Machu Picchu
Jun. 25th, 2025 06:55 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
purplecatThen Wilbert showed us around Machu Picchu.
( Photos )
The story of Machu Picchu, as Wilbert told it to us, was that it was under construction as a district capital when the Spanish arrived. Intimating that things were going badly with the Spanish, the Inca moved 700 people and all their gold from their capital of Cusco along the Inca trail to Machu Picchu, destroying the roads behind them with landslides. They remained there for 80 years but were aware that the Spanish, in search of the gold, were getting closer aided by a generation of half-Peruvian, half-Spanish collaborators. After 80 years, therefore, they hid the gold in the surrounding hills and some moved back towards Cusco where they were captured by the Spanish and others moved east into the Amazon where their descendents were briefly encountered by archeologists in the 1970s. The Spanish eventually reached Machu Picchu but found no gold. This story does not appear anywhere else I've looked (but, as noted, information at the level of detail I'm accustomed to for historic sites is much harder to find for Machu Picchu), but it wouldn't surprise me if it isn't the legend as told among the local Andean people.
( Photos )
The story of Machu Picchu, as Wilbert told it to us, was that it was under construction as a district capital when the Spanish arrived. Intimating that things were going badly with the Spanish, the Inca moved 700 people and all their gold from their capital of Cusco along the Inca trail to Machu Picchu, destroying the roads behind them with landslides. They remained there for 80 years but were aware that the Spanish, in search of the gold, were getting closer aided by a generation of half-Peruvian, half-Spanish collaborators. After 80 years, therefore, they hid the gold in the surrounding hills and some moved back towards Cusco where they were captured by the Spanish and others moved east into the Amazon where their descendents were briefly encountered by archeologists in the 1970s. The Spanish eventually reached Machu Picchu but found no gold. This story does not appear anywhere else I've looked (but, as noted, information at the level of detail I'm accustomed to for historic sites is much harder to find for Machu Picchu), but it wouldn't surprise me if it isn't the legend as told among the local Andean people.
Costume Bracket: Round 4, Post 3
Jun. 24th, 2025 06:40 pmpurplecatTwo Doctor Who companion outfits for your delectation and delight! Outfits selected by a mixture of ones I, personally, like; lists on the internet; and a certain random element.
( Outfits below the Cut )
Vote for your favourite of these costumes. Use whatever criteria you please - most practical, most outrageously spacey, most of its decade!
Voting will remain open for at least a week, possibly longer!
Costume Bracket Masterlist
Images are a mixture of my own screencaps, screencaps from Lost in Time Graphics, PCJ's Whoniverse Gallery, and random Google searches.
( Outfits below the Cut )
Vote for your favourite of these costumes. Use whatever criteria you please - most practical, most outrageously spacey, most of its decade!
Voting will remain open for at least a week, possibly longer!
Costume Bracket Masterlist
Images are a mixture of my own screencaps, screencaps from Lost in Time Graphics, PCJ's Whoniverse Gallery, and random Google searches.
Spider Quinn 17 Tempestuous Origin of Mysterio Part 5
Jun. 24th, 2025 09:10 pmfardell24“Daria Morgendorffer, please report to the principal’s office,” Ms. Li announced straight after Homeroom.
Daria sighed. She knew that was going to happen.
“How are you feeling?” Ms. Li asked when Daria had sat down.
“My best friend has been kidnapped! How do you think I’m feeling?”
“Mrs. Manson is ready to talk if you…”
“No!” Daria said. She didn’t want to deal with that quack of a school counsellor.
“Are you sure, Ms. Morgendorffer?”
“Of course I’m sure, Ms. Li. The best way for me to keep from thinking about what might be happening to Jane is for me to be in class doing schoolwork.”
“I see that you have made up your mind on that.”
“Yes,’ Daria said as she took the hall pass off the principal’s desk.
At the same time, as she went to her first class, Andrea looked for one of the students she knew had at least one sibling at Lawndale State.
She soon sighed one of them. “Tania!” she called out.
Tania Ashworth turned upon hearing her name. “Yes, Andrea?”
“Your brother is at Lawndale State, right?”
“He is,” Tania answered. “What is this about?”
“Ninja Talon and SpiderGirl asked me to help search for Jane.”
“And how would my brother be able to help with that?”
“He could give me access to one of the computer labs,” Andrea answered.
“I see, you want to access camera footage,” Tania surmised.
“Yes, I still have dial up at home.”
“I’ll if I can contact him at lunch.”
“Then that is what I’ll tell Ninja Talon later,” Andrea said as she left.
“Wait…” Tania said as Andrea disappeared into the distance. ‘Does she know who Ninja Talon is?’
She thought about it more. ‘Quite likely, but I’ll keep it to myself. Besides, I need to focus on the play tonight.’
Agent Leung returned to the Lawndale Field Office, where he typed up his notes and started writing on the whiteboard in the office. He started with the timeline. “Quentin Beck. Arrived in Lawndale on Saturday, 17th February, whereupon he goes to the Historia and is immediately hired by Quinn Morgendorffer as the theater’s special effects person.” There wasn’t anything suspicious there.
“Anything on the four business partners?” One of his fellow agents asked.
“Daria and Quinn Morgendorffer, sisters who have recently lost their father,” Leung said as he put up recent photos of the two, reflecting their changes in appearance. “Their mother, Helen, is associate in Vitale, et al.”
That brought about a silence. Jim Vitale’s reputation was well known in the field office.
“Daria is Jane’s close friend,” Leung added. “Thus she has no motive.”
“And the other two?” the other agent asked.
“Joseph Green and Robert Allen, cousins who are also nephews of the Historia’s former owner. All four are students at Lawndale High.”
“Could Angela Li be a suspect?”
“Unlikely. There is no impact on the school from the Historia opening. The Morgendorffers grades appear to be unaffected by their involvement in the theater. Quinn won the spelling bee, the day before the theater opened,” Leung said.
“And the cousin’s grades?”
“Steady,” Leung said as he turned back to the timeline. “Sunday, February 18th. The first rehearsal for Tempest. And later, Kalina Ondrovick says it’s amateurish on radio and Daria calls in to argue with her. That’s the first time the play is mentioned on the radio. That’s the main connection. That the play was mentioned on the radio.”
He continued through the timeline up to Jane’s abduction.
“But one thing is eluding me,” Leung said when he was finished. “And Peterson too. Motive. What reason does Quentin Beck have to disrupt the play.”
“Jealousy?”
“Quinn said that he was condescending of her age.”
“Which is?” the other asked.
“She turns 16 next week,” Leung said, and wrote her birthdate in late February of 1985 beneath her photo.
“And Daria?”
“Seventeen and half,” Leung added, writing her birthdate in late July of 1983 beneath her picture. “The cousins are 16, born in late 1984.”
They continued their brainstorming.
Between classes, Quinn caught up with Anna and Ben. “We have to do the mentoring at the Historia, rather than the Library,” she said.
“Any reason?” Ben asked.
“I’ll also be re-interviewing the previous applicants for the special effects position.”
“Because of what happened to Jane?” Anna asked.
“That’s part of it,” Quinn answered.
“Because Quentin Beck is responsible,” Anna surmised.
Quinn nodded.
“We’ll be there,” Anna said. “But what about Gerald? He won’t like it.”
“I know,” Quinn said. “He’ll be difficult to convince.”
At lunch, Tania went to one of the school’s payphones straight out of class. “I hope his in his room,” Tania murmured as she put in a couple of quarters. She then dialled the number.
“Yes?”
“Scott! It’s Tania.”
“Why are you calling me in the middle of the day? I have a class in twenty minutes.”
“Sorry about that. I have a favour to ask of you.”
“I’m already seeing the play.”
“That’s good but that’s not what this is about.”
“What is this about then?”
Tania then began explaining what Andrea had asked her about.
“You want me to allow this Andrea to use my account to try to find this Jane? Because of SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon?”
“Yes,” Tania said.
“I’ll have to think about it,” Scott said.
“Let me know before the play starts tonight.”
“I shall, bye.”
In the library, Andrea found Brittany hiding somewhere near the back. ‘She looks 100% the cheerleader she has been the past few years,’ she thought. ‘Apart from that time in the Zon when she had her hair dyed dark.’ She shook her head. That wasn’t what she wanted to think about. She saw that she was reading a book on the history of Lawndale. “Brit?” she asked.
Brittany looked up. “Hey, Andy,” she said with a slight smile.
She almost ignored the nickname. Brittany was the only one who could get away with calling her that. ‘Still is, it seems,’ Andrea thought. “I found Tania Ashworth. She said she would talk to her brother.”
“Tania. She’s in the play too,” Brittany acknowledged.
“I had heard about that.”
“I’ll let Spidey know, later.”
“Good, I’ll be off,” Andrea said.
“You don’t have to.”
“We’re still too different.”
“I’m in the play because I want to change,” Brittany said in a vulnerable tone.
“So, you’re a cheerleader and an actor, as well as a vigilante, not the imaginative girl you were.”
“I guess so,” Brittany said with a twirl of a pigtail. “But small steps?”
“Yes,” Andrea said with a slight smile as Brittany went back to reading her book.
Daria and Sandi entered the cafeteria at the same time. “How are you after last night?” Daria asked.
“I just needed to rest,” Sandi answered. “I’m fine now. Mother says that when she had overextended herself that way, it took overnight for her.”
“Does she usually search for people like that?” Daria asked.
“Not often. But she was active in Boston before I was born.”
“Meaning…”
“Exactly,” Sandi confirmed.
‘That’s something. I think Boston does have hero vigilantes occasionally. It happens more often in New York.’
They came to the usual table to find only Harry and Tania waiting.
“So, any clue as to where Jane is?” Tania asked, hoping that she get some clue to tell Andrea and Scott later.
“No clue, but probably near the lake,” Daria answered. “Also, the FBI are now involved in the investigation.”
“Not surprising,” Sandi commented between bites.
“But the play is going ahead?” Harry asked.
“Of course,” Daria answered. “The show must go on. It’s what Jane would want, and tonight is sold out.”
“That’s good,” Tania said.
“Are you ready?” Daria asked.
“I am,” Tania said. “Last night was a bit scary, but I’m ready.”
“You’re in the play?” Harry asked. “You haven’t said.”
“Yes, I’m playing Ceres, one of the muses.” Tania answered.
“But what if something happens again?” Harry asked.
“Not only would Peterson be there, but the FBI agent as well,” Daria said. “Besides the theater has been checked over many times.”
“So, it won’t happen?” Harry asked.
“No,” Sandi answered.
Quinn joined Stacy, Tori and Tiffany for lunch. “What’s up, Tori?” she asked.
“I’m fine,” Tori said. “But now the paper has mentioned the play.”
“They did have to report that something happened last night,” Quinn pointed out.
“That’s true, but what if Mom is targeted, even if it’s not her byline? Like, I know that being a reporter can be dangerous, even a local one. But with everything going on in Lawndale…” Tori said before shedding a tear.
“I’m sure she’ll be safe,” Quinn said.
“Safer than the critics and Jane?” Tori asked.
“Yes,” Quinn said. She looked at Stacy, who was fretting as she usually did. She took her hand. “It’s going to be fine.”
“But, Jane? What if Mom’s in danger because she works there?”
“She hasn’t mentioned the play on radio,” Quinn said. “And I’m sure Jane will be found soon.”
“But she has been mentioning it in the café,” Stacy said.
“By SpiderGirl?” Tiffany asked.
Stacy looked at Tiffany. “Maybe. Or maybe Ninja Talon or this Dafoanairi.”
“Probably the fourth vigilante,” Quinn said. “Besides, I’m sure the vigilantes have been in the Historia as their secret identities.”
“Weren’t most of them there last night?” Tori asked.
“They were, but it seems that things happened too fast,” Quinn said. “But they will probably be prepared for tonight.”
“I hope so,” Stacy said.
Kevin looked around after he had got his lunch. Most of the students were as usual. He had heard about what had happened the previous night and hoped that Jane would be found soon. He looked around again and didn’t see who he wanted to see. He knew that something was going to change soon, but Brit had been a constant since they had started going out.
Mack saw Kevin sit across from him. “Hey, Mack Daddy, do you know where Brit is?”
“I don’t, and how many times I have I said not to call me that?”
“She’s probably preparing for the play,” Robert said.
“Oh yeah, that’s tonight,” Kevin responded.
“But I have seen her today. She is at school,” Mack said.
“But where in the school?” Kevin asked.
“You know where she will be,” Robert said.
“But Mom and I won’t see the play until tomorrow,” Kevin said.
Quinn caught up with Gerald after leaving the cafeteria. “Gerald!”
“Quinn?” Gerald asked as he approached the cafeteria himself.
“We need to do the mentoring at the Historia today,” Quinn said, and then explained as she did to Anna and Ben.
“I don’t think trying to mentor and do job interviews at the same time is a good idea,” Gerald said.
“I know, but I didn’t want to cancel, and besides the play is starting tonight.”
“Is that a good idea?”
“There will be police, and the FBI there, and maybe one or two of the vigilantes,” Quinn said. “Besides, Jane wouldn’t want the play to not go ahead on her account.”
“I suppose. I’ll be there.”
“Great. It’ll be in the bookshop.”
Quinn caught up with Brittany between classes. “What did Andrea say?” she asked after they ducked into a bathroom and made sure that the stalls were unoccupied.
“That she will be able to do it with Tania’s brother,” Brittany answered.
“That is, Tania Ashworth?”
“Yes.”
“Interesting. But does she know when?” Quinn asked.
“Tania hadn’t got back to her yet.”
“She’ll probably get back to her this afternoon.”
“I’ll try to find out before school finishes,” Brittany said.
“You’ll know where I’ll be.”
Brittany nodded and headed out.
As school finished, Andrea caught up with Tania. “I told Ninja Talon that you would call your brother,” she said.
“I did,” Tania responded. “He said that he would get back to me before the play starts tonight.”
“Got it. I guess I’ll be waiting at the Historia, then.”
“That’s probably a good idea.”
Daria came to the Lexus to find not only Quinn, but also, Anna, Ben and Gerald waiting. “Just as well there aren’t more people,” she said.
“True,” Quinn said with a giggle.
“Let’s just get there,” Gerald said.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be driving safely,” Daria said as she opened the driver side door.
“You should have seen her on the way to Freemont,” Quinn said.
Daria sighed. “I never imagined that a crime I’ll be trying to solve would be Jane’s abduction.”
“Same,” Quinn said.
“Any clues?” Anna asked as she got in after Ben.
“Other than the stormwater system, none,” Daria answered as she turned on the engine.
“What did Ms. Li want to talk about earlier?” Quinn asked.
“Offering Mrs. Manson’s services,” Daria answered.
“And you turned her down, of course,” Quinn said.
“Yes. I don’t want a repeat of self-esteem class,” Daria said.
“Of course.”
Brittany and Andrea caught up in the parking lot after the Morgendorffers’ Lexus had driven away. “So, what did Tania say?” Brittany asked.
“She’ll get back to me before the play starts,” Andrea answered.
“I guess I have to wait at the Historia too.”
“Or you can come and go.”
“That’s true, but I’d be patrolling close to it,” Brittany said.
Daria and the others entered the Historia from the rear and saw Peterson in the lobby when they got there.
“How was school?” she asked.
“It went well,” Quinn said.
“But Jane’s absence was noted,” Daria aid.
“I have heard from Leung. The local field office has started a search of the Creek between the Jefferson Bridge and where it flows into the lake,” Peterson said.
“That’s great, isn’t it?” Anna asked.
“It is, Ms.”
“Coultard.”
“Coultard,” Peterson repeated. “It is, as you put it, great. It means that something is being done.”
“Thanks for the information, Ms. Peterson,” Quinn said. “But we need to start our session now. I have a busy afternoon ahead of me.”
“Of course.”
Officer Peterson waited until Quinn and the others had entered the bookstore. “I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to make your own search of the area, but if you do be sure to keep out of the agents’ hair.”
Daria sighed. “I wouldn’t, although the temptation is there. It would take me too long. Dafoanairi is remaining downtown this afternoon. Besides, I need to prepare for tonight. You know that I’m the director, as well as the playwright.”
“Of course.”
“Now, write about your experience with Shakespeare’s works, or adaptations of it,” Quinn said. “The first of the previous applicants should be here in five minutes.”
“Including The Tempest?” Anna asked.
“Of course,” Quinn said with a giggle. “But the play doesn’t count.”
At the same time, Brittany, Andrea and Tania arrived at the Historia separately. Brittany went over to Daria. “How are you holding up?” she asked.
“Well enough. Peterson told me that the FBI is searching downstream of the Jefferson Bridge.”
“I see,” Brittany said. “I’m sure that she will be found soon. If not tonight, then, tomorrow.”
“We can only hope,” Daria said with a slight smile.
Daria sighed. She knew that was going to happen.
“How are you feeling?” Ms. Li asked when Daria had sat down.
“My best friend has been kidnapped! How do you think I’m feeling?”
“Mrs. Manson is ready to talk if you…”
“No!” Daria said. She didn’t want to deal with that quack of a school counsellor.
“Are you sure, Ms. Morgendorffer?”
“Of course I’m sure, Ms. Li. The best way for me to keep from thinking about what might be happening to Jane is for me to be in class doing schoolwork.”
“I see that you have made up your mind on that.”
“Yes,’ Daria said as she took the hall pass off the principal’s desk.
At the same time, as she went to her first class, Andrea looked for one of the students she knew had at least one sibling at Lawndale State.
She soon sighed one of them. “Tania!” she called out.
Tania Ashworth turned upon hearing her name. “Yes, Andrea?”
“Your brother is at Lawndale State, right?”
“He is,” Tania answered. “What is this about?”
“Ninja Talon and SpiderGirl asked me to help search for Jane.”
“And how would my brother be able to help with that?”
“He could give me access to one of the computer labs,” Andrea answered.
“I see, you want to access camera footage,” Tania surmised.
“Yes, I still have dial up at home.”
“I’ll if I can contact him at lunch.”
“Then that is what I’ll tell Ninja Talon later,” Andrea said as she left.
“Wait…” Tania said as Andrea disappeared into the distance. ‘Does she know who Ninja Talon is?’
She thought about it more. ‘Quite likely, but I’ll keep it to myself. Besides, I need to focus on the play tonight.’
Agent Leung returned to the Lawndale Field Office, where he typed up his notes and started writing on the whiteboard in the office. He started with the timeline. “Quentin Beck. Arrived in Lawndale on Saturday, 17th February, whereupon he goes to the Historia and is immediately hired by Quinn Morgendorffer as the theater’s special effects person.” There wasn’t anything suspicious there.
“Anything on the four business partners?” One of his fellow agents asked.
“Daria and Quinn Morgendorffer, sisters who have recently lost their father,” Leung said as he put up recent photos of the two, reflecting their changes in appearance. “Their mother, Helen, is associate in Vitale, et al.”
That brought about a silence. Jim Vitale’s reputation was well known in the field office.
“Daria is Jane’s close friend,” Leung added. “Thus she has no motive.”
“And the other two?” the other agent asked.
“Joseph Green and Robert Allen, cousins who are also nephews of the Historia’s former owner. All four are students at Lawndale High.”
“Could Angela Li be a suspect?”
“Unlikely. There is no impact on the school from the Historia opening. The Morgendorffers grades appear to be unaffected by their involvement in the theater. Quinn won the spelling bee, the day before the theater opened,” Leung said.
“And the cousin’s grades?”
“Steady,” Leung said as he turned back to the timeline. “Sunday, February 18th. The first rehearsal for Tempest. And later, Kalina Ondrovick says it’s amateurish on radio and Daria calls in to argue with her. That’s the first time the play is mentioned on the radio. That’s the main connection. That the play was mentioned on the radio.”
He continued through the timeline up to Jane’s abduction.
“But one thing is eluding me,” Leung said when he was finished. “And Peterson too. Motive. What reason does Quentin Beck have to disrupt the play.”
“Jealousy?”
“Quinn said that he was condescending of her age.”
“Which is?” the other asked.
“She turns 16 next week,” Leung said, and wrote her birthdate in late February of 1985 beneath her photo.
“And Daria?”
“Seventeen and half,” Leung added, writing her birthdate in late July of 1983 beneath her picture. “The cousins are 16, born in late 1984.”
They continued their brainstorming.
Between classes, Quinn caught up with Anna and Ben. “We have to do the mentoring at the Historia, rather than the Library,” she said.
“Any reason?” Ben asked.
“I’ll also be re-interviewing the previous applicants for the special effects position.”
“Because of what happened to Jane?” Anna asked.
“That’s part of it,” Quinn answered.
“Because Quentin Beck is responsible,” Anna surmised.
Quinn nodded.
“We’ll be there,” Anna said. “But what about Gerald? He won’t like it.”
“I know,” Quinn said. “He’ll be difficult to convince.”
At lunch, Tania went to one of the school’s payphones straight out of class. “I hope his in his room,” Tania murmured as she put in a couple of quarters. She then dialled the number.
“Yes?”
“Scott! It’s Tania.”
“Why are you calling me in the middle of the day? I have a class in twenty minutes.”
“Sorry about that. I have a favour to ask of you.”
“I’m already seeing the play.”
“That’s good but that’s not what this is about.”
“What is this about then?”
Tania then began explaining what Andrea had asked her about.
“You want me to allow this Andrea to use my account to try to find this Jane? Because of SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon?”
“Yes,” Tania said.
“I’ll have to think about it,” Scott said.
“Let me know before the play starts tonight.”
“I shall, bye.”
In the library, Andrea found Brittany hiding somewhere near the back. ‘She looks 100% the cheerleader she has been the past few years,’ she thought. ‘Apart from that time in the Zon when she had her hair dyed dark.’ She shook her head. That wasn’t what she wanted to think about. She saw that she was reading a book on the history of Lawndale. “Brit?” she asked.
Brittany looked up. “Hey, Andy,” she said with a slight smile.
She almost ignored the nickname. Brittany was the only one who could get away with calling her that. ‘Still is, it seems,’ Andrea thought. “I found Tania Ashworth. She said she would talk to her brother.”
“Tania. She’s in the play too,” Brittany acknowledged.
“I had heard about that.”
“I’ll let Spidey know, later.”
“Good, I’ll be off,” Andrea said.
“You don’t have to.”
“We’re still too different.”
“I’m in the play because I want to change,” Brittany said in a vulnerable tone.
“So, you’re a cheerleader and an actor, as well as a vigilante, not the imaginative girl you were.”
“I guess so,” Brittany said with a twirl of a pigtail. “But small steps?”
“Yes,” Andrea said with a slight smile as Brittany went back to reading her book.
Daria and Sandi entered the cafeteria at the same time. “How are you after last night?” Daria asked.
“I just needed to rest,” Sandi answered. “I’m fine now. Mother says that when she had overextended herself that way, it took overnight for her.”
“Does she usually search for people like that?” Daria asked.
“Not often. But she was active in Boston before I was born.”
“Meaning…”
“Exactly,” Sandi confirmed.
‘That’s something. I think Boston does have hero vigilantes occasionally. It happens more often in New York.’
They came to the usual table to find only Harry and Tania waiting.
“So, any clue as to where Jane is?” Tania asked, hoping that she get some clue to tell Andrea and Scott later.
“No clue, but probably near the lake,” Daria answered. “Also, the FBI are now involved in the investigation.”
“Not surprising,” Sandi commented between bites.
“But the play is going ahead?” Harry asked.
“Of course,” Daria answered. “The show must go on. It’s what Jane would want, and tonight is sold out.”
“That’s good,” Tania said.
“Are you ready?” Daria asked.
“I am,” Tania said. “Last night was a bit scary, but I’m ready.”
“You’re in the play?” Harry asked. “You haven’t said.”
“Yes, I’m playing Ceres, one of the muses.” Tania answered.
“But what if something happens again?” Harry asked.
“Not only would Peterson be there, but the FBI agent as well,” Daria said. “Besides the theater has been checked over many times.”
“So, it won’t happen?” Harry asked.
“No,” Sandi answered.
Quinn joined Stacy, Tori and Tiffany for lunch. “What’s up, Tori?” she asked.
“I’m fine,” Tori said. “But now the paper has mentioned the play.”
“They did have to report that something happened last night,” Quinn pointed out.
“That’s true, but what if Mom is targeted, even if it’s not her byline? Like, I know that being a reporter can be dangerous, even a local one. But with everything going on in Lawndale…” Tori said before shedding a tear.
“I’m sure she’ll be safe,” Quinn said.
“Safer than the critics and Jane?” Tori asked.
“Yes,” Quinn said. She looked at Stacy, who was fretting as she usually did. She took her hand. “It’s going to be fine.”
“But, Jane? What if Mom’s in danger because she works there?”
“She hasn’t mentioned the play on radio,” Quinn said. “And I’m sure Jane will be found soon.”
“But she has been mentioning it in the café,” Stacy said.
“By SpiderGirl?” Tiffany asked.
Stacy looked at Tiffany. “Maybe. Or maybe Ninja Talon or this Dafoanairi.”
“Probably the fourth vigilante,” Quinn said. “Besides, I’m sure the vigilantes have been in the Historia as their secret identities.”
“Weren’t most of them there last night?” Tori asked.
“They were, but it seems that things happened too fast,” Quinn said. “But they will probably be prepared for tonight.”
“I hope so,” Stacy said.
Kevin looked around after he had got his lunch. Most of the students were as usual. He had heard about what had happened the previous night and hoped that Jane would be found soon. He looked around again and didn’t see who he wanted to see. He knew that something was going to change soon, but Brit had been a constant since they had started going out.
Mack saw Kevin sit across from him. “Hey, Mack Daddy, do you know where Brit is?”
“I don’t, and how many times I have I said not to call me that?”
“She’s probably preparing for the play,” Robert said.
“Oh yeah, that’s tonight,” Kevin responded.
“But I have seen her today. She is at school,” Mack said.
“But where in the school?” Kevin asked.
“You know where she will be,” Robert said.
“But Mom and I won’t see the play until tomorrow,” Kevin said.
Quinn caught up with Gerald after leaving the cafeteria. “Gerald!”
“Quinn?” Gerald asked as he approached the cafeteria himself.
“We need to do the mentoring at the Historia today,” Quinn said, and then explained as she did to Anna and Ben.
“I don’t think trying to mentor and do job interviews at the same time is a good idea,” Gerald said.
“I know, but I didn’t want to cancel, and besides the play is starting tonight.”
“Is that a good idea?”
“There will be police, and the FBI there, and maybe one or two of the vigilantes,” Quinn said. “Besides, Jane wouldn’t want the play to not go ahead on her account.”
“I suppose. I’ll be there.”
“Great. It’ll be in the bookshop.”
Quinn caught up with Brittany between classes. “What did Andrea say?” she asked after they ducked into a bathroom and made sure that the stalls were unoccupied.
“That she will be able to do it with Tania’s brother,” Brittany answered.
“That is, Tania Ashworth?”
“Yes.”
“Interesting. But does she know when?” Quinn asked.
“Tania hadn’t got back to her yet.”
“She’ll probably get back to her this afternoon.”
“I’ll try to find out before school finishes,” Brittany said.
“You’ll know where I’ll be.”
Brittany nodded and headed out.
As school finished, Andrea caught up with Tania. “I told Ninja Talon that you would call your brother,” she said.
“I did,” Tania responded. “He said that he would get back to me before the play starts tonight.”
“Got it. I guess I’ll be waiting at the Historia, then.”
“That’s probably a good idea.”
Daria came to the Lexus to find not only Quinn, but also, Anna, Ben and Gerald waiting. “Just as well there aren’t more people,” she said.
“True,” Quinn said with a giggle.
“Let’s just get there,” Gerald said.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be driving safely,” Daria said as she opened the driver side door.
“You should have seen her on the way to Freemont,” Quinn said.
Daria sighed. “I never imagined that a crime I’ll be trying to solve would be Jane’s abduction.”
“Same,” Quinn said.
“Any clues?” Anna asked as she got in after Ben.
“Other than the stormwater system, none,” Daria answered as she turned on the engine.
“What did Ms. Li want to talk about earlier?” Quinn asked.
“Offering Mrs. Manson’s services,” Daria answered.
“And you turned her down, of course,” Quinn said.
“Yes. I don’t want a repeat of self-esteem class,” Daria said.
“Of course.”
Brittany and Andrea caught up in the parking lot after the Morgendorffers’ Lexus had driven away. “So, what did Tania say?” Brittany asked.
“She’ll get back to me before the play starts,” Andrea answered.
“I guess I have to wait at the Historia too.”
“Or you can come and go.”
“That’s true, but I’d be patrolling close to it,” Brittany said.
Daria and the others entered the Historia from the rear and saw Peterson in the lobby when they got there.
“How was school?” she asked.
“It went well,” Quinn said.
“But Jane’s absence was noted,” Daria aid.
“I have heard from Leung. The local field office has started a search of the Creek between the Jefferson Bridge and where it flows into the lake,” Peterson said.
“That’s great, isn’t it?” Anna asked.
“It is, Ms.”
“Coultard.”
“Coultard,” Peterson repeated. “It is, as you put it, great. It means that something is being done.”
“Thanks for the information, Ms. Peterson,” Quinn said. “But we need to start our session now. I have a busy afternoon ahead of me.”
“Of course.”
Officer Peterson waited until Quinn and the others had entered the bookstore. “I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to make your own search of the area, but if you do be sure to keep out of the agents’ hair.”
Daria sighed. “I wouldn’t, although the temptation is there. It would take me too long. Dafoanairi is remaining downtown this afternoon. Besides, I need to prepare for tonight. You know that I’m the director, as well as the playwright.”
“Of course.”
“Now, write about your experience with Shakespeare’s works, or adaptations of it,” Quinn said. “The first of the previous applicants should be here in five minutes.”
“Including The Tempest?” Anna asked.
“Of course,” Quinn said with a giggle. “But the play doesn’t count.”
At the same time, Brittany, Andrea and Tania arrived at the Historia separately. Brittany went over to Daria. “How are you holding up?” she asked.
“Well enough. Peterson told me that the FBI is searching downstream of the Jefferson Bridge.”
“I see,” Brittany said. “I’m sure that she will be found soon. If not tonight, then, tomorrow.”
“We can only hope,” Daria said with a slight smile.
everything is femslash exchange
Jun. 23rd, 2025 11:32 pmbirdylionI got a lovely piece of art, Josephine/Cassandra! Here
Creators for![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
everythingisfemslashex have been revealed so I can talk about it: I wrote a Gelphie-fic for the Wicked movie. My recipient liked fluff, slice of life, romance tropes. Here's what I wrote:
A Giddy, Whirly, Leaping Heart
Fandom:
Wicked (Movie 2024)
Relationship:
Elphaba Thropp/Galinda Upland
Additional Tags:
Feelings Realization, There Was Only One Bed, Getting Together, POV Galinda Upland, Oblivious Galinda Upland
Words:
3,115
Summary:
An upcoming school trip shakes the friendship between Elphaba and Galinda in unexpected ways.
( Read more... )
Creators for
everythingisfemslashex have been revealed so I can talk about it: I wrote a Gelphie-fic for the Wicked movie. My recipient liked fluff, slice of life, romance tropes. Here's what I wrote:A Giddy, Whirly, Leaping Heart
Fandom:
Wicked (Movie 2024)
Relationship:
Elphaba Thropp/Galinda Upland
Additional Tags:
Feelings Realization, There Was Only One Bed, Getting Together, POV Galinda Upland, Oblivious Galinda Upland
Words:
3,115
Summary:
An upcoming school trip shakes the friendship between Elphaba and Galinda in unexpected ways.
Inca Trail: Day 4
Jun. 23rd, 2025 07:16 pmpurplecatDay 4 started at 3:30am in the morning because we were supposed to meet up with the rest of our party at 11am at Machu Picchu which was about 14km away. Most of the rest of the camp got up and set out around the same time for reasons that were less clear to me - maybe the general plan is to get to Machu Picchu before lunch and then spend the afternoon in the city.
Anyway, this meant the first hour of the walk was in the dark going down steep steps with head torches which, once the novelty had worn off, wasn't much fun. We were, presumably, missing some stunning views.
The first ruin of the day was Intipata. This involved a slight diversion off the Inca road itself. According to Wilbert no one had even known it was there until a forest fire about 25 years ago. It's a bit difficult to convey it in photographs, especially as we don't seem to have managed to take any which have any people in for a sense of scale. It was huge, each individual terrace rising above our heads. As far as one can tell, it was a farm.
( Photos under the cut )
We then went to Wiñay Wayna which was very similar except that Wilbert insisted it was a laboratory not a farm. We had previously seen another Inca "Laboratory" at Moray but were somewhat confused by the distinction. Laboratories, we were told, were convex while farms were concave. The convex shape caused microclimates at each terrace and you could see different plants were grown on each terrace so it was obvious that the Inca's were experimenting. B. and I felt a frew crucial steps were missing here for something to be called an experiment, as opposed to growing things where they grow best. I was actually getting rather tired at this point so I just sat down and admired the view at Wiñay Wayna, while B. walked down to look at the buildings disturbing some Llamas who were grazing on the terraces.
( More Photos )
Wiñay Wayna was right by a campsite of the same name. It was currently out of use following landslides but was, apparently, where people normally spent the final night on the trail. Having left us to explore Wiñay Wayna, Wilbert sat down and chatted to the various guides and porters working at the camp. When we got back he reported that several other parties had gone past, none going to look at the ruins... which again seemed rather odd. I guess for a lot of poeple the Inca Trail is about the walk and then Machu Picchu and not so much about the less well known ruins along the way.
Once past Wiñay Wayna, we left the controlled part of the Inca Trail. At that point I half expected to start seeing day trippers up from Machu Picchu but we never passed anyone going the other way. Wilbert said this was because day trippers were lazy (Wilbert considered many people lazy, including anyone who spoke Spanish in preference to Quechua) but I would have thought quite a lot of people would like to walk along a bit of an Inca road without necessarily doing so for four days and going over Dead Woman's Pass.
Anyway, we continued for another 5 or so km, mostly on the flat but rising slightly until we came to a set of steps that Wilbert cheerfully informed us were called the "Gringo Killer". He had my measure by now and offered to take my sticks while I clambered up.
( Evidence under the Cut )
Then we turned a corner and came out at Inti Punku, the Sun Gate, the ceremonial entrance to Machu Picchu. This is where you get your first glimpse of the city.
( Photos )
I'll leave Machu Picchu to another post. We were half an hour "late", but Wilbert had a back-up plan which involved showing us around himself and we bumped into the rest of the party during the tour. I was a little frazzled when we got there - a combination I think of the early start, a fairly long walk and the fact my esim wasn't working so I was out of WhatsApp contact from our other guide and so couldn't coordinate meeting up (I eventually managed to contact him via B's phone). But once I'd sent the WhatsApp message and had something to eat, I cheered up enough to enjoy the city.
I felt even better after a bus ride down to Aguas Calientes and a late lunch.
( Evidence of Lunch )
Anyway, this meant the first hour of the walk was in the dark going down steep steps with head torches which, once the novelty had worn off, wasn't much fun. We were, presumably, missing some stunning views.
The first ruin of the day was Intipata. This involved a slight diversion off the Inca road itself. According to Wilbert no one had even known it was there until a forest fire about 25 years ago. It's a bit difficult to convey it in photographs, especially as we don't seem to have managed to take any which have any people in for a sense of scale. It was huge, each individual terrace rising above our heads. As far as one can tell, it was a farm.
( Photos under the cut )
We then went to Wiñay Wayna which was very similar except that Wilbert insisted it was a laboratory not a farm. We had previously seen another Inca "Laboratory" at Moray but were somewhat confused by the distinction. Laboratories, we were told, were convex while farms were concave. The convex shape caused microclimates at each terrace and you could see different plants were grown on each terrace so it was obvious that the Inca's were experimenting. B. and I felt a frew crucial steps were missing here for something to be called an experiment, as opposed to growing things where they grow best. I was actually getting rather tired at this point so I just sat down and admired the view at Wiñay Wayna, while B. walked down to look at the buildings disturbing some Llamas who were grazing on the terraces.
( More Photos )
Wiñay Wayna was right by a campsite of the same name. It was currently out of use following landslides but was, apparently, where people normally spent the final night on the trail. Having left us to explore Wiñay Wayna, Wilbert sat down and chatted to the various guides and porters working at the camp. When we got back he reported that several other parties had gone past, none going to look at the ruins... which again seemed rather odd. I guess for a lot of poeple the Inca Trail is about the walk and then Machu Picchu and not so much about the less well known ruins along the way.
Once past Wiñay Wayna, we left the controlled part of the Inca Trail. At that point I half expected to start seeing day trippers up from Machu Picchu but we never passed anyone going the other way. Wilbert said this was because day trippers were lazy (Wilbert considered many people lazy, including anyone who spoke Spanish in preference to Quechua) but I would have thought quite a lot of people would like to walk along a bit of an Inca road without necessarily doing so for four days and going over Dead Woman's Pass.
Anyway, we continued for another 5 or so km, mostly on the flat but rising slightly until we came to a set of steps that Wilbert cheerfully informed us were called the "Gringo Killer". He had my measure by now and offered to take my sticks while I clambered up.
( Evidence under the Cut )
Then we turned a corner and came out at Inti Punku, the Sun Gate, the ceremonial entrance to Machu Picchu. This is where you get your first glimpse of the city.
( Photos )
I'll leave Machu Picchu to another post. We were half an hour "late", but Wilbert had a back-up plan which involved showing us around himself and we bumped into the rest of the party during the tour. I was a little frazzled when we got there - a combination I think of the early start, a fairly long walk and the fact my esim wasn't working so I was out of WhatsApp contact from our other guide and so couldn't coordinate meeting up (I eventually managed to contact him via B's phone). But once I'd sent the WhatsApp message and had something to eat, I cheered up enough to enjoy the city.
I felt even better after a bus ride down to Aguas Calientes and a late lunch.
( Evidence of Lunch )
I've Heard the Nymph is Pretty Constant
Jun. 23rd, 2025 04:01 pmscifirenegadeA bad night of sleep aside, I've come across The Constant Nymph (1933), with Brian Aherne. An obscure film, difficult to find, especially compared to its predecessor and sucessor (the 1920s film has Ivor Novello, the 1940s film has, iirc Charles Boyer).
I'm completely unfamiliar with the source material btw.
It says a lot about a film when the only character that doesn't get on one's nerves is a stereotype. Lewis (Aherne) makes me want to pull my hair out. Obnoxious, being creepy towards our other main character Tessa (she's cool with it though, they are soulmates after all). Tessa and the middle (?) sister are as if Lydia and Kitty from P&P we're bad characters.
Okay, the older sister and her husband were fine. The husband was played by Kurt Anders als die Andern (that being Fritz Schulz). Completely unexpected. Seeing him with a silly moustache, speaking heavily accented English, gliding along the seat like a cartoon character, was quite nice.
There were moments in which the editors wanted to have some fun. Double (triple) exposure, creative cutting, but overall it looks too conventional for its own good.
Not a fan.
I'm completely unfamiliar with the source material btw.
It says a lot about a film when the only character that doesn't get on one's nerves is a stereotype. Lewis (Aherne) makes me want to pull my hair out. Obnoxious, being creepy towards our other main character Tessa (she's cool with it though, they are soulmates after all). Tessa and the middle (?) sister are as if Lydia and Kitty from P&P we're bad characters.
Okay, the older sister and her husband were fine. The husband was played by Kurt Anders als die Andern (that being Fritz Schulz). Completely unexpected. Seeing him with a silly moustache, speaking heavily accented English, gliding along the seat like a cartoon character, was quite nice.
There were moments in which the editors wanted to have some fun. Double (triple) exposure, creative cutting, but overall it looks too conventional for its own good.
Not a fan.
The Youngest Barksdale - Part 9
Jun. 23rd, 2025 07:31 pmfardell24It was disappointing that there wasn’t anything she could use against Ms. Li in what Quinn had told her, Daria considered as she entered her room. But she was sure that there was something else she could use. ‘Just not right now.’ She had to settle into Lawndale first.
“Daria?” Helen asked. “You talked to Quinn?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“Nothing I can use against the principal, just the modelling agency,” Daria explained.
“I expected that,” Helen said.
“It’s going to take a while,” Daria said. “Probably longer than with the previous schools.”
Helen wondered what those other schools were like.
The next day, Daria met Scarlett and Andrea before school.
“So, what did you find out?” Scarlett asked.
Daria then told them of what her sister and niece had said.
“Nothing new then,” Scarlett said when Daria had finished.
“That’s right,” Andrea said.
“And so, we’ll need to find out other stuff,” Daria said.
“I agree,” Andrea said.
“Same,” Scarlett added.
The day was as usual, although rumors about what had happened to Val spread. Daria did her best to ignore them. However, Quinn and her friends came up to her as school let out.
“Quinn?” Daria asked.
“I should let you know, um, Daria,” Stacy said.
“Let Quinn say!” Sandi interjected.
“Sorry!” Stacy said.
“What?” Daria asked with a glare at Sandi.
“Rumors about what happened to Val,” Quinn answered.
“I see, although I should say that it was Andrea and Ms. Li who were actually there,” Daria said.
“I know that,” Quinn said.
“So, what are these rumors?” Daria asked.
“That you had sabotaged Andrea’s chances,” Sandi said.
“And how would I have done that?” Daria asked.
Sandi shrugged and looked at her pedicured nails.
“Well?” Daria asked.
“Like, I’m not sure how, but that’s what I heard,” Sandi answered.
“Or are you spreading them yourself?” Daria asked.
“Dar-i-a!” Quinn exclaimed.
Sandi was aghast. “Of course not!”
Daria could see that she was telling the truth. “Then it was someone else who started it.”
“I have some idea,” Sandi said.
“Which is?”
“Tori Jericho, or someone she’s friends with,” Sandi answered.
“Tori is well known for repeating anything she hears,” Stacy said.
“Then let’s find her,” Daria suggested.
“OK,” Quinn said.
“But we have to be quick. She leaves rather quickly when school lets out,” Sandi said.
“Got it.”
They quickly walked out of the school to the front entrance.
They looked around, but they didn’t see Tori. “So, she’s blonde, right?” Daria asked.
“Yes,” Quinn answered.
“To her shoulders, usually worn loose,” Stacy added.
“Got it,” Daria said. “But I have noticed that there are many blondes at the school.”
“Like, we’ll see her,” Sandi said.
“Got it.”
“Daria?” Helen asked. “You talked to Quinn?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“Nothing I can use against the principal, just the modelling agency,” Daria explained.
“I expected that,” Helen said.
“It’s going to take a while,” Daria said. “Probably longer than with the previous schools.”
Helen wondered what those other schools were like.
The next day, Daria met Scarlett and Andrea before school.
“So, what did you find out?” Scarlett asked.
Daria then told them of what her sister and niece had said.
“Nothing new then,” Scarlett said when Daria had finished.
“That’s right,” Andrea said.
“And so, we’ll need to find out other stuff,” Daria said.
“I agree,” Andrea said.
“Same,” Scarlett added.
The day was as usual, although rumors about what had happened to Val spread. Daria did her best to ignore them. However, Quinn and her friends came up to her as school let out.
“Quinn?” Daria asked.
“I should let you know, um, Daria,” Stacy said.
“Let Quinn say!” Sandi interjected.
“Sorry!” Stacy said.
“What?” Daria asked with a glare at Sandi.
“Rumors about what happened to Val,” Quinn answered.
“I see, although I should say that it was Andrea and Ms. Li who were actually there,” Daria said.
“I know that,” Quinn said.
“So, what are these rumors?” Daria asked.
“That you had sabotaged Andrea’s chances,” Sandi said.
“And how would I have done that?” Daria asked.
Sandi shrugged and looked at her pedicured nails.
“Well?” Daria asked.
“Like, I’m not sure how, but that’s what I heard,” Sandi answered.
“Or are you spreading them yourself?” Daria asked.
“Dar-i-a!” Quinn exclaimed.
Sandi was aghast. “Of course not!”
Daria could see that she was telling the truth. “Then it was someone else who started it.”
“I have some idea,” Sandi said.
“Which is?”
“Tori Jericho, or someone she’s friends with,” Sandi answered.
“Tori is well known for repeating anything she hears,” Stacy said.
“Then let’s find her,” Daria suggested.
“OK,” Quinn said.
“But we have to be quick. She leaves rather quickly when school lets out,” Sandi said.
“Got it.”
They quickly walked out of the school to the front entrance.
They looked around, but they didn’t see Tori. “So, she’s blonde, right?” Daria asked.
“Yes,” Quinn answered.
“To her shoulders, usually worn loose,” Stacy added.
“Got it,” Daria said. “But I have noticed that there are many blondes at the school.”
“Like, we’ll see her,” Sandi said.
“Got it.”
Found the canon on Tri's gender in TLOZ:EoW
Jun. 22nd, 2025 08:02 ambrightknightieTrivia, for the record, as I'd wondered about it here before:
As you may know, Tri is the companion character in The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom: a floating ball of primordial golden energy, a bit bigger than a softball, with some immobile black markings that suggest a face (but may actually be characters in a language, or just stripes, spots, whatever Tri's kind has), and a tail (or ponytail) of triangles that measure out Tri's magic. While the in-dialogue evidence for Tri's gender and/or sex, if any, is scant and conflicting, one of the quest log screens uses "they/their" for Tri (Tri uses "I/my" when speaking). That's canon enough to make a call on which pronouns to use for the character, until/unless other evidence comes.
(Translation is often a lingering and fascinating issue in Zelda games. It's the whole focus of![[youtube.com profile]](https://youtube.com/favicon.ico)
QuestWithAaron.)
As you may know, Tri is the companion character in The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom: a floating ball of primordial golden energy, a bit bigger than a softball, with some immobile black markings that suggest a face (but may actually be characters in a language, or just stripes, spots, whatever Tri's kind has), and a tail (or ponytail) of triangles that measure out Tri's magic. While the in-dialogue evidence for Tri's gender and/or sex, if any, is scant and conflicting, one of the quest log screens uses "they/their" for Tri (Tri uses "I/my" when speaking). That's canon enough to make a call on which pronouns to use for the character, until/unless other evidence comes.
(Translation is often a lingering and fascinating issue in Zelda games. It's the whole focus of
Church notes in June 2025 so far
Jun. 22nd, 2025 05:53 pmfardell241st June 2025: https://fardell24b.tumblr.com/post/785134065337647104/church-notes-1st-june-2025
8th June 2025: https://fardell24b.tumblr.com/post/785764042495197184/church-notes-8th-june-2025
15th June 2025: https://fardell34.blogspot.com/2025/06/church-notes-15th-june-2025.html
22nd June 2025: https://fardell34.blogspot.com/2025/06/church-notes-22nd-june-2025.html
8th June 2025: https://fardell24b.tumblr.com/post/785764042495197184/church-notes-8th-june-2025
15th June 2025: https://fardell34.blogspot.com/2025/06/church-notes-15th-june-2025.html
22nd June 2025: https://fardell34.blogspot.com/2025/06/church-notes-22nd-june-2025.html
Church notes - 22nd June 2025
Jun. 22nd, 2025 05:48 pmfardell24Matthew 3:13 -17
Jesus's baptism
Look at it in context.
Bringing the message of who God is.
The start of Jesus's Ministry.
Jesus's baptism
Look at it in context.
Bringing the message of who God is.
The start of Jesus's Ministry.
promo; seasons of fandom
Jun. 22nd, 2025 02:05 pmaliensamba
seasons_of_fandom an interactive fandom challenge community (landcomm)- formerly known as lands_of_magic that welcomes any and all fandoms. Sign up here or click the banner above.
Please mention that aliensamba sent you.
069 - collage: 25.02 - the fellowship of the ring
Jun. 22nd, 2025 12:54 amaliensambaMedium: film
Fandom: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Characters: Frodo Baggins, Gandalf, The One Ring
Prompt: No One Can Know
Notes: 1 collage for week 6 of Fortune Wheel at Fandom Empire.
( Read more... )
Fandom: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Characters: Frodo Baggins, Gandalf, The One Ring
Prompt: No One Can Know
Notes: 1 collage for week 6 of Fortune Wheel at Fandom Empire.
( Read more... )
First Blooms
Jun. 20th, 2025 01:41 pmpaynesgrey
Not much is going on in life. Just the same real life stuff - consulting with Capgemini, doing things with my family, keeping up the house and the pets, and trying to make some passive income with Poshmark and Pangobooks.
I'm doing some reading too, and I'm almost finished with The Apothecary Diaries Light Novel volume 4. I have some library books that I'm reading, mostly cookbooks, and reading some manga here and there from Hoopla through the library.
I've been doing some outlining for the stories for the fic fests I joined for the summer. Hopefully I can get writing them soon!
Trying to save money as best I can and eliminating eating out as much. We just painted the spare room in the basement which will become Juliet's playroom, and this weekend we'll be moving her in, as well as cleaning and organizing the basement and the garage. It's going to be a hot one this weekend so we'll be staying indoors mostly.
During all of this, there is one thing that brings me absolute joy and that would be my garden. I reactivated my Flickr account so I could post my garden pictures there, and not just on Facebook.
( My garden pics )
I will have to make sure to water vigorously this weekend as we are going to reach the upper 90s here in the Chicagoland.
Stay cool, everyone.
Fossil Friday
Jun. 20th, 2025 06:35 pmpurplecat
Dilophosaurus. Image stolen from Great Dinosaur Discoveries by Darren Naish, though wikipedia is using a very similiar image under a Creative Commons licence.
68 - gifs; 25.02 - labyrinth
Jun. 20th, 2025 12:13 pmaliensambaMedium: film
Fandom: Labyrinth
Characters: Sarah Williams, Jareth
Prompt: castle
Notes: 2 gifs for week 6 of Fortune Wheel at Fandom Empire.
( Read more... )
Fandom: Labyrinth
Characters: Sarah Williams, Jareth
Prompt: castle
Notes: 2 gifs for week 6 of Fortune Wheel at Fandom Empire.
( Read more... )
(no subject)
Jun. 19th, 2025 05:14 pmsixbeforelunchTa-da list:
- cleaned a little
- ran some errands, including buying the few pavers that I need to finish the little porch extension I've been working on
- came home and cleaned a lot, finished the weekly cleaning and the rest of the monthly cleaning
- put down the remaining pavers and cleaned two of the outside windows
- took shower, went thud
The pavers are basically done now. It doesn't look very good, and it's very uneven, but it's doing what I want it to do, which is giving me a walkway to get to the hose. I don't care too much how it looks, but I do plan to even them out a little at a time since that could be a tripping hazard. (I'm not too worried about it because I'm the only one who will go out there, and only when I want to get the hose, but still.)
I am done now. I do not feel like cooking after all that, so I will likely get takeout for dinner even though I really don't feel like going back out, but for now I am going to reward myself for being productive and play Kathy Rain.
- cleaned a little
- ran some errands, including buying the few pavers that I need to finish the little porch extension I've been working on
- came home and cleaned a lot, finished the weekly cleaning and the rest of the monthly cleaning
- put down the remaining pavers and cleaned two of the outside windows
- took shower, went thud
The pavers are basically done now. It doesn't look very good, and it's very uneven, but it's doing what I want it to do, which is giving me a walkway to get to the hose. I don't care too much how it looks, but I do plan to even them out a little at a time since that could be a tripping hazard. (I'm not too worried about it because I'm the only one who will go out there, and only when I want to get the hose, but still.)
I am done now. I do not feel like cooking after all that, so I will likely get takeout for dinner even though I really don't feel like going back out, but for now I am going to reward myself for being productive and play Kathy Rain.
Inca Trail: Day 3
Jun. 19th, 2025 07:31 pmpurplecatUnlike Day 2, which was hard work and not terribly rewarding, we loved Day 3 on the Inca Trail. Once again we set off almost as soon as it was light. Wilbert's plan was again to have all the walking done before lunch, in part because of convenience, but this time he also knew there were a lot of ruins to see and was quite keen to get us to them before everyone else got there. In this he was successful. We generally got to look around ruins on our own, but a big group would arrive just as we were leaving.
The first of these was Runkuraqay which Wilbert described as a fuel station for people, which we interpreted as meaning an Inn.
( Runkuraqay Pictures )
We then went up and over a pass, a little lower than Dead Woman's Pass the previous day, and a shorter climb because we'd started higher. Then we came down towards Sayacmarca, a much larger ruin.
( Pictures )
Once we left Sayacmarca we continued down to about 3,500m. After that the trail was much more level. Strava shows a steady climb, but I felt much more able to look about me at the scenery rather than paying close attention to where I was putting my feet. As the trail levelled out we got to Qunchamarka, another Inn. It wasn't clear how to access this, but we walked around the outside. I think at this point we were up in a Cloud Forest - though I'm hazy on the difference between Cloud Forest, Rainforest and regular forest, all of which I think we walked through at various points.
( Pictures )
Wilbert spent some time telling us about the Inca Tunnel we would meet. B was pretty sure this was just a large fallen rock which the Inca's had run the path under. Wilbert got distracted at this point since he found a dog in the brush above the tunnel. After some encouragement he got it to climb down and it ran off down the path ahead of us. We met it again at the next campsite where, presumably, it belonged. I'm afraid we failed to photograph the dog, so you'll just have to imagine it.
( B did photograph the tunnel, however )
We arrived at our campsite in good time for lunch. The camp was above another Inca ruin, Phuyupatamaca, and after lunch Wilbert packed us off to take a look at it on our own. This involved going down some steep steps and it seemed like the water source for the camp was at the bottom, because we were passed by a lot of porters carrying water back up them. At the time we assumed he sent us to look at it then, rather than the next day, because the plan was to leave before light so that we would get to Machu Picchu in time to meet up with the rest of our group. However it transpired that pretty much everyone was leaving before light and we seemed to be the only party who's guide thought to encourage us to check out the ruins we would miss in the dark.
( Pictures of Phuyupatamarca )
We had an excellent position in the camp right next to a large rock that overlooked the view. We were next to the camp of a group of three people who were on the "Luxury" tour. Wilbert was very contemptuous - they had three guides and a masseuse. They were also served cocktails in glasses made of glass when they reached camp. The most disconcerting thing was that they were played into camp by Andean pipes. B felt he would have been quite happy with the cocktails and the larger tents (including a shower tent!) and so on, but felt he wouldn't have coped with the pipes.
( Pictures in the Camp )
The first of these was Runkuraqay which Wilbert described as a fuel station for people, which we interpreted as meaning an Inn.
( Runkuraqay Pictures )
We then went up and over a pass, a little lower than Dead Woman's Pass the previous day, and a shorter climb because we'd started higher. Then we came down towards Sayacmarca, a much larger ruin.
( Pictures )
Once we left Sayacmarca we continued down to about 3,500m. After that the trail was much more level. Strava shows a steady climb, but I felt much more able to look about me at the scenery rather than paying close attention to where I was putting my feet. As the trail levelled out we got to Qunchamarka, another Inn. It wasn't clear how to access this, but we walked around the outside. I think at this point we were up in a Cloud Forest - though I'm hazy on the difference between Cloud Forest, Rainforest and regular forest, all of which I think we walked through at various points.
( Pictures )
Wilbert spent some time telling us about the Inca Tunnel we would meet. B was pretty sure this was just a large fallen rock which the Inca's had run the path under. Wilbert got distracted at this point since he found a dog in the brush above the tunnel. After some encouragement he got it to climb down and it ran off down the path ahead of us. We met it again at the next campsite where, presumably, it belonged. I'm afraid we failed to photograph the dog, so you'll just have to imagine it.
( B did photograph the tunnel, however )
We arrived at our campsite in good time for lunch. The camp was above another Inca ruin, Phuyupatamaca, and after lunch Wilbert packed us off to take a look at it on our own. This involved going down some steep steps and it seemed like the water source for the camp was at the bottom, because we were passed by a lot of porters carrying water back up them. At the time we assumed he sent us to look at it then, rather than the next day, because the plan was to leave before light so that we would get to Machu Picchu in time to meet up with the rest of our group. However it transpired that pretty much everyone was leaving before light and we seemed to be the only party who's guide thought to encourage us to check out the ruins we would miss in the dark.
( Pictures of Phuyupatamarca )
We had an excellent position in the camp right next to a large rock that overlooked the view. We were next to the camp of a group of three people who were on the "Luxury" tour. Wilbert was very contemptuous - they had three guides and a masseuse. They were also served cocktails in glasses made of glass when they reached camp. The most disconcerting thing was that they were played into camp by Andean pipes. B felt he would have been quite happy with the cocktails and the larger tents (including a shower tent!) and so on, but felt he wouldn't have coped with the pipes.
( Pictures in the Camp )