#to bring about the 4th season of a show that ended 8 years ago??

[hannibal-is-my-comfort-show]

I be promoting hannibal with the level of enthusiasm only seen in multi-level marketing scheme workers

#theres a joke abouting owing a kidney in there somehwere but im not gonna be the one to find it #this show however DOES own my soul ^-^ #people say manifesting this and manifesting that #why dont you get a REAL job and start promoting it to everyone you know until they too are part if an elaborate scheme #to bring about the 4th season of a show that ended 8 years ago?? #you cant spell hivemind without i!! #hannibal #nbc hannibal #hannibal nbc #hannibal netflix #netflix #will graham #hannibal lecter #hugh dancy #mads mikkelsen #hannibal season 4 #manifesting hannibal season 4 #murder husbands #revive hannibal #renew hannibal #hannigram

[noona96n]

Yoh & Segasaki's timeline

According to Episode 7 (around the 00:33 minute mark), Yoh and segasaki have only been living together for four months. And Nikke-sensei's tweet, also clarifies that the proposal was made 3 years ago and that they’ve only been living together since March or April; which explains, in part, their shit communication lmao. 

Series timeline: June to July of year zero 

Ep 1: June 3rd (Sat)

The sunny weather forecast with Segasaki and Takatsu Reiko around the 12:30 minute mark in the latter part of Episode 1 is for 6月3日 (土). That means the present timeline, as in the drama, starts at the beginning of June; which tracks with the weather in the current episode and the weather in future episodes. Rainy season (梅雨 tsuyu) in Kanto (that includes Tokyo and Yokohama) usually starts in early June and lasts until mid-July, and, by then, typhoons already started ravaging the nation every two days lol 

Ep 2: June 8th (Thur) 

At the 8:03 minute mark, we find out that Hiyoshi Aika starts her job at EW (AHAHA WHAT A GOOFY ABBREVIATION) on the 8th of June (Hiyoshi Aika starts the broadcast by announcing the date: 六月八日). By June 10th, Yoh full-on became a sad, sulky puppy who’s pouting cutely as he made his sad stir-fry pork dinner (Yoh’s phone screen at the 9:05 minute mark reads ６月10日 土曜日). 

Around 9:56 minute mark the in-universe weather forecast shows forecasts for the 12th (Mon), 13th (Tue), 14th (Wed), 15th (Thur), 16th (Fri), 17th (Sat), and 18th (Sun) in Sapporo, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Fukuoka, and Naha, suggesting that the day that Yoh resorts to making the Teru Teru Bouzu is June 11th. (Teru Teru Bouzu is a small ghost-like white doll people hang around the house in the hope of stopping the rain and bringing about good weather. Yoh’s desperate for some dicking down lol.) So, the day Yoh got frustrated and masturbated for erotic manga inspiration is at least a day after June 11th. Yoh and Segasaki’s clothes changed by then (the most noticeable is Segasaki’s shirt and tie). 

Since the tail end of Episode 2 probably takes place on June 12th, at the earliest, we can only assume that Episode 3 and 4 take place over the weekend of the 17th and 18th. Or the next weekend after. I’m tempted to even suggest that both episodes take place on the weekend of 24th (Sat) and 25th (Sun) because of how loud the cicadas were in the background in the 4th episode with Man-san. Cicadas in Japan are no joke, guys, they are so fucking damn loud, RIP ears, you will be missed. 

Ep 6: July 24th (Mon) 

*** I think canon dates broke down from Episode 5 onward… Around the 14:47 minute mark of Episode 5, Segasaki and Hiyoshi were presenting the weather for the 7th (Thur). There’s no monthly indication but we can assume that it’s in July; July because we were just in June in the first four episodes but also because (the beginning of) July is when the (awful, terrible, no good) heatwave starts taking Japan by storm (it lasts until fucking August and even spills into September this goddamn year, I kid you not; it was horrible). But, in Episode 6, the weather forecast at the end of the episode (around the 21:33 minute mark) was for 24th (Mon). If the 7th was a Thursday, then the 24th should be a Sunday, not a Monday. 

That’s why I’m just gonna disregard the 7th (Thur) in Episode 5, though I do think it takes place at the beginning of June or the end of July. Also, if we disregard that and count the days from Episode 1 (Saturday, June 3rd), then Monday, July 24th would make sense in Episode 6. So, let's go with that.

By the end of Episode 6, it’s the 24th of July. I know this is a while from Episode 5 but if we consider Man-san’s My Idol Boyfriend manga, then it makes sense. Yoh was ‘offered a job’ by Man-san pretty much immediately after he got dropped by his editor and by Episode 7, their manga was already in print. It would take them some time to finish their manga; less than a month is a very tight time to write, storyboard, edit, and have it approved but let’s make believe lol 

Ep 7: Typhoon No. 5

At the beginning of Episode 7 (around the 00:09 minute mark), Typhoon No. 5 was forecasted to take Tokyo by storm tomorrow. That kinda checks out, to be honest. Typhoon season in Japan could start as early as mid-May and could last until mid-October, depending on how early or late the heat begins and how long it’ll last. So I do think Episode 7 takes place some time after July 24th. 

Interesting tidbit: typhoons in Japan aren’t given names but are usually referred to by numbers. 

Personal (interesting?) tidbit #1: the first year I came to Japan, the super typhoon Hagibis made landfall in Japan. It was the strongest typhoon to hit Japan in decades and it was one of the strongest and biggest ever recorded. It was hella scary, not gonna lie lol and food was all out, even from the convenience stores. Fortunately, I was living in central Tokyo and wasn’t affected. Still scared though…. And, the crazy thing was, an earthquake struck the coast of Chiba before the typhoon hit so the typhoon’s effect was compounded. Wasn’t a fun experience, 0/10, do not recommend. 

Personal (interesting?) tidbit #2: my parents visited me this passing late May to early June, around the time typhoon Mawar wasn’t waging war in the Pacific. It was not a fun experience… we weren’t directly struck by it but the effects were kinda crazy: roads were closed, trains were suspended, rivers were flooded, and shops and restaurants were mostly closed. Felt really bad cause I took my family to Hakone (booked everything ages in advance and couldn’t cancel our reservation RIP) and we were just stranded up there… thankfully the sky cleared by our last day there and we were able to catch a glimpse of Fuji on our Ashi-no-ko’s cruise and on the train back to Tokyo. Still, wasn’t a fun experience, 0/10, do not recommend. 

Japan’s a wonderful place to visit though! Just… pick the right time. (I recommend autumn (Oct-Nov) because the weather’s great, the food’s fucking amazing, and the autumn foilage’s pretty rad.) 

Ep 8: July 28th 

The date after their (mildly) kinky sexy time was July 28th (Fri). The date can be found on Man-san’s phone around the 11:00 minute mark (7月28日、金曜日). 

There’s also another time indication later in the episode around the 17:13 minute mark where Yoh and Segasaki last texted on July 26th. Segasaki was telling Yoh about the rain and Yoh’s responses were pretty frosty if I’m being honest. Their texts go like this:

Segasaki: 今日午後から雨降る (It’s gonna rain this evening) Yoh: ありがとう (thanks) Segasaki: 洗濯物取り込んどけよ (bring the laundry in) Yoh: うん (k) 

It’s… frosty. Bare minimum from Yoh. Ofc he’s just feeling guilty (about the manga situation and stuff) but, y’know… it feels cold to Segasaki. I honestly feel really bad for the guy lol, especially because, from his perspective, Yoh’s only thinking about leaving and Yoh’s touchy-feely with that editor guy, and Yoh smiles happily and fully at and with that editor guy, and Yoh’s tired from being with him. 

Anyway, the series takes place from June to July of year zero and that’s canon. There, I said it. 

Yoh moving in: April of year zero

As you can see from my shittily drawn ‘graph’, I place Yoh’s moving in with Segasaki at April. This tracks with the timeline and Nikke-sensei’s clarification as well as in-universe narrative of them only been living together for four months. But, I’m extra so I’m gonna explain why (I found out about sensei’s tweet after figuring out the timeline lol)... and it’s not just backtracking from July. 

So, in Japan, the year usually ‘starts’ in April; as in the school year and the fiscal year ends in March and starts in April. This applies to leases as well: contracts are usually for 2 years and will likely end in March. Housing is in very high demand during that time and the prices for each unit are also very expensive because of that. Of course, you can rent a unit any time of the year but the good ones are also mostly available and up for grabs in the March-April period. (Renting a unit in Japan is… an experience lol and not a fun one. My being a foreigner does not help one bit because many landlords do not accept foreign tenants no matter who you are, where you’re from, or what you’re in Japan for.) 

Anyways, as Yoh can see, I think that Yoh graduated in year zero… so, that’s a winter graduation some time in February. (People also graduate in summer some time in August but it’s much rarer because most Japanese enter uni in Spring (April). People who graduate in September are either those who extend their uni year or foreign students who enter during the Autumn intake in September because that’s when the English program school year start (in my department, at least… I entered in April and graduated my Master's 3 years later in February but it’s a somewhat special case.)

Anyway!!! Yoh graduates ‘this’ year so, that means his lease will be up too and it makes perfect sense for him to move with Segasaki around late March or early April. 

The proposal: mid-Feb —  late-March three years ago

I place the proposal at the end of Winter, beginning of Spring in year minus-three. Weather-wise, it’s plausible because we know that the day of the proposal was unusually warm for the time and February is easily one of the coldest months in Japan. And, even though Spring starts in March, warmth doesn’t really come around until later in the month or even April. (It snowed in March, once. In Tokyo. It rarely ever snows in Tokyo but it’s been snowing every other year since I came here.) 

I also headcanon that Segasaki graduated (his Master's) that minus-three year while Yoh is only in his second year of bachelor’s. My logic is that because he’s graduating, this could be his last desperate attempt to lock Yoh down and make sure Yoh’s spoken for (Yoh’s just a dumb-dumb who doesn’t recognize a proposal lol). It also makes sense for the proposal to come up at that period if we think about it… Mizuki’s graduating and Yoh could be asking him about his jobs after graduation and whatever else which, in turn, allows Mizuki to start a conversation about Yoh’s plan for the future. It’s also not uncommon for peeps to hang around uni before they start their jobs (for whatever reasons) so it makes sense to me that the proposal was in some time between Mizuki’s graduation in mid-Feb till late-March, when Yoh’s about to start his new school year and Segasaki will have to start his job. (This could be when Yoh finds out Segasaki will be working with EW and starts watching the broadcast religiously.) 

Job prospect-wise, it’s pretty solid. Segasaki’s confident that he’d be working in a high-paying job when he proposed to Yoh. If Segasaki’s graduating in year minus-three, then he’d extremely likely to already have a job lined up for him; he’s just gonna immediately enter the workforce right out of uni. This is very common in Japan. University graduates are socially expected and pressured into working immediately after finishing their studies which is why it’s common practice for them to start their job-hunting process during the second to last or last year at uni. It’s generally advised that they start second to last year in uni (B3 if you’re in your bachelor’s and M1 if you’re in your Master's) because the process is long and drawn out and it could be a very long time before a job is offered. It’s also ill-advised to do your job-hunting in your final year because final year can be very hectic for some; some B4 and M2 students need to write their thesis, do graduation projects, finish up their experiments, etc. it’s not fun to add job-hunting into the mix. So, even if the proposal happened right after Segasaki’s graduation, Segasaki would be confident that he’d be able to support both of them just fine. 

Why I don’t think Yoh did his job hunting 

I honestly don’t think Yoh did his job-hunting because:

As I talked about here, Yoh became anxious about jobs and job-hunting in general in Episode 5 and this could imply that he didn’t go through the process while he was in university. You could do it on your own, but it’s difficult. That’s why many students take advantage of the recruitment offered by universities. Many also make use of other public recruitment services. 

Yoh’s the kind of person who does things at his own pace and does what he wants. I.E. 1; Yoh is a slow walker who has always walked slow. Segasaki made a point of commenting about his pace but instead of increasing his speed to match that of his sempai’s, he continued at his own pace and said he’s been told that before, and Segasaki was forced to match his pace. Yoh’s aware of his snail's pace, he was criticized for it but said fuck all and went about walking at his speed anyway. This is very not-Japanese. I.E. #2; He doesn’t really care to socialize. That’s it, that’s the reason. I.E. #3; my guy used 俺 (ore) with the stranger seniors. Peeps aren’t expected to drop 俺 (ore) and go for 僕 (boku) when talking to seniors anymore but they’re strangers… he should be using 僕 (boku). I.E. #4; he made fucking curry rice for a sick person because that’s the only thing he can make. Curry rice. He could’ve googled how to make porridge but nah, curry rice lol. I.E. #5; arguing with his editor that the ‘I love you’ dialogue is necessary in his 20 pages long porn manga. I don’t man, Yoh’s not afraid to do his own shit and he totally seems like the kinda guy who’d fuck around and find out when it comes to his career. Which I think is why Yoh’s secured that he has a patron in Segasaki and decided not to do his job-hunting. 

Yoh & Segasaki’s first meeting: May —  June four years ago

I think Yoh first ‘met’ Segasaki four years ago; that’s his first year in university, and that would explain why he hasn’t seen Segasaki sooner. I placed their first meeting in May — June mainly because of their outfits. Everyone was wearing a Spring palette when we first saw them at the cafeteria, but they weren’t wearing any thick outer layers so that’s probably very late into Spring and early June. Their clothes also became progressively lighter throughout the flashback and, by the time Segasaki was sick, there were more layers on everyone again, esp. Segasaki, indicating that Autumn could’ve been around the corner. (Though this could just be due to the timing of the filming!)

Also, Segasaki’s friend asked for his notebook, implying that there’s a report/assignment/quiz coming up that he needs to prepare for. So, at least we know it’s definitely not the start of the semester.

On Mizuki’s Master’s level education 

I’ll be real… I’m entirely biased when it comes to Segasaki’s educational level. I have a Master's and I’m an old, I want my fav to be an old too haha. (I’m currently doing my PhD, it’s… going somewhere lmao) 

Anyway, I didn’t make him have a Master's just because… I think Segasaki has a position of seniority in the workplace despite his young age: he led the discussion and (I presume) implemented the new weather reporting system thing. He was also comfortable with rejecting the welcome dinner (歓迎会 kangeikai) for Hiyoshi… and his co-workers, who are obviously his seniors, just accept it as it is. You don’t just reject invitations to after-work dinners/parties, 飲み会 (nomikai), especially not the kangeikai. It’s a party to welcome new members; rejecting it means you’re not a team player and unwilling to bond with your co-workers to cultivate a harmonious workplace relationship, which is a no-no in Japan (please read up on 和 (wa) if you’re interested in learning why), and definitely a no-no if you’re not high-up in position. (There’s a lot of politics going on in the background that I’m not very familiar with. I understand the most basics; like filling superior’s glasses, ‘hanging out’ with superiors, being frank and up-front and coming away unscathed, power-harassment bosses forcing people to drink, etc.) So, Segasaki must’ve entered the workplace in a relatively high position; which is achievable with a Master's. 

Interesting tidbit #1: did you know, you don’t get fired from a workplace in Japan? If the company wanna lay off people, they usually just close the entire department lol crazy, I know, but it’s legit. It’s why people can be employed for life at work.

Interesting tidbit #2: not many Japanese students go for a Master's but when they do, they usually enter right after their Bachelor’s. However, there are certain majors where having a Master’s is advantageous and students are generally encouraged to go for it. I.E. my major, Architecture and Urbanism, and Civil Engineering. These majors typically take 5 years of undergrad for students to qualify as practitioners. In Japan, their Bachelor’s only lasts for 4 years and a 2 years Master’s will put them on the same level as other practitioners from abroad. (I did 5 years of Undergrad in Architecture and Urbanism and another 3 years for my M.Arch degree lol and there are years to go until I get my Doctoral RIP)

wrote this whole thing bcs of this silly lil fic lmao

#taikan yoho #my personal weatherman #yoh tanada #tanada yoh #yoh x segasaki #segasaki x yoh #segasaki mizuki #kohei higuchi #mashiko atsuki #noona96n #mpw meta

[ladytauria]

hey liv sorry in advance i am nosy

🍓🐇🧃🪐🍬🦷🦋🦴🪲

dont be sorry! i enjoy nosy uwu

🍓 ⇢ how did you get into writing fanfiction?

hmm

i was 12. my favorite tv show at the time was this old disney cartoon, "super robot monkey team hyper force go" (abbreviated as SRMTHFG or SRMTHG. i prefer the first but plenty of people use the second.) it was canceled after its 4th season and, uh. the ending was SO bad. like, major major cliffhanger.

anyway, i was looking up... i don't even remember at the time. and i discovered deviantart, and i discovered this person's OCs. read a lot about them, including some fanfic, and then eventually discovered fanfiction.net

i didn't realize what it was at first; i thought it was just a writing in general site? and i was like oh! i can share the book i'm working on! (i have been trying to write a novel since i was 10). and then as i was looking into where i would post it, i realized what it actually was. (no, the title didn't give it away. idk why.)

so then i was like oh!!! this is really cool actually!!! and i wrote my first fanfic xD

that was in 2011? so i was 12, almost 13.

and i've been reading & writing fic ever since~

🐇 ⇢ do you prefer writing original characters, reader inserts, or a mix of both?

okay so this is a tough question

bc like

i love love love love love second person.

like.

*adore* it.

second person, present tense is my absolute fave, but past tense is good too. (i have written an entire sapphic little mermaid retelling [12k words i think] in second person. uh, it needs revisions but it's a full draft. i opened it it the other day and im still so proud of it uwu)

howEVER. outside of writing second person w/o ever explicitly naming the pov character i have not actually written a reader-insert? so for that reason alone i will have to say 'prefer writing oc's'

🧃 ⇢ share some personal lore you never posted about before

uhh

hm

i'm a chronic oversharer (mostly in the tags) so that's kind of tough!

ah! since my grandmother's memory issues started, i've been doing about half of the cooking (it's been a bit of a battle, as she keeps trying to do everything xD) and i've cooked a lot of new things this year!! i've gotten very good at cooking pork chops. which 🤔 now that i bring that up, i might make friday! or tonight, but they're still in the freezer, so...

🪐 ⇢ name three good things going on in your life right now

my grandmother's memory situation has improved a lot!! it's still not great, but like. strides ahead of where we were 7-8 months ago!

my anxiety has been much kinder to me this year <3 i've made some very lovely friends this year~

mmm, oH, my energy levels have been fantastic this year. i didn't realize just how bad they had gotten until i started these new meds, and now i'm just. <333 much better.

🍬 ⇢ post an unpopular opinion about a popular fandom character

hm

idk if i have any unpopular opinions...? i mean. i'm sure i must, but... nothing immediately comes to mind ^^;

🦷 ⇢ share some personal wisdom or a life hack you swear on

hmmm

recently been trying to get in the habit of summarizing what i want to do before i start writing. it makes the process much easier, if ik a bit about what i want to do before going in?

🦋 ⇢ share something that has been on your heart and mind lately

i am much better at being patient than i ever gave myself credit for in the past <3

🦴 ⇢ is there a piece of media that inspires your writing?

i can't think of one piece in particular, as the places i find inspiration are. all over the board?

🪲 ⇢ add 50 words to your current wip and share the paragraph here

picked a wip from my open tabs at random! funnily enough this is also the one i ended up doing for the emoji ask xD

it's also almost triple what this asked for but once i started writing i couldn't stop <3

He swallows, staring up at Tim. Jason has had plenty of practice reading people through a domino, but. He has no reference for the look Tim is giving him now. Only that it— That the feeling it gives him is… is new and strange. He has no name for it, the way his stomach feels fluttery and tight, his scalp and fingers tingling. His mouth opens—but all that escapes is a stuttery puff of air. That’s okay. He doesn’t know what he was going to say anyway. Tim hooks a gloved finger under his chin; tipping his face up. He leans in, slowly—so slow that Jason— There’s nothing keeping him there. He could run. Turn away. But he feels caught, feet anchored in place. Tim’s mouth touches his, and all thought leaves him. Jason has never been kissed before.

[ writers truth or dare ask game ]

#ask gaming #felinemotif #asks and answers #tauriawritesfanfic #the color of hope (canary yellow)

[onetoonetono1]

Trade Partner Meets Again After A Year

Trade Partner Meets Again After A Year

A trade that gave one person and received four people became a trade that only four people received for free in a year? It's happening in real time in the U.S. Major League Baseball. It's a trade story that the Baltimore Orioles conducted with the Minnesota Twins about a year ago.

On August 2 last year, Baltimore traded Closer Jorge Lopez (30) to Minnesota. At the time of the trade, Baltimore was in sight of autumn baseball, chasing the third-ranked team in the American League (AL) wild card by 1.5 games with 53 wins and 51 losses, but he boldly sent out the team's closer. It was because Felix Batista, 28, had the best setup man and strong candidate for closure at the time, but it was clear that it was a bold decision.

Lopez was also an All-Star with 48.1 innings in 44 games and 1.68 ERA and 19 saves last year. Thanks to this, Baltimore was able to bring in four young pitchers in exchange for the trade. Left-hander Cade Povich, 23, left-hander Juan Rojas, 19, right-hander Juan Nunez, 22, and right-hander Yanier Cano, 29.

A year later, the trade is concluded to be a perfect victory for Baltimore. Povich grew to be Baltimore's 12th prospect, and Nunez also became the team's 29th prospect.

And Kano has been reborn as the league's best bullpen this season. So far, he has played 64.1 innings in 61 games, earning 1.68, 29 holds, and 5 saves in ERA. This year's All-Star selection was a given.

Therefore, from Baltimore's point of view, he traded the "last year's All-Star bullpen" to produce the "this year's All-Star bullpen" and earned three more promising pitchers.

But Lopez was very curved. He failed to meet expectations with ERA 4.37, one hold, and four saves in 22.2 innings in the second half of last year when he moved to Minnesota. Finally, Minnesota, the AL Central Division leader with 54 wins and 49 losses, failed to advance to the postseason as its 50% winning rate collapsed with 78 wins and 84 losses. Rather, Baltimore's performance (83 wins and 79 losses), which traded Lopez, was better.

Lopez didn't make a comeback this season either. He briefly showed a powerful pitch at the beginning of the season, but fell back into a slump and showed a difficult performance to use as a must-win bullpen with 35.1 innings ERA 5.09, 6 holds, and 3 saves.

In the end, Minnesota traded Lopez back for Maimami Marlins bullpen Dylan Floro (32) on July 26. We tried to change the mood by changing the two pitchers who had made ambiguous performances, but this deal ended up with the worst result.

Lopez threw 11.2 innings in Miami, giving up his worst career performance with ERA 9.26, and Floro is also extremely sluggish with ERA 5.91 in 10.2 innings in Minnesota.

Miami's patience has reached its limit, and Lopez has been waived. Baltimore made a claim to this Lopez and brought him back. In other words, the trade, which took place 1-4 a year ago, has changed to a trade that has just received four players "free of charge" in a year.

Lopez said, "I'm really excited and grateful to be back in this team," as if he's happy to be back with a team with many good memories.

Baltimore immediately put Lopez into the game as soon as they signed him. Lopez took the mound in the top of the eighth inning when he beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-4 today (4th) our time. He made his first appearance in a Baltimore uniform since July 29 last year.

Lopez hit a double by the first batter, but later blocked one inning without losing a point by hitting all three batters, including one strikeout.

Episode 9 was up to Kano, who was 'Lopez's legacy'. Kano finished the first inning with one run, leading the game to victory. The trade parties came out in one game in a year and contributed to the team's victory.

Currently, Baltimore has 85 wins and 51 losses (0.625 winning rate), ranking first in the AL as well as in the AL East. However, he is being chased by the Tampa Bay Rays (83 wins and 54 losses, 0.606) which is the second-ranked team in the East Division.

It's virtually certain that you'll make it to the postseason as a wild card, but you can't be relieved that you're No. 1 in the district who can go straight to the division series. This is why attention is being paid to whether Lopez, who returned after a year, will help Baltimore "protect the lead" by forming an iron wall bullpen with Cano 메이저사이트

It's possible if Lopez and Cano play together more times like today. And if it actually goes that way, the Lopez trade last year may become one of the best trades in Baltimore's history.

[smallcollegebasketball]

The Greatest of College Basketball Games

What makes a game “great”?

A well-executed game?  A great finish?  Great players and coaches?  Great, exciting plays?  The stakes?  Conference or National Tournament game?  A National Championship game?  I think that, for a game to be truly “great”, then answer may be that it has a little bit - or a lot - of each of the above mentioned traits.

When I think of “great” games at the small college levels - at least over the last couple of decades - I think of the incredible four overtime thriller between Concordia (CA) and Robert Morris (IL) in the 2007 NAIA National Semi-Finals. (Here’s a video clip:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJDaw2yYgw8).  I think of the remarkable comeback win for Barton, over Winona State, in the 2007 NCAA Division II National Championship game in 2007. (Here’s a video clip:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WzmQmz9Kdc).  I also think of Findlay’s 2009 overtime thriller in the National Championship game to cap an undefeated season.  (Here’s a recap:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iibhTY_txV4).  I think about Texas Wesleyan’s last-second 3-pointer to win the 2006 NAIA National Championship over Oklahoma City.  I think of the incredibly suspenseful ending in the 2010 NAIA National Championship game, as Oklahoma Baptist just barely edged Azusa Pacific.  I think of Graceland - in their first and only time reaching the NAIA Tournament - hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to win the 2018 NAIA National Championship.  (Here’s a link to watch the final seconds:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6c5MUprymE).  How about the 2014 Wisconsin-Whitewater vs. Williams NCAA Division III National Championship game?!!!  (Here’s the video clip of the finish:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6arGWYIxpQ).  How about “The Block” from Joey Flannery to seal Babson’s 2017 NCAA Division III National Championship game?!!! (Here’s the video clip:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DF8vlz52pKI).

Certainly, I’m missing many over the last couple of decades, but the games I listed above.....well, I’d consider them to be “great” games.  Fantastic finishes with terrific players with something significant on the line.

I bring up this topic because I’ve seen some truly “great” games over the past week.  Primarily, I’m referring to two games, yet my mind goes back about three weeks to a third great game.....

Starting a few weeks ago, the MIAA (NCAA Division II) Championship game between Washburn and NW MO State was truly a great college basketball game.  Washburn and NW MO State had split during the regular season, with both games going into overtime.  NW MO State has been - and is - the gold standard of NCAA Division II basketball over the last decade.  Washburn is so well coached and so tough, and so good.....and they’ve had the Bearcats’ number this year.  In this MIAA Championship game, which was played at Bearcat Arena, the game was tight throughout the evening.  With 37 seconds remaining, Ryan Hawkins hit a free throw to tie the game at 66.  Washburn took possession, and let the clock wind down, and they put the ball in the hands of Tyler Geiman, who has been spectacular all season long.  (Geiman was named First Team All MIAA and was named to the Third Team All American by the D2 CCA).  With 9 seconds remaining, Geiman launched a 3-pointer.  Trevor Hudgins got a piece of the ball, and Diego Bernard picked it up and started to streak down the court, with second remaining and a tie game.  At about mid-court, Geiman was called for a foul.  Two shots with 2.7 seconds remaining.  Bernard hit both of them.  68-66 for the MIAA Championship.....but then Washburn threw the inbounds pass to Tyler Geiman, who took two dribbles and fired up the desperation shot.  When he launched it, he was been his own 3-point line and the half court line.  It was later estimated to be a 57-foot shot.  As the buzzer sounded, the ball was in flight....and yes, the ball dropped into the net!  69-68, Washburn, for the MIAA Championship.  What a finish!  What a game!  

(As a note, Washburn handily won their first-round game in the NCAA Tournament and met up with NW MO State about a week later....and NW MO State put on one of the most remarkable performances - on both ends of the court - that I’ve seen in quite a while.  For example, with 11:11 left in the game, the Bearcats led 72-19....that is not a misprint: The Bearcats were leading by 53 points over a very good, well coached NCAA Tournament team.  The final was 85-44 - a 41-point win, as benches were cleared early in that one.)

...............

The other “great” game I’ve seen recently was the Central Region Championship game between NW MO State and Northern State.  Northern State has been fantastic this season, and they had just won the NSIC for the fourth consecutive season.  They came into the game with a 19-1 record.  Parker Fox, a 6′8″ junior, is an incredibly explosive highlight reel.  He plays so hard and is ridiculously athletic.  He as the NSIC Player of the Year and was named First Team All American by multiple publications.  In this game, which was played at Wachs Arena in Aberdeen, was played with great emotion, with a trip to the Elite Eight on the line.  The game was played between two of the very best teams in the country, with several of the very best players in the country (legitimately, there were three players on the court that would be in the discussion for the National Player of the Year: Fox, Trevor Hudgins and Ryan Hawkins), and the full teams were just THAT good.

Fast forward.  Parker Fox was fantastic for a high percentage of the game, finishing with 34 points and 12 rebounds, and going 14-18 from the field.  He showed why he was in the discussion for National Player of the Year.  With 3:04 left in the game, Fox went up for a layup and was fouled by Wes Dreamer.  He made the shot and converted the free throw to put the Wolves up by 11, 76-65. 

Then Trevor Hudgins and Ryan Hawkins made key plays down the stretch....and really, Trevor Hudgins just completely took over the game, eventually completing the remarkable comeback by hitting a step-back 3 with 7 seconds remaining to send the game into overtime.  Early in OT, Northern State took a 2-point lead...and then NW MO State took over for the last few minutes and came away with a 91-86 win.  

I felt privileged to witness this one..... two of the very best teams in the country just played their hearts out.  You felt an exhilaration just watching this one.  I think that everyone - players, coaches, fans, etc. - realized that they were a part of something special that night.  

Below are photos of Trevor Hudgins, Ryan Hawkins and Parker Fox (yet note from the game referenced).  Further below, I write about the final “great” game that I just witnessed last night.

Last night, in the NCAA Division II Semi-Finals, I witnessed another “great” game.  This one was between Lincoln Memorial and West Texas A&M.  There are so many sub-plots here.  Tom Brown has built a powerhouse - and one of the truly elite programs in NCAA Division II - at West Texas A&M.  The Buffs just won a record 4th straight Lone Star Conference Tournament Championship.  They came into last night’s game with an 18-2 record, and were 32-1 last season (when the tournament was cancelled).  They have been incredible dominant.  Josh Schertz has built a powerhouse - and one of the truly elite programs in NCAA Division II - at Lincoln Memorial.  The Railsplitters came into the game with a 19-3 record, and were 32-1 last season (before the tournament was cancelled).  They have had an absolutely dominating decade, as Josh Schertz has the second highest winning percentage in the history of college basketball - at any level - for a coach that has been a Head Coach for at least 10 years.

This Elite Eight was set to be the final NCAA Division II Elite Eight for Josh Schertz, as he was just named the Head Coach at Indiana State.....with the caveat that he would still be allowed to coach his Lincoln Memorial Team in the Elite Eight.

The other interesting piece of information is that I had scheduled West Texas A&M vs. Lincoln Memorial for the opening of the 2019-20 season, in the Small College Basketball National Hall of Fame Classic, in St. Joe, MO, at the Civic Arena.  So, on the opening day of the 2019-20 season, in an event that is exempted by the D2 Conference Commissioners Association (thank you, again, to the D2 CCA), the Buffs and Railsplitters, took to the court.  It was a spectacular game between two immensely talented teams that are so, so well coached.  As expected, it was a heck of a game.  With 34 seconds remaining, Qua Grant hit a layup to tie the game at 83.  LMU took possession and let the clock wind down....and then Vas McCauley nailed a 3-pointer with 5 seconds remaining to put the Railsplitters up, 86-83.....and then Qua Grant came back down and hit a 3-pointer with 1 second remaining to send the game into overtime.  In OT, the Buffs outscored LMU 13-3 for a 99-89 win.  The next day, Lincoln Memorial set the SCB HOF Classic record with a 50-point win over Davenport, and the Railsplitters didn’t lose another game for the rest of the season, finishing 32-1.

Fast forward to last night.  A trip to the NCAA Division II National Championship was on the line.  Coach Josh Schertz is coaching in his final Elite Eight before departing for Indiana State.  The Railsplitters came out strong, and led by 9 at the halftime break, 44-35.  In the second half, the Railsplitters hit the first bucket of the half to go up by 11.  The Buffs then began to slowly chip away at the lead, yet the Railsplitters held the lead throughout the half....until the Buffs eventually caught them to tie the game at 79, with 3.43 remaining.  From there, the Railsplitters rallied to take the lead, eventually going up by 5, 85-80, with 52 second remaining.  Then, leading by 2 (86-84) with seconds remaining, the Buffs had the ball.  Joel Murray drove the lane, put up a shot....which was promptly blocked by Cam Henry.  The officials went to the replay to confirm that the ball was, indeed, sent out of bounds by Henry.....and to check the clock.  They determined that the ball went out of bounds off of Henry, yet they added .9 seconds (9/10 of a second) back onto the clock.  The ball was inbounded to Qua Grant, and the West Texas A&M players gave him space to operate.  Grant drove from the right wing with his left hand, into the paint.  He went up for the floater with about 3 seconds remaining.  The ball bounced around the rim, and was batted around by multiple players, vying for the rebound.  It was eventually tipped out to sophomore sharpshooter Zach Toussaint.  Toussaint, who is typically a fantastic 3-point shooter, was 0-4 from the 3-point line and had been held scoreless up until this point.  Toussaint grabbed the ball and quickly let it fly from about 23 feet.  He released it will about .9 (9/10 of a second) left.  As the ball was in flight, the backboard lit up and the buzzer sounded.  As the ball dropped through the net to secure the 87-86 win for the Buffs, there was pandemonium and heartbreak all at the same time.  

It was an instant classic.  It was a “great” game.

#Lincoln Memorial #NW MO State #Northern State #West Texas A&M #Washburn

[delanyb]

Since I’ve been slacking off with the Fnaf headcanon series for quite some time now, with no good reason, have some AR skins and event character headcanons

Shamrock Freddy

Like Frostbear and Firework Freddy,he’s a Freddy made specifically for the holidays. St. Patrick day to be exact

Has a Irish ascent to go with his holiday theme

Similar to Rockstar Freddy, he desires Faz-coin to a unhealthy degree

Enjoys talking about St. Patrick day traditions and folklore.

Is pretty self-centered

Usually picks on Frostbear for no good reason

All the other animatronics who take part in the Fazbear Funtime Service either are indifferent to him like Chica or 8 Bit Baby. While others like regular Freddy and Bonnie hate him for just being a overall jerk

In some instances when the animatronics are being shipped together in trucks for customers, a Shamrock Freddy always seems to cause some sort of commotion that usually leaves everyone in mangled animatronic parts by the end

The company was actually considering removing him off from the service completely given all the problem he caused

But considering that he makes for great revenue during the St. Patrick day season, they just left him alone for the other animatronics to deal with.

Firework Freddy

Aside from Chica with her cupcake, he’s the only one who comes with a accessory.

Has lots of nicknames, but the most common ones are Firework and just Summer Freddy

All the other animatronics find his firework very cool

Springtrap however does not becuase anything that goes boom gives him flashbacks to when the springlocks snappped back in the saferoom all those years ago...

Is a expert on cooking with a barbecue

Has a lot of knowledge on sport related stuff from all over the world

Hates the cold

However he doesn’t hate Frostbear and feels bad for him becuase of Shamrock Freddy’s constant bullying

Has a lot of extras clothes and extra accessories that correspond with the traditions of the customer(s) that ordered a vist from him

For instance, he may be all decked out for 4th of July one year, and the next you’ll see a bear ready for the beach and so fourth.

Constantly switching his attire for each visit does get a little annoying, but for him, making people happy in the end makes it worth all the hassle.

VR Toy Freddy

Is a completely different entity than regular Toy Freddy

Is the textbook definition of absolute gamer chad

Playing video games takes first priority for him

Recently he’s been playing the newest instalment in the fnamh’s (Five Nights At Mr Hug’s) series

He’s quite clumsy and bumps into other animatronics or common house things likes selves on a daily basis

But on the rare chance he’s not using his headset he’s usually making absurd theorys on what’s going on with the lore in the new Vr game

His main theory is that that this new strange crate looking character escaped from dumper purgatory from the previous game in the series and placed themselves into the in universe VR game.

Shamrock Freddy question why he’s still invested in that series though. As he states, the original trilogy is the best and that it all went downhill once that weird gumball machine used paper plates as a skin suit.

Whenever He or anyone else for that matter says something along the lines of that, VR Toy Freddy always goes into essay long arguments for why he’s wrong. He’s very quick to defend his favourite franchise

Jokes that he’s The Man Behind The Slaugher unironically even when the meme has died ( *In this universe the man behind the slaughter meme exists because of the Fnaf 1 news paper clippings, along with the fact that Springtrap is a well known entity thanks to HW, and the Fazbear Funtime service.*

Chocolate Bonnie

Nicknames are Choco Bonnie, and unfortunately as immature as it, Poop Bonnie

He’s made of real actual chocolate

Once somebody’s dog took a big bite out of his bottom right stomach area that simply couldn’t be repaired. The dog took 87 bites out of him btw

That’s why every single copy of the Chocolate Bonnie model scanned in after that day has that big and distracting hole

His three button and botie are mint candy flavoured

Real Easter eggs are hidden inside his stomach cavity and are placed near his endo parts

Though he’s more appropriate for Easter time, sometime he’s advertised for the Halloween season for that trick or treat goodness

Similar to Bon-Bon and Funtime Freddy , Easter and Chocolate Bonnie are a two in one package.

Given the surprising popularity of the Funtime Service, (*in universe*) a merch store has being set up to only spread word of their brand but to bring these beloved characters in the pop culture consensus again, and Chocolate Bonnie gets a bunch of merch

Whether it be a coffee mug,a shirt, or the type of chocolate bunny you’ll see in those craft stores, Cholocate Bonnie has it all.

Easter Bonnie

Is very dramatic and has a showman like personality. (Similar to Funtime Foxy in UCN)

His Easter egg pattern on his stomach area is actually drawn with crayons and the circles are get plain circle shaped stickers you would find at the your local dollar store. Goes to show that the Fazbear Funtime Service sticks to the roots of Fazbear Entertainment, being really cheep

How Easter and Chocolate Bonnie entertain customers is that Easter Bonnie usually has a “dramatic” retelling of the Easter bunny fairytale while Chocolate Bonnie’s the food, customers can eat while enjoying the play

He’s quite athletic

The “Happy Easter” tag on the top of his ear isn’t actually a intentional design choice

Easter Bonnie just stole it from a random candy store nearby

Some confuse him as a winter themed Bonnie covered in snow due to his mainly white colour palette. Considering that Freddy Frostbear’s a thing that isn’t that much of a stretch

Can perfectly imitate any of the other animatronic’s voices. It honestly shocks animatronics like Springtrap or Foxy with how well Easter Bonnie can capture this respective accents to a tee

He prefers to hop like a actual bunny than walking normally

Loves decorating Easter eggs.

Toxic Springtrap

All that purple goo is actually just fungi infected with some of that classic remnant

Due to his frightening nature he’s only available during Halloween time

However despite his looks he’s actually quite kind at heart. Much more than regular Springtrap that’s for sure

Is actually scared of the dark

He likes playing chess

Doesn’t like the fact that he’s advertised as something to be feared

Usually hangs around with 8-Bit Baby the most and the two usually play board games all day

Although like everyone else he feels some sort of discomfort whenever he’s shocked, the pain is really minor for him compared to other animatronics

Given that he’s only desired during the month of spooks, for the rest of the year, he’s left alone at the factory where all the animatronics are constructed and duplicated in the first place

Due to this he’s got a pleta of abandonment isssues

System Error Toy Bonnie

His head, body and limbs can be detached and put back together very easily

That’s how he entertains customers in fact. He’s basically a animatronic sized construction set, similar to Mangle

Their eyes glow bright orange in darkness

Is able to phaze through physical objects

Due to some people complaining about regular Toy Bonnie’s voicebox, the team chose to implant stock computer sound effects into System Error Toy Bonnie’s voicebox rather than actual dialogue.

Knows your WiFi password

Is taller than regular Toy Bonnie

The system error phrase near his stomach area gets brighter amd brighter whenever his costume shell is damaged

Static electricity flows through him from time to time. So it recommend that whenever a customer should wear gloves and other appropriate safety equipment when interacting with the animatronic

Balloon Boy always tries to get the static electricity balloon trick to work, but it never seems to work. System Error Toy Bonnie could really care less about this ordeal though

Highscore Toy Chica

Loves playing video games

But unlike Vr Toy Freddy, Her life doesn’t focus on it 24/7

She likes playing a variety of games too. virtual games, handheld games, games on consoles, board games, etc

Is very supportive

Knows what emojis are

Considering that she’s meant to be hip with the kids, she knows a lot about current gaming and fandom culture in general

Is a pretty good speed runner when it comes to video games

Although it doesn’t happen often she can get quite serious when it comes to gaming. You can tell when she’s just playing for fun or not if her endoskeleton eyes and grey are exposed

is indifferent to the term “Gamer Girl”

Hates games where you can’t skip the cutscenes

Radioactive Foxy

A random model of Foxy accidentally found his way into a power plant and eventually got covered in radioactive goo

The higher ups working for the Fazbear Funtime service thought that it would be a shame to throw out a perfectly good plush suit and endo. So after some strange testing involving remnant they just rebranded this as a completely new skin.

Green radioactive material drips over his body all all times

His hook is twice as big as regular Foxy’s. Probably due to the combination of experimenting with both remnant and toxic radioactive goo

Has no eyebrows due to the constant radioactive energy

Thanks to Radioactive Foxy’s transparent look, this was the first time any of the customers got a real good look on the inerworkings on how a endo properly fits into a plush suit.

Is on the hunt for and wants to consume more radioactive energy

Can transform into a more liquid based form

He’s slower than regular foxy but sill runs at a moderately fast pace

One of the more aggressive animatronics in the service alongside the likes of regular Springtrap and Frostbear

8-Bit Baby

Similar to Highscore Toy Chica, she’s meant to be marketed to the gaming crowd.

Specifically those who enjoy old school videogames

Can despense real cupcakes for eating pleasure

Has a extra sprinkler perfect for ice cream decorating

Her fan operates correctly and henceforth can be used for cooling or drying needs

Her microphone is preprogrammed with chiptune styled music

Has become many people’s favourite animatronic and has been in high demand ever since they were first brought to the service due to their uniqueness

Moves at a snail’s pace

Loves playing board games with Toxic Springtrap.

Regualr Circus Baby finds her 8 bit version adorable

#finally it's done #also pls don’t kill me for including Firework Freddy #fnaf #fnaf ar #fnaf ar special delivery #fnaf headcanons #shamrock freddy #firework freddy #vr toy freddy #chocolate bonnie #easter bonnie #toxic springtrap #system error toy bonnie #highscore toy chica #radioactive foxy #8 bit baby #my art uwu #long post

[the-colony-roleplay]

COL22EVENT ⚔️ DRUNK MAN’S CHEST: Victory Party ⚔️

It was a little late, by the time the party came about—almost exactly two weeks after Delma’s victory in the first Games of the season—but Felix Turner had always been of the mind that ‘a little late’ was a perfectly acceptable trade off for something to be done right. This party was about him after all.

...Well, okay, it was technically about Delma and their ‘exciting’ victory—which was ironic considering Felix pretty much hated everything about his first experience with Colony 22′s infamous Games and most of the people in his house didn’t even seem to like him—but beneath the surface, this party was really about Felix. This was his chance to show off a little, and to prove that even if not everyone here recognized his name or respected his celebrity, it still had a place here; it still pulled some weight. It didn’t matter what stupid-bitch-face   Whitmer had to say, Felix was still a cut above the rest and that’s just the way it was. 

So this had to be right. Especially because, though he was unlikely to admit it, he was actually pretty desperate to find acceptance here. Which was like, sort of gross to think about, considering this entire Colony was basically one giant damp and odorous reject’s table, but whether he liked it or not, he was stuck here now and had to make the most of it. Besides, now that he was starting to form relationships here he actually cared about, he couldn’t risk letting a—totally undeserved—bad reputation ruin them.

In the end, his conversation with Koda about the decor had indeed convinced him to adjust his initial vision a bit. There was no way he was going manage a totally modern club vibe in this shit hole, so he figured he may as well... lean into the rustic thing as creatively as possible. But it had to be fun and surprising and it had to take people’s breath away, so Felix definitely still had his work cut out for him. That first week of March quickly became a blur of around-the-clock prep. Thank God for the help from Koda and Angel because even between the three of them, hunting down all the decoration materials had been a nightmare: Hours of sorting through the storage boxes Cambie had told him about (mostly a lot of fugly junk and tinsel), and days of Felix personally harassing trade merchants and marines. Though, having a person like Angel on his good side definitely paid off some in that department. 

And then there were all those extra hours he’d put in with Bee to polish up their dance. When he’d convinced her to agree to get it ready in time for the party, he’d acted like he’d not had any concern at all about whether or not they could pull it off. But he was concerned. Because just ‘pulling it off’ wasn’t good enough. They had to nail this. His reputation was at stake, and honestly, he couldn’t think of much worse a threat. He knew they both had the chops to do it, but that didn’t mean they could slack off. It’d been a long time since he’d danced in front of people. Plus he’d had to practice his vocal performances too... those came easier, because much of it was like muscle memory, but he was still nervous.

The evening of Friday the 4th, Fee arranged to have the Catch closed early (thanks Dad), and he, Koda and Angel loaded in boxes and got to work. When Tuck In came around, they were excused from roll call (thanks Angel), and they continued on until Fee’s fingertips were sore from using the staple gun to hang the sting lights. At which point, he’d passed it off to Koda, whose decorated hands were much stronger and more deft with these things (read: he was less of a pansy), and so they went a few hours longer. By the time they decided to call it a night, it was well into the early hours of the morning, and a very good thing they’d been excused from their Saturday wake up calls and activities (thanks Cambie). God, it was nice to be so well connected.

During the set up, Xavier Crane had stayed around after closing to supervise Fee’s little decoration team, which wouldn’t have bothered Felix so much if the bartender had just minded his own bloody business. He’d kept moaning stupidly about ‘Powerpack Limits’ when Fee had been testing out the twinkle lights and fog machine, and then when he’d been looking for a outlet for the dance floor tiles (for which he’d paid a bloody fortune to get off the Market), the bartender had had the audacity to interrupt again. Felix, of course, had gritted his teeth, plastered on a snide smile and kindly reminded him that he was Felix Fucking Turner and he knew exactly what he was doing, thank you very much.

Catch 22 remained closed and locked all of Saturday before the party, and Fee and Angel handled any necessary finishing touches. They even had time for one more quick tech run. By supper time, Felix was practically trembling with anticipation, and in the dining hall, gently excited chatter about the party could be overheard at every table. It left Felix feeling quite pleased with himself.

And the young, idyllic socialite would soon be equally as smug when the first half of the party and its opening performances go off without a hitch. In the hours that follow, however, he would come to wish he’d not dismissed Crane’s grumpy mutterings quite so hastily...

CHECK OUT FULL EVENT DETAILS AND SUMMARY UNDER THE CUT!

Welcome To: ⚔️ DRUNK MAN’S CHEST: A DELMA VICTORY PARTY ⚔️

This post marks the official commencement of Colony 22′s 8th non-games related event, “Drunk Man’s Chest”!

                                        ⚔️ Event Details ⚔️

Date: Saturday, March 5th, 2163 Time: 8pm-1am (doors @7:30) Location: Catch 22 Note: In lieu of a cover charge, Felix requests that guests consider donating credits at the door to compensate the Trade Merchants and Elites who made the event possible.

Alrighty mateys!! We’re pleased to bring you this belated but eagerly anticipated Delma Victory Party thrown by none other than The Felix Tee (insert groans and exasperated/fond eye rolls as necessary). Since this is a follow up to our last event and the first Games of Colony 22′s 2163 season, Dead Man’s Chest, Felix and his happy helpers have carried on with the swashbuckling theme.

It is not explicitly a costume party, but it is themed, so attendees are encouraged to dress up. At the door, citizens will receive gold ‘doubloons’ which they can exchange at the bar for complimentary drinks of their choice. They may also order from a menu of three feature cocktails, designed and named specifically for the night’s celebrations, by none other than yours truly. Doubloons allowance per citizen will be allotted as follows:

Delma SC1, SC2 & Elites: 4 doubloons

Delma SC3: 3 doubloons

Brink, Calyset, Torren SC1, SC2 & Elites:  3 doubloons

Brink, Calyset, Torren SC3s: 2 doubloons

Doubloons have a value of one drink each. Excess cocktails and other beverages may be purchased using individual credits, at standard bar price. Alcoholic consumption regulations according to the New Wave Mandate still apply.

Additionally, in the interest of inclusivity, Felix is providing complimentary earplugs at the door for any increased hearing citizens who feel they might need them for the dance party. (Due to limited quantities, they are reserved only for Infected citizens.)

                                     ⚔️ Decor & Menu ⚔️

Decor for the bar and table sections of the Catch was inspired with a ‘crow’s nest’ aesthetic in mind. Enough twinkle and string lights have been hung from walls, ceilings, posts and tables to replace the overhead lights entirely, which have been left off. Every table and booth features a rustic candle centrepiece (tea-lights dropped into short, somewhat mismatched, frosted-glass candle holders of coppers and golds) and rolled bits of parchment tied with twine, designed to look like treasure maps.

The walls and surfaces are modestly scattered with a variety of pirate and captain’s hats, as well as a few classily-displayed maps—some printed and some tastefully hand drawn.

The feature cocktail selections are as follows:

The Delma Daiquiri Rum, lime juice, and simple syrup with a splash of cherry liqueur. Blended with raspberry puree* and ice. Garnished with a maraschino cherry.

Feequila Sunrise Tequila and grenadine topped with delicious, foamy peach juice shaken over ice for a glimpse of that sunrise on the horizon! Garnished with a fuzzy peach candy.

TeeTotal A non-alcoholic mocktail shaken with lime juice, honey and black current puree*, topped off with sparkling water.

**All purees and juices made from tinned fruit.

                                     ⚔️  Performances ⚔️

Performances start at 8:30pm and take place on the Catch 22 stage. The Catch having been set up for small performances plenty of times before, this portion of the evening is executed with no hiccups.  One hand-designed set list on parchment-like paper is found on every table.

As a whole, the vocal performances have a laid-back, acoustic vibe. The dance performances, however, close the showcase with a lively and upbeat mood. Before the show, Felix also reminds citizens that some dance performances (*cough*) may not be appropriate for all audiences.

Of course, Felix had made Corbin promise [x] that this ‘exotic dance’ of his would not be a strip show and, like a fool, he’d believed him. The afternoon before, he’d watched the inked Delma install a pole (that he’d apparently gotten off the trade market years ago...) at the back of the stage and practice a few (begrudgingly impressive) moves.

But tonight, when the time comes for the showcase’s highly anticipated closing number and Felix quietly flicks on the smoke machine, he is suddenly reminded that Corbin is known around Delma for his exhibitionism, not his honesty. And so, biting his lip nervously, he watches on amidst a whooping crowd as Corbin—on brand as ever—makes a meal out of baring it all.

Check out the full set list on the graphics blog, HERE! Please also check out the source links for the songs as I’ve carefully picked out acoustic versions to represent each in-verse performance as closely as possible! (With the exception of Angel’s songs, who is mostly singing to Echo Tracks). The dance performances feature example source links as well!

                                         ⚔️  Dance Party ⚔️

When the performance showcase is over, the real party begins. Live music is replaced with Echo playlists filtering through the sound system (Felix’s opportunity to boast many of his own dancier tracks, of course), and the relaxed, rustic vibe is no more. The twinkle lights around the bar stay, but with the bass bumping and the moon now high in the sky, Felix slips behind a curtain and starts flicking switches like a tot smashing elevator buttons.

Blacklight tube fluorescents spring to life along the back walls. Overhead, a rotating disco ball blinks multicolours and begins to sparkle and turn. Felix starts cracking and throwing glow sticks and bracelets into the crowd by the the dozens like a manic Twink-Oprah: ‘You get a glow stick and you get a glow stick and you get a glow stick!!’

And finally, the dance floor starts to glow, too. 

Though there is usually some open space in front of the stage, tonight all of the free standing tables have been pushed tighter together into other areas of the bar to make room for the easy-snap LED tiles that have been laid down (in roughly a ten by twelve quadrant). When turned on, these tiles light in a variety of colours and respond to vibrations, pulsing and changing to the beat of music.

The crowd responds well with whoops and cheers and calls for more drinks, and it’s everything Felix had hoped for. It’s also the beginning of everything Crane had warned him about. With the blenders still whirring away with drink orders, and the old, creaky ice machine straining to keep up, Felix’s party is suddenly asking for much more than what the Powerpacks allotted to the Catch can provide. Fortunately for the attendees, between the P-Packs and the back up auxiliary power,  it would be enough to keep the fun afloat. Unfortunately for Felix, his arrogance would yet again be at fault for his own disappointment and embarrassment.

                                       ⚔️ The Mishaps ⚔️

Technically speaking, the disruptions in the rest of the night’s electrical can be relatively easily explained: because of the overloaded power supply, periodical power surges will cause Catch 22′s Powerpack Supply (PPS) to fail, and the back up auxiliary power from the Colony’s main frame to kick in. However, this is a system designed specifically for emergencies, and once the PPS reboots, anything drawing electrical power will falter for a moment as its source switches back to the PPS.

This is the simplified explanation of the cause. However, the visible results, for anyone who doesn’t know anything about electrical systems, just wind up looking a bit like something out of a made-for-TV haunting flick. Of course, after a handful of incidences, the average person may put two and two together rather quickly. Felix, however, despite Crane’s insistent ‘I told you so’s is secretly becoming increasingly convinced that perhaps it’s not the power at all, but rather the Praeterics—the Poltergeists of the Colony—trying to mess with him and ruin his special night.

Below is a list of some of the disruptions experienced periodically over the rest of the night.

Flickering lights: including surging and weakening

Momentary power failures: lights, music and appliances all lose power and return about 8-10 second later with the auxiliary power

Weird humming and buzzing coming from light fixtures and sockets: usually moments before a power failure

Berserk blenders: brief power surges sending any appliances in use on the fritz

Lawless locking mechanisms: due to the frequent switching back and forth between the power supplies, the emergency security systems begin to malfunction. As many blackout protocols include lockdowns for security reasons, the system’s automated lock responses are now getting backed up and confused. The result is individuals getting locked in and out of the Catch’s only washroom (multi-stalls and gender neutral) as well as the front and back doors of the Catch, for periods ranging from two to ten minutes.

The above ‘mishaps’ all occur repeatedly over the course of the evening, some more frequently than others. 

There is one more malfunction slated to occur which does not appear on this list, as it will only happen once near the end of the night, and it will be announced on the main blog sometime before the wrap of the event.

                                       ⚔️ RP Guidelines ⚔️

All our standard event guidelines with which most of you will be familiar apply again, and they are as follows:

As of right now, you may not post any new threads that are not affiliated with the event or in alignment with this timeline.

You may continue any old threads you have going, though we ask that you tag them #preevent or indicate they are pre-event in the timeline. This is just to help keep things clear on the dash as to what’s going on at the party and what’s not.

All new event threads being posted must be titled as such, indicating that they are Event threads. So they could look something like this:

PARTY PARTY YEAHHH // FELIX + WHOEVER // DRUNK MAN’S CHEST OR LIKE:

SHOTS-SHOTS-SHOTS-SHOTS-SHOTS-SHOTS | T.A. & M.P | DMC OR LIKE:

BOOTEH BOOTEH ROCKIN’ EVERYWHERE | CORBIN AND ? {EVENT} …and so on and so forth. Formatting does not matter! Do it however you like. Just indicate somewhere in the title bar that it is event related. 

You are also permitted to do threads that take place anytime Saturday the 5th before the event, if you want to do getting ready threads or anything like that. However, for clarity we suggest you indicate this somewhere in your tags, title or with a timestamp at the top or your starter. 

Also, since it’s a theme party: You may post photos of your character’s clothing/outfit(s) etc, if you wish, but you are by no means obligated to do so. Feel free to post these to your own blog. However, if you make any stylized graphic-art related to the event, please submit them to the graphics blog as usual.

Finally, please tag all your photos, self paras and event starters with #COL22DMC (and don’t forget the regular starter tag for starters as well!) 

Alright, it’s been literally a million days since I started writing this post (I’m not kidding, I’ve somehow been working on this event for about ten hours a day, three days straight *dies*) and I think that just about wraps it up?!?!? I survived!!! Leave it to fucking Felix Turner to make me work so damn hard on a stupid little party.  

A MASSIVE shout out to Lottie for helping me brainstorm and work out the details for the framework of this event, and to Maddie for all her wonderful input with drink menus and other things!! Also, thank you everyone for your patience in reading this mile-long post, and without further adieu, I set you all free to do your RP thang! (Fly my pretties, flyyy!!!) 

And remember! Please, please direct any inquiries you may have along the way to the main blog’s ASK so that the mods can address them publicly if need be in case other people have similar questions or concerns!

Big Big Love,

Your Colony 22 Mods!! Xx

#col22dmc #col22admin #literate rp #original rp #mature rp

[icedanceupstarts]

Rostelecom Cup 2019

Somehow we’ve finished 2/3s of the Grand Prix. Most of the GPF spots are already locked up barring some extreme surprises, but this could be an interesting preview as to what will happen there. Or maybe not, because again, what is score?

Piper Gilles / Paul Poirier CAN

Age: 27/28

Started Skating Together: 2011

Coach: Carol Lane

Season's Best: 209.01

Rhythm Dance: Mack and Mabel

Free Dance: Both Sides Now

For years Gilles/Poirier have been on the verge of a breakthrough, challenging for the top with their intricate and innovative programs, and falling short every time. Winning their first GP gold at Skate Canada against Hubbell/Donohue might indicate that at long last, this is finally their year to move out of the 6-8 range at Worlds and into the medals. Their rhythm dance is over the top quirky, intricately choreographed, and very them in a musical season. They have the third highest free dance score of the season, and they've received a fair amount of acclaim for it, if not the 100% Adoration Rating of Vincent. Their more unique and modern approach will be an interesting contrast to Sinitsina/Katsalapov's more traditional style. With their gold from Skate Canada they really just need a podium finish to make their first return to the GPF since 2014, but they’ll be eyeing another first place or at least first place in one segment. (Papadakis/Cizeron are the only team to win both the rhythm dance and free dance so far this season on the GP.) Putting up a good fight here will be crucial for GPF in a few weeks.

 Marjorie Lajoie / Zachary Lagha  CAN

Age: 19/20

Started Skating Together: 2010

Coach: Marie-France Dubreuil, Patrice Lauzon, Romain Haguenauer

Season's Best: 177.53

Rhythm Dance: West Side Story

Free Dance: Bohemian Rhapsody

The reigning junior world champions have had a fairly smooth transition to senior level thus far, skating better and with more confidence at every competition. Their scores have been steadily rising too, for what that's worth this season, mostly recently earning them a sixth place finish in their senior GP debut at Skate Canada. The battle for the third dance spot at home Worlds will definitely be one to watch at Canadian Nationals, and the field this weekend presents a great opportunity for Lajoie/Lagha to make a good case for themselves. They've made pretty smart choices this season, pushing themselves by choosing different styles than they've done previously while still playing up their strengths. They're so light and quick over their blades and they have a lot of energy in their skating. Zachary especially seems to be living his best life in the free dance, which is always so great to see as an audience member. They have the chance to have a very good placement here and even challenge for the top 5 if they fix their Finnstep levels and generally execute.  

Adelina Galyavieva / Louis Thauron FRA

Age: 23/25

Started Skating Together: 2018

Coach: Anjelika Krylova

Season's Best: 159.93

Rhythm Dance: Daddy Cool

Free Dance: Carmen

Apparently this is the season of French teams and Weird Carmen. Galyavieva/Thauron are only in their second season together, but they've already developed a certain chemistry and unique vibe as a team. The French Fed chose to spread the wealth, so this is their only GP of the season, and their big chance to make a statement internationally before French Nationals next month. The Winter Universiade bronze medalists have gotten off to a bit of a rocky start this season, getting knocked for both how they skated and what they skated to at their one Challenger event this season. They’ve since competed at a few small international events and will be looking to make the most of their GP spot. The French national field, with the obvious exception of the top team, is looking anything but predictable at this point. None of the other French teams aiming for the second world spot have really been standing out thus far, and posting a good placement and a high score here could really make things happen for them. Their rhythm dance is pretty fun, although they've had some troubles in execution at their events thus far. Sometimes it seems in skating that skating to Carmen while wearing any color but red or black is actually against the rules somewhere, but these two break out some new colors along with some pretty cool elements. It's not the sexiest Carmen we've ever seen, although there are some flirtier sections, and we don't think it's trying to be. The final section almost feels like a fight, and they end the program facing off, looking like they're prepared to strike. If they can bring their levels to this intense performance, they won't just be prepared to strike here, but at Euros and Worlds.

Jasmine Tessari/ Francesco Fioretti ITA

Age: 23/26

Started Skating Together: 2015

Coach: Barbara Fusar-Poli

Season's Best: 141.63

Rhythm Dance: Singing in the Rain

Free Dance: Beth Hart Medley

A later substitution for this event, this will be Tessari/Fioretti’s one GP this season and they will be looking to make the most of it, especially after some very costly stumbles at Lombardia earlier this season. They're one of a number of teams skating to Singing in the Rain this season, but it's just as charming every time. Sultry blues is a good contrast, and they play it fairly well, even as Beth Hart herself becomes an ice dance warhorse. With Guignard/Fabbri really stepping up to be a credible Italian #1, these two are trying to improve their skating and scores to be as strong a #2 Team as G/F were last quad. They're not there yet, though they may be late bloomers as well. They are steadily improving their technique, and she in particular shows good expression, so this competition can serve as a useful stepping stone for them. GP events are valuable opportunities whichever way they come.  

Allison Reed / Saulius Ambrulevicius LTU

Age: 25/27

Started Skating Together: 2017

Coach: Marina Zueva

Season's Best: 180.13

Rhythm Dance: Bandstand

Free Dance: Aurora Medley

Truly, what is score? If there’s a team who has spent time in almost every scoring tier so far this season, it’s Reed/Ambrulevicius. They’re a lovely team to watch we’re just not convinced the judges are in agreement about that they are watching. Tenth in the first GP this season, Reed/Ambrulevicius could certainly improve on that result this week. While we shy away from making predictions in general, these two have us at a real loss. The only thing we can say is that they're going to want to use their actually quite strong musicality and performance to get back to where they were scoring in the challengers. Their free dance is actually quite unique and modern and impactful when they skate it well, but they've had some messy outings. With no teams challenging them nationally they’ll be wanting to end their GP season on as strong a note as possible before looking ahead to Europeans and Worlds. The depth of the mid-tier group seems to be growing more every year, and these two have shown they are capable of making a push toward the top of it when they skate at their best.  

Natalia Kaliszek / Maksym Spodyriev POL

Age: 23/25

Started Skating Together: 2014

Coach: Sylwia Nowak-Trebacka

Season's Best: 185.48

Rhythm Dance: Kinky Boots

Free Dance: Dirty Dancing

Kaliszek/Spodyriev have all the goods to be contenders in most any field, but they are a team who typically tends to start reaching their potential in the later part of the season. They dealt with some injuries this offseason but have great material in both of their programs. Kinky Boots is a definite hit(even if we slightly wish he was also wearing boots), and Dirty Dancing is always a fave. Their recycled free dance is understandably not as polished and trained as they were by 2017 Worlds, but you can really see how they've improved as skaters. They've always had a nice, warm chemistry to them, but the years have only increased it, as well as their sassy performance style. Their skating skills have improved as well, showing in better speed and flow over the ice, and just generally better command over the ice. Ultimately they've always been slow starters, but the third outing of the season is often when they start showing glimmers of their true capabilities before they come roaring out at Euros and Worlds, so you may see quite the improvement from two weeks ago. Regardless of where they are technically at the moment, they're always a delight to watch in a field that is sometimes overserious.  

Anastasia Shpilevaya / Grigory Smirnov RUS

Age: 20/22

Started Skating Together: 2012

Coach: Alexander Svinin and Irina Zhuk

Season's Best: 170.62

Rhythm Dance: Grease

Free Dance: The Love Punch

Baby's first senior grand prix assignment!!! Miracles really do happen when you believe. Or even when “believe” feels like a big word but hope dies last. For those who are unaware, Shpilevaya/Smirnov were rising stars in the junior ranks, winning the Youth Olympics in 2016, making the JGPF the next season and winning Junior Nationals, with a career high 4th at Junior worlds in 2017. Unfortunately, they got injured in the middle of the JGP the following season and had to sit out their final year of junior eligibility, leaving them high and dry when it came to assignments last season. Despite all these setbacks, they stuck it out, and we're glad for it, because these two are a real treat. One of, if not the most charismatic teams their age, Shpilevaya/Smirnov have always been big performers and committed to selling their programs. We may not have been desperately wishing for a Grease RD over the offseason, but it’s been clear since they debuted it that the program is a perfect fit for them. And while we haven’t come up with a single word to describe their free dance - it's upbeat and modern, but also kind of funky, but sometimes sexy, but also cute and maybe a little low key goofy? We don't know if it's their sheer commitment to everything or the choreography but their charm makes this a journey we are more than happy to go on. They've had some level struggles in the past, and will be aiming to really nail those and kick their scores up to the next tier to show that, forced hiatus aside, they deserved all the past chatter about being the future of Russian ice dance. Whatever the end result this weekend, they are a massively entertaining team who absolutely thrived in the rare junior event with an audience larger than parents and a random janitor and we are thrilled to see them finally get this competitive opportunity.  

Victoria Sinitsina / Nikita Katsalapov RUS

Age: 24/28

Started Skating Together: 2014

Coach: Alexander Zhulin

Season's Best: 209.90

Rhythm Dance: Singing in the Rain 

Free Dance: I Giorni/Songs My Mother Taught Me

Assuming no catastrophic disasters, Sinitsina/Katsalapov should lock up their GPF spot here, but how they do it will be more interesting. Last week the judges really responded to their rhythm dance where they earned the second highest RD score of the season, but the reception to their free dance was less enthusiastic and they were outscored there by several points. This week they'll have the home ice advantage to counteract any exhaustion, but they'll still need to deliver. At least at this point in the season we have to agree with the judges that their rhythm dance is currently the more compelling program, while noticeable flaws in execution have been holding back their free dance in competitions so far. They've been a little tense, and it's inhibiting their GOE and interpretation as they give Fine, but not particularly inspired performances. Having the backing of the home crowd will be a great way to get that fire from them . The free dance especially needs the performance to be top notch, the music is fairly sedate and won't do the work for them. There's no time to tweak, but there is time to settle their nerves and deliver an emotionally charged performance that makes the most of their program, which will help them on the path to gold, and looking further ahead, to medals at GPF and defending their National title.  

Anastasia Skoptcova / Kirill Aleshin RUS

Age: 19/22

Started Skating Together: 2013

Coach: Svetlana Alexeeva, Elena Kustarova, Olga Riabinina

Season's Best: 169.24

Rhythm Dance: Bonnie and Clyde

Free Dance: Never Tear Us Apart/Earned It

Back to back competitions are never easy, but at least they have company. They won’t have time to make changes to their programs based on judges feedback but they definitely can use the experience of putting these programs out in front of a GP audience to make improvements before their second event at home. In particular a slip early in their choreo steps resulting in a deduction for the fall and costly several valuable points of GOE. Their levels were otherwise pretty solid for a first international outing, but they'll want to avoid any such mistakes this time as they put their all into their performance. Their free dance especially needed a little mileage, and this will be their third public performance. You can already see the development in nuance and expression in just a few weeks, and another outing should only improve that. They've got really acrobatic lifts for such a tall team with minimal height difference for which they deserve high marks. They'll be facing off with old junior rivals Shpilevaya/Smirnov, with whom they split placements at Russian Nationals last season. Their goal will be to not only beat them, but to place as high as possible in order to make a statement for Nationals as this will be their last chance to make an impression internationally.  

Sara Hurtado / Kirill Khaliavin ESP

Age: 27/28

Started Skating Together: 2016

Coach: Alexander Zhulin

Season's Best: 193.47

Rhythm Dance: Hello Dolly

Free Dance: "Oroboy" and "Puerta del Sol"

Hurtado/Khaliavin have brought their usual flair and some...unusual fashion choices to liven up the season. If you missed their Skate Canada performances unfortunately we don't have links with their real costumes, but suffice to say they're not going to be mistaken for anyone else. We're extremely curious as to what version of Hello Dolly these two watched because they're clearly going for something we just have no idea what it is. If you can tear your eyes from their bold sartorial choices you'll find a lot to like. They have so much maturity and polish and detail in their skating, but they're also really compelling performers as well. Their RD is lighter fare than their usual and just a real gift(possible explanation for that dress?). Their free dance starts off slowly, and so requires them to really sell that part to properly develop the tension in the program, which can be a difficult mark to hit at this point in the season. The program picks up quite a bit after we’ve held our breath through the twizzles, and the potential of this program with some more mileage becomes obvious. They’ve got a lot of ground to make up in comparing their GP scores to what Smart/Diaz have this season, but in this field they have a really good chance to end up on the podium. The number is likely going to mean the most looking ahead to Spanish Nationals, but their result here can certainly have an impact on their trajectory the rest of the season.

#ice dance #preview #season: 2019 2020 #gp 2019

[iasipranked]

IASIP Episodes Ranked: #120 of 144 - The Gang Gets A New Member

dir. Matt Shakman, written by David Hornsby, aired November 4th 2010, Season 6 Episode 8

summary: when the gang open up a time capsule they buried more than twenty years ago, they find memories that drive them to experience the good ol' days again: dee finding her old theater teacher and the boys finding their old childhood friend. things go awry when they realize that these romanticized people aren't the same as they remember them. charlie has had enough and goes to join dee in search of a more friendly atmosphere. the rest of the boys end up ditching their old friend, schmitty, and going back to charlie, only to realize that he has gotten a job alongside dee as a janitor in a high school.

abby’s favorite line: *mac and dennis sway to gregorian chant music* (i know this isn’t a line but it’s the best part of this ep)

luce’s favorite line: ‘tell people we pushed youuuuu!’ -frank

positives:

this is honestly one of dennis’ Gayest episodes he has huge heart eyes for schmitty it’s not even subtle! 

he’s very emotional too this episode (even cries!) its very strange to see, but is definitely interesting and reflective of the fact he used to feel so close to schmitty so it makes dennis rlly excited that he’s got him back now, and he wants to make everything perfect again

until, it’s not perfect and they come crawling back to charlie asking him to be a part of the gang again. dennis is yet again emotional and it seems like he didn’t realize how the gang and schmitty had rlly grown apart, so any attempt at recreating their friendship was bound to fail as they were just different people now that didn’t mesh well anymore

this is made even more impactful when you think about how dennis lives for his younger days..trying so hard to bring that back again in the form of a previous close friend but it ultimately not working out because it’s been 20 years and people change, must have really broken him

this episode also really amplifies that the five members of the gang, and only those five members, are meant for each other, and anything that may momentarily tear them away won’t have a lasting effect, as they will always be drawn to each other. they are each other’s fate! it also shows how much theyve alienated themselves from society and they are kinda given that realisation by schmitty thinking all the things they do are weird

so even though this ep ends with a cliffhanger: charlie and dee getting jobs at a school, a rather brave plot line, we just Know that it won’t last and they’ll be back at the bar in no time

Also dee acting as frankenstein is something i didn’t know i needed acting queen

actually this episode does a great job of showing how dee’s only attempt to get away from the gang is through a pipe dream conceived in high school, and sets up her eventual self sabotage in the next episode extremely well. charlie coming with dee shows that he has no links to anyone outside the gang and however much they ‘hate’ each other they really do just stick together

negatives:

honestly jason sudeikis being in this episode is extremely jarring; his particular brand of comedy just doesn’t fit with sunny and he doesn’t feel like a character it just feels like jason sudeikis inserting himself and playing the same character he does in every movie

schmitty is a bad character for a number of reasons, conveniently highlighted very recently in this post by @lesbianfreyja and additionally the fact that he would want back into the gang is kinda strange? it does sorta feel like the character was fabricated in order to place a celebrity into the show (sudeikis was on snl at the time) and his motivations are entirely uncertain

tldr: although schmitty was a bad character and jason sudeikis’ role is fairly unsuccessful, the effects of this character on the gang are extremely interesting and give us an insight into their group dynamics

#iasip #it's always sunny in philadelphia #iasip ranked #the gang gets a new member

[wildflower8281]

Am I a Gypsy?

Today I sat down at a periwinkle wooden table with lime green cushioney chairs and journaled out how I want my life to look and feel for the next few years. All of the realms of it - feelings, body, home, work, friends, lovers, leisure. I’m currently house & pet sitting in a beautiful home in Scottsdale, with a huge pool, spacious, bright interiors and the sweetest, shaggy dog you’ll ever meet, Murray. It feels like a rather large Airbnb experience to me and has given my mind a place to rest and a bit of a vacay vibe, which is welcome after a few weeks of transition and seeking some new work opportunities.

So here I am: Age 37 and in a place in my life, yet again, where I can totally recreate my world in a new way. I’ve done this a few times already in my life and I look at it as a gift each time, albeit not always arriving when Kelly feels ready, or in the way Kelly thinks it might arrive, but a gift nonetheless - a space in time where I shed a version of myself that is no longer and step into something new, yet at the same time, is still fundamentally me.

(Photo: Current View, #house-sittinglife)

Past and Present

To give some perspective, 10 years ago, Summer 2009, I was halfway into a 4 year stint as a missionary nun in East Harlem, having 5 years of convent life under my belt. I spent a good part of that summer in Guyana, in S. America, living the adventure, sleeping under a mosquito net, driving on the left side of the road and boating down the river to visit remote communities. We organized a girls summer camp, bathed in the river twice a day and slept in tents for 2 weeks. It was pretty awesome honestly. Guyana and Harlem were both vibrant communities, with beautiful people and so many lessons. And yet, that life - as a religious sister - was not one I wanted to live for the rest of mine, so in 2011, I walked and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

(Photo: Bright Lights of Guyana, 2009)

So, when I say I’ve been here before, in this space of recreating my life and who I want to be in this world, I most definitely have been and returning home from the convent was one of those moments. At age 30, I came home from religious life with a few-inches-past-buzzed hair situation, 1 pair of sports pants, a few t-shirts, sneakers and sandals much too worn. For the past 8 years, my identity had been Sister Lumen (and/or Madre Lumen, at least in Harlem)....Now, I had to re-take-up my birth name and being of KellySue...Who the heck is that and what is she like at age 30 out here in this new world where people curse, read magazines and don’t ask permission for things?!

Holy Fucking Shit! (I wrote that honestly prior to realizing the amazing irony of the phrase...needless to say, I’ve come a long way.) Yea, the journey back into ‘the world’ is pretty fantastic actually, even though it’s laced here and there with some tears and fears. Everything from shopping for clothes, applying to jobs, making friends and, gasp, dating is like navigating uncharted waters when you haven’t even really been trained in how to sail. I have an entire post dedicated to “Things They Don’t Tell You When You Leave” here if you’d like to walk through the details: 15 Things They Don't Tell You When You Leave the Convent

So, post-convent I was faced with creating not only a new life in pragmatic ways, but truly a new identity. Or more accurately, finding the original one! So, while I dabbled in teaching and other cool gigs, flitted around with a few cool folks and loved a magical man from Brooklyn, the most important thing I “did” in New Jersey was find KellySue. And it was with that Found-Self that I boarded a 1-way flight to Arizona and knew in my gut the bright, mystical southwest would be my next home, and in many ways my first home - a space and life that I had created from the ground up, from the desires and images in my heart, to the colors that hang on my walls, the geeks and artists I spent my time with and the friends and lovers who have traversed my life here.

(Photo: Essequibo River, Guyana where we camped & bathed for 2 weeks)

And yet today, about 3.5 years into my Phoenix stint, I sit here at this table that 

is not mine, before Life Herself yet again. I have moved on from the Art Center, my first landing and family community here (aside from my real family of course,) a place that held me as I grew and challenged me to thrive. I rent The Dollhouse (a fabulous casita snuggled in the backyard of the main house, in the eclectic hood of #Coronado) and love her very much, but have very few possessions - no car, the bike I ride is not mine, no large appliances. I have clothes, a phone and my laptop. I have a great mattress, 1 dresser, 1 couch, 2 pretty teal chairs and a table from #Target. My smaller tables & most art supplies are from my Aunt, my dishes are from #Goodwillphx, as are mostly everything of decorative purpose. I don’t own many books by choice and prefer the #phxpubliclibrary. Even though I’ve curated my space lovingly and it most definitely echoes my vibe of colorful, bright and cozy - none of it is stuff that anchors me in this city. If someone offered me a job or to house-sit for a few months in Spain or Belize or pretty much anywhere new to me, I’d be off in a heartbeat!

(Photo: Unsplash)

That Time on Mt. Washington

So, today I sit here and ask myself, “Kelly, what do you want in your life?” I dedicate 1 page per theme: Feelings, Home, Work, Friends, Leisure, Lover. And I feel and write, imagine and think. And it crosses my mind more than once that not many people have this luxury. Well, I consider it a luxury! Perhaps some would consider it frightening or some other adjective, who knows?! To be 37, no kids, no pets, no house, no partner (3 out of 4 are very intentional...the 4th is seasonal, lol!) To sit at a table and draft & craft some Life up for the next 3-5-10 years or so. To be open to all the opportunities the Universe offers me, to list and discern and choose things I desire, experiences I want, types of people and energy I seek to feel. To me, this is luxury.

But this moment of vision and serenity hasn’t come without some unrest and many months of annoyance! It’s been a long journey to arrive to this table, to my journal, to feeling calm and open to the Universe’s next plans for me. Read on...

This arises in me every few years now, since I’ve been home. I feel like I’ve landed, I settle in, get cozy and then, kinda little by little, but eventually all of the sudden I look around where I am and my eyes grow wide….

I pause, really look around, almost squinting to make sure, like, “No, it can’t be. Not yet. Not already…” That takes a good 3-4 months.

Then, I sigh and look around again, really feel into the energy of the space I’m in in my life and interiorly nod my head, as I think, “Uh-huh, yep...Alli esta….There it is...Ha llegado la hora…..It’s time.” This phase lasts another 1-2 months….

I think on it, ponder it, hold that feeling between my fingers, feel the texture of it and ask Life, “Really?! Again?! Already?!”

And, as I’m examining this situation from all angles in fits and starts, Life leads me (kicks, shoves me) right out the door because It Is fucking time, Kelly!

She ushers me into a brand new space (in all the senses) and opens the Doors of this new space so wide that the bright light actually hurts at first glance…

Like some aching pain, squinting, not seeing quite clearly, some fear, uncertainty, wanting to turn around and run back to where it’s darker, but familiar and I’m good at the stuff back there….

One thing the convent teaches you is humility….for better or worse, ha (#chapteroffaults.) It is a good virtue to possess and it has been a tool I have wielded in these moments in my life many times, a trusty friend if used wisely and, seemingly ironically, with confidence. Because humility allows me to be a novice each time, to be Ever-the-Learner, to be always open to the new. Humility allows me to be ok with not knowing everything, to be ok with being the new girl yet again, to be ok with waking up for weeks on end not knowing where you’re going to land, but trusting that you will, indeed, land, and land amazingly well because that’s what you do! Because ultimately, humility is not just relying on myself. It’s Me & The Universe. It’s trusting the shove out the door and believing the blinding light will one day actually clearly guide your path onto your next adventure and into a fuller version of yourself. Humility is like that time we (the nuns) hiked down Mt. Washington as the sun was setting, lead by only a flashlight, in the dark, wet forest, holding hands and trusting that if the sister in front of you landed her step safely, then the tiny light was all you also only needed to land safely. Humility allows for the one small step at a time, even if you don’t see the end or full picture yet, you know the Universe is showing you what you need in the moment you need it….

Also, Nature Herself is Humble, so there’s that….

Trees thrive where they’re planted.

Flowers are brilliantly radiant, yet silent.

The Ocean ebbs and flows forever without fanfare.

Birds unknowingly bring joy with their songs.

Mountains rise in splendor and ask no glory.

Gypsy Secrets

For someone who left the missionary life proper, who considers herself a homebody and most definitely a lover of the reliable routine, I find it funny that in the grand scheme of things, I actually move through life quite like a #gypsy! I’ve always been someone who leads with simplicity and doesn’t need many material items to feel happy, and I have never set an anchor in a place so deep that it forfeited my freedom to roam - a desire I’m learning is an essential part of my being. It’s a paradox of myself that I find really interesting. I will be the most reliable worker, on top of all my shit, I will work out faithfully and read daily, I eat the same things most days because I like them….and yet, every 4 years or so I will hop on a plane, take of my habit, walk out of a job and just fling myself into the Universe in this kind of radical, unconventional way (‘You’re leaving your job and you don’t have the next one lined up?!’….I’ve done this now 3x in my life quite successfully thankyouverymuch!) only to be explained by a feeling inside of me that I can no longer ignore. Or, more accurately, that no longer lets me ignore it. And so I go, I leave, I move, I reconsider, I recast dreams, I open, I sigh alot...I take that one clear step and then breathe, wondering what the next version of myself and my life will taste and feel like, grateful for the adventure and most importantly, knowing that “home” is not a place, but rather is within me, the liberating secret that every true #gypsy lives by.

#intuition #hiking #exnun #formernun #catholiclife #gypsylife #wanderlust #nomad #anchors #freedom #dwntwnphx #phxlife #nunlife #conventlife #postconvent #catholicnun #formerpriest #girlswhotravel #ponderings

[rbrown2019-blog]

Why the Golden State Warriors will NOT win the 2019 NBA Championship

 Edit 1: 4/20

Yes, you read it here. The Warriors will not complete their ever so wanted 3-peat, nor do I think they will even make it to the NBA finals. I believe that the Houston Rockets or the Milwaukee Bucks have the greatest chance of taking down the defending champions. In this blog, I am going to break down the starting lineup match-ups, as well as each teams’ offensive and defensive play-style.

Rockets vs Warriors

How will the Rockets beat the Warriors? The Pick and Roll. Clearly, the Warriors can’t handle the Clippers’ Lou Williams isolation ball/pick and roll game, as he lead the Clippers charge putting up a 36 points-11 assists stat line in Game Two AT the Oracle. If the Warriors can’t stop the Clippers’ offensive moves, please explain to me how they will be able to stop James Harden and Chris Paul? With Demarcus Cousins now being ruled out for the rest of the playoffs, you might have better defense with Andrew Bogut. But let’s not forget about that 3 point line, the true reason why the Rockets are so deadly. As a team in the regular season, they averaged a total of 16, made 3s per game; second being the Milwaukee Bucks at 13.5 (NBA Stats). 

Edit 2: 4/21 Continuation of Rockets Analysis

Running the offense through James Harden and Chris Paul opens up so many opportunities for them to score, as well as the other 3 or 4 guys on the court, all ready to shoot. Double teamed? Kick it out to Eric Gordon or P.J Tucker. The Warriors are protecting the 3? Lob it up to Clint Capela or Kenneth Faried. Thus, the Rockets just have too many weapons in their starting 5 and off the bench that can torch the Warriors on any given night.

Now yes, The Warriors have their big 4 in Durant, Curry, Klay, and Draymond. And yes, the Rockets don’t have the greatest defense. The big difference is, the Warriors do not really have that guy to throw the lob to, now that Demarcus Cousins is out. When they set up their own pick and roll, they can easily attack coverages such as switches and hard hedges, just like the Rockets. Their one big piece they now lack is a big man to throw the lob to on the roll. Draymond Green, an undersized 6′7 forward is a great option, but I believe he won’t match up against the Rockets bigs, (please prove me wrong). The Warriors do indeed have a man named Kevin Durant, who can get you 30 on any given night. I truly believe he is the X Factor to this series, and it all depends on how many shots he wants to take a game. He needs to quiet the media and haters and prove to them that this is his team, not Curry’s. 

EDIT 3, 5/3: Warriors vs Rockets: Games 1-3

Wow. All I have to say. This has been a very entertaining series, from on the court to off the court. If you are an NBA fan, you couldn't ask for anything more, except if you are James Harden or the Rockets. Yes the Warriors are up 2-1 in the series, but the big ref scandal on not knowing their own rule they created a couple of seasons ago about closing out on a player is absolutely ridiculous. Mr. Scott Foster was the main target for this blame, since it was in his zone. The problem was, none of the refs attempted to call it, even if it was in his zone. There were many occurrences of it, mainly that James Harden was apart of. He is known for initiating contact with a defender, but the Warriors players gave him nowhere to land after he shot. Though the Rockets are still in this series, a stolen game at the Oracle will come up big down the road.

Throughout the series, we have seen tempers flare, terrible acting, and Steve Kerr doing absolutely nothing this whole series except trolling the internet and the Houston Rockets. Very funny, but we all know the Warriors could win it all with any head coach. Harsh words, but give the ball to Kevin Durant- just like they did in the 4th quarter of game 3- and watch magic happen. It is unbelievable how good of a player he is. He can do it all, and I do truly believe it is HIS team. Steph Curry may be a fan favorite, but KD is showing up day in and day out, just look at his playoff numbers, he is averaging 36 points on 51 percent shooting. Like I said, Kevin Durant is truly the X factor for the Warriors, it all depends on how many shots he takes, and how many shots they let him take in a row. This man is the definition of streaky, and the Warriors have yet to use him to his full potential.

Edit #4, 5/5: Warriors vs Rockets Games 4 and 5

As the series has gone on, we have seen a lot more flopping, acting, and numerous maneuvers in order to exploit the referees and get a call. These games in my eyes are turning into plays, while each act is a quarter. You never know what is going to happen next from these guys. #BringBack90sBasketball . Now if you know 90s basketball you may think I am contradicting myself saying I do not like trash talk and miniature fights in basketball, but I am trying to say that these days the refs immediately blow their whistles for a technical if you stare someone down, or talk trash a player. This whole series has been a prime example of what I explained above, and it needs to stop.

Despite the flopping and complaining, we got to see Kevin Durant and James Harden both take over in Game 4, and it was a fun scoring battle to watch. James Harden ended up scoring 38 points, while KD led his team in scoring with 34. A great battle between each of these players in the fourth quarter, but the Rockets ended up tying up the series 2-2 after some missed clutched three pointers by Steph Curry and Kevin Durant. 

Steph Curry. Has yet to REALLY show up for his team yet. Yes he is still putting up great numbers, but not MVP type of numbers we expect to see from this man. From the missed layups and the wide open threes, Curry has really struggled to put the ball in the net when his team needs it, ESPECIALLY in the fourth quarter. I will give say though he was the main reason why the Warriors brought home game 5 after KDs calf strain. But now since KD is ruled out for the series, Steph Curry really needs to start finding his shot quick in order to avoid elimination from the playoffs. I wouldn't say Austin Rivers, Shumpert, and Cp3 are 100 percent locking Steph up, but they have definitely made a major contribution to his struggles.

Edit #5, 5/7: Could the Raptors be a new rival? 

Never thought I would say this, but the Raptors are actually looking great in the PLAYOFFS. We all know Kawhi Leonard has been putting his team on his back and making up for the “Playoff Lowry” jokes that have been happening, but Marc Gasol and Pascal Siakam have really stepped up their game. Gasol has been rock solid offensively, and has really stepped up defensively when it comes to guarding the post or contesting shots. Not to mention, Marc Gasol is creating shots for his teammates, and taking a major gap out of the equation that the Raptors have of depth in the front-court. Also, Paskal Siakam has continued to show us why he will be a offensive and defensive star for many years to come. He is averaging 22 points per game, 1 steal, 1 block, and 7 rebounds a game. Those are some amazing stats coming from a player who averaged 7 points last season in the playoffs. Hats off to both of these guys, as well as the rest of the Raptors role players, for shutting down the Sixers offense.

Kawhi Leonard. The Raptors 100 percent made the right move by bringing him and Danny Green over to the 6. I couldn't be more proud of him, after sitting out a whole season due to his situation with the Spurs, he has been the second or third best player right now in the NBA. He has greatly handled Jimmy Butler and the Sixers defense, averaging 31 points this postseason, to go with an effective field goal percentage (EFG) of 61.2 percent. Not to mention, his Player Efficiency Rating (PER) has been 31.2, which is off the charts. As the article I linked said it, he is a Defensive player of the year putting up 30 points a game; that deserves comparisons to the Greatest of all Time, Michael Jordan. We will see if he can continue this high level play, especially against teams like the Bucks, and if they can get to the NBA finals, the Western Conference. 

Edit 6 5/8: How the Blazers can Defeat the Warriors

We all remember Damian Lillard telling reporters he believe the Blazers will win the series in 6 games. That turned into a meme real quick. Now that the Warriors have lost: some of their firepower on defense, the new weapons the Blazers have added, and the emerging of a superstar back-court in Dame and CJ, the Blazers truly match-up with these high flying defending champions. They will need to make a little magic happen-especially at the Oracle Arena- if they want to take this series and advance to the NBA finals assuming they beat the Nuggets.

First off, Damian Lillard has been the definition of clutch, along with Steph Curry. In my eyes, we are seeing the number 1 and number 2 point guard duel each other in the Western Conference Finals. Dame and CJ need to be able to out-shoot their perimeter based offensive, or this series will go downhill very fast. Portland will also need to use their size effectively to counter post touches from Kevin Durant. This will easily be their greatest challenge of the series, because we know both team’s back-courts can score at ease, but can Nurkic and Aminu shut down the best pure scorer in the league. Otherwise, I see the Warriors not having the biggest problem against this Blazers squad.

Edit 7 5/9: The Nuggets Bigs’ are the Key

This blog is turning out to be talking about each team left in the playoffs and talking about how they have a chance on taking down the defending champions. I am totally ok with it, but from a readers standpoint, it may seem very annoying. This Nuggets team really succeeded in the regular season, though then again, it is the regular season. The main key to their success was their ball movement, and their patience. Unlike the Rockets- and for some games the Warriors- the Nuggets use the whole 24 seconds given to them most of the time in order to get a shot off. The fast pace threes are greater than twos game the Warriors play is not their type of game. The Nuggets need to make sure their game is being played, and they are not rushing.

Taking a look at their roster, they are led by the 7 foot point guard/center Jokic, key role players in Will Barton, Garry Harris, and Paul Millsap. Finally, they have an emerging star in Jamal Murray. I love and been loving this mans game ever sine his days in Kentucky; a high flying, electric, fun to watch and impossible to hate player. I see his game very similar to Damian Lillard, the man he is going up against right now in the Western Conference Semifinals. It has been very fun to see both of them go at each other. 

Getting back on track, the Warriors lack the size and depth of bigs on their squad, so if Millsap and Jokic will have a field day going against Draymond and Looney if the Nuggets give them post touches. If the post isn't working, both of these big man are great play-makers, and are willing to set another player up for an open shot. On defense, the Nuggets might have a tough time guarding perimeter shots and the pick and roll/pop offense the Warriors run. Though this team has some great defenders in Will Barton and Garry Harris-who will need to be constantly on Curry and Thompson- they must protect the perimeter and be ok to give up lobs and post-up baskets. The Warriors do not completely live and die by the three, and are willing to distribute the ball, so the Nuggets need to be aware of the extra pass and weak side ball screens and cuts the Warriors do to free Curry and Klay. As for Durant, he will get his shot no matter what, but the Nuggets need to make sure they double team him in the post, preferably with their two bigs.

Edit 8 5/10: The Rockets are sent home

Despite Kevin Durant being ruled out for Game 6, the Warriors took the series after a dominating performance by the Warriors back-court Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. I am truly happy for them, both of them started to find their shot and consistency that they have been burning the NBA with during the regular season. Though lets not get ahead of ourselves here, Curry did score 0 points in the first half, and Klay Thompson got off to a decent start. Despite that the game was still neck and neck in the 1st half. Yes, the Rockets deserved to lose this one. Though, from what I watched, there is nobody truly to blame. As Jonathan Fiegen puts it in his article reflecting on the game, James Harden did not fail. He did not succeed, either. No one can claim that he did in another loss, another season ending in frustration. But as much as many will blame him for the latest playoff loss and use it to define him as had been promised even before the game began in the event of a Rockets loss, if he is to be ripped now, they are talking about games of his past. This is a perfect explanation of tonight's game in terms of a Rocket fan’s shoe. I would though argue they should have been up by more at halftime due to the offensive struggle the Warriors had, but not every game is winnable.

 Edit 9 5/11: Bucks Analysis

This is the team I expect to be in the NBA finals, and now that the Rockets are gone, the team I want to win it all (in case you didn't know or infer from my previous edits, I don’t really like the Warriors). I am now going to break down the match-ups, and how I think the Bucks can really take advantage of the Warriors fast paced, high flying offense.

Currently, all I know is that Kevin Durant's leg is going to be re-examined in a week, but I am going to assume that he is going to play in the NBA finals. That will be Giannis’ or maybe Kris Middleton's assignment. As I have said for the past teams, Kevin Durant will get his shot, the Bucks just need to make sure that the shots that they give him are not full isolation plays ran for him. As for the back-court, I am really confident that Bledsoe and Middleton have the defensive ability to lock up Curry and Thompson. Both of them are solid defenders who have the ability to guard such of players. 

The Giannis Durant match-up is one for the century. Two freaks of nature dueling out with one another for the championship (assuming that is the finals match-up). Both of these players are in their MVP form, and certainly showing it these playoffs, but I believe Durant has the slight edge over him due to his experience in these very intense situations. I fear is the lack of experience this team has. The NBA Playoffs are a whole different type of basketball, not to mention that the NBA finals are the best of the best basketball. We will see if Giannis can continue to perform how he has been all season. Otherwise, the Warriors are most likely seeing a 3-peat.

This is an English Project, I am not a professional blogger nor do I have any experience in blogging. I will continue to update this blog as the playoffs go on, as that is one of the requirements for getting full credit.

#English Project #NBA #nba playoffs #golden state warriors #houston rockets #milwaukee bucks #debate #kevin durant #stephen curry #james harden #chris paul #giannis antetokounmpo #khris middleton #draymond green #demarcus cousins #klay thompson

[missanthropicprinciple]

Old review of The Mrs. Bradley Mysteries from the late epinions site: “Thoroughly Modern Millie meets Miss Marple!” Aug 04 '03

SPOILER ALERT:

“Author's Product Rating

Product Rating: 5.0

Pros Diana Rigg. Great sets & costumes. Enormous fun!

Cons Is this a trick question?

The Bottom Line: Diana Rigg scores another triumph in a set of elegant, swellegant mysteries. She plays the wry, sophisticated Mrs. Bradley to perfection in 4 wonderful cases. Great entertainment!

Full Review: Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot. The bad news is that the notation of "Set 1" here is apparently a misnomer. There will likely not be a "Set 2". These 4 episodes were filmed in 1999, and I can find no indication that any more were ever made.

The good news is everything else. Rigg introduces each episode, Rigg stars in each episode -- the whole thing is Rigged! There is also a pilot episode from 1998, "Speedy Death", that is not included in this set but was issued separately at the usual excessive price. Based on the ad that aired with the series, this set should have all 4 episodes -- the listing doesn't yet provide any details about exactly what "set 1" contains. Check before buying!

Diana Rigg is superb (like we're surprised?) as Adela Bradley, an educated, liberated, and enlightened (and very wealthy) widow who has great success as an amateur detective in the 1920s. This was a time when most women were still house slaves. It's interesting that the series doesn't show men being particular upset by her successful flaunting of convention (when told, "This is a respectable hotel", she retorts, "Is it? Too bad."). In any event Rigg plays the role with great panache, wittily engaging the camera in brief monologues from time to time (cf. Ian Richardson in "House of Cards" and its sequels). It should be observed that Rigg isn't really the right physical type for this role (Mrs. B. is described as "birdlike" and "frail"); but she makes the role utterly her own, so who cares?

Seconding Mrs. Bradley, Watson to her Holmes, is her chauffeur and probable lover, George Moody, played with solid reliability by Neil Dudgeon. Her is her seriously dedicated, almost dour, very observant, and extremely handy man. Dudgeon is simply marvelous in the role, with a subtly controlled (almost disguised) sense of humor. He's a splendid foil for Rigg's la-de-da approach.

Seen on some episodes is Inspector Christmas, played by Peter Davison. Christmas is a businesslike cop who seems to relish Mrs. Bradley's assistance. Davison plays him in an almost curiously deferential manner ... until the 4th episode, when he's nice enough but seems less than pleased to see Mrs. Bradley when she first shows up.

There are a variety of other actors, varying from episode to episode. They are all solid and convincing in their roles. Every production is elegantly presented with a literate script, attractive and interesting settings, and dedicated performances. Rigg's outfits are stunning. The realization is widescreen...very nice.

In the 1999 season the episodes are:

1. Death at the Opera. Mrs. is invited to speak to the girls at a finishing school ("where girls go to be finished, which they will be if they believe all the twaddle...") that she attended long before. Before her speech, a murder occurs during a (hilariously inept) performance of The Mikado. One of the great charms of this series is its use of period jazz ... as in this case, when the opening music is "Just a Japanese Sandman". The investigation of the crime is typically labyrinthine ... at one point Mrs. B. volunteers Moody to model for a life class ... she's always volunteering him to do degrading little chores ... but by the same token he's nicely nosey and always finds valuable clues. For the first time Mrs. B. meets Inspector Christmas, who is very charming and Moody goes all ... well, moody. There is a delightfully kinky array of red herrings, and a second murder, as we find is usual in these affairs. The final break in the case comes through hypnosis.

2. The Rising of the Moon. Inspector Christmas, all bustle and enthusiasm, calls Mrs. B. in on a perplexing case of a fatal stabbing at a mostly Romany circus ... the partner of the knife-thrower, who of course quickly comes under suspicion. It's a clear case of cherchez l'homme, since la femme is the victim and gypsies don't have butlers. In this episode, Mrs.B. volunteers Moody to have knives thrown at him. "Scratches on the back indicate a passionate relationship, which is why my late husband remained totally unscathed." You gotta love this lady. The actor to watch here is Kenneth Colley as the red-headed Mr. Burlington. He's got a well-known face on British telly, and he uses it most wonderfully expressively here. Also Janine Duvitski, ditzily hilarious as Jane in "Waiting for God", and equally expressive, as one of the townspeople who don't cotton much to ousiders -- unless, in her case, they wear pants. In the music there's even a bit of Gershwin..."Walking the Dog" when Mrs. B. is striding along, and Richard Rodgers' "Slaughter on 10th Avenue" as the murderer is confessing.. Then we have the usual 2nd murder, and numerous cases of local people making pratts of themselves. And then Burlington tells Moody ... ah, well, you'll need to watch it then, won't you? Watch the pot on the stove. We get "Blue Moon" and "You're the Cream in My Coffee" at the end. Very nice.

3. Laurels Are Poison. Mrs. B. visits a haunted house in the country (always best for murders), to visit a friend. We get a bit of what must be her theme song, "Anything Goes". What fun ... you get to learn what a ha-ha is. "Anything Goes" includes a gift of Lady Chatterley's Lover, then banned in Britain, to her friend -- who is alas, rather elderly and up-tight. The place is crawling with secrets and subjects not to be discussed right from the beginning, especially regarding events of World War I. Shades of "Gosford Park", says I. However, since the old master of the house is already dead, the cook buys it instead. The gardener, otherwise gorgeous, is a nasty bit of work. Red herrings abound. Moody is also experiencing a bit of tension because the new master of the house, the old master's son-in-law, was his commanding officer in the War and they have unfinished business. The second death is a little late, and (alas) only a suicide. And then the guilty little secrets multiply like rabbits, but the ending is mostly happier than one might have expected.

4. The Worsted Viper. Mrs. B. pops off to a seashore town to present an award to local resident Inspector Christmas, whose welcoming smile is something of a grimace. Moody's daughter also lives there and is getting married. Her intended, Ronald Quincy (Eddie Marsan), who looks a bit of twit, is with her when she greets her father and they break the news to him. He's the son of the local hotel owner, a lady of delightful uptightness. A familiar face in the production is John Bowe, who portrays Reverend Baines ... who also writes a local newspaper column secretly under the name of "Miss Behavior". It's a name Mrs. B. can't help but love. The first murder victim shows up almost immediately, the Reverend's elder daughter Chastity, strangled with a worsted viper ("some sort of woolen snake" Moody calls it) and her hair cut off. Mrs. B. immediately suspects a connection with a case of multiple ritual murders she had solved years ago. Again, there's a whole school of red herrings. "My belief in god is roughly on a par with my belief in the tooth fairy," Mrs. B. observes at one point, apropos of the prevalent churchy atmosphere. Moody this time is volunteered to wait tables at the hotel. He looks vaguely as if he'd rather be back with the nude modeling. Mrs. B. contemplates children and observes: "There are 3 golden rules for bringing up children. Alas, nobody knows what they are." It helps the case a whole lot that Temperence, the Reverend's other (very young) daughter, has remarkably beautiful penmanship. Really. The second murder doesn't come off, despite a game attempt. There's a whirlwind ending that hinges on whether a third murder attempt will succeed. The solution of the case hinges on a big surprise and you won't hear it from me. Mrs. B. gives her advise on marriage whilst walking under a ladder ... "I'd advise patience, tolerance, -- and above all, separate bathrooms." ((Young love will overcome a deficiency in the last department for a time, as I can attest ... but within 8 months we got a place with 2 facilities. We live there still -- and now it has 3. Old love demands convenience.))

As you can imagine, I recommend these mysteries very highly. If you were unable to record them when broadcast, and assuming your local PBS station is like mine, not very forthcoming with repeats, you can always buy the commercially recorded version. The only problem is that the people who sell these seem always to want 2-3 times what they should. Alas, it's precisely this sort of thing that hardly ever shows up used.

I have said these are suitable for children from age 13 ... not that they are sophisticated enough to be interested. Few indeed are the teenagers who would be attracted to a quality British mystery with quality American (and British) period music.

Recommended Yes

Viewing Format: VHS Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older” [x]

#review #archive #opinion #Diana Rigg #Neil Dudgeon #Mrs. Bradley Mysteries #mrs bradey mysteries #the mrs. bradley mysteries #the mrs bradley mysteries

[bomberlandia]

26 Reasons to love the Bombers right now

The 11-point loss to the Demons was another gallant performance against a more experienced team. It has sparked discussion around how the Bombers “aren’t quite ready” to mix it with the contenders. And that’s true. Remember: the Bombers were predicted to finish 12th or lower this year. They have surpassed expectations and it looks like their development and connection has been fast-tracked with a collective buy in to the Rutten ethos. 

Even though the Bombers are slightly off competing at the pointy end of the year, there’s been so much to like about their season. Here’s 26 things I love about the Bombers right now.  

1. Cale Hooker: Before this year, Cale Hooker worked his way back from injury and was a permanent defender. At 31, he looked tired toward the end of last season. Fast forward 12 months and he’s kicked 30 goals - the most out of any Bombers player - and sits 8th in the Coleman Medal race. I love his work in the forward ruck contests where he hacks the ball forward at any cost. It’s produced some great results. He’s true fighter. 

2. Consistent Form On The Road: Bombers have gone 2-5 from 7 outings on the road. Apart from the Power loss (54) and Lions (57), the other losses have been tight affairs: Swans by 3, Giants by 2 and Tigers by 39 after the Bombers had led in the early stages of the final quarter. It’s not a perfect record but since round five Essendon have been consistently better. They’ve travelled for half of the season so far with the fifth youngest team and can show they can compete. 

3. Dyson Heppell is Back: After only playing 3 games in 2020, many said the Bombers captain was too slow for the midfield and there were question marks over what his role might look like and if he could ever recover back to full health. Heppell answered those questions by playing some inspired football. If you look at the AFL rankings, he’s 45th for disposals, 10th for marks, 17th for intercepts with 90 in total; Steven May has 85. He’s bringing other players like Hind and Laverede into contests and his calm influence is having a big impact. This is the year Bombers fans hoped would happen for Heppell. He’s back. 

4. Sam Draper’s Aggression: He has only played 12 games and yet plays the game with such an energy and ferociousness it’s hard not to get excited about what he could look like three years from now. I’m enjoying the little things about Draper’s game: the intelligent knock-ons, the scrappy kicks from congestion, the high-flying contested intercept marks on the wing. Once he figures out his true potential and can start hurting teams at both ends his value will go through the roof. 

5. Brownlow Medal Fancies: Darcy Parish and Zach Merrett are having years to remember. The predictor has Parish at 18 votes at 9-1 and Merrett at 13 votes for 26-1. Parish has a real chance of winning Charlie. 

6. Darcy Parish’s Year of Growth: Speaking of Parish, he’s the no.1 player in the AFL for centre clearances with 56. His breakout year has resulted in large improvements across the board but his best work has been generating touches at the bounce which has kept Essendon in games much longer. He’s also the best Bomber in the AFL for: goal assists (2nd), contested ball (9th), score involvements (6th) and metres gained (20th). 

7. Jayden Laverde: He’s played every game this year (14) which is the most he’s played in a single year - his previous best was 10 in 2019. The transition to the backline has made him a vital cog in defence now. He’s ranked 54th in the AFL for marks; the second best Bombers player. And he’s ranked 30th for interceptions (81) behind Heppell, Hind, Ridley.  Since making the shift to defence he’s doubled his production: 114 disposals in 2019 to 201 touches in 2021; his marking numbers have gone from 43 in 2016 to 84 this year; and he’s had 41 rebounds this year ( 7 was his previous best in 2015).  It’s taken the 60-gamer almost seven years to find a perfectly fitting role and now he looks at home. 

8. Great Depth: The injuries haven’t been good but when you think of who has to come back into the team you start to imagine what a full Essendon lineup might look like. Missing: McGrath, Shiel, Caldwell, Snelling, Hurley, Francis. And then think of some of the players that got games last year but are working away in the VFL right now, like Cutler, Gleeson, BZT, Phillips, Cahill, Zaharakis. And then development players are there too: Reid, Bryan, Durham, Hird, Brand, McBride. 

9. Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti: He’s arguably the safest set shot in the AFL. In the last three years he’s kicked 80.32; this year 29.12. His goal accuracy of 67.8 percent and his 2.1 goal-average puts him in the elite category. 

10. Ranked second in the AFL for goals scored: The Bombers have an average winning margin of 34.5 (5th best in the AFL). They are also ranked third for points scored behind the Bulldogs, Lions and are better than the Demons (4th), Eagles (5th), Power (6th). 

11. Closing the Gap: The Bombers average losing margin is 22.9. That has dropped. In 2019 it was at 35.6 and in 2020 it was 30.7. This means we’re seeing the Bombers be more competitive. This year the Demons have an average losing margin of 9 points. Geelong has been the benchmark in recent years with 18, 15 and 12 point average losing margins since 2018. 

12. Jordan Ridley: The 22-year-old has only played 39 games and already owns a best and fairest award. His play-making, intercepts (ranked 27th in the AFL), and efficiency has made him Essendon’s no.1 defender now. This year he’s ranked 7th in the AFL for rebounds (90), the best of the Bombers. He just does a lot of things right - from body positioning, reading the play, and decision-making - which has been so good to watch. 

13. Nick Hind is Better than Saad:  This has been a talking point all year. It’s time to lay it all out. Out of 11 categories, Hind is more dominant in eight of them. Here they are: 

Tackles +5 

Inside 50s +5

Goal assists +4

Contested Ball +17 

Uncontested +57 

Efficiency +1 %

Score Involvements +6 

Saad is +1 for rebounds, +23 for bounces, and +18 for metres gained (on average). But Hind looks to be a much more complete player with room to grow. Both players are the same age - 26 - but Hind has only played 35 games; Saad has 123 games behind him.  It’s been an impressive year by Hind at his new club and I think what he’s done is even more remarkable considering it’s only his third year in the AFL system. 

14. The Bombers’ Form Looks Real: Watching them play they have more purpose, more system in their game. They’re no longer the indecisive team that gets strangled under pressure. It’s all about executing and when they do it, it works. They still have gaps. They still turn the ball over. But they’re finally playing a brand of football that is more even and fluid than 12 months ago. Had a few more results fallen their way they could have been a top six team this year. 

15. Highest score this year is 143: That score was against St.Kilda in April and is ranked second highest in the AFL behind the more advanced Bulldogs’ 167. It’s better than the Cats’ 136 and Tigers’ 134. They also scored 141 against the rebuilding Roos. 

16. Last Quarters Won: The ability to finish off games has been one of the Bombers’ strengths. They’ve won 9 last quarters out of 14 which is the best in the AFL. They share that with the Bulldogs, Lions, Crows. The Bombers have also won 8-of-14 first quarters (ranked sixth best), but need to improve on second and third quarters: they’ve won 9 out of 28 collectively (five and four respectively). 

17. Ben Rutten: I think the best trait Rutten has is his communication. Whatever is happening behind closed doors is working because the players have responded on the field. They have responded by signing contracts. They have responded by saying the culture is tight. There’s been player improvement from last year’s fringe guys - Redman, Laverde, Stewart, Snelling, Ham. The Hooker move worked. The game plan is something to finally get behind. He’s surprised a lot of people but also confirmed he’s the man for the job: to take Essendon to their next flag. 

18. Rising Stars: Nik Cox and Harrison Jones both got nominations. It was Cox who started the year consistently with great endurance and skills on both sides of the feet. Now we’re seeing Jones’ contested marking come to the surface and his work rate: running 14-15 kilometres per game. Jones has 18 goals and 52 marks. Cox has 8 goals, 59 marks. There’s no ceiling for either player. Their evolution will be exciting to watch.

19. Merrett’s 2021 is the Best Merrett Yet: He’s had a very consistent career but if he keeps going at the pace he’s at now, he’ll return his best year of production. He needs 219 disposals in nine games to eclipse 659 in a year which is his previous best. He’s ranked 4th in the AFL for disposals per game (31.50), 20th for tackles (69), and he’s had 95 score involvements (second behind Parish at Essendon). Six more years of the Merrett way. 

20. Tackle Count: Bombers are ranked 4th for tackles in the AFL with 61.4 per game. To compare: In 2020 the Bombers were ranked 11th averaging 49.5 per game. This has been a big part of the elevation in intensity and pressure. When it’s all humming, man, it looks good. 

21. Jake Stringer’s Trajectory:  Stringer’s range has no ceiling. Whether he’s a midfield bull, clearance king, goal-scorer, game-changer, x-factor, and more recently “Dusty-like”. He’s surging. Forget the fat-shaming of 2020, he’s taking his game to new levels. With a bit of luck he stays healthy and stays consistent. 

22. Debutants: The trio of Reid, Waterman and Perkins have shown flashes of their potential. Reid has only played the one game but his 202-cm frame will make him one of Essendon’s key defenders of the future. Perkins has had 57 score involvements and 110 uncontested touches. His poise with the ball is ahead of his time. And Waterman has kicked nine goals in seven games and looks like a good fit in the forward line. He brings tenacity and a raking, deadly, left-foot. His AFL journey still gives me goosebumps. 

23. That Eagles 16-point Win: It was dubbed a “coming of age” win for the fact the Bombers beat the Eagles - a finals team - in Perth with a young team. They were down by 29 and kicked 7.8 to 2.5 in the second half. Once they start beating contending teams, they’ll look back at this game and say that’s when it all started to sink in that their best was better than the best. 

24. The Critics Have Turned: Remember this headline? “Essendon star Zach Merrett a casualty of leadership mess”. The Bombers’ 2020 season was called a “death spiral” and “Tipungwuti is a marvellous player in hopeless surrounds”. What about this one:  “Saad decisions spells disaster for Essendon.” Those doomsday headlines have now been replaced with “fiesty” Bombers, “Rising” and “Brave”. 

25. Will Snelling: He’s recovering from a thumb injury but has taken a leap this year with his pressure role. He’s kicked 10 goals, has 18 tackles inside 50 (second best at Essendon), 9 goal assists and 52 tackles. He’s played 33 games since 2016 when his career looked uncertain and now he’s an important cog for Essendon. 

26. Peter Wright: He’s had to pinch-hit in the ruck while Draper was injured and collected 139 hitouts - the most at Essendon. He’s been a solid contested mark option with 18 and has 15 marks inside 50. His 11 goals puts him behind Hooker, Walla, Stringer and Jones and makes him a very versatile tall that will continue to develop. 

[nyappyforeverbr]

[AN CAFE Interview by Club Zy MAG Vol.039 PART 2] Translate: Shiro, Staff from Nyappy Forever BR Thanks for http://www.club-zy.com/ On October 4th will be released the new single of AN CAFE “Ikenai mousou x Abunai monster”. This month the band is currently in halloween, with presentations scheduled for Nagoya, Tokyo and Osaka, the “AN CAFE LIVE CAFE TOUR'17 ‘Antic Halloween Party ~ Ikenai mousou x Abunai monster ~’”. And the clothes rule for these lives is: “Please, come with something related to red.” Please note that in the last presentation of Tokyo, the members will appear wearing the new costumes for this halloween. So, aren’t you anxious like the boys of AN CAFE, for this month’s Halloween events? Photos by Takehiro Suganuma / Interview by Tomonori Nagasawa. - In the newest single "Ikenai mousou x Abunai monster" AN CAFE it isn’t doing cosplay, but something like kote-kote, you came to represent the visual gloss gliter / gloss horror. For the image of the band is this occasion rare? Miku: In fact, passed this kind of impression on you. It’s a work made for the halloween season, I want to show something that fans are not accustomed to. Makeup and clothes are even more dense. - As this is for the halloween season, we're waiting. Miku: Yes, we got it just for halloween. If we let this moment pass, it would be difficult to have another chance, since this time of halloween came as an opportunity. - About AN CAFE, remember the seasons and events important. How do you make songs for these seasons, like Valentine Day, White Days, Halloween (now), Christmas and etc. If at this moment there was any important fact in the world, as usual for you, what would you do? A live? Would you launch any work? Miku: The band surprisingly likes this kind of thing. Until a while ago, together with songs of the season and events songs, for my part I thought "the performances of band's activities are out of sync!?" However, enjoy the seasons of the year with the content of the events and go changing makeup and costumes is not so good to do. But that's a fun thing for caffeko. - I think these activities are wonderful. Miku: We like to spend these events with fans. We prepare our costumes just for these events and announce the content to match with it as well. During the live we were tense, if it is to make some special feeling born. Because we strongly believe that people are waiting for these meetings, we want to do it by an important way. - A good posture is to believe strongly (rs) Miku: Honestly speaking, there are also parts that we depend on fans. In the events of these days, there is nothing we can do ... Kanon: If we don’t have plans for this day, there's no excuse that works. Miku: Yes, if we do not have a schedule ready for this day, it will be BAD for my image. But, independent on us, fans want to be fascinated by the event. Even if I'm just a boy, would they stop enjoying that day together? - Don’t you prefer to have fun like a kid instead of live? Miku: If An Cafe it isn't priority, so i'm in a bad mood. - Talking about the fans, on the part of you who can prepare all the plans for this day and they just to attend the event give excuses at work and in schools, it means that they are waiting for fun, this is good? Most of all, you’re waiting there from the stage to see all these people you love. Miku: If I think by this way, I'm glad for it. About october, if we spend Halloween together, I think it will be the best. - To color this halloween lively with party music, AN CAFE will release its newest single "Ikenai mousou x Abunai monster". Miku: “アブない(abunai)”  it’s to look like a reading of  "ア ブ な い 刑事 (abunai deka) * ¹" but since it's an old program, would people understand? * ¹ Abunai Deka, popularly known as AbuDeka, is a Japanese drama shown by Nippon Television between 1986 and 1987. - Oh, it really does. Miku: At the time of creating, the word "Ikenai mousou" came in my mind, I already had the "Abunai monster" written, so I just put everything together. Then I thought, "in this way, it seemed like 'Abunai deka." Oh! I will leave it in this way, but the current generation would not understand the origin of the word "Abunai deka". - About the difference of the current generation, could they not realize?" Even with the coupling of "Tentekomai" talking about the difference of generation? Miku: About the birth of Showa and Heisei * ¹ Era. Using these expressions caused a huge conflict. * ¹The Showa Era precedes the current Era, called Heisei, which began when Emperor Akihito ascended the throne on January 8, 1989. - How so? Miku: Actually because of Showa Era. I think that now if I write about it, I would feel old for a moment. But, I also think, "to express myself in this way is to be myself" rather than "because I was born in the Showa Era, I will try to change that." - When people are thirty, would not they have that kind of conscience? Miku: If I was born in the Heisei Era, it would be disrespectful to the Showa Era (rs). Is that the lyrics of the song "Tentekomai" talk about in somewhere you are being hard on yourself.

‘Ikenai mousou x Abunai monster"may be just a number of halloween, but it's more than that, including song lyrics in the party song has become the most fun song of the year, especially because of aggressiveness of the lyrics of song, it is precisely an EDRM. - Talking again about "Ikenai mousou x Abunai monster" about the protagonist who appears in the music, at dawn strips his underwear and throws away, alone can make scandals, like prank, get stuck in his own illusions, this does not would it be hallucinating? Miku: "Ikenai mousou x Abunai monster" was to write a pop of how a person in bad shape can have fun alone. - But, lingerie is not expected of a man... Miku: Oh! To describe this part I put "bright lingeries" (rs). I wanted to put in the lyrics of song a bit of the image of how a stalker people think. And this is how "Ikenai mousou x Abunai monster" was born. - As for you Kanon, what was the image you had of "Ikenai mousou x Abunai monster"? Kanon: Personally I was interest in doing an EDM (Electro Dance Music) alone. However I thought "We are a band, do that would be wrong" so Miku brought the demo of song "oh! it is not that in this song has the element EDRM (Electro Dance Rock Music) ". When I heard the music more organized I thought "what we did was EDM". Miku: Ohh!! Kanon: No doubt we're doing the first EDM. Teruki: I do not know, I think there are already people who do this kind of thing (rs). Kanon: "Ikenai mousou x Abunai monster" may be just a number of halloween, but it's more than that, including song lyrics in the party song has become the most fun song of the year, especially because of aggressiveness of the lyrics of song, it is precisely an EDRM. Miku: Ohh! Suddenly I ended up creating. - How about Teruki, what impression did you have? Teruki: Actually, everyone was bringing Halloween songs to the music screening meeting. The song that Miku brought had the image of the halloween that would complete the live, "Ikenai mousou x Abunai monster" was the best choice to make. What I soon liked was how Miku sang rap. The rhythm was not slow, but I easily imagined the music in many lives the image that could pass. I thought this might be the image of the next An Cafe. - At the beginning, everyone are singing together and at the end you can hear a high demonic chuckle. Miku: The final laugh is mine, but it was supposed to look like 6 monsters. - Yuuki you too, please tell us what you think of "Ikenai mousou x Abunai monster". Yuuki: I grabbed the idea of song and incredibly had fun with it, but as it was a number of halloween there were scary things that were put on. We could not get the picture of halloween, so put the content of hallucinatory who walks out was creative and we could build it from that point. - Do you usually use too much your imagination (Yuuki)? Yuuki: Me? Well ... (continues in the next part)

#アンティック-珈琲店- #an cafe #antic cafe #an cafe interview #an cafe translate #an cafe english #miku #takuya #kanon #yuuki #teruki #visual kei #oshare kei #jrock #an cafe news #cafekko #nyappy

[indiebluecrown]

Current Status of My Stories

It’s been almost a year since I last did this, and I don’t know if anyone would be interested in this, but I thought I’d make another one of these ramble posts just in case someone is? I dunno.

You can find the last post of this nature (here)

I will say that my Christmas Drabbles and Shorts series, as well as my Drabbles and Shorts series haven’t changed that much, so I won’t be listing them on here. In addition, this doesn’t include a bunch of drabbles I’ve posted here on tumblr, like my Halloween ones, or my Gin N’ Tonic ones.

I’ll be putting them all below the cut in case you aren’t interested in this in the slightest.

***These are all of my fics on FFN, I have yet to transfer everything onto Ao3***

I’m going to be listing them alphabetically so here we go:

A Dalliance In Time

This story has absolutely no rules, none. Probably one of the best things I’ve written to date, and it’s dedicated to my darlings @sableunstable and @laisvega

Summary:  “There’s a familiar metallic smell in the air, it’s tangy and the very memory of it makes a ball of dread curl up tightly in her gut. It feels like she’s not quite in her body, the soles of her feet itch, her head feels light and woolly, as if it’s been stuffed full of cotton.” - Remione time travel. Non-canon.

Word Count: 101,455 words

Pairing: Remione (Remus Lupin/Hermione Granger)

Other Pairings: Guess you’ll just have to read to find out LOL.

Number of Chapters: 50

Rating: M

Status: WiP

Published: July, 31st, 2016

Last Updated: November 22nd, 2017

Fall Through Time

I have had so many ups and downs with this story, SO many, but in the end I’m proud of every bit of it. Either way this is my baby and I guess you could call it partially canon compliant, but also at the same time it’s really not. My goal is to finish this story this year, wish me luck x

@acciovodka made a gorgeous edit for FTT in November, GORGEOUS, and you can find it (here)

(Here) is an edit I made almost a year ago (I still haven’t nailed my fancasts for Draco and Hermione in this story, still).

Summary: “In the last twenty four hours, Draco Malfoy’s life was flipped upside down. Not only was everything he’d ever known gone, but now the only person he had to rely on, hated him with every fibre in her being. Draco Malfoy was stuck in the past with none other than Hermione Jean Granger.” Dramione. Non-canon. (Remione included).

Endgame Pairing: Dramione (Draco/Hermione)

Major Pairings: Remione (Hermione/Remus) & Draco/Marlene McKinnon

Word Count: 281,245 words

Number of Chapters: 91 (technically 90, since I don’t count chapter 9 on FFN as a chapter)

Rating: M

Status: WiP

Published: July 14th, 2015

Last Updated: January 3rd, 2017

I Hate You I Love You

Basically @ash-castle @laisvega and I all wrote fics based on the song ‘I Hate You I Love You’ by Gnash ft. Olivia O’Brien, and theirs are both AMAZING, and you can find Ash’s (here) and Lais’s (here) *hearts*

Summary: “Sighing, she brought the fag to her lips, taking a deep breath, feeling it fill her lungs, before she lowered the fag. Moments later she lazily breathed out, the smoke drifting out of her mouth. The main thing she wished she could have was her best friend, but in his eyes she was nothing more than just that, his know-it-all best friend.” - Harmony, short series.

Word Count: 14,058 words

Pairing: Harmony (Harry Potter/Hermione Granger)

Number of Chapters: 8

Rating: M

Status: Complete

Published: June 27th, 2016

Completed: September 11th, 2016

I Never Said I Was Sorry

I have no idea where this story is going, but I think that’s half the fun of it to be quite honest. Dedicated to @colubrina I’m absolutely terrible though and I haven’t updated it in months, and I’m really sorry about that.

Summary: He shows up on her doorstep, soaked to the skin and barely coherent, convinced he has to apologise for a wrong he’s done her, one that has shattered her life. The only problem is, it never happened. Hermione Granger and Theodore Nott try to untangle threads of time travel and alternate universes. If they fix the knots he’s caused, she’ll die. If they don’t, he will.

Word Count: 6,187 words

Pairing: Theomione (Theodore Nott/Hermione Granger)

Number of Chapters: 5

Rating: M

Status: WiP

Published: October 15th, 2016

Last Updated: May 26th, 2017

It Was Her Ginger Hair

My rare pair baby, if you ever want to make me happy give me some Ginny/Theo, I will love you forever. This was written out of pure love, and whilst parts of it are definitely dark and twisty, I love every bit of this story. I need to find time to re-write the chapters and clean it up properly (I only managed to do chapter one), but I loved writing it, LOVED it.

I made two edits for this story and you can find them (here) and (here).

Summary: Theodore Nott found his eyes being drawn to the ginger hair swishing down her back as she moved to the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall. Last night she bumped into him at the Slytherin house party because Blaise had knocked into her; the first thing she said to him was, “you’re the Nott guy that my roommate wants to shag right?” Non-canon, DH AU. Ginny/Theo, Slight Dramione.

Word Count: 169,079 words

Main Pairing: Ginny Weasley/Theodore Nott

Major/Side Pairings: Harry/Luna, Blaise/Daphne, Draco/Hermione, Charlie Weasley/OC

Number of Chapters: 43

Rating: M

Status: Complete

Published: July 6th, 2015

Completed: November 28th, 2016

Let The Stars Fall As They May

Summary: A collection of Founders drabbles, shorts, oneshots and random scenarios. Mainly Salazar/Helga and Rowena/Godric, because I ship them something intense. Some of them shall be happy and full of light, but some of them will be fraught with sadness and sorrow. Non-canon (not that there’s a lot of that as it pertains to the Founders).

Word Count: 3,514 words

Number of Chapters: 6

Rating: M

Status: Ongoing

Published: January 4th, 2017

Last Updated: February 18th, 2017

Meant To Be

I am dreadful I am, but it’s been so long since I updated this and I feel horribly about it. I’m probably going to put this officially on hiatus soon since I can’t write the next chapter no matter what I try, but I will say that this story makes me happy. I just can’t seem to find the words for it.

Summary: Hermione obviously a bit confused as to why the three of them were gathered here was getting a bit impatient, she didn’t like not knowing things. “Luna, why are we here?” Triad fic about Hermione Granger, Luna lovegood and Daphne Greengrass. F/F themes, and M/M themes. Mainly light and fluffy, probably won’t always be that way. Non-canon, sporadic updates, maybe a little fun.

Word Count: 16,648 words

Number of Chapters: 7

Rating: M

Status: WiP

Published: January 31st, 2016

Last Updated: July 22nd, 2016

Neighbours

One of the first things I ever posted on FFN, (it was shortly after I started writing Promise). I don’t know what else to really say lol, it’s a fun little one shot.

Summary: “Hermione Granger had always been a stickler for rules, and having a certain amount of order in her life, so the day he moved in she decided to make a specific set of rules just for him.” Draco Malfoy becomes Hermione’s neighbour and she makes a set of rules knowing if she doesn’t she’ll end up breaking them. Oneshot, non canon. Dramione.

Word Count: 3,676

Rating: T

Status: Complete

Published: June 22nd, 2015

Nott In The Moonlight

I am immensely proud of this still, and I don’t even remember how I came up with the idea, but it’s one of my favourite bits of my writing to date.

Summary: “Cursed. He was a cursed man, he had been cursed since he was little. Blood, teeth, frigid night air. Fear, palpable in the air, it was scorching his lungs and veins. Sharp screams echoing through the night, the cold round mistress in the air permanently seared into the back of his eyelids.” - Theodore Nott x Remus Lupin, one shot.

Word Count: 1,748 words

Rating: M

Status: Complete

Published: July 27th, 2016

Promise

I am more than a little hesitant to put this on the list since I am probably never going to update it ever again? I actually, honestly do not know. For now I’ll continue to say that this story is on hiatus, but if I’m being frank I don’t really want to continue this story. It rarely got any feedback, I don’t like how I wrote Ron in the beginning of it, it needs a rewrite and fleshing out way more...I don’t know. I honestly don’t know.

Summary: The Second Wizarding War is over, and due to a ruling by the Wizengamot, Harry and his fellow classmates return to Hogwarts to repeat their Seventh Year. The Children of the War work together to heal themselves, create new bonds, strengthen old ones, and deal with the aftermath of the War, as well as trying to promote House Unity. Non-canon. Dramione. On hiatus.

Word Count: 66,823 words

Number of Chapters: 15 (technically 14, the latest one was an A/N)

Rating: M

Status: Who knows.

Published: June 19th, 2015

Last Updated (properly): Sometime in Sept 2015

Redamancy

Some of my darlings and I did a writing challenge together and this is the byproduct of that, the wonderful, sombre yet kind of happy byproduct. Incredibly proud of this as well.

Summary:“Pointless. Meaningless. Everything in his life that used to make sense was now a garbled mess. His life now consisted of jumbled moments strung together on a tangled string, where it all seemed dull, the world was no longer as bright and vibrant as it once had been.” One shot, George Weasley x Luna Lovegood

Word Count: 1,742 words

Pairing: George Weasley/Luna Lovegood

Rating: T

Status: Complete

Published: July 13th, 2016

Return of Regulus Black

COMPLETE AU, I mean pretty much nothing is the same. Ravenclaw and Slytherin centric, full of fixing things, Dumbledore is an absolute dick? The Golden trio aren’t Gryffindors and I think saying anything else would spoil things and we wouldn’t want that, would we?

Summary: Known Death Eater Regulus Black was assumed to be dead years ago, especially when they found the disfigured body in the Thames with his house ring on its’ finger. Years later the entire Wizarding World is not only shocked when he returns, but by who he brings with him; Notorious Mass Murderer Sirius Black, and a raven haired, grey eyed boy. (Wolfstar)

Word Count: 59,088 words

Pairings: Regulus Black/Emmeline Vance, Wolfstar (Remus Lupin/Sirius Black), Luna Lovegood/OC, Dramione (Draco Malfoy/Hermione Granger), Theomione (Theodore Nott/Hermione Granger) (tbd) (Some of these may be subject to change lol)

Number of Chapters: 17

Rating: M

Status: WiP

Published: December 13th, 2015

Last Updated: October 7th, 2017

Seasons Change

I love these two together a great deal, and it makes my heart warm writing about them. I think we can safely say that I ship pretty much everything lmao.

Summary: A short series that moves throughout the seasons that focuses on Fifth year Luna Lovegood, and Sixth year Theodore Nott. “Oranges, reds, yellows. Fall. Luna loves Fall. The air is crisp, and even though it rains often, she still goes outside barefoot.” Non-canon, just for fun. Luna Lovegood x Theodore Nott. My love for these two is immense.

Word Count: 3,730 words

Pairing: Thuna (Theodore Nott/Luna Lovegood)

Number of Chapters: 4

Rating: T

Status: Complete (I was once going to write an Epilogue, but I feel like it’s whole and complete just the way it is.)

Published: January 9th, 2016

The Trickster, Fate

The first fanfic I ever wrote. I was writing it for about six months before I posted anything on FFN, and I’ve just had over 200 pages laying in a doc gathering dust. It needs a massive re-write and editing, some plot details need to be reworked or changed entirely but I’m working on it, and I’m finally sharing it with people.

I wrote it mainly because I had run out of Scorlily fics and I was in desperate need of more, so I decided to write my own.

Summary:  "Once more the turn of the seasons is upon them, the air has a crisp edge to it, and the vibrant, bright green leaves are slowly giving way to colourful, proud displays of reds, yellows and oranges: the scent of change and possibility are potent, tangible and clinging to everything it can find." Partially canon-compliant, but also not really.

Word Count: 2,098 words

Pairing: Scorlily (Scorpius Malfoy/Lily Luna Potter)

Number of Chapters: 1

Rating: M

Status: WiP

Published: December, 27th, 2017

The Wolf and The Stag

Fluff, pure fluff. That is all.

Summary: “We’re late,” the hazel eyed man commented, removing his hands from the warmth and comfort of his toasty pocket to push his glasses back further onto the bridge of his nose, adjusting his gold and red scarf quickly before his hand dove back into his pocket. Starbuck (James Potter x Sirius Black) Oneshot, complete, non-canon AU. Lily Evans x Remus Lupin.

Word Count: 4,168 words

Pairing: Starbucks (James Potter/Sirius Black)

Other Pairing: Lily Evans/Remus Lupin

Rating: K+

Status: Complete

Published: March 26th, 2016

Time Travel? Piece of Cake

Last but certainly not least, my darling, darling Sirimione fic. I ship these two something terrible and how could I not write a story about them. Again, I kind of say eff the rules and let the muse run wild when it comes to this story I have to honest. Slytherins and Gryffindors are friends and together they’re probably going to dismantle a regime. 

Summary: What will happen when the Marauders find themselves transported to another time and dimension, which is scarily similar to their own? Landing in the year 1996, smack dab in the middle of a different war than the one they were fighting. Non canon. Dramione friendship. SiriusxHermione pairing. AU from HBP and onwards.

Word Count: 93,605 words

Main Pairing: Sirimione (Sirius Black/Hermione Granger)

Major/Side Pairings: Jily (James Potter/Lily Evans), Remus Lupin/Luna Lovegood, Harry Potter/Astoria Greengrass, Draco Malfoy/Daphne Greengrass

Number of Chapters: 28

Rating: M

Status: WiP

Published: September 7th, 2015

Last Updated: December, 27th, 2017

If you read through all of that then I love you xxx

#my fics #things I write #my stories #ftt #fall through time #ttpoc #time travel? piece of cake. #time travel fics #adit #a dalliance in time #redamancy #neighbours #nott in the moonlight #rorb #return of regulus black #insiws #I Never Said I Was Sorry #ltsfatm #let the stars fall as they may #founders era #marauders era #lightning era #how many more tags do I need to put on here? #I'm not going to tag any pairings but ah well

[auburnfamilynews]

Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

Whoa, are we eschewing most of the Big Ten for once? Yep.

Despite the fact that we’ve got up to three HUGE Big Ten games to choose from this week, there’s no way that we’re picking all of them because Crow and Chief might actually rebel and go to another blog.

Here are the games we are picking, though... enjoy!

STAFF PICKS - COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 9

Wisconsin @ Ohio State (-14) (O/U 50.5)

BWAAAAHAHAHAAHA! Poor Fox, they wanted to make this a super week of Sports. First the World Series, then the NFL tonight, then more WS and THEN!! Urban returns to the Shoe...too back the Fighting Illini ruined that deal! Ohio State will roll through this and it might not be pretty...I don’t think it will. Tree Seeds take this one hard! tOSU 42-20 and the over - Drew Mac

Speaking of rain, when it rains, it pours, Wisconsin. Ohio State by a lot. Ohio State 35, Wisconsin 21 - Josh Dub

Wisconsin tried to pull out just enough to win at Illinois and it back-fired. Maybe it was a letdown/look-ahead spot, but I think Ohio State does a number on this defense. They’ll hold the Buckeyes below their scoring average, and Taylor will keep things low scoring, but I think Ohio State covers late. Ohio State 31, Wisconsin 14 (OSU covers, UNDER) - James Jones

Well this thing sure looked fun this time last week. Now? Not so much. That being said, I don’t expect Ohio State to just walk all over Wisconsin because Wisconsin isn’t designed to get blown out. But 14 points is enough for me to think Ohio State covers, with the under. Ohio State 27 Wisconsin 14 - Josh Black

So this is why you crapped the bed last week Wisconsin. Looking ahead doesn’t tend to end well (and I hope another team does that this week, ahem LSU) Anyway, the Buckeyes continue to roll over teams and while Wisconsin’s defense has been great, they haven’t seen anything like Justin Fields and this Ohio State team. Bucks roll. Ohio State 41 Wisconsin 17 - Will McLaughlin

Oh Wiscy... You done got caught looking ahead haven’t ya? Well you better make it worth it. I could see this Badger D giving Justin Fields some trouble early but this Buckeye team is the best in the country for my money. It’s a low scoring battle early but a late turnover flips this & OSU covers late. OHST 28 UW 13 - AU Nerd

I think Ohio state is the most complete football team in the country. This will he closer than the experts think though. Bucks 31, Wisky 28 - Son of Crow

Two touchdowns? Man, I know that loss to Illinois was ugly, but that’s a lot of faith in Ohio State. If Wisconsin decides not to pussyfoot around and actually try to convert one of several 4th and shorts (instead of kicking short field goals), the Badgers win going away, and this is more like a 6-7 point line. That being said, Ohio State may be the best team in the country. We’ll learn a lot about them here, but I expect the Buckeyes to pull this one out. 31-24 Ohio State. - Ryan Sterritt

I know Ohio State has been good for one really terrible loss per year recently, but this won’t be it. There’s no way that Wisconsin keeps this game closer than 14 points in the second half. The Buckeyes will get up early, defense shuts down Jonathan Taylor enough to where the Badgers can’t drive, and people are even higher on OSU after this win. Buckeyes 34-16 - Jack Condon

SMU (-13) @ Houston (O/U 66.5)

Houston has been playing better but there is something about this Ponies team. I don’t think they will cover cause that’s a good number of points to lay on the road but SMU will get the W, again. SMU 42-35 and the over - Drew Mac

Lashlee forever! SMU 42, Houston 17 - Josh Dub

SMU has been excellent this year, and Houston is pseudo-tanking, but I don’t know about covering 13 on the road on a weeknight. SMU 38, Houston 31 (SMU wins, Houston covers, OVER) - James Jones

How ‘bout them Ponies? I couldn’t be happier for Rhett Lashlee, who is a great football coach and a better person. Houston is tanking 2019 and building to 2020. This SMU roster is loaded for this year to be their year. SMU 41 Houston 28 - Josh Black

The Ponies continue their undefeated season as College Football in Dallas is alive and well! Good for Rhett Lashlee to land at a program that is having as much success as it has. I watched the end of their massive comeback and Triple OT win against Tulsa a few weeks ago. As for Houston, they fired Major Applewhite because he couldn’t do better than 8-4. Well.... this year so far they are 3-4 and a mess off the field as well. Players have been asked to redshirt, including their starting QB, and Dana Holgorsen hasn’t exactly made the best first impression. Pony Up! SMU 48 Houston 23 - Will McLaughlin

Auburn should really consider bringing in this young hotshot OC to add some flair to Auburn’s offense next season.... SMU 45 HOU 21 - AU Nerd

Ponies. The Dallas jerseys are the best new Uniform in football. Smu 42, UH 20 - Son of Crow

I enjoy that there was almost assuredly a conversation about moving this game to a week night where someone proposed this be slotted in on Friday, and that person immediately being shouted down as a total idiot, because you don’t schedule anything besides high school football in Texas on a Friday night. Anyways, I like the Ponies to continue their undefeated run against the team who’s redshirting their star quarterback and playing the coaches son. 42-28 SMU. - Ryan Sterritt

SMU. 35-27. - AU Chief

I thought about watching the Pony Excess 30 for 30 the other day, and then probably watched The Fugitive (I DIDN’T KILL MY WIFE) or something like that instead. It’s a sign. There won’t be a downfall this weekend. Ponies, large. 45-24. - Jack Condon

Mississippi State @ Texas A&M (-10) (O/U 50.5)

Lord, has there been a team to fall flatter than Moo? And Rutgers wants Moorehead? If I’m a State fan, I offer to pay for the moving company. At least they figured out who the better starting QB finally was. On the other side in the Futility Bowl this year, A&M brings....well... Jimbo Fisher to the game...that’s about the only positive (and I don’t know if its positive really) I see to their team this year. I will say A&M covers but its 51/49 that it will actually happen. I just trust them a touch more than I do State...and that’s saying a lot. A&M wins and covers, 28-17 and the under - Drew Mac

Mississippi State might be a dumpster fire. Texas A&M 35, Miss St 10 - Josh Dub

MSU has finally pushed its chips on Shrader. I think he could cause A&M some trouble here. Neither team moves particularly fast, so this one should be low scoring. When opportunities are minimized, take the dog and the under. Texas A&M 23, MSU 17 (A&M wins, MSU covers, UNDER) - James Jones

Kellen Mond is not a good enough quarterback for A&M to be relevant in the SEC. Joe Moorhead is not a good enough coach for Mississippi State to be a 4-loss football team. Texas A&M 27 Mississippi State 14 - Josh Black

Great job Bulldogs, you finally started the better Quarterback. Things are bad in Starkville and I feel like it would be best for Joe Moorhead and the school to part ways after the year (Rutgers wants him badly). They face another team who has disappointed many this year in College Station. Can you imagine how bad of a loss this would be for ole Jimbo? I don’t think it will happen but you never know which Aggies team will show up. Texas A&M 21 Mississippi State 14 - Will McLaughlin

A&M tried their darndest to go on the road & lose to Ole Miss but no one out Rebels the Rebels. Mississippi State showed some early fight against LSU but just aren’t a good enough squad to string together consistent solid quarters of football. For A&M, their season really begins now. They still have UGA & LSU on the schedule but they have some time to build momentum for that wild finish. I think it’s tight early but Shrader throws a 4th qtr pick to swing this into the home team’s favor. Aggie 31 State 20 - AU Nerd

My gut tells me Aggy is going to get right in this game. And that MSU might have some quit sneaking up in them. Aggy 35, MSU 20 - Son of Crow

Ah yes, the battle of the two most disappointed fan bases in the SEC. I’m assuming this is a game that State is not playing it’s suspended players, but don’t quote me on that. I think I like Kellen Mond to have one of his good games here against a Bulldog defense that’s lost four out of five. Here’s food for thought - if State loses this game, they’ll almost assuredly be playing the Egg Bowl with bowl eligibility on the line. Not good for Moorhead in year 2. 31-17 A&M - Ryan Sterritt

I’m not sure if either of these teams are really any good. I’m sure that Mississippi State really isn’t any good. Jimbo’s gonna be reelin’ ‘em in on Saturday, and Joe Moorhead will start to see that maybe New Jersey is a better locale than Starkville (pay attention, Ryan). A&M in an easy one, 38-21. - Jack Condon

Arkansas @ Alabama (-32.5) (O/U 56.5)

The only thing that makes this one watchable is that Tua won’t see the field. uat 45 (because uat can’t kick field goals) -10 and the under - Drew Mac

What if Mac Jones has been better than Tua this whole time? Alabama 63, Arkansas 27 - Josh Dub

This line is dropping like a rock with Tua out. Arkansas is just awful, but I have a feeling Alabama just gets to a 3 score lead and works on their running game. I don’t see Arkansas scoring more in Tuscaloosa than they did against us in Fayettenam. Alabama 41, Arkansas 10 (Alabama wins, Arkansas covers, UNDER) - James Jones

Sure is tempting to take the under here with Tua being out. But with a week of getting timing down, Mac Jones shows enough to push the cover and over here. Alabama 48 Arkansas 10 - Josh Black

The preseason ends for Alabama this weekend (finally). The combined record of Alabama’s first 7 opponents: 20-30, and if you add Arkansas to the equation, the Tide’s 1st 8 opponents have a combined 22-35 record. As for Auburn’s first 7 opponents: 30-20 and including LSU Saturday, 37-20. That’s a 15 GAME DIFFERENCE! It was evident last week the drop-off from Tua to their backup QB, Mac Jones. Alabama looked vulnerable and Tennessee had many chances to make that game really really interesting. But nonetheless, a 14 point swing on a 4th and Goal play at the 1 put the end to those chances and Alabama beat Tennessee yet again. Arkansas, as we saw last week, is bad. This should be a game Alabama wins handily but if they don’t, I may actually pick LSU to win in a couple weeks in Tuscaloosa, especially if Tua’s health is still in question. Alabama 41 Arkansas 10 - Will McLaughlin

This would be downright hilarious if Bama botched this game without Tua. But that would also mean the end of the world so we wouldn’t get very long to enjoy it. Mac Jones “throws” three 60+ yard TDs by hitting that insane WR corps on three quick slants. Arkansas offense continues its ineptness though Rakeem Boyd gets 100 on the ground running right at that bammer D which irritates the little man. Bama 49 ARK 14 - AU Nerd

Alabama will have to utilize its stud runningbacks and o-line in this game. I don’t pity them one bit. Tide 51, Hogs 10 - Son of Crow

Yeah, no Tua, so I’m sure the gameplan here will be ultra vanilla. Like Bama hearkening back to the pre-Kiffin/current-UGA-playbook kind of vanilla. But... Arkansas is real bad. I’m gonna have to take the under because I can see Saban just choking the life out of the clock in the first quarter, but I think they can still cover by accident. 41-6 Tide.

P.S. I really hope Arkansas tries some other fake punt in this game and it works. - Ryan Sterritt

I mean, it took Nick Saban all of 2017 to figure out that using Tua was the right move. Maybe he’s just not a good coach. Maybe Mac Jones is going to win a Heisman only playing half the season. Playing Arkansas is a good way to start. Bama easy, Najee goes nuts. 49-14. - Jack Condon

South Carolina (-4.5) @ Tennessee (O/U 47)

This one will be fun and the SEC game I will watch outside of Auburn-LSU. Tennessee has been playing better and, if you didn’t know, South Carolina beat Georgia two weeks ago. Yeah, that really did happen, Will Muschamp beat Kirby Smart....IN ATHENS! I will be watching to see if Florida broke the Gamecocks though cause last week was close until the Gators put 2 scores up and then boom, done. Tennessee had opportunities to fight uat and did for a bit but didn’t realize you have to play the refs in Tuscaloosa as well and then tried to leap over on a QB sneak and then it was baseball time for me that Saturday night. I think Carolina wins this one but this is a complete toss up to me. Carolina wins and covers 24-17 and the under - Drew Mac

Vols take a big step towards bowl eligibility. Tennessee 21, South Carolina 17 - Josh Dub

‘Member that time Will Muschamp lost to Tennessee a head coach? No you don’t. It’s never happened. I will not watch this game. It will be bad football. South Carolina 24, Tennessee 13. (Gamecocks cover, UNDER) - James Jones

Will Muschamp has never lost to Tennessee. This game will be near unwatchable, but Carolina is the better team and is absolutely more than capable of covering. South Carolina 21 Tennessee 13 - Josh Black

This is a game I didn’t expect to be picking but it’s a pretty big one for bowl eligibility purposes. Weird saying that for a 2-5 Tennessee team but they’ve made some progress, especially in the last 2 weeks. They’ve got UAB and Missouri still on the schedule along with Kentucky and Vandy so the Vols HAVE to get this one. Meanwhile, the same can be said for South Carolina in their efforts the last 2 weeks and they could have easily knocked off Florida last week to double down on major upsets, but there were some very questionable no-calls in that one that directly costed the Roosters 14 points in an 11-point game. This one for me is honestly a toss-up, if I knew which Tennessee QB was playing, it would make my decision easier but picking the Roosters has not gone well for me so I’m going with the Vols at home. Tennessee 23 South Carolina 20 - Will McLaughlin

I recommend not watching this game. Seriously... It’s gonna be very ugly but not in like the fun, humorous way. If Brian Maurer was 100%, I think I would pick the Vols to pull the upset. But he won’t be a go. Cocks play just slightly less ugly than the Vols. SCAR 27 TEN 20 - AU Nerd

Yeesh this one is gross. I wouldn’t watch this game if I was paid to do it. Scar 17, Tenn 14 - Son of Crow

I’ll admit, I had left South Carolina for dead before the season, and especially so after losing to UNC in the opening week. They’re still only sitting at 3-4, but after beating UGA two weeks ago, they kinda hung with Florida last week? They may not be a good team, but they may be more aggressively average than I thought. In fact, Muschamp could still get this team to 7-5 this year, which would be a miracle with that roster and schedule. He’s also never lost to Tennessee. But when you put your trust in Muschamp, bad things happen (hey Survivor Pool!). I’ll hesitantly say the Cocks win this one, but I don’t like it. 21-17 USC. - Ryan Sterritt

Tennessee emptied the tank last week against Alabama. South Carolina probably feels like they left something on the field against Florida. Gamecocks. 28-20. - Jack Condon

from College and Magnolia - All Posts https://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2019/10/24/20931266/staff-picks-college-football-week-9

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