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Title: Eternity and a Day
Prompt: Request from DanaIsis
Fandom: Van Helsing (Slight AU)
A/N: This is a three part shot requested by the talented writer, DanaIsis. This is my first time writing a short fic centered in this fandom, so, be nice…please?
I shifted uncomfortably as I watched him place the gun in his pack, the exterior glittering off the little light that flooded from the bedside candle, covering the room in an eerie shadow of orange pained walls. It was ever so often that he did this, venturing into the heart of the unknown with only so much as a group of men that could barely call themselves any type of protection; farmers and boys barely even older than myself. Wrapping the raggedy shawl around my shoulders I stood up, slipping my already freezing toes into the equally tattered shoes that were by the beside. His designated side of the makeshift bed was still warm, and his smell lingered in the air above it. Every time I looked at him I still couldn't understand, or maybe I just didn't want to believe it, how fortunate I was to have been chosen by him, a prince of all people. It was the epitome of the very fairytales that had been told to me over the years by my keepers, yes, keepers; I didn't remember having much of a family in France were I grew up for the first eight years of my life, living on the streets, wallowing in my own filth while the upper class ignored the dark girl with graven hair and sad brown eyes that sat on the streets, begging for money; everyday I waited to die, to close my eyes and never wake up. I still shivered as I remembered the many winters I'd sat alone, weakening with every day that passed. The orphanage had refused the take me in, stating that they were too full and couldn't accept any more strays…that was a lie. It wasn't until that one fortunate day, just as I was on the brink of death that Jaelle, a woman with enough kids to open her own factory, found me and took me in.
"Velkan," I asked softly, even after all these years I was still embarrassed to have him in this small shack that I called my home; knowing that he had to sleep on a bad that wasn't even fit for a cow, made of loose straw and old fabrics that we had accumulate over the years in the tiny village, but, not once had he abandoned it for the comfort of a different bed…even one suitable for a prince. He turned slowly, his tunic fitting him loosely. "Do you have to do this?" his lips twitched slightly, we had this conversation many a times, nothing ever seemed to change in their outcome. With the shawl still wrapped around my shoulders, warming my frigid body I stepped closer to him, reaching out with a tentative hand I wrapped it around his wrist. "Just-just stay with me…please." I begged.
"Analiese," he sighed, my eyes flashed to his hand, the silver bullets glistening in the tanned palm as he promptly covered them up; I hated this side of him, the one that wanted to avenge his family, these were the days that I cursed myself for falling in love with a Valerious, and by any right it was destiny that we should have. The Valerious' were known for using our small village as their outposts during excursions and trading, each and everyone one of us had helped Anna and Velkan at least once during the last few years, though, 1887 was a particular time when much in Transylvania came to a standstill. "You know I have to do this." His accent became more prevalent whenever he was strict with me, which wasn't very often, but often enough that I had now come to know when a reprimanding was in order. I watched with growing nausea as he continued to place the casings into the saddle bat that sat on the small wooden desk at the end of the room near the door.
"I'm not letting you leave, Velkan" I said defiantly, dropping the shawl to the ground, my body moving to block the doorway. He sighed, dropping the saddle bag to ground. "There's plenty of other men that can handle this." I knew that my information was skewed, and biased to a degree. The Valerious' were the only ones that could defeat Dracula and everything he'd created, just the thought of Velkan coming into contact with a creature of that lore was daunting. "Let them go…stay with me please." "Ana-" I didn't realize he was bidding me to quiet my words as my ravings continued, tears pulling at the corner of my eyes.
"Analiese!" my lips promptly stopped the hysterical ravings, the warms pads of his hands cradling my face in them. I melted into the touch, closing my eyes for a moment so I could remember what it felt like…every time he did this I felt as if it was going to be the last time. "You needn't worry about me, alright?" he whispered, his thumbs softly running over the flesh just under my eye, wiping the phantom tears away. He smiled softly, the green/grey wise eyes lookin oddly calming in this light.
"How can I not worry?" my voice pleaded, my own dainty hands reaching up to grip his wrists. They wrapped around them like fleshy shackles, trapping him to me. "You're out there fighting a- a beast." I closed my eyes for a moment. Even though I had never witnessed first hand the creature he was after, and I never planned or hoped I would. Snarling and snapping jaws, teeth like knives, and the chilling howl that reverberated in the stories of old that were told around the camp fire when I had joined Jaelle and the rest of her gypsy kin were enough to frighten me from venturing out at night. The hair on the back of my stood on end, heart palpitating, "Velkan, what if you-" my eyes snapped open at the revelation, in those stories that were told the cruse was always passed on to an unexpected bearer; I couldn't think of anything worse than living out your life as a…
"Shhh," he shushed me quickly. "You always say that…" I could see the smirk creeping onto his lips as he pulled me closer to him, our toes meeting. "And you've always ended up being…what?" I chuckled slightly as he brushed a piece of hair behind my ear, never ceasing to flatter me in one way or another.
"Wrong." I admitted; it was true. My knack for predicting the outcome of these "hunts" was normally inaccurate, and far fetched according to his sister. He smiled, slowly dropping his hands from my cheeks, fingers dancing across the skin for a moment. I shivered at his touch and mentally recited the sign of the cross as I closed my eyes. Jaelle had taught me, as well as her other four daughters, that relations out of wedlock were forbidden, no exceptions. Jaelle couldn't have been so naïve as to think that something wasn't going on.
"That's right," his fingers lightly slid over my shoulder, holding it tightly. "And that's the way it's going to stay". Fighting the urge to move closer to him was impossible at this point, and as if some unknown force was pulling me towards him I went, willingly, falling right into his arms. "I'll always come back to you." As much as I wanted to hear the skepticism and uneasiness in his voice…I couldn't find it. He wasn't afraid of whatever was out there for I was his driving force to return unharmed and well.
"You promise?" I asked, needing to hear the reassurance one last time. Slowly and with much care he reached forward, cupping my face in his hands once again. He nodded his head once, my own neck stretching to reach his lips.
"Of course." His voice was soft and sincere, and oddly enough the fears coursing though the pit of my stomach seemed to dissipate in an instant, though I could still feel the lingering doubt swimming in the very bottom.
"Velkan!" I knitted my brows together at the sound of the familiar voice; accent heavy, and not mannish in any way, but, very feminine. Turning my head towards the door the voice continued, "Where are you? We're ready to leave!" I whipped my head back around to meet Velkan's face; it was trained towards the ground in a knowing glance.
"You're taking your sister?" I inquired hastily, I stepped back as he bent down to retrieve the pack from the ground. The bulging saddle bag looked as if he had stuffed everything in the small room but the bed itself into it. "Why don't you ever take me?" It wasn't the best question I could have asked in a situation like this, and it was clear that it wasn't what I or Velkan desired in any way. He studied my face for a moment; hulling the pack of his shoulder he grabbed both of my hands. I shivered as he held them to his lips, the thin lines pressed against the chilling ice cubes I called hands.
"It's too dangerous." He looked passed my hands, still clutching them tightly though. I followed his gaze, my brown eyes meeting the object he was so intently starring at. You could see the reflection of the golden flame in the emerald green stone that was embedded in the golden casting. Velkan told me it had been his mother's ring, one that his father had inherited from her before her unfortunate passing; I could only presume that it had been passed down for generations at a time. "If something happened to you-" his voice faltered as he looked up, my own eyes meeting his instantly. As if it were possible to pull me closer against him he did, my hands resting on his upper arm lightly, gripping at the eggshell colored tunic. "I would never forgive myself." I smiled slightly, I always did when he spoke about my safety, as if it was his job to protect me from everything that had happened and that could happen. I could tell even in this dim lighting that he was three shades away from total embarrassment, his hand pressing against my lower back slightly.
"Such a gentlemen," I whispered, placing my knuckle under his chin. He slowly lifted his head to accommodate mine, his lips curled in a soft smile. It was these moments that I lived for, the ones when Velkan and I were the only ones on this good earth; no monsters, no prophecy, no vengeance…just him and I. His lips found mine just as they always did the kiss never urgent but laced with enough passion to keep me going for days. Lifting my hand I tangled it in the back of his, gripping at the roots slightly. Something churned in my stomach, a fluttering sensation. "Velkan! Hurry up, it's getting late!" Anna's echo cut though the sensation, but Velkan's lips continued to linger weaning off ever so lightly. I didn't want to let him go, the face before me was blurry as I opened my eyes, kissing his lips once more.
"I should go." He stated regretfully, his eyes trailing over every inch of me, remembering everything. I looked down at the floor again, nothing that it needed to be dusted badly, the sheets needed to be cleaned, and the quilts folded. I busied myself with chores whenever Velkan wasn't around, he chose to stay here rather than go to his own village, naturally this made me want to make my home as much like his as possible even if mine wasn't fortified with walls of stone and brick.
"You should," I stated looking back up at him, his hand already resting on the door knob. "But that doesn't mean you have to." The rest of the hut was just as shanty as the room where I slept and only the essentials were needed; a table, a few chairs and a fire place to cook and boil water. It wasn't much, but, it was home to me…and home to Velkan if you believed it or not. The embers from the fire that previous night still shone in the stove, their orange light flickering as a soft went blew attempting to revive them, but to no avail. Velkan's hand found mine as we exited the small structure only to be greeted with a day that exquisitely matched my mood; dreary. The sky was covered with the ominous gray clouds that seemed to ever linger over the land, and the air was still and smelled of unrelieved tension that was everlasting.
"So this is what was taking you so long, Velkan." Anna observed; the princess was beyond gorgeous and blessed with the face of an angel and long brown hair that cascaded down her back. If she wasn't so wild and hell-bent on avenging her family's name she would have made a decent bride. I couldn't help but feel a hint of jealously towards her sometimes; I looked different than most of the people around these parts, skin brown as dirt, and my hair was a mess of tangled black curls. I was what many would call exotic, alien…and something that Velkan called striking. The woman strutted towards us giving her brother a knowing smirk to which he returned with a locked jaw expression and kissing my hand before starting on his duties of readying the horses for the journey.
"Hello, Anna." I bowed my head slightly in acknowledgement. I could tell from the lack of activity of the settlement that it was still early in the morn, despite the tough exterior and the ruthless vibe she radiated she had the warmest smile I'd ever laid my eyes on, just like her brother. She opened her arms in a welcoming gesture as she reached me; the hug seemed to be something of a foreign nature to her, they were stoic and tense. Holding me out in front of her she studied my face, her eyes noting every small wrinkle and the lack luster glint in my eye as she placed a hand on the side of my face.
"You're alright?" she asked carefully, knowing full well that I wasn't going to be okay. I wished I could have been more like her at times like these; unafraid, courageous, strong…I was none of those things. Instead I was the timid, love sick fiancé that was doomed to wallowing in their self pity until the day their love came back to them. I nodded anyway, trying to put my best front forward her gloved hands left the side of my face promptly.
"Yes, I'm fine." I mustered a smile, but, it only lasted for brief instant. She nodded in reply mouthing the words 'good, good' before she turned on her hells, heading towards the horses that were visibly getting restless by the second. Velkan's stocky frame still looked as if it dwarfed the animal he sat upon, the saddle bag handing off the back doing the same. I stepped back, closer to the small cottage as he pulled the horse into a small walk, the hooves clicking across the ground ominously before he came to a halt. I reached out tentatively my fingers shaking as the cold air nipped at the tips, I couldn't stop the feeling that washed over my heart as his warm hand grasped mine, squeezing it tightly.
"I'll be back." He reassured me; try as he might to hide it but I could still hear the misleading quality of his words, that last words he seemed to say to me sounded unsure about his earlier promises. My stomach churned, turning ways I didn't even know it could turn as his grasp began to slip, and the magnificent dappled grey beauty he sat upon propelled itself slowly towards the others that were already heading towards the trees; looking like an army. I tried to hold on as long as I could, my feet tripping over the rock and dirt as I tried to keep up the horses lengthening gait. "In a few days." His gaze lingered on me as our fingers slipped apart, the hooves echoed sounding more distant than they actually were as he rode away, the rest of the village becoming alive with life around me as the rump of the animal disappeared behind the trees.
Two days; the stick comprising of several twined clumps of hay brushed against the matt just outside the cottage, and from the corner of my eye I could still see the original broom that I had accidentally broken during my duties earlier that morning. I cursed the Valerious' and Dracula under my breath as I continued to sweep the dirty from the matt, though it couldn't have been doing much to help its décor. It had been two days since Velkan left, leaving me with nothing but empty promises and a house to myself.
"Slow down, Analiese." I could faintly make out Jaelle's voice through my own thoughts. This wasn't any different than the last few times he'd left to days at a time, but, for some reason my gut was twisting in ways incomprehensible to me, like something was stirring within me. These phantom feelings lingered in the back of my mind, popping up at the oddest of times through my day, but they never overshadowed my constant worrying over Velkan…like an obsession. "Analiese!"
"What!" I snapped, dropping the broom onto the ground; eyes wild and starring. Jaelle looked at me, the movements of her fingers across the tunic as she scrubbed it in the basin faltered until they did nothing. My small outburst had already called unwanted attention to bestowed upon us, but, like almost everything in this tiny village it didn't last long and in a matter of moments the few that had stopped to stare and mumble words of displeasure had gone back to their normal routines, some heading towards the stables, the others towing along their goods. Bending over I quickly swiped the broom from the ground before leaning it up against the face of the wooden structure, snow dusted the ground before my feet as I sat down on the stood just outside the door; this wasn't like me. My nerves seemed to be tied in knots, and even the smallest sounds could irritate me to no end.
"You can't kill dust," Jaelle sighed, resuming her earlier duty; steam from the water continued to rise into the cold air that was floating around us, chilling the inhabitants to their very core. "Besides," she snorted, I turned and looked at her, pulling the tatted shawl tighter around me and oh how did it smell of him. "If you break that one it'll be the second in the two days." She sighed, wringing the eggshell cored tunic out before she reached up, clipping it to the line that extended out of the cottage. "Heaven knows my daughter won't stand for making anymore of them." Jaelle's oldest daughter, Esmeralda, was nine years my senior and had a bundle of her own kids to take care of now; I wouldn't dare venture towards her cottage in search of another one, knowing that she was under enough pressure as it was.
"I'm sorry Jaelle." I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose; we needed at new topic of conversation for a change, but I couldn't for the life of me bring myself to talk about anything but Velkan's return, it's what I lived…it's what I breathed. "It's just that," I bit my bottom lip slightly, pushing the thoughts away from my mind. "Velkan said a few days; and I haven't heard from him or-"Close your eyes and focus, I always tried to tell myself, if I didn't I'd throw myself into a dark corner. Jaelle could visibly see the signs of my demise settling, reaching out she grabbed a hold of my arm, shaking me slightly.
"Calm yourself, dear," she demanded softly, her thumb brushed over my wrist as I closed my eyes, letting a shaky breath escape my lips. "If anything had of happened to anyone, Velkan would have been back here by now." She reassured me, I opened my eyes slowly. This woman was like the mother I never knew; she clothed me, fed me, and kept a roof over my head even though she had her own children to take care of and teach. "I've never seen a boy more in love." She chuckled. She knew just the right strings to pull to get me to calm down, and almost instantly a wave of contentment washed over me, setting in my bones. "When is that wedding of yours by the way?" she probed, shaking my arm once more before she went back to earlier duties; her wrinkled fingers wringing the excess water from yet another garment before she hung it upon the line. A cold breeze blew though the small village, chilling me instantly, tensing my muscles; something about this breeze didn't feel right, my stomach churned uneasily. Settling my hand on my stomach the wave of nausea subsided slightly.
"In a months time." I answered, shaking away the impulse to empty the contents of my half empty stomach onto the ground; it had happened once or twice before this, the foreign feeling in my stomach, followed by the regurgitating of whatever I had eaten earlier that evening or the evening before that. Velkan didn't seem to hear the sounds in the early morning, thank goodness, although, maybe I should have told him about me feeling ill…maybe he wouldn't have left then.
"You don't seem very enthused." Jaelle commented, I could hear the skepticism controlling the usually hardy voice that she possessed. Turning in the small stood that I sat upon I glanced in her direction, noting that the look in her eyes was one of concern, again, I wrapped the dirtied shawl around my shoulders tighter, the smell of burning wood filled the air as the fireplace in side continued to heat.
"I'm-"I stopped my self short of my own reply, I myself not knowing the reason for my lack of enthusiasm of the subject; it was all I had mused about since the day he asked for my hand in marriage and that was over four months prior to this date. "I'm just worried," I shrugged, looking away from here once more. "I can't imagine living without him." Her reaction to my sentiment wasn't one that I was expecting; giving her a look of confusion I bushed the bouncing raven black tendrils behind my ear. My expression enquiring her to explain what amusement she found in my worry, her lips parted still in a silent laugher.
"Oh," she howled, "I'm sure that's not true." Water splashed about in the bucket as she hung yet another piece of clothing onto the line; I glanced back in the direction of the woven basket, noting that she only had but a few articles left to wash. "You made it years without knowing him before, besides," she continued, I still didn't see the reason not to be worried. "My own love died ages ago…and I'm still here." The perkiness in her voice didn't fool me; I'd seen her cry more times over her dead husband than any of her actually children had, it was shame that I only came to know him for a few years before he fell ill with a cold and passed away during the night.
Arguing my opinions with the seasoned old woman would prove futile for she had more years and experience than I; shrugging in shook my head once more, silently disagreeing with everything she revealed. "I still don't understand why he needs to do this." I could hear the whining in my voice overshadow any fear that was shaking in it before. "Theres plenty of other men that should be out there…ridding the word of those- those creatures." My taupe toned hand waved towards the forest that lined the edge of town; several men stood at a few of the posts, positioned there because of Velkan's orders. Jaelle's frail hands wrapped themselves in her own knitted shawl as she looked in my direction, having finally finished her laundry, her eyes blank and lips curled into a knowing smirk; my eyes rolled.
"He is the last male of Valerious bloodline," she reminded me; almost instantaneously my heart leapt in my chest as her reprimanding, but not because of the fear of being put in my place…but because of what she said. Yes, I had been ill the last few weeks off and on, but nothing too serious, I figured it was just an illness that was being passed along the village…until the startling realization of being the only "ill" individual in the village presented itself to me. I told myself I was foolish to think that it could have been anything else but that, but, over the last month…I started to feel odd…and not so much myself. "You knew what you were stepping into."
"Well," I answered lowly, silencing for a few more moments before I could bring myself to utter the words that I had only ever thought about, but never repeating them aloud, "He might be the last…" And for some strange reason as the words rolled off my tongue it felt as if an immense weight had been lifted from my shoulders and tossed carelessly to the side; I was able to breathe easier, sit up straighter, but the churning in my stomach still continued. I only looked up when I felt Jaelle's hand wrap around my wrist, and rather tightly I may add, squeezing it. I glanced down ay the wrinkled whitening knuckles as she starred up at me, eyes bulging and full of what looked like fear.
"Why do you speak like that child?" she hissed, her head whipping from side to side, almost as if she was looking for an intruder of some sort. My eyes danced around the rather empty village as well, noting the snow capped trees and children bundled up tightly as they ran though the streets, parents walking behind them slowly; one little boy caught my eye as his father picked him up in his arms, holding him close. An odd lump filled my throat, sending a small jolt up my spine. I'd never looked at children like that…a family. The realization was being even more prevalent as I vent down towards her once again, eyes wide.
"You must keep this to yourself….do you promise?" I hissed back, fear etching each syllable. The old woman before me nodded her head quickly, mumbling a series of yes'. "Well," I began to explain slowly; I'd never rehearsed how to bring about this news, and what if there was no news to tell anyway. "I've been feeling," I sifted though the words the floated around in my skull, trying to pick the best word to describe exactly how I had felt for the last month; scared, worried, shocked, skeptical…. "different." I finally answered; eye twitching slightly as the word left my mouth…it was a good different though.
"Oh my heavens," it was almost as if Jaelle couldn't contain her excitement as she mumbled the blessing, her hand quickly covering her mouth as if she had uttered a dire secret. Her knee began to shake as she grasped my face in her hands, I swallowed hard; Jaelle had mothered nine children of her own…of course she would known when someone was carrying another human being inside of them. She had even once commented on me being absolutely glowing at once point over the last few weeks…it seemed that neither she nor I thought anything of it. "Oh, bless you child." She continued to whisper.
"I'm- I'm not sure yet." I tried to explain to her, no yet understanding that the damage was already done; now that the supposed truth was out there, I was almost positive that I would not be able to convince her otherwise.
Seeming to completely neglect the other information of it's accuracy she continued on with her ramblings, most of them being spoken too fast for me to even understand. "Does Velkan know?" she suddenly asked, eyes locking with mine instantly. I shook my head slowly, glancing at the stones beneath our boots before looking back up.
"No, I didn't want to tell him unless it was accurate." I replied back just as quickly, I could already see an array of questions circling in her pale eyes as she continued to look up at me. A spark lit in them just as quickly, I wasn't even aware that a woman of her age could move so quickly, or swiftly. Before I knew it she was towering over me, her hand still grasping my wrist tightly.
"Well then," she looked around again, "You must find out. Have you been feeling ill recently?" I continued to stare up at her, knitting my brows together at the feeling of Déjà vu that washed over me; the very questions she was grilling me with were the very questions that I had been asking myself constantly.
"Yes, but-"I stumbled over the words as I stood up from the stool, my feet crunching the blanket of snow that sat beneath me, teeth chattering. "But I just thought it was a illness being passed about-"with her hand still grasped around my wrist she began to pull me towards the entrance of the small cottage, quickly opening the door we were both greeted by the smell of burning wood, the warmth not at the level of satisfaction for such a cold day, but, it was manageable.
"And what about your cycle?" she rounded on me as soon as the door was closed; taking the shawl from around my shoulders I set it on the small chair closest to the door, wrapping my arms around myself as I stared at the burning flames the licked towards the top of the chimney. "Has it continued this month-"
"No." I answered loudly, immediately apologizing to the woman with an uneasy glance; this was all too much to take in at once. Whenever I thought about it, the news didn't seem so bad, or this important…but know that she knew. I watched as Jaelle began to pace in a small circle, her worn boots turning into the wooden floor, making it creak. Her hand was held up near her lips, those thin lines mumbling. I could vaguely make out a few 'oh lords' and 'bless her souls' that fumbled from her lips; I involuntary placed a hand on my stomach, closing my eyes. Maybe some women just know when they're carrying a child within themselves, maybe some didn't; obviously I was the latter. But even so, my thumb caressed the flat fabric, and I would be lying if I said this wasn't a good feeling.
"Ohhhhhhhh," Jaelle sighed; the tone of the old woman's voice sent a shiver up my spine, and my stomach into a frenzy as it dropped. I immediately opened my eyes, the images of a small child in Velkan's arms fading away as her worrisome tone drifted though my ears. "Do you know what this means?" I was startled by her jerky movements as she rushed forward, placing her own hand on top of mine that was still resting on the fabric of my dress. "If you are in fact carrying Velkan's child…" she paused yet again, "You could continue the bloodline." The revelation that she had just revealed to me was something that hadn't crossed my mind, as far as we were all concern Velkan and Anna were the last two children of the Valerious family…but if I was in fact carrying Velkan's child then… My face grew cold as the blood traveling in my veins froze in an instant, my mouth becoming very dry. "Analiese, you must tell Velkan the news as soon as he returns…you are not safe here anymore."
Slowly looked up towards the woman I froze yet again; I'd never seen so much fear in one person's eyes, radiating out of every pore of her body. "What do I do?" I inquired almost mechanically, as if by some natural force I was programmed to say exactly that, no emotion underlying the words.
"You and Velkan," she placed her hands on either of my shoulders, I blinked feeling the tears flutter to my eyes, "Must leave Transylvania…for the sake of this child." I nodded slowly, not really comprehending the words that were coming from her lips, but, nether the less I agreed to them; I continued to stand by the fire place as Jaelle spoke, her sentences never ending, nor did she seem to realize that she was changing subjects every moment. I only interrupted her when she began speaking of the forest, the very one that was considered dangerous and off limits to travelers…especially the hours ranging from dusk until dawn. "Theres a woman who lives on the outskirts of the village; just a small way from here, through the forest." She spoke quickly, speaking of the "witch" woman, supposedly Lucine had predicted all of Jaelle's children; or so she'd explained to me.
"Jaelle," I tried to overpower the woman's voice, but as stubborn and excited as she, it was futile. She continued to ramble, only stopping a few times to rest her hand on her hip to catch her breath, before she was back to her ramblings.
"We'll go there tonight. She'll be able to give us the truth."
"Jaelle!" I hadn't expected my voice to rise that much, but alas it had. Closing my eyes for a moment I tried to calm myself, reassuring my nerves that everything was going to be fine. "It's- it's too dangerous to walk in the forest at night," I explained, "and what if Velkan comes back." This was me confessing my wishful thinking, "He'll be distraught if he finds I'm not here…"
"Do you want to figure this out or not?" the old woman snapped, hands resting on her hips as she ignored my pleas; there was no way I was going to be able to change her mind, and the fact that it would be dark soon didn't provide any solace to me whatsoever.
"Are you sure this is safe?" I inquired for the hundredth time it seemed; I kept my voice low, the lantern in my hand giving off minimal light as it reflected off the snow covered ground. Dead leaves and fallen branches littered the small trail before us, and it seemed as if the temperature had dropped significantly; but it wasn't only the cold that was sending a shiver up my spine, and it certainly wasn't the only culprit that was forcing my hair to stand on end, all of my senses on high alert. Pulling the fabric tighter around me the wind blew slightly, chilling me as well as the sounds that accompanied the breeze as it wrestled though the bare branches. Every sound that the night produced frightened me, no matter if it was the flutter of a bird late to its nest or the chattering of the mammals that had come out of hibernation a little too early; it was always in the back of my mind that it could be something much worse than that.
"You shouldn't doubt your elders, Analiese." Jaelle scolded me; I was surprised by the lack of fear of the unknown that the woman possessed as she trekked though the dead, icy earth ahead of me "I wouldn't put you in any danger."
"I know, Jaelle," I commented, speeding up my pace slightly until I was practically in synch with the woman in front of me. "It's just- I'm not getting a good feeling about this." I turned and looked behind me, an automatic response to the rustling that was coming from the bushes at the end of the trail; I half expected it to be one of the guards that usually kept watch at night, I still wasn't sure how Jaelle and I were able to get past them.
"She does that to everyone, dear." She commented "Come along now, it's not much farther." Our destination was practically right around the corner, we hadn't been walking for more than and extra three minutes with a lonely hut came into view; spoke rose from the oddly crafted chimney of twisted stone, the grass and trail leading to the entrance of the hut was still covered with snow and dead leaves, and it hadn't looked as if this place had had a proper cleaning in decades. My eyes roamed about the yard, though I could barely see anything in the dim lightly that the lanterns provided us with, holding the fire out in front of me I moved it from left to right, trying to take note of everything I saw. I jumped as bark filled the air, my heart beating rapidly against my chest; it didn't sound nearly as menacing as the barks that the dogs in the village acquired, and it wasn't vicious enough to be something of a monstrous proportion; swinging the lantern in the direction of the bark my nerves continued to clamor. It was rather large animal, dark black fur covering its body, and even in the dim light I could see the tense tendons rippling beneath its skin, it barked again.
"Visitors, I presume." I turned sharply on my heels as the monotone voice rang through the air; it was more of a statement than a question to begin with. I could feel my heart beating in my ears as I watched the frail figure move from the door way, her back hunched, and a walking stick prodding the earth as she shuffled. I stood still as I watched Jaelle approach her half way, bowing her head quickly.
"Lucine, it's Jaelle." She greeted her; Jaelle turned to be quickly, her hand motioning for me to come forward. I stood unmoving for a few moments, Jaelle's lantern providing enough light for me to get a good look at the woman, Lucine's, face; it was wrinkled, scars covering portions of the leathery looking skin, and her eyes…I'd never seen eyes like hers, they looked dead, glazed off and hyaline. I looked towards the ground before moving slowly towards the two of them, avoiding the woman's dead gaze as she shifted her attention to what I assumed to be the sounds of my footsteps.
"Ah," she croaked, "Yes, it's been a long time since your last visit." She observed, "Who have you brought with you this time?" The curved stick held in her hand stretched towards me, prodding at my leg as she hobbled towards me slightly, I blinked a few times as her eyes lifted to meet mine; it was almost as if she was looking threw me instead of at me, I wasn't even sure if she could see me… "I don't think we've met-"
"No," I answered slowly, but loudly, trying not to show the fear that was clearly evident in my voice. "Indeed we haven't. I'm Analiese." I introduced myself, embarrassed by the way I was starring at the woman. She smiled slightly, and I couldn't really say it was a toothy smile seeing that she didn't necessarily have all of her teeth to begin with.
"Oh, yes, yes…Velkan's girl."
"How-"I began to stutter, surely I'd never seen her around the village before, I didn't even know of her existence until earlier this evening actually. I knitted my brows together, watching as she closed her mouth, showing off a tight lipped smile in the process.
"I'm blind, my dear, not deaf. I presume you've come for my help?" the woman went on; there was a certain air to her that was welcoming in a sense.
"Yes, Lucine," Jaelle responded for me. "We are in need of answers." I looked towards Jaelle as she spoke quickly, knitting my brows together as the lantern continued to sway back and forth in her grasp, teetering this way and that; whether he hand was shaking from the cold or fear I couldn't tell. Lucine waved her hand in a response, her body turning towards the cottage from whence she came, feet shuffling against the snow covered ground.
"You want to know if she is with child?" the hag stated more than questioned, stopping as in the middle of the snow filled walkway; an eerie wind rustled though the branches of the overhanging branches of the trees, the bright moonlight filling the sky, illuminating the snow beneath our feet like crystals, and a sound, certainly not one made by the wind radiated off the still earth, the wind carrying it to our ears; a howl, loud and menacing. The dog that was chained to the far side of the house cowered in his own shadow, retreating and whimpering; I, myself, had become quite weary as the howl continued to fade into the distance, a terrible case of dry mouth settling in as I wondered how this woman knew all of these things, and wondering how close that creature was. I was surprised that the other two women hadn't become uneasy at the sound. My eyes darted around the small space, half awaiting the beast to make its self known; I was so engrossed in my own thoughts of terror I hadn't realized that the hold woman had already shuffled up to the door, Jaelle directly in tow like the woman's much younger shadow as she turned towards me, my mentor doing the same. "Well, are you going to stand out there all night? Come in." she beckoned.
I will never look at my own home and question neither its poise nor its lack of decoration or cleanliness; compared to this cottage anyone would call it a castle fit for a king. The walls were dirty, covered with strange pictures and lined with bookshelves containing foreign objects that made my stomach churn; fingers, toes, and what looked like animal skulls and dried bat wings were just a few of the said objects that were lining the shelves, and the smell that radiated though out the two vacant rooms were horrible. I covered my nose with my shawl, politely so, if that were even possible as I passed through the foyer, noting a stack of cages, some empty, but, most full that were lining the walls; chickens, rabbits, and other small animals sniffed the air as I passed, their claws and teeth gnawing at the iron bars of their prison. The room she was leading was into didn't seem to be any different from the rest of the less than spacious area; the décor was bland, and only a small bed sat in the corner of the room, a table at the foot of the makeshift sleeping area that was nothing but straw and old sheets that she had come into her possession by mere chance, some even containing an intricate design or two. A few candles were lit around the room, and basin sat on the desk; well, it seemed that she knew we were coming…odd.
"Do not me afraid of me, Analiese." I looked up slowly, but didn't meet the woman's blind gaze as she looked in my supposed direction, and I must say her stare was spot on; perhaps senses heightened to accommodate for the absence of one such as important as sight, or perhaps I was just easy to figure out. Swallowing the lump in my throat I moved forward slowly, unwrapping the shawl from my shoulders, but did not meet the ground, Jaelle's hand stretched forward, taking the brown fabric from my grasp. "Come, lay down," the wrinkled hand stretched towards the bed. There was no turning back now, propelling myself forward was pure courage and it was the last of mine, it seemed. Gently lying on the bundled fabric I let my hands float to my stomach, almost instinctually protecting it, but from what? I wasn't even sure if there was anything in there to begin with, but I just had this feeling… "When did you first believe you were with child?" the questions arose immediately, my eyes avoided the woman's gaze at all costs as her hand probed my clothed stomach, the leathery hands cold against my skin.
"A month ago." I answered slowly; the probing stopped for a few moments, her tongue clicking against the roof of her mouth in what seemed in disappointment. Frowning I looked at her, a shiver running up my spine as I watched her lips mumbling; for a moment I though she was damning me to hell.
"A month?" she scolded me again, her hand pressing harder against my abdomen, "Oh, you foolish girl, and you wait until now to seek my knowledge?" I was tight lipped on the subject, having been scolded enough for one day, she pressed lower on my stomach, mumbling words under her breath in an almost secretive way. I closed my eyes, her voice somewhat soothing…calming in a sense; what would Velkan think of this? I'm sure we'd have to be married right away when he found out the news, if there was any to tell. We wouldn't want God to frown upon us for having a child out of wedlock, especially not now. A gasp from the woman caught my attention, her hand having stopped in one place as she pressed a little harder, I jerked slightly. "Oh," her voice was surprised.
"Oh?" I questioned back, my voice on edge. "Oh what? Did- did you feel something?" Her lips curled into a tantalizing grin as she moved her hand across my stomach once again, mumbling word and 'Oh' 'Mmmm' and 'Yes' under her breath; almost as if she was communicating with someone, silently debating on my condition. She nodded her head in my direction once more. What? What was happening…did she find something? Was something wrong?
"Yes, my dear." She croaked and Jaelle gave a squeal of delight from above me, her hand suddenly resting on my shoulder as I looked up at the ceiling; it was as if all of the air had been pushed from my lungs, butterflies fluttering within me….I was… "I suppose congratulations are in order…"
A/N: I'm 'so-so' on this one; this is my first time ever writing something for this Fandom as I have said, and it was my first time writing something that was set in the 'modern age', so, I hope I didn't disappoint. I promise, the next one will be better, and I sincerely apologize for the terrible terrible ending.

domain: artistic


Our Pawtriotic Summer Tank Top is perfect for the Fourth of July or any day you’re feeling patriotic. Show off your love of America and your favorite four-legged friend. These patriotic tank tops feature a grunge type paw print with the US flag colors. They're made from a soft poly-viscose blend to ensure comfort and keep you cool all summer long. Limited stock - don't miss out!
Product Description & Features:Go with the flow in this go-to tank, made from soft poly-viscose blend, in a flattering draped silhouette, round neck and racerback. 65% poly, 35% viscose. Merrowed bottom hem.
Recommended Care: Machine wash delicate warm or cold, inside out, with like colors. Use only non-chlorine bleach. We recommend hang-drying, however, you may tumble dry on low. Do not iron design and do not dry clean. It is recommended NOT to use fabric softner or oxygenated laundry products.
The Pawtriot - Paw Print/American Flag
Show your love for your country, and for your furry friends in our newly released Pawtriot T-shirt from Luv the Paw. This comfy t-shirt is available in a variety of colors and features a cool paw print with US flag colors. It's perfect to wear for your 4th of July celebratory festivities or any time you want to cheer on team USA.
Out tee is super soft and light with just the right amount of stretch. It's comfortable and the unisex cut is flattering for both men and women.
Solids:100% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton Heather CVC Colors: 52% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, 48% poly Ath. Heather and Black Heather:90% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, 10% poly
Recommended Care: Machine wash warm or cold, inside out, with like colors. Use only non-chlorine bleach. We recommend hang-drying, however, you may tumble dry on low. Do not iron design and do not dry clean. It is recommended NOT to use fabric softener or oxygenated laundry products.
LTP Koozies for Pet Lovers
Koozies for Pet Lovers & Fun Seekers
Keep your beers chilled with LTP's koozies. Our koozies are not the cheaper polyurethane foam can coolers!! They're made from hiqh-quality neoprene which provides premium insulation for your adult beverage. These form fitting collapsible can coolers fit most 12oz. cans and bottles. They also come in an array of designs - perfect for you or your favorite pet loving friend.


NetGear Arlo Pro Charging StationVMA4400C-100NAS Product Details
NetGear Arlo Pro Charging Station
Expand the horizon of your laptop with the NetGear Arlo Pro Charging Station. This charging station charges up to two Arlo Pro Rechargeable Batteries simultaneously with minimal effort. All that is needed is to swap-out batteries and power-up cameras or other battery oriented electronic products with ease. The NetGear Arlo Pro Charging Station includes fast charging technology, so that you can spend less time charging batteries and more time protecting what matters the most. So, go ahead and place the order for the NetGear Arlo Pro Charging Station right away!
- Easy swapping of batteries
- Deploys Fast Charging Technology
- Works both as a Power Adapter and Battery Charger
Additional Resources: Product Manuals
Manufactured by: NetGear
Warranty provided by: NetGear
Mfg Part No: VMA4400C-100NAS
( Length:0, Width:0, Depth:0)
Shipping Weight: 0.5500 pound(s)
Click here for full warranty and support information
- NetGear logos are registered trademarks of NetGear. All others trademarks and copyrights mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.


text:
To bring this up to date as of the last post, I spent Thanksgiving behind the motorhome. About 50 yards to my rear, the campground pavilion was the setting for the owners’ festive holiday dinner. Each patron was asked to bring a covered dish, I made succotash. The owners deep fried twenty five turkeys for a turnout of about a hundred people. They were done in five different flavors from raspberry to Italian herb. Someone must have made sure all bases were covered as there were plenty of desserts to accompany the plethora of food choices. I had the best pecan pie these buds have ever sampled. Drinks, food, turkey, and desserts were all free, all you had to do was bring your addition. They even provided a three piece band for melodic company to enhance the mood. I’ve always got a kick out of striking up conversations with strangers I meet in bookstores, airports, and campgrounds. I seem to have a particular talent for drawing personal stories from these people and I love hearing from them. But far more valuable than the entertainment of the stories is the connection made with another human being. It is a comfort like no other. It is the comfort of personal communion. So I invited myself to sit with a couple from western Kentucky, she a former middle school teacher and a retired tool and die man. They had been full-timing for the last six years and we traded stories, ideas, and tips that we may not have heard before. I hung around for about and hour and then the country western music got the best of me, so I bid my adieus and trudged back to the rig and spent the rest of the day reading and watching football. The pecan pie sent my enzymes over the top and I didn’t yearn for food the rest of the day. At week’s end, I found myself braving the commercial haunts and picked up a few stocking stuffers to take north next month, and then I spent a few hours at Barnes and Noble, drinking coffee and perusing books, one of my most favorite pastimes. The chill was getting the best of my bike riding but I did find time to stop at an indoor shooting range and practice my marksmanship. Apparently, I’ve been away from practicing far too long.
I picked up a rental car, on Saturday, packed up my belongings, and moved the motorhome to a storage site on Sunday. Then I headed south for Hilton Head Island. I plan on spending the week there but found myself leaving too early. When I reached Beaufort I found that I was going to be a few hours early so I detoured 20 miles out of the way to Hunting Island State Park. I heard there was a neat lighthouse there and I thought this may make a good photo op. The state park was different. A massive grove of palm trees so thick that one couldn’t walk though them, not more than ten or fifteen feet. They have carved just enough of a path through this grove just enough to pave an asphalt thruway. It was very nice but you couldn’t see much of anything on either side of the road but palms. At first I thought how enticing, how southern, how unusual but after a mile or so of this, enough was enough already. At last, the lighthouse. I planned on climbing the staircase to the top to garner in the entire area from a bird’s eye view. I even had my wide angle attached to take in as much scenery in one shot as possible. Not to be had. Work was being done on the lighthouse and the stairs were off limits for another two weeks. Nevertheless, it was a better way to waste two hours than traveling on some busy thoroughfare. I arrived just about dusk in Hilton Head and pulled into the Surfwatch villas. I’m holed up in a three bedroom condo for the next week. Off to the gym.

domain: hobby


USD 3.49In stock
Prevent your return hose from moving around your engine of your 1967-1972 Camaro while you drive, leading to a damaged and leaking hose. Ricks Camaros offers this high quality reproduction, Power Steering Return Hose Clamp, Screw Type, for your restoration project or when making that hose replacement. This clamp is made from duarable material and does have the correct factory type finish. While often overlooked a moving hose can lead to trouble that can easily be prevented in your 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972 Camaro. Always trust Rick's Camaro for all your performance, accessory, and restoration needs!


text:
New Germans, new Dutch : literary interventions / Liesbeth Minnaard
- Minnaard, Liesbeth
- Amsterdam : Amsterdam Univ. Press,
- Copyright Date:
- Physical Description:
- 1 online resource (324 pages).
- Restrictions on Access:
- Open Access Unrestricted online access
- Literature of migration : aesthetic interventions in times of transformation -- Emine Sevgi Özdamar : "I didn't know that your passport is also your diary" -- Hafid Bouazza : "long live uprooting! Long live the imagination!" -- Feridun Zaimoglu : "here only the kanake has the say" -- Abdelkader Benali : "when the world goes mad and everybody has lost their words" -- Literary negotiations of Germanness and Dutchness.
- A bold and original analysis of the recent literature of migration by the Turkish-German and Moroccan-Dutch writers, exploring the literary and social ramifications of nationality.
- German literature—Turkish authors—History and criticism
- Dutch literature—Moroccan authors—History and criticism
- Emigration and immigration in literature
- LITERARY CRITICISM—European—German
- SOCIAL SCIENCE—Ethnic Studies—General
- German literature—Turkish authors
- 9789048502356 (electronic bk.)
9048502357 (electronic bk.)
- Bibliography Note:
- Includes bibliographical references and index.
View MARC record | catkey: 27976178

domain: literature


text:
SACRAMENTO — In a case seeking to unmask the murky multimillion-dollar trail of money pouring into state and national political campaigns, California's political watchdog agency on Thursday announced the largest fine in its history for campaign reporting violations and ordered two political action committees to pay the state $15 million for failing to properly report the source of funds spent in the 2012 election.
Teams of attorneys and researchers from two state agencies spent a year tracing the money used to oppose one California ballot initiative and support another, illustrating how difficult it has become to track the flow of political money. The groups that helped funnel the money were in numerous states, including Arizona, Iowa and Virginia.
The California Fair Political Practices Commission called the two groups that will pay the $1 million fine "part of the 'Koch Brothers Network' of dark money political nonprofit corporations." The reference is to billionaire brothers Charles and David H. Koch, who have given millions to conservative causes across the country.
Donors were given the choice of directly contributing to the ballot measure campaigns or giving money to an Arizona-based nonprofit that would not disclose their names, allowing them to avoid retribution from unions, according to documents released as part of the investigation.
"Almost $29 million was given by donors who chose not to stand up for their political views but instead wanted to influence elections but hide from public view," said Ann Ravel, chairwoman of the FPPC.

domain: news


text:
Nigerian media personality, Shade Ladipo has admonished her followers to cultivate the habit of investing.
Shade Ladipo made this known on her Instagram platform on Wednesday, April 7.
The media personality told her followers that it is quintessential for them to invest their money; and make it work for them. She specifically mentioned that her followers should desist from the mindset of relying on the bank’s interest; instead, Ladipo stated that money should be put into use; because it will increase as time goes on.
Read what she wrote on her Instagram platform;
“Please start investing no matter how small or what way Your money is loosing value as it sits in your account especially Naira.
Seeing my money sitting in a savings account now does me one kind.
Your money should be a soldier; doing things because if you don’t use your money then the banks will be using it so na Lose/Lose This is what investment is in a nutshell“, she wrote.
Read her post below.
In other news, Nigerian media personality as well as reality star, Uti Nwachukwu stated in a Twitter post that modern day relationships are worthless.
Meanwhile, here is what he wrote below;
“People are getting married for different reasons now such as dating for money, to cover up the culture conditioned shame of being single as well as marrying to cater for their families
”Relationships are just a waste of precious time these days! People dating for money. People dating to get access to others they want to sleep with. Unhappy People marrying Unhappy people to cover the culture conditioned shame of being single. People marrying to cater for their Family.
At this rate, with the kind of humans that we have now, e be like to protect your future, peace and stability, na Surrogate/ sperm Bank Sure pass. That way your kids are your kids and no one can destroy your future by dragging them with you. The things we hear!” he tweeted.
Meanwhile, Ladipo’s statement has generated intense reactions on social media.


text:
Great golf is what members and guests of The Club at Crazy Horse Ranch have come to expect for decades. We do not disappoint!
It starts with a traditional golf course, laid out by Jack Flemming in the Golden Age of U.S. golf course design. For the golfer that means fairways lined with mature trees and smaller, quick greens. This is not cookie-cutter, condo-encroached golf. This is golf, pure and simple.
Add to great golf the 21st century techniques and methods being introduced at Salinas G&CC through our relatively new association with Greenway Golf, the nation's leading golf agronomists and you arrive at our first tee to play some of the best golf on God's Green Earth!

domain: agronomy


In the final installment of this webinar series, our engineers will continue discussing the symptoms, possible causes and corrective procedures to promote the trouble-free operation of mechanical seals. By attending, you’ll learn to correctly interpret the signs of equipment issues, which may lead to seal damage or indicate that impairment has occurred. Our engineers will provide practical tips on how to adjust the operation of equipment to avoid seal damage.
This session will outline the following conditions:
• Coning (Negative Rotation)
• Thermal Distortion (Positive Rotation)
• High Wear or Thermally Distressed Surface
• High Wear and Grooving
Who should attend:
• Maintenance Engineers/Managers
• Reliability Engineers
• Rotating Equipment Engineers
• Plant Managers
• Anyone involved in the application and maintenance of mechanical seals and rotating equipment
Hundreds of experts. Over 200 global locations. Innovation and service to help you succeed.


text:
Koizumi Junichiro was quite possibly the most successful Prime Minister Japan has had for decades (and certainly the best dressed). This week, we’ll trace the rise of his career, his goals while in power, and the impact of his reforms on a Japanese state sometimes thought to be irreformable.
After the fall of Tanaka Kakuei, one man has become known as the heir to his tradition. One man has attempted to manipulate the flow of politics in order to either serve as a populist champion for Japan or embody the worst of the Japanese political process (depending on who you ask). His name is Ozawa Ichiro, and he is our topic for this week.
In 1910, an anarchist plot to assassinate the Meiji Emperor was uncovered. Seizing the opportunity, conservatives in the government pounced in to arrest 26 anarchists. The background of this confrontation between the government and the radical left, the trials themselves, and their modern legacy are our topics this week.
This week — and if you’re getting this on release day, 72 years and 364 days later — we’re going to discuss the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor as well as its architect, the iconoclastic Japanese admiral Yamamoto Isoroku. Who was this man who came up with a bold plan to disable the entire US Navy in one shot? What was he thinking when he put this plan together? And why, in the end, did he have no prospect of victory?

domain: history


The CNG Project: Tank Install
Because life is so crazy I have not had as much time for fun projects. A while back I wrote about the beginning of just such a fun project, the conversion of one of my vehicles to run on natural gas. Recently I have made a bit of progress on the CNG conversion and this happening just in time. Gas prices are going up and will most likely be above $4.00 a gallon where I live sometime this summer. The cost of CNG for vehicles in my town is currently $1.50 per gallon, or GGE. I am happy to report that the new CNG fuel tank is now finally installed.
Several considerations had to be mulled over before I could get the tank installed in the trunk of my 1997 Lexus ES300. One of the issues was related to the fact that the spare tire mounts in the trunk below the floor in a manner that is typical of most sedans. Because of this, a bracket had to be made to span the opening so that the tank straps would have something to bolt to. Fabrication of a bracket is no big deal but since the bracket mounts across the opening there was an issue in being able to remove the spare tire.
The spare tire that came with the car was full sized, and not one of the donut types that are usually the standard. I thought that maybe this was not the original spare that came with the car but it just so happens that I had another Lexus ES300 laying around the shop, and this second car also had a full size spare. After doing some measuring and some checking around I determined that if the spare tire was a donut style then it would fit down in the well, clearing the bracket nicely, and I would be able to take it out as needed.
|The bracket is made from 1/4 inch steel. It's easy to see that there would be |
some interference for spare tire fit.
I also considered building another bracket to mount the spare tire to that would allow it to stand up in the trunk in the part of the well that would not be covered by the tank. Keeping a full size spare is not a bad thing but for as little as the spare tire is needed, I would rather find a donut that will fit the car, and fit down in the well, and save some trunk space. The CNG tank that I am using takes up about one half to two thirds of the trunk as it is. So I went with a simple bracket design to span the spare tire well, and I am going to get a donut type spare tire.
The other thing I did was build a new floor for the trunk. The old spare tire cover that goes on top of the spare and under the carpet like covering on the floor of the trunk had to be rebuilt to suit my needs. The fiberboard floor would have to split along the lines of the support bracket that would span the spare tire well. I also took the carpet like material that came in the trunk out, and cut it to fit around the tank brackets.
|Mounting hole drilled through the trunk floor.|
The bolt holes for the brackets were drilled right through the floor of the trunk and luckily the spots where the bolts needed to go did not interfere with anything under the car. Things such as the exhaust pipes or the subframe and suspension linkages are all over the place back there but the bolts line up just right so nothing is in the way. I did have to drop the exhaust down out of the way temporarily but once the bolts were installed the exhaust went back in nicely with no interference. The bolt holes also had to be sealed with a silicone sealant because bare metal was exposed when the holes were drilled and water getting into the trunk could also be an issue. With properly applied sealant these things are no problem.
All along I have suspected that the most difficult part of installing the CNG conversion equipment on the vehicle would be designing and fabricating brackets and things to hold the components. The trick is to make it safe and secure, and make it according to safety standards designed for high pressure fuel systems, all the while making it look nice, as if it was meant to be there.
|The tank installed. This is without the second floor cover and the carpet.|
The next part will be building brackets for the high pressure regulator and the injectors. I suspect that this will be even more difficult, but still not as difficult as designing the filler neck location for the CNG. This could be easily done by putting it under the hood of the car but then you would have to pop the hood every time you fuel up with CNG. I don’t like that idea but the only other thing that could be done would involve cutting into the body. This is something that I will be thinking about next. Hopefully it won't take me another six months to get these things done.


text:
There’s lots going on with WhatsApp at the moment, and it’s hard to keep up with what’s actually happening and what’s rumour. The latest – which is probably going to turn out as true – is that WhatsApp is working on a desktop client for Mac and Windows.
WABetaInfo noticed the reference in WhatsApp’s code – as it does routinely – and let the cat out of the bag. Allegedly, WhatsApp is allegedly working on desktop clients for different operating systems. Of course none of these rumours are actually substantiated or confirmed, so whether the company will be launching a desktop client or not can’t be proven at this point.
If you like our stories, there is an easy way to stay updated:
At the moment it seems logical for a move like this, although many users are happy using the browser-based client. I would actually like to have a desktop client, but many other users would disagree. There are times when many users would like to separate the use of their mobile device from WhatsApp. I am one of those users. Creating a standalone client would make WhatsApp independent of a mobile device and would open it to many new features.
— WABetaInfo (@WABetaInfo) April 29, 2016
What do you think?
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Whatsapp has launched a pilot program to test the ability to send and receive instant payments with a simple chat …
Spotify is reportedly introducing a TikTok-like vertical video feed with music videos songs in a new dedicated Discovery tab.
WhatsApp will now let users link up to four iOS or Android devices to one account without compromising privacy.


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Environmental labeling, protected geographical indications and the interests of developing countries
Among developing countries, one can identify both proponents and opponents of extending the use of geographical indications (GIs) beyond wines and spirits. Such an extension is currently being discussed under the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) of the World Trade Organization. While labeling is mostly based on private initiatives, GIs are considered to be long-term public rights. Proponents therefore regard GIs as the stronger tools for protecting their national property rights and offering them new opportunities to develop their export markets. Opponents, however, consider GIs to be new barriers to trade that impede their export opportunities. This article clarifies these positions and pulls together some evidence on costs and benefits related to GIs versus labels.

domain: law


text:
Las Vegas star impersonator: I am devastated by Joan Rivers’ passing
Drag artist Frank Marino, who has performed as Joan Rivers for over 30 years, says he is “devastated” by her passing.
Frank Marino – who has had cosmetic surgery to look more like Rivers – has performed as her in Las Vegas shows since 1985, and holds the record for the longest-running headliner on the Vegas strip.
He told Pink News: “I’m extremely devastated to hear the news of Joan’s passing.
“This is a lady that not only inspired my career with her amazing talent but was also the one to introduce me to the producers of my first show which kicked off my 30 year career of impersonating her.”
Rivers famously sued Marino for $5 million in the 1980s, but the pair later reconciled, and made several appearances together.
He continued: “Whether she knew it or not, she was not only a good friend but also like a second mother to me.
“My heart also goes out to Melissa Rivers, who was not only Joan’s daughter but probably her best friend. In this trying time, my prayers go out to Melissa and her son Cooper for their loss.
“I can’t imagine what my world is going to be like without having Joan in it every day.
“If in any small way I can keep her legacy alive in Las Vegas for years to come, it’ll truly be my honour.”

domain: entertainment


text:
ANPI Africa’s Business Heroes 2020
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Date: November 2020
Deadline: June 9, 2020
Summary: The Africa’s Business Heroes is a sublet of the Africa Netpreneur Prize Initiative (ANPI). They are inviting business heroes in Africa to pitch their businesses to them and stand a chance to win a share of $1.5 million.
Details: The Africa Netpreneur Prize Initiative (ANPI) is the Jack Ma Foundation’s flagship philanthropic entrepreneur program in Africa. They aim to identify, spotlight, and support African entrepreneur heroes creating an impact in their communities and building a more inclusive economy for the future.
The Africa Netpreneur Prize Initiative is pleased to launch year-2 of their competition to identify, spotlight, and support Africa’s business heroes. They are on the search for African entrepreneurs of all ages and all sectors, who are leveraging business to create positive impact and solve pressing challenges in Africa. If this sounds like it could be you, they encourage you to apply.
The Africa’s Business Heroes show is the culminating event of the ANPI program. The show is a mix of entertainment and education with the 10 finalists pitching four renowned business icons including Jack Ma, the Founder of Alibaba & the Jack Ma Foundation. The pitch occurs in front of a televised audience and the show is subsequently distributed across Africa via major television networks and free to air stations.
ANPI will also be hosting a 3-day summit which will feature the Grand finale of ANPI program: The Africa’s Business Heroes show, conferences, master-classes, workshops, exhibition booths and a gala award ceremony where the 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize winners of the ANPI program will be announced.
- The applicant should be the Founder or a Co-Founder of the company.
- An applicant has African citizenship or is the child or grandchild of an African citizen.
- The Company is Africa-Based. The business is registered and headquartered in an African country, and primarily operates in Africa
- The company is the post-Idea stage. Business is 3 years old or more and has at least 3 years of revenue history.
- Pitch business legends and receive advice from ANPI
- Win your share of $1.5 million USD.
- Gain global recognition and exposure via televised Africa’s Business Heroes Show.
- Access mentorship & training via the Africa Business Heroes’ Network of Partners and Judges.
- Gain admission into Alibaba’s eFounders program where you visit Alibaba’s HQ and participate in a 2-week digital economy immersion trip.

domain: economics


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Baby footprints demo 👣
We have popped together a (not so well filmed- sorry) video of us doing baby footprints. This just shows the technique we use, and how to hold the babies foot!
We have also put together a little page of tips to help you out at home. Remember, if you would like us to do the writing for you back at the studio we can! :)


For a while I've wanted to start a set of posts looking at McCain and his various stances on issues, his character traits, etc., and thought this issue would be a good starting point; look for any other coming posts with the title "Woe is McCain" if you're interested in reading more.
Apparently McCain, when recently asked how many houses he and his wife own, said, "I think — I'll have my staff get to you...It's condominiums where — I'll have them get to you." You can actually hear the recorded question and answer at the top of this brief overview of the issue. I'm not really sure what to say here, as this would be funny if it weren't so far removed from any reality I could imagine.
I waited to post this though because none of the news I was seeing was making it clear whether the McCains actually lived in most of the houses or rented some out. I still couldn't find a definitive answer in looking around, but he and his wife clearly live in at least four, though it looks like they own twice that many; at least two of those eight are used by their children. Here's a list of the properties (from here): "Those real estate holdings include a Sedona ranch with three dwellings, worth $1.1 million; a Phoenix condominium suite that had originally been two units, worth $4.7 million; an $847,800 three-bedroom high-rise condo in Arlington; an oceanfront condo in La Jolla, Calif.; a half-million-dollar loft in Phoenix purchased for their daughter Meghan; another Phoenix condo, worth $830,000; and two beachfront condos in Coronado, Calif, one of which is valued at $2.7 million...Cindy McCain told Vogue magazine the family needed the second condo because the first was getting too crowded as their family grew." (See pictures and read another fairly biting description of the high-dollar homes here).
That said though, perhaps it would be easy for McCain to lose track (honestly). However, it still relates to a larger problem, I believe. First, there is the simple fact that he and his wife live in at least four big-money homes across the country--in a world where many are in need, I do have to say that seems excessive, though it's of course his choice. Secondly, McCain actually said recently that it was those making $5 million or more that he considers "rich." He mentioned this at a "faith forum" last weekend. Obama was there too and was asked the same question--he considered those making $250,000 or more to be rich (which is a lot closer to what I'd estimate). Third, McCain recently said the "fundamentals of our economy are strong." If you're not sure about the state of the economy, watch this tough video from Bill Moyers on the individual stories of some average Americans who have been hit hard by the current economic situation. Lastly, none of this even gets into his tax policies, such as the tax cuts of the current Administration that McCain says he plans to make permanent (even though he previously could not "in good conscience support a tax cut in which so many of the benefits go to the most fortunate")--I'll have to write more on that topic, but I'll just say that I know a well-off Republican who literally said that he didn't need the annual $80,000 he was getting back because of Bush's tax cuts. Maybe, just maybe, that money could stay in the government pot and pay down some of our $9 trillion deficit, allow full health insurance coverage of all children, provide increases in the National Institute of Health (NIH) budget for cancer research, etc., etc., etc., ad infinitum.
Add up the above points on McCain and you get an individual bouncing around the country between four expensive homes, who thinks the rich are those making over $5 million, feels the economy is fundamentally strong, and is all for skimping Americans by maintaining what I believe are unethical tax cuts. So what? So that's not the person I want in the White House deciding what amount of taxes are fair for various income brackets, whether to spend money on programs that create new jobs, whether to make health insurance affordable for the 47 million who don't have it, and so on. I'll have to write more on some of the economic issues related to this if I have a chance, but suffice to say right now that, given McCain's economic position and related perspective, I don't think he can relate to most Americans enough to make this country work as it could for most Americans.
Update: To give credit where credit is due, I just read this New York Times article that mentions, among other things, some of the charitable giving in which the McCains have been involved. While I still hold to the above points, I really have problems with the common approach in politics of overstating the case and leaving out complimentary points about one's opposition. The article seems to present a balanced picture of the overall scope of the McCains' wealth; here's an excerpt:
"[T]he Hensley family wealth, from its rough-and-tumble origins to prominence in Arizona’s corporate world, is also the fortune that propelled John McCain into national politics. A clearer picture of that fortune emerges from a review of public records and interviews with employees, business associates, friends and relatives.
Hensley & Company has grown from a tiny operation in the 1950s to the dominant beer wholesaler in Arizona and the third-largest Budweiser distributor in the country, with more than $300 million in annual sales. It plays a leading role in corporate Phoenix — Andy McCain, the senator’s stepson from his first marriage and a top executive of the beer company, is now president of the city’s Chamber of Commerce — and is a forceful presence in state politics on the issues that matter to it.
But by all accounts, Mrs. McCain is far from a forceful presence at the company, where she is chairwoman.
She crisscrosses the country on the company jet, keeps an accountant on the company payroll to mind her personal finances, drives a company Lexus with “MS BUD” plates and says she oversees the company’s “strategic planning and corporate vision.” Yet she almost never shows up in the office, is deemed an absentee owner [which is a technical not derogatory term] by Anheuser-Busch and has left scarcely a mark on the company, present and former executives say.
Mrs. McCain has spent far more time as a volunteer on behalf of needy children. She is a board member of CARE and Operation Smile, which provides cleft-palate surgery for impoverished children; when she visited Mother Teresa’s orphanage in Bangladesh 17 years ago, she brought a baby girl back for the surgery and then adopted her...While all of the family's real estate is held by Mrs. McCain, the John and Cindy McCain Family Foundation is funded by Mr. McCain. From 2001 to 2006, its donations averaged about $260,000 a year. In addition to big donations to children's causes, mine clearing and Parkinson's research, the United States Naval Academy received $420,000 to run an ethics conference in the senator's name; the Brophy school has received more than $250,000; Christ Lutheran, which Bridget and Jim attended, more than $100,000."
Update 2: In September, McCain continued to say that the "fundamentals of our economy our strong," despite the enormous collapses of banks, mortgage lenders and others. Rachel Maddow of MSNBC provided a good overview on all of it, bringing in the perspective of the Obama camp as well:


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Intelsat pursues Africa’s unconnected
January 19, 2023
By Chris Forrester
Intelsat is making a concerted commitment to enhancing day-to-day network quality and helping African communications service providers (CSPs) deliver secure and affordable connectivity across the continent.
“Satellite communications providers (CSPs) have historically rushed to the rescue in the aftermath of a natural or manmade calamity that rendered a local terrestrial network unavailable. Today, Intelsat is making a concerted commitment to enhancing day-to-day network quality and helping African CSPs deliver secure and affordable connectivity across the continent,” said Intelsat’s Director of Sales, Africa Hans Geldenhuys in a blog post.
“Africa is among the most complex environments for any communications service provider seeking to deliver high-quality and consistently available connectivity to the people who need it. Regional factors and geographical realities contribute to the difficulties of delivering uninterrupted, high-speed communications on par with what is commonplace across most of the rest of the world,” added Geldenhuys. “Ensuring underserved populations in Africa have access to broadband connectivity is critical. Without access, millions of people risk falling irretrievably behind the rest of the connected world.”
Intelsat claims it is the first satellite operator to provide satellite communications services in the continent.
“Intelsat is now leading the development of our ‘next first’ — a reliable and widely available communications network in Africa. Our team is doing this by investing in the development of a lasting and sustainable communications infrastructure across the entirety of the continent,” commented Geldenhuys.


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Denys Cowan and Reggie Hudlin sign at Golden Apple Comics to celebrate Milestone Comics on Saturday, June 25, 2022 from 1-3pm!
Milestone Media is a coalition of African-American artists and writers to represent minorities in the comics medium. Meet the Co-Founders and celebrate their return to comics with such classic and celebrated characters and titles as Static Shock, Hardware, Icon & Rocket, Blood Syndicate, and more.
The newest title, Milestones in History is set to release that week. Free admission and autographs on all books and comics purchased at event. Any sketches and/or personal items may be subject to a fee at the discretion of the creators.
RSVP on Facebook!
Golden Apple Comics
7018 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90038


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Tholen – Today Polder Potato started again with the first new potatoes from the island of Tholen
“The first pallets today find their way to various specialty greengrocers in the Netherlands via wholesaler Postuma AGF,” says Anton Riezebos
Polder Potato is starting with the Frieslanders variety of the special Thool clay and will also have the first Doré available next week. “The start is not much earlier or later than last year and we certainly expect to find a good connection with these early potatoes under plastic. Whether that is also the case with the potatoes from the cold soil, we have to wait and see,” concludes Anton.
Kuti uwane mamwe mashoko,
The first auction of Alvantho potatoes in corona time yielded top prices of one euro per kilo. The first Dorés from Tholen in Zeeland in 2021 clocked in at 95 cents per kilo.
A day earlier than last year, the first auction of the earliest Alvantho potatoes grown under plastic with the recognized quality mark Zeker Zeeuws Streekproduct took place this morning in Sint-Annaland (ZL). In early spring it looked as if the first auction this year could take place at the end of May, just like some previous editions in the last decade. But the cold spring slowed growth sharply and cultivation under plastic showed its added value this year, said auction director David Hage.
Among the prices of the Premiere, Nicola, Colomba and Alegria potato varieties, the price of Frieslanders gradually increasing during the auction, to a maximum of 83 cents per kilo, stood out. Triplets turned out to be worth the least: 35 to 40 cents per kilo. The total supply during the first auction this year consisted of 48 tons.
Due to the delayed growth due to the cold spring, the supply will not be great in the coming weeks, although the summer weather has done well for the potatoes that are not grown under plastic in recent days. There is optimism about price developments, as the corona crisis is weakening and the catering industry is picking up speed again.
Traditionally, the first box of potatoes was auctioned for a good cause. This year it was the Epilepsy Fund. This first box, purchased and grown Planet-Proof on behalf of supermarket chain Jumbo, yielded 1,750 euros. The amount has been increased by various parties, including the Alvantho organization.

domain: food


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I’m so behind over here on TCK! Life happens, you know? Like an amazing trip to Copenhagen and the Faroe Islands. More on that later. For now, ;et’s get to those bites. I have so many bites to tell you about!
Before we get to the bites, check out this adorable pineapple-doughnut enamel pin! It’s the product of a collaboration between me and local artist, Liz Scoper. We’re selling them on her Etsy shop for $10. Hurry and go get one! It would mean the world to me. 🍩 ❤
TWO Urban Licks is an Atlanta staple. I remember visiting Atlanta in 2010 and being told it was a must-try but I never made my way over there until recently… nearly after four years after moving here! It’s a beautiful restaurant with plenty of WOW factor. An industrial aesthetic, living walls, open kitchen – oh, and it’s right off the BeltLine. I can see why it’s been popular for so long.
Brunch was good, but I’d be lying if I said that I went for any other reason but Sophia’s Biggie Doughnut. See, I wrote about it for Creative Loafing and then I was kind of fixated on trying it, so… normal, right?
The doughnut is smothered in a dulce de leche glaze and topped with homemade marshmallow and graham cracker crumbs. Who can resist the crown of dried pineapple, too?
While you’re there, get an order of the salmon chips. Thick potato chips are loaded up with smoked salmon, chipotle cream cheese, capers, and red onions. They could be a meal all on their own!
Venturing into Buckhead during rush hour isn’t on the top of my favorite things to do list (and yet, I do it SO MUCH), but I couldn’t resist checking out Taverna. I didn’t realize this at the time, but it’s actually a small chain based out of Texas. I suppose they are a worthy exception to the “no chain” rule here on TCK!
The menu specializes in northern Italian dishes, like seafood and risotto. My dining pal and I shared the squid ink pasta with crab, though, and it was delightful.
We also really enjoyed the sea bass with clams, mussels, tomato broth, and potatoes. The fish was cooked perfectly and I really liked the potatoes that soaked up the rich tomato broth. Sadly, we enjoyed it SO much that we forget to get a picture. Guess you’ll have to go and try it yourself!
This upscale yet cozy Asian restaurant is the latest on the scene in Roswell. Roswell’s Canton Street has become such an OTP dining hub and I’m here for it. Monkey 68 comes to us from the people behind Buckhead’s Katana and The One Sushi+. Having loved Katana I was super excited to check out Monkey 68. The restaurant is small but has one of the coolest bars I’ve seen, and I think I could go back for that alone.
Everything I tried was so fresh and flavorful! My favorite bite was the jalapeno yellowtail shots.
Bright and zingy, just the way you want a light appetizer to taste. Make a reservation if you go! The restaurant is small and fills up quickly.
Those are all the bites I have for now. Don’t worry, I have many more to tell you about in another post, soon!