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rabbitcruiser · 1 year

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National Take a Hike Day

There’s a lot that could be said about Take a Hike Day, but it seems that this excerpt from Cheryl Strayed’s book, Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail says it all just perfectly.

History of Take A Hike Day

Take a Hike Day was established by the American Hiking Society with the hope of encouraging individuals, groups of families and friends to get out into the wild and really get a taste of what it means to be away from it all again. Hiking is something that consistently helps to rebuild the human connection with nature, and also aids in maintaining healthy hearts and bodies as well.

Hiking should not be an affair that a person rushes through. However, it should also not be a journey that a person goes through idly with very little sense of purpose. Instead, a person should listen to their heart and body: when restlessness strikes head out for the distant hills, and when weariness sets inlet the body rest and take in the environment.

Take A Hike Day was created to remind everyone that humans are creatures of the wild as well as creatures of civilization, and sometimes it does that wild heart good to be taken home again and get out into the depths of nature.

National Take a Hike Day Timeline

1804 Lewis and Clark start on their famous expedition

Setting out from St. Louis, Lewis and Clark with a team of 40 make their way toward the Pacific Ocean in 18 months.

1901 Vice President Teddy Roosevelt hikes Mount Marcy

While there was no actual trail, the VP of the US takes a famous hike and by the time he gets down the mountain, he discovers that President William McKinley has died from a gunshot wound.

1916 National Parks are established in the US

Initiated by US President Woodrow Wilson, the US National Parks Service is created to protect natural places where people often hike.

1921 Appalachian Trail is proposed

This trail is imagined from Georgia to Maine, passing through 14 different US states. It will take 16 years to complete the trail.

1938 REI is started in Seattle

This famous company that supplies hiking gear is organized as a consumer cooperative so people can become members and share.

How to Celebrate Take A Hike Day

The great thing is that the best suggestion for celebrating this day is contained right there in the name! Buzz off, get out, go away, take a hike! But that’s not all, other ideas for honoring and observing this day can be conjured up as well:

Take a Hike to a New Place

There are a million places to go on a hike, from your own backyard to the highest peaks in far-flung and exotic locations. When you hike, be sure to take note of the beautiful and magnificent surroundings, from the towering trees overhead to the secret and elusive critters that live in mountain streams and in distant glades. Hikes were made to commune with nature, and noticing it is the first step. Don’t be in a hurry!

Most people would be surprised at just what can be found by looking under the canopy of a tree, or with a quick glance under a bush. Take A Hike Day is the ideal opportunity to reconnect with the fundamentally important things in life: the fresh air, blue sky, and deep rich earth underfoot.

Learn Safety Tips for Hiking

While Take a Hike Day can certainly be loads of fun, it’s also important to use the brain and follow certain safety guidelines so that the hike ends in delight rather than a visit to the emergency room. This is especially important because getting away from it all also means getting away from easy access to medical care!

In addition to having the proper gear, such as boots and socks, consider these important tips for staying safe and comfortable during a hike:

Stay Hydrated

Hike with a Friend

Create an Itinerary

Prepare for weather

Bring a filled water bottle and sip on it throughout the hike. This is especially important on warmer days when dehydration is more likely.

Having a hiking buddy is ideal to be sure everything is okay. For a solo hike, make sure someone knows exactly where you’re headed and check in with them upon arrival.

Knowing where you are going is vital when hiking–and be sure to share it with someone outside the group, such as with the park ranger’s office. This helps in case someone gets lost or injured and a search party needs to be sent out.

Watch the weather forecast and take into consideration factors such as altitude, lightning, or rain. The heat of the sun is another important weather factor to be prepared for. Pack sun protection, rain gear, emergency shelter and a first aid kit.

Grab Some Friends for a Hike

Going on a short hike alone can be therapeutic and soothing. But when it comes to serious hiking, it’s best to have at least one buddy to journey with. Plus, the more the merrier! Choose a hiking buddy who moves at a similar pace, who appreciates nature in the same way, and who is able to either talk or be quiet as needed.

Don’t have a friend who likes to hike? Get connected with safe hiking groups by contacting the local park ranger for more information.

Join the American Hiking Society

Want to stay connected and keep apprised of the most important information regarding hiking? The American Hiking Society (AHS) might just be the place to go. Register on their website, join in with an affordable monthly membership, become a NextGen trail leader, participate as an ambassador, or get involved with a Volunteer Vacation. AHS offers plenty of opportunities to get hiking, as well as working to protect trails and advocate for hiking access.

National Take a Hike Day FAQs

What are “switchbacks” in hiking?

A switchback is a path that takes twists and turns over a mountain or a hill.

What to wear for hiking?

The most important piece of hiking gear to have are the right shoes, which can be hiking sandals, sneakers, or special hiking boots.

Can hiking build muscle?

Yes! Hiking is a cardiovascular activity that also works muscles like the glutes, abs, hamstrings, quads, calves and hips.

Where did hiking originate?

Hiking has been around since ancient times and started simply out of the need people had to travel, so they went on foot.

Do hiking poles help?

Trekking poles take the stress off of the joints, help maintain balance and pace, and even help keep wild animals at bay.

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hometoursandotherstuff · 27 days

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When I first saw this ultra modern 2010 home in Malibu, CA, my first thought was, "who is going to clean all of this metal and glass?" But, then when I saw the $57.5M price tag for the 5bd, 7ba home, I realized that if you can afford that much, you have a staff. Look at this place.

Approaching the entrance.

Here we are at the glass door. Oooh, look at the house statue.

The entrance hall.

See what I mean about the glass?

This is crazy. I don't even know how to navigate this home. The description says it's "feng shui inspired."

It's very open concept with the family/living room and kitchen combo.

Very modern kitchen with a wall of cabinets that goes from the kitchen to the living room. Open and airy, there's another sitting area with doors to a patio.

It all overlooks the Pacific Ocean.

All sorts of stairs and ramps lead to other floors.

Small corner sitting room that comes to a point.

We appear to be approaching another living area.

There's a rounded bedroom with a view of the ocean.

And, look at this. The Japanese soaking tub makes it look like you're in the ocean.

More catwalks and stairs.

Another bedroom suite with its own terrace.

So many levels.

Each bedroom is private with a terrace.

Gee, is this the good life, or what?

Wow, look at the setup in the music room.

Beautiful. I wonder if the outdoor art conveys.

Look at the private beach.

The home is gated with a security system.

.83 acre lot. I'm thinking maybe they didn't put in a pool for all that money, b/c the ocean is right there? But, still. A pool & the ocean are 2 very different things.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/41800-E-Pacific-Coast-Hwy-Malibu-CA-90265/16493848_zpid/?

#ultra modern architecture #modern homes #ultra modern homes #modern mansions #houses #home tour #house tours

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manessha545 · 3 months

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Lima, Peru: Lima is the capital and largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín Rivers, in the desert zone of the central coastal part of the country, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The city is considered the political, cultural, financial and commercial center of Peru. Due to its geostrategic importance, the Globalization and World Cities Research Network has categorized it as a "beta" tier city. Wikipedia

#Lima #Peru

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woundgallery · 4 days

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I don't submit many poems for publication, but I am truly delighted that this old piece found a home in a beautiful volume of Prairie Schooner. I wrote this in April 2016, when I was re-emerging from the most deadening period of my life. As much as this poem, on the surface, is about heartbreak, it is much more about the gift of opening myself once again to communion with others and communion with the mystery of our fragile, interconnected world. The person I wrote this for took me by the hand and--with gentleness and understanding--helped me put aside weariness and remember that the world was a place that could still surprise me with a beauty that surpasses explanation, that cannot be neatly explained and shut away. Though it's been years since we have spoken, I am forever grateful for him.

And, as spring quickens in New York City, I am grateful once more to reflect on all I would have missed if I had not made it through the gauntlet of 2015. I would never have met my cat (and love of my life) Willa who wakes me each morning by wildly purring, head butting me like a baby goat, and nibbling my cheeks and nose because she’s just so happy to see me; hiked on Orcas Island with Michael and found a surprise lake which we named Lake Ineffable (because no name was beautiful enough for it) where we stripped off our clothes and swam and embraced each other, blissfully alone and dazed by superfluous beauty; found out that George Washington National Forest may have more fireflies than anywhere in the world; grown into my vocation as a social worker and been blessed to sit in communion with my clients for eight years; built a beautiful relationship with my parents based on mutual respect, affinity, and humor; seen my friends’ babies discover the world; slept beneath a meteor shower sky on a NYC beach in the arms of a man I was suddenly and entirely falling in love with; discovered Eric Rohmer; discovered Wim Wenders; moved to Laramie, Wyoming where everything looks like the abandoned set of a Western film where the paint has flaked off but he extras are still wandering around despondently; moved to Montana where I remembered that I am part of the whole, not just a body in passing; woke in Missoula to the cold air seeping through my window—still half in a dream of Oregon in October—and stirred, deliciously alert beside the boy I loved, craning toward his sleepy, freckled back, to clutch him closer, the brisk quickening of fall making my body a new thing—wild and tender and alive; swam naked in the ocean; had the chance to work with my best friends and fall even more in love with the people they are based off the kindness they showed our clients; had my best friends, in turn, respect and love me more based of what they saw me showing clients; sat by a lake at night and felt an earthquake swell like a heartbeat beneath my body; drove from Missoula to Washington, Ryan’s van weaving through a forest fire zone until we reached the pure, amnesiac sweep of the Pacific; discovered Simone Weil; been, not only forgiven, but embraced by the person I most wronged after six years of estrangement; made up a silly-serious shared mythology with Steven about a vulture God named Hamm who watches over us with a severe equanimity; backpacked through Olympic National Park with Michael and seen and been seen by the strange shaggy haired deer and rabbits who looked at us without fear; discovered Agnes Martin; read poetry with my sage & strange Mara; discovered Olivier Messiaen; discovered Mary Ruefle; discovered Ana Mendieta; realized that I like the color yellow; moved to New York City; discovered Carol Rama; learned how to enjoy dancing to music other than punk rock; seen a moose in the wild; spent a summer in that yellow shotgun house with the overgrown yard and the porch overlooking the river where we made dinner each night listening to recordings of bird calls; experienced the delights of solitary sunbathing on Brooklyn roofs; encountered places named Hellgate, Bitterroot, and Rattlesnake; recited The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock at 3 AM, wading in the waters of the Long Island Sound; realized I am capable of keeping houseplants alive; heard the thrumming ecstasy of the grouse's wings; learned the name of those clustered, mustard-colored flowers that grow on the Oregon coast; grew grateful for beauty again, remembering the world is not a place I can neatly explain, cannot fold in linen and shut in a drawer; and, most of all, remembered the daily ways we concede—plainly, without theatrics—to live.

Today I am thankful for those who love me and those who allow me to love them.

#poetry #suicide #gratitude #love #love poems #vincent van gogh #my writing #prairie schooner #personal #text #yellow #but all love is uneven

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1americanconservative · 4 days

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JOHN CLAUSER, 2022 PHYSICS NOBEL PRIZE WINNER:

"I can very confidently assert, there is NO climate emergency."

“As much as it may upset many people, my message is the planet is NOT in peril. … atmospheric CO2 and methane have negligible effect on the climate.

The policies government have been implementing are total unnecessary and should be eliminated.

So far, [we] have totally misidentified what is the dominant process in controlling the climate, and all of the various models are based on incomplete and incorrect physics.

The dominant process, is “the cloud-sunlight-reflexivity thermostat mechanism.

Clouds are all bright white, and they reflected 90% of the sunlight back into space making them the most crucial yet most overlooked aspect of the climate system.

Two-thirds of the Earth are ocean. The Pacific Ocean alone is half the Earth. The average cloud cover for the Earth is 67%; about 50% over land and 75% over oceans.

I claim that the above conspicuous properties of clouds are the missing part of the puzzle.

I can very confidently assert, there is no climate emergency."

See slides from his talk on the thread below:

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drtyelvisfantasy · 9 months

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Hawaiian Tropic🌺

Parings: Elvis Presley x reader

Summary: You and Elvis enjoy your honeymoon in Hawaii just days after exchanging vows in Vegas at the international hotel

Song for fic: Hawaiian Tropic-Lana Del Rey

🌺🌺🌺🌺

The sound of crashing waves welcomed you and Elvis as you stepped off the private plane the both of you owned, your hearts filled with anticipation and love. The both of you had exchanged vows just days ago, promising to be there for each other through thick and thin, and now the two of you were ready to embark on your dream honeymoon in the enchanting island of Hawaii.

Hand in hand, you and Elvis walked through the airport, your smile radiant and infectious. The scent of tropical flowers filled the air, reminding the both of you that you were entering a world of bliss and tranquility.

Elvis, dressed in a stylish Hawaiian shirt, he couldn't help but gaze at his beautiful wife. Your eyes twinkled with excitement, and your (hair colour) hair cascaded like silk down your shoulders. You were the love of his life, and he couldn't wait to share this romantic adventure with you.

Upon arriving at their secluded beachfront villa, you and Elvis were greeted by a breathtaking view of the turquoise waters and swaying palm trees. The warm tropical breeze caressed your skin, whispering promises of unforgettable moments to come.

As the two of you settled into your luxurious accommodation, Elvis pulled you into his arms, your bodies swaying to a melody only the toe of you could hear. "Satnin,’ can you believe we're finally here? Just you and me, in this paradise of love."

You rested her head against his chest, soaking in the rhythmic beating of his heart. "Elvis, this is a dream come true. I'm so grateful to be spending this time with you, away from the world, where it's just us."

Your Days in Hawaii were filled with romantic walks along the pristine beaches, exploring lush rainforests hand in hand, and discovering hidden waterfalls. Each moment deepened their connection, and the two of you fell even more in love with every passing second.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Elvis surprised you with a private concert on the beach. With his guitar in hand and his voice as captivating as ever, he serenaded you with your favorite songs, creating an ethereal atmosphere as the waves crashed against the shore.

You couldn't help but feel your heart swell with love as Elvis poured his soul into the music. His voice resonated through you, each word a testament to your love. In that moment, you knew that your love was destined to last.

🌺🌺

As the honeymoon days drew to a close end, you and Elvis stood on a cliff overlooking the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean. The sun cast an orange glow across the horizon, painting the sky with hues of gold and pink. It was a moment of pure serenity.

Elvis wrapped his arms around you, holding you close. "My darling, these days have been a glimpse of heaven. I promise to love you fiercely, to protect you, and to be there for you until the end of time."

Tears welled up in your eyes as you looked into his deep, soulful gaze. "Elvis, you've given me a love that surpasses anything I could have ever imagined. I'm forever grateful to have you as my husband."

The both of your lips met in a tender kiss, sealing your love in that moment, in that paradise. With hearts full of gratitude and a future brimming with endless possibilities, you and Elvis Presley walked hand in hand, ready to face whatever life had in store for them.

In the enchanting island of Hawaii, their love shone brighter than the sun, a testament to the power of two souls finding their forever in each other's arms.

You and Elvis decided to spend your last day in Hawaii on the beach, the two of you found yourselves on a secluded section of the beach, away from prying eyes. The sand was warm beneath your feet as the two of you strolled along the shoreline, your laughters filling the air.

Elvis couldn't resist the mischievous twinkle in his eye as he scooped up a handful of wet sand. With a playful smile, he tossed it at you, hitting you playfully on the shoulder. You decided to get back at Elvis by picking wet sand and throwing it him.

"(Y/N), you're in for it now!" Elvis chuckled, as he started running away from you, his bare feet leaving imprints in the sand.

Giggling, you chased after him, the soft sand sinking beneath your steps. The crashing waves accompanied your laughters, as the two continued your playful chase along the water's edge.

Elvis suddenly came to a halt, turning to face you with a mischievous grin. He bent down, grabbing more sand, and swiftly launched it towards you, hitting you square in the chest.

Laughing uncontrollably, you retaliated by picking up a handful of sand yourself. You aimed carefully, watching as the grains of sand flew through the air, landing on Elvis's shoulder.

Elvis pretended to be shocked, dramatically clutching his chest. "Oh, my heart! You've wounded me with your sandy attack, my love!"

The playful banter continued as the two chased each other, your laughter echoing across the beach. The sand clinging to your skin, turning your playful antics into a delightful mess.

Eventually, the two of you collapsed onto the sand, breathless and covered in a mixture of sand and giggles. The both of your eyes met, and in that moment, you both felt an overwhelming rush of love and joy.

Elvis reached out, brushing the sand off of your cheek, his touch gentle and full of adoration. "My love, these carefree moments with you are the ones I treasure the most. You bring out the childlike joy in me."

You smiled, your heart full of love for the man who always knew how to make you laugh. "Elvis, you remind me that life is meant to be enjoyed, to be filled with laughter and love. I'm grateful for every moment we share."

With the sun beginning its descent into the horizon, casting a warm golden glow over the beach, you and Elvis sat side by side, your fingers intertwined. You both watched as the waves crashed against the shore, basking in the serenity of the moment.

In that peaceful embrace, you both knew that your love was not only built on passion but also on the foundation of friendship and playfulness. Together, the two of you had created a love that could withstand any storm, even as the sand stuck to your bodies, reminding the both of you of the joy you both have found in each other's arms.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting hues of orange and pink across the sky, Elvis leaned in to press a soft kiss to your forehead. "I love you, my beautiful (Y/N). Let's continue to make memories together, forever."

With a heart full of love and a newfound appreciation for the simple pleasures in life, you leaned into Elvis's embrace, feeling the warmth of his love surround you. In that moment, you knew that your time in Hawaii was just the beginning of a lifetime of happiness and adventures together.

🌺🌺🌺🌺

#austin butler x reader #elvis presley x reader #elvis presley fluff #austin butler fluff #austin!elvis x reader #austin butler #elvis x reader #50s elvis #austin!elvis fluff

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disturbia-2024 · 3 months

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While it sounds like an unlikely sight, the coastal town of San Simeon, California is home to a herd of zebras. As you travel along Highway 1, keep your eye out for their black and white stripes east of the highway where they can be seen grazing upon the rolling hillsides that overlook the Pacific Ocean.

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heavens-bookshop · 2 years

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They don't quite make it to China in the end.

The Pacific Ocean, it turns out, is both quite large and quite a trek from the Caribbean. The Revenge tries to make it all the way down to Cape Horn, but Ed grows impatient by the time they reach Brazil, so they settle for somewhere outside Sao Luis.

The crew doesn't stay. Most are still hungry for a life at sea, or ready to move on to other ventures. Ed hands over control of his flotilla to Izzy, and Stede happily bestows the Revenge to Oluwande. It's not the last they see of any of them, of course. The Revenge comes through port every so often to stock up on supplies, bringing Madeira wine and spiced rum, a rotating cast of fresh faces and always new stories to share. Wee John makes a point of bringing Stede a crate of oranges the first time they visit, a long running joke that turns into the crew's traditional reunion gift.

It's a simple life they carve out for themselves here. They build a small house by the beach - Ed finds he can't stray too far from the water, and even heading into the nearby town feels claustrophobic after a while. He takes odd jobs where he can, chopping wood or putting up fences, sometimes even ferrying people along the coast in a small dinghy, while Stede helps local dignitaries translate documents into English. After a lifetime of violent death constantly at his heels, Ed finds the gentle pace is exactly what his soul needs.

Years pass and the pace becomes gentler still. Time catches up with his joints, seizes up his knee further. The salt and pepper of his hair becomes a little saltier. He notices it in Stede too, the lines in his face deeper, his hands not quite able to hold a pen like they once did. It's both a blessing and a curse, Ed realises - he simply never imagined he would live this long.

They get thirteen years together.

With the decades of smoking and drinking and festering gunshot wounds, Ed really thought he'd be the first to go. And then one afternoon, while they're on their way back from the market with fresh clams for dinner, Stede collapses to the ground clutching at his stomach. Ed gets him home and keeps a bedside vigil in some twisted backwards version of their first meeting all those years ago. He sits there, holding Stede's hand for a week, until Stede's grip falls slack for the final time.

Ed buries him on the cliff that overlooks their beach. He writes a letter to Mary in shaky handwriting, at the same desk where Stede taught him to read. The grief is a tidal wave, pounding into his lungs, burning with every breath, until the water pulls back and leaves nothing but a yawning cavern in his chest. Ed doesn't know how he can ever fill it.

He tries to lose himself in physical labour, in the mindless lift-drop-chop of cutting wood, but his body can't keep up with it anymore. His home makes him sick. Stede's ghost is everywhere - it's there in the empty space in their bed, the extra chair at the table, in the faces of all their friends and acquaintances in town.

When the Revenge next comes through port, Ed breaks the news to the few remaining original crew members. Roach and Oluwande take some oranges to his grave before they set sail - and Ed goes with them.

He doesn't stay on the ship for long. There are ghosts here too - the notch on the mast from a duel, the bookshelves no one's had the heart to get rid of, the lingering smell of marmalade in the crew's mess. The Revenge heads north, all the way up to Charlestown where Lucius has been working as a clerk at an inn, and it's here that Ed alights.

He gets his own room at the inn, in return for taking on a job as Lucius' assistant. It's work his old joints can manage, organizing ledgers and double checking numbers, but the smell of parchment and ink makes him miss Stede terribly.

He travels when he can, hopping onto merchant ships that take him up the coastline to Dover, Baltimore, New York, even as far as Boston, and god there are so many people. The cities sprawl in every direction, and with each passing year Ed finds them ever harder to navigate until finally his knee gives out completely.

Six years after leaving Sao Luis, Ed feels his body winding down. Days start blurring into one another, as do his memories. Sometimes he realises that he can't even place the faces of the people around him, and he panics. He finds himself increasingly in bed, unsure of the time or where he's supposed to be, but there's always a bowl of soup or a jug of water on the bedside table. Someone's looking after him, he can remember that much. He remembers that he's loved.

Ed starts awake one evening (or is it the early morning?) to a sharp pain in his chest. There's a light above him, and a voice. He had thought it was Lucius holding a lantern, except now he's not so sure. It's become harder to breathe, harder to see, and he is so very very tired.

The rest of the world fades, but the light remains, and Ed can see now that of course it's not a lantern - it's a lighthouse. The voice becomes clearer and then there's Stede, golden hair and dashing smile, holding out his hand.

"One more adventure, love?" he says, and Ed grabs his arm with both hands.

#ofmd #our flag means death #blackbonnet #my fics #edward x stede #im goin thru it lads #we write sad pirate ficlets to cope

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dailyoverview · 1 year

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Lima is the capital and largest city of Peru, with a population of more than 9.7 million in its urban area. It is located on mostly flat terrain in the Peruvian coastal plain, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. This Overview also shows Isla San Lorenzo, Peru’s largest island, just offshore of the city.

-12.060000°, -77.037500°

Source imagery: Planet

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cbrownjc · 4 months

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New Fic: Promises, Promises

My next fic in The Forgotten Years series, which I am writing with @faerywhimsy, is now finished! Please check it out over on AO3.

Title: Promises, Promises

Pairings: Lestat/Louis, Armand/Louis, Lestat & Armand, Armand/Daniel (past), Daniel/Louis (past), Armand/Daniel/Louis (past)

Summary: After Paris and four decades apart, Lestat and Louis finally reunite. However, due to a promise Louis has made to Armand, it can never be the full reunion that Lestat has long wished for.

That is unless Lestat takes matters into his own hands to try and get Louis out of his promise.

Rockstar Lestat Era — Show Canon with Book Canon Elements — Lestat’s POV

Completed — 12,547 words — Teen and Up

Santa Barbara, California, late October 1988

Looking out of the glass doors of the large Spanish-style house that sat high atop one of the bluff hills that overlooked the Pacific Ocean, Lestat de Lioncourt was aware of it.

A creature, outside in the darkness. Walking in the stillness, no human scent.

Lestat and the members of his rock band were scheduled to play their first major concert six days from now, on All Hallow’s Night, in Los Angeles. Yet, because of unknown threats being made toward them, he and his bandmates were, at the moment, staying hidden away in Santa Barbara.

Unlike Lestat, however, the others in his band — as well as his manager and lawyer — did not know that the threats towards them were not coming from humans. But from vampires.

Vampires who strongly disapproved of what Lestat was doing, and wished to kill him for it.

Yet, the now over 200-year-old Vampire Lestat felt no alarm or worry as the creature approached. On the contrary, the emotions he felt were a torrent-filled mix of apprehension, sadness, pain, joy, excitement . . . and love.

Out of all the other things Lestat felt at that moment, love was the most overwhelming feeling of them all.

For there was one telltale sign as to whom the creature that was approaching was. A sign, a sound, that he knew more intimately than any other sound in this world.

A heartbeat.

More importantly, the heartbeat of Louis de Ponte du Lac.

It was Louis that approached.

His Louis.

Lestat’s own heart began to skip at the revelation of who was approaching. He looked over at the tiny lights of the alarm box half half-concealed by the gathered drapery in the corner of the room. The alarm system promised sirens and alarms if anything, mortal or immortal, tried to penetrate the house.

At the edge of the back rod-iron gate is where Louis finally appeared. Slender figure, cinnamon brown skin, dark hair that was no longer styled short and sleek, but longer and more free. Moss-green eyes and clothing that appeared to be rather standard garments. In particular, a black sweater that hung a little too large on his body.

Louis had paused by the gate as if he was looking for — and then spotted — something not just beyond the backyard, but on the other side of what Lestat knew to be the electric blue haze of the glass veil he stood behind.

Yes. Louis had spotted him, for he now skillfully vaulted over the gate — which was over five feet tall — and began to make his way towards Lestat, towards the light.

Lestat felt a lump come into his throat as he began to tremble. He did as quick a scan as he could have the night for any others, for danger still lurked and he must still keep vigilant of it.

But, in truth, none of it mattered to him as much now. Because Louis has come. Louis was here.

That had been the main thing that this had all been about, his rock star career. Finding his companion’s heart again.

[ Read on AO3 ]

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amazingarchitecturewebsite · 1 year

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Tramonto Residence in #PacificPalisades, California (USA) by ShubinDonaldson @shubindonaldson. Read more: Link in bio! Photography: Fernando Guerra | FG+SG Photography @fernandogguerra. ShubinDonaldson: Nestled in the Pacific Palisades foothills, the Tramonto Residence is a contemporary single-family home which integrates the natural beauty of an adjacent state park. The placement of the home captures vistas overlooking the canyon, the surrounding Santa Monica Mountains, and the California coastline meeting the Pacific Ocean… #usa #california #архитектура www.amazingarchitecture.com ✔ A collection of the best contemporary architecture to inspire you. #design #architecture #amazingarchitecture #architect #arquitectura #luxury #realestate #life #cute #architettura #interiordesign #photooftheday #love #travel #construction #furniture #instagood #fashion #beautiful #archilovers #home #house ‎#amazing #picoftheday #architecturephotography ‎#معماری (at Pacific Palisades, LA, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqUZshrsDNU/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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hometoursandotherstuff · 1 year

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I kind of love Villa Alto Mare in Carmel, California, but it doesn’t matter anyway, b/c I don’t have $14M to buy it. It’s a 5bd. 5.5ba. Roman inspired villa high on a hill overlooking the ocean.

Isn’t this amazing?

The entrance is so beautiful. Love the marble floors and sweeping staircase. The ceiling is magnificent.

The wrought iron railing has wood finials. Very nice.

Those panels flanking the fireplace are unusual. I’ve never seen anything like that before. They look like they have some sort of hardware, could they be doors?

View of the Pacific Ocean and sliding doors to the terrace.

I’m a sucker for big Greek columns.

Dine inside or out. Love the fireplace.

In love w/the green doors.

The kitchen is legit gorgeous. Do you love the ducky faucet?

Of course there’s a breakfast room. There doesn’t seem to be anywhere in the home that you can’t see the ocean or have access to the terraces.

Is this the classiest office or what? It could also be a library.

I’ve never seen a more beautiful wine fridge.

Wood ceilings wouldn’t be my first choice- I like the fancy ceiling in the entrance, but this is the main bd.

These terraces!

Curved ceiling and skylights along the hall.

What a cool ceiling over the tub. Look at all the marble, even the niches. This looks very Roman.

Gorgeous fountain outside.

Guest bd. and bath.

Really, this place is worth $14M.

The outside of the house is just as awesome as the inside.

This looks like a guest house or a music room.

Look at this place.

It’s a villa, but it reminds me of a little village.

The gardens!

Stairs going down to the sea. It’s so beautiful, I can’t take it.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/254-Highway-1-Carmel-CA-93923/19379167_zpid/

#mansions #roman style villa #roman architecture #midnight dreamer house #houses #house tours #home tour #long post

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all-the-things-2020 · 4 days

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Late Night Talking - Chapter Fourteen

Summary: Dieter and Emily spend Thanksgiving break together.

Rating: PG-13 (mention of sex but no real smut)

Word count: 3800

Notes: San Ysidro Ranch is a real place but I’ve never been there. I’ve also never had a massage or a sound bath, but I hope I wrote about both experiences competently. Also, I have family members who are Mormon and any opinions expressed about that religion are my own.

Tag list: @rhoorl @avastrasposts @readingiskeepingmegoing @runningmom94 @gwendibleywrites @weho2kcmo

“Thank you for the invitation, Aunt Helen, but I can’t make it.”

”You know you’re always welcome, Emily. And I understand it’s a long drive to make by yourself, and flying is expensive, but maybe that rich boyfriend of yours could lend you the money. We’d love to see you.”

I was glad it was a voice call and not FaceTime, because I’m sure I grimaced. I’d made the trek to Utah to spend Thanksgiving with Aunt Helen and her family once and that had been enough for me. She was my mom’s sister, my only living relative on either side of the family, but she was â€¦ well, I’ll just come out and say it. Mormon.

At the age of twenty, Aunt Helen had opened the door to a pair of missionaries and fell hook line and sinker for the message they brought. It wasn’t a bad thing, it was just awkward for someone raised in a very secular family to suddenly be so vehemently religious. My grandma once said that no one is as fervent as a convert, and she was right.

Aunt Helen joined the church and within a year she was married to a young man who’d recently graduated from BYU and had a job lined up in Salt Lake City. My mom had confessed that she was glad that Helen and Jeremiah lived so far away. So was I. Every phone call or email from her invariably included some sort of remark about my “lifestyle,” which I understood to mean “being unmarried and childless after the age of thirty and having sex with my boyfriend.”

“I’d love to see you, too,” I replied, “but Dieter’s booked us a cottage at a resort in Santa Barbara for Thanksgiving week. He has to start a new project soon and we want to have a little getaway before he has to leave town.”

Aunt Helen sniffed. “Doesn’t he have family to spend the holiday with?” Family was very important to Aunt Helen.

“He’s going to his brother’s for Christmas, and he and his dad aren’t on good terms right now,” I explained. “So we’re spending Thanksgiving together, just the two of us.”

”Well, if you think that’s best, but remember, you are always welcome here. Maybe you could come for Christmas, since Dieter will be out of town?”

”We’ll see,” I said. There was no way in hell I was going to her house for Christmas.

”Give my love to Uncle Jeremiah and all the cousins.”

I ended the call and heaved a sigh of relief. I loved her, I really did, but only in small doses.

***************************************************

The drive up to Santa Barbara was a bit hectic, as all drives out of the L.A. area are, but once we got to the San Ysidro Ranch it was like we were in another world. It was in the foothills overlooking Montecito. The grounds were lush with plants and the cottages were beautiful, built in Craftsman style. Ours had a private patio with a hot tub, a fireplace, and a king size canopy bed, with exposed wooden beams ceilings. I was in love.

”I want to live here,” I told Dieter as we explored the little cottage. “This place is absolutely amazing. Look at that view!” The front terrace faced west, offering a panorama to the Pacific Ocean in the distance.

“And it’s all ours for a week,” Dieter said, sliding his arms around me from behind. “Great food, great views, great company and privacy.” The last month or so had been rough. Word had leaked out about his brief stay in rehab and that, combined with a new movie project starting soon, had brought the paparazzi out in force. They followed him all over town, and photos of him had popped up all over the internet. There were even photos of the two of us doing mundane things like shopping at CVS and Trader Joe’s. Dieter always shrugged it off, but I knew that deep down it bothered him, mostly because he didn’t think I should have to deal with the paps.

”Yeah, that hot tub looks incredible,” I said, rolling my shoulders to loosen some of the kinks. A week at work combined with the long drive had tightened up my muscles.

“Maybe we can skinny dip,” Dieter said into my ear.

”After it gets dark,” I said. “I know it’s private but I don’t think I could do that in daylight.”

He chuckled. “Deal. And after we soak awhile, I’ll make sure you release all your tension.”

*******************************************************

After dinner at the resort’s restaurant (where Dieter had had ordered and devoured an order of oysters, much to my dismay â€” I still didn’t like them and they reminded me too much of the night I met Jonathan) we wandered back to our cottage in the dark. I used the bathroom and got undressed, slipping on a bathrobe before I stepped outside onto the patio. Dieter was already in the hot tub, his own robe draped haphazardly over the lounge chair.

”You’d better not pee in there,” I teased as I dropped my own robe onto the chair and stepped into the tub. The cool November air caused goosebumps on my skin and I ducked quickly into the warm water.

”I went at the restaurant before we left,” he reminded me. “Now get over here.” He motioned for me to slide closer on the little bench that ringed the tub. I settled against his side and he wrapped his arm around me. We leaned back, letting the jets of hot water soothe us. I felt the knots in my muscles relax.

”Wanna make out?” Dieter asked after several minutes.

”Not just yet,” I said. “I’m enjoying the water.”

”Okay,” he said comfortably. “I want you nice and supple when we get into bed.”

Ever since he’d gotten out of rehab, things had been easier between us. It was hard to put my finger on what had changed, but we just seemed more settled, less anxious about things. We knew that we wanted each other for who we were, warts and all.

Soon enough, we started kissing, and it wasn’t long before we were climbing out of the water and pulling on our robes, eager to get inside out of the chill and into bed. We tumbled into the fine Italian linens and made love. Dieter was true to his promise to help me release all my tension, and I did the same for him. Sex with Dieter was easy. He never made me feel like I was anything other than the most desirable woman in the world. He always asked permission before he did anything that differed from our usual routine, even if we’d done it before. He insisted on using protection. And he always made sure I was satisfied before he’d let himself finish. He was the very definition of an unselfish lover.

”I don’t deserve you,” I told him when we were cuddling afterward. He was a champion snuggler, clinging to me like a baby sloth clings to its mother, enveloping me in his warmth.

“You’ve got that backwards,” he mumbled, already half asleep.

“Okay, we’ll split the difference. We deserve each other.”

”Damn right.” He nuzzled against my neck and promptly started snoring.

******************************************************************

The next morning, we slept in, walked down to the restaurant for breakfast and then strolled through the botanical gardens on our way back to the cottage. We spent a lazy day reading and watching movies, punctuated by a few make out sessions. The day was warm enough that we left the windows open so we could enjoy the breeze off the ocean.

At one point, Dieter dozed off on the couch, his book open against his chest, his glasses sliding down his nose. I got a sudden flash of his older self, hair and beard gone silver, taking a nap in our own little cottage somewhere, after he’d re-established his career and gotten to the point where he could pick and choose his roles. I wanted to grow old with him. I wanted this to last forever.

Then he snorted himself awake, mumbled “Fuck” under his breath and was his middle-aged self again, slightly grumpy at being caught napping during the day. “This place is too quiet,” he complained. “Made me fall asleep.”

”It’s comfortable,” I said. “I like it.” He lifted his arm and I slid underneath to nestle against his side. He was warm and solid and I laid my head on his chest. “Just like you.”

“Are you saying you like me, or that I’m comfortable?”

”Both.”

He shrugged. “I’ll take it. There are worse things to be called than comfortable, although it wounds my masculine pride.”

“What would you prefer?”

”Hot. Irresistible. Manly. Ripped.” It was my turn to snort. “What?”

”You are hot and irresistible and definitely manly, but ripped you are not.” I poked his belly, which had just enough squish to it. “And I like you that way. I want a tummy I can relax on, not one that’s hard as a rock. Six pack abs are highly overrated.”

”I’m glad to hear that,” he said. “Because I think those days are over.” He frowned down at his stomach. “The muscles are still in there somewhere, but the pudge is slowly taking over.”

”I like the pudge,” I said. “It makes you a real person. Real men have pudge. That should be your new slogan.”

”Dieter Bravo, the man with the pudge. I like that. I could be the new spokesman for Pillsbury.” I poked his belly again and he did the doughboy laugh. He was a huge dork, but he was my dork.

*****************************************************************

We hung around the resort for a couple of days, but then Dieter decided he wanted Mexican food, so we drove down to Santa Barbara for a day. We visited the art museum and then found a little hole in the wall Mexican place. I was content with a couple of tacos and a side of rice and beans, but Dieter ordered something called a Garbage Burrito, which was enormous and contained a little bit of everything, from beans to sour cream to cabbage to shredded beef to three kinds of salsa.

“You’re going to be sorry,” I told him after he took the final bite.

He patted his stomach. “Not sorry, just not hungry for about three days,” he said. “You’re on your own for dinner, Miss I-Only-Want-Two-Tacos.”

”You’re forgetting we have a couples massage booked at five,” I reminded him. “You’re gonna have to lay on that full tummy for an hour while they work on your back.”

He stifled a little burp and shrugged. “By that time, my amazing metabolism will have converted most of it to muscle,” he said.

“More like pudge,” I replied. It was our new inside joke. I had started calling him Pudgy Bear.

We left the restaurant and almost immediately were approached by a man who asked if he could get a selfie with Dieter. “I’ve seen all the Cliff Beasts movies,” he explained, “and I’ve gotten photos with three of the cast members so far.”

Dieter agreed. “Why don’t you take the photo?,” he asked me. The man beamed and smoothed down the front of his Hawaiian shirt before handing me his phone. I gave Dieter a quick glance. He had a salsa stain on his previously pristine white t-shirt. I tugged his cardigan into place so that it hid the stain.

”Stop it,” Dieter said, swatting at my hand.

”You have food on your shirt, honey,” I told him, adjusting the cardigan just a bit more. “You don’t want to ruin his photo.”

Dieter looked down and made a face. “Shit, you’re right.”

The guy laughed. “Hey, it’s okay, it’s nice to know that celebrities are real people.”

I snapped three photos, to give him a choice of which one was best, then handed the phone back. “Thanks, man,” he said, swiping through the photos. “Is it okay if I post these on my Insta?”

“Sure,” Dieter said, “and thanks for asking. Most people don’t.” He shook the guy’s hand and sent him on his way grinning from ear to ear.

**************************************************************

We drove around a bit on our way back to the resort, taking in the sights, but made it back in plenty of time for Dieter to change into a clean t-shirt before our massage.

“I don’t know why I have to change,” he grumbled. “I’m just gonna take it off when we get there. They do these things naked, you know.”

”You are not showing up in dirty clothes, even if you are going to get undressed,” I said. “It’s common courtesy.”

”But I’m not a common person,” Dieter said as he stripped off the dirty shirt. I tossed him a clean one from the dresser.

“You are definitely uncommon,” I agreed, running my eyes over his bare torso. Even with that bit of pudge he was an impressive sight.

Dieter preened. “I’m one of a kind.”

”The one, the only â€¦ Dieter Bravo!”

He posed like Superman, which would have made more of an impact if he hadn’t also been pooching out his stomach. He looked more like Jack Black in Nacho Libre than a superhero.

”Put your shirt on, goofball,” I told him. “We’ll be late.”

As Dieter predicted, almost as soon as we arrived for our appointment, the receptionist ushered us into the changing rooms, where we stripped down and put on the plush robes embroidered with the resort logo.

“Told you,” Dieter whispered as we were escorted to the massage room.

Soft music was playing and the lights were dimmed. An essential oil diffuser filled the room with the scent of lavender. I felt my heart rate drop already.

“Welcome. I’m Inge and this is Lance. We’ll be your massage therapists today.” Inge was tall and blonde, with just a trace of a Nordic accent. Lance was also tall, but with jet black hair.

“I think we might have wandered into a porno shoot,” Dieter whispered to me. I shushed him, but he wasn’t wrong. Seriously, who hires a massage therapist named Lance?

They busied themselves with a tray of oils and heated rocks and other massage paraphernalia while we disrobed and laid down on the massage tables, pulling the sheets over ourselves. Dieter, of course, only pulled his up enough to cover his ass, while I made sure mine was up to my shoulders.

It turned out Lance was the strong, silent type, who got right to work on Dieter’s upper back. Inge kept up a gentle, soothing patter as she kneaded my muscles. “We are trying to achieve total relaxation,” she intoned. “We will work on any tight spots you may have, so that when you leave you will be feeling completely loose and flexible.”

I thought I heard Dieter snicker a bit, but with his head buried in the face cut out, it was hard to tell.

“Listen to the music and let your body and mind relax,” Inge said. “Inhale the soothing scent of lavender and exhale all your negative energy.”

I could have dozed off, if not for Inge digging into the knots in my shoulders.

“Surrender to the rhythm of the music and our hands. Take in the good and release the bad.”

Brrr-ppp! Dieter farted loudly.

”Sorry,” he mumbled.

”No worries, man,” Lance said. “It happens.” He grunted as he bore down on Dieter’s back again.

Pppp-rrrr-ppp!

”I told you not to eat that huge burrito for lunch,” I said. And just about then the scent of lavender was overwhelmed by something decidedly less floral and we realized why it was called a garbage burrito.

”Maybe I’ll lay off the lower back,” Lance said, stifling a laugh.

”Yeah, might be a good idea,” Dieter said, giggling.

”I’m just going to turn up the diffuser,” Inge said, and that was when I lost it. I laughed until tears were streaming down my face.

”Only you could turn a romantic couples massage into a fart fest,” I told Dieter once I could talk.

”It’s that damn burrito,” he whined. “I’m not doing it on purpose.”

Inge and Lance managed to maintain their professional demeanor, but Dieter and I broke out in giggles multiple times during the massage. We might not have been completely and utterly relaxed when we emerged, but we were certainly feeling a lot lighter â€¦ in more ways than one.

****************************************************

On Thanksgiving Day there was a special turkey dinner at seven for all the guests. We spent a relaxing morning in the cottage. We watched the parade on TV (turns out Dieter had to watch the Macy’s parade every year â€” he loved the balloons) and after a light lunch we wandered over to partake in a sound bath.

”I’ve done these before,” Dieter said. “It’s amazing. Like, life changing type amazing. It’s like the best drug ever, but totally safe and natural.”

I wasn’t so sure that listening to singing bowls and chimes would be quite that earth shattering, but I was open to the experience. I knew that Dieter was less skeptical about things than I was but I didn’t see any harm in him believing in the power of crystals and stuff like that. Although I was pretty sure his aversion to AirPods wasn’t because he thought the wireless connection messed with his brain waves as he claimed, but because he had lost too many pairs and needed a “cool” excuse for his old-school wired earbuds.

The woman hosting the sound bath wore loose linen clothing which made her look like a Jedi knight, but she also had a severe pixie cut and angled eyebrows that made her look a bit Vulcan. I dubbed her the Logical Jedi in my mind, but didn’t dre say anything to Dieter. After the massage experience, I didn’t want to risk setting off another round of giggles.

”Welcome. I’m Diana and I’ll be facilitating your sound bath experience today. Please, lie down on the mats and make yourselves comfortable. If you have any previous yoga experience, assume the Savasana or corpse pose. For those of you who have not practiced yoga, this is simply lying on your back, with your arms out to your sides.”

While we settled, Diana walked around the room. “You will be bathing in sound today. You don’t need to do anything but keep your heart and mind open to receive the healing vibrations. I do ask that because today is Thanksgiving, you keep gratitude foremost in your mind. Think about all the things in your life, big and small, that you are thankful for. And let the sound guide you to inner peace.”

I closed my eyes, feeling a bit silly. I’d never been good at meditation; my mind darted in a million different directions as soon as I didn’t have something to focus on. Dieter told me you just had to empty your head and focus on your breath, but it was hard for me.

A chime rang and then the hum of a singing bowl filled the room. It was monotonous at first, but after a bit I could hear subtle variations in the tone as the sound waves vibrated the air. It was soothing. I started thinking about what I was thankful for.

Dieter, first of all. Meeting him had brought me so many new experiences, and a depth of joy I’d never known I was capable of. My job. A roof over my head. My health. Those were the big ones, and almost too easy to put on my list. Everyone was grateful for things like that. Then I started thinking about the smaller things: the smell right before it starts to rain, the excitement of opening a box of new books at work, the fierce glow of California poppies in the sun every spring.

I felt Dieter’s fingertips brush against mine and I smiled. He was thinking about me, too. We lay side by side, just barely touching, but fully connected as the song of the universe swept through us. I get it, Deet, I thought silently. I get it.

*******************************************************************************

Saturday morning came all too fast. As I packed our bags (Dieter offered to pack his, but his idea of packing was just shoving everything inside and squashing it until the bag would zip) I felt the familiar melancholy of the end of a work break. I knew I was lucky to have a job that gave me a week off at Thanksgiving, two weeks at Christmas and another week in the spring, not to mention a healthy dollop of three-day weekends and a long summer break, but it was always hard for me to switch gears back into work mode after being off for more than a few days.

“I don’t want to go back to work on Monday,” I groused.

”Then don’t,” Dieter said. “Quit. Move in with me. Find something else closer to my house. Or take some time off. Follow your passion.”

I sighed. “We’ve had this discussion before, Deet. It’s just too early on. I can’t take that leap yet.”

He smiled. “Yeah, I know, but a man’s gotta try. And I know how you feel.” He stretched, his joints cracking. “I’m due on set in five days and I know once I get there and get into it I’ll love it but right now all I can think about is packing and making the flight and meeting the cast and crew and hoping there aren’t too many assholes to deal with. And missing you.” He wrapped his arms around me and kissed my neck.

“I’ll miss you, too,” I said, leaning into his embrace. “But we’ll talk every night. And maybe you can sneak home for a weekend or something.”

”I was thinking â€¦ I’m going to Freddy’s for Christmas. Why don’t you join me? I won’t get enough time off to make it to Vermont and California but I‘m sure he and Laila won’t mind.”

”I don’t want to impose,” I said, although the idea of having a ready excuse to not go to Aunt Helen’s â€” not to mention the chance to spend some face to face time with Dieter â€” had me excited.

”Freddy wants to meet you,” Dieter said. “And I want you to meet him. Meet my family.”

My excitement shifted into anxiety. Meeting the family was a big step. “Only if he and his wife don’t mind,” I said carefully.

“I’ll ask him next time I talk to him. And I can tell you right now the answer will be yes.”

#pedro pascal character fanfiction #dieter bravo #dieter bravo x ofc #dieter bravo fanfiction #dieter x emily #late night talking

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