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crappymixtape · 4 months

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because of you • part two

PART I • PART III • PART VI • PART V // REQUEST -> @sattlersquarry ❝ an enemies to lovers fic with Steve? 💙 maybe they have to put aside their differences to fight upside down stuff and realize they actually have a lot in common 👀 • 18+ | ( 3.3k – little bit of king!steve, mostly angst with a dash of fluff, enemies to idiots in love, steve x reader )

B E C A U S E O F Y O U • P A R T T W O 🎶 theatre, etta marcus

❝ IS IT EASIER WHEN YOU DON’T HAVE TO START AGAIN? WHEN YOU DON’T WANNA MAKE AMENDS? ❞

‘Stealing a Winnebago’ had been easier than you’d assumed, but the getaway execution went exactly like you thought it would. Absolute disorganized chaos and the way Steve peeled out of the trailer park dumped you into Robin’s lap for the first mile. Made you even more skeptical of whatever half-assed plan these people had frankensteined together and now? You found yourself browsing the clothing section of The War Zone.

What in the hell were they thinking coming here anyway? From Eddie’s retelling of what happened under Lover’s Lake it sounded like not one of them knew anything about hand-to-hand combat, let alone guns. Couldn’t even land a punch, but thought they could handle this? Walls of rifles on display, rounders full of bulletproof gear and cases upon cases of bullets and god, you wanted to leave.

“Hey,” Nancy’s voice pulled your attention away from the tactical vests you were staring at, her eyes wide and earnest as she looked over at you. “If I go over to the counter, you gonna be okay?”

“Oh, totally,” you lied. “Yeah, was gonna go look over here anyway,” and you thumbed over your shoulder at more vests.

“Okay, good.”

She gave you a small Nancy-Wheeler-smile and left you there alone in a sea of camouflage. In the middle of a store you’d never have set foot in before all this and making you second guess yourself. Second guess what was seemingly more and more a stupid decision to go along with all of this and you huffed a sigh in frustration.

“Should’ve stayed in the trailer,” you grumbled under your breath, fighting the urge to just walk out, but apparently you weren’t the only one wandering around all the puke green clothing.

“Huh, didn’t know you had good ideas.”

The sound of Steve’s voice made your hands ball into fists, nails pressing half moons into your palms.

“Do you ever have anything nice to say?” you sneered and he had the audacity to be so causal. Didn’t even look up from the tactical vests he was flipping through and tossed one into his cart.

“Not to you I don’t.”

Anger rose in your chest like a pot boiling over, so hot it made your cheeks burn as you glowered over at him.

“What’s your problem?”

“Don’t have one.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yep,” and still he didn’t look at you. Picked a bomber jacket off the rack and piled it on top of his vest and it was the last straw.

Stalking over to his side of the rounder you got right up in his face, dug a finger into his chest and said, “Liar.”

His eyes flickered at your accusation, sardonic smile pulling at the corners of his mouth as he looked down at you and warned, “Don’t say things you can’t prove, Princess.” And he leaned into your finger. Waited for you to fold. Tsked at your attitude and the sound of it triggered a memory so strong you felt like you’d been sucker punched.

Your second ever interaction with Steve Harrington happened the week before summer break.

You heard it while you were walking back to school from grabbing lunch at the diner. A high, sharp whistle followed by car horn and then—

“Owwww, damn baby!”

And you recognized the voice right away.

Tommy Hagan. Leaning out the passenger window of Steve’s BMW. Wolf-whistling at you and being a dick and you tried to ignore them, but then they were pulling up next to you and slowing way down.

“Hey, sweetheart,” Tommy purred at your back, your mouth twisting into a scowl at the sound of Eddie’s nickname on his tongue. “You need a rid–” he started to ask, but his question cut short when you turned around.

Mouth dropped open in shock for a split second as he realized who you were, Tommy quickly recovered and started to laugh. That obnoxious, hyena-like laugh that made you want to punch him and he smiled and whistled again.

“Shit, Stevie! Who knew the freak had an ass on her!”

“You kiss Carol with that mouth, Tommy?” you shot back, Steve stifling a snicker from the driver’s seat.

“Bet you could do for a kiss, baby,” Tommy tsked, pouted his lips at you and grinned, “Always so damn sour.”

“Yeah? Wanna find out why?” you threatened and it made Tommy grin even wider. Shark-like. Predatory.

“Park it, Stevie,” Tommy didn’t bother looking at his friend, eyes locked on you as he opened the passenger door and jumped out of the car while it was still moving. Walked right up and crowded over you, eyes narrowing as he leaned in, “And what if I do?”

Your stomach lurched, heart leaping into your throat as you stood your ground. You didn’t think he’d take the bait, but you also didn’t shy away. God, you wished Eddie was there. Tilting your chin up in defiance you glared him down.

“Tommy, c’mon man. Just leave it,” you heard Steve’s voice from over Tommy’s shoulder, tinged at the edges with desperation as he ran up on the two of you, but Tommy couldn’t have cared less.

“Well? What’re you gonna do about it, toots?” Tommy pushed again, toes of his shoes knocking against yours as he stepped even closer, towering over you and it hit you like a ton of bricks how in over your head you were.

“Tommy, just leave–”

“I didn’t ask you, Harrington!” Tommy snapped and you took the opportunity.

Grabbing a fistful of his shirt in your hands, you yanked Tommy down into you and drove your knee into his crotch as hard as you could.

“Oh, fuuuuck,” he choked out, folded in half and hands covering his junk as he dry heaved and you took a big step back.

“Coward,” you turned and hurled the word at Steve and watched it land heavy as his face shifted. Brows pinching together and mouth dropped open, but nothing came out as he struggled to say those two little words. I’m sorry. To tell you he wasn’t like his friend, but his silence betrayed him.

“You bitch,” Tommy grunted at you as he tried to straighten up, one hand still over his crotch.

“Don’t move! I’ll–I’ll get you expelled!” you threatened and it made him laugh. A mean, mirthless thing.

“No fuckin’ way. My mom’s on the school board, who’s gonna take your side?”

And you looked back at Steve for a split second, silently asking him to step in and do something, but he stood frozen in place. Still unable to go against his ‘best friend’ and what little belief you had left in him was shattered.

You were done with Steve Harrington.

Shaking your head, you fought back the tears burning at the corners of your eyes and ran up the path to the cafeteria doors. Disappeared behind them with a loud, metallic slam! and left Steve alone to drown in the deafening silence.

Don’t say things you can’t prove, Princess.

It was like no time had passed, like you were still there in that parking lot with Tommy towering over you and tsking at you just like Steve was doing now, but this time you didn't run away.

“Don’t call me that!” you shoved at his chest and he stumbled back a step.

“Don’t call me a liar!”

“All you do is lie, Harrington! Your entire life was built on lies,” you could see his pulse fluttering against his neck. Watched his jaw tick as he clenched down on the words he wanted so badly to throw at you, but you didn’t give him a chance. “Why are you even here? You don’t give a shit about Eddie. You don’t give a shit about anyone, you’re–”

“Enough!” you flinched as his shout drew the attention of a couple older guys looking at the hunting gear. “You don’t know anything about me, okay? Not a god damn thing,” and the second part was quieter, but they way he held your gaze after punctuated it heavy.

He turned away from you, hastily pushing his cart back toward the cashier counter and walked out the double doors, but you weren’t about to let him have the last word.

“Hey, I’m not done!” you shouted after him across the parking lot. Sharp and biting and it made him spin back around, arms flung out at his sides in exasperation.

“Oh, yeah? Fine. What else you got?”

“Well, for one, I’m not going to sit here while you lord around like King Steve. This isn’t high school. No one here gives a shit about any of that.”

He squeezed his eyes shut at his old nickname. Sucked in a breath and let it out slow to try and steady himself.

“I’m not like that anymore.”

“Seriously? Do you hear yourself? You’ve been a dick to me since I set foot in Max’s trailer! And honestly? I’m not surprised! You think I don’t remember all the shit you put me through, put us through in school?” you shot back and he opened his eyes to glare over at you.

“Like I said, Princess–”

“I said don’t call me that!”

“–you don’t have any idea what this is. What we’re up against. None. You’re in over your head.”

“Okay? And what, I’m supposed to sit here on my hands and say, ‘It’s fine! Steve Harrington and all his little friends will fix this’?? You’re out of your mind!”

“And you think you can?” he shot back and your heart rate thrummed heavy in your ears.

“You know, Eddie says he trusts you now, but hell if I will. No fucking way,” and as you turned and cut past him back to the Winnebago he had to jog to keep up.

“Hey! Eddie almost killed me! With a fucking beer bottle!”

You huffed a laugh and kept walking, shaking your head at the accusation and incredulous at the lengths he was going to prove his point.

“Why should I believe you?” you called over your shoulder, “You’re probably just gunning for a headline: Steve Harrington, Hero of Hawkins!”

“Headline?? I–are you kidding me? You think I’d do all this for a headline??”

And finally you stopped at the bottom step of the Winnebago and Steve seized his chance.

“You really think I’m that superficial?” he shot at your back, but you didn’t turn around. Didn’t even acknowledge him and he spent what little patience he had left. “Hey! I’m talking to you!”

But you were already gone. Frozen in place with the world growing dark. Tree line ahead of you blurring. Unfocused and liquid like water and the ground swam under you as a voice echoed in your mind.

I see you.

The sound of Steve still talking behind you turned to fuzz, crackled like radio static and faded away into ear-splitting silence. Deafening and swallowing you whole and then you felt it. The ground falling out from underneath you and you were drowning in the dark and the voice that echoed in your mind pulled you even deeper.

Resisting will only make it worse.

❝ AND I NEVER HAD A TASTE FOR LIARS OR THE UNIQUELY UNINSPIRED ‘CAUSE I DON’T NEED TO BE DESIRED ❞

Steve glared daggers at your back. Anger hot and fuming and fueled by the fact that you had the nerve to ignore him and god, he wanted to prove you wrong.

“Are you trying to piss me off? Cos its work–” but the words died in his throat as he came around to face you. “Oh. Oh, shit,” with a quick glance over your shoulder he saw everyone else finally coming out of the store and he didn’t wait to call for help.

“Munson!! Eddie!” Steve yelled over your shoulder at your best friend before grabbing your shoulders in his hands and squeezed at them. Leaned down to try and meet your unfocused, far away gaze and when none of it worked he felt his chest grow tight.

Not again.

“Hey, hey! Look at me!" panic clawed its way up his throat as he shook your shoulders, "Stay with me! Munson–hurry up!”

Your eyes were glazed over, tears gathering at the corners as your whole body started to tremble. Breathing stuttered and caught in your throat. Lips parted and trying to pull air in, but it wasn’t enough and Steve felt his hand twitch. Wanted to press it to your cheek to try and ground you, reach you and bring you back, but then Eddie was finally at your side and shoving Steve out of the way.

“Sweetheart! Can you hear me? Shit, shit, shit. What happened?? Honey? Look at me!” Eddie cradled your face in his hands. Did what Steve couldn’t. Voice ratcheted up, his usual low timbre a high pitched thing driven by fear and hearing it doused any remaining anger that had settled into Steve’s chest and replaced it with something else.

With helplessness. Regret. Remorse.

With the slow realization that everything he’d just said to you wasn’t worth it. Remembered how Nancy had yelled at him, just like you, outside of the gym. You’re bullshit! And his throat squeezed with guilt for messing it all up again because he was bullshit. He was a liar and you were right. Had he learned nothing?

He looked at you, your face contorted with fear, and he felt something new flicker within him. A feeling blooming at the pit of his stomach. One he was so certain couldn’t possibly exist when it came to you, but as he stood there watching Eddie try to shake you back from the dark he wasn’t so sure anymore.

“Steve, help me!” tears cut down Eddie’s cheeks as he called to him and pulled him hurtling back to Earth. Desperate. Pleading. Begging him to do something and it shook Steve back into action.

Heart pounding in his chest, adrenaline coursed through Steve's body and fought off the fear that had threatened to trap him in choke hold.

“Max, gimme your Walkman!” he shouted over your shoulder.

The rest of the group had started running back to the Winnebago as soon as they’d heard yelling and when Steve asked for the cassette player, Max knew time was running out.

“Shit,” she hissed under her breath and broke into a sprint, scrambling to untangle the headphones from around her neck as she hurried to get to you. “Here! It’s still Kate Bush, is that–”

“Doesn’t matter–Munson get these on, hurry!” Steve, snatched the Walkman from Max and crammed it into Eddie’s outstretched hands.

“Please, please, please,” fell from Eddie’s lips, desperate, praying that this would work as he fitted the headphones on and pressed them against your ears, “Please.”

Blinking heavy, you strained your eyes against the black. Against the suffocating dark you suddenly found yourself in. The stand of vivid, green ash trees lining the parking lot replaced by gnarled branches, dark and leafless. Bright yellow buttercups snuffed out by thick, wet vines that snaked their way across the ground under your feet.

You weren’t in the parking lot of the War Zone anymore, not really, and as you breathed in the sickly, ashen air your heart stopped in your chest.

The Upside Down.

“Eddie? Eddie!” you shouted into the dark, red lightening cracking the sky in two, and when no one answered you knew you were utterly alone.

Panic gripped you like a vice as you thought of Chrissy. Of Fred and Patrick and dread filled your stomach. Utter hopelessness and grief and when you whipped around to run you felt something tangle around your leg. Wrapping up, up, up and pulling you down, down, down.

You braced for it, ready to break your fall with your hands, but you never hit and instead found yourself lifting into the air. Unhinged laughter filling your ears as more vines snaked around your arms and legs and you swore you were going to be sick.

It was

Him.

“Why isn’t it working?? God dammit, work!” Eddie was yelling at the Walkman, his composure unravelling as Chrissy’s last moments flooded his mind. “Is she gonna die? She can’t die!” he pleaded and his voice cracked, a sob caught in his throat, “Please don’t let her die!”

“Hey hey, hey! Get a hold of yourself. That’s not gonna happen, okay? It’s gonna work,” Steve gripped Eddie’s shoulders, looked him in the eye and tried to reassure him, but when he glanced over at you he knew he couldn’t make that promise. “Please work,” he whispered, “I’m sorry.”

Where are you going? You can’t leave. Not yet.

Vecna’s voice was everywhere. Flooding every part of you and you feared you would never feel joy again. Would never escape this. Would be stuck here forever screaming into the void, hanging on Vecna’s every whim.

I would like very much to show you where I’m going. Please, take a seat.

And the vines yanked you down, squeezed tight around your wrists and legs and held you fast against the ground, rocks digging painfully into your back.

“Please, let me go!” you pleaded into the dark. “Please, I–” but your mouth went dry as a shadowy figure appeared through the ash. Coming closer and closer in the dark with each heavy step and when it finally stopped, feet at your head, your blood ran cold.

Wet, sinewy skin. Muscles exposed and stretched taut. Eyes that pierced your mind and knew every single one your thoughts. Knew all the dark things spiraling there and made them worse. Clawed at you with spindly, protruding hands and long, dagger-like claws and suffocated you with the smell of something rotten.

Of decay.

Of death.

Reaching a hand down, Vecna held it over your face, inches away from touching you as you struggled against your restraints, but they constricted tighter with your every move.

“Please,” you were crying openly now, tears cutting paths through the ash that had settled on your cheeks, but he ignored you.

I want you to tell your friends, I want you to tell them everything you see. Everything I show you.

“No, please!”

Tell them!

“No, I can’t–”

Tell them everything!

And then your head felt like was being cleaved in two. White hot light fracturing the black sky into thick shards and your screams were the only thing you could hear as Vecna pried open your mind and poured into you his vision for the future...

Hawkins in ruin.

Four gashes in the earth. Cavernous. Hot and angry and full of fire.

Your family. Lying scattered across your lawn. Motionless and still and limbs bent wrong.

Tell them!

Your friends hanging in the air just like Chrissy, Fred, Patrick.

Eyes empty, slack-jawed and lifeless, bones snapped like twigs.

Tell them!

Eddie and Robin and Nancy and Steve and–

“NO!” you screamed, the sound pulled painfully from your lungs as you felt your legs give way and collapsed into yourself.

“Whoa! Whoa, whoa, whoa–”

Steve scrambled to grab hold of your shoulder and barely caught you before your bare knees hit the pavement.

You heard birds chirping. Sunlight filtering through the backs of your eyelids as you kept them squeezed shut, but the air was clean. Smelled fresh and as you slowly opened your eyes you realized you weren’t choking on ash anymore.

“It’s okay, it’s okay,” Steve was still holding onto you, your hands pressed into his thighs as you braced yourself, the feeling of nausea overwhelming.

“I saw him,” you whispered, only Steve could hear you and you started to cry.

“Him?” Steve asked unnecessarily, glancing up at Eddie. Hoping, no praying, if he asked maybe you’d give a different answer. One that wouldn’t involve death and the end of the world and everything hinging on this stupid fucking plan, but he knew.

Everyone knew.

Eyes glued on their feet. Arms folded over their chests and uneasy with the weight that had settled over the group.

“Vecna.”

[ NOTE: THIS IS PART TWO OF A – POSSIBLY – FIVE PART SERIES, PART FOUR AND FIVE TO COME SOON ]

crappymixtape™ • steve harrington masterlist // stranger things masterlist ♥️ reblogs and comments keep me going, friends! ily! ♥️

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hotyanderedaddies · 5 months

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Yandere Werewolf Park Ranger Helps Search for "Lost" You

[Yandere! Werewolf! Park Ranger x Missing! GN Reader]

·゜·:.。..。.:·☆·゜·:.。..。.:·☆

"The search for missing hiker Y/N is still on going. The hiker has been missing for the past week and park officials are diligently searching..."

Park Ranger Wolf (yes, he finds the name ironic too) is Lupine National Forest's best tracker. Whenever a hiker goes missing, local law enforcement enlists his help.

The park ranger knows the forest like the back of his paw, knowing every twist and turn of the trails and able to track down any lost hiker with ease.

Ranger Wolf's werewolf senses permit him to hear the smallest footstep, crunching leaves and twigs alerting him to movement. And humans often wear deodorant and/or perfume, so all he needs is something to get a sniff of, and he's able to sniff his way towards his darling target.

He lives and breathes the forest, and even lives in his own personal cabin that he built with his own hands in the middle of the forest, resting right by the lake.

When you went mysteriously missing one morning, after going on a hike that you didn't return from, the local precinct immediately contacted Ranger Wolf to see if he could track you down.

Your family, eager to find you, provided the werewolf full access to your place, pleading with him to grab whatever he could so that he could get your scent memorized.

He happily shoved his nose into your pillow and underwear and deeply inhaled, instantly getting your scent committed to memory.

"I promise, I will find Y/N," Ranger Wolf told your parents, even placing a reassuring hand on your mother's shoulder.

Ranger Wolf would spend day and night out in the forest, the locals feeling slight relief knowing that he was on the case.

Since he had his cabin located out in the woods, he would stay out in the wilderness twenty-four/seven, only venturing back into town to pick up supplies and give a brief update to the police.

"Still nothing," he'd tell them, "but I won't give up."

"Thank you, Ranger Wolf," the police officer would say, "we really appreciate your help. I'm sure you'll find them in no time..."

·゜·:.。..。.:·☆·゜·:.。..。.:·☆

"Darling, I'm home!" Ranger Wolf called out as he entered the cabin, doing all of the locks that only he had the key for as soon as he was inside.

You jolted up from your seat and backed against a far corner in the windowless cabin that you were trapped in.

"They're still looking for you," Ranger Wolf chuckled as he began to take off his work uniform, "but don't worry, my love. I keep telling them that I have this territory handled, so no one will come here and try to take you away from me."

The large werewolf snickered for a second, his massive fangs gleaming in the faint light from the lantern that illuminated the tiny cabin he made the two of you share.

"I'd love to see anyone stupid enough to try to take you away from me," he growled.

He paused when he saw you huddled in the corner.

"Oh Darling," he frowned, "it's been a week and you're still afraid of me?" He held his large arms out towards you. "Why don't you come here and give Daddy his kiss?"

You didn't move.

"Darling?" Ranger Wolf/Daddy repeated, his voice deepening slightly, moving his fingers in a beckoning motion. "Come here, please."

You shook your head, trembling in your spot. You really wished that you hadn't strayed away from the trail and had gotten lost last week, only to be found by Ranger Wolf who'd immediately dragged you to his cabin to be his. He never lets you leave.

You're his.

"Come. Here," Ranger Wolf growled, narrowing his eyes at you as he grew impatient.

Not wanting to get punished again, you swallowed hard and took shaky steps across the floor towards the waiting werewolf.

Once you were within arm's reach, Ranger Wolf reached out and yanked you into his hold, cuddling you against his chest as he happily nuzzled you.

"Oh Darling," Ranger Wolf cooed, "I love you so much and I'm so happy that you're here with me. I promise that I'll take good care of you, and once you love me back, then I'll consider taking you into town. Then everyone will see what a cute couple we are: the lost hiker and the park ranger who saved them."

#yandere boyfriend #yandere boy #yandere daddy #yandere x reader #yandere x you #obsessive love #possessive boyfriend #werewolf #yandere werewolf #Park Ranger #Yandere Park Ranger #werewolf x reader #werewolf x human

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csny · 26 days

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Alaska: Igloo, Kodiak bear, Iditarod sled dog race, Denali

Hawaii: pearl harbor, pineapple

washington: Space Needle, apple, mt st helens, rainier national park

oregon: roses, lighthouse, crater lake, oregon trail, hiking

california: redwood tree, white water rafting, gold, golden gate bridge, silicon valley, yosemite national park, wine country, sierra nevada mountains, hollywood, joshua tree

nevada: silver, las vegas strip, hoover dam

idaho: gemstones, potatoes

montana: rocky mountains, glacier national park, grizzly bear, bison

wyoming: yellowstone national park, old faithful geyser, bucking bronco

utah: great salt lake, zion national park, skiing

arizona: lake mead, grand canyon national park, montezuma castle, turquoise, saguaro cactus

new mexico: pueblo, yucca plant, carlsbad caverns

colorado: rocky mountain national park, columbine flower, elk

north dakota: oil, wind energy

south dakota: crazy horse memorial, the badlands, mount rushmore

nebraska: chimney rock, bald eagle, train

kansas: tornadoes, dodge city, sunflower

oklahoma: tomato, wheat, osage shield

texas: cattle, prickly pear cactus, oil refinery, the alamo, NASA Johnson space Center

Minnesota: lake of the woods, wolf, deer

iowa: prairie grass, corn

missouri; Hog, gateway arch

arkansas: razorback hog, banjo

louisiana: crayfish, mardi gras, jazz music

wisconsin: dairy

illinois: Willis tower, tractor, lincoln

michigan: copper, iron ore, automobile manufacturing, motown

indiana: Car

ohio: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, tires

pennsylvania: street mill, liberty bell

new jersey: constitution

maryland: blue crab

virginia: mount vernon

north carolina: wright brothers national memorial, tobacco farm, great smoky mountains national park, appalachian mountains

south carolina: fort sumter

georgia: peanuts, peach

florida: oranges, kennedy space center, alligator, everglades national park

alabama: cotton, civil rights movement

mississippi: magnolia

tennessee: country music

kentucky: horse racing

west virginia: coal

new york: apple tree, financial market, statue of liberty

massachusetts: american revolution

vermont: maple syrup

new hampshire: fall colors

maine: acadia national park, moose, lobster

And don’t make me repeat it!!!!!!!

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mask131 · 10 months

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Given people tend to have a short-lived memory on the Internet, let's recall together one of the ridiculous moments of Putin's Russia's propaganda against Europe. It is something that happened very recently, and for once it is not an ideological or social conflict or propaganda. No, it is a meteorological one - a story that might seem laughable and absurd, just a good joke on its own, but a story that shows us how deeply buried in lies and falseness and a complete detachment from reality the Russian propaganda is. This highlights the sad truth of how Russian media became a mass-fake-news machine and is ready to twist and turn every little fact of life to serve their own "Russia is the greatest, the rest of the world is Hell" view.

This happened in the winter of 2022-2023. If you are not in Europe maybe you didn't hear about this, but it was all over here. If you do not recall, this winter was actually colder than the one of previous years - which notably caused a certain problem because there was an economic crisis going on thanks to the Ukrainian war. There is this big price inflation all across Europe, coupled with the fact we don't get the Russian oil and gaz anymore - and this slightly colder weather mixed with the more costly every day life and the lack of heating fuels were all used by Russian propagandist to announce that Europe was going to face its harshest and coldest winter yet, and that thanks to the Ukrainian war, they would all freeze to death. If you listened to the words of Russian information channels, it was as if ASOIAF's "Winter is coming" was happening in real life.

Putin notably used a sentence referring a very popular Russian fairytale (though it is actually a folktale also heavily present in Europe, especially in France where it is part of the Roman de Renart) - "The wolf's tail will freeze". For Putin, Europe was the wicked and greedy wolf, and this harsh icey winter would weaken Europe the same way the wolf who was tricked into fishing with his tail got trapped in the lake of ice...

Let's begin with a "little lie", well a big one, but still lesser compared to the others that follow in this post. Mid-March, Olga Skabeyeva (one of the famous propagandist news anchors of Russia) claimed that due to the rise of prices, a third of the inhabitants of France was forced to give up on hygiene and beauty products. According to her, a third of French people didn't use shampoo or deodorants anymore, a third of French people didn't clean their teeth anymore - they even had to abandon toilet paper due to it costing too much! And of course, Skabeyeva concluded that this was all because France gave too much money to Ukraine, leaving its own people "poor and dirty"... Note that this actually plays on a widespread stereotype French have among foreigners: the reputation of French being dirty for only taking a bath once a week or so. I don't know where this stereotype of the French that doesn't take care of their personal hygiene comes from, but it exists.

If you are from Britain, you probably heard about Olga Skabeyeva's famous comments about the poor state the harsh winter and economic crisis of England had left people into. Mid-January she affirmed on Russian television that the common British folks were forced to eat dog food and cat food because human food was too costly, and that now English households cooked on their radiators, since they could only afford one heater for the whole house. This was backed up in early March by her claims that British restaurants, due to a lack of animal meat, were forced to serve squirrels to their clients, and that they would go on to trap other animals found in parks. Many British people argued back that yes, there was a big and harsh crisis, but no it wasn't as bad as the propagandist claimed and no, nobody ate squirrels in restaurants. [I unfortunately cannot find back the source but I recall seeing around the time this made the news, that the propagandist actually took one true info - something about indeed people killing squirrels somewhere in England for health and ecological reasons, or maybe some public figure joking about possibly eating squirrels - and then twisted it into "all British restaurants serve squirrels now". That's typical of propagandists - take one grain of truth, make it a whole beach of lies.]

And then we reach Germany. This time I have sources to back up, exact sources I will bring to you. In fact, if you want to know more about the crazy world of Russian propaganda, I can't advise you enough to check out this very informative and eye-opening series: Arte's Fake News. Arte is a Franco-German binational channel that brought this program - originally a web-series, that also aired on television. "Fake News", of its full title, "Fake News: Russian propaganda for beginners", is a series created and hosted by Marsha Borzunova, the representative of a group of anti-Putin Russian journalists that exiled themselves. Now, from the town of Riga, she and her crew created these videos that study, debunk and explain the various aspects of Russia's propaganda.

And one of her videos covered the topic of "European winter as seen by Russia". She talked of Putin's "wolf's tail" comment, she talked of how Russian television channels claimed that Czech figureheads publically said that to survive winter they will burn "everything they get their hands on", and even burn Ukraine down... And she also brought up the "Berlin problem". During the last months of the year 2022, Russian newspaper multiplied reports that due to the lack of oil/gaz and the extreme temperatures of winter, Berliners were cutting down almost all of the trees in their public parks. Which of course, is something that never happened. But these newspapers listed an American article from Bloomberg as their sources - and when you go look at the article, you realize how heavily the propagandists twisted the original words. The Bloomberg article was about the energy crisis in Germany, indeed, and how wood-fueled heating systems were now preferred and demanded over gaz-fueled heating systems, but that was it. The article did mention public park trees being cut down as an example... as an HISTORICAL example. The article speaks of the cutting of the Tiergarten trees in WORLD WAR II!!!

To add salt to the wound, there is the existence of a television show in Russia called "Antifake", designed to debunk fake news and denounce propaganda. Not Russian one though - the point of this show is to destroy the "lies of the West" and reveal the "truth" about Europe. Which is, as you can guess, a pile of absurd and shameless lies in favor of Russia. Antifake most notably fed into the whole "Europeans are freezing to death" thing by having their reporter living in Germany, a woman called Yulia, do a live interview from her apartment in Munich - and she appeared in this interview wrapped into a big, heavy winter coat, fur-lined hood over her head, despite being inside. Because, as she explained, the furnace had been cut for the night and in the morning, and so she was waiting for noon to have the sun heat her apartment into a more bearable temperature. An interview that becomes absolutely ridiculous when you know that at the same time, in Munich (Yulia's town), it was mid-october, it was a sunny week with 18 degrees outside (I'll let you do the conversion if you are American). Nobody in their right mind was wearing a coat inside their house, and nobody wore heavy coats outside either, and there was no furnace cuts. Even more hilarious is the fact that the emission showed background videos recorded of European heavly clothed, sharing food at some charity stand in a freezing morning... Except that when you look at the signs in this supposedly "German sight", you see everything is written in cyrillic, and that's because these images were recorded in the town of Opotchka, in the Pskov region, not "near Berlin" as they wanted the audience to think. Speaking of Yulia - you might have heard of her outside of the "Antifake" show, because she made herself quite famous in Germany, even viral. She went viral because she posted a video of herself smiling and dancing with a Russian flag... In front of a group of Ukrainian refugees in Salzburg. She became known as the "Russian harasser of Ukrainians fleeing the war" in Germany.

Borzunova also mentions the cyber-war of fake news to conclude her look at Russian's fantasies about a winter of misery in Europe: on Twitter, there was a trend that spread, a hastag #AgainstSanctions. This hashtag was shared and posted by many Europeans of various countries, complaining that the sanctions taken against Russia were ruining their life. The trend was simple: post a picture of an empty plate, with a message written on a piece of paper onto the plate, directly demanding to your local politician to stop the anti-Russia sanctions.

Here's the thing however: this "trend" was reported by Russian institutions and medias. And while the posts of this hashtag do exist, when you look just a little bit deeper you realize how fake it all is. All the accounts that started this trend only have one post in total: the AntiSanctions post. All these accounts were created on the same day. AND their profile pictures are those of public figures - ranging from CNN news anchors to Bollywood actresses.

Anyway, if you want to check the video about all of this, you can go look at it on Youtube. I personally watched the French subtitled version, even though there is a German-subtitled one (thanks to Arte being Franco-German), and Borzunova speaks in English, so you can still listen to her comments and understand her explanations without reading French or German:

youtube

If the video above doesn't appear, here is the link.

#russian propaganda #russia #fake news #putin's propaganda #europe through the eyes of russians #russian propaganda for beginners #Youtube

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rcenvs3000w24 · 5 months

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Nurturing Environmental Appreciation in Canada's Algonquin Provincial Park

Hello, fellow nature enthusiasts! Today, let's embark on a vision for the ideal role of an environmental interpreter amidst the pristine wilderness of Algonquin Provincial Park in Canada. Picture a landscape adorned with emerald lakes, rugged pine forests, and the echoing calls of loons – this is where my dream role unfolds.

Nestled in the heart of Ontario, Algonquin Provincial Park serves as the enchanting canvas for my environmental interpreter dreams. Towering pines, crystal-clear lakes, and the vibrant hues of fall foliage set the stage for a role that seeks to foster a deep connection between visitors and the incredible biodiversity of the Canadian wilderness.

As the environmental interpreter in Algonquin, my primary responsibility would be to guide visitors through the untamed beauty of the boreal forest. Interpretive hikes along rugged trails, canoe excursions on serene lakes, and evening campfire stories under the vast Canadian night sky would be the order of the day. The goal is to unveil the rich tapestry of flora and fauna, and instill a sense of wonder for the intricate ecosystems that thrive in this northern haven.

Education in this dream role would be a celebration of the boreal diversity. From sharing the fascinating adaptations of moose and beavers to exploring the delicate balance of the park's ecosystems, the environmental interpreter becomes a storyteller, weaving narratives that leave an indelible mark on visitors. Workshops on sustainable outdoor practices and wildlife conservation would round out the educational experience. During this process I would ensure all learning styles are fulfilled.

To thrive in this role, a versatile skill set would be essential. Expertise in wildlife biology, forestry, and outdoor survival would be coupled with effective communication skills. The ability to engage diverse audiences through storytelling, wilderness first aid proficiency, and fluency in both English and French would enhance the interpreter's capacity to connect with visitors from all walks of life.

Beyond the park's borders, the ideal environmental interpreter would strive to connect neighbouring communities with the magic of Algonquin. Collaborations with local schools, interactive virtual programs, and community-driven conservation initiatives would extend the reach of the interpreter's impact, fostering a collective commitment to preserving Canada's natural treasures.

In this dream role, Algonquin Provincial Park transforms into a stage for a symphony of the boreal wilderness. Every rustle of leaves, every howl of a distant wolf, and every paddle stroke in the park's pristine waters becomes a note in the harmonious composition of environmental appreciation. The environmental interpreter, much like a conductor, guides visitors through this symphony, leaving them with not just memories but a profound connection to the beauty and importance of Canada's natural heritage.

So, what's your dream environmental interpreter role in the vast landscapes of Canada? Share your visions, and let's continue dreaming of a world where the wonders of nature are cherished and protected in the Great White North! 🍁✨

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meydia · 2 years

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🎥 CREEP (2014)

14 Nov 2022 | Day 7/∞: Creep (2014) Trigger warnings: murder, creepy behaviour, stalking, drugging, SA mention

The classic found footage film and one I've been meaning to watch for a while! Josef is classically unhinged and it was delightful to not know whether anything he said was the truth or not. There seems to be sincerity only when he is in control of the situation. I quite honestly hoped that this would go down a Hannibal/Will Graham route, though it didn't - and still, it felt like I was watching a romcom half the time featuring a funny little guy and a stalwart videographer who can't get said funny little guy out of his head.

Simply put, this is about the horror of answering Craigslist ads and encountering.... someone you don't want to encounter. Aaron answers Josef's ad and agrees to record him, believing that Josef is a terminally ill patient who wants to leave his son with a memento of who he was. They go on a walk and find a heart-shaped lake - romantic! great date idea josef - and then go to a diner where Josef reveals he took photos of Aaron. Uh oh! They get drunk and Aaron, unsettled by Josef, drugs him. Then Josef's phone rings and Aaron learns from Angela (Josef's sister) that Josef is dangerous. He tries to leave and, after a scuffle, succeeds. Then begins the courting; Josef sends him videos, gifts, a heart-shaped locket. Diversity win, the creep is bisexual! Then Josef asks Aaron to meet him at the park and of course he thwacks him in the head with an axe. Oh yeah, and Josef likes to wear a wolf mask and become a persona he calls Peachfuzz. Actual depiction of ending is as below:

I do think that there was potential for the film to explore Josef more rather than turning it into straight, outright horror - it could've been a silly horror-adjacent romcom featuring a guy who doesn't know he's creepy. I've read some reviews on tumblr saying that he shows some aspects of bpd. It would've been really interesting to see him not be a killer and genuinely have a friendship with Aaron, who is genuinely kind of receptive to a connection (also Aaron is totally a repressed queer man by the way he definitely saw something in Josef I don't make the rules. that hot tub dream was sus af). It seems like the filmmakers were considering this idea - here are alternate endings that came with the DVD I think that I haven't seen floating around tumblr yet:

youtube

That first one would have been sweet!!!! I mean it still could've ended badly after, but hey. It is what it is.

Another idea worth addressing is that Aaron isn't a stupid protagonist, guys - also people in horror films are classically not making the best decisions, they're fucking scared! He tries to be polite to Josef because what else do you do when you're in someone's house in the middle of nowhere! What if he's being genuine, amirite? What do you DO if someone dumps some crazy crime that they've committed on you when you've got a whiskey in you? Anyway, Aaron is, surprisingly, nice, which was, I don't know, comforting to me in some way. Like Josef said, he was a nice guy.

Also the idea of found footage films are fascinating to me. I know this gets played with in Creep 2 a lot more, but it's also crazy to think about recording and how it has become such a huge part of our lives. It's our media. It's our digital memory bank. And Josef uses it to document his murders, and the lead up to the murders. You know? A versatile record.

Lastly, I fucking loathe the idea of tubby time. nononono

#creep 2014 #creep #film #film review #movie review #movie #mark duplass #blumhouse #horror #horror movie #tw manipulation #tw murder #tw SA #tw drugging

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ohchristmasbri · 10 months

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3 Movie Inspired Fall Dates: If you're on the lookout for delightful date ideas that encapsulate the essence of fall, look no further. We've curated a collection of enchanting fall movie date ideas that will not only kindle your love but also make the most of this captivating season.

Fall offers a plethora of opportunities to infuse romance and coziness into your movie dates. From outdoor screenings under the stars to creating fortresses of comfort indoors, these fall movie date ideas are bound to create cherished memories that capture the beauty and magic of the season. So, grab your favourite blanket, pop some popcorn, and let the autumnal cinematic adventures begin!

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MOVIES ON THE GO: Step 1: Park somewhere scenic at night Here are some suggestions: - Near a lake or ocean - Near a graveyard - In a forrest or park - Parked at a lookout Step 2: Bring a fully charged laptop and some DVD's or a downloaded movie Step 3: Bring blankets, pillows, warm drinks, and some good snacks

HAVE A THEMED MOVIE MARATHON: Step 1: Choose something to watch This could be movies by the same director, series, or movies with the same creature like vampires, zombies, etc. Step 2: Choose snacks that are themed to what you're watching Below are some suggestions...

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VAMPIRE MOVIES:

Blood Orange Slices: Serve slices of blood oranges for a fruity and appropriately themed snack, referencing the idea of vampires' affinity for blood.

Vampire Bite Cookies: Make sugar cookies shaped like vampire bites, with red icing to represent blood.

Garlic Parmesan Popcorn: Garlic is a common vampire repellent in folklore, so make garlic parmesan popcorn as a nod to this trope.

Red Velvet Cupcakes: Bake red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, resembling blood and fangs.

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ZOMBIE MOVIES:

Zombie Finger Hot Dogs: Wrap hot dog sausages in crescent roll dough, leaving a small section exposed to resemble a zombie's finger.

Brain Dip: Create a dip in the shape of a brain using cream cheese or hummus, and use red beet juice or raspberry sauce for a bloody effect.

Eyeball Cake Pops: Make cake pops shaped like eyeballs using cake crumbs and frosting, then decorate with edible markers or icing for the details.

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WEREWOLF MOVIES:

Full Moon Cookies: Bake cookies in the shape of full moons and decorate them with white icing to mimic the moon's glow.

Werewolf Paw Prints: Create cookies or brownies shaped like paw prints, using chocolate chips for the claws.

Moonlit Trail Mix: Make a trail mix with a combination of nuts, dried fruits, and chocolate chips, symbolizing a moonlit journey.

Bite-Sized Sausages: Serve mini sausage links as a nod to werewolves' love for meat, with toothpicks for easy snacking.

Howling Hot Dogs: Wrap hot dog sausages in croissant dough, shaping them like crescent moons or wolf howls. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SUGGESTIONS: Such as Tim Burton-themed snacks, Halloweentown-themed snacks, and more!

SEE MORE HERE

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FALL FLAVOURED NIGHT: Step 1: Choose a festive fall movie or series Step 2: Buy, eat, and make food with only festive flavours Here are some suggestions... Pumpkin Pie: A classic fall dessert made with pumpkin puree and warming spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.

Apple Cider Donuts: Soft and moist donuts with a hint of apple cider flavor, often dusted with cinnamon sugar.

Butternut Squash Soup: Creamy and comforting soup made from roasted butternut squash.

Caramel Apple Nachos: Sliced apples drizzled with caramel sauce and topped with chocolate chips and nuts.

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds: Pumpkin seeds roasted with various seasonings, such as cinnamon and sea salt.

Cinnamon Apple Chips: Thinly sliced apples baked until crispy with a dusting of cinnamon.

Sweet Potato Fries: Baked or fried sweet potato fries seasoned with a touch of cinnamon.

Caramel Popcorn: Popcorn coated with a rich caramel sauce for a sweet and crunchy treat.

Cinnamon Swirl Bread: Soft and fluffy bread swirled with cinnamon and sugar for a sweet and aromatic treat.

Spiced Apple Cider Muffins: Moist muffins made with apple cider, diced apples, and a hint of spices.

Pumpkin Cupcakes: A sweet treat made with pumpkin puree and warm spices.

Maple Glazed Almonds: Almonds coated with a maple glaze and toasted to perfection. ---

COZY FORT: Step 1: Build a fort in your living room Use blankets, cushions, and fairy lights. Create a snug space where you and your partner can escape into a world of movies and comfort Step 2: Add a touch of nostalgia by watching some of your favourite childhood movies or opt for heartwarming romance films that match the cozy atmosphere View my list of movies here

Step 3: Don't forget to make a tray of fall-inspired snacks, like caramel popcorn and pumpkin treats

Here's to autumn's embrace, to cinematic tales that thrill and delight, and to the memories you'll create with every movie night under the harvest moon. Happy watching and snacking!

#fall #autumn #winter #christmas #xmas #cozy #cosy #hygge #cuddly #cottage core #anxiety #depression #safe space #spring #summer #september #seasonal #christmas lights #Home decor

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sohannabarberaesque · 11 months

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Postcards from Snagglepuss

As if Free Ice Water wasn't impetus enough to stop, to begin with

WALL DRUG STORE, WALL, SD: Our motley motorhome crew, stopping at such a legendary roadside venue built on the offer of Free Ice Water for the sake of parched and thirsty motorists heading towards Mt. Rushmore, Yellowstone even--obviously not to be confused with Jellystone there--and offering plenty more, to begin with. Just killing a few hours in what was hoped to be relative obscurity until, as we headed to the Back Yard of Wall Drug, just as an audioanimatronic T. Rex was going into his routine--

"So, uh, how exactly did you find us?" asked Huckleberry Hound.

We had just stumbled upon Peter Potamus, starched safari jacket, pith helmet, the whole ball of wax even. "If I may just explain ..."

Never mind that the weather for the Badlands region of South Dakota, where Wall is situate, was pretty warm at the time, our company was warming up to what Peter Potamus was about to say.

"I just thought it would be a surprise to mention to you all," Peter explaineth, "that we of the Magic Divers have a little underwater ceremony forthcoming." Which certainly brought surprise unto Hokey Wolf, Ding-a-Ling, Wally Gator and Squiddly Diddly, themselves part of the dive troupe. "To which Huckleberry Hound and Snagglepuss are the honorees."

Which had Huckleberry asking Peter what we were being honoured for, to begin with.

"If I could just let Hokey explain," Peter remarked. Then to Hokey:

"You see, boys, the Peter Potamus Magic Divers have chosen to initiate you into Honourary Membership of our diving circle, a part of our madcap little dive experience! Which will no doubt allow you, if you so desire, access to our diving adventures, as if Snagglepuss wasn't something of a diving addict in his own way!"

Which had yours truly noting that winter at the La Jolla diving compound for the group, as well as a few days with Peter at a remote Polynesian atoll via the Magic Balloon and return--"Oh yeah, Snagglepuss; now that you mention it," Peter responded, "wasn't that atoll especially fascinating from a diving standpoint?"

"Heavens to Cousteau!" saith I. "And what about our times in the Florida Keys over the last couple of winters, including that excursion to Theater of the Sea to illustrate why places of that ilk aren't exactly the best for swimming among dolphins?!"

"Thank you for reminding me!" Peter remarked. Continuing:

"Now, as for the locale: There happens to be a rather charming lake up by Stillwater, Minnesota called Square Lake, which happens to be popular among Midwestern divers for its sheer clarity. Its depth averages about 30-40 feet, with its deepest spot 68 feet below the surface. And such is where I plan to hold our underwater initiation and welcome ceremony with our diving troupe!"

"It's certainly glad," Wally Gator observed, "to get back underwater in the dive getup, don't you know--even if such is in such an esoteric place such as Minnesota. But believe you me, such is bound to beat that kiddy pool I was given at the City Zoo under Mr. Twiddles, until he lost his memory and the zoo started falling apart!"

"Oh, and let's not forget," Hokey Wolf added, "when we were diving Lake Minnetonka for our TV series!" To which Peter thanked Hokey for that little aide-memoire there.

Over some buffalo burgers in the Western Art Gallery Cafe did the conversation and the planning continue--and for some reason, Augie Doggie found the buffalo burger rather intriguing, if the taste was a little different than hamburger. As did your correspondent.

At any rate, we were somewhat stunned to find Peter Potamus' Magic Balloon in one of Wall's several backstreet parking lots for the benefit of Wall Drug visitors, to which Wally, Squiddly, Hokey and Ding repaired to with Peter as a sort of "advance party" for the Square Lake ceremony. Peter mentioned that he'd be calling the other members of the troupe to have them be ready to assemble at Square Lake Park in a couple days' time, he'd supply the gear and all that....

"Golly, Snag," Chuckleberry remarked. "Now that's going to be an experience, even if it means travelling for a couple of days out via I-90 for the most part!" Enough to inspire us to get our trusty Thermos bottles and fill up with Wall Drug's legendary 5-cent coffee. Which, even for a Thermos bottle, was quite the bargain.

And just hope for the best all the way for the next 550 miles or so.

@warnerbrosentertainment @haiyis-dark-void @theweekenddigest @xdiver71 @archive-archives @thebigdingle @screamingtoosoftly @princessgalaxy505 @themineralyoucrave @thylordshipofbutts @warnerbros-blog1 @restroom @jellystone-enjoyer @joey-gatorman @warnerbrosent-blog

#hanna barbera #fanfiction #fanfic #postcards from snagglepuss #road trip experience #motorhome #wall drug store #free ice water #unlikely encounter #augie doggie and doggie daddy #wally gator #hokey wolf and ding a ling #peter potamus #upcoming gathering #onlyinmn #hannabarberaforever

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werechicken · 9 months

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tell me abt,,,,, ur fursoner

Hooo howdy did you open the floodgates:

The fursona depicted in the icon is my werechicken, Perdue. She claims she was cursed by Baba Yaga in a Krogers parking lot but actually she got that way by making a party drink out of werewolf blood and Nesquik which interacted with all the hot wings in her stomach and now she’s a werechicken and can’t change back. She can’t run very good, but she can punch really hard, jump really high, and lay lots of eggs every now and then, also a healing factor. Eating one gives the imbiber some of her healing factor for an hour as well. She has a set of different hoodies that have words that telegraph her mood, and she’s banned from most grocery stores because she tried to sell her own eggs without a commercial liscence. The eggs always seem to carry an eerie warmth.

Other fursonas include:

Cannabun: Croyd, a rabbit who got in a car accident and the presiding surgeon was a wolf who, as a joke, replaced their GI tract, lower jaw, left eye, and left adrenal gland of a cat. The poor thing is strung on immunosuppressants while being forced to eat live meals, and doesn’t have a good, long life after.

Gutslut: a calico rabbit named Narcisse who crushed on pred types and thinks of them as walking embodiments of transcendentalist poetry. Gets flustered when a pred opens their mouth near her faaaace, and may have a death wish.

Azra: a dull gold freshwater mermaid that lives in lakes and devours swimmers, but is very polite and has to reset her jaw to speak when being rudely interrupted. Will often abandon eating someone if they can interrupt her by speaking to them enough, forcing her to reset her jaw one time too many and making her mouth sore. (Screaming does not count, be calm and ask questions).

Esther Bonnie: a human turned into a rabbit like fairy by a cadre of faerie hunters who ate her name and flensed her skin off in chunks, sewing the pelt of her predecessor to her steaming meat and turning her into a rabbit girl, and forcing her to be Quarry for their hunting ritual. After a decade of being chased, killed, and revived and chased again. she tricked them into letting her go and “giving her a year and a days head start” as a means of making the most challenging Hunt. Now she’s back on Earth and trying to is absolutely lazy to make up for being made to run for ten long-ass years. She has vague memories of being a drummer in a band and her favorite video game was the missle command cabinet at the pizza place she frequented. Is absolutely clueless of all technological advances from the last 40 years (abducted in 1987, faerie time stretched ten years over 40).

There are others, including a werewolf named The Blue Devil whose fur is that comic book blackish blue coloration, and a vampire who just casually eats people as friendly as you please.

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rabbitcruiser · 4 months

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(California) Western Monarch Day

California Western Monarch Day, known informally as Western Monarch Day, was established by the California State Legislature in 2004. The day celebrates the annual migration of the Western monarch butterfly during the winter months—from about October through March—to California's central coast, the only major overwintering spot in the world for the butterflies. The holiday was established with the understanding that it would positively impact tourism and educational programs. Indeed, many visitors come to the area during the migration, boosting tourism at a time of the year when it is otherwise sluggish.

Events are held around the state of California on the day or on a nearby date. In past years, an event has been held at the Mile Square Regional Park in Fountain Valley, California; a "citizen science butterfly count" led by the Irvine Ranch Conservancy has been held at the nearby Limestone Canyon, and the largest celebration in the state has been held at the Pismo Beach State Monarch Butterfly Grove in Pismo Beach. One of the most popular destinations for butterflies in the state, and one of the largest butterfly colonies in North America, Pismo Beach regularly has over 20,000 monarch butterflies clustering in its tall eucalyptus trees.

In addition to Pismo Beach, monarch butterfly groves can also be found in Nipomo, Los Osos, and Morro Bay. In Nipomo, at the Monarch Dunes Butterfly Habitat, up to 60,000 monarchs visit each winter, and make their homes in a grove of blue gum eucalyptus trees. There are two groves in Los Osos: Monarch Grove Natural Area and Sweet Springs Nature Preserve. Monarch Grove Natural Area is made up of 18 acres and is located at the end of Monarch Lane. Sweet Springs Nature Preserve is made up of 24 acres and is located on the Morro Bay estuary. It has been managed by the Morro Coast Audubon Society since 1989. In nearby Morro Bay, Morro Bay Golf Course Monarch Butterfly Grove can be found at the center of Morro Bay Golf Course. Monarchs sometimes come to the grove of eucalyptus trees by as early as August and cluster themselves low on the branches.

As monarchs can't survive cold northern climates, they migrate to warmer climates, sometimes traveling a distance of over 1,000 miles. One of the only insects that migrate, they do so twice a year—like birds do—traveling to a warmer climate and then back again. Western monarchs live west of the Rockies. During the summer months, they can be found in canyons or near rivers in the West, Southwest, and inland in states from California all the way up to British Columbia. A few can be found on the coastal Pacific Northwest as well. Numbering in the tens of thousands, they migrate west and south, mainly nesting in California's central coast. Eastern monarchs, which far outnumber their Western counterparts, live east of the Rockies and migrate south to the high mountains of central Mexico. Monarchs can also be found in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, New Zealand, and on some islands in the Caribbean; those butterflies do not migrate.

Monarchs start as caterpillars. They subsist only on milkweed, a plant that produces glycoside toxins. The caterpillars are immune to the toxins, but predators are not, and are deterred from feasting on the caterpillars because the toxins get stored up in the caterpillars' bodies and make them taste bad. The caterpillars grow and molt for two weeks, form a chrysalis in which they complete metamorphosis, and turn into butterflies. As butterflies, the toxins are still in their systems, still protecting them.

Most adult butterflies only live for a few weeks. During that time, they subsist on nectar from many kinds of plants, search for mates, and look for milkweed on which to lay their eggs. The last generation of monarchs hatch in late summer, and they may live as long as eight months. They don't reach sexual maturity right away and instead make the fall migration. Despite never making the journey before, they know exactly where to go. They remain inactive during the coldest months, but around March, they become sexually mature and then mate. They die soon afterward, and their offspring finish the migration back north.

Between the 1990s and the end of the 2010s, the monarch population declined by about 90 percent, largely on account of habitat fragmentation and loss. Both urban development and intensive agriculture took a toll on habitats. In addition, herbicides killed the milkweed and nectar plants the butterflies feed off of, and insecticides killed the monarchs themselves. Lastly, climate change altered weather patterns and the timing of migration. Because of the drop in monarch numbers, it seems all the more pressing to have a holiday dedicated to them and to the beauty and the mystery of their yearly migration.

How to Observe California Western Monarch Day

Many events are held on or around the date and can be attended if you are able to travel to California. You could check to see if an event is being held at Mile Square Regional Park in Fountain Valley, where in past years butterfly experts have educated and answered questions, and native plants have been available to plant. You could see if the Irvine Ranch Conservancy is hosting a "citizen science butterfly count" at Limestone Canyon. The best place to go for an event is Pismo Beach State Monarch Butterfly Grove in Pismo Beach (the event may be held on a nearby Saturday). At this event, there are butterfly talks and educational booths for adults, and art activities for children. The biggest part of it, of course, are the thousands of monarchs that can be seen hanging in clusters from eucalyptus and pine trees. The grove usually opens in October and stays open throughout the month of February, and docents can be found giving daily talks. You could also visit other butterfly groves today, such as the Monarch Dunes Butterfly Grove in Nipomo, the Monarch Grove Natural Area or Sweet Springs Nature Preserve in Los Osos, or the butterfly grove in the Morro Bay Golf Course. If you can't travel to California, there are still ways you can celebrate. You could take part in the National Wildlife Federation's Garden for Wildlife program, and plant a habitat garden with milkweed and nectar plants for returning monarchs to enjoy. Planting locally native species of plants is the best. Look over some regional guides so you know what to plant in the area you live. You could take part in Butterfly Heroes, another program of the National Wildlife Federation, which is designed to help kids and families raise awareness about declining populations, and to help them to get involved in helping monarchs and other butterflies. The National Wildlife Federation is working to save and restore monarch habitats, and more could be learned about it. You could also learn about the number of Western monarchs in California with Western Monarch Count, encourage your mayor to take the Mayors' Monarch Pledge, or could watch a documentary about monarch migration.

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