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The United States of America is blessed with some of the most diverse travel destinations. Be it the busy hum of cities, sparkling beaches, picturesque driveways, monuments soaked in history, futuristic amusement parks, deep salty oceans, cascading waterfalls, the list is endless!
The month of May is one of the best times to travel to and within USA. As the spring sets in, days get pleasantly warm, and with the expensive summer season lurking around the corner, I think this is the best time to take a vacation.
We have compiled for you the best places to visit in USA in May. You cannot go wrong with these destinations!
1. Walt Disney World, Florida
Image Source: Pixabay.com
Often called the happiest place on the planet, Walt Disney World is an entertainment complex set in Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista. With four theme parks, two water parks, a sports complex, many golf course, more than 20 hotels, and multiple restaurants, cafes and shops (phew!), Mickey Mouse heads this place as the town's mayor. Sprawling across an area of 47 square miles, the Walt Disney World boasts acres of unspoilt landscapes like the many magical lakes, wildlife, wetland forests, and woodland; and numerous theme-based rides, soaring castles, and animal reserve that have been carefully crafted to entice people of all age groups.
From Star Wars and Disney Princesses to luxury fine-dine and Disney parades, it is the attention to detail and originality that has led Walt Disney World retain its position as one of the top-rated attractions in USA.
Things to do: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios
Best for: Families, Couples
Weather: Warm, comfortable and humid. With 10 hours of sunshine every day, the maximum daytime Temperature can reach 31°C, about 88°F
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2. Miami Beach, Florida
Image Source: Pixabay.com
Unquestionably one of the best beaches in Florida, Miami Beach in Florida is posh, classy, and naughty. Put on your bathing suit, hit the beach and play in the gentle blue waves roll up the beach, or sit back and sigh at the ocean as the waves lap the beach in a steady rhythm. If you are in town, drive along the Ocean Drive and whiz past many lavish art-deco buildings, lounge at one of its sun-kissed poolside terraces, enjoy the sweeping views of the glittering skyline, or simply indulge in one of the chic restaurants overlooking the ocean. Undoubtebly the best destinations for a holiday in USA in May.
Things to do: Beach-bum at the South Beach, shop and dine at the Lincoln Road, and more.
Best for: Families, Honeymooners, Solo travellers
Weather: Blessed with plenty of sunshine, the maximum daily temperature touches 30°C. Make sure you splash on a good amount of sunscreen if you plan you spend your day at the beach.
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Related Posts:
- Places to Visit in USA in April
- Spring Break Destinations in USA
- Cheap Summer Vacations in USA
3. Sonoma, California
Image Source: Pixabay.com
Renowned for its rugged colonial-era architecture, varietal art galleries, bold culinary experiences, and world-class wineries, Sonoma lies at a short drive north of San Francisco. The tangerine skies at the sunset serve as a perfect backdrop to the miles long vineyards. Gateway to good times, Sonoma has some of the best landscapes that look straight out of the painting.
Things to do: Visit the Sonoma Plaza, explore the Sonoma Train Town Railroad, relax at the Sonoma State Historic Park, and go wine-tasting at the Buena Vista Winery.
Best for: Families, Couples.
Weather: The weather is Mediterranean-like climate during May. The average daily temperature hovers around 21°C, about 69°F
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4. Kauai, Hawaii
Image Source: Pixabay.com
Fondly called "the Garden Isle", Kauai is the geologically the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands. With the dazzling blue ocean surrounding it on all sides, the different hues of green and blue are too good to be true. This island is packed with beaches, hiking trails, towering cliffs and canyons, seashores, natural history, raging waterfalls, indulgent cuisine, spas, shopping, music and so much more.
Kauai is also home to some of the most luxurious resorts in the world. This island will surely check off your ultimate traveller's bucket list!
Things to do: Hike through the Na Pali Coast State Park, relax at the isolated beaches of Polihale State Park, walk past the scenic Na 'Aina Kai Botanical Gardens, and explore the Albert Spencer Wilcox Building
Best for: Couples, Honeymooners, Adventure travellers
Weather: Daytime temperatures lie in the range of mid 80s F while nights are cooler at 70s F
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5. Seattle, Washington
Image Source: Pexels.com
My memory of Seattle is the one from Grey's Anatomy. This city is windy, cold, fast, electrifying, and scintillating. But Spring here is amazing! Surrounded by water and greens, this port city is home to some of the nicest parks in the state. The most striking feature of Seattle is the soaring Space Needle. Of course, the view from the top is nothing short of magical, with the ground below bustling with lights and life. Come with your family and this city has something to offer to everyone. There are so many things to do in Seattle including gardens, museums, promenades, markets, shops, and lively food scenes.
Also, let's not forget, giants like Microsoft and Amazon are headquartered here.
Things to do: Watch the city from high up above from the Space Needle, dig into local street food at the Pike Place Market, Sail through the bay at Puget Sound, click a selfie at the Gum Wall, and watch the beautiful blooms at the Chihuly Garden and Glass
Best for: Families, Couples, Explorers
Weather: With temperatures ranging between 65 and 48 degrees Fahrenheit, May is considered the best time to visit Seattle.
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6. Big Sur, California
Image Source: Flickr.com
Big Sur is a patch that stretches 90 miles between California's Carmel and San Simeon and is considered one of the most scenic driveways in the US. Treating you to the bewitching views of the Pacific Ocean as it collides with the terrestrial worlds, Big Sur has many attractions along its way like camping grounds, hiking areas, natural waterfalls, redwoods, and wildlife.
As your favourite radio take command of your ears, your eyes would be treated to the views of rocky outcrops while cool breeze brushes past your skin as you drive past the jagged road.
Things to do: Drive through the 17-Mile Drive, camp in the Los Padres National Forest, bathe under the natural waterfalls in the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, go hiking at the McWay Falls, and explore the Mission San Carlos Borroméo del río Carmelo
Best for: Families, Honeymooners, Explorers, Adventure travellers
Weather: A comfortable temperature with an average daily of 12°C, Big Sur promises big fun!
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7. Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
Cape Cod is a gorgeous peninsula that extends into the Atlantic Ocean making it one of the best tourist gateways on the East Coast. With diverse range of outdoor activities to choose from, Cape Cod will treat you to some of the most dramatic sunsets, immaculate white beaches, and postcard perfect lighthouses. Cape Cod springs to life during the spring and summer seasons with scores of tourists making their way to the town.
Make your ways through innumerable trails that are most ideal for walking, hiking, and wildlife-watching, or climb up the lighthouse and watch the sunrays stream through the clouds as they reach down to kiss the waters of the sea, Cape Cod is nothing short of a paradise.
Things to do: Explore attractions like Pilgrim Monument, Heritage Museums and Gardens, Highland Light, Nauset Light, Nobska Light and many more
Best for: Families, Solo travellers
Weather: While the days start get warmer, the evenings are cooler. Average daily temperature lies between 62 degrees Fahrenheit and 78 degrees Fahrenheit.
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8. Portland, Oregon
Image Source: Pixabay.com
Sandwiched between the Columbia and Willamette rivers, Portland is Oregon's largest city. Blessed with copious natural beauty with many urban parks, leafy trees, and vibrant flower bushes, the grand snow-capped Mount Hood overlooks Portland in the most majestic way. The many beautiful attributes of Portland are its gardens, museums, historical buildings, dive bars, craft breweries, coffee house, boutique restaurants, food trucks, book shops, and more.
Come May, and the warmth of the spring has set in and the woollen jacket and mitts are no longer necessary. And as you make your way through the city, the 'Keep Portland Weird' thing will keep reminding you of the uniqueness of this city.
Things to do: Visit the Lewis and Clark National and State Historical Parks, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Pittock Mansion, Lan Su Chinese Garden, Oregon Zoo, and many more.
Best for: Families, Couples
Weather: Days are steadily warm with an average of 20°C while nights are a bit chilly at 9°C
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9. Gulf Shores, Alabama
Image Source: Flickr.com
Miles of white sand beaches lacing Alabama's coast along the Gulf of Mexico, Gulf Shores is a resort city in Baldwin County, Alabama. A family favourite, the sea here is sometimes gentle, and sometimes tempestuous. And while the preservers and state parks form most part of the area, its sea-food restaurants are not-to-be-missed.
On the beach, stretch out your bare hands at the ocean as the breeze plants its salty kisses on your cheeks; back in the town, walk through it and brush up on the by-gone ear at the historic Fort Morgan. A perfect weekend getaway, visit Gulf Shores this May because there is no better way to unwind.
Things to do: Enjoy beach activities at the Gulf State Park, experience a hands-on encounter with animals at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, enjoy water rides at Waterville USA, and camp at the Meaher State Park.
Best for: Explorers, Solo travellers, Families
Weather: The month of May is comfortable with the temperatures rarely falling below 50°F or exceeding 75°F.
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10. Florida Keys
Image Source: Pixabay.com
Extending into the Caribbean, with the Atlantic Ocean to its east and the Gulf of Mexico to its west, Florida Keys is a coral archipelago and one of the favourite beach destinations in USA. The drive to Key Largo is scenic, with the dazzling blue of the ocean on each side. Once on the island, you can explore many parts of it on foot, but the main highlight remains its beaches. The views here are hypnotic, and with the only living coral reef in the United States, you can spend your day lazing on the beaches.
As you wake up to the views of the sea that disappears behind the bougainvillea, the days here seem pretty laid-back. In the evening, make sure you refuel yourself with scrumptious sea-food that is just off the boat. It cannot get fresher than this.
Things to do: Apart from engaging in the numerous beach activities, you can visit the Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Museum, Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Centre, and more
Best for: Couples, Honeymooners, Families
Weather: Day get rapidly warm with temperatures ranging between 84 and 87 degrees Fahrenheit
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With a summer-ish weather hugging many states of the USA in May, grab your gear coz it's time to go exploring.
Have more to add to the list? Comment below.
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This post first appeared on Triphobo Travel, please read the originial post: here


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Hard disk capacity surges in the Middle East
Almost one-third of desktop PCs in the Middle East are packing over 20 Gbytes of hard disk space, according to new research from ITP.net.
Plummetting prices and new storage-hungry applications are pushing Middle East PC users into buying more and more hard disk space.
Over half of all visitors to ITP.net in August say they have over 15 Gbytes of disk space at their disposal in their desktop PCs. The sweet spot for the market this time last year was only 10 Gbytes, according to similar research.
Home PCs are likely to have even more storage on board, suggests Robin Duff, editor of Windows User Magazine. "The need for additional storage space for office desktops is mostly driven by ever-expanding applications and databases. At home, it is driven more by people downloading large files like music and video from the Internet," he said.
The relatively small percentage of ITP.net visitors with less than 5 Gbytes of disk space points to the fact that most people are running PCs that are less than two years old. "Spending on PCs has increased dramatically in the Middle East over the past two years and people tend to go for the best configuration they can afford, rather than selecting the leanest configuration they can get away with for their requirements," explaind Duff. "It has been possible to buy a very well equipped PC for under $1000 for some time in this region, and this is what the market is gravitating towards," he added.

subset: commoncrawl


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From AudioFile Magazine:
H.G. Wells's tale of the end of the world as we know it is an entertaining fable, in which lawyers and politicians battle giant animals and giant humans before an inevitable military confrontation. Robert Whitfield gives a merry air to the adventure, creating just the right attitudes for each of the many characters and shifting tone deftly with the writing. Depending on the circumstances, he conveys a sense of wonder or a nonchalance that makes giant rats seem perfectly ordinary. First published in 1904, this satirical novel holds up well today, and the reading makes listening something to anticipate. J.A.S. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award. © AudioFile 2000
The Food of the Gods by H. G. Wells
From AudioFile Magazine:
About SimonSimon is an actor who found his way into audiobook narrating as a side-gig and seems to have made a success of it. With some training as an actor as a child (just a couple of hours a week, but it stuck) and 15 years working inside the BBC (ending up as one of the presenters/newsreaders on BBC Radio 4 in London) he found the ideal combination for an audiobook narrator. Found his way to California two decades ago and never left.
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Il gruppo di studenti della 3N e 3O, appena tornati dall'esperienza ASL a Bath, soddisfatti scrivono:
The Group of Bath 3N. 3O 18th- 25th november 2018
They were 42 or more
Decided absolutely to Explore
The lands around the city of Bristol,
Brave and proud in their headphones
Unfortunately they found a lack of food
Cats, dogs and cold in every room
So that they were necessarily obliged
To walk around to be a bit satisfied
Lessons, presentation and interview
Time passed but not only at the school
Morning books , afternoon Art
oh Yes, but party every night!!!
Salisbury and Stonehenge in rainy day
Never mind , we still are gay
London busy, cold, supreme
our trip now remains in our Dreams


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Feature / 13 Mar 2018
Oil palm landscapes: Playing the long game with palm oil
Using role-play to improve landscape management in Cameroon
Cameroon - This article is the third in a four-part series on a global study on Oil Palm Adaptive Landscapes.
It might come as a surprise to see suited Cameroonian government officials poring over glass marbles, scorecards and stacks of play money in the middle of a regular workday.
But the game they're playing has a serious purpose.
Palm oil has long been used locally in cooking and personal care products, and more recently as a biodiesel feedstock. In colonial times, the oil and kernels were among the country's most valuable export goods.
However, because of various supply chain issues, Cameroon is no longer self-sufficient and increasingly relies on imports from Indonesia, Malaysia and neighboring Gabon.
"You can see idle industrial mills and, at the same time, rotting fresh-fruit bunches on the roadsides," says ETH Zurich/CIRAD scientist, Claude Garcia.
The Oil Palm Adaptive Landscape (OPAL) project, which began in 2015 and will span six years, aims to improve the management of oil palm landscapes in Cameroon, Colombia and Indonesia.
The project represents a partnership between Swiss university ETH Zurich, the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), and a number of international NGOs and country partners – in Cameroon, this includes the World Wide Fund for Nature Cameroon (WWF Cameroon) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER).
The OPAL project in Cameroon, building largely on earlier CIFOR research, has focused on uncovering inefficiencies in the oil-palm value chain. The system is complex, and decisions are made at all levels, with far-reaching and often-unforeseen consequences for other people, the economy and the environment.
"If you're an official and you're always in the office," says Micresse Kamto, one of the Cameroon-based game facilitators, "it's really hard to understand the struggles that smallholders encounter in the field," so even the best-intentioned policies and strategies can decidedly miss the mark, he says.
Taking a Companion Modeling approach, OPAL workshops help stakeholders explore possible future scenarios for oil palm production, and to better understand different parties' decision-making and behavior, using role-play games that get participants to 'walk a mile in each other's shoes'.
The results are impressive. "After one game, people with 25 years' experience in the field will stop, look at you and say: 'Now I see things differently,'" says Garcia.
"And that's very, very powerful, and I don't know of any other way to create that – no policy brief, no PowerPoint presentation, no report is going to have that kind of impact. It's only a mock-up experience, but it's much better than anything else."
If you're an official and you're always in the office, it's really hard to understand the struggles that smallholders encounter in the field
The first Cameroonian workshops, in 2015, brought smallholders together with representatives of industry, government and civil society to develop the game with the research team. Once the game was running, they would spend a day at a time playing out different scenarios for oil palm expansion, using it as a tool to reflect local realities.
Government officials were ascribed the role of smallholders, and experienced the cash-flow and time-pressure challenges that form part of these people's everyday lives. The impact was immediate: "When they run out of time to get their fruit to the mill and it rots, some of them get really angry!" laughs Kamto.
Suddenly, smallholders' decisions to sell their fruit to the local 'artisanal' mills, which are much less efficient but often offer better prices and quicker payments than the larger industrial ones, made sense.
"You're in a situation where you're under pressure to make ends meet at the end of the month, and the industrial mill is far away so you need to organize delivery, and they pay you with a contract so you only get your cash later on," explains Garcia.
Smallholders also found the experience useful, as while 'playing themselves' in the game, they began to see the value of practices like forming cooperatives to pool costs and labor, says Kamto.
"Usually, in the localities, smallholders work alone. But during the game they realized it would be cheaper to band together and rent a big truck to take all the fruit to the mill at once. And then only one person has to go, and the rest can stay home and keep working."
It also provided a rare opportunity for smallholders to have a real dialogue with representatives of the agro-industries, she says. "They usually don't get the chance to do that, as they spend all of their time in the field — and the agro-industries are not often very approachable for smallholders, either."
As well as providing a helpful way to sketch out future scenarios and look at the bigger picture, the process prompted behavior change among participants, right from the outset. When the research team returned to some sites three months after the game session, they found that industry representatives were calling meetings with smallholders grouped in cooperatives, and changing practices to fit with local realities.
"We're seeing cash being paid instead of promissory notes, and new forms of contracts being negotiated," says Garcia. "That's change, right? That's change happening through the game."
During the game [smallholders] realized it would be cheaper to band together and rent a big truck to take all the fruit to the mill at once
These ripples of change have now spread further, thanks to champions of the approach such as Emmanuel Ngom from MINADER. In 2015, Emmanuel was working with CIFOR and its partners on a national strategy for sustainable palm oil, under the platform of the Inter-Ministry Committee for the Regulation of the Oil Palm Supply Chain, which includes government officials as well as palm oil industry representatives and small growers.
After witnessing the potential of Companion Modeling for helping people understand each other's viewpoints, Emmanuel convinced his colleagues in the committee to devote a day to the process.
Many were skeptical to start off with, says Garcia.
"And that's one of the limits of the method. People don't take games seriously until they've played. So the big challenge is getting them to the table."
But the leap of faith paid off. As CIFOR scientist Patrice Levang explains, through the game session "we were able to build bridges between the various actors in the sector," resulting in increased motivation for cooperation in building a strategy for sustainable palm oil in Cameroon.
Now, versions of the game are being used for a range of purposes. MINADER and WWF Cameroon are employing the process to help create smallholder cooperatives. As Ludovic Miaro of WWF explains, "The rationale is this: If you play this game, we don't need to tell you why you should create a cooperative. You'll do it yourself, out of your own interest."
New elements are also being incorporated into the model, as stakeholders seek to explore different issues in the supply chain, such as increasing fertilizer use and replacing aging plantations. "The model keeps changing as we learn new things, and as the system changes," says Garcia. "So the game is never fixed."
It has also been used in Switzerland with supply chain stakeholders, and in high schools, to explore the concept of sustainability, he says. "The possibilities are plentiful."
Kamto would also like to see the game's usage expanded further. She'd love for smallholders to be able to take a version away to play with colleagues, friends and family — "because they get a lot of benefit out of it, and we don't have time to play it with all the smallholders ourselves".
The OPAL Cameroon team also hopes to get the chance to run a session with the high-ranking civil servants in charge of writing the national strategy for oil palm development, which the government is about to put in place. "We're aiming to present the main solutions proposed by smallholders as part of the game, and have these solutions impact upon the strategy," says Kamto.
All going well, the unconventional approach will continue to help unravel knotty issues in the sector, and create ways forward for oil palm cultivation that serve the Cameroonian economy, environment and people in the years to come.
Part 1: Playing for keeps: How a simple board game could lead to more sustainable palm oil
Part 2: Indonesia's game of palms: Finding ways to conserve forests in the face of expanding plantations
Part 4: Sketching out sustainable futures: New methods for mapping and planning in Colombia
For more information on this topic, please contact Claude Garcia at firstname.lastname@example.com or Pablo Pacheco at firstname.lastname@example.com.
This research forms part of the CGIAR Research Program on Forests, Trees and Agroforestry, which is supported by CGIAR Fund Donors.
This research was supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), the Swiss Programme for Research on Global Issues for Development and the Luc Hoffman Institute.
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We want you to share Forests News content, which is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0). This means you are free to redistribute our material for non-commercial purposes. All we ask is that you give Forests News appropriate credit and link to the original Forests News content, indicate if changes were made, and distribute your contributions under the same Creative Commons license. You must notify Forests News if you repost, reprint or reuse our materials by contacting firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Chapter Eleven
Trip Like I Do
"Hey, just letting you know I'm about to board the westbound water taxi with Scott," Madeline said, calling Levi to give him a head's up. "Just riding it there and back. I should be at home after that, but I'll call or text if plans change."
"Okay, thanks," Levi responded appreciatively. "Have a good time."
Slipping her cell phone back into her purse, she strolled down the wide sidewalk toward the ferry terminal, bundled in a cozy, hooded, long gray sweater. It was practically spring, but Seattle nights were still chilly, and being near the water tended to make things even colder.
It had been over a month since the failed katana job, and Levi had been cautiously screening all of her contract offers. Out of the five she'd been presented, Levi instructed to her decline only one - a proposal that required her traveling back East again. The others were typical transportations of sensitive materials, which she accepted. Other than that, her days had been thankfully uneventful.
Except for Scott.
The past month he had become increasingly edgy; more tattoos, piercings, and rebellious clothing. He also seemed more wired and twitchy than usual, as if he was impatiently waiting for something to happen. He had also made it very clear that he disliked Levi, Caslon, and the rest of Madeline's friends. He hadn't gotten to the point of saying he didn't want her associating with them anymore, but his increasing agitation at the mere mention of any of their names made it apparent that it was only a matter of time before that demand was made.
After a few minutes spent lazily walking toward the terminal, she could see Scott approaching from a distance, an anxious smile on his lips. As they met, she withdrew her hand from the warmth of her pocket and placed it in Scott's as they ascended the ramp to the terminal. They flashed their ride passes at the ticket counter and proceeded to board, heading for their usual bench. As Madeline fastened the top button on her sweater and pulled the drawstring of her hood snug against her hair, Scott wrapped a loving arm around her so she could snuggle into his comforting embrace.
"I got a new barbell for my tongue the other day," he revealed happily, exposing the silver and giving it a flick. "It vibrates. I heard it'll make you go wild."
Images of what he was implying dirtied up her mind for a few seconds before it reminded her of a recent murder she had seen on the local nightly news.
"Did you hear about that guy who got killed in the entertainment district a few weeks ago?" she asked. "A shop manager at a tattoo parlor. It's just crazy how something like that can happen so close. Used to be you'd never hear about anything like that around here. How scary."
"Yeah, it was pretty grisly wasn't it?" Scott shivered dramatically and then smiled. "But I'm sure the guy had it coming. Probably pissed off the wrong person. I wouldn't worry about it."
Madeline was taken aback by his reaction. His lack of compassion and the words he chose to use made her uncomfortable. She was able to deal with the antsy change in his personality to a degree, but not an attitude like this.
"Speaking of which," Scott continued, oblivious to the discomfort he was causing her. "I brought you something. Close your eyes…"
She was apprehensive to close her eyes. The way he used the news of the murder to tie into a gift made zero sense. Before she obliged him, she focused her senses on sound and motion around her. She felt the sudden need to remain alert given his odd behavior. She could hear other passengers nearby, and the splash of water lapping endlessly against the ferry as it carved toward its destination. She remembered her training and how important it was to go for a spot that would bleed to send a vampire fleeing. All of that came flooding back into her mind now, and she discovered she was oddly calm considering the next steps she might have to make.
Scott took her hand, and she felt the cold touch of metal as a ring was slipped onto her finger. There was a grumble of frustration on his part as he realized it was too big for her ring finger, so he moved it to her index finger.
"There," he said proudly, prompting Madeline to open her eyes.
She looked down at the stainless steel ring now adorning her finger and the black tribal pattern that wrapped all the way around it. It was not something she would have worn, it just wasn't her style, but she smiled graciously, thanking him nonetheless.
"I figured it was time for a promise ring," Scott said. "Sort of like a pre-pre-engagement ring."
"A what?" Madeline asked, horrified. She could not believe what had just come out of his mouth. "I don't want you to get upset, but I am in no way looking for that kind of commitment in my life right now. Not to anyone."
Madeline's words prompted a noticeable twitched in his smile as he fought to stifle his anger.
How dare she.
"Then consider it a gift," Scott offered, biting back his temper.
"Okay then," Madeline accepted. "Thank you."
He pulled her tightly to him, feeling a few tiny raindrops land on his head.
"By the way…" he began. "How about you and I take a weekend trip to London? You've been so hospitable showing me around Seattle that you've inspired me to show you my city. There's even a couple of good bands we could catch."
"This weekend?" Madeline asked. The conversation was undoubtedly strange today.
"Yeah," Scott confirmed. "Or the next. It will be fun."
"I can't," Madeline replied. "I've got a lot to do locally, and I just can pick up and run away for the weekend."
"Is it because Levi won't let you?" Scott asked, his voice beginning to show signs of the agitation he'd been trying to suppress.
"What? No," Madeline replied, feeling increasingly put-off by his questioning. "It's not like that at all. It has never been. I have responsibilities, and I have to put my wellness first. I'm taking care of me, and I can't jeopardize that."
"But I told you I would take care of you," Scott continued. "You don't have to worry about that anymore. If you let me, I'll take care of you for the rest of your days."
For a second she thought about it, about how it would feel to not have a care in the world for the rest of her life. Then she thought about how obligated to him it would make her feel. She hadn't known him long enough to want to be at his side for the rest of her life. And would he try to pressure her to become like him? A vampire? That was NOT going to happen. Not to mention the red flags that went up in her mind just a few moments ago.
"I appreciate your offer, I really do," Madeline began, "But I've always been one to depend on myself. To make my own way. It wouldn't feel right if I couldn't support myself."
"But you aren't doing that now!" Scott accused, clearly aggravated. "You are nothing more than a pet to him. Don't you see that? Are you sleeping with him?"
Madeline's eyes widened. What the fuck triggered this? Not appreciating what he was insinuating in the least, her blue eyes narrowed.
"No. I am not," the redhead responded with an icy glare. "And though you might not see it, I do have freedom. I do what I want and go where I want."
Scott was breathing heavy now, right hand clutching his chest as he stared at the deck of the ferry, his brown eyes darting all over the diamond plating.
"I'm sorry," he gasped, still not making eye contact with her, "I'm not sure what came over me. I wasn't feeling very well today for some reason. I should probably call Cole and make sure nothing is wrong. Will you be okay getting home by yourself?"
"Yeah, sure," Madeline said, voice showing concern.
They were about to dock at the West Seattle terminal.
"I think I am going to take a cab back to the hotel. It'll be quicker."
"Hope you feel better," she said sincerely, watching him descend the stairs, disappearing to the deck below. There was a gentle bump as the ferry docked at the pier, and the wind grew almost still as the vessel came to a halt. The handful of passengers disembarked, leaving Madeline mostly alone on the cruise back. Choosing a seat by herself in the lower, sheltered level of the ship, she dialed Levi's number.
"I didn't wake you, did I?" she asked when he answered in a tired voice.
"Nope, just tired from a long flight. What's up?"
"Can people like Scott get sick?" she asked.
"You mean like catching a cold, or the flu?" Levi questioned in return.
"Yeah, like that."
"No," Levi answered. "Vampire blood treats everything that comes into contact with it like an infection and is very efficient at destroying it. So no colds, flu, chicken pox, measles, cancer… none of that affects them. Why? Something up?"
"Yeah, he got upset over something I said, then started breathing heavy and holding his chest like he was having a heart attack. He said he hadn't been feeling well."
"That's weird."
"Why do you think I called you?" Madeline gave a small laugh.
"Did he look pale?"
"Not at all. He was his usual warm, healthy self."
"His usual?"
"Yes," Madeline revealed. "The way he looked at the Halloween party was the worst I've seen him."
"That's got to take a lot of blood," Levi said, yawning. "I'll ask Maseo about it, but he's not sick. If anything, he ate something that didn't agree with him."
"That sounds gross, Levi."
"It's supposed to," he chuckled. "You heading home now?"
"Yeah. Scott is taking a taxi from West Seattle back to his hotel, and I am still on the ferry about to head back."
"Wow, he even left you on the boat?"
"I'm a big girl."
"I know that, but he doesn't. Be careful heading back."
As Madeline ended her call with Levi and tucked her cell phone back into her purse, she leaned back in the thinly padded seat and listened to the sound of the ferry engine as it engaged again, aiming the ship back towards downtown.
As he entered the business suite, Scott was relieved to let his false mask of cocky self-assuredness slip. Exhaling slowly, a panicked expression took its place.
Did he screw this all up? Had he pushed too much too soon? Just the thought that he'd done something he couldn't take back caused his undead heart to race uncontrollably. Getting her overseas was important, more important than anything else in his life had ever been. He couldn't disappoint Cole or Gideon. Couldn't let them think so little of him that he couldn't even get a simple girl on a plane to England. He had to think about what to do next and think about it carefully. She liked the ring, but it didn't have the meaning behind it for her that he had hoped it would. He had over-estimated the pace of the relationship and under-estimated her independence. No more mentions of long-term commitments. Check. He could do that. In the end, it didn't even matter because once he could get her to London, he could make her his by force.
Hands shaking, he raked his long fingertips through his silver hair. He just needed to calm down. Madeline was so concerned with her responsibilities that Scott suddenly got an idea. Perhaps he could trick her into going. Maybe he could hire her for a job to deliver something to London. But what?
Just then, his cell phone vibrated in his front jacket pocket. Reaching inside, he saw it was Cole.
On the other end of the line, he heard Cole take a deep breath, or perhaps it was a yawn. Scott couldn't tell.
"Everything okay?" Scott managed to inquire. "You sound beat."
"Fine, fine," Cole replied tiredly. "I just spent the past six hours trying to encourage a representative from a rather large media conglomerate to support our ideals. How was your date?"
"Went great actually," Scott lied. "I think she's going to jump at the chance to come visit."
"That is very good news indeed," Cole replied, suddenly cheerful on the other end. "Master Gideon is looking forward to meeting her within the next couple of weeks. Do keep us informed."
"Of course," Scott affirmed.
"I will likely give you a call in the next few days to see how things are shaping up," Cole said. "Until then."
And then the call ended.
Biting his thumb hard enough to draw blood, Scott felt himself once again falling into a panic. He looked at his watch. If he was quick, he could make it back to the ferry terminal and catch Madeline getting off the boat, apologize, and invite her to stay overnight. He could start re-bonding with her. Taking the cute-and-cuddly approach. Maybe that would work.
Racing out the door, Scott made his way down the stairwell rather than waiting for the elevator. Jumping the flights too quick for the stairwell cameras to take notice, he was down in a matter of seconds. Hailing one of the waiting cabs out front of the lobby, he managed to beat the ferry by a couple of minutes and took the spare time to smooth out his appearance and regain his composure.
He watched the passengers disembark, easily spotting Madeline's beautiful red waves peeking out from around her gray knitted hood.
She was a bit surprised to see him waiting.
"Everything okay?" she asked suspiciously.
"Not really," Scott replied, offering her his hand to hold. He looked sad and ashamed. "I shouldn't have left you. I was feeling so erratic that it made me bolt. I called Cole, and he helped me through it, but still, I should have never left you alone for the ride back. I'm so sorry."
"I'm glad you came back," Madeline admitted, taking his hand. "I was worried about you. You were acting really weird this evening, and I wasn't sure why. I didn't like it."
"Cole said it might have been something from one of the donors," Scott embellished. "If one of them took a drug or something, it could affect what happens when my body absorbs it. He said it should pass. I'm feeling better already. Just stupid."
"Well, I forgive you," Madeline smiled.
"Want to crash at my place tonight? Nothing physical, because I'm just not feeling up to it, but maybe watch a movie in bed?"
"Okay, that sounds nice," Madeline replied as they walked toward the cabs lined up for customers. "Oooh, can I order up some ice cream?"
"Of course, whatever you wish."
Madeline awoke to a tingling between her thighs.
She remembered watching a pretty good action movie wrapped in Scott's arms last night, and falling asleep after having some strawberry ice cream. She slept well, cocooned in the luxurious hotel linens, with Scott hugging her most of the night, but now she was on her back with her legs spread. Looking down, she could make out the shape of his head under the white sheet as she felt his tongue making her quiver with every stroke.
Leaning her head back, she began to lose herself in his care, moans of pleasure echoing in the suite.
And then it happened.
SCREAMING… she bolted upright, kicking Scott brutally in the head as a defensive reflex.
He bit her. He fucking bit her.
It wasn't a nip or a tug with his teeth. He bit down hard into her flesh as if he was taking a bite out of her.
In a flurry of movement, Madeline tore off the covers on the way to the edge of the bed.
"Don't go," Scott pleaded. "I am so sorry. I don't know what happened…"
Madeline said nothing, struggling to stand and grab her clothes. She remembered her pain training and how Levi taught her how to push through it. She wasn't sure how she managed to get dressed, but she left her jeans and panties behind. It was too painful to put anything near the wound. Walking alternated between a sting and a lightning of pain, and her long, button-up sweater covered down to her knees. Her eyes were open, but her concentration was on an intangible point somewhere about five feet in front of her; a pin-point she pushed forward to with every step. And when she mentally reached it, she would start again. Another point, and another step, until she was nearly out the door.
"Let me call someone," Scott said, just now getting out of bed. "Please."
"No," Madeline replied, holding her breath to speak. "I'll take care of this myself."
Grabbing her purse which rested on a table near the door, she managed her way out of the room and into the elevator, thankful Scott didn't attempt to follow her.
His aggressiveness should have been her warning. His excuse had been that he hadn't been himself lately, but it was just that - an excuse. This accident had given her clarity. She was done. She dug her phone out of her purse and began to dial Levi's number.
And stopped.
No. This was her mess and she was strong enough to take care of herself. She just needed to get home. Outside the Sheraton, she called a cab and slid carefully into the back seat. Her phone started to blow up with texts and missed calls from Scott. She turned it off. Breathing as calmly as she could, she gave the outward impression that she was completely fine. The driver never suspected a thing, but it seemed like it took an eternity to get to her apartment.
When she finally was home, Madeline tossed her purse on the couch before kicking off her shoes in the hallway on the way to the bathroom.
Apprehensively, she looked down between her thighs.
It was still bleeding.
The skin between her thighs was smudged with crimson, some of it staining the weave of her long sweater. Glancing around her vanity, she searched for something she could apply pressure with. She didn't use sanitary pads, so that wasn't an option. The very thought of using a towel or paper tissue made her cringe thinking about how it would stick or tug. Gingerly, she bent down and opened the cabinet under the bathroom sink. The first aid kit was there, with gauze pads and medical tape. With a thankful sigh, she tenderly pressed one of the large, sterile pads against the bite. Luckily, they were designed not to stick, so there was a lot of relief in that fact alone. Working herself into a sitting position on the bathroom floor, she leaned back against the wall and closed her eyes for a bit, unexpectedly drifting off.
She awoke a few hours later, pad soaked with blood.
Tossing the gauze pad into the small bathroom trash can, she grabbed three more, unwrapping and stacking them together. Pressing them against the wound, she managed to slowly make it out to the couch where she tossed her purse. Retrieving her phone with her free hand, she didn't hesitate to call Levi.
"I messed up," she confessed as soon as he answered, making her way weakly back to the bathroom floor. "You were right."
"What's wrong?" Levi asked, voice etched with a touch of panic.
"Scott bit me," she said, feeling her voice shake as she fought off frightful tears. "The bleeding won't stop."
As she spoke, she began to get notification after notification from Scott's texts as turning her phone back on triggered a flood.
"Where are you? I'll send someone over to bring you back to my loft."
"My apartment. It's not a lot of blood, but it just won't stop. Levi…"
And then came the beeping in her ear, alerting her to an incoming call. She didn't have to pull the phone away to know who it was.
"Who's trying to call you?" Levi asked.
"Scott. He's been trying to get a hold of me since I left. I don't want to talk to him right now. Things have felt… I didn't think he'd do this…"
"Calm down," Levi comforted, and then she heard another line ringing as Levi conferenced someone else into their call.
"Cas, I need you to go get Madeline from her apartment. 2022 6th Street, number 706. Vampire bite not coagulating. Contact Maseo on the way there and have him meet you back at the loft."
Caslon hung up immediately.
"Keep pressure on it. I'll stay on the phone with you until Caslon gets there."
"Thank you," Madeline said, voice reflecting her obvious exhaustion. "I'm sorry."
"Baka," Levi scolded softly. "None of this is your fault. All you need to do now is stay focused and calm. Everything else going on can wait. Did you have any deliveries today?"
Madeline knew he wasn't being superficial, but was, in fact, distracting her from her injury.
"I have one. To The Golden Lotus actually," she replied, pressing gauze against her inner thigh as she spoke. "To the club owner."
"Good, good," Levi praised. "Any more lined up?"
"Um…," Madeline took a bit more effort to think about it. "I don't tomorrow, but I do Friday."
"My flight lands tomorrow around 6:00 p.m., so I'll cover Friday."
"You're not in town?"
Levi could hear the disappointment in her voice. Unexpectedly, her tone made him ache in an unfamiliar way as if the front of his chest was made of rubber and an unseen force was slowly pulling it away from the rest of his body. When next he spoke, his voice was even softer than before.
"No, I'm wrapping up a job tonight in Quebec. But don't worry, you'll be in good hands. You'll be safe. I promise you."
Down the hall, she heard someone unlock her front door, and heavy footsteps hurried to where she sat on the bathroom floor. It was Caslon, and surprisingly behind him was his sister Tiff. Neither of them wore their usual expressions, as both were assessing the situation seriously.
Caslon took the phone politely from her hand.
"I'm here with Tiff," he spoke to Levi. Caslon listened to Levi give instructions, something Madeline was unable to make out. "Sec, let me check…"
Tiff had already moved to Madeline's side, her brown eyes following Madeline's hand to where it held a gauze pad to her inner thigh. Unexpectedly, Tiff stiffened up as if she didn't want to look there. Madeline didn't understand. They were both women after all.
"He bit her up there," Tiff declared maintaining her distance.
"What do you mean, up there?" Caslon questioned his sister, cradling the phone to his ear with his wide shoulder. "Oh THERE... Um, Levi? Tiff and I aren't really comfortable looking between her legs."
Caslon jumped, immediately pulling the phone away as Levi's sudden outburst pierced his sensitive eardrums.
"Okay, okay. You don't have to yell."
Turning to Tiff, the twins suddenly did an impromptu rock-paper-scissors. Tiff lost.
Slowly removing the hand Madeline was using to hold the gauze, Tiff force a comforting smile and then took a look.
"Tell Levi he bit into one of her labia," Tiff said as she pressed the gauze back in place. "And it's good and bloody. I have no idea if something like that needs stitches, how deep it is, or if he bit all the way through."
"Please tell me you heard that and I don't have to repeat it," Caslon cringed, asking Levi. "Okay, we're moving her right now. I'll call you when we get there."
Hanging up, Caslon handed the phone back to Madeline, who held it close to her chest. He then wrapped her modestly in her long sweater and helped her down to the cab that would take them the few blocks to the safe house. Madeline was surprised how powerful Caslon was. He effortlessly carried her out of her apartment, to the elevator, and then out to the cab, explaining to the driver that she had twisted her ankle. Then when they got back to Levi's place, he carried her all the way back to the guest room with as little effort as toting around a stuffed animal.
It felt odd to be back in Levi's safe house. Caslon and Tiff helped her into the guest room that used to be her room and set her purse on the dresser. Caslon called Levi to let him know they got her home. The pair set her up with some more gauze, and within a few moments, there was activity in the kitchen. Someone had come up the freight elevator and was making a commotion on the way down the hall. Within moments, Gwen and Maseo appeared in Madeline's room carrying a cooler and a large backpack containing some medical equipment.
"Okay kitty-cats, out!" Gwen ordered Caslon and Tiff, who wasted no time in leaving the bedroom.
Without the siblings in the room, Maseo began to set up some tubing and open the cooler, setting a few pints of B- on her bedside table.
"Before Maseo gets you plugged in, we need to get you clean and comfy," Gwen told Madeline. "We need to get you into the tub so we can wash you up."
Madeline's eyes widened. That was going to hurt like hell.
"I know what you're thinking, but we'll make it so it's not that bad. Promise," Gwen assured, offering Madeline a pinky-promise before shouting off towards the living room. "Tiff! I need you to bring me something of Aya's she can use as a nightshirt."
Maseo, black hair pulled back in a long, glossy ponytail, went into the connecting bathroom and started the bath water running. He kicked off his pair of black combat boots and slipped off his socks. Rolling up the pant legs on his jeans, he stepped his left leg into the warm water and then sat, straddling the rim of the tub. After the pressure was decent, he grabbed the handheld showerhead and popped the faucet so the water started to pour through it. When he felt the temperature was close to that of Madeline's skin, he gestured for Gwen to help her up and bring her in.
"Upsy-daisy!" Gwen sang, helping Madeline stand and walk towards the tub.
Once in at the side of the tub, Gwen helped Madeline strip off all her clothes while Maseo politely turned his head, then she handed the redhead a bath towel to wrap around her chest to provide a little bit of modesty.
"Now we're not going to have you soak, that would just be too painful and would make you bleed more. Go ahead and have a seat on the side and I'll leave you in Maseo's hands while I get the bed ready. Be right back!"
Gwen smiled cheerfully and bounced towards the bed where she started to lay down some protective large gauze pads and arrange the sheets and pillows so that Madeline would be slightly propped up when she returned. Also, Tiff returned with a simple cotton nightshirt from Aya's section of the closet in Levi's room.
"How are you holding up?" Maseo asked sincerely, looking unwaveringly into her eyes. "Tired, scared, nervous to have me touch you?"
"All of the above," Madeline admitted, her uncertainty evident on her face.
"Take my hand as you step in," he instructed in the most soothing voice as he lifted his hand and offered it to Madeline. She guessed he was using his pheromones on her. "And then have a seat on the edge here in front of me on this towel."
Madeline stepped cautiously into the tub one foot at a time, feeling the lukewarm water splashing against her feet. She carefully took a seat in front of where Maseo straddled the side of the tub.
"I'm sure Levi told you about the pheromones vampires can use to calm victims while they drink?"
Madeline nodded. She had guessed correctly.
"Well, I am highly skilled in that regard, so I am going to use it while we get you cleaned up," Maseo further explained in his hypnotic voice. "The reason I am doing this, and Gwen is not going to use her mind tricks on you, is because I can judge your discomfort and treat you accordingly. I'm not going to assault you. I am not going to seduce you. I am not going to abuse you. You will feel warm and likely as you did when I let you get drunk at The Golden Lotus. Do you understand?"
Madeline nodded again, feeling herself being calmed by his voice alone.
"I am your friend. I am going to take care of you. I have no ulterior motives."
Still straddling the wide rim of the tub, Maseo positioned himself against Madeline's left side, and she began to feel just as he said she would - warm and languid. As he felt her muscles relax, she leaned against him, prompting him to direct the flow of water coming from the hand-held showerhead to her inner thigh, stopping about an inch short of where the bite was. He felt her tense up again, so he pushed his ability up a fraction, once again feeling her relax against him. He kept his position for a few seconds, and then let the water spray closer to the wound, increasing the release of his pheromones another couple of fractions to counter the pain. Looking down at the bottom of the tub, he saw the water run red as expected.
Other than knowing he was in the right spot, there was no other reaction from him. That was the reason only he came with Gwen. The likelihood of him lusting for blood was as likely as a human going berserk at a buffet and devouring everything in a mad rage.
"Feeling okay?" he asked Madeline kindly, her body still leaning sluggishly against him.
"Yep," Madeline replied slowly as if in a daze.
"I want you to do your best to move your skin around down there so the water can do its job, and then we're going to wash around the wound. Don't worry about the wound itself. We'll get some antibacterial ointment on it once Gwen has a look and we get you back into bed."
Madeline nodded and did what she was told, all the while letting herself be supported by Maseo's sturdy chest.
After a bit more rinsing, Maseo reached around her with his left hand and turned the water off. Within moments, Gwen came back to help Madeline put on the nightshirt and get into bed.
After slipping a bright blue glove over one hand, Gwen gently examined the wound, getting a good look at the details.
"Four deep punctures and bruising," she began, giving Maseo the details he needed, "Two on the outside of her right labia, and two on the inside. The two on the inside look like they probably went all the way through. No coagulation present."
"Well, we could liquid bandage her," Maseo said crossing his arms, "But then his saliva would be trapped in her bloodstream for about eight hours, and considering I know nothing about where this barbarian came from, I don't like that idea."
"So we let it bleed out?" Gwen asked.
"We let it bleed out," Maseo confirmed.
"Did you get all that?" Gwen asked Madeline, who was feeling only half awake after Maseo's treatment.
"I don't understand," Madeline said, weakly shaking her head.
"I'm going to provide you with clean blood, as we let your heart push out the blood tainted with Scott's saliva," Maseo explained, giving Madeline a reassuring smile. "It will be painless and simple, and all you have to do is lay there and sleep. Gwen and I will take care of things. Okay?"
Madeline nodded.
Gwen applied some anti-bacterial cream, and then folded a thick square of gauze around Madeline's labia covering the wound on all sides before securing it with some medical tape to keep it in place. At the same time, Maseo leaned very close to Madeline, his cheek nearly touching hers, and exhaled softly. Madeline felt once again as she did on the edge of the tub. She didn't even notice Maseo put the needle in her arm, or that she was now hooked up to an IV.
"There you go, little human," Gwen whispered. "Now just relax and take a nap. We'll take care of the rest."
As she began to doze off, she could hear Maseo on the phone talking with who she assumed to be Levi, giving him all the details and almost sounding as if he was reassuring him things were going to be okay.
"I have to get back to Aya," Tiff apologized to Maseo. "I left during her photo shoot with a wardrobe excuse."
"Not to worry, I need to head back myself and deliver this package to The Golden Lotus for Madeline," Maseo replied. "I take it Gwen and Caslon can watch over things here until Levi gets back?"
"Don't worry, kitty," Gwen addressed Caslon, "All you have to do is be our bodyguard. I'll take care of the rest."
The pantherinae was visibly relieved he wasn't going to have to anything involving changing pads. He could if he really needed to, but wasn't good at that type of stuff in general and was more afraid of hurting Madeline that anything else. He watched as she slept for a while and then turned to Maseo, lowering his voice to ask a question.
"How is he doing?"
"As expected," Maseo replied. "He's worried and very pissed."
"Are we going after Scott?" Caslon hoped, excited by the thought.
"It depends," Maseo replied. "But don't even consider it until Madeline is better and Levi returns. In the meantime, I'm going to do a little digging on our friend when I get back to The Golden Lotus."
It was around 7:30 p.m. the next evening when Levi returned. Making a quick stop to roll his luggage into his room, he then hurried through the open guest room door to find Gwen laying on the bed next to a sleeping Madeline, watching the wall mounted TV. Seeing his approach, the fae with the bouncy blond ringlets smiled and rose from the bed.
"She had a fever most of yesterday," Gwen revealed, reassuring Levi. "Maseo wasn't sure why because the blood types match, but he's guessing it might have something to do with the issue you two talked about when he first met your human. After that passed, she slept through the night and was awake most of today, had some oatmeal, and then went back to sleep. Caslon is asleep on the couch. We've been taking shifts."
"Has the bite started to clot yet?"
"Did you want to take a look?" Gwen asked honestly, about to lift the bed sheets and show Levi outright.
"No!" Levi said quickly. "That's okay. Just give me an update."
"For being a pervert, you get worked up over the most unexpected things," Gwen teased. "Her wound finally started to clot last night, so I removed the IV. The punctures should heal on their own with time. She's just going to be in some discomfort for a while."
"Thank you, Gwen," Levi said appreciatively. "And let Maseo know I said thanks. I've got things here now; you can head home."
"I hope the little human gets better soon!"
With that, Gwen bounced off down the hallway, locking the front door behind her as she left.
The place was almost quiet, aside from Caslon snoring on the living room sofa.
"Hey," Levi half whispered, nudging his friend with his knee. "I'm back now. You can head home."
Caslon sat up slowly, rubbing his eyes and letting out a noise that was halfway between a yawn and a growl. "Did Gwen leave already?" he asked rubbing his eyes.
"Yeah. She said Madeline would be fine, just needs a lot of rest," Levi whispered. "Thanks for responding so quickly."
"That's what I am here for," Caslon said, yawning again as he stretched and then rose to head back to his own apartment.
Now that the place was empty of visitors, Levi went quietly back into the guest room and sat himself down on the bed next to Madeline, who was clutching her cell phone even in her sleep. He propped up the extra pillows against the headboard, so he could lean back comfortably and watch TV. For a few minutes, he debated taking his cat form but decided this was probably best. After about ten minutes of watching an old action movie, Levi noticed Madeline begin to stir.
"Thank goodness you're home," she said weakly, comforted by his unique scent.
Unexpectedly, she wrapped her arms around him and started to cry.
Emerald eyes wide with shock, Levi didn't know how to respond. Her tears weren't so much sadness as they were relief, so although his stomach felt a tiny bit uneasy, it was only a mild discomfort. Nothing like the out-right misery he experienced that night long ago when she was sobbing in the bathtub. Beyond that, he was surprisingly aware of the curves of her body and the press of her breasts against his chest.
Hesitantly, he wrapped his arms around her and slowly pulled her close.
"I am so sorry," she sniffled, realizing being this close in this state of distress couldn't be easy for him. She started to pull away, but he wouldn't let her.
"It's okay," he asserted. "I can take it."
For a few minutes, neither of them said anything. It was the closest they had ever been to each other, but only Levi was conscious of that fact.
"Gwen said you're okay now, just need to take it easy the next few weeks. Everything will heal up on its own."
Madeline wanted to say something, but couldn't. She didn't want to talk about what had happened and how. As it was, her friends had seen a lot more of her then she would have liked. How was she going to face them after this? How was she managing to even hold onto Levi right now?
"It's okay," he said suddenly in a low whisper, reactive to her nervous silence. "Whatever you're worried about, it's all going to be okay. No one cares about the how or why. We only care that you're okay. That's what friends do."
Looking down past her body, he saw that she had released the cell phone, and it was now laying behind her face-up on the sheets.
"Is he still calling you?" Levi asked.
"He hasn't tried to contact me for a while now," Madeline replied. "I set his notification on silent, but only his. I didn't want to miss a call from you, or anyone else. He's left so many voice messages… but I just don't want to deal with him right now."
"May I take a look?" Levi asked.
"Sure," Madeline allowed.
In truth, she didn't want to read anything from him right now either, and although it seemed cowardly, she would much rather Levi filter through Scott's communications than to have to do it herself.
Levi removed his right arm from around her and rolled them both toward the cell phone so he could reach it. Swiping her password in with his thumb, he saw that Scott had left fifty-three texts, and a dozen voice messages. Taking a deep breath to steady the anger he felt beginning to boil just thinking about Scott, Levi steeled himself and started reading.
The first twenty or so texts focused on apologizing and pleading for Madeline to come back so he could take care of her. There were about equal as many texts asking her where she was. It was the last handful or so that really pushed Levi's buttons. At that point, the one-sided conversation moved from concern over Madeline to blaming her for not trusting him. Things like "After all I've done for you, you won't come back?" and "You're going to leave me because of one mistake? I thought I knew you better than that."
"Do I want to know?" Madeline asked, voice muffled as she spoke into Levi's chest.
"He was worried at first, but now it seems he's trying to turn this back on you somehow," Levi confessed before his voice and mannerisms took an all too familiar mischievous turn. "Should I take a selfie of us right now? Text it back to him? I'm assuming you're done with him."
"I appreciate your concern," Madeline said sarcastically, as she pushed away from him.
Laughing, Levi was about to add something more to the conversation, when the vibrating of his own phone, tucked neatly in his shirt pocket, interrupted.
It was Maseo.
"Moshi, moshi," Levi answered. "Yeah, I've got a minute. Just got in about an hour ago. What's up?"
For a long time, Levi said nothing. He listened to the information Maseo had dug up about Scott. Using the name that was on the party guest list from a few years back, the vampire explained he came with nothing locally, so he contacted his clan as a last resort. Using Rupert Cole's name as a basis to start the search, they were able to backtrack to Scott, finding a complete name that didn't match what Madeline, or the owner of The Golden Lotus, was given. That was enough for Maseo to find everything he cared to know about the young vampire. His full name was Scott Donovan Pierce, and he had a sinister criminal record. He was indeed the son of an affluent family from California, and did end up involved with "the wrong people," but had been arrested on numerous charges of assault, sexual assault, drug possession, and robbery. Each time, likely due to his connections, he was never formally convicted. There was also a rumor floating around of attempted murder, but charges were never officially filed.
When Maseo was all done, Levi was still silent for a while.
"What are you going to do?" Maseo asked over the phone.
"I'm going to tell her what you told me, and leave it up to her," Levi replied. "Ja ne."
"Tell me what?" Madeline asked, eyes narrowed suspiciously after Levi ended his call.
"That Scott isn't who he led on to be," Levi clarified.
Madeline backed away and sat up on the bed. Clutching a pillow to her chest, she prepared to hear the news. She wasn't expecting to be too devastated since she was certain at this point her relationship with Scott was over. Anything Levi was about to tell her would only add to weight to her looming decision, tilting the scale against Scott.
"First off," Levi began after he saw Madeline was comfortable with him continuing, "He's not Scott Pearson, but Scott Donovan Pierce. Secondly, although he told you he got in with a bad bunch in California, what he didn't tell you is the depth he had sunk to. Maseo is pretty much convinced he was more than someone being bullied into doing bad, and found an arrest record to back it up. We're talking drug possession and robbery all the way up to sexual assault and accusations of attempted murder. He was never jailed because of his family's money. They basically bought the silence of his victims."
Wow. She never expected Scott was telling her all the details, no one would spill their most unflattering secrets voluntarily, but didn't expect the truth to be this bad. What made matters worse was that his sire knew this. He would have had to, otherwise, there would be no need to falsify the name for a seemingly trivial Halloween party. Someone with that sort of past would probably make a pretty good vampire if they were careful about what they did. But given what she knew now, she was convinced Scott wasn't careful at all. And his temper. It took a while for it to surface, but he did have a bad temper. Even after all this time, the smallest mention of Levi or Caslon set him off. And when she turned down his offer to fly to England, she'd never seen him lose it like that. And the comments about the murder of the tattoo shop manager. And the consistent warm flush to his skin… It made much more sense now.
"Well then," she said, taking a deep breath. "That certainly settles things. I'll call him and see what he has to say, and then break it off."
"Did you want some privacy or…"
"Please," Madeline requested.
Getting off the bed gracefully, Levi exited her bedroom closing the door behind him.
Propping up all the pillows into one stack, Madeline pushed them against the headboard and leaned back, making herself comfortable under the soft, warm sheets. She took a couple of deep breaths and went over in her head what she was going to say. She didn't want to bring up his past, because it wasn't the sole reason for her decision. She was doing this because she didn't feel safe in his company anymore. The more she thought about it, it was probably a bad idea to date anyone that wasn't human. As if relationships weren't complicated enough, she certainly didn't need obstacles that being with a non-human partner would create.
Picking up her cell phone, Madeline thumbed through her contacts and selected Scott. As the line rang, she half hoped he wouldn't answer.
But he did.
"Where have you been?! Are you okay?!" he shouted, exasperated. "Do you have any idea what's been going through my mind trying to get a hold of you?!"
"I'm fine now, well for the most part," Madeline replied. "Spent a pretty long time under medical care."
"Where are you? I'll come pick you up."
"No. That won't be necessary," Madeline said. "I need to rest up for a couple of weeks, so I am not going to be accepting visitors. Look. I'm not going to drag this out any longer. Us dating? It's just not a good idea. We gave it a good try, but it's not going to…"
"Wait, what?! Don't be saying that. I'm sorry. You have no idea how sorry I am that I screwed up. It won't happen again. I promise. You can't make this big of a decision on one mistake. Please, Madeline."
"It just won't work."
There was a long pause on Scott's end.
"Can I at least meet you one last time? Can we talk about this all face-to-face? I don't want to do this over the phone like this. Doesn't our relationship deserve that much?"
Madeline thought about it for a few seconds. As long as it was a public place, and during the day, it should be fine.
"Tomorrow at the coffee shop where I ran into you the first time. In the afternoon."
"I see," Scott replied solemnly, understand what calling him out in the daytime meant. "Sure. Tomorrow it is then."
Chapter: 11


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By Mark Manez
VIGAN, Ilocos Sur--The stage is now set as more than 12,000 athletes, coaches and officials converge for the 2018 Palarong Pambansa at the ultramodern Quirino Stadium in Bantay for the grand opening ceremonies, Sunday afternoon.
No less than the Provincial Government of Ilocos Sur opens its arms to the visiting delegations with President Rodrigo Duterte expecting to speak before the delegates.
In his statement released by the Malacanang, he lauds the province's efforts of hosting the event, bringing together the country's best and brightest youth athletes. He is also confident on the youth's involvement in displaying solidarity, teamwork and sportsmanship as Filipinos.
Elementary and secondary student-athletes from 17 participating regions will vie for 493 gold medals in 30 sports events in this whole week showcase of talent and athletic supremacy.
National Capital Region will lead the charge in defending their throne they have held since 2005 in Iloilo and are set to plow the playing field for the 14th time. The Big City athletes amassed an astonishing 98 gold, 66 silver, 45 bronze medal haul last year in Antique.
Not far from the title holders, Calabarzon and Western Visayas are also setting their eyes on dethroning their fiercest rival. They finished second and third behind NCR.
Hosts Ilocos Region also set their expectations to a minimum and improve their 7-12-31 medal haul last year and improve their overall position.
Ilocos Sur Governor Ryan Singson is also expected to arrive during the colorful opening rites. Department of Education Secretary Leonor Briones and Undersecretary Tonisito Umali are also expected to grace the week-long showcase.
Follow him on Twitter: @MAManez_DPH16


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Recent Posts
Tag Archives: Vacation
Thai Food
Spices as rich as Indian food, spread as large as Chinese and taste as close to Japanese as possible – That's Thai food for you. When you are backpacking there is little choice you get with respect to food. You … Continue reading
Posted in Guides, Myself, Travel Tagged 7-11, basil, chicken, cuisine, flat noodles, food, grouper fish, thai noodles, Thailand, Travel, Vacation Leave a comment
Thai Travelogue – 2
Road Trip – Phuket, Thailand to Sangkhla Buri, Thailand Well it surely was supposed to be a long drive all the way to Sangkhla Buri which was almost 1000kms from Phuket, but then it promised to be very scenic. Sangkhla … Continue reading
Posted in Guides, Myself, Travel Tagged drive, highway 402, ratchaburi, Roadtrip, sangkhla buri, straight drive, Thailand, Vacation Leave a comment
Thai Travelogue -1
Phuket, Thailand Well, the first stop (apart from a short layover at Bangkok airport) was Phuket, the beautiful beach town of Thailand. Maybe because it was the end of the tourist season and the rains setting in, the crowd was … Continue reading


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The age of childbirth in the Bantu of Southern Rhodesia
Ross, W. Fraser
MetadataShow full item record
In 1948 a sample census of the African population of Southern Rhodesia was carried out. During this census it was found that most Africans have only a rough idea of their ages, and consequently they were divided into two broad age groups. These groups were (a) up to and including puberty; and (b) over puberty. Puberty was considered to be any age between 12 and 15 years. Another sample census of the African population is being undertaken at the present time. It seemed to be of interest to try and determine the age at which African women were bearing their children, as some idea of the fertility rate might thereby be determined.


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Following some teasers, Nippon Ichi Software has announced Shin Yomawari for the PlayStation 4 and PS Vita. It's a sequel to the developer's 2015 title, Yomawari: Night Alone, which released in the West last year.
The game was unveiled in the latest issue of Dengeki PlayStation. Shin's protagonists are two young girls named Yui and Haru and a synopsis of their story is as follows (translation courtesy of Gematsu):
In order to see the end of summer vacation fireworks in the neighboring town, Yui and Haru went out to the mountains. On the way back home, the two are accidentally separated and get lost. They roam around in search for each other, but an ominous night town has spread out before them. Will the girls be able to safely reunite?
We're told that the sequel's world will be twice the size of its predecessor and players will be able to explore more locations than before. Monsters and strange creatures will be lurking around at night. While some will be harmless, merely touching others will result in "Game Over."
Shin uses the same camera style as the original but will switch to side-view in some parts.
Any of our readers excited for this one?
[Source: Gematsu]


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3 Things I Learned Through my Internship
As my time as an intern here at Force comes to an end, I'm thinking about everything I've learned through my time here. In order to keep this blog post from going on forever I decided to just list the 3 things I learned that I think are most important. I would say that every lesson I learned can be taken from two perspectives – from a fitness perspective or a life lesson. I'm going to try to summarize each lesson into a catchy name, but here they are; teamwork, individualism, and spirit.
Teamwork: One of the first things I noticed that sets Force apart from any other fitness complex I've ever seen, is the camaraderie and support that everyone brings to the table as soon as they walk through the doors. How many other gyms have you seen where all of the clients who come in at the same time encourage each other and make them want to work harder? Within just three shadowing sessions with the training times, I saw countless people motivating the people around them. The same people who are with them at the same time, same day, every week.
Fitness is a team effort, regardless if it's from an athletic perspective or not. People will always work harder when they have people behind them wanting to see them succeed. Everyone in Force is working for more than themselves – they're working for everyone else in the gym with them who is cheering for them. That mentality of teamwork should be taken into everyday life. If everyone works together and pushes each other a little further with motivation and support, then everyone can get a little better every day.
Individualism: Alright, so I just talked about how everyone should work together, but it's also incredibly important to know what sets you apart from those around you. Everyone at Force has a workout that is specific to them, no one will have the exact same workout as someone else. That makes someone feel so special to know that their workout sets them apart and makes them stand out as the spectacular person they are. Everyone is special in their own way, and in a slightly cheesy way, that can be shown through the individualized workouts the coaches write for each person who comes through. The coaches know everyone is different, and know everyone is special and brings their own specialties to the gym every time they walk in.
Knowing that you're special and stand out from others is self-empowering. It makes you realize that you have importance and aren't just a background character in someone else's life. You are the protagonist of your own story. A small personalized workout that's working towards your own dreams, that's one way of showing just how special you are.
Spirit: The biggest thing that I love about Force is the atmosphere everyone makes within the facility. Every time I've seen a training session I can take one look around and see the intensity and drive in every single person's eyes. No other gym can you say no one is just 'going through the motions' of an exercise. But at Force, everyone is giving each rep their full effort. The spirit and drive behind each person is amazing. It taught me to train with a purpose, and know that if I ever don't give something my full effort, I'm selling myself short.
Looking at spirit from a life perspective, whatever you're working on, give it your all! Knowing what you're working for and knowing that everything you do will influence how much closer you are to your dream will make you want to work harder. Whenever the going gets tough, know what you're doing it for, and want to get that extra step closer. That is by far my favorite lesson I learned while at Force.
— Clay Beeker


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If you love tatted lace, jewellery, plants and anything handcrafted, come back often. I will regularly post items that are made by me, plants that I grow and interesting things that I photograph.
Wednesday, 25 July 2012
Tatted Earrings #7
This is the last pair I tatted. You will have to wait a while before the earring muse comes to visit again. This one is red and gold. Enjoy!
8 comments:
Earrings for real Carmen!ReplyDelete
Wow these earrings are gorgeous! Is it your own patternA. Are you willing to share?ReplyDelete
They look great!ReplyDelete
Extremely elegant!!! :)ReplyDelete
Wow what beautiful earrings, love the colourReplyDelete
Very very pretty...love the red and amber colors you chose!ReplyDelete
So pretty! The beads really look golden - not like the glass ones I have been able to find.ReplyDelete
I love the diamond shape as well. I always think of tatting in circles and am surprised by corners. They look great.
Linda R
This is pretty much free hand tatting with no particular pattern. I did mostly 2-1--1-2 beads 2-1--1-2 + (to filigree). I follow the outline of the filigree and improvise for the centre. Requires a bit of patience to get the thread through the tiny spaces of the filigree. Glad you liked this pair.ReplyDelete


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HOME HYPONICA Tomato 601
Regular price $199.90 SGD
What better way to grow a tomato than in a tomato! This tomato-shaped hydroponic kit is all that you will need to successfully grow fruit plants like tomato, cucumber, and melons!
Get your own tomato-shaped hydroponic kit now and start your hydroponic gardening journey with the starter pack of seeds provided with this kit!
Name: Tomato
Colour: Red or Green
Size: 46.7 cm (W) x 30 cm (H)
Capacity: 12 litres
Weight: 3kg
Material: Polypropylene
Power consumption: 50/60 Hz, 5.5/6.8 W
Package Includes:
Package contains everything needed to start your own hydroponic garden, including the following:
- Sponges
- Hyponica Liquid Nutrient A + B (2 x 500ml)
*support poles are sold separately.


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The title's a reference to the process of recording the album – which was almost a therapeutic effort by Iamabeenie at the end of the day – a way to respond to the troubles and terrors of our time, with music that has a righteous mission to uplift and heal! The set was recorded on the contemporary LA scene, and has a mix of hip hop-inspired production and jazzy instrumentation – with contributions from a lineup that includes Mark De Clive-Lowe on piano and keyboards, Rasheeda Ali on flute, James Poyser on grand piano, and Jimetta Rose and Muhsinah on vocals. Titles include "Advent", "Moonwinder", "Fourteen Missing", "An Empty Vessel", "Down The Street From Peace", "Nothing To Lose But Our Chains", and "For My Sanity". © 1996-2020, Dusty Groove, Inc.
We realize that there are many different interpretations of the standard grades used for pre-owned vinyl record albums & CD, so we thought we'd offer you the ones that we are working with, so you have an idea what we mean when we give the grade for a non-new item on our pages.
Below are stated conditions for a used vinyl records at Dusty Groove. Grading for the cover should be assumed to be near (within a "+" or "-") the grading for the vinyl. If there is significant divergence from the condition of the vinyl, or specific flaws, these will be noted in the comments section of the item. However, please be aware that since the emphasis of this site is towards the music listener, our main concern is with the vinyl of any used item we sell. Additionally, all of our records are graded visually; considering the volume of used vinyl we handle, it is impossible for us to listen to each record. If we spot any significant flaws, we make every attempt to listen through them and note how they play.
The following grading conditions apply to the vinyl component of an album or single:
This is what it says, that the record is still held fast in shrink-wrap. We tend to be pretty suspicious about these things, so if the shrink-wrap doesn't look original, or if the record seems to have undergone some damage over time, we'll probably take it out of the wrapper to ensure that it's in good shape — which is why we don't have more of these. In some cases the shrink-wrap may be torn in spots, but if it's not possible the record has been taken out and played, the record will still qualify as "Sealed".
Dusty Groove does not use the grades of Near Mint (or Mint, for that matter) because in our experience, we find that no records ever qualify for such a high grade. Even sealed records tend to have one or two slight faults, enough to usually qualify them for a grade of NM- or lower. We've often found that records which are clearly unplayed will have a slight amount of surface noise, especially in quieter recordings.
This is a grade we rarely use, as we try not to sell records in very bad condition, though in some rare cases we will list a record in such bad shape that it does not conform to the standards above. A "Fair" record will have enough marks or significant flaws that it does not even qualify as "Good", but is a copy you might consider for playing, if you're willing to put up with noise and/or flaws. An example might be a recording with surface noise so heavy that it is equal to the volume of the music. For records listed as "Fair", we will describe the extent of the condition in the comments.
Like "Fair", we rarely list records in this condition, as they represent the extreme low end of spectrum. These records typically have multiple serious problems, and we offer them as "relics" or "objects" only — for those who want to at least have a copy of a record, even if it is not really worthy of play, perhaps for the cover alone. For these records, we will describe the extent of the condition in the comments.
If something is noteworthy, we try to note it in the comments — especially if it is an oddity that is the only wrong thing about the record. This might include, but isn't limited to, warped records, tracks that skip, cover damage or wear as noted above, or strictly cosmetic flaws.
We have only one grade for non-new CDs at Dusty Groove — "Used CD". This grade is somewhat all-encompassing, but we choose it because we try to offer Used CDs in the best shape possible.
When you purchase a Used CD you can expect the disc to be free of all but the lightest of surface marks, the case to be clean (we often change the cases ourselves), and the booklet to be in good shape. Used CDs may show some signs of use but if there are significant details or defects we will list them underneath the item — just like we do with LPs — so look there for notes on cutout marks, stickers, promo stamps or other details.
All of our Used CDs are guaranteed to play without skipping or flaws. If you purchase a Used CD from Dusty Groove, you have 1 week to play it to determine that it plays correctly — and if it does not, then you may return it for a full refund.


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Roger D. Launius is a historian of NASA and former associate director for Collections and Curatorial Affairs for the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.
Whose Apollo Are We Talking About?
Asif Siddiqi reviews Roger D. Launius's "Apollo's Legacy" and Teasel E. Muir-Harmony's "Apollo to the Moon."...


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David Neufeld builds authentic brick ovens much like those used for centuries all over the world. Custom designed to compliment both the entertaining environment and the cook's propensities, these ovens hold heat for up to three days on one firing with a small quantity of wood. Visit his website at: www.truebrickovens.com
Friday, January 4, 2013
Brick Oven Insulation: How Much?
If there is one problem that can be avoided easily in the construction of a brick oven, it is heat retention.
Part of this depends on MASS: the masonry that will hold whatever BTU gets thrown at it.
The other (the easy one) is insulation.
Two words: Over-insulate... okay that's almost one word.
My brick oven and the ones I build or consult on are super-insulated because there's nothing I like (aside from fresh bread, fresh pizza, fall apples, a climb up a mountain in 60 degree sunshine...) better than knowing and hearing that an oven I built stayed hot for days.
The current oven in Ventura, CA has 6" of insulation placed as shown. 4" of Foamglas solid insulation is under the floor and insulating refractory concrete is pour around the base and chimney. The goal is for very little heat to escape.
Doing all this before you close up the structure saves the disappointment of having an oven that won't get or stay hot.
Caution: The stuff is flaky and requires a mask and gloves for safety.
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Austin, TX 78730
Monterey Homes, Marigold Plan, private cul-de-sac, gated community, backs to greenbelt w/gorgeous views! Open floor plan with high-end features & finish out. 3 Bedrooms down & huge game room up w/ full bath, study, formal dining, family, covered patio & balcony, 3-car garage. Master Suite has huge bath spa, 2 walk-in closets, dual vanities, separate tub & shower. Kitchen has large center island & opens to breakfast area & family room w/fireplace. Walk to Lake Austin!
Dylan Everett with JB Goodwin, REALTORS
2020 29 West Realty. All rights reserved. © Collaborative Home Search by RealSavvy
Based on information from the Austin Board of REALTORS® for the period through [see date below]. All listing information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. The Austin Board of REALTORS®, ACTRIS and their affiliates provide the MLS and all content therein "AS IS" and without any warranty, express or implied. Listing information is provided exclusively for consumers' personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing


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David's eyes teared up when he saw the father and son riding past him on the tandem bicycle. It wasn't that long ago that he and his own father were enjoying taking such rides together.
But then his father expectantly suffered a massive heart attack that took his life. David was devastated by the loss. His father and mother used to ride a tandem bike before David was old enough. Once David was big enough, his father would help him onto the back of the bike and the two of them would spend hours exploring the bicycle trails in various city parks.
Having the bike in their garage, though, was just too much for his mother to bear, so she sold it without telling David.
Seeing the father and son that day reminded David that the tandem bike, now gone forever, was his father's prized possession.
David's tears streamed down his cheeks.
(152 words)
Written for Priceless Joy's August 8th FFfAW challenge.
The Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers challenge is to write a flash fiction story of up to 150 words (± 25), based on the weekly photo prompt. Photo credit: Dorothy.


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With SKG's CEO Beth Goff-McMillan
"It is more about the finesse than it is slamming the driver down the fairway."
What was your dream job and why?
I knew my dream job would be a mix of the creative and the strategic, but I couldn't identify it at the time. I loved beautiful things and being creative, but all the games the shows I loved were built around strategy. I was always drawn to Monopoly and Clue and the TV show Dallas. But it wasn't for the drama. It was the strategy and maneuvering. I knew I had to find something that was creative and involved problem-solving.
Today, you're the CEO of the second-largest woman-owned business in Central Texas and one of the fastest growing companies in the country. What is something that you do to help the women on your team succeed that you perhaps not every organization does?
One of the things I do is take time for other women. I think a lot of people talk about it and think about it, but I don't think a lot of people do it. Every single day, I carve out time to listen, to advise, to coach and mentor women inside our company. I want people to know how much I value them, and I want to give them my time to share where I have succeeded and where I have failed and the lessons I have learned. That goes personally and professionally.


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Happy freak'n birthday to us! Four years! Somehow it feels longer but shorter at the same time. What I'm most proud is that I'm still pumping out original content on a weekly basis and (hopefully) inspiring people four years after I decided to start a blog because I was bored at work. Can you imagine? Now I'm juggling 4-5 jobs at the same time with a to-do list that seems to write itself. But of … [Read more...]
BIRTHDAY WEEK: DIY twig & tweet layered color cake
What's a birthday without cake?! I've had this cake idea for so long and with the Spring weather and birthday celebrations I thought it was the perfect time to make some food art with this layered color cake. If you follow along my food experiments adventures, you know that I'm a fan of both slow, low and homemade good eats but I'm also totally an advocate of cheating. This is one of those … [Read more...]
GOOD EATS: funfetti Easter Cake
When I was a kid, Easter was easily the next best thing after Christmas. Baskets full of candy and gifts, hunting for chocolate, frilly dresses, that was the life. Now as an adult it's about the long weekend and the amazing homemade feast. I grew up in an Italian family so the feasts were definitely something to talk about. One thing that I could count on and looked forward to every Easter as … [Read more...]
GOOD EATS: eggnog cake with salted caramel glaze
A sure sign of the holidays is that creamy, delicious mixture known as eggnog. Yumbo. I had some around my house and as satisfying as it is to drink straight up I thought I would use it to make this delicious cake recipe so it would last even longer and I could share it with even more friends. The fresh nutmeg really brings out the eggnog flavour and the salty & sweet caramel glaze just puts … [Read more...]


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The Founder: Marlon McWilson
Growing up in Southeast San Diego there were plenty of times when the McWilson family was given assistance especially during the holiday season. As a boy growing up, Marlon didn't really understand or appreciate the assistance they were given. When you're young, you don't appreciate a box of food and a frozen turkey at Thanksgiving. You only know that you are eating what you normally eat, oblivious to the fact that the bills are due and your mother is doing the best she can, but ultimately doesn't have money enough to splurge on the Thanksgiving dinner. She needs a helping hand.
But as Marlon began to know himself as a man and figure out his path in life, he was humbled by his past. He analyzed his life and tried to figure out how he would make a difference by being a helping hand to someone else.
16 years ago he decided to step in the world of education as a teacher and it didn't take long before he realized the students he taught were in fact HIMSELF, many years prior. They were experiencing some of the same issues that many families in the inner city go through on a daily basis. Now the question was how would he assist them.
On November 25, 1997, Marlon had an epiphany. He awoke in the middle of the night and decided he would give back by donating turkeys to families in Oakland. The next morning the McWilson, Friends and Family Network was conceived. Marlon called on family and friends to assist with the purchase and delivery of turkeys. Over the years the Network would grow, more families would be fed, and lives would be affected.
In 2004 the Network became inclusive of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. an international service organization. Marlon is the Basileus/President of his chapter, Mu Kappa Kappa, which was chartered in the 12th District on June 8, 1996. By adding the fraternity to the network it has allowed for more families to be served more people to get into the process of giving back to their communities. Over the past 21 years, the Network has fed over 26,000 families.


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Source: 902 Brewcast
EP-53 Serge, Serge, and Ben from CAVOK Brewing Co.
We sat down in the newly opened taproom with the guys from CAVOK to talk about the transition from small to big, opening a taproom, and starting packaging with contract brewing.
Make sure to visit our podcast sponsor Bishop's Cellar!
Find out what's on tap and shop online!
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Make sure to subscribe on iTunes, and rate and review to help other people find us! We can always be found here:
Want to help support the 902 BrewCast? You can donate here [NOTE: This is in USD]. Your ears are all we ask for, but we appreciate your support towards helping improve the podcast and keeping it running! Thanks!


text: Here are the questions: >1. What does Smith mean by recursive definitions? Smith provides an example of the recursive process by defining *wff* as a recursive definition. He writes >"Recursive" means "characterized by recurrence or repetition" (as in "recur"). What is repeating is the recursive clause in the definition of wff should we be asked to check if a string of basic symbols is a wff. If one has a string of basic symbols with a connective, one can apply the recursive clause to break up that string until we run out of strings with connectives. If we do that and all the remaining strings are basic propositions, then the original string of basic symbols is a wff. For example, suppose we have this string of basic symbols: >((A ∧ B) ∨ C) Now ask the question: *Is this a wff?* The recursive definition allows us to determine that. By the recursive clause we can split this string of basic symbols into two strings of basic symbols: *(A ∧ B)* and *C*. Are each of these two strings wff? Again we apply the recursive clause to the first because it has a connective. We can split *(A ∧ B)* into two strings because it has the *∧* connective separating the strings *A* and *B*. For the second, it does not have a connective so we check to see if the string *C* is a basic proposition. It turns out that it is, so *C* is not merely a string of basic symbols, it is a wff. Similarly we note that *A* and *B* do not have connectives but they are symbols for basic propositions. They also are wff. So the original string, by this recursive definition, is a wff. We started with a string of basic symbols, repeatedly applied the recursive clause until we reached basic propositions which by the base clause are wff. Hence we conclude by this that the original string of basic symbols, *((A ∧ B) ∨ C)*, is a wff. Consider an example where this fails. Suppose we have this string: >(A ∧ ∨ C) Although this is a string of basic symbols, we do not have a single connective separating *A* and *C*, so we cannot proceed further. This string of basic symbols is not a wff. >2. Why does it matter? Smith provides the answer for this: >In only a small number of clauses, this definition characterizes an infinite number of strings of basic symbols as wffs. Although this may be more than one needs, to get a deeper overview of recursive functions see Odifreddi, Piergiorgio and Cooper, S. Barry, "Recursive Functions", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2016 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = <https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2016/entries/recursive-functions/>. >3. How do you make recursive definitions for something? like: 1) the set of all odd numbers. 2) the set of all numbers divisible by five. It is easy to write a definitions for these that are not recursive. For example, an integer is odd if it leaves a remainder of 1 modulo 2. Similarly an integer is divisible by 5 if it leaves a remainder of 0 modulo 5. That is not what is wanted. A recursive definition has two clauses, a base clause and a recursive clause. To define an odd integer using a recursive definition one might do the following. The set of all of these would be the desired set. Let us restring "number" to "integer". If the integer is negative convert it to its absolute value. This allows us to consider only "positive integers". We can write the base case as - *1* is odd. The recursive clause might look like this: - If a positive integer *n* is greater than *1* then it is odd if *n - 2* is odd. For example, suppose we have *n = 5*. Is *5* odd? That's what we want to check. By the definition since *5* is greater than *1*, *5* is odd if *5 - 2 = 3* is odd. But *3* is odd if *3 - 2 = 1* is odd. At this point we have reached the base clause and so we declare by this recursive definition, that *5* is odd. One can write a similar recursive definition to tell if an integer is divisible by 5, but first convert any negative integer to its absolute value so we can define a base case: 1. *0* is divisible by 5. (Base clause) 2. A positive integer *n* is divisible by *5* if *n - 5* is divisible by *5*.