Amoxicillin glass of wine
Getting hammered while getting slim
2013.01.12 00:16 stupidrobots Getting hammered while getting slim
A subreddit devoted to the careful craft of the low-carb drunk. Too many sugary cocktails and carb-laden beer finding their way to your gut, ass, and thighs? We've got the cure for you! Self promotion of any non-alcohol related keto products is considered SPAM On this sub and you will be banned without further question.
2013.12.28 00:01 Fax Machines
Bill Cosby explains his allegations with us over a glass of wine
2008.03.14 00:30 Beer
A subreddit to discuss your favorite beers and breweries, and share beer related articles. Quality content encouraged. /beer discord server: https://discord.gg/MvMVFA4Vu3
2024.06.01 16:12 Direct_Ad_89 Really big win!!!
As I recently posted, I’m now 6 days sober. Last night my abusive ex boyfriend was contacting my friends and family, and posting all over social media about me, saying that I was the abuser. Well, first thought was I deserve a glass of wine. I stood at the kitchen island and contemplated it for far longer than I’d care to admit. But instead, I poured myself some cherry juice, sat down on my laptop, and started a book that I’m going to write. The diary of a 21 year old trying to un-fuck her life. Cheers (of cherry juice) to being sober and celibate, and healthy healing!
Ps. The lack of shame I feel this morning is the best part. Woke up and physically gave myself a pat on the back.
Thank you everyone for your support, I read through the comments on my other post and it made me feel so motivated.
submitted by Direct_Ad_89 to stopdrinking [link] [comments]
Ps. The lack of shame I feel this morning is the best part. Woke up and physically gave myself a pat on the back.
Thank you everyone for your support, I read through the comments on my other post and it made me feel so motivated.
2024.06.01 16:07 Jkiiid Anyone attend Eataly Flatiron Pizza class?
Plan on taking my wife to this class. Anyone have any insight if it's worth it? I see they serve glass of wine or beer. Is that only 1 each?
submitted by Jkiiid to FoodNYC [link] [comments]
2024.06.01 16:03 Alternative_Bet_191 TIFU by failing to bring myself to a Ethanol Induced Coma
The day it all happened I was in a bar. It was 11.30am, and it was a Tuesday. I'd left my girlfriend and went for a quick drink, or so I'd told her. I'd been feeling down a lot recently. She was always busy with her friends or work, and never had time for me. I'm not trying to excuse my actions, but I needed something to make myself feel good. I had planned on going home early, but that was before I saw her. She was sitting alone at the end of the bar, sipping her white wine. We started talking and she made me laugh. I can't remember how long we were talking, but it seemed like ages. At the time, I'd forgotten about the rest of the world, I was so caught up in our conversation.
Then it happened.
All of a sudden, the bartender dropped a glass, shattering it across the floor. "Watch it!" he shouted at a customer, who'd accidentally bumped into him. Then, he threw the towel he'd been holding onto the counter, and went over to the customer and punched him in the face. It all happened so quickly, I didn't have time to react. The customer stood up, his nose bleeding. He walked towards the bartender and hit him back, knocking him into the wall. A full on fight ensued, as two other men from the crowd joined in. They were throwing punches, and pushing each other to the ground.
The woman I'd been talking to looked scared, and started backing away from the bar.
"What the hell?" she said, her voice wavering.
I stood up, and held her hand. "Come on, let's get out of here."
I led her out of the bar and back to the street. She had a look of terror on her face. I had to calm her down, she looked like she was going to have a panic attack.
"It's ok, I'm here." I told her. "Are you okay?"
She took a deep breath and nodded.
"What was that all about?" she asked.
I shrugged. "I have no idea. Maybe it's stress or something. There's a lot of that going around right now."
Just then, the sound of sirens rang through the air. People were walking quickly by, looking at their phones, trying to find out what was happening. We followed the crowd and ended up in front of a large electronics store. It was closed.
"Do you have your phone?" she asked me.
I checked my pockets, but it wasn't there. I'd left it at the bar.
"Damn, no. I forgot it."
"Shit." she said, and pulled out her own.
The screen was flashing and beeping, and the words "Emergency Broadcast" were displayed.
"Oh no." she said, her face turning white.
I peered over her shoulder at the screen. It read:
Attention citizens. There has been a breach in the security at the local military base. If you see anyone acting strangely or displaying symptoms of the following, report it to the authorities immediately.
Symptoms:
"I have no idea." she replied, her voice shaking.
Suddenly, a scream came from the end of the street. I turned and saw a man running down the sidewalk. He was covered in blood, and screaming at the top of his lungs. A group of people was following him, chasing after him.
"Stay back!" he yelled. "It's not safe! They're coming!"
He ran around a corner and the crowd disappeared.
"He said they're coming. Who's coming?" asked the woman.
"I have no idea. We need to get to the police or someone to help us. Let's get somewhere secure."
We started walking towards the police station when a large group of people appeared around the corner, running towards us. They were screaming and shouting. They were completely out of their minds. The street was filled with men and women, young and old. Some were in bloody clothes, while others were completely naked.
"Run!" the woman screamed.
I grabbed her arm and we both ran for cover. We rounded the corner and started sprinting down the street, dodging past people and cars. Everything was a blur as we ran for our lives. After what felt like an eternity, we reached the police station. The front door was open and a small group of people were running inside. We followed them inside and found ourselves in a crowded lobby. The officer at the desk was yelling into the phone.
"Yes! There's rioting! Send backup now!"
Another officer came out from behind the desk and shouted over the chaos.
"Everyone needs to calm down! The military is sending a convoy to help us secure the city! Just hold tight!"
But people weren't listening. They continued to yell and scream, fighting against each other to get out of the station. I noticed a few people had bruises and cuts from the crowd.
I felt someone grab my arm. It was the woman I'd been with. She looked at me and shook her head.
"I'm scared." she said, her voice trembling.
Then she fell to the ground, crying. I reached down and held her in my arms.
"It's gonna be alright. I'm here. I won't let anything happen to you."
People were still pushing and shoving their way towards the exit, oblivious to us. I held onto her tightly, not wanting to lose her in the chaos. The sirens outside got louder, until they stopped altogether. I looked through the windows and saw a convoy of military vehicles pull up outside. Soldiers rushed into the station, their guns drawn.
They began shouting orders to the crowd.
"Calm the fuck down! Everyone calm down and leave through the rear entrance! This is not a request, this is an order! Anyone caught rioting or acting violently will be shot on sight! Go through the back, through the alleys, to the designated safe area! No more resistance, this is not a threat, this is a fact, now move, move, move!"
The crowd slowly filed out of the station, and we joined them.
My ears were ringing from the sirens and gunshots, but I did my best to keep moving. There were so many people, and we were forced to keep close together as the crowd funneled down a narrow alleyway. The city was in chaos. Smoke rose from buildings and car alarms blared. Gunshots and screams were everywhere.
We followed the throng of people down the alley until they reached a roadblock.
"This is as far as we can go." a soldier said. "Follow the crowd down this way and find a shelter. Don't wander around on your own, stay in groups if you can. Stay safe."
I looked at the woman and nodded. "C'mon, let's keep moving."
The crowd parted and we pushed through to the front. We soon found ourselves on a road full of burnt out cars and debris. The roadblock was full of soldiers, who directed us towards a football stadium.
The smell of smoke hung in the air as we walked through the streets. I wondered what could've started it all, and why it had ended so quickly.
When we reached the stadium it was full of people, all looking for their loved ones. I scanned the faces, hoping to see my girlfriend. I looked back towards the entrance and saw an old man and woman being helped down from a trolley bus. The lady had a bandage around her head, and her husband had blood on his face. The lady was clutching a broken arm. They hobbled their way slowly to a makeshift aid station. A soldier guided them towards the rest of the wounded.
"Grandma! Grandpa!" a small girl cried out and ran to them. She threw her arms around the woman and hugged her tightly.
A feeling of relief rushed over me, I was so happy they were alive. But at the same time, I couldn't help but think about my own girlfriend. Where was she?
People were sitting on the ground, crying. Others, stood, shell-shocked, looking around. A few people were trying to make small talk, despite everything. They were looking for ways to take their minds off the situation, to cope.
A bus was parked in the middle of the park and there were lines of people waiting in front of it.
"Are you hungry? Do you have any food?" a woman asked me, pushing her child in front of me.
"No, sorry, I don't," I replied, surprised at the desperation in her voice. "I don't have anything."
I looked at the queue, wondering if that was where the line was to get some free food. A woman in a white apron behind a stand marked "First Aid" tried to calm the crowd, raising her voice above the din.
"Everyone, please! Settle down, the military will have more help coming shortly! But for now we're out of supplies and the situation will only worsen if you don't control yourselves!"
Just then, another truck pulled up on the edge of the field. It had a green cross painted on the side of it and the word "Medicine" on the doors. My heart swelled with hope as several officers jumped out, carrying duffel bags of equipment, and headed straight to the medical tent.
"It's the supplies, everyone! It's the supplies they promised us!" someone in the back yelled.
The crowd began pushing and shoving each other again, and the woman and her kid that had spoken to me before was lost in the wave of people running forward, trying to get to the medicine. I tried to find them, to help, but I couldn't see them. There were so many people crowding around the truck, scrambling for the parcels of food and water and blankets that had spilled out.
I looked around at the field and at all the frightened and desperate people. Some were hurt and injured. Others were shell-shocked. Children were crying and their parents didn't know how to comfort them.
I knew there had been an outbreak of some sort, that the military had been evacuating the city. What I didn't understand is why the city had come to such a state of disarray in just one day.
A gunshot rang out and people screamed. It was followed by another, then several more. I ducked and covered my head. People around me started running, but I could see them lying on the ground. More gunshots and screams filled the air. Then, there was an eerie silence.
I stood up and slowly turned around, taking in the carnage. Bodies littered the ground, some missing limbs. I stepped carefully over the lifeless bodies of the fallen and made my way towards the exit of the stadium.
As I neared the gate I saw a group of soldiers guarding it. One was checking a man for weapons while another was wrapping a tourniquet around his leg. The other three were standing by a stack of rifles, preparing to re-load. I looked closer at the man with the bandaged leg and recognized him as the soldier that was on the news not long ago, telling us that the rioters had been dealt with and it was now safe to return to our homes. He had also assured us that the city would get back to normal soon.
"Clear!" the other soldier yelled, checking his weapon before handing it back to its owner. The soldier limped out the gate and was gone.
I tried to run, but my feet felt heavy and sluggish. The soldiers were getting closer, their guns drawn. They were shouting at me, their voices faint in my ears.
I turned to try and flee when a shot rang out and pain exploded in the back of my head.
submitted by Alternative_Bet_191 to copypasta [link] [comments]
Then it happened.
All of a sudden, the bartender dropped a glass, shattering it across the floor. "Watch it!" he shouted at a customer, who'd accidentally bumped into him. Then, he threw the towel he'd been holding onto the counter, and went over to the customer and punched him in the face. It all happened so quickly, I didn't have time to react. The customer stood up, his nose bleeding. He walked towards the bartender and hit him back, knocking him into the wall. A full on fight ensued, as two other men from the crowd joined in. They were throwing punches, and pushing each other to the ground.
The woman I'd been talking to looked scared, and started backing away from the bar.
"What the hell?" she said, her voice wavering.
I stood up, and held her hand. "Come on, let's get out of here."
I led her out of the bar and back to the street. She had a look of terror on her face. I had to calm her down, she looked like she was going to have a panic attack.
"It's ok, I'm here." I told her. "Are you okay?"
She took a deep breath and nodded.
"What was that all about?" she asked.
I shrugged. "I have no idea. Maybe it's stress or something. There's a lot of that going around right now."
Just then, the sound of sirens rang through the air. People were walking quickly by, looking at their phones, trying to find out what was happening. We followed the crowd and ended up in front of a large electronics store. It was closed.
"Do you have your phone?" she asked me.
I checked my pockets, but it wasn't there. I'd left it at the bar.
"Damn, no. I forgot it."
"Shit." she said, and pulled out her own.
The screen was flashing and beeping, and the words "Emergency Broadcast" were displayed.
"Oh no." she said, her face turning white.
I peered over her shoulder at the screen. It read:
Attention citizens. There has been a breach in the security at the local military base. If you see anyone acting strangely or displaying symptoms of the following, report it to the authorities immediately.
Symptoms:
- Bleeding or bruising from the mouth and nose
- Loss of consciousness
- Increased heart rate
- Increased body temperature
- Hallucinations
- Involuntary movement
"I have no idea." she replied, her voice shaking.
Suddenly, a scream came from the end of the street. I turned and saw a man running down the sidewalk. He was covered in blood, and screaming at the top of his lungs. A group of people was following him, chasing after him.
"Stay back!" he yelled. "It's not safe! They're coming!"
He ran around a corner and the crowd disappeared.
"He said they're coming. Who's coming?" asked the woman.
"I have no idea. We need to get to the police or someone to help us. Let's get somewhere secure."
We started walking towards the police station when a large group of people appeared around the corner, running towards us. They were screaming and shouting. They were completely out of their minds. The street was filled with men and women, young and old. Some were in bloody clothes, while others were completely naked.
"Run!" the woman screamed.
I grabbed her arm and we both ran for cover. We rounded the corner and started sprinting down the street, dodging past people and cars. Everything was a blur as we ran for our lives. After what felt like an eternity, we reached the police station. The front door was open and a small group of people were running inside. We followed them inside and found ourselves in a crowded lobby. The officer at the desk was yelling into the phone.
"Yes! There's rioting! Send backup now!"
Another officer came out from behind the desk and shouted over the chaos.
"Everyone needs to calm down! The military is sending a convoy to help us secure the city! Just hold tight!"
But people weren't listening. They continued to yell and scream, fighting against each other to get out of the station. I noticed a few people had bruises and cuts from the crowd.
I felt someone grab my arm. It was the woman I'd been with. She looked at me and shook her head.
"I'm scared." she said, her voice trembling.
Then she fell to the ground, crying. I reached down and held her in my arms.
"It's gonna be alright. I'm here. I won't let anything happen to you."
People were still pushing and shoving their way towards the exit, oblivious to us. I held onto her tightly, not wanting to lose her in the chaos. The sirens outside got louder, until they stopped altogether. I looked through the windows and saw a convoy of military vehicles pull up outside. Soldiers rushed into the station, their guns drawn.
They began shouting orders to the crowd.
"Calm the fuck down! Everyone calm down and leave through the rear entrance! This is not a request, this is an order! Anyone caught rioting or acting violently will be shot on sight! Go through the back, through the alleys, to the designated safe area! No more resistance, this is not a threat, this is a fact, now move, move, move!"
The crowd slowly filed out of the station, and we joined them.
My ears were ringing from the sirens and gunshots, but I did my best to keep moving. There were so many people, and we were forced to keep close together as the crowd funneled down a narrow alleyway. The city was in chaos. Smoke rose from buildings and car alarms blared. Gunshots and screams were everywhere.
We followed the throng of people down the alley until they reached a roadblock.
"This is as far as we can go." a soldier said. "Follow the crowd down this way and find a shelter. Don't wander around on your own, stay in groups if you can. Stay safe."
I looked at the woman and nodded. "C'mon, let's keep moving."
The crowd parted and we pushed through to the front. We soon found ourselves on a road full of burnt out cars and debris. The roadblock was full of soldiers, who directed us towards a football stadium.
The smell of smoke hung in the air as we walked through the streets. I wondered what could've started it all, and why it had ended so quickly.
When we reached the stadium it was full of people, all looking for their loved ones. I scanned the faces, hoping to see my girlfriend. I looked back towards the entrance and saw an old man and woman being helped down from a trolley bus. The lady had a bandage around her head, and her husband had blood on his face. The lady was clutching a broken arm. They hobbled their way slowly to a makeshift aid station. A soldier guided them towards the rest of the wounded.
"Grandma! Grandpa!" a small girl cried out and ran to them. She threw her arms around the woman and hugged her tightly.
A feeling of relief rushed over me, I was so happy they were alive. But at the same time, I couldn't help but think about my own girlfriend. Where was she?
People were sitting on the ground, crying. Others, stood, shell-shocked, looking around. A few people were trying to make small talk, despite everything. They were looking for ways to take their minds off the situation, to cope.
A bus was parked in the middle of the park and there were lines of people waiting in front of it.
"Are you hungry? Do you have any food?" a woman asked me, pushing her child in front of me.
"No, sorry, I don't," I replied, surprised at the desperation in her voice. "I don't have anything."
I looked at the queue, wondering if that was where the line was to get some free food. A woman in a white apron behind a stand marked "First Aid" tried to calm the crowd, raising her voice above the din.
"Everyone, please! Settle down, the military will have more help coming shortly! But for now we're out of supplies and the situation will only worsen if you don't control yourselves!"
Just then, another truck pulled up on the edge of the field. It had a green cross painted on the side of it and the word "Medicine" on the doors. My heart swelled with hope as several officers jumped out, carrying duffel bags of equipment, and headed straight to the medical tent.
"It's the supplies, everyone! It's the supplies they promised us!" someone in the back yelled.
The crowd began pushing and shoving each other again, and the woman and her kid that had spoken to me before was lost in the wave of people running forward, trying to get to the medicine. I tried to find them, to help, but I couldn't see them. There were so many people crowding around the truck, scrambling for the parcels of food and water and blankets that had spilled out.
I looked around at the field and at all the frightened and desperate people. Some were hurt and injured. Others were shell-shocked. Children were crying and their parents didn't know how to comfort them.
I knew there had been an outbreak of some sort, that the military had been evacuating the city. What I didn't understand is why the city had come to such a state of disarray in just one day.
A gunshot rang out and people screamed. It was followed by another, then several more. I ducked and covered my head. People around me started running, but I could see them lying on the ground. More gunshots and screams filled the air. Then, there was an eerie silence.
I stood up and slowly turned around, taking in the carnage. Bodies littered the ground, some missing limbs. I stepped carefully over the lifeless bodies of the fallen and made my way towards the exit of the stadium.
As I neared the gate I saw a group of soldiers guarding it. One was checking a man for weapons while another was wrapping a tourniquet around his leg. The other three were standing by a stack of rifles, preparing to re-load. I looked closer at the man with the bandaged leg and recognized him as the soldier that was on the news not long ago, telling us that the rioters had been dealt with and it was now safe to return to our homes. He had also assured us that the city would get back to normal soon.
"Clear!" the other soldier yelled, checking his weapon before handing it back to its owner. The soldier limped out the gate and was gone.
I tried to run, but my feet felt heavy and sluggish. The soldiers were getting closer, their guns drawn. They were shouting at me, their voices faint in my ears.
I turned to try and flee when a shot rang out and pain exploded in the back of my head.
- End -
2024.06.01 15:31 IndependenceUpset670 Moving dose 1 day later?
Hey! I’m on my first week…twice a week doses of 0.35mg on Tuesday and Friday. Next week increase to 0.5mg.
Next Friday I’ll be attending a winemaker dinner (my husband and are really into wine). This week I’ve had 1-2 glasses of wine once or twice without much consequence.
I’m imagining next Friday I may have 2-3 glasses. Thinking about pushing my Friday injection to Saturday so the arms don’t be so fresh in my system.
Anyone else on twice weekly injections who have pushed one by a day?
Thanks!!!
submitted by IndependenceUpset670 to Semaglutide [link] [comments]
Next Friday I’ll be attending a winemaker dinner (my husband and are really into wine). This week I’ve had 1-2 glasses of wine once or twice without much consequence.
I’m imagining next Friday I may have 2-3 glasses. Thinking about pushing my Friday injection to Saturday so the arms don’t be so fresh in my system.
Anyone else on twice weekly injections who have pushed one by a day?
Thanks!!!
2024.06.01 15:01 PoketSof How can I be as social as when I’m drunk?
When I get drunk, people say I’m really funny (some people say that I’m too noisy, but generally I get a lot of people say that I’m funny and entertaining). When I’m sober, I barely talk and that really infuriates me. I want to be the social guy that people see when I’m down 6 glasses of red wine.
submitted by PoketSof to socialskills [link] [comments]
2024.06.01 13:47 Worried_Appeal_2390 Cannot drink alcohol anymore
Hi I’m currently 7 months postpartum and my pediatrician said that it’s okay for me to drink a glass of wine. I’ve noticed that I haven’t been able to digest alcohol like I used to. Every time I even have a few sips my stomach hurts or I have other digestive issues. WTH has anyone had this issue? Does it eventually get better ? I’m totally cool with never drinking again but damn I thought I would be able to enjoy a single drink.
submitted by Worried_Appeal_2390 to Mommit [link] [comments]
2024.06.01 12:07 dumdum1977 So happy
This really does work! I’ve just finished week 3 of 0.25 and about to take my fourth, and have lost 13lb! SW 243 CW 230 GW 150. I know this is not a healthy weight loss, and a lot is probably water weight, but I’ve never been able to lose weight but I have no willpower. I haven’t needed it with this except to focus on choices being healthier. I’m a drinker, easily a bottle of wine a night. And the last week or so, If ive bothered to pour a glass of wine it’s mostly still there when I go to bed. This is truly amazing. I know this won’t be the case with everyone. I was convinced it wouldnt work for me and I’m just so happy!
submitted by dumdum1977 to WegovyWeightLoss [link] [comments]
2024.06.01 09:58 yonaaaaaa weed as a cure?
I want to start off by saying i'm not a hardcore smoker. It's more like the weekly glass of wine on a Friday evening for me.
However i did notice something over the past few months. Every morning i after i smoke i seem to have normal bowel movement and can go to the toilet without feeling like i'm dying of pain.
Now i'm wondering if anyone else experiences this? Or could this just be a coincidence? I don't want to test my luck and smoke everyday just for the sake of a chill poo, because being high all the time doesn't sound appealing to me at all.
submitted by yonaaaaaa to ibs [link] [comments]
However i did notice something over the past few months. Every morning i after i smoke i seem to have normal bowel movement and can go to the toilet without feeling like i'm dying of pain.
Now i'm wondering if anyone else experiences this? Or could this just be a coincidence? I don't want to test my luck and smoke everyday just for the sake of a chill poo, because being high all the time doesn't sound appealing to me at all.
2024.06.01 08:44 Imaginary-Guidance-7 AITH for Making a joke about the amount of wine
Hi Reddit, I’ve read lots of post but first time posting I 29F an my partner 39M are spending the night in separate rooms. After what I thought was a great night spent with his parents. They live just a few miles from our house. We went to their house had a few beverages ending with wine. At one point he filled both his dads and my cup with wine. His dad had a smaller glass so his looked much fuller than mine so I made a small joke about how that’s how it is filling his up more. As my boyfriend often only fills a my drink a little laughs then fills it more. Anyways my BF mom said to measure going along with the joke (we were all laughing) so we did and we both accurately had four ounces. We actually went on to give him props for his accuracy. We then went home and as we approached our home he began talking about how I made him the bad guy and painted him in a bad light his parents were just playing along to not make it awkward. The main reason I feel this is not true is that his parents were the main part of this “measuring factor. Anyways we make it home as we wee arguing of took me a moment to get out of the car. I was driving, before I could get out he is in the garage and shuts the door. I leave for a near by parking lot I know will be empty. As I am sitting there bawling my eyes out he calls. Does not apologize but does ask where I am at. I told him I was coming home he then references my parents home and how they want me there and our home is not my home. I get home and our man door is locked so I begin beating on the door until he opens it. He shows more concerns if the door is dented from my knocks than me being upset. I locked myself in the bathroom for a few moments as my stomach took a turn for the worst. I got myself ready for bed then went to grab my comforter as it was in our room. I had to hit and beat on the door for several minutes. He finally opened the door and asked what my problem is. I said that he locked the door he then blamed me for the door being locked. Anyways aita for making a joke about the amount of wine poured.
submitted by Imaginary-Guidance-7 to AITAH [link] [comments]
2024.06.01 08:30 pnutbuttamilkshake my melasma journey - read on if you have the time!
 | hi everyone! i’m new to this thread and am also so very happy i’ve found it. everyone has their own journey & experience but i think we can all agree - melasma suuuuuucks. i know it’s another long one (you’ve been warned), but here’s my story: submitted by pnutbuttamilkshake to Melasmaskincare [link] [comments] i grew up completely in the sun - raised in a beach town, lived on a sailboat, surfed, free dove, played water polo, moved to hawai’i at 18, all of it. my skin always took to the sun well, i tanned easily and didn’t burn. i was pretty good about sunscreen but looking back could have been much better - never stressed or thought too much about it. then birth control came along, and that’s when it all started. never been one for bc, i’ve actually done my best to avoid it, but i had been “diagnosed” with endo and my hormones were a mess. in the last 3 years, i’ve been on 2 different pills and an IUD - needless to say, none of them felt right and im no longer on any. i started noticing my melasma after getting off my first pill (i was only on it for 3 months) and had no idea what it was or what to do. i spent some ridiculous money on facials & products my aesthetician recommended but nothing seemed to help. i then tried musley, being sold on the crazy results i saw all over the internet. however, being an active human in the heat, sun and ocean on a tropical island does not make it easy to have skin that is EXTREMELY sensitive to those very things - it just wasn’t working for me. the high chemical content was freaking me out a bit, plus i wasn’t seeing much of a difference. fast forward to moving off island to another sunny place in the world, melasma still raging. i tried another round of some expensive fancy facials a spa recommended with no change. i was buying all the brightening products & dark spot correctors i could find. then randomly researching one night (as i did often) i learned about the cosmelan peel. my jaw dropped to the FLOOR when i saw the price, but i think we all understand the lengths we’ll go to have clear skin! days later i was on the schedule. my experience with the peel was great and i do think it helped a ton, especially in the few weeks after. i would absolutely recommend it to anyone who’s thinking about it - feel free to ask questions! i’m currently still working through the “cosmelan 2” part (a tret mix you put on a few x a week) so technically my treatment isn’t over, but i’ve been using it sparingly (less than i probably should). i’ve had a bit of rebound, but id say over all its much better. my derm also recently prescribed me 4% hq which i’ve been on for almost 3 months now, but after reading so many stories on here, i’m thinking it’s time to try some new options. not to mention i turn into a tomato every time im in heat, sun or have a glass of wine! i just ordered the eucerin serum & night cream and am excited to give those a go! what’s the proper routine with those products? i’m a big fan of hyaluronic acid (i have naturally dry skin), vitamin c, a good moisturizer, and of course - sunscreen. i’d really love any recommendations on the above though, if anyone has products they swear by. trying to put together a good routine! i do understand the emphasis of “avoiding the sun” as much as possible but in all reality that is just not something that is doable with my lifestyle or something i am willing to give up. i’m an ocean baby at heart. i always do my best to wear hats and sunscreen though! this whole experience has been a lot both physically and emotionally. my heart goes out to all of you & anyone who feels these insecurities at any point of their lives. i can’t tell you enough how many times i’ve looked in the mirror and cried to myself. BUT all humans are beautiful in their own incredible ways and do your best to remember that there is so much more to you than what’s just on the outside! plus i know for a fact we all notice our own melasma much more than others do. so nice to see all the love & support that’s in this group, and thank you all for creating this safe space! photos 1&2 are pre cosmelan, 3 is right after and 4 is most recent - note photo lighting makes a difference! |
2024.06.01 06:24 foldoregomi Maggie’s Morning Misery
Maggie had spent most of her middle years in a town so small that the local diner had a dish named after her: “Maggie’s Morning Misery,” a concoction of overcooked eggs and undercooked toast. It was affectionate, though, in the way small towns could be simultaneously endearing and suffocating.
She lived alone, her kids flown out and making lives in big cities, and her cat Mr. Whiskers seemed to have adopted the personality of a decorative pillow, occasionally moving, but only when strictly necessary. One afternoon, with the TV blaring reruns of a show she hated enough to love, Maggie decided she needed something new—a project, a distraction, a spark.
Inspired by a vaguely remembered story of a man who turned his rantings into internet gold, Maggie figured she might as well pour her thoughts into the endless void of the internet. After fumbling with her old laptop (a begrudged purchase after her typewriter finally gave out), she found her way to Reddit.
Creating a channel seemed simple enough until it asked her for a name. She thought about it, sipped her lukewarm coffee, and typed in “Maggie’s Late Bloom,” because why not flower in your own damn time? Her first post was a story about Mr. Whiskers bringing home a mouse that was, miraculously, more dead than alive, titled “The Ineptitudes of an Urban Hunter.” She figured nobody would read it, but that didn’t matter. It was about yelling into the canyon and not caring about the echo.
To her surprise, the internet did what it does best—it echoed. Comments rolled in, a mix of cat lovers, fellow middle-agers rediscovering themselves, and a few young souls who found her bluntness refreshing. “It’s like my grandma got internet savvy and slightly edgy,” one comment read, which Maggie decided to take as a high compliment.
Nightly, she shared tales from her not-so-quiet life: the saga of a book club that was more wine club, her attempts at yoga leading to unexpected naps on the mat, and her ongoing battle with the concept of meditation. "How does one empty their mind when it's been accumulating junk for decades?" she mused online to the amusement of her followers.
Each post ended with a quirky sign-off, a trademark Maggie-ism, “Bloom late, but damn it, bloom!” Her channel became a watering hole for the quirky, the lonely, and the perpetually amused.
One evening, Maggie hosted a live Q&A, sipping her wine as she typed, chuckling at the absurdity of her new-found internet fame. A question popped up: “If you were to start all over, what would you change?” Maggie paused, the cursor blinking back at her like a challenging eye. She typed, “I’d tell everyone to get lost sooner and find myself quicker.”
Her screen lit up with digital applause, emojis clapping and raising glasses. Maggie leaned back, glanced at Mr. Whickers who had opened one eye as if to say, “Don’t let it go to your head,” and laughed.
As the nights rolled on, filled with the glow of her laptop screen and the occasional chime of notifications, Maggie’s world grew larger in the confines of her small living room. The town might still be small, but Maggie’s part of the internet was vast and wonderfully, hilariously alive.
submitted by foldoregomi to grittytruth [link] [comments]
She lived alone, her kids flown out and making lives in big cities, and her cat Mr. Whiskers seemed to have adopted the personality of a decorative pillow, occasionally moving, but only when strictly necessary. One afternoon, with the TV blaring reruns of a show she hated enough to love, Maggie decided she needed something new—a project, a distraction, a spark.
Inspired by a vaguely remembered story of a man who turned his rantings into internet gold, Maggie figured she might as well pour her thoughts into the endless void of the internet. After fumbling with her old laptop (a begrudged purchase after her typewriter finally gave out), she found her way to Reddit.
Creating a channel seemed simple enough until it asked her for a name. She thought about it, sipped her lukewarm coffee, and typed in “Maggie’s Late Bloom,” because why not flower in your own damn time? Her first post was a story about Mr. Whiskers bringing home a mouse that was, miraculously, more dead than alive, titled “The Ineptitudes of an Urban Hunter.” She figured nobody would read it, but that didn’t matter. It was about yelling into the canyon and not caring about the echo.
To her surprise, the internet did what it does best—it echoed. Comments rolled in, a mix of cat lovers, fellow middle-agers rediscovering themselves, and a few young souls who found her bluntness refreshing. “It’s like my grandma got internet savvy and slightly edgy,” one comment read, which Maggie decided to take as a high compliment.
Nightly, she shared tales from her not-so-quiet life: the saga of a book club that was more wine club, her attempts at yoga leading to unexpected naps on the mat, and her ongoing battle with the concept of meditation. "How does one empty their mind when it's been accumulating junk for decades?" she mused online to the amusement of her followers.
Each post ended with a quirky sign-off, a trademark Maggie-ism, “Bloom late, but damn it, bloom!” Her channel became a watering hole for the quirky, the lonely, and the perpetually amused.
One evening, Maggie hosted a live Q&A, sipping her wine as she typed, chuckling at the absurdity of her new-found internet fame. A question popped up: “If you were to start all over, what would you change?” Maggie paused, the cursor blinking back at her like a challenging eye. She typed, “I’d tell everyone to get lost sooner and find myself quicker.”
Her screen lit up with digital applause, emojis clapping and raising glasses. Maggie leaned back, glanced at Mr. Whickers who had opened one eye as if to say, “Don’t let it go to your head,” and laughed.
As the nights rolled on, filled with the glow of her laptop screen and the occasional chime of notifications, Maggie’s world grew larger in the confines of her small living room. The town might still be small, but Maggie’s part of the internet was vast and wonderfully, hilariously alive.
2024.06.01 06:15 throwaway4fem A simp to Ashley and her family. [Chapter 1]
My 1st time writting like this. No where near as good as the others here. But thought it would be fun to try! And now, the stor of a simp...
"It's not fair, mom. Why is Dad pushing that I have to do my own chores when Davey wants to help!!"
Ashley Smith stood in their suburban family's living room with her hand on her hip and the most adorable pout. She is a senior in high school this year and the most beautiful woman in the world, well, to me anyway. Allow me to introduce myself. I'm David Pousey. Same grade as Ashley, and hopelessly in love with her since 8th grade!
What started as a crush has really blossomed into true love. I'm just uh, waiting until that's reciprocated. But I can't rush something like this. Ashley is GORGEOUS. 5'10", long brunette hair, perfectly tan skin, and thin but with the most perfect breasts that draw stares and envy wherever she goes. I used to be tongue tied and have butterflies in my tummy from being in the same room with her. Well, I guess I still do. But I’m getting better!
There were times where I would be so nervous I couldn't speak.That was until I won her affection that fateful afternoon she "forgot" we had homework due:
I took my assigned seat in class 5 minutes before the bell rang. By some miracle I was assigned the seat directly behind Ashley. It was maddening to be so close, I could smell her perfume/scent. That alone would often have me close enough to the edge where I would run off and take a “bathroom break” after class. I somehow was able to get good grades by excess studying, despite spending most classes daydreaming about wedding bells in chapels. Mr. and Mrs. Ashley Smith has such a nice ring to it!
"Shit. I completely forgot the assignment was due today. I went over to Jason's last night and totally spaced". Ashley was talking to her best friend, Jessica, before class started.
"Yea, I bet you 'spaced', spaced those legs out real wide" Jessica said with a wink and a laugh.
Ashley giggled back. "Seriously! Miss Stevens is gonna totally flunk me. My dad is gonna kill me"
I mustered all the courage. This was my big shot. I had sat behind these 2 all year and never managed to make a peep. This was it. The moment that changed everything.
I stuttered out, "You, you, uh, um, oh excuse me, uh, you can have my h-homework..."
They both looked back at me, as if just noticing I was sitting there for the 1st time.
"Hi, h-hi, A-Ashley. You can um, you can take my essay. I actually have a good average in th-this class, so 1 assignment is no b-bother. Really".
Jessica's signature grin crept across her face. "Your just gonna give her your homework? Her name isn't even printed at the top, idiot".
Ashley just sat there taking me in. She looked at me after Jessica's question , waiting how I would answer. She had the most adorable furrowed brow.
"I, Oh, I, um, have it saved on my flashdrive h-here. I can run to the school library and update the names q-quick, um, you know, if you want me to?"
Jessica put her palm to her forehead and could no longer contain her contempt with a slight laugh and a groan, “Oh god… where do you find these guys, ash?"
Ashley's questioned look morphed into 1 of pure relief. "Aw stop it Jess! He's being sweet. That would be great, uh, Daniel, right?"
"It-It's um, uh, D-David."
"Oh right! That's it, Davey!
I cringed inwardly. I didn't like that variant of my name so much. Coming from her mouth it didn't sound so bad though.
Ahley looked at me with an expectant look. "Well, you know class is starting soon..."
Jessica leaned in. "Yea better scurry off, simp. The library is across the building."
There was no defending me from Jessica this time. Ashley just looked at me and gently nodded along.
And with that, I of course flung out of my seat and went to run to the library. Of course, in my flustered state, I tripped over Ashley's bookbag as I was leaving and tumbled to the floor. The whole class laughed, maybe Jessica the hardest, but not my Ashley. I looked up at her from my position on the floor, and she just smiled and shooed me off with her hand. But she did it with a smile and a nod. It may have been mixed with pity, but it made me feel like no matter what happens, no matter the humiliation, or sacrificing my own grade to help hers, it was all going to be okay. As long as Ashley was happy, it was all worth it!
And that day started our friendship. I was always at her beck and call. Somewhere along the way I even managed to suck up to her and blur the lines of our friendship, no, we weren't in a "relationship" exactly. Actually, pretty far from it unfortunately, from a classic boyfriend/girlfriend. But something else entirely. But if I play my cards right, she might start seeing me as boyfriend material, then maybe, even husband material...
"It's BULLSHIT!" Ashley blurted out.
I was ripped back to the present. Ashley argued with her mother in front of me.
"Language, young lady!"
Ashley's mom, Mrs. Smith, was another knockout. At 45, though her hair was lighter, she pretty much just looked like an older version of Ashley. She had gained a slight “fuller" look in her older years, but to me it was as if it pretty much only padded only the most desirable areas. It was very clear that I guess a large bust runs in the family. The whole family included them, their charming and confident father, Mr. Smith, and Ashley's sister, Liz, who was a freshman in our school. While Ashley and I were 18.
"You know how your father is, dear. He's just old fashioned. He grew up doing his chores, and now he wants you to build character by doing them yourself."
"Building character, Mom? Seriously?" Ashley and her mom would sometimes get into small arguments like this, but it was never serious. They had a playful, sisterly energy. But I never knew what to do when I was over during one. When I felt weird or awkward, I found the safest bet was to just stand off to the side with my eyes down until I was called.
"Plus, you KNOW Davey loves this shit. You should see him when me and Jess eat lunch at the cafeteria! He jumps as soon as Jess snaps her fingers and Davey throws everything out. The practically sweeps up our crumbs! We don't even have to lift a finger! It’s awesome. Plus he loves it!"
My therapist says I'm a people pleaser. I'm working on it.
“He does not ‘love’ it, young lady! The poor thing is scared half to death of your little partner in crime. He’d probably eat your trash if Jessica gave him a stern look!”
“No, it’s true Mom. You love cleaning and shit, right, Davey?” Ashley looked over at me expectantly.
I started to mumble out a response of “Er, well, I love being helpful to-“
"And he's so good at it too!" Ashley cut in, now addressing her mother. I guess my time for contribution was over. "You saw how he got that stain out of your blouse!"
Mrs. Smith addressed me for the 1st time, "Oh, I have to thank you for that Davey! Honestly wine on a white blouse like that! I thought it was destined for the trash! But all it needed was 40 minutes of being locked in the laundry room with you, and you showed that stain who's boss!"
"See! What's the point of me doing some stupid chores if Davey can do it anyway, and I'm no good with that maid stuff anyway!"
I could tell Ashley was winning this arguement. But I wasn't thrilled about trying to be helpful for her referred to as "maid stuff".
"Oh alright", Mrs. Smith relented. "But don't tell your father! Have Davey HELP you with picking up your room. And I do mean HELP. I don't want to have the poor thing on his hands and knees in there while you kick your feet up!"
"Yayyyy, yes Mom! I promise!" She ran over and gave her a quick hug. It was a sweet moment. I usually keep my eyes down, but looked up just in time to see them embrace. As they hugged I saw the slight shifting in their breasts as they smooshed together in their hug. I shifted in place as my small erection pushed up against my bikini brief underwear.
"Thanks Mom!" Ashley walked toward the stairs as she called over her shoulder "Come, Davey!"
Almost as if a trance I went to follow her upstairs at her command when Mrs. Smith called me back. She was now sitting on her expansive sofa with her feet up and sipping a glass of wine.
"Davey, make sure my little brat of a daughter actually helps you this time! I'm not trying to raise some slob!" she said with a smile.
"Oh- oh,, um, yes, Ma'am. I-I'll be sure to um, well, yes Ma'am, Miss Smith, Ma'am.
Mrs. Smith chuckled, mostly to herself.
"Such a sweet boy... you know between you and me there's a few more items that need tending to in the laundry room. Don't tell Mr. Smith, but it would be great if I had someone to really put some effort and elbow grease into cleaning those more annoying stains. Nothing major; just some of Liz's soccer shorts, grass stains, Mr. smith has some stains on his underwear I’d rather not touch, oh!, and there was some smudge on one of my tops, not sure what. And seeing as you are here and really you have quite a talent for these domestic things. Honestly, you're going to make some nice man a very nice housewife someday!" Mrs. Smith said with a hearty laugh.
I played along and gave a slight laugh at my expense. "Yes, of course, Mrs. Smith I'll um, I of course can um, help, in any way".
I was hoping to get back home at a normal hour tonight. My parents both work long and late hours, so they are never home, or are sleeping in their bedroom, so they won't notice my absence. But since doing the majority of Ashley's homework, mine has been getting a little neglected. And the thought of getting a decent night's sleep sounded soooo nice. I never realized how much being at someone's constant beck and call would drain me. Oh well, I guess I'll be scrubbing away in the Smith family laundry room instead!
"Such a sweet, sweet boy" Mrs. Smith said as she sat and looked at me shaking her head. It was almost a mix of pity, disbelief and amusement. "Okay, off you go now! I don't need Ash getting mad at me that I kept her little loverboy all to myself", and with that she smiled and looked away, looking to see what was on tv. She was done with me for now.
I scurried upstairs nervous I had spent too long downstairs and Ashley would be upset with me.
submitted by throwaway4fem to cuck_femdom_tales [link] [comments]
"It's not fair, mom. Why is Dad pushing that I have to do my own chores when Davey wants to help!!"
Ashley Smith stood in their suburban family's living room with her hand on her hip and the most adorable pout. She is a senior in high school this year and the most beautiful woman in the world, well, to me anyway. Allow me to introduce myself. I'm David Pousey. Same grade as Ashley, and hopelessly in love with her since 8th grade!
What started as a crush has really blossomed into true love. I'm just uh, waiting until that's reciprocated. But I can't rush something like this. Ashley is GORGEOUS. 5'10", long brunette hair, perfectly tan skin, and thin but with the most perfect breasts that draw stares and envy wherever she goes. I used to be tongue tied and have butterflies in my tummy from being in the same room with her. Well, I guess I still do. But I’m getting better!
There were times where I would be so nervous I couldn't speak.That was until I won her affection that fateful afternoon she "forgot" we had homework due:
I took my assigned seat in class 5 minutes before the bell rang. By some miracle I was assigned the seat directly behind Ashley. It was maddening to be so close, I could smell her perfume/scent. That alone would often have me close enough to the edge where I would run off and take a “bathroom break” after class. I somehow was able to get good grades by excess studying, despite spending most classes daydreaming about wedding bells in chapels. Mr. and Mrs. Ashley Smith has such a nice ring to it!
"Shit. I completely forgot the assignment was due today. I went over to Jason's last night and totally spaced". Ashley was talking to her best friend, Jessica, before class started.
"Yea, I bet you 'spaced', spaced those legs out real wide" Jessica said with a wink and a laugh.
Ashley giggled back. "Seriously! Miss Stevens is gonna totally flunk me. My dad is gonna kill me"
I mustered all the courage. This was my big shot. I had sat behind these 2 all year and never managed to make a peep. This was it. The moment that changed everything.
I stuttered out, "You, you, uh, um, oh excuse me, uh, you can have my h-homework..."
They both looked back at me, as if just noticing I was sitting there for the 1st time.
"Hi, h-hi, A-Ashley. You can um, you can take my essay. I actually have a good average in th-this class, so 1 assignment is no b-bother. Really".
Jessica's signature grin crept across her face. "Your just gonna give her your homework? Her name isn't even printed at the top, idiot".
Ashley just sat there taking me in. She looked at me after Jessica's question , waiting how I would answer. She had the most adorable furrowed brow.
"I, Oh, I, um, have it saved on my flashdrive h-here. I can run to the school library and update the names q-quick, um, you know, if you want me to?"
Jessica put her palm to her forehead and could no longer contain her contempt with a slight laugh and a groan, “Oh god… where do you find these guys, ash?"
Ashley's questioned look morphed into 1 of pure relief. "Aw stop it Jess! He's being sweet. That would be great, uh, Daniel, right?"
"It-It's um, uh, D-David."
"Oh right! That's it, Davey!
I cringed inwardly. I didn't like that variant of my name so much. Coming from her mouth it didn't sound so bad though.
Ahley looked at me with an expectant look. "Well, you know class is starting soon..."
Jessica leaned in. "Yea better scurry off, simp. The library is across the building."
There was no defending me from Jessica this time. Ashley just looked at me and gently nodded along.
And with that, I of course flung out of my seat and went to run to the library. Of course, in my flustered state, I tripped over Ashley's bookbag as I was leaving and tumbled to the floor. The whole class laughed, maybe Jessica the hardest, but not my Ashley. I looked up at her from my position on the floor, and she just smiled and shooed me off with her hand. But she did it with a smile and a nod. It may have been mixed with pity, but it made me feel like no matter what happens, no matter the humiliation, or sacrificing my own grade to help hers, it was all going to be okay. As long as Ashley was happy, it was all worth it!
And that day started our friendship. I was always at her beck and call. Somewhere along the way I even managed to suck up to her and blur the lines of our friendship, no, we weren't in a "relationship" exactly. Actually, pretty far from it unfortunately, from a classic boyfriend/girlfriend. But something else entirely. But if I play my cards right, she might start seeing me as boyfriend material, then maybe, even husband material...
"It's BULLSHIT!" Ashley blurted out.
I was ripped back to the present. Ashley argued with her mother in front of me.
"Language, young lady!"
Ashley's mom, Mrs. Smith, was another knockout. At 45, though her hair was lighter, she pretty much just looked like an older version of Ashley. She had gained a slight “fuller" look in her older years, but to me it was as if it pretty much only padded only the most desirable areas. It was very clear that I guess a large bust runs in the family. The whole family included them, their charming and confident father, Mr. Smith, and Ashley's sister, Liz, who was a freshman in our school. While Ashley and I were 18.
"You know how your father is, dear. He's just old fashioned. He grew up doing his chores, and now he wants you to build character by doing them yourself."
"Building character, Mom? Seriously?" Ashley and her mom would sometimes get into small arguments like this, but it was never serious. They had a playful, sisterly energy. But I never knew what to do when I was over during one. When I felt weird or awkward, I found the safest bet was to just stand off to the side with my eyes down until I was called.
"Plus, you KNOW Davey loves this shit. You should see him when me and Jess eat lunch at the cafeteria! He jumps as soon as Jess snaps her fingers and Davey throws everything out. The practically sweeps up our crumbs! We don't even have to lift a finger! It’s awesome. Plus he loves it!"
My therapist says I'm a people pleaser. I'm working on it.
“He does not ‘love’ it, young lady! The poor thing is scared half to death of your little partner in crime. He’d probably eat your trash if Jessica gave him a stern look!”
“No, it’s true Mom. You love cleaning and shit, right, Davey?” Ashley looked over at me expectantly.
I started to mumble out a response of “Er, well, I love being helpful to-“
"And he's so good at it too!" Ashley cut in, now addressing her mother. I guess my time for contribution was over. "You saw how he got that stain out of your blouse!"
Mrs. Smith addressed me for the 1st time, "Oh, I have to thank you for that Davey! Honestly wine on a white blouse like that! I thought it was destined for the trash! But all it needed was 40 minutes of being locked in the laundry room with you, and you showed that stain who's boss!"
"See! What's the point of me doing some stupid chores if Davey can do it anyway, and I'm no good with that maid stuff anyway!"
I could tell Ashley was winning this arguement. But I wasn't thrilled about trying to be helpful for her referred to as "maid stuff".
"Oh alright", Mrs. Smith relented. "But don't tell your father! Have Davey HELP you with picking up your room. And I do mean HELP. I don't want to have the poor thing on his hands and knees in there while you kick your feet up!"
"Yayyyy, yes Mom! I promise!" She ran over and gave her a quick hug. It was a sweet moment. I usually keep my eyes down, but looked up just in time to see them embrace. As they hugged I saw the slight shifting in their breasts as they smooshed together in their hug. I shifted in place as my small erection pushed up against my bikini brief underwear.
"Thanks Mom!" Ashley walked toward the stairs as she called over her shoulder "Come, Davey!"
Almost as if a trance I went to follow her upstairs at her command when Mrs. Smith called me back. She was now sitting on her expansive sofa with her feet up and sipping a glass of wine.
"Davey, make sure my little brat of a daughter actually helps you this time! I'm not trying to raise some slob!" she said with a smile.
"Oh- oh,, um, yes, Ma'am. I-I'll be sure to um, well, yes Ma'am, Miss Smith, Ma'am.
Mrs. Smith chuckled, mostly to herself.
"Such a sweet boy... you know between you and me there's a few more items that need tending to in the laundry room. Don't tell Mr. Smith, but it would be great if I had someone to really put some effort and elbow grease into cleaning those more annoying stains. Nothing major; just some of Liz's soccer shorts, grass stains, Mr. smith has some stains on his underwear I’d rather not touch, oh!, and there was some smudge on one of my tops, not sure what. And seeing as you are here and really you have quite a talent for these domestic things. Honestly, you're going to make some nice man a very nice housewife someday!" Mrs. Smith said with a hearty laugh.
I played along and gave a slight laugh at my expense. "Yes, of course, Mrs. Smith I'll um, I of course can um, help, in any way".
I was hoping to get back home at a normal hour tonight. My parents both work long and late hours, so they are never home, or are sleeping in their bedroom, so they won't notice my absence. But since doing the majority of Ashley's homework, mine has been getting a little neglected. And the thought of getting a decent night's sleep sounded soooo nice. I never realized how much being at someone's constant beck and call would drain me. Oh well, I guess I'll be scrubbing away in the Smith family laundry room instead!
"Such a sweet, sweet boy" Mrs. Smith said as she sat and looked at me shaking her head. It was almost a mix of pity, disbelief and amusement. "Okay, off you go now! I don't need Ash getting mad at me that I kept her little loverboy all to myself", and with that she smiled and looked away, looking to see what was on tv. She was done with me for now.
I scurried upstairs nervous I had spent too long downstairs and Ashley would be upset with me.
2024.06.01 06:06 spoiled__princess Review of complete New Zealand Trip
Airlines:
Accommodation at Azure Lodge https://azur.co.nz/
Included Full breakfast, afternoon tea, pre dinner drinks, and canapes. Mini bar drinks and snacks also included
Awesome view of Lake Wakatipu with wonderful staff. Evening canapes turned into a lovely time getting to know your other villa mates. Gregory and Mark from Australia were fantastic at being the “connectors” to everyone staying in the lodge. It was our first lodge experience and we loved the community that was discovered over drinks, canapes, and a sunset. We were also lucky enough to see the Aurora.
This lodge could use some new carpet, automatic blinds, and new mattresses. The villas are also placed downhill with a very steep walk up to the lodge. You can get golf cart rides, though. The lodge does not have a full kitchen, so you will need to go offsite for dinner, or they can arrange delivery. We rented a car and drove into town for dinner which was super easy.
Activities:
Helicopter - https://www.flynz.co.nz/ The Milford & Fiordland Helicopter tour was canceled due to weather. Because not enough people joined on the rescheduled day, it was reduced to a private tour of just Milford Sound. We stopped on top of a mountain and had a glass of champagne. It was perfect, and I highly recommend the operator “Over the Top”.
Rock climbing - https://www.wildwire.co.nz/lord-of-the-rungs-upper We climbed a waterfall! Lord of the Rungs is a Via Ferrata climb up the face of a rock wall with a waterfall. It’s no joke. It is hard work. The views are amazing but be prepared to work hard. You won’t go all the way to the top but about 2/3s of the way up. They do have a tour for all the way up but it’s for advanced climbers and requires a helicopter to get down. I highly recommend this if you have good fitness.
General Tour of Queenstown - https://www.beaurapley.co.nz/ We initially asked for this to be removed from the itinerary but the DMC insisted that we must meet Beau. Beau sent someone else for this tour. It was fine but we had already seen most of what they had planned to show because we had a free day from the helicopter being canceled.
Christchurch - 3 nights:
Accommodations at Otahuna Lodge (Upgraded room) - https://www.relaischateaux.com/us/hotel/otahuna-lodge/
https://www.reddit.com/chubbytravel/comments/1csy54k/otahuna_lodge_christchurch
Includes Full breakfast daily, pre-dinner drinks and canapes, 4-course dinner with wine pairing, and laundry service.
This place is magical. We loved everything about it. You can see my review for more information but it was by far the best lodge we stayed at on this trip. It might have helped that we were the only guests on the property for our stay though.
Activities:
Full Day Private Akaroa and Harbour Cruise - This was fine and fun but could be skipped. We were picked in a Tesla with a driver and made the <2 hour trek to Akaroa. The boat was around 2 hours, and we got to see Hector's Dolphins and a couple of very small penguins.
3-hour Private Cooking Lesson at Otahuna - This was my husband's favorite activity of our entire trip. We had it scheduled on the last full day and we could request items from our last two nights dinner. We also made gluten-free pasta, which was a first for us (I am celiac). The dinner that night then included the items we cooked. The chef, Jimmy McIntyre, is great and provides email if you want any additional recipes.
Napier / Hawkes Bay - 3 nights:
Accommodations at Rosewood Cape Kidnappers (Upgraded room) - https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/cape-kidnappers
Included full breakfast, pre-dinner aperitif, dinner, mini-bar drinks.
This was our least favorite resort on our NZ trip. It felt like we were in a country club in Texas, which is not the feeling we were looking for. The staff was new and lacked confidence. They looked like they were in their young 20s and really didn’t have the experience you would expect from a luxury resort. The resort looked like it only shopped at Restoration Hardware. They kept having service-related issues that they would try to repair but it just wasn’t enough.
The food was just ok. It’s the only breakfast that didn’t offer eggs benedict. They were extremely strict about only 2 free drinks before dinner. The canapes were cheap, boring, and the only time we had chicken in all of our time in NZ.
I can not stress this enough how much we disliked this resort.
Activities:
Full Day Private Best of the Bay Tour - Long Island Tour It was fine. We would have rather rented a car and just do this ourselves.
Can-Am Tour - Rosewood Cape Kidnappers It was fun to see the resort via the off-road buggy. The personal guide was great at answering questions and showing us around the property. I would recommend doing this if you decide to go to this resort.
Rotorua - 3 nights:
Accommodations at Solitaire Lodge - https://www.solitairelodge.co.nz/
Included a Mini bar, breakfast, pre-dinner drinks, canapes, a five-course dinner, and a light lunch.
This resort was lovely but it is in dire need of an update. It’s totally serviceable though. The mattresses are very comfortable, and the staff was wonderful. It is in a very remote location and we were very happy that my husband was comfortable driving.
Activities:
Te Ra Guided Experience and Cultural Performance - https://ecommerce.tepuia.com/te-ra-guided-experience Located in a very active geothermal valley including the largest geyser in the southern hemisphere, this experience was worth it. They will walk through the school that teaches wood carving and other traditions of the Maori culture. We were also able to see the haka.
Ultimate Canopy Tour - https://www.canopytours.co.nz/ The best ziplining tour we have been on and we highly recommend them.
Twilight Glow Worm Kayak Experience - https://www.paddleboardrotorua.com/rotorua-glow-worm-kayaking-tour After the only rainy day we had in NZ, we ended the day with amazing weather where we kayaked into the caves to see the glow worm caves. We were the only ones there so this 3 hour tour took only 1.5 hours or so.
Hobbiton Movie Set - I would pass on this one. I am not a lord of the rings fan though. If you do decide to go, know that you will be doing this for 3 full hours. There is no self-paced tour, and it includes lunch. I felt like I was being held hostage to look at a fake very small town. The only cool part is that you get to walk into an appointed house which was cool inside.
Auckland
Accommodations at Park Hyatt Auckland (Upgraded) - https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/new-zealand/park-hyatt-auckland/ Included full breakfast
We were only here for 24 hours before flying out to Tahiti and it was fine. The upgrade was to an amazing suite with a great view.
This trip was fully booked by a travel agent and a DMC. It worked well for us because we didn’t know the cost. There is no way we would have booked some of our favorite activities due to cost, so it really helped us disconnect the cost from the trip. Accommodations and activities cost us a total of $30K USD for two weeks.
While I am listed as a TA, It's just because I joined Fora. I don't want clients and we paid full price for this trip. Again, no interest in clients or selling anything related to travel. But they said I would be banned if I didn't add the flare.
submitted by spoiled__princess to chubbytravel [link] [comments]
- Business class Air Fiji on Alaska Airlines points
- Air New Zealand in country
- Business class Tahiti Nui on Alaska Airlines points (return via Tahiti)
Accommodation at Azure Lodge https://azur.co.nz/
Included Full breakfast, afternoon tea, pre dinner drinks, and canapes. Mini bar drinks and snacks also included
Awesome view of Lake Wakatipu with wonderful staff. Evening canapes turned into a lovely time getting to know your other villa mates. Gregory and Mark from Australia were fantastic at being the “connectors” to everyone staying in the lodge. It was our first lodge experience and we loved the community that was discovered over drinks, canapes, and a sunset. We were also lucky enough to see the Aurora.
This lodge could use some new carpet, automatic blinds, and new mattresses. The villas are also placed downhill with a very steep walk up to the lodge. You can get golf cart rides, though. The lodge does not have a full kitchen, so you will need to go offsite for dinner, or they can arrange delivery. We rented a car and drove into town for dinner which was super easy.
Activities:
Helicopter - https://www.flynz.co.nz/ The Milford & Fiordland Helicopter tour was canceled due to weather. Because not enough people joined on the rescheduled day, it was reduced to a private tour of just Milford Sound. We stopped on top of a mountain and had a glass of champagne. It was perfect, and I highly recommend the operator “Over the Top”.
Rock climbing - https://www.wildwire.co.nz/lord-of-the-rungs-upper We climbed a waterfall! Lord of the Rungs is a Via Ferrata climb up the face of a rock wall with a waterfall. It’s no joke. It is hard work. The views are amazing but be prepared to work hard. You won’t go all the way to the top but about 2/3s of the way up. They do have a tour for all the way up but it’s for advanced climbers and requires a helicopter to get down. I highly recommend this if you have good fitness.
General Tour of Queenstown - https://www.beaurapley.co.nz/ We initially asked for this to be removed from the itinerary but the DMC insisted that we must meet Beau. Beau sent someone else for this tour. It was fine but we had already seen most of what they had planned to show because we had a free day from the helicopter being canceled.
Christchurch - 3 nights:
Accommodations at Otahuna Lodge (Upgraded room) - https://www.relaischateaux.com/us/hotel/otahuna-lodge/
https://www.reddit.com/chubbytravel/comments/1csy54k/otahuna_lodge_christchurch
Includes Full breakfast daily, pre-dinner drinks and canapes, 4-course dinner with wine pairing, and laundry service.
This place is magical. We loved everything about it. You can see my review for more information but it was by far the best lodge we stayed at on this trip. It might have helped that we were the only guests on the property for our stay though.
Activities:
Full Day Private Akaroa and Harbour Cruise - This was fine and fun but could be skipped. We were picked in a Tesla with a driver and made the <2 hour trek to Akaroa. The boat was around 2 hours, and we got to see Hector's Dolphins and a couple of very small penguins.
3-hour Private Cooking Lesson at Otahuna - This was my husband's favorite activity of our entire trip. We had it scheduled on the last full day and we could request items from our last two nights dinner. We also made gluten-free pasta, which was a first for us (I am celiac). The dinner that night then included the items we cooked. The chef, Jimmy McIntyre, is great and provides email if you want any additional recipes.
Napier / Hawkes Bay - 3 nights:
Accommodations at Rosewood Cape Kidnappers (Upgraded room) - https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/cape-kidnappers
Included full breakfast, pre-dinner aperitif, dinner, mini-bar drinks.
This was our least favorite resort on our NZ trip. It felt like we were in a country club in Texas, which is not the feeling we were looking for. The staff was new and lacked confidence. They looked like they were in their young 20s and really didn’t have the experience you would expect from a luxury resort. The resort looked like it only shopped at Restoration Hardware. They kept having service-related issues that they would try to repair but it just wasn’t enough.
The food was just ok. It’s the only breakfast that didn’t offer eggs benedict. They were extremely strict about only 2 free drinks before dinner. The canapes were cheap, boring, and the only time we had chicken in all of our time in NZ.
I can not stress this enough how much we disliked this resort.
Activities:
Full Day Private Best of the Bay Tour - Long Island Tour It was fine. We would have rather rented a car and just do this ourselves.
Can-Am Tour - Rosewood Cape Kidnappers It was fun to see the resort via the off-road buggy. The personal guide was great at answering questions and showing us around the property. I would recommend doing this if you decide to go to this resort.
Rotorua - 3 nights:
Accommodations at Solitaire Lodge - https://www.solitairelodge.co.nz/
Included a Mini bar, breakfast, pre-dinner drinks, canapes, a five-course dinner, and a light lunch.
This resort was lovely but it is in dire need of an update. It’s totally serviceable though. The mattresses are very comfortable, and the staff was wonderful. It is in a very remote location and we were very happy that my husband was comfortable driving.
Activities:
Te Ra Guided Experience and Cultural Performance - https://ecommerce.tepuia.com/te-ra-guided-experience Located in a very active geothermal valley including the largest geyser in the southern hemisphere, this experience was worth it. They will walk through the school that teaches wood carving and other traditions of the Maori culture. We were also able to see the haka.
Ultimate Canopy Tour - https://www.canopytours.co.nz/ The best ziplining tour we have been on and we highly recommend them.
Twilight Glow Worm Kayak Experience - https://www.paddleboardrotorua.com/rotorua-glow-worm-kayaking-tour After the only rainy day we had in NZ, we ended the day with amazing weather where we kayaked into the caves to see the glow worm caves. We were the only ones there so this 3 hour tour took only 1.5 hours or so.
Hobbiton Movie Set - I would pass on this one. I am not a lord of the rings fan though. If you do decide to go, know that you will be doing this for 3 full hours. There is no self-paced tour, and it includes lunch. I felt like I was being held hostage to look at a fake very small town. The only cool part is that you get to walk into an appointed house which was cool inside.
Auckland
Accommodations at Park Hyatt Auckland (Upgraded) - https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/new-zealand/park-hyatt-auckland/ Included full breakfast
We were only here for 24 hours before flying out to Tahiti and it was fine. The upgrade was to an amazing suite with a great view.
This trip was fully booked by a travel agent and a DMC. It worked well for us because we didn’t know the cost. There is no way we would have booked some of our favorite activities due to cost, so it really helped us disconnect the cost from the trip. Accommodations and activities cost us a total of $30K USD for two weeks.
While I am listed as a TA, It's just because I joined Fora. I don't want clients and we paid full price for this trip. Again, no interest in clients or selling anything related to travel. But they said I would be banned if I didn't add the flare.
2024.06.01 05:56 Sweet-Count2557 The 7 Best Cuban Restaurant in New York City,NY,United States (2023)
 | The 7 Best Cuban Restaurant in New York City,NY,United States (2023) submitted by Sweet-Count2557 to worldkidstravel [link] [comments] Looking for the best Cuban restaurants in New York City? Check out our list of the top 7 Cuban restaurants that offer authentic flavors and a vibrant dining experience in the heart of the Big Apple. Calle Dao Bryant Park Calle Dao Bryant Park is a hidden gem in the heart of Manhattan, NY, offering a unique fusion of Cuban and Chinese cuisine. As a travel blogger, I had the pleasure of visiting this restaurant and experiencing their delectable dishes firsthand. From the moment you step inside, you are greeted with a warm and inviting atmosphere that transports you to the vibrant streets of Havana. The menu at Calle Dao Bryant Park is a delightful blend of traditional Cuban and Chinese flavors, with dishes like Cuban-style roast pork and General Tso's chicken. The chefs here have mastered the art of combining these two distinct culinary traditions, resulting in a truly unforgettable dining experience. Whether you're a fan of Cuban cuisine, Chinese delicacies, or simply looking to try something new, Calle Dao Bryant Park is a must-visit restaurant that will leave you craving for more. Cafe Habana Founded in 1998, Café Habana is a Cuban-Mexican neighborhood cafe & bar famed for its grilled corn, Cuban sandwiches, cócteles, and other well-priced eats. Located in downtown New York City & beyond, Café Habana has become a popular destination for both locals and tourists alike. With its vibrant atmosphere and delicious menu, this restaurant offers a unique dining experience that combines the flavors of Cuba and Mexico. Whether you're craving a tasty Cuban sandwich or want to try their famous grilled corn, Café Habana is the place to be. Don't forget to indulge in their refreshing cócteles, which perfectly complement the flavorful dishes. Visit Café Habana today and discover why it has become a must-visit spot for food enthusiasts in New York City. Havana Central Times Square Havana Central Times Square is the best Cuban restaurant and rum bar in New York City. We serve an assortment of delicious Cuban food for dine-in service as well as takeout and delivery. Havana Central has great Happy Hour Specials, live Latin music, and also offers off-site catering as well as hosting of special events. Whether you're craving classic Cuban dishes like Ropa Vieja or want to try our famous Mojitos, Havana Central Times Square is the perfect place to satisfy your taste buds. With its vibrant atmosphere and authentic Cuban flavors, it's no wonder why Havana Central is a favorite among locals and tourists alike. Calle Dao Downtown Located between two of Manhattan's most stylish neighborhoods, SoHo and The West Village, Calle Dao Downtown is dedicated to serving the highest quality food with a focus on traditional Brazilian and Cuban cuisine. Calle Dao Downtown is a place where food, music, and culture converge. Brazil's Frango Ipanema and Cuba's Arroz con Pollo are amongst the delicacies featured on the menu, and fresh tropical cocktails such as their tantalizing "Orange Basil Mojito" highlight the fully stocked bar. Seamlessly fusing the food and culture of these two distinct countries, Calle Dao Downtown continues the experience with a friendly staff and a lively, informal atmosphere. Large murals and festive colors adorn the 1,500 square foot space, and conga drums cleverly double as bar stools for up to fifteen lucky (and thirsty) guests. Able to host up to one hundred patrons for events, Calle Dao Downtown strives to serve as a festive oasis, event space, and cultural landmark where all are free to eat, drink, dance, and bond. La Isla Restaurant Downtown Welcome to La Isla Restaurant Downtown, where Havana meets Miami in the heart of Hoboken! As a travel blogger, I am excited to share with you the amazing culinary experience that awaits you at this traditional Cuban food haven. Whether you're looking for a quick pick-up or a convenient delivery option, our Uptown location is open and ready to serve you. At La Isla Restaurant Downtown, we take pride in offering a wide selection of over 40 Wines-by-the-Glass and a dozen Craft Beers on tap at our Uptown location. So, whether you're a wine connoisseur or a craft beer enthusiast, we have something to satisfy your taste buds. Indulge in the rich flavors of our authentic Cuban dishes, prepared with love and care by our talented chefs. From classic favorites like Ropa Vieja and Lechon Asado to mouthwatering empanadas and tostones, our menu is sure to delight even the most discerning palates. Experience the vibrant atmosphere and warm hospitality that La Isla Restaurant Downtown is known for. Whether you're planning a romantic date night or a casual get-together with friends, our cozy and inviting ambiance sets the perfect backdrop for a memorable dining experience. So, what are you waiting for? Treat yourself to a taste of Cuba right here in Hoboken. Order online or visit our Uptown location for an unforgettable culinary journey at La Isla Restaurant Downtown. Victor's Cafe Victor's Cafe: A Culinary Voyage to CubaSince 1963, Victors Cafe has been a family-run New York City landmark, offering an incomparable experience of authentic Cuban cuisine, hospitality, and a stylish environment. With its unique blend of luxury and casualness, serenity and high energy, family orientation and romance, Victors provides a dining experience that is both exotic and familiar. The menu at Victors features a combination of the most delicious, authentic Cuban dishes and exclusive creations that represent the evolution of Cuban cuisine. Don't miss out on their signature dishes, including the famous black bean soup, shredded beef ("Ropa Vieja"), and roast suckling pig ("Lechon"). The restaurant boasts three spacious dining rooms, adorned with warm lighting, colorful Cuban art, tropical ceiling fans, and lofty sky-lit ceilings. For a more intimate and warm setting, head to the Cuba Lounge, where you can enjoy a tapas menu and indulge in traditional Cuban cocktails like Mojitos and Sangria. Experience the true taste of Cuba at Victor's Cafe. Cuba The romantic Milieu of Cuba effortlessly transports you from Manhattan to Havana. Cuba offers live music and a menu filled with delicious traditional cuisine. The restaurant offers a fascinating and charming escape to its own "Little Havana on Thompson Street". |
2024.06.01 04:50 igalic Fixing a peltier-based fridge
 | So I've bought a small wine fridge, with the intention of converting it into a curing chamber. submitted by igalic to diyelectronics [link] [comments] The problem is, it doesn't get the temperature below 18C (I've put a glass of water inside for 24h). The outside temp is about 28C. There are computer-type fans both inside and outside (1x inside, 2x outside, 100mm). The temperature inside stays 18C, regardless of where I move the thermostat (it has a hi-lo wheel). I suspected the thermostat, so I opened the fridge to see if I can bypass it. When I opened it and plugged it in, I heard some crackling and then everything died. Looking at the board, I suspect it's the capacitor (the left one in photo), as it's slightly bulging. I've tested all fans and they work, and the peltier itself seems to work (the cool side gets cool to the touch when connected to power, though the hot side doesn't seem to get warm). Questions:
Any other suggestions welcome :) Thanks! https://preview.redd.it/fmysgiq8iv3d1.jpg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0f2df5cdbdf2cde333ac61fd116fb13f50621585 |
2024.06.01 04:05 Puzzleheaded3850 Scared about changes
I'm a 53 Year old Female. I have never smoked and drink maybe 2 glasses of red wine a week. I had a CT about 4 months ago for shortness of breath, low O2 and chest heaviness. I was told I had prominent hilar & mediastinal lymph nodes and atelectasis in lower left lung. Today I had a CT and it mentioned calcified mediastinal & hilar lymph nodes and atelectasis in both lungs? What do these changes mean?
submitted by Puzzleheaded3850 to AskDocs [link] [comments]
2024.06.01 04:02 knngynr How to save hotkey tweaks?
Mostly play GBC / GBA cores, but I’m constantly changing my ‘hotkey enable’ from Select to my left analog stick (since my dog’s tail knocked a glass of wine on my device, leaving Select questionable at times). Is there a way to have the OS remember / save this change after leaving the Core / shutting down the device and booting back in? Would love to save myself the 60 seconds each time 😂
I found a save/override configuration option somewhere but that didn’t seem to do it
submitted by knngynr to RGB30 [link] [comments]
I found a save/override configuration option somewhere but that didn’t seem to do it
2024.06.01 03:59 StringFast873 35 [M4F] UK/Anywhere. I'm currently battling the slug kingdom. I desperately need YOUR help.
Hi all,
I'm currently growing a range of vegetables, making my own compost, and living the home stead life. The slug people have recently taken it upon themselves to attack my vegetable minions. It was a night time. I'm truly devastated.
I'm looking for anyone who knows about plants, trees, nature, as a strong affinity for cheese and some kind of fine foods, (preferably ones you'd swirl wine in your glass when mentioning them.
I'm very well travelled. Travelling is a big passion of mine. Also my hobbies are
Camping, outdoors, some video games, survival skills, cheese, sucking the bone marrow out of bones when I eat them, fire, heavy metal, psy/synthwave.
I don't care where you're from.
I'm heavily tattooed. Did have hair down to my shoulders. Now it's to my ears. I'm good looking, or so my cat says (I usually have to feed him to say that)
submitted by StringFast873 to r4r [link] [comments]
I'm currently growing a range of vegetables, making my own compost, and living the home stead life. The slug people have recently taken it upon themselves to attack my vegetable minions. It was a night time. I'm truly devastated.
I'm looking for anyone who knows about plants, trees, nature, as a strong affinity for cheese and some kind of fine foods, (preferably ones you'd swirl wine in your glass when mentioning them.
I'm very well travelled. Travelling is a big passion of mine. Also my hobbies are
Camping, outdoors, some video games, survival skills, cheese, sucking the bone marrow out of bones when I eat them, fire, heavy metal, psy/synthwave.
I don't care where you're from.
I'm heavily tattooed. Did have hair down to my shoulders. Now it's to my ears. I'm good looking, or so my cat says (I usually have to feed him to say that)
2024.06.01 03:45 ichabod_crainium Was Out to Dinner
Hey,
Am 34M only child. Have been at arms-length with parents for the better part of 4 years. Live far enough away to make that work.
Have had horrid time with her and alcohol. It always starts as if it’s nothing. One glass of wine at dinner. Because we’re celebrating! Or it’s a nice restaurant! Or just because.
It’s always on an empty stomach, and it’s gone before the bread or salads arrive. Then the second glass comes and she sips through it quickly. Then the slurring starts. After two, things go to shit. This has been my story and song my entire life.
She’s in her 60’s, 5’0”, and maybe 115 pounds. For as long as I can remember, if there’s an excuse to drink, she’s drank. At family parties she’d isolate herself with a favorite sister-in-law and go glass-for-glass. When she was working and she had a bad day, which was everyday, she’d drink from the Barefoot minis. Because Barefoot minis “are smaller portions,” even if you drink the same amount.
It was always the same, and it still is. My therapist says that I’ll never be able to change her, which is true. I won’t. And I don’t want to. But I can keep my distance. I can control my exposure.
One time I got a call from her threatening to kill herself because I didn’t want to talk to her.
Another time, I was 20 and living at home. I got a call from her drunker than ever at 2:30 in the afternoon. She had driven to her therapy, got loaded in the parking lot, and her therapist refused to see her or let her drive home. He was working, so I had to come and get her.
So tonight. We’re on vacation with them. It’s been great because she hasn’t had a drop all week. But it’s the last day of vacation, right? It’s a nice Italian place, right? My dad can’t be bothered to ask her not to and neither can I, right?
The glass gets ordered before the bread hits the table. My blood pressure rises. I start to smile vacantly and I try to disassociate. My fear kicks in. What will she do this time? What awful poison darts will she throw my way?
My girlfriend noticed my mood and tried to kindly create some idle chat. I can’t take the bait. My mind is elsewhere.
But the glass didn’t empty. Did she realize my mood shift too? Was it clear how upset I was?
I don’t care. I don’t fucking care. But I’m glad that it didn’t escalate. I’m glad she didn’t reach for a second or third. I’m glad that I was not on parent patrol tonight.
It was half full all evening until we went to leave. Then in a flash, it was gone.
“Waste not, want not.”
It was time for goodbye and I escaped by the skin of my teeth. Fuck alcohol.
submitted by ichabod_crainium to AdultChildren [link] [comments]
Am 34M only child. Have been at arms-length with parents for the better part of 4 years. Live far enough away to make that work.
Have had horrid time with her and alcohol. It always starts as if it’s nothing. One glass of wine at dinner. Because we’re celebrating! Or it’s a nice restaurant! Or just because.
It’s always on an empty stomach, and it’s gone before the bread or salads arrive. Then the second glass comes and she sips through it quickly. Then the slurring starts. After two, things go to shit. This has been my story and song my entire life.
She’s in her 60’s, 5’0”, and maybe 115 pounds. For as long as I can remember, if there’s an excuse to drink, she’s drank. At family parties she’d isolate herself with a favorite sister-in-law and go glass-for-glass. When she was working and she had a bad day, which was everyday, she’d drink from the Barefoot minis. Because Barefoot minis “are smaller portions,” even if you drink the same amount.
It was always the same, and it still is. My therapist says that I’ll never be able to change her, which is true. I won’t. And I don’t want to. But I can keep my distance. I can control my exposure.
One time I got a call from her threatening to kill herself because I didn’t want to talk to her.
Another time, I was 20 and living at home. I got a call from her drunker than ever at 2:30 in the afternoon. She had driven to her therapy, got loaded in the parking lot, and her therapist refused to see her or let her drive home. He was working, so I had to come and get her.
So tonight. We’re on vacation with them. It’s been great because she hasn’t had a drop all week. But it’s the last day of vacation, right? It’s a nice Italian place, right? My dad can’t be bothered to ask her not to and neither can I, right?
The glass gets ordered before the bread hits the table. My blood pressure rises. I start to smile vacantly and I try to disassociate. My fear kicks in. What will she do this time? What awful poison darts will she throw my way?
My girlfriend noticed my mood and tried to kindly create some idle chat. I can’t take the bait. My mind is elsewhere.
But the glass didn’t empty. Did she realize my mood shift too? Was it clear how upset I was?
I don’t care. I don’t fucking care. But I’m glad that it didn’t escalate. I’m glad she didn’t reach for a second or third. I’m glad that I was not on parent patrol tonight.
It was half full all evening until we went to leave. Then in a flash, it was gone.
“Waste not, want not.”
It was time for goodbye and I escaped by the skin of my teeth. Fuck alcohol.
2024.06.01 03:35 babyxxpigeon17 A Niagara vacation
It was so terribly cold. Snow was falling, and it was almost dark, when out of the blue, my wife called me at work. "We're going to Niagara Falls for the weekend. I got us an awesome deal!"
We had both been working at our first "full-fledged" jobs for a year and had reached that moment after graduation when you suddenly realize you can't make that impact on the world your student enthusiasm once promised. At first, I just sighed. It was the dead of January, and I had already expended all my energy on a week of inconsequential stress. I just wanted to collapse on the couch for two days. Sarah felt a similar weary exhaustion. I could tell. Her tone was more hopeful than excited, but she had dreaded the routine we were sinking into and was trying her best to pull us free.
I looked to the ceiling and adjusted my telephone headset. At that time I was working at Stats Canada on the tele-query desk. I took a deep breath and, as convincingly as possible, said, "Sounds good." I don't think she bought it, but we went nonetheless.
This was Niagara Falls before the casinos when there was a very distinct off-season. When we got to the hotel, we were given the details of our "lovers' special". One dinner to be used either Friday or Saturday, two breakfasts, a roll of tokens for the arcade, 10% off some "4D" movie ride experience, and a 2-for-1 coupon to Max Tussaud's. I guessed it was Madame's nephew? We also got a bottle of sparkling wine in our room and chocolate treats on our pillows. I was impressed. It sounded good.
When we got into our room and saw the "bottle" of wine - basically an aeroplane-sized glass and half - and the chocolates - "fun wrapped" Oh Henry's left over from Halloween - we both started to laugh. The tone for two wonderful days had been set. We decided to cash in on our dinner coupon right away.
The restaurant off the lobby had hopes of being better. There were huge panoramic windows that promised a view of the gorge. Unfortunately, they had some winter moisture problems that day, and it felt like we were defrosting amid the dripping streaks and foggy patches. The decor was your standard booths and tables though the "romantic" lighting was unique. Dollar store battery-powered tea lights were lodged inside thick tumbler glasses and shed a muted pleasantness in a "what a great idea for a craft" sort of way. I had a feeling they were created by our waitress since she was the one who always seemed to be fussing with them. Only one other couple was in the dining room, so she attended to us immediately.
"Can I get you something to start?"
"Sure." "Thank you, that would be nice." We both responded simultaneously.
"And what would the lady like this evening?"
Sarah smiled at the flattery. "I think I'll have a glass of white wine." She glanced over at me to see my reaction. This was a subtle cue of the mood to follow. Diet Coke was usually the beverage of choice. She didn't normally drink alcohol. One glass numbed her nose and made her giggle far too easily. When she did drink, however, it meant she was comfortable with my company and open to anything to follow. I raised my eyebrows in a debonair way.
"And for the gentleman?"
"Do you have Foster's on tap?"
"Yes we do."
"I'll have a pint please."
Sarah smiled at the happy memories I invoked. At university, Foster's was my signature beer. It was at a time when Crocodile Dundee was a known name, and Australia was inexplicably cool. 15 cent buffalo wings and a pitcher of Foster's was the Tuesday night special at the London Arms pub. There the Classics Club would meet and, as a group, circle the wagons and drink ourselves into extroverts.
As soon as the waitress left, Sarah smiled at me. She reached out and held my hand across the table. With my gaze on hers, she slipped her foot from her shoe and slowly began sliding it up my pant leg.
"I got a pedicure this morning." She announced seductively.
I nodded and pretended I didn't notice her invitation. "What colour?" I asked.
"I'm not telling." She teased. "You'll just have to find out later." Her devious little smile was gorgeous.
"Mmmm. I can't wait."
When the waitress returned with our drinks, we immediately retreated to our personal spaces as if we had been discovered by the chaperone. Sarah opened the menu and began to salivate at the variety.
"Can we add an appetizer to the package dinner?" Her question seemed innocent enough.
"You're on the package?" Our friendly waitress disappeared, and we were no longer a lady or a gentleman. She ripped the menu out of Sarah's hand and took mine before I had even opened it. She then scurried to her podium and brought back a tattered, grease-stained, photocopied page that we had to share. We both burst out laughing.
The waitress was flustered that we were not as bothered as she was. "The drinks are NOT included!"
"What choices do we have?" I asked, expecting the usual chicken or fish. I had been on many packages before with my parents.
"Coffee or tea." The waitress snapped.
Sarah and I looked at each other in amused disbelief.
"I'll have coffee please." I didn't even flinch at the ridiculously limited package. I was eager to get my order in early.
"And I'll have the tea!" Sarah followed my lead. "Can I have some milk with that?"
"Yes." The waitress snarled.
"Fantastic!" I enthused.
"Yes, great! I'm glad we got the package, Honey." Sarah joked.
The waitress stormed off and returned sometime later with our lettuce-only salads drowned in Kraft's Italian dressing and our chewy chicken dinners, which she had thoughtfully allowed to cool. She tossed the plates on the table and left us to peacefully devour our deal. We didn't see her again until we requested the bill. For some reason, we found it amusing to leave a generous tip, which of course, defeated the purpose of the package, but we didn't care. It was fun.
The rest of the holiday was marred with similar off-season products and services. The wax museum was only half open, so we couldn't see the pop stars of the seventies. I didn't think it was a problem, but Sarah pouted playfully. She really wanted to see young Bowie. Meanwhile, the arcade was particularly stingy about spitting out coupons. So much so that Mike, the scraggly-haired repair guy, ended up escorting us from game to game and repairing the devices on demand. In no time, he was acting like an old drinking buddy. He joked and laughed, then, out of the blue, revealed that working at the Niagara Falls Fun Centre wasn't his career choice, that his dream was to be part of a travelling carnival. He desperately wanted to see more of the world, he explained and socialize with a greater variety of "wildlife." Mike winked at Sarah to punctuate his meaning, then began advising her on which games to play.
Sarah was partial to Skee ball and clearly had career potential in the sport, but Mike quickly pointed out that the token-to-coupon payout was not the best. In a furtive whisper, he revealed that The Storm Stopper was your best bet, provided the arcade had left it on its original factory settings. He assured us the ones here were "cool." The game had lights that ran around the outside in opposite directions and you had to hit the button at just the right spot to win. It looked impossible, but Mike was right; if you calculated tokens in versus coupons won, it was the best deal. It only took a little practice to win a minor jackpot every 5 or 6 times.
We would cheer each win as if Toronto had won the Stanley Cup. I would give a quick fist pump and a full lung "Yes!" while Sarah would jump up and down screaming, "WhoooHooo!" Of course, in the end, when we cashed in, "Mike's secret" only bumped us up from a key-chain flashlight to a "deluxe" nail beauty set. Mind you, it did come complete with clippers, scissors, a file AND a cuticle scraper. Not only that, it was all neatly packaged in a paisley-patterned pink and green plastic vinyl case. Mike was so pleased to give us our prize and to be honest, we were thrilled to win it if only to see his broad chicletted smile. It was more of a trophy than a grooming set.
That night, I made reservations for us at a fancy Chinese food restaurant - the Bamboo Garden. When we arrived, we had half-expected renovations of some sort. Instead, the place was immaculate. Gentle pools teeming with goldfish highlighted the epic black and red Ming dynasty decor. Real candles flickered on crisp white tablecloths. Again, the restaurant was virtually ours. The reservations on my part were entirely unnecessary. In fact, as soon as we entered, they knew us by name and guided us directly to our table. A live lounge piano caressed the air, its notes danced vaguely around familiar harmonies until finally, as if prompted by our presence, a song emerged immediately accompanied by the velvet voice of oriental karaoke. It was our song remastered
submitted by babyxxpigeon17 to Tik_tok_stories [link] [comments]
We had both been working at our first "full-fledged" jobs for a year and had reached that moment after graduation when you suddenly realize you can't make that impact on the world your student enthusiasm once promised. At first, I just sighed. It was the dead of January, and I had already expended all my energy on a week of inconsequential stress. I just wanted to collapse on the couch for two days. Sarah felt a similar weary exhaustion. I could tell. Her tone was more hopeful than excited, but she had dreaded the routine we were sinking into and was trying her best to pull us free.
I looked to the ceiling and adjusted my telephone headset. At that time I was working at Stats Canada on the tele-query desk. I took a deep breath and, as convincingly as possible, said, "Sounds good." I don't think she bought it, but we went nonetheless.
This was Niagara Falls before the casinos when there was a very distinct off-season. When we got to the hotel, we were given the details of our "lovers' special". One dinner to be used either Friday or Saturday, two breakfasts, a roll of tokens for the arcade, 10% off some "4D" movie ride experience, and a 2-for-1 coupon to Max Tussaud's. I guessed it was Madame's nephew? We also got a bottle of sparkling wine in our room and chocolate treats on our pillows. I was impressed. It sounded good.
When we got into our room and saw the "bottle" of wine - basically an aeroplane-sized glass and half - and the chocolates - "fun wrapped" Oh Henry's left over from Halloween - we both started to laugh. The tone for two wonderful days had been set. We decided to cash in on our dinner coupon right away.
The restaurant off the lobby had hopes of being better. There were huge panoramic windows that promised a view of the gorge. Unfortunately, they had some winter moisture problems that day, and it felt like we were defrosting amid the dripping streaks and foggy patches. The decor was your standard booths and tables though the "romantic" lighting was unique. Dollar store battery-powered tea lights were lodged inside thick tumbler glasses and shed a muted pleasantness in a "what a great idea for a craft" sort of way. I had a feeling they were created by our waitress since she was the one who always seemed to be fussing with them. Only one other couple was in the dining room, so she attended to us immediately.
"Can I get you something to start?"
"Sure." "Thank you, that would be nice." We both responded simultaneously.
"And what would the lady like this evening?"
Sarah smiled at the flattery. "I think I'll have a glass of white wine." She glanced over at me to see my reaction. This was a subtle cue of the mood to follow. Diet Coke was usually the beverage of choice. She didn't normally drink alcohol. One glass numbed her nose and made her giggle far too easily. When she did drink, however, it meant she was comfortable with my company and open to anything to follow. I raised my eyebrows in a debonair way.
"And for the gentleman?"
"Do you have Foster's on tap?"
"Yes we do."
"I'll have a pint please."
Sarah smiled at the happy memories I invoked. At university, Foster's was my signature beer. It was at a time when Crocodile Dundee was a known name, and Australia was inexplicably cool. 15 cent buffalo wings and a pitcher of Foster's was the Tuesday night special at the London Arms pub. There the Classics Club would meet and, as a group, circle the wagons and drink ourselves into extroverts.
As soon as the waitress left, Sarah smiled at me. She reached out and held my hand across the table. With my gaze on hers, she slipped her foot from her shoe and slowly began sliding it up my pant leg.
"I got a pedicure this morning." She announced seductively.
I nodded and pretended I didn't notice her invitation. "What colour?" I asked.
"I'm not telling." She teased. "You'll just have to find out later." Her devious little smile was gorgeous.
"Mmmm. I can't wait."
When the waitress returned with our drinks, we immediately retreated to our personal spaces as if we had been discovered by the chaperone. Sarah opened the menu and began to salivate at the variety.
"Can we add an appetizer to the package dinner?" Her question seemed innocent enough.
"You're on the package?" Our friendly waitress disappeared, and we were no longer a lady or a gentleman. She ripped the menu out of Sarah's hand and took mine before I had even opened it. She then scurried to her podium and brought back a tattered, grease-stained, photocopied page that we had to share. We both burst out laughing.
The waitress was flustered that we were not as bothered as she was. "The drinks are NOT included!"
"What choices do we have?" I asked, expecting the usual chicken or fish. I had been on many packages before with my parents.
"Coffee or tea." The waitress snapped.
Sarah and I looked at each other in amused disbelief.
"I'll have coffee please." I didn't even flinch at the ridiculously limited package. I was eager to get my order in early.
"And I'll have the tea!" Sarah followed my lead. "Can I have some milk with that?"
"Yes." The waitress snarled.
"Fantastic!" I enthused.
"Yes, great! I'm glad we got the package, Honey." Sarah joked.
The waitress stormed off and returned sometime later with our lettuce-only salads drowned in Kraft's Italian dressing and our chewy chicken dinners, which she had thoughtfully allowed to cool. She tossed the plates on the table and left us to peacefully devour our deal. We didn't see her again until we requested the bill. For some reason, we found it amusing to leave a generous tip, which of course, defeated the purpose of the package, but we didn't care. It was fun.
The rest of the holiday was marred with similar off-season products and services. The wax museum was only half open, so we couldn't see the pop stars of the seventies. I didn't think it was a problem, but Sarah pouted playfully. She really wanted to see young Bowie. Meanwhile, the arcade was particularly stingy about spitting out coupons. So much so that Mike, the scraggly-haired repair guy, ended up escorting us from game to game and repairing the devices on demand. In no time, he was acting like an old drinking buddy. He joked and laughed, then, out of the blue, revealed that working at the Niagara Falls Fun Centre wasn't his career choice, that his dream was to be part of a travelling carnival. He desperately wanted to see more of the world, he explained and socialize with a greater variety of "wildlife." Mike winked at Sarah to punctuate his meaning, then began advising her on which games to play.
Sarah was partial to Skee ball and clearly had career potential in the sport, but Mike quickly pointed out that the token-to-coupon payout was not the best. In a furtive whisper, he revealed that The Storm Stopper was your best bet, provided the arcade had left it on its original factory settings. He assured us the ones here were "cool." The game had lights that ran around the outside in opposite directions and you had to hit the button at just the right spot to win. It looked impossible, but Mike was right; if you calculated tokens in versus coupons won, it was the best deal. It only took a little practice to win a minor jackpot every 5 or 6 times.
We would cheer each win as if Toronto had won the Stanley Cup. I would give a quick fist pump and a full lung "Yes!" while Sarah would jump up and down screaming, "WhoooHooo!" Of course, in the end, when we cashed in, "Mike's secret" only bumped us up from a key-chain flashlight to a "deluxe" nail beauty set. Mind you, it did come complete with clippers, scissors, a file AND a cuticle scraper. Not only that, it was all neatly packaged in a paisley-patterned pink and green plastic vinyl case. Mike was so pleased to give us our prize and to be honest, we were thrilled to win it if only to see his broad chicletted smile. It was more of a trophy than a grooming set.
That night, I made reservations for us at a fancy Chinese food restaurant - the Bamboo Garden. When we arrived, we had half-expected renovations of some sort. Instead, the place was immaculate. Gentle pools teeming with goldfish highlighted the epic black and red Ming dynasty decor. Real candles flickered on crisp white tablecloths. Again, the restaurant was virtually ours. The reservations on my part were entirely unnecessary. In fact, as soon as we entered, they knew us by name and guided us directly to our table. A live lounge piano caressed the air, its notes danced vaguely around familiar harmonies until finally, as if prompted by our presence, a song emerged immediately accompanied by the velvet voice of oriental karaoke. It was our song remastered
2024.06.01 01:22 Dotdotishere Were you really a British teen if you didn’t spend your weekends drinking in a field
 | How I managed to down vodka like water at the age of 15 is beyond me. Now I drink two glasses of wine and I’m bedridden submitted by Dotdotishere to TeenagersButBetter [link] [comments] |
2024.06.01 00:26 critical_courtney [Hot Off The Press] — Chapter Nine
![[Hot Off The Press] — Chapter Nine](https://b.thumbs.redditmedia.com/TVFEjLdFCl4UpdvtRIxnHcXFDJzESKU9xoGEOVG79fg.jpg "[Hot Off The Press] — Chapter Nine") | https://preview.redd.it/bzhyafrd8u3d1.jpg?width=1410&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=619ea410316f9fc35579da6390cef37812952938 submitted by critical_courtney to redditserials [link] [comments] My Discord Buy me a cup of coffee (if you want) Previous Chapter Chapter Ten: (Dawn) Heat rose from the frying pan as the cooking oil I dropped in slowly spread around the stickproof steel surface. Outside, I heard Billie call out and then the Fates made a few noisy clucks before going silent. I tossed a popcorn kernel into the pan and put a glass lid on top, waiting for it to pop. Checking my phone, I saw a text from Frankie Dee. But in my phone, she was listed under “Frankie (Pal, Not Colleague).” She’d written, “On my way.” But because lesbians are terminally late for every event they attend, I assumed my pal sent that before even having her shoes on. In fact, the exact order of events was probably: send a text, watch a couple of videos on TikTok, remember the event, mad scramble for shoes and a jacket, and then leave the house. With a quiet little POP, the dry kernel transformed into its yellow and white counterpart, the movie-watcher’s favorite companion. I tossed it into my mouth, only burning my tongue slightly in the process. Then, I poured several more kernels into the hot, oily pan from a glass jar labeled, “Iowa Organic Popcorn.” These kernels came from a farm in Iowa owned by a butch lesbian couple. Our school took a field trip to their farm in 9th grade for the usual farm fun, a hay maze (or a maize maze, as I jokingly called it), a petting zoo, and crop science lessons. All the other kids were fussing over the lambs or screaming and laughing from inside the maze. But I just wanted to learn more about the farmers who’d blown my mind. Women. . . can be together. Like — just be together, in love. That realization felt like something so simple and foundational I should’ve learned years earlier. But, of course, my Bible-thumping father and sheltered church-girl life ensured those kinds of “evils” were excluded from my purview. Looking back, I’m not sure how he missed that we were visiting a farm run by two dykes. Then again, I guess that wasn’t exactly advertised on the permission slip. I just remember being glued to the hip of Sadie Henshaw all day long as she showed us tractors, different types of soil, and the feed for their animals. Her blonde hair was cut short and styled like any other man’s hair in Linn County. She was a shorter, stout woman who never went a day without overalls and a ball cap. Her wife, Daniela, handled all of the finances and told us a little about things like farm subsidies and corporate farms vs. mom-and-mom operations. Some kids left the cornfields that day wanting to be farmers. But I left wanting to be another girl’s wife. The sound of popping kernels brought me back to the present as I picked up the frying pan and shook it back and forth with the lid on. A knock at my door revealed a certain newspaper editor had arrived safely. And as I poured the steaming popcorn into a large, blue Finding Nemo bowl, I called out, “It’s unlocked. Come in!” My mind played a brief scene of Frankie Dee walking into, not just mine, but our house and hanging her keys up on the keyring we’d bought while antiquing. She’d get home after a late night covering a library board meeting or some such, and I’d pull a chicken pot pie from the stove and — fuck. I had to stop this dangerous line of thinking. She walked into the living room and took her shoes off, just as I was bringing in the giant bowl of popcorn. “I brought a bottle of wine. I hope that’s okay,” she said. I smiled. “That’s perfect. I’ll grab some glasses from the kitchen.” Frankie watched me scoop a handful of popcorn and place it on The Morrigan’s altar. She raised an eyebrow. “Does the goddess of war and prophecy enjoy a nice salty sacrifice now and then?” I snorted and returned from the kitchen with a pair of stemless pink wine glasses. “First, it’s an offering, not a sacrifice. And second, popcorn has been around since 3600 BCE. You can’t tell me she hasn’t tried it and fallen in love,” I said, plopping down on the couch. Frankie sat down slower and made sure there was a cushion of space between us. “Does Artemis not get popcorn?” I shook my head. “I only leave animal offerings from things I’ve hunted on her shrine.” “You hunt?” Nodding, I motioned toward my bedroom. “Keep a hunting rifle in the gun safe behind my closet door. I head up to camp a few times a year to hunt small things. Rabbits, turkeys, pheasant, sometimes squirrels if I want to make chili.” Frankie made an incredible laugh and leaned in closer. “Squirrels for chili? Are you serious?” “What’s so funny about that?” Her smile was bright enough to light up the harbor, and I wanted so badly for her to guide my ship into her port. My heart rate kicked up as she teased me. Wait a second, I thought. Is she teasing ME? When did we switch places? “Where on earth did you grow up eating squirrel chili?” she asked, crossing her arms. I stuffed my face with popcorn before answering. “Iowa,” I said. She whistled. Was this the first time I’d heard Frankie Dee do that? Holy shit. “Corn girl,” she said. “And now you’re here, using our phrases like, ‘up to camp,’ without an issue in the world.” “I’m sorry. Are people From Away not allowed to use any Mainerisms?” I asked, huffing and eating more popcorn. Frankie reached over and grabbed a handful. “It’s cute is all,” she said, closing her arms and throwing back the entire mouthful of popcorn. I sat there blinking. “Did you just call me cute?” “Hard tellin’ not knowin’, bub. What’s my witchy lesson for tonight? Why am I sitting on your sofa?” Frankie asked with a dodge only slightly less artful than Neo’s. Shaking my head, I rolled my eyes. I’d remember her words and circle back around to them later, long after the wine had been poured. “Your lesson tonight, FeeDee, is to learn the difference between Hollywood’s idea of witchcraft and the actual use of the craft.” “So. . . movie night?” she asked. I nodded. “Double-feature. We’ll start with The Craft and finish with Hocus Pocus,” I said, grabbing my remote and turning on the TV. “Shit. We’re going ‘90s tonight. I kind of feel like I should have brought over Capris Sun pouches instead of wine,” Frankie said, pouring me a glass. “Hey, the night is young. It may not be the ‘90s anymore. But just in case you’re nostalgic, we have technological advances like apps that’ll allow an underpaid delivery contractor to rush into Hennie’s and grab us Capris Suns and maybe even Dunkaroos or Fruit Roll-Ups,” I said, elbowing my guest. My pal. My crush. But most definitely not my colleague or girlfriend. The movie started, and it seemed like half of the wine in my glass was gone before the opening credits finished. Silence filled the couch as I fought to keep my eyes on the TV and not on the beautiful blonde bombshell next to me. “Holy shit! Is that Neve Campbell?” “Yes!” I said. “Just seven short months before two guys forever ruined her life with knives, a cheap voice changer, and a ghost mask. That was a great year for the Scream Queen.” We sat in silence and watched Nancy, Bonnie, and Rochelle meet Sarah Bailey and introduce her to their witchy ways of worshipping Manon. “Didn’t they make, like, a billion Scream movies?” Frankie asked, turning our conversation back to a different ‘90s film franchise. “Yeah, and they’re each amazing in their own way, adding layered commentary of horror movies through the decades. The last couple of movies even had lesbians in them.” Frankie just smiled and looked back at the TV. “She was my first crush, you know?” I said. The newspaper editor turned back to me with a sloppy smile that made me want her lips on mine all the more. “Who was yours?” I asked. She snorted but didn’t answer, trying to turn back and watch the movie. But I curled my legs up on the couch and smacked her toes lightly with mine. “Hey! I asked you a very important question, FeeDee. You can’t just ignore it. Come on. Who was your first celebrity crush?” Scratching the back of her head, Frankie finished her glass of wine and poured herself another. Meanwhile, I was starting to feel my first glass kick in as a warmth slowly washed over me. For good measure, I poked her toes with my feet again. “I’m still waiting,” I mumbled. The look she flashed me was hungry for just a moment, and I felt my body tense. I know I wanted to eat more than just popcorn tonight. But did she? As her cheeks burned, Frankie Dee blurted out, “It was Cassandra Peterson, okay?” Neither of us was paying attention to the movie anymore as my smile grew wide enough that I could have turned toward the camera with an excited look on my face, that is if my life was the mockumentary I sometimes imagined it to be. “Elvira?!” I almost screamed. “Mistress of the Dark?” Frankie rolled her eyes again. “There’s no need to get overexcited,” she mumbled, crossing her arms. I scooted a little closer. Three-quarters of a cushion now separated us. “You’re right. I guess there’s not. It’s just. . . unlike my first crush, yours actually turned out to be a fellow member of the Sappho Syndicate,” I said, finishing my glass of wine and batting my eyelashes at Frankie. Why are you acting like this? I thought. That earned me a belly laugh from my movie date. “Sappho Syndicate? Is that an actual organization you can join?” she asked in between laughs, doubling over almost in tears. “Sure is,” I said, feeling more of that wine seep into my brain (because that’s how alcohol works). “We meet on Tuesdays in our matching plaid button-downs and hash out the latest edition of The Gay Agenda. Then, when business is done, we all do laps in the parking lot in our Subarus while blasting Girl in Red.” Frankie finally stopped laughing and wiped the tears from her eyes. We went back to watching the movie as I explained to my date exactly what we’d missed, about how the girls each cast a spell to get revenge or improve their lives. And right around the time Nancy’s stepfather died, I realized after she’d stopped laughing so hard, that Frankie had moved closer to me. Only half a cushion separated us now. Did she do that on purpose? I thought, sipping my second glass of wine. No. It’s only an inch or two. If she really wanted to sit closer, she just would. Unless. . . she’s playing a game? No. Frankie Dee isn’t the type of woman to play games. I tried to focus on the movie again. But my mind thought, Which is exactly what would make her suddenly choosing to play a game so surprising! Shit. We gays really did tend to overthink and analyze everything to death, didn’t we? Show me a homo, and I’ll show you an inflated sense of anxiety and a catalog of thoughts like “Was that on purpose?” And “What exactly did she mean when she said that?” The rest of the movie went by uneventfully. I even managed to quiet my brain long enough to enjoy seeing Sarah overcome the coven that turned on her. “That was actually kind of fun in a B-movie cult classic kind of way,” Frankie said, starting her third glass of wine. “Yeah. It’s always fun to revisit, even if a movie about empowering women through magic only goes so far when it’s directed and written by men.” I got up to use the bathroom. When I came back, Frankie was checking her emails. “Working during movie night?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. She shrugged. “I wanted to read Emma’s transcribed interview with a woman running for Cumberland County Sheriff. But I can do that tomorrow.” “That’s right, you can. Because you have more important things to worry about on date night like the Black Flame Candle being lit and resurrecting three evil witches.” I waited for the newspaper editor to correct me over calling this “date night,” but she just turned her attention back to the television. She definitely heard me, I thought. She was looking right at me. Is this also part of her game? Scanning her face for some kind of smile, I found none and relented, sitting back on the couch as we waited for the film to buffer. “So. . . Iowa? What brought you to Maine?” Frankie asked in a tone I assumed to be her interview voice. Did all journalists have one of those to fill awkward silences or make easy conversation? “Fleeing my nutjob church-obsessed father. No offense,” I said, showing my palms and flashing a smile. Truth was, my view of Evangelicals was pretty grim due to my upbringing and the state of this nation over the last several years. But maybe, if I could allow her the space to do so, Frankie might just repair a microscopic piece of my faith in folks who shared her beliefs. “Ayuh, that’ll do it,” she said and immediately dropped the subject. Before an awkward silence could grow, the movie started, and our attention was immediately captured by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy. “So. . . they’re like — evil?” Frankie asked, finishing the popcorn. Before I could answer, I realized something had changed when I’d gotten up to pee. Our thighs were touching! Holy shit! I thought. There’s no cushion left between us! Electricity ran up and down my legs, as I racked my brain to figure out what I should do next. She wants to play? I thought. Fine. Let’s play. I’ll bet she gets flustered and scoots back over. FeeDee’s more of a chicken than all three of the Fates combined. “Yeah,” I said, slowly stretching and casually draping my legs over Frankie’s. “But they’re really silly. They drain the life from her and turn that dude into a cat. And then they’re resurrected in the modern day. Hijinx ensue.” Where I expected Frankie to push my legs off her or at least scowl, she instead called my bluff by reaching behind her and pulling down a white fuzzy blanket I kept on the back of my couch. I just blinked as she spread the blanket over us. Warmth continued to shoot through me, half driven by the wine, half driven by the pretty girl who just blanketed us. Under the blanket, Frankie settled her hand flat against my thigh, and I fought hard to keep from asking, “Who are you, and what have you done with my FeeDee?!” Except she wasn’t my FeeDee. She was just Frankie. . . my pal, my home-girl, my rotten soldier. She’s my sweet cheese, my good-time gal. Right? Okay. Maybe she’s leveled up her game, I thought. Gone is the sheepish coworker. Round two. I had one more move that was sure to tip the scales my way. I scooted my shoulder closer, leaned into her, nuzzled my cheek against her neck, and left my head resting there. Game. Set. Match, I thought. And to my utter consternation, she leaned her head on top of mine, and the smell of her vanilla cashmere lotion was all I could focus on. Frankie Dee was suddenly a new class of opponent. This would require lots of analysis and overthinking. But fuck me. . . I was just so tired. I took in another deep breath of Frankie’s lotion and felt my eyelids slowly drop just as Max, Dani, and Allison wandered into the Sanderson cottage. The last thing I heard before everything went black was Frankie’s snoring. At least — that’s what I assumed the noise was. It was powerful enough that if Paul Bunyan were still around, he’d wonder who was sawing through trees so quickly. *** Morning light streamed in through my living room windows as the autoplay on whatever streaming service we’d used last night (there are like a billion now) had somehow kept playing and eventually settled on a show about a family of four blue cartoon dogs. Not long after I woke up, I heard Frankie’s breathing change, and she lifted her head from mine and turned to look at me. A crick in my neck must have grown through the night because a flashing pain stretched from my shoulder up to my jawline. But I didn’t seem to care as I turned to look into Frankie’s honeyed brown eyes. She said nothing, not entirely awake yet. My phone told me it was 9:17 a.m. Before I could think better of it, I said, “At least this time you fell asleep on top of me.” The newspaper editor groaned and mumbled, “Oh, shut up. I should have been at work hours ago.” We stood and stretched, and I couldn’t stop smiling while thinking about last night. “Sorry we missed the rest of the movie,” Frankie said, clicking her tongue behind her teeth. I shrugged. “Eh, it’s not as good as The Craft. That’s why I had us watch it last. You want coffee first or a shower?” The newspaper editor rubbed her face and stretched her eyes wide open. “Coffee would be divine,” she mumbled before surrendering to my suggestion and stumbling into the kitchen. I followed behind her with an inescapable smile. Closing my eyes, I muttered, “Blessed be.” |