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happyhauntt · 1 month

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bury these bones — spencer reid.

writing masterlist | askbox

─── summary: spencer's day isn't anything more than average, but a surprise phone call and impromptu hospital visit have him rethinking his expectations.

─── pairing: spencer reid x autistic!medical examiner!reader.

─── warnings: fluff, a little angst, reader is autistic & a mom, no use of y/n. swearing. mild description of injuries (not serious), references to the 'lauren' arc of season 6, hospitals, this is mostly just flirting with a bit of background angst. i did do some research but honestly all facts & figures in this are probably Not Accurate and should absolutely never be repeated.

─── word count: 1.9k.

IT ISN’T OFTEN THAT SPENCER is the first one into the office. More often than not, Hotch is already at his desk by the time dawn breaks, and Morgan can usually be found finishing up in the gym. Nobody ever expects Rossi to arrive on time — he usually strolls in a little after 9:30 with his blazer slung over his arm and a half-finished espresso in his hand — and Emily maintains some semblance of a work-life balance by appearing no sooner than work is supposed to start, if she can help it.

The point, Spencer supposes, is that his routine usually falls comfortably in the middle and yet, today, as he emerges from the elevator and heads towards his desk, the bullpen is almost eerily quiet.

Bizarre, he thinks, setting his bag down by his chair. The BAU is so often abuzz with activity, the low hum of worker bees all in a hive slipping into background noise, that to see it so empty is… jarring, to say the least.

Spencer heads for the kitchen after a moment, ears ringing in the silence, and makes a pot of coffee before meandering back to his desk. A glance at the clock tells him that it’s still early, and as a mouthful of too-sweet coffee sits on his tongue, he reaches into his bag and draws out today’s paper, flipping through to the crossword.

Silence is golden, after all. If he’s lucky, he’ll beat his personal best.

He’s halfway through, about to move on to 6, down, when the phone rings. The shrill sound of it pierces the air, and Spencer can’t help flinching a little as it startles him. Eyes dart all over the bullpen, trying to locate the source of the noise, before they land on Emily's desk. The offending phone trills on and on. One of the lights blinks red. External call.

He discards the newspaper on his desk, tucking a spare pen inside so the page isn’t lost, and strides across the office to Emily’s desk to answer the phone. It won’t be the first time he’s taken a message for one of his coworkers, and he suspects Emily would rather this than letting the call ring out.

“Agent Prentiss’ phone.” His voice feels too loud in the sudden silence of the office, now that the ringing has ceased. “Dr. Reid speaking. Can I help you?”

“Dr. Reid?” The voice crackling down the line lilts with confusion, and his chest floods with warmth at the familiarity of it.

He can almost picture you, in his mind’s eye. The exact expression on your face as you hear him speak instead of Emily, the little scrunch of your nose, your head tilting to the side. It’s the same look you have when you find something strange inside a cadaver.

The same bewildered wrinkle appears between your brows when you’re on the plane after a case and Spencer’s trying to teach you how to play chess, and you start to laugh and tell him you’re hopeless, but his persistence is endearing, so you let him explain the rules all over again.

(You’ve only been part of the team for a few months, only accompanied them on cases a handful of times, but the sound of your voice is as familiar to him as the moon on a winter’s night. He can’t quite put his finger on when or how he became so attuned to you, drawn in the same way the moon pulls the tide, but he’s certainly not complaining.)

“I keep telling you to call me Spencer.” An amused smile tugs at the corner of his mouth.

You scoff. “That’s not professional.”

“Our technical analyst tucks fluffy pens into her hair, and on our last case together I walked in on you dancing to Abba in the middle of an autopsy. I think professionalism is a thing of the past.”

“Bite me, Dr. Reid,” you say, but your words are flooded with affection. “Where’s Prentiss? Why are you answering her phone?”

Spencer shrugs. “She’s not in yet. Anything I can help with?”

Silence. If not for the sound of your breathing, Spencer might think the call dropped.

Another moment passes before you swallow thickly, a quiet gulp that sends an odd zing skittering through Spencer’s nervous system.

“I need a favour and I don’t want to worry Jackie.”

From what he’s heard about your sister-in-law, Spencer thinks that’s fair. “Sure, what is it?”

“Can you pick me up from the hospital?”

Recent surveys conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago suggest that almost half of the American population dislike hospitals, so Spencer knows he’s not alone in his discomfort, but none of his facts and figures are helpful the moment he steps into the Emergency Room at St. Sebastian’s.

The clinical scent of disinfectant sends a thousand tiny spiders crawling up his spine. He tries not to gag but he swears he can taste it at the back of his throat. Spencer forces himself to pause near the door and shuts his eyes, just for a moment, to focus on the solid ground beneath his feet rather than the lurching of his stomach.

In his line of work, he’s no stranger to hospitals. To meandering through long, dim corridors in search of something to occupy his thoughts, of all the beige and stark white walls so bright it hurts his eyes, of lumpy hospital beds and IVs itching beneath his skin and that smell.

He was here, not that long ago. He’d wept when they told him Emily had died in surgery, and she’s fine now, but he can still taste iron on his tongue and sometimes it’s still hard to believe she’s alive until she walks through the door unharmed.

When he opens his eyes again, the ER is still the same, but the unpleasant churning in his stomach has started to subside. At the desk, he reels off your name, stuttering as he goes, before the nurse directs him over to Bay 3.

I was in a car accident. That’s what you’d said on the phone, and his whole body had gone suddenly cold even though you’d seemed oddly cheery, and he’d had to remind himself to breathe. You were calling, not a nurse or a doctor, so it surely couldn’t be that bad.

But he doesn’t believe it, not really. Not until he sets eyes on you himself. Not until he can see the truth right in front of him.

You’re sitting cross-legged on one of the narrow ER beds. The curtain is pushed out of the way, and he can see your shoes have been tucked neatly beside the bed and your socks have little mushrooms on them. You’re not in a hospital gown but jeans, and a laugh bubbles up in his throat because your shirt says ‘meaner than I look’, which is patently untrue in his experience — but he also files this away in the rolodex of reasons you should call him Spencer, because you were going to show up to work dressed like this, and he never wants to hear the word professional out of your mouth again.

He also wants to take a picture, kind of, because there’s something so endearing about the image. He’s often grateful to have an eidetic memory, but never more than in this moment. He wants to remember this forever.

Spencer clears his throat as he approaches. The smile you send him as you look up and notice him is bright and wide and it makes him feel all warm and happy, like a cat curled up in a patch of sunlight.

“What happened?” His gaze is wary as it trails over you from head to toe, quickly cataloguing all your injuries. You hadn’t explained much over the phone, and he hadn’t thought to ask in his haste to reach the hospital, but now his eyes snag on the bruise blossoming over your cheek and it’s all he can think about.

You don’t look too bad, all things considered.

The bruise looks worse than it feels. The collar of your shirt is speckled with blood, but the cut above your temple is shallow and sealed with two steri-strips.

All-in-all, it could’ve been worse.

“My tire blew while I was driving into work this morning,” you tell him as you tuck an errant strand of hair behind your ear. “The car spun out. All of this—” You gesture vaguely at your face, “was caused by the airbag. But I’m fine.”

It’s not that Spencer thinks you’re lying. It’s not.

But you can’t quite look him in the eye, and you’re wearing the same guilty expression you have when you pilfer the last of the coffee, so he’s not about to take your word for it.

A quick glance at your chart offers all the answers.

“You have a concussion!”

“A mild concussion! Mild! I don’t even have a headache!”

It’s a good thing you called him— or, well, Emily, rather than your sister-in-law. According to you, Jackie has been known to freak out over a paper cut. This might have given her a coronary.

Spencer frowns. “You needed a CT scan.”

“Precautionary measure.” A nonchalant wave of your hand follows your words. “I’m a doctor too, remember? I’m fine. Really.”

“They say doctors make the worst patients.”

You grin at him. “I already had a meltdown in the bathroom earlier. Scared a nurse. I think he wanted to sedate me but then he saw my lanyard and he took me to a quiet room to decompress. I’m good, I promise.”

The lanyard in question is covered in little sunflowers and tucked inside one of your shoes for safekeeping. Displayed on one side of the little plastic window is your Quantico identification; on the other, a little slip of paper Spencer suspects you made yourself, judging by the pink floral background and slanting script that I’m autistic and trying my fucking best.

The sight of it is familiar to him now, the same way your smile is seared onto his brain for eternity, but he recalls seeing it for the first time and chuckling. You’d offered to get one for him, too, gleefully declaring that you’re just like a sunflower, Dr. Reid, and there’d been so many butterflies in his stomach that he could have taken flight, then and there.

Now he merely hums, and shoves his hands deep into his pockets. Stepping back, he watches as you slip your shoes back on and shoulder your bag, having signed a release form not long before he arrived.

“Hey, Spencer?” Your voice is small, and the way you’re looking at him, all wide-eyed and wonderful, brings those butterflies back tenfold. He hopes the flush of his cheeks isn’t too obvious.

“Yeah?”

“Thank you for coming to get me. I’m really okay, I promise. I’ve had worse.”

His heart pinches.

He doesn’t like that you’ve had worse.

“Well,” he says, after a moment too long of staring at you, “mild or not, I’m not leaving you alone for the rest of the day. We’re going to follow the concussion protocol. 65% of people reported developing hearing and memory problems as a result of missed symptoms of head-related trauma last year.”

�� You’re watching him. The corner of your eyes are a little wrinkled. A fond smile toys on your lips. “I expected nothing less, Dr. Reid.”

#criminal minds #spencer reid #criminal minds fanfic #spencer reid fanfic #spencer reid x reader #spencer reid fluff #spencer reid imagine #criminal minds imagine #* chapter update.

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tetw · 7 months

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5 Great Essays about the Psychology of Love

The Science of Love by Barbara Fredrickson - We each carry an intricate machinery of love, calibrating and attuning our moods and bodies to one another

The Rejection Lab by Alison Kinney - What can researching human responses to rejection tell us about ourselves?

Love Is Like Cocaine by Helen Fisher - From ecstasy to withdrawal, the lover resembles an addict

Endless Love by Aaron Ben-Ze’ev - We no longer expect passion to last a lifetime, but some couples do stay in love to the end. What’s their secret?

Love by Lauren Slater - Scientists say that the brain chemistry of infatuation is akin to mental illness—which gives new meaning to ‘madly in love'

#essays #articles #psychology #love

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infj-zen · 6 months

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Introversion vs Extroversion : NTPs

A look at introversion and extroversion in MBTI types using familial examples.

INTP & ENTP

Ruth Bader Ginsburg & Jane Ginsburg | interview & talk

Christopher Kennedy & Douglas Kennedy | interview & interview

Josiah Duggar & Jim Bob Duggar | interview & interview

Edwin Schlossberg & Rose Schlossberg | interview & interview-show

Freeman Dyson & Esther Dyson | joint interview

Noam Chomsky & Aviva Chomsky | interview & interview

Stanley Kubrick & Vivian Kubrick | speech & interview

Harold Schechter & Lauren Oliver | joint interview

Relative Differences : INTP <--> ENTP

Processing speed (speech) slower <--> faster

Degree of projection (vocal quality, physical gesturing, manic energy) lesser <--> greater

Focus (lifestyle, career choices): ability to uni-focus <--> multi-task

Attuned to other people less <--> more

Eye contact: narrow soft focus <--> wide focus

#intp #entp

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sharpened--edges · 2 years

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Whatever else we mean by the “internet” now, we mean, by way of the rise of social media, a certain shared climate of feeling, an animated and sped-up hubbub of the discourse of human interest. By turns soothing and bruising, it is the very medium of what Lauren Berlant, correcting a long-standing tendency to think of emotions as internal and private, has described instead as public feelings. They are the affective substance of political life, the very thing, even more than political ideas, to which online citizenship has become attuned and by which it is increasingly deranged. […] While the tenor of our online exchanges runs the gamut from deepest sympathy to savage snark, one of the internet’s signature speech genres is surely the rant, the hyped-up rhetorical expression of mockingly contemptuous dismay.

Mark McGurl, Everything and Less: The Novel in the Age of Amazon (Verso, 2021), p. 70.

#mark mcgurl

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a-lbeit · 1 year

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2022: a year in review

i never ended up writing one of these for 2021, so maybe i’ll throw some stuff from there in here, too

a brief summary of 2021--benny, soaring highs and a rock-bottom low, exercise, school, getting reacquainted with the working world and working more than ever before, trying to become more attuned to adulthood, reuniting with old friends, car ownership, and uncertainty

alright, now onto 2022. i would like to write more about 2021, and i wish i had done so earlier like i should have, but, as we all know, life just strikes you sometimes. those memories and experiences, or at least the essences of them, will be there for me to reminisce on and reference.

rang in the new year at benny’s house, drunk with coworkers and benny’s friends. it was messy, but hey, a new year’s kiss is always something to smile about when you look back on it.

got boosted

had a visit from my parents. the first time i’d seen them in over 2 years--since i had broken my ankle and gone back to charleston for a few weeks. it was such a perfect week, one that i will forever cherish. they took the train out here, across the country like they’d talked about doing for so long. we went to riverside, to the house my father spent several childhood years in. he hadn’t seen it since then, i don’t think. we went up mt. rubidoux, something he’d always wanted to do. i took them to disneyland, of course, with benny, who they also finally had a chance to meet. we rode the holiday version of it’s a small world, which so fortuitously had a longer stint at the resort than usual because it had opened late because of a flooded mechanics room or something. took them to the top of the world and to urth caffe and the huntington library. i cried when they left.

had to get tested weekly for covid at work for a while; it was kind of fun to get bumped to take it on the clock. things were looking kinda bad again with covid for a while there, and i got slightly worried that the park would close again.

had a visit from lauren and david. we all stayed in an airbnb together and i showed them around socal. we went to san diego, disney (of course), la, huntington gardens. benny’s and my first anniversary happened somewhere in there. it was sunny and beautiful and lauren got a tattoo :)

stayed at a cabin in wrightwood for valentine’s day with benny. it was relaxing, sexy, and we even got just enough snow for it to be romantic but not a burden. we played pool, cooked, walked, and shopped around with little to no worries for a few days. on the way back, we went to the mcdonald’s museum in san bernardino.

went to the parks with friends. it’s nice to be able to do that stuff again--sometimes i think about how “normal” our lives have become again in the wake of covid and i realize i forget how easily things can change in our puny little lives

went to a wedding expo with mindy. i enjoyed it, but i think more and more about how i don’t want a wedding celebration.

disney had a little cast member event for the (then) upcoming toontown renovation before it closed for the next year. it was cute to be a part of that.

gas prices went up, up, up, and we all felt it

had a little date night with benny at this really cool bar in huntington. i wish we had time (read: i wish i put in more effort to have more time and energy) to do more of that

received melissa and glenn’s wedding announcement. i was nervous to be her maid of honor but so excited

saw so many snails

did our little semiannual vegas trip. it’s always nice to hang with benny’s best friend and see the hoover dam and just have fun. we played twilight zone mini golf, went to a cirque show (thanks to miguel’s roommate), got dutch bros, swam in lake mead. the whole bit. benny and i even got matching temporary tats.

made the difficult decision to remove my eyebrow piercing. it had migrated a lot and my management team had said a couple things to my leads about the prominence of the plastic retainer. maybe some day i’ll pierce it again. i miss it sometimes, but i knew it was time. it didn’t look good anymore after constantly having to switch out the jewelry.

had a roommate reunion at disney with rozi, taleeah, and daisy. it was nice. i miss living with them.

parallel parked my heart out. i can fit almost anywhere.

helped john krasinski and emily blunt at autopia :)

went to the parks with mindy for her birthday. i’m so grateful to have her in my life, to have someone so different yet similar to me.

appreciated and loved fred more and more. he deserves the blue nametag more than anyone.

went to a couple disney cast member softball games. it’s fun to watch your coworkers play.

somewhere in between all this, i interviewed (for the second time) to become a trainer at autopia, and my manager told me yes--i was very wary and jaded when he told me, since he told me no last time without having that clear of a reason. but he congratulated me and i was grateful that he saw potential in me.

had a cute 4am shift. we had to help test the speed of the cars. it was beautiful, and fred bought us breakfast. a national treasure.

i needed the first two weeks in june off, and management granted me a personal leave. sometimes, i really do appreciate them.

finally, the day came. i flew back to charleston for the first time since my broke ass ankle to celebrate melissa and glenn. and i took benny along for the ride. we flew in, reunited with my parents, got some finishing touches for the bachelorette party (freaking out in the meantime). the other bridesmaids and i took melissa to brunch, a lil gift exchange, and a sunset cruise piloted (is that the right word?) by her favorite high school teacher. it was nice, lowkey day. and then the rehearsal dinner was the next day and the wedding the next. melissa looked so beautiful (as she always does) and the wedding was perfect. the ceremony took place outside and it started to rain beforehand, so they ended up pushing it back an hour and having a cocktail hour first. everything worked out and the lighting was perfect. i loved seeing melissa and glenn’s first dance and her dance with her parents. and i was so grateful to her to include me in the day. she’s my oldest friend and i love her so much.

in the couple days after the wedding, i hung with my parents and lauren and david. we did a ghost tour and, most importantly, went to waffle house.

immediately after, benny and i flew to denver. somehow for the past 2 years, i had been taking classes and completing the requirements for my master’s degree, and i was sure as hell gonna walk in my graduation. we took a night flight and arrived in denver late; we stayed overnight in the airport to save some money. it surprisingly wasn’t too bad, except for waking up at one point to a man on the other side of the bench shaking around. but it was okay. we left in the morning and went to the university of denver campus so i could take a covid test, then got some food from a turkish restaurant nearby while we waited to check in to our airbnb. when the time finally came and we got to our room, i was so happy to not have to lug around my heavy suitcase anymore. we showered and headed downtown to walk around and get some dinner at a place a coworker of ours had recommended. he recommended a lot of stuff since he used to live in the area, but i think that’s the only one we ended up taking.

i also got a phone call that day from our scheduler asking me about scheduling my training to be a trainer, since the days went against my availability. i was nervous to see it on my next schedule, but excited to have it finally happen.

on our walk around, we went to voodoo doughnuts and ordered one each, but the worker gave us double. it’s always an exciting treat to get more than you pay for.

spent the next day exploring denver. we toured the capitol (and got a beautiful view of the rockies from the balcony of the dome), explored cute shops, and i felt pretty dead at a couple points. i fell asleep on a bench for a minute, but it was all right. we ended at a foresty bar my friend had recommended and played foosball.

the next day, i officially ‘graduated.’ there was cake at the reception before the actual ceremony, and then we sat through 3 hours of names being called before it was finally time for my section. benny is such patient man. i met up with him after it finally ended (he sat in the audience; i sat with the other graduates), and he had gotten me a lei and a teddy bear wearing a cap and gown. we got dinner at an italian place my friend had recommended,

the next day was our last in denver. we explored some more, including checking out a zine library and getting pics in a big tire. we ended the day with takeout in the park along the river next to the huge REI.

we rented a car and headed to boulder for a couple days. on the way, we stopped at a wildlife refuge and almost got caught in a lightning storm. everything was great until we tried to arrive at our airbnb up a dark, windy road quite late (around 10pm or so, maybe), only to find a dark house. we rang the bell a couple times and eventually, a shirtless man answered and said there was no airbnb here. i would have panicked if we didn’t have a car that we could have slept in. however, we ended up heading back into town and spent $200 on a hotel. we sure as hell stuffed ourselves at the free breakfast the next day and booked a new airbnb for the rest of the time. airbnb was incredibly helpful and refunded us as well as gave us some credit for the next airbnb. it was an ordeal, but it was okay.

we didn’t let that mishap affect us too much. we had things to do. after we got everything situated, we headed up to estes park to take the aerial tram as well as visit the stanley. it was a beautiful day, in the end. we even took that long road in rocky mountain national park that goes all the way to the top to see the sunset and the snow on the ground. and when we arrived at our new airbnb, everything was just as described, and they even had 2 dogs that almost made me become a dog person--they were fluffy, well-groomed, and quiet.

we went back into the national park the next day for a horseback ride and some hiking. i got very sniffly after the ride (i guess i’m a bit allergic to horses) and napped for a bit in the car. we did a beautiful and uncrowded hike to one of the alpine lakes.

the next day was our flight home, but we had the morning still. we said goodbye to the dogs and went to red rocks before going to the airport. our flight ended up getting delayed, so i asked for meal vouchers. again, we stuffed ourselves.

went back to work. a few days later was benny’s birthday. at the time, my friend rozi was working at this company that’s sort of a blend of airbnb and a hotel, and she majorly hooked it up and got us a 3-night stay at this beautiful property in laguna for free. i surprised benny, although i had to train people at work during a couple of the days. that place was low-key and luxurious.

got signed off as a trainer, although i sucked at time management at first. but we all do.

the day i had my star tours refresh class, i did practically nothing all day at work. it was glorious

i was so tan in the summer. i’m sure i’ll get there again this summer (while still lathering on sunscreen, of course)

a few days before my birthday, benny got covid. i spent the days around it getting free food; on my birthday, i took a solo trip to the san diego area and laid on the beach. i was a bit lonely, but i’m also in love with spending time with myself. i’ve always known how introverted and independent i am, but i’ve really realized over the past year that i need to spend significant amounts of time in my life by myself.

got retrained at nemo a little while after benny did. they had a photo session for us while we were still cycling before the ride officially reopened, and we got really cute pictures that i’ll always treasure. once it reopened, though, we all quickly realized that if you had nemo knowledge, you were stuck at nemo. i was mad that my fellow trainers were getting training shifts and i was stuck.

put up shelves in my bedroom lmao

went to natalie’s baby shower. i was scared but also so happy for her. she was ready. and the shower was beautiful

had a much-needed day with rozi--we got our cars washed (for free, of course), had coffee and acai at our old place, and ended up at disneyland. it had been too long.

got a tour of walt’s apartment

became full-time soon after i turned 26. thank god--i now needed health insurance.

saw shakey graves with benny--i miss the time in my life where i was obsessed with him and live music. i think i’ve said this before, but i’ve kind of outgrown concerts. it was a time in my life i’ll always treasure, though. it makes me miss college and especially dc--taking the metro to the 9:30 club and the anthem.

started my first solo training set

benny and i took a cruise! it a short 4-night, 3-day cruise, and it was perfect. we stuffed our fucking faces, went swimming at the beach in catalina, took a taxi in mexico and got free alcohol, and explored the ship. i know cruises are so awful for the environment (the irony of graduating just about 2 months prior with a master’s in environmental policy and management, i know), but goddamn, they’re so much fun and honestly quite cheap if you do it right. the morning of debarkation, though, i got a text (once we regained service) from my mom asking me to call her. i figured i would do it after we got off the ship, but then she ended up calling me (she had actually sent the message the previous evening) during breakfast to tell me my grandmother had died. i was so so grateful that i’d had the opportunity to see her one last time back in june when benny and i went to charleston for melissa’s wedding. otherwise, i probably wouldn’t have seen her since 2019 when my ankle was broken. i couldn’t even imagine what my father was feeling. he had found her gasping for air after he brought dinner to her apartment for her. she didn’t make it through the night.

the next day, went right back into finishing my first solo training set. my stomach hurt, i guess from the food and the news. one of my trainees, a transfer from custodial, confided in me that she wanted to stop training and go back to custodial. we talked to management and made that happen for her. it felt nice to be able to support her during all of it.

a killer heat wave made work laughably awful--but that’s climate change for ya, i guess

went to the dentist for the first time in about 3 years. they removed my ‘old-school’ metal retainers (which, admittedly, the top one had broken) and got me set up for new plastic ones to wear overnight. no cavities!

went to the walt disney studios in burbank and ripley’s believe it or not on hollywood blvd, which my parents had gotten me tickets for for my birthday. i love doing stuff like that, even if it’s touristy.

benny and i went to shaqtoberfest. it was actually a lot of fun LMAO

funeral arrangements were sort of up in the air for a while. it ended up happening in october, although her death was in late august. i went back to charleston for it. my father’s resilience floors me. i look up to him so much. my mother and i went to my parents’ safety deposit box to pick out jewelry to wear to the funeral. i wore my grandmother’s brooch and ring. it was a sad occasion, but it was nice to be reunited with some family i hadn’t seen since before covid. i miss my family and especially my parents. i realized i would like to make an effort to visit them more frequently. i love spending time with them as adults.

after my return, benny and i did some halloweeny stuff. i don’t like the holiday that much, but i love going to all the neighborhood festivals and block parties and events.

finally used my flight credit from when rozi, britt, and i were supposed to visit blake in tennessee back in 2020. i went to austin, my first time in texas. mindy’s parents live outside of austin, and she actually flew there a day after me--she had to pick up her mom’s wedding dress, and it was great timing. i stayed in an airbnb for a night and explored the city (and the college campus--i got free tacos and really missed the campus experience) on my own, and then met up with her and her family the next day. they graciously let me stay there for a few days. her family is so relaxed, and i appreciated how easy it was to be with them. i would like to return to austin by myself or with benny sometime, though.

took a ‘cast preview’ holiday tour of disneyland. we got soaked in the rain, but still had so much fun. i love the holiday season, and maybe one day i’ll stop letting myself be so consumed by work around that time and actually be able to enjoy everything.

learned the monorail, something i had been trying to do for close to a year.

surprised benny with a trip up to the bay. i don’t know why--i had just been wanting to take a weekend trip since like april to visit pinnacles national park. i told him to make sure to request the days off, and when the time came, we left right after work. we drove up the 5 and finally, around 9:30 or 10pm, we pulled into the campground. he’d had a hunch this was what i was surprising him with. we slept in the car and freezed our asses off. we did a hike (featuring a couple caves!) the next day and went to an airbnb in san jose. we explored muir woods (i finally saw a banana slug!), went over the golden gate, of course, and tried to get dinner in the city--but i couldn’t find parking and the hills of sf overwhelmed me while driving, so we ended up just leaving. but we did go to the winchester mystery house and santa cruz, where we saw bunches of seals (sea lions? i don’t know). on the way home, we took highway 1 and passed monterey, big sur, and miles of coastal beauty.

did another every-once-in-a-while vegas weekend trip to see the holiday decorations at the bellagio and visit his friend. i decided i don’t like his friend’s roommate lmao, but we still had a good time. we even got a hike in with some snow.

saw beautiful holiday lights with benny’s mom and sister. every once in a while, i can dig some family time.

stayed busy with work. between disney and target during the holiday season, i go weeks without a day off. but it’s all right. i do it to myself. and i love my coworkers.

the leads and trainers got a blanket from our management team, which was actually so fucking nice

i interviewed to be a lead--my manager asked me if i had been talking to the cores and then why i wanted to be a lead. then he stopped the interview and told me he’d already previously decided on me, that this ‘interview’ was essentially a formality. i was surprised and, i have to admit, felt really proud. he said to keep it a secret, though, so i did, only telling benny and my favorite lead.

in the light rain on new year’s eve, benny and i went to the ronald reagan presidential library. what a cool place--yeah, reagan sucks, but it’s still a beautiful museum. and his entire air force one is in there--what an experience to get to walk through it. i love learning about all that stuff. in the evening, benny had a small party--it was still raining, so there wasn’t much of a turnout. it wasn’t the best night, especially since it’s my favorite holiday. but there’s always the next one.

had some trips to knotts. for a while, i didn’t think i would want to renew my annual pass, but it’s just so cheap that it’s worth it even if you only go a dozen times a year.

continued to work at target every now and again. they do be giving us free food, i’ll give em that. maybe i’ll quit before the end of 2023. we’ll see.

drove so much. i love my prius and am so grateful for its reliability. even though traffic sucks, it’s nice to get to spend that time with myself. i still take the bus sometimes, though.

started actively saving money. i still owe student loans, but it seems to be forever on pause, so i just pay a bit here and there. i opened a high-yield savings account and really try to contribute to it often.

was sort of sad a lot of the time. it’s just hard to be happy with your life when you’re in an hourly position and so many of your peers have ‘career’ jobs and seem so well-established--but i know that everyone has different paths and that i will be okay. but everyone gets in their own head. i also have to admit that i really hate that benny still lives with his family and had such a different upbringing than me. i hate admitting it, but it’s the truth. it sometimes makes it so hard to see a future together where we are established (by that, i mean with steady jobs and a place to ourselves), when we just don’t have good foundations to build on yet, despite being in our mid-20s. it challenges me and my thinking, but i’m also grateful for it. i don’t want to always be comfortable in life--but goddamn is it difficult sometimes. i feel that the relationship is so juvenile in terms of our stage in life. we will get there, though. and benny is miles ahead of me in so many facets of emotional intelligence.

loved lana del rey, i have to admit

song of the year: “head full of doubt/road full of promise,” the avett brothers. it makes my heart heavy with a load of both fear and perseverance--‘decide what to be and go be it’ is such a scary, yet beautiful phrase. the entire song takes me aback with how much i can relate it to my own struggles (or whatever).

2022 really saw the country come out of the pandemic, if you can even separate the times in that way. i find myself getting more removed from current events, and i hate myself for it. i don’t feel as aware as i used to be during college. i just go through the days at work, try to stay healthy, and spend time with friends and benny. i miss how i used to keep up with the world. maybe someday, i’ll start again. for now, i just try to be all right with my own life. i suppose you have to be okay with yourself, primarily, right? after all, it’s your own thoughts and body that you are with the most. it may be selfish, but it’s unavoidable. i would like to be happy with my own life, and i think i will eventually. i’m getting there. and the days continue to pass lazily, yet quickly. “i know pain is as natural as the rain; i just thought it didn’t rain in california.”

#about me #me #a year in review #2022

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melodiaemfrp · 1 year

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Hello, Attuned! Thank you for participating in Melodiae’s ninth Activity Check! Listed here are characters that did not pass the check (Five (5) days of activity in-server) for the period from Thursday, November 8th, 2022 to Monday, January 7th, 2023.

If you believe your muse(s) are listed here by mistake, you may reach out to the Masterlist on or before Sunday, January 15th, 2023. All characters that do not have activity accounted for by 11:59 PM EST on this date will be removed from the server by the next inbox run (Tuesday, January 17th, 2023).

If you did not pass the check, you also have until Sunday, January 15th, 2023 to reapp your muse(s) by sending an ask to the Masterlist indicating your intent to reapp the character. You DO NOT have to resubmit the whole application; simply provide your name, the character’s name & series, your OOC contact, and the date in an ask. Muses marked with an asterisk (*) have failed two consecutive checks, and are ineligible to be reapped this way unless they are an OC. These muses must wait one full week, and may resubmit their entire application on or after Sunday, January 22nd, 2023.

Muses that are not reapped by 11:59pm EST on Sunday, January 15th will be removed from the server by our inbox run on Tuesday, January 17th, 2023.

Thank you for your continued interest in Melodiae!

- The Melodiae Team

ARKNIGHTS

Exusiai (Sid)

W (Hika)

BLEACH

Bambietta Basterbine (Maki)*

BUNGOU STRAY DOGS

Edgar Allen Poe (Ike)

Edogawa Ranpo (Cezanne)

Nikolai Gogol (Kit)

CHAINSAW MAN

Angel Devil (Bram)

COUNTDOWN TO COUNTDOWN

Iris Black (Kendal)

CRITICAL ROLE

Mollymauk Tealeaf (Logan)

DC COMICS

Bruce Wayne (Lee)

Edward Nygma (Thysto)

Harleen Quinzel (Nils)

Jason Todd (Benito)

Dick Grayson (Jess)

Roman Sionis (Thysto)

Stephanie Brown (Mace)

Damian Al Ghul-Wayne (Stan)

John Constantine (Nils)

Garfield Mark Logan (Logan)

DEVIL SURVIVOR 2

Yamato Hotsuin (Kem)

DRAGONFABLE

Notha Ly’Ehr (Birb)

DRAKENGARD/NIER

Kainé (Alex)

ELSWORD

Add (Doom Bringer) (Sitri)

Ainchase Ishmael (Bluhen) (Jaden)*

Ainen Rosso (Xanthe)

ELDEN RING

Morgott the Omen King (Thysto)

ENSEMBLE STARS!

Chiaki Morisawa (Liet)

FATE

Merlin (Caster) (Remi)

FINAL FANTASY

XIV

Azem (Nyx) (Lauren)

Haraya Viray (WOL BLM) (Caster)

Hermes (Bram)

Winifreya Sinahon (WOL WHM) (Elyse)

Prompto Argentum (Tom)

GENERATOR REX

Agent Six (Lee)

Doctor Rebecca Holiday (Rhea)

GENSHIN IMPACT

Scaramouche (Riku)*

Venti (Barbatos) (Noct)

GUILD WARS 2

Rhy’lua (OC) (Lavi)*

GOD OF WAR

Atreus (Candle)

Freya (Rhea)

GRAND THEFT AUTO

Cleo Valentina Running Elk (OC) (Suzie)

JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE

Bruno Buccellati (Cyan)*

Narancia Ghirga (Oz)

LEAGUE OF LEGENDS

Sona Buvelle (Avi)

MARVEL COMICS

Peter Parker (Nils)

MEDAKA BOX

Kumagawa Misogi (Eve)*

METAL GEAR SOLID

Psycho Mantis (Thysto)

NARUTO

Madara Uchiha (Lizard)

Obito Uchiha (Wes)

ORIGINAL CHARACTERS

Annie (Fishnchipsnvinegar)

Daniel Dee (Cezanne)

Erika Ishikawa (Rhia)

Estella VaRossa (Hikari)*

EXPERIMENT-V [ VAL ] (Oz)

Grayson Grimm (Benito)*

Nikon "Niko" Mstislav Alkaev (Sitri)

Reagan Brennan (Thysto)

Rovaniemi, Lapland (KB)*

Rue Gabriel (KB)*

The Calid Saint (KB)*

The Umbral Vices (Cezanne)

OVERWATCH

Ana Amari (Rose)

Mercy (Angela Ziegler) (Rhea)

Widowmaker (Amélie Lacroix)

POKÉMON

Blue (Riku)

Iono (Carmen)

Red (Hikari)

PROJECT MOON WORKS

Angela (Freya)

Angelica (Freya)

Carmen (Corinthia)

Netzach (Cezanne)

PROMISE OF WIZARD

Akira (Karol)

Bradley Bain (Sitri)

Mitile Flores (Pidge)

REVOLUTIONARY GIRL UTENA

Anthy Himemiya (Cecil)

SHUUEN NO SHIORI

C-ta (Tom)

E-ki (Shae)

SIGNALIS

Elster (Cyan)

SILENT HILL

Cheryl Heather Mason (Pax)

James Sunderland (Alivocch)

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG

Sonic the Hedgehog (Eve)

Whisper the Wolf (Dancer)

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES

Raphael Hamato (Mouse)

Leonardo Hamato (Sam)

THE MAGNUS ARCHIVES

Gerard Keay (Kendal)

Oliver Banks (Kendal)

THE MANDELA CATALOGUE

Archangel Gabriel (Bram)

THE OWL HOUSE

Luz Noceda (Ash)

TOILET BOUND HANAKO KUN

Nene Yashiro (Alice)

TOUKEN RANBU

Nikkari Aoe (Athiel)

TRANSFORMERS

Nautica (Suzie)

Airachnid (Suzie)

TWISTED WONDERLAND

Cater Diamond (Raine)

Idia Shroud (Sety)

Morrigan Desrosiers (OC) (Fris)

Trey Clover (Jin)

UTA NO PRINCE-SAMA

Ai Mikaze (Rai)

Eiichi Otori (Kem)

WARFRAME

The Operator (Oz)

YAKUZA/LIKE A DRAGON

Takayuki Yagami (Hikari)*

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laurenfutcher02 · 10 days

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Mini Learning Agreement

Name: Lauren Futcher

Course: BA Hons Visual Commination

Level: 5

Unit: Concepts of Visual Language

Unit Code: VCO565

Credit points: 40

Study hours: 400 hours

Tutor(s): Sally Hope

Synopsis of study

The work that I would like to propose to present for assessment. I like to create 3 posters and 3 labels and branding for a juice brand, I want to achieve this by research into existing juice brands and want to create this because I would like to do a variety of things within the industry and would like to do a master’s and work within a design agency.

Expanding upon my project concerning branding, posters, and labels offers numerous opportunities to delve deeper and provide greater depth and detail. By elaborating on these facets, I aim to offer a more comprehensive overview of my project and its significance to both my current practice and my future career aspirations, particularly in pursuing a master's degree and working within an agency. Incorporating my work onto foam board and within presentations is integral to this endeavor. This presentation format not only enhances the tactile experience for viewers but also enables me to showcase my work effectively. Moreover, it allows for experimentation with different techniques and aids in meeting project deadlines. Emphasizing the importance of labels in conveying essential information and enhancing product visibility on shelves is another crucial aspect. Considering the size and design of labels plays a vital role in facilitating brand recognition and consumer engagement. Furthermore, the posters serve as a powerful tool for conveying the product and brand message. Careful consideration of their size ensures maximum impact and attention-grabbing potential for viewers. Overall, these elements collectively contribute to the success and effectiveness of my project in communicating its message and brand identity.

Aims

A1 To identify links between my specialist topic and relevant theoretical and conceptual frameworks through independent led research and critical understanding.

A2 To strengthen my ability to define problems and generate ideas using different approaches to solve them appropriate to an identified audience.

A3 To develop my creativity, knowledge, and understanding of practice through the effective use of communication in professional contexts.

Learning outcomes:

LO1 I can demonstrate my understanding of relevant theoretical and conceptual frameworks through independent led research and critical reflection.

LO2 I can demonstrate my ability to problem solve by employing various approaches and by clearly defining my ideas in relation to the audience, user, or viewer.

LO3 In my communication, I ensure to present solutions that reflect a deep understanding of current practices within professional contexts. By staying attuned to the latest trends and developments, I offer innovative approaches that address the challenges at hand effectively.

Moreover, I take pride in infusing my work with a high degree of creativity and aesthetic judgment. Whether it's crafting compelling visuals or designing engaging content, I strive to create impactful and memorable experiences that resonate with the audience.

Through my communication efforts, I aim to not only provide practical solutions but also inspire and captivate others with imaginative and aesthetically pleasing presentations.

Assessment Components

A body of work containing sketchbooks, process book, blog posts and worksheets showing your design process: research, analysis, ideas development and final designs. All digital files must be named / labelled correctly and submitted. All final outcomes must be presented to a professional industry standard. 100% body of work (Tutor Assessed)

So you could have, for example:

For the assessment I will produce sketchbooks of development including initial ideas and research into juice brands, leading into the final designs for a juice brand (6 designs) 3 posters and 3 labels for cans.

Reference

M, S. (2022) Homemade Juice Labels. Available at: https://www.behance.net/gallery/147976929/Homemade-Juice-Labels?tracking_source=search_projects|juice&l=17 (Accessed: 11 April 2024).

NON STOP, 阿祖不收手 (2024) Singapore fruit tea Chavo brand design. Available at: https://www.behance.net/gallery/193506111/Singapore-fruit-tea-Chavo-brand-designMade-Fresh (Accessed: 11 April 2024).

Action plan/time plan

Week 1

Wednesday 10/04/24

Unit introduction

Briefing

Ideas generation workshop

Thursday 11/04/24

9.30am – 12.30pm

1.30pm �� 4.30pm

Decide on a topic for my own brief and CVL research.

12/04/24 Friday

Decide on a topic for my own brief and CVL research.

Week 2

eek 2

Wednesday 17/04/24

9.30am – 12.30pm

1.30pm – 4.30pm

EPM briefing.

Thursday 18/04/24

9.30am – 12.30pm

1.30pm – 4.30pm

Meet with group, work on group project and

CVL research.

Week 3

Monday 22/04/24

9.30am – 12.30pm

1.30pm – 4.30pm

SH214

EMP tutorials.

Work on group project.

Tuesday 23/04/24

Work on EPM group project

Wednesday 24/04/24

9.30am – 12.30pm

1.30pm – 4.30pm

EPM Sign up tutorials.

Work on group project.

Thursday 25/04/24

9.30am – 12.30pm

1.30pm – 4.30pm

EMP Presentations and

CVL research

Week 4

Monday 29/04/24

Work on CVL

Tuesday 30/04/24

Work on CVL

Wednesday 01/05/24

9.30am – 12.30pm

1.30pm – 4.30pm

Assigned Tutorials and

Work on CVL

Thursday 02/05/24

9.30am – 12.30pm

1.30pm – 4.30pm

Assigned Tutorials and

Work on CVL

Friday 03/05/24

10.30am

ONLINE

Mini Learning Agreement Deadline

Hand In and

Work on CVL

Week 5

Wednesday 08/05/24

9.30am – 12.30pm

1.30pm – 4.30pm

Mini Pecha Kucha Crit

Thursday 09/05/24

9.30am – 12.30pm

1.30pm – 4.30pm

Work on CVL

Week 6

Wednesday 15/05/24

9.30am – 12.30pm

1.30pm – 4.30pm

1 – 1 Tutorials

Thursday 16/05/24

9.30am – 12.30pm

1.30pm – 4.30pm

1 – 1 Tutorials

Week 7

Wednesday 22/05/24

9.30am – 12.30pm

1.30pm – 4.30pm

Final Critique

Thursday 23/05/24

9.30am – 12.30pm

1.30pm – 4.30pm

Final Critique

Week 8

Wednesday 29/05/24

9.30am – 12.30pm

1.30pm – 4.30pm

Thursday 30/05/24

9.30am – 12.30pm

1.30pm – 4.30pm

Week

Week 9

Monday 03/06/24

9.30am – 10.30am

Final Hand-in

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1fairy · 3 months

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bfj reading challenge 65

d-482 🩷 day 66 🌷20 pages 🪻empire of storms - sarah j. maas 🌸chapter 19

🌷204 pages 🪻sweet love - lauren accardo 🌸chapter 10-21

☑ i finished sweet love. finally. ready to go to bed lol. it was a pretty solid romance, i just didn't really like the messiness of the latter half of the book. i feel like there could have been MORE conversation about feelings without getting agitated, you know. especially because they've been attuned to one another for so long. overall, the romance was believable. it was better than the first one for sure, and i read that one in 2021 lol.

#february

0 notes

laurenbonvini · 5 months

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Snooze & Snap- Exploring the Art of Sleeping Dog Photography

Capturing the essence of a sleeping dog is an art form that transcends mere photography; it's an exploration of tranquility, vulnerability, and unconditional trust. Amidst the peaceful slumber of a canine companion lies a treasure trove of moments waiting to be immortalized through the lens. Snooze & Snap, the delicate fusion of snoozing canines and the art of photography, unveils a world that marries the ethereal beauty of a sleeping dog with the intricate craft of visual storytelling.

Lauren Bonvini Seatle

Within the realm of sleeping dog photography, one finds a canvas rich with emotion. Each dog, in its moment of repose, reveals a unique narrative—a blend of comfort, innocence, and boundless affection. Whether curled up in a ball, sprawled across a favorite spot, or nestled in a cozy nook, these slumbering companions exude an irresistible charm that beckons the observer to pause and savor the purity of the moment.

Lauren Bonvini's fascination with photographing sleeping dogs stems from the profound sense of tranquillity they exude in such moments. The sight of a dog at rest, completely devoid of its usual defenses, bears testimony to an unspoken pact of trust—it's their unguarded belief in their safety, in their environment, and in their human companions. This peaceful state, where they hold nothing back, allows their most profound tranquility to come to the surface. As a photographer, capturing these moments is more than just a snapshot—it's a preservation of vulnerability in its sincerest form. Through her lens, this vulnerability transforms into a compelling visual narrative that strikes a powerful, emotional chord with those who view her work. It's not just about capturing an image; it's about encapsulating an emotion, a moment in time, that tugs at the heartstrings of anyone who beholds it.

Photographers who specialize in this art form often employ a blend of patience and empathy. They recognize that the key to immortalizing these moments lies not only in technical prowess but also in the ability to connect with the essence of the sleeping dog. It's about being attuned to their rhythms, understanding their comfort zones, and gently navigating the space without disrupting the tranquility they exude.

Light plays a pivotal role in capturing the ethereal beauty of a sleeping dog. Soft, natural light streaming through a window or casting gentle shadows in a serene setting accentuates the peacefulness of the scene. This interplay of light and shadow not only adds depth to the composition but also enhances the emotive quality, lending a dreamlike aura to the captured image.

Lauren Bonvini's artistic approach to photography can transform even the simplest of scenes into a captivating work of art. Take, for instance, a dog slumbering peacefully. With Lauren Bonvini behind the lens, the scene takes on entirely new dimensions. Close-up shots bring into focus the minute, often overlooked details - such as the gentle rise and fall of the dog's chest as they breathe, the occasional twitch of a paw in the throes of a dream, or the tranquil expression that graces their face in sleep. These images draw the viewers in, offering them an intimate glimpse into a world usually unseen. The resulting photographs are more than just pictures; they transcend the physical boundaries of the image, fostering a deep connection between the viewer and subject.

The beauty of Snooze & Snap lies in its ability to evoke emotions and memories in its audience. For many, these images serve as a poignant reminder of cherished moments spent with their own furry companions, igniting a sense of nostalgia and warmth. The universality of the emotions captured in sleeping dog photography renders it an art form that speaks a language understood by all who have experienced the joy of canine companionship.

Lauren Bonvini's photographic work, on a deeper level, serves a dual purpose, acting as a profound visual narrative that extends beyond the surface. These carefully curated images not only celebrate the inherent elegance and charm of dogs in their most peaceful state—sleeping, but they also bring to the fore the essence and significance of rest and rejuvenation in our fast-paced society. Her artwork serves as a subtle reminder to each one of us to intermittently hit the pause button in our hectic lives, embrace the tranquility around us, and derive pleasure from life's simple joys, much like the serene nature of the subjects in her images. The tranquility captured through her lens echoes the peace and calm found in each of her subjects, reinforcing the importance of balance and rest amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life.

The artistry of capturing sleeping dogs extends beyond the confines of a single frame. It encompasses the storytelling aspect—the narrative woven through a series of images that chronicle the different phases of sleep, from the initial moments of surrender to the blissful deep slumber. Each photograph encapsulates a fragment of the overarching tale, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in the journey of canine tranquility.

As we reach the end of our exploration, it is clear that Snooze & Snap is much more than just a photographic journey. This project, masterfully executed by Lauren Bonvini, triumphantly stands at the intersection of art, emotion, and storytelling. It invites us to witness and cherish moments of unspoken bonding between humans and their canine companions. Through her lens, Lauren illuminates the profound depth and beauty found in the peaceful slumber of a dog. This serene world, often overlooked in the hustle and bustle of daily life, is gracefully brought to the fore. The tranquility captured and immortalized in these images is a testament to the vulnerability, trust, and unconditional love that our canine friends offer us. As we close this chapter, we are left with a deeper appreciation for these moments of quietude and the profound relationship they signify.

#lauren bonvini seatle

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stuckinapatriarchalbullshitland · 1 year

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To the do not post anon about Lauren's last IG story about the publicity PR and the dancer. You already have your answer plus this...

Lauren's last Attunement (another one I really want to hear about) with Alok.

Awesome this Camren circle, right? I'm so glad the girls have these connections with people that can teach you a lot...

#camren #lauren jauregui #camila cabello #alok vaid menon #attunement

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earaercircular · 11 months

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Penguins in Your Fridge? These 7-Year-Olds Have Climate Solutions.

The standards are designed to help kids connect with what’s going on in the natural world around them, and, crucially, learn how to problem solve.

New Jersey is the first state to require that climate change be taught at all grade levels. The focus is on problem solving, not doom and gloom.

Standing at the front of her classroom at Slackwood Elementary School north of Trenton[1], N.J., one afternoon in June, Michelle Liwacz asked her first graders to consider a problem: Antarctica is getting warmer. What could the penguins that live there do to adapt?

The children, most of them age 7, murmured excitedly. One boy said the birds could cool off in the water, but reconsidered after remembering all the hungry orcas awaiting them there. “Maybe they could migrate to another cold place, like the United States in winter?” the boy, whose name is Noah, asked. A girl named Aliya suggested that humans give them floaties. Gabi thought maybe the penguins could build igloos. A few of them, Gabi added, could live inside her fridge.

As the school year draws to a close, New Jersey has the distinction of being the first, and so far only, state to require that climate change be taught to all students from kindergarten through 12th grade. The topic is woven into lesson plans across most subject areas,[2] even physical education classes.

The standards are built on a striking premise: Even as storms eat away New Jersey’s coastline, snow days become obsolete and wildfire smoke poisons the air outside, climate change can be taught to the youngest learners without freaking them out.

Tammy Murphy, the wife of Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, was the driving force behind the new standards. She said climate change education was vital to help students attune to the planet’s health, prepare for a new economy based on green energy and adapt to climate shifts that promise to intensify as this generation of children reaches adulthood.

But the state’s method of teaching its youngest learners about climate change arguably does something more profound: Instead of focusing on the doom and gloom, the standards are designed to help children connect with what’s going on in the natural world around them, and, crucially, learn how to solve problems.

“It’s perceived as such a heavy topic, as something we have to wait to talk about until they’re older,” said Lauren Madden, a professor of elementary science education at the College of New Jersey who researches and offers guidance on the implementation of the standards.

“When we shield them from so much, they’re not ready to unpack it when they learn about it, and it becomes more scary than when they understand they’re in a position where they can actively think about solutions,” Dr. Madden said. “When you take kids seriously that way, and trust them with that information, you can allow them to feel empowered to make locally relevant solutions.”

Ms. Murphy, who also serves on the board of former Vice President Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project,[3] began meeting in 2019 with more than a hundred educators to discuss creating new standards. In June 2020, the state board of education voted to require climate change be taught in seven out of nine subject areas, including social studies and world languages. The board is expected to vote this summer on whether to require that climate change be expanded to the two remaining subject areas, English language arts and math.

In advance of that decision, some voices of dissent have surfaced. At a public hearing in May, critics pushed for debunked denialism theories about climate[4] to also be taught and said teaching climate science was a form of “indoctrination.”[5] One speaker said the use of the term “global” in the standards would make children uncomfortable about calling themselves American.

But a poll conducted in May by Fairleigh Dickinson University[6] in Madison, N.J., found that 70 percent of state residents supported climate change being taught at schools. Dan Cassino, a professor who directed the survey, said it could be one of the Murphy administration’s most popular policies. That support mirrors nationwide findings that show the overwhelming majority[7] of Americans, on both sides of the political divide, want their children to learn about climate change.

At Slackwood Elementary, a public school serving about 250 students from kindergarten through third grade, several parents said they were delighted by the climate lessons. It relieved them of some of the burden of trying to explain climate change and extreme weather, they said, and tapped into children’s instinctive curiosity about animals and nature.

“If they’re being more respectful to the environment, they’ll be good human beings,” said Niral Sheth, whose youngest daughter, Navya, is in Ms. Liwacz’s first-grade classroom. “They need to know what they can do. I don’t want them to be left behind.”

Many of the students at Slackwood are English language learners — one teacher counted 17 languages spoken. More than half of the students qualify for free or reduced-cost lunch; the school has a pop-up pantry that sends bags of food home to families in need.

Outside, in a corner of the playground, there’s a fenced-in butterfly garden, a compost bin, and a soil bed where kids have tested which type of fertilizer, a chemical commercial variety or a natural blend, best helped plants (the natural one came out ahead).

Inside the school one recent morning, Ms. Liwacz was showing a video that led her first graders, who were gathered on the carpet, in a singalong.[8]

“Our Earth is a very, very, very big place,” two dozen tiny voices sang out, more or less in unison. “It is covered by water and land. It has five huge oceans where we can swim. And seven continents where we can stand.” The song went on to describe how North America was home to the United States, at which point Navya, who is 6, did some loud ad-libbing.

“Navya, what’s your problem with the North America part?” Ms. Liwacz asked, after the song was over.

“Because it doesn’t say Canada and Mexico,” Navya replied. “So I have to change the last words into Canada and Mexico.”

“You can’t forget our neighbours,” Ms. Liwacz said. “It’s bothered her since Day 1.”

At Slackwood, children are taught that human activities, such as transportation, heating, and raising livestock, are overheating the planet, as one classroom book says, “making Earth feel unwell.”

Yet the focus is on awareness and problem solving. Kindergartners are taught how everything is connected, along with the importance of pollinating insects. That has helped children see bees as friends rather than scary stinger-wielding foes, the principal, Jeanne Muzi, said. First graders learn about composting, recycling and hydroponic gardening, and second graders explore pollution and plastic. After learning about floating garbage, one second grader said plastic should be prevented from getting into waterways in the first place, Ms. Muzi said.

“He’s 7,” Ms. Muzi said. “And in talking to him, I was like, wow, that is such a big idea.”

One morning late in May, Ms. Liwacz announced that her first graders would be talking about cause and effect, and that the day’s story was about what would happen if sharks disappeared.

Navya’s hand went up. “I learned, well, fish eat shark poop,” she said.

“Well, they do,” Ms. Liwacz replied, to a few giggles. “And fish need that, right? Why?”

Navya had a ready answer. “Because then all animals need food and water to, um, survive, and fish eat shark’s poop to survive,” she said.

“And so what if sharks disappeared?” Ms. Liwacz said.

“That’d be bad for the fish,” Navya said.

Ms. Liwacz next read a story detailing the role of sharks in keeping ocean water clean and ecosystems balanced, which in turn benefited land mammals. Then she paired the students to discuss what would happen if sharks vanished, prompting more chatter about the importance of poop.

A little later, during snack time, Ms. Liwacz showed a video about Eugenie Clark, a shark scientist and marine conservationist. Learning about scientists and other people working toward climate solutions is a focus at the school, as are ways of riding out extreme weather driven by climate change.

Last week, as dangerous smoke shrouded the skies, Ms. Liwacz and her first graders talked about how even though the Canadian wildfires were scary, they were able to stay safe indoors, and that the smoke would eventually abate.

“It makes them feel a part of what’s happening outside of school in the real world,” Ms. Liwacz said. “Of course, not all problems are going to be solved. But it’s getting them thinking, How can I fix this? How can I change this? What can I do with myself or with my friends or my community to help change what I see or what I noticed?”

The United Nations has underlined that idea, saying that education is crucial to addressing global warming, because of its power to shift students’ attitudes and consumption habits, help them discern fact from fiction and prompt them to take action.

Yet across the country, climate change is taught unevenly and often anaemically. A 2016 study[9] found that while climate issues were taught by three-quarters of public school science teachers, many students got less than two hours of climate education a year.

In some states, there has been strong resistance to incorporating climate science into classroom learning. Though none ban global warming education, according to Glenn Branch, deputy director of the National Center for Science Education,[10] some states falsely frame climate science as a matter of debate. This spring, the Texas state board of education issued guidelines saying students ought to learn the “positive” side of fossil fuels. [11]

At a recent conference in New Jersey about integrating the climate standards into primary schools, several educators said they were daunted about adding climate science to their lesson plans, especially given educational setbacks their students suffered during the pandemic.

They also said they needed more guidance. The state has set aside $5 million for climate change education grants, drawing applications from nearly half of New Jersey’s school districts.

Still, in a recent small survey of educators, Dr. Madden, the early education specialist, found that more than three-quarters worried that climate change might not be a priority in their district because of lack of subject expertise. Concerns about controversy have increased, too — with the percentage of educators who said teachers might avoid it because it was politically sensitive nearly doubling to 17 percent between June 2022 and December 2022.

Yet educators at the conference roundly agreed that climate change should be taught to give students a sense of agency that could allay the climate anxiety that is especially pronounced for young people worldwide.

Asked whether learning about climate change could be scary for children, Monica Nardone, a third-grade teacher in Trenton, all but rolled her eyes.

“We have lockdown drills” to prepare for school shootings, she said. “Seriously? How much more are we going to make them afraid?”

Source

By Cara Buckley: Penguins in Your Fridge? These 7-Year-Olds Have Climate Solutions.in: New York Times, 15.06.2023; https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/15/climate/climate-education-schools-children.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

[1] Trenton is the capital city of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the seat of Mercer County. It was the capital of the United States from November 1 to December 24, 1784. Trenton and Princeton are the two principal cities of the Trenton–Princeton metropolitan statistical area, which encompasses those cities and all of Mercer County for statistical purposes and constitutes part of the New York combined statistical area by the U.S. Census Bureau. However, Trenton directly borders the Philadelphia metropolitan area to its west, and the city was part of the Philadelphia combined statistical area from 1990 until 2000.

[2] With the adoption of the 2020 New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS), New Jersey became the first state in the nation to include climate change across content areas. These standards are designed to prepare students to understand how and why climate change happens, the impact it has on our local and global communities and to act in informed and sustainable ways. https://www.nj.gov/education/standards/climate/learning/gradeband/

[3] https://www.climaterealityproject.org/who-we-are

[4] More than 99.9% of peer-reviewed scientific papers agree that climate change is mainly caused by humans, according to a new survey of 88,125 climate-related studies. https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2021/10/more-999-studies-agree-humans-caused-climate-change

[5] New Jersey is teaching kids about climate. Opponents call it ‘indoctrination.’ The education culture wars are coming for climate change. https://grist.org/politics/culture-wars-come-for-climate-education-new-jersey/

[6] Two years ago, New Jersey became the first state in the union to require public schools to teach students about climate change, as early as kindergarten, and throughout their classes, even in physical education. According to the latest results from the FDU Poll, Jersey residents overwhelmingly support required education about climate change, with 70 percent of residents favoring it, and concerns that it might upset children having no impact on their views. https://www.fdu.edu/news/fdu-poll-jersey-residents-support-teaching-climate-change-in-schools/

[7] More than 80% of parents in the U.S. support the teaching of climate change. And that support crosses political divides, according to the results of an exclusive new NPR/Ipsos poll: Whether they have children or not, two-thirds of Republicans and 9 in 10 Democrats agree that the subject needs to be taught in school. https://www.npr.org/2019/04/22/714262267/most-teachers-dont-teach-climate-change-4-in-5-parents-wish-they-did

[8] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFIS3aLQPfs

[9] https://ncse.ngo/files/MixedMessagesReport.pdf

[10] https://ncse.ngo/

[11] Texas Weakens Climate Science Education Guidelines. Texas education officials adopted changes to internal guidance on textbooks that could steer schools to buy books that misinform students about global warming. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/texas-weakens-climate-science-education-guidelines/

#sustainability education

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