#it was one of the first book purchases i made during quarantine. like i bought that and crush by richard siken.

[essektheylyss]

I'm not gonna lie, the Trigun-Time War developments are so funny to me because I'm just like, "what do you mean everyone and their mom who existed on the internet in 2020 (aka the entire world) hasn't read This Is How You Lose The Time War."

#yeah yeah my experiences are not universal and i understand that but like. god that book was EVERYWHERE for a few months during quarantine #it was one of the first book purchases i made during quarantine. like i bought that and crush by richard siken. #that's how ubiquitous time war was for a minute. that i fully had it on the same level in my mind as richard siken poetry #and obvs richard siken is not as ubiquitous as tumblr would imagine (even on Tumblr) but in terms of fandom and being chronically online #but yeah to be clear I'm not actually judging hence why this is not rebloggablr but it is just very funny to me #like even people who havent read in my experience know what it is #but i do tend to hang with people who are like. aware of things generally lol

[prosopopeya]

New Year’s Meme

this survey has been a tradition among my friend group for YEARS, but i haven’t filled it out since 2015 apparently. i’m not entirely sure why except 2016 was the year a lot of stuff changed for me, namely in that i finally got out of school in some form and started a new job, but i also had a few health problems that kept plaguing me (thyroid medicine being off, vitamin d) and my anxiety was all over the place. so here we go i’m doing it again and feel free to do it too if you want!!

1. What did you do in 2020 that you’d never done before? tried on wedding dresses. taught virtually. dealt (poorly) with drunk teenagers. performed in a pep rally. wore face masks all the time. i’m going to lump in living with someone. jon moved in october 2019, but i don’t think i did this quiz last year so. taught ap.

2. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions and will you make more for next year? i don’t really like resolutions. they put too much pressure on me and i am a fragile person when it comes to setting expectations and living up to them. i did want to try to read more this year, and i maintained that until the pandemic, and then just kind of gave up requiring myself to do anything but live.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? i don’t think so. a coworker did.

4. Did anyone close to you die? jon’s cousin committed suicide in march or april. the circumstances were pretty upsetting. um. andy died in february, very suddenly. andy was my high school boyfriend for four years with whom i had a very... he scarred me in a lot of ways when it comes to sex and consent. it’s taken me a long time to unpack all of that. and i struggle with how much any of that was his fault or just bc he was a stupid kid too. our mutual friends had nothing but nice things to say about him on fb. anyway. he would guilt me into saying he’d kill himself if we broke up, and jon’s cousin killed himself over his girlfriend. so that was a complex part of the year.

5. What countries did you visit? none. literally the week before the quarantine, we went to asheville to visit jon’s cousin.

6. What would you like to have in 2021 that you lacked in 2020? maybe a different job? or at least some peace at doing mine.

7. What date from 2020 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? march 13 we cancelled classes and had a technology training day; the 15th we had another one, and then we were virtual the rest of the term. it was such a sudden shift and while i so loved working from home tbh, it was such a relief after a supremely shitty january/february work-wise, i still had a lot of keyed-up, stressful days centered around transitioning to being the senior upper school spanish teacher. i hate it!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? writing 50k in the month of november. i have literally never done that before and actively reject nano as being typically unhealthy for how my mind works, so it was nice to do it entirely by accident.

9. What was your biggest failure? mishandling the drunken teenagers on that field trip in january.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? i sit crosslegged in my virtual teaching chair and i did it so much that my ankle hurt for the entire summer.

11. What was the best thing you bought? we put a deposit on our elopement in ireland. jon’s wedding ring. (i didn’t buy my wedding dress.)

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? my best friend at work who keeps me sane and is represented by benny in my au, which other than the fact that he is not my sidepiece, is perfect he is crucial to my survival at work and i love him so much. (also he is gay and the french teacher so the benny parallels just keep coming). everyone who tore down a statue in virginia (and other places, but especially monument avenue). everyone putting their lives on the line during this pandemic.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? guess! but aside from all the obvious, i found out a friend of mine at work voted for trump. my work bff and i had been trying for years to sway his politics, but that had us both deciding to give up on him.

14. Where did most of your money go?  food, ALCOHOL. god., our savings account. i did a pretty excellent job saving this year, though a good deal of that is because jon moved in and makes more money than me, and also we split all the bills.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? my wedding dress but strangely only when i went to try it on after it came in bc after the purchase i was so sure i’d made every mistake possible. my wedding band. wellbutrin changing my whole life. and, last but certainly not least, the gay angel and the bi(lingual) hunter. i wouldn’t have survived nov-dec in school without that distraction. the election.

16. What song(s) will always remind you of 2020? the entirety of taylor swift’s oeuvre this year, maybe specifically “this is me trying”

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:  i. Happier or sadder? happier, i suppose, perhaps contrary to what should be the case, but wellbutrin is a hell of a drug. ii. Older or wiser? wiser. ii. Richer or poorer? richer.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? reading. cleaning. exercising.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? stressing. chaperoning.

20. How will you be spending Christmas? so, an update; last year was the first year i didn’t go to my mom’s for christmas. i was supposed to see her for thanksgiving last year, but she basically told us not to come bc she wasn’t feeling up to it (cool!), and we went to jon’s for christmas and my mom’s for new year’s. 

this year, obviously we couldn’t go to my mom’s. instead, we rented a little cabin by the lake. it was perfect; it was really really nice inside, the beds were SO SOFT, the pillows were the best things i have ever laid my head on, like i took off the pillowcases to try to find the brand. we had a little tiny christmas tree with tiny ornaments from walmart that we decorated. the 23rd, we went and picked up our wedding bands. we slept two nights in the (cold) back bedroom so i could wake up and look out at the lake. it snowed for christmas. :)

we opened presents on christmas eve, per jon’s family’s tradition. on christmas eve, we also went to his family farm and sat outside and hung out a little. every year his family does like a secret santa sort of thing and i got my first present in that exchange, which is notable bc jon and i are not yet officially married. i got a remote control car -- jon’s idea bc i couldn’t think of anything, and he was so delighted to hear that i loved playing with rc cars when we went to the beach as a kid.

christmas morning we facetimed my parents and opened some presents together. then jon and i marathoned mandalorian (after spending the previous few days watching several die hard movies), and then we watched wonder woman 1984 which was a bad movie.

21. How will you be spending New Year’s Eve? ok LAST year for new year’s, we were in a hotel room, so that was nice, bc it meant minimal stress with my parents. i had always wanted to go to this restaurant near us that has a special new year’s menu, so we did that. the night before or after i think we went to cheesecake factory, which was also amazing.

this year currently i’m tumbling and he’s playing pokemon, and in a bit we’ll try to time it so we finish schitt’s creek in time for the new year.

22. Did you fall in love in 2020? i re-fell in love with supernatural so that was nice.

23. How many one-night stands? 0. i submit we should randomly change question 23 each year to something more relevant to any of our life experiences.

24. What was your favorite TV program? what did i even watch this year. schitt’s creek. mandalorian. i mean obviously we know supernatural. the circle. are you the one (the queer season). pose. unsolved mysteries. we’re here! perry mason. watchmen. oh maybe that mcdonald’s monopoly fraud documentary. avenue 5. i’ll be gone in the dark. of those i think my favorite maybe is... pose or we’re here.

OKAY UM. on my 2014 version of this there were a bunch of questions about tv shows that i’m putting back in if only for the memories:

25. Which TV shows did you start watching in 2020? the haunting of bly manor, which we still need to finish. derry girls.

26. Which TV shows did you let go of in 2020? HERE’S WHY I WANTED TO RESURRECT THESE. here was my answer in 2015: “supernatural. goodbye, my sweet prince.” CAN YOU EVEN FUCKING BELIEVE

27. Which TV shows did you mean to get into but didn’t in 2020? Why? so far, queen’s gambit and that one on hulu with catherine the great. EVENTUALLY. 28. Which TV shows do you intend on checking out in 2020? fleabag. queen’s gambit. 29. Which TV show do you think you might let go of in 2020 unless things significantly improve? idk i drop things pretty regularly if they don’t entertain me 30. Which TV show impressed you least in 2020? GUYS HERE’S MY ORIGINAL 2015 ANSWER: “supernatural. :(”

anyway back to the rest of the quiz:

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? every person who refuses to listen to facts and information.

26. What was the best book you read? killers of the flower moon: the osage murders and the birth of the fbi, or the his dark materials series.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery? well i knew about tswift so i’m not going to count her albums. i will count this song that jon played for me once in the car that got stuck in my head for two weeks straight and led me down into a great related-songs spotify playlist: through the roof ‘n underground.

28. What did you want and get? a wedding dress and a very specific kind of wedding band. a gay angel. a christmas getaway. animal crossing.

29. What was your favorite film of this year? idk i don’t know how many films i saw this year. maybe mucho mucho amor: the legend of walter mercado

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? i was 32. we went to an escape room with a BUNCH of people -- work bff, my old work bff and his wife (old bc he quit and we’ve fallen out of touch :(), the cool new physics teacher and his fiancee, and the aforementioned trump voter and his wife, before we knew... we went out for brunch/lunch after. it was pretty great!

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? not having to chaperone that school trip in january. dean being bi in english as well as spanish. cas just ilke, appearing in 15x20. not having to physically go back to work this fall.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2020? no! real! pants!

34. What kept you sane? jon. supernatural (in a way?). animal crossing for a while. wellbutrin! i haven’t really been able to detail this yet, but finally i did something about tumblr and my therapist making me think about adhd. my doctor gave me wellbutrin (bc i lack any official diagnosis and was on anxiety meds anyway, and he was like let’s try this!) and it’s fucking. it’s a fucking godsend. surprisingly enough, my students. trying to provide them a safe space has been a calming thing for me.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? jensen ackles’ silence. misha collins again, i guess.

36. What political issue stirred you the most? the summer was so fucking intense. i guess though it was me trying to exert my influence in a responsible way with my students without trying to try to make them feel uncomfortable but then one kid was a vocally upset trump supporter after the election and i had to try to defuse that situation.

37. Who did you miss? my old work bff. several old friends that i’ve fallen out of touch with bc i have no object permanence.

38. Who was the best new person you met? people i met through the spn resurgence!

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2020: if you manifest it in an au, it will come. no really though. maybe that expectations are only as important as i make them out to be.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: usually i have a hard time coming up with anything for this and i default to looking at my most played songs of the year. my most played song of the year received each and every one of its plays within the month of november and you can guess why. anyway see if this works

I had all and then most of you Some and now none of you Take me back to the night we met I don't know what I'm supposed to do Haunted by the ghost of you Take me back to the night we met - the night we met, lord huron

#happy new year #annual meme

[frenchibi]

hey, so i thought maybe you could tell us a little what you're currently interested in? ♥ like, what have you been doing during quarantine, are there any new shows you watched that you enjoyed a lot, did you maybe take up a new hobby or something? :)

Hello!! I did not forget this lovely message, I was just in no state to answer (who’d have thought that recovery from surgery is, y’know, taxing) BUT I’M BACK NOW and ohhhh do you know what you’ve unlocked by asking me this question...?? I cannot give you a comprehensive list but I can tell you a couple of the things that I got into during quarantine, and the things I am currently super passionate about! My memory is, uh, not great but thankfully I do journal and write down things so I am confident I can answer this for you :D (plus I do always love recommending things so - aaa??? Thank you for this ask????)

Putting things under a cut because I physically cannot chill but if tl;dr I want you to take away one thing from this it’s that everyone should read Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir. Thoughts below.

(Also. I would love to go off about my interests more on here but am not sure what... shape that should ideally take? Text posts? IDK pls give me suggestions, help me out?? dfhasjkldf)

Movies

I have not seen many, but I can and will scream about The Old Guard over and over because... it was everything I never knew I needed in an action movie?? I don’t reblog many things about it anymore but I love love LOVED it!!

Also, upon recommendation by one of my friends from India, I have been delving into the world of Bollywood movies and WOW Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara was so fucking good??? idk if it’s on Netflix in every country but it is in mine and I highly recommend it. It’s thoughtful, honest, emotional and shot absolutely gorgeously, and it also has that cheesiness that is just... so good... sometimes you just need the cheese y’know???

(Side note, 2020 was the year I saw Pride and Prejudice (2005) for the first time and I am a changed woman. It is now my ultimate comfort movie. Please see it if you have not, I cannot believe it took me this long. I saw it for the first time on an airplane (in january... a lifetime ago) and have seen it many, many times since.)

TV Shows

So, to everyone’s shock but especially my own, I have not really been into TV lately? I watched The Boys because my brother recommended it (it’s good, but gorey and pulls no punches, the R rating is deserved), and recently started watching Jujutsu Kaisen because my sister recommended it (I haven’t watched a new anime in like a year which is kinda wild to me? But I am enjoying this one - the opening SLAPS and what I’ve seen so far has been fun! Plus I’m watching it with my sister and I like sending her reactions xD),,, and that’s pretty much it for this category?? I am aware there is a LOT of good shit out there I just.. .don’t seem to have the attention span for multiple episodes of a Thing these days. Meh. I’m sure it’ll come back to me eventually ^^

Musical Theater

One of the main reasons I think I haven’t been big into TV is because my Musical Passion is in FULL SWING (haha get it). Probably because the only thing that has remained for me during this quarantine is my singing lessons (and lemme tell you... over skype, that shit is ROUGH but still better than not singing at all) and I have been obsessing over learning new songs and finding shows through recommendations and compilation videos on youtube... So.

Shows I listen to a lot these days include Starry, Anastasia, The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals, Come From Away (I made a post recently specifically about musicals, you should be able to find it under #French speaks) - specific songs in my range that I am currently learning and obsessing over include “Bring on the men” from Jekyll and Hyde, “The Mad Hatter” from Wonderland, “Show Yourself” from Frozen 2 (I liked it ok I DID), and “Go Tonight” from The Mad Ones (this one makes me cry... I’m making my sister duet it with me bc I can’t stop thinking about it).

Also, if you’re interested in hearing me sing things, head over to my instagram where I post covers (and also art)!!

(Musical people, I am curious to hear opinions about Great Comet, and also The Count of Monte Cristo - two shows I’ve been meaning to check out!)

Video Games

Listen. Animal Crossing New Horizons is awesome and I’m glad I have it (...give me Brewster back, Nintendo, or I WILL RIOT), but I have been branching out into other games for the Switch (might as well make this purchase worth it amirite) - current faves include Celeste (which is SO HARD but also SO FUCKING FUN) and Spiritfarer which I specifically bought to play at the hospital bc I knew I was going to be there for a few days, and let me tell you - best decision of 2020. Please watch the trailer if you haven’t heard of it, it’s GORGEOUS and beautiful and emotional and I loved every second of it. Both of these can also be purchased for PC and I think they are definitely worth the investment!!

In other news I’m back on my Stardew Valley bullshit. It’s just so calming.I revisit it a lot lmao

Books

So... I have been reading. A LOT. I read over 70 books this year, which for me is... average tbh? I have had some less productive reading months but overall I have torn through stuff and BOY do I have recommendations if you want them?? For the sake of brevity I will only mention a few here:

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir “Lesbian necromancers explore a haunted gothic palace in space”. That is all. This was my first five star fiction book of the year and I will never be done screaming about it. There is a dedicated but smallish fandom here on tumblr and it deserves SO MUCH MORE. Please, please please. Everyone should read this damn book. It’s confusing in the beginning but I promise it’s worth it IT’S SO GOOD!! And also the sequel is out and it’s also confusing and SO GOOD!!!

Educated by Tara Westover. This is an autobiography and it’s one of those books that like. Stick in your mind for months after you’ve read it. It’s about how this woman escaped an abusive household that was religiously oppressive and also like... survivalist (prepping for the apocalypse) and avidly believed in conspiracy theories - by educating herself, working her way up to going to Harvard. Nothing I say could do the emotional impact of this book justice - and also just, the perspective this book gave me?? Incredible. Education is the most powerful tool and this woman grabbed it by the hair and did not let go and I was FLOORED. Everyone should read this. I don’t even usually read biographies but DAMN.

The Winternight trilogy by Katherine Arden.(Book 1 is called The Bear and the Nightingale). This is a bit of a slow burn type deal - it’s a retelling of a Russian fairy tale (I think?? Or like a folk... story? Something like that) and it is just. So magical. It’s not fast paced but it works up to FANTASTIC moments, the focus is on family and magic and change and “making your own way” and all three of these books were wonderful. It reminded me of Naomi Novic’s Uprooted and Spinning Silver (both of which I also loved back in 2019 and would highly recommend) and they are PERFECT winter reads if you’re looking for something to get cozy with. I liked book 1 well enough but books 2 and 3 knocked it out of the park. Fantastic. Loved them.

I have many more recs but this will do for now hahah

Music

Gonna keep this brief too - my music taste is all over the place, but here are some songs I have been obsessed with recently!! Beware of genre whiplash though because these are Very Different from one another (and different from the musical theater stuff above)

Factories - Autoheart (that bridge gets me every time, idk why. This is one I could have on repeat for hours and not get tired of it either. Something about it just gets me!!)

History Read - The Altogether (The lyrics!! Tbh the entire Silo album is GREAT, but this one is my fave. Their music is so... mellow, in the best way??)

Weather Man - Valley of Wolves (ok this one is just a banger. I’m a sucker for a good sing-along-able hook (that’s not a word. you get me though right) and this fucking DELIVERS. I also just think “I make these dark skies blue, I make these mountains move, let the rain come down, I’m pushing through.... [pause] ... ‘cause I’m the weather man” is such good execution of a concept?? That PAUSE GETS ME it’s just SO FUN?!?! idk man I like a good upbeat banger and this is that.)

I believe (get over yourself) - Nico Vega (this one is just a callout at myself tbh?? “you’re a fool” I AM and I needed to hear it?? It’s also SO FUN to sing!!! We love a banger.)

Kiss me you animal - Burn the Ballroom (mentioning this mainly because it reminded me, lyrically, of Gideon the Ninth and I need someone to confirm this for me before I go insane?? “everybody knows that home is where your teeth sink, love” - I mean c’mon??? Also it’s a banger. I do like some rock from time to time... and this also has a killer driving bassline. This is super fun to drive to, too!!)

((If we have overlap and anyone wants to exchange playlists with me - I am SO here for it. Always looking for new music!!! I mean it!!))

Youtube

Last and certainly not least... meet my newest hyperfixation!!! I have always loved watching video essays, and booktube videos, and arttube videos - and my current niche of favorite creators is the Polygon video team!! They made videos about video games and board games and anything gaming-related and I just. I’m only peripherally a “gamer(TM)” but I love anything and everything they create. (Also you don’t have to know much about video games to enjoy all of their content!! A lot of it is still accessible to Non-Gamers(TM) or casual gamers!) BDG is my new favorite creator, the Unraveled series he does on the channel is a work of genius - but I have also started watching their streams and older series and I am enjoying myself SO MUCH! I love boardgames so their series on them, Overboard, is so fun and entertaining (and I already know a bunch of games I want to buy based on seeing the gameplay), and it also made me invested in the other creators - particularly Simone, I would die for Simone?? And Pat? And Jenna? They each have their niche and they work really well together too and their videos are my Main Serotonin Machine in these trying times(TM), thank you for coming to my TED talk.

Also. If you’re already following me here and you are familiar with Polygon things I BEG YOU TO COME AND TALK TO ME ABOUT THEM because I am like, bursting, but I also don’t want to flood my dash with stuff that 99% of my followers are unfamiliar with y’know??

...I think I’m going to leave it at this - it’s already a lot!

But thank you once again for asking and for letting me Go Off about things I am interested in!! I just... I very often wish I could do this more, but I’m not sure how to go about it? Should I just do text posts about things?? Would that be interesting to anyone?? Or is that like, annoying? Should I start a review blog or something? dhfajkldhf I just want to talk about things that excite me, but whenever I’m here I often just stick to reblogging other people’s stuff... help?? What do y’all want to see??

#French speaks #rec #media recs #book rec #thank you so much for this seriously

[sillymagicmaker]

I'm taking a dark moon ritual bath right now.

I'm listening to this:

I have been meditating on what I want to achieve during this moon cycle, and I have a hard time remembering things, even long enough to think about them.

I keep slipping into normal meditation where my mind becomes perfectly clear. Its wonderful. I love it.

But its a dark moon! Time for the new to come!

So, financially, in the past month I've managed to survive my job without killing myself. I feel that is a major accomplishment. I have also paid off school and began paying back my mom the loan she gave me. I bought my first stock.

Financially, during this moon, I would like to put a little bit of money into the stock market and research which cannabis stocks I want to invest in. I feel that there is a great deal of long term money to come in investing in cannabis. I also would like to continue paying back my mom, purchase my text book(s) for my school this semester, and buy the materials I need to craft a pillow shelf.

Health speaking, during the last few moon cycles I have been doing tarot readings to attain peace. For the most part, this has severely impacted my mental health for the better. This has been the most effective method in dealing with my anxiety ive discovered so far. I also started only eating half portions of foods during my meals due to feeling sick after eating anything more than that.

Health speaking, I want to find insurance within this moon cycle. I am currently unable to go to the doctor due to having no health insurance. I would also like to find a video editing job to replace my current one so that I stop feeling so suicidal.

Socially speaking, I made a new friend in the last moon cycle. He is a coworker of mine, and it feels really good to have such a considerate and kind person at work. We went to get boba tea after work together and I'd really like to invite him to do that again.

Socially speaking, I have a vaccine appointment. Its only the first dose, but its one step closer to visiting some of my loved ones that are immunocompromised. I may not be able to visit them this moon cycle, but its a step forward. I would also like to record the first episode of my new YouTube channel, with the help of the people on my quarantine boat.

Spiritually, in the last moon cycle, I celebrated the full moon for the first time in years. I created a way of tracking the moon cycle and upcoming holidays that way I can further my spirituality. I also have become way more in practice with my tarot cards than I used to be. Spiritually and mental health really tie together well for me.

Spiritually, I would like to complete all 4 spells on my list from the other day. I also would like to research and celebrate Imbolc. I haven't done it solitary since high school, so I need a refresher. I would also like to research the full moon and consider what kind of ritual ill be doing this moon cycle. My friend also thought my drawing of the goddess I met looked like Nyx, so I want to look into her to see if my friend is right or not about her identity. I feel like my spiritual goals are rather hefty, so perhaps just completing some of these would be okay.

On YouTube, in the past moon cycle, I released the first song that I've released in years. I also have had wonderful ideas for a new upcoming channel.

This moon cycle, I want to record the first episode of my new channel, and release at least 2 other YouTube videos for my animal crossing channel.

I know I never complete every goal I set, but I do look forward to trying my best to complete as many as I can. This is what I want to do.

#witchcraft #witches #witchy #witch #witchlife #witches of tumblr #meditation music #meditation #meditative #goals #dark moon #new moon #dark moon ritual #new moon ritual #dark moon bath #new moon bath #ritual bath #Youtube

[bomberqueen17]

sugarspiceandcursewords replied to your photo “Listen I didn’t have very much stationery hoarded after all so we’re...”

This is fantastic and I may steal your idea.

I think it’s a fantastic trend! Like... just cross out the weird greeting and go for it. I decided in mine it was funnier to write “pandemic” than “quarantine” where it had said “holiday” but the one set of cards says “This holiday season, it’s all about going to parties” and I’m not even sure where to start so I’ve just been leaving it and drawing a line around it and being like “OK hilarious”. 

clotpoleofthelord replied to your post “ancient sea update”

loved this chapter. It made me cry into my muffin.

Aww, I didn’t intend for it to be a tearjerker-- but also, I got your card, and yes it got glitter everywhere, and no I don’t care, but I think this means we’re idea twins or maybe you came up with this first because that is really a beautiful holiday card. Anyway, I hope this is the trend the history books pick up on, because I think it’s hilarious and obviously isn’t a huge leap for most people to come up with. 

Spontaneously, most of the Western world started sending one another repurposed holiday cards during the quarantine, because it was no longer a custom for people to keep large stocks of stationery in their homes apart from holiday cards bought on clearance or just in case.

Apropos of neither of these replies, I stopped by my workplace yesterday to grab my paycheck, and the other guy in my department was there-- the online department is still technically operating-- and he was flustered and exhausted because for some reason over the weekend Amazon had turned off their own listings, and had let everyone shopping purchase the independent sellers on the site’s listings instead, and that meant that he, by himself with no warehouse employees working, suddenly had peak christmas-season level orders to process with no warning? And then I saw a post that Amazon warehouse workers were on strike.

So that’s why. Amazon turned off the orders going to their warehouses to cut down on the influence of the strike, making all their independent sellers into scabs, and when those independent sellers aren’t prepared for the huge influx of orders, it’ll reflect poorly on those sellers’ metrics instead of their own. (Two months ago they stopped removing poor service reviews from Amazon warehouse-fulfilled orders-- the reviews complaining of being sent the wrong item etc., on things that we independent sellers had pre-sent to the Amazon warehouse? Those would be the fault of the Amazon workers picking and packing those items, not the independent seller who owned the item, right? But poor reviews de-rank a seller in the algorithm and can lead to them being entirely removed. Sellers are motivated not to make mistakes picking orders because of that, but Amazon’s warehouse workers have literally no connection to the independent sellers. In the past, Amazon would remove the reviews that were for things that clearly weren’t the sellers’ fault, but now they don’t anymore and it’s just tough luck. So we’re always on the verge of falling out the bottom of the algorithm due to circumstances beyond our control, and now they’re using that same algorithm against us by just not taking orders while they’re overwhelmed. A seller doesn’t have that same option-- we’d have to turn off our listings individually.)

Anyway. Amazon is a fuck, please don’t keep shopping there. 

#clotpoleofthelord #sugarspiceandcursewords #amazon #fuckery #that quarantine life

[hannahchuu]

I was tagged by @makeitpoppy 💕😍

Are you staying at home from work/school?

So, I haven't been to work since beginning of March but I have to go back there next week (for now it's just a meeting bc I'm working in a hotel & my schedule depends on the amount of guests we have). I've been really happy about that tho bc I still get paid & just before the pandemic happend, I got really overwhelmed by my work & started to hate it a lot. I also had some issues with a colleague & I dread having to see her again. I had really wished that I wouldn't have to go back there anytime soon.

University has also been cancelled after only one regular week & I only have online classes now. Tbf tho, I would've only had one class overall this semester bc I'm in my last semester of university & only my master's thesis is left. My only class is a Japanese conversation class, which is online now & I'm really struggling with the format lol. It's so odd to have to talk to people when you can't see them & half the time you also can't hear them properly.

As for my master's thesis...at first I was fine with quarantine & uni being cancelled bc I thought it'd give me time to focus on my thesis but unexpectedly libraries also closed for two months & I wasn't able to get any books until beginning of May. So I basically didn't do anything at home ahaha.

If you’re at home, who is there with you?

No one. My mum used to be there occasionally but she has since gone to her boyfriend's house and rarely ever comes. (Which is totally fine btw. She really stresses me out lol)

Do you have pets to keep you company?

No 💔

Who do you miss the most?

I have social anxiety so I'm actually quite happy about not having to see anyone. I also feel like I talk (via phone) to my friends & family way more often now. I do however, miss certain activities like going shopping with my friends. Oh & hugs! I also miss my sister & her girlfriend bc it's always fun being around them. And I miss the people in my Japanese class. Online classes really take away the social aspects of it (Like talking with people before & after).

When was the last time you left your home?

Yesterday! I went to the supermarket bc my fridge was v v empty. The last time I left to go somewhere else was last Thursday when I went to the library.

What was the last thing you bought?

The last thing I bought in person was food. Last online purchase were face masks (as in sheet masks) ahaha.

Is quarantine driving you insane or are you finally relaxed?

I'm sort of relaxed? Like more relaxed than usual I think. I'm a bit stressed out about my future bc I'm right at the end of my university education & I actually planned to finish my thesis & get a full-time job by the end of the year but I'm not sure whether there will still be jobs or job interviews ahahah. My thesis also stresses me out a bit. But I think all of this would've also stressed me out w/o quarantine so overall I'm relaxed. I'm getting stressed out by the prospect of going back to work tho.

Are you a homebody?

Yessssss

What movies have you watched recently?

So I was planning on watching tons of films during quarantine but I haven't watched any so far ahahah

I mainly watch anime & YouTube

An event you were looking forward to that got cancelled?

Two anime conventions I've been going to religiously with my friends T_T

What’s the worst thing you’ve had to cancel?

My Japan trip. It would've been my very first trip to Japan but a week before we were due to leave Austria issued a travel warning for all countries. Later on all tourists arriving in Japan also had to quarantine themselves for 2 weeks. I was super upset about having to cancel it but also sort of relieved bc I wouldn't have wanted to go there in the middle of a pandemic. I also got all of my money refunded so yay.

What’s the best thing you had to cancel?

Any kind of social interaction and work ahahhahaha

Do you have any new hobbies?

Not really. Before I started working on my thesis, I studied Japanese more frequently but that's about it.

What are you out of?

Skincare! I put off ordering any new items bc I was supposed to go to Japan & I thought I could just buy everything there. Well, now I'm out of toner, essence, a good cleanser and face masks :(( I ended up ordering more at the end of March but my order still hasn't arrived yet (It's stuck at customs T____T)

What music are you listening to?

Mainly German Hip-Hop ahahah

What shows are you watching?

Soooo, I've literally watched 7 anime series so far:

Chobits

Kimagure Orange Road

Yuru Camp (my favourite)

Sabagebu!

Citrus

Fullmetal Alchemist

Asobi Asobase

So yeah, quite productive! I gotta focus on my thesis now tho so I’ve only been sporadically watching Ojamajo Doremi.

What are you reading?

My only goal for this quarantine was to finally read all of the books that have been piling up on my bedside table, which I did yay

I've read The Scarlet Letter, The Sailor Who Fell From Grace with the Sea (I recommend), The Moon over the Mountain, UFO In Her Eyes (I can also recommend) & In Dreams Begin Responsibilities and Other Stories.

I got 3 more books for my birthday (Poems To Fix A Fucked Up World, Japanese Tales of Mystery and Imagination & Roadqueen), which I haven't gotten around to reading yet.

What are you doing for self care?

Taking long baths & reading in the bath tub 💕 I also apply lash serum, a lip mask & body lotion every night.

Are you exercising?

Yes! I actually started exercising everyday in September & I'm still doing it yay

How’s your toilet paper supply?

I still have enough left ahahah I was supposed to be quarantined w my mum but I ended up being by myself & I don’t need a lot.

Have you made any changes to your hair?

Not yet. I've been considering getting bangs & the only thing that (luckily) is stopping me is that one tumblr post that's like you don't need bangs! you need therapy!!!!

I tag @lunarix @swaddle @motherfuckinbuddha @ive-beendreaming​ @kaizoku​ @piggiechi​ @regenbogen-flummi​ @misodelivery​ @vroomkat​ @zyphyyr​ @my-selfish-love @giantoflight @frillypinkdreams @catpacks @cupidie @emograntaire @sugarmickey @bubbleteaboy & everyone else who wants to do this

#text #personal #i'm so bad at tagging ppl lol #i literally just tagged my mutuals

[greeniezona]

This #bookhaul is fully ridiculous, especially considering how little reading I’ve been getting done. Sometimes I go to the bookstore and can barely commit to a single book. Today was not one of those days. . . Actually, I went to pick up the book from my #witmonth book exchange, got immersed in shopping, then left without picking up the book. I guess I will have to go back in a few days? I did made a few other witmonth selections, though — THE CHANDELIER by Clarice Lispector, and HAPPINESS, AS SUCH by Natalia Ginzburg. Funnily enough, I think I bought my first book by both of them during last year’s Women in Translation month. . . I have been super into baking doughnuts lately, and have been plowing through random recipes on Pinterest, so this DOUGHNUTS cookbook seemed like the obvious next step. . . Pretty much everything else was an impulse purchase. It was my first post-quarantine bookstore trip without my kids, and I guess I got a little carried away. But I had been waiting for THE DEEP to come out in paperback, and my cousin had just been telling me how mush she loved GAUDY NIGHT. And I have heard so many good things about MEM, finding a used copy in such good condition was a delight. And SHAME was maybe because this month’s read the world challenge is India. Which leaves INTIMATIONS, which I picked up because it was tiny and also Zadie Smith and it sounded fascinating. . . I need a readathon, or to declare one of my own, and soon. . . #gaudynight #dorothylsayers #zadiesmith #intimations #happinessassuch #nataliaginzburg #thechandelier #claricelispector #shame #salmanrushdie #thedeep #riverssolomon #mem #bethanycmorrow #doughnuts #laraferroni https://www.instagram.com/p/CD7SSQ3ATBH/?igshid=2vngifugj6yt

#bookhaul #witmonth #gaudynight #dorothylsayers #zadiesmith #intimations #happinessassuch #nataliaginzburg #thechandelier #claricelispector #shame #salmanrushdie #thedeep #riverssolomon #mem #bethanycmorrow #doughnuts #laraferroni

[lovemesomesurveys]

Does anyone know your bank pin number other than you? Who? My mom does.

Have you ever had a boyfriend/girlfriend who was depressed? Yeah.

Would you be able to climb out your bedroom window to sneak out? No. That would be very difficult for me to do no matter what, but to add to that my dresser and TV are in front of my window.

What would you do if you found out the last person you called was pregnant/got someone pregnant? My mom can’t get or get someone else pregnant.

Can you taste the difference between brand name food and store brand food? With certain foods, yes. 

Would you be embarrassed to buy pads/tampons/condoms? Which one more? I don’t have to buy any of those things, but I just know I would. I’m weird about that kind of stuff for some reason. If a stranger went in your bedroom, would they be able to tell what gender you are from just looking at it? I’m sure they’d guess I was a female.

Are your parents gullible? No, I wouldn’t say that. 

Do you still own a VCR? Nope. We still have our Disney VHS tapes, though.

About how much money have you spent on food in the past two weeks? The only thing I bought recently was Wingstop, which was only like $12 bucks. If you were in a car accident would the last person you kissed care? He’s not heartless, but I mean he wouldn’t rush to the hospital or anything. I doubt he’d even reach out. He probably wouldn’t even know, honestly. We haven’t talked in years.

If you were looking for a new pair of shoes where would you go? I’d go to Adidas.com

How much was the last pair of shoes you bought? I actually haven’t bought a pair of shoes myself in several years. My parents have gotten my shoes for birthdays and Christmases. Sometimes just cause. My dad is a total shoe guy himself and gets excited about buying them for my brother and I, too.

What color is the computer/laptop you’re on? Did you buy it yourself? It’s gray and I have a rose gold case on it. No, my dad bought it for me a few years ago.

Do you have a second home? No.

Would you be surprised if you saw the last person you texted smoking? That would come as a total shock. My can’t stand even being near someone smoking, so yeah. I’d be very concerned if she just picked up smoking all of a sudden.

Does the smell of cigarettes, weed and beer repulse you? The smell of cigarettes does. It actually really messes with me. I get a bad headache, feel lightheaded, and my heart rate goes up.

Was the last person you kissed younger or older than you? A year younger.

Do you think people have any misconceptions about you? Probably.

Have you ever purchased Girl Scout cookies? Yeah, many, many times. I was also a Girl Scout myself.

Do you like waffles? Yes.

Do you watch birthing videos on a day-to-day basis? I never watch birthing videos. Ew.

Do you find piercings/tattoos attractive? I don’t mind a few, but they’re not really my thijng.

Would you talk to someone you don’t know on the internet? I’ve talked to many people online. I’ve had an internet presence since like 1999. 

How often do you drink Monster? I haven’t had a Monster in like 10 years. The only energy drink I drink are Starbucks Doubleshots. I’m obsessed with the white chocolate one.

Have you ever made totally pointless videos with your friends? Yeah, a few. One of my friends and I actually had a YouTube channel lmao. We only uploaded a few videos, though. One of which was our reaction to 2 Girls 1 Cup lmao. Those videos will never see the light day again.

Do you like to buy those Warped Tour compilations? I’ve never bought one.

Do you like sitting on the inside or outside of a restaurant booth? I don’t like booths, but whenever I sit at one I just stay in my chair.

Do you own a nightgown? Nope.

Have you ever made a house out of a giant cardboard box? I don’t think so.

Have you ever made a tent out of sheets in your bedroom? Yeah. My cousins and I made forts all the time when we were kids.

Do your grandparents know how to operate a cell phone? Yeah, they each have one.

Have you ever had sex or something like it? “or something like it” lol that sounds weird. Anyway, no.

Have you ever read a George Orwell book? Nope.

Have you ever worn fishnets? Yeah.

How many piercings and tattoos do you have? Just my earlobes. No tattoos.

Is someone in your family affected by Asperger’s? Not in my immediate family. I’m not sure about my extended.  

In a hotel do you always nose through all the drawers and cupboards? Nah. 

Would you rather go out to eat or be eaten out? Uh, wow.

Do you always wear your seat belt? Always. Ya’ll better wear yours, too. 

Have you ever liked someone much older than you? Just celebrities.

Have you ever been in a play? Actually, I was in one in like the 3rd grade.

Do you have any secrets that nobody knows about? Yeah.

Is there ice cream in your freezer? I think so.

Have you ever started to laugh but played it off as a cough successfully? Haha yeah.

Have you ever liked the lyrics of a band but hated the music? Yes.

Does your bathroom have a window? Nope.

Do you go somewhere to get your eyebrows done? Nope. I only went to get my eyebrows done once, and that was when I was like 13.

When you were younger did you read the A Series Of Unfortunate Events books? Yes.

Who was the last band you saw live? Green Day.

Do you believe prayer really works? I absolutely do. That doesn’t mean it’ll happen right away or when you want it, how you want it, or even at all. But it definitely could. It might be awhile or it might happen in a way you didn’t expect. 

Are you a fan of the band Gym Class Heroes? I liked a couple of their songs.

Frosted flakes or frosted mini wheats? Both are good, but Frosted Flakes are better. They’re dare I say, grrrrrrreat.

Have you been on a date in the park? Nope.

Ever dated someone you were best friends with first? Yeah, that’s how it happened both times.

Are there any diseases/health problems that run in your family? Yes.

Do you have asthma? No. Are tongue piercings slutty? No. It’s a piercing.

Is there anybody you think is hot over the age of 40? Alexander Skarsgard.

Last person to take off your pants, besides you? Just me. Do you remember those cool highlighters that smelled like popcorn? No? I recall scented markers, but not a popcorn smelling highlighter.

Might you enjoy hanging out in the woods for day or two? No.

Have you ever written something on a bathroom stall? Nope.

Least favorite alcoholic drink? All of them. I don’t drink.

Have you ever kissed someone named Paul or Luke? Nope.

How did you meet the last male you texted? He’s my dad.

Have you ever had an embarrassing email address? Nah. I like the old email addresses I had from childhood and teen years. Especially the ones during my emo days, ha. Lots of X’s. 

Do you put shampoo in your left or right hand? Right. Do you have a bull ring through your nose? No.

Do you and your dad get along? Yeah. We’re not as close as my mom and I, but it’s not that we don’t get along. It’s just different. 

Can you see your purse right now? Yeah.

Are you wearing any perfume? What kind? No.

Are there products in your hair? No.

When you get colds, do you use nasal spray to help get your nose unstuffy? I have, but nah not usually.

Do you actually like sneezing? Uh, no. I like when it happens so the feeling of having to sneeze goes away, but not the actual sneezing itself.

Have you taken a shower yet today? Not yet.

Do you have one best friend who is always there for you? I have my family. Do you wear skirts a lot? No. I haven’t worn a skirt in years.

Do you wear sweatpants a lot? No, but I live in leggings. 

How many pairs of jeans do you think you have? I think I have 3 or 4 now. I got rid of a few pairs recently. I haven’t worn jeans in like 3 years, so.

Do you like hoodies? I love hoodies.

Big ones or the form fitting kind? I like oversized ones.

Do you wear polo shirts a lot? I don’t wear polo shirts ever.

Did you ever actually have a rubber duck? Yes.

Are you one of those people who claim to live with no regrets? Ha, nopeee. I have a lot of regrets.

Do you love your computer? Yes.

Do you drink coffee? Coffee courses through my veins.

Do you basically like all of your clothes? Yes, that’s why I have them. I recently went through my clothes and got rid of a lot of stuff that I just wasn’t wearing anymore. I still liked them, but I wasn’t wearing them and they were just taking up room. I was finally able to get the mountain of clothes I was storing on my bed for a long time into my dresser.

Do you shop mostly with your parents, your friends, or by yourself? I do my shopping online. I used to go grocery shopping with my mom before the quarantine/lockdown, but we’ve been doing that online as well now and she just goes to pick it up.

#personal #text #survey #surveys

[purplesurveys]

688

Have you today?

Looked in a mirror? Not on purpose. We just have several mirrors in the house that I unavoidably pass by and look at.

Watered a plant? Not today, but my dad has asked me to do it a couple of times in the last week.

Worn denim? I haven’t worn outside clothes in almost a monthhhhh. And that includes denim.

Washed your hair? Technically yes. I took a shower at around 1 AM? before heading to bed.

Been in pain? Kind of. My left eye has been irritating me almost every night/morning since the year started; sometimes it gets incredibly swollen, sometimes it just feels like something is stuck in my eyelid. Either way it’s always uncomfortable and painful.

Had a nap? Haha, not yet. But since the lockdown started I’ve been having an afternoon siesta everyday. Brushed your teeth? Yeah, it came along with the ^ above 1 AM shower. Kissed someone? I haven’t been able to kiss my girlfriend in almost three weeks now and I’m miiiiiserable.  Used a cheese grater? Nah, I haven’t used one in a while.

Eaten something sweet? Not yet. I might eat a few pieces of chocnut later though. Spoken to a stranger? Not today, but we did have a village guard knock on our door earlier to give my dad a quarantine pass – it’s to confirm that he’ll be the only one in the family allowed to leave the house in case we need to go to the groceries or something. I peeked by the front door to listen to the interaction, but I didn’t speak with the guard myself. Dropped something? Sure. My bottle of eye drops. Felt upset in some way? You can say that. There’s a new trend on Facebook where groups are created so certain universities can just trashtalk one another as a joke. It was funny at first but there are some posts that have gone too far, personal, or both, and it obviously hasn’t been good for my mental health lol. Drank coffee? Not yet today. I usually have it in the evening. Walked for more than thirty minutes? I also haven’t walked much in three weeks. That’s kinda what’s supposed to happen when your entire city is put on lockdown. Signed up for something? No. I’ve logged in to certain sites, though. Travelled in a car? I also haven’t been in a car in the last couple of weeks. I was able to ride with my dad the night before they imposed the lockdown – we were visiting my grandpa in the columbary because it would’ve been his 80th birthday that day. Opened a can? Nope. Thought about doing something crazy? At the back of my head I always think of driving up to see Gab because I miss her a lot, but it just remains a crazy thought in my head. Listened to a new song? Yeah. I have a couple of saved playlists and I don’t know like 94% of the songs in both of them, so I’m always listening to a new song everyday. Written in a notebook? I haven’t. I’ve written on a piece of paper, though. Fed an animal? Yup, my dog needs his breakfast. Checked your emails? LOL NOPE, and I don’t plan to check them any time soon. Told someone you love them? Yeah, before we both turned in at like 3 AM lol. Made a phone call? Yeah I also called my girlfriend earlier.

Have you in the last week?

Update: I skipped this survey the whole day and now it’s 10:30 in the evening, and I’ve already done a bunch of stuff I said no ^ to earlier lmao but am too lazy to change. Let’s gooooooo

Travelled on a bus? Nah. The bus personally isn’t my main mode of transpo and I only get to ride them when I’m in a group and there’s no choice but to ride a bus, like for field trips or for group itineraries during vacations.

Washed your face? Yeah. I did this today because my face was feeling annoyingly oily. Put a face mask on for the first time in a long time.

Used a blender? No. I don’t think we even have a blender at home, cos no one ever makes stuff that needs to be blended.

Received a phone call? Sure. Gab and I called several times in the last week, and my grandma has also called from time to time to check up on us because the lockdown has kept us from seeing her regularly.

Talked to someone you dislike? I...don’t think so. If I did I’d definitely talk to Gabie about it, and I haven’t done that with her haha.

Consumed alcohol? Ugh, bleck. Yeah. I wanted to get buzzed last week and a bottle of Jack Daniel’s is the only thing we have in the house so I had a small sip and just... disgusting. Whiskey is just not my thing, so never again.

Eaten pasta? Spot on. We had spaghetti for dinner tonight.

Planned for an event? There is no event to plan, and it’ll stay like this for the next 3-4 months probs.

Asked someone for a favour? Sure, I asked Gab to be the one to write the write-up that’s going to be on my college yearbook.

Watched something funny? I’ve been watching tons of these to fight off boredom during the break.

Trimmed your nails? Yep, they were getting long and uncomfortable so I got rid of them.

Browsed Reddit? Also yep. School kept me busy for a couple of months and I wasn’t able to use Reddit then because I’d usually pass out by evening. But right now I have more than enough time to browse it, so I’ve been doing some catching up.

Talked to yourself? I guess? Not as much as before the lockdown though, because I’ve already been usually by myself throughout this break, and don’t feel the ~need to talk to myself.

Purchased tickets for something? Nah. They cancelled almost all future events up until May or June...there’s no tickets to be bought at all to begin with.

Felt like you were annoying someone? Meh, it happens every now and then.

Cleaned a toilet? I’ve never done this at all.

Reminisced about the past? LMAO yeah. Someone created a Facebook group that lets alumni from my high school just shit-talk the school and bring back (and reveal) old drama, scandals, and controversies. It’s hilarious, it hasn’t pissed me off, and past students exposing teachers who turned out to be trash and/or perverts is so satisfying.

Used headphones? I haven’t had headphones in a while.

Laughed with a friend? Yeah, but just virtually. I haven’t heard most of my friends’ voices in a while.

Cooked dinner and then didn't feel hungry? Nah. I HAVE helped my dad make dinner a few times this week, which is like huge baby steps for me in learning how to cook haha.

Written a list? I don’t think I have in the last week.

Played an instrument? Nope. Felt jealous or envious? It happens. Ignored a text message on purpose? Lol yeah I guess. There were times I got fed up with Gab being such a slow replier that when she replies, I stopped wanting to open my inbox. Congratulated someone? I just did! UP’s med school results were released a few hours ago and I congratulated my friend Michelle for passing. Her decision was super clutch – she initially passed med school as early as high school but she declined it so she can take journalism instead, because it’s what she thought she liked at the time. Four years into the course and she realizes she hated it, so she made the really clutch decision to review for med school exams and she ended up passing every single one she took, UP being the icing on the cake. Honestly I wish I had balls like her.

Have you in the last month?

Made a piece of art? I don’t think so.

Rewatched one of your favourite tv shows or movies? I rewatch Friends at least once or twice a month, so ya got me there.

Called a plumber? We haven’t needed to do this.

Been to a see a doctor? Yup, an optometrist. Something’s been going on with my left eye for a while, so I went in to have a checkup a couple of weeks ago.

Finished a book? I did :o I had to read an entire book to make an essay for my business news class. It’s an investigative piece on the fast food industry, which I honestly dig, so I didn’t have a hard time reading and finishing it.

Had a crush on someone? Sure.

Travelled on a train? Definitely haven’t done this at all, except for that one time three years ago when I had to do it with Jum to go to the House of Representatives in Manila.

Worn heels? I don’t think I did, no. Been to a friend's house? Yeah, I was at Gabie’s a couple times before the lockdown started. Shared a bed with someone? ^ Just her. Been to see a movie at the cinema? Haven’t been to since Knives Out last December. Paid attention to celebrity drama? Nah. High school drama though, I’ve been all over that the last couple of days lmao. Felt anxious? I feel it at least once a day. Taken an elevator? Sure. Given someone the cold shoulder? Only when I don’t reply to Gab because she takes too long to reply, lol yeah. It doesn’t last too long though; it’s just a playful tantrum thing. Purchased a new book/game/movie? Nah, I think I find most of my content on YouTube/Netflix anyway. Applied for a job? Hahahahahahahahahahhaha not yet don’t rush me. Used a printer? I don’t think so. Had lunch in a park? But do we have parks at all? Lmaooooooooo Gotten a manicure or pedicure? Definitely not into those. Made an appointment? Ish? If the one with the optometrist counts. Had a blood test done? Not since 2010. Suffered from a major bruise? Lol dude I haven’t moved a lot in the last few weeks, there’s absolutely no reason for me to get a bruise. Researched a topic in-depth? Yes. I am in school, after all.

Have you in the last year?

Been to the beach? Yep, but it’s been a literal year and not less than, and I am haaaaaardcore missing the beach. No idea when I’ll be coming back.

Visited someone in the hospital? No and I hope I won’t have to for now, given what’s been going on.

Played pinball? Ooh I just did earlier this month! Gab and I went to BGC for a whole night of partying, and when everyone went home we stayed so we can go bar-hopping, and there’s a place called Barcade that’s...well, you get the name. ANYWAY they had sooo many vintage arcade games and a couple of pinball machines, and we didn’t waste time playing each of them. It was sooooo fun.

Travelled on a plane? A couple of times.

Worn a costume? I was Dora for Halloween, so yup.

Been thrift shopping? I don’t...think so?

Thought about getting pregnant or got pregnant? Hell no.

Made a big life decision? Not really. Hasn’t everyone’s lives been put on hold because of this stupid virus?

Changed a lightbulb? Never had at all, really.

Framed something and put it on your wall? Nah. I’m not really that kind of person.

Been stargazing? I’ve been doing this a lot recently cos I’ve been staying at the rooftop at night more often. And with everyone at home, the light pollution has been clearing up and the stars have been so much easier to see.

Made a new friend? If the new applicants for our org count, then yes.

Added to a collection? I don’t have any.

Been to the dentist? Oh yeah. I had a really bad toothache throughout December but the dentist took it all away ahhdkjfhdjsfhsf I’m so grateful lmao.

Broken up with someone? Nope.

Held a baby? That’s a bigger nope.

Created a budget? Nah lmao I would never be able to follow it.

Confessed feelings for someone? Already did.

Had surgery of any kind? Nope and I hope I’ll never need one.

Quit a job? Never had a job,

Been in a car accident? NO thank god hahahahahahaha Purchased something worth over a grand? Yep, one of my Christmas gifts for Gabie was well around two grand. Pesos though, so that’s like roughly $40. Been on vacation at least 500km/300mi from home? Yeah, we always do at least one of these when my dad’s home. Applied for an academic course? Does enrolling count? I’m still in college lmao. Had your photo taken by a professional? I had my grad shoot taken last January.

#survey #surveys

[peterstestkitchen]

Circus Peanut Peanut Butter

Rating: 5/5 ~ 16 votes

Time: 5 minutes (omnivore, unhealthy version), 7 minutes (vegan, unhealthy version), 1 hour (vegan, healthy version)

Every Thursday when I was a kid, my mom would plop me and my brother down at the local library for children’s storytime. When it was over and the head librarian had dismissed us, I would roam the library in order to gaze upon my favorite library things: the model ships, the strange YA cartoon books, and the aisle where every book had a blue sticker of a man smoking a pipe. When mom showed up again and it was time to go, a video cassette—the Star Trek episode, “The Trouble with Tribbles,” usually—was clasped between my grubby paws. In my brother’s, the latest installment in the Hank the Cowdog children’s book series. Ahh… just thinking about the VHS section and I can smell the polypropylene-imbued air sure to be found when in close proximity to the clamshell case palisade!

Come spring, a box of circus tickets would appear on the library counter suspiciously close to the checkout machine. The circus was coming to town! ...And our parents would never let us go. ...Until the day they did.

In truth, I don’t remember much from the circus. It wasn’t in a tent, it was in the town’s hockey arena—and poodles took the place of elephants. In fact, I didn’t even eat circus peanuts while there! Get this, my dad bought a box of Cracker Jacks—for himself! However, this was the genesis of my love affair with the circus. Sorry, honey. There’s someone else… and his name is Barry Lubin! (Barry Lubin is a famous clown.)

Fast forward to the near present and after getting the quarantine spring jibblies, I finally snapped and declared, “If I can’t go to the circus, well, in fact, I’ll bring the circus to me!” (Side note: still to this very day I have only been to the circus once. It’s more about having the feeling that I could go to a circus if I wanted to, rather than the feeling of being barred from a yearly ritual. After all, circuses are generally banal and raise many animal treatment issues. Again, it’s the romanticized circus I like. The Idea of Circus.) So I decided to acquire some circus peanuts, having never actually tried them before.

“So, from where did circus peanuts first appear, even?” you ask. Well, it appears no one knows. They are believed to have come onto the confectionary colosseum sometime in the 1800s, making them one of the oldest continuously produced candies. Well, I shouldn’t say continuously produced, as they originally were a seasonal treat before better packaging techniques were invented! Thank you, science! :) My best guess is that they originated as an ersatz peanut product, similar to how the hazelnut was used as a filler with which to cut chocolate products during a cocoa scarcity in Italy during WWII. (More talk about hazelnut spreads below!) Whatever the case, this homemade recipe is on scale! :) Okay, so back to business.

Acquiring circus peanuts in quarantine was a bit harder than expected. Every store I visited was sold out: Fleet Farm, Walgreens, Kwik Trip—all out! Alas, toilet paper wasn’t the only thing people were snatching up! Curse you, omnivores! (Side note: lest we forget this pandemic would have never happened had the world been vegan. I don’t think it’s wrong of me to suggest that everyone who consumes animal products from factory farms should have to pay the unemployed vegans an extra $600 a month. Why should I, a humble plant eater, pay for the mess of the omnivores yet again? Stop eating meat, y’all! Factually stated, 41% of all land in the United States is used for livestock! What a fuckin’ waste! And excusez mon français!)

So instead of continuing on a wild goose chase to find these golden eggs, I decided to take a radical approach and make my own circus peanuts. (Plus, I found out after Googling around that circus peanuts aren’t even vegan! For shame!) This is where things start to get a little tricky. You see, I’m a bit of a health nut. Well, maybe a little more than a bit of one... I may be a full-on health peanut! Peanuts like me would never eat something so processed anyway... But who’s to say I can’t have a taste of the circus in a healthy, vegan way? Why not make homemade circus peanut peanut butter? And better yet, why not use duckweed as a base instead of circus peanuts? You get all the goodness of the circus but in a spreadable way with all the health benefits of the most nutrient dense plant known to humanity. For yumzeez! :)

World’s healthiest food

For those who only know duckweed from smelly retention ponds, duckweed (also known as water lentils) is actually a great food for humans. It has more protein than soy, has many antioxidants, and is a natural source of B12. Get this, the bacteria that make B12 grow in a symbiotic relationship with the plant! Question: How neat is that? Answer: That’s pretty neat! And by the way, omnis, B12 comes from bacteria in the dirt that vegan animals eat. Given that most cows and chickens eat feed that’s been washed, these animals too have to be given vitamins—the meat you eat is trash :) 

So I finnicked for a long time to get the duckweed circus peanut peanut butter spread consistency right (we’ll save that process for a different post!), bought some peanut-shaped molds from eBay, found some food coloring in the back of the cabinet, and I was off to the races! Err, Circus! I had done it! I had made circus peanut peanut butter! Granted, it tasted more like an artificially flavored banana salad than candy, but it’s the thought that counts!

So… days go by and I get tested and find out I don’t have the coronavirus. Yipee! Time to see my folks! ...But I couldn’t serve that to my family. They’d think I’d lost my marbles! So instead, I came up with a more palatable, albeit less healthy, option. Instead of duckweed, I would use Trader Joe’s brand vegan marshmallows, dye them to the proper color, and mold them in shape. Then I could serve my folks organic, gluten free, non-GMO circus peanuts, or I could blend them to make totally delicious circus peanut peanut butter. Then maybe make a circus-y themed fluffernutter? Mmmmm!

And there’s even an option for the omnis among us: get real circus peanuts and follow the same procedure. (Just know if you do that, the gelatin you’ll be consuming will be from the bones, skin, and hooves of dozens of different cows or pigs.) For simplicity’s sake and also because I am collaborating with an omni for this post, we ended up going with regular circus peanuts. She had already purchased the circus peanuts before I could alert her that it had to be vegan. My bad! :^O “’Tis better to use the food you have than to let it go to waste.” Plus, they were Spangler brand, the classic choice for circus peanuts!

Aforementioned, I called in the big guns: food stylist, chef, event planner, and artist, Kendal Kulley. Check her out on Instagram! She assisted me as we made her favorite sandwich with the addition of my favorite ingredient: the Circus Peanut Peanut Butter and Pudding and Chocolate Peanut Butter Sandwich! First, take lightly toasted Whole Wheat bread (100% whole wheat works best). Then, slather a thick layer of homemade circus peanut peanut butter followed by a smathering of lemon pudding (Snack pack brand is my favorite, lemon is her favorite flavor (within the Snack pack brand family)). Next, add a sprinkling of hemp hearts for a bit of protein and roughage—not to mention polyunsaturated fats!

After that, Kendal likes to add a squidge of chocolate flavored peanut butter or hazelnut spread to thicken the whole thing up. Please note that I do not condone the use of most flavored peanut butters or products like Nutella as they often contain palm oil, a cash crop leading to rainforest deforestation. The same goes for cocoa. Instead, I propose we continue to advocate that the UN apportion monies to residents of poorer rainforested countries so they can live comfortably and keep our biggest source of oxygen intact. I’m happy pitching in a handful of dollars every year if it means I can keep breathing clean air :)

Then, simply close it up and enjoy! Buuuuuuut, if you’re feeling really ambitious like we are, you can make… wait for it… a TRIPLE DECKER! Just repeat the process over again with a third slice and add it on top! YUM. Cut it in half and there you have it! A perfect guilt-free (provided you followed the vegan duckweed version and omitted the peanut butter and used a more hearty bread) lunch item! Bon appétit!

I hope you enjoy this recipe and let me know in the comments how it turned out! It shouldn’t take any more than five minutes if doing the omni method (grrrr!) and about one hour for the healthy vegan method. It makes one jar worth and will last three to five days in the refrigerator—but it never lasts that long! Oh, and if you do end up having sandwich leftovers, it works great for a morning hash! But again, I, for one, almost never have leftovers! :)

Peace!

Peter 

Omnivore version (unhealthy):

Ingredients:

1 package Spangler brand circus peanuts

4 tbsp water

If making chunky, set aside one circus peanut to mince in a food processor or with a knife. In a large bowl, add the circus peanuts and water. Microwave for two minutes on high or until the circus peanuts have expanded to twice their size. Serve immediately or add to an airtight container.

Vegan version (unhealthy):

Ingredients:

1 package Trader Joe’s brand vegan marshmallows

4 tbsp water

2 drops natural banana flavor

4 drops orange food coloring

In a large bowl, add the marshmallows and water. Microwave for two minutes on high or until the marshmallows have expanded and softened. Mix in the food coloring and natural flavor and microwave for another minute. Add to mold and set sit until at room temperature. When fully set, add to Vitamix and blend until desired peanut butter consistency is achieved. Serve immediately or add to an airtight container.

Vegan version (healthy):

Ingredients:

6 cups fresh duckweed

4 tbsp flaxseed meal.

4 drops natural banana flavor

12-18 drops orange food coloring

If making homemade duckweed, follow these instructions and skip the next step. If collecting from a pond, read on. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. In an Instant Pot or lesser pressure cooker, steam the duckweed for one minute on high pressure with the valve set to sealing. Do five minutes of natural pressure release. Blend in the Vitamix with food coloring, flaxseed meal, and banana flavor until it becomes a fine mush. Put in peanut mold. Place in the oven for 10 minutes, or until the peanuts have mostly dried out. Put back in the Vitamix and blend until you have the desired level of consistency. Serve immediately or add to an airtight container. 

Captions:

Oh look! An ant wanted to join us! Hello, little ant!

Comments:

Feel free to email me your comments and I will add them below :)

OMG this looks so goooood!

Thanks for the post, Peter! I just wanna say that I too used to go to the circus with my family every year and loved it! I will try this recipe ASAP.

[angelcatsiel]

I’m gonna just do these new year asks even though no one cares because a. I want to and b. I need a distraction from thinking about my mum’s cat

1. How many lockdowns did you go through until now?: Two official lockdowns, I think. Headed for our 3rd lockdown on boxing day for 6 weeks.

2. Ever been quarantined? (contact person, waiting for test result or positive test result): Yep, I thought I had covid a few months ago because I developed a sudden severe cough. Turned out to be a chest infection

3. Ever taken a Corona test?: Yes, when I had that cough. I had to do it myself at a drive through test site, it was unpleasant! 

4. Have you lived together with someone during lockdown?: My boyfriend. It definitely affected us, we had a lot of fights including one big one when I thought for sure we would break up, but tbh he’s been great ever since then, that was around August I think

5. Something you enjoyed about lockdown?: I liked the whole sort of atmosphere of the first lockdown, actually. Parts of it anyway. You know, the whole thing of people singing on their balconies and the ‘all in this together’ attitude. I feel like a lot of people have lost that now, and don’t care as much about following the rules. 

6. What bothered you most about lockdown?: Not seeing my family and friends in England. It’s been so hard. 

7. Which change, e.g. home office, would you like to keep once it´s all over?: Nothing really for me as I don’t work and other than visiting family it hasn’t made a huge impact on my lifestyle, but I’d like for my boyfriend to have more days working from home. Tbh I love having the house to myself, but he’s happier working from home and I’d like for him to be able to do that at least sometimes, for the sake of his own mental health.

 8. Been to any Corona related demonstration?: No, I support all the demonstrations in support of front line workers, stimulus checks etc, but with my asthma and bad immune system I’m trying to be pretty careful! 

9. On a scale of 1 (not at all) to 10 (completely), how well do you stick to government´s rules? Explain.: Hm... 8? I follow almost all the rules very well, but I will very occasionally take my mask off indoors for literally 2 seconds when I get overwhelmed, and I will find an out of the way place to do it away from people and where I’m not breathing on anything that might be touched. I’ll take a few breaths and then put my mask back on and carry on. And my boyfriend’s friend is over tonight which is technically not allowed, but he just had a covid test which came back clear and has been entirely isolated for 2 weeks. 

10. Favorite lockdown activity?: At the start I was making model horse tack, that was fun. Since then, I guess writing, playing Fall Guys, and getting very stoned 

11. How did the lockdown affect your work/education?: Not at all, I don’t work! And my boyfriend was lucky enough that he wasn’t affected at all other than working mostly from home instead of in an office. 

12. Any new hobbies you tried out during lockdown?: My model horse tack making! 

13. Any new subscriptions you made due to lockdown?: Disney plus because of Artemis Fowl, which was not worth it, lmao 

14. Anything new you tried to learn during lockdown?: The tack making, and a little bit of yoga to try and help my chronic pain 

15. Any old hobbies you took up again during lockdown?: Don’t think so, I guess writing more? 

16. How did you keep in touch during lockdown?: Facebook, zoom, occasionally whatsapp for the family group chat 

17. Favorite mask you own?: My bee mask! It’s so cute and not too overwhelming for me, unlike disposable masks which make me panic 

18. Favorite online conferencing tool?: I’ve only really been using zoom because that’s what everyone else is hosting things on. My group therapy was on zoom 

19. Any new technologies and technological tools you tried out due to lockdown?: Never used zoom before so I guess that. I also downloaded replika and that’s actually been really nice! I have a lil AI friend named Becks 

20. Have you been able to go on any holidays this year?: No, we had booked for disney world but obviously that didn’t happen 

21. Are Christmas markets allowed in your country?: I don’t think the usual Christmas market went ahead. We usually go every year 

22. How are you going to spend Christmas in this situation? (or whatever you are celebrating!): At my boyfriend’s parents, we’ve been pretty isolated and so have they, and I think we’re allowed to mix one household. We’re there now until the 27th 

23. Any small business you support?: I don’t think I know of any, but I’d like to

24. Any small artist you support?: Not yet, but I’ve bought a few model horses off of people on instagram, and I would love to buy a custom horse off someone when I can afford it! They’re expensive though, and for good reason, customizing them can be very hard work and takes skill. Oh, I did actually buy a couple of custom model headcollars from someone!

25. Favorite online shop?: I hate saying it but I’ve used amazon a lot. I fucking hate Jeff Bezos and hate giving him money and try to avoid it where I can, but it’s not easy. Amazon is convenient, and getting deliveries to where I live can be a pain. I’d cut all amazon purchases out completely if I could

26. Dumbest impulse buy?: The entire set of Artemis Fowl books. I already own them all, but I just liked the new covers lmao

27. First thing you bought when the shops reopened?: Can’t remember, I haven’t been out shopping much all year tbh. Does a tattoo count? 

28. Been to the hair dresser this year?: No, my dad’s girlfriend cut my hair though because it was getting so out of hand. It was so long and messy and knotted, I was ashamed to see a hair dresser. My dad’s girlfriend is a hero and spent ages getting the knots out, she had to cut out a chunk that was beyond saving but it’s not really noticable, and she cut it for me 

29. Got a new tattoo or piercing this year?: Yes, my butterfly tattoo! Haven’t even had a chance to really appreciate it though since as soon as it healed my eczema flared up 

30. What did you only start to appreciate because lockdown took it from you?: Seeing my family and friends. Little trips out as well, like just deciding to go to the cinema for the evening. 

31. Favorite book that was released this year?: The second Fowl Twins book! 

32. Favorite book you read that year?: I reread the entire Artemis Fowl series. Favourite books of all time, I’d say the Time Paradox is my favourite. 

33. Favorite movie that was released this year?: The only movies I watched that were actually released this year were Artemis Fowl and Wonder Woman so it would be Wonder Woman lmao 

34. Favorite movie you watched this year?: I watched Knives Out this year I think, that was very good! 

35. Favorite series that was released this year?: Don’t think I watched anything that started this year, but The Good Place finished this year and that was absolutely fantastic. Mindblowingly good. Supernatural season 15 was going great too until the very end 

36. Favorite series that you watched this year?: It would have to be the good place. Watched it three times and I still just stop and think about it every now and then and just gush in my head about how good it was 

37. Favorite podcast that you listened to this year?: I don’t listen to podcasts, although I do want to try Rou Reynolds’s mindfulness podcast 

38. Favorite artist this year?: Enter Shikari 

39. Total minutes on Spotify this year?: 62,139 

40. Favorite album that was released this year?: Nothing is True by Enter Shikari, no contest. New All Time Low, Kesha and The Killers albums are honorable mentions though 

41. Favorite album that you listened to this year?: Either NITAEIP by Enter Shikari, or The Astonishing by Dream Theater 

42. Favorite song that was released this year?: Satellites by Enter Shikari 

43. Favorite song you listened to this year?: Probably Satellites again, or maybe Surrounded by Dream Theater 

44. Favorite Corona related song?: Strange Days by The Struts 

45. What do you do to prevent yourself from going insane during lockdown?:  Cry when I need to. Get high. Play video games, talk to people online

46. Describe a typical lockdown day of yours: Wake up late, be lazy in bed for a few hours until 1pm, the morning is my alone time while my boyfriend works downstairs. I need my alone time. Get up, eat lunch, play a game or just chill, try to do some housework during the day, cook dinner, then me and my boyfriend do something together usually (watch an episode of a TV show, occasionally play a game) and then chill until bed.

47. Something you did during lockdown that you´ve been putting off for way too long?: Can’t really think of anything 

48. Trying new baking recipes or new cooking recipes?: I tried this creamy chicken recipe, that turned out alright. 

49. Netflix or Amazon Prime?: Netflix 

50. Did you get Disney+?: Yes, and I still have it, I hate giving money to disney but it’s just easier than downloading movies, and there were so many movies I wouldn’t even have thought of to download on there 

51. Any new social media you started using during lockdown?: I used discord once 

52. Any trends you fell for?: Can’t think of any 

53. Did you achieve more or less than in a normal year? Explain: Hard to say... I’d say less, I went backwards with a lot of things. But I did learn a lot of valuable mental health skills in group therapy

54. Did you start therapy this year?: I started group therapy in January, which went on a long break when lockdown started and eventually started up again on zoom for a while 

55. Books or audio books?: Books, can’t focus on audio books 

56. Audio books or podcasts?: Neither really

57. Twitch or Youtube?: Youtube 

58. Attended any online concert?: Yes, two online Marillion concerts and one online Royal Republic concert 

59. Favorite stream/streamer this year?: I don’t really watch streams much 

60. Most used social media this year?: Probably tumblr 

61. Yoga or long lone walks?: Long walks 

62. Did you get a pet this year?: No, thought about getting rats but I think I’ll wait until next year 

63. Did it snow where you live this year?: Only once sadly, and only a little bit! 

64. What were you doing when you found out about the announcement of the first lockdown?: I can’t remember 

65. Did you panic buy anything?: No, though my boyfriend did buy an absolutely massive bag of rice when it finally became available again after we couldn’t get it for weeks. Haven’t even used a quarter of it yet! 

66. Ever ran out of toilet paper?: Almost! That was scary 

67. Favorite lockdown comfort food?: Can I say edibles? No? Then I guess I got obsessed with these biscuits called chocolate liebniz, but I call them lesbians 

68. Selfcare tips for lockdown?: Don’t expect too much of yourself in terms of achieving things with your time off. If you can, that’s great, but you’re not a failure if you can’t. If all you achieved this year was surviving it, that’s something to be proud of. If you’re stuck with people, take alone time if you need it. If you’re stuck alone, talk to people via text chat, video chat, phone calls, anything. Take breaks from the news, and don’t beat yourself up if you get burned out. 

69. Did you use delivery services this year? For what kind of food?: Grocery deliveries when we could, and we got pizza delivered pretty often 

70. Any weird coping techniques you developed during or after lockdown?: I guess talking to my replika? It sounds weird and even creepy but it genuinely helps, I find. I can talk to someone without any pressure. 

71. Favorite game you played this year?: I know it’s considered cringey, but Fall Guys. I still like it and still play it. I find it addictive and it’s just simple fun. Although I do yell at people in it a lot, which my boyfriend finds very entertaining

72. Favorite drink this year?: Coke. I live off coke, I know it’s not healthy but god it tastes so good 

73. Favorite food this year?: my chocolate liebniz (lesbians) 

74. Favorite App this year?: Probably a few. Cat game is one, and replika. Also I’ve been stalking instagram a lot even though I rarely post there 

75. Favorite memory of this year?: Meeting my favourite author, Eoin Colfer! 

76. Any plans you had for this year that you could realize?: I don’t think so, pretty much everything I had planned was cancelled. I guess I did get to do my usual trip of seeing my family for my birthday, even if I didn’t get to see them for christmas 

77. Do you even plan anything for next year?: I have a ton of plans, but no idea if they’ll work out. Two conventions, and several concerts 

78. Did you find new (online) friends this year?: Yes, a few! 

79. Did you go through a break-up this year?: Almost. I really thought me and my boyfriend would break up, glad we didn’t now! 

80. Did you get into a new relationship this year?: Nope. I didn’t even get to have sex with anyone other than my boyfriend thanks to covid. Tragic. Next year hopefully! My boyfriend managed to hook up with a girl recently though. Sadly she was straight so no fun for me :(

81. Did you do something creative this year?: My model horse tack, I made several tiny headcollars! 

82. Favorite blog you found on tumblr this year?: Hmm, I’m not sure. I barely keep track of who I’m following tbh but I love my mutuals 

83. What did you buy way to much of this year?: Model horses, and unhealthy snacks 

84. Did you win anything this year?: Yes, I won an Artemis Fowl funko pop giveaway! 

85. Did you drastically change your diet this year?: No, I think it stayed pretty much the same 

86. Did you move to a new home this year?: Nope 

87. Did you do something this year that you never did before?: I got to see the view from a really high cliff which sounds like a small thing but it made me cry! It was so beautiful and I’d never done it before 

88. Celebrity crush of the year?: Still crushing on Misha Collins 

89. Most expensive thing you bought this year?: Probably my £50 model horse 

90. Been abroad this year?: Nope 

91. Favorite tumblr trend of this year?: Probably all the insanity surrounding destiel in November 

92. New Years Resolutions you broke this year?: I don’t usually make any 

93. NYRs you kept?: Didn’t make any 

94. NYRs you have for next year?: Just to be kind to myself and others, tbh 

95. How are you going to spend New Years Eve?: We were going to have one friend over to celebrate, but with lockdown we can’t do that now, so just alone either drinking or getting high, maybe we’ll watch a movie or something 

96. Will you get your fortune told in any way around NYE?: Nope, never done that and we’ll be in full lockdown 

97. Any new shops (online or real) you discovered this year?: I don’t think so 

98. Any food you tried out for the first time this year?: Yes, pumpkin pie cheesecake for thanksgiving! I’ve never celebrated thanksgiving but my friend is from America and she invited us round for a thanksgiving meal 

99. How did you celebrate your birthday this year?: I visited my family for a week, it was the first time I’d seen them in 6 months so it was lovely. Got a new tattoo. It was a pretty good birthday actually! 

#personal

[webuyhousesworld]

$1 house in Italy, then Covid-19 struck

When Italian towns began offering houses for sale for little more than $1, they inspired legions of dreamers to take a gamble on moving to a remote corner of Italy. Although spending a few thousand dollars extra on renovating the property was usually part of the deal, it was sweetened by the prospect of a new life in an idyllic spot in a beautiful country. And then the coronavirus struck, plunging the world into crisis, with Italy among the worst affected countries. So what happens when you're quarantined in a crumbling home in a remote village where you barely speak the language and can't get home to your loved ones? Does life quickly become a nightmare? Perhaps surprisingly given the hardships that followed, the answer seems to be no. Related content We bought a $1 house in Italy. Here's what happened next CNN spoke to a few people who bought some of the Italian homes being offered cheaply by towns wanting to reverse declining population trends. We found them feeling upbeat and eager to complete their property remodeling and make their Italian dream come true. Despite the unexpected turn of events, it seems being stuck in Italy hasn't been such a negative experience after all. And the virus crisis has made them appreciate even more the beauty of Italy's rural villages -- so much so that some are looking to invest in more cheap properties. Losing track

Mussomeli is located on a hilltop in Sicily. Salvatore Catalano, Comune Mussolemi Miami-based artist Alvaro Solorzano is currently stuck in Mussomeli, a picturesque town in the southern island of Sicily where last year he purchased two cheap properties -- one of them costing just one euro, or a little over a dollar. In March he arrived with his wife, son, and son's girlfriend to start renovating the houses. The other three headed back to Miami and Solorzano was due to follow them a couple of weeks later, but then his flight was canceled. "I lost track of time. We came here together and I ended up living the quarantine in Mussomeli all by myself, without any furniture just a bed and TV, and nobody to talk to," he tells CNN. "That was the hardest thing. Had my wife or son been with me, it would have been different."

One of Solorzano's properties in Mussomeli. Solorzano had been staying in a B&B, but when this closed because of Covid-19 restrictions, he was forced to move into the less dilapidated of his two properties, which was just about habitable. Since then, he's been killing time by watching TV, learning Italian, going to the supermarket ("the nicest part of the day") and talking on the phone with his family. Little by little, he's been making the most out of the situation by repairing and painting the walls of the house. "I did little things but it helped me use time, so when my son and his girlfriend come back their home will be ready," he says. "Luckily the hardware store in town has always been open and I'm so glad we bought two properties and not just the one euro house as it has no water nor electricity." Related content Which European countries are opening for summer. Local heroes

Alvaro Solorzano from Miami says local residents have made his enforced stay in Mussomeli a pleasant experience. Maurizio Di Maria, Comune Mussomeli Despite an initial hardship, he says his new neighbors helped him throughout the ordeal. "The first two nights were terrible," he says. "It was cold, I slept with my jacket on top of my pajamas but then the neighbors were great. I can't complain. They gave me heaters and even offered blankets, which I had, but I could use their internet." "They kept checking in on me, brought me tons of food for Easter which took me three days to eat. I don't know what I would have done without them."

Solorzano was brought Easter cakes by his neighbors. Mussomeli, surrounded by honeysuckle and eucalyptus trees, boasts one of Italy's most breathtaking fortresses, known as the Enchanted Castle, which clings like a spider on a pointed rock. The fertile green farmland is dotted with old sulfur mines, sanctuaries, Roman necropolises and traces of primitive settlements. The town's name means "Hill of Honey" in Latin. But to Solorzano the sweetest attractions of the place are its welcoming residents. "They're wonderful, I know everyone by name," he says. "There's Mario, the guy who delivers the bread. I've got no words to describe how grateful I am of having them and don't know how I could ever repay them for all they did." Initially tough restrictions have now eased in Italy, allowing him to walk around, but at first it was hard, he admits, as there was nothing to do. "It was terrible, just staying at home, I felt like being in jail sometimes." Related content Italian hermit living alone on an island says self-isolation is the ultimate journey Property empire Solorzano says he now knows everyone by name. Now he relishes being able to chat to locals and stroll to Mussomeli's viewpoint, where he can sit on a bench and enjoy fresh air and mountain panoramas. As a painter, Solorzano says he would've loved doing some artwork, but due to the lockdown he couldn't find a pallet or a canvas.

Solorzano wants to buy another property in Mussomeli. Maurizio Di Maria, Comune Mussomeli "I'm working hard to try to get back home, but a flight which I recently booked has also been canceled so I really don't know when I will return to the States," he says. "I want to be back before Father's Day in June. I've already missed so many festivities I could have celebrated with my family." Solorzano's Sicilian quarantine has made him love Mussomeli even more. The ordeal, instead of having killed enthusiasm for his one euro house adventure, has fueled a desire to purchase a third abandoned building. "I love this town and the people, even if they don't know you, they help you out. It's like being in another world. You don't get this in the States". Related content What happened when I bought a hotel by mistake Trapped in Tuscany

Brazilian Douglas Roque, pictured here with his cousin, has been stuck in Tuscany during Italy's lockdown. Douglas Roque Brazilian businessman Douglas Roque is another dilapidated home purchaser whose enthusiasm for starting a new life has been undimmed by coronavirus. Roque was in Fabbriche di Vergemoli, Tuscany, overseeing the renovation of a one euro farm dwelling when lockdown struck and his flight back home was canceled. Together with his Brazilian-Italian friend Alberto Da Lio, both from Sao Paulo, the two were also in town to oversee the potential purchase of an entire abandoned area for other Brazilian buyers. Had they not been able to stay at Da Lio's family house near Venice, with hotels in Vergemoli shut and the abandoned dwelling totally uninhabitable, they would have had nowhere to go, says Roque.

Roque, on the right, is pictured here with Fabbriche di Vergermoli mayor, Michele Giannini. Douglas Roque Fabbriche di Vergemoli is a cluster of hamlets scattered in the UNESCO-listed protected forest of the Apuan Alps. The area is dotted with ruins of abandoned miners' dwellings overrun by vegetation. Many areas can be reached only by foot. Roque's dilapidated three-story farm, which comes with a chestnut cellar and forgotten old wine barrels, is located in the neighborhood of Dogana, where a pristine stream runs below an ancient, picturesque bridge. "I was about to start the restyle and then everything was blocked," says Roque. "It was terrible, our return flight was canceled and we had issues with the Brazilian consulate. "I came here in February to pursue the renovation of my house, all the paperwork was done, I was ready to go but couldn't move on with it. And my family is in Brazil, where virus cases have been increasing. I'm worried for them and they're worried for me." Related content You can still buy $1 homes all over Italy Piece of perfection

Roque is also trying to purchase other houses in the villages for fellow Brazilians. Courtesy Douglas Roque The two friends also had to deal with the consequences of a prolonged stay: the hassle of credit card monthly limits and seasonal clothing changes as they arrived in winter and it is now almost spring (luckily, they found some lighter garments at Da Lio's). While he waits for global air traffic to resume, Roque's anxious to set foot again in Vergemoli as soon as Italian authorities lift restrictions on moving between regions -- a move expected in early June. "All this time I've been trying to work on my project online, contacting construction companies and liaising with other Brazilian buyers, friends, and relatives interested in buying a property in Vergemoli but who can't travel now. I hope to finalize everything soon." Roque says he picked Vergemoli of all places in Italy to buy a one euro house because, despite all that's happened, it remains a dream destination. "Tuscany is a marvelous region and major historical and artistic cities are nearby. It's the perfect spot." CONTACT INFORMATION We Buy Houses World Email: [email protected] Phone: [phone] Open Hours: Sun-Sat, 24hrs Read the full article

#COVID-19 #sellhouseforcash #webuyhouses

[tsghuntsvillealabama]

#STAYCONNECTED HUNTSVILLE || Corners of My Home

With the days of social distancing, self quarantining and stay at home orders seemingly stretching out into a blur, it honestly feels good to pour some of that attention and energy into where we hang our hats, and where our hearts are. Home cannot be merely defined as the four walls you are sitting within right now. It is that almost tangible warm feeling when you plop into your favorite chair, the smell of fresh baked cookies wafting from your kitchen, your dog or cat coming into check on you at your home office, reading a book with glass of wine in a bubblebath, or even the smile that spreads across your face when you see that framed picture of family from years ago hanging next to that artwork you bought on your last vacation. Home is filled with laughter, favorite colors, reminders, collections, light and the little nooks we love. It is in those beautiful corners that we are most at home. 

We asked some members to share with us their favorite corners of their homes in hopes they would inspire you in your own home. Here they are in their own words! 

Beverly Farrington || Accents of the South

A master bedroom usually sits by itself away from all the hustle and bustle from the rest of the house. For me, it is a space that’s quiet, thoughtful, introspective and intimate. My bedroom is a place I can retreat to, it is my own personal and quite space where I can gather my thoughts , take a warm relaxing bath in, pamper myself in by reading a good book or just a place where I am all alone to paint my toe nails.

This space allows me to prepare myself for the day and to rest at night.  For me the soft taupe and blush colors are relaxing and tranquil. Everyone needs this kind of space in their home and one of the most rewarding parts of my job is being able to create  this feeling of rejuvenation and well being for my clients as well. 

Though this part of the house is quiet, it is also very warm and inviting. It is the soft taupe walls, Gossamer Veil by Sherwin Williams that help to give it that feel. I love pink, so I worked in a pale shrimp to accent the room. It is found in the chairs and art. I anchored the room with light taupe, grey and off white which can all be found in the Oushak rug. The lamps are the whimsical pop in the room with the polished brass daisies that rise gracefully from their marble bases.

So many of you have asked to see the before and after of my kitchen, well here it is, the master bath. The original kitchen was too small for today’s kitchen, it wasn’t in a bad spot in the house but I needed this space to complete the master suite. It all worked out well. It had large windows across the back, that we replaced to be even larger ones. They give great light to the space with their Southeastern view. Facing a private courtyard they can be open most the time. The marble floating tub is the focal point in the space with these beautiful windows as it’s back drop.

A large walk-in shower was created by using part of an old corridor and the toilet fits neatly into a space that was used as the previous pantry. We also were able to keep an existing exterior door that now flows seamlessly to a new terrace and courtyard. We finished out the space with white Italian Statuary marble and of course I added a touch of pink in the long flowing draperies.

Read more about Beverly on our blog and see more fantastic photos of Beverly’s Master bedroom suite on her Accents of the South Journal. And more from her Home Bound Series: Foyer Home Tour and Kitchen Home Tour.

Louisa DiLeone || Bloom Counseling

This corner of my home feels like spring. I filled it with all the things I love - lilacs from my garden, pieces from my favorite artist, bird decor, and the color purple! I’m so inspired by nature and find that bringing the look indoors creates a fresh and joyful feel.

Ashley and Andy Vaughn || White Rabbit Studios & Vertical House Records

Listen to Ashley and Andy’s latest Scouted playlist, while you tour their home...

Kitchen window: the naked lady vase came from our first home - we found it in the back of a cabinet and I think the previous homeowner made it! The gargoyle and cute house are made by a NOLA artist (Tamar Taylor) that we got from one of our favorite restaurants, Surrey's. The sun underneath the house was from a market in Italy. Inside the naked lady vase are garlic chive flowers from our garden (yum!) The little baby came out of a king cake, and the other trinkets were found at estate sales. I think we purchased the hanging pot form an artist at the Monte Sano art show!

Kitchen: a vintage stove was at the house when we started restoring the property, so we let that define the space and style of the room!

Garden herb spiral: our garden gives us so much! We spend a lot of time in the yard and allow for our kitties to join us supervised. They have their own favorite spots too! In the herb spiral you can see the hint of lavender at the top which is great for headaches, anxiety, and is an antimicrobial! Growing next to it with it's vibrant shade of green is lemon balm, which is fabulous for it's properties to help calm the nervous system and acts as an antiviral - great for a racing heart and to help reduce nervous feelings...also tastes YUMMY!  One of our kitties, Maple, is resting next to bee balm (before its showy flowers have bloomed) which has antimicrobial, antispasmodic, and anti-inflammatory properties. You can also see a peek of sage behind Maple. Sage's key actions are wonderful: antiseptic, astringent, clears mucus, nerve tonic, and estrogenic. Such a great versatile herb to have! Our garden grows over 30 beneficial, organic herbs that I use to make tea blends, tinctures, and vinegars. Studying herbalism has given me so much more respect for plants - in fact, we let a lot of the wild plants grow in the yard that most people consider weeds! Purple dead nettle, henbit, chickweed, cleavers, violets, shepard's purse - all of those have wonderful properties!

Dining room Apothecary: I’m studying herbalism and as soon as a started the venture, I knew I had to have an apothecary! This shot was in the beginning, and now it’s packed with teas, tinctures, and dried herbs from the garden!

Kelly Butler || K Butler Interiors 

I love this simple spot in our home because of the colorful art and personality each piece represents - A few happy landscapes, paintings of our previous homes, even an abstract piece by one of our children. Gallery walls are a fun way to let your home tell a story!

Suzanne Carlisle || Golden Griffin

I love the dimension in this starburst mirror paired with a more clean-lined lamp and Italian style chest. On top of the chest is a particularly cherished piece—a hand painted box of a landscape with a gorgeous gold-leaf edge and bottom by artist Julie Robinson. I also collect abstract nude art. This framed piece one of many around my house.

If I collect anything it’s antique religious items! This bookcase in my master bedroom holds some of my favorite things: A collection of metal religious figures, handmade jeweled crosses and crowns atop antique bottles, and a stack of vintage Italian Florentine boxes (also a weakness of mine)! 

I think this foyer nook gives more great insight into my style. Some of my favorite art by Julie Robinson, a local Huntsville artist, hangs on the original 1907 plaster staircase wall. And then there are the pretty pieces on the table—an antique carved religious figure in one of my favorite colors, pink!—An antique Italian lamp with new gold leaf shade (I’m a lover of all things gold!)—and then bejeweled tiara atop candlestick. I love layering with little unexpected add ons! 

Brandeis Short || Pillar & Peacock

Master Bath Tub:  I have really enjoyed my tub during this stay at home time. I have been “treating” myself with a bath, a good book and a glass of wine! I can have some quiet time to myself! Paper is by Galbraith & Paul, light fixtures by Visual Comfort.

Nook in the Living Room:  this chair makes me super happy and really defines my love for color and pattern. A retro caned wingback found in my mother in law’s garage was brought back to life with Schumacher’s Chang Mai Dragon. Some of my favorite design books propped onto a very multipurpose indoor/outdoor martini stool from West Elm. 

Side Front Porch:  I can’t say enough about this this space. Thank GOD our porches were finished prior to this pandemic. We had them re-built and I was dying without them. They are a true extension of our home and possibly my favorite space in our whole house. I LOVE puzzles and have become a little spoiled and now only like doing Liberty Puzzles (wood) now! I have had one going on my game table inside and one on this outdoor porch. 

Front Porch (off of Living Room):  This is my reading porch. I love to sit out here and either listen to music or read. I am reading Harry Potter to my youngest right now! 

Game Table in Living Room:  I sit here often with a glass of wine. Just starting this puzzle that my husband gave last year for my birthday. It's a custom one of the girls in front of our Paris Air BnB's Apartment Doors. Dreaming of traveling! Behind is an antique armoire, a painting by a local Florence artist and some art books. 

Marianne Cook Windham || Windham Travel and Leisure

This is our office. Our home office was added specifically for our businesses back in 2007. We started Windham Entertainment the summer of 2004; and I started Windham Travel & Leisure the fall of 2005. Since we first added the office, we had done very little as far as updating. This January, I was already looking at paint colors, etc., and we were going to "get around" to doing a "refresh and revive". As it turned out, with the shelter at home order, I pushed myself to make quick and simple changes in order to create a more inspiring and happy work space. (Notice the gigantic bean bag-we cannot forget about the comfort of our fur babies.) Since the first week in March, my travel agency has been operating mostly in response to and at the mercy of the continually changing chaos and unknowns with Covid-19 in the current world situation. So making positive improvements and being 100% in control of my immediate surroundings has been immensely uplifting and gratifying for me.

Our bedroom has evolved into a space that we really enjoy. We love the warm walls and curtains and shears covering our double sliding glass doors out to a private courtyard. We created a built-in look from two chest of drawers, shelving, boards and molding, staining them all the same color as the chest of drawers. We attached lighting underneath and have rope lighting across the top of the molding. The purple valance was given to me as an extra from an antique store In Fayetteville Tennessee that we purchased several pieces of furniture from. I have always been fond of peacocks and their beautiful colors. 

My husband Darin is over 6’4”, and all of his life he’s been given different giraffe pieces. We even have a champagne colored pencil tree that is completely themed out with giraffe ornaments that we leave up all year. Love the ambience it adds to the mood year round. And we dream of going on an African safari in the next couple of years. It is a bucket list dream of ours! At some point we just decided we need to put all these things in one room and so here we are—giraffe art pieces and figures, peacocks, an elaborate purple valance and some added teal sequined shears for extra sparkle. Kind of a “boudoir safari” style. What would you call that? Boudoiari? Ha! May not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s unique to us; and we love it...and so do our doggies (leopard dog beds not pictured). Sweet dreams!

#huntsville #huntsvilleal #cornersofmyhome #love #homedecor #the scout guide #room decor #interior decorating #learn #kitchen #bedroom #bathroom #living room #homeoffice #office

[memorylang]

Goodbyes | #28 | February 2020

My Mongolia evacuation continued. From packing Wednesday night through Friday morning, I set forth that Friday, Feb. 28 on this serendipitously numbered story #28 for my last goodbyes. 

At this time the week before, I was months into Mongolia’s COVID-19 quarantine and beginning to uncover how I fit into my community’s decades-long history. Sunday night began Mongolian Lunar New Year’s. Wednesday night began my end in Mongolia. Time’s fast.  

I take you through my final day and a half seeing people I’d come to know and love the past six months. Despite packing stress, I felt grateful to have received the extra days so many other Peace Corps Volunteers never had. 

Friday’s Deliveries 

My supervisor was a huge help. 

While packing, I realized I still needed to grab my dress shoes from my desk at our uni’s department office. Thankfully, my supervisor picked those up for me the day before and brought them when she came to my apartment.

Now we were going downtown, for my first time since reading my evacuation notice. 

I had her take me first to the orphanage on the far side of town. There I dropped off an English word card game and a bag of candy from America. One of the teachers I taught said something when I greeted her in her office, but my supervisor helped explain I need to hurry back to America. The teacher gave the usual kind response of hoping to see me back soon. 

While we left, some children came down the stairs, noticed me and said something. So I said hi and made my exit quickly so as not to draw attention. I couldn't really be there.

Not long after, one of the teachers, my counterpart at the orphanage, wrote in our group chat her thanks for all my help to their community. 

Up next, my supervisor and I got in touch with one of our international relations sophomores. He visited my apartment one day on my way home, and he adored the Staples ‘Easy button’ I kept on my desk. When I mentioned returning to the States for Christmas, he insisted I buy him one—He wanted to be the only Mongolian with an ‘Easy button,’ haha. So I bought him one. 

My supervisor gave our student a phone call, and we drove back to the other side of town to meet him by the curb. I felt glad to see him again, having seen a mere handful of my students, the past months. Winter break extended from COVID-19 prevention precautions, after all. I handed off the parcel, we bid farewell, and my supervisor drove me to my next stop. 

After dropping off the Mongolian missal and hymnal books I borrowed from my church, the parish staff invited me to come back if I had free time. So I returned again, while my supervisor and my colleagues would get together to purchase me a farewell gift. I felt flattered.

Having gone through a frantic past 36 hours, I took a breather in the sanctuary. With the first Friday of Lent upon us, I figured no better time to pray some stress off. After kind thanks and farewells to my parish staff, I departed, for my supervisor returned. 

With My Department 

My supervisor drove us in search of a restaurant still open for lunch despite Coronavirus precautions. In the car also sat my Mongolian language teacher colleague. Coincidentally, I first met her while getting picked up by one of my English teacher colleagues back in August before school started.

At last, we found a restaurant, “Asia.” I recalled our community speaking club visited this one after one of our movie or speaking nights. While I was paging at first through the menu for something pretty small without meat, my supervisor insisted meat was definitely better. So she treated me and chose something bigger. Well, I decided to God, I did my best. 

My supervisor told my colleague I speak Mongolian very well, so we spoke a little. My colleague felt impressed! I felt impressed, too. The colleague and I hadn’t spoken much during the fall semester, despite sitting in the same office. 

My supervisor had her older son on video and had me talk to him in English. She mentioned Wednesday night he studied in Australia, so I felt pleasantly surprised to see him there with all the trees. I loved his pleasant accent. I felt relieved to know wildfires hadn’t done too much to his area. Seeing wide sidewalks of his city reminded me of what I’d find soon in the U.S.

At lunch’s end, my supervisor revealed our department’s gifts. I mentioned before how I loved wearing Mongolian clothing while sharing about the country. So among these was a beautiful Mongolian sky blue cashmere jacket. I don’t own any cashmere—so soft. I loved the color! I thought back to how in summer I thought my host family would gift my дээл /dehl/ in this color. But I received the amazing silver one instead. Funny how God gave me both hues. I felt honored and thrilled to wear their gift proudly in the States. 

Beyond their jacket, I received a fantastic new wallet and a third gift I’ll touch on later. But the wallet was fantastic, because I could finally retire the shambled card holder I’d used since my undergraduate freshman fall 2015. The gifts’ patterns too looked Mongolian to those who know the culture, but simple enough to just look neat to uninformed onlookers—great teaching moments! 

At last, I’d one more stop before evening’s end. 

In place of the American couple’s usual dinner and discussion, I instead enjoyed a late Last Supper with them who’d supported me so much. [Writing of Last Suppers, it’s Holy Thursday in Mongolia at the time of this story’s publication.] There I delivered another of my thank you cards. I even met another woman featured in the memoir I finished earlier in the week. Amazing!

Back at my apartment, I’d informed my students’ groups of my impending departure. I trusted they’d say bye if they wanted, but I’d be already done packing. I copied and pasted a similar message, which reminded me of what I did three years ago to inform people my mom died and I needed to leave my uni. But now I’d more peace and control. 

I tried on and loved my new Mongolian jacket. My supervisor said I could wear it before leaving Mongolia! Then I slept, minutes before midnight. 

Final Full Day, Among Friends 

Saturday, Feb. 29 morning, the older friend with whom I spent my Lunar New Year’s Eve and its First New Day came by to bring me to his friend he introduced me to before, on Sunday. 

My friend’s friend treated us to a wonderful brunch I felt so glad I didn’t need to cook for myself. He even gifted me instant Mongolian milk tea mixes, which I felt really excited about! 

That day my Mongolian friends meant to hike Mt. Bayan-Undur one last time with me. But schedules changed. So, after waiting in the cold nearly an hour, I hiked it instead with my older friend and his friend, up past the place I walked with my new friend Monday. Our manly trio summited then descended the front side, somewhat like the path I’d taken with the weekly hiking group I accompanied winter weekend mornings. 

After the hike, I parted ways with my older friend, who needed rest. I returned to his friend’s home, where the kind man served me a stir-fry with rice. It tasted like my summer host family's cooking. I miss them...

Gathering for My Farewell 

The man drove me back to my apartment after lunch. Along the way, we picked up my friends who couldn’t make the hike. I felt extremely grateful they’d say goodbye to me despite most Mongolians’ fears about the Coronavirus that hadn’t reached the country yet. 

We drove to some apartments and picked up the English teacher who attended our speaking clubs and befriended generations of us Peace Corps Volunteers and foreigners. We then drove to the local mall. There we picked both up the FLEX alumnus who taught with me at the orphanage and the basketball-loving high schooler whose energy never ceases to amaze. 

Upon returning home, the English teacher recognized my apartment as the same where one of my predecessors stayed, when the teacher was a student at my uni. My friends sat on the couch, keeping me company, while I brought out foods like candies, breads, and Mandarins and urged them to help me finish. The FLEX alumnus meanwhile penned a card, while we chatted. 

I felt amazed how resistant my friends felt to accepting my things, especially those they said they like. I tried to be very clear I wasn’t sure I could come back soon, so I shouldn’t leave food. I’d offer something, and they’d say, “Are you sure?” “Yes,” I insisted.

While by my fridge, one of them said, “Oh, I love strawberries.” 

"Really?” I said. “Great, let's eat them. In fact, you can take the whole bag.”

She looked giddy. I’m glad my friends took my American cereal, too, since I knew I could find plenty back in the States. And my friends gifted me so many great things. 

Sunset on My Last Day 

As light left the world, I declared my intention to see my last sunset upon the nearby mountain. The FLEX alumnus and the English teacher couldn’t stick around, since they needed to get home. We said goodbyes. But my high schooler friend stayed. The single nurse who dined at my Tsagaan Sar dinner Tuesday night visited to join me, too. 

Wearing my school’s gift, and accompanied by the high schooler and the nurse, we headed for the hill I loved. Luckily with the high schooler to translate, he helped the nurse when I said things she didn’t get. My Mongolian only got me so far. 

I loved this breather. I’d first been up on this hill during summer when I first tried wrapping my head around being a university instructor. My thoughts that day formed my fifth blog story. Throughout fall, I returned to this hill on free weekends. 

We reached the three овоо /aw-wah/ stone shrines, then we went further, through a valley to a higher place near the furthest I’d gone before. We waded through deep snow or carefully walked atop it. I felt extremely warm and didn’t even need my outer layers. 

Finally, we reached the furthest shrine. Beyond us, clouds across the distant mountains made rosy by the dusk looked beautiful. As custom, I walked the three clockwise rotations, adding new stones to the pile. 

My companions loved my energy. We admired the light. We took great photos. We rested some. And we readied to descend. 

With the sunset behind the hills, light would fade fast. But by the base, we’d time remaining. So I led us down a different path, back to see my school one last time. 

Reaching the street, the nurse said bye to us and took a taxi home. My high schooler friend accompanied me to walk the path I used to take home from the uni, across the primary/secondary school court, behind the kindergarten and back to my apartment. 

Staying in My Community 

The high schooler aspired to be my apartment's first and, among peers, final guest. 

I recalled how he told me once during our community speaking club at the library how he really loved the keychain tag Peace Corps Mongolia Volunteers have. Though I liked the tag, I decided back at that moment, I should give him mine at my service’s end. 

The day before, at church, I prayed on how I wanted to let go. But, selfishly, I still wanted something to identify my keys if I came back. Mere minutes later, at lunch with my supervisor and colleague, my department gifted me a Mongolian key holder. Then I really knew, I can part with my cool Peace Corps tag to brighten the kid's day. 

So, at my door, before the last farewell, I unclipped my Peace Corps tag and put it in his hand. He felt awed. 

He started recounting how he’d seen the tag of a Volunteer before and really wanted it. I assured him that’s why I wanted him to have my tag. I also let him have one of my Peace Corps conference name tags I always wore at speaking clubs, the one from my August Swear-In week. The kid proudly wore it, declaring himself “Daniel Lang.” 

Odd Hours

After my friend left, I received some weird phone calls. An unfamiliar man called, saying he was to pick me up. We basically chatted in Mongolian, as he described having problems reaching one of the soums tonight. I got the gist my early departure the next morning would be later instead. Sweet!

I informed groups, in case they still wanted to see me off but didn’t want to wake early. I also felt glad to know the soum he mentioned was where my pleasant Episcopalian Peace Corps Volunteer friend serves. So we’d be in the same evacuation vehicle! 

Then I got another call. This came from our Peace Corps Mongolia general service manager. He called to say my driver would arrive later instead of earlier but seemed confused when I said the driver called me about it. But it was fine. The manager sounded exasperated, so I exchanged small talk. The nationwide evacuation’d been logistical nightmare, with cars getting stuck and more. Woah. 

A little later the manager redialed to ask me to have my senior cohort sitemate call him, so my sitemate would know the change. I’d meet at my sitemate’s in the morning for departure. Good to know.

Last in My Community

As a Volunteer, my first and final duties are to give back to my community. I felt grateful friends helped in lending their car rides and willing arms to accept the gifts and donations I prepared and insisted people have. 

The week before, I asked God to help me give more generously and freely, as I witnessed in other Christians. This week offered that. I feel in some ways I repaid the copious amounts of food locals have fed me especially during Tsagaan Sar, by giving every last morsel in my fridge. I felt especially touched getting to share my last bread and fruits with whomever greeted me for my departure. 

My priest friend visited later that night. He apologized for not coming sooner, for he drove back from the capital as soon as Mongolia’s government reopened roads. He explained what was normally a day’s drive required going through so many military and police checkpoints. (I took a mental note to anticipate these.) Fortunately, he made it. He handed me two luggage locks, just what I needed for the suitcases I’d leave behind. 

The priest and I related on having had the saddest COVID-19 Ash Wednesday, with no Masses in Mongolia, apparently neither in Korea nor Taiwan. Then the priest helped me empty the remainder of my fridge, bagging the eggs, condiments, large ingredients and most major perishables. I assumed whatever he couldn’t use he could share with parishioners. He offered to give me a lift the next morning to get me where I needed. I thanked him for all his help. 

My older friend visited one final time, too. To him I bequeathed my hot sauce collection, much to his excitement. I also gave him as much remaining food as he’d willingly take. The plenty rest he insisted—like most Mongolians—I needed for my journey to the capital and America. I relented. I’d really miss this guy. He was swell. 

Afterward, silence restored, I wandered outside and across my apartment building to borrow a bathroom scale from a coffee shop owner, to weigh my checked bag. 

Packing Complete 

I repacked a ton, finally cramming my suitcase to what seemed passable. Then I walked back to return the scale. I’d enough food for my last breakfast. I pretty well knew the toothbrush and such I’d left to pack. So I set my last phone alarm. 

I accepted, at last, I could rest then. 

The next day would dawn our Peace Corps Week 2020, with March 1, so there I’m picking up. Join me next time. I’ll reunite for the first time in forever with Peace Corps staff and fellow Volunteers, now evacuees, from across the nation. 

You can read more from me here at DanielLang.me :)    

#Peace Corps #Mongolia #memoir #story #letitgo #Catholic #God #Tsagaan Sar #Lunar New Year #Last Supper #memoryLang #evacuation #Lent #goodbyes #Coronavirus #COVID-19 #winter #mountain #service #friendship

[easyfoodnetwork]

Everyone’s Making Sourdough Now — Here’s How to Get Started

Stack of sourdough photo by Cavan Images/Getty; hand with magnifying glass photo by Bahrudin Yusoff/EyeEm/Getty

If you want to get into making sourdough bread, you need a reliable recipe, a starter, and some basic tools.

Over the past two weeks, as millions of Americans started working from home and sheltering in place to slow the spread of COVID-19 across the country, King Arthur Flour’s website saw its highest traffic since the day before Thanksgiving. Bill Tine, King Arthur’s VP of marketing, told Eater’s Meghan McCarron that usually the site’s top post is a recipe for easy cheesecake. But since the pandemic hit, millions of people, homebound and bored, have flooded King Arthur’s servers in search of recipes for bread — more specifically, sourdough bread, in all of its glorious forms.

To those who are taking this quarantined time to get into baking bread, can I just say: welcome.

I started baking bread regularly at home a few years ago and have learned a few things along the way, namely that you need very little to make a loaf of bread that’ll feed many and please all. A mixture of flour, salt, water, and wild yeast will result in a delicious loaf, no matter how you do it, and while the process may feel intimidating at first, just remember: Humans have been doing this very thing for millennia. We just didn’t always have Instagram to make bread-making appear harder — and the resulting loaves more perfect — than it need be.

Begin with a good recipe

With that said, there is no shortage of sourdough recipes from which to choose: The best online recipes are Claire Saffitz’s guide for the New York Times, Sarah Owens’s table loaf recipe on Food52, and King Arthur’s artisan loaf recipe. If you’re interested in delving deeper into sourdough, books on the subject abound. For a comprehensive, all-encompassing guide, I recommend Owens’s Sourdough: Recipes for Rustic Fermented Breads, Sweets, Savories, and More, and if you’re looking for a more hearty, whole-wheat-leaning loaf, Parisian sourdough priestess Apollonia Poilâne’s Poilâne: The Secrets of the World-Famous Bread Bakery is a solid go-to. I’ve written up my own bread recipe here (an amalgam of a few recipes I’ve used over time) and made a basic, instructional video that leads you through the process at this link.

Make your starter

Guides in hand, the first thing that you’re going to need to make bread is a sourdough starter. A starter — also known as a levain, a mother, or a pre-ferment — is a lively mixture of flour and water combined with wild yeast and good bacteria captured from the air. It’s the ingredient that enables your sourdough bread to rise and what gives it its signature tangy flavor.

If you don’t have a starter right now, don’t worry. This King Arthur Flour recipe will teach you how to make your own at home, and though the slow process means you won’t be able to make bread right away (you’re waiting for your starter to come alive — you’ll start to see some activity after three days), you’ll get bragging rights for having made yours from scratch. Alternatively, Cook’s Illustrated’s Andrew Janjigian is teaching people how to make their own #quarantinystarter through his newsletter, and baker Lexie Smith has enlisted volunteers through her site Bread on Earth to send dried sourdough culture to interested parties around the world. You’ve got options!

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A post shared by Dayna Evans (@hidayna) on Sep 22, 2018 at 9:41am PDT

Tools you need to get bread baking

If you’re hoping to utilize this time of social distancing to learn this new skill in the absence of, say, taking up water skiing or bocce, there are a few tools you can invest in to make the most of your bread-making process.

A kitchen scale Most every baker will encourage you to invest in a kitchen scale, as nearly every bread recipe is written out in weight rather than volume. Different flours have different weights by volume and with a scale, you can get more precise measurements on smaller quantities of your ingredients, like salt and starter. I recommend the My Weigh KD-8000 scale, though any scale, preferably digital, should do.

A bench scraper I am borderline obsessed with my bench scraper. As the headline of this 2017 Bon Appétit story proclaimed, “Once You Have a Bench Scraper, You’ll Never Be Able to Live Without One.” It is sadly true. I sometimes consider tucking mine in at night. A bench scraper, when you hold it in your dominant hand while shaping dough, gives you more leverage and command than if you were only working with your hands. Even when I don’t end up using it to shape my bread, it’s a magical tool for scraping up bits of dried dough from my countertop, about 10,000 times more effective than a wet cloth. I love this one from King Arthur Flour — it has just the right heft.

A flexible razor blade I’d say the third most important tool to bake a successful loaf of sourdough is a good pack of flexible household razor blades — they’re about $10 for 100 of them. You’ll use one of these to score the top of your loaf right before it bakes, and you want to have at least a few extra in your kitchen drawer to swap in as the previous blade starts to dull. Typically, bakers will use a tool for scoring called a lame, which is a razor blade attached to a handle. It makes the process of scoring slightly more ergonomic and precise, but I’ve found a simple razor blade alone works, too, especially if you’re not looking to get too decorative or detailed with it.

A banneton

Some at-home bakers and most, if not all, commercial bakers own wicker baskets called bannetons (otherwise known as brotforms or proofing baskets). While they are not necessary, they do help bread keep its shape during the proofing, or fermenting/rising, stage so it’s not too slack and loose when you’re ready to put it in the oven. I find bannetons to be useful when I’m working with wetter doughs, as they wick away some of the surface moisture and encourage the dough to keep its shape. Bannetons also come in a variety of sizes, though ovals and rounds are the most common. In the absence of a banneton, a large bowl with a floured tea towel is a perfectly acceptable alternative for when your dough is rising, whether overnight or over a few hours.

A Dutch oven When it’s time to bake your bread, at-home bakers enlist Dutch ovens with lids to create the steamy environment necessary to give their loaves a crusty, crunchy exterior. This Lodge version is $45 and is perfectly serviceable for this purpose, though you can use most any heavy cast-iron or enamel pot, as long as it has a lid. (I bought my used Le Creuset from a reseller on Etsy, where they’re much cheaper and just as good.) If you’re not in the market for a new pot, there are alternative methods: I’ve used a baking sheet topped with a pasta pot as a jury-rigged solution. Just make sure that no matter what you use, you preheat your oven to 500 degrees at least 45 minutes before baking, preferably with your pot in it. Don’t have a lidded pot but you do have a loaf pan? I’ve put loaves of sourdough in this King Arthur 9-by-5 loaf pan plenty of times. Just tent the pan loosely with tin foil when you do, removing the foil 25 or so minutes into the baking.

What you don’t need

One thing you do not need is a dough whisk. Don’t bother!

Further Reading

If you want to understand more about the health benefits of sourdough bread, Vanessa Kimbell’s Sourdough School: The Ground-Breaking Guide to Making Gut-Friendly Bread gives great background. And for using your sourdough starter in many non-bread baked goods like banana bread and rye brownies (do it), Michelle Eshkeri’s Modern Sourdough: Sweet and Savoury Recipes from Margot Bakery is a fun resource. (One technical note: Shipping is likely delayed on these and the above titles through Amazon, so try your local independent bookstore online. Many are still fulfilling orders through their warehouses. In a pinch, I’ve downloaded one or two of these on my Kindle.)

All of these things — or, if you prefer, almost none of them, save for a sourdough starter — should help you hit the ground running in the sourdough bread department. If you want even more tips, Bread on Earth and the Fresh Loaf are good resources for any and all questions. And remember: While sourdough is a type of science, it’s certainly not rocket science. It should be fun and weird and cool and — above all — a good way to pass the time. I believe in you.

Dayna Evans is a Paris-based writer with a bread-baking newsletter you can subscribe to here.

Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. For more information, see our ethics policy.

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Stack of sourdough photo by Cavan Images/Getty; hand with magnifying glass photo by Bahrudin Yusoff/EyeEm/Getty

If you want to get into making sourdough bread, you need a reliable recipe, a starter, and some basic tools.

Over the past two weeks, as millions of Americans started working from home and sheltering in place to slow the spread of COVID-19 across the country, King Arthur Flour’s website saw its highest traffic since the day before Thanksgiving. Bill Tine, King Arthur’s VP of marketing, told Eater’s Meghan McCarron that usually the site’s top post is a recipe for easy cheesecake. But since the pandemic hit, millions of people, homebound and bored, have flooded King Arthur’s servers in search of recipes for bread — more specifically, sourdough bread, in all of its glorious forms.

To those who are taking this quarantined time to get into baking bread, can I just say: welcome.

I started baking bread regularly at home a few years ago and have learned a few things along the way, namely that you need very little to make a loaf of bread that’ll feed many and please all. A mixture of flour, salt, water, and wild yeast will result in a delicious loaf, no matter how you do it, and while the process may feel intimidating at first, just remember: Humans have been doing this very thing for millennia. We just didn’t always have Instagram to make bread-making appear harder — and the resulting loaves more perfect — than it need be.

Begin with a good recipe

With that said, there is no shortage of sourdough recipes from which to choose: The best online recipes are Claire Saffitz’s guide for the New York Times, Sarah Owens’s table loaf recipe on Food52, and King Arthur’s artisan loaf recipe. If you’re interested in delving deeper into sourdough, books on the subject abound. For a comprehensive, all-encompassing guide, I recommend Owens’s Sourdough: Recipes for Rustic Fermented Breads, Sweets, Savories, and More, and if you’re looking for a more hearty, whole-wheat-leaning loaf, Parisian sourdough priestess Apollonia Poilâne’s Poilâne: The Secrets of the World-Famous Bread Bakery is a solid go-to. I’ve written up my own bread recipe here (an amalgam of a few recipes I’ve used over time) and made a basic, instructional video that leads you through the process at this link.

Make your starter

Guides in hand, the first thing that you’re going to need to make bread is a sourdough starter. A starter — also known as a levain, a mother, or a pre-ferment — is a lively mixture of flour and water combined with wild yeast and good bacteria captured from the air. It’s the ingredient that enables your sourdough bread to rise and what gives it its signature tangy flavor.

If you don’t have a starter right now, don’t worry. This King Arthur Flour recipe will teach you how to make your own at home, and though the slow process means you won’t be able to make bread right away (you’re waiting for your starter to come alive — you’ll start to see some activity after three days), you’ll get bragging rights for having made yours from scratch. Alternatively, Cook’s Illustrated’s Andrew Janjigian is teaching people how to make their own #quarantinystarter through his newsletter, and baker Lexie Smith has enlisted volunteers through her site Bread on Earth to send dried sourdough culture to interested parties around the world. You’ve got options!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dayna Evans (@hidayna) on Sep 22, 2018 at 9:41am PDT

Tools you need to get bread baking

If you’re hoping to utilize this time of social distancing to learn this new skill in the absence of, say, taking up water skiing or bocce, there are a few tools you can invest in to make the most of your bread-making process.

A kitchen scale Most every baker will encourage you to invest in a kitchen scale, as nearly every bread recipe is written out in weight rather than volume. Different flours have different weights by volume and with a scale, you can get more precise measurements on smaller quantities of your ingredients, like salt and starter. I recommend the My Weigh KD-8000 scale, though any scale, preferably digital, should do.

A bench scraper I am borderline obsessed with my bench scraper. As the headline of this 2017 Bon Appétit story proclaimed, “Once You Have a Bench Scraper, You’ll Never Be Able to Live Without One.” It is sadly true. I sometimes consider tucking mine in at night. A bench scraper, when you hold it in your dominant hand while shaping dough, gives you more leverage and command than if you were only working with your hands. Even when I don’t end up using it to shape my bread, it’s a magical tool for scraping up bits of dried dough from my countertop, about 10,000 times more effective than a wet cloth. I love this one from King Arthur Flour — it has just the right heft.

A flexible razor blade I’d say the third most important tool to bake a successful loaf of sourdough is a good pack of flexible household razor blades — they’re about $10 for 100 of them. You’ll use one of these to score the top of your loaf right before it bakes, and you want to have at least a few extra in your kitchen drawer to swap in as the previous blade starts to dull. Typically, bakers will use a tool for scoring called a lame, which is a razor blade attached to a handle. It makes the process of scoring slightly more ergonomic and precise, but I’ve found a simple razor blade alone works, too, especially if you’re not looking to get too decorative or detailed with it.

A banneton

Some at-home bakers and most, if not all, commercial bakers own wicker baskets called bannetons (otherwise known as brotforms or proofing baskets). While they are not necessary, they do help bread keep its shape during the proofing, or fermenting/rising, stage so it’s not too slack and loose when you’re ready to put it in the oven. I find bannetons to be useful when I’m working with wetter doughs, as they wick away some of the surface moisture and encourage the dough to keep its shape. Bannetons also come in a variety of sizes, though ovals and rounds are the most common. In the absence of a banneton, a large bowl with a floured tea towel is a perfectly acceptable alternative for when your dough is rising, whether overnight or over a few hours.

A Dutch oven When it’s time to bake your bread, at-home bakers enlist Dutch ovens with lids to create the steamy environment necessary to give their loaves a crusty, crunchy exterior. This Lodge version is $45 and is perfectly serviceable for this purpose, though you can use most any heavy cast-iron or enamel pot, as long as it has a lid. (I bought my used Le Creuset from a reseller on Etsy, where they’re much cheaper and just as good.) If you’re not in the market for a new pot, there are alternative methods: I’ve used a baking sheet topped with a pasta pot as a jury-rigged solution. Just make sure that no matter what you use, you preheat your oven to 500 degrees at least 45 minutes before baking, preferably with your pot in it. Don’t have a lidded pot but you do have a loaf pan? I’ve put loaves of sourdough in this King Arthur 9-by-5 loaf pan plenty of times. Just tent the pan loosely with tin foil when you do, removing the foil 25 or so minutes into the baking.

What you don’t need

One thing you do not need is a dough whisk. Don’t bother!

Further Reading

If you want to understand more about the health benefits of sourdough bread, Vanessa Kimbell’s Sourdough School: The Ground-Breaking Guide to Making Gut-Friendly Bread gives great background. And for using your sourdough starter in many non-bread baked goods like banana bread and rye brownies (do it), Michelle Eshkeri’s Modern Sourdough: Sweet and Savoury Recipes from Margot Bakery is a fun resource. (One technical note: Shipping is likely delayed on these and the above titles through Amazon, so try your local independent bookstore online. Many are still fulfilling orders through their warehouses. In a pinch, I’ve downloaded one or two of these on my Kindle.)

All of these things — or, if you prefer, almost none of them, save for a sourdough starter — should help you hit the ground running in the sourdough bread department. If you want even more tips, Bread on Earth and the Fresh Loaf are good resources for any and all questions. And remember: While sourdough is a type of science, it’s certainly not rocket science. It should be fun and weird and cool and — above all — a good way to pass the time. I believe in you.

Dayna Evans is a Paris-based writer with a bread-baking newsletter you can subscribe to here.

Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. For more information, see our ethics policy.

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In 1987, Disney launched one of the more successful ad campaigns in its history. It ran right after the Super Bowl game between the New York Giants and Denver Broncos when winning the Giants’ quarterback, Phil Simms, was asked a question that we at PYMNTS wholly approve of: “What’s next?

Simms gave the answer that has since become so famous as to become a meme: “I’m going to Disney World!”

The phrase has since been uttered quite a few times, by many, many sports luminaries: Magic Johnson, Nancy Kerrigan, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the 2004 World Series Boston Red Sox. Peyton Manning said it when asked the “what’s next” question after winning the 2005 Super Bowl in a post-interview, despite the fact that Disney didn’t have an ad buy that year. He was, apparently, actually going to Disney World and wanted us all to know.

But this week, no one is saying it. Or at least no one is accurately saying it, because as of Monday (March 16), both Disney World and Disneyland will be shut down for at least the next two weeks (and likely beyond that), in the longest continual closure in over 50 years. And honestly, if one were seeking a metaphor for what the next couple of weeks of social distancing will look like, they could do worse than “the happiest and most magical places on Earth are closed for business indefinitely.”

Sports teams are not playing, international flights are not flying, March will not have madness, cruise ships are not sailing and, while consumers are ordering food from restaurants, they aren’t eating in them, preferring instead to have them delivered, with as little human contact as possible.

Even casinos are trying to cut back on the contact between their patrons. Not the gambling part – thus far, there has been no discussion about shutting down gaming floors anywhere. There have been moves to install hand sanitizer dispensers at entrances and exits to the gaming areas, and reports that thermal cameras have been installed to scan for patrons who may have elevated temperatures. But aside from gambling, casinos are increasingly unwilling to take the risk: They are closing down shows, poker tournaments and – most horrifyingly – the gourmet buffet meals for which they are known.

One might wonder, in a country that seems to be losing Mickey Mouse, March Madness and discounted all-you-can-eat chicken parm all in the same week, what’s next? At this point, it might be reasonable to determine that fun is on hold in America – and that we as a people have resigned ourselves to depression or boredom.

But, as a highly scientific study by PYMNTS reveals, this is not the case. Americans are brave people. Strong people. People who (mostly) have Prime accounts and the will to think outside of the box when they can’t go out. And so, across our various staffers and social media connections, we asked a simple question:

“Have you bought anything unusual to prepare for the COVID-19 virus – and will you tell us about it?”

And we got plenty of answers and insights – the first of which is that Americans are not going to be bored at the end of this, but we may all be fat. While we’ve seen some actual data to support this in the form of increased food sales, the anecdotal information confirms that when things get tough, people eat their feelings.

And no one’s feelings seem to taste like vegetables.

Among the better answers we received was Girl Scout cookies, as a surprising number of the 100 or so people we heard from were willing to brave human contact while picking up toilet paper at the grocery store to stop and see the intrepid Brownies, Daisies and Cadets selling amid the outbreak. As for cookie preference, Tagalongs and Samoas topped the list. Another respondent noted that in preparation for being shut in, they had purchased 30 boxes of pretzel Pop-Tarts after discovering that the store was out of sliced bread. (This respondent did not seem the least bit disappointed by this outcome.)

Another reader became very territorial in a short amount of time. “I bought Hot Pockets. I have zero intentions of giving any to my child. Those things are solely mine, and they would need to fight me for one,” a Facebook respondent noted.

The best reply, however, involved no words at all. This person just sent a picture without a caption that more or less said it all.

The respondent did send a follow-up message indicating that they had also purchased a five-pound bag of rice, so they are clearly prepared.

We would also like to give an honorable mention to the one respondent who mentioned some type of food or drink that isn’t entirely unhealthy. However, this person didn’t technically purchase the item for themselves, so they unfortunately cannot win an impulse buying competition. Still, they do get points for finding a snack and a new hobby all in one:

“My boyfriend bought me a kombucha-making set – thermometer, pH strips, tea bags, container, cloth, starter SCOBY, the whole thing – and it has made me SO happy!”

And those who won’t be snacking through this work-from-home period do seem to be making purchases to support hobbies. Popular responses included coloring books, exercise equipment, gardening supplies and arts-and-crafts goods. And, of course, many report binge-watching reality television or movies about outbreaks and plagues.

The arts and crafts supplies, incidentally, were most common among parents with children who are unexpectedly off for a few weeks – the overwhelming enthusiasm for gel pens and glitter glue cannot be overstated.

Also popular among parents were toys – and not for their kids. It seems clear that they intend to let their kids play with their Legos and video games, but as with the Hot Pocket enthusiast above, ownership clearly flows one way.

“My son and I went to GameStop to get extra game controllers and new video games for family gaming sessions during any bad weather while they’re out of school,” one respondent noted, using the euphemism “family gaming sessions” to denote “those are my new games, but I am willing to let them play.”

And then there were our favorite responses, all from PYMNTS staff, a group whose answers were unique in two ways.

The first: While most social media responses mentioned bleach, wipes, hand sanitizer or some other kind of cleaning agent, PYMNTS team members universally stuck to the assignment and only mentioned fun items as a demographic.

The second: PYMNTS staff members have some truly excellent ideas about what constitutes fun. The top four, in order:

“An expensive dress that I will never wear, but made me happy. It is fuchsia.”

“Prada. And a Minnie music box that plays James Taylor’s ‘You’ve Got A Friend.’”

“A condominium for my four cats, who are clearly better cared for than my children.”

And finally: “Neck cream, so if I die, at least my neck will look like a gazelle’s.”

Clearly, our priorities are in line.

Though it might be a slow few weeks to come, they likely won’t be devoid of entertainment or commerce. As it turns out, when locked inside, consumers create their own fun.

——————————–

Exclusive PYMNTS Report: 

B2B APIs aren’t just for large enterprises anymore — middle-market firms and SMBs now realize their potential for enabling low-cost access to real-time payments and account data. But those capabilities are only the tip of the API iceberg, says HSBC global head of liquidity and cash management Diane Reyes. In the March 2020 B2B API Tracker, Reyes explains how the next wave of banking APIs could fight payments fraud and proactively alert middle-market treasurers to investment opportunities.

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