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@joshlane
JOSHUA AKIO LANE. josh, joshy. he/him, cis man, april 12, 1978. born in Kyoto, Japan, raised in Merrock, Maine. lucky enough to have mom, dad and another dad. lives on the lake in the countryside of Merrock with his dog, Toshiko, and has been in love with Esperanza for most of his life. works as a therapist / counselor at the Merrock Community Center and is the co-owner of Takato's Garage. hashtag lake life.
bio. stats. timeline. connections. wanted. muse. writing ideas.
"I don't know many people that like to accept the fact that they lost something, whether that be a fish, a bobber, or both in some cases." he admitted, smiling a little wider. "The amount of times I've been standing in that exact spot just to realize I missed out on a big one is disheartening. Probably would've been my biggest catches of the day." he joked. There was a common theme among people who fished, they'd likely always say that any fish they missed would've been the biggest catch of the day. Or at least that's how it was with people Andy knew. And while his favorite pass time would always be fishing, the male had also made a promise to himself to spend more time outdoors this summer. Get some fresh air, let the sun color his skin a darker shade. It was all things he'd put on the backburner when he was alone and rarely found himself making time for even when he had his children, so, an internal promise he was trying to keep would hopefully be what he needed to spark that desire. "I certainly would make it your contact, you're right." Andy laughed. "Blow it up and add it to the photo gallery in my house too. Get a good laugh out of it every time I walk by." a nod, confirming he thought that were a great plan. Yet he paused, letting his own line rest as the other began to reel in the other, eager to capture a photo of the fish on the other end of the line. However, whenever he revealed the line, no fish on the end, Andy exhaled. "Well that's a shame." he paused. "Feel free to toss it back out if you want. Or leave it. I'm sure he won't mind either way."
"The bobber, I normally don't lose my mind over, they're only a dollar or so, but losing a good fish?" he made a 'tsk' sound with his tongue and shook his head, "I'd rather not." After all, you weren't going to be able to get that back very easily. And it did ruin your entire day, even if you ended up catching more fish to add to the pile. And like Anderson said -- that fish that got away always ended up being the biggest, best fish that you could have gotten on the other end of the line. "Oh, well," he let out his own loud laugh, "glad that I can be a source of entertainment for you in your home!" There were worse things to be than a humorous photo hanging on someone's wall, though. Josh wondered what that could look like -- a gallery wall at home of all of his friends with their prized catches. Or, alternatively, not so prized. That in itself could end up being art. "I'll leave it," he reeled the line in the rest of the way, eyeing the containers of live bait and fake alike, "I'm not sure what he was using to try to lure them in, last thing I want to do is use the wrong jelly worm and throw off someone's entire day. What about you?" he asked, looking over at his friend, "any luck today?"
happy birthday, @nathanxames!
Of course there are cupcakes in the break room, and you get to decide whether or not you share them with everyone else, but... I wanted to make sure you got something a little more just for you for your birthday. Summer's here now, but fall is right around the corner, and hopefully this jacket will be up your alley as far as keeping you warm and making you look pretty cool, too. Thanks for all you do, and most importantly, for being a good friend, too.
-- Josh
Definitely I'd want to be one of those guys who mountain bikes on the super narrow mountain paths. I don't know how they do it, but it seems so cool. How about you? Do you have any extreme aspirations? We really are in the lamest area for most animals, or maybe it's because we see things as normal that are badass just to future versions.
You know, that's not a bad choice. Those videos do horrify me a little bit, but... it's also really fascinating to watch them, too. I'd probably end up doing something in the ocean. Parasailing, maybe. End up terrifying myself every single day that I go out there. You're probably right with the latter. Of course we're going to see things as normal, it's what we've always known.
You know what makes me really, really sad? That some people will never experience the awesomeness of a rotational six CD player inside a car. You know the ones where you could put six in and then pick whatever one you wanted to listen to? Like, who needs an aux cord when you have that? Besides, albums are way more fun to listen to than trying to look down at your phone every three seconds because you want to skip a song.
I'm going to absolutely date myself when I say this -- even though the car is older than I am -- but my old Dodge has an 8-track player in it, and I still use it. And my dad has a CD player at the garage that you can load up with multiple CDs and have it rotate through them all! We don't use it that often, it's sole purpose is mostly to collect dust, but... I do think we should go back to the good old days. Bring back an old Walkman while we're at it, the kind that says it doesn't skip, but that's a lie, it definitely skips.
Oh, sorry. You're of an age that's not a certain age at all. You're twenty three or something low like that, barely of legal drinking age. I'm sure not far behind, it almost makes me want to tease you about being old more, like you're just ahead of me but at least you're always going to be older than me, you know? Yeah, maybe your midlife crisis will be selling your bike.
I thought you were going the other way with that and were going to tell me that it wasn't certain that I was going to live -- I was very nearly offended. But yes, you're right. That's why I don't drink often, I haven't acquired a taste for it yet, being... so close to the legal drinking age. If it makes you feel any better, I won't tease you too much. A little bit, but I'll still try to be kind. Please! I would never. Unless it was to get another bike, for some reason.
"You could have done that, but who's to say I would actually agree?" commented Matthew with a slight raise of his brow, a smile dancing about his features. It could have gone either way really, but he had been in the mood for pizza, which was how they'd found their way there. "I need to add something. They'll be calling me boring again... and I can't have that. Maybe a few mushrooms. Some ham?" he pondered.
"What a friend," he replied dryly, trying to keep any trace of amusement off of his face. Although he had a good feeling that if they ended up at an expensive restaurant, they would have ended up in a never-ending battle of who actually was going to be pick up the tab. And besides, Josh was a simple guy; he loved a good pizza. "They called you boring?" he asked with a loud laugh, "although I've gotten that small sigh a few times when ordering delivery over the phone, so... I kind of get it. Ham's not bad. If you want to go the extra mile... ham and bacon."
TASK #35 DEEP DOWN
joshua akio lane april 12, 1978 mid-spring bloomer
"You just need something refreshing, it's summer!" The lemonade was a perfect choice for an evening out such as the 4th. "Not if they want somewhere to live.." Espie let out a breathy laugh through her teeth. It wasn't a realistic threat. Of course she would not hold something as silly against her children. However, there was a genuine part of her that hoped that as she and Josh grew older, her children would opt to be helpful. Feeling Josh's fingers in her hair, Espie smiled to herself, her eyes more following Josh's words. It was an incredibly nice night out. Summer nights like this were the best. "I'm sure I'll have a chance to see them at some point this weekend. If not tonight, tomorrow night." She was clearly determined to get quality time in and come over during the long weekend. Seeing the light of fireworks light up the sky, Espie's head followed the sound of each new one. "It's so pretty!"
"Exactly that," if there was ever a time that you wanted a good, refreshing treat, it was definitely summer time, when everything around you was hot and sticky, making you feel more than a little bit miserable. Still, Josh had gotten used to the heat, even as it changed through the years and seemed to become a little bit hotter in their little coastal town. "Good mom," he said with a louder laugh at her idle threat, both of them knowing that she would never actually end up going through with that. "You can always come over tonight, you know that I don't mind," and honestly, it might be nicer to just collapse into one home at the end of a long day, especially one that culminated in late night fireworks. Well, late night for a couple of old people. "One thing about fireworks," he said as he craned his head to see up into the sky from where he was relaxed back against the blanket, "it doesn't matter how old you get, they're still beautiful, aren't they?"
Maybe I can get into some extreme sports, knock out enough brain cells I forget a shitty thing or two about the world at large. That's kind of worse, if you think about it. They evolved to be less cool worms, like they had millions of years and just turned into a straight up tube.
Which does beg the question... if you had to choose an extreme sport to get into, whether or not you're good at it, what would it be? I think that about a lot of animals, when you see their original form, they look so badass, and then... what happened? They became more refined or streamlined or whatever, sure, but... lame.
For: Open ( 0/5 ) Location: Dine & Drink - Pizza Thyme
"What're you thinking?" questioned Matt as he perused the menu himself. "Whatever you want, it's on me... Anything at all." He was feeling particularly generous today, especially considering it was all for a good cause, too. "Not sure if I'm feeling up for something new or just to go really boring with a margarita," he said with a chuckle.
"If I would have known you were buying, I might have splurged and suggested Evolution, or maybe Sandcastles," Josh said with a good natured laugh, looking across the table at Matthew. "But I know what you mean. I always feel like I should be adventurous and get something exciting, and then end up with a cheese pizza and it tastes like the most incredible I've ever put in my mouth. But..." he trailed off, scanning the menu again, "a margherita pizza does sound pretty good. Maybe add in a little cupping pepperoni to jazz it up?"
Taryn laughed with him before offering him a smile. "You know, I don't understand them, but I can't condemn them for their actions so I will be an equal opportunity pet ownership business. It's all in the best interest of my thriving business."
She chuckled again. She had heard the donor cycle term before. She believed her mother had said it to her more than a few times when referring to Simon. Simon's own mother chastised them whenever they went out on it or showed up on it. His dad had always loved it and knew the rush well. "I can only imagine." she grinned. Her lips pressed together softly at the mention of the kind of motorcycle he owned. "Just...just be careful in the rain." she told him softly. It had been a Kawasaki that Simon was riding when the accident happened. She swallowed and looked around the cafe briefly before putting her normal smile back on her face. "Could I persuade you to buy a Merrock shaped cookie for the cause? All proceeds go to buy the resort land back."
"Providing, of course, a war between cats and dogs doesn't break out in your shop," he said with a laugh, shaking his head, "I can only imagine the kinds of reviews you would end up getting then." Fur flying, people dodging under tables, hoping to escape getting attacked by a cat that was running away from a dog, or a dog scrambling to get a cat. Not a good situation.
"Oh, you don't have to worry about me," he assured her with a small smile, understanding what she was referencing without having to reference it. "I'm an old man now, if the weather is bad -- more than a sprinkle -- I'll make sure to pull over and wait it out. Ask Theo, we had a nice little campout under a bridge on our last ride." The last thing that he wanted was for her to worry about a friend due to her own loss, knowing that he didn't want to put that burden on anyone. "You can persuade me to buy two or three, I bet," he brightened, pulling out his wallet, "if I can persuade you to get this fellow a pup cup -- do you have those? I feel like that's a question I don't need to ask."
ఇ Pan still has the wild card tucked within them ready to be yanked at a moment's notice, but there are some places they refuse to play it anymore. Now that Josh gave them this chance, there was no way they were going to blow it with the townspeople. They already had enough burned bridges from over the years and times of leaving and coming and going. "That's what I'm saying! ... surely I can't think of a good time to dine & dash unless it was like ... a shady establishment and we were playing Robin Hood." Then that would be for a good cause too. They comfortably make their way through the sandwich and part of them feels like they didn't even eat. "Nah, those are crazy." They eye the second sandwich, half of which was left behind by one of the other mechanics. "I'm like, that's gotta be staged, but it isn't. In fact they blamed Gordon one time for staging a mouse. Freakin' liars." Imagining their dirty laundry being aired out on television near pains them. So does the idea of proposing a slogan to Takatao-sensei. (Is he really a sensei? Probably not, but Pan feels like he needs a title.) "Ehhh, I guess. I'll give it a try. The worst thing is I scrap it and the rags I make with love are used on the cars we fix with love." They draw a figure in the air: it all comes full circle. It somehow both denies and confirms that Pan knows how to sew. He knows how to deal with buttons and darned socks simply out of necessity. "That sucks bad. A Jag really seems like a dream in that case. Personally I'm waiting for somebody to just randomly show up with a Lambo." One of those James Bond cars bought on a whim by one of their regulars, that would be epic.
"In which case…" he drawled off, letting his head fall to a tilt and casting his glance up to the ceiling, as if to try to think of a place that would be fitting of the 'shady establishment' title. But there really wasn't much. Not in Merrock. Josh either knew the owners of those establishments or he knew that the food was good enough that they weren't deserving of that title. But. "I guess if we fail at our goal of stopping the Benefactor and they build a resort, you're more than welcome to dine and dash as much as you want. I'll even bail you out," maybe he was confident in the fact that they wouldn't let the Benefactor win. Maybe he was just that willing to see the mysterious figure suffer. Even if one person not paying for a meal probably wouldn't crash the whole system. Still, though. "I feel like Gordon has better things to do than to stage a mouse in a restaurant," he laughed, "and half the people watching it at home probably nodded and said, 'yes, a mouse, that tracks for that dump.'"
"That's what I'll tell everyone, too," he promised them, "that you wiped their car down with love." Might not tell them that the scraps came from a failed sewing project, but there were definitely worse things. Letting out a low laugh at the mention of a Lambo, Josh glanced at the garage bay doors, trying to think of all of the fanciest cars that he had seen through the years. "We get a lot of Corvettes, same kid that had a McLaren also had a Porsche, but they were new. You know how it is, most of the vehicles we work on are old farm trucks," ones that had been running for decades, probably should have been retired years ago, but were kept going with love and a little extra elbow grease. Josh personally hoped that they never came off the road.
Eh, I think she should expect a mid-life crisis from you. Not that you're particularly prone to them, just that you're a man of a certain age and that's what men of certain ages do. Have crises. Usually involving motor vehicles and well...given who and how you are...
I hope you know that I just felt something inside of me die when you said that I am of a certain age. It might be true, but that doesn't mean that I want to hear it! Although, I guess I could point out that you're not far behind, and your own mid-life crisis could be right around the corner. I was going to say, if that's the case, I'm pretty sure I've been having those since I was a teenager.
I stayed up way too late maybe ate a little too much cotton candy but I had fun! What about you? Ha! Did you pass that message along to my mother? Maybe she’ll believe you! Carnivals always bring out a good time. There’s always always something to do. Are you looking forward to prom? Maybe I should dig out my old prom dress.
Is there such a thing as too much cotton candy? I mean, I'm sure there is, but... as adults, who can make our own decisions? Seems like it should be okay to eat as much as we want! I had a good time, though -- spent a lot of money on food, played a few games, got on the ferris wheel. The fireworks were a nice touch, too. I am! I ... don't quite know if we'll be doing prom like we did as kids, me and Espie, but we'll see. I know I'm excited to see what everyone pulls together.
Yes! I am always happy to see places be so active in charity work. That’s the best part, really. I think with the support this town generates just on a regular day, we’ll be surprised how well it’ll go. Everyone seems to want to have a part in doing something without the Benefactor. And I see that as a good thing. The warm but not too warm weather is pretty perfect.
Merrock is good at charity during the good times, but this mess with the Benefactor has brought out a lot of good in people, you see everyone pitching in and working together to make things ... well, better, and it's really inspirational. I'm excited to see how this prom event goes over, but we'll see if I fit into my tux after the amount of food I'm eating this month for the Dine & Drink event.
Nathan nodded at Josh's words in agreement. He then raised his eyebrows when Josh said that he could take one of the project cars and worked on it with his daughter. "Are you sure? I mean, I appreciate it, a lot. But still, are you sure?" he asked. The thought did cross his mind to ask if Josh would be okay if his daughter helped a little when he needed to deal with one of cars that came in for regular maintenance. Working on one of the project cars though, he knew his daughter would like that even more. "Yeah. She's even already asked when she'll get her own car," he said and scratched his temple with his thumb as he shook his head, not really wanting to think about it, then let out a laugh at the gray hairs remark. "I have three kids. Gray hairs are unavoidable."
He then leaned back against his seat slightly, staring at the top of the tent. "I guess it is confusing. To you. To me. But I guess to them, it makes perfect sense," he said once he gathered his thoughts. "This 'quaint little coastal town' needed to be shared to everyone everywhere, not really thinking about what could possibly be lost." Which he supposed what was a shock to a lot of them. Up until a few months ago, they thought the Benefactor was someone who liked the town. And that they wanted to share that feeling with the people in town, in their own kind of strange way. Then, this happened. "You know, if you thought about it, that could maybe help make them rethink about this resort idea? I mean, those who were born here and grew up in town, getting a push back from them, us included..." he moved his finger to indicate he was talking about the both of them, "Most likely the Benefactor was already expecting it. But coming from those who didn't grew up here, maybe that'll sway them. Technically, those people and the Benefactor are in similar situation."
"Sure," he replied with a smile that said he really was sure about it. "If it's something that you two are going to work on together, I'd be happy to let you tackle one of them. It's either that, or they sit under a tarp forever until we have time to get to them, and most of the time, I'd prefer that people in the garage be working on things that they're getting paid to do, too, so it helps." He didn't need to worry about juggling schedules or figuring out how to get everything done if there was someone there who was willing to work on those projects in their own time, with their own kin, too. "Of course she has," he let out a loud laugh, "and I suppose that her ideas for her first car and your ideas for her first car are drastically different?" Young people had dreams of McLarens and Porsches, and fathers wanted to buy Honda CRVs and Toyota hybrids that were going to keep them safe. And, just maybe, prevent more gray hairs.
"That's the worst part. We can sit here until we're both fully gray," he teased, gesturing to his own head of hair, "and we're not going to make any sense of it." That was why it was such a rough subject to really digest. At the end of the day, they could go into everything feeling confident that they had figured it out, just to find out that something else was lurking under the surface. Complicated didn't begin to describe it. "Quaint, that's what's going to be lost," he said with a thoughtful frown. "It may remain a gorgeous beach town, but part of what makes Merrock so special is the fact that it's such a small town," almost like a well kept secret that the rest of the world hadn't really figured it out yet. Hopefully, never would. "That's what I was thinking, too. You're never going to win over locals. Ever. But I wonder if they thought that they would win over the people who were newer to town. The people who they figured wouldn't have any stake. And then… here we are. Seeing them fight back, too."
