#even now sunset is like 8pm. you want me to sleep an hour after sunset. this is silly! it's barely dusk! | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

wtfzodiacsigns · 5 years

Text

The time of day that each sign represents!

Aries: The colourful sky that the sun paints with its rays as it settles down, disappearing behind the other side of the tired earth (sunset). This represents their happy personality and mesmerizing beauty.

Taurus: Sunrise, which can either be really amazing or make one upset (wants to sleep obvs). It showcases their personality. They can be the happiest person alive but when they’re upset, you’d want to steer clear of them.

Gemini: Late morning, around the same time that they usually sleep in late until. It can be seen in two very accurate perspectives. They feeling really lazy or they’ve had an eventful night and now needs LOTS of rest.

Cancer: Portrayed as late evening (7-8pm) when the world is peaceful, supper is being made (NB lots of salt added) and it’s prime time for scrolling to find memes or literally making a cocoon in bed and sleeping.

Leo: They represent 3am because this is when anything is possible in your mind. This represents that their personality can either be as dark as the night will be or as as bright as the sun that will rise in a few hours.

Virgo: 11:11 (am or pm) because they’re full of happiness and opportunities! Always able to count on them to make you feel better or offer some friendly advice. Literally the only wish you need.

Libra: Early afternoon, literally the peak of everyday when the sun is almost as blinding as their dazzling smile. Anything that happens at this time can either make or break your day, just like their presence.

Scorpio: Midnight, when you’re all alone with your thoughts. Represents their love for being alone and enjoying some “me time” while absorbing the quietness.

Sagittarius: 10pm, the moment you remember the homework you should’ve done. In other words, represents their loving yet forgetful soul. No matter how tough it gets they always persevere and are determined to finish what needs to be done.

Capricorn: The early early morning before the sun rises when most of the world still sleeps in darkness while the other half buzzes with the on goings of people. This represents their exciting and busy life while still having another side of them that not many people know about.

Aquarius: Late afternoon, that time after lunch when you’ve just stuffed yourself with like five helpings of dessert and you can’t move anymore but you still want to get up to go get more but it’s too far so you just kinda lie around. Yeah that’s basically it. Food fanatic forever (check that alliteration).

Pisces: Time ??? what’s that ??? who has time for anything when staying in bed and exploring the dark inter-web is an important thing ???

Source: horrrrorscopes

251 notes · View notes

walkinsauce · 6 years

Text

Becoming Poly- Chapter 14: My Turn

Sorry I didn’t blog last week. Do you know how hard it is to write about polyamory under the same roof as your parents? I was scared one of them was going to pop in and ask,

“Christina, why do you need that bottle of wine in your room?”

“Paper weight.”

So, ya, I’m sure hundreds of self help books would call that an “excuse” for not writing, but trust me: it felt TOO CREEPY. You try to write about sex while your parents are in the next room watching My Three Sons. See how you feel. I would, however, like to thank all my Tumblr readers for hitting the heart button on all my blogs. Quick shout outs to:

ilove-seductive-mature attractive-milf-girls hot-elder-chamber fat-milf-foxy-imgs bimbo-slutty-girlz fuck-sexy-fat-pussies fucking-amazing-fat-cunts jugs-nice-pictures

It’s good to know I’ve found my audience. Though I do wish you guys would put some capital letters in your names. You’re better than that.

I’ve calmed down from my boyfriend’s first “other sex” in our relationship. I’m pretty lucky that I have so many people reaching out to me, who are better versed in open relationships than I am. A particular comic friend in Florida always sums it up so well:

“Your primary is your home. These other people are the Disneylands and carnivals of the world. Fun day excursions, but you don’t want it every day.”

I think that’s my problem: Part of me would prefer to be the Disneyland. And good news for you, I’m way cheaper.

I still have a crush on the one guy I texted at O’Brien’s the day of my breakdown. I know he’s wary of the poly thing, and knowing my boyfriend, but I can’t help it. I’ve known him for years. I’ve had a crush on him for a year. I can’t help it if I’m a coward, and don’t know how to approach him. (Especially considering the circumstances.) Me sending him Snapchats that he’ll never open is enough of a rush for me.

It’s Friday night. I’m sitting at Ollo, as I often do during happy hour, wondering what I’m going to do when all the regulars go home at 8pm. It’s not a party city. We could use a Malibu’s Most Wanted reboot out here. But with the tiny bit of confidence I get from deep fried zucchini sticks and house wine, I decide to text my crush:

“Do you ever open Snapchat anymore, or am I sending things to an archive…?”

(With a smirky face emoji, obvi.)

He writes back minutes later.

“Hahahaha! I just watched the snaps! They made me laugh!”

It was at least a month’s worth of events, even capturing his own roommates. It must have been quite the montage.

“Thanks for sending them! I’m sorry I’m the worst. They were really funny. How long have you been sending them?”

Oh months. They’re my favorite seed I’ve ever planted.

“You might have just gotten something from me.”

I open Snapchat and see his name light up in full arrowed purple. I’m ridiculously excited for a girl my age. I’m starting to tune out the old man beside me bragging about how he gave Rosie O’Donnell her big break. That’s how you can tell I keep it real in this town- I’d much rather chase romance than my own career. (GOOD MOVE, EH?)

He writes again:

“I just finished a show in Hermosa Beach and I got to watch a lady heckle another comedian by saying, “we’re never going to be friends.”

Wow. The edginess of Hermosa Beach hecklers. What’s next? No tip? Shocking. I’m walking home, past people sleeping in their cars. At least my career is going better than theirs. But it’s a good reminder there’s no parking restrictions on PCH. Man, if any road needs some street cleaning…

It takes us another 18 texts to finally figure out we should meet up, but when he writes,

“I’d be down to meet up somewhere!”

I’m immediately wet. (It happens fast at my age.) He suggests the exact two bars in Santa Monica I was going to suggest. Power of the Leo and Sagittarius. (I probs just lost nine readers by referencing astrology.)

I get to Rick’s on Main Street slightly before him. I don’t have my real glasses on me, cuz I’ve been wearing my prescription sunglasses all day. Didn’t expect to be out past sunset, cuz that’s Malibu “night life.” So I’m going to be mildly blind all night. People always tell me,

“You should get laser eye surgery.”

Why the fuck would I do that? My glasses cover at least a dozen lines on my face. I’m thinking about getting a new pair, with thicker rims. I’m growing out bangs next. The date will be fine as long as I don’t send him into the kitchen when he asks where the bathroom is.

Now here’s the grey area…

Do I tell my bf right now that I’m going to meet this crush? I don’t know anything is going to happen. There’s a good chance we will just be two (ASTROLOGICAL PERFECT MATCHES) drinking buddies in a bar. Two comics, talking shop. Do we really need to set off the alarm before there’s a fire? As per my communication skills, I think def not. Like this blog, I will leave it till the last minute. (Typed at 3:13am, 4:45am after proofreading.)

I’m pretty sure I look like shit, but the good thing about somebody knowing me through comedy, is they always see me looking like shit. I’ve never been super comfortable looking “good” on stage. Maybe this comes from starting stand up 19 years ago, and always fearing women wouldn’t like me if I looked pretty. Most of the women in a comedy club are on dates, and I would literally get glares as they gripped their men. So early in my career, I started to wear hoodies on stage, and cover as much skin as possible. It was my passive aggressive way of saying,

“Don’t look at me. Listen to me.”

(Also, “I’m not here to steal your boyfriend. I’m here to make forty bucks.”)

This is another reason I love the rise of feminism: I pray it means the death of catty-ism. (An energy I sadly grew up with.)

So ya, back to the poly stuff: I’m on an impromptu date with my crush, my bf doesn’t really know, I look like shit, but can’t see that cuz I left my glasses at home. He walks in the bar and I’m almost in shock that we’re together. I think it’s been months since we’ve been in the same room together. And since when did I start going after things I want…?

I’m shockingly comfortable around him. That’s a plus about bonding with someone while you’re in a relationship. You don’t try as hard to sell yourself as when you’re single. You’re just you, and if they don’t like it, who cares? (I admire people who are like this all the time.)

He suggests we go to Chez Jay next. Ooooooooh, I love a new bar. Never been. So excited. Even more excited that he’s ditched his car, and will get it in the morning. I love a man who drinks responsibly. (Is this how I book a MADD commercial, or do I still need to have babies?)

Chez Jay is great. I like having bars like this on my radar. The conversation is going steady, tho I’m praying my primary and polyamory doesn’t come up. I just want to enjoy this night, as it is. The same way I did as a single person. I really don’t want to dive into the politics of it all. I think I’m more terrified that talking about it will scare him away…

When Chez Jay closes, he asks me if I wanna come over for some porch beers.

Yup. You know I do.

Again… is this the moment I text my bf and let him know I’m going over to a guy’s house? I mean technically, there’s a good chance nothing will happen. Seems too soon to ring the alarm. And if there’s one expression comedians know, it’s “too soon.”

He gets us an Uber/Lyft, whichever- most cars in town have both stickers. When we get to his house, I hit the bathroom. Every girl’s most investigative move in a dude’s house. Is his hand towel also his bath towel? Is this a one towel wonder situation? Does he own toilet paper? I don’t make it that far, because I’ve sprayed surprise period all over my undies. (If those Tumblr names didn’t scare you away, this surely will, eh?)

I search the cupboards for anything remotely handy in this moment. There’s nothing. Maybe I should hit the kitchen, and look for coffee filters. Those should work, right?

Nah, I’ll just do the ol’ “tie toilet paper around my underwear” move. It’s the move you do when you first get your period, in case you don’t know. (I FEEL SO YOUNG AGAIN! MAYBE I DON’T NEED BANGS!)

Porch beers are the best. I’m a fan of his roommates. We’re all having a great time, but then…

Something more unexpected than my bloody kitty happens. This beautiful, young blonde chick walks up to the porch.

“Hey, I live across the street. All my friends went to sleep, so I thought I’d come introduce myself.”

Holy. Mother. Trucker. It’s 3:00am. This isn’t the moment I was expecting competition…

But here we are.

The guys grab her a beer. Now again, I am not into “catty-ism.” BUT- I am a share holder of “insecurity-ism.” And if I were any one of these guys on this porch, I would def hit on this chick instead of me. She’s legit extremely cool. There’s a part of me that wonders if this is fate’s little way of saying,

You’re not ready to pop your poly cherry yet.

I never rang the alarm. I can still get out of this… innocently?

Either way, I think she might be might be my personal savior (another word I spell wrong cuz I’m Canadian and think there’s a “u” in it.)

“Do you have a tampon?”

“Of course! Come on over!”

She takes me over to her apartment, and literally gives me all her pads cuz she doesn’t use them. Bonus. My favourite sleep aid. I fucking love this girl.

We head back over to the boys, and I know I’m drunk, bleeding and tired. I ask my crush if there’s a place I can crash. He escorts me to his roommate’s room, and tucks me in. (Don’t worry- the roommate wasn’t there. That would have been the real poly, eh?)

As I fall asleep, like a loser at a slumber party who goes to bed first, I can’t help but think,

“He’s a great guy. She’s a great girl. If they hook up, I’m fine with it.”

PRACTICE COMPERSION! Why is compersion so much easier when you’re not dating someone? I fall asleep/pass out- which ever you like to believe at this hour. In the morning, I wake up in a super funny comedian’s bed. Alone. I make the bed, as a sure fire way to say “a chick was here” and text my crush.

“Oh I wanna say bye, but I don’t know what room is yours.”

I can’t just knock on random doors… Plus he might not be alone. I def don’t want to interrupt kinky times with the pad donor. All of a sudden, one of the roommates pops out of his room. I ask him which room is _______’s and he shows me. In this moment, I know I’m risking becoming a piece of gossip my boyfriend might hear…

And not through me…

I lightly knock on the door. When I hear a groggy “come in” I open the door.

There’s NO hot, cool, tampon savior chick in his bed. He’s just sleeping, post drinking style, alone.

“Oh, I just wanted to say goodbye…”

And then, without saying another word, I crawl into bed with him.

#polyamory #poly #relationships #ollo #malibu #snapchat #comedians #comedians who date #Chez Jay #Santa Monica #Too Soon #MADD #polyam positivity #polyamourous #polyamorous #christina Walkinshaw #walkinsauce

54 notes · View notes

whipplefilter · 7 years

Note

Um... im new here and i was wondering if you could write a sally/ lightning fanfiction?

I surely can, anon!

“I just wanted tonight to be memorable.”

“What’s so special about tonight?”

Lightning laughs nervously. He hadn’t thought about needing a reason. “We don’t get to see each other that much. I guess I just wanted to make something of the time, you know? So we can look back and think, that’s what we did that weekend. I don’t want it to just be like, oh, we existed.”

Sally looks ever so slightly disappointed by this explanation. But that vanishes quickly enough. “That makes sense,” she says. “But you know, all you have to do to make a weekend memorable is show up. You don’t need to bring a magic carpet. Where’s this coming from, anyway?”

Maybe it’s the nature of canyons to make you honest, or maybe it’s the sunset. Whatever the case, Lightning says, “I feel like there’s no possible way I could give you everything I want you to have.”

“Lightning–”

“But I figure I gotta try.”

Commune and Conquer

And see, there’s something you have to understand. This was all before the flash flood.

–

9AM

They’re already lost. Which wouldn’t normally be an issue–you know, file that under ‘we’re not here to make good time, we’re hear to have a good time’–except they’re not actually having a good time, because Lightning is lost and Sally didn’t want to go camping in the first place.

“I thought you were gonna take this time to unwind,” says Sally. She trails behind him obligingly, the epitome of cool. There’s a 50/50 chance she knows exactly where they are, and she’s just not telling him.

Lightning sighs. “This is unwinding! That’s what camping is for. You know, unplug, conquer nature.”

“I don’t think you’re supposed to conquer nature. ‘Commune with,’ maybe,” Sally points out. “Where’d you get that from, anyway? A book? Please don’t tell me this whole obsession is just because you read some book.”

“Instagram,” Lightning admits. “Cruz showed me a– Oh hey, I think that’s our road!”

–

11AM

It was not their road.

–

12PM

“I didn’t say I thought your sense of direction was bad! I just think you’re too used to always knowing where you’re going, so you forget to think about it.”

“Were you like, a Girl Scout back in LA or something? Is this whole ‘I don’t want to go camping’ thing some kind of reverse-psychology–”

“Have I ever told you how attractive I find paranoia? Because wow–”

“See, now I can’t tell if you’re actually upset with me or not.”

Sally laughs. “Stickers, relax. That’s what camping is for, right? Besides, we’re still lost, so we’re not actually camping yet. This is just. You know. Driving.”

–

1PM

“I think I’m allowed to shout if there’s a tractor in the middle of the forest. It snuck up on us! Besides, what’s it even doing out here?!”

–

3PM

They’ve departed the forest. Now the canyon walls tower, blazing orange against the sharp blue of the sky. It’s narrow, comfortingly so–like the walls of a building, or even a cathedral. The stone, too, is a comfort beneath them after the unpredictability of the woodsy humus, and Lightning would be lying if he said that deep mud of any kind didn’t trigger memories of a certain school bus of death.

“This is nice, right?” Lightning glances at Sally.

Sally doesn’t need to voice her agreement. Of course it is.

“And we wouldn’t have been able to make it down here if we wanted to get back home tonight,” Lightning reasons.

Sally’s not willing to go that far. “Oh, I think there are probably more direct routes down here. You know, secret shortcuts–well-marked by signs and printed on your map. No, don’t give me that face– Stop! Stop, you know it makes me– I’m trying to– Stop!” Lightning nuzzles her fender. Sally stifles a ticklish giggle. “I’m trying to get you to loosen up!”

“Okay, mission accomplished.” He smiles as he brushes down her side, a light and unpredictable feather’s touch. Sally bats him away with her rear tire and plants a kiss on his lucky sticker.

“Shall we stake out our stargazing position?”

“Oh, good idea. Better beat the crowds. Looks like there’s gonna be a lot of competition for those prime spots.”

–

5PM

“Do you wanna build a campfire?”

“Oh. I, uh. I don’t know how.”

“Me neither.”

–

6PM

They sip treats from home as the sun goes down. It slips out of the slot canyon first, burnishes its flat top and all the sky above. The clouds are thick, dark bottoms bruising as the last of the sunlight turns their tops almost phosphorescent.

“You think it’ll rain?”

“I hope not.”

“If it does, will it make you wish you had a roof over your head?”

“You really aren’t enjoying this, are you? We didn’t have to come. I just thought–”

“Lightning. We went over this! Remember relaxing? Besides, if I didn’t want to do this with you, I can guarantee you I wouldn’t have come. Who exactly do you think you’re dating?”

“But you don’t even like camping.”

“Sure,” Sally allows. “But you’d never been. And it’s one night–it’s not a big deal. Plus, this really is beautiful. I mean that. I guess I just worry that–”

“That, what?”

“That you won’t like camping, either. I know you have this idea of it in your head, but–”

“I just wanted–”

“I don’t want you to be disappointed. I just– I always want–”

“–tonight to be memorable. Because I–”

“–for what’s out here in the world to be as good as it looks in your head. Because that’s so you, you know? And I–”

“–love you.”

–

7PM

“Hey. What you said earlier. What’s so special about tonight?”

“Lightning–”

“But I figure I gotta try.”

–

8PM

“So, how’s the crew chiefing going?”

“You know what you said about the directions, and like–I’m so used to knowing where I’m going I forget I don’t know where I am? Kinda like that.”

Sally edges closer. She’s running her heater, her metal pleasantly warm. “I’m sure you’re doing fine,” she says.

“She’s really good.”

“And how’s Cruz spending her vacation?”

Lightning rolls his eyes. “Roadtripping down to Peru with Danny, then backpacking Macchu Picchu.”

Sally whistles. “Kids these days.”

“But… this is nice, too, right?”

“LIGHTNING.”

–

9PM

“How’s the Cone?”

“We were just there. Less than thirteen hours ago.”

“It’s only been thirteen hours?!”

“Hey, don’t undersell that. Do you remember that one time–”

“Yes, of course! Mack should never have agreed to that. It was so–”

“Well, you can’t help Mack being a hopeless romantic.” Sally eyes him playfully. “Think about it. That was one breakfast. Then you turned back around and you were off again. And even that was memorable.”

–

10PM

“Remember that time your distributor changed their carpet brand? You were so mad you–”

“They didn’t match anymore! What’s the point of being newly refurbished if nothing matches?”

“I mean, it’s been a decade. Maybe it’s time to re-newly refurbish! Put some iPod docks in, hang some mason jars–”

–

12PM

Sally is falling asleep against him. “You’re okay, right?” she asks drowsily.

“Um, yes?” Lightning answers.

“That’s something I wonder about, you know,” Sally continues, the words muffled by Lightning’s body and the haziness of slumber. “Like, did he not call because he’s busy, or did he not call because there’s actually something he wants to talk about.”

“That doesn’t make any sense.”

“Mmm, it does. I know you.”

Lightning looks up at the sky–full clouds. So much for sleeping under the Milky Way. But he supposes it doesn’t matter much, since when you’re asleep you can’t do much stargazing anyway. The whole concept is flawed. “Would you be happier if I were home? If I weren’t–”

She’s supposed to be asleep. It’s a question he wants to ask but is afraid to know the answer to, and she’s supposed to be asleep. But she’s not–not quite. “I would never ask you to do that,” she says. “We’ll get there when we get there.”

Then she’s asleep.

“Don’t try to read the map,” she mumbles, some minutes later, when her breath is slow and warm and comforting over his hood. But that, too, Lightning figures, makes a lot of sense.

“I know,” he says. And he gives her an experimental jostle, to make sure she’s really asleep this time. “I just feel like I can’t ask you to marry me unless I know for sure that I can give– That I am–”

–

1AM

Enough.

–

2AM

He is. He knows this. Because he knows Sally, and he knows what they are together and he knows exactly how much he loves her. How much she loves him. He knows all of this.

But if there’s anything that can throw that all out the window (if they had windows right now, Lightning thinks morosely. Its cold out here, and unlike Sally, he doesn’t have a heater)–

If there’s anything that can throw that all out the window, it’s a proposal.

Even though it’s just four words.

–

3AM

Lightning has decided he does not like camping. He’s also decided that if he ever gets the urge to sleep outside, there’s a perfectly good impound lot back in town.

Oh, and it’s started to rain.

Cruz has one of Hamilton’s ringtones set to the sound of rain. Not her wake-up alarm–her 4PM alarm. The one that reminds her to take time to meditate.

How rain helps meditation, Lightning’s not sure, because all he’s really known it to do is cancel races and turn tracks green, which is a holy pain when it’s a race you know you have to lead early, or not at all. Rain also makes mud. Which again, Lightning still hasn’t quite recovered from–

He feels water under his tires.

Not puddles, but water, moving, water in rivulets. Then water in an even sheet, moving westward through the canyon.

Moving fast.

“Oh no. Sally–” Lightning jostles her tire urgently. “Sally–!”

Already, the water’s up to his hubcaps. And he can hear it now–the rest of it. It sounds markedly less meditative than rain.

“What'sit?” Sally yawns.

“Uhhhh–”

The water rushing around her does the talking for him. Lightning’s engine roars to life, the sound dancing against the surface of the water, and so does Sally’s.

“LET’S JUST SAY THIS WEEKEND IS ABOUT TO GET REALLY, REALLY MEMORABLE.”

–

9AM (again)

“I knowed you was gonna take Holley’s advice!” Mater crows. Then he recites, “For optimal and most expedient intelligence, always conduct your interrogations in the heat of battle.”

“Battle?!” Lightning exclaims, incredulous. But it’s an actual question. He feels half-dead and very, very damp; it’s entirely possible he missed a crucial part of this conversation.

“Your battle against nature!” Sarge supplies.

“You don’t conquer nature,” Fillmore objects. “You comm–”

Sally sneezes.

Mater leans into Lightning conspiratorially. “Now I personally’ve never thought much about proposals bein’ like interrogations, but now that I done some of that thinking I do see the resemblance! That flash flood was a nice touch!”

Lightning blanches.

“So what’d you say?” Ramone asks Sally.

Sally settles her towel more evenly down her back. “Um. I said yes.”

Red honks and Lizzie, begrudgingly, dispenses quite a bit of cash.

“When!! Is the wedding!!” Luigi asks. It’s more of a shout than an inquiry. He bites his lip to keep from exclaiming more.

Sally looks at Lightning, and Lighting looks at Sally, and the say, in unison, “We’re not in any rush to decide.”

“So you’re one of those couples,” Sarge grumbles. Which Fillmore meets with, “Of course, as an institution, marriage is really only–”

Luigi frowns. “Guido, he say he cannot take this kind of suspense for much longer. Luigi agrees.”

–

9PM (finally)

They are safe and sound in a very cozy cone.

“You know,” Sally says off-handedly.

“Mm,” says Lightning, when she doesn’t continue.

“Flash flooding. That’s pretty dramatic. But I don’t know if I actually remember much of it? Blind panic isn’t, I dunno. It’s not all that specific.”

“We can do it again if you wanna reinforce the trauma,” says Lightning. Sally smacks his nearest headlight.

“Oh, shush,” she says. Then, after a moment, she adds, “I’ll remember this part, though.”

The radio’s abuzz with a song neither of them know; it’s set so low Lightning can still hear the streamers on Sally’s fan as they slap against themselves. She strokes one of his tires with her own.

“I’ll remember this exactly.”

#cars fandom #pixar cars #salqueen #lightning mcqueen #sally carrera #cars fanfiction #asks

41 notes · View notes

horrrrorscopes · 7 years

Text

The time of day that each sign represents!

Virgo: 11:11 (am or pm) because they’re full of happiness and opportunities! Always able to count on them to make you feel better or offer some friendly advice. Literally the only wish you need.

Scorpio: Midnight, when you’re all alone with your thoughts. Represents their love for being alone and enjoying some “me time” while absorbing the quietness.

Pisces: Time ??? what’s that ??? who has time for anything when staying in bed and exploring the dark inter-web is an important thing ???

2K notes · View notes

sally-annesstories · 5 years

Text

Day 20 - Isla Holbox

First bout of sickness I can’t properly heal myself!

1. My sleep last night was pretty rough, I think I’d gotten to the point of overtiredness so just couldn’t plus on top of this my left ear was aching! I have a feeling I’ve picked up an ear infection as there’s nothing else I can think of. Unfortunately I don’t have any specific medication for an ear infection with me (despite my epic levels of meds). Being on Holbox my preference is not to go to a doctor because they’re unlikely to speak English but I’ll go if needed once back in Playa. On the downside this means I won’t be properly swimming the next couple of days. Holbox is where you go to see / swim with the whale sharks with bow (June) being one of the better months for it. Despite the fact an ear infection pulls me out it’s not all that bad as from speaking to people who have been on trips the past 3 days, no whale sharks have been spotted. One couple said one was spotted (and despite them researching tours for being kind to the animals / suddenly it had 20 boats chasing - not my jam!). The locals think there’s been a change in the currents which has sent the whale sharks further out. So while I can’t do the activity I’m fairly ok given that it’s unlikely I would have seen the whale sharks anyway!

2. At like 9am I got up to get food. Still really craving fruit and veges, a smoothie bowl was what I was after. Unfortunately the main local place for this appeared to be shut but I found somewhere nearby with one of the menu. It honestly took nearly 100 years to be served (ok, an hour). This was due to them running on Island/Mexican time + because of my lack of Spanish I was a tad more ignored than other guests. After my bowl arrived the number of patrons increased. A solo girl came in and took the last seat at a bench directly in the sun. She looked like she was trying to avoid it, kept moving her seat etc. felt like being a good person so asked if she spoke English (turns out she was English) and offered for her to sit at the other seat of my table which was in the shade and had the fan on it. She was very much appreciative and then we ended up chatting till 11.30am! The cafe was very very slow in providing bills as well. Given the strength of the sun it was quite nice to chill! She noticed the band on my hand and turns out we’re staying at the same place (Tribu). Another girl from the hostel arrived in this time also to eat before we all headed back in together.

3. I wanted to face today properly rather than hiding in the shade as I had yesterday. While the girls had laundry and admin to do. I went back to my dorm and got my backpack, a sarong towel, togs and slapped on sunblock/bug spray. After getting everything together I wandered 5 minutes into town and bought some Doritos and a cookie (healthy living everyone). I then walked approximately 2km to Punta Cocos, one of the most western points on the island. I tried to do most of the walk via the beach but there were a few areas this wasn’t possible and so I walked the road instead (adding time between beach and road a couple would’ve increased the KM). Once there not much to do, it’s just a beach! So I lay down my sarong towel for some napping and reading. After napping and reading for ages I noticed a guy who was taking photos had a top which said ‘sweet as bro’. Probably the most quintessential kiwi saying ever. I asked if he and his friend spoke English (yes but they were German) but turns out he’d travelled NZ with KiwiExperience and was wearing a top from this. The front of the top also said ‘handle the jandal’! A lot of Kiwi in one top. Given the amount I’ve chatted to random people in the past day, I’m starting to realise I am my fathers daughter!

4. From Punta Cocos I had wanted to head to Punta Citicote. This is the marsh areas at the bottom of the island. There’s a dirt road that takes you there. I think most people hire bikes but I was on my feet and they were the most practical way to get there for me at the time. I got about half way there from Punta coco but unfortunately had to stop. There was a puddle the size of a wee lake preventing me going further. While I could’ve braved going over, I’m aware that there are crocodiles and other animals in the marsh areas and given the water had risen they could come further in. Probably not worth the risk given I was off beaten track with no one knowing where I was (sorry mum/dad!). So instead I backtracked and then walked along the beach again (hopefully) building on my tan before arriving at Tribu. I’ve read online that when it rains on Holbox the streets all flood as it just doesn’t have the systems to cope. I chilled in the hammocks for a while and was eventually joined by the English girls I’d had breakfast with (Micky and Grace for future reference if they keep making appearances!). Micky had gone to the shops for a mango on her way and I ended up following suit and getting one not much later (delicious!) before wandering down to the beach from 6-8pm for sunset and to read.

5. Back at the hostel I realised the bus to Playa for Wednesday was sold out so cemented my plans to go to Valladoid for a night before onto Playa del Carmen (still allowing for a day at Akumal). Moving a bit faster than I’d like but I can chill in July once the next tour is over. Annoyingly the internet here isn’t very good but I managed to book a ticket/pay for it but unfortunately I don’t have a ticket - it never sent to my email or the app (despite paying). So in the morning I’ll do it on the hostels wired computer and pay whatever is needed for them to print the ticket. As I was chilling doing this a girl I had previously met came over. The first day I got here I said out loud how it would be cool to hire a bike and then at 6am bike to the other side of the island. Anyway she was there when I said it and is deadset on the plan. However with my ear how it is I just want to rest more. In case I’m in pain (as I am now) I don’t really want to commit to anything. While I was happily going to do it on my own I don’t know if she’s of the same vain (and subsequently I kinda feel bad for not going (I don’t even know her name!!) I do hope she gets up to do it herself. It’s only a 30 minute walk to if I’m up before 8am I’ll do it that way instead. Anyway after all this I ended up wandering to go get dinner on my own. They popped me at a big table where a couple was sitting. When my food came the couple was super interested in my food (I had a quesadilla and mollettes) so ended up chatting to them for the rest of my dinner - they were from Germany (same as couple from earlier today, said they loved NZ too). How lucky am I to call it home. Every time I go to a beach (they’re white snad but not so fluffy here) it reminds me how good we have it in NZ!

1 note · View note

ursafilms · 5 years

Text

The Medieval Catapult and Frito-Lay -Excerpt 3 of “Try Not to Annoy the Kangaroo”

24 hours after starting the practical EFX part of the Frito-Lay job, found Mark Krumper, my fellow P.A. and me back at my apartment. Lee, my girlfriend, a McKinsey & Company consultant, had already left for the day. Mark and I took turns showering. I donated a fresh pair of socks to the cause, but for some odd reason my fellow P.A. demurred on the offer of underwear.

Mark: “Thank you, but I’ll pass.”

Me: “Just trying to help.”

Mark: “Let’s go. Gotta be a Central Park by 7am.”

Me: “Is the producer, Roy, a Sadist?”

Mark: “We signed up for today.”

Me: “Not my point. It’s a whole new crew, except for the P.A.s? Really?”

Mark: “Roy fought on Peleliu.”

Me: “Say no more.”

Mark and I jumped, okay, crawled into the cargo van and drove over to the location in Central Park. Several cups of coffee, and the knowledge that the producer survived one of the deadliest assaults of World War II gave me a second wind.

Mark: “Can’t shoot past sunset. Should be finished by 8pm.”

Me: “Let me tell you about cigarette butts and Dodge Trucks.”

Mark: “Not again, please.”

Me: “At least there are no effects.”

Mark: “You do know we’re flying the male lead over a row of park benches?”

Me: “Is that what that storyboard frame was? It looked like the Archangel Michael looking for a toy sailboat at the Loeb Boathouse. So I thought it might be stock footage.”

Mark: “No you didn’t.”

Me: “Yes I did.”

Mark: “No you didn’t.”

Me: “Yes I did.”

Mark: “No you didn’t.”

Me: “Yes I did.”

Mark: “No you didn’t.”

Me: “Yes I did.”

Mark: “No you didn’t.”

Me: “Yes I did.”

Mark: “We’re here.”

We parked, and crawled out of the van. The usual chaos unfolded in front of us as the equivalent of a Sak’s Fifth Avenue Christmas Sale took place around the Craft Service table. The latest chubby agency and the Frito-Lay clients laid siege to the spread with unbridled enthusiasm since they had left set last night in plenty of time to:

A. Miss the actual shooting. B. Make their dinner reservation at Smith and Wollensky. C. Get eight hours of sleep.

The shoot, which consisted of 361 shots of two exquisitely beautiful people, one male and one female, walking through pastoral rolling meadows with one hand on each other, and the other wrapped around a bag of BRAND NEW FRITO-LAY APPLE CHIPS!.

And you don’t want to know how that product got to set. The abridged version is the sales rep from Levinson, Israelson & Bell, an Energizer Bunny named Maribeth found herself last night at a shipping dock on the Hudson just about the same time we finally ran film through a camera on the set at Midtown Studios.

All 361 shots ran on schedule. The exquisitely beautiful couple could actually act, and the BRAND NEW FRITO-LAY APPLE CHIPS! bags passed muster with the latest chubby agency and the client who got easily distracted when the craft service person passed among them distributing yogurt parfaits on an hourly basis.

And then the flying rig moved into place for the Martini, a film colloquialism for The Last Shot of the Day.

Bigfoot and Burgess, late of the product effects shot of the previous 24 hour day, fortunately, did not receive the contract for the flying rig. The company that did get hired showed up on time; constructed the rig in advance of the shoot; and appeared to be humanoids of normal shape and size. All of those facts should have set off alarm bells, but Mark and I were too exhausted to even consider an epic fail especially since Mister Sun approached the horizon line as the effects team squeezed the exquisitely beautiful male actor into a contraption that looked like the top half of a suit of armor.

Me: “Uh, I think we’ll see that suit of armor in frame.”

Mark: “The storyboard was incorrect.”

Me: “Oh come on. That never happens.”

Mark: “No, really. We’re just showing his feet lifting off the ground several feet.”

Me: “Due to eating Apple Chips?”

Mark: “Just shut up. We’re almost out of here.”

Me: “Didn’t you hear? We’re reshooting the Apple Accordion tomorrow. I got you on the gig! You owe me.”

Mark: “You can kiss my—”

Roy: “Mark! George! Shut up!”

Me and Mark: “Yes sir!”

Roy stood on the edge of the set and barked out the instructions to the camera department and then to the effects department. The camera rolled. The medieval catapult that doubled as the flying rig went through its Newtonian sequence of events and the exquisitely beautiful male actor, now unconscious from suffocation, lifted up off the ground.

Six inches.

The latest chubby agency’s mouths dropped open in unison, which caused their early evening snack of Caesar Salads to not make it to their stomachs. The client sycophants did spit takes with their double espressos. And the Scapegoat Salsa music began to play.

Director: “That’s it? Who built this piece of—”

Effects Person #1: “It appears that our calculations of counterweighting might have been slightly off. However, these were the specifications given to us by the, uh, well, someone other than somebody who works at ACME EFF-X.”

Director: “Slightly off? Did someone tell you we were working with Herve’ Villechaize?”

Effects Person #2: “Uh . . . “

Helpful DP: “I’d say we have about ten minutes of workable light.”

Me: “You should say that louder. I don’t think everyone back at Frito-Lay’s corporate headquarters heard you.”

Helpful DP: “Who the Hell—”

ACME EFF-X hit the hyperdrive on the Millennium Falcon and loaded every counterweight, including the company’s intern, onto the back end of the catapult; moved it into place (Which would have gone faster, had they loaded it AFTER moving it into place.); and someone slapped the exquisitely beautiful male actor in the helmet to start his breathing again.

Roy: “Roll camera. Dolly. Effects! Background!”

This time the exquisitely beautiful male actor’s legs took off like the Saturn V and slung the poor guy into right into The Loeb Boathouse Lake after bouncing him off the blacktop that surrounded the water two or three times.

Director: “Cut! Perfect! That’s a wrap!”

The latest chubby agency, the clients, the Director and his mistress, and the Helpful DP all vacated the area faster than the residents of Prague did in 1968 when Brezhnev stopped by for dinner with a tank escort.

They missed the almost funny next two minutes where the exquisitely beautiful male actor thrashed about in The Loeb Boathouse Lake while the catapult went into reverse in order to drag him out to dry land. Effects Person #2 cut the guy out of the iron maiden, dented by the excursion across the blacktop and into the lake, with the use of an acetylene torch. As he leaned over to calm the actor, he said the following words of encouragement.

Effects Person #2: “Don’t worry. The flame cuts out when it hits human flesh.”

****

This Hal Roach Studios moment precipitated the arrival of the male actor’s agent and a visit to the Emergency Room to check the guy for internal injuries with said agent in tow. That is how Mark and I remained on the job until 5am. This particular agent exhibited all the fine qualities that I admired by almost all the people who obtained that lofty title of talent agent or manager in the entertainment industry.

Lou Wassermann: “I’ll sue the pants off anyone with anything to do with this job.”

Me: “Okay. You do know you and Robert Redford over there signed off on the flying rig and have received the requisite hazard pay.”

Lou Wasserman: “Who the F are you? You’re just some P.A. Where’s the producer?”

Me: “He’s undergoing electro-shock therapy for the time he spent in Peleliu in the Autumn of 1944.”

Lou Wasserman: “He was in Peleliu? Make sure the check gets to my agency on time.”

****

Mark Krumper, one of the good guys in the business, offered to drop me off and return the van. I later found out he needed to use it to pick up some stereo equipment from Crazy Eddies, but he did return the van. After 48 hours straight, I appreciated any gesture.

I walked into the apartment just as my beautiful girlfriend, Lee, was heading out to start her day for McKinsey.

Beautiful Girlfriend: “Want to walk me to the subway?”

Me: “Lee, there is nothing I would rather do then spend the next 15 minutes and six blocks walking with you.”

We headed for the 6 Train.

0 notes

winchester-writes · 7 years

Text

Summer 1914 (Love&War Part 5)

Chauffeur!Dean x Noblewoman!Reader

Word Count: 1,868

Warnings: language....you’ll find out lol it’s nothing bad

Summary: Dean becomes your families new chauffeur and throughout the year of working for your family he soon becomes your forbidden lover. But what happens when World War 1 strikes? Is he safe from the enlisters? Or will he be drafted and sent off to war?

A/N: Each new part will be posted on Saturdays @ 8pm EST. I hope you all seriously enjoy this next part!!! Feedback is greatly appreciated!!

Catch up w/ the Masterlist HERE

Spring came and went; now it was on to summer. Summer brought along intense sunshine and dangerous rain showers. Bright sunflowers to collect from the garden and dull, gloomy days spent inside from downpours. Mostly though, more hiding your relationship with your ever so handsome chauffeur, Dean.

The feelings between the two of you were growing stronger with the passing of each day. No matter how much grief your father gave you for not finding a husband soon, you were sure you had found the one. Dean was it, you had no doubt in your mind that he was it. Every night before bed you started to convince yourself that being with Dean was all you could ever want, chauffeur or not.

That was your thinking until he came to you a month after finding that flyer on your father’s desk. The two of you promised to tell each other everything, no matter what it was about. So not telling you immediately about what he was thinking was driving him insane, and he brought it up one day that the two of you were lying in the bed in the abandoned house.

You had stood up, wearing his jacket around your naked form while running a hand through your hair. “Y/N, I’m not...I’m not thinking about volunteering, but if it were to give me a good enough title or name to win your father over on me marrying you, I’m going to take that chance!”

“I told you not to talk to him in the first place! No wonder he’s rarely letting me go to the stores anymore. Dean he’s suspicious!” You turned around to face him, he was sitting up with the sheet only covering one leg and his head in his hands.

With a rough tug on his hair, Dean sighed and looked up at you. “I don’t care anymore! You. Are. Mine! If I have to go pick up one more pompous asshole to bring to your house for you to ‘look at’ I’m going to start swinging! I can’t take this anymore, Y/N! I-I want you to be mine forever...is that so hard to believe?” You noticed something in Dean’s eyes before his face dropped. It was as if something changed in the small span of a couple of seconds.

Slowly walking back over to him, you nudged his legs open and sat between them with your back against his chest. He wrapped his arms around your waist and held you close as his nose nuzzled the side of your neck, leaving small kisses every so often. “I just love you so much it hurts, Y/N/N.”

You arms went to lay over his as you sighed at the feeling of his lips on your skin, laying your head to the side and back against his shoulder, you breathed, “I love you too Dean and I understand baby, I really do. I simply wish things were different.”

That’s when Dean’s heart sunk, turning his face to look at you as you did the same. “So you wish I were different then? You wish I had money, right? Or at least a decent rich families name?”

“No no, that’s not what I meant at all. I meant...I wish these rules about who I am allowed or not allowed to marry would go away. “

“Oh.” He brought his fingers up to your chin bringing his lips down to yours in a sweet kiss; hoping to change the subject. “How about we defy those rules some more?” Dean winked and gave you one of those award winning smiles.

Giggling, you turned over in his arms to straddle him, feeling just how much he wanted to break the rules growing underneath you. “You know I’m always up for round two Winchester.”

“Then what are you waiting for sweetheart?”

Towards the end of July a strange man was heard from inside your father’s study yet again. Being the nosey person that you were, you walked in unannounced, claiming you needed to tell your father something important, but got sidetracked at the new man in the house.

“Pardon me, but I do believe we haven’t had the pleasure of meeting.” You smiled wide and held out your hand.

“I do believe you’re right ma’am. I’m Colonel Williams.” He smiled bright and shook your hand gently before sitting back down. “I’m here talking with your father about maybe getting some gents to help around with our armed forces. Would you by chance have anyone in mind?”

You tried to keep yourself calm and made it seem as though you weren’t phased by his words, “No sir, sadly I don’t.”

Of course that was when your father decided to speak up, “Well what about Dean? He’s a strapping young lad isn’t he? He would be perfect and I’m sure he wouldn’t mind helping out Britain in our hour of need.”

“Might I ask what this hour of need is if it’s so important that you find the need to take our chauffeur away? The one man who gets us to and from places.” You felt like your heart was going to leap out of your chest and you could feel yourself starting to go weak in the knees, so you sat down. This could not be happening.

“I cannot divulge too much ma’am, but with the way Germany has been acting recently, if they decide to strike at France...we’ll have no second thought about going to war with them. Granted that’s if they strike at France. That being the worst case scenario.”

Your face went white. Dean could not leave you here to go off to war, what if he never made it back home to you? “O-Oh.”

“Lawrence,” you faintly heard your father call out, “go and fetch Dean for us please?”

Lawrence nodded and started to make his way towards the door when you ran up to stop him, “I’ll do it, thank you Lawrence.”

“Yes ma’am.” You father watched on in curiosity as you fled out the door to go get Dean, but then his attention was brought back to the man in front of him the moment he talked again.

Rushing through the corridors you were fighting back tears. Reaching his bedroom downstairs, you burst through the door and hugged him tight as he was standing in front of his mirror getting dressed. “Whoa, hey sweetheart. What’s wrong?”

The moment you flung yourself into his arms was when the tears had started. “T-there’s this man here from the recruiting office. H-he...f-father...they want to draft you and take you away from me. Please don’t leave me.”

Dean shut his eyes and laid his cheek against the top of your head, “Oh sweetheart…” He was at a loss for words and didn’t know how to comfort you. He couldn’t promise you that he wasn’t leaving because he honestly didn’t know if he would be forced or not.

“They want to see you. There’s a man up there from the army. Please tell them no. I can’t lose you.”

“Baby, I feel like if I step in there...I won’t have a choice.”

Sobbing and gripping onto his shirt you couldn’t think of anything worse than losing him. “P-please…”

The day that you dreaded the most finally came. Dean got drafted that day. The day before he was supposed to leave, August 4th, Germany attacked France, and Great Britain declared war on Germany. Which in turn caused him to have to leave a day earlier. The moment Dean was told he would be leaving that night he rushed to your bedroom where he knew you had been concealing yourself. Once the door was opened he was met with your red puffy eyes and tears pouring down your face.

“You heard.”

All you could do was nod your head and collapse on the floor. Dean knelt down beside you and pulled you into a tight hug. It could very well have been the last time he saw you and he didn’t care if the pair of you were found out. Lifting your head up, he gave you the most passionate kisses, sending a shiver down your spine. You clasped your hands around his neck, nails scraping through the short hairs. The kiss only broke because the need for air was too great.

With your foreheads pressed together, you begged, “Please don’t go. I love you so much. I feel like I may die without you here.”

“You’re going to be fine sweetheart. I promise you, I will come back to you and I fully intend on marrying you. Will you Y/N? Will you marry me?” Dean didn’t have a ring at the moment, but he had to know, he had to ask you before he left.

Your breath hitched and you couldn’t help but nod your head furiously. “Yes, yes of course!”

“R-really? You don’t care about what your father would say?”

“I don’t-I don’t care anymore. Consequences be damned right? You’re mine and I’m yours. So you come home to me Dean Winchester, you hear me? And in one piece.”

Dean laughed as tears were brought to his own eyes, “You got it sweetheart.”

You watched from one of the upstairs window as the love of your life drove away into the sunset to fight for your country. Thinking that earlier would be the last moment you would ever see or be held by Dean again, nothing could be more heartbreaking than watching him leave.. Covering your mouth to silent a sob, you said a silent prayer as you turned away from the window to head back to your room.

Dean kept an eye on one of the side view mirrors as he watched the house and you got smaller and smaller. Once it was completely out of view, the man next to him started talking, but he didn’t hear a word. The only thing his mind could concentrate on was you and how you finally agreed to marry him. He just had to make it home. If he did that, his life would be perfect.

Two days after Dean left, one of the maids was found in the library where you mother was sitting playing a game of cards with two of her friends. Even though it was almost noon, you were still sleeping; something you normally wouldn’t have done.

“Madam, may I talk with you out in the hall?”

Your mother looked up and nodded, excusing herself from her friends and meeting the maid in the hall. “Yes? What is it?”

She hung her head low and spoke softly, “It’s about Y/N, ma’am.”

“And what about her?” Your mother’s brow arched and she crossed her arms.

“She-I really don’t want to be the one to tell you ma’am...she’s-she’s late.”

“What do you mean she’s late? Late for what? I don’t remember her planning anything?”

“N-no ma’am not like that…” The maid sighed, looking up with terrified eyes. “...her sheets have been clean since the beginning of the weekend. Being her hand maid I’ve gotten used to...well her schedule, better than her actually and...she’s late ma’am.”

Love & War Tags (You can add yourself HERE if you’d like): @blacktithe7, @sandlee44, @deansdirtylittlesecretsblog, @atc74, @torn-and-frayed, @thing-you-do-with-that-thing, @latinenglishfandomblog, @mamapeterson, @iwantthedean, @chaos-and-the-calm67, @dancingalone21, @spn-and-daddy-issues, @jezzula, @archer-whovian-violinist, @bringmesomepie56, @the-awkward-writer, @jerkbitchidjitassbutt, @paigeinastory, @michiganiall, @maui137, @petrovadixon, @mrswhozeewhatsis, @quiddy-writes, @iamflanneltrash, @pureawesomeness001, @schweinchenpig, @oriona75, @myrabbitholetoneverland, @crzcorgi, @stardust-and-snake-venom, @castielsarmcandy, @silver-and-green, @yoursmilemakesmeloveyou, @deansbloodyvalentine79, @deansbaekaz2y5, @faith-in-dean, @charliebradbury1104, @winchester-family-business, @spn-4-eva, @writingbeautifulmen, @faegal04, @impalaimagining, @insane-hamilton-imagines, @pearlparty, @27bmm, @therewillbeblood, @flowxrsforyourgrxve, @ultimatecin73, @artisticpoet, @deanwinchesterxreader, @smoothdogsgirl, @ravenesque, @acdcintheimpala, @celmiea, @emma-1967, @randompolypodizia, @winchesterenthusiast, @danslittlecurl, @bemyqueenofdarkness, @avengersgirllorianna, @sofiadiaz04, @angelofwinchester17, @fernwinchester326, @juniorhuntersam, @docharleythegeekqueen, @iwrotemyownending, @amy1289, @teenage-internet-recluse, @imagine-that-100, @obsessedwithmisha, @cuteykittens1313, @ariminiria

119 notes · View notes

newyearnewmebitches · 4 years

Text

9/7/2020, 12:10PM

I’m writing this post as a reflection of the past weekend. Honestly, such a good weekend, but now I'm in a weird mental place and I need to think on it.

I guess I can start on Friday, where I met up with SD at his apartment, and we got ready to go over to Buffalo, NY. It was 7-8PM, and he had just gotten out of clinic. I went back to his apartment so that he changed and he gathered up everything that he needed, and he gave me a little tour of his place. Then we drove out for the next 6-7 hours. It’s kind of surprising how quickly the car ride went, for something that was so long, and for 2 people that were so tired. We finally got there around 3-4AM, but we were talking and vibing for the entire ride. He had his hand on my thigh and tried to hold my hand the entire way up. Funny story, he also fingered me for 4 hours. I had my pants down, and he was going at it as we drove. We got lost and somehow ended up on the Canadian border, and I still had my pants and underwear off. As we slowed down, I threw my pants back on as we were greeted by 10 police officers, asking why we were trespassing onto Canada with the travel restrictions. We explained that we were going to Buffalo and took the wrong direction, however we still needed be inspected before being allowed to go back to the U.S.. Thank god, SD had all his documents, I can’t even imagine how stressful it must be considering he’s not a citizen and on visa. But of course, he was prepared as always. We had to exit the car as they inspected, and my dumbass self put on my pants inside out. oH WElll!~ it was 3AM, I'm sure the Canadian guards have seen weirder things. Anyways, during the ride we kept joking about how he always gets into trouble when he’s with me. He also shared a lot about growing up, updating and how life is so different in America, and that the lifestyle is very different and almost exhausting since it’s doesn’t align. He mentioned that I'm one out of a small handful of people that he respects and trusts, and I appreciate that. Honestly, for someone who is extremely closed off to people, knowing he has someone, even if it’s me, is reassuring.

When we got to the hotel in Buffalo, we shared a bed next to Boris and Rachel on another bed. As we were trying to sleep, he continued to finger me. We tried to be as silent as possible, considering they were in the same room. He then commenced to go under the sheets and started to eat me out. Fuck. I didn’t do anything while we were in bed, but he continued to finger me, eat me out, and wow. I was really in my head about Rachel and Boris knowing we were having sex literally right next to them, but something about it was just really hot. And being quiet about it all, was also so fucking... hot. I don’t know. At 8AM, we noticed that Rachel and Boris were going down for breakfast, and that they were gone for awhile. So, we fucked. Wow, honestly I am NOT experienced. And when I fuck guys in the past, it’s something I was always so in my head about, and I never really took control, because I’d get so in my head. But knowing SD is so entuned with sexuality, he can read body language so well, and he knows that without me saying anything. And he takes charge, and he can tell what positions I don’t vibe with. I think I also suck at communicating. After we were finished, he was talking about how he’s been so stressed and burned out, and that the women in his life have been exhausting, which he also mentioned in the car ride. He said he didn’t want a relationship, but really wanted someone he could trust, and was saying like “sheesh is that asking for a lot nowadays?!” then turned to me saying, he’s growing to trust me a lot. And then asked if I had anything too say, where I quickly dismissed the fact, and was like, “we should get ready now, it’s almost 11AM.” 1. because we had been fucking for over 5-6 hours, we had to get ready because Rachel was still not back in the room, and I think they were mad at us. 2. I didn’t want to talk about it, or I have trouble talking about it.

Then throughout the day, we explored Niagara. The entirety of the day it was me and SD hanging around and taking pictures. He had his arm around me the entire day, and we took a lot of pictures together. A random lady came up to us and said, “I don’t know if you guys are a couple or not, but you two are really cute together”. From there, we were both just like “thank youuuuu?!” and we continued to joke around the entire day. We went to the waterfront of lake eerie in buffalo after going to niagara, and we walked around together with his arm around my shoulder the entire time. Then we sat on a rock, with me in the middle of his legs, and he just held me and we talked and watched the sunset together. we were walking and talking more about life, and he said a lot of things that really resonated with me and I took as good advice. We are both really different people, what with me being really open and optimistic, and him being really private and him being ever so slightly cynical. But he mentioned the 6 month rule. If there’s anything going on in your life, wait out at least 6 months before telling people, because how people react will affect how take in the good news presently in your life, and it’s not your experience, but the shared experience how people impact the way you think you feel. It’s not just “yours” anymore. And you know he’s right. When I talked about me being happy about get a new job, and how st. peter’s and how they reacted was not what I had expected, and I became sad about animosity with my staff, that changed my perspective. it ruined my experience, although I was still excited. We talked about how Americans are so gossipy and impresisonable with media, we’re obsessed. And that’s a huge dislike for him. And you know he’s right. A part of me does seek validation from people in my life, and not everyone’s reaction will be all for me, if I tell close people. My experience is my experience, and I shouldn’t let outsider sources impact how I experience my accomplishments or dictate how I should feel. Thank you SD for that lesson.

That night, I couldn’t sleep, but SD was knocked OUTTTTTT, We woke up at 6AM to leave for Watkins glen state park, and to go back home to NB. I had work that night, so we really had to leave early. The entire car ride, he talked, listened to music, and I'm honestly so surprised how quickly a long car ride went with him. I tried to sleep for a majority of the ride, and he was really respectful. When we got to Watkins Glen park, I was on the edge of the gorge trying to take a picture, and he held me so I wouldn’t fall in, which I thought was very kind. he’s really a gentleman with girls, if you get passed his hard ass shell. We went to Moe’s for lunch on the way back, and he paid for my bowl. Then we finally got back ton NB at 5:30PM, and then I was eventually flexed. When we got out of the car, he kissed me, and I asked what was that for, for me being flexed? and he just laughed. He walked me to my car, and I left.

SO WITH ALL OF THIS, I don’t know where tf I stand with him. Like I do? but I feel like my mind is cycling, know for a fact, that we both identify that we are not dating. But I think, defining things would feel a little better on my end. Maybe I should talk to him about it?

0 notes

theladyjstyle · 6 years

Text

Brilliance of the Seas Live Blog – Day 1 - Embarkation Day | Royal Caribbean…

Brilliance of the Seas Live Blog – Day 1 - Embarkation Day

My cruise day has finally arrived; of course I woke up at 6AM to watch the Brilliance of the Seas pull into the port of Tamp Bay. I never set an alarm to do this; I just naturally wake up, due to all the excitement.

I was planning to walk over to the ship this morning, but my girlfriend was heading out at 10:30AM and offered to drop me off. arrived at 10:30AM down at the new terminal 6 in Tampa.

Royal Caribbean is almost always at this terminal now; my expectations were very low, based on recent reviews. However, it might have been the smoothest boarding process ’ve ever seen. think it helped that it was so early in the morning, but I didn’t wait in a line during the whole process, I just walked right on board.

My first hour on board was exploring the ship, taking it all in. It’s been two years since I’ve sailed on Brilliance, so I was trying to take it all in.

I went into the Solarium around 11:30am and noticed the pool was closed due to some repair work and fresh paint. I relaxed and waited until noon when Park Café opened in the Solarium.

For those of you that might be looking for a more relaxing day 1 meal, I highly recommend Park Café. It’s included in the cruise fare and surprisingly I was the only one here. I had a salad and the favorite roast beef sandwich.

After lunch I went to explore the ship more, that’s when I noticed people were lined up buying the drink package on board. The price was $63 per day, plus 18% service charge. I’m always so surprised people don’t buy the package in the cruise planner online when they run discounts. If you didn’t want to purchase the drink package they had the drink of the day for $8.

At 1pm the cabins opened up and mine is just a few feet from the centrum. I booked a solo cabin on this cruise, room 4587. They have three solo cabins on Brilliance of the Seas and they are a great value for solo passengers.

The room reminds me of a college dorm room almost, just a twin bed, closet, small desk, and the bathroom. I love the location of the cabin since it’s maybe 5 seconds away from the centrum. The cabin itself has plenty of storage and the bathroom is standard like all the other cabins.

Muster drill was at 3:15pm, nothing exciting to report just the usual standing on the outside decks. I was in my cabin when the alarm went off and my cabin attendant kindly reminded me it was time to go.

After the drill I went looking for my luggage since it still hadn’t arrived. Since my solo cabin is off on a small hallway by itself of only 9 total cabins it takes a little longer for them to bring the bags. They actually come up on the other side of the ship and they must pass through the centrum to bring them over to us. I wanted to get unpacked and ready for the night. I was able to find them and get ready for the evening.

Tonight I wanted to take advantage of some free cocktails, since I don’t have a drink package. I went into both the Concierge lounge and Diamond Lounge tonight.

The Concierge lounge is large; they have outside seating, a lot of tables, and even a sit-down bar in the lounge. I stayed in the lounge for two hours just making friends with everyone; it’s one of my favorite parts of cruising all the new people you get to meet from all over the world.

At 6:30PM we passed under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, everyone in the lounge rushed out to the outside deck to see it. It's always exciting to see this and right at sunset made it even better.

The Diamond lounge was much smaller with maybe 10 tables, however they have a view over looking the pool deck. So I guess it’s a give and take on which lounge I like better.

Dinner tonight was in Giovanni’s Table at 8PM. I purchased the BOGO offer online for $30 that lets you dine night 1 & night 2. I made my reservations right when I got on board at Chops for both restaurants. When I arrived I first noticed it was empty, other than two other tables and myself that was it.

The service was outstanding; it was like I had the whole staff waiting on me. I had a few starters and my favorite the filet. They suggested I come back tomorrow night, but I told them I’ll be in Chops.

But, they did talk me into coming back night 3 and 4! The manager gave me a discount offer to come back later during the cruise.

I wish I had some entertainment updates but I didn’t see any shows or enjoy any music around the ship. After dinner at 9:30PM I actually went to bed! I was pretty tired from my full day and decided to get some sleep before my sea day tomorrow.

My bar tab for the day was $14 without the drink package, I purchased a beer and another using my BOGO coupon pre-loaded on the sea pass card.

Category:

Brilliance of the Seas Live Blog

https://plus.google.com/+Jpkc13/posts/JWMr2kqPhXw

0 notes

alizabeth · 7 years

Photo

My first solo camping trip.

One Saturday afternoon in June, I decided to make my first solo camping trip to the coast. After feeling down for two weekends, and having Walter away on a backpacking trip, I decided to try something new in hopes it would challenge me and give the chance to move through a difficult time. I wasn't sure if it would end up being a trip that would trigger more difficult feelings, or create space for new reflections. I hoped for the latter and off to the coast I went. The drive out was as beautiful as ever. Windows rolled down, music blaring, coffee in hand, singing at the top of my lungs as all good solo car trips should go. The clouds cleared as I approach the ocean, and I arrived to a beautifully sunny campsite around 4PM. I had decided to check in first, set up my tent, and then hit the beach for the afternoon, watch the sunset, and then come back to an already ready site that I wouldn't have to set up after dark. It was a great plan! I set up my tent (an old crappy four person tent we use for car camping; all by myself!), put our giant mattress topper and my memory foam pillow in the tent (if you're not backpacking and you're bringing your car, apparently bringing your whole bed is the right way to car camp!), And I threw my sleeping bag and liner in. I took a step back and considered if it was a good idea to leave my expensive backpacking lightweight down sleeping bag in the tent while gone. "Well, who would steal a sleeping bag from a tent!? On the other hand...what if it happened!? That would suck! And I can't afford to replace it! But who would take it!? Well, you never know, just keep in your car. Yeah, I'll do that! It won't be hard to throw it in my tent after dark, it's really just the tent that is hard to set up after dark." So, I put my sleeping bag and liner in my tent, but left my sleeping bag mesh bag in the tent. "Meh, it will be fine. Who would want that?" And I was off the coast, still feeling a little unsure. My love for the ocean is profound, but I'm unsure of whether this will help. What if I end up wishing I had someone to join me? Could I join some other campers? What if I'm not as happy alone as I want to be? Will other campers even want me to join them? I arrived at the North Jetty and packed my bag with the essentials: camera, folding chair, a bottle of wine, wind jacket, down jacket, Women Who Run with the Wolves. I found a lovely spot and sat down to read and enjoy my wine. The book was perfect; it perfectly captured my current struggle and provided me with a new perspective of what was happening within me. I was full of life, carefree, grateful and ready for the next adventure. The jetty was desolate; just me, the ocean, rocks and sun setting (and my wine). It was beautiful. At 8PM, I'd decided to have dinner at my site first (before dark) and then watch the sunset over the ocean, time permitting.

I drove back and pulled in to my spot. My mind froze; It felt like an episode of the twilight zone. My site was completely empty. Everything was gone. Everything. I double checked my site number, and my mind rewinds: did I set up the tent? Yes, I absolutely did. Well...what, how!? I walked across to two young couples that had arrived after me and asked them if they saw what happened with my tent.

Two Young Couples.

"No...we didn't see anything! We got here about twenty minutes ago and there was nothing there!" I wondered aloud if someone took it or if the park people took it. They were as baffled as me, and I told them I'd go check with the park rangers. The couples offered me their tent for the night, as they were sleeping in a yurt. I thanked them for their generosity, but I remembered, “wait! My giant, heavy mattress topper and pillow were in there, too! God, I hate that they took those! And now I don't have a way to sleep at all!", I think to myself.

Park Ranger. I stomped over to the state park booth (about 100 ft from my site) and inquire. After a phone call, they let me know that nobody had seen it, and that they system showed me checked in, so they definitely would not have removed it/evicted me... and that's pretty much all they can say. "So...do you think someone stole it?! Does that happen? Do people steal tents!?" "Had you set it up already to reserve the spot like you're supposed to?" "Yes!! It was all set up!! And there was a really heavy and big mattress topper in it and pillow!" "Wow, that's weird. Well, you know, someone else reported a mountain bike stolen today." "What! That's awful! I don't even care about that tent; it’s old and crappy, but, you know... It's where I'm sleeping tonight!" "Yeah, we can take the info and let you know if anything comes up, but that's all. I just spoke with the crew and we're too understaffed to do anything."

So many thoughts crossed my head. "Can't you drive to camping spots and ask about the tent? Can't you look around the huge park and see if you see it? Can't you have everyone who checks out go through the booth to check for the bike and tent?", But instead I said, "No, I get it. It's just bureaucratic stuff, you can't help." "You can file a police report." "Will they do anything?" "No." "Would you file one?" "Personally, no; they won't care." "Ok, I won't then. Well, what am I supposed to do?! Drive home?" "How far away are you? Where do you come from?" "Eugene." (But who cares! You should help me out! You can't send me out after my tent is stolen!!) "You could go buy a tent, but they're probably all closed." "Yeah, I don't want to buy a new tent. Mine was stolen!" "Yeah." "Well... Can you refund me the processing fee I paid if I'm leaving?" "Well, you have to call the website people about that. We can't do that." "I get it. Bureaucratic stuff. I'm not gonna call though." "Ok, sorry. That sucks." "I know; thanks." I stepped away from the booth and felt the tears coming on. Really? That's how this trip is going to end? I sent some sympathy seeking texts to friends. Of course their reaction was immediate, "WTF! They did what!!! They stole your whole tent!?" I resolved to ask around and see if anyone saw anything. At this point, I was sure that someone in a car/truck, stole it and was long gone...but, hey... Maybe the car is still here...or...who knows! I have no tent to lose over it!

Some Kids.

I walk across to another place where some kids say, "you know, we did see some people with an orange tent in the back of the lots here that looked like maybe they didn't know how to set up the tent!" "That could be mine! Where was it?! Just behind here somewhere?!" "Yeah, over by the trail!" "Thanks!"

Park Ranger, 2. I ran (in boots) back to the ranger’s booth, out of breath. "Ok! So!" (Breathing heavy) “Some kids said they saw someone with an orange tent in the back there by some trails!! Maybe it's my tent! Do you know where they mean?" "Oh yeah, that must be by the biker/hiker camp. I wouldn't go there alone!" (...) "Well, I kinda have to! I need my tent! Plus, ill be fine; I have a small knife in my pocket!" (Yeah, still laughing at me saying that!) "How about I come tell you if I see my tent." "Sure. I just really wouldn’t go there alone; it is not safe.”

”Ok... well...I am going to.” I walked to some more neighbors to inquire.

The Couple with the Baby.

"Yeah... That big red tent, right?" "Yeah... Wait. No, that's my neighbor's tent. My tent is orange." "Yeah, that big Orange tent! You had set it up this afternoon. We saw you!" "Yeah! I guess it is big!" "We left and came back around an hour ago, and it was still there then." "What! It was there an hour ago! The neighbors there said it wasn't there 20 minutes ago, but it must have been in those 40 minutes then!" "Yeah, well. You know what? I saw ..well, I feel very judgmental for saying this, but I saw this one guy with a big truck by the bathrooms with a ton of stuff in his truck bed" "Really!?" "Yeah, but oh my god, I'm so embarrassed, I'm being super judgmental". "I don't care! I'll take any leads!" "Well, if you don't find it, there's some hotels nearby you could stay in." "Thanks!" (I don't want to sleep in a hotel! I came here to camp alone! It's that or nothing!" I stomped over to the bathrooms to find the truck, and saw nothing suspicious there.

But! This had happened within the last hour! Someone must have seen something!

Lonely Man. “Hi, sir. I am sorry to disturb you.” (I told him my story.) “Have you seen anything?”

“Well, first of all, I have to ask...is it my tent?”

“(awkward laugh) Nope.”

“Ok, just had to check, you know. But, I have not seen anything.”

“Alright, thanks!”

“Well, would you like to sit down and have some dinner with me?”

“No, sir. I am looking for my tent! And, I need to find it soon.”

Three Guys, One Girl, One Baby.

“Excuse me. I am sorry to interrupt. (Shared my story) Have you seen anything”?

“Oh! We actually saw a guy and a girl carrying a big orange tent, and they looked really awkward!”

“What!!! Really?! Maybe it is my tent!”

“Yeah, we were playing frisbee and they were walking over by that path!”

“The one that leads to the hiker/biker camp?!”

“Yeah! That one! We were playing frisbee and saw them go by. It was a girl and a guy, both white, in their twenties.”

“Someone else said they maybe saw it there. I am so glad you guys saw that!”

“Yeah! We definitely remember because they looked so weird, and the bottom of the tent was real heavy and we all made fun of them.”

“That is definitely my tent!! I had a heavy foam mattress, which is probably why it was weighed down like that!”

“Whoa. That is awful! Lets go get them!”

I ran back to let the ranger know about our plan, and he offered to meet us on the other end of the trail with his truck.

I ran back to the site to meet the men, and they had a bat, and some other weapons (a.k.a .22). We split up to take the different paths in to the hiker/biker camp.

As we ventured into the woods, I became aware of how desolate the woods were, and how far away we were from others. “I wonder if it is a horrible idea to be going to this deserted camp in the forest with guys with bats and weapons.” They did seem genuinely interested in helping, seemed alright, and had a baby back in their trailer... so, I took the chance.

After splitting up, we met up again with the guy with the bat at the hiker/biker camp, who told us he saw the guy and girl (the guy was on a bike), and asked them, “what did you do with the tent?!”, to which they did not respond, and walked away.

“Oh, we are pretty sure it wasn’t them. We passed them on our way in. On...a blue mountain bike...like the one reported stolen. Motherfuckers!”

We looked around where they were and spotted my white foam mattress tossed in some bushes. We then discovered my tent, rolled almost all the way up (almost ready to be taken!). Inside my tent was the pillow, and some other things that they had apparently stolen from other sites. The thieves, however, had gotten away.

The guys put the mattress and tent on their shoulders, and walked me back to my site, and helped me set it up. At this point, the whole campground knew who I was and was cheering “you found your tent!!”. The guys and I felt a mixture of anger, disappointment, and victory.

The ranger met up with us and explained that he was unable to meet us, since he was stopped by others who said their tents had been rummaged through. Some of the extra things found in my tent was theirs, but they were still missing others, which we assumed they kept in the backpack we saw on the girl. Oh, and that mesh bag for my sleeping bag, they had taken that, too.

I rummaged through my car to find a gift for these men, but the only thing I could think of ... “Do you guys want a half drunk bottle of wine?”, I asked. “Nah, it’s okay, I don’t drink”, “and I have some whiskey,” responded the other. Yeah...that makes sense.

At this point, we decided to call the police; since we then knew what the thieves looked like. The police man was, of course, as unhelpful as imagined. I found out through the police report, however, that the men who helped me decided to look around their trailer to check if anything was taken (they also had left the campground earlier that day), and discovered their fiancee’s ring was stolen. “Well, today is my Friday, so I probably won’t be able to do anything with this until Wednesday”, says the police man. Really? Why would you tell us that? And today is Saturday, why do you have a four day weekend? Can’t you assign this case to someone who working through your weekend?!

I asked the police man and ranger how safe I should feel staying in my site alone, and they reassured me that I was safe; the thieves are most likely long gone by now, and they would never confront anyone or go to a populated camping spot.

I then finally got around to cooking my dinner, in complete darkness, at 11PM. The ranger came around my tent with his truck to check up on me every twenty minutes or so, while coming closer into my personal space and looking down my shirt.

Well, you wouldn’t have had a chance, since I am married, buddy, but even if you had, you blew it hard. I brought you the excitement of your night, and you passed, while I ran, and stomped all through the campground trying to find the thieves.

I sat down on my chair, and enjoyed my dinner and wine. I locked everything in my trunk and went to sleep, still shaken up and a little afraid. I woke up to screams every half hour, fearing that the thieves have returned, but then realized they were just party screams, and went back to bed. I woke up late enough and heard no sounds; I could now rest and go into a deep sleep.

The next morning I woke up, feeling a profound sense of gratitude. I made coffee and breakfast and sat in my chair in the sun, as I looked around to discover my camp spot was the only one at that time in the morning to receive full sun. I was overwhelmed by the beauty that surrounded me, and the magic of that weekend. Still thinking of how to express my gratitude towards the men that helped me, I remembered the 5 Starbucks gift cards I have from parent/student gifts in my wallet, and offered them to the the men down the campground, who happily received it. As I walked around the campground, my neighbors greeted me and expressed, once again, joy at my found tent. It was a beautiful morning and I feel strong and capable. I packed up and drove down to the beach, where I soaked in the sun, wind, and salty ocean air once last time before returning home.

#oregon coast #ocean #adventure

0 notes

themartinsguide · 7 years

Text

Scuba Diving in Koh Lanta and a cushy coach ride

18 - 20 January

After the rather more exciting snorkelling trip than planned, we were hoping for a sunny (and relaxed) day of scuba diving on the 18th. As we were pretty rusty we headed down a little early to “Dive and Relax” for some pre-diving refresher training. Once that was completed, us, our guide Kra, Richard (the 3rd member of our dive group), and another 6 or 7 people, loaded up on a speedboat and gunned 60mins on a glassy sea out to the first dive spot, Koh Hai no 5.

The highlight of this particular dive sight was an underwater cave, which we reached after about 35mins of very relaxed cruising through multi-coloured soft coral. As we entered the cave the visibility quickly diminished into pitch black and we turned back towards the cave entrance (about size of a large minivan) which was framed light blue, to see sea life cruising across the face of the cave. It was our first time diving in an underwater cave so we were extremely excited to say the least. A seahorse sighting only added to that excitement.

After surfacing and enjoying a delicious lunch on the bow of the speedboat, we cruised 5 mins to Koh Haa no 3. Much to our pleasure this spot was possibly even more beautiful than the first, with a stand alone pinnacle just off the coast of the island. Starting at the base of the pinnacle (approximately 21m down) we drifted with the current up and around the pinnacle, before going back through some soft more soft coral to the boat. Lion fish, clown fish, grouper, tunnel fish, box fish, sea snakes, scorpion fish, and giant moray eels… the tropical fish were unbelievable!

Although the ride back to Koh Lanta was considerably bumpier due to rising winds and seas, we were back at the rubbish Sunny Hostel (the name did not match staff dispositions or quality) by 1430. James, having enjoyed a sunset beach run a few days earlier (but not behaving like a complete douche as he surprisingly managed to keep his shirt on) suggested we do another. James, still passionately espousing the benefits of barefoot running, opted to go barefoot while Hannah opted more sensibly for pair of running shoes. Unfortunately (primarily for James) the overnight rain had drastically softened the sand beneath the high tide mark, and so the 10km up and down became a less than romantic affair due to James’s moaning about not wearing shoes, and how we was working harder due to his lack of “bounce”. This had all been forgotten by the time dinner, drinks and a fire show took place.

The next day was not so relaxing. Some research had been conducted and (although the travel time of flying vs coach was 4hrs vs 18hrs) it was decided to be more economically efficient (aka cheaper) to bus. Having endured a mini van ride of a suitably terrifying nature from Koh Lanta to Krabi (think overtaking at very high speeds on bridge corners), we arrived at Krabi Bus Terminal with a totally unnecessary three hours to spare, before our “First Class” bus departed.

Now the “First Class” bus was only about $40 each so perhaps we had set our sights too high, especially as the price included dinner. By 8pm no dinner had eventuated and hanger levels were rising, not aided by James’ stomach issues which were resurfacing with a vengeance. By 9pm all willpower had disappeared and James made an emergency dash for the onboard lavatory, the first person but unfortunately not the last. An interesting quirk of the air-conditioning system was that it appeared to suck air from the lavatory as well, so the rest of the bus got to enjoy James’s pungent aromas. And those of all the people that followed over the next 10 hours. Having given up on the promise of dinner, we reclined our seats a luxurious 15 degrees and settled in to sleep, or Hannah did anyway.

At 11.30pm James woke Hannah up: “We’ve stopped for dinner, want any?” “What’s the time?” “About 11.30.” “Are you ****ing kidding me…I’m going back to sleep.”

We arrived in Bangkok 7 hours later, to our first of many touts. For the record, even we didn’t fall for the 1600 baht unmetered taxi offer… “no meter on highway” was like something out of a Tui advertisement. Thankfully the Banyan Tree awaited us!

0 notes

chastieamari · 7 years

Text

LIMITLESS part 2

I want to go far away but I know for myself that I can't do it alone, but I don't want to be with my friends or be with someone I know, because I thought of, there will be no difference. And being so eager for the kind of trip I want and barely knew if it is possible, I began searching and looking for that kind of trip I wanted. I searched thru Google and saw this highlighted part on the search results "Singles Road Trip" and to my surprise, there's this travel group that caught my attention, it organizes random trips together with strangers, having no idea where would be the destination not until you're there and activities are also a surprise. The one that I've been looking for! The one that I never thought a possible one! This is it! I never knew that there is such trip that ever exists.

I was still unsure about it, because it sounds weird and crazy and desperate. Because of the word "single" looking for a lover and so… But that wasn't really my purpose... But after stalking their website, it wasn't the one that I was thinking, then, I felt, this is it! It was really the one that I am looking for! Then I inquired, they answered my queries and I got so interested because it’s exactly what I wanted. But it took me days to decide if I am really going to pay or not because aside from the fact that it is really pricey, I have so many doubts but my heart really tells me, “Go Chastie! GO!” and then I paid. And waited for the day of the trip very nervous, anxious excited and scared at the same time.

11.10.16 Day 0

I am so anxious to the highest level! Am I ready for tomorrow? I am so uneasy of the things I needed to bring. Especially on the clothes, I might have brought the wrong ones. But I followed and trusted their list of must haves in their website. But still feeling uneasy because I don’t know what’s waiting for me there and what will happen there, I am packing my bag, checking the stuffs that I am about to bring and emptying my bag again and so on and so forth. And I slept and get ready for the next day.

11.11.16 - Day 1

This is the day! >.< “Tutuloy ba ako? Sobrang kabado ako!” The Uber driver that I got took so long to pick me up and its already 9:10 and the call time was 9:30 and it was traffic and the estimated travel time was about 43mins and I was already ashamed because I was late and one of the travel managers are already calling me. I arrived 9:40pm and I entered McDonalds looked for them and saw a group of backpackers and it was them. They approached me and one of them handed me a paper to answer and signed on something like a consent form. Then, we went outside and took a picture and we left at around 10:30pm.

The aura inside the van was awkward, only a few were talking but still it was fun inside because we are guessing where we’re going. We have lots of guesses but still the travel managers are so good in keeping secrets. Time passes by; we got so far far away from manila going to the northern part of Luzon. (We knew that it was somewhere in the north because some are using Google maps. Haha!) And so the night went on and we fell asleep.

11.12.16 Day 2

After a while I suddenly jerked out of sleep because I felt like we are turning and turning, and I thought of we are about to go to Baguio because as I remember that is somewhat like the way going up to Baguio. But still, I'm not good in guessing. Then, I got so curious and I wasn't able to go back to sleep and I kept on checking the signages outside and tadaaaah! I saw a signage saying, "McDonalds Abra 4km" And a few moments, we stopped at around 5am, one of the travel managers said "Welcome to Abra!" And on my mind I was shouting, "OMG! Sh*t! Nasa Abra ako!?" I’m still clueless where we are even if it’s been revealed already. We waited for our tour guide because we arrived earlier than our expected arrival. We ate our breakfast at a house where in they are serving "Abra's Special Miki" It tastes good and a very knew flavor to my tastebuds. And after that we went to our lodging house. We arrived at our lodging house at around 7am. The lodging house was very refreshing, because the air is so fresh and so strong over viewing the Calaba River and it was just the air and view that I’ve been looking for. We took a rest for a while and changed our clothes that according to the travel managers it should stand for dry and wet activities.

View outside our lodging house

At around 8am we started our road trip in Abra. First stop, Calaba Bridge, we went down from the van and took picture. And the over viewing mountain is what they call Sleeping Beauty Mountain. It took me sometime to see Sleeping Beauty, I just saw it in the picture in my phone.

Calaba Bridge

Sleeping Beauty Mountain (Sleeping Beauty can be seen in this photo)

First Destination/Activity

We stopped at somewhere facing a river and a mountain not knowing what will happen next. We were just enjoying the view and the heat of the sun. And after a while, we walked, at first it was okay but we’ve been walking for several minutes already. And I had the chance to talk to the tour guide and she said we are about to hike for 45minutes to reach our first destination. And I was like on my mind, “hike? HIIIIKKKEEE! O_O” It’s my first time to hike and I am not so sure if I will be able to make it because one thing that I am sure of, I am not fit enough for this kind of activity. But I have no choice, I am already there and I just enjoyed it. It was my first time to be in a forest, stand between two tall mountains, walk through traces that you can’t even see what you are walking under, rocky roads, narrow traces, climbing up with huge rocks and trees, climbing up beside a falls, walk through rivers and on the edge of a cliff. Tiring but I am loving it.

Start of hike is around 9:30am and arrived at our first destination almost 11am. Our estimated 45minutes hike turned out to be 1 and half hours.

Sapilang Falls

(It was my first time to hike and see a real falls and be able to swim on it.)

We had our lunch at 12:30pm and after our lunch, we went down, with the same route. But it was faster because its downhill, but since I am afraid of heights, I had a hard time, but thanks to my new found friends they helped. And the sun is so high and the heat is so intense that you would love to have something cold like a Mango Shake.

Boodle fight at Sapilang Falls

Second Destination

We left at our first destination at around 2:30pm and we arrived at our second destination at around 3:30pm.

The blue-green colored water is crystal clear is so beautiful and is so freaking cold. I doubted to swim at first because aside from I am really not good in swimming, it looks deep but there are areas that are not so deep so I tried swimming and it is really fun. The water is so clear and cold and I wished I could swim. We didn’t stay there for so long because our next stop is to watch sunset. We left around 4:30pm

Lusuac Cold Spring

Third Destination

Since it was said that our next destination is to watch sunset, I was wondering if we’re going to the beach but I thought of, “Is there a beach in abra?” haha! But I was wrong, we went uphill, we are going to watch sunset uphill, sunset by the mountain. It was breath taking. Just the view that I have been wanted to see, a very refreshing view, the air breeze through my hair and the wind is hugging me. I felt so free, so clean, so out of this world and I closed my eyes and thanked the Lord for letting me have this opportunity. We took pictures and after sunset, we looked for food and ate for a while and we left going back to our lodging house at around 6pm.

Victoria’s Park - Cassamata Hill National Park

As we went back to our lodging house, we fixed ourselves and get ready for dinner. Around 8pm, we had our dinner prepared also by our tour guide. The travel managers reminded us of the gift we are to give to our fellow road tripper. A gift or something in the past that would remind you of a memory that you want to let go. Since I am a type of person that is sentimental, even if it a thing reminds me of a bad memory, I would still keep it because for me, it’s already a part of my life, that I have learned something from it. So, I thought of sharing my 20pesos story.

After dinner, the travel managers told us to prepare those gifts and go to the not so tree-house because it’s not on top of a tree, but it is built high enough so you could feel the wind. It was already the time to get to know each other and chitchat with each other, so we went there and when we’re already complete, we shared why we decided to join the trip and how we knew about it. Some knew about it through Facebook, some was their second time already, some where pulled by their friend while for me, I decided to join because I am so stressed at school, and I am now feeling so depressed because I won’t be able to graduate on time and all the pressure is with me now and I just want to take a rest, I want to breath and going to school makes me feel so sick. It feels like there’s a loop in my neck every time I thought of going to school and I just suddenly felt out of love with Dentistry and I started to question myself if I really wanted to become a Dentist.

After a while, the travel manager told us what we have to do. We have to tell the story of the gift and give it to the one on your left. I was the third person to share, so, I shared my 20 pesos story. The story may not be really that significant to others but since I am to sentimental to things, the 20pesos that I just saw on the ground while I was walking 5years ago became meaningful to me. Here’s the story, “Noong pre-dent pa ako, at naguuwian pa ako, everyday kami ng mama ko na sumasakay ng fx simula saamin hanggang sm manila, tapos isang araw, pagbaba naming ng sa sm manila, habang naglalakad kami, may napansin kaming 20pesos sa sahig, syempre hindi namin alam kung kanino, nung nakita namin pinulot ko. Wala lang pinulot ko lang at hindi ko ginastos. Simula nun, tinago ko na yun sa wallet ko at naging lucky money ko na siya. Hindi lucky moey na magkakaroon lagi ng pera wallet ko, pero lucky money na naging inspirasyon ko din. Para sakin yung 20pesos na to, sinisimbolo nito yung hirap ni mama at papa na mapagaral ako, na yung moment na napulot namin yun ay isang moment na nagpapaalala sakin kung hindi dahil sa pagsusumikap ng mama at papa ko na mapagaral ako wala ako ngayon dito. Na pagdating ng panahon na marami na akong pera, susuklian ko lahat ng paghihirap nila sakin. Bibigyan ko sila ng buhay na hindi nila aakalain.” So that’s the story, as I gave it to the person on my left, I told her that it might also be a symbol of her parents hardships for her.

And so after my turn, there we’re 6 more to tell their story. Some of their stories were really unbelievable that they had overcome that obstacle in their lives and some stories really have “hugot”. Their stories were about love, mistakes, decisions, self-improvement and choices. Their stories made me to think that my problem were just a minor problem or maybe is really not a problem at all that there are people that have problems you won’t believe exist and here I am stressing myself out of this problem that is really not a problem at all. But one of my fellow road trippers told me that every problem is valid, we are different from each other, it’s just that, that is your problem now and this is our problem. It just a matter of how we are going to deal with it.

Another activity was done, there were gummy worms, in each gummy worm there are 2 colors, we are to get a gummy worm, and it’s up to us if we are to get one or more, each color has a corresponding question. I got one gummy worm, and the color is red and blue, first question, “What do you want to become in life, be specific.” My answer is “I want to become a Dentist. Yes! I want to be a Dentist.” Second question, “One thing you don’t like about yourself”, my answer, “Wala akong tiwala sa sarili ko.”

And so the night when on, I felt so relieved. I was able to share my thoughts without hesitation. I was able to transform my thoughts into words and be able to tell it through my mouth. I finally was able to say the words I never said before. That get to know each other moment we had, was more of get to know myself more. Those 2 questions I had was the answer to the problem I have. It was me all the time. And really, I learned a lot.

0 notes