#so glad i bought that 10 gallon

[swagging-back-to]

bruschetta update

hes been sleeping hardcore for like two hours now since i put in a microwaved rice sock. i filled a tray with nuts, sunflower seeds, oats and bananas and im just gonna leave it for if he ever gets hungry and wants to start nibbling on solids i put water in earlier but it just got mopped up by all the paper :))))))))))))))))))))) he also didnt seem interested regardless

also he hasnt gone into the little house i made at all he was straight out in the open just cuddled with that sock

#i also put the entire 10 gallon tank in a cupboard (open faced*) in my room so no one will find him #dont worry about oxygen supply it's more of a shelf section that doesnt have a door at all. it's out of sight and behind boxes but #not closed up and literally in a cupboard #dw #i wouldnt do that #im sO glad i impulsively bought this terrarium at goodwill yhat one time #at first i saw snail potential but now? #my boy bruschetta alberto.

[shojislady]

2. SO SCANDALOUS

"-ess.. princess. wake up, we need to get ready. kacchans making pancakes right now."

grumbling, she turns over to look at her clock. it's 10:15am, izuku let her sleep in a bit. today, the class was going out to the mall then the arcade to have class bonding time. with everything that's gone on, from the USJ incident and the tension from the sports festival, to the fight with stain (where endeavor unfairly took credit, causing the girl to have a "slight" hatred for him), and even the final exams, having to go against All Might with Bakugo and Midoriya, it was just a lot to handle. they're just kids, and kids need breaks.

walking into the bathroom, the girl began her daily morning routine.

"damn.. i look ROUGH..!" she said as she looked in the mirror. her bonnet looked as if it was trying to run away, her tank top was all twisted up, right boob was up in russia while the left one stayed home in america. she had eye boogers all around and her angel bite piercings were no where to be found.

she slept good.

"you know what... let me just wash my face right now and i'll do everything else after i eat."

her face care routine consists of ; black african soap, witch hazel, hydration drops, and a bit of coco butter.

finishing up and putting away her stray boobs, she found one of bakugos stolen hoodies and made her way downstairs.

(i would just like to add that she sleeps in boxers so yk that ass lookin fat 😋)

"good morning guys!" she greeted everyone, with a slight smile and wave. almost everyone was up, with the exception of a few people.

"hii y/n!"

"mornin bestie!!"

"Good Morning, Y/n! Glad to see you awake!"

and so on and so forth

"mornin angel.. im making your pancakes right now, but there's bacon on the tiny burner and i made u a tiny omelette. those burner thingies really come in handy, you know?"

"its a heating tray, katsu. and yes, that's why i bought them." she bought them for holidays like christmas and american thanksgiving, but since there's 21 kids living in one dorm, it's used more than expected.

"is that my fucking hood?? i've been looking for that for weeks!" bakugo exclaimed, turning around to give the girl a plate so that she could fix her food. "when the hell did you even- whatever.. as long as i get it back."

(Spoiler Alert, he doesn't)

"erm.. anyways..! so guys, what time are we supposed to be leaving??" asked y/n, going to take a seat next to shoji.

"Well, we're trying to leave for the mall around 12:45 since it isn't far, then leave the mall no later than 4:30-5." yaomomo began to explain. "I was able to rent the arcade from 6:15 to 10:30, food and drinks included, along with lazer tag , and we get the option of going in the bounce area, so when we get there just let me know."

"damn yaomomo... i knew you was stacked but DAMN!!"

"ong, bro's LOADED.."

"i'm calling you if i need to bailed out of jail."

"honestly guys it's not much, i just want us to have fun and relax as a class while being safe!" yaomomo said with a small smile on her face. she was literally loaded, like pockets so deep they could fit 3 gallons of milk each, pockets so swole they need an ice pack, pockets so fat they need they own TLC show type rich. but even so, she didn't like to flaunt her wealth. she'd rather use her money to pay for gifts and events for her friends, rather than to flex some diamond earrings or a gold necklace. She's still a teen girl though, so she still loves to go shopping. The girl is really just happy that she's found friends that actually love her for her, and not for her money.

"you're so cute yaomomo! i love you!"

"well thank you y-"

"if anyone, i mean ANYONE fucks with you, call me. these hands are rated E for Everyone. my fists are activists. i dont care if they're old, young, tall, short, fine, ugly, gay, straight. I believe in equality, and with equality comes equally distributed ass whoopings jus-"

"OK, n/n! i think momo gets how much you love her! since you're done eating can u help me?" midoriya interrupted the girls small rant.

"you gotta face the consequences of last night huh? you should've listened to me, but yeah i'll help!"

"you dont have to rub salt on the wound!" he whined. "i'll get stuff and meet in your room again?"

"sounds like a plan, izuku!" she replied, getting up to grab her plate and bring to the kitchen.

"OoOh y/n~" jirou began to tease. "last night? your room AGAIN? what scandalous activities have you been up to?"

"chill kyo, its not like that! he messed up his hair on his own and we always hang in my room bc its more.. welcoming.. then his."

"i know, y/n! im jus messin' with ya."

with her plate in hand, y/n walked into the kitchen where bakugo resided. he was cleaning the and putting away the dirty plates before he started to soak the pans.

"so, the nerd fell asleep in your room again huh?" he asked, washing a plate.

"yeah, he started to doze off a little while after you left, so he slept with me."

"i dont know why you guys dont just ask eachother out yet. you two are basically in love with eachother."

"katsuki, you know how i feel, and you know how zuku is. im pretty sure if he would act the same way with the rest of the class as he acts with us if he just trusted them more." she informed, getting ready to wash her plate before bakugo snatched it.

"don't even try it." ever since they could crawl, they've never let the girl lift a finger. hungry? chef katsuki at your service! scraped your knee? Dr.deku to the rescue! and yes, they know that she's the perfectly capable and well off to do these things on her own, but why should she when she has two men to do it for her?

"anyways. we've all known eachother since literally birth. i see things, i observe things. you two are literally inseparable. im pretty sure y'all first words were eachothers names. you know how you act around him, you see with your own two (or four) eyes the way he acts with you, and im pretty sure he peeps it too. just ask eachother out already and stop being pussies for fucks sake!"

"oh my gosh?? shut the fuck up?? you're so damn loud??" she said, slapping him in the back of his neck.

"aye. try me again and we gotta tussle. i'm not deku. i'll will beat the black off you. i strike so much fear into your melanin pigmentation that it will come to me."

"whatever katsuki, u can run me my ones later, i gotta go help zuku now."

"ight then angel, u better be ready. see ya later."

with that, she finally left the kitchen and headed towards her dorm to meet izuku.

.*•

"finally.." the boy sighed. it's now 11:45 am, and they (she) just finished detangling, moisturizing, and somewhat styling his hair. at this point, her fingers and wrists were tired, her back was aching, her feet were sore, and she had the very violent urge to go back to her black roots and pop this nigga with the comb.

"I know damn well YOU not heavy breathing like you did some work. all yo lazy ass did was sit there and watch Netflix. YOU COULDN"T EVEN HOLD THE DAMN SPRAY..."

"I'm sorry, ma. thank you so much, I should've listened to you last night. now do you already have clothes ready? or do you need to pick something out?" he asked, pulling her into a hug and rubbing her back.

".. you better be so lucky i love you. but yes, i need to pick. have u chosen?"

" yup, right before I came to wake you up. so i'll help you if you want?"

"yes please"

taglist: @ast4rg1rl

I FINALLY DID IT YALL..

and i already started the next chapter🙏🏾

well i split this chapter up into 2 to make things easier on me and y'all!!

so if its not out by next week then i'll post something embarrassing 🙏🏾

BUT ILL BE IN DUBAI FOR A WHILE SO JULY 13th IS MY DEADLINE

anywho

when i show outfits and stuff they're just there for ppl like me who can't visualize that well <3

WELL

UNTILL NEXT TIMEE

#bnha midoriya #bnha smau #izuku midoriya x reader #izuku smau #mha iida #mha fanfiction #shojislady #mha bakugou #mha deku #deku midoriya #izuku x reader smut

[ricekrispies44]

Albuquerque: Part ii, a Breaking bad Hawaii Part ii fanfiction, because more than 3 people told me to write this. I'm so sorry. the grammar and spelling is all intentional. Featuring Jim Carrey as Heisenbones the talking skeleton.

Walter and Heisenbones were cooking up a heaping fresh bucket o' meth, when Jesse walks in. "Ayo, mistah white, i got an idea." he says, standing approx. 5 feet away from Walter. "Not another one of your ideas, jesser, im making methamphetamines."

"Walts right you BONEHEAD! We still need to cook a skeleTON of meth!" heisenbones says. "But mistah white, what if we go to hawaii! i mean, we got the money!."

"maybe jessies right waltuh." said Michael erhmantrout from in the corner. "we could use a vacation waltuh."

"Oh fine!" walter ejaculated, and they bought 4 tickerts from Delta Airlines.

92 days later, they finaly arived in hawai.

"So," jesse began, "What should we do first?"

"Looks like theres a dance going on tonight! too bad i have no BODY to go with!" Heisenbones said, and everybody guffawed. what a knee slapper. i love heisenbones.

3 hours later, they were at the dance, it was called the white ball. It seemed like everyone was there. Walt and mike were dancing, and heisenbones wasn't there for jesus to dance with, so he felt super duper sad. but then, jeans thought of an idea!

he dialed heisenbones' number, and asked for him to deleiver a special love potion, because heisenbones knows a guy who can get some lickety split. He put it in a girls drink, and had a dance!!

"So, whats your name, yo?" jese asked. "Hawaii part ii." the woman replied. "Thats a dumb fucking name, yo." jeopardy said.

After the party, the quartet met up at their hotel. "That was fucking aweson, yo!" jeez-it yelled. "Im glad the love potion worked, jesse, im very proud of you for being able to get some bitches." Heisenbones said, in a very caring voice. "Im goin out on a date with her in the forest, bitch!"

8 months later, jess and Hawaii: Part ii went out on a date in KillMurder Forest. it was a great date. But suddenly, jeof accidentally spilled 54 gallons of molten steel onto Hawaii: Part ii!!!!! thiks was super weirdchamp, because he was originally holding a glass of weed juice, not 54 gallons of molten steel!! then, he noticed gas stove and fridge sneakiung around!! he did this!!

he wentr to court or some shit i dont really rtemember i took 73 benadryls about 10 minutes ago and the hat man is helping me wright this

Then jesssup plead insanity, because saul goodman wasnt there to help him, because they were in fucing hawi. then..,,. th en,,,.,. snooooork imimimimim snooork mimimi snoork mimimi snooork mimimi snoork mimimi snooork mimimi snoork mimimi snooork mimimi snoork mimimi

#hawaii part ii #hawaii part 2 #miracle musical #the mind electric #breaking bad

[shiftywing]

my sister's giving me her betta fish so it's time to break out le fish tanks again.

#summer school's ABYSMAL but hey i have something to look foreword to at least #so glad i bought that 10 gallon #i wanna put some mollies in there :0 #maybe a snail? #betta first priority tho #if the mollies don't work out i'm gonna have fucking...3 tanks running in my room sksk

[systlin]

i was talking out loud not necessarily To loki but in his general vicinity this morning about needing to start looking for a car, and mentioned to my partner that we should look at the nissan versa because i’d heard it was a nice car, and as soon as i opened tumblr your post about your versa was the first thing i saw. glad you and the kid are both alright, and good luck on the search for a new car!

15/10 would recommend another Nissan Versa wholeheartedly. It was a great car. It had 6 miles on it when I bought it; it had 140k on it when it died via front end collision and was still running like new. It started up in -30F temps, drove across the country a few times, handled snow and ice surprisingly well, got me to work reliably every day, and did it all while getting like 34 combined miles per gallon. Hauled family and friends and craft supplies.

When it came to it, it saved my bacon in a front end collision, which I walked away from with only a small bruise on my collarbone where the seatbelt bit.

Was it a fancy car? No. But it was reliable, ran great, continued running great so long as I got the oil changed occasionally, got great gas mileage, and was safe, and that's all I can ask for a car.

The only reason I'm eyeballing other makes is because I'd like something with all wheel drive for the winters around here, and Versas are just front wheel drive.

#car crash

[idesofrevolution]

Okay: Bad Boy Musky Transformation it is. Enjoy!

I knew, of course, that Marco sold whatever the degenerates in the neighborhood needed. Weed, Acid, Ecstasy, Shrooms, Coke... take out the hard ones and you have his menu. He always seemed to afford the good things in life with his dark money. Two weeks ago he’d bought a Ducati; a week prior it was a 60 inch TV! God knows it wasn’t from dutiful employment, but I knew damn well just what it was that afforded him these luxuries: whatever could be inhaled, snorted, or smoked. And yet, here I was, working two jobs at McDonalds & Popeyes just trying to afford my garbage studio apartment. 

He’d only ever been kind to me, I’ll admit. He’d bring by a pizza he said he couldn’t finish, or his old speakers he’d upgraded. Nice guy, if a bit dim. Always out in the courtyard, laying by the pool with his shirt off. Always surrounded by other guys who’d slip him a hundred. It’s not fair! Four years of college and what did I have to show for it? Student loans and no job prospects. Yet there he was: no trade, no job, no future really; but living like a king. So it was one day where I’ll fully admit that my jealousy overwhelmed me. 

I was short that month, for the first time mind you. Short only by a hundred dollars for rent, but I had already gotten a notice on my door. Pay tomorrow or get lost. It was this desperation that made me remember every deal that thug made, every 8-ball, every eighth, every pill... Would he really notice a hundred missing from his pile? I knew for a fact that every Wednesday night, precisely at 10, Marco would leave for the hookah club and not return until 4 or 5 at the earliest. I knew he locked his door, a few locks actually, but I also knew that the moron left his window cracked nearly every night. It just so happened that on that particular evening, he did just that. 

In that fleeting moment of curiosity, a plan built up in my head. I watched him loudly slam his door, lock his several locks, and saunter out down the stairs. I waited about five minutes before creeping out of my apartment, careful to watch for other prying eyes. I had to be quick. I made a run for it, bolting to his open window on the balcony. It slid open quite easily, and I heaved myself over the ledge and into Marco’s dark apartment. I landed on the ratty old carpet and quickly shut the window. Looking around the apartment, it was a three bedroom for sure. In the same state of disrepair as mine, but furnished with some of the most expensive, gaudy things I’ve ever seen. Brand new leather couches, a coffee table made completely of glass, a massive stereo system next to his 60 inch TV... An absolute manchild lived here.

However, I wasn’t there for the TV or the oversized sectional. I had a sneaking suspicion that he, like many of us, kept his extra money somewhere in the bedroom. Ensuring that no noise would come from my steps, I snuck quietly down the hall, covered in paintings of scantily clad men toward the bedroom. Interesting, he swung that way, huh? Opening the door, a wafting stink hit me in the face. The room was covered in dirty laundry, used condoms, half rolled  blunts, and lines of coke on nearly every surface. This is what I was expecting, and I was surely right. Holding my nose shut, I crept toward his dresser, and began to ruffle through his belongings. Damp socks, damp underwear, damp lycra, everything in there was damp and reeking. I slammed each of the drawers shut, and opened the closet. There, on the tile floor behind rows of pristine sneakers were a pair of destroyed old Vans; and inside each were rolls of hundred dollar bills. Jackpot. I knelt down and grabbed one of the rolls, momentarily unclamping my nose to remove the rubber band. The smell was unbelievable. It took me aback, just how strong it was. I’m sure each of the pairs of Huaraches, AF1′s, and the like had strong scents of their own, but from this single pair of beat up old Vans was the most salty, sweet, almost cheesy footmusk that I’d ever encountered.

For a mere second, I contemplated bringing one of the shoes to my face, letting the dirty, wet insole touch the tip of my nose. However, it was in that second that I should have just left well enough alone. The lightswitch flipped on, and looming over me was the hulking, shirtless Marco. In my right hand was his wad of cash, in the left was his grody sneaker. My face flushed, and my stomach dropped to my toes. He crossed his arms and smiled.

“If you wanted a loan you could have just asked...” Words were caught in the back of my throat. I wanted so terribly to make up some fantastic excuse as to my presence in his closet, but the frog in my throat had other ideas. The growing grin of Marco, paired with him beginning to kneel down to my level made my heart nearly stop beating. “And if you wanted a sniff I’d have given it to you.” He smirked and slowly pulled the shoe from my hand, taking a quick whiff of it’s stench. He turned quickly and laughed, waving the wafting scent away from his face before grabbing the back of my head and plunging it right into the shoe. “Okay, deep breath now.”

I tried to struggle, to fight back, but the man was nearly twice my size and pure muscle. There was no chance of me weaseling my way out of this. I had to just play along with this weird fetish that he seemed to have. I inhaled a quick breath, barely getting any stink. 

“No, no. I said deep breath.” I felt a strong hand shoot to my crotch, grabbing my junk within my jeans. The shock of this invasive gesture broke my concentration, and a gasp of breath escaped from my mouth. Into my nose, my mouth, my sinuses, my brain did the musk penetrate. I moaned loudly, the confusion of a powerful grope and a powerful scent submerged me into a strange state of consciousness. Or rather, a lack thereof. I was inhaling the footsmell like air, and I couldn’t get enough. My cock began to tent in my pants, and I felt my right hand drop the roll of cash I thought I so desperately needed. “Ahh, haha. That’s right, let it in. Let me in.” 

His voice seemed distorted, as if we were in a deep cavern, it echoed in my skull. He removed the shoe from my face, pulling me to my feet by my bulging groin. Guiding me toward his bed, I sat down on the smelly sheets, no longer in complete control of my faculties.

“Take your clothes off.” His words entered my ears like soft velvet, it felt wrong to disobey. In fact, I wanted to obey. For the first time, I wanted to listen to whatever this man told me to do. His bulging muscles, his plump lips, the way his crooked smile felt so dangerously mischievous, the way his smell took my breath away like a vacuum. For the first time, this man was everything I wanted. I ripped my clothes off and lay there on his bed wearing nothing but my bare, cold skin. Smiling, he took hold of my throbbing, upright cock in his rough hand. Ripples of goosebumps ran up and down my body as he slowly ran his calloused hand up and down my shaft. Each stroke allowed a groan or a moan to sneak out of my lips, before he leaned down atop me and planted a soft kiss onto my lips. He tasted like an ashtray and as his tongue slipped into my mouth, rolling atop my own, I could feel some of his taste transfer to me. I can’t explain it, as we kissed I could feel that taste of cigarettes and blunts seep into my tongue. I pulled his pants down, his thick, uncut cock tumbling out of his compression shorts onto my stomach. He smiled as he pulled away from the kiss. I stuck my finger under his foreskin, swiping it around, and brought it to my lips. It tasted like ripe, sweaty cock, and I began to crave it. “Oh yeah, babe you’re a keeper.”

He jumped up, and pulled me toward the edge of the bed. I got a perfect frontal view of his gorgeous cock and saggy balls, his virile and manly smell kept pouring into my nose and into the depths of my mind. He grabbed me by the back of my hair and pulled my eager mouth forward, engulfing his slick, smelly cock. I suckled, my loud slurping seeming making him even hornier. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him fiddling with something just out of view. As he thrust down my throat, I realized just what it was that he had. His used condom, I presume from whatever sexy fuck occurred the night prior, was in his hands. I closed my eyes as I felt its rubbery walls close tightly around the tip of my cock, slickly sliding down my shaft until his cold, creamy load touched my slit. With a loud snap, I looked down and saw his thick white cum completely enveloping my cockhead. I only got a quick glance before he’d pulled out of my mouth, replacing his succulent cock with my now favorite smelly shoe. I licked the sole, letting the thick toejam season my ashy tongue as the musk thrust into my nose once more. 

I knew what was coming, and I was prepared when I felt that slippery cock slip like butter into my tight hole. He’d grabbed my cock, covered in his seed, and jerked in tandem with his thrusts into my ass. Sensory overload. His smell, his seed, his cock, his taste, the very sight of him... It was all him. He was marking me. I was his property, and I was glad to oblige. Every single hard smack against my ass cheeks, every stinking waft into my brain, every breath of his smoky breath coming out of my mouth... It was too much! He fucked like a madman, stroking my cock into his slime until I felt a strange tingling in my cockhead. It was a slick, penetrating sensation of his seed... slurping into my slit! I was nearly screaming as I felt it sink deep down my shaft, into my engorging balls. It was stewing, brewing inside my growing sack! I heard him howl as he unloaded his fresher load into me. 

I felt his cock within me shooting spurt after spurt... going from ounces to gallons very quickly. His cum spread throughout my body like water into a balloon. I could feel the silky liquid beneath my skin, creeping, inflating every part of my body. It seeped up my throat, into my mouth, behind my very eyes into my brain. The pressure grew as I felt growth, I felt strength, I felt different. My body was gelatinous beneath my skin, before slowly firming into a much larger form. An improved form. I pulled Marco’s shoe from my face, and looked at my changing body. The cum kept flowing as I saw my muscled arms, my bulging abs, a grotesquely inflated ballsack... He leaned down and kissed me again, giving me another much needed taste of his addictive taste. My brain was melting, reforming, changing... Things were fuzzy and blurred before it was my turn to blow my load. In it, was who I used to be, my failures, my strife, my worries and obligations... Flowed like a jet out of my cock into his condom. Cum flowed out of the top of the condom, before Marco ripped it from me, letting the hot juices pool between us. 

“Lookin’ good, babe.” He smiled at me, and I looked at the man I loved with a smirk. Yeah, I sure fuckin’ do look good. We laid there all night long, fucking and kissing and sniffing and tasting... By the time the sun came up, I was in his clothes, I reeked of his sweaty manly musk, I was wearing my favorite pair of red Vans, and I was readying an 8-ball for pickup later that morning (after a few lines for me and the boyfriend). I kicked back and lit a cigarette, enjoying the laid back life I’d come to love with my man.

It’s a love story. How touching. So let me know what you think. Give me some anons on your opinions! Also, toss a few quid into the tip jar and I’d be eternally grateful <3 <3

#male transformation #badass transformation #gay transformation #musk #musky #feet #smelly men #thuggification #male takeover #original #badboy #smoking #drugs #stoner transformation

[palettes-and-prompts]

40 Prompts!

Prompts for the Sunshiney Character/Storm Cloud Relationship

1) A and B go to a theme park and B notices how much A keeps staring at the games where you can win stuffed animals and while A's back is turned B wins them a huge stuffed animal. 2) A realizes they've never heard B laugh before and so they spend the whole day telling them lame jokes to get them to laugh but they never do. It isn't until something bad happens to C in front of them that B lets out the hardest laugh A's ever heard. And while they're terrified of B's humor they're in love with their laugh. 3) A tries to find out more about B's interests but since B is very secretive it's hard for them to find anything out about them. But when A hears B watching wrestling they get B tickets to a match and suddenly B's out of their seat cheering for a wrestler to hit the other with a chair. A's never seen B happier. 4) While grocery shopping A is putting junk food into the basket and B is taking it out and putting in healthier options until they get to the dairy section and B puts four gallons of chocolate milk in the cart, absolutely shocking A. When B tries to explain themselves A tells them they're going back and getting the junk food they want. B lets them and doesn't take out a thing they put in after that. 5) A wears shorts and one of B's t-shirts and A keeps thinking B's sick because their face is flushed all day when they look at A. 6) A gets B some flowers because they're trying to show more affection but it backfires when B begins sneezing and getting watery eyes. (Bonus if A goes back to the store and gets fake flowers and allergy relief medication.) 7) A and B go into a haunted house and A doesn't have time to be scared because B's lightning fast reflexes keep knocking the scare actors flat on their ass and A keeps apologizing while B's trying hard not to keep doing it every time someone pops out. 8) A and B get their face painted and while A who is sunshiney gets something scary B, the storm cloud, gets a cute animal and then they go out for food. 9) A and B go to the zoo and while in the part where you're allowed to pet the animals A is trying hard to get animals to like them B is the one all the animals keep swarming and rubbing against. 10) A and B go to the beach and even though B doesn't like the beach. While A has fun in the water B has fun when the seagulls begin attacking people who brought food. (Bonus if it ends with B saying they now love the beach.)

Fluffy Prompts for the Human/Vampire Relationship

1) Everyone warns A about B being a vampire and one day when they're out with friends B casually mentions that they smell good and everyone is wide eyed until B's like "I was talking about their perfume/cologne." Which makes them all give a sigh of relief and the group spends the whole day trying to make it up to B because A really likes them.

2) It's hot outside and so A hugs B to stay cool. And for once in their life B's kind of glad they're a vampire. 3) A who is like ice feels bad they can't cuddle with B so they buy a ridiculously warm onesie and gloves to hold them. (Bonus if the onesie is extremely tacky because they got it last minute.) 4) A's jackets are in the wash so they wear one of B's without telling the. (Bonus if B spends all day looking for it since it's their favorite one.) 5) A feels bad B can't enjoy food so they spend hours researching until they find a few recipes B can eat since they're mixed with a lot of blood. (Bonus if they messed up the recipe but B thinks it's the most delicious thing ever.) 6) A can't see their reflection so B spends the whole day figuring out if there's a way for a vampire to see their own reflection. 7) In a world where humans can become blood donors as a job and pick the vampire they work for A gets lucky enough to meet a wealthy B. B is excited because A's cute and has a rare blood type. 8) A celebrates a birthday or holiday where gifts are involved and everyone thinks B's favorite color is red because they're a vampire. But they tell everyone they actually hate red and so everyone tries to figure out what their favorite color is. 9) A reads trashy vampire novels to B, a vampire, who does nothing but lay their head on A's lap and go  "Oh my god, we don't even do that! That's such bullshit, that's not even what happened during the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. I should know, I was there!" 10) A hasn't been around humans in a long time and is very confused when looking at certain technology or clothing B wears.

Hurt/Comfort Prompts for the Human/Vampire Relationship

1) A has always hated vampires and when they become one B shows them how to survive in their world. 2) A gets injured and B can't help them because of their blood lust. B is incredibly jealous of C for being able to take care of them when they can't 3) A almost drinks B's blood when A accidentally cuts themself. Later A buys some rosary beads for someone at work to ward off a vampire they work with who's getting handsy or whatever. But when B finds them they're worried A doesn't trust them anymore. 4) A gets injured running away from vampires and B is a vampire who finds them and patches them up. 5) A can tell what turns B on because they're constantly listening to their heart rate. Imagine A being incredibly jealous when B sees C because their heart rate spikes. (Bonus if B just really hates C so it's nothing more than them preparing themselves to be annoyed for the day.) 6) A rescues vampire B from a mad scientist who was conducting experiments on B to see if vampires could be changed back and how much pain they can endure. 7) A is a human who's lost everything and B is a vampire who grants them eternal life and revenge against those who wronged them. 8) A hates vampires and works for a group of vampire hunters but when they stumble upon B and see how scared they are it reminds them of their past and they help them escape, this leads B to become attached to A and curious about them. A hates it until they think it's actually kind of cute. 9) In a world where humans are kidnapped and kept alive for their blood A is leading a rebellion until they're captured. B, a vampire in the cell next to them, befriends them and tells them the guard schedules and personalities and tells them they'll help them escape if they get them out too. (Bonus if A is going to betray B until their time together makes A feel things.) 10) A is the most heartless human and B is the most compassionate/alive vampire. The two meet and change each others lives, but is that for the better or worse?

Crack Prompts for the Human/Vampire Relationship

1) A makes garlic bread and B spends hours trying to figure out what they did wrong. Turns out A forgot that B couldn't have garlic bread and didn't remember when they bought, they just thought "Wow, haven't had garlic bread in a while." 2) A cuts their finger and before B can react A sucks the blood from their finger. And it wouldn't be a big deal except for the fact that B moaned when A did that so now things are weird. 3) A and B go grocery shopping and afterwards they check the police records for any criminals in the area for B to drink from. 4) A is a nurse who works at a hospital in charge of blood and B is a blood thief A is constantly spraying with holy water to keep out of the room where they store all the blood. When new nurse C arrives they panic until A comes and spritzes them. When C is like "???" A is like "They do that all the time. They don't bite humans, they drink animal blood. But sometimes they're tempted to drink human blood so you gotta spritz them when you see them." 5) A wonders why B never feeds in front of them and B just tells them they wouldn't want to watch anything like that. But when A finally convinces B to actually have dinner with them they feed in front of A. (Bonus if A is horrified and lowkey loses their appetite but tries to play it off) 6) A can't see their reflection so B is constantly drawing dicks on their face when they're asleep. 7) A thinks it's hot when B speaks a different language, but when B catches on and uses it during an argument A is constantly telling them to stop flexing their knowledge. B thinks it's hilarious though but stops for a while so when A's in the mood B can talk dirty in another language. (Bonus if by the time B does that A can speak the language too.) 8) A has been staring at someone B hates all day and when B thinks A might have a crush they get sad until A admits they just have a gross blood type and can't stand the smell. 9) "You look really peaceful when you sleep, very beautiful." "Please don't watch me sleep, it's so weird, dude." "We have sex all the time, do not call me dude." 10) A getting mad at vampire B before they go out and saying some shit like, "You have something on your face by the way." And not telling B where it is because they know B can't see their own reflection to wipe whatever it is off. (Bonus if A is smug the whole time and B is like "Come on, lets not fight tonight and just...just tell me where it is! Is it my nose? My teeth? What is it?!?")

Sorry this took so long, @zoliis I wanted to give you at least 10 prompts for each one, hope these are kind of what you’re looking for maybe? If not just let me know and I’ll do some more! :)

#40 prompts #dialogue prompts #otp prompts #writing prompts #fic prompts #prompts #writer #writing #ask #hurt/comfort prompts #crack prompts #fluffy prompts #sunshiney/storm cloud relationship #vampire/human prompts #vampire prompts #supernatural prompts

[jwood719]

Thurmond, West Virginia: a Rail Road Town that the World Passed By, Then Found Again (sorta’) - Updated.

As I explained recently over a dinner with friends in town (for the first time in how long?!), Thurmond, West Virginia was south and west of Pittsburgh, so it seemed like a good option for a kind-of side trip on the way home from Pennsylvania.  Little did I know how long the trip south would be, but glad I was to have done it.

A CSX coal car drag passing the Thurmond Depot, as seen through the window of the yardmaster’s office. [1]

The town was founded by one Capt. W.D. Thurmond in 1873, the same year the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway completed main line track building through the New River Valley.  The New River Valley was scene to intensive coal mining in the latter half of the 1800s and first half of the 1900s, and Thurmond was literally and figuratively at the heart of it all.

I believe the tall structure visible through the coal smoke and vented steam is the coaling tower. [2]

Thurmond in 1988.  Conspicuously absent now are all the structures on the left side of the tracks -- as well as the tracks to the left. [3]

The New River Valley was also the scene of some of the worst of the “coal field wars:” the operators paid by weight, ran company towns and stores, and lured unsuspecting laborers into the valley with promises of good wages -- promises that never materialized.  Instead, coal weight was shorted, company rents and store fees were exorbitant, and rules were enforced with extra-judicial posses, bought-off law enforcement officers, and state militia at times.  Miners were repeatedly denied recognition of their unionizing efforts, scabs were thrown in between the simmering, or boiling, antagonists, and strikes devolved into shooting matches.

Thurmond in 1988. [3]  Two generations of water towers (near center) holding hundreds of thousands of gallons of water for the thirsty steam-powered engines, and the post office building (at right)  CSX removed the water towers in the 1990s.

Concrete footings for the water towers seen in the 1988 photo above.  The post office building still stands (at far right), and is still U.S.P.S. property, though it is no longer in operation. [1]

Thurmond was the vital hub for the C&O and for all the various people who moved through the Valley throughout the coal mining years; in 1910, Thurmond  moved more freight and passengers than any other town the rail road serviced.  It’s hard to imagine today, but from its founding until the early 1920s, Thurmond could only be reached by rail, and thousands of people moved through or lived in the town, going to work in a mine, working for the C&O, or providing goods and services.

The Marilyn Brown house, with the roofline of the Fatty Lipscomb house beyond. [1]

At one time, Thurmond boasted many commercial structures, scores of houses (like those above), and was also a service hub for the C&O’s engines and rolling stock.  Steam-powered rail road engines require daily maintenance, work that was effected in a large engine house that was perched above the river.

Thurmond in 1988. [3] The engine house is right of center in the mid-ground, behind the trees.  Some of the remaining private houses can be seen uphill behind the commercial buildings, as well as the one “street” that wound across the face of the hill.

Like so many towns built around 19th century industries, Thurmond’s importance declined dramatically as the 20th century proceeded.  The use of diesel rail road engines left steam engine mechanics unemployed; many of the mines played out, and those that remained (and remain still) employed far fewer miners to pull the coal from the seams -- or blast it from hill tops; and people who would have been passengers on the trains began driving automobiles.  The world, if you will, moved on, and Thurmond dried up.

Two views of the Fatty Lipscomb house. [1]

As coal mining declined, though, tourism increased, and in the 1960s and 1970s, enthusiasts of outdoor sports found the U.S. Congress receptive to the idea of setting aside some of West Virginia’s landscapes for boating, hiking and camping.  In 1978, a substantial swath of West Virginia was designated as the New River Gorge National River, and later, lands along the Gauley and Bluestone Rivers were conserved, designated as National Recreation Areas in 1988.

Another house, here perched on the hillside above the commercial district, and a stretch of the local roadway, looking downhill. [1]

Once the land along the rivers became national reserves, Thurmond basically passed into federal control, though up until the early 1990s, up to 50 people still resided there.  The Chesapeake & Ohio had also declined, and became a foundational holding of today’s CSX Transportation rail road company.  CSX still moves coal through Thurmond in long drags of hopper cars, either full and destined for power plants, or empty and heading back to the mines.

In 1988 (above) [3] and in 2021 (below). [1]  The view below is perhaps the best known angle of the old commercial buildings.  From right, these are: the Mankin-Cox Building, the oldest of the three, which housed a druggist and a bank; the Goodman-Kincaid Building, which housed a dry goods store as well as offices and apartments; and the National Bank of Thurmond Building; all held a variety of business concerns before business fled.  To the upper right is the Erskine Pugh house.  The track in the foreground has been removed.

Circa 1900 [2]  The engine house is right of center, with the commercial buildings to the left.  The large building at far left was a hotel, but it burned down and was replaced by an Armour meat company building -- which also burned, in 1963 . The depot (seen following photo) is at the far right, with the rail road trestle just in view.

The 1904 passenger depot, now the NPS visitors center (as of 1995), and yes, Amtrak does have Thurmond as a stop! [1]

The NPS owns most of the remaining buildings, and efforts began in the early 2000s to keep them from deteriorating further, with roof repairs and seals to keep out the weather. There are still 5 residents in Thurmond, all are on the town council, and in addition to being active within the park, they are also seeking ways to keep the town alive.  

The red house at left is new construction, but on an old foundation, and where possible, older building materials have been recycled in its build-out.  A project of Thurmond’s residents, the hope is to have it available for seasonal leases; my guess is it’ll wind up with a long wait-list -- and my name will be on it! [1]

Old rail road ties in the dirt: now an access road, the C&O service track that led to the coaling tower were once mounted here; the engine house would have been to the extreme right and partially out of view; the depot is dead ahead, and my road-weary car is parked near the trees. [1]

Maybe I was taken-in by the town because of the setting, nestled as it is among the hills and above the river; maybe it’s because the old buildings have that “certain something” that makes history buffs like me snap more photos than is reasonable; maybe it’s the potential that I can see in them (provided anyone ever coughed up the money to really rehabilitate them); if I was to get metaphysical about it, maybe it’s because of all the lives and history that occurred in the area and the energy left behind calls out still (y’know if I got metaphysical about it -- past lives anyone?); perhaps it’s all of those.  What-ever the reason, I’ve been thinking of making a trip back in mid-Autumn, take a long weekend as the leaves are turning and it’s got chilly -- and shoot yet more photos than is reasonable.

The 1922 coaling tower (above), built by Fairbanks Morse (as noted on the sign below). [1]

The reason for the coaling tower: a pair of the last steam engines in Thurmond: 1953. [2]

I briefly stopped at the New River Gorge visitors center where I got directions, and figured I could at least find out where I was going before getting off the highway for the night.  I arrived in Thurmond just before 5 PM, but even that later afternoon hour left plenty of daylight to walk about and take photos.  My thought had been to simply find Thurmond, then make my stop-over somewhere nearby (Beckley, WV is less than 10 miles away) then return in the morning.  That thinking quickly became “Oh! I can come back for more in the morning!” 

Up the hill: the old church. [1]  The church grounds now host the local triathlon and reunion events for those who once lived in Thurmond.

What I realized as I strolled around in the afternoon, was that the light would be dramatically different if I arrived early the next day (yeah: a “well duh!” moment if ever there was one), an effect of the changed daylight hours mixed with the topography that proved itself quite wonderfully -- and is why the images here show both the golden glow of evening and the cool white of morning.

Amtrak’s Cardinal route-train, on-time (or nearly) on a Friday morning. [1]

Standing by my car, having a sip of coffee, looking around as other visitors arrived or departed, I just, well -- “sighed with contentment” is an apt description. 

A view of the ticket agent’s office. [1]

For more information on Thurmond:

The National Park Service’s web page for Thurmond, WV.

Thurmond, WV on Clio, a history and culture website.

Both of these share some of the same information, and each has additional images, both historical and contemporary.  

A view of the New River Valley from the west side, across from Thurmond (note the houses and rail road cars on the far bank below the hill). [4]

The historical narrative written here was gleaned from the NPS hand-out for Thurmond, as well as from the Summer 2021 issue of National Parks magazine, published by the National Parks Conservation Association (“Miner’s Angel” concerning Mother Jones and the coal field wars of West Virginia, by Nicolas Brulliard).  Identification of the Marilyn Brown house made possible by access to a PDF of the NPS’ structural assessment report of buildings in Thurmond, revised edition, published in 2002.

A view of the yardmaster’s office [1]

Atlas Obscura’s “22 of America’s Best Preserved Ghost Towns”  Sorry, Mental Floss, you were forgot.

Looking south toward the depot past the three old commercial blocks. [1]

[1] Photographs by R. Jake Wood, 2021.

[2] Historic photographs displayed on-site by National Park Service, photographed on-site and edited for this posting by Jake Wood. 

[3] Photographs by Jet Lowe, 1988, for the Library of Congress’ Historic American Building Survey/Historic American Engineering Record; retrieved from the Library of Congress’ Prints & Photographs Online Catalog, with minor editing by Jake Wood.

[4] Photograph by the Detroit Publishing Co., circa 1910; from the Library of Congress’ Prints & Photographs Online Catalog, with minor editing by Jake Wood.

The depot, alongside CSX trackage. [1]

CSX coal drag outbound with hoppers full of coal.  The post office building is visible just beyond the engine. [1]

#photography #roadtrips #Thurmond WV #national park service #Obscura Jaunts

[doc-pickles]

it’s nothing funny just to talk (p.3)

What happens when you text that random number graffitied on a bathroom stall in your favorite bar? Jo Wilson is about to find out. - In which Bar Princess and Doctor Evil Spawn meet via text.

Chapter threeee. What do you think? Any predictions?

Sunday 10:28 AM

oh man

you’re pretty funny

Shhh you’re talking too loud. 

i’m texting you

Well stop it. You’re being too loud. 

okaaaaay i’ll leave you alone

Wait come back… I miss you. 

ahhh the truth comes out 

you do like me

Of course I do, I wouldn’t be texting you if I didn’t. 

well that’s good to know 

i’m assuming your head is pounding?

Very much so. I'm about to chug a gallon of orange juice and pray I don’t die. 

can you sing while you do it?

I don’t sing. 

but you serenaded me last night 

it was an amazing song called “bar princess” 

Oh shit. Really?

yes and then you told me that you couldn’t sing to me because jo would be mad

In my defense it was my buddies bachelor party. 

that excuse didn’t stop you from calling me bar princess

I think i’m gonna name you… doctor rockstar 

Somehow that’s actually worse than Doctor Evil Spawn

it'll grow on you 

hey go check your porch

You didn’t. 

oh but I did

Breakfast and coffee? You’re the best. Thank you. 

it’s my thank you for the donuts yesterday

and for keeping me sane almost everyday

It’s nothing, I enjoy our friendship just as much as you do. 

  Sunday 3:33 PM

What’s with all these sirens in the area? You think someone died?

oh…. that might’ve been me…

WHAT?!

Are you okay?

Jo???

  Sunday 3:45 PM

Incoming Voice Call

“Hey it’s Jo! I can’t come to the phone right now but leave me a message and I’ll call ya back!”

  Sunday 3:47 PM

i’m fine gimme a second

You’re freaking me out. 

  Sunday 4:17 PM

Incoming Voice Call

“Jo?”

“I’m fine, I‘m fine.”

“What the hell happened?”

“I tried to make lunch and I set something on fire. It’s fine, I just couldn’t contain it.”

“You want me to come help out? I can be there in five minutes.”

“Alex, I’m fine. And I told you, I don’t wanna see you until our date.”

“Oh screw all that. Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yes! Now stop worrying about me, I’m perfectly fine.”

“Okay I’ll take your word for it, Bar Princess.”

“Good. Now stop freaking out, I can hear you hyperventilating over there.”

“I told you, I don’t want our first meeting to be at your funeral. I’m protecting myself obviously.”

“Right okay. Well I have to go and talk Steph down from killing me. I’ll talk to you soon. And Alex?”

“Yes Jo?”

“Thanks… just for caring about me. I’ve never had anyone who would be that concerned about me setting the fire alarm off. It means a lot. More than you know.”

“Well I like you, a lot. And you mean a lot to me. More than you know. Hey, when are you free next week?”

“I get back on Sunday night so anytime after that.”

“I’m off Wednesday, does that work for you?”

“Absolutely. It’s a date?”

“It is definitely a date. I’ll talk to you soon. Bye.”

“Bye!”

  Monday 9:36 AM

so steph killed me 

almost

  Monday 10:06 AM

You’re texting me so I’m assuming that’s a good sign. 

yeah I started crying and she let me off the hook

You started crying??

well fake crying but yeah

it did the job

You’re full of surprises aren’t you?

only always

I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised when we meet

I hope so. Gotta go yell at interns, catch ya on the flip side. 

the 90s called they want their catchphrase back

  Monday 4:21 PM

pretty sure our AC is broken

i’m sweating like a pig

Oof, not fun. Did you call it in?

yup but they can’t get out till next weekend

i’m in shorts and a tank top I don’t think I can strip more without izzie yelling at me

I wouldn’t complain if you wanted to come and strip for me. 

that was very forward doctor rockstar

at least take me out to dinner first

I’m trying to. Surgeons are busy people. 

it’s okay it’ll be well worth the wait 

and i’m holding you to what you said

I say a lot of things to you, you’ll have to be more specific. 

when you said you’d kiss me as soon as we met

i’ll be waiting for that

I’ll make sure to put chapstick on in the car then. 

you should do stand up comedy 

Once you get to know me you’ll understand how terrible of an idea that is. 

oh shoot

bridezilla just stormed in crying

OH MY GOD SHE GOT A FAKE TAN SHE LOOKS LIKE AN ORANGE 

have to run damage control we’ll talk later 

Lemon juice and a loofah. At least that’s what Meredith is telling me. Good luck. 

  Tuesday 10:28 AM

can you kiss meredith for me

she saved my ass yesterday 

That would be kind of awkward seeing as she’s married. But I’ll pass on your thanks. 

there were so many tears 

it was horrendous

izzie and I stayed up until 2 am washing that stuff off

Jesus Christ. I’m sure you’ll be relieved once this wedding is over and done with. 

four more days!!

i’m excited of course but like… I want this done with

I can’t take much more bridezilla madness

Neither can I. 

you’re not even dealing with it!!

Yeah but I have to hear you dealing with it and it just doesn’t sound fun. I pity you. 

you’re so sweet

Doctor Feel Good

That sounds borderline inappropriate. 

it was 100% inappropriate 

see i’ve flipped the tables 

now i’m trying to seduce you

I applaud your efforts. Giving me a sexy nickname definitely helped your chances.

really??

You asked me to kiss you as soon as we met, I assumed that you would also be putting out on the first date.

W O W

you’re not wrong

BUT WOW

Knew it. I’d love to continue talking about what you’re going to do to me after our first date, but I have a high volume trauma coming in. Probably won’t be around for a few hours.

good luck, keep your wits about you

don’t be a hero, we still have a standing date

Wouldn’t miss it for the world.

  Tuesday 11:38 PM

Incoming Voice Call

“Alex?”

“Hey. I hope I didn’t wake you up.” “No… No, I wasn’t sleeping, I was watching a movie. Are you okay?” “Yeah. Yeah I’m fine.” “You don’t sound fine.” “It’s just been a long day… a lot happened.” “Do you wanna talk about it?” “No I… there was a pileup, on the freeway. It was really bad. And there… there was a van full of kids. It’s just been a long day.” “I’m sorry, I can’t imagine how hard it is going through that. What can I do to help?” “Can you… can you just talk to me?” “Of course I can. Oh! I’ll tell you Izzie’s muffin story! That’s a good one.”

“Okay yeah. Yeah, that sounds good.” “So Izzie and her boyfriend had gone through a BAD breakup, I mean monumental. She was so upset and she just started baking…”

  Wednesday 9:59 AM

Incoming Voice Call

“Jesus Christ what time is it?” “It’s 10 AM.” “Alex! I didn’t check the caller ID. Are you okay?” “I’m fine. I’m fine… I’m sorry I woke you up.” “No! It’s okay, you know I love to hear your voice.” “Well that’s a relief, I was worried you were gonna drop me because I keep waking you up.” “You only woke me up once!” “Listen Bar Princess, you may think you’re a good liar but you aren’t. I know I woke you up last night when I called.” “No I-”

“No buts. Thank you for that, I really appreciated it. It’s… it’s hard being in my line of work somedays.” “Well, you’ll always have me to lean on.” “I just need you to know…” “Know what? Oh my god you’re not married are you?” “What? No! Jo… just listen. Can you do that?” “Yes, I can.” “Somedays this job drags me down. It wears me down to my core and it doesn’t make it easier when I’ve got babies and kids on the table. It’s hard and I hate to admit it but I fall apart. I fall apart and I’m messy and I get all dark and twisty sometimes.” “Dark and twisty?” “Meredith says that. But it’s true. I get dark and twisty sometimes and you… last night you pulled me out of that dark and twisty place and I just…” “Just what? You can tell me, Alex.” “I don’t want to rely on you if pulling me out of the dark and twisty place is too much for you to handle. I want… I know I sound crazy and you’re probably freaking out-”

“I’m not freaking out.” “But I want this. You and me and I don’t want to get comfortable if you’re not in. Because I’m in, I’m in Jo. It’s ridiculous and I don’t even know what you look like but I’m in.”

“I’m in. I’m so in, I’m all in and if that makes us crazy then… Then I wanna be crazy with you.”

“Kissing you sounds really good right now.” “Listen, just because I said I’m in this for the long haul doesn’t mean you get to see me before our first date. If anything, this makes things more romantic.” “Okay okay, I’ll listen to you. You better be prepared because this first kiss, it’s gonna be the most epic kiss you’ll ever get.” “I’m waiting in eager anticipation, Doctor Feelgood.”

“It’s feels wrong to like it when you call me that.”

“You’re a real charmer. I would love to keep up the sexy talk, but Bridezilla is here and I’m pretty sure she’s going to rip my head off. Talk later?”

“Don’t we always. Thanks… for hearing me out. And being there. And being you. I can’t wait to kiss you.”

“I can’t wait to kiss you eit-“

“JO GET YOUR ASS DOWN HERE BEFORE I DRAG YOU DOWN THE STAIRS.”

“Have fun, call me if you need an alibi.”

  Wednesday 1:18 PM

had to hide in the bathroom 

the living room is covered in glitter 

Aren’t you used to that? Being a teacher and all?

ohhhhhh no 

i have banned the use of glitter in my house and classroom

i’m not a monster

Oh glad to know you have your wits about you. 

of course i do

my only slipup ever has been the time i drunk texted that phone number that was graffitied in a bar bathroom

oh wait

Hahaha very funny. By the way, I thanked Cristina profusely and even bought her a coffee.

what are we thanking cristina for? For putting my phone number up in the bathroom. I might need you to go and scratch it out though. I don’t need any other drunk teachers at bachelorette parties texting me, I’ve met my quota. 

well that was oddly touching

you’re a big softy aren’t you doctor evil spawn

I’m a pediatric surgeon, I think that tells you everything you need to know.

you’re making some very good points here

oh shit she found me

i’ll be back (hopefully)

I have a bone to pick with bridezilla. She keeps taking my texting buddy away.

  Wednesday 6:06 PM

good god i’m gonna die before we get to this wedding

i just had to pack chocolate almonds into tiny little bags and tie them with bows

WHO HAS CHOCOLATE ALMONDS ANYMORE IT’S NOT 1985

You seem to have a lot of strong feelings about almonds.

i can't feel my fingers

If you can’t feel your fingers how are you texting me? i’m making siri do it for me while i lay on the floor drinking wine

I’m so proud of you. I’m on NICU overnight duty, so I have to stay awake and I’m bored. 

shouldn’t you be like… taking care of the babies? Oh these kids are fighters. I just gotta make sure they don’t rip off their tubes.

well it seems like you have an easy night

Until I die of boredom or hunger. Whichever one happens first.

i’m pretty sure you’re the doctor here so you know that won’t happen

Wow, you really pulled the doctor card on me huh? of course i did, it’s like you don’t even know me

You’re right I should’ve expected that. Gotta do rounds, I’ll text you in a bit.

  Wednesday 8:28 PM

I’m pretty sure it was my turn to bring you food, not the other way around.

i sent the egg rolls and chow mein! 

apparently you’re a regular because the guy at the restaurant suggested everything else and offered to deliver it to you

Thank you, you did kind of save my night. This chicken chow mein is amazing.

it’s my favorite

just like you :) Now who’s the softy? i’m a fourth grade teacher, i think that tells you everything you need to know

Touche. Okay now I really have to go be a doctor. Thank you again for dinner, one more week until we get to see each other.

the happy dance i just did was embarrassing, that’s how excited i am

  Thursday 10:28 AM

if I never have to participate in another wedding it’ll be too soon

i’m so exhausted I wish I was in a room filled with fourth graders instead of here

Don’t you wanna get married someday?

if I ever get married i’m going to the courthouse and getting pizza after

that’s my dream wedding

At least you don’t wanna spend 10k on a couple hours of celebrating. Pizza is as good a celebration as any in my book. 

exactly you get it 

pizza and beer trumps uncomfy dress and socializing with people any day

What’s bridezilla got you doing today?

making table numbers and centerpieces today

then we drive up tomorrow night

then I get shit faced at the open bar

At least you know what your agenda is. 

that’s always my wedding agenda 

hopefully I won’t puke on my shoes this time

That would be a funny wedding story though, good for small talk. 

you’re right maybe I should peueowownspdjd

Did you have a stroke? 

Jo???

Jo’s phone has been confiscated so she can focus all of her attention on helping with wedding preparations. She’ll get it back later today. Sincerely, Bridezilla 

  Thursday 4:17 PM

Incoming Phone Call

“I have to call my mom, I’ll be right back!”

“Jo that excuse doesn’t work, we all know you don’t have a mom!”

“So now you’re lying to talk to me?”

“Hey you saw what Bridezilla did earlier! I had to run out the door while she went pee so she wouldn’t catch me.”

“You’re willing to risk death for me? You really do care.”

“I love her but she’s suffocating me and all I want is to get drunk and possibly make out with you.”

“Mmm should I come by and rescue you?”

“No! No, I really wanna make out with you but I wanna wait. Just six more days.”

“Six days. I promise there will be beer and pizza and lots of kissing.”

“Good. That’s the only thing getting me through this weekend. I gotta go back, but I’ll text you as soon as I can.”

“I’ll be relentlessly staring at my phone until my friends make fun of me or you text, whatever happens first. Bye Jo.”

“Bye Alex.”

  Thursday 8:33 PM

good god I finally got her to leave

only because I reminded her we have a bunch of shit to do tomorrow

I need a drink

Take a shot of Fireball for me. I’m on my final overnight shift before my weekend vacation. 

done, one for me and one for you

Jesus woman you’re unstoppable. 

well I do try to be a borderline alcoholic in my day to day life

(that was sarcasm)

You’re hilarious. And my favorite person to talk to. 

right back at ya doctor feel good

I gotta sleep, i’m tired as hell and were leaving early tomorrow 

Sleep well, I’ll talk to you tomorrow Bar Princess. 

goodniiiiiiight

  Friday 9:47 AM

Incoming Phone Call

“Mmm hello?”

“Hi it’s me, I’m sorry it’s so early, I know you probably haven’t slept much.”

“S’okay, you know I like hearing your voice.”

“I just wanted to say bye. I mean not forever, but the wedding is gonna keep me busy all weekend and I don’t even know if we’ll have service. So this’ll be the longest we’ve gone without talking.”

“You’re rambling, Jo.”

“I know, I know. I just… I’m gonna miss talking to you at all hours of the day. Especially when You Know Who gets all psycho.”

“Mmm well I’ll see you on Wednesday right? That’s…”

“Five days.”

“Exactly. Five days away. Not that long.”

“I know.”

“You already said that. Are you attached to my lingering presence?”

“Maybe, maybe not. I gotta go, Steph is about to leave without me. But you should check your doorstep.”

“Damn it Jo, it’s my turn not yours. Thank you anyways though, I always love that you think of me.”

“Only all the time. I’ll talk to you soon. Bye Alex.”

“Goodbye Jo.”

#jolex jolex fanfic jolex fanfiction jo karev jo wilson jo wilson karev alex karev alternate universe jolex fic jo x alex greys anatomy greys #jolex #jolex fanfic #jolex fanficiton #jo karev #jo wilson #jo wilson karev #alex karev #alternate universe #jolex fic #jo x alex #greys anatomy #greys antaomy fanfic #INFJTT

[etraytin]

Quarantine, Day 91

June 10

Today marks a full week since FIL's death, seven days that seem to have gone by extremely quickly and with little clear delineation between the days. Now that school is out for summer, we don't even have that distinction between weekday and weekend. At least I know that when this unreality starts to feel too oppressive, I can go back in my journal and read what I've been doing in the time that has now faded into featureless beige mush. By this time next week, it is possible that we will be back in Virginia and settling into our new old routine! There is a lot I will miss about being here, but I will also be so glad to get home. It's been a _very_ long time since May 1. 

The kiddo had a bad day today; he stubbed his toe very hard while helping Nana carry things out of the car and it hurt him a lot for the rest of the day. By bedtime his middle toe was looking pretty swollen, so we've got an urgent care appointment for tomorrow morning. I know that even if it's broken there's likely not much to be done about it, but it would still be good to know. Also, why on earth would we pay more than 15% of our income for health insurance if not to use it? Just looking at that sentence is terribly depressing but it is still true. We pay thousands of dollars so we can have ten dollar copays, that's a calculus that doesn't work unless you actually go to your doctor. 

So the kiddo was sore and couldn't walk very well and missed going to the tailgate market with us. He was sad, but I brought him home a fudge brownie and assured him that nobody was selling any toys, and he was comforted. He was also comforted that I let him use way more electronics than usual because he was stuck sitting down with ice on his foot for ages. MIL enjoyed being able to get to the tailgate market for the first time since the end of last tailgate market season. We got more of the really excellent hazelnut, cocoa and strawberry tea I bought last time, plus some veggies, a bunch of baked goods, and some lavender spritzing spray. There were more booths than two weeks ago when I came, and though everyone was wearing masks, it felt almost like normal.

Today was also car cleaning day.  MIL very much likes to have all her spaces organized, but this has been hard for her lately because she was so consumed with caring for FIL and then dealing with the many issues surrounding his hospitalization and the days in the nursing center. Plus with the broken knee and everything, it was hard to get around at all. Her physical therapist cleared her to go very carefully up and down stairs today, and she was _very_ pleased. She and the kiddo cleaned out the car this morning, and then this afternoon she and I took it to the car wash. We actually did a car wash last week because it was covered in pollen, so I just bought the cheapo wash today, especially since it spit rain all day, and used it to get access to the free vacuums. Social distancing at the car wash means every other vacuum parking space is blocked off, which means I didn't have to wear a mask while I vacuumed the heck out of that car. We also bought the little packet of glass wipes and dash wipes and the cloth to wipe off drips, and by the time we were done, that car looked really good. We celebrated by picking up our grocery order at Walmart! I could tell they were v. impressed. 

With groceries secured and all the marketing done, I set up a little emergency pantry for MIL in her cute dining room pie safe. She doesn't really need a month's worth of stored food, especially since she has a well stocked regular pantry, but I tucked away evaporated milk, canned meat, tomato sauces, pastas, pancake and biscuit mix, beans, and a few other useful staples. It's probably enough food to last one person a week or so, and it's nice to have in case of emergency. We're also going to make sure she's got five or six gallons of drinking water available in case of problems with the well. Her neighbors around here are really great and take good care of her, but it never hurts to have enough to get by on your own if needed! She's also got plenty of medicine, cleaning supplies and toilet paper, so she should be all set when we have to go. 

Another meal train meal tonight, homemade lasagna from the same couple who planted MIL's little herb garden for her this spring. She says they are both semi-retired attorneys and they just do stuff like this all the time to help people. I think I have new role models (and the lasagna was delicious!). At lunchtime, my husband made broccoli cheese soup from scratch, and it was very tasty to put alongside leftover barbecue and potato chips. The quality of our meals is something I will definitely miss about our time here, but it's also something I ought to get away from if I'm hoping to fit into a bridesmaid's (bridesmatron's?) dress by August. My sister's wedding may be a much smaller affair than originally planned, but I have no illusions that I'm going to get out of wearing that thing all day long. Time to start walking again! 

#quarantine #car wash #i kind of thought that being the first of my friends to get married would mean i never had to be a bridesmaid #but i discounted the part about sisters

[timehasbeenbusy]

12 & 13 November 1828

November 12

6½

10 55/60

Out at 7½ - good motion - Saw Nathan Sharpe soughing at Pump, took him with me, and went along the top of Cowgate wood to see how much walling should be done – about 116 yards long – good many stones in the old walk –Might take 4 loads per rood new stones – Nathan and Robert could do about 2 roods a day – then along common wood, and the fields and out at Hipperholme lane-ends, and went to Lightcliffe – Got there at 8 40/60 – sat down to breakfast and took 1 cup of tea, but would not breakfast – Gave Mrs W Priestley a £5 Bank of England for 3 pound notes and the four half sovereigns I got the other day, I gave her the mother of pearl book opening-knife with 2 penknife blades I bought for her at [Wood’s] when last in York – Mrs Edward Paley and her 3 girls still there – go tomorrow – very civil to her – Seven children and little or nothing to live on, one maid to take care of the children and a girl to scrub, yet everything always neat. Mrs W Priestley walked up and down with me perhaps half anxious to get one of her brother Edward’s sons to Christchurch asked if I had any interest?  Colonel Lowther had given a presentation but it was not a free one, therefore refused ie it was for the son of a freeman of London that papa must have bought - freedom of the city price 40 guineas – Knew not that I could have the least interest – in all cases meant to keep to my interest undrawn upon till possibly wanted as it one day might for some relation of my own – but would certainly do anything I could in the present case – got home at 10 50/60 –breakfast at 11 – Staid talking to my father about Lower Brea Road and then to Marian told her Commissioner must have my receipt as well as my father’s  Recommended Leader of Bradford to value the Lower Brea land etc wanted for the road – would be best to tell Mr Waterhouse, they must value and settle what they would want first – my father would not let them begin till the land was paid for – at first my father objected to my saying anything about it, but, at last, seemed to come round to it – went out at 1 to Mosey railing off Benjamin’s Well fed from Trough of Boland wood – then by Benjamin’s and above the Cunnery, and the plantation to the bit for planting in Pump Lane – then to the men (Nathan Sharpe and Robert Schofield) soughing in John Oates’s wood field – then along the new footpath to Lower brea, and thence into the new road, and down upon Well-Royde and house at 4 – then with John in the garden pruning the fruit trees and came in at 4 55/60 – Dressed – washed my feet in hot water Kind note from Mrs W Priestley with a small book an account of Christchurch Hospital and begging me to reserve my interest – had heard since seeing me of there being likely to get what they wanted – read 3 or 4 pages of the book – Dinner at 6 5/60 afterwards wrote the above of today and from 29th October to the 10th instant rough draft of index -  White rime frost this morning – very fine frosty day tho’rather thickish and hazy – a little sunshine – went upstairs at 10 5/60

 Thursday 13

6½

11¼

Out at 7 10/60  good motion  went to the 2 wallers to look at the top of Cowgate wood – there will be about 21 or 22 roods of walling to do – will do it by the day at 2/6 per man a day, or will take the job at 3/6 a rood considering it at 2/6 a rood walling and 1/- shilling a rood old wall pulling up and start picking out –Had not quite determined - would consider about it; for it will take them it seems three weeks – got home at 8½ - above ½ hour talking to my father of one thing or other – changed my pelisse etc breakfast at 9 50/60 – at 10½ off with my Father and Marian in Miss Jenkinson’s visiting landaulette to make calls – Called at Pyenest (saw Mr and Mrs Edwards - the latter looked as if it would have been all wrong had I gone away without calling) at Mill house (Mrs and Miss Rawson very civil and glad to see us) and Kebroyde – Mrs Priestley very civil and glad to see us – gave me the receipe for her capital thin sweet cakes – She is lame could not go in to the garden with us but we went to see the little improvements making –  old walls taken away and the foot path turned out of sight above – Mr Priestley came in and gave me the receipt for making gas-tar (coal-tar) answer for rails, gates and out-of-door work  To a gallon of gas-tar add a piece of pitch as big as your fist, half that of stone brimstone, about 2 lbs red lead, and about a pint of finely powdered charcoalto be laid on hot  Melt in the brimstone and pitch, then mix in the charcoal and lastly the red lead (boil the gas tar well) –

 Stayed ½ hour at Pyenest and Mill house, and about an hour at Kebroyde – left a message with Mrs W H Rawson and Mrs Priestley for Major Priestley to say we should have called but knew he was not at home – then called at Haughend – not at home – got back to Halifax about 3 – left my father and sister to go home and got out at Gill’s the shoemakers – objected to paying more than 20/- for my straight leather boots that Rutter makes for 17/- then went to Whitley’s – ordered some little account books and 4 partition book (lettered like a Ledger such as used for all the clubs here) cash-book and memorandum book for Mariana’s friendly society – ordered for Mariana too a ream of highly glazed laid letter paper, six quires to be black edged – Captain and Mrs Steward (Miss Prescott that was) came in, but seeing her slink into the other room, walked off without seeming to know she was there – then went to Wellhead to speak to Mr  Waterhouse about the Lower brea road – Saw him for 4 or 5 minutes and said all I wished – to let my father know in time what ground they wanted and what they proposed giving for it, so that a proper person might be employed to value for us – my father would not let them begin till the land was paid for, and this being known and settled, there would surely be no unpleasantness of any sort – Mr Waterhouse said all this was right – he would not consent to begin till the money was ready and they were in fact obliged to individuals who would be paid in the first instance – said I begged to mention to him as private friend and in confidence that my father could not give a sufficient receipt – that they ought to have my receipt – Mr Waterhouse said he would remember this – hoped I should be at home at this time – it seems as if it might be some months before they begin – Then begged me to go into the dining room – dinner just gone out – Mrs William Rawson there and Mrs Catherine Rawson and the two Miss Ferguson’s and a young lady staying with them – asked me if I would go in to the old ladies, as if my doing so would be a godsend, and therefore I did – they had surely been a dull party – Mrs William Rawson and at first Mrs Catherine so sombre I could scarce make out whether they my company misplaced or not – however gradually succeeded in amusing them all, and making all cheerful (talking of French cookery, parties etc etc) and all seemed heartily glad to keep me – coffee – then tea – dampish, wettish evening, and John came with the gig about 8½ seemed to leave behind me a high character for agreeableness – off, and home (fair but dampish) at 9½ -

#@12 & 13 November 1828 SH-7-ML-E-11-0090

[fisharchive]

Cool story! -

So a few weeks ago I bought some red cherry shrimp for my planted 10 gallon community, not not knowing one of the shrimp I bought was carrying eggs already! I put the shrimp in the tank and see one fanning her eggs. I thought oh well, and thought for sure they would be eaten. Fast forward to today, I lifted a rock while cleaning the tank and to my surprise there was about 5 or six baby shrimp!

Unfortunately I couldn’t get a good picture of them, as they are still very small. I am just so glad this tank may also be able to support these little guys!

#aquarium #fishblr #freshwatershrimp

[duallygirl178]

Dearest O'Malley chapter 9

Chapter 9

Every time Natalie was talking about moving in with Nathan, she put in a lot of thought to attract the energy into making it come true. I hoped she would move in with Nathan because it would make us both happy. Then one day, she showed me pictures on file from her laptop. Natalie had a ton of pictures on her laptop. When the photos got to the letter "L", I spotted a white 2 door Lincoln parked in the driveway in the background of a neighborhood in which she used to live in 16 years ago before she moved to Durango. I realized there was something mighty familiar about that car...but where? I studied the photo really closely as I zoomed in on the image and I realized, it was Gonzo. After 20 years apart, I hadn't seen him since Impa went missing. There was more for me to know and I wondered if she knew Impa, my friend that went missing. As I viewed more of her pictures, I found the answer to my questions. She had images of Impa and what I saw, disturbed me. Impa sat dead in a pile of weeds with the motor still intact, but the fluids all gone. Footages of what was left of him gave me nightmares. There was stuff in the trunk that wasn't there before and the windows were missing. The seats inside were ruined. Impa's dead body in the photo was just there rotting in the weeds. I had a moment of silence for my friend, Impa. Natalie told me who owned te farm and there was a guy was a local was in really bad debt before his divorce. He cheated people that bought cars at a dealership and was caught. He had to pack up and leave town with three kids, abandoning his ranch and home behind. There was only 5 horses and a mule that were out in the field by themselves. She shared some horse pictures that I got to see. Natalie would visit, do homework from college class, and relax with the horses. The horses weren't starving or anything because they had grass to eat and water to drink. They were just fine. I had a lot of memories of Gonzo and Impa together hanging out with me. I remembered the weekends, the things we'd do and I remembered all the jokes Impa told us when we were sad or bored our of our hoods...all for once last time.

I was still thankful that I had Gonzo and Robin as friends. Although, Gonzo had never met Robin before and by looking at Natalie, felt sympathy for me on my loss. I admired her feelings and I could see that she had a heart for my friend. I was glad she got a picture of Impa so I could see and feel better about what happened to him. A little later on our way to get drinks, Natalie was telling us all that she would feel happier living with Nathan since she had enough of Durango and all the things that were going on like the time she quit a program she was sick of called "Community Connections" because her caretaker kept walking in her apartment without knocking and another example the transit changed her bus stop. I personally believed she would be much better if she moved back down and with Nathan so he wouldn't have to waste gallons of gasoline going to Durango. I had a prediction she would and maybe later in 2018.

Later that day while I was at the drive in at Taco Bell, I happened to pull up to an old two door Lincoln that was white. He looked into the rear view mirror and seemed to recognize me. He asked if it was me and I replied it was recognizing him almost right away. It was Gonzo. He and I talked while we waited for our order and the line was long enough for us to catch up on all the things that we were doing these days. It was great to see him and he asked me about Impa...if I ever saw him after he disappeared. I told him exactly what happened to Impa and about Natalie having those pictures. Gonzo couldn't believe it either and he felt sympathy for poor Impa. He was heartbroken to hear it. Gonzo asked me how I've been holding up and I replied that I was handling it in a not so good but I'd pull through.Then, that's when I knew, I had to ask the same. Gonzo told me he would need some time to cope with his feelings. Impa was a good friend to both of us. We now swapped addresses so we could write to each other or even visit when we wanted to hang out. Interestingly enough, Gonzo lived in the same neighborhood as Natalie's mother and it was only a few houses down. Gonzo's order was up and so we both said our see-you-later words and then He zoomed off.

Later that day, I ran into Robin (Mister Rockin' Robin Finns, as I like to call him) while I was on my way to Safeway and got caught in another conversation with him. I told him that I found out that I lost a close friend a long time ago since he lost his sister recently. It all happened in Taos in a tragic semi accident. I was telling it how I remembered it. Knowing Robin, it kind of over-sympathetic and cried so much that he wanted to hear more. He wasn't exactly a cowardly red engine either and it was difficult to scare him, but I got him interested this time. His cowardly grille took me back in time 1985. It was just after watching "John Carpender's Christine" at the drive thru for the fourth time. But when that time when "Beetle juice" came to theaters, he totally moistened himself just as bad as "Creature" or even "Zombie Lake" or "Biohazard". Gonzo was all shook up that it was Impa's idea to go out in the woods to smoke reefer to calm down. Gonzo was so scared that he actually turned pink. He looked like Barbie's pink Lincoln from an Elvis Persley movie production. But Robin was so distraught that he gave me his deep sympathy and he remembered watching "Biohazard" for the sixth time and it didn't get any better for him on how scary it was. He asked me if I ever needed anything like a talk about to make me feel better, just to go to see him.

When I finished telling him about the death of Impa, Robin bawled for an hour as he tried to get a hold of himself. When he did, he apologized for acting embarrassingly cathartic. Robin was over-sentimental that he took things too far. He's what I described as having actor's syndrome. Someone with too much emotion that needed to be put at work on a set. I almost fell asleep listening to Robin go on and on in a conversation. It was almost getting late. Finally, Robin was done talking to me and thankfully he needed to get home too. We simply said a short good-bye and we both needed to get home.

By the time I got home, it was already an hour passed 10 PM. I was tired from Robin wasting my time by talking for so long. Once that I was let in, I had a seat on the couch and dozed off. The very next morning, I wrestled Ol' Reliable to get a move on so Nathan could test drive him around the block, I had to tell him I spent most of the month taking Jan, Nathan, and Natalie to town every night and that it was his turn to be driven. That seemed to put a lid on it! So without any guff, fuss, or cuss, Ol' Reliable obeyed me. I was still the leader and as long as I was on the property, I had control.

When Ol' Reliable got home shortly around the block, I got a chance to read Randy's old books. The time was already 5:23 PM and Jan just got home from work. In about 30 minutes, she would be ready to get drinks and go do errands. Tonight was about Ol' Reliable and it was his turn to take the three to town. And as for me, I got to 5 of Randy's books that he kept in the bathroom. I really enjoyed the fantasy world of quests and knights as I stayed home to relax. It was quiet enough by the time I finished all of the books, I turned on the TV to the VELOCITY channel and I watched some TV. It was a nice evening that night and having a break from town has never looked this good.

[travelingtheusa]

GEORGIA

2021 Mar 17 (Wed) – We took a tour of the Rose Lawn Museum, a Victorian house built as a 2-story cottage in 1860.  In 1885, Sam Jones bought the house and in 1895, he raised the house and built another story underneath it on the first floor.  This is the first house that I have ever seen that. Usually, a story is added ON TOP of an existing building, not under it.  It was a beautiful home.  Samuel Proctor Jones was a Methodist evangelist who toured around the country, drawing thousands of people to revival meetings.  They say he was the Billy Graham of his time, before Billy Graham.

     We then drove to the Booth Western Art Museum.  That was a wonderful place.  It had 3 stories and was full of old west pictures, sculptures and artifacts. They had two original stage coaches from the Butterfield Overland Company.  There was a section that exhibited pictures/photos of every president along with a brief 4 or 5 point summary of what set that president aside as special.  One was noted for his big feet (size 14) and another for his weight (337 pounds). Most were noted for being the first of something.

     After the museum, we drove into Cartersville and had lunch at the City Cellar and Loft.  We were seated in the basement with brick and heavy dark wood.  It felt very Irish but they had no corned beef and cabbage.  I had steak and Paul had fried chicken. Everything was very good.  In fact, the potato soup was so good that we bought a quart to take home.  Then we had to go to Kroger Supermarket to pick up a nice crusty bread to have with the soup for dinner.  While there, we picked up some wine and filled up the truck.  We had thirty cents off a gallon earned in points.

     When we got back to the campground, we drove around to look at some of the cottages for rent.  They are in the process of building new cottages.  It looks like campgrounds everywhere have discovered they make more money by renting cottages than campsites.

 2021 Mar 16 (Tue) – It was a cold, rainy day.  We went to the Southern Museum of the Civil War and Locomotive History in Kennesaw.  It was quite a museum.  The Civil War was retold in detail and in dispassionate accuracy.  It was not maudlin or depressive.   The story was simply told as the war happened.  There was a lot of locomotive history interwoven with the Civil War as well as the growth and reconstruction of the south.  We spent about 3 hours touring the museum.

     After the museum, we went to The Nest for lunch.  It was a barbecue place.  There was no one in the cafe.  When I asked the waitress about it, she said everyone was in earlier in the day.  We were late for lunch – it was after 2:30 p.m.  The food was OK.  My ribs were tough and leathery.

     As we were headed back to the campground, we decided to peel off and see the Allatoona Dam.  The visitor’s center was closed.  The base of the dam was not that impressive so we decided to drive around to the other side of the dam.  The route was over ten miles but we got there and it was a lot more impressive.  There was also the remains of a furnace from the Cooper Iron Works.  It was a massive stone structure that had been used to smelt iron.

2021 Mar 15 (Mon) – We drove into town to Etowah Mounds.  The visitor center had a very nice introductory film about the Southeastern Indians.  Without being maudlin, apologetic, or accusing, the film told the story of what happened to the Indians over the years from the first Spanish explorers to the white settlers that forced them away from their homes to reservations.  Outside, there were three large mounds that were part of a large village hundreds of years ago.  We climbed one of the mounds and looked over the area.  There was a river that ran along beside the village area.  It was certainly a perfect place to have a living area.

     After the mounds, we went to lunch at Moore’s Gourmet Market.  It was a small restaurant with a strong vegetarian bend.  We ordered fried Brussel sprouts for an appetizer and sandwiches for lunch.  My chicken salad was very mushy; I couldn’t taste any chicken.  Paul’s pork tenderloin was very dry.

     Following lunch, we made stops at Pet Smart to get dog and cat food, then at Kroger to pick up a few items.  When we got back to the campground, Paul wandered around picking up wood for a campfire.  There are a lots of trees down in the area.  It looks like the park got hit with a strong windstorm and knocked a lot of trees over.  We enjoyed a nice campfire until it started to sprinkle.  The forecast for the next 3 days is rain.  Guess it’s about time to start getting rain.  We are coming into springtime.

2021 Mar 14 (Sun) – I sat working at the computer looking out the window and watching all the RVs pull out one by one.  The place was about 2/3rds empty by the time we left at 11:30 am. We headed north to the Red Top Mountain State Park campground in Cartersville.  The drive was about 3 hours and uneventful.  The campground itself was challenging.  The roads are narrow and winding with lots of trees bordering the roadway.  We got turned around, wound up going to the visitor center, turning around, driving to the campground entrance only to find it gated, drove back to the office to check-in, got the gate code, and returned to the entrance.  The gate did not open right away then the road to our campsite was narrow and winding.  We finally got set up around 3 pm.  It’s a nice site.  Lots of woods around and we actually have a fire pit if we decide to have a campfire. Sheba likes the change in geography. The ground is covered in dead leaves and broken sticks and lots of dirt.  No concrete or pavement.

2021 Mar 13 (Sat) – RVs are starting to slip away.  I’ve been watching them drive away little by little. I guess they were right.  All the RVs will just disappear.

     We hung around the campground for most of the day.  At 11 AM, we went to the RV exhibit to see the most expensive motorhome on display.  It was gorgeous.  The salesman said it was sold for about a million dollars.  After drooling after the beautiful rig, we went food shopping at Kroger to pick up groceries.

     At 6 pm we went over to Bo & Karen’s rig to say good-bye to them and John & Kathy but no one was home.  Guess they went out for dinner.  We then went to the evening’s entertainment for the night.  The Grapevine, a 10-piece band with horns, was playing.  They were pretty good.

 2021 Mar 12 (Fri) – I went to a seminar about genealogy this morning. Paul and I went to lunch at the restaurant in the fairgrounds and had a bologna sandwich (tastes like Spam).   At 3 PM, I took a 3-hour assignment to drive an activity cart.  It was busier than the last two times I drove but I was glad when it was over.  It was not as fun this time as the last time we did the driving.  

     At 7:30 PM, we went to the arena and watched a Josh Turner concert. It was good but we were tired and left after an hour.

2021 Mar 11 (Thu) – We went to a seminar on Smartphone Photography at 9 AM.  It was interesting but we knew most everything they went over.  After the seminar, we walked over to the exhibit area where there were many motorhomes on display by dealers.  We wandered in and out of a few motorhomes but weren’t that impressed.  There were a couple of Class C motorhomes (smaller RVs) that we looked through in order to get an idea of what the RV would look like that we will be renting in Australia.  

     I went to the Ladies Luncheon and Paul returned to the camper.  They had a guest speaker – Rosy the Riveter – who told us stories of what women did on the homefront during WWII.  She was quite entertaining.

     I met Paul on the way to the next seminar – RV Retirement Options. The speaker was so monotone that we were both falling asleep.  We left in the middle of the seminar and went back to the RV for a nap.  At 6:45 PM, we went to the arena for tonight’s entertainment. The Malt Shoppe Memories sang 50s and 60s songs for an hour.  They were very good.

 2021 Mar 10 (Wed) – We went to an orientation for First Time Attendees.   It was intended for anyone who is attending an FMCA International Convention for the first time.  It’s pretty much like other conventions we have been to.  

     At 11:30 AM, we went to a seminar on How to Watch TV in My RV.  The speaker covered all the different antenna and satellite options that are out there.  Wifi remains the big issue for anyone who lives full-time on the road. Campgrounds won’t let you stream shows on their wifi signal and hot spots are usually limited to 15 GB which gets eaten up fast with just one show.  

     At 2:30 PM, we went to a seminar on RVing in Australia and Africa. We wanted to get some ideas for the Australia trip we are planning for January.  At 5 PM, we met at the RV of Bo & Karen with other SMART members. Since there are so many of us in FMCA, it was suggested that we start a chapter in FMCA of SMART members. Conversely, we would form a chapter of FMCA members in SMART.  Jack volunteered to be the Secretary/Treasurer and to put together the bylaws.  He passed around a form we signed as new members of the chapter.  We agreed to meet again tomorrow to finalize the plans. Everyone was to look for other SMART members who are here at the convention and invite them to the meeting.

      At 5 PM, we went back to meet with our SMART friends.  They held a vote on how to form the group and what the requirements should be for membership.  We left at 6 PM to grab a quick meal.  We drove the Activity Carts from 6:30 PM to whenever everyone was home. The Opening Ceremonies was at 7 PM and the entertainment (a comedian) was at 7:30 PM.  The carts were held in place until 7:15 PM then sent out to see if there were folks who needed rides to the arena.  We really should have gone out sooner.  After most folks were at the show, the drivers (there were 8 carts) were seated in a special section so we could watch the show.  We missed the opening ceremony.  Just before the show ended, they sent us back out to get the carts ready and to take people back to their RVs.

 2021 Mar 9 (Tue) – We both drove the Activity Carts this morning from 8 to 11 AM.  It was very cold and we wore coats and hats and gloves.  There were very few people who needed rides as coaches are still coming in.  The convention doesn’t officially start until tomorrow.  Our job is to just ride around and pick up anyone who wants a ride.  

 2021 Mar 8 (Mon) – We attended a Volunteer Meeting at 11 a.m. We volunteered to drive golf carts (called Activity Carts) during the convention.  We have both been assigned 3 time slots of 3 hours each over the next few days.  Paul starts off today with a 2 to 5 PM shift.  I rode with him so I could get oriented to the fairgrounds.

     While driving around, we came across fellow SMART members camped here. It turns out there are about a dozen of us here.

 2021 Mar 7 (Sun) – We packed up and moved 30 miles down the road to the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter.  We are attending the FMCA (Family Motor Coach Association) International Convention in Perry, GA.  We are among the first attendees to arrive.  The parking crews are working hard to direct all the big rigs coming in to the convention.  The FMCA is the largest RV club in the world.  They normally have about 3,000 RVs at their annual convention.  Because of COVID, they only have about 1,500 rigs here this year.  The club used to be restricted to only motorhomes.  They opened to other RVs (fifth wheels and trailers) a couple of years ago.  There are some others here, but by and large, the majority of RVs here are those big motorhomes.  I kind of feel like the redheaded stepchild.

 2021 Mar 6 (Sat) – We did laundry today and prepared to move to the Georgia Fairgrounds tomorrow.

 2021 Mar 5 (Fri) – We went out to dinner with the group to the Swanson Restaurant.  It was a historic building turned restaurant.  The food and company were very enjoyable.  

 2021 Mar 4 (Thu) – We went back to the Museum of Aviation and toured the remaining 3 buildings.  The building dedicated to WWII was quite interesting.  The display about the Vietnam War was also very well done.

     After the museum, we went to the Longhorn Steakhouse for lunch.  My steak was undercooked and I sent it back. When the waitress brought it back out, it seemed to be worse than went she took it.  She took the steak off the bill and gave me another baked potato along with the undercooked steak.  We’ll have it for breakfast tomorrow.

     On the way back home, we stopped at Kroger to pick up a few groceries. I have a couple of recipes I want to try. After dinner, I baked Hidden Secret Muffins.  As of bedtime, they appeared to be a big flop.  Ugh.  Hope the next experiment works better.

 2021 Mar 3 (Wed) – It was a do-nothing day.  We stayed in the campground all day.

 2021 Mar 2 (Tue) – It rained most of day.  The group has pastries and coffee together this morning then everyone went their own way.  Some of us are staying in the campground until Sunday when we leave for the FMCA Convention.  We drove to Robins AFB and toured the main building of the Museum of Aviation (there are 4 buildings filled with aircraft).

     At noon, we left and drove to the PX where we got lunch in the food court. Paul got a quesadilla and I got chicken at Popeye Chicken.  Neither of us was very impressed with our food.  After lunch, rather than return to the museum to tour the remaining buildings, we returned to the campground.

2021 Mar 1 (Mon) – We wanted to go to a few museums but they were all closed today.  So, we did the laundry and just hung around the campground all day.  

     Paul made the coffee for the rally and they provided breakfast this morning – waffles, pancakes, turkey sausage, orange juice, and coffee. Dinner was tossed salad, baked ziti, and garlic rolls.  They brought it in and then let it sit for over half an hour.  By the time the meal was served, the ziti was tepid and the rolls were cool.  That was disappointing.  Paul set the coffee pot up for tomorrow’s breakfast.

 2021 Feb 28 (Sun) – Church service streamed on YouTube and showed that more people were back in the church building.  We ran some errands today.  We stopped at CVS to get a refill on Paul’s prescription.  There was some confusion and the pharmacist didn’t appreciate Paul criticizing their computers but it finally worked out and he got his medication.  We stopped at Tractor Supply to pick up Bonnie’s pet food and at Kroger to pick up a few groceries.  Lunch was at The Perfect Pear in Perry.  They were clearly understaffed.  The two waitresses and a young man were hustling their butts off.  It took a while to get our food but it was all good.

     The rally provided dinner again today.  It was spiral ham, scalloped potatoes, broccoli casserole and dinner rolls.  

 2021 Feb 27 (Sat) – We took off from Lake Park at 9:30 a.m. The drive was almost 3 hours on the interstate.  We arrived at Twin Oaks RV Park in Elko around noon.  We stayed in the truck while the clerk checked us in.  One of the employees had us follow them in a golf cart to our RV site.  It is a pull through at the end of the row right next to the dog run.  We have full hookups and are also next to the community room.

     We are here at a pre-rally for the FMCA Convention next week.  This is being called a Tri-Chapter Rally with members of FMCA Veterans group, Full Timers, and Elks.  There are only about 10 people here.  Dinner was provided by the rally and consisted of hot dogs, baked beans, and tossed salad.  

 2021 Feb 26 (Fri) – The UPS truck showed up around 1 p.m.  My medicine was on board.  We stayed in the campground all day.  Took the dog for a long walk.  Began packing up for tomorrow’s move.

 2021 Feb 25 (Thu) – We were confined to the campground today while I waited for UPS to deliver my medicine from Memorial Sloan Kettering. We took a one-mile hike around one of the lakes through old forest.  It was both beautiful and spooky at the same time.  I certainly wouldn’t want to be in there on Halloween at night.  The pharmacy called later and said the plane had been diverted to Philadelphia and is scheduled to arrive tomorrow.  

     We tried to do some laundry this morning but the washer was out of order. There are two machines in the building on site and both are defunct.  I traded some of my books for others in the swap library.  I didn’t find any new ones to take.

     At lunchtime, we drove to Raisin’ Cain, listed under Nature & Parks with animals in Trip Advisor.  It was a large farm with a building that served as a small café, a shop, and a register area.  We got our food at the counter and brought it to the table to eat.  I had fried chicken, again.  Paul had a hamburger steak.  The food was very good.  There were no animals around and no nature preserve or park.

     Following lunch, we stopped at Winn Dixie and WalMart for groceries and at a gas station to get fuel.  Then we went to a Camping World store to get a couple of items.  Paul examined the barbecues.  He is unhappy with the one we have.  It’s too hard to clean.  He will research brands online before buying.

 2021 Feb 24 (Wed) – We packed up and left Riddick at 9:30 a.m. It was about a 3 hour drive, all on the interstate, to Lake Park in Georgia.  We are camped on Moody AFB Rec Area campground.  There are two lakes and lots of trees in the campground. Everything is covered with the Spanish moss.  It is quite lovely.   Unfortunately, we can’t get any TV signal.  Paul found that a wire had broken on the TV antenna and he spent a few hours trying to get it fixed.  His legs will be sore tomorrow with all that up and down the ladder to the roof. After a while, he announced the antenna is kaput and we will have to buy a new one.  Bummer.

     We drove into town to get water.  Somehow, we managed to pick up $100 worth of groceries in the process. We stopped at the Farm Fresh Restaurant for lunch.  Their fried chicken was outrageous!

[ellsfish]

after finding out my 10 gallon was actually a 5.5, i went out and bought a 10 gallon , some driftwood, moved some plants from my 3g desktop plant/snail tank, and upgraded the tetra's tank the lids arriving tomorrow and i still have to get a few things like a light, leaves, root tabs, etc but im just glad i was able to move them into a bigger environment i kept the same filter (a 10g one) and gravel/one of the decorations so hopefully thatd enough to jumpstart the cycle im gonna keep my eye on it for the next week or so and make sure everything adjusts accordingly im also really excited to use this mopani wood