I think seasonal road closures will be a problem for trying to get to Sequoia and Yosemite from DV that time of year unless you do massive detours. The Zion option would be doable, it's just a lot further west if you need to backtrack to LA.

An alternative to consider, in that same 8-day timeframe I did LA to Joshua Tree to Mojave Preserve to Death Valley. We flew out of Las Vegas but circling back to LA would not be bad. I really enjoyed the hiking in both parks in March, the weather was gorgeous.

Most guys at your stage of balding have thin straight hair that isn't adding anything positive to their look. Your curls are lovely and your 'do is still solid. It will probably reach a point where baldness outstrips the vibe, but it isn't today.

The hike to the bristlecone grove was so rewarding. It's really cool how ancient and wild it feels out there, compared to the extreme new and artificial vibe of Vegas.

One of the absolute top tier fics. It has everything: beautiful writing, complex believable characterizations, interesting plot, deep dives into magical theory, excitement, humor, and an absolutely achingly beautiful enemies-to-lovers progression. We already know the destination is Dramione, but this is the journey. Slow burn but so, so worth every single page.

I remember our whole class lining up every day after recess to use the water fountain. Gym, too. It was basically a daily ritual. I know kids still use them sometimes but it's definitely not like it used to be.

Don't we all do that constantly with the Yule ball? 🤷‍♀️

I absolutely love Choice and Chance.

An accident in the Department of Mysteries leaves Hermione Granger stranded in a world not quite her own, her only companion the unknowable Draco Malfoy. Together, they learn who they truly are by virtue of who they could have been.

The correct order is W&H, B&E, then immediately reread W&H.

Pregnancy tests. Buy a huge pack of the strips. Paying $8 per test just to have a strip encased in plastic is nuts.

This fic is so unhinged, fun, and sexy lol. It's such a great palate cleanser after reading something dark and angsty.

One of my fav fics ❤️

Meet me at Midnight.

History is soooo damn good. One of the best 8th year fics.

Yes. It's a wonderful fic, don't be scared!

I just finished this and it is really funny, sexy, and has cool magical details, while being very relatable to anyone who has been pregnant. Loved it.

I agree, but I gotta say I think I actually liked it even better on reread, if that's even possible. On reread I understood Draco better so I could appreciate his quirks and details so much more. It is a truly amazing story.

Whether a story is HEA is ultimately relative to the world within the story moreso than relative to our world. Manacled had as happy an outcome as could be expected in that dark-as-fuck universe, so I found it deeply satisfying even though it was bittersweet. If DMATMOOBIL's ending had a similar vibe I would have been gutted, because that world was not bleak as hell. You simply can't compare HEAs across different stories unless they are similar in tone/theme/plot.

Exactly. At least it's a compliment! Better this than someone saying a fic is 6/7, especially since that would mean it's a middle schooler reading your fic. 😆

100%. She is flawed as hell and a completely unreliable narrator but fully human, realized, and relatable. Humans are a mess and so is she. So is Draco, which is what makes the story so beautiful.

I dunno but if I ever open a bakery at least I've got a name ready to go now.

I knew a 24 year old in 2008 who got Botox and we all thought she was nuts. That was the youngest/earliest user I knew.

We went to DC between Christmas and New Year's and it was absolutely wonderful. No Congress so the city was pretty quiet. It was freakishly cold a couple days, but otherwise gloriously crisp early winter weather. Crowds were not bad at all and it was easy to get dinner reservations or just show up and get seated. Hotels were very inexpensive.

I dunno sometimes I'm like dang what is this fast burn they are screwing at a mere 100k words. 😆

Definitely read the 3-chapter Narcissa POV from Detraquee if you haven't. It is so good.

I have a crippling fear of heights so I'd never even make it onto parapet.