Thanks For All The Support.

Honestly, I'm a bit in tears, thinking about Jonathan going on to be a famous photographer, bringing out a book of his early work (late 80s/early 90s) in, like, the 2010s or something and it's just full of queer joy and the queerplatonic family they all made together with the Upside Down gang.

Like it starts with Steve giving Robin a piggy back ride, both laughing their asses off. It's 1989, they had just moved to the big city bc most of the kids had graduated. It's late at night and they went to a Rocky Horror screening. Robin is dressed as Brad, Steve as Janet.

There's a full spread of Eddie on stage, he's shirtless save for a leather harness, sweaty and alive, hankerchief hanging out of his pocket. The next page is him with Steve is his normal clothes in his lap, the rest of the band and Robin around them, all stuffed in a booth in a diner. Nancy and Argyle hadn't been able to make it, but that's okay. It was Coroded Coffin's first big gig.

Argyle has a page dedicaded to him, most of them in the early mornings, sharing the bed with Nancy, the place where Jonathan is supposed to be obvious.

One is Jonathan's favorite, Eddie and Argyle are sharing a joint. They're on the roof, Eddie is gesturing with one hand, holding the joint Argyle is taking a hit from in his other hand. They often had these late nights on the roof, before their lives took off, when insomnia got too band and company was needed.

Nancy and Robin are pictured, they're kissing. They had a short fling in 1987, before Nancy got back with Jonathan and Argyle, and Robin found her current wife.

The wife, back then a girlfriend, is more femme than Robin and there are pictures of their 'wedding'. It wasn't legal, but they didn't care. Robin wore a suit, her wife a dress. There is one page dedicated to the most traditional wedding pictures they took as a joke.

Then the following pictures are more like them, posing with their collection of garden gnomes and taking goofy pictures with everyone, as well as more serious ones.

Jonathan's favorites are the one where Steve is dancing with Robin, her second dance, both having been disowned by their parents. It's obvious they're both crying. The other one is Robin covered in lipstickstains, both her and her wife grinning like madmen, clearly a little tipsy.

There are also pictures from that first summer after Hawkins split open. Nancy on Argyle's shoulders, Steve's on Eddie's, the four of them fighting in the quarry. Robin floating nearby on a floaty along with Max. In the background the boys are jumping down, only held in posed in the air like that by El, who had taken an interest in photography after she realized how easy it was to forget.

There is also thanksgiving at the Hopper-Byers, 1986. Murray is there as well and they're all pushed together on the table, far more people than they thought would survive. Everyone is laughing, because Jonathan is sprawled over Agryle, having tripped in his haste to get seated for the timer.

It's the intimate domesticity that Jonathan has gotten good at capturing that makes the book pop.

Steve, dead asleep, head resting on Eddie's chest, legs thrown over Robin's lap. Eddie is pressing a kiss onto his forehead, Robin is holding his hand. The photo is called: Nightmares

A picture taken by El is in there as well, properly credited. It was taken when visiting Nancy, Argyle and Jonathan in 1991, the three of them are all half asleep, sitting at the table, all wrapped up together, but doing their own thing. Nancy is making notes on a notepad, Jonathan is rolling film and Argyle is doing the crossword in the paper.

There is also one of Coroded Coffin sitting around, crammed into the tiny apartment Eddie, Robin and Steve shared when they first moved out to the big city. They're writing lyrics, obviously mid argument about something. What is noteble is Steve in the background, leaning against the doorframe, looking very fond, dishtowel slung over his shoulders.

Naturally there is also one with all the kids around the table, dice scattered about, Eddie in the midst of a dramatic narration, seemingly oblivious to Steve, smiling dopily and nearly sleep, from where he is draped over Eddie's lap.

There are also pictures of Robin painting Steve's nails, because while Steve knew he'd had to take it off before work, he likes the way it looks.

As well as Steve doing Eddie's eyeliner, because Eddie used to be baby about it, before he got used to doing it before shows.

Will is also in there, alseep in the backseat with Mike, draped over the other guy. They're both in the remnants of cosplay, on the way back from a convention.

All the kids are, though they feature less, having been younger and in different phases of life.

There is a picture of Max and El asleep in Max's dorm when she went to college. Her skateboard is leaning against the wall along with her crutches. Max's hands are in El's hair, it's half braided like they fell asleep before finishing it.

Lucas is pictured with Steve, sweating on a basketball court, what is more obvious is Eddie and Max in the foreground. They're both leaning on their knees, oggling the two players. Max's eyes peer out through thick lenses, but that doesn't hide the moon eyed expression that matches Eddie's.

Another intimate moment that Jonathan captured was Steve, Eddie and Dustin, the three of them in front of a mirror, shaving. Eddie is just dry shaving, but Steve and Dustin both have foam beards, by the looks of it, Steve is teaching Dustin how to shave.

There are also just a few pages dedicated to cheek kisses, both platonic and romatic. They have big grins, soft looks, tears and blood in them. All of them look meant.

One double page is Argyle, Eddie, Nancy, Robin and Steve painting protest signs. There is laughter, but a somber atmosphere too. A heartbreaking point in history to be alive.

The next page is Eddie, Steve and Nancy, the three of them black eyes, Steve even missing a tooth. They're on the steps of a police station, Eddie is giving it the finger, his other arm slung around Steve. Nancy is getting checked over by Agryle, looking determined. Robin is running towards Steve.

Furthermore, it's filled to the brim with pictures of them doing dishes, playing games, backstage with Eddie, Nancy interviewing leather daddies at pride, hands twined together on the dashboard.

Nancy has provided the writing, telling their stories of those times. They might not be able to say it all, but they can say more than back then and their stories deserve a space too. Their interlinked dynamics, their ups, their downs. The family they built together.

Just Jonathan's queer photography of the late 80s/early 90s y'all.

the way sesame street, a pbs puppet show for literal babies, is pressing on with pride content despite vitriolic monsters descending on every post to insinuate they're pedophiles or demons while some of the biggest companies on the planet who could swim in olympic swimming pools of money like scrooge mcduck on steroids buckle and cave just emphasizes how completely and utterly pathetic these corporations are. they'd butcher a baby if it meant saving a penny.

The IOF opened fire on starving civilians trying to collect food aid murdering dozens and injuring an estimated hundreds or more they then crushed some of the injured by running over them with tanks. This was their “reason.”

ocean waves (1993)

Simple Health Booster Tea

I may be a tad hungover today. So it seemed like a good opportunity to give my body and immune system a li’l boost! No spell this time, just ingredients chosen for their healing properties/correspondences.

Elderflower: flu prevention, antibacterial, antiseptic

Red Clover: immune support, wound healing, source of vitamin C

Juniper Berries: protection against illness, purifying, cleansing

Nettle: protects from danger, cleansing, protects health

Honey (optional): naturally antibacterial (also makes the flavour of the tea more pleasant)

Mix all of the tea ingredients together and steep in hot water. I like to leave the tea bag in the water, and go for a second infusion after I’ve finished the first cup. Add honey if desired. Sip and feel soothed!

i wanted to show everyone my favorite tiktok

vetted campaigns from today. let's keep supporting these families with all we have! they are suffering catastrophe upon catastrophe.

july 4th:

Hanaa Jad Al-Haq, her husband Muhammad Hammad, and their two-year-old son Yousef (£580/£20,000) - @hanaayousef, verified by @/ibtisams

Eyad Sami, his wife Amal Mahmoud, and their four children (CHF5,756/CHF20,000) - @eyadeyadsblog, verified by @/90-ghost

Samer Abu Ras, his wife Shurooq, and their three young children (kr59,896 SEK/kr450,000 SEK) - @samerpal, #196 on @/nabulsi and @/el-shab-hussein's spreadsheet

Nael Khalid and family (amount unknown) - @islampalestinegaza, verified by @/90-ghost

Iman Alshaer, her husband Riyad, and their six children (€6,709/€25,000) - verified by @/sayruq

Hanaa Alshaer, her husband Jaber, and their four children (€10,200/€18,000) - see above verification; this campaign is for the same extended family

Nada Saftawi and her three children, one of whom needs hepatitis treatment (€11,233/€16,000) - @halaelhissi, @nadasaftawi, verified by @/ibtisams

Israa Al Azaiza and her family, including several children and her father, who needs treatment for heart disease ($1,931 CAD/$48,000 CAD) - @israa-azaiza, #236 on @/el-shab-hussein and @/nabulsi's spreadsheet

Karam Al-Nabih and his mother, who needs medical treatment (€8,806/€20,000) - @karamrafeek, verified by @/nabulsi

Wafaa Alnhal's family of 15, including four children and a newborn (the family has lost multiple members, including Wafaa's young niece) (€24,385/€50,000) - @wafs-posts, #171 on @/nabulsi and @/el-shab-hussein's spreadsheet

Newlyweds Noor and Alaa (both have lost multiple family members) (€2,355/€25,000) - @nouralaagaza, verified by @/90-ghost

Hadeel Adnan Abu Nasser and her family of 12 (they've lost her father and brother; Hadeel is responsible for everyone) (€1,525/€20,000) - @hadeelgaza, verified by @/90-ghost

Helping Mahmoud Hamam and his family to rebuild their house ($515/$25,000) - @ma7moudgaza2, #149 on @/el-shab-hussein and @/nabulsi's spreadsheet

Khaled Altaban's evacuation and education (£20/£10,000) - @khaledaltaban, verified by @/90-ghost

Khalil Abubaker, his five siblings, and their parents (€1,300/€30,000) - @khalil95, #187 on @/nabulsi and @/el-shab-hussein's spreadsheet

The Al Zaeem family of seven, including four children and their sick grandfather ($18,745 CAD/$50,000 CAD) - @malkzaeem, @yosofzaeem, verified by @/nabulsi

Widow Safaa Abubaker and her two little children (€798/€15,000) - @safaamo, verified by @/ibtisams

Helping Tawfik Satoom continue his education ($278/$20,000) - @tawfiksatooom, #238 on the operation olive branch spreadsheet

Mahmoud Khalaf's family of eight, including several children (€10,420/€30,000) - @mahmoudkhalafff, verified by @/nabulsi

Seham (injured and needs medical treatment), her husband, their two children, and her mother, whose wheelchair is damaged and unusable ($4,074/$50,000) - @seham1003, verified by @/el-shab-hussein

Siraj Abudayeh, his wife, and their three young children who've lost their treasured home ($3,346 CAD/$82,000 CAD) - @siraj2024, #219 on @/el-shab-hussein and @/nabulsi's spreadsheet

Mahmoud Al-Sharif, his pregnant wife, and their three children ($157/$60,000) - @mahmoud-sharif, verified by @/90-ghost

not yet vetted:

Tamer Abu Deeb and family ($397/$20,000)

Muhammad Atalla (who urgently needs surgery after being shot with an explosive bullet) and his family of 11, including his sick father and a newborn (€275/€82,000) - @mohammed-atallah

Evacuating Bilal Abed Rabou and two family members, as well as continuing his education (€115/€80,000) - @bilalassadabedrabou

Amjad Al-Shaltawi and his family of 11, including his two young children (€653/€97,000) - @amjadshiltawu

i know this amount of links can look like a lot, but please push through for the sake of these families and individuals. they want to live and be safe.