Podcasts about petaluma

It was an honor to have Chief Chad Costa join the podcast via the inter web. Chief talked about the many layers of fire service that work together to Fight Wild Fires. It takes all of us and the best thing we can do is leave our ego at home and remember we are all fighting the same fight and here to help each other. Tune in to hear Chief Costa discuss that topic and more in this incredible episode.

On the night of March 22, 1970, 22-year-old Kathleen Johns was visiting her mother in Petaluma, California. Kathleen was seven months pregnant and had her ten-month-old daughter in the car with her. On Highway 132, near Modesto, she noticed the car behind her flashing its lights and honking its horn. Concerned, she pulled over, and the car behind her followed. The man told Kathleen that one of her rear tires was wobbly, but that he could tighten it. She happily let him help her, and after fiddling around in the back of her car, saying that everything was fine; he drove off.As Kathleen drove back onto the highway, the tire came off completely, and Kathleen swerved to a stop. The man backed up to her and offered to drive her and her daughter to the nearest gas station. Unsuspecting that the man had actually deflated her tire and caused the accident in the first place, Kathleen again accepted the offer of help and climbed into his car.Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theserialkillerpodcastWebsite: https://www.theserialkillerpodcast.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theskpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/serialkillerpodX: https://x.com/serialkillerpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peggy Flynn, City Manager for the City of Petaluma, California, joined the podcast to talk about fostering a culture of innovation, transparency, and engagement. She also discussed delivering effective and efficient public services. She shared how the City of Petaluma has evolved, projects her team is working on, and similarities between cattle ranching and city management, Host: Meredith Reynolds

Episode Summary:In this episode, host Steve Roby welcomes singer Stella Heath for an intimate look at the Billie Holiday Project—a heartfelt tribute to Lady Day's music and legacy. Ahead of her performances at SF Jazz, Stella shares her journey from a musically rich upbringing in Petaluma, California, to her deep dive into jazz and acting, and how these experiences shape her storytelling on stage.Key Topics & Highlights:Stella's early musical influences included Louis Armstrong, Edith Piaf, and her mother's eclectic taste.The impact of classical training and acting (including Shakespeare) on her jazz phrasing and storytelling.The origins and inspiration behind the Billie Holiday Project, focusing on Billie's emotional depth and social impact, especially through songs like “Strange Fruit.”Live performances from the Billie Holiday Project, including “No Regrets” and “I'll Be Seeing You.”Stella's approach to interpreting Billie Holiday's phrasing—balancing homage with her own voice.Insights into “back phrasing” and how Billie Holiday reshaped melodies.The band lineup for the SF Jazz shows, featuring musicians like Neil Angelo Fontano (piano), Robbie Elman (reeds), Daniel Fabricant (bass), Spike Klein (drums), Ian Sheer (guitar), and guest trumpeter Justin.What audiences can expect at the live shows: a mix of classic and lesser-known 1930s tunes, narrative arcs, and a unique setlist for each performance.Show Details:The Billie Holiday Project with the Stella Heath Sextet comes to SF Jazz's Joe Henderson Lab:Saturday, September 6th: 7:00 PM & 8:30 PMSunday, September 7th: 6:00 PM & 7:30 PMFor tickets and more information, visit sfjazz.org.Connect with Stella Heath:Website: stellaheathmusic.comListen & Subscribe:Find this episode, past conversations, and show notes (including ticket links) wherever you get your podcasts.Thanks for listening, and we'll see you at the show!

In this episode, we're digging into our all-time favorite vegetable varieties—the ones we can't imagine our gardens (or dinner plates) being without. From not one, but two improved ‘Brandywine'-type heirloom tomatoes to a cucumber that never fails to impress at the summer picnic. Carol even shares her must-have green bean variety (and tries to convince Danielle that it doesn't taste like wood). We rounded out the hour with personal stories, growing tips, and a few surprising twists on how to combat a couple of dreaded veggie pests.  Expert: Fionuala Campion is the owner and manager of Cottage Gardens of Petaluma in Petaluma, California. She is also a regional reporter for FineGardening.com.  See the full plant list from this episode on our website: https://www.finegardening.com/article/episode-184-all-time-favorite-vegetables

Corey Has Psychic AnxietyAt least three times in my life, I have had crazy emotions the day before something bad happens. In high school, after a cross country run I started crying for no reason. The next day, my parents announced they were getting a divorce. The day before the guy I thought was the one dumped me, same thing. I had crazy anxiety Monday...my dad had a bad fall Tuesday morning. (He's okay) How do we cash in on this?Sleep MaxingMore Americans are investing in better rest through products, routines and lifestyle changes, reshaping both bedrooms and behaviors along the way.This includes redesigning bedrooms to tracking sleep with wearable devices .The most popular sleepmaxxing tools Americans are using include white noise machines or soundscapes (38%), blackout curtains (36%), melatonin or sleep gummies (34%), and following a strict sleep/wake schedule (24%). Over 40% say they've given up or at least cut back on scrolling, caffeine and late-night drinks.Four C's Of A Strong RelationshipCommunication. Talk things over…even what makes you angry.Cooperation. It extends to everything from chores to the bedroom.Compromise. You don't have to change who you are to compromise on something.Consummation. Intimacy is such a vital part of a happy marriage, but don't ever use intimacy against them.Second Date UpdateDamian and Valerie met online and found that they both really enjoy trying new wines. They pick wine-tasting in Petaluma for their first date. What could cause Damian to ghost?

Valerie and Damian met online. They are both into wine, so they go wine-tasting in Petaluma for their first date. Why is Damian ghosting?

If someone had told Harrison Ford the odds early on, about his chances of making it as an actor in Hollywood, he may have given up. But he wasn't an odds kinda guy. He was a guy who did what he had to do to make it. Sometimes that meant swinging a hammer and working as a carpenter on the houses of James Caan and Joan Didion. Other times he found work touring with the Doors as the band's photographer. He even dealt a little weed on the side to people like Michelle Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas. But whether he was pulling focus on an elusive Jim Morrison, tearing ass through Petaluma in an old Chevy, or navigating a hunk of junk through an asteroid field, never tell him the odds. Harrison Ford made his own luck. Sign up for our newsletter and get the inside dirt on events, merch and other awesomeness - ⁠GET THE NEWSLETTER⁠ Follow Jake and DISGRACELAND: ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠ ⁠X⁠ (formerly Twitter)  ⁠Facebook Fan Group⁠ ⁠TikTok To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Send us a textHoly shit, this one is special! If you haven't heard, Bay Area rapper/activist/Filipina icon/mother Ruby Ibarra is the winner of the 2025 NPR Tiny Desk Concert with her song "Bakunawa" (watch the Tiny Desk Concert here!). To kick off her Tiny Desk Concert tour, the kind folks at the Lagunitas Brewing Company invited us to Ruby's concert at their beautiful brewery in Petaluma, Ca. Enjoy some snippets from Ruby's concert (including Ruby's verse during Thao Nguyen's set), and our interview with her where she shares how becoming a mother has influenced her music, having her concert cancelled in LA during the Ice Protests, and what kind of dialogue she hopes her music creates during these divided times. Follow rapper Ruby Ibarra on IGFor more info on the Lagunitas Brewing Company's summer concert series, click here!Support the showThanks for listening and for your support! We couldn't have won Best of the Bay Best Podcast in 2022 , 2023 , and 2024 without you! -- Fight fascism. Shop small. Use cash. -- Subscribe to our channel on YouTube for behind the scenes footage! Rate and review us wherever you listen to podcasts! Visit our website! www.bitchtalkpodcast.com Follow us on Instagram & Facebook Listen every Tuesday at 9 - 10 am on BFF.FM

A listener writes in for advice on how to socialize with men without devolving into ball-busting and shit-talk, the de-facto defensive mechanism of every 20-something, 30-something, and 40-something male. SOUND THE EARNESTNESS HORN, PRODUCER RON!  CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR THIS WEEK'S WINNER⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Poll opens at 10:00am Mountain Time—anyone can vote!) LINKS: Follow us for show dates and more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Adam Cayton-Holland⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ben Roy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew Orvedahl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Grawlix⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support this podcast on Patreon to get ad-free episodes, bonus videos, exclusive merch, birthday shout-outs and more.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  UPCOMING SHOWS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠See the Grawlix live at the Bug Theatre on Saturday, July 26th with Django Gold and Britt Boyd!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠See Adam performing in Petaluma, Sacramento and Oakland, California on July 10th-12th⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠See Ben performing at the Realto Theater in Casper, Wyoming on July 11th-12th⁠⁠⁠ See Ben's band SPELLS at the Recess Records Romp in San Pedro, California on August 1st-3rd ⁠⁠⁠See Adam peforming at the Southeast Arizona Birding Festival in Tuscon on August 8th!⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out Andrew's new tabletop roleplaying games!⁠⁠⁠⁠ Got a question? Email us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠question@advicefight.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sunday School class led by Rev. W. Reid Hankins at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 07/06/2025 in Petaluma, CA. This week we surveyed 2 Corinthians. The post Surveying The Faith: 2 Corinthians appeared first on Trinity Presbyterian Church North Bay (OPC).

Sermon preached on Revelation 21:1-8 by Rev. W. Reid Hankins during the Morning Worship Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 07/06/2025 in Petaluma, CA. Sermon Manuscript Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div. At last, we come to what we all are waiting for! Today's passage introduces the final blessed state of God's redeemed people in the age to come. ... Read more The post The New Heaven and the New Earth appeared first on Trinity Presbyterian Church North Bay (OPC).

Norman Greenbaum gave the world "Spirit in the Sky," one of the greatest records ever made. He chats with us about his iconic classic, as well as other musical adventures and misadventures over the last few decades. PART ONE: Paul and Scott chat about Instagram, artist accessibility, and what the heck Norman Greenbaum looks like. PART TWO:Our in-depth conversation with Norman GreenbaumABOUT NORMAN GREENBAUMNorman Greenbaum might be known as a one hit wonder, but that one hit is one of the most wonderous records to ever hit the airwaves. With its infectious groove and unparalleled fuzz tone guitar, “Spirit in the Sky” was recorded in San Francisco in 1969 and quickly climbed to the Top 5 in the US and number 1 in a half dozen countries around the world. It has been certified double platinum for sales of over 2 million, and is among Rolling Stone magazine's “500 Greatest Songs of All Time.” It has reached #1 in the UK in three different decades by three different artists and has been covered by everyone from Elton John to the Blind Boys of Alabama. After his debut LP, Greenbaum went on to release the albums Back Home Again and Petaluma in 1970 and 1972, respectively. Though he gave up recording in the early 1970s, “Spirit in the Sky” remains one of the most popular songs of all time. With nearly 600 million streams on Spotify alone, it has been featured in films such as Apollo 13, Oceans 11, and Guardians of the Galaxy, and in commercials for American Express, Chase Bank, Nike, and Budweiser. To celebrate the song's legacy, Craft Recordings has recently released a brand-new Dolby Atmos mix of the single as well as a new vinyl release of the long out-of-print Spirit in the Sky LP, cut from the original tapes. 

Brie for breakfast? Yes, please! Nibble fromage from dawn to dusk on the West Coast's Cheese Trail. We'll cuddle baby goats, sample hand-stretched Oaxacan-style cheese, and unwrap Monterey Jack's unscrupulous origins on the region's tastiest route.  Along the “whey,” the trail's founder, Vivien Straus, will share her family's deep dairy roots, the joys of cheese-fueled road trips, and why the West Coast churns out the country's most creative curds. You'll hear about old-school creameries in Northern California, an innovative “cowcohol” vodka made in Oregon, and Washington's award-winning canned cheddar. Whether you're a casual snacker or a hardcore curd nerd, this one's worth savoring. A sampling of the cheese spread ahead: - Marin French Cheese Co., Petaluma, California: The oldest cheese company in the U.S.; famous for “breakfast cheese.” - Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company, Point Reyes Station, California: Makers of the state's first blue cheese; offers tours, tastings, and spectacular views of Tomales Bay. - Spenker Family Farm, Lodi, California: Try goat yoga, goat cuddling, and creamy farmstead cheeses here. - TMK Creamery, Canby, Oregon: Family-run creamery offering cow-milking experiences, baby calf visits, and a vodka made from whey. - Don Froylan Creamery, Salem, Oregon: Mexican American creamery known for Oaxacan-style string cheese, made fresh on site and braided by hand.  - Washington State University Creamery, Pullman, Washington: Home of Cougar Gold, a cheddar-style cheese sold in cans and originally shipped to troops during WWII. Via Podcast is a production of AAA Mountain West Group.

What to do when a member of your community is an apex punisher. A letter writer from a close-knit community seeks advice for how to tell a cranky coworker they're office kryptonite, and the boys go traipsing into the Riff Weeds because Producer Ron is still out of town. What grew with the Wu, y'all, let's get into it. CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR THIS WEEK'S WINNER⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Poll opens at 10:00am Mountain Time—anyone can vote!) LINKS: Follow us for show dates and more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Adam Cayton-Holland⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ben Roy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew Orvedahl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Grawlix⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support this podcast on Patreon to get ad-free episodes, bonus videos, exclusive merch, birthday shout-outs and more.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  UPCOMING SHOWS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠See the Grawlix live at the Bug Theatre on Saturday, July 26th with Django Gold and Britt Boyd!⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠See Adam performing in Petaluma, Sacramento and Oakland, California on July 10th-12th⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠See Ben performing at the Realto Theater in Casper, Wyoming on July 11th-12th⁠⁠ ⁠⁠See Adam peforming at the Southeast Arizona Birding Festival in Tuscon on August 8th!⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Check out Andrew's new tabletop roleplaying games!⁠⁠⁠ Got a question? Email us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠question@advicefight.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sunday School class led by Rev. W. Reid Hankins at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 06/29/2025 in Petaluma, CA. This week we surveyed 1 Corinthians. The post Surveying The Faith: 1 Corinthians appeared first on Trinity Presbyterian Church North Bay (OPC).

Sermon preached on Revelation 20:11-15 by Rev. W. Reid Hankins during the Morning Worship Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 06/29/2025 in Petaluma, CA. Sermon Manuscript Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div. As we near the finish of Revelation, we at last come to the passage that deals with the final judgment in terms of the actual judgment. Yes, ... Read more The post The Great White Throne Judgment appeared first on Trinity Presbyterian Church North Bay (OPC).

What to do when good ink goes bad.  Today's letter writer got a new tattoo right on heels of a divorce. Now they regret it. And they also probably regret not telling the Advice Fight boys any details about that aforementioned tattoo—because Adam, Ben and Andrew have to use their imaginations. And those aforementioned imaginations have been warped and darkened through years of standup comedy (and perhaps poor nutrition). The results of such imagination abuse? You'll find that in today's very important episode.  ⁠CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR THIS WEEK'S WINNER⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Poll opens at 10:00am Mountain Time) LINKS: Follow us for show dates and more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Adam Cayton-Holland⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ben Roy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew Orvedahl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Grawlix⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support this podcast on Patreon to get ad-free episodes, bonus videos, exclusive merch, birthday shout-outs and more.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  UPCOMING SHOWS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠See the Grawlix live at the Bug Theatre on Saturday, June 28th with Kiri Shabazz, Babs Gray, and Joshua Emerson!⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠See Adam performing in Petaluma, Sacramento and Oakland, California on July 10th-12th⁠⁠ ⁠See Ben performing at the Realto Theater in Casper, Wyoming on July 11th-12th⁠ ⁠See Adam peforming at the Southeast Arizona Birding Festival in Tuscon on August 8th!⁠ ⁠⁠Check out Andrew's new tabletop roleplaying games!⁠⁠ Got a question? Email us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠question@advicefight.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's Bottom-Up Short, Norm is joined by Kevin McDonnell, the mayor of Petaluma, California, and Dave Alden, co-leader of Petaluma Urban Chat. Kevin and Dave discuss their Know Before You Grow initiative, a community-driven effort focused on smart, financially strong development. They share how this initiative has helped direct attention toward building housing in Petaluma's downtown, where services already exist and infrastructure is more financially viable. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES Petaluma Urban Chat (site) Norm Van Eeden Petersman (LinkedIn). Do you know someone who would make for a great Bottom-Up Revolution guest? Let us know here!   This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership, including member-exclusive perks.

An Exhortation on Psalm 13 by Mr. Jack Edling during the Morning Worship Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 06/22/2025 in Petaluma, CA. The post Pressing into the Promises appeared first on Trinity Presbyterian Church North Bay (OPC).

Sunday School class led by Mr. Justin Crick at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 06/22/2025 in Petaluma, CA. This week Sunday School lesson titled “God's Faithfulness in Church History: From the Apostles to the Puritans” The post God's Faithfulness in Church History appeared first on Trinity Presbyterian Church North Bay (OPC).

In California, music and winemaking seem to go together. Visit any of the state's countless wineries and you can hear all kinds of music, from jazz and folk, to classical and Americana. But one artist on the Central Coast takes that connection especially seriously: he spent years making an album full of sounds from a vineyard. Reporter Benjamin Purper takes us to San Luis Obispo to learn more about a sonic journey through a Central Coast wine harvest. And we'll meet one of California's most celebrated cheese-makers, Soyoung Scanlan. But years ago, before she'd ever really eaten cheese, Soyoung had another love. Growing up in South Korea, she trained in classical piano. So every cheese she's made over the last 25 years has a musical name and connection. For her series California Foodways, Lisa Morehouse visited the cheesemaker in the hills outside Petaluma. We end today with the story of Ron Peterson, a volunteer guide at the Tijuana River Estuary. After losing his sight, Ron now leads a very unique kind of tour. His story comes to us from KPBS in San Diego, as part of their series about volunteers, people who devote their time in unexpected ways. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Norman Greenbaum may be forever linked to the unforgettable guitar riff and gospel-tinged chorus of “Spirit in the Sky,” but there's so much more to his story than one legendary song. Born in Massachusetts, Norman grew up in a Jewish household. Even though religion wasn't a big part of his life, music definitely was. He studied briefly at university, but the pull of music was too strong. Like many young artists chasing creative dreams in the '60s, Norman packed up and moved west to LA — the epicenter of folk revival, psychedelic rock, and counterculture energy.Before launching a solo career, Norman played with a psychedelic folk group called Dr. West's Medicine Show and Junk Band. Their minor hit, The Eggplant That Ate Chicago, gave him a taste of the music business and a foot in the door, but it wasn't exactly where he saw his future. He wanted to explore songwriting with a bit more edge, a bit more soul.In 69, Norman wrote the song that would catapult him into music history — “Spirit in the Sky.” A gritty, fuzzed-out electric guitar line, handclaps, and gospel harmonies sung by the Stovall Sisters gave the track its signature sound. The lyrics, which talk about meeting Jesus and being ready to die, struck an odd chord coming from a secular Jewish guy. But it worked. In fact, it worked better than anyone expected.Norman wrote the song in about 15 minutes and it hit like lightning.“Spirit in the Sky” soared to #3 - topped charts around the world, and sold over two million copies. It became an instant classic. Norman followed it up with an album of the same name which included tracks like “Canned Ham” and “Milk Cow.” As the '70s unfolded, Norman continued to record and release music but the commercial magic of “Spirit in the Sky” proved tough to recreate. He eventually left the pressures of the music industry and settled into a quieter life. In the 70s, he moved to Petaluma, California, where he ran a dairy farm, produced goat cheese, and lived off the royalties from his big hit. Through the '80s, '90s, and early 2000s, “Spirit in the Sky” found new life in movies, TV shows, and commercials. While he wasn't releasing new albums regularly, Norman stayed connected to fans. In the 2000s, he began performing again on a limited basis. He never lost his dry wit or his humility. In 2015, Norman made headlines again — this time due to a tragic car accident. He was a passenger in a car that collided with a motorcycle in Santa Rosa, California. The motorcyclist died in the crash, and Norman was critically injured, spending weeks in the hospital. The accident deeply affected him, not only physically but emotionally. He's spoken about the lasting impact it had on him, especially considering the spiritual nature of his most famous song.After a long recovery, Norman slowly returned to public appearances, embracing a quieter life but still keeping the door open to music. He continues to live in Santa Rosa, where he maintains an official website, spiritinthesky.com, which features music, photos, and ways for fans to reach out. Norman has received renewed attention as younger generations discover the song through streaming platforms and soundtracks. The song's fusion of rock, gospel, and spiritual themes has helped it transcend its era, sounding just as powerful today as it did in 1969.“Spirit in the Sky” is more than just a classic rock anthem — it's become a cultural touchstone. And Norman Greenbaum, the man behind it, remains one of rock's most fascinating figures: a thoughtful, funny, unassuming songwriter who struck gold by following his instincts and trusting in the power of a good hook.In this episode we meet and chat with Norman Greenbaum and pick that incredile brain of his. I hope you enjoy it!

How to handle the existential dread of returning to the office. The sweet, sweet ride of working from home is coming to a close for one loyal listener, so they reached out to the boys for advice on navigating the smells and hells of office culture.  CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR THIS WEEK'S WINNER⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Poll opens at 10:00am Mountain Time) LINKS: Follow us for show dates and more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Adam Cayton-Holland⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ben Roy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew Orvedahl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Grawlix⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support this podcast on Patreon to get ad-free episodes, bonus videos, exclusive merch, birthday shout-outs and more.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  UPCOMING SHOWS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠See the Grawlix live at the Bug Theatre on Saturday, June 28th with Kiri Shabazz, Babs Gray, and Joshua Emerson!⁠⁠ ⁠See Ben performing at Laff's in Tuscon, Arizona on June 20th-21st⁠ ⁠See Adam performing in Petaluma, Sacramento and Oakland, California on July 10th-12th⁠ See Ben performing at the Realto Theater in Casper, Wyoming on July 11th-12th See Adam peforming at the Southeast Arizona Birding Festival in Tuscon on August 8th! ⁠Check out Andrew's new tabletop roleplaying games!⁠ Got a question? Email us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠question@advicefight.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sermon preached on Acts 4:1-22 by Mr. Jack Edling during the Morning Worship Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 06/15/2025 in Petaluma, CA. The post In the Name of Christ the Cornerstone appeared first on Trinity Presbyterian Church North Bay (OPC).

Sunday School class led by Mr. Jack Edling, Licentiate and Intern at Reformation Fellowship OPC in Roseville, CA. A Study of Act 4: 1-24 at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 06/15/2025 in Petaluma, CA. The post Peter and John before the Sanhedrin appeared first on Trinity Presbyterian Church North Bay (OPC).

In this week's PerformHappy Podcast, I'm joined by sport parent and PerformHappy alum, Susan Bardack, for a real, honest conversation about the rollercoaster of raising an athlete.Susan shares her daughter Ashland's journey from gymnastics to D1 college diving, including how they navigated tough mental blocks and the moment everything shifted—when Susan stopped pushing and started trusting.We talk about the lessons parents often learn the hard way, the impact of pressure (even when it's well-meaning), and how letting go actually helped Ashland find her confidence, joy, and success in sport.If you're a parent trying to support your athlete without adding stress, this episode is for you.In this episode, Coach Rebecca and Susan Bardack talk about:Transition from Gymnastics to Diving.Navigating Mental Blocks in Sports.Finding the Right Coaching Fit.Embracing Patience in Sports.Choosing the Right College Program.The Balance of Support and Independence with an Athlete. Listening to Fears: Acknowledging Emotions in Sports.Finding the Right Sport“It's okay to switch sports.” – Susan BardackI'm teaming up with @nike and @ussportscamps to bring you TWO life-changing Confident Gymnast Camps this summer—and your gymnast is invited! Pittsboro, NC — Unify Athletics | July 19th & 20th. Petaluma, CA — Redwood Empire Gymnastics | August 2nd & 3rd. Spots will go FAST!https://www.ussportscamps.com/welcome/nike-gymnastics-camps-complete-performance-coachingLearn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: https://a.co/d/g990BurFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/complete_performance/ Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/ Check out my website: https://completeperformancecoaching.com/Write to me! Email: rebecca@completeperformancecoaching.comReady to help your athlete overcome fears and mental blocks while gaining unstoppable confidence? Discover the transformative power of PerformHappy now. If your athlete is struggling or feeling left behind, it's time for a change. Are you ready? For more info and to sign up: PerformHappy.com

What to do when your relationship hits a plateau. After nearly a decade with their partner, a letter-writer wonders how to let their partner know they need more out of the relationship. ⁠CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR THIS WEEK'S WINNER⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Poll opens at 10:00am Mountain Time) LINKS: Follow us for show dates and more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Adam Cayton-Holland⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ben Roy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew Orvedahl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Grawlix⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support this podcast on Patreon to get ad-free episodes, bonus videos, exclusive merch, birthday shout-outs and more.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  UPCOMING SHOWS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠See the Grawlix live at the Bug Theatre on Saturday, June 28th with Kiri Shabazz, Babs Gray, and Joshua Emerson!⁠ See Ben performing at Laff's in Tuscon, Arizona on June 20th-21st See Adam performing in Petaluma, Sacramento and Oakland, California on July 10th-12th Check out Andrew's new tabletop roleplaying games! Got a question? Email us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠question@advicefight.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sunday School class led by Rev. Dale Hanaoka at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 06/08/2025 in Petaluma, CA. This week we considered The Faithful being the Vice Regents of God. The post Objects of Faith appeared first on Trinity Presbyterian Church North Bay (OPC).

Sermon preached on Acts 9:1-22 by Rev. Dale Hanaoka during the Morning Worship Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 06/08/2025 in Petaluma, CA. The post God Conquers His Enemies appeared first on Trinity Presbyterian Church North Bay (OPC).

A pandemic survivor accidentally forms a harem.Based on a post by CorruptingPower, in 25 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels.Chapter 1Around day eighteen of the quarantine, Andy was starting to lose his damn mind. The governor of California had gotten on the television and announced that everyone who wasn't essential was under house arrest, essentially. Sure, the grocery stores were open, but restaurants were only doing delivery, and every bar in town was closed. The most time he'd spent outdoors in the last week had been walking out to the mailbox cluster for the complex down at the end of the street.Despite the fact that both of them had decent paying jobs “ Eric as a software engineer and Andy as a marketing writer “ neither could afford an entire place to themselves, so Andy paid rent to Eric, who owned the condo (or at least was paying it down).Andy also had a side hustle as a novelist, and was getting frustrated as hell that the quarantine was keeping him in place meant that his newest book was being pushed back. There was a warehouse full of fifty thousand copies of his next novel, and they were all just sitting there."They'll come out eventually," his agent had told him, but the whole thing felt very much like a death sentence to his literary ambitions. Andy even had a box of copies sitting on their kitchen table, along with a movie poster styled promotional in a frame."Did you get the mail today?" Andy asked his roommate."Nah," Eric said. "Didn't see the point.""Fair enough."Wham wham wham."You order food?""Nope. You?"A voice came from outside their front door. "CDC. Open the door, please."Eric moved to the door and peered through the peephole. On the other side, he saw a man in a biohazard suit, covered completely from head to toe. He raised one covered hand and waved. "I'm perfectly safe, as you can see. We're going door to door and testing people for the virus."Eric looked back at his roommate and shrugged. Andy grabbed his two cats, scooping one up in each arm as Eric opened the door. It was like something out of The Andromeda Strain, seeing the man in the yellow hazmat outside, a small box in one hand. "CDC?""Yeah. I'm Dave. Invite me in?"Andy shrugged and Eric laughed. "Sure, c'mon in. We just need to close the door behind you so the cats don't get out.""Sure sure, I get that. I'm here to test if you guys are clear. Is there some place I can set up?""Go ahead and use the kitchen. You want us together or one at a time?""The test only takes fifteen minutes and I can run up to four of them at a time, so come on. I can run you both." He lugged the kit with a world weariness, as if he'd been doing this thirty times a day since the lockdown had started. "Paperwork says you've got two guys living here “ Eric Yang and Andrew Rook. That you two?""That's us.""Nobody else in the condo?""Nope. Nobody else.""Cool," Dave said as he set the kit down on the kitchen table. He glanced up at the movie poster promotional on the wall above the kitchen table. "Oh hey, you guys are fan of the Druid Gunslinger books too? I fucking love those things."Eric laughed a little bit, sitting down in one of the kitchen chairs, rolling up his sleeve. "I mean, you could say that, I guess. He writes'em.""What? No, they're written by some guy named Blake Conrad." He glanced at Eric and grinned. "I don't need blood, man. Here, just rub this swab on the inside of your cheek for a bit."Andy smiled a bit sheepishly, putting the cats down. "Yeah, that's me. It's a pen name.""Why the hell would you want a pen name when you've got an awesome last name like Rook?""I'm friends with Arthur McStevenson. You know, the guy who writes all those thrillers you see on sale in the airports? Anyway, he told me that he wished he'd have taken a pen name before he got started, so people just couldn't look him up and track him down at home."Dave took the cotton swap that Eric handed him and put it into one of the four slots on the little machine he carried with him. "Oh hey, I'm sorry man. I don't want to bother you about it.""Nah, you didn't come tap on my window in the middle of the night or anything. What do I care?" Andy waved his hand before taking a cotton swab from him, rubbing it along the inside of his cheek, and then handed it back to the man in the bio suit."While this is running, I just gotta ask you guys a few other questions. Do you guys each have a twin bed?"Eric rolled his eyes. "Are you kidding me? Ask him about his bed. Just ask him."Andy crossed his arms over his chest, as if this was a discussion they'd had a number of times. "Eric's got a queen sized bed and I've got a California king sized bed. Even though I've got the smaller bedroom. But what can I say? When I got out of college, I bought a big ass bed, so I'd always be comfortable, and never wanted to give it up.""Why do you ask?""They're starting to force people to house additional people in their places, so we can keep the uncontaminated together, at least for a while.""What?" Eric said, his face scowling. "There's no way that's legal.""It's temporary, and we're doing everything we can to make sure people are at least okay with it. At this point, we're just doing what we can to get people through it. But the death toll is starting to stack up. I mean, have you seen the footage coming out of New York City?"Andy nodded. "Trailer trucks stacked full with body bags. It's terrifying.""Besides, it's not all that bad. The virus seems to be targeting men a lot more than women, so guys are scoring with women way out of their league. And the women seem to be a little friskier once they've developed an immunity to the virus. I'm sure you'll see eventually."Andy arched an eyebrow in the man's direction. "That sounds ominous."The man in the biohazard suit waved a hand dismissively in their direction. "Not at all. Just relax and enjoy the ride. That's all I should say about it. So when's the next Druid Gunslinger book coming out? It's really soon, isn't it?"Andy stepped over to the fridge, opening it to take out a can of soda, using the fridge to hide his sigh, although he wasn't entirely successful. "It was supposed to be out in three weeks, but because of the virus, the publisher's pushing it back to the fall. I mean, I understand. I get a lot of additional sales off of in store appearances and whatnot. I get it. And I'm already working on writing the next one. But it's always rough having a book release pushed back.""Man, that sucks. I was really looking forward to reading it during my downtime when they're driving us between locations.""Y'know what, you're a fan, so let me do you a favor. I better not see this show up on eBay or the internet though, otherwise I'm gonna know who it was." Andy moved over to the box on the kitchen and opened the top of it, taking one of the books out. "They call these advance reader copies. They send me a few boxes of them so I can sell them at appearances or give them away to friends and such. I haven't even sent my family copies yet. I think the only other person than my agent and my editor who's read the book is Eric here."Eric nodded. "It's not as good as 'Have Totem, Will Travel' but it's one of the better books in the series, I thought. Way better than 'The Trouble With Werebears,' but then again, that's not hard.""Everyone's a critic," Andy said, grabbing a pen from near the box. "Fair, though. I had to bang that one out in five weeks because the publisher just wanted to cram another one onto store shelves while it was hot. I wasn't satisfied with it either, but it still sold okay. You said your name was Dave, right?""Yeah," Dave answered.Andy opened the front cover of the hardback ARC and wrote in the front of it, "For Dave, Jake thinks you're one of the real heroes. Yours, Blake Conrad." He blew over the ink for a second, making sure it was dry, before closing it up and offering it to Dave. "There you go. Autographed, personalized copy months in advance of when you can get it in stores.""That's awesome, man!" Dave said, genuine enthusiasm in his voice. The machine on the table beeped, a cheerful tri tone medley. "You guys are both 100% virus clear. And let me pay you back for this," he said, patting the book on the table next to him. He flipped a little toggle switch on the machine and then pushed the large green button on the side. A small little printout scrolled out of the machine. He tore it off and then pushed the green button again. "Okay, this one is for you," he said, holding out the receipt to Eric. "And this one is for you, Mr. Conrad," he said with a laugh, holding out the second slip to Andy. "You need to go onto the website today and fill out the questionnaire. I know it's going to seem weird, but just answer the questions honestly and openly, and go through the whole thing. You'll be very glad you did later, okay?""What's it for?""It'll help you be happy with your pair ups when we bring them by in a few days. You know that giant condo complex a mile or two over?""What, the 30 story skyscraper?""Yeah. That's being converted into a triage hospital, so all the tenants are being evicted. Lots of people who are going to be relocated. There's a range of five possible questionnaires that uninfected men can get, and it's at the test giver's discretion. Most people, we just give them level one or two questionnaires.""What did you give us?""Welcome to level 5, fellas. It's mostly reserved for medical professionals and high rollers, but it's my discretion, and this little baby's going to keep me from losing my mind for the next few weeks, so I gotta make sure we're square," he said while patting the book. "This should more than even us out.""It makes that much of a difference?"Dave smiled like a Cheshire cat beneath his biohazard helmet and nodded. "You'll see. Just trust me on this. Go fill it out right away, though! They'll probably have someone here tomorrow or the day after, and you want to be ready." The scientist picked up the book in one hand and his testing kit in the other. "And with that, I'm off! I won't be able to get started on this tonight, but I'll see if I can swing by on one of the drop offs and let you know what I think of it.""Hey, it's always nice to meet a fan," Andy said. He moved to scoop up the two cats into his arms again before he and Eric walked him to the door.Dave shuffled toward the door, as Eric opened it for him. "Remember guys, the questionnaire is completely confidential and no one's going to judge you on any of it, so be completely honest. Got it? Completely. Honest.""With all the hyping you've been doing, I can't wait to see this questionnaire," Andy laughed. "Go on, go! You've got more people to be saving, I'm sure.""Take care, fellas!" Dave said.Eric closed the door on him, then flipped the lock, and then the deadbolt before putting the chain on. He liked to make sure it was secure. "So I suppose we both better go take this thing, huh?" he said to Andy, who was putting down the cats again."Guess so."Eric's desk was in the living room, while Andy's was part of the adjacent dining room. They'd been known to politely yell at one another from their desks. Andy typed in the website on the slip and hit return. A rather bland looking government website popped up. There Andy entered his name, his address, his social security number and address."He wasn't kidding when he said this quiz was unorthodox," Eric called over to him, clearly ahead of him in the process. "These are not the kind of questions I expect a government website to be asking me.""Oh yeah? I can't wait to find out." Andy typed in the personalization code at the bottom of the slip. It was a long series of characters, a mix of numbers and letters, both capital and lower case, with a variety of special characters mixed in “ 25 characters in all. Andy had to enter the series twice because the first time he hadn't realized it was case sensitive and the site had rejected it.The first question immediately surprised him. "Are you attracted to: Women, Men, Both?" It wasn't at all what he expected, but he checked "women" and the site moved onward. There was a small button marked back, in case he made errors, obviously.The next page asked him what ages of women he was attracted to. There were two little slider bars, with the low end going as far down at 18 and the high end going up to 70+. Andy was nearly 40, but the words of Dave rang through his head. "Be honest." Andy shrugged, leaving the low end set to 18 and brought the high end to 35.He was a more than a little caught off guard by the next question. "Would you consider yourself: Monogamous, polyamorous, no preference?" He had to think about it for a long moment, but eventually clicked "no preference." If he was truly honest with himself, if he found himself with a girlfriend who had another girlfriend, he wouldn't have been bothered by it.For the next twenty minutes, Andy continued to work through the website, filling in all the options about what he was and wasn't attracted to. Height, weight, race, hair color, hair length, eye color, nationality, education, physique, the questions went on and on and on. After he went through any given category, he was then given a follow up page to rank all of the things from most attracted to at the top down to least attracted to at the bottom.Towards the back half, he started to understand what Eric had found so surprising. The quiz had a page with a seemingly limitless collections of fetishes and kinks. At the top was the message "Click all that apply." Following that, all of the things Andy had clicked on were in another list he was expected to order.When he had to order all of his turn ons, he became more than a little aware how at odds with each other some of them were. In fact, he had aggressive women and submissive women next to one another in the ordered list. He wondered what the algorithm would make of that.The last page was the same fetish and kinks list presented again with a different message at the top. "Click all those that are hard turn offs for you. Be thorough." It was this page that Andy found himself clicking a lot of buttons.He also had to look up a handful of the terms that did not include clarification. He was sure there were people out there who liked pissing on each other, but he certainly wasn't one of those. He also had to make sure to reject women who were allergic to cats. He wondered if all this information was just going to ensure no one showed up.All in all, the whole thing felt a little like a thing he'd taken in college called the Purity Test, a thousand question party game where people who had been drinking would compare sexual histories.The final page was all the information he'd entered presented in an ordered list, with a message in large friendly red letters at the top. "Review all the information below for accuracy! Once you hit submit, you cannot revise this information!"After a final pass to make sure he hadn't marked anything incorrectly, he hit submit. The screen went blank for a second before a confirmation message popped up. "A copy of this has been mailed to the email address you provided. Thank you for helping us keep California safe!"Andy closed the web browser and rose up from his seat, heading over to talk to his roommate. "Okay, yeah, that was definitely weird.""What did you say to the polyamory question?" Eric asked him."I put no preference.""Really? Man, I couldn't click the monogamous button fast enough. Last thing I want is a girlfriend who's shacking up with another guy."Andy smirked. "What if she was shacking up with another girl?""Ah shit, I didn't even think of that."He shrugged at Eric with a wry smile. "Like it's going to make any fucking difference anyway. I'm sure the whole thing is just an optimistic pipe dream. When was the last time our government brought any real change with a website?""Heh. Guess we'll see.""Yep, suppose so."And that was the last they talked about it for the rest of the day. But it certainly wouldn't be the last time they talked about it.Chapter 2It was a little past noon the next day when there came a knock at the door. "Open up! CDC!" the voice on the other side shouted at them. "Delivery and I don't have time to fuck about so let's go."Andy was in the living room working on his laptop, and glanced over at Eric, who was hip deep in a conference call. "Don't worry, I got it. They probably just forgot some questions yesterday or something." Eric waved his hand as Andy set his laptop aside, carrying on with his conversation with his coworkers.Andy rose from the couch and made his way over to the front door, opening it without thinking to look through the peephole. The cats were both upstairs asleep, so he didn't worry about them. When he opened the door, there were three people outside of it, not the one he'd expected. The person in the middle looked a lot like Dave had, except for the face. The man inside this biohazard suit was a black man in his late forties. He looked a lot less jovial than Dave had.To the left and right of the man in the biohazard suit was a woman covered from head to toe. From the clothing, it was almost impossible to make out any details other than the woman to the left of him was short and the woman to the right was tall. Both of them wore hoodies with the hoods pulled up. They wore ski visors over their eyes and scarves over their noses and mouths. Both wore long sweatpants and had those fuzzy lined boots he'd never thought were fashionable. He couldn't see an inch of skin from either. Each of them had a small roller suitcase with them, the kind of travel bag someone takes for a holiday no longer than a week. They also each had a large bag under their arm, an oversized purse maybe, or a laptop bag. The whole appearance was almost like Berkas by Gucci."You Eric or Andy?" the man in the gear asked him."Andy.""Copy," the man said, tapping at his little pad with a stylus that dangled from it. He let the stylus drop and then opened a pouch on the outside of his suit, upholstering a bottle of Lysol. He sprayed the surface of the tablet for a few seconds then held it out to Andy. "Just use your finger to sign on the line. Any day now. I've got another seven deliveries to make today, and people are on the bus waiting so let's go."Andy lifted a finger up and signed an approximation of his name on the tablet's surface. "So how long is this for? That these people are staying with us?""Which room is Eric's and which room is Andy's?" the shorter of the two women asked."Upstairs and turn right for Eric's room and left for my, uh, Andy's room," he said, as the two women immediately brushed past him and ran upstairs. "How long?""The fuck should I know, pal? I just deliver them." He took the tablet back from Andy and glanced down at it. "Anyway, that's it for this batch. I'll see you again in a few days, maybe a week or so, with the next one.""The next one?" Andy asked, but the man had already turned and started walking back to a school bus that was idling in the street. "What do you mean the next one?" But the man had already moved on, and either didn't hear Andy or didn't care. Andy suspected it was the latter. Behind him, up the stairs, he heard both his and Eric's bedroom doors shut.He closed the door and locked it, then turned the padlock and put the chain back on. Andy looked over his shoulder, then glanced and Eric, who shrugged. He moved upstairs and knocked on his own bedroom door. "Uh, hello?""Five minutes please!" a voice on the other side of the door said to him.Andy sighed, turned around and walked downstairs. His roommate looked over at him, having just wrapped up his conference call. "She wants five minutes."Eric laughed. "We've been kicked out of our own rooms. Great."Andy moved back over to the couch and picked up his laptop, sitting back down and starting to write again. He was curious, though. Insanely curious about what was happening in his own room. Neither of the cats were complaining so he imagined it couldn't be too bad. His roommate had wrapped up his conference call, but had clearly turned on his music, because Andy could hear the tiny noise flare ups, even though Eric was just wearing earbuds. He did love his death metal loud.He spent a while trying to work but trying to focus felt damn near impossible. He popped into his company's Slack channel, to let them know what was going on.“your partner showed up?” his boss typed. “take the rest of the week off. you're going to be busy“They said they're going to be back later with another delivery. What the hell does that mean?” Andy typed into the channel.“oh shit” his boss typed back. “how big is your bed? queen sized?”“King sized.” Andy replied. “California king, actually. Don't know what difference that makes though. The news said one partner per person.”“u have a king bed tho” his boss replied. “did the site ask u the polyamory question?”“Yeah” Andy typed. “I put no preference”“shit” came the reply. “okay take off the rest of the week and let me know when you get another partner and we can do the same again as many times as you get partners”“Wait. What? How many partners can they give me?”“depends on what level the tester gave you”“He said level 5. He was a fan of my novels so I gave him a signed copy of the new one”“Oh, shit” his boss answered. “then u can be assigned up to 4 partners with Cali king bed”“Now you're just fucking with me” Andy sent back with a laugh.“noshit my dude” his boss answered. “ok we play it by ear then but dont check out any new tasks until monday, k?”“Am I still getting paid for the time?”“new partner adaptation time dude its all covered”“Okay then, I guess.”“level 5, L O L, u fucking suck” his boss typed. “u dont deserve that level of woman”“Wait. What do you mean?”“LOL u didn't read how the levels system work fuck u go enjoy winning the lottery”And with that, his boss set Andy's status to Out Of Office.From upstairs he heard both pairs of doors open, although he didn't think either of them opened fully. "I'm going to take a shower if that's okay with Eric," a voice called down."He's in the zone working, so that should be fine," Andy called up."Thank you!" And then Eric's bedroom door closed again."Okay Andy, come on up," a different voice said. "But close the bedroom door behind you, okay?" And then his own bedroom door shut.His work day was done. He found himself a little nervous at the idea of going into his own room, but he realized waiting wasn't going to make it any easier. Time to face the music. He pushed his laptop back into his laptop bag, zipped it up and set it on the coffee table.Andy walked up the stairs and came to his bedroom door. It was odd, staring at this side of his bedroom door. He knocked on the door, and a soft giggle came from the other side. "You don't need to knock, silly. It's your room. Come on in."He wasn't entirely sure what he expected to find behind the door. But he did as he was told to do, opening the door, stepping in and closing the door behind him.Sitting on his bed was a lovely redheaded woman in her mid to late twenties. He suspected the coppery color of her hair was natural as he could see a generous dusting of freckles on her cheeks and arms. She had it done up in a sporty ponytail that hung down to the small of her back. Instead of all the layers he'd seen her in just a few minutes ago, she was dressed now in simply a sports bra, a pair of booty shorts and a pair of thigh high leather boots. She had her hands behind her on the bed to thrust her perky tits up in his direction. She was fit, pale, strikingly beautiful, and had a playful smile on her face."Hallo Andy," she said, an Irish tinge to her voice. "My name's Aisling. It's pronounced Ashling, but spelled A i s l i n g. I'm from Dublin, but after I finished uni, I got a job out here working as a graphic designer. I'm your new partner. I hope I'm to your liking.""Oh!" Andy said, as if the whole situation was just dawning on him. "Oh, I'm "Aisling couldn't contain herself any longer and sat up and rushed him, throwing her arms around, clinging to him firmly. "We can touch," she moaned into his ear. "Touch! It's been so fucking long since I touched anybody. And I'm going to touch the fuck out of you nonstop, you beautiful bastard."He was slightly taken aback at how tightly she was holding him. "I mean, you don't have to ""I don't have to do any fucking thing I don't want to," she whispered into his ear. "But it is taking every bit of willpower I have not to drop to my fucking knees and rip those pants right off you. Because that's what I desperately want to do right now."Andy could feel her nipples pressed firmly against his chest through the sports bra, and her breath was hot against his skin. "Wah, why?""We've been in isolation for months," Aisling said as her hand grabbed onto his ass through his jeans. "They gave us injections to help us build our immune system against the virus, but they said it was going to stoke our libidos a bit. God, wasn't that a fucking understatement." She nibbled on his earlobe for a moment. "They showed me twenty pictures of men with a bit of description beneath each of them on what they wanted and didn't want, and I picked you."His hand moved along the small of her back, trying to keep it from going anywhere inappropriate, but she reached behind herself to grab his arm by the wrist and push his hand down onto her ass, which invoked another moan from her. "Why did you pick me?""You like gingers, which I am obviously. I'll be sure to show you it's natural in just a smidge," she said with a smile. "But you like both submissive and aggressive women, and I can be both. You're open to polyamory. I like both men and women, and I know that polyamorous men with large beds get multiple partners, so that's something to look forward to. I consider myself a switch, so I'm looking forward to having another girl to play with, one I can order around a bit." Andy started to try and pull his hand upward a bit, and she rubbed her hips forward a bit more insistently. "If you're lifting that hand up, it'd better be to slip it under my shorts onto my bare ass.""Is, is that what you want?""For an appetizer," she purred. "But you know what made me want you most of all?"Andy lifted his hand just to the top of her booty shorts, hesitating for just a second before he slid his fingertips beneath the hem of them. He realized he must've been hesitating a bit too long, because she reached back and pushed his hand down firmly until he had a full handful of toned butt in his grasp. "What's that?""Out of that long, long list of sexual turn ons and offs, the thing you put that turned you on the most, was dirty talk," she practically moaned at him. "I fucking love dirty talk. I am an absolutely filthy little slut. No," she giggled, licking her tongue along the shell of his ear, "I'm your filthy little slut now. I am going to beg you to fuck me stupid over and over again. I can't wait to suck on that cock of yours, to make you fuck my face until there are tears rolling down my eyes and I can't breathe. God, that makes my little cunt clench. It's tight, too. I've only fucked two guys before, and each of them only a couple of times. But you are going to fucking plow that gash of mine so much I may have to etch your name into it. You are going to fuck your little whore so much that you fall asleep inside of my cunt more often than not, and wake up to me sucking your cock clean to get you ready for another round." She turned around in his arms, which made his hand slide up to her stomach, her head leaning against his shoulder. "Here," she said, taking his hand on her belly, pushing it down the front of her shorts. "Feel just how sopping wet a bitch you own now, sir. Should be it sir? Master?" She giggled a little, wiggling her eyebrows. "Daddy?"Andy stuttered for a second, as his fingertips pushed through a small strip of hair before reaching the most drenched snatch he'd ever felt. "Fuck, you are soaked,”"Umm," she said with a nod. "So I'll just use all three then.""Not,” Andy sputtered, "not in front of my roommate.""The other guy? Oh, he's going to be more than a little distracted. I talked with Lily a little bit on the way over here “ Lily's the girl waiting for him in his room “ and she's more worked up than I am. And your roommate likes them to be a little dominant with him, so I don't think he'll have time to say anything, but if it makes you feel better, sir, I'll just call you Andy when we're out in the common areas. Or honey or baby. Something innocuous. As long as you're going to hold up your end of our deal.""My end?" Andy said, as he pushed a fingertip inside of Aisling's drenched cunt, feeling her clench down on it as she shivered slightly."You owe me one load of spunk every fucking day," she said, grabbing his other hand to push it up and under her sports bra to cup her tit, feeling how hard her nipple was against his palm. "I don't give a shite where you put it “ on my face, down my throat, across my tits, up my cunt, you can even stuff it up my virgin asshole, something I can't wait to feel the first time “ but you don't fall asleep at night without making sure I got my daily dose of your jizz. Think you can live up to that?""God, I hope so," he said, lifting her bra up to her collarbone, as her hands moved to pull it up and over her head, tossing it aside. "You really want that?"Aisling giggled again, a sound that sent shivers up Andy's spine every time. "I honestly can't wait to get started, Master. I want you to fuck me so bad, I can feel it trickling down my thighs. You've got yourself a needy little slut on your hands. How do you want our first time to be?"Andy's hand slid up from her shorts and brought his fingertips to his lips, licking them clean, seeing her nuzzling her face against his neck, so he offered his pointer finger to her, which she wrapped her lips around and suckled hard on before letting it pop from her mouth. "You were going to prove to me you were ginger, weren't you?""Hmm, I'm sure you can see the freckles all over my tits," she said, crossing her arms at the wrists in front of her to push them together and up towards his eyes. "But you want to be sure you've got an honest slut on your hands, hmm? Boots off or on, you think?""The boots are dead sexy, but let's have them off.""You like them though, yeah?" she asked as she put one foot up on his bed, and started unzipping one of the boots."Oh yes, they're fantastic. A lot of forethought in thinking to bring them.""We were allowed to made a list of things to get packed up for us, so I've got all sorts of little surprises in my wheelie bag, but I'll tell you one, I've got a plaid skirt in there, back from my days at Mercy College. Every man around the world loves a schoolgirl." She pulled her other boot off and set it on the floor next to its companion. Then she unbuttoned the front button of her jean shorts, unzipping them before bending forward over the corner of Andy's bed. She pushed the shorts slowly over the curve of her ass and down her thighs before stepping out of them, leaving her in a tiny silky red thong. "Like the view?""God you're fit. I feel like a bit of fat man in your presence, I'm afraid.""Don't you worry, lad," she purred. "You and I are going to be doing a lot of exercise." She slid on her belly further onto the bed and then rolled onto her back. "I'll fuck you back thin, daddy." Aisling pulled her thighs back to her chest, reached down and drew her thong up along her legs. As soon as she lifted the fabric upward, Andy got his first view of her cunt, and she was glistening. With her ankles to the side of her head, she drew the thong off and tossed it to the side before spreading her legs wide. True to her word, there was a neat shaved triangle of copper curls just above her snatch. "See? Ginge minge. Now what're you gonna do about it?""Aren't you sweet as candy?" Andy slowly crawled onto the bed next to her. He didn't have shoes to kick off “ he'd barely put them on since the lockdown began. "You're down for anything?"Aisling rolled onto her side. "You want the first time to be something particular? How sweet. What did you have in mind?""Something simple. So you can show me what you like. You on top. That okay?" Andy said as he pulled his shirt up and over his head.She giggled a little bit, reaching a fingertip over to brush it along his chest. "Tattoos? You're full of surprises. I wouldn't have pegged you as a man with ink." Andy had a tattoo of a griffon starting on his right pectoral going down to his stomach, done in an elaborate and detailed style. It had been the better part of two days worth of work ten years ago. "I like the look of it, though. And if you want our first time to be me riding you, I say giddyup partner. Any other surprises down here I should be looking forward to?" Her fingertip moved to smooth down over the swell of his cock through his jeans."You can have a looksee for yourself after you do one more thing," Andy said, with a little laugh."Tell me what it is, so I can see the thing that's going to change my life." She was rubbing the palm of her hand firmly against that buldge now, her eyes looking down at her hand before bringing those green eyes up to meet his gaze, a girlish smile on her lips. "Stop teasing and tell me.""I've never shown my cock to girl I haven't kissed before," he said with a wry smile. "I don't intend to stay"Andy didn't even finish getting the sentence before Aisling had crawled all over him, pressing her lips to his. The kiss was intense, more intense than he'd ever remembered before. It came on strong and kept getting stronger, her lips parting after several seconds to let her tongue slip into his mouth and spiral around in a hungry dance. After a few minutes of making out like a couple of teenagers, she pulled back just an inch or so. "God, I hadn't realized how much I missed kissing someone. You're a great kisser." She pressed her lips against his once more and this time didn't wait to push her tongue in. After a few more minutes, she pulled back again. "That what you wanted?"He laughed softly. "You really want to see it, don't you?""See it, touch it, taste it, fuck it. I want to do everything you can think of with that cock, and once we're done with all of that, we can do it all over again." Her fingertips plucked at the button of his jeans, popping them undone. "Can I see it now, daddy?""I'm no porn star, Aisling, so I wouldn't get your hopes up," he said. "But yes, you can see it." He felt her drawing down his zipper and lifted his hips up so she could tug his jeans down and off, but she made a point of grabbing his boxers with them. "See? Not any longer than the average man.""Jaysus," she said quietly, "maybe not any longer, but certainly thicker. A lot thicker. That is a great big fat ol' cock you got there, Master." Her voice was one continuous purr as her slender fingers wrapped around the base of his cock and started to slowly stroke it. "Thicker than any cock I've ever had inside of me. Can I?""Hop aboard." The whole thing felt vaguely dreamlike. He wasn't sure she was real, wasn't sure any of this was real. He half expected to wake up and for everything to disappear at any moment. But that didn't happen."Gladly," she said, as she straddled one leg over his hips. She snaked a hand between them to grab the base of his cock, angling it properly, setting the tip against wet snatch before sinking down onto it with one continuous motion. As soon as her hips touched down against his, his cock bottoming out inside of her cunt, he felt her entire body slump forward atop him in a colossal shiver, her cunt spasming and clenching on his shaft. A tiny moan burbled from her lips, one that bubbled over into a breathy laugh against his neck, desperate and delirious. "Fer fuck sake. I've never cum that hard in my entire fucking life, and you just put the fucking thing inside of me. Nothing more. Just from putting him in.""Do you want to stop?""Are you out of your fucking mind?" she giggled, placing both of her hands on Andy's chest. "I haven't gotten my daily nut yet, daddy. And your girl wants what's coming to her. And by hook or by crook, she will fucking having it." Her arms pressed together to push her tits out even more, as she started to snake her hips backwards only to thrust them forward again. "It's been two years since I got properly fucked last. How long's it been for you?""You'll only laugh at me," Andy said with a slight frown."I promise I won't," she purred. "Has it been longer?""A lot longer.""How long?""Over a decade."She leaned down and kissed him again, this time a bit more softly and tenderly. "Well, you're never going to go a day in your life without fucking ever again, so it'll be alright." She had a magical way of swaying atop of him, shimmying back and forth on his cock. Her body ground down onto him over and over, sweat glistening off her freckled pale skin.His hands latched onto her hips, trying mostly to hold on. His fingertips clenched onto her smooth skin, pressing her down a little more than she'd been trying to push onto his cock, as if he felt like he wanted to contribute something to her effort."C'mon. Make me your girl, claim your whore, daddy," she whimpered, her face looming over his. "I wanna feel it. Gimme that cum. Own me. Own me. Cum in her tight little cunt. Paint it. Take it. Fucking own me, Master. Own. Me."Just outside of his room, he heard Eric's door open and then slam shut again, but it was only a momentary distraction, as Aisling continued to bear down on him, her ass slamming against the top of his thighs.It wasn't long before he could feel that release building up on him, and much sooner than he'd have liked, his body was shuddering in the throes of an orgasm as he started to spew hot cum inside of her tight young twat. As soon as he started to orgasm, however, it was almost like Aisling had been struck by lightning, her whole body violently shaking as a guttural sound was wrenched from her throat, primal and whorish, before her body collapsed on top of him, her body trembling for a long moment before she lay still atop of him.After a few minutes, he slowly moved her to one side of him so he could slip out from under her. She was completely unconscious, and he was almost certain he could her hear whispering nigh imperceptibly the word 'imprinting' over and over again.He didn't want to wake her, so he went and showered, then headed downstairs to grab himself a bit of dinner. The two cats sat at the foot of his bed, peering at the unconscious redhead in his bed, wondering what the hell was going on.The madness had barely even gotten started.Chapter 3When Andy woke up the next morning, he was almost certain he'd been dreaming yesterday. But he felt an odd sensation and lifted his head to look down. There he saw Aisling's coppery ponytail bouncing over his crotch. And he could feel her lips sealed around his cock, as she continued to face fuck herself on his shaft.Andy had never woken up to being blown before, and it certainly was a delightful experience. He tried to pull her head up, to give her a break, but she reached up and pressed his hand away with her own, a delightful little giggle rolling from her lips onto his cock.He thrust his hips towards her face because it seemed like the thing she wanted him to do, and sure enough, she kept pushing her head down again and again. She wasn't letting up until she got what she needed.In the end, resistance was futile.His body tensed up and his back arched as he felt her lips around the base of his cock, the head lodged in her throat as he started to spew cum. When he did, he could feel her body shake and quiver against his thigh.A few minutes later, both of them had regained their composure, and she'd snuggled up alongside him, her face nestled in the crook of his neck as she laughed almost deliriously. "It's actually true. The taste of your cum gives me an orgasm. Each and every time, harder than I'd ever known before I met you," she purred. "You really do fuckin' own me, daddy.""You say that," Andy said, "but eventually you'll get bored of me, and you'll come to resent me, resent being attached to me like this."She rolled over a little bit, pressing one of her arms against his chest as she shook her head, a crooked smile on her lips. "I woke up in the middle of the night and looked around the room while you were asleep. There are bookcases everywhere. My first boyfriend was a footie player who dreamed of going pro when he could barely get up in the morning. My second boyfriend? He was a shitty musician who claimed he was being artful when he couldn't carry a tune. You're surrounded by books. Have you read all of them?"Andy shrugged a little. "Maybe half of them. But I like having books around, knowing that when I'm ready for another, it's right there.""See?" she giggled. "I've never been with anyone so smart before. And I've never been with someone who'll let me be myself and not force me to hide it.""Hide what?""What an absolute slut I am," she said, kissing his neck. "Your absolute slut, if I'm honest." She wasn't trying to wind him up, just more of delighting in learning all the nooks and crannies of his body. "And I don't have to pretend I'm a good Catholic girl who'd never let a boy put his hand up her skirt when I'd rather be bent over getting my tight young gash plowed. You'll have to do that next, have me on my hands and knees, your good little proper bitch."Andy laughed. "You sound rather eager for that."" Umm," she mumbled, nibbling on his ear, "you want me to beg again?""Let me do it later," he said. "We should get up, shower, and we should meet our new roommates.""I talked to Lily a bit on the ride over. I'll tell you about it in the shower."Each of the bedrooms in the condo had an attached bathroom so they didn't even have to get dressed to get up and move to the bathroom. She scooted ahead of him quickly, and he could see the inside of her thighs were damp as she climbed out of the bed and moved into the bathroom.It was the first time he'd had a woman in his bathroom in a decade, and so he was a little embarrassed about the state of it. "Of course you don't have a hair dryer," Aisling giggled, as she ran her fingertips over Andy's shaved head. He'd started developing a bald spot in his mid twenties, so he'd been shaving his head every since then. "Don't worry, I've got one in my suitcase. Speaking of which, you're going to need to give me one drawer in that dresser to myself. That okay?""You're really in this for the long haul, aren't you?" He turned on the water in the shower as he closed the top of the toilet.She leaned in and folded her hands behind his neck, pressing her body up against his. "What did I tell you? You. Own. Me." She kissed him briefly in between each of the last three words. "But that means you belong to me as well. Whenever you go, I go. And I need to take care of you. And you need to take care of me.""I can clear out a drawer for you, no problem, Aisling.""See? It's not that hard to pronounce, is it?""But hey, this is your bathroom now too, so feel free to make it home.""Oo!" she said suddenly and darted back out into the bedroom. Andy could hear her unzipping her little suitcase before she sprinted back in, a giant tricolor beach towel which she set on top of the toilet. It didn't even take him half a second to recognize it was the colors of Ireland's flag. "Little bit of the home country. Now let's get wet. I've never taken a shower with another person before." She lifted her fingers and pressed them against his hair chest, almost shoving him back into the shower.It was rather a long shower, where they got dirty before they got clean again.About forty minutes later, they'd both gotten dried off and dressed and headed downstairs, Aisling bringing her laptop bag with her. Sitting on the couch was a Japanese woman dressed in sweatpants and a baggy t shirt typing away on her laptop while Eric was sitting at his desk on the other side of the room."Andy, meet Lily," Eric said to Andy as he walked down the stairs. "She's my new partner.""S'up," Lily said, not even looking up from her typing."She's kinda in the zone right now. She's a coder with DoorDash.""We talked a bit on the ride over here," Aisling said. "Hi, I'm Aisling. I'm Andy's first partner.""First?" Lily said, stopping typing and looking up and over her shoulder at them as they reached the bottom of the stairs.Andy scowled. "She didn't mean it like that. I wasn't a virgin."Lily snickered a bit. "I know. I'm fucking with you," she said, looking back down to her laptop. "So how was he Ash?""Fucking amazing," Aisling said. "How about yours?""I have a name you know," Eric said."Good but not great," Lily said. "But I'll train him to be the best ever. Best for me, anyway.""Hi Eric," Aisling said, shaking Eric's hand. "Nice to meet you.""I cleared off the dining room table behind Andy's desk to give you a bit of work space, Ash," Eric said. "Lily said you're an artist?""Graphic designer for Alphabet."Andy cocked his head as he and Aisling started to cross the living room, heading towards the dining room. "I didn't know you were a Googler.""I'm a contractor for them, so they don't really consider me a Googler," she sighed. "They might move me from contract to full time at some point, but it's just as likely they're going to just keep giving me new contracts over and over again.""Welcome to life in Silicon Valley," Andy laughed. "Everything's forever, for exactly five minutes."Aisling pulled her laptop out of her bag and set it on the table, noticing the box pushed off to one side. "Blake Conrad, huh?" she said, taking a book out from the box. "My older brother loves these books, but I've never read any of them. Are you a big fan?"From the other room, Eric couldn't help but laugh. "Go on!" he yelled at Andy. "Tell her."Andy rolled his eyes. "Look inside the back flap."Aisling took the hardcover and opened to the back of it, looking at the inside flap where Andy's picture peered back at her. "Wait, are you Blake Conrad?""It's a pen name.""Oh my god! I'm shagging Dermot's favorite pen!" she giggled. "I can't wait to phone him and tell him.""Mmm. I can even autograph a copy of the new one for him and you can mail it out to him, as long as he's not going to be mad that I'm sleeping with his sister."Aisling pulled out a Wacom tablet from her laptop as well as a power cord, plugging it into the wall. "Andy. You're a bloody hero to him. He'll be over the moon.""He's not going to be upset that you're shacking up with a guy you just met? Or that he's going to have, other women?"Aisling kissed him for a long moment, soft and tender. "You're sweet, Andy. But this is the way the world works now. And you're a good man, so Dermot'll be happy that I didn't end up with someone crazy or ugly.""Oh, you don't think I'm ugly?" Andy grinned impishly, as Aisling pushed him back down into his desk chair."Look fella," she teased. "If I thought you were ugly, I'd have said so. Now don't you have work to get to or something?"Andy turned on his computer and the two monitors on his desk sprung to life. "Well, yeah, but theoretically I'm on new partner leave, so I don't really have to be working."She stuck her tongue out at him. "Well, I don't get any such luxury as a contractor, so I need to get some work done today. How does a novelist get partner leave anyway?"He sighed a little. "That's just my side hustle. My day job is as a marketing writer for Netflix."Aisling's face scrunched up in cute confusion. "The books don't pay enough?""Not until they get optioned, which my agent seems to think will happen eventually, but hasn't yet.""I'll have to read them then." Andy tried to mask the look of surprise on his face, but apparently wasn't great at concealing it. "What? I said I hadn't read them, not that I didn't want to read them.""Fair enough!" Andy grabbed his headphones and pulled them onto his head, clicking on iTunes to bring up his music. He wasn't allowed to check out new tasks for his day job, so he figured he might as well get a bit of writing in on his next novel.After a few minutes, Aisling tapped him on the shoulder, so he pulled the headphones off. "What's up?""What're you listening to?""Right now? Post rock band called God Is An Astronaut, but I usually just put my music on shuffle and let it ride.""Can I listen too?"Andy nodded. "Sure, as long as you've got headphones with a long cable and a USB plug.""Certainly do!" she said, holding out the cable.He plugged her in, did a few clicks on his computer, and then they were both listening to his music, just a few feet apart.Andy found it a little hard to focus on his writing, so he decided to take a bit of time to read up on the level system. His boss seemed to know a lot more about it, so he figured it didn't hurt to see what was coming down the pipeline.The virus, it seemed, was hitting the coasts hardest, with N Y C being the biggest disaster area, but the Silicon Valley wasn't far behind. Isolation was the best path, but the bodies were still piling up, so the country was looking to build some stability into people's lives. That meant pairing the single people up. Men were dying at a significantly higher rate than women to the virus, so protecting them had become extremely important. The virus had a mortality rate that was fifty times higher in men than it was in women.Because of that fact alone, it had been determined that virus free men would be ranked on a scale of one to five in terms of their importance to society, and that the higher a man was ranked, the more that person's personal needs would be tended to. So level 1s, which it seemed like was most people, would simply be given the barest amount of effort to find someone to pair with their basic desires. 80% of the men were classified as level ones. Level twos were essential, low risk workers such as construction engineers, clerks, judges and the like. Level three was law enforcement. Level four was figures of high impact. Mark Zuckerberg would've supposedly been a level four if he wasn't already married, one article said. Level five was the front liners in the fight in the virus and those who had made extraordinary contributions to society. They made up a fractional amount of people in the pool, less than half of one percent.A kind of hushed up mythology had been built up around level fives from what Andy could find on the internet. There were stories of emergency doctors who were on the best of days a six in any woman's estimate getting partnered up with women who would never be any less than a ten.Andy scoffed a little bit until he started looking at some of the pictures, and noticed that there were endless pictures of ER doctors and genetics researchers with women way, way, way, way out of their leagues.It was on the fifth collection of photos he spotted a familiar face. There was Dave, the man who'd tested them just a few short days ago, with his arm around a Hispanic knockout who couldn't have been pressed closer to him. And in the group shot with Dave, there were nearly a dozen other similar pairings of schlep and stunner.Once paired, men were being kept in isolation for an indeterminate amount of time. They were allowed to go out for walks, but had to keep fifteen feet away from anyone else. They weren't even permitted to go into stores to go shopping. Andy and Eric had been living on food delivery for weeks now. They'd even had groceries delivered and left on their doorstep. The receipt said the person who delivered them was named Silva, but neither Andy nor Eric had seen them. Andy wondered which of the two women would volunteer to go and get groceries first.During the middle of the day, Eric wanders over to take their orders as he placed a food delivery, but none of them had any chance to talk until dinner, which they also had delivered. Lily got free deliveries working for DoorDash, apparently, so both lunch and dinner had been brought that way."So how did you guys meet?" Lily asked as she was bringing in the bag of food that had been left on their doorstep.Eric laughed. "You want to tell them or should I?"Andy waved his hand, turning his desk chair around so it was up against the dining room table. "You're looking forward to it, so you tell them."Eric grinned as Lily started to take the food “ cheesesteaks it seemed “ and put it out on the table. "He was trying to bang my sister.""I was trying to date your sister," Andy said as Aisling giggled. "There's a difference.""Date her so you could fuck her, let's be clear."Andy rolled his eyes. "That was over a decade ago, so it's probably time to let it go.""She's married and lives in Florida down with her husband and their four kids, so we never really see her much anymore," Eric said."But Eric needed a roommate and I needed a place to live, so I moved into his spare room, and we've been flatmates since then," Andy said. "Aisling's from Dublin, but are you local Lily?""Second generation Bay Area native," Lily said as Eric set a beer in front of her. "My parents live up in Petaluma these days. Are your parents still around here, Eric?""They retired and moved down to Santa Cruz, although they spend half their time out in Florida with their grandkids. I'll introduce you to them over Facetime when they call next.""They going to be happy you hooked up with a Japanese woman?""They'll be happy I'm happy," Eric said. "Beyond that, I don't think they care.""What about you, Andy? You got local family?"Andy shook his head. "I'm from Ohio originally, but I've been out here for longer than I was there. My dad died a few years back, but my mom's still out there, as is my older brother with his wife and their son.""How old's your nephew?" Aisling asked."Conner will be 11 in July. I generally go back every year for Christmas, but this year seems like that's probably out."The Irish girl cocked her head slightly. "How much older is your brother?""Nine years older than me.""No siblings in between?""Nope," Andy said. "You said you have an older brother named Dermot. That your only sibling?"Aisling almost snorted she laughed so suddenly. "Jaysis no. Dermot's the eldest, then me, then my sisters Aoife and Niamh, and the last one is my baby brother Colin, who's about as old as your nephew. What about you, Lily?""Only child, thank fuck," she grumbled. "So, Andy, I understand Aisling's not going to be your only partner. What makes you think you deserve more than one partner, hmm?"Andy raised a hand defensively. "Hey now, I never said I deserve anything.""She's fucking with you, love," Aisling said, poking him with a grin."Spoil sport," Lily said, sticking her tongue out. "I don't really care as long as you're not going to take a pass at me.""You're Eric's partner, Lily. I'm going to respect that.""Good, and I'll make sure he keeps his hands off your girls.""I would never " Eric started to say before Lily raised a finger in his direction and he felt silent."Good boy," Lily said with a smirk. "I'll get him trained yet."Andy had never seen Eric get cowed quite so severely before, but he could swear his flatmate was blushing a little."I'm actually looking forward to seeing who else we get to play with," Aisling said."How many names should I expect to have to learn?" Lily asked."It's a fookin' huge bed, Lil," Aisling giggled. "So I expect a few more.""What I was reading about on the internet says I'm supposed to share my bed with four partners," Andy said, "but that can't possibly be right can it?""Umm. I can't wait," Aisling purred.She didn't have long to wait.To be continued in part 2, by CorruptingPower for Literotica.

Harry Duke, Herlinda Heras and Trevor Zebulon. Trevor Zebulon, founder of Goat Rock Cider, is here on Brew Ha Ha with Harry Duke sitting in for Steve Jaxon and with Herlinda Heras. Trevor Zebulon started Goat Rock Cider with his friend Paul Hawley, before the pandemic. It was a side hustle for both of them, but the pandemic wrecked his regular business, a transportation company. Then he decided to go “full bore” ever since in Petaluma. He used to have a jazz club called Zebulon's Jazz Lounge. He has a tasting room upstairs from where he makes the cider that has some of that old vibe. Goat Rock Cider is the only fully organic cider maker around. Some people use organic apples, but they follow organic practices throughout the process. He is only one person, by himself, so you have to make an appointment. He is there just on Saturdays for walk-up tastings. For a reservation, call or text (707) 409-0738 or go to Goat Rock Cider dot com. In addition to Goat Rock, which is fermented dry cider, he started a second organic cider brand called Nectar. They are named after gems, Sapphire and Emerald. It is sweetened with organic honey from Hawaii. Russian River Brewing Co. is open in Santa Rosa on 4th St. and at their big Windsor location. Visit their website for up-to-date hours, menus, beers and more. He also started dabbling in the wine world. The unique thing about his wine is that they are all sourced from organic biodynamic vineyards. It is a pretty small production, very light and easy drinking. He calls it “natural wine adjacent” since he does use yeast and sulphur, but nothing else. Big West Wine Fest discount code VINE VIBE He will be pouring on Sunday at the June 14 and 15 in Guerneville at the Big West Wine Fest. VINE VIBE is the discount code. The venue is Solar Punk Farms in Gueneville.  He will not be at the Gravenstein Apple Fair this year, as a one-man show, it's too much to do, with the tasting room opening at the same time. Technically, any fermented fruit is a type of wine product. No grain allowed in a winery, and winemakers can use any fruit they like. Cider is taxed as wine. If it is lower than 8.4% ABV it is cider, otherwise it has to be called apple wine. (Sake is actually more like beer and Cider is more like wine.) Visit our sponsor Pizzaleah in Windsor for the finest pizza menu and the most authentic flavors around!

Join Nick Papagni, "the Ag Meter", and producer Josh McGill as they dive deep into the stories shaping California's vibrant agricultural landscape on this week's episode of the AgNet News Hour from AgNet West. We're bringing you the latest updates on the ongoing tariff discussions, the future of the Farm Bill, and critical challenges facing American farmers. In this episode, Nick and Josh break down how tariff battles are impacting local and national economies, and why investing in American-made goods is more important than ever. But that's just the beginning! We also feature a powerful interview with Dave Puglia, President of the Western Growers Association. Dave explains how specialty crops — like fresh fruits, vegetables, and tree nuts — make up half of the farm gate value in the U.S. yet only receive a fraction of farm bill funding. He unpacks the historical roots of this imbalance and shares his insights on how targeted investments could transform the specialty crop industry. And don't miss our spotlight story with Stephanie Moreda from Moreda Family Farms in Petaluma. Her fifth-generation family farm is under threat from well-funded environmental groups — a real-life David versus Goliath tale that will leave you inspired and fired up. Stephanie's passion for preserving her family's legacy and her fight against powerful interests reveal the harsh realities faced by small farmers today. We round out the show with a citrus and table grape market update — find out why local citrus and table grapes are looking stronger than ever this season! This episode is packed with compelling stories, expert interviews, and sharp insights you won't want to miss. Whether you're a grower, an ag policy junkie, or just someone who cares about where your food comes from, tune in to the AgNet News Hour. Let's support California's hardworking farmers and stay informed on the issues that matter!

Sunday School class led by Rev. W. Reid Hankins at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 06/01/2025 in Petaluma, CA. This week we considered Revelation 20 and the nature of the millennium. The post The Millennium of Revelation 20 appeared first on Trinity Presbyterian Church North Bay (OPC).

Sermon preached on Revelation 20:1-10 by Rev. W. Reid Hankins during the Morning Worship Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 06/01/2025 in Petaluma, CA. Sermon Manuscript Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div. We continue this climactic section of Revelation where we are seeing the downfall of all our enemies. Babylon fell in Chapters 17-18. The beast and the false ... Read more The post A Thousand Years appeared first on Trinity Presbyterian Church North Bay (OPC).

Sunday School class led by Rev. W. Reid Hankins at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 05/25/2025 in Petaluma, CA. This week we surveyed Romans. The post Surveying The Faith: Romans appeared first on Trinity Presbyterian Church North Bay (OPC).

Sermon preached on Revelation 19:11-21 by Rev. W. Reid Hankins during the Morning Worship Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 05/25/2025 in Petaluma, CA. Sermon Manuscript Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div. We are really at a climactic moment in the book of Revelation! Last time we concluded that extended section about the fall of Babylon. Babylon's fall was ... Read more The post The Rider on a White Horse and the Great Supper appeared first on Trinity Presbyterian Church North Bay (OPC).

Sermon preached on Revelation 19:1-10 by Rev. W. Reid Hankins during the Morning Worship Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 05/18/2025 in Petaluma, CA. Sermon Manuscript Rev. W. Reid Hankins Last week we started a new section dealing with the fall of Babylon, presented apocalyptically as a great, drunken prostitute who seduced the world into her abominations and immoralities. This ... Read more The post Hallelujah, and Amen! appeared first on Trinity Presbyterian Church North Bay (OPC).

Sunday School class led by Rev. W. Reid Hankins at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 05/118/2025 in Petaluma, CA. This week we surveyed Acts. The post Surveying The Faith: Acts appeared first on Trinity Presbyterian Church North Bay (OPC).

Samantha Dorsey, President of McEvoy Ranch, shares insights about the 550-acre certified organic property in Petaluma, California. The ranch, founded by Nan McEvoy, specializes in extra virgin and flavored olive oils while promoting sustainability and soil health. Watch the rest of the IOC series to learn more about this permanent crop from a diverse group of olive oil experts, chefs, scientists and growers. Find recipes, videos and more information at https://www.plantforwardkitchen.org/olive-oil-and-the-plant-forward-kitchen

Eric Nelson, CSB, from Petaluma, California, USAYou can read Eric's editorial in the Christian Science Sentinel.Come join us! Register for this year's Annual Meeting, being held June 2nd in person and online.

This week on the PerformHappy Podcast, I got to switch things up—I was the one answering the questions!I had the pleasure of sitting down with Lacey Rochelle from Shine Health Coaching to dive deep into the science behind fear and how it shows up in performance. We unpacked quick, practical tips for staying present when the pressure's on, and talked about what it really takes to move from stuck to confident.Whether you're an athlete, a parent, or a coach, you'll hear how the right kind of support—from coaches, parents, and teammates—can make all the difference in building trust and resilience.If you're looking for a mindset shift to finally kick those mental blocks and get into flow, this episode is for you.In this episode, Coach Rebecca and Lacey Rochelle talk about:Performance Anxiety in Sports.The Role of Exposure in Overcoming Fear.Navigating Public Pressure and Performance.Experiencing Flow in Sports.The Importance of Being Present.Understanding the Human Brain's Response to Threat.Building Stress Tolerance and Resilience.The Importance of Support Networks.Key Tips for Optimal Mental Performance.“If you don't think you're good enough, you perform like that." - Rebecca SmithLacey Rochelle's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laceyrochelle_/Lacey Rochelle's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LaceyRochelleI'm teaming up with @nike and @ussportscamps to bring you TWO life-changing Confident Gymnast Camps this summer—and your gymnast is invited! Pittsboro, NC — Unify Athletics | July 19th & 20th. Petaluma, CA — Redwood Empire Gymnastics | August 2nd & 3rd. Spots will go FAST!https://www.ussportscamps.com/welcome/nike-gymnastics-camps-complete-performance-coachingLearn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: https://a.co/d/g990BurFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/complete_performance/ Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/ Check out my website: https://completeperformancecoaching.com/Write to me! Email: rebecca@completeperformancecoaching.comReady to help your athlete overcome fears and mental blocks while gaining unstoppable confidence? Discover the transformative power of PerformHappy now. If your athlete is struggling or feeling left behind, it's time for a change. Are you ready? For more info and to sign up: PerformHappy.com

Sunday School class led by Rev. W. Reid Hankins at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 05/11/2025 in Petaluma, CA. This week we considered why the papal supremacy taught by the Roman Catholic Church is not biblical. The post Protesting the Papacy appeared first on Trinity Presbyterian Church North Bay (OPC).

Sermon preached on Revelation 18 by Rev. W. Reid Hankins during the Morning Worship Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 05/11/2025 in Petaluma, CA. Sermon Manuscript Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div. Last week we started a new section dealing with the fall of Babylon, presented apocalyptically as a great, drunken prostitute who seduced the world into her abominations ... Read more The post Fallen, Fallen is Babylon the Great! appeared first on Trinity Presbyterian Church North Bay (OPC).

Piper hosts Plaidcast LIVE! from The Madeira School in McLean, VA with guests Phoebe Lang, Dr. Lisa Metcalf, DVM/MS and Dr. Kimberly Brokaw, DVM. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid HorseGuest: Phoebe Lang was born and raised in the Washington, DC area and ignited her passion for horses at Madeira's summer riding program when she was seven years old. Upon graduating from Madeira in 1985, Phoebe attending Kenyon College and then moved to San Francisco, raised her three children, and started riding again in her 30's. Phoebe has devoted the past 25 years to pursuing elite-level show jumping throughout the US, Canada, and Europe, reaching the FEI 3* level. She built her farm and training business, Zeitgeist Equestrian and Equstech, in Petaluma, CA, and has worked on developing several equine therapeutic devices. While Phebe has retired from riding competitively, she still owns and cares for six horses and has been spending time launching the breeding career of one of her former grand prix stallions. Guest: Dr. Lisa Metcalf, DVM/MS grew up on a horse farm in northern VA, and her lifelong passion for horses shaped a distinguished academic and professional journey. After attending Madeira and then earning her BA in Biology from Wesleyan University, Dr. Metcalf went on to obtain her DVM from The Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine and her MS in Endocrinology from UC Davis. Dr. Metcalf is a decorated and board-certified theriogenologist; a specialist in the practice of animal reproduction. Beyond her clinical work, she has held influential roles with organizations such as the Oregon Veterinary Racing Commission, the American Association of Equine Practitioners, and the Portland Mounted Patrol Unit. An internationally sought-after speaker and widely published author, Dr. Metcalf brings deep expertise, passion, and perspective to the world of veterinary reproductive medicine. Guest: Dr. Kimberly Brokaw DVM's passion for horses and animal science, fostered by the Madeira school, led her to pursue her BS in animal science at the University of Maryland. She then earned her Doctorate from Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. Following her 15 years of service at the Walkersville Veterinary Clinic of Maryland, she currently brings her expertise to two impactful roles: as a Veterinary Medical Officer for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and as a passionate team member at Gentle Giants Draft Horse Rescue in Mount Airy, MD, a nonprofit organization devoted to rescuing and rehabilitating draft horses.Title Sponsor: Taylor, Harris Insurance ServicesSubscribe To: The Plaid Horse MagazineSponsors: Foxhall Equine and Great American Insurance Group Join us at an upcoming Plaidcast LIVE!

Sunday School class led by Rev. W. Reid Hankins at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 05/04/2025 in Petaluma, CA. This week we surveyed John. The post Surveying The Faith: John appeared first on Trinity Presbyterian Church North Bay (OPC).

Sermon preached on Revelation 17 by Rev. W. Reid Hankins during the Morning Worship Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 05/04/2025 in Petaluma, CA. Sermon Manuscript Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div. We begin today the next major section in the book of Revelation. This transitions from the seven bowls with verse 1 saying that one of the angels ... Read more The post Babylon the Great appeared first on Trinity Presbyterian Church North Bay (OPC).

THIS EPISODE Trash Pandas first baseman Sam Brown joins the podcast this week to discuss his childhood in California, his journey to Rocket City, and how his family's athletic background pushed him to become a better baseball player.   ABOUT THE HOST Josh Caray's baseball roots stretch from Atlanta to St. Louis to Chicago to Cooperstown. The grandson of Hall of Famer Harry Caray, son of the legendary Skip Caray, and half-brother Chip Caray is the TV voice of the St. Louis Cardinals, Josh is the Play-by-Play voice of the Rocket City Trash Pandas.

Episode 528 - Samantha Rose - Emmy award-winning television writer and bestselling author, specializing in literary support and book collaboration with celebritiesSamantha Rose is an Emmy award-winning television writer and a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who specializes in literary support and book collaboration with celebrities, experts and industry leaders. Her narrative, non-fiction projects fall under the categories of health & wellness, spirituality, personal growth, how-to, business, parenting and memoir, including titles that have been translated into more than 20 foreign languages, featured in the Wall Street Journal, Harper's Bazaar, Time and selected as Reese's Book Club and Target Bookmarked picks. Samantha is the principal of literary development and the head of client relations for Yellow Sky Media, her company in Petaluma, California.On an ordinary Wednesday I received the call every writer wants to get. It was from a New York literary agent who'd been following my blog. She said, “I think you have a book here. I wonder though--could you go a little bit deeper? Keep the humor, but also tell your story with more vulnerability?”More vulnerability? I cringed.I'd already made my personal life very public. Putting myself even further out there felt scary. It also felt daring.I csn say now that writing The Package Deal: My (not-so) Glamorous Transition from Single Gal to Instant Mom was one of the most challenging and liberating experiences of my life.I told my story as honestly and authentically as I could. I extended myself beyond what was comfortable in an effort to help other women like me feel a little more normal and less aloneRedbook called it a “refreshingly honest memoir.” Library Journal praised it as “clear-eyed,” “candid and optimistic.” Fellow stepmothers cheered me as "heartfelt" and "hilarious."I learned that readers respond well to honest storytelling and to storytellers who dare to be seen and heard. By telling my truth, I was giving others permission to tell theirs. Since The Package Deal published in 2009 (Penguin Random House) and premiered on the San Francisco Chronicle bestseller list and as a Target club pick, I've been giving voice to and empowering others who have a story to tell.  I've collaborated with celebrities, experts, entrepreneurs and all sorts of amazing individuals who  need that first shot of courage and clear guidance forward, to help striking the right tone, organizing ideas into chapters, and building your book― word to word― from beginning to end. Translating your voice and singular story onto the page is what I'm trained to do, and I'm uplifted, instructed, and both challenged and inspired by your one and only perspective. So tell me: what's your story? What have you always wanted to share with the world? Together we can manifest the book inside you waiting to be written. https://www.yellowskymedia.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

In this episode, we reconnect with Kyle Wagenschutz and Zoe Kirkos with City Thread for an update on the new cohort of cities engaged in their Accelerating Mobility Playbook (AMP) Technical Assistance Grant Process. The AMP Technical Assistance Grant recipients for 2025 are Burlingame, CA; Columbus, OH; and Hood River, OR. These three forward-thinking cities join the likes of Austin, TX; Bainbridge Island, WA; Bentonville, AR; Cleveland, OH; Denver, CO; Gulfport, MS; Indianapolis, IN; Milwaukee, WI; New Orleans, LA; Petaluma, CA; Pittsburgh, PA; Providence, RI; Salt Lake City, UT; Santa Rosa, CA; Spokane, WA; Syracuse, NY; Tampa, FL and Tucson, AZ; for a total of 22 cities that have benefited from partnering with City Thread.Thank you so much for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend and subscribe to the podcast on your preferred listening platform. Also, don't forget to check out the Active Towns Channel for video content.Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):