Summer Shenanigans, Wednesday, August 14, 2024

[sith_happened]

"Hello, everyone!" Anakin boomed through the megaphone as people arrived. "It's the middle of August in Maryland, which is just the best time of year if you love being sticky, hot, and mosquito bitten!"

You should really work for the tourism board, Anakin.

"So today we will engage in activities that will take your mind off of such things!" He gestured grandly around the park. "Extreme pinball!"

Oh dear.

There was a pinball games set up inside of the slide, so you will have to insert your body up the down spout of the tube to play. There was one game set on a raft in the center of the lake. There was a pinball machine powered by riding a bike, another one on the ground that you had to play using your feet, and a final one you had to don Drunk Goggles to play.

"Volunteers, listen for your names and retrieve your shirts!"

Rey
Arden
Steve M
Stewart
Gray
Thor
Eleanor
Graham
Beaker

Fandom Library, Wednesday, August 14th

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

Arden had to hustle after radio to get to her library shift in time. Just like the squirrels to punish her for being late to her VOLUNTARY!!!(ish) radio shift by nearly making her late to her for reals actual job. Just like a squirrel.

...Which sure was a thought. This island, yo.

But anyway, she squeaked in just in time, and discovered the library was wrecked. Books scattered everywhere, chairs knocked over, red Solo cups everywhere. It looked like the aftermath of a rager (or so movies and TV shows assured her) and she was all prepared to blame the gremlins, but the cups seemed unused and a bunch of the scattered books were bartending guides and non-fiction history of alcohol, while the rest were YA novels.

"Did...the the books throw a party?" This island, yo.

Looked like Arden was going to spend her shift cleaning up after a party she hadn't even been invited to and ignoring the miserable way the pages fluttered when she turned the lights on. They were just lucky that this was a library and she couldn't be as loud as she wanted to be.

Treat Yourself, Thursday, Period 2

[deathsmajesty]

Another quick meeting outside of Portalocity and then they were once again off to a different restaurant, Bocados Tapas Wine Bar. They were led inside and seated at their table, with platters of tapas immediately being brought out to them the moment they were seated.

"The point of indulgence is to make your life enjoyable, like a small - or not so small - gift you're giving yourself," Liliana said, gesturing at everyone to start eating their various moddable from the menu tapas. "And one of my favorite indulgences is going new places and trying new things. Travel, if not otherwise mandated by a higher authority - for example, class - is an indulgence, and often an expensive one, though seen in a different light than most others. This is especially true if the place you are going isn't a sandy beach somewhere you're expected to lounge. But travel isn't something required to survive. Even the reasons travel is listed as beneficial - getting to enjoy new experiences, broaden your horizons, learn about different cultures - none of that is necessary. So why is it seen in a different light than other indulgences?

"Enrichment and fulfillment can come in many different forms is the joy of discovering new things. It opens door that you never knew were closed, and helps you gain a fuller understanding of the place you're in. And when you can combine that new experience with something you already enjoy, for example, eating, it gives you a place to start, rather than getting overwhelmed by the experience. So my challenge to you today, above and beyond my questions, is to try a dish you've never had before and sample it. Savor it. Do you like it? Dislike it? Why?"

She sat back in her chair. "A simple lesson today. Please help yourselves if you haven't already."