High tea invitation

Afternoon Tea, High Tea, Elevenses, and Tea Parties

2018.06.22 22:19 ErnestImp2000 Afternoon Tea, High Tea, Elevenses, and Tea Parties

Afternoon Tea, High Tea, Elevenses, and Tea Parties. This is for the fun delicious charm of tea and the amazing food served with it. This is for images, gifs, recipes, articles, but mostly everything that’s wonderful about having tea. This includes traditional teas, fictional teas like Alice in Wonderland, everyday teas, but always delicious teas and tea foods. Above everything else, this is a feel good place, please keep posts positive.
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2020.10.17 23:10 whowillbeantm RoyaleHighTea

This community is made for Royale high trading, Tea (like updates and such), Commission's, And anything else that has to do with royale high XD
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2019.10.26 19:45 OhHiIAmCoolIGuess RoyaleHigh_Roblox

An unofficial subreddit for Royale High, a game on Roblox. For art, tea spills, memes, you name it. Have fun! 👑 --- Thank you to these wonderful artists! --- Banner art: u/B911431 Icon art: u/ichig0_pnq
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2024.06.07 21:26 bkjogjibnh Sugar Defender Reviews and Complaints: What You Need to Know

Thinking about using Sugar Defender to manage your blood sugar levels? Navigating the sea of online reviews can be daunting. Are the glowing reviews trustworthy, or do concerns about a "Sugar Defender scam" hold weight? This in-depth review aims to uncover the truth about Sugar Defender.
We'll explore user experiences and the science behind the ingredients. Whether you've read rave reviews or encountered warnings of a "Sugar Defender scam," this analysis will provide the insights needed to make an informed choice. We'll delve into independent reviews, consumer reports, and potential complaints to offer a balanced view. Is Sugar Defender a genuine solution for blood sugar management, or just another overhyped supplement? Join us as we uncover the truth.

Visit Official Website To Order Sugar Defender Click Here

Sugar Defender's Promised Benefits
Natural Ingredients: A blend of plant-based ingredients designed for gentle blood sugar support. Liquid Drops: Convenient and easy-to-use liquid drops for daily dosing. Blood Sugar Management: Aims to regulate blood sugar levels and improve metabolic health. Appetite Control: Claims to curb cravings and reduce food intake, aiding weight management. Energy Boost: Aspires to enhance energy levels by optimizing glucose utilization. Cognitive Enhancement: Supports cognitive function and memory for better mental clarity. Money-Back Guarantee: Offers a 60-day money-back guarantee to reduce purchase risk. FDA-Registered Facility: Manufactured in an FDA-registered facility, indicating quality standards. Easy to Use: Liquid format eliminates the need for swallowing capsules or tablets. Free Bonuses: May include educational materials on blood sugar management and healthy recipes.
Product Overview
Name: Sugar Defender Health Focus: Blood sugar management Form: Dropper Ingredients: Eleuthero, Coleus, Maca Root, African Mango, Guarana, Chromium, Ginseng, Gymnema Dosage: 1 ml per day Quantity: 30 doses Benefits: Appetite suppression, enhanced energy, improved cognitive function, weight management Pros: 100% natural, plant-based, GMO-free, non-addictive, 60-day money-back guarantee, FDA-registered GMP-certified facility Cons: Available only on the official website, individual results may vary Side Effects: No reported side effects Bonuses: The Ultimate Tea Guide, Learn How to Manage Type II Diabetes Price: $69 Refund Policy: 180 days Availability: Exclusive to the official website Official Website: Click Here Sugar Defender: A Balanced Perspective Pros:

Visit Official Website To Order Sugar Defender Click Here

Natural Approach: Uses natural ingredients for a gentle solution. Convenient Dosing: Liquid drops are easy to incorporate into daily routines. Multifaceted Support: Targets blood sugar, appetite, energy, and cognitive function. Financial Security: The 60-day money-back guarantee provides some protection. Quality Assurance: Made in an FDA-registered facility, ensuring adherence to standards. Cons:
Effectiveness Unclear: Limited independent verification of effectiveness. Varied Results: Individual experiences may differ. Limited Availability: Only available through the official website, affecting accessibility. Unveiling the Formula Sugar Defender is positioned as a dietary supplement for blood sugar management, boasting a blend of natural ingredients aimed at promoting healthy blood sugar levels and overall metabolic health. The primary goal is to regulate blood sugar, potentially curbing cravings and aiding weight management. It also claims to enhance energy levels and cognitive function. However, it's crucial to remember that Sugar Defender is a supplement, not a miracle cure. Its effectiveness and the validity of its claims require careful consideration. This review provides a balanced perspective on its potential benefits and drawbacks.
The Mystery Behind the Creator
Unlike many supplements that highlight their creators, Sugar Defender's origins are somewhat mysterious. There's no readily available information about the individual or team behind it. This lack of transparency might be concerning for some users, as knowing the background and qualifications of the creators can build trust. However, this doesn't necessarily negate the product's potential effectiveness. Some companies focus more on the science behind the ingredients rather than the creators. For those seeking transparency, this anonymity might be a point of hesitation.
If you're considering Sugar Defender, research the ingredients and their potential benefits for blood sugar management. Additionally, look for independent reviews from verified users to get a broader perspective. The decision to trust Sugar Defender, despite its mysterious origins, ultimately rests with you.
The Science Behind Sugar Defender
Sugar Defender features a blend of natural ingredients aimed at supporting healthy blood sugar levels. Here's a closer look at the science behind some key components:
Chromium: May improve insulin sensitivity, aiding blood sugar control, though evidence is inconclusive. Alpha-Lipoic Acid: An antioxidant with mixed results on blood sugar regulation. Gymnema Sylvestre: Contains gymnemic acid, which may reduce sugar cravings and improve insulin sensitivity. The exact dosages and the combined effects of all the ingredients in Sugar Defender aren't well-researched, and the product itself lacks extensive clinical trials. This doesn't negate its potential benefits but highlights the need for further research and a critical approach.
Detailed Ingredient Analysis
Eleuthero (Siberian Ginseng): An adaptogenic herb that may help manage stress and improve stamina, though its impact on blood sugar is limited. Coleus Forskohlii: Contains forskolin, which may aid weight management and blood pressure, but its effects on blood sugar are unclear. Maca Root: May boost energy and mood, but more research is needed on its impact on blood sugar. African Mango (Irvingia Gabonensis): Could help suppress appetite and improve cholesterol, with emerging evidence on blood sugar effects. Guarana: High in caffeine, it may increase energy and suppress appetite, though its role in blood sugar management is unclear. Ginseng: May improve energy and cognitive function, with some studies suggesting it could help regulate blood sugar. Gymnema Sylvestre: May reduce sugar cravings and improve insulin sensitivity. Alpha-Lipoic Acid: Plays a role in glucose metabolism, with mixed research results. How Sugar Defender Works Sugar Defender claims to work through several mechanisms:
Blood Sugar Regulation: Ingredients like Chromium and Gymnema Sylvestre may enhance insulin sensitivity and reduce sugar cravings. Appetite Control: African Mango and Coleus Forskohlii might help suppress appetite and manage weight. Energy and Metabolism: Eleuthero, Maca Root, and Ginseng may boost energy and support a healthy metabolism. These are theoretical mechanisms, and the actual effectiveness remains unclear.
Instructions and Considerations Dosage and Administration:
Recommended Dosage: One dropper (1 ml) three times daily. Method: Take drops under the tongue, hold for a few seconds before swallowing, preferably with meals. Consistency: Use consistently for at least three months to see potential benefits. Lifestyle Modifications:
Healthy Lifestyle: Maintain a balanced diet and regular exercise. Sugar Defender should supplement these efforts, not replace them. Consulting Your Doctor:
Medical Conditions: Consult your doctor if you have pre-existing conditions or are on medication. Pregnant/Breastfeeding Women: Should seek medical advice before use. Be Cautious and Realistic:
Approach Claims Critically: Independent research and reviews can provide a balanced view. Individual Results Vary: What works for one person might not work for another. Potential Side Effects Sugar Defender is generally safe but may cause mild side effects like:
Digestive Discomfort: Bloating, gas, or diarrhea. Headaches: Mild headaches due to changes in blood sugar levels. Nausea: Occasional nausea. Dizziness: Slight dizziness or lightheadedness. Allergic Reactions: Rare allergic reactions. Sleep Disturbances: Changes in sleep patterns. If any side effects persist or worsen, discontinue use and consult a healthcare professional.
Is Sugar Defender Safe? Sugar Defender is generally safe for most people when used as directed. It's made with natural ingredients and adheres to quality standards. However, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and those with pre-existing conditions or on medication, should consult a healthcare provider before use. Individual responses vary, so monitor how your body reacts and make informed decisions.
By following these guidelines and consulting with your doctor, you can decide if Sugar Defender is a suitable option for you.
Who Should Avoid Sugar Defender?
While Sugar Defender is generally safe for most individuals, specific groups should exercise caution or avoid using the supplement altogether:
Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women: Limited research exists on the safety of Sugar Defender's ingredients during pregnancy and lactation. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should consult their healthcare provider before using this supplement.
Children: Sugar Defender is formulated for adult use and may not be suitable for children. Parents should consult with a pediatrician before giving Sugar Defender to children.
Individuals with Medical Conditions: Those with pre-existing medical conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or gastrointestinal disorders, should consult a healthcare professional before using Sugar Defender to ensure it is safe and appropriate for their specific health needs.
Allergies: Individuals with known allergies to any of the ingredients in Sugar Defender should avoid using the supplement to prevent allergic reactions.
Medication Interactions: Some ingredients in Sugar Defender may interact with certain medications. Individuals taking prescription medications should consult their healthcare provider before using Sugar Defender to avoid potential interactions.
By considering these factors and consulting with a healthcare professional when necessary, individuals can make informed decisions about whether Sugar Defender is suitable for their individual needs and circumstances.
Sugar Defender: Sifting Through Customer Reviews (4.8 Rating with a Cautious Eye)
Sugar Defender boasts a high customer rating of 4.8, but it's important to evaluate this critically:

Visit Official Website To Order Sugar Defender Click Here

The Positive Side: Many customer reviews highlight positive experiences, such as improved blood sugar control, increased energy levels, and reduced cravings. Users often appreciate the ease of use (liquid drops) and the natural approach. A Cause for Caution: A near-perfect rating (4.8) can be suspicious. Genuine reviews tend to reflect a mix of positive and negative experiences. There is a possibility of biased reviews influenced by marketing or affiliate programs. Looking Beyond the Ratings: Focus on the content of reviews rather than just the star rating. Look for detailed reviews describing the user’s experience, both positive and negative. Consider the reviewer's background and potential biases. Sugar Defender Customer Reviews: A Journey Through User Experiences
30 Days: Sarah M. (4 stars): Noticed increased energy and fewer afternoon slumps. David L. (3 stars): Found the taste manageable but saw no major changes in blood sugar yet. Emily K. (5 stars): Experienced significant reduction in sugar cravings and healthier food choices. John T. (2 stars): Disappointed with no significant change in energy or blood sugar levels. Maria P. (4 stars): Liked the convenience and felt slightly lighter, hoping for more progress. 90 Days: Sarah M. (4 stars): Significant improvement in energy levels and positive changes in blood sugar readings. David L. (3 stars): Cravings less intense, but blood sugar readings still inconsistent. Emily K. (5 stars): Managed to lose weight and stabilize blood sugar levels. John T. (3 stars): Slight improvement in energy levels, unsure about continued use. Maria P. (5 stars): Lost weight and improved blood sugar control, very positive results. 180 Days: Sarah M. (5 stars): Consistent healthy blood sugar levels and improved energy, essential part of health regimen. David L. (4 stars): Stabilized blood sugar readings and managed cravings better. Emily K. (5 stars): Dramatic improvement in energy, sleep, and overall health. John T. (4 stars): Significant improvement in blood sugar control after six months. Maria P. (5 stars): Maintained weight loss, high energy levels, and good blood sugar control. Where to Buy Sugar Defender?
Sugar Defender is exclusively available for purchase through its official website. Buying directly from the official source ensures authenticity, special offers, dedicated customer support, and secure transactions.
Sugar Defender Pricing:
Single Bottle: $69 Three Bottles: $177 ($59 per bottle) Six Bottles: $294 ($49 per bottle) Refund Policy:
Sugar Defender offers a 60-day money-back guarantee. If you're not entirely satisfied with your purchase, you can request a full refund within 60 days of receipt.
Bonuses:
Customers may receive complimentary ebooks, guides, or additional products to support health and well-being as part of their purchase.
FAQs About Sugar Defender:
Ingredients: Eleuthero, Coleus Forskohlii, Maca Root, African Mango, Guarana, Chromium, Ginseng, Gymnema Sylvestre. How it Works: Claims to regulate blood sugar, control appetite, manage weight, and boost energy. Benefits: Blood sugar management, appetite control, weight management, increased energy, improved mood. Usage: Recommended dosage is one full dropper taken three times daily, preferably with meals. Side Effects: Generally safe, but some may experience stomach upset or headaches. Purchase Location: Available only on the official website. Cost: Varies, with bulk purchasing options offering cost savings. Reviews: Positive reviews on the official website, but independent reviews should also be considered. Scam Concerns: No definitive evidence of a scam, but transparency issues and limited clinical trials raise concerns. Alternatives: Other blood sugar support supplements with established brands and clear ingredient information are available. Final Word on Sugar Defender
Sugar Defender appears to be a promising supplement for blood sugar management, but it's important to approach it with a critical eye. While many users report positive experiences, the lack of transparent ingredient dosages and limited clinical evidence should be considered. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new supplement.

Visit Official Website To Order Sugar Defender Click Here

submitted by bkjogjibnh to nflstreamsbaltv [link] [comments]


2024.06.07 21:18 throwawayman1738 Stand up comedy is stupid, and you’re all not funny.

My humor is gross. It’s raunchy, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, and that’s fine. I’m not trying to be Matt Rife and be tik tok famous. I’m not trying to be Bert Kreishner and be known for one story from a set he performed 15 years ago. I’m not trying to work in a coffee shop or a bar and dress like a hipster and make “comic” friends and invite them all to my open mic and have them be the only people that laugh at my stupid jokes and tell me I’m “next.”
When I do standup, I go to whatever club that has a signup by myself, sit there and anxiously wait my turn, puke in the bathroom right before my set, go do it, then leave.
You know what the problem is? It’s you’re all PC. I know you’re on here reading this, pink haired girl from last night. We get it guys, I know you’re all single. Or if you’re not, your partner doesn’t find you funny. We get it you like smoking cigarettes and eating pussy. We get it you dumped the girl for her sister. It’s June we get it, it’s “national coming out month” or whatever made up shit you guys like to joke about and applaud each other for, for being so brave.
Black comics be like: white people this, white people that. Women comics be like: men this, my pussy that. Fat comics be like: I’m fat. Like clearly bitch. Instead of running your mouth why don’t you run on the treadmill.
That’s my rant. I want you all to know I’m very funny and my humor is perfect in every way. I can deliver the perfect 9/11 joke and mix it in with a r@pe punchline. Did I mention I get loads of pussy? It’s consensual. Ask your mother.
Lick my nuts and get me a coffee, pussies.
submitted by throwawayman1738 to Standup [link] [comments]


2024.06.07 21:00 GentlemanlyAdvice The Completely True Story of How a Filthy Gweilo Married the Most Beautiful Girl in the World

I was a damaged person. But I was on the mend.
I had a pretty traumatic break up with my childhood best friend, turned girlfriend. I had known her since we were 8 years old. We had been boyfriend and girlfriend since we were 13 and had been so for 9 years until my junior year of college when she cheated on me in a very cruel way. It came to light that she had cheated on me many times before as well.
I loved her so god damn much! I thought we were one of those stories where two souls were knitted together from eternity to eternity, or some hallmark card bullshit like that.
I was emotionally shattered and it took me a while until one day about 2 years later, I woke up and thought about her, but then realized that I hadn't thought about her at all the previous day. It was glorious and I knew then that I was on the mend. After that, my healing process sort of exponentially snowballed and I was back in the saddle as far as relationships went. I started going on dates and meeting up with women.
I was a software engineer working for a large corporation. Because I was good at my job, and because I didn't have a family, I was given the opportunity to move to Singapore and lead a project there for what would be a couple of years but turned out to be 7 years.
The great thing about Singapore is that they speak the "King's English" when they're not speaking "Singlish" (a patois of mostly English with funky grammar, but with Malay, Chinese, and Hindi thrown in). So I didn't have to learn a whole new language to fit in. I just had to learn how to translate Singlish to English, which wasn't too hard after a couple of months of trying. I even learned the lingo and it would amuse my coworkers a whole lot when I spoke Singlish. They thought it was hilarious.
I was a good looking guy (still am!!) but I really let myself go in my depression. I was a tall, muscular 210 pounds when I broke up with my ex, but I had ballooned up to over 300 pounds. I started a workout regimen and lost it all but the workout regimen became sort of an obsession. It was the one thing that grounded me. After I went to Singapore, one of my business perks was a gym membership at "Fitness First", a local gym franchise. I was down to my previous weight, but I had to practically camp out at the gym because the best thing about Singapore is the FOOD. The food is incredible! However, you WILL pack on the weight if you don't get your ass to the gym.
The meet cute
I was working out one day much later than normal due to some overtime on my project and I saw a girl on a treadmill. The treadmill was the one I usually use because it was in the back and kind of out of the way. The girl was stunning! The thing that stuck out to me was that she was had her hair in a pony tail through a ball cap, which is a look I find very attractive. I was a little nervous because, even though I was fairly confident about the way I look, I was definitely batting out of my league with this girl.
I went to her and chatted her up after she got off of the treadmill. She didn't look me in the eye and didn't really engage. I figured that I had acted like what is now known as a "gym creep" and I figured it was a "swing and a miss!" I apologized and said I wouldn't bother her anymore. I stuck out my hand and said "I'm OP, by the way. What's your name?"
She hesitated and looked at me for a bit and said "Lilly" (not her real name).
I remember this exactly because she later said that it was what intrigued her about me. At the time, she was an actress/model who had done some print/public billboard type ads, product demo booths at expos, and even a bit part in a local tv (Mediacorp) series. She had started to attract public attention because of these (mainly the TV show and the ads that were hanging all around town at that time) not just from men but from women too and it was super uncomfortable for her.
The fact that I had no idea who she was relaxed her and made her think that I was attracted to her for her and not because her face was everywhere at the time. After she told me about it, I did notice her face everywhere. But photoshop was a thing even back then, so I didn't recognize her from her ads and I really don't look at ads, tuning them out. I also didn't watch her TV show because it was in Mandarin Chinese and I don't speak or understand any Chinese, and I wasn't in a position where I was required to attend or arrange trade shows.
In the years prior to meeting me, Lilly had undergone a lot of plastic surgery (breast, eyelid, facial contouring, nose job, lipo, etc). She said it got to where she didn't recognize herself in the mirror and it disturbed and depressed her. She hadn't particularly wanted the surgery but she got the procedures done at the behest of her family who wanted her to bring in more money and the people in charge of her career development (don't know the term). It was all very expensive and she felt like she owed her family and the talent people who managed her.
Later, I found out that she hated the public recognition. Not just from men, but mostly from women who were really catty about her plastic surgery. The people in charge of her were pushing her to start singing but she didn't have a good voice and would need a bunch of training for that. She was depressed due to not recognizing herself in the mirror any more and didn't want to follow the career track that she had been on. They were pushing her to do more figure/body modeling which was why she was in the gym. She was SUPER uncomfortable with that and constantly hungry and pissed off.
She was afraid that she would do some more modeling and then get married off by her parents to some rich mainland Chinese man that she would be ambivalent about (she preferred Caucasian men) and she'd be forced to be a traditional pampered Chinese wife living in Beijing.(Doesn't sound that bad to me. Some of those Chinese businessmen live crazy luxurious lifestyles.
Since I was working a lot of overtime, I kept going to the gym later at night and we saw each other and I would wave and smile and she would smile and wave back. OK I was kinda hoping to meet her regularly. I spotted her on a couple of exercises and we began to chat with each other a bit. A couple of times I had to steady her because she was fainting from being hungry and working out at the same time. I used that as an excuse to take her out to a hawker center, which like a mall food court but with delicious local food (not chain restaurants). We chatted and got along really well. It became a regular thing until I confessed I had a crush on her. We started dating after that until it got to a point where she practically moved into my place.
She, of course, had her share of guys interested in her. She was on livejournal at the time (remember livejournal??) and she was doing that and posting pictures of herself for her career mostly, but I'm sure she did enjoy the attention. She had one guy from Belgium who was really after her. He actually bought her 800 thread count sheets, which is an oddly practical but vaguely inappropriate gift. He actually visited Singapore on business (he was a tech sales guy) and wanted to meet up with her in a public place, a hawker center. I still had trust issues from my previous "love of my life" betraying me. To this day, I cringe at my behavior at the time, but I laid down a clear boundary. She could absolutely go see and hang out with this guy if she wanted to, but if she did, she'd be doing it as a single available girl and we would be through. She said she saw my face "turn to stone" and it was clear that she would lose me if she went to meet up with that guy. That honestly gave her pause about our relationship and she really considered ending it at the time. I didn't know that until much later, though. Certainly, I'm glad that she didn't. She didn't go meet up with the guy. To this day, we call the incident "The Belgian Waffle". OK so I call it that, she thinks it's stupid.
Meeting her family
Eventually, Lilly asked if I could have dinner with her parents, saying that they wanted to meet me. I bought some gifts, basically Japanese cookies in really nice packaging, and then we met. I did the traditional thing and formally introduced myself and asked them about their family and history.
At the time, Lilly got some criticism from her extended family because I am a white guy. There was a certain stigma attached to local girls who liked white guys. They called those girls "SPGs" which stands for "Sarong Party Girls", a derogatory name for the prostitutes who would entertain British expats at after hours parties "back in the day".
Over the next few months, I won over her family mainly by eating their food and being accepting of their culture. I grew up in Texas, so pickled jalapenos were common in my house...like salt and pepper, we put them on everything. Later on, I was the kind of guy who put tabasco or sriracha on everything. So eating their spicy food was no problem for me. I remember us both going shopping at an open air market and seeing an older woman cutting up cili padi. I asked if I could try some. She looked at my pale face and then at Lilly and she said I could. I bit into one and chewed it up as the woman looked at me with an amused look on her face. She was waiting for me to jump up and down with fire shooting out of my mouth, I guess. I disappointed her, but she and Lilly were impressed. She later told her mother and she was impressed too. She wanted me to eat one for her as well. Oh well, trained monkey time I guess.
The real test came when I tried Durian for the first time. This is the same food that "defeated" Andrew Zimmern, the "Bizarre Foods" guy. I actually liked it. I had a D24 durian, which admittedly is like the "beginner version" of durians. There are like 16 different types. When you get past the smell and actually taste it, it doesn't smell that bad any more. It's very sweet and creamy. It's like the taste overwrites your disgust of the smell. I think that's what really impressed them to an extreme degree. They started calling me an "egg", because I was "white on the outside but yellow on the inside."
I would visit her grandmother with her. In true Chinese fashion, Lilly and her brother Johnny were raised by their paternal grandparents while their parents worked full time jobs, so her grandmother was like her mom. She was in an elder care facility at this point, though. She didn't like living there, but it was all they could afford. We would visit her every week and she'd be very happy. She didn't speak any English at all so she and Lilly would just chat speaking Hokkien Chinese while her grandmother would pet my hairy forearms like I was a dog. She was absolutely smitten with my hairy forearms.
Meeting my family
After a little over a year, I took her back to Texas to meet my family. It was quite the culture shock. Lilly was amazed by red barns and hay bales, black and white Holstein cows, things she saw in movies about the USA. She particularly was impressed by the cluster mailboxes lined up on country roads ("So cute, leh!") We actually had to stop the car and take pictures of her standing next to them, smiling goofily for the photo. I made sure to take her to the Texas hill country during spring, when the hills are covered with soft green grass and festooned with bluebonnets, sunflowers, indian paintbrushes, black eyed susans, daisies, etc. I had to practically hold her down to keep her from picking them. It's not illegal or anything, it's just frowned upon and tradition to leave them alone. OK, I let her pick some. Give me a break, I was in love with the girl.
Driving was also something that kind of boggled her mind. Texas is huge, and traveling from my parents' place to visit my brothers and their families was a seemingly endless trek. Driving from Houston to Austin, to Corpus Christi was crazy long, even with the stops to visit my relatives.
Lilly was practically agoraphobic at the big sky in Texas. She was used to being in a forest of tall concrete and steel buildings, with only strips of blue sky available at the top. In Texas that sky went from horizon to horizon. She was also amazed at the uncountable numbers of stars at night away from the city lights. She later told me it was like visiting Narnia or something.
In Texas, she got her share of looks from guys, especially in the bigger cities. I wasn't jealous. I've never been a jealous guy, although my experience with my ex "love of my life" really put my radar up, I still was proud that other guys were attracted to her. My attitude was "go ahead and eat your hearts out, she's with me!"
When she met my oldest brother, it was like a cultural thing with her, so she was very deferential and respectful. I knew that my oldest brother was attracted to her because he was stumbling and stuttering when he was speaking to her, looking at her but kind of avoiding looking at her. I wasn't too concerned because he was a married guy with 2 sons and not a scumbag, but it was still pretty amusing to see "Mr. Smooth-don't-let-em-know-you-want-em-kid" at a loss for words.
My parents met Lilly finally (she was super nervous but she did really well) and later my mom brought me aside and asked me if she should re-set her mother's diamond engagement ring. I thought about it a bit, and then told her "yes". My mom's eyes started sparkling with images of unborn grandchildren and she smiled bigger than I had ever seen her smile (kind of unsettling actually). My dad later brought me aside and basically told me I couldn't do any better and I would be a "god damn fool" if I let her get away from me. I agreed. My dad then told me something that remains with me to this day: "She will make your life sparkle, son." (she has).
Before our time in the US was up my mom gave me the ring and I asked Lilly to be my wife in a field of wildflowers, which had become her favorite place to be in Texas. She said yes. Looking back, that was one of the happiest days of my life. It was up there with losing my virginity to "the love of my life" (who turned out to be a duplicitous crazy person but at the time it was really special), my wedding day to Lilly, and the births of our children.
The Engagement
When we got back to Singapore we had to pretend we weren't engaged because I had to ask her parents for their daughter's hand in marriage. I spoke with them and explained how my prospects in my career were good. I told them that I loved their daughter and that my family also loved their daughter. We had to schedule a phone call between my parents and her parents.
I had clued my parents in as far as the traditions go. In Chinese culture, the groom pays for the wedding rather than the bride. The groom also has to give the bride's parents certain auspicious gifts. My parents luckily had done a tour of China a few years before and knew all of this beforehand, having befriended their local tour guide who was saving up money for his own wedding at the time. On the call, they agreed upon a pinjin, which is basically "betrothal money". We started to plan the Guo Da Li ceremony which would take place in 3 months time, and 3 months before the wedding.
Unfortunately life threw us a curve ball and Lilly's grandmother died. It was bittersweet because, while Lilly missed her, her grandmother had become very old and infirm to the point where her quality of life was pretty low. All wedding stuff was put on hiatus until the funeral was over plus 100 days for mourning.
After that, we were able to do the Guo Da Li ceremony. I gave my future in laws a red packet of money plus special cakes and 12 mandarin oranges and gold jewelry. It all went very well.
Wedding planning started in earnest. I got some money from my dad (who insisted) but the lion's share was out of my pocket. During this process I was able to meet some incredible people. The stand outs were Richard and Jimmy. Rich and Jimmy were tailors and dressmakers. They were a couple and they gave my fiancée a really good deal on a wedding dress and cocktail dress if she agreed to do some print modeling for their business. They also made me a tuxedo and a suit. I offered to model for them as well and we all had a good laugh at that prospect (OK they were doing most of the laughing - ego still hurts from that one, guys).
The venue we were using was Chijmes. It's the same one used in the move "Crazy Rich Asians". It was back when they had first started offering it up as a venue so it wasn't crazy expensive at the time. Plus, it was a smaller venue for weddings. Usually weddings are held in large hotel ballrooms and are huge affairs (this is what I was told). The families both invite everyone they've ever met to come: Neighbors, business contacts, everyone. They all bring red packets filled with cash. We opted for the "small" wedding.
The Bachelor Party
We had planned bachelobachelorette parties on the same night (separate venues). Lilly's MOH threw hers while Rich and Jimmy threw mine. My best man was my dad (because he's the best man that I know) and so cigars and brandy would have been disappointing to my work friends and my future brother in law and cousins. I don't think anyone was prepared for what happened.
We had the party at the sushi restaurant of a friend of Rich and Jimmy's. It was after hours. We had some incredible sashimi and rolls. I even tried fish sperm. Didn't like it. I asked Jimmy are you sure it's FISH, sperm?? He said of course he'd never do that to me. To be fair, it did taste and smell very fishy. I don't know how human sperm tastes like (or maybe I do now, I don't know).
After the sushi was done, it was time for the entertainment, and oh boy. Rich and Jimmy hired a trans entertainer who sang show tunes. The thing is, she had an incredible voice. She was obviously biologically male, but she really carried herself with a lot more femininity than I've seen from biological women. She sang and told jokes and roasted me pretty thoroughly. My dad was there and he thought it was funny as hell. My friends from work, especially the Aussies and Brits, thought it was great, my future BIL and most of my future cousins did too. Other cousins politely excused themselves and left. I think the free flowing booze and beer kept most people there, though.
After her thoroughly entertaining performance, it was time for the dancers. This is kind of where it went off the rails. Rich and Jimmy hired exotic dancers...but they were all male or trans. Now, to be fair, it wasn't like they didn't tell me about it beforehand. They did. Personally, I thought it would be hilarious to announce that the strippers were here and then have male dancers come out. I have a twisted sense of humor, I suppose. I certainly wasn't going to cheat on the most beautiful woman in the world mere weeks before our wedding, so prostitutes and female dancers were completely out of the question for me. They jokingly suggested male dancers it and we laughed. I thought about it a bit and I guess I'm "take-the-joke-too-far" guy so I encouraged it. Lilly knew about it and thought it was funny as well and wanted me to video tape it while it happened. ("Yeah right you just want to ogle the dancers" "Of course, lah!")
What I wasn't prepared for was the PLATOON of banana hammocks that marched out into the restaurant. Smooth greased up Asian chests everywhere! My dad was of course shocked at first and then looked at me and we started laughing and the ridiculousness of it. My dad stood up and clapped his hand on my shoulder and put a mock serious look on his face. The people immediately around me witnessed my dad telling me that he loved me and accepted my life style choice and that nothing I could say or do would ever change the fact that he and mom loved me and accepted me. Thanks, dad. I was laughing during the whole thing and my future BIL and work buddies who were around me were laughing as well. My dad excused himself and said he had to go find my mom and tell her the "bad news about her future grandchildren" and left ("Can adopt, lah! Can surrogate, meh!" Thanks for the support, guys). My future BIL laughed and said that since all of the available male dancers were at my party, there were none available to attend his sister's party, so she was "safe".
Among the highlights of the evening is that I discovered that a few of my co-workers and future cousins were in fact gay. I was told to stay out of the ladies' room no matter what. I wasn't planning on going in but thanks for the warning. I was proud that we all only vomited in the trash cans and not on the floor (what a waste of some damn good sushi....and fish sperm). Rich and Jimmy stayed next to each other all night. I even saw them holding hands and looking at each other lovingly. To my shame, I was under the common misconception that all gay men were very promiscuous and I kind of expected them to pair off with the dancers. What I saw that night was a very loving monogamous relationship.
The Wedding Day
The day of the wedding came a few days later and I had the good fortune of being the first one in my family to experience the fun and interesting experience of a groom going through a Chinese-style wedding. I say "Chinese-style" because while we did do a lot of the traditions from a Chinese wedding, we did say vows to God before a Christian minister. This was something she insisted on as her family had converted from Taoism to Christianity (but still kept the Taoist traditions and festivals).
First up was the gatecrash. I went over to the her family's apartment and the MOH and bridesmaids stood at the door refusing to let me in unless I gave them $9999.00. Nine is a significant symbol to them. It means "longevity" I think. So the whole idea is for me to haggle the price down by doing challenges and games. I had to do a handstand and walk with my hands. I had to answer trivia questions ("What is her nickname for you?" "Cranky old man" "What is your nickname for her?" "Baby"). BIL and I had to do "the worm". I haggled them down to $99 which I paid to them in a red packet. My BIL and wife chided me for not going lower but my dad was there and was in his 70s and couldn't do any feats of strength.
After I "secured" my bride, we did the traditional tea ceremony with her parents and my parents. Lilly was dressed in a traditional red silk qipao, tailor made by Rich and Jimmy. I gotta tell you people, the qipao really does it for me! Not gonna lie, it was like cupid gut punched me when I saw her dressed in it . My parents were pretty stoic throughout but my mom sympathy cried with Lilly's parents when she tearfully did the tea ceremony with her mother and father. We received red packets from each set of parents. I was told the red packet her parents gave us had most of the bride price we paid in it. Her mom gave her her grandmother's jeweled antique watch and my mom gave her a sapphire ring (sapphire is my birth stone). As we left her home to go to Chijmes, I told her "we're keeping that dress, understand me??" She laughed.
We got to Chijmes, did the photos and she walked down the aisle in a beautiful white dress with a small train behind it with sequins on it. My dad gave me the ring. He was my best man. He was my best man because he's the best man I know. After the wedding, she changed into a champagne colored strapless cocktail dress another Rich and Jimmy original. THREE wardrobe changes, people! THREE! All with different hair and make up and she did it super quick. I don't know what wizardry was invoked but we may be indebted to the hoary netherworld.
We honeymooned at the Fullerton Hotel. The old British colonial Post Office was converted to a luxury hotel in 2001. We stayed there for 3 days ordering overpriced room service ("Go to hawker center, lah! Much cheaper better food, meh!).
Emigration and Immigration
So a little bit before this time, a little event happened in New York. You might have heard about it. Anyway because some sexually repressed incels decided to murder thousands of people, USA's immigration was all jacked up. The INS went bye-bye. Then we had the BCIS for a brief moment, followed by the USCIS. I saw that my project was ending and my company helped me with her immigration. It was a pain, though. It seems like we had new forms to fill out every week while the old ones became obsolete. That's how I remember it, anyway. It was a pretty frustrating time and I almost had to leave her behind (it wouldn't have been permanent but it would be a long time). Luckily we were able to make it time.
For explanation purposes, we didn't get LEGALLY married in Singapore. We had the religious ceremony but no "government contracts" were involved. This is because, at that time at least, it was easier to bring over a fiancée than a wife, for some reason. So Lilly was a "90 Day Fiancée"!! We got married at the county courthouse when we finally were able to go to my new project. We didn't wait 90 days. We did in three (jet lag).
Unfortunately for her, we moved from Singapore, a 24 hour international class city, to a sleepy seaside town in the USA near a military base. Lots of fun was had with that. A total fish out of water story for another time (What is this "coin laundry"? Do you Americans have a place to wash your coins?).
My BIL got married to a beautiful girl and moved to Australia and opened a Bait and Tackle store in Surfer's Paradise on the east coast of Australia. He has 2 daughters. In 2012 he was caught cheating on his wife and lost everything. She moved back to Singapore with his kids, and he kind of struggled for a while. He got another bait and tackle store eventually and tries to see his daughters whenever he can. They don't have a good relationship.
Rich and Jimmy celebrated the decriminalization of homosexuality in Singapore in 2022, but they still can't get married. We still talk from time to time. Writing this, I find myself missing them. I had some really fun times because of them. I've never had better conversations in Singapore than with them while at Lilly's dress fittings (and my suit fittings).
We have been married for 21 years. She has never given up being a Singaporean citizen. She keeps her passport current. She's a "permanent resident" here in the USA. We have three kids, two boys and a girl. We are still married. She still wears her hair in a pony tail with a ball cap when she works out. She still wears that qipao on special occasions, which I try to achieve as often as possible. She's still my Baby and I'm still her Cranky Old Man.
Thanks for reading.
submitted by GentlemanlyAdvice to stories [link] [comments]


2024.06.07 20:57 rGamesMods Summer Game Fest 2024 - MEGATHREAD

Welcome to the Summer Game Fest 2024 Megathread!

HELLO EVERYONE, ITS ME, Anton! The super very famous megathread guy and welcome back to another big megathread and the continuation of many megathreads, in todays Summer Game Fest we are expecting first looks and updates from 1st and 3rd party studios and its a big one!
Also heads up, just like last time...a few leaks went out about this event...so if you want to go in blindly then I highly recommend NOT going into the comments
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Schedule

The main show will begin at 2:00 PM PT / 5:00 PM ET / 3:00 PM CEST / 1:00 AM UTC / 2:00 PM BST/ 4:00 PM Central (Canada/US) (Mods plz fix the times i know this is wrong except central)
The main show has a runtime of roughly 2 HOURS!
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Expectations

The last Summer Game Fest got an average score of 5.4 out of 10 (based on results from data based on votes/comments and positivity/negativity throughout the show)
The most talked about thing from previous Summer Game Fest was: Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
The least talked about thing from previous Summer Game Fest was: Lord of the Rings Return to Moria
Stay tuned for more different statistics and more of this in other events!
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Relevant Links:

-Discord
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THERE WILL BE NO LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THIS SHOW SINCE I AM AT THE SHOW MYSELF AND MY LAPTOP IS BEING A DONUT, SO EVERYTHING WILL BE ADDED ONCE IM AT THE HOTEL. SORRY DONT GET MAD AT ME PLZ

submitted by rGamesMods to Games [link] [comments]


2024.06.07 20:52 throwawaybadatrlshp I need to stop. This is the second time I’ve hit rock bottom. Think I just need to vent to people who get it…

Hi guys,
Thinking back, this is not my first Reddit post of a similar nature. I think all my life I’ve been addicted to things (weed, porn, “self help”, exercise). This is just one that’s been the most detrimental. I am a problem gambler and need help. I think I also need a place to just let it all out. Hopefully people will read and comment/resonate but I’m literally unable to concentrate at work because things are bad again. I apologize for it being long and you will all likely skip but if anyone reads, thank you.
I have a lot of trauma and am very lonely a lot of times. I had a bad experience being social and I think people pick up on my extreme awkwardness but they do not make me feel welcome, they come across judgy and I feel like I’m performing a dance begging for acceptance. So I spend even more time online (and have been like that since childhood) and don’t get much social interaction. This is relevant to how I got so sucked in so far.
Growing up, my parents were not only strict, but very strict about money. We were poor and they always told me to avoid debt but made it more about school debt (which I did avoid). They definitely talked about predatory credit card practices etc, but the one thing they did not ever instill in us was mitigating problem spending and gambling. Not just me but my mom and sister have really bad spending habits on food and unnecessary purchases…but I’m getting a bit ahead…
I didn’t get a credit card until a bit later, and didn’t have a job until about 2018-19 at 21. Even then, I barely used the CC and also barely drank. I hated gambling at a young age because I only know it as the casino in big cities with the excessive alcohol and lights and cigar smells I hated. Of course I was on my high horse at a younger age saying people were just “paying money to lose money and that made no sense”…My parents went to Vegas a lot, not weekly but every maybe 3-6 months because of comps. And us living close. I was mostly there just to watch my siblings and never went down to actually be in the casino. The vibes just always made me uncomfortable.
The one thing I did do was buy stocks. I remember briefly trying to understand the day trading stuff and I was so overwhelmed I just stuck to my traditional buying stocks and leaving them like a savings. Did good all the way until COVID, everything was down and I had to quit my job to move for school and was so burnt out from working (as “essential” while everyone else was not working) that I just took time off from work for like a year and a half. Spent all my stock market savings that was basically just all my money minus the interest made because of the COVID dip. I sold at the worst time possible but chose to do that instead of just getting work or even trying to learn about getting unemployment for my “mental health” LOL.
Right in my senior year of college I had a roommate who used a draft fantasy sports book. Never knew about money lines or anything about sports period,because I was too lazy to figure out sports rules, let alone betting line math…but I wanted to be accepted as a man and thought sports would be a good way to learn and build friendships…and “investing” money into it seemed like a worthwhile trade.
He explained oveunder props. Easy as cake. You think they’ll go over a certain line and you pick that. Even easier to upload your card and make an account. I thought it would be harmless…
I made one, did okay, but no crazy bets just $30-50 MAX like every couple of weeks. Trying to get into sports and fit in with the boys…. Didn’t care too much about losing $20 here and there and that’s my problem…
I then bring this up to a classmate in our data science class in 2022 wondering if there’s ways people can track player data…who tells me about “tailing” people who post their player picks online. Never knew about that/that there was already a market (bc I was new to sports).
He tells me about a guy he follows. Guy has a site with “the best prop data”. Clearly know this other guy is just selling his services but the service seems so beneficial. “Best hit rates in the game!” “No one has data like this”. Straight snake oil salesman tactics and I’m so aware of it, but it’s like I just didn’t care. Of course it’s just like ESPN data all on a histogram and not that revolutionary, and it’s like I already know I’m signing up for getting played but I just accept it(likely because I have settled for a lot in my life). I get a membership. I think oh I’ll make a ROI worth the cost of the membership and more! Right….
That was in about March-ish I think of last year. (Yea it was, because I specifically remember the old classmate asking me about March madness…). From March to June I had losses, but nothing super horrible, I didn’t really track it but I had never spent more than $100 max and probably only spent around $175 a month which was about the rate of all my subscriptions combined. but around this time I had also just had a very traumatic experience getting robbed and abandoned drunkenly during a party on campus. Somehow I made it back from the party to my house and allegedly my roommate helped me vomit/clean up but I woke up to my wallet and phone gone.
I felt violated, confused because I couldn’t remember certain events, sad that my “friends” didn’t even have my back at certain points. I was angry and really embarrassed and depressed and felt like I couldn’t trust ANYONE around me. Of course, them feeling second hand embarrassment from me, stopped inviting me out and our interactions got so awkward after that. I felt like now my reputation was just that drunk idiot who did god knows what while blacked out. And didn’t really have a lot of support.
My gambling got worse, but I didn’t make that much money so I also didn’t really bet that much either? It’s kind of a blur around that time now and I don’t really remember but I don’t think I was on the group chats/apps nearly as much as I am now. I also deleted them around graduation time because I needed to focus and I needed to save $$$ for my move out.
Fast forward I was in okay-ish shape: was able to get an apartment and higher paying job…but my relationship was strained with my now ex girlfriend. It was bad. I redownloaded the apps during this time. I was trying to plan out our future and she was not helping me. I was basically doing everything myself in the relationship and felt like my “investment” in our relationship wasn’t going anywhere…as she was not communicating and not helping me plan, so i began using that money for bets.
Initially it was “it’s just for fun now that I have more income! I can afford it now” then it was “oh it will be like a side hustle”.
But I got worse. I felt so disconnected and burnt out from my new job in finance, also very numb to large amounts of $$ on screens all day that I started betting hundreds daily. Then tie in disconnected from my ex and now had no friends. I was numb and needed to feel something, and alcohol was not enough. I’d drink here and there but never enough to get completely trashed like before because I was scared of that.
Now remember the subscription? This sub comes with a “chat room” FULL of a bunch of enabling children and their ring leader who makes the datasets. I used to respect what the guy does but I have so many problems with his business model: advertising slightly over 50/50 guesses as a worthwhile investment, getting his data out 5 minutes before games start (obviously so he can make his picks on his own first and then tell the followers after), calling his own patrons idiots and trying to make it sound like he’s the best gambler in the world and that if we’re losing we are just “not doing it right” when he’s really using $100,000s of dollars from subscribers to make his for fun bets while people desperately cling to some sort of “mathematical explanation” for why Alpha McThree is a better pick than Johnny Appleseeds.
I digress again. Basically there’s people around my age (20s) older (40s) and possibly younger all in these chats enabling each other to bet. You feel rushed because you have to “beat the prop bumps” when they move the lines. You feel constantly on edge and that anxiety feels good because of the potential payout, and then horrible when you’re off by one or two players and lose everything.
I became obsessed. It is probably the combination of the rush, the colors, the screen lighting in a more comfortable way to social media…the people encouraging you or congratulating you or worse bonding over shared loss, you start to feel in community.
Mind you, the community itself was toxic. I am part of the LGBT community but never disclosed, and there is so much homophobia and transphobia, sometimes even racism (I mean I get that I’m positing this to Reddit LOL) but it’s just weird to me as a POC who is part of this community to see all that stuff everyday and then say those are my people….and to pay a subscription to be apart of it…it felt like a weird digital fraternity. It felt “cool” to have a badge for my sports book, for people to recognize my nickname, to see the same names everyday, it felt like routine.
Everyday I’d wake up and bet. When I got COVID in December the amounts doubled and I was spending $500 in minutes instead of spread across days. I didn’t even care anymore. I’d keep playing and eventually lose it. Every single time like “I’m just gonna play enough to make my money back and pay off some of the debt and then delete everything!”
It never happens. I’m still $6k in debt, am -$230 overdraft and am now doing the one thing I really said would never do: ask my dad for help. I can’t concentrate on work because I’m so overwhelmed. I just got paid, still two weeks left and I have absolutely no money anywhere. And since I haven’t even paid my mom back the first time I am worried about asking again.
My dad doesn’t really reach out, but he texted me the other day. So instead of responding I just sent him a screenshot of my overdraft and told him I had to pay my apartment security deposit (which is true, technically) but it is really the stupid $600 bet that put me overdraft. I basically paid X amount on my credit card, didn’t see it post, told myself “maybe I forgot to do it” and said I had enough for the bets, lost three idiotic bets and then both the misses and the CC payment posted.
I feel like the “bending” of the truth will l start piling up and that things will stop checking out. He’s probably wondering how I’m overdraft and can connect two and two together (he’s seen my screenshots of bets when I was up, and asked me when I get paid and I’m too scared to say I got paid TWO DAYS AGO and am out -$2000) so I’m even more embarrassed and feel like I’m disappointing everyone.
I already owe my mom, and they aren’t even that rich at all so I feel horrible taking their money trying to pay myself back and then ending up back here again. But I am equally worried of them going nuclear and me being trapped back home/having to give up control of my bank account bc of it.
I feel stuck at my job because I need it to pay off my debt and save money/pay bills. I hate it so much, but need to stay here because of how bad the market is and I think dealing with the stress enables my behavior. I feel worse because I should have $20k saved up by now but instead I’m now total down -$26k. (The 20 I would’ve had saved plus my credit card).
So it’s just my lack of control and unnecessary purchase staring me in the face. Every day. While it takes me weeks to make even a dent in my debt. I literally have nothing in my fridge right now. I don’t know what I’m going to eat next week. And throughout all this my ex and I still talk, she still buys me lunch, she is a saint but our dynamic would not work
I’m meeting with my therapist today, and I contemplate either getting a new one specializing in addiction or stopping constantly one because of the cost but two because I’ll talk about it but I feel like I’m not even changing or doing the work…
I feel alone trying to get out of this hole and like this debt will follow me forever. I also wonder if I feel like I’m addicted to the wallowing too? Like now I have a reason to stay depressed.
How do I get better? Is there even any hope for me? I feel like I’m messing my life up and constantly at the mercy of something else and not myself… people around me have cars and solo apartments and I’m living check to check in debt with no purpose. How do I deal with stress?
submitted by throwawaybadatrlshp to problemgambling [link] [comments]


2024.06.07 20:42 aco319sig Temporary player character ideas (cleric)

So, my son DM's a 5e game, and occasionally invites me to play along as a temporary add-on character, essentially an NPC for specific missions. Last time it was as "Ahmed the Inconsistent", a merchant caravan master with a penchant for crisis-dependent price hikes. My ability to role-play the character, even if I'm not completely conversant with all the role changes since 3.5, means I add a bit of comedic content to what most of these kids is almost just a dice game.
This time, he needs a cleric, but with some very specific parameters. I'm trying to come up with a spell list.
Here's the backstory. This poor guy is in a bit of a jam. His mother was dying, and so he begged the gods to save her. The only one who answered was the goddess of cute and fuzzy animals (name to be determined). She agreed to heal his mom, if he became her cleric on the mortal plane. He agreed, but in some ways began to regret it.
For one, this guy was a bit of a con artist prior to his accepting the deal. Sadly, he wasn't quite on the top of his game when he was negotiating, nor did he have time to research the details of this particular goddess's paradigm. At first, he was ecstatic to learn of the powers he gained from being her only high cleric, capable of mental manipulation at near god-like levels. However, there were a couple inescapable caveats that spoiled his plans for self-enrichment.
A: He cannot cause direct physical harm to any living creature. This is a hard and fast rule. The goddess is the deity of cute and fuzzy things, and thinks everything is cute and fuzzy, even dragons. And can't stand the thought of harming anything directly. That being said, if his enemy is turned invisible and a horse drawn wagon fails to see him before running him over, that's just life, you know? It's a loophole the cleric figured out. Goddess is not pleased with it, but can't seem to find anything in her own rules to punish him for it, so usually will let it slide as long as it doesn't cause death.
B: He is not allowed to use his powers for self-benefit. He can't use his mind powers to convince people to give him money. He also can't use it for "self" defense, as that would "benefit him". He can use it to defend others, though, he just has to come up with some way to benefit himself indirectly.
C. He doesn't have great charisma. He never really had it before, and the goddess could see his greedy nature, which is why she placed the restrictions she did on her granted powers. This doesn't affect his ability to use those powers, as they are powers granted directly through prayer. If she catches him thinking about how it will benefit himself, she simply doesn't allow the spell to activate. But it means he has a hard time getting people to cooperate in his schemes.
So, as far as spell lists goes, I am thinking about the following:
  1. Spell of Clarity - Anti-alcohol/anti-hangover spell, clears toxins from the body.
  2. Spell of Inebriation - Opposite of Clarity
  3. Afflict Formication - ("FORM"-ication, not that other word. get your head out of the gutter.) Causes target to feel like they have ants crawling over their body. This often results in frantic clothing removal, unless there is a significant will save.
  4. Misdirection - Temporarily launches charisma through the roof. People automatically believe what he says. "The thief went that way, sir knight!" or "No, this guy's been right here with me the whole time". But again, the goddess will punish with karmic retaliation if he tries to use it for his own benefit, even at one remove.
Any other ideas you guys have?
submitted by aco319sig to DnD [link] [comments]


2024.06.07 20:38 Maleficent-Storage44 Ahh, that one sided thing 🤦

07/08/2023
Note: I would do everything I can to never send you this writing, I promise myself.
Falling in love or something like that was what I always thought would happen to me when I expect the least and life didn't disappointed me, I did infact fell for you in the most unexpected and unknow way possible. Till the last msg we had I thought that we had some chance because I do believe in not concluding things for good but I guess life doesn't always works the way we want. As falling for you was unexpected and didn't made sense same did confessing you.
If I had ever confessed to you these would be the words I'll use. - Without even knowing who you are?, What your personality is? And How exactly your face looks my mind just fell for you to be exact with my words "my wickets were out ;p" I didn't knew what my mind was getting into this head high pride girl who was on top of everything she did was the person I saw when I first saw you but I don't know how instantly I also saw this kid who just loves to crack dumb jokes and play pranks. Their was this innocent and kind hearted girl who without even thinking about a second, tries to do the best for others sometimes even knowing that it would cost her and let me tell you this was all my first impressions:)
I think that all combined with your undeniable beauty which I can't even describe (this is kinda cringe for me hahahaha but it is what it is and needs to be said) just took me out. It was all like maybe the Eureka moment you said and I swear I was in denial a complete denial to acknowledge these feelings ;) but as I told you my wickets were out I guess and I fell in love with you. So I love you I guess <3 ;p.
Now the part about us being together :
I fell in love with you when you didn't have any idea about it and I tried my best to keep it inside but was eventually defeated to the time and had to tell you. Knowing that letting you know at that time is very wrong according to timing because I wouldn't get the chance to show you how much I loved you and what am ready to share with you, it was like I axked my own foot but I had to do it because the situation was not right and telling you was the right thing I guess. Soon after you got busy which I knew would happen and I got left with this unsettling feelings of what I had done because up until that point in my life when decisions were involved regarding my life I always took calculated descisions even with playing a backup scenario of what I would do when things go south but the descision of telling you was a wild card and for the very first time I let me feelings control the descision and that was very reason I was left with such unsettling feelings because I didn't thought about it that good, whether I should wait or move on talk with you. So there's that and how our that conversation ended where I tried to talk things out as a friend and it was said the way I had planned in my head but it all went wrong. I realised that we have different values or way of thinking which I was trying to figure out and I finally mostly found the answer.
Even though we had that good friendship and relation developing I guess we had to somehow bring a stoppage to it. So maybe this is a goodbye from me for my feelings for you. I've decided to let the time take things in hand and hang over my hopes of us working out. You are and will always be my first love, this was the first time I had felt such feelings where I didn't need to worry or think how the person is and without any thoughts trust the person and so maybe that's why I was so easy going on your stuff. Sorry I may have sometimes given you the answer you wanted to hear just because I was listening to you and not thinking about anything else. So, I'll choose to end this one with the same line and different end - I love you and I wished it would have worked out the very first time. ;)
The last one : The way falling in love with you changed me :)
I was this person who cared a lot about people but was always rational at the end and used to give what you call the rude answers but for you I unknowingly was the lesser version of that (Sorry!, Again if I ever was rude to you). I learnt what love was and what it can make you feel. From thinking all day and everyday unknowingly about you to blushing whenever I saw you (cringe.......) I changed from being this guy who just thought about what I could achieve to a the guy who not just saw future but living in the moments because moments where the only thing I had with you. Texting was never my cup of tea (maybe the reason I mistype that much) but you made me texting person :p. From completing refusing to listen to hindi romantic songs to somehow relating myself to chand baliya (hahahah) i was changed.
From never thinking about such thoughts of having someone for me to the thoughs of having someone as my bestfriend to share things with, I changed. The though of me having soft spot for someone other than my family of four never even came to me but I unknowingly had this soft spot for you, I used to find creative ways to defend you when people used to back bitch about you (ps. Creative ways because I didn't wanted it to seems like i was defending you :p)
I never thought a single text from someone could change my whole mood or vibe but guess what?, Yup my wickets were out xD. A single text from you lit me up like a led bulb.
So I guess I've to end this even though I don't want to and keep writing but it's not the way it works. The ending for this one would be - Even thought I fell for you first I always approached you as a friend and kept out relation as such because in the end I knew you needed a friend first rather than someone who would be called as your someone special. I tried my best and if I had the chance I would I kept the friendship route forever but I guess am somewhat of a human too and considering how things were going it was best to tell you. So, yes I love you A..a! (2 dots are 2 letters of her name) and always would treasure this experience you gave me (hahah, even though you didn't knew)
-11:56pm
P.S Note: I wrote this nearly 10months ago just putting it out here because I think it ending now for good and yea even though I promised myself I think I broke it here.
submitted by Maleficent-Storage44 to loveconfession [link] [comments]


2024.06.07 20:30 GrimaIsBestWaifu The Story of Book IV, According to FEH's Second Illustrations Book (JP Translated)

Hello everyone, GrimaIsBestWaifu here. As you might know, I am a massive fan of Book IV and its characters. Today marks around four years since I officially came around to Book IV after initially being a hater. Needless to say, as a Book IV nerd and enthusiast, I secured a copy of FEH's second art book at the first opportunity in order to further immerse myself in my passion. While it's an illustrations book first and foremost, I found the most value in the sections that went into detail about the lore, story, and characters of Books IV and V (but mostly IV, heh).
As of today, there is no official English version of this book, so non-Japanese readers are limited in how much information they can glean from it. This is a tragedy I can't abide, being heavily invested in FEH's story and wanting others to be able to appreciate it too, despite its flaws. There is also a decent chance that some information contained in this book will be changed or omitted in the official English version, so in that event I hope this might serve as an attestation to the "original" version. In this post, I intend to go over the section that describes the events that take place in Book IV's story. To see my translation of the section of the art book that expounds on Book IV's lore and characters, go here.
Disclaimer: I am not a native Japanese speaker, nor am I fluent in the language. English and Japanese are very different languages, so I will do my best to make things flow nicely in English while retaining as much of the original meaning as possible. Italicized text indicates my own speech, words that do not come from the book. The book's story recap is also told in past tense, but I use present tense in my translation here because I think it flows better and is easier to understand.
Chapter 1: The Dream One day, Alfonse and the others are summoned by Queen Henriette. According to her, an inexplicable incident has occurred in one of Askr's border villages in the wheat country where all its residents have fallen asleep. All efforts have been exhausted in attempting to save the sleeping villagers, who appear to be having nightmares, but none awaken. Henriette tasks them with investigating the sleep sickness there. The Order of Heroes complies, and after entrusting them with the Redolent Censer, she sends them off to the village with a smile. On the way to the village, Loki appears before the party and speaks in a way suggesting she may know something about the sleep sickness. It's possible she is planning something yet again...Alfonse and the others cautiously forge ahead.
As the Redolent Censer continuously burns with poison-nullifying incense, they arrive near the village. Sharena feels at ease and expresses gratitude towards her mother, who gave them the treasure in order to protect them. But in that moment of relaxation, she lets out a big yawn. Anna scolds her before stifling a yawn herself. Upon noticing this, Alfonse and Kiran are also beset by a fierce drowsiness, rendering them incapable of standing. By the time they realize the censer is ineffectual, it's already too late, and they are unable to resist closing their eyes...
Alfonse is with Henriette, along with Zacharias and Veronica. He is confused due to only having vague memories about why they are on a mission together. Suddenly, Zacharias attacks Henriette and corners Alfonse alongside Veronica.
Then, a girl abruptly appears and envelops the surrounding area in a dazzling light by reciting an incantation and prayer, causing Zacharias and Veronica to disappear. As Alfonse is yet again confused by the situation, the girl smiles brightly and says, "I'm Peony! I'm a ljósálfr—or light elf, you might say. I'm from the land of dreams, Ljósálfheimr." (This quote is transcribed from the official ENG script and is not a direct translation of the book's text, which uses the JP quote)
Chapter 2: Missing You (JP: One Person, Missing) The dream realm, álfar... Peony puffs out her cheeks when Alfonse cannot believe his ears. They regroup with Sharena and Anna, but Kiran is nowhere to be found. Even after following Peony's advice and trying to bend the dream world to their wishes, Kiran remains missing. Peony guides the party in their search for Kiran, claiming that the Dream-King Freyr could help.
While on the move, they fight off soldiers of nightmares, who are born from the fears of mortals and take on the forms of Heroes. Sharena also speaks with Peony about possibly having met before somewhere in the distant past. Peony responds that it might have been in a dream, and the two smile at one another, since they are quite similar and it appears they will get along well.
There a girl appears with black wings fluttering. She turns out to be Triandra, the Nightmare. As a dökkálfr from the realm of dark dreams, she is giving mortals nightmares under her liege's orders. Alfonse and the others confront Triandra when she tries to erase (In JP, the word for "erase"/"extinguish" is frequently used in place of "kill" when pertaining to the álfar) Peony. Triandra withdraws after being put at a disadvantage, stating that she won't give up.
Peony leads the group to a location with a large bed(s). Sleeping in a dream is the way to gain an audience with the Dream-King, so Sharena and Anna fall asleep. Before following their lead, Alfonse notices that he can't remember his childhood very well. Though that disquiets him, he nevertheless trusts Peony and closes his eyes. Peony is overjoyed at their faith in her as she watches them.
(In the ENG version, Sharena mentions that there are "many" beds, but the JP version doesn't make any indication of their number. Due to the fact that this art book previously mentions THREE adults being able to fit on one, it's possible that Alfonse, Sharena, and Anna all slept on it at the same time and that there is only one. However, the possibility that there are multiple of them remains open)
Chapter 3: Gullinkambi (JP: Horn of Gullinkambi) Alfonse and the others arrive in the realm of fantasy, the dream within the dream, by Peony's invitation. There stands Dream-King Freyr, who gives Alfonse the horn Gullinkambi. By remembering one's self from before falling asleep, wishing to return to the waking world, and blowing the horn, Alfonse and his party, along with the wheat country village's residents, can awaken. However, Freyr continues, stating that they must first drive back the two dökkálfar who have invaded Ljósálfheimr and are showing mortals nightmares. While offering his thanks, Alfonse asks about Kiran's whereabouts. However, even though he should know everything about the dream world, Freyr does not know where Kiran is, them being one who exists outside of the world's reason. He advises them that should they blow the horn, Kiran will also awaken. Thus, the party wakes up from the dream within the dream in order to begin their march and fight the dökkálfar.
The group traverses the dream realm following Peony's lead. Suddenly, Kiran appears before them. Though Alfonse and the others are relieved to see them, they halt in their tracks upon spotting who was next to them. "I am Plumeria, the dökkálfr of lewd dreams." (Again from ENG script)
Plumeria attacks the group along with nightmare soldiers that take the forms of Heroes from "Genealogy of the Holy War". Alfonse and the others fight them off, but Kiran also withdraws as if accompanying Plumeria. Peony states that this is because Kiran has been trapped by the dökkálfar's nightmares. Alfonse clenches his fist tightly, swearing to get Kiran back.
Chapter 4: On Dark Wings (JP: The Fluttering of Black Wings) The two dökkálfar show nightmares to mortals in Ljósálfheimr under their liege Freyja's orders. While Plumeria makes her disdain towards humans known, Triandra shows signs of concern towards Peony, who is her opposite in role.
The party continues traveling across Ljósálfheimr by following Peony's slightly dubious directions in pursuit of the dökkálfar. Anna and Alfonse can't wrap their heads around the actions they take in the dream world that would be illogical in reality. Suddenly, Sharena's gaze falls on a certain field of flowers. She says she remembers playing with girls her age in a flower field in a dream. She also remembers there being a girl similar to Peony, but Peony herself doesn't seem to recall this.
The party arrives at the Dream Gate, where the dökkálfar along with soldiers of nightmares lie in wait. They take up their weapons and repel the dökkálfar, after which Peony prompts Alfonse to blow the horn. Then, a crestfallen Peony bids them farewell, stating that they will forget about álfar like her, but that she will always watch over them, and she gives them a smile. Alfonse and the others close their eyes, trusting that they will meet again in a dream someday.
As the sound of the horn reaches Freyr's ears, his sister Freyja appears before him. Her true objective is to take her brother to Dökkálfheimr, over which she rules, while he is defenseless after handing off the horn. Were the Dream-King to leave Ljósálfheimr, order would be disrupted and nightmares would begin to flow into the mortal world and become reality. Freyja burns with jealousy upon witnessing her brother worry over the humans. Thinking to recompense them for stealing her brother's heart, her smile widens.
Chapter 5: Twisted Reality (JP: Distorting World) Alfonse wakes up to the smell of incense. Apparently, contrary to how much time they'd perceived, only a moment has passed in reality. While the other members of the Order confirm that everyone is fine, Alfonse notices that Kiran is missing. But strangely, Sharena and Anna cock their heads when he says Kiran's name. "The summoner of legend was called Kiran, right?" (ENG)
Alfonse is shocked when it doesn't appear to be in jest, based on Anna's tone of voice. Just then, an earth-splitting laugh rings out. The party prepares for combat, only to find that there stood Surtr, the king of Múspell who should've in the past been defeated. Though shocked, Alfonse faces off against Surtr, who ends up vanishing like the Zacharias and Veronica from in the dream. As the villagers awaken, unidentified troops are reported to have appeared in various places. Alfonse heightens his vigilance, suspecting that nightmares are manifesting in reality, as the group moves to eliminate those forces.
Though Sharena really can't remember Kiran, her gaze wavers from a profound sadness welling up inside. Alfonse cheers up his sister by swearing to do something about the situation. If nightmares can be defeated in the dream, they can be defeated in reality... Under this presumption, the Order marches on and discovers Peony being attacked. After rescuing her, she successfully uses her power to make Sharena and the others recall their lost memories. Then, Peony informs them that nightmares have been able to flood into the real world because Freyr has been taken to Dökkálfheimr, the nightmare realm.
Chapter 6: Dreaming Reality (JP: Dreams in Reality, Reality in Dreams) According to Peony, Freyr's sister Freyja is in Dökkálfheimr, and because they are in the same place simultaneously, the "Waking Dream" is allowing nightmares to spill into reality. In order to put a stop to the Waking Dream, the group searches for a ljósálfr who lives in a misty forest...Mirabilis, the Daydream. On their way to the forest, they encounter the real Veronica. After finding out about the situation and what the Order's objective is, Veronica states that she will come along. She says this is because she heard that her brother, Bruno (Zacharias), and Xander have returned from their travels and are now in the misty forest.
After the party arrives at the forest, they split up in search for Zacharias, Xander, and Mirabilis. Parting ways with Sharena and the others, Alfonse and Veronica venture deep into the forest and find the former two. Veronica smiles upon being reunited with her brother after such a long time apart, but her shoulders slump when she hears that he and Xander must soon leave again. She faintly smiles again when Zacharias invites her to join them, stating that he doesn't want to make her feel lonely anymore. Seeing this, Alfonse asks Zacharias if they could work together to fend off the nightmares. Apprehensively, he agrees, to which Alfonse continues. "...Thank you. As I thought, you aren't really Zacharias. [...] You said something you shouldn't already know." (This quote is a translation of the JP, since I feel the ENG line doesn't fit as nicely in this context)
At this, Zacharias and Xander's attitudes change. After repelling their assault, Veronica declares her cooperation with the Order. She then urges Alfonse to tell her about his memories of being with Zacharias. However, he realizes that he cannot remember anything from long ago for some reason.
Chapter 7: Steeped in Twilight The Order of Heroes realizes the severity of the situation that has befallen them after hearing that nightmares have reportedly been appearing unceasingly across Askr. They head deeper into the forest in search of Mirabilis so they can go to Dökkálfheimr, save Freyr, and eliminate his captors. After the scenery becomes blurry for a moment, Peony searches the surrounding area and happens upon Mirabilis. She rubs her eyes, appearing to be sound asleep. Peony pleads with her, wanting to get to Dökkálfheimr by way of Mirabilis' daydream powers. Just then, Triandra appears, the dökkálfar having also invaded the real world. She creates a nightmare embodiment of Hel, ruler of death. After defeating it, with Mirabilis in tow, the group departs in the direction of the point of twilight, which is close to Dökkálfheimr. Along the way, Sharena is bothered by a feeling that she has also met Mirabilis in a dream in the past. She believes that she, Peony, Mirabilis, and two other girls did something important together.
Eventually, they arrive at the point of twilight. It seems that here, they can cross into the nightmare realm by being given a "particularly scary daydream" by Mirabilis when day gives way to night. However, Triandra attacks them once more. Soldiers of nightmares come at them without end as they are surrounded by the sea with nowhere to run. Veronica calms the others down as they panic, stating that she will handle their pursuers on her own while they go on ahead. The last time they were in the dream world, only a moment passed in reality. Because of this, Alfonse and the others believe they will make it in time, so they close their eyes and make their way to the nightmare realm.
Chapter 8: Wallowing in Love (JP: Drowning in a Dream of Love) The group ventures into Dökkálfheimr. They are quickly met with Plumeria, who mystifies them with a bewitching sweet scent, but they somehow manage to fend off her attack. While in pursuit of a retreating Plumeria, Alfonse hears the voice of a sad young girl. However, he doesn't know whose voice it is, and the group marches on.
After catching the gentle scent of flowers whose fragrance is different from that of Plumeria's nectar smell, Sharena mentions that she remembers it. She claims it's the smell of the flower field in which she played with the other girls in her dreams. She then recalls swapping hairstyles and clothes with one of the girls who greatly resembled her, and even going to each other's homes. Anna is startled, thinking this sounds like a "changeling". As Anna explains how changelings are álfar who switch places with human children, Sharena listens with an absentminded countenance.
Plumeria again stands in the party's way, accompanied by nightmare soldiers modelled after Heroes from the "Awakening Outrealms", as they hurry to Freyr's side. However, the Order emerges victorious once again and goes on ahead. While wounded in her defeat, Plumeria hears the voice of a young girl crying for her mother, which she remembers. There, Freyja appears and grants her strength, healing her. After rising to her feet, Plumeria asks if she was a mortal before Freyja gave her life as an álfr. Freyja's expression clouds over, and she tells Plumeria that her father didn't love her or her mother, so he abandoned them. And because her daughter interfered with her desire to be with another man she loved, Plumeria's mother threw her into the bottom of a well and left her there.
By Freyja's words, Plumeria was a child nobody loved. But now, after drinking the nectar and becoming an álfr, she should just forget about that past. Her voice filled with compassion as she speaks, Freyja gives Plumeria a smile.
Chapter 9: Violent Fantasies (JP: Dream of Killing Someone) (Curiously, the recap begins with the events of Chapter 9 - 3, skipping over the first confrontation with Triandra in this chapter)
The queen of nightmares, Freyja, has abducted her beloved brother Freyr to her realm. With an ecstatic expression, Freyja declares that they shall fill the mortal world with their dreams. Freyr is dismayed, lamenting that Freyja originally didn't wish for the destruction of humans and that the two of them have already succumbed to ruin. He regrets turning human girls into álfar in order to drive back the disaster that befell the dream world in the past, when mortals gave up their dreams. Burning with jealousy over his constant concern for mortals, Freyja clenches a certain necklace.
Alfonse and the others rush to rescue Freyr, defeating Triandra, who stands in their way. As she stands up, saying that she can't yet afford to disappear (In a similar vein to what was mentioned above, the word for "disappear" is often used instead of "die" when pertaining to the álfar in JP), memories of her mortal past also pile up in her mind. Freyja appears before her, telling her that she and her younger sister were viciously abused by their non-blood related father. To protect her sister, who was in danger of losing her life, Triandra killed their father. Freyja assures her that she is not to fret over this, since she only did what she could. To this, Triandra quietly responds that she is alright.
Alfonse and the others finally reach Freyr. However, he has come under the curse of the necklace Brísingamen, and all of his dream powers have become Freyja's. With both of their powers in her grasp, Freyja has become the ruler over all dreams and is now able to freely control the dream world and bend reality itself to her whim. None are able to oppose her... Helpless against the unrelenting onslaught of Freyja's replicas and nightmare soldiers from all directions, the group falls back. However, the path leading back to Veronica has entirely vanished. "There is no way for you to survive. Taste despair in your attempts to escape." The nightmare queen sneers at them, exceedingly beautiful, (This line was very awkward to translate, I am sorry)
(To my knowledge, the quote used above doesn't actually appear anywhere in the Japanese script. It seems to just be a concise rephrasing of Freyja's dialogue at the end of the chapter)
Chapter 10: Lack (JP: Loss) The Order takes Freyr with them as they continue to flee. According to him, so long as Freyja is the ruler over all dreams, they can neither escape nor subjugate her. Even so, not wanting to give up, the group thinks of a plan. Just then, Freyr begins to tell of his and Freyja's past piece by piece. As a child, Freyja was always crying from being mocked by everyone over having a mark on her face. Freyr would steadfastly comfort his sister, who came to only smile for him. Then, she stated that she wanted to join herself to someone compassionate like Freyr when she grew older. She eventually matured to become beautiful, but didn't accept anyone's affections.
Sharena reassures Freyr along the way, to which Freyr confesses that the dream world once teetered at the brink of ruin. The only ones who could prevent the destruction of the dream world and save the hearts of mortals were children from the real world. But children who partake of dream nectar can no longer return to their world... Because of this, Freyr thought that perhaps if the children were in unfortunate circumstances, they would be happy to become special versions of themselves. He sacrificed innocent children in order to save the world even knowing it was sinful. After this, Freyr falls silent.
Their withdrawal fruitless, Freyja once again corners the Order of Heroes. Though she mocks them over their futile efforts, Freyr states that there is one way for them to escape.
"Freyja's power is the sum of our combined strengths... Therefore, one of us must be shed..." (ENG)
Freyr petitions the Order and offers himself up to them. Discerning his meaning, as Freyr can no longer manage to end his own life due to Freyja's control, Alfonse and the others cut him down.
Freyja cries out as she asks Freyr if mortals really are so precious to him that he would throw his life away for their sake. However, Freyr responds that nothing is more important to him than she is. It is because he loves her that he doesn't want to see her destroy the mortals, which is why he should disappear. Leaving her with those words, Freyr bids his sister farewell.
Freyja wails in sorrow and despair at the loss of her most beloved brother, after which she vanishes to some other location, bringing the dökkálfar with her. Due to Freyr's demise, dreams stop distorting reality. Now, they must wake up and return to their world. To grant Freyr's final wish, and to reunite with the missing Kiran...Alfonse and the others press onward.
Chapter 11: Plumeria's Dream (JP: Plumeria the Lewd Dream) The Order wakes up the the sound of Veronica's voice calling out to them. Just when they begin to relax, thinking everything is back to normal, Freyja appears before them. Chaos unfolds as everyone wonders how that can be, when nightmares shouldn't be able to encroach on reality anymore... The group is once again forced to engage in combat as they retreat. Freyja then tells them about the álfar's past as if to mock them. The álfar were originally human children who played together, who were called to the dream world in order to save it. She also describes how Mirabilis was a child who was abandoned by her mother after she was born. Finally, she tells of how among those children, the only one who didn't become an álfr was Sharena. Enveloped in Freyja's light, Sharena suddenly clutches her head in pain and faints.
After regaining consciousness at a boulder to which the group retreated, Sharena tells Alfonse that she now vividly recalls what happened in the world of dreams. "We wanted to save the world... Only...I stayed behind..." (ENG, but for curiosity's sake, the JP line goes "Only I wasn't able to become a hero...even though we said we'd save the world together...", which I think hits harder)
Sharena profusely apologizes with tears spilling from her eyes, saying that she might not really be Alfonse's sister. That she would play changelings with a girl who looked just like her, and that they would genuinely trade places upon waking. That she has memories of the small, run-down house in which the girl she'd exchange places with lived. That she might just be an ordinary child who swapped places with Princess Sharena in the dream world. And that as a consequence, the real Princess Sharena wasn't able to return home... Sharena appears discomposed as she suddenly recalls so many memories. Alfonse soothes her, saying that her memories of that house must have come from when she'd wake up as the other child.
Desiring to have them suffer like her after losing her brother, Freyja sends Plumeria after the group so the álfar will be made to kill each other. Plumeria follows her commands without saying a word and stands in the way of Alfonse and the others. She attacks them while looking like she is in tears...saying that she doesn't need reality, and that she wants to be in a dream forever. The party cannot hope to survive without fighting back so long as she continues to target them. Thus Alfonse and the others deal the final blow against Plumeria through their heartbreak. She grasps at the air and cries out for her mother over and over again like a small child as her body disintegrates. (I already felt really bad playing this story chapter in-game, but having this description makes it even worse...ow, my heart)
Even with Plumeria's defeat, the nightmares' assault does not relent. How can this be, when the Waking Dream shouldn't be able to occur with King Freyr dead? After assessing and reflecting on the situation one more time, Alfonse finally formulates an answer. "This has all been a dream... From the very beginning... Everything. All of it." (ENG)
They have been in a dream since the time they heard about the sleep sickness from Queen Henriette. If this is a dream, they should be able to return to reality this time if they blow the horn Gullinkambi in front of the Dream Gate. Alfonse marches on determinedly.
The Order takes a rest on the way to the Dream Gate. At their base, Anna reports to Alfonse about Sharena's condition after having stayed with her for a while. Afterwards, she begins to make small talk about a dream she had a little while ago about being a squirrel. She comments on how strange it is that she was convinced she was a squirrel in the dream, even though she isn't one... At this, Alfonse feels as though he is catching onto something.
Chapter 12: Triandra's Dream (JP: Triandra the Nightmare) Alfonse witnesses a daydream during the group's respite. A dream of the World of Steel, with towers stretching up high enough to pierce the skies. Peony calls it a grey world where people have forgotten how to dream. To make the álfar kill each other, Freyja sends out Triandra again. However, Freyja ponders why Plumeria and Triandra obey her orders without regard for how they are effectively being used and discarded. She asks Triandra why they would go so far as to throw their lives away in service to her. Triandra responds that she and Plumeria adore her, and that perhaps it is because mortals want to help those they care about even if they get nothing in return. Freyja shakes her head at this, being a god who doesn't understand this sentiment. She watches with a conflicted look in her eyes as Triandra departs.
Alfonse and the others fend off the advancing nightmares on their way to the Dream Gate. They are met with Triandra standing in their path, and upon seeing her, Peony's expression changes. Triandra speaks of how she could not forgive herself for being powerless to protect her younger sister as a mortal. Her dream was to obtain the power she desired in order to strike down those who would do evil. After she loses against the Order and collapses to the ground, having lost her power, she gazes at Peony and apologizes to her.
"Forgive me... I wanted to keep you safe just...a while longer..." (ENG) "...S-sister..." (ENG)
As Peony's words sorrowfully fall from her lips, Triandra's body disintegrates.
Led by Mirabilis, the group arrives before the Dream Gate at last. Following Freyr's instructions to "[p]icture the world outside the dream, and wish to return," (ENG) Alfonse sounds the horn, but for some reason, nothing happens. Alfonse goes over his thoughts once more, trying to figure out if there is something wrong with his thought process. Then, he remembers what Anna said a little while earlier. "If what I suspect is true...then the life I remember before the dream...is not my life at all..." (ENG)
Just then, Kiran appears before the Order. Alfonse is elated upon their reunion, but Kiran appears to be under the control of nightmares. With the help of Veronica and the others, he manages to render Kiran unconscious without killing them. By Peony's suggestion, they remove the hood that conceals their face. Under the hood of the collapsed Kiran...was unmistakably Alfonse's face.
Alfonse's suspicion is then confirmed. The reason why he couldn't recall his memories with Zacharias, and why he dreamed about the World of Steel, is because his past with Zacharias doesn't exist and the World of Steel is where he truly hails from.
"I am not Alfonse. [...] My name...is Kiran!" (ENG)
When they remember their true self, Freyja appears and tells them that they are having this dream because they wished for it. That Alfaðör, creator of all things, decided that Alfonse should no longer exist after he defeated Hel, sovereign of death. The Creator's will always comes to pass, and thus the real Alfonse is dead, so Freyja says.
Chapter 13: Reality Freyja continues, saying that Kiran gave form to this world and took on Alfonse's role out of grief over his loss. She claims that because Kiran is one who exists outside of the world's reason, if they combine efforts with Freyja, they could make the dream persist forever and have all their wishes come true. However, she declares that should Kiran choose reality, they will wake up in a world without Alfonse, and that she will use her power to take the lives of all of the álfar. With that, she disappears.
Peony states that because Freyja's nightmare powers still cover the area, they will be unable to use the horn. Even the álfar do not know if Freyja's pronouncement of Alfonse's death is the truth or a lie. A painful reality may await them... Holding onto that sense of unease, Kiran and the others head in Freyja's direction.
"Peony... My best friend, who I played with in the flower garden... That was you, wasn't it?" (ENG)
Sharena speaks with Peony, positing that Peony had switched places with her and drank her share of nectar because she knew there would be no going back to being human. Even so, Peony smiles, saying that making people happy was her own happiness. That neither of them know who was who originally, and that they are both each other, like two halves of a whole. If they defeat Freyja and return to reality, Peony and the other álfar will in turn be erased and the Order will forget about the dream. Sharena sobs over not wanting to lose a friend again. At this, Peony gives her a ring made of flowers. (It's a "chain" in ENG, but in JP it's described as a "指輪", as in a ring you put on your finger)
"[Even] if we do forget, that does not undo everything that's happened. [...] But if...if there's some way you can remember me, then maybe we can meet again someday, somehow..." (ENG)
Sharena and Peony join hands and nestle up close to one another as if in prayer.
On the other hand, Freyja's heart is swayed by emotions she cannot comprehend. Unconsciously, she begins to speak to Triandra and Plumeria, but both of them have disappeared in carrying out her orders. Though she insists that only her brother matters to her, as though trying to convince herself of it, her expression gradually clouds over. Kiran and the others eventually reach Freyja, and after defeating nightmare soldiers that appear one after another, Freyja herself finally falls as well. She disappears, leaving them with the proclamation that she will use all of her remaining power to erase everything about the álfar from existence.
The end of the dream draws near. The sound of the horn reverberates through the dream world. As she expresses her gratitude, Peony's form grows faint.
Kiran awakens to a voice calling their name, which turns out to be Alfonse's. He tells them that they, along with everyone else, had fallen asleep for three days and nights. Sharena seems to not remember anything and smiles as though nothing had happened. However, during their mission, Sharena discovers that she is wearing a flower ring on her hand. She is perplexed by this and clutches her chest, suddenly feeling like her heart is being torn apart. Then, someone claiming to be Sharena's childhood friend comes for a visit. Upon laying eyes on the person in question, her eyes tear up.
"Good morning, everyone! I'm Peony! I'm a ljósálfr—or light elf, you might say. I'm from the land of dreams, Ljósálfheimr." (ENG)
In Dökkálfheimr, Triandra and Plumeria, who should have disappeared, open their eyes. Before them stands Freyja, who tells them that they have no need to obey her any longer. Freyja's life fades away, having lost most of her power in reviving Triandra and Plumeria instead of erasing the álfar. She herself doesn't know why she did so even though she doesn't love anyone except her brother. In spite of this, she gave up her life for the sake of others, just like her brother had laid down his life for the mortals he so loved. Triandra and Plumeria vow to find a way to revive Freyja. The children weep as they grasp Freyja's hands, to which Freyja says that she truly cannot understand. Even so, she responds that she is happy and smiles gently.
And thus concludes the story of Book IV, neatly summarized as presented in the art book. I apologize for any inaccuracies in my translations and any confusion they might cause. This was an intensive passion project born from my love for Book IV, and I hope those who took the time to read this very long post found some enjoyment out of it. I would love to hear your thoughts, so please do share them if you so wish! I very much enjoy discussion about everything Book IV. Also let me know if there is any other material you'd like for me to translate, and I might make an attempt in the future. Thank you for reading!
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2024.06.07 20:29 Wide_Entrepreneur928 Health & Happiness - My Journey With A Glioblastoma Diagnosis

Hi Everyone, later this month I will be 7 years out of my Glioblastoma diagnosis. I was 30 years old when I was diagnosed and am 37 years old now. Over the last 6+ years, I have been put in contact with many people battling the same diagnosis and decided to create a Word document titled "Health & Happiness", which details all of the things I have incorporated into my healing journey. Everyone is different and I am simply sharing what has worked for me. Neither me or my wife are in the medical field however we have spent a lot of time researching things to integrate into my day-to-day life which we believe are keeping me healthy. For the first 5 years of my journey I received MRI's every 8 weeks; now that I am more than 5 years out I get MRI's every 12 weeks. Below is a copy and paste of the document:
*Below there are some discount codes that I have not affiliation with and found them through IG or marketing emails and they might be outdated*
My Neurosurgeon:
Dr. Mitchel Berger - UCSF
My Neuro Oncologist:
Dr. Timothy Cloughesy - UCLA
My Naturopathic Doctor:
· Christian Gonzalez, ND
o Check out his podcast, “Heal Thy Self” – This podcast has been life-changing for my wife and I. It has provided us with assurance about the path that we have been on to keep me healthy and has opened our eyes to so many things that we thought were “good” and “healthy” when in fact we were grossly misled to a technique called “Green Washing” that a lot of companies and products use in their marketing efforts.
· Below are two links where you can find a ND in your area.
o Naturopath Oncologist Database - https://oncanp.org/directory/
o General Naturopath Doctor Database - https://www.naturopathic.org/AF_MemberDirectory.asp?version=2
CBD/THC Extracts - Cancer Protocols:
· I went through CT's full 90 day protocol back in 2017 in conjunction with radiation and chemo (Temodar). I am on CT's "maintenance" program and have been since I finished the 90 day protocol.
o https://www.constancetherapeutics.com/
o https://www.forbes.com/sites/abbierosne2019/01/24/constance-finleys-midlife-detour-to-cannabis-extraction-connoisseu#456c41bc35c6
§ The article above is from Forbes magazine on Constance and how she got started.
Books and Documentaries:
· Radical Remission. This book was the first book I read when I was diagnosed and gave me knowledge and motivation to not look at my diagnosis as a death sentence. One of the most powerful cancer books I have read and I highly recommend it for anyone that has cancer or knows someone that has cancer. 😊
· What the Health: Netflix
· Heal: Netflix
o Here are a couple ‘extras’ from “Heal” that we found very powerful and inspiring.
§ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sxmK8A-Kco&list=PLmcZvnvGDkToo9nYIX3ugcgyLCll0NLLc&utm_content=b080891cf2ccb1c272c432873d52f9cd&utm_campaign=Don%27t+believe+you+can+change+your+destiny%3F+This+video+could+help+you+change+your+mind.&utm_source=Robly.com&utm_medium=email

§ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeQjNRahxrw&feature=youtu.be&utm_content=eadbd6e0e0dff2d44d28e6515fa4c2a1&utm_campaign=Rob+Wergin+use+his+incredible+and+unique+gifts&utm_source=Robly.com&utm_medium=email

o The Documentary “Heal”, did so well they wrote a book as well.
· The Game Changers – A documentary on Netflix.
· Forks Over Knives - Netflix
· Cowspiracy – Netflix
· The China Study – Book outlining the most comprehensive study done on nutrition, and the links the standard American diet has to all types of diseases including cancer.
· Being In Balance - Book
· You The Healer – Book
· The Power of Now – Book
· The Celestine Prophecy – Book
· How Not To Die – Book
· The Truth About Cancer – Documentary


Supplements I am taking:
· Maca Root
· Vitamin B12
· Gaia – “Liver Health”
· Bladderwrack & Sea Moss
o We purchase these from- https://alkalineveganshop.com/
· Mushroom Supplements: Chaga, Turkey Tail, Maitake, Reishi, Cordyceps & Lion’s Mane (Real Mushrooms is the company we use.) See video and article below about the health benefits of mushrooms.
o https://www.realmushrooms.com/
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuL_faveAnw
o https://www.drweil.com/health-wellness/body-mind-spirit/canceturkey-tail-mushrooms-for-cancer-treatment/
o Paul Stamets is the CEO of Host Defense and his mother was diagnosed with Stage Four Breast Cancer. He gives a lot of credit to her remission from the mushroom supplements. https://hostdefense.com/also has a 10% off first time order. We order from Vitacost.com though due to their sales and free shipping.
· Agaricus Mushroom – I take it at night with my Essiac Tea (See Below)
· Kelp
· Vitamin D3
· Graviola/Soursop – (can be taken as a supplement or in Tea form)
· Ashwagandha –Benefits and study links below. In the first link below, each number found in the article is a hyper link showcasing different studies that have been conducted proving the benefits listed.
o https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/12-proven-ashwagandha-benefits#section3
o https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26650066
· Vitamin B2
· Boswellia (Frankincense)
· Melatonin
· CoQ10
[· X-R Shield by LifeExtension – My ND prescribed me to take these 5 days prior to air travel, during travel and 5 days after air travel. When flying, you’re exposed to high amounts of radiation and this supplement helps to protect cell DNA damage]()
· Chaparral
o We purchase these from- https://alkalineveganshop.com/
· Liposomal Glutathione – Quicksilver Scientific
· NAC (N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine, Free-Form)
· Co-E1 NADH
· Probiotic – Klaire Labs, Ther-Biotic Complete
· Life Cykel Mushroom Tinctures
o https://us.lifecykel.com/?rfsn=3953957.f0c203&utm_source=refersion&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=3953957.f0c203
o Discount code: 0DCB4626
o Chaga, Turkey Tail, Reishi, Lions Maine, Cordyceps, Shitake
o All of the above mushrooms are harnessed in Kakadu Plum juice which is the most Vitamin C dense fruit in the world.
· We get most of our supplements from http://www.vitacost.com . They have sales all the time and free 2-day shipping.

Teas:
· Senna Tea - I drank this on the nights I took Temodar (Chemo) to prevent constipation, it's a lot easier on your body than any OTC medication.
· Essiac Tea - I drink 4 oz. of this every night before bed. People who have defeated cancer give a lot of credit to Essiac Tea.
o We purchase it in loose leaf form from https://www.starwest-botanicals.com/
· Moringa
· Dandelion
· Teas with Turmeric
[· Pique Tea – Organic, ceremonial grade, triple screened for heavy metals, mold toxins and pesticides. This is the only tea that we have been able to find that has a triple screening process for heavy metals. “Organic” does not mean free of heavy metals.]()
o Discount Code: GREENFIELD 15% off!

Other things I do:
· Meditation – Every day for 20 minute – I started off with the app called “Headspace” other people use “Calm”. Its personal preference.
o I am looking into taking a TM class (Transcendental Meditation) and will let you know once I do.
[· Minimizing EMF exposure as much as possible]()
o Sleeping with our phones in airplane mode and away from us, ideally in another room
o Turning off Wi-Fi at night, and even when not in use
o Covering Wi-Fi router and Digital Electricity Meter (outside of house) with EMF guards
§ These can be found here: https://smartmeterguard.com/
o Keeping cell phones away from our bodies as much as possible
o Not using anything wireless near our heads. This includes cell phones (always talk on speaker phone or a wired ear pod connection), air pods or any type of Bluetooth headphones, this includes Bluetooth in the car.
o Hardwiring my office so there is no need for Wi-Fi.
· When we fly, we have these blankets that we wrap around our body. This company has a lot of great products that protect you from EMF exposure.
o https://www.defendershield.com/emf-radiation-protection-blanket
· We also wear these when we fly, they are a company out of Australia
o https://radiasmart.com/emf-hat-hood/
o This is what we have: RS EMF radiation protection hood, blocking RF, EMF- Brian Coat
· Here is another company that is popular, we were not aware of it at the time of buying the other products above.
o https://getlambs.com/products/emf-proof-beanie
· Positive attitude and mindset in everything I do- link below to article explaining how thoughts can benefit or hinder your body
o https://www.huffpost.com/entry/how-your-thoughts-change-your-brain-cells-and-genes_b_9516176
· Eliminate as much stress as I possibly can from my everyday life
· Be present in my mind
· Yoga
· Spin
· Writing down 3 things that I am grateful for each night before bed
· Using Frankincense oil on my feet and pillow, every night, before bed
· Morning Routine: Body Scan Meditation, Drink a liter of water when you wake up (Your body is most dehydrated after a full night’s sleep), stretch or some type of quick 10 minute workout to get your body moving in the morning, “I Am” affirmations (I will usually do this right after I finish my morning stretching, I will typically say 5-10 things out loud to myself, for example (I am healthy, I am a loving husband, I am kind, etc…), statements of gratitude (I will mix this in with my “I Am” affirmations, for example, I am grateful for my bed, I am grateful for my home, I am grateful to have access to organic produce, etc…) I try to focus on this that I have in my life instead of things that I want, rubbing a 1-2 drops of any organic essential oil that you like in your hands in the morning and taking 4-5 deep breaths with your hands over your mouth and nose (this is very helpful in awakening your sensory functions), lastly, I listen to music when getting ready for work in the morning. Soft music in the morning taps into the creative side of your brain and research has shown that individuals that listen to soft music in the morning are more creative and productive throughout the day than those who don’t.
· Taking a walk every day to get fresh air and disconnect, normally with the dogs J
· Circuit Training
· Acupuncture / Energy Healing
· Energy Healer – Steve Montoya – Let me know if you would like his contact info. He travels all over the world healing people. He is in the LA/OC area once a quarter or so.
o https://ramonashealingjourney.wordpress.com/2015/11/04/you-shall-know-them-by-their-love/
· Keeping my body warm at all times. We learned from Traditional Chinese Medicine, that keeping the body warm protects the kidneys, which means all of the other organs can do their job and the body can heal. Also, just for example, when you have a fever, it’s your body’s way of protecting all of your vital organs so that they can do their job, as well as preventing any proliferation of bacteria and viruses.
o http://aprilcrowell.com/asian-medicine/warm-to-the-core/
· John of God – Brazil. Lauren’s cousin went down to visit him during the 4th quarter of 2018 and took a head shot of myself as well as a two-page letter sharing my story. He is a spiritual healer that helped a young man get to a state of meditation where his brain tumor shrunk to nothing. He sent back two bottles of Herbs (Ground Up Passion Flower Leaves – Actual Name: Passiflora) for me to take. There is a large portion about him in the book “Radical Remission” and he is featured in “Heal” as well.
· I brush my teeth with my less dominant hand once a day and then with my dominant hand the other two times.
o This helps stimulate parts of the brain that are not in use often. You can do this with many things, brushing your hair, using your less dominant foot in sports, washing your body with soap while showering.
· Drinking and eating out of glass vs. plastic. It’s having an effect on both men and women’s endocrine systems (hormones, fertility, etc…)
o https://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/pft/2017/7/26/new-endocrine-disrupting-chemicals-are-undermining-male-fertility
· This may sound like something so simple but it’s quite challenging: When moving/changing physical positions I am always present. For example, every time I sit, I tell myself I am sitting, every time I stand to walk, I tell myself I am standing. This helps me to bring my mind into a present state and focus less on the future or past.
o This was a recommendation during one of my guided meditations.
· Laughing, loving and hugging every day. This was a big take away for Lauren and I from reading the book Radical Remission. It’s important to laugh every day, love every day and receive and give hugs to people every day. I know, I know, it sounds crazy but it has worked on other folks, we practice it every day. We try to watch more comedies if we are going to watch a movie on the weekend, an easy way to incorporate laughter into your life.
· We recently added air purifiers into our home. I also have one in my office. We purchased the Molekule, but through research we found that the Air Doctor is another good option (and I believe also a little less expensive). Here is a discount code for $100 off a Molekule: MetroMD100
· IR Sauna (Infrared Saunas)
o These are great for detoxifying the body, especially after air travel. I go to Perspire (https://perspiresaunastudio.com/) here in Orange County.
· Epsom Salt Baths – Especially after air or any long car travel as well.
· Grounding/Earthing – Walk around barefoot on your backyard grass or anywhere there is a plot of “Earth”. Feel the grass between your toes or if you are at the beach, be aware of the sand between your toes. We are all energy and Earth contains energy, manifest the energy from the Earth into your body for increased healing, awareness, presence and mindfulness. I do this for about 10-15 minutes.
· Cold Showers (as cold as the shower can get) every morning and Ice Plunges. Look up the “Wim Hof Method”
o https://www.wimhofmethod.com/

Diet:
· For the past 6+ years we have followed a whole food plant-based diet (vegan without the junk food). Cancer cells feed off of Glucose (Sugar) firstly, but can also utilize glutamate as a second source of fuel (which is in all animal protein, land and sea). I have also cut out all artificial sugars from my diet. Dairy is also extremely inflammatory for your body and has been linked to cancer in many research studies.
· White Carbs and Gluten - We have eliminated these from our diet as much as we possibly can. Even for people who do not have a ‘gluten intolerance,’ gluten is very hard on the body’s digestive system. Excessive consumption can lead to a leaky gut, which causes toxins to seep out of the digestive tract into the body/blood making it hard for your immune system to work at its peak. Also, most gluten products have high levels of glyphosate, which they’ve linked to cancer. Glyphosate acts like an antibiotic to your gut (not in a good way), wiping out all of the beneficial gut flora which are there to keep your immune system working efficiently.
· Alkaline Foods and Water - Cancer cells cannot grow in an alkaline environment; we drink water with a PH level of 9.5. We recently invested in a Kangen water machine for our home. A level of 7 PH is balanced and anything below 7 is acidic. Cancer cells thrive in an acidic environment. Things that make your body acidic are alcohol, dairy, meat, processed and artificial sugars and gluten.
· I drink warm lemon water with apple cider vinegar every morning, which also helps alkalize the body and keep stomach acid levels at a great pH for food absorption.
· We practice intermittent fasting, which allows the body to not worry about processing food for a large portion of the day but rather allow its immune system to be working at its peak ability. We started out by only eating from 12 PM - 8 PM and are working toward 12 PM - 6 PM. Intermittent fasting is really important when taking Temodar (or any chemotherapy). It allows the body to protect the healthy cells while targeting cancer cells. There is so much research showing the benefits of intermittent fasting for cancer patients.
· This is a really interesting article citing a lot of different sources regarding a plant-based diet and fighting/preventing cancer:
o https://www.vivahealth.org.uk/veganhealth/dont-feed-cancer

Other Things to Research:
· Dr. Sebi – He is the doctor who put a full-page ad in the NY Post and was sued to take it down. When he went to his court hearing the judge asked him if he could prove that he healed anyone, and he furnished 70 patients of his that were healed by his treatment and the Judge declared “not guilty” on all the charges that were brought against him by the State of New York.
o The link below is a quick rundown of his life. I believe the pharmaceutical companies were heavily involved with his death in while he was imprisoned in Honduras.
o https://wakeup-world.com/2015/08/28/dr-sebi-the-man-who-cures-aids-cancer-diabetes-and-more/
· Radiation Stickers for your cell phone and laptop:
o https://www.amazon.com/Radiation-Protection-Labobbon-Household-Appliances/dp/B078SSD6QC
· We also try to use the ‘cleanest’ hygiene products we can find. There are many harmful chemicals in our everyday toothpastes, shampoos, deodorants, etc. Chemicals to avoid in hygiene products below:
o Shampoo – Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, basically any ‘sulfate,’ Parabens, Sodium Benzoate. Brands that we like are: 100% Pure, Acure, Alaffia
o Toothpaste – Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, basically any ‘sulfate’, fluoride, triclosan, DEA, Propylene Glycol, Microbeads. One of the worst toothpaste brands out there is Colgate. We use Himalaya Botanique & Nature’s Gate as well as Dr. Bronner’s All-In-One toothpaste.
o Deodorant – Aluminum, Parabens, Triclosan, DEA, Propylene Glycol. We have been testing out natural deodorants for years and our favorite (although not vegan) is from a company called Primally Pure. We’ve also started to use a brand called Joyous Organics with clean (and minimal) ingredients.
o A great website to reference for beauty product ingredients and their safety is https://www.ewg.org/
§ Skin Deep Database – This is where you will find clean products to put on your body.
· https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/

· The Clean Fifteen and Dirty Dozen
o The EWG, each year, comes out with an updated list of produce that we should be buying organic 100% of the time (Dirty Dozen), especially people like you and I who have had cancer. The Clean fifteen can be purchased conventionally if you can’t find them in an organic form and conventional is the only option
o https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/clean-fifteen.php
o https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty-dozen.php

· The link below is a good read on Monsanto’s Glyphosate and the timeline for removal in home use:
o https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news-release/2021/07/bayer-end-residential-sales-cancer-causing-weedkiller-glyphosate?utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=202108News&utm_medium=email&emci=9a939839-bef6-eb11-b563-501ac57b8fa7&emdi=4d3bfe91-dbf7-eb11-b563-501ac57b8fa7&ceid=2210188
These are things that we have done and have found to be successful so far with my body, and hopefully, they are helpful for you as well. I have also included some images below that show how damaging the effects of Wi-Fi radiation (and all of the radiation coming from electronics) can be.
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2024.06.07 20:28 Spiritual_Heart887 I Think So Very Highly of You…. 💔 (Art by TeaTheKook)

I Think So Very Highly of You…. 💔 (Art by TeaTheKook) submitted by Spiritual_Heart887 to u/Spiritual_Heart887 [link] [comments]


2024.06.07 20:26 throwaway-bfgymissue AIW - For calling out my BF for staring at my friend's ass

My boyfriend Nick and I have been dating for 6 months now. Things have been going great so far. The only big issue with Nick is he hates my best friend Jen, and she hates him equally. They never like to hang out together and always avoid talking to each other. This makes things really awkward for me in social situations. We are all in our early 20s.
For context, Jen and Nick both love working out and go to the same gym. I am not the "muscle mommy" types, but I am naturally petite, and Nick says he loves how I look and never wants me to change. Ever since I started dating Nick, Jen has always been badmouthing him to me. She says, Nick flirts with every girl in the gym (except her) and just puts on an act of being a nice guy with me. I have asked his other friends, and they all say Nick is a social bird, they have never seen him be inappropriate with anyone in the gym According to Nick, Jen just keeps to herself and never socializes with others in the gym. Nick says that he has tried several times to go and talk to Jen and include her, but she just talks to him like he is a creep. That is why Nick has just stopped trying.
I do not like this, and I would like to hang out with both of them together without feeling like I am in a middle of a cold war. So, I talked to both Nick and Jen and asked them to be cordial to each other for me. They both agreed.
Last week, Nick and I went to a party where Jen was also invited. Nick took the initiative and started some small talk with Jen. He was telling her about his job and Jen was not really showing any interest. I excused both of them to get drinks for all of us. I got caught up talking to some of my other friends for like 15 minutes. When I looked at Nick and Jen, I was really shocked to see what they were doing. Jen was facing her back to Nick, and he was directly staring at her ass. Jenn was wearing a very tight dress, and I noticed a few other people were also looking at Nick and Jen.
I quickly went back and seemed like Nick and Jen were laughing and having a great time. Jen was already a bit drunk and was being very touchy with Nick. She was touching his chest, his arms and complimenting him on his body. Nick was also enjoying all the attention and laughing with Jen. It was very creepy. I wedged myself in between then and was in a bad mood for the rest of the night.
After the party, I asked Nick WTF he was doing staring at her butt. Nick said that Jen was giving him cold shoulder and not really talking to him. So, he complimented her that he saw her squat some really high weight. Jen liked the compliment and Nick told her that she has been going up in the weight rapidly in the last few months. Nick said Jen was happy he noticed her progress and told him that she generally hates their group of friends because they always ignore her. She then complimented Gym about his upper body and his muscles and was touching him there. I asked him why he was staring at her ass, and he said that she wanted to show her gains and how much her glutes have improved in the last few months. Apparently, that's a thing and it is not that creepy.
I had a fight with Jen the next day and told her it was inappropriate of her to touch Nick like that and flex her ass for everyone to see. She says I am overreacting, and I don't get it. Nick also took Jen's side, and he said it's very common in the gym to do that. I asked him if he does this in the gym too, and he said that its rude to do it without permission, but if someone is showing off to you, its rude not to look. This makes me really insecure that he is looking at other girls in the gym and they are all touching him, and all are ok with it. Nick feels I am being a bit insecure about something that is totally normal.
I wanted to ask here if this is a thing for people who go to gym. Did Nick cross a line when he did that and if this is what Jen might have meant when she told me Nick flirts with all the girls. I am really confused and wanted to know if I am wrong because I do not understand gym culture, or if they are just hiding their inappropriate situation that I caught them in? Also, am I being insecure about this, or Nick is just gaslighting me because I caught his staring at her ass and her willingly shaking it for him.
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2024.06.07 20:26 deedeereyrey Camp Tell You is looking for campers

Hello, we’re Camp Tell You and we are looking for members. We are a Los Angeles based theme camp and this will be our first time being a camp on the playa. We are truly excited at the opportunity to bring our offerings to BRC and contribute in a meaningful way.
However, without enough people, we cannot effectively bring our vision to life. We will be stoked to see some optimistic, enthusiastic, and competent people be a part of this camp and help make this a reality.
We are aiming to be a small camp of 10-15 people for our first year. If you think you’d like the intimacy that a small camp has to offer and think you’d be a good fit, we’d love to hear from you. 🙂
Please fill out our questionnaire if interested - Camp Tell You Questionnaire
About Us
We’re placed at the corner of 5:45 & G. Our camp offerings are centered around being a regenerative space focused on relaxation, destressing, hydrating, and lounging.
Our daytime offerings include rejuvenating sessions using yoga wheels, foam rollers, gentle yoga and non-alcoholic beverages including coffee, tea, emergen-C, electrolyte salts, chlorophyll water etc. We also offer a conversation booth (spill tea over some tea) - where we can share our lived experiences on the playa and speak out our hearts and our minds.
By night, our lounge area turns into a relaxing hang-out space where we play eclectic music from around the world. Our intention is for this communal lounge area to be an inviting relaxing space for people to get together and chill.
Camp ‘amenities’
We provide shade, a shower tent, a communal kitchen area, internet* (we will only turn it on if extremely needed keeping in mind the immediacy principle), and 1 meal a day.
Camp dues are $300
Camp responsibilities
Build - We need help building our lounge area, shade and kitchen. We also need help driving in a box truck or two.
Shifts - We need help manning our lounge in the day time helping our guests try out our relaxing massage/stretch accessories and serving non-alcoholic beverages.
Ice runs, picking moop and general camp upkeep
Tear Down - Tear down all camp infrastructure and make sure our campsite is moop free!
submitted by deedeereyrey to BurningMan [link] [comments]


2024.06.07 20:18 Ordinary-Log-3529 NEED HELP: 4 Day Banff Itinerary Mid-June

Hi folks,
Here is my 4 day itinerary I've planned for 4 days living in the Canmore area with a car rental and park pass from Thursday - Sunday.
When doing this itinerary, keep in mind that I checked the forecast and found out Saturday and Sunday is cloudy and rainy, so I planned according to that. I've also booked the Banff Gondola already as well so that cant be moved.
Open to your ideas and expertise on this, as well as anywhere we can do canoeing other than Lake Louise as we will probably be very tired after the big beehive hike. I'm travelling with my wife and we both don't mind the walking and hikes. Though, we are not frequent hikers by any means.
*I've also heard the Bow Valley Parkway is closed to vehicles from 8am-8pm until June 25*
Banff - 4 Day Itinerary
~Thursday~
9:30 AM: Pick up Car Rental
10:00 AM: Drive from Calgary to Banff
1:00 PM: Head towards Banff Gondola
1:15 PM: Go up the Banff Gondola and explore Sulphur Mountain
3:30 PM: Head towards Lake Minnewanka Loop
4:00 PM: Arrive at Lake Minnewanka Loop and drive the scenic path
4:45 PM: Head to Canmore to check in to hotel
5:15 PM: Arrive at hotel
6:00 PM: Explore Canmore and grab dinner and enjoy the rest of the day
~Friday~
6:00 AM: Drive to Lake Louise from Canmore
7:00 AM: Arrive at Shuttle Bus Parking Lot
7:15AM: Take shuttle bus to Moraine Lake
7:30 AM: Hike Rockpile Trail at Moraine Lake
9:00 AM: Head back to Lake Louise
9:30 AM: Visit Lake Louise Lakeshore
10:00 AM: Hike to Lake Agnes Tea House
11:15 AM: Stop at Lake Agnes Tea House
12:00 PM: Continue on to Big Beehive Trail
1:00 PM: Arrive at the top of Big Beehive
1:30 PM: Head back to Lake Louise Lakeshore
3:30 PM: Leave Lake Louise and head towards Emerald Lake
4:15 PM: Arrive at Emerald Lake
5:00 PM: Head to Nourish Bistro
6:15 PM: Arrive at Nourish Bistro for lunch
7:00 PM: Head back to Canmore hotel
~Saturday~
7:00 AM: Drive through the Icefields Parkway to Jasper
11:00 AM: Arrive at Medicine Lake
12:00 AM: Explore town of Jasper
12:30 AM: Quick Brunch in Jasper
1:30 PM: Head back towards Banff
3:45 PM: Stop at Peyto Lake
4:00 PM: Stop at Bow Lake and hike Bow Glacier Falls
6:00 PM: Stop at Hector Lake Viewpoint
6:30 PM: Head back to Canmore hotel
~Sunday~
9:00 AM: Head to Banff High School Transit Hub and take bus route 9 to Johnston Canyon
9:45 AM: Arrive at Johnston Canyon
12:45 AM: Head back toward Banff High School Transit Hub
11:30 PM: Walk toward Banff Park National Museum Historic Site
11:45 PM: Explore Museum
2:45 PM: Walk toward Bow Falls Viewpoint
3:10 PM: Explore Bow Falls Trail
3:45 PM: Head back towards Banff High School Transit Hub Parking
4:15 PM: Head back toward Canmore
4:45 PM: Arrive in Canmore
5:00 PM: Early check out from hotel and grab dinner
8:00 PM: Head toward Calgary International Airport from Canmore
submitted by Ordinary-Log-3529 to Banff [link] [comments]


2024.06.07 20:08 Minimum_Tower_2960 Coming to Terms With My Childhood

I'm 52, gay and Black, and my mom is 84. I have two older siblings, however our parents were divorced when I was eight and so they were out of the house or about to head to college.
I grew up in a big college town, excelled in school, studied violin. My parents were both professionals and fairly well-known in our community, particularly in the Black and educational parts of it. I think from the outside we looked pretty "normal."
My mother was diagnosed with delusional disorder roughly five years ago as part of the ongoing drama of trying to stabilize her living situation (long story). Previous to this, I don't think that she had seen a mental health professional much less a psychiatrist. My parents were religious and like many Blacks (I think this is changing now, slightly...) didn't seek out this type of healthcare but would, you know, pray...
So I have a new context for my childhood and the crazy things that she did and said. She was often fixated on family members and "being wronged." For instance, when I was in college, she convinced me that her brothers and my cousins, with whom I had been close, were stealing money or her inheritance, or jewelry.
When she remarried when I was 11 she became convinced that my stepfather was gay. There was a kind of emotional incest through which she'd share with me at eight, 10, 11 the details of how my father wronged her or, later, how my step father was gay because he had hemorrhoids, which to a 13-year old makes sense. Neighbors weren't to be trusted either. They wanted her property. A lot of her delusions are about "stuff," which makes me sad.
When I was 19 and at college studying for finals, she turned up to my apartment and handed over a ten-page manifesto accusing me of having sex throughout high school with my stepfather. They were getting divorced at the time and fighting over the house. She told me I'd have to go to court to testify. I went to Europe for a month instead.
Today, with this diagnosis in hand, I at least know that she's sick and can't help it. But it is still hard, especially as I reflect on my childhood--never being able to invite friends over, trouble getting close to others and trusting, always vigilant, navigating every emotional issue as best I can on my own with no blueprint.
I've learned to never argue with her or try to reason with her or tease out the truth. It never helps. But it is tough because, to meet her, she is charming and lucid. She doesn't come off as mentally unstable and didn't when I was a kid.
Yesterday, she called me: "I'm surprised to learn that you're in cahoots with your brother and sister to take my property and put me in a nursing home. That's all I called to say. Now have a nice day."
Depending upon what's going on for me at the moment, this stuff can still ruin a day up to a week. It is so destabilizing.
submitted by Minimum_Tower_2960 to delusionaldisorder [link] [comments]


2024.06.07 20:07 lukin187250 Down for Helping

I'm someone who usually plays alone, but I've at this point in the wipe have reached the high efficiency point of more coming in than going out. So I'd like to possibly help anyone who might think they could use a little help. So I'm down to basically run bodyguard for people with the small caveat we do share in GPUs we find (not full on those). You can have the pick of all found gear otherwise. Conversely, if you need someone to watch your back on a vault run or just want maybe swap strategies feel free to shoot me a request. My GoT name is Mrbuddysir.
One last thing, I generally play alone and I'm terrible at inviting, so you'll need to invite me. I may not answer everytime but like I said when I do I will run back up if you need the help.
submitted by lukin187250 to GhostsOfTabor [link] [comments]


2024.06.07 20:06 Lerris15 [Online][5E][21+][Fridays 7:30pm-12am EST] Seeking Actor/Actress minded players for a narrative, drama oriented, and Heavy RP driven campaign!

Our DnD5e group is looking for more players to join our next Friday Campaign which will be starting at 7:30pm EST to roughly 12:00am EST. Our group prioritizes the story over all other elements, recognizing that Combat and Exploration are tools to help engineer tension. As such, our pillar breakdown is approximately: 60% Role Play > 25% Combat > 15% Exploration. We use Discord for Voice Communication and Tabletop Simulator as our virtual engine.
This homebrew campaign's theme is Dark / High Fantasy. The game leans on a more serious tone, however light moments will occur along the way. The character you will play, in conjunction with the other player characters, will be put through excruciating circumstances to test their ideals and mettle. This campaign is not intended for players that cannot distance themselves from their own creations. The goal of the DM is not to antagonize you, but to rather be the force that creates the drama that our group relishes in. As such, dark and gruesome themes will be explored in this story. Be warned, the players will be put into situations where they will not always have successful outcomes, and sacrifices might be necessary. We are requiring applicants to be 21 years of age or older.
Our group is looking for players that desire to create "living" characters that emulate realism. Ones that have goals, ambitions, and ideals that shape the actions they take. If you enjoy getting into the psychology of your characters and acting them as real world existences, then you very well could be the type of player we are looking for. Voice Acting is very much appreciated in our community of drama enthusiasts.
To note, while heavily Chaotic or Evil characters are in fact real, our story wants to prioritize DnD's cooperative orientated platform. Such characters are not in our appetite and will not be allowed for this story. Additionally, this campaign will be getting recorded and streamed for prosperity. Please only apply if this is agreeable to you. Webcam usage will not be required, but is very much desired and does give brownie points.
About the Campaign:
Calamities. Arkelya has had numerous upon its soil, and the continent of Estran has suffered from them greatly. The First Calamity, the Rending, occurred nearly five thousand years ago and ended what scholars refer to as the Eras. The Rending was the first of many extinction level catastrophes, but modern academics agree it was surely the closest the planet has ever been to complete annihilation. The devastation was so significant that the very continent of Estran was sundered and became three smaller continents. Despite the massive turmoil caused by the First Calamity, Arkelya and its denizens have survived but through great sacrifice.
Since then, civilization has persevered through what scholars have labeled as the Ages. Three such ages have come to be, and the current Age of Unity has held firm for several millennia. On the now North Western continent of Nuasol, efforts by the great nations have been spent to bring nearly a century of peace and prosperity to the populace. Alas, it seems conflict is in Arkelya's very blood, as a new war has surfaced for unknown reasons and threatens to bring a darker age to all.
Who will dare to help stall such gloom from encroaching across the continent once more? Who will stand up and unite against the malevolence that seeks to snuff out what light remains in the world? Can your character take on such a mantle, such a responsibility?
At this time we are looking to see if we can find other players that share our values in the DnD experience. Applications will first be vetted and interviews will be done to try and help ensure our group's values work with yours. If approved, you will be invited to a scheduled one shot where we can see you flourish in game and for you to see if you enjoy our Dungeon Master's style. After all, your happiness with the way the game is played is important for this story to see its conclusion.
Our DM's style focuses heavily on concrete descriptions in an attempt to paint in your mind's eye the same exact image they have in theirs. This can, occasionally, make some scenes rather verbose, but our community enjoys scenes that are dripping in imagery. Tokens and maps are generally reserved for combat. The majority of the work will be done within your mental canvas.
If all the above sounds amiable to you and you are interested please submit an application with the below link.
https://forms.gle/hvEGkNCpZRKqFHJ97
Thank you for showing interest in our game!
submitted by Lerris15 to lfg [link] [comments]


2024.06.07 20:05 fifi_edits What Is Metabolic Syndrome? Everything You Need to Know

It’s estimated that a third of U.S. adults have metabolic syndrome. This widespread health issue is characterized by a combination of high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, excess body fat, and abnormal cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Individuals with metabolic syndrome are at risk of developing severe health issues such as type 2 diabetes, coronary artery disease, heart attack, and stroke.
What is metabolic syndrome?
Also known as syndrome X or insulin resistance syndrome, metabolic syndrome occurs when a person simultaneously has at least three metabolic disorders.
These conditions include:
Metabolic syndrome is a warning sign, signaling significant metabolic and hormonal imbalances and an increased risk of developing potentially life-threatening chronic conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer.

Symptoms of metabolic syndrome

In its early stages, there may not be noticeable symptoms that could indicate the underlying health conditions associated with metabolic syndrome. However, as metabolic imbalances worsen, increasingly more physiological functions can be disrupted. This explains why metabolic syndrome can present a wide range of signs and symptoms.
Here are common symptoms linked to metabolic syndrome.

Diagnostic Criteria for Metabolic Syndrome

Unfortunately, symptoms related to metabolic disorders often remain undetected until these imbalances reach a critical stage. This highlights the importance of regular health screenings to evaluate metabolic health, which is crucial for the early detection and diagnosis of metabolic syndrome.
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute published data outlining the value ranges of health markers used to assess metabolic health and diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome.
These values are considered normal and not indicative of metabolic syndrome:
Metabolic syndrome is diagnosed when three or more of the following conditions are present:
While routine tests evaluate LDL and HDL cholesterol, performing an advanced lipid profile to better understand the body’s cholesterol balance can be beneficial.
“The advanced lipid profile offers a more comprehensive understanding of an individual's cholesterol status by measuring both the small, dense LDL particles, which are considered dangerous, and the large, buoyant LDL particles, which are less harmful,” says Dr. Berg.
Causes of metabolic syndrome
While the precise causes are complex and not entirely defined, many experts agree that dietary and lifestyle choices play a significant role in the development of metabolic syndrome.
Research published in Current Vascular Pharmacology emphasizes this point, encouraging that when addressing metabolic disorders, “preventive healthcare should focus on changing lifestyle in order to reduce obesity and increase physical activity.”
Here are two of the primary causes associated with metabolic syndrome.
1. Poor dietary habits
A diet high in refined carbohydrates and sugars significantly affects metabolic health by increasing the body's demand for insulin.
Insulin is an essential hormone that stimulates various metabolic pathways and regulates energy storage.
Released in response to carbohydrate intake, insulin signals cells to absorb glucose. This enables cellular energy production, helps maintain blood sugar balance, and signals the liver to convert excess blood sugar into fatty acids for storage.
However, regularly consuming carbs and sugars can cause persistently high insulin levels. This can desensitize cells to insulin’s signaling and lead to elevated blood glucose levels, a core component of metabolic syndrome.
Over time, this insulin resistance can contribute to other conditions associated with metabolic syndrome, including high triglycerides, hypertension, and obesity.
2. Lack of physical activity
A sedentary lifestyle substantially raises the risk of metabolic syndrome.
Evidence published in Frontiers in Physiology shows that physical inactivity promotes the accumulation of visceral fat. This type of fat is associated with systemic inflammation, which is linked to insulin resistance and explains why overweight or obese individuals are at increased risk of metabolic syndrome.
This highlights the importance of engaging in regular physical activity as a powerful tool for preventing and managing metabolic disorders.
Research published in Frontiers in Endocrinology underscores this point and summarizes, "Physical activity represents a potent, non-pharmacological intervention delaying the onset of over 40 chronic metabolic and cardiovascular diseases.”
Risk factors for metabolic syndrome
Insulin resistance is believed to be the leading cause of all conditions associated with metabolic syndrome.
In addition to a sedentary lifestyle and poor dietary choices, various other factors can contribute to insulin resistance. Risk factors linked to insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome include:
Additionally, the risk of metabolic syndrome increases with age. This trend underscores the importance of proactive health measures early in life to reduce future complications.
According to data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “prevalence of metabolic syndrome increased from about 10 percent among 18 to 29-year-olds in all race and ethnic groups to almost 70 percent among 70+-year-old adult females.”
5 ways to reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome
The majority of risk factors linked to metabolic syndrome can be mitigated by implementing beneficial dietary and lifestyle changes.
1. Limit carbohydrates and sugars
The common denominator of all conditions related to metabolic syndrome is insulin resistance, which is primarily influenced by diet. Adopting a diet optimized to support steady blood sugar and insulin levels, such as Healthy Keto®, can help prevent and potentially reverse insulin resistance and reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome.
2. Intermittent fasting
Intermittent fasting is an excellent strategy to reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome and promote overall health. Research published in Nutrients investigated the effects of intermittent fasting and found that it improved several metabolic markers, including body weight, glucose metabolism, lipid profile, and blood pressure.

3. Regular physical activity

Evidence published in Diabetologia emphasizes the powerful impact of exercise, stating, "Regular exercise and physical activity has a pronounced protective effect against metabolic disease." Their research found that just 150 minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity decreases the risk of metabolic disorders by an impressive 30 percent. The benefits of consistent physical activity include improved insulin sensitivity and reduced storage of visceral and ectopic fat, critical factors in preventing and managing metabolic syndrome.
4. Avoid alcohol
Alcohol use is a well-known trigger of inflammation and has various harmful metabolic consequences.
A study published in Scientific Reports found that a significant proportion of individuals with alcohol use disorder display one or more of the diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome. Alcohol is linked to weight gain, insulin resistance, and elevated blood pressure, all of which increase the risk of metabolic syndrome.

5. Stress reduction

Engaging in practices such as stretching or deep breathing exercises can be an effective way to manage stress levels. Reducing chronic stress is critical as stress triggers the release of cortisol, a hormone that can exacerbate metabolic syndrome. Cortisol can contribute to elevated blood pressure, abdominal fat storage, poor blood sugar control, and insulin resistance.
Research published in Nature Reviews Endocrinology states, "Stress can affect features of metabolic dysfunction, such as insulin resistance, glucose, and lipid homeostasis."
How to start Healthy Keto® and intermittent fasting
One of the best ways to restore metabolic health and prevent metabolic syndrome is to adopt a low-carb diet and practice intermittent fasting. The Healthy Keto diet prioritizes eating whole foods, focusing on organic and non-GMO options whenever possible, while limiting carbohydrate intake.
By avoiding processed foods with harmful additives, refined carbs, and sugar, Healthy Keto promotes balanced blood sugar levels, which is crucial to preventing and managing insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. Here’s how you can get started with Healthy Keto and intermittent fasting.

Calculate macronutrient needs

You can use this online keto calculator to determine your macronutrient needs. It’s recommended to obtain around 70 to 80 percent of your calories from healthy fats, 15 to 25 percent from high-quality protein, and 5 to 10 percent from fibrous carbohydrates such as low-glycemic vegetables and berries.
To maintain balanced blood sugar levels, it’s vital to limit your daily carbohydrate intake to no more than 50 grams of net carbs. Net carbs are calculated by subtracting the fiber content of a food from its total carb count.

Focus on nutrient-rich meals

Choose healthy fat sources, including avocado, unrefined coconut, and extra virgin olive oil, and avoid inflammatory fats such as vegetable oil, peanut oil, and seed oils. Focus on high-quality protein options such as grass-fed, pasture-raised, and wild-caught meats, oily fish, and full-fat dairy.
Aim for 7 to 10 cups of vegetables daily, choose organic produce, and opt for nutrient-dense vegetables such as dark leafy greens. Avoid sugar, grains, fruit, and starchy vegetables to prevent blood sugar spikes and insulin imbalances, which cause perpetual food cravings, hunger, and fatigue.
In addition, starting your meals with vegetables or salad promotes digestive functions and helps buffer potential insulin spikes after eating. Those new to keto may benefit from planning a week of keto-friendly meals to avoid uncertainty or temptation that could derail your diet goals.

The best type of intermittent fasting for beginners

There are many types of intermittent fasting, such as OMAD (one meal a day), alternate-day fasting, and time-restrictive eating. Time-restrictive eating involves cycling between fasting periods and eating windows and is the ideal fast for beginners.
It's recommended to follow the 18:6 fasting pattern, characterized by abstaining from food for 18 hours and eating during a six-hour window.
”During periods of caloric restriction, the body is forced to burn stored body fat to generate energy. This explains why fasting is a highly effective weight-loss strategy,” says Dr. Berg.
How to start 18:6 intermittent fasting
To get started with 18:6 fasting, choose a six-hour eating window. Most people skip breakfast and start their fast after an early dinner, which helps achieve an 18-hour fast. During the fast, consume zero-calorie beverages such as water, herbal tea, and black coffee. In addition, using a zero-sugar electrolyte powder can help boost energy levels and keep you hydrated.
Experiment with adding grass-fed butter or MCT oil to your coffee to keep you satiated until your fast is over. Combining intermittent fasting with Healthy Keto can maximize the metabolic health benefits of caloric restriction by promoting fat-burning during your eating window.
It’s also crucial to avoid snacking in between meals. If you're still hungry after eating, add more healthy fats your meals to promote satiety and curb cravings.
Fasting is generally considered safe for most adults. However, consult a healthcare professional for personalized advice before starting any new fasting regimen, especially if you have underlying health conditions or are taking medications.
submitted by fifi_edits to DrEricBergDC [link] [comments]


2024.06.07 20:00 expandedmodfamily Expanded Mod Family DD 2024-06-07: Deccani Ideas

Expanded Mod Family DD 2024-06-07: Deccani Ideas

Ellarigū śubhasan̄je!

u/expandedModFamily here and today we are going to present the idea part of the Deccan Update [also known internally as Glorious Sceptre] the last week we talked about Deccani Monuments and this week the rest of the Expanded Mod Family especially the Historical Ideas Expanded Team lead by u/Mintboy343 will unveil their work on the Deccani region, are you ready? Time to pass the mic to the team then!
Sneak Peak

Namaste!

u/ChuKoNoob back in the saddle for this dev diary, along with u/Mintboy343 and u/Melvasul94, to bring you the next chapter of the mega India update for this mod. This time, we move from the low-lying tropical fields of Coromandel to the dry uplands of the Deccan, known for its powerful warriors and brilliant gems, bringing great wealth to the region. In fact, the first royal scepters in the world were likely from here, becoming a cultural icon in monarchies around the world, something which was more relevant in eu4 timeframe than it is for the world today (much to Mintboy’s chagrin).
With the power of foresight, I am aware that, based on sheer number of unique sets made, Deccan is easily the largest region in this update, so let’s jump right into some of the highlights, starting with the hegemon of the region in 1444:
Bahmanis
Originally one of many revolts against the collapsing Delhi Sultanate, the princes of the Bahmani Sultanate established a jewel of a kingdom, both figuratively and literally. From the emerald throne, the Sultan constructed a new cultural hub in the middle of India, drawing on local Indian as well as Persianate culture forces to create a center of education, architecture, stable governance, and economic prosperity that was unmatched in the entire subcontinent in the 15th century, despite the generations-long great power struggle between them and the Vijayanagara Empire to the south. Sadly for many, they would go on to fall into decadence in later times, eventually being subsumed by the Mughal Empire. We hope you can use their ideas to avoid this fate, and I hope you fall in love with their history as much as I did while playing them, a history I had barely heard before.
Bahmanis itself contains 4 releasable nations, all of which are also available at certain eu4 start dates as Islamic Sultanates, although results may vary due to the nature of releasables. This being a historical mod, we opted to pay homage to their Islamic heritage in these ideas.
Historically, these emirates were splinters from Bahmanis, the same as the Bahmanis had once splintered off of Delhi.
Ahmednagar
The first of these is Ahmednagar. Heavily dependent on local nobility for its military protection, and with a particular preoccupation with fortifications, this tag should provide a unique playthrough for anyone playing through this nation.
Berar
Similarly, the artillery-obsessed splinter state of Berar gives, among other bonuses, a rare buff to artillery shock, a surprisingly powerful modifier, with additional quirks such as ensuring you are never without an heir due to their… unorthodox practices. We hope you enjoy this nation as you navigate the chaos of a Deccan post-Bahmanis.
Bijapur
The most embracing of Persian culture and norms, the Shias of Bijapur also seek to make a name for themselves, possessing perhaps the most capable military and most well-rounded set of the four splinter states.
Golkonda
Finally, the state of Golkonda is the heir to the world-renowned jewel mines that fuel the wealth of the Bahmanis Sultanate. Thus, playing as this tag will gift you with a moderately powerful military, but more importantly, one of the strongest economies in the region through the power of their ideas.
Moving away from the Muslim states of the region, these OPM Hindu states and all have a plutocratic government, as they are trading cities that maintain their independence from then two nearby superpowers of Bahmanis and Vijayanagar through a deft combination of trade wealth, military power and careful diplomacy.
Calicut/Kozhikode
The first of these, and arguably the most epic, is Calicutate was a powerful and wealthy trade port. Despite their emphasis on wealth and prosperity, they were no pushover militarily either, with their adoption of gunpowder and skilled seamanship even managing to drive away later Portuguese incursions. This was especially impressive as the Portuguese attained a near-legendary reputation in India after their smashing defeat of the Gujarati navy at Diu. Later on, the city would manage to come under the protection of the Dutch, who were impressed with their maritime prowess. Armed with these ideas, the riches of India should be your oyster.
Kochi
Kochin was also not militarily weak, despite its small size, but proved itself to have a unique society, with a much more important status to women than most other places in the subcontinent, and possessed something which would serve them in great stead with the arrival of the Europeans: a population of local Christians who guarded the tomb of Thomas the Apostle. This unique feature in the subcontinent, along with their deft diplomacy and military defenses, allowed them to survive most foreign invasions and outlast most of their rivals.
Kolathunadu
Perhaps the most adept at trade of all the trading port cities, Kolathunadu made its mark on the Indian Ocean sea trade since antiquity, turning it into a veritable Alexandria of India. Play this set to advance the knowledge of your realm and spread enlightenment to your neighbors, while turning a tidy profit in the process.
Chanda
The Hindu counterpart to Golkonda, the Gond tribes of the upland Deccan are custodians of immense mineral wealth, which they jealously guard. Their ideas reflect a highly skilled people of craftsmen, turning out fine jeweled products traded across the entire Indian Ocean. They are not the dwarves of legend, but in India they are one of the closest things to it with these ideas.
Garha
Swearing fealty to the Sultan of Malwa at the start of the game, these people are akin to the fiercely independent people of Chanda, being also known for their smithing prowess, if not as refined as their cousins. Their ideas add other skills to their repertoire, however, with a knack for fort-building and, of all things, candy-making. Indulge your sweet tooth and get into a game as Garha with this unique set!
Habsan
Perhaps the strangest tag on the entire subcontinent is right here in the Deccan. Have you ever wanted to play an Ethiopian pirate nation in India? With these ideas granting them by far the best navy in the subcontinent, make your piratical dreams a reality and free your fellow African slaves as this roving pirate nation, reading a unique dose of its history encapsulated in its ideas and lovingly curated by Mintboy as our primary historian
Keladi
Keladi, while less militarily flashy than many of their neighbors, is a coastal state which focuses its time on building a more beneficial society for its people, with ideas emphasizing tolerance, construction, art, and piety. Make no mistake, however, they are no pushover either, with their imposing fortifications keeping their happy citizenry safe and their army ready to sally forth and inflict the wrath of Vishnu on their enemies.
Maldives
Moving south, we reach the Malabar coast and other tags in the vicinity, starting with the famously aloof Sultanate of Maldives
Secure from outside attack (in large part because no one can actually fabricate a claim on them), the Sultanate of the Maldives built a unique sea-based Islamic civilization on the Ten Thousand Islands, the pearl necklace of the Indian Ocean. Experts at maritime trade, the mediums of exchange, construction, and shipbuilding, play this set and be rewarded with a variety of bonuses for a trade empire, including a very special effect included just for you! No spoilers, you’ll have to come test it out for us :}
Mysore
Much more of a typical Indian tag, but one with a fearsome military that held off both the British and the mighty Marathas for decades, the Tiger of Mysore himself would be proud of this set. With perhaps the strongest cannons in India (although a challenger will approach) and other military bonuses, perhaps some of you might notice a more controversial pick - yep that’s right, we’re bringing back hostile core creation cost. We’d love to hear your thoughts on that, but for now, enjoy the preview of this set.
Venad
Oh, Venad… A nation that I believe I’ve only ever seen played once in my thousands of hours scrolling through the eu4 community, which makes playing whatever you land on upon clicking “random nation” probably more likely than you ever playing this. But, while you may be left out of people’s games, you weren’t left out of our hearts, and their history is surprisingly rich and fascinating, with a hard-hitting, expansionist idea set for those gigachads out there who want to give this nation at the very tip of India a go.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this preview, and make sure to… checks notes oh right, what region is complete without its formable nations?

Formable Nations

While Coromandel conspicuously lacked a formable nation, the Deccan contains no fewer than 3 to aim for in any of your bejeweled playthroughs. The titular one of course being:
Deccan
Formable by any Muslim nation in this region with the correct culture, but also releasable by the Mughal Empire if they successfully subdue the region. If they are formed by the player as an independent state, however, you can create an advanced Persian-Indian hybrid culture and revel in the riches of the Deccan as you fortify and modernize your state and make it ready to enter the global stage.
On the other hand their "nawab" status, as a Mughal vassal, will most likely be brought to life through Government Reforms and a special Vassal for Subjects Expanded.
Nagpur
A weird one to be included here, the majority of the lands required to form Nagpur are actually in the Bengali region, but their historical heartland lies in the Deccan. This interloper set grants the player highly militarized bonuses, as the Gondi people are united to drive out foreign oppressors, Muslim and European alike, and are primed to be on the defensive as well as the offensive. We only hope we have done their history of spunk and determination justice.
Last, and definitely not least, we have (drum roll please):
Marathas
One of the most powerful states to ever roam the subcontinent, the Marathas were the next rising empire after the collapse of the Mughal Empire (for more on that, head over to FEE and its Disasters #shamelessplug), only to be cut down in their prime by the British. In your hands, you can use their supercharged military ideas to reverse their historical fortunes and unite all of Bharat under your wise leadership! From your glorious cavalry to your fearsome infantry, can you create the empire that finally unites the subcontinent under Hindu self-rule? Or will your run be as disappointing as the Maratha’s ideas are in vanilla eu4?

The End

And that’s a wrap! Now I will hand the mic back to Melvasul as we move on to talk about other aspects of the EMF India update. As always, constructive feedback is welcomed and you are invited to join our discord where the team talks on a daily basis. Next time you’ll hear from us we will head to the cradle of empires, the most populated, wealthiest, and historically dynamic region of India yet: Hindustan
Thanks so much for reading and tuning it into the Dev Diary. See you next week to showcase the other parts of the Coromandel Update regarding events!
Make sure to join our Discord Server and get notified whenever we post a Dev Diary/Update!
Impressed by our work? Download the mod here: Historical Ideas Expanded
Mods with similar philosophy that are made to work with each other can also be found here:
Expanded Mod Family Collection
submitted by expandedmodfamily to eu4 [link] [comments]


2024.06.07 20:00 bkjogjibnh Java Burn Review: Did it live up to the hype? (Honest Review)

Java Burn Reviews: (Healthy Weight Loss)!
Java Burn Weight Loss Supplement has become a popular choice for individuals seeking to enhance their weight loss journey naturally. Let dive into what makes this supplement stand out and how it can benefit you.
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What is Java Burn Weight Supplement?
Java Burn is a weight loss supplement that harnesses the power of green coffee extract to boost metabolism and aid in fat burning. It is designed to support weight loss efforts in a safe and effective manner.
The History of Java Burn
The origins of Java Burn can be traced back to the discovery of the weight loss benefits of green coffee beans. Over time, researchers refined the formulation to create a potent supplement that can help individuals achieve their weight loss goals.
The Science Behind Java Burn
Java Burn works by leveraging the active compounds found in green coffee beans, such as chlorogenic acid, to accelerate metabolism and promote fat burning. These ingredients work synergistically to support weight loss efforts.
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Ingredients of Java Burn Weight Loss Supplement
Green Coffee as the Key Ingredient
Green coffee extract is the star ingredient in Java Burn, known for its high concentration of chlorogenic acid. This compound has been shown to aid in weight loss by increasing metabolism and reducing the absorption of carbohydrates.
Additional Ingredients and Their Benefits
In addition to green coffee extract, Java Burn contains a blend of natural ingredients like green tea extract and chromium. These ingredients provide a range of benefits, including appetite suppression and increased energy levels.
How the Ingredients Work Together for Weight Loss
The combination of ingredients in Java Burn helps to amplify the effects of each component, leading to enhanced weight loss results. By targeting multiple pathways in the body, Java Burn provides comprehensive support for your weight loss journey.
Benefits of Using Java Burn Weight Loss Supplement
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The ingredients in Java Burn help to curb cravings and reduce hunger, making it easier to stick to a healthy diet. Additionally, the supplement promotes the breakdown of fat stores, leading to a more efficient fat-burning process.
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submitted by bkjogjibnh to nflstreamsbaltv [link] [comments]


2024.06.07 20:00 bkjogjibnh (Java Burn Reviews) Is Lean Biome A Scam?

Java Burn Reviews: (Healthy Weight Loss)!
Java Burn Weight Loss Supplement has become a popular choice for individuals seeking to enhance their weight loss journey naturally. Let dive into what makes this supplement stand out and how it can benefit you.
►►►(Special Discount Offer) Hurry Up, Shop Now!!◀◀◀
What is Java Burn Weight Supplement?
Java Burn is a weight loss supplement that harnesses the power of green coffee extract to boost metabolism and aid in fat burning. It is designed to support weight loss efforts in a safe and effective manner.
The History of Java Burn
The origins of Java Burn can be traced back to the discovery of the weight loss benefits of green coffee beans. Over time, researchers refined the formulation to create a potent supplement that can help individuals achieve their weight loss goals.
The Science Behind Java Burn
Java Burn works by leveraging the active compounds found in green coffee beans, such as chlorogenic acid, to accelerate metabolism and promote fat burning. These ingredients work synergistically to support weight loss efforts.
►►►(Special Discount Offer) Hurry Up, Shop Now!!◀◀◀
Ingredients of Java Burn Weight Loss Supplement
Green Coffee as the Key Ingredient
Green coffee extract is the star ingredient in Java Burn, known for its high concentration of chlorogenic acid. This compound has been shown to aid in weight loss by increasing metabolism and reducing the absorption of carbohydrates.
Additional Ingredients and Their Benefits
In addition to green coffee extract, Java Burn contains a blend of natural ingredients like green tea extract and chromium. These ingredients provide a range of benefits, including appetite suppression and increased energy levels.
How the Ingredients Work Together for Weight Loss
The combination of ingredients in Java Burn helps to amplify the effects of each component, leading to enhanced weight loss results. By targeting multiple pathways in the body, Java Burn provides comprehensive support for your weight loss journey.
Benefits of Using Java Burn Weight Loss Supplement
Accelerated Metabolism and Energy Boost
►►►(Special Discount Offer) Hurry Up, Shop Now!!◀◀◀
Java Burn's formula is designed to increase metabolism, allowing your body to burn more calories throughout the day. This can lead to faster weight loss results and a sustained boost in energy levels.
Appetite Suppression and Increased Fat Burning
The ingredients in Java Burn help to curb cravings and reduce hunger, making it easier to stick to a healthy diet. Additionally, the supplement promotes the breakdown of fat stores, leading to a more efficient fat-burning process.
Improved Focus and Mental Clarity
Many users of Java Burn report improved focus and mental clarity while taking the supplement. This can be particularly beneficial for staying on track with your weight loss goals and maintaining a positive mindset.
►►►(Special Discount Offer) Hurry Up, Shop Now!!◀◀◀
Conclusion
In conclusion, Java Burn Weight Loss Supplement offers a natural and effective solution for those looking to enhance their weight loss journey. With its carefully selected ingredients and proven benefits, Java Burn can be a valuable addition to a healthy lifestyle.
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2024.06.07 20:00 bkjogjibnh Java Burn Reviews (2024) The Latest Customer Results Reported!

Java Burn Reviews: (Healthy Weight Loss)!
Java Burn Weight Loss Supplement has become a popular choice for individuals seeking to enhance their weight loss journey naturally. Let dive into what makes this supplement stand out and how it can benefit you.
►►►(Special Discount Offer) Hurry Up, Shop Now!!◀◀◀
What is Java Burn Weight Supplement?
Java Burn is a weight loss supplement that harnesses the power of green coffee extract to boost metabolism and aid in fat burning. It is designed to support weight loss efforts in a safe and effective manner.
The History of Java Burn
The origins of Java Burn can be traced back to the discovery of the weight loss benefits of green coffee beans. Over time, researchers refined the formulation to create a potent supplement that can help individuals achieve their weight loss goals.
The Science Behind Java Burn
Java Burn works by leveraging the active compounds found in green coffee beans, such as chlorogenic acid, to accelerate metabolism and promote fat burning. These ingredients work synergistically to support weight loss efforts.
►►►(Special Discount Offer) Hurry Up, Shop Now!!◀◀◀
Ingredients of Java Burn Weight Loss Supplement
Green Coffee as the Key Ingredient
Green coffee extract is the star ingredient in Java Burn, known for its high concentration of chlorogenic acid. This compound has been shown to aid in weight loss by increasing metabolism and reducing the absorption of carbohydrates.
Additional Ingredients and Their Benefits
In addition to green coffee extract, Java Burn contains a blend of natural ingredients like green tea extract and chromium. These ingredients provide a range of benefits, including appetite suppression and increased energy levels.
How the Ingredients Work Together for Weight Loss
The combination of ingredients in Java Burn helps to amplify the effects of each component, leading to enhanced weight loss results. By targeting multiple pathways in the body, Java Burn provides comprehensive support for your weight loss journey.
Benefits of Using Java Burn Weight Loss Supplement
Accelerated Metabolism and Energy Boost
►►►(Special Discount Offer) Hurry Up, Shop Now!!◀◀◀
Java Burn's formula is designed to increase metabolism, allowing your body to burn more calories throughout the day. This can lead to faster weight loss results and a sustained boost in energy levels.
Appetite Suppression and Increased Fat Burning
The ingredients in Java Burn help to curb cravings and reduce hunger, making it easier to stick to a healthy diet. Additionally, the supplement promotes the breakdown of fat stores, leading to a more efficient fat-burning process.
Improved Focus and Mental Clarity
Many users of Java Burn report improved focus and mental clarity while taking the supplement. This can be particularly beneficial for staying on track with your weight loss goals and maintaining a positive mindset.
►►►(Special Discount Offer) Hurry Up, Shop Now!!◀◀◀
Conclusion
In conclusion, Java Burn Weight Loss Supplement offers a natural and effective solution for those looking to enhance their weight loss journey. With its carefully selected ingredients and proven benefits, Java Burn can be a valuable addition to a healthy lifestyle.
submitted by bkjogjibnh to nflstreamsbaltv [link] [comments]


2024.06.07 20:00 bkjogjibnh Java Burn Review: I Tried It For 90 Days–Does This Tonic Works?

Java Burn Reviews: (Healthy Weight Loss)!
Java Burn Weight Loss Supplement has become a popular choice for individuals seeking to enhance their weight loss journey naturally. Let dive into what makes this supplement stand out and how it can benefit you.
►►►(Special Discount Offer) Hurry Up, Shop Now!!◀◀◀
What is Java Burn Weight Supplement?
Java Burn is a weight loss supplement that harnesses the power of green coffee extract to boost metabolism and aid in fat burning. It is designed to support weight loss efforts in a safe and effective manner.
The History of Java Burn
The origins of Java Burn can be traced back to the discovery of the weight loss benefits of green coffee beans. Over time, researchers refined the formulation to create a potent supplement that can help individuals achieve their weight loss goals.
The Science Behind Java Burn
Java Burn works by leveraging the active compounds found in green coffee beans, such as chlorogenic acid, to accelerate metabolism and promote fat burning. These ingredients work synergistically to support weight loss efforts.
►►►(Special Discount Offer) Hurry Up, Shop Now!!◀◀◀
Ingredients of Java Burn Weight Loss Supplement
Green Coffee as the Key Ingredient
Green coffee extract is the star ingredient in Java Burn, known for its high concentration of chlorogenic acid. This compound has been shown to aid in weight loss by increasing metabolism and reducing the absorption of carbohydrates.
Additional Ingredients and Their Benefits
In addition to green coffee extract, Java Burn contains a blend of natural ingredients like green tea extract and chromium. These ingredients provide a range of benefits, including appetite suppression and increased energy levels.
How the Ingredients Work Together for Weight Loss
The combination of ingredients in Java Burn helps to amplify the effects of each component, leading to enhanced weight loss results. By targeting multiple pathways in the body, Java Burn provides comprehensive support for your weight loss journey.
Benefits of Using Java Burn Weight Loss Supplement
Accelerated Metabolism and Energy Boost
►►►(Special Discount Offer) Hurry Up, Shop Now!!◀◀◀
Java Burn's formula is designed to increase metabolism, allowing your body to burn more calories throughout the day. This can lead to faster weight loss results and a sustained boost in energy levels.
Appetite Suppression and Increased Fat Burning
The ingredients in Java Burn help to curb cravings and reduce hunger, making it easier to stick to a healthy diet. Additionally, the supplement promotes the breakdown of fat stores, leading to a more efficient fat-burning process.
Improved Focus and Mental Clarity
Many users of Java Burn report improved focus and mental clarity while taking the supplement. This can be particularly beneficial for staying on track with your weight loss goals and maintaining a positive mindset.
►►►(Special Discount Offer) Hurry Up, Shop Now!!◀◀◀
Conclusion
In conclusion, Java Burn Weight Loss Supplement offers a natural and effective solution for those looking to enhance their weight loss journey. With its carefully selected ingredients and proven benefits, Java Burn can be a valuable addition to a healthy lifestyle.
submitted by bkjogjibnh to nflstreamsbaltv [link] [comments]


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