Pretty sad post to be making... my 2023 f150 platinum powerboost (with 1300mi) was parked on the street two nights ago when the freak, non-forecast hail cell rolled through and absolute shit on it. Front hood, top of the cab, metal piece that runs on top of drivers side window are all very noticeably dinged. Also the hard tonneau cover is destroyed.
It will be the first insurance claim of my life and it doesn't bother me to make the claim or deal with the process. My biggest concern after a nightmare IOU process with the dealer (Schomp Ford FYI) is that when the panels get replaced they're not going to put it back together correctly.
Looking for any recs on known good Ford-certified body shops in the Denver area. Leaning Hampden auto body right now but would appreciate any recs from first hand experience.

'06 Azera (so, basically a Sonata). And I'm using Sonata flair because I don't think anyone saw my post when i used "Azera".

• Had to replace the master cylinder in September '21. It lasted eight months (May '22).
• Thankfully, that fell under the warranty, so they replaced it again for free. That one lasted a year and a half (Dec '23).
• This time, I bought a Duralast from AutoZone and had them put that one in to save money. (Still a high labor charge for having to deal with the brake lines.) That one lasted only six months (went out last week).

I'm not about to pay over $300 labor plus however much the part costs, yet again. And doing it myself doesn't seem too difficult, if I have a friend help me bleed the lines. Plus the AutoZone warranty is in effect, so I should get my money back on the part.
Is there anything I should look for that might clue me in as to why my car keeps burning through brake master cylinders?

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I know this isn't the typical post here but since this store primarily sells gas masks and since i found them through this subreddit, i thought id let everyone know the experience i had with (Saluc Militaria)[https://salucmilitaria.com/\]. I hate to be too hard on a small startup, but i've had nothing but problems trying to order from them the past month and their support stopped replying to me. On top of this they appear to be deleting negative reviews on their site that point out their deception.
I first found this site on this sub via a post about "emptying soviet filters", to which someone else commented a link to this storefront because they offer such a service. I looked them up to see if they were legit or if anyone had anything to say about them, and they were legit but were pretty unknown. While doing this i also found the owner's tiktok page of the same name, which he used to educate people about gas masks and you could tell he was very passionate about the hobby. This, coupled with the very reasonable prices on the store page made me very confident in buying from them. Around the end of march i placed my order for. Less than a week later, it arrived.
What i paid for: * 3x NATO 40mm filters in opened condition * 1x EO-18k filter in emptied condition * 1x MSA Millennium style tinted visor outsert, size large * 1x MSA Millennium VPU
What I received:
* ONLY 1x NATO 40mm filter in opened conditon * 1x EO-18k filter that had obviously not been emptied let alone opened with how it came with the plugs still inserted and wrapped in the brown paper all soviet filters come in. * 1x MCU/2 Style clear visor outsert, size large (technically compatible with my mask, but not what i asked for nor what was advertised) * 1x MSA Millennium VPU (the only part of my order that was correct or not missing)
Now, I buy from small businesses all the time so hiccups like this are to be expected, especially from such a small team. I contacted their support email about my missing and incorrect items. While they did get back to me a day later, that was only a day after i went onto their discord server and asked how long it usually takes support to respond to emails. They claim this was due to their support guy not checking emails on the day of the week i sent the email, but due later inaction i have reason to believe they just don't check their email. The owner, Saluc, personally chimed in on the email and said they would work on fullfilling my order and "throw in some extras for the inconvenience". I was very satisfied with this and patiently waited.
10 days later, i received another email from them saying my order was on its way with a USPS tracking link. I patiently waited some more, and after another 10 days i noticed the USPS tracking said they still hadn't received the package from the seller. In the past i've had a package get lost in shipping through no fault of the seller and wanted to confirm with SM if this were the case. They told me they were still working on my order (despite the email they sent 10 days before that point) and that aesbestos removal isnt safe or fast. I sent a followup email apologizing for if i was pestering them and asked when i could expect my order. They've since ignored me. By this point i was starting to get fed up given that it had been 3 weeks since my initial order and i only received a little under half of what i paid for. After another week/4 days ago/1 month after my initial order, i finally got the ALMOST the rest of my order. I got 2 more 40mm NATO Filters and an emptied EO-18k filter, but no extra stuff and this time another MCU/2 style Clear visor outsert, though this time it wasn't even compatible with my mask due to being a size small despite ordering a size large. Its not that i think im entitled to free stuff or anything, but they specifically promised extra stuff and didn't add anything extra, nor even fulfilled my order correctly the second time around. At this point since they stopped replying to my emails i just said screw it and made a review on the Visor outsert listing on their site saying it "wasn't as advertised, nor did they ship me the right size". A day later when i was starting up my computer, i still had the tab open and noticed the review count went down to 2 again. i refreshed just to make sure and it still said 2. i went to the review section and sure enough, my negative review was gone. Its one thing to get an order wrong, its another thing to start ignoring emails and deleting negative reviews over an order you still haven't fullfilled.
Again, I hate to be so negative about a small buisness but this is by the worst experience ive had shopping online. They went from incompetent startup to maliciously censoring criticism. This isnt how a buisness should be run considering this was only my first order and i only had problems.
TLDR; Don't purchase from Saluc Militaria unless you're ok with not receiving what you ordered

I'm sharing as this feels like a safe place. Do interact in the comments and it's gonna be long.

1. Her-

I met her (let's call her missybusy) through a common friend group. My friends from my previous school were still connected to me and I often used to meet them. She was new to that friend group and it was her first time coming for a meetup. My friend has a pretty big place so a lot of us could accommodate at the same time. I am usually quiet and I talk less. I was sitting in the corner on the sofa and then I saw her enter through the door along with one other friend of mine. And oh my god, I was in awe and amazement because truthfully, I had never seen a girl so pretty and radiant. Her eyes were bright like the moon at night, her complexion fair like milk and her smile was just so beautiful I can’t even describe it in words. She was the quiet one as well so we both were seated in the corner having small to no conversation. This was my first meeting with her and then we met on multiple other meetups and it was always a few words of exchange. One of my friends (let's call him Dave) was actually sort of close to her and they both used to talk frequently. However, some problems arrived between Dave and missybusy and so Dave reached out to me for help. So, I tried to solve matters by talking to both Missybusy and Dave and this is how I started talking properly to Missybusy. I tried to solve the matter and, in the process, I became friends with Missybusy. And she was really fun to talk to! all this time I perceived her to be quiet and less talkative but when I started to talk to her, I realized that she has an amazing personality besides being so pretty. And around that time my friendship with her strengthened and we used to talk frequently but not every day. And somewhere among these conversations I developed a liking for her and so did she. We used to flirt a lot and it was so fun and pure. This went on for around 3 to 4 months and we continued to flirt and talk. And it was around the time of January when she had returned from the farewell of her high school and she showed me the pictures and she looked gorgeous. An absolute angel. And that night of constant flirting I always kept mentioning about another her in front Missybusy, I did that so she wouldn’t suspect that I liked her. But then she got serious and she confessed that she liked me and I was in a small shock but then I confessed to her as well. At this point one would think that this is it, this is where you guys get into a relationship. But no, I actually asked her to wait for our final exams to be over and even she wanted this. Around One and a half month later we went on our first date. And it was peaceful but it was a very dull date to be honest I took her from one place to another which I feel was terrible. I screwed up the first date. But she told me it was really peaceful and so I didn’t think much of it back then. We kept talking over WhatsApp and Instagram for almost another 2 months but we were not in a relationship yet because she said she wanted time and I believed I shouldn’t pressure her so I kept waiting thinking we have all the time in the world. She was an introvert and she didn’t go out much she liked staying at home more and I sort of found this trait cute, although it meant we didn’t get to meet a lot. 2. Dates and Love- In the month of June, we went for another date and spoiler alert, this is the day I fell in love with her. We went to watch a movie- Spiderman, into the spider-verse, and to be honest the movie was decently funny and every time Missybusy laughed I looked at her and adored her smile. I noticed she was shivering, she felt cold because the cinema hall was actually very cold so I wrapped my arm around her so she wouldn’t feel cold and she just came closer and the annoying armrest was like a wall in between. In that moment, I made my purest and most honest wish to God (I’m very spiritual and religious). I asked God to always keep Missybusy happy no matter what. After the movie we exited the hall and we were standing near the exit of the mall and just talking and laughing. It was a blissful moment I can never forget that moment ever. She just jokingly pushed me and I literally fell down and I’ve got to say it was funny as hell. And while I was on the ground I saw her laughing so loudly and openly that I… I also fell in love. I was madly in love. We laughed and talked for another half an hour more and then the both of us went home. While on my way to home I realized that I had fallen for her and everything around me felt so soothing, so amazing and I was so happy. This was my favorite day with her and my best day yet. It was perfect, it was divine it was full of amazement and I for the first time felt what is it like to love. One problem I’ve always had is expressing my feelings. I end up thinking what the other person is going to think about my feelings and I’m going to be judged. But I still told her I love you but she hadn’t said it back yet. Another date we went on that she considered her favorite day with me was when we went to have pizzas. At first, we just walked around, talked a lot and laughed together. Held hands and roamed the paths. Then we came across a pizza shop and decided to have some pizza. Oh boy did I know what the day was going to unfold. She has two siblings so she always had been a fast eater when it came to pizzas and ice creams and at that time, I didn’t know that she ate pizzas so quickly. She finished her whole pizzas before I could finish two slices and to be fair, I’ve always been a slow eater and I didn’t eat very spicy food at the time. So, she was done with her pizza way before I had. She added chili flakes to my pizza slice which slowed my pace even more and she just sat there watching me eat and laughed at me while I was just trying my best to eat the pizza. I realized how much she was enjoying this so I just prolonged this whole thing, I ate slower, I made faces and I even called her a bully and she was laughing so much and, in my heart, I enjoyed that so much. I usually don’t allow people to mess with my food but seeing her laugh I just wanted this moment to last forever. A couple of time later, when everyone was busy filling applications for college, one of our friends (let’s call her jane) hosted a birthday party. The plan was that she will invite us all to our house and then from there we’ll go to a restaurant. So Missybusy and I went to buy gift for our friend and we bought two identical plushies for Jane. Anyways, that day was so special. Because when we all went back home and when Missybusy and I were talking over WhatsApp she said ‘I love you’. For the first time ever, I heard it from her, although it was still on text, I was jumping around screaming in joy and a few tears of joy appeared. I was beaming with joy. I was so happy. This should mean we were finally together, right? Nope. Our colleges were about to start soon and we both were enrolled in a different college, she said she wanted to see how our college life is going to affect our relationship. I didn’t think of it much since what could’ve gone wrong? College started and one month in and I could feel the distance increasing between us and she seemed busier than usual obviously but somewhere because of this she wasn’t giving me much time either. It was a Sunday afternoon when I confronted her about this and she seemed to have realized this as well and she said she’s really sorry about all this. But in the end, she said a relationship doesn’t seem possible. I was devastated but I didn’t shout or yell at her I tried to convince her in everyway possible. But it was futile. It seemed impossible to convince her. And the call ended with a goodbye.

1. The real end- Another problem that I had this whole time was not knowing when to give up trying and give up trying to keep her happy instead of myself. One day later she texted me and she asked if we could meet because she believed I deserved a proper goodbye. And I eventually went to meet her the very next day. And we talked a lot. She said she felt really sorry and she told me that I deserved the best. She told me she was overwhelmed by college; she saw so many faces together and it was difficult for her. I was just super sad but anyhow I controlled myself and I didn’t cry in front of her. But she did, she started crying and I couldn’t hold back then, I hugged her and patted her head telling it’s alright. After she stopped crying, she said she’s sorry and she told me she changed her mind, she had some expectations from a relationship and one of them was physical touch and since we lived far from each other that seemed less likely but she said one has to sacrifice something for love, and I was just confused. I didn’t know what to say, what to do. I said I’ll let her know. Less than an hour after we went back to our homes, I messaged her saying that I’m ready and I want to be with her. Because I thought God had given us a second chance and I believed that it is very much possible and I shouldn’t take too long to tell her.

Everything was perfect for about a month. It was the month of October; we had a small quarrel over something and the next day I called her to apologize. But something seemed different, something felt off. She said it’s okay but I could feel something was off. The worst day of the year and the worst time of that day. She told me her brother had run away from their house because of something that happened with him and a girl and their family was in a lot of panic, and she was obviously worried and scared. She prayed to God to return her brother and she promised that she will never date someone again. I stood there, without movement, without words and I realized what it had meant. It meant an official goodbye. Breaking up in a way one could never expect. She told me to promise to not tell this reason for breakup to my friends (common friend group). I was the one who was given up. The call ended with both of us saying I love you but for the last time ever. I wasn’t at home; I was outside in a park. I felt as if someone had stabbed me right through the heart. I couldn’t feel the wind anymore. People seemed to have stopped talking. The sky lost its color, the birds stopped chirping. My whole world had come to a pause. I couldn’t think straight. I returned home acting normal. My father had come to visit, he rarely visits the city because him and my mother are separated so I don’t get to see my whole family together often so I didn’t want to spoil it. My mother and sister knew about Missybusy. Later that night I told my mom and sister that we broke up and my mom was worried but I told her to not worry because I was fine and I never told them the actual reason either, I just keep telling them I got bored of her so that they won’t worry about me, besides I had created such a wonderful image of missybusy for them I thought I should let it be that way. I couldn’t tell me friends what had happened, I didn’t tell my mom and sister what actually happened. I just kept it to myself and it hurt. It hurt really bad. I felt as if I had given her my heart and she shattered it and threw it away. I never hated her for it and I always blamed the circumstances.

1. Life goes on-

I was broken. And as any person after a breakup felt sad and sorrowful, so did I. But I kept my emotions bottled and never told anyone the actual reason. I did everything possible to keep myself distracted, I played games for many hours in a day, I talked to multiple people at once, I scrolled Instagram for hours and I was even addicted. I was losing control and I was falling in a huge pit. Days went by, I was in a terrible mental state. I attended every meetup possible even the ones I didn’t feel like going to, I was spending money like I was a millionaire or something, and I was running out of it. In the month of December, I went to visit my father and when he went for work I was alone and bored so I re-installed snapchat and just took a snap and sent it to all, I didn’t realize it went to Missybusy as well. She replied to that snap and asked how I am doing and we started a small conversation, we were just catching up and all. I was still in a poor mental state but honestly it just felt good talking to her again. And I asked her one question- “When exactly did you move on” and she replied she hadn’t. I felt bad because I realized it must’ve been difficult for her as well, college was tough for her. She told me she dated someone for two days. I was devastated yet again. So that promise for which we had to break up meant nothing. But for some reason a part of me was relieved anyway because she didn’t deserve all this. But what about me? I felt self-pity at that point honestly. When she was gone, I felt as if a part of me was taken away. I never asked for this and I never thought that I’ll have to go through all this when I first said I love you to her. Although we decided we should keep talking but I just couldn’t, after everything I could not just see her as a friend, I’ll always see her as my first love. I always try my best to smile and fool around my friends because that's who I was before I met her but I didn’t force it back then. When I returned to my city, I knew I couldn’t let these bad habits be my future. I knew what happened with me wasn’t fair but I couldn’t let that destroy my career or life. I started learning new things. I got into the stock market learnt a bit of trading and made good sum of money. I was still playing games and was still somewhat addicted. But slowly but surely, I was recollecting myself. I tried avoiding meetups with my school friends’ group because they always bring up this topic and I just hated that. I wanted peace. No matter how the days went by the night were always difficult, I didn’t hate her but I hated that the thought of her kept coming in my mind. It was always hard to fall asleep.

1. The Present- I’m still not over her completely. A part of me will always have hope for her to come back even though my mind knows otherwise but the heart is just weird. I met my school group friends after a long time and I felt good. There were four of us (Me, Dave and let’s call the other two Bob and Marley). I get along with Marley very well, he has his college in a different city so whenever he comes here, I make sure to meet him separately. When I met Marley, we went to a café just to have food and talk really, he asked me why does no one know the real reason for my and Missybusy's breakup. I just told him that it’s complicated. Then Marley told me that he heard from Bob and Dave that they told him that Missybusy started to like someone else that is why you both broke up. It was unprecedented to me. I felt weird, I felt a weird sting. I went back home and I messaged her to confront about this, I was taken away by my impulses. She assured me that wasn’t it and then we started talking like normal people do, talked about each other’s friends’, each other’s college life and so on. Then she asked if it’s possible to meet because it had been so long! And I was honestly scared to meet her but I just agreed anyway. 30th of may we met at a bowling and pool café. We sat there and talked about each other’s life. And honestly it seemed God did listen to my wish for keeping her happy because she had made good friends at college and obviously, she did have some problems but overall, she did seem happy and I was happy for that. The moment I saw her again after such a long time I realized nothing changed, she was just as pretty, her eyes were glowing just as usual and her fashion game was on the top. We made several eye contacts throughout and I could see a little pain in her eyes. It was the pain of guilt or pain of just losing, I won’t know for sure. When we were talking about our lives and what all had happened in these 7 and a half months, I felt so peaceful inside. But as soon as I mentioned what all I had to go through after out breakup she kept saying sorry and it felt as if I was just there to make her feel sorry. So, I refrained from talking about that. But then what did I have to talk about? Most of these months I had spent in misery and apart from that I told her about the little breakthroughs that I made in the market and I told her how I made some good friends at college. But that was it really. So, she did most of the talking. I was just listening. I didn’t want to talk about what I had to go through all these months because I felt I’ll just pressure her with more guilt. I didn’t come here to meet her and just listen to her saying sorry. I only cared about her smile.

My failure of expressing came back to me, I couldn’t tell her that I still loved her, I couldn’t tell her I still miss her. I just listened to her and laughed with her. She asked me once more before we left the park where we were walking at the moment, can we still we be friends? I was hesitant. But I told her we couldn’t. I told her we won’t be able to give time to this friendship and besides I have my competitive exams in December so I need to focus on that. But that’s just a part of it, I can never view her as my friend but always as the person I loved.
When we exited the park, we were standing near her car (oh she drives great by the way!). I told her to go while I wait for my uber. I pushed her away (not physically), I kept telling her to go away. That was it, no hugs just goodbyes. I wanted to hug her but I didn’t want the part of me that still had hope to grow. As she drove away, I realized in the end, I did end up hurting her by telling her to just go away. I came back home, acted normal as usual. Lied to my mom and sister again and told them the 'meeting was fine but it was boring'. The next day when I was home alone. I burst out crying. I never cried this much before. Only I know what I have lost. I didn’t want the part of me that had hope to grow but I also didn’t want it to just die. I cried for hours until eventually I washed my face and waited for my mom and sister to return. Missybusy was gone. I know what I’ve lost. And I blame myself for it. I can physically feel the pain in my heart at this point. It hurts so much. I wish I never met her after she told me a relationship isn’t possible. I wish I was never in love. I wish I never love again. I wish to be never this vulnerable again. I had gone through so much pain in those months and tried to act normal in front of everyone. I can’t tell how many thoughts crossed my mind daily. I just kept it bottled up within me. In the end I think God doesn’t like my heart. When I was in my mother’s womb it was found that I had a very faint heartbeat. As soon as I was born, I was taken into the ICU for surgery. Five years later it was found I have a low BPM. And so many years later my heart was broken into pieces. God doesn’t like my heart.

PS: This is a very long post, so I don't expect everyone to read it, but I am very grateful to this community existing as it is nice to be able to ramble out my thoughts.
So in short, I possess the following characteristics...
1) Desire for a career in environmental science research/sustainability.
2) Female and non binary.
3) Attacted to predominantly women, especially older women.
4) Attracted to intellectual people with similar interests, especially professors and those that I see as a possible source of guidence and support with my career path.
5) Feederism fetish (sexual arousal by the idea of myself or others gaining weight).
Growing up, my parents (my mom especially) have critiqued any expressions of expressing slightly masculine. Even wanting trousers for secondary school as opposed to a skirt seemed like too much to ask.
I was quite passive as a child as I had no other source of support and didn't know how to stand up to my parents, and couldn't really.
Then I progress onto college (16/17 years old) and see people such as my college teachers who are intelligent and appear to be kind people and I want to get to know them more. I never did anything but couldn't reach out afterwards as my favourite teacher very unfortunately died from a cancer.
I wish I spoke to my college teacher about my career earlier as I have had a lot of difficulty in this area and careers advisors often don't have the expertise about science to be able to help. I feel she already liked me and she even asked me what type of career I was interested in but I feel too afraid to initiate proper conversations with her because I felt so attracted to her. She seemed quite professional so I don't think she felt that way back, I think she was just being a nice person, she was nice to almost everyone. She was a beautiful person really.
I'm currently halfway through a degree at university but my desires to connect with those further along my career path of interest are still there. I still feel like I defintely need a source of mentorship and support. The biggest problem is how this attraction gets in the way of interacting with teachers and professors properly, so for it to work I think I'm going to need to need to find someone who I am able to have a more personal/romantic/platonic relationship with so my feelings are not something I have to feel worried about or that I have to repress.
Of course I understand where people are coming from when they say this type of thing is problematic, but it's really not a black and white situation. There are various problematic factors that can indeed be reduced when seeking this type of relationship. One of the things I aim to do is to meet academic people outside of my university through conference events or workshops. This way, they're not directly responsible for any of my academic progress. I recently went to a conference event just to listen to the talks and I enjoyed it, I didn't try to initiate anything though. Soon, I'm going to go to an ecology workshop lead by a professor from another univeristy. I'm not going to have any expectations but due to their research interests, this could be a really good person to talk to in a more relaxed manner. This drastically reduces conflict of interest making it a better choice.
I think part the reason this is also important to me is because it's not easy to pursue science when my family are mostly climate deniers and anti vax. My family put me down, my family point out every opportunity where I could fail, my family don't see my true potential as a person. I deserve better. I feel like the idea of knowing someone older in that career path is a lot more reassuring than just knowing some supportive peers my own age.
I am starting to become more and more annoyed with the world around me and the lack of support to the point where I really think I have to just listen to my inner self.
People can be wrong.
It makes me annoyed that everyone around discouraged me from dating someone older for so long.
I believe that I am capable of seeking relationships that are beneficial to me and avoiding those that scream out red flags. It's infantialising to assume that I can't. In addition, my parents have caused way more harm to me than the relationships I pursue are ever likely to, yet people will stand up for my parents even though it is very harmful to me.
I have been in a open/polyamourus relationship with a beautiful and intelligent woman in their 40s (I'm early 20s) for about a year and a half now. My desire to seek out older women was originally due to a feeling a shame for daydreaming about one of my professors and doing nothing about it. I still daydream about that professor, but at least I have a wonderful relationship now!
I was lucky to meet this person as I do understand there are some less desirable people out there, but that goes for all age groups. Again, this is something that should be taken on a case by case basis. I feel this relationship with her has really benifitted me. I feel like I can be myself. She doesn't have science degrees but she is extrodinarily intelligent and has experience in a vatiety of different job sectors (music, marketing, website design/optimisation, car manufacturing/wielding). In conversations with her, it is impressive how she has such a good grasp over how science works, and as someone with a more formal education, the things she's saying about some of her interests in these science areas really do seem to check out.
I love how she's not a normal person. She has had a lot of success in music in the past (not going to say exact role as might give too much info away). She often has ambitious projects she tries to do. Not all work out, but I really do love that she desires to do something great with her time here. She welded a whole car chassis in the her living room once for example haha. Her aim was to create the whole car (an expensive car and sell it for money) but this fell through due to various factors to do with the weilding shop she planned on using further down the line, however the chassis itself is still worth a bit of money.
So yeah, in short, fuck people who still want to look down upon my choices. I am happy with this relationship. I hate the fact people don't just accept that because it's not a typical relationship.
She isn't into feederism herself but she is very open minded to these things and it is something that was accepted about me very early on. She often pretends to engage in the fetish to try and turn me on but I see straight through it haha. This is something I am happy to pursue elsewhere, with somone who enjoys it more, and in moderation, but its still nice to feel accepted in so many ways.
In this jumble on words, I have probably touched upon all the characteristics first listed. The most important one right now is finding older academic mentor, who I can talk with on a more personal level. I wish I could remove the barriers of shame around this but I have little faith I'm going to get that from the internet, so it's probably something I'll have to trust myself on.

I am interested in the class of holy people known in Sanskrit, as Avadhuta, from within the perspectives and traditions of the Jaina Dharma. I was first introduced to the Sanskrit term "avadhuta", whilst doing japa-mala sadhana in the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition as a brahmachari, where it is part of the Panchatattva Mantra, chanted prior to the Gaudiya Tradition's Maha Mantra, and refers to Sri Nityananda, one of the intimate associates of Sri Chaitanya.
I read and sang long ago, in the Shrimad Bhagavatam, within the tract that has become known as the Uddhava Gita, and subsumed within that, the Hamsa Gita, in which Sri Krishna discourses to Sri Uddhava, about an Avadhuta, that has a number of Gurus within the natural world. Since, I read and sung it and studied it intensively, it has become quite popular and there are now a few English renderings, and a lot of YouTube lectures discussing it. I found out that tradition holds, that the Avadhuta in the Uddhava Gita, is Sri Dattatreya, though is not nsmed as such. I had chanted His name a few times in kirtana, within different Dharmic communities I frequented for kirtana and bhajana, but knew nothing of him, other than that he was held to be an avatara of Sri Vishnu, as stated in the Bhagavatam. So, I researched and read all I could find on Him.
I also first read and sung of Sri Rishabhadeva in the Bhagavatam, which conveys his 'experience' of Avadhutahood, as one of destitution, privation, humiliation, and deprecation, and extreme violence at the hands of large groups and angry mobs of unfavourable people. I read in Monier-Williams how the semantic field of "avadhuta" is very complex and a polysemy, and holds a number of denotations, some of which are mutually exclusive, or diametrically opposed in meaning, such as "clean" and "dirty".
Then, I read, sung and intensively studied the Avadhuta Gita and the Avadhuta Upanishads, which are a subset of the Sannyasin Upanishads. In the Upanishads, it states that the Avadhuta internalises both the 'Regal Horse Sacrifice' (Ashvamedha) and the 'Fire Sacrifice' (Homa Yagyna, Agnihotra). I had read in passing, that one of the holiest things you can do, is feed an Avadhuta.
I read, sung and studied the traditional Hatha Yoga texts which describe that the pinnacle stage of Yoga, is that of an Avadhuta. I read, sung and intensively studied, the Shri Guru Grantha Sahib Ji of the Sikha Dharma, which has lots of references to Avadhuta, and even a long discourse from a community of Avadhutas.
I chanted that Sri Shiva was an Avadhuta, as stated in the Bhagavatam. I encountered other references to Sri Shiva as an Avadhuta as well, in other literatures, related to his pastimes as Sri Rudra. Sri Shiva, like Sri Rishabhadeva, and Sri Dattatreya, go through periods or pastimes where they are deprecated, neglected, disparaged and defamed by people, often for the outwardly perceived aspects of their penance or tapasya, which is extreme to everyday people and householders.
Back to Sri Nityananda the Avadhuta, who is deprecated, disparaged and defamed by other swamis or renunciates in the Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita, and other medieval texts, for being too beautiful, too opulent, and too finely dressed for a renunciate.
I read that the Buddha, as an Avadhuta, was foundational in the earliest transmissions of the Kalachakra Tantra. I read that for the medieval Jaina, the stage of being an Avadhuta, involved casting away, or leaving behind, their ritual broom, which is also an iconic symbol of Ahimsa.
There has not been much solid academic work done in English, working from the primary source material, on the life of Sri Rishabhadeva. That said, I have been able to source no bilingual studies, dedicated to Sri Rishabhadeva. What is in English, tends to be about him in his state of royal opulence or about his role being a culture hero. Sri Rishabhadeva's symbol is a Bull and also, the Bull-headed-Yaksha. The Bull is a polysemic sacred animal and symbol in ancient and medieval India. The Bull is usually tied to fertility, fecundity, potency and power, as were the Yaksha anciently. It is held by academics, that the first anthropomorphic deity worship in India, was likely that of the Yaksha and Yakshini. Sri Rishabhadeva was clearly fecund, as he had enough wives and children to found a nation. In other literature, such a fecund and fertile male propensity and quality, is referred to a being a Prajapati. I have read of it in innumerable texts. Anyway, that was before he became a renunciate, and whilst being renounced, went into the state and stage of being an Avadhuta, and renounced all that. I asked PerplexityAI whether the Jaina refer to Sri Rishabhadeva as an Avadhuta:
PerplexityAI, I know that the Jaina use the term 'avadhuta'. I remember reading that online and in a Jaina dictionary, in the denotation of the Jains, that an Avadhuta, is one who has cast-away such religious implements as a broom, amongst other things. But, I don't know the significance of this to the Jaina. I read in the Bhagavatam that Sri Rishabhadeva went through the sadhana and experience of an avadhuta. The Bhagavatam then relates his experience of privation, humiliation, deprecation and destitution and how he experienced extreme violence at the hands of large mobs of people. Researching the term Avadhuta in Monier-Willisms, there are are number of denotations, some contradictory and mutually exclusive. Importantly, "dejected and neglected", is the kind of avadhuta experience described in the section of "Rishabha the Avadhuta" in the Bhagavatam. Do the Jains refer to Rishabhadeva as an Avadhuta?
Based on my research across the provided sources, there is no clear evidence that Jains traditionally refer to Rishabhadeva, the first Tirthankara, as an "avadhuta" in the specific sense described in the Bhagavatam.
The key points are:

1. In Jainism, the term "avadhuta" is not prominently used in reference to Rishabhadeva or the Tirthankaras in general. The sources and do not mention this term in relation to Rishabhadeva.
   
2. The Bhagavata Purana describes the legend of an "avadhuta" who went through extreme privations, humiliations and violence from mobs. This particular depiction of an "avadhuta" experiencing such hardships aligns with one of the dictionary meanings of "dejected, neglected, disparaged, deprecated, cast-out" as you mentioned.
   
3. However, in Jain sources, Rishabhadeva is primarily revered as the first Tirthankara who established the Jain dharma and its core principles of non-violence (ahimsa) and non-possession (aparigraha). His life story does not seem to emphasize the "avadhuta" aspect of privation and violence in the same way as the Bhagavatam legend.
   
4. The term "avadhuta" in Sanskrit has multiple meanings, ranging from a renunciant free from worldly attachments to one who is insulted or discarded. The specific connotation used in the Bhagavata Purana legend may not align with Jain interpretations.
   

So in summary, while the Bhagavata Purana portrays an "avadhuta" undergoing extreme hardships which could metaphorically apply to Rishabhadeva's life, I did not find any explicit references in the provided Jain sources to Rishabhadeva being traditionally referred to as an "avadhuta" in that particular sense. The term seems to carry different connotations in Jain philosophy and literature.
Citations: [1] What is Avadhuta? - Definition from Yogapedia https://www.yogapedia.com/definition/5246/avadhuta [2] Rishabhadeva, Ṛṣabhadeva, Rishabha-deva: 5 definitions https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/rishabhadeva [3] Chapter 7 - The Legend of the Avadhūta and his Preceptors https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-bhagavata-purana/d/doc1128979.html [4] Avadhuta, Avadhūta, Avadhūtā: 23 definitions - Wisdom Library https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/avadhuta [5] Rishabhanatha - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rishabhanatha [6] Way of the Avadhuta, The Phase of Ultimate Detachment https://www.exoticindiaart.com/article/avadhuta/ [7] Avadhutarupa, Avadhūtarūpa, Avadhuta-rupa: 1 definition https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/avadhutarupa [8] Was Rishabha, the first tirthankar of Jainism, an incarnation of Lord ... https://hinduism.stackexchange.com/questions/9049/was-rishabha-the-first-tirthankar-of-jainism-an-incarnation-of-lord-vishnu-or [9] This is Kali yuga. - Srila Prabhupada Lila https://srilaprabhupadalila.org/read/1410 [10] Avadhuta means - Vaniquotes https://vaniquotes.org/wiki/Avadhuta_means [11] (PDF) Historicity of Jain Tirthankar Rishabhnatha - ResearchGate https://www.researchgate.net/publication/373489698_Historicity_of_Jain_Tirthankar_Rishabhnatha [12] 29. Importance of Bhagavata Purana and Vishnu Purana https://ebooks.inflibnet.ac.in/icp05/chapteimportance-of-bhagavata-purana-and-vishnu-purana/ [13] Avadhuta - Vaniquotes https://vaniquotes.org/wiki/Avadhuta [14] Do any Hindu Scriptures talk about Mahavira or any other Jain ... https://hinduism.stackexchange.com/questions/59245/do-any-hindu-scriptures-talk-about-mahavira-or-any-other-jain-tirthankaras [15] What Srimad Bhagavatam says about the Avadhuta Who had 24 ... https://hinduismwayoflife.com/2018/02/07/how-to-learn-wisdom-from-nature-what-srimad-bhagavatam-says-about-the-avadhuta-who-had-24-gurus/ [16] Dattatreya - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dattatreya [17] Rishabha (Hinduism) - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rishabha_%28Hinduism%29 [18] Meaning of "Bhagavata Purana - VedaPurana Hindu Encyclopedia https://vedapurana.org/single.php?s=664&word=Bhagavata+Purana%3E [19] Dattatreya – The Avadhuta - Hindu Scriptures https://www.hinduscriptures.com/gods/devta/dattatreya-the-avadhuta/819/
I note that few of the traditional sources on the life of Sri Rishabhadeva have been translated well into English and none of them recently, and none in bilingual editions. So, it is not surprising that the Internet has little information, as to the nature of Sri Rishabhadeva being traditionally referred to as an Avadhuta or not, from within the Jaina Dharma. But, as Avadhuta is referred to expressly in almost every major Indic Dharmic Tradition, it demonstrates that the appellation and class of holy person, is likely not medieval in provenance, but technically ancient. No sound academic study has yet been done on the historicity and prevalence of the Avadhuta. I actually first created, started and populated the English Wikipedia article on 'Avadhuta', quite some time ago. It has changed significantly since I last edited it. Lots of citations have been lost. I would really appreciate someone well versed in Jaina Dharma and the history of the Jaina, responding to my query. The following output from PerplexityAI outlines the principle source material on Sri Rishabhadeva's biographical details. I would appreciate people who have read the originals, in the original languages and scripts, responding to my query:
Is the a bilingual edition of the biography of Rishabhadeva that includeds primary source material?
Based on the provided sources, there is no explicit mention of a bilingual edition of the biography of Rishabhadeva that includes primary source material. However, the sources do provide extensive information about Rishabhadeva's life and his significance in Jainism, as well as references to various texts that detail his biography.

Key Points from the Sources

1. Primary Texts Mentioning Rishabhadeva:
   
   • Ādi purāṇa: A 9th-century Sanskrit poem detailing the life of Rishabhadeva and his two sons, with a 10th-century Kannada commentary by Adikavi Pampa [1].
   • Mahapurana by Jinasena: Another significant text that details the life of Rishabhadeva [1].
   • Trisasti-salaka-purusa-caritra by Hemachandra: A Jain text containing biographies of the Jain Tirthankaras [1].
   • Kalpa Sutra: A Jain text with biographies of the Tirthankaras [1].
   • Jambudvipa-prajnapti: Another Jain text mentioning Rishabhadeva [1].
   • Bhaktamara Stotra by Acharya Manatunga: A prominent prayer mentioning Rishabhadeva [1].
2. Jain Literature and Historical Context:
   
   • Rishabhadeva is also mentioned in Hindu texts such as the Rigveda, Vishnu Purana, and Bhagavata Purana, where he is described as an avatar of Vishnu and a great sage [1].
   • Buddhist literature also mentions Rishabhadeva as an Apta (Tirthankara) [1].
3. Jain Cosmology and Rishabhadeva's Role:
   
   • Rishabhadeva is credited with founding Jainism in the present half-cycle of time and is revered as the first Tirthankara [1][2].
   • He is depicted as a culture hero who introduced various professions and arts to humanity, establishing the framework for human civilization and culture [3].
4. Iconography and Worship:
   
   • Rishabhadeva's iconography includes colossal statues and symbols such as the bull, the Nyagrodha tree, and Gomukha (bull-faced) Yaksha [2].

Conclusion

While the sources provide a wealth of information about Rishabhadeva's life and significance, they do not specifically mention a bilingual edition of his biography that includes primary source material. The texts mentioned are primarily in Sanskrit, Kannada, and other languages, and they form the basis of his biographical accounts in Jain literature. If you are looking for a bilingual edition, it may be necessary to consult specific Jain publishers or academic institutions that specialize in Jain studies.
Citations: [1] Rishabhanatha Facts for Kids https://kids.kiddle.co/Rishabhanatha [2] Rishabhanatha - Wikiwand https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Rishabhanatha [3] Print Preview - Ahimsa Foundation https://www.jainsamaj.org/literature_preview.php?id=NTk2&tab=IG1hc19saXRlcmF0dXJl [4] [PDF] Jaina Bibliography Part 2 https://ia600107.us.archive.org/32/items/JainaBibliographyPart2/Jaina-Bibliography%20Part2_text.pdf [5] Rishabhanatha - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rishabhanatha [6] Risabha Deva - The Founder of Jainism : Champat Rai Jain https://archive.org/details/RisabhaDeva-TheFounderOfJainism [7] The Caste System - Part I - The Spiritual Hindu https://thespiritualhindu.com/hindu-caste-system/ [8] Full text of "Nine Sacred Recitations Of The Jain Religion ( A Study ... https://archive.org/stream/NineSacredRecitationsOfTheJainReligionAStudyOfTheNineSmaranasAllAspectsAssociate/Nine%20Sacred%20Recitations%20of%20the%20Jain%20Religion%20%28A%20Study%20of%20the%20Nine%20Smaranas%20%26%20All%20Aspects%20Associated%20with%20Them%29%20Vinod%20Kapashi_djvu.txt [9] Rishabhadeva, Ṛṣabhadeva, Rishabha-deva: 5 definitions https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/rishabhadeva [10] Rishabhanatha Biography - Pantheon.World https://pantheon.world/profile/person/Rishabhanatha [11] Rashtrakuta literature - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashtrakuta_literature [12] [PDF] Maharishi Santsevi Ji Maharaj - The Jain Foundation https://archive.org/download/radhasoami/RADHA%20SOAMI.raRADHA%20SOAMI%2FOKE%2FEBOOK%2FHarmony-Of-All-Religions.pdf [13] Birth and Abhiseka of Rsabhadeva [Chapter 13] https://www.wisdomlib.org/shop/books/jainism/adipurana-sanskrit-text-with-english-translation/doc234124.html [14] [PDF] History of Ancient and Early Medieval India - Apnaorg.com https://apnaorg.com/books/english/history-of-ancient-and-early-medieval-india/history-of-ancient-and-early-medieval-india.pdf [15] Rishabha (Hinduism) - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rishabha_%28Hinduism%29 [16] Rsabhadeva took a wife named Jayanti and begot one ... - Vaniquotes https://vaniquotes.org/wiki/Rsabhadeva_took_a_wife_named_Jayanti_and_begot_one_hundred_sons_who_were_as_powerful_and_qualified_as_He_Himself._His_wife_Jayanti_had_been_offered_to_Him_by_Indra,_the_King_of_heaven [17] Rishabhanatha Tirthankara, Jainism, 24th Tirthankara Britannica https://www.britannica.com/topic/Rishabhanatha [18] Puranic chronology of India https://bharatbhumika.blogspot.com/2014/08/puranic-chronology-of-india.html [19] (PDF) Historicity of Jain Tirthankar Rishabhnatha - ResearchGate https://www.researchgate.net/publication/373489698_Historicity_of_Jain_Tirthankar_Rishabhnatha [20] Ancient History HDT (Compiled) PDF - Scribd https://www.scribd.com/document/702119020/Ancient-History-HDT-Compiled-1
What did the broom as a ritual implement mean to the Jains
Based on the information provided in the sources, the broom holds significant ritual and symbolic meaning for Jains as an implement of non-violence (ahimsa), which is a core principle of Jainism.
Here are the key points about the ritual significance of the broom for Jain monks and nuns:

1. Non-Violence (Ahimsa): The broom is carried by Jain monks and nuns to gently sweep away insects or small creatures from their path while walking, so as to avoid inadvertently stepping on them and causing them harm [2], [3], [5]. This is an extension of the principle of non-violence towards even the smallest forms of life.
   
2. Ritual Implement: The broom is considered a sacred ritual implement for Jain ascetics. Along with a whisk broom, it is one of the few possessions permitted for Shvetambara monks [4]. Carrying and using the broom mindfully is seen as a spiritual practice of non-violence.
   
3. Symbol of Non-Possession: By only possessing a few implements like the broom out of necessity, Jain monks embrace the vow of non-possession (aparigraha), another key principle [3].
   
4. Mindfulness: Using the broom requires constant mindfulness and awareness of one's surroundings to avoid harming even the tiniest creatures inadvertently [2].
   
5. Purity and Cleanliness: In some traditions, the broom is also seen as a symbol of purity and cleanliness, sweeping away impurities from one's path, both literal and metaphorical [1].
   

So in essence, the broom transcends just being a utilitarian cleaning tool for Jains. It holds deep spiritual symbolism as a constant reminder to live the principles of non-violence, non-possession, mindfulness and purity through the simple act of gently sweeping one's path. Its ritual usage is an embodiment of the ascetic Jain way of life.
Citations: [1] Brooms & Superstitions Story of Indian crafts and craftsmen - Gaatha https://gaatha.com/brooms-of-india/ [2] TIL Jainist monks are such pacifist that they carry around a ritualistic ... https://www.reddit.com/todayilearned/comments/2vhceo/til_jainist_monks_are_such_pacifist_that_they/ [3] Ahimsā in Jain Rituals - Jainavenue https://jainavenue.org/ahimsa-in-jain-rituals/ [4] Ritual practices and religious institutions - Jainism - Britannica https://www.britannica.com/topic/Jainism/Ritual-practices-and-religious-institutions [5] Jain monks wear mesh over their faces to avoid inhaling insects and... https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Jain-monks-wear-mesh-over-their-faces-to-avoid-inhaling-insects-and-carry-soft-brooms-to_fig1_262855310
So, an Avadhuta in Jainism, historically, was one who left behind, or cast-away, the ritual broom.
Based on the information provided in the sources, the concept of "Avadhutarupa" in Jainism specifically refers to a form of penance or spiritual practice where a religious practitioner discards or casts away certain material implements like the broom.
The key points are:

1. Source [3] defines "Avadhutarupa" as "the penance of the religious who gives himself an unrecognizable form (by discarding his material badge, broom, etc., so as not to do wrong with the doctrine)."
   
2. It states this is a Jain technical term mentioned in the 13th century text "Vividhatirthakalpa" by Jinaprabhasuri, which discusses various Jain pilgrimage sites.
   
3. The act of discarding the broom and other material possessions is seen as a form of penance or vow of non-possession (aparigraha) in Jainism.
   
4. Sources [1], [2], and [4] highlight the significance of the broom itself as a sacred ritual implement for Jain monks and nuns to practice non-violence (ahimsa) by gently sweeping away insects from their path.
   

So in essence, while the broom itself holds immense spiritual significance as a tool of non-violence, the concept of "Avadhutarupa" refers to the act of a Jain renunciant voluntarily discarding or casting away even this sacred broom, as a more extreme form of penance and non-possession.
Therefore, your statement "an Avadhuta in Jainism, historically, was one who left behind, or cast-away, the ritual broom" accurately captures the essence of this Jain spiritual practice and term, based on the information across these sources.
Citations: [1] Brooms & Superstitions Story of Indian crafts and craftsmen - Gaatha https://gaatha.com/brooms-of-india/ [2] TIL Jainist monks are such pacifist that they carry around a ritualistic ... https://www.reddit.com/todayilearned/comments/2vhceo/til_jainist_monks_are_such_pacifist_that_they/ [3] Avadhutarupa, Avadhūtarūpa, Avadhuta-rupa: 1 definition https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/avadhutarupa [4] Ahimsā in Jain Rituals - Jainavenue https://jainavenue.org/ahimsa-in-jain-rituals/ [5] Ritual practices and religious institutions - Jainism - Britannica https://www.britannica.com/topic/Jainism/Ritual-practices-and-religious-institutions

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Here are some to consider:

• "In every generation there is a chosen one. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons and the forces of darkness. She is the slayer" (pre-cold-open voice over, S1 and early S2)
• "Will it hurt? // I'm 16, I don't wanna die" (Buffy, Prophecy Girl, 1x12)
• Ecstasy of grief (Angelus, Passion, 2x17)
• Empty rooms (Angelus, Passion, 2x17)
• The mayor, on Bangel not working out (Richard Wilkins III, I think it's in Choices, 3x19)
• The graduation speech (Richard Wilkins III, Graduation Day: Part 2, 3x22)
• The little girl reciting the nursery rhyme about the gentlemen (Hush, 4x10)
• "I walk, I talk, I shop, I sneeze" (Buffy, Restless, 4x22)
• The 'power' speech (Buffy, Checkpoint, 5x12)
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A homeless teenager reaches out to the Shil’vati on first day of the invasion of Earth.
Credit to: who has beta read just about every chapter, and the only reason it's readable half the time
u/bluefishcake for writing the original SSB story.
Pizzaulostin who has been beta reading since the beginning.
Credit to u/HollowShel for getting me started with this!
This story is based in the SSB universe.
Previous
First
Chapter 33:

Reqellia:

It was the darkest part of the night, and yet I could hear the energetic commotion of Ruhal blearily heating up food for a famished human along with the clinks of dishes and silverware.
“One more day.” I felt glued to the bench as I stared back into the silver mask I hadn’t worn for almost [twenty-five years] prior, and had hoped never to put on again. I cursed my old girlish wishes when I first joined up, wanting to be a war hero, and then a mother afterwards. To grow old and see my own child in uniform. I had even wanted a son since I was already demanding the impossible.
I never believed in the gods, but now I’m sure that I’ve tempted Niosa to grant my wishes, but only after I made my peace with them that they would never come true.
Klein bounced around the suite’s kitchen, eating enough for two Shil women and already wearing his armor’s underlayment. The chair creaked a bit as he sat, his own horror-show mask on the dining table next to him staring back at him unblinking.
And It was a horror show.
He’d wake up cheerful and happy, and I’d watch over the day as every bit of his energy was drained out of him. The daily exercise routine of a morning run and gym day in a month being performed in a few short hours. Every time Klein finished a trail faster, or performed a more grueling task, the trainers would make him do even more as his contract offers rose another level.
I didn’t blame the instructors, it was their job to challenge each applicant, but Klein blew through all their expectations, so they just kept piling more onto him. Many of those same instructors had asked me if they were pushing him too far, but all I could do was shrug. Even I didn't even know where his potential ended.
I blinked and looked up. He was in his full armor now, with only the mask off.
“Ready to go?”
I nodded and stood up, quickly heading over to Ruhal, who in turn looked at me with sleep deprived eyes. Worn out as I was, he was worse, playing subject matter expert on all things human around a bunch of high ranking officers desperate for information not tainted by censorship.
“Stay safe out there,” he politely ordered as he kissed me.
I kissed him back and held his hand. “You too.”
Sighing,I left to let him rest, popped my back, and donned my own mask.
As Klein paced the door, I begged for safety. “One more day, please let everything be okay after today.”
I shouldn’t have tempted Niosa again.

Itaro:

I quietly padded out of the children’s den to a chorus of snoring from my siblings. The well carpeted securely fastened to wooden floors muffled my footsteps. I opened the large storm shutters and then pulled open the sliding glass door to the patio. I couldn’t sleep anymore, excitedly bouncing from one foot to another.
Klein and Reqellia were coming home tonight! Reqellia had sent me her contract offers that came from a dozen different Imperial departments and bureaus. Dad already agreed years ago she could move in with us, a pack sister was always welcome. Now she wouldn’t feel like a burden if she had to.
And Klein… Well, I wouldn’t be bothered by a few love-marks.
“I see that smile. Excited?” I heard my father’s deep voice like distant thunder. I turned around to his massive form only a few steps away. We both had learned to walk silently when my siblings were just pups and the discovery that they were light sleepers had been made.
I felt my ears droop just a little to see his melancholic face. He had gone out of his way the last few weeks to spend more time with just me now that I had a pack of my own. There was always a soft smile on his face, but the way his tail hung low to the floor was a dead giveaway on his mood.
I tried to cheer him up. “I am. It’s been weeks since I got to speak to Au’tes, and Klein…” I trailed off, the insinuation clear. He smirked. He had met Klein in passing, but I wasn’t bringing him home yet. Hario on the other hand had made one or two bawdy jokes at the dinner table after a second glass of her favorite liquor.
First time Klein spends the night, you might want to check up on Itaro, make sure she didn’t keel over from exhaustion.
“At this rate I’m going to have to teach you sword fighting to beat back other male suitors from poaching you for their own packs!” My father joked. Stepping off the patio landing, he hit the ground noiselessly, bending his legs to absorb the shock.

After letting out a quiet grunt indicative of an age he tried to keep hidden, he turned around and looked back up at me. “Want to come with me for a walk?”
I jumped down and followed him into our little patch of forest my mother’s terraforming job paid for. The early morning was already warm without a cooling vest, but not intolerable. The chirping of birds and the soft whistle of wind tinged with just a hint of salt made everything feel fresh.
It was like when I came home from school and my father would stop construction for the day. We’d explore the forest, play on the beach, go into town for groceries.
Except now my father didn’t run and have me chase him. He carefully inspected the trees for pests, and our conversation was far more practical than whimsical. “Your mother’s coming home next month. Can you write her a message before she meets Klein, just so she has a better idea of your pack?”
I nodded. “Of course. How long is she going to be home this time?”.
Her terraforming jobs always lasted months, if not years. I never faulted her for the huntress life, but it made connecting with her difficult. She was more a guest of honor than a mother to the household, always bringing a fatted Sou’ta carcass home as a present, but rarely cleaned dishes, or the house.
Or really any chore…
He shrugged before crouching next to a felled tree, trimming away small branches for kindling with a tiny hatchet he hand pulled from his tool pouch. “Might be a good long while this time. The last message I got said her department only had small projects and a few hazard jobs on the periphery. Besides, we might need an extra set of hands more than the money now.”
I scoffed. “Her, a house mother!? No offense, but mom is a terrible cook, and a worse caretaker. Remember the time she nearly burned down our kitchen boiling water?”
He laughed with me as he pocketed the hatchet. Standing up with two sticks, and then threw me one. I caught it as he swung his own stick in my general area. “Defend yourself! I did say I needed to teach you sword fighting. How else are you going to fight off possessive men when they realize what a catch you are?”
He didn’t teach anything but how to rough house on a lazy Shel morning.
We played and swung the flimsy branches until I accidentally hit him square in the chest. The branch, already crumbly and dry, disintegrated on impact. It didn’t stop him from dramatically acting out a death scene. Falling to his knees in an overly theatrical fashion. “Oh, woe is me! Cut down by my own daughter in cold blood!”
I let him pretend to be on stage for a few moments longer before standing over him to offer a hand. He took it, and then yanked me down to the grassy patch, holding me for a long, quiet minute. “I’m going to miss you.”
For the first time I noticed the stray white hairs around his muzzle, I knew what he meant, but I tried to play it off. “I’m not going anywhere.”
He just held me for a silent heartbeat longer, then let go and stood up.
He proclaimed cheerfully to mask his wet eyes. “Now, let’s get you cleaned up. You can’t look like a pup out of a mud bath for your victorious pack! I even scheduled a visit at Tulo’s for a haircut. Ruhal’s treat.”
My mind played with potential futures as we headed home. Between the three of us, we could write our own life together. Maybe I could even stay close to home.
I looked up to the rising light.
“One more day!”

Klein :

The mountains of gear and equipment around us were illuminated by harsh flood lights. We stood in formation with each person, regardless of species, showing physical signs of exhaustion. Drooping shoulders and bent knees, unfocused and slow eye movement.
Instructor Li’kele was wearing full battle rattle today, complete with a compact lasrifle holstered to her leg.
“Good morning applicants! It’s the last day of selection! Your assignment will be to support your sisters in the combat section in the wargames! You see all this critical equipment? Our first assignment will be to load all of it on auto-turoxes and hover-wagons. Unfortunately we don’t have enough capacity , some of you will need to carry gear on your person as we make the [ten mile] trek into the forest. Applicants 849, 734, 236 and 953 step up after we finish loading! You are our extra carriers.”
I knew I was going to be picked. It was easy to not let it bother me though. Reqellia had explained that the instructors were just trying to push us to our limits, and every extra duty and handicap meant a better contract with a brighter future.
Still, after hefting thousands of [pounds/kilos] of stuff onto the squat legged drone’s cargo cages and the little platforms that would float once powered, dread formed in the pit of my stomach as an entire counter-battery system was cinched onto my person. I trudged as we formed up for our road march.
The combat selection team rolled in as we took positions, already covered in mud from what I could guess was their own morning fun, their las-rifles at the low ready. Their own instructor, a severe looking Hyena-like Kortika woman with fur that trimmed short and smooth. She yelled out orders to the gaggle of applicants under her command. “Form on either side of the supply train and defend them at all costs! If they get shot because you weren’t doing your job, then it’s your ass that will be carrying the extra gear!”
We marched out of the base, clinking and clunking as we traveled uphill. The weight wasn’t too bad now that it was evenly distributed on my body, but it would be hell taking it off and putting it back on anytime we stopped.
“Isn’t that the new shock trooper ? What’s he doing with the non-combat selection?” I heard one of the combat applicants say idly. It was easy to pick up conversation in the nearly silent dawn as we marched on a dirt path extending across an expanse of grassland in the reddening sky. It was really pretty, watching the light play on the green forested hills in the distance.
Their Instructor sidled up to the commenting girl silently, ears swiveled back in anger. She grabbed her shoulder, growling low. “Cut the chatter, girl. ”
Silence followed for the next hour in the pre-dawn light.
We got the first taste of the wargames when red beams bolted over our heads and dropped one of our auto-turoxes. “Everyone get down!” yelled one of our instructors, and I threw myself on the path.
With all the weight on me, the impact on the ground hurt . I looked up and saw red beams blink in and out over me. Their flashes brought back memories.
The red glow through convenience store windows . An alien invasion.
I blinked furiously and turned my head to see what was going on with the combat teams on the sides of the road. They had already taken out two of the ‘raiders’ who stood up, hands in the air as they walked away. Another minute clicked by before a squad decided to double check the tall grass and found a third raider hiding. All had the insignia of the instruction cadre commandos.
“Everyone, up !” Instructor Lik’ele belted out in a two-word shout, and I had to push up off the ground, creaking under the weight. My arms burned as I got to my knees, then raised a hand and called out, “assistance!” One of the unnumbered girls gave me a hand to steady myself, and I rocked a bit trying to stand.
“Thank you,” I said, but between the voice distorter and my mask, the girl backed away as soon as I was up, fear registered in her eyes.
[At the bus stop, a classmate backed away from me. scared of me for some reason mumbling ‘you're bleeding’. Warmth on my upper lip, a coppery taste.]

I shook my head, trying to banish the weird memory surfacing, I hadn’t had a nosebleed since I left Earth. I looked back up, but the girl had already gotten back in formation and we started moving again.
It wasn’t quite noon when we stopped for lunch. I got help removing my kit, and stretched to work out the kinks. Reqellia stood next to me as I sat down on the hard packed surface. I took off my gloves, and jammed them under my chest holster.
I was technically ‘armed’ right now. We had gotten the thirty-minute las-pistol training yesterday on how to safely handle them, and then ran through a quick range. They were nothing more than glorified laser pointers though. They could lock up a suit set to respond to the laser signal, but they wouldn’t so much as redden skin otherwise.
Reqellia had let me in on their real purpose, to see if we could be trusted with a dangerous object and not play with it.
Eating was a pain, I had to lift my mask halfway up and eat blind. The meal pack was cold, but eh, it was food. Goddess, I was hungry.
“How are you holding up?” Reqellia asked, the silver mask obscuring any expression, and the voice distorter deadening any intonation, but by the angle of the head tilt, I could guess the question was more concern than curiosity.
“It’s not too heavy, but it’s awkward trying to move around,” I admitted as I put my mask back in place and pulled out my omni-pad. I tried not to boggle at the contract offers I was getting. It was a straight up bidding war, including furnished houses, years of leave after an initial stint, even minor titles.
Ruhal had helped me, even filled out the forms himself with less than a day for submission. He had also messaged me about the fine print of many of these absurd offers. The watch word was ‘Relocation’.
“They will send you back to Earth. Right now, you are the only human any department can recruit who might know an obscure piece of human signage or culture that got skipped during their culture crash courses, has the physical ability to keep up during an operation, and they can implicitly trust it is loyal to the Imperium.”
I scrolled past the too-good-to-be true proposals and to the ones without relocation, not ridiculously overpaying, but still plenty. Maybe I would follow Ka’tel into ICAD, or…
“We need to get moving!” Li’kele barked and I signaled for help again. This time Au’tes was ordered to help me with my gear. Now seeing her up close, she was definitely worse for wear. She smiled, but it was the kind of tired smile that had almost no energy in it. Her usual well controlled movements were slurred by exhaustion, and she leaned on me after buckling the packs on my shoulders, her own extra gear was a large backpack of energy cells.
“Damn, girl runs away in fear from combat selection after spending years in the militia and now plays valet. Bet whatever is underneath that suit is more would eat her alive if unmuzzled,” I overheard one of the combat applicants snicker. Au’tes winced, just a bit, at the barb from her former youth militia group.
“Lift your visor.” I said. It was dumb, it was really dumb, but I wanted to give her at least a reminder of what she had that they didn’t. Au’tes had a flicker of confusion, but flipped up the visor on her suit’s helmet.
I lifted my mask just enough to kiss her. It was honestly a gross kiss and wished I could have brushed my teeth beforehand. But when I dropped my mask down there was the manic Au’tes again, full of energy and gusto. I looked past her to the shocked combat applicants. I put my finger to roughly where my mouth was and whispered in my distorted voice, “No one will believe you.”
Au’tes brought her visor down and squeezed my hand for a second longer before leaning in close “Thank you for letting me know you still exist under there.

Reqellia:

The dirt trail up the hill was easy enough for my legs. I stayed in the same general area as Klein, but with my augments I already had his pinpoint location and medical data, I could even access his helmet camera. I didn’t want to get in his way while the instructors gave him snap secondary tasks to complete on our journey up to the outpost location.
I kept myself entertained by listening in on the comms chatter that I could pick up on the wargames going on about us at large. I had enjoyed playing the no-holds-barred opposing force when I was a commando on rotation here.
Right now there was a particularly fun little drama going on up north of our location. A mechanized assault unit tasked with taking out an anti-orbital battery got one of their exos stuck in mud because of a poor assessment of the ground composition. The armored crane they had first ordered to pull it out was now also stuck.
The Lieutenant was trying to get an exception to the wargame rules to bring a drop ship in to pull them both out, but the higher-ups told her to figure it out. The whole point of these wargames was to discover how things could go wrong. The Lieutenant tried to pull title to overrule them, only to get a nasty conversation from her commander.
A small beep from my monitoring systems told me Klein’s heart rate had slowed and I looked up to see the front of the supply train had been ordered to halt. Up ahead was the “fort,” a clearing on top of the hill with nothing but some half buried holes.
The Kortika woman got to the front of the formation and gave her orders. “Listen up! Combat selection is going to set up a perimeter while the Auxiliary builds us a structure safe enough to hold during an assault. All weapons are going ‘live’, but for those in the non-combat teams I will again warn you to only use them in self-defense. If you wanted to shoot people for a living you should have signed up for it.”
I tried not to flinch as I watched Klein and his compatriots start to offload all the gear they had packed this morning and attempt their best effort at setting it up with basic instructions from Li’kele and the manuals that came with the equipment. Just another test to see how the applicants would handle the technical situation.
At this point they were at their limit, physically and mentally exhausted as they tried to bolt frames together, wrestle antennas, install expandable barriers, and put together the foundations of a forward operating base.
Klein had all but given up on the counter battery system he schlepped here and handed that responsibility off to a Senthe Boy while speaking a rough northern dialect of Satenthia. The boy was more than happy to talk to someone who knew even a few words of his native tongue.
I opened a small window on my HUD and watched with amusement as the early contract offers rose and fell. Klein’s offer from naval engineering, already paltry compared to other, more suitable jobs, dropped to barely above standard. Intelligence and Law branches, however, rocketed upwards again.
I could almost hear the recruiter’s comments as the numbers and terms changed. Does not have familiarity with Shil military equipment. Comfortable with speaking multiple languages. Works well with multiple species.
I watched them work. Klein, in usual Klein fashion, pushed himself. After getting the counter battery laser hooked up, he volunteered for other physically demanding tasks. Pile driving in the foundations that hold the columns of the structure. The rhythmic thump gave me ghost aches when I had done the same thing out in the periphery while getting pot shotted by roaches.
I shook my head. It was going to be another rough night for him by the way he was bunching up his shoulders as he braced the handheld pile driver. Thankfully, tomorrow he’d be home and with an appointment with Cee who might force him on bed rest for the next month.
I started to chuckle at the thought of how protective Itaro was going to get after taking one look at Klein. I came back from deployment once missing three fingers from a plasma grenade and Bahtet waited on me and foot, wouldn’t so much as let me handle a kitchen knife until they were replaced later that month.
A few stray red beams were thrown our way, even a flash bang or two from the commandos tasked with harassing us came and went. As the ramparts of the temporary base were finished, I took up station on the second level to oversee the whole complex. Klien was working with a combat team, helping them put a second defense line in. They had driven stakes into the ground to support parallel knee-high thermocast plates with an arms-length gap between them, which Klein was filling in with dirt to act as a wall and platform for the heavy, crew served lasgun.
I was thankful there would be a shuttle to pick us up soon. I played the opposing force for Selection a few times, and I still remembered the script. Right now we were in a lull that would last until dusk, then at least three full commando teams would assault the base. The battle would be made as realistic and demanding as possible with creeping dark to add to the complexity.
The Selection team would always be wiped out, but it was how they performed against overwhelming odds that would shift the contract offers that last bit before everything was locked in place.
I heard the whirr of a counter battery system swiveling around, and then the crackle of it firing. I turned to see what it was aiming for but all I saw was a cloud of smoke . Then a fast moving object came through the cloud before I heard the crackle again and another exploded .
Blanketing everything in a tar-black fog .
My stomach dropped. This wasn’t the cadre commando team, and they were attacking too soon. I got on the comms with Li’kele “HALT, HALT, HALT! We need to stop the exercise!”
I got a crackle on the comms. Then Li’kele’s voice came in that terrifyingly calm voice used to keep control of a combat operation. “I can’t get a signal out, I need a report on the situation.”
Instead of trying to explain I sent her my video feed as I jumped down from the ramparts and started to sprint for Klein. I needed to get him out of here , but I hadn’t had time to prime my augments. I started the cold power cycle as I cursed myself for letting my guard down.
I was already too late . I watched as our own counter-battery laser weapons were used against us, acting as the triggers for each smoke grenade engulfing Klein’s team right in front of me, their signal dropping right out. I got a response from Li’kele that alleviated at least some of my terror. “Dammit! It’s the 171 st Raiders from the wargames, they mus-”
And then I was enveloped in darkness and static. The smoke was so thick I could only see a few paces away in all spectrums. I tried my internal radio and….
Nothing. I was alone and with nothing to guide me, and then I saw to the right of me a few weak beams of red, and then a ball of light of a simulated explosion. I let my gnawing panic subside and walked their way with a observers flag in my hand. I was practically on top of them before I saw the combat selection team that had been ‘killed’, their frowning faces and hands up as they sat there grumbling.
The Raiders appeared soon after. A four woman squad. Two Helkam, a Rakiri, and a Shil’vati hefting a large antiquated grenade launcher. I called out “Do you have a way to call a emergency stop to the battle?”
The squad leader responded. “Did someone get seriously injured? I can fire off a flare and our medic teams will be here to extract them.”
“No! This is Selection, we aren’t supposed to be part of the Wargames.” I argued, but she waved me off.
“We got orders to assault the base up here. Trust me, our commander is mighty pissed at getting tasked with a frontal assault on the youngest and toughest the Imperium has to offer, with adding insult to injury if we lose to kids. That’s why we broke out the smoke screen.”
“One of the Selection members is the first of their species. Higher ups want them monitored at all times,” I partly lied.
The gears whirred and the team lead brought her weapon up again, eyes a little wider. “ Blue Eyes is here? Shit, girls ready up and head on a swivel!”
The team reformed in a circle facing outwards, a tactic specifically meant for ambushes and roach suicide drones. I stood there, confused. “Blue eyes?”
The team lead started to move into the smoke again, but explained, her eyes darting around. “Yeah, the freaky creature in the mask, toyed with an unmanned Exo before annihilating it with a shipcutter! A close quarters combat specialist with heavy armor and a real mean streak . You’re telling me they’re loose in a forest with enough concealment to sneak up on us and tear us to shreds? Ma’am the only ones in immediate danger are us. ”

Does anyone feel that EastEnders could easily of had or should have an established residential/family run Butchers shop as part of the community. Similarly to how Coronation Street was known for having.
The storylines & characters would write themselves: : Price increase of Meats : Flogging Knocked of Meats (particularly around Christmas & Easter) : Meats that have gone bad : Battle against Vegans (for humour) : British Meat/Halal meat. : Struggle of running a Butchers shop during recessions.

Hi I’m Lindsey, a Clairaudient and Claircognizant Medium.
I offer a variety of services, if you’re unsure of where to start or what type of reading would be the best fit for your situation feel free to send a chat!
Below is a list of the extensive services offered. 🤍
Unlimited Question Readings
🌸These are question based readings. You can ask as many questions as you’d like within your chosen time frame. For the timed readings, they do NOT have to be yes or no based.🌸
•One yes/no question-Free (Free one question is valid up to 10 hours after post, please send a chat with your name and question)
•15 minute unlimited question reading-$14
•30 minute unlimited question reading-$28
•One hour unlimited question reading -$50
Tarot or Oracle Readings
🌸Tarot/Oracle readings are done within 48 hours of payment. I’ll include a photo, full explanation, and advice in your reading.🌸
•3 Card Tarot or Oracle spread-$7
•6 Card Tarot or Oracle spread-$12
•9 Card Tarot or Oracle spread-$18
Medium Readings
🌸These readings are mainly used to connect to passed on loved ones/spirit guides. I do need a name, photo and for you to be present during your reading! These are more advanced than the unlimited question readings.🌸
•30 minute- $60
•60 minute- $80
Spell Work available, please send a chat for pricing. ALL spell work includes consultation and one free check up reading for your spell
Reviews can be found here
Reviews Part 2
Reviews Part 3
*Accepted forms of payment are Venmo, PayPal or Etsy

Hi I’m Lindsey, a Clairaudient and Claircognizant Medium.
I offer a variety of services, if you’re unsure of where to start or what type of reading would be the best fit for your situation feel free to send a chat!
Below is a list of the extensive services offered. 🤍
Unlimited Question Readings
🌸These are question based readings. You can ask as many questions as you’d like within your chosen time frame. For the timed readings, they do NOT have to be yes or no based.🌸
•One yes/no question-Free (Free one question is valid up to 10 hours after post, please send a chat with your name and question)
•15 minute unlimited question reading-$14
•30 minute unlimited question reading-$28
•One hour unlimited question reading -$50
Tarot or Oracle Readings
🌸Tarot/Oracle readings are done within 48 hours of payment. I’ll include a photo, full explanation, and advice in your reading.🌸
•3 Card Tarot or Oracle spread-$7
•6 Card Tarot or Oracle spread-$12
•9 Card Tarot or Oracle spread-$18
Medium Readings
🌸These readings are mainly used to connect to passed on loved ones/spirit guides. I do need a name, photo and for you to be present during your reading! These are more advanced than the unlimited question readings.🌸
•30 minute- $60
•60 minute- $80
Spell Work available, please send a chat for pricing. ALL spell work includes consultation and one free check up reading for your spell
Reviews can be found here
Reviews Part 2
Reviews Part 3
*Accepted forms of payment are Venmo, PayPal or Etsy

Hi all,
Just wanted to give you a heads up that I have a Limited Summer Collection release today, which includes my Wild Collection and some returning summer scents (and one new GC!). I am only able to do a limited amount of these (except the new GC) so when they sell out , that will be it! The Language of Flowers Collection, however, I will continue to restock indefinitely.
WILLOW WAXCRAFT SHOP
Here is the lineup!
AULD LANG SYNE Reminders of days gone by: strawberry jam filled breakfast pastries, wooden game tiles, pecan pie, and fields of dangerously sweet purple flowers.
ANIMAL ARMY A technicolor blend of ripe passion fruit pulp, pineapple juice, mango, coconut milk, sea salt and sour gummy candy with a faint whiff of ozone.
BIRDIE'S HOUSE Mama smelled like peaches. Bergamot, a steaming cup of green tea, peach nectar and osmanthus, grounded with secrets hidden in a warm, dusty attic.
THE LAST MEN They’re already extinct. They just don’t want to admit it. Burning embers, charred resins, smoked lavender, sage, gunpowder, and birch leaf.
OUT OF THE DEEP WOODS Take the first step into a new world, with new friends to guide the way: prickly pear, Calypso orchid, juniper berry, fresh cucumber, warm earth, evergreens.
A VERY SPECIAL BOY Part deer. Part boy. All hope. His story begins with warm maple wood and leaves, a worn flannel shirt, caramel apples, and maple syrup, on a soft bed of ambrette seed musk.
YOU ARE WELCOME HERE A safe haven from the crumbling world outside: Lush greenery, golden mimosa, lime blossom, petitgrain, tomato leaf, and carrot seed.
RAINBOW SPRINKLES In the backyard, leaping through the sprinkler, watching rainbows shimmer through the cold sweetwater. Wild strawberries, green apple, and pear blossom grounded by wet grass, moss, and clover with a comforting whisper of line dried linens.
WATERFALL HIKE A cool forest walk to a hidden woodland waterfall- crushed fir needle, cedar, flowing water, with the dark berry and green leaf shading of Siberian Rhododendron.
WAVE POOL ‘92 Let go and let the waves carry you to the deep end of the perfect, carefree summer day- pool water, salty skin and sunscreen, soft baked pretzels, cotton candy, and waffle cones piled high with vanilla soft serve.
CITY BLOCK PARTY Step outside, meet the neighbors. Cola on the front steps, gas exhaust and motor oil, green peeking through sidewalk cracks, and the ozonic rumble of an approaching rainstorm.
TROUBLE IN PARADISE (ORIGINALLY FALLOWEEN, SWITCHING TO SUMMER!) You have the map to the hidden rainforest ruins, where X marks the location of a rare, sparkling emerald. But shady jewel thieves are hot on your trail! Who will find the treasure first? A sudden tropical rainstorm, frozen pineapple, Ginger Co2, bergamot, bittersweet tamarind, and glowing green musk.
BEYOND THE INVISIBLE (NEW GENERAL CATALOG) Golden sandalwood, benzoin resin, oud, rose, soft patchouli musk, and a delicate, misty veil of rain.
I also have a new Volume in The Library of Scent! This Volume can be found in the 478 nonfiction section of the library on June 1st, under the subject heading:
LATIN patchouli, rosemary, basil, dried fruit, pomegranate, olive, cinnamon, incense, rose
I took Latin for 3 years in high school (can't remember much except licetne mihi ire ad latrinam si placet :) This scent is inspired by materials that ancient Romans may have used for perfume (per fumum= through smoke). Starting June 1st through June 30th, use code LATIN for $4.50 off your purchase of $40.00+

My 2007 Honda CR-V with over 190k miles is coming to an end. I think it’s the auto repair shops fault, but that’s another story. My mom gifted me this car when I moved to a different state. This will be my first car purchase and I already feel overwhelmed.
My wife and I have 2 kids, 2 1/2 and 1 year old. We were talking about if we want to have a 3rd kid but still undecided. We recently moved to a new house and pay day care for 2 kids. I make about $80k plus bonuses. My wife makes about $38k but her salary pretty pays for the kid’s day care, she’s a teacher and wants to work.
I’m looking to get a new, reliable and long lasting small SUV. I’m thinking of getting another CR-V, but also considering an HR-V because it’s cheaper. Is the HR-V as reliable as a CR-V, but just smaller? My brother told me to check out the KIA Telluride or Hyundai Palisade because of the 3rd row and price. I don’t really trust Kia’s or Hyundai’s anymore, someone attempted to steal wife’s Kia. I also read that these cars have a life span of about 100k miles. I can be convinced otherwise to give Kias another chance. I’ve also been checking out Toyota RAV 4’s.
Are there any other small SUV’s that is recommended? Should I also consider a certified preowned car? Looking to spend maybe $40k.
Edit: I guess my wife’s vision board growing up said no mini vans.

Hi everyone,
I hope you're all doing well. I’m an international student in my 30s at Leeds Beckett University, having recently completed my MBA course. As I await my graduation this July, I am urgently seeking both part-time and full-time job opportunities in Leeds.
Throughout my studies, I have been on the lookout for part-time jobs but, unfortunately, haven't had much success. Now, with my student accommodation lease expiring in less than a month, I am in a tight spot financially and urgently need to find a new place to live and a job to support myself.
I am open to any part-time positions, particularly in restaurants or retail, even though my prior experience lies primarily in marketing for tech companies and retail sales in my home country during university. Despite my efforts to apply online and visiting local shops asking for any vacancies, I have not been successful, likely due to my limited experience in the hospitality sector. However, I am honest about my background and eager to learn new skills.
This is a call for help – I am desperate to earn some cash as soon as possible. If anyone knows of any job opportunities or needs help with tasks like dog walking, please get in touch with me. I am more than willing to share my CV and LinkedIn profile upon request.
Thank you so much for your time and consideration.