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jminter · 1 year

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Interview: Todd Talbot, stars in Crazy For You at Royal City Musical Theatre this Spring

For its 31st season, Royal City Musical Theatre (RCMT) presents the Gershwin comedy musical Crazy for You at the Massey Theatre from April 27 – May 14.

Royal City Musical Theatre presents Crazy For You at Massey Theatre April 27 - May 14, 2023 A classic romantic comedy about a boy, a girl, and a theatre in need of salvation, it is full of humour, larger-than-life characters and some of the greatest showtunes of all-time. The zany yet lighthearted script is complemented with sensational tap dancing and a collection of the most beloved tunes from George and Ira Gershwin including the romantic “Someone To Watch Over Me” and “Shall We Dance”, “I Can’t Be Bothered Now” and the high-energy dance number, “I Got Rhythm”. RCMT’s Crazy for You features Vancouver’s own Todd Talbot playing the lead role of Bobby Child, alongside his wife Rabecca Talbot. You may know him from the hit TV series Love It or List It, Vancouver or possibly from the 90’s Nickelodeon series Fifteen - but you may not know, Todd is a theatre professional for more than 20 years, a true song and dance man! Get to know a bit more about Todd Talbot in 5 questions: 1. Many may only know you from hosting Love It or List It, but you really are a true triple-threat: actor, singer, dancer with many theatre productions on your resume alongside your TV work. What draws you to each genre, is there a preference between TV or Stage?

Todd Talbot stars in RCMT's Crazy For You at Massey Theatre opening night: April 29 I’ve been lucky to be able to spend time on Tv and on stage. Each genre has its pros and cons. After spending 8 years shooting Love it or List it, I was keen to get back on stage. Part of that desire was to challenge myself to flex that muscle again and an even bigger part was a chance to be back in that community. I’ll admit, having spent so much time in theatre, I took it for granted and didn’t realize how amazing that ‘family’ is. I missed them. But, TV pays better ha ha ha! 2. Followers of your Instagram have seen you dive into building of your “eh Frame” home and brand, over the last few years. Does building and design offer a different or complimentary creative outlet to performing? It’s a very different experience for me. I love building because it’s tangible. I love the zen like state it puts me in. There’s a solitary element to it and a lasting end result. Performing is much more ethereal and fleeting. Especially theatre, which is a moment in time and only lives on in memory. Both are great but for me, opposite experiences other than both take a different creative energy. 2. Also on social media, you’ve said Crazy for You is one of your favourites, have you performed in the musical in the past? I’ve never done this show before but was on my bucket list since seeing it in London’s West End while I was a theatre school in England. My mom came to visit and we were mesmerized by the production. I remember it to this day. The music, the choreography amazed me, and the role of Bobby seemed the ultimate theatrical challenge. 4. Crazy for You was prepared to open three years ago but the pandemic put a damper on that. How has the company weathered the break, has everyone been able to return or have you had to recast or recrew? From what I hear there are about 50% returning from pre-Covid. All the leads will be back which is great. It feels like a lifetime ago but I’m sure it will fall back into place. I know that the theatre community was especially hard hit during the pandemic and I hope that folks find the time to get out and give themselves the gift of an evening in the theatre. It’s good medicine for audience and cast alike. 5. This isn’t the first time sharing the stage with your wife, how was it taking on these roles of Bobby and Polly together, 20 years since your first time? Oh boy…we sound old. We met doing West Side story at the Arts Club Theatre and as I share this story, tomorrow is our 16th wedding anniversary. It really is a treat to share the stage with her, she’s such a talent and sings this music beautifully. It does put a little pressure on working with your spouse but it’s all worth it. What I’m curious to see is what our two kids think?? Directed & choreographed by Valerie Easton with James Bryson, Musical Director, Crazy for You continue the Royal City Musical Theatre’s 30 year tradition of producing acclaimed Broadway-quality musicals. Find more information and tickets online at royalcitymusicaltheatre.com Read the full article

#CrazyForYou #entertainment #Gershwin #Interview #music #NewWestminster #RabeccaTalbot #Stage #Theatre #ToddTalbot #vancouver

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heyimtavia · 4 years

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THE POST FINALE HENRY DANGER OPINIONS TAG:

Hey party people! Sorry I’ve been a bit out of the loop. Due to what’s going on in the world, adulting sorta got in the way and I have to DVR the final episode. No one tagged me, but I just wanted to add my two cents since this is officially the end and this is a really cute tag.

1. Who was your overall favorite member of Team Danger and why?

Charlotte hands down. She was brilliant, sassy and just a great friend to Henry no matter what. She’s one of the main reasons why I decided to tune into the show. I saw a lot of myself in her. I was once that little smart black girl that no one listened too. But it’s okay though, but that GLOW UP is real! I know from experience lol.

2. Who was your favorite non-team danger character and why?

Y'all know I love Fran the security guard. She should’ve gotten more air time. I just think she’s hilarious! I’d loved to see her try to wrestle a dolphin any day!

3. Who was your favorite villain and why?

Dr. Minyak & Nurse Cohort. I just gotta respect his hustle. Other than Rex and Rick Twitler, I feel like he’s the only everyday villain who always came close to defeating Captain Man & Kid Danger. He always had unique plans; from capturing and brain-altering Charlotte to taking Piper and the man fan hostage, he was always creative. Plus I love his little temper tantrums he sometimes throws.

4. What were your top five favorite Henry Danger episodes of all time and why?

1) All time Fav would go to The Great Cactus Con. From the dopeyness of how everyone can do a backflip instead of Ray. How Charlotte gets to show off her fashion design skills. How Piper unofficially works with Team Danger. Plus I love the cute romantic bit between Jasper and Patina. 2) Rumblr- That whole episode was just comedy gold for me. They should’ve brought Kyle back for the finale and had him show up at kid danger’s funeral 3) I dream of Danger - Its Char’s episode. I like how it alluded to Charlotte’s dream might come true but it doesn’t. However, I don’t like how they just moved on like the episode never happened even when Jasper thinks that char likes him. 4) Flabber Gassed- I love that char got to show off her fighting skills and how happy Jasper was to be a superhero. 5) Holey Moley- I straight up die for laughter every time I see that episode. I love how Henry kept saying, “oh look, a downside.” I feel like that episode would have been a sketch on All That or the Amanda Show. It just felt like good ole Nickelodeon comedy.

5. What were your top five least favorite Henry Danger episodes of all time and why?

1) Henry’s Birthday- Call me a diva, but if anyone treated me like that on my birthday, the party is OVER! 2) Captain Makini (I think that's what it’s called). Sorry, I'm not really a fan of Frankie Grande and though he was great for the musical, I really don’t think he needed a second episode. 3) Meet Cute Crush- I’m sorry, anything involving Piper is just physical and emotionally draining. All that girl does is yell. Thank u, next. 4) Sick & Wired- Because I got sick and tired of Ray’s shenanigans. 5) JAM Session- Now Piper isn’t my favorite character, but how that girl was manipulated all over a bet was just stupid and disrespectful.

6. What was your favorite running gag and why?

1) Fran’s line, “There’s only one in the whole world, and we got it!” Swellview must be a fun, mysterious place that always gets amazing things lol. 2) When everyone says “Click” before hanging up their phone. I find it funny because I’m pretty sure the kids had never owned a flip phone in their lives.

7. What was your favorite one-off throw away gag and why?

When shwoz referenced his song from the musical when he said, “Science, science, science, I’ve said this already.” I think he said this in Theranos boot. And also the grammar fights and how grammar rules don’t apply to Charlotte lol.

8. What episode, which character and which duo made you laugh the most?

I think Holey Moley & Rumblr both made me laugh the most. Those were great episodes. Jasper would have to be the funniest. That boy says the darndest things lol. Hensper. Because of how Henry loved Jasper’s mustache and wanted to get one too. And when Jasper and Henry were both “Dude. Bro. Dude. Bro. DUDE!” Over the Patina situation and Charlotte had to break them up.

9. What episode, which character and which duo made you the most emotional?

I think it was Second episode of the finale episodes, when Henry was freaking out at the end because he was alone and Rex had sent Ray A Million and one years into the past. The fact that he literally had to think like all of his friends because obviously that’s what he was used to, everyone being there to help figure out a plan and keep swellview safe. And the fact that for that moment he was kid danger and all alone was really scary for him.

10. How would you rank each season from 1 to 5, one being the best and five being the worst?

I would rank season 5 as 1. It overall had great episodes and delved into different genres and fun tv and movie tropes. It made it a joy to watch, though some episodes leading towards the end didn’t quite catch me. Season 4 would be like a high 4 but not exactly a 5. Season 3 was sorta Meh to me. So maybe a #. Season 2 would be a 4 and season 1 would be like a 4 because it was a the beginning to a great show and was still working out the kinks a bit.

11. Who was your favorite duo in the show (romantic or non-romantic)?

Chenry 100%. The friendship that those two have is great! Now I must say, I hate that Nick was still posting about them on their youtube page for clout knowing that it wasn’t gonna happen. I felt like they did that just so people would watch the final episodes. I was gonna watch regardless, but really Nick? Really?

12. What was your favorite Henry and Ray moment/episode?

The bro song! Plus I love that it kept getting referenced after the musical as well.

13. What was your favorite Chenry moment/episode?

When Char was controlling Henry in flabber gassed, she made him jump up and down while clapping! I love that even shwoz joined in too lol. And when Henry was concerned about her after she ate bad meat from the auto snacker.

14. What was your favorite Hensper moment/episode?

The mustache scene from Grand Theft Otto, “dude if I had one, I’d be Man Danger!”

15. What was your favorite Chensper moment/episode?

This also kinda includes Ray but when they were all stealing Joss Ross’s gift from her birthday party and they were just casually leaving. And how Jasper kept saying, “It’s not stealing if it’s from a criminal.” Plus I like the episode when Hen and Char have to pretend to date just to see if Jasper would keep their secret. The boy poured a whole bowl of pees down his shirt lmaoooo!!

16. If you could go back and change one element of the show, what would it be?

Have Ray grow up and stop fawning over Henry’s mom. It was just plain creepy! Oh and put some respect on my girl Charlotte’s name.

17. If you could say one thing to each main character in the pilot, what would it be?

Life isn’t always about one day getting a statue, (I’m looking at YOU Captain Man). Crime-fighting is fun and being a sidekick could literally every kid’s dream. But don’t forget to be a kid. Hangout with your friends, go to school, go on dates. Do the whole growing up thing. But at the end of the day, you have to do what’s best for you.

18. If you could say one thing to each main character in the finale, what would it be?

Thank you for sharing your lives with me and I am so so sooo proud of you all!

19. Were you satisfied with the finale? What part was your favorite and what part was your least favorite?

Honestly, I think it was okay for what it was. My fav part was when Jasper literally had to carry Char out of the mancave because she refused to leave Henry behind. I love that they decided to stick together. They did leave a lot of storylines open. I thought Joss Moss would be revealed as the real Mob boss. I thought Rick Twitler would regain his memory. Where the heck is Gooch? Caitlin? Chenry (for obvious reasons). I'm just spitballing here. Was it good? Yes. could it have been better? Hell yes.

20. What would your ideal Henry danger spin off look like?

Charlotte and Henry have powers and Jasper can fight! Dystopia. That was the spin-off that I wanted! I don’t really care about the new kids as much. They’re college-aged too? Just imagine the shenanigans they would get into! But we need to kick the Charlotte hating writer off the staff though. Can The CW pick this show up?

21. Where do you personally see the characters 10 years from now? What are they doing, who are they with, where are they in their lives - what do you think happened to them? Most importantly, are they happy?

I honestly haven’t thought about it. But I believe no matter what they do or where they may end up, they will be happy. They’ll probably always be a team.

22. What was your favorite part of the show and why did it initially draw you in?

It became an escape from my normal adult life. (I’m saying like I’m old. I’m only 23.) I randomly flipped it on one day, I can't remember what episode it was, but from then on, I was hooked. I used to watch it a while back, but I fell off, but at that moment on time, it was easy for me to fall right back into it.

23. What was your favourite part of the fandom and why did it initially draw you in?

The friends I’ve made, the people have met! They are the best out of all the fandoms I’m a part of. I’ve been on tumblr for years and never had I have a group of people be so nice, supportive and just incorporate me into things. I love you guys so much!

24. Describe your overall emotions/feelings regarding the show being over and the show in general, looking back on it as a whole, with one quote from the show.

It’s a bittersweet feeling. I hate to see it go. But all good things must come to an end. But I guess there’s nothing better to say than, “Feels Good.”

25. If you were able to add one scene in the finale, what would you add?

I don’t know honestly. Maybe we could have seen him reunite with his friends and family. Especially Charlotte and Jasper, Afterall, they probably thought that their best friend was dead for all they knew.

26. Favorite outfit/hair style?

Charlotte’s Date outfit with Jack Swagger. Sis was rockin that romper. Also when Jasper and Charlotte were helper bunnies! Those outfits were hilarious and cute.

27.Least favorite character?

I'm sorry but Piper. She was worse than the whole annoying little sister trope. I swear all ash did was yell through most of the seasons and then they gave this chick a driver’s license, I mean what?? Plus i think her reaction to finding out Henry was kid danger was better in Broken Armed and Dangerous, than in twisted sister.

28. What is question you would like to ask the writers/ producers?

Im tagging @adorkable-blackgirl @chenoahchantel

#henry danger #hd spoliers #hd tag game #hd

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purplesurveys · 4 years

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782

Your ten favorite movies

Movie number one: Two for the Road (surprise surprise) 1) Who's the main actor? Audrey Hepburn and Albert Finney. 2) When did it come out? Pretty long time ago. It came out in 1967 if I’m not mistaken. 3) What's the genre? Romantic comedy and drama. 4) Do you know where it was filmed at? Yeah, as far as I know the whole film was shot on location throughout southern France. 5) How old were you when you saw it? I don’t actually remember the exact year anymore, but it was either in 2013 or 2014, which makes me 15 or 16 when I watched it for the first time.

Movie number two: Good Will Hunting 1) Who's an actress in this movie? Minnie Driver, and she did such a fantastic fucking job with her role.

2) Out of 10 stars you'd give it? 9.5. The part where Robin Williams and the actor playing the math teacher handle their differences was a bit blah for me, but the film was otherwise perfect. 3) Did it have a surprise ending? I wouldn’t call it a surprise. It was a well-deserved ending for the main character and I’m sure everyone who’s ever watched this movie rooted for such an ending as well. 4) How long was it? Around two hours? idk I never checked. 5) Did you first see it in theatres? Hahahaha definitely not. It came out five months before I was born. Movie number three: A Clockwork Orange 1) What's this movie rated? Like, in terms of parental advice or its score? I’m not sure so I’ll put both. The film in all its unedited glory got an X rating which is real fucking understandable given that, in my opinion, this was Kubrick’s most intense work; though in my research just now they were able to tone it down to R after Kubrick edited out a certain scene. As for its score, it holds an 87% in Rotten Tomatoes and 8.3/10 on IMDb. 2) Did critics approve of it? Critics definitely approved of it as a piece of film, but I’m sure it was very uncomfortable for the viewing public. 3) Who were you with when you saw it? I watched it on my own. I didn’t know what it was gonna be about, so I was in for the shock of my life when Alex and his droogs broke into the first house. 4) Did this movie make you cry? No but it made me feel uneasy. 5) Who are five actors/actresses in this movie? I only remember Malcolm MacDowell, who played the lead character. I’m honestly not familiar with the other actors. Movie number four: Revolutionary Road 1) Is the main actor your favorite actor? One of them is - Kate Winslet. I’m alright with Leonardo DiCaprio but he isn’t my favorite. 2) Do you know how old he is? Kate Winslet? Not so sure, but I think she’s like 45. 3) Did this movie make you laugh? This movie is not to be laughed at lol 4) Last time you watched it? A few months ago before they took it out of Netflix forever, ugh. 5) Are you the appropiate age to see it by yourself? Yes. And I would rather watch it by myself, because it’s a lot to take in. Movie number five: Gone with the Wind 1) What made you mad about this movie? The racism that surrounded the film makes me angry. For example, the actress who played Mammy (Hattie McDaniel) was the first black actor to be nominated for an Oscar, but she wasn’t even allowed to attend the ceremony where she was nominated in. It took one Clark Gable throwing a fit and threatening to boycott the event for the higher-ups to finally agree on Hattie attending the Oscars. 2) Was it based on a true story? It was based on real historical events, but the story itself wasn’t real. 3) Do you wish it was real in any way? It kinda was. 4) So what's it about, anyways? This is really not one of those movies you can explain in one sentence lol but uh rich privileged southern belle gets entangled in the Civil War, marries thrice and never for love, everyone around her dies, and once she’s left alone we see her fend for herself and start building a life of her own. That doesn’t even do the movie justice and if you really wanna know, best to watch all four hours of it. 5) Did they make a video game out of this movie? OMG no, that would be in such poor taste. Movie number six: Room 1) Did this movie bore you at any time? Not at all. It had me invested from start to finish. 2) Was there a kiss scene? I don’t know, I don’t think so. 3) Who was the protagonist (main character)? Brie Larson plays the lead role, but I’ve forgotten her character’s name, or if she even had one. 4) Have you seen this movie more than once? Absolutely. This was my favorite film for a brief period and I watched it everyday then. 5) Last time you saw it? 2016, probably. Movie number seven: Roman Holiday 1) What is this movie's genre? Romantic comedy. 2) Are there any kid actors in this movie? Nopes. 3) Where did it all take place? A biiiiiiig chunk of the movie was shot on location in Rome. 4) Who was the biggest star in the movie? Gregory Peck. Swoon. Fun movie fact! This was Audrey Hepburn’s feature film debut, and originally the studio was to give her a much smaller billing at the start of the movie compared to Gregory. He had an inkling Audrey was gonna end up super popular once the film got released, so he told the studio to give her equal billing, which technically made her also the big star in the movie alongside Gregory. He wasn’t wrong. 5) What year did it come out? 1953. Movie number eight: Requiem For A Dream 1) Main actor and/or actress? Oh dude, a lot. This movie didn’t fuck around with its cast lol you had Jared Leto, Ellen Burstyn, Jennifer Connelly, and Marlon Wayans. 2) Is this a one-time only movie? I have no idea what you mean by this. 3) Is it a sequel to anything? Nopes. 4) How much money did it make? Bruh I don’t know lmao? I’ll have to Google that - Wikipedia says it made $7.4 million. 5) Favorite part? It’s not my favorite part because it makes me happy, but for me the most memorable scene was when the mom was at the peak of her addiction and her refrigerator came to life. The montage in the end also gave me goosebumps. Movie number nine: Carol 1) When did you first see this movie? 2015. It was one of the factors that made Gab and I reconcile as friends, so I’m super thankful that this film allowed us to bond. 2) Did it take a second time for you to like it? Not at all. I was in love with it from the very beginning. 3) Does it have a happy ending? Yes. 4) Who would you recommend it to? People who want an LGBT film with a happy ending. 5) What's its theme song? It doesn’t really have one, but its score was composed by Carter Burwell. OH I just remembered Billie Holiday’s Easy Living was featured prominently in one scene, but it’s not really the movie’s theme song. Movie number ten: Portrait of a Lady on Fire 1) Do you still have the movie ticket? I think mine is still with Gabie, if she kept it. 2) Favorite part? Everything about this movie was beautiful. I loved when Héloïse’s dress caught on fire, when Marianne was drawing Héloïse in her sleep, when Marianne finally saw her vision come to life, when Marianne attended the exhibit and saw the painting of Héloïse...and that final fucking scene. 3) Were there any songs you knew in this movie? Nope. I don’t remember if they played any songs. 4) A quote from this movie: “In solitude, I felt the liberty you spoke of. But I also felt your absence.” and “Do all lovers feel they’re inventing something?” 5) Were the main actors/actresses a perfect match or not so much? Yes they FREAKING WERE AAAAHHHHHHHH Random Questions 1) Which one have you seen most on DVD? Gone with the Wind, but only because it’s the only film in this selection that I have on DVD. 2) Which one have you seen most in theatres? Other than Portrait, I didn’t get to catch these in the cinema. 3) Did your parents like any of them? They haven’t seen any of the movies I picked. 4) Which one did you see with your best friend? Carol and Portrait hahahaha, both lesbian movies. She was the one who made me watch them in the first place too. 5) Would you see #1 again? Over and over again. I will never grow tired of it. 6) Is #4 a movie you can only watch every once in a while? Yes, super accurate. The subject matter is very heavy to begin with, so pair that with superb acting and you’ve got yourself a movie that’s hard to get through. 7) Was #5 hard to understand? Only because it’s sooooo long and there are so many plots and subplots. Also, as someone who has never actually read about the Civil War in full detail, it has also hampered my understanding of some of the events in the movie. 8) Did you see #2 the day it came out? I didn’t see it until like, 18 years after its original release. 9) Do you have #3's movie ticket still? I never had it to begin with. 10) Are there any sequels to these movies coming out? As far as I know, no. 11) Does your best friend like #9? Gabie’s very in love with it. She once kept count of how many times she had watched it when it first leaked on the internet loooool and if I remember correctly her watch count peaked at 126. 12) Did #10 have horrible special effects? No. 13) Who directed #6? Lenny Abrahamson. 14) Did #8 scare you? Absolutely. I needed a long-ass break from everything after I finished it lmao. 15) Does #7 have a better effect at night? No. The effect has been the same for me whatever time I watch it.

#survey #surveys

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theycallmebeccawrites · 5 years

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Chris & Ellie Bonus: Father’s Day 2019

With Tumblr holding my original writing blog @beccaheartschrisevans captive (aka flagged as explicit), I have made a secondary writing blog and may end up closing the other all together. In the meantime, I am reposting all of my stories on my new blog.

Pairing: Chris Evans x Ellie Spencer (OFC)

Rating: G

Warnings: n/a

Summary: Chris celebrating his first father’s day

Disclaimer: This work of fiction is not to be reposted, used or translated without my permission.

Chris & Ellie Bonus Stories Masterlist | Chris & Ellie Masterlist

Father's Day 2019

June 16, 2019

Super Bowl LI was playing on the TV as Chris sat on the couch with four-month-old Tommy in his arms. Neither was really watching the game, instead Chris was watching his son pull on Dodger's ears while the dog sat next to them on the couch perfectly content. It was no secret that the dog loved the baby and had since they'd brought Tommy home from the hospital.

As Chris watched the dog and baby interact, he couldn't help but think back to this time last year. He and Ellie had been trying to get pregnant for over a year and a half without any success and had agreed to visit a specialist once they'd gotten back to Oregon after spending the summer in Massachusetts with his family. As luck would have it, however, a romantic getaway in England following the Avengers: Infinity War premiere had resulted in a positive pregnancy test about six weeks later.

In fact, Ellie had taken the pregnancy test on his 37th birthday and had told him that night once they'd returned to the small, basement apartment in his mom's house. They'd both cried happy tears and had decided to share the news with their family two days later, on Father's Day. They'd shared the news via a video call with her family while in the living room of his mom's house with his family. There had been lots of shouts of joy, lots of tears and hugs galore.

They'd spent the summer in Massachusetts as planned and then had spent the fall in LA while he'd filmed a movie. They'd traveled home to Oregon once a month to meet with her doctor and had returned to the state for good the week after Thanksgiving. (They'd celebrated the holiday in LA and his family had traveled to California to spend the week with them, taking their annual Disney trip a few weeks early and at Disneyland.) Christmas and New Year’s had been spent with Ellie's family in Oregon and they'd counted down the days until Robert Thomas's arrival.

Tommy had arrived a week and a half early on February 3 aka Super Bowl Sunday. He'd been the perfect baby, too. Chris had spent every day of those first two months with Tommy and Ellie, enjoying every second of being a dad, even on those nights where they hadn't gotten much sleep.

Then the mid of April had come and he'd had to leave for his final Marvel press tour. Ellie, Tommy and her family had traveled to LA with him and they'd all attended the movie premiere with him while Tommy had stayed with Ellie's aunt and uncle. Then Ellie and Tommy had traveled to Boston with Chris's family while Chris had started the international leg of the press tour.

They'd had nightly video chats while he'd been gone and had reunited three weeks later in New York City before he'd joined them at his mom's house for the summer. They'd been here for a month now and Chris had been taking the early morning shifts with Tommy so Ellie could go back to sleep after feeding the baby.

It was these quiet mornings with his baby boy that Chris loved the most. It gave them time to bond before they went upstairs to spend time with the rest of the family where Tommy was happily passed around and showered with attention. What they did during the time together depended on Tommy's mood. On mornings like this, where he was awake and giggly, they watched Patriots' football. Whereas, on the mornings where he was grumpy or still sleepy, Chris would cuddle him and either sing, read books or talk to him. During the last few weeks, they'd spent more time watching football than anything else. Or rather, Chris listened to football while watching Tommy interact with Dodger.

Wanting to document this special Father's Day, Chris set Tommy on the couch so he was propped up between the back of the couch and Dodger's torso. Grabbing his phone, Chris snapped a photo of his two boys, seconds before Dodger jumped up and began to lick Tommy's face. The baby looked startled at first, but then let out a delighted shriek which soon at Dodger barking happily.

"Shh," Chris said, chuckling as he darted his eyes over to the partially opened bedroom door. "You're gonna wake up mommy." He picked up Tommy and settled the baby back in his lap. Then, using one hand, he composed a tweet and shared the photo with his Twitter followers.

"Watching Patriots football with my little guy and our best friend on my first #FathersDay #FuturePatsFan"

He posted the tweet and then put his phone aside. He kissed Tommy's head and breathed in the unique baby smell. Sometimes, he couldn't wait for his little boy to get bigger, but he knew that someday he'd miss him being this little.

A loud "TOUCHDOWN!" startled both father and son and Chris grabbed his cell phone, knowing that it was the tone for Ellie sending him a text:

That last hashtag should say #Future12thMan

Chris chuckled at his wife's reference to the fans of the Seattle Seahawks and then said, loudly, "I thought you were sleeping."

Ellie appeared in the doorway to the bedroom, a second later, and was greeted by a squeal from Tommy. The baby began to squirm in Chris's arms as Ellie made her way over to the couch with the aging Daisy following her. The nine-year-old dog settled herself into her dog bed and ignored them all as she went back to sleep.

After passing the baby to his momma, Chris let his eyes wander over to where Daisy slept. He and Ellie had gone back and forth about whether or not to bring her with them this summer, but they'd ultimately decided they couldn't be without her; especially since she was already towards the end of her life. Other than aging joints, she was pretty healthy and he hoped she stayed that way a bit longer.

Of their pets, only their cat Mickey had stayed back in Oregon, as he did every summer. They'd adopted Mickey while they'd been in Georgia back in 2017 and the cat had not enjoyed the flight back to LA that fall and he had especially hated the drive to Oregon when they'd moved there. So rather than deal with a pissed off cat, they'd left him home with Ellie's cousin who was housesitting for them.

"Are you really watching this whole game?" Ellie asked, drawing Chris's attention back to the TV. "You're really going to make him suffer through three quarters of heartbreak?"

Chris glanced at her and could tell she was just busting his chops as she fought back a smile. If there was anyone who could appreciate the way the Patriots had come back to beat the Falcons, it was his wife. Nevertheless, he couldn't help but respond to her goading, "You have to watch the whole game. You can't get the full thrill of the win without it. It would be an 'that's awesome' as opposed to a 'holy sh-'" His voice trailed off as his eyes dropped down to the baby who was smiling up at him.

"Nice save," Ellie said, smoothing her hand over Tommy's hair. "As much as it pains me to do so, this was probably the most exciting football game I've watched."

"It's a Father's Day miracle!" Chris exclaimed, throwing his fist in the air. His excitement was contagious as Tommy began to shriek happily and Dodger began to bark. Reaching over, Chris tickled the baby's feet, making his squeals turn to giggles. Meanwhile, Dodger barked happily, his tail thumping against the couch cushions.

"You three are quite the comedy act," Ellie said, shaking her head. Looking down at the baby, she asked, "Should we go get daddy's present?" He babbled back to her. "Alright, we'll be right back."

Ellie carried Tommy back to the bedroom with Dodger following, the dog obviously not wanting to let his best friend out of his sight. Chris turned his attention to the TV and cringed as Tom Brady was sacked. He watched Atlanta score another touchdown before Ellie and Tommy returned to the room.

His wife had changed Tommy into a white onesie that had a bearded face printed on it and "I have a fuzzy daddy" written on it. Chris threw his head back and laughed.

"That's perfect," he told Ellie.

"We thought it was perfect, too," Ellie agreed. She then handed Chris a wrapped present and a card. "But here's your real present."

Going with tradition, Chris opened the card first and felt tears pool in his eyes as he looked at the homemade card. Ellie had turned a footprint and handprint of Tommy's onto a piece of paper and had turned it into a superhero by adding a face and hands. She had then printed "You are my superhero" on the card.

"This is amazing," he said, sniffing. Leaning over, he gave Ellie a kiss and then leaned down and kissed the top of Tommy's head. Settling back, Chris tore off the wrapping paper and opened a narrow box, pulling out a picture frame. Each of the six photo slots had a picture in it. There was a close up of Tommy sleeping, one of Tommy dressed in his Patriots’ onesie with eye black on his cheeks, a photo of Tommy in his Red Sox gear with Wally the Green Monster, one of Tommy wearing a Captain America costume that one of Ellie's aunts had made him, a photo of the three of them on the day Tommy was born, and a photo of Chris sleeping with Tommy asleep on his chest.

Chris didn't realize he was crying until he felt Ellie drying his face with her thumb.

"I love it," he said, looking at his wife through blurry eyes. "You've made this my best Father's Day ever." They both laughed at his lame joke. He moved so he could wrap his arm around her and then gave her a quick kiss on the lips.

Despite having a full day of family activities ahead of them, the three of them watched the rest of the football game. It was only after the final touchdown, however, that Chris and Ellie realized that Tommy had fallen asleep at some point.

"Told you he's going to be a future 12th man," Ellie teased.

Chris just rolled his eyes.

Want to find me off tumblr? I’m @beccatheycallme on twitter. I also post my stories on AO3.

My tag list is always open, just let me know if you’d like to be added!

#chris evans #theycallmebecca #beccaheartschrisevans #theycallmebeccawrites #chris evans fanfic #chris evans fanfiction #chris evans fan fiction #chris and ellie series #chris and ellie #chris evans x ofc #chris evans x original female character

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pardonmymannerssir · 6 years

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oh how could you be that girl i knew

Just a little Modern!AU Jonsa drabble that demanded to be written in between my other projects (which no one asked for, but my muse does what she wants). Rated Mature for some language.

Summary: Jon returns home on leave and Sansa drops by the bar to say hello

“Just a few drinks, man. Come on,” Robb pleads over the phone and Jon suppresses a sigh, eyeing his hotel couch and the book splayed on the armrest longingly. “Maybe a bit of pool, throw some darts… I can kick your ass just like in high school, you know, for old time’s sake. Hell, you might even enjoy yourself.”

Unlikely, Jon thinks, but is already caving. He’s always struggled to tell Robb no; pretty much everyone did. He’s the kind of guy who can convince anyone to do just about anything; aka, the reason the two of them had gotten into so much trouble in high school.

“Alright, alright, but only a few drinks. Promise me it won’t be like last time.”

Last time they’d ended up sleeping it off in the drunk tank at the local police station and Robb’s dad, Ned Stark, had had to pick them up the next morning. Mr. Stark might have been amused, maybe even impressed, if he hadn’t also been state governor.

Robb sounds comically offended. “How dare you. I just want to take my best friend out for a good, yet wholesome time sampling the local libations while he is on leave.”

Jon rolls his eyes and fishes a shirt out from under the bed with his bare toes, sniffing it experimentally.

“Fine, but you’re driving.”

“You drive a hard bargain, Snow, but it’s a deal. I’ll pick your grumpy ass up at nine.”

Winter Town, the only local bar that doesn’t smell like vomit or play old country songs on repeat, is loud and dimly lit when Jon and Robb shoulder their way past a few older women who are laughing loudly between themselves.

Jon looks around and immediately realizes what a terrible idea this is. He hasn’t been home since graduating from Winterfell High three years ago and he already feels like a stranger. He knows most of that is the military. The Army has a habit of consuming you until your past doesn’t even feel like your past anymore. The Army becomes everything; your family, your home, your wife, your mother, your father… sometimes it’s hard to exist outside of it. Dressed in jeans and a loose black t-shirt and Chuck Taylor’s, he feels like an imposter.

Robb doesn’t seem to notice his discomfort as he presses his way through the crowd and Jon shoves his hands in his pockets and follows after.

The bar is crowded for it being barely nine o’clock, and laughter and the sound of pool balls clacking together ricochets over the music.

“Jon!” Gilly Tarly half squeals and launches herself at him. Jon barely manages to catch her, surprised, and meets Sam’s eye over his wife’s head. He shrugs as if to say what-can-you-do? and Jon gives her an awkward pat on the back She steps away, beaming up at him.

“We’re so glad you came out, aren’t we Sammy?” she gushes, taking her husband’s arm in hers.They have two kids, which Jon has yet to meet but has seen plenty of pictures of. Sam is a very proud father, if the volume of pictures he texts Jon is anything to judge by.

Sam extends his free hand, wide face flushed and stretched into a broad smile. “Good to see you, brother.” Jon takes his hand and grasps it firmly, some of the tension leaking out of him. He smiles back and is surprised to find that it doesn’t feel forced.

He’s missed these people, he realizes with a sudden sharp pain in his chest, Sam especially.

He looks over Sam’s shoulder and see’s their friend Nedd, who offers a slight wave, already nursing a pint. NedD elbows Theon, who is checking out a group of college girls on the dance floor, and he turns and shoots Jon a mock salute. Same old Theon, apparently.

“Come on,” Robb says, tossing his arm over Jon’s shoulders, “I’ll get you a drink. Gotta treat America’s finest, eh?

Jon elbows him lightly in the side and they all laugh as Robb falls against the bar, feigning a grievous wound.

“This is bullshit,” Robb declares with a scowl, and Jon snorts into his beer.

Nedd pats him on the back. “All that target practice is paying off, apparently,” he says with deep approval. Robb has always been a shit winner; made worse by the fact he’d always beaten them at everything.

Jon leans back against a pool table and smiles, feeling more like himself than he has in years. The beer is cheap and a bit warm but it’s oddly perfect, fitting even. He’d forgotten what it’s like to be a civilian, to live outside the confines of the Army.

“Best of five?” Robb pleads, pressing his hands together and sticking out his bottom lip. “Give me a chance to win back some of my dignity?”

Gilly giggles, feet dangling almost comically from a bar stool. “No chance of that!” she says in a sing-song.

Robb, busy throwing a foam coaster at Gilly, misses Theon nearly choking to death on a bit of popcorn he’d snagged from behind the bar over something he sees across the room.

Sam slaps him on the back, and they both turn curiously.

Jon spots her immediately and blood rushes loudly in his ears.

Her hair gleams like a beacon in the dim bar lights, bright red and artfully curled around her slim shoulders. Her pale skin is practically luminescent as she wades through the crowd, making everyone she passes seem almost dim by comparison. Men stare, wide eyed and opened mouthed as she passes and Jon can’t really blame them.

Sansa Stark has always been pretty, but now… now she’s an honest to god knock out.

Her dress is black and it’s tight around her chest and waist before flaring out at her hips. It falls mid-thigh, leaving a great deal of pale skin exposed, bright red heels accentuating trim calves and neat ankles. He’s certain he’s never seen anything or anyone more beautiful in his life.

Distantly, Jon hears Robb make a choking noise, having finally realized what everyone is looking at. Sansa’s eyes, accentuated by a touch of makeup, flick across the room, jumping from face to face, before finding his and settling there, as if he’s the person she’d been looking for all along. Which is completely insane. Sansa had barely spared him a glance when they’d been in school together.

She smiles at him, perfect white teeth flashing against red painted lips and it warms Jon down to his toes.

Jesus Christ, he thinks distantly, fingers tightening around his beer mug.

“Jesus Christ, Sansa!” Robb half bellows for an entirely different reason as he pushes past Jon to intercept her. “What are you doing here?!”

Sansa’s gaze leaves his and Jon can finally draw in a full breath. He feels like he might have been struck by lightning or hit by a bus maybe. Sansa is pursing her lips and frowning at Robb, her eyes icy cold. “I’m here to spend time with friends and see Jon, since you conveniently didn’t invite me.”

Robb takes her by the arm and presses her in front of him, steering her toward where their small group has claimed a corner, tossing furious glares at the ogling men in the bar as he goes.

“You’re not twenty-one,” he hisses at her and she rolls her eyes, shrugging him off.

“You don’t have to be twenty-one to go into a bar, Robbie,” she says with mock sweetness. “Just eighteen, which, if you weren’t aware, I turned three weeks ago.”

Her eyes dart to Jon when she says this for some reason and Jon refuses to consider the implications. He’s still trying to get his brain to function on all cylinders, and her full, red lips are not helping. The last time he’d seen Sansa she’d been fifteen, dressed in sweatpants and a baggy sweater, eating ice cream out of a tub on the couch while she and Margery Tyrell watched some romantic comedy. He hadn’t paid her much attention then; she;d just been his best friend’s kid sister. He’s starting to think that might have been a huge mistake.

Robb sputters, color high in his cheeks. “Yeah but you –your dress… if mom knew she’d-“

Sansa pinches him on the arm and he yelps. Jon has to hide his laugh behind a cough as Robb shoots him a glare. “Who’s shoes do you think these are, Robb? Now stop being such a fucking prude, okay?”

Robb deflates, but not before shooting Jon a pleading look. He throws up one hand and buries his face in his beer mug, praying his expression doesn’t show every single one of his less-than-brotherly thoughts. She’s like a walking temptation. Christ, he can smell her perfume from here; something warm and sweet that makes his toes curl in his boots. He wonders, before he can help it, if she’d taste as good as she smells.

Theon has no reservations. “Damn, Sans, you look hot,” he declares, obviously more than a little drunk, and steps toward her. Jon doesn’t have to look to know there is murder in Robb’s eyes. Jon feels a bit violent himself. “Wanna dance?” Theon asks, clearly not worried about his well being, and crowds in on her. Jon still doesn’t look up, figuring Sansa can dance with whoever the hell she wants to dance with, even if the idea gives him something akin to heart burn.

Bright red shoes enter his line of sight and he lifts his head in surprise. She’s even more stunning up close; blue eyes gleaming with something dangerous and heady as she studies him. “No thanks,” she replies huskily, her gaze never leaving Jon’s face, “There’s someone else I’ve been hoping to dance with.”

#Jon x Sansa #jonsa #jonsafic #jon snow #Sansa Stark #jonxsansa #got fanfiction

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kelleyschorn · 6 years

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Kelley Reviews: Tag (Spoiler Edition)

*If you’ve already read my non spoiler review of this movie, skip to after the SPOILERS sign!

Quick word about the movie poster I chose for this review: It’s not my favorite one because this one kind of makes the movie look stupid but I went with image resolution over image content.

That being said, I was hooked on this movie since I first saw the trailer. The concept was original and it even had the added interest of it being based on a true story, “we’re not kidding”. So many things drew me to this movie from the plot to the fantastic trailer and then there’s the amazing cast. Tag is a comedy inspired by a real group of ten friends who have been playing the game of tag since high school. There is a great video on youtube that gives a more in depth look at the real story that you can find right here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8C-VFbP-JQ

Because this reality acts as more of a writing prompt than a fully realized story, the writers for Tag exercised their own creative liberties when telling the story inspired by this amazing group of friends. There are hundreds of potential stories that could come from this prompt and I think the writers were smart to pare down the cast from ten to five so as to make a story that was more easily grasped. The movie centers on Ed Helms’ character, Hoagie, and his goal of finally tagging their impossible-to-catch friend Jerry, appropriately played by Hawkeye—I mean Jeremy Renner. Lately I’ve been a bit put off by comedies that rely heavily on jokes centering on sex and hoping that this will convince the audience that the crappy plot is worth overlooking for the crass punch lines. That being said, movies like Game Night and Tag have been a breath of fresh air in comparison. While both do have similar jokes throughout, they also have a good plot to stand on making room for situational humor to shine through.

While some critics disliked Tag, saying that it lacked the fun loving essence of the true tale it draws from, I would say that those critics missed the point of the movie. Without giving anything away, I would say that this movie exemplifies the importance of staying young, even when you get older. It does a great job of portraying the realities of keeping up with old friends and the fact that, while you may not see them as often as you did in high school, when you get together, it’s like no time has passed. Not only does Tag give you all of those warm and fuzzy things, but it also delivers them in a hilarious way! I saw this movie with my mom and sister and we were dying laughing throughout. The all-star cast definitely helped with this as well as the quality of the story itself.

The plot was kind of all over the place with some seemingly pointless subplots and some downright unbelievable moments but overall, I would say that this is a solid comedy and it stands out among others in its genre.

WHAT WORKED

The cast. What an awesome cast for a comedy am I right? I love Ed Helms because the Office (duh). I love Jake Johnson because I know him from New Girl. And I love Jeremy Renner because he is Hawkeye and he basically plays Hawkeye in this movie and I was all for it. Of course I also love Rashida Jones and I felt that she was a bit underused in this movie. If a less talented cast had been chosen, I would not have liked this movie nearly as much as I did. I especially feel that Ed Helms did an exceptional job seeing as how his role required more seriousness than his fellow cast members.

The plot. Yes there were issues with the plot, but what worked for me was the direction they chose to take the story in. Also the fact that they chose a direction in the first place. Like I said above, the original story acts as writing prompt and I think that that is pretty cool. This is what the writers came up with based on that prompt and I or you or anyone else would have come up with something completely different. They had to create a fully fleshed out story from that one tiny prompt! Writing is so cool! Ok nerd-out over. Anyways what worked for me about the plot were the more serious” themes of friendship and the importance of staying young, even when you get old. Despite it being a comedy, I found these themes, and the implementation of them touching. Also the twist at the end was unexpected and pulled off really well by Ed Helms. I didn’t believe it at first but once I knew it was real, it added so much depth and clarity to the story. Again, props to you Ed for pulling that character off so well. I also loved how they included a lot of the real life epic tags from the source inspiration seamlessly into the plot—the tagging at the funeral, the dressing up as an old lady.

The characters. The characters for me is where the comedic elements in this movie really shined. Such a wide range of characters for some epically hilarious interactions. I loved Hoagie signing up to be a janitor despite his “PHD in veterinary science and a flourishing practice” (I’m paraphrasing but you get it). Randy and all of his weed jokes were great and the scene where he’s smoking in the basement with his friends reminded me of That 70’s Show. Jerry was made even more funny to me because he was played by Jeremy Renner. I could totally see Hawkeye being all about this and being this hardcore in the Marvel Universe. (I know I said the nerd moment was over but I lied—sorry!) Hannibal Buress had some funny moments as Sable but some of them fell flat. I felt like his character lacked some of the cohesion the other’s had, like they couldn’t really decide what comedic angle they wanted to go with him so with his tragic back story some of the jokes just felt a bit awkward.

The funny. A lot of the jokes came from the absurdity of their situation and I loved that! They didn’t have to rely heavily on cheap sexual jokes (the adult version of fart jokes) to be funny. The premise and the characters themselves created hilarious scenarios for the viewer’s entertainment.

Small highlight to the parts where they show the gang as kids and how this game started and then it shows them as adults driving next to those kids as a transition—that part was genius!

WHAT DIDN’T WORK

The plot. Ok so here’s my issue, some of these subplots just didn’t really add anything to the movie for me. The Randy Vs. Callahan romance subplot. This was unnecessary. I do love Rashida Jones but this did not add anything to main plot other than (maybe) some more characterization of the characters. I don’t think it was needed and I don’t think it added anything significant to the plot other than a distraction for those characters that causes them to miss Jerry and that could have been done by a lot of other things, (Randy could have gotten too high, Callahan could have been distracted by flirting with the reporter). The other subplot that I have some issues with is the reporter. She was literally only there as an interpreter for the audience so that we would know what was going on. She never really advances the plot and doesn’t ever cause any sort of drama with the group. She’s static and could have been used better. I’m not saying that it wasn’t a clever way to clue the audience in, but I think they could have paired her with Callahan as a romantic interest (I shipped it) to at least give her some sort of importance. Or as a more extreme fix, I would have taken her out altogether and had one of the guys, maybe Hoagie, narrate and explain various things throughout—though I’m more in favor of the love interest thing because she did bring some comedic elements of just not knowing what’s going on.

The scene at the wedding shower. Specifically the giant traps and the extremes Jerry went through to mess with his friends took me out of the story a bit. I get that it was supposed to funny how absolutely ridiculously into the game these grown men were but some of the jerry stunts pushed it a bit too far for me.

The characters. I already explained my issues with Sable and the reporter but the other characters that didn’t quite work for me were Cheryl (Rashida) and Hoagie’s mom. Hoagie’s mom felt like a lazy character to me. Like the writer’s forgot about her until the end and were like, oh wait, how can we make her funny? Let’s just make her into one of her son’s friends. I thought maybe it would have been funnier to have her be one of those completely unaware types, like all this stuff is happening around her and whenever she finally looks around, it’s all gone. And then Cheryl, her plotline was doomed from the start but as far as that subplot goes, what smart woman in her right mind chooses the unemployed broke pothead living with his dad over smart successful Callahan in a choice between two exes?? Ok rant over. That character had no real purpose in the story, I say cut her out.

While I did have all those issues, I did thoroughly enjoy this movie. I laughed a lot and was fully entertained. I would highly recommend this movie it was a fun one! Unfortunately I do not have a ticket stub to show for this movie because the theater I went to screwed me over! I’m just not going to go to that theater anymore, It’s not worth losing my precious ticket stubs!

Let me know what you think of this review and what you thought of Tag! If you liked this review please share it! Stay tuned for the next one: The Incredibles 2!

#tag #tag movie #ed helms #rashida jones #Hannibal Buress #randy johnson #jeremy renner #jon hamm #Tag movie review #movie review

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eliz1369 · 6 years

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11 Questions (x3)

Thank you @eheartangel , @nollatooru , and @kazama-hime for the tags 😊 I’ve decided to combine them in one post for the sake of my sanity.

Rules(or guidances):

Post the rules

Answer the questions given to you by the tagger

Write 11 questions of your own

And tag 11 people

1. What is your favorite movie(s)

Ugh, I have so many. A Few Good Men, Stand and Deliver, and Fireproof, to name a few, but right now nothing tops the quality comedy in It’s a Mad Mad Mad World. If you haven’t seen it, it’s 2.5 hours of comedic insanity from some of the best actors of Hollywood’s golden era. What would you be willing to do to get your hands on $350,000?

2. What’s your favorite thing to do in fandoms (write, draw, make gifs, talk about headcanons, just keep a blog etc)?

While I’m a sucker for character analysis, writing is hands down my favorite thing to do in a fandom.

3. Do you wear nail polish?

Yes. It keeps me from bitting my nails and helps keeps them from bending. My nails aren’t strong at all.

4. What do you really like about yourself?

I’m creative and a bit of a jack of all trades.

5. Are you scared of public speaking?

Terrified. I mean, I can do it, but I will look like a tomato, talk a million miles and hour, and leave out half my talking points.

6. Can you drive a car?

Yup, but I try to default to passenger whenever I can.

7. Do you have pets?

I have a cat named Honey

8. What do you want to do right now?

Right now? Sleep sounds nice, but so does catching up on my reading, and what about my writing? Ugh, Time, Energy, and Things to do. Pick two.

9. Are you a student?

Just graduated with my masters in December so, NOPE! Though that’s kind of a scary thought... I’ve spent nearly my entire life in a classroom and now I’ve got to go be a real adult.

10. Tell something that you want to put here. (About yourself, about your favorite charactes, about something great you just saw/made, anything that comes to your mind and you want to share)

My mom, sister, and I totally rocked out to Legally Blonde The Musical on our way back from Victoria BC to keep ourselves awake. We had the volume way up and sang for over an hour.

1. Sunset or sunrise ?

As a night owl I have to say Sunset! Sunrise is just way to early in the morning. (Plus sunsets are prettier)

2. What would your theme song be if you were in a movie?

If I had a theme in a movie, It’d probably be along the lines of Sound of The Shire from Lord of the Rings. Something happy and maybe a touch nostalgic or romantic.

3. Your most remarkable nickname?

My grandpa would call me Dizzy Lizzy because I’ve always been a bit of a clutz when it comes to running into/tripping over things.

4. Movie you’ve watched more often than any other movie?

More often? Hm, I drove my grandma batty watching Lion King growing up, but honestly the title of “Most Watched” probably goes to the PBS Riverdance.

5. Favourite quote?

I’ve always loved Puddleglum’s monologue to the Green Witch in C.S. Lewis’s The Silver Chair.

“One word. All you’ve been saying is quite right, I shouldn’t wonder. I’m a chap who always liked to know the worst and then put the best face I can on it. So I won’t deny any of what you said. But there’s one thing more to be said, even so. Suppose we have only dreamed, or made up, all those things–trees and grass and sun and moon and stars and Aslan himself. Suppose we have. Then all I can say is that, in that case, the made-up things seem a good deal more important than the real ones. Suppose this black pit of a kingdom of yours is the only world. Well, it strikes me as a pretty poor one. And that’s a funny thing, when you come to think of it. We’re just babies making up a game, if you’re right. But four babies playing a game can make a play-world which licks your real world hollow. That’s why I’m going to stand by the play-world. I’m on Aslan’s side even if there isn’t any Aslan to lead it. I’m going to live as like a Narnian as I can even if there isn’t any Narnia. So, thanking you kindly for our supper, if these two gentlemen and the young lady are ready, we’re leaving your court at once and setting out in the dark to spend our lives looking for Overland. Not that our lives will be very long, I should think; but that’s a small loss if the world’s as dull a place as you say.”

6. A dream come true?

Please no. My dreams are to weird to become reality... no one wants a 30ft giant spider sitting outside their house.

7. Guilty pleasure?

Writing when I should be working.

8. Something that never fails to cheer you up?

A good fluffy fic! (Especially if it’s okichi!)

9. Is there a song your currently obsessed with?

I love listening to contemporary piano music when I write and right now I’ve been listening to My World and The Way by Florian Bur on repeat.

10. Do you collect anything?

Anything and everything. I’ve got Disney pins, stuffed animals, sand from beaches, and now plushies. I’m the type of person who won’t just take one or two rocks/shells from the beach, I will fill both pockets to bursting and still be trying to fit five more. Yeah, it’s a bit of a problem...

11. 11 words to describe yourself?

Creative, funny, glass half full, caring, empathetic, night owl, smart, and inquisitive

1. What’s your favorite piece that you’ve written/drawn/etc?

An Unearned Gift is by far my favorite written work, while

2. Favorite game?

Loaded Questions is by far my favorite game. Great for old friends and getting to know people, and it’s always good for a laugh.

3. What animal would you be if you could shapeshift into one?

A house cat. Small, fast, and limber enough to get anywhere. Plus it’s inconspicuous enough to blend in anywhere. ...and I want to be able to purr :P no better sound for telling someone you like them.

4.Do you collect anything?

See above ^^^

5.Favorite food?

Pomegranates are one of my favorite fruits, so I always indulge in the gigantic ones from Costco all winter long.

6.Favorite dessert?

Dole whip float from Disneyland/World. It’s a treat I rarely get, but there’s no way I’m leaving the park without it!

7.Favorite Ice cream flavor or frozen treat?

Denali Mint Moose Tracks! Hands down best ice cream ever! (Okay so it’s tied with the Dole Whip)

8. Favorite scent?

Eucalyptus! And not the weird diluted stuff that’s in lotion which doesn’t smell like it at all. Like the concentrated oil or Vick’s vapor rub. (Close second would be the chlorine smell of a pool)

9. How did you discover Hakuouki?

Watched the anime because it came up as one “similar” to Ruroni Kenshin. Lol took me a bit to readjust to the Shinsengumi being the “good guys”.

10. How many books do you own?

Uh... try 30ft of shelves worth. That’s not even counting ebooks.

11. Free space! Give me a fun fact!

I have a quilt that was started by my great grandmother and was finished by my mom and I. She had already drawn out the embroidery patterns on the squares, but only finished 4 or 5. I completed the hand embroidery squares and my mom turned it into a quilt that she gave me for Christmas a few years back.

Um... I’m so late in getting to these that I’m pretty sure everyone I know has already been tagged.

#sorry for the long post #couldnt get read more to appear on mobile

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debtfreeinthree · 6 years

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Why Self-Care Doesn't (Always) Mean Spending More Money

Lately, I’ve been seeing the word “self-care” thrown about often. I feel like I see it on every social media platform and in magazine ads and I hear it when I’m talking to my friends.

I am a BIG fan of self-care. My favorite ways to self-care are going to my therapist, doing a facial mask a few times a week and eating more veggies than I used to.

But lately, I’ve seen self-care bastardized and co-opted for marketing campaigns and by Instagram influencers. They use self-care to sell you something you probably don’t even need. But in an age where self-care is a valuable commodity, everyone is hopping on the self-care bandwagon.

My Self-Care Journey

When she was stressed out, my college roommate Leah would sometimes declare a “mental health day.” She’d skip class, indulge in a favorite romantic comedy and generally just chill out.

When I was stressed out, I would often indulge in retail therapy, another bullshit term used to entice women to shop. In fact, I became so good at retail therapy that I ended up with a bulging closet and a collection of bras so large my friends used to make fun of me.

My retail therapy took a huge upswing when I lived in New York for a summer, interning at the Associated Press. I was so stressed out with work that I often overspent just to make myself feel better. I’d take a cab instead of the subway or buy food out instead of cooking at home. At one point, I was buying take-out three times a day – THAT’S INSANE!

I used money to make myself feel better, but it never really worked as a long-term strategy. I remember one day I had really messed up at my internship and I went down to the bookstore, where I spent approximately $84 on books and notebooks. Then, I went to the diner to have lunch. I felt sick to my stomach with all my spending, which wasn’t helping me forget about my work mistake.

Money isn’t a band-aid. It isn’t a magic salve that will help you forget about your troubles. In fact, it usually amplifies them.

When I started working as a newspaper reporter making $28,000 a year, I couldn’t afford to rely on retail therapy. After paying my $350 student loan payment, I barely had anything left over. Suddenly, I had to face whatever feelings I was running away from.

Do You Use Self-Care as an Excuse to Spend Money?

I was reading this article from finance guru Tonya Rapley, where she shared her journey from financial abuse victim to financial warrior.

I read this line and immediately knew what she meant:

But when I left, I had no savings to speak of, and thought that healing myself meant not worrying about how much I was spending.

I’ve never been a victim of abuse, but I’ve been depressed and anxious and thought that worrying about money was counter-productive. Dealing with your finances seems like it’s a chore, but in fact, caring about money is the biggest self-care activity you can do.

One way I hear people talk about stress, self-care and money is this phrase. You’re going to jump back in your seat when you read this. Are you ready? Ok here we go:

I had a bad day, so I DESERVE THIS.

Whoa! Did you just jump back? See, I said you would. Deserve is one of those words that makes it seem like spending money is ok, that it’s great for your mental health. But in fact, it’s just a trick, an excuse your brain uses to spend money when you know you shouldn’t.

How often have you been feeling crappy and used the phrase “I deserve” to justify buying something? It can be as small as a new NYX lipstick or as big as a Kate Spade purse, but this phrase is DESTRUCTIVE TO YOUR FINANCES.

How to Do Self-Care on a Budget

Ok so if bottomless mimosas and retail therapy are outlawed, how can you actually relax, take some time for yourself and not feel bad about it afterward?

Here are my favorite ideas for self-care on a budget:

Take a bubble bath

Ok, yes, you might be thinking: isn’t this kind of an old-fashioned idea? But lemme tell you something: Bubble baths work! Any time I’ve taken a bubble bath, my first thought is, “Why don’t I do this more often?” Quietly soaking in a hot bath is one of the most invigorating activities you can do.

I don’t even buy pricey bubble bath. I just use body oils and body wash I already have and pump in lots of my favorite moisturizer. My bubble bath doesn’t look perfect, but I leave with smooth skin and a calm mind.

Do something with my hands

Most of the time when I feel the need for self-care, I really just want some quiet. The world can feel so loud and noisy and even scrolling through my Instagram feed can seem too much. Sometimes it feels good to get back to the basics and do something tactile. I’ll usually get out my sewing or jewelry-making supplies and work on a simple project.

Sometimes I’ll even get out my watercolors or drawing pencils. Ever wondered why adult coloring books were so popular? It’s the same reason. They allow us to make something with their hands instead of just absorbing content. P.S. For bonus frugal points, I try to find art supplies on sale. Sometimes you can find people giving away free stuff at yard sales or on Craigslist.

Declutter my house

Ok, I know this sounds like work, but honestly, throwing stuff away is ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS. I love the satisfaction that comes with filling up a 32-liter garbage bag and tossing it away (or putting it in my donate pile).

Decluttering always makes me feel I’ve truly accomplished something. And since I’m still in the stage of life where I move almost every year, I know that every garbage bag I throw away is one less garbage bag I have to pack. Plus, it’s always fun going through old stuff (at least if you’re a weirdo like me).

Bake something decadent

I love to bake. I think it comes from my mom not baking a lot as a kid and me being jealous of kids who always had boxed brownie mix in their pantry. In college, I made cookies and brownies all the time and started experimenting with my own recipes.

Recently, my husband and I have been watching “The Great British Bake-Off” on Netflix and I’ve rediscovered a love for baking. Last time, I made a two-tier chocolate cake with buttercream frosting. It was so good – I still dream about it when I’m feeling hangry. Baking is one of my favorite self-care activities because it’s so innately satisfying. Baking requires your utmost attention and since I struggle with getting through a sentence without – SQUIRREL – losing track, I love the focus I have to spend on baking.

Baking something yourself is so much better than buying it from a store, unless you’re going to a real bakery in which case you’re spending a lot of money. Not only is the act of baking itself enjoyable, but then you get to eat what you made! Even if you don’t love baking, try making a box cake next time you need self-care. I promise you’ll enjoy the process.

Watch a favorite movie

Ok this idea kind of seems like cheating because, “Duh, everyone knows watching a movie is a good idea when you’re feeling bad.” But trust me, when was the last time you sat down to watch a good old-fashioned chick flick?

A few weeks ago, I discovered that “Miss Congeniality” was on Netflix so I immediately started watching it while painting my nails. IT FELT SO GOOD. The combo of watching a movie I basically grew up with combined with doing something indulgent like an at-home manicure filled my soul.

If you’re lucky enough to have some girlfriends near you, invite them for a full-blown spa session complete with rom coms. One time, my friends and I made homemade strawberry yogurt masks and did a coffee scrub on our legs. It was hilarious, especially when we realized that we’d left the curtains wide open and everyone on the street could see us with red faces and legs covered in leftover coffee grounds.

Exercise

I hope I don’t get any flack for this comment, but there’s a reason why people recommend exercise when you’re depressed or anxious. When I’m feeling anxious, I tend to think about skipping the gym. But every time I go, I feel better. Maybe instead of your normal routine, do something different. Take a bike ride, do some basic yoga or hit the heavy bag (my personal favorite).

Remember, self-care isn’t always about doing the easiest thing. It’s about doing what will truly help you in the moment and in the long run.

via GIPHY

How do you do self-care on a budget? What are your favorite frugal ways to indulge? Leave your suggestions in the comments below!

Why Self-Care Doesn’t (Always) Mean Spending More Money was originally published on Debt Free After Three

#fun #hobbies #self care

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happyk44 · 6 years

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In a desperate need for a pretty girl to do the same with me, here’s a cheesy fic with a cheesy trope.

Billy was splayed out on Jason’s bed, his hands on his stomach as he pondered at the ceiling thoughtfully.

They’d been having monthly sleepovers lately but Zack’s mom was having a hard time and needed him, Trini’s mom wouldn’t let her come and Tommy’s parents sprung a sudden weekend trip to their grandparent’s reservation on them that they couldn’t really refuse. And then, to splice it all together, Kimberly was grounded for punching Kyle Davis in the jaw after he grabbed her ass in the hallway.

It seemed like a rather unfair punishment to Billy. She was defending herself.

Still, that left him available for the sleepover and Billy didn’t like detracting from his set routine. He’d grown used to the sleepovers.

It felt like too much of a sudden jut to not go.

Though, he did try to splutter his way out of it. Was it truly a group sleepover if the rest of the group weren’t there?

Jason didn’t seem to mind though.

Jason was sweet like that.

Billy glanced over at Jason as he ducked back into the room, carrying a plate of cookies and their movie for the night. Sitting up, Billy watched Jason while he laid the plate down on the bedside table and plug the movie into his DVD player.

Jason had dragged an old projector out from the basement. Pinning a white sheet up flat against the wall, he stepped back and bent over. A warm slick of skin flashed as his shirt rode up with the bend.

Billy smiled. “Jason, have you ever dated anyone?”

Jason started. His foot slid out from under him and he crashed straight into the floor. Billy jerked up, hopping off the bed. Jason waved him off as he stood up.

“Um, I-” Jason flushed before turning away. His tongue darted out over his lips. and he swallowed thickly. “No, Billy, why?”

“Just wondering,” Billy said as he sat down. “Romantic comedies tend to make me think about romance and kissing. It’s why all my partners liked to play them on dates.” Billy frowned. “Even if the context of some situations didn’t make sense.”

Jason laughed. Rubbing the back of his neck, he agreed, “Quirky situations tend to create good comedies, romantic or not.”

Billy smiled and watched Jason bend back over as he messed around with the projector. After a few tepid seconds, he asked, “Have you ever kissed anyone?”

Jason jerked, his head popping up. Sitting back, he cleared his throat. “Once, but it doesn’t really count.” Jason scratched the back of his neck. “He was drunk and it lasted like two seconds.”

“You like guys?” Billy prompted.

A burst of pleasure slid through his core. Group sleepovers always led to nice talks about personal things. Like Tommy panic and shame over being nonbinary and Zack’s fear that he’d die in battle and leave his mom to suffer alone for the rest of her days.

Not everything was sad though. Once Trini talked about how being a Ranger made her more proud of herself, created more confidence. It was such a happy moment.

It wasn’t like Jason was secretive about his life. But unlike everyone else, even Trini’s discussion of her first and very brief attempt at loving a boy, Jason never talked about his romances. Granted, Billy realized, that was because he hadn’t had any. Aside from a two-second smooch from a drunk guy.

“Yeah, Billy,” Jason said. He fiddled with his fingers, a nervous tick he had. “I like guys. Just like Trini likes girls.”

“Gay,” Billy clarified.

As he stood up and faced Billy, Jason smiled ruefully. “Gay.”

Billy grinned. “Is there anyone you’re interested in?”

“Kind of,” Jason admitted as he stretched, revealing another flash of skin on his lower hip. It was pale, drawing in Billy’s attention as it contrasted to the dimness of the room and the stark black of Jason’s shirt. “I’ve been into him for a long time now but I don’t think I have a chance, Billy.” Jason dropped his arms, shoving his hands into his pockets. “He has a lot more experience than me. And also,Billy, he’s never shown interest.”

“Well, that’s no reason not to go for it,” Billy said. He slid up to his knees, crossing his arms. “If you like him, you should try.”

Jason shrugged. “I’d be really bad at everything though, Billy.”

Billy rolled his eyes. “I can teach you.”

Jason’s jaw dropped open but nothing came out. He snapped his mouth shut, stumbled over to the bedroom door and pushed it shut hard. Then he turned on Billy ever too fast for his bulky size. “What?”

“I can teach you how to kiss,” Billy repeated. He rubbed the side of his lip. “I’ve been told I’m very good at it.”

Staring at him, Jason gaped further before laughing awkwardly in a rush of breath. “Wha- Billy, no! We’re not- we’re not-”

“We’re friends,” Billy pointed out. He patted the spot in front of him. “And friends help each other, right?”

“Billy, I’ve had friends before you. And they would never do this!”

Billy raised an eyebrow, smirking. “And where are they now, Jason?”

For a quick second, Jason spluttered brokenly. “Wha- That’s- that’s besides the point, Billy, this is weird!”

“How?”

Jason froze, swallowing rapidly. “Well- it-” He crossed his arms. “I don’t know how to kiss, Billy. It’d be weird. I don’t know anything.” He groaned and covered his face. “I’m pathetic.”

“Not really.” Scooting off the bed, he grabbed Jason’s arm and tugged him over to the edge of the bed, hopping back on it. “I’m a very good teacher.”

“Billy-”

Billy pressed his finger to Jason’s lips. “Shhh.” He rubbed his thumb over Jason’s cheek. “Let me teach you.”

Jason’s eyes faded over, something longing deep in his eyes. “Okay,” he said faintly. “Okay, Billy.”

Billy smiled wide and leaned in slow, catching Jason’s mouth for his own. Jason’s breath stuttered against his mouth as Billy drew back slow. Humming low, Billy leaned sat up further on his knees, swiping his tongue gently against Jason’s bottom lip. Jason let out a soft whimper. His mouth slipped open and Billy let his tongue slid in with ease.

He tasted sweet, like the chocolate chip cookies he’d brought upstairs. Probably had snuck a few on his way up.

Gingerly, Billy grabbed Jason’s right hand and placed it on his hip. He draped his arm around Jason’s shoulders, one hand still resting on the side of his face. Pulling back, he whispered, “This is the part where you kiss back.”

Jason’s breath exhaled out ragged. “Yeah, okay, Billy.”

Billy grinned and leaned back in. Taking some initiative, Jason tightened his grip over Billy’s waist and caught Billy’s mouth halfway. He sucked briefly on Billy’s bottom lip, biting gently in the corner of his mouth before sweeping up tall and kissing Billy back fully.

Billy sighed against Jason’s mouth, wrapping his other arm around Jason’s neck. Jason settled for pulling Billy closer to him, chasing into Billy’s mouth like it was the air he breathed and without it he’d die.

Dropping one hand to Jason’s chest, Billy pushed back slightly. He inhaled heavily, eyes glancing over Jason’s face. His expression was panicked, nervous. Pupils blown wide.

Excited. And afraid.

“Remember to breathe,” Billy laughed once he’d caught his breath. “Kind of important.”

Jason flushed. “Sorry, Billy.”

“It’s okay,” Billy said

He flopped back, tugging on Jason’s shirt as he did so. Eagerly, Jason followed without question, hovering over Billy’s body. His face was pinched tight.

"Don’t crush me,” Billy warned with a happy smile.

Jason nodded rapidly. Slowly, he sank down against Billy, waist first. Catching himself up on his forearms, he pressed his mouth against Billy’s again. Billy slid his fingers through his hair as he licked his way back into Jason’s mouth.

Without thinking, his foot tapped out a quick three-beat rhythm beside Jason’s thigh.

It felt good.

He hadn’t been intimate with anyone in a long while. He’d missed it.

And Jason was the perfect contender. Pretty smile and all eagerness to please.

Felt nice to be wanted like that again.

Billy blinked, his eyes snapping wide open. He pushed Jason back softly. Jason released his mouth with a penultimate whine, He sat back against Billy’s waist, breathing hard and a slight tent to his pants.

It was fair.

Billy had one too.

“Am I the boy?”

Jason stared at him. Then laughed awkwardly, refusing to make eye contact. “What boy, Billy?”

“The boy you like.” He cocked his head to the side, feeling the plush underside of a pillow brush over his cheek. “Am I him?”

“Um-”

“Oh,” Billy said faintly. He shrugged and smiled. “You could’ve said.” He leaned up and pecked Jason’s cheek, wrapping his arms around Jason’ neck, fingers sliding up through his hair as he bit Jason’s ear lobe. “We could’ve been practicing this whole time.”

Jason shuddered against him. “You’re right,” he groaned as he pushed Billy back. Billy landed back with a soft pwsh, smile ablaze his lips. “Let’s make up for lost time,” Jason muttered, sounding hazed as he swept back down.

Billy laughed against Jason’s eager mouth and kissed him back. After all, it seemed they had a lot of time to make up for.

AO3 || Art || Tip the writer

#power rangers #cranscott #billy cranston #jason scott #pr fanfic #billyjason #my writing #my fanfic #i started writing this around 1:30 and now it's 3:30 and i've surpassed the exhaustion point #and now i have energy but my muscles are weak #i hate everything #but fuck i love this fic

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bookloversreviewer · 5 years

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Shattered Stars by Shari J Ryan

Release Date: April 4, 2019

Cover Design: MadHat Books

Synopsis

“You will lose your memory.”

That’s what a doctor told me at just twenty-nine years old.

My headaches and exhaustion weren’t from overexertion like I thought.

It was more. A lot more.

Despite my unimaginable challenges,

I found love at a time I needed it most.

Layne, a rising star and popular frontman,

was unknowingly singing life into my soul through his allusive lyrics.

I lived and breathed for the mesmeric sound of his voice.

Kismet led us to a kind of love anyone would die for.

However, Layne shouldn’t be stuck loving me after I begin to forget him.

We will once again be strangers, separated by a crowd.

I can no longer promise him a future like the one he vowed to me.

Layne is determined to help me get better.

I’m determined to make him see past my illness.

The outcome … to be determined.

Goodreads

http://bit.ly/2T1JrmI

Excerpt

“Hey! What did you think?” Layne, the frontman, jogs over to us and gives Lexi a hug.

“You guys are insanely amazing,” Lexi responds. “Like, blew us away.”

“Oh yeah?” Layne asks, glancing over at me. Lexi is speaking on behalf of both of us, which gives me a free pass to avoid conversation and just take in the scene, but I feel I need to praise them too.

“You were seriously incredible. I can see why you won that battle.” I just made it sound like they were fighting a war by signing music, but if that’s the worst thing that comes out of my mouth tonight, we should all be so lucky.

“That means a lot, thank you,” Layne says, staring at me as if I look fascinating. Sometimes I feel like my past is tattooed on my forehead and everyone I meet already knows what path I’ve walked along.

Layne shakes his head to the side, shuffling the hair away from his eye. It’s weird that I want to touch his hair. It’s even weirder that he’s been talking to me and I haven’t heard a word he has said. “You okay?” When I refocus on his face, his lip is curled to the side, the side where he has the lip ring.

“I’m so sorry, I think my ears are still ringing a bit. What did you just say?” I ask him, trying to hide the fact that I was too busy gazing at him with imaginary hearts in my eyes.

“I asked how long you and Lexi have been friends?” He combs his fingers through the sides of his hair, pushing the strands away from his face, piercing emerald eyes. With dark brows and lashes, there’s an immediate pull to his alluring stare. He’s stunning and fascinating. He also asked me a question for the second time.

“Oh, um, we have been friends since we were babies actually. Our moms are friends, so we kind of grew up like sisters.”

“That’s awesome,” he says, glancing over at Lexi, who is biting down on her bottom lip, while staring into Johnny’s eyes. How is it, some of us have the natural born instinct to flirt, while the rest of us have knees that threaten to collapse the moment anyone looks in our direction? It’s not fair. I have no game. Not that I need a game because there isn’t a game I could possible win with my life trailing behind me like a ball and chain. I love Aly, but I could have given her a different kind of love five to ten years from now too. “Damn, I think Lexi has a thing for Johnny.”

“She does,” I tell Layne, ratting her out like an awful friend. I slap my hand over my mouth, “Crap, don’t repeat that, and I hope that doesn’t bother you ... like, I mean, if you have a thing for Lexi.” My foot can leave my mouth now.

Layne’s eyes narrow against his smile, his smile that reveals two perfectly located dimples by the corners of his lips. As the face of this band, he gives the fans a good reason to sit and watch them, but with the music I heard tonight, all the guys could be hideous and no one would care. It only helps that he’s gorgeous and he’s probably turned many local women into rock fans. “I don’t think I have to inform Johnny that Lexi has a thing for him. It seems like he’s gotten the hint,” Layne says. I glance over my shoulder again and yup, Johnny got the hint. Their lips are locked and if steam could release from hot bodies, the smoke alarms would be going off. “And I’m okay with it because Lexi and I aren’t into each other like that.”

“Huh, did they already know each other?” I ask Layne. I thought I would know who Lexi has been spending her time with, but I’ve been a little preoccupied.

Layne shakes his head, looking past me, toward them. “Nope, I don’t think they’ve officially met before tonight.”

“Well, I guess when you have no fears, you do what the moment tells you do, right?” I say.

Once again, Layne seems fascinated by the simple little remark I’ve made, and I can’t understand what it is that is so enlightening about my nervous chatter. “It’s funny you say that about fears. I wrote this song about fears, and you totally just hit the nail on the head.”

I know the song. I know it very well. It spoke to me two years ago when I heard it the first time, and it spoke to me again tonight when I heard it. “I think I’ve heard it,” I tell him, trying to sound casual about my love for his music. In fact, the song we’re both talking about is the song that drew me in as a “Divi-O Groupie.”

“You had heard of it before tonight? We haven’t performed here in a couple years.”

“Yeah, I remember it,” I tell him, biting down on the tip of my thumb.

Layne seems frozen within his star-lit smile and unblinking stare. “It’s my favorite of all our songs, but we were following trends and, you know how it goes. Oddly enough, we’ve been talking to a record label about that song, but I am talking too much and shouldn’t have said that to you, so pretend I stopped talking like thirty seconds ago.” He laughs and covers his hand over his face, showing off pen scribbles across his fingers, weaving in and out of the several rings I saw flashing around while he was running back and forth across the stage with the microphone, pouring his heart out of his lungs.

“Your secret is safe with me,” I tell him. “Now we each have something to forget.”

“Thank you,” he says, tugging at a loose curl beside my ear.

I hold my breathe when his hand comes near me, but it’s gone just as fast, hanging back down by his side.

Breathe.

“I think you got a little pen on your fingers there,” I point out, looking for a way to change the subject away from our spewed secrets. Seriously though ... a record label? That’s insane.

“Yeah, I’m a sloppy artist,” he says, admiring his smudged artwork. “I have these three or four lines of a couple songs that always seem to slip my mind so I write them on my hand, but then I end up sweating them off during the show. I think the actual method of writing the words down helps me remember though, so it became a habit.”

Okay so he’s not just drawing on his hand for the sake of looking badass, which is sweet. My heart is already flopping around in my chest like a fish out of water, but I have to toss it back because I can’t take part in this type of lifestyle. Of course, I can’t exactly go anywhere now either since Lexi is still playing tongue tag with the drummer.

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About the Author

Hi Everyone! I'm an indie writer of Romantic Comedy, Contemporary Romance, and Romantic Thrillers. Throughout the last six years of my writing journey, I've hit Amazon's Top 100, Barnes & Noble's Top 10, and iBooks at #1. Hiding in suburbia with my hubby and two wild little boys, my active imagination allows me to live life as adult with many imaginary friends.

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trendingnewsb · 6 years

Text

23 Valentine's Day Movies People Never Get Bored Of

Valentine’s Day is a great day to cuddle up and watch a movie about love. In fact, they actually made a movie called Valentine’s Day, but it was just a rip-off of Love, Actually. With so many sappy movies out there, it’s hard to sift out the good from just more of the same.

So we’ve done the work for you! Here are twenty-three of the best romantic movies ever made to watch on Valentine’s Day.

23 – Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

In this moving film, it is slowly revealed that a couple chose to have a procedure that erased memories of each other. Jim Carrey plays Joel, opposite Kate Winslet playing Clementine. As the movie slowly reveals loving and intimate moments in their relationship, you become more and more emotionally involved in the story.

Best Quote

Joel: “I could die right now, Clem. I’m just… happy. I’ve never felt that before. I’m just exactly where I want to be.”

22 – About Time (2013)

Tim Lake (played by Domhnall Gleeson) discovers a superpower when he turns 21: he can travel in time and change past events. While he could try doing any number of things to make the world a better place, he decides to use his power to…get a girlfriend. His romantic interest is Mary (played by Rachel McAdams), and their relationship endures its share of trials and tribulations.

This film is from the creators of Love Actually, and it’s worth a try for anyone looking for a well-done romantic comedy.

Best Quote

Tim: [voiceover] “We’re all traveling through time together, every day of our lives. All we can do is do our best to relish this remarkable ride.”

21 – The Notebook (2004)

The Notebook is beloved by women everywhere for good reason. Allie (Rachel McAdams) is such a warm and likable character, pursued by the equally charming Noah (Ryan Gosling). Their love story withstands many tests but we realize that it lasts into their old age.

Wonderful performances by McAdams and Gosling have made this a super-popular and award-winning film. It might be cheesy, but it’s heartwarming and genuine too.

Best Quote

Noah: “I am nothing special; just a common man with common thoughts, and I’ve led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten. But in one respect I have succeeded as gloriously as anyone who’s ever lived: I’ve loved another with all my heart and soul; and to me, this has always been enough.”

20 – Love and Basketball (2000)

While many romance movies are difficult for men to watch, Love & Basketball helps draw male viewers into this “chick flick” genre becuase of its underlying sports theme. Quincy (Omar Epps) and Monica (Sanaa Lathan) meet on the basketball court as kids. Their love/hate relationship develops as their lives continually intersect – they’re both pursuing their individual dreams of playing pro ball.

If you’re young, enjoy sports, or crave passion, this movie’s for you.

Best Quote

Monica says, “It’s a trip, you know? When you’re a kid, you see the life you want, and it never crosses your mind that it’s not gonna turn out that way.”

19 – Cactus Flower (1969)

Kate Hudson’s mom, Goldie Hawn, won an Oscar for her portrayal of Toni Simmons, a confused 21-year old woman in a relationship with an older man (Walter Matthau). Although it sort of looks like an Austin Powers film, Hawn’s wit and charm allows you to still get into it.

The complicated love story is about the various lies a dentist tells to keep a relationship. Interestingly enough, the story was appropriated by by Adam Sandler in Just Go With It (2011).

Best Quote

Toni Simmons: “Now why don’t you go back and mind your own business like everyone else in New York City?”

Although it’s one of those bleak comedies, Lost in Translation has a great romance at its heart. Bob Harris (Bill Murray) and Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson) really capture what it feels like to be traveling somewhere completely unfamiliar and wanting a connection. The brief moments of Anna Farris spoofing Cameron Diaz add just the right amount of laughs to tide you over, until the moment when Bob whispers something in Charlotte’s ear and they say goodbye.

Best Quote

Charlotte: “Let’s never come here again because it would never be as much fun.”

17 – When in Rome (2010)

Although Forgetting Sarah Marshall is Kristen Bell’s most popular role, her performance in When in Rome (2010) is underrated. Bell plays Beth, an ambitious New Yorker who steals some coins from a famous love fountain in Italy during her sister’s wedding. Because of her theft, she’s chased down by Danny DeVito, Will Arnett, Jon Heder, and Dax Shepard, who are under a love spell.

The movie is lighthearted, funny, and a great way to create and celebrate a happy Valentine’s Day.

Best Quote

Beth: “Dad. When you married Mom, did you ever think that you wouldn’t make it?”

Beth’s Dad: “Elizabeth Ann. Honey, you cannot learn from my mistakes. You’re going to have to go out there and make your own. Now, you could get your heart broken or you could have the greatest love affair the world has ever known, but you’re not going to know unless you try.”

16 – 50 First Dates (2004)

You’d be hard pressed to come up with a more likeable couple of people than Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. In 50 First Dates, they’re in Hawaii, and after they meet, Henry Roth (Sandler) turns from a playboy to a devoted boyfriend—the only problem is the girl of his dreams has no short-term memory, so she relives the same day over and over. This movie brings laughs, but it’s also a sappy romance movie as only Sandler can do. It’s a chick flick anyone can enjoy.

Best Quote

Dr. Keats: “Tom was in a hunting accident and he lost part of his brain. His memory lasts only ten seconds.”

Ten Second Tom: “I was in an accident? That’s terrible.”

Dr. Keats: “Don’t worry, you’ll totally get over it in about three seconds.”

15 – Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

A testament to just how far a man will go to win over the woman he loves. Slumdog Millionaire portrays a poor man being tortured by the police for being suspiciously good at Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Dev Patel plays one of the most lovable characters on film.

This compelling film won no fewer than eight Oscars and garnered a lot of critical acclaim. The mixture of love, violence, and socioeconomic messages makes for a great date night screening. It’s a great pick to watch with someone who appreciates good films and with whom you want to share an intelligent conversation.

Best Quote

Jamal Malik: “I’ll wait for you at the train station every day at five.”

14 – The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)

Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) always has problems—the media hates him, the police hate him, other superheroes hate him, and he’s constantly struggling with his love life because of it. Regardless of how you feel about the new Spider-Man series, they made the right move dropping Mary Jane for Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone). Their romance is one of the most memorable in comic book history.

Best Quote

Peter Parker: “We all have secrets: the ones we keep… and the ones that are kept from us.”

13 – The Tourist (2010) (Runner Up: Original Sin)

It’s not just that Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie are beautiful people; the location shots in Paris and Venice are simply stunning. This cat-and-mouse tale has enough thrills going for it to satisfy your intellectual needs, and it has some nail-biting action scenes to boot. You’re never quite sure who to believe, but you can’t deny there’s chemistry between the two—if there’s anyone who could steal Jolie from Pitt, Depp seems like the type.

Best Quote

Hotel Waiter Guido: “Bongiorno!”

Frank Taylor (Depp): “Bon Jovi!”

12 – This Means War (2012)

Reese Witherspoon is omnipresent in chick flicks – for good reason! All of her romantic comedies are enjoyable, but This Means War wins for mixing spy-versus-spy action into the mix. Chris Pine and Tom Hardy do a great job of keeping men distracted from Reese’s message that it’s OK to date multiple people. Adventurous couples will love this action-packed romp.

Best Quote

Trish (Chelsea Handler) “Don’t go with the better guy, go with the guy who makes you better.”

11 – (500) Days of Summer (2009)

Zooey Deschanel is that quirky and beautiful girl everyone wants to be or be with. In short, the boy (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) meets the girl (Deschanel), and falls in love, but she’s just that into him. The movie highlights their relationship in a non-linear fashion, and is a great portrayal of modern love and relationships. (500) Days of Summer isn’t your traditional romantic comedy, and maybe that’s a good thing – unlike all the others, it’s a thought-provoking film about love.

Best Quote

Rachel Hansen: “Just because she likes the same bizzaro crap you do doesn’t mean she’s your soul mate.”

10 – Walk the Line (2005)

This portrayal of Johnny and June Cash is an epic biopic. Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon beautifully capture the essence of the romance. Johnny loved June Carter so much, he knew he had to marry her. Seeing their love blossom over the course of their lives is a great way to celebrate life and a relationship with someone you truly love beyond anything. These two real life people even died around the same time. It’s said Johnny died of a broken heart after June passed.

Best Quote

June Carter: “Well, then start loving yourself, so we can go back to work.”

9 – Ghost Town (2008)

The cynical among us love Ricky Gervais. In Ghost Town, he plays a man who can see dead people and is now doomed to help them with their love problems. It’s a wonderfully unique Valentine’s Day romance story. Everyone’s tired of people bragging about their relationships on Facebook, and Gervais portrays this feeling perfectly. Love isn’t always as much fun as it sounds; sometimes, you just end up involved in other people’s drama.

Best Quote

Bertram Pincus (Gervais): “All work and no play makes Jack- a vital member of society.”

8 – Shrek (2001)

It’s hard to believe it’s been over a decade since Shrek came out (!). This is a fun, backwards fairy tale where the ogre gets the girl. Featuring the voice talents of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and John Lithgow, Shrek is a feel-good movie that’s perfect for the young – and mature – at heart.

Best Quote

Shrek: “For your information, there’s a lot more to ogres than people think.”

7 – Seems Like Old Times (1980)

Ahhh, the classics. One of the best movies from the 80s, Seems Like Old Times is a Neil Simon film that still maintains its charm. Chevy Chase and Goldie Hawn are a divorced couple, and, after being forced to take part in a bank robbery, Chase hides out at Hawn’s house. The only problem is Hawn’s husband (Charles Groden) is the district attorney, so a lot of hijinx ensue. If you pine for an old flame, Seems Like Old Times is the Valentine’s Day romantic comedy for you.

Best Quote

Glenda (Hawn) “Chester. You just went through a stop sign.”

Chester (Chase) “I can’t help it. I don’t like to read when I drive.”

6 – About a Boy (2002)

You’d think watching a man hang out with an unrelated boy would be a little weird – and not great romantic-film fodder. But in About a Boy, it plays out beautifully. This is a buddy flick and a romance rolled into one, and it teaches men that parenting isn’t scary. If you’re a slacker who still hasn’t grown up, About a Boy is for you.

Best Quote

Marcus: “After a few visits, Will seemed to think he had to ask me serious questions, when I knew he really wanted to watch Xena Warrior princess.”

5 – True Romance (1993) (Runner Up: Natural Born Killers)

Quentin Tarantino isn’t exactly known for the romance in his films, but True Romance, which he wrote, is an epic romantic crime drama. There are drugs, hookers, and all sorts of guns. The love between Clarence (Christian Slater) and Alabama (Patricia Arquette) is something we all wish we had. By the time this movie reaches its bloody climax, not only will you be in love with Elvis, but you’ll know the origin of Sicilians.

Best Quote

Clarence Worley: “You just said you love me, now if I say I love you and just throw caution to the wind and let the chips fall where they may and you’re lying to me I’m gonna fuckin’ die.”

4 – Titanic (1997)

If you’ve never seen Titanic, you must! And if you have, consider watching it again for Valentine’s. This classic romantic-disaster film won eleven Oscars, because of its superb cast, plot, and music.

Spoiler Alert: The ship sinks, and it takes like half the movie. Before it happens though, Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) steals Rose (Kate Winslett) from her rich husband-to-be. Titanic is a tear-jerker with an epic romance that is fated to failure.

Best Quote

Jack Dawson: “Where to, Miss?”

Rose DeWitt Bukater: “To the stars.”

3 – Bride and Prejudice (2004)

This Bollywood take on the classic “Pride and Prejudice” is a musical delight. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan may not be well-known in majority-English-speaking countries, but she is beautiful and talented – her acting, singing, and dancing expertise is on full display. This movie is beautiful, tells an old story; and you’ll look sophisticated for suggesting it. The colorful costumes and set designs are like taking an exotic vacation from your couch.

Best Quote

Lalita Bakshi (Rai): “You should be stirring your husband’s dinner not trouble.”

2 – Love, Actually (2003)

Love Actually follows the intertwining stories of eight British couples dealing with love in very different ways. It’s a romantic comedy and a Christmas film, but its sappiness is matched by genuine and heartwarming moments. It’s impossible to watch this movie without laughing, crying, and falling in love with at least one character! Love Actually may be the best romantic comedy ever written.

Best Quote

Billy Mack (Bill Nighy) “Hiya kids. Here is an important message from your Uncle Bill. Don’t buy drugs. Become a pop star, and they give you them for free!”

1 – The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

This Oscar-nominated flick might not come to mind as a movie perfect for Valentine’s Day. But you and your Valentine’s Day date just might find that refreshing!

Martin Scorsese is known for his thrilling films, and Wolf of Wall Street does not disappoint. It’s a raw and emotional movie, with some violence, nudity, and drug use – all to show the underbelly of the high-octane world of finance. DiCaprio’s performance is compelling and exciting – this movie is worth your time!

Best Quote

Jordan Belfort: [to the waiter] “Oh, I’m good with water for now.”

Mark Hanna: “It’s his first day on Wall Street. Give him time.”

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rebekah-rose-books · 7 years

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Alexandra VanHorn (AKA PatchWorkNerd)

I was recently lucky enough to be able to interview one of my favourite writers and a lady who inspires me to be the best and weirdest I can be, Alexandra VanHorn.

Alex has done an awful lot to make the writing community what it is today. She hosts the #WritersPatch chat every Sunday at 10am CST and she vlogs her own writing experience. I truly believe Alex is set for amazing things and I cannot wait to continue her journey with her!

Q1. Okay so let’s start off light: Give us 3 random and crazy facts about yourself?

1. I collect teapots! It’s the kind where the tea pot stacks on top of a matching cup! I own twelve!

2. I have a tattoo. Everyone is shocked when they find out because they say I don’t seem like the type of person to have one. It’s fun shattering their expectations and I want to get more tattoos down the road. The one I have is of three diamonds like Harley Quinn has on her leg, set in a lace and paisley pattern.

3. I write mostly magical realism and horror but I can’t watch horror movies. I scare way too easily because of my overactive imagination! Talk about a contradiction!

Q2. If you were able to visit any fictional land and meet a few of the characters, where would you travel and who would want to meet?

I would go to Never Neverland and meet Peter Pan and the gang! When I was a little girl I would fall asleep pretending that he was going to knock on my window at any moments and take me there! I’ve gone to Neverland so many time in my mind and it’s about time I go there for real! Plus I think Tinkerbell and I would hit it off! She’s my sassy idol!

Q3. So your internet presence has been growing rapidly for a while now, and your biggest site is twitter and WritersPatch. What/ who inspired you to start a Writers patch?

Oh goodness, thank you for thinking that! It’s been a blur of a year because I’ve really been trying to form lasting connections with fellow writers and help encourage writers! Twitter is such a great tool because it allows you the opportunity to connect with people about common interests. I saw a few chats on Twitter and I kept wrestling with the idea of starting my own, but cold feet kept getting the best of me. Finally I asked my Twitter buddies for advice and I had an amazing friend connect me with some MAJOR contributors to the world of Twitter discussions! And you know what? They were all so nice and gave me a ton of advice! I took notes, I developed my mission, and now #WritersPatch is pure joy for me! I’ve actually had people tell me that I inspire them and it’s surreal! My hope it to continue to give fellow writers the tools and encouragement they need to recognize their own talents!

Q4. So the reason you are here is because you are a writer, who inspired you to write? Why did you start writing?

There wasn’t one particular writer who made me want to write, I’ve just always had this deep need to create stories as long as I can remember. When I was teeny tiny I found a picture book at the library that was in french. Instead of putting it back, I sat and made up the story based off of the pictures I saw. My mom was stunned by this and I think this is part of the reason why her and my dad encouraged my writing so much. Before I was old enough to write, I would tell my dad stories and he would write them down and teach me how to draw my own picture books. This love kept growing and soon I was making my own poems, chapter books, and comics! When I had free time in school, I was writing and finally it hit me that this could be my job when I grow up! That’s why I keep working hard to this very day because it brings me one step closer to my dream.

Q5. If you were to give one piece of advice to aspiring authors, what would it be?

Being weird doesn’t put you on an island. I have struggled my whole life with feeling like I’m the odd one out because my brain is wired differently from that of my peers. When I hit my teenage years I felt so scared and out of place with my art. I think this contributed to me having writers block for nearly 5 years in college. I just felt so scared of where my brain was going and what I was going to do with it. I’ve always been drawn towards dark stories and I wrestled with wondering why I just couldn’t be a happy girl who wrote happy things. Then the internet came waltzing into my life and I knew I wasn’t alone! I joined a writers group and my confidence soared! It can be so easy to think you’re all alone on this creative adventure. The greatest thing I ever did was made my writing a group experience. The more I share, the more I understand myself and gain confidence in my skills! You need to not be afraid of who you are and just let your freak flag fly! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, no matter what your skills, you’re a writer you should be proud! You sparkle!

Q6. If you had to pick between only ever being able to read or write, which would you choose?

Writing. I will always choose writing. To be honest, I wasn’t an enthusiastic reader growing up because I could never find the kind of stories I wanted to read. I would proudly declare that I’d rather write a book than read a book. Of course now I understand the importance of reading to improving your writing, but you don’t know how stubborn younger me could be!

Q7. Who is your favourite author and why?

There are so many choices! My gut says Roald Dahl because he was my first favorite author. He made me see the normal world for all it’s whimsical possibilities!

Q8. Is there a genre you really want to try and write but are too scared to?

I outlined a young adult romantic comedy last year. I felt dirty while I did it, but the story was so gosh darn charming that I still love it. Though it’s not what I’d want my debut novel to be, I do plan to go back to it someday. The cuteness levels were well over 9,000!

Q9. I know that you are currently working on a lot of different writing projects. Can you give us a little something about one of them?

Yes! I am actually deciding between two manuscripts to pursue editing for publication. “Strange: A Manuscript” is the story of Becca who discovers the fictional world of her late-husband’s book is real when it’s villain steals aways her son. The other story currently nicknamed “Veil” is about Roger, the body guard of a fortune teller. He is trying to help her solve a murder while his inner demons literally try to take him over. I love both and it’s so hard choosing one to work on! But with my busy schedule it’s best to not stretch myself too thin and pick one!

Q10. If you weren’t in marketing or a writer what would your dream job be?

I know this is cheating, but writing is the only dream job I’ve ever had. Since I’m not published and I don’t have an agent yet, I still consider it in the “dream” category. Though my writing videos and discussions have also taught me that I love talking about writing. It’d be amazing to be a writing teacher! I will however stick to chats and videos instead of spending a billion dollars going back to school!

Thank you again, Alex for taking part in this interview!

If you want to connect with Alex on other social medias here are her links:

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

Youtube

Website

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thedancemostofall · 7 years

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To be ravenous, and lack a mouth (2nd draft)

It's raining, and I'm watching as the rain slides down the outside of the glass ceiling. It's torrential now, sounds like a waterfall.

I'm hungry, and I'm patiently waiting for a slice of white bread to toast so that I can slather Nutella on it. This is a uniquely European experience for me, even though all of the ingredients are obviously available where I live. I never eat bread at home, and I never buy Nutella. I can't be trusted around either thing.

But you know, that thing about "when in Rome," etc. I like my bread very toasted. And very drenched in chocolate.

Romantic, old jazz is playing. I'm thinking more about hunger now.

A few months ago, I read:

"To desire effort from a man, [women] are taught, is to transgress in several ways. For a woman who has learned to make herself physically and emotionally small, to live literally and figuratively on scraps, admitting that you have an appetite is a source of cavernous fear. Women are often on a diet of the body, but we are always on a diet of the heart."

E. comments, "To be honest, I have no idea how to be in a relationship."

I ask, "What do you find to be most difficult?"

"To be vulnerable in front of someone else."

***

A few months ago S. whispered to me guiltily, "Can I tell you something I feel guilty about? My father is in the hospital and someone like Trump is running for president. The world has bigger things for me to worry about, but why is it that can't I stop thinking about love?"

Hearing from you is so funny, it's one of those tragic comedies that you can't understand why I have always felt unimportant to you, an afterthought; especially when you ask to see me and expect me to be available just a few hours before you get on a plane to leave. I should be used to it by now, is what you probably assume. Because of this, because of you, I've lost my ability to be affectionate and vulnerable in certain ways.

You think that it has more to do with the pain you've caused me, and we tend to focus on that. Our time together feels so scarce, so that's how it is. But equally as disappointing is that I have been unable to love you the way I want to love. I have been unable to show up for you the way I want to show up. There are worlds inside of me raging to love you more. As Ada Limón implores: "and dearest, can you/ tell, I am trying/ to love you less."

All my life I've been trained to stay silent, avoid asking for what I want or need, provide for myself.

Give him everything I have, make him sandwiches, have sex with him when he reaches for me, avert my eyes when he flirts with other women, hide my feelings, don't cry, don't bring up things that bother me, say "yes" to him but "no" to other men, wear lipstick to look nice but not when he wants to kiss you because then it will stain his lips, stay small, stay quiet, order the salad, skip dessert, stop eating Nutella, be skinny, make sure to look hot in a bikini, put on a dress, wear heels, laugh when he makes a joke, get a manicure, pretend to be satiated even if I'm not.

***

It's the beginning of winter in New York City.

After walking up the four flights of stairs to his apartment, P. convinces me to crawl into bed for the warmth mostly, and I find myself vying with the cat for attention. The sheets are always rumpled, and he's proud of his new mattress. He quotes Wittgenstein when he talks about his views on relationships. He usually feeds me champagne (the good kind that comes from a yellow-and-gold bottle) and offers me books to read. On his bookshelf, the newly-bought Elena Ferrante collection takes center stage and I joke that I want to live in his library. He reads books that are exactly my taste. I'd never met a man who reads Maggie Nelson, Chris Krauss, Frank O'Hara. He buys and actually reads the books that I recommend. He takes notes in a notebook while he pores over Foucault. He brings me Ocean Vuong and The New Yorker with pages earmarked for me to read. This has never happened before. But it's how we met, after all. I can't get him to admit out loud that he likes me; his face grows serious. He feigns nonchalance, like all of you do. But, there is evidence.

In the end, he curls up against the small of my back and asks me to stay the night, but I get up and pad quietly across the floor to put on my socks. "Are you hungry? Do you want a spoonful of peanut butter?" he asks. There's always some sort of unsatisfactory bait in these sorts of situations.

As I hastily open the front door to escape and hide how I'm actually falling to pieces, I want desperately to turn around and, for once, ask for what I actually want. It's not peanut butter.

But I don't. I stay silent, I stay hungry.

I don't stop to say goodbye, though he comes to the stairway and calls out to me while leaning over the railing to watch me go.

It becomes a habit: I tell every man I end up liking that I'll probably never see him again. It's safer than the alternative. This is what you've conditioned me to do (lessons on how to survive as a woman): to persist in this brutal diet of the heart. Don't stop long enough to taste anything. Avoid tasting anything that might turn into craving. I am starving, and too terrified to eat. Whatever you do, don't fall in love.

Outside I wander around Manhattan in the night, my breath aching against the colder air. Heart feeling similar against my chest. What is that thing they say about freedom? About independence? That it's full of contradictions?

My mom told me that when they first met, my dad rushed to the drugstore on Valentine's Day to buy a card. Printed on the inside of the card was the requisite "Happy Valentine's Day" in plain font. My dad had scrawled "Happy Valentine's Day" below the printed words. He added a tiny drawing of a sun, because his Chinese name is homonymous with the character for the sun.

"Why couldn't he write something else?" she pondered to me. "The card already said everything he had to say, I guess, which wasn't much. But I so wished that he would have written more."

To this day she has never admitted that to him, and she has never once asked for more.

Do we as women spend our lives wanting things that don't exist for us?

Or just more than what does?

Last year I used to haunt this Brooklyn coffee shop named after a Mark Doty poem entitled "Hungry Ghost," and that evening when I got home I looked the poem up.

"Perhaps this is also a form of immortality: submission to a craving without boundary. To be ravenous, and lack a mouth."

#rosewrites

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trendingnewsb · 6 years

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23 Valentine's Day Movies People Never Get Bored Of

So we’ve done the work for you! Here are twenty-three of the best romantic movies ever made to watch on Valentine’s Day.

23 – Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Best Quote

Joel: “I could die right now, Clem. I’m just… happy. I’ve never felt that before. I’m just exactly where I want to be.”

22 – About Time (2013)

This film is from the creators of Love Actually, and it’s worth a try for anyone looking for a well-done romantic comedy.

Best Quote

Tim: [voiceover] “We’re all traveling through time together, every day of our lives. All we can do is do our best to relish this remarkable ride.”

21 – The Notebook (2004)

Wonderful performances by McAdams and Gosling have made this a super-popular and award-winning film. It might be cheesy, but it’s heartwarming and genuine too.

Best Quote

20 – Love and Basketball (2000)

If you’re young, enjoy sports, or crave passion, this movie’s for you.

Best Quote

Monica says, “It’s a trip, you know? When you’re a kid, you see the life you want, and it never crosses your mind that it’s not gonna turn out that way.”

19 – Cactus Flower (1969)

The complicated love story is about the various lies a dentist tells to keep a relationship. Interestingly enough, the story was appropriated by by Adam Sandler in Just Go With It (2011).

Best Quote

Toni Simmons: “Now why don’t you go back and mind your own business like everyone else in New York City?”

Best Quote

Charlotte: “Let’s never come here again because it would never be as much fun.”

17 – When in Rome (2010)

The movie is lighthearted, funny, and a great way to create and celebrate a happy Valentine’s Day.

Best Quote

Beth: “Dad. When you married Mom, did you ever think that you wouldn’t make it?”

16 – 50 First Dates (2004)

Best Quote

Dr. Keats: “Tom was in a hunting accident and he lost part of his brain. His memory lasts only ten seconds.”

Ten Second Tom: “I was in an accident? That’s terrible.”

Dr. Keats: “Don’t worry, you’ll totally get over it in about three seconds.”

15 – Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

Best Quote

Jamal Malik: “I’ll wait for you at the train station every day at five.”

14 – The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)

Best Quote

Peter Parker: “We all have secrets: the ones we keep… and the ones that are kept from us.”

13 – The Tourist (2010) (Runner Up: Original Sin)

Best Quote

Hotel Waiter Guido: “Bongiorno!”

Frank Taylor (Depp): “Bon Jovi!”

12 – This Means War (2012)

Best Quote

Trish (Chelsea Handler) “Don’t go with the better guy, go with the guy who makes you better.”

11 – (500) Days of Summer (2009)

Best Quote

Rachel Hansen: “Just because she likes the same bizzaro crap you do doesn’t mean she’s your soul mate.”

10 – Walk the Line (2005)

Best Quote

June Carter: “Well, then start loving yourself, so we can go back to work.”

9 – Ghost Town (2008)

Best Quote

Bertram Pincus (Gervais): “All work and no play makes Jack- a vital member of society.”

8 – Shrek (2001)

Best Quote

Shrek: “For your information, there’s a lot more to ogres than people think.”

7 – Seems Like Old Times (1980)

Best Quote

Glenda (Hawn) “Chester. You just went through a stop sign.”

Chester (Chase) “I can’t help it. I don’t like to read when I drive.”

6 – About a Boy (2002)

Best Quote

Marcus: “After a few visits, Will seemed to think he had to ask me serious questions, when I knew he really wanted to watch Xena Warrior princess.”

5 – True Romance (1993) (Runner Up: Natural Born Killers)

Best Quote

Clarence Worley: “You just said you love me, now if I say I love you and just throw caution to the wind and let the chips fall where they may and you’re lying to me I’m gonna fuckin’ die.”

4 – Titanic (1997)

Best Quote

Jack Dawson: “Where to, Miss?”

Rose DeWitt Bukater: “To the stars.”

3 – Bride and Prejudice (2004)

Best Quote

Lalita Bakshi (Rai): “You should be stirring your husband’s dinner not trouble.”

2 – Love, Actually (2003)

Best Quote

Billy Mack (Bill Nighy) “Hiya kids. Here is an important message from your Uncle Bill. Don’t buy drugs. Become a pop star, and they give you them for free!”

1 – The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

This Oscar-nominated flick might not come to mind as a movie perfect for Valentine’s Day. But you and your Valentine’s Day date just might find that refreshing!

Best Quote

Jordan Belfort: [to the waiter] “Oh, I’m good with water for now.”

Mark Hanna: “It’s his first day on Wall Street. Give him time.”

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