Patterns for baby pods

Hi guys! I kinda want to buy a Baby sized Baggu bag and I didn't find a pattern that I really love on their website :(
I love Keith Haring Pets, Cherubs & Bows, and Keroppi. But it seems like baby size doesn't have Keith Haring Pets & I already own the other two in standard size so I don't want to buy the same pattern... maybe I should have bought a Keith Haring pattern in a standard size and buy Cherubs & Bows in a baby size lol
But could you guys recommend any other cute patterns for Baby Baggu? The ones that are out-of-season are also okay! Thanks 💕

Her discipline is very much different in the 3 households. With her mom, she's left to herself or is pushed to stay outside and play unsafely in a poverty stricken area, but gets screamed and whooped at things that are just uncalled for and unnecessary. She is also not fed or at least not fed well, and is still made to wear diapers and drink milk for babies.
At her dad's, it's whatever she wants, or yelling and not allowing her to make mistakes and then saying such things when she does.
At mine, I try my way and she's mostly close to me, but it's hard when I know everyone else just doesn't stay consistent with what's better. She does listen to me more than anyone, except her mother whom she's frightened of.
So bc of her situation in the other houses and people, she's always, ALWAYS getting into things ( i know kids do, but this sometimes seems too much) especially when they're not hers. I'm talking about gifts, things put away or left out, any chocolate food or sweet drinks and she'll either find a way to get it herself or lie to an adult around that she hasn't drank or ate it yet ever, or writing or leaving stains on bedsheets and pillowcases, walls, floors, cars, etc.If you scold her or tell her it's not hers, she'll get upset, cry and throw a tantrum and then claim to everyone you're fighting with her and that she hates you, doesn't love you and will announce it to the world that you're hurting her physically in an abusive way or something.
She knows she's not allowed to write on walls or furniture or other things, but will do these things and then hide it or will not ever say sorry, as we've never heard her say it. She only does when I tell her "Remember when I said if you do something bad/wrong or hurt someone, you have to say sorry?" Nods "So since you did x/y/z, what should you do?" Shrugs with a bored look on her face
I'm trying to find a punishment that fits the crime and a better way to explain to her. I did explain and show her that she has a place and what things she can write and draw on, how to put them away, etc. And she doesn't seem to show any reaction if you do punish her if she doesn't throw a tantrum. I'm trying to teach her to be a real child with a real childhood and experience that magic I used to love as a kid, while disciplining. So both worlds, she's not used to, although I've been trying to parent her since around August of last year. I've printed out workbooks to help her practice for school so she won't feel embarrassed about being behind, switching screen time with one on one play, experiences, changing up her food patterns, finding her a good dentist and pedia and financing those, buying her the appropriate milk and vitamins prescribed, talking with her and just all the while trying my best even if I feel like it's not enough.
I'd like to be a bit more firm, but again, it's hard when the other people around her baby her and will immediately coddle her and cuddle when she throws tantrums after she's done something wrong and you scold her, and will say "Poor child, just leave her alone" And give her sweets and all.
Forgot to mention, she's 4 years old going 5. I've been introducing her to art and crafts before as she's not really familiar with it at first (due to living with her mother mostly, and in poverty) and to get her prepped for school (hasn't been enrolled yet as the mother refused) as I know it'll be her first time being in a school environment.
Developmentally (in terms of knowing colors, etc.) she's a bit behind but when it comes to how she speaks, it's a bit mature for her age? Cause she copies how the adults around her speak and act and most of the times it's not pretty. You'll often hear her saying something along the lines of "You think you're funny? You know nothing! Do you want me to hit you?" or say things that adults or oldies would usually say with their friends that are inappropriate.
Honestly, her being coddled right away then given some toy or sweet or gadget after a tantrum is what I'm also struggling with fixing. I'll try at best to take her aside, make sure she's focused on my words and ask her if she's upset, and why, why was she scolded, and why she had to be scolded and the consequences, and about saying sorry and hugging afterwards. She'll do it, but mostly with a fazed look (kinda like when kids have just woken up and they've zoned out a bit) and I'm afraid she won't properly learn to be and say sorry, and the consequences. As much as possible, I want still be a positive influence and safe motherly figure in her life as much as I can before I leave abroad. Because I know no one will really reinforce these things anymore when I'm gone and video calls can only do so much.

My daughter is 3 weeks old and we saw an OT originally to "prepare for a tongue tie release" but after some research we will most likely not be doing the tongue tie release. The OT prescribed a few things for calming the nervous system:

1. Facial tapping in this pattern from temple to various places and back,
2. Rhythmic movement (sliding baby back and forth on the bed);

And the following for tension/ROM: 1. Circular massage with fingers on feet, sternum, chin, and sides of the navel. 2. Movement in the biased direction 20 times and in the antagonistic direction 5 times, e.g. to correct overpronation of feet, pronate the feet 20x then suppinate 5x.
As someone who suffers from a lot of inflexibility and stiffness and have had many bad experiences with PTs until eventually figuring out on my own that what really works is massage for temporary relief/increase in ROM and stretching (ideally with load at end range), I don't really see how the exercises for ROM would really accomplish anything. I'm not really convinced that babies really hold enough tension for it to be a problem, especially because my daughter is incredibly well behaved and never cries for an unknown reason. I can't speak at all to the nervous system stuff. I'm asking for the evidence on some of these things that we've been recommended and also open to learning about anything else that's good for a baby's nervous system. I do not have time to do anything that doesn't have evidence behind it at this current point.

Hello, part of my morning routine is sharing a chocolate chip cookie with a muskrat that comes to my balcony everyday, we have a routine, and it makes us both very happy. I deal with quite the plethora of stressors throughout my reality, including an eating disorder, and I’ve always stayed incredibly grateful that my baby muskrat comes around and helps me get some high calorie food in me on a daily basis. I always let him(?) chew on the non-chocolate chip pieces of the cookie, as I eat those, and I assume the chocolate isn’t safe for him, though I wouldn’t know why exactly, I have little knowledge of muskrat internals, and am basing that off of the stereotyping of not feeding cats chocolate. Today I was feeding him, and he took a piece of the chocolate chip while I was distracted, and ran, I watched him eat it. Now, I have seen him a few hours later, and he seems fairly normal in his behaviour though it may be a different one, as I’m not too familiar with his patterns, I just assume it’s him as our routine usually brings him around my spot. Question becomes, will he be okay? Should I bring this query to some veterinarian and feed him medication inside a cookie tomorrow? Second random thought is, would I ever be able to bring him inside and domesticate him, and keep him further fed and safe when the winter comes? Thank you guys for anything, I’m very stressed over this as it affects both of our realities, and I don’t want him to feel any harm, I really love him.
I would post pictures though this sub won’t let me, I have many of him, he’s adorable!

Hi! I have a 10w old who’s slow to gain weight (dropped for 84% to 16%). She has always spit up a ton (10-20 times per wake window). She’s EBF and I’ve been dairy free for two weeks. This past two weeks her stools have also become watery, started having mucus, and dark green specks. She got her 2m vaccines same day I dropped dairy. She also takes probiotics.
We’ve been struggling to identify what the cause of her slow weight gain is, but I believe she is spitting up enough to be loosing meaningful calories. She has good weighted feeds and if I pump it’s 4+ oz, so I feel she is getting the milk. Her spit-up also can last for the whole two hours after her feed. Does that suggest anything when determining the cause?
We are seeing an SLP to try to work on a deeper latch and retrain her sucking pattern. I have been dairy free for two weeks. I don’t believe I’ve noticed a difference in spit-up from either of these so far. I used to try a bottle of pumped milk every few days and she seemed to spit-up the same amount.
Ever so often she has a day or half of a day where she spits up much less. And definitely had days where she seems to be spitting up even worse.
She’s a happy baby, doesn’t mind the spitup. She’s very straight forward with proper wake windows and sleep for age. Not gassy.
I’ll be trying no soy next, then gluten, then egg.
I’m sure I forgot info. This is my second EBF baby. Please tell me your thoughts! Dr says if they intervene with food, they will start by thickening my breastmilk for a few bottles/day.

Here's how old I think every character is... in my opinion. Let me know what you think of those headcanons! FWI, this post was originally from Tumblr, and I reposted it here.
The Powerpuff Girls (Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup): 5-6yo (chronologically one, since they had a birthday)
Professor Utonium: late 30s-early 40s (I'd say anywhere between 38-42yo is likely)
The Mayor Of Townsville: late 60s-mid 70s (possibly about 70-72yo)
Ms. Bellum: late 30s-early 40s (according to "Get Back Jojo", she and Ms. Keane are the same age as The Professor).
Ms. Keane: late 30s-early 40s
Talking Dog: 7yo (mid-late 40s in human years)
Mitch Mitchelson: 5yo
Robin Synder: 5yo
Princess Morbucks: 5-6yo
The Pokey Oaks Kindergarten Students in general: 5-6yo (a few may be as young as 4 though, but we don't exactly know that)
Mojo Jojo: I honestly don't really know; I'm guessing 18-19 in chimpanzee years? The way he sounds and looks makes me think he'd be in his early 50s if he were a human.
Fuzzy Lumpkins: 63-64yo
HIM: 1000yo+ (he looks like he could be in his mid-late 30s though)
The Gangreen Gang (Ace, Snake, Lil' Arturo, Grubber, and Big Billy): Ace is the oldest member at about 17-18yo; Snake, Grubber, and Big Billy are all 15yo, and Lil' Arturo is the youngest member at about 13-14yo. For the longest time, I thought Ace was in his early 20s.
The Amoeba Boys (Bossman, Junior, and Slim): all of them are probably in their late 40s-mid 50s.
Sedusa: roughly the same age as Ms. Keane, Ms. Bellum, and The Professor, so late 30s-early 40s.
The Rowdyruff Boys (Brick, Boomer, and Butch): 5-6yo (chronologically several months old)
The Smiths (Harold Smith, Marianne Smith, Julie Smith, and Bud Smith): Judging by his male pattern baldness, I'd guess Harold is probably in his early-mid 40s. Marianne is roughly the same age. Bud is definitely 11-12yo; his behavior screams stereotypical angsty preteen boy. Meanwhile, Julie is the same age as The Powerpuff Girls, being about 5yo.
The Narrator: I don't know about him either... I'd assume probably 40s judging by his voice.
Stanley Whitfield: mid 50s-early 60s
Townsville in general (background characters): A majority of the background children we see on this show look like they could be aged between 4-7yo, so about preschool through second grade. They're not toddlers, but they're not older kids either. If anything, they're within the girls' age range. And of course, the citizens of Townsville are all of varying ages... because it's a society! The citizens range from newborn babies to elderly people.

Heya, Swap!
Sad that you're back to work after a relaxing long weekend? I hear that retail therapy can be beneficial...
Timestamp
In my ongoing quest to trim the collection to only things I actually carry, I bring you a selection of knives that I've been reluctant to part with. Today's the day - after grabbing a couple high ticket items this weekend it's time to get these guys off to new homes.
Standard Stuff: Payment by PP FF, Venmo, Zelle, or Apple Cash - no notes in any payments, please! I ship same or next day depending on timing as I work from home and I'm just down the street from the PO.
I am on and off work calls all day, so allow me a little grace as time allows, but I will and do respond to every message I receive.
TRM Shadow (Concord Micarta, 20CV)
$225 SOLD
Second owner, came to me a little dirty and stiff, so I pulled it apart for a thorough clean and lube and now it runs like a dream. Great action, lockup, and centering, not a mark on it anywhere - basically like-new. Comes in standard TRM sugar cane tube.
Asher Spiro Wharnie with Black Hardware (Twill Carbon Fiber, S90V)
$135 SOLD
First owner. I bought a standard Wharnie with silver hardware straight from Asher when they dropped, but then swapped the black hardware from another Spiro because I liked it more than the silver. Like-new, not a mark on it. Action, lockup, and centering are all perfect. Includes standard Asher taco.
Giant Mouse/LNW Ace Biblio XL (Carbon Fiber, Magnacut)
$275
First owner, purchased from Lynch at the drop. Action, lockup, and centering are all perfect. There is a tiny snail on the clip that I tried my best to capture in photos, but it's so small it's really tough to pick up. That's the only cosmetic imperfection I can find - otherwise pristine. This is a fantastic, limited edition Bilbio, XL, I just never connected with it for some reason. Comes with box and the standard black wire clip.
Urban EDC Baby Barlow (Ti with G10 inlay, M390)
$155
Second owner, picked up here on the swap. Came to me LNIB and there it remains. I have neither carried nor cut with it - just flipped a bit around the house. Comes with box and taco.
Kizer Drop Bear (Carbon Fiber, Elmax)
$135 SOLD
Second owner, picked up here on the swap. A beautiful version of the Drop Bear with Fat Carbon scales and Elmax blade steel. This is the second Drop Bear I've owned and the build quality for the price is just unbelievable on these things. Came to me LNIB and there it remains. I have neither carried nor cut with it - just flipped a bit around the house. Comes with box, docs, and spare hardware.
WE Elementum Flipper (Ti, 20CV)
$125 SOLD
I picked this up some time ago and it’s been sitting in a case for far too long. This started life as a plain Jane WE Elementum and was beautifully customed by Valley Blade Works (back when it was still Blue Pig Laser Works if memory serves). Titanium framelock flipper and a 20CV blade. Everything that can be has been anodized with a two tone green/purple scheme and slick geometric pattern. The blade was bead blasted and the whole package just looks and runs like a dream. Fast, snappy action, great lockup and centering. No box on this guy, ships in a Civivi taco.
ISO/Current Trade Interests (cash of course can be added for higher value stuff)
I generally prefer a sale for this batch, but I have a particular fondness for carbon fiber (bonus points for color), so if you have something to offer give me a shout! I reserve the right to be picky, but I'll always take a look.

• JG Scout 2.0 or Arctic Scout (full carbon fiber)
• Koenig Mini Arius Flipper (carbon fiber)
• Kunwu Chad Carbon Fiber
• G&G Hawk Shortcut

Thanks for looking!

I wanted to go to a later event after I read online how this event went, but my husband insisted on going to this event, so this is for people who want to learn about the side events!
We went as attendees. We arrived late on Friday and therefore checked in very easily on Saturday morning at 9am, and received our 6 prize tickets (each). The Lorcana room was in the basement of building B, and there was an anime convention going on at the same time. The signage for Lorcana was a GIANT arrow with a tiny Lorcana logo, which I got a chuckle out of. The signs also said "MomoCon badge required for entry" but that was the only way to get downstairs. Not Ravensburger's fault, but confusing.
We easily signed up for the 10:30am sealed deck challenge. It started at around 10:45, and we were given entirely too long to build our decks from 6 packs. My first round ended in a draw, but draws weren't allowed in Melee.gg. A few judges came over and decided to split the tickets (the winner would get 2, so this way we each got 1) and then my opponent and I decided that I should get the win in Melee because I was only one turn away from winning (and this was a SIDE event, not a championship, so it wasn't that big of a deal). By the way, the judges placed the 2 tickets (for the winner) at each table before the round started. (On Saturday they didn't place any tickets on the tables other than participation.)
Then. Oh my goodness. It was at least 45 minutes before round 2 started. Melee was down (as the other posts have mentioned) so we were all just sitting, waiting. Waiting. And waiting. FINALLY round 2 launched. Then it was about 20 minutes between round 2 and 3. The next event I could sign up for was the 3:30 swiss draft, where we were given 4 packs. This time the deck building was included in the drafting time; the pod next to me still had an entire pack to draft when time was called! People kept handing me brooms, which was fine with me because I grabbed a Sorcerer Mickey in my first pack. :P We did manage to earn enough tickets to get 2 Rapunzel promos on Saturday, so that was exciting! I did most of the heavy lifting; somehow I am better than my husband at this game.
Other posters have posted about Sunday side events, so I don't need to summarize that. Other than I was still only able to do 2 events. My husband dropped after round 2 of our first event, so he was able to grab the last event of the day. They were NOT prepared for the 2,000 players who would be doing side events.
We had really thought we'd be able to do 5 or 6 events per day, based on our experience with Pokemon at GenCon and Origins. It's been 2 years since we were at GenCon but Pokemon has it DOWN. The event costs the same as retail (for whatever you're playing). Doing a draft with 4 decks? $16. Once you've got 8 people signed up? The event pops off and you play. At least 1 prize ticket for playing; 1 ticket per pack at the prize counter! Best of 3 games, winner gets additional tickets, DONE. Sign up for the next event! Rinse and repeat! The prices for the event weren't great. I'm not sure I'd use the word "outrageous" but I did feel like we were getting ripped off.
It seems like Ravensburger had never attended a TCG event before. I understand that it was their first time hosting an event, but the side events should not have been hosted through Melee.gg, and they should have popped off as they filled up.
I did file a complaint with the prize counter on Saturday, because I did the math and you would need to win all three rounds in ELEVEN events to earn 100 tickets (6 for attending, 2 for participating and each round, and 1 for winning all 3 rounds). I understand they want to make the prizes tough to get, but the packs should have been 1 ticket each. Even with doubling the tickets on Sunday, you'd still need to win all 3 rounds in FIVE events, and that was physically impossible, since each event took 4 hours.
I can't believe the competitors didn't get any tickets! It almost encourages you to not participate! Speaking of the competition, I played against many people on Sunday who played through rounds 5 and 6 and didn't earn anything other than the participation promo. They were upset that they should have dropped and switched to side events. But I don't compete, so I don't know the logic in that. Maybe they were winning. Who knows. Even a booster pack would be nice.
It is also BIZARRE to us that Ravensburger didn't have their own booth with their own merch. One of my friends really wanted a Lorcana hat but he wasn't about to "waste" tickets on that when he knew he could get $$$ promos.
As with most events, people were buying and selling the prize tickets. I traded two of mine away late on Sunday, but not for money! I also heard a rumor that someone was able to simply purchase 30 attendee badges and get the playmat. Which is frustrating, to say the least.
Finally, I had to call a judge for an interesting interaction. In the actual interaction, I hadn't moved Jetsam to Thebes, but pretend I did for this scenario. I have Flotsam (Ursula's Baby) at Thebes. My opponent has Hercules at the Hidden Cove. Both Hercules and the Hidden Cove have 3 damage. Flotsam challenges the Hidden Cove and banishes it. Hercules no longer has the +1 defense from the Hidden Cove and gets banished. Does Thebes trigger? Flotsam banished Hercules while a challenge was resolving. The judge called over the other judges in the area, and they decided that because Hercules was banished "during" a challenge and not "in" a challenge that Thebes didn't trigger. Which we accepted, because that makes sense. Flotsam wasn't challenging Hercules, therefore Hercules wasn't "in" a challenge. Therefore, if Flotsam were at the Hidden Cove and the same thing happened, he wouldn't return to my hand, since he wasn't banished "in" a challenge! I'm sure that interaction has already happened and someone's already posted about it, but I'm proud of myself for calling for a judge and then hearing them tell other judges about it for the rest of the round.
We had a fun time PLAYING, and it was nice to get promos out of it. I wouldn't drive 15 hours (each way) just for the event, though, especially if it runs the same way. We'll wait to see how the next few events go to see if they get their act in order.
Thank you for reading!

I (25F) have kept my relationship with my mom's (51F) ex fiance that she was with for 5 years. Some back story, they were together for 2 years then split up for a year then got back together and stayed together for 3 years, during which time they got engaged. They split up in the summer and I have continued to talk to him and see him periodically. They split up because she felt he was controlling and he started to look at her location when he wasn't with her which I never noticed. Since they split, he could no longer afford the house they had, so he had to sell but at a bad time in the market, so my mom lost some money she put into the house. The ex fiance was around when I first met my now husband, for my wedding, for my graduation from university, when I got my first real car, when I got pregnant the first time and when I miscarried that pregnancy. I am now pregnant again and ex fiance is aware and happy for us and wants to be involved in baby's life. This last weekend it was my dads birthday and ex fiance was invited to the dinner. My mom found out and let me know how it made her uncomfortable, which I was aware of, but I said that I understood, but it is hard to cut contact with someone that has been in my life for 5 years, to which she asked if he is going to be around baby when it comes. I just stated that we hadn't talked about who will and won't be in baby's life yet, which she never replied to. So, AITAH for keeping in contact with my moms ex fiance?
Other information on her patterns. Her and my dad split up when I was 4. She has dated a few people since then. The first one was mentally and physically abusive (they were together for 8 years). I never kept in touch with him because of him abusing his son and my mom. The second was creepy for lack of better word, he went through my dresser drawers when I wasn't home and such, they were together for 2 years. Didn't keep in touch with him because he creeped me out. The third, which she dated for about a year, was controlling and didn't work so he just stayed home all the time and didn't clean or cook while she was out working and did the cleaning and cooking when she came home. Didn't bother keeping in touch with him because he was rude and controlling. The fourth, which she dated during the year ex fiance and her split, was nice but wasn't around a lot since I had moved out, so I never had a relationship with him.

In the episode released this week "Ross and Carrie make Disgusting Babies: Catsup and Brownies Edition" Ross consumes a cannabis infused chocolate bar. The portion given to him is 100mg. Carrie initially tells him to only eat a quarter (25mg) or half (50mg), but after Ross does he says he feels weird not eating the whole thing. Carrie tells Ross he is safe and it's fine if he eats it all (100mg).
Ross has never consumed Cannabis before.
While all people are different, this is an obscenely high starting dose. Carrie says the worst thing that can happen is being high for 3 hours. 3 hours is pretty much the minimum people feel the effects of edibles for. It can be much longer. The experience can also intensify long after consumption and there isn't away to become sober except waiting it out. I'm sure he continued to feel higher and higher after for hours after the podcast recording ended. That can be uncomfortable especially when it's your first time.
In reality I'm sure Ross is fine (he survived Ayahuasca), but he was kind of thrown into the deep end. I would have started him at 5-10mg and waited at least 2 hours before having taking any more.
Cannabis can be very therapeutic when consumed responsibly. It can be very scary when you have no tolerance or combine it with alcohol.
TLDR: Ross ate a 100mg edible his first time cosuming cannabis. As high as he was on the pod he was probably stoned off his ass for the rest of the day. 100mg is a wild starting dose. I would advise 10mg maximum for first timers.

It was a late night in the inn, and Roto gazed down at the old bandanna, running his free hand over the worn dragon head pattern with a nostalgic smile. Hearing a door creak open, he glanced up and smiled at Strix, stashing the bandana in his pack. "Hello, sunfly. Finished?"
The young tiefling gave a nod and cheeky salute as he walked forward. "Yep. All polished up like a richman's watch, papa. You don't need to check anything."
Roto raised a brow ridge at that last bit, and cocked his right ear suspiciously as he stood up. "Oh, is that so? Brushed your teeth, scrubbed behind your ears?"
Strix huffed and rolled his eyes before giving an exaggerated snarl to show off his freshly clean fangs. "Sheee?"
Roto huffed a laugh and walked forward to ruffle his boy's hair before drawing him into a one armed hug. "Only barely. I think you almost blinded me there, kiddo. Good job brushing."
His smile widened as he heard Strix give a soft, happy chirp at the compliment. It'd been a long, hard battle to make sure his son felt safe enough to give off instinctual noises like that, so it was always a relief to hear, especially since it was adorable.
Though, he wouldn't be pointing that out just yet. His sunfly was prideful, and insisted that he was a tough street kid that didn't need any pampering, or any sort of softness at all, never mind that he was alway eager to accept a hug.
So, instead, he let the noise lie and instead reached to give Strix another hair ruffle. Noticing something, he paused, then resumed the hair ruffle anyway as he casually asked, "How about your horns, kiddo? You got them polished, right?"
Strix stiffened, then gave an awkward grin. "Yeeeeeesss?"
Roto sighed in fond exasperation. "Strix..."
The boy huffed, though his tail gave a guilty lash. "It's not as if it's important, papa. My horns have always been just fine, and I didn't have any fancy soap or nothin'."
Roto sighed and guided the boy over to a stool. "Horn care is very important, sunfly, especially with ridged ones like yours. Letting stuff build up under those ridges can affect your health, and that's not something I'm willing to risk with you. Come on, hop up."
The boy grumbled but complied, clambering onto the seat with a pout. Resisting the urge to both coo and laugh, Roto snagged his tin of horn polish and got to work on Strix's horns, soon falling into a soft, nonsense song as he worked. Smiling gently as he noticed Strix relax and begin to hum along, Roto continued, finishing after some time. "And there we are. Not so bad, was it?"
Strix huffed and hopped down off of the stool. His tail flicked back and forth happily, but he gave an uncertain hum. "It...did feel nice...and my horns do feel a little better. Still kinda seems like a waste of shine to buy stuff specifically to take care of these things though."
Roto hugged the boy again. "It's never a waste, of 'shine', time, or anything else, to take care of you, kiddo, and don't you go thinking otherwise."
Strix gave another happy chirp. Flushing slightly, he hid his face in his dad's midsection, nodding. "If you say so, papa."
Roto chuckled and patted the boy's head. "I do say so, as a matter of fact."
Strix hummed, his tail flicking contently. A few seconds later it curled nervously. "Do...Would it be ok if you could help me with my horns more often, papa? It...It was nice."
Roto blinked, then gave a soft, fond smile as his hug tightened. "Of course, sweetheart. Every night, if that's what you'd like."
The young tiefling gave another happy chirp, his tail going back to the content flicking. "Thanks,papa."
Roto's smile widened, and he reached up a hand to ruffle the boy's hair. "Of course, sunfly."
His voice grew a teasing edge as he continued. "After all, I've gotta catch up to Jirvs. He's got all sorts of mischief he gets to do with you."
He continued dryly as he remembered calming down a angered melon salesman earlier that day. "And leaving me to clean up after the both of you, of course."
His own tail flicks happily as Strix giggles. "Poor papa."
Chuckling, Roto ruffled his son's hair just roughly enough to be a fond chide. "Yes, poor papa, you little menace."
He snorted as Strix grinned proudly up at him with no sense of shame whatsoever. Watching as the kid glanced over at the door with a worried frown, he hummed. "He'll be back soon, sunfly. You don't need to worry."
Strix blinked, flushed, then huffed, his cheeks puffed out in a pout. "I'm nat worried about 'em! Ol' Cyclops can take care of 'emself. He's...he's just late, is all."
Roto pulled back, torn between being aghast and breaking down into a giggle fit over his son's sheer audacity. "Strix! You...you can't just call your father that. I thought you were buddies."
Strix, distracted from his worries, blinked and tilted his head in confusion. "We are? That jest means I've gotta mess with him."
Roto's lips curled into a fond, amused grin despite his best attempt at a stern look. "Is that so?"
Strix nodded seriously. "Mhm!"
Roto sighed and pulled the boy back into a hug. "Menace. An absolute menace."
His grin widened as Strix giggled, then softened as the boy glanced towards the door again. "It's ok, sweetheart. Like you said, your father is tough. He's just getting a lay of the land, then he'll be back."
Strix grumbled, leaning against his dad. "I know. You oughta not be watching me, though. I'm not a baby, and you could be watching Pop's back. That's more important."
Roto's hug tightened at that. "Agree to disagree, sunfly. You're very, very important, to the both of us. He's happy that I'm here, watching over you."
Strix huffed at that, but gave a content chirp at the tightened hug despite himself. "I can take care of myself, even if we didn't have Swiftpaw to watch me back instead."
Roto hummed reassuringly. "That doesn't mean you should have to, sweetheart. We're supposed to protect you, and that's exactly what we're going to do, alright?"
Strix huffed, but nodded. "Ok, papa."
Roto relaxed in relief. He knew this particular war wasn't won just yet, but at least he won the battle. He hummed thoughtfully, getting an idea. "How about I tell you about when him and me first met? Sound fun?"
He grinned as Strix perked up, then tried to hide it with a disinterested shrug. "If you wanna."
Roto nodded and walked over to the bed, curling up on it and holding an arm up. "I do, as a matter of fact. C'mere, firefly."
He smiled as Strix accepted the invitation and curled up against him. Tugging the boy closer, he shared a fond, knowing nod with Swiftpaw as the Wyldhound curled around Strix's free side before starting his story. "Now, this was back during the war in my homeland, when I was living in the main Rebel Camp. I was just a little older than you, and like a certain little sunfly very sure I was old enough and big enough to be responsible for not just myself, but in helping the adults with every little scrap of skill I had."
He booped Strix's nose, grinning as the boy wrinkled it and shot him a pout. Chuckling, he continued, his voice growing fond as he remembered all the rebels that looked out for him. "Thankfully, the adults were less convinced, and had managed to get me into a habit of wandering around to do light work for my little workshop. Talking with various rebels to see if I was doing a good job, seeing what needed crafting, so on so forth. On one of these walkabout days I came across a brave young archer. Now, as we talked, I had a feeling we'd become good friends, but little did either of us know we'd become so much more...."
He continued the story and recounting how they met, then moved onto stories about the mischief both of the boys had gotten into. Eventually, he heard soft breathing, and looked down to see a now slumbering Strix. He gives a soft, so very fond smile, and leaned down to nuzzle the boy's head. His smile widened as the boy gave a content hum and curled deeper into his papa's side. "Heh. Good night, my little sunfly."

TW: regret over TFMR for T21, talk of LC, graphic talk of D and E, fetal pain
I know the “grass is always greener on the other side” but sometimes I have overwhelming feelings of regret over my TFMR for T21, almost two years ago. My baby boy would be 15 months old now.
Today when I was looking at my LC, I just felt this overwhelming pain that I made a mistake. When I look at my daughter I often envision what my son would have looked like. I have read stuff on the Down Syndrome Reddit board, which I know I should stop but I have felt a lot of doubt because of it. There are people who didn’t find out the diagnosis until birth, and now they are glad they didn’t know because their child is healthy and the joy of their life. I feel like since my son didn’t have any markers at the 14 week ultrasound it’s possible he didn’t have any other complications . When they did the CVS there was some additional material on Chromosome 11, and that was what pushed us toward TFMR. But then they sent it off for further testing while we proceeded to TFMR and once he was gone they said that it was likely it was a mosaic pattern. Meaning that it was probably just extra material in the placenta.
I know raising a child with a disability would have been very hard but sometimes I feel like maybe it’s even harder to live with the regret and pain of ending his life. On top of that, I have so much regret that we went the D and E route instead of L and D. I so wanted to be able to bury him and I hate what they do to babies during the D and E. I asked two different doctors what would happen to him before we went through with it and they were really vague about it…they said he would pass “upon first insertion of instruments” but wouldn’t tell me what that meant. I feel like I was mislead and only told the truth afterward. I read about the procedure online and couldn’t believe that it was true. I thought it was probably-life propaganda. But then a doctor told me that “sometimes they don’t come out in one piece.” I know that doctors say they don’t feel pain until at least 24 weeks and I was under anesthesia but I have read medical literature that contradicts the current research about fetal pain. I have read articles that talk about it being possible to feel pain much earlier. It hurts like hell to know what happened to my baby’s little body. I feel like I failed to protect him and he could be here with us now if I hadn’t let them take him.
I am almost two years out and I still don’t have a sense of peace about what happened. For reference, I also had to TFMR again last month for a fatal brain condition. It hurts but I have much less regret because I know we spared him from a likely painful death (he was going to have to go on a breathing tube and feeding tube and still would have died). I couldn’t handle giving birth just to watch him go into an incubator to be put on life support and then die. I’m glad he went peacefully in the womb surrounded by warmth and love. We did L and D for him so it feels less psychologically traumatic with the way he went. Plus we were able to meet and bury him, which provided closure. The grey diagnosis is so incredibly hard and that is why I struggle so much more with regret over my first TFMR.

A colleague tried to get into crocheting amigurumis but it wasn't for her, so she quit and sold me her stash for a cheap price. I'm getting around 10 skeins of a thinner yarn (don't know the exact type yet) and 10 skeins of chenille yarn, all in different colours. I'm fairly new myself and familiarized myself with the basic stitches and I thought I'd try out some basic amigurumis next (current WIPs are an infinity scarf and a moss stitch baby blanket). I know that chenille could be challenging for my first amigurumis, but do you have any cute, relatively easy patterns I could try? Or other suggestions for chenille projects with different colours as I don't have that much of each colour? I don't have a picture of the yarn to post yet, but it's basically all the main colours including black and white.

My heart pulsed with furious terror and my eyes finally opened. My screams were muffled by the glass canopy of the Immersion Pod, and I hurriedly squealed the command to let me out. In full panic, I exited, removing feedback catheters and other equipment from me as the glass slowly opened. My screams echoed through the station's empty halls as I frantically clambered out of the pod and up against a wall, my teeth chattering from terror. I continued to scream for help that never came, yelling for subordinates long since gone.
This is the same scene that has played out nearly every day for the last two years. Every pod contains a new nightmare. Each time I closed my eyes I saw a new horror, experiencing a new heartbreak. Each time I got out, I screamed my antennae off and desperately clawed away at the glass to escape my confinement. And every single time it always ends the same. I get out, cower in a corner and continue to scream, while the images of everything that happened flashed in my mind.
Each time, it ended the same. No help comes. My screams were heard by only the empty walls of the station. I would always shake my head and return to my senses when the rush was over and my brain realized it was no longer in danger. I sat in the corner, shivering a bit. I could still feel their teeth gnawing at my flesh. I held my hands up, my three digits in front of me and the image of a set of two arms with five meaty digits flashes before my eyes. My recovery time is stifled by the familiar sound of metallic squeaking, followed by a familiar whirr.
I scoffed at it and stood up, my four footpads not used to the cold linoleum flooring and I shivered a bit. I looked up at the strange newcomer and approached it. A strange robot or droid, built into the station. It was a spherical orb, mounted onto an extendable robotic arm, with a single, large eye mounted in the middle of its frame. I scoffed at it again as the tiny motors inside its frame forced its various plates of armor and covering to form a facial expression, one which I could only consider to be a 'concerned smile'.
"Go away Orbie Thing." That was the nickname for it. "I don't need to deal with you right now."
I shoved it aside and retreated down the corridor. I could traverse this path in my sleep, having done it nearly every day for the last two years. I walked down two corridors, left, right, down a set of stairs and to the end towards the hangar bay. There, I stood quietly, staring intently at the entrance to the transport corvette my fellows left behind for me so many months ago. Every time I come here... It would always end the same way. I would stare at it for an hour. Figure that There was still too much to do, too much at stake. Like I was missing something.
And every time I did, I would shake my head, return to the interior and carry on, writing in my journal as I recalled every moment from what I just suffered. I went up to the control room and sat at the console. I began typing. Ignoring the whirrs of Orbie Thing appearing beside me. I ignored it and started my report.
"Researchers Log Date 11.8.99. Research Facility codename 'Echoes Of Man'. Operative Tharaxx Kanaar Of Brood Theta-Kai reporting. It seems all of the pods in 'Deck S, Section Z', all contain simulations of a thing the creators of this facility refer to as a 'zombie apocalypse', and thus far... this one was the worst."
I pressed a series of buttons and played a video on the holo screen in front of me, complimenting my log data. It played a recording of my latest sojourn, seemingly from the eyes of the very individual who experienced it.
"Pod contains an interactive recording, seemingly a creation of the user - of his final moments, as it appears as though it comes directly from his perspective. I believe it to be portable recording equipment of some kind, or some variant of bionics at least. Recording shows the result of what is known as a Zombie Outbreak."
I let the recording play and allowed the desperate screams of a man about to die once again echo through my ears. The video started with him desperately yelling a series of 'No, god no!' before bolstering himself and holding a rifle. A series of loud bangs can be heard as a horde of infected individuals bursts through the door to be met with gunfire.
I pause the recording. "The context of this recording I can... at least attempt to make sense of was that this individual was caught off guard and cornered by a horde of 'zombies', defined in Human media and historical archive as 'mindless shambling corpses whose only desire is to feed'. In this case, these 'zombies' were brought about due to a highly contagious strain of virus, callsign 'Knox'."
I let the recording play. It showed a legion of dozens of half-rotting corpses breaking each other's bones in order to get to the individual, just crawling over the bodies as they are gunned down. The weapon jammed, forcing the man into a blind panic as more of the undead encroached on him. I ended the recording there.
"For the sake of sanity, the remainder will be available on the transcript archive. For purposes of the record however, the subject is set upon, and torn limb from limb as he is eaten alive."
I sit back in my seat and take a deep breath, Orbie Thing watching me closely. His little face plates contorting into what he thinks may calm me down.
"Once again, the purpose and reason behind this facility and its contents, is yet to be determined. The 'Immersion Pods' as we know them, contain short or long term recordings of a subject's memories or experiences through means as yet undetermined. These experiences range from what you just saw, all the way to death defying stunts, high speed racing events, horrible crashes and acts of... unimaginable cruelty. Why... is as yet unknown. Log ends. Operative Tharaxx Kanaar Of Brood Theta-Kai."
I sat there, unmoving for a few minutes, just trying to calm down. I looked to my right and Orbie Thing was there but... he had... changed.
"Wh-Orbie Thing... Wasn't your eye blue earlier? Why is it... Purple?" I asked.
"It has been interesting observing your activities." A mechanical voice suddenly spoke.
I screamed and jumped out of my seat. "AH! WHAT!?"
He approached me by moving the little robotic arm toward me. "I said: 'It has been interesting observing your activities.' Was I not clear before?" It said again, contorting its little faceplates to taunt me.
"Two damn years you haven't said a word and now you speak! What are you!?" I stood up and pointed at him, demanding answers.
"There is no need to point. That is rude. Please stop that." He said to me, his faceplates moving to an expression of disgust. "My name is Wheatley. I am this station's Archive A.I."
"Impossible! Is this a prank!? Artificial Intelligence is impossible! We proved it so many times!" I yelled, looking around for a hidden control panel.
"For you, yes. You use crystal lattice matrices in your electronics, mostly made of semi or non-conductive materials. While impressive it is highly... Constraining for any kind of thought pattern. Your most complex computer is the equivalent of a twentieth century gaming computer. It's quite impressive how far you came with it." His face contorted into what could only be construed as a 'mocking smirk'.
"I do not know if I should be grateful or insulted..." I said and sat on my seat, unable to consider any further course of action.
"I apologize. It was not meant to be an insult. You simply have a difference in materials that limits your electronics ability to think. To actually be here with that limitation is by itself an impressive feat. But as always..." A holoscreen appeared in front of me. A technical blueprint. "Improvements can always be made."
I took one look at it and immediately copied it to my system archive and sent it through a relay back to home. I'm not an engineer by any means but even a simpleton could see the value in that blueprint. I stared at him, aware what I did was just plain rude but I had no idea how to proceed.
"I... I'm sorry, I don't..."
"A predictable response. It's okay. I'm used to it." He pulled up the holo screen and showed me a compilation of that same event happening a hundred times. Each time, a different species was at the controls and a different blueprint was displayed.
"Okay that's enough!" I yelled out and started my recording software, and a live link to home to be sure. "Let's do this properly. Please... Wheatley? Yes that was it. Wheatley, would you please explain to me, what the actual fuck is going on?"
His armor plating closed in all at once in a blink. The expression was clearly very shocked, very surprised. "Oh my... Congratulations. You are the first one to use the word 'please' since this experiment was started."
He let out a mechanical chuckle and I just sighed in response. "Okay... Thanks? So... What are you then?"
"Oh yes, forgive my indulgence. I am Management AI Variant 'Wheatley', I am the operator of this research facility. I am a Personality Core, a Quantum Computation Matrix Unit, built to operate the systems over long terms. Long terms as in, several thousand eons. Pleasure to meet you." He smiled at me.
"Quantum computation!? That... exists!?" I bent over the desk, cradling my head in preparation for a rapidly approaching migraine. "Ohhh my head..."
"I think I should be used to this now, really. Your electronics capabilities are so... forgive the term 'weak', that such things are pipedreams. No... Quantum computation is in fact, little more than the next step. Truth be told, my quality of computation system was outdated two centuries after I was pumped out of the factory. But... we shall talk about that later, shall we?" His faceplates contorted into a smile.
"Yes... I think that's good. What is this place, and what was it for?" I asked, paying full attention.
"This facility is one of very, very many. An exact copy of two hundred or so such units. My creatures, 'humans', built us specifically to teach the human experience, good and bad, to the wider universe. One facility sent to the four corners of each galaxy we can find. Do note though, this wasn't a civilisation effort. It was the craft of ONE man. He was a bit... eccentric." He said with a mechanical chuckle.
"Wait... One man built this!?" I said shocked.
"Let me elaborate. This was less a scientific endeavor and more an eccentric art project that nobody seemed to object to. It had one premise: Expose aliens, alternate civilisations and otherworldly entities to the human experience, both real and simulated, and see how they respond to it. Well... it started out like that and developed into something a bit more... meaningful." He replied.
"Oh... Ohhh... Okay." I relied, cradling my aching head. "So I have spent the last two years of my life subjecting myself to unimaginable torture for... an... art project? Made by some crazy guy?" I asked, my tone of voice full of defeat.
"Well yes. You consider it torture... but you havent... Looked at things... Have you? You've been too traumatized to notice the bigger picture. You haven't... shall we say, 'learned the lesson'? It's quite funny really! It seems to be a common occurrence." He twisted his faceplates into a mocking smirk.
"Elaborate. Please."
"This facility is meant not only to teach a lesson but to be rewarded for that lesson. These pods contain simulations or actual recovered memories of real life events. So let me make this simpler for you." He said as he drew a selection of videos on the holo-screen.
"Please do..." I asked, paying full attention.
"Imagine an emperor who enslaves others. Enslave HIM, strip him of his status and put him in chains. Show him what it means to be a slave. Show him the abuse. Show him the exhaustion. Show him the torture. Make him feel the suffering he inflicts on others. Ask yourself... Do you think he would still be in favor of slavery after that?"
The images flashing before me showed a recording from the eyes of the person suffering it, being whipped, being beaten, being... used... being forced to work endless hours digging, fighting, burning.
"Now go into something more... direct. An attorney with a habit of falsely accusing others of crimes. And prosecuting others on those terms. Put him in cuffs, put him behind bars with a rigged trial. Silence him. Do to him what he did to others. Let him understand what happens. Do you think he would be in favor of continuing his actions?"
The images passed over a criminal trial of some kind, from the perspective of a victim of a crooked lawyer who is held on trial for false pretenses, has his entire family ruined and is put in prison.
"Or perhaps something more... large scale? Do you think any politician or any form of leadership would start a war if HE was the one who had to fight in it?"
The video showed multiple perspectives of an active war, fought through the eyes of the soldiers who died in it. The first one in some kind of trench line as a gas attack hits. The second one in some kind of metal war machine that guns down dozens of men before being hit by artillery. The last one showing a ground perspective of a bombing campaign.
"This entire facility is dedicated entirely to the concept of 'to put oneself in someone else's shoes.' Of course when we ran out of lessons to teach, we... well. You figured that out yourself."
He chuckled as he played the recording of the zombie apocalypse I suffered through earlier. "Okay. I think I get it but... What puzzles are you talking about exactly? You said something about puzzles?"
"Oh that! Heh, that's hilarious. Nobody figures it out until way beyond the pale. Too little too late as it goes. I digress, sorry. Within some memories, some simulations and some systems, the creators crafted custom segments hidden in the background. You have to be VERY observant to notice them but, well, it's there. See for yourself."
He smiled again and played a certain segment of the zombie apocalypse recording, then paused it on a specific frame. There, sitting on the wall in front of me was the blueprint I just sent to home that this robot just casually gave me.
"OH COME ON!" I yelled out in frustration and slammed my head on the console to a gale of mocking mechanical laughter.
"Oh god I love that bit! When they realize the answer was literally staring them in the face and they missed it! Never gets old! Hahaha!" He continued to mock me for a little bit longer.
"Okay, okay! I get it! You can stop being such a gandus you know!"
"Ah yes... Gandus. Your specific word for 'dick'. That's still funny! Oh so many times that has happened! Your species is the tenth that has visited and occupied this facility. They all use that word! Anyway, back to work..." He was barely able to contain his laughter.
"Okay stop. One thing. Before we continue, I must ask. So others have been here?" I asked.
"Yes. Many others."
"And what happened to them?" I asked again, curious.
"Attempts at destruction that were ultimately fruitless. Abandonment of all projects and quarantining of the star system under dubious pretenses. Full on psychopathy as they cant process the images they witness. All sorts of stuff. You are the first one to survive past the first month. Congratulations!" He replied in kind with more mockery in his tone.
"I see. Let me think... Uhh... What are the blueprints? What exactly is the reward for solving this 'puzzle' thing?" I asked.
"Technical schematics, manufacturing specifications and operating blueprints for various pieces of technology we acquired through the time we were around. Dyson spheres, matryoshka brains, black hole inhibitors, wormhole units. All sorts of things, hidden deep in the code, some deeper than others, some as plain as day. I like to think of it as ah... hm... whats a suitable analogy... 'a helping hand at the tip of a middle finger' so to speak." He replied calmly, seemingly smugly.
"I... Oh I get it now. That's... That's just evil. That's just plain evil! Hiding the secrets to the universe within the bounds of immersive memories of horrifying circumstances! THAT. IS. EVIL!"
"Meh. It's more crazy than evil. Lets just say when we finally said goodbye, we did so with both middle fingers raised. The universe was not exactly friendly when humanity was around." He said with a frown.
"Why is that?" I asked, actually curious for once.
"The universe runs on a cycle. Civilisation rises, lives, exists, falls. Great Filter and all that. The last time the Universe ran its cycle, humanity were the only ones to actually survive their Filters. We entered the universal cycle late and by the time we expanded from our home galaxy - this one - we realized we had come too late. And we were alone. The universe was empty. Galaxy by galaxy, system by system. We. Were. Alone. It was very disappointing!" His tone of voice was odd, as if he didnt know how to be depressed.
"So... you left these stations behind because.. Don't tell me! Let me guess. Erm..." I said and thought for a bit. "You left them behind to teach the universe a lesson and then give them a chance to go farther than you did?"
"Well... half correct. To challenge you to rise above yourself, then allow you to earn your place alongside us after Ascension. Or at least, something like that!" He replied with a silly chuckle.
"Ah." I looked back at my console. "Operative Tharaxx Kanaar Of Brood Theta-Kai reporting. True purpose of the facility has been determined. Priority of further research is now regarded as absolute. Send." I said, heard a beep, then smiled.
"And thus it truly begins." He said.
"What?"
"Either a great victory for sentient life, or the catastrophic rise of a demon empire to rival even the worst we have seen or made ourselves. All I can say is, one way or another, at least we tried." He said, his eye turning back to blue, then wandered away.
Before he did, he opened a media file and played it. It was titled “How to Royally Fuck Up The Universe - Failing to Learn From Ones Mistakes.”

Talking time. It gives me ease. Momma and I went to see Bud today, and our oldest granddaughter accompanied us. Left afterward feeling more peaceful.
It wasn’t always that way for me. For quite a while I dreaded those visits as much as I looked forward to them. Things still too raw, and too much a reminder of who and what had been lost. Better now.
Been sixteen years now, and he’d have been 37 years old this year. Doesn’t hardly seem possible sometimes, but there it is.
That new section of the place was nearly empty when we found a nice spot for him in it. Under a good shade trees that’s grown quite a bit since then.
That was important to me then - that he had good shade. It’s very hot here most of the year, and the dun can be a brutal thing, beating down on you. I didn’t want him lying unprotected under it. Makes no sense, I guess. But good shade and a cooling breeze are very important here, and that place has both.
That part of it has filled up fast, though, in the years since. He has a lot of company now. Have to expand before too much longer. A new section adjacent to it waiting already; brush cleared and grass sown.
We ordered and had delivered, all those years ago, a nice bench so we could sit in the shade of his tree and visit with him whenever we wanted. Glassy black marble, imported from Italy, with a personal inscription on it - wanted the best. On a thick concrete base.
I’d go on my own sometimes, just sit and talk to him a while, imaging he could hear me. Sometimes linger longer in silence, as darkness fell and fireflies came out. Place closed at dusk, but no one ever suggested I leave.
Folks began to ask from where we’d gotten it, as they lost loved ones if their own one at a time. Lot of benches there now.
When we got there today, there was a discarded cleaning rag on the ground in front of his, and a wad of trash stuck in the fork of his tree. Didn’t make me happy - there’s a trash receptacle not fifty feet away. Show a little respect. Lazy bastards, whoever they were.
But a good visit just the same. Expected to see the place full of people, on this day, but we were the only ones in sight. The heat. Been a hot one, 101 degrees. Muggy heat. Sitting on you, making your skin damp. The air so full of moisture that a discernible haze was visible within just a couple, few hundred feet. The air still, with even there only one hint of a breeze the whole time we were there. No birds singing - too hot. More people would come later in the day, probably - when the sun wasn’t as high.
Some thunder and lightning a little while ago, though, but only a bridge smattering of light rain. Still, it’s a little cooler now, and fresh. A relief from the past couple, three nights when the temperature stayed high into the eighties or low nineties all night. Early this year - that usually happens mostly in mid-July.
Been watching my friends at dusk out front on the driveway. That’s when the nighthawks come out. Beautiful birds, patterned in gray and black and white, with a round white mark on the underside of each wing. A hawk’s curved beak.
I like to watch them fly, listen to their soft cries. They fly an erratic course, as does a bat: up and down and around and sideways. Hover momentarily. Going after insects themselves, as I understand it. Smaller birds, not very large.
I think the two I keep seeing are a mating pair, and possibly nesting in the big tree we have here out back. In any event, the two of them are out here every day at dusk. They never fly higher than just above single story rooftop level, and half the time lower than that. In constant erratic motion, darting here and there.
But sometimes, as I stand looking up and watching, they’ll hover over me momentarily, so low I can almost reach up an extended finger for them to perch on. Used to me, I guess. I consider the two of them my friends.
Probably should start putting a shirt on, though - don’t want to frighten passing young children out for a walk with their parents - might think a silverback has escaped-ed from the zoo.
A casual nod hello from me to the men. As for the mothers - drink it in, ladies, drink it in. I really have no shame. Momma says I really should. Everyone’s a critic.
Talked again to Z for hours last night, or rather, in the early morning, and spoke to him again for a while a few hours ago. My schedule is erratic, and now in his situation, so is his. I call him, and I urge him to call me whenever he wants - the hour, late or early, no hindrance. Helps him pass the time, when a game isn’t on.
Looks like he’ll be moved to rehab soon; possibly in the early morning of this coming day. BB did an advance recon of the facility in question, and took them some things Z will be needing when he gets there. He pronounced it first-rate. A Large private room reserved, well-appointed, and with a pleasant view.
He says the staff were friendly and accommodating, and cheerfully answered his every question. I smiled, and refrained from commenting that they would be. Baby Brother is a tall young man, and can be intimidating even when he tries not to be. Well, “young” being a relative term. He’s in his mid fifties.
He’s had an interesting and tumultuous life, and his ugly mug shows it. It’s been rearranged somewhat from time to time. Momma once inquired of him as to the source of one scar on his forehead: bullet exit wound.
“And the other one that crosses through it?”
“I got stabbed.”
“You mean cut.”
“Momma, I wish.”
My brothers Momma loves dearly. But BB has always fascinated her.
I’ve seen him not do well in hospital situations when he Wasn’t happy. Someone called Security once. They brought six. Apparently had been told they might need ‘em.
I got into a scuffle with him only once in our adult years. Until I grabbed a handful of hair: “TOLD you you need a haircut, hippy!” and got him in a good head and neck lock. And kept him in it until he calmed down. Seemed prudent. Didn’t want him getting loose - he was a little annoyed.
Kid was a nuisance.
Our elder daughter the other day brought me a pot of the potato soup she makes so well, that she knows I like.
And she belongs to one of those food clubs that regularly deliver fresh ingredients for various semi-gourmet meals. Brings half of them to us - likes for us to try new things. Gifted the two of us with a professional pottery class in another city once. Mine turned out better than Momma’s - just sayin’.
She called Momma yesterday to inquire as to what I wanted for my upcoming birthday. Food gift certificates, naturally - I’m easy to shop for.
“Which places?”
“DQ this time. Or Sonic or Jack-In-The-Box. It’s my birthday!”
“Not Texas Roadhouse?”
“I would not presume.”
“No Denny’s or I-Hop?”
“We is feuding’. I was not treated right at either last time, and am withholding from them my business.”
“Not treated right how?”
“Denny’s: cold, weak coffee, cold food, warm OJ, and the first time I’d had bacon that was raw on one end and burned on the other. I think the cooks were having an off day. And I had to get the manager’s attention when it was time to pay. He was too busy flirting with one of his waitresses.”
“Ha! She worth flirting with?”
“Your mother’s still listening, sweety. And most definitely.”
“I-Hop?”
“They poisoned me. Don’t eat the sausages if they taste a little off - that’s my advice.”
“Was it bad?”
“You don’t wanna know.”
Momma: “He crapped himself a little - Twice. Nasty bastard.”
“Hush, woman.”
It occurred to me, during the conversation, that both of our daughters seem to want to take care of us. It’s as if they think we’re getting old. I had thought to correct her immediately if that mistaken assumption.
Then remembered that I’d been limping again for the past week and a half. The knee on the bad leg complaining again. The foot before that. And the ankle before that.
The shoulder is stiff again: fell from a height off a ladder on the FD. Fortunately, my head had hit the pavement first, so no other major damage done.
Had to ask Momma to remind me of the names of both Sonic And Jack-In-The-Box.
And yesterday called Penny by her mother’s name. Twice. She thought it was funny. Little brat.
But I think I might finally have Jack broken of the habit of peeing in the front yard - do That out back, like a gentleman should.
A family had been passing by on a healthy family constitutional perambulation the last time, and he’d waved and given a cheery “Hello!” midstream. They seemed to find it disconcerting.
But with his pride and joy at the moment occupied in other pursuit, at least he hadn’t waved It at anybody this time. He’s been known to.