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FRIENDS ONLY
Dec. 31st, 2037 11:59 pm
Not really Friends Only anymore, but I do lock a select number of entries. Not necessary to add me unless you want to.
Not really Friends Only anymore, but I do lock a select number of entries. Not necessary to add me unless you want to.
LJ Idol: Week 3: Here is the Heart
Jul. 8th, 2025 10:31 amHere it is *smirk* I was on vacation this past week. Sadly, not in Florence, but it was someplace just as, and seeing the colors of the shops in the Bahamas gave me some ideas for this prompt. Also, hearing people talk about wanting to go on a cruise to Italy contributed to the story's location. Then, when I got home Sunday night, which is when I was able to start working on this.
I used Google Translate, so...y'know, *shrug*
---
Title: Ecco il Cuore (Here is the Heart)
Summary: A young American artist living in Florence stumbles upon an old bookshop and an even older mystery involving a series of paintings signed only with the word Ecco. As she uncovers the story behind the signature, she finds herself entangled in love, legacy, and the question of what it truly means to be seen.
---
It started with the bell, an old, cracked chime that sang out above the door like it hadn’t been touched in years.
"Ecco," said the man behind the counter, with a flick of his hand, as if the very sight of her had completed something.
The word hung in the air like perfume, unexpected but not unwelcome.
Juliette blinked, pushing up the sleeve of her linen shirt, the one now smudged with charcoal and city grime. She had ducked into the narrow bookshop not for any philosophical reason, but because the Florentine sun had become unbearable and her sketchpad was threatening to melt.
She glanced around. The shop was a maze of crooked wood and dust, with old shelves leaning like conspirators. There was no air conditioning, but the thick stone walls offered enough relief to make her linger.
The man behind the counter was older, perhaps in his late sixties, with silver hair and eyes that seemed to have seen wars or, worse, the boredom of students.
He nodded again. “Ecco. I was wondering when you’d come.”
Juliette half-laughed. “Excuse me?”
He waved her over, and when she hesitated, he simply said, “Non ti preoccupare. Vieni. (Don't worry. Come.)”
She stepped forward, wary but curious, the way a stray cat might approach a friendly hand. He slid a book across the counter to her. It was a slim volume, bound in wine-red leather. No title on the cover.
Juliette opened it, and the scent of ancient ink hit her like a song she hadn’t heard in years. Inside were sketches, some rough, some detailed, some like half-formed dreams. She recognized the hand immediately.
“Who did these?” she asked.
The man gave her a small, knowing smile. “That is the question.”
Each sketch was signed the same way: Ecco.
Juliette traced the name with her fingertip. “Here is...what, exactly?”
“Ecco can mean many things,” he said. “Here it is. Look. This is it. A presentation, a revelation. Or perhaps just presence. The artist signed not with their name, but with a gesture...an offering.”
She didn’t speak for a moment, then finally asked, “Do you know who they are?”
The man tilted his head. “Some say a student of Botticelli. Others, a nun who painted in secret. One theory insists it was a young man who disguised his identity to escape scandal. But the truth?” He tapped the cover. “Perhaps the answer is inside you.”
Juliette looked at him, uncertain if she was being played or recruited into something. “Why give this to me?”
“You came in from the sun, sì? Uninvited. And yet, Ecco. Here you are.”
That word again.
He wrote something on a slip of paper and handed it to her. An address, an alley not far from the Arno.
“Go there,” he said. “Bring the book.”
She should have walked away. She should have thanked him, put the book down, and left the shop as if nothing had happened.
Instead, she tucked the book into her satchel and walked out the door without another word.
---
The address led her to a decaying palazzo wedged between modern cafés and careless traffic. The courtyard was made of cracked marble, but still beautiful, with ivy curling around its columns like whispered secrets.
Inside, the rooms were empty except for one. A small gallery faded but intact. A light filtered through stained glass, washing everything in the colors of melted gelato.
And there, along the walls, were more works. Sketches. Oils. Frescoes barely holding on.
All signed: Ecco.
She moved from piece to piece, breath catching in her throat. There was a woman holding a broken compass. A child lighting a candle against the wind. A mirror turned toward the sea.
Each one felt like a sentence from a language she once knew and had nearly forgotten.
And then she saw it. Her face.
Or someone who could have been her. Same jawline. Same mole beneath the left eye. The same look of stubborn longing. She stumbled back, heart hammering.
Ecco.
Here it is.
---
She returned to the shop that evening. The man was locking up.
“You knew,” she accused.
He smiled gently. “I suspected.”
“Who painted that?”
He leaned against the doorframe. “The artist used what they saw. That doesn’t mean they knew you. Or maybe they did.”
Juliette’s mind reeled. “Are you saying I’ve been...reincarnated?”
“I’m saying ecco is not just a word,” he replied. “It is a mirror. Some people run from it. Some people chase it. And some people live it.”
He handed her a small package wrapped in brown paper. Inside: new sketchbooks, brushes, and a single note: The past is not only behind you. Sometimes it waits to be remembered. Ecco.
---
Juliette never did learn the name of the artist. But she spent the rest of the summer sketching by the river, in cafes, in shadowed alleys and sunlit courtyards. She started signing her work differently. Not with her name.
Just one word.
Ecco.
---
(833 words)
I used Google Translate, so...y'know, *shrug*
---
Title: Ecco il Cuore (Here is the Heart)
Summary: A young American artist living in Florence stumbles upon an old bookshop and an even older mystery involving a series of paintings signed only with the word Ecco. As she uncovers the story behind the signature, she finds herself entangled in love, legacy, and the question of what it truly means to be seen.
---
It started with the bell, an old, cracked chime that sang out above the door like it hadn’t been touched in years.
"Ecco," said the man behind the counter, with a flick of his hand, as if the very sight of her had completed something.
The word hung in the air like perfume, unexpected but not unwelcome.
Juliette blinked, pushing up the sleeve of her linen shirt, the one now smudged with charcoal and city grime. She had ducked into the narrow bookshop not for any philosophical reason, but because the Florentine sun had become unbearable and her sketchpad was threatening to melt.
She glanced around. The shop was a maze of crooked wood and dust, with old shelves leaning like conspirators. There was no air conditioning, but the thick stone walls offered enough relief to make her linger.
The man behind the counter was older, perhaps in his late sixties, with silver hair and eyes that seemed to have seen wars or, worse, the boredom of students.
He nodded again. “Ecco. I was wondering when you’d come.”
Juliette half-laughed. “Excuse me?”
He waved her over, and when she hesitated, he simply said, “Non ti preoccupare. Vieni. (Don't worry. Come.)”
She stepped forward, wary but curious, the way a stray cat might approach a friendly hand. He slid a book across the counter to her. It was a slim volume, bound in wine-red leather. No title on the cover.
Juliette opened it, and the scent of ancient ink hit her like a song she hadn’t heard in years. Inside were sketches, some rough, some detailed, some like half-formed dreams. She recognized the hand immediately.
“Who did these?” she asked.
The man gave her a small, knowing smile. “That is the question.”
Each sketch was signed the same way: Ecco.
Juliette traced the name with her fingertip. “Here is...what, exactly?”
“Ecco can mean many things,” he said. “Here it is. Look. This is it. A presentation, a revelation. Or perhaps just presence. The artist signed not with their name, but with a gesture...an offering.”
She didn’t speak for a moment, then finally asked, “Do you know who they are?”
The man tilted his head. “Some say a student of Botticelli. Others, a nun who painted in secret. One theory insists it was a young man who disguised his identity to escape scandal. But the truth?” He tapped the cover. “Perhaps the answer is inside you.”
Juliette looked at him, uncertain if she was being played or recruited into something. “Why give this to me?”
“You came in from the sun, sì? Uninvited. And yet, Ecco. Here you are.”
That word again.
He wrote something on a slip of paper and handed it to her. An address, an alley not far from the Arno.
“Go there,” he said. “Bring the book.”
She should have walked away. She should have thanked him, put the book down, and left the shop as if nothing had happened.
Instead, she tucked the book into her satchel and walked out the door without another word.
---
The address led her to a decaying palazzo wedged between modern cafés and careless traffic. The courtyard was made of cracked marble, but still beautiful, with ivy curling around its columns like whispered secrets.
Inside, the rooms were empty except for one. A small gallery faded but intact. A light filtered through stained glass, washing everything in the colors of melted gelato.
And there, along the walls, were more works. Sketches. Oils. Frescoes barely holding on.
All signed: Ecco.
She moved from piece to piece, breath catching in her throat. There was a woman holding a broken compass. A child lighting a candle against the wind. A mirror turned toward the sea.
Each one felt like a sentence from a language she once knew and had nearly forgotten.
And then she saw it. Her face.
Or someone who could have been her. Same jawline. Same mole beneath the left eye. The same look of stubborn longing. She stumbled back, heart hammering.
Ecco.
Here it is.
---
She returned to the shop that evening. The man was locking up.
“You knew,” she accused.
He smiled gently. “I suspected.”
“Who painted that?”
He leaned against the doorframe. “The artist used what they saw. That doesn’t mean they knew you. Or maybe they did.”
Juliette’s mind reeled. “Are you saying I’ve been...reincarnated?”
“I’m saying ecco is not just a word,” he replied. “It is a mirror. Some people run from it. Some people chase it. And some people live it.”
He handed her a small package wrapped in brown paper. Inside: new sketchbooks, brushes, and a single note: The past is not only behind you. Sometimes it waits to be remembered. Ecco.
---
Juliette never did learn the name of the artist. But she spent the rest of the summer sketching by the river, in cafes, in shadowed alleys and sunlit courtyards. She started signing her work differently. Not with her name.
Just one word.
Ecco.
---
(833 words)
LJ Idol: Week 2: If It's Any Consolation
Jun. 27th, 2025 08:18 amI made it to another week. And I'm glad I have this time before I go on vacation to write this.
I'm in my feels about a breakdown in communication in my relationship, and when I saw this week's prompt, it felt like a poem was calling my name for it. I've never written a poem outside of learning about them in school and having to do them for classwork or homework...but here I go.
---
If It’s Any Consolation
We used to speak in shorthand—
a glance, a hand on the small of my back,
the shared weight of silence meaning more
than any poem ever could.
Now, it’s static.
Words tumble like loose screws
from the wreck of our sentences—
I say “You never listen,”
you say “You always assume.”
And if it’s any consolation,
I still dream in the cadence of your voice,
still leave space on the shelf
where your laughter used to live.
I rehearse my apologies
like prayers to a god
I’m not sure still believes in us.
But the distance grew roots,
and we watered them with every misunderstanding,
every "I’m fine" that meant the opposite,
every "Forget it" that should’ve been "Please stay."
And if it’s any consolation—
I miss you in the quiet,
in the spaces between sentences
where love used to breathe.
But maybe
you stopped hearing me
long before I stopped talking.
---
150 words
I'm in my feels about a breakdown in communication in my relationship, and when I saw this week's prompt, it felt like a poem was calling my name for it. I've never written a poem outside of learning about them in school and having to do them for classwork or homework...but here I go.
---
If It’s Any Consolation
We used to speak in shorthand—
a glance, a hand on the small of my back,
the shared weight of silence meaning more
than any poem ever could.
Now, it’s static.
Words tumble like loose screws
from the wreck of our sentences—
I say “You never listen,”
you say “You always assume.”
And if it’s any consolation,
I still dream in the cadence of your voice,
still leave space on the shelf
where your laughter used to live.
I rehearse my apologies
like prayers to a god
I’m not sure still believes in us.
But the distance grew roots,
and we watered them with every misunderstanding,
every "I’m fine" that meant the opposite,
every "Forget it" that should’ve been "Please stay."
And if it’s any consolation—
I miss you in the quiet,
in the spaces between sentences
where love used to breathe.
But maybe
you stopped hearing me
long before I stopped talking.
---
150 words
LJ Idol: Week 1: Quality
Jun. 15th, 2025 08:44 pm An original piece.
The Measure of Quality
Marisol prided herself on precision. Each evening, she stood in her workshop, a narrow, sunlit room at the back of her house, and cleaned her tools, inspected her materials, and arranged her worktable until it aligned with her exacting standards. On the wall hung a tiny brass plaque she had crafted herself, engraved with the single word Quality. It served as both reminder and command.
Tonight was special. Tomorrow she’d present her latest creation at the citywide Maker’s Exhibition, a celebration for inventors, artisans, and tinkerers alike. Her entry was modest. A mechanical flower, delicate and intricate, with gears as elegantly arranged as petals, powered by a tiny clockwork mechanism. But to Marisol, it represented the pinnacle of her craft.
She watched the flower revolve gently under the soft glow of her lamp. With a fingertip, she traced the polished edge of a petal. “You're perfect,” she whispered.
Behind her, a cough. Her brother, Marco, stepped in, rubbing his eyes. He leaned against the doorframe, arms folded.
“You’ve been at it all night,” he said.
Marisol blew on one last smear of oil and set the piece to the side. “I need to get this just right. The judges at the exhibition...they’ll expect the same attention to detail you see here.”
Marco stepped into the workshop. “It looks great. But they also pay attention to presentation, story, charm...not just mechanical precision.”
Marisol frowned. “I know what’s important. The quality of the mechanism will speak for itself.”
“Maybe,” Marco said gently. “But people connect with a story. And with emotion. Don’t underestimate that.”
Marisol paused. “It’s just...telling stories feels sloppy. Unmeasurable. Mechanical quality, I can control that.”
Marco nodded, stepping over the threshold. “Control, that’s part of it. But craft is more than control, isn’t it? You’ve always been able to build the most precise widgets, but this...this flower is beautiful in a way your others weren’t. Maybe it’s because you let a little imperfection, some humanity, speak through.”
She tilted her head. “You think I should, what? Add a flaw on purpose? A smudge of paint?”
He smiled. “Not exactly. Let the mechanics bite a little, or let the petals cast a shadow. Show them something that feels alive.”
Marisol turned back to her workbench. “Alive,” she mused. “I can’t schedule that.”
Marco walked over and added, “Maybe you don’t schedule it. Maybe you let it happen.”
She closed her eyes, then opened them. “Alright. Show me.”
He flicked a finger at the wind-up key. The flower rotated, rhythmically, but with near-mathematical predictability. “What if you change the rhythm? Make one rotation take just a fraction longer, then let it spring quickly, like a heartbeat?”
She frowned again. “That sounds like a defect.”
“Or a heartbeat,” Marco countered.
She considered it. Then placed her finger on one crucial gear and shifted it. An imperceptible change. She wound the key and let it run.
For the first three revolutions, the flower rotated slowly. On the fourth, it sped up, then slowed again. The change was subtle but noticeable. The flower no longer moved like a machine. It pulsed.
Marco exhaled. “There. Alive.”
Marisol studied the flower’s motion under the lamp. She hardly recognized it. Her fingers trembled. “It's different.”
“It’s magnetic,” he said. “That’s what the judges will feel.”
She nodded slowly. “Let it be my flaw.”
---
At dawn, Marisol packed the mechanical flower in a velvet-lined box. She tucked her brother's advice in her pocket too, like a talisman. Then she set out, walking through the city’s cobblestone streets to the Exhibition Hall.
Inside, the hall buzzed with excitement. Booths displayed wooden automata, embroidered tapestries, holographic art, robotic pets. A steady hum of conversation and clinking cups drifted overhead.
Marisol found her assigned table. An oak slab with half a dozen other entries. She laid the velvet box carefully in the center. Around her, exhibits gleamed. She felt a flicker of doubt. What if mechanical quality wasn’t enough?
An elderly judge approached, Ms. Augustine, a slim woman with silver hair and sharp eyes. She stopped at Marisol’s table and peered down.
“Good morning, young lady.” She extended her hand. “I’m Aurelia Augustine. Would you tell me about your piece?”
Marisol exhaled. “It’s a clockwork flower. I built it to mimic the rhythm of life, with gears designed to pulse...”
Ms. Augustine’s lips curved into a small smile. “I’m intrigued. May I?”
Marisol lifted the velvet lid. The flower, at rest, seemed paused in slumber. She wound the key and stepped back. It began its dance: deliberate, then quickened, like a breath drawn in surprise, then slowed, receding, gathering power, then pause.
The judges and nearby visitors leaned in. Marisol’s heart raced.
Ms. Augustine nodded slowly. “There is...emotion in its motion. Not random noise, but something more profound.”
Marisol felt her breath catch. Her vision narrowed.
Ms. Augustine pointed to the mech. “Tell me, were these fluctuations intentional?”
Marisol swallowed. “Yes. I...I over-engineered many versions to be perfectly smooth. But my brother...he said life isn’t perfect. He said to let it breathe.”
A murmur passed through the crowd. Ms. Augustine whispered, “You've created not only a mechanical device but a living echo. That quality, the soul within craft, is what elevates invention to art.”
Marisol felt warmth flood her. She dared to look at her flower, spinning in gentle, uneven perfection.
---
Later, on the Exhibition stage, the winners were announced. Marisol’s table was already being cleared when she heard her name, “Second Prize for Innovation: Marisol Reyes, ‘The Mechanical Heartflower.’” Applause echoed off the walls.
She frowned. Second place? But she felt...accomplished.
Ms. Augustine approached again. “Congratulations. You've done something rare. But to place first, the top entry needed more scale, an expanded concept, a larger context.”
Marisol nodded. “I understand. And I’m grateful.”
Outside after the ceremony, Marco greeted her with a grin. The air smelled of summer blooms.
“You did it,” he said, pulling her into a hug.
She closed her eyes. “You were right.”
He squeezed her hand. “So what’s next?”
She looked up at the rotating Ferris wheel in the distance, its lights painting the dusk sky. “I think I’ll build a whole garden of mechanical hearts. Not perfect machines, but machines that feel. And this time, I won’t treat the wobble like a defect. I'll treat it like the point, the centerpiece.”
Marco laughed. “That sounds like something only you could make.”
Marisol turned back to the Exhibition Hall, where late stragglers lingered, admiring others’ works. “I want to invite people in. To let them wind a flower and listen to their own heart in its beat.”
He smiled. “Now that's quality.”
She paused, pressed her fingers to her pulse. “Yes. That’s real quality.”
---
(1120 words)
Hello, fellow Idol adventurers—
I’m simplyn2deep, but you can call me Liz, and this is my second leap into the wonderfully unpredictable maelstrom that is![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
therealljidol…but this time with more chaos! I’m here because I believe some of the best stories are born when you’re off balance, running sideways, and maybe a little bit scared—but still writing anyway.
A few things about me:
* I write like I breathe: often, messily, and occasionally with flair.
* I’m a fan of tangled emotions, mythological metaphors, found families, and characters who love hard and fall harder.
* I have a thing for drabbles and 50k epics, poetry and prose, structured chaos and chaotic structure—basically, if it’s written, I’ll probably try it at least once.
* In real life, I juggle school (starting my last 2 semesters in August), work (after-school substitute program leader for elementary students) and sleeping, but this? This is my creative breath of fresh air.
Looking forward to seeing what wild prompts we all get flung into and cheering each of you on as we try to make sense of the beautiful mess.
If you’d like to join the chaos, you can do so here!
Let the wheel turn. I’m ready.
I’m simplyn2deep, but you can call me Liz, and this is my second leap into the wonderfully unpredictable maelstrom that is
therealljidol…but this time with more chaos! I’m here because I believe some of the best stories are born when you’re off balance, running sideways, and maybe a little bit scared—but still writing anyway.A few things about me:
* I write like I breathe: often, messily, and occasionally with flair.
* I’m a fan of tangled emotions, mythological metaphors, found families, and characters who love hard and fall harder.
* I have a thing for drabbles and 50k epics, poetry and prose, structured chaos and chaotic structure—basically, if it’s written, I’ll probably try it at least once.
* In real life, I juggle school (starting my last 2 semesters in August), work (after-school substitute program leader for elementary students) and sleeping, but this? This is my creative breath of fresh air.
Looking forward to seeing what wild prompts we all get flung into and cheering each of you on as we try to make sense of the beautiful mess.
If you’d like to join the chaos, you can do so here!
Let the wheel turn. I’m ready.
(no subject)
Nov. 11th, 2022 09:28 amI had hoped it wouldn't come to this. I made a gofundme. My mom's been helping me with little things, but this one is too big for me to ask her for help with. My sister is already helping me get to FL next year to be able to go to our nieces' graduation, so she's out...and my brother has helped me LOADS with my education over the years.
Now...I've been working since 2017 (actually been working since 2000, but in this case, I mean my current job) as a live-in caregiver. I'm paid for my work and this has allowed me to take online classes to finally get my bachelor's degree and pay for my other bills.
Then the pandemic hit. I continued to work and take online classes and managed to keep on top of paying my bills, but then my storage rental increased for the second time this year and it was too much. It was nearly all of my paycheck and I had other bills I still needed to pay.
All of my possessions from when I lived with my parents are in this storage unit that I'm going to lose. I don't too much care about 90% of the things in the unit, but there are important family documents and pictures in there that I would absolutely hate to have taken away because I lost the unit.
There's a lien on my unit, that I've had since at least 2016 and it will be auctioned off within the first 10 days of December if I don't get the rent paid up (October, November, December).
If that wasn't enough, the laptop I bought last year for school is going to need to be replaced because the battery is swelling and I still have another 2 or 3 years before I graduate.
I have been looking for supplemental work that I can do from home, but because of the nature of my main job, it has been really hard finding actual remote employment that doesn't sound like a scam.
Please help me out if you are able to.
Thank you!
https://gofund.me/9d486b2d
Now...I've been working since 2017 (actually been working since 2000, but in this case, I mean my current job) as a live-in caregiver. I'm paid for my work and this has allowed me to take online classes to finally get my bachelor's degree and pay for my other bills.
Then the pandemic hit. I continued to work and take online classes and managed to keep on top of paying my bills, but then my storage rental increased for the second time this year and it was too much. It was nearly all of my paycheck and I had other bills I still needed to pay.
All of my possessions from when I lived with my parents are in this storage unit that I'm going to lose. I don't too much care about 90% of the things in the unit, but there are important family documents and pictures in there that I would absolutely hate to have taken away because I lost the unit.
There's a lien on my unit, that I've had since at least 2016 and it will be auctioned off within the first 10 days of December if I don't get the rent paid up (October, November, December).
If that wasn't enough, the laptop I bought last year for school is going to need to be replaced because the battery is swelling and I still have another 2 or 3 years before I graduate.
I have been looking for supplemental work that I can do from home, but because of the nature of my main job, it has been really hard finding actual remote employment that doesn't sound like a scam.
Please help me out if you are able to.
Thank you!
https://gofund.me/9d486b2d
About Friday.
Sep. 11th, 2022 10:52 pmLJ has been giving me a hard time with loading pages properly and trying to upload pictures and it's just too much aggravation...so I'm going to link to my IG where I have videos and pictures.
First, let's go back a little bit to Wednesday. Originally, my niece Jasmine and I were supposed to go to an Angels baseball game, but she bought tickets for the wrong day. She tried calling her bank to get it refunded, but couldn't. She called Angels Stadium and they exchanged or swapped the tickets to a future game. The tickets she bought were for a game that happened in August when it was supposed to be for 9-7. The new game date is October 2. That's a Sunday so I'll be missing church, but I haven't gone to a game since 2011!
Now, instead of the baseball game, we went to lunch at a place called Smoke & Fire Social Eatery. Very good food! It was my 3rd time going there. https://www.instagram.com/p/CiOIoJmPBNW/
Now Friday.
I go to a bilingual church. English service in the morning, English/Spanish Sunday School classes then a fellowship time, then Spanish service in the afternoon. Friday was a movie night. I was in with the kids watching Clifford the Big Red Dog while the adults watched The Passion of the Christ. After the movies, there was cake, pastries, and coffee.
My sister came for this part. Happy birthday was sung in English and Spanish (I almost know all the words in the Spanish version we do) https://www.instagram.com/p/CiUNES9rd5A/
Then the 2 shirts that one of my friends made me https://www.instagram.com/p/CiUR0fuu6b6/ She thought I was joking when I said I wanted them. LOL, I'm at the point in life where I'm okay poking fun at myself.
I thought I had pictures that another friend took, but I never shared them on IG...nor the pictures my sister took. Oh well. They are in existence lol
Then today some other friends treated me to a Korean BBQ restaurant after church. That was nice. https://www.instagram.com/p/CiYbzJBP42J/ this was my 2nd time going to this place or having Korean BBQ at all. Next time I want Lucille's BBQ. I haven't had that since before 2012 or so.
That's been it for my birthday weekend.
This week I'll be sorting the dirty laundry and hopefully Friday going to Lora's to wash after Kim's dr appt. I also have to go to CVS and pick up a prescription order that had a delivery canceled for some reason. I pay for the freakin' CVS Carepass to have my prescriptions delivered and they want to charge me for a delivery they canceled to re-deliver it. No thanks.
Another post will be about the drama/happenings from Family Camp 3 weeks ago.
I'm tired.
First, let's go back a little bit to Wednesday. Originally, my niece Jasmine and I were supposed to go to an Angels baseball game, but she bought tickets for the wrong day. She tried calling her bank to get it refunded, but couldn't. She called Angels Stadium and they exchanged or swapped the tickets to a future game. The tickets she bought were for a game that happened in August when it was supposed to be for 9-7. The new game date is October 2. That's a Sunday so I'll be missing church, but I haven't gone to a game since 2011!
Now, instead of the baseball game, we went to lunch at a place called Smoke & Fire Social Eatery. Very good food! It was my 3rd time going there. https://www.instagram.com/p/CiOIoJmPBNW/
Now Friday.
I go to a bilingual church. English service in the morning, English/Spanish Sunday School classes then a fellowship time, then Spanish service in the afternoon. Friday was a movie night. I was in with the kids watching Clifford the Big Red Dog while the adults watched The Passion of the Christ. After the movies, there was cake, pastries, and coffee.
My sister came for this part. Happy birthday was sung in English and Spanish (I almost know all the words in the Spanish version we do) https://www.instagram.com/p/CiUNES9rd5A/
Then the 2 shirts that one of my friends made me https://www.instagram.com/p/CiUR0fuu6b6/ She thought I was joking when I said I wanted them. LOL, I'm at the point in life where I'm okay poking fun at myself.
I thought I had pictures that another friend took, but I never shared them on IG...nor the pictures my sister took. Oh well. They are in existence lol
Then today some other friends treated me to a Korean BBQ restaurant after church. That was nice. https://www.instagram.com/p/CiYbzJBP42J/ this was my 2nd time going to this place or having Korean BBQ at all. Next time I want Lucille's BBQ. I haven't had that since before 2012 or so.
That's been it for my birthday weekend.
This week I'll be sorting the dirty laundry and hopefully Friday going to Lora's to wash after Kim's dr appt. I also have to go to CVS and pick up a prescription order that had a delivery canceled for some reason. I pay for the freakin' CVS Carepass to have my prescriptions delivered and they want to charge me for a delivery they canceled to re-deliver it. No thanks.
Another post will be about the drama/happenings from Family Camp 3 weeks ago.
I'm tired.
If I had my way...
Sep. 10th, 2022 09:28 pmFriday was my birthday. I'm 40, ya'll!!
If I had my way, I'd be on a cruise with my BFF but things didn't happen that way. I'm still excited that she got to go, surprise that it was for her. We'll get that cruise/girls trip soon enough.
In place of going on the cruise, I had professional pictures taken! I haven't that done since senior pictures back in 1999/2000 or one of the dances that school year.
A friend from high school is a professional photographer and I love all of her wedding pictures, so I contacted her about a session for my 40th. And I nearly forgot to follow up with her to set the date for it.
We went with August 23, when I got back from family camp with my church (that will be a whole other post because I have things to say about that!). The location was the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)...more specifically, the Urban Light Display between LACMA and the La Brea Tar Pits. The time was during golden hour.
I had so much fun. There's a few things I'd do differently, but that's a me thing and not anything that the photographer had control of.
Anyway...after the photoshoot...like 2 hours after I got back to my friend's place (I used her car to get to the photoshoot location and Kim stayed with her), I had my proofs to look at! Talk about fast work! She said she couldn't wait to look at them and get them to me as I was on sort of a deadline to get the prints to my mom ON my birthday (my mom got them today)...and by the end of that week, I had my 15 poses that I picked. But wait! She said she included a few more poses that she really liked that I didn't pick so I ended up with 21 poses! Sweet!
( see me here )
On my actual birthday, I had cake, coffee and sweet bread at church following the movie night we had. That was fun, too. I invited my sister and niece, but only my sister came, which was nice. I'll have pictures/video of that in another post.
Tomorrow after church, a couple of friends are treating me to lunch. I think I told them Korean BBQ. Exciting! Will have pictures of that too.
If I had my way, I'd be on a cruise with my BFF but things didn't happen that way. I'm still excited that she got to go, surprise that it was for her. We'll get that cruise/girls trip soon enough.
In place of going on the cruise, I had professional pictures taken! I haven't that done since senior pictures back in 1999/2000 or one of the dances that school year.
A friend from high school is a professional photographer and I love all of her wedding pictures, so I contacted her about a session for my 40th. And I nearly forgot to follow up with her to set the date for it.
We went with August 23, when I got back from family camp with my church (that will be a whole other post because I have things to say about that!). The location was the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)...more specifically, the Urban Light Display between LACMA and the La Brea Tar Pits. The time was during golden hour.
I had so much fun. There's a few things I'd do differently, but that's a me thing and not anything that the photographer had control of.
Anyway...after the photoshoot...like 2 hours after I got back to my friend's place (I used her car to get to the photoshoot location and Kim stayed with her), I had my proofs to look at! Talk about fast work! She said she couldn't wait to look at them and get them to me as I was on sort of a deadline to get the prints to my mom ON my birthday (my mom got them today)...and by the end of that week, I had my 15 poses that I picked. But wait! She said she included a few more poses that she really liked that I didn't pick so I ended up with 21 poses! Sweet!
( see me here )
On my actual birthday, I had cake, coffee and sweet bread at church following the movie night we had. That was fun, too. I invited my sister and niece, but only my sister came, which was nice. I'll have pictures/video of that in another post.
Tomorrow after church, a couple of friends are treating me to lunch. I think I told them Korean BBQ. Exciting! Will have pictures of that too.
I stayed after class to talk to the professor because he said that he knows students cheated because they either only gave the answers (and not the work) or they included information he never covered in class or THEY SOLVED THE PROBLEMS IN WAYS HE DIDN'T COVER IN CLASS.
Hi, that's me! I solved a few of the problems in ways he didn't cover in class, because frankly, I couldn't understand my notes, so I looked up videos on youtube on how to solve the problems. Well, if it worked and I understood it, I kept that in my head for when the exam came.
I explained that to the professor...or I attempted to before he cut me off and said that he wasn't talking about me because he knows I do the work and that I come to class (he said I was one of his top students which is surprising because I currently have a high C, but I guess he's taking that participation stuff into consideration too), so his comments weren't about me and he didn't want me feeling singled out and didn't want me to get discouraged.
Phew!
I can stop worrying about that and concentrate on this current chapter. We are almost 3 sections in and I'm getting stumped...but not discouraged.
Hi, that's me! I solved a few of the problems in ways he didn't cover in class, because frankly, I couldn't understand my notes, so I looked up videos on youtube on how to solve the problems. Well, if it worked and I understood it, I kept that in my head for when the exam came.
I explained that to the professor...or I attempted to before he cut me off and said that he wasn't talking about me because he knows I do the work and that I come to class (he said I was one of his top students which is surprising because I currently have a high C, but I guess he's taking that participation stuff into consideration too), so his comments weren't about me and he didn't want me feeling singled out and didn't want me to get discouraged.
Phew!
I can stop worrying about that and concentrate on this current chapter. We are almost 3 sections in and I'm getting stumped...but not discouraged.
Lone time no post!
May. 2nd, 2022 11:34 amFirst off! I totally made up for the BOMBED first exam in my calculus class! The professor offered a measly 10 points extra credit if we re-did the exam. Okay. I did the extra credit and moved my points from 39 to 49. It's still failing. HOWEVER! On Tuesday we had our second exam. 13 questions and a flat 2 hours. No extension. I was anxious all weekend about that. I was also hoping for at least 75 points. Nah, man! I ACED THAT SUCKER! 100/100! Excuse me, what?! I've been checking the class website because I'm convinced it's a mistake and I really got between 75-95 points. The next exam is later this month, and then the final is June 9th.
Also, I spoke with a completion counselor about why I got the email for the fall semester when this is supposed to be my last semester before transferring and she said that e-mail is sent to all students, but she could understand why I would be worried.
She also checked about why there was no "movement" on my graduation (the status hadn't changed from when I submitted it in January/February)...which led to her checking my transcripts to see if that was why my application hadn't been processed.
Apparently, because I hadn't applied to any universities to transfer to, they process the applications of students who had already applied to universities. But she was going to email them for confirmation, and then once she heard back, she was going to email me with her findings.
Either way, I'm still on track to graduate in June/transfer once I apply (looking at ASU, Cal State LA, and Washington University in St. Louis).
She asked me if I was going to participate in the commencement ceremony in June. I said that I wasn't sure as I have a final that day and the professor requires students to be present with their cameras on during exams. I also told her that I was going to ask him if the final was still going to be on June 9 and whether an exception can be made for me. But honestly, I still don't know if I want to participate in the ceremony. It will be another AS degree and I'd rather just wait for the big university graduation with my bachelor's (or master's if I do both at the same time) in a few years.
Also, I spoke with a completion counselor about why I got the email for the fall semester when this is supposed to be my last semester before transferring and she said that e-mail is sent to all students, but she could understand why I would be worried.
She also checked about why there was no "movement" on my graduation (the status hadn't changed from when I submitted it in January/February)...which led to her checking my transcripts to see if that was why my application hadn't been processed.
Apparently, because I hadn't applied to any universities to transfer to, they process the applications of students who had already applied to universities. But she was going to email them for confirmation, and then once she heard back, she was going to email me with her findings.
Either way, I'm still on track to graduate in June/transfer once I apply (looking at ASU, Cal State LA, and Washington University in St. Louis).
She asked me if I was going to participate in the commencement ceremony in June. I said that I wasn't sure as I have a final that day and the professor requires students to be present with their cameras on during exams. I also told her that I was going to ask him if the final was still going to be on June 9 and whether an exception can be made for me. But honestly, I still don't know if I want to participate in the ceremony. It will be another AS degree and I'd rather just wait for the big university graduation with my bachelor's (or master's if I do both at the same time) in a few years.
Week 6 voting
May. 2nd, 2022 04:08 amOh man! I forgot to share the voting link.
We are completely on Dreamwidth, even though I post my entries here.
Anyway, I have 2 strikes: 1 was intentional and the other was due to having low vote.
I currently have 2 votes, so I'm likely to get my 3rd strike and be eliminated. 🤷🏾♀️
It was fun while it lasted. Please vote for me. Poll closes on Tuesday
LJ Idol: Week 6
Apr. 28th, 2022 12:13 pmThe theme this week is Pursuit. This one is in the same time as the entry from week 4. 388 words.
This is how it started, or at least how he thinks it started. With a pursuit through the woods and fire all around him. But it wasn't actually him. He knew that logically but that didn't stop the fear from coursing through his body as he ran.
"Get him! Go around to the south and cut him off!" a harsh voice yelled behind him.
They were too close. He could almost feel them breathing down his back, but he knew that wasn't possible otherwise he would have already been captured.
Turning to the northeast, he continued to run. He could hear that a majority of those after him were already splitting off to the south, but he still had some following him.
"It was a false trail!" he heard another harsh voice yell. "We're heading your way!"
He didn't know how he could hear it because the ones after him had gone eerily silent with the exception of an occasional leaf or twig being crunched under boots.
Out of nowhere he was forcefully lifted off the ground and slammed into a large tree against his back.
Stiles gasped awake, his chest heaving as he gasped for air. He looked around and he wasn't outside. He wasn't in the woods. After a few moments of looking around at his surroundings, he heard the jiggling of the doorknob and muffled voices.
"Wnuk, otwórz drzwi. Wpuść mnie, żebym cię sprawdziła." Grandson, unlock the door. Let me in to check on you.
Stiles recognized the voice and relaxed.
The door finally opened and a wisened old man walked in and went right to the bed. Aleksandr Zagovory.
"Dziadek...," Grandpa. Stiles said as he fell into his grandfather's embrace.
"Hej, co to jest? Jesteś w porządku." Hey, what is this? You're okay. Aleksandr replied as he hugged his grandson tighter.
Stiles gasped and Aleksandr quickly let go, "What? What is it? You're in pain." With a flick of his wrist, the room was lit with a soft glow, just enough to see their surroundings.
"It was horrible," Stiles shakily began, "I was being chased, but it wasn't me...then I was slammed into a tree along my back."
Aleksandr moved on the bed and motioned for Stiles to turn so that he could check his back. With a wince, Stiles did as he was expected. His entire back, from his neck to the top of his sleep pants was a giant bruise.
This is how it started, or at least how he thinks it started. With a pursuit through the woods and fire all around him. But it wasn't actually him. He knew that logically but that didn't stop the fear from coursing through his body as he ran.
"Get him! Go around to the south and cut him off!" a harsh voice yelled behind him.
They were too close. He could almost feel them breathing down his back, but he knew that wasn't possible otherwise he would have already been captured.
Turning to the northeast, he continued to run. He could hear that a majority of those after him were already splitting off to the south, but he still had some following him.
"It was a false trail!" he heard another harsh voice yell. "We're heading your way!"
He didn't know how he could hear it because the ones after him had gone eerily silent with the exception of an occasional leaf or twig being crunched under boots.
Out of nowhere he was forcefully lifted off the ground and slammed into a large tree against his back.
Stiles gasped awake, his chest heaving as he gasped for air. He looked around and he wasn't outside. He wasn't in the woods. After a few moments of looking around at his surroundings, he heard the jiggling of the doorknob and muffled voices.
"Wnuk, otwórz drzwi. Wpuść mnie, żebym cię sprawdziła." Grandson, unlock the door. Let me in to check on you.
Stiles recognized the voice and relaxed.
The door finally opened and a wisened old man walked in and went right to the bed. Aleksandr Zagovory.
"Dziadek...," Grandpa. Stiles said as he fell into his grandfather's embrace.
"Hej, co to jest? Jesteś w porządku." Hey, what is this? You're okay. Aleksandr replied as he hugged his grandson tighter.
Stiles gasped and Aleksandr quickly let go, "What? What is it? You're in pain." With a flick of his wrist, the room was lit with a soft glow, just enough to see their surroundings.
"It was horrible," Stiles shakily began, "I was being chased, but it wasn't me...then I was slammed into a tree along my back."
Aleksandr moved on the bed and motioned for Stiles to turn so that he could check his back. With a wince, Stiles did as he was expected. His entire back, from his neck to the top of his sleep pants was a giant bruise.
LJ Idol: Week 5
Apr. 8th, 2022 05:07 pmI laughed far too much while typing this. I wanted more inuendos, but I was also trying to give myself a word count limit to stick to...and this is what I came up with.
Set in the same time/universe as the pieces from week 1 and week 2.
"Kuchisabishii" is a uniquely Japanese word that literally means “lonely mouth” or “longing to have or put something in one's mouth.” It can also be explained as mindless eating or eating when you are not hungry.
=+=
There was a group of them standing to the side in the dining room watching the scene unfold.
"My grandmother called it kuchisabishii," Adam said.
The comment seemed random and out of the blue, but they were all watching the same thing.
A beat of silence.
"Alright, I'll bite. What does that mean?" Steve asked with a raised eyebrow.
Adam snorted at Steve's choice of words. "Kuchisabishii is a uniquely Japanese word that literally means “lonely mouth” or “longing to have or put something in one's mouth.” It can also be explained as mindless eating or eating when you are not hungry."
Steve snorted, but for a completely different reason and he turned his attention back to his partner. Danny seemed to be the definition of that. They'd already finished eating, but there he was, snacking on various appetizers that remained while the cleanup crew took the food from the dining room to the kitchen.
"Does he do this often?" Kono asked in amazement. She could put away her fair share of food, but she didn't see how Danny could still be eating.
"Oh yeah, Uncle D always has something in his mouth," Eric added.
Steve, Adam, and Kono snorted.
Set in the same time/universe as the pieces from week 1 and week 2.
"Kuchisabishii" is a uniquely Japanese word that literally means “lonely mouth” or “longing to have or put something in one's mouth.” It can also be explained as mindless eating or eating when you are not hungry.
=+=
There was a group of them standing to the side in the dining room watching the scene unfold.
"My grandmother called it kuchisabishii," Adam said.
The comment seemed random and out of the blue, but they were all watching the same thing.
A beat of silence.
"Alright, I'll bite. What does that mean?" Steve asked with a raised eyebrow.
Adam snorted at Steve's choice of words. "Kuchisabishii is a uniquely Japanese word that literally means “lonely mouth” or “longing to have or put something in one's mouth.” It can also be explained as mindless eating or eating when you are not hungry."
Steve snorted, but for a completely different reason and he turned his attention back to his partner. Danny seemed to be the definition of that. They'd already finished eating, but there he was, snacking on various appetizers that remained while the cleanup crew took the food from the dining room to the kitchen.
"Does he do this often?" Kono asked in amazement. She could put away her fair share of food, but she didn't see how Danny could still be eating.
"Oh yeah, Uncle D always has something in his mouth," Eric added.
Steve, Adam, and Kono snorted.
LJ Idol: Week 4
Mar. 23rd, 2022 01:19 pmSo, I took a strike for week 3 because I had the dreaded Business Calculus exam that I had to study for. I posted about how that went down.
Anyway. LJ Idol, Week 4 entry!
This is NOT in the same series as the entries from weeks 1 and 2.
This week's prompt is "The axe forgets; the tree remembers". I think this is around 350 words?
Along with "The Great Pack Divide of 2014" was a splitting of resources. There was no way that Derek was going to continue to work with his mother's former emissary, especially not when the man himself said he was a disgrace of an Alpha. With those spoken words, Deaton wasn't expecting Stiles to be in the room when this was said, nor was he expecting to be magically cut off from access to The Nemeton.
"The axe forgets; the tree remembers," Stiles said. Deaton, Scott, and Lydia turned to face Stiles. "You aren't the only one who can be a cryptic asshole. Emissary Deaton, by order of Alpha Hale, you have been stripped of your access to the territory. By order of the Council of Druids, you have been stripped of your access to The Nemeton. Effective immediately."
"Stiles...what are you doing?" Scott asked as he moved to stand in front of his friend.
"The axe forgets; the tree remembers," Stiles repeated. "I'm carrying out my duty has handed to me by Elder Druid Zagovory."
There was a flicker of realization on Deaton's face; he was quick to mask it but Stiles caught it. "He is in territory that he has no business being in," Deaton responded.
Stiles gave a humorless laugh. "I'm in territory that I have no business being in? That's rich coming from you."
"There's no way you could possibly know any of the Elder Druids," Deaton said.
Stiles closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, they were a swirling violet color. "Jestem początkiem i końcem. Widziałem zniszczenie przeszłości i zniszczenia, które dopiero nadejdą z twoich rąk. Nie można już ukrywać prawdy przed rodzinami Stilinskich i Zagovory." (translated using Google translate: I am the beginning and the end. I have seen the destruction of the past and the destruction yet to come at your hands. You can no longer hide the truth from the Stilinski and Zagovory families.)
"I have always known of my spark. Even before you told me about it and tried to 'teach' me to use it. My Grandfather is Elder Druid Aleksandr Zagovory and when he tells me to do something, I do it."
Anyway. LJ Idol, Week 4 entry!
This is NOT in the same series as the entries from weeks 1 and 2.
This week's prompt is "The axe forgets; the tree remembers". I think this is around 350 words?
Along with "The Great Pack Divide of 2014" was a splitting of resources. There was no way that Derek was going to continue to work with his mother's former emissary, especially not when the man himself said he was a disgrace of an Alpha. With those spoken words, Deaton wasn't expecting Stiles to be in the room when this was said, nor was he expecting to be magically cut off from access to The Nemeton.
"The axe forgets; the tree remembers," Stiles said. Deaton, Scott, and Lydia turned to face Stiles. "You aren't the only one who can be a cryptic asshole. Emissary Deaton, by order of Alpha Hale, you have been stripped of your access to the territory. By order of the Council of Druids, you have been stripped of your access to The Nemeton. Effective immediately."
"Stiles...what are you doing?" Scott asked as he moved to stand in front of his friend.
"The axe forgets; the tree remembers," Stiles repeated. "I'm carrying out my duty has handed to me by Elder Druid Zagovory."
There was a flicker of realization on Deaton's face; he was quick to mask it but Stiles caught it. "He is in territory that he has no business being in," Deaton responded.
Stiles gave a humorless laugh. "I'm in territory that I have no business being in? That's rich coming from you."
"There's no way you could possibly know any of the Elder Druids," Deaton said.
Stiles closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, they were a swirling violet color. "Jestem początkiem i końcem. Widziałem zniszczenie przeszłości i zniszczenia, które dopiero nadejdą z twoich rąk. Nie można już ukrywać prawdy przed rodzinami Stilinskich i Zagovory." (translated using Google translate: I am the beginning and the end. I have seen the destruction of the past and the destruction yet to come at your hands. You can no longer hide the truth from the Stilinski and Zagovory families.)
"I have always known of my spark. Even before you told me about it and tried to 'teach' me to use it. My Grandfather is Elder Druid Aleksandr Zagovory and when he tells me to do something, I do it."
Already off to a horrible start
Mar. 13th, 2022 10:23 amOmg I fucking bombed that calculus exam!
On top of not knowing that exam time was extended (like 3 times!) my whole 2nd page didn't submit which cost me 36 points and I wasn't clear on the instruction of putting a box around my answer...I thought he meant on my answer sheet, but he meant on my pages I did the work on, so not all of the answers were boxed...and then! because I thought I ran out of time, I couldn't go back to the problems I was momentarily stuck on.
I doubt he's going to let me submit the missing page or anything like that. I'm just really bummed 😞 😕
I did leave comment responses on my submission and I can only hope he will let me submit my missing page for like half credit or something. Instead of 36 point, I'll get 18. My score would be 57, which is still failing but he would see that I did the work.
On top of not knowing that exam time was extended (like 3 times!) my whole 2nd page didn't submit which cost me 36 points and I wasn't clear on the instruction of putting a box around my answer...I thought he meant on my answer sheet, but he meant on my pages I did the work on, so not all of the answers were boxed...and then! because I thought I ran out of time, I couldn't go back to the problems I was momentarily stuck on.
I doubt he's going to let me submit the missing page or anything like that. I'm just really bummed 😞 😕
I did leave comment responses on my submission and I can only hope he will let me submit my missing page for like half credit or something. Instead of 36 point, I'll get 18. My score would be 57, which is still failing but he would see that I did the work.
It's that time again
Feb. 21st, 2022 09:50 pmI made it through to the next round of ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
therealljidol
My entry is here and voting is here.
Thank you to everyone who votes for me!
therealljidolMy entry is here and voting is here.
Thank you to everyone who votes for me!
LJ Idol: Week 2
Feb. 18th, 2022 12:04 amThis has been A WEEK!
Written for Week 2 attherealljidol. The prompt is "What Really Matters". And... I doubled my word count from the last time. Heck yeah! 400 words.
Set in the same time as Black Rainbow.
Doesn't Really Matter
"What really matters," Danny began, "is what others have to say doesn't really matter."
"Getting mighty philosophical there, Williams," Steve replies with a snort.
"No...hear me out," Danny began.
Steve could tell his partner was gearing up for something good. Whether it was truly good or just him trying to hype both of them up remained to be seen.
"This is something we've dreamed about for years. Sure, you initially had to give me the hard sale for it, but I came around when you showed me how much research you'd before even broaching the topic with me," Danny continued.
Steve knew he was right. The dream had started with him...or rather his aunt before her death. The Victorian-style house she owned in California had been updated and modernized and was a nice little Bed and Breakfast that his sister was successfully running. Steve thought the same could be done on the land that his parents owned in Hawaii...but it was proving to be more difficult than he first thought.
"So what if those land developers are trying to take the land from us. You've never backed down from a fight. That's not the soldier you are."
Steve rolled his eyes hard and muttered "Sailor. I was in the Navy, Danny."
Danny waved his hand as if batting the comment away. "You know what I mean, McGarrett. You fought me on this and I came around and believe in you...in this."
"Fighting you is like foreplay," Steve replied. "Fighting land developers actively trying to take our property? That's something different. I don't have the type of money to back us up to fight against them."
"But...you have the people of this land behind you," Danny said. "I'm sure they'd rather have you here knowing that you'll keep the land as it is rather than whatever the developers have in mind for the land."
If he felt like it, Steve could argue the point, but since they started on this pet project, he and Danny have employed quite a few of the Islanders over the last few years and have really made an effort to give back to the community they live in.
"So what you're saying...," Steve began with a slow, cheeky grin, "is that what really matters is what others have to say doesn't really matter."
"Bingo!" Danny exclaimed, ignoring that Steve repeated his own words back to him.
Written for Week 2 at
therealljidol. The prompt is "What Really Matters". And... I doubled my word count from the last time. Heck yeah! 400 words.Set in the same time as Black Rainbow.
Doesn't Really Matter
"What really matters," Danny began, "is what others have to say doesn't really matter."
"Getting mighty philosophical there, Williams," Steve replies with a snort.
"No...hear me out," Danny began.
Steve could tell his partner was gearing up for something good. Whether it was truly good or just him trying to hype both of them up remained to be seen.
"This is something we've dreamed about for years. Sure, you initially had to give me the hard sale for it, but I came around when you showed me how much research you'd before even broaching the topic with me," Danny continued.
Steve knew he was right. The dream had started with him...or rather his aunt before her death. The Victorian-style house she owned in California had been updated and modernized and was a nice little Bed and Breakfast that his sister was successfully running. Steve thought the same could be done on the land that his parents owned in Hawaii...but it was proving to be more difficult than he first thought.
"So what if those land developers are trying to take the land from us. You've never backed down from a fight. That's not the soldier you are."
Steve rolled his eyes hard and muttered "Sailor. I was in the Navy, Danny."
Danny waved his hand as if batting the comment away. "You know what I mean, McGarrett. You fought me on this and I came around and believe in you...in this."
"Fighting you is like foreplay," Steve replied. "Fighting land developers actively trying to take our property? That's something different. I don't have the type of money to back us up to fight against them."
"But...you have the people of this land behind you," Danny said. "I'm sure they'd rather have you here knowing that you'll keep the land as it is rather than whatever the developers have in mind for the land."
If he felt like it, Steve could argue the point, but since they started on this pet project, he and Danny have employed quite a few of the Islanders over the last few years and have really made an effort to give back to the community they live in.
"So what you're saying...," Steve began with a slow, cheeky grin, "is that what really matters is what others have to say doesn't really matter."
"Bingo!" Danny exclaimed, ignoring that Steve repeated his own words back to him.
So...this is wild
Feb. 10th, 2022 01:31 pmUniversities are popping up out of the woodwork!
I joined this one site called Cappex to help me find universities that fit my educational goal within my financial constraints.
There wasn't a lot that I was 100% or even 90% happy with...at least not in California. I mean, Cal State LA has the Healthcare Administration program I want, but was sort of excited to move to an all-new state, and Washington University in St. Louis was like in the top 5.
Then I started having second thoughts because I won't have a job to bring in money to so that I can get an apartment and I don't know anyone in St. Louis who I could crash with while I did school and looked for a job.
Then there is Arizona. They have a couple of my backup program options (general management and tourism) as well as the option to do the program online. If I did it online, I could remain here in California and eventually move to AZ or move to AZ right away and I could stay with my best friend, who lives like an hour or so away from the college I'd be going to or my childhood pastor and his wife live there; they're further away, but I know I could stay with them.
Now, for the universities that are popping up.
An enrollment/transfer counselor from Woodbury University in Burbank emailed me. They got my information from Cappex. They have a business administration program, but it's in general management. Then, as a requirement of graduation, I'd have to take an internship to get real-world experience. I will have a better understanding come Saturday when I attend an online information session.
I think, before I continue to change my mind, I'm going to stick with the 5 or so universities here in California and the ones in AZ and MO. I keep feeling like I'm indecisive each time I come across another college that has a business program with the concentration I want.
In another post, I'll talk about my plans for my 40th. I'm having professional pictures taken since I won't be going on the cruise.
I joined this one site called Cappex to help me find universities that fit my educational goal within my financial constraints.
There wasn't a lot that I was 100% or even 90% happy with...at least not in California. I mean, Cal State LA has the Healthcare Administration program I want, but was sort of excited to move to an all-new state, and Washington University in St. Louis was like in the top 5.
Then I started having second thoughts because I won't have a job to bring in money to so that I can get an apartment and I don't know anyone in St. Louis who I could crash with while I did school and looked for a job.
Then there is Arizona. They have a couple of my backup program options (general management and tourism) as well as the option to do the program online. If I did it online, I could remain here in California and eventually move to AZ or move to AZ right away and I could stay with my best friend, who lives like an hour or so away from the college I'd be going to or my childhood pastor and his wife live there; they're further away, but I know I could stay with them.
Now, for the universities that are popping up.
An enrollment/transfer counselor from Woodbury University in Burbank emailed me. They got my information from Cappex. They have a business administration program, but it's in general management. Then, as a requirement of graduation, I'd have to take an internship to get real-world experience. I will have a better understanding come Saturday when I attend an online information session.
I think, before I continue to change my mind, I'm going to stick with the 5 or so universities here in California and the ones in AZ and MO. I keep feeling like I'm indecisive each time I come across another college that has a business program with the concentration I want.
In another post, I'll talk about my plans for my 40th. I'm having professional pictures taken since I won't be going on the cruise.
