dunhaven; ic community.

How many of you woke up one morning and just [...] remembered a whole lifetime of memories?

Do you ever suddenly slow down and realize that too much time has passed without noticing that it's been passing? I had that moment of existential crisis today when I realized how long it's been since I've been back home. Or, I suppose, where I grew up considering this feels much more like home than there ever did. It's been over a year and a half since I first arrived in Dunhaven to celebrate the birth of the best nephew that ever existed and so much has happened and changed since then that the passage of time both feels impossibly long and short at the same time.

I also had the moment of realization that it's been nearly that long since I really wrote anything. I miss it. I miss the sound of the keys clicking beneath my fingertips, or the scratching of pencil to paper. I miss the smell of ink and notebooks, and the feel of warm paper right after a freshly printed chapter. I suppose this is a lament of sorts. Oh, woe, where has the time gone etc etc.

But it's also a statement of purpose, I think. I think enough time has passed and enough big things have changed to warrant sparing myself a little time each day to return to the thing that held my heart before Hope and Kier filled it up so fully. I want to try writing again, finding the voice that felt silent for too long. I can find my words, again, right? There's no amount of time that can take my writing away from me?. Right?

What the hell is this?

My day has been spent searching the internet to have a continued thread of baby animals via text with my niece and if that's not what technology was made for, then I don't know what the point of it actually would be. She has also asked for pictures of the cats and a shopping trip date was made. All I'm saying is that I have only been doing this aunt thing for a short while, but I'm pretty sure this is me: ( Cut for image! )

EMILIA

Hey! I don't suppose you'd have any time to read a few things, would you? I could use some feedback, but mostly I'd just like to see you.

[Group Texts to Lucy, Emilia, Beau]

→ Right. Well.
→ I think I'm having Dreams.
→ Which I assume you all know about but didn't tell me because it sounds like the most mental thing ever?
→ But I'm supposed to go home on Monday, and-

[Texts to Laila Khan]

→ Still not sure what to think about all of this madness.
→ I don't suppose it'll go away when I go home?
→ Who are you Dreaming about, anyway?

Despite how much time I spend online (aka all the time), I'm not always the most current with memes and stuff that goes viral. But I saw this today and it made me supremely happy, so I'm sharing even if I'm the last to have seen it.

( Cut for image! )

Apparently if you spend a week in town, you get access to the local network? Or perhaps it was the intent to move? The latter feels a bit creepier than the former.

Whatever the case, consider me intrigued. I've been successfully charmed by small town living.

Five years I've been in this apartment and now after a week of final packing, moving, and cleaning, I just turned my key in. I ate a lot of good food in that apartment and even had a very nice roommate for a hot second before she ruthlessly abandoned me (😏), but I'm not too sad to see it go.

Onto even better things.

Not to wax nostalgic or anything like that, but it was two years ago this week that you all were graced with the Malone twins joining your citizenry. A lot has happened in two years. Like, a lot. But Dunhaven looks good on us.

Anyway, to celebrate this anniversary, here's my favorite picture of all time that isn't of Hope: ( Cut for image! )

I have never regretted working at this radio station before, but hearing that people are planning and scheduling their vacations that I could only bestow on others and never be able to enjoy myself is causing great distress in my wanderlust heart.

PS: I'm a couple days late on this, but happy one year anniversary of getting cheese fries for the first time with the woman that I didn't know at the time was the love of my life.

NIALL

Hi. I need to talk to you about something. I've been avoiding it since you got back from Ireland so I'm being a grown up and talking to you about it here, instead of in person. Baby steps.

I'm feeling particularly exhausted today thanks to the all too predictable government news coming out of my homeland this morning, so I wanted to do something that might serve as a pick me up for others. If you go to Java Chip today before noon, literally anything you order is on me. I just request that you do something nice for someone else today. It doesn't have to be big. Just pass on some goodness, that's all.

EMILIA

I don't think I'm going to be here too late tonight, even with the rehearsal and all that, but don't wait for me for dinner or anything, just in case. I'm trying to make sure our parents don't drive Niall too crazy, which is easier said than done sometimes. There are just too many parents over here.

There's something I need to

((ooc: as usual, please handwave that the lovely and talented musician in the video below is Benjy. And please check out the artists other videos because he's wonderful.))

This one's for you, Henry Mills.

Make me a believer.


FILTERED TO JASMINE, ARIA, & DREW

I've got my last final tomorrow morning, then I'm done. Camping trip to celebrate this weekend?

Prepare yourselves: Beginning Monday of next week, Grandma's will be running daily specials that will rotate between cheese fries, milkshakes, and our homemade desserts.

We'll also be running some extended hours and will close at midnight instead of 10:00 from May 10th thru May 23rd.

Finals Week is approaching. Never say that I didn't do anything for you.

[GRANDMA'S EMPLOYEES]

We've been preparing for the madness of the specials, but just so it's clear, if you aren't feeling up to picking up any of the extended hours, they're in no way mandatory.

We might be across the pond, but it's Mothering Sunday back home and I feel as though mothers should always deserve an added reason for appreciation so I have no issue celebrating a holiday that does just that twice in a year. So, happy Mothering Sunday to all of the mums and anyone else who might take up the mantle without technically being "mother". I hope that you can all take at least a minute or two for yourself, since I have no doubt that you deserve it.

( instagram post! )

Hope Marie, you are four days away from being a month old and you've already become the light of my life. For once in my life, I have no words to really express just how much I love you, or how much I love how much your mom loves you. A year ago, I never thought I'd be here. Six months ago, I wasn't sure I'd be here, either, but here we are and you are the best thing I have ever done. ❤️

( cut for image! )

LUCY, KIERA, ELI

Hi, good morning. No big deal but which of you is currently closest to my house?

( instagram post! )

WHO: Emilia Lyon & Kiera Malone
WHEN: Thursday, January 31, 2018; Evening
WHERE: Emilia’s place
SUMMARY: Emilia and Kiera make a big decision about raising a baby :3
WARNINGS: None, really.

( We'll figure it all out, you and me. I promise. )