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deancaskiss · 4 years

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2. what would you name your future kids? 3. do you miss anyone? 4. what are you looking forward to? 5. is there anyone who can always make you smile? 9. who did you last see in person? 10. are you good at hiding your feelings? 11. are you listening to music right now? 29. favourite film(s) 30. favourite tv show(s) 31. 3 random facts 39. favourite sport(s) 40. favourite memory 45. how you found out about your idol 50. favourite picture of your idol 58. description of your best friend

Omg thank you so much for asking so many questions, babe! You’re the swetest! This made me so happy seeing so my questions omg! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

2) For a girl, I’m obsessed with the name Claire! And for a boy, I really like Matthew, or Matt for short.

3) Yes, I do. I had an old friend called Candice and she was one of those friends I could talk to for days on end and then we’d get busy for a couple weeks and then start talking again as if no time had passed. I miss some of my friends from high school because I live in a different state now and I don’t get to see them very often- specifically two friends who I was mega close with and had tons of classes with.

4) My family is moving back to Texas part-time in August. My parents sold their vacation home in Colorado and are moving part-time back to our old hometown in Texas. That city is home in my eyes because it’s where I grew up and I miss it so much. I get homesick for there often, so I’m really looking forward to helping them move and to get to be back in my old hometown!

5) There’s several people that can always make me smile. My sister, my mum, @hello-x-sunshine, @curly-cue-scamp, and @bibelphegor!

9) I live with my family, so I don’t know if they count? But outside of my family, it was my best friend in Texas and her name is Emily. I saw her before the pandemic got bad, and I cannot wait to see her again when things are safer. We’ve known each other for 8 years and she’s just the most accepting and amazing person in the world.

10) Yes, I’m actually really good at hiding my feelings. People definitely have to work hard to get me to open up about my feelings, because I put up walls and protect myself by keeping my own feelings quiet and instead put others first and prioritize others over me.

11) Nope, I’m actually sat watching Avengers: Infinity War right now.

29) I have a million favorite movies. My top two favorites are Iron Man and The Mummy (1999)!

30) I have a million favorite shows, too. Right now, my top 3 are Supernatural, Roswell New Mexico, and Good Trouble.

31) Hmmm, okay. (1) When I took my dog to the Vet Clinic for a vaccine a few weeks ago, the doctor we use actually knows my family and he knows I’m a vet student and he actually handed me the vaccine and let me draw it up and let me vaccinate my own dog, which was like a massive deal for me and made me feel respected as a training veterinarian! (2) I love love love sharks and will literally go all heart eyes if someone talks to me about sharks like I could talk about sharks all day. (3) I'm always cold and literally always walk around wearing a jacket, even though I live in the desert. It can be 120 outside and I'm still wearing my comfy jackets.

39) Favorite sport to watch is football- once a Dallas Cowboys fan, always a Dallas Cowboys fan. As a kid, my favorite sport to participate in was swimming/diving.

40) The day I got accepted to vet school. Hands down best memory. I’d been stressing so badly after my interview and it took 5 weeks to hear because I interviewed on Halloween so the admissions office closed for Thanksgiving which delayed decisions. The one day I stopped stressing and went Christmas shopping with my momma, I got the acceptance. I’ve never been happier because it literally was a dream come true.

45) My idol is Robert Downey Jr.. I found out about him from watching Iron Man. He’s my idol because of how far he’s come. Like he has a very obvious bad past and did a lot of bad shit. But he completely turned his life around. He’s a hero. He’s caring and compassionate and funny. He never takes himself too seriously, yet he still has a serious side. And he uses his money for good things like technological advances and for providing care for others. In my eyes, he’s a real life hero, but also he’s the biggest pillar of redemption and proof no matter how low you get in life and no matter how bad things get, you can get back up and be the best version of yourself.

50) I’m cheating here and putting my 3 favorite pictures of RDJ that I have on my phone because I can’t pick just one!

58) I’m gonna describe my best friend Emily. She’s literally 8 days older than me. She’s half Mexican, half American. She’s artistic as hell. I mean there’s nothing artistic she can’t start and learn how to do within a few hours. She’s supportive and understanding and compassionate. She’s funny and caring. She’s helped me with my anxiety and I’ve helped her with hers. She’s picked me up at my worst times, and she knows me well enough to know when I’m struggling and what I’m struggling with. She’s good with kids and good with animals. She’s smart in ways I wish I was. She’s so close with her family, and she actually fits in really well with mine too. We contrast each other really well, and at the same time we’re more similar than I ever thought possible.

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myhahnestopinion · 5 years

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THE AARONS 2018 - Best Film

I watched 102 films from 2018, which met my personal goal, broke my personal record, and won another competition between myself and my good friend. 102 seems like a proper purview to declare these entries my favorite films of the year, the crème de la crème, the top 10% of the top 100%. Here are the Aarons for Best Film:

#10. Roma

“Intimate” is a good word to describe Roma. A passion project for director Alfonso Cuarón, Roma was inspired by his own childhood nanny and his mother, and filmed in his native Mexico. The film depicts the tumultuous breakdown of social relationships within the country’s history, but keeps the focus on the dissolution and reformation of familial bonds. “Intimate” is indeed a good word to describe Cuarón’s deeply moving film, but “intricate” just might be better. Roma is never short of gorgeous for every single shot in the movie, every bit of staging and every camera-pan planned down to the tiniest background detail, making each the breath-taking black-and-white painting of a true auteur. It perhaps would be best experienced on the big screen, but credit to Netflix for funding such a personal, profound film, which means, if you’re looking to watch one of the best films of last year, you don’t have to roam very far.

#9. Isle of Dogs

Wes Anderson should stop filming movies. To clarify, Wes Anderson should stop filming movies in live-action, as the stop-motion medium is where his visual panache, off-beat humor, and oddball characters most brightly shine. Isle of Dogs, like a best friend for man, puts a smile on one’s face that never departs throughout its stylish adventure, even in the most unexpectedly dark moments of its animated dog-eat-dog world. While concerns over its depiction of Japanese culture are worth discussing, its impeccable voice cast, including Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Jeff Goldblum, and Bill Murry, deadpanning their way through its gorgeously hand-crafted sequences makes for a doggone good time at the movies.

#8. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

Certainly the most unconventional choice for me this year, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’s placement on this list is not the product of some nihilistic capitulation to chaos theory; in fact, it is thoughtfulness that made the movie stand out to me so much. An encouragement for empathy, a validation of the value of all living creatures, and a condemnation of cupidity, wrapped up in big-budget special effect sequences and culminating in a Gothic-Horror influenced haunted house set piece, the latest sequel in the series hit all the right sensibilities for me with a combination I never thought possible and a blockbuster boldness that recalls why The Last Jedi became my favorite Star Wars. While others may look upon this movie and see a fallen franchise, I see a king’s ransom of cinematic riches that means the world to me.

#7. Mission: Impossible – Fallout

The Mission: Impossible franchise was last seen on this list in the very first Aarons for Rogue Nation, an action film so masterfully crafted that one can’t help but be ecstatic at the series’ decision to shift from a rotating set of action directors to the singular efforts of director Christopher McQuarrie. Indeed, McQuarrie just may have outdone his prior masterpiece with the jaw-dropping Fallout, whose spectacular set pieces, shot with confidence and flourish and bolstered by the crazed energy of star Tom Cruise, blows every other blockbuster this year, and perhaps since Rogue Nation, out of the water. Fallout not only manages the impressive feat of making a sixth franchise entry feel tense and unpredictable, but also finds new emotional heights to strengthen its thrills through Ethan Hunt’s uncompromising drive to save everyone. It’s an explosive experience, whose only potential fallout is the impossible task McQuarrie has set for himself for surpassing it in his next two confirmed installments.

#6. Black Panther

Black Panther was nothing short of a phenomenon, even among the movie-going domination of its larger cinematic universe, and rightfully so. The worldbuilding, taking inspiration from real-life African cultures and heightened by fun futuristic technology, is so elaborate, and its supporting cast (including Letitia Wright, Daniel Kaluuya, Winston Duke, and Danai Gurira) so well-defined that Black Panther feels like a universe in its own right, even as it deftly weaves through the larger Marvel world. The film’s true power comes from how it breaks the mold, from its unforgettable villain who is not just a physical, but philosophical, foe to the hero, through its nuanced tackling of socio-political stances, to, of course, the impact of its increased representation. In vision, in stature, and, yes, in box office, Black Panther is king.

#5. First Reformed

First Reformed’s methodical pacing and meticulous framing, both evocative of its reflection on faith, slowly melt away to reveal a film that’s darker and more disruptive than one is initially led to believe. Similar to director Paul Schrader’s other written work Taxi Driver, First Reformed’s examination of existential questions and the descent into extremism is harrowing; unlike that other work, it is perhaps also hopeful. Ethan Hawke’s soulful performance gives extra gravitas to the film’s contention of hope and despair and its interweaving of contemporary issues with long-standing questions, thematic material that lingers in the mind long after its stunning final moments. Shot in awe-inspiring Academy ratio, First Reformed’s masterfulness cannot be improved upon, even as one cannot wait for the team of Paul Schrader and Ethan Hawke to re-form for their next collaborative effort.

#4. Love, Simon

Love, Simon’s placement on this list perhaps cannot be properly explained in prose, only in the unintelligible garble of the uncontrollable emotions that it elicits. It’s a flooring of feelings, of sadness, of fear, of nervousness, of hope, of happiness, that no movie has produced in me since The Perks of Being a Wallflower, one of my top 5 favorite films. The soundtrack is lively and the characters’ charming, but Love, Simon becomes a peak coming-of-age movie by perfectly capturing the uncertainty of a young crush and the joy of young love. It’s calming comfort food in all the right ways, sure to be rewatched nearly as often as the aforementioned Perks, which is why Love, Simon is a film loved by Aaron.

#3. A Quiet Place

A Quiet Place was a silent surprise, both in the way it slowly built up curiosity and critical acclaim, and in the way its stillness stands in sharp contrast to any other movie-going experience of recent memory. It’s sublime in its simplicity as a lean and mean horror thrill ride tied to the beating heart of a tender family drama, and stylish in its scares as an unexpectedly impressive directorial debut for John Krasinski. The film’s risks, including its harsh opening, its reliance on non-verbal dialogue, and its fist-pumping (and shotgun-pumping) closing moments, come with great reward that elevate it to an instant horror classic. A Quiet Place’s tension and tenderhearted moments may stun the audience into silence, but I will not be quiet about its placement near the top of this list!

#2. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Sony’s incessant need to exploit their Spider-Man franchise is chock full of bad ideas. Phil Lord and Chris Miller, as illustrated by the Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs adaptation, the 21 Jump Street film franchise, and The Lego Movie, are very good at turning bad ideas into masterpieces. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse takes that Lego Movie enthusiasm and spins it into another irreverent and self-referential screenplay, crammed full of jokes that draw from all the oddities of its venerable franchise, while also never losing sight of the hero’s journey of Miles Morales at its core. Credit, of course, is also due to directors Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsay, and Rodney Rothman, who brought that screenplay to life with amazing animation that combines stunning hand-drawn and CGI work to mimic the film’s comic book origins. It’s beautiful, boisterous, and features John Mulaney as a talking cartoon pig. Amped up by a killer soundtrack, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is such a crowning creative achievement that one can’t wait for Sony to get back into the franchise for a second verse.

AND THE BEST FILM OF 2018 IS...

#1. Eighth Grade

Eighth Grade is horrible. No, not the movie Eighth Grade; that should be evident by its place as my favorite film of the year. Eighth grade, the year in school, is horrible and we all know it. Bo Burnham, the musical comedian who makes his screenwriting and directing debut with this movie, especially knows it. It’s a time of anxiety, insecurity, uncertainty, a time of pursuing increased agency but still being constrained by the limitations of youth. A time where it feels like no one understands what you’re going through. Except when you find a movie like Eighth Grade, that channels all that mess into an disconcertingly perfect bout of pity and insight that exposes the comical and affirming nature of all of it. And yet, while Eighth Grade deftly portrays those universal experiences, it remains uniquely and powerfully tied to its particular era, understanding the ways in which mass communication, the endless information of the internet, and the failings of modern society have provoked the latest cycle of those anxieties in unprecedented ways. Eighth Grade’s empathy and its hilarity will likely make it a mainstay for the modern generation, and puts it at the top of its class for the year 2018.

NEXT UP: THE 2018 AARONS FOR WORST FILM!

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trulymj · 5 years

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65 Questions You Aren't Used To

I pretended it was myspace and just filled this out in it’s entirety. cool. 1. Do you ever doubt the existence of others than you? -Nah man, I could but it wouldn’t do anything but increase my anxiety levels so I’ll just avoid thinking about it like I do with most things.

2. On a scale of 1-5, how afraid of the dark are you? -Like a 2? Depends a lot if Im alone in the house or not.

3. The person you would never want to meet? -The person who would answer this question with my name probably.

4. What is your favorite word? - Im cheating its a phrase “l’appel du vide,” that feeling you get when you’re driving and you just think “I could jerk my wheel and ram into that barrier..” but don’t.

5. If you were a type of tree, what would you be? I’d like to think I would be a great big old willow tree where people have first kisses under in August because Summer is ending.

6. When you looked in the mirror this morning what was the first thing you thought? -Damn, I forgot to take off my make-up

7. What shirt are you wearing? -A black cami tank top

8. What do you label yourself as? -I don’t really? A loving person I guess?

9. Bright room or dark room? -Dark room, alwayssss.

10. What were you doing at midnight last night? - in bed..watching The Office and trying to sleep.

11. Favorite age you’ve been so far? 26 was really great...but this year has been amazing in its own right.

12. Who told you they loved you last? -My man via ship email because he’s floating in the middle of the ocean somewhere.

13. Your worst enemy? -Procrastination and avoidance.

14. What is your current desktop picture? -Some cool night sky shit with a tent in the foreground

15. Do you like someone? -Probably the guy I married...just a little bit though.

16. The last song you listened to? -Baby it’s cold outside. I was wrapping presents and enjoying myself man, don’t judge.

17. You can press a button that will make any one person explode. Who would you blow up? -Probably a child rapist

18. Who would you really like to just punch in the face? -Myself sometimes, but no one really. Not my style.

19. If anyone could be your slave for a day, who would it be and what would they have to do? -This is too kinky for tumblr now.

20. What is your best physical attribute? (showing said attribute is optional) - my right nostril, it resembles a bean which is cool.

21. If you were the opposite sex for one day, what would you look like and what would you do? -Probably just do a lot of that helicopter dick thing that guys do...or and finally figure out what it’s like to stick your dick in stuff because I’m so curious. I’d spend most of the day trying to get a BJ I think. I guess just as hot as possible to increase my chances of getting said BJ?

22. Do you have a secret talent? If yes, what is it? -Nah I dont think so...maybe like talking to people?

23. What is one unique thing you’re afraid of? -Escalators.

24. You can only have one kind of sandwich. Every sandwich ingredient known to humankind is at your disposal. -Oven Roasted turkey, thick ass bacon, tomato, tons of avocado, a layer of clover sprouts, some jersey style cherry pepper relish, oil and vin. Damn that sounds good.

25. You just found $100! How are you going to spend it? -Rainy day fund mang. Responsibilities and shit.

26. You just got a free plane ticket to anywhere in the world, but you have to leave immediately. Where are you going to go? - Iceland, a bitch is trying to see the northern lights.

27. An angel appears out of Heaven and offers you a lifetime supply of the alcoholic beverage of your choice. “Be brand-specific” it says. Man! What are you gonna say about that? Even if you don’t drink booze there’s something you can figure out… so what’s it gonna be? - Laphroaig 31 year please and thanks.

28. You discover a beautiful island upon which you may build your own society. You make the rules. What is the first rule you put into place? - Don’t be a dick.

29. What is your favorite expletive? - Fucker

30. Your house is on fire, holy shit! You have just enough time to run in there and grab ONE inanimate object. Don’t worry, your loved ones and pets have already made it out safely. So what’s the one thing you’re going to save from that blazing inferno? - My Moms ring

31. You can erase any horrible experience from your past. What will it be? Probably getting molested on that plane when I was 9. I didn’t grow from it so it’d just be cool not to ever think about randomly.

32. You got kicked out of the country for being a time-traveling heathen who sleeps with celebrities and has super-powers. But check out this cool shit… you can move to anywhere else in the world! - Mexico so I’m close to home I guess.

33. The Celestial Gates Of Beyond have opened, much to your surprise because you didn’t think such a thing existed. Death appears. As it turns out, Death is actually a pretty cool entity, and happens to be in a fantastic mood. Death offers to return the friend/family-member/person/etc. of your choice to the living world. Who will you bring back? - This is weird to think about...next...

34. What was your last dream about? Jesse and I were doing something...Don’t remember what though? we were at a party I think.

35. Are you a good….[insert anything you’d like here]? Listener? Sometimes. Usually.

36. Have you ever been admitted to the hospital? Nope.

37. Have you ever built a snowman? Yes but it was only like a foot tall

38. What is the color of your socks? Flesh socks...aka no socks.

39. What type of music do you like? The good kind.

40. Do you prefer sunrises or sunsets? Sunrises feel more serene.

41. What is your favorite milkshake flavor? Oreo duhhhhh

42. What football team do you support? (I will answer in terms of American football as well as soccer) IDFWU

43. Do you have any scars? emotional or physical? short answer, yes.

44. What do you want to be when you graduate? Happy

45. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? - My ability to start shit.

46. Are you reliable? Depends on what for? Money, no. advice yes, being on time yes, helping you keep up a lie, no.

47. If you could ask your future self one question, what would it be? Did it all work out?

48. Do you hold grudges? Not really, just remember and take mental notes.

49. If you could breed two animals together to defy the laws of nature, what new animal would you create? A dogs personality in the size of a rat.

50. What is the most unusual conversation you’ve ever had? - The conversation I had with Jesse on the steps of a catholic church at 3am in San Francisco when we were both drunk.

51. Are you a good liar? Nahhh.

52. How long could you go without talking? not long at all.

53. What has been you worst haircut/style? The triangle haircut I had freshman year of highschool. Bitches didnt know about curls apparently.

54. Have you ever baked your own cake? Like for my own birthday? No. But for other peoples, all the time.

55. Can you do any accents other than your own? Southern and British.

56. What do you like on your toast? Copious amounts of kerrygold butter.

57. What is the last thing you drew a picture of? A christmas tree two days ago.

58. What would be your dream car? -new: Subaru Crosstrek, blacked the fuck out. -Classic: 67 Corvette Stingray, black outside, burgundy inside.

59. Do you sing in the shower? Or do anything unusual in the shower? Explain. Rarely sing...usually watch scientific youtube shows...

60. Do you believe in aliens? I don’t think they’ve visited us but there’s other life out there.

61. Do you often read your horoscope? -When its easy, yes, but I dont go out of my way.

62. What is your favorite letter of the alphabet? Z I guess.

63. Which is cooler: dinosaurs or dragons? Dinos, them bitches were reallll.

64. What do you think about babies? They’re expensive, poopy, cry-y sacks of flesh that don’t sleep and I want one.

65. Freebie! Ask anything interesting you can think of. I don’t know what to ask myself so bye.

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parsippanylibrarykids · 6 years

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By: Miss Jen, Miss Katy, & Miss Melissa

Picture Books

Barnett, Mac. The Wolf, the Duck, and the Mouse. (Grades K-2) This clever picture book begins with a mouse that is quickly gobbled up by a wolf. Fortunately his new accomodations AKA the wolf’s stomach include a duck with kitchenware and jam. The duck states “I may have been swallowed but I have no intention of being eaten.” Award winning illustrator Jon Klassen’s artwork add to the charm of this folkloric tale.

Colleen, Marcie. Love, Triangle. (Grades K-2) Square and Circle have been best friends since they were first created. Triangle arrives on the scene and brings new ideas. Both Square and Circle want to be friends with Triangle which causes a split between the two buddies. This common friendship problem is resolved at the end of this geometric story.

Daywalt, Drew. The Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors. (Grades K-3) The origins of the classic schoolyard game are explained in hilarious detail. Will Rock, Paper, or Scissors be victorious? Rock is searching for a worthy opponent. Paper leaves the Empire of Mom’s Home Office after conquering the Computer Printer while Scissors defeats Dinosaur-Shaped Chicken Nuggets. Wacky inanimate objects come to life under the expertise of illustrator Adam Rex. Fans of Daywalt’s The Day the Crayons Quit will be equally as charmed by this book.

Denos, Julia. Windows. (PreS-1) In this story, a boy of color dons a read hoodie, leashes his dog and ventures out into the twilight, where the windows are “blinking awake as the lights turn on a neighborhood of paper lanterns”. The reader gets to peer in at the small figures dancing, making dinner or throwing a party and watch as the color of the sky changes. The compositions are rendered in ink, watercolor, letterpress and digital collage. The narrative ends with a story shared and a snuggle. Readers will want to revisit this story over and over. Everyday routine turned to wonder on an evening walk filled with discovery.

Dykman, Ame. Read the Book, Lemmings! (PreS-2) Another delightful collaboration by the team behind Wolfie the Bunny and Horrible Bear! Lemmings don’t jump off cliffs. It says so in the book that Foxy is reading. However, the three lemmings on the boat have not read the book and keep jumping into the water. After trying unsuccessfully to get the lemmings to read the book, Foxy realizes he is going to have to actually teach the lemmings to read before he can stop them. A funny read aloud! Children will love this book at storytime and at home.

Jory, John and Benji Davies. Come Home Already! (PreS-3) The third hysterical picture book about Duck and Bear, unlikely pals. In this book, an excited Duck wants to hang out with Bear but Bear has left to go fishing for a whole week on his own. Bear is relieved to have some time alone. What will Duck do while Bear is gone? How will he survive without his best friend?

Lamothe, Matt. This is How We Do It: One Day in the Lives of Seven Kids from Around the World. (Grades K-3) Seven children from Italy, Japan, Uganda, Russia, India, Iran, and Peru describe one day in their lives as they eat, play, and learn. An author’s note, a glossary, a map, and photographs of the families are included at the end of the book. This is an informational picture book that could be used in a social studies unit.

Shannon, David. Bizzy Mizz Lizzie. (Grades 1-3) Lizzie is the busiest, buzziest bee in Hivetown. She longs to impress the Queen by winning a spelling bee contest, but she studies to the point of exhaustion on top of trying to juggle all of her other activities. When she dozes off in the middle of the competition, the only solution is rest. Lizzie finally learns to stop and smell the flowers. A book with a good message and wonderful illustrations will appeal to young readers.

Tsurumi, Andrea. Accident! (PreS-2) When a little armadillo named Lola knocks a jug of red juice all over her family’s white sofa, she flees to the library to hide. But as Lola run through town, she is joined by many others who have also made a mess and want to hide at the library too, avoiding conflict. Fun and colorful illustrations are found throughout the book and children will be drawn to the intricate details. This book teaches that a mistake can happen due to thoughtlessness, carelessness or bad luck and that it is ok to call it an accident but also necessary to “make it better” and “own up to it.”

Easy Readers

LaReau, Kara. The Infamous Ratsos are Not Afraid. (Grades 1-2) Brothers Louie and Ralphie Ratso plan to clear out an abandoned lot in their neighborhood and create an arcade. The problem is that the house next to the vacant lot might be haunted. This is the second book in the series that began with the Geisel Honor Book, The Infamous Ratsos.

Shea, Bob. Ballet Cat: What’s Your Favorite Favorite? (Grades 1-3) Ballet Cat and her cousin Goat are preparing a show for grandma and both want to prove that they are the best. Ballet Cat will come up with a fancy dance routine and Goat will perform tricks at his magic show. Which one will be her FAVORITE favorite? Terrifically fun third entry in this series.

Snyder, Laurel. Charlie & Mouse & Grumpy. (Grades K-1) This picture book/easy reader hybrid is the sequel to Charlie and Mouse. Charlie and Mouse are brothers who are spending time with their grandfather AKA Grumpy. In four short chapters, the trio discuss what it means to be “medium”, enjoy a special night while the boys’ parents go out, and choose the proper goodnight song.

Yoon, Salina. That’s My Book! and Other Stories. (Grades K-1) Big Duck, Little Duck, and Porcupine are a sweet trio of friends that find the best use for books, plan a talent show, and dress like a pirate. The latest addition to the Duck, Duck, Porcupine series contains three short chapters with bold text in large speech bubbles.

Juvenile Fiction

Bartok, Mira. The Wonderling. (Grades 4-6) Number 13 is a groundling (half human/half animal) who lives in an orphanage run by Ms. Carbunkle. He is named Arthur by a fellow groundling when he saves her. The pair of new friends escape the “Home” and set off on an adventure full of danger, magic, and mystery. Fans of Erin Hunter’s Warriors series will enjoy this lengthy fantasy novel.

Bradley, Kimberly Brubaker. The War I Finally Won. (Grades 4-6) Picking up right after 2015’s Newbery Honor book The War That Saved My Life, this very worthy sequel continues the story of Ada, her brother Jamie, and their guardian Susan. Set against the backdrop of World War II (which is felt much more immediately in this novel), Ada struggles to deal with the aftermath of years of abuse by her mother. An emotional, yet rewarding book for fans of the first book or for readers who love excellent historical fiction.

Broach, Elise. Trouble at School for Marvin & James. (Grades 1-2) This is the third book in the Masterpiece Adventures series featuring best friends, James and Marvin. James is a human and Marvin is a small black beetle. James decides to bring Marvin to school so he can experience James’ art class taught by beloved teacher, Mr. Chang. Mr. Change has blue hair and often quotes, “There are no mistakes, only happy accidents.” Marvin enjoys school until a sneeze separates him from James. This book is an excellent choice for new chapter-book readers.

Clements, Andrew. The Losers Club. (Grades 3-6) Alec loves to read -- so much so that it gets him in trouble at school and at home. Even the head of the afterschool program at his school says he can’t just sit around by himself and read; he has to join a club. So Alec comes up with a plan to create his own reading club, which he names The Losers Club to deter other kids from joining. His bright idea backfires when it turns out to be the most popular club at school. There are tons of great books referenced throughout, and there’s a helpful list at the back of the book for bookworms who want to read them all!

DeStefano, Lauren. The Girl with the Ghost Machine. (Grades 4-6) Emmaline Beaumont was 10 years old when her mother died; two years later, her father remains so consumed with grief that it’s almost as if Emmaline has lost both parents. In a desperate attempt to bring his wife back, Monsieur Beaumont tinkers with his “ghost machine” night and day. When Emmaline’s attempt to destroy the machine doesn’t go as planned, she and readers are left wondering if precious memories of loved ones are worth trading for the chance to interact with them one more time. Emmaline’s twin best friends, Oliver and Gully, represent the push and pull between hope and logic that plagues Emmaline and offers her new ways of understanding grief. Readers should be prepared for heaviness and sadness throughout. A story of loss, friendship, and resilience.

Farrer, Maria. Me and Mister P. (Grades 2-5) Arthur is tired of his younger brother Liam’s behavior. He can’t even watch television with volume since it upsets his brother. Arthur decides to run away from home but he meets a friendly polar bear named Mister P. who alters his plans. Mister P. helps Arthur accept his brother’s differences. This quirky story is bibliotherapy for siblings of children with autism as well as a good read for children who like fantastical animal stories.

Krishnaswami, Uma. Step Up to the Plate, Maria Singh. (Grades 3-5) Maria Singh lives with her family in Yuba City, California during WWII. Most of the community members are adha-adha (half and half) with fathers from India and mothers from Mexico. Maria’s teacher forms a softball team which Maria wants to join but she is not sure if her father will let her. Maria and her family struggle against discrimination from kids and adults.

Middleton, Dana. Open If You Dare. (Grades 4-6) For Birdie and her best friends, Ally and Rose, the joy of finishing elementary school is overshadowed by their dread of summer’s end. With Rose unwillingly moving back to England, and Ally and Birdie attending different middle schools, their long, close friendship is coming to an end. In the meantime, Ally deals with problems on and off the pitcher’s mound, while Birdie follows the trail of mystery, and Rose rebels against her parents in a creative, yet destructive way. The story is set in Atlanta with well-drawn individuals from different generations. Tween issues are addressed from first crush to first steps toward independence. A rewarding chapter book.

Morris, Chad. Mustaches for Maddie. (Grades 4-6) Maddie is a 12 year old girl who has a big imagination. When she is diagnosed with a brain tumor, she faces surgery and possible negative outcomes from the operation. She also faces middle school friendships and even jealous classmates with humor and bravery. Maddies loves fake mustaches so her supporters wear them. This book is based on the authors’ daughter and will appeal to readers who liked Wonder by R.J. Palacio.

Pennypacker, Sara. Waylon! Even More Awesome. (Grades 2-4) A Clementine series spin off which features another likeable kid. Waylon and Baxter are classmates who have to share a dog who lives in a shelter. The two boys can not be more different. While Waylon loves everything about science and following rules, Baxter is always in trouble and close to being a juvenile delinquent. When their dog, Dumpster Eddy, is going to be thrown out of the shelter he is living in, the boys come up with a plan to save him. A book about friendship, family, perseverance and hard work make this a wonderful book for reluctant readers.

Schlitz, Laura. Princess Cora and the Crocodile. (Grades 1-3) Princess Cora never has a moment to play or relax as her parents, the King and Queen, are constantly training her to be perfect. She writes a desperate letter to her fairy godmother asking for help. A pet crocodile arrives the next day and he impersonates Cora so she can have a day off. Caldecott Medalist Brian Floca’s illustrations add to the humor of this story.

Swanson, Matthew. The Real McCoys. (Grades 3-5) Moxie McCoy is a fourth grade detective who faces her biggest challenge yet in this fun chapter book. When someone kidnaps beloved school mascot Eddie the Owl, Moxie is on the case-but she is forced to solve this new mystery on her own since her best friend, and fellow detective, has moved away. Moxie finds clues and points fingers but she needs help to find the owl mascot. Enter Milton, Moxie’s smart little brother. Can the real McCoys solve the crime of the century?

Wilson, Amy. The Lost Frost Girl. (Grades 4-6) A modern day fairy tale about a girl who discovers that she is Jack Frost’s daughter. Owl is a twelve year old girl with a quirky mom, a dad she has never met, a cool best friend named Mallory and a boy who gives her weird looks at school. When she finds out that Jack Frost is her father, she is determined to meet him and delves into Jack’s wonderful and wild world of winter. She realizes she is part human/part fay and has special powers of her own. A tale of family, friendship and magic and embracing who you are meant to be.

Zemke, Deborah. The Curse of Einstein’s Pencil. (Grades 2-3) This second story about Bea Garcia will appeal to fans of Judy Moody. Bea is initially excited when the smartest girl in school, Judith Einstein asks her to be a partner in the geography contest. Then Bea wonders if the secret to Judith’s intelligence is her pencil. Bea takes Judith’s pencil when it rolls on the floor but the effect on her life and friendship is not what she expected.

Graphic Novels

Hale, Shannon and Pham, LeUyen. Real Friends. (Grades 3-6) Shannon Hale, author of the bestselling Princess in Black series, debuts her first graphic novel: a memoir of her childhood friendships from kindergarten through sixth grade. Friends, rivals, and frenemies drift in and out of Shannon’s life, but her mean older sister remains a constant menacing presence. Readers will find much to relate to: neighborhood friends who move away; the dread of finding out that all of your friends have been assigned to another teacher. Hale as an adult narrates the story with a welcome perspective, acknowledging when she herself was a bad friend or seeing the dynamics of a situation more clearly in hindsight. Fans of Raina Telgemeier will love this.

Jamieson, Victoria. All’s Faire in Middle School. (Grades 4-8) From Victoria Jamieson, who won a Newbery Honor for Roller Girl, comes another middle grade graphic novel. Imogen has been homeschooled her whole life; her world revolves around the local Renaissance Faire where her parents work. But now she’s ready for her biggest challenge: middle school. Imogen’s unconventional background makes it difficult for her to fit in, but is she willing to do what it takes to conform? Recommend to fans of Raina Telgemeier.

Siegel, Mark. The Sand Warrior. (Grades 3-5) The Five Worlds is a galaxy of five planets filled with different species. Oona Lee teams up with An Tzu, a boy from the poorest slums, and Jax Amboy, a lonely star athlete. They discover that they may be able to light five ancient beacons and save the Five Worlds. Hand this fantasy story to fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender and the Amulet series.

Biography

Guglielmo, Amy and Tourville, Jacqueline. Pocket Full of Colors. (Grades K-4). Mary Blair is remembered today as one of the greatest and most influential Disney animators, but at the time, her use of color was considered “too vivid, too wild.” When her all-male colleagues at Disney reject her ideas, she strikes out on her own, where she finds huge success as an illustrator and set designer following her own vision. Finally, Walt Disney himself asks her to come back; she’s the only one he will trust to design the now-classic ride It’s a Small World. Gorgeous brightly-colored illustrations evoke Blair’s distinctive style. An author’s note is included at the end of the book.

Meltzer, Brad. I am Sacagawea. (Grades 1-3) Sacagawea’s story is the latest addition to the Ordinary People Change the World best-selling biography series. Sacagawea was the only Native American to join Lewis and Clark’s expedition. Children will learn about the traits that made Sacagawea a trailblazer and the significant contributions she made to the world. A timeline and photos are included at the back of the book. Christopher Eliopoulos’ illustrations reflect his origins in the comic industry. He recreates lively scenes from Sacagawea’s life.

Rosenstock, Barb. Vincent Can’t Sleep. (Grades K-2) This picture book biography of Vincent Van Gogh explores his life especially his troubles with insomnia. He had trouble sleeping as a child, an adolescent, and as an adult in the hospital. The text is short but lyrical while the illustrations in acrylic, pen, and watercolor reflect the night sky and his iconic work, The Starry Night. An author’s note and sources are included at the end of the book.

Nonfiction

Burcaw, Shane. Not So Different. (Grades 1-3). Shane was born with a degenerative muscle disease, and he’s never been able to walk. People always seem to ask him the same ten questions, like “How do you eat?” or “Why is your head so big?” Answers to these and more are accompanied by funny photographs. Through Shane’s funny and frank stories--he once broke his expensive motorized wheelchair by using it to lift his brother to dunk a basketball--readers will learn that they’re not so different from him after all. A nice introduction to disability for younger kids.

Burns, Loree Griffin. Life on Surtsey: Iceland’s Upstart Island. (Grades 4-7) In 1963, an underwater volcano off the coast of Iceland erupted, creating a new island formed from rock and ash. Scientists realized they could use this new island to study how life takes hold in a new environment. What are the first plants to grow on the bare rock? When and how do birds, insects, and other animals arrive? The book follows a team of scientists who return to the island every year to study the changes; full-color photographs document their journey and the changing island landscape. It’s a great introduction to how scientists really work, full of details that kids will love. (On a deserted island, how do you go to the bathroom?) A glossary and bibliography are included at the end of the book.

Chin, Jason. Grand Canyon. (Grades 3-5) Some may think of the Grand Canyon as just a “big hole in the ground,” but through gorgeous and detailed illustrations, Chin reveals the complex ecosystem it hosts and what it tells us about our geological past. As a father and daughter hike through the canyon, the reader learns more about what makes each level of the canyon unique. Die-cuts reveal fossils in the modern-day, and when readers turn the page, they are transported back millions of years, to what the landscape looked like when each fossil was formed. Further scientific information, an author’s note, and sources are included at the end of the book.

Eggers, Dave. Her Right Foot. (Grades 3 and up) A beautifully illustrated book about the history of the iconic statue along with humor and interesting trivia during the first part of the book. The second part of the book talks about the statue’s feet and how the back of her right foot is actually lifted as if she is going somewhere. No one ever seems to talk about the fact that the statue of liberty is walking; she is on the move. If the statue of liberty is a symbol of freedom, if the statue of liberty has welcomed millions of immigrants to the United States, then how can she stand still?

Harris, Chris. I’m Just No Good At Rhyming. (Grades 3-8) Fans of Shel Silverstein, Ogden Nash, or Jack Prelutsky will enjoy this volume of humorous poetry for kids. Lane Smith’s hilarious illustrations add to the fun.

Rose, Deborah Lee. Beauty and the Beak. (Grades 3-5) An Alaskan bald eagle lost most of her beak after a poacher shot her. She was unable to eat, drink, or preen without her beak. The eagle later named Beauty was sent to the care of biologist Veltkamp at a raptor center in Idaho. Since Beauty’s beak did not regenerate, Veltkamp enlisted the help of a dentist and an engineer. Together they fashioned a beak for Beauty using a 3-D printer. This nonfiction animal rescue story has similaries to stories by the Hatkoffs including Winter’s Tail.

Roy, Katherine. How To Be An Elephant. (Grades 3-6) A stunning look at how a newborn elephant matures into a capable member of the herd. This book emphasizes how an infant elephant learns through her family herd an array of skills that are necessary to keep up; from learning to walk and swim right away, projecting her voice, using her nose to eat and smell and keeping cool with her large ears. Large illustrations of calves with their herd are interspersed with captivating diagrams and smaller images work well together. A carefully researched book and a must have for all elementary school collections.

#book recommendations #book recs #books #picture books #graphic novels #nonfiction #best books #best books of 2017 #childrens #childrens books #elementary #pre-k

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mew-mew-mothertrucker · 7 years

Text

Cold Storms - Chapter 1

Hello everyone! So this is my first fanfiction I’m posting anywhere in a few years. I used to write a lot but then some stuff came up but now I want to do it again. So here is the first chapter of my first multi-chapter fic in like 3 years. I present to you chapter 1 of Cold Storms

Chapter - 1

Word count - 10793

TW - Mentions of child abuse

Summary - Virgil is the new kid at Summerville Elementary school in Mr. Sander’s 3rd-grade class.

Fun Facts about the chapter - Virgil’s last name is the short form of the Greek name Thanatos, meaning "death." Also, All facts about New Mexico are true

Virgil looked up at the building. Red brick, a flagpole in front of the school surrounded by a beautiful garden that was fenced off from the kids. A few park benches and two main entrances. It was the first day of school, and around him were mothers and fathers saying goodbye to their little ones.

Don’t think about mom he internally said to himself.

He walked up to the door and found his name on the slip of paper that assigned kids to the classrooms of the small elementary school

Virgil Than - Room 301 Teacher - Thomas Sanders

Virgil adjusted his usual black and purple hoodie he wore to cover the bruises from his father and walked into the cool building outside of the warm sun. He gripped his hands on the straps of his backpack as he walked past the office and into the hall that was labeled “3rd Grade” with a cheesy kid’s sign, bright yellow and covered in small people that were any shade of skin and dancing. He found room 301 and sat outside of the room. The bell rang and he stood up, waiting for other students. The first kid to come up and stand next to him was in a pair of jeans and a black polo shirt. He had on a pair of glasses and was holding a rather large book for an 8-year-old to be reading. The kid leaned on the wall next to Virgil and didn't say anything to him. The next kid to come up was wearing a bright blue t-shirt with a cat on it and a pair of glasses.

“Logan! You’re in Mr. Sander’s class too?”

“Yes, it would appear that was, Patton,” The kid with the large book said.

The kid in the blue shirt-Patton- looked at Virgil. “Oh, are you new here?”

Virgil nodded, feeling his heartbeat quicken. “I-I just moved here”

“Well, it’s nice to meet you! I’m Patton, and this is Logan!”

“M-My name is Virgil,” he said the last part quietly.

“Sorry, I didn’t catch that,” Patton said.

“V-Virgil,” he said a bit louder.

“Oh, like Publius Vergilius Maro?” Logan asked.

“Wh-who?”

“Nevermind,” he said, looking back into his book. Virgil looked at the cover, it was covered with Gladiators and the book was clearly about Roman history.

Another kid walked down the hallway, a shirt from The Lion King on. “Patton! Are you in Mr. Sander’s class?”

“Yeah, wow looks like all three of us have the same class this year!” Patton said to the new kid. “Oh Roman, this is Virgil, he’s new!”

Roman looked at Virgil, clearly unimpressed by his tattered hoodie and ripped jeans. “How...nice,” he said before getting in line behind Patton. Virgil sighed. A teacher walked up to the door and opened it, gesturing for the students to come in.

“Hello, you four seem to be the first ones in, I have organized you all into groups of four, so find your name tag and get out all the required materials out of your backpack and place them in the desks, you bags can go over there in some cubbies” The teacher said, pointing at some cubbies that had a large green sign with “Bags” on it, decorated with small cartoon backpacks. Virgil got out his items and went to look for his name, finding himself sat next to the three students he had just met.

“Wowie guys, look at this, we are all together!” Patton said.

“This seat is...suitable enough,” Logan said.

“Well at least I’m next to you two,” Roman said.

Virgil sat own, next to him Patton and across from him Logan. Roman sat in the fourth seat, and slowly more kids trickled in until the last bell rang. The teacher closed the door and walked to the front of the class.

“Hello students, I am Mr. Sanders, but you can call me Mr. S if you want to, and let me personally welcome you all to this 3rd-grade class! This year we will be going over how to become a better reader by looking at context clues how to read and write in cursive,, multiplication and division, food changes and state history! Now, how about we start off with a game of getting to know each other!”

Virgil felt his heart rate increase and his palms became sweaty. “We are all going to write 10 facts about ourselves on a piece of paper that I will read out loud to the class with the student next to me, even I will be answering this question! Now we will be answering a few questions that I will put on the board. While I write them out, could you all please get out a piece of paper and a pencil?”

Virgil lifted the top of his desk with the other students, getting a pencil and a piece of paper. While some students let the desk close in a crash, Virgil gently let his down and looked up at the neat handwriting on the board.

What is your name?

What is your birthday?

Do you have any pets? If so, describe them

Who do you live with?

What is your favorite movie?

What is your favorite holiday?

What is your favorite toy?

Do you have a favorite book? If so, what is it?

What is your favorite color?

Do you have a best friend? If so, who is it?

Virgil looked at the questions then back at the paper.

Virgil Than

April 24th

My dad

The Black Cauldron

Halloween

When Virgil got to number 7, he didn’t know what to say. His father had never gotten him any toys. The only toy he had was a stuffed animal that his mother had gotten him before the incident and he couldn’t stand to look at it. He just decided to go with the toys he saw on TV when his father was at work

Hot Wheels

Yes, Alice In Wonderland

Purple

When Virgil was done, he flipped the paper over glanced around at the rest of the class. Girls in dresses, boys in t-shirts and jeans, he was the only one in a jacket.

He felt a hand on his shoulder and jumped, looking up to see Mr. Sanders looking down at him. The teacher seemed to be concerned with Virgil jumping but brushed it off.

“Hey there, you done?” he asked. Virgil nodded and he took the piece of paper. Soon, everyone was finished and Mr. Sanders walked up to the board.

“Okay class, I will read out by answers now. My name is Mr. Sanders, my birthday is April 24th, I have no pets, unfortunately, I live with my husband, Terrence, my favorite movie is the Lion King, I love Christmas, I have this stuffed animal that one of my dearest friends gave me a few years back that I hold close to my heart, My favorite book is actually in the Harry Potter series, my favorite color is red and my best friend’s name is Joan.“

Roman Patton and Logan all looked at each other when Mr. Sanders said his name and something unspoken passed between the three. Virgil was curious, the 24th of April was also his birthday, why did they all look like that?

“Now, I will select a random piece of paper from the pile let’s see Uh can Virgil please come up here?”

Virgil got up and shuffled over to the front of the classroom, feeling all eyes on him. He stood nervously next to the teacher's side as he read out the answers and when the teacher was done, he shuffled back over to his seat.

Now the other three kids at his table were all looking at him weirdly. Mr. Sanders called on a girl named Amber to come up and read her answers. Next, to him, Patton wrote something on a paper and passed it to Roman. Roman read it and wrote something then passed it to Logan, who read it over and passed it back to Romac who passed it to Patton. Amber’s paper was done and a girl who looked exactly like Amber walked up after Mr. Sanders called out the name Rosanna.

Patton quickly wrote something back and passed it to Roman. The paper went through the three as Virgil tried to pay attention to the other students.

“Can Patton please come up?” Patton got up and walked over to the front of the room and stood next to Mr. Sanders, smiling at the class.

“Okay buddy let’s see, you were also born on April 24th wow that’s 3 of us now, aw you have a large husky dog, okay you live with your parents and a baby brother, your favorite movie is Winnie the Pooh, your favorite toy is a Winnie the pooh stuffed animal, you love the book Highway Cats, your favorite color is blue and your best friends are Logan and Roman, awe that’s so sweet.”

Slowly the pieces clicked together in Virgil’s head. It was confirmed after roman and Logan had been called up. All of them had the same birthday.

Mr. Sanders asked the class who was buying lunch what they wanted and sent the order to the cafeteria. Virgil did his work, writing out cursive A’s until lunchtime, where him and the rest of his class got in line and walked to the cafeteria. Virgil had a brown bag filled with a sandwich he made himself and some chips, along with a water bottle. He sat at a table, all alone. The only other students were all in the third grade as well, but he didn’t know anyone, so he sat and ate the ham and cheese sandwich slowly, watching what other students did. Soon, everyone who had ordered lunches were sitting at table and Patton walked over.

“Hey, Virgil! Mind if me, Roman and Logan si with you?”

Virgil shrugged and gestured to the seats, due to his mouth being full. Patton smiled and sat down, Logan with the same book next and Roman last, sitting as far away from Virgil as possible.

“So Virgil, where did you move from?” Patton asked.

“New Mexico”

“Ah yes, New Mexico, land of enchantment. Hatch green Chile is grown there and is very popular among locals. The state capital is Santa Fe and the largest cities are Albuquerque, Las Cruces, and Rio Rancho. It is the background of many movies and T.V shows and has oil in the southern parts of the state. Turquoise is found there a lot, as well, being one of the most common gems in jewelry there” Logan recited as if he had been waiting for that to be Virgil’s answer.

“Uh...yeah”

“Well, that’s interesting,” Patton said.

Roman had yet to say a word, just poked at his pizza that looked more like cardboard painted red and covered in paper.

“Anyhow, we were wondering if you would like to be our friend,” Patton said.

“Why?”

“Well, you have the same birthday as us silly! We’re all friends because of that!”

“So you want to be my friend because I happened to be born on April 24th?”

“Well of course!”

“No, thank you”

Patton frowned.

“Well, if you don’t want to…”

Roman was the first to leave and go sit at another empty table. Logan went after and Patton looked at Virgil sadly before getting up and joining the other two. Virgil almost regretted it but then the voice in the back of his mind came up. You shouldn’t get close to people when you do they get hurt. And besides, they would soon learn how messed up you are

Virgil finished his sandwich and threw away his trash before spending all of the recess after lunch sitting against the school, alone, watching as a pair of twins from his class played foursquare with three other kids who weren’t in his class, boys from other classes and a few from his class playing basketball, and finally his eyes landed on Patton Roman and Logan, all playing on some of the equipment, laughing and yelling at each other, Logan’s book neatly placed next to the steps leading up to some slides. Virgil got up and spent the rest of the recess in the classroom, alone.

#cold storms #thomas #thomas sanders #fanfic #fandom #fanfiction #virgil sanders #logan sanders #patton sanders #roman sanders #sandersides #sander sides #sander sides fanfiction

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ezatluba · 3 years

Photo

Pandemic Pet Therapy: What's So Special About A Critter Friend?

November 22, 2020

Karen McCullough never wanted a dog. "It would have tied me down, and I had a great, very busy life," she says.

Her career as a keynote speaker at conferences has taken her across the U.S., Canada and Mexico. "My job is to get everybody engaged, excited and ready to network," she says.

McCullough loved the travel — "cool hotels and not worrying about having anything at home," she says. "I don't even have any live plants in the house." As she sailed into 2020, she expected her best year yet.

Then "BOOM" — everything stopped, including conventions and conferences. The pandemic "took my life away," she says.

Karen McCullough found a way to alleviate the loneliness that was starting to sink in. "Rosie has been like this magnet; she's attracting me to people and it's good."

Karen McCullough

Living alone in Houston, she started feeling the stress — anxious and worried about money. On top of that, she couldn't see her three grandkids who live nearby. "I'm such an extrovert and it's just been crazy and hard."

The surprising solution, for McCullough and many other Americans in 2020, was often furry, with four feet: a pet dog or cat.

First, her son and his wife adopted a puppy. McCullough decided to do the same, quietly hoping that if she got a puppy, the grandkids "would want to come and visit me in the front yard." On Labor Day, 8-week-old Rosie, a Wheaten terrier, arrived.

Rosie opened a new world to McCullough — within just a few blocks. Strangers became new friends. "I know all my neighbors now," she says. "We have a routine and she gets me out there; we walk three times a day!"

The loneliness that had started to sink McCullough as the pandemic wore on is gone. "Rosie has been like this magnet; she's attracting me to people and it's good."

And there's some science to back up McCullough's feelings. Research from Australia finds the "pet factor" does bring people together in helpful ways: Pet owners are more likely to get to know people, form friendships and get the social support humans need.

Psychologist Lori Kogan, a professor of veterinary medicine at Colorado State University and chair of the Human-Animal Interaction Section of the American Psychological Association, has been cataloging stories like McCullough's during the pandemic.

Kogan and colleagues from Washington State University, University of San Francisco and Palo Alto University did two anonymous online surveys via social media to current pet owners — one regarding cats and another asking about dogs. The surveys asked participants to share their thoughts, experiences and concerns amid the pandemic.

They found a significant number of people reported feeling they have less social support from friends and family now than before COVID-19 spread across the U.S. For many, their pets have played a critical role in helping reduce feelings of depression, anxiety, isolation and loneliness in these tough months.

Pets, Kogan says, are "a respite from the difficulties of life" and provide their human companions "an outlet to give." And while relationships with friends and family can be fraught, she says, "relationships with animals are simple."

Here are more stories of pet owners discovering animal companions can be the unsung therapists of these difficult times:

Get up and get moving: Dr. Gregory Brown and Kai

Dr. Gregory Brown is a psychiatrist in Austin, Texas, and a spokesperson for the American Psychiatric Association. Brown says he has been seeing an increase in anxiety, insomnia and depression among patients he has counseled in the past six months. "People are definitely dealing with economic stressors, a hard time with money, and with just being idle" — not getting out of the house much.

A dog "nudging at your foot or barking because they want to go for a walk" can be a real motivation every day to get out and get moving, he says. And that's good emotionally as well as physically. "We know physical activity can help reducedepression."

Kai has kept Dr. Gregory Brown out and about with a 6:30 a.m. wake-up call ... "when she's not busy eating up my wife's favorite pair of shoes."

Gregory Brown

Though Brown says he's a fairly active guy, he found the reduced structure of these pandemic days meant he was getting to bed a bit later, getting up a bit later and sometimes letting his exercise schedule slide.

Then, about a month ago, he and his wife decided to adopt a 10-month old golden retriever/lab mix named Kai. Now, every day starts with her wake-up bark around 6:30 a.m., returning some sense of structure to their lives.

And Brown says that he spends at least some time outside daily, jogging and walking and that helps make the days seem "a bit more normal."

"She's just been a joy to be around when she's not busy eating up my wife's favorite pair of shoes," he says.

Breaking through the isolation: Karol Kullberg and Molly

As a psychiatric social worker in Rockville, Md., Karol Kullberg has spent most of her work life in a small room, listening to patients face to face — work she finds rewarding and fulfilling, she says. When the pandemic hit, she was able to work from home — a blessing in some ways, but not others. Offering therapy online, via telehealth appointments, has been convenient, Kulberg says, but she also finds it isolating and somewhat alienating.

"It's intensely stressful — I think for everyone," she says. "Certainly for patients as well as therapists, who weren't particularly technologically adept or even comfortable using Zoom or other platforms."

Reading patients' facial expressions and body language can be more difficult she says, and without colleagues to talk to in between therapeutic sessions, "you're very aware that you are suddenly working in a vacuum." Kullberg doesn't say she's lonely. She says it's more like being "profoundly alone."

By the end of March when it became clear that staying at home would be the norm for quite a while, she decided to adopt a dog.

Enter Molly, a 5-year-old terrier mix who "came right into my home, was perfectly well-behaved, perfectly housebroken, and even welcomed my cat — who didn't return the favor."

For Kullberg, Molly was "like getting something you didn't know you missed; you forgot how wonderful it was to have something you didn't notice until all of a sudden it's there again."

She finds Molly an extremely comforting presence, "like having somebody's arm around your shoulder without having to say anything. Sort of like a dance partner you don't have to teach; they just figure it out."

Today, Kullberg says she no longer feels alone. "I get up in the morning and Molly curls up in her bed and we go to work."

A source of joy amid grief: Peggy Pacy & Emmet

"My glorious chow chow mix died at the end of January and I was heartbroken" says Peggy Pacy, who initially planned to let some time pass before getting another dog. But, "a heart needs to love," she says, "and I started looking."

At the end of February she adopted a large and fluffy Great Pyrenees mix — she named him Emmet. It was just before lockdown in Washington, D.C., where Pacy lives and works as an independent producer of commercials. Emmet arrived "just in time" says Pacy, who lives alone. "No question, it's very easy to go down the dark path in the world we're in today."

Early on in the pandemic, the first three minutes of every morning would start with a "mild panic" she says. But then a "giant white paw lands on my shoulder and I wonder if it is possible to literally feel serotonin," she says, referring to one of the neurotransmitters thought to help stabilize mood.

Emmet spends much of his time chasing flies, unearthing clothing Pacy had forgotten she owned, and making friends with neighborhood kids — just watching him is diverting, she says. "All day long the kids drop by and yell for Emmet."

Even in times of despair, Emmet makes a difference. "I'm standing in my front hall, lost in thought ... wondering if I will ever work again, if my small business loan will be approved, if I will have to sell my house. And then, gazing in the direction of my couch, Emmet decides that a long slow back flip to the floor is in order." His antics pierce the grief and remind her to stay in the moment, she says — " be grateful for what I have."

Pacy has a Post-it on her door that says: "I have health insurance; my cabinets are full of food; I have a home; I have Emmet. This makes me happy."

A new focus to replace anxiety: Devin Green and Taco

Taco has kept Devin Green busy and her anxiety at bay. "I'm consumed with him more than the worries in my mind."

Devin Green

Devin Green, a small business consultant and life coach, who lives in Portland, Maine, started looking for a dog to adopt in May. After many false starts, a close friend helped her find the dog of her dreams, a miniature goldendoodle (a cross between a golden retriever and a small poodle).

Taco has "changed my life in ways I never expected," says Green. As he grows, his puppy fur is getting replaced by adult dog fur which can get matted. So Green brushes him nightly, giving — and recieving — needed physical touch. "If I'm having a bad day, he's very warm and snuggly."

She sometimes struggles with anxiety, she says, and soothing the pup's needs helped her get beyond that. "I'm consumed with him more than the worries in my mind," she says. "My brain space is now taken up by something far more productive than it used to be."

Green says she used to panic a little if she didn't have plans for the day, but Taco has introduced her to the neighborhood and helped her feel more a part of the community. Every morning, they walk to the nearby fire station — a big loop, Green says. "The fire station is his favorite place."

Taco runs inside and "loves on all the firefighters and they love him back. I had never even spoken to any of them before but now we're all buddies."

Choosing the right pet for you: advice from the "falcon whisperer"

As executive director of the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital in the United Arab Emirates, veterinarian Dr. Margit Gabriele Muller is known as her nation's "falcon whisperer." But her love for animals is thoroughly inclusive. She is the author of a new book, Your Pet, Your Pill: 101 Inspirational Stories About How Pets Can Lead You to a Happy, Healthy and Successful Life.

A falcon wouldn't be the right choice for everyone, Muller notes. "Falcons are good for people who can be extremely dedicated, adhere to strict time schedules and have a great understanding of the falcons' special needs and requirements," she says, noting that dogs, too demand the right kind of human companion.

"It's of utmost importance to find the right pet according to the person's personality, as well as personal circumstances and environment," she says. "This means if you don't have much time and you live in a very small apartment, a dog is not suitable for your lifestyle, and a cat, bird, rabbit or fish would be better for you."

All pets — dogs, cats, fish, rabbits, birds, snakes and, yes, falcons — can help people overcome numerous emotional and physical challenges, Muller says. And certainly during the global pandemic, when people are feeling locked down, isolated and lacking in human connection, pets can make a world of difference.

Just playing with a pet for five minutes or petting the animal for five minutes can reduce blood pressure and increase hormones associated with contentment research suggests.

Oxytocin, sometimes called the "bonding hormone" or "cuddle hormone," is oftenreleased with a gentle touch. And it's not just humans who benefit from increased oxytocin levels — dogs do too.

When you develop a bond with an animal companion, Muller says, you often get someone who "loves you unconditionally, who is there for you 24 hours a day, who doesn't mind how you look today," she says. "They are just there to love you and this brings a tremendous benefit for the entire family."

Withdrawn kids may particularly benefit. One family, she says, told her their son was always on the computer or iPad before they brought home a pet. Now he doesn't stop talking — about the pet.

"Once you plant that seed in children and they love animals and learn how to care for them, they learn responsibility," she says — skills that will prove incredibly valuable as they grow up.

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themisfitthrone · 6 years

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i was tagged in 3 tag games in the last day or so and instead of making 3 separate posts in which i tag much of the same people, i decided to consolidate. i love you all who tagged me.

uh....idk if i have anyone to tag? you guys kind of covered everyone i WOULD tag. i guess @flowerparrish, @colormekorrasami, @jordanetalaredead, @megayest, @twin-ace, @lakesandquarries, @peachy-shrimp, and @hotdamnlookatthispan.... if any of these look interesting, you should totally do them!

okay everything under the cuuuuut

tag game number one: tagged by the sweetest human, @carrie-frances

what’s your favourite song(s) to sing/hum? this is a tough one? currently i’ve been singing You by Keaton Henson a lot and also Ophelia by The Lumineers. Let Her Go by Passenger is another goodie for singing lately. Oh and Lost Boy!!!! by Ruth B.

what’s your favourite flower/tree/plant? I love nature wow. My favorite tree is definitely a Weeping Cherry Tree or Willow. My favorite flowers are sunflowers and roses! Plants in general, I just really love cacti? It’s a product of having family I adore in Arizona haha

what do you always doodle? hm... cats, mostly

how do you take your tea/coffee? With plenty of splenda and some milk

favourite candle scent? Vanilla, mostly. just sweet things

what perfume do you wear? body sprays from bath and bodyworks, usually vanilla or peach

what’s your go-to dance move when you’re alone? i have zero clue haha

favourite quote? i don’t know off of the top of my head! perhaps the one i have tattooed, from star wars. “luminous beings are we, not this crude matter.”

favourite self care routine? putting on good smelling lotions. reading a book. snuggling oliver. calling someone i love.

fuzzy socks or house slippers? both! but mostly fuzzy socks

what colour are your eyes? just plain ole brown

what’s your favourite eye colour on others? idk? i think blue or green but i adore brown eyes on everyone

favourite season? why? autumn, i like the colors and the clothes and the smells

cheek, neck or nose kisses? cheek! but the real MVP are forehead ones

what does your happy place look like? the beach but without all the people. or a quiet forest with light filtering in

favourite breed of dog? i’ve always loved boxers the most, and cavaliers

do you ever want to be married? if so, what colours would you pick for your wedding theme? yes, i think i do? i don’t know what colors, it’s always changing. i think it depends on the person i’m with because their input would matter. i’d want the colors to be whatever colors they think of when they see me and vice versa

cursive or print? it’s a solid mix but mostly print

favourite weather? raining and warm, but not thundering

tag game number two: tagged by the amazing @dancyon

— What was your last…

1. Drink: iced tea

2. Phone call: my aunt calling with some hard news

3. Text message: my aunt with an update

4. Song you listened to: love me by the 1975

5. Time you cried: yesterday and i’m gonna cry later today @ love, simon

6. Dated someone twice: yeah

7. Kissed someone and regretted it: for sure

8. Been cheated on: by two different people, apparently im easy to cheat on

9. Lost someone special: sadly, i’ve lost a few

10. Been depressed: lmao got that good good depression goblin

11. Gotten drunk and thrown up: god yeah whoops sorry friends

— Fave colours

12. purple (any shade really)

13. blue (any shade really)

14. soft yellow

— in the last year have you…

15. Made new friends: ahhhh!!!! yes i have ♥

16. Fallen out of love: hhhhhhhhhh

17. Laughed until you cried: probably

18. Found out someone was talking about you: oh yeah

19. Met someone who changed you: yeah, in more ways than one

20. Found out who your friends are: idk???? kinda yeah

21. Kissed someone on your facebook friends list: uh i think i have my ex still

— General

22. How many of your facebook friends do you know irl: majority

23. Do you have any pets: my boy @ollycat and then my dogs and cats @ my parents house

24. Do you want to change your name: i actually did but now i’m back to my birthname bc being NB is one big ???? of what do i want

25. What did you do for your last birthday: oh shit well w my friends i got drunk on rum, dressed up like a pirate, and played d&d. and then fam was the usual cheesecake factory adventure

26. What time did you wake up today: uh around 8 something officially?

27. What were you doing at midnight last night: i think i fell asleep before midnight? if not i was watching Critical Role

28. What is something you can’t wait for: my next tattoo!!

30. What are you listening to right now: just the sounds of my grandparents house

31. Have you ever talked to a person named Tom: I have an ex named Tom and a Grandpa named Tom

32. Something that’s getting on your nerves: just like....everything about this breakup and stuff i guess

33. Most visited website: god uh...tumblr and twitter????

34. Hair colour: naturally a dark brown with some reddish in it. it’s currently died as close as possible to that

35. Long or short hair: medium?

36. Do you have a crush on someone: no currently i’m avoiding all romance like the fucking PLAGUE

37. What do you like about yourself: i’m pretty tenacious

38. Want any piercings: nah, i’m more the tattoo type

39. Blood type: ..............why

40. Nicknames: bird, birb, kbird, kbirb, broseidon

41. Relationship status: single

42. Sign: aries

43. Pronouns: they/them

44. Fave tv show: on air right now it’s b99 and the good place. in general, buffy and gilmore girls

45. Tattoos: i currently have 6 and i want sooooo many more

46. Right or left handed: left!!!!

47: Ever had surgery: tonsils and stomach yeah

48. Piercings: none

49. Sport: none currently but football (soccer) will always have my heart

50. Vacation: currently in arizona!! i’ve been all over though, i miss mexico a lot

51. Trainers: what does this....mean....like.....shoes???????

— More general

52. Eating: currently nothing?

53. Drinking: iced tea currently

54. I’m about to watch: LOVE, SIMON AGAIN BITCH!!!!!!!

55. Waiting for: life to feel right

56. Want: a nap, like always

57. Get married: okay your answer of “if i get past my commitment issues and find someone that loves me, sure” was fucking perfect

58. Career: teacher!

— Which is better

59. Hugs or kisses: hugs

60. Lips or eyes: eyes

61. Shorter or taller: taller

62. Older or younger: older

63. Nice arms or stomach: arms

64. Hookup or relationships: relationship

65. Troublemaker or hesitant: hesitant

— Have you ever

66. Kissed a stranger: nope

67. Drank hard liquor: hell yeah

68.Turned someone down: in high school yeah. and like once in college

69. Sex on first date: ........im an ace baby

70: Broken someone’s heart: supposedly

71. Had your heart broken: mhmmmm

72. Been arrested: nah, just brought home by cops

73. Cried when someone died: yeah, i cry at everything but especially death

74. Fallen for a friend: ..........only friends tbh

— Do you believe in

75. Yourself: trying to? cullen says my heart’s vibranium

76. Miracles: some days i do

77. Love at first sight: probably not, i used to though

78. Santa Claus: not anymore

79. Angels: i’d like to

— Misc

80. Eye colour: brown!

81. Best friends name: i mean..... jenny, ellie, michelle, and cullen? plus like max and jor, of course

82. Favourite movie: i guess the princess bride is the Most Favorite of All

83. Favourite actor: my MAIN MAN, hugh jackman

84. Favourite cartoon: danny phantom right now

85. Favourite teacher’s name: in HS it was mrs haley and in college it was dr trainor....grad school so far it’s been jen lynady

final tag game: tagged by the cutest, @blurredmxnds

bold the statements that are true

APPEARANCE:

I am 5'7" or taller

I wear glasses

I have at least one tattoo

I have at least one piercing

I have blonde hair

I have brown eyes

I have short hair

My abs are at least somewhat defined

I have or have had braces

PERSONALITY:

I love meeting new people

People tell me that I’m funny

Helping others with their problems is a big priority for me

I enjoy physical challenges

I enjoy mental challenges

I’m playfully rude with people I know well

I started saying something ironically and now I can’t stop saying it

There is something I would change about my personality

ABILITY:

I can sing well

I can play an instrument

I can do over 30 pushups without stopping

I’m a fast runner

I can draw well

I have a good memory (lmao about some things???)

I’m good at doing math in my head

I can hold my breath underwater for over a minute

I have beaten at least 2 people in arm wrestling

I know how to cook at least 3 meals from scratch

I know how to throw a proper punch

HOBBIES:

I enjoy playing sports

I’m on a sports team at my school or somewhere else

I’m in an orchestra or choir at my school or somewhere else

I have learned a new song in the past week

I work out at least once a week

I’ve gone for runs at least once a week in the warmer months

I have drawn something in the past month

I enjoy writing

I do or have done martial arts

EXPERIENCES:

I have had my first kiss

I have had alcohol

I have scored the winning goal in a sports game

I have watched an entire season of a TV show in one sitting

I have been at an overnight event

I have been in a taxi

I have been in the hospital or ER in the past year

I have beaten a video game in one day

I have visited another country

I have been to one of my favorite band’s concerts

RELATIONSHIPS:

I have a crush on a celebrity

I have a crush on someone I know

I have been in at least 3 relationships

I have never been in a relationship

I have asked someone out or admitted my feelings to them

I get crushes easily

I have had a crush on someone for over a year

I have been in a relationship for at least a year (on and off)

I have had feelings for a friend

MY LIFE:

I have at least one person I consider a “best friend”

I live close to my school

My parents are still together

I have at least one sibling

I live in the United States

There is snow right now where I live

I have hung out with a friend in the past month

I have at least 15 CDs (somewhere in my things)

I share my room with someone

RANDOM SHIT:

I have breakdanced

I know a person named Jamie

I have had a teacher with a last name that’s hard to pronounce

I have dyed my hair

I’m listening to one song on repeat right now (i JUST ended my thing w this)

I have punched someone in the past week

I know someone who has gone to jail

I have broken a bone (just a toe)

I have eaten a waffle today

I know what I want to do with my life

I speak at least 2 languages

I have made a new friend in the past year

#tag games #was uscjean #about the blogger

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arplis · 4 years

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Arplis - News: The Best Men’s Midlayers on the Market Right Now

A good layering system is like a quesadilla. You have a simple tortilla on the bottom and another on top, but it’s the beans and queso and carne in between that really matter. Compared to outer and base layers, midlayers are the most versatile and varied—and arguably the most important. While a base layer’s main job is to wick sweat from the body, and an outer layer protects you from the elements, midlayers can do both and are also responsible for insulation. Midlayers run the spectrum from thin fleeces to down puffies and, at the more insulated end, can double as outer layers in fair weather or shoulder seasons. They have a huge range of insulation weights, breathability, water and wind resistance (if any), features, and fits (see our How to Choose guide at the end of this piece). What you choose to wear on a given day depends largely on the weather and the activity you plan to do. So, whether you ride the chairlift or ski uphill, perfecting your layering system will save you from freezing, sweating, and having to adjust on the move. That’s why a team of eight gear testers and I set out to find the ultimate filling. For a full year, we put 35 midlayers from 22 top brands through the ringer, covering the range of fleeces to puffies and everything in between. Our conclusion: you can never have just one midlayer. Different conditions and activities call for different layering systems. But with so many options, choosing the right combination can be daunting. To save you the time and effort of experimenting, here are the five must-have categories we settled on, the best uses for each, and the runners-up in each category. Best All-Around Midlayer Best Fleece Midlayer Best Active-Insulation Midlayer Best Hybrid Midlayer Best Puffy Midlayer How We Test (Photo: Hayden Carpenter) Over the course of a year, we tested midlayers up and down the length of the Rocky Mountains, from Canada to Colorado to New Mexico, and in the Pacific Northwest. The testers were athletes, guides, adventure photographers, dog mushers, and weekend warriors. One, Rafal Andronowski, runs the blog The Alpine Start, where he has thoroughly tested and reviewed countless pieces of outdoor gear. As a Vermonter, I have winter in my blood. I grew up alpine and cross-country skiing (out my back door) before discovering ice climbing in my teens, which has consumed me ever since. I’ve covered gear for the past six years, previously as an editor at Rock and Ice, and now for Outside’s biannual Buyer’s Guide. On average, three people tested each layer, although due to limited sample availability, some were used by only one or two. Each tester wore the layers in as many different conditions and for as many different activities as possible, including ice and mixed climbing, rock climbing, highlining, ski touring, resort skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, dogsledding, outdoor photography, trail running, hiking, fly-fishing, camping, traveling, barhopping, and teaching in a classroom with a broken heating system. After a winter of heavy use, the team filled out in-depth review forms for each layer. Combining that feedback with my own findings, I narrowed down the field of 35 items to the ten layers we loved the most, in terms of performance, function, and fit, within specific categories. Best All-Around Midlayer (Photo: Hayden Carpenter) Ortovox Swisswool Zebru ($280) This 9.2-ounce, slim-fitting, full-zip hoodie is the lightest midlayer on this list and deceptively warm for its weight. Its secret sauce is Ortovox’s proprietary Swisswool insulation. Made from a matrix of wool fibers, it acts like synthetic loft with the moisture-wicking and odor-resistant benefits of wool. The outer fabric, made from 100 percent polyamide, allows ample freedom of movement and breathability while still providing moderate wind and water resistance. The Zebru quickly became our go-to for ski touring. On chilly single-digit-temp dawn patrols, it was toasty enough to wear with just a thin base layer on the uphill. It blocked the wind, shed light snow, and kept us comfortably warm without tipping the perspiration threshold. The Zebru was so breathable that even on fair-weather days, when pumping hard uphill, I never broke a sweat. For downhill skiing, harsh conditions, or lower-output activities, the hoodie easily fits under a shell or thicker jacket without bunching or restricting movement, yet it’s stretchy enough to accommodate another midlayer beneath. While not adjustable, the hood seemed to fit our testers perfectly—an elastic edge seals around the face, hugs the head, and moves whichever way you look. It’s comfortable underneath a helmet, and through some sort of sorcery, also fits over a climbing helmet. Not many hoods can do both. My only complaint about the jacket is that the elastic-waist hem tends to ride up when I’m reaching overhead. Although it was designed for ski touring, the Zebru is ideal for any fast-paced winter activity where warmth and breathability are key. This is the layer you put on in the morning, never have to think about, and don’t take off until the day is done—making it well worth the $280 price tag. buy now Runner-Up: Arc’teryx Atom LT Hoodie ($259) Like the Archaeopteryx fossil the brand’s name is based on, it seems as if the Atom has been around for ages, yet there’s a good reason it continues to be one of our all-time favorite midlayers. Constructed with 60-gram synthetic insulation surrounded by a DWR-treated 20-denier shell with stretchy fleece side panels, it’s a highly versatile layering piece for a range of activities and conditions. (Denier is a measurement of the weight of the fibers—higher numbers are thicker and generally more durable, while lower numbers like these are finer and may be lighter and more breathable.) The athletic-fitting, compressible, and durable hoodie serves equally well as a midlayer for cold-weather and stop-and-go sports or as an outer layer for high-output days under friendly skies. buy now Best Fleece Midlayer (Photo: Hayden Carpenter) Montane Iridium Hybrid Pull-On ($95) The lightweight (9.5 ounces) and super-stretchy Iridium puts a technical twist on the classic quarter-zip fleece, which landed it among our favorites. At first glance, it looks like a typical hard-face fleece—smooth on the outside, fuzzy on the inside—but there’s more hiding beneath, and on, the surface. The Iridium is a hybrid constructed with a midweight fleece (front of the torso, top of the sleeves) for warmth and durability and a thinner fleece over sweatier areas (underarm, sides, back) for better breathability. Moreover, the outside is covered with a ceramic material printed in a herringbone pattern for added abrasion resistance that doesn’t compromise stretch. Our testing team wore this while ice climbing in the frigid Canadian Rockies, ski touring in New Mexico’s Sandia Mountains, and resort skiing at Taos in temperatures that ranged from minus 10 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit. They stayed cozy through all of these activities. One tester wrote, “It surpassed all of my expectations.” I was skeptical about the ceramic print at first, but it does seem to work: after a winter of heavy use, my Iridium shows no signs of wear or pilling, even in high-abrasion zones, like where it tucks into my climbing harness. This was the only fleece pullover in the test, and, at $95, it also happens to be one of the least expensive. The slim fit and generous stretch make it a great layering piece. If you’re seeking a simple do-it-all fleece for any winter activity, whether that’s climbing or skiing mountains, hiking, or hanging at the bar, this is it. buy now Runner-Up: Mammut Aconcagua Light Hooded Jacket ($179) While not as insulating or light (12 ounces) as the Iridium, this simple, full-zip hoodie strikes a good balance between technical and casual. Made from a thin and stretchy Polartec fleece that’s smooth on the outside, waffle-patterned on the inside, it’s a comfy all-rounder for the mountains, town, or travel. Day to day, I use it more than any other layer here—I practically live in it—but for intense outdoor activity, I prefer the Iridium for frigid days of alpine skiing and the Alpha Freak for ice climbing, since those offer more warmth and breathability, respectively. buy now Best Active-Insulation Midlayer (Photo: Hayden Carpenter) Rab Alpha Freak Pull-On ($175) This 15-ounce half-zip hybrid hoodie is as cozy as it is functional. Made with a combo of Polartec Alpha Direct (a lofted synthetic fabric without backing, so the fuzz is exposed on both sides) and Polartec Power Grid (a hard-faced fleece with squares of insulation on the inside), the Alpha Freak holds heat like a habanero yet is highly breathable, efficient at wicking, and quick to dry. It has a long hem to tuck under a harness, long sleeves with thumb loops for unrestricted overhead reaches, and a helmet-compatible hood covered with Pertex Quantum (a lightweight hard-shell fabric) and DWR for wind and water resistance. We tested this piece while ice and mixed climbing throughout Colorado and the Canadian Rockies in temperatures ranging from minus 20 to 36 degrees Fahrenheit. No matter the forecast, we found ourselves reaching for this layer over and over again. Comfortable next to skin or with a light base layer beneath, it hugs the body and has plenty of stretch, so it doesn’t bind in the armpits or feel constrictive. With a second midlayer or shell on top, I could climb without overheating, then stand at a belay without freezing—all without needing to adjust my layering system. One tester wrote, “This will be my new go-to midlayer for technical excursions.” Our only nitpicks are that the hood is a little too tight to fit over a helmet, and the Pertex Quantum is crinkly and loud under a lid, making communication more difficult. While the Alpha Freak is designed specifically for climbing and moving fast in alpine terrain, it serves equally well for aerobic activities, such as running, cross-country skiing, ski touring, and hiking, or as a layering piece for alpine skiing, walking the dog, or outdoor chores. buy now Runner-Up: Norrøna Lyngen Alpha90 Raw Jacket ($129) The Lyngen Alpha90 is so thin that it looks barely there, but for fast-paced winter sports like cross-country skiing, running, and touring, or lower-octane activities on warmer days, it’s just insulating enough and plenty breathable. The full-zip jacket uses Polartec Alpha Direct (a synthetic meshlike material with clumps of fuzz on both sides) on the chest, back, and shoulders and a grid fleece around the bottom, lower sleeves, and sides, like a skinnier cousin of the Alpha Freak. Our concern here was its durability—the superlight fabric seemed as if it could easily shred if caught on a tree branch or ice tool, though it remained intact through testing. buy now Best Hybrid Midlayer (Photo: Hayden Carpenter) Outdoor Research Refuge Hybrid Hooded Jacket ($159) The love child of a soft shell and a vest, the Refuge Hybrid has noninsulated sleeves and sides (made from a 75-denier stretch fabric, of which 39 percent is recycled polyester) and OR’s VerticalX insulation (a high-loft, 60-gram, synthetic fill constructed in vertical columns to wick moisture efficiently) over the chest and back (covered by a 20-by-30-denier polyester ripstop—thicker fibers run in one direction of the weave, thinner in the other to provide mechanical stretch). This high-loft, 60-gram, synthetic fill consists of vertical columns, which is designed to trap air but let moisture escape efficiently. We used this layer for hiking, ice climbing, and alpine skiing and were impressed at how well it cuts the wind and keeps the core warm. Like many of our top midlayer picks, the Refuge Hybrid functions as both an outer and a midlayer, depending on conditions. All three pockets (two hand, one chest) are lined with mesh, so you can unzip them for extra ventilation when you need it. The left hand pocket also doubles as a stuffsack and includes a carabiner loop with a plastic clasp so you can clip it to a harness or backpack. The hood is not adjustable, but it’s fitted and sits comfortably beneath a helmet. As for the overall fit, the sleeves are slim, stretchy, and unrestrictive, but as the only detractor, the torso is a little boxier than we’d prefer on a midlayer. Since there’s no insulation in the sleeves and sides, the Refuge Hybrid is best for activities where you’re moving fast and working hard in cold weather, such as climbing, skiing, and running. It would be suitable for hiking or walking on warmer days. buy now Runner-Up: Salomon Haloes Hybrid ($225) The Haloes Hybrid is similar to the Refuge Hybrid in design but with baffled insulation—a mix of 90 percent down, 10 percent feather—only on the chest. We found it to be less versatile than the Refuge for stop-and-go activities since it’s warmer up front yet cooler in the back, but it’s still excellent for winter sports that involve moving at a fast, steady pace. The four-way stretch fabric on the sleeves and back is windproof, and the entire layer has a DWR treatment. buy now Best Puffy Midlayer (Photo: Hayden Carpenter) The North Face Summit L3 Proprius Primaloft Hoodie ($225) The warmest midlayer among our favorites, the Summit L3 is a sleek, lightweight (12.3 ounces), synthetic jacket that belongs in the alpine. Minimalist in design, it has only a single chest pocket and a hood. The jacket features 60-gram Primaloft Gold Active insulation on the inside and a 15-denier nylon ripstop outer with a DWR finish. While this hoodie would be at home in the Himalayas, it served us well for tamer inbounds and backcountry ski days in the Pacific Northwest and northern New Mexico. It leans toward an outer layer for all but the gnarliest of conditions, and we found that it blocks wind and sheds light snow with ease. For heavy, wet snow or rain, though, I’d want a shell on top. Fortunately, the athletic fit makes this hoodie comfortable to layer under a shell or larger jacket when it’s nuking, yet it leaves plenty of room to add one or two layers beneath it as well. The hood fits over a helmet, and when cinched down using the single rear toggle (which is easy to grasp with gloves on), it also fits great without. One tester wrote, “If I could only have one of the layers I tested, this is the one I would keep.” For better or worse, this layer comes in only canary yellow and, as one tester noted, will make you look like a traffic cone. But hey, at least you’ll be visible in the mountains. Overall, this climbing and skiing hoodie is best for moving quickly at altitude or in cold and windy conditions. Although, if you’re seeking something a little more casual-looking for all-around use, you might be better suited with the Kor Strata Alpine. buy now Runner-Up: Mountain Hardwear Kor Strata Alpine Hoodie ($280) This full-zip hoodie is insulated with two types of high-end synthetic loft for targeted warmth and breathability. The outer fabric is a combo of a mechanical stretch nylon ripstop (the stretch comes from the weave, not the material itself) around the waist, on the back, and under the arms. A weather-resistant 15-denier nylon ripstop on the hood, shoulders, and chest provides added protection against falling snow and dripping ice. While we felt its fit and performance didn’t quite match that of the Summit L3, the additional hand pockets and toned-down looks make it a better choice for everyday wear. buy now How to Choose a Midlayer (Photo: Kode Spencer) Insulation Insulation type, weight (thickness), and properties are the first things to consider when choosing a midlayer. Down Down—the clusters of soft, fluffy filaments that keep a bird warm beneath its water- and wind-repelling feathers, rather than the feather themselves—holds loft to trap air and retain heat while still allowing moisture to wick away. It has an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio and is highly compressible, so it’s easy to pack. But when wet, down collapses and it loses its loft and thus its ability to retain heat (plus, it’s slow to dry), so down is best for cold, dry conditions or underneath a waterproof shell. That said, there are hydrophobic treatments that allow down to resist getting wet so it maintains its insulating properties, but it’s usually not 100 percent effective and, like a DWR, can wear out over time. Not all down is equal. It’s sourced from either geese (higher quality, more expensive) or ducks (less loft, cheaper). Its effectiveness is measured in fill power, or how many cubic inches an ounce of the fluff occupies. That typically ranges from 450 at the lower end (and colder and cheaper) to 900 at the higher end (and warmer and pricier) of the spectrum. Harvesting down comes with a host of ethical concerns over the treatment and slaughter of the animals, but brands like Patagonia (with its Traceable Down Standard) and third-party certifications (from organizations such as Allied Feather & Down and Responsible Down Standard) ensure the insulation in your puffy comes from birds that are treated humanely. If this is a deciding factor for you, check the label before you buy. Synthetic Loft Made from clusters or sheets of intertwined fibers (typically polyester), synthetic insulation comes in many different forms but is designed to replicate the properties of down and maintain them when wet. Compared to down, synthetic loft is much cheaper, hypoallergenic, water resistant, and fast-drying. But it’s not as compressible and has a higher warmth-to-weight ratio, meaning you need more of it to achieve the same level of down insulation. Synthetics are heavier and don’t pack as well but are usually the better choice for wet climates or activities. Wool A timeless textile, wool shines at trapping heat (even when wet) and wicking moisture and is more odor resistant than cotton, down, and synthetics. The only downside: quality sheep fleece, like merino wool, is more spendy than man-made alternatives. The crimped fibers are typically spun into strong yarns, which are then made into knits or weaves. Newer forms of wool insulation, like in the Zebru, place wool fibers in a matrix to create a lofted sheet of insulation that resembles a synthetic in form with the benefits of wool. Polar Fleece Made from polyester, this fuzzy synthetic doesn’t absorb much moisture, retains its insulating properties when wet, and dries fast. It’s durable, lightweight, and stretchy, which makes it a great layering material—plus, it’s relatively inexpensive compared to wool and down. Fleece can pill over time, however, and can be damaged from high temperatures, so it should be air-dried or put in a dryer on a low-heat setting. Compared to down, it’s not as warm for the weight, and it tends to hold body odors more than wool, so it can get stinky after multiple days of use. Hybrids and Body Mapping Hybrids use a mix of materials to maximize their benefits in specific locations. They give you more insulation, weather protection, or durability where you need it most (typically around the core, on the shoulders, and on top of the arms) and more air permeability where you need to vent (like the armpits, sides, and back). Active Insulation There’s no set definition for what qualifies as active insulation, but in general, it means a layer is lightly insulated, wicking, and highly breathable. Active insulation is best for high-aerobic activities when your body is working hard, your core temperature is elevated, and you’re likely to sweat. But it keeps you warm only when you’re moving, hence the name, and you’ll likely become cool if you stop. Breathability A layer’s breathability, or efficiency at moving moisture and excess heat away from the body, is a summation of its materials, weave, thickness, and construction. Fabrics that are wicking and allow more airflow prevent sweat buildup, but as a downside, the wind can blow right through them. Breathability usually comes at the expense of wind and water resistance, and vice versa. High-aerobic activities, such as running and cross-country skiing, necessitate more breathability, whereas it’s not as important for low-aerobic activities, like resort skiing. Ideally, for any level of output, you should feel warm yet below your perspiration threshold. The best midlayers will keep you in this Goldilocks zone for a wide range of temperatures and exertion levels. But much of the time, this also requires ventilation, strategic layering and relayering, or moderating exertion. Outer Fabrics and DWR Treatments A midlayer’s main job is insulation, not protection against the wind or the elements—that’s what a shell is for—but one with some wind and water resistance has more versatility. A piece with a thin shell-like outer and a water-repelling treatment, or strategically located panels, can double as an outer layer in fair weather yet is still breathable and provides enough freedom of movement to comfortably layer under other jackets. Features (Photo: Jeremy Joseph) Hood Midlayers don’t always have hoods, but when they do, they come in two main flavors: hoods that fit over a helmet and those that fit under a helmet. There are a rare few that can do both comfortably (like the Zebru). Unders are typically thinner, formfitting, and less weather resistant than over-the-helmet hoods, but they seal in heat around the neck and face, like a snug balaclava. Overs are usually bulkier and provide better protection from the elements but tend to be draftier—and, if not adjustable with toggles or cinches, often fit poorly without a helmet. Whichever the case, the best hoods are the ones you don’t notice. They move with your head as you look all around instead of sitting stiffly on your shoulders while your head pivots inside. When layering, you need only one or two hoods at the most, otherwise they’ll just bunch up and do little more than collect snow. Since hoods are standard on outer layers, it’s good to wear a combo of hooded and hoodless midlayers. Pockets While midlayers rarely have internal pockets, they usually have a chest pocket, hand pockets, or both, which can sometimes double as vents. Hand pockets are nearly impossible to reach if you’re wearing one or more layers on top, a harness, or a backpack with a hipbelt—so they’re less important. Chest pockets, on the other hand, are quite useful. They’re easy to access when you’re on the move and keep their contents heated, since they sit close to the body. This can prevent a phone battery from dying in the cold or keep your snacks from freezing into bricks. A subtle yet important design feature in vertical chest pockets is an angled opening—one that puts the top of the pocket farther away from the main body zipper. When I’m on the move and wearing multiple layers, I’m constantly adjusting the zips for heat regulation. If a chest pocket is parallel and close to the main zipper, it’s all too easy to grab the wrong pull, especially with gloves on, and accidentally dump its contents. An angled zipper (like in the Zebru and Alpha Freak mentioned here) makes a mix-up less likely. Thumb Holes These allow your thumbs to hook through the sleeve ends to prevent them from riding up and exposing skin between your gloves and midlayer. They also allow you to thread one sleeve through another without the inner bunching up. Some people love them, and some people hate them—it’s personal preference. (If they’re well-designed, those who don’t like thumb holes probably won’t notice them.) It’s worth mentioning, however, that sleeves with this feature tend to run a few inches longer than sleeves without them. Waist Cinch Most midlayers are stretchy and have an athletic fit, so they often don’t need or have an adjustable waist-hem cinch. But some do. These are useful for heat regulation (tighten the waist to trap heat, or keep it looser for better airflow) and to keep snow out when you’re floating through the freshies or postholing. Chest Zippers Full-length zippers make for easier on-the-fly wardrobe changes but add weight and bulk to a layer. Half- and quarter-zips make a layer harder to remove but still allow adjustable ventilation and can be more comfortable tucked inside pants or under a harness. For the best layering technique, I wear a half- or quarter-zip—one that I’ll keep on all day—closest to my body, and if I need a second midlayer, I’ll wear a full-zip on top so I can quickly strip or put it back on as my activity level or the temperature fluctuates throughout the day. Fit and Sizing Midlayers typically have an athletic or slim cut because they need to fit underneath one or more layers, but they shouldn’t be so tight that they inhibit movement or dig uncomfortably into the armpits. This adds a challenge to layering, since each piece in the stack needs to accommodate slightly more bulk than the one beneath it. Also note that North American companies tend to size larger than their European counterparts. A small from The North Face will likely size similarly to a medium from Ortovox, for example.

Arplis - News source https://arplis.com/blogs/news/the-best-men-s-midlayers-on-the-market-right-now

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elmyre · 7 years

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Tagged by @belovedyuuri (Thank you!! ^^ I’m sorry about getting to this so late, stress + my usual habit of putting things off/straight up forgetting things constantly has been getting to me)

Rules:

1) Always post the rules. 2) Answer the questions given by the person who tagged you. 3) Write 11 questions of your own. 4) Tag 11 people.

I’ll just tag @sakuracat96 @wheredidvictorleavemenow @peanut-musings @gotvodka @l3monsoda @mostladylikeladythateverladied @dragonsrulemyheart and anyone else who wants to answer my questions (if I tagged you and you don’t want to do it that’s fine too)

1. What is the last song you listened to on repeat?

I’m not usually the type to put songs on repeat just cause I get tired of them really quickly but last one was Cherry Wine by Hozier cause omg how amazing is that song????? ; ;

2. Which Yuri on Ice fanfic would you recommend to somebody who’s never read yoi fanfic before?

I mean I’d definitely say the Rivals Series (a canon divergent series of fics with some delicious angst) cause it’s my absolute favorite and I’d pretty much recommend those fics to EVERYBODY but there’s also AU fics like The Merman in my Private Bath (merman Victor and human Yuuri AU with very cute art sprinkled in the chapters) and Expomise (amazing Harry Potter AU) that are just so unbelievably fluffy and sweet. There’s also really good long fics like Met by Accident (the title says it all but the fic itself has a nice balance of romance and angst and friend/familial relationships + it has some Otayuri + the original characters the author made are so extremely lovable). Starstruck is another favorite of mine as well (Actor/Single Dad Victor and his adopted son Yurio meet new babysitter Yuuri, it’s also hilarious and one of the very first fics I read when I started reading YoI fics) I’d keep going since there are so many more fics I’ve read and loved but this is long enough as is so I’ll cut it off here. If anyone who is reading this wants some more personal recommendations feel free to hmu via asks or pm’s ;D

3. You can take any smell (and I mean any smell) and make a candle out of it. What would the candle smell like?

You know that scent in the air at the beginning of spring where everything smells really earthy and fresh? That smell.

4. Your comfort book/fic/movie/TV show that you indulge in when you need a ‘pick me up’ is…

Okay it’s totally Yuri on Ice XD I rewatched the entire thing not too long ago since I’ve been worrying myself too much recently and my poor sleep deprived brain keeps making me dream about the upcoming YoI movie and I really just needed something to hold me over

5. What is your headcanon for Yuuri and Phichit’s first meeting?

(You know, I’m really loving all these YoI related questions XD) I have actually never even thought of that before now but I’d like to think it started when Phichit and Yuuri first became roommates in their college days, when Yuuri had first moved to Detroit. Yuuri was so incredibly nervous to be in an entirely new country with people who speak a completely different language and rooming with someone who he barely knew. So he set his bags down in front of the door to his new shared room, and barely even a second after knocking the door swings open and there’s a crazy excited Phichit on the other side. He goes, “Yuuri, you’re finally here!!! Hold these.” And dumps some hamsters into his arms before grabbing his selfie stick, throwing an arm around Yuuri’s shoulder, and snapping a “First Day with the New Roomie” selfie. Yuuri is absolutely reeling while Phichit just carries his bags in for him and helps him move in while telling him about the hamsters. He even helps Yuuri with his Victor posters while Yuuri begins to talk about his poodle and they share stories about their families back home. He starts out so shy and awkward (and kinda overwhelmed by Phichit being so giddy and talkative) but by the end of the night he’s really happy he gets to room with him.

Also, Phichit totally gave Yuuri a framed picture of their first selfie a year after he moves in, along with a very sweet message. He may or may not shed some tears over it.

6. Have you ever named a pet/plushie/object after a character from YOI? What was it and why did you choose that name?

Uuuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh does the Yuuri nendoroid count?

7. Your top 5 headcanons for what life at the Katsuki-Nikiforovs’ place looks like?

They’ve got a bunch of sticky notes around the house. Just everywhere. Victor is a very forgetful person and I’d imagine that Yuuri leaves them for him so he doesn’t forget important things, like meetings or chores. Victor really appreciates it, especially when Yuuri writes a little heart at the end.

They totally massage each other’s feet after a hard day of practice. No question.

On a similar train of thought, Victor probably does a lot of things for Yuuri that he brushes off as just looking after him for “”“Coaching Reasons””” like running him warm baths or tucking him in or bringing food to him in bed. But really Victor just loves spoiling Yuuri. Yuuri appreciates Victor’s sweetness as long as he doesn’t go overboard, like putting his slippers on his feet or carrying him to the bathroom in the morning. Which Victor has definitely done. More than once.

Anyone who walks into their house without knowing either of them very well would probably think that all the toys strewn out across the living room floor are for their child. They would be mistaken. They’re all for the dog.

When Yuuri first came to stay with Victor in St. Petersburg, after having spent about a year back at his old home in Hasetsu, he begins feeling a little homesick. Victor notices how Yuuri sometimes looks a bit sad and quiet when they’re just relaxing at home, so Victor finds some old Japanese music that Yuuri used to love and asks Yuuri to dance with him. It ended up putting a huge smile on Yuuri’s face for a long while afterwards, and it became a regular activity for them to do when they want to take their minds off something, get some extra exercise, or just have a little fun. They have a playlist with hundreds of songs set up for it now.

8. Have you drunk water recently? Eaten something? Taken your meds? Untensed? Please do so if you haven’t.

I mean that hardly qualifies as a question but omg that is so sweet?????? ; ; Thank you <333

9. What is the one quote/song lyric/poem that resonates with you?

“And in the middle of the night when you’re on your own,

I’m chasing down light in the indigo,

It’s just the way you are when you’re overgrown...

...And I will never let you go.”

A quote from this amazing song, which the creators also explained a bit about on their facebook if you wanna check it out!

10. If you could effortlessly learn one skill in no time at all, what would it be?

I never really have time anymore to study languages so I’d totally try and learn either fluent Spanish or Japanese (since I really want to travel to Mexico or Japan someday)

11. What is the one question you wish people asked you? What is the answer?

I mean this isn’t really a question with a specific answer, but I’m so absolutely awful with asking other people for help when I need it, so I’d appreciate it if people asked me if they could help me with something. And then I’d say YES I’VE BEEN WAITING SO LONG EVEN THOUGH I KNOW I SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE ONE TO ASK FIRST BUT ANYWAY

--------------

My questions would be:

What events are happening this year/next year that you’re looking forward to?

If you could drop everything and go somewhere right now without consequences or limitations, where would you go? What would you do?

What is your favorite mythical creature?

Do you have a song/playlist that you listen to for relaxation? If so, what is it?

What do you usually do when you have trouble falling asleep?

What was your favorite toy/game to play as a child?

Your opinion on wearing socks?

How do you like your coffee or tea?

If you’ve ever done cosplay before, who did you cosplay as most recently? If you’ve never done it before, what is your dream cosplay?

Who is the fictional character that you most relate to, and how are you two alike?

What is the most fond memory you have from the past few years?

#my memory is absolute garbage I'm so sorry #also apologizing to the people I tagged who have to read through my YoI answers even if y'all might not like it #I just #*clenches fist*#REALLY heckin love that show #yuri on ice #victuri

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thephantomsrevenge · 7 years

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The Wraith (1986)

youtube

In this movie some teenager who was murdered by some gang scum comes back from the dead as my man Jake Kesey played by legend dude Charlie Sheen to take his revenge on those ridiculously looking jerks led by the extraordinary uncharismatic Packard Walsh aka Nick Cassavetes

The Wraith aka Il Replicante in Italy, Turbocop in Mexico and Phantom in France is an american independent action horror romantic movie released in 1986 directed and written by Mike Marvin. My dude Mikey was a big shot in the 70s in the sport movie scene, precisely he mad a bunch of ski movies during the birth of the extreme skiing movement. He’s mostly a legend for writing those 2 movies called Hot Dog the movie & Hamburger the movie.

Few words about the cast, first of all you have my man, the legend who almost made a trash tv show like 2 & a half men funny (i said almost), probably in my top 10 just because of the ridiculous amount of times i watched the Hot Shots VHS in the 90s, Charlie Sheen.

Then you have probably the ultimate crush, i’ve been in love with her since when i tried to watch Twin Peaks to look cool and edgy, Audrey Horne aka Keri Johnson in this movie aka Sherilyn Fenn.

Get a load of this girl, she probably smells like peach, i do not know how to make heart eyes emoji on tumblr

The rest of the cast is not that noticeable, the bad guy looks ridiculous and the chief of police is that drunk dude from Independence Day with Will Smith who possibly gave his life to save the planet, Randy Quaid.

Yes those 3 dudes form the most feared gang in Arizona

This is by far the best movie about a dude returning from the dead in the shape of a different dude just to take his revenge on a bunch of other dudes who absolutely don’t look dangerous by street racing them to death with a magic ghost car while getting his old girlfriend back in the process. Parts of it look cheap, the cast is weird, Randy Quaid as the big deal cop is less charismatic than Paul Blart the mall cop, the bad guy looks like a dude from a surf movie about buddies smuggling booze into the school campus and there’s no obvious limit to what this ghost dude can do but apparently he can live a normal life and move to california like any other douchebag around.

This movie was released as Phantom in France and is about revenge what else do you need

But this movie has cars and some of the best car chases scenes ever, not kidding. Jake Kesey drives the Turbo Interceptor which was actually a real car, the Dodge M4s prototype, then you have the bad guy old corvette, the dodge daytona turbo z, the pontiac firebird, the plymouth barracuda, the triumph spitfire 1500, if you’re into old cars you will dig.

I don’t think the soundtrack is that good, classic 80s corny stuff but it could have been better, one of those time when i wish i could get my hand on the movie with the just the dialogues and fx tracks so i could re score everything. It really looks amazing tho, the movie has been filmed in Tucson, Arizona (big up Go Go Bizkitt, Richie and Jose, throwback to a El Paso - Las Vegas road trip 4/5 years ago with a stop in Tucson) so many stills worth a screenshot and i really wish the Big Kay’s Burger joint was real.

Apparently there’s only one road leading in and out of the place

Of course you can cut the sound and pair this movie with your favorite synthwave mp3s.

No one can say “you’re pathetic !” like keri johnson, classic 80s bad guy knife action + real fuckboy move

This is the bad guy the entire town has been fearing, seriously this is the gang leader, no jokes, oooor theory this is future Steve Harrington from Stranger Things

Special shout out to this asshole cop who didn’t get charged for this burger because he’s the big police dude around and who shows a really despicable attitude regarding the planet and the big kay’s burger staff, fuck you Randy Quaid.

Decomposed Artichoke rating : 94 %

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racingtoaredlight · 5 years

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The degenerate’s guide to college football TV watch ‘em ups, 2019 season, week 6

Not sure if anybody has reminded you lately but there is only one OCTOBER!!! And we’re in it. October is breast cancer awareness month and one of only four annual truck months. The first football weekend of October features three top 25 matchups, which isn’t terrible, but two of them are B1G conference games. And they each feature a team from the state of Michigan who probably won’t be in the top 25 come tomorrow.

So now that I have you all pumped up for it, let’s get to the games! As per usual, the schedule is copied and pasted from FBSchedules and gambling info, where it’s provided, is from Vegas Insider. NOW ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!????!???? IT DOESN’T REALLY MATTER!!!!

Saturday, October 5

Matchup Time (ET) TV/Mobile

TCU at Iowa State 12:00pm ESPN2

TCU is tough to figure out. So is Iowa State for that matter. But I think Gary Patterson got back on track last week and the Cyclones -3.5 looks bad to me so... load up the Cyclones, I guess.

14 Iowa at 19 Michigan 12:00pm FOX

The line is moving towards Iowa but it’s still Michigan -4. I think the sharps are on Iowa here but I don’t trust it. This looks like a horrible game for purposes of watching.

Kent State at 8 Wisconsin 12:00pm ESPNU

Wisconsin’s defense might be great but the Badgers still kept it close against Northwestern last week. That’s a big red flag for me but not so big that I think Kent State +35 is smart money. I hope Chryst runs it up like crazy.

Maryland at Rutgers 12:00pm BTN

It’s been a long couple of weeks since Maryland’s offense looked good. But I bet Rutgers can get them back in the swing of things. Terps and the over.

6 Oklahoma at Kansas 12:00pm ABC

The line has moved towards Kansas and I’ve got nothing. I love Les Miles and those plucky Jayhawks but come the fuck on. Oklahoma’s gunning for 80. Also, I love KU football for all the failure so I’m in the bag for either 95-0 Oklahoma or KU pulling one of the more monumental regular season upsets in memory.

21 Oklahoma State at Texas Tech 12:00pm FS1

TIRED: Bet the over. WIRED: Chuba Hubbard hits the over by himself.

Purdue at 12 Penn State 12:00pm ESPN

Rondale Moore won’t play but he’s not out for the year. Supposedly. He should be, though, right? No reason to chance it with one of the best players in the country on a garbage program like Purdue. Penn State is favored by 28 and, as much as I hate to say this, they’re wildly undervalued even though that’s up 11.5 from where the line opened. This is going to be an all out splatterfest.

Tulane at Army 12:00pm CBSSN

This game is a metaphor. The environment vs. the troops. The environment is favored.

USF at UConn 12:00pm CBSSports.com

As godawful as USF has been this year they’re still favored by 11 on the road in a conference game. UConn should consider dropping football.

Utah State at 5 LSU 12:00pm SECN

Jordan Love goes to Death Valley to face a bunch of future first round picks in the LSU secondary. That’s fun for scouting but LSU should destroy USU.

Boston College at Louisville 12:30pm RSN

No idea what to say here.

Eastern Michigan at Central Michigan 3:00pm ESPN+

We’re about to run through a bunch of MAC games.

Virginia Tech at Miami (FL) 3:30pm ESPN

But before we get to all that MAC first we have to deal with this MAC-level disaster. Miami has pretty much sucked so far this year but maybe they fixed everything in the week off. More likely, Justin Fuente will get off the hotseat for a week after winning on the road against a Miami team dressed up as pumpkins.

Western Michigan at Toledo 3:30pm ESPN+

O/u 74, 1.5-point line. These teams are interchangeable. Not just Toledo and Western Michigan - the entire MAC is a jumble of teams that are exactly the same and Buffalo. Buffalo sucks way differently than the rest of the MAC.

Ohio at Buffalo 3:30pm ESPN+

Buffalo sucks differently than the rest of the MAC but they still suck.

Marshall at Middle Tennessee 3:30pm Facebook

I want to love this game but it looks fucking horrible.

Arkansas State at Georgia State 3:30pm ESPN+

ESPN+ is definitely a government conspiracy. Real deep state channels over here. The other Arkansas is favored on the road in a matchup of two middling offenses and two of the worst defenses in the country. I’m tempted to say hit that over of 69.5 with the Red Wolves winning. I don’t know about that line, though.

11 Texas at West Virginia 3:30pm ABC

I am not enjoying Heisman hype for Texas’ QB but I don’t think WFV is the team to bring him back down to earth.

Illinois at Minnesota 3:30pm BTN

Minnesota may be the worst 4-0 team in the country but if they are you can put money on them being the worst 5-0 team in the country, too. I think Tanner Morgan is pretty good as far as B1G passers go and the “worst...” unbeaten team thing could very easily extend to the worst 8-0 team in the country.

Bowling Green at 9 Notre Dame 3:30pm NBC

I very strongly disliked Notre Dame for a long time before they bought their coach’s way out of a murder trial but the line for this game is laugh out loud shit and I’m fully on board with it. Domers by 46 with an o/u of 63 is a thing of beauty even if it glorifies pure evil.

Baylor at Kansas State 3:30pm ESPN2

Kansas State’s mimicry of a good team might be breaking down after getting run over by Chuba Hubbard & Co. last week but a win by Baylor could get the Bears into the top 25. I need the ghost of Taco Bill (yes, I’m aware) to rouse the Wildcats for a stomping of Baylor.

Ball State at NIU 3:30pm ESPN3

Do whatever you want with this.

7 Auburn at 10 Florida 3:30pm CBS

Fantastic uniform matchup featuring some almost great Florida throwbacks to Steve Spurrier’s Heisman season. I wish the stripes on the shoulders went all the way around. Otherwise they’re perfect.

Air Force at Navy 3:30pm CBSSN

I haven’t gotten a handle on Air Force this year but this is not a good Navy team. Maybe the Paul Johnson offense has finally run its course in Annapolis? Usually you can count on a senior QB to make the option hum for the Middies but they aren’t looking like anything special through three games in 2019. Here’s hoping they can find their rhythm as home dogs.

Memphis at ULM 3:45pm ESPNU

Kenny Gainwell came very close to making the RTARLsman list this week but he needs some bigger highlights to get back on there. ULM running back Josh Johnson’s production has gotten worse every week this year. Memphis is a pretty big road favorite and they should be bowl eligible by the time they dip back into conference games.

Troy at Missouri 4:00pm SECN

Kelly Bryant has been OK so far as Missouri’s QB. Which is fine, that’s what Kelly Bryant is: an OK QB. But if he can get more confidence in Derek Dooley’s system he could get a real shot at an NFL roster next year. Games like this one are the best way to build confidence.

North Carolina at Georgia Tech 4:00pm ACCN

UNC has looked well-coached but talent-deficient so far this year while Georgia Tech has looked untalented and undisciplined. Here in the ACC that means this game is a tossup.

Northwestern at Nebraska 4:00pm FOX

I’d like to think Nebraska can never climb out of their 15 years-long rut but maybe Scott Frost is the real deal. If he is then this game should be a walkover for the Huskers. Look for a close game that hinges on some comically bad execution.

Arizona at Colorado 4:30pm Pac-12N

Khalil Tate and Laviska Shenault are still cool. That brings a tear to my eye.

WKU at Old Dominion 6:00pm ESPN+

This is the kind of football we live for in these posts. All gambling, no sentimentality, weird uniforms, and a matchup that would look great in the March Madness First Four. But it’s part of the Disney plot to overthrow Ukraine.

3 Georgia at Tennessee 7:00pm ESPN

By what right do I hate Tennessee? And yet, my desire to see them keep falling to deeper and deeper depths is boundless. I don’t particularly like Georgia but I want them to win by 60+. They can do it but are they cool enough to do it? I doubt it. Look at their coach’s haircut. He must use a woodchipper like a Flowbee to get that look. Maybe he found a barber in the countryside of 12th century France.

Rice at UAB 7:00pm ESPN+

UAB is dead to me. Favored by only 10 at home against Rice? That’s disgusting.

UMass at FIU 7:00pm ESPN3

Butch Davis is having quite the struggle trying to put FIU together as a program. Things are in a very bad place for FL Int’l (pronounced “Flinn-tull”) even though the school is in a very nice place.

25 Michigan State at 4 Ohio State 7:30pm ABC

I know Mark D’Antonio has gotten some crazy results in his time as Michigan State’s head coach but this looks bleak. Brian Lewerke truly sucks and Chase Young is getting Myles Garrett comparisons. 20-points is a huge number for a game like this but I’ll be pretty surprised if the Buckeyes of An Ohio State University don’t beat the spread.

Tulsa at 24 SMU 7:30pm ESPNU

SMU with that little number next to it is a sight to behold. So last week I guessed that it had been since 1986 that the Mustangs were ranked and that was correct. How smart I must be. I’m really curious how they deal with that success. It seems silly but that ranking is a really big deal for the Ponyfuckers. Here’s hoping they sprint right past 13-points and pull away from Tulsa for a decisive win.

Vanderbilt at Mississippi 7:30pm SECN

AJ Brown and DK Metcalf already look like stars in the NFL. Remember the offense they were in last year that struggled getting them the ball and had them run a combined four total routes? Haha. Fuck both of these teams, though. Nobody cares what happens here.

UTSA at UTEP 8:00pm ESPN+

El Paso versus San Antonio, aka “The Bigger Even Boringer El Paso.” Everything is bigger in Texas. Even Texas.

Liberty at New Mexico State 8:00pm FloSports

Put some prop money on Antonio Gandy-Golden and ignore everything else in this game. Maybe even ignore Gandy-Golden.

Pitt at Duke 8:00pm ACCN

Goddamn does this game suck. Go Panthers.

California at 13 Oregon 8:00pm FOX

The Berkeley Bears don’t have much of an offense but their defense is good enough to keep things within 20 here. I’d put money on Justin Herbert throwing his first pick of the year, Cal to cover, and Oregon to win.

Oregon State at UCLA 9:00pm Pac-12N

Chip Kelly’s revival as a football genius lasted exactly one half. Here the Bruins and Beavers matchup in the Rose Bowl to sully the reputation of that great stadium.

San Diego State at Colorado State 10:00pm ESPN2

MWC, baby! Fun stuff for me even if CSU is a trash heap. SDSU is no great shakes this year but at least the setting and the uniforms clash are cool.

16 Boise State at UNLV 10:30pm CBSSN

Boise by 100. Book it.

15 Washington at Stanford 10:30pm ESPN

Stanford was one of the biggest disappointments of the season’s first month. This is the perfect spot for David Shaw and his team of sleepmakers to bore Washington to death and, at least, keep it closer than 15.

#saturday post #football #college football #watch em ups #rtarl watches tv #degenerate football

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youmightaswell · 5 years

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LIVE

The Zen (and Neuroses) of Solo Travel

I read this article a while ago that said that solo travel is safer for women if they are over 50 because no one looks at them anymore. That more and more women travel solo -- but when they are older. Sort of sad to think no one is looking at me anymore, but at the same time the idea of anonymity and invisibility is very appealing.

I guess I fit in that demographic seeing I will be in that age range next year.

But I've been traveling alone for years. I have been doing everything alone for years. I live in NYC so it is not unusual to go to movies alone, eat in nice restaurants alone and yes, travel alone.

While I'm away people always seem to find it weird. When I go to a very exclusive adults-only resort in Mexico each year at Thanksgiving it sort of makes sense because it attracts couples. So yeah, I guess I stand out in a sea of couples, but who cares? Because if i waited until I was in a relationship to go to my favorite place, I may be old(er) and gray (er).

But I found it really odd when I was in Vegas at the Bellagio that these two nice women (each slightly older than me) from Sacramento asked me how I could bear to be on vacation alone. Wasn’t I afraid? Lonely? I explained that I actually enjoy it more because I am very Type-A and controlling and when on vacay don't like to compromise. I like to do what I want to do when I want to do it depending on how I'm feeling. For example, I had bought a night-time bus tour of the Old Strip and upon arriving at the depot was told that it was not hop-on, hop-off as I thought. There was a two-hour stretch where there would be no access to a bathroom. While I could probably hold my bladder, the anxiety of not having access to a bathroom *if* I wanted one was too much. It is vacation after all, not work I have to do. I made the executive decision to just go back to my hotel. I could not have done so so easily if I had been with a friend who was counting on company for the tour.

This isn't to say I don't sometimes enjoy going away with a friend, but I have no issue being away alone. I really like myself and am the best company I can think of. I explained the biggest part of my joy and excitement is the careful planning of a trip. The anticipation. I love when I do research and plan my days in the most efficient, effective ways possible.

My Vegas trip was a perfect example of that. Because I have a chronic illness, I have to make the most of my energy. I only have so much and prefer to just do one or two small activities a day. Vacation is for resting.

Prior to embarking, I researched where things were, grouped them by day accordingly, pre-bought tickets to avoid long lines and mapped out times for each activity so I would have ample time to just lay by the pool and read.

It worked out perfectly (except for a 12-hour flight delay returning home, which I will write about in a separate entry.)

These women marveled that I was ok with traveling alone. But I explained I live alone, work alone... If I didn't do things alone I'd never go anywhere. Hell, I'd never eat or see a movie. I enjoy dressing up and boy did I in Vegas. They seemed to admire me.

There's a certain thing that happens -- at least for me -- when I travel alone. A sort of zen. I am so much with me that I became more creative. I believe my observations are sharper, more intense. I pay more attention to my environment. I love people watching and my internal dialogue makes me laugh out loud at times. But, on the other side of this vacay zen comes a particulate type of neuroses. So not only does my internal monologue crack me up, it sometimes makes me feel like I am cracking up.

After talking to no one (except myself in your own head) for a week I can sometimes become a bit too intense. I am normally neurotic but it gets exacerbated.

For example, these are the types of texts you might get from me while I am relaxing at the pool:

Harmless, but maybe a bit too Kelly?

Anyway, I asked a single friend who is also my age who also does a bunch of solo vacations how she feels about this topic.

She took a 10-day sojourn to France on what she called her “Champagne Campaign” and later went to Scotland solo as well. While I was in Vegas, she was on a solo roadtrip -- with only her dog for company. She loved it all.

Here’s that dialogue:

Me: So, you and I both had (and often have) solo trips. I'm trying to write something about the particular thing that happens when one travels solo. (There should be a German word for it...) But what I mean but can't convey is that is a nice but there is also (at least for me but wondering if for you too) anxiety or neurosis that occurs. Like being on vacay alone is both peaceful and very nerve-wracking. LIke I get too much in my own head when there is no one to talk about my experiences with as they are happening. I't not bad, per se, but just a bit exhausting. I love myself but also get sick of myself when I spend so much concentrated time on vacay alone. Thoughts? I want to write about the Zen and Anxiety of Solo Travel. I'd love your input.

Her response: Hm. I think it's interesting. I don't find it exhausting at all - in fact, I find it EXHILERATING!

I do get inside my head, but a lot of that has to do with the planning of a solo trip - I'm meticulous and obsessive about it. I have every little detail planned out and on top of that, I have Plan B figured out for every scenario as well. I can see how that might be exhausting, but for me it's a dream!

I'll also say that there's usually a few hours in every trip where I feel lonely and wish I had someone to share the experience with. It's overwhelming, but it's brief. I usually have a good cry and get it out of my system and then I'm back to being in solo heaven again.

Is that what you mean? That's what I feel.

I will say also that my road trip was too short to really feel any anxiety or sadness. It was pure joy and exhilaration mixed with a bit of relaxation.

***

While slightly different takes, I feel they are fairly congruous.

Personally I need something to look forward to so I try to plan some sort of travel every three months to so to keep my focus moving forward.

And so what if I am invisible to others; isn’t that what selfies are for?

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flourhurricane · 7 years

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Meet Claire Lockhart (Fallout OC Info Sheet)

(Many thanks go out to @madddraws for the format. I changed the order slightly and made a couple of additions, but Maddy gets all the credit! 💛)

Full Name: Osa Claire Lockhart Nickname(s): Mama Bear (army nickname); Charmer (Railroad codename) Biological Age: 35 Chronological Age: 245, in 2287 Birth Date: September 7, 2042 Height: 5’3” / 160 cm Weight: 130 lbs. / 59 kg Eyes: Blue Hair: Ginger Body Type: short, muscular, top hourglass shape

S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Stats: STR 7, PER 7, END 6, CHR 10, INT 6, AGL 8, LCK 7 Pre-War Status: former corporal in the United States Army; lawyer at Cambridge Law Offices, specializing in family law. Current Status: General of the Minutemen; semi-retired Railroad heavy; ex-Brotherhood of Steel Knight -- refused promotion to Paladin.

Relationship Status: widowed; later remarries Spouse(s): Nathaniel Gerard (murdered); Danse Sexuality: heterosexual Gender: cis female Ethnicity: Irish, Mexican Languages: English, Spanish, and some Mandarin Chinese Religion: a recovering Catholic, as she puts it. Family: Osa Martinez Connolly (grandmother; deceased), Osa Connolly Lockhart (mother; died of brain aneurysm), Ennis Lockhart (father; died of liver failure), Floyd Johnathan Lockhart (younger brother; missing), Sean Gerard (deceased), Sean Nathaniel Lockhart (son; synth), Osa Haylen Danse (daughter; born in 2289), Pillar Emilia Danse (daughter; born in 2292). Pets: Dogmeat; Athena (Danse’s rottweiler); Shroud (Sean’s black cat)

/ More under the cut... /

Disabilities / Illnesses / Injuries: Claire has severe hearing loss (70 percent) in her left ear, caused by a combat injury during the Battle of Anchorage. A spider mine was involved. Allergies: none Scars: There are three long claw marks on the left side of her face, inflicted by the deathclaw in Concord. There’s also a faint scar behind her left ear from reconstructive surgery. Tattoos: a bouquet of bluebonnets on her right foot and ankle; a black ink sugar skull on her right inner wrist. Distinct Physical Traits: Her hair is long, past the shoulders, usually worn in a bun. She has freckles all over her face but mainly on the bridge of her nose and her cheeks. Her arms, back, and shoulders are strong and muscular, like a swimmer’s body. She has stretch marks on her stomach, where she still carries most of her pregnancy weight and is trying to lose it. Voice: Texas accent; feminine, medium-high tone. Her voice gets higher and her accent is more obvious whenever she’s angry or upset. Make Up: some eyeliner, neutral eye shadow, and dark pink / red lipstick. Clothing: Claire’s most worn articles of clothing are her militia hat, her Rad-Ban sunglasses, Danse’s holotags, flannel shirts, blue jeans, and her cowboy boots. Sometimes, she’ll wear a Grognak or a Silver Shroud graphic tee. When the weather is cooler, she’ll layer with vests and scarves, or her leather jacket. She’s not a fan of dresses but she loves anything with lace and/or embroidery. Fashion / LifeStyle: Claire will always be a country girl and her lifestyle reflects that. Cute, but practical and comfortable. On occasion, she’ll buck the everyday routine and wear something more feminine.

Affiliations: the Minutemen; the Railroad Former Affiliations: the Brotherhood of Steel Neutral Affiliations: the Mechanist; Acadia; Far Harbor; Children of Atom Enemy Groups: the Institute; raiders; gunners; the L&L Gang; Rust Devils; the Disciples; the Operators; the Pack. Friends: Deacon, Piper Wright, Nick Valentine, Preston Garvey, Cait, Farah Karim (OC), Robert Joseph MacCready, Scribe Haylen, Mayor Hancock, Curie, Sturges, Mama Murphy, Ellie Perkins, Ronnie Shaw, Glory, Tinker Tom. Acquaintances: Strong, Jun and Marcy Long, the Abernathys, Hawthrone, the Bobrov brothers, Pastor Clements, Fahrenheit, Z1-14, Dr. Carrington, Drummer Boy, Desdemona, Old Man Stockton, Amelia Stockton, Isabella Cruz. Former Friends: Proctor Ingram, Liam Binet, X6-88. Enemies: No enemies, but there is animosity between Claire and Elder Maxson.

Weapon(s) of Choice: Righteous Authority, Deliverer, and a plasma pistol with a long recon scope called Green Lightening. Strengths: lock-picking, marksmanship -- she earned a pistol sharpshooter badge during her time in the army; stealth; friendly and outgoing; empathetic; persistent; observant; a great communicator. Flaws: losing small items like her keys and hair bands; does not always take orders well from superiors; is hard on herself when she believes something is her fault; can be incredibly nosy.

Likes: science fiction novels and B-movies; radio dramas; cooking; sewing; dogs; (American) football; country and rockabilly music; helping others; target practice; the smell of power armor grease; early morning runs sex with Danse. Dislikes: short jokes; cleaning; terminals; destructive chem use; being underestimated -- she’s learned to use it to her advantage; being alone. Hates: radscorpions and mole rats; murder; domestic abuse; killing feral ghouls; showing vulnerability; feeling unneeded. Favorite Color(s): yellow and turquoise Favorite Foods: tamales, grilled corn on the cob; ribeye steak; Blamco Mac ‘n’ Cheese; chicken noodle soup; poached angler; radstag stew. Favorite Drinks: Nuka Cola Victory; Nuka Cherry; sweet iced tea; Guinness and Gwinnett stout beer. Favorite Snacks: potato crisps; Fancy Lad’s snack cakes.

Five Random Facts: + Claire knows what it’s like to be poor. Not the rich man’s definition of poor, but the “I duct-taped the bottom of my backpack because my family can’t spare the money to buy a new one, stop laughing at me” kind of poor. The “I live in a trailer park and my classmates call me white trash” poor. Or the “I joined the army because all the jobs in my town disappeared when the oil rigs shut down” poor.

+ While Claire embraces her mother’s and abuela’s Mexican heritage more than her father’s Irish heritage, she’s well aware she benefited from her Irish looks. Strangers from before the war never yelled at her to go back to Mexico, or call her lazy, or accuse her of stealing their jobs. Whereas the two women she loved and respected more than anyone were targets of such hate; they worked jobs no one else wanted, worked hard, and were legal American citizens.

+ She met her late husband in Anchorage. Nate was a surgeon stationed at the army hospital and Claire was one of the patients. He was the one who operated on her ear. They met again years later when both of them had moved to New England.

+ Claire hates killing feral ghouls because she knows they were once people, and they were most likely people she used to know. Friends, neighbors, co-workers, the mailwoman, the sweet cashier at her favorite store, etc. She knows they’re a threat to everyone, and killing them can also be seen as an act of kindness, but it’ll never sit well with her.

+ She’s excellent at making people feel comfortable enough to open up to her. It’s an innate talent that helped her when she was a lawyer, since many of her clients were abuse victims. Present day, it helps her when talking with scared settlers and synths, or when investigating cases with Nick. She’d make a great spy, too, but she’s too recognizable nowadays.

#fallout ocs #ocs #my ocs #oc: claire lockhart #fallout #fallout 4 #sole survivor #female sole survivor

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soyunaprofesora · 5 years

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Oh Canada!

So I successfully survived my week-long trip to the Great White North. We took 27 9th graders to Canada and returned back to Monterrey with 27. Eventually.

It was a whirlwind adventure. I enjoyed myself far more than I was expecting to.

The group: 3 chaperones (myself, the 7th grade Biology teacher, and the 7th grade Geography teacher-all from my campus), 2 guides from the travel agency that organized our trip (they were AMAZING), and 27 9th grade students (10 from the other campus and 17 from my campus AKA my students, 24 boys and 3 girls-Yeah...).

We got on our first flight from Monterrey to Mexico City. I still don’t understand how the whole fly south to go north thing works, but whatever. We had a couple of hours to kill at that airport there before boarding our flight to Toronto. We arrived in Canada around 10 PM and then boarded a bus to take us and our luggage to a hotel in the city. The chaperones hustled the kids off to bed so we could try and get some sleep too.

Day 1: We woke up pretty early to get breakfast in the hotel before getting on a bus that took us to Niagara Falls. We walked along the Canadian side of the falls taking pictures and experiencing the views.

Then we wandered inside the main building to check out some behind the scenes action. First we watched some interactive videos about how the falls were created, and then we got to travel 12 stories down (by elevator) to catch a glimpse of what Niagara Falls looks like from behind.

After our adventures at the falls, we traveled by bus to the nearby town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. It was a cute town that reminded me a lot of Cape Cod and many other quaint American towns. We walked around a little to kill some time before our scheduled tour of Fort George. There we go to learn a little about Canada’s military history in the War of 1812.

Next we went back on the bus to head to the Clifton Hill area in Niagara and gave students some free time to explore. We met back up for dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe. After dinner, we headed back to our hotel in Toronto for a good night’s sleep.

Day 2: After a quick breakfast at our hotel, we headed to Ripley’s Aquarium for a Behind the Scenes tour. We got to see the kitchen and learn about the diets of the fish, the loading dock where they bring in new fish, and even the entrances to the tanks where divers go in to clean. It was a quick tour, but pretty interesting. After the tour, we had time to explore the aquarium. It was pretty amazing. My favorite part was the moving walkway in a tube going through the largest tank in the aquarium. The fish swam right over your head.

After the aquarium, we walked to the nearby CN Tower. Similar to the Space Needle, we rode an elevator to the top to see breathtaking views of Toronto. We spent about 45 minutes walking around admiring the views before walking across the street to an arcade called The Rec Room. Students had about 2 hours of free time there to eat and play games.

I, however, had other plans. My winter items did not arrive in Canada due to a national holiday that closed customs. So I needed some winter gear. I bought gloves in Niagara, and I brought a hat and scarf with me. I rode the metro to get to a different part of the city with many stores. I found a Payless and bought some relatively inexpensive snow boots. I felt the difference the moment I put them on and my feet were much happier and warmer. I met back up with my group at the arcade before leaving for our next activity.

We left the arcade and walked to Scotiabank Arena, home of the Toronto Maple Leafs (Hockey) and Toronto Raptors (Basketball). We were not watching either of those teams play. Instead we watched AHL with a hockey game between the Toronto Marlies and the Syracuse Crush. I had a lot of fun as I understood hockey. Most students did not so they were confused for much of the game, but by the end they got really into it. The home team won 5-3, and we all had fun celebrating with the locals in the stands.

After the hockey game, we went back to our hotel, got our bags and headed to the airport where we took a late flight to Quebec. We arrived in Quebec around 12:30 AM, climbed on a bus, and drove about 30 minutes outside of the city to a compound that was basically what summer camp looks like in the winter. We hustled into our cabins, got ready for bed and slept.

Day 3: On our first day at the camp, we managed to pack a lot in. After breakfast (where we discovered that everyone at the camp spoke French as their native language), we headed to a building for our first winter sports activity: bobsledding. I did not participate, but I had a blast watching the students try. We had lunch after bobsledding where I was given some snow pants to wear for the remainder of our time at camp. A welcome surprise. Then we geared up to try snowshoeing. It was hard. Getting the contraptions on your feet was one order, but then we had to walk quite a distance to get to the starting point for our Forest GPS activity. I fell down. A LOT. But I survived.

After removing our snow shoes, we boarded a bus to take us across the street essentially to a dog sledding company. The chaperones were told to get off the bus first to meet with the drivers. I assumed it was to tell us how to organize the students. No, it was to teach us how to drive a dog sled! I got a brief 3 minute demonstration before being put on a sled pulled by 6 dogs with 2 student passengers. We followed an expert driver through their course that took us through the Canadian forest. It was gorgeous. I cannot accurately put into words how amazing the experience was for me.

I had been looking forward to dog sledding since I learned about it being on our itinerary. I assumed we would all be passengers as an expert drove. Getting to drive the sled was a dream that I never realized I had coming true. I had flashbacks to when I was younger as obsessed with the movie Balto. It was incredible. A once in a lifetime experience I wouldn’t trade for the world.

After sledding, we headed to dinner at a local Sugar Shack. These places are common throughout Canada as a way to showcase maple syrup. We learned about how the syrup is made as well as trying many foods utilizing the local commodity: bread, ham, sausage, baked beans, coleslaw, meat pie, potatoes, and many other things I’m sure I’ve forgotten. We were entertained as we ate by a local traditional musician. The students seemed to get a big kick out of him teaching them songs and dances. For dessert, we had pancakes (of course) before heading outside for some maple toffee. That is when they pour the syrup onto to fresh snow to let it cool creating a weird taffy. It was hard to eat but very delicious. We headed back to our cabins after dinner.

Day 4: Our next day included some more winter sports and activities. The morning session was all about Winter Survival. Students had to build shelter and start a fire using minimal tools. Our guide told us that most groups are never able to start the fire, but our kiddos proved him wrong. 4 out of our 5 groups were able to start their fires and keep them going for a while. We were all impressed.

After survival training, we checked out of the cabins and headed to Valcartier, a winter ski resort. The first thing we did there was get a tour of their Ice Hotel. It was absolutely gorgeous. They showed us a chapel where they host many weddings throughout the winter season as well as some of the rooms that people pay to sleep in. I found the entire thing beautiful and interesting, but I do not have a desire to pay to stay there. After our tour, we gave students free time in which they could eat lunch and enjoy the ice tubing provided at the resort.

The chaperones relaxed a little at lunch (where I got to try poutine-it was great!) before heading out to the slopes. It was insane. First, we grabbed a tube that came with a leash to make it easier to carry around. Then we rode up a tube lift that had tubes attached to a rope that was dragging people up the slopes. Once at the top, we picked a nearby ramp and got in line. I was not scared at all until my tube actually started sliding down. Then my stomach jumped into my throat and I became terrified that I would flip or crash or get hurt. That lasted until I made it to the bottom when I started laughing hysterically. We all looked at each other and hustled back to the tube lift to go again. When we got to the top, we looked around and realized there was another tube life to other ramps. We rode up and found even steeper slides. All in all, the resort had over 30 ice ramps to slide down. We managed to try about 8 of them in our time on the slopes. Each time was both terrifying and exhilarating. I would definitely go back and do it all again.

After tubing, we drove back into Quebec City and checked into a new hotel. From there we walked to historical downtown where we met with some ghosts for a haunted tour of the city. It was very interesting and the actors were great. But by that point, most of us were absolutely exhausted and just wanted to go back to the hotel to sleep. We found a late dinner after the tour and went to the hotel for some rest.

Day 5: We woke up bright and early to have breakfast before walking back to historical downtown Quebec for another tour. This time in the daylight with focus on the history of Quebec and Canada. The city was absolutely beautiful in the snow, and the tour guide was awesome. We wandered around before ending up at the Musee de la Civilisation, a museum about the indigenous people of Canada. It was fascinating, especially because many of the tribes are the same ones I learned about when I was in school. The students found it a little boring, but it went by quickly so we survived.

After the museum, we went back to the historic downtown area to give students free time to find lunch and do some shopping. The chaperones stuck together, bought a few souvenirs, and had a great lunch at a cute little bakery. The group met back up to head to the hotel to get our things and head back to the airport. We flew back to Toronto that night. We arrived around 8 PM, had dinner at some restaurant near the hotel, and went to bed before our last big day in Canada.

Day 6: Our last day in Canada was the longest one. We started the day with breakfast at the hotel before loading onto a bus to take us to Centennial College just outside the city. There we had a discussion facilitated by two professors on Global Citizenship. Most of us were exhausted so it was hard to keep our eyes open, but the topic was very interesting. We had lunch after the discussion and then got back on the bus to go back into Toronto.

There we visited the Toronto Legislative Building and learned about Canadian government. It was pretty interesting. We even got to go into the General Assembly room which was cool.

Next we traveled by metro to the river front. There we rented some ice skates and skated on an outdoor rink. Many of the students had never skated before but were excited to try. I was impressed by how resilient they were. Even when they fell, they got right back up and kept trying. We skated for about an hour and a half. There was only one minor injury during that time. A student fell and hurt his knee. Based on the insurance of the rink and the parameters of the tour group, he had to get checked out by a doctor so he rode in an ambulance to the nearest hospital. The rest of the group moved on without him.

The remaining chaperones and tour guide took the group back on the metro, this time during rush hour. As a result of the many people, our group got separated. After an agonized 10 minutes, we finally found each other and were able to get on the metro that took us to Eaton Center, a giant mall in the middle of the city. It was very close to where I did my boots shopping earlier in the week. Students were given a couple hours of free time to shop or hang out.

I wandered around the mall a couple of times but I only bought a couple souvenir items. Once my feet gave out, I grabbed a pretzel and a tea and rested for about an hour. The students did lots of shopping and came back to the meeting point with multiple bags each in hand. We walked back to the hotel to pack away our things and load the suitcases onto the bus. We said goodbye to Toronto and headed to the airport.

Our flight left Toronto at 1 AM. Unfortunately, I was unable to get comfortable on the plane so I spent the five hour flight dozing with my eyes closed. We arrived in Mexico City around 6 AM and only had an hour before our next flight left at 7 AM. Unfortunately, I had to go into a separate line than the majority of our group. They all got to go in a Mexican passport line while I and another Japanese student had to go into the international passport line. Our line moved slower and was longer so the group breezed through and made it to the flight no problem.

The student and I made it through customs, ran to security, cut in front of everyone, jumped on a golf cart and raced to our gate. We ran to the woman at the door and asked to get on the plane, but she said no. We had to wait for the next available flight. It wasn’t a huge deal because the next flight was at 8:30, but it was annoying because the flight didn’t take off for another 25 minutes after we left the gate.

We finally boarded our plane and arrived in Monterrey around 10:30 AM. I made sure the student found her parents and then got in the hired car provided by the school. I made it back to my apartment by 11:30 AM. I called my parents to check in, unpacked my suitcase, and then fell into bed. I took a nap from 2-7, woke up to have dinner, and then went right back to sleep. I still don’t feel fully recovered, but I had an amazing trip. I’m very grateful to have had the opportunity and I would definitely be a chaperone on an interims trip again in the future.

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