, actually, you still might be, you’re not “fake”.

4.      Wednesday, 24 October:

o   Talk about positive representation of aspec people in media which has benefited you or speaks to you strongly.  Aspec people are not often represented in media, so it will be nice to see which representations have the strongest impacts.

*STANDS UP, VIBRATING*

TWENTYACETEEN!!!!!!!!!!!!

This year I got two cases of explicit, confirmed, canon, accurate and nuanced representation with central characters in two series that were already extremely close to my heart, and I’m so happy about it!!!!

Spoilers for both fandoms!

1) Shimanami Tasogare: a recently finished manga about LGBT community. In one of the last arcs, we learn that the very central yet mysterious character Anonymous (Dareka-san) is asexual. Like, the character says it, in full letters, and it’s discussed a lot.

Well, it’s more complicated than that, because it’s set in Japan and written in Japanese and Japan has different approaches, concepts and vocabulary around asexuality than English-language; what Anonymous initially describes might be closer to what English-language would call aromanticism. But they also later go “Am I interested in sex, or not? Who knows :)”, with their potential interest in sex represented with them reading porn magazines, and they’ve already expressed that they’re not interested in dating, so as it happens they’re probably both aro and ace (in English terms) anyway. (In the same sequence, they also explain that they might be male, or female, and generally aren’t overly concerned with how people think of them, anything works for them.)

This brings the other characters to think some more about their own desires for love, sex, relationships, human contact... There is a beautiful scene where the main character thinks that knowing this lets him finally understand Anonymous, that this must be why they are so mysterious and detached and fleeting — and Anonymous tells him point-blank that nah. They’re not just their asexuality. Don’t reduce them to that. They’re not “anonymous” because they’re asexual, and vice-versa — those are just two incidental parts of who they are. They are a full person, who just happens to be asexual, and also to enjoy being anonymous and unknown and find freedom in living their life this way.

It was just incredible to read entire chapters dedicated to a central character talking at length about their asexuality, and also how they relate, not only to straight people, but also to queer non-ace people. In the end the main character still doesn’t quite get Anonymous, and that’s how they like it.

2) The Magnus Archives: an ongoing horror podcast that’s casually LGBTQIA-friendly. (Like, a lot of horrible stuff does happen to queer people, but that’s because there’s a lot of them, and I do think that statistically more of them survive than straight people. Equal opportunity horror.) I had been toying with headcanoning the main character Jon as asexual for a variety of reasons for a while, and then in an episode that aired a few months ago a character casually mentioned that “apparently [he] just... doesn’t. At all.” Asked to elaborate, the writer confirmed on twitter that yup, he’s written as asexual (though who knows if Jon would use that word himself, he doesn’t really think about it).

I’m especially delighted because this came up, in context, because Jon has dated. At least once. We know his ex, and she is super chill with him. This reveal also comes up in the same breath as the reveal that a male character seems to have a crush on him, and IMO the show seems to hint that said character is aware that Jon doesn’t do sex, and doesn’t/wouldn’t mind this if they were to date.

Jon did start out as the usual cold, rational, unempathetic character archetype (in fact, he’s very reminiscent of BBC’s Sherlock in early episodes), but by the time this line comes up, the listener knows that he actually cares a lot and is full of emotions. He’s shown to be very, very protective of the people close to him — though also very bad at it. And at expressing it. But, still around the same time of the ace reveal, he is making deliberate efforts to communicate more and value everyone’s feelings. And of course, being the central character, he’s a veeeeery developed character with tons of evolution and nuances, and a huge fandom fave. The reveal that’s he’s asexual has changed exactly nothing in the show; but, like I said, it fits him, he read as asexual to the point that I was suspecting it despite zero real textual evidence until then.

When this episode came out and I heard that line (... I actually had missed it on first listen), I was at work, and I just started almost crying at my desk.

And then I got to go around yelling about it at my fandom friends.

... And at my non-fandom friends.

#asexuality awareness week #aaw #about aza #representation #shimanami tasogare #the magnus archives

[haylightsmagazine-blog]

Pondering the whereabouts of one of our indie faves.

Some people just love ragging on Whitney. They’re convinced this dreamy duo won’t ever release a follow-up record because “they’re just a one trick pony”. Or because “they’re not even that good live.” Or because “Julien sings like Kermit the Frog”. PAH.

We kindly ask all those naysayers to sit tf down. YOU try singing in perfect falsetto whilst pounding away on a drum kit under sweltering stage lights. We’ve seen Whitney in the flesh multiple times and musically they were tite af. A flat note or two ain’t gonna scare us away from the band that blessed us with Light Upon The Lake.

Plus, what’s wrong with Kermit? Ever hear of “Rainbow Connection”? That shit slaps and guess who’s responsible for it. That’s right. Kermit.

But we can’t ignore the worrisome fact that these two have been suspiciously quiet lately. The only new music they’ve released over the past 2.5+ years is a batch of demo recordings, a 12″ with two cover songs and a couple Spotify live singles. Their once consistent Instagram page is now updated once a month if we’re lucky. Even fans are hounding Kevin Morby on the ETA of LP2, and that poor man doesn’t even have any involvement with it.

Tonight at my show in Melbourne I asked: Anybody got any questions ? And a man yelled Yes! When is the new Whitney album? And I replied: ....I don’t fuckin know! @whitneytheband

— Kevin Morby (@kevinmorby)

November 29, 2018

In fact, the last actual update on the album was this October 2018 Tweet:

this album is starting to sound fucking insane. this is a hype tweet

— Whitney (@whitneytheband)

October 21, 2018

JUST STARTING to sound fucking insane less than 3 months ago? Even though they’ve been teasing this record for over a year? You’re killin’ us, Whit.

But we are here not to frighten our hipster brethren. Instead, let us logically ponder this probably minor musical delay. 

For one, Whitney toured nonstop for ~2 years surrounding the release of LUTL. Perhaps they’re just taking their time with this record to allow themselves sufficient time to recuperate and live normal lives!

Second, according to this May 2018 Tweet, Julien seemed to be dealing with a nasty sinus infection that maybe put a halt on the record altogether:

Spring Update: getting over a 4-5 mo long sinus infection. steroids feel weird. max n i in the middle of our 7th song for LP2. starting to realize the whole thing. beautiful last couple days here in chi. love everyone. fuck trump. hope kanye’s ok. putting the phone down now 🌹

— Whitney (@whitneytheband)

May 10, 2018

Finally, for some, perfection takes time! We know our fellow indie kids are used to artists dropping albums left and right--One a year for many bands, two a year for some, or five a year if you’re King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard. But let us not forget that it’s very common to have 3+ year gaps in between albums these days!

There are probably many other reasons why this record is taking so long, so with this in mind, the Haylights team predicts a Fall 2019 release of Whitney LP2. It definitely won’t be a winter snuggle-up album, as we’re already nearly a week through January, and spring will be here before we all know it, so that seems like an unlikely release timeframe as well. LUTL was a summer baby, so this new record deserves its own season in which to shine, therefore it seems like autumn would be a delightful time for new comfy cozy Whitney. September 2019, perhaps? We shall wait and see.

Idk man I’m just listening to Whitney thinking about the girl who broke my heart she sells crystals on Etsy now I look at the page all the time

— ChicagoBandBoy (@ChicagoBandBoy)

July 11, 2018

#whitney #op-ed #essay #musings

[hotfitnesstopics]

July, July… I adore you.  What a lovely month.  I spent it with dear friends, and even made a trip to my very favorite place with my friend Crystal (picture below.) Let’s cover all the *current* topics today.  Please note:  I’ve included a few affiliate links below. CURRENT READS For the first time in FOREVER, I’ve been reading… and LOVING it.  When I was away for a few days, I devoured two books. They were BOTH amazing.  The new Emily Giffin book takes place in Nashville and is scandalously delightful.  I literally couldn’t put it down, and my friend Crystal read it in like a day!  Click here to purchase.  You’re going to love it! After reading All We Ever Wanted, I really didn’t think that The Perfect Couple could compare.  Oh my goodness… it was so so good, and I stayed up until about 1am to finish it.  Elin Hilderbrand never disappoints…   Click here to see more details. CURRENT BURRATA TOUR My friend Erin and I love Burrata.  If you’ve never had burrata, it’s the most amazing cheese ever.  I believe when Erin had it for the first time, she called it “Cheese Butter” and that’s pretty much what it is.  Fresh mozzarella is stretched over a ball of amazing ricotta.  Really delicious. We decided to meet up on a Friday night for a Burrata Tour.  We hit three different restaurants to try their burrata, and let me assure you… it did not disappoint. L to R:  Burrata and Bacon Board at Postino, Burrata at Marcellas, and (dessert) Burrata with Cherry-Pomegranate Jam and Pink Peppercorn Crackers at The Beast and Bottle.  Note: The Beast and Bottle Burrata was our favorite.  It was definitely a fun idea for a night out.  Progressive dinner, but totally different… I definitely want to do it again.  We’ll need to come up with another amazing dish to sample, of course… CURRENT BLOGGER SPOTTING I was booked to be in Vegas for work, and the magic of the internet showed me that my dear friend Ashley from Balancing Today in town as well!  As you can imagine, Ashley living in DC and I in Colorado, we don’t have a chance to cross paths very often.  We met for a beverage at the Bellagio, and it was time extremely well spent in Las Vegas.  So great to see her! Obsessed with the Bellagio, I also snapped a few shots of the classiest casino on the Las Vegas Strip… There’s nothing like the conservatory and a delicious Cable Car martini.  I shared the recipe for that amazing cocktail a few years back.  You can find it here. CURRENT OUTDOOR SPOT I’m still loving walking around the lake I love in Colorado.  With cooler weather coming in over the weekend, I couldn’t make it to the pool, but I definitely made it to my lake.  This view never ever gets old. CURRENT BINGE WATCHING I really don’t watch much television, until I do.  Ugh.  After hearing so many people talk about Vanderpump Rules, I’ve finally started watching it on Hulu. While I’m enjoying it and get sucked in almost every day, I hate that I’m spending my days in front of the TV.  It’s on while I’m blogging right now, for example…  But, I love these crazy kids.  So addictive. CURRENT ACCESSORY I think summer has been all about the wicker bag trend, and of course, I joined in on the fun.  This bag from Fab’rik is my fave. CURRENT TRADER JOE’S FIND I’m obsessed with these frozen chicken tenderloins.  I toss them in my air fryer – – 370 degrees for 11 minutes.  Then, they just need to be tossed in buffalo sauce and placed on a beautiful salad.  Perfection!  Each tender is 110 calories… not bad! CURRENT BEVERAGE My beverage of choice continues to be rosé all day…  I even found the cutest top for 4th of July in its honor… CURRENT ART ADDITION I spotted this piece at West Elm, and with a hot 4th of July sale underway… I thought it would be just the thing to make my entryway pop.  I need some help getting it hung, and then it will be on display.  Single girl problems… CURRENT HAIR PRODUCT OBSESSION When I got my hair colored in late June, I was shocked by how soft my hair was.  When I texted my stylist to tell her thank you, she told me that she used this product on my hair:  Joico K PAK Color Therapy Luster Lock Daily Shine and Protect Spray.  I use it on my hair when it’s wet and before I come through it and dry it.  Really incredible stuff… highly recommend it. CURRENT RUG IDEA Social media is truly a blessing and a curse.  You can find so many ideas and inspiration on Instagram… but then again, you can find things so easily on Instagram which can quickly become a shopping problem.  Whether cute clothes, recipe ideas, or design inspiration, it’s all there.  Enter this rug… and the fact that I’ve been thinking my living room is a little too monochromatic. Isn’t it adorable?  This designer btw has such similar taste to me.  I love her stuff and highly recommend a follow.  Can you guys see this in my place?  I mean, I think it would be the perfect addition… sigh.  Again, it’s way too easy to find things via social media. CURRENT LUCKY MOMENT When I was in Vegas, I spent some time at the Roulette table betting on my lucky numbers.  I have this trick where when I win and they give me big chips, I put them in my pocket so that I don’t lose everything.  At the end of the night, I thought I was up $50 and thought that was good enough.  We had played for two hours… so it wasn’t so bad.  I went to the cashier to cash in my chips and headed to my room. When I got changed, I found this in my pocket… much to my surprise! There’s nothing like finding extra chips in your pocket at the end of the night!  Even better when you actually remember to cash them in. True story, I’ve come home with chips which is the worst.  Yay for winning $100 at the roulette table! CURRENT MOVIE Mid-week 4th of July isn’t the most exciting, but I made the best of it with a trip to the theater to see a badass movie with my friend Brandi and her family.  Have y’all seen Oceans 8?  Loved it… CURRENT TRAVEL PIC I spotted a rainbow at Denver International Airport this month.  Is there anything more beautiful and magical than a rainbow?  I think not. CURRENT JACKET LOVE I seriously spend too much time at Target.  But seriously, what am I supposed to do when they have cute things like this jacket.  Love it. CURRENT BEETMANIA I currently have a beet obsession going on.  Who’s kidding who – – this has gone on for a while… but it’s next level right now. L to R:  The Beet Salad from Root Down DIA, Beet Ravioli at T Bones at Red Rock Casino Las Vegas and an amazing Beet Caprese I made Sunday night.  Of note, the Beet Ravioli is one of the best things that I’ve eaten in a long time – – try it next time you’re in Sin City! View my previous “Currently” posts here: Currently: June 2018 Currently: April 2018 Currently: March 2018 Currently: February 2018 Currently: January 2018 Currently: December 2017 Currently: September/October 2017 Currently: August 2017 Currently: July 2017 Currently: June 2017 Related posts: Currently: February 2014 Currently: March 2014 Currently: June 2016 Currently: July 2018 originally appeared on No Thanks to Cake on 07/30/2018. from No Thanks to Cake https://ift.tt/2K7j0Yv via IFTTT

http://www.fitnessclub.cf/2018/07/currently-july-2018.html

#IFTTT #Blogger

[jillmckenzie1]

Top 10 Best Things About Denver

Top 10 Best Things About Denver

#1 The Weather in Denver

The first time I visited Denver it rained for 3 days straight and all the mountain views were shrouded in clouds!  Somehow I still fell in love.  After living here for 2 years I don’t think I have ever seen consecutive full days of rain.

When news got around that I was leaving New York for Denver, the reactions were heavily riddled with concern for the fierce weather.  But, the 1870’s claim that Denver receives 300 days of sunshine was attractive to me!  When we moved in during the first week of January, I remember thinking what a great stretch of weather for moving in!  The weeks went on the same exact way and I was taking selfies in tank tops with disbelief.  Truly, the weather here is refreshing!  Denver gets more clear days than Miami and more hours of sunshine than San Diego and Tampa…raising the question, what really is “The Sunshine State”?  Sunglasses are a must!

On the other hand we are the 6th driest city in America.  I have found that no normal lotion, no regular lip balm, no hydrating shampoo will do the trick!  I am talking about a dryness that when simply walking around and breathing the air makes you parched.  I actually don’t mind it.  It means being conscientious about drinking water and protecting your skin, nails, and hair.  But honestly, the dryness is so much more comfortable and tolerable in the heat and in the cold.

Denver also has an incredibly dramatic and ever changing skyscape!  The sky in Colorado actually is bluer because ofthe low humidity.  But apart from the blue sunny skies, the mountains create their own weather, it is ever changing.   Some patterns we see here in Denver are wave clouds, virga, and Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds, which are known to exist at the boundaries of Earth’s magnetic environment and also within the atmospheres of Saturn & Jupiter.  The sunsets are like no others I have ever seen. I have even witnessed a lightning storm at sunset.  This is big sky country and out on the flat plains there are no trees to speak of and therefore 180 degree views of stars and planets.

And of course, there is the altitude.  At a mile high, the air is thinner, which translates to less oxygen, more fatigue, dehydration, sun-exposure, magnified effects of alcohol, and being prepared for four seasons on any given day.  You may need a coat in the morning, a raincoat around noon, a tank-top in the evening, and once the sun goes down the temperature drops quickly because of the low humidity.  For example, 3 hours ago I walked to the store in shorts and flip-flops.  An hour ago it was thunder and lightning.  At this very moment, as I write, it is snowing!  CRAZY!  It’s best to dress in layers!  Mountain weather is unpredictable, and storms pop up and move through quickly…almost every afternoon in mid-summer.  As the saying goes, “If you don’t like the weather in Colorado, wait 5 minutes”!

For more on this topic see my personal blogpost “Storms”

#2 Denver is Walkable

I have never lived in a city before!  The first few months learning my way around was an adventure!  There is so much to do and see in downtown Denver.

Museums

Shopping

Art galleries

Opera

Live music shows

Classical music concerts

Comedy clubs

Performing arts center

City parks

Recreation centers

Zoo

Aquarium

Larimer Square

Hip RINO District (full of hipster types with outrageous mustaches)

The National Western Stock Show

REI flagship store complete with indoor climbing wall and tons of classes (it’s worth a visit if you’re in town for a short trip…it’s that cool)

…need I say more?

For the first year my husband and I often were troubled by our feet from all the walking until we became accustomed to it (and yes, we are those weird people who wear the shoe inserts.  They save my life!) But there is something very satisfying to be able to leave my wheels behind and reduce my carbon footprint in exchange for health, well-being, and convenience!  And whenever the destination is just a little too far, there is always public transportation or Uber!

#3 The Rocky Mountains

Though I have now adapted to being a city girl, the ONLY way that I can remain such is that Denver is so closely situated to the Rocky mountains.  In 30 minutes I can be in a sparsely populated wilderness area and enjoy all the peace and quiet I could ever want.  The mountains are home to big horn sheep, mountain goats, mountain lions, black bears, rattle snakes, raptors, foxes, moose, elk, coyotes, record-breaking trout, black widows, and rodents of all sorts.  Colorado has close to 60 fourteeners, which means peaks of at least 14,000 feet.  Daytrips could include:

Rocky Mountain National Park

hiking

cycling

climbing

fishing

snow-tubing

snow skiing

snow shoeing

camping

snowmobiling

dog-sledding,

zip-lining

ice-climbing

ice-fishing

rafting, canoeing

4-wheeling

Having greenspace close by is essential for city life in my opinion!  People here embrace the outdoors and are active in all seasons.  No wonder the facts say Colorado is the least obese state!  It’s a contagious attitude!  Meanwhile, everywhere you look from downtown Denver, the buildings frame a beautiful scene of snowcapped mountains and blue sky!  It takes my breath away every day!

#4 The Denver Food Scene

Within 5 blocks of my house, there are two major grocery stores!  That has been a game changer and I no longer stock up my freezer…instead I shop every day or two, picking whatever looks fresh.  Every Saturday May-October there is a wonderful farmer’s market at Union Station featuring the best just-picked fruits and vegetables, eggs, local meats, cheeses, colorful flower bouquets, honey, coffee, and fermented goods.  They also offer many enticing ready to eat delights such as hand held burritos and a porchetta sandwich made from slow-cooked garlic and herb pork belly served with blanched broccoli rabe and a tangy dressing, all on a delicious grilled ciabatta roll.  The market has a great vibe, families come out with their dogs and children.  It can be hot and busy…so I enjoy it most early in the mornings but it lasts until 2 pm.

Denver Union Station Farmer’s Market

Denver has a dense community of restaurants!  Yelp says there are 202 restaurants within one mile from my home!  202!!!  There are 377 Pho shops, and 1698 Mexican restaurants in Denver.  With the population explosion of 77,000 new residents last year in Colorado, the pressure is on for competing restaurants to please the elevated pallets of foodie-type millennials moving in from out-of-state.

5280 Magazine reports: “Restaurants are closing that were good enough for a while, but now there are too many options”…says Symensma…”without innovation, relevance, and uniqueness it’s tough to stand out and survive.”

Thankfully, for connoisseurs, this means the bar is raised and we get better service, cooler atmospheres, and tastier food.  One thing that is lacking in my opinion is that small-town feel…places where you can belly up to the bar and everybody knows your name and drink of choice to the point that we become friends and exchange numbers.  I have found that elusive in Denver, and something I highly prize in my eating and drinking experience…I’m not sure Denver will ever be able to create that.

Another great thing about Denver is the food truck scene!  Three times a week May-October almost seventy local food trucks gather to Civic Center Park creating a festive mid-week lunching experience!  It is a unique phenomenon that I have never witnessed anywhere else.  You can join in on a free workout with a professional trainer in the shade of the trees and walk a few meters into an eating frenzy like no other!

Last but not least there is kitschy Casa Bonita, as seen on a South Park episode and said to be the “Disneyland of Mexican restaurants”!  You can dine on the worst Mexican food while surrounded by tacky décor and watch really bad acting shows and cliff divers that jump into the indoor waterfall.  There is also fire, magic, puppets, and a pirate cave!  It is so bad that it is good…and a must-see for Denver visitors with kids.

#5 Denver Communal Spaces

There is a wonderful trend in Denver for shared spaces.

Union Station

Avanti Food & Beverage

The Source

Denver Central Market

Avanti Food & Beverage

Stanley Marketplace

Zeppelin Station.

From train station to shipping containers, former airplane hangars, and warehouses…a mix of part food hall, drinkery, retail shopping, and shared office space…I love these places!  If you feel lonely or isolated, hanging out in one of these lively buzzing market halls will give you the shot in the arm of belonging that you crave.  And though many will be shocked with disbelief that I have left legalized pot off of this top 10 list…an equally gripping habit of coffee culture as a social lubricant and a widely consumed stimulant is very real here in Denver.  All of these moving parts provide great networking opportunities and everything you need for an alternative work place, including beverages, like-minded people, and USB outlets…so if you work from home and are tired of the same old four walls…get out there and communalize!

#6 The Beer

A good friend planning a visit from the east coast said she wanted to check the breweries in the area and wanted to know if they were close by.  My response was there is one on every street corner…google says around 20 within a mile and 643 in Denver!

Some of my faves:

Great Divide

Ratio

Black Shirt

Our Mutual Friend

Denver Beer Co

New Belgium

Lefthand out of Longmont

Every Saturday evening and also the first Friday evening of every month Drink RINO sponsors free eTuks to this neighborhood offering ease of access to many of the top area breweries without having to drive…WIN-WIN!  And of course there is the quintessential Coors, the largest single brewery facility in the world which offers a 30-minute self-paced tour and free tasting.

#7 Red Rocks

Red Rocks Amphitheater

I have never been to so many concerts in my life.  I don’t know if it’s the ease of access to them, or the beautiful venues available in Denver like Red Rocks, or if there are just more good bands passing through town.  There is nothing that quite compares with driving 30 minutes out of downtown Denver, passing through the suburbs, and driving within sight range of this beautiful, natural landscape of protected lands, open fields, and this gorgeous red-orange angled rock formation jutting out, forming an open-air amphitheater with ideal, natural-occurring acoustics.  In the back drop you can see the Denver city skyline.  It’s just an awe inspiring place to experience artists like no other.  If you haven’t been…you need to try it.

The climb up to the amphitheater from the parking areas is not for the faint of heart.  It can be a trek!  There are some convenient shuttle services from a couple of locations in Denver that provide a safe and stress-free alternative to driving.  They usually include some sort of pre-concert special offering from a local restaurant and they permit you to bring your own beverages to tailgate with as long as it’s not glass.

Besides concerts, there are many other fun things to do at Red Rocks including miles of hiking trails, picnicking, yoga & exercise for fitness, fossil exploration, and full length movies projected onto the rock.

# 8 Green Chile

Why are so many of my favorite things about Denver food related?  I moved to Denver from New York.  When we eat chili it’s usually while camping or tailgating…it’s fall weather food.  Our east-coast chili is rich and beefy and red.  It’s spicy, has beans, tomatoes, jalapenos, ground beef, lots and lots of chili powder, cumin, and we top it with cheddar cheese, sour cream, and green onion.  When you say chile in Colorado, it means “green chile”!  We even spell it differently here in the west!  These chiles come from New Mexico in many varieties but one of my favorites is the Hatch variety, grown in the Hatch Valley.  Chile stands pop up beside the streets of Denver during late summer and into fall.   You typically order them by the bushel and wait as they are freshly fire-roasted right in front of you, releasing a smoky, earthy flavor that permeates the air!  From this state they are frequently eaten as-is, frozen for year-round use, or commonly we make pork based green chile which is used as a tasty dipping sauce, over eggs, mac-n-cheese, and to smother burritos or french fries.  YUM!

#9 Team Loyalty

Whether it’s professional football, baseball, hockey, basketball, soccer, lacrosse, or rugby…Denverites love to support their sports teams.  On any given game day they come out in droves!  After moving here two years ago and already having my own favorite team, I felt the pressure to convert to become a Denver fan…or I might as well move back to New York.  I became a Denver resident in January 2016, the year the Broncos won the superbowl.  The homecoming parade was INSANE!  I think every business closed down…because the streets were a sea of over a million fans decked out in orange flooded the city to show their loyalty to their beloved team.  It’s an infectious zeal, one that makes a united community…and you just want to be a part of it.  And though, I am not quite to that level yet, I respect and admire the Denver fans.

#10 DOGS DOGS DOGS

Last but not least, I happen to love dogs and so does everyone else here in Denver.  It’s a very dog-friendly town.  Everywhere you look people are out and about with man’s best friend.  Dogs are eagerly welcomed most places that humans are.  For example, one night we met up with friends at a local brewery and when we stepped inside there were no less than 20 dogs inside laying at their owners feet, making new friends, lapping up spilled beer while everyone around benefits from that “zen” factor that dogs can be the source of.  It’s no secret that dogs decrease stress, promote relaxation, influence social and emotional development, and encourage an active lifestyle.  What’s not to love about that!

I hope you have enjoyed my long-winded storytelling journey and slice of life from here in Denver…now come visit!

from Blog https://ondenver.com/top-10-best-things-about-denver/