#my mom lost her chance to be decent my dad better learn soon otherwise all his kids minus his favorite will hate him | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

justa-starrynite · 4 years

Text

like me better (Coco Cruz)

A/N: Good afternoon everyone! This is Bea! I’m back with another installment for our fall series! This one is for Coco! I’ve never written for Coco, so I hope I did him some justice!

Megan and I would like to thank you for all the love you’ve been giving us! We truly appreciate it and we love giving you all some content to read.

We love you all!

Masterlist

Word count: 1654

We’re currently working on the tag list! If you would like to be added, please message us or drop a comment!

CREDITS TO THE ORIGINAL GIF MAKER!

Johnny Coco Cruz never thought he deserved anything.

At a young age, he wasn’t exactly nurtured by his mother. The earliest memory he had of his mother was when he would watch men come in and out of their apartment, his sisters trying to shield him away from her work.

His eldest siblings Elma and Selena, they were decent.

But as soon as they had the opportunity to leave Celia’s home, they left.

At an early age, he recalled that he never called Celia mom, at least not when he spoke of her with his friends. He would rarely refer to her as his mother. But till he was eighteen, he called her mother.

Till he got in the Marines and told her she could fuck herself.

He had an ounce of respect for her, just due to the fact she birthed him, but otherwise, Coco stopped caring about his mother way before than he could remember.

Due to his tumultuous relationship with Celia, he chose to not be a part of his kids life, Letty and his son, Leo. He wanted Letty to be given up for adoption as her mother was no better than him, but Celia adopted her at her faux reasoning of getting a second chance as a mother.

Coco never believed that and he was correct.

It was for welfare.

He finally found his place in the Marines, the discipline and skills he learned didn’t prepare him for life outside of the military, but it prepared him to contribute to his family.

The Mayans MC.

A place where people who didn’t belong anywhere fit.

A place where Coco was able to find a family he never knew he needed.

Johnny Coco Cruz never thought he deserved anything.

Not until he met you.

You were a tattoo artist for one of the shops the club frequents. It was rare for you to do a piece for any of the members since you were in high demand and the shop owner, your father, was one of the few people the MC feared.

A gentle man that would make no hesitation to kill for you.

Your father had numerous stories going around about him, but the most prominent seemed to be him being a former gang leader who reformed.

Your father was never part of a gang, he was a firefighter once upon a time and now, he was a tattoo shop owner.

When Coco first laid his eyes upon you, you were leaving the shop as he and Riz waited for one of your co-workers to finish a piece on Creeper.

You turned towards them, your glasses slightly slipping down the bridge of your nose. A small smile to greet your father’s favorite customers appeared on your face, your eyes lingering at Coco before walking out.

And that was the start.

Coco never tried to talk to you, you were too pure for him.

Too good.

So kept his distance because nothing ever goes well for him and he was almost certain that nothing would ever happen with you.

But then you worked on a piece for him and his life, well his self-hatred due to past trauma began to change.

“Damn, so you punched him on the face?” Coco chuckled, trying to contain his laughter since he didn��t want to ruin the piece you were doing on him.

“Listen, he was messing with my baby sister, of course I did. Let’s be honest he fared better with me cause my dad would have killed him.” You ran the needle along Coco’s skin, admiring the previous work he had done.

“Damn mami, remind me never to mess with you.” Coco smirked.

“I don’t think you’ll need a reminder, but I got you Coco Cruz.”

From there, your relationship evolved. You two started off as friends and in six months, Coco won you over, which wasn’t hard since you had a crush on Coco since he stepped foot inside your father’s shop. You were shy and it’s not like they were exactly approachable.

But when you got to know these men better, you realized they were definitely hardened men who could kill people in a bat of an eye, but, they were also kind hearted men.

There was hardly any black and white in the world.

So many grey areas were what was had instead.

You and Coco have been together for four years now and as much as Coco didn’t think it would last, your relationship would surprise him instead.

Coco was never a big fan of himself.

He thought he was worthless, a scum and he was making up for past grievances by keeping to himself and not ruining others’ lives, like his children.

But you showed him that he was more than that.

Traditions he used to scoff at were now becoming things he looked forward to.

New year’s celebration.

Christmas celebration

Thanksgiving celebration

And Halloween.

You absolutely loved fall and as soon as it was October, you were decorating the house you two shared.

This was the second year in a row that you were decorating the house and if Coco was honest, he looked forward for the rest of the years you would be doing this.

He realized early he wasn’t willing to let you go. He was in love with you and you made him better.

Even if you forced him to drink a pumpkin spice latte.

Currently, you, Letty and Coco were at the pumpkin patch, looking for three pumpkins that you three could carve together.

Another thing Coco appreciated was how you accepted every aspect of his life. The club was going to be hard, at least he thought so, but you were part of this band of misfits before you two even dated.

But then Letty came and he became lost.

He couldn’t ruin her life.

But then your words brought him down.

“I know you feel that you’re a terrible man, one who ruins anyone’s life when you touch them, but that’s not true. You made my life better. The best thing about life is that everyone gets a second chance, this is it for you and Letty, take it.”

He took your advice and he was incredibly glad he did so.

You gave him the strength to push the doubts away and give Letty the life she never had with Celia. You and Letty immediately got along and ever since then, you three were a little happy family.

Coco watched as you and Letty took your time picking the pumpkins. He never understood what exactly you were looking for, but that victorious smile on your face always made the question fade away.

“Coco, are you just going to stand there or are you at least going to pretend and help us pick?” You teased your fiancé as you playfully narrowed your eyes at him.

Coco chuckled. “For what? You two got it handled.”

“Your input would be nice.” You pouted.

“Okay mami, I got it.”

You three picked your pumpkins and just as you were all going to go home, Bishop called. Coco had taken his bike, meeting you after his shift at the yard.

“I’m sorry reina,” Coco frowned.

“It’s okay, I get it. We can do it later.” You offered him a smile, understanding the importance of the club. “Letty and I can go shopping for Halloween costumes.”

Coco took his wallet out to give you some cash, but you shook your head.

“Don't be silly, I got it.” You pressed your lips on Coco’s and hugged him. “Be careful.”

Letty hugged him as well. He got on his bike, glancing at his mirror every once in a while till you both were out of his range.

Coco never cared about losing his life when going to do something for the club, but now, he had something to live for.

Coco came home later that night with Letty asleep and you sketching on the couch. He saw the relief come over your face and he had to smile at that.

“Hello mi amor.” He dropped a kiss on your lips.

“Hey baby, everything okay?” You questioned.

“Yes, just usual bullshit.” The rebels were ambitious and had a good cause, but at times, Coco questioned just how great the cause was.

You nodded, continuing to sketch, feeling at ease with Coco home.

Coco watched you, the sense of calmness that he felt whenever he was with you was something he craved for as long as he’s known you. He always waited for the rug under his feet to be pulled, knowing you wouldn’t stay with him for much longer, but for some reason, you’ve stayed.

And with how much he loves you, he would never want you to walk away.

“I love you.” Coco blurted out of nowhere.

The way your eye softened made his heart skip a beat, the blush on your cheeks further making his heart rate race.

“I love you too. Everything okay?” You closed your sketchbook then, placing it on the coffee table. You sat on his lap, his arms wrapping around you.

“Yes, everything is good baby.” Coco never liked himself too much. Due to the verbal abuse from Celia, his self esteem wasn’t the best even though he’s been working on it. He craved the assurance that he was enough, that he was good enough.

He never had a true family either.

But it was changing with you.

He became a part of your family. You had him wanting something more in life. You gave him the strength to be there for Letty.

“Just realized something.”

You raised an eyebrow, running your fingers through his hair. “And what’s that?”

“I like me better when I’m with you.”

Johnny Coco Cruz never thought he deserved anything.

He definitely didn’t like himself much.

But being with you, growing with you, he found himself liking himself better.

#johnny cruz #coco cruz #coco cruz fanfic #coco cruz x oc #mayans mc fanfiction #mayans mc fic #mayans mc fanfic #mayans mc imagine

141 notes · View notes

curiousdamage · 4 years

Text

Drabble post!

# 22: “This isn’t goodbye.”

For @missviolethunter Sorry it took so long!

Fandom: Cobra Kai- Ten Minutes

Pairing: Robby/Soapy

Warning: Very LaRusso negative. Robby is feeling a way about how Daniel treated him in the last episode. This ficlet is part of a future chapter.

Robby looked down at Sophie’s fingers intertwined with his, then back out at the ocean waves. It had been six months since the fight at West Valley, six months since Miguel had gone over that rail. Six months since life as he knew it had ended.

In those six months, he’d changed, really changed, not just the superficial changes he’d made while working for Mr. LaRusso. Then he’d just changed from wanting to please his friends to wanting to please Mr. LaRusso. That Daniel was a better person than Trey and Cruz was the only reason he’d replaced stealing and selling Molly for hard work, karate, and trying to do the right thing.

Yes, doing the right thing was better than what he had been doing to survive and he hadn’t gone back to that when his mom had taken off with Rick or whatever his name was. Though, he wasn’t sure how much of that was that he wanted to be a better person or that he was afraid of losing Daniel’s approval.

Pastor Bobby and even his Dad had told him that ultimately it was he that decided not to do that, not Daniel instructing him not to, but he hadn’t admitted to them that the reason he’d been so desperate to keep Daniel’s approval was that his hatred and anger for Johnny made it fed his own. It was easier to blame Johnny for Miguel’s behavior at the All Valley than admit that it probably had more to do with the fact that he had been hitting on Sam at that party, when Daniel was reiterating that Cobra Kai was a cheaters nearly daily.

He’d only seen his former Sensei and mentor once in the last six months, when Daniel had shown up at his first hearing to say that yes, he had taught Robby karate but what he had done to Miguel wasn’t the self-defense discipline Miyagi Do taught.

Whatever. He’d always known that their relationship had been built on Daniel’s midlife crisis, his teenage rebellion, and their mutual hatred for Johnny, but it still stung to hear Daniel disavow him like that. As though his hard work and all that he'd done meant nothing because he was a Lawrence and therefore, irredeemable.

In a moment, he'd lost everything. Broken, beaten, and alone, he'd ran, not knowing what else to do. Away from the life he'd built but as he was learning, to the life he needed.

It was just as well that life didn't include the LaRusso, he was finding it very hard to hold on to any of his own resentment for his father as the villains in Daniel's life were become heroes in his.

Mr. Jimmy had stood up for him in court, not by denying his criminal past as the first lawyer Sid had hired tried to do, but contrasting it to the changes he'd made over the last year to show that putting him back in juvenile detention would only make him a statistic whereas releasing to Johnny and having him do community service and seek counseling would help him become a better person. He was sure that it had only flown because Miguel had been given a positive prognosis, but it was still more than anyone else had done for him before.

Pastor Bobby had been awesome, helping him find his dad that first day, going to every court appearance with Johnny and him, visiting him every day that one awful week he'd spent in juvenile detention, even working with the court to set up an acceptable community service program, getting him into his church's private school since he couldn’t go back to West Valley, and finding a decent counselor that Johnny could afford.

And his Dad. His Dad had been awesome in the past few months. He’d stopped drinking, gotten into AA, and had managed to be there for both he and Miguel without making either of them feel neglected or that they were being pitted against each other. He was sure that hadn’t been easy. He’d even helped Shannon when she’d gotten out of rehab with no place to live.

Then there was Sophie. She’d been by his side from his first day of community service when Pastor Brown had led him over to her and told her to show him how to work in the food pantry.

“Sure. We have food and we give it to people who don’t. It’s pretty much that simple,” she smiled.

“Yeah, right,” he’d scoffed. He and Shannon had gone to a few food banks over the years and it was never that easy. It was a long, drawn-out, humiliating process.

“Well, I mean, we do have some guidelines on how much food they get depending on the size of their family, but otherwise, that’s it,” she shrugged. “Dad says it’s hard enough to ask for help without having to prove just how badly you need it,” she replied.

He'd been struck by how friendly and genuinely nice she'd been to the people who came in, keeping up a steady stream of chatter as they let them through the warehouse, picking out food. Not to mention it had kept him from having to talk which was fine with him.

She never brought up the fight unless he did first and she never made him feel like criminal, or worse, over it. She’d been by his side as much as the adults had. She was the first friend he’d had in a long time who hadn’t wanted something from him. Trey and Cruz had wanted a partner in crime, Demetri had wanted protection at first, his North Hills friends had wanted ease access to pills, and Sam had wanted a rebound guy. Whether she’d chosen him due to proximity of living in her house and the time at the dojo, or because he would be the best revenge on Miguel, he didn’t know. He was, however, certain she hadn’t liked him just for him, himself. She’d never tried to talk to him about anything more serious than last names, not even after his mom took off then came back only to go to rehab. It was all about distracting her from wanting Miguel. He knew that now. Maybe he wasn’t being fair, maybe he didn’t have the whole story but that’s how it felt to him.

He looked at Sophie again. He liked her. The truth was that he’d been crazy about her for months, but she was his only friend and he been scared to lose that if she didn’t like him that way. Besides, even if he believed what his dad said, that he didn’t have to keep punishing himself for what happened by making himself miserable, there was a very real chance that the state of California was going to hand out a very real punishment. It wasn’t fair to her to start a relationship knowing there was a chance he was going to Juvenile Detention until he was twenty-one.

Tomorrow was the day. His last court hearing. The day the judge would decide if he’d shown ‘enough commitment to improving himself’ to be allowed to stay on probation or if he’d have to be locked up until he was old enough to drink. He knew what he’d choose if he was in the judge’s shoes but hopefully, he was more lenient.

He glanced back at the waves. The sun was slipping over the horizon. He sighed and squeezed her hand.

“Come on, Soapy. I better get you back so I can get home on time. Tonight’s probably the worst possible night for me to miss my curfew.”

He stood and pulled her to her feet. The urge to kiss her, just once before he spent his teenage years locked away, was strong but he just couldn’t. Instead, he let go of her hands and picked up the soda bottles they’d had earlier, depositing them in a recycling bin as they made their way back to Johnny’s motorcycle.

“Cold?” He asked, noticing her rubbing her arms.

“A little. I don’t think I planned well for this outing,” she admitted.

“Here, take my jacket,” he offered, slipping it off his shoulders.

“Then you’ll be cold,” she protested.

“Nah, I’ll be fine. But if you’re worried, you can always hold on to me a little tighter,” he smirked.

“I’m sure that will help,” she laughed, rolling her eyes as she put the jacket on and reached out for the helmet he was holding.

“Worth a shot,” he shrugged.

Maybe it was wishful thinking or just his imagination, but she was holding him tighter than usual as they wound their way out of the hills and zoomed towards her East valley home.

It seemed all too soon to Sophie as Robby stopped the bike by her curb. She hadn’t wanted the day to come to an end either.

“Here," she said, offering the jacket back as she climbed of the motorcycle.

"You keep it," he deflected. "It looks better on you anyway." And that he wouldn't be needing it after the next day went unspoken. They stood in awkward silence for a moment, neither wanting to leave the other.

"Well, I guess this is it," he said finally.

She nodded, then suddenly threw her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. After a second of shock, he returned the hug, pressing her against him as he breathed in the minty scent of her shampoo.

“I'm scared Soapy" he admitted softly.

"I know. I've been praying for you and I know it will be okay. It has to be. You'll be back at school by third hour," she replied. "This isn't goodbye. It can't be. I refuse to believe that. You have to refuse to believe it too," she pulled away and looked into his eyes. “Third hour, okay?"

He smiled, sadly, "Third hour." He wished he could have her unwavering faith on the subject, but he knew guys like him didn't catch the good breaks. “By..”

“This isn’t goodbye,” she insisted, putting her hand over his mouth. “See you later.”

“See you later,” he smiled. He watched her going into the house before starting the bike again.

This isn’t goodbye.

#Cobra Kai #fluff/angst prompt #Robby #Soapy #ten minutes

10 notes · View notes

coreytravelogue · 5 years

Text

St. John’s NFLD - Dec 30 2018

Another year and another trip to Newfoundland done, this one being shorter than any before sadly but it won’t be that way next year. I normally write before leaving for the rock but given I only had a week her I figure I was better of leaving this till I left. Though I am starting this in St. John’s there is a good chance I may just finish this and my other writing stuff for the year back in Vancouver.

What can I say about my trip here in Newfoundland? About the same as every year; reminded of how little time I have left to be with my parents, how little time I have left with my ever present past. Even my parents dog Patch is long I. The tooth and I am afraid I may not see him again. I made sure to kiss and snuggle him lots this year knowing full well I may never do so. I tried to spend more time with my parents this time than yesteryears at least till my dad went to sleep and by that time my mom was sure to follow. I accomplished very little in this trip. I hoped that I would get at least some writing done but only got a page of a novel I shouldn’t even be focused on done.

The trip wasn’t without its splendour though, I came in figuring I would be sleeping upstairs as the basement flooded again only to be shocked when the basement was nearly done and with new shelves to put the rest of my movies and some books on. That was a pleasant surprise that wound up changing what I would do for the rest of the week which was basically unpacking stuff that was boxed up and redecorate my basement and bedroom again. Another night I spent playing video games with Blair at his house and he came down another night to play at mine. I had 3 jigs dinners which make me certain I will be spending at least a few months burning it off. That is all I wanted for Christmas, that and snow which I didn’t get till today, the day I leave. Better late than never.

A brewery actually opened in Bay Roberts last month and I got to try it, their beer was not perfect but it wasn’t the worst I have had, their stout is definitely their best. They definitely picked a great location and I hope they are very successful.

I got as caught up as I could with movies but this year didn’t impress me much with movies and music but then I was too busy to enjoy, too busy doing things more important to me. Every year I find myself missing my parents more and more, I hate leaving them and I hate telling them the chances of me moving back here are not good because I know it breaks their heart. At this point in their life all the want to do is spend time with me because they now unlike when I was growing up they have nothing but time to do things. It’s definitely more easier to get my dad and mom to do stuff with me now than it was back as a child. Not their fault as both worked their asses off to give me the life that I sometimes feel I am not good enough to deserve but I have gotten. It’s been these past few weeks I have come to realize for all the issues I have had in my life and some yet resolved I am one lucky bastard, beyond lucky.

I have two parents who love me unconditionally whom gave me as much love as they could and made my life as easy and secure as they could. I have a woman in my life who also loves me unconditionally who is crossing a ocean to live with me in 3 weeks from now to start our new adventure together with me. I have friends to whom while I can’t entirely count on to be there for me when I need them but at least do care and do try to be there for me when they can just not the way I wish.

I also have my health which given some of the poor choices I have made I am surprised I still have but when I get back to Vancouver I will see just how much I got of good health left. Right now life is good life is stable, part of me feels like it can only go down from there.

While I am as emotionally stable as ever I dread the day I will have lost my parents because they will more than likely be the darkest day of my life. The embers of my depression still burn though light but I know the day I lose both or even my girlfriend will be devastating.

I also have a full time and stable job that pays fairly well and will allow me to bring safety and stability when I eventually retire in 31 years.

I am also lucky that I have been able to travel as much as I have this year and that I am able to travel at all given others are not as lucky. With that looking back at 2018 it’s been a year not without its own drama, no such thing as life with no drama but most of it was not bad.

2018 started with a weather bomb, I was to leave on a Thursday in order to get back in Vancouver and recuperate over the weekend to prepare for another year of work and maybe unemployment. A weather bomb hit the east coast which forced no flights to leave NFLD or Nova Scotia till maybe the weekend. When I finally got to leave Newfoundland I wound up getting to Toronto late and got stranded there for a night. It was here that the seed was sown for where I would like to visit. I walked a couple of blocks around Toronto and it was enough to make me want to explore more. I returned back to work and had to go without a compressed day off for a bit but I survived.

Not too long later my girlfriend came around for her second tour of Vancouver and Canada but this time a little more travel around. I took her to Edmonton to see the ice castle and to show her a true Canadian winter as Vancouver doesn’t really experience winter, not at the level of everyone else. We also visited Seattle during that time as well.

All during this time when I came back I wasn’t sure whether I would still be employed by the end of March but thankfully I did not have to wait long before I knew. I signed a new contract with a new department. At first I thought it would be for a year but it would up being for 6 months. At first I didn’t enjoy leaving Annacis Island, it was nice and quite there I could listen to music or podcasts all while doing work. Working downtown proven to be a new challenge. I would have longer to bike and my workload increased significantly. I started working with them right after my girlfriend left.

The next 6 months wound up being a whirlwind of stress and travel. For the first month I learned how to do my job and the next five doing it solo. It was stressful as hell but it also helped me learn how to do it that is for sure. I handled it pretty well in hindsight simply because I did a lot of travel.

First up was Toronto, spent with my tax refund and a decent deal I finally flew to Toronto and instead of transferring or being stranded I stayed there for four nights. The weather while I was there wasn’t quite as nice as when I was stranded though, mostly rain and cold as if I didn’t leave Vancouver. I did pack my time in there that for sure; I had lots of beer, watched my first baseball and lacrosse game and got o experience Airbnb for the first time and now I am sold on it as a way to travel cheaply without sacrificing comfort too much.

My time in Toronto wasn’t entirely pleasant but it was educational, I would not take it back because now I know what it is like. Now I don’t need to go back again anytime soon.

A month later I went to a place I didn’t expect to have as much fun as I did in Whitehorse. Whitehorse was definitely one of the smallest places I had been to this year but what it lacked in size it made up for in things to do. Going up and down the big hill to get to and from where I stayed and walking literally around the airport grounds proved to be stories I plan on keeping with me on that city till I bring my girlfriend with me. Here is hoping more good memories will come from it when I bring my girlfriend up there.

The next month I visited a place that I hadn’t seen or been to in 13 years ago; my hometown Fort McMurray. Mixed emotions of that city were encountered throughout the time there. It was disappointing in one way in that much of what I wanted to get done and see there I couldn’t because of outside shit on top of Fort Mac still being Fort Mac, the other way it wound up feeling like I was closing a chapter in my life, it felt right that I was there to see this city now especially after so much had happened to it. The booms, busts, fires and recovery Fort McMurray still stands defiant despite whatever anyone want to think of it. And pizza is still awesome there that is for sure.

Fort McMurray would be the last biggish trip I would make during this time, Victoria doesn’t count. My next trip would be the biggest one of the year. This time it would be to see my girlfriend finally in her home country of Australia.

Australia had never been high on my list but it had always been on my list. In a way I feel I have been too hard on Australia given my experience but in the end I was there for my girlfriend. I stayed in three places in Oz; Adelaide where I spent the bulk of the time, Andamooka and Melbourne.

I liked Andamooka; though very remote I enjoyed it because I felt like I was in a more real place of Australia than I was in Melbourne. Didn’t hurt that we had free lodgings in a cabin that was very cozy and more luxurious than I ever expected. My girlfriend’s family were definitely great to me and made me feel at home, a no point did I feel shit on by anyone in Australia, the hospitality was easily the best I experienced this year, there and Whitehorse.

We did spend a day. In Roxby Downs but I sort of feel like it should be lumped in with Andamooka given they are 30 min from each other, both are mining towns and both are secluded. It was here that I would get to drink first and only bit of Aussie wheat beer in the two states which shocked me. I don’t want to shit on the beer to much in this country but it wasn’t the kind I like. Anyone else may think otherwise who likes their ipas, lagers and pale ales but not me.

Melbourne I wasn’t impressed with, I think a lot of it had to do with the fact that I was sick for most of it and didn’t have as much energy to do much traveling. I feel like this trip was wasteful given the only real cool thing we did here was go to the film and art museum. Maybe if I wasn’t sick I could have enjoyed this city but I felt like we spent too much time looking for food than actually exploring the city. If I return here I ain’t spending much time in the city centre. Either way I had expectations of this city, people I knew who were here before said this city was beautiful and easy going, instead I got a fast paced, crowded tourist trap of a city.

Adelaide I liked a helluva lot more than Melbourne, there was so much more to do there that was more interesting to me. Free museums, chicken chief, Hahndorf and meeting my girlfriend’s family for the first time as well.

Outside of being with my girlfriend the biggest positive of the trip was Hahndorf where I got to have true Hefeweizen beer Fort he first time side I was in Germany. My god it was so good, I finally knew the brand I liked. Sadly I can’t get it in Canada but I at least I know I can get it in Seattle.....I hope.

Leaving her was as shitty for me as the flight was, I couldn’t sleep and the seats wore my ass raw. I have come to since then to have a hating for plane seats. That may be the first thing I will be as carry on next time, a fucking pillow for my ass, at least for the long trips.

For most people that would be the end of their traveling for the year, but for me I knew I had one more trip in me. A good deal to go to Montreal fell on my lap for thanksgiving weekend and I just had to take it.

Montreal was great by then I could tell that I was starting to feel travel exhaustion even though I had tried to spread it all out evenly and I did but by the end of my time in Montreal I was starting to be done with travel. I did have fun there, ate my weight in poutine and smoke meat sandwiches and drank way too much beer. I wanted to do more there but I came during a time where nothing was, which is probably why tickets for that time were so cheap.

All during this time there was worry for me as to whether I was to still be employed or not, a lot of it needless in my eyes, needless amount of drama and putting me through an emotional ringer but I eventually got my full time employment for the first time in 10 years of being a contractor.

The biggest regret of the year came in not going to Edmonton or Portland for my birthday in hopes that my friends would spend time with me only to basically spend most of my time alone. I also could have traveled earlier in the month but again I didn’t but this time it was wise given I was close to getting sick. All of which brings me back to Newfoundland.

I feel like now I can properly give Bay Roberts it’s own review however I don’t know if it would be fair but here we go.

The vibe of the town is it’s a very slow moving place, most people who live here are either here to retire like my parents or here in between their two weeks off from the oil sands of Fort McMurray. Most if not all the people I have ever met here are nice but mid you there is a tinge of racism here, not in the way you think but it is there. I sort of know why but I can never understand why it’s still there. The province is poor but their hospitality is strong because they know that that part of their economy can always help them even when the price of oil is bad. I give Bay Roberts a full C.

Transit is non existent much like side walks and the place is not safe. To bike unless it’s in the summer and even then some places are dangerous. You can’t get around without a car and that is it. Sorry Bay Roberts but you get no C for that.

Things to do I feel like considering it’s size there is things to do here however much of it is hiking and walking related. You have the mad rocks where I live hear that. You can spend an afternoon in, another hour or two down near the harbour of Bay Roberts. Both are marvellous to be around when the weather is agreeable. With a new brewery in the area that also adds to things to do but in the end this place is a city and it’s completely unfair to put this town up again even St. John’s but it is a growing town which may soon be a city in a few years. For its size you can spend a full day of enjoyment here but past that and you may get bored to tears quick. You come to Newfoundland for or peace and quiet and slow living. If that is what you want then Bay Roberts is right for you that is why I feel for its size I will give it 1/2 of a C.

Food I think it deserves 1/4 because let’s face it, when you want o eat local quinine you don’t go to a resteraunt. Family cooking is where you get the local flavour so unless. You are Airbnb ing with someone who will cook you jigs diner or other Newfie things you won’t get much cultural food. Closest is probably Mary Browns and that is basically a Newfie KFC. That grade is only for if you are lucky to be in with. Newfie family you will get some unique stuff out outside of that you won’t get much of anything in Bay Roberts.

If you were to ask me last year I would give beer here 1/4 of a C as well even despite it being just a town. However I am willing to give it 1/2 of a C now that a new brewery is around and another one not too far away that I never got to see and more on the way that I will maybe explore next year. For a town of its size the fact it has a brewery and their liquor store has a decent, not great but decent selection means it deserves 1/2 of a C.

So in the end Bay Roberts gets CC1/4, transit and food hurts it grade but for a town it offers a day’s entertainment. Me I spend a week to 6 weeks here every year. I spend time with my parents predominantly.

So that was 2018, as I am writing this I am almost in Halifax where I am bound to be possibly late and if I am lucky will have just enough time to get to my next flight. Thankfully I will have a layover of two hours in Toronto which will hopefully allow me at least some time to get from one end of the big ass a ripper to the other without stressing to much but i will see when I get there.

By the time I arrive in Vancouver it will be the last day of the year and I will probably only be able to sleep two hours if I am lucky. Honestly I don’t think I will sleep I will just shower, shave, finish whatever wrap ups of the year I can do and prepare for a full day of work. I was thinking of spending New Years at the bar but honestly I may just grab a beer at a store and just spend it at home and sleep in early. I did a lot this year, more than I expected. Crossed the pacific. Into a new continent, crossed the country twice and seen a territory I never seen before.

I hadn’t done this much travel since my Euro adventure, when I returned my plan was to do it in 2017 or 2018 at the latest but in a way I knew it would be in Canada at least. While on the rails of Europe i felt like if I was to do another adventure it should be in Canada. Even though I am lucky enough to have seen more of what Canada has to offer than most Canadians have I know I hadn’t seen enough. Not seeing Yellowknife as well this year was another regret but there is always next year. I knew after this year I wouldn’t be able to afford or have as much time to travel as I do now but that won’t stop me from trying to.

I already plan on having another Edmonton trip after my girlfriend moves in with me but Edmonton no longer counts as a trip. I plan on being in California for the first time in 16 years to see my cousin as well as let my girlfriend enjoy the fun of LA like I had many times as a kid.

After that it is up in the air, it will depend on how much the tickets are, if my girlfriend is interesting in going. Or if I am allowed to go myself and give my girlfriend a break from me for a weekend as I am sure she will need at some point or not.

I would like to bring her to Whitehorse and Fort Mac, one for fun and the other to show her what little is left of my childhood there. Yellowknife and PEI are still on my mind as places to go but both are expensive to go to and while one can spend a weekend and be done with I assume in Yellowknife I feel Charlottetown requires more. My girlfriend may even get to see this place before I do and have one province over me in Canada, shocking but appropriate as I know that place is somewhere she wants to go.

Worst case scenario much of 2019 will be spent exploring British Columbia. As a kid I got to see a good portion of the interior but that was decades ago and many fires later I am sure the landscape has changed. It. Will probably cheaper and more appropriate for a weekend getaway. Kelowna is one the table but so is Vernon if I can get away with it. Kamloops, Prince George and Prince Rupert are all on the list.

With 2018 almost done looking back I had two New Years resolutions, one I accomplished greatly and the other I utterly failed. One being that I travel more and the other I drink less. For 2019 travel is no longer a resolution for me but a standard.

The resolutions I wish to try and accomplish is still to drink less. To set rules for myself now going forward the same way I give myself rules for my other addiction being donairs.

No more drinking every weekend and all weekend, no more excessive binge drinking. Will I accomplish this I don’t know, I know I am an addict, thankfully it is my only bad addiction but it is one that does the most harm to me. I need to find a way to counter it at all costs before it really does ruin me.

The second resolution is to finish shit; I have 2 unfinished novels , I started learning German (4 years ago), I want to learn French, I also started making an AMV. In 2019 I want to at least finish The Goaltender, an AMV and start my way with French and or English’s to where I can at least understand it when spoken to me.

So this closes the book on 2018, it was great year. In fact the best I have had since 2014 in a way. Better than the last 4 years that is for sure with the lack travel, all work and no play. From this point on its about balancing work and play together without fucking me or my girlfriend over. To finally start growing up and preparing for the future instead of avoiding it but still leaving time to fly like a child.

I have never been on as much stable ground as I am right now at the end of 2018, there will be tremors no doubt but let’s hope not shakes up too hard in 2019. I had more to say but I guess even tumblr is limited the amount of what is said now or what I can paste. The chances of me keeping with tumblr is dwindling every day. Either way till the next adventure shazbot nanu nanu.

0 notes