#one time he accidentally walked across an international border and had to be deported back

[stizzysupremacy]

In a modern AU I think Stede works out because it’s what he’s ‘supposed’ to do and also because he has a healthy fear of death. He does a very doctor-recommended amount of cardio. He’s not opposed to the idea of strength training but if he gains muscle none of his tailored clothes would fit properly anymore!

Ed goes to the gym primarily to socialize and to do a public service by providing eye candy. He does show-offy stuff that won’t strain his knee, like one-armed chin-ups.

Izzy works out to make sure he’s in shape to crack skulls, should the need arise. He lifts enough weight that the gym bros respect him as being strong for his size, but not so much that he’s straining himself, because he’s not trying to bulk up and he’s not young enough to bounce back from an avoidable injury easily.

#steddyhands #ofmd #of the rest of the crew I think Roach is the only one who regularly works out at a gym #to work off the extra energy #Lucius and Pete burn calories in bed. Jim does martial arts. #Wee John has a bad back and won’t risk pissing it off #Frenchie is naturally lanky and Swede is Swedish they’re just like that #Fang walks dogs #Buttons takes long walks on the beach. like hours-long. #one time he accidentally walked across an international border and had to be deported back #Oluwande is perfect exactly as he is and Jim makes sure he knows it

[jetlagadventure]

borders III – november 13

Here is the story: A post from the other blog I have got me into the Philosophy and Non-Monogamies conference in Los Angeles. Not quite Los Angeles, but close to Los Angeles: Claremont, one of the many suburban towns glued to the huge city.

I don’t like traveling much. And now, that’s is a way less radical statement than it sounds because what I mean by that, is that I usually like the destination itself (like most people) but hate the process of getting there (again, like most people). Whether or not one likes traveling is usually simple math: Do they love being at the desired place more than they hate relocating? And I don’t. At least not usually. Traveling for me has been an imperative, a way to get money, basically a job, networking, CV points. Over the years of what I would call extensive traveling, my preferred idea of vacation has become hanging in and around Prague, laughing at people who complain about the 30+ degree weather. Anyway, what I hate even more than traveling is winter in Edmonton, and since we fully dived into minus 20 in early November, a week in (almost) L.A. seemed great. I was getting ready for my presentation, but then quite by accident I came across a special ESTA* rule. If you only need ESTA to enter the US, you can stay for 90 days but if you want to renew your 90 days, you are supposed to leave the continent. The rule actually kind of makes sense: they don’t want you to live in the US for three months and then “bounce” to Canada or Mexico to restart those 90 days. The problem however was that this applied to me as well. Because technically, I “bounced” to Canada for six months. I was pretty sure they wouldn’t let me in. After all the interrogation last time, I didn’t believe I could pull it off. If you are a resident of Canada, you can go to the US as you please but the visitor status (although perfectly legal) doesn’t count as residency. For crossing to the US and back, I needed to be in a sort of limbo because I actually had to be without a status to be allowed participation in International Experience Canada (my most recent attempt to stay in the country**) but at the same time, I needed a status to be allowed to enter the US. So I prepared two sets of documents: one to convince the US border officers that I was basically almost Canadian, the other one to show the Canadian border patrol agents that I had no ties in Canada and that my hanging out in their country for the last three years was merely accidental.

I was packing – not packing, because I was sure I would need to call MM to pick me up right after he turned on his computer at work. Oh well, thought I, as I tried to calm down (which I am notoriously bad at), they probably won’t deport me, good thing the border is already in Edmonton. We woke up around 4:00, it was pitch black, about -20C, and I was in the worst mood ever. We were also running a little late, which frankly I hardly cared about at that point. I went through all the annoying airport security (are really all Canadians alright with taking their shoes off, walking around in socks, and then putting the shoes back on???) and straight to the border. As I approached the border checkpoint, I put on my best smile (people think it doesn’t work, well, couldn’t hurt, thought I), and tried to figure out which border agent I was going to get, hoping for the smiling one. Didn’t happen – mine was more like I-have-to-protect-the-United-States-of-America kind of guy.

“Where do you live?”

“In Canada,” said I, getting ready for all the questioning.

“What are you going to do in the US?”

“Going to a conference,” said I, wondering to what extent a conference on non-monogamy was a good reason.

“Are you bringing any fruit?”

“No.” I had noting to eat and I was starving. Most of my friends know I don’t like fruit but at that moment, I would have killed for an apple.

“Have a great day.”

Wow. That’s it. I am going to L.A.

“گفتم,”said MM laconically, when I called him, still pumped on adrenaline.

* ESTA is the American visa waiver program for citizens of some privileged countries, European Union countries included. It means that you can stay in the US without a visa for 90 days in a row.

** Now that I am editing this text, it’s not even the most recent one.

#jetlagadventure #toffeemaky #traveling #borders #L.A. #USA #immigration