#my god I love bloom county

[compacflt]

When it comes to historical research, do you research for things that DON'T exist? For example, foods that are common now but didn't exist in the average American restaurant or grocery in the '80s or '90's? Words, phrases, and entire concepts that are commonly accepted today but unheard of to the average American when Mav and Ice were at Top Gun?

Your writing is so unbelievably good.

not really because I don't care about food, I care about the literary device that is "taking communion." i.e. it doesn't matter what they eat, it only matters that they're eating together, for the plot.

And, okay, showing my little-kid bias, but was there actually stuff in grocery stores in the 80s/90s that wouldn't be there today/vice versa? brands might change, like okay Pringles might not exist but you still have potato chips; and obviously specialty stuff like what you find in your average Asian market might not be commonplace, but, like, were the 90s all that different from today, American-food-wise? its my assumption that they weren't, but I also wasn't alive in the 90s, so. Um, ectocooler Hi-C, maybe? that's the one 90s food I know.

attitudes of course are what change. today's concept of being so QUICK to publicly label sexual identities would be extremely foreign, for instance. obviously people did label their sexualities in the 80s & 90s, people were definitely calling themselves bisexual and such, but probably not the people ice & mav would be hanging out with, in the Reagan-era navy. which is what my fics are about. that's the whole point.

and, also, COMMUNICATION changes. I have never used a payphone in my whole life so I actually have no idea how they work. but they were ubiquitous "back then," and lend themselves to amazingly interesting conflict (omg I don't have enough change to call my boyfriend maverick who's mad at me!!!) which is why I lean on payphones so much in my writing. honestly, im gonna be real, the invention of the cell phone makes telling stories about miscommunication so much harder. instant-speed communication would make certain stories less interesting, which is why a lot of horror movies default to the "no cell service" trope to isolate their characters, or why some teen dramas have the characters reject cell phones on principle (Alyssa or James having a phone in 2017's "The End of the F***ing World" would solve most of their problems, which is why Alyssa smashes hers in the first five minutes and James basically says he views them as a cancer to society--if they had phones the story would be boring, so the writers took away their phones).

I also feel like people used to treat society differently "back then," i.e. Going Out was much more of a thing when there were 10 channels on TV and no one had cell phones, so you Went Out and had drinks & met strangers & interacted with general society to an extent im not sure we do anymore. So that experience is way more fun to write about in the 80s than today. (u can't see me but im seething with jealousy over ppl who were born in ~1965)

idk. im not sure I did a great job reproducing the zeitgeist of the 80s/90s in my fics, bc I wasn't there to have knowledge of what they were like. I got most of my presupposed knowledge about that time period from reading Calvin & Hobbes anthologies as a kid. oh well.

#I actively avoid talking about the aids crisis as much as I can for instance #that is certainly A Can of Worms. #a massive omission in my fics to be sure. but... not one I want to touch. #these characters would be judgmental and homophobic about it I fear. #btw I stole a bunch of stuff from teotfw for my fics #Carole asking ice if he actually wants maverick or if he just goes along with things is directly ripped from s1e02 #favorite tv show of all time #top gun #edts notes #from Calvin and Hobbes I gather most people in the 80s were obsessed with hostess snacks like Twinkies etc. #and dieting consisted of chainsmoking cigs on the front porch #bloom county was also a truly informative comic strip re: my 1980s cultural education #just the way characters like opus/Steve/binkley talk for instance #people in the 80s just talk different from the way they do now #fun to try and replicate even if I can't put it into words #my god I love bloom county #my birthday is tmr I will finally be old enough to legally drink in the US 😋 #thank u for the ask 🥺

[popculturebuffet]

Little Retrospective of Horrors: Little Shop: Bad Seed: That's Not a Joke that's the actual episode title (Comission by WeirdKev27)

Well here we are friends, at the end of my look of little shop of horrors. I may return for the comic adaptations of the films one day, but for now.. there's one last strange and intresting plant to cover before we close shop and count the bodies. Intresting may be pushing it i'll admit but it IS strange, so at least it has that.

Little Shop is a 1991 cartoon based on the musical and film, which mashes together the 60's do-wop themes of the musical, peanuts and Rap into one series.

Yeah THIS happened. I knew about it for a long time but hadn't seen hide nor hair of it till a reviewer I used to watch covered it. What clips I saw really didn't inspire confidence. However Kev loves to watch me suffer and coudln't wait for me to cover this whenever I could, so he paid me money to watch this thing.

So I decided to give the series a fair shake, look at the first episode. And i'm glad he did in the long run as it DOES feel more complete having this series in the retrospective. My soul will never entirely heal but hey, that's the price you pay sometime in this line of work. So join me under the cut as I talk about an Audrey Junior that raps. If that didn't scare you off, join me won't you?

We begin little shop with the theme song. And credit where it's due.. the hook for it is fire.

It's a weird sandwitch of a song where the begining and end are great, a nice 90's style rnb hit. Problem is like many a 90's work they drop a piss take rap in the middle with lines like "get ready for a funny bone overload" "I'm comin atcha like toon style" "In full effect" and "the little shop posse's gaining respect"

Look if you don't know how something works don't do it. It's why i stay far away from tik tok and why Little Shop shouldn't of tried to enter the rap game.

This decision.. will never not be hilarious. Eldrictch God Levels of maddening too, of course, but hilarious. See... you'd THINk from this decision Little Shop abandons the Do-Wop, 60's pop sound of the musical entirely. You'd THINK. Instead they have numbers in that style AND rap numbers with Junior that make Poochie look dignified. So the writers clearly GOT that the music was one of the most valuable, iconic and awesome parts of the movie and stage play.. but also failed to grasp that it clashed horribly with rap. Or execs did. Or roger Corman

And the 60's style is still present for the most part as in their next baffling decision, they decided the best thing to possibly pair with little shop of horrors.. was peanuts

Now this isn't something I've really had a chance to dig into on this blog.. but I absolutely LOVE peanuts. The specials, the films, and of course the comic that started it all. As my frequent use of Breaking Cat News and Bloom County panels shows I love me a good comic strip and I love the godfather of most modern comic strips. If it didn't come from peanuts it came from Bloom County or Calvin and Hobbes, which came from peanuts.

So I actually do understand the impulse to model little shop's style after peanuts: it's a classic style, it has roots in the 60's as the specials started there and A Charlie Brown Christmas is still played every christmas as gods intended, and it works well. And they do a good job styliistically: it's peanuts esque but has it's own unique style and I like the minmalist yet colorful backgrounds. it really pops and the show LOOKS good, even through the vhs rip I watched.

The big issue is that they go for the peanuts style.. but often don't actually match that tone. The start of the episode kind of does, Seymour is charlie brown now, talks about his bad luck, not being "smart" enough to be a nerd, and his constant bullying by Pain Driller

Our DENNNTTIIIIST. The problem is LIttle Shop goes for a zanier universe. And it's not that Peanut's universe couldn't be rediculous. We've had things like Peppermint Patty being out of school for several weeks going to a dog obdience school thinking it was private school, Snoopy walking all the way to Kansas City when trying to get to Wimbledon and reuniting with his sister, Snoopy's awkward teenage nephew

The Kite Eating Tree which is not Charlie Brown's imagination, the EPA trying to arrest charlie brown for biting the bastard tree, Charlie Brown having to wear a sack over his head due to a baseball shaped rash... Charles Schultz wasn't above getting weird with it, and I'm here for it. Weird peanuts is some of the best peanuts.

The diffrence is peanuts is more.. chill. There will be big events and weird shit but it has a relaxed tone. Even something as awful as Lucy throwing Linus out of the house... was mostly just Linus chilling with Joe cool at his dorm and their parents having not intervened because they were missing... and the reveal of WHY gives Lucy her commpuance in the best way possible.

It's a fairly relaxed strip. There can be tense arcs and weird shit, but generally the stakes are just a setup for jokes or character work. So throwing a magical talking rappin plant into that kind of tone dosen't work. I get the impulse as the originla flim was also kinda relaxed.. at first. But it's hard to make "Carnvrious talking plant" work with "chill and relaxed"... so why do it? Why not just have them as teens at least? why? why/ Why?

So we find out Seymour has a job at Mushnik's still because Child Labor dosen't exist in this universe and is still yelled at by him because Mushnik uses child labor you think he's above YELLING at his free child labor? Seymour, as you'd expect, has a crush on Audrey whose mushnik's daughter in this one so she has a reason to be around. In a series where almost none of the changes make sense, why is THIS the one that does?

She ignores seymour because she wants to be a fire fighter

She apparently has a diffrent new passion every episode, like Daphne from Be Cool Scooby Doo but not as endearing. Seymour can't get her to notice him, and unlike the previous two versions she dosen't SEEM to have a thing for him back.

So Seymour needs to turn his life around and as usual finds a strange and intresting plant.. or rather it's seed as that's how Little Shop thinks plant dormancy works. Granted i'm not a botanist, but one google tells me that's not how it works. A plant simply stops growing and strengthens it's roots and what not to survive. So the IDEA of how Twoey isn't fozilied depsite, as we'll find out, being from caveman times, isn't bad.

This leads to our first musical number as Seymour tries to raise Audrey Junior to impress Audrey who in this version is a jerk about it while Mr Mushnik talks about his bad luck as does Seymour and no one cares because Seymour is a blatant copy of a way more popular characte rinstead of a kidified version of rick moranis and Mushnik reguarlly bullys a child.

So while we saw Seymour's mom earlier, he's sleeping at the shop. Apparently Mushnik bought him for a wadded up five and a slim fit condom. He dreams of caveman times, and Audrey Junior, who orders himself a pizza. Because apparently having a childrens show about Rambo, Warrior for Piece is okay but you can't sell one about a plant murdering a child's enemies.

So instead Junior just eats a lot. Anyways Pain is the delivery boy because child labor laws can go fuck themselves in this universe, and plans to rob seymour. So instead of being a murderous manipulative monster Twoey.. is just an asshole. Or dosen't know how money works.

Twoey does as usual offer some quid pro quo: Seymour tkaes him home later,a nd Twoey gets Audrey to notice he's alive. He agrees. Mushnik plans to fire the child he shoudln't of hired, while Twoey needs to hold up his end. So he decides to plant the idea in Audrey's head that seymour's cool, by literally pulling a seed out of the plant equilvent for a butt. His aim is lousy though so he hits pain instead.

This works to their advantage though as it allows them to steal his dope ass moped. Unfortunatley Junior finds that his home.. is now a petrified forest. And we get the one joke that actually made me laugh "Petrified Forest, please stay off the petrified grass". And I'll give them credit, Juniors sadness over his family being gone and being stuck in an urban hellscape is great.

The problem is that Junior.. lacks anything that made his predecessor Twoey or his grandpa also junor work. The original junior was just a mindless plant that Seymour was stupid enough to get hooked on corpses. The film version was a creepy trickster who manipulated Seymour ot his ends. A comedic twoey COULD actually work: keep the big eater thing and simply have him manpiulate seymour to his own ends. IT's not as good, but it'd work for what hteir goin for here. Instead while they try that, what we've got is a character whose just a selfish asshole with no trickstery charm and whose also a walking fossil of the 90's instead of the jurassic.

Still as is law Junior DOES help. In trying to lead a plant rebellion against humanity, he instead just makes all the flowers grow. Seymour accidently floods the place trying to stop him, which gets Audrey's intrest thinking he was fire fighting. I'm too tired to think of the logic here. Mushnik is happy to not fire him as long as their's buisness so we have our setup: Junior decides to adjust to modern day, Seymour keeps him because it benefits him, Audrey actuallyt alks to seymour now and Mushnik is taking advantage of a small child

Little Shop.. isn't very good. You'd THINK tha't dbe inherent in "Little Shop of Horrors Cartoon for Children'.. but the idea of one ISN'T as bonkers as it sounds. Little Shop of Horrors.. works for kids as while there's defintely a lot of muder and violence, most of it is pretty subdued. Only the feeding scene from the film really has a lot of gore to it. So as "selling this to children" properties goes, the film with a big awesome puppet, catchy songs, and a happy ending that also has mutilations and spousal abuse.. isn't the wildest swing you could take.

And adapting it for kids.. is really easy. As I said, just have Audrey II be a selfish trickster ala zack morris, doing things for his own benefit. Which they have here, just with an annoying rap gimmick. You age up the characters to high school, take away the unecessary attempts to copy peanuts, and it works. The franchise is already goofy, and while done well serious enoguh, even th efilm and musical still have wacky shit like Orin's entire musical number. The premise is goofy enough to work as a goofy over the top comedy, you just gotta let it. Little Shop ultimately dosen't work because it dose'nt know what it wants to be, mixing peanuts with a magical sidekick, rap and musical numbers more along the line of the original. It dosen't know what it is and that's why it only lasted 13 episodes.

Will I revisit this series? probably. It's pretty nuts and while I don't LIKE it, it was riffable as all hell. And it does sound like it gets more and more bonkers as it goes. For now though the shop is closed, but i was happy to finally give the full breadth of the franchise a looksee. It was certainly strange and intresting.

#little shop of horrors #little shop #seymour krelborn #audrey II #audrey junior #roger corman #animation #fox kids #cartoons #garbage

[naturalwomannaturalman]

Fuchsia by Emilie, made with love ❤️ and passion 🌿

Watercolour on paper.

Fuchsia the Tears of God

In Irish the Fuchsia is called Deora Dé, which translates to English as Tears of God.

Fuchsia is a symbol of elegance, good taste, confiding love and amiability.

Fuchsia

by Katrina Vandenberg

That summer in the west I walked sunrise

to dusk, narrow twisted highways without shoulders,

low stone walls on both sides. Hedgerows

of fuchsia hemmed me in, the tropical plant

now wild, centuries after nobles imported it

for their gardens. I was unafraid,

did not cross to the outsides of curves, did not

look behind me for what might be coming.

For weeks in counties Kerry and Cork, I walked

through the red blooms the Irish call

the Tears of God, blazing from the brush

like lanterns. Who would have thought

a warm current touching the shore

of that stone-cold country could make

lemon trees, bananas, and palms not just take,

but thrive? Wild as the jungles they came from,

where boas flexed around their trunks —

like my other brushes with miracles,

the men who love you back, how they come

to you, gorgeous and invasive, improbable,

hemming you in. And you walk that road

blazing, some days not even afraid to die.

#nature #fuchsia #mother nature #my artwork #watercolour #artwork #artist on tumblr #retour à la nature #spirits of nature #addicted to nature #nature lovers #flower painting #flower drawing #irish #Irish flower

[asksoldieron]

SO-6: And Then There's THIS Asshole!

If there's a lot of engagement on this, this post is liable to get real long, beware before you expand.

I'll edit in the real art once I make some!

Welcome to the Engagement Lounge, for Life with David (SO-6) an instalment! Short comments can go in the replies, but there's a 475 character limit. Longer ones will need a reblog. Remember to @asksoldieron if you're reblogging someone else's reblog, so I can see it too!

(I love Bloom County. I'd need footnotes to get a lot of the political humour, but it's still worth reading... Can't speak for the reboot, I mean the original. Although Steve's arc was... Wow. Yikes. If Milo Bloom's look is a little familiar... Yep, that's where I got it from!)

If you read from the beginning, you suspected they meant THAT David, and when Erik checks in on him, you know it. But either way, this is the first you'll meet this version of him. He's... Not easy to work with.

So who, or what, is that? My official response is, and will remain:

The characters will make up their own minds, much as they do with Milo and Ann. And they are under no obligation to agree with each other!

This is one of the many reasons not to work with the gods. David is everything turned up to 11, and an experienced person would not call him, but they're all like that a little. They have a few things they care about to the point of distraction and everything else can go to hell. And some of them will send you there!

Auntie Enora has a Compelling Voice too, and it's possible that power is standard issue, but so far nobody in-story has put it to use like David. Wherever he goes, even if it's just a version of him, he will move fast and break things. As an Invisible, that will get you marginalized and ignored...

Unless someone really desperate and stupid needs just about everything you're able/willing to do. And if he's cute, too, well, hey!

John is... not in a good place. Not strategically or emotionally. Erik would probably be a better friend and help to him... If he could. But as far as John knows, if Erik figures out what's going on, he will just leave, with no ambivalence about it. Erik can't tell him he's figured it out over and over again and doesn't know what to do either. Communications breakdown!

Oh, but, so far, David's having a blast!

The gumballs have made another belated appearance, as a last resort for awkward social situations. We'll see them in use in the next six.

Now I'm all caught up with SO, and I'll have to go back and put up some posts for TS as I illustrate, or as the spirit moves me. Since the future of my eyeballs and how long I'll be laid up is still in doubt, I'm focusing on making sure I get the maximum number of upcoming instalments illustrated and ready to go, first. See ya tomorrow!

[Back to the Site?]

#tin soldier and soldier on #instalment #engagement lounge #david is a terrible friend #however he is also a very loyal friend #he's doing his best! #and that's terrifying

[theeverlastingshade]

100 Favorite Songs of 2023

100. Dust Bunny- Crumb

99. Fever- Yaeji

98. I Saw- Young Fathers

97. Steppa Pig- JPEGMAFIA & Danny Brown

96. Retriever- Braids

95. Meant To Be- Wilco

94. Obscure- Jlin

93. Sparks- Cornelius

92. Prizefighter- Youth Lagoon

91. TV in the Gas Pump- Wednesday

90. Moonlight- Kali Uchis

89. Time Bandits- Angel Olsen

88. FLA- Empty Country

87. Satanist- boygenius

86. Tiny Garden- Jamila Woods ft. duentita

85. dazies- yeule

84. Club People- Alan Palomo

83. Out of Town- Hotline TNT

82. Don’t Let the Devil- Killer Mike ft. El-P & thankyougoodsir

81. Ms. America- Bully

80. Everybody (Source Codes)- Mach Hommy & Tha God Fahim

79. I Believe- Caroline Polachek

78. Swing (In a Dream)- Squid

77. Champagne Shit- Janelle Monáe

76. HEAVEN TO ME- Tyler, the Creator

75. Rosa Rugosa- Olof Dreijer

74. It Must Change- Anohni and the Johnsons

73. Dangle from the smoke ring- draag me

72. moonworld- Full Body 2

71. Town Crank- Clark

70. Imagination- Parannoul

69. Freak- feeble little horse

68. Mount Meigs- Lonnie Holley

67. This Stupid World- Yo La Tengo

66. Bloom- Blue Lake

65. Rats Come To Play- Bruiser and Bicycle

64. Flimsier- King Krule

63. skin meadow- Home Is Where

62. Sun Girl- Julia Holter

61. Aurora- Infant Island

60. THE GOV’T GAVE US GUNS- ICECOLDBISHOP

59. Everlasting Days- John Cale ft. Animal Collective

58. King- Chat Pile

57. Another One Another- Drop Nineteens

56. Rabbit- Youth Lagoon

55. Goodbye Evergreens- Sufjan Stevens

54. the CIA- glass beach

53. True Life- Water From Your Eyes

52. I Thought You’d Change- Hotline TNT

51. Say It Like You Mean It- Sleater-Kinney

50. Divers- Model/Actriz

49. Peach Fuzz- Mandy, Indiana

48. Wall of Eyes- The Smile

47. Laura- M83

46. Uncertainty Principle- L’Rain

45. Rudolph- MJ Lenderman

44. Fling- Jane Remover

43. D.A.R.E.- ICECOLDBISHOP

42. Paces- feeble little horse

41. Babylon By Bus- billy woods & Kenny Segal ft. ShrapKnel

40. Defeat- Animal Collective

39. Arrival- Parannoul

38. Changing Channels- Pangae

37. Turkey Vultures- Wednesday

36. Freak Me Now- Jessie Ware

35. The Blades- Squid

34. Suspended- Sampha

33. blue trio- Full Body 2

32. Dustine- Empty Country

31. Wespennest- DJ Koze

30. I Got Heaven- Mannequin Pussy

29. Making the Band (Danity Kane)- Earl Sweatshirt

28. Younger & Dumber- Indigo de Souza

27. Contact- Kelela

26. everyday feels like 9/11- Home Is Where

25. New Utensils- Fever Ray

24. borealis dancing- Jaimie Branch

23. I Can't Hush- Lonnie Holley ft. Jeff Parker

22. Three Drums- Four Tet

21. STUNTMAN- Tyler, the Creator ft. Vince Staples

20. We Thought the Sky- Bruiser and Bicycle

19. Pinking Shears- Mandy, Indiana

18. Year Zero- billy woods & Kenny Segal ft. Danny Brown

17. Unbreak My Love- Nourished By Time

16. Vampire Empire- Big Thief

15. Sleepless- Model/Actriz

14. Bath County- Wednesday

13. Blossom- Parannoul

12. Shit Talk- Sufjan Stevens

11. Bending Hectic- The Smile

10. N/Y- The Haxan Cloak

9. Raven- Kelela

8. Sinatra Drive Breakdown- Yo La Tengo

7. Barley- Water From Your Eyes

6. We Shine at Night- Parannoul

5. Kandy- Fever Ray

4. Lips- Jane Remover

3. floral organs- Home Is Where

2. Quarry- Wednesday

1. Pocket- feeble little horse

[freudianslumber]

Today, Tomorrow and Forever

Summary:  Angel Elvis went through Hell when being falsely accused of betraying God.  Eventually found true love with LAPD narcotics officer B.B. King.

Epilogue 

Pairing: B.B. King x Elvis Presley (m/m)

Word count:  2.1k

Warning:  18+, smut, profanity

I will love you longer than forever Promise me that you will leave me never Here and now dear All my love I vow dear Promise me that you will leave me never I will love you longer than forever Now that we are one Clouds won't hide the sun Blue skies of Hawaii smile On this, our wedding day I do love you with all my heart

Elvis’ ocean blue eyes sparkled with love as he serenaded his groom with “The Hawaiian Wedding Song”.  He and B.B. had finally tied the knot on the beautiful island of Maui over a year after the horrible car crash and ICU scare.  So much had happened in the interim.  B.B.’s rehab had lasted for months, but eventually he recovered fully and returned to full duty earlier than most of his colleagues had expected.  It felt like a just retribution to the rejuvenated detective when he got to participate in the well-planned raid and triumphant drug bust operation at the Reapers’ East LA headquarter.  Some of Mad Mac’s lieutenants were fatally shot during the shootout between the police SWAT team and the gang.  A substantial number of gang members were arrested, including Mad Mac himself, who had since been incarcerated for weapons and drug trafficking offences.  This effectively suppressed the criminal activities of the Reapers in the county.  B.B. and Clay both received special medals for their outstanding investigative work connected to this case.  In the meantime, Elvis trained tirelessly and was awarded his second-degree black belt.  More importantly, he was finally officially hired by the YMCA as a martial arts instructor after B.B. somehow succeeded in getting him a social security card.  Slowly but surely, the couple cleared the many hurdles in their path, earning their well-deserved and long-awaited wedding honeymoon getaway in the Aloha state. 

B.B. laid his eyes on the radiant angel standing across from him, his heart was full of joy and gratitude as he prepared to reap the fruit of their love as a newlywed for the first time.  Their ceremony was intimate and discreet, with the only guests being Tina, Clay and Fats.  The wedding proceedings were brief but just as if not more emotional than those of any other couple.  Elvis felt so grateful that B.B. spoiled him with everything he wanted for the wedding, from the white chapel to the tasty wedding cake to the scenic locale.  He was hopelessly smitten with his Gunnie, all dapper in perfectly tailored black tuxedo on their big day.  Their hotel room was modest but cozy, with a balcony facing the ocean beyond a sliding door.  Presently, the fading sunset was casting an orange glow over the beach dotted by palm trees.  B.B. walked over and closed the curtains, being more entranced by the view within the room.  He then stepped closer to his other half, placed a soft kiss on his succulent lips, and proceeded to take the purple orchid lei from around his neck.  An adorable lopsided smile bloomed across Elvis’ face, he unbuttoned and peeled off B.B.’s tuxedo jacket, removing the perfectly complementary orange and white lei as well.  Soon Elvis’ immaculate white tuxedo joined the groom’s black one on the backs of a pair of chairs.  More pieces of clothing came off as the newlyweds lovingly undressed each other, until they bared their bodies and souls once more. 

“Oh Gunnie, I can’t believe we finally made it!  Everything I’ve got is yours.”  Elvis gushed as he fully embraced his man, taking in his pleasant scent, nipping lightly on his neck and jaw.  B.B. ran a hand through that head of perfectly coiffed hair, then cupped his angel’s face and guided it up until their lips were locked as they tasted each other hungrily. 

As the couple pulled away for air after the protracted kiss, B.B. whispered to Elvis: “Honey, let’s go take a shower together.” The pair of half-lidded bedroom eyes blinked a few times: “Great idea, why didn’t I think of that?”  B.B. chuckled and gave in to the temptation to pinch the cheeks on that cute, dumbfounded face.  He went to the bathroom and turned on the shower, then continued to make out with his baby until the water became warm enough.  The sensation of warm water from the shower head hitting his fatigued muscles was so relaxing that Elvis let out a satisfied sigh.  B.B. gently massaged the back of his neck and upper back, not forgetting to stroke the delicate feathers on his wing stumps making the angel moan audibly.  The newlyweds then lathered each other’s hair with shampoo and each other’s bodies with shower gel.  While supposedly scrubbing their backs, neither of them could resist feeling the other up and down sensually.  All the passionate caresses and rubbing naturally led to excitement in the nether regions.  Elvis took his husband’s half-mast cock in his hand, pumped it a few times before kneeling down and licking all along it.  The organ quickly swelled to its full size as B.B. was transfixed by the sight of cerulean eyes gazing up into his own while plump lips enveloped around him.  In fact, B.B. didn’t think he could ever get used to the spell Elvis seemed to cast on him during intimacy.  He could feel those elegant hands holding on tightly to his hips and pulling his torso closer and closer, until that chiseled nose was practically touching his pubis.  B.B. buried his hands in Elvis’ wet hair, throwing his own head back as waves of pleasure traversed his body.  As his arousal grew, groans started to escape B.B.’s mouth involuntarily.  They kept getting louder until turning into a shout as he bucked up forcibly and ejected his full load deep down the throat of his ready and willing spouse.  Elvis licked B.B.’s cock lovingly while warm water rained down on his face, washing away the stray tears at the corners of his eyes.  Still panting from his orgasm, B.B. pulled Elvis up to his feet and pressed their lips together for another round of tender kisses.

Before the shower water had a chance to turn lukewarm, the inseparable pair shut it off and opened the sliding door.  They quickly toweled each other dry, and Elvis was about to tie a piece of linen around his waist and walk over to bed when a nudge from behind sent him forward towards the sinks: “Honey, look in the mirror.  Want me to take you from behind here?”  Elvis looked in front of him as he was told and saw a sizable mirror just above the side-by-side double sinks.  Through the slowly vanishing steam, he could see the reflection of B.B.’s possessive arms caging him in against the vanity top and sultry lips grazing over his ear lobe.  Elvis blushed: “Sure Gunnie, you can take me however you want.”  B.B. felt his member getting harder again hearing such obedient response from his angel.  “Stay.” He commanded as he walked to the other room to retrieve a tube of lubricant.  Once returned, B.B. coated his fingers with copious amount of clear gel and patiently stretched Elvis out.  The angel accommodated his husband by bending partially forward and supported his upper body by pushing against the countertop.  It didn’t take much for B.B.’s cock to perk up fully again, and with a grunt he entered the raven-haired beauty from behind.  He enjoyed the view of flushing skin across that angelic face and how it spread down to the chest from arousal.  B.B. then lifted one of Elvis’ long and perfectly proportioned legs over the vanity top, allowing more access to his thrusting.  The different angle intensified the stimulation and pleasure that much more for Elvis, he made a breathy whimper and reached back for a kiss while B.B. caressed his neck down to his chest with one hand.  Their tongues entangled while their torsos remained joined, grinding against each other in perfect harmony.  Once their lips parted, B.B. picked up the pace and intensity of his lovemaking.  Concurrently, Elvis' breaths grew more and more uneven from the overwhelming sensation of fiery bliss.  From the mirror’s reflection, B.B. admired the alluring view of his angel lost in lust and pleasure, with his back arching and eyes closed, long lashes casting a shadow against his cheeks.  B.B. made Elvis gasp when he slid one hand down the soft and smooth skin over his baby’s lower abdomen and took a firm hold of his erection.  As the large and warm hand stroked the member vigorously, making use of precum and residual lube on the fingers, Elvis sobbed out: “Please Gunnie!  I can’t hold it no more!”  B.B. used one arm to clench Elvis against his chest, while the other hand kept pumping faster: “Baby, don’t hold back, just come for me!”  Hardly a minute later, the young man shuddered and pearly white essence sprayed across his chest and belly. 

B.B. thrusted for a bit longer as Elvis came down from his climax.  When the young man started to slump against the unyielding grip that was holding him up from behind, B.B. pulled out his member and turned Elvis around, allowing him to rest on the vanity top for a brief minute.  Elvis leaned back against the mirror, catching his breath as his other half quickly wiped away the spent from his trunk with a damp towel.  B.B. pulled Elvis into an embrace, letting the young man circle both arms around his neck and legs around his back.  His hands squeezed those plump and peachy buttocks, slipping under them to find purchase: “Hang on tight honey, I’m carrying you over to bed.”  As B.B. started to straighten up, Elvis tightened his hold instinctively and wrapped around his husband like a python around a tree, gently reminding him: “Careful Gunnie, don’t hurt your back!”.

“Believe me honey, I ain’t that old yet!” B.B. joked as he swooped up his baby and walked over to bed.  Elvis let out a shriek as he was thrown onto the sheets and bounced amongst some pillows.  B.B. wasted no time to pounce on his delicious meal, pulling him to the edge of the bed.  He stood over Elvis, holding his feet up in the air, spreading his legs wide apart, then inserted his cock and picked up where he left off.  Looking up at his man, robust muscles covered with a thin layer of shiny sweat, descending upon him like some ancient hedonistic deity, Elvis had to hold back happy tears as he took everything he was given.  All the while B.B. was living out his dreams, kissing his angel on the calves and inner thighs between intense pounding sessions.  Finally he was overtaken by a tide of ecstasy as he stuttered to a stop with a loud grunt, burying deep inside his sweet lover.  Elvis pulled his man down into a tight hug as he relished in the sensation of seeds spilling within.

The newlyweds stayed in the same position for a while, catching their breaths, cherishing their deep physical and spiritual connection together.  Then they parted briefly to scoot up the bed and cuddle more comfortably.  “That was incredible!” Elvis marveled, “later tonight you can wake me up and we can go again!” B.B. burst out laughing: “Hey babe, no rush.  We’ve got plenty of time!”  To hide his blush the angel responded by peppering B.B.’s chest with kisses.  Silently B.B. stroked the young man’s soft hair, then all of a sudden he asked: “Elvis honey, why did you give up eternal life for me?” Caught unprepared, the angel stammered for an answer: “I, I… Gunnie I didn’t mean to keep it from you…”  B.B. cupped the strikingly handsome face and looked Elvis in the eyes: “So it’s true then.  I suspected it but wasn’t sure, I found some gray hairs on you recently.”  Elvis admitted after a pause: “Gunnie, I had to.  I couldn’t lose you.  I’d always take a lifetime of lovin’ over an eternity of loneliness for sure!”  “What about the demons?” B.B. grabbed Elvis on his shoulders and shook them a little, “Have you thought about those fuckers still scheming to catch you and harm you?  You suffered a lot during your past life, I don’t want you to go through that again and go to an early grave!”  Unfazed, the corners of Elvis’ mouth started to pull up into that good-natured lopsided smile again: “Don’t worry darlin’.  My goal is to be with you from today until forever, God granted that to me and that’s all I need.  During my past life I felt responsible for too many people, parents, relatives, friends, fans.  I never found the one true love.  In this life I found you, my mission is complete.  I’ll devote this life and beyond to you alone.”  Tears started to track down B.B.’s face as he hugged his sweetheart again: “You silly bean, I don’t know what to do with you!  But I’ll promise you this, I’ll live this life and the next for you just as you will for me…”  A flurry of kisses drowned out his vows as the lovebirds locked their lips again and again.

#elvis presley #m/m #angel au

[legion1227]

Every album I listened to in 2022: Ranked!

132. Yeat- Lyfe  (1/5)          (Terrible) 131. Yung Lean- Stardust (1/5) 130. NLE Choppa- Me vs Me (1.5/5)       (Awful) 129. Swedish House Mafia- Paradise Again (1.5/5) 128. Pi'erre Bourne- Good Movie (1.5/5) 127. Jack Harlow- Come Home, The Kids Miss You   (1.5/5) 126. Avril Lavigne- Love Sux  (2/5)     (Bad/Not Good) 125. RZA Presents: Bobby Digital and the Pit of Snakes (2/5) 124. Skylar Grey- Skylar Grey   (2/5) 123. Nickelback- Get Rollin   (2/5) 122. Arcade Fire- We    (2/5) 121. Jack White- Entering Heaven Alive    (2/5) 120. Panic! At the Disco- Viva Las Vengeance   (2/5) 119. 070 Shake- You can't Kill Me   (2/5) 118. Chris Brown- Breezy    (2/5) 117. Kelly Clarkson- Kellyoke   (2/5) 116. Skillet- Dominion    (2/5) 115. Jack White- Fear of the Dawn  (2/5) 114. Diplo- Diplo   (2/5) 113. Red Hot Chili Peppers- Unlimited Love   (2/5) 112. Snoop Dogg- From Tha Streets 2 Tha Suites   (2/5) 111. Weezer- SZNZ: Spring   (2/5) 110. Three Days Grace- Explosions   (2/5) 109. King Von- What it means to be a king   (2/5) 108. John Legend- LEGEND      (2.5/5)   (Fine) 107. Train- AM Gold        (2.5/5) 106. Death Cab for Cutie- Asphalt Meadows   (2.5/5) 105. Lil Baby- It's Only Me    (2.5/5) 104. Bbno$- Bag or Die   (2.5/5) 103. DJ Khaled- God Did   (2.5/5) 102. Calvin Harris- Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 2  (2.5/5) 101. Drake- Honestly, Nevermind     (2.5/5) 100. Future- I NEVER LIKED YOU  (2.5/5) 99. Youngboy- The Last Slimeto   (2.5/5) 98. The Game- Drillmatic   (2.5/5) 97. Lil Durk- 7220    2.5/5) 96. Dead South- Easy Listening for Jerks pt. 2  (2.5/5) 95. Allison Wonderland- Loner   (3/5)   (Okay) 94. Yeah Yeah Yeahs- Cool it Down   (3/5) 93. Steve Aoki- Hiroquest: Genesis   (3/5) 92. Roddy Ricch- Feed Tha Streets 3  (3/5) 91. 5 Seconds of Summer- 5SOSS5  (3/5) 90. Tove Lo- Dirt Femme   (3/5) 89. Simple Plan- Harder Than it Looks   (3/5) 88. BROCKHAMPTON- The Family  (3/5) 87. Sean Paul- Scorcha   (3/5) 86. Taylor Swift- Midnight  (3/5) 85. SZA- SOS   (3/5) 84. Mitski- Laurel Hell   (3/5) 83. Arctic Monkeys- The Car   (3/5) 82. Lumineers- Brightside   (3/5) 81. Burna Boy- Love, Damini   (3/5) 80. IDK- Simple  (3/5) 79. Quavo & Takeoff- Only Built for Infinity Links  (3/5) 78. Joji- Smithereens   (3/5) 77. 2 Chainz- Dope Don't Sell Itself  (3/5) 76. A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie- Me vs Myself  (3/5) 75. Ne-yo- Self Explanatory   (3/5) 74. Ozzy Osbourne- Patient Number 9 73. Red Hot Chili Peppers- Return of the Dream Canteen (3/5) 72. Yungblud- Yungblud    (3/5) 71. Blackbear- In Loving Memory  (3/5) 70. Michael Buble- Higher  (3/5) 69. The Weeknd- Dawn FM   (3/5) 68. Ari Lennox- age-sex/location  ( 3/5) 67. RuPaul- Mamru  (3.5/5)     (Good) 66. Snoop Dogg- BODR   (3.5/5) 65. Weezer- Van Weezer  (3.5/5) 64. Shinedown- Planet Zero   (3.5/5) 63. Goo Goo Dolls- Chaos in Bloom   (3.5/5) 62. Kehlani- Blue Water Road  (3.5/5) 61. Christina Perri- A Lighter Shade of Blue  (3.5/5) 60. Rex Orange County- Who Cares?   (3.5/5) 59. The 1975- Being Funny in a Foreign Language  (3.5/5) 58. K-Solo- Tell The World My Name   (3.5/5) 57. Maggie Rogers- Surrender  (3.5/5) 56. Carly Rae Jepsen- The Loneliest Time (3.5/5) 55. Palaye Royale- Fever Dream  (3.5/5) 54. Muse- Will of the People   (3.5/5) 53. Metro Boomin- Heroes & Villains  (3.5/5) 52. Harry Styles- Harry's House  (3.5/5) 51. Brent Faiyaz- Wasteland   (3.5/5) 50. Yung Gravy- Marvelous   (3.5/5) 49. Demi Lovato- HOLY FVCK  (3.5/5) 48. Billy Idol- The Cage   (3.5/5) 47. G Herbo- Survivor's Remorse  (3.5/5) 46. Beyonce- Renaissance   (3.5/5) 45. Ella Mai- Heart on My Sleeve  (3.5/5) 44. Willow- <COPINGMECHANISM>  (3.5/5) 43. Nas- King's Disease 3  (3.5/5) 42. Westside Gunn- Peace Fly God  (3.5/5) 41. Vince Staples- RAMONA PARK BROKE MY HEART  (3.5/5) 40. Korn- Requiem  (3.5/5) 39. Camilia Cabello- Familia  (3.5/5) 38. AWOLNATION- My Echo, My Shadow, My Covers, & Me  (3.5/5) 37. BROCKHAMPTON- Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine (3.5/5) 36. Marian Hill- Why can't we just pretend?  (3.5/5) 35. Sasha Alex Sloan- I Blame The World  (3.5/5) 34. Scorpions- Rock Believer  (3.5/5) 33. T.I.- Dime Trap  (3.5/5) 32. Mary J. Blige- Good Morning Gorgeous  (3.5/5) 31. Fivio Foreign- B.I.B.L.E  (3.5/5) 30. Bastille- Give Me The Future  (4/5)   (Great) 29. Logic- Vinyl Days  (4/5) 28. Charli XCX- Crash  (4/5) 27. Weezer- SZNZ: Summer  (4/5) 26. Lizzo- Special  (4/5) 25. Drake & 21 Savage- Her Loss  (4/5) 24. Lady of Rage- Necessary Roughness (4/5) 23. Florence and The Machine- Dance Fever   (4/5) 22. Westside Gunn- 10  (4/5) 21. Marina- Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land  (4/5) 20. Wiz Khalifa, Big KRIT, & Girl Talk- Full Court Press  (4/5) 19. Phife Dawg- Forever  (4/5) 18. Conway The Machine- God Don't Make Mistakes  (4/5) 17. Cordae- From a Bird's Eye View  (4/5) 16. Alter Bridge- Pawn & Kings  (4/5) 15. Halestorm- Back From The Dead  (4/5) 14. Joey Badass- 2000  (4/5) 13. Pusha T- It's Almost Dry  (4/5) 12. Conway The Machine- Greetings Earthlings  (4/5) 11. Lil Wayne- Sorry 4 The Wait  (4/5) 10. Killer Mike- R.A.P Music  (4/5) 9. Naughty By Nature- Naughty By Nature  (4/5) 8. J.I.D.- The Forever Story  (4.5/5)   (Amazing) 7. Sabaton- The War to End All Wars  (4.5/5) 6. Black Thought- Cheat Codes  (4.5/5) 5. Lupe Fiasco- Drill Music in Zion  (4.5/5) 4. Benny The Butcher- Tana Talk 4  (4.5/5) 3. Kendrick Lamar- Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers  (4.5/5) 2. Dead South- Easy Listening for Jerks pt. 1  (5/5)  (Perfect) 1. Czarface & MF DOOM- Super What?  (5/5)

#music review #music #2022 review #yeat #beyonce #panic at the disco #halestorm #marina #kendrick lamar #weezer #drake #taylor swift

[femininenachos]

Rules: tag people you want to get to know better

Tagged by: @notyou-0303 and @orangeyouglad8 - thanks both!

Favourite time of year: In the past I would have said winter, because I like frosty mornings and to hibernate under blankets, but now I have a garden I’ve developed a new appreciation for spring turning into summer, watching the transformation of the plants and flowers as they go into full bloom. Every day they become a little more, and it’s lovely to see. Nature 🤌

Comfort food: Lasagna with a big chunk of herby bread to mop up the sauce.

Do you collect something: Not intentionally, yet somehow I have a collection of old video game consoles that I’m reluctant to part with.

Favourite drink: Seghesio, Sonoma County Zinfandel - Many moons ago my wife (then girlfriend) and I shared two bottles in some little restaurant I forget the name of in the Castro in San Francisco. The food was extremely late out the kitchen, but we were drunk on red wine and carefree (and, god, so young). It’s hard to get hold of that zinfandel here, but it brings back fond, hazy memories of a particular place and time in our lives.

Favourite song: It varies by mood, but Tinseltown in the Rain by The Blue Nile is a permanent fixture in the top 5. Just all-round immaculate vibes.

Current favourite song: I’ve had Slow Song by The Knocks on heavy rotation.

Favourite fic: A very close tie between in love and war and politics by centuriesofexistence and Within Me An Invincible Summer by Thrace. But there are so many I hold dear.

Tagging: @syngularitysyn @heycollage if you haven’t already and feel like doing it.

#tag game #about me

[genesiswrld]

good evening! it's really funny that you said that the weather was being unpredictable because it was thirty degrees here today! it's been extremely windy and cold despite my county being on fire, haha. i keep joking that "smoke of mortal kombat fame" has paid my town a visit as a result, but the windiness has been reminding me of a song i've been meaning to tell you about for a long time. hiatus kaiyote's laputa (taylor mcferrin remix with anderson p.aak) is this really floaty soul song. i always thought that anderson p.aak's part was really liu kang-esque, especially "they'd love to take your charm, corruption is at large, so good god, keep floating" and it would be a lie if i said i didn't mind or (miss you), blinded by something so powerful, word's can't define (how i miss you)". it's really hard to choose because the entire song is really good and all of the lyrics fit, in my mind at the very least. i feel like, in the character context, it oscillates between from a liu kang pov and just being about liu kang, so i hope it evokes similarly beautiful mental images for you! i know the kind of trees you were talking about since one grows in my front yard, but the stink is mostly gone now, so i hope the stinkiness dissipates for you soon as well! -🎐

Nooooo babe, not on fire!😭 Hopefully the fires have stopped (They probably have with how long it took me to answer this lmao). But please be safe.

And ooh goodie, another song recomendation. Will give it a listen to see if it gives me the same feelings, I always like when you share with me anon, especially if it relates to my lovely boy😊

Yes the stinky trees are in full bloom and I hate it so much😭 they are literally the worst I swear.

#ask raine #liu kang #mortal kombat

[bookoformon]

Mormon, Chapter 6, Part 3. "The One."

At the top of the Hill called Cumhora, the Wake Up Call, a war of numbers and rhetoric begins between Mormon the Balm for the Oppressed and Moroni, "the Blood of the Grape" and the Lamanites, who were obviously the oppressors. The total for the Army of Light is 20,000 men in front and in back of the army of the enemy.

To go to the top of the mountain serves to provide a vantage point but it also means one draws conclusions. Moses went up the Mountain to bring down the law as free people need the law in order to remain free. Freedom is not a freak accident, it certainly does not remain concurrent without the binding power of the law. To go up the Mountain to wake up because freedom is threatened is one of the ways people and their governments maintain the essence of their free lifestyles.

Americans do not like to go up the mountain and face the music that their politicians and governors are violating human rights laws guaranteed by the Constitution and the Treaties we have ratified. and This keeps us all trapped in a perennial political rinse cycle. The reason we write and enforce these laws is for the purposes of a permanent escape from oppression and as soon as President Biden realizes this and does not hold back, we can reasonably expect to be free of oppression in America forever.

Once again, we have agreed to laws that protect a woman's right to choose, freedom of religion, the right to marry an adult of legal age of your choice, the right to the gender that suits you, and freedom from recrimination or descrimination based on race, ethic origin, etc. These laws are inviolate, there are self-enforcing, no amount of complaining or picketing can legally be used to challenge the sacrosanctuary provided by these laws.

Politicians, organizations, legislators, and judges that challenge civil rights laws can be arrested for Crimes Against Humanity and apartheid, and this needs to be done.

The entire section is filled with Hebrew Gematria which will follow the verses.

8 And it came to pass that they came to battle against us, and every soul was filled with terror because of the greatness of their numbers.

9 And it came to pass that they did fall upon my people with the sword, and with the bow, and with the arrow, and with the ax, and with all manner of weapons of war.

10 And it came to pass that my men were hewn down, yea, even my ten thousand who were with me, and I fell wounded in the midst; and they passed by me that they did not put an end to my life.

11 And when they had gone through and hewn down all my people save it were twenty and four of us, (among whom was my son Moroni) and we having survived the dead of our people, did behold on the morrow, when the Lamanites had returned unto their camps, from the top of the hill Cumorah, the ten thousand of my people who were hewn down, being led in the front by me.

12 And we also beheld the ten thousand of my people who were led by my son Moroni.

13 And behold, the ten thousand of Gidgiddonah had fallen, and he also in the midst.

The Values in Gematria are:

v. 8: Every soul was filled with terror. The Value in Gematria is 7921, זט‎‎בא‎ , zetba, "the olive bloom, hidden."

Surely niether the Lamanites named by the Prophet nor the modern Republican Party and the Evangelicals plan to publish the peace and have a state county fair to celebrate humanity. They are too belligerant towards the Gospels for this. Their Numbers are all wrong.

v. 9: They fell upon my people with all manners of weapons of war. Have you ever heard a Republican quoting scripture about God's love for charity, the relief of poverty, care for the sick, lonely, imprisoned, or those who mourn? You will not. They are a diseased group of people.

Use of scripture to encourage misanthropy, the minting of weapons, to criminalize the poor, or deny needy persons refuge is a sin. This is what it means to use weapons of war against the people.

That little fake fuck Mike Johnson who is actually very wealthy is going to hell for what he did to the people of Ukraine this past Christmas time, and he needn't look forward to the trip.

The wee cunt then went to the Museum of the Bible and called himself Moses.

The Value in Gematria is 14031, ידאֶפֶסג‎א‎, yahidapesga, the peak "the summit will stop."

At the top of the Mountain is the Sermon on the Mount. Everyone needs to read it and the people who live in America, including its politicians need to understand it. This should put an end to the bullshit that permeates our lives.

From Matthew 5-7: Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount

5 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes

He said:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,     for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn,     for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek,     for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,     for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful,     for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart,     for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers,     for they will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,     for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Salt and Light

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

The Fulfillment of the Law

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Murder

21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder,[a] and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister[b][c] will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’[d] is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

Adultery

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’[e] 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Divorce

31 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’[f] 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Oaths

33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.[g]

Eye for Eye

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’[h] 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Love for Enemies

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[i] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Giving to the Needy

6 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Prayer

5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

9 “This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done,     on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts,     as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation,[j]     but deliver us from the evil one.[k]’

14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Fasting

16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Treasures in Heaven

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy,[l] your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy,[m] your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Do Not Worry

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[n]?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Judging Others

7 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

Ask, Seek, Knock

7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

The Narrow and Wide Gates

13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

True and False Prophets

15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

True and False Disciples

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

The Wise and Foolish Builders

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

v. 10: And it came to pass my men were hewn down. The Value in Gematria is 14406, ידדאֶפֶסו‎ ‎yaddaepso, "the zero hand," "they understood nothing."

v. 11a: And when they had gone through and hewn down all my people save it were twenty and four of us, (among whom was my son Moroni) and we having survived the dead of our people, did behold on the morrow...The Value in Gematria is 17600, יז‎ואֶפֶסאֶפֶס‎, "Jezu Ephesus," "Josephus", AKA "Jesus is the Fruit of the Coming Era."

v. 11b: When the Lamanites had returned unto their camps, from the top of the hill Cumorah, the ten thousand of my people who were hewn down, being led in the front by me. The Value in Gematria is 10051, יאֶפֶסה‎א, yepesa, "Learn how to reset. Take a step."

v. 12: And we also beheld the ten thousand of my people who were led by my son Moroni. The Value in Gematria is 5840, הח‎ד אֶפֶס‎, "the One is Zero." There is One Infinite Gracious and Good Holy Spirit, there is no other. The Christ is the Blood of the Fruit of His Actions here on this plane, in this life.""

v. 13: And behold, the ten thousand of Gidgiddonah "the tickler" [ to cut away with strength of a judge passing a sentence] had fallen, and he also in the midst. The Value in Gematria is 1803, א‎חאֶפֶסג, achafesg, "I will set at liberty through the passage."

There are a few passages named above. As for the rest of this section, it needs little explanation.

[treadmilltreats]

What were you thankful for?

So this was a long weekend that started off with Thanksgiving and for many, they were thankful only for the long weekend.

But seriously, in these last few horrible years what are you grateful for? I know it's been hard for everyone, we have all lost people we loved, and many people couldn't even be there to say goodbye to their loved ones.

Many people lost their jobs, went hungry, lost their homes, got sick, and to top it off the climate in this country was filled with hatred and racism. Yes, it hasn't been a few of our better years so really, tell me what are we supposed to be grateful for?

I get it, it's hard to be grateful when life is coming at you hard and fast. When it seems like everything is against you, when every step you take forward something takes you back three steps, I get it. Here's what I learned in these last nine years of being divorced. Every day I can and will find something to be grateful for. This was not easy for me before, as I hated my life and besides from my girls, I didn't feel grateful.

I was lucky if I pulled myself out of bed each and every morning. Being grateful? Please, not happening.

No, this was a learned process. One morning I woke up and decided to change, I decided that everyday I would make myself write something I was grateful for in a journal. Some days were hard but I was determined to find something, anything… Maybe it was that I woke up, that I could see, that I could walk. I took basic things like food and a home and I made sure I was at least grateful for those things.

Little by little I added more, the breeze on a hot Florida day, a butterfly to remind me of my mother, a newly bloomed flower in the yard until it became natural to me. Was my life still sucky? Absolutely, it was but how I saw things around me changed and soon so did I. My journey to my new life all started by my starting to be grateful about my life right where it was, in a dysfunctional, miserable, and unhappy mess.

So this weekend was not any different, I still needed to add to my list of what I was grateful for. I got to go to the beach all weekend, and after 4 weeks of working on my house, I needed this break. I was grateful that I still had a home, that even though we weren't away for the holidays like usual, I had many people sitting at my table.

I was grateful that my friends flew in from all over the county to be with me.

I was grateful we had plenty of food to share with others. I was grateful I had a car and gas to take me to and from the beach. I was grateful to be there, to be able to hear the waves and the birds. To be able to see the clouds and the blue of the ocean. Seeing people laughing and playing together on this beautiful fall day.

I was grateful that I was alive, that I was blessed to be alive and more importantly to be healthy.

See it's not hard for me to be grateful anymore, every day I find something. This morning I saw the most amazing moon and clouds and gave thanks to God for creating these marvelous things for us. I am grateful for everything in my life now.

They say a habit, good or bad happens in 21 days, if you do something for 21 days it will become a habit. You can start to change your life in 21 days, all you have to do is start being grateful for the little things and soon it will be the bigger ones, then before you know it it will be everything, every single thing. Yes, even the hard times, I still find gratitude in those as well.

So today my friends, remember one of my favorite Bible verses

"There before the grace of God, goes I"

Which means it could always be worse, my aunt used to say if you're at a table with others and you all put your problems out, you'd be quick to take yours back. Because there is always someone who has it worse than you, that would trade places with you in a heartbeat. So always remember that it could be worse or in my case, it was worse, way worse. But now I can see all the blessings I have and each and every day I give thanks for them all.

Change your mind, change your life and like I say at every blog….

"Be the change you want to see"

@TreadmillTreats

[poem-today]

A poem by  Katrina Vandenberg

Fuchsia

That summer in the west I walked sunrise to dusk, narrow twisted highways without shoulders, low stone walls on both sides. Hedgerows of fuchsia hemmed me in, the tropical plant now wild, centuries after nobles imported it for their gardens. I was unafraid, did not cross to the outsides of curves, did not look behind me for what might be coming. For weeks in counties Kerry and Cork, I walked through the red blooms the Irish call the Tears of God, blazing from the brush like lanterns. Who would have thought a warm current touching the shore of that stone-cold country could make lemon trees, bananas, and palms not just take, but thrive? Wild as the jungles they came from, where boas flexed around their trunks — like my other brushes with miracles, the men who love you back, how they come to you, gorgeous and invasive, improbable, hemming you in. And you walk that road blazing, some days not even afraid to die.

Katrina Vandenberg

More poems by  Katrina Vandenberg are available through her website.

#katrina vandenberg #american poetry #fuschia #tears of god

[drdsatadventure]

June 15, 2022. Day 29, I think. Hit New York in 1 mi and got this nice patriotic welcome of the flag up on top of the mountain. After that, big, big rocks. Lots of climbing up and sideways, big steps that I don't think my knees want to make anymore. Several miles of rocks scrambles going very slowly. Then you know it gets bad when you have ladders to get up some sheer ledges. Did I mention I'm getting old.

June 18th, 2022. Never finished that above rant since the day was long and I was gassed at the end. Now several days later and after a night off trail in a hotel have recovered nicely. The 15th and the next 2 days were long days with lots of elevation change and rock scrambles. One day we had 3,700 ft gain and 3900 ft of decent. I really had doubts about my knees after those days but after a night off trail and an 8 mi day today without any boulders or rock scrambles and very pleasant mid-60s weather, I feel quite good. Our day off trail last night was in Highland Falls, New York and we ate dinner right across from West Point Academy. It was a hole in the wall and we were the only people in this Mexican restaurant, but it was some of the most authentic tastiest Mexican food I've ever had. Had several dos Equis which tasted quite good. Amazing, Orange County, New York has a low COVID transmission rate which helped get me inside the restaurant.

It took two hours to get us an Uber from the trail and by the time we finished dinner, our laundry and some resupply shopping we didn't get back to the hotel till 10:00. Way past my bedtime! Today from Bear Mountain Inn where we were picked up yesterday, the trail proceeded past this humongous swimming pool and then through the Bear Mountain Zoo. Will pass the 400 mile mark tomorrow and then Wednesday enter Connecticut where I will get off trail and get to see Gretchen again. So nice. Well better get cooking dinner. Happy trails!

As the AT enters New York State.

East rocks scrambles are hard with a 30 lb pack on.

I don't think God put this ladder here. I'm sure glad somebody did though.

A view of the New York countryside.

A heart rock always reminds me of Gretchen. She loves to collect these. This was too big to take home for her.

Just a pretty view of a waterway going by and some Mountain Laurel in bloom.

These two folks were in a parking lot near the trail giving out trail magic. Interestingly, they were from Gonzalez, Louisiana. They had section hiked different parts of the trail but he hurt his back and they couldn't complete it. Hot dogs, cold drinks, fruit, hummus and pretzels.

This is the trail leading under these two huge rocks. They at least don't look like they're going anywhere.

A few of the Hudson River from high up in the mountain.

Bear Mountain inn, had a beautiful recreational area with Hession lake. This is where the Uber picked us up to go off trail.

[stuhde]

sunday: i meant to post this playlist weeks ago, so you could all have some soft indie study tunes to listen to while you’re studying for exams/midterms. as much as i love instrumental study music, sometimes you just want lyrics to listen to while studying. here’s a playlist to guide you through your work day before the next week begins 💫

(listen here)

patience - the lumineers // obvious bicycle - vampire weekend // all i want - kodaline // somebody else - the 1975 // meet me in the hallway - harry styles // from eden - hozier // angela - the lumineers // is there somebody who can watch you - the 1975 // all we ever knew - the head and the heart // featherstone - the paper kites // dirty paws - of monsters and men // like real people do - hozier  // miracle aligners - the shadow puppets // hannah hunt - vampire weekend // hey k - passion pit // the cave - mumford and sons // suck it and see - arctic monkeys // reign down - bombay bicycle club // rivers and road - the head and the heart // ophelia - the lumineers // cherry wine (live) - hozier // from the dining table - harry styles

cleopatra - the lumineers // medicine - the 1975 // i think ur a contra - vampire weekend // monsoon - hippo campus // devil like me - rainbow kitten surprise // another story - the head and the heart // paint - the paper kits // sleep on the floor - the lumineers // please be naked - the 1975 // bloom (bonus track) - the paper kites // no guarantees (stinson beach ed.) - the head and the heart // goodnight chicago - rainbow kitten surpise  // someone new - hozier // down in the valley - the head and the heart // to build a home - the cinematic orchestra // down in the valley - the head and the heart // polite company - rainbow kitten surprise // rhythm and blues - the head and the heart // stuck on puzzle - alex turner // work song - hozier // fallingforyou - the 1975 // this must be the place (naïve melody) - the lumineers // winter song - the head and the heart // woodland - the paper kites // baby i’m yours - arctic monrkeys // chateau - angus & julia stone // sedona - houndmouth // fire and fear - the head and the heart // tell me how - paramore // for sondra (it means the world to me) - passion pit // sincerity is scary - the 1975 // days on a wire - case // signs of light - the head and the heart // inside your mind - they 1975  // cowards - raleigh ritchie // wake me - bleachers // run - hozier // all well that ends well - rainbow kitten surprise // mine - the 1975 // on the way home - the paper kites // the ultracheese - arctic monkeys // mountain sound - of monsters and men // surrounded by heads and bodies - the 1975 // don’t forget me - the head and the heart // hey, ma - bon iver // arms - the paper kites // two weeks - grizzly bear // the only thing - sufjfan stevens // south - hippo campus // amsterdam - gregory alan isakov // backstroke - dizzy // loving is easy - rex orange county // rainbow - kacey musgraves // jesus christ 2005 god bless america  - the 1975 // i <3 u - boy pablo // frail state of mind - they 1975  // RABi - bon iver // disappear - beabadoobee // say my name (spotify cover) - hozier // cig - baby fuzZ // be my mistake - the 1975 // crush - day wave // fine line - harry styles // i couldn’t be more in love - the 1975 // corduroy dreams - rex orange county // naeem - bon iver // don’t worry - the 1975 // nowadays - boy pablo // bloodlines - cape francis // halloween - pheobe bridgers // eugene - arlo parks // over the moon - the marías

#apologies this playlist is VERY white #almost half of it is the 1975 the head and the heart and the lumineers so lol... cancel meeeeee #playlist #mine #spotify #aesthetic playlist #music #student #university #stillstudies #indie #indie music #alt #alt music #alternative music #indie folk #indie folk music #uni #study #studying #study playlist #study music #my playlist #the 1975 #pheobe bridgers #i truly don't know what else to tag but i hope y'all like it! #long post

[trans4rctic]

late nights ; bts

a/n: this was inspired by the beautiful who people who make "falling in love with [insert idol here]" and other such playlists that gave me the courage to do this. these are all songs from my playlist (yes really, issa mess) and i hope you like the combos i formed. i'll probably add more songs as time goes on but for now these are the choseon ones.

these are all in spotify so if you want me to make a youtube music version, i'll be glad to <3

enjoy ¡!

seokjin ♡

how to get physical ; magdalena bay

angel ; onlyoneof

lost in translation ; the neighbourhood

n°1 loves you ; phangs

gold rush ; taylor swift

can i call you tonight? ; dayglow

love my way ; the psychadelic furs

a certain romance ; arctic monkeys

aka... what a life! ; noel gallagher's high flying birds

thoughts from your car ; nodisco

nobody gets me (like you) ; wallows

into my arms ; coin

suburban wonderland ; between friends

don't panic ; coldplay

undisclosed desires ; muse

sunflower vol. 6 ; harry styles

helium ; glass animals

505 ; arctic monkeys

jungle ; cix

when it breaks ; inhaler

dionne ; the japanese house

goodnight n go ; ariana grande

if you want to ; beabadoobee

i think there's something you should know ; the 1975

butterflies ; fiji blue

playlist available here

yoongi ♡

mr disco ; new order

4ever ; clairo

love talk ; jus2

myth ; beach house

let there be love ; oasis

is it real? ; strange talk

comeback ; carly rae jepsen

eternal summer ; the strokes

evermore ; taylor swift

4u ; blackbear

daydreams ; easy llife

talk ; coldplay

like a friend ; pulp

robbers ; the 1975

first love / late spring ; mitski

golden skans ; klaxons

rome ; phoenix

sit next to me ; foster the people

greek tragedy ; the wombats

7 ; catfish and the bottlemen

single ; the neighbourhood

black celebration ; depeche mode

scar tissue ; red hot chili peppers

tranz ; gorillaz

bleach ; brockhampton

playlist available here

hoseok ♡

the rhythm of night ; vinyl theatre

stranger things ; kygo

good grief ; bastille

in dreams ; empress of

iloveyou ; between friends

summer love ; trevor something

dancing with our hands tied ; taylor swift

bite ; troye sivan

kiss me, kill me ; la bouquet

pools ; glass animals

avalanche ; walk the moon

alive ; xylo

must be a dream ; tempesst

landslide ; fleetwood mac

starry night ; mamamoo

surrender ; walk the moon

yea, babe, no way ; lany

without you ; oh wonder

i only wanna talk to you ; the maine

new romantics ; taylor swift

heart out ; the 1975

treat me like a lover ; will joseph cook

let's get lost ; carly rae jepsen

static space lover ; foster the people

youuu ; coin

playlist available here

namjoon ♡

if you're too shy let me know ; the 1975

cornerstore ; arctic monkeys

bloom later ; jesse

alone with you ; kito

the greatest ; lana del rey

believe me natalie ; the killers

false god ; taylor swift

life is simple in the moonlight ; the strokes

kyoto ; phoebe bridgers

east of eden ; zella day

clocks ; coldplay

imagination ; foster the people

lovers rock ; tv girl

ava adore ; smashing pumpkins

after midnight ; wayv

lovesong ; the cure

scary love ; the neighbourhood

cherry ; lana del rey

bbblue ; olivver the kid

III ; foster the people

meet me in the hallway ; harry styles

i love you so ; the walters

fourth of july ; sufjan stevens

one more love song ; mac demarco

mirrorball ; taylor swift

playlist available here

jimin ♡

this must be my dream ; the 1975

human ; the killers

midnight ; fickle friends

a little longer ; lauren presley

light ; ateez

be the one ; dua lipa

flowers ; the neighbourhood

what you wanted ; onerepublic

coachella ; lovelytheband

superstar ; said the sky

i think i'm in love? ; phangs

baby came home 2 / valentines ; the neighbourhood

long story short ; taylor swift

let me love you like a woman ; lana del rey

number 1 ; loona

love like you care ; perlo

10k summer nights ; eighty ninety

little league ; conan gray

moonlight in my bedrom ; nodisco

montage ; bares

love again ; gregory dillon

gamebody ; hbd

daphne blue (acoustic) ; the band camino

stayway ; muna

me & you together song ; the 1975

playlist available here

taehyung ♡

alone with you ; gregory dillon

love maze ; bts

honey + tea ; mozi

medicine ; the 1975

territory ; waterparks

love lockdown ; glass animals

ribs ; lorde

softly ; clairo

lights up ; harry styles

treat her better ; mac demarco

asleep ; the smiths

i would do anything for you ; foster the people

love is a laserquest ; arctic monkeys

august ; taylor swift

4 am ; olivver the kid

when the party's over ; billie eilish

skylines ; glades

poet ; bastille

fuck it i love you ; lana del rey

strawberries & cigarrettes ; troye sivan

butterfly ; bts

talk to me ; cavetown

daylight ; taylor swift

truce ; twenty one pilots

slow dancing in the dark ; joji

playlist available here

jungkook ♡

i wanna be yours ; arctic monkeys

matter ; shallows

sad people dancing ; la bouquet

venice ; magdalena bay

hide & seek ; loona

rainy days in la ; adam&steve

ink ; coldplay

perfect ; public

drive all night ; joan

the birthday party ; the 1975

remember when ; wallows

peach pit ; peach pit

a kiss ; the driver era

stargazing ; the neighbourhood

the truth untold ; bts

2 hold u ; clairo

happiness ; rex orange county

feb 14 ; cavetown

glass in the park ; alex turner

stay ; post malone

lover of mine ; 5 seconds of summer

smithereens ; twenty one pilots

exist for love ; aurora

you are in love ; taylor swift

old eden ; honeywater

playlist available here

#bts playlists #bts playlist #bts #jungkook playlist #taehyung playlist #hoseok playlist #namjoon playlist #jimin playlist #yoongi playlist #seokjin playlist #bts imagines #bts preferences #bts reactions #bts scenarios #playlist #spotify

[popculturebuffet]

Opus N Bill in A Wish For Wings That Work 30th Anniversary Review! (Comission for WeirdKev27)

Ho ho ho all you happy people! And today we have something a bit special and a bit indulgent and a bit courtsey of my good friend kev. See originally this review was going to be cut, as while I was super excited to do it my Scott Pilgrim review put me massively behind schedule, to the point I”ll likely have to reschedule my venture bros season 1 review. I didn’t MIND it doing so as it finishes that retrospective after too long, but point is I put my clients work ahead of me, so I was willing to cancel this so I could get Kev’s review of Operation: NAUGHTY done. Instead Kev switched to comissoning this so I could still do it as an early christmas present. What a guy, makes you cry , und I did. Don’t worry for anyone wanting to see the KND vs Elvish Versions of the X-Men, i’ll make a spot for it next year. But for this year I couldn’t resisit celebrating the 30th anniversary of one of the most underrated christmas specials out there, the ONLY time one of my faviorite comic strip universes has hit the screen, a special even it’s own creator isn’t happy about but I find a charming if flawed adaptation. 

As for what it’s adapting...

So for those, including Kev himself, less familiar with america’s faviorite pengy and my desk assistant

We have to talk about one man with the mustache and wit of a greek god and a name that yes is very much 100% real: Berkley Brethead. Berkley is a Comic Striper. I’d say cartoonist but well...

He’s been working since the late 70′s when he did his first strip the Academia Waltz, a strip that’s... well Berke fought for YEARS to keep all but a select handful of strips released, let’s leave it at that shall we? It’s best jokes, and characters in slimy fratboy misgonyst ass Steve Dallas and snarky star trek loving vietnam vet and ladies man Cutter John, would be recycled for Bloom County, his syndicated strip set in a rural town’s bording house starring local kid Milo Bloom, who evolved from spacy dreamer to sardonic sometimes assholish voice of reason and muckracking reporter

As you can tell by the samples so far the strip is objectively hilaroius and easily both my faviorite comic strip ever (narrowly inching out Calvin and HObbes and Something Positive), and one of my faviorite comics period. It has wit, heart and a biting satirical bent for both politics and pop culture. While some jokes haven’t aged well others are flat out timeless as you can see. 

But early on it was missing something and Berke knew it: while the early strips aren’t AS bad as he thinks, it took years to convince him to make a complete edition of the strip for this reason, they do take a while to find their footing, slowly adding key castmembers as they go: in addition to steve and cutter being added (with steve now a completely scummy lawyer who regularly defends blatant murderers) to the new strip, we also got Binkley, a nervous kid who deals with a dad who at first is an agressive jock determined to change his son and later, and much more tolerably, a put upon guy dealing with his son waking him up every night with celebrity gossip. But the cast still lacked a center, a heart.. a heart that was found one day in the oddest way possible...

Soon though Binkley accepted his new best friend, and his dad accepted you can’t trade a child for a subraru, you twit. 

As you can see the man himself say, Berke could tell he had something and soon Opus went from a throwaway gag to the strips star, becoming the strip’s heart. A chap whose a bit neruoti and naive, but utterly sweet relatable, and utterly himself.  Here’s some examples. 

There’s more but I was paid to review a tv special not give you a best of a hefty penguin. Opus also picked up a best friend in Binkley’s cat Bill, who was created as a parody of the garfield merchandising boom, creating a character so unfathmobly ugly no one would want merch of him.... you can probably see where this went

Bill quickly became a fan faviorite because he was so ugly and Berke ran with it, giving this ugly cat who only commuincated in “Ack’s” and “thbbts” a rapidly expanding profile: he was a former movie star, crashed his car and died exactly like james dean, came back from life via cloning, ran for president four times (With Opus wrangled into being his reluctant VP every time), picked up a coke habit, joined the ranjeesh cult, went to betty ford, had a comeback after getting a massive inhereteance from a presumed dead Opus, dated Regan’s diplomat Jean Kirkpatrick, used her to get secrets for the russians, was nearly executed for treasons, was traded to the russians in a prisoner exchange for cutter john, got kicked out of Russia after causing Chernobyl, became a headbanging superstar, shifted to socialy concious rock, got caught in a scandal doing something wholsome with a nun, became a televanglist whose anti-penguin crusade lead to opus becoming homeless, got his brain replaced with Donald Trumps, somehow got over that and returned, dated Bill clinton’s cat sox, and finally lead a mayoral campaign to get teens to pull their pants up after having been the cause of Bird Flu. Oh and he’s the long lost son of garfield, just in case you thought this coudln’t get MORE silly. 

Jeez no wonder Arlene dumped him for a while and refused to be in the cartoon. 

So as you can imagine these two became the lynch pins of bloom county and the strip prospered till 1989. Berke was getting burnt out with the daily deadline grind, and had simply waited it out long enough to get full control of his characters. Keep in mind this was unheared of: much like with the big two of superhero comics if you make a comic strip for a major syndicate, they usually own the characters and concept fully. It’s likely why the big web comics boom of the 2000′s happened: younger cartoonists like Scott Kurtz, Holkins and Kraulki, Randy Miholland and many, many more found they could do whatever they wanted creatively and get paid decently for it by striking out on their own.  But once Berke owned them, he got out of doing daily strips. He TRIED doing something completely diffrent with his next strip Outland, which Starrred Ronald Anne, a young girl from the “wrong side of the tracks” who’d been a recurring character in bloom county’s final years who ended up in a fantasy land with Tim W Forty, a purple weasel in a bowler and Mortimer Mouse

 No not that one but the characters were incredibly similar, with Morty here also being a cynical, slightly horny mouse. But after about a month eventually Berke gave in.. and brought back an old friend...

Yup while he fully intended to move on... he just couldn’t and outland soon became bloom county just with a new cast, with Tim soon gone, mortimer gone not long after him and a few ringers from bloom county returning to fill out the cast again: Oliver Wendell Jones, a prominent cast member who loves to pal around computers and use them to make goverment and fincial institutions go all higgeldy pigeledy and Milquetoast, a sarcastic asshole of a cockroach who frequently heckled opus and whispered things into people’s ears to make them do stuff. Eventually berke gave up entirely and edged Ronald-Anne out in favor of bringing binkley and steve back before quitting all together coming back for two runs: Opus which due to the newspaper industry geting worse and more censor happy didn’t last long and a revivial of Bloom county that continues on and off to this very day, most recently having a neat arc where Opus tries to find a now adult calvin to reunite him with Hobbes. 

So why go into all of this? Well partly so you see how much I love these strips going in.. and partly because this weird and wonderful history effects the special. See the special was made in 91... putting us square into outland territory and where I feel part of the special’s shakiness comes from: The only fleshed out characters he could legally used (Disney unsuprisingly wasn’t happy about having Mickey’s brother who had a beef with Micheal Eisner who eisner tried to have personally killed as a main character) were Opus, Bill, Ronald-Anne and Milquetoast, weirdly not using any of the bloom county cast. Maybe he was tired of them, I dunno, he’d later backtrack on that but at the time he just stuck with who he had and it effects the special as you see. It’d also effect his enjoyment as while production went smooth, Berke ended up unsatisified with it for a number of reasons, from feeling his work really didn’t transfer to screen, to having wanted VA legend and voice of Winnie the Pooh Sterling Holloway to voice opus. That last part I don’t agree with as A), Holloway was retired and Jim Cummings had been in the roll for some time wasn’t contacted.. despite having directly worked with the guy who did play opus which brings me to 2) Michael Bell, who plays Opus here, does a WONDERFUL job. You’d know him as Chazz Finster, Drew Pickles and Quackerjack. 

That said was Berke right as a whole? Was he rilla? Is it all just killer diller? Find out under the cut for my full review!

We open amazingly, with a  beautiful pan in shot to some gorgeous music as Opus writes his letter to santa. He explains what he wants, what his wish is: for wings that work. As he knows.. he dosen’t exactly have the most functional ones.

And it’s here where Bell really shines as opus, combining his innocence with a bit of refrential humor, nailing the character. It’s why I feel Berke was hard on him: this is a hard character to get the tone down for, one whose innocent, but can also make asides about the state of the world, one whose kind but also prone to have outbursts. The last part Bell has issues with, but the rest of it he gets beautifully, his Chaz voice perfectly fitting our flightless friend. If there’s one true standout of the special, it’s Bell and I hope if we’re ever lucky enough to get a full length opus movie at some point, we can get someone like Bell or see if he’ll take up the sword again. He’s still kicking and voiced Quackerjack last year for ducktales, so it’s not like he’s gone.. despite what the Disney+ reboot not using him might have you belivie. 

Opus recounts the previous day and thus we segue into the plot proper as Opus begins his daily routine, flapping around while trying to “fly fly fly” as he says, wanting to soar. He passes Bill, who lives in a garbage can.  Good thing he got out of it the next guy to go near it wasn’t exactly friendly. 

So while we get this fun opening of Opus darting around like a goober in the snow while Bill follows him, to his displeasure as by this point in things Opus was more annoyed with his friends existance than anything versus his steadfast loyalty early on. Then again given Bill you know, called his existance immoral and got him ran out of town by religious jackholes aka the entire cast minus Binkley.

So I can’t really blame Opus for not wanting to be buddy buddy with the guy. 

Jokes aside this is easily the weakest bit of the special. Opus seems to shun Bill for no given reason. All bill does is follow him around, opus hates him for existing and I just scratch my head. That’s it. In the comics again there’s a LONG history of bill being a bit nuts and leaving Opus in the learch. Besides the above he blew Opus’ dough, took all the ad money from their rock band, caused said band’s breakup, and once got Opus engangled as a communist sympathizer despite Opus having had nothing to do with Bill’s dealings with Russia.  Here he’s just snappy at a braindead cat he found who just wants a buddy. It makes opus come off like a bit of a dick when he should be utterly sympathetic. 

Thankfully those moments are few and far between and after failing to soar again, Opus heads to his support group, being mocked and stalked by some ducks who are original creations to this special, played by Joe Alasky, also of rugrats shockingly enough, using his daffy voice. They aren’t bad though, mocking our hero for his efforts and being perfectly build up bullies and good stand ins for the other animals who tended to mock opus Pontory, Hodgepodge and Milquetoast. 

Whose not a good stand in is Truffles who is claming to be a rhino yet shames Opus for his own desires to break his species. I’ts not funny, he has no purpose here, I don’t get why MIlquetoast didn’t play the part since the guy’s reduced to a cameo. Moving on. 

So we get the meeting which is easily the standout part of the special, and adapted almost beat for beat from one of the Outland strips:

The characters , dialouge and final bit are all taken from the strip. The only changes are Georges last two bits of dialouge are changed and instead of Opus proctering the meeting, he participates in it while Ronald Anne does. She does a good job as tiny therapist and it’s a decent change. Also yes that last bit has not aged well at all and I question using Milquetoast ONLY for that roll. IN the comic he was a foil to opus, here.. he’s a joke aged like moldy cheese. Why. Also because he happened to be around during one of the days of recording he’s voiced by academy award winner Dustin Hoffman

But again the scene’s a standout, with Alyson, voiced by Tress Macneile, being fun and enjoyable. The real star is George. In the comic he’s just pretty sad,.. but in the special he’s a special he’s a wonderfully morose ham, who shouts about the ALBATROSSS gloriously. And he too was played by a big name, the late great Robin Williams, who was working with Amblin for Hook and thus gladly agreed. And he brought his best to it, just making every bit if dialouge from George pop, making the tragedy of his life into pure comedy, even wanting Alyson to suck up an albatross> This scene sparkles with Bretheads offbeat style and feels the closest to his work out of the special. I’ts not a bad special overall but the smaller scale of the scene means he can focus the way he does in a strip and it works beauitfully. 

Opus decides to say no no no, to status quooooo and goes to bob’s military hardware and balloons, great background sign gag, to become an “aeronautical vigilante” trying to fly with BALLONS. Hit it!

Sadly Motherfucking ballons don’t help him soar and he ends up plowing over the recurring chorus of a bunch of random weirdly drawn people and Elvis. No not a guy who looks like elvis, wether that was the intent or not. Elvis is canocially alive in Bloom County

I got nothing more to add I just love this very weird fucking strip. 

So Opus snaps at bill and goes home, ending up dreaming of a black and white christmas.. specifically the 1937 film about a plane crash, Lost Horizon. It’s about a group of people trying to escape china who end up in Shangri-La. A And you thought the elvis thing was silly. 

Opus plays the pilot and fails to get them to land as...

And wakes up to his door being pounded on. For once no phrasing. It’s a christmas miracle. The ducks barge in and drag Opus to a crash site.. for Santa. Santa ended up in the icy water, he needs help... and Opus just happens to be equipped. It’s a nice, heartwarming twist: Opus wished so long to fly.. that he forgot what he could do. The narrative dosen’t QUITE wrap around to it the way it should, they never thought to play up his ablility to swim in frosty waters or his natural talents for some reason.... but it’s so charming, and the site of Opus hauling that sled to shore so awesome, that it just.. works. 

So we get a truly touching moment as Santa not only thanks opus, but gives him his hat, replacing Opus lost flying hat he’s had for half the special. It’s truly endearing.

And in the end, Opus gets what he wanted most.. simply by having been himself. The ducks change their ways and apologize for being dicks.. and thus offer Opus a flight. 

So we get our just as heartwarming ending: Opus soaring in the air.. and finding out Bill was the one who recommended him to save santa, offering bill to follow along as “this is for you too billy boy!”. So he flies, getting his wish.. but having already gotten the self respect he thought he’d get with it and giving us a merry christmas “but I simply must fly.” Truly great ending. 

Final Thoughts; 

This special is pretty good. It has it’s flaws: the emotoinal payoffs needed more work to get there. In contrast the more emotoinal moments in both charlie brown and garfields specials felt earned, having a longer road there. Here Opus is needed because the plot does and Bill is thanked because he did something nice with not enough of an apology. The fact the supporting cast is kinda paired down dosen’t help, giving Opus journey less weight as the characters have less chemistry with him than his old friends did. 

So why do I still love this thing? Well for once i’ts to date the ONLY adaptation of something I Love. And keep in mind being the only one does not mean i’ll love it. The tim story ff films are a mess and I still to this day refuse to watch Fan4stic.  Same with Dragon Ball Evolution which is the only adaptation of dragon ball that’s not a direct 1:1 from the manga or anime.. but is also Dragon Ball Evolution. MIght review those some days but the point is I don’t treasure them or WANT them. 

In contrast this film.. I watch every christmas right alongside garfiled and good old charlie brown. While it’s flawed... having flaws is part of the franchise as a whole. The strips have dated humor that’s pretty bad or offesnvie here and there. No one’s perfect. And that’s the message of this film: no one’s perfect, but what makes you you matters. And it’s why I can forgive this films faults: it’s not perfect.. but it still feels like opus, still has the utterly touching moments most good christmas specials need, and is still magic to watch every time. every time I notice new thigns and new neat quirks. So while it’s not perfect.. it’s special. 

If you want ot partake yourself, check it out on youtube there’s multiple copies and I hope this gets a blu ray release at some point (though I own the dvd one at least). For now i’m going to take off eh, thanks for reading. 

#a wish for wings that work #opus #bloom county #berkley breathed #bill the cat #opus the penguin #outland #christmas specials #christmas #holiday specials #holiday #cat #penguin #winter #ronald-anne #milquetoast #robin williams