Hello people! Introductions are super awkward so let's wave at each other and pretend you just read a super duper intro and you're soooo amazed you gotta keep reading till the end... (abracadambra focus pocus readus wholus postus)
And I know there's no worse possible way to make it even more awkward with adding all that cringey magic spell thingy (that's definitely not real, you're reading this on your own will!) buuuuut you're basically getting a taste of what it's like interracting with me. In one word, stupid. In two words, stupidly fun. (I hope... but confidence is key)
I'm from a small European country and I live in an even smaller village and I avoid the big city life as much as possible. I work mostly from home but my hobbies are outdoorsy and my days are always full with a variety of things but there's definitely time for a much needed interaction with my friends and my beloved people (they are mostly online or too far to meet up so basically my social life is inside a laptop/phone/discord/etc.). I spam my very close people all the time at random times with all my random thoughts or pics of things I saw and whatsoever. I'm quite extroverted unless you put me in a room with 100 people then I'll probably hide under a table for sure (after I steal a big plate of food so I have snacks in my solitude). I'm very sharing with my feelings, I like creating genuine bonds and fun connections that last for maaaany years. I'm generally a positive person and not much can stress me or worry me, I like to leave tomorrow's problems for my self of tomorrow so me of today can enjoy the current day! (if that makes sense to you just send me a message already).
I do not struggle with mental health issues although I spent years of fighting my own demons (it was a tough war but I can proudly say I made it!!!!!) and that really helped me into appreciating every single day and finding joy in the smallest of things. This war however may have been the cause of me remaining single for a while. It was my own choice to not bring anyone else into my life when I wasn't happy with who I was and how I was treating myself and heck how could I treat anyone better if I was so harsh to myself! But I'm confident and soooo ready to find a partner in crime and thrive together. I like fun and engaging people, who can laugh at themselves and their mistakes, they don't let a day go to waste without making memories or smile at least 10 times (but relaxing isolating days are accepted too every now and then)..
I know I come off as a big idiot and it's not for everybody and that's really okay. If I sound too serious that's also okay but be warned I'm indeed a big idiot. I have an awful and worrying taste of self-depreciating and dark humour and I like to talk for hours if something catches my interest and triggers my curiosity. I'm not looking for short boring convos with no equal effort from both sides atleast when we're getting to know each other. I do not have an ideal type because at this point anyone who matches my energy and wants to be stupid together is already a great candidate! Just be a good person, mind your own business and we probably can get along well together. And if the sparks happen, then bam! Any age is fine as long there's no big age difference (5-6 years give or take maybe?) , ideally from Europe too just to make meeting/travelling together easier and for time difference because I liiiiike my sleep.
I do have a mature geeky boringy side that I only like to bring in the surface when it's needed so don't worry about wanting to talk about serious and important topics with me. I can do that. I do not smoke, drink nor do drugs. I love babies but I have none of my own (human atleast, because furry babies I have alot) and would love to a mini me in the future. I'm shorter than average (hey let's not post numbers because they kinda stiiiiing hahahaha), a bit on the chubby side although very active (hey I just like alot of snacks! don't judge me -_-), long light brown hair, green/bluey eyes and I'm told I look younger and quite cute (atleast 3 grandmas told me this month!)
This was probably the most uninformative post I read but really if you read the whole thing and you can match the vibe and continue it with your own message then you're absolutely welcome! I have no big expectations so the disappointment rates are soooo low I might as well just end this here and post it! So thanks for reading!!!
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*Idiot edit, I FORGOT THE TITLE! Well... can't fix it now haha.

So if you worked in the Jersey City financial district (or pretty much anywhere in NYC and probably parts of Newark) pre-Covid you probably experience the fine cuisine provided by the various coffee carts in the mornings. You were a regular if you visited more than once, the guys had your order down. They'd remember you if you were away for a while. Years ago one of them gave me a Christmas card! The cart that used to serve my JC work neighborhood is gone, which makes me sad.
These paragons of fine dining have a variety of cinnamon roll I can't find anywhere else. Bigger than a Dunkin' coffee roll, dense, sometimes a tiny bit undercooked in the very middle. They're the kind of thing you can only eat on a Friday when you have nothing going on because you're going to go into a carb-induced fugue and it will be worth it. I always meant to ask "my" guys who their distributor was but I just didn't, and now I've lost the chance.
I've Googled various combos of "coffee cart distributors" and "food service" etc., but so far nothing. Does anyone know where NJ/NY area vendors get this stuff, and if they sell retail? Seems impractical to get a vendor license just to have my own supply but on the other hand, you gotta do what you gotta do.

Prologue
In the verdant heart of Sayla, where the suns painted the sky with warm hues and the gentle whisper of the breeze carried the laughter of children, a soulborn elf named Elyan wandered through the lush forest, his steps as light as the dappled shadows that danced on the forest floor. His eyes sparkled with a carefree spirit, reflecting the beauty of the world around him. Life in Sayla was serene, with the days spent in harmonious coexistence among the vibrant flora and fauna. The village where Elyan lived was a haven for his kind, nestled in the embrace of ancient trees that stood as silent guardians, shielding them from the outside world. The soulborn elves shared a deep connection with the land and its creatures, nurturing an unwavering bond that transcended the passage of time. The villagers, united by a profound sense of kinship, filled their days with song and laughter, celebrating the simple joys of life. Elyan was no exception, cherishing the peace and tranquility that surrounded him. He spent his days exploring the emerald depths of the forest, forging friendships with its inhabitants, and basking in the warmth of his community. As the sun dipped below the horizon, Elyan would often gather with his friends and family around a crackling fire, sharing stories that echoed through the night, weaving a tapestry of memories that bound them together. Many of the stories would be about the trials and tribulations the Soul Born Elves faced over countless generations due to their overall pacifist nature. It is well known in Tra'Vol that Soul Born elves do not even take life as their culture is believed to cherish the sanctity of Life putting nothing else before it. Though true there is another reason soulborn elves do not kill that will be revealed in Elyan's tale. Unbeknownst to Elyan and his people, however, a storm was brewing on the horizon, a dark tide that threatened to shatter their idyllic existence forever. As the shadows lengthened and the air grew heavy with foreboding, the soulborn elves of Sayla would soon find themselves facing a grim reality. From beyond the southern border of Sayla, armies materialized as if conjured from thin air, commanded by a man known as Leviticus Brightsoul—The Wicked King to his own people. At the tender age of 17, Leviticus embarked on his first conquest, swiftly earning recognition from the kingdom of Impre'us. He conquered the provinces of Valta and Alamay and established a foothold in Eria after a brutal, month-long skirmish called The Shallows of Sorrow. The battle earned its name when rumors spread of Leviticus ruthlessly killing and torturing citizens and soldiers alike, leaving a trail of bodies in the shallow waters of the Eria swamplands. The death toll reportedly reached 50,000, yet Leviticus had only led a detachment of 100 troops—an astonishing feat even for the demigods who ruled the royal bloodlines of Tra'Vol. Five years passed after this conquest, and Leviticus returned to his homeland of Impre'us just in time to confront an invading army from Sacarr. Unimpressed, he single-handedly inflicted massive defeats on the invaders, forcing them to retreat. People began to speculate that Leviticus must have sold his soul to a Mala'Deus, as he had slain the Sacre'Noir—a formidable and ruthless warrior race, as well as the demigod representing their bloodline—all by himself. The carnage was said to be so immense that even his own people recoiled in horror as he slaughtered the enemy army, cackling maniacally throughout the ordeal. Everyone deemed his actions sickening and grotesque, except for his father, who saw his son's feat as a triumph that saved the empire. Swelling with pride, his father abdicated the throne, crowning Leviticus as the ruler of Impre'us. Leviticus was delighted but not surprised, as he had already planned to murder his father and seize the throne. With this obstacle removed, he set his sights on the neighboring continent of Lun'aal, intent on claiming its uncharted territories by force. Believing that every land rightfully belonged to his empire, Leviticus dispatched thousands of troops to explore the region. The soldiers landed on the serene coastlines of Mortua Terra, where they established bases that extended to the province of Black Sand and eventually to the borders of Sayla. However, they reported that the dense forests of Sayla made further travel and exploration impossible. Dissatisfied with their explanation and anticipating the rich resources of the unexplored land, Leviticus summoned his trusted advisor, a wizard named De'lacar, and the two used gate magic to teleport directly to the primary base at the border of Black Sand and Sayla. The soldiers in the encampment were taken aback when a tear in the very fabric of reality appeared in their midst, allowing their king and his advisor to step through. Shocked, everyone in the camp immediately knelt before their sovereign, Leviticus Brightsoul.
""No... No, that won't do. Get up!" Leviticus said, rubbing the bridge of his nose with his index finger and thumb as if nursing a headache.
"That's precisely why I had to leave the palace! You fools and your desperate attempts to take a break on my time!"
As he finished his sentence, Leviticus snapped his fingers. Small circles appeared around each of the soldiers, signaling impending doom. The camp erupted in a cacophony of cries as the men begged for their lives.
"Sir, please give me another chance!" one called out.
"I'm not going to die like this!" another exclaimed, attempting to flee but quickly realizing his muscles refused to respond.
"Please, Your Majesty, I have a family! Don't be a heartless bastard!" a man cried out, sounding like a frightened child.
"Heartless bastard, huh?... You no longer have a family."
"What?! No! I didn't... mean..."
"Silence!" Leviticus's voice roared, startling even a large predatory creature that had been stalking the troops and lurking nearby.
"The price for your transgressions will be paid in blood, and because of your careless words, not only your blood."
Leviticus removed a glowing, lustrous orb from his battle raiment. The sphere emitted a beautiful dance of colors before abruptly turning a deep blood red moments later. It began spewing blood and viscera onto the man who had insulted him. The man screamed in agony, realizing the gore covering him belonged to his wife and two daughters, recognizing his daughter's torn and shredded face amongst the flesh.
"You!... What have you done?! I'll kill you!!!" the man screamed.
"Oh, will you now? I'll tell you what," Leviticus' eyes briefly shimmered from their normal light blue to a deep, dark red before returning to their original hue. He released the circle around the distraught man. "I'd say I'm a pretty 'fair' king, so I'll give you a fair shot."
Leviticus gestured to his advisor, who produced a strange sword with a glowing essence. Leviticus explained, "The sword issued to you, though strong, won't be enough to kill me in this realm or the next. This sword, however..." He took the sword from his advisor.
"This sword is made from Dwarvain titanium and etched with runic symbols found in ancient texts left behind by the Cyphora Civilization that once called our homeland their own. The symbols and their effects are not important. What is important is that it can even strike down a deity if used properly."
Leviticus hurled the sword at the man, and it embedded itself into the ground next to him.
"Now kill me!" Leviticus said in a playful tone. Unprepared for the soldier's escape, as few ever managed to get away from Leviticus, the soldier seized the sword and took advantage of his short-range teleportation spells. He made it to the border of Sayla, sword in hand, and sought refuge at a monument to the Celes'Deus Solayah. He planted the sword into the ground next to the statue and collapsed beside it. Distraught and trying to determine his next move after witnessing the murder of his family by the king, he began to plan. But no one escapes the Wicked King.
"Should we go after him, sire?" De'lacar asked with urgency.
"Why waste the manpower?" Leviticus responded rhetorically, holding up the orb once again. As it began to glow, the men still held within the circle seemed to evaporate, transforming into pools of blood within the circle. Simultaneously, the soldier who sought refuge at the shrine of Solayah also began to evaporate, as the circle reappeared beneath him leaving behind the sword as the only evidence of his presence at the shrine.
Elsewhere in the province of Sayla, Elyan, utterly unaware of the storm brewing in the distance, continued to revel in the beauty of the present moment. As he ambled through the forest, he heard the distant call of his best friend, Lira, who was perched on a nearby branch.
"Elyan! There you are!" she exclaimed, her melodic voice carrying through the trees. "I've been looking for you everywhere. You know the Soul Dance Ceremony is tonight, right?"
Elyan's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Of course, Lira! Do you know if Sonair is coming this year?"
Lira gracefully hopped down from her perch, landing beside Elyan with a soft rustle of leaves.
"They haven't said, but it's supposed to be a grand celebration of our goddess Solayah this year, so it's sure to be a night to remember. Unlike the last gathering when your brother got drunk on lavender tree sap," Lira recalled, giggling.
"Who even knew that was possible?" Elyan replied, joining in the laughter.
"Apparently Sedwin! One would swear he already knew and just attempted to liven up the boring rituals of our normal Soul Dance Ceremonies," Lira said playfully, tapping Elyan's shoulder.
"Yeah, he's probably responsible for the drunken antics of the village elders nowadays. You think he shared the recipe with them?" Elyan jokingly asked.
"Your little brother does tend to get away with a lot these days!" Lira exclaimed.
Elyan and Lira had been close since childhood. Both being raised as acolytes of Solayah, they never thought of each other as anything more than brother and sister. Elyan, however, had always harbored deeper feelings for Lira. But due to their strict religious beliefs, he never pursued these feelings. Nevertheless, the feelings remained and led to one of the first of many sins Elyan would go on to commit – the sin of coveting.
"You know what, Elyan? We should go visit the nearby shrine of Solayah. It's not too far from where we are now – maybe 20 or 30 minutes at most," Lira suggested eagerly.
Reluctant to resist Lira's captivating golden-hued puppy eyes, Elyan acquiesced, and they embarked on the renowned Living Vine Trail. The path earned its name from the vibrant green mycelium, resembling vines, that meandered languidly through the dense tree canopy overhead. The trail's relative safety ensured a tranquil journey for the couple as they made their way to the shrine. However, upon nearing the shrine's staircase, an unsettling sensation enveloped them—an eerie atmosphere that was decidedly atypical for a sacred space devoted to the Celes'Deus.
"Elyan, do you feel that?" Lira inquires nervously, drawing closer to him for comfort. "Yes... I do. Something dark has transpired here."
"At a shrine dedicated to a celestial deity?" Lira's voice trembles with the onset of fear. "We must turn back now, Elyan!"
Just as Elyan is about to agree, a glint of something catches his eye near the Statue of Solayah at the shrine's apex.
"Lira, wait here. I'll only be a moment," he insists, starting up the marble staircase.
"Elyan, are you serious? We need to hurry back and inform the elders about the dreadful occurrence here!" Lira protests.
"We will, but first, I must ensure the shrine hasn't been desecrated. We cannot risk angering Solayah before the Soul Dance Ceremony tonight," Elyan explains, swiftly ascending the staircase.
"Elyan, you better hurry up! I mean it!" Lira calls after him, her worry evident in her voice.
Upon reaching the magnificent golden statue of Solayah in all its splendor, Elyan is suddenly overcome by the stench of decay and an overwhelming sense of despair, causing his stomach to churn violently. He scans the area for the source of the repugnant odor, expecting to find the decomposing remains of an animal, but discovers nothing. Instead, his eyes are drawn to an exquisite sword planted beside the statue, unlike any he had ever encountered before. As Elyan picks up the sword to examine it, he notices the emblem of the Dwarvain Empire on its pommel—a familiar sight, as the Solvaylians are well-acquainted with the Knomadic race that inhabits Dwarvain. Beyond this single detail, however, the sword remains a mystery to Elyan. The hilt is wrapped in a sturdy wyvern hide, but it doesn't match any wyvern species he has ever seen. The golden crossguard bears intricate etchings in an indecipherable language, while the blade itself is inscribed with magical runes that are equally unfamiliar to him.
As if compelled by the enigmatic blade, Elyan conceals it within his cloak and makes his way back down the staircase. Elyan's descent is hastened by a sense of urgency as he clutches the mysterious sword hidden beneath his cloak. As he reaches the foot of the staircase, Lira's eyes widen in alarm, sensing the change in him.
"Elyan, what did you find up there?" she inquires, her voice quivering with trepidation.
He hesitates for a moment, contemplating whether or not to reveal the sword to Lira. Finally, he decides to confide in her, drawing the enigmatic weapon from its concealment. Her eyes fixate on the sword, reflecting a mix of awe and concern.
"I found this next to the statue of Solayah," Elyan explains. "I've never seen anything like it before. It bears the emblem of the Dwarvain Empire, but everything else about it is unfamiliar. I couldn't just leave it there."
Lira's gaze shifts from the sword to Elyan's face, searching for reassurance. "We need to take this to the elders immediately. They might be able to shed some light on its origin and significance, especially with the unsettling atmosphere surrounding the shrine."
Elyan nods in agreement, carefully returning the sword to its hiding place within his cloak. With the weight of their discovery weighing heavily upon them, the duo retraces their steps along the Living Vine Trail, eager to share their findings with the village elders and uncover the truth behind the mysterious sword and the ominous presence at the shrine. As they walk, they cannot shake the feeling that their lives have become entwined with a destiny far greater than they ever could have imagined.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a warm golden glow over the village, Elyan and Lira joined their fellow Soulborn Elves in the village square. The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation, as everyone eagerly awaited the elders' pronouncement.
Elder Aelara, a sagacious and revered figure within the community, stepped forward and raised her hands, calling for silence. Her voice, gentle yet authoritative, effortlessly captivated the attention of all those present.
"Children of Sayla," she began, her eyes sweeping over the assembly, "we gather here tonight to celebrate our bond with the forest and the spirits that dwell within its embrace. The harmony we share with the land and its creatures is a precious gift, one that we must treasure and safeguard for generations to come."
Her words were met with nods of agreement and murmurs of approval. Elyan, standing beside Lira, felt a swell of pride in his chest. The bond his people shared with the land was something truly special, and he was grateful to be part of such a unique and connected community.
As the night progressed, the music filled the air, creating a magical atmosphere that enveloped the village. Elyan and Lira danced and sang, their hearts brimming with happiness and love for their people. However, the discovery at the Shrine of Solayah weighed heavily on their minds, and they knew they had to share the information with the village elders.
Taking a break from the festivities, they approached Elder Aelara, who was speaking with a small group of villagers.
"Elder Aelara," Elyan called out, trying to mask the urgency in his voice. "May we speak with you for a moment? It's important."
Aelara turned to face them, her wise eyes showing concern. "Of course, Elyan, Lira. What troubles you?"
Lira glanced around, ensuring no one was eavesdropping, before she began. "We visited the Shrine of Solayah earlier today, and we found something... unusual."
Elyan chimed in, "Yes, there was this strange sword next to the statue, and it bore the emblem of the Empire of Dwarvain. It also had magical runes etched into its blade, runes we've never seen before." Aelara quickly snatched the sword away as if taking poison from a child, eyes widened, and she exchanged a worried glance with the other elders. "This is troubling news. We must investigate this matter further. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Please, enjoy the rest of the ceremony, and we will discuss this further tomorrow." Taking the sword from them, she sent them on their way.
Elyan and Lira nodded, a sense of relief washing over them as they returned to the celebration. They hoped that the village's wise leaders would uncover the truth behind the mysterious sword and the disquiet it had stirred.
As the night of festivities drew to a close, Elyan and Lira found themselves sitting together at the village dock on the Ta'kalu River, following their nightly tradition.
"I was at Solayah's shrine just three days ago, and that sword wasn't there," Lira said, her voice tinged with concern. "Maybe it was accidentally left behind by some adventurer," Elyan suggested, trying to ease her worries.
"But that's the thing, Elyan," Lira countered. "When's the last time you remember an adventurer passing through Sayla?"
Elyan furrowed his brow, deep in thought. "I don't..."
"Exactly!" Lira exclaimed. "We only hear stories of adventurers in Sayla. Our home is nearly inhospitable to outsiders. Many have been swallowed by the jungles, as evidenced by the number of skeletons we've discovered."
They sat in silence for a moment, contemplating the unsettling implications of the mysterious sword's presence in their sacred shrine. But for now, they could only hope that the wisdom of their elders would provide answers and guidance in the days to come.
Meanwhile, at the border between BlackSands and Sayla, King Leviticus began mobilizing thousands of troops skilled in jungle-based warfare. He ordered the transport of ample supplies and materials for his military campaign into the uncharted province of Sayla.
"Your Majesty, word has come from the Emperor Isles that your father and his council disapprove of your campaign into Sayla. They are taking action to sway public opinion against you," De'lacar informed King Leviticus. "How should we proceed? Executing the old fool now would silence his council effectively." De'lacar suggested.
Leviticus furrowed his brow, considering the situation. "I'm less concerned about his feeble council than the consequences of killing the old man. No, executing him will be... complicated at this stage in my plan," Leviticus replied thoughtfully, weighing his options.
"De'lacar, contact the Alliance of Dark Heart and offer them a substantial reward for eliminating my mother. They must stage the event to implicate Old Man Lavarus, providing us with the perfect pretext to sentence him to death," Leviticus commanded, his voice unwavering.
"As you wish, Your Majesty. But... if I may," De'lacar hesitated, only to be immediately interrupted by Leviticus' thunderous voice.
"You may not!"
"Understood, Your Majesty," De'lacar responded, bowing his head in submission as he stepped backward into a swirling portal that closed behind him, leaving Leviticus to ponder his next move. The door to Leviticus's war room creaked open once more.
"Sire, the troops will be fully mobilized in about a month, and the fortress you commissioned will be completed in a matter of days," General Gurod reported, kneeling in submission to his king.
"And what of the local population here in BlackSands?" Leviticus inquired.
"We successfully captured the Perr'ju city of Ku'ran and many of the neighboring villages... however," the general hesitated.
"However?" Leviticus probed with great interest.
"Sir, the land here is harsh, and morale among the men in the 19th division is dwindling. They request permission to withdraw from the Sundered Coast and StoneBlossom Meadows," General Gurod explained, fear creeping into his voice.
"Withdrawal?..... Withdrawal!?" Leviticus stood, his piercing blue eyes flashing a fiery red for an instant. "The troops have been 'withdrawn'," he declared, sitting back down with a sinister grin.
"The 20th division is now the 19th division, and so forth for divisions 20 through 50," Leviticus detailed manically."Sir... That division comprised one hundred thousand men."
"And there will be one less to worry about unless you curb your questioning tone, General Gurod," Leviticus warned, his voice cold and unforgiving.
"Now that that little detail is taken care of, send a detachment of troops to retake the city of Ku'ran and recapture the local populations for use as slaves. The Sundered Coast and StoneBlossom Meadows are to be reoccupied immediately by the 19th division, formerly the 20th," Leviticus cackled.
"As you command, sire," General Gurod replied submissively as he stood and walked toward the war room's exit.
"Oh, and one more thing, General!" Leviticus called out as he sauntered over to Gurod, handing him a sealed parchment scroll bearing the symbol of the Mala'Deus Pantheon.
"Take this to the statue of Nero located on the edge of the DustBowl." Gurod grasped the scroll, his face a mix of shock and fear due to the ominous symbol and the perilous location he was to visit. However, not wanting to question a man who had just dispatched one hundred thousand men without a mere word, the general accepted the scroll without hesitation, simply responding, "As you wish, sire."
Back in Sayla, Elyan and Lira awoke early, eager to learn whether the elders had uncovered anything about the mysterious sword they had found the night before. They met at the prestigious Temple of the Celestial Gods, only to be greeted by a locked door.
"The door is only locked when something serious is happening," Elyan told Lira, trying to peer through a crack in the heavy wooden door.
"I know... it's troubling. The last time the temple was locked, we were attacked by a swarm of Bush Wyverns not long after," Lira replied, her voice filled with concern.
"Maybe we should just take it easy, Lira. The elders could be deliberating for hours, and I have chores to do at home anyway," Elyan suggested, stepping away from the door. "Yeah, maybe you're right. I have to go get Gecko herb from the village south of here today anyway. Perhaps things will have settled down by then," Lira replied, her frustration evident.
"The village of Floravale, right? I understand your frustration. It gets cold there, being so close to BlackSands," Elyan said compassionately.
"Yes! It can be tedious sometimes, but fortunately, Grandma's warm Gecko tea is a refuge all on its own," Lira declared, her spirits lifting.
"Ah yes! I remember Granny's Gecko tea! Pure as Solayah's soul," Elyan reminisced fondly, thinking back to his time as a youth in Floravale village.
"Well, I'll be sure to pass on your high praise to her," Lira responded with a giddy giggle. "You know, you could come with me. You're always welcome at Grandma Laya's house, Elyan, and I'm sure she'd love to see you after all these years."
"I would love to join you, Lira, but my mother's sickness has worsened lately, and my father will need help tilling the field. I'm glad Eleene is old enough to take over my mother's household duties. Krain knows Sedwin wouldn't be able to handle it," Elyan explained, reflecting on his younger brother's laziness.
"Is she still sick?" Lira asked with concern. "That's not good at all, Elyan. It's been, what, about four weeks now, right? Have you tried consulting Shaman Arlo about a possible remedy?" Lira inquired, her anticipation palpable.
"My sister Eleene has visited him several times, and the last time she inquired, he was just as puzzled as we are. So, he came to our home and made a dire prognosis. He says my mother is suffering from an illness related to our ancestral heritage. But when we asked him to elaborate further, he wouldn't say more, only that she had a matter of months before..." Elyan's voice trailed off, his teeth gritting slightly.
"I'm... so sorry, Elyan," Lira replied sympathetically. A dead silence filling the air.
"All things ethereal, the living intertwine... The meaning of life discovered, but only when we die," Elyan recited a verse from the scriptures on the teachings of Solayah. "It's okay, Lira. We're just going to make her as comfortable as possible before she rejoins Solayah."
"That's a noble task, Elyan. I truly commend you," Lira replied. "Well, I have to go if I want to get back in time to hear what the elders have to say. See you later, Elyan!" She hurried down the road heading south out of the village.
"Safe travels, Lira!" Elyan called out, watching Lira disappear into the distance.
"Well, I'd better get to my father," Elyan said to himself, preparing for the day ahead.
In the continent of Sol'aay, across the vast sea, former King Lavarus of Impre'us province and father to Leviticus, convenes with his council at the Temple of Sol'thur on the Emperor Isles. They engage in a heated debate about the impending invasion of Sayla and the reckless actions of Leviticus, who ascended the throne mere months ago.
"This is an utter disaster! Your son will be the downfall of our kingdom!" Adviser Calvris exclaims, addressing the former king Lavarus.
"Why did you abdicate so readily? Just because he vanquished those supposed 'invaders'?" another adviser adds.
Lavarus tries to interject, "It was an invasion..."
"Massacre, sire! Anyone with eyes saw what Prince Laventus did to those people," Adviser Calvris retorts.
"That's King Laventus, you insolent worm!" De'lacar announces, entering the chambers with numerous guards in tow.
The sudden appearance causes everyone in the room to stand. Lavarus demands, "What is the meaning of this, De'lacar?" his tone a mix of confusion and impatience.
"Well, 'Sire,' you are under arrest for high treason, for your involvement in the death of your wife, Queen Silla," De'lacar proclaims, gesturing for the guards to arrest Lavarus.
"What?! No..." Lavarus utters, shocked by the news.
"Unfortunately, yes. And the punishment for such a crime is public execution," De'lacar reveals, a sinister smile gracing his lips.
"How could he do this? Tell me, De'lacar! How could he have his sweet, innocent mother murdered?" Lavarus implores. De'lacar merely shrugs, responding, "I wasn't allowed to ask," before attempting to leave the room.
"Do you really think we'll let you and Leviticus get away with this, you glorified lapdog?" Adviser Calvris challenges De'lacar, garnering the support of his fellow advisers.
"No, which is why none of you will leave this room," De'lacar replies. "You may complete your contract, but don't leave a mess this time."
De'lacar's words puzzle the council as he ushers Lavarus out in shackles, closing the door behind him. Suddenly, small black energy masses with a purple aura appear next to each of the seven advisers' heads, darting into them as if possessing them. A dark figure clad in black leather armor emerges from the shadows, and the now zombie-like advisers form a single file line, following the mysterious figure out the door.
"Don't leave a mess this time," the mysterious figure, Zel, mocks De'lacar childishly. Two other figures materialize from the darkness behind him.
"Don't be so childish, Zel," the tallest of the figures scolds. "Indeed, your overconfidence could be your undoing," a female voice chimes in with laughter.
"Yeah, yeah, stop lecturing me! This contract was already disappointing," Zel grumbles.
"Please! This contract was the witches tits! Not every day you get to stage a murder within in the royal bloodlines" the female voice counters.
"Of course you had fun, you got the most pleasurable kill with that frail old Lady Sinclair," Zel retorts.
The trio, along with the entranced advisers, proceed down the palace hallway, reaching a dead end. Zel recites an incantation, "Queen of the night, heed your children's call, for we've fulfilled our tasks and killed them all!" Simultaneously, he casts a handful of black powder at the wall.
The wall transforms into a distorted portal, emanating a faint purple glow and the haunting sounds of countless souls groaning in agony. As the mysterious figures and their captives step through, the largest cloaked figure drops a black rose with deep purple pedals, before the portal vanishes behind them. A calling card of the Alliance of Dark Heart.

Childfree AFAB nonbinary person seeking long-term romantic relationship with a cool guy
About me: - Autistic, pretty introverted, shy, and demisexual - 5’4”, plus size, incredibly white, forever short-haired, etcetera. Pictures on profile. - Still trying to work out what i want to be when I grow up - The plant person of my family (I might have too big a thing for succulents) - Not much of a gamer unless it's creativity-based - Has three cats (this is too many cats) - Chainsaw Man fan, Kill 6 Billion Demons fan, The Owl House fan 😔 - Started working out a bit recently, immediately hurt myself out of ignorance. Could probably use an accountability buddy. - Can follow a recipe and not give you food poisoning ;) - Desperately craving dark chocolate at all times - Likes AJR, Dodie, Cavetown, Måneskin, Blink-182, No Doubt, and plenty of other stuff in those genres.
About you: - 23-30. - male. - living in the US, but the closer to the east coast, the better. - monogamous, looking for a serious romantic relationship. - childfree. No children, no desire to have children. If you are on the fence, cool with having kids if it happens, or have kids you just never see, I am not interested. - not a habitual drinker or drug user. Drinking sometimes is cool. - not a tobacco user ever. - kind, laid-back, levelheaded, etcetera. I don’t do well with very extroverted, intense, or high-energy people. - cool with things not being “intimate”(r4r keeps flagging me) until we’ve really gotten to know each other.
I don't have preferences for race/ethnicity/background/education/job/etcetera. Beards are cool though. Funny, considerate men are cool.
Tell me about yourself. Your age and location are the bare minimum. Likes, dislikes, what you do with your day. I immediately dismiss chat requests that are low-effort.

HEBREWS   Chapter Twelve  

Chastisement [of] The Name [ה', H`] [verses 1-13]  

-1. Therefore [לכן, LeKhayN] also we, that a cloud [of] witnesses as this wraps us,
remove, if you please, every burden [מעמסה, Mah`ahMahÇaH] and also [את, ’ehTh] the sin, the seizer [הלוכד, HahLOKhayD] upon a trifle [נקלה, NeQahLaH],  
and in patience run [את, ’ehTh] the race the arrayed before us,
-2. in our looking [בהביטנו, BeHahBeeYTahNOo] to YayShOo`ah ["Savior", Jesus] engineer [מכוהן, MeKhONayN] [of] the belief and her completion [ומשלמה, OoMahShLeeYMaH],
that in behalf of happiness the arrayed before him,
bore [את, ’ehTh] the cross and despised [בז, BahZ] rebuke,
and sat to [the] right [of the] chair [of] the Gods.  

“Our author believes that direct access to God through Christ is the goal of religion, not righteousness as such.” (Purdy, 1955, TIB p. XI 739)  

…
-4. Still you have not warred to blood in your struggle [במאבקכם, BeMah’ahBahQKheM] with sin,  

“It has been argued that this excludes Rome … as the destination of Hebrews, for Rome had its Martyrs … but if the readers were addressed some decades after the Neronian persecution, the words, although in not too tactful, would not necessarily be untrue of the Romans.” (Purdy, 1955, TIB p. XI 740)  

...  

………………………………………………….  
The Warning
[verses 14 to end of chapter]  

…
-22. You came unto Mount TseeYON [Zion], and unto City [of] the Gods Living, unto Jerusalem the Skiey, and unto myriads the angels, unto [the] convention [אצרת, ’ahTsehTehTh], 23. to ][the] congregation of the first-born, the written in skies, unto Gods, judge [of] the all, unto spirits [of] the righteous that where made complete, 24. unto YayShOo`ah, mediator [מתוך, MeThahVayKh] [of] the covenant the new, and to blood the sprinkled [ההזיה, HahHahZahYaH].  

“Our author was not a philosopher like Philo, stressing the inherent capacity of men to apprehend the invisible and to achieve salvation by spiritual discipline and education; he was a Christian, believing that salvation was offered by God in Christ and that men might, through faith in the invisible and timeless reality revealed from within the human and temporal realm by Jesus, be saved to enjoy the complete fellowship with God which the ancient sacrificial system foresaw and prefigured but could never achieve.” (Purdy, 1955, TIB p. XI 747)  

-28. … we worship Gods according as he wants, in piety and in reverence,
-29. for our Gods a fire consuming is.  

“The final clause, for our God is a consuming fire, will seem to the modern reader a tragic misinterpretation of the gospel message of the love of God. It must be admitted that our author does not move in the Johannine (cf. [compare with] John 4:24; I John 4:13-18) or in the Pauline tradition (cf. Rom. 8:37 ff. [and following]).” (Purdy, 1955, TIB p. XI 751)  

[An Amateur's Journey Through the Bible]()

Hello zen, welcome to my ongoing experimental book report on David Hinton’s China Root.¹
The “experimental” part of this book report is mostly for my personal self-observation: I have been doing it over such a long span of time that, at this point, I am significantly reduced, in a cognitice sense, compared to where I was when I began making “book reports” on David Hinton’s curious tome several years ago now. (I have early onset dementia—and the fact of the matter is that I’m already decade beyond the “early” part, for all practical purposes.)
I only introduce this subject to explain any verbal deficiences in this post. I am nicotine-less, and still trying to figure out how to get my brain to output words in a consistent or coherent manner. I’m totally incapable of filming videos right now, as I forget what I am talking about within 5 minutes. But when I woke up today I saw a post from u/sje397 in my feed, and it reminded me of how kind and cordial he was to me when I first posted here, and I thought: “Well that really did work out pretty well, didn’t it?” And so I wanted to pop up with a post that showed him that my efforts to bring my study of Ch’an to this forum have not deviated one iota since that very first video—in which I brandished an apple rather wildly, talked about sutt, and made a pretty decent broom joke, if I remember correctly.
In any case, I have the perfect content slotted up: the next two chapter’s in my revolutionary book report on David Hinton’s locally controversial book: China Root. (Revolutionary because, while I have never been a fan of the book report standard, nor highschool nor university scholarship whatsoever, I did find it important to try and fit in with zen locals, by offering them one example of their favorite form of content: one book report in classical “book report” style. [Linseed: Full disclosure: most of the time when I wrote book reports in elementary school, I did so in the form of short fictions that discussed the text—so reporting on a book as if I am some desk bound nerd that puts weight into “scholarship” and “facts” does not come naturally…so just keep in mind that, even though this is a book report, it is still offered up by a literati who is neither drunk on themself, nor on anynone else, nor on any particular pack of lies that is bundled together and sold as “authority” to the masses. Thanks.])
No…even my book reports are quite clearly the product of a literati, and not some desk-fascist who has something to “prove with words”—so I do hope you enjoy!
First, here is a run down of book reports so far, for any who are curious, want to get up to date on the book, or who are interested in what the process of reporting on a book thoroughly looks like (for the many of you who have never actually seen that before):
Introduction: a work on "Original Zen."
Reader's Note and First Chapter
Meditation, Breath, Mind, and Words
Absence
Empty-Mind and Mirror
Bonus post:
The Utility of China Root for Literate People
Oh, and before we actually proceed: you are caught up to me in my own progress in the book so far. It’s kind of an exciting moment for me, honestly, because while I have profited immensely from Mr. Hinton’s poetry translations over the years (and I highly recommend both his Li Po and his updated Tu Fu)—to be completely straightforward I have never found his philosophical interests engaging or pertinent, think his take on a “Tao” based framework of “Ch’an” wonky to the point where I ask “so this is only for PhD’s with $400 sweaters and / or rural aristocracy that have things like actual looms in their homes?”, and am entirely unconvinced that an “academic” poetry translator with a giant list of millionaire foundations in his resume is going to be able to successfully introduce Ch’an at all.
And after the above introductory segments, we start to get into the real world today. Let’s see what the “artist-intellectual” aristocrat has to share with us tired and lowly masses on the subject of Ch’an, shall we?

山水 Rivers-and-Mountains

This chapter is probably of the least interest to the zen user. (But is particularly useful for New Ager lampoonery.) It’s worth plucking out two quotes in order to show who Hinton is and how he sees himself / his approach to Ch’an, as well as how he recognizes not only himself but also, clearly, many of his readers in Tang and Song China’s class of artist intellectuals. This certainly makes him somewhat of an outlier in the world of Zen study (and it also restricts him to a certain demogrpahic of readers, and obviously flips the bird to many others, such as non-artists and non-intellectuals, scholars, members of religious instituitions, etc snd so on). It is worth pointing at this location of his book when it comes to audience, however: because this is the audience he has been cultivating very successfully for several decades, and it is the audience where this particular book already has and will continue to find many readers: ie the class of artists and intellectuals (many of whom are academics) who choose to live in rural settings (or keep a vacation home there)—and enjoy reading poetry. This is why I know this book will actually be read by quite a few people. I live among this demogrpahic, and have already seen Hinton’s book surface in the wild amongst readers who never expressed a lick of interest in “Zen” or “Buddhism.” (It’s weird—I thought users here would be particularly interested in this tome due to the fact that it will reach completely beyond the world of relgious instituitions and thought, and bring a new wave of secular readers to Zen…sadly the curioisity, verve, and amicability of the contemporary “internet scholar” apprenely leave much to be desired.)
Now, obviously 99% of these folks, the “artist intellectuals” Hinton writes for, would never stoop to touch Reddit—which is precisely why I feel this forum owes them, but even more so Reddit users, a thorough review of Hinton’s book. (And please, do add your comments and opinions about the book to this OP—I would love to see them myself.)
But wait—I suppose some of you may be asking, “well if this book is written for a bunch of folks with oil paint and bruschetta on their fingers, or who have those fancy tethers on their eyeglasses that allow them to be taken off and rested on the chest while while eyes are opened a little wider, looking up and out some window some mountain or some river vista, as they wistfully contemplate their analgoues in medieval China—then why should I be interested?” ::redditor munches doritos:: Well, while that is a question only you can answer, reader, I can say that, if you ever do end up becoming the sort of student of Zen who moves to a rural locale, and begins walking around with a stick—or even if you just visit on some pastoral vacation—the book will / can be rather useful when you’re walking on the path and you bump into someone who quotes Leibniz, or mumbles something about Chartres when they see a particulalrly grand upended tree…and you want to poke that person in the eye.
Anyway. Hinton on how he sees things, and the very specific class of folks he writes his book for—even while clearly halfway imagining that class into existence himself (call it a “writing trick” I suppose):
(On the “cenrality if landscape” in “Chinese culture and Ch’an practice”)

This explains the centrality of landscape in Chinese culture and Ch’an practice: indeed, the abiding spiritual aspiration of China’s artist-intellectuals was to dwell as integral to rivers-and-mountains landscape. The cultivation of this dwelling took many forms, all of which recognized rivers-and-mountains landscape as the open door to realization. Ancient artist-intellectuals lived whenever possible as recluses in the mountains, wandered there where that cosmological process could be experienced in the most immediate possible way. The arts were considered ways to cultivate that dwelling: poetry being most essentially rivers-and-mountains poetry, painting most essentially rivers-and-mountains painting. And that dwelling was also the central concern of Ch’an practice.

Hmm. Like I said, this guy’s wonky. Maybe if I went to one of my fancier neighbor’s houses—while they smoked high-cbd, low THC cannabis, and casually ate something I didn’t even recognize (likely while dipping it in something else that looks like my monthly food budget contained in one bowl)—and listened to them pontificate about what happened that one time they “did psylicibin right after reading Walt Whitman on a camping trip in the Himalayas”…this would resonate. [Linseed: Hey, they read a lot—but I’m not saying they’re particulalry skilled at reading what when where or how!]
Anyway, you see how Hinton writes about this stuff. “Good luck getting through WWIII ‘aritst-intelleftuals’! I truly hope your walnut wardrobes and families and looms and easels and designer dog breeds—and literally to die for appaeritif spreads—all manage to navigate history safely together, with nary a hiccough or a stumble!”
—Linseeed (for reals)
In this next passage we see Hinton’s highly personal and very…idk, sort of “radically independent”² take on the history and location of Ch’an. What is interesting is what he brings up about the centrality of mountains in the Ch’an record. (I mean when the local “Zen Master” is often given the name of the local mountain, it does tell you something.) Anwyay, Hinton being weird and some other stuff:

Ch’an’s beginnings can be traced to around the fourth century C.E., when there was a resurgence and deepening of Taoist thought (Dark- Enigma Learning) together with the beginning of landscape’s centrality for China’s artist-intellectuals, most notably when China’s mature mainstream poetic tradition emerged in the form of rivers- and-mountains poetry invented by two epochal poets: T’ao Ch’ien and Hsieh Ling-yün (author of “Regarding the Source Ancestral,” a seminal text in Ch’an). The reason for this is no doubt the mirror- deep clarity of empty mirror-mind that Buddhist meditation so resolutely cultivated. And in fact, the original meanings of the Ch’an ideogram, before it was chosen to translate the Sanskrit dhyana (“meditation”), were “altar” and “sacrifice to rivers-and-mountains.” Hence, meditation as a place where one honors or celebrates rivers- and-mountains. In addition, Ch’an monasteries were typically located in remote mountains (those in cities surrounded themselves with the domesticated landscapes of gardens), and Ch’an masters leading those monasteries generally took the names of local mountains as their own because they so deeply identified with mountain landscape: Hundred-Elder Mountain, Yellow-Bitterroot Mountain, Cloud-Gate Mountain, Heaven-Dragon Mountain, Wind- Source Mountain, River-Act Mountain, Buddha-Land Mountain, Cloud-Lucent Mountain, Doubt-Shrine Mountain, Fathom Mountain, Moon-Shrine Mountain, and indeed: Mirror-Sight Mountain.

So much for the “New Ager Crack” chapter—let’s get to some interesting stuff.

法 Dharma

Holy Smokes! Hinton is finally gonna talk about something real! 😜 (Or at least we can hope…I have no idea—these are uncharted waters for me from here on out.)

In common usage, 法 (Dharma) means “law.” The first sense of the “law” in Ch’an is simply the teachings of the Ch’an tradition, the essential truths about reality and the essential principles that guide practice. But that initial meaning is quickly dismantled, because Ch’an’s essential teaching resides outside of words and ideas.

Oh shit! Did he just kill all scholars with one stroke?!? Those feisty artist-intellectuals! Must be a warzone in the academy these days, what between the old guard and the encroahing corporatists, who carry the banner of “truth” wherever they go backlit by flames.
After this passage he goes into some of his worst (imo) schtick: talking about how Tao “unfurled” into “Dahrma / Ch’an”, etc. The aritst intellectuals might slurp it up, idk—but that milkshake offers no real flavor to a student of Zen that I detect.
Now he quotes Huangbo (whom he coyly refers to as “Yellow Bitteroot Mountain”):

This dharma is mind: outside of mind, there is no dharma. And this mind is dharma: outside of dharma, there is no mind.

And wowzers, this is going to make some folks choke on tea:

Mountain continues (in a passage we have already seen) to equate both to Absence: “Mind is of itself Absence-mind, is indeed Absence- mind Absence.” So in Ch’an, dharma can be known through meditation where one can “see original-nature.” In fact, Bodhidharma described dharma as “the inner-pattern of original- nature’s purity.”18

Pretty spicy, n’est pas, zen users? Now, this “Inner Pattern” concept is an interesting one that I’ll come back to in a future post. For now, he ends on the “dharma” thusly:

And so, dharma’s wordless teaching resides in empty-mind, rivers- and-mountains landscape, the sheer thusness of everyday life.
And as Patriarch Sudden- Horse Way-Entire says, dwelling as integral to that dharma is itself the liberation of awakening: The dharma of all things themselves, that is the Buddha-dharma. All those dharmas together are liberation, and that liberation is the existence-tissue itself all clarity absolute.

Is not “Sudden-Horse Way-Entire” not the absolute best “Zen Master Name” for that particular patriarch? Imo, the names are the most fun part of the book thus far.
What did you think of the last paragraph, zen users? Is it comprehensible to you? Or does it make you sneeze birkenstocks, and screw Odyssean wax out of your ear with one finger?
My opinion so far is that Cleary is defintiely a better translator, and that this “intro” book seems so wonky, thus far, that I am not sure it will ever limp its way out of the library of some retired Don Quixote. Thankfully, time will tell—and all I have to do is write a book report.
—Linseed
PS: How was that, sje? It took both you and spring herself peeking in my window this morning—but I did eek out some content.
¹ The most recent installments were made under the moniker of u/golden_eyebrow, that alter-id I conjured to a lonely and savage life of historical piracy, and launched into the past and future last summer.
² Is it still worth making literary or etymological jokes in this forum? Or am I already the last of the funny people?

I was told it’s expensive to travel in the city but it’s affordable/cheap to travel in the country side. Is that true? How much does transport, living, and food cost outside the cities?
I plan on staying there for 5-7 days ish. And then take the train to Italy.
I’ve always wanted to go there for hiking, and found this video https://www.instagram.com/reel/CqDZlbrj6NS/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
But not sure where exactly it is…
I’m open to any suggestions, tips, anything!

Hi there! I’m looking to make some more friends in NYC with similar taste buds and interests as mine and expand my social circle a bit 😊
Do you like cafes, bakeries, and trying out trending brunch spots in the city? Then I think we will get along! But before I continue, unfortunately, there is a catch so let’s get them out of the way first.
This is a must for me:
✅ Female, I’m sorry but I do find it more comfortable to hang with someone of my own gender.
✅ An adult (20-30s) comfortable with spending money on food. Hope this doesn’t sound standoffish but I’m not looking to cover someone else’s tabs. We either pay for our own meals or Dutch pay. I don't have a luxurious lifestyle either but I do believe in the saying, treat yourself. I’m pretty tired of dragging out friends with a small budget and are self-conscious about what they eat. I get where they’re coming from, but it would be nice to have one good buddy that’s like me.
✅ Not a smoker: I have a slight allergy to tobacco it’s called allergic rhinitis so my nose is sensitive to the smell.
✅ Available on Weekends (maybe weekdays depending on our work schedules). Daytimes only.
✅ Video chat before meet up is a must.
✅ Okay with hopping around cafes. The places won’t be too far from each other, we can’t be out of energy when the day started, right? 😂
Alright now to the details! As with anyone, I’m looking for a long-term friendship. I’m not saying we need to always meet and hang out or chat 24/7. At least once a month would be nice and converse here and there when we feel like. The bare minimum essentially.
About me: I’m an ambivert, I particularly like Japanese cuisine. My interests are Anime, Games, YouTube, K-pop, Marvel & DC, Fashion, Scenic Walks.
I’m open to trying out new things so long as they are not drinking related (I can’t consume alcohol) or exercise related like biking, running, CrossFit, basically any strenuous physical activity.
If you think we could click, feel free to comment or send me a message and tell me about yourself. Let’s get to know each other, and see if we vibe. If we do, then let’s go on a fun foodie adventure!

I am not connected with this group, but did receive it as part of my “real job.” Sharing of my own free will and not offended if it gets deleted. I mean, they did not use WeHo, so they lose points. ;)
ARTVILLE to Launch September 29-October 1 in the Wedgewood Houston and Chestnut Hill Neighborhoods of South Nashville Highlighting Nashville’s Visual Arts Community
Artist Applications Open Now at Artville.org
Nashville, Tenn. – March 21, 2023 – Nashville is a city well known to music enthusiasts, food lovers and sports fans. And now art lovers too. ARTVILLE will be a city-wide gathering and celebration of the vibrant art scene in Nashville. Mark your calendars.
Announced today, ARTVILLE is a three-day event connecting the Nashville community through a series of art installations and experiences throughout the Wedgewood Houston and Chestnut Hill neighborhoods of South Nashville—a hub for the arts, design, entertainment, culinary experiences and much more. Its inaugural event is slated for September 29 - October 1, 2023.
Founded by Nashvillians Samantha Saturn, Director of The American Artisan Festival, and Jack Davis, Founder of Good Neighbor Festivals, the vision for ARTVILLE is to establish a premiere visual arts weekend in Nashville. Together, temporary, site-specific works throughout the neighborhood, immersive experiences, along with indoor and outdoor retail art events will deliver an elevated yet accessible civic art experience that unites art lovers, collectors, and visitors alike.
Saturn shares, “Imagine the long-term impact of an immersive and inclusive high-quality annual visual art festival experience in Nashville. It will enrich our city, bring local artists to the forefront, draw in national artists and tourists alike, and show art collectors that contemporary art and Nashville’s unique spirit go hand-in-hand.”
In conjunction with the announcement, ARTVILLE’s ‘call for artists’ offers a variety of ways for artists to get involved. Local and regional artists of all mediums are encouraged to apply to showcase work through public art installation awards of up to $10,000, artist exhibitor booths at the festival, as well as an option to sell a single artwork as part of the community art show hosted that weekend.
Founding partners supporting the public art grant funding for ARTVILLE include the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp., Adventurous Journeys (“AJ”) Capital Partners, Hines, Cresset Partners and Core Fund. Founding partners have committed to supporting ARTVILLE for three years with the understanding that ARTVILLE will continue to grow and expand in future years throughout Nashville.
Artville invites local Nashville galleries, artists and businesses to participate in the ARTVILLE experience. If you are an artist or business interested in learning how to get involved visit www.artville.org.
ARTVILLE has four core programming initiatives:
PUBLIC ART INSTALLATIONS Curated to include both local Nashville artists as well as nationally recognized artists, ARTVILLE will fund up to ten public art installations and murals which will all reside within the Wedgewood Houston and Chestnut Hill neighborhoods of South Nashville.
AMERICAN ARTISAN @ ARTVILLE Shifting from its long-standing location in Centennial Park, this nationally recognized retail fine art and craft event will relaunch in conjunction with the festival featuring over 125 high-quality fine-art, craft, furniture and mixed-media artists exhibiting throughout the neighborhood.
NASHVILLE’S (LARGEST) COMMUNITY ART SHOW Artists of all ages and backgrounds are invited to apply to show works in Nashville's largest community art show. The works will be displayed throughout the ARTVILLE weekend and available for sale at the show.
ARTVILLE AFTER DARK Nashville will come alive at night with ARTVILLE After Dark, a series of night-time events focused on bringing art to life.
ARTVILLE will also feature a host of supporting programming including live music, culinary artists, patron and VIP events, arts educational programming, activities for kids and families, as well as community outreach to ensure broad participation.
For more information and to submit an artist application, please visit www.artville.org. To stay up to date on all things ARTVILLE follow @artvillenash and visit artville.org.

Have - Steam gifts (ROW, unrestricted, if you can't see the game in my inventory, it is still available, so add me for the trade)

Game name	Price	Notes	Stock	Game Status
3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures	offers			Gift
A Valley Without Wind 1 & 2	1 TOD Ticket			Gift
Aerena - Clash of Champions	1 TOD Ticket			Gift
Age of Empires Legacy Bundle	25 keys			Gift
Agricultural Simulator 2011: Extended Edition	2 keys			Gift
AirMech 2	1 TOD Ticket			Gift
Amnesia Memories	3 keys			Gift
Arena Wars 2	1 TOD Ticket			Gift
Awesomenauts Power Pack	1 TOD Ticket		subID 36025	Gift
Back to the Future The Game	25 keys	removed game	subID 6970	Gift
Barbie Dreamhouse Party	400 keys	removed game		Gift
Battle Los Angeles	offers	removed game	subID 11488	Gift
Borderless Gaming	5 keys			Gift
Broken Age	2 keys			Gift
Call of Duty World at War	25 keys			Gift
Castle of Illusion	3 keys			Gift
Circuits	2 keys			Gift
Cities XL 2012	15 keys	removed game		Gift
Clive Barker's Jericho	40 keys	removed game	subID 531	Gift
Commandos Pack	2 keys			Gift
Crusader Kings II Collection	5 keys		subID 26483	Gift
Deadpool + Merc with a Map Pack DLC	500 keys	removed game	28777 + 29453	Gift
Deathgarden BLOODHARVEST	4 keys			Gift
Defy Gravity Extended	1 TOD Ticket			Gift
Demigod	1 TOD Ticket			Gift
Deus Ex Game of the Year Edition	2 keys			Gift
DiRT 2	50 keys	removed game	subID 14293	Gift
Dirt 2	50 keys	removed game	subID 2493	Gift
Don't Starve Soundtrack	5 keys			Gift
Droplitz (Holiday Sale 2011 Gift)	offers	removed game	subID 12638	Gift
Ducati World Championship	2 keys			Gift
Dungeon Defenders	3 keys			Gift
E.Y.E Divine Cybermancy	2 keys			Gift
Euro Truck Simulator 2	4 keys			Gift
F1 2011	offers	removed game	subID 11620	Gift
F1 2011	offers	removed game	subID 12677	Gift
F1 2012	offers	removed game		Gift
Faerie Solitaire	2 keys			Gift
Farming Simulator 2013 Titanium Edition	9 keys			Gift
Fast and Furious Showdown	30 keys	removed game	subID 27803	Gift
Football Manager 2014	20 keys	removed game	subID 30274	Giftable copy/add me
Fortified	1 TOD Ticket			Steam key/add me
FUEL	offers	removed game	subID 1878	Gift
Ghostbusters The Videogame	offers	removed game	subID 1693	Gift
Grid	offers	removed game		Gift
Grim Fandango Remastered	3 keys			Gift
Hero Academy - Tribe Pack - Hatless Gift	4 keys			Gift
Hitman Collection (ROW)	23 keys		subID 49903	Gift
Hospital Tycoon	2 keys			Gift
Ice Age 4	30 keys	removed game	subID 19227	Gift
Infestation Survivor Stories Classic	1 TOD Ticket			Gift
Insecticide Part 1	1 TOD Ticket			Gift
Iron Storm	6 keys			Gift
Iron Warriors T - 72 Tank Command	2 keys			Gift
Jurassic Park The Game	offers	removed game	subID 7705	Gift
Kane & Lynch 2 DLC Alliance Weapon Pack	offers			Gift
Kane & Lynch 2 DLC Multiplayer Masks Pack	offers			Gift
Kane & Lynch 2 DLC The Doggie Bag	offers			Gift
Kerbal Space Program	10 keys			Gift
Kingdoms Rise	offers	removed game		Gift
Left 4 Dead	4 keys			Gift
Legendary	2 keys			Gift
Lord of the Rings War in the North	50 keys	removed game	subID 12158	Gift
Lucius	2 keys			Gift
Lunar Flight	1 TOD Ticket			Gift
Maelstrom The Battle for Earth Begins	3 keys			Gift
Max Payne 2 The Fall of Max Payne	12 keys			Gift
Medieval Engineers	1 TOD Ticket			Gift
Metro Last Light Complete	offers	removed game	subID 39286	Gift
Middle Earth Shadow of Mordor Season Pass	4 keys	removed game	subID 51210	Gift
Mount & Blade Complete	6 keys		subID 38003	Gift
Move or Die	2 keys			Gift
NASCAR The Game 2013	45 keys	removed game	subID 28448	Gift
Natural Selection 2	2 keys			Gift
NBA 2K16 Michael Jordan Edition	offers	removed game	subID 73028	Gift
Nexuiz	2 keys			Gift
Painkiller Hell & Damnation	2 keys			Gift
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TL;DR: A veterinarian tried to scam me, charged me for medicine, food and care he never gave my puppies and eventually from a litter of 6: stole 1 puppy, killed another 4. Tried to overcharge me every step of the way AND was eventually jailed for 12 years.
Edit: I have been told there's a lot of problems with grammar, word choice, and sentence structure. I should say English is not my first language and I'm not a lawyer in the US.
---
For years I considered my vet a good person. Seemed smart, talked to the animals like they were children and even called them babies in fron of us. He was specially profesional with the language he used even if he sometimes used the incorrect terms (I studied medicine for 4 years so I just assumed he was just showing off a little to impress us and never corrected him as I'm a lawyer now and it didn't seem correct) but he ended up being something way worse than I ever thought.
I trusted him with all my pets even if he was a lot more expensive than other vets (like 3x the cost but hey, my dogs would pay that for me if they could right?).
He got the puppies from my family (6 puppies) and insisted on giving them the parvovirus vaccine himself even though we knew that the vaccines should be free if I went to a public health center (because they are free in our country) and he asked for like the equivalent of 600 dollars. So we paid him and while we were there in the clinic a random dude asked if we were going to sell the dogs later as he wanted to buy the only female one we got (Lola). We told him they were all going to family members but thanked him for the offer anyway.
But lo lo and behold close to a month later... 4 out of the 6 puppies got green diarrhea and when we brought them to the vet... they were positive for Parvovirus. That's literally statistically impossible and I was very confused since they all had the vaccine but well. But you can't argue "statistically impossible" against the sick puppies and hope they get better right?

So we, not knowing what to do. Brought them to him.
He started treating them and did tests on the other two and originally they were fine but then he asked for one that was not having any symptoms (Lola) and fuck me. She was sick as well and we were all a little bit confused because... she didn't look sick, had no diarrhea (Parvovirus on the other dogs gave them a green diarrhea that lasted for their wholes rest of their lives), and she was in an exceptionally good mood, the other dogos were not at all while sick.
I didn't find this fishy until he called us a couple day later to say "She died and we're very sorry". We told him we were going to pick her up and he told us "She was a biohazard so we cremated her without asking, you need to pay us another 300 dollars btw".
We were livid, and we found it fishy that the one that had no symptoms died so suddenly and was cremated in a hurry... But we still considered he had never failed us so he must be telling the truth right?.
Then... 3+1 out the 6 dogs died and only one was left alive and he told us that indeed we were going to get the bodies of those because he didn't want to impose on us now but he could bury them for a cost after we gave our goodbyes and we agreed as well.
The last sick doggy was surviving and he told us he was going to keep him in observation because he was not eating and the diarrea was too much to bear and he needed the extra care and we agreed.
I'm very practical and I read dogs get better if you visit them so I indeed went to visit the dog every single day for the 9 days he was with him and took careful note of what was his weight, his mood and how much he "ate" (he was charging us 3-5 bowls of wet food every day but a couple of days he went to the fridge to get an already open can and even though I was with the dog for literal hours he didn't ate more than a spoonful).
So suddenly, the doggy had a weight drop of almost 1 pound (more than 20% his weight at that moment) and he told us "he is not eating anymore and we will have to give him iv food supplements, also visiting is not allowed anymore.
So I said fuck it and called another vet and he told me that it was impossible a dog that small was eating so much food and still losing weight... and that almost all the weight loss had to be from water and he probably was not using the correct IVs or didn't even cared enough for him and didn't gave him enough water.
So we call him and tell him we're taking him to another vet and he suddenly goes "Oh, I was about to call you. He died A COUPLE MINUTES AGO and we're cremating him as well because he was so sick and we have other dogs near so he could be a hazard". At this point it's important to say he was charging us over 500 dollars for the care of the dog each day. As a family we could afford it but it was still not an easy bill to pay considering how many puppies and how much time each of them he was there.
I told him to fuck off and that he would not get a cent from us if we didn't get a body and he should not care because I was already on my way.
So behold the fucker told us he already sent her to the crematorium and he would call but it was likely the process already started... All of this from a "we're about to call you".
So I asked the number of the crematorium myself and after some struggle he gives it to me and can you imagine how small the world is. The owner is someone I worked in a case some years ago and he remembered me.
I ask him about the dogs and he tells me he indeed received the dog... YESTERDAY but he called to get the dog picked up a day before. He also told me he does business with him and he asked for the bill to be given with TODAY date on it and he thinking nothing of it gave it to him. After a couple more asking around Lola was also never picked up nor delivered and there were not any cremations coming from the veterinary for almost 6 months before the other one.
This means the dog has probably been dead for at least 2 days AND that Lola never died.
I will not try to make the case sound as exciting as it could have been but in short. He tried to argue against the evidence and even somehow produced a bill from a crematorium from another city to argue he did indeed send Lola there... but neither me the DA nor the judge fell for it. The vet tried arguing against the scamming arguments saying he charged $600 for the work of injecting the vaccine BUT as I investigated... he never bought the vaccine nor had it delivered from the state (as it seems the state delivers them free of charge to vets as well) and most likely he only had 2 left and one went to Lola and another to the Surviving, never sick, puppy "Pepe". The stolen puppy went nowhere as we had not sufficient evidence she was still alive (as we don't know the dude that bought her) so we had to accept to losing her but we were still hopeful she was still alive.
A couple weeks before the trial ended and in a last ditch effort the wife called me to ask me to drop the charges and offered me to pay me literally less money than I spent with him with the puppies he killed and well... I told her I would think about it and blocked her number the second she hanged up.
Long Story short, I didn't get my money back. But the vet definitely got the money's worth when he was sentenced to 12 years of inconmutable jail time for Fraud and Animal Abuse between others. He never accepted to have sold Lola but the person that bought her called me like 6 months later to tell me she was the one that got her and he actually never got to pay the vet for her since he was in Jail and he just gave an advance and we agreed that he could keep her as long as I got a Puppy when she had any.
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