Directions for crochet oval tablecloth

I have been dating my girlfriend for a few years now. We started in my last year of high school and have been dating ever since. We've had ups and downs, and we mostly communicate well with each other. However, she seems to have trouble with growing up. It's not that she has trouble with commitment, but she used to go to college. That lasted for one year and then she quit and went to a trades program. She had her sights set on one thing for a while and then suddenly decided she didn't want to do it and shifted focus. She's quit every job she's ever had and is now trying to start an Etsy account even though she's voiced repeatedly that she really hates the idea of turning her crochet into a hobby. She has a terrible therapist who never seems to give her actual advice, but I've talked her into going to see a new one in person, because like me, she doesn't really have any friends any more. We haven't gone on a date in a while because I've been swamped with work (school and part time jobs), but we text and we still interact virtually and in person fairly regularly. My girlfriend has depression, which has led to anger issues. She's has also directly voiced to me that she "doesn't want to be left behind."
The other girl is someone who I've been friends with for a while. She's in my intro to uni. writing class and we eat and play cards together with a group of her friends (usually blackjack, all chicks). She's cute, and we aren't super close, but she's invited me a few times to events at her church (and this is key). I've gone most times, always after telling my girlfriend about it, but recently it seems she has some amount of interest in me, and I her, which my girlfriend probably already guessed because she's fairly observational.
What I'm struggling with is that I love my girlfriend. My feelings for her have evolved over time as they do in any relationship, but I genuinely love her as much as I did when we started. We still plan dates for once this semester ends. We go get snacks. We watch movies and hang out and say "I love you." We, and here is where it gets sexual, both initiate and enjoy sex. We do all sorts of things for each other, and although neither of us consider it the most important part of our relationship, it's pretty key.
Despite this, my crush on the other girl hasn't gone away for months. I feel almost the same way about her as I did at the beginning of my relationship with my girlfriend. I appreciate above all her personality, but also her intelligence and the difference in her opinions to mine. I spend a lot of time thinking about my beliefs and my morals, so seeing someone else do the same is attractive to me (I've rewritten this a few times and I'm not sure if I'm getting my point across. Basically, I really like philosophy and ethics and up until now the amount of thought I put into things usually leads me to a logical answer I consider morally right). However, one of the core beliefs of Christianity is abstinence until marriage, which will absolutely not work for me because I simply like sex too much. My point is that I know that we are incompatible but my feelings aren't going away anyways.
Earlier on into our relationship, my girlfriend and I hypothetically discussed polyamory. We never decided whether or not it would work for us, and talking to my girlfriend about how I have feelings for another girl after a period of reduced contact would send the absolutely wrong message. This other girl and I never hang out or really talk other than at her church events or at the blackjack table at lunch, so I've never picked her over my girlfriend or anything. It also seems like a terrible idea to potentially risk my relationship with my girlfriend for this chick I don't know super well.
However, my relationship with my girlfriend might have to end anyways because she doesn't seem to want to go anywhere with her life. Obviously we've talked about that, but she always makes the same changes and then quits them a little while later, all the while saying she doesn't want to get left behind. I want to do things with my life, but one thing I'm clear about with everyone is that I will always do that which enriches my life. For example, my girlfriend around the time of my graduation made multiple comments about how if I went to college we wouldn't be able to see each other as often. After we talked about it, it was clear that abandoning my future was not an option and that if the relationship truly wouldn't survive if I went, then it would unfortunately have to end. Of course, I value our relationship and I don't ignore other people's needs for my own wants, but I will always put myself first.
I'm not sure if there's any other information I can or should add. I hope this has been clear enough with my formatting (I'm on mobile so god only knows if this will be legible when it's posted) and without using names, but obviously none will be provided. Maybe I should also add that my girlfriend also has body issues, thinking that she's too skinny, but they aren't extreme or anything. She's just a little insecure, which makes me a little more adverse to broaching this subject. I also haven't talked about this with anyone, because I'm struggling to even fathom what the reaction will be with any party involved. The last thing that I want to make clear again is that I really do love my girlfriend. I love spending time with her and I love her bubbliness first and foremost. We have a healthy relationship with sex and communication, and that's exactly why I need advice on how to deal with this other girl who it seems like I have more than a short crush on.
I'm getting sick and am going to sleep for a while, but I'll answer questions when I get up. Also, I recognize that this is my porn account, but I haven't used it in a year because I quit porn for my girlfriend. I just didn't want to make a new account.
TL;DR I love my girlfriend but I have a crush on another girl

PRESENT
This is Part 2 of 3, the Present, in game events we see! Onwards!
The Protagonist is some sort of content creator, one that goes to abandoned or forgotten places and "searches" them, as can be gleaned from the cameras facing the protagonist on his desk, and his conversation with a certain Laura, or LSparks53 (there's also an error in this Harmony tab, with one of the messages from Laura reading as from LauraSparks53 instead of LSparks53. Just a note). This Laura helps our protagonist, who goes by the username of eEnsign. His profile picture are the letters UF, which is weird, since it doesn't match the username, nor what Laura calls eEnsign: Ed. Anyways, I digress. From now on, I'll call the protagonist Ed as well. Laura helps Ed get footage of these places as per the conversation.
eEnsign: "Hey Laura! I'm doing another search this weekend! Wanna come with me?"
LSparks53: "The last few times I've gone with you SUCKED LMAO."
eEnsign: "Remember that old theme park we went to see as kids? Indigo Park?"
LSparks53: "yeah? I kind of forgot about that place? Been closed for a while, right? how would you even get in?"
eEnsign: "Honestly, I don't know. I'm not even gonna bring my equipment. Jump a fence of something? We've done worse lol”
LSparks53: "aight, well just be careful. I'm gonna pass on this one. if you can get in i'll go with you to help record some other time. i'm looking it up now and there's like NO info online about it. probably swarming with cops too."
eEnsign: "I guess we'll find out! I'll check it out, maybe we can go together next week?
Lsparks53: "just be careful, Ed. I don't want to be paying your bail."
And with that conversation, we learn that these two are like a dynamic duo of sorts, having some sort of channel or website where they post footage of places lost to time and "search" them, breaking laws of trespassing and such, apparently also having "done worse", whatever that means. Maybe they took a few things from the place, so burglary? It's never specified. Probably burglary, though, considering that Ed has taken to collecting all sorts of plushies and such from Indigo Park.
What I want to point out is how weird this Laura person acts. As soon as Indigo Park is mentioned, Laura instantly seems to dislike the idea, but never directly says it. Instead, she becomes reluctant to go with Ed, despite having done worse, as Ed puts it. Perhaps she's just cautious, and based on her last sentence, they haven't been caught before, or else she would have said "I don't want to be paying your bail again."
However, I don't think that's the case. Remember when Laura said she looked up Indigo Park and found nothing? Well, we know the website is still up and running, or at the very least, Ed used some sort of service like the Wayback Machine to pull it up on the right most monitor on his desk, which can be seen in the opening cutscene. On it, there's even an option to purchase tickets still, which is incredibly weird, which I'll also go into later on. Why would a defunct theme park need a still running website? After all, if you evacuate everyone from it with no explanation, wouldn't you want to get rid of all evidence of it? If not destroy the property outright, then at least take the website down. Again, digressing, the point is that Laura didn't find this website ... or she did, but didn't say anything.
Again, this is purely speculation at this point; I mean, the two of them have broke into a few places trespassing and recording and documenting abandoned places at least a few times for the internet, and maybe she really is just that cautious, worried about being imprisoned and charged for trespassing, and even attempted burglary.
And it seems like Ed is asking the same questions we are. Behind the Harmony tab is a notes tab with several questions such as "Why did it close?" and "What is left?", among a few others that are cut off. The next question seems to ask "Is it still" something. Seems like Ed and us are in the same boat. Hopefully we can help each other out.
Regardless, Ed ends up climbing the fence and enters the closed off Indigo Park, where dozens of crates stamped with the Indigo Park logo, along with trash, can be seen. Walking around, the main gates are closed off, and one of the doors seem to open on their own, allowing Ed entry into the Registration Center, a desk with a few monitors where a Rangler would sit and check Ed in.
Inside, the Rambley AI comes to life, noting that Ed is the first person there in just over eight years, before directing us to the previously mentioned Registration Center. It is revealed here that AI Rambley has access to the cameras (both computer cameras and CCTV cameras), where he notes that Ed isn’t on the guest list, probably because he snuck in, and didn’t pay for his tickets. However, what stands out as odd is that Rambley doesn’t recognize Ed at all, asking if he was here for the first time. We know that it’s most definitely not Ed’s first time here, but it’s unclear if AI Rambley doesn’t recognize Ed because he grew up, or the registration process requires a photo upload.
Rambley AI: "Hm, I don't seem to have your face in the guest list. Is this your first time here in the park? Or did you just get plastic surgery?"
From here, Ed’s directed to go through the gates, but both AI Rambley and Ed realize that the gates are not open and are instead sending an error message. Going back to the Registration Center, Ed finds and replaces a missing gear, and the gates finally open, from where Ed is free to explore. He’s directed to the Critter Corner, where he receives a Critter Cuff to enter certain areas, and the park, from where he’s directed to Rambley’s Railway to get to know most (poor Salem) of the characters. A massive statue of Isaac Indigo and Rambley can be seen at the entrance.
As Ed makes his way through to Rambley Railway, it’s clear that the park is not in the best condition. Ransacked gift stores, empty cafes with rotting food and festering drinks, tunnels collapsing at the drop of a hat, and weeds spouting everywhere even disconcert the AI Rambley, who tries to shrug off the state of the park by claiming renovations, but it’s clear he’s unsettled with how empty and broken the park is. We’ll cover that later as well.
On this ride, Rambley introduces us to everyone, except for Salem, indicating he’s friends with everyone except her and Lloyd, for whom he has … let’s a bit of distaste for. He’s shown to be sarcastic and snippy with Lloyd, but even his supposed friends aren’t safe from his occasional jabs.
Rambley when speaking to Mollie Macaw: “You sure are [the best pilot you ever saw], Moll! Why, you only crashed into six barns this week!”
Mollie: “I’m not crashin’, Rambley! I’m barnstormin’!”
Rambley: “Haha! What’s barnstorming?”
Mollie: “It’s crashing, with style! I-it barely hurts at all!”
The stutter in Mollie’s audio is what interests me. It could be interpreted as a glitch, which is certainly possible. The park hasn’t been maintained in eight years, and it is falling apart. But it could also be interpreted as Mollie losing her characteristic confidence, upset that Rambley seems to be so keen on pointing out her failures in her hobby sphere.
Rambley, when speaking to Finley the Sea Serpent: “Why the long face? And body? … Oh Finley, you should come out of YOUR shell!”
Finley, in response. “How about YOU come into it instead?”
I would also like to note AI Rambley’s interaction with Finley’s plushie.
AI Rambley: “Ooh, you found my buddy Finley! You know, he’s really shy, like, TOO shy, like OBNOXIOUSLY shy, but he’s got a good heart.”
I want to point out the fact that when Rambley speaks about how shy Finley is, he doesn’t seem to be doing it in a jesting way. In fact, he seems genuinely annoyed with how introverted Finley is, to the point where you can hear it in his voice, and he also uses his annoyed model with slanted eyes when mentioning it.
There’s also a note here that, apparently, Rambley and Finley have known each other for over 100 years, though it’s unclear if this is actually real information, or just something the creators of the ride decided to include for the fun of it.
And another thing. At the very end of the Finley section, Finley hopes that the rider will actually visit him and Oceanic Odyssey, because he’s lonely. Why should he be lonely? He’s friends with Rambley and Mollie, at the very least. Is it because he lives on the bottom of the ocean? Or for other reasons?
Ed then reaches Salem’s area, which is noticeably, horrifically destroyed, a splatter of something bright red front and center. This is where the ride breaks down, and Ed’s required to go and fix it, before continuing onto Lloyd’s area.
I’d like to stop the story to consider the state of Salem’s area; why is it so destroyed? I’m going to avoid thinking of the red splatter as blood, to be honest, but we do know that the Mascots bleed red, thanks to Mollie Macaw. In my mind, there are three potential perpetrators.
The first two are noticeably weak connections, and the reasoning isn’t 100%, so take it with a grain of salt. We know that all the characters received Mascots, so there are three of them that, in my mind, are capable.
The first is, admittedly, a bit weird: the Mascot of Salem. We know she despises Rambley and his friends (her relationship with Lloyd remains a mystery), so it’s possible that Mascot Salem was the one to sabotage her area, as a way of getting back at Rambley. Why her area only is admittedly a bit weird, so she’s not the strongest match. Another piece of evidence would be the smashed animatronic of Mollie. Again, we do know that Salem has used Mollie before by dumping her potions onto her and making Mollie Salem’s minion. Could she also have smashed the animatronic bird?
The second suspect is Mascot Mollie. She can be seen following Ed throughout the ride, and the whole park, for that matter, and we do know there is some bad blood between her and Salem because of the arcade game Rambely Rush. It would give motive for Mascot Mollie to do such a thing, and she’s the only Mascot running about Indigo Park that we know of; Lloyd remained in his theater, not pursuing Ed when he leaves. At the end of the chapter, when Ed enters Oceanic Odyssey, it’s unclear whether a robot or Mascot Finley appears in the aquarium, but he’s likely confined there as well. Mascots Rambley and Salem aren’t even mentioned once.
Now, this one is also kind of a stretch, but the only character that would have more reason to hate Salem more than Mollie is Rambley. They are clear nemeses (again, Rambley Rush), and have been for quite some time. While the AI Rambley is generally benevolent, but still with a sharp tongue, it remains to be seen what exactly the Mascot Rambley is like. His Mascot is still likely here in Indigo Park somewhere, one of the remaining two (Mollie being dead, unless there are several of each Mascot present, in which case this elevates the terror a few notches. Imagine being chased by seventeen Mascot Lloyds) besides Salem. He could very well be the perpetrator. However, I do have a bit of trouble explaining why he would wreck the Animatronic Mollie. Maybe because he knows it’s just a fake, and not the real Mascot Mollie?
However, there is one convenient detail that I have not mentioned. Remember the smashed Animatronic Mollie, and how we were questioning why she was wrecked in the first place? Well, she does offer us one clue. When Ed approaches the bird, Mollie flickers to life momentarily, her voice garbled and distorted until finally, she says this:
Animatronic Mollie: “Not Rambley! He hurts Lloyd! He hurts Lloyd!”
After that, poor Animatronic Mollie finally shuts off for good, her painted eyes devoid of the life she once had. Well, this certainly got interesting, didn’t it? Rambley hurts Lloyd? How? I mean, think about it! How would a raccoon actively hurt a lion? This isn’t like a honey badger situation; raccoons are much more vulnerable and weaker than honey badgers. What’s also interesting is her words themselves. Why would someone program an Animatronic Mollie to say this? We eventually find out that Mascot Mollie will memorize and be able to repeat words or phrases she’s heard, if Ed has the misfortune of being caught by Mascot Mollie later down the line. Is it possible that the same is true for the animatronics? And if so, does that mean that Animatronic Mollie was shouting bits and pieces out of context, or was it supposed to be something she was never meant to hear, and was thusly wrecked?
And even if this was out of context, that still opens up a major can of worms. Even if Rambley never hurt Lloyd, who is this ‘He’ that did hurt Lloyd? Keep this in mind until we reach Lloyd’s attraction.
Anyways, onto Llyod’s area. It’s clear that Lloyd and Rambley both don’t like each other, quite possibly because Rambley hates how Lloyd used to be number one, and Lloyd possibly because he’s not happy that he was replaced by Rambley as head honcho. Rambley, for his part, doesn’t really try to antagonize Lloyd, just wearily going through the ride and trying to get out as fast as possible here.
And that’s essentially it for the ride, AI Rambley suggesting Ed go visit Jetstream Junction. Careful observation would yield the fact that Mascot Mollie has been stalking Ed, studying him from behind the scenes, though she won’t end up being an antagonist until later on.
What’s interesting to note is that at the end, AI Rambley says this: “So, whatddya think? Pretty fun, right? Now you know all about my friends! And Lloyd …”
We know that Rambley cannot stand Salem, Rambley Rush made it quite clear. So, why refer to Salem as a friend? Why is her area so wrecked? Is it possible that AI Rambley has no reason to hate her, because he’s not aware of how often he’s pitted against her in media? But that would also mean that AI Rambley would have to be quite unaware of the media surrounding him, but he seems to know a lot about the history of the park. He still dislikes Lloyd, after all. And then that would beg the question if Mascot Rambley actually dislikes Salem enough to destroy her area in his ride. Too many questions that, unfortunately, there are no answers for. We can’t even see AI Rambley’s thoughts on Salem through a plush or anything, because there are no current collectibles in Chapter 1 that refer to her.
This is actually why I think one of the more intriguing aspects of ‘Birds of a Feather’ is Salem, and her ambiguous presence within the game. There aren’t even any posters in regard to her, unlike Lloyd or Rambley or Mollie or Finley. She’s just so wrapped up in mystery … anyways.
After finding out Jetstream Junction is locked away, AI Rambley sends Ed to Lloyd’s Main Stage Theater, where Ed first catches a glimpse of Mascot Lloyd, dozing on the stage. When Mascot Lloyd notices Ed, he runs into the back, and unfortunately, that’s where Ed has to go.
When Ed reaches the stage himself, AI Rambley tells Ed to be careful, because he has no vision of the backstage area, which is weird. AI Rambley seems to have access to the rest of Indigo Park, why is this area so special? It’s just storage, for the most part … and Mascot Lloyd, but AI Rambley still thinks they’re just as good as they were in their hay day, so he has no reason to be wary of the Mascots themselves until later. It’s true that it’s a Ranglers Only area, and we haven’t really seen AI Rambley in these areas before, so that could be it? Maybe because of his dislike for Lloyd? But then why give AI Rambley access to the stage at all? I don’t know, to be honest. Yet another question. However, AI Rambley does say something interesting.
AI Rambley, to Ed, regarding the behind the stage area: “Hey buddy. I got eyes all over the park, but I can’t see anything behind the stage. If you’re going back there be careful. Your Critter Cuff is not yet able to resuscitate you.”
Why should a Critter Cuff be able to resuscitate a person? From what I understand, it’s supposed to be like those Disney Bands that you can wear at parks, giving you access to different rides and such, even having complementary features of being a pedometer, mood ring, and a heartbeat sensor. This could either be a sort of tease to future upgrades Ed might be able to get in future chapters … or implies something darker. These Critter Cuffs were given to regular guests, for what purpose should they be able to revive someone from being unconscious?
Anyways, as Ed makes his way backstage, Lloyd makes some appearances, even once trying to attack Ed before being foiled by the massive boxes landing on him, causing him to slink away. Along the path, however, is something interesting. Binders, pages, even notebooks are scattered, almost like a bread crumb trail. I was never able to make out what they say besides some months like January, or vague Table of Contents with no explanation. Just thought it was weird. Food for thought. Grabbing the keys, Ed heads back, finding the door locked behind him. Trying to open the door yields an attack by Lloyd, who is strangely repelled by a high-pitched noise.
Now, from all that I have read, there seem to be two theories as for why Lloyd flees. The first cause is that Mascot Lloyd is driven away by the high-pitched beeping from the Critter Cuff. The second, and arguably more intriguing theory, is that someone blows a tamer’s whistle. A tamer’s whistle is a whistle used by tamers to direct animals, usually in settings like circuses where the animal has to perform some sort of trick or feat of athleticism. As it’s used more and more often, the animal learns to recognize the pitch, or duration of the shrill sound, associating it with a certain action that needs to be performed. In this case, the theory states that the tamer’s whistle caused Lloyd to fall back, before fleeing.
Now, while I think the tamer whistle theory is cool in concept, I don’t know who would be able, or more importantly, willing to save Ed from Mascot Lloyd. AI Rambley is not able to see what’s back here, nor should he understand what’s happening, so that removes him from the picture. Mascot Mollie is a possibility, perhaps wanting to save Ed for herself, as she’s seen stalking and watching Ed ever since Rambley’s Railroad, and even appears briefly in the hallway when Ed exits the theater backstage, but why want Ed for herself? They probably don’t need food, else they would have died, sweet pastries and sugary drinks present or not. They were left alone for eight years, after all. The thrill of the hunt would be the only explanation. And then there are our two unknowns, running about the park: Mascot Rambley and Mascot Salem. Could they have been the ones to do it? But why assume they’d act differently towards Ed? Surely they’d still be hostile?
And if the Critter Cuff was the savior, why was it ineffective against Mascot Mollie? Could it be because of the physiological and biological differences between Mascots Lloyd and Mollie? And why did it go off only when Lloyd was nearby? After Lloyd is repelled, the noise stops, after all. Was it the elevated heart rate that tipped off the defense mechanism? But again, surely it would have done the same when Ed would be chased by Mascot Mollie?
Remember what Animatronic Mollie told Ed with her dying breath? ‘Not Rambley! He hurts Lloyd! He hurts Lloyd!’ Could this be what Mollie was referring to? After all, Lloyd didn’t just run away; he collapsed a few feet away from Ed for a brief stint, paws pressing against his ears as Lloyd curled up into a fetal position, only running away when the high-pitched sound ended. Mascot Lloyd genuinely seemed in great pain, and was only able to run away, quite hastily, may I add, once the sound stopped. Was Rambley, AI or Mascot, the one who abused such a feature? Or was it someone else?
Remember, we have no idea why the Mascots turned hostile. Possibly due to a lack of exposure to humans, and thus claiming certain territories for themselves. After all, Mollie didn’t attack Ed until he entered her designated area. But then that brings into question Mascot Rambley. Where was he all this time? Rambley Railroad is his place, after all. But this isn’t Rambley’s only attraction in Indigo Park. At least one other location that we find that bears Rambley’s name is ‘Café de Raton Laveur’, which is French for Raccoon Café. Does that mean that Rambley owns other attractions, and is stalking those? It’s unclear.
Anyways, want to know another possible reason why there was a sudden evacuation with no explanation? What if the Mascots rebelled against the humans because of mistreatment? Think about it, Animatronic Mollie says ‘Not Rambley! He hurts Lloyd! He hurts Lloyd!’ What if Animatronic Mollie wasn’t referring to Rambley hurting Lloyd, but someone else? Someone who would want to design a special feature built into his Critter Cuff that he could activate and subdue, if not straight up hurt Lloyd? And who is the only other male character that we know of besides Rambley, Lloyd, Finley, and Ed?
That’s right, Isaac Indigo himself. This could very well be a case of mistreated creatures rebelling against the horrors they endured. Think about it, when in stressful situations, the mind, both human and not, is much more willing to go into fight or flight, is much more likely to punch first, question later. Is it possible that this Animatronic Mollie caught a snippet of a conflict that arose between the Mascots, when Mascot Mollie was trying to mediate? While this does go against the theory that Animatronic Mollie was destroyed by Mascot Rambley to silence her, it’s still a possible theory, no?
Again, these theories are very much a stretch, I just wished to lay them out on the table and offer them up for people to see and debate.
After grabbing the keys, Ed goes to Jetsream Junction, where Ed goes about exploring and solving some puzzles in order to progress further into the building, as it seems to be the only other place that isn’t falling apart and seems to be in somewhat stable condition. Inside one of the rooms is the Rambley Rush arcade game, and there is something interesting that Salem says in here.
Salem, speaking to Rambley: “Meet the new and improved Marley Macaw! Now with none o’ that ‘friendship’ garbage stopping her from tearin’ you to pieces. I wonder what she REALLY thinks of you now? Have fun finding out!”
Now, this could just be me overanalyzing this thing. It’s our only reference to Salem, and some of the things I cite as evidence could very well just be regular dialogue for an arcade game. However, on the off chance that this means something, I was very interested in what Salem said about what Mollie thought of Rambley. She makes it seem like Mollie is under some sort of illusion in regard to Rambley, like he’s a villain masquerading as a good guy, but has everyone around him convinced he’s good. This could tie in with the broken Animatronic Mollie, as if Mollie found out about some truth in regard to Rambley. After all, her broken, jittering speech made it seem like Rambley was actively hurting Lloyd. Could she have gone to someone to get help, but that other someone suggested Rambley as an ally? That could explain why Mollie felt the need to emphasize that ‘He hurts Lloyd’ twice, like she’s genuinely freaking out that her best friend actively hurt others he didn’t like.
Putting that theory aside, Ed goes through the area, heading up to Mollie’s ride, only to find it inaccessible due to major chunks of broken debris. AI Rambley seems sort of horrified to find the place so broken and calls up a repair technician. It’s no surprise that the line is discontinued, due to most Ranglers likely being laid off after the closure of Indigo Park.
From here, AI Rambley, still somewhat jarred by the wreckage he’s seeing, encourages Ed to go and visit Mollie’s Landing Pad, strangely acting as if Ed had just finished his journey on the attraction, when he couldn’t even step onto it. From there, Ed goes and solves some puzzles, making his way deeper into the building. He spots Mollie a few times as she gets away from him, hiding. What’s an interesting note is that some sort of liquid seems to be dripping from Mollie. When you encounter her in one of the tubes, she leaves behind some sort of reddish grime that disappears once her animation is done. Her eyes, also, aren’t the way they’re usually portrayed. They’re similar to Lloyd’s in that there are white pinpricks of light in dark sockets, Lloyd’s being thin ovals in dark sockets.
As Ed finishes up the puzzles, he goes deeper before he’s attacked by Mascot Mollie herself, fleeing through the numerous tubes and tunnels, before eventually leaving it all behind and entering some sort of Ranglers Only Area.
Before we continue, I’d like to point out something. When being chased, Mascot Mollie occasionally rehearses some lines she once heard, repeating this.
Finely, to Rambley: “You’ve known me for 100 years.”
Reasonable enough; she was there when Ed was in the Rambley’s Railroad attraction. No, what concerns me are two other lines, identified by SuperHorrorBro in his analysis of chapter one.
Mascot Mollie: “Get back in your cage, bird.”
And finally, this.
Mascot Mollie: “Get up you stupid freak!”
Remember, Mascot Mollie only repeats what she has once heard. She doesn’t actively make her own dialogue. Remember the theory I had about the Mascots having enough of their terrible living conditions, and rebelling against the staff? It seems like this is the right direction to go in. Lloyd and Mollie do not attack immediately. While Lloyd runs away, Mollie observes, watching, biding her time. She follows you to Lloyd’s theater, and what does she see, or, rather, hear? Lloyd being pushed further and further back into his domain, the one place he should be happy, before being forced into a corner, and where he lashes out. Even though Ed ends up leaving, he ends up claiming a piece of Lloyd’s territory, and Lloyd goes back onto his instincts, to hunt. However, when he gets too close, that blasted, accursed Critter Cuff lets out its horrible whine, Lloyd collapsing, consumed with nothing but pain. Once the sound ends, he flees, like a terrified animal.
And what does Ed see when he leaves? Mascot Mollie, observing Ed. She’s seen that, yet again, a human encroaches, pushes their bounds, eventually hurting Lloyd to get what he wants. And then, he goes to Mollie’s home, the Jetstream Junction, a place she’s been locked out of due to needing a Critter Cuff, but she wouldn’t dare touch one. She saw what happened to Lloyd, who knew what sort of anguish it would inflict upon Mollie?
She enters behind Ed, stalking him, fury building as she watches Ed run about like he owns the place. How dare this man, this human, walk upon her domain whenever he wants, but she has to wait until she’s let in, like some sort of caged bird. Well, she’s not a caged bird, and she’ll make Ed see that.
At first, when AI Rambley sees Ed, he wishes to stop Ed, but seeing a towering Mascot Mollie chasing him, he opens the door, slamming it shut behind Ed just as Mascot Mollie’s head enters the room, killing the Mascot instantly as blood sprays all over the metallic door and floor. AI Rambley attempts to act like nothing happened, but fails, sighing.
He explains that he didn’t realize the danger of Indigo Park and its inhabitants due to being stuck in that early Reception Center for all of those eight, lonely years, unable to see or interact with anything inside. He was just so excited to finally see an actual person that he pushed Ed into this tour, realizing that, with the way things were, there was no way Ed would come out unscathed, and the AI seems genuine in his sorrow. However, he asks for Ed to help restore the park to the former glory, and, miraculously, Ed agrees. However, before Ed leaves, AI Rambley drops this one last piece of vital information.
AI Rambley: “Whew! That was exhausting to say that whole spiel, but Rambley’s Ranglers (registered) is a registered trademark … that expired yesterday.”
Okay, so couple things. From my impression, I had the feeling that somehow, someway the Indigo Company as a whole was alive and kicking. I mean, look at what Ed has to say when he interacts with the Rambley Raccoon plushy.
Ed: “Ah, there’s my buddy. Kinda feels like Rambley has a whole empire now, being the main man of Indigo and all.”
Ed gives us the distinct impression that not only is Indigo still around, but it’s also positively thriving, yet they allow their trademarks to expire? Trademarks essentially last forever, but you have to fight, in court, to let them continue every ten years or so. If Indigo is based on Disney, the stingiest, largest entertainment company, why would they let their trademark expire, and give access to others? Well, this might have to do with the initial terms.
You see, in order to keep a trademark, you have to defend its usage every ten years. Well, okay, then why didn’t Indigo do so? One of the terms for renewal is that you have to continuously use that trademark. You can’t just claim one and never use it again, that’s basically an infraction upon free speech. Sure, you can fight for its ownership, but there are rules and regulations to these kinds of things, you can’t just trademark something like ‘Oof’ or ‘Lmao’ and keep it without at least saying those phrases occassionally.
And, so far as we know, there are no other places such as Indigo Park owns. Ranglers are synonymous with staff in the park, so obviously, it would be hard to justify keeping a trademark when you never expect to use it. So, that’s my theory on why the trademark did indeed expire the day previously, October 6^th, 2023 (apparently, the creator confirmed the game takes place in 2023, so, that means that Ed arrives on October 7^th, 2023, and the last person to enter park left on October 7^th, 2015).
Anyways, after that, AI Rambley leads Ed to Oceanic Odyssey with the intention to get it back up and running, as it has been closed due to repairs, something that AI Rambley hopes Ed can assist with. As Ed exits, he tries entering a hallway, which AI Rambley blocks.
AI Rambley: “Uh oh. That Rambley’s Ranglers room is only accessible by Royal Ranglers. Maybe you’ll grow up big and strong enough to enter it! But for now, don’t.”
This is the first instance of hierarchy within the Ranglers that Ed has been introduced to so far, and the dark undertone AI Rambley takes when he tells Ed not to go there is somewhat concerning. What exactly is AI Rambley hiding back there? Well, I have a few hunches.
Let’s point out the obvious regarding our friends, the Mascots; they’re not regular animals. Obviously, regular animals don’t have dark orbitals with thin white slits, or have turquoise noses, or have macaws the size of cassowaries. However, they are still animals, creatures of flesh and blood that act like their regular animal counterparts; Lloyd is an ambush predator, stalking until he himself is presented with an opportunity to attack. However, lions are known to just straight up attack if they are discovered by accident, especially if the prey is weaker and slower than them. Lloyd runs away instead of attacking.
Similarly, Mollie follows Ed warily, unsure of what to think of him for most of the time. She never aggresses until he enters her territory, and even then, she’s surprisingly lenient with Ed, straight up until he finishes those color-coded symbol puzzles. Only then does she attack. And even then, this is a behavior reflected in regular macaws as well, as these birds are fiercely territorial of their area.
So, these Mascots didn’t pop up straight from the ground, did they? They had to be bioengineered at the very least, mutated regular animals becoming the Mascots guests once knew and loved. They are, however, animals at their core, animals that do not attack for no reason. They try to deescalate the situation, as Lloyd does when he runs backstage, and when Mollie pulls herself back through the tunnels, away from Ed, and striding through the corridors, until she eventually loses patience and chases after Ed through Jetsream Junction.
I’d like to propose the theory that these Mascots were created in that area of Jetstream Junction, hidden underground and away from prying eyes. This is also where the Mascots were likely mistreated and abused, called horribly names at the very least, and endured beatings and humiliating acts at their worst. This is also likely where the Mascots originally snapped. After all, literally not a single guest understands why they were evacuated. Unless the guests who saw what happened were silenced, there should have been something floating around the Internet, on some obscure forum.
Now, why would AI Rambley hide this? Because he now understands that these Mascots are dangerous, a risk he cannot allow, since he enlisted Ed to bring the park back from the dead. AI Rambley realizes that Ed doesn’t have the tools to survive that area; perhaps because one of the Mascots lurks in there, locked away, or because he doesn’t want Ed to flee, horrified as to the scientific process that allowed for the mutated abominations to roam Indigo Park.
Regardless, Ed finally makes his way to the entrance of Oceanic Odyssey, home of the Mascot Finley. In fact, we actually get to see a glimpse of Finely’s actual size in one of the aquariums as his large head and long torso appear, before the chapter ends. I don’t believe that this is an animatronic, as electricity and water do not mix, especially animatronic with running current of electricity in water.
And that’s where Chapter 1 of Indigo Park, ‘Birds of a Feather’, ends off. Chapter Two will likely revolve mostly, if not totally, around Oceanic Odyssey and Mascot Finley.
So, I have two predictions as for where the next chapter might go. Based on the reactions Mascots previously had to Ed, I believe that Mascot Finley will not be attacking immediately. He’ll likely be observing, like Mollie, at least for a certain amount of time, until he proceeds to attack and harass Ed around his attraction. Ed will eventually get Oceanic Odyssey up and running, and have to leave Mascot Finley behind, as he’s still hostile and very much a danger to Ed.
The alternative to this is that once Mascot Finely realizes what Ed is trying to do, he stops being aggressive, and might instead become a temporary ally, allowing Ed to reach certain locations with his knowledge of the place.
Regardless of Mascot Finley’s ultimate fate, Oceanic Odyssey being powered on will likely catch the attention of Indigo. Based on the information we know so far, Indigo is still a well known, public entity. It’s possible that Indigo abandoned the theme park route, instead focusing exclusively on media such as cartoons, movies, and merch, or they might have other sister locations to Indigo Park. It’s unclear.
Whew. In the words of AI Rambley, this is a lot of information. Almost nine thousand words in, and we finally finish covering Chapter 1. So, let’s proceed to the Conclusion I draw regarding the story Indigo Park tries to tell, and the future events that might transpire.

Hi, not sure if this has been documented before but here I am, giving my 2 cents worth to everyone who needs this. I know it’s been really tough on everyone who has to go through this. It’s a really long post, so if you are short on time, just go straight to the heading in bold to find out what you’re looking for.
I don't know where everyone is from, but I am from Singapore and apparently, I can’t find any related posts by Singaporeans in any subreddits. If any fellow countryman needs this, there you go. For fellow netizens with Hip Dysplasia, there might be differences in the processes, but I suppose the recovery process is just about the same. Hope this helps, nonetheless!
Pre-diagnosis I have been a leisure runner in my late teens, and pretty much run about 5 to 10km regularly til mid-20s. It started with knee pain in a particular race, and the pain continued for a couple of years more. I had wanted to train for a half marathon, but I also wanted to ensure that I started my training right and pain-free. So I went to straight to a Sports Specialist Doctor in a Public Hospital and she diagnosed me with a Runner’s Knee (or formally known as Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, PFPS) after looking through my x-ray, and my description of pain. She referred me to the Podiatrist and the Physiotherapist for gait correction and muscle strengthening. It was going on fine for a while, but I still couldn’t run pain-free. Then Covid came, and the appointments have to be suspended. But I was still doing my physio exercises and running about 2.5 to 5km when we were allowed to.
Diagnosis As more restrictions eased, I began training for speed, and that was when the pain started coming from the hip, and walking became strangely painful with a pinching sensation at the hip/groin area at this point. I sought help from a private physiotherapist to find out what happened. After a few sessions, he realized something was not right and suggested me to get a hip x-ray done. And so I did, at a Polyclinic, and the x-ray showed shallow acetabulum and I got referred (again) to a Sports Specialist to get a MRI done. And LHP with a labrum tear was the diagnosis. And to no surprise… I got referred to another Specialist again, who was affirmative that I need a LPAO and at the same time broke it to me that I have a RHP which will need a PAO too. If you need to know the timeline - I had the x-ray done at the end of 2022, MRI done on mid-2023, LPAO done at the start of 2024.
Pre-surgery Preparation (Work) Check with your doctor on the estimated rest period (mine’s 3months) and inform your boss about it. The surgery will most likely be about 5 hours max, hospital stay 5 days, and you will be on 2 crutches for 6-8 weeks, and another 1-2 weeks on 1 crutch to stabilize your walking. You might be able to resume work obligations if it’s a sedentary job or another 6 more weeks of home rest if your work requires much walking or manual labour. So it’s really important to work out with your boss and colleagues for a proper handover so that you can concentrate solely on recovery.
Pre-surgery Preparation (Hospital) There will be a blood test / some swab done 3 – 4 weeks prior to the surgery; the nurse will let you know. You will be under General Anesthesia (GA) during the surgery, so fasting is required a day before is required.
Do pack light for your hospital stay. Use a backpack for convenience. Clothes to wear after discharge + source of entertainment and communication is enough. You wouldn’t want to carry a lot of things home after discharge when you’re on 2 crutches.
Pre-surgery Preparation (Insurance + Hospital Wards) Do inform your Insurance Agent / Company about it so that they are aware. It may or may not be covered, so please get in touch with them as soon as you have the details.
[Singapore’s context] There will be a pre-admission appointment with the hospital staff about 3 weeks before the scheduled surgery, which the staff with share with you the cost of the different class wards. Basically, Class C (8-bedded) and Class B2 (6-bedded) wards are fully subsidized by the government. I can’t remember how much a Class B1 (4-bedded) ward costs, but probably about 10-15K SGD. Class A (1-bedded) is about 21-23K SGD. The staff with help you out with the Letter of Guarantee (LOG) from your Insurance Company and will let you know in about 2 weeks if the application for LOG is successful, if not you would have to prepare for the bills depending on your chosen ward (either Class A or Class B1). There is no need for LOG for Class C and Class B2 wards, since it’s fully government-subsidized. Medisave and MediShield/IPs will be used for all Class Wards (Note: IPs is only applicable to 30 years old and above). My insurance allows me to be in the Class A ward and the application for LOG was also successful, thankfully.
Pre-surgery Preparation (Personal) Since you will be on crutches, do arrange your house to accommodate that. A folding bedside table, a caddy trolley, a long-arm grabber, pillows are items that you can prepare beforehand. Do also ensure that your toilet is slip-free as well or restructure it in a way that is beneficial for you. I had to bathe sitting on the toilet bowl for the 1^st week as it is difficult to make it slip-free. It got better 2^nd week onwards when I was allowed a 30% weight-bearing on my operated side, so I could be in the showering area. You will be at home and ‘confine’ to the bed/chair most of the time, so it’d be good to have some form of entertainment at home. Nanoblocks, Colouring books, Wordsearch, Sudoku, Crosswords, Netflix, Disney+, Hbo, Reading, Crocheting, Journalling, Zoom with friends are some of the things that you can do / prepare before surgery. You may or may not have energy for them, but that’s ok, the main idea is to focus on resting and having a sound mind so that you won’t be discouraged / feel bored / unmotivated. For meal wise, it’d be good if your family can cook / buy food, if not do ensure that your budget allows you to get food delivery for 6-8 weeks. I got my meals from Grabfood. Do ensure that you have a good chair – not those that put your knees above your hips.
Day of surgery If you can, do arrive 5-10mins earlier to settle in after registration.
[Singapore’s context] Do note that the staff who registers you in will ask you for the person to contact after the surgery. It’d be a text message to inform the person on the end of your surgery and which ward you will be in. You will need to sign the LOG letter (if any) and proceed to take your height and weight at the self-administered machine. Wait and follow any instructions by the nurse. You will be asked to change into the hospital gown and the nurses will ask you more questions, just answer them accordingly. They will also help to keep your belongings in their storage and will deliver to your ward at their timeslot after your surgery.
Process of surgery The Anesthesiology team will introduce themselves to you and go through the pain management methods. They asked what method (they mentioned 3, but I only remembered what I had) I preferred, and I told them to go ahead with what they think was good for me. Epidural, it was. And so, I got pricked with needles and whatnots and they finally brought me into the operating room. I didn’t realize the room was so big and cold and there were many doctors and nurses around. They did their thing, and I was just trying not to feel awkward with so many people looking at my bareback and being in a very vulnerable state. It’s a little pricky and painful at some point. Do let them know if you’re too cold, they have this hot air thing that can warm you up. They will also insert a urine catheter for you to help with the bladder movements. I was quickly under General Anesthesia (GA) with a breathing mouthpiece (the Anesthesiologists will direct you on what to do). I woke up after the surgery with a very dry throat and asked if I could have some water. They gave me a tiny vial of water, just about enough to soothe my throat. I guess it was also caused I was under GA and couldn’t be given much for my stomach too. I was quite aware of what was going on though I was still a little sleepy. I had to be brought to the High Dependency Ward (HDW) due to low blood pressure.
After surgery (in HDW) I kept wanting to drink water but that also caused me to vomit out water and had no appetite for dinner. Nausea and vomiting are just some side effects of GA. (I remembered being disappointed that I couldn’t have the watermelon, I had wanted to eat that, but I knew I couldn’t stomach it) And little did I realize that was the last time I saw a watermelon during meal times (damn the side effects). I was also quite weak on my operated left side, I was not in that much of a pain, just some discomfort. I was given a self-administered morphine device too, there is this button that I can press to administer morphine into my system at regular interval, the device has some safety feature which helps to stop people from abusing it) Used it once after I had to be flipped over to be wiped clean by the nurse (at this time, I had given up on trying to maintain my dignity, though the nurses were quite humane about it, if you know what I mean) But I was also trying not to use the morphine at all cos it gave me more side effects like drowsiness and an even lower blood pressure). Thankfully I had a good Pain Team (that’s what they call themselves), which helped to lower the dosage after they realized I was not using it that much and I was still very drowsy (I fell asleep halfway unknowingly after talking to people), and eventually I was off it. I was taken for an x-ray after the nurse ascertained that my blood pressure was normal (since I had the catheter, I just sipped water without a care in the world, to help raise my blood pressure). And I administered the morphine once after they flipped me over for the x-ray (it was bloody hell painful and it took a lot of strength). Probably in a day or 2, the doctors decided to remove my epidural needle and I was finally free of it. The next thing to get rid of was the catheter. I had a love-hate relationship with it. I need to be able to pass motion to get rid of it, which I did after an arduous process. Constipation is a side effect of not moving around. Your stool will most definitely be a Type 1 under the Bristol Stool Chart but it will be back to normal in a few days or so. I did a little cheer when I finally pooped.
My physiotherapist came and pushed me to move around. The first step coming down from the bed was the hardest due to gravitational pull. My muscles needed to be woken up after lying down for 48 hours or more. I got transferred to General Ward (GW) soon after.
After surgery (GW) I had some bed exercises to help to wake up the muscles and I was using the walker to move around. It was tough doing the bed exercises, but they have to be done. I was also able to bath independently by sitting down on the bathing chair in the bathing area of the toilet. I still needed assistance to wear my pyjamas pants. So unfortunately, the nurse still had to be around when I bathed for safety purposes since I was a fall-risk patient.
At this time, I was trying to get out of bed and be in the chair and also use the walker more to help with moving around and getting the muscles up and running. I had 2 more physio sessions with the crutches. Using the walker frequently helped with the use of crutches. (You will know what I meant when you have tried both out. You can push yourself but please do not force it if you are not strong enough yet.) My doctors have cleared me for discharge, I just need my physiotherapist to clear me too (they have to be sure that I can use the crutches properly and safely and also complete simple daily adaptive skills). Finally, I got cleared for discharge. I got the medication, and it was a cashless and fuss-free stay/process for me. I stayed in the hospital for 7 days (3.5 days in HDW, 3.5 days in GW). Remember to get your crutches before leaving the hospital.
Home rest 1st Week I must say, it’s really liberating to be at home, though it’s really a chore to move around. I did my physio exercises about 3x a day and just be a sloth. I was still very tired, but it was difficult to sleep. I’m usually a side sleeper, but I had to sleep on my back for 6 weeks, at least. My doctors said that I could sleep on my unoperated side, but it can be achy.
Home rest 2nd Week Things are looking up a little more since I could place a 30% weight on my left. I could enter the showering area now, just be careful not to overload the operated side. 2 crutches are still a must to prevent any overloading of weight to help with the recovery. Protein and calcium-rich food are your best friend. Again, do your physio exercises regularly. I still do mine 3x a day.
Home rest 7th Week Finally, I got to put full weight on my operated side. Happily, I tried to ditch BOTH my crutches, please do not be like me! Ease into walking slowly. Use 1 crutch to help you with the gravity pull as you put 100% weight on both legs. It is also possible to ditch the crutch and try walking on very short distances, do take care of your walking form. If you limp badly, please use 1 crutch and practice walking. I did try stairs and use the railings if necessary. I managed to ditch the crutches by Week 8. Physio continues, if you have access to the gym, please go ahead, slowly. I am sleeping both on my back and on my unoperated side now.
Home rest 13th Week Not sure if things are still looking good, but my knees kinda hurt, and that’d be another story for another day. I am cleared to resume work, though I still got to be careful with the walking and all.
Week 14 – Week 18 (current) I think since I am walking a lot more, I am limping a little, but not enough for a need to bring back the crutch. It got more achy when I’m sleeping on my unoperated side and still a little discomfort if I try to sleep on my operated side. My operated side is still weak and achy when I walk or sit or lie down. I am still doing my physio, though not 3x a day now.
I am not too sure how I will progress but that’s my journey thus far. Happy to share here and to answer any questions you may have.
Edit: Formatting

Edit: If you’re going to make a whole comment to tell me I’m wrong because The Bayeux Tapestry is well-known lmao, please also make sure to mention the names of the women who made it and how well they were known and appreciated and remembered….. oh, wait, you can’t. Because they weren’t.
Historically, womens’ contributions to the textile industries and crafts such as needlepoint/crossstitch/embroidery/crochet/lacemaking/etc have been so overlooked and dismissed, much like anything women did. Even the hard filthy dangerous work girls and women did in textile mills in the later industrial revolution is pretty much ignored as this bullshit idea has been spread that women just stayed home and didn’t work. Women have ALWAYS worked. And women have always created beautiful works of art through needlecrafts it’s just that it was framed as a housekeeping task or a helpful way to pass the time for a stay-at-home woman instead of the creative detailed ART deserving of recognition that it really is.
I explore lots of antique stores and come across lots of pieces of old needlepoint and cross-stitched handkerchiefs or crocheted tablecloths and it always makes me feel a connection to the women who made them… it just kills me that girls and womens’ contributions to these aspects of society aren’t taught at all, and incel men on the Internet can spout bullshit like “But men made everything, men built everything” and some people really think that’s true.

Hello Crocheters! The final tabulations are in, and we can feel that it’s in the air. It’s Celebration time. It’s time for sweet music that captivates the mind; the parties, the songs, the jams that make us go rum-bum-bum-bum. It’s summertime, and we’re feeling hot, hot, hot. Thankfully, to cool off, y’all have chosen the Checkered Hydration Bottle Carrier to carry our refreshing beverages as we go about our day. I won’t question what you have in your flask, just be responsible. Have a look at Caab Crochet to see all the patterns they have available, and help them out. I enjoyed reading over the Checkered Hydration Bottle Carrier, or as she actually has it labeled as, the Checkered Bottle Holder. The pattern holds with the theme of repletion this month, and seems approachable even by beginners. One of the items I look forward to learning, as they have a link to it in the online pattern, is how to carry the yarn ; twas one of the issues with the last CAL (is that I will remember you playing from my Porg?) Regardless, with the pattern this will make for a great project to show off your team spirit, and might do well at the craft stores (contact Caab Crochet for permission and attribution requirements). They recommend a cotton yarn, but anything that is durable and washable should be usable.
AS ALWAYS:
Attributions:
Buster Poindexter. Hot, Hot, Hot
Sarah McLachlan. I Will Remember You
Please be mindful of those who do not want to participate by keeping all CAL-related posts here in this megathread. This includes project updates, questions, and finished objects. Please doesn't hesitate to join us even if you are newer to crochet or have never tried this type of crochet. There will be a lot of people making it, so we can help you along if at any point, you get stuck.
July CAL voting will begin in the last 7ish days of this month. If you would like to suggest a pattern or a theme for June please message CroFishCrafter or LifeByIkea directly or post your suggestions below. We are having internal talks about what the future of the CAL will look like.
We are excited to crochet with you!

Hey! I'm Will from England. I've made quite a few posts on here for the last few years and it just feels like I'm stuck getting a minimal messages and I need a marketing degree to stand out these days but seeing posts I make get over a thousand views and not a single message just is a bit... yeah.
If we get on great, but if not then that's fine too but at least we tried! We may not have everything in common unless you're my lost, unknown twin
I'll be honest, I'm just really lonely, I don't let it get me down, but I feel like I can't do as much as I used to just because I don't really have people to do stuff with if that makes sense? I also assume that this spiralled lonliness I used to have quite alot of friends but as they all went their own directions, I just missed the boat I guess.
I'm a pretty chill PC gamer (mainlly League ARAM and Overwatch QP with a few Hades games in between), wannabe chef, full time law worker, rock-climber, and I like exploring and being out in nature. Won't spam you with memes but will spam you with music and dog pics from the animal shelter I volunteer in! I spend a few evenings either working on my motorbike, crocheting, candle making or just hanging out with a fox who visit's me every night! I love going to Estonia and baltics so if you're from there, that'd be great! I am quite an overly positive person, you can get a positive out of any situation, I am drama free and just generally hard to offend. Self-depreciating humour always gives me a laugh too. I'm a pretty open book so feel free to ask anything!
Just mainly looking for somebody to chat to on a long term basis (mainly from Europe or simillar time zone to the UK) and somebody to check in with every day and to just have a laugh with. I'm not the kind to sit on a call for hours but very avid messenger. I'm usually ghost-free unless you're being weird.
Bit of an ice breaker, two truths and a lie

I played Violin to a near professional level until I picked up the Banjo
I resemble Harry Potter and have the matching scar on my head
I have had a Netflix Account for 5 years and only watched 1 show on there

So brief context muna tayo, I'm a (16F) and he/she is (16M) we're a highschool student, currently in Grade 10 (graduated na kami as of now).
so ito na nga nagsimula yun nung nagkaroon ng table skirting competition samin, magkakagroupo kami. Nung mga time na yun hindi ko iniisip or hindi man lang sumagi sa utak ko na magkakagusto ako sakanya, nung pumunta kami sa bahay nung isa naming kaklase para mag practice tina-try niya akong kausapin since hindi pa kami masyadong close and I'm a very introverted person (to the point na inaakala nila na may disability ako kaya hindi ako nagsasalita). he/she din everything he/she could para mapasama ako sa usapan or sa plano nila, wala naman akong sinasabi since maganda naman yung mga designs na sinasuggest nila, and after nun nalaman ko na walking distance lang pala yung bahay nila samin (hinatid ko siya sa bahay nila) and then kinabukasan nagpapasend yung tc namin ng sample ng design na aanohin namin, since malayo yung iba naming ka group nagchat siya sakin and nagpatulong para kaming dalawa nalang gagawa ng sample design, pinuntahan ko siya sa kanil,a and habang gumagawa kami ng sample, kwento siya ng kwento to the point na parang sobrang ramdom na ng topic namin kasi wala na siyang maikwento sakin, which is i found very cute.
After that interaction, napasama na'ko sa circle of friends niya. After a few months, unti unti kong napapansin na lagi kong inaabangan yung mga chats and mga rants niya, and lagi nalang siyang pumapasok sa isip ko(ang corny), lagi ko na ding inaantay yung mga aya niya late night walks namin (since ayaw niya magrant sa chat, gusto niya sa personal), nag start na din akong magcrochet and ibibigay ko sakanya (kunwari extrang gawa ko lang yun, or napapangitan ako kaya ko binibigay sakanya.)
He is very vocal sa mga crush niya na mga lalaki, minsan pag nag night walk kami "nagpopogi hunting" kami, and then one day, nung inaya ko siya mag night walk, napag usapan namin yung gender niya, na meron daw siyang crush na babae, then tinanong ko siya kung gay ba talaga siya or bi, hindi pa din daw siya sure, pero sobrang na a-attract siya sa mga lalaki. After that night, nagbibigay na siya ng mix signals sakin (or nag aassume lang ako?), like nung nagkapartner kami nung "Dress up your dream", sinabi niya na bagay daw since OA daw siya and nonchalant daw ako, and yung pag myday niya ng mga late night walks namin, yung pics ng shadows namin sa. gabi and yung mga pics ng milktea namin, and yung mga "Ice cream dates" daw namin lahat yun mina myday niya and yung binigay niya na crochet na ginawa niya na heart na nilagay niya sa id namin (yung mga tipong pang soft launch talaga)
and one day, nahahalata na nila na gusto ko siya, nagsimula na sila asarin kaming dalawa(jokingly? not sure). Ilang beses na'ko umamin sakayan indirectly (like sign language, spanish) and yung pinabasa ko sa kanya yung notes na sinulat ko, yung mga thoughts ko about sakanya, obvious naman na about sakanya yun (pero walang name na nakalagay) then tinanong niya kung para kanino daw yun, hindi ko nasabi sakanya kasi nahiya na bigla ako, and after that nakikita ko yung mga post niya sa fb na may nagbibigay daw sakanya ng mix signals, nag start ako na mag assume na tungkol sakin yun kasi lahat ng post niya tumutugma sakin, like yung pagbibigay ko sa kanya ng mga handmade gifts tapos magkwekwento ako about sa crush ko which is siya. naging ganun yung set up namin hanggang sa graduation.
Gustong gusto ko na umamin sakanya directly, kasi magkakahiwalay na kami ng schools pero nag aalangan ako na baka masira yung cof namin and yung friendship namin ng dahil dun, and isa pa, lagi niyang kinekwento about sa crushes niya and very vocal siya sa pagiging gay niya, while ako hanggang ngayun, di pa din sure sa gender ko, and isa pa ayoko din naman na ma pressure siya or mailang siya ng dahil lang umamin ako, hindi ko alam kung mas better ba na aamin ako or mag i-istay ako sa pagiging bff niya knowing na i have a hidden feelings for me.
give me an advice please badly needed :<

Worked on a blanket, (Stained Glass Wonder https://www.lillabjorncrochet.com/2019/04/stained-glass-crochet-wonder-blanket.html) as a gift for my daughter. Finally done. All ends weaved in. It’s currently in a laundry bag on delicate in my washing machine. I’ll be on edge until it comes out of the wash in one piece and hung to dry. I’ve never had anything unravel in the wash, but the time spent on this is directly proportional to the amount of apprehension I’m feeling right now.

So brief context muna tayo, I'm a (16F) and he/she is (16M) we're a highschool student, currently in Grade 10 (graduated na kami as of now).
so ito na nga nagsimula yun nung nagkaroon ng table skirting competition samin, magkakagroupo kami. Nung mga time na yun hindi ko iniisip or hindi man lang sumagi sa utak ko na magkakagusto ako sakanya, nung pumunta kami sa bahay nung isa naming kaklase para mag practice tina-try niya akong kausapin since hindi pa kami masyadong close and I'm a very introverted person (to the point na inaakala nila na may disability ako kaya hindi ako nagsasalita). he/she din everything he/she could para mapasama ako sa usapan or sa plano nila, wala naman akong sinasabi since maganda naman yung mga designs na sinasuggest nila, and after nun nalaman ko na walking distance lang pala yung bahay nila samin (hinatid ko siya sa bahay nila) and then kinabukasan nagpapasend yung tc namin ng sample ng design na aanohin namin, since malayo yung iba naming ka group nagchat siya sakin and nagpatulong para kaming dalawa nalang gagawa ng sample design, pinuntahan ko siya sa kanil,a and habang gumagawa kami ng sample, kwento siya ng kwento to the point na parang sobrang ramdom na ng topic namin kasi wala na siyang maikwento sakin, which is i found very cute.
After that interaction, napasama na'ko sa circle of friends niya. After a few months, unti unti kong napapansin na lagi kong inaabangan yung mga chats and mga rants niya, and lagi nalang siyang pumapasok sa isip ko(ang corny), lagi ko na ding inaantay yung mga aya niya late night walks namin (since ayaw niya magrant sa chat, gusto niya sa personal), nag start na din akong magcrochet and ibibigay ko sakanya (kunwari extrang gawa ko lang yun, or napapangitan ako kaya ko binibigay sakanya.)
He is very vocal sa mga crush niya na mga lalaki, minsan pag nag night walk kami "nagpopogi hunting" kami, and then one day, nung inaya ko siya mag night walk, napag usapan namin yung gender niya, na meron daw siyang crush na babae, then tinanong ko siya kung gay ba talaga siya or bi, hindi pa din daw siya sure, pero sobrang na a-attract siya sa mga lalaki. After that night, nagbibigay na siya ng mix signals sakin (or nag aassume lang ako?), like nung nagkapartner kami nung "Dress up your dream", sinabi niya na bagay daw since OA daw siya and nonchalant daw ako, and yung pag myday niya ng mga late night walks namin, yung pics ng shadows namin sa. gabi and yung mga pics ng milktea namin, and yung mga "Ice cream dates" daw namin lahat yun mina myday niya and yung binigay niya na crochet na ginawa niya na heart na nilagay niya sa id namin (yung mga tipong pang soft launch talaga)
and one day, nahahalata na nila na gusto ko siya, nagsimula na sila asarin kaming dalawa(jokingly? not sure). Ilang beses na'ko umamin sakayan indirectly (like sign language, spanish) and yung pinabasa ko sa kanya yung notes na sinulat ko, yung mga thoughts ko about sakanya, obvious naman na about sakanya yun (pero walang name na nakalagay) then tinanong niya kung para kanino daw yun, hindi ko nasabi sakanya kasi nahiya na bigla ako, and after that nakikita ko yung mga post niya sa fb na may nagbibigay daw sakanya ng mix signals, nag start ako na mag assume na tungkol sakin yun kasi lahat ng post niya tumutugma sakin, like yung pagbibigay ko sa kanya ng mga handmade gifts tapos magkwekwento ako about sa crush ko which is siya. naging ganun yung set up namin hanggang sa graduation.
Gustong gusto ko na umamin sakanya directly, kasi magkakahiwalay na kami ng schools pero nag aalangan ako na baka masira yung cof namin and yung friendship namin ng dahil dun, and isa pa, lagi niyang kinekwento about sa crushes niya and very vocal siya sa pagiging gay niya, while ako hanggang ngayun, di pa din sure sa gender ko, and isa pa ayoko din naman na ma pressure siya or mailang siya ng dahil lang umamin ako, hindi ko alam kung mas better ba na aamin ako or mag i-istay ako sa pagiging bff niya knowing na i have a hidden feelings for me.

So brief context muna tayo, I'm a (16F) and he/she is (16M) we're a highschool student, currently in Grade 10 (graduated na kami as of now).
so ito na nga nagsimula yun nung nagkaroon ng table skirting competition samin, magkakagroupo kami. Nung mga time na yun hindi ko iniisip or hindi man lang sumagi sa utak ko na magkakagusto ako sakanya, nung pumunta kami sa bahay nung isa naming kaklase para mag practice tina-try niya akong kausapin since hindi pa kami masyadong close and I'm a very introverted person (to the point na inaakala nila na may disability ako kaya hindi ako nagsasalita). he/she din everything he/she could para mapasama ako sa usapan or sa plano nila, wala naman akong sinasabi since maganda naman yung mga designs na sinasuggest nila, and after nun nalaman ko na walking distance lang pala yung bahay nila samin (hinatid ko siya sa bahay nila) and then kinabukasan nagpapasend yung tc namin ng sample ng design na aanohin namin, since malayo yung iba naming ka group nagchat siya sakin and nagpatulong para kaming dalawa nalang gagawa ng sample design, pinuntahan ko siya sa kanil,a and habang gumagawa kami ng sample, kwento siya ng kwento to the point na parang sobrang ramdom na ng topic namin kasi wala na siyang maikwento sakin, which is i found very cute.
After that interaction, napasama na'ko sa circle of friends niya. After a few months, unti unti kong napapansin na lagi kong inaabangan yung mga chats and mga rants niya, and lagi nalang siyang pumapasok sa isip ko(ang corny), lagi ko na ding inaantay yung mga aya niya late night walks namin (since ayaw niya magrant sa chat, gusto niya sa personal), nag start na din akong magcrochet and ibibigay ko sakanya (kunwari extrang gawa ko lang yun, or napapangitan ako kaya ko binibigay sakanya.)
He is very vocal sa mga crush niya na mga lalaki, minsan pag nag night walk kami "nagpopogi hunting" kami, and then one day, nung inaya ko siya mag night walk, napag usapan namin yung gender niya, na meron daw siyang crush na babae, then tinanong ko siya kung gay ba talaga siya or bi, hindi pa din daw siya sure, pero sobrang na a-attract siya sa mga lalaki. After that night, nagbibigay na siya ng mix signals sakin (or nag aassume lang ako?), like nung nagkapartner kami nung "Dress up your dream", sinabi niya na bagay daw since OA daw siya and nonchalant daw ako, and yung pag myday niya ng mga late night walks namin, yung pics ng shadows namin sa. gabi and yung mga pics ng milktea namin, and yung mga "Ice cream dates" daw namin lahat yun mina myday niya and yung binigay niya na crochet na ginawa niya na heart na nilagay niya sa id namin (yung mga tipong pang soft launch talaga)
and one day, nahahalata na nila na gusto ko siya, nagsimula na sila asarin kaming dalawa(jokingly? not sure). Ilang beses na'ko umamin sakayan indirectly (like sign language, spanish) and yung pinabasa ko sa kanya yung notes na sinulat ko, yung mga thoughts ko about sakanya, obvious naman na about sakanya yun (pero walang name na nakalagay) then tinanong niya kung para kanino daw yun, hindi ko nasabi sakanya kasi nahiya na bigla ako, and after that nakikita ko yung mga post niya sa fb na may nagbibigay daw sakanya ng mix signals, nag start ako na mag assume na tungkol sakin yun kasi lahat ng post niya tumutugma sakin, like yung pagbibigay ko sa kanya ng mga handmade gifts tapos magkwekwento ako about sa crush ko which is siya. naging ganun yung set up namin hanggang sa graduation.
Gustong gusto ko na umamin sakanya directly, kasi magkakahiwalay na kami ng schools pero nag aalangan ako na baka masira yung cof namin and yung friendship namin ng dahil dun, and isa pa, lagi niyang kinekwento about sa crushes niya and very vocal siya sa pagiging gay niya, while ako hanggang ngayun, di pa din sure sa gender ko, and isa pa ayoko din naman na ma pressure siya or mailang siya ng dahil lang umamin ako, hindi ko alam kung mas better ba na aamin ako or mag i-istay ako sa pagiging bff niya knowing na i have a hidden feelings for me.
I'm posting this because i just want to let off of my chest, since wala akong mapagkwentuhan regarding dito kasi parehas kami ng cof

So brief context muna tayo, I'm a (16F) bisexual and he/she is (16M) gay, we're a highschool student, currently in Grade 10 (graduated na kami as of now).
so ito na nga nagsimula yun nung nagkaroon ng table skirting competition samin, magkakagroupo kami. Nung mga time na yun hindi ko iniisip or hindi man lang sumagi sa utak ko na magkakagusto ako sakanya, nung pumunta kami sa bahay nung isa naming kaklase para mag practice tina-try niya akong kausapin since hindi pa kami masyadong close and I'm a very introverted person (to the point na inaakala nila na may disability ako kaya hindi ako nagsasalita). he/she din everything he/she could para mapasama ako sa usapan or sa plano nila, wala naman akong sinasabi since maganda naman yung mga designs na sinasuggest nila, and after nun nalaman ko na walking distance lang pala yung bahay nila samin (hinatid ko siya sa bahay nila) and then kinabukasan nagpapasend yung tc namin ng sample ng design na aanohin namin, since malayo yung iba naming ka group nagchat siya sakin and nagpatulong para kaming dalawa nalang gagawa ng sample design, pinuntahan ko siya sa kanil,a and habang gumagawa kami ng sample, kwento siya ng kwento to the point na parang sobrang ramdom na ng topic namin kasi wala na siyang maikwento sakin, which is i found very cute.
After that interaction, napasama na'ko sa circle of friends niya. After a few months, unti unti kong napapansin na lagi kong inaabangan yung mga chats and mga rants niya, and lagi nalang siyang pumapasok sa isip ko(ang corny), lagi ko na ding inaantay yung mga aya niya late night walks namin (since ayaw niya magrant sa chat, gusto niya sa personal), nag start na din akong magcrochet and ibibigay ko sakanya (kunwari extrang gawa ko lang yun, or napapangitan ako kaya ko binibigay sakanya.)
He is very vocal sa mga crush niya na mga lalaki, minsan pag nag night walk kami "nagpopogi hunting" kami, and then one day, nung inaya ko siya mag night walk, napag usapan namin yung gender niya, na meron daw siyang crush na babae, then tinanong ko siya kung gay ba talaga siya or bi, hindi pa din daw siya sure, pero sobrang na a-attract siya sa mga lalaki. After that night, nagbibigay na siya ng mix signals sakin (or nag aassume lang ako?), like nung nagkapartner kami nung "Dress up your dream", sinabi niya na bagay daw since OA daw siya and nonchalant daw ako, and yung pag myday niya ng mga late night walks namin, yung pics ng shadows namin sa. gabi and yung mga pics ng milktea namin, and yung mga "Ice cream dates" daw namin lahat yun mina myday niya and yung binigay niya na crochet na ginawa niya na heart na nilagay niya sa id namin (yung mga tipong pang soft launch talaga)
and one day, nahahalata na nila na gusto ko siya, nagsimula na sila asarin kaming dalawa(jokingly? not sure). Ilang beses na'ko umamin sakayan indirectly (like sign language, spanish) and yung pinabasa ko sa kanya yung notes na sinulat ko, yung mga thoughts ko about sakanya, obvious naman na about sakanya yun (pero walang name na nakalagay) then tinanong niya kung para kanino daw yun, hindi ko nasabi sakanya kasi nahiya na bigla ako, and after that nakikita ko yung mga post niya sa fb na may nagbibigay daw sakanya ng mix signals, nag start ako na mag assume na tungkol sakin yun kasi lahat ng post niya tumutugma sakin, like yung pagbibigay ko sa kanya ng mga handmade gifts tapos magkwekwento ako about sa crush ko which is siya. naging ganun yung set up namin hanggang sa graduation.
Gustong gusto ko na umamin sakanya directly, kasi magkakahiwalay na kami ng schools pero nag aalangan ako na baka masira yung cof namin and yung friendship namin ng dahil dun, and isa pa, lagi niyang kinekwento about sa crushes niya and very vocal siya sa pagiging gay niya, while ako hanggang ngayun, di pa din sure sa gender ko, and isa pa ayoko din naman na ma pressure siya or mailang siya ng dahil lang umamin ako, hindi ko alam kung mas better ba na aamin ako or mag i-istay ako sa pagiging bff niya knowing na i have a hidden feelings for me.
plese give me an advice, badly needed :<

Hi everyone,
I was wondering if anyone has birth marks on their vulvas at all? I'm not sure when these showed up, as I just recently started shaving my entire vulva and the hair normally covers the skin. But, I discovered on my labia right next to the vaginal opening, two discolored patches that look like birth marks. One is on the left, and one is on the right. Like almost directly across from each other. They are both oval in shape, but the left side's mark is longer than the right. My vulva skin is mostly light pinkish, and these are very light brown. They aren't raised or anything, it literally feels like the exact same thing as the skin just the color randomly changes and it's in an oval shape.
I know that I should just get it checked out to be safe but my annual obgyn appointment isn't until another two months and I just wanted to see if this is something a lot of other people have noticed.
I have no clue if these just recently popped up or have been there for years, as hair would've been covering the area prior.

Pavent out lang.
Nagbike kami sa UP Oval. May kotse na dumaan sakin then biglang nagbagal at pumasok sa bike lane at nagstop. Akala ko magtatanong ng directions, tapos bigla sumigaw sakin ng "Huwag kang gigitna gitna may bike lane". Galit na galit. Nashock ako since di pa naman ako sanay talaga sa pagbabike and sa ganyan situation. First time ko maka encounter ng ganito. Nagtataka ako bakit g na g sakin, may iba din naman na bikers na nasa outer lane? May mga kotse din naman na umiiwas nalang sa mga other bikers kung nasa outer lane? Bakit sakin galit na galit? Ang laki laki din ng space na pwede niya pa daanan pero gusto niya sa may tabing tabi pa ng bike lane? Baka sabihin niyo ginitgit ko, hindi ako marunong pa gumitgit at hindi ko naman gagawin yun dahil takot ako ano pwede mangyari sakin.
Nasa likod lang kasama ko kaya narinig niya mga pinagsasabi. Hindi na nga lang siya sumagot at for sure daw hindi magpapatalo yun, naka RED PLATE at mukhang govt official daw. Matandang nakasalamin lang naalala ko na galit na galit. Nashock talaga ako. Sana natandaan ko plaka, wala lang.
Yes, may point naman siya pero sana in a nice way sinabi. And kung napunta man talaga ako sa lane niya is dahil madaming joggers sa biker lane. Alangan naman ipagpilitan ko sa mga joggers na bike lane lang ito, doon kayo sa joggers area. At pababa ang daan, what if makatama ako ng tao? Area of Malcolm Hall ito, so if you're familiar sa UP, alam niyo na. Hindi rin naman ako nagbabad sa gitna kasi sa bike lane niya ako inabangan para magsisigaw. Hindi ko nga maalala na nakatabi ko siya or siguro nagmamadali tapos nasa harap ako? Pero kung nagmamadali bakit may time pa siya para sigawan ako?
Bakit kapag ang mga motor at kotse sinasakop ang bike lane, okay lang? Ang dami ko na nakikita sa daan na ganyan pero mga bikers nag aadjust?
Medyo nakakadiscourage lang at some point pero sabi ng kasama ko, marami talagang ganyan and not worth it to think pa. Dapat masanay na ako sa mga ganyang motorist.
Siguro hindi lahat lang tao alam ang ROAD SHARING and ano pa ba aasahan ko kung naka red plate, lagi naman silang tama?
Magcommute nalang ako siguro haha.

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

J is flying through the air, searching for a glimpse of food on the ground or N. Ever since her most useless squadmate disappeared, their food reserves have been getting lower and lower. She would never believe that his constatnt single digit kills per day would make such a difference when her and V get double digits everyday, although the number of workers outside has been lowering with each day and, strangely, the number of corpses raising, as if they were being killed, making her believe that N was still around, just refusing to go back on the spire, which made J very angry.

Suddenly, J felt a huge pain smashing her back. She was sent towards the ground with immense speed, raising snow with the impact. The leader slowly got herself up, her entire body trembling from the pain, it seemed that her back had broken. A small stream of oil gushed from her mouth, as she looked up, trying to spot what hit her. The light of the moon worked against her, showing the clear silhouette of a disassembly. It was too large to be V, so it had to be him.

"Привет Джей" A female voice came from the ground, infront of J. She looked at it, spotting a worker drone with purple hair, red eyes, wearing a red cheerleader uniform "Ты не выглядишь хорошо"

"I don't understand a single shit you say commie bitch" J snarled, earning a small laugh from the worker.

"Вам не нужно, только ему нужно" As the girl finished, the disassembler on the air crashed down, looking directly at J. That's when she noticed one thing. N looked exactly the same as he has always looked like, for the exception of his right eye, that wasn't the yellow oval shape anymore, but instead, a yellow hammer and sickle, his armband being the USSR flag.

"N-N?" J's eyes hollowed at the sight of her teammate. He only looked at her, no emotion visible.

"А теперь, Николай, прикончи ее" The worker commanded, pointing at the pigtailed murderer.

"Да, мой царь" N robotically said, releasing his blades.

"Я не твой царь, и ты не мой слуга. Получите это в своей голове" The girl responded with an annoyed tone, turning around and turning into red mist, disappearing from the place.

"N! What do you thi-" Before J could finish her scolding, she was hit by a blade in her shoulder. She didn't even see it coming. N used his other sword to cut her arm off, kicking her away right after.

He didn't flinch, didn't express any emotion or remorse. He had a goal in mind and there were no words J could muster that would make him turn his head. She never expected this, but she would have to truly kill him this time. However, before she could react, with her guard down, not expecting his new efficiency, she was impaled from behind. The sword going through her core, a guaranteed death to any drone.

He throwed her to the side, not sparing her any glance, instantly deploying his wings, readying to part off. She couldn't believe what she experienced. He was finally useful, but not with her, to her, instead, to a damn communist. Small tears left her visor, as her visor displayed the red error sign. In her last breath, she did what she thought she would never do.

"I'm... Sorry" Her core died, just as she finished. N halted his action, looking at the dead corpse on the ground, the communist symbol in his visor glitching, before stabilizing, flying with no remorse right after.

* * * EXTRA * * * * EXTRA * * *
GROUP LEADERS BOW TO PUBLIC INSISTENCE; ANNOUNCES SECOND MEETING
🧶 Calling all yarn enthusiasts! 🧶
Tired of your friends zoning out when you gush about your latest yarn finds? Worried about your family staging a yarn intervention? Well, fret no more; you've come to the right place! 🙌🏻
No longer will you need to force your nearest and dearest to take an interest in your latest project against their will! Whether you're a seasoned knitter or a beginner crocheter, our group welcomes all skill levels to come together to share tips, inspiration, and of course, good company.
Mark your calendars for our inaugural meeting on Sunday, June 2nd at 2:00 P.M. We'll be convening at The Commons Social Empourium (412 Park Ave). We will be posting future events and other info on BAND through their website and app.
Questions? Feel free to leave a comment or DM me directly.
So pack your current WIPs (Works In Progress) and get ready to connect with fellow fiber enthusiasts who understand your fiber obsession. See you there! 🌟 #YarnLoversUnite
(this is a repost; see original post here)

Author's notes: Here it comes...
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After another 5 minutes of slow floating down the empty hall, I came across another doorway. This room looked more... alien than the airlock, and less recognizable than the control room. There were two rows of pillars that ran from the floor to the ceiling, each set in a 2 meter wide depression in the floor. The rows were about 4 meters apart, so there was a path down the middle between them, but each depression ran like a trough down the length of the room. Each pillar had a set of arms about half-way down that looked almost robotic, except they were made of the same woodlike material that the walls were made of. In the middle of the room was a wider, round pillar that came up from the floor to about half way up the space and ended on a flared end, like it was some kind of avant-garde end table.
I floated over to the pillars, and noticed that the depression in the floor seemed to be made of the same fluffy material as the seat cushions earlier. The pillar seemed to come out of the fluff, almost like it was a tree growing out of soft soil. Up close, the arms looked more like branches, but with tubes running down the length of them. On the end, they split and split again until the ended in what looked like hundreds of small nubs. I went to run my hand over the end of one, and the nubs all pulled away slightly, avoiding my touch. Surprised, I jerked back, sending myself spinning away. I reached out and stabilized myself, before looking at the joint between the branch and the pillar, and noticed that the "branch" really WAS an arm, as much as it looked like a branch. It ended in a ring that wrapped around the pillar, and slid up and down the pillar easily when I moved it.
Floating over to the table, I noticed that the surface was actually showing a low holographic display. It was, unsurprisingly at this point, unlike any display I had ever seen before, being unlit and dim while also being more transparent than the holograms I was used to. But what was on the display was...
"Holy shit!" I gasped out. The image rotating above the table was a human, but detailed completely through in the same semi-transparent display, so you could see all the internal organs and bones. It slowly rotated, and as it did, I noticed that a significant amount of detail was missing, but was slowly filling in. I grabbed the table top to stabilize my float, and it shifted to a similar diagram, but of a creature that was not very humanoid. It appeared to have a hexapodal layout, with 4 arms and 2 legs, with a large triangular shaped body. The upper arms were large and had huge three-fingered hands, while the lower arms were almost twice as long but very thin, with 6 fingers and 2 extra joints that let the arms fold up underneath itself. The body had a weirdly apelike appearance, the more I looked at it, but the face was anything but apelike. Large, oval eyes were above a long snoutlike nose and mouth, and that, combined with large triangular ears on the top of the head made the face look like a cartoon fox.
I couldn't believe it. This model, unlike the human one, was complete, and moved around as though it was waiting for someone to do something. "What the actual fuck?" I blurted, amazed at the detail of the model, but I froze when the little model turned to look directly at me and made a noise.
"Wait, can you hear me?" If this ship had an AI, and it had survived being alone? That thought alone drove home just how alien this place was. "I'm sorry we disturbed you, can you understand me?"
The small figure paused as if in thought, then looked around the room before pointing at one of the columns. As I turned to look at the column, the arms started moving around, the ends of which looking like they were holding something invisible while caressing it. After a few seconds, however, I could see that it wasn't holding an invisible object, but rather was creating something. The arms appeared to be some kind of 3d printing setup! I watched, fascinated, while something that looked remarkably like a small raw chicken formed. Suddenly, as it finished forming, it bloomed with feathers and skin, before I realized it was a raven.
The raven cawed, shook, and looked at me. "Yes, we can hear you, and yes, we understand. Your visit, unplanned and unanticipated as it is, was no disturbance. In fact, it appears we should apologize to you, but we will have more time for that later."
It flew over to me, landing on the table in front of me. "Right now, your friend needs your help."
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hello! my research for a slightly ambitious project got me stumped, so i've returned to reddit for the first time in years. hopefully the flair i picked is the right one.
i'm moving apartments soon! like, really soon. i got the keys today. and, turns out, a key window doesn't have in-build blinds (which are common where i live). this is good, as i dislike blinds, but the problem is, there is direct line of sight to neighboring windows. my very bad estimate for how far away they are is 10~20 meters. between the buildings is a path one car maybe could drive down (if it wasn't for the stairs), and there are strips of greenery on each side.
i also dislike those sheer curtains you can use to create a bit of an one way window situation. they're impractical, as i have a blackout roller curtain. the most practical solution would be to make one of those olden timey net/grid/lace curtains that are pinned to a window frame and stretched taut over the window itself. they usually have fun designs, like you can do sort of pixel art with them. i have done that type of lace before, so i can do one, no problem.
however. there's the question of scale. the window happens to be the largest one in the apartment. like, around 1,5 meters wide. so i would love to make the lace as sparse as possible to spare myself. and also because i want to be able to see through it as much as possible. like, the eye size determines the distance where the curtain is practically opaque, right?
so! i got into a rabbit hole about optics that wasn't any practical help, and was left stumped. does anyone have any experience in making things like this? any clue how sparse a lace can be to still effectively provide some privacy? any ideas on how i could find out? english keywords, like the name of this type of crochet lace work? (i couldn't find anything in my native language.)
i understand this might be an unanswerable question. also, please let me know if my explanation is hard to understand or more details are needed.
thank you!