If you’d like to add an event to our calendar, submit an event here. Please check with the event organizers to see if events change due to weather. Have a great week!
See the full weekly calendar on our website.

Noteworthy Events

The Lion King at DPAC

• Winner of six Tony Awards®, including Best Musical, this landmark musical event brings together one of the most imaginative creative teams on Broadway.
• Wed, May 15 - Sun, June 9
• $29.50+

Adult Recess at CCB Plaza

• Let your inner child shine as you play games, make crafts, and enjoy the fresh air during your lunch break!
• Wed, May 15
• 12-2 p.m.
• Free admission

Duke Baseball vs UNC at Jack Coombs Field

• Thu, May 16 - Sat, May 18

Bimbé Celebration at Rock Quarry Park

• This family-oriented event is a celebration of African and African American history, culture, arts, and traditions. This year's headliner: Monica!
• Sat, May 18
• 1-7 p.m.
• Free admission

Peter Pan at The Carolina Theatre

• This adventure begins at the London home of the Darling family, a typical evening in 1912, as the weary parents try to settle their children down for bed while the young ones insist on staying up late. Little do Wendy, John, and Michael know that a fantastic journey awaits them that night.
• Sat, May 18
• 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.
• $32+

DPW Limit Break at Durham Convention Center

• Wrestlers from all over the world will gather in one place for a night you won't forget.
• Sun, May 19
• 7 p.m.
• $25+

Multi-Day Events

The NGIN Cityscapes Summit at Durham Convention Center

• Hosted by national nonprofit, New Growth Innovation Network, prepare to connect with like-minded professionals and engage with purpose-driven organizations. Immerse yourself in workshops and captivating keynotes from renowned speakers, featuring three tracks of insightful sessions: Inclusive Capital, Community Wealth Building, and Reimagining Systems.
• Wed, May 15 - Fri, May 17
• Registration fees vary

Durham Greek Festival at St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church

• Enjoy fabulous Greek food, desserts, wine and beer in a festive outdoor atmosphere. Continuous Greek music and scheduled folk dance performances.
• Sat, May 18, 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. and Sun, May 19, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
• Free admission

Historic Buildings Open House at West Point on the Eno Park

• Enjoy a look inside the historic McCown-Mangum House, Photography Museum, and Mill.
• Sat, May 18 and Sun, May 19
• 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
• Free admission

Movies at The Carolina Theatre

• Libeled Lady
• Dirty Harry & Assault on Precinct 13
• Cat City
• Back to Black
• Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
• UHF

Monday, May 13

2 p.m.
Board Game Night at The Glass Jug in Downtown Durham
5 p.m.
Arts & Drafts at Fullsteam Brewery
6 p.m.
Disc Golf Putting League at The Glass Jug in RTP
6:30 p.m.
Trivia Night at Ponysaurus Brewing Company
7 p.m.
Community Board Game Night at Moon Dog Meadery

Tuesday, May 14

Events at Durty Bull Brewing Brewing Company

• 12-8 p.m. - Food Truck: Mike's Vegan Cookout
• 7-9 p.m. - Bull City Beer Runners Run Club
• 7-8 p.m. - Puzzled Pints Game Night

Events at The Glass Jug Beer Lab in Downtown Durham

• 5:45-6:30 p.m. - Community Zumba Classes
• 6-8 p.m. - Music Bingo

Events at The Glass Jug Beer Lab in RTP

• 6-8 p.m. - The Glass Jog Run Club
• 6-9 p.m. - Stitch & Sip

5:30 p.m.
Boxyard Run Club at Boxyard RTP
6 p.m.
In Other Words at Arcana
Duke Baseball vs College of Charleston at Jack Coombs Field
Bring Your Own Vinyl with Jaffar at Rubies on Five Points
Women on the Wall at Triangle Rock Club - Durham
6:30 p.m.
Trivia at Durham Food Hall
Pony Ride at Ponysaurus Brewing Company
7 p.m.
Trivia at Beer Study Durham
Not Rocket Science Trivia at DSSOLVR Durham
Tuesday Blues Jam at The Blue Note Grill
8 p.m.
Comedy Night at Bull City Ciderworks
Jeremy 'Bean' Clemons Trio at Kingfisher
Enter Shikari at Motorco Music Hall
Vision Video + Tears For The Dying at The Pinhook

Wednesday, May 15

Events at Atomic Empire

• 6:30 p.m. - Dragon Ball Fusion World Release Event
• 7 p.m. - Flesh and Blood Armory Event

Events at Boxyard RTP

• 12-2 p.m. - Hear & There: Daniel Delorenzo
• 5:30-8:30 p.m. - Game Night

Events at ZincHouse Winery & Brewery

• 7-8 p.m. - Signature Wine Tasting
• 7-8:30 p.m. - Laughs Comedy Night

9 a.m.
Senior Short Game Clinic at Hillandale Golf Course
10:30 a.m.
Storytime on the Roof with Durham County Library at The Durham Hotel
12 p.m.
Adult Recess at CCB Plaza
3 p.m.
Durham Farmers’ Market at Durham Central Park
4 p.m.
Whiskey Wednesdays at Alley Twenty Six
5 p.m.
Free Wednesday Wine Tasting at Beer Study Durham
5:30 p.m.
Ride of Silence at CCB Plaza
6 p.m.
Queer Craft Night and Tarot with Joy at Arcana
Bimbe Community Block Party at Holton Career & Resource Center
Come Take a Flight With Us: A Bright Black Workshop at Proximity Brewing Company
Free RTP Business Rockstar Connect Networking Event at Sheraton Imperial Hotel
Sweet Social: Auntie's African Ice Cream at The Durham Hotel
6:30 p.m.
Trivia Night with Pickle at The Glass Jug Beer Lab in RTP
7 p.m.
Bottle Swap: Homebrew Club at Durty Bull Brewing Brewing Company
Skip The Small Talk: Speed Friending Event at Fullsteam Brewery
Hammered Trivia at Hi-Wire Brewing
Karaoke Night at Mavericks Smokehouse
Music Bingo at Ponysaurus Brewing Company
3rd Wednesday Jazz Jam Session at Succotash Southern & Creole Kitchen
Brett Chambers Open Mic at The Blue Note Grill
8 p.m.
Air Hockey Tournament at Boxcar Bar + Arcade
Trivia Night at Bull McCabe's
Karaoke at Moon Dog Meadery
The Weeks at Motorco Music Hall
Blends With Friends at The Pinhook

Thursday, May 16

Events at Boxyard RTP

• 7:30-8 a.m. - Bike Durham: Bike to Work
• 12-2 p.m. - Taking Back Thursday: Sheila Casalett

Events at Durty Bull Brewing Brewing Company

• 12-8 p.m. -Food Truck: Mike's Vegan Cookout
• 7-9 p.m. - Thursday Trivia with Nick

8:30 a.m.
Harnessing the Power of AI to Ensure Equitable HR Practices at RTI Holden Building
9:30 a.m.
Guide Supported Canoeing, Kayaking, and Standup Paddleboarding at Eno River
12:15 p.m.
Midday Meander: A Strolling Conversation at Sarah P. Duke Gardens
3 p.m.
Guided Museum Tour at 21c Museum Hotels Durham
5 p.m.
Thirsty Thursdays at Dashi
Righteous Roots Reggae Show at The Glass Jug Beer Lab in RTP
5:30 p.m.
Walking Club with Bull City Strollers at The Glass Jug Beer Lab in Downtown Durham
6 p.m.
Queer Trivia at Arcana
Vinyl Night with DJ Deckades at Gizmo Brew Works
6:15 p.m.
Pony Run at Ponysaurus Brewing Company
6:30 p.m.
AfterHours: Science of Beer at Museum of Life and Science
Line Dance Classes at Mystic Farm and Distillery
Space Code Youth Open Mic at NorthStar Church of the Arts
Boulders & Brews Meetup at Triangle Rock Club - Durham
7 p.m.
Trivia Night at Beer Tooth Taproom
Bimbé Cypher at CCB Plaza
Bring Your Own Vinyl Night at Congress Social Bar
Duke Baseball vs UNC at Jack Coombs Field
Summer Jazz Jam (Curated by Al Strong) at Missy Lane's Assembly Room
Community Board Game Night at Moon Dog Meadery
Al Strong Presents Jazz on the Roof at The Durham Hotel
7:30 p.m.
Trivia Night with Big Slow Tom at Clouds Brewing Brightleaf Square
Reverend Billy C. Wirtz / Armand Lenchek & Carter Minor at The Blue Note Grill
Pillow Talk: Speed Dating and Conversations About Sex / Sexuality at The Pinhook
8 p.m.
Weekly Single Mingle at Boxcar Bar + Arcade
Trivia at Fullsteam Brewery
Danny Lopriore at Motorco Music Hall
9 p.m.
DJ Halo Presents: No Requests at Rubies on Five Points
9:30 p.m.
Karaoke Night at The Tavern

Friday, May 17

Events at Atomic Empire

• 6:30 p.m. - Lorcana: Ursula’s Return Release Event
• 6:30 p.m. - Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate Draft

Events at Durty Bull Brewing Company

• 5-9 p.m. - Food Truck: La Republica Taco Truck
• 8-11 p.m. - Open Mic Stand-up Comedy

Events at Mettlesome

• 7:30-9 p.m. - Wit: An Improv Comedy Game Show
• 9-10 p.m. - Hush Hush

Events at Moon Dog Meadery

• 6:45 p.m. - Lindy Hop Lesson + Dance
• 7:30 p.m. - Djam
• 9:30 p.m. - Bachata Dance Night

Events at The Blue Note Grill

• 6-8 p.m. - The Duke Street Dogs
• 9:15 p.m. - The Beautiful People Club

10 a.m.
Tasting at Ten at Counter Culture Coffee
12 p.m.
Co-Working Social at The Glass Jug Beer Lab in Downtown Durham
4 p.m.
Late Spring Tree Ramble at Sarah P. Duke Gardens
5 p.m.
Guided Museum Tours at 21c Museum Hotels Durham
Food Truck Friday at The Glass Jug Beer Lab in RTP
5:30 p.m.
LOJO: Log Off, Jam On at Boxyard RTP
6 p.m.
Aly J & Kevin Clark and Tarot with Kathleen at Arcana
Third Friday Art Walk at Downtown Durham
Friday Night Makes at Durham Arts Council
May Third Friday at Durham Arts Council
Counterpoints Exhibition Reception at Durham Bottling Co.
Third Friday at Golden Belt Arts
Duke Baseball vs UNC at Jack Coombs Field
Screenprint Roundup at The Fruit
The Patio Dance Parties : Clueless Fridays at Unscripted Durham
6:30 p.m.
Kayla Waters (Hosted by Marcus Anderson) at Missy Lane's Assembly Room
7 p.m.
Live Vinyl Spinning by PhDJ at Beer Study Durham
Early Show: John Howie Jr. / Ramona and The Holy Smokes at The Pinhook
7:30 p.m.
Evening Eno Exploration Paddle at Eno River
Evan Ringel & Ariel Pocock at Sharp 9 Gallery
8 p.m.
Pass the Aux at Boricua Soul
Stereo Reveries at DSSOLVR Durham
Karaoke! at Fullsteam Brewery
Cheekface at Motorco Music Hall
Dance Blues Friday at Studio 5
9 p.m.
Kayla Waters (Hosted by Marcus Anderson) at Missy Lane's Assembly Room
10 p.m.
The Floor: Special Guest THEYDYLIKE at Rubies on Five Points

Saturday, May 18

Events at Atomic Empire

• 11 a.m. - Pokémon TCG: League Cup
• 1 p.m. - Lorcana: Ursula’s Return Release Event
• 2 p.m. - Game Designers of North Carolina Meetup

Events at Boxyard RTP 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. - Will & Well: Grand Opening

• 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. - Saturdaze: DJ k.ward

Events at Durty Bull Brewing Company

• 1-8 p.m. - Food Truck: Death By Taco
• 3-7 p.m. - 3rd Saturday Vintage + Maker Market
• 5-9 p.m. - Home Brewed: CNOTE Art Spectacular

Distillery Tours and Tastings at Liberty & Plenty

• Every Saturday, 10-10:30 a.m. and 11-11:30 a.m.

Events at Mettlesome

• 7:30-8:30 p.m. - House Party
• 8:30-9:30 p.m. - Harold Night
• 9:30-10:30 p.m. - Mint Condition Standup Showcase

Events at The Fruit

• 5-8 p.m. - Menace To Society Album Listening Party
• 7:30-10 p.m. - HUMP! Film Festival
• 10 p.m. - 2 a.m. - Puro Perreo Pari

Events at The Pinhook

• 7:30 p.m. - Boogie Burly Nights... A Groovy 70s Show
• 10:30 p.m. - Drake and Friends 2

Guided Walking Tours with Triangle Adventures

• 2 p.m. - Downtown Durham Walking Tour
• 4 p.m. - Durham African American History Tour
• 6 p.m. - Downtown Durham True Crime Tour

7 a.m.
Lookin For A Cure at Bull City Running Company-South
8 a.m.
Durham Farmers' Market at Durham Central Park
parkrun Durham at Southern Boundaries Park
9 a.m.
South Durham Farmers' Market at Greenwood Commons Shopping Center
9:30 a.m.
Guide Supported Canoeing, Kayaking, and Standup Paddleboarding at Eno River
10 a.m.
Pop Up Record Show at Beer Durham
Durham's Home Goods Market at Black Wall St Gardens
Bear Awareness Week at Museum of Life and Science
10:30 a.m.
Mother's Day Brunch at The Durham Hotel
11 a.m.
Battle of the Blades 2024 at Historic Durham Athletic Park
12 p.m.
Springtime Outdoor Market at Boxcar Bar + Arcade
Crafternoons at Gizmo Brew Works
Preservation Durham Annual Home Tour: The Rambling Ranch at Orchard Park Picnic Shelter
1 p.m.
Duke Baseball vs UNC at Jack Coombs Field
Say It With Glass Workshop - Sam Nguyen at Moon Dog Meadery
Bimbé Celebration at Rock Quarry Park
2 p.m.
Closing Reception — Dan Gottlieb: Figure Ground at Craven Allen Gallery
Durham "Bullpen" Treasure Hunt - Walking Team Scavenger Hunt! at Fullsteam Brewery
3 p.m.
A Beautiful Noise Spring Concert by the Common Woman Chorus at Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
Peter Pan at The Carolina Theatre
4 p.m.
Family Fun Saturday: May Flowers at Guglhupf Restaurant
5 p.m.
Rooftops and Alleyways Community Canvas Wall Brawl at Dashi
Durham Blues & Brews Festival at Durham Central Park
Hops & Blues at The Glass Jug Beer Lab in RTP
6 p.m.
The Moon Unit and Tarot with Emily at Arcana
Peter Pan at The Carolina Theatre
6:30 p.m.
Kayla Waters (Hosted by Marcus Anderson) at Missy Lane's Assembly Room
7 p.m.
A Beautiful Noise Spring Concert by the Common Woman Chorus at Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
Crones of Anarchy: Blues, Rock, Americana at Succotash Southern & Creole Kitchen
7:30 p.m.
Jim Ketch Swingtet at Sharp 9 Gallery
Big Birthday Dance Party: Combo Platter with 2 Sides at The Blue Note Grill
8:15 p.m.
BBYMUTHA: Sleep Paralysis Tour 2024 at Motorco Music Hall
9 p.m.
Kayla Waters (Hosted by Marcus Anderson) at Missy Lane's Assembly Room
10 p.m.
Fortune Factory Presents: Taurus Dance Party at Rubies on Five Points

Sunday, May 19

Events at Atomic Empire

• 11:30 a.m. - Star Wars: Shatterpoint Tournament
• 12 p.m. - Battletech Campaign Day
• 1 p.m. - Lorcana: Ursula’s Return Release Event

Events at Durty Bull Brewing Company

• 2-4 p.m. - Hammered Trivia with Casey
• 4-8 p.m. - The Blood Connection Blood Drive

10 a.m.
Jazz Brunch at Lula & Sadie's
10:30 a.m.
Al Strong Presents Jazz Brunch at Alley Twenty Six
12 p.m.
Preservation Durham Annual Home Tour: The Rambling Ranch at Orchard Park Picnic Shelter
Sunday Dollar Bin Sale for Charity at Rumors Durham
Supernatural Sunday - Psychic Affair + Healers Market at Weldon Mills Distillery
Farmers Market at ZincHouse Winery & Brewery
12:15 p.m.
Public Tour at Duke Chapel
2 p.m.
Hillandale Golf Beginner Clinic at Hillandale Golf Course
3:30 p.m.
Davis Dance Company Spring Recital 2024 at The Carolina Theatre
4 p.m.
Showings at Scripps: Miguel Gutierrez at ADF's Samuel H. Scripps Studios
Carmina Burana at Baldwin Auditorium
Día de las Madres Kermes at El Futuro’s Therapeutic Green Space
String Break at Fullsteam Brewery
6 p.m.
Emma Jane's EP Release Show and Tarot with Joy at Arcana
Davis Dance Company Spring Recital 2024 at The Carolina Theatre
6:30 p.m.
Open Mic Night at Moon Dog Meadery
7 p.m.
DPW Limit Break at Durham Convention Center

Running Art Exhibit

Hometown (Inherited): Ten Year Retrospective at The Fruit

• This project examines the changing landscape of our city through a series of forty mixed media pieces the artist has created since 2014.
• Third Friday openings on Apr 19 and May 17, 6-9 p.m.
• Drop-in by appointment and Wednesdays 4-7 p.m.
• Free admission

Dan Gottlieb: Figure Ground at Craven Allen Gallery

• Each piece begins as a photograph, which is then printed on acrylic and worked with a variety of paints and compounds to create a unique surface.
• Sat, May 4 - Sat, May 18
• Free admission

Constellations: 40 Years of Explorations within Sacred Geometry by Steven Ferlauto at Horse & Buggy Press and Friends

• Sacred Geometry is an ancient field of physics whose equations are expressed through shape. Shape is a way to explore the universal fabric of our existence.
• Sat, May 4 - Sat, June 1
• Free admission

It Ain’t All Black And White at DAG Truist Gallery

• It Ain’t All Black and White is a photography exhibition that encourages us to consider emotions such as serenity, apprehension, yearning, and more.
• Captured by 11 dynamic photographers dedicated to documenting the fullness and complexity of Black life, this exhibition offers each of us an opportunity to see ourselves with renewed attention.
• Thu, Apr 25 - Sun, June 2

María Magdalena Campos-Pons: Behold at Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University

• María Magdalena Campos-Pons: Behold is a monographic exhibition of a visionary voice in photography, immersive installation, painting and performance.
• Thu, Feb 15 - Sun, Jun 9
• Every week, Tue-Sat 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun 12-5 p.m.
• Free admission

Counterpoints at Durham Bottling Co.

• Counterpoints is a curated showcase of local AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) artists, delving into the convergence of AAPI identity and mental health. Inspired by the intricate layers of musical counterpoint, its purpose is to weave together diverse narratives and confront the stigma surrounding mental health within our communities.
• Wed, May 1 - Sun, June 16
• Mon - Fri, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Cameron Elyse's Divine Nine Legacy Memoir Exhibition at Hayti Heritage Center

• The Divine Nine Legacy Memoir delves deep into the history of the National Panhellenic Council (NPHC) or "Divine Nine," a collective of nine Greek Letter organizations founded on May 10th, 1930.
• These organizations were born out of the necessity to provide a voice for Black American students within the collegiate space. United by principles of service, community, brotherhood, and sisterhood, the Divine Nine work collectively to uplift society through acts of service to underserved areas across the nation.
• Fri, Apr 19 - Sat, June 1
• Free admission

Link to original nosleep post:
https://www.reddit.com/nosleep/comments/1bgxwgm/i_found_a_set_of_blank_cassette_tapes_at_the_junk/
Growing up as a young kid in the late 1980s, I was always terrified by the stories I'd hear of people who'd go to the grocery store, take a hike in the woods, or even a trip to a crowded beach, and would disappear, never to be seen again.
Whenever I'd see their faces memorialized on the back of milk cartons, their last photographs forever immortalized in the macabre medium of ink on cardboard, it would send shivers down my spine.
But the truth is, by the mid 1990s, I had overcome my fears, too preoccupied by the distractions of an adolescent life.
That is, until one day, in 1996, when, at the age of fourteen, a mere freshman in high school, during my weekly pilgrimage to the junk store, I made a discovery in the cassette pile that would change my life forever.
"You're still listening to tapes?" My best friend Jess asked, rolling her eyes, a nerd in the truest sense. "Get with it, dude. CDs are the future. Higher dynamic range, superior sound quality. It's not even a question."
"Yeah, yeah." I replied, ignoring her criticism, as I rummaged through the store's now mound of cassettes, its collection having significantly accumulated since the dawn of the compact disc just a few years prior.
"Look at that thing. It just looks... not cool." My friend Mike added, as he pointed to my cassette player, which was clipped onto my belt, its black plastic headphones draped around my neck. "I swear, if you wear that to school, and the football team asks, I'm denying that we're friends."
Somewhere between elementary school and high school, he'd been converted to an athlete and, by association, became popular. But I didn't care about being cool. Or acting cool. Or dressing cool. I just liked what I liked, and to me, cassettes were functional, and cheap. And that, to me, was really cool.
"Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never-" I began to say to them, before something caught my eye at the bottom of the box.
It was a stack of eight homemade cassette tapes, each with a number scribbled onto it, bundled together by a flimsy old rubber band, that looked like it would break at any moment.
There was just something about them. Something so nondescript, so unapologetic, so mysterious, that I felt compelled to buy them, without even knowing what was recorded onto their magnetic tape.
"What are you guys doing later?" I asked Jess and Mike, as we left the store, and began our walk home, the ocean's waves showering us with mist, as they crashed along the seawall of our small South Shore town.
"First game of the season tonight." Mike replied, "Wouldn't miss it."
"You should check it out. Even I'm watching," Jess added, "We signed Walker in the draft. I just have a feeling about this season."
"No thanks." I declined, "I just can't get into sports. Despite my blue collar dad's continued attempts to convert me."
"Your loss." Mike replied, as we parted ways, each of us heading off in different directions.
—
Later that night, I was lying in bed, fantasizing about a world where Jess confessed her undying love for me, when I suddenly remembered that I'd bought the cassette tapes earlier that day.
So, I found the one labeled "1," popped it into my cassette player, and hit the rewind button.
After a minute, I heard it stop, and pressed play...
CLICK.
...Expecting to hear some grunge, britpop, or maybe even ska music. But what came out of the speakers was something... else.
"If you're listening to this..." A man said, his ominous voice crackling over the magnetic tape, "...You've found my instructions on where to find the bodies in the marsh."
What the heck? I thought to myself, nearly spitting out my soda. This must be some kind of prank. But for some reason, I couldn't stop listening.
"Bodies that, if discovered in the correct order, will provide clues to who I am. And why I did what I did."
Okay, maybe it's some sort of audio game? Like a detective thing, Yes, that must be it.
"As this is the first cassette in the set of eight, for this tape I'll be providing step by step instructions on how to find the first body. So, when you're ready, please proceed to the marshes on 139, where the bend of the road meets the sharp turn sign. You'll want to pause the tape now, until you get there."
CLICK.
I did just as he instructed, and paused the tape.
139. That's an actual street, not far away. Wait a minute. Could this be... real?
I wasted no time, picking up the plastic rotary telephone that I'd begged my parents to let me keep in my room, and called Jess' house.
"What the heck, dude!" She answered, "You just booted me offline. I've been downloading this song all day, and it was at 95%."
"Sorry," I replied, "But there's something I need to tell you."
I proceeded to tell her about the tape, and its instructions, and asked her to skip school with me the next day, to accompany me on my search for the bodies. Naturally, she laughed off the request, citing a presentation she had to give at school the next day, but offered up going right then and there.
"At night? Are you crazy?" I asked.
"I mean it's not real. So what's the worst that could happen?" She reasoned.
"Okay, let me call Mike."
I would have bet a million dollars that Mike would have declined the invite, and called me an idiot for even entertaining the idea, but when he picked up the phone, he was so upset that the boys in green, as he called them, had lost, that he jumped at the chance to get out of the house.
"Really?" I replied.
"Yeah, I can't listen to my old man make up excuses for them anymore. It's much too early in the season."
—
About an hour later, Jess, Mike, and I met at the marshes on 139, where the bend of the road meets the sharp turn sign, just as the narrator, as I'll call him, had described.
"Where to now, genius?" Mike asked, gesturing to the immense stretch of marshland that lay before us. A stretch of marshland that was so expansive, in fact, that our town was even named for it.
"One second." I said, before putting on my headphones and pressing play on the cassette player.
CLICK.
"If you're listening now, it means you made it to the starting point. Next, you'll want to turn to the marsh, and scan the horizon for an old scarecrow. Once you find it, walk across the top of the marsh, careful not to fall into its trenches, until you reach the scarecrow. Until then, pause the tape."
Once again, I did just as he instructed, and paused the tape, before returning my headphones to my neck, and looking off into the distance.
Sure enough, about a football field's distance away, was the scarecrow, its body illuminated by the moonlight, its arms open wide, as if calling us over to join it.
"Follow me." I said to my friends.
—
A few minutes later, I was trudging through the grassy surface of the marshlands, my flashlight in hand, as Jess and Mike lagged behind me, bantering away as usual.
"It's up, up, down, down, right, left, right, left, A, B, and start." Mike said.
"No, you idiot, it's up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, and start." Jess corrected.
"Will you two shut up already?" I called out, as I forged ahead, too annoyed to look back at them.
"You know what, Tyler? I'm really starting to worry about you, dude." Mike said.
"Oh yeah? Why's that?" I replied, rolling my eyes.
"You're really changing. Hanging out at the comic book store. Listening to metal. And worst of all, wearing those flannels around your waist."
I stopped in my tracks, and turned back to him.
"Me change? Dude, I saw you bullying Shea in the locker room, with the other football players."
"So what? The kid deserved it."
"Did he? Why?"
"For being a nerd. That's why. And you know what?"
"What?"
"Maybe you deserve to be bullied too."
I dropped my flashlight and stormed over to him, before we both locked eyes, fists clenched.
That's when we heard Jess, call back to us from up ahead.
"Hey guys..." She said.
We both looked over to her.
Jess simply pointed a few feet away, where we saw...
...A giant scarecrow, towering above the marsh, its wooden body barely keeping it standing, nearly all of its hay having fallen off.
—
CLICK.
"If you're listening now, it means you made it to the scarecrow. Next, you'll want to look out at the Y-shaped ravine before you, separating you from two different patches of marsh. Jump to the one on the left, take about five steps, and dig there. That's where you'll find the first body, and a clue. After you find it, you'll want to switch to the second tape."
CLICK.
I relayed the recording to my friends, who had very different reactions.
"I'm not jumping-" Jess said.
"Stand back." Mike interrupted, as he took a few steps back, crouched down, ran...
...And cleared the ravine, his boots splashing into the muddy marsh on the other side.
Jess and I simply looked at each other, then over at Mike, then down at the ravine, and finally back at each other.
—
A few minutes later, Jess was helping me up from the ravine, she too, having just crawled up from it after falling in.
Meanwhile, Mike was laughing so hard at us, that he stumbled backwards and tripped over something.
Seeing that Mike, too, was now covered in mud, Jess and I joined in on the laughter, and before we knew it, all three of us were all uncontrollably howling under the moonlight, all three of us, dirt caked onto all of our clothes.
But then Mike stopped laughing.
"Hey guys..." He said.
Jess and I looked over at him.
"...What the heck is that?" He continued, pointing to an object that was protruding from the marsh.
I turned on my flashlight, shined it onto the object, and was shocked to find...
...A human hand, long decomposed, its digits collapsed into the mud, its wrist bones sticking up through the grass.
Jess screamed at the top of her lungs.
Mike, having just stood up, fell back to the ground, his eyes wide in horror.
And I, I took it the worst of all, immediately turning to the ravine and gagging into it, as if that was the polite place to do it.
"But wait," Jess began, "That means..."
"...They're real. The tapes are real. And there are seven more bodies out here." I muttered, my body beginning to tremble.
"Cool." Jess said, before taking a closer look.
"We've gotta go tell someone. The cops. Let's get out of here." I said, still in shock.
"Are you kidding, dude? We have a once in a lifetime chance here, to find these bodies. Now let's find the clue and play the other tape." Mike said, his voice excited, but his body shaking.
"He does have a point, as disgusting as it is." Jess added.
"You can't be serious?" I yelled out to them both.
"Hey, you're the one that found the tapes. And wanted to come out here." Jess replied.
"The way I see it, there's only one way to decide." Mike called out.
"Oh yeah? What's that?" I asked.
"We vote." He said, with a smile.
—
A few minutes later, Mike and Jess were digging through the mud, searching for the clue, as I watched on in horror, switched tape "1" for tape "2", and pressed play.
CLICK.

Edit: Thank you to everyone for your words of support. Especially those encouraging me to be a bit more bitchy. This made me laugh 😜. I took a walk while reading ya'lls posts and saw both ducks with babies and geese with babies by a pond near me. Sooooo cute. I took some deep breaths and will push forward with ya'lls advice. I will "grey rock" my coworker (new term to me 😂), already ordered a "tile" (air tag) and will have another more assertive chat with the hubby, and also take action to improve my mental space regarding my mom.
Original post: I want to give a few examples of things that have upset me lately. I deal with this crap frequently and typically just take it and never say anything or stand up for myself.
Example 1: We'll call my coworker "Nancy" (not her real name but she is negative). My husband almost died in Jan from an emergency situation in which he was in the hospital for almost 3 weeks. He had 3 surgeries and will have to have another surgery in less than a year. We were hit bad financially because we are still recovering from both being laid off from Covid(My husband just recently started his first permanent position since he was laid off). My company has an assistance fund and several other employees suggested I apply. When I mentioned to Nancy that I applied, she said "Just now? Months later?" I looked at her weird and stated that they require extensive details and we only just recently received most of the bills and 90% insurance claims are finally processed. (He had medical home care for several months which she knew) She knows I do not contribute to the fund(I used to but now I can't afford it.) and she does not contribute either. She then proceeded to say "I would never take from something I don't give to" (with a better than thou tone). I responded with "that's kinda the point though...It is to help people financially so it doesn't make sense to hinder those who don't contribute because they can't financially." No matter what I say she argues with me. I mentioned I would move Colorado and she says she wouldn't cuz it's full of weed smoking hippies...then when I mention I could never live in California (cuz it's too expensive) she said "oh I love California!" Whaaat?! It took all that was in me to not respond "you know Cali has smoking hippies right?!" 😂
Example 2: My husband has a bad habit of taking my keys from my purse and not putting them back. On many occasions, I can not find them and it makes me late for work. This happened again today and I was late for work. He said he grabbed them yesterday when we were leaving (to attend Mother's Day at my mom's house) because he didn't know if his truck had enough gas, and if it didn't, we'd take my SUV. Totally ok with that of course. As I was leaving this morning, after he finally found them, I was mad that this keeps happening and I've asked him multiple times to put them back. He didn't even let me finish speaking and says "well if you hadn't made me go to Mother's Day yesterday...". Blaming me. (Never did I make him go but I should mention his mother passed away 15 years ago and they were close) He then said "you didn't take your purse"... again blaming me. (I don't need to take my purse everywhere as my phone case can hold the essentials). I told him I'm allowed to be mad as this has happened many times and he should apologize for blaming me for his mistake.
Example 3: I grew up in a horribly negative environment which included everything I did was wrong and I won't amount to anything. My mom, to the outside world, is a nice lady. Only my siblings and close family members know the real her. (Selfish and narcissistic) She has never done anything nice for me and when she does do something "nice" it's like this. I am her only real daughter but she has two daughters in law. One Sister-in-law has two boys. My other SIL has dogs. I also have dogs. My mom hand made T-shirts for my SILs. "Boy mom" and "Dog mom". She then handed me a weird contraption and said "I bought this for myself on clearance at Michaels but I won't use it and thought you'd like it." It was a paper craft thing. I don't do paper crafts. She makes homemade cards. I was very hurt by this. I would've rather got nothing than her regift me a clearance item she got herself.
I get it, each individual situation is not a big deal. But these types of things just keep occuring and I'm tired. I want to feel respected, loved, supported...but I'm so tired of always letting stuff slide or being the bigger person. I fear I'm going to break character and flip out on someone.
Am I overreacting? I just want to sleep these crappy interactions away. No motivation to do anything for anyone today.

The heart of every home is undoubtedly the kitchen. It’s where families gather, stories are shared, and memories are made over hearty meals. But behind every successful kitchen lies a treasure trove of essential items. From the humble spatula to the latest kitchen gadgets, these tools are the unsung heroes that make culinary magic happen. In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve into the must-have home kitchen item that can revolutionize your cooking experience.
Cookware:
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A sharp, reliable knife is a chef’s best friend. From chopping vegetables to carving meats, a good set of knives is indispensable in any kitchen. Look for knives made from high-carbon stainless steel for durability and precision. Essential knives include a chef’s knife, paring knife, serrated knife, and utility knife. Keep them honed and sharpened regularly to maintain their edge.
Food Processor:
Streamline your meal prep with a food processor. This versatile appliance can chop, slice, shred, and puree ingredients in a fraction of the time it takes to do manually. From homemade pesto to creamy hummus, the possibilities are endless. Choose a model with interchangeable blades and a powerful motor for maximum efficiency.
Mixing Essentials:
Whether you’re whipping up a batch of cookies or kneading dough for fresh bread, mixing tools are essential in any kitchen. Invest in a stand mixer for hands-free mixing and kneading. For smaller tasks, a hand mixer or whisk will suffice. Don’t forget a sturdy set of mixing bowls in various sizes for all your culinary creations.
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Precision is key in the kitchen, especially when it comes to baking. A reliable set of measuring tools is essential for accurate results. Invest in both dry and liquid measuring cups, as well as measuring spoons in various sizes. For weight-based measurements, a digital kitchen scale is indispensable.
Essential Utensils:
No kitchen is complete without a collection of essential utensils. From stirring sauces to flipping pancakes, these tools are the backbone of any culinary endeavor. Stock your kitchen with spatulas, wooden spoons, tongs, and slotted spoons. Silicone utensils are ideal for use with non-stick cookware, as they won’t scratch or damage the surface.
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Keep your pantry organized and your ingredients fresh with proper storage solutions. Invest in airtight containers for staples like flour, sugar, and grains. Mason jars are perfect for storing homemade sauces, jams, and pickles. Don’t forget about freezer-safe containers for storing leftovers and batch-cooked meals.
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Embrace the latest technology with innovative kitchen gadgets that can streamline your cooking process. From air fryers to sous vide machines, there’s no shortage of gadgets to choose from. Invest in tools that align with your cooking style and preferences, whether you’re a health-conscious home cook or a culinary adventurer.
Cooking Essentials:
Stock your pantry with essential ingredients that form the foundation of countless recipes. From herbs and spices to oils and vinegars, these staples can elevate your dishes from ordinary to extraordinary. Don’t forget about basic pantry items like flour, sugar, and canned goods for quick and easy meal prep.
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Last but certainly not least, no kitchen is complete without proper cleaning supplies. Keep your kitchen sparkling clean with a reliable arsenal of cleaning tools and products. Invest in quality dish soap, sponges, and scrub brushes for tackling dirty dishes. Don’t forget about surface cleaners and disinfectants for keeping countertops and appliances sanitary.
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A well-equipped kitchen is the cornerstone of culinary creativity. By stocking your culinary arsenal with these essential items, you can streamline your cooking process and elevate your dishes to new heights. From cookware and knives to gadgets and gizmos, the possibilities are endless. So roll up your sleeves, sharpen your knives, and get ready to revolutionize your home kitchen. Happy cooking!

With Mother’s Day being such a busy day at restaurants, this year my brother and I decided to do something a little different. My mother is very content to just hang out with us for a few hours, so we thought it would be fun to take her to a local driving range and let her sit on a bench behind our bays so we she could talk to us, ask questions and pick targets for us to try to hit. She’s in her mid 70s and not the most mobile, so she loved this idea and was definitely having a great time.
Everything was going great and we were a little bit more than half way through our large buckets when I decided I should try to hit that super weird ball I found in my bucket.
When I first poured out my bucket I notice there was a ball with what looked like a nail sticking out of it, and my initial thought was that someone must have been bored and wanted to see how the ball would travel with a nail in it. I was a little hesitant to hit it, but my brother encouraged me saying he wanted to see what would happen. Just before lining up my 4iron to hit it off the mat I said “you think this is one of those shockd balls?” To which my brother replied “no, someone just put a nail in a ball.”
To set the scene a little, this driving range is next to a mini golf course and super popular ice cream stand in the Boston area, so needless to say that on a 60 degree sunny Mother’s Day, the place was packed! When we arrived, the only open bays next to each other were in the middle of a covered area which is great for bad weather and even has heaters in the winter, so naturally this is where we set up.
So I’m lining up my ball and am questioning what kind of damage this nail might do to my club, so I tell me brother I want to balance the ball on the nail so when I make contact I’ll only hit the ball. My brother didn’t like my cautious approach and told me to just hit it on the nail to see what would happen while adjusting the ball for me to have the nail positioned at the point of impact.
At this point I’m intrigued, so I set up, take my backswing, and drive right through the ball with my 4. You’ve probably already guessed it, but as soon as I made contact with the ball the thing sounded like a bomb went off, and while I was staggering away with my ears ringing, then entire range of like 60 bays went silent. Since we were under the covered area, and the bays are separated with 4’ high stalls, the sound was amplified to the max, and although my first priority was reorienting myself after the flash bang that just went off, I definitely kind of felt like a dick.
While it really seemed like my brother knew what was going to happen and was trying to set me up, he genuinely had no idea and was just as shocked (no pun intended) as everyone else. The guys in the bay next to us weren’t amused and definitely didn’t believe it wasn’t intentional when, in the aftermath, I kept saying “why would they put on of those in my bucket!?”
To add some more context, I’ve never used or seen a Shockd ball other than the IG ads for them, and this ball didn’t have a shockd logo but just looked like some old beater ball someone drove a nail through. I don’t know if it was a legit shockd ball or something more homemade, but just before swinging I remember thinking “I really hope this isn’t some sort of homemade bomb that’s gonna blown up and hurt me.” In hindsight, I probably should have let my brother hit it haha.
We finished out the rest of our balls and got some ice cream to celebrate our mom, but when I got home I was still so confused as to how that ball would end up in my bucket. After telling the story to my wife, she had the theory that one of the employees was just looking to have a little harmless fun and threw a couple of those balls in different buckets for a little excitement. When I relayed this to my brother he responded “ah yes! The classic Mother’s Day prank! A tradition as old as time!” which we both got a kick out of.
I’m inclined to believe my wife’s assumption, just because I can’t think of any other way that ball would have ended up in the bucket, except for the fact that the guy working the stand with the buckets was at least in his 50s and not some teenager.
What does golf think?

Image compilation: https://i.imgur.com/Quabocy.jpeg or https://i.ibb.co/hCBcJHV/6c47b980b4f9.jpg
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Bonjour ;) je cherche à acheter une planche de paddle pour débutant donc large ;)
On m'a déconseillé les gonflables qui sont pourtant bien pratique, il me faut donc de la stabilité et pour le moment j'ai sélectionné 2 entrées de gamme :
la Itwit de Decathlon : https://www.decathlon.fp/pack-de-stand-up-paddle-gonflable-10-35-6-1-ou-2-personnes-jusqu-a-130kg/_/R-p-343808?mc=8772826&c=gris_bleu
Une Goosehill sur amazon :
https://www.amazon.fdp/B085RPJ49X/?coliid=I2TC3RX042I81T&colid=1EZIR7Y9CL5O7&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it&th=1
D'autres conseils pour une bonne qualité durable svp ? ou une de ces deux là ? Merci ;)

Bonjour ;) je cherche à acheter une planche de paddle pour débutant donc large ;)
On m'a déconseillé les gonflables qui sont pourtant bien pratique, il me faut donc de la stabilité et pour le moment j'ai sélectionné 2 entrées de gamme :
la Itwit de Decathlon : https://www.decathlon.fp/pack-de-stand-up-paddle-gonflable-10-35-6-1-ou-2-personnes-jusqu-a-130kg/_/R-p-343808?mc=8772826&c=gris_bleu
Une Goosehill sur amazon :
https://www.amazon.fdp/B085RPJ49X/?coliid=I2TC3RX042I81T&colid=1EZIR7Y9CL5O7&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it&th=1
D'autres conseils pour une bonne qualité durable svp ? ou une de ces deux là ? Merci ;)

just got back from our trip so I figured I’d give a recap for anyone else anxiously researching the way I was 🤪
The stay: we stayed at the sands at grace bay and we LOVED it. You’re immediately greeted with rum punch and they bring your bag up to your room for you. We stayed in a junior garden view suite and still was able to see out to the ocean from our room. The screened in balcony was super nice to hang out on and was probably our favorite part of the room. Washer and dryer in room was also nice. Three (?) pools, the big one is the nicest and has the most chairs which are first come first serve but it wasn’t busy this week so we had no problem getting chairs when we wanted them. Got a couples massage at spa tropique and it was well worth the money
The beach: we walked up and down the beach in front of the other resorts and felt like the beach and water was the nicest in front of the sands, but that might be just based on how the wind was blowing this week. Water was crystal clear and warm-ish. Shallow pretty far out, I am 5’4 and not a strong swimmer and terrified of things in the water and felt comfortable going out to chest deep water. The swimming area I think heard gets to be about 5 and a half- six feet deep at the back of it. Little bit of seaweed but not enough to make me squirm and I’m a baby about things in the ocean. My husband checked out snorkeling gear from the sands for free and swam around the little swimming area, said he didn’t see anything.
The weather: it was cloudy and drizzled on and off the first day we got there but the rest of the week was beautiful. Very very humid but not miserably hot yet
The food: we ate at coco bistro, Hemingway’s (for like four meals just bc it was on our resort), Caicos cafe, the farm, Mr. Groupers, and ate at the fish fry. All were good, no strong stand outs as a favorite. Fish fry was fun, I would compare it to like a small hometown summer fair with craft vendors and food. Spent anywhere from $100-$300 a meal for 2, but this included a drink or two a person, entree, and dessert. Got subs from the Graceway gourmet grocery store to eat before our kayaking excursion bc that had an early pick up time which were also pretty good, comparable to subway. Beans & leaves had pretty good coffee and my husband got a smoothie that was good. Stopped at turkberry which is like the old froyo shops that were everywhere in the early 2010s, no complaints there besides that it was pricy, but I expected that going in
Excursions: we did a ton this vacation! We went parasailing, booked on Viator. They pull up in their boat to your resort to pick yo up and we were up in the air for about 10 minutes. If this is something you like doing, I would do it. I personally am mildly afraid of heights and this was a compromise to not go snorkeling and while it was beautiful, I couldn’t wait to get back on the boat 😂 I did however feel safe the entire time so if you’re on the fence I would do it, it was about $85 a person. Provo ponies was booked up by the time we thought about it so we went with Heritage Tours and really liked them! I rode Patches who was super sweet and my husband rode Diamond. This was my husbands first time riding a horse and he was totally comfortable. Tour guides were super friendly, the horses knew exactly where they were going, and it was cool to see the other side of the island. I wore shorts and a tshirt and tennis shoes without socks because I figured you would have to wear closed toed shoes, this is not the case and the will even let you go barefoot if you want. We also did a clear kayak excursion to the Mangrove and Iguana island and this was our favorite excursion by far. They tow you out to where you need to go by jet skis and then it’s casual paddling looking for wildlife. I would not call myself super athletic or a particularly fit person so I was glad I had my husband with me to do the bulk of the paddling but none of the groups seemed to be struggling. We saw soooo many turtles, 2 lemon sharks, some little fish, a jellyfish, and a barracuda. Our tour guide even found a beautiful empty conch shell which I got to keep. They tell you you’re only guaranteed to see conch but definitely do their best to make sure you see things. We were the earliest group and I think that helped. The absolute highlight of our trip was walking a puppy at Potcake Place rescue. If you like dogs you have to do this, it’s totally free and they give you everything you need to have the dogs for a few hours. They check out dogs starting at 10 and they have to be back by 12:30 for nap time. We went around 10:30 and there were plenty of dogs, but I’m sure that could be different depending on the time of year. We were given Tassie and she was just the sweetest thing and had a blast walking (being carried) all over town with us and loooooved the beach. We had so much fun with her and I definitely didn’t cry giving her back and try to convince my husband we should bring her home 😉
The shell: like I said, I got a conch shell on our kayak trip. I was a big shell kid so this was the one thing I really wanted to get from this trip. Had this not happened, our plan had been to go to Da Conch Shack and see if there were shells over there. The Sands cleaned the shell for me for $10. Unfortunately we were leaving the next day so it still stunk some, it still stinks and i will be continuing to clean it today. My luggage is all in the process of being rewashed because it made everything smell despite being double bagged. It is however beautiful and was worth it. I was nervous i was going to have to check my bag bc i only had a carry on, but they told me I didn’t have to and I had no issues getting through security. Customs also didn’t make me declare it but I don’t know if that is the norm.
Phones: I have Verizon and had the travel pass, had no issues using my data but for some reason my phone wasn’t receiving calls the whole trip which I haven’t had an issue with in other countries with the travel pass? Wasn’t a big deal for me, but just something to keep in mind
The airport: oof. I was SO nervous after seeing the horror stories of cancelled flights, etc. We had no issues coming into Turks. As we were getting in the taxi to go to the airport for our 3PM flight, I get a notification that it’s bumped to 4 which was whatever, our connection wasn’t until 9 so this is actually better for us. Then ten seconds later it gets bumped to 5 and we wouldn’t land in Philadelphia until 8:40 for our 9:05 connection flight. Luckily I was able to get us a different flight that actually got us home significantly earlier, but I was stressed until we actually took off 😂 service is not great in the airport so I’m also glad this happened before we arrived. Otherwise the airport was fine, we breezed through security, were able to find seats no issue and they had big fans going so it wasn’t too hot. Ate sandwiches from the little deli and got some snacks from the convenience store.
Tips: really the only big one is to bring cash with you. We only had $60 because we miscommunicated who was grabbing cash and thought we’d be fine because there’s ATMs. The ones at Graceway Gourmet were both out of order both times we tried to go, the only other one within walking distance of the resorts we could find was at the casino at the Ritz but it doesn’t open until 5. We were planning to go to Da Conch Shack this trip but weren’t going to have enough cash to pay for a taxi there and then one to the airport so we scrapped it this trip. There are stray dogs around the island which was scary to me at first but they mostly either keep to themselves or are friendly. We walked like 20,000 steps a day so bring comfy shoes. Also some of the cover things on the sidewalk get really slick when it rains (ask me how I know 🫠)
tldr: we had an incredible trip and can’t wait to go back. I literally said “how am I supposed to vacation anywhere else ever again”

A couple of months ago, author Rick Bass was interviewed by the NYT in their "BY THE BOOK" feature. Among other good things, there is this excerpt below. Back in 2005, just after it came out, I gave a glowing review to Rick Bass's novel, THE DIEZMO, detailing an 1850s historical filibustering expedition. I recall that some others, naysayers just like the ones here, thought it did not measure up to being mentioned on the Cormac McCarthy Site, but I stood my ground.
Rick Bass, always a McCarthy supporter, went on to write brilliantly about naturalism and I have since reviewed many of his books. The last one of his I reviewed on the now vanished site was THE TRAVELING FEAST: ON THE ROAD AND AT THE TABLE WITH AMERICA'S FINEST WRITERS (2018), in which Bass dines with many of our favorites, including Jim Harrison before he died. Bass said that some authors did not accept his invitation, and surely one of those not accepting was Cormac McCarthy.
Among the books written by Rick Bass are some recognized gems, fact and fiction, including THE LOST GRIZZLIES, THE NEW WOLVES, THE NINEMILE WOLVES, COLTER, THE HERMIT' S STORY, THE SKY, THE STARS, AND THE WILDERNESS. Just about everything.
What books are on your night stand?
“Ædnan” by Linnea Axelsson; FATHER AND SON and “Passage to Juneau” by Jonathan Raban; “All the Pretty Horses” (re-re-read); “Cold Mountain” (re-re-re-read); “Mink River” by Brian Doyle.
Do you prefer books that reach you emotionally or intellectually?
Yes.
How have your reading tastes changed over time?
I’m less patient and can barely any longer abide even one misstep in a sentence, no matter how “good” the story. I crave protein and no longer have much interest in sugar.
Do you consider yourself prolific?
No.
What makes you so prolific?
It’s like the old Woody Allen joke: I’m prolific, I write a book every yeaNo I’m not prolific at all, I write a book every year.
What’s the last great book you read?
It’s been a while now, but I loved “Miracle and Wonder: Conversations With Paul Simon.” Great can be kind of a limiting word these days. At this stage of my life, I’m a fiend for rereading. I will return to Cormac McCarthy’s THE PASSENGER, as I do much of his work.
What’s the most terrifying book you’ve ever read?
“The End of Nature” by Bill McKibben; “The Dying of the Trees” by Charles E. Little; “The Most Important Fish in the Sea” by H. Bruce Franklin; “Enough” by Bill McKibben. He is an amazement — I know of few writers who so powerfully merge intellect with deep morality and the dignity of manners, yet while retaining sacred rage. Terry Tempest Williams can terrify for the same reason.
What’s your favorite book no one else has heard of?
GOODBYE TO A RIVER comes to mind — I’m writing a book celebrating his work, with a bit of biography. It’s pretty much a perfect book, with beautiful descriptions, intelligent and with a fair-minded voice, authoritative without seeming so — leavened by intense curiosity about the natural world and people, too. There is just enough of a curmudgeon in the narrator, balancing with sweetness, and again curiosity, to make it an irresistible read, and an unforgettable journey of a young man paddling down a wild river about to be erased, turned into a flatwater lake by a dam.

Are your essay collections organized around themes? What would you say the new collection is about?

The essays are not organized around themes but in selecting them — trying, and for the most part I think successfully, to avoid my straight-on advocacy pieces — I realize I chose those about the pursuit and celebration of things I find beautiful. What are my aesthetics for beauty? I think of beauty as a kind of fittedness: the way a thing integrates, or seeks to integrate, with everything else in its environment. This can imply a deep and complex, sophisticated connectedness to all things — which is why we tend to see so much beauty in nature, because that’s how nature rolls. But there can be a deep aesthetic of beauty, too, in the isolate, the singular, the solitary, no-longer-connected or not-yet-fitted.
“I rarely feel more real than when I am hunting and gathering,” you write in one essay. What do hunting and writing have in common?
Properly done, both are gifts. In each, your senses are so acutely engaged that it seems the tips of cell receptors glow incandescent; you burn, yet without damage — there is only illumination, exhilaration: the moment, caught in the web of five senses and deepest specificity. In hunting, every footfall matters — where you choose to direct your senses, step by step, matters, as does in writing every word choice, every letter, every sound.

NOTE FROM AUTHOR: Hello Hello! I am a first-time writer embarking on my first dumpster fire; input is most welcome. I'm not the best self-editor, so get your hiking boots on. It's rough out there. Whenever I read it, I find or create more errors (:
OPTIONAL READS: For the Retro Computer or Programming Enthusiast OR if you are open to other formats of story telling. I tried to combine my love for programming as an UNDERSTANDABLE way to tell a story through a Visual Experience in the Command Line Interface;
A Stand-Alone VISUAL ASCII 'Programming Terminal' Story Prologue. Follow through(Screen Shots of my Command Line Interface) the UNE-EYE Observational Satellite Terminal as Kable extracts Classified Data about his Beloved Military Unit, THE HUMMINGBIRDS, a flying exoskeleton unit. This includes the origin story of a Technology Tree in Book 1.

####

INDEX

1. DEADCOAST - THE HUMMINGBIRDS PROLOGUE -> HERE <-
   
2. DEADCOAST - COMPLETE ILLUSTRATED INTRO -> HERE <-
   
3. HEAT & GRIZZLY REDS - CHAPTER 1 ILLUSTRATED -> HERE <-
   

"Deadcoast Book 1: Heat and the Grizzly Reds" transports readers to a 2063 Earth, a world on the brink, where the scarcity of fresh water has led to previously unseen geopolitical tensions. Amidst this backdrop, the nation-backed militant group DAGGR has emerged as a formidable force, leveraging advanced technology to assert control over Canada’s abundant water resources. At the heart of their arsenal is 'slugTech,' a technology pioneered by James Broadshaw, intended for ecological restoration but repurposed for militaristic dominance.
The story unfolds with the chilling invasion of Vancouver, marking a turning point as DAGGR makes its ambitions clear, culminating in the assassination of the Canadian Prime Minister. This act of aggression leaves the country reeling, exposing vulnerabilities and igniting a global reaction.
The UNE-EYE satellite is central to the international response, a significant narrative element representing the world's most advanced orbital tracking system. Once decommissioned in favour of privacy, the Dutch reactivated the satellite as a strategic move to monitor DAGGR's movements and coordinate a unified international effort against the aggressors. This revival of UNE-EYE symbolizes a crucial turning point, highlighting the global stakes and the interconnectedness of nations in the face of a common enemy.
As Canada grapples with its plight, the DAMU (Deserted American Military Units) rise in solidarity, breaching borders to fight alongside their Canadian counterparts. This act of defiance is mirrored by international forces, including the Netherlands and Ukraine, each bringing their unique strengths to the coalition, underscored by the strategic oversight provided by the UNE-EYE satellite.
Amidst the geopolitical chaos, a man who had all but given up, a boxer on the ropes, emerges from Vancouver's Gastown. Known as HEAT, this leader of the Grizzly Reds becomes a symbol of resistance and hope. HEAT's story, and that of the Grizzly Reds, is one of resilience, rallying not only Canadians but also global citizens to stand against DAGGR's tyranny.
" Deadcoast Book 1: Heat and the Grizzly Reds" is a compelling narrative of survival, alliance, and resistance. It deftly weaves together elements of advanced technology, international politics, and the indomitable human spirit. The inclusion of the UNE-EYE satellite serves as a testament to the complexities of modern warfare and the critical role of global surveillance and coordination in maintaining security and freedom. But something else stirs amongst it. The UNE still shrouds its use, albeit assuring it is for record-keeping purposes- there is no way to be sure. Join HEAT and the Grizzly Reds as they navigate the challenges of Time, War, Science and liberating their fellow man in Vancouver. THE GRIZZLIES NEED YOU, in this action-packed, emotional saga, speaks to the resilience and camaraderie inherent in the human condition.
CHAPTER 1 - The Blood Spattered Maples
ILLUSTRATED VERSION -> HERE <-
The early morning sun cast a serene glow over Vancouver, its golden rays gently coaxing the city from its slumber. The harbour lay still, bathed in a tranquil blend of crimson and amber, defiantly calm as if aware of the day's latent potential for tumult. The awakening streets, pulsating with the vibrant beat of daily enterprise, transformed into bustling arteries of life.
Amidst this urban renaissance, Ryan stood by his apartment window, one eye still tinged a fading shade of deep lavender from last night's ordeals. He absorbed the duality of the world outside – a peaceful façade masking an undercurrent of chaos, much like his own existence. The apartment, a silent guardian of his life's chapters, was awash with tangible memories; some stood proudly like trophies, and others lingered like indelible scars.
"Eugh, need to sort out this money mess," Ryan muttered, his voice a gravelly mix of resolve and weariness. He gingerly touched the bruise beneath his eye, a stark reminder of the previous night's fight. He wasn't just a boxer but a living, breathing paradox. His undefeated record of 12-0 was more than a tally of victories; it was a map of a life spent dancing in and out of shadows. At 17, he was a beacon of hope for Canadian Olympic Futures. Now, at 33, he was a spotlight in his subconscious, illuminating the relentless passage of time and a road riddled with 'what ifs.' Eleven of those wins were echoes from a past steeped in the sweat and blood of the ring before life's currents swept him into the city's gritty underbelly. There, he became an enforcer, not out of choice but a necessity, bound by ties, not of blood but of unbreakable bonds forged in adversity. Stepping back into the ring at 33, Ryan wasn't chasing glory; he was hunting redemption, a chance to rewrite a narrative that had veered off course.
Today's boxing was far from what he once knew; it had transformed into a digital spectacle, a charade he refused to partake in. The sport now paraded fighters adorned with loud chains and face tattoos, pretending to live a life of crime they don't. Vile symbols of fame he doesn't wish for. Ryan had always skirted the fringes of the spotlight, respecting the sport but despising what it had become - a glorified masquerade that he believed led the youth astray. He stared out at the awakening city, contemplating his place in this ever-changing world, just as the first notes of a familiar yet unwelcome voice crackled from the vintage radio on his shelf.
"Ah, jimmy2piece," he scoffed, the name leaving a bitter taste. The vintage radio crackled on, announcing the dazzling exploits of the heavyweight boxing champion, an embodiment of everything Ryan detested about the sport's current state. Ryan's hand lingered over the old radio, a relic amidst the bountiful thrift and trinket that abundantly filled his apartment. The announcer's voice, overly flamboyant in its praise of 'jimmy2piece,' clashed with the morning's tranquillity, grating against Ryan's every nerve. With a flick brimming with contempt, he silenced the intrusive chatter. The ensuing silence was a stark reminder of his path's divergence from the once-noble art of boxing to a life mired in moral ambiguity.
"Enough of this nonsense," he muttered, the disdain in his voice mirroring the snarl on his lips as he spun the dial back to silence.
*Click*
Ryan was a man of contemplation; opening his balcony door, he let the morning breeze mingle with the memories that haunted him daily. These reflections were a tormenting ritual, no matter the joys and love surrounding him. His only respite was constant movement – hobbies, work, art – anything to fend off the sharp claws of the past that threatened to shred the remnants of his self-respect. He had lost ten years to choices and actions that replayed in his mind relentlessly every single day.
"This 'jimmy2shoes' or whatever...pal throws pillows, a poser pretending he's about that gang life; I can see it in his eyes, he's not a killer," he grumbled, gazing out at the awakening city. This day promised a respite from his underground fights – at least for a while. His recent backstreet brawls, a far cry from the glory of the boxing ring, were what paid the bills now. "At least I've bought myself three more months..."
Leaning on the railing of his miniature balcony, Ryan cradled a cup of steaming coffee, his gaze drifting over the streets below. At this moment, the chaos of his life seemed distant, replaced by a transient calm. Despite his bruised, rough presentation, a certain peace enveloped him, a rare stillness that belied the storm of his existence. His thoughts meandered through the serene hum of the city and the gentle brush of the ocean breeze. The skyscape, with clouds dancing to the ocean's rhythm, offered a brief escape from his turbulent past.
Memories of Robin, his mentor and friend, floated into his consciousness. Robin's untimely death in Dubai was a wound that never healed. The sacrifices he had made to keep Robin safe, only to be absent on the fateful trip that claimed his friend's life, weighed heavily on him. "Why did it have to be you, Robin?" he whispered to the horizon, the question, a haunting torment upon his daily routines.
Ryan was a thinker; as he slid over his ashtray from the stool, he sparked up A morning 'dart' (cigarette), as he called them. His past began to creep into his head, as it did every morning. With each inhalation of addiction-soothing nicotine, his blazing thoughts followed as his brain began to become fully active from his sleep. It was a raven on his shoulder tormenting him, pecking at him ever haunting his consciousness. No matter the love he may have found or the happiness, friends, or family surrounding him. The time to reflect was always grim and consistently unbearable. If he stood still, the Ravel's claws sunk more profoundly; the only reprieve was constant distractions. It's why he kept so busy, creative, and active. Ryan constantly kept moving with hobbies, work, or art. Pushing off the switchblade thoughts ready to cut into his subconscious and bleed out whatever self-respect he had left that day. He threw away ten years of his life, and he relives them every. Single. Day.
"Damn man, what's the point of it all?" Ryan's voice was barely a whisper, lost in the morning breeze. His gaze lingered on the horizon, eyes clouded with confusion and pain. "Robin's gone, and here I am, a ship adrift; up shits creek without a paddle. What good can I do? What purpose do I serve? My skillset? My knowledge? Ive wasted my life, nothing is applicable." The questions hung in the air, unanswered. Ryan's life had indeed been a storm of violence and turmoil, from the gritty days working alongside Robin, watching his back to his hard-fought victories in the boxing ring. He had dreamt of leaving the world of fights behind, yet fate seemed to have woven a different path for him, one that he couldn't escape...
The distant sound of boat horns broke his train of thought. These weren't the usual rhythmic calls that echoed along Vancouver's shores; they carried a sense of urgency, growing louder and more frantic by the second. Ryan leaned forward, squinting into the morning light. The sight that greeted him was anything but ordinary. Dark, ominous and foreboding shapes were cutting through the waters toward the Seawall – military-grade ships that seemed like phantoms against the sun's bright backdrop.
"What the...?" Ryan murmured, a wry smile touching his lips as he recalled a line from a 1930s radio show. "Ah yes, the 'Anti-Frackers' upping their game, bravo!" He often found solace in humour, a shield against the world's harsh realities. Ryan was an unbreakable anvil to the world, always struck to sharpen others' steel. But what about his iron resolve? He bore the burdens so others didn't have to, a silent guardian shouldering the world's weight in stoic silence. Yet beneath that armour of stoicism beat the heart of a man grappling with his vulnerabilities, a man with a core as soft as it was intense.
Just like that- The world as we knew it, changed forever.
The morning's peace shattered abruptly as sirens wailed into life, slicing through the air with a sense of impending doom. The tranquil dawn was now a backdrop to a nightmare unfolding in real time. Ryan's eyes, mirroring the turbulent hues of a stormy sea, narrowed in primal alertness. These were not friendly vessels coming to grace the city's harbour; they were harbingers of chaos, their arrival a silent scream in the gardens of Vancouver's tranquility. As the city around him carried on, blissfully unaware of the looming threat, Ryan's mind shifted into high gear, honed by years of confrontation, conflict and reading other peoples intentions. He understood the unspoken language of death, the subtle shift in the air that preluded catastrophe. The serene calm that had greeted the day now seemed like the deceptive stillness before a devastating storm.
PFFFFT~~
Ryan's coffee ejected out his mouth, a clean mist dispersed, dancing in the ocean winds.
His eyes widened in shock. "That... No, that's not right. That honeycomb structure on the bow – that's rumoured military tech, not something you'd find on a civilian vessel. That's definitely not one of our decommissioned ships; Canada has always had a modest military budget- It's not the U.S. either; they've moved on to those massive city carriers," he muttered, recalling the recent unveiling of the U.S.'s latest naval behemoth designed to be a self-sustaining war ecosystem.
"These are destroyers...carriers...and what in the world are those landing crafts?" His voice trailed off as a wave of realization washed over him. A heavy breath escaped his lips, his heartbeat thundering in unison with a growing sense of dread. This kind of military might, sleek and menacing, was straight out of the pages of a dystopian novel. Ryan's pulse quickened, adrenaline coursing through his veins, mingling with an unsettling fear. Vancouver, with its serene beauty and peaceful reputation, was the last place one would expect a military invasion. Yet, as he stood there, the city around him persevered in blissful ignorance. Laughter and the sounds of daily life echoed up to his balcony, starkly juxtaposed against the darkening horizon of his thoughts.
Something sinister was unfolding, and he felt an urgent need to act. "Ah, damn it!" he exclaimed, frustration boiling over as he hurled his mug to the ground, where it shattered into razer sharp ceramic shards—a glimpse of futures past.
The walls of Ryan's apartment, once a gallery of memories from a life half-lived, now felt like they were closing in on him. The space that had been his refuge, adorned with mementos of a tumultuous past, suddenly felt like a prison. He felt trapped, not by physical barriers, but by the weight of the unfolding crisis. Who could he call? Who would believe him about an impending military assault? Was there even time?
Each option seemed as hopeless as the next, leaving him feeling powerless. His fists, which had once brought him victory in the ring, now seemed futile in the face of this immense and unknown threat.
BOOM
A thunderous crash tore through the city's fabric, piercing the veil of laughter and routine. Giggles changed to Shrieks, the buzzing of cars in the city turned screeching of panicked tires. It was a boom resonating with such force that it seemed to shake the very resolve of the most robust steel, a sound that demands attention and captivates a person, a sound of death; it rattles you to the bone. This explosion marked a pivotal moment that would forever alter the course of Vancouver's history and, indeed, the world's.
The resounding echo of the first explosion heralded a declaration of war on all that was ordinary. In Ryan, the shockwave ignited a transformation. Despair morphed into an unyielding determination, a fire kindled deep within. His skin prickled, each hair standing on end as if his nerves were braille, spelling out the moment's urgency.
"Are they firing at us?" Ryan's voice was a mix of disbelief and rising panic. The thought seemed almost too surreal to entertain. He hesitated momentarily, grappling with the reality of the situation. The explosion's roar, so fierce it shook the foundations of his apartment, jolted him back to the present. Racing back to his balcony, what he saw confirmed his darkest fears.
The ships in the harbour were no longer silent, ominous spectators; they had unleashed their fury, sending plumes of smoke and debris skyward. Vancouver's skyline, once a proud testament to peace and progress, now served as a harrowing backdrop to an unfolding apocalypse. Below, the streets descended into chaos. People scattered in a frantic attempt to escape, their screams piercing the air, a chorus of dawning terror.
Ryan's heart pounded against his chest, each beat a call to action. He was no hero, never the 'good guy' in his story, but he did value life above all. Standing there, witnessing his city being torn apart, he knew he couldn't remain a passive observer. Indecision and shock gave way to resolve.
"MOTHA FU-" he cursed, his words lost in the burst of an explosion, spotted at the last second.
The world around him had erupted into a maelstrom of fire and fury.
An air burst shell detonated with ferocious intensity a mere 50 meters from Ryan's sanctuary. The explosion ripped through the building, an unforgiving hatred that jolted reality itself. The blast wave, a monstrous force of destruction, assaulted his apartment, shattering the windows with an ease that mocked Vancouver's fragility. Glass shards, transformed into lethal projectiles, hurtled through the air with a hunter's precision, each piece seeking its target. Instinctively, Ryan lunged for cover, his only protection a vintage oak promotional board, a relic of a bygone era. This wooden guardian, decorated with the iconic image of Stan Lee, stood as a stoic defender, a symbol of comic heroism now repurposed to shield flesh and blood from the brutal onslaught.
A low hum erupts from the depths of his being as the fireball swirled around him. "Breathe... I can't... don't fall asleep... don't...sleep..." he whispered, fighting the encroaching darkness. His cobalt eyes, glazing over open, fighting to the last light, flickered between consciousness and oblivion. The distant, muffled voices of mentors past echoed in his mind, a fading chorus in the theatre of his memories. Ryan looked to his left, cast one last lingering look at the Vancouver sky, a canvas of blue that seemed so distant now. As his vision began to narrow, a tunnel drawing him away from the light, Ryan felt the grip of darkness pulling him under heavy, yet weightless. Once so vivid and alive, the world around him was fading into shadows.
Amid shrapnel-induced unconsciousness, Ryan's mind catapulted him back to a pivotal moment from his youth – the Ontario Canadian Olympic Trials.
The stadium's noise swirled around him, but it was an entirely different world within the ring. There, it was just Ryan and his opponent, every move a testament to the sacrifices he and Robin(Ryan's longtime mentor both inside, and outside the ring) had made together.
Ryan's style in the ring was unique, a blend of calculated ferocity in speed and agility. He adopted the elusive, angular movements that Robin had honed while serving alongside the hardened Ukrainians on the frontlines of Kyiv. This style was compelling and unpredictable, frustrating his opponents with swift and efficient strikes. Ryan's ability to slip away from counters, almost serpentine in its execution, left them grasping at straws.
Point fighting for the Olympics was a system that worked well with Ryan's style but not necessarily with his mindset. Ryan was a fighter at heart, and sometimes, when pushed, the disciplined techniques would give way to a rawer form of combat. Robin, who always believed in Ryan's potential, saw this as his greatest fault and biggest asset to "push past." In his gruff but encouraging voice, Robin would often spew "The stink in that mind, You've got a head on you that'd make an onion cry," highlighting Ryan's occasionally impulsive nature, and inability to control his emotions when it mattered. This characteristic made Ryan fearless in the ring but also sloppy, open, and vulnerable. It often led him into trouble outside of the solace in prizefighting.
In these trials, Ryan's physical attributes – his slender frame, broad shoulders, wide back and a peculiarly long wingspan that gave him an imposing presence in his weight class – it made him stand out. His frame synchronized with his style, creating a truly unique spectacle of genetic gifts, hard work, and skill.
These memories blended nostalgia and pain as they flickered through Ryan's mind. They were reminders of a path once trodden, a journey shaped by the influence of a mentor and the determination of a fighter's spirit.
As the Olympic Trials set to begin, Robin looked to Ryan to instill confidence for his upcoming bouts, but Ryan was in his element. It was fight day, the fun day, the day to show off all of the hard work. Ryan had confidence, and his style in the ring displayed it in full. He moved with an angular rhythm that was both art and battle – slipping, landing a quick stiff counter cross, then gracefully stepping out of reach inches from returning fire. He made it look fun and easy, as if playing with his prey before fangs clench throat, delivering the killing bite. Looking closer, you can only see fire and determination in his bright eyes. He found purpose in the beautiful science of boxing. His strategy was that of a technical boxer, The Counterpuncher; 1. To bait his opponent into committing, then counter, fight long, fight smart. 2. Beat em' up, Frustrate em', then start slinging the heat in the uppercuts and lead hooks.
The bell rang and the fight was officially underway. Ryan controlled the ring with his long frame. Each exchange was rapid yet controlled, a dance of precise strikes and evasive maneuvers. The world's complexities faded in these moments, leaving only Ryan and the pure essence of the sport he loved. He felt invincible, a force of nature within the confines of the ring. To Ryan, the fight was more than a competition; it was a performance, an exhilarating escape from the mundane. It was true Purpose.
The intensity of the round reached a frustrating outburst by his opponent, who grabbed Ryan by the back of his head– 'SPLIT' called by the referee, his hand placed between them. A judge calls for a correction, catching the referee's attention only for a split second. In this second, Ryan's Opponent saw an opportunity. Lifting his head to move away, Ryan locks eyes with his Opponent, sporting a grin and delivering a sly headbutt as a parting gift. It's against the rules, but part of the game's harsh reality if gone unnoticed. Expelling energy and detesting it was a waste of fuel. It was a jolting reminder of "at all times"(protect yourself), a stark contrast to the discipline and respect Ryan upheld, starting his boxing journey in Thailand under "Muay Thai" rules, ideology of the worrior spirit and discipline. There was a sense of Honor in Lumpinee Stadium.
The outcome of these unsavoury tactics here is an advantage for the opponent. Ryan's inner pools erupt, his mind swirled with raging white waters, crashing and colliding against each other, two oceans with opposite currents meeting in his consciousness. His once technical thoughts, muscle memory mixed with fight iq burst with flames, erupting and incinerating all strategy in his path. His eyes widened, open like he'd found his primal genetic ancestry hidden deep within. The slaughter and the war of history. The bloodshed of 1000 lifetimes. He felt it all. Manic in thought. Ryan wanted to take his glove off and rip his cheeks open from the inside out--
BREAK - Ryan snaps back into it, erupting in stoic, silent, primal rage.

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The fight escalated, Ryan's disciplined technique unravelled under the seething tide of his rage. The finesse and agility that once defined his footwork gave way to a heavier, more aggressive stance. His feet, usually light and swift under his commanding frame, now felt anchored to the floor, each step driven more by fury than finesse. This transformation in style played perilously into his opponent's advantage. Ryan, usually a master of stick-and-move tactics, found himself engaging in close-quarter brawls, trading his advantage for a risky gamble. His in-and-out maneuvers, once a blur of grace, turned into brutish, in-the-pocket exchanges. This was a terrain where his more muscular and compact opponent had the upper hand. A raw, primal contest of power replaced the tactical dance that Ryan excelled at. Ryan's precise strikes became wild swings, his movements predictable to his seasoned adversary. Seizing the moment, the opponent unleashed a devastating barrage of inside hooks with their compact frame. A vicious right hook, lands clean in the exchange, thrown with the grace of a milkbag, the power hooks brute force, cut through Ryan's defences. The blow landed with a bone-jarring impact, sending a shockwave through Ryan's frame. His world spun as he stumbled, his once dominant presence in the ring now faltering under the weight of his unchecked emotions.
The ground rushed up to meet him as he crashed onto the canvas, the taste of iron and the sting of defeat mingling in his mouth. The crowd's roar faded into a distant echo, a stark reminder of how quickly the tides of battle could turn. Robin's voice sliced through the ringing from the corner, resonating with a force that commanded attention.
"Get your shit together, JUMPIN JESUS RYAN! HEART OF GOLD AND HEAD OF STONE – GET UP, YOU LITTLE COWARD! YOU'RE LETTING IT WIN, AGAIN! STOP THIS ONION HEAD NONSENSE AND DANCE, BOX THIS FELLA – YOU'RE BETTER THAN THIS, ACT LIKE IT, BELIEVE IN IT!"
His words were more than just a call to action; they were a lifeline thrown into the stormy seas of Ryan's mind. Each syllable was drenched in the raw, unfiltered wisdom that only a life spent in the cauldron of combat could forge. Robin's tone was a volatile cocktail of fury and concern, the urgency palpable in his voice. His palms crashed against the ring mat; each hit thunderous punctuation to his fiery sermon.
"You've got the talent, kid, but it's as good as ash if you keep burning it to the ground. I'M HERE FOR YOU, IM RIGHT HERE. SNAP OUT OF IT AND BOX THIS PLASTIC PATTY! MOVE GOD DAMNIT, GET UP!"
On the canvas, Ryan lay dazed, the echo of Robin's voice ringing in his ears. It was more than a mere pep talk; it was a wake-up call that struck a chord deep within him. Amidst the haze of the crowd murmurs and the pulsating pain that coursed through his body, clarity began to emerge. Lying there, Ryan grasped the essence of Robin's message –
"coward? letting it win? Playing my ego are ya Robin...hes right though. Im throwing this shit away."
This moment, sprawled on the canvas under the glaring lights and the crowd's gaze, became a crucible of transformation. The raw emotion and the hard-hitting truth in Robin's words ignited a spark in Ryan. It was time to rise, shake off the shadows of rage, and embrace a fighter's true spirit like he had learned in Thailand – not just with fists but with heart and mind in unison.
Staggered yet stirred by the dual impact of the physical hit and Robin's piercing words, A padded fist crushed into the rings canvas, followed by a kneee and the eruption of the crowd. Ryan was back, and he began to pull himself up from the canvas. His resolve, momentarily dimmed, now reignited with a fierce, clear, calculated intensity. Memories of the gruelling hours spent in the gym flooded back to him – the relentless sparring sessions, the time spent in Thailand, the sweat and toil, and the invaluable lessons etched into his being under Robin's stern tutelage.
With a renewed spirit, Ryan stepped back into the battle, his movements now embodying controlled power and a fluidity to his step. He recalled his time fighting beside the backdrop of the "Sarama" a traditional Thai music played when in combat. The times of learning to move, fight with the music, to flow, to be fluid, to be concise. Ryan finally put it all together in the heat of battle. He had merged his inherent ferocity with the disciplined technique that Robin relentlessly drilled into him, and the mindfull practises of the years he spent under Burklerk Pinsinchai in the jungles of Chiang Mai. His style was now fully displayed, raw and visceral yet refined by countless hours of practice in mind, body and spirit.
The final rounds bell clang to a start in a clinic of skill and sheer willpower. Ryan, driven by a blend of desperation and unwavering determination, unleashed a barrage of calculated and explosive strikes. Each punch and maneuver was a nod to the efficient, no-nonsense Ukrainian style that Robin had imparted to him. Ryan moved rhythmically across the mat, steps measured and precise, executing short, angular movements and deft outside counterpunches. He had returned to his element – the dance of combat, where he felt most alive, a symphony of movement where every step and punch was a testament to his life's journey and experiences as a human being first, and as a fighter second.
In this wake-up call, Ryan reinvigorated and reminded himself of his love for the sport, the exhilarating blend of art and athleticism. He was not just fighting to win; he was celebrating boxing, combat, honouring the path he had walked with Robin, and reclaiming what it meant to be a true fighter through Burklurk Pinsinchai's Teachings.
The round pressed on, and Ryan executed his maneuvers with a surgeon's precision. First;
-- The counterpuncher; a display in timing and accuracy, delivered with the full force of training and innate skill. --

1. He deftly slipped his opponent's cross, a move as fluid as it was swift.
   
2. He angled off, creating a space wide enough for his next move.
   
3. With an almost predatory precision, Ryan unleashed a powerful right cross, targeting his opponent's cheek from the angle he had just created. But Ryan wasn't done yet.
   
4. He slipped out again, evading any potential counter from his disoriented opponent. The rhythm, he danced in and out with his precise timing, perfected down to inches and angles.
   
5. In a final, decisive movement of the exchange, Ryan slipped in. He timed his step with a long cross that came off-beat, catching his opponent utterly off-guard. The punch landed with a satisfying impact, culminating in a perfectly executed combination. As he watched his opponent stagger, Ryan couldn't help but think, 'cya sleepy boi,' a silent acknowledgment of his dominance in this singular exchange.
   

This sequence was a statement. Ryan was not only back in the fight but also commanding it.
ONE!…TWO!…THREE!…FOUR!…FIVE!…SIX!...SEVEN!..EIGHT!
Ryan's opponent stands, admirable, but futile, driven by sheer will but hampered by sluggish movements, the man rose to his feet, it was clear the fight was reaching its zenith.
The opponent, gathering his remaining strength for a final stand, launched a jab, a last-ditch effort relying more on brute force than finesse. But this was a fatal mistake in Ryan's world – playing right into what Ryan was best at. Counters.
Ryan read the move with the clarity of a seasoned fighter. As the jab came, he effortlessly slipped to the right, evading the punch with a short angular step that spoke of his ring intelligence. Instantly, he countered with the same sharp cross from his right hand, followed by a devastating hook that cut through the air with lethal intent in his left. Grasping at straws, reeling from the counter, Ryans opponent threw a desperate, looping last stand punch, Ryan dipped down and left, rolling the punch with an elegance that made it seem almost effortless. He was Hunting for the Kill Shot. Seizing the moment, Ryan unleashed a ferocious left uppercut, the force of the blow lifting his opponent's chin skyward. He followed up with a right overhand, but just before impact, he halted the punch. There was no need for it; his opponent was already collapsing, the "Lights were on, but no one was Home". The fight was effectively over, Ryan's last combination is the final note, a crescendo that echoed through the ring.
As his opponent hit the canvas, the crowd erupted. Ryan stood in the center of the ring, his chest heaving, every fibre of his being alight with the thrill of victory. This wasn't just a win; it was a performance, a display of skill, heart, and the indomitable spirit of a fighter who had walked through fire and flames to the otherside and emerge victorious.
The final bell Rings with not a single chair in the arena warm; a thunderous clap erupts from the crowd. It was more than just applause; it was an acknowledgment of a battle fiercely fought by both men. In that moment ringside, in a triumphant victory, Ryan and Robin shared a look that spoke volumes, a connection far beyond the usual bounds of mentor and protégé. Their bond, tempered in the crucible of hardship and struggle, was now sealed in the glory of this defining triumph.
Standing amidst the cheers and the adrenaline-fueled euphoria, Ryan found himself momentarily lost in the tide of memories. It was a poignant reminder of the journey that had brought him here, a path marked by triumphs and losses. Robin's teachings transcended the confines of boxing; they were life lessons imprinted deep onto him. Ryan began to slowly step out of the ring; the weight of these reflections settled upon him. The victory was sweet, but it carried the weight of all sacrificed to achieve it. Robin's presence was felt strongly, a guiding force that continued to shape his path, illuminating the way forward even in the most challenging times.

TLDR; my husband was cooking drugs in his lab at work and also carried on a five year affair with a girl 35 years his junior (starting when she was 18)
I’ve hidden it from our entire family for years so as not to upset or worry anyone, but my husband (let’s call him Joe, 56M, to whom I’ve been married for 32 years) has been struggling with increasingly worsening mental health for the past several years. Summer of 2022 he was an absolute mess, bursting into tears a propos of nothing, and saying very strange, dark things followed by a manic laugh that makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. That summer I got a phone call from a police officer because he had stopped Joe for a minor traffic infraction and apparently Joe went on a rant about how the police and the government are against him. The police officer called me because I was listed as his emergency contact, and recommended I take him into the hospital for a 72 hour psychiatric hold. When Joe came home not long later he was outwardly calm. I asked about the police officer, and he said that the officer was exaggerating. So I didn’t take him into the hospital.
In Yellowstone on vacation that summer his off-the-rails manic and depressed behaviour became very concerning and difficult to handle, and his blood pressure was incredibly high. I was so alarmed I took him into the ER in Bozeman, MT. He was evaluated by a psych physician who told him that he needed to come off the anti-depressant he was on because he was manic and bipolar; anti-depressants when prescribed to people with bipolar disorder (BD) make the mania much, much worse. For several years by that point Joe had sporadically been seeing doctors for his worsening mental health and one of them had diagnosed him with borderline personality disorder. Unfortunately, Joe has had long problems with medication non-compliance, and various doctors and therapists have cut him loose because he was not compliant with treatment.
We rushed home from Yellowstone summer 2022, and got him in to see a psych doctor who confirmed the diagnosis of bipolar disorder. She prescribed Joe a mood stabilizer. He said he didn’t like how it made him feel, so he stopped taking it. She prescribed him a different mood stabilizer, and he did the same thing. He vehemently rejected the diagnosis of bipolar disorder and would only admit to depression, and would only accept being treated with the lowest dose of an anti-depressant called Prozac, even though anti-depressants are one of the worst drugs someone with bipolar disorder should take.
Fast forward to summer 2023, and Joe’s mental health continued to worsen. I had to make a choice to take a work position in Austria, or stay in our home town and try to deal with Joe. However, he was still rejecting the doctors’ diagnoses, and me being in our home town clearly hadn’t been halting his downward slide so far, so I decided to go to Austria. Joe and I had video calls every day and he seemed more or less fine on the calls, but he would text me in the middle of the night his time, so it was clear he was not sleeping. Joe is extremely good at keeping himself together long enough to seem fairly normal to people, and that has unfortunately been to his detriment.
When I got back from Austria in March, Joe was clearly even worse than he was before. There was now a paranoid aspect to him that hadn’t been there before, and he would say mean things to me, followed by that horrible manic laugh. He’s never been mean like that before in our entire 32 years of marriage. Then two hours later it was like nothing had happened. He couldn’t sit still, was talking a mile a minute, and was saying strange things and was easily confused. He had started cutting again, and told me that he blamed me for it (Joe has a long history of self-harm going back to when he was a teenager. Then, and now, he cuts himself on his arm as a form of releasing emotion. I only found out about his cutting in 2022 when I noticed fresh scars on his arm).
Then just over a month ago came the night of April 2^nd. Joe has a computer tablet that he keeps by the bed and he reads or watches videos with it every night. Every night soon after he would pretty much immediately fall asleep, but then would wake up a few hours later and be up for the rest of the night. That night he fell asleep as usual, but his tablet kept going off with notification sounds and it was bothering me. I tried to wake him up to get him to put it on silent mode, but he was un-rousable. His eyes were rolled into the back of his head and he just mumbled incoherently.
The following morning Joe left for work early at the university where he works as he always did (he’d been working, and apparently working at a high enough level that his mental health had not attracted any attention). And then his tablet started going off again. I work from home, and annoyed, I opened it up to see if I could figure out how to turn the sound off so that I could get some work done in peace.
The tablet turned on when I opened the cover.
And what I found on that tablet has turned our world upside down and devastated our family.
The tablet opened to a technical document that described the chemical process to manufacture MDMA (which is a street drug that is also called ecstasy). Thoroughly alarmed, I did what I have never done in 32 years of being married, because up until now I’ve always trusted my husband… I went through Joe’s internet search history. And I discovered that he had been ordering chemicals and lab glassware, and even more alarmingly, had been shopping online for stun guns and pepper spray.
I immediately called his GP’s office to get advice on what to do. He had seen his GP three times in the prior two weeks because of his extremely high blood pressure and I had gone in with him to see if they could help with his mental health problems because he was so manic. But he denied to his GP that he had ever been diagnosed with bipolar disorder (his psych physician is not in the same health network as his GP, so his GP had none of Joe’s psych records). When I called his GP’s office on the morning of the 3^rd in a panic to try to find out what to do given my discoveries on the tablet, the nurse told me that I immediately needed to get him to the ER for a psych assessment, and that if he didn’t go willingly the police would have to get involved. Joe came home a short time later and I told him what I had found on his tablet. He admitted that he was working on manufacturing MDMA in his lab at the university, and when I asked why he matter-of-factly pointed out that he has tools like a gas chromatograph and a mass spectrometer in his lab at the uni so that he could ensure purity. I told him that he needed to pack three days of clothes and come with me to the hospital or that the police would have to get involved. He begrudgingly came with me.
In the ER he admitted to being suicidal for at least two years and that he had apparently made an attempt the year before. He also admitted to his history of self-harm. He would not admit to being extremely manic and bipolar despite the doctor pointing out he was in fact very manic. After many hours in the ER he was admitted to the hospital, and he was in there over a week until April 11^th.
While Joe was in the hospital, boxes were arriving in the mail to our house with chemicals, lab glassware, and a box full of many cans of pepper spray. The materials were disposed of.
But then things got even worse. I decided to go through his tablet more thoroughly, and discovered he had been inhabiting quite dark corners of the internet. And then, much worse, I discovered texts between him and a very young woman who is 35 years younger than he is. She is our daughters’ age. Like him, she has been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and bipolar disorder. And like him, she doesn’t think there is anything wrong with her. They both re-affirmed to each other that there is nothing wrong with them and that the rest of the world just doesn’t understand what it is like to be special like they are. They apparently have been carrying on a very active online and texting relationship since 2019 and profess love for each other. She lives in Italy, and Joe had booked at trip to go to Italy next month that he told me was for a conference, but when I confronted him with the texts he admits that he was going there to see her. Joe told me that she understands him like no one else does, and that she (in his words), is “like heroin” to him. For that reason, I refer to as “that heroin chick”, which is about the least offensive phrase I can come up with to refer to her. She was 18 when their relationship started (he was 52).
Going through the filing cabinet where Joe normally keeps all our bills and his various papers, I discovered our financials were in a horrific mess. And our taxes were due. When he’s well, Joe’s record keeping is impeccable, but what I found was just a nightmarish mess of jumbled papers. I also discovered hundreds and hundreds of pills. Apparently throughout the history of time Joe has never been medication compliant. He just hoards the pills.
And then I discovered in our crawlspace a bizarre setup with a rack with about $1000 worth of electronics that were turned on and blinking away, a big CO2 cannister and lots and lots of tubing. When I asked him about it, Joe said he set it up because he was growing mushrooms down there. I don’t want to ask what kind.
And then Joe confessed that back in 2022 he, in his words, got into “gunsmithing” using the university machine shop. Panicked, I asked him “Joe, are there firearms in our house?”, and he said “No, but anyways I never bought any ammunition”. The “but” tells me that somewhere in our house there is, or was, at least one firearm. And there may or may not be ammo.
And then I discovered that I had been locked out of our main bank account that his pay goes into and from which most of our bills are paid, so I had no idea how much was in that account, and all the statements for it were missing from Joe’s filing cabinet. Joe denies that he got me locked me out, but the account was joint when it was set up, and now suddenly I don’t have access anymore so that I can check the balance, and all the past statements were missing. His credit card statements were also conspicuously missing. My pay is just a fraction of what Joe makes, and if he was lavishly spending money unbeknownst to me, we were going to be in deep financial trouble.
In a panic to protect our liquid assets as much as I could, I transferred 90% of the money from our local joint account to an account under my name only, and then wrote myself a cheque from the other account I had been locked out of, and crossed my fingers it wouldn’t bounce (the cheques at least have both our names on them still). Luckily the cheque did not bounce. I wanted to move enough money that we could keep going for a few months no matter what else happened.
Meanwhile, in the hospital for the first five days Joe refused to take any medication other than the lowest dose of Prozac. Finally, he begrudgingly agreed to start a mood stabilizeanti-psychotic drug called Latuda, but made it clear he was only doing it under duress. Unfortunately, while he was in there, he would not allow the hospital to release any information to me. Given the paranoid statements he had been making to me before and the stun guns and pepper spray, I was worried for my own safety. Joe has never been violent to me at all, but he has definitely been paranoid recently and I was definitely the main target of his paranoia, and he has given no good explanation for the stun guns and pepper spray (and then there is the uncertainty about whether or not he’s squirreled away homemade firearms in the house). I had to tell him that I wasn’t going to pick him up if he wasn’t going to let his doctors tell me what his mental state was, and that I didn’t feel safe with him in the house and he was going to have to find someplace else to go until we got things sorted out. He stayed in a hotel for the first week but came over during the day and helped with various house projects. By April 19^th it was clear from his behaviour that the Latuda had made him quite a bit less paranoid, so I invited him to live back in the house and he’s our daughter’s old room now. While the Latuda helped with his paranoia and suicidality, it doesn’t treat mania, and Joe was still extremely manic when he left the hospital.
Unfortunately, even though he was still very manic, the hospital released him with no aftercare plan, and it is clear that he is going to need extensive out-patient care for many weeks. While he was in the hospital I told the university he was going to be on extended leave, and he has been granted an initial six weeks, but it is easy to extend; at his faculty rank he has a huge amount of paid sick leave. At first Joe insisted he was going right back to work when he got out of the hospital, but because he was still extremely manic I was very much against that, especially since I know for a fact that he has drug manufacturing material set up in his lab because I could see in his internet search history he had bought other glassware and chemicals prior to me discovering his activities, and those materials were not in our house. I was worried he wanted to continue where he left off.
In the first days after his release from the hospital, I scrambled to get him the intensive treatment he needs. He did have one appointment with his therapist he had been seeing last year (but then stopped when I went to Vienna). He invited me to the appointment. And then proceeded to lie to the therapist right in front of me, telling her that “My wife found on my tablet that I had been reading about MDMA, and she may see things differently, but that was it”.
He knows that there were chemicals and labware delivered to our house while he was in the hospital, and he knows I have pictures of all that, and also screenshots of everything on his tablet. He knows that I had to consult with a criminal defense attorney. And then there was heroin chick, stun guns and pepper spray, locking me out of the shared account, and the gunsmithing.
Joe also had an appointment with his old psych doctor the first week he was out and I went with him so that I could fill her in on his behaviour (unfortunately, all the times in the past seeing her by himself, Joe has been in denial of being bipolar and he is extremely good at masking his behaviours when needed). I described the drug manufacturing, the paranoia, the stun guns and pepper spray, heroin chick… everything. She had a stern talk with him and told him that unfortunately he is very intelligent and instead of using that intelligence to get healthy, he had been using it to mask all of his activities. She took him off the Prozac and added lithium to his Latuda to treat his mania.
She is absolutely correct. Joe is unfortunately far too intelligent for his own good.
He is in denial that he’d done anything wrong or that he’s seriously ill. To him, everything he did seemed perfectly normal and logical (from his manic logical point of view, why wouldn’t you manufacture drugs in your lab, because you have the tools to ensure they are pure). Joe unfortunately is in the 50% of people with bipolar disorder who are completely unaware of their manic behaviour, even when they are completely off the rails. They are addicted to the manic high, and thus are extraordinarily difficult to convince to be medication compliant.
Anyway, just when you think things can't get even worse they do; last week I discovered that Joe had a secret social media account on Tumblr, and on it he had posted a picture of a girl passed out with a needle in her arm and a heroin cooking spoon and a second needle in the foreground. He had superimposed several hearts above her head. The girl looked a lot like his young girlfriend in Italy. I checked the date on the post, and it was last May. It occurred to me he was on a trip, ostensibly for work, in Europe last May. When he got home that day, I confronted him with the evidence that he had used federal grant money to fund what was ostensibly a work trip but was really a trip to see he his girlfriend in Italy. He confirmed it. The look on his face when he confirmed it broke me; a mixture of smugness, along with annoyance that I was even bringing it up.
I also told him I knew they did heroin together. He denied that part, but I don't believe him.
He then confessed that in the trip he was planning this month to see her, he was going to bring her some MDMA that he had manufactured. Because apparently Italy is fresh out of ecstasy.
The next day I went into the doctor and got tested for HIV, hepatitis, and every STD known to mankind. Joe expressed anger that I was casting aspersions upon the character of his girlfriend by assuming that she was a junkie and might have STD’s; “You don’t know her"
Something fundamental broke inside me as I lay on that table at the doctor’s office and they did what needed to be done to get their samples for testing. I felt like I had been raped. It was then and there that I knew that as much as I had loved the man my husband used to be, I couldn’t continue in the relationship.
We’re currently working on a legal separation agreement, and so far it is amicable. He will buy me out of my half of the house. I am working on collecting my things to move across the country to the same area our daughters live. It is such a sad process because I don’t want to leave anything I don’t want heroin chick to touch or even look at, so I am taking all the pix of our kids and various mementos. Meanwhile, Joe seems impatient that I should just get out of the house already. He clearly wants me gone ASAP so he can go off his meds and have his girlfriend shack up with him. The entire family gives it less than five years before he is dead or incarcerated. And less than six months before heroin chick is living in our house.
I’m reeling from all that has happened and I’m still in shock. It will take years to come to some kind of acceptance of what has happened. And financially speaking both of our retirements have been torpedoed. When he's well, Joe is a wonderful husband and father. When he's not well he's a completely shit human being, and is utterly unapologetic for anything he does.
Anyway… that is the story of how my mentally ill husband of 32 years went full Heisenberg and had an affair with a teenager, and now we’re separating and likely will ultimately end up divorced.

Hi everyone! The other day when I was sharing all the green scents I had, and my reviews of them, I realized I had never done a full review of all the Pineward scents I've gotten, and my review of the house as a whole, so far...
My rating system: 1/5 - I actively don't like this scent/it makes me sick 2/5 - ehh, I don't really like it very much/it doesn't smell like a perfume at all 3/5 - meh, it's okay. It'll be ok layered with something else, or someone else may like it, it's just not for me. 4/5 - I do like it, it's just got something small missing from making it perfect, ie: I don't like the dry down, or it fades too fast, or it's just missing 1 note or 2 5/5 - I absolutely adore this scent. Any more and I would want to swim in it lol
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Overall Review of the House so far:
I've tried 19 scents from them so far. Most of any other house. Mainly cause they have a super affordable sample option (1.8ml/$6) and they gifted me so many with my first order. I bought 13 and they gifted me 6 additional scents.
This is The Most atmospheric scent house I've found yet. Each scent transports you to a different location and tells a story.
Definitely a house to let settle for a while, though. At first I didn't think I liked many of them. After 6 months, I like most all of them. I just end up using a lot of them for mixers. Though, a surprisingly high amount turned out to be standalone scents for me!
They are a bit more of a unisex/masc perfume/cologne house. But, I actually like unisex complex scents, cause I like to layer them underneath sweeter, more one-note scents that I find.
Turn Around Time was actually very fast compared to the other houses (ordered 11/24 of last year, the order was sent out 11/28, and I don't remember exactly when I got it in, but it wasn't a very long time after that. I was actually surprised at the fast TOT, especially because they included in their thank you note an apology for being so late! I was like, huh? Ya'll are super fast actually! (especially compared to houses like Fantome, which I love, but take FOREVER) And they included 6 freebies in there as well, which was phenomenal!
Just be forewarned, some of these scents do stain!! So I wouldn't necessarily spray on clothing.
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Apple Tabac 5/5
Notes: fresh red apple, tobacco, fir balsam, rum resin, dried fruits.
First impression: I absolutely love this scent and it is a sweet unisex standalone for me. This scent is Super well balanced. It is a pop of pure red apple juice right in your face, like you're in the apple barn, drinking fresh cider. You smell tobacco drying from the rafters, the fir trees outside, the rum resin, the dried fruits, everything. It all balances Super nicely, but you can still pick out every single note. I absolutely love this and will probably be a Fall Staple for me (or whenever I want to evoke that fall feeling in my chest lol. It's May, but in smelling it, I totally felt the fall chill lol)
Dry down: still smells phenomenal. You don't really lose any of the notes, even the apple, which is rare for me
**I really like layering this over Ponderosa (listed below)*
Boreal 4/5
pine needles, mint, cedar, resins, moss.
Frigid forest of the northern wilderness. Chilly mint gives way to a soft bed of creamy cedar, pine, and moss.
First Reaction out of the bottle: If you like Mint, this one's for you. It is Straight Mint. The cedar pine and moss were almost non existent props to the Very strong Mint, first out the bottle wet. Me personally, I was hoping for more of a Hint of mint overlaying a stronger scent of cedar and pine and moss, but the opposite is truer with this one. You do get an underlayer of cedar on the drydown, but the majority is full on mint.
After months of letting it sit, I came back to it and it is Much more balanced. Much more of a winter vibes forest scent I could get behind. Essentially she's the Winter Witch. A very Minty unisex woods scent
The long Dry down: dries down to a faint crisp woods scent. Still very pleasant to wear

Borealis 2/5 Notes: snowdrifts, peppermint, camphor, black tea, black elder, valerian root, ocean spume, fir balsam, orris root, pine needles, incense, sandalwood, Irish ambergris, cedarmoss, patchouli, deer musk (botanic accord), ashes.
First Reaction: I REALLY did not like this one. It was a freebie given (which they were amazing to include so many freebies), but this one, to me had a very stringent vibe with an underlayer of almost urine smell. I don't get very much of the pine or any of the snowdrifts or peppermint. But it does have a very 'black apothecary' vibe to the smell. Like it's the smell of an old trappegatherer's cabin in the woods. A witch in the woods that you go to, to trade with when you're desperate. If you like musk and dark foresty herbs and dirt, then this one is for you. It's like the dark chaotic marshlands sister witch to Boreal
This is the poster child for letting a scent rest lol.
Dry down: It Definitely softens on the drydown, but there's still that weird note in there, for me, that makes it not so pleasant as its sister Boreal
Also, to note about this scent, the first listed notes are snowdrifts and peppermint, but I do NOT get those notes at all. It's very much more 'Marshland forests by the sea maybe in winter...when winter is year round lol like Alaska....which makes sense with the name now that I think of it lol
Steading 4/5
Notes: tobacco, hay, beeswax, barley, dried needles, poplar, hops, maple, and wisps of peat smoke. A dense wheaty tobacco perfume with dried fir needles and honeyed maple sweetness.
First Reaction: If you like fresh natural straight out the tree, maple syrup, then this is the scent for you! I do definitely get the honey and maple, that is FOR SURE. At first straight out the bottle, I didn't think I liked this scent. It was a Strong Maple front.
BUT, after letting it settle, I tried it again, and it is now strangely becoming one of my fast favorites! The maple has mellowed out a bit and now I almost smell straight honey. The longer I smell it, the more I feel like I've been taking a autumn drive and stopped in at one of those side orchards that are selling homemade honey and maple syrup and you take a tasting tour. Personally, though, I'll still probably layer it onto something a bit more foresty/woodsy/cedar smelling to even out that super strong sweet maple. Cause on the Drydown it still completely smells like Maple honey. It's a really good honey scent though. A lot of honey's come off strangely urine-y on me. This one doesn't. It's like a true maple honey. Really nice. Almost nostalgic when it dries down
Eldritch 3.5/5 (I'll use it as a mixer, but not on it's own. It's a bit much on its own lol)
Notes: Leather, Myrrh, patchouli, fir, oolong tea, opoponax, smoke, pine needles, oakmoss.
Lair of ancient eldritch abominations, a resinous and dark perfume for the bold and unafraid.
this Fall 2023 Version included additional tea & moss
This was a Curiosity's sake purchase when I saw this on a list of 'If you want to smell like a witch' suggestions (very accurate for this to be on that list). First on my skin I definitely get the sharp leather notes and I think the myrrh. It is definitely a challenging scent and more of a unisex or masculine scent, but me as a witchy woman, I love it. I think I'm totally getting the Opoponax (resin that smells like oak honey powder and leather), the smoke and the fir. First out of the gate I feel like it makes me smell like a dark and mysterious witchy apothecary owner during the 1700s in a port town, with gunpowder and fire tinging the air. And you're making poisons and special magical bullets. And I think I do really like the addition of tea and moss into the scent, otherwise, I think it'd be more of a pirate-y unisex/masc scent. With the Leather and Myrrh and oolong tea and smoke, it has a bit of a 'Buccanneepirate' vibe to it. But with the Patchouli and oak moss and pine needles, it gives witchy and slightly southern vibes, which leads my head to go Bayou pirate/witch lol. Right after I got it, though, it was definitely a challenging scent. But, trust me, let it sit, it will get so much better with time.
First dry down it softens beautifully, so if you think it's too strong and overpowering at first, don't worry. It'll mellow
Long dry down, it does get a bit musty and stale herbally after a bit. But, it is Just perfect if you want a remnant scent of 'I just walked through a witchy Apothecary in Savannah'
Just keep in mind, right out the bottle, it is a very challenging scent. Make sure to let it rest a bit, and then try it on your skin, too, before judging.
*note: if you're not an herbally/witchy person, this may be more of a masculine scent pull. I could totally see giving this scent to a guy friend/family member, if you get it and it's not for you. For me personally, though, I love it as a dark wet witchy base layer under something super fruity (like SF&F's Lilac & Gooseberries, or Lorelai from Fantome), to give me the perfect fruity darkly complex witchy scents.
Sadly, the top notes are a fast faders on me (but I think it may just be that my skin gobbles scents ). After about 2 hours it had faded to a Very soft dried herbs, leather, and smoke. It really does perfectly pair w/ Strange Fire & Fumery's Lilac & Gooseberries, though, to give a fruity floral witch vibe. That soft dried herbs, leather, and smoke scent, though lasted a Very long time, till the end of the day pretty much

Ponderosa 5/5
Notes: Ponderosa resin, ponderosa needles, cedar, vanilla, strawberry, cinnamon, butterscotch, beeswax, raisin cookies
First Impressions: definitely another atmospheric scent. I get sweet resins and wood, like I'm in a wood barn or wood lodge. It's a very sweet woodsy scent. Think a wood lodge up in Gatlinburg, where you can get all you can eat pancakes and sweet pastries all day with fresh syrups. I don't get too much strawberry in there, but almost like you can smell someone's strawberry pancakes with maple syrup in this wood lodge.
I feel like this would be a WONDERFUL deepening layer underneath a strawberry vanilla scent that seems too one-note, to really give a full bodied complex scent. But, quite honestly, It's actually a fine stand alone scent for me, too
Dry down: It still smells really great! More into the wood/resin smell with a touch of butterscotch and vanilla, rather than super gourmand-y. But, the drydown is still a super pleasant scent I don't mind wearing
**I actually really like layering this under Apple Tabac**

Hayloft 4/5
Notes: hay, lavender honey, crocus, sweet vernal grass, bison grass, toasted almond, hazelnut, oats, dusty wheat.
Another atmospheric barn scent, but more a springtime barn: fresh sweet grasses and flowers hanging from the rafters, the warm sweet hot cross buns in your basket from breakfast. You're having breakfast in the loft, overlooking your garden. I do wish there was a bit 'more(?)' to this scent though? Like either bring in some more vanilla notes to make it a true gourmand OR bring in more lavender and herbs to make it a more green scent. I think though, because of that, that makes this a perfect layering scent. So, depending on how I want to smell that day, I can layer this under a more gourmand scent. Or, I can layer it under a more floral or green scent
though, after smelling it again after the drydown....nah, it balances out super nicely to a light spring wood barn scent. I don't think you even need to mix it with something. You can wear it on its own. I'll bring it up to a 4.5/5 rating-wise

White Fir 5/5
Notes: orange, ginger, white fir, clove, anise, pine, musk, vetiver, oakmoss
The PERFECT wintery citrus scent. Super crisp. You definitely get the citrus and ginger and white fir. The only more perfect addition would be to maybe layer it with a patchouli or deeper woodsy/cedar scent, I think, to give it a bit more depth and less 'Winter Cleaning day' vibe.
*For a sweeter vibe, though, I layer this under Kinmokusei from Fantome, and it gives me pretty much a perfect witchy lemon citrus green herbal scent*
Clemenpine 1.5/5
Notes: Clementine, Blood Orange, Maritime Pine, Night-Blooming Jasmine, Saffron Flower, Rough Suede, Passion Fruit, White Lotus, Fir Balsam, Tobacco Leaf, Cedar Planks, Leather, Sandalwood, Pacific Ambergris.
I really wish I had had the chance to let this one settle for a few months like the others, but sadly it got dropped onto my cement floor and shattered, so I only had my first impressions of it, which was that it smelled like PURE cleaning fluid. Which really sucks, cause I love orange and citrusy scents and was very hopeful for this one. I may eventually order a sample again, just to give it a second shot, since all the rest of these benefited so much from letting them sit and rest
Meadowmoss 1.5/5
Oakmoss, Alpine Sandwort, Wild grass, Green Wheat, Orange Blossom, Fir Balsam, Tomato Leaf, Azure Bluet, Mountain Wildflowers
First impressions: This one is one of those scents I wouldn't actually wear. BUT, one I would use on like my dryer balls or as a room spray on furniture in spring. It really is like you're standing out in an open field in the Swiss alps singing, the Hills are Alive, next to a wayward nun. If that's what you'd like to smell like? This one is for you! It just screamed 'linen sheet' to me, rather than perfume. Also, I unfortunately have an autoimmune allergy to nightshades and I didn't realize this had Tomato leaf in it :/
So, it's one I'm gifting to my mom
Ivymoss 3.5/5
Notes: Climbing Ivy, Green Tea, Spearmint, Lime Rind, Lemon Verbena, Waterlily, Emerald Cypress, Mugo Pine, Cedarwood, Oakmoss, Treemoss, Cedarmoss.
Another one that DEFINITELY needs rest before you judge. At first it was purely going to be another dryer ball scent. But after Months of letting it rest (like legit half a year), I actually think I like the scent enough to maybe wear it! (at least as an undertone, if not as a standalone). It's a very Bright Green early Springtime vibes scent. Fresh, without smelling overtly like cleaning fluid or laundry detergent. It's truly like walking through a forest in very early spring, with the air still crisp, but new plants starting to grow.
It's not one I would wear a Lot, I don't think....but maybe in early spring layered under an apple-y scent. Or maybe as an undertone layer with something like a honeysuckle scent, to balance it out for me.

Greymist 5/5
Notes: Noble Fir, Scotch Pine, Expressed Citron, Blond Tobacco, Botanical Musk, Vetiver.
Another one that Really needs to rest, before you try, cause I'm pretty sure it was on the list of (I REALLY don't like) when I first scented these, but now months after, this one's gonna be one of my favorite winter scents, I think. It legit smells like Christmas time. The fir and pine Really stands out, and you get that little bit of tobacco in there too, almost like you're hugging Santa and he smokes a pipe lol.
Acadian 3.5/5
Sweet Yuzu, Bergamot, Juniper Berry, Ivy, Eucalyptus, Waterlily, Goldenrod, Heliotrope, Seaweed, Cedar, Oakmoss
This scent reminds me of trips to the Lost sea or Rock city. Smelling the damp mossy forests and wet mountain stone. That smell of caves found along hikes in damp foggy weather. I kinda flip between loving this and not so loving this one. I can't really pick out any of the individual notes at all, which is sad, cause I do like a lot of those individual scents. But, it is a really nice general unisex/masculine scent
A little goes a Very long way, though. It's got a very lengthy throw. I like pairing a DOT of it underneath one of my sweeter fruity or floral scents. If I use too much, there's a note in there that's a bit wonky and it goes a bit powdery and strong and gives me a headache. And I don't like this one as much on the drydown. Powder notes tend to last the longest on me (and they're the worst for me) and it gets very strong and weirdly powdery/perfumey on the drydown, sadly, which is why I put it at a 3.5 for me. It may be great for someone else though. My brother says it smells like a generic male cologne lol
Akero 5/5
Notes: green apple, benzoin, patchouli, sandalwood, cedar.
The first bit of a freshly picked green apple. When I smell this, it transports me to a green apple orchard, with the apples just getting ripe. It's definitely got a Green earthy undertone, but the bright apple evens it out a bunch. I really love this, even alone, or layered with a sweeter fruit scent, like Kinmousekai from fantome. I do wish the Cedasandalwood stood out a bit more, though. I may have to try putting a drop of this onto an actual cedar chip. See how it smells

Caravansary 5/5 freebie
Notes: fir balsam, deer musk (botanic accord), vanilla, black tea, lavender, blue spruce, blue chamomile, treemoss, incense, mulched pinecone, campfire smoke.
First impressions: Like Olle+Max's Summer Witch is like a summer roadtrip for me, hitting up all the hippy/witchy side shops and thrift shops along the way….This is the winter version. Again a super atmospheric scent, it instantly transports me to my car in winter, riding along the backroads, smelling the fresh fir and pine trees, the smell of camp smoke in the distance and the herbs I smoke cleansed the car with before the trip, along with the hot tea I have in my traveler mug for the journey ahead. It's definitely unisex, but honestly, I could probably wear this in winter by itself. Or, I'll use it as a layering element, to bring a bit of smoke/incense/winter travel vibes to a blend
Gingerbread 5/5 freebie
Notes: ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, wheat absolute, butter co2, molasses distillate, brown sugar, black walnut, milk, cream, vanilla.
This one was a freebie thrown in (They included a Ton of freebies, which was so phenomenal!)
First impressions, another very well balanced set for late fall/winter. It smells like a fresh gingerbread snap (those hard old school ginger cookies), you can smell the cinnamon and cloves so much that it almost comes off as fresh cut wood which is definitely a complimentary vibe for this scent. Though, that may also be the wheat absolute and black walnut coming out, too. The sharpness from the ginger is mellowed out by the milk and cream and brown sugar and molasses. Another scent that blends very well, but you can still pick out all the individual notes and they tell a story. It's really cool how this house does that!
Christmas Wine Freebie 3.5/5
Notes: cranberry, plum, blood orange, cloves, nutmeg, fir balsam
It's definitely got the vibe of mulled Christmas wine. I'm kind of meh about it, though? There's a note in there I'm not fond of (I think the nutmeg) and I wish there was a bit of a crisp forest underlayer in there and maybe a bit more fruit, less mulled wine spices. BUT, this does make for a perfect mulled wine top note mixer on one of my more winter woods scents, like Grey Mist and Caravansary…and then maybe getting a winter berry scent to layer over top everything. This is a great mid layer scent for me.
Glühwein Pinewardperfume Freebie 5/5
Notes: Cranberry, champaca, cherry compote, rasberry, fir balsam, chocolate, davana attar, oakmoss, frankincense
Quite honestly everything I want Christmas Wine to be. In the description it says it was actually built on a base of the christmas wine scent, but with additional festive nuance, and this 2023 version is less sweet with more cocoa and champaca. This is actually pretty sweet, so I can't imagine what it was before. It's like sweet winter berries, and you can pretty distinctly scent the fir and frankincense and oakmoss. So, basically, all my notes from Christmas wine and how to improve it…they did it in this lol, it is Gluhwein. Just get this one lol
Then last but not least, they also included another freebie that isn't listed in their scent collection for sale. It's a Mint Cocoa. Which, honestly is Another poster child for letting rest lol. At first it was a bit chemically and I didn't like it at all. Now, it fluctuates from being a photorealistic mint chocolate….to weirdly smelling like my dad's alcoholic egg nogg that he loves every year at after Thanksgiving-New Years. I think it'll be a great mixer or even standalone this winter for me. Very nostalgic vibes.
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So, I hope anyone looking for Pineward reviews! They're a really cool house, so I hope they keep growing!

Hey community, im stand up paddling a lot on a raceboard, and sometimes the weather or scenery calls for some calm drifting, aka not moving at all. Does that negatively affect my training effect rating? Should I pause the activity?
Thank you!

I’m in the process of diagnosing IBS with my gastro doctor. She’s 80% sure that’s what’s going on, and it’s been making my life really bad for years.
I stopped drinking coffee, eating greasy foods and am trying to make as much wholesome home made food as possible. It helps for the most part, until I experience severe anxiety and then the IBS flares up again.
Anyway there have been two instances in the past month where I ate fried food. The first was on a weekend trip where I ate bar food (including fries) thinking I’d likely healed enough to handle it. A day later I thought I’d caught a stomach bug, I was in so much pain I couldn’t sleep or eat well for around a week. It was horrible painful constipation for two days and then watery diarrhea for around 5 days. I got so weak from being unable to eat, and when I did eat my body not being able to process the food, that I could barely stand up. I needed assistance to stand and walk. I thought this was so severe there’s no way it could be IBS and I must have caught a virus, but no one I was with got sick. Is this possible it was caused by IBS?
After only eating homemade foods for the next few weeks I healed for the most part and only experiences stomach cramping when I was in high anxiety situations. However I had a taco with fried fish in it two days ago, and I’ve had horrible constipation, dark slimy poops, and am again so fatigued I can barely work.
It would be great to hear from others if they have had similar symptoms to this. It’s been a real struggle and I’m very frustrated. Thank you :)