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Ramblings of the Week, July 8, Saturday Edition

So yesterday we had some stops to make after work. We needed half and half for our coffee. (random observation, I discovered when talking to someone in Europe that they don’t know what this is there, bizarre). We both drink it with half and half. Years ago I used to drink it with Carnation plain creamer. (off on my first tangent), but one day I taste it and there was a weirdness to it. So I looked at the container and they said “new taste”. I wrote to them and complained. Apparently I was not the only one. They vowed to change it back. It was too late. I had moved on. First to mocha mix (no idea why it was called this because it was just non-dairy creamer) and then eventually to half and half when I decided mocha mix was nasty.

creamer

Smart and Final (don’t know where they are at in connection to the rest of the country, but we have them, they call themselves the faster, smaller food warehouse) has the best price for creamer. $1.69 per quart. The grocery store we go to charges $5.99 for a half gallon unless you can get some mega deal. Anyway, we both drink it.

smf

Which brings me to (tangent 2), M is on this kick where he doesn’t want to use animal products. It’s been to varying degrees of success. He declared one day he would be trying to drink his coffee black. Neither of us uses sugar or other sweeteners. I said okay. I gave him his morning travel mug of coffee black. That evening after we came from work he said, nope. He would not be giving up half and half in his coffee after all. HA

Anyway, we are in the parking lot and we wait for this lady in a red car to pull out and she does. And she’s sitting there for a second gathering her bearings I guess, who knows, and all of a sudden this mini-van comes barreling out of his space, backing up at high speed. There is no way he will miss her. She just sits there looking at him. M is blowing his horn at the moron to stop but he just keeps going, right into her. Put a huge dent in her car and scraped up his own. OMG. PEOPLE.

It’s hot. It’s super hot. We are having a big time heat wave for this time of year. (Tangent 3) One of the local Catholic Churches, St. Rose, does a yearly summer carnival the second week in July. I swear if I were a member of that church I would be suggesting, Spring. Yes, a lovely Spring Carnival in March. Who in their right mind would go today when it is supposed to be well over 100. I hear all the “Oh but it’s a dry heat.” Go turn on your oven. Go on, I’ll wait. Let it preheat. Now crawl in. Yeah, that’s how it feels (don’t really do this, duh).

oven

Next weekend I am off to Vegas and yes they are a miserable place in the summer. Their low at 11 last night was 108. But you expect that in Vegas and you are mostly indoors anyway.

My own real picture of Vegas by the way.

This, trust me, is miserable.

Today is going to be a lazy lazy lazy day. Movies, games, hot dogs. No socializing. Sounds splendid.

July 8, 2017

Flash Fic Friday, July 07, 2017 Prompt

My prompt this week was Jim figures out Spock has a bit of a Turbolift Kink

Now that the time had come, Jim was maybe getting cold feet. It had seemed like a good idea. But now that he thought about it, maybe not so much. It had all started with Uhura.

“You busy?” he asked her as he came upon her sitting by herself in the mess.

“Not really.” She gestured to the chair across from her. “Sit down.”

He handed her a cup of tea and sat down with her coffee.

“What’s up?”

“Any secret to wooing Spock?” Jim asked without bothering with more small talk.

“Like what?” She rolled her eyes. “Other than flashing that smile of yours that melts him into a pile of goo?”

Jim felt himself blush. “Does not. I just want to do something he’s into. Something that might excite him.”

Uhura smiled. “The turbolift.”

She had gone on to tell Jim that Spock had a turbolift fetish. He so did not want to think about Spock and Uhura getting it on in the turbolift as part of this fetish.

But now he had it all planned out that they’d be in the turbolift and it would break down and—

“Captain.”

Jim jumped. “Oh, hey Spock.”

Spock got onto the turbolift and the doors closed. For some reason he thought of that time he’d ridden on a turbolift before when he’d asked Spock if they made a good command team.

Jim folded his arms in front of his chest and didn’t look at his first officer.

Spock reached over and stopped the turbolift.

“Spock?”

That was not part of the plan.

“You are tense.”

“Well.” He licked his dry lips. “We probably ought to restart this.” He went to reach for the lever but Spock stopped him.

“What is wrong?” Spock demanded.

“Nothing. Just…” And then suddenly Spock was up in his space, backing him against the bulkhead. Jim sucked in a breath. “It’s-it’s true.”

“What is?” Spock tilted his head in confusion but he did not pull away. If anything he got closer. His lips mere inches from Jim’s.

“You-you do?”

“Captain?”

“Kiss me.”

“Is that an order?”

“Spock.”

Spock gripped his jaw in his hand and pressed his lips to Jim’s in a kiss far too erotic for the turbolift. Jim moaned into the kiss, wrapping his arms around Spock’s neck.

The boatswain’s whistle whined.

“Scott to Captain Kirk.”

“Uh.” He sighed against Spock. “Kirk here.”

“The turbolift seems to be already stopped, Captain. Did you still want me to—?”

“Never mind that, Scotty. Kirk out.”

Spock arched a brow.

“That. Well. Anyway. I guess it’s true.”

“What is, Captain?”

Jim realized he still had his arms firmly wrapped around Spock’s neck. And Spock didn’t really seem to mind.

“You have a turbolift kink.”

“A turbolift…kink?”

“Yeah. Uhura said—”Jim took in Spock’s clearly puzzled expression. “Hell. Joke’s on me, huh? Son of a bitch.”

“Am I to understand Nyota implied I like to get…intimate…in the turbolift?”

“Yeah.” His jaw tightened. “Guess not.”

“I would prefer we adjourn to you quarters for intimacy.”

“Yeah. Okay but—”

“Now.”

Jim blinked. “What?”

“I mean…now.”

Spock squeezed Jim’s crotch, tearing a needy whine from him. Then he reached to the side of Jim and re-started the turbolift.

Less than twenty seconds later it came to a grinding halt.

“Oh, shit.” Kirk hit the comm. “Scotty, I thought I told you to forget it.”

“Sorry, Captain. Not my doing. Powers off in all the lifts. Working on it.”

“Damn.” Jim ran his fingers through his hair, and then glanced at Spock who was watching him with a shiver inducing intensity. “Uh. Keep me posted. Kirk out. Spock?”

He found himself pushed against the bulkhead as Spock once more squeezed Jim’s dick.

Spock leaned over and whispered in Jim’s ear. “Perhaps I have a kink after all.”

July 7, 2017

Ramblings of the Week, June 26, 2017

Another busy week for me.

Tonight is the Queen + Adam Lambert Concert at the Hollywood Bowl

Tomorrow we are going to see Cars 3.

Then Friday is a birthday party dinner for a relative. Then of course after that comes the 4th of July thing. The 4th decided to be on a Tuesday this year and my company decided only to give us that day off even though M has Monday the 3rd off and so does a couple of our friends. And they all work in the same industry as I do. Nuts!

One of the cities around us does their fireworks on the 3rd. I have no idea why, they just always have. This is where M’s cousin lives so that Monday night, we will be headed over to her place to BBQ and watch the works from her driveway on a hill.

Then more family and fireworks on the actual 4th! Too much! HA HA

I am supposed to be updating What Happened to Spock next and I hope to get to it soon but I’d actually also like to update You’re in My Veins. I plan to, hopefully, conclude Forever I Am With You by the end of July.

And nothing is better on a Monday than a pretty picture of Chris

June 26, 2017

Flash Fic Friday, June 02, 2017

My prompt was a Costume Party with 21st Century Clothing

Jim sighed as he stood in front of a mirror in Bones’ office in the medbay. He pulled at his collar.

“Stop that,” Bones snapped. He came over and fixed Jim’s tie that Jim had just made askew.

“Why do I have to wear this…tuxedo,” Jim said, recalling the name.

“Because it’s a costume party with the theme 21^st Century clothes and you look positively gorgeous in it.”

Jim made a face and peered at himself. “Damn Uhura and her stupid ideas anyway.”

“I heard that.” The lieutenant herself appeared in Bones’ office dressed in a sparkly sequined red dress with a handkerchief hem. She wore red hoops in her ears.

“Where’s Spock?”

“He doesn’t want to come.” She rolled her eyes. “He’s being a pain in the ass.” She whistled. “You look fantastic.”

“It’s uncomfortable.”

“Stop whining.” She took out her communicator and punched in a message.

“What are you doing?” Jim asked.

“Nothing.” She smiled and returned the communicator to a pocket. She twirled around. “You are supposed to say I look gorgeous too.”

“Doesn’t that go without saying? And anyway, if Spock gets out of it, how come I have to go?”

“You’re the captain, that’s why,” Bones said. He pulled on a T-shirt.

“What are you supposed to be?”

Bones grinned. “A beach bum.”

“You know I—”

“Captain, Nyota said you needed me for—” Spock stopped. Stared at Jim. His eyes widened.

Uhura giggled and grabbed Bones’ arm. “Come on, I don’t think you’re going to want to see this.”

“See what?” Bones asked as she dragged him away.

“Spock?” Jim asked. “What’s wrong?”

“You-you are…” Spock grabbed Jim’s biceps and pulled him flush against him.

Jim’s tongue darted out to trace his lips. “I am?”

Spock’s eyes got impossibly darker. “Not going anywhere.” His lips claimed Jim’s as he pressed the button to close the door.

June 2, 2017

Movie Reviews from Ivan 03.2017 Edition

So I thought it might be fun to post my own personal movie reviews as I begin the 2017 viewing season. We go many Tuesdays and so I end up seeing quite a few. I won’t review all of them and who knows maybe no one will really be interested, but anyway.

I’m going to start with two I’ve seen recently.

And warning warning warning: SPOILERS AHEAD (read at your own risk)

Get Out

I went into this with not many expectations. I’d heard an interview with Jordan Peele who created and directed it. I’ve like his comedy work but this promised to be a little different and based on that interview I expected it to be more like a horror film.

I ended up being pleasantly surprised it was more like a dark thriller than like a gory horror flick. I thought he had a great way of getting you to instantly like the characters he wanted you to like and sympathesize with.

The opening scene is an African American man attempting to find the house of his girlfriend’s parents in a quiet suburb. He’s on the phone and clearly feels uncomfortable with where he is. Even though you only get his dialogue at this point you like this guy already and then bam this car pulls up and starts acting weird and as he realizes he’s in trouble, you know it too.

The main character, Chris, is another African American man who is about to go away for the weekend to meet his white girlfriend’s parents. You like him instantly (he has a dog after all) and you like his friend who works for the TSA who is also taking care of Chris’ dog while he is away for the weekend. The girlfriend, Rose, seems pretty cool too.

She drives them down to see her parents assuring him that her parents are not racist. They don’t appear to be when you meet them but they are vaguely strange and Chris recognizes that instantly as well. They also have a black maid and a black groundskeeper who both behave oddly and rather like zombies. Her father is a neurologist and her mother a psychiatrist. When they find out Chris smokes they attempt to talk him into undergoing hypnosis to change the habit but he politely declines.

Eventually he meets her brother too who is also vaguely off but Chris endures things pretty well. They inform Chris and Rose that an annual party is that weekend too so Chris knows he is going to be forced to meet even more people.

Anyway, as the film progresses you realize this family is even more off than you initially thought and Chris is basically hypnotized against his will. He speaks of this and his doubts to Rose and she admits to him that she may have been wrong about her family and she apologizes.

The party happens and Chris meets a lot of really strange white people and one African American who is probably in his late twenties but is married to a white woman probably in her sixties. Chris realizes this is odd to say the least. And the guy acts really weird and also has the same sort of zombie qualities the maid and groundskeeper have. But when Chris flashes a camera in his face, this dude freaks out and yells, Get Out.

Eventually it is discovered by Chris that the family, through the help of Rose, abducts young black people to use for their bodies. The father puts the brains of dying white friends and family who have bid on the abducted into the fresh, healthy bodies. It’s bizarre and twisted and works really well, actually. Chris is their latest victim, though he didn’t realize it at first.

You root for him to get away from this freak show and eventually with the help of his very funny best friend, the TSA agent, he does.

Logan

Up front I will say I was not a fan of X-Men Origins: Wolverine or of The Wolverine. I did really like Logan in the first X-Men movies as well as in X-Men: First Class and as well as X-Men: Days of Future Past.

In this one we find Logan to be an older character who is disillusioned and drinks too much. There also appears to be something quite wrong with him because he doesn’t heal like he used to. He’s been working as a chauffeur in a limo to make money and he lives in Mexico with an albino mutant named Caliban and Charles Xavier, who is very old now.

Charles has mental issues and Logan has to keep him constantly drugged because of his powerful mind. If he doesn’t take his drugs, he has seizures and all hell breaks loose. It seems clear from the implications that this has happened with Charles before and this is why Logan now keeps him in a bunker in Mexico. His plan is to one day buy a boat for he and Charles to live on in the middle of the ocean, presumably so they can not hurt anyone.

He runs into a woman who desperately begs for his help but he initially rejects her. Eventually she tracks him down and tells him about a little girl named Laura. The woman eventually is killed by the bad guys and Logan and Charles are left trying to keep Laura safe from them. It is learned that she was created by evil scientists who created children from Mexican women and mutant DNA. Laura is actually Logan’s daughter as he was used for her.

My main objection was, as I said before, too many action scenes. I know it is an action movie but they began to become tedious. This was actually one of my complaints about the previous Wolverine movies. I also think it went on about 30 minutes longer than it needed to.

But as I have thought about it one of my main things was that I think there was a major plot that was rather not in character with Charles Xavier as I saw him in the previous movies.

The three main characters are on the run from these absolutely dreadful bad guys. The bad guys have found them time and time again and have shown they are capable of hurting anyone that gets in their way.

They run across this nice little family that have a farm and horses through a near accident with the horses on the highway. They end up helping the family get their horses together. The wife offers to cook them a meal for their trouble and Logan, rightly, immediately says no. Charles, however, insists on going to their house AND accepts their invitation to stay the night. Charles, basically, knowingly puts this innocent family into harm’s way and of course they end up butchered by the bad guys, and I just don’t believe the character I have seen would have done that. Charles knew the dangers they were facing and basically sacrificed this family for his own selfish needs. I did not dig that at all.

So obviously, these are only my opinions. Most people have liked Logan and I did like it better than the other Wolverine offerings just not enough for me to personally recommend it.

March 15, 2017

Flash Fic Friday, February 03, 2017

91e205d46a2e292c78d0de8a4cab8d03 spocky2

Today’s prompt was a star that was not a star (I merely mentioned it, lol) and a quiet, intimate moment on the observation deck. I also decided to turn this one into V Day.

He’d come up here to get away from everything. The celebrations. It was Valentine’s Day and the rec room was decorated with glitzy red hearts and cherubs holding arrows. Pink frosted cakes. Bad candies with sayings written on them. It was too much to take. Especially when as he was preparing to leave anyway, he saw Uhura come in wearing dangly red heart earrings. He heard her asking people if Spock had arrived yet. That was definitely Jim’s cue to leave.

So here he stood on the observation deck looking out at the stars. And speaking of stars, Jim still had to file his report on that star that turned out to be an undiscovered planet. He added it to his mental to do list. Sounded like a great way to spend a night about love, when he had nothing else to do.

He sighed and crossed his arms, leaning slightly forward so his forehead touched the glass. What the hell was wrong with him? He didn’t waste time feeling sorry for himself. It never got him anywhere but more depressed. And if he didn’t knock that off, Bones was going to insist he talk or some shit.

And as if on cue the door to the room he was in slid open. He knew he should have locked it.

“What’s up, Bones?” Jim asked.

“I am not the doctor.”

That had him turning sharply to face Spock. His first officer was dressed casually in black slacks and a maroon sweater. Very Valentiney looking.

“Uhura’s not here, Spock.”

Spock looked slightly puzzled but then tilted his head. “I am not at present seeking to locate Nyota. I am aware of her location in the rec room.”

Jim nodded. “What are you doing here then? Orders from the ‘Fleet?”

“None that I am aware of, at present. My purpose is of a personal nature.”

Jim gave what he hoped was an encouraging smile but he feared it was not. It was Valentine’s Day. And his mind conjured up Spock asking Jim for permission to go to New Vulcan to bond with Uhura or something. And Jim would die.

Spock approached him and stood next to him, gazing out at the stars. “I trust you enjoyed your shore leave on Risa?”

So, small talk was it? Great.

“No. Not particularly.”

“You did not?”

“I only spent a very short time there with Bones before I went back to the ship and spent the remainder of the time catching up on sleep. How about you? Did you and Uhura enjoy the outdoor concert?”

“Yes. It was stimulating.”

“Stimulating,” Jim repeated. He did not want to think of what they did after they were stimulated by the concert. “So what is it? Uhura was looking for you, so you probably want to go.”

“You are troubled.”

That surprised Jim so much that he glanced at Spock in surprise. “Excuse me?”

“If there is anything I can help you with—”

“Did Bones put you up to this?” Jim saw from the quick flash of guilt that was barely there in Spock’s expression that he had got it exactly right. “Well, I’m fine. And you can tell him that too. I don’t need you running interference for him or whatever it is you are doing.”

“I just don’t wish for you to be overwhelmed.”

“Overwhelmed?” Jim repeated incredulously. “I’m not overwhelmed, Mister. And I’d thank you to mind your own business.”

Spock straightened at that and maybe Jim ought to take it back. He didn’t know.

“I have reports. Enjoy your evening.”

Jim left the observation room with Spock’s mouth hanging open.

He almost stopped to give Bones a piece of his mind but decided he was just better off letting himself cool down and he went to his quarters instead.

Lying on the middle of the bed was a single long stemmed red rose.

A single red rose shows love.

Jim had read that somewhere.

He went to the bed and picked it up but there was absolutely no indication where it came from.

February 3, 2017

Not So Much About Me

I borrowed this from BlueMeetsGreen and Yaiochan12

Are you in love?

Yes.

Coffee or Tea?
Both. I drink coffee all year round. I stick to iced tea (unsweetened please) in the summer but during fall and winter I drink hot tea. My favorite is Twining’s Christmas Tea. I get monthly boxes sent to me from Amazon.

What’s your middle name?
Robert

Dream Job?
Retired to be honest. That’s my dream.

Dream car?
I’m not really a car person, so long as it’s reliable and doesn’t break down on me.

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
To live, Morro Bay, California. It is home to me in my heart. To visit? Probably Ireland again. Loved it.

You’re stranded on an island, who do you bring with you?
Chris Pine and my friend Kris. We are all introverts so we’d probably just sit there staring at each other without talking.

Do you have a crush on someone?

Duh, Chris Pine

Favorite video game?
Final Fantasy series and Legend of Zelda

Favorite song/band?
Big Country (a Scottish band, who’s singer committed suicide) and Erasure

Favorite thing to do on rainy days?
Watch movies

Are you an affectionate person?
Sort of. I’m not much of a cuddler though.

You’re traveling the entire world but you can only take one person with you. Who do you take?
My sweetie of course

How tall are you?
5 “8” ish

The inevitable Zombie Apocalypse is upon us! What’s your plan of action?
Crawl up and die. I hate zombies. I’d probably be the first victim

How do you relax?
I don’t relax.

Board games or drinking games?

I do drink but I don’t make a game of it and I despise with every fiber of my being Board Games. *shudder*

Do you like reading? If so, what’s your favorite book?
Yes. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Describe your dream date
Dinner by the window of my favorite restaurant in Morro Bay as the sun sets below the rock.

Describe what qualities you look for in a person
Willingness to take care of me! HA HA

Have you ever had a valentine?
Back in school, I got those little cartoonish ones every kid gave out. Now? Not so much. My sweetie thinks it is over commercialized nonsense.

Describe your first kiss
Lip smacking!

You’re at a candle shop, what scented candle do you buy?
Candles are dangerous.

January 31, 2017

Bones Gets Married

Chapter 1

Four years had passed after the end of their last mission.

Jim had said goodbye to all of them. Most of them stayed with the Fleet. Sulu had been promoted to captain. Uhura and Scotty stayed with the Enterprise. Jaylah was working on Yorktown now. And Bones had left Starfleet. He was retiring.

He missed them.

Jim picked up the photo he had of them just before the end of that last mission. He traced his finger over each and every one of them. They’d all been smiling. Except Spock. Jim shook his head. He lingered over Bones. And then finally his first officer.

“Spock,” Jim whispered. Spock who was on New Vulcan.

With a final roll of his eyes at himself he put the picture back down on his desk in his office.

There was a tap at his office door.

“Come.”

A yeoman stepped inside. “It’s time for you to leave, Admiral.”

He nodded. “All right. Just ten minutes—”

“No, sir. You don’t have ten minutes. You have to leave now or you’ll be late for the shuttle.”

“My bag—”

“Already on the shuttle.”

Jim smiled. “Congratulations, Yeoman. You’ve thought of everything.”

She crossed her arms in front of her chest. “Apparently not since you haven’t gotten up, sir.”

“Okay, okay. Sheesh.” Jim got up and walked around the desk. He grabbed his jacket. “What’s the weather supposed to be like in Georgia?”

“Rainy, Admiral. For the next two days. But the sun is supposed to shine on Dr. McCoy’s wedding day.”

“He’ll appreciate that. Listen, I’ll contact you from the shuttle and—”

“Nope. You’re on vacation, sir.”

Jim grimaced. “When I get there then.”

“Admiral—”

“As you were, Yeoman.”

She sighed. “Yes, sir. And do try to have a good time.”

A good time. Oh, sure.

How the hell was Jim supposed to have a good time with all the work he had to do. Or really. Georgia? In the damn summer. Bones owed him for this.

He pinched the bridge of his nose. Found the message from Bones on his PADD and read it again.

I know you won’t believe me, but I’m getting married. I know. I said never. But well…It’s just a few days off. I think she didn’t want to give me a chance to change my mind! Can you come? I know most of our friends are off planet now, but, well, I’ll really like you to be there.

How could he deny that? He couldn’t.

So he was traveling to Georgia.

At least he’d get to see Bones.

****

“There he is! Uncle Jim!”

Joanna McCoy ran at Jim the moment he stepped off the shuttle ramp. She threw her little ten year old arms around him with such enthusiasm she knocked Jim back.

“Whoa, whoa.” Jim laughed. “Don’t run me over, Jo.”

“Yeah he’s got old bones, honey. Don’t want to break the admiral.”

Jim smirked at Bones. “Funny.” He ruffled Jo’s long brown hair. “Guess who brought a really smart little girl a present?”

“Yay!” She smiled brightly and linked her arm with his. “What is it?”

“You’ll see when we get to your house.” Jim glanced at Bones. “Where’s the missus?”

“Missus to be, thanks. Shayla’s back at the house. Fretting over the wedding.”

“Problems?”

“Oh, no. Everything’s fine.” Bones squeezed his arm. “Jim, about Spock, look—”

“It’s fine, Bones. Kaiidth as he would say.”

Bones nodded. “Let’s go. I’m grilling hamburgers.”

Jim grinned. “Things are looking up.”

January 15, 2017

Spirk (with a small dose of Pinto)

Fan Fiction and Personal Ramblings

Category