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Makers Mark Cellar Aged 2024 Debuts its most mature bourbon

Makers Mark Cellar Aged 2024 Debuts its most mature bourbon

Makers Mark, the iconic Kentucky bourbon driven by a vision for better flavor and a better world, announces the 2024 release of Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged: the annual, global limited-release expression that delivers the distillery’s highly anticipated and oldest release.

Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged 2024

Like the inaugural, award-winning 2023 release, Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged 2024 is aged to taste, not time – now blending 12- and 13-year-old Maker’s Mark to unlock new flavors.

“We surprised the world

with the debut of Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged last year,

a bold step in our family’s legacy because, for more than 65 years, aging our whisky for a decade-plus wasn’t something we did,”

Rob Samuels

8th generation whisky maker and Managing Director,

Maker’s Mark

“Staying true to our founders’ flavor vision and our relentless pursuit of excellence, we’re thrilled to introduce our most mature bourbon yet.”

Meticulously crafted, Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged 2024 blends 15% Maker’s Mark 12-year-old and 85% Maker’s Mark 13-year-old, at 59.7% ABV or 119.3 Proof.

Aroma: Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged 2024

The aroma has notes of caramelized sugar and toasted almond.

Palate: Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged 2024

The palate unveils a delicate interplay of buttery shortbread, rich coconut, and bright spices. A lingering finish showcases dried dark fruit and subtle oak undertones.

“Delivering an elevated expression that’s distinctly Maker’s Mark,

Cellar Aged finishes maturation in our LEED-certified cellar,

built into the limestone shelf that surrounds us, creating a richer, deeper and more complex bourbon, free from the harsher tannic effects commonly found in older American whiskies,”

Dr. Blake Layfield

Head of Innovation and Blending, Maker’s Mark

The limestone shelf that surrounds Star Hill Farm, homeplace to the Maker’s Mark Distillery, is key to crafting the unique taste of its bourbon – thanks to the innovative spirit of Margie and Bill Samuels, Sr., who in 1953, chose the land in Loretto, Kentucky because of its water source and natural watershed.

Maker’s Mark still owns, protects, and enriches all 76 acres of its main lake’s watershed; and today, is the largest bourbon distillery in the world to achieve B Corp Certification and the first distillery to achieve Regenified Certification, a reflection of the brand’s dedication to regenerative agriculture practices that enhances the flavor of its bourbon.

Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged 2024 will be available for a suggested retail price of USD $174.99 in the United States beginning today; in the United KingdomGermany and select Global Travel Retail accounts in the coming weeks; and in Korea, Japan and Singapore in early 2025.

In the United States, in addition to select retailers nationwide, the limited-release Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged 2024 will be available for purchase at the Maker’s Mark Distillery by booking the Cellar Aged Experience at https://www.makersmark.com//distillery/visit-us.

For more information about Maker’s Mark, please visit www.MakersMark.com.

ABOUT MAKER’S MARK
Maker’s Mark® is the iconic handmade Kentucky bourbon driven by a vision for better flavor and a better world.  Maker’s Mark began with the innovative spirit of Margie and Bill Samuels, Sr., who in 1953, fulfilled their dream to create a delicious bourbon without the bite, using soft red winter wheat instead of rye to enhance the softness, sweetness and signature creaminess. Highly desired around the world, Maker’s Mark is handmade, hand-dipped in our signature red wax, and every barrel continues to be rotated by hand and is aged to taste not time.

Always true to the founders’ vision, Maker’s Mark continues to shape the brand’s future through purposeful, flavor-driven innovation. In recent years, the brand has introduced thoughtful, super-premium expressions to its portfolio, including Maker’s Mark 46, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength, and Maker’s Mark Cellar-Aged, all Double Gold winners of the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, as well as Maker’s Mark Private Selection: the brand’s custom barrel program.

DC gets Yummy for Valentines Day! 10 Unique Food and Beverage Gift Ideas

DC gets Yummy for Valentines Day! 10 Unique Food and Beverage Gift Ideas

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and we all know the drill — flowers, chocolates, candy, rinse and repeat.

Although a lovely sentiment, it’s not exactly the stuff that legends are made of, right?

So, we dove deep into the web and came up with a list of food and beverage items that say “I love you” in an unconventional and out-of-the-box way.

These gems are not your garden-variety tokens of affection; they’re off-beat, they’re fun, and they scream “Be Mine” in the most deliciously distinctive ways.

From quirky snacks to sippable surprises, here’s our list of

10 unique food & beverage gifts for Valentine’s day

Olive & Cocoa Chocolate Heart Pretzels for Valentines Day

Imagine a dozen crunchy pretzels, each smothered in a dreamy mix of milk and white chocolate and then dotted with playful pink hearts.

Both salty and sweet, as most relationships are, these tantalizing treats arrive in a chic, handcrafted wooden crate, tied up with a red ribbon, and just in time for Valentine’s Day.

Trust us, they are the yummiest way to say “I heart you!” 

Visit Olive and Cocoa here 

BareOrganics Ashwagandha Root Powder

Ever heard of Ashwagandha Root?

It’s like nature’s own love boosting superfood – the Ayurvedic secret often dubbed as a ‘natural viagra’ for both ladies and gents. And, it’s not just about cranking up your libido and vitality; it’s also great for knocking down stress and anxiety, which are the usual, and unfortunate romance killers.

Sprinkle some of this 100% USDA Certified Organic magic powder into your daily routine and get ready for a more sumptuous and satisfying sex life.

Visit the Ashwaganha Root

 

Hungry this Valentines Day

Lou’s Heart Shaped Chocolate Chip Cookie & Heart Shaped Pizza

Double the love straight from the Windy City!

We’re talking about Lou Malnati’s heart-shaped deep dish pizza for two, with your pick of cheesy goodness or savory sausage, paired with a giant heart-shaped chocolate chip cookie. And this cookie isn’t just any cookie – it’s the same recipe used in Lou Malnati’s iconic pizzerias.

It’s like a big hug from Chicago, sent straight to your door this Valentine’s Day. Who can resist that?

Click here for Taste of Chicago

Be My Huckleberry Hand Pies

Get ready to fall hard for these delicious hand pies, bursting with juicy Montana huckleberries and blueberries.

Elle’s Belles country kitchen whips up each small-batch bakes with love, making these some of the tastiest treats you’ll ever devour.

And here’s the kicker — each pie is handcrafted, ensuring your gift is as unique as it is delicious. But remember, all good things take time, and these handmade beauties need 24 hours to bake and package before heading your way.

Click here to check out Huckleberry Hand Pies

Dora’s Heart-Shaped Ravioli for 2

 

Whisk your taste buds to Italy on Valentine’s Day with Nonna Dora’s heart-shaped ravioli, a beloved staple for 25 years at New York City’s I Trulli!

Handcrafted with special Italian flour, these beauties get their charming stripes from beet puree and are filled with creamy Italian ricotta. Boil them up, sauté with butter and sage, and voilà—a romantic dinner to remember.

Behind these gems is “Nonna Dora” Marzovilla, a pasta-making legend for over 70 years, now delighting NYC with her own spot, Nonna Dora’s Pasta Bar. It’s like getting a squeeze from an Italian nonna in every bite! 

Click here for Dora’s Heart-Shaped Ravioli

 

Have A Manly Valentines Day

Jerky Heart

Why settle for the same old same old chocolates in a heart shaped box when you can gift BEEF JERKY instead!

The Man Crates Exclusive Heart Box includes: 1 Dave’s Pepperoni Pork Stick, 1 Dave’s Wine Pork Stick, 1 Dave’s Orange Habanero Pork Stick, 1 Dave’s Honey Bourbon Formed Beef Bit, 1 Dave’s Honey Root Beer Formed Beef Bit, 

1 Dave’s Sesame Ginger Formed Beef Bit, 3 Cajun Beef Sticks, 2 Teriyaki Beef Sticks, and 3 Habanero BBQ Beef Sticks to highly satisfy your most beloved carnivore. 

And, for that extra touch of testosterone, you can have the box “gift wrapped” in red colored duct tape.

Visit Man Crates

Tipsy Bubbly Rose

Yup!  That’s right folks… a phallus shaped bottle of pink sparkling rosé wine for that very special someone. We’ll just leave it right there…

Click here to visit Tipsy Brand

Candied Bacon Bouquet

What better way to say “I love you” than with an elegant bouquet of long-stemmed candied bacon shaped roses. Perfect for anyone who can’t resist the sweet and salty combo of maple syrup and bacon, each rose shaped flower is topped with a red sugar coating to keep those roses a brightly blooming red. 

Visit Bacon Bouquets

Meat Card

Why settle for a Hallmark card when you can have your love note laser engraved on a 4″ x 9″ sheet of meat? 

Manly Man Co. offers customized greetings of 100 characters at max on a 100% edible sheet of savory beef jerky. 

Made to order and vacuum sealed for freshness, it’s the yummiest way to share your affection.

Visit Manly Man Co

Heart-Shaped Tea Bags

Heart-Shaped Tea Bags

Seeking a little romantic tea time with your honey?

Jacqueline Aliotti’s heart-shaped tea bags are the perfect choice to heat things up. Inspired by her childhood in Lyon, France, surrounded by the warmth of her parents’ tea shop, each boxed set includes 5 English Breakfast, 5 Earl Grey, and 5 White Berry tea bags, perfect for sharing a romantic afternoon with your Valentine. 

Visit UnCommon Goods

Foodie Destination Dining: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Redefines Global Gastronomy

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Redefines Global Gastronomy as a Destination Dining

In recent years, Vietnam has become recognized as one of the must visit, premiere dining destinations on the planet. 

From bustling street food markets, where the aroma of sizzling meats, zesty herbs and fragrant spices fills the air, to the abundance of premiere fine dining restaurants showcasing local Vietnamese flavors infused into classic European recipes, Vietnam promises its international visitors an unparalleled East meets West culinary adventure. 

In 2016, Anthony Bourdain taught former President Barack Obama the art of the noodle slurp, while throwing back some local Vietnamese beers, and feasting on piping hot bowls of Bún Chả at a local Hanoian restaurant.

In a recent interview, Celebrity Chef Gordon Ramsey named Vietnam his top food destination in the world.  The Michelin Guide recently awarded three of Vietnam’s leading restaurants their coveted stars for the 2023 season. 

To say the country is achieving sensational, and well earned, praise on the global culinary stage is an understatement, and with post-Covid international tourism sharply on the rise, we thought we’d to share our top 5 picks for some of the best dining destinations within Vietnam’s bustling southern metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City.

 

SUBLIME SUSHI

Noriboi

Noriboi has reimagined traditional Japanese cuisine with their artistic, and highly inspired, modernist approach to their fine dining menus. 

Evoking a one-of-a-kind, and simply astonishing, multi-sensory gastronomic experience, their expert team of Japanese trained Master Sushi Chefs, each a Vietnamese native, apply molecular gastronomy to craft and underscore each dish, producing sublime artistic presentations, unsurpassed by even the best restaurants in Tokyo. 

Utilizing only the very finest seafood, Wagyu Beef and even rice, imported daily from Japan, and paired with regional Vietnamese and specialty ingredients, each plate is an utter triumph of taste, texture and artistic presentation. 

In addition to their daily Omakase and a la carte menu offerings, Noriboi is also known for their exclusive dining events, which upon announcement on their social media outlets becomes the hottest reservation in town, sold-out within hours of their postings. 

10-course Summer Truffle Omakase

They recently presented a 10-course Summer Truffle Omakase, where each dish was highlighted by the earthy and distinctive flavor of freshly shaved imported European truffles, and a Kegani Omakase, with the highly coveted Kegani Hairy Crabs, a seasonal Japanese delicacy, as the focus ingredient. 

If you wish to experience truly outstanding Japanese food during your trip to Saigon, Noriboi cannot be missed.

35 Ngo Quang Huy Street, Thao Dien Ward, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City

 

All-Day Dining Divine

LUCA

LUCA – Eatery & Bar Lounge is a fantastic all-day dining eatery, offering its guests a bountiful array of local Vietnamese and Western dishes to choose from, satisfying even the most discerning and astute culinary palate. 

It’s a favorite restaurant destination for neighborhood locals and visiting tourists alike, craving an inventive and sophisticated array of dishes, served at any time of the day.  With menus designed by their talented Executive Chef An, for breakfast or Brunch, the fluffy Soufflé Pancakes, decadent Luxe Lobster Benedict and their Phở Bò Luca, an elevated spin on the Vietnamese classic, are spectacular. And for the coffee lover, try their Vietnamese Salted Egg Coffee, a staple beverage from Hanoi- rich, creamy, salty and sweet. 

For lunch, the Summer Peaches and Kale Salad is crisp, refreshing, and the perfect choice for a hot Saigon summer’s day, as is the Scallop Carpaccio with raw sweet Hokkaido Scallops, gently kissed with a drizzle of Yuzu sauce for a touch of acid.  

For Happy Hour, indulge in a platter of the freshest Miyagi Oysters, perfect to pair with a late afternoon glass or two of Rosé.  And for dinner, a hardy Australian Rib Eye Steak should do the trick, served with Chef’s signature Steak Sauce.  At any time of the day when visiting Saigon, Luca is a great choice to experience a chic dining atmosphere and truly wonderful food.

49 Xuan Thuy Street, Thao Dien Ward, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City

 

American Comfort Food Infused with Vietnamese Flavors

OKRA Foodbar

Chicago, Illinois born Chef-Owner Jamie Celaya developed his menu to showcase the incredible bounty of regional produce, products, and seasonings available in Vietnam. 

Described as

“International Izakaya, third culture cuisine”

which to the laymen doesn’t make sense until you experience it, Okra offers “Subtle” small plates of vegetable forward comfort food, meant for sharing, and a selection of larger portioned “Sufficient” mains for a healthy appetite. 

Located in Thao Dien, in District two, this intimate and contemporary eatery with a laid back and unpretentious vibe serves up simply delicious food and craft cocktails, with warm and friendly service. 

Must try dishes at Okra include their spin on Street Corn, with Cilantro, Parmesan, Chili, Brown Bourbon Butter and Pork Floss, Grilled Broccolini with Truffle Crème Fraiche & Sa Tế Chili Oil, Land & Sea-Viche, a Sea Bass Crudo with Braised Pigs Ear, Chili, Lime and Bánh Tráng, and their signature Charred Okra with Preserved Lemon-Tomato Jam, Curry Yogurt, Burnt Pomelo and Sarsaparilla-za Atar. 

And to wash it all down, a chilled glass of Mùa Craft Sake on draft, also proudly brewed in Vietnam.

10 Thao Dien Street, Thao Dien Ward, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City  

 

Contemporary Vietnamese Cuisine & Cocktails 

The Triệu Institute

 

The concept of pairing craft cocktails with food is a gastronomic trend which has gained tremendous popularity in recent years in Vietnam, and no dining destination has perfected this principle better than The Triệu Institute.

They serve inventive contemporary Vietnamese dishes containing all the aromatics found within the gins of their namesake craft gin brand Lady Triệu, and their food and bespoke beverages blend in perfect harmony, allowing each patron to eat and drink simultaneously the bold, and singular flavors which Vietnam has become so famous for.  

A popular pairing include the Cured Kingfish, pickled with a housemade Hibiscus Vinegar which takes eight to ten weeks to complete, infusing sweet, sour, and floral notes deep within the fish, and a Flower General cocktail, containing Dalat Flowerbomb Gin, Wasabi, Jasmine Syrup and Seaweed Foam;  it’s a perfected combination.

10 Mac Thi Buoi Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

 

Vietnamese Cuisine Portraying a Story

Nén Light Restaurant

Deeply committed to producing preeminent modern Vietnamese cuisine which pays homage to their country’s rich and vibrant heritage, Nén Light’s team of outstanding culinary artists developed their restaurant’s concept of Conscious Vietnamese Cuisine (Ẩm Thực Nhìn) to showcase their knowledge, appreciation and deep respect for their native roots and beloved culture. 

Serving wildly creative, 6-9 course storytelling tasting menus, they showcase hyper-local Vietnamese ingredients discovered on foraging trips throughout Central Vietnam, and guide each guest though a unique and unparalleled culinary journey which engages all five senses. 

Along with a Sake pairing, expertly curated by their in-house Sake Sommelier, and a “Conversation Pairing”, allowing servers to share the story behind the evolution of each plate,  a visit to Nén Light Restaurant will guarantee a singular and unrivaled immersive Vietnamese dining experience.

122/2 Tran Dinh Xu, Nguyen Cu Trinh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City

 

Kendrick Lamar, Foo Fighters, The Lumineers, ODESZA and more! Headline Austin City Limits Music Festival 2023

Kendrick Lamar, Foo Fighters, The Lumineers, ODESZA and more! Headline Austin City Limits Music Festival 2023

The legendary Austin City Limits Music Festival returns in 2023 with an incredible lineup featuring headliners

Kendrick Lamar, Foo Fighters, Mumford & Sons, Shania Twain (Weekend One only)

The Lumineers, ODESZA, Alanis Morissette and The 1975 (Weekend Two only)

 

along with Hozier, Kali Uchis, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Maggie Rogers, Labrinth, Cigarettes After Sex, Niall Horan, Tove Lo, Thirty Seconds to Mars and many more.

 

The nine-stage, two-weekend extravaganza will take place October 6-8 and October 13-15, 2023, at Zilker Park.

3-Day Tickets for both weekends will go on sale today at 12pm CT at www.aclfestival.com.

New in 2023: No surprises at checkout – all fees and shipping costs are included upfront. Layaway Plans are available starting at only $25 down.

 

Kendrick Lamar, Foo Fighters, The Lumineers, ODESZA and more! Headline Austin City Limits Music Festival 2023

Kendrick Lamar, Foo Fighters, The Lumineers, ODESZA and more! Headline Austin City Limits Music Festival 2023

 

nine-stage, two-weekend extravaganza

 

Austin City Limits Music Festival’s stages are where the next generation of headliners are born, and where music fans can experience an abundance of artist discovery across the diverse and inclusive bill.  2023’s roster features 45% female performers, LGBTQ+ artists, allies and icons, multiple Latin stars including Ivan Cornejo, Kevin Kaarl, Eddie Zuko, and much more.

 

At the heart of Austin City Limits Fest is its Texas pride

 

At the heart of ACL Fest is its Texas pride, and this year the festival is proud to showcase a long list of amazing homegrown artists including Cigarettes After Sex, The Mars Volta, Tanya Tucker, Ben Kweller, d4dv, Jimmy Vaughn, Asleep At The Wheel, Penny & Sparrow, Randall King, Abraham Alexander, Angel White, BigXThaPlug, Katy Kirby and Goodnight, Texas, Calder Allen, Kathryn Legendre, Arya, Grace Sorenson, Sunrose, Blackchyl, We Don’t Ride Llamas, Jane Leo, Ellis Bullard, Rattlesnake Milk, Shooks, QUIN NFN, Caramelo Haze, Die Spitz, Nemegata, Huston-Tillotson Jazz Collective, The Moriah Sisters and The Disciples of Joy.

 

 

While taking in all that ACL Fest has to offer, be sure to slip into the shady grove and enter the world of Bonus Tracks, the biggest party on the smallest stage at Zilker Park.  Programming at Bonus Tracks creates a hub of culture, connection, and positive vibes between music performances.  Past appearances include beloved local Austin favorites Kate Waitzkin, dance parties with Outdoor Voices and DJ Mel, drag shows curated by Extragrams!, and a hilarious and lively swearing session with legends Brett Goldstein and Brené Brown. Stay tuned for the 2023 programming announcing later this summer.

3-Day General Admission Tickets, 3-Day GA+ Tickets, 3-Day VIP and Platinum Tickets and Hotel Packages will go on sale today at 12pm CT at www.aclfestival.comwith all fees and shipping costs included upfront.  Layaway Plans are available starting at only $25 down.  1-Day General Admission Tickets, 1-Day GA+ Tickets, 1-Day Tickets will be available at a later date.  Music fans ages 8 and under will be admitted free of charge. Austin Kiddie Limits programming information will be announced soon.

GA Ticket Holders will experience a new amenity this year!  For the first time, premium cocktails will be available on bar menus throughout ACL Festival, not just in select areas.  GA+ will include a full-service bar with preferred pricing for all beer, seltzers, wine and cocktails. VIP guests will enjoy complimentary beer, seltzers, wine and cocktails in two private lounges, which also feature viewing decks offering elevated sightlines of the two main stages.  Platinum guests will receive complimentary beer, seltzers, wine and cocktails, as well as the best seats in the house with exclusive viewing at six stages.  A full list of GA, GA+, VIP and Platinum amenities can be found at www.aclfestival.com/tickets.

Hulu returns as the Official Streaming Destination of ACL Festival! Catch three days of select live performances, interviews and much more during Weekend One, October 6-8! Full broadcast lineup and schedule to be announced later this summer.

Austin City Limits Music Festival is proud to call Zilker Park home. Since 2006, ACL Festival, in partnership with Austin Parks Foundation, has generated nearly $55 million towards improvements to Zilker Park and parks across Austin. In 2022, through a percentage of ticket sales, fans of ACL Fest contributed $7.2 million to improving Austin’s public parks, trails, and green spaces.  In the coming year, APF will utilize ACL Fest funds to help design and complete park improvement projects across Austin including projects at Earl J. Pomerleau Pocket Park, Rosewood Neighborhood Park, Onion Creek Metropolitan Park, and McBeth Recreation Center. For more information about Austin Parks Foundation’s work in the Austin community and how fans have contributed to Austin’s parks, please visit https://austinparks.org/acl-music-festival/.

Fans can sign up for the ACL Fest SMS and Email Lists to be the first to get new information at www.aclfestival.com and follow social media to stay in the loop on all festival announcements.  Instagram || Facebook || Twitter.

Austin City Limits Music Festival 2023 thanks American Express, Honda, T-Mobile, Miller Lite, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, BMI, Karbach Brewing Co., and Hulu for their generous support.

First Time Author Sizzles with Sex, Addiction, Bullying , Redemption: ‘Twinkies & Beefcake’, a novel by T.H. Forest

Bullying, Sex, Addiction , Redemption: ‘Twinkies & Beefcake’, a novel by first time author T.H. Forest

Twinkies & Beefcake, a novel by first time author T.H. Forest, is a gripping tale of bullying, sex, addiction, redemption, and the longing for true love at any cost.

Available in Paperback, Hardcover and Kindle.

SYNOPSIS

Told in the first-person narrative, Robby, a sharp-witted and posh London teenager, spends his days with his best friend Dee, sharing secrets and yearning for sex and love, while also dodging the torment of bullies from his elite prep-school. When he meets the man of his dreams, he falls fast.

Maybe too fast.

Hailing from the dregs of Manchester, and twelve years Robby’s senior, Vas is gorgeous and irresistible, and swears he’s equally smitten with Robby.

But during their wild sexual exploration of each other, the cameras come out, as do the drugs, and the booze.

Soon, Robby is in over his head: addicted, porn-famous, and still yearning for love.

Amid family tensions, trips to rehab, and finishing university, Robby’s past finally catches up to him when a bully from secondary re-enters his life and everything is exposed. Robby is forced to contend fully with the trauma of his adolescence so that he can find, and be with, his soulmate.

Striving for happiness, inner-peace, and true love, Robby must decide if his sins can ever be overcome.

EXCERPT

“Where are you prancing off to princess?” Gareth, Marcus’ lead henchman, said in a chiding voice. I looked behind me and saw his large face sneering at me. “I saw you duck behind the building, you’re right to be scared.”

“I’m just off, I don’t want any trouble,” I mumbled, more fearful of Gareth than I was Marcus, who somehow kept his goons in line. I went from wanting to avoid him, to willing him to come back outside and call off his dog. I kept walking and suddenly felt the beanie snatched from my head. “Hey! Give that back,” I cried, smoothing my hair reflexively.

Marcus emerged from the store with a drink in his hand and looked between us. “Hey Gareth,” he smiled and opened his bottle. He took a sip and looked at me. “Where are you off to?” He asked me, his green eyes sweeping over my new outfit, the jeans and an Adidas t-shirt with my Duke + Dexter trainers. I saw him sniff the air. “Are you wearing perfume?”

Shit, why did I put on cologne? “It’s my birthday, I’m going to the mall,” I looked at Gareth. “I just want my beanie back.”

Marcus nodded his head at Gareth and held out his hand. I prayed that Marcus would do the right thing and give it back to me. He was handsome in a straight way, appealing to the masses of girls who followed him around, or he would be if he weren’t such a bully, because when he was being cruel he was not attractive. He put the beanie on his head.

“How’s it look?” He asked Gareth.

“Suits you,” Gareth shrugged. “You of course make it look hetero. This one makes everything look gay,” Gareth nodded at me derisively with his chin.

“Please Marcus,” I pleaded with my eyes, not feeling very hopeful.

“It’s your birthday today?” He asked, ignoring my pleas.

I nodded.

He looked at Gareth. “Why don’t you go inside and get the little princess here some champagne.”

Gareth snickered and went inside.

“Marcus, I’m late, I just want my hat,” I shifted on my feet, uncertain of his mood. “Late for the mall?” Marcus scoffed and shook his head. “I’ve got something for you for your birthday,” he said in a low menacing sounding tone.

“I’m meeting my boyfriend,” I said in a rush, not knowing why I blabbed.

Something passed over Marcus’ features and settled behind his eyes. “You’ve got a boyfriend?” he laughed meanly. “What does your fag-hag think about that?” He stepped closer to me.

He looked angry, not just playfully mean and I turned and fled before he could grab me, running as fast as I could down the stairs and away hurrying through the stiles, my eyes searching for any uniform I could find to hide behind. I shouldn’t have said anything about a boyfriend.

WHAT THE EXPERTS ARE SAYING

“The key psychological dynamic revealed for Robby

is the mistake many make in searching for self-confirmation and acceptance.

Robby suffers from deep seeded issues of insecurity and self-acceptance

caused by his being subjected to consistent bullying by his classmates.

These issues manifest in his near desperate eagerness to please, which ultimately results in his exploitation during his teenage years. The step for procreation is the acceptance and valuing of oneself.  Once older and cycled through his past trauma through intensive rehabilitation and therapy, his role of parent, provider and husband brings him balance and self-awareness; the love and acceptance of his spouse, family, and closest friends, in a world which still manifests many reasons for suppression, is how he completes his long journey of self-identity.”

– Dr. Carol Hartman, DNSc, BS, MS.

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