My parents want me to work this summer (rising senior) but I don’t want to. I have a side hustle cleaning cars and I want to continue doing it. My parents want me to work at a restaurant or car cleaning place for “employer experience.” I don’t want to work so I can make my own schedule and also make significantly more money on my own.
How important is having formal work experience for college apps? I feel like a personal business is stronger but my parents think otherwise.

I read it on the kindle app within the last few years, it suggested it to me.
Small town cop gets a call about some rough looking man on a country road. Man is pretty much feral and bites the cop. He got infected and soon enough almost the whole town gets infected.
Story mainly follows this ranchefarmer, his son, and ranch hands/neighbors as they survive.
Rancher is divorced/separated from mother of his son. I think the mom gets into a car accident after dropping son off at ranch and gets infected. She eventually infected her son back at the ranch.
Rancher dude's a-hole neighbor mentions he has a bunker, a group of them load up into a truck. A-hole is in truck bed with older lady neighbor and a ranch hand. A-hole throws ranch hand out of truck during a very bumpy part of drive to his place.
I think the a-hole was planning to unalive everyone in the group, but he gets caught by werewolves.
The rest get to the bunker. Werewolves are beating on the sides. Find out rancher dude's son is infected and starting to turn. Someone shoots him, rancher gets ANGRY. Eventually all but rancher are dead.
It's morning now, all the werewolves have turned back into humans and are asleep around the property. Rancher grabs a shotgun and shoots all of them.
Fast forward a bit, now we're in a bar near the town. Massacre is on the news, bartender makes a comment about it, "mysterious hooded stranger" makes a strange comment about it.
I remember so much of it, but can't remember the name. I'm starting to think I just dreamt reading a book because I can't find it when searching it. Pretty sure it was on Kindle Unlimited...

We are going to be hitting some breweries and restaurants. I am curious if there are any cool buildings, events, places, scenic spots, retro media stores we could stop at. Thanks!

From chef/owner John Perkins:
Juniper is becoming something new. The old needs to pass away, and in its place, something new can emerge. I recognize this is a sad moment for many folks who have come to Juniper over the years. You came for special occasions, anniversary celebrations and birthdays, graduation, date night, or a great cocktail and a delicious bowl of shrimp and grits. But the world has changed, and we must change with it. What might have worked a few years ago just doesn’t work today. And that’s ok.
I admit that I have fought against this change. I gave in to thinking sentimentally about this place, named after one of my daughters, which started nearly a decade ago with a few scraps and a lot of determination. I viewed it, at times, not as a business but as an extension of myself. Juniper was my baby. But that sentimentality clouded my judgment. I had to be honest about what was sustainable in the new post-covid restaurant world.
Our last service as Juniper will be on July 2nd. It’s a brunch service. We will re-open as Sunday Best by Juniper sometime in late July. I am hoping by the 26th. Sunday Best grew out of my childhood experiences eating at roadside fried chicken places in the bootheel, Sunday Suppers with plates piled high, and bowls of mashed potatoes and sweet tea in mason jars. It is something old but new, familiar yet fresh. We will have oysters, fresh and grilled. A few small plates, sides, soft serve ice cream. Back to basics on our bar: the return of the Presbyterian, a punch of the week, more beers and bubbles. And, of course, our fried chicken, better than ever. Two-piece, four-piece, whole bird, our sandwich (available grilled too!), and tenders.
Here are a few other changes: no reservations except for large parties, counter service lunch, and Happy Hour is back! Brunch is staying. Days of operation will still be Wednesday through Sunday, but now 11-9. And Sunday Suppers on Sunday evening with industry discounts. More to come next week!
It will be familiar but not the same. I am excited and eager, I hope you will be too.

Hi all,
My wife and I are going to Cuba in July with 2 friends . I wanted to share my itinerary with this group for thoughts and a few questions/thoughts!
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• Day 1 (Wednesday)- Land in Havana (around 1500), move to Vinales
• Day 2 (Thursday) - Vinales Valley tour (Horseback riding, tobacco tour, etc) during the day. Afternoon walk through the town of Vinales
• Day 3 (Friday) - TBD, either another day in the valley (potentially visit Cuevo De Santa Tomas, or go ziplining in the valley) and head to Havana in the afternoon or head to Havana in the morning and spend the day in Havana. At night- explore banightclub scene in the vedado area (we are staying there)
• Day 4 (Saturday)- Morning: Vedado walking tour, Mojito Making Class, and in the evening go to Fabrique De Arte
• Day 5 (Sunday)- Tour Old Havana + El Morro
• Day 6 (Monday)- Vintage car tour, potentially find a salsa class, Dinner at La Guarida
• Day 7 (Tuesday)- Move to varadero in the morning; we are staying in a casa particular near the town; likely will explore the town or spend the afternoon on the beach on this day
• Day 8 (Wednesday)- Catamaran tour to Cayo Blanco with snorkeling
• Day 9 (Thursday)- beach day
• Day 10 (Friday)- Head back to Havana in the morning and leave cuba (flight leaves at 1630)

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A few questions on the above!

• Transportation- what's the easiest options to get to/from Vinales and to/from Varadero? What should we expect to pay? Sounds like if you book a bus you have to do it in advance, and it ends up not being much cheaper than a taxi, especially since there are 4 of us. FYI, My casa particular host quoted us $25 per person per way for the taxi to/from Vinales
• Any opinions on whether we should spend another 1/2 day in Vinales to see the Caves / do something else, or would that time be better spent in Havana?
• I know some latin american countries have very little going on on sundays. Should we expect any issues with Havana shops/restaurants/etc being closed on the Sunday we are there?
• Cuban SIM Card- is it worth buying a Cuban SIM card? I've heard that there are tourist versions of the SIM now but that they are expensive relative to just paying for the internet cards.
• Will any of the touristy style events that I listed in the itinerary need to be booked in advance? Or will we be able to book once there?
• Any big issues with the above itinerary? i.e. travel times that aren't realistic, etc?
• Any of the things I don't have planned in the three places mentioned that you would say are "must do's"? Note we don't plan on adding more destinations given we want to take our time a bit and not feel rushed going from town to town

For context on booking things in advance, My wife is Mexican and one of the other couple coming with us is Bolivian, so we don't anticipate any issues with language barriers. Also my bolivian friend loves to haggle/negotiate, so I think unless its cheaper to book things in advance or if we are at risk of not being able to find what we need/want to do, we'd prefer to book in Cuba.

Was at a local eatery... Small restaurant... There was a family of 3 next table... Hubby, wife and kid... Kid watching YouTube shorts with the speaker on full blast...
Aftee 20 mins of this, I politely told the guy... Can you mute the phone please... To which he replies... "Not possible, she wants to watch" to which I reply "it's a public place mate... Come on!" The guy just says "not possible" to which I reply "ok, just know you are the a*hole here mate"
I don't eat out a lot, is this acceptable behavior these days? Was I the a*hole here?

I have booked a holiday in Krabi next month and was wondering if anyone had a list of dos and don’ts in the county / area / with locals. Interesting places to visit, lovely restaurants to eat at etc. Travelling from Europe.

I don't want to go spending money at expensive cafes and restaurants everytime i hangout with friends. I don't want to go fkn shopping. Parks are annoying with kids running everywhere. No i will not invite any random acquaintance to my home.
I want a place to meet people that is not at home or work or anywhere else. Where we can just chill and talk about stuff. Maybe play a board game idk. And I wish this could happen naturally everyday. Like how people in a small tribe or a village would gather near a fire and talk and drink after their day's work is done.
Not sure if y'all catch my drift i mean i lost braincells reading my own post but eh kuch bhi. I don't really think any of my friends would be up for hanging out like this honestly. Our lives our too stressful and full of all kinds of entertainment that most people would hold in higher regard than this. Or they probably get to spend enough time with their own family so don't feel like hanging out with other people unless they're a means to another end like movies, food, travel, etc.
But one can think wishful bs from time to time lol

Is it possible for a place to lose its “authentic bouchon badge” a year ago I made a post about a certain restaurant called “Chabert et Fils” and Im 100% sure it had its authenticity badge, now that Im revisiting the website I cant find that place.
Can a place lose its badge? If so why it happens? Is it common?

Never in my life has someone ever told me I am a hoe and the kind of girl that sleeps with her boss. Not sure what gave her this impression of me. If laughing with my boss was considering sleeping with my boss, then what else am I doing that I have yet to notice.
To give you context of this statement, my boss and I have been working together for a month.
My boss is the new manager at our establishment. Before this man started, I was told he owns a couple of restaurants, has degress, divorced, 60 something and single. My lovely coworker told me, she also has degress, and will refuse to work slave work ( which idk what that means in her world), she is in her 50's I think, has one kid in his late 30's,and is engaged ( well she claims, but from what I heard from other is a different story but who am I to say what is true or not) Unfortunately, I'm the young one out of our team. I am 31 years old, no degress, a certified manager, engaged, no kids.
My lovely coworker was trash talking this man before he even started our team. I clapped back and told her you didn't even give him chance if he was going to be a good fit to our team, maybe he might be the guy we need to pick this place up.
At this point she was placed on light duty, however, one out of us three ladies had to help the guy cook and prep.After my lovely coworker trashed talked about this man, nobody was going to help out the guy. I personally thought it wasn't team worker like of her. Monday starts and the guy asks, who was going to come and help him? All the girls said no. I felt bad so I said yes. So here we are a whole month working together. Cracking jokes and laughing our butts off. Suddenly one of the girls finally warmed up to him. It quickly became a trio of laughter. Even our food director was pleased to finally hear laughter and everyone getting along but of course not her and the other lady (mind you the lovely folks are in thier 50's-60's). Now, they have fired one of the ladies, and the other quit to fix a problem with her finger print card. To make matters worse, the state decided to terminate the contract, which left us all job less. Luckily the food director and the owner of the school found a quick solution to keep us employed and a new contract to stay open. So we are down people and it's just my lovely coworker and I. It's been a week since I stopped working with my boss and I been working along side my lovely coworker. All she does is complain about my boss and how terrible things are being run. Yet this same lovely coworker claims she has multiple degress she can back to if things do get shut down. Claims she shouldn't be doing work because we she is doing is slave work. I mean, I have a long list of things... All I think to myself is, you have the degress, why are you stressing to be here. I should be stressing 🙃 Then she starts to completely open open up about how she thinks about me... I never knew I can be on someone's mind this much for this long. Personally I took the whole conversation as her projecting her self on to me. She was over the top rude which I know if she said that to me outside of work, she would catch these hands and I know she knows this... In the end, idk if me not saying anything was the mature thing to do. ...But I simply see her as a unhappy woman. I refuse to step to down to people like this though.... what should have I done in this case?

Never in my life has someone ever told me I am a hoe and the kind of girl that sleeps with her boss. Not sure what gave her this impression of me. If laughing with my boss was considering sleeping with my boss, then what else am I doing that I have yet to notice.
To give you context of this statement, my boss and I have been working together for a month.
My boss is the new manager at our establishment. Before this man started, I was told he owns a couple of restaurants, has degress, divorced, 60 something and single. My lovely coworker told me, she also has degress, and will refuse to work slave work ( which idk what that means in her world), she is in her 50's I think, has one kid in his late 30's,and is engaged ( well she claims, but from what I heard from other is a different story but who am I to say what is true or not) Unfortunately, I'm the young one out of our team. I am 31 years old, no degress, a certified manager, engaged, no kids.
My lovely coworker was trash talking this man before he even started our team. I clapped back and told her you didn't even give him chance if he was going to be a good fit to our team, maybe he might be the guy we need to pick this place up.
At this point she was placed on light duty, however, one out of us three ladies had to help the guy cook and prep.After my lovely coworker trashed talked about this man, nobody was going to help out the guy. I personally thought it wasn't team worker like of her. Monday starts and the guy asks, who was going to come and help him? All the girls said no. I felt bad so I said yes. So here we are a whole month working together. Cracking jokes and laughing our butts off. Suddenly one of the girls finally warmed up to him. It quickly became a trio of laughter. Even our food director was pleased to finally hear laughter and everyone getting along but of course not her and the other lady (mind you the lovely folks are in thier 50's-60's). Now, they have fired one of the ladies, and the other quit to fix a problem with her finger print card. To make matters worse, the state decided to terminate the contract, which left us all job less. Luckily the food director and the owner of the school found a quick solution to keep us employed and a new contract to stay open. So we are down people and it's just my lovely coworker and I. It's been a week since I stopped working with my boss and I been working along side my lovely coworker. All she does is complain about my boss and how terrible things are being run. Yet this same lovely coworker claims she has multiple degress she can back to if things do get shut down. Claims she shouldn't be doing work because we she is doing is slave work. I mean, I have a long list of things... All I think to myself is, you have the degress, why are you stressing to be here. I should be stressing 🙃 Then she starts to completely open open up about how she thinks about me... I never knew I can be on someone's mind this much for this long. Personally I took the whole conversation as her projecting her self on to me. She was over the top rude which I know if she said that to me outside of work, she would catch these hands and I know she knows this... In the end, idk if me not saying anything was the mature thing to do. ...But I simply see her as a unhappy woman. I refuse to step to down to people like this though.... what should have I done in this case?

Sitting in my desk is a coffee mug. When I used to live with my old roommate, it sat in the back of a cabinet unused. I didn’t notice it for a long time, but eventually did and couldn’t figure out for certain how it got there. It has a simple and cute message on it, clearly bought by someone other than my old roommate and fitting your personality. When he moved out last summer and as I was preparing to move to a new place, the mug was left in the cabinet, confirming to me that it wasn’t his. I packed the mug with the rest of my stuff, and for a while it sat in my kitchen cabinets at my new apartment. I would see it every time I went to get a glass. Eventually, I couldn’t bare to look at it every day and decided to put it in my seldomly-used desk. Inside of the mug is another forgotten gift.
In the lead up to Christmas a year and a half ago, we were talking one night about a movie. You mentioned a small pin in the movie you had always liked that a character wore, and unbeknownst to you, I decided to buy you a gift. I was able to find that pin on Etsy, and express-shipped it to get it in time for Christmas. It wasn’t expensive, just a $20 trinket, but I wanted to surprise you with a small gesture, thanking you for your friendship and trying to show that you meant a lot to me. Sure enough, it arrived just in time.
It was in my coat pocket that night a few days before Christmas when we went to dinner at the restaurant. I originally was going to give it to you early on that night but decided against it, holding off to see what hand you were about to deal. Things were getting weird between us, both just too afraid to explicitly say what we desperately wanted to hear from each other. Even though you had told me how you felt months earlier under the cloud of a long, drunken, emotional night, I felt like I needed to hear you say it with a fully clear head. And you were so terrified that you were misreading the situation, allowing your own insecurities to get the best of you, that you thought I didn’t feel the same way. So instead of just being honest with each other, we beat around the bush like always. You tried to push my buttons with a complete change in tone from the few weeks leading up to it, and it worked enough for me to finally be frustrated enough to say something.
I called you out on your inability to communicate. I felt like with the state of our situation, I couldn’t be fully honest and say what I needed to say and what you needed to hear to take that leap of faith. The elephant in the room prevented me from it. And we came so close to finally opening up in the ensuing conversation, just not close enough. I still wanted to give you the Christmas gift that had been in my coat the whole time, but I was too scared to take it out of my pocket. I felt like giving that to you at that point would have just caused us both more anxiety before the holiday, with the elephant looming over us both. I knew you were upset when I got out of the car, but it didn’t fully click until I got upstairs how heartbroken and confused you must have felt after our conversation. I debated driving over to your place to give you the gift and tell you how I felt, but I was terrified. I had never said those three words before, and decided it could wait till we got back. You know the rest of the story.
The gift was in my pocket the next time we went out to dinner. For a while, it sat in my dresser. I thought about getting rid of it a few times, but was unable to bear the thought of throwing it, and all that it had come to represent, away. Eventually I decided to put it in the mug in my desk for safekeeping. I got a reminder email from my building this morning, asking me to re-sign my lease for next year ahead of the deadline. My intent has been to leave town for a while now, even as friends of mine ask me why the hell I want to leave a town I love so much at this point. All I can think about is that mug and what’s inside of it.
I know myself well enough to know that the mug and the gift will probably make the move with me. It’s funny and sad how well the mug and the gift work as a real life metaphor for baggage, it’s not quite Davy Jones’ heart in a chest but it might as well be. That’s part of the reason I didn’t leave last year, emotional baggage follows you everywhere. As much as I’ve tried to move on and not let the mess we made for ourselves hold me back in new relationships, the naïve 6 year old child in me that just misses his best friend refuses to fully let go. It was a lot easier early on when I didn’t know you were struggling that much too. I think that’s part of why it always hurt to see you struggle to just say what you felt, at times it was like looking in a mirror.
It’s easy to say, after everything that’s happened since, that it was probably doomed no matter what. We both had been wounded long before we met each other, and had our innocence and ability to fully trust robbed from us. I think the rational parts of us know that it was never going to be easy to proceed. But even knowing how ugly it became, I would still go back to that time and give it another shot.

Clarification Note

- This is a new post format I am trying out on different platforms.
- I am going to be more direct in this post, that said if you do not fit the criteria in my post please do not contact me unless you're seeking friendship.
- I am interested in a sugaring dynamic added to BDSM, this takes time. If you want a buyer or a John please avoid me.
- If you're out of country, refer to the first note.
​
Special NoteIt's Sunday. If you're still hung over, and or still going to have your fun take care of yourself - eat some protein and drink plenty of water. If you have an extreme headache and over the counter meds aren't helping and you're still wanting to be a masochist cayenne pepper mixed with warm water will do the trick. Aside from that, if you do not read this entire post I'll know.
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Side Note
If you're curious to get to know me, just ask.
​

All about what I am looking for and offer

- Age range 18 - 28.
- Good Hygiene, you can take care of yourself mentally and physically.
- CIS Female
- Body Type Preference: Slim/Petite to average and or curvy.
- Switches, Switchtastic times are the best times. Slaves, littles, and subs are nice as well though.
- Positive influence, that goes both ways in expectancy.
- Conversation, if you hit me with the ole buy meh nudes I will meme you. If you hit me with with the ole Daddy comment imma hit you with the worst site I can think of which is currently omegle.
- Gamers - preferably a female but if you're a guy and do competitive gaming I am open to a mutually beneficial arrangement in the realm of gaming.
- You're in Louisiana, yes this unfortunately dead state it seems. But if you're in the surrounding states I am open to it.
- Adrenaline junkie - We only have one life, might as well test it a little by zip lining or jumping out of a plane together.
- An Adult, if you've attempted to meet and or have met someone from here or other platforms you know what I am speaking of.
- BDSM, be into it and or open to being guided in it.
- Kinky Oranges, this better be in your first message to me.
​
Dynamics I align with best
Equal Ownership
Master to slave
Daddy to little
Owner to pet
Care Giver to little
​
Payment Methods I work with
- Google pay (primary option)
- Amazon Wish List (secondary only, meant for gifts)
- Gift Cards (secondary only, meant for gifts)
- The Dollar (because reddit doesn't like the C word for some reason) (primary option)
- Ko-fi's site (primary option)
- CA (primary option)
- Open to other alternatives if asked.
​
How my arrangement works
This is meant to be long term, it's going to take time to establish a connection and trust. If you're expecting to talk to me for 2 hours and get 400$ it's not going to happen. Ironically, I was scammed last month out of a starting trial period with a real person for 400$ after speaking to that person for two weeks. I don't always take two weeks to get to know someone but it depends on the vibes. For additional context, I believe this platform does not like the discussion of allowances in post so I will be omitting the allowance amounts from all stages.
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Consideration
Where you and I will be when you decide to reach out to me. We'll get to know the other from our vanilla life to our experience in the kink life, learning of the others limitations and interest. At some point I am going to prompt us both to do a SFW verification via call and or picture exchange. Silverware is a thing so don't be surprised if I prompt for something random. I will likely prompt for at least 1 - 2 calls, if we mesh then we mesh. If we don't then we can agree for friendship or parting ways.
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If in Louisiana - The above will take place first, then an initial meet to a restaurant will be prompted. I will cover all expenses, and if needed support travel. If we mesh we mesh, if we do not mesh we can part ways and or maintain a friendship.
Trial
In this stage, we've agreed we mesh in chemistry and wish to push forward.
This is a two week trial. In this trial a light core dynamic will begin, I will take on the Dominant role regardless if you're a switch or not. I expect moderate time to be given while we continue to engage with the other. This will include a bare basic rule system to give a glimpse of interest in real time, light NSFW play, and establishing further trust in the other.
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If in Louisiana - The above will likely be online. Meets to restaurants and or events will be expected. This is SFW.
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Training
In this stage, we've agreed we still mesh in kink and chemistry and wish to push forward.
This will continue into a two week allowance arrangement with occasional gifts. The allowance will be raised from the trial period. This stage will consist through a time span of 2 - 6 months. I will maintain the Dominant role at least for the start dependent on our interest for dynamics. This will be a true start to a generic Dom / sub dynamic that will merge into others as time passes with moderate rules and guidance both in kink and your life as I wish to push you toward your goals. NFSW and SFW.
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If in Louisiana - I do expect regular meets which will be determined together, it will be SFW and NSFW for scene play and or sessions along with outtings. Sadistic Pineapples better be in your first message.
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If out of state - Semi regular to regular meets are expected. Travel will be covered. First meet will be SFW if you are uncomfortable for anything beyond.
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Formal
We've established that we're both in it for the long run. We will either maintain two week allowance periods or weekly allowance periods dependent on what we're looking for. Gifts are regular. A true formality collar is introduced, if you're interested I also have a role play based BDSM contract. A true dynamic will be established between us with my full list of rules, guidance and scene play.

Sincerely
Ba-doh, ba-doh, ba-doh, ba-doh-ba
Sincerely, oh yes, sincerely
'Cause I love you so dearly, please say you'll be mine
-The Moonglows
Part I - The End
This isn’t happening. This isn’t happening. If I keep saying it maybe it will be true.
But it was happening. Tough times. Humpty Dumpty times. Out of gas in the desert with no bars times.
And, just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse than a Tijuana root canal; she walked in. Out of the sweltering Mexican heat, into the dim bar, she came; the only thing standing between me and the blinding light. I heard a couple of gunshots somewhere in the distance.
I still remember how the sun illuminated my 2pm rise and shine, shit-faced full of no caffeine afternoon after, hair of the dog; tequila shot and beer. Like I said, tough times on the Ponderosa, Hoss.
Every time I think of that moment, I stand transfixed in time. Unable to move, frozen in-place tighter than a suckered kid’s tongue to a Chicago lamppost in a February ice storm. Maggie had long ago won my heart’s devotion only to betray both me, and it, in ways still inconceivable to my sauce pan of a brain.
So, a couple of months ago, my life in post-apocalyptic ruin, I did what any red-blooded American would do; I flew across the border to CDMX to drown my sorrows in tequila and cheap living. And now, incomprehensibly, here she was; back, again like the September monsoon. Had the bitch air tagged me?
It seemed with Maggie my heart’s devotion was not enough. Everything she wanted and received soon became a dull knife; just ain’t cutting. Mags had to have it all, all the time. And I thought she had gotten all of me and more. Who’d think she’d want to pick at the carcass? But inexplicably, there she was like my constant migraine, the one that never really left the base of my skull.
Without a word Mags swooped in close like she missed me and now hadda kiss me.
Then, quicker than lightning showing off, she plunged her delicate-boned hand deep into my chest. She then removed it with even greater alacrity holding it high above her jet-black mane. She waved it for all the bar to see, my still beating corazón in it, color-coordinating against it’s will with her manicure, making what looked like vague Italian gestures.
Nobody in the bar paid us any mind.
I, on the other hand, couldn’t help but avert my horrified gaze into my now exposed chest cavity, only to witness darkness within darkness gazing back at me.
“Heyyyyyy,” a voiceless voice greeted and saluted.
I looked up at Maggie. She took the seat opposite mine. Then reaching over with her free hand commandeered my tequila and knocked it back quick. Her encore was to grab my beer and drain it with all the mud she could muster into my eye. Then, with a satisfied look she dropped the now emptied bottle on the wooden table hard enough to make a thud.
Maggie then met my stare. My cardia beating peripatetically in her freshly manicured right-hand she made an elaborate shrug, her face smug as a tyrant’s fart.
I remembered wondering what the fuck was keeping my cardio so vascular. It sure as fuck wasn’t clean living. Then, that voiceless voice had yet more to say.
“Now what, Spenser?” it asked.
Now, it was now my turn to shrug. Surprisingly, despite being a now certifiably heartless son of a bitch, I, too, had something to say. So, I said it.
“You’re fucking diabolical, Maggie.”
My words of judgment echoed clear, permeating deep into the abyss, then back again at Maggie. She caught my words easier than a kitten catches smiles. She just shrugged again. It was starting to get annoying.
“You ruined me,” I added just to be doing something.
The shrug undulated down from her tan and toned shoulder through her arm, finally coming to a full stop at her finger’s tips.
Waving my heart at me with more vague Italian gestures Mags asked, “How can you be so sure, Spenser?”
Part II – The Middle
Sincerely, oh you know how I love you
I'll do anything for you, please say you'll be mine
...
This isn’t happening. This isn’t happening. My new mantra wasn’t working.
Six months ago, I thought Maggie was the answer to my dreams.
Swooping down like an angel to shower me with attention and affection. Dinners with wine. Hot sex. More hot sex. No strings attached. Getting to know you pillow talk.
Now, there’s one thing I need to add. I met her through a dating app but as it turned out we both worked for the same nonprofit. We didn’t know each other as it’s a fairly big company but it turned out I supported the code for both her projects. This turned out to be one of many coincidences.
We both hated our jobs. We both liked writing short stories but never could sell a thing despite writing dozens and dozens. We both could dance salsa, on 1 and 2 and loved to hablar en español que no era muy guapo.
We both wanted to run away to Mexico city and live the Bohemian life.
Coincidences like we both grew up in NYC and had issues with our respective families of origin. And while she was Chinese-American and I was Russian-American both our fathers were born in the same year and were obsessed with Woody Allen. We both had much younger siblings we didn’t speak to.
Yeah, we had both grown up with weak fathers and selfish narcissistic mothers in common. And worser still, we had both experienced unstable living situations in high school. In my case, I was kicked out of the house for smoking weed.
In Maggie’s case, I never really was sure what went down but the best I could get out of her was at 13 she got pissed at her mom for cheating on her dad and left the house with nowhere to go. She ended up with family friends or relatives but the details were always murky and I was not the nosey type.
Her words to me were, “My mother’s emotional IQ is low. I raised myself.”
Impressively, she had made it through the Ivy League and seemed to be someone down to earth I could spend time with. But truth be told from the minute I saw her profile picture I was hotter than a Texas chili sprout for her.
It was some kind of primal attraction I thought I was long past entertaining. It wasn’t lust. It wasn’t love. It was like the thought of coming home to a family I never knew I had or that even could exist.
This shit made old me feel like young me again. But, as oft is the case in life, there was a problem. I was old, broke and probably about to lose my job. I was in IT and I was having problems with my manager being a psychopath; for reals.
It wasn’t mere conjecture as he had a reputation of getting people fired, or worse, making their lives so miserable they would quit; even with no prospects. I had been the focus of his sabotaging efforts and it had been having a bad effect on my mental and physical well-being.
This had taken a turn for the worse and I was catching a lot of passive aggressive hostility on the project Maggie supported.
Anyway, she was the bright spot in my otherwise mostly solitary and emotionally bleak life. And she lived nearby. She had an ex and kids and shared custody but I never met them and she didn’t really talk much about it except to say once, “You should need a license to have kids.”
I never had quite known what to make of some of the things she said, but like I said, I was under her spell. And I liked it.
And the icing on top? I had a dominant kinky side and that was a fire Maggie poured gasoline on every chance she got. She was worse than an arsonist in Underoo Town.
One weird thing about Mags was her knitting habit. If we weren’t fucking or eating she was knitting. Even at restaurants and bars.
One day in November, with the sun golden in a sky so blue you thought you could touch it I asked, “What are you knitting?”
Maggie gave me a wry look. She got out of her chair and seemed to be examining my bald head which I had shaved just that morning.
“A hat,” she replied.
But as the holidays rolled around things started to change. One Sunday morning as we were having coffee Maggie looked around the crowded steamy café.
“Everybody’s hooking up for the holidays,” she remarked.
I didn’t really know what to do with that one so I let it be.
But as the days went on there was a change in the weather. Fewer texts. Less sex. Maggie going out of town to some vague destination. Sending me sexy pictures of herself in Santa outfits after I caught the flu during Christmas.
A few days after Christmas I got a text late one night.
“Is it okay if I come by?”
“Very okay,” was my reply.
Maggie showed up with chocolate, red wine and the hat she had been knitting. Orange Afghani wool softer than a golden retriever’s fur. She put the hat on my head and then removed all my clothes.
“Let’s celebrate Christmas, Spenser.”
And, we did.
When we were done and lying head-to-head, I said, “I love my hat.”
Maggie said, “I made it especially for you. No matter what, don’t lose it.”
It was another one of those weird Maggie things she said, like, “I used to shoplift,” and shit like that.
I nodded.
“Promise me you’ll hold on to your hat, Spenser.”
“I promise.”
Maggie observed my face, then nodded as if confirming something to herself.
“Okay.”
Then we did that thing again.
That was the pinnacle. Things quickly went downhill for no reason I could discern. Texts unanswered and when answered; kind of abrupt-like. Being unavailable. Stuff with her kids. Time away in Connecticut for some vague reason. After that I began feeling like the weakest card in a gambler’s hand.
But Maggie kept shoe horning me in at odd times, giving me just enough crumbs to keep me on the hook. And as we rode the roller coaster down everything always seemed to center around alcohol. And sex. More and more debauched sex. Finally, by New Year’s Eve things were getting straight-up weird no chaser.
“You know that thing we talked about?”
By her tone I knew what she meant. I nodded cautiously.
“You want to try it?”
Maggie dropped a smile on me that would have had the serpent in the garden applying for unemployment.
“Yes,” she said.
So, we did.
I thought I had been imagining things. I thought we were back at the pinnacle. I could feel the love drug course through my veins. Things couldn’t be better. Or, so I thought.
Oh Lord, won't you tell me why
I love that girlie so
The Following Monday
The next Monday I was called into what turned out to be the most fucking bizarre moment of my fifty-eight years on this planet; and I’ve had some bizarre fucking moments growing up in south Brooklyn in the 1970’s; believe you me.
The company’s CIO, compliance officer, head of legal, head of HR and my evil manager, Conte Rugen were all in attendance, cameras ROLLING.
It appears I was being dismissed after 8 years loyal service for sexual assault, extortion, harassment, hate speech, insults to farm animals and every fucking other offense against God and man one could commit in these holiest of holy United States of America.
And just who had I… who had I.. victimized? Who had I preyed upon? Harassed? Gone full nutso on?
Maggie.
They had the goods. Recordings. Video. Ropes. Whips. Chains. Bad Spanglish. Maggie screaming, “No, papi! No!!!!”
I believe I was, what is known in legal parlance as, summarily fucked.
Nobody wanted to hear my side. How things were taken out of context. Things we had mutually consented to out of exciting and bonding trust and exploration.
“Did I have consent agreement?” I parroted back in shock to the head of legal.
“Did you get one when you fucked your mother in the ass before she shat you out?” I added just to keep my mouth from puking.
I was in bombshell shock. Maggie was my angel. Our situationship was supposed to be fucking healing from our abused childhoods and here I am now some kind of Tarantinoesque, Mr. Fucking Rapist? And my fucking manager once bragging about throwing a cat out a window when he was a juvenile delinquent?!?
There would be charges pressed. I would need an attorney. I might be arrested.
And it all happened faster than you can say, “Blue Monday, How I hate Blue Monday”.
And then Maggie sued the company. Take no fucking prisoners, Maggie. Disco-fucking-inferno burn that mother down we don’t need no water let the motherfucker burn Maggie. I wondered if her ex had been left on food stamps after the divorce.
A few months and my life savings and retirement account after that the criminal case got pleaded down to misdemeanor assault and I was able to arbitrate with my employer and Maggie’s lawyer leaving me with some clothes, my passport and precisely enough plastic to fly into the sweltering Mexican heat. So, fly into it I did.
Part III – The Beginning
Sincerely, oh you know how I love you
I'll do anything for you, please say you'll be mine
Oh Lord, won't you tell me why
I love that girlie so
She doesn't want me
But I'll never never never never let her go
...
“I wish you’d stop waving that thing at me,” I said gesturing at my heart with my chin.
“You’re still upset,” Maggie said. It wasn’t a question.
“You fucking abused me. You fucking eviscerated me. Yeah, you could say I’m a little perturbed.”
“But you’re still wearing the hat,” she said smiling.
“It’s a bad ass hat,” I said. It was after all. Why cut off your nose to spite your face?
“I put a lot of time and thought into it,” she said. My heart continued to beat in her hand.
...
Oh Lord, won't you tell me why
I love that girlie so
She doesn't want me
But I'll never never never never let her go
...
“Look,” she said waving my heart at me.
“I really wish you wouldn’t wave that around like that.”
The voice in the abyss in my chest spoke. It said, “Wait for it.”
Maggie said, “Spenser, you poor fucking sap. You hate your fucking job. You try to do the right fucking thing and speak up and you get kicked around like a dog. You try to love hard and you get beat up and left in an alley. You try to write books and start businesses and you end up bankrupt or dead.
And now look at you! You don’t have a care in the fucking world. You don’t have a shitty job. You are in beautiful Mexico City with the girl of your dreams. You say your heart was hardened? Well, I say it feels pretty fucking soft and sweet to me. Like the hat I knitted you. With the pom pom. And you know what?”
“What?” I heard myself murmur?
The abyss in my chest said, “Yeah, what?”
“Well, one the fucking pom pom has a beacon so I knew where you were the whole fucking time you sap. So I can tell you this true. And I will. So here I am in fucking Mexico sweating my tits off. And I am telling you this," she said nodding at my cardio, "is a very good heart. And I am putting it back where it belongs.
There is nothing wrong with it and now nobody can hurt it again. And if you want to write a book now you have something, and someone,” she added with a wry smile, “to write about.”
Then lightning quick Maggie put it back in my chest and removing her hand made a quick flourish gesturing for the waitress.
“Botella de tequila, por favor!”
I looked down at my chest. Everything seemed to be the way it had been before she ripped out my heart. Only different.
I was about to speak. Maggie raised a hand.
The waitress appeared like a wraith and put down a bottle of Don Julio and two fresh shot glasses and two cold ones.
Maggie poured two shots and pushed one at me with the hand that had been holding my cardio captive. She then fished around in her pocket and found her phone.
“What the fuck, right," that's what your thinking, Spenser. Yeah, what the fuck is right. Look at this baby boy,” she said and then pushed her phone next to the shot glass.
I was looking at what appeared to be a bank balance that appeared ready, willing and able to face fuck an extraordinarily tall giraffe. I felt the migraine disappear like a bad dream.
Maggie gave me a wry smile.
She pushed the shot glass closer to me and picked hers up. I felt my elbow bending. It felt okay.
She tilted her shot at me and said, "Here's looking at you, kid," and took the shot. I drank mine.
We put our glasses down.
“You can negotiate anything," she said, then added, "sincerely.”
And then, then she kissed me.
Oh say you'll be mine
Oo-eee, oo-eee-oo, ooi-ooi-ooo
Sincerely

Traveling with my friends could you plz suggest me these:-

1. Travel guide who can show me City
2. List of best places
3. Best restaurants
4. Decent hotels
5. Bike or car on rent

Weather's been really hot. Fancy some icy cocktails, cold beer, and refreshing sodas?
This is a completely new bar-hopping route. Each stop is literally just a minute away from each other so well within stumbling distance even with the heat wave we are experiencing. There will be beer, wine, spirits, soft drinks, and food sold at all the locations. Also cheap eats and street food in the area for the hungry people.
Taking advantage of the happy hour, we start at:
7:30pm at underpass G/F, 18 Tsing Fung St, Tin Hau
9:00pm we go across the street to Hong Kong Island Taphouse 1a, 1b Tsing Fung Street Flyover, Causeway Bay
10:30pm at Drunkerland Shop B G/F, 27 Ngan Mok St, Tin Hau
Finish at around midnight or so at Ares (optional) G/F, 11 Lau Li St, Causeway Bay They have dart boards. Those who are keen can drink and throw darts at each other til late.
As per usual we will be wearing Reddit t-shirts, with a Snoo stuffed toy so we would be easy to spot.
Everyone including myself will be paying for their own drinks.
See you there!
meetup post

Hi guys, do you know the best place to get biryani in Thane? I want the street style spicy biryani and not from a proper restaurant or biryani outlets like Charcoal eats or Biryani by kilo. I would prefer if I could order it over Swiggy or Zomato.

Due to him wanting to turn my flag into an AirBnB, my landlord has given me notice to leave my flat. I need to be out by June 25th. I have been looking at places to move into with spare rooms but so far haven't found anywhere (I am continuously looking). As a result, I thought I'd ask here in case anyone knows of anywhere that was looking for someone.
As for information about myself, I'm gonna be completely transparent and say that my personal circumstances are not great right now. Due to various things that have happened to me in the last few months (most of which were things that were beyond my control), I don't have a lot of money. However, I of course want to rectify that and am continuously looking for work (also, I should hopefully be getting the deposit for my flat back, which should keep me going for at least a good few weeks). My current plan is to find somewhere to live and then get a nearby job (i.e. retail, working in a restaurant, ect) so that I am at least getting some money.
I also do freelance acting work, so it is possible that I may occasionally land a job for a day or so that pays very well.
As for how much rent I am willing to pay, I am willing to pay no more than £700 a month.
If anyone knows of anywhere that has a spare room available within Hertfordshire, please let me know. Though I completely understand that there might not be anyone here who is able to help. If this post gets ignored, then that's totally fine.
Hope you're all doing good 😊

Arguably the worst experiences ever while visiting a cafe in Hyderabad. The reason? Cause we were on a 2-wheeler scooter. Despite having ample parking space without any cars, they kept it only for people coming in cars which made no sense as there was no provision for keeping any 2-wheeler inside OR outside. We were harassed to the point that we had to leave even before we went inside as they clearly sounded partial towards people who came in cars. If this is what hospitality means, then these guys are as bad as it gets.
I've never had such a horrific experience in Hyderabad and most places are accommodating even when the cafe/restaurant is full. This place was nowhere near full, but we were not allowed inside just because we came on a scooter and not a car.
DO NOT VISIT THIS CAFE - F House Hyderabad - Jubilee Hills

What recommendations does everyone have regarding restaurants within walking distance of campus? Looking for restaurants you would recommend based on quality of food and also places you like for the student atmosphere.
Thanks in advance - will be there for orientation the next few days.

Hey all, piggybacking off a post I saw about a restaurant in Ohio posting a sign about their business model not accepting tips because they compensate their employees fairly.
Wondering if anyone knows of any KC area places with similar policies no tipping policy?
I don't feel like I can go anywhere these days without getting the tip screen.