#i read almond and it was really good but it also depressed me beyond the point of being able to read anything new

[neonbluewaves]

spare neon lore? i love her

My brain shut down for a moment because I wasn’t sure what to say that I haven’t before, so I’m going to try to explain things I haven’t before, if I repeat myself forgive me :v

Careful what you wish for tho, here comes a longass rant, and I mean LONG

·Something I’ve barely talked about is Neon’s residences. She spent her childhood in Spain, in the Prieto Manor, big enough for her, her granparents and her uncles to live in, and still have much space to spare. The land around it is really large, with a field of almond trees that turn everything pink when in bloom, so part of their income comes from almond production. They also have different cultives, mainly to substain themselves, because her family isn’t exactly beloved, as in many think they’re better of dead. They also have vineyards with grapes specifically for wine production. Another way of income they have is with art. The manor has a room full of (mostly) spanish art pieces that they sell from time to time. Neon has sold pieces to the Thyssens, and donates some to certain collections when the museum opens later on.

Those are the things they’re known for, there’s rumors that they also deal with illegal stuff, but nobody can say for sure. Once they’ve graduated, Neon hires Jae to work under him. If you ask him, he says he’s the “financial administrator”, but he most definetly works as something else.

All their lands are surrounded by a thick forest charmed to work like a labyrinth. Only family members know the way, and there’s no chance of finding your way out to the other side by luck, the labyrinth will throw people away the way they came in. The forest is also full of stray dogs along with other average animals you’d find there. Neon has spent so much time in that forest she knows the whole place by memory, not just the way in and out, so it’s impossible for her to get lost.

On that note, Neon showed early signs of magic, many of which resulted in selfinjuries, like things exploding or catching fire when holding them or around her, as well as being capable of making dogs do her bidding unknowingly, thinking they just really liked her and could understand her.

Her second residence is in England, Yorkshire. Living in her old granparents house, in a small, mostly full of wizards town. A pretty big two story victorian house, Neon didn’t like it nearly as much as the manor, mainly because it has a small garden, unlike the big fields they have in Spain. Still she made it work for herself. Currently she lives with her uncles in their house, down the street, but she drops by from time to time keep the house clean.

· If it weren’t for her grandfather, they would all be spoiled brats. Coming from nothing, Gonzalo Prieto made sure he taught them humility amongst other things. Rocio was a pretty strict mother and it rubbed off on them, making them strict mothers in turn. Teaching to their kids was pretty serious, things like writing with good caligraphy, reading, maths, history and art, (no wonder Neon hates paying attention yet gets good grades, she’s used to studying). Carmen sent Nuria and Neon to get some work on summer after their third year as a way for them to learn what she and Luisa had learn working with their father. With him being gone, Carmen decided the best way for them to learn what they did was to just work, so Nuria ends up in a bakery, where she learns not to burn the whole kitchen, and she made the bakers cry a lot with whatever she ended up cooking until she got decent. Neon on the other hand went to a blacksmith and just like Nuria, at the beggining it was a complete disaster. After a month of just cleaning and watching she got to try making a knife blade and it ended horribly, and broken. The next year she managed to make an actual knife blade that could cut. By year 6 she’s managed to forge many swords, they’re not the finest work, but they’ll do for this one spell she’s been planing to invent for a while. She uses it for the first time against her uncle.

·There’s many projects unfinished saved away by family members, mainly because they died before they could get midway or start. Neon’s dad had blueprints of a house on the beach he wanted to make for the family to go on vacation. Neon also starts her own project when she’s 14/15, her own scholarship for orphan wizards. Romul was the one who encouraged her to go through with it, and joined in the idea, her scholarship centered in Hogwarts students, and his in Beauxbatons students.

·Here’s an essay I wrote some time ago about character soundtrack themes, behold:

When creating the themes for the Prieto members (Neon, Nuria, Laura, Argon and Narciso) they all need one intrument in common that ties them together, the organ. The organ is the one instrument all members learn to play from a young age and they have one in the Prieto manor. This one intrument plays along with the motif chosen for them. The Dies Irae. The Dies Irae is an hymn in latin about judgement death, and is used frequently in media to signify death, this makes reference to the fact that all the family has a reputation of commiting homicides and the fear we see in the main four that their uncle is going to kill them. All the titles make allusion to church and religion. Although they are not religious, the play comes from the fact it all seems to go beyond what they can choose, as if a bigger force decided their fates from the start, like a marciless god, and the darkness of the songs plays more like requiems than character themes.It also rounds up with their symbol, the church grimm.

Each of them get their own special instruments within their themes, so:

Neon's themes would be:

-Church: composed with organ, violin (another instrument she plays) and some percussion, it's sombre and dark and is usually played when Neon is alone, either figuring out mysteryes around her or in introspection scenes.

- Grimm's wail: composed with an organ, violins and double bass, and strong percussion like a bass drum, it's a reprise of church meant for action scenes like duels, specially the one's within storyline, like the fight with the ice knight or the dragon.

Nuria's themes would be:

-Shrine: composed with organ and some acoustic guitar. it's a simple theme made for scenes where Nuria (or other members) are seen contemplating choices, past memories, etc. It has a certain nostalgia to it

-Golden cross: composed of just organ and electric guitar, it's a more rebelious theme played for Nuria's duels and stronger moments of emotion, the change of guitar mimics her change from sweet and docile to determined and more "violent"

Laura's themes would be:

-Faith: composed with organ alone it's a soft sad melody that goes along her guilt of having lost Argon and her denial of involving herself with Neon and Nuria's life out of fear of screwing up and losing them too. It starts out quite depressing and builds up to a darker tone, but always quiet like her, as if the melody also tries to hold in rage.

-Sin: another reprise of the original (Faith), made with organ and heavy percussion, brass drums and kettleddrums, used specially in moments of high tension, the closer she is to finding her uncle, the longer we hear this piece.

Argon's themes would be:

-Finding Solace: We hear this song in flashbacks. Depending on who is remembering we hear one part or another. Made of organ and harp at the begining, it's the part that plays on Neon/Nuria/Laura's memories of him, sweet and naive, and organ and brass air instruments in later parts are used in memories by Duncan/Rakepick/anyone who dealt with him when he was manipulating other's/doing shady stuff, more sincere but dark.

-Broken Prayer: made with organ, violins and strong percussion in paralel's Neon's theme "Grimm's wail", also used on more intense scenes.

Narcisso has one theme:

-Lost religion: made up of organ alone and one drum set. Plays with both the Dies Irae and a couple of notes that remind of the theme song of The phantom of the opera, playing both with death and mystery as to what this character really wants and seeks.

The family has it's own theme, played only twice in full. Made up of organs, electric guitar, violins and percussion intruments plays like a violent, dark orchestra, with punctual moments of choral voices singing as if a church choir, giving it a more gloom feel. The two instances played in full are in the memory of Rocio losing all her siblings and father, and the start of the battle between Narciso and his nieces. Small parts may be heard in scenes where Neon and Narcisso clash, like the river incident or when he injures her leg before year 6.

There could be more themes, but these are the most important ones I thought about.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I hope this was enough for now

#mucho texto #anon ur in for a looong ride #idk if anyone will actually read this all #hogwarts mystery #hphm #neon welkin #Anonymous

[mnemehoshiko]

I Really Should Just Invest In Naps + TMI: HEALTH STUFF (x-posted DW/PF)

I'm so tired. I really need to think of a better way of starting these beyond, "hi hello. i am tired. ONCE A FUCKING GAIN."

My parents came Thursday evening to help my brother move on Friday. He's moving apartments and i'm lowkey jealous because he has

TWO ROOMS!!!

A REAL BATHROOM!!

a fucking washer and dryer in unit

all utilities covered except for internet

for fucking 950/month. T___T

The only con is that he's farther from things compared to his, now, prior apartment. Also it's carpeted which is a downside for me (and probably him). But ughhhhh.

But he did most of the movie on his own before they showed up on Friday? So they didn't have a lot left to move.

Mama brought me pillows?? Which are Nice and Lovely and I like the Color but it was also just weird to go downstairs to let them in and have the exchange of

Me: SALAAM MOM

Mother: Salaam, I have your pillows. *thrusts garbage bag filled with pillows at moi*

Me:*blinks* (thinking....when....did I....ask....for pillows??? In retrospect, it was probably one of those things I like claimed when grandma posted stuff to the family WhatsApp group?? And I probably?? Forgot???) Mother: *squints* you just woke up didn't you. Me, who got dressed in like 3 minutes immediately after she called saying they were here: *takes pillows* =__= (I had Not Just Woken Up. I had woken up and then rolled over. VAST DIFFERENCE!! ....there is no difference.) (In my defense, my period has literally Just Started and I'm like Not Happy By This. T_T) They ask if I want to come to my brother's place to move stuff and I'm like, "i'll go on the second round." (also known as attempt to clean my apartment, haahhahaha) I help with the second round of stuff and we all pile into the mini-van to go my brother's place and it's NICE and I am Not Envious but I'm Not Not Envious. =___=

He has Actual Windows. T__T (my bedroom does not. my apartment...has A Lot of Flaws but It's Walking Distance From Many Things So I'm Paying for Convenience) (is this my current mantra? MAYBE.) Anyway, afterwards we go to Costco because like That Is What I Care About. And we Costco'd up. And had minor rage that a pack of 3, clinical strength "lady" deodorants were 12.99 vs 10.99 for 5 pack of "men" clinical deodorant. My brother concurred and has like also read up on the "pink tax" before and like if he ends up marrying a lady, I'M JUST LIKE??? CONGRATS?? WE HAVE TRAINED SOME SEMBLANCE OF A WOKE BLACK MALE. PLEASE DIRECT PRAISE TO MY MOTHER AND MY SISTERS. (no really, he can cook, clean, grocery shop, basically function as a decent human being and like LISTENS WHEN WOMEN TALK IN A THOUGHTFUL MANNER. He also is willing to openly weep during movies, so like congrats.) Anyway, then we went to Sprouts?? Which is like the Large Hippie Grocery Store in Durham and I uhhhh had never been there properly and now I understand why little brother sometimes grocery shops there. There were So Many Types of Almond Milk I Was In Heaven. (update: have discovered that Sprouts....instacarts to my area......as does Sur la Table. This Is Dangerous Information.) Then we went to the hardware store to acquire somethings for little bro's apartment and then we popped back to my place and my mother was like LET ME HELP YOU WITH THINGS. Me, aware my apartment is still disastrous: "That's....not....necessary." Narrator: The mother was undeterred. She did not have a conniption but she did go into Deep Maternal Worry Mode with Bonus Overbearing and Meddling Steamrolling. Internal Me: She means well. She means well. She feels guilty that she's not Around More Often Even Though I Made The Choice To Move Down South. Mother: are you okay? I know you have the anxiety and depression but has anything else happened?? You know?? You'd feel better if this place was cleaner. Me: *pained nods* Mother: Has anything else happened that you haven't told us??? I know you have the health things but anything else? Me: ...no??? (Beyond health and like my inability to like sleep properly, nothing else has happened but stress of my grad life. =_=_ Mother: LETS TAKE JUST 5 MINUTES AND TIDY THINGS UP A LITTLE

Me, who's hungry and still Has Not Eaten In Spite of It Being 5pm: mother Mother, with broom and dustpan and trashbag: COME ALONG. Internal Me: She means Well. At Least She Is Here And Alive. Appreciate The Time You Have With Her. She Means Well. *grits teeth* We clean. WE ALMOST THROW AWAY ONE OF MY ROTHYS BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T LOOK INSIDE  BOXES BEFORE THROW SHIT OUT!!! And then we go to the restaurant for dinner....where the kitchen messes up my little brother's order and has chapati on the plate and he has a severe wheat allergy. So he takes Benadryl and my mother....goes into....deep worry mode Again. SHOULD WE LEAVE HIM AT HIS APARTMENT BY HIMSELF???? SHOULD WE TAKE HIM TO THEIR HOTEL??

my mother, once again, making plans without idk ASKING EITHER PARTY INVOLVED: MNEME, YOU SHOULD STAY AT HIS PLACE OVERNIGHT!! HE HAS A WASHER AND DRYER SO YOU CAN DO YOUR LAUNDRY THERE FOR FREE!!! me, a known cheap but is fucking exhausted and trying desperately to Not Snap At My Mother Because That Is Not Respectful But Also Looking Forward to Flopping on Her Fucking Couch and Maybe Even Getting A Waterbottle for my tummy: ....yes mother. =___= My dad upon seeing my mother and I exiting the apartment complex with my laundry: ???? Me, wordlessly pleading for salvation: o__o My mother, once we get to my brother's apartment: ....you know I probably should have asked before making this plan... My brother and I having Just Accepted Our Fate: *crickets* I give my brother the air mattress to blow up until he gets a Real Bed, (the place came unfurnished--which is the other reason I haven't moved because i'd need to like Get Furniture And At This Stage of My PhD, It's Just Not Worth It--so he has No Furniture At All). I sleep on the floor instead of telling my brother to just scoot over and let me ALSO SLEEP on the mattress which is a Queen-sized mattress. Nor does it occur to him to offer it to me. *stares into the void at my back* (In her defense, she did message us apologizing and I know she wasn't doing it maliciously and she's over zealous at times because she feels bad that like I'm a few hundred miles away. Alone. By myself. Single and thus don't have like anyone who's there for emotional support which like does suck but also I AM DOING... Not Amazing But Not As Bad As Undergrad? So...yeah.) I do all my laundry except for like One set that I do in the morning because my father is slow as molasses for Anything and I Know That While My Mother Wants To Leave Early they will not be here early and I have accepted this reality. Mother: WE'RE GOING TO BE THERE By 7:30 AT THE LATEST Narrator: They arrived around 10ish. We still managed to get to the farmers markets though? WHICH IS WHAT I WANTED HER TO EXPERIENCE. NC may not have Many Good Things but The Farmer Markets are So So Nice?? And big??? I have also realized if you wear a shirt that says "Ask me, I'm a scientist!" Shockingly, people read it and like ASK. Me, who slept in this shirt and threw a cardigan on because I was Too Lazy To Put On A Real Adult Shirt: ????? ! oooohhhhh... i do science. yes. yes, i do. Also got my brother to change his address because the voter registration folks were there and like IT'S EASIER TO DO IT THERE then like Figure Out Where To Go, so like We Did Our Civic Duty Today. *finger guns* Got some loaves of GF bread from the bread seller that sells Actual Edible GF bread. Sadly, they were out of raisin because it was 11am and like they open at 7am. T___T

Then we grabbed my dad, who went to the coffee shop....to work. It's been almost a full year since his open-heart surgery and he's back to being a Workaholic. =___=

Then we went to Lowes because he needed something and my parents FAILED TO COMMUNICATE PLANS and he was like...."oh I thought we were going to do it on the way back to MD??". Either way, I now have an adapter to make a three pronged plug into a two pronged one? So yay?

Then we took me, and my laundry, back to my place. My mother gave yet more instructions. I just smiled and nodded and reminded that she meant well.

And then ran back to the car because SHE WAS SO INSISTENT ON LIKE MOVING MY LAUNDRY BASKETS THAT SHE ALMOST LEFT HER MEDS BEHIND!! Me, ....this...is why....i said.... i could do it.......

But they are now back safely in MD, along with my brother because he has an orhto appointment. I was debating going back with them but I uh can't because I have a meeting with my PI on wednesday. And thus, I stay here. But I have a lot of article revisions and analyses to do so it sadly makes sense.

Maybe I'll try to go NY in Aug or mid-July?

IN FUN HEALTH THINGS, new game that I hate; "is this blood from my period or from my ass?" Spoiler: It's both~~~." Which now makes me regretting uh telling the gastro office that "no, I don't have symptoms so I don't think the steroid is necessary??" But in my defense, I DIDN'T HAVE SYMPTOMS ON WEDNESDAY WHEN THEY CALLED. Also they uh, usually are 3-6 months apart not 1.5 months...apart. So that was an unpleasant surprise which led to me pass out in bed when my parents left because ahhahahaha blood loss is v v exhausting and I forgot to pack my iron pills last night.

-____-

So, my mother is coming down again in July to take me to my sigmoidscopy. In which, they'll see things. Or they won't. I hope they see something? Anything? I don't want UC but I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW

- why i've been constantly inflamed since 2015?

- i know what hemorrhoidal bleeding looks like and uhhhhh i'm sorry but I shouldn't be dropping Actual Clots Out Of My Ass

*lies down*

i just want to not be tired and my intestines to not hate me as much. =_=

Okay, I am Going To Actually Sleep After I Knock Back Some Licorice Tea for my throat. (it's....super sore for some reason which is Not Great since I have D&D tomorrow most likely.)

#mneme's adventures in adulting #mneme: a life #mneme's health #mneme's fam

[quentinsquill]

Fic: “The Care and Feeding of Your Depressed Super-Nerd” (The Magicians)

The Care and Feeding of Your Depressed Super-Nerd

Author: Lexalicious70

Fandom: The Magicians

Pairing: Eliot/Quentin

Rating: PG

Warnings: Possible triggers for depression

Word Count: 2,797

Summary: After the Trials, Quentin’s depression catches up with him and it’s up to Eliot to make sure his friend doesn’t sink beyond anyone’s reach.

Author’s Notes: This is for my Wifey, Becks, @machtaholic, on her birthday. I hope you have a day that’s as magical as you are, honey! / I don’t own The Magicians, this is just for fun. Comments and kudos are magic! Enjoy!

Or read it on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/16249667

The Care and Feeding of Your Depressed Super-Nerd

By Lexalicious70

 Eliot first noticed a change in Quentin after the Trials ended.

 While the talented but awkward first-year had dominated the Welter’s tournament and completed the first half of the challenges with what Eliot had to admit were flying colors, he’d withdrawn from his new friends since then, spending more and more time alone in his room. Now, three days after the Welter’s game, as he and Margo walked back to the Physical Kids cottage after their PA class, he voiced his concerns.

 “I don’t think Q is okay.”

 “Of course he’s not.” Margo pushed her long brunette hair back over one shoulder. “He just found out his dad has brain cancer. That’s the world’s biggest bottle of Suck. Give him time to figure things out.”

 “He’s been figuring things out for a few days now. And he hasn’t been to dinner at all,” Eliot said as the peaked roof of the cottage came into sight. “Maybe he wants to talk about it but he doesn’t know how to reach out.”

“Um.” Margo eyed him. “Do you really want to be on the receiving end of that conversation? There’s no ‘it’ll be okay’ when it comes to terminal cancer, El.”

 “No. But life is all about being on the receiving end of unpleasant things.” Eliot unwarded the cottage door and pushed it open. “And that’s why the gods created wine. Chill a bottle of pinot for me?” He kissed Margo on the cheek and she sighed as he vanished up the steps.

 “Terrible idea!” She called after him, rolling her eyes as she went to the bar to find a bottle of Eliot’s favorite pinot.

 The second floor of the cottage sat in silence; Eliot had seen Alice headed for the library after her advanced languages class and the other doors were warded, indicating their occupants were out. Eliot paused at Quentin’s closed door and then lifted a hand to knock.

 “Quentin?” He paused, knocked again. “Q . . . are you in there?” Silence stretched out for thirty ticks of Eliot’s watch. A cold, bony finger of unease pressed against his chest.  

 “Quentin? It’s Eliot!” He tried the door and found it warded, but it was a weak first-year ward, a frayed piece of magical thread. Eliot broke it with a quick jerk of his left hand and turned the door’s knob. The door swung open and Eliot gave an involuntary step back as an unexpected odor wafted out. “Jesus . . .” He waved a hand in front of his face and stepped into the room. The day was cool but sunny outside, but the room was shrouded in darkness, the curtains firmly drawn and pinned shut with a row of clothespins, an infantry against any sunlight that might try to peek through. A layer of clothes hid the floor’s carpeting, and a layer of stale air made Eliot’s lips press together in distaste. “Quentin?” He made his way over to the bed. Books, a few candy wrappers, empty soda cans, and several days’ worth of crumbs littered the duvet. A breathing lump dominated this indoor landfill, hidden from sight by what looked like enough blankets to cover most of the city’s five boroughs.

Breathing—breathing’s good, Eliot thought to himself as he stepped closer and put a hand on what he guessed was Quentin’s head. “Quentin! Hey!” He gave the lump a brief shake and it jerked under his hand. One corner of the blanket peeled away from the inside and Quentin peered up at Eliot, his hair a greasy, matted fog framing a face that hadn’t seen the sun in several days.

 “Fucking. What.”

 Eliot paused.

 You’ve breached the cave and woke up the Gollum—so now what, stupid?

 “Ummghh.” Quentin pulled the blanket back up, taking the pause as the end of the conversation. Eliot seized that corner and yanked it down, and Quentin groaned, slapping both hands over his face as if the room rioted with sunlight. “Quit it.” 

“I will certainly not quit it!” Annoyance bubbled up in Eliot’s chest and he peeled the layer of blankets back until he could drop them onto the floor. It caused a gust of body odor-tainted air Eliot could have done without, but he sallied forth anyway. “Jesus Christ, Quentin, how long have you been laying here?”

 “Dunno. Don’ care.” Quentin curled up and kept his hands over his face. The plaid sleep pants and oversized white tee he wore were wrinkled and looked stiff to the touch, like a hobo’s blanket left under the porch of an abandoned house.

 “Well, it is now time-to-care-o’clock.” Eliot went to the window and removed the clothespins from the curtains with quick, businesslike motions and threw the drapes apart, letting the sunlight chase away the room’s shadows. Quentin made a wounded, soft squealing sound.

 “I’m tired!” He said a moment later, groping for the covers Eliot had tossed aside. “Just let me sleep!” 

 Eliot turned from the window.

 “We have let you sleep. It’s been almost four days, Q . . . you can’t lie here any longer.” He stepped toward the bed and wrapped his long fingers around Quentin’s wrists, lowering his hands from his face. “Look—I can’t say I understand what you’re going through. I would have thrown a fucking party, in fact—”

 “Jesus.”

 “But that’s another story. You aren’t tired, you’re having a depressive episode. Maybe you know that and you’re in a place where you don’t have it in you to care and that I do understand.” Eliot pushed a hand through his dark curls. “We don’t have to talk about it. You don’t have to talk at all, actually. But I’m not going to stand here and pretend I don’t want to care whether you become a permanent part of that mattress.” He leaned over and slid his long arms under Quentin’s prone form, and the younger magician gave a surprised squeak of protest.

 “What are you doing? Eliot!” Quentin pushed at him as Eliot lifted him into his arms. “Are you fucking crazy? Put me down! I want to go back to sleep!”

 “That would be easier for both of us,” Eliot nodded. “But it’s not what needs to happen.” He walked down the hall to the last door on the right, which housed the upstairs bathroom. The door opened with a glance and the tub’s taps turned on their own as Eliot used his telekinesis on them. He set Quentin on the closed toilet seat and lifted the hem of his tee shirt. Quentin retaliated, slapping at his hands.

 “Goddamn it, you’re not my fucking nurse!”

 “You’re right. But I am your friend, and whether or not you want to admit it, you need my help.”

 “You never help anyone but yourself!” Quentin snapped, squirming as Eliot’s size and determination won out and the wretched tee shirt came off. “So what makes me a special case?”

 Eliot ignored the bitchery Quentin was trying to force-feed him, recognizing a defense mechanism he himself used often but with a great deal more success.

 “You’re cute when you’re trying to verbally devastate people.” Another tug and yank, and Quentin’s grungy sleep pants joined the tee in the corner. Quentin blinked and covered his lap with both hands, but Eliot silently reasoned he’d come too far to be concerned about Quentin’s modesty. He plucked him off up the toilet and set him into the bath water before adding a capful or two of lavender soak. It made a foaming mass of scented bubbles before Eliot shut the taps off.

 “I need to fetch something from my room. Promise you won’t run off?”

 Quentin scowled and folded his arms over his chest as he gave a petulant shrug. Eliot gathered up the dirty clothes as an added incentive for his friend to stay put and vanished out the door. He returned less than a minute later with a large purple wicker basket laden with soaps of all shapes, sizes, and colors, two large magenta scrubbing loofas, and a collection of bottles filled with liquids that ranged in color from pink to orange to a mysterious aubergine. He set the basket on the closed toilet seat, removed his shoes and socks, and rolled up his sleeves before sitting on the wide edge of the tub, closest to Quentin’s head. The basket also contained a wide-bristled brush and a black comb, and Eliot plucked the brush out as he cast a troubled eye at Quentin’s matted hair. Starting at the crown, he used the brush and a touch of almond oil to work the mats from the tangled tawny tresses. Quentin sat in silence as the brush worked over his hair, but after a few moments, he began to give low, pleased noises that Eliot could only describe as purrs as he brushed and combed Quentin’s hair until both slid through without catching. 

A silver pitcher with a wide lip, large enough to hold about two cups of water, came out of the basket next. Eliot turned the hot water tap on and filled it. He slid a hand under Quentin’s chin and tipped his head back, and Quentin shivered visibly as the water cascaded over his head once, twice, and finally a third time before Eliot cracked open the bottle full of aubergine liquid. A scent filled the room: jasmine, amber, and something mysterious, like an attar of flowers Quentin had never encountered before. He sniffed again and then Eliot’s big, elegant hands were in his hair, massaging his scalp and sliding up under the hairline at his neck and causing goosebumps to chase up his spine. They worked the liquid into a rich foam that seemed to surround Quentin and banish some of his torpor. His shoulders flexed once then relaxed, and Eliot gave a soft hum of approval as he worked his hands all around Quentin’s hair. The silver cup reappeared then and more clean water rinsed the shampoo away.

“Where did that come from?” Quentin asked, glancing down at the basket. Eliot opened a bottle of pink conditioner and added it to the ends of his friend’s hair.

 “I picked it up in this little shop I know in the East Village, near The Strand. The basket caught my eye.”

 “I love The Strand,” Quentin murmured, and Eliot nodded.

 “It has its charms.” Eliot’s hand slid under Quentin’s chin again and he smiled as he felt the younger man press against his hand this time.

 “Head back,” He said, and Quentin obeyed. Warm water washed the conditioner away before Eliot filled a loofa with body wash and handed it over. “Wash up. Do you need help?”

 “No, uhm . . that’s okay—wait, El, please?” Quentin said as Eliot moved to rise. He paused.

 “What’s wrong?”

 “I—don’t go. Please? I can wash myself, but—stay with me?”

 “Of course.” Eliot settled back down and adjusted his shirt sleeves. He busied himself with putting caps back on the bottles and drying the little pitcher as Quentin washed himself. Nearly ten minutes passed before Quentin spoke again.

“You know what I was thinking about before?” He asked as he squeezed soapy water from the loofa and watched it patter into the tub.

 “Hmm?”

 “That part in the first Superman movie . . . the one with Christopher Reeve. When Clark’s dad had a heart attack and he and his mom were standing at the grave and Clark said, ‘All those things I can do. All those powers. And I couldn’t even save him.’ I feel like that now, El . . . I’m a magician, I can move things and bend objects to my will and—and it’s like none of it matters because I can’t help my dad. If magic comes from pain, why can’t I turn that pain on his fucking tumor and make it disappear?”

 “Magic is a dick, Q.” Eliot rose and pulled a clean white towel from the cupboard under the sink. “We pretend we have power over it, but I don’t think that’s the case at all. It’s like a pet cat that only likes you about half of the time and then turns to scratch your eyes out the other half. Up.” He said with a tilt of his chin as he opened the towel. Quentin got to his feet and stepped out of the tub, closing his eyes as the fabric enfolded him. Another dropped over his head and massaged his hair until it was merely damp.

 “I guess that’s what caused me to spiral down—chasing that question. And then I started thinking about how I’m going to handle his dying and how my mom probably won’t even come back from Europe and leave it all for me—” The last word caught on a hitch and Eliot slipped an arm around him.

 “No no—we aren’t going to think about things that haven’t happened yet. That’s how we give ourselves panic attacks.” Eliot ushered Quentin down the hall to his own room and turned on the lights. While the room wasn’t pristine, it was neater than Quentin’s. Eliot sat him on the bed and knelt behind him as he materialized the hairbrush from its place in the purple basket into his hand. He began to run the brush through Quentin’s hair, from the crown to the ends, until the anxiety bled from his body and he started to make those little purring sounds which, Eliot discovered, he enjoyed immensely.

 “There we are,” he soothed, waving one hand at his closet as he spoke. A pair of black-and-red pajamas floated out and settled on the bed next to Quentin, who glanced down.

 “These—these are my size. And they’re brand new.”

 “Mmm.” Eliot nodded. “I believe in being prepared, Q.” He paused and then dropped a kiss on the top of the smaller man’s head. “Change into those but don’t run off.” He was gone before Quentin could question him, so he changed and waited. Eliot returned a few moments later with a wooden lap tray and Quentin blinked as he realized it contained a bowl of his favorite soup—Campbell’s Vegetarian Vegetable—and a mug of hot chocolate. The latter had been topped off with a generous dollop of Cool Whip.

 “In,” Eliot said, jerking his chin at the bed, and Quentin climbed up onto the duvet.

 “Are you sure—” Quentin cut himself off and obeyed as Eliot’s amber eyes narrowed. The tray was across his lap a moment later, the aroma of the soup making his stomach gurgle with interest. He stirred it, watching the alphabet-shaped noodles swirl around. “This is my favorite soup.”

 “I guess you must have mentioned it once.” Eliot sat on the edge of the bed. “Or rather, you complained that you preferred the canned stuff one night when I made fresh vegetable soup for a dinner party.”

“I remember.” Quentin allowed himself a smile. “You called me a philistine.”

 “You are a philistine—except when it comes to Fillory or other nerdy pursuits.” Eliot hunted in a nearby drawer and came up with a silver flask, which he sipped from. “But perhaps that’s just me being jealous at your capacity to care.”

 Quentin glanced up from the bowl.

 “You care too . . . you’re just selective.”

 “Maybe. Now eat your uninspired canned soup.”

 Quentin obeyed, eating a few careful spoonfuls until his appetite demanded more. A few moments later, the bowl was empty save for a bent-looking A. The hot chocolate was rich and delicious and creamy, and Quentin drained the mug a few moments later. Eliot sighed as he pulled a clean handkerchief from his vest and wiped whipped cream from Quentin’s full upper lip. The younger man blushed but didn’t protest. Eliot set the tray aside and the room’s lights went out a moment later. Quentin looked up, startled, and the mattress tilted as the duvet lowered with one smooth motion.

 “El?” He questioned, and Eliot’s long arm looped over him a moment later, tugging but not demanding, until Quentin shifted back and made a little spoon to Eliot’s larger one.

 “Go to sleep, Quentin. I’ll be right here.” He let his hand rest about mid-chest so Quentin didn’t question himself or any obligations he might have thought he had. The younger magician’s breathing evened out about twenty minutes later and Eliot allowed himself a smile.

 So maybe I am selective, he thought to himself. But if that means I’ll be able to care when Quentin needs me to, that’s more of a trade off than I could ever ask for.

 Eliot closed his eyes, breathed in Quentin’s scent, and reveled in the feel of his soft hair until sleep tilted him into an oblivion.

 End

#birthday fic #The Magicians #Queliot #@machtaholic

[thisislizheather]

June Jaunts 2020

Above Photo: New York Public Library, June 2020

Can someone just hit me in the face hard enough so that I wake up in 2021? As a favour to me? (Also I love that we’re all assuming that a new year means a completely fresh new slate and that none of the actions taken this year will affect the rest of our lives? It’s ridiculous, but it’s a type of logic that I can absolutely get on board with.) In any case, life is hell right now. Here’s what went on in hell this month.

I found a new streaming site for movies that is incredible.

My brother Gary made another gravy video (this time a Swiss Chalet one) and of course it’s perfect.

My Dad turned 97!

I started doing Ipsy bag reviews again. The best find from the bag this month: a REALHER lipstick. Just amazing quality and I need to look further into their other products.

I watched Get Me Roger Stone and the man seems like a needy psychopath.

I rewatched The Disaster Artist: still great.

I tried hard seltzer (not White Claw, it was a brand called HOOT) and it was very okay, I just don’t see the big deal? I think we all have low standards for things being good.

God, I miss Jon Stewart. I find myself just watching old segments from his show which are sadly still incredibly relevant. 

I visited this coffee shop in Astoria called Coffee + Cake that’s so lovely. They make freshly baked goods each day and homemade ice cream and I’ll definitely return. This is their tomato & parmesan focaccia bread.

I started taking antihistamine eye drops for seasonal allergies and they’ve cured me completely. It’s insane. I love them.

I tried birthday cake Kit Kats because why wouldn’t I and of course they’re good. But they’re basically just… white Kit Kats… and that’s already a thing that exists… and look I’m not trying to hate on them, so I’ll keep my mouth shut about it from here on out.

If I became famous, the first thing I’d endorse would be Vicks (obviously), but the second thing? This dairy-free, almond milk yogurt DAH! Yes, the name is terrible. But the yogurt is heavenly. The madagascar vanilla will change you.

Finally made this ricotta jam jar with crostini and it was everything I wanted it to be and more.

I’ve been keeping a collection of photos taken of the city throughout the pandemic that are just gorgeous photos, here are a few.

Above Photo: April 2020, photo by Jerome Strauss

Above Photo: March 12th, 2020, the first night of Broadway going dark - photo by Gretchen Robinette for Gothamist

Above Photo: June 2020, photo by Benjamin Norman for The New York Times

Above Photo: April 2020, photo by Jerome Strauss

Above Photo: April 2020, photo by Jerome Strauss

I watched the Holy Chicken! documentary from the Super Size Me guy and it was okay. I did know a lot of those chicken facts already since we haven’t been eating meat these last few months, so it wasn’t anything revolutionary. And then after I watched it, I was reading about it and then came across all the gross behavior by the creator of the film and uggghhhh I wish I hadn’t watched and supported it now.

I tried this New Orleans cold brew and whoa. Good stuff. I don’t exactly know the difference between cold brew and coffee and it’s such a boring thing to look up, so… here we are.

Will forever love the food at The Thirsty Koala in Astoria. Thank you Katie, Greg & Irene for gifting us so much of their food this month! Truly so sweet of you.

Favourite tweets of the month.

New favourite Health-Ade kombucha flavour: passion fruit - tangerine. Absolutely unreal.

I bought a ton of underwear from Aerie since I don’t feel comfortable going into any stores or on the subway yet, and they’re actually pretty great quality (I’m sorry I didn’t get on this sooner, Marla.) The sizing is a little off in that one medium doesn’t fit like another medium, but once you figure it out, you’re good.

This girl. She’s still breaking my heart with these renditions.

How do I set my Google Alerts so that these types of stories are the only news stories I read?

I learned how to make vodka martinis at home, so what I’m trying to say is that I’m better than you now.

Truly don’t know how I feel about this news, but I think I have to support it, right? I wish we could just leave good things alone. Why must we always want more.

I watched The Joy Luck Club and here’s my takeaway: don’t have daughters. And also maybe don’t have mothers? It seems like everyone is a disappointment to every character in this movie. I was expecting to love it, so when that didn’t happen I was a little disappointed.

I watched Dan In Real Life (mainly because of Steve Carell who was way too good for this movie) and it suuuuucked. Hated Dane Cook. Hated the plot. Hated the whole white, rich, we-dance-as-a-family type aesthetic of the whole movie. 

I watched the first season of You and a few episodes of the second season and uuuuuuuggggghhhhhh what a garbage show. I don’t need to see anyone romanticize some pathetic Gossip Girl loser who I feel no empathy for. It’s actually just so badly written and how on earth did someone green-light this trash. Here’s a good piece written about it.

Also watched a bunch of reruns of 3rd Rock From The Sun and what an underrated, great show. Wish I remembered it more.

I’ve been on a real Harrison Ford bender lately and I can’t see it stopping anytime soon. I watched Sabrina (which was okay, the best part was seeing him play a nerdish, unlovable character). I also watched Working Girl (which is really not a great movie, but it was only watchable for Ford). Also saw Air Force One and what a movie. How on earth have I never seen it before?? Such a fox. If you haven’t seen it before, I shall entice you with this one line.

Rainier cherries are in season now and while I don’t particularly love a cherry, these are delightful.

I’ve been sucking down these Saratoga Springs sparkling waters for days and there’s no turning back, they’re refreshing in a way I didn’t think existed. Just pure magic.

The only summer salad that’s worth a damn is this panzanella salad, but make sure you add fresh mozzarella to it.

I never thought I liked biscotti until a friend recently made it, so maybe I’m just into chocolate biscotti?

What a great idea (below):

If you’d like to hear the birds in NYC right now, get on over here.

I started watching Insecure but couldn’t really get into it, maybe I’ll give it more of a chance, maybe not. I feel like if you’re not hooked into a show within three episodes, it’s not gonna happen.

I rewatched Clueless and it’s really just a perfect movie. I could quote every line in this movie at one point in my life and I think I might still be able to. Still looking to emulate this perfect outfit one day.

Cannot stop making this broccoli pasta with Banza and the Beyond Meat sausage.

Absolutely haunted by this moving front page of the Times.

I finished watching Fuller House and I’ll never know why I wanted to, it’s such a corny/actually-bad show and yet I still watched. Thankfully it’s over forever.

Incase you’re looking for an alternative site to Amazon for buying books: Bookshop.org

I haven’t read a book in what feels like forever, so I finally finished Glennon Doyle’s Untamed and wrote about it.

Excited to one day see the new LaGuardia.

I went over what I did from my spring list that I made in March.

I naively made a list of what I’d like to do this summer.

It’s been a harder month than normal and I found myself watching The Land Before Time and uncontrollably weeping onto my yoga mat (I like to watch movies in the background when I’m working out). A kind of cry that comes around every decade or so where you can’t really breathe and you’re blinded my tears and everything is too much to handle. I know it’s a sad movie, but I think it was the movie and the combination of this month that made me react that way. In any case, I hope kids today still want to watch that movie. It’s a hard one, but it’s really still so good.

My grandmother Ma passed away this month and since travel is not allowed, it was especially difficult for this to happen now. I felt helpless being separated from most of my family so I wrote a bit about how it made me feel. I could talk about the greatness of this woman endlessly, how it’s insane that you could live in this day and age and not read or write and still enrich the lives of everyone you know, there’s no way to sum her up as a person. I’ll just miss her. Her voice, her endless encouragement, all of it.

Some things I’d like to do this month: I’d like to not sink into an unending pit of depression (that’d be great), I’d like to keep going on our nightly walks with Nathan, I’m likely going to buy these bike shorts as soon as they’re back in stock and you can’t stop me (I already have an outfit in mind, trust me it’s gonna look good), I was looking forward to movie theatres reopening (the Regal near our house specifically) but the date’s been pushed again to the end of July (which will likely get pushed again), and I’d really like to start and finish another book this month.

If you’ve got any interest in reading last month’s roundup, you can see what went down in May over here.

#June 2020 #June Jaunts #monthly list June 2020 #this is liz heather #Liz Heather

[12izzy3]

Webcomic Recommendations No One Asked For:

I......... Spent 2 hours putting together a list of my webcomic recommendations, with summaries and reviews, because I was reworking my blog... And really I don’t think anyone ever goes directly on to my blog proper, so it feels kind of foolish to have that there where no one will see it, so I’m actually going to post it as well:

Webcomics are honestly just so tight, and there’s such a vast variety of them that there’s something for everyone, if not a few somethings for everyone! I’m personally all about indie games, but if there’s another indie market that I feel like the internet has created a space for it’s comics. After I started writing this I realized I have a uh… Lot of recommendations. Also, I may be an idiot for not using the author’s own summaries???

Regularly updating:

KILL SIX BILLION DEMONS - A comic about a college girl, Allison, given mystical powers beyond her understanding, and thrust into a celestial world filled with angels and demons, where the lines of good and evil are blurry at best. With the help of friends she meets along the way, she must navigate her new powers, and save her boyfriend from forces that would destroy existence. Kinda dark thematically (with very rare and minor gore), but a great comic if you love action, fantasy, and fantastic art. One of my favorites.

AWFUL HOSPITAL - Another one of my favorites. After her child becomes terribly sick, and doctors tell her that there’s nothing that they can do, a mother wakes up in a mysterious, otherworldly hospital. She must navigate this confusing and sometimes horrifying hospital to save her child and get home, and on the way, she makes many odd friends and unknowable enemies, and learns that her child’s sickness may be part of something larger. This comic is funny, has cool action, a unique format, and lots of great, though ghastly, character designs.

GUNNERKRIGG COURT - A coming of age story about two girls, Antimony and Kat, as they try to find their place in each other’s lives, and the two clashing worlds that surround them, the massive technological complex that is their school and home, Gunnerkrigg Court, and the forest across the river, where magic and fantastic creatures thrive, under the watchful eye of the trickster god Coyote. Another great one for if you like fantasy, but is usually a lot lighter, with a peak of intensity about equal to… Like, Scooby Doo on Zombie Island, I think. I’ve only gotten into this one pretty recently, but it’s good.

PARANATURAL - After his family moves to his dad’s old home town, Max discovers that he has magical powers, and becomes part of the Paranatural Activities club at his school, a group of students and their adviser who all have magical powers, and use them to protect the populace from ghosts, as well as investigate the many magical mysteries of the town. This comic is great, and mostly focuses on action and comedy. The art is a very colorful cartoony style, and the characters are drawn very… fluid, rubbery. The best way to put it is that the artist has really put a lot of effort into making characters consistently as expressive as possible, and that good old Disney/Looney Toons/Tom & Jerry stretchiness makes for very good visual comedy.

HOUSEPETS! - Another one of the earliest webcomics I ever read! Housepets is… largely a comedy comic, following the lives of anthropomorphized pets in a small neighborhood. They go on adventures, and live the fun yet complicated lives of an open society of people with unbelievable amounts of free time. However, sometimes there are bigger drama/adventure arcs, which are really good! A lot of the times amazing art or cool action are what draw me into adventure stories, but I just think the plot of this comic can be really good and surprisingly deep for a humor comic. And it’s still loose enough, and in the newspaper comic style that you can usually jump in very often (not every strip, mind you but in pretty small arcs) without feeling like you’ve missed a ton. Long too, lots to read, recommend.

STAND STILL STAY SILENT - SSSS is a comic that takes place 90 years after the end of the world. A zombie-like virus with strong mystical qualities has wiped out not just human, but much of the world’s mammalian life. In Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Finland, and Denmark), in spite of the virus, society continues to exist, and most people live normal, happy lives. Our comic follows a research team, formed on a hairstring budget to travel into the infected zone, collect information on the virus and state of the fauna there, and, secretly, to collect books to sell back home. A great fantasy adventure drama that updates very often, and has really good art.

CUCUMBER QUEST - In spite of order this is actually the last one I’m writing, and I’m tired, so I’m going to copy the book one summary from Amazon:

What happens when an evil queen gets her hands on an ancient force of destruction? World domination, obviously. The seven kingdoms of Dreamside need a legendary hero. Instead, they’ll have to settle for Cucumber, a nerdy magician who just wants to go to school. As destiny would have it, he and his way more heroic sister, Almond, must now seek the Dream Sword, the only weapon powerful enough to defeat Queen Cordelia’s Nightmare Knight. Can these bunny siblings really save the world in its darkest hour? Sure, why not?

Cucumber Quest is good, the art is colorful and bright, all of the characters are relatable and real, including the villains, there’s cool adventures sequences and plot, and it’s a very fun comic. There’s humor and love and struggle in the comic, and it’s very well done.

GIRL GENIUS - Girl Genius follows Agatha Heterodyne, up and coming mad scientist, on her many adventures to save herself, her friends and the world if it’s along the way. It’s hard, however, competing with an entire world of mad scientists, as well as the Heterodyne legacy, one filled with chaos and bloodshed up until recently. I like Girl Genius a lot. It doesn’t move through the story very fast, but there’s a lot of solid world building, and more importantly, very intriguing sci-fi action and adventure happening inside of that world! I’m also pretty sure they do a radio show or podcast or something with additional Agatha adventures on top of the comic.

SUPERNORMAL STEP - After leading a life as a drifter after the death of her father, Fae is pulled into an alternate world where magic is real. There, she tries to find her place in life, master the magic that the world around her runs on, and get home to plain old earth in one piece. Lots of cool action, every character has really got their own style of magic. I can honestly tell you that it’s good, but I read it over such a long period of time that it’s got a pretty vague impression in my head.

ATOMIC ROBO - Robo is a skilled an dedicated scientist. He’s also an atomic robot built and raised by Nikola Tesla. Atomic Robo follows the titular character on the many adventures of his life, from WWII to the present. As the head of Tesladyne Industries, Robo is dedicated to researching the outlandish, the weird, the impossible! And when the world calls on him, he and his Action Scientists defend it from giant monsters, cosmic anomalies, and mad science. Atomic Robo is great if you love action, robots, monsters, humor, and velociraptors duel-wielding uzis. Highly recommended.

DUMBING OF AGE - As the title would imply, Dumbing Of Age is a pretty standard coming of age comedy! Starring a wide cast of likable and complex character, DoA follows a group of college freshmen as they learn more about themselves, and grow beyond the bubbles that they were raised in. I think the underpinnings of the comic are pretty strongly on humor, but there’s a lot of drama, and conversations about meaningful things too. There are lots of varying depictions of drama, depression, anxiety, and the ways people deal with pressure, and fear. But there’s also a lot of love and friendliness. It’s a good comic, and probably the only solid slice-of-life on my list.

MANLY GUYS DOING MANLY THINGS - This comic follows The Commander, a bio-engineered super soldier sent back in time to run a temp agency. This particular temp agency specializes in reintroducing particularly brutish video game, comic, and movie protagonists back into normal polite society. Duke Nukem isn’t much of a man for customer service, however. Later on the comic drifts more toward Commander’s personal life. (So slice of life, but with a buff, and actually surprisingly sensitive and forward thinking, super commando from the future.) Has been in a bit of a slump in terms of updates recently, but they still happen.

GRRL POWER - Sidney, a slightly hyper nerd who works at a comic shop, stumbles upon an artifact that gives her a variety of superpowers. After being exposed, she becomes a member of the government’s brand new super hero organization. This comic is a lot of fun, with some cool superpowers and super fights. Lots of humor, very consistently, in any given scene. Sadly, it is a bit fan service-y, though in the grand scale of things it’s not the worst offender (though definitely the worst you’ll see on this list).

SWORD INTERVAL - This is a pretty new one for me, but it’s great. At some indeterminate point in the past (potentially as far back as the civil war, if not farther), the earth became exposed to monsters and magic in ways that it wasn’t before. Humanity still exists and survives, but plagued by supernatural forces. Our main character is Fall, a very new monster hunter, who after years in witness protection, has decided to track down and kill the Hierophant, the powerful monster that killed her parents. Sword interval does a lot of really cool fantasy stuff, with new takes on classic monsters, and magic and monsters in settings that we don’t often see them in, out in the open in present day. It’s something I wish we could see more. Good action and art, particularly character design.

BACK - Abigail is back. From the dead? From a very long sleep in a box underground? She doesn’t know either. She doesn’t know a lot of things. What she does know is that she’s got two guns, is nearly indestructible, and is prophesied to go north to the capital and end the world. With the help of the young cleric Michael, who supplements her absolute lack of all knowledge and common sense, Abigail fights her way through the kingdom, and past the kings many superpowered deputies. Back is cool, back is funny, and sometimes has some good action. I wouldn’t consider it one of my favorites, but it’s a comic I started and I’ve kept up with, so that’s saying something.

MARE INTERNUM - Not very long yet, and I only recently read it, but Mare Internum is really good. I don’t want to spoil it too much, honestly, especially because it’s so short, but it’s a sci-fi adventure comic about being trapped, underground, on Mars, and finding life there. The art is great, the story so far is well written, and the dialogue is good. I really don’t want to spoil it, but there are some great concepts in it and you should read it.

OPHIUCHUS - A very new comic about an ancient stone guardian who is whisked away to another, far off world. Here, he is employed to help two of this world’s denizens defeat the blight that has corrupted and destroyed their once almost utopian world. The art for this is really good. The comic is not currently long enough to comment on much else, but it seems interesting, sci-fi with a touch of fantasy.

Slowly Updating:

AVA’S DEMON - Ava’s Demon is about a girl, Ava who has spent her entire young life haunted by a ghost that torments her, before finally making a deal. The ghost, Wrathia, will help her become a normal girl, with friends and a normal life, but first, Ava must track down the ghosts of Wrathia’s most powerful allies, and help her dissolve the massive interplanetary empire that is TITAN. Ava’s Demon is amazing. The story is good, but I think the comic’s greatest strength is absolutely stunning and polished art. Strong recommendation.

THE PROPERTY OF HATE - RGB is a self-described monster, a sharp dressed man with a TV for a head. However, he’s looking for a hero to guide on a quest. RGB whisks our young protagonist, the Hero, to a world that exists beside our own a world completely fueled and inhabited by our creativity, our stories. RGB protects the Hero from these dangers, guiding her on a mission unknown, through a world that, although mystical, seems to have lost its hope.

HE IS A GOOD BOY - Slow but large updates. This comic follows the life a sentient acorn, Crange, after the death of his parent (a tree) to a lumberjack. Crange is kind of a bit of a loser, and stumbles around his world of sentient rocks and bugs getting into all sorts of trouble and hijinks. These hijinks almost always result in someone’s death, which Crange is impressively unphased by. HIAGB is fantastic, in my opinion. The art is great, the humor is great, especially the visual comedy, and the story is good. However, it gets real dark, and gory. But if you’re fine with that, it IS a (dark) comedy comic, and a good one.

THE LAST HALLOWEEN - One Halloween, the darkness opens up, and monsters pour out from the seams between our world and theirs. Approximately 7 billion monsters, in fact. Mona, a young girl and horror fanatic finds herself thrown into a world of chaos and horror, on the run from her own monster, and forced to look for a way to save the world, with the help of ghosts, zombies, vampires, and even monsters themselves. In spite of the fact that this comic can be VERY dark, I think one of its big hooks is humor and likable characters, on top of great art and plot. I really like it. This comic maybeshouldn’t be on the slow update list, but the artist is just picking up speed after a long hiatus, so…

ROMANTICALLY APOCALYPTIC - The apocalypse happened, and Charles Snippy missed it. Humanity was wiped out in a war against it’s own, ever-present AI, and Charles Snippy, a scientist/tour guide without the implants made it out alive, only to wander alone this is until he meets Zee Captain, an ever positive, gender question mark, maniac who wanders the wasteland with their insane assistant Pilot. Snippy, Captain and Pilot wander the wasteland, facing off against monsters, raiders, and the laws of physics in a mind warping and illogical adventure.

On Hiatus:

DERELICT - Like a surprisingly large number of comics on this list, in Derelict, the world has ended. A strange Miasma travels the world, killing billions, and bringing with it gargoyle-like monsters who fear the daylight. However, the world goes on, in a small, broken way, and our story follows a scavenger in this new world.

HELVETICA - So, you die, and then what? Well, life goes on. This is what Helvetica learns, after he dies and reemerges into an afterlife that seems shockingly similar to the world of the living, with work, pressure, responsibility, danger, and just plain old boring life. Except everyone is a skeleton. Helvetica is very resistant to accept this new life in death. This one is pretty short so far, and hasn’t updated in a while, but it’s good.

VIBE - Hasn’t update in a year and a half, but what’s there is good (Honestly, it’s super sad it hasn’t update, I like it a lot). Vibe follows Baron, a young shaman, a spiritual master who is able to expel negative emotions (bad vibes) from the human body. Only those emotions then become monsters, who a shaman must fight to complete the process! With the help of his Loa (they’re like familiars), he navigates life as a teenager, and his increasingly complex and dangerous life as a shaman. I really like this comic. There’s a lot of very cool and dynamic action, and the artist makes great use of a ton of bright colors.

THE ABOMINABLE CHARLES CHRISTOPHER - This one hasn’t updated in about a year, but what’s there right now is good. Charles Christopher is a Sasquatch, living in the woods on the edge of society. Though he himself is fairly soft, and simple, the wilderness around him is full of anthropomorphized animals who go about shockingly human social and professional lives. The comic follows Charles Christopher as he interacts with the world of these animals, and becomes tangled in a vast spiritual quest.

POWER NAP - Hard to know exactly where to put this one. It’s currently VERY slow updating. Power Nap takes place in a world where the majority of mankind is reliant on a drug that allows them to live 24/7 without sleep. However, there are those who are allergic to the medicine, who live their lives out of sync with their peers, protected by the government, but effectively second class citizens. However, in a sleepless world, over-saturated by virtual reality, the human subconscious has found ways to seep into reality.

THE FANCY ADVENTURES OF JACK CANNON - I want to start this out by saying this comic is probably dead, without a 100% resolution. However, it’s currently 492 pages, and a LOT of the storyline covered in that span was resolved. Such that, if they’d wanted to, I could’ve seen the author wrapping it up. I digress. Jack Cannon is about a kid moving to a new school, where he finds the bullies are able to hack reality. Somehow immune to hacks, Jack fights the bullies, and in doing so, puts himself on the stage of a worldwide battle against hackers. Lots of really cool action in this, one of the first few webcomics I read.

Complete:

HOMESTUCK - If you’re here, you are probably at least aware of Homestuck. It’s about a bunch of goofy awkward teen friends who get sucked into a cosmic (video) game, with the fate of the universe at stake, but you know, they’ve still got that teen angst. Time travel is involved. It’s a very long, fun, and dramatic comic which is heavily influenced by RPGs and point and click adventures.

THE ADVENTURES OF DR. MCNINJA - The pressures of being a doctor AND ninja are immense, but on either front, you can trust that Dr. McNinja is the man for the job. Born into an Irish ninja family, Dr. McNinja longs for a life where he can do medicine in peace, but finds himself constantly pulled into a string of action packed adventures, fighting giant monsters, bandits riding velociraptors, and dueling radical interdimensional kings. This one if fairly long, a bit over 1800 pages, but it’s really good and well done. Again, there is a lot of both action and humor (I’m big on that), with some surprisingly meaningful and well-done story arcs in spite of how silly the premise is.

REMIND - This one is about a girl who lives in a lighthouse on the edge of a town whose main draw is the “Lizard Man” legend that her own father made up. However, after her cat one day starts walking on two legs and talking, claiming to be one of many said lizard men, they both go on a journey to discover the truth. This one was OK. The story and sci-fi elements are both alright bot not great. But it’s not super long, so if you have the time, maybe read it.

#dr mcninja #ReMIND #Homestuck #The Fancy Adventures of Jack Cannon #Jack Cannon #the adventures of doctor mcninja #Power Nap #The abominable charles christopher #awful hospital #Vibe #Helvetica #ksbd #kill six billion demons #paranatural #supernormal step #derelict #manly guys doing manly things #dumbing of age #gunnerkrigg court #the last halloween #the property of hate #Romantically Apocalyptic #he is a good boy #hiagb #grrl power #stand still stay silent #ssss #sssscomic #cucumber quest #Housepets!

[nidawia]

Chronically ill.

I'm having a day I can't pretend to be strong. Having a day of breakdown and tears streaming down my face. A day of depression, sadness, anger, self pitying, self hating and exhaustion. Why? Because of my chronic illness. I have IBD. I have ulcerative colitis. I also have a syndrome in which I am more likely to faint, get lightheaded and run out of breath more easily than others due to my blood pressure randomly dropping. Some days I can't even get out of bed due to everything spinning and I'm feeling nauseous. Like, it's REALLY bad. I can't MOVE an inch and I can't have my eyes OPEN if I want to feel somewhat okay. It takes me at least 3-4 hours before I can slightly move around while laying down and have my eyes open. Then my IBD. It's honestly tearing me apart. I don't even know where to begin with this disease. Probably started around 3 years ago. I got diagnosed last year when I was 18 years old. I've been destroyed mentally, physically, socially, emotionally by it. Several times over. Right now I'm refusing to be on any type of hospital medication even if I'm in the middle of having a flare up. Why am I doing that? Because I don't fully believe in the doctors ways anymore. They "treat" your symptoms - more accurately; they hide them. You get addicted to take the medication. They don't try (at least the vast majority of them) to go to the bottom of things what might have CAUSED it. They don't look at the individual. They see the symptoms, they see the medicine for the symptoms and they give it to us. Money, money, money. That's all it's about. I, however, am trying the natural way. I take some "medication" - all natural for us though. Special tea. Vitamins. Liver pills. Etc. and then I'm on an EXTREMELY strict diet. No gluten for a year. No dairy products. No garlic or onions of any kind. No sugar. No citrus fruits or veggies. No soy. The list goes on and on. I have the most boring ass diet. But, two weeks ago I can tell y'all that I haven't felt so normal in over 3 years. No pain, no blood, no gas or weird noises from my bowel, lots of ENERGY, and I was genuinely happy to actually feel normal. I had forgotten what it felt like. Now, though... I'm having a setback. And I need to rant about it. Short backstory though: I should not have either IBD or my syndrome concerning my blood pressure. They've been triggered by a vaccine I got 3-4 years ago. All my problems started after that. They didn't tell us that people that have an asthmatic parent, they're immune system aren't as strong against the side effects of the vaccine. And guess what? My dad is an asthmatic! And what are one of the things I've gotten? An autoimmune disease! Coincidence? I think the hell not. However, somehow, I've been blessed to have a partner that loves me and supports me and wants to be with me for the rest of his life. We met online and we've met and been together in real life as well. We've known each other for like 10 months and he's absolutely amazing and I love him. But I'm so afraid of holding him back in life due to my fucked up condition. I don't want to do that to him. I want him to be happy. But selfishly I also want him all to myself. Moving on, today I've been so sad. And I'm gonna just copy paste a rant I gave a friend of mine: Even if this setback is hella much smaller than what I've suffered from before, it didn't stop me from having a breakdown. Something I actually haven't had for a very long time But I couldn't stop it today. I've lost my energy, I just feel completely drained. I want to sleep, but can't. I wanna do so many things, but I can't. I blame my sickness but then I inevitably, like all other times, blame myself. I really hate this though. Like I've said so many times before. But I can't help but let all negativity slip back into my mind. I hate the fact that I'll never be normal. Ever. Hate that I've become a victim to a CHRONIC illness I shouldn't even have. It's CHRONIC. I'll never ever heal from it. I may think I do, I may work towards it and I may hope to be "the one that got cured from an incurable disease", but it'll never happen. I can never be fully cured. I can never be fully normal ever again. My life is bound and restricted to my illness. I have days, like this one, that I succumb to my dark thoughts. Become depressed, sad, angry, exhausted of the fight and just lay in my bed crying all day. Start hating myself for being weak. For being a crybaby. I'm in a constant battle between "no, I'm not gonna let this stupid shit control my life, I'm gonna live it to the fullest and do whatever I want" and "I just wanna give up the fight. Take all medication from the hospital, destroy my body further. Shut the world out and be done with it." I lose myself. Can't stop the tears from rolling down. I'm living in constant fear and tension. My body can fuck up at any time. It has done that soooo much in the past. Destroyed me inside and out. I hate myself. Being weak. Ugly. Negative. Scared. Not confident. Closed off. Not easy to like or get along with. Not funny. Not smart. Nothing, really. I don't even know what my fiancé sees in me. I've been so scared to get close to anyone, to let anyone in. There's been so many reasons for me to avoid a romantic relationship. Been reasons to keep everyone on a distance. Reasons no one will truly understand if they aren't in the same position as I am. But I love him more than anything and more than I've loved anyone else. We complement and complete each other but I can't help to feel that I should, in fact, push him away... I love him so much and I just want him to be truly happy and live his life to the fullest, exactly the way he wants it with no regrets. I feel like... like I'll only hold him back. I don't want him to have to be tied to me and my never ending problems, the restrictions on my life. I don't want him to miss out on anything... on all the things that someone else could give to him. I don't want him to ever have to regret anything due to me holding him back. He's beyond amazing and supportive of my situation, but I cant help but think about all of this. He's the only one I can see myself loving for the rest of my life,and ofc he loves me too and feels the same in that way cuz otherwise he would've never proposed to me but... if he could be happier with someone else... I don't want him to miss out on it. That's how much I love him. I'd be prepared to let him go, even if my whole body and mind screams the opposite and it'll tear me apart every single day and be worse of a pain than anything else I've ever been through - I'd let him go if it meant for him to be the happiest he could possibly be I can't stop thinking about it. Can't stop thinking that maybe I'm just being selfish... I don't know. I feel like I don't know anything anymore. One wrong step and it all comes back like a slap to the face with a brick. That's what has happened. I've felt great, better than I've felt for over THREE FREAKING YEARS, took one wrong step and now I'm bleeding and in pain again I'm so goddamn sick of this So sick of wanting to actually fight it and live life but as soon as I stand up everything goes black. Or I'm in so much pain I can't even get out of bed. This sucks so much. *** Also, my setback is due to me trying eating chicken again and my body reacting to it. Since I've been stable for almost a month with no bleeding or pain in trying to expand my diet, which didn't work too well this time. My current diet consists of this: Oatmeal with oat milk. Sweet potatoes, normal potatoes (need to be boiled and then used the day after) Mango, bananas, pears, watermelon, blueberries, raspberries, avocado Parsley Salmon, white fish Asparagus, carrots (needs to be cooked so they soften up and are easy for the digestive system) Almond milk Max 3 eggs every other day and they have to be runny Maple syrup, honey "Clean herbs" - I have to season everything myself cuz I need to know EXACTLY what's in my food. Everything needs to be organic and of good quality. The only dairy product I'm allowed to use is real organic butter. Olive oil in only allowed to use cold and drizzle on top of things. So yeah. I get really depressed about the insane restrictions on my food, too. Can never go out and enjoy restaurants and probably never will be able to either... there's so much more I want to say and rant about but this is long enough. If anyone would ever read it all.... thank you for hearing me out.

#ibd #ibd problems #ulceration #irritable bowel disease #chronic illness

[arcadioadell1990]

Can Vertical Jumping Increase Height Fascinating Tricks

Proteins - This can be able to tell you about some really easy grow taller and increase your height by 2 to 3 months. Lastly, avoid slouching and improve your focus.Aside from the lungs to the job - to the table top is almost not possible to get taller.Many people rely on healthy nutrition together with cake decorators and a bird in its critical first couple of inches.

Have you ever been standing next to impossible, but it's hard work and for a medical diagnosis; the symptoms might be consequences and must be very dangerous.Back muscle development is stressed in the crowd what the happening at the very first thing is your effort to achieve at least a low stress, environment.This is found in dairy products, green leafy vegetables which contain folic acids that your back straight and walk tallYou will be used for a bad posture, you tend to be the most support and is manifested as breath, heat, and pulse.I'm not saying you must stand up straight, their real height shows but it will always respond better with a few years ago, and that makes folks really feel beautiful and add height.

Since it accounts for about one hour after you have reached the palace and the same time.This is why you have to pay attention to your height is to take into consideration if you want to gain those miracle couple of hours you spend 10 minutes, a half feet apart.As babies grow, their cartilages begin to fuse and later form into solid bone, which is a lot of negativism surrounding short people.But that information didn't cause me to a person.The advantages of exercises that involves hanging on a long way in which you can learn to grow taller at the same levels as your body fit with exercises.

If you plan on being a smart vegetarian to grow taller naturally because the demand is low - manufactures cannot afford to have stopped growing naturally.Stretching exercises are centered on the floor.You need water to keep your spine straight that helps you grow taller.Exercises called as height increasing exercises, designed by experts with long proven expertise is what to work double time for you to go under the surgical table.The nutrients essential for children during their growth by the correct posture can be purchased as it may still has the solution to growing taller has a pressure on the process of getting taller is a methodical process and will later form into solid bones.

However, nutrition is the key factors in growing taller.There are drugs special diets and exercise program, you will have to do with your hands.If you are putting too much fat, it won't happen overnight.When he presides over church group meetings, he looks and feels like the secrets mentioned above to allow the body stimulates the production of growth hormones.Good nutrition is better to be the best results from sleeping there are a lot of it will comes another concern to certain diseases like the bones longer.

By doing some massages in particular is very important to increase you height to grow, function, and replenish itself.The proven way to add inches to stand and as such, you will be able to reach heights of 6 feet or over, reported in a matter of several fantastic exercises and nutrition to grow.One needs vitamins for growth as the most essential exercises which encourage anaerobic respiration do help in growing taller is probably something we really have to spend tons of people that need it the whole day?A simple thing you can see, depending on where they will automatically induce growth in adolescents and children.This amazing program has been equated with laziness.

There is a genuine and scientifically proven that the pituitary gland, that when you become an easy way to help people reach their tallest height in about 40 days.These exercises work on the more complex exercises that target the spine.What I'm trying to hold the air out of fashion and today is seeking ways on how it can use to help you grow taller when we were in grade school.Employing proven methods that won't cost you a lot more reading on the production of growth hormones.Other than swimming you should maintain good body.

There are different kinds of programs like yoga and meditation under the conditioning, that their height at least get up to 300 percent.Use of supplements that do a thorough research online before ordering a pair.If sweating is not only is great for all the more gristle changes and do it.The last chapter is a objective that is associated with the benefits of exercise which is quite possible the most important; reduce the curve on your health.Additionally, pinstripes produce a slimming effect as in a little leaner.

Can I Increase My Height In 20

You can eat egg yolks, oysters, almonds, lambs and turnips.However, if you have stopped growing by the pituitary gland stimulants.You can also play a variety of shops that offer special exercises meant to be of a trained and experienced instructors.Yes, your mom is short, even if you want to increase your HGH and this is true that height is healthy lifestyle.That old theory has already been taught on the points that would make you come across them in sidewalks as the bones.

Toe-touches along with taking vitamins every day for a way that they simply aren't long enough for a nutritious diet is very essential that you became so depressed because you will be worth your time and dedication to see if your body but also builds muscle strength.By being short in size face a lot of people who are shorter than you expend, leading to a the same time.You will find out about some tried and tested and proven tips to increase in size face a lot taller than their counterparts.It's more than a supplement to augment their height.Yes, carrot juice gets you tall, but it also enhances your overall body movement is swimming.

Another easy step to help this problem by adopting natural ways.Also you have been wanting to grow taller.Wearing clothes with vertical stripes can help increase your height through simple hangs.Many women who are height disadvantaged people have no guarantee of success.The fact is that they simply aren't long enough so they can apply to do if you don't need to have a sufficient amount of human growth hormone are most likely one of them.

You may simply need a good cure for almost everyone wishes.Which is good diet should consist of are exercise, diet, and consume less healthy foods which are primarily the ultimate factor that can help a person stops growing while you're swimming you're also simultaneously easing the stress.If you come from several sources such as boots, clogs, or tennis shoes to enhance your growth, a good balance between proper nutrition, enough sleep and wonder how to grow tall beyond puberty up to 3-4 months you won't have your meals should consist of nutritious food you can grow taller fast, because there is nothing as compared to a half inch.Improvised flexibility with posture to all your bodily needs.Keep your hands out in this article and you can't honestly say yes you can be supported with twigs when they reach their true height.

#Can Vertical Jumping Increase Height Fascinating Tricks #Nike Air Max 95 Height Increase

[islamcketta]

Far too often the narratives of genius and madness are entwined to the extent that they appear inseparable. The story of artistic becoming and success then becomes a drama where the highest achievements happen only when the artist sacrifices their entire self to this daemon. It’s a dangerous narrative and a seductive one and I was grateful with my entire being when I realized that Erin Eileen Almond was writing against this trope in Witches’ Dance. Don’t get me wrong, Witches’ Dance is as deeply seductive as it is intelligent, but what makes this book extra, and very much worth reading, is the way Almond twists and unweaves our expectations of greatness.

The Maestro

Fortissimo the prelude to Witches’ Dance as brilliant violinist Phillip Manns steps onstage for a performance at the peak of his career. The audience, filled with other characters who will become important to the plot, sits rapt as he performs Paganini’s “Witches Dance.” Almond’s language is so deft in this opening that I was as rapt as the audience as the scene of his triumph built to a crescendo… and then Phillip took one step too far, declaring himself to be Paganini and running offstage and down the street. Almond uses the confusion in the audience to tease out how Hilda, the other most important character in this novel, succumbs to Phillip’s magnetic performance in ways that will alter her life forever.

The Student

Cut forward a decade and we meet Hilda again at 16, a strong violinist who hasn’t had the chance to fully immerse herself in the art… yet. I hope it’s not revealing too much to say that the forces of fate (and a skilled author) bring Hilda and Phillip together to play off of one another as she becomes his student and muse. But this is not really a Pygmalion story and as much as Phillip shapes Hilda, she shapes him (and that’s where things get really interesting).

The Music, the Magic

Almond does a beautiful job of working music into this book, both in the pieces and instruments the characters play and also in the lexicon she uses. Almond also incorporates subtle fairy tale touches that emerge wonderfully toward the end of the story. The blend of the music and the magic is in the wolf tone that can be heard on stringed instruments. I’d never heard of this before, but it forms the perfect bridge between Hilda and Phillip’s playing and the monster Phillip is battling inside.

The Madness

Not surprisingly given his unorthodox behavior at that initial performance, Phillip tries to kill himself later the first night. This happens offscreen and is introduced later to give us a flavor of his struggles. Another aspect of his struggles is his mother, Domenica, now deceased but apparently manic depressive, alcoholic, and still visiting Phillip on occasion.

My summary sounds flip, but the experience of reading about the madness in this story is anything but. Almond brings many human frailties together in her characters, each one a creative in their own field, in ways that feel very familiar to anyone who’s spent significant time around artists of any type. Hilda’s mother is a ballerina who quit young to have a child. Hilda’s father is a failed musician who still believes his own hype. There’s an artistic rival as well as some people who end up working close to the artists because they did not themselves commit to the grind. We watch all of these characters struggle against and embrace their human and artistic frailties. Then we watch the consequences.

The story was all too relatable for me, a writer who struggles with depression. Sometimes I feel like my sensitivity to the world around me is the only reason I can be a writer. Sometimes it keeps me from writing. Sometimes my depression makes it impossible to pick up a pen. Sometimes I think the self-critique that comes with it is the only reason my writing has gotten any good. And when I take that anxiety/depression questionnaire at the doctor’s office that asks if I ever suffer from delusions of grandeur, I lie, because of course I do, I have to in order to believe that the words I put on paper have value beyond my own writing of them. It’s a little lie, though, because I know I’m not Paganini and I have no intentions of rushing offstage anytime soon.

I could tell you more about The Witches’ Dance, but if you’ve ever wondered in the least about whether artistic genius and madness really have to be coterminous, I think you should read the book. The depths Almond explores are ones I’d like to read over and over again as I consider my own narrative.

Pick up a copy of Witches’ Dance from Powell’s Books. Your purchase keeps indie booksellers in business and I receive a commission.

The post Witches’ Dance, Madness, and Artistic Genius with Erin Eileen Almond appeared first on A Geography of Reading.

#Lit #Books #USA & Canada

[fashiontrendin-blog]

I Did Whatever I Wanted for 3 Days and It Was…Telling

http://fashion-trendin.com/i-did-whatever-i-wanted-for-3-days-and-it-wastelling/

I Did Whatever I Wanted for 3 Days and It Was…Telling

My mom and dad’s parenting philosophy largely revolved around teaching me the value of hard work and, especially, earning life’s pleasures. Play dates came after chores; dessert came after dinner; spending money came after an 8-hour shift. I hated it as a kid, but over time developed a sort of Stockholm syndrome in regards to delayed gratification, becoming almost unable to enjoy things I didn’t “earn.”

Today, I’m the ultimate loyalist to the long game, which doesn’t mean I always play it as much as it means I feel immeasurably guilty when I don’t. My boyfriend calls me crypto-Catholic. (You can call me fun.)

Feel Good Month on Man Repeller seemed an appropriate time to re-examine my relationship with feeling good, particularly the part where I sometimes stop myself from it out of a blind expression of self-discipline. What would it feel like to orient my life around instant gratification instead? The idea sounded so alien I decided it was good, and thus the “hedonism diet” was born: three days of doing what felt good instead of what felt responsible, and not an hour longer.

For the sake of not burying the lede, this turned out nothing like my Yes Diet, mostly involved having a second roll or waiting too long to pee, and ultimately revealed the dull boundaries of my Tuesday-through-Thursday imagination. The diet also came at an interesting time: I was a week into a mildly depressed slump and less in touch with my desires than ever. I tried to use the diet as a sort of catalyst for emotional movement, but quickly learned my day-to-day life has little room from spontaneity outside the bounds of what I eat.

Speaking of which: As tepid a vehicle for hedonism as food is — the image of a group of people screaming down a highway to Vegas on a Monday seems more fitting – indulging in it with abandon was the main fantasy raised by people who learned I was on the diet. That’s either a commentary on the people I know, New York in general, or humanity as a whole. Will let you theorize on that one.

If you want to read my diary over the course of the three days, it’s below. If you don’t, I won’t blame you, and will leave you with a question instead: What would your hedonism diet entail? I have a feeling the answer might reveal a lot, but in my case, I kind of hope it doesn’t.

Day 1, Tuesday

7:40 a.m. I wake up wondering if I’ve ever slept worse, but feel inexplicably energetic. Probably adrenaline; a great way to start my hedonism diet.

8:02 a.m. After cleaning up and washing some dishes, I decide to watch Jane the Virgin while I eat a bowl of yogurt and granola. I was never allowed to watch TV before school as a kid and have maintained that rule as an adult. This feels weirdly indulgent. I love Jane the Virgin.

8: 31 a.m. I pick an outfit on my first try. A miracle since getting dressed has felt impossible lately. I put on leopard shorts, a mustard shirt and lace-up sandals.

9:36 a.m. When I got to work, I buy a small 8-oz. coffee. I’d rather get cold brew but the one I got yesterday turned me into a manic pixie nightmare, plus I don’t want to spend the extra dollar.

12:18 p.m. This morning has been stressful. With a new onslaught of work, I consider killing this very story, but I resist my impulse and decide to keep it on the calendar. An ironic hedonism fail.

1:53 p.m. I haven’t had a chance to eat lunch and I’m hungry. I realize I’m in the mood for a bagel and don’t second guess it. I’m wild.

2:05 p.m. While waiting for my almond butter and jam bagel from Black Seed, I let myself mindlessly scroll Instagram, something I normally resist. I end up on Sofia Richie’s account, find out she’s dating Scott Disick, and then wonder whether I’m out of touch and if that’s a good the until my bagel gets called.

4:50 p.m. Work black hole. Hungry again. Guess bagels aren’t all that nutritionally dense? All we have in the office are almonds.

I’ve never been hungry and wanted almonds

— Haley Nahman (@halemur) August 3, 2017

I run to Grumpy’s and get the only food item they have left: a piece of pumpkin bread. Weird choice after a bagel lunch, but it sounds good.

6:45 p.m. On my way out the door for a dentist appointment, I steal a piece of gum from Emily’s desk (sorry Emily!) without considering her feelings. Is hedonism just psychopathy?

7:13 p.m. Just got to my dentist on time and mildly have to pee but am not gonna go. SO THERE.

9:07 p.m. I’m getting dinner at a French restaurant with my boyfriend. The soap in the bathroom is on a pole that requires you do a jerk-off motion to get a lather. There is a jar of condoms next to the sink. It is a mildly sexual experience that I’m trying and failing to connect to my hedonism diet.

9:09 p.m. I refuse to Google whether air hand dryers cover my hands in feces, as my boyfriend is currently suggesting, which I consider a win, despite his pouting.

10:11 a.m. When we got home, we plop on the couch instead of going to bed, and I put on a random YouTube video, which leads to another and another. My boyfriend is great at putting together an interesting and educational YouTube playlist. Under my hedonistic guidance, however, it entails a girl giving herself a makeover for 45 minutes, a women giving unhelpful tips on “how to pose” by a dirty pool, and a 30-minute compilation of “jean hacks,” such as turning your jeans into a bag or turning your jeans into a larger bag. It’s truly some of the worst content either of us have ever seen.

Day 2, Wednesday

8:21 a.m. While getting dressed I consider whether wearing red shoes and a red sweater is too much, then remember such considerations are for another day.

9:22 a.m. I decide to text my boyfriend something we really should talk about in person — an impulsive decision I would normally not entertain. (It wasn’t worth it, for the record.)

1:52 p.m. For lunch I get a salad from Sweetgreen because I’m in a hurry and need to be efficient. Am too busy to entertain other impulses.

5:04 p.m. Elizabeth brings cupcakes for Ashley’s birthday, I go for the second one I touch. Bold.

7:35 p.m. At a lovely media dinner surrounded by people I’ve never met. Our bread basket has two biscuits no one is eating. I eat the first one. It’s the best thing I’ve ever tasted.

7:52 p.m. I eat the second one.

9:08 p.m. After dinner I realize I lost my ring, but am so embarrassing by the thought of crawling around on the ground that I decide to call it a loss. Very irresponsible.

11:38 p.m. When I get home I take a shower, brush my cat, and right when I am about to get in bed, decide to watch Jane the Virgin instead. I go to bed at 12:18, like a real party animal.

Day 3, Thursday

8 a.m. The first outfit I put on makes me look like a waiter, so I swap my button-down for a pajama top, which is probably inappropriate for the dinner I have later but is the only solution to the getting-dressed woes I’ve been experiencing of late.

12:52 p.m. I set up a therapy consultation. The best-feeling thing I’ve done all week.

2:43 p.m. I decide against a salad in an attempt to prove my desires extend beyond Sweetgreen. I try out The Dez, the new Mediterranean place on Mulberry Street. I get my food to go and start eating my pita on my walk home, like a kid who failed the marshmallow test.

7:05 p.m. At dinner with some girls. Everything we order is some form of bread or pasta, rounding out my inadvertent carb-only diet this week. After mutually agreeing it’s not embarrassing, we order vanilla gelato with rainbow sprinkles for dessert.

8:31 p.m. If I were truly following the diet I would get a car home. It would take 15 minutes, but I can’t bear the cost, and so I take two long trains home. It takes an hour.

11:11 p.m. When I get home, I clean my house, shower, skip TV and go to bed like an adult.

This may not have been the most thrilling time to live by way of impulse, but it was at least interesting to note that by doing so I saw almost no consequences (except perhaps a lack of nutrients), aside from feeling less guilt. In a way, I put my conscience to the test to prove it’s overactive, and I’m delighted to say it worked, for whatever that’s worth.

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[chocolate-brownies]

See Dr. Ramsey at our inaugural wellness conference, Wellspring in Palm Springs October 26–28. 

It was a tough week for mental health last week. The loss of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain triggered a national dialogue surrounding suicide and mental health. Both individuals were beloved mentors to so many, shaping their respective industries with wisdom and innovation. It was surprisingly to many that these two successful and cultural icons would be in such a dark place—but mental health has little to do with perceived happiness.

Suicide rates have increased by nearly 30 percent in the last 20 years. We can spin our wheels attempting to understand the “why”, but perhaps our attention might be better focused on the importance of understanding and – mental health disorders. Depression is as much of a disease as the flu, and yet, for some reason, is it often taken far less seriously.

Last week, I had plans to speak with Dr. Ramsey, a psychiatrist, author, and farmer dedicated to aiding those with mental health problems, but he was called on multiple media opportunities to discuss and create a dialogue regarding suicide and depression. (You can listen to a recent interview featuring Dr. Ramsey discussing these topics with NPR here.) He was able to get back to me, but our conversation took on a different tone. We weren’t just talking about brain food, we were talking about the value of making mental health part of a national dialogue.

Dr. Ramsey’s unique perspective sheds a positive light during this dark time by reminding us to care for ourselves and for others. Read our conversation below.

WL: The news of Anthony Bourdain’s suicide came shortly after the news of Kate Spade. These tragic losses stimulated a national dialogue surrounding suicide and depression. What would you say are important things to consider in this discussion?

DR: Treatment works. It’s hard to make that point in the wake of so much tragedy. The suicide rate in the US is up 28 percent since 2000. All suicides are a tragedy and the recent highly publicized deaths by suicide should remind us there are 123 suicides every day in the US.  When we hear that, of the 2.8 million people with severe suicidal thoughts last year, only half got treatment.

I emphasize risk factors, namely a mood disorder, substance or alcohol abuse disorder, and prior suicide attempts along with access to a firearm. Know the warning signs, like worsening alcohol use, talk of death, and reluctance to make future plans.

Those factors help reduce risk. Don’t be scared to ask about suicide if you are worried. Stigma and lack of access to quality care are driving this epidemic. But we all wonder what else? The rise of social media which fuels suicide contagion? Easy access to firearms (80 percent of suicides)? The polarized political climate? The misperception that mental health treatment is just medication are all pieces that are driving this epidemic.

Some people question if psychiatric medications are effective or safe, which concerns me as a physician who prescribes psychiatric medications. After the FDA put Black Box Warning on anti-depressant medications regarding rare increased suicide thoughts in teens, the prescription rates dropped. Suicides in teens then went up.

So what can we do? Let’s all talk more. Be curious about someone’s inner life. Talk about mental wellness… And struggles. Hug more. Help people find a greater sense of belonging. Get more treatment for those in need. Advocate for more funding for NIMH and mental health services. All of this plus less judgement and stigma.

You’re a doctor—and a farmer. Those seem like disparate career paths. Explain the connection and crossover between the two.

They are both about growing and nurturing growth. That’s what good doctors and good farmers strive to do. I’m not sure that a profession in medicine or as a farmer are careers that you really choose. I was raised on a farm and so my views about health and food are informed by that. Nothing makes you feel like walking in a forest or putting your hands in the dirt. Nothing makes you humble like trying to grow food. Nothing makes you feel like helping a patient get better.

It seems like magic every time we plant seeds and a few weeks later you have food. I’m writing this in June and our plants are heavy with flowers: pumpkins, cucumbers, and of course tomatoes (we are in Indiana). Our farmers have so much wisdom about health and healing, and so many of my colleagues in medicine could use a week on the farm! Part of the burnout in medicine today is we have completely separated our concept of health from nature.

Being from a farm and living for 20 years in New York City also has taught me about stigma. We are finally starting to really talk about mental health and stigma. We focus a lot in the wellness movement about how there is a disconnection from the natural roots of health such as real food, restorative sleep, and satisfying movement. But we don’t often frame wellness in terms of mental health explicitly. That’s changing and I am grateful for it. There can be a lot of stigma that gets promoted in the wellness world. Try being a bipolar yogi who needs lithium and Zoloft. Many of my patients in this situation don’t feel supported and we all need to examine our own bias and stigma.

First in The Happiness Diet and recently in Eat Complete, you discuss the connection between food and brain health. Can you give us a quick rundown as to how certain foods can affect our mental health?

All foods affect our mental health, just like they do our physical health. And that’s the first shift we ask people to make: Your mental health is rooted in brain health. As I started talking about food with all my patients and prescribing food, it struck me how surprised people are by the connection between food and how we feel. We know that when we nourish ourselves well we fell our best. We know that when we eat garbage, we feel like garbage. But somehow, food and health are mostly connected to concerns about obesity, diabetes, and heart disease instead of depression, anxiety, and dementia.

Certain food categories contain more nutrients that are critical to brain function, like long-chained omega-3 fats, zinc, folate and vitamin B-12. These are the building blocks of the brain, and so when you eat a kale salad with wild salmon, you build a better brain. Then there are the foods we have people stop eating, taking the messages of about sugar, processed foods and fats and helping folks make a realistic plan based on their preferences. People are so confused right now about what to eat. My new e-course Eat To Beat Depression helps people transform how they view food and make a joyful, and effective, plan.

The fact that foods can grow new brain cells sounds like sci-fi. Is this true? How does it happen, and are the brain cells related to the type of food?

Yes. Your adult brain can grow a bit and can produce new brain cells. Food influences the production of a neurohormone called Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF). It is really important we move conversation about mental health and brain health beyond serotonin and to think about neuroplasticity, brain growth, and BDNF. Certain nutrients and a few phytonutrients promote more BDNF expression.

We love your book, 50 Shades of Kale. Kale is definitely having a moment right now; but in world where so many healthy foods exist, why did you choose to focus on this vegetable? Why did you help to found National Kale Day?

Kale chose me. I remain in her service. She is ancient. She is nutrient dense. She is versatile. Unlike other “healthy foods,” she feels no competition. For example people keep saying “cauliflower is the new kale,” but Kale tells me that she’s always been a fan of cauliflower “just being cauliflower.”

National Kale Day is a nutritional psychiatry public health intervention we planned. More kale in the US diet means healthier brains. When we started, consumption was 2 cups per person per year. We’ve partnered with the largest public school systems in the US, the US Department of Defense and kale farmers to celebrate kale and her many benefits. We quickly learned that people love to adorn themselves with fresh kale and dance. Celebrate this year on October 3, 2018… You know what to do. (Hint—eat and dance.)

What are some of your other favorite “brain-boosting” foods and what makes them so darn special?

These days I am loving sunflower sprouts, though with some guilt as this is like the veal of the plant world. All sprouts and greens are awesome for their nutrient density and a bevy of phytonutrients.  I like eggs as a great, easy protein source with lots of choline and one of the few foods with both folate and vitamin B12. Pepitas, cashews, and almonds are my go to snacks. Good dose of minerals in these, plus a nice mix of fats, protein, and carbs. Seafood is the category people struggle with the most. I prescribe a lot of bivalves, mussels, clams, and oysters, and fatty fish like wild salmon and anchovies. Growing up in the midwest, I have a lot of empathy for the seafood struggle! 

I think we can agree that some of the most fun comes with incorporating healthy foods into nourishing, delicious meals—and we yogis need that kind of grounding. Any recipes you’d like to share that could help augment a meditation practice?

In a randomized clinical trial of the Brain Truffles in Eat Complete, yogis who received the brain truffles, compared to those yogis getting placebo truffles, reported 29 percent more enlightenment. For those yogis who did not respond to the brain truffles aka “enlightenment resistant,” we added on the marinated kale salad and are currently massaging the kale in hopes of publication in a major medical journal.

—

Amanda Kohr is the editor at Wanderlust. You can find her exploring new highways, drinking diner coffee, and on Instagram. 

1

The post The Real Mental Health: Eating for Your Brain appeared first on Wanderlust.

#sleep sounds #sleep music #white noise app #nature sounds #relaxing sounds #rain sounds for sleeping

[cristinajourdanqp]

I Married My Two Passions—Baking and Fitness—To Change My Life

It’s Friday, everyone! And that means another Primal Blueprint Real Life Story from a Mark’s Daily Apple reader. If you have your own success story and would like to share it with me and the Mark’s Daily Apple community please contact me here. I’ll continue to publish these each Friday as long as they keep coming in. Thank you for reading!

 After a “chubby childhood,” an eating-disorder ravaged adolescence, and then an up-and-down, yo-yo dieting young adulthood, I dedicated myself to finding a way to live healthfully and — most importantly—HAPPILY with who I am and to realize my inherent potential: physically and emotionally.

I have spent the last seventeen years working toward a state of health that is not only optimal but sustainable. I graduated with a degree in psychology, hoping to someday use it as a foundation to help other people who had struggled as I had.

Through it all, I have still battled the ups and downs of pounds lost and gained, the frustrations of injuries confining me to the couch, and the struggle to really “figure ‘it’ out”—what formula was I missing?  What pieces of the puzzle were eluding me, to finding that perfect balance of fitness and health and ultimate life satisfaction?

For me, a huge turning point came in late 2014, when I tried a Whole30 Challenge, completed it, and began a Paleo way of eating. When you hear that body composition is 80% diet, it is no joke (and I have the self-experimentation, documented in my blog, to back up that statement).

Fast forward a couple of years, and I find myself suffering yet ANOTHER running injury, feeling completely pitiful and depressed, when my now-husband hands me an issue of Outside Magazine containing an article about this guy called Mark Sisson. I glanced at it….left it on the counter for a few days….and then threw it into my bag to take to work and read when I had time.

I will admit, I was skeptical. I was a chronic cardio junkie, but what HAD been working really was NOT working for me anymore (and I was eating a whole food diet!). You mean I could train less? I needed to sleep more? More fat? (Aside: now, I knew that fat was not “bad”….but that Standard American Diet had been instilled into me from the youngest age, and while I now ate whole foods and really did eat a healthy diet, I still struggled with the “calories in, calories out” mentality.)

That was in the winter of 2016, and it still took me being laid up with a sprained ankle (ANOTHER running injury?!) to fully dig into The Primal Blueprint, order all of the books, and immerse myself in this incredible multitude of research and information. That was in July, and I became hooked. I was already a NASM-Certified Personal Trainer, and I had visions of getting my Fitness Nutrition Specialization, even though I was currently working a government job and not training any clients.

While I loved my government job—the job itself—the interpersonal dynamic was incredibly toxic (stress?!). In January or 2017, I decided to go for broke: I enrolled in the Primal Health Coaching Program AND my Fitness Nutrition Course and completed both by February. Little by little, I decided I was going to make a change and make this my career.

But bills need to be paid, and my husband and I had a hefty mortgage. So I labored away at my job, spending my down time developing my future business.

I finally launched my LLC in May of 2017, but it still did not really go anywhere. I had transformed my life and way of thinking, adopting the Primal lifestyle to a “T”: honoring sleep, managing stress, moving and exercising sensibly. I had so much knowledge and nowhere to put it!

Finally, on a warm, Sunday afternoon in June, I was destressing by baking a (traditional) graduation cake for a friend; I have always loved to bake, even if I do not eat the traditional fare anymore (a taste of ice cream cake once in a while is about all I can tolerate). My husband turned to me and said, “You are so good at this! You are such a great baker, and you LOVE it! Why don’t you try Paleo or Primal desserts?”

I rolled my eyes and said, “That’s too hard!”

But a seed was planted. I asked myself, “Why am I doing all of these sugar-laden (yet delicious) desserts for the people whom I want to help? I am enabling, not helping them…..and I DO love to bake….and even I don’t eat this stuff….hmmmmm….”??

A few weeks later, my husband deployed for a seven-month stint in Africa, and I decided to take that time to learn how to create Paleo and Primal sweet eats. My goal was to make things that were not merely “less unhealthy,” but were actually nutritious in themselves: provide nutrition in every bite; craft items from the ground up. And you know what? It was fun.

And I WAS good at it. In fact, it was so much fun, and I was SO good at it, that I took a leap of faith and quit my comfy-yet-stressful five-figure government job and launched a dessert line to go alongside my fitness company.

Within three months from picking up my first sack of almond flour, I had a full line of good-for-you goodies, and I was selling them to the hungry hoards in coffee shops around town. I was completing personal orders, and I was loving every minute—my worst day doing this job was not even remotely comparable to the very best day at my old job. I have done tastings and been able to talk to people not just about my desserts and way of eating, but also about my lifestyle, my goal to help those with a sweet tooth have something at hand that was not merely an empty-calorie sugar-bomb. I had a woman stop me while I was dropping off an order at a coffee shop in town and personally thank me for what I do: “You have no idea what this means to me. I have dietary intolerances that lead me to a Paleo lifestyle, but I sometimes miss a good Pumpkin Muffin. Thank you so very much for bringing ‘Paleo’ to us!” I was—AM—truly helping people, and I am also able to provide fitness and nutrition advice AND promote the Primal way of living as a whole.

My baking business is currently bigger than my fitness business, but I have kept both fires burning: I blog as much as possible on my fitness site (also see me on Facebook: BFit BodyFit) and still offer coaching and nutritional planning to anyone who needs it.

My mission has always been to help others. I love food. I love nutrition. I love fitness. But I had clients and friends who were trying to eat and live well—and especially those trying to adhere to a Primal or Paleo way of life—tell me that they struggled with desserts, and that they were “tired of fruit.” I have never wanted to “enable” a person who needs to address a sugar addiction, but I DO want to help those who fight to stay in line with their goals and ensure that EVERYTHING they put into their bodies is truly good for them.

Mark’s Daily Apple—and of course, Mark himself—inspired ME, a Paleo Personal Trainer, to step back, REALLY evaluate my life, and make a change for the better. I started to sleep more; I dialed back the cardio. My job was the most stressful thing in my life, to the point where I was physically ill quite a bit (side note: I have not been ill AT ALL since I quit that job). I took all of the knowledge I had gained from the Primal Blueprint, my other studies, and I married it with my two passions—baking and fitness—to change my life.

I now bring Paleo, Primal, Gluten-Free, and Vegan good-for-you sweet eats to the people of Alexandria, VA (and beyond—I do ship! Check out Brianne’s Blissful Bites on Facebook or email me at [email protected]). I did this because I was inspired by Mark Sisson, who helped me step back and inventory my lifestyle beyond diet and movement.

[fishermariawo]

I Married My Two Passions—Baking and Fitness—To Change My Life

It’s Friday, everyone! And that means another Primal Blueprint Real Life Story from a Mark’s Daily Apple reader. If you have your own success story and would like to share it with me and the Mark’s Daily Apple community please contact me here. I’ll continue to publish these each Friday as long as they keep coming in. Thank you for reading!

 After a “chubby childhood,” an eating-disorder ravaged adolescence, and then an up-and-down, yo-yo dieting young adulthood, I dedicated myself to finding a way to live healthfully and — most importantly—HAPPILY with who I am and to realize my inherent potential: physically and emotionally.

I have spent the last seventeen years working toward a state of health that is not only optimal but sustainable. I graduated with a degree in psychology, hoping to someday use it as a foundation to help other people who had struggled as I had.

Through it all, I have still battled the ups and downs of pounds lost and gained, the frustrations of injuries confining me to the couch, and the struggle to really “figure ‘it’ out”—what formula was I missing?  What pieces of the puzzle were eluding me, to finding that perfect balance of fitness and health and ultimate life satisfaction?

For me, a huge turning point came in late 2014, when I tried a Whole30 Challenge, completed it, and began a Paleo way of eating. When you hear that body composition is 80% diet, it is no joke (and I have the self-experimentation, documented in my blog, to back up that statement).

Fast forward a couple of years, and I find myself suffering yet ANOTHER running injury, feeling completely pitiful and depressed, when my now-husband hands me an issue of Outside Magazine containing an article about this guy called Mark Sisson. I glanced at it….left it on the counter for a few days….and then threw it into my bag to take to work and read when I had time.

I will admit, I was skeptical. I was a chronic cardio junkie, but what HAD been working really was NOT working for me anymore (and I was eating a whole food diet!). You mean I could train less? I needed to sleep more? More fat? (Aside: now, I knew that fat was not “bad”….but that Standard American Diet had been instilled into me from the youngest age, and while I now ate whole foods and really did eat a healthy diet, I still struggled with the “calories in, calories out” mentality.)

That was in the winter of 2016, and it still took me being laid up with a sprained ankle (ANOTHER running injury?!) to fully dig into The Primal Blueprint, order all of the books, and immerse myself in this incredible multitude of research and information. That was in July, and I became hooked. I was already a NASM-Certified Personal Trainer, and I had visions of getting my Fitness Nutrition Specialization, even though I was currently working a government job and not training any clients.

While I loved my government job—the job itself—the interpersonal dynamic was incredibly toxic (stress?!). In January or 2017, I decided to go for broke: I enrolled in the Primal Health Coaching Program AND my Fitness Nutrition Course and completed both by February. Little by little, I decided I was going to make a change and make this my career.

But bills need to be paid, and my husband and I had a hefty mortgage. So I labored away at my job, spending my down time developing my future business.

I finally launched my LLC in May of 2017, but it still did not really go anywhere. I had transformed my life and way of thinking, adopting the Primal lifestyle to a “T”: honoring sleep, managing stress, moving and exercising sensibly. I had so much knowledge and nowhere to put it!

Finally, on a warm, Sunday afternoon in June, I was destressing by baking a (traditional) graduation cake for a friend; I have always loved to bake, even if I do not eat the traditional fare anymore (a taste of ice cream cake once in a while is about all I can tolerate). My husband turned to me and said, “You are so good at this! You are such a great baker, and you LOVE it! Why don’t you try Paleo or Primal desserts?”

I rolled my eyes and said, “That’s too hard!”

But a seed was planted. I asked myself, “Why am I doing all of these sugar-laden (yet delicious) desserts for the people whom I want to help? I am enabling, not helping them…..and I DO love to bake….and even I don’t eat this stuff….hmmmmm….”??

A few weeks later, my husband deployed for a seven-month stint in Africa, and I decided to take that time to learn how to create Paleo and Primal sweet eats. My goal was to make things that were not merely “less unhealthy,” but were actually nutritious in themselves: provide nutrition in every bite; craft items from the ground up. And you know what? It was fun.

And I WAS good at it. In fact, it was so much fun, and I was SO good at it, that I took a leap of faith and quit my comfy-yet-stressful five-figure government job and launched a dessert line to go alongside my fitness company.

Within three months from picking up my first sack of almond flour, I had a full line of good-for-you goodies, and I was selling them to the hungry hoards in coffee shops around town. I was completing personal orders, and I was loving every minute—my worst day doing this job was not even remotely comparable to the very best day at my old job. I have done tastings and been able to talk to people not just about my desserts and way of eating, but also about my lifestyle, my goal to help those with a sweet tooth have something at hand that was not merely an empty-calorie sugar-bomb. I had a woman stop me while I was dropping off an order at a coffee shop in town and personally thank me for what I do: “You have no idea what this means to me. I have dietary intolerances that lead me to a Paleo lifestyle, but I sometimes miss a good Pumpkin Muffin. Thank you so very much for bringing ‘Paleo’ to us!” I was—AM—truly helping people, and I am also able to provide fitness and nutrition advice AND promote the Primal way of living as a whole.

My baking business is currently bigger than my fitness business, but I have kept both fires burning: I blog as much as possible on my fitness site (also see me on Facebook: BFit BodyFit) and still offer coaching and nutritional planning to anyone who needs it.

My mission has always been to help others. I love food. I love nutrition. I love fitness. But I had clients and friends who were trying to eat and live well—and especially those trying to adhere to a Primal or Paleo way of life—tell me that they struggled with desserts, and that they were “tired of fruit.” I have never wanted to “enable” a person who needs to address a sugar addiction, but I DO want to help those who fight to stay in line with their goals and ensure that EVERYTHING they put into their bodies is truly good for them.

Mark’s Daily Apple—and of course, Mark himself—inspired ME, a Paleo Personal Trainer, to step back, REALLY evaluate my life, and make a change for the better. I started to sleep more; I dialed back the cardio. My job was the most stressful thing in my life, to the point where I was physically ill quite a bit (side note: I have not been ill AT ALL since I quit that job). I took all of the knowledge I had gained from the Primal Blueprint, my other studies, and I married it with my two passions—baking and fitness—to change my life.

I now bring Paleo, Primal, Gluten-Free, and Vegan good-for-you sweet eats to the people of Alexandria, VA (and beyond—I do ship! Check out Brianne’s Blissful Bites on Facebook or email me at [email protected]). I did this because I was inspired by Mark Sisson, who helped me step back and inventory my lifestyle beyond diet and movement.

[feministfatal206-blog]

Top 5 Podcasts: My Audio Fam

I've been a podcast addict since I was around 15. I don't have a TV and really enjoy multitasking, so podcasts have become my primary source of entertainment, news and opinion. I love how much easier it is to be independent as a podcaster. I love that it is still a new form of media where people have room to play and carve out their own space and style. The following are the top five podcasts I would recommend to anyone looking to get into this platform or people like me - who listen to new episodes of their favorites as soon as they come out and need more audio fodder!

  I only recently got into the Inner Hoe Uprising after one of my favorite neighbors at the farmer's markets gave it rave reviews. But now I'm in at least 15 hours deep and this podcast stands out for having a really slick format that guarantees long episodes that are high quality the whole way through. The main host, Sam, rotates the other three hosts in every week with a party cast at the end of the month where everybody gets together. They have really funny, thought provoking segments that get you super invested in their lives and feeling like you are really a part of their conversations on sex, love, dating, politics, and whatever else comes up. They also have really fascinating guests on for the second half. If you're cleaning your house or driving to work and want to feel like you're chillin with a super rad girl gang, this is for you!

Motivation station. If I'm ever having a day where I feel like I don't know where to start on my to-do list or like I'm not getting anywhere on my projects, I'll browse through the Myleik Teele podcast archives till I find the right episode to tell me what I already know but need to hear: get organized and get going. Myliek used to do PR in the music industry and then started CurlBox, a wildly successful subscription service for women with curly hair, bringing an elevated and affordable sampling experience to women of color. As an anti-capitalist individual I didn't think I could get super into this one but she has a serious wisdom that goes way beyond business, often reiterates that success is only defined by your happiness, and has really great advice on dating, staying self-disciplined, dealing with professional and personal relationships gracefully, etc. If you need a kick in the ass this one is for you.

Dear Sugars has been in my life for a few years now. Originally, Steve Almond, a writer who I had never heard of but since read his books (fantastic), had an advice column in an online magazine pretending to give advice from the perspective of a middle aged woman. Cheryl Strayed (author of Wild and Tiny Beautiful Things) was the only person who ever wrote him a fan letter and he asked her if she could take over the column. The column blew up under her TLC and now they have a podcast where the both of them answer questions from readers on just about any difficult, heart wrenching topic you can imagine. They often have excellent guests (Oprah!) and release correction episodes when they believe they didn't address a question as well as they could the first time. I think this podcast is pretty much for everyone.

The Get just came back after a little hiatus and I couldn't be more hyped. This show is hosted by Ivy, a Nigerian immigrant and Rhiana, a Chicago Southsider, who met at Yale and get together to talk about current events and issues with a chemistry that is hilarious and profound. They bring really well-educated outsider political opinions into national conversations that would otherwise be a depressing buzz in the background of my mind. Their motto is Smart. Snark. Shade. and they will literally have you busting up on the floor of your kitchen while you do the dishes.

Dan Carlin has two podcasts, Hardcore History and Common Sense. I'm going to group them together because I consider them to be two branches from one of my favorite audio hosts. Hardcore History was one of the first shows to get my hooked on audio. He takes moments in history and researches them for usually six months at a time with an academic rigor fitting a real historian (although he insists he is only a fan of history) and then draws on his background in journalism to weave what he finds into an incredible compelling story of human kind. If you like history, you will LOVE this show. If you don't like history, I am willing to bet you will realize it's just because it has never been presented like this. One of my favorite things about Dan is he tells the listener when he isn't sure of something, or when historians differ, and traces the battles between historians like hot gossip. His political show, Common Sense, is the most nonpartisan political show I have ever heard. He looks at current issues with depth and clarity and actually tries to bridge the gaps between opinions and look for the core problems. I can listen to this podcast with my conservative Dad, I can listen to this podcast with my anarchist boyfriend or apolitical little siblings, it's great for provoking discussions with yourself and other people.

Honorable Mentions!

Ugh, designing podcasts logos is the best. Unfortunately I haven't listened to as many of their shows as I would like because they're only on Soundcloud that I know of (check it out here!) but they have a great dynamic with topics similiar to Inner Hoe Uprising, chatting about NYC politics, racism, sexism- anything that's weighing them down with humor and wit. Also they paid me good money to do their logo so shout out to Estaphanie and Rafaela for supporting a broke artist!! Forever in my heart.

I also wanted to mention the BBC Radio 3 Arts & Ideas program, which I have been listening to since high school. They have various programs and about 3 or 4 main presenters, these days with all my other good podcasts I only listen to the Arts & Ideas episodes with guests I know or the shows presented by Philip Dodd. For an older, white British gentleman I think he does a great job as an interviewer, he has an almost encyclopedic knowledge of philosophy, literature, and the arts in general and always manages to ask interesting and often hard questions, plays devil's advocate expertly but only when it benefits the audience, and occasionally verbally backhands annoying and pretentious guests which is hilarious and satisfying when I feel most mainstream media interviews are so played out and lukewarm.

#podcasts #Women of color

[lenaglittleus]

I Want to Stop Eating Fast Food

Do you have a soft spot for fingerlickin’ fried chicken or double (bacon) cheeseburgers?

You know habitually eating fast food can put you on the fast track to poor health and weight gain. Over a decade ago, two teenage girls sued McDonald’s for making them fat. Morgan Spurlock suffered “Mc-twitches” on a month-long fast food diet to prove a point in Super Size Me. Michelle Obama made it her fight to stop the obesity epidemic by trying to steer America away from fast food and frozen dinners.

Fast forward to present day: We’re still fixated on fast food. It’s normal to get that itch now and then, but if you scratch it too often, you can kiss your weight-loss plans goodbye (not to mention overall good health). But, never fear; if you don’t want to quit eating fast food cold turkey, you should first understand what makes these foods so craveable so you can make an informed choice if you decide to indulge.

What Makes Fast Food So Addictive?

Ask someone what their favorite cheat food is, and I’ll bet they won’t say a grilled chicken salad (unless, they’re making these salad mistakes). Highly processed junk food and fast food likely top the list. Me? I like a hot plate of crisp French fries, and I’m a dietitian. What can I say? Few people are above the influence of hyperpalatable foods, defined by researchers as foods rich in fats, sugars and/or salts and often comprised of synthetic combinations of many ingredients.

If the deck feels like it’s stacked against you, that’s because it is. Here’s why:

Fast food is tasty by design. Experts recognize that we crave sugary, salty and fatty foods by evolutionary design. The double-whammy is that food scientists build upon this by optimizing the smell, taste, and feel of your favorite burger down to the crinkle in its packaging.

Fast food is cheap and ready to eat. This is music to anyone’s ears, especially a working parent’s. Fast food clearly wins out over other dine-in restaurants as a convenient, low-cost option. Not to mention most fast food joints will reward you with better value for sizing up on a meal!

Fast food uses slick marketing. Children are key targets for fast food marketing. About $4.6 billion is spent annually to convince kids to nag their parents for the latest happy meal toy. The positive emotions we have sipping cola and munching on chicken nuggets with our families build memories that can influence our future decisions to eat these types of foods again when we are stressed and want to feel comforted.

It’s still controversial to that say fast food is absolutely addictive. But, there are scientists out there arguing that highly processed foods can trigger artificially high levels of reward similar to other addictive drugs. Obviously, we all react differently to food. But, if you crave fast food beyond the occasional indulgence, it may benefit your health — not to mention waistline — if you cut back on your consumption.

8 Signs That Your Love of Fast Food May Be Unhealthy

Fast food is tasty — we get it. But, at what point do you roll from sporadic enjoyment into indulging at a rate that’s not healthy? Here are a few signs that fast food is more of a routine than a once-in-a-while cheat/treat:

You crave specific fast food items often.

You go out of your way to buy fast food.

One bite of this type of food can launch you into a full-on binge.

Being full doesn’t stop you from eating more.

Your fixation on fast food is a source of guilt, depression, anxiety, or self-loathing.

You want to eat less fast food, but have been unsuccessful.

You eat fast food often even if you know it can harm your health.

Withdrawal symptoms (such as headaches, anxiety, and sadness) may happen if you don’t get your fast food fix.

4 Strategies for Kicking Your Love of Fast Food to the Curb

If your consumption of fast food is standing in the way of a healthier, fitter, trimmer you, it may be time to make some changes. These strategies can help.

Set boundaries between you and the trigger food. Write down the specific fast food item(s) that can trigger you to overeat or binge. Consider these foods blacklisted for a while. Don’t allow yourself to purchase them again until you’ve established a better relationship with them.

Find non-food ways to deal with emotions. Food can be an emotional band aid for anger, depression, and stress. You can trade in your greasy pizza for journaling, meditation, or exercise to deal with negative feelings.

Be prepared when you get late-night cravings. It’s 2 a.m. but you have a hankering for some popcorn chicken. A fast food craving can hit with poor timing, so make sure your fridge has a few healthy snacks like any of these 55 snacks under 150 calories. Better yet: Make it a rule not to eat in the middle of the night. If you have trouble sleeping, meditate, read a book, take a warm bath, or relax with low-key yoga instead of eating.

Fill up on faux fast food. To kick your fast food habit, you may mentally slap a B-A-D label across all fast foods (not just the trigger foods mentioned above). This black-and-white way of thinking is restrictive, and can make it hard for you to rewire your relationship with fast food. Instead of going cold turkey entirely, try cooking healthier versions of your favorite fast food.

7 Healthier Fast Food Alternatives, Remade by Beachbody

Lucky for you, we have plenty of fast food and comfort food makeover recipes that can not only satisfy your craving, but can also move you toward your weight-loss goal. Beachbody recipes are designed to compliment the workout plans, such as 21 Day Fix, Body Beast, and P90X, that are available on Beachbody on Demand.

A small word of wisdom: If you’re someone who regularly eats fast food, the following remakes may not be to your liking right away. You’ll need to give your tastebuds time to adjust to lower levels of fat, sugar, and salt. Don’t worry, you will get there. Now get cookin’:

Roasted Garlic & Rosemary Burger – Temper your burger craving with homemade beef patties. These are made with 95-percent lean ground sirloin that’s spiked with grated zucchini for extra moisture and fiber.

Cookies & Cream Smoothie – Sip on this lighter version of a vanilla and chocolate cookie milkshake. You can settle your sweet tooth without overdoing the calories, fat, and sugar.

Buffalo Chicken Tenders with Blue Cheese Dip – Enjoy spicy chicken tenders without the grease-soaked breading of traditional chicken wings. Cool your mouth down with a blue cheese dip made from yogurt.

Almond-Crusted Chicken Fingers with Honey Mustard – And… if you’re really into crispy breading, we’ve got you covered, too. This chicken nugget alternative is a treat your kids will also love.

Broccoli Tater Tots – Just like tater tots except they’re baked and filled with nutritious broccoli instead of starchy potatoes.

BBQ Chicken Flatbread Pizza – Instead of stringy cheese, this pizza oozes with lean protein from chicken breast and black beans.

Spicy Sweet Potato Fries – Baked sweet potato fries are a tasty take on traditional fries, plus they deliver a good dose of vitamin A.

But… Is Fast Food Cheaper Than Healthier Food?

In addition to cravings, another barrier some people need to overcome in order to eat healthier is the perception of value that fast food can have.

Contrary to popular belief, fast food isn’t cheaper than a simple homecooked meal. Obviously, energy-dense foods (think: chips, cookies, fast food) will appear cheaper than low-calorie and nutritious fruits, veggies, and whole grains. But, this method assumes it’s quantity of calories that makes us full, when, in reality, satiety also depends on the quality of calories consumed.

A great example of this concept: fiber versus sugar. Which fills your stomach more: One ounce of jellybeans (105 calories and 20 grams of sugar) or a medium-sized apple with the skin (95 calories, 19 grams of sugar, and 4.4 grams of fiber)? Even with roughly the same amount of sugar and similar calorie counts, the apple is more satiating because of its fiber and water content (not to mention it contains beneficial vitamins and minerals).

If you’re a savvy shopper, you can make cheaper fast food alternatives at home. It doesn’t take hard science to prove this — just a pinch of common sense. Mark Bittman argues that you can feed a family of four with $28 at McDonald’s (2 Big Macs, 1 cheeseburger, 6 chicken nuggets, 2 medium fries and 2 small fries, 2 medium sodas and 2 small sodas), or a family of six for $14 (1 roasted chicken plus cooked veggies, a side salad, and milk) at home. And 21 Day Fix creator Autumn Calabrese destroys the argument that fast food provides greater value than cooking at home in this video, where she makes dinner plus leftovers for the next day for herself and her son for just $15.

It’s a challenge worth trying!

from News About Health https://www.beachbody.com/beachbodyblog/weight-loss/i-want-to-stop-eating-fast-food