#redneck cider

[clatterbane]

Next grocery store Frankencider batch coming up!

(Vitamin D drops not included. I've just been keeping the bottle where I can see it, so I can hopefully remember to take them.)

That nectarine apple looked promising, so. I thought I would try it out in an easy cider-adjacent drink like I've been doing with most of the fruity drinks like that. I thought at first that this might just be apple juice flavored with nectarine, but it's got lower juice content plus some apple extract too. Another one that's mostly water and sugar.

Only, this time the other fruity stuff is not a concentrate to add into a base of apple juice, so I am basically trying the reverse approach and using concentrated apple juice to bring up the sugar content and flavor in the nectarine base. Also planning to use a little honey for the extra yeast fuel and flavor. Only aiming for around 8% ABV, so it shouldn't take very much honey as these things go.

The bit of brewed tea should double for adding a little tannins as usual, but also as a handy place to dissolve the honey in the hot liquid.

Also halfway planning to bottle carbonate this one when it's done. It's hard to go too wrong with sparkling Frankencider.

#famous last words #redneck brewing #redneck cider #cyser #sort of #it should taste OK whatever you call it #hopefully #alcohol mention

[pariahfox]

The next little brewing project in line, which I'm planning to mix up in a little while: cider with some elderflower drink concentrate added in for flavor.

I've got a cup of tea cooling down now to mix in for the little bit of tannins. Aiming for 2L, and I'll probably boost it with a little sugar. That and some yeast nutrient should be plenty for this batch. Keeping it simple, to see how the elderflower comes through. If it needs a little more acidity, I can add some lemon juice or citric acid later.

#redneck brewing #redneck cider #cider #elderflower

[nysocboy]

My Life with the Walter Boys: Lots of hunks in small-town Colorado, plus an "are they or aren't they?" gay couple

I dislike tv series about how small towns are so much better than big cities, with good old fashioned down-home values -- which means gender-polarization,  mom baking pies and dad watching football, plus heterosexism, every boy gazing wistfully at a girl.  But My Life with the Walter Boys, on Netflix, is about a big-city girl who moves to a ranch in Colorado, for some reason, where the family has five boys!  Including Cole, played by 25 yer old Noah LaLonde!  I'm going to review Episode 3, which has the Homecoming Huddle -- a dance, I guess -- to check for gay characters.

Scene 1: In the rustic barn, Sensitive Alex (22-year old Ashby Gentry, far right) is telling focus character Jackie the colorful history of the family's cider wagon and explaining how important homecoming is.

Cut to Brooding Cole, practicing football with his little sister,  who is playing her first junior football game.  He'll be in the stands cheering her on. At least no one is uptight about breaking gender stereotypes.  As he bends over, he winces -- uh-uh, injury.

Scene 2: Two boys at the kitchen table, while Dad (Marc Blucas) talks to someone about the pests eating their crops.  Hopefully the new pesticide will kill the lot.  Mom comes in -- wait I thought it was a single dad -- and drinks coffee while they discuss farm stuff.

Scene 3: At school, Jackie's friend thanks her for not telling Brooding Cole's girlfriend that they're cheating on her (Horndog Cole apparently cheats on everybody with everybody).   

On to a meeting of the fundraising committee for the auditorium renovation. They expect kids to take care of that? Jackie suggests a silent auction.

Meanwhile, Cole's teammate Skylar (Jaylan Evans) consoles him over not being able to play football anymore.  At least he can still go to the Homecoming after-part.  "There will be booze there!" I thought he was going to say "girls." Nice to see a teenage boy on tv who isn't obsessing over "girls! girls! girls!"

Scene 4:  Jackie invited the group to her house to work on the silent auction.  They take a break to play "Fuck, marry, kill."  Whoops, sorry, I mean "Kiss, go steady with, be mean to."  Jackie insists that she doesn't want to date Sensitive Alex (the brother she will be staffing the cider truck with).  Suddenly a kid rushes by and splashes paint all over Skyler's shirt!

Cut to Skyler in the bathroom -- with the door open! -- trying to clean his paint-splashed shirt.  Nathan (Corey Fogelmanis) sees him and -- wait, is that erotic attraction?  Are there gay people in this small town in Colorado?  He turns to run away, but Skyler sees him and says "Hello, there."  Dorky greeting, Dude. 

"I can throw that in the wash, and lend you one of my shirts."  I think some paint splashed on his pants, too.

Nathan goes through his closet -- very slowly, so he can gawk at Skyler's bod. Then take a break from looking for shirts so Skyler can listen to Nathan's new song. 

I'll just go through on fast forward, to check on Skyler-Nate. No more flirtation in this episode, but fan boards were lit up with "Is Skyler gay?"  "Nate and Skyler are just good buddies, right?"  "Can't straight guys love other without everyone accusing them of being gay?"  But the guys end the speculations (except for the inevitable few that refuse to get it, regardless) by holding hands in Episode 8, and kissing in  Episode 9 (at a redneck rodeo, of all places). 

My Grade:  Having a gay couple in the mix is nice, and seeing Cole's chest is nice, but it's still a small-town soap opera, with several heterosexual couples falling in love.B-. 

The full review, with other plotlines and photos (some nude), is on RG Beefcake and Boyfriends

#Kelvin x Keefe #My Life with the Walter Boys #Marc Blucas #Noah LaLonde #gay couple #Corey Fogelmanis

[ratsoh-writes]

Well... Cider and his brother are Mexican too then...

I see Peaches and Rancher as southern from the US

Oh well canonically they have Mexican heritage since their mom literally is Mexican

Peaches and rancher are those rednecks surrounded by Mexican neighbors and know the culture and language to the point where they’re honorary Mexicans themselves

[mega2wheellife]

& what do you do?

we’d had a good morning chain sawing

cutting wood for winter the last of the big Ash

we’d dropped beginning of spring

we’d put the tools away then set fire to the brash

to keep the ground clear

we were sitting around the stump

pint of gin n tonic to cut the dust

when the townies walked on up to us

bleach white trainers & deep black sunnies on

do you know where the path is?

smiling we pointed out the sign

nice spot you have here it’s quiet here eh?

we agreed to be polite accept a truth

but tell me: what do you do here?

it seems awfully quiet to us no night life

no café’s bars shopping centres

me & Bob looked at each other slow

well in spring we work up at the farm

y’know sexing chickens & come autumn

we collect they apples for cider for the sellin’

don’t forget branding cattle in summer & winters

there’s always good whittlin’ needing done

& the mrs says we need a new well to be dug

& you? What do you do? Askin’ polite

oh I work in computers that kind of thing

if you know what I mean?

I wanted to say oh do tell us more

but Bob dug me in the ribs said

let’s not take up this busy fellas day

we smiled good natured goodbyes

as the redneck slowpokes

we obviously were

neil benbow

#poeticstories #twcpoetry #writerscreed #poetryportal #poetry on tumblr #poem #poets #writers #original poetry #(c)neil benbow

[sheerfreesia007]

Apple Picking Leads To Apple Pie

Title: Apple Picking Leads To Apple Pie

Fandom: Kingsman

Pairing: Agent Whiskey x British!Reader

Author: @sheerfreesia007​​

Words: 2,429

Warnings: Fluff, British slang

Permanent Tag List: @paintballkid711​, @fioccodineveautunnale​, @phoenixhalliwell​, @synystersilenceinblacknwhite​

Author Notes: So this was a request for some apple picking and apple pie wholesome goodness with a British reader and our cowboy boyfriend. I gotta say I loved writing this it was so fun! I hope I did all the British slang correctly. I even looked up some others to use.The apple orchard/farm I described in here is an actual place that my parents used to take me and my siblings to when we were younger to go apple picking. The place is called Demarest Farm and it’s up in Hillsdale, New Jersey. It’s a really cool place. Feedback is always appreciated!

Gif Credit: Google

         The sun was slowly creeping higher and higher up into the sky as you lazily stared out the open window. The cool crisp morning air breezes in through the window and you breathed in through your nose taking in the smell of autumn in the States. A low country song singing about redneck life played over the radio that your chauffeur had turned on as soon as you had climbed into his truck. Turning your head you look over to Agent Whiskey silently. He was dressed in a red and black plaid flannel and a pair of dark wash worn blue jeans. 

         Ever since Kingsman had come back to the States to visit their brethren you and Whiskey had been attached at the hip. He had claimed that the last time Kingsman came to the States they didn't have a pretty agent like you with them and he wanted to get to know you better, plus he was a sucker for a pretty lady with a British accent. You had at first been apprehensive but Eggsy had assured you that Whiskey was a proper mate and that it'd do you some good to be around the charming cowboy.

         So that was how you found yourself in the cow boy's truck on your way to an apple orchard. It had been while you were out at the pub with all of them that the conversation of seasonal activities had come up. Whiskey had been shocked and appalled that you had never been apple or pumpkin picking and had vowed to rectify that slight. You had just thought he was being nice but when he turned up at your hotel room with hot chocolate in hand you had found out that he had been deadly serious. 

         "You know you didn't have to do this." You said kindly from your seat as you stared over at him.

         "Nonsense darling! I like going to the local orchard and it'll give you an american experience that you've never had before." He said happily as he patted your jean clad thigh lately. "Besides I like that I get to share this with you." He admitted sheepishly. The satisfied smile that burst onto your lips caught his attention and you watched a blush creep up his neck.

         Turning back to the window you silently watched all the orange, red and brown leaves on the trees blur past as Whiskey stepped on the gas. It wasn't long before he was turning to pull into a large gravel parking lot that had a medium sized farmer's store and a large red and white barn. The parking lot was only half full and you surmised that that was due to the early hour. You stayed in your seat as Whiskey pulled his truck through the parking lot to a gate where there were orchard employees standing waiting with clipboards. Whiskey slowed to a stop and rolled down his window.

         “Mornin’ Jack! How many bags this year?” asked a friendly elderly woman who had bright white shocking hair that was pulled up into a ponytail.

         “I think we’ll do ten this year.” Whiskey said as he looked over towards you and you smiled nodding your head at him. The woman handed him a bundle of paper bags and he passed it along to you so you could set it on the seat between you. Then you watched as he began driving up the dirt road that ran along the long lines of orchard trees in the quiet morning.

         As the truck climbed higher and higher on the property you could see all the orchard trees laid out in almost perfect rows and you were taken with the beautiful scenery around you. It wasn’t long before Whiskey pulled his truck into one of the rows and parked his truck at the end of the row. You opened your door and slid out of the truck leaning back in to take the bundle of bags with you. You shivered a little in the cool morning air and flicked up the collar on your down filled vest. You had dressed in a pair of dark wash blue jeans, a red and blue plaid shirt over a white tank top and a down filled vest over that. A pair of gray suede boots protected your feet and you had a navy blue knit hat in your pocket in case you grew cold.

         Moving to the back of the truck you watched as Whiskey pulled out a large wooden pole with a clawed basket on the end of it, as well as a rather large red wooden wagon, a small cooler and a small ladder. He set the wagon down on the ground and tucked the small ladder and cooler into it before he locked up the truck and turned to you.

         “What’s that for?” you asked curiously as you nodded to the pole.

         “It’s an apple picker. It’ll help us get to the ones up top.” he explained and you nodded with a twitch of your lips. Whiskey then began walking down the row looking critically at all the trees.

         “So have you really never been apple picking before? Or were you just humoring me when I asked you to come with me?” Whiskey asked as the two of your moved along the row of trees. You were just quietly taking in your surroundings as you walked just letting the quiet of the orchard and nature consume you. 

         “No I wasn’t just humoring you. I actually haven’t been apple picking before. I’ve always wanted to just never got around to it.” you explained to him as you continued on down the row.

         “Yeah Eggsy had this look in his eye when he offered you up to come with me. So I wasn’t sure if how do you guys say it ‘taking the piss’?” Whiskey said amicably as he stopped in front of a tree and eyed it contemplatively.

         “Of course he did. Don’t mind him Whiskey, he's a tosser.” you said with a soft scowl on your face and Whiskey looked over at you with a confused smile.

         “A what?” he asked curiously and you laughed softly.

         “Idiot, he’s an idiot.” you translated for him and he burst out in loud laughter.

         “Well you got that right sweetheart.” he said knowingly and you grinned over at him. Whiskey then angled the wagon so that it wouldn’t roll away from the two of you before he pulled the ladder out and set it up against the tree. “Alright sweetheart let’s get to work. Avoid the ones that look like they’re rotted or bad.”

         “I’m pretty sure I can figure out how to pick a good apple Whiskey, you muppet.” you snarked at him with a grin as you began to open up the paper bags so you could put the apples into them.

         “Of course I didn’t mean to insinuate-” he began to apologize and you laughed softly.

         “That time I was taking the piss.” you quipped to him and he smirked at you before he moved towards the tree with the apple picker.

           The two of you worked well together and soon enough you were working on your third tree. Whiskey would work on one side getting the apples up at the top while you worked on the other side using the ladder to get the ones you could reach. Conversation flowed easily between the two of you, and you learned and shared things with the cowboy that you had only shared with Eggsy, Merlin and Harry. It was just easy to confide in Whiskey and it seemed the same for him as he told you about his past and his family.

         You were standing by the wagon grabbing a water bottle from the small cooler and taking a sip. As you were pulling the water bottle you spotted movement out of the corner of your eye along the row of trees below you. Turning your head you saw a female doe and her fawn watching you and Whiskey curiously.

         “Whiskey! Look!” you hissed over your shoulder at him as you stared in awe of the animals. They were so elegant looking as you watched the doe’s ears flicker and her nose twitched as her eyes stared at you silently. You moved slowly so as not to startle them but you wanted to get a little closer.

         “Don’t sweetheart there’s apples all along the ground.” Whiskey warned softly and you waved your free hand over your shoulder at him dismissively. Just as you took another step you felt something roll underneath it and you squeaked in surprise as suddenly you fell backwards onto your arse.

         “Bloody hell!” you shouted loudly into the air as your arse hit the ground harshly and you groaned feeling the fallen apples digging into your body. A loud bark of laughter came from behind you and you scowled softly. Your eyes darted over to the doe and fawn only to see them quickly scampering off away from you. “Falling arse over tits for deer. If Eggsy or Merlin hear about this they’ll be chuffed.” you muttered lowly and heard Whiskey’s warm chuckle from right behind you and you whipped your head to see him looking down at you affectionately. “Not a word to either of them cowboy. Understand?” you threatened ineffectually as he laughed loudly again before holding his hand out to you to help you up.

         “Scouts honor sweetheart. But I gotta say watching you fall over apples onto your apples will be a sight I hope to never forget.” he says still chuckling at you.

         “Get stuffed Whiskey.” you snip at him as you stand and he bursts into laughter again. He dusts you off and smiles down at you warmly.

         “You were still cute when you fell sweetheart so don’t worry.” he reassured you and huffed before throwing your middle finger up at him and he laughed. He helped you over the apples back to the wagon and you shook your head at him when he grinned. “C’mon I think we got all ten bags filled. Let’s head back and I’ll get us some apple cider and a candied apple to ease your bruised ego.”

         “That sounds smashing.” you said gratefully and you folded up the ladder and placed it back in the wagon that Whiskey had a hold of and the apple picker.

           “So how was your apple picking date with Whiskey, luv?” Eggsy asked with a shit eating grin on his face as he sat at the small dinner table in your hotel. You were currently cleaning up the small kitchenette in your hotel after finishing up all the baking you had done today.

         “You’ve lost the plot haven’t you?” you retorted and Merlin snorted softly as he turned the page to the morning paper as he sat across from Eggsy.

         “No, no I haven’t. It was a date. Did you snog him?” Eggsy asked before he winked at you and you flipped him off making him burst into happy laughter.

         “Children.” Harry admonished softly as he stepped into your hotel room. “Whatever you’re baking smells heavenly.” he complimented you and you grinned.

         “I’ve got two pies cooling on the rack now. But there’s apple turnovers just done cooling over here for you lot.” you explained. Eggsy was quickly standing from his chair and you shook your head at his eagerness.

         “Who’s the other pie for luv?” Eggsy asked cheekily as he took a bite out of the apple turnover he swiped from the rack.

         “Bugger off you prat.” you snapped at him and he grinned widely as he wiggled his eyebrows at you. “For that you get none now, you twit.” you said haughtily as you pointed a finger at him.

         “Oh come on luv!” Eggsy said as you moved to place one of the pies in a container that would keep it safe as you traveled. You also slipped in two plates and some silverware.

         “No. Harry, don’t let him touch the pie.” you instructed him and he nodded with a soft smile as you moved out of the hotel room and down to the car that Statesman always had waiting for any of you just in case.

           You knocked at the office door and waited silently holding the pie container in your hands. A few moments later the door opened and you smiled over at Whiskey who looked at you confused for a second before his eyes fell to the pie container and he grinned. Opening the door wider he moved to the side and let you come in. Striding in you easily moved over to his desk and set the container down on it.

         “So what’s this?” Whiskey asked curiously and you smiled at him.

         “Well it’s a bit of a bribe.” you explained underhandedly. 

         “A bribe? Sweetheart I can’t be bought.” Whiskey admitted warningly with a soft smirk.

         “Everyone’s got a price, Whiskey. And I just so happened to learn that you love homemade pie.” you said knowingly.

         “And who’d you hear that from?” he asked as he moved to sit in his desk chair across from you.

         “Champ of course.” you said offhandedly as you began to pull out the still warm apple pie. You placed it in front of Whiskey and watched as the agent stared in awe.

         “Goodness that looks delicious.” he complimented and you preened silently at his praise. But when he pulled the silverware from the container you quickly swiped up the pie away from him. His head shot up to stare at you in confusion.

         “My terms are that what happened at the orchard will never reach Eggsy’s ears. Understood?” you demanded and Whiskey’s eyes darted over to the pie before they fell back on you.

         “You’re a devil woman to be tempting me with pie like this. Yes, yes fine. I won’t tell Eggsy about you falling on your apples at the orchard.” He teased you and you rolled your eyes at him before setting the pie back on his desk. Whiskey quickly plated two slices and dug into his. The loud groan he let out was sinful and you looked up at him with your fork hovering over your open mouth. “Hell sweetheart. If I knew you baked this well I’d have asked you out on a date to the orchard long before.”

         “It was a date?!” you cried out in shock. Whiskey grinned over at you as he took another bite of his pie as his eyes danced with mirth.

#my writing #fic request #agent whiskey #agent whiskey x reader #kingsman the golden circle

[tulipscomeinallsortsofcolors]

violet, i myself come from a family of rednecks, a few of whom distill their own moonshine. i go to a family reunion every year in the middle of nowhere that's a bluegrass/redneck drinking party. if i asked for alcohol they'd be like, alright get wasted here bc we're family and its safe. get it out of your system. my dad lets me try sips of what im curious about (mead and hard cider are good. beer is gross). i assumed it was like a redneck family thing, i guess? -phantom

okay. this is gonna sound weird. but this bluegrass/redneck drinking party family reunion - does it happen on Halloween? because if so im only like 50% joking when i say we high key might be related

also, mead and hard cider ARE good and beer IS gross - my mom loves beer and every time she gets some fancy one she’s like “try this youll like this one!” and every time i try it, and every time it tastes like lukewarm dishwater. every time!

but to be fair i also enjoy dry wine and fucking absinthe and everyone thinks im batshit so maybe i cant throw stones lol

#phantom tag #Anonymous #ask #alcohol tw

[ladyfenring]

6, 10, 14, 30

6. describe your personality in 3 words or less

depressed but funny

10. how would you describe your style?

hmm...nonexistent. am i a goth? am i a genderless butch? am i a redneck dad? depends!

14. if you can live anywhere in the world where would it be? why?

already answered!

30. whats your favorite candle scent? 

i got a mulled cider candle once and it CHANGED my life. i still think about that candle sometimes. 

#northernfieldsforever

[dcmidivine]

2nd headcanon meme for alec, jesse, jacob

ALEC

2-4 songs that are probably on their iPod

- ordinary day by great big sea- seaside rendezvous by queen- oh girl you’re the devil by MIKA- tsé quand ça va ben by québec redneck bluegrass project

the one place they sometimes end up falling asleep – where they’re not supposed to

on the roof of their cabin when they crawl out there to watch the clouds and wake up when it’s dark

the game they’d destroy everyone else at

any games involving chance/luck, but specifically card and dice games– even games that don’t normally involve luck, they usually win at

the emoticon they’d use most often

:)))))))) and :(((((((( and :DDDD

what they act like when they haven’t had enough sleep

quieter than normal (so they talk the same amount as a normal person) and everything is HILARIOUS to them

their preferred hot beverage on really cold nights. or mornings. or whenever.

apple cider or rooibos!

how they like to comfort/care for themselves when they’re in a slump

they take the time to figure out if there’s a reason they’re feeling that way or if it’s just a bad mood, then they decide if they want to cheer up or have a sad day– if they want a sad day they burrito in blankets and chill out in their loft with an old movie, tea and a joint, and if they want to cheer up they’ll go for a walk and hit up some of their friends for distractions

what they wanted to be when they grew up

a fireman!

their favorite kind of weather

either hot and sunny or stormy

thoughts on their singing voice (decent? terrible? soprano? alto?)

they have a decent voice! they’re not gonna become a singer or anything but they can carry a tune– they are an amazing whistler tho

how/what they like to draw or doodle

they don’t draw that often because they prefer creating more physical things (origami, embroidery, etc), but when they do it’s mainly doodling lines and patterns!

JESSE

2-4 songs that are probably on their iPod

- oxford blood by autoheart- gibraltar by beirut- magic by san cisco- cascadia by said the whale

the one place they sometimes end up falling asleep – where they’re not supposed to

anywhere and everywhere

the game they’d destroy everyone else at

it’s not a game but he’s GREAT at puzzles

the emoticon they’d use most often

just the simple :)

what they act like when they haven’t had enough sleep

completely zoned out and clutching a cup of coffee like a lifeline

their preferred hot beverage on really cold nights. or mornings. or whenever.

coffee with cream! and if he’s had enough coffee that day or it’s too late, then hot chocolate

how they like to comfort/care for themselves when they’re in a slump

he used to just go to bed but now he tries to get out and go for a walk through the woods, or visit chase or cleo at work

what they wanted to be when they grew up

an author like his mom or a travel journalist!

their favorite kind of weather

sunny but not too hot, with a few clouds in the sky

thoughts on their singing voice (decent? terrible? soprano? alto?)

he never really sings past humming along to songs– he isn’t bad but he also just….. doesn’t sing

how/what they like to draw or doodle

he’ll doodle trees and such in the margins of his notebooks sometimes but he’s never really sat down and tried to draw

JACOB

2-4 songs that are probably on their iPod

- love from the sun by theo croker- daydream in blue by i monster- looking for knives by DYAN- the end of the world by sharon van etten

the one place they sometimes end up falling asleep – where they’re not supposed to

probably just the couch in the living room even though his room is two steps away

the game they’d destroy everyone else at

jacob KILLS at chess

the emoticon they’d use most often

👍

what they act like when they haven’t had enough sleep

he has a way shorter temper than normal and is v grouchy

their preferred hot beverage on really cold nights. or mornings. or whenever.

jacob doesn’t really like hot drinks, he’ll get anything iced

how they like to comfort/care for themselves when they’re in a slump

he’ll listen to music or play around with his keyboard/guitar for a while

what they wanted to be when they grew up

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ he dunno, an astronaut?

their favorite kind of weather

crisp & cool days in autumn

thoughts on their singing voice (decent? terrible? soprano? alto?)

he has a good singing voice, he’s an alto c: he mainly learned combined with his guitar

#jesse #alec #jacob #answered

[truelovedetective]

I haven’t broke open the seasonal hot apple cider and pumpkin spice filled flask of autumnal Soft Redneck Aesthetic(TM) yet this year, so I wanted to take a moment to reflect on Rust and Marty in their soft and faded flannel shirts that they share because they both forgot which shirt belonged to who years ago, and it never gets too too cold in Louisiana but it’s cold enough for Marty to insist they sit on the couch under a shared blanket sometimes at night and Rust acts like he’s inconvenienced but it’s really just the opposite, and he always snuggles up on his husband and lets Marty kiss his hair anyhow 💛 🍂

#and that's all I got folks #rust x marty

[clatterbane]

The yeast is really starting to take off in that ginger-lemon cider (just apple and essentially golden syrup at this point).

And, very much unlike the raspberry dried fruit batch to its left? Thankfully, the lid on this smaller jar actually seems to have a decent seal. The airlock is really starting to bubble now.

#redneck brewing #video #ginger cider #redneck cider #homebrewing #alcohol #if barely at this point

[elapsed-spiral]

Okay hear me out:

2D literally lists The Wurzels (a comedy band about the West Country which is kind of like a redneck area of the UK? Hard to come up with a proper American parallel. Murdoc is not from there to be clear) as an influence in ROTO

Murdoc is described as drinking Strongbow (cider) and causing trouble as a teenager in ROTO

I headcanon Murdoc is still a big cider drinker (and hard liquor drinker. And anything that isn't nailed down drinker) because he's a chav he's not as into beer/thinks it's somehow cooler (nope)

I extrapolate from the above that 2D and Murdoc have had a punch up in a studio because they had an argument about who knows what and 2D started playing and singing I Am A Cider Drinker at him

Thank you for your time and sorry.

*

I am a Cider Drinker

I drinks it all of the day

I am a Cider Drinker

It soothes all me troubles away

#please don't listen to this you might die #yearz fic #yearz songs

[megbox]

2018 Year In Review

Previous Posts: (2017) (2016) (2015) (2014) (2013) (2012) (2011) 

2018 has not been a banner year for self care. It has not been a banner year for much of anything, to be honest. This year in review will be much less colourful and exciting than they traditionally tend to be. It has been a year of hard work, stress, and feeling the pressure of the less-fun parts of adulthood creeping up on me. It has been really hard, to be totally honest. I have spent the majority of the year in a deep state of exhaustion and distress. There are positives within it all, though. Big positives, such as: 

I went on my longest trip ever away from home. 

I have developed so much in the professional sense and have fallen so deeply in love with social work and my future career path. 

I have made new friends who reflect these changing influences in my life, and the enduring friendships that have survived all of these years continue to strengthen and deepen as time goes on. 

January: 

Tell me - why does January always suck? 2018 began with an opening double shift on New Year’s Day, which I feel is strongly symbolic of the year as a whole because you have an exhausted Megan struggling to responsibly balance my professional responsibilities, self-care, and partying. On January 3rd, Alex and I booked our flights to Asia and in doing so, solidified that we were going through with a plan made drunkenly over the table last summer at a karaoke bar. 

I did get to spend an awesome ski weekend with Alesta, Sydney x 2, and Shelby. It was especially nice because this particular group of people had never spent time all together - we were just united by being a group of girls who love to ski. We hit Lake Louise on Saturday, stayed overnight at a hostel in Banff, and Alesta and I hit Sunshine on Sunday. In Banff, we got a free jug of sangria because we are cute girls. We went to High Rollers and Sydney was drinking IPAs and porters like a pro. I went alone (like... what? Who am I? How drunk was I?) to Dancing Sasquatch after and made friends with some Nova Scotians in line. One of them paid for my cover and bought me not one but two of those infamous Time Machine drinks and extra bonus - Alesta and I got FREE lift passes at Sunshine. 

At the end of the month, my mental health took a sharp nosedive into oblivion and I don’t even really know why. I started experiencing a violent resurgence of something I haven’t felt since the end of the 12th grade, having what I now recognize as panic attacks. The first one came when I was studying on a Sunday at Higher Ground and I had no idea what the fuck was happening, I’d been there for several hours when I suddenly felt the urge to throw up. I packed up all my shit and burst out the door literally gasping for air but ended up being fine. Just shaky and confused. They started happening more frequently after this, with no predictable trigger, and I started to feel the physical manifestations of stress. That was new and it freaked me out. This lent itself to a lot of strange patterns around eating (since I was constantly feeling nauseous, or I thought I was, I didn’t want to have a full stomach. I also thought I had a food intolerance, and because I’m me was 100% convinced I was pregnant because the stress caused me to miss my period). 

February 

Things started to get so bad in February that I had to plead my manager at Famoso for less hours. He was an idiot in general but also did not seem to grasp the severity of what I told him. He would frequently schedule me for these long swing swifts all weekend long, leaving no time or energy for the mountains of homework I had to do. It did not help. 

February was especially busy with school. That’ll be a recurring theme throughout this year. It could honestly be a summary of this entire year - so I’ll spare you the details. But five courses at the University of Calgary is no joke. 

I never needed reading week so badly in my entire life. I was beyond happy to just be able to take a long weekend and not be at Famoso. Shelby arranged for a giant group of her friends to spend the weekend at her friend Sawyer’s massive, absolutely beautiful cabin in Invermere. I got to spend some quality time with two of my favourite people on the planet - Emma and Sydney. From the minute we got into Emma’s car together, to having ciders at the Emerald Lake Lodge on the way, to eating A&W and sharing a bed and “she gon’ fuck the fridge.” Sydney and I spent one afternoon on homework while everyone else went skiing and I was with her when she got the news that she’d won this massive grant and we celebrated by sitting in this magical massage chair and just loving life. We played Drink, Talk, Learn! And I gave a drunken presentation on the history and etiology of pugs. Emma and I went skating on Lake Windermere to cure our hangovers on Sunday. A keg and a bonfire were involved. It was so Canadian, honestly LOL. And so perfect. 

March 

Although I was still struggling with this weird panic-nausea cycle, it lessened through March as more and more assignments were completed. I started to see the light at the end of the tunnel, to use a cliche. I gave three presentations in a week, I remember that being particularly awful. 

I attempted Mellow March for the second time and once again failed. Mildly concerning. I caved on a Wednesday wing night with the Famoso friends. It was 27 days in. So close, so close. 2019 will be my year! 

I started getting really into podcasts at this time because I started commuting using public transit. I got really into Guys We Fucked (which I still love), and This Is Actually Happening. TIAH is kind of fucked up though, and after a while it started to fuck me up. I would have weird dreams about the content and I started becoming paranoid that there was something wrong/extraordinary about me. So I stopped. I guess that is something I have learned about myself this year, is that even when it’s not overt, I am really deeply effected by some of the things I learn. Typically, people of this nature do not excel in the field of social work so allow me to flag this as a place for improvement in the future.

I ran the 5km at the St. Patrick’s Day road race, which was awesome and I won the draw that everyone was entered in and got a FREE pair of these super nice, hot pink New Balance running shoes that I now cherish with my life. 

I had my first round of practicum interviews, which only ended up being one interview because I was offered the placement at CommunityWise before I could interview anywhere else. This is one of the best things to happen the whole year :) 

And a special moment for me as well was on March 31, I got to see Alvvays live. 

April 

In April, I finished hell semester and immediately jetted off to Thailand.

From the get go, the trip was a bit of a shit show. This was my second time to Asia, and my first experience with really planning a trip including flights, hostels, and transportation from place to place without the aid of a tour guide or travel company. We had a time even getting to Bangkok due to an untimely snow storm the day of our departure that forced our flight to Vancouver to be late and causing us to miss our connecting flight to China. After two hours in line at the Air Canada desk, an agent produced a new itinerary for us. Calgary to Los Angeles to Hong Kong to Bangkok. He printed the sheets out and when I looked at the times on the paper, the mental math wasn’t adding up. With me, the mental math never really adds up but this time it seemed impossible that we could leave so much later than planned for our trip and arrive in Bangkok only three hours later than we were supposed to. I brought this up with him and he assured me it was fine. I wasn’t satisfied though, and asked a bunch of other airport personnel the same question. They all said we were fine but lo and behold, we land in Hong Kong and are waiting for the Thai Airlines desk to open so we can retrieve the tickets for the last leg of the journey when the agent there tells us, “They put you on the flight that left yesterday.” Anger and distress ensues. I call Air Canada from the airport in Hong Kong and the call drops. I’m straight up crying on the floor at this point. But in the end – we fucking made it.

In Bangkok, I was welcomed back to the stifling heat and humidity of Asia. We met American doctors-to-be who were at the end of their trip and were totally sick of one another and were very happy to have company. We ate massaman curry for every meal, partied on Khao San Road (those nitrous balloons!!! God, they’re so fun!!), and spent a lot of money on a single cocktail just for a photo op at the top of a skyscraper but the sunset was perfect and it was totally worth it.

In Chiang Mai we drank Sangsom and Coca-Cola by the pool and ate street food out of Styrofoam containers. We met these Americans who were teaching English in Chiang Mai and they took us to a night club on the back of their motorbikes. I did a drug I said I’ve never do in one of the bathrooms at this night club and ended up going home with one of the aforementioned teachers. It was funny to me because at about 3:00pm, Alex and I went back to our hostel to change and get ready for the evening and at that point I said, “I think I’m going to end up hooking up with Cory.” I fucking knew. I KNEW.

In Pai, I had the DIRTIEST hostel experience of my life. I was showering… just fully naked and vulnerable in this nasty ass shower when I saw a bug I did not recognize from my sheltered upbringing crawl out of a hole in the wall. I have never felt more small. It was also 43 degrees and we were staying in a tiny hut with a plug-in fan that only worked half the time and somehow had the effect of making the room hotter? Pai was also the first time we rented motorbikes. It’s honestly so dangerous… like, what the fuck, Thailand. We experienced our first flash rainstorm. We went to a place called Sunset Bar and took mushroom shakes and holy shit I’ve never experienced more potent mushrooms in my entire life. We met our Irish friends who we’d later see in Koh Pha Ngan, and I slept with an Israeli soldier on our second-to-last night and I’m almost 100% certain I took his virginity.

Koh Pha Ngan was alllll thunderstorms. We also decided to splurge a bit on food on this island and gorged ourselves with seafood and lavender Moscow mules at this nice restaurant down the road from our hostel. We partied so hard. We went to the pre-parties for the Full Moon – they have the Waterfall party two nights before, and the Jungle party the night before. I had sex with a total stranger at the Waterfall party up against a rock (when I recounted this story to Steven upon returning home he put on a redneck accent and said, “C’mon baby let me take you down to the fuck rock” and now that’s all I hear when I think about this experience in my head). The Full Moon Party was fun but not AS fun as the pre parties. It wasn’t as wild and the beach is so big but everyone concentrates in one little area. I took some kind of mystery pill (as you can see, I was very safe in Thailand) and had yet another sexual experience with a casual partner. I also witnessed a fight in the taxi back because one girl called another girl a stripper. It was bad.

May 

Continuing on with our Asia trip.

We landed in Krabi and intended fully to chill out a little bit after the wildness of Koh Pha Ngan. The first night was chill, we were staying in the Muslim quarter of the Krabi area so there weren’t a ton of nightclubs to go to and the hostel had some kind of run-in with police and weren’t able to take us out on the pub crawl we signed up for (lame). We had a roommate from Vancouver on the second day who bought a bunch of Xanax from a Thai pharmacy and gave me one. I can never do it again because it was so. good. But of course, I took one pill and stopped drinking just in case. This bitch continued drinking and took six or seven Xanax throughout the night. I honestly don’t know how she lived. We went rock climbing and drank beers on a boat tour one day and it was soooo great. We had the hottest tour guide. I did a hike by my lonesome that I nearly died on.

On the ferry ride from Krabi to Koh Phi Phi is where I got the sunburn that will likely give me skin cancer in later life and kill me. 90 minutes on the outside deck of a ferry (because I felt nauseous as fuck and didn’t want to vom in the cabin) absolutely fucked. me. up. We stayed at another pretty fucking gross hostel in Koh Phi Phi, and my roommates were all male which was a new experience for me. I went on a solo booze cruise cause Alex was sick. We took mushrooms again with our Canadian friend Kelsey and god, I was laughing so hard I was crying and I could not stop. I was like rolling around in the sand laughing so fucking hard about Fisherman’s Friends candy. It was so blissful. So pure.

And then… the sickness. This is going to be TMI but… fuck it. A bit of indigestion and stomach trouble is expected whenever a white person enters Asia. Different microbes etc. etc. But this… this was on a new fucking level. I knew something was up because on the morning that we woke up to take our ferry from Koh Phi Phi to Phuket, I vomited. And I never vomit, and I wasn’t that hungover (especially in relation to much of the rest of the trip). I felt okay afterwards though so we soldiered on. Three hour ferry ride, totally fine. We board our bus that will take us from the ferry port in Phuket to our hotel and about halfway through this bus ride, I feel it. I am wearing overalls. My heart starts beating loudly in my chest, sweat begins to bead on my forehead. Holy fuck, I am going to shit my pants. I clench until we get to the hostel – which is, of course, the last stop. It’s like a solid 45 minutes of pain. My stomach is ROILING. I have never felt anything like it.

I honestly know nothing about Phuket because I spent the entire 72 hours we were there running from my bunk bed to the bathroom. I would go so far as to say every ten minutes. At one point, I just brought my laptop into the washroom with me and watched Netflix for a few hours. A roommate who was with us switched rooms (understandably… I’m sorry, Helen). I didn’t eat for four days, literally not a fucking thing. Just Gatorade and water so that I didn’t die of dehydration. Because we had an airplane to catch and I needed to not be shitting the contents of my body out, I saw a doctor. He prescribed me like five different medications and told me just to take like eight of these pills and to expect stomach pain but it would at least get me through the flight to Seoul and hopefully home.

It worked, and we spent the last few days of our trip in Seoul. What an absolutely fascinating and beautiful part of the world. With Kieun as our guide, we got to see the best parts of Seoul. People took photos with us and gave us free shit. I had the absolute best meal of my life (it was the first thing I’d eaten in like four days… I really risked it all with the Korean barbecue honestly…). All-you-can-eat thick fatty slices of pork belly, grilled in front of us and dipped in sesame oil and salt with garlic and spices. Spicy chicken feet on the side, corn with cheese. It was wild. I cannot believe I stomached it.

And on May 12th, we returned home back to our lives and school and work and all of that boring ass shit. I remained ill for a solid six weeks upon returning home. To a lesser degree, I still have not fully recovered. At this point, I am unsure if I ever will. I truly think that second-round Asia gave me skin cancer and permanently altered my gastrointestinal functioning. Worth it? Unsure. But it happened nonetheless.

June 

My brother graduated from university and won a very prestigious award and it was very nice to watch him cross the stage and hear a nice speech about his accomplishments (he won so many scholarships that he basically had a free ride to school – I think it’s clear who inherited the brains).

I finished up my spring courses. Can I just say - spring courses are the worst? The two I picked were especially bad. The one about human sexuality was basically Sex Ed 101 which made for an easy A but I was hoping to investigate deeper on a number of topics. And the second one was way too hard for my tiny brain to accommodate and I got the lowest mark I’ve ever gotten on my paper and it brought me down.

I had a very random unexpected night where I slept with a really close friend of mine (like, friends for over a decade) who I used to have a little bit of a crush on in high school. We were very drunk and it was kind of a curiosity-satisfying move that has actually not resulted in a very big change to our relationship at all but I think it’s worth mentioning because younger me would have been stoked. This one’s for you, younger me!

We went to the High River Rodeo and Cabaret – another unexpected move but oh my god it was so fun. Matt, Steven, Amanda and I. You could buy as many beers as you wanted at a time and they were cheap because fuck the AGLC apparently. The rodeo was actually super fun. The cabaret was redneck af and I happened to see my roommate from the hostel in Koh Phi Phi and his buddies there? Although it was not a friendly reunion because I had unknowingly exposed him for cheating on his girlfriend when he was in Phi Phi (which he did. I shared a room with him, and the girl he loudly banged every night until 4am). Two-stepping ensued and I passed out in the car ride home. I have a great photo of Steven from this night next to a bottle of hot sauce. I do not recall why. I will include it below. 

July 

Okay, I am just going to preface this by saying July was a hot mess. 

Myself, Madison, Maeghan, and Cayley were all single and messing around on dating apps so we decided to create Tinder bingo. It’s exactly what it sounds like. The rules were that you could only cross off two things per date (so that you had to go on a minimum of three to win), you got bonus points for going on a Tinder date with the same person someone else had gone out with, and the first to win got their drinks paid for on a night out. So, I went on exactly one Tinder date. Which is something I said I’ve never do and never really saw myself doing but I went for it on this occasion because I think that in this day and age, a Tinder date is an experience everyone should have. So I bit the bullet, and went for a drink with this guy James at the Oak Tree Tavern. And oh... my god? What a terrible experience? LAUGHABLY terrible. His only desired topic of conversation were the nationalities of people I had slept with and in what circumstances. At one point he asked me, “when was the last time you had sex? Was it good?” He also talked at maximum volume and I guarantee you everyone else at that bar overheard our conversation. Midway through the date, he asked for a review of how he was doing and I told him he seemed a bit nervous. This angered him. He said, “I’M NOT NERVOUS” and I was like, “you asked, buddy.” He asked me if I would pay for him. Cayley literally had to come rescue me and I ran out of his car where he had unbuttoned his pants and had his dick out and was literally on the verge of tears begging me to touch it so hard. I literally bolted out of his car and he yelled out the window, “CALL ME!” He still hits me up on instagram sometimes. I hope his life gets better. 

I also moved again. This is my favourite living situation I’ve ever had. Great roommates who are almost never home. Cute house. Good location. A+ choice by me. 

I got really obsessed with the Thai cave rescue. It was just such a compelling and unique STORY and I would literally come home from work and refresh the BBC live update feed for hours until I fell asleep, then I’d wake up and refresh hoping for good news. I cannot wait for the movie. I will go opening day. #Obsessions 

Stampede!!! Oh my god, what a wonderful Stampede. The most memorable thing is that Steven and I went to the standing rodeo one afternoon and got absolutely. fucking. hammered. Whilst there, we met and befriended two Australian retirees named Lyn and Ken. They are rich and are obsessed with horseriding and rodeo stuff. They purchased many drinks for us and we convinced them to come to Nashville North with us, where they purchased MORE drinks for us and Steven attempted to show them how to two-step. They later invited me to go horseback riding in Banff and I accepted. They literally picked me up, drove me to Banff, we crushed two bottles of wine at the Park gin distillery, went on a three-hour horseback ride through the mountains, they drove me home and I paid for NONE OF IT. It was........ a day. I sat on my bed later and thought to myself, “that was fucking weird.” But now, if I ever go to Melbourne, I will hit them up. 

It was Ali’s birthday and we went camping in Waiparous. We took mushrooms on Saturday and just as they were beginning to fully kick in, the RCMP rolled in and kicked us out of our campsite. What a wild time to be faced with an interaction with the cops. Also - no one could drive except for two people who had stayed sober and they had to shuttle us to a new campsite. Have you ever tried setting up a tent on mushrooms? Do you know how difficult and hilarious it is? 

And lastly at the end of July, I went to Folk Fest. I saw Alvvays again. Front row! Like, against the barrier front row. It was awesome. It was folk fest that inspired me to cut my hair and get bangs again. No regrets. I love my bangs. I also experienced a level of street harassment that I didn’t know was possible from some random, innocent-seeming guy. It was terrifying. I called the police. No bueno. 

August 

In August, I got promoted at my job and basically became a baby manager. It was better in theory than in practice because my shifts got longer, I made less in tips (but more hourly), and the cash out for a restaurant is a long and frustrating process that depends on a lot of small pieces working together correctly in a big ass spreadsheet and I suck at math.

In happier news – August was also the establishment of podcast club. Podcast club is one of the best and dorkiest things I have ever been involved with. We pick a podcast each week to listen to, and get together on Sunday mornings at 10:00am to discuss the contents of the podcast. It was initially open to whomever wanted to come but has since whittled down to a core group and at this point, we’re all so close that it would almost be weird to introduce a new person into the mix. There is Kendal, who I go to school with and who started the whole club. Her boyfriend, Mitch. Lachlan and Maddy who are siblings. Matt, a YouTuber who was kind of a wildcard. Chad, also kind of a wildcard but who works as a youth counsellor – and me! Podcast club has made my life infinitely better and is probably the best thing to come out of 2018, in all honesty.

I also got obsessed with Harry Potter and read like almost the whole series and my new at the time roommates thought I was such a loser because I would literally post up on the couch in the living room with a HP book and they would come back five hours later and I hadn’t moved and all I wanted to talk about was Harry Potter. 

September / October / November 

I am lumping these three months together in this review because truly, they are lumped together in my mind and heart. 

On September 11, I started my first practicum at CommunityWise. I really had no idea what to expect when I started there but looking back, I cannot believe how hard I lucked out. The U of C is VERY clinically-based when it comes to how it educates and describes the practice of social work. CW was the opposite of it all and day-to-day so much happens there that it is honestly impossible not to get dragged in at such a deep level that it literally forces you to care. When I was in practicum, I did a lot of reading and I came across this concept of a “disorienting dilemma” which is “an experience within which a current understanding is found to be insufficient or incorrect and the learner struggles with the resulting conflict of views. Such experiences often are those to which learners point as the beginning of the process of questioning their understanding and views and entering the transformative learning process” (Source). Truly, being in that space over the course of 300 hours created this for me. I was forced to confront a lot of racist and otherwise problematic shit that I have been brought up with and that comes up in small ways for me that I try and quash down for the sake of saving face. Poverty, addiction, mental health issues showed up LITERALLY on the doorstep and I was thrown into it all. The experience was a disorienting dilemma and it shook me out of my bubble and I have never fallen so deeply in love with social work. My supervisor and I formed a VERY close relationship that probably broke some ethical and professional boundaries and she was there for me to discuss social issues and experiences I was having in an honest way that really deconstructed things. I had my debit card stolen by a client on one occasion, had to call the DOAP team because I witnessed people in overdose more times than I can count, had to talk many a person down from suicide, befriended a very mentally ill person who suffers from delusions that they are an alien in a human body sent here to observe earth and report back to their master. We had to kick someone out of a workshop for being racist. It was a wild ride, honestly. There were many many positive things to come out of practicum. I built my professional network in ways I never would have been able to, I was able to move out of the “student” realm and step into the role of a social worker and advocate and professional. I did a lot of public speaking! I was out in the community talking to a million different people. I made videos and posters. And the best part of all is that even when my practicum ended, my connection to CW did not. They have hired me on as a digital storytelling intern (paid!) for the new year. Which is a major confidence boost and I just love CW and everyone there so much. I will literally be forever grateful to them for taking me under their collective wing and showing me I have the skills and abilities to be an effective social worker :) 

Ahem. Now on to some not-so-good things... 

The end of October was kind of difficult because I was attempting to manage practicum responsibilities, actual class projects and homework, second-round practicum interviews, and Famoso. I was very stressed out and it was not good, especially because I got a rejection from one interview and didn’t even get an interview at my top choice. I was feeling very sorry for myself and may or may not have cried at my desk at practicum. It all worked out in the end though, and actually I was offered a placement at the first place I interviewed – they just took a while to get back to me. She called me to let me know this while I was on a run and being idiot me, I picked up… panting and gasping for air in Nose Hill Park. She was like, “We’d like to offer you the place… wait, are you okay?”

I would also like to just slide it in here that I slept with my ex in October. Which wasn’t a particularly momentous occasion and was actually kind of funny because it felt so much like a one night stand. I am mostly putting this in here because I don’t think many people know that and I want to see who reads this far.

Along similarish lines – I PUT MYSELF OUT THERE AND ASKED SOMEONE ON A STRAIGHT UP DATE AND GOT REJECTED AND IT WAS HONESTLY SO EMBARASSING AND BRUTAL and it’s okay now but oh… my god. This also happened around the same time as the rejections from practicum placements and I had such a bad night where I got drunk on my couch alone and Cayley brought me burnt ends from her new job at a brewery because she was #concerned for me and I didn’t want to be alone. That’s a true friend right there.

December 

December is only halfway done - but I feel I can summarize it accurately. It has been a nice, tidy wrap up to the year. A month of podcasts, cleaning my house and my car and my life up, a mysterious knee injury that is really fucking me up, working a lot at Famoso, finishing my practicum and school semester. One thing I am dreading is that my brother’s girlfriend who our family is not particularly fond of will be joining us in Saskatoon this year. But we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. 

In General 

2018 has been very stressful for me. But despite the stress, and sometimes out of it, have come some very nice, beautiful things. I said last year in my post that I wanted to become more deeply involved in my community and in activism and social work and in that way I think I have excelled. I’m in it now, you guys. I feel capable. I feel motivated. I feel CONFIDENT. And I’m fucking excited to see what comes in the future. 

I nearly doubled the amount of people I’ve slept with so that’s... a notable thing that happened this year. 

It has been nice to feel a return to a sense of belonging with my old high school group of friends. In a way, I feel more united with them than ever. I guess not having a partner that they all hate helps. But also, I think I’ve just been feeling more and more like myself. But to Connor, Steven, Matt, Adam and the assortment of new(er) members that come and go - I am very grateful for you all. It has also been good for my heart and soul to become so close with people from podcast club. It’s actually like... really hard to make new friends. Podcast club made it easy. And I found myself on a Friday night in Maddy and Ben’s apartment, watching cooking shows and teaching them how to play card games, laughing until I cried and drinking wine. And it’s like... who else gets together on EVERY Sunday morning to discuss podcasts? For fun? I know relationships change and dissolve and grow from each year to the next but I just have a deep feeling that some of these friendships are the real deal. And I’m really lucky. It sounds so ~fake deep~ and lame but honestly podcast club is making me a better, happier, less anxious person. 

2019: 

I think 2019 is going to have to be the year that I really, truly grow the fuck up. I’m not mad about this. I look forward to crushing through 400 more hours of practicum, graduating and getting my degree. Hopefully entering the work force for real (this prospect is honestly so exciting to me... I creep the job boards every day daydreaming about what I might eventually do when I leave the world of waitressing) and making some adult money. 

I also like... totally got fat in 2018 so 2019 will involve some activities to counterbalance this. AND I have a ticket to Big Valley Jamboree. Which is hilarious because I think if you asked 2015 Megan what she’d never do, it would be “go to BVJ” but here I am, ticket in hand, excitement mounting by the day. Boots on, bitches. 

Some of my goals or things I’d like to work on in 2019 are to become less attached to social media and more invested in the actual moment/doing of things rather than recording them (ironic as I type this MASSIVE year in review post, yes), to get into a healthy and sustainable pattern of exercise where I don’t just like become obsessed with it for a little while and then slowly taper off and then do none of it for like six months... and honestly? I want to download a bunch of those dating apps again and just go for it. I think you can learn so much about yourself through dating and I’ve been such a recluse this year for the most part because I have been sort-of-but-not seeing someone since literally JULY but we’re not actually together and I don’t know what’s going on. I just need to get over my own insecurities and anxiety and just jump in with both feet. It’ll be fun. It’ll be crazy. I’m excited. 

The rest of it, as always, is an open book. Who knows where I will be, what I will be doing, or who I will be doing it with by this time next year? Not I. 

#text #personal #year in review #2018 #megbox

[theconglomeration]

All of the autumnal asks!!!!

lantern - how did you meet your best friend? What were your first impressions of each other?

We met through Tumblr. I was pretty spot on with him, and he thought I was going to be more redneck/stereotypical southern.

frost - if you could give some advice to your younger self, what would you say?

Don’t jump to giving up. Persevere. You’re tougher than you think you are.

maple - is there a hobby / skill that you’ve always wanted to try but never did?

Night photography, but I’ve never had the equipment.

harvest - what fictional character do you most identify with? Why?

Not sure.

fireside - if you had your dream wardrobe, what would it look like?

It would definitely involve more tweed and flannel. I’ve been on a greyscale kick lately, but I love earth tones so probably in that color scheme. Double monk strap shoes.

cider - a food that you disliked as a child but now enjoy?

Raw green/red/yellow peppers.

amber - share an unpopular opinion that you may have.

I’m pro choice.

fog - how well do you think you’d do in a zombie apocalypse scenario?

Even though I think I have the mental faculties to survive, I have nowhere near the equipment/supplies stored up to last more than a month.

jack-o-lantern - if you could look like any celebrity, who would you choose?

None. I don’t want that.

spice - have you ever encountered a house that you believed to be haunted?

Not a house, but an abandoned hospital and I think my work might be.

orchard - share one thing that you’d like to happen this autumn.

I’d really like to visit Chattanooga again, or go camping. Or both.

crow - which school subject do you wish you had an aptitude for?

Chemistry.

bonfire - describe your dream house.

Small, on a large plot of land. Preferably no larger than 1500 sq ft.

cinnamon - if you had to live in a time period different than the present, which would you choose and where?

If I had to, probably the 20′s and somewhere Jazz was kicking off.

cobweb - (if you’ve graduated) do you miss high school?

No.

cranberry - what’s one physical feature that you get complimented on?

Not sure, it hasn’t happened in a while.

maize - share the weirdest encounter you’ve had with a stranger on the street.

I can’t think of one at the moment.

quilt - how do you take your tea (or coffee)?

Tea: hot, or iced, or sweetened, or with honey. It depends.

pumpkin - do you think that humans are inherently good or bad?

I wrestle with this constantly, but I think generally humans are inherently good.

moonlit - are you a neat or messy person? Is your room / house orderly?

Messy, not at all.

flannel - have you ever gone on a bad date?

Haven’t we all?

cocoa - if you could have any type of hair, what colour and cut would you have?

Sometimes I think a little bit curly and lighter brown would be nice. But I like my hair. I’d keep my current cut, a high and tight with enough on top to style.

ghost - is there someone that you miss having in your life?

Sure.

#asks #thanks! #girl-from-the-south

[solidburnreturned]

Technically branch is a troll redneck so i can see him slam back a friendbeer by himself before bed

A TROLL REDNECK….I see him as way more of just a country troll,, country does not equal redneck omfg…anyway I think maybe if he was having a particularly hard night he’d have a…friendbeer…or maybe a homemade hard cider. I dunno he just seems too paranoid to be a drinker imo

#troll redneck I’m screaming...offensive to my country boy ass we’re not all rednecks #I’m kidding btw akdhdkfjdk im not actually salty #ask

[octillery]

I used to know this guy that literally made up anything interesting that he ever said happened to him. He also pretended he was Australian even though he only lived there for like a year and a half but he used to post videos on here of himself talking in an Australian accent and would use Australian lingo and used metric and celcius just to really get into it. It was awkward when he realized I followed him on here and knew he didnt have an accent irl but then he just played it off like he spoke in an american accent on purpose but was actually Australian and I was like ooookaaaaayyy.

He also once pretended to get shitfaced drunk after 2 (two) hard ciders and "reverted to his Australian accent"

OH and he also told me once that there was a trump supporter driving in front of him on his way home so he tailgated him until the guy pulled over and then claimed he got in a fistfight and beat the shit out of this "huge redneck" (this guy was like 5'2" and maybe 120 pounds) and then got mad at me when I said "damn not even a scratch or bruise on you, you must be really good" very sarcastically

Anyway, who is the cringiest person you've ever known?

#this dude was also fucking my manager at work at one point #that manager is nastiest man to exist it was so gross