#i had to make a vet appointment and Wow i am not cut out for this whole independent adult thing lmfao | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

elladescent449-artspace · 3 years

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It Started with the Milk: Chapter 6 - Respit

Note: Guess who finally figured out how Tumblr's "Read under the cut" system works!!!

When the woman brought the bell-bird in, April knew it was time to go, screw the rain. April scrolled down to the band’s store on ITunes, finally conceding and purchasing DIGG’s most recent album. She plugged in her earbuds and let the rapid beat of drums replace the screeching call of whatever was happening in the vet clinic as she opened her umbrella and walked out. Without a carrier, April had to carry Mayhem out of the clinic in her arms, not that either of them were complaining. She walked a few paces until she was on the outside of the clinics gate, just on the outskirts of the street.

Looking back, April noted that this place didn’t look anything like a human veterinarian clinic, it was comparable to a theme park. What April had gotten from the pamphlet was that “Squaker’s Creature Clinic” was a 6 acre property that provided care for any exotic creature (everything was exotic down here, April had a hard time telling the difference between pet and owner.) Sunita had been able to get her Dad, Exploding Frankie, to drop April off in front of the clinic a few minutes before the appointment, but April had had no idea what she was getting into. It was easy enough to find a seat, but while she was waiting in the clinic, the clerk had mistaken April for Mayhem’s pet, and had spent the first 10 minutes making baby noises at her. The doctor had made the same mistake, but they were eventually able to get down to business and take care of the appointment.

She tried getting into the beat of the music, closing her eyes for a moment as she tried to ignore the cold that was crawling up her ankle. She started pacing to try and get the blood flowing. When she felt the warm brush of Mayhem’s tongue against her face she reopened her eyes to see his worried expression. “I know buddy, i’m cold too.” She heard a gargling screech come from inside the clinic and cringed, “better out here than in there though, huh?”

April and Mayhem both sighed in tandem. Mayhem curled back up in her arm, breathing gently as he settled in for warmth. “Leo, where are you…” she muttered under her breath. At the thought of Leo she was reminded of Donnie, and with that she felt her blood pressure rise.

‘Why didn’t he come, he’s never not come.’ The fact that he hasn’t messaged her since last week was one thing, ignoring her six calls was another, and leaving her waiting for an hour was the tipping point. She tried to “zen out” to DIGG, but she kept thinking.

“Why would he ignore me?!” She looked to Mayhem who was startled by her abrupt start of conversation, “Sure, I kept calling him today before and after your appointment, but that was because we had made plans about this like five days ago…” She should have gotten Mayhem to the clinic sooner but there was such a long wait time. She held Mayhem a little tighter, “I haven’t done anything… right?” when he shook his head ‘no’, April continued: “Yeah! Donnie would have told me if something was up, it’s not like he’s one to mince words.” She scoffed at that and groaned, the cold was crawling back up her legs again. She picked up the pace, bouncing a little with the steps. She landed in a puddle large enough to soak into her socks and she made a noise of disgust.

When April turned a blur of blue rammed into her, knocking the umbrella out of her hand as the form tightly enclosed her. She wanted to shout, but her call was cut off by the guttural sob that bled into her shoulder.

“Leo?” He responded by fixing his grasp to hold onto her tighter. Mayhem chittered in complaint as he was squished between their two bodies, teleporting to the ground behind April to escape Leo’s hold. April wrapped her arms around Leo, feeling him shiver uncontrollably at her touch. “Leo what’s wrong?”

When he didn’t respond April pulled him away from her by his shoulders. She kept him close but now she could see a redness under his eyes. A purple mark was swelling on his left cheek and there was redness forming on his throat. He looked away from her before rubbing his face with both hands. April saw the charred cloth of his sleeve and gasped, “Leo, what-”

He spoke in a low tone of voice that April was not familiar with, it was shaky and it fought back a choke as he uttered, “can I please hang out at your place for a bit?” he removed his hands from his face and looked pleadingly, “please.”

She wanted to ask, now and here, but he didn’t look up for it. He was soaked from head to toe and even at their close proximity April could see that his legs were shaking.

She hugged him again, putting on a strained smile as she tried to stay calm. “Yeah, Leo… Of course.”

He broke the hug first and stepped away, rubbing at his eyes before pulling out his Odachi. He stood stationary as he tried to concentrate, taking a deep breath and stabilizing before swinging his sword to form an electric blue portal. Wow. First try. April picked up Mayhem and her umbrella, closing it as she walked up to Leo.

“It’s going to be okay, Leo,” She felt the cold rain speckle her hair and her cheeks, slowly soaking into her jacket as she put a hand on his arm. “You’re okay.”

April’s apartment was (thankfully) empty. Her parents were out and she knew that they wouldn’t be back until late evening, so her and Leo could hang out at least until then.

“How do you feel about a pizza,” April pushed Leo towards the couch as she pulled out her phone, “because I am famished.” She watched as he flopped down onto the sofa, he rubbed his eyes with a stiff sigh. She typed in the familiar number and paced into the kitchen to open the fridge. The number only rang twice before being answered with a familiar voice.

“Run of the Mill, this is Hueso speaking.”

“Hi,” she pushed over the carton of milk to get to the soda’s and juice. “Do you guys deliver?”

“Yes we do, what would you like.”

“Can you do a half cheese, half creepy-special, I got a friend who really likes that kind of stuff.” April squirmed at the thought of the creepy special, it was all of the boys favorite though.

“Brown, blue, or black?”

“Uhhh~” April drew out the sound in confusion, “you mean like… olives?”

“No.”

A chill shot up her spine but she choked it down, “... A- a mix, then?”

“Of course, would you like to add on an order of Garlic knots with that order?”

That sounded more up her human-palette-alley. “You know what, sure.” “Muy bien, what is your address?”

She relayed her address information and her card number from memory and was given an approximate time of 30 minutes for delivery. With the pizza on the way she shouted from the kitchen, “Leo! What do you want to drink!”

“I’m not thirsty.” This was worse than she thought. She sighed and pushed a hand through her hair, 30 minutes until pizza, what was she going to do for 30 minutes? April usually did this for Donnie (and the occasional Mikey), but the procedure always went like this: A Jupiter Jim movie, weighted blanket, pizza, soda, and then she would ask if Donnie (or Mikey) would want to talk about it. Donnie opening up about something was a good 75%-25%, Mikey was 100% going to talk about it before she even started the movie. Leo though, April had never seen him this upset before.

She walked into her bedroom and grabbed a thick blanket off of the foot of her bed, pulling it off messily before making her way back to the living room.

Leo snapped out of a distant stare when April sat next to him on the couch.

She spoke softly as to not startle him any further. “You wanna get out of that soaked jacket?”

He looked down, as if noticing his wet demeanor for the first time. “Oh, uh…” he put on a grin, “what, don’t like the way I sparkle?”

She rolled her eyes, “C’mon, Leo,” if he was cracking jokes maybe he was feeling better, “you’re turning my sofa a whole different shade of brown.”

She watched him chuckle as he began to peel the hoodie off of his but he stopped with a jerk. He was frozen as a darkness passed through his eyes.

She reached a hand out to gently rest on his shoulder, “Leo?”

He snapped, “I need to use your bathroom.” He jumped up from the sofa and stumbled through the hallways before April heard the bathroom door shut with a click.

She had the notion to follow him, but took his place on the couch instead. April looked to Mayhem who likewise looked at her with confusion. She threw the blanket on the chairs arm before getting up again, going to the cabinet below the TV as she started flipping through her collection of old dvds and (ugh) vcr’s. She heard her phone buzz and pulled it from her pocket, a text notification buzzed with Donnie’s name on the screen. She huffed and threw her phone behind her onto the couch. “You ghost me, I ghost you,” she muttered under her breath as she kept flipping through the video’s. Mayhem came up next to her and looked into the drawer.

April heard her phone vibrate again, “I’m trying to pick a movie to watch with Leo,” She pulled out two, “do you think he would like ‘Jitsu for Justice,’, or… ‘Punch Chowder, Directors cut’?” She looked to Mayhem who squinted at the weathered disks before pointing to ‘Jitsu for Justice’. “Yeah, you’re right,” April tossed Punch Chowder back into the drawer, “only criminals like ‘Punch Chowder’.”

She heard her phone vibrate a few more times but ignored it again with a huff. Mayhem teleported onto the sofa where he flipped over the phone to look at the screen, it vibrated again and again and he cringed. April turned on the television and powered up the vcr player, should she let the previews play now or wait until Leo came back into the room. Nah, only Splinter likes the previews. She loaded up the timely tape and let it start playing. Her phone started buzzing again and she groaned in annoyance. April went back to the sofa to snatch up her cell, “ugh, what?”

She opened her messages and was sent the first unchecked message. They kept coming in as she began to read:

Donnie 12:23 pm:

Hey April, did Leo come get you

Donnie 12:28:

Did Leo come get you

Is Leonardo with you

April are you back home safe

Sorry I couldn’t make it something came up.

Txt me back

Have you seen Leonardo

This felt… wrong. April looked to Mayhem who eyed her with mutual discomfort as he watched her from the sofa, she looked back to her messages as she scrolled down farther.

Donnie 12:29

Was Leo able to come get you

Leo’s not at home, have you seen him

Is Leo at your apartment

Text me when you see this

Donnie 12:30

Are you ignoring me

I need to know if Leo’s with you

*we

We need to know if Leo’s with you

We’re really worried pls respond

Donnie 12:32

Text me

Are you mad

April, Something’s up with Leo

Can you call me, Leo’s not picking up his phone

April was pulled out of the trance when she heard the clatter of falling objects and a frantic curse coming from the bathroom.

The excuse to drop her phone back onto the couch was welcome. She moved out of the living room to the start of the hallway. “Leo?” Silence.

She could hear the sink running as she walked further. “Leo,” she tapped on the bathroom door, “are you okay?”

“I-” A shaky breath bled through the thin wood. There was a pause laced with shaky breaths that April could hear despite the flowing sink. “No.”

Her heart sunk and she gripped the door handle, “can I come in?”

When he didn’t answer, a wave of dread washed over her. Should she go in now? Would breaking into the bathroom startle him? Would it make whatever was happening worse? Was he doing something bad?

“Yeah.”

April didn’t hesitate.

Leo stood over the vanity with his arm under the running faucet. She gasped when she saw the pale blistering skin under all the white bubbles. April nearly tripped as her foot kicked a bottle of some beauty product across the bathroom floor, sending it flying into the side of the tub. The cabinet under the sink had been opened and emptied, piles of bottles and scrubs organized frantically in search for something. She barely noticed his hoodie and sword, discarded into a messy pile in the bath. She covered her mouth with one hand while the other went to gently touch the top of his arm. He turned his head away from the sink with a forced smile, “I can’t find your med kit.”

She ran to her room where she slid a small green backpack out from the underside of her bed, a piece of worn and slightly peeling piece of scotch tape with a red sharpied cross adorning its front (she’s known the boys long enough to have one of these). She returned to the bathroom and turned the sink off. She gripped Leonardo firmly as she forced him onto the toilet, she took her place sitting on the side of the tub as she practically ripped open the bag.

“Leo, what did you do?” The burn was on the side of his forearm, starting an inch below the wrist and stretching all the way to his elbow. The skin was a dull and ashy green, distant from his healthy neon shade and covered in small, broken blisters. She reached for the towel hanging on the wall and dabbed at the skin gently to dry the sink water, Leo noticeably flinched at the contact but said nothing. She dived into her bag, retrieving a gauze, a roll of bandages and a burn spray that she sat next to her on the tub ledge. “Leo, what did you do?!” she repeated again. She applied the spray first, an antibiotic burn spray laced with lidocaine, spraying libberaly before applying the gauze loosely to the face of the burn.

“I- I don’t know.”

“What do you mean, you don’t know?!” her sudden shout made him flinch, “this is a second degree burn and you don’t know?!.” She started to loosely apply the bandage, too tight and it would cause more harm than good. Mayhem appeared in the bathroom on top of the sink, curiously looking down on the wound as April applied her first aid. She heard Leo suck a breath in and looked away from his arm to see him holding his face in his hand.

“I don’t know what he- what to-” Leo rubbed his hand down his face, a few tears falling down his cheeks as he spoke, “I don’t know what to do.” He choked and hiccuped with every word. Mayhem trilled quietly with concern, leaning closer to Leo as he watched the two of them interact.

“Leo...” April switched from restraining his hand to holding it, softening her tone as she looked him in the eyes. “Leo, take a deep breath. Can you breathe with me?” He nodded.

“In-” She inhaled deeply through her nose and he copied her, “out.” She exhaled through her mouth, and although his breathing was ragged he replicated the motion. April repeated this with him until his breathing was calmer. She finished wrapping his arm and hugged him, holding him tightly in the dim lighted bathroom.

“I’m sorry,” Leo hesitated, sniffling quietly into her shoulder as he considered what to apologize for, “about the mess, about you being left there in the rain, about Donnie not...”

April took a deep breath, “it’s okay, Leo.” She sat on the lip of the bathtub and swept him over with her eyes, “is there any other injury I should know about?”

He did a little shimmy on the toilet seat, “not that I can feel,” he said blankly. “I didn’t…” Leo looked at his bandaged arm, turning it over slightly before feeling the bandages with his other hand, “I didn’t even feel this, the burn.”

April tilted her head in concern and placed her hands awkwardly in her lap, she didn’t know where else to put them right now. “Were you in shock?” With how upset he looked in front of the vet, it wasn’t unlikely, but the boys usually nursed their own injuries together. April could feel her heart rate pick up as her mind started thinking the worst “Leo… Where are your brothers?”

He straightened and shook his head, “no… No, April they’re fine, this was…” he pulled his arm up to rub at the back of his neck, his hands ghosting over the formed bruise on his throat before moving away again, “Dad, Raph and Mikey are fine, they weren’t even there when it...” Leo paused and his eyes focussed on something distant.

“What about Donnie?” Leo shifted uncomfortably. April took his face in her hands, forcing Leo to make eye contact with her, “Leo, what. About. Donnie.”

“I think he’s… okay?”

“What?” Mayhem hopped onto the back of Leo’s shell, rubbing against his head as Mayhem took a closer look at Leo’s arm, going over the medical work with narrowed eyes. “What is that supposed to mean!”

Leonardo leaned back out of her hands. “April, I don’t even know how to explain it, he-” Leo groaned in frustration and grabbed Mayhem quickly to place him back on the floor, “It. It wasn’t even... It wasn’t even Donnie.”

April felt a wave of confusion roll over her. She balked, “what are you talking about?”

Leo laughed pitifully as he brought his hand up to his face, “ah-ha-ha~” he sputtered out, “I don’t even know where to start…” He rubbed over his eyes and leaned back in defeat on the tank of the toilet. He sighed deeply before quietly saying, almost to himself, “I think I'm going crazy, April.”

April said nothing, examining Leo as he laid back in defeat, not looking at her, not looking at anything really. She finally noticed the dark bags under his slightly bloodshot eyes, he looked utterly exhausted and she wasn’t sure what to do. Keep pushing for an answer? No. No not yet. She sighed and looked away towards Mayhem, who was circling the bathroom floor. Mayhem was still disgruntled from being placed on the floor but walked up to Leo’s leg, sniffing at his ankles and narrowing his eyes.

In the uncomfortable silence April could finally hear the TV going, the previews were coming close to an end. “Leo, do you want to go sit in the living room?” He looked uncertain at the question, looking over April as they both hesitated. She turned to a softer tone. “Go get comfortable on the couch, I’ll clean up here and I’ll be with you in a second.” He opened his mouth to say something but closed it again. “Okay?”

After another moment, Leo simply nodded and stood. Mayhem staggered back from the sudden movement and stumbled backwards as Leo moved out of the bathroom, Mayhem quickly followed, close behind his heels.

April breathed out with a sigh of relief, loosely running her hand through her hair as she leaned over her knees. What was going on? She took a deep breath in and tossed the burn spray back into the bag, zipping it up quickly and placing it on top of the toilet. April took to the floor as she began to place the miscellaneous beauty products back into the bottom of the sink. While looking for her medical kit, Leo had tried to place the cabinets contents in neat rows on the floor and counter, but somewhere along the way something must have fallen, causing a domino collapse and causing the noise that brought April to the door.She finished placing everything back into the cabinet and closed the door quietly before standing and approaching the bathtub.

Leo’s hoodie was soaked in her hands, would he even still want it with the massive burn on the sleeve? She considered hanging it on the curtains tension-rod to dry but reconsidered. Wouldn’t want to forget it's there and have her mom find it and asked questions. April reopened the med bag and stuffed it in there, she’d hang it up to dry later and ask if Leo would still want it. She bent down and clasped his sword, freezing as she got a closer look at the blade. Along the sharp edge was a thin stretch of red. His sword had blood. Was that normal? It was a sword so blood shouldn’t be unbelievable, but it was blood. Leo had never really cut people before though so what blood- whose blood was this? He was burnt, not cut. It wasn’t his, but it was blood so who…

April’s head ran around in circles. It was blood. On Leo’s sword. April turned the bath’s faucet on and quickly ran over the edge with a hanging washcloth, quickly removing the red and going it over a few more times for good measure. She took the hanging towel and dried it before setting the Odachi on top of the towel rack. Why did she do that? Should she have asked first? Asked what, if he wanted to keep it on it? If he wanted to keep blood on his sword?! April groaned and rubbed her hands over her face. They felt cold from the bathwater, it felt nice against her flushed cheeks.

April inhaled deeply and held it, holding her breath and counting to thirty before releasing it in a long, deep sigh.

“Okay.” She repeated the breath again as she held her hands together in front of her lips, holding for thirty before releasing another long, deep sigh. “Alright, April. You are going to go in there, and you are going to be there for your friend.” She paused and picked up the med bag, starting her trek back to her room where she returned her bag to the bottom of her bed, “he’ll tell you when he’s ready, it’s okay, he’s okay…” She felt calmer from talking to herself, she didn’t do it often, but it helped, and she could feel it helping her now as her nerves subsided, “it’s all going to be okay.”

April called from the kitchen, “water or soda?”

He wasn’t thirsty earlier, but he could feel the stripping dryness in his throat now. “Just water, please.” Leo could hear the refrigerator open and close with a clap.

Mayhem returned to Leo’s lap the moment he sat down, curling back into a ball and purring softly as Leo stroked his fur. For the first time in days Leo felt relief wash over him, and he gave a heavy yawn.

Leo snapped his mouth closed, he didn’t want to sleep just yet. April walked into the room carrying a bottle of water and a can of soda. Once she handed the water to Leo she plopped down onto the opposite side of the couch and cracked the can open.

Why did he say all that in the bathroom? Leo was filled with embarrassment and fear, did April think he was crazy now?

Might as well make small talk. “Why did Mayhem need to go to the vet?”

April swallowed the soda with a sigh, “poor little guy wasn’t eating, turns out he had some yucky stuff in his guts and now he’s gotta go on a “delicate tummy” diet and take some pills.”

“Yucky stuff as in…”

April took a sip, pushing out an audible sigh afterwards. “Some intestinal parasite, I think?”

Leo cringed. “Ugh,” it just had to be that. Leo brushed off the chill and sipped at his water, “how was the vet?”

“Oh don’t even get me started,” April sat her can on the coffee table with a hard tap. “I couldn’t get Mayhem to a vet up here for obvious reasons, so I call Sunita about it and she recommended this vet clinic,” her phone vibrates but she ignores it as she starts her tangent, “so I get there and it looks like a prison, I get Mayhem inside and the receptionist doesn’t take me seriously until I show her the appointment on my phone. I end up waiting an hour longer than I need to before the doctor finally sees me and Mayhem bites him!”

“He bit someone?” Leo carefully moves his hand off of Mayhem’s back, eyeing the comfortable yokai cat-dog who grumbles at the loss of the touch. “I thought he reserved that kind of stuff for Raph.” Leo chuckles dryly.

April gives a ‘Ha’, but continues “I know right! Anyway, after he pins Mayhem down with some ‘magic hands,’” April makes jazzy hands at those words, “he prods and pokes mayhem for like twenty minutes before putting like three shots in his tummy.” She leans over and picks Mayhem off of Leo’s lap to set him down on her own, gently petting his head until he was comfortable again. “Mayhem throws up like two times his body weight all over the doc’s shoes and that’s when the guy finally tells me that Mayhem was sick with some weird stuff before shoving me out the door with a bill.” April huff’s. In hearing April retell his traumatizing tale, Mayhem stands gruffly and hops back off of her lap onto the floor to start licking his fur.

Leo watched Mayhem tentatively and shifted his legs to be a bit farther away from the weird dog. “Sounds… awful.” Mayhem noticed Leo’s movement and started sniffing again, getting closer to his ankles as he inspected.

“Yeah, now he’s gotta take pills for like a whole month to make sure it all gets out of his system, apparently it’s some super persistent variety.” April sighed and leaned back. “For a doctor, he didn’t talk much and I barely understood anything he was saying when he did.” She moved her eyes to the screen of the T.V.. ‘Jitsu for Justice’ was starting now, the opening shot starting with Lou Jitsu (like most of his movies.) “But… I’m glad that it's over. This little guy was acting all kinds of weird, he’s acting way more like himself now.” She sighed.

‘Wish I could feel the same way,’ Leo thought. Leo tried doing the same, staring at the screen as he tried to zone out. He was suddenly aware of the blanket next to him as he pulled it off the arm and wrapped himself in it. A wave of heat shot through his arm up to his shoulder, making him wince just as he settled in for comfort. He ignored it and tried to focus on the screen... The fight with It… A visual of himself on the ground, with Donnie’s body hovering over him settled in his brain like a transparent filter. The rocketsetting on Donnie’s tech bo after he pushed the button. When the purple flames started and he felt the heat on his arm. Leo closed his eyes and took a deep breath. That must have been it. When the rocket setting started and he was so panicked that he hadn’t registered the pain.

Leo suddenly felt queasy as the burn on his arm visualized in his head. He leaned back until his shell was flush with the sofa, keeping his eyes shut as he took a deep breath. Painful heat went up his arm again. The hand on his neck. The choke hold he was forced into. Calling Raph. Being dragged away by the throat…. Donnie’s hand. His eyes snapped open, but not before the visceral picture of his twins gaping palm flashed through his mind. Oh no oh no nono. It was so deep and there was white. It was bone. Leo lurched forward into his hand. He cut someone. Hurt someone. Donnie. He sucked in a harsh breath. ‘It wasn’t Donnie. It’s not Donnie,’ the small voice - maybe it was Leo’s conscience, which, funny enough, took the form of Raph - tried to reason. Oh but it was a body. Maybe not Donnie’s but maybe it was Donnie’s and he just hurt him.

“Leo?” He heard April but he didn’t want to respond. He felt like he couldn’t respond without breaking down. He now realized that he still had the water bottle in his hands. Not wanting to crush it with his vice grip, he set it onto the coffee table between them, staring at the water as it quaked.

He exhaled shakily as he tried to get a grip on himself. ‘Don’t do this, not here,’ he tried repeating the words in his head. What if it was Donnie. What if it wasn’t? If it was? Then his brother is being puppet controlled by a worm the size of a python from the inside out. If it wasn’t, then Donatello might be dead already and there was nothing he could do about it.

“Leo.” A hand on his shoulder snapped him out of it. Her voice was so soft it was almost a whisper. “Do you want to talk about it?”

He opened his mouth and then closed it again as the words caught in his throat. He tried again, only a gargle coming out the second time before he snapped it shut again. April moved to hold his hand, patiently looking him in the eyes as she listened. He blinked the tremor out of his vision as he focused on her. “It started two days ago,” Leo started, “I didn’t think much of it… but then it started getting worse.”

She squeezed his hand when he hesitated and he swallowed. Closing his eyes as everything revisualized at once. He had already started, ‘keep it as “on-track” as you can, man’ the voice in his head - which he now knew was mind Raph - chastised gently.

“It’s Donnie.” He felt a sting in his throat again but he swallowed it down, “or maybe it was Donnie at some point... but isn’t any more. But I don’t want to think that because that would mean that…” that he’s dead. “I-” that Donnie’s dead. That he’s dead and something did it, and they didn’t stop it, that he didn’t stop it and Donatello, his twin, his brother their brother was dead. Leonardo tilted his head back as he fought tears. “I just knew that something was wrong, nothing was wrong, but…” He should have said something to Raphael, maybe he would have believed him more than Mikey did and none of this would have escalated like it had, but then again, “he wasn’t even acting weird!” April shifted back uncomfortably at the sudden outburst. “And the stupid milk!”

“Slow down Leo,” April kept her hand on his, squeezing it comfortably as she brought her other hand up defensively. “Can you start from the beginning?” She watched as Mayhem jumped onto the sofa and curled up in his lap. Leo looked down in surprise but hummed softly as he started to pet his fur.

He thought he was starting from the beginning. He breathed in and out, picking a better place in the story to start with. “It didn’t start getting odd until breakfast, the other day, when I asked him about why he was putting milk in his coffee, not a big deal.” April nodded, “But then he got uncomfortable with my questioning, so I tried leaving it alone. Then it got weirder… like,” Leonardo looked to April as he hesitated, she was paying attention to him as he spoke, taking in everything as he said it as she tried to understand, “he started trying to spend more time with me. He intentionally lost a game to me, which he would never do, and he didn’t care when Mikey broke the turtle tank!” Leo’s voice had risen again.

“Whoa whoa whoa, wait.” April briefly interrupted with a shocked tone. “Mikey broke the tank?”

“Well, no… just the soft-serve machine.” Leo trailed off, “but he wasn’t even annoyed!"

Mayhem rolled over on Leo’s lap but seemed to be bothered again, hopping up on all fours to jump off the couch.

April hummed, “he didn’t say anything?”

“Nothing! And I-” Leo stumbled over his words, “and I know that that’s so small! It’s like I said, nothing was bad, nothing was wrong. Just… off, and there was no reason for me to be suspicious, no real reason for me to be paranoid. And then, right after you called…” he forced himself to stop when he heard the quiver in his voice.

“It’s okay, Leo,” She took his hand again, rubbing her thumb over the back of his hand as she held it tightly. She gave a small, understanding smile. “It’s okay. Take your time.”

“There’s something inside of him.” Leo’s voice broke. “It crawled back inside of him and it’s not him, I think it’s his body but it’s not him who’s moving and talking,” Leo brought his hands up as he accentuated his words, breaking contact with April’s hand as he continued. “I don’t know what’s worse, the fact that there’s some monster impersonating him, or that nobody knows, or that I have no idea how long he- It has been like that.” Mayhem sniffed at Leo’s ankles again, squinting before poking at Leo’s shin guards (ankle warmers? socks?)

“What do you mean?” April felt unease at what Leo was insinuating, a similar feeling to when she had read those texts.

“It was like… a snake, or a worm, it was black and it came out of his mouth before Donnie- It attacked me.” He has it in his head that it’s not Donnie, but his mouth can't get it right. “It’s like...”

April hesitantly finished for him. “Like… like a parasite?”

Mayhem screeched.

Both Leo and April jumped at the sudden noise and Mayhem ripped off Leo’s shin guard with his (surprisingly strong) tiny hands. Leo jumped back farther into the couch with a yelp at the motion as April tried to grab the little yokai.

“Mayhem, stop!” She tried grabbing him but he dodged April’s hands as he jumped onto the coffee table between them, shaking Leo’s shin guard roughly.

Something struck the table, sticking stationary to the hard surface with a tap. Mayhem threw the guard over his shoulder - which flew over April’s head - and inspected the small item. He squinted his eyes as he took it between his tiny fingers and sniffed it once before growling. With a huff, mayhem showed it to them both, holding the small bead in the air for Leo and April to see. Mayhem held a black bead the size of a pinky nail between his tiny claws, it shined dully in the light of the T.V. Leo flinched in recognition. It was one of the beads that Donnie had pulled from behind his shell.

“Uh, Mayhem?” April asked, “what’s up buddy?”

Mayhem reached it towards her and April took it between her fingers, tapping it between her finger pads. “It’s… kinda sticky?” She offered the observation as she handed the bead to Leo, who did the same. Mayhem rolled his eyes as he watched her pass it off to him. It was sticky. As Leo rolled it between his fingers he could feel it’s pull on his skin, it was also kinda squishy under the pressure.

Mayhem pulled Leo’s water bottle over to the center of the table and quickly unscrewed the lid. He hopped onto Leo’s lap, snatching the bead from his fingers before turning back to the table. Popping the bead in quickly, he recapped the bottle before shaking the container vigorously with both hands. Both Leo and April watched silently (although definitely confused) as Mayhem performed the task with shut eyes. After what felt like minutes, Mayhem set the bottle back down with an tired sigh, keeping his tiny hand on the lid to hold it down. The bead was now three times its size.

April looked towards Leo. He was transfixed, his lips pressed tightly together as he stared with wide eyes. He gasped. April snapped her head back towards the coffee table. The bead squirmed and twitched before cracking open. A black, rounded point shot out from the crack, extending and expanding as it breached what they now knew as an egg. The thin tubular worm escaped its egg as it circled its environment, slowly expanding.

“What the-” April gasped. Leo was silent as he watched, unconsciously gripping the arms of the chair until the fabric squeaked. Horrified, they both watched over a span of minutes as the creature grew longer and thicker, soaking up the water until it filled the space of the entire bottle. Even when there was no space to grow, they could still see it slithering around and into itself, turning the water into a murky black.

Mayhem broke the silence with a chirp. Looking expectantly at them both.

“Mayhem, i’m going to assume that you…” April tried her best to avoid looking at the bottle, trying instead to focus on her pet/friend to fight the nausea. “Know what that is?”

Mayhem nodded.

“That’s…” April and Mayhem both looked towards Leo, who forced his words out with bated breath, “that’s the thing.”

Mayhem pushed the bottle to the side, getting back up onto all fours as he looked towards Leo pitifully. April jumped as the bottle shook on it’s own, she felt her skin crawl and shifted in her seat. Looking towards Leo she could see what only could be described as despair and disgust.

“That’s what’s in Donnie.”

The doorbell rang.

#rottmnt #tmnt #fanfiction #fanfic #writing #April o'niel #Leo #Leonardo #Mayhem #Donnie #donatello #It started with the milk #Chapter 6 #Chapter six #parasite #horror attempt #Rise of the tmnt #rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles #teenage mutant ninja turtles

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embry-tea · 3 years

Text

Word Generator with Byakuya Togami, Nagito Komaeda, Gundham Tanaka, Kokichi Ouma, Beta Junko Enoshima, and Beta Ibuki Mioda!!!

Cursing!!!

вуαкυуα Тσgαмι 💵

"Piano"

~+^+~

Byakuya was a very intelligent man. He had to be, if he wasn't, he'd disappoint everyone. He knew how to do many things that would never be useful for him, such as sewing or how to make ceramic dishes. He also was well versed in planning instruments. Violin, bass, harp - he knew how to play each one. While he wasn't a big fan of piano, he still knew how to play it. Maybe it would come in handy one day....

"Are you alright? You seem troubles," Togami questioned his partner as they walked into the library. It wasn't very often they looked visible sad, so naturally Byakuya was concerned.

"I need to practice this song for my next performance, which isn't a problem in itself, I already know the lyrics, pace - I know how to sing the song. Issue is, to perfect the song, I'd have to sing while the main instrument plays. But the only person I know that plays piano is Kaede Akamatsu, and she broke her arm," they ranted while slightly pacing back and forth. Byakuya thought carefully about what they said. He knew how to play piano, but he didn't enjoy playing the instrument. However, his lover someone had the ability to make normal "commoner" activities fun. He made a decision.

"I know how to play the piano, I could help you." The words fell out of his mouth before he could stop them. Their eyes lit up and they marveled at him. "Really? Wow, you surprise me everyday!" they exclaimed, before pulling Togami into a hug. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!!"

"Anything for you, love."

~+Є^И^∂+~

Иαgιтσ Кσмαє∂α 🍀 (They're seniors in college in the story.)

"Memory"

~+^+~

Nagito had the habit to suddenly remember things at the most random points in time. Example, a few months back, he suddenly remembered a time his mother bought him a really ugly stuffed dog. Despite it's ugliness, Nagito loved it. It was a gift from his mother and she knew it was ugly. She knew Nagito would like because it was an ugly toy. Nagito could never control when he suddenly had random memories of the past, but maybe his luck would make it come right on time....

Nagito was very nervous. Today had gone well so far, his luck hadn't interfered yet but that doesn't it won't interfere at all. Today was a special day. It was his and his lover's anniversary; 4 years strong. Nagito had a very special surprise planned today: he was gonna propose. Right now, as the fireworks the loved

rs were watching were going off. Nagito sucked in a breath before starting off his miniature speech.

"Hope? I've been meaning to tell you something," Nagito started as they looked at him, quirking an eyebrow to signify they were listening. He continued, "We've been together for over four years now and, I don't know about you but things have been going pretty great in my mind, I have never been happier in my life," he paused. He had to do this. They turned their entire body to face him.

"I wondering if you would do me the honors," he spoke softly. But then his luck hit and he went silent.

"Ko? Are you okay?" they asked Komaeda carefully as he buried his face into his hands.

"It's gone." He didn't look up at you. "What's gone?" they asked, worried for their boyfriend.

"The ring! I planned this all week! Everything was going great, but the ring is gone!" he raved about his predicament. He had this entire planned out, but he never thought he would drop the ring! They attempted to comfort Nagito bug it didn't seem to work. An idea popped into their head. They also had something planned.

"Hey, love.You remember when we went to Hope's Peak and one day, I arrived to school without my school lunch card?" they asked him. Nagito looked up at them in confusion, but nodded anyway. "Yeah, I remember. You had to skip breakfast at home because you were late, and almost cried when you realized you didn't have it. I let you use mine that day because I wasn't planning on eating anyway."

They reached into your pocket, smiling. Covering Nagito's eyes with they're other arm, they pulled the small box put of their pocket before putting it into Komaeda's hand.

Komaeda stared in shock, they were planning the same thing.....

"Consider that my payment. Now come on. Let's go look for the other ring."

~+Є^И^∂+~

Gυи∂нαм Тαиαкα 🐹 (Place holder name will be Persephone. Pronouns are still GN.)

~+^+~

"Employment"

Persephone needed a job. And fast. They and their mother got into a fight - a very bad fight. She withdrew all her money from their college funds without warning, and no matter what Persephone did, she refused to put the money back. To add insult to injury, they got fired from their previous job without reason.

So here Persephone was now, walking home after a failed interview. 'We'll call you,' such bullshit. They were scowling at the ground, upset with the interviewer for being such an idiot. Persephone did everything right, they were sure of it. On the way back to their apartment, they passed by a vet clinic before reversing to look at the place. A "Help Wanted" sign was on the door for an assistant. They had basic knowledge of animals and animal healthcare, they knew how to be an assistant, how to make appointments, how to properly handle animals. This could work. To make it even better, they recognized the name as a place a classmate worked at. Gundham Tananka was it? Persephone entered the building.

"Hello? Anyone in here?" they asked out loud as they walked around the large front desk area. A few minutes of sitting in there, waiting for someone to appear, they eventually gave up and was about to gloomily walk out when a elder women walked in.

"Oh, hello, dearie. I came to get my dog checked up on. She's been acting funny recently," the woman spoke, holding a very adorable teacup dog.

"Um, is it an emergency? I could go get someone in here immediately," Persephone spoke, pointing to where the back was.

"No, not necessarily. She still seems very healthy and she's eating and doing number two just fine," the woman explained, Persephone looked at the calendar on the desk.

"Okay, well judging by the schedule, it seems that it'd be best to come back tomorrow and see if you could get in sometime on Wednesday or Friday. However, if it's easier for you, you could call us!" Persephone feigned working here just for a moment. The woman asked for the number and looking at the wall behind the women, they were able to read it out to her.

As the woman left, a deep voice came from behind Persephone.

"Are you looking for a job here?"

~+Є^И^∂+~

Кσкι¢нι Συмα 🤥 (Place holder name is Athena. Pronouns are they/them.)

"Advice"

~+^+~

What would someone do in this situation? Kokichi sat there, awkwardly rubbing Athena's back as they sobbed and raved about the most recent break-up they've had. From what Kokichi was able to clearly understand, they're ex was cheating on them with two other people. It really effected them. So much so, in fact, that before Ouma arrived, they cut/dyed their hair and self-pierced they're ears. What does Kokichi do?

Advice. He has to come up with the best damn advice he could think of.

"THEY HAD THE FUCKING NERVE TO CALL ME THE WHORE. BITCH, I WILL FUCKING SET YOUR CAR ON FIRE," Athena shouted over their own sobbing, shoveling ice cream into their mouth. Perfect.

"I suck at giving advice, but I guess I could manage just this once," Ouma started, before continuing, "You should tell the other people since, from what I gathered, they don't know. Yet. You should also get in contact with his mother. Most moms I've met would be so mad at they're som in this situation."

Athena sighed, finally calming down their relentless sobbing. They fell back against the bed looking sadly at the ice cream between their legs. An idea arrived in their head.

"Ouma," his head snapped towards their face and not the ice cream begging him to eat it. "Could you help me with a... "prank"?"

"Sure! Although I never thought you would turn over to the dark side," Ouma teased in attempt to lighten the mood.

"It's not actually a prank, unless you want it be just a prank," Athena clarified. "Well then tell me what it is and then I'll decide," Ouma responded.

"Let's go on a date."

~+Є^И^∂+~

Jยภƙ๏ Єภ๏ร♄ί๓ค (๒єtค) 💄(Place holder name is Eros. Pronouns are GN.)

"Recipe"

~+^+~

'Do you have any allergies?' was the most random question Eros have ever received at 3 in the morning. They woke up to use the restroom but was overwhelmed with confusion by the text. It wasn't exactly abnormal for their girlfriend to be up late at night but 3 AM? Really? Of course, they sent an answer and asked her what she needed it for but the only response they received was, 'I love you a lot, night <3' Eros couldn't sleep when they got back to bed, worried with whatever it was that Junko was planning. In the midst of their thinking, they found themself falling back into slumber.

"Ah, ah, ah, ah!!! Wakeee upppp!!!" a familiar female shouted at the sleeping Eros. They lightly put a hand to the female arm, slightly pushing her away as they awoken.

"Junko...? What are you doing here? Isn't it really early?" they grumbled sitting up completely as their girlfriend handed them a coffee.

"Mm, for you sure. But it's around normal time for me," she responded, as she got up and walked over to Eros's desk in the corner. "What are you even doing here?" they questioned, ignoring the slight mocking from Junko.

"Well, as the great and gorgeous girlfriend I am, I decided to make you something," she answered, picking up a tray Eros didn't even notice and caring it over towards them. She sat the tray on their lap, careful not to make a mess. Junko removed the lid (is that what it's called?) from the plate revealing probably some of the most delicious food Eros has ever laid their eyes on.

"...I don't-I don't know what to say.... What's the catch?" they asked suspiciously. This was very uncommon behavior from their girlfriend. Junko rolled her eyes as she made her way to the other side of the bed, sitting next to them.

"There is no catch, I promise. You don't have to say anything, just eat," she said rather softly. They listened and ate began eating.

"Wow,this is really good. What's in it?"

"It's a secret family recipe. You'll know soon enough though." She winks.

~+Є^И^∂+~

Ί๒ยƙί ๓ί๏๔ค (๒єtค) 🎸 (Place holder name is Dionysus. Pronouns are GN. Place holder talent Ultimate Chemist.)

"Mall"

~+^+~

Going shopping with Ibuki was always a treat. She was very hyper and got really distracted a lot. Still, anytime Dionysus got to spend with her was precious. With their differences in jobs, they didn't get to see each other in person very often. Ibuki always traveling with Leon, making a name out of herself. Dionysus was always working on different mixtures and could rarely ever take a break, keeping them in the lab most of the time.

Ibuki gave a slight hop before turning to her lovely partner. "Hey, hey! Let's split up and go shopping! We have the entire week together so let's both try to have time to ourselves for a minute!" Ibuki proposed. Dionysus gave a nod in agreement. They came up with a time to meet back up here, and with that,Ibuki basically skipped away.

Dionysus just kinda wandered around before coming across a jewelry store. After sitting their for a moment thinking if they would go in, they finally made a choice and came up with a plan. They walked inside and looked around at the jewelry, but mostly just the engagement rings. Ibuki's birthstone was citrine and Dionysus knew Ibuki hated being the same as others. Therefore, it made sense she'd prefer something unique.

They picked out a ring for Ibuki and paid with their private banking account - can't have Ibuki getting curious and checking the shared account. Once they had left the store, the remaining time was spent wandering around the mall. Going into random stores, not really buying anything though.

They both met back up at the spot. As expected, Ibuki was very curious about what was in the unnamed bag.

"Pleaaasssseeeee! Please, please, pleaasssseeeeee!!!" Ibuki begged to know what was inside the mysterious bag as Dionysus just chuckled at her desperation.

"Sorry, can't tell you yet," they replied, not taking their eyes off the road. Ibuki pouted.

"Then when will you tell meee!?"

"Soon. Very soon."

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spacegaywritings · 4 years

Text

Warming Paws and Melting Walls (2/8) “The Naming of the Beast”

Summary: Remy gets home, his day unusually long and body extremely exhausted. Still, he and the cat seem to get along a bit better as they share a bit of time bonding in their weird states.

Tags: mentions of the vet (+ aftermath), abandoned cat, alcohol/wine, tipsy Remy (being a soft man), food/ meat, pain killer mention, drinking, dummy logic, dummy thicc fucking Remy, Remy the cat whisperer, mentions of Kim Kardeshian.. shien..? idk man, slight mention of systemic oppression bc wow Remy is spilling the beans, name talks, cuddling, snuggling, books, mentions of vaccines, soft insults bc Remy, purposefully horrible old english.

ao3: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 // all.

tumblr: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8.

My KoFi - Support me ♥ or Commission me

Note: If you miss any tags, have issues with links or any other concerns, please feel free to contact me. Anon is on and my DMs are open.

Story under the cut! (Wordcount: ~3,5k)

It was late when the kitty cat and Remy returned and in all honestly, the receptionist was more than exhausted and done with everything. The whole day had taken a toll on him and interacting with people under bright lights was obviously not the best for a person with photo-sensitivity and self-diagnosed bitch syndrome.

His body was hurting, the pain had gotten more intense and rendered him a heavy and sleepy mess. He still needed to feed the cat. While the pain killers had done some to ease his pain, the extra activity had him feel like absolute trash, after all.

At least, the vet had found the little queen to be healthy and taken good care of. It indicated that there were owners or strangers to take care of the kitten but there were no tattoos, no marks or anything. Whatever care the cat had received before, it seemed to be over now. Nobody was looking for the cat as far as the vet and the local pet shelter have told him.

To make sure the cat would be okay, he got scheduled appointments for vaccinations (the kitty cat already got some that day). In like, a month, he was supposed to come back. Considering the cat was about one year old, it was time to refresh vaccinations anyway, at least that is what the vet said. There was so much information smoking in his brain and it hurt him. It was extra weight putting his head down.

There was no chip for the kitten.. He would set up an ad on-line to show that the cat was found. He and the vet assume the cat to have run away from home or having been left behind after the family moved. Something like that.

Still, he could try so the cat would not really be his problem anymore. There was obviously no name tag or collar. He would have noticed, he is not that fucking dense. The vet, too.

At least Remy got some answers for what the fuck this kitten should eat and could not ever eat because it could hurt.

Also, the cat was a she. Well, too fucking bad Remy settled for they/them pronouns. While he talked to the cat, he could at least practice pronouns he usually did not use much. The cat could not get offended. Totally a win-win situatuon.

The coffee lover curled up on the couch, kitty cat still somewhat drowsy in his lap.To be honest, the cat felt drunk to him, so Remy did not know better but to nurse his own wine while giving the kitten some chicken he had gotten for them.

“Queen, you are a really really unbelievable thing”, he started as he looked at the tiny void in his lap that was currently chewing on a last bit of chicken pieces.

He had removed all that bone stuff and washed off the meat before to make sure it was not seasoned or too greasy and such for the kitten. Totally no need to kill the poor thing when he could just be fucking careful and mind their needs and limits.

“You know, you get all hot on those funny things and you are living with me now - without paying rent - and like, you do not even give me your a name. You are, like, the most mysterious person I have ever met. Fucking rude, you little harlot.”

Remy sipped a bit of his wine and placed the package on the table. Yes, he drank wine out of a package because he was a cheap person. He needed to pay off the flat he had bought because his job did not make the most money ever. At least it was enough for him having a somewhat cozy and stable life.

He carefully shifted under the warm weight of the warm fluff. Remy was so glad the vet cleaned the cat so he did not need to do that. Was that extra service? He definitely paid for this shit, not gonna lie. Well, he would get a bill eventually and then he could still get upset over that. Ultimately, it did not matter right? He had some savings and the cat would be gone soon because it was someone else’s kitty cat.

It was not even in his place to just cuddle with the kitten while watching some bitch flick. But now that he had to ditch his weekend routine for the cat, they had to suck up for it. Also, he was just in a ton of pain by now and hoping for the local wine package to just knock him out well enough. If his senses were numbed, so were his pain receptors because brain foggy when Remy drunk-y.

“Listen up, kitty cat. We might need a name for you, darling”, he started and looked down at how they were licking over their muzzle and nose.

The meal was done and the cat seemed satisfied... The little tongue looked so cute, it was so so pink.

“I mean, maybe you already have a name but calling you queen all the time ..”, he trailed off and shrugged, “you know, don’t know whether you, like, deserve that title to be a name. It is something you earn and live, but you are not just some queen. Except when you are some fucking royal but who the fuck cares about that shit.”

The cat looked up at him and he vaguely looked back before sticking his tongue out and gently brushing through the soft fur of the little monster of coal he sheltered.

“Yeah, right. Fuck the Queen. It is not the same as you being a queen. Anyway, it would kinda not be the same for you to be a queen and to be Queen. You know?“

Remy chuckled as the kitten pushed its head against his ribcage.

“You totally get me, don’t you?”

The kitten meowed in reply and he continued to pet the little ball of softness. The little one even smelled great. Well, now.

“Okay, let us give you a name that fits you. I don’t know, honey. Something fancy but also classy because it is you”, he giggled, “I don’t know but we will find something!”

Remy gently picked up the little kitten and hummed as he stumbled over to the bookshelves. His wine was abandoned and the small void simply meowed in response to his actions.

“You know what, fuck that show. They all suck anyway, honey. Reality TV is just a nice background .. nice, like.. what else would people watch Kim Kardeshian for? Genuine interest? Gurl, it is all about the sounds and sights or plainly being the malicious bitch to gossip and ridicule these people.”

He giggled and settled before the bookshelf, sitting there with the little queen on his arms. Was queen a title, now? Not a name but somehow some kind of pet name, huh.

“You know what, kitty?”, he whispered and the cat shook their head at the sudden sounds and the wet breath Remy offered. They pushed their little head against the man’s collar bone.

“I am that kinda bitch to do all the heavy gossiping.”

He laid down and let the cat rest on his chest. His back was pressed against the dark floor in his reading corner. The curious little cloud looked around and stood up, tail curiously moving from one side to the other. Then it stayed and moved in slow-motion before returning to the other side while staying kinda between low and horizontal.

Cats were so cute.

And the cat really looked like a cloud.

A dark one.

Not a black sheep, a black cloud!

“Storm cloouUuUuUd”, Remy sang softly and the cat turned back to him, letting out a responsive sound in reply.

They understood him! Or were at least annoyed enough to react and give him a “what the fuck” look with all the sassy cat-ness in their bi-coloured orbs.

“Aw!! You react! But that is a long way to go, still, you brooding little dust ghost.”

He blew a little bit off of the cat’s head and brushed it off to make sure it was all clear. Maybe from the chicken or the couch.

He had to cleaaaan, ew. Woooork.

Bad cat. They really be spreading the dust around like a little ghost.

Damn it, he only wanted to find some nicknames for the small being.

“Cat, can’t you do the work for me? I mean, come on, I totally got you to the vet and you got drugged for free. That is a real favour to do for a stranger, gurl.”

The cat looked back up at him.

Oh, how could he have forgotten about that??

“Bitch!”

Remy exclaimed wildly and sat up, simply to fall back into the ground with a dull ‘thud’ accompanying his motions. The insides of his head seemed to be forcefully shrunk together and the tipsy man groaned in annoyance. The pain was so fuzzy and far away, it was basically a street sign on the other side of the street during a day of heavy fog.

All he did feel was the heaviness of his head and the horrible throbbing that came right after he limply dropped into the hard wood again.

“uh… Aw, I am the dumb bitch, here. Kim, save me”, he weakly slurred.

Obviously, he was in about the greatest state to take care of another being, especially one that was just as drowsy as him and slowly processed his sudden movements with flinches away from him.

When the man did not move, the curious guest nudged Remy’s nose with their own.

Had the coffee lover seen it, he would have swooned, probably.

Well, on the other side, he slowly got himself together and carefully shifted again, this time being considerate of his own and the kitty’s needs. He was much slower, lethargic in a way, it would make Sloth itself jealous.

Eventually, he was in position, vision still blurred with blackish spots tainting his view on the dimly lit apartment.

“So- as I was saying… wait”, he started yet trailed off soon after, voice quieting down and light eyes closing.

“uh.. yeah, I know where I left off. So, as I was, uh, saying.. Like, bitch! You are totally as tipsy as I am with all those killers in ya, big boi.”

Once more, his own giggles filled the room while the cat just pushed their head against his chin. The creature somewhat vibrated a bit and it felt oddly funny to Remy. Indescribable sounds came from the little kitty cat. It did not sound like a Queen, not really. It was more like uh.. a cat. Nothing else Remy has ever heard sounded quite like that.

“You uh.. you still need a name, you little void egg, you. Hihi.“

Remy curled and gently cradled the black ball closer. His grip around the cat was secure yet loose. The cloud of nothingness was comfortably sunk into his arms as the man got onto his wobbly legs and moved his jelly sticks closer to the little corner of books and boxes once more.

The kitten did have more than just great taste to hide there when they first started exploring some shit around his flat.

Their flat?

… uhh.. the doc said to look for the original owners.. oh man, he still had to do that on top of all the things he had to do. And he did not even know whether it was worth it but it was much better than just giving the cat over to some shelter.. uh.. cat thingy.. cat orphanage?

Cat orphanage. Sounded like a totally valid word. Yes, Remy, the name was, like, totally not sanctuary. Absolutely it was not. You fucking genius.

The kitten was snuggled up to Remy’s chest, acutely unaware of the change of environment that slowly came around with Remy wandering off their spot to really dive into the corner of his secret reading delights. He was back on the oriel, the space were the floor was not any dark wood anymore but instead carpeted in wine red. This was the only piece of floor in his home that had a little bit of carpet and it just started with a provisional glass door he had put there with more than just a little effort.

Basically, this little corner was a glass globe library with the perfect sight on the snowy streets and other weather conditions throughout life. Due to architecture, he basically had a built-in bench because some oriels build a “dent” into the home which can be used as some kind of elaborate and excessively broad window sill.

It was worth all the work he had put into it.

Whenever he came in to read, it was calm and silent, it was warm but easily adjusted by opening the windows or turning on the heating (considering he did not live in the warmest region on earth at all. In fact, he lived in a more moderate climate and enjoyed the tendency towards coolish temperatures. Despite climate change, there was still snow early in the winter months).

The two curled up on the floor, leaning against a beanbag. Remy was leaning against the beanbag, to be specific. The kitten was curled up on Remy, cuddling into his arms like the hazy bitch they were. The Queen could barely process anything but well, steady ground it was.

Remy was resting on the bean bag, the cat silently meowing at the change of softness around them when the home-owner slowly turned his body for the kitten to slide against the bad with him.

Maybe the cat liked it. Nobody could know anything because the cat was out of it and also, cats were hell-spawns who were not to be understood but worshipped only.

A book was resting in Remy’s lap. When did he pull it there? He did not remember. Maybe it had just settled with him, flying over or whatnot.

The book was one hell of a beast.

Pages upon pages were stacked on top of one another and bound together in the obscene creation of a whole book that held knowledge, big enough to rival a human brain in size - at least when putting this knowledge onto pages in barely readable fonts and size.

“Yo, cat. We need a name for ya, honey.”

He let his head roll to the side and then back into position again. The void looked over at him and seemed to shrug. Maybe Remy was imagining things.

“Uh.. You can’t read that for me, now, can you? Why do people even get cats, man. Like, no offence but is that not why we have human beings? So we socialise and uh .. uh like.. taaaalk and hate one another. Cuz we totaaally need that kinda interaction.”

His voice let the words blend in together, the muffled sentence barely resembling different words or sounds but instead one big hum. Useless blabber, at most. Not that the pet would understand him if he was putting proper effort into talking like a sober and completely sane person.

“Caaat. Caaaat, just learn reading? Give yourself a name, gurl. Independence!”

Yeah, well.. This seemed not to work, in fact, it obviously resembled a fruitless endeavour instead. Much like teaching a donkey how to sow greens, the cat took up Remy’s words and ignored them skilfully. Even in his tipsy mind, he was well aware that an animal would not just magically learn reading and then read out to him. However, the wishful thinking was still in his heart… and his foggy dummy mind.

He reverted to child-like attention spans and reasoning abilities whenever he got to drink just a bit more than a little. And honestly, the wine got a little to him, especially with this bottomless void eating, like, all of this fucking chicken.

He mumbled something about sharing under his breath before he pulled the book closer and heaved it open with his weak noodle power. There was not that much energy left in his heart. He was tipsy and as soft as molten butter.

The book groaned as it was opened, awakening the pages of knowledge from deep slumber.

It willingly dropped the front and backside onto Remy’s lap. It spread like a good partner for the intimate deeds. The excitement of being handled and warmed by a knowledge-seeking person got to it and drove the book to reveal just the right passage for them.

“Names.. Names. Kitty cat, pick a name.”

“mrrrow..?”

“Yeah, hoe, but like, you’re a Queen.. to me and not to others so how about you lemme pick a name, so the mortals can give you their foolish attempts of daring to raise their voice at you without spoiling your title, you void hoe.”

The cat gave him a slow-motion blink of two eyes. These wonderfully coloured eyes.. How were cats allowed to just have such precious gems as eyes. Like.. did he rob some jewellery store thing.. did they have names again, he felt like they had some kinda name and he was supposed to know this and all.

Uh, he would be clever later.

“Alright. This is a name dictionary thing. Like, for when you get a baby and you need to name that little shit, so the system can discriminate against it. It gives you names, you know. You have them according to the alphabet which is a linguistic attempt at bringing order into the way we communicate and organise shit. By the way, this is totally lame because language is fucking liv- ah, uh.. alive. That’s the bitch I was looking for.”

Remy suppressed a burp before he allowed himself to continue.

“Can you .. can you just paw this thing?”

The cat did not move. Uh.. He carefully nudged the little monster. A lazy glare was thrown his way but this is where it stopped. Such a lazy hoe. They would be the bestest of friends very soon.

Seriously, kitten? Not even some dumbass meow sound or whatever? Wow, okay. Selfish much.

He groaned.

Now we was getting upset with a little cat. He made it this far in his life. Instead of diving deeper into any negative feelings, he moved himself. His finger gently tapped onto the paw once more and softly stroked it before putting it onto the page.

“Oh, mine own dearest liege, I has't did summon all the fucks i has't hath left to giveth and ‘t wast enow to maketh.. this miracle! Uh - thou hath moveth thy fucking paw. ”

…Not even that did get the cat to as much as meow at him. At LEAST the void monster spared him a glance of annoyance for his effort. Valid, valid. At least some feedback, thundercloud. Yet, the moment was gone as soon as it came and the kitten then dropped the whole thing and looked down again.

Some sorta ritual to close their eyes and nap away. Even the cat had better living habits than he did.

“Nonononono, dun nap jus yeeeet! V-V … uh..”

He had taken up the name from the book, accepting the fate of the paw and started looking into the decision of the higher spirits. He was ready to act up on whatever the heavens and skies and all that shit have decided for the cat to be named.

The man squinted at the pages.

The top of it said “V”, so he knew that this was the start for their name now. Of course the Queen would be such a diva and end up with a name as unique as starting with such a rare letter. Totally Extra :tm:.

To be fair.. who the fuck used those letters anyway, man.. xylophone? Laaaaaaaaaaaame. Virginia, Voltron, V-.. V…

“Virgil”

Remy blinked.

He blinked multiple fucking times.

The name did NOT, unlike his mind’s stupid expectation, suddenly change into something like, uh, you know,… Jared. Some funny shit.

No, it was still this name. Virgil.

“Is that even a name for a cat who I declare to be gendered in the neutral only? Uh, you know.. whatever, like, it is whatever because you are a QUEEEEEENG.. Queen.. a queen. You just un-rule gendered names. They are stupid anyway, guuurl. Fuck this all.”

“Queen Virgil! Now how does that make you feel, huh?”

The kitten gave him another blink and finally retreated their paw.

“Yeah, my little nightmare goat. We are gonna go nap all night, all day!”

The man giggled again. Then he made sure to just give up and fall asleep like that, curled up on a beanie, kitty cat fur tickling him and doing nothing to facilitate his breathing. All he breathed in was ai- uh.. No.. Virgil’s fur.

Welcome to a change of life, huh?

Or simply: “Welcome, Virgil”.

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mayphoenix · 5 years

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...with Long Intervals Of Horrible Sanity turned 9 today! Wow -- nine years! Where has the time gone? I should give an update. My life has taken on great changes. I am still living in the same apartment, still going through the same battles with housing and food assistance (they cut the latter and I’m getting $100/mo to buy groceries). My eldest cat has renal failure and pancreatitis and I have no idea how much longer he will be with me, so I am cherishing every day. Not to be outdone, two other cats decided they needed to have costly trips to the vet, one with a middle ear infection brought on by food allergy, which I’m now treating at home, and another who had to have all but four of her teeth extracted. I had to put my ghostwriting on hold for fear of losing rent assistance -- back in 2017, I was told it didn’t count as “regular” income, but then in 2018 I got a new caseworker who said all income counts, but now I’m back to the previous caseworker and she refuses to return my calls or answer my emails, and calling the main number is useless because it routes directly to a voicemail box that’s always full. Back in November 2017, I received Kona, a 2002 Subaru Impreza Sport from a friend who could no longer drive (medically). She knew I needed a car, so she just gave it to me. Original owner, she had put 38K miles on this vehicle. Mechanics everywhere have said, “That car will outlive you!” Yeah, well...unfortunately, this particular make/model/year of Subaru comes with what one website calls The Dreaded Head Gasket Problem. It is inevitable, and last winter I noticed a lot of odd-smelling exhaust coming from Kona that smelled of burning coolant. I had the radiator and thermostat replaced, and was told there was a leak somewhere. A few months ago, another mechanic found this tiny leak. I am told I can still drive as long as I watch the coolant level and temp gauge, and what to do if she overheats. Meanwhile, the Check Engine light is on because the O2 sensor has gone out, and now there is a squealing sound which I know means a bad belt somewhere. And the brakes are getting soft, too. I was quoted over $1800 for the head gasket repair and O2 sensor which entails taking out the engine, fixing it, and putting it back in. I’ve already had to replace two tires (and on an AWD, you have to have all tires matching -- come to find out, they have discontinued this tire so I got two of the last new ones in existence). This “free” car has already required over $1000 in work. And it’s all I’ve got so I have to do what I can to make sure she keeps going. Now, I don’t know if I’ve talked about this, before, but I do have a spiritual side to me. It’s not conventional by any means. I don’t subscribe to any one religion. But I always knew I was a natural healer (laying on of hands, energy work) and came from a long line of witches (going back to my Pictish ancestors and Native American roots; my great-great-grandfather was a medicine man). I used to do this for as long as I can remember, drawn to people in pain and using something inside me to take it away and make them better. I never knew there was a name for it, until one day someone saw me working on a friend’s migraine and asked, “Where did you learn Reiki?” My reply was, “What’s ‘Reiki?’” I had a very dark period in my life about 15 years or so ago where I shut down, though, withdrew into myself, because I was so depressed and suffering from undiagnosed PTSD and anxiety/panic disorder. I was so afraid I would pass my sickness on to someone else, so I stopped healing. Following the end of my marriage in 2010 and being on my own for the first time in my life, I went through several surgeries and was put on different medications for various ailments, some of which nearly killed me. I also had a few TIAs (mini-strokes). The only thing keeping me from ending my life was knowing my cats needed me around to care for them. Also, I found out my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s but then six months later during a follow-up, the doctors at U of M Ann Arbor said, “It’s not Alzheimer’s, we don’t know what it is.” (Note: based on her behavior, it may be Vascular Dementia but that can’t be diagnosed until after death -- so for now, we just know it’s dementia.) And then right before Christmas 2017, I got fed up with the repeating cycle of being used and abused by my sister, prompting me to cut ties with her, and my eldest niece told me to go fuck myself, leaving me pretty much on my own. Well, Life has a way of making things fall into place whether you like it or not. After all the shit I was going through with the TIAs and getting my cholesterol under control (I’ve put myself on a low-carb diet), my chiropractor told me out of the blue, “You should go into Reiki.” Damn, there’s that word, again... He said there was a guy named Adam, a massage therapist and Reiki Master, who rented space from him twice a week; I should talk to him. Well, Adam was never in when I would go for my appointments. One day, my friend Keith who volunteers at the local Gilda’s Club said I should look into their free workshops for yoga, meditation, and tai chi. I figured this might be good to help with my stress levels, at the very least, so I checked their calendar -- and there was someone offering free Reiki at the end of the month. I went in and immediately felt something happen, just being in the room with this woman. It was like being inside a Tesla coil. I began telling her things -- about her, like her childhood, etc, that she confirmed. And I began to cry. Not out of sadness but release. She said when I walked into the room I had an entourage of spirits with me -- guides, angels, light beings -- more than she’d ever seen, before. She got me on the table and while she never once actually touched me, I could feel pain, like she was physically pulling on me. What she was doing was pulling things out of me. She found his large cord attached at my solar plexus chakra and said, “You are attached to past trauma.” Oh, yes...yes, indeed. I told her to cut the cord and I felt it. It made me cry out, it hurt so much, but then afterward...I felt different. Something had changed. A week or so later, I went to my next chiropractic appointment, and when I stepped out of the exam room, I turned and saw this young man standing in the hall, looking right at me. I just stopped and said, “You’re Adam.” He said yes. “You’re a Reiki Master.” He said yes. “We need to talk,” I said. And he showed me into his room, where we spent an hour talking. I noticed he seemed nervous. He said, “I’m always nervous in the presence of a great healer.” Who, me? He said he could ‘feel’ my energy. He then recommended I go to Jodi, the Reiki Master who taught him. I found her place of business online and saw that they did monthly “Open Reiki Shares” where people just get together and work on each other in a group, for free. One of these sessions was coming up. I decided to go and see what it was about. What happened that day...it was incredible. Not only was I healing but I was tapping into the minds of these other people, seeing what they were seeing. Then they got me on the table and the Master seated at my head began to shake. She said, “You’re not an Old Soul -- you’re ancient, and you come from a place across the universe.” Well, I already knew that...but no one else had ever acknowledged it, until that moment. Someone picked up on the fact that I’m a writer, and then another Master said, “She is a Storyteller, and she is going to help others with her words.” Cryptic! They also said they saw a mass of spirits around me, and one of them said that there was a guide who had yet to reveal itself to me but would do so soon. I signed up that day to take Jodi’s Reiki I & II course. When the time came, I found myself learning things I already knew, things I already did, and I understood after all these years why people thought I knew Reiki -- because I had been doing it, all along. Even my chiropractor, who is an empath and a healer, sensed it in me. During the attunement, as I had my eyes closed, I “saw” a dragon look down over my head at me while Jodi was behind me. I had been told she had a Dragon guide, so I figured that was him. I even looked up and said, “Hello!” I cannot begin to describe how it felt to be attuned, and how I have felt ever since. I called my friend Seth, a massage therapist and a powerful healer in her own right who is studying shamanism, and she said it sounded like I was tripping. I was seeing everything in such sharp focus, hearing things, aware on so many levels. Jodi had asked me if I experienced anything during the attunement and I mentioned seeing her dragon. She just grinned and said no, he was my Dragon. Now, please note: in the late 90′s, I attended a drumming circle class where we all went on an inner journey to meet different spirit guides, and the one that appeared to me was a Phoenix. Back then, I figured he represented that part of me that was always getting burned up and somehow rising from the ashes. I even got a tattoo of the bird on my back. Well, now I have a Phoenix and a Dragon -- in Chinese, these are the balance of Yin and Yang. Coincidentally, my first tattoo was a yin-yang, and one of the first rings I ever bought was a yin-yang with the OM symbol on either side. It would also explain why, after being attuned, I had a sudden craving for Chinese food... I have since learned the purpose of these guides. The Phoenix is used in long-distance healing when I send Reiki out to others, and the Dragon protects me while I do my work. He will also “encase” me or other people in eggs of protection. The Phoenix takes his duties very seriously, while the Dragon...is a bit of a diva. He’s also a shape-shifter because I’ve seen him in full reptilian form and in human form with wings. I have many other animal totems but these two are connected to my healing abilities and now that I’ve come back to that aspect of who I am, I find that they represent the dual sides of me -- Two-Spirit. The Phoenix is still me as I reinvent myself, refusing to be destroyed. I used to be so timid and when I screamed in anger I sounded like a wounded animal; now when I’m angry, my Dragon roars through me, refusing to take shit from anyone. Life has changed for me so much since this all happened. We are in a time of Awakening and Transition, and I’m seeing it all around me even as I, myself, am going through it. I have people asking for my help -- “Please send me Reiki!” from all over. And I do. I’ve been using it on my cats. I’ve used it on myself. It’s incredible. I have been changing the vibration in my home, making it brighter, more colorful, inspirational. I have been finding old jewelry and wearing it (that’s the Dragon, show-off that he is with his bling!). I have been pushing myself out of my comfort zone and spending more time at Gilda’s, where I hope to offer free Reiki once a month to those who need it. I am also hoping to get a portable massage table so I can do Reiki housecalls. I’ve even joined a local group of professional writers that gets together once a month. I have started to wean off of one of my medications (Klonopin) which has been rough but I knew I had to stop when I began to notice an occurrence of bad side effects and found that it could do a lot of long-term damage to other parts of my body. I am doing meditation, now, which helps. I am also preparing to set up a Patreon in order to fund my writing so I can get my first novel out -- somewhat autobiographical, it has been years in the works and deals with surviving narcissists and finding one’s path in life, it’s called The Dragon in the Garden. (I came up with the title ages ago; little did I know...) I have a sequel plotted, and then another book set in New Orleans with different characters. All of these are mine, not ghostwritten, but I can’t use my own name because two other authors have published under variations, so I’ve come up with something else that will serve. Bit by bit, things are falling into place. But you know the most important part of all of this? I am not stressing out, anymore. I have decided to live in the moment, and see anything ahead of me is positive. Yes, I am concerned about the state of the planet, about the children in concentration camps, about the madman running the country...I am aware. My head is not in the sand nor in the stars. I remain a realist. But I can do that and focus my energy on making things happen for the better. I am being the change I wish to see in the world. I am putting out what I want to receive; instead of calling negativity to me, I am sending out positive energy. I cannot deny the results, the changes that have happened since I started to do this. It’s good. Very good. Recently, I volunteered to make a journey to Mississippi, driving a rental car down to the Gulf of Mexico and back in three days (18 hours driving down, 21 hours driving back), to rescue some kittens that were about to be abandoned and bring them to a local foster group. I saw this as an opportunity to do a Medicine Walk/Spirit Journey. I saw so many signs along the way, received messages, and learned things about myself. I had my eyes opened to people around me, those who would deceive and manipulate. And I had a lot of time to think. I discovered new levels of forgiveness within me, and how to release what is no longer of use or importance. It makes things so much better, so much simpler. I have wasted too many years worrying about stuff and nonsense.

Oh, I still have limitations -- physical and mental. As my Reiki Masters have all told me, every healer is damaged in some way. I envision myself as a work of kintsugi, the Japanese art of putting broken pottery back together with gold. I am not perfect and never will claim to be. But I know that I am One with the Divine, Source, Creator Energy, God/Goddess/All That Is. I am on the right path -- and maybe I always was. I just had to go through some dark and scary places along the way in order to be where I am, now. Namaste!

#tumblr birthday #tumblr milestone #my life #happy tumblr anniversary #reiki #self-discovery #healing

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beblebumm · 4 years

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lesbian mom

My sister told me I dress like a lesbian mom. With no offense meant towards lesbian mothers because as Chloe put it- if I was a lesbian mom, my style would be closer to cool. But because up to this point in life I have been straight and childless, I’m just an appropriator. Which I definitely don’t want to be by the way, but I'm an American and blind appropriation is the American way. Working on it. I’m in the kitchen in Cedar Falls finding all my last sporadic, traveled with items to shove in my XL backpack* by the time Chloe brings her new opinion up to her roommates, my family. “Cathy, don’t you think Maddie looks like a lesbian mom?” “a what? A lesbian? I didn’t hear you” ...and dad’s reaction: “oh.. did you get a surrogate then?” * (United and Frontier front like they will be strict about charging you based on the sizes of your luggage, but they won't be. Apparently my size of backpack does not count as a personal item (free) but instead a carry-on (not free). It's a glutinous excuse for a backpack. However, they don’t say shit to you when you show up on the day of your flight. In the words of my friend Grace: If it's on your back and not on wheels, you're fine. I have had to repack a backpack once, throwing on a sweatshirt and carrying socks in my hand to make it through. But you know what that was? Free.And Fyi- U.S. airlines alone made 5.1 billion bucks in extra baggage fees in 2018. Don't contribute to that mess.) * But anyways, to come to the defense of lesbian moms, I think I dress with the best intention. I don’t think I have bad taste, but I can have bad execution. It's not entirely my fault though, as I feel bigger boobs make a lot of outfits merge towards mother. Tops are always an issue because you have the possibility of looking tenty, and opposite that- the issue of looking too tucked in. It can make the attempted effortlessness come off as starchy. I also straddle this line of wannabe skater and NOT wannabe school teacher, meaning I would love to come across as someone who deserves to wear Vans and less like someone who is reading to your child over snack time. That one is harder to explain, but has a lot to do with stripes. I don't bother running all of this past her, but I told Chloe that if I was flat-chested she wouldn’t be saying this. She didn’t argue but offered to help pay for my reduction. My dad and I get in the car after I make an everything bagel with some onion flavored cream cheese. A Thomas brand bagel, of course. Because it’s the cushiest and you can find them everywhere. We love a processed carb. He drives me to the airport in his new-but-used Toyota Highlander, which doesn’t reek of cigs like his previous whip. He only likes this new car because it has a cassette player, but the low mileage is a plus. I just want to say that the Cedar Rapids airport is low entertainment. It’s a trade-off because you are through security in seconds, but you have to do things like chase after people to hand them their ID’s they left on the counter to help the employees out because we’re Iowa nice and when in the homeland you have to act right. And people wear really ugly printed leggings and foul footwear. Lots of camo and lots of Hawkeye logos, which I do not identify with despite it being my alma mater. I was caught in a very vulnerable spot with my thick and tall Doc Marten's, (not a good airport shoe but a good everyday shoe so what can you do) hunched over the ‘Get Your Shit Back Together Very Quickly Bench’ that comes after security, when I see this rushed looking, young nerd man in a long black trench coat. He LOUDLY and SO abruptly asks this similarly aged gal he was coming up behind whether her hair was red or blonde. She had long red hair with dyed blonde ends. She said “red?” and he says nothing but “HUMPH” without breaking speed at all. Why did he need to know that and also why could he not see that her hair was both colors? And if he cared so much to know, then why did he not respond? Did he think this was considered to be hitting on her?? Because practically yelling at her to inquire about her appearance is not cutting it. I wish for his sake I could at least call him a boomer but he didn't meet the age requirement. Whatever. She looked around for confirmation that what had just happened to her was so weird, which of course I gave to her by saying: “That was so weird.” The sole restaurant by the gates has Blue Moon so that’s redeeming. But it’s in a tin can which is not so good. I used to prefer a draft pour with an orange slice but I am partial to a cold bottle now, plain- no orange. It’s more consistent this way, as some places don’t clean their draft lines regularly and it shows. I met an icon on my flight today. I, of course, was assigned my usual middle seat as I am certain I paid the littlest amount of airfare out of everyone on the plane. Deals only. But as I step up to my row and make that apologetic eye contact with the dude who is about to have to move and let me assume my usual middle spot, the guy asks me if I want to switch spots with his son- WHO HAS AN AISLE SEAT. YEAH SIR, I DO. And this is how I was seated next to the only stranger I’ve had an extended conversation with on an airplane, ever. At least to the point where I was sure I wanted to be buddies with her. She was not stoked on the middle seat, but it’s the one she had in our row. The icon is named Erin and she said: “I’ve been ignoring people on planes for 20 years but you seem like an absolute riot.” I realized I also tend to spend a lot of time ignoring people on airplanes. I actually spend more time trying not to bother the people around me, aka holding urine in until I am nearly bursting because the awkward fumbling out of my usual middle seat is too much. I did, however, have slight banter with a guy sitting next to me on the way into Iowa from Denver on this same trip. All he wanted to say to me was that he had just been skiing in Vail or something. People love being able to say sentences like this, by the way. "Skiing in Vail". It's supposed to impress whoever they tell. Ok. But later on, he and I would exchange terrified eyes as we watched this awful moment unfold after an older fellow in the row across from us ignored all social rules and played his voicemails on full blast, speaker volume, for about 10 minutes. A young gentleman near us let him know that “We can all hear that!” which I would have never said but was also thinking. Obviously. The Voicemail Blarer says “Oh sorry” calmly but is very caught off guard. I thought- wow. That went well. But the Voicemail Blarer takes all of 30 seconds to stew before erupting. He belly yells that he is a “WAR VETERAN AND THAT IS WHY I CANNOT HEAR OUT OF THIS EAR WHICH IS WHY MY PHONE IS ON SPEAKER AND BY THE WAY IM ON THIS FLIGHT BECAUSE MY MOM JUST DIED AND I AM FLYING BACK TO IOWA FOR THE FUNERAL. PEOPLE LIKE YOU ARE AHHHHHHHHH KDFKSJDFLKJDFLJSDF”... I feel like the percentage of people flying to Iowa for funerals is probably a decent chunk. Either you're visiting your family or someone died. Just speculating. ANyways. The Mourning Vet Voicemail Blarer said some pretty harsh remarks towards the Complainer that I can’t remember because I was so nervous as a witness to this that my adrenaline was working overtime to suppress. I remember being proud of The Complainer as he kept very level and only said a couple words to defend himself followed by: “I’m sorry you’re going through that man but we don’t all need to hear your voicemails.” I see both sides of this interaction. On the younger Complainer dude’s side, it’s not socially courteous for the vet to be playing his voicemails out loud. Especially for ten minutes. I mean Larry David would have lost it. On the other hand, no one was insulting his status as a vet or poking fun at his late mother, but he has obviously been through more life and more challenges than I and plus he’s grieving. I don’t know. I didn’t mind the voicemails THAT much. Back to today- Erin is the second stranger I’ve met who inspired me this month. Technically this year, and technically this decade, too. Happy 2020. From what I saw, she’s a kick-ass, take no shit, lay it all on the table kind of individual. She had a natural openness about her and radiated warmness but is the type to probably gaurd herself just enough. The kind of person who you would hate to see sad. Born in cedar rapids, went to Iowa for Journalism, got her masters at Syracuse. Has lived all over- New York, London, LA (I think she said). Will not donate to her old sorority, Chi O, because she can’t affiliate with that anymore because it’s lame. But she’s loyal enough to one of her sorority besties to fly to Denver and sit with her while she undergoes a chemo treatment. She asks me about work and I say I have enough side hustles to equate to having a real job. She tells me I need a podcast and says I must have been told this before. I haven’t. But If I had one, I would have her guest star immedieately. She oozes content. Apparently, there’s such a thing as coaching people on how to talk on camera because this is her job. It can be split up into different categories based on the size of the screen. Phone, computer, TV, etc. She kept saying things about “inches”. I thought this was wildly specific, exactly the sort of job you wouldn’t think about until you thought about it. Niche. Hopefully future me is doing something niche right now. But only if I'm enjoying it. She also mentioned some clients she has that I should speak to so I can learn how to travel the world for free. I could have clung to her and never let go after she said this, as that would make my life and her encouragement inspired me. Before this though, we agree I need a credit card that rewards with airline miles instead of cashback. It’s third up on my “to-do now” list- which is different than my “to-do” list becasue that one is for things like making dentist appointments. For the things that should not be put off but can and will be. Until they can't. She asks what my sign is, which is Sagittarius. She said of course. She’s a Virgo. I have no clue what this means. People ask me this sort of thing a lot now though so I need to read up. This guy I met recently who works at Wax Trax Records told me not only extensively about my sign but about my rising moon and one other part of it that I can’t remember. Or is it your rising sign and moon sign as separates? Idk. He told me that every girl he knows has an ex-boyfriend who is a Pisces. True. Erin also told me she’s on some board in Iowa City that is currently discussing the ped mall. I had a lot to say about THAT, as I feel the ped mall has turned into wasted space other than maybe one and a half shops. She agrees. It’s not being utilized like it should be, we think. Too many frat bars. Apparently, her family owns the Bluebird cafes or used to, and I said "ooooooooh!" but that I could never get a seat in the Iowa City location because every hungover kid within a ten mile radius is trying to eat there every Saturday and Sunday morning. I also thought of the time they burned my friend Madison Wood’s toast and she sent it back. I didn’t tell her this though. I like Bluebird. And I hate when people at my table complain about the food. She tells me I'm too good to write for random freelances, which I have dipped my toes into doing. Pays like shit. I agree and listen to her tell me about someone she met when she was just one year sober (she is now ten years along) who pushed her to take charge of her own point of view. It sounded to me like she was inspired to trust and invest in herself. I liked that. As if I needed another excuse to stay out of corporate America. Right before she fell into meditation and soon to be sleep, Erin comments on my middle part and my “nice natural eyebrows” which is funny because I helped the brows out right before going through security. (By helped out, I mean makeup-ed. In the airport bathroom, too far away from the mirror, two different pencils- one chubby for careless shading and one skinnier to help the endpoints of my brow that is otherwise dead.) On the topic of my appearance, I tell her that my sister had just told me that I dress like a lesbian mother. She said she loves my sister.

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attackofthezee · 5 years

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WIP meme

Pretty sure I’ve done this before but I was tagged by @bangyababy (and one other person I think??? But it either got lost in my activity notifications or was a weird fever dream??) so I’m doing it again cause I wanna. Also wow I have too many wips so this is under a cut cause it got long as hell.

The Rules: Post the names of all the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous.

Grad School Bucky Cap Steve (There’s literally two lines in this document?? Idk what I’m doing with it and it might be shuffled into the fanfic mortuary file next time I sort through fics.)

Barnes Home For Wayward Kids (Bucky keeps showing up at home with orphans and so he and Steve just end up with like a whole house of them. It’s also probably going into the fanfic mortuary cause it hasn’t been touched since uhhhh last year?)

Werewolf Cap Merica F* Yeah (What it says on the tin! The serum is actually lycanthropy. Steve jumps out of things and gives Bucky heart attacks. It is exactly what people should expect from me tbh.)

Found Baby AU (I WILL ONE DAY FINISH THIS ONE I SWEAR. It features Vet!Bucky who finds a baby in a dumpster and ends up in Pediatrician!Steve’s office at like 1 am and IT IS JUST A LOT OF SOFTNESS AND ONE DAY I WILL FINISH IT.)

NEW DRAGON AU This Time Featuring More Fae (Steve is a dragon and Bucky is fae and they 110% use fae magic and accidentally blood bind themselves to each other at like 9 years old oops. Sarah and Winifred are NOT amused.)

Party Goblin Sequel (One time, years ago, I wrote a fic called Adulthood Is Just A Myth -shameless plug!- and it didn’t do incredibly well despite my love for it at the time buuuut I’ve had a sequel planned for it since pretty much the moment I finished it. It involves Bucky losing his arm because I’m a terrible person, and like the exploration of disability and Steve being a disabled person dealing with the person he loves dealing with disability. It’s still funny, because I’m me, but it will also take forever and a day for me to ever finish it because I am Bad At writing things that are overly close to me.)

Cap PSAs (Literally just a fic about Bucky getting a lot of joy at Steve’s expense from Steve’s really awful school PSAs)

Practical Magic AU (Listen I have craved a Practical Magic AU for YEARS. So I started one a couple months back, but then wearing_tearing went and wrote one because they are a fic writing goddess so now I DON’T NEED TO. But it’s still sitting in my WIP folder so maybe one day I’ll actually finish it under the Two Cakes rule.)

IW FIX IT (I had a lot of feelings after seeing Infinity War??? And I wanted to fix them??? But this is another one that’ll probably go into the fic mortuary because I have NO CLUE what I was planning to do with it.)

MAJOR REWORK NEEDED great american roadtrip (Once upon a time, December 11th 2016 to be exact, at least according to the document details, I sat down to write an epic fanfic where two old assholes went on a road trip, saw the grand canyon, went camping, and also kept up with their therapy via phone appointments.)

both fall of train au (you think both fall off the train aus mean they both get captured by HYDRA? THINK AGAIN. Because what is TRAGEDY? I CAN’T WRITE ANGST so this shit is just Steve and Bucky fall off the train together and both wake up in the 21st century and Have To Adjust. Idk where it’s going, idk anything beyond that basic premise but who knows, IT MIGHT BE GOOD ONE DAY?)

the sequel i'm not writing to where the heart is (the fact that I haven’t touched this since August means the title is technically correct. Basically it’s the story of how Where The Heart Is!Bucky and Steve go on vacation and end up taking down the leftover bits of HYDRA instead. Also Bucky’s instagram is featured a lot. This one actually has a lot written already so like, I wanna finish it eventually.)

is it... a fake dating au???? (A one night stand turns into Steve fake dating Bucky for family events because I love tropes.)

non recovery fic except it IS (Idk how to describe this one except that like it’s a recovery fic but it started based on the premise that not being okay is okay. It’s cute and sad and deals with recovery things.)

Steve Rogers Meets His Irish History: c. 2016 (This one is literally just a document with a link to what inspired it and also will require a lot of research so who the hell knows what’ll happen with it.)

A DIFFERENT FOUND BABY (THIS ONE GOT AWAY FROM ME GUYS. Like it started with Bucky Barnes coming home to Steve because he found A BABY AND I LOVE KIDFIC but then I veered into like How Steve Rogers Relates To Disability, His Body, His Gay Identity, And Gender All In Relation To His Past Disability so like, it’s a mess.)

Angel Steve yo (This will one day be my magnum opus tbh. Steve’s an asshole angel who shows up to a Halloween party in booty shorts and devil horns. Bucky’s the confused millennial who wants to bone him. I don’t think I’ll ever love a premise more tbh.)

ABO PREG STEVE WHAT (I am genuinely not shy about the fact that I like abo and mpreg and all that soft shit, so like, this is just the result of that enjoyment and features omega Steve going into the ice pregnant, waking up and having a baby because THAT PLOT HASN’T BEEN DONE A MILLION TIMES IN ABO FICS OR ANYTHING. whispering softly but with feeling: two cakes Elizabeth, TWO CAKES.)

B99 Kinda (Steve Rogers is a cop in Brooklyn. Bucky Barnes is a firefighter who Steve’s kinda smitten with.)

Jersey- Coda (Soft tummy edition) (someone commented on This Is Why People Don’t Go To Jersey saying they hope Steve’s tummy was soft after having a baby and my inner lizard brain went YES THIS IS GOOD, VERY GOOD. So it’s literally just a fic about Steve having a soft tummy and Bucky being very fond of it.)

soulmate au f yeah (This is my CHILD and I will one day finish the motherfucker. It’s soulmate magical realism where soulmate’s hearts BEAT THE SAME and there is recovery and goodness and god I love the premise a lot, ngl.)

FIRST LADY STEVE ROGERS (This is actually just the document that I have Making The Ride Count in, but it’s also got bits and pieces that will become other parts in the series.)

Will an 80s winter soldier wear leg warmers? (Bucky breaks his programming in the 80s and he and Peggy pal around beating HYDRA and terrorizing people until Steve’s dug out of the ice again.)

competitive assholes (the idea was given to me to have Steve and Bucky be neighbors competing over decorations and I NOW MUST WRITE IT.)

Omega Rights Activist Steve (College abo with omega Steve and Alpha Bucky and like, lots of softness and Bucky just wanting to build Steve THE BEST NEST and Steve being like I AM A STRONG CAPABLE OMEGA but also ‘yes pls buy me seventeen pillows and twenty-five blankets and fluff them strategically for me.’)

An Angel And A Demon Walk Into A Bar... (Angel Steve + Demon Bucky = BEST FRIENDS FOREVERRRRRR. Also lots of jokes about heaven having too much paperwork.)

holiday swap - finish by 12/21 (For the Marvel Holiday Swap. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I’M DOING WITH THIS ONE DEAR LORD HELP ME.)

It All Comes Back Around (Chapter three! It’s coming along slow as hell but it IS coming along.)

FOR LATER (a fic in which Steve wakes up from the ice and starts making mental lists of ‘things Bucky would like’ because he’s a sad, sad human being.)

Loyalty Devotion (For Happy Steve Bingo. There’s selkies??? and Steve is some sort of unspecified magic??? and it’s a little different than my norm writing style wise?? Idk we’ll see how it turns out. I might edit the first bits copiously so that it’s more my style, or i might embrace the flow of this one WE SHALL SEE.)

Aaaand I can’t think of anyone to tag right this moment because my brain is word soup soooo if you want to do this then please go forth and do it! There are no rules here, this is the wild west of meme games, BE FREE WRITER FRIENDS BE FREE

#writing tag #my writing #meme games

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intriga-hounds · 7 years

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i just need to go on a stream of consciousness monologue rn about dizzy so kindly scroll on if u don’t wanna read a brick of Doubt and Distress i am just writing to my good friend the void

dizzy’s decline has been so fast that i’m still in shock. when my mom took her in on monday, the vet thought she looked wonderful, but still wanted me to keep my thursday appt just to be sure. when i got home on tuesday, she was a little puffed up, but still perky and eagerly taking her meds. on wednesday, she slowed down. she seemed uncomfortable and crabby. i didn’t see or hear her eat or drink water. thursday morning she was weak, lethargic, stressed. barely took her meds before her appt.

at the appt, it was revealed that she had lost 10% of her body weight in 3 days. she was severely dehydrated, had a low body temp, and seemed septic. vet prescribed new antibiotics and a diet of pediasure to try to help her bounce back, but by the time i got her home, dizzy was no longer eating or accepting medication, even mixed with her favorite treats. disco is normally the comfort rat, but she was making dizzy crabby, so i separated them again. since we’ve come home, dizzy has sat hunched, breathing hard and raspy, sides pinched, eyes squinty. i lied with her awhile and thought she might die right then and there. she’s still here--barely.

a month ago i had 4 rats. now i am close to having only one. and yes, the three losses all stem from one thing: dipper. dipper was returned to the breeder, but not before giving mighty an abscess that killed her, and covering dizzy in abscesses. it all happened so fast. mighty and dipper had never really loved each other, but they hadn’t fought either. so with the first abscess, i had no idea what caused it. between the first and second abscess, i heard fighting in the cage, but never saw blood. even when i checked the abscesses, i could never find blood or a cut. but with the second abscess, i figured, it must be their fighting. so i separated the four. disco and mighty together, dizzy and dipper together. before then, dizzy and dipper had been thick as thieves. always sleeping together, playing together. never any indication that they did not get along. it was always dipper and mighty. dipper also bullied disco, but because disco is a lie-down-and-take-it kind of girl, she was never hurt.

i was on a trip when mighty died and dizzy was attacked. i wasn’t there, and that’s what bothers me. and what really makes me crazy is that i should have known, i should have asked my brother to house dipper alone bc i knew he knew jack shit about rats.......but dipper and dizzy had always gotten along so well that i had no reason to think there would be an issue.

when i got home from europe, dizzy was covered in abscesses. she had 5 total. FIVE ABSCESSES. two on her neck, one in each armpit, and one on her abdomen. i rushed her to the vet the next day. she was put on medication to shrink the abscesses and fight infection. two weeks later, the vet was pleased with her progress and suggested surgery to ensure the abscesses did not return. “is that even on your radar?” she asked. i said yes, do it.

3 of the 5 were taken care of easily. the ones on her neck had to be marsupialized bc they were right on her jugular and they couldn’t get beneath the capsules. but the vet didn’t seem worried. “rats are really hardy” and all that. yes, so i’ve heard, but knives and mighty were so fragile. knives passed of what i suspect was a pituitary tumor at 11 months, and mighty of what i can only guess is an infection from her healing abscess (which had been drained by a vet a week before) at 16 months. i hoped it was just poor breeding, as knives and mighty had come from a different breeder than the younger 3, and were american blues, which apparently are known to have a weak immune system.

besides looking like a frankenstein creation, dizzy seemed well. she still played with me, climbed the cage, ate her fill every day, and nearly attacked the syringe every time i offered medication. she was fiery and peppy and strong. a few days after the surgery, i flew to singapore. told my mom if she saw anything, absolutely anything wrong, to take her to the vet and i would pay her back when i got home.

on sunday, some stitches busted open. my mom took her the next day. the vet removed the stitches, prescribed some antiseptic wipes, and said, “she looks fine, but keep the thursday appointment.” and the rest i’ve already told and retold.

i’m frustrated. i’m heart broken. i’m angry. of 5 rats, how could i be down to 1 in just six months? what did i do wrong? what could i have done? how could i have fixed it sooner? what were the signs that i missed? why did it happen? and why, after hundreds, even thousands, of dollars, could i not save any of them? why, after immediate vet care with every complication, are they dying?

so much of it for me boils down to pride, i think. i take pride in how i care for my animals. it’s important to me and i spare no expense. i am inexperienced with rats, but i have been dedicated to them. i’ve honestly tried my best. with knives and mighty, i spent 2-3 hrs every day for 9 months just to convince them i wasn’t going to kill them. i adored them. i don’t know. when i take in an animal, i consciously think to myself, “this life is my responsibility. and by buying this animal i am committing to guarding and preserving and enriching this life at all costs.” have i done that?

i feel like i failed every one of them. i feel like it’s all my fault. and please, if you want me to feel better, don’t tell me it’s not my fault, that i did everything i could, etc. what i want is for anyone who’s seen anything wrong with the way i care for my animals to come out and tell me what i did wrong. if you thought to yourself at any point, “wow, i wouldn’t do that, but...i’ll stay in my lane,” don’t stay in your lane. tell me what i did. tell me how to fix it. tell me how i can be better.

i’m so lost at this point. i want a break from rats, but disco is just a baby and can’t live her life alone. what do i do? do i adopt more in the hopes i won’t kill them too? do i adopt one? or two since disco will be 6 months their senior? do i give disco to someone more capable, even if it breaks my heart?

and what about dizzy? do i just wait for her to die at home? do i take her to be euthanized? what can i even do for her anymore?

i don’t want any words of encouragement. i just wanted them all to make it.

#dizzy

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backstorywithdanalewis · 4 years

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November U.S. Election- Storm Clouds. - podcast link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1016881/5365258

dr. jason johnson: (00:00) So we will have no idea who the president is, and there will be armed conflict in the streets with white nationalists, going to main voting areas in order to attempt to intimidate people or prevent people from counting ballots that is what's going to happen. I'll let you know how long it lasts. I have no idea. dana lewis - host back story with Dana Lewis : (00:22) Hi everyone. And welcome to another edition of backstory. I'm the creator and host of this podcast. Dana Lewis, November storm clouds is a discussion about American democracy effected by race relations. COVID-19 the treatment of war, veterans and war dead by president Donald Trump, who said he wouldn't visit an American cemetery in France because the Marines buried, there were losers. No doubt. He said and meant many things. His character is atrocious as a foreign correspondent. I've covered political leaders in dozens of different countries. Trump breaks the American mold and the polls show us voters are turning their backs on him. Joe Biden leads Donald Trump by 12 percentage points nationally among likely us voters, according to a Reuters, September poll. And Trump knows he's in trouble. I gotta tell you I was sailing to an easy election. dr. jason johnson: (01:18) It was going to be so easy. I probably would have not been here tonight. dana lewis - host back story with Dana Lewis : (01:22) Oh, we don't have to bother. This is the most bitter, ferocious, nasty American election campaign ever. The attack ads. Well, wow, dr. jason johnson: (01:33) Dangerous. And as long as Donald Trump is president he'll keep encouraging the cooks, the craziest, the extremists, angry fringe. It doesn't have to be this way. Reject the hate, reject the violence America or Donald Trump stand up for America. dana lewis - host back story with Dana Lewis : (01:48) Okay. Here's where it gets chilling. In this upcoming interview, we ask will Trump, if he loses leave and you know what a lot of people think he won't and the November election could be a disaster for America. November storm clouds on this backstory are dr. Jason Johnson is a professor of political science. He's a well known commentator in America, and he has been racing around all day and he's fit us in just for a few minutes. dr. jason johnson: (02:17) Appreciate it. Jason, you just came dana lewis - host back story with Dana Lewis : (02:20) From a COVID-19 test. dr. jason johnson: (02:23) Yeah, yeah. Uh, it was a very interesting experience, um, and sort of public health and, and government administration. Uh, it was at a local pharmacy that we have here in the States called Walgreens. And yeah, just set up an appointment. You go in, you kind of administer on your own, but it's sort of, I want it dana lewis - host back story with Dana Lewis : (02:43) Well, cause it's personal, but what a runaway train in America and we all look at it from Europe. Like, I mean Britain where I am has had one of the worst outbreaks next to next to Brazil next to America, we had 57,000 dr. jason johnson: (02:57) Deaths around that. I mean, you guys are approaching 200,000. Well, yeah, I mean, and the reason why is because balsa Anoro and, and, um, and, and Boris Johnson and Donald Trump are cut from the same cloth. Boris Johnson almost died from COVID-19 and still hasn't recognized the importance of sort of general public health. There's a tax on NHS for, since he got into office have contributed to one of the difficulties that you all are having a managing it. But the United States is an absolute mess. It is, is it's an avatar of death. We're going to have over 200,000 people dead from, COVID not to mention the people who are living with the longterm health consequences by the time Donald Trump has his first debate with Joe Biden. So it has been an absolute mess. We are the world's dirty cousin at this point dana lewis - host back story with Dana Lewis : (03:42) Becomes the main election issue. If there, I mean, he's, he's hammering of law and order law and order law and order surely COVID-19 and the number of deaths and the health dr. jason johnson: (03:53) Care crisis you have there must rank up against that in probably is above that. Then I think what's important for, for everybody abroad to understand is that there is a disconnect and extreme disconnect between what you may see in 24 hour news coverage and what is actually affecting regular people and voters. Now, everyone can always say that it's always pretentious to say, they're missing the man on the street. They're missing the guy in the pub, but I'm telling you this because it is true. The most important story is not the polls. The polls are consistent. Donald Trump is losing Donald Trump has been losing. It doesn't really matter. He's acting like someone who's already lost. The biggest issue has been that he's cheating that the president of United States and the Republican party has already said that, uh, you know, national security agencies can no longer brief Congress on election interference. dr. jason johnson: (04:48) Uh, he has put one of his cronies and appointees in charge of the post office. It's it's hundreds of thousands of millions of Americans are gonna vote by the post office this year, shutting down post offices and destroying sorting machines is basically a way of gumming up the works. That is the problem. Donald Trump has already lost. He knows he's going to lose to Joe by all he's doing now is trying to consolidate, powering any discussion in America. I screamed this on TV and in writing any discussion in America that pretends that this is actually still an election between two competing sides is ignoring the obvious dangerous of Donald Trump poses to basic democracy. So what are the, dana lewis - host back story with Dana Lewis : (05:23) The graphics then in terms of black America? I mean, surely if they can vote, they will not, they will not vote for Donald Trump. If they can get to the polls, if they can navigate a pandemic, if they can deal with this mail in dr. jason johnson: (05:37) Ballot problem. Well, yeah, look demographically. If you look at the United States of America, the Republican party for 15, 20 years now, it's only a white people's party. They only function because they have almost a lock on white voters. And if you look at it, um, there hasn't a Republican who actually won the majority of votes in America since gosh, in 2000, I think the last time he Republican actually won the majority of the vote. He was 2004. When Bush ran for reelection, every other election, since they've lost, they have not gotten the majority of the vote. So they're not reflective of what people want. So demographically, while they may have the majority of the white vote Democrats usually get anywhere between 38 to 42% of the white vote, 90 something percent of the African American vote. Uh, Trump has been oddly competitive with the Hispanic vote in America, but you have to remember the Hispanics are, it's a hodgepodge term. I mean, there are white Hispanics in America who identify with white supremacy and racism and abuse that the president sort of engages in. So, you know, it is, it is a last desperate attempt for a certain kind of entrenched bigotry in America to maintain power because demographically, they lost this country 20 years ago. We were dana lewis - host back story with Dana Lewis : (06:54) By this Atlantic article at least. I mean, I was rock cause I spent a lot of time with the U S military embedded with them. I understand how they would react to it, dr. jason johnson: (07:02) Where, you know, w where he, he talked about, uh, worrying about dana lewis - host back story with Dana Lewis : (07:06) His hair and not going to a cemetery in France and calling for vets losers. dr. jason johnson: (07:12) It's just not the Atlantic, but it's been, uh, you know, five other news organizations have come out now and quoted the same source. And I think we can all guess probably who the sources are, who the sources, but does that stick to him or in this frenetic ferocious news cycle? Is that just forgotten about the next day? No, no, it doesn't say. And here's why it doesn't Cleveland in America. It's not between Republicans and Democrats. It's not even between conservatives and liberals. It's between people who pay attention to politics and people who don't, the people who pay attention to politics. I already know how they feel. And they look for you. They look for confirming information and they don't want to deal with cognitive dissonance. So there's a lot of people in America who haven't even heard of the Atlantic story. They don't care. Now, the military has heard about it. dr. jason johnson: (08:00) And Trump is doing very poorly with the military for an incumbent president who happens to be a Republican, but you know what he had already been doing poorly with the military. He was already a little approval rate with the military. Most of the information that we're hearing about now is simply allowing people to be more comfortable in the decisions that they're already making. There, not one person in America who heard that Donald Trump called soldiers losers, and didn't want to go visit a grave site. And France ain't changed their mind from buying to Trump. Nobody did because everybody knew that this was Donald Trump's personality beforehand. He attacked John McCain. He called John McCain, a loser for being a pow for five years in Vietnam. Who's going to be surprised by this dana lewis - host back story with Dana Lewis : (08:39) About the, the race relations in America. Will they play a very big role in that? dr. jason johnson: (08:46) Oh, they always do. Cause this is a pretty racist country and anyone who pays any attention to us, it's a racist country. Just like the UK, just like Brazil, just like any country. That's dominated by people who colonized and kill the indigenous population. The only difference this time is that Donald Trump has done the one thing that you can't do in America and still get legitimately elected. Because again, he may stay in power, but it's only going to be because he cheats like a third world country dictator. Um, Donald Trump has angered white people in America. Uh, there's a lot of white voters in America. They don't care about racism. They don't care about corruption. They don't care about, you know, massaging or anything else like that in the white house, but COVID-19 has wrecked our economy and COVID-19 has disrupted the way of life that most people are used to. dr. jason johnson: (09:27) We can't go to the movies. Kids are trapped at home trying to learn online. Uh, the grocery store lines can sometimes be all the way around the corner, depending on what covert precautions your schools have. So from a racial standpoint, Trump has alienated white voters in a way that most people have African Americans. Or if you're talking about these sort of protests in general, let's be clear state sponsored violence against black people in America is not new. We have merely been able to pay more attention to it over the last 15 years because of technology and because everybody is sheltered in place. Now everybody sees the violence. If you notice the support for black lives matter with white voters went from a peak of 63%. Now it's down to about 49 or 47, some less than sophisticated American analysts would say, Oh my gosh, the black lives matter thing. dr. jason johnson: (10:15) It's working against people now by no 63% of Americans don't care that much about how black people live. But let's be honest about the history of this country. It's about 50%. Think the black lives matter is fine. The rest are fairly ambivalent about, um, and, and there's not anybody in this country who sees protests in Portland and sees protests in Kenosha and suddenly changes their mind. How people are gonna vote was already baked into the cake. And I'll, I'll close with this. Cause I think this is really key is there's a, there's a great is an activist. The United States is very active on Twitter. Her name is Bree Newsome. Uh, and Bree Newsome is the woman who climbed to the top of the, uh, flag pole in South Carolina and tore down the Confederate flag after a white nationalist Dylan roof massacre nine people in a church after praying with them killed nine white people in the church five years ago. dr. jason johnson: (11:02) Horrible. And she has this great tweet where she says, you know, as a white person, these responses to black lives matter kind of like some white person saying, you know what I was against slavery. And then I heard some slaves burned down a cotton field. Well, either you were against slavery. If you weren't okay in burning down a cotton field or a slave verbal changes your mind, then you were never really against slavery. If protests in two American cities, one of the vast majority of American cities have seen nothing like this. And that's enough to change your mind. You were never in favor of black lives matter. You were always going to vote for Trump. So, so race relations in America are pretty much what they've always been. It's just now they're public and people are much more concentrated in what their preexisting opinions already dana lewis - host back story with Dana Lewis : (11:49) I'm nodding my head, but I I'm trying to process because I would think after George Floyd and in some of these terrible killings in video, now that that light, you know, sets the street on fire and can be seen from one from the East coast to the West coast so quickly that surely people now understand the level of brutality and they understand the police abuse and they understand how some 80,000 police departments, 85,000 police departments in America, you know, don't hire probably don't train. And in the end, most of these guys walk on criminal charges. dr. jason johnson: (12:25) Surely the, the level of awareness, dana lewis - host back story with Dana Lewis : (12:27) The amount of people who are disturbed, not just in the black community, obviously, but in the white dr. jason johnson: (12:33) Surely that's changed. I mean, look, here's here's thing, Dana people are awake. They always knew. It's like, it's like when you have a, it's like when you have a steroid scandal, right? In a popular sport, whether it was Lance Armstrong or tennis or football or basketball, and it's still ruined scandal. And people are like, Oh my gosh, you know, they didn't. And then there's a big discussion for weeks. We need to talk about storage and high school and college sports. Everybody already knew it was there. It's just occasionally I gets thrown in your face in a way that you can't avoid everyone in America. White people have always known that the police are more brutal and more violent with nonwhite people than with white people, regardless of the color of the police officer, everybody's already known that there's not one person American who didn't know that they may have not known how extreme it was. dr. jason johnson: (13:20) They may have not known data behind it, but they knew it all it happened with George Floyd is that a bunch of people who are trapped at home who were already frustrated, saw a murder. I mean, they saw a murder and people don't like steam murder because it forces them to confront the thing that they always knew was going on. But do I think it's transformed anyone? No. I think what it's done is made people who weren't ambivalent about the issue. More clear that it's a problem. And it may have raised it from being here on the list of important things to here for some white people. But there's not, there's nobody who saw George Florida's like my God, I had no idea. Police brutality was an issue until I saw them killed this black man in eight minutes. Anyone who says that, that was the case with them marijuana. I mean, you, you, it was a Steven Lawrence and typically Steven was Steve Lawrence was 2007. Right. And the UK. Yeah. dana lewis - host back story with Dana Lewis : (14:13) And the riots that ensued after that. dr. jason johnson: (14:15) Yeah. Like, is there anybody who didn't know how the cops treated people? I lived in Brixton, I've lived in Manor house. I know how the cops three people and I was an American. So like, it's not like people don't know, uh, it's a matter of how important they take the knowledge that they already have and how it applies to how they behave politically. dana lewis - host back story with Dana Lewis : (14:34) I think it elected and is the promise of a Biden victory going to change anything when it comes to race relations and policing. dr. jason johnson: (14:41) I have no idea if Joe Biden is going to end up being president of United States, that is the honest to goodness answer. He will very likely win the popular vote. He may actually win the election, but whether or not he ever becomes president of the United States, I don't know. Um, because we are dealing with an unprecedented administration that has made it abundantly clear that they will break every law, every norm, and every rule in the book in order to stay in office. What you're looking at right now is extremely important. And, and it's, it's no different than it's, it's, it's, it's not even just Brexit it's it's when, um, you know, the, the, the Scottish sort of independence happened, which basically broke the labor party. Right. Which is now going to allow the Tories and the conservatives pretty much stay in power forever until something changes up there with the SNP. dr. jason johnson: (15:29) I think it is what we are right now. But yeah, I mean, what we're looking at right now is 60 days from the end of what's left over American democracy. If Donald Trump is not removed from office, we will not have another free and open election for 30 years. Cause he's cheated and everybody knows he's cheated. And if he gets away with cheating and if he's able to stay in the white house, um, then we're not going to have any more elections here. They won't stop doing what they're doing. They'll get more bolt. So we'll Joe Biden win. I think he'll win by any empirical measure, but whether or not he ever steps into the white house, I have no idea. There are too many factors at play. And I think anyone that says that they know is, is being naive and foolish. dana lewis - host back story with Dana Lewis : (16:14) And you're really making me feel foolish because here I went overseas as a foreign correspondent to places like Russia and to cover things like elections in Russia and Belarus thinking that that would never come to America. And, and, and we were watching the, the, the spread of democracy after the fall of the Soviet union. Now you're telling me, I should have just crossed the Canadian border down to the U S and done my foreign correspondent service there. And I'll watch it there. When Trump refuses to accept the, the results of it. dr. jason johnson: (16:40) That's fine. Yeah. I mean, I'll tell you what I saw more or less predicted. I pretty much where my, my closing, but I'll tell you what, I pretty much predict on this. I don't, we're not going to know on election night, we're not going to know who won the presidency on election night. What's going to happen is the president of United States is going to declare himself the Victor, no matter what the numbers are, he's going to say he's one. And then it's going to be up to the three main television networks as to whether or not they will broadcast the president claiming that he want. Then you're going to have States like Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, um, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Arizona, maybe even Pennsylvania are going to be saying, hold on, hold on, hold on. We have so many male imbalance. We have to take more time to count. And as those counts come in, most of those States, if they were purple are either going to get more blue or they may vacillate back and forth. Trump is going to tell people to stop voting. Uh, these neo-Nazi proud, boy groups are going to start attacking electors. You're going to have to have the national guard brought in. And all of that is going to be taking place in a situation where we know hundreds of thousands, possibly millions of ballots may michael shure: (17:50) Never have even been delivered to the people who needed them to vote. And our Supreme court said during the primary earlier this year, then if your ballot doesn't arrive on election day, even if it's postmark in time, they say that under some circumstances, you can throw it out. So we will have no idea who the president is. And there will be armed conflict in the streets with white nationalists, going to main voting areas in order to attempt to intimidate people or prevent people from counting ballots. That is what's going to happen on election night, how long it lasts. I have no idea. My head is spinning dana lewis - host back story with Dana Lewis : (18:23) Jason Johnson. Thank you so much for your insight. And as disturbing as it may be, uh, you know, it's enlightening. michael shure: (18:31) I appreciate your time. Thanks so much anytime. michael shure: (18:39) And even though our next guest thinks in order for Biden to win, he needs a commanding victory, but Trump is on track to lose. Alright. Michael shure joins us from Los Angeles. He's a well known political commentator and he's, he's hosted election coverage. Very insightful. Always, always try. We'll try. Now. I want you to cut through the smoke and mirrors for me because this article from the Atlantic, and I sense that this is not going to fade too quickly. I might be wrong. And I think you've talked about how fast the news cycle is right now, but I don't think it's going to fade very quickly, at least from some people's memories. So he wouldn't Trump wouldn't visit a cemetery in France. He was worried about his hair. He referred to 1800 Marines at Belo, Valeo wood as suckers for getting killed. He's denied it. michael shure: (19:36) Will it stick? Well? Here's the thing I don't, you know, and you're right. I often Dana, I think that things don't stick to this president and to this general news cycle. And in point of fact, they haven't. I mean, he's gotten away with more, uh, with one or two of the things from the access Hollywood tape, which would have sucked every presidential campaign in U S history, uh, till the two, an impeachment that didn't really show anything, um, that, uh, that was able to get him removed from office or to influence enough Republicans to vote for that. So I do think that we have to go in with that context. What this does do in, in an electoral way is having an enduring quality to it. Whether or not people are going to keep talking about it forever, it doesn't matter, but it's, it is further facilitating of those Republicans who voted for Trump holding their nose, uh, or those Democrats who went to Trump, thinking that they just didn't like Hillary Clinton. It is further evidence as to why they should be comfortable not voting for the president November. And that's the most important part of this. So you look at a lot of those Republicans who have a really hard time pushing D on their ballot. And they think of these that Donald Trump has done about the military specifically makes it a little easier for that vote to happen. And those are votes that Joe Biden and his campaign are according very, very seriously. So when you start dana lewis - host back story with Dana Lewis : (20:57) Being of the demographics and we're looking at these polls, okay, so he's lost seniors over COVID-19, michael shure: (21:04) He's lost seniors over COVID-19. He's also lost seniors by not really doing this almost demonizing social security. If I was Joe Biden right now, I would have, uh, I would be doing what Hillary Clinton didn't do, which was to talk to seniors directly about protecting social security. It's an issue that the Democrats have always done in campaigns, scared the other side into thinking he was going to be taken away. Hillary Clinton didn't do that. When she ran, I thought it was a mistake. I expect that the Biden people will begin to do that and they should do it pretty soon. dana lewis - host back story with Dana Lewis : (21:33) Right? He's lost the military over this article, which has been confirmed by a half dozen different major news outlets. How important is the military book? michael shure: (21:41) Military goes very important in that a lot of people, it's not just the active military that you're thinking of, cause they don't, uh, they don't vote in the biggest numbers. They're difficult to pull cause they can't be open about what they are, um, what their, their landings are. But the veteran vote is so important in the United States and we have more and more veterans as we, as we've gone into Wars, uh, over the past 20 years that have created a bigger veteran pool. So when you do lose veterans, you're losing a big chunk. You're not just losing older veterans, you're using losing younger veterans who are going to begin to count on the veterans administration, the hospitals, the medical care. It's a very important voting block. Anybody who casts any, if there's any time, there's a doubt cast about the way a candidate feels about the military. It certainly is not good in terms of garnering that vote. dana lewis - host back story with Dana Lewis : (22:27) That's a good point. And he's lost working women. michael shure: (22:31) Yeah. I mean, I, you know, listen, I, I w when you say he's lost, I think that there is still a, there, there, you know, people talk about the silent Trump voter. I don't think that there are that many of them, but some of them are, and some of them are white middle class working, uh, you know, uh, middle Midwestern working Americans. And when I say working Americans, working blue collar jobs, and by and large, uh, so you are, he has lost some of those, but working women, uh, within suburbs and within cities who may have not liked Hillary Clinton. Again, I think that, you know, I keep harping on this data because it's a very important one dynamic in this presidential race is that people by and large like Joe Biden, they don't necessarily love him, but they certainly don't hate him. And, and I think that that was something that Hillary Clinton brought to the race was this sort of vitriolic dislike, uh, that many people in America, from Democrats to progressive Democrats to Republican, certainly who really did not like her for whatever reason that dynamic doesn't exist now. So getting those voters, it's a lot easier for a Joe Biden to woo those voters to his side than it was for Hillary Clinton. And those are voters went to Donald Trump. So coming back home to the democratic party, which some of them are going to do, it's going be an easier task. And that he's proven so far in the polling that he's been able to do that. I often ask questions that I know the answers to. And one of those things in television news, right? Yeah, of course. dana lewis - host back story with Dana Lewis : (23:56) But tell me here's one. I actually do not quite understand the answer to, and maybe you can enlighten me and Europeans and Canadians and everybody else, michael shure: (24:05) As long as it's not a math question. I'm, I'm, I'm good. Well, it's a pulling math question, but how does he, how, who are these people who no matter how offended they are, no matter how much they, you know, don't agree with his morality, uh, with his business dealings, his ethics, but they'll go and vote for the guy, no matter what, I mean, I did a mass murderer and they'd go and vote for him. I mean, what, what is well, many of them and I, you know, the mass murderer thing aside, but you're right. I mean, he's even said a thing that might've been a stretch. Yeah. Let's not stretch it because it might not be either. And I don't want to know if it isn't. I think, I think what you're looking at is you're looking at a voter here who has other, other interests in mind, for example, an evangelical Christian voter, that the only thing that lives on in perpetuity, Donald Trump will be dead and buried, but Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh may likely still be on the Supreme court. michael shure: (25:06) And there are people that, that are social conservatives that care deeply about that. And, and they, they, they're the types of people that will sit and they will fight all the way to the interesting dynamic in American politics that the Democrats and the left don't get, as well as the right. You can excoriate the candidate during the primaries. You can say, I will never vote for that candidate, but when it's that candidate up against the other candidate in the democratic party, these conservative Christians are always going to vote for the person they know are going to put on judges that will defend the, you know, that will fight for the rights of the unborn, uh, that we'll talk about, uh, you know, prayer in school that will protect the flag, all these sort of conservative, moral issues. Those are people that aren't going to come out for Donald Trump. michael shure: (25:53) The other thing is you have the types of voters who don't vote a lot. People who are, are wooed by both his celebrity. And the fact that he, you know, is really kind of giving the middle finger to a lot of the establishment politics. Now, of course, he then slid right into it when he got to Washington, but that was his way of getting there. And there are a lot of people that just like to see that, that play out. And that's really what Donald Trump has tapped into. But I don't think that it's a permanent thing. I'm one of the people that think that the Trump era is an aberration, but it will have a hang over your art. You are going to have Trump Republicans, whether he wins or not existing for a little while, until they're cycled out and then something new may happen, or I may be wrong. But I do think this is an aberration dana lewis - host back story with Dana Lewis : (26:36) Poisoning of Alexei Navalny. If taking you far away from America. Now, Trump astonishingly astonishingly refuses to condemn michael shure: (26:44) Putin. He has shaken NATO allies. I mean, Germany, Britain, what gives, I mean, I have a few theories, but what gets well, I mean, first of all, he doesn't want to anger Vladimir Putin right now, Michael Cohen is sort of conciliary though, who served time, who was as assistant, who has now basically turned state's evidence against Donald Trump has a book coming out today as we speak. I don't know when this is airing, but it's a Tuesday. And in the United States, the 8th of September, and this book is being released as we speak. And in this book, he said that Michael Cohen said the president has an adherence to Vladimir Putin. He likes the way he runs Russia, like a business. And these are quotes. And these sorts of things, these sort of like a business, otherwise he wouldn't have sanctioned so on and he wouldn't be jailing and poisoning people, but, okay. michael shure: (27:33) No, I agree with you. I'm this I'm just, I'm paraphrasing what Michael Cohen is saying, but there is an authoritarian, um, way of running a business that Donald Trump seemed to like to do and, and Cohen for his part. And again, we're talking about somebody who was, who served time in prison, but served time in prison, covering for Donald Trump. I think that Cohen is saying that he runs it like a mob boss and a mob boss doesn't care if the other guy gets whacked in the case, in this case. So if you see that the head of another family as Putin might be in Donald Trump's parlance, then you protect that person. There are also business interests that we don't know about this all ties into when we get his tax returns. What we know about his loans and Deutsche bank and those sorts of things, maybe if you don't know about as well, Hey, there could be that too. michael shure: (28:17) I know you gotta go Biden or Trump. I mean, really to call for you because the polls are like seven and a half, 8% for Biden. Yeah. It's not too early to call for me. I think that Biden's gonna win. I don't see a path that the Trump has electorally here or with the popular vote. I see him fighting in places that the Republican should not be fighting in this time. Dana, and even though Nate silver, and a lot of the good pollsters here in the United States are saying that he has better than a one in four chance of winning reelection. I think that you also have been Joe Biden with just the three and four chances. Pretty good. I do think that there are going to be places that you think the president is not going to do as well, where it's going to start doing well already. You're seeing him riding off Michigan. He's got to make up for that. And he's got to make up for a couple of other States. It looks like he's going to lose. I just don't know where he goes for those electrodes. dana lewis - host back story with Dana Lewis : (29:03) I think most of Europe will be relieved if you're, if you're right. And I have no doubt that Michael shore probably is right, Michael. Thanks. Thank you. And that's backstory on the American election. Please subscribe to backstory. And if you can share it, we really appreciate you listening. I'm Dana Lewis and I'll talk to you again soon.

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cinephiled-com · 5 years

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New Post has been published on Cinephiled

New Post has been published on http://www.cinephiled.com/interview-brink-goes-behind-scenes-trump-mastermind-steve-bannon/

Interview: ‘The Brink’ Goes Behind the Scenes with Trump Mastermind Steve Bannon

When Steve Bannon left his position as White House chief strategist less than a week after the Charlottesville “Unite the Right” rally in August 2017, he was already a notorious figure in Trump’s inner circle, responsible for bringing a far-right ideology into the highest echelons of American politics. Unconstrained by an official post — though some say he still has a direct line to the White House — he became free to peddle influence as a perceived kingmaker, turning his controversial brand of nationalism into a global movement. Alison Klayman’s The Brink follows Bannon through the 2018 mid-term elections in the United States, shedding light on his efforts to mobilize and unify far-right parties in order to win seats in the May 2019 European Parliamentary elections. To maintain his power and influence, the former Goldman Sachs banker and media investor reinvents himself — as he has many times before — this time as the self-appointed leader of a global populist movement. Keen manipulator of the press and gifted self-promoter, Bannon continues to draw headlines and protests wherever he goes, feeding the powerful myth on which his survival relies.

I loved Alison Klayman’s award-winning 2012 documentary Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry, and it’s hard to imagine two more contrasting subjects than beloved Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei and extreme rightwing strategist Steve Bannon. I was very curious to sit down with director Alison Klayman and producer Marie Therese Guirgis to talk about this riveting and personal look at the man who some say is largely responsible for Donald Trump’s surprise 2016 victory.

Danny Miller: I was absolutely fascinated by this film. Marie Therese, I know you once worked with Steve Bannon when he was in the movie business, but I’m still shocked that he agreed to do the film. On the other hand, with his massive ego, I can imagine that he loved all the attention. Was it a long process to get him to agree to be the subject of this documentary?

Marie Therese Guirgis: Not really. I mean, the reconnection of our relationship took a while, but I certainly didn’t reconnect with him with the idea of asking him to be in a documentary. I did it because I knew him and I was so angry and sad about his role in the Trump campaign and presidency. Later, when the idea for the documentary came up, he said no four times. His very first comment was “No, you’ll destroy me!” since I had just spent months telling him how angry and disgusted I was. But in the end, he agreed to do it.

Was he still in the White House at that point?

Yes. I think it was April when he finally decided he’d participate in the film, and he was there until August.

Wow, do you think the film could have happened in the same way if he was still part of the Trump administration?

Well, normally I would say absolutely not, but now that we know more about the chaos that was happening there back then and how much time Michael Wolff, who wrote Fire and Fury, was able to spend in the White House, I think it might have been possible.

As appalled as I am by his actions, I do find him a much more interesting character than Donald Trump. In many ways he’s worse than Trump because he’s not an idiot and he knows how to make things happen, but I also found his self-awareness kind of refreshing, even his ability to admire an interviewer who had asked him really tough questions instead of vilifying her as Trump would have done. Is that how he felt with you, Alison? Did he respect what you were doing even if knew you didn’t share any of his beliefs?

Alison Klayman: For the most part, I did feel like he respected me, but on the other hand, I don’t think he was thinking about me all that much, which is what I preferred. I don’t think he knew that much about me, to be honest, although he claimed to have watched my film about Ai Weiwei. But throughout the process, I felt like he treated me like a respectable filmmaker.

Marie Therese Guirgis: When I first talked to him, I mentioned a bunch of different directors but said that Alison was the person I’d really like to use. He was like, “Whatever you say, if you think she’s the right person.” So, I don’t think he really vetted her very much but I know that his team looked into her.

Did he set any ground rules for filming at the outset?

No. My whole pitch to him was that he would have zero control. Alison would have total creative control, even I wouldn’t have any say in the final cut.

Alison Klayman: I never would have agreed to make the film if he had any ground rules.

Although he did seemingly order you out of the room a few times.

I feel like my job is to always be pushing to get more access and it was important to me in the film to make sure I showed times where I was told to leave. In truth, that didn’t happen all that often, and it was never very dramatic, you know, like a soldier coming up and knocking my camera down which happens to some filmmakers. He’d always phrase it like, “Did you get everything you need?”

Yeah, he seemed very skilled and friendly in the way he did it, but I always thought in those moments, “Ah, now they’re really going to get into it!” I was especially surprised at all of the meetings you filmed between Bannon and those right-wing leaders from around the world. Did you have to get all of them to sign releases?

Yes. And the fact that they all did was very satisfying to me!

Do you think he presented you in a way that made you more appealing to them?

I think the fact that he was so comfortable with me probably conveyed something. There was never any misrepresentation, like that we were part of Breitbart or something, and no one asked me any questions like some kind of political litmus test. I think in some films you might have more of a relationship with the person you’re filming and put in time with them away from the camera, too, but that didn’t really happen here. And that was partly because of the way I felt about him and his agenda.

Marie Therese Guirgis: But remember, too, that Steve Bannon is not the type of person to just sit around and shoot the shit with someone and talk about what movies he’s seen. He just doesn’t do that.

And yet he does seem very image conscious. There were those few times in the film when he got very angry at someone. I’m guessing those may not be his favorite parts of the film?

Alison Klayman: I actually think is that he was very open, but there were people around him that worked for him were more protective of him — as they should be!

Marie Therese Guirgis: Yeah, they were the ones who were more likely to be obstacles to what we were trying to do. I remember at one point telling Alison to just text Steve directly about things that she wanted because he was usually game.

Some of those meeting were astounding to see, like the meeting with the French National Front people and other groups like that. Again, I can understand his motivation for being in the film but I would assume those people would not want to be filmed by an American documentarian.

Alison Klayman: In a way, Bannon was my biggest champion. He would just say, “Oh, let her film, she’s fine!”

Marie Therese Guirgis: Remember, he has a very big ego. And he also has a self-deprecating humor which differentiates him from Trump in a big way. I think the whole process of making the film appealed to him on some level — that he was traveling with his very own entourage that included a talented filmmaker.

Alison Klayman: Right, I think it made him feel very important.

Did you ever have the sense that he was trying to win you over to his side?

That didn’t feel like the dynamic but I did think he wanted me to like him. And he was aware of getting things that would be “good for the film,” that’s the tactic I’d often take with him.

Marie Therese Guirgis: That was usually a good way to ask him for things, to say it would help the film. I think the fact that he had worked in the movie business made him a more interesting subject because he understood it. My original pitch was that the film was going to be critical of him, he knew I didn’t agree with his views, but that it was going to be prestigious with a quality director. He was very drawn to that.

Are you prepared for any criticism you might get that you’re “humanizing” Steve Bannon? I always think those discussions are odd, as if such people are not, in fact, actual human beings, and you’re hardly giving him a platform here to espouse his views, but I’m sure some people will still worry about him being the subject of a film.

Alison Klayman: I think for the entire year of filming and then the time it took to edit, I went to bed every night thinking about that — thinking about who was going to attack me from that vantage point, and also from a right-wing vantage point! We knew we were entering a minefield but I thought it was worth it for what we could show with the kind of intimate access we had. There’s certainly no scene that exists to be like, “Oh, look, he loves his father,” or anything like that. This is definitely not a humanization project, but of course, with a film like this, you’re going to see certain sides of people that you didn’t know about before.

Do you think there’s any chance the film will get on Trump’s radar?

I don’t know. I wonder if he’ll even watch the trailer. A lot of people have said that it would make sense that he’d see it eventually but I can imagine him fast-forwarding it to see how many times he’s mentioned. I bet it would irritate him that it’s not about him. And yet it’s also interesting that even though this film was made after Bannon left the White House and when Trump was so critical of him, Bannon still goes out of his way to not talk trash about Trump.

He’s smart enough that he probably wants to keep on using Trump as long as he possibly can.

And he needs Trump’s base. But the rhetorical gymnastics he had to use to defend Trump and not expose him as an idiot was kind of amazing to watch.

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robgrayofficial · 5 years

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HAPPY SATURDAY PATRIOTS!!!WELCOME TO YOUR WEEKLY PRESIDENTIAL RECAP! This is u/Ivaginaryfriend here to help kick off this tremendous Saturday with everything dank and spicy from the past week. If you happened to miss any past recaps you can check those out here!DON'T FORGOT, 'PEDES!! We have TWO MAGA rallies today !!!! The first one is at 2:30 PM ET in Belgrade, MT and the second is at 7:30 PM ET in Pensacola, FL! We will of course have watch parties up for both rallies so make sure you dont miss out on any of the excitement!And on that note, let's get this recap started!Sunday, October 28th:TODAY'S ACTION:President Trump Delivers Arrival Remarks at South Illinois AirportPresident Trump and the First Lady Host Halloween at the White House🔥🔥TRUMP TWEETS🔥🔥:Thank you to Steve Rogers, FBI Joint Terror Task Force (Ret), for his very kind and generous remarks about me and my relationship to Law Enforcement. @JudgeJeanineJust watched Wacky Tom Steyer, who I have not seen in action before, be interviewed by @jaketapper. He comes off as a crazed & stumbling lunatic who should be running out of money pretty soon. As bad as their field is, if he is running for President, the Dems will eat him alive!The Fake News is doing everything in their power to blame Republicans, Conservatives and me for the division and hatred that has been going on for so long in our Country. Actually, it is their Fake & Dishonest reporting which is causing problems far greater than they understand!SIGNIFICANT TWEETS AND NEWS:Good Question Chuck, I'll ask it on The Donald. "How can a Felon be a Registered Republican?"Indian-American Professor who immigrated to the US legally under fire for saying that illegal immigrants should be deported and supported in their own countries.Conservative Brazilians take back control after 24 years of socialism in Brazil11 dead is horrible, but this guy killed 59 people at a country music fair and there is still “no motive”🐸 TOP SPICE OF THE DAY 🐸:Things that make you go "HMMMmmmmmmmm, for 100 plz"Guaranteed...IT’S OFFICIAL: PRESIDENT BOLSONARO!5,000 Russian bots descend on DCMonday, October 29th:TODAY'S ACTION:Presidential Memorandum for the Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Commerce, and the Director of National Intelligence🔥🔥TRUMP TWEETS🔥🔥:There is great anger in our Country caused in part by inaccurate, and even fraudulent, reporting of the news. The Fake News Media, the true Enemy of the People, must stop the open & obvious hostility & report the news accurately & fairly. That will do much to put out the flame... ... ....of Anger and Outrage and we will then be able to bring all sides together in Peace and Harmony. Fake News Must End!Had a very good conversation with the newly elected President of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, who won his race by a substantial margin. We agreed that Brazil and the United States will work closely together on Trade, Military and everything else! Excellent call, wished him congrats!Many Gang Members and some very bad people are mixed into the Caravan heading to our Southern Border. Please go back, you will not be admitted into the United States unless you go through the legal process. This is an invasion of our Country and our Military is waiting for you!In Florida there is a choice between a Harvard/Yale educated man named @RonDeSantisFL who has been a great Congressman and will be a great Governor - and a Dem who is a thief and who is Mayor of poorly run Tallahassee, said to be one of the most corrupt cities in the Country!Great job being done by Congressman Keith Rothfus of Pennsylvania. Thank you Keith!CNN and others in the Fake News Business keep purposely and inaccurately reporting that I said the “Media is the Enemy of the People.” Wrong! I said that the “Fake News (Media) is the Enemy of the People,” a very big difference. When you give out false information - not good!Check out tweets from last two days. I refer to Fake News Media when mentioning Enemy of the People - but dishonest reporters use only the word “Media.” The people of our Great Country are angry and disillusioned at receiving so much Fake News. They get it, and fully understand!So Revealing!I will be interviewed by Laura Ingraham tonight at 10:00 P.M. on @FoxNews.@Troy_Balderson is doing a great job as Congressman from Ohio. We need him in D.C. Vote for Troy - He has my total Endorsement!.@Denver4VA of the 5th District in Virginia is a popular guy who really knows how to get the job done! Really big help with Tax Cuts, the Military and our great Vets. He has my Total Endorsement!Congressman @RodBlum of Iowa got a desperately needed Flood Wall for Cedar Rapids that was almost impossible to get. He makes a BIG difference for Iowa! Border, Military, Vets etc. We need Rod in D.C. He has my Strong Endorsement!Congresswoman @cathymcmorris of Washington State is an incredible leader who is respected by everyone in Congress. We need her badly in D.C. to keep building on #MAGA. She has my Strong Endorsement!Congressman @DaveBratVA7th is a fighter who is doing a great job for Virginia and for our Country. Border, Military, Vets, 2nd Amendment and all else. We need Dave in D.C. He has my Strong Endorsement!.@Erik_Paulsen, @Jason2CD, @JimHagedornMN and @PeteStauber love our Country and the Great State of Minnesota. They are winners and always get the job done. We need them all in Congress for #MAGA. Border, Military, Vets, 2nd A. Go Vote Minnesota. They have my Strong Endorsement!SIGNIFICANT TWEETS AND NEWS:ARIZONA VERITAS - Senate Candidate Sinema "can't be talking about" Gun Bans; Says Arizonans Will "actually shoot you"Wait..is the latest New Yorker cover supposed to offend us? I love it!!!Holy shit, Brazil's new Prez calls Mideast "scum of humanity", wants China to stop "buying Brazil", says Pinochet didn't jail "enough (Commies)," wants to end gun control, abortion & affirmative action, privatize & align Brazil with "good people" of USA, Japan & Taiwan. Brazil? Muddafucka...BREAKING: Military to Deploy 5,000 Troops to Southern Border - WSJTree Of Life Rabbi Refuses to Blame President Trump For Pittsburgh Shooting After CNN Tries to Coax Him Into It [VIDEO]WOW!!! Hillary(total failure)Clinton openly jokes about about how all black people look alike, and laughs about it. If a Republican did this they would have a complete fucking meltdown.PRESS BRIEFINGS, INTERVIEWS, RALLIES:Press Beating with Press Secretary Sarah Sanders🐸 TOP SPICE OF THE DAY 🐸:TFW your wife, who's never voted in a midterm, shows you her "I VOTED" sticker.Report: Angela Merkel says this will be her final parliamentary term as German chancellor.Anyone else have their 80+ year old Grandmapede posting spice like this to Facebook?Every POTUS for the last 27 years got an invite. Trump is the only one who cared enough to show up.Fixed it...😁Tuesday, October 30th:TODAY'S ACTION:Presidential Proclamation to Modify the List of Products Eligible for Duty-Free Treatment Under the Generalized System of PreferencesPresident Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Appoint Individuals to Key Administration Posts🔥🔥TRUMP TWEETS🔥🔥:Congressman Andy Barr of Kentucky, who just had a great debate with his Nancy Pelosi run opponent, has been a winner for his State. Strong on Crime, the Border, Tax Cuts, Military, Vets and 2nd Amendment, we need Andy in D.C. He has my Strong Endorsement!Congressman Kevin Brady of Texas is so popular in his District, and far beyond, that he doesn’t need any help - but I am giving it to him anyway. He is a great guy and the absolute “King” of Cutting Taxes. Highly respected by all, he loves his State & Country. Strong Endorsement!The Stock Market is up massively since the Election, but is now taking a little pause - people want to see what happens with the Midterms. If you want your Stocks to go down, I strongly suggest voting Democrat. They like the Venezuela financial model, High Taxes & Open Borders!“If the Fed backs off and starts talking a little more Dovish, I think we’re going to be right back to our 2,800 to 2,900 target range that we’ve had for the S&P 500.” Scott Wren, Wells Fargo.Just out: Consumer Confidence hits highest level since 2000..@MikeDeWine will be a great Governor for the People of Ohio. He is an outstanding man who loves his State – and always produces big.... ... ....Richard Cordray will let you down, just like he did when he destroyed the government agency that he ran. Clone of Pocahontas, that’s not for Ohio. Mike has my Total Endorsement!Congressman @KevinYoder has fought hard for the People of Kansas. Highly respected, strong on Crime, the Border, Military, Vets and Second Amendment. Kevin has my Total Endorsement!SIGNIFICANT TWEETS AND NEWS:Trump to terminate birthright citizenshipLead singer of Slayer dropping red pill bombs on his Instagram.BREAKING: 5 terrorists freed from Gitmo by President Barack Obama in exchange for Bergdahl have joined insurgents in QatarAnchor babies, birthright citizenship, and the 14th Amendment | CAIRCO - Colorado Alliance for Immigration Reform | issues legislation projects researchMeanwhile in Chicago...🐸 TOP SPICE OF THE DAY 🐸:Happy birthday Ivanka!KEEP ON KNOCKING BUT YOU CAN'T COME IN 🎼Our government is a constitutional republic not a democracy. don't let the commies muddy up our government.Doing My Part to #MAGA. Get Out & Vote!!✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨Wednesday, October 31st:TODAY'S ACTION:Presidential Proclamation on National Veterans and Military Families Month, 2018Presidential Proclamation on National Entrepreneurship Month, 2018Presidential Memorandum for the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of EnergyPresidential Proclamation on National Family Caregivers Month, 2018Presidential Proclamation on National Adoption Month, 2018Presidential Proclamation on National Native American Heritage Month, 2018Presidential Proclamation on Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month, 2018President Trump and the First Lady Travel to PittsburghPresident Trump Attends the Our Pledge to America's Workers EventHalloween at the White House 2018President Trump Delivers Remarks Upon Marine One DeparturePresident Trump Makes Remarks on the Illegal Immigration Crisis🔥🔥TRUMP TWEETS🔥🔥:The Caravans are made up of some very tough fighters and people. Fought back hard and viciously against Mexico at Northern Border before breaking through. Mexican soldiers hurt, were unable, or unwilling to stop Caravan. Should stop them before they reach our Border, but won’t!Our military is being mobilized at the Southern Border. Many more troops coming. We will NOT let these Caravans, which are also made up of some very bad thugs and gang members, into the U.S. Our Border is sacred, must come in legally. TURN AROUND!Stock Market up more than 400 points yesterday. Today looks to be another good one. Companies earnings are great!Melania and I were treated very nicely yesterday in Pittsburgh. The Office of the President was shown great respect on a very sad & solemn day. We were treated so warmly. Small protest was not seen by us, staged far away. The Fake News stories were just the opposite-Disgraceful!So-called Birthright Citizenship, which costs our Country billions of dollars and is very unfair to our citizens, will be ended one way or the other. It is not covered by the 14th Amendment because of the words “subject to the jurisdiction thereof.” Many legal scholars agree..... ... ....Harry Reid was right in 1993, before he and the Democrats went insane and started with the Open Borders (which brings massive Crime) “stuff.” Don’t forget the nasty term Anchor Babies. I will keep our Country safe. This case will be settled by the United States Supreme Court!The World is using our laws to our detriment. They laugh at the Stupidity they see!“Donald Trump has made good on his promises, and it drives Democrats Crazy!” Brad Blakeman @FoxNewsRepublicans will protect people with pre-existing conditions far better than the Dems!Paul Ryan should be focusing on holding the Majority rather than giving his opinions on Birthright Citizenship, something he knows nothing about! Our new Republican Majority will work on this, Closing the Immigration Loopholes and Securing our Border!Harry Reid, when he was sane, agreed with us on Birthright Citizenship!#JOBSNOTMOBS! VOTE REPUBLICAN NOW!!SIGNIFICANT TWEETS AND NEWS:GEOTUS being thanked by hospital staff, you won't see this on TV, GRAB a hankie!BREAKING FLORIDA VERITASGAB Founder and kin Death threats ~ Just got a call from my parents—who are not home—their neighbor smelled gas, called the fire company. Someone turned on the propane tank on my parent’s gas grill, turned the burner on, and let the propane leak out. This is terrorism, incited by the media.NC State professor wants her students to block FOX NEWS from their parents.CNN's Don Lemon: "we have to stop demonizing people and realize the biggest terror threat in this country is white men" - Oct 30th, 2018Trump says U.S. could send up to 15,000 troops to borderPRESS BRIEFINGS, INTERVIEWS, RALLIES:WATCH PARTY: President Trump & Ron DeSantis Rally - Fort Myers, FL - 10/31/18🐸 TOP SPICE OF THE DAY 🐸:Happy Halloween from Infowars! 🐸"Average American after voting a straight Republican ticket" - 2018, colorizedbirthright citizenshipNow it all makes sense why the left went after Apu from The SimpsonsHabby haboween frensThursday, November 1st:TODAY'S ACTION:President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Personnel to Key Administration PostsExecutive Order Blocking Property of Additional Persons Contributing to the Situation in Venezuela"This is the blue-collar, middle-class Trump Economy."🔥🔥TRUMP TWEETS🔥🔥:Just had a long and very good conversation with President Xi Jinping of China. We talked about many subjects, with a heavy emphasis on Trade. Those discussions are moving along nicely with meetings being scheduled at the G-20 in Argentina. Also had good discussion on North Korea!Thank you to Rick Breckenridge and congratulations to Matt Rosendale (@MattForMontana). This is very big - see you in Montana on Saturday!.@WalkerStapleton will be an extraordinary Governor for the State of Colorado. He is strong, smart, and has been successful at everything he has ever done.... ... ....His opponent, Jared Polis, is weak on crime and weak on borders – could never do the job. Get out and VOTEIllegal immigration affects the lives of all Americans. Illegal Immigration hurts American workers, burdens American taxpayers, undermines public safety, and places enormous strain on local schools, hospitals and communities...On my way to Columbia, Missouri for a #MAGARally. Look forward to seeing everyone soon! http://bit.ly/2yOBCK5, we are Making America Safe and Great Again! http://bit.ly/2Ot1FeU evening at a #MAGARally with great American Patriots. Loyal citizens like you helped build this Country and together, we are taking back this Country – returning power to YOU, the AMERICAN PEOPLE. Get out and http://bit.ly/2HIbOFb ! http://bit.ly/2OpBcPc …I love you Missouri! Under Republican leadership, America is BOOMING, America is THRIVING, and America is WINNING - because we are finally putting AMERICA FIRST. Get out and VOTE Josh @HawleyMO for the United States Senate! #MAGA🇺🇸SIGNIFICANT TWEETS AND NEWS:BREAKING TX VERITAS - O'ROURKE & CARAVANTrump announces plan to deny asylum seekers who don't show up at ports of entryWhen you try to make a birthright citizenship argument but instead end up getting BTFONorth Dakota Democrats Buy Ads Discouraging Hunters From VotingTRUMP'S WARNING: If someone in the caravan throws a rock like they did at police in Mexico, we will consider that a firearm. Because it isn't fun to get hit with a rock in the face.PRESS BRIEFINGS, INTERVIEWS, RALLIES:WATCH PARTY: President Trump & Josh Hawley Rally - Columbia, MO 11/01/18🐸 TOP SPICE OF THE DAY 🐸:They don’t even attempt the illusion that r/eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeedacted is neutral. What a pathetic bunch of miserable people they must be.If there was no T_D I would not be on Reddit. You guys are great!The harder the left slanders and hates...MUH PARTY SWITCH!!This coming Tuesday, November 6 2018, join the movement!Friday, November 2nd:TODAY'S ACTION:President Trump Delivers Remarks Upon Marine One Departure🔥🔥TRUMP TWEETS🔥🔥:Wow! The U.S. added 250,000 Jobs in October - and this was despite the hurricanes. Unemployment at 3.7%. Wages UP! These are incredible numbers. Keep it going, Vote Republican!Will be going to West Virginia and Indiana today, TWO RALLIES! Don’t tell anyone (big secret), but I will be bringing Coach Bobby Knight to Indiana. He’s been a supporter right from the beginning of the Greatest Political Movement in American History!(Epic Shitpost)Fantastic #MAGARally🇺🇸in West Virginia, thank you. Everyone get out and VOTE for Patrick @MorriseyWV and @CarolMillerWV!JOBS, JOBS, JOBS! #MAGATHANK YOU WEST VIRGINIA! http://bit.ly/2yOt5Xo landed - will see everyone in Southport, Indiana shortly! #MAGARally🇺🇸I need the people of West Virginia to send a message to Chuck Schumer, Maxine Waters, Nancy Pelosi and the Radical Democrats by voting for Carol Miller and Patrick Morrisey!In just 4 days, the people of Indiana are going to send Mike @braun4indiana to the United States Senate, so we can keep MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! Get out and VOTE!!Republicans believe our Country should be a Sanctuary for law-abiding Americans – not criminal aliens. And Republicans will ALWAYS stand with the HEROES of @ICEgov, @CBP, and Law Enforcement!Massive #MAGARally🇺🇸tonight in Indiana, thank you. Everyone get out and http://bit.ly/2HIbOFb !Scott Perry of Pennsylvania is fantastic. He is strong on the Border, Crime, the Military, our Vets and the Second Amendment. Scott has my Total Endorsement!SIGNIFICANT TWEETS AND NEWS:BREAKING: Woman who claimed Justice Kavanaugh raped her now admits they’ve never even met. She’s been referred to DOJ/FBI for investigation and could soon be in serious legal trouble.Lindsey Graham is loving his iconic photo 📸DO NOT FORGET! Dianne Feinstein, Kamala Harris, Patrick Leahy, Dick Durbin, Sheldon Whitehouse, Amy Klobuchar, Chris Coons, Richard Blumenthal, Mazie Hirono and Cory Booker never apologized to Justice Kavanaugh. I will never forgive them. Remember him in the voting booth.VOTE RED FOR HUMAN DECENCY!Operation Flags UpSpoiler: It was a Georgia driver's license and he tried to vote in TennesseePRESS BRIEFINGS, INTERVIEWS, RALLIES:WATCH PARTY: President Trump & Patrick Morrisey Rally - Huntington, WV 11/02/18WATCH PARTY: President Trump and Mike Braun Rally -Indianapolis, IN 11/02/18🐸 TOP SPICE OF THE DAY 🐸:🍦 Ben & Jerry's New Flavor 🍦This man works for free. He works relentlessly into all hours of the night. He is attacked daily by a party of free-loading laggards who have accomplished nothing. He works with a single goal in mind: to save this nation from disaster. Support him Nov. 6 and vote Republican across the board.The Jobs Report just came out and something weird is going on over at CNNDo we want all of this to go away? Vote straight ticket Republican and let’s see how fast we can get this train to go! MAGA!!!MagaSaturday, November 3rd:🔥🔥TRUMP TWEETS🔥🔥:Scott Perry of Pennsylvania is fantastic. He is strong on the Border, Crime, the Military, our Vets and the Second Amendment. Scott has my Total Endorsement!Congresswoman Maxine Waters was called the most Corrupt Member of Congress! @FoxNews If Dems win, she would be put in charge of our Country’s finances. The beginning of the end!Indiana Rally, and Coach Bobby Knight, were incredible last night. Packed House in Honor of Mike Braun for Senate. Mike will be a GREAT Senator. Don’t forget to VOTE!Heading to Montana and Florida today! Everyone is excited about the Jobs Numbers - 250,000 new jobs in October. Also, wages rising. Wow!Thank you to @PeteHegseth and @KatiePavlich for your nice, and very wise, statements on the Economy. You both really get it! @foxandfriendsA vicious accuser of Justice Kavanaugh has just admitted that she was lying, her story was totally made up, or FAKE! Can you imagine if he didn’t become a Justice of the Supreme Court because of her disgusting False Statements. What about the others? Where are the Dems on this?SIGNIFICANT TWEETS AND NEWS:Andrew Gillum flew in Obama to convince his own mom to vote for him!Say What?! MSNBC Stunned To Find Hispanics Who Oppose Illegal Aliens And Support RepublicansIllegal Alien ICE wanted deported Stabbed His Wife to Death (ICE wanted him;Oregon officials let him go, more blood on the Dems Hands)Planned Parenthood on DACA: "Everyone has a right to live"🐸 TOP SPICE OF THE DAY 🐸:LOLOLOLOLOLOL — THEY STILL DON’T GET IT.THE SILENT MAJORITY STANDS WITH TRUMPBernie Sanders does an AMA, gets a staged question and manages to get the most down voted comment for the dayWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEW LAD!Without further ado; some tunes to get you jamming through all this WINNING:Be As You AreDoin' It RightLightThe GirlHouse Of GoldWonderlandMAGA ON PATRIOTS! #robgray

#robgray

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gizzelle1-blog1 · 6 years

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“I am a Professional Pet Groomer”

*Modified from “I am a Hairdresser*

“Oh how cool! I would love to sit around and play with puppies all day”

“Thanks I really love it”

“I wanted to do that too but I had to get a real job”

I chose my profession, yes I said profession. I have an education; believe it or not I am not dumb.

I have a certificate that probably looks similar to a Diploma, or an award of achievement.

“So in grooming academy they just teach you how to shave dog hair and stuff?”

“Yes, we did learn how to shave pets, along with all the bones and muscles in the body, along with danger zones, how to avoid getting bit, along with care and safety, along with recognizing illnesses and when a pet needs to see a vet

“Oh wow, I don’t see why you need all that just to cut hair”

I was taught how to properly help you achieve the look you are wanting on your fur baby, while maintaining the humanity over vanity for the well being of your pet. But I have also dropped my head in defeat because I couldn’t get Fluffy’s haircut to perfection while she is biting and fighting, in under an hour from drop off, and you are calling angry that he isn’t done yet. Then drove home in tears because I knew Fluffy was going to come back in 4 months, a matted mess, and you would want him left an inch long next cut. And although I did everything I knew to do Fluffy. I know Fluffy’s mom is out there, a walking advertisement, saying things like “that stupid pet groomer” ruined her dogs hair, while leaving out that she was dishonest about the history of her pets matting, fighting, biting, and general difficulty to get the groom done.

I do get upset when I hear “I’m going to groom dogs; I already know everything so I just need to be certified. Since I’m so good I might as well get paid for it” If you are that good I am happy for you. But having the “I already know everything” mentality is going out the window the first time a screaming, biting, 1 year old doodle gets on your table. When he moves and screams louder with every cut you make. I have walked out the back door of the salon more than once wondering if his mother was going to put a review about me on Google, or Yelp or if I would get my own Facebook rant. Because her little boy looks terrible because of the “horrible experience” he had with “that stupid pet groomerr”

I have cried with clients while trimming up their Yorkshire Terriers because the pets health is failing, or worse their pet passed. I have cried with clients because of their personal health, or the loss of a loved one. We don’t just work with pets, we work with their people. I have cried because of people no-showing due to weather, or a carnival being in town. I, like most pet groomers, am fully commission based. When a client doesn’t make it in for their appointment, I don’t make any money, and my bills can’t get paid.

I have washed, dried, and fluffed up a Bichon Frise, spent hours to give her a “show cut”, just to have to put bows on the ears and mess up the whole head. Meanwhile my German Shepherd needs a deshed, and my maltese needs grooming, but I don’t have time.

I hear “I would love to go into work at 8”. Yes I open at 8 that doesn’t mean my day starts at 8! Just because we “close” at 6 doesn’t mean we leave at 6.

I hear “I would come to you but your prices are too high”. Again I have an education that wasn’t free. My equipment costs thousands of dollars to get and maintain, I have to pay for any and every product I use on your pet. If my thinning shears pull your hair it’s because they need sharpening, that’s not free. And I have to use Joe to sharpen them because the last time Larry did it they got bent, and had to be replaced. Those aren’t free, or cheap. When you go to the salon, you mostly just get the hair on your head styled. Pet groomers wash your dogs entire body, express their anal glands, shave the anus and penis/vagina, we style your dogs ENTIRE BODY, we shave their paw pads and trim their nails. Some of us do color. Bows and bandana with cologne are usually included. All of this while your pet is dancing on out table, fighting and biting on his face, feet, or whole body. We get peed, pooped, vomited on. We have to clean all that up, and often have to re-wash your pet.

I can’t always turn away a client’s pet because they are sick or elderly, I just have to pray it’s not contagious, or that they don’t have a seizure on my table. We also have to deal with clients who are sick, their contagious germs all over the pet we are now holding, while we hope we don’t catch the owners illness. Health insurance doesn’t come in our lack-of-benefits package. And it’s a good thing that in school we stopped playing with puppies long enough to actually learn how to be successful in my career, becauseI am the only one looking out for my retirement.

So the next time you may be bringing Fluffy in to the grooming salon, think of the person helping you. The person who had the courage to bet on themselves and walk away from job security, guaranteed income, insurance, a 401k plan, and family dinner to stand behind you.

I am a professional pet groomer

I have the crooked fingers, scared knuckles, hands, and arms, from getting bit, scratched, infected hair splenters, and sore feet to prove it!

- Not “Just a pet groomer” “

*Repost for every Professional Pet Groomer in the world*

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fithappyfree · 6 years

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November was a pretty busy month for Daisy-Mae, so our little princess is the subject for November recap. If you haven’t met Daisy yet, it’s because she is very shy. She is probably under the bed or under the couch when visitors come by. She is very timid, but she’s also the sweetest little girl. She is full of innocence and is a perfect angel. Daisy-Mae loves to be cuddled (especially by daddy) and makes the cutest variety of noises. She is also very polite and always answers when she is called.

Can you believe November is over already? Wow! Time has flown by this year! November was probably not Daisy’s favorite month this year. My husband’s brother will be staying with us for a while, and that was a big adjustment for this little girl. She is not the biggest fan of unfamiliar people–she will remain out of sight for a few days until she is used to the person being there constantly. Luckily, it only took her a couple of days to adjust to him being there and she is out and about more often.

On the 10th she had her yearly checkup and shots at the vet. This was very stressful for her. Daisy is not a fan of traveling or being handled by strange people. Poor thing gets so scared and starts shaking. I have to drive very carefully and put on some soft, melodic music and keep quiet in order to keep her from crying hysterically in her carrier. She tenses up when you attempt to take her out of the carrier at the doctor’s office, so it’s difficult to pull her out. The vet tech put a nice, warmed blanket on the scale and she curled up on it for the most part with her head nuzzled in my hand. It makes it easier on the vet this way because she mostly just sits still and lets him examine her, instead of squirming, trying to flee, or becoming aggressive (I doubt that there is an aggressive bone in her body). Her checkup went well, the doctor did say she is slightly overweight and needs to lose a couple of pounds so we need to limit the dry food and mainly feed her wet food.

I had surgery on my wrist on the 16th to have a cyst removed. Coming home to Daisy Mae snuggles was comforting. This little girl loves to climb on your chest and nuzzle with you. She will mew and ask for you to pet her.

Thanksgiving came and went and David helped me make my Paleo Bite-sized Pumpkin Pies in my new YouTube video, since I am unable to use my left wrist. During the next few days I decorated the house for Christmas and David worked on the wall in our bedroom and transforming it into a beautiful sitting area (where I will be filming my non-recipe videos). Wallowitz seems to like it.

On the 29th I had my post-op doctor’s appointment for my wrist. It turns out there was a bubble in my wrist which was a result of a torn capsule. My wrap was taken off and I was given a brace and told not to use my left arm for a month, at which point I’ll have a follow-up to assess my condition. The doctor said it will take longer to heal than if it were simply a cyst, and that it could take up to 12 weeks to fully heal. My husband has been extremely helpful during this time and coming to my aid whenever I need him, even packing my lunch and cutting it into bite-sized pieces so I don’t hurt my wrist trying to cut it. I am very thankful that I have him to help make life a little simpler. He has been wonderful 🙂

November was a busy month, and Daisy-Mae is here to wave Good-bye to November and welcome December! Boy, this year has flown by, hasn’t it?

How was your November? Are you ready for December?? Daisy-Mae is!

I hope you all had a great month!

Posts from November:

Paleo Bite-sized Pumpkin Pies Lemon Chicken Spaghetti Squash with Mushrooms November Thrive Market Haul Maple Butternut Squash Pancakes Natural Ways to Fight a Cold Post-surgery and Mini Pumpkin Pies Video!

Paleo Bite Sized Pumpkin Pies

Lemon Chicken Spaghetti Squash with Mushrooms

November Thrive Market Haul

Maple Butternut Squash Pancakes

Natural Ways to Fight a Cold

Post-surgery and Mini Pumpkin Pies Video!

November with Daisy November was a pretty busy month for Daisy-Mae, so our little princess is the subject for November recap.

#cats #daisy

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robgrayofficial · 6 years

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GOOD AFTERNOON PATRIOTS!!!!WELCOME TO YOUR WEEKLY RECAP! This is /u/Ivaginaryfriend here and today I'd like to start things off a little differently...Today I went back in time to check out this day last year too see how far we've come, and boy oh, BOY has it been a journey! If you'd like to take a trip back in time, or just wanted to catch up on any past recaps, you can check them out here!So, on this day, September 22nd of 2017, our glorious GEOTUS sent out the most tremendous tweet heard around the world:Kim Jong Un of North Korea, who is obviously a madman who doesn't mind starving or killing his people, will be tested like never before!sooo.fucking.spicy.*I won't keep you waiting any longer, on to the recap!Sunday, September 16th:SIGNIFICANT TWEETS AND NEWS:Police: Woman Faked Story About Trump-Related Hate CrimeJohn Kerry tells students what he thinks of Iraq veterans. “You know education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework, and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don’t, you get stuck in Iraq.” The Deplorables.Joe Biden refers to 63 million Americans who voted for President Trump as "dregs of society"Accuser comes forward doesn't remember who owned the house, how she ended up there, and admits to drinking, but is 100% sure it was Kavanaugh. She just happens to be a flaming liberal professor..🐸 TOP SPICE OF THE DAY 🐸:It's a pretty important difference.now that the A-OK sign is out, I have located the sooper sekret sign chart for the rest of the WP symbols!Trump announced Kavanaugh on July 9th and it took 2 months for a woman to notice the name and recall a traumatic experience?#TrumpTimeMonday, September 17th:TODAY'S ACTION:Presidential Memorandum on the Support for National BiodefensePresident Trump Hosts the Hispanic Heritage Month CelebrationPresident Trump Meets with the President's National Council for the American WorkerPresident Trump and the First Lady Meet with the President of the Republic of Poland🔥🔥TRUMP TWEETS🔥🔥:“A lot of small & medium size enterprises are registering very good profit, sometimes record profits-there stocks are doing very well, low income workers are getting big raises. There are an awful lot of good things going on that weren’t during Pres. Obama’s Watch.” Peter MoriciTariffs have put the U.S. in a very strong bargaining position, with Billions of Dollars, and Jobs, flowing into our Country - and yet cost increases have thus far been almost unnoticeable. If countries will not make fair deals with us, they will be “Tariffed!”Our Steel Industry is the talk of the World. It has been given new life, and is thriving. Billions of Dollars is being spent on new plants all around the country!“Lisa Page Testimony- NO EVIDENCE OF COLLUSION BEFORE MUELLER APPOINTMENT.” @FoxNews by Catherine Herridge. Therefore, the case should never have been allowed to be brought. It is a totally illegal Witch Hunt!Immediately after Comey’s firing Peter Strzok texted to his lover, Lisa Page “We need to Open the case we’ve been waiting on now while Andy (McCabe, also fired) is acting. Page answered, “We need to lock in (redacted). In a formal chargeable way. Soon.” Wow, a conspiracy caught?Americans deserve to know the lowest drug price at their pharmacy, but “gag clauses” prevent your pharmacist from telling you! I support legislation that will remove gag clauses and urge the Senate to act. #AmericanPatientsFirstJoin me in Las Vegas, Nevada at 7:00pm for a MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN RALLY! Tickets:Happy Constitution Day!(Video)It was my great honor to host today’s Inaugural Meeting of the “President’s National Council for the American Worker” in the Roosevelt Room!Just met John James of Michigan. He has every single quality to be your next Great Senator from Michigan. When the people of Michigan get to know John, they will say he is a true star. Also, distinguished Military and a Combat Vet!Today, as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we share our gratitude for all the ways Hispanic-Americans make our country flourish and prosper. Today, and every day, we honor, cherish, and celebrate Hispanic-American Workers, Families, Students, Businesses, and Leaders...SIGNIFICANT TWEETS AND NEWS:Statement from the Press Secretary on FISA declassificationThere’s a post in redacted with over 7.8k likes calling for the censorship of TD. The evidence of “hate crimes” includes, I shit you not: (1) TD Calling CNN “fake news” (2) Robert Deniro saying HE will punch Trump (3) A story about a guy wearing a MAGA hat who didn’t get served by a bar. LOL!Two of Kavanaugh's former girlfriends from 30+ years ago defend him and "vouch for him completely." The dude is such a stand-up guy he can even get his EXES to back him up! Now that's impressive. This BS will backfire, and we must make the Democrats pay at the ballot booth for their malfeasance.Strzok-Page texts calling to 'open' case in 'chargeable way' under fresh scrutiny | Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) discusses the release of new text messages which reveal that others were 'leaking like mad'.BREAKING : Kavanaugh accuser had fake harassment story ready back when Mitt Romney looked like he was going to beat Obama reelection🐸 TOP SPICE OF THE DAY 🐸:POTUS Has A Message For YouHappy Birthday Constitution! Thank you for protecting my God-given rights!mfw Trump declassifies everything and BTFO the Swamp yet again🍿get the popcorn🍿UNO!Tuesday, September 18th:TODAY'S ACTION:President Trump Hosts a Joint Press Conference with the President of the Republic of Poland🔥🔥TRUMP TWEETS🔥🔥:“What will be disclosed is that there was no basis for these FISA Warrants, that the important information was kept from the court, there’s going to be a disproportionate influence of the (Fake) Dossier. Basically you have a counter terrorism tool used to spy on a presidential... ... ....campaign, which is unprecedented in our history.” Congressman Peter King Really bad things were happening, but they are now being exposed. Big stuff!China has openly stated that they are actively trying to impact and change our election by attacking our farmers, ranchers and industrial workers because of their loyalty to me. What China does not understand is that these people are great patriots and fully understand that..... ... .....China has been taking advantage of the United States on Trade for many years. They also know that I am the one that knows how to stop it. There will be great and fast economic retaliation against China if our farmers, ranchers and/or industrial workers are targeted!Happy 71st Birthday to our GREAT United States Air Force!Right now, everybody is saying what a great job we are doing with Hurricane Florence – and they are 100% correct. But don’t be fooled, at some point in the near future the Democrats will start ranting... ... ...that FEMA, our Military, and our First Responders, who are all unbelievable, are a disaster and not doing a good job. This will be a total lie, but that’s what they do, and everybody knows it!Thank you to our great Coast Guard for doing such a tremendous job - thousands of lives being saved!Today, I took action to strengthen our Nation’s defenses against biological threats. For the first time in history, the Federal Government has a National Biodefense Strategy to address the FULL RANGE of biological threats!Today, it was my great honor to welcome @prezydentpl Andrzej Duda of Poland to the @WhiteHouse!(Video)The Supreme Court is one of the main reasons I got elected President. I hope Republican Voters, and others, are watching, and studying, the Democrats Playbook.Kim Jong Un has agreed to allow Nuclear inspections, subject to final negotiations, and to permanently dismantle a test site and launch pad in the presence of international experts. In the meantime there will be no Rocket or Nuclear testing. Hero remains to continue being........ ... ...returned home to the United States. Also, North and South Korea will file a joint bid to host the 2032 Olympics. Very exciting!SIGNIFICANT TWEETS AND NEWS:NEW Project Veritas video! Unmasking the Deep StateLiberal tears incoming: FORT TRUMP permanent military base potentially coming to Poland!Jeff Flake to vote "NO" on Kavanaugh because he's so woke. People of Arizona, do not make this mistake again.Alex Jones Wins Info War, Site Traffic Soars In August🐸 TOP SPICE OF THE DAY 🐸:How cute they’re talking about us.Rose has accused Jack of sexual assaultSums it up nicely.Well they dared him...Wednesday, September 19th:TODAY'S ACTION:President Trump Delivers a Statement Upon DeparturePresident Trump Participates in a Briefing on Hurricane Florence in North CarolinaPresident Trump Participates in a Briefing on Hurricane Florence in South CarolinaA Message from President Trump on Hurricane FlorencePresident Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Personnel to Key Administration Posts🔥🔥TRUMP TWEETS🔥🔥:"The recovery got started on Election Day 2016. It took Trump’s Tax Cuts and Regulation Cuts to get the economy booming. Before that it was the worst and slowest economic recovery since the Great Depression. It took just 6 months for Trump to get to 3%, even though they said..... ... ...it was impossible - and then already it’s over 4%, and I expect it’s going to grow faster and faster. We’re just getting started here.” Peter Ferrara, former advisor to President Reagan. @foxandfriends“North Korea recommits to denuclearization - we’ve come a long way.” @FoxNews“President Donald J. Trump’s Administration is Providing Support to Those Impacted by Hurricane Florence”Just returned to the White House from the Great States of North Carolina and South Carolina where incredible work is being done on the ongoing fight against hurricane Florence. Tremendous talent and spirit!Great new book by Jason Chaffetz appropriately called “The Deep State.” Very interesting indeed!(Video)SIGNIFICANT TWEETS AND NEWS:BREAKING PROJECT VERITAS VIDEO - Deep State Unmasked: Leaks at HHS; DOJ Official Resists "From Inside" and "Can't Get Fired"Republican Flips Texas State Senate Seat In Runoff After Being Held By Democrats for 139 Years! Huge Upset!President Trump visits with young volunteer from Temple Baptist Church in New Bern, NC as they hand out meals to storm survivors.REDACTED talks more about Trump than a subreddit made about Trump, despite their non-partisan name. When will the obvious platform bias stop?Karen Monahan releases medical record showing that she told her doctor about Keith Ellison abusing her.FBI, Justice Dept plan to redact Russia documents despite Trump order for full declassification: report🐸 TOP SPICE OF THE DAY 🐸:Lets play Where In The World is Anderson CooperLiberal Students Admit: Trump Helping EconomyHOW ABSOLUTELY DARE YOU SIR?!!It all makes sense nowThursday, September 20th:TODAY'S ACTION:President Trump's Message on TradeExecutive Order Authorizing the Implementation of Certain Sanctions Set Forth in the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions ActPresidential Proclamation on National POW/MIA Recognition Day, 2018🔥🔥TRUMP TWEETS🔥🔥:Financial and jobs numbers are fantastic. There are plenty of new, high paying jobs available in our great and very vibrant economy. If you are not happy where you are, start looking - but also remember, our economy is only getting better. Vote in Midterms!We protect the countries of the Middle East, they would not be safe for very long without us, and yet they continue to push for higher and higher oil prices! We will remember. The OPEC monopoly must get prices down now!“We can’t secure the Border because of the Democrats historic level of Obstruction. The Presidents fed up with this. His agenda is working. The economy is growing at twice the rate it did under Obama. We’ve nominated and confirmed 68 Federal Judges, 26 Court of Appeals Judges.... ... ....The thing that’s lacking is we can’t properly secure the Border because of the Democrats historic level of Obstruction.” Senator David Perdue of Georgia.I want to know, where is the money for Border Security and the WALL in this ridiculous Spending Bill, and where will it come from after the Midterms? Dems are obstructing Law Enforcement and Border Security. REPUBLICANS MUST FINALLY GET TOUGH!S&P 500 HITS ALL-TIME HIGH Congratulations USA!.@JayWebberNJ is running for Congress in the 11th District of New Jersey. He is outstanding in every way. Strong on Borders, loves our Military and our Vets. Big Crime fighter. Jay has my Full and Total Endorsement!Congratulations to my good friend Prime Minister @AbeShinzo on his HUGE election victory in Japan. I’m looking forward to many more years of working together. See you in New York next week!🇺🇸🇯🇵Army Master Sgt. Charles H. McDaniel, 32, of Vernon, Indiana, and Army Pfc. William H. Jones, 19, of Nash County, North Carolina, are the first American remains from... ... ...North Korea to be identified as a result of my Summit with Chairman Kim. These HEROES are home, they may Rest In Peace, and hopefully their families can have closure.(Video)On my way to Las Vegas, Nevada. Look forward to seeing everyone tonight! #MAGA(Video)Landing in Las Vegas now for a Make America Great Again Rally supporting @DeanHeller and @DannyTarkanian. Also doing interview there with @seanhannity live on @FoxNews. Big crowd, long lines. Will be great! #MAGAMAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!Thank you Las Vegas, Nevada - I love you! #MAGA🇺🇸AMERICA IS WINNING AGAIN!SIGNIFICANT TWEETS AND NEWS:BREAKING PROJECT VERITAS VIDEO: Deep State Unmasked: U.S. GAO Employee Admits “I Break Rules Every Day”ProgressBusted!!! Former Trump attorney Michael Cohen tweets, then deletes tweet praising himself for reportedly cooperating with special counsel Robert Mueller, in an apparent mistake that was intended to be tweeted from an anonymous account.US GAO Issues Statement following Deep State Unmasked Video of Auditor saying, "I break rules every day".Leah Barkoukis - RNC Reaches $252 Million Fundraising Mark For Midterms, Blowing DNC Out of the Water---“Enthusiasm for President Trump and his successful agenda is fueling our record-breaking fundraising and energizing our grassroots supporters,” said RNC Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel.PRESS BRIEFINGS, INTERVIEWS, RALLIES:WATCH PARTY: President Trump Rally - Las Vegas, NV - 9/20/18🐸 TOP SPICE OF THE DAY 🐸:BREAKING: New damning evidence shows that Brett Kavanaugh admitted to assaulting Christine Ford!Oh, you're a Democratic Socialist?Lining up in Las Vegas to see our glorious God Emperor. Make Nevada Red Again!Whoa... He wore that to school?I think im tired of winning... (pause) NAAAAAATFriday, September 21st:TODAY'S ACTION:President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Personnel to Key Administration PostsPresident Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Appoint Personnel to Key Administration PostsPresidential Proclamation on National Hunting and Fishing Day, 2018"Consumer Sentiment Hit Its Highest Level in 17 years"President Trump Participates in a Signing Ceremony🔥🔥TRUMP TWEETS🔥🔥:Judge Brett Kavanaugh is a fine man, with an impeccable reputation, who is under assault by radical left wing politicians who don’t want to know the answers, they just want to destroy and delay. Facts don’t matter. I go through this with them every single day in D.C.I have no doubt that, if the attack on Dr. Ford was as bad as she says, charges would have been immediately filed with local Law Enforcement Authorities by either her or her loving parents. I ask that she bring those filings forward so that we can learn date, time, and place!I will Chair the United Nations Security Council meeting on Iran next week!The radical left lawyers want the FBI to get involved NOW. Why didn’t someone call the FBI 36 years ago?(Retweeting America First) (Picture)(Retweeting America First) (Picture)I met with the DOJ concerning the declassification of various UNREDACTED documents. They agreed to release them but stated that so doing may have a perceived negative impact on the Russia probe. Also, key Allies’ called to ask not to release. Therefore, the Inspector General..... ... ....has been asked to review these documents on an expedited basis. I believe he will move quickly on this (and hopefully other things which he is looking at). In the end I can always declassify if it proves necessary. Speed is very important to me - and everyone!Senator Feinstein and the Democrats held the letter for months, only to release it with a bang after the hearings were OVER - done very purposefully to Obstruct & Resist & Delay. Let her testify, or not, and TAKE THE VOTE!Throughout American history, the men and women of our Armed Forces have selflessly served our Country, making tremendous sacrifices to defend our liberty. On National POW/MIA Recognition Day, we honor all American Prisoners of War: http://bit.ly/2pvFHNW Kept for our GREAT Veterans!(video)Remarks by President Trump at the Signing of H.R. 5895Thank you Missouri - I love you!Thank you Missouri - Together, we are MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!GOD BLESS THE U.S.A.!SIGNIFICANT TWEETS AND NEWS:CNN asked women if they believe Judge Kavanaugh. This was not the response they were expecting.Breaking...Senator Grassley Calls For a Kavanaugh Vote For Monday. 10pm deadline for accuser.This is the tweet that got James Woods banned for “ misleading information and potentially impacting an election”.White House Drafts Order To Look Into Google, Facebook PracticesThe PurgePRESS BRIEFINGS, INTERVIEWS, RALLIES:WATCH PARTY: President Trump MAGA Rally - Springfield, Missouri - 9/21/18🐸 TOP SPICE OF THE DAY 🐸:The Onion: ‘New York Times’ Announces Appointment Of Anonymous Source As Editor-In-Chief 😂😂They are totally lost9/21 Springfield MO Rally - Just look at all these Russian bots!20,000 Trump Supporters Had To Be Turned Away At Missouri Rally It Was So BigSaturday, September 22nd:🔥🔥TRUMP TWEETS🔥🔥:New Economic Records being set on a daily basis - and it is not by accident!(Video)SIGNIFICANT TWEETS AND NEWS:FITTON:MONSTROUS Corruption:Rosenstein plotting against Trump, Kavanaugh confirmation mess, and President Trump's declassification moves. GIANT Judicial Watch update"You're not being censored! You can go create your own platform! There's no conspiracy against you here!" - PayPal bans Alex Jones for, literally, not breaking the rules. Declaring his "content" is bad but he didn't break a specific rule.Shareblue deletes OWN fake thread to try and blame Reddit and create a Streisand Effect over their lies about T_D. Gets caught out and then tries to claim they actually deleted their thread over "death threats" by Russians. Then brigades Conspiracy to try and cover it up. Buahahaha.Nigel Farage - "The day after Trump got elected, the biggest internet search engine, the most powerful, important tech company in the world… effectively declared war on the whole populist revolt that was happening across the West"🐸 TOP SPICE OF THE DAY 🐸:OUR FAVORITE PRESIDENT SHOWING THE WORLD THE SIZE OF ANTIFA BICEPS!The Ford Trail - Play this exciting card game where it takes literally forever to get to your destination.MRW I look for all the racism and Russian propaganda on T_D that Reddit keeps complaining about.WEEEW LAD!Without further ado, some tunes to get you jamming through all this WINNING:Crooked SmilePink & WhiteTalk is CheapAgainWet DreamzGoldMAGA ON PATRIOTS! #robgray

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