Cyril senior care red bank nj

Good morning to all, I’m a Y2 Business student (have had about 5-6 different internship experiences) and I’ve had friends recently who asked me for tips on applying to internships. Truth be told, the period now is a little late to apply for summer, but you may still try. Do take note to apply at least 4 months in advance in future. For finance students, your cycles might open even one year prior especially for Investment Bankings.
Without further ado, here’s some tips I can share with all of you (I had quite a few offers for summer):
Resume stage: 1. Keep an excel sheet and list down companies in 3 different categories. Easy, intermediate, hard. You increase your chances of a company getting back to you if you do it this way instead of applying to all the competitive companies (especially of you have 0/minimal experiences). This can range from applying to startups to MNCs.

1. Put in all your relevant experiences. If you find that your resume is empty, PLEASE do not increase your line spacing, its obvious when you’re trying to do that to compensate and to just “fill in the gap”. Instead, you may list down your involvements in school i.e. projects, competitions. Many of my friends did not include in competitions they did not win in, but I recommend to still put it in if you have space. That way, employers know you at least try to participate. If you don’t include, they don’t know you so they’ll assume you never take part in such things.
   
2. Keep your resume to a one pager. Most HR won’t even glance through / beyond 1 page. Highlight your key achievements. Anything 5 years and older you may remove :)
   
3. Connect connect connect. LinkedIn is one of the best ways to leverage on getting to know a company culture / speak to the direct managers in the teams you’re keen to work with. Make use of that if you can. Ask questions.
   
4. Consider projects, competitions and CCAs. If you have zero job experience, being a member of a relevant CCA is better than having nothing on your resume. If you’re keen to enter the finance industry, maybe taking part in competitions and being in NUS Investment Club helps.
   
5. Do NOT use Canva for resumes. Most companies especially large MNCs use ATS systems. If your resume is fanciful, the system cannot detect your resume and you’ll be out right away.
   
6. Use multiple platforms. Don’t just stick to TalentConnect and LinkedIn. Exhaust all career sites. Some companies only have listings on their own career portals. Look into those.
   
7. Be realistic. Some sectors right now might not be doing extremely well i.e. tech. Apply to the industries you believe are / may not be as affected - FMCG is one of them. However, the barrier to enter FMCG is also a bit harder if you have no experiences. Different industries look at different amount of experiences.
   
8. Cold emailing. Sometimes this works, sometimes it doesn’t. Especially for smaller companies, this would work way better compared to an MNC. If you’re keen to join a company, try dropping them an email and find the email on the company site.
   
9. Research. Even if you’re desperate, make sure to research properly on the different roles / companies before you apply. Its better to be safe than sorry as many MLM companies are targeting students nowadays.
   
10. Speak to seniors. They would know best how to enter specific fields / industries. Get their advice, the do’s and don’ts.
    

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Interview stage: If you’ve gotten to this stage, congrats! Now all you have to do is practice.

1. If you haven’t done so already: RESEARCH. Know the company inside out so that you can tweak whatever you want to say to show you are a good fit in the company.
   
2. Prepare questions. Do not LEAVE an interview without asking questions. It shows that you have interest in the company enough to ask. Some examples: i.e. Tell me about the day to day of someone in [X role] in this company. OR How will you measure the success of the person in this position etc.
   
3. Practice. Instead of memorising an actual script, have a few key points in your mind and pretend that you’re having an actual conversation with your friends about something you really care about. If you care about marketing, talk about how you first dived into that industry. Stand out from people.
   

*note: for finance students, please take note that financial advisory roles are NOT relevant to actual finance. Banks also take in Penultimate students all the time, so if you are in Y1-Y2, it might be a bit harder to enter banks, especially IB.
*note: different companies have different stages. Some companies have tests, some companies have gamified stages, virtual interviews, but this thread is more meant for general internship advice.
For those who have other tips, feel free to share in this thread :)
P.S. Currently a Marketing student interning at Unilever now — if you have any questions, you may also PM me :)

Hello everyone, so in precisely 4 months I will be leaving my home country, in the process, I will be cutting off my abusive family and every single person who has wronged me behind, starting fresh.
I'll give you a little backstory on why I'm doing this. I 20M soon to be 21 was born into a loving family (on the outside) both parents were present all 4 grandparents and a few cousins, also have a younger brother. But for them, I was just a babysitter, cook, butler, maid, and the one who would care for our parents in their old age. While I was buried in homework and studies, mixed with taking care of the house and making sure my younger brother was ok,HE their golden child was drinking partying, and getting in trouble with the law. I went to college on a full scholarship and I got a student job while in school. But my mental health and my physical health caught up to me and I failed 4 out of my 10 subjects. I continued to work and I got a full-time position as a waiter (It's a really good paying job on top of the great wage you get a lot of tips). So I saved up a bit and I need a bit more for my transition to be smooth.
On top of that, my girlfriend left me for a guy 10 years our senior because he gave her stability, unlike a 20-year-old college dropout who couldn't keep up with her lifestyle. I don't miss her my eyes were open to all the red flags I overlooked. The only thing I do miss is s*x and even that was disputed by a friend who told me "No matter how good it was there is always going to be better." so to get away from everything I asked this friend if there is an open position at her company. Now she started working abroad a bit over a year ago and she was asked by her boss if she has someone that she thinks will be a good fit to recommend to him.
And so I got a job after an online interview with him and an in-person interview with his associate here and right after the tourist season here ends I will be moving 8 hours drive from here with a border separating me and everyone here, I will miss my granny but as she told me after I gave her this talk "Run as far away from here as you can, don't look back, you did nothing wrong, just promise you will not get involved with anyone here." This broke me a bit but both she and gamps were here for me when everyone else decided I was not worth the time of day.
My gramps passed away 7 years ago and left me a letter in his will that came when I turned 18. Long story short he wrote me exactly the same thing granny told me today and with the blessing of both of them I will be gone in 4 months, everything even my name and the time aligned perfectly I need to get my ID and passport renewed so I will be changing my name too, my contract with my phone company ends as well. So I guess I have 4 months to raise hell here.

The boy next door is no longer an enigma.
No longer a mystery.
For the last few days, I have been laying low after Mrs Wilder kidnapped and threatened me in my own home. I’ve had barely any sleep and my lack of it has definitely disrupted my ability to write. I’m sorry if this update is messy or full of typos. I just don’t know what to do.
I’ve been a mess. I’ve been jumping at every movement. Every time there’s a knock on the door I feel part of myself splinter into pieces I can’t put back together. I did something crazy stupid two days ago. And that stupid mistake has fully exposed me to Mrs Wilder’s secret. What she is hiding behind her walls—and just how fucked I truly am if I disobey her again. Like I said, over the last several days I have been keeping my head down.
I went to school and did my homework and went to bed. That was it. When mom asked if I was talking to any Wilder kids, I shook my head. I had quickly grown afraid of Casper Wilder’s window. I knew something was wrong with him.
Something is wrong with his head.
He had told me. At least, the part of him which was bleeding between consciousness and a submissive state not being controlled by his psychotic mother. I saw him. I saw who he really was. I saw the boy next door crying out to me for help through bloodied fingers and cryptic messages splattered in scarlet. If he had intentionally hurt himself to get messages across to me, there was something he was fighting.
Mrs Wilder’s words were haunting me. The paper-doll rendition of me, blackened and smouldering orange between her nimble fingers-- I couldn’t get it out of my head.
So, I grabbed all the paper I could find and taped up my window, blocking him out. It sounds ridiculous. And it was. Because once I had spent over an hour feverishly taping pieces of paper over my window, I tore them down with a knot in my gut. When I clawed away the last piece of paper, I got a glimpse of Casper. His curtains were open, allowing me to see inside his room once more.
I saw a normal guy’s bedroom once again, guitars leaning against the walls, clothes strewn over the floor and sketchpads littering the bed. Warm light illuminated the window, and I wished what I was seeing was normal.
I wished I had seen nothing bad, and this was just the boy next door.
My completely normal neighbor.
But I couldn’t deny what I’d seen two nights ago. Casper Wilder wasn’t standing at his window with a twisted expression, a cocktail of pain and anger and confusion burning in mismatched eyes I was sure glinted with something metallic. Something man-made—which had been inserted, no, forced inside him.
I expected him to be awake. Even if it was just a single look in his eye which told me he was still there—still holding on. No. It was like nothing had ever happened. The window had been cleaned of blood, and there were no traces of the boy who had cried out for help. In his place was the Wilder son I had found friendship with. Before he cracked, and something inside him, something buried deep, deep, down, ignited. I missed that version of him. Who he used to be.
Because this guy was not Casper Wilder. I didn’t know who he was—and neither did he from the way he’d reacted days before. Underneath this name being forced onto him, there was nothing.
Just a broken kid with no name. No memory, except ones filled with her. I missed the personality Mrs Wilder was trying to hide. Who had told me she wasn’t his fucking mother, and sworn at me, his writing erratic and confusing, clawing into his head with this desperation to be let go.
Seeing him through the window at that moment, I realised, a sickly paste crawling up my throat, that all of that had been erased. He had returned to default. Casper was sitting on his bed playing guitar with a look of content, bed hair falling in sleepy eyes. He was wearing his glasses this time. His fingers moved up and down, feet bouncing to a beat I couldn’t hear.
Stumbling back, I tripped over my backpack with a shriek, which caught Casper’s attention.
When his head twisted around, empty eyes floating towards the window, I ducked. I couldn’t stop myself. After counting to ten, I slowly lifted my gaze.
He was still staring at me, and I noticed he’d stopped playing the guitar, fingers entangled in the strings. Casper’s smile had dimmed slightly. I wondered if seeing me brought something back. Maybe he remembered writing his own bloody messages on the window and trying and failing to speak through his mother’s control. The boy blinked at me before slowly getting to his feet. I didn’t see the chord thing this time. Casper strode over to the window, a giddy smile curling on the edges of his lips.
He pressed his palm against the glass, and I was already grabbing my notepad and a pen. But then his mother’s words sliced through my thoughts. I was back inside my lounge, foggy headed, the stink of pool cleaner still thick at the back of my nose and throat.
Mrs Wilder loomed over me, my paper-doll she had ravaged sticking from the doll-house on mom’s coffee table constructed from our letters. “I hope you understand that if you talk to, or even breathe the same air as my children again, I will rip you apart too.”
Her breath was heavy in my face. I couldn’t help looking at Mrs Becker for help, but her eyes were equally as cruel. I watched perfectly manicured nails pick up one of the four Wilder dolls, making it dance around in circles.
“Do you understand me, Phoebe?”
“Yes.” I said, my words twisted on my tongue.
“I… I understand.”
The memory was painful enough to feel physical knives digging into my gut. Mrs Wilder had made it clear that if I pursued her children, she was going to hurt me. Mom, too. I dropped my notepad and pen. Casper was still smiling at me. His eyes were vacant. He had no idea who I was after months of us talking. Mrs Wilder had taken all of it away. Including him breaking apart and waking up as a confused shell with no name. “Hello.” Casper’s lips mouthed the words, and I took several steps back, my heart in my throat.
He didn’t even blink. I watched his expression fail to flicker and wondered just how the fuck had I never noticed there was something wrong with him in the months I knew him. I watched him search his desk for a notepad and pen. Maybe seeing me was unravelling something inside him, I thought. Maybe I could try and wake him up again. At the back of my mind, however, I could still see my little paper doll’s head being torn off, its body ripped apart.
“What’s your name?” Casper had written in bubble writing. It’s like everything had been reset. His frenzied and wild eyes, that desperation to escape. Gone.
His handwriting was boiling my blood. Just looking at this perfect calligraphy which wasn’t even his. It had been forced onto him. Because Mrs Wilder expected this boy to be the perfect son, a creative prodigy like his siblings. I looked for a splinter in his eyes, just a glimpse that he was still in there. Still fighting whatever his ‘mother’ had done to him. But I saw nothing. I saw a blank fucking slate.
“Phoebe.” I mouthed.
Inclining his head, he scribbled a follow up message. “Can you write it down?”
Swallowing a lump in my throat, I shut my curtains, blocking him and his message out. Then I jumped into bed, turned off my light, and dreamed I was that paper-doll with no mouth to scream with, as Mrs Wilder slowly tore me limb from limb. The next day felt like a blur. I don’t think I snapped out of it until mom poked me with the prongs of her fork, tearing me from a scenario I was going over in my head.
If Casper was a prisoner, were his siblings too? I’d only caught a glimpse of Issac and Freddie Wilder. Mrs Wilder talked of being pregnant with four children. But she spoke like she had lost them. So, my guess was that she had kidnapped four teenager’s in their place—and was raising them as her dead children. “Are you okay, honey?”
Mom’s voice slid through my thoughts, and I realised I had been pushing my pasta around my plate. I wasn’t really hungry.
Mom had made this sort of red pepper spaghetti, but every time I tried to take a mouthful, I was seeing spatters of scarlet running from Casper’s temples, dripping down his face and smudged on the glass of his window. THUD. The image of him slamming his head into the pane, wild eyes and twisted lips, an agonising panic bringing him to the edge of hysteria caught me off guard, and my fork slipped through my fingers, tomato sauce slowly creeping its way back up my throat.
Fuck. I couldn’t forget about him. I couldn’t leave him and block him out after his mother had threatened me. Because if I didn’t help him, who would? It was my word against the town.
Mom cleared her throat
“Phoebe, are you listening to me?”
“Huh?”
“I said, have you been abiding by the rules?” Mom twirled pasta around her fork and took a dainty bite. Since joining Mrs Becker’s book club I had noticed a certain gleam in her eye. Like she was looking through me. “You haven’t been talking to the Wilder children, have you?”
“No.”
After three mouthfuls of spaghetti, I ended up with half of my dinner dripping down my face.
Mom grabbed a napkin, handing it to me. “Clean yourself up. You are seventeen, not seven.” Her expression softened. “Sweetie, are you okay?”
“Yes.” I said, struggling to appear it. I knew she could see my sleep circles.
“Have you been talking to the Wilder kids? I’ll know if you have.”
Technically, I had been communicating with him. But it was one-sided.
Still though, paranoia turned my thoughts against me. Shovelling down spaghetti, I spoke through a mouthful. “No.”
She handed me another napkin. “So, if I talk to Mrs Wilder…”
“Mom.” I grabbed her hand, squeezing it for dear life. Mrs Wilder knew, I thought dizzily. She must have known Casper’s attempt to talk to me, even if he was exactly who she wanted him to be. Still under her demented control. But it was confusing me just how she had that control. This wasn’t a movie or a TV show.
Mind control didn’t exist, right? And if it did, it was barely even a thing—induced by cocktails of drugs and torture. Casper didn’t look like he’d been tortured.
Except that thing inside his head… my thoughts grew foggy, and I was suddenly overcome with emotion. What I meant to tell her was all about what I had seen, and what Mrs Wilder had done to me. Though knowing what the woman was capable of, and thinking about that chord-like thing which surely had been forced into the back of Casper Wilder’s skull… “Can we just…move?” I choked out. “I want to move. I hate it here.” I gestured around.
“I hate this house. It’s too big, I feel like I’m lost every time I go upstairs. I hate school. The kids there freak me out.” Holding her gaze, I curled my lip. “And I hate our stupid neighbors.”
“Phoebe.” Mom’s tone darkened. “What did I tell you about being respectful?”
“It’s not like they can hear us!” I spat. “Did they fit cameras in here, mom? I wouldn’t be surprised! We’re under draconian rules!”
“Young lady, you are acting like a child.” She said stiffly. “Take several deep breaths and tell me what is wrong.”
“I’m fine.” I whispered.
“No, you are not.” Mom sipped red wine. “I know when there is something wrong with my daughter, and you cannot look me in the eye.”
I took a sharp breath and forced myself to stay calm. “Mom.” I sputtered through a sob. “It’s Mrs Wilder. She… she did something to me.”
Mom’s expression twisted. “What?”
“The other night,” I forced out. The images were flooding my head. Smouldering orange tearing its way through paper white. “She knocked me out, and she had this… dollhouse. And four paper dolls.”
I heaved out a breath. “She threatened me, mom. Mrs Wilder threatened me, and I need you to believe me.” I grabbed for her hand again, my own trembling. “Casper Wilder is not her son.” I said. The words felt foreign on my tongue. Wrong. They felt like a time bomb. “I think she kidnapped him. All of them. And she’s brainwashed them into thinking they’re her real kids.” There was a pause, and my mom’s expression didn’t change. So, I continued. “We need to call the police.” I reiterated. “Okay? You’re listening to me, aren’t you?” I swallowed sobs wracking my chest. “Because… you’re my mom. And you’re supposed to believe me.”
She surprised me with an eye-roll. “You are being ridiculous.”
THUD.
It felt like the walls were suddenly closing in. I could smell the stink of pool cleaner and Mrs Wilder’s perfume intoxicating my senses.
THUD.
I was seeing Casper slamming his head into his window once again, his eyes alive with a light I couldn’t understand. Like something was entwined inside his pupil.
THUD.
“Help me.”
God, it wouldn’t stop.
His voice. It was driving me crazy.
“I don’t know who I am.” Casper’s sobs echoed. “I don’t… I don’t fucking know who I am! I can’t remember… I can’t remember who I am!”
I could see his words clear in my mind, red scrawled against white until they were barely readable.
WHO.
AM.
I?
WHO AM I? WHO AM I? WHO AM I? I DON’T KNOW WHO I AM. THAT WOMAN IS NOT MY MOM.
I was going to be sick.
“Mom,” The words were choking from my mouth before I could stop them. I didn’t mean to sound so childlike, but that is exactly what I felt like. A child. I was alone. Drowning.
Looking at my mother’s curled lips, her eyes burning right through me, I felt myself start to come apart.
Like that stupid doll.
“Mom, please—”
She cut me off with a snort. “What? Is this because you're not allowed to talk to the boy next door? You’re creating your own narrative, and it’s… endearing. Childlike, but you are a child after all." Mom chuckled. “Sweetie, I know you love your mysteries, and sure, I can understand the cliché Romeo and Juliet thing going on, but really, there are plenty more fish in the sea. You don’t have to make up ridiculous scenarios.”
I let go of her hand, my toes curling. They didn’t sound like her words. They were someone else’s.
What was she talking about, ridiculous scenarios? Did my mother really think I was capable of imagining all of this shit?
I couldn’t reply. Not when part of me wondered if these were even her words. I had a strong suspicion my mom was just a puppet.
Like someone was talking through her.
“Do you like him?” Mom pressed. In her eyes, I could see Mrs Wilder was asking that question. “Is that why you’re being so… “ She trailed off with a sigh, and I glimpsed her fingers tighten around her wine glass, pressing enough pressure to leave marks on the rim. “Difficult?”
Mom’s lips splintered into a grin which wasn’t hers, and something inside me snapped. She was joking around.
When Casper was suffering, a prisoner of his own mind, my mother was treating me like I was fucking love-sick.
"No!" I shook my head. “No, I want to move.” I whispered. “I want to go back to our old house.”
“That’s not going to happen, sweetie. You know I can’t just leave my job. Phoebe, you’re a senior at school. You have SAT’S.”
“But—"
Her expression softened. “You’ll grow to like it. Don’t worry.” She said, before standing up and carrying our plates to the faucet. “I have a late shift tonight, so I expect your best behaviour.” I barely felt mom press a kiss to my forehead.
Her presence felt strange, like I wasn’t even seeing my mother. After what she said, I was sure her words were being pupiteered. When mom went to work, after yelling that there were leftovers on the counter, I was left with the soundtrack of a stupid dripping tap, and our humming refrigerator. I made several promises to myself in the time I was in the kitchen.
I would save Casper and his siblings, and then I’d force mom to drive all of us out of town. There were logistics I didn’t want to think about. These were feverish thoughts which controlled me. I had to get them out of that house. Time seemed to go by slowly. When I lifted my head from where I’d been staring at leftover meatballs I dropped onto the table, my phone vibrated in my jeans. Pulling it out, there was a DM regarding my post I wrote on here.
I read it. Then I read it again and again until I could process it.
“Film it. Literally get evidence of what is going on with Casper. You need people to believe you. And if people are going to believe you, you need to make a scene. If you want that house stormed, make as much noise as possible. I know it sounds stupid, but think about it like this. All you need is attention. Mrs Wilder can’t hide from the world if you show the world what’s going on. Good luck, Phoebe. Please be safe.”
-- A friend.
I was shaking when I knocked on the Wilder’s door fifteen minutes later. I knew exactly how to cause a scene.
Mrs Wilder answered, her expression cross between frustrated and bewildered. But I could barely focus on her, or the fact that she was holding a ladle like a weapon. The second the door opened revealing Casper’s mom drowning in a homely golden light, something slammed into me. Nothing physical, though it might as well have been. I forced myself to breathe through the stink which hit me like a brick to the face, suffocating my nose and mouth. Lavender. Not just lavender. The expensive flowers mom would get grocery shopping.
The ones which made me sneeze when I leaned too close. The house stunk of flowers—and that was just from standing on the threshold. But I knew better. I knew, once sweet smelling salts and flowers entwined in my senses, that the stink was to cover something up. And the more I edged closer over the threshold, the true smell of the Wilder house began to snake into my nose. Rot. I had once left a donut under my bed as a kid as an experiment to see if I could grow a whole new species. But this wasn’t mouldy food. It was far more potent. More like a decaying animal.
“Phoebe!” Mrs Wilder folded her arms across her apron. “I’m sorry, were my instructions not clear?” She cocked her head, an amused smile curving on her lips. She was triumphant, knowing exactly how to get under my skin. “Are you aware of what a restraining order is?”
Ignoring the smell choking the air, I held up my phone. “I’m live on Instagram.” I said. “Can I come in?”
I’m not sure why, but seeing her cheeks turn white made me feel like I was the one in control. “I’m sorry, what?”
“Live.” I repeated with a cheery wave. “On Instagram.”
I expected her to shove me back, or call out my bluff (yes, I was bluffing). Instead though, the women’s resolve seemed to crumble, her expression twisting, fear igniting in her eyes. She stammered for a moment, her gaze flashing to my phone before she wrapped her arms around herself and seemed to force a nod. “This is my house.” Her voice came out in a hiss.
Mrs Wilder was talking straight to the camera, and clearly faking terror. “Phoebe Daly, this is far past your usual games. This is… this is trespassing! Do you hear me? I’m calling the police!” Mrs Wilder didn’t call the police.
She held her phone to her ear but didn’t dare dial a number. I could see her options flitting across her eyes.
Was she going to attack me, or play it cool? Playing it cool, it was. With a face like thunder, she stumbled aside when I took a step forward and asked to be let inside. I wasn’t live on Instagram. I had barely 10 followers.
But she didn’t know that. Instead of being live, I was filming everything with my normal phone camera, angled at a height so she couldn’t slap it out of my hands. Watching her stumble back, panic twisting her expression into fury and frustration filled me with satisfaction. I had her. The crazy witch really thought I was streaming. I used that to my advantage, making sure to commentate to my imaginary audience as she led me down the main hallway, and I made sure to point the camera at everything I could see. Kids photographs covered neat paintwork.
But they were all different young children taken from a distance. Towards the end of the hall, what I saw did send my heart into my gut. And for a moment—just a brief second—I actually felt sympathy for Casper’s mom.
Four ultrasound’s.
I didn’t let the camera linger on them, instead going to the woman herself, who was following me, trying and failing to stall my effort to delve further inside the house. She stepped in front of me with a huff. “Phoebe. That is enough! You have terrorised me to no end!” her voice rose into a whine. “Whoever you are, Phoebe’s friends! This brat is targeting my children!”
“Casper!” I yelled, ignoring her. “Are you there?”
No answer.
My heart dropped into my gut, though I wasn’t giving up. I had the advantage, and I had to play to it.
“Casper!”
I ran up the first few steps leading upstairs, but Mrs Wilder seemed far too focused on shielding the door at the end of the hall.
“What’s in the kitchen?” I asked with a lump in my throat. Backing down the stairs, I made my way towards her.
“Nothing is in the kitchen!” she spat back, feigning innocence. “We’re having dinner if you must know. And you are ruining it!”
I shook my head. “This is Mrs Wilder,” I announced, pointing the phone at her. “She is holding four teenagers against their will and claiming them as her own children.” I said smoothly. When we reached a sliding glass door leading into the kitchen, I grabbed the handle with force.
Her rough hand slammed over mine, claw-like fingernails slicing my flesh. “Get out of my house,” she said stiffly. “Young lady, you are trespassing on my property.” Every word came out in globules of saliva hitting me in the face. “I have never met such a disruptive and outright disrespectful child without discipline. Your mother should be ashamed of herself.” She shot a nervous look at my phone camera.
“Where’s Mrs Becker?” I asked.
“What?”
Mrs Becker.” I repeated. “She helped you kidnap and scare me into staying quiet the other day. So, where is she?”
She spluttered, clearly caught off guard. “You are delusional!”
“Then show me them.” I said, pointing the camera at the door. “Your children, Mrs Wilder. I want you to show me Issac, Matilda, Freddie, and…” I swallowed hard. “And Casper.” Ignoring her steel grasp on the door handle, I pulled it open, trying to ignore the sudden squawking noise which had escaped her mouth, slamming into my ears. I can’t describe it. Mom has spoken about a mother instinct, and I wonder if it truly was that. This was animalistic. Feral.
Immediately, Mrs Wilder was behind me like a beast, her trembling arms trying to grasp hold of me and drag me back violently. But I was stronger, and desperate. I had to know the Wilder's secret. Stepping over the threshold, I was first aware of a far dimmer light. And when I fully focused on the room, I realised I was seeing candlelight. In front of me was a hardwood dining room table, and five chairs—four of which were occupied. The kitchen was a copy of our own. Except ours had always been lit up and bright.
It felt more like I was stepping inside a cave. An orangeade blur illuminated each face. Three out of four bodies sat stiff, almost… doll like. Mechanical. The way the three were facing me. Their expressions matched perfectly. Wide eyes and wider grins splitting lips apart. I drank each Wilder kid in slowly, as my brain struggled to take in the real horror of the room. What I was failing to fully take in. I couldn’t. I don’t think I could physically understand what I was seeing. I was aware my phone had slipped from my fingers, that I was paralysed to the spot.
The smell of stink and rot, I thought.
It was them.
I couldn’t move. There were three boys, and one girl. Matilda Wilder was a mousey redhead while her brothers were all brunettes. She wore a purple dress which fit her perfectly, her hair tied into pigtails with red ribbons. Issac and Freddie Wilder sat shoulder to shoulder.
They were the twins, I thought dizzily. They were identical twins in Mrs Wilder’s eyes, but these guys looked nothing like each other—one of them sporting a handsome face and razor jawline, while the other had an odd looking nose and jutting chin. Still though, I could tell Mrs Wilder had made an effort to make them look… beautiful. Perfect. I could see her attempt at stitching their lips together.
It wasn’t their appearance that was gluing me to the ground, however. Because looking closer, past the made-up faces on both the boys and the girls, the ribbons and fancy clothes and empty eyes staring right through me, soft candlelight was slowly bringing them to life in front of me. These kids had been hidden away for so long, and I was finally seeing them for who they were. My gaze flicked to each of them. I was seeing… stitches. I was seeing rugged stitches and gashes in their flesh, patchwork skin making up fingers and elbows and cheeks. They had been taken apart over and over again and put back together.
Matilda’s neck was a collage of flesh, rugged markings where a marker pen had clumsily sliced into her skin and pieced her like a jigsaw through mangled body parts and anything left over. Freddie and Isaac’s heads were cocked at an angle, and looking closer I glimpsed the bad stitch-job which had knitted them together.
I could see it in all of them. None of these kids were their original selves. They reminded me of dolls built through old doll pieces. I didn’t know I was screaming until the gravity of the situation hit me, and I realised I was suffocating on dead skin which made them up, their bodies stitched and knitted together, transforming them into her ideal children. Flickering candlelight revealed the last Wilder kid.
There were two significant things which were different about Casper.
The first, was that he must have been her most recent. He was her most… original—and the second? Unlike the others, he was awake.
Until that moment, Casper had been sitting amongst his siblings, head cocked to the side like the others, catatonic.
His dazed eyes slowly found mine—and I glimpsed recognition flickering in his expression, his rigid body starting to contort back to life. He was her paper-doll.
But Casper wasn’t finished.
“Phoebe?” When the boy spoke, his voice was barely a whimper. Frenzied eyes flicked from Matilda to Issac and Freddie, all of which were still wearing their perfect smiles. I noticed the rugged skin of his neck, and my heart sank.
Something was moving behind him, and I forced myself to step forwards. I glimpsed that same chord-like thing. This time it was fully attacked to him. No, it was buried directly inside his head. A sour paste crept up my throat when I saw the carnivorous hole burrowing deeper inside his head. I could glimpse the intense white of chipped skull and a strange looking fluid leaking out —but it looked… wrong. I’ve always imagined the internals of someone’s brain to be pinkish grey. Though what I was seeing was more like a black ooze sliding down the back of his neck. It reminded me of squid-ink. Definitely not blood.
It looked like he had been shot in the head, or had been pulled out of the operating theatre mid-surgery. And somehow, he was still alive. Just like the description, the chord-thing seemed to be attached in two places—to the back of the head, directly on the brain, and stapled to his spine. The device was humming, but I don’t think it was working.
Casper was looking directly at me, and the way his body was angled was different to his siblings. Instead of sitting straight, he was trying and failing to jump to his feet, his eyes wide, almost unseeing. I could see that frustration and anger, that pain from the other night alive in his face. I opened my mouth to speak, though Casper was already lifting a trembling hand, his fingers twining around the chord and giving a pathetic tug. A thin line of dark red, almost black, slid from his nostril.
I knew it was him. “Can you… can you get… it… out?” His hand found the chord again, and his grasp slipped. “Please.” He whispered, squeezing his eyes shut. “There’s something… in my… my head, and I need you to… I need you to fucking get it out…. right now.”
“Casper.” I couldn’t resist a relieved hiss. “This woman.” I twisted and pointed at Mrs Wilder.
“Who is she to you?”
The kid blinked, his eyes narrowing. He jolted, twisting around to try and see the thing attached to him. “Why would I know her? Get this shit out of my head!”
He let out a hysterical yell. His cry was more of a demand, and that nameless boy underneath splintered doll pieces began to unravel.
“Get it out.” He kept repeating. “Fucking get it out! There’s something inside my head!”
I nodded, choking back a cry.
He slammed his hands down, but seemingly couldn’t move from the chair. “What the fuck.” He side eyed the others. “What the fuck is this?”
I struggled to answer without screaming myself. “Stuff.” I managed to get out through a sputter. “Can you stand up?”
“What?” He blinked rapidly at me, I was seeing it again. That odd light flickering in his pupils.
“No. I can’t move!”
The humming grew louder, and at the corner of my eye, that thing seemed to dig deeper inside his head.
More blood spurted from his nose, and I could tell that he was fighting it.
The boy’s eyes found mine, his words tangling into an almost slur. “Get it out! I can’t… I can’t fucking think straight. I…. I….”
His eyes rolled back for a moment before he shook his head, lunging against the chair. His head twitched. “I don’t know I am.”
I couldn’t move. Watching this thing take control in real time, it was both fascinating and horrifying, sending my knees buckling.
“Who… who am I?”
His whole head twitched, like he was glitching.
“I know her. I… I know her. I’m her… I’m her son… I’m her s—son.”
Casper hummed, his twitching lips pricking into a demented smile. “I’ll always know her. She’s the one who… who s---saved me.”
Choking on a shade too vivid and dark to be blood, he sputtered, his head drooping.
“Mom?” Casper spoke through mouthfuls of pooling black. He lifted his head, unseeing eyes blinking in dim candlelight. The chord-like thing sounded more like it was drilling into his brain, and I knew I was fucked when his lips spread out into a childlike smile, and he swayed to the left and then the right, the light in his eyes burning. “There’s… water.” He whispered. “So… so cold. I’m so cold.” His voice broke.
“I don’t… want to be cold.”
“You won’t be cold.” Mrs Wilder’s voice was a sharp cry behind me. “Ever again. Your mom is here.”
“Promise? You n… need to… prom…promise me.” His teeth chattered. “You need to… tell me… I won’t… be cold. That my mom… is coming.”
“I promise, darling.”
“Mommy?”
“No,” I swallowed back frustrated tears. “Casper, she’s not your mother!”
His next words split into a guttural screech which almost sent him toppling off of the chair. He grabbed at his head, clawing at face.
But the more he was tugging, the machine fought against him. I could see metallic clamp-like legs stubbornly holding on.
His next words were mangled between cries from his conscious self, and whatever the fuck his ‘mother’ was forcing into his head.
And yet it barely grazed my ears. I was trying to figure out how to get that monumental THING out of his brain. There was no way I could just pull it out. That could kill him, right?
I started forwards to grab him, to try and pry the clamp off his spine, before I was being smothered with the stink of rich lavender. I hadn’t noticed Mrs Wilder swipe up my phone. She was holding it up in the air. “Live? You were never filming anything, you stupid girl! Do you understand what you have done?” She laughed—and I mean cackled like a witch. “I warned you, didn’t I?”
I got one last glimpse of Casper. His whole body was jerking under the chord inside his head, but he wasn’t crying out anymore.
Before I knew what was happening, I was being dragged back, and in front of me a Wilder boy shoving his struggling brother back into the chair. I didn’t have time to cry out.
With strength I had no idea the crazy bitch had, I was being violently yanked by my hair. And while I was flailing, I saw the ultrasound’s once again. Looking closer though, each one had a different name. A different mother. My head spun. That couldn’t be right. Mrs Wilder told me she was pregnant with four children, so who’s ultrasound’s were these? And why had she framed them? I didn’t have time to check it out.
I was dumped on my ass and the door was slammed straight in my face. I tried to get back in, throwing my fists into the door, until my own mother’s arms were pulling me back. I was hysterical. I couldn’t breathe, and mom wasn’t getting through to me. I’d kicked and thrown myself into the door, attracting the attention of our neighbours. That’s what I wanted. I wanted one of them to call the police, and when I picked up a brick, struggling against mom’s attempt to restrain me, and throwing it through the Wilder’s front window, I finally got it.
Two cops arrived, and I was so relieved I almost sobbed into one officer's chest. While my mom was trying and failing to explain my “breakdown” I begged them to take a look inside. And I was loud. I was screaming.
Which they couldn’t ignore.
“Phoebe!” I was partially aware of mom’s voice trying to calm me down, but I all I could see was that thing in Casper’s head, and his siblings made from knitted flesh. When the officer’s exited the Wilder’s house after five painful minutes waiting, I stumbled over to the two.
“Well?” I demanded, shoving away my mom. “Did you see them?” I yelled. “She’s turned them into… into dolls!” I was already going on a tangent, hysteria plunging me further into my own insanity.
“They’re not her children.” I gritted out. “She kidnapped and.. and stitched them up like… like Frankenstein! Mrs Wilder likes dolls! She had this paper-doll of me when she kidnapped me and lit it on fire to threaten me because I was talking to Casper. And he… he’s one of them, and not even her son! She’s controlling his mind with this thing stuck inside—"
“That’s enough!” Mom snapped.
The officer in front of me chuckled. “Breathe, kid!” He said. “Jeez. You’re not even giving us time to talk.”
“What?”
Instead of speaking to me directly, the officer turned to mom. “There’s nothing out of the ordinary, ma’am.” He said. “The Wilder’s were enjoying a family dinner, and…” his gaze flashed to me. “Well. It appears someone ruined it. There are no current reports of child abduction.”
I couldn’t resist a laugh. “Are you serious? Did you not… did you not see—”
He cut me off. “There they are!” He chuckled. “The Wilder siblings!” The officer saluted the four of them who had wandered outside trailing their mother. Ignoring the other three, I made my way over to Casper. But he looked… I don’t know, he looked like he usually did through his window? There were no stitches or patchwork skin. He was wearing a beanie, and I reached to yank it off, when his hand caught mine.
He was freezing cold.
His skin felt almost slimy, like I was touching the skin of a dead fish. I wanted to hold on, to force the cops to believe me, but he was already speaking—his voice was different, a lot deeper than the hysterical cry of the boy underneath. “Mom?” Casper’s eyes were cold. He shoved my hand away before taking a shaky step back. Like I was crazy. He quickly joined his siblings.
“Who is this girl?”
“We’re going home.” Mom said, grasping my arm. “Can’t you see you’ve embarrassed me enough?”
“Phoebe, huh?”
I turned to find the other Wilder kids. The guy with the jawline still had that doll-like smile. “Please leave our brother alone.”
I couldn’t resist spitting at him. “He’s not your brother. You’re brainwashed.”
Something in his expression seemed to twitch suddenly. Mom tried to pull me back, but I stubbornly stayed where I was.
Issac or Freddie cocked his head. “Brain... washed?"
He started to speak, before Mrs Wilder ushered them all away. But I did notice him turn back to frown at me.
Needless to say, I was grounded—and threatened with a restraining order.
That didn’t stop me peeking through the gap in Casper’s curtains that night. I caught him stumbling around, struggling to get the chord-thing out of his head with manic hands. He came over to the window several times, his bloody hands slamming into the window before slipping away. I'm not sure, but I don't think he knew why his legs kept drawing him to the window.
Mrs Wilder joined him soon after, forcing him to bite into something plastic, as she led him to sit on the bed, her fingers wrapping around the chord, and yanking it out. I didn't hear his scream, but his reaction to it, body writhing, eyes squeezing shut, I knew he could feel it. And part of him was awake. Just part of him.
Not the parts who knew our window sessions and his horrifying reality.
Casper came to his window all bandaged up. He didn’t hold up a message, and his eyes were vacant.
Though his expression told me everything I needed to know.
Engines woke me up several hours later. It was midnight. Sliding out of bed, my gaze went straight to Casper’s window. But it was dark. I pressed my face against my own window and glimpsed Mrs Wilder standing on her lawn in her robe.
A car pulled up, and the cop from earlier jumped out. In his arms was what looked like a body bag. He dropped it on the ground. “Freshly dead.” He said, when I opened my window to hear what was being said. “Car crash. Victim is male. Eighteen years old.” He folded his arms with a light laugh. “I got him straight from the morgue. His parents think there’s no body.” Both of them knelt next to the bag, and Mrs Wilder zipped it open with a hiss.
When the bag jolted suddenly, I realised the body was still alive.
The officer stumbled back. “Jesus. I didn’t even use that much. You said a single shot, right?”
“Mmm.”
Mrs Wilder pulled out a carving knife from her robe, and I felt my entire body turn to ice.
The cop raised a brow. “You came prepared.”
She sighed, her hands on her hips. “He’s spare parts. The expiry is approaching which is why they’re… acting out.”
With startling precision, she aimed the knife above what I guessed was the body’s head, before bringing it down with a sickening crunch. The bag stopped squirming.
I can’t remember anything else from that night.
My mother was gone the next morning. A paper doll replica of her was sitting next to a note and a plate of freshly baked cookies.
...
“Dearest, Phoebe.
I baked these thinking of you! And my, you should be grateful I have even bothered to do this after playing your games last night. Honestly, I am not the monster you think I am. Your mom asked me to let you know she will be busy with me for a few hours.
I’ve been asked to take care of you, so here are some chocolate cookies! Please maintain the rule I set in place and do not go near or talk to my children. I’m sure you know what will happen if you happen to slip up. I took the liberty of asking your mother to fit specialised devices in your room so I know when you are talking to my son. Writing equipment has been taken away. I hope we can be friends and I can start calling you my daughter. If something were to happen to your mom, do not worry. I will take you in. I want you to remember that.
Love,
Mrs Wilder.
PS: I can’t wait for you to (not) meet my newest son!

Demographics: Female, White, North Carolina, competitive public school, and LGBTQ+
Intended study: Economics (major), Film studies and/or English (minor)
Academics:

• ACT: 34 (R:36, E:35, M:34, S:30)
• SAT: 1500 (W: 740, M: 760)
• Class rank: 2/550
• UW/W GPA: UW: 4.0/4.0 W: 4.7/5.0
• Coursework: Classes I will take by the end of senior year: 14 APs, 2 CC classes, 13 honors, 3 regular
  • AP Scores (did not take AP Stat exam): World History (5), Macro (5), US Gov (5), Seminar (3)
    • Exams to take Junior & Senior year: Chem, Calc BC (AB subscore), Human Geo, Lang, Research, APUSH, APES, Lit

Extracurriculars:
1) Bank of America Student Leaders Program, 8 week paid internship through Bank of America but you work with local nonprofits
2) Varsity Soccer, 2 year captain, MVP as a junior, 2x All-Conference, led team to playoffs for first time in 5 years
3) Club Soccer, Girls Academy league (highest level of play for girls youth soccer), travel out-of-state (CA, FL, NJ, GA, etc.) every weekend while in season, play with D1 recruits and youth national team players
4) Student Council, Student Body VP (12th), Class Treasurer (11th), Class Rep (9th-10th), leader of annual food drive and a birthday box drive (11th), prom committee member
5) Student Newspaper, (hopefully) Co-Editor-in-Chief (12th), Staff Writer (10th-11th)
6) Habitat for Humanity, volunteer building homes in my community, 65+ hours in the organization
7) Volunteer at a local art house theater, volunteer-run venue for indie film festivals, live music, and stand up comedy, usher and help choose films and acts to showcase, 50+ hours in the organization
8) Founder of county-wide bookclub, 25+ members, monthly meetings plus occasional community service
9) National Honor Society, NHS Vice President, 30+ hours of community service
10) Duke Summer Program in Econometrics (10th), 3 weeks, research project on determinants of crime
Awards: *weak need suggestions/help\*
1) AP Capstone Diploma (completed and passed a 5000 word research paper, 2000 word literature review, 1200 word literature review, 20 minute presentation and 10 minute presentation in AP Research and Seminar)
2) Junior Marshall (participated in graduation as a junior for being top 15 in class)
3) The Future of Finance is Female conference (female leaders in investment banking and consulting lead the conference, was invited and attended in 10th)
4) AP Scholar with Distinction
5) *need to find something asap*
Schools:

• UNC-CH (EA) (applying for morehead-cain scholarship and honors college)
• UVA (EA) (applying for jefferson scholarship)
• NC State (EA)
• UChicago (EA)
• Duke (RD)
• Dartmouth (RD)
• Brown (RD)
• Cornell (RD)

LMK what you think my chances are at these schools! Also, should I submit ACT or SAT (superscored) or both? And, what awards/competitions related to my major (econ) or minors (film/english) should I do?

Hi,
I would love your perspectives on transitioning to a career in Regulatory Law + Policy by getting a JD.
I studied Economics at a T10 undergrad, and have spent two years in banking and am now in private equity. What I quickly realized is that I don't care (that much) about the money - even as a first year banker, my base salary was more than enough for my lifestyle.
What I do care about, however, is our policy and society. Reading about "Hipster Antitrust" and seeing the FTC's posturing on corporate actions like Microsoft x Activision has been unbelievably frustrating.
I have a 337 on the GRE that I took in anticipation of getting an MBA, but I'm seriously considering going to law school to work in policy and dedicate myself to public service. It seems that a MPP doesn't carry nearly as much weight. I know that I'll have to take the LSAT and everything, but I just want to know if this sort of path is feasible / if there are any red flags I should be aware of.
Would love to hear some of your thoughts - have been brooding about this for a while.

I've been obese since I was a single digit age. I grew up in a low income family that just ate whatever we had or picked up from food banks. Among many other things, I never learned about nutrition other than the food pyramid at school... but now I'm in a space where I'm making over $25/hr, done with school, finally got the psychiatric care I needed and I genuinely want to shed this weight I've carried for so so long.
But where do I even start? I live in a rural town, I don't have a gym near me but work in the city. I have serious anxiety and some bad experiences with previous gyms. I'm open to idea for diets, but I do have food intolerances (fish, red meat, dairy), medications, and injuries from car accidents.
I know I can try to talk to my doctor about this but I want to hear it from real people who have done it.
TIA!

Okay this is a long post. But I do not know if I am right or wrong so I would like different opinions and suggestions. Timeline is from September to now so when I say it's a long rant, it really is.
I'm an international student in Chicago and do not have dental insurance. In September I started experiencing pain in my left bottom teeth region. I detected its tooth number 19 and after reading through reddit, UIC was the cheapest and the best rated option for me to go to. I book an urgent care appointment near the end of September and the student worker detects cavity on tooth #19. She cleans and does temporary filling. She states that to have a permanent filling, I need to be a permanent patient there. Meaning I need to have my xrays taken and have an evaluation which takes time. She also states to come back in 6 weeks to have a permanent filling.
I leave with relief that atleast I won't be in pain. I tell her I'll become a permanent patient. I pay and get my xrays done (around mid of October). They approve me to be their patient and I end up going for their evaluation on the second week of Nov. I go for evaluation where I find out I have a bunch of other cavities. The senior dentist comes and tells me throat looks swollen and red and I need to be cleared for a medical consultation by the senior dentist (I also tell the senior dentist that I have a history of cancer sores in my throat but at that moment I didn't have any). So now I book an appointment for a primary care for the first time in the US (around 3rd week of November). Co incidentally I had a very sharp right pelvis pain as well during my medical consultation. The gp tells me your throat looks fine to me right now and any infections that you could have had could be due to cavities and he did not understand why the senior dentist needed consultation clearance. For my pelvis pain he orders a CT scan and bunch of blood work, he suspects appendicitis. I told him I've had same pain a month ago as well. Anyways, before the scan I find out its for $8,000 and my medical insurance will only cover $350, the blood work came around about $500 after the insurance covered, so I choose just to get the blood work. (Note my sister is a doctor and she told me to get the blood work done before the scan as she suspected it could be kidney stones) I go for the tests and wait for my blood reports. My blood reports come that same evening and mostly all the reports are normal except C-reactive protein and eGFRprotein were slightly high. I observe my pain and its fades down and completely goes away by night. The plan was to go to the ER if the pain ever returns, at which point my insurance would cover it 100%. The next few mornings I monitor myself and there's no pain at all, and I haven't had that pain since then. The gp had signed the medical consultation form that I needed for my dental clearance. I'm mid moving apartments at this point and I lose that piece of paper (worst mistake I made was not to have a picture of the paper). I ask the GP to fill the paper again, to which he refuses and says if I don't get the CT he won't fill and sign the paper (basically he voids the first note he made). I know the gp was protecting himself as well but I honestly have not had this behaviour from a doctor before.. and I have lived in the middle-east, asia and europe before. It literally felt like 'you wont give me what I want, then even I wont give you something you want'. I try for the student dentist to speak to the gp and the gp tells her im not clearing her for the dental work because she didnt make it to the scan (first time in my life i experienced a doctor refusing his word but idk how things run in America). This is now mid of December. I tell the student dentist that I do have tooth pain for which I have proof of on texts. I end up going to another gp (who also states that cavities can cause mouth infections), she runs tests again which all come normal this time and clears me for dental work. Also turns out my pelvis pain was ovulation pain according to a gynaecologist. At this point (first week of Jan) I tell the student I'm still in pain and she said temporary filling can stay long and the tooth was cleaned and the pain can come from the tooth adjacent to it which has a decay as well. I go to UIC in the second week of January, 15-16 weeks after my temporary filling was done. She does my permanent filling and does cleaning of the teeth. She rushes through the cleaning and says ill complete the full procedure of cleaning next time you come. All this time I think she's been helping me so I cooperated a lot as well. I know the medical consultation were also my fault as I misplaced the paper so im fully responsible for that.
But im still in pain after the permanent filling. So sept - January.. still in pain. I spent $500 at UIC and I am in pain. I don't reach out to her again and decide to go to another dentist now. The new dentist tells me there's a lot of tartar buildup around tooth 19th. She tells me the cleaning was not done properly and the filling is also not right. The dentist cleans as much as she could and prescribes augmentin and calls me back. (This is third week of Jan). The pain goes away idk because of pills or the proper cleaning? When she calls me back she says she'll re-do filling for #19 and does filling for #18. When she opens #19 she says there's a lot of decay that was left behind and is shocked as to what was done. She even does a hole on the side of my molar which was never done at UIC. She shows me the color inside of the tooth and explains the difference between a decay and normal tooth structure. But the decay was very close to my nerve, she tells me she's trying her best not to reach the nerve but if the pain still persists then I need an RCT. She gives me another round augmentin as an insurance if the pain persists. (4th week of Jan) This is also when I tell student dentist what the second dentist has claimed and done. She apologies and says she's sorry and admits she rushed the cleaning, but says the doctor checked the tooth at every point during the filling and it's unfortunate I had to go somewhere else for my pain. I ask her simply if I can get reimbursed for my money because I didnt get what I was supposed to (which is relief lol) she says 'You came in for an urgent care appt back in sept we took an X-ray of the tooth bothering you and there was a cavity there so we treated it. We do not provide cleanings for an urgent care appt. I don’t think we can offer reimbursement for everything but just see and ask'
Now in the meantime, I am trying to call UIC customer service. Left voicemail in December to get help, no one ever called back. Left emails, no response. Then in February I find out about UI health and someone answers my calls (first time talking to someone about my experience other than the student dentist). They take a note and I get a call from the department who handles the Dentistry. She asks me what has happened, I tell her all the above. She asks me what I want now, I tell her I want my money back. She says she'll speak the the doctor in their department. The doctor asks for my xrays and doctors note from the other dental clinic. I send them on 1st of March. No reply for 2 weeks after sending many follow up emails. I get a reply back mid of March that she herself was on vacation for 2 weeks. Note: no out of office automated email lol. Then mid of march she says everyone's on Spring break, wait for 20th March for doctors to come back. I follow up, with initially a response to wait. Followed up several times later, no response. I email her saying 'I'm in a lot of pain and I need a root canal. Can you please help me with this? If not I need a supervisor. I can not wait further. I have been suffering since September. I'm a student myself and im on a visa. I am taking ibuprofen and tylenols everyday since September which has its own side effects. I'm at the verge of crying. I can't even get help from the UIC customer service side now?' Got an answer today saying 'Doctor reviewed your x-rays and took in consideration your concerns. He determined that the refund we would only be provide to you for the prophy (cleaning), which was not finished by the student. For #19 filling, which you informed us that after being seen by the outside provider you are now in need of a root canal and based on the x-rays provided, we would not be able to do a refund since we were not given the opportunity to see you for the toothache prior to seeking care elsewhere. Unfortunately at this time we see no wrongdoing on the student’s end based on what we stated “the x-rays we would once again not be able to provide a refund for #19”.' I have sent her a proof of the doctors note saying she did code D2392 and it was completed. And my prescription.
Now I do not know what to do.. should I leave everything, and continue with my money gone to waste? Or should I fight? What are my rights as a patient? Or am I wrong? I take tylenols and ibuprofen for my pain daily. I am not mad at the student i know shes learning and i get it, but there are so many senior dentists there who looked at me.. and this was the result? Did they look in rush because they have so many patients? I don't know what to do.. obviously I can't afford a lawyer to start a case so yeah im just lost.

I just got an envelope in the mail with “Records Division” as the return address. The envelope was stamped, in red, “SECOND NOTICE / TIME SENSITIVE. Followed by “Important Documents Enclosed.”
Inside was an hearing aid ad.
I suspect this is meant to fool seniors, whom they think are stupid. What other deceptive practices does this company use? I don’t care if their hearing aids are the best, I would never do business with such a dishonest company.

Okay this is a long post. But I do not know if I am right or wrong so I would like different opinions and suggestions. Timeline is from September to now so when I say it's a long rant, it really is. I don't drink nor smoke.
I'm an international student in Chicago and do not have dental insurance. In September I started experiencing pain in my left bottom teeth region. I detected its tooth number 19 and after reading through reddit, UIC was the cheapest and the best rated option for me to go to. I book an urgent care appointment near the end of September and the student worker detects cavity on tooth #19. She cleans and does temporary filling. She states that to have a permanent filling, I need to be a permanent patient there. Meaning I need to have my xrays taken and have an evaluation which takes time. She also states to come back in 6 weeks to have a permanent filling.
I leave with relief that atleast I won't be in pain. I tell her I'll become a permanent patient. I pay and get my xrays done (around mid of October). They approve me to be their patient and I end up going for their evaluation on the second week of Nov. I go for evaluation where I find out I have a bunch of other cavities. The senior dentist comes and tells me throat looks swollen and red and I need to be cleared for a medical consultation by the senior dentist (I also tell the senior dentist that I have a history of cancer sores in my throat but at that moment I didn't have any). So now I book an appointment for a primary care for the first time in the US (around 3rd week of November). Co incidentally I had a very sharp right pelvis pain as well during my medical consultation. The gp tells me your throat looks fine to me right now and any infections that you could have had could be due to cavities and he did not understand why the senior dentist needed consultation clearance. For my pelvis pain he orders a CT scan and bunch of blood work, he suspects appendicitis. I told him I've had same pain a month ago as well. Anyways, before the scan I find out its for $8,000 and my medical insurance will only cover $350, the blood work came around about $500 after the insurance covered, so I choose just to get the blood work. (Note my sister is a doctor and she told me to get the blood work done before the scan as she suspected it could be kidney stones) I go for the tests and wait for my blood reports. My blood reports come that same evening and mostly all the reports are normal except C-reactive protein and eGFRprotein were slightly high. I observe my pain and its fades down and completely goes away by night. The plan was to go to the ER if the pain ever returns, at which point my insurance would cover it 100%. The next few mornings I monitor myself and there's no pain at all, and I haven't had that pain since then. The gp had signed the medical consultation form that I needed for my dental clearance. I'm mid moving apartments at this point and I lose that piece of paper (worst mistake I made was not to have a picture of the paper). I ask the GP to fill the paper again, to which he refuses and says if I don't get the CT he won't fill and sign the paper (basically he voids the first note he made). I know the gp was protecting himself as well but I honestly have not had this behaviour from a doctor before.. and I have lived in the middle-east, asia and europe before. It literally felt like 'you wont give me what I want, then even I wont give you something you want'. I try for the student dentist to speak to the gp and the gp tells her im not clearing her for the dental work because she didnt make it to the scan (first time in my life i experienced a doctor refusing his word but idk how things run in America). This is now mid of December. I tell the student dentist that I do have tooth pain for which I have proof of on texts. I end up going to another gp (who also states that cavities can cause mouth infections), she runs tests again which all come normal this time and clears me for dental work. Also turns out my pelvis pain was ovulation pain according to a gynaecologist. At this point (first week of Jan) I tell the student I'm still in pain and she said temporary filling can stay long and the tooth was cleaned and the pain can come from the tooth adjacent to it which has a decay as well. I go to UIC in the second week of January, 15-16 weeks after my temporary filling was done. She does my permanent filling and does cleaning of the teeth. She rushes through the cleaning and says ill complete the full procedure of cleaning next time you come. All this time I think she's been helping me so I cooperated a lot as well. I know the medical consultation were also my fault as I misplaced the paper so im fully responsible for that.
But im still in pain after the permanent filling. So sept - January.. still in pain. I spent $500 at UIC and I am in pain. I don't reach out to her again and decide to go to another dentist now. The new dentist tells me there's a lot of tartar buildup around tooth 19th. She tells me the cleaning was not done properly and the filling is also not right. The dentist cleans as much as she could and prescribes augmentin and calls me back. (This is third week of Jan). The pain goes away idk because of pills or the proper cleaning? When she calls me back she says she'll re-do filling for #19 and does filling for #18. When she opens #19 she says there's a lot of decay that was left behind and is shocked as to what was done. She even does a hole on the side of my molar which was never done at UIC. She shows me the color inside of the tooth and explains the difference between a decay and normal tooth structure. But the decay was very close to my nerve, she tells me she's trying her best not to reach the nerve but if the pain still persists then I need an RCT. She gives me another round augmentin as an insurance if the pain persists. (4th week of Jan) This is also when I tell student dentist what the second dentist has claimed and done. She apologies and says she's sorry and admits she rushed the cleaning, but says the doctor checked the tooth at every point during the filling and it's unfortunate I had to go somewhere else for my pain. I ask her simply if I can get reimbursed for my money because I didnt get what I was supposed to (which is relief lol) she says 'You came in for an urgent care appt back in sept we took an X-ray of the tooth bothering you and there was a cavity there so we treated it. We do not provide cleanings for an urgent care appt. I don’t think we can offer reimbursement for everything but just see and ask'
Now in the meantime, I am trying to call UIC customer service. Left voicemail in December to get help, no one ever called back. Left emails, no response. Then in February I find out about UI health and someone answers my calls (first time talking to someone about my experience other than the student dentist). They take a note and I get a call from the department who handles the Dentistry. She asks me what has happened, I tell her all the above. She asks me what I want now, I tell her I want my money back. She says she'll speak the the doctor in their department. The doctor asks for my xrays and doctors note from the other dental clinic. I send them on 1st of March. No reply for 2 weeks after sending many follow up emails. I get a reply back mid of March that she herself was on vacation for 2 weeks. Note: no out of office automated email lol. Then mid of march she says everyone's on Spring break, wait for 20th March for doctors to come back. I follow up, with initially a response to wait. Followed up several times later, no response. I email her saying 'I'm in a lot of pain and I need a root canal. Can you please help me with this? If not I need a supervisor. I can not wait further. I have been suffering since September. I'm a student myself and im on a visa. I am taking ibuprofen and tylenols everyday since September which has its own side effects. I'm at the verge of crying. I can't even get help from the UIC customer service side now?' Got an answer today saying 'Doctor reviewed your x-rays and took in consideration your concerns. He determined that the refund we would only be provide to you for the prophy (cleaning), which was not finished by the student. For #19 filling, which you informed us that after being seen by the outside provider you are now in need of a root canal and based on the x-rays provided, we would not be able to do a refund since we were not given the opportunity to see you for the toothache prior to seeking care elsewhere. Unfortunately at this time we see no wrongdoing on the student’s end based on what we stated “the x-rays we would once again not be able to provide a refund for #19”.' I have sent her a proof of the doctors note saying she did code D2392 and it was completed. And my prescription.
Now I do not know what to do.. should I leave everything, and continue with my money gone to waste? Or should I fight? What are my rights as a patient? Or am I wrong? I take tylenols and ibuprofen for my pain daily. I am not mad at the student i know shes learning and i get it, but there are so many senior dentists there who looked at me.. and this was the result? Did they look in rush because they have so many patients? I don't know what to do.. obviously I can't afford a lawyer to start a case so yeah im just lost.

Okay this is a long post. But I do not know if I am right or wrong so I would like different opinions and suggestions. Timeline is from September to now so when I say it's a long rant, it really is.
I'm an international student in Chicago and do not have dental insurance. In September I started experiencing pain in my left bottom teeth region. I detected its tooth number 19 and after reading through reddit, UIC was the cheapest and the best rated option for me to go to. I book an urgent care appointment near the end of September and the student worker detects cavity on tooth #19. She cleans and does temporary filling. She states that to have a permanent filling, I need to be a permanent patient there. Meaning I need to have my xrays taken and have an evaluation which takes time. She also states to come back in 6 weeks to have a permanent filling.
I leave with relief that atleast I won't be in pain. I tell her I'll become a permanent patient. I pay and get my xrays done (around mid of October). They approve me to be their patient and I end up going for their evaluation on the second week of Nov. I go for evaluation where I find out I have a bunch of other cavities. The senior dentist comes and tells me throat looks swollen and red and I need to be cleared for a medical consultation by the senior dentist (I also tell the senior dentist that I have a history of cancer sores in my throat but at that moment I didn't have any). So now I book an appointment for a primary care for the first time in the US (around 3rd week of November). Co incidentally I had a very sharp right pelvis pain as well during my medical consultation. The gp tells me your throat looks fine to me right now and any infections that you could have had could be due to cavities and he did not understand why the senior dentist needed consultation clearance. For my pelvis pain he orders a CT scan and bunch of blood work, he suspects appendicitis. I told him I've had same pain a month ago as well. Anyways, before the scan I find out its for $8,000 and my medical insurance will only cover $350, the blood work came around about $500 after the insurance covered, so I choose just to get the blood work. (Note my sister is a doctor and she told me to get the blood work done before the scan as she suspected it could be kidney stones) I go for the tests and wait for my blood reports. My blood reports come that same evening and mostly all the reports are normal except C-reactive protein and eGFRprotein were slightly high. I observe my pain and its fades down and completely goes away by night. The plan was to go to the ER if the pain ever returns, at which point my insurance would cover it 100%. The next few mornings I monitor myself and there's no pain at all, and I haven't had that pain since then. The gp had signed the medical consultation form that I needed for my dental clearance. I'm mid moving apartments at this point and I lose that piece of paper (worst mistake I made was not to have a picture of the paper). I ask the GP to fill the paper again, to which he refuses and says if I don't get the CT he won't fill and sign the paper (basically he voids the first note he made). I know the gp was protecting himself as well but I honestly have not had this behaviour from a doctor before.. and I have lived in the middle-east, asia and europe before. It literally felt like 'you wont give me what I want, then even I wont give you something you want'. I try for the student dentist to speak to the gp and the gp tells her im not clearing her for the dental work because she didnt make it to the scan (first time in my life i experienced a doctor refusing his word but idk how things run in America). This is now mid of December. I tell the student dentist that I do have tooth pain for which I have proof of on texts. I end up going to another gp (who also states that cavities can cause mouth infections), she runs tests again which all come normal this time and clears me for dental work. Also turns out my pelvis pain was ovulation pain according to a gynaecologist. At this point (first week of Jan) I tell the student I'm still in pain and she said temporary filling can stay long and the tooth was cleaned and the pain can come from the tooth adjacent to it which has a decay as well. I go to UIC in the second week of January, 15-16 weeks after my temporary filling was done. She does my permanent filling and does cleaning of the teeth. She rushes through the cleaning and says ill complete the full procedure of cleaning next time you come. All this time I think she's been helping me so I cooperated a lot as well. I know the medical consultation were also my fault as I misplaced the paper so im fully responsible for that.
But im still in pain after the permanent filling. So sept - January.. still in pain. I spent $500 at UIC and I am in pain. I don't reach out to her again and decide to go to another dentist now. The new dentist tells me there's a lot of tartar buildup around tooth 19th. She tells me the cleaning was not done properly and the filling is also not right. The dentist cleans as much as she could and prescribes augmentin and calls me back. (This is third week of Jan). The pain goes away idk because of pills or the proper cleaning? When she calls me back she says she'll re-do filling for #19 and does filling for #18. When she opens #19 she says there's a lot of decay that was left behind and is shocked as to what was done. She even does a hole on the side of my molar which was never done at UIC. She shows me the color inside of the tooth and explains the difference between a decay and normal tooth structure. But the decay was very close to my nerve, she tells me she's trying her best not to reach the nerve but if the pain still persists then I need an RCT. She gives me another round augmentin as an insurance if the pain persists. (4th week of Jan) This is also when I tell student dentist what the second dentist has claimed and done. She apologies and says she's sorry and admits she rushed the cleaning, but says the doctor checked the tooth at every point during the filling and it's unfortunate I had to go somewhere else for my pain. I ask her simply if I can get reimbursed for my money because I didnt get what I was supposed to (which is relief lol) she says 'You came in for an urgent care appt back in sept we took an X-ray of the tooth bothering you and there was a cavity there so we treated it. We do not provide cleanings for an urgent care appt. I don’t think we can offer reimbursement for everything but just see and ask'
Now in the meantime, I am trying to call UIC customer service. Left voicemail in December to get help, no one ever called back. Left emails, no response. Then in February I find out about UI health and someone answers my calls (first time talking to someone about my experience other than the student dentist). They take a note and I get a call from the department who handles the Dentistry. She asks me what has happened, I tell her all the above. She asks me what I want now, I tell her I want my money back. She says she'll speak the the doctor in their department. The doctor asks for my xrays and doctors note from the other dental clinic. I send them on 1st of March. No reply for 2 weeks after sending many follow up emails. I get a reply back mid of March that she herself was on vacation for 2 weeks. Note: no out of office automated email lol. Then mid of march she says everyone's on Spring break, wait for 20th March for doctors to come back. I follow up, with initially a response to wait. Followed up several times later, no response. I email her saying 'I'm in a lot of pain and I need a root canal. Can you please help me with this? If not I need a supervisor. I can not wait further. I have been suffering since September. I'm a student myself and im on a visa. I am taking ibuprofen and tylenols everyday since September which has its own side effects. I'm at the verge of crying. I can't even get help from the UIC customer service side now?' Got an answer today saying 'Doctor reviewed your x-rays and took in consideration your concerns. He determined that the refund we would only be provide to you for the prophy (cleaning), which was not finished by the student. For #19 filling, which you informed us that after being seen by the outside provider you are now in need of a root canal and based on the x-rays provided, we would not be able to do a refund since we were not given the opportunity to see you for the toothache prior to seeking care elsewhere. Unfortunately at this time we see no wrongdoing on the student’s end based on what we stated “the x-rays we would once again not be able to provide a refund for #19”.' I have sent her a proof of the doctors note saying she did code D2392 and it was completed. And my prescription.
Now I do not know what to do.. should I leave everything, and continue with my money gone to waste? Or should I fight? What are my rights as a patient? Or am I wrong? I take tylenols and ibuprofen for my pain daily. I am not mad at the student i know shes learning and i get it, but there are so many senior dentists there who looked at me.. and this was the result? Did they look in rush because they have so many patients? I don't know what to do.. obviously I can't afford a lawyer to start a case so yeah im just lost.

https://www.budget.canada.ca/2023/report-rapport/toc-tdm-en.html
Groceries:

For 11 million low- and modest-income Canadians and families, the Grocery Rebate will provide eligible couples with two children with up to an extra $467; single Canadians without children with up to an extra $234; and seniors with an extra $225 on average. This will be delivered through the Goods and Services Tax Credit (GST Credit) mechanism

Junk fees:

Budget 2023 announces the government's intention to work with regulatory agencies, provinces, and territories to reduce junk fees for Canadians. This could include higher telecom roaming charges, event and concert fees, excessive baggage fees, and unjustified shipping and freight fees.

Predatory lending:

Budget 2023 announces the federal government's intention to introduce changes to the Criminal Code to lower the criminal rate of interest from the equivalent of 47 per cent APR to 35 per cent APR, and to launch consultations on whether the criminal rate of interest should be further reduced.

Lowered CC transaction fees for small businesses:

In Budget 2023, the government is announcing that it has secured commitments from Visa and Mastercard to lower fees for small businesses, while also protecting reward points for Canadian consumers offered by Canada's large banks.

Right to repair:

Budget 2023 announces that the government will work to implement a right to repair, with the aim of introducing a targeted framework for home appliances and electronics in 2024

Common chargers for devices:

Budget 2023 announces that the federal government will work with international partners and other stakeholders to explore implementing a standard charging port in Canada, with the aim of lowering costs for Canadians and reducing electronic waste.

Students:

Budget 2023 proposes to provide $813.6 million in 2023-24 to enhance student financial assistance for the school year starting August 1, 2023. This includes: Increasing Canada Student Grants by 40 per cent—providing up to $4,200 for full-time students. Raising the interest-free Canada Student Loan limit from $210 to $300 per week of study. Waiving the requirement for mature students, aged 22 years or older, to undergo credit screening in order to qualify for federal student grants and loans for the first time. This will allow up to 1,000 additional students to benefit from federal aid in the coming year.
Budget 2023 proposes to increase limits on certain RESP withdrawals from $5,000 to $8,000 for full-time students, and from $2,500 to $4,000 for part-time students.

Mortgages:

The federal government, through the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, is publishing a guideline to protect Canadians with mortgages who are facing exceptional circumstances. Specifically, the government is taking steps to protect Canadians and ensure that federally regulated financial institutions provide Canadians with fair and equitable access to relief measures that are appropriate for the circumstances they are facing, including by extending amortizations, adjusting payment schedules, or authorizing lump-sum payments. Existing mortgage regulations may also allow lenders to provide a temporary mortgage amortization extension—even past 25 years.

Healthcare
New dental care plan:

Budget 2023 proposes to provide $13.0 billion over five years, starting in 2023-24, and $4.4 billion ongoing to Health Canada to implement the Canadian Dental Care Plan. The plan will provide dental coverage for uninsured Canadians with annual family income of less than $90,000, with no co-pays for those with family incomes under $70,000. The plan would begin providing coverage by the end of 2023 and will be administered by Health Canada, with support from a third-party benefits administrator. Details on eligible coverage will be released later this year.

I and my wife are middle aged. Have only been married for 4 years together for 5. Throughout the marriage there have been red flags. Withholding flight information. Lies about purchases. A great deal of lying about where they are or what she is doing. Lies and hidden spending. A secret bank account. A six month time where 200k just evaporated.
There was a time I thought it was cheating. Because of the red flags I became actively observant. To see what I could find out. This included tracking movements and some other investigative moves. I have found many lies and deceptions even found they had been very deceptive about their past. Which some of it has zero to do with me. Only when it involved direct lies or misrepresentation to my face have I considered the past problematic.
One of the reasons she gave me for her ending her first marriage was gambling. No hers but her spouse’s gambling. She was never anti gambling in fact she enjoys it and it is something we do sometimes together. About 2 years ago I noticed she was needing to gamble more. She began going to the casino while I was at work. We had a rule of how much money could be taken out for gambling and she seemed to be following it.
During the second and third year of our marriage she became very ill. Bed ridden often. No energy it took a long time to get the diagnosis and for the treatment to work. As her health improved she wanted to go gambling more often as a treat to herself as she was feeling better. More and more often this was just her without me. This is about the same time the money just started evaporating with no explanation. Due to some other problems she had been the one who was caring for the money I earn. I was not on the main bank account and so could not see the day to day balance and expenses. Less than a year ago after the 200k went awol I made changes that now allow me to see all transactions.
I work out of town 4 days a week and since the changes were made I noticed some more red flags. So I began active observation again. Again I have found no direct evidence of cheating. What I have found points to either cheating or a bad gambling addiction. Things like this. She tells me she is home working yet her car is at a private club that has slot machines. Or her telling me she went to see her parents but her car is at that club. Not answering text messages for hours then telling me she was asleep and me finding out she was out for the evening.
I am not sure what is going on. There is certainly something going on but I am not sure what it is. We had a discussion about gambling recently and she admitted she was having a problem with it. The reason I am not sure is there are a lot of factors involved that are cheating red flags. Yet she never ends up at houses she should not be or hotels or anything like that. Just the club. But she lies that she is only there one time a week but she is there 3 to 4 times a week for at least a couple of hours each time. She also is an extremely attractive woman who gets a lot of male attention. Lastly we have a dead bedroom.
Can cheating and gambling addiction mimic each other. Gambling can be treated but cheating is a no go for me and that would end out marriage. Just trying to find some clarity. Any advise is welcome.

Department of Labor - 5500 Form Search

I used the Department of Labor website to compile this list. Please use this list if you are looking for work. These are the largest 401k plans by participants in Miami. Some of these might be a PEO but still it's a good source to start from in your job search.

• 5500 Form Search
• Plan Codes: 2J, 2E
• Mailing zip: 33010 - 33196
• Plan Years: 2021

​

Plan Name	Sponsor Name	Address	City	State	Zip	Plan Year	Participants	Participants EOY	Assets BOY	Assets	PDF Document Link
ADP TOTALSOURCE RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN	ADP TOTALSOURCE	10200 SUNSET DR	MIAMI	FL	33173	2021	284485	318269	$6,897,744,071.00	$7,855,931,614.00	File
Ryder System, Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan	Ryder System, Inc.	11690 N.W. 105 Street	Miami	FL	331781103	2021	40065	43935	$1,739,214,732.00	$1,975,599,489.00	File
Ryder System, Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan	Ryder System, Inc.	11690 N.W. 105 Street	Miami	FL	331781103	2021	40065	43935	$1,739,214,732.00	$1,975,599,489.00	File
Ryder System, Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan	Ryder System, Inc.	11690 N.W. 105 Street	Miami	FL	331781103	2021	40065	43935	$1,739,214,732.00	$1,975,599,489.00	File
The MasTec, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan	MasTec, Inc.	800 S. Douglas Road 12th Floor	Coral Gables	FL	33134	2021	19108	22530	$314,200,215.00	$410,817,472.00	File
SOUTHERN GLAZER'S 401(k) PLAN	SOUTHERN GLAZER'S WINE AND SPIRITS, LLC	1600 N.W. 163RD STREET	MIAMI	FL	33169	2021	18990	20497	$1,544,328,768.00	$1,789,525,983.00	File
VITAS HEALTHCARE CORPORATION 401(K) PLAN	VITAS Healthcare Corporation	201 South Biscayne Blvd	Miami	FL	331315354	2021	13328	12642	$384,590,929.00	$442,631,565.00	File
SPIRIT AIRLINES, INC. EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN	SPIRIT AIRLINES, INC.	2800 EXECUTIVE WAY	MIRAMAR	FL	33025	2021	6868	7563	$155,977,082.00	$198,811,802.00	File
Royal Caribbean Cruises LTD. Ret. Savings Plan	ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD.	1050 CARIBBEAN WAY	MIAMI	FL	33132	2021	6696	6815	$568,750,338.00	$660,084,921.00	File
Watsco, Inc. Profit Sharing Retirement Plan and Trust	Watsco, Inc.	2665 S. Bayshore Drive	Miami	FL	33133	2021	5650	6692	$199,060,200.00	$422,436,131.00	File
INTERFOODS OF AMERICA, INC. EMPLOYEES SAVINGS PLAN	INTERFOODS OF AMERICA, INC.	9500 SOUTH DADELAND BLVD 800	MIAMI	FL	33156	2021	2321	6223	$2,695,723.00	$2,955,883.00	File
OPKO Health, Inc. 401(k) Plan	OPKO Health, Inc.	4400 BISCAYNE BLVD	MIAMI	FL	33137	2021	5529	6189	$207,426,248.00	$251,868,252.00	File
BAPTIST HEALTH ENTERPRISES, INC. 401(K) EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT PLAN	BAPTIST HEALTH SOUTH FLORIDA, INC.	6855 RED ROAD	CORAL GABLES	FL	33143	2021	6184	5875	$146,917,938.00	$163,917,363.00	File
HEICO Savings and Investment Plan	HEICO Corporation	3000 TAFT STREET	HOLLYWOOD	FL	33021	2021	5424	5702	$687,206,215.00	$740,808,242.00	File
Laureate Education, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan	Laureate Education, Inc.	78 SW 7th Street	Miami	FL	33130	2021	6994	4961	$301,732,863.00	$260,299,486.00	File
GREENBERG TRAURIG 401(K) PLAN	GREENBERG TRAURIG, PA	8400 NW 36TH STREET, STE 400	DORAL	FL	33166	2021	4696	4922	$1,071,053,414.00	$1,246,521,688.00	File
COSTA FARMS, LLC 401(K) PLAN	COSTA FARMS, LLC	21800 SW 162 Avenue	Miami	FL	33170	2021	4456	4706	$21,184,236.00	$25,794,946.00	File
Harvard Maintenance, Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan	Harvard Maintenance, Inc.	201 South Biscayne Blvd	Miami	FL	33131	2021	1930	4603	$15,598,985.00	$19,786,369.00	File
ChenMed, LLC 401(k) Plan	CHENMED, LLC	1395 NW 167TH ST	MIAMI GARDENS	FL	331695373	2021	3627	4167	$76,871,641.00	$109,063,266.00	File
Big Bang Enterprises, Inc 401(k) Plan	Big Bang Enterprises, Inc.	800 Douglas Rd	Coral Gables	FL	331343189	2021	4379	4063	$1,374,357.00	$2,032,426.00	File
PLUMBERS & STEAMFITTERS 72 DEFINED CONTRIB FUND	PLUMBERS & STEAMFITTERS 72 DEFINED CONTRIB FUND	2010 NW 150TH AVE, STE 100	PEMBROKE PINES	FL	33028	2021	4383	3555	$127,054,139.00	$144,855,490.00	File
REGIS HR GROUP 401(K) PLAN	THE SIMPLEX GROUP, INC.	10625 N KENDALL DRIVE	MIAMI	FL	33176	2021	3185	3455	$53,184,522.00	$72,133,892.00	File
AGI-CFI Holdings, Inc. 401(k) Plan	AGI-CFI Holdings, Inc.	9130 S. Dadeland Blvd	Miami	FL	331567858	2021	3839	3433	$8,790,004.00	$11,742,371.00	File
AGI-CFI Holdings, Inc. 401(k) Plan	AGI-CFI Holdings, Inc.	9130 S. Dadeland Blvd	Miami	FL	331567858	2021	3839	3433	$8,790,004.00	$11,742,371.00	File
AGI-CFI Holdings, Inc. 401(k) Plan	AGI-CFI Holdings, Inc.	9130 S. Dadeland Blvd	Miami	FL	331567858	2021	3839	3433	$8,790,004.00	$11,742,371.00	File
CARNIVAL CORPORATION FUN SHIP SAVINGS PLAN	CARNIVAL CORPORATION	Tax Department	Doral	FL	331782418	2021	3507	3372	$341,828,100.00	$392,528,281.00	File
NCLC 401(k) Plan	NCL BAHAMAS LIMITED	7665 CORPORATE CENTER DRIVE	MIAMI	FL	33126	2021	3433	3313	$219,684,214.00	$255,364,181.00	File
Restaurant Brands International Savings Plan	Restaurant Brands International	5707 Blue Lagoon Drive	Miami	FL	331262029	2021	3873	3243	$113,093,764.00	$126,686,541.00	File
BAYVIEW ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC 401(K) PLAN	BAYVIEW ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC	4425 PONCE DE'LEON BLVD	CORAL GABLES	FL	33146	2021	2587	3200	$165,029,679.00	$213,499,739.00	File
World Fuel Services Corporation 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan	World Fuel Services Corporation	9800 NW 41st Street	Miami	FL	33178	2021	2466	3047	$245,690,792.00	$287,147,318.00	File
SPIRIT AIRLINES, INC. PILOTS' RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN	SPIRIT AIRLINES, INC.	2800 EXECUTIVE WAY	MIRAMAR	FL	33025	2021	2636	2864	$585,799,882.00	$754,518,736.00	File
SEMINOLE TRIBE OF FLORIDA 401(K) PLAN	SEMINOLE TRIBE OF FLORIDA	6300 STIRLING ROAD	HOLLYWOOD	FL	330242153	2021	2626	2799	$126,545,975.00	$152,317,499.00	File
VitalMD 401(k) Plan	VITALMD GROUP HOLDING, LLC	3225 AVIATION AVENUE	MIAMI	FL	33133	2021	2645	2696	$257,380,121.00	$299,553,655.00	File
LARKIN COMMUNITY HOSPITAL 401(K) PLAN	LARKIN COMMUNITY HOSPITAL, INC.	5996 SW 70TH STREET	SOUTH MIAMI	FL	33143	2021	2712	2692	$10,849,984.00	$12,633,144.00	File
Leon Management International, LLC 401(k) Plan	LEON MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL, LLC	8600 NW 41ST	DORAL	FL	331666202	2021	2718	2653	$94,055,025.00	$103,899,087.00	File
CANO HEALTH 401(K) PLAN	CANO HEALTH, LLC	9725 NW 117TH AVE - 2ND FLOOR	MIAMI	FL	33178	2021	1862	2566	$2,578,687.00	$10,150,282.00	File
AVANTE GROUP, INC. 401(K) PLAN	AVANTE GROUP, INC.	4601 SHERIDAN STREET	HOLLYWOOD	FL	33021	2021	2598	2529	$9,664,137.00	$10,922,610.00	File
The Service Companies 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Trust	The Service Companies, Inc.	2900 MONARCH LAKES BLVD	MIRAMAR	FL	33027	2021	1705	2480	$3,215,445.00	$3,274,033.00	File
BRAMAN DEALERSHIPS 401(K) PLAN	BRAMAN MOTORS, INC.	2060 BISCAYNE BLVD, FLOOR 2	MIAMI	FL	33137	2021	2150	2328	$47,739,142.00	$56,229,216.00	File
GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF SOUTH FLORIDA INC 401(k) Plan	Goodwill Industries of South Florida, Inc.	2121 NW 21st Street	Miami	FL	33142	2021	2390	2215	$10,521,258.00	$12,402,448.00	File
BOEING DISTRIBUTION SERVICES INC. RETIREMENT PLAN	Boeing Distribution Services Inc.	3760 W. 108th St.	Miami	FL	33018	2021	2281	2141	$73,476,061.00	$83,003,087.00	File
BANKUNITED 401(K) PLAN	BANKUNITED, INC.	14820 NW 77 COURT	MIAMI LAKES	FL	33016	2021	2062	2130	$163,998,916.00	$192,667,297.00	File
QUIRCH FOODS 401(K) PLAN	QUIRCH FOODS, CO.	2701 S LE JEUNE RD 12TH FLOOR	CORAL GABLES	FL	33134	2021	1629	1823	$14,411,304.00	$41,879,748.00	File
PERRY ELLIS SHARED SERVICES LLC 401(k) PLAN	PERRY ELLIS SHARED SERVICES LLC	3000 NW 107TH AVENUE	MIAMI	FL	33172	2021	1554	1618	$87,654,403.00	$92,969,854.00	File
SEAWAY HOTELS 401K	THE BILTMORE HOTEL LIMITED PARTNERSHIP	1200 ANASTASIA AVENUE	CORAL GABLES	FL	33134	2021	1385	1614	$16,311,819.00	$17,813,309.00	File
Atlantic Coast Automotive, Inc. 401(k) Plan	Atlantic Coast Automotive, Inc.	5875 NW 163rd Street, Suite 104	Miami Lakes	FL	33014	2021	1402	1599	$7,905,674.00	$17,962,675.00	File
C & C NORTH AMERICA INC. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Trust	C & C NORTH AMERICA INC.	355 Alhambra Circle, Suite 1000	Miami	FL	33134	2021	1461	1584	$32,744,536.00	$43,152,074.00	File
ABB Optical Group, LLC 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan	ABB/CON-CISE OPTICAL GROUP LLC	12301 NW 39TH STREET	CORAL SPRINGS	FL	330652403	2021	1807	1558	$53,680,158.00	$58,653,033.00	File
AREAS USA, INC. 401(K) PROFIT SHARING PLAN AND TRUST	AREAS USA, INC.	5301 BLUE LAGOON DRIVE	MIAMI	FL	33126	2021	1269	1557	$2,772,917.00	$3,263,281.00	File
Armor Health 401(k) Plan	Armor Correctional Health Services Inc.	4960 SW 72nd Avenue, Suite 400	Miami	FL	33155	2021	996	1545	$13,513,168.00	$14,105,276.00	File
POINT BLANK ENTERPRISES, INC. 401(K) PLAN	POINT BLANK ENTERPRISES, INC.	2102 SW 2ND STREET	POMPANO BEACH	FL	33069	2021	1308	1540	$9,651,153.00	$12,295,122.00	File
VIKING HOLDING COMPANY, LLC 401(K) PLAN	VIKING HOLDING COMPANY, LLC	1111 BRICKELL AVE, SUITE 2625	MIAMI	FL	33131	2021	1448	1513	$38,766,098.00	$42,262,244.00	File
JAE RESTAURANT GROUP 401(K) PLAN	Jae Restaurant Group, Llc	1100 Park Central Blvd Unit 3300	Pompano Beach	FL	33064	2021	2155	1505	$3,119,172.00	$3,859,897.00	File
Verifone, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings & Investment Plan	Verifone, Inc.	2744 University Drive	Coral Springs	FL	33065	2021	1553	1485	$176,558,949.00	$186,760,711.00	File
MCASF LOCAL 725 DEFINED CONTRIBUTION RETIREMENT TRUST FUND	BOARD OF TRUSTEES MCASF LOCAL 725 DEFINED CONTRIBUTION RETIREMENT TRUS	15800 PINES BOULEVARD	PEMBROKE PINES	FL	33027	2021	1412	1474	$55,114,107.00	$62,483,020.00	File
Bacardi U. S. A. , Inc. & Affiliates 401k Savings and DC Retirement Plan	Bacardi U.S.A., Inc.	2701 Le Jeune Road	Coral Gables	FL	33134	2021	1394	1439	$218,029,276.00	$257,288,529.00	File
Del Monte Fresh Produce Company Incentive Savings & Security Plan	Del Monte Fresh Produce Company	241 Sevilla Avenue	Coral Gables	FL	33134	2021	1449	1418	$96,645,605.00	$97,603,747.00	File
RESURGENS ORTHOPAEDICS 401(K) RETIREMENT PLAN	RESURGENS ORTHOPAEDICS, P.C.	5671 PEACHTREE DUNWOODY ROAD NE	ATLANTA	GA	33042	2021	1169	1330	$188,464,466.00	$209,146,467.00	File
Duty Free Americas, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan	Duty Free Americas, Inc.	6100 Hollywood Blvd.	Hollywood	FL	33024	2021	1303	1316	$30,399,971.00	$30,740,210.00	File
CHARTER SCHOOL 401(K) RETIREMENT PLAN	CHARTER SCHOOL ASSOCIATES, INC.	5471 NORTH UNIVERSITY DRIVE	CORAL SPRINGS	FL	33067	2021	1777	1312	$6,514,744.00	$7,940,429.00	File
GUIDEWELL SANITAS I, LLC 401(K) PLAN	GUIDEWELL SANITAS I LLC	8400 NW 33RD STREET	MIAMI	FL	33122	2021	1207	1265	$3,864,963.00	$6,392,643.00	File
COLE, SCOTT & KISSANE, PA 401(K) PLAN	COLE, SCOTT & KISSANE, P.A.	9150 SOUTH DADELAND BLVD, STE 1400	MIAMI	FL	33156	2021	1184	1256	$30,542,462.00	$38,722,256.00	File
KW PROPERTY MANAGEMENT LLC 401(K) PROFIT SHARING PLAN & TRU	KW PROPERTY MANAGEMENT LLC	8200 NW 33RD STREET	MIAMI	FL	33122	2021	1410	1250	$10,280,516.00	$13,665,265.00	File
JCSA SERVICES INC 401K PLAN	JCSA SERVICES INC	1420 SW 88TH AVE	PEMBROKE PINES	FL	33025	2021	1364	1243	$0.00	$2,583.00	File
Starboard Group 401(k) Plan	Starboard Group Employment Services	12540 West Atlantic Blvd.	Coral Springs	FL	33071	2021	1604	1210	$3,914,449.00	$4,152,520.00	File
F&E AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE 401(K) PLAN	F&E AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE MIAMI,	657 SOUTH DRIVE, SUITE 306	MIAMI SPRINGS	FL	33166	2021	1003	1204	$6,512,773.00	$7,858,717.00	File
MAGUIRE FLEXSAVER PLAN	CDR MAGUIRE, INC.	P.O. BOX 771750	MIAMI	FL	33177	2021	489	1197	$13,312,193.00	$18,506,134.00	File
HackerUSA Inc 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Trust	HackerUSA, Inc. d/b/a ThriveDX	7360 SW 53rd Place	Miami	FL	33143	2021	522	1171	$51,424.00	$1,305,054.00	File
City National Bank Retirement Savings Plan	City National Bank of Florida	100 SE 2nd Street	MIAMI	FL	33131	2021	1053	1155	$72,787,148.00	$83,489,465.00	File
Monte Nido & Affiliates 401(k) Plan	Monte Nido & Affiliates	6100 SW 76TH ST	SOUTH MIAMI	FL	331435002	2021	893	1153	$2,732,057.00	$4,696,148.00	File
MICCOSUKEE TRIBE OF INDIANS OF FLORIDA 401(K) PLAN	MICCOSUKEE TRIBE OF INDIANS OF FLORIDA	MILE MARKER 37.5 US HIGHWAY 41	MIAMI	FL	33194	2021	1270	1152	$35,253,778.00	$39,801,657.00	File
Professional Airline Services, Inc. 401(k) Plan	Professional Airline Services, Inc.	8601 NW 27th Street	Doral	FL	33122	2021	996	1144	$4,131,198.00	$4,675,514.00	File
Professional Airline Services, Inc. 401(k) Plan	Professional Airline Services, Inc.	8601 NW 27th Street	Doral	FL	33122	2021	996	1144	$4,131,198.00	$4,675,514.00	File
UNIVERSITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 401(K) RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN	University of St. Augustine For Health Sciences, LLC	800 S. Douglas Road, North Tower	Coral Gables	FL	33134	2021	983	1108	$15,954,013.00	$20,573,049.00	File
BARRY UNIVERSITY 401(k) PLAN	BARRY UNIVERSITY	11300 NE 2nd Ave	Miami Shores	FL	331616628	2021	1350	1050	$85,698,101.00	$93,625,695.00	File
THE CYXTERA 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN	Cyxtera Management, Inc.	2333 Ponce De Leon Boulevard	Coral Gables	FL	33134	2021	1220	1048	$73,409,318.00	$73,591,955.00	File
THE HACKETT GROUP, INC. 401K PLAN	THE HACKETT GROUP, INC.	1001 BRICKELL BAY DRIVE STE 3000	MIAMI	FL	33131	2021	1253	1043	$117,135,234.00	$129,758,565.00	File
Independent Living Systems 401(k) Plan	Independent Living Systems	5200 Blue Lagoon Drive	Miami	FL	33126	2021	1023	1015	$18,524,495.00	$22,270,753.00	File
Independent Living Systems 401(k) Plan	Independent Living Systems	5200 Blue Lagoon Drive	Miami	FL	33126	2021	1023	1015	$18,524,495.00	$22,270,753.00	File
PHIL SMITH AUTOMOTIVE GROUP 401(K) PLAN	PHIL SMITH MANAGEMENT, INC. DBA PHIL SMITH AUTOMOTIVE GROUP	4250 N. FEDERAL HIGHWAY	LIGHTHOUSE POINT	FL	33064	2021	1108	1014	$16,214,058.00	$18,628,890.00	File
Amerant Bank, N.A. Retirement Benefits Plan	Amerant Bank, N.A.	Amerant Bank	Miami	FL	33182	2021	994	1010	$144,126,439.00	$155,047,001.00	File
Amerant Bank, N.A. Retirement Benefits Plan	Amerant Bank, N.A.	Amerant Bank	Miami	FL	33182	2021	994	1010	$144,126,439.00	$155,047,001.00	File
GUARDIAN DENTISTRY PRACTICE MA 401(K) PROFIT SHARING PLAN & TRUST	Guardian Dentistry Practice Ma	5803 NW 151 St Suite 201	Miami Lakes	FL	33014	2021	633	1007	$1,352,025.00	$5,500,056.00	File
TracFone Investment Plan	TracFone Wireless, Inc.	9700 NW 112th Avenue	Miami	FL	33178	2021	1000	982	$103,519,230.00	$123,082,481.00	File
The Swatch Group (U.S.) Inc. 401(k) Plan	The Swatch Group (U.S.) Inc.	703 Waterford Way	Miami	FL	33126	2021	978	965	$56,173,225.00	$65,427,009.00	File
CMX Cinemas, LLC 401(k) Plan	CMX Cinemas, LLC	175 Southwest 7th Street	Miami	FL	33130	2021	953	956	$2,015,546.00	$2,588,698.00	File
KASEYA 401(K) PROFIT SHARING PLAN	KASEYA US, LLC	701 Brickell Avenue, Suite 400	Miami	FL	33131	2021	733	933	$20,352,090.00	$23,800,491.00	File
POTAMKIN RETIREMENT PLAN	PMC, LLC	5800 NW 171 STREET	HIALEAH	FL	33015	2021	886	909	$21,299,911.00	$25,051,532.00	File
SOUTH MOTORS OF DADE COUNTY 401(K) PLAN	SOUTH MOTORS OF DADE COUNTY	16165 SOUTH DIXIE HWY	MIAMI	FL	33157	2021	910	862	$12,794,738.00	$14,393,566.00	File
SOUTH MOTORS OF DADE COUNTY 401(K) PLAN	SOUTH MOTORS OF DADE COUNTY	16165 SOUTH DIXIE HWY	MIAMI	FL	33157	2021	910	862	$12,794,738.00	$14,393,566.00	File
Fontainebleau Florida Hotel 401(k) Plan	Fontainebleau Florida Hotel LLC	4441 COLLINS AVE	MIAMI BEACH	FL	33140	2021	797	861	$20,189,830.00	$23,034,647.00	File
Fontainebleau Florida Hotel 401(k) Plan	Fontainebleau Florida Hotel LLC	4441 COLLINS AVE	MIAMI BEACH	FL	33140	2021	797	861	$20,189,830.00	$23,034,637.00	File
BRITISH SCHOOL OF WASHINGTON 401(K) PROFIT SHARING PLAN & TRU	BRITISH SCHOOL OF AMERICA	1111 BRICKELL AVE	MIAMI	FL	33131	2021	864	855	$20,386,588.00	$25,021,327.00	File
CRAIG ZINN AUTOMOTIVE GROUP 401(K) RETIREMENT PLAN	TRIANGLE AUTO CENTER, INC.	1841 NORTH STATE ROAD 7, 2ND FLOOR	HOLLYWOOD	FL	33021	2021	872	844	$26,924,207.00	$30,432,963.00	File
Ocean Reef Club Employee Savings and Retirement Plan	Ocean Reef Club, Inc.	35 Ocean Reef Drive	Key Largo	FL	33037	2021	889	834	$33,390,438.00	$36,133,264.00	File
777 Partners LLC 401(k) Plan	777 Partners LLC	600 Brickell Avenue	Miami	FL	33131	2021	722	830	$12,078,854.00	$18,158,121.00	File
METRIC ENGINEERING SAVINGS AND RETIREMENT PLAN	METRIC ENGINEERING, INC.	13940 SW 136TH STREET SUITE 200	MIAMI	FL	33186	2021	660	824	$22,145,363.00	$25,607,913.00	File
Ocean Bank 401(K) Savings Plan	Ocean Bank	780 NW 42nd Avenue, SUITE 427	Miami	FL	331265597	2021	805	817	$84,615,293.00	$97,441,492.00	File
Inktel 401(k) Plan	Inktel Holdings Corp.	8200 NW 33rd Street	Doral	FL	33122	2021	919	810	$4,797,094.00	$6,212,023.00	File
UNITED HOME CARE SERVICES, INC. 401(K) PLAN	UNITED HOME CARE SERVICES, INC.	8400 N.W. 33RD STREET	MIAMI	FL	33122	2021	674	800	$5,632,690.00	$4,536,672.00	File
Kent Security Services, Inc. and Kent Security of Palm Beach, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan	Kent Security Services, Inc.	14600 Biscayne Boulevard	North Miami	FL	33181	2021	863	799	$5,521,752.00	$6,554,323.00	File
THE PALACE 401(K) PLAN	PROFESSIONAL CARE I INC.	10850 SW 113 PLACE	MIAMI	FL	33176	2021	878	792	$7,427,666.00	$8,530,676.00	File
H.T.A. CAST RETIREMENT PLAN	HISTORIC TOURS OF AMERICA, INC	201 FRONT STREET, SUITE 206	KEY WEST	FL	33040	2021	785	780	$14,813,327.00	$17,109,026.00	File
THE RELATED GROUP 401K SAVINGS PLAN	PRH INVESTMENTS LLC DBA THE RELATED GROUP	2850 TIGERTAIL AVE, STE 800	MIAMI	FL	33131	2021	805	779	$25,885,322.00	$29,308,897.00	File
JOHN KNOX VILLAGE OF FLORIDA, INC. 401(K) RETIREMENT PLAN	JOHN KNOX VILLAGE OF FLORIDA, INC.	651 S.W. 6 STREET	POMPANO BEACH	FL	33060	2021	895	775	$11,155,931.00	$11,347,378.00	File
QUINTAIROS PRIETO WOOD & BOYER P.A. 401(K) PLAN	QUINTAIROS PRIETO WOOD & BOYER,	9300 SOUTH DADELAND BLVD 4TH FL	MIAMI	FL	33156	2021	787	775	$45,888,786.00	$57,167,780.00	File
BAER'S FURNITURE COMPANY, INC. CASH OR DEFERRED PROFIT SHARING PLAN	BAER'S FURNITURE COMPANY, INC.	1589 NW 12 AVENUE	POMPANO BEACH	FL	330691730	2021	710	775	$9,873,649.00	$12,673,369.00	File
BEAN AUTOMOTIVE GROUP 401(K) PLAN	Kendall Imports, LLC	10943 South Dixie Highway	Miami	FL	33156	2021	816	768	$11,437,307.00	$15,066,778.00	File
BETHESDA HEALTH, INC. 403(B) EMPLOYEE SAVINGS PLAN	BETHESDA HOSPITAL, INC.	1500 SAN REMO AVE.	CORAL GABLES	FL	33146	2021	834	761	$46,427,325.00	$48,671,151.00	File
TRAVEL TRADERS HOTELS INC. 401K PLAN	TRAVEL TRADERS HOTELS INC	6205 BLUE LAGOON DRIVE, SUITE 550	MIAMI	FL	331266020	2021	736	759	$9,821,295.00	$10,781,286.00	File
Cordis US Corp. Retirement Savings Plan	Cordis US Corp.	14201 Northwest 60th Avenue	Miami Lakes	FL	33014	2021	724	758	$0.00	$32,146,877.00	File
Cordis US Corp. Retirement Savings Plan	Cordis US Corp.	14201 Northwest 60th Avenue	Miami Lakes	FL	33014	2021	724	758	$0.00	$32,146,877.00	File
AMERIJET INTERNATIONAL, INC 401(K) AND PROFIT SHARING - OPERATIONS PLAN	AMERIJET INTERNATIONAL, INC.	4500 N.W. 36TH STREET	MIAMI	FL	33166	2021	714	747	$18,829,450.00	$22,384,610.00	File
goTRG 401(k) Plan	The Recon Group, DBA goTRG	20200 W Dixie Hwy	Miami	FL	331801918	2021	502	741	$592,572.00	$1,199,086.00	File
El Dorado Furniture 401(k) Plan	EL DORADO FURNITURE CORPORATION	4200 NW 167TH ST	MIAMI GARDENS	FL	330546112	2021	777	738	$18,136,836.00	$22,217,810.00	File
El Dorado Furniture 401(k) Plan	EL DORADO FURNITURE CORPORATION	4200 NW 167TH ST	MIAMI GARDENS	FL	330546112	2021	777	738	$18,136,836.00	$22,217,810.00	File
The Retirement Savings Plan of Sunbeam Television Corporation	Sunbeam Television Corporation	1401 79th Street Causeway	North Bay Village	FL	33141	2021	758	738	$69,032,072.00	$77,207,054.00	File
Alpha Industries Management, Inc. 401(k) plan	ALPHA INDUSTRIES MANAGEMENT, INC.	2919 CENTER PORT CIRCLE	PAMPANO BEACH	FL	330642105	2021	724	733	$42,533,742.00	$49,334,728.00	File
H.I.G. Capital Management, LLC 401(k) Plan	H.I.G. Capital Management, LLC	1450 BRICKELL AVE, 31ST FLOOR	MIAMI	FL	33131	2021	667	733	$64,480,743.00	$78,316,965.00	File
DermCare Management, LLC 401(k) Plan	Dermcare Management, LLC	4000 Hollywood Blvd	Hollywood	FL	33021	2021	630	725	$6,302,773.00	$11,669,999.00	File
THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE CAPITAL ACCUMULATION PLAN	MIAMI DOLPHINS, LTD.	347 DON SHULA DRIVE	MIAMI GARDENS	FL	33056	2021	734	714	$37,380,374.00	$42,735,165.00	File
FLORIDA MEDICAL SYSTEMS, LLC 401(K) PLAN	FLORIDA MEDICAL SYSTEMS, LLC	6901 YUMURI STREET	CORAL GABLES	FL	33146	2021	820	703	$2,045,704.00	$2,270,451.00	File
JOHN KNOX VILLAGE OF FLORIDA, INC. 403(b) Plan	JOHN KNOX VILLAGE OF FLORIDA, INC.	651 S.W. 6 STREET	POMPANO BEACH	FL	33060	2021	938	697	$1,596,304.00	$3,065,028.00	File
Alcora Corporation 401(k) Plan	Alcora Corporation	10000 NW 15 Terrace	Doral	FL	33172	2021	629	686	$5,864,980.00	$8,840,894.00	File
Hellmann Worldwide Logistics, Inc. 401(K) Plan	Hellmann Worldwide Logistics	10450 Doral Boulevard	Miami	FL	33178	2021	608	667	$24,475,887.00	$29,182,519.00	File
WESTCHESTER GENERAL HOSPITAL, INC. 401(K) PLAN	WESTCHESTER GENERAL HOSPITAL, IN	2500 SW 75 AVE	MIAMI	FL	33155	2021	587	666	$8,362,628.00	$8,058,788.00	File
JL Audio 401(k) Plan	JL Audio, Inc.	10369 North Commerce Pkwy	Miramar	FL	33025	2021	509	651	$16,401,546.00	$20,348,825.00	File
GrandVision USA Retail Holding Corporation 401(k) Plan	GrandVision USA Retail Holding Corporation	3601 SW 160th Ave.	Miramar	FL	33027	2021	649	648	$18,092,178.00	$18,581,360.00	File
GULLIVER PREPARATORY SCHOOL, INC. EMPLOYEE SAVINGS & RETIREMENT PLAN	GULLIVER PREPARATORY SCHOOL, INC.	9350 S DIXIE HWY FL 11	MIAMI	FL	331562945	2021	646	648	$38,685,080.00	$45,530,351.00	File
FAENA HOTEL & RESIDENCES, LLC 401(K) PLAN	FAENA HOTEL & RESIDENCES, LLC	3201 COLLINS AVE	MIAMI BEACH	FL	33140	2021	403	640	$4,188,839.00	$5,358,783.00	File
INTERAMERICAN MEDICAL GROUP LLC 401(K) PLAN	INTERAMERICAN MEDICAL CENTER GR	1000 NW 57TH COURT	MIAMI	FL	33126	2021	777	631	$3,930,122.00	$5,168,721.00	File
Fontainebleau Development Hospitality 401k plan	Fontainebleau Florida Hotel LLC	19501 Biscayne Blvd.	Aventura	FL	33108	2021	685	623	$12,424,573.00	$14,024,224.00	File
NPW 401(k)	National Auto Parts Warehouse, LLC	5801 E 10 AVE	Miami	FL	33013	2021	512	609	$2,714,214.00	$4,537,377.00	File
Ivy Healthcare LLC 401(k) Plan	Ivy Healthcare LLC	9429 Harding Avenue	Surfside	FL	33154	2021	571	600	$4,228.00	$229,297.00	File
Prevailing Multiple Employer Plan	Milum, Inc.	8175 W. 32nd Avenue, Suite 1	Hialeah	FL	33018	2021	587	594	$1,268,477.00	$1,275,549.00	File
HIDDEN EYES LLC 401(K) PROFIT SHARING PLAN & TRUST	Hidden Eyes LLC	4171 W Hillsboro Blvd Suite 2	COCONUT CREEK	FL	330738308	2021	524	590	$3,189,523.00	$3,550,332.00	File
Best Labor 401(k) Plan	Best Labor Contractors, LLC	3211 Ponce de Leon Blvd	Coral Gables	FL	33134	2021	608	589	$717,512.00	$1,284,290.00	File
ONE SPA WORLD 401K SAVINGS PLAN I	ONE SPA WORLD,LLC	770 SOUTH DIXIE HIGHWAY, STE 200	CORAL GABLES	FL	33146	2021	660	581	$33,061,683.00	$33,142,446.00	File

Selling my entire collection! Pop and indie pop. Prices are based on lowest current Discogs price except in the case of some very rare or high demand items that are expensive. Open to negotiating price especially if buying 2 or more vinyl. Please PM me.
I accept PayPal Goods & Services.
Shipping broken down as follows:
1-2 records - $5 USPS (excludes Rih-Issue Box sets)
3-4 records - $7 USPS (excludes Rih-Issue Box sets)
5-6 records - $9 USPS (excludes Rih-Issues Box sets)
7+ records - PM me
Condition listed as follows:
Media Condition,Sleeve/Jacket Condition
For more information on color variant or condition, see my Discogs For Sale page:
https://www.discogs.com/sellevinyl_disciple/profile
​
Aaliyah - Aaliyah 2xLP, Album, Club, RE, RM, Red & Gold Galaxy $34.00 Opened and played once. Still in original sleeve with hype sticker affixed. Great copy. Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Aaliyah - I Care 4 U 2xLP, Album, Comp, Ltd, RE, Baby Girl Pink $45.00 Opened but never played. Transfered to resealable sleeve with hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Aaliyah - One In A Million LP, Cle + LP, Cre + Album, Ltd, RE $22.00 Opened but never played. One is coke bottle and one is bone galaxy. Transferred to resealable sleeve with hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Adele - 21, LP, Album, RE, Black $21.00 Opened but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve. great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Adele - 25, LP, Album, RE, Black $20.95 Opened but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve. great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Adele - 30, LP, Album, Ltd, Clear $16.99 Opened but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve. great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Akari Kaida, Yoshino Aoki - Breath Of Fire III Original Video Game Soundtrack 2xLP, Ltd, RM, Ora $59.99 This is the gold swirl and purple variant. Opened but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve with hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Alicia Keys - As I Am 2xLP, Album, Red Transparent $24.99 Opened but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve with hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Alicia Keys - Songs In A Minor 2xLP, Album, Ltd, RE, Green and Black $99.00 Opened but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve. Great copy! Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Alicia Keys - Songs In A Minor 2xLP, Album, Club, Ltd, Num, RE, Green Galaxy $49.99 Played once. Still in resealable sleeve with hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Alina Baraz & Galimatias - Urban Flora 12", EP, Ltd, Clear $135.00 Played once. Transferred to resealable sleeve. Great copy. Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Allie X - Cape God LP, Blue + LP, S/Sided, Pic Disc + Album, Dlx, Gat $90.00 Brand new and sealed. All presumed mint. Mint (M)Mint (M)
Allie X - Cape God LP, Album, Teal $49.99 Opened but never played. Jacket has minor wear from shipping. Great copy! Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Allie X - CollXtion I + CollXtion II LP, Album, RE, Beige + LP, Album, RE, Green + Comp $100.00 Opened but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve. Great copy! Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Allie X - CollXtion I + CollXtion II LP, Album, RE, Bei + LP, Album, MP, RE, Bei + Comp $80.00 Still in shrink, and only opened on edge to check color. Both discs are beige in rare misprint. Bottom corners both have minor squish from shipping so between VG+ and NM. Great and rare copy! Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Allie X - Super Sunset 10", MiniAlbum, Signed, Yellow $75.00 Played once. Signed by AllieX. Great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Arcade Fire With Owen Pallett - Her LP, Album, Ltd, White $14.00 Opened but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve with hyper sticker affixed. Great copy! Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Ariana Grande - Positions LP, Album, Coke Bottle $19.00 Opened but never played. Jacket has very minor corner wear. Great copy. Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Ariana Grande - Dangerous Woman 2xLP, Album, RE, Purple and Black Swirl $49.00 Played a handful of times. There is some scuffing on one side that does not affect playback. Transferred to resealable sleeve with hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Very Good (VG)Near Mint (NM or M-)
BORNS - Blue Madonna LP, Album, Ltd, Blue $38.95 Played once. Jacket has some corner wear and a few small creases on spine. Inner sleeve has some wear and splits from shipping. Vinyl in great condition and includes new hype sticker. Overall a good second hand copy. Near Mint (NM or M-)Very Good Plus (VG+)
BORNS - Blue Madonna LP, Album, Ltd, Blue $60.00 Played once. Transferred to resealable sleeve with hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
BORNS - Dopamine LP, Album, Ltd, Red $100.00 Played a handful of times. Transferred to resealable sleeve with fan made hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Billie Eilish - Happier Than Ever 2xLP, Album, Rec + Gucci Box Set, Ltd $110.00 Played a handful of times. Box has some corner bends, but jacket and sleeve are in nice condition with hype sticker affixed. Vinyl colors are purple and teal. Great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Billie Eilish - Don't Smile At Me 12", EP, Ltd, RE, Yellow & Red split $20.00 Opened but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve with hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Bing Crosby - Merry Christmas LP, White $15.00 Opened but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve with hyper sticker affixed. Great copy! Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Bon Iver - Blood Bank 12", EP, Ltd, RE, Red $65.00 Opened but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve with hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Brandy - The Best Of Brandy 2xLP, Comp, RE, Maroon $31.00 Opened but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve with hyper sticker affixed. Great copy! Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Conan Gray - Kid Krow LP, Album, Ltd, RE, Pink $55.00 Open but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve with hype sticker affixed. Great copy. Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Conan Gray - Kid Krow LP, Album, Ltd, Smokey Red $49.99 Played once. Transferred to resealable sleeve. Great copy. Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Conan Gray - Kid Krow LP, Album, Smokey Grey $29.99 Open but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve with hype sticker affixed. Great copy. Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Conan Gray - Sunset Season10", EP, RE, Sea Glass $70.00 Played once. Great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Conan Gray - Superache LP, Album, Black/Red Marble $65.00 Played once. Transferred to resealable sleeve with hype sticker affixed. Great copy. Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Conan Gray - Superache LP, Album, Black/Red Marble $68.00 Brand new and sealed. All presumed mint. Mint (M)Mint (M)
Conan Gray - Superache LP, Album, Ltd, Emerald $18.00 Opened but never played. Some minor wear in outer jacket. Transferred to resealable sleeve with hyper sticker affixed. Great copy! Mint (M)Very Good Plus (VG+)
Elliot Moss - Highspeeds LP, Album, Clear $24.00 Opened but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve with hyper sticker affixed. Great copy! Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Gwen Stefani - Love.Angel.Music.Baby. 2xLP, Album, Ltd, RE, Hot Pink Swirl $130.00 Opened but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve with hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Hayley Williams - Flowers For Vases / Descansos LP, Album, Ltd, Pink Smoke $35.00 Played once. Transferred to resealable sleeve. Great copy. Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Kacey Musgraves - Star-Crossed LP, Album, Ltd, Orange $10.00 Played a handful of times. Minor wear on jacket. Transferred to resealable sleeve. Great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Very Good Plus (VG+)
Lady Gaga - Artpop 2xLP, Album, Ltd, RE, Blue $140.00 Played a handful of times. Transferred to resealable sleeve with fan made hype sticker affixed to jacket by previous owner. Great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Very Good Plus (VG+)
Lady Gaga - Born This Way 2xLP, Album, Ltd, RE, Red $150.00 Opened but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve with hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Lady Gaga - The Fame 2xLP, Album, Ltd, RE, Blue Glacier $94.98 Opened but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve with hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Lady Gaga - The Fame Monster Box, Dlx, 2xLP, Coke Bottle Green and Silver $120.00 Opened but never played. Outer box has dent in it and some corner wear with hype sticker affixed. Both jackets have bends in bottom from shelf wear. Discs are presumed mint. Good copy! Mint (M)Very Good Plus (VG+)
Lana Del Rey - Blue Banisters 2xLP, Album, Ltd, Yellow Transparent $110.00 Brand new and sealed. Crisp corners. All presumed mint. Mint (M)Mint (M)
Lana Del Rey - Blue Banisters 2xLP, Album, Ltd, White Translucent $95.00 Brand new and sealed. Original first translucent pressing! All presumed mint. Mint (M)Mint (M)
Lana Del Rey - Blue Banisters 2xLP, Album, Ltd, WhiteTranslucent $71.00 Played once. Original translucent pressing. Jacket has the start of a minor seam split at the top. Transferred to resealable sleeve with fan made hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Lana Del Rey - Blue Banisters 2xLP, Album, Ltd, Red $105.00 Opened but never played. There is the start of a very minor seam split at the top. Transferred to resealable sleeve with hype sticker affixed + bonus fan madd replica of UK indie hype sticker. Great copy! Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Lana Del Rey - Born To Die LP, Album, Ltd, RE, Red $53.00 Played once. Start of a very small seam split on spine. Transferred to resealable sleeve. Great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Lana Del Rey - Born To Die (The Paradise Edition), Album + LP, Album + Box, Ltd, Slipcase $50.00 Opened but never played. Vinyl transferred to protective sleeve with hype sticker affixed to slipcase. Great copy! Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Lana Del Rey - Chemtrails Over The Country Club LP, Album, Clear $33.00 Played a handful of times. Jacket has some corner wear. Transferred to resealable sleeve with fan made hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Mint (M)Very Good Plus (VG+)
Lana Del Rey - Chemtrails Over The Country Club LP, Album, RSD, Blue $38.00 Opened but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve with hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Lana Del Rey - Chemtrails Over The Country Club LP, Album, RSD, Blue $36.00 Open but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve. Great copy. Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Lana Del Rey - Chemtrails Over The Country Club LP, Album, Ltd, Red $24.99 Brand new and sealed. Great copy! Mint (M)Mint (M)
Lana Del Rey - Chemtrails Over The Country Club LP, Album, Ltd, Red $23.99 Brand new and sealed. Very slight bend on jacket from shipping. Great copy. Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Lana Del Rey - Chemtrails Over The Country Club LP, Album, Ltd, Red $23.00 Opened and played once. Transferred to plastic sleeve. Good copy. Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Lana Del Rey - Chemtrails Over The Country Club LP, Album, Ltd, Red $24.00 Opened but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve with hype sticker affixed. Great copy!Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Lana Del Rey - Lust For Life 2xLP, Album, Ltd, Coke Bottle Clear $225.00 Played a handful of times. Crisp corners! Transferred to resealable sleeve with hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Lana Del Rey - NFR! 2xLP, Album, Ltd, Blue $190.00 Played a handful of times. jacket has the start of a seam split at the top. Transferred to resealable sleeve with hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Very Good Plus (VG+)
Lana Del Rey - Norman Fucking Rockwell! NFR! 2xLP, Album, Lime Green $185.00 Played a handful of times. Transferred to resealable sleeve with fan made hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Lana Del Rey - Norman Fucking Rockwell! 2xLP, Album, Ltd, Pink $165.00 Played a handful of times. Transferred to resealable sleeve + high quality reproduction hype sticker. Crisp corners. Great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Lana Del Rey - Paradise LP, MiniAlbum $14.00 Played a handful of times. Transferred to resealable sleeve. Great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Lana Del Rey - Ultraviolence Box, Ltd + 2xLP, Album, Pic + CD, Album, Dlx $335.00 Opened and played once. One owner. Everything is beautiful but inner sleeves have the start of small seam splits at the bottom. Hype sticker affixed to jacket. Beautiful copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Lana Del Rey - Ultraviolence 2xLP, Album, Dlx, Black 180g $43.00 Played once. Transferred to resealable sleeve with hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Lana Del Rey - Violet Bent Backwards Over The Grass LP, Album, Ltd, Cream $34.00 Played once. Transferred to resealable sleeve. Great copy!Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Lana Del Rey - Violet Bent Backwards Over The Grass LP, Album, Ltd, Cream $35.00 Brand new and sealed. All presumed mint. Mint (M)Mint (M)
Lana Del Rey - Unreleased 2xLP, Unofficial, Light Blue $55.00 Opened and played once. Transferred to resealable sleeve + fan made hype sticker. Nice Copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
(Lana Del Rey) May Jailer - Sirens 2xLP, Album, Promo, Unofficial, Neon Pink, Translucent Pink $42.00 This is the pink and translucent pink version. These pressings all have muffled sound quality and surface noise. Played once. Transferred to resealable sleeve. Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Laufey - Everything I Know About Love LP, Album, Ltd, Blue $45.00 Played once. Transferred to resealable sleeve with hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Laufey - Everything I Know About Love LP, Album, Ltd, Blue Translucent $35.00 Opened but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve with hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Mint (M)Mint (M)
Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill 2xLP, Album, RE, 180 $29.99 Played once. Minor wear on jacket and inner sleeves. Transferred to resealable sleeve. Great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Very Good Plus (VG+)
Lorde - The Love Club Unofficial, EP, Green Translucent $75.00 This is a custom pressing made by Cuts on Wax. Jacket has minor wear. Transferred to resealable outer protective sleeve with custom made hype sticker affixed. Nice copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Lorde - The Love Club Unofficial, 2LP, Bone Galaxy/Swirl $40.00 This is an unofficial pressing with all EP tracks and several remixes. Opened but never played. Jacket has minor bend/crease on bottom right corner from shipping. Came in resealable outer protective sleeve. Nice copy! Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Lorde - Solar Power LP, Album, Ltd, Brown $27.00 Opened but never played. Jacket has minor wear. Upgraded resealable outer protective sleeve. Nice copy! Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Lorde - Melodrama LP, Album, Dlx, Blue $298.00 Played once. Transferred to resealable sleeve with hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Lorde - Pure Heroine LP, Album $27.00 Played once. Jacket has some wear from shipping. Transferred to resealable sleeve. Good copy. Near Mint (NM or M-)Very Good Plus (VG+)
M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming. 2xLP, Album, Ltd, RE, Orange $39.00 Played once. One of the best pressings I've heard in a while. Transferred to resealable sleeve with hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Mariah Carey - Merry Christmas LP, Album, Ltd, Green & Red Split $36.00 Brand new and sealed. Hype sticker affixed to shrink. Nice copy! Mint (M)Mint (M)
Olivia Rodrigo - Sour LP, Album, Ltd, Neon Blue $24.00 Opened but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve with hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Phantogram - Nightlife 12", MiniAlbum, Ltd, RE, Black Smoke (Grey) $75.00 Opened but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve. Great copy!Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Phantogram - Eyelid Movies 2xLP, Album, Dlx, Ltd, RE, RP, S/Edition, Black & Yellow $36.00 Opened but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve with hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Phantogram - Eyelid Movies 2xLP, Album, Dlx, Ltd, RE, RP, S/Edition, Black & Yellow $39.00 Brand new and sealed. All presumed mint. Mint (M)Mint (M)
Phantogram - Eyelid Movies LP, Album, Black $32.00 Opened but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve. Great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Phantogram - Ceremony LP, Album, Ltd, Clear $28.00 Opened and played once. Transferred to resealable sleeve. Great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Phantogram - Fall In Love 7" $4.50 Opened but never played. Great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Phantogram - Three LP, Album, White $54.00 Opened but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve. Great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Phantogram - Voices 2xLP, Album $64.00 Played once. Transferred to resealable sleeve. Great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Phoebe Bridgers - Stranger In The Alps LP, Album, Ltd, 5 Yr Ann RE, Galaxy $79.00 Opened but never played. Has a good amount of purple swirl. Transferred to resealable sleeve. Great copy! Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Prince And The Revolution - Purple Rain LP, Album, Ltd, RE, Purple Smoke $15.00 Opened but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve with hyper sticker affixed. Great copy! Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Rihanna - Loud Box, Ltd + 2xLP, Album, RE, Baby Pink $75.00 Played once. Great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Rihanna - Talk That Talk Box, Ltd + LP, Album, RE, Green Transparent $75.00 Opened and played once. Great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Rihanna - Unapologetic Box, Ltd + 2xLP, Album, RE, Fruit Punch Opaque $75.00 Opened and played once. Great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Rina Sawayama - Hold The Girl LP, Album, Ltd, White Ice $43.00 Open but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve + bonus fan made hype sticker. Great copy! Mint (M)Mint (M)
Rina Sawayama - Hold The Girl LP, Album, Apple Red $25.00 Open but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve + bonus fan made hype sticker. Great copy! Mint (M)Mint (M)
Rina Sawayama - Hold The Girl LP, Album, Ltd, This Hell Orange Lava $26.00 Opened but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve with fan made hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Rina Sawayama - Hold The Girl LP, Album, Ltd, Blue Jay $93.89 Opened but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve with fan made hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Rina Sawayama - Hold The Girl LP, Album, Ltd, White and Pink Swirl $24.97 Opened but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve with fan made hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Rina Sawayama - Hold The Girl LP, Album, "Clear and Red" $26.99 Opened but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve with fan made hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Rina Sawayama - Hold The Girl LP, Album, Ltd, Black Ice $75.00 Signed by Rina! Opened but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve with fan made hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Rina Sawayama - Hold The Girl LP, Ltd, Grape & Black Galaxy $18.00 Open and payed once. Great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Rina Sawayama - Hold The Girl LP, Ltd, Grape & Black Galaxy $20.89 Opened but never played. Lots of purple on this pressing! Transferred to resealable sleeve with fan made hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Rina Sawayama - Hold The Girl LP, Album, Ltd, Num, Black Smoke $45.00 Opened but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve with fan made hype sticker affixed. Comes with custom Rina figure from blood Records. Great copy! Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Rina Sawayama - Hold The Girl LP, Album, Ltd, Silver & Gray Marble $35.00 Opened but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve with fan made hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Rina Sawayama - Hold The Girl LP, Album, Yellow & Black Galaxy + CD + Ltd $30.00 Opened but never played. A lot of yellow and black swirl! Transferred to resealable sleeve with fan made hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Rina Sawayama - Rina 12", MiniAlbum, Ltd, RE, RP, Orange & Blue Swirl $79.97 Played once. Jacket has minor wear from shipping. Transferred to resealable sleeve with fan made hype sticker affixed. Great copy!Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Rina Sawayama - Sawayama LP, Album, M/Print, Gold $30.00 Opened and played once. Transferred to resealable sleeve with fan made hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Rina Sawayama - Sawayama 2xLP, Album, Dlx, Ltd, Clear $65.00 Played once. Comes with Sawayama deluxe glitter sticker. Transferred to resealable sleeve with fan made hype sticker affixed. Great copy!Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Rina Sawayama - Sawayama 2xLP, Album, Dlx, Ltd, Gold Glitter $51.00 Opened but never played. Comes with Sawayama deluxe glitter sticker. Transferred to resealable sleeve with fan made hype sticker affixed. Great copy!Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Rina Sawayama - Sawayama LP, Album, Ltd, Green & Clear Swirl $145.00 Played a handful of times. Jacket has small seam split on top. Transferred to resealable sleeve with fan made hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Very Good Plus (VG+)
Rina Sawayama - Sawayama LP, Album, Ltd, Green (teal) $125.00 Opened and played once. Seam splits on side and bottom of inner sleeve only. Transferred to resealable sleeve with fan made hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Very Good Plus (VG+)
Rina Sawayama - Sawayama LP, Album, Transparent $90.00 Played once. Transferred to resealable sleeve + fan made hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Rufus Wainwright - All Days Are Nights: Songs For Lulu 2xLP, Album $19.00 Opened but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve with hyper sticker affixed. Great copy! Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Rufus Wainwright - Out Of The Game 2xLP, Album $27.99 Opened but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve. Great copy! Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Rufus Wainwright - Poses 2xLP, Album, RE $34.99 Opened but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve. Great copy! Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Sara Bareilles - Little Voice LP, Album, RSD, Ltd, RE, White $49.97 Opened but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve + hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Mint (M)Mint (M)
Snail Mail - Lush LP, Album, Ltd, RE, Red & Blue split $46.00 Opened but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve + hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Mint (M)Mint (M)
Snail Mail - Valentine LP, Album, Ltd, Pink Glass $31.00 Played once. Transferred to resealable sleeve. Great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Spice Girls - Spice LP, Album, Ltd, RE, Pic, Zoetrope $45.00 Opened and played once. Transferred to resealable sleeve with hype sticker affixed. Great copy!
Sufjan Stevens - Carrie & Lowell LP, Album, Ltd, Clear $71.00 Played once. Transferred to resealable sleeve. Great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Sufjan Stevens - Love Yourself / With My Whole Heart 7", Ltd, Red $9.00 Opened but never played. Red pressing. Great copy! Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
SZA - Ctrl 2xLP, Album, Green $24.00 Opened but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve with hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Tame Impala - Currents LP, Violet + LP, Amber + Album, Ltd $80.00 Played a handful of times. Vinyl in good condition. Inner sleeves have seam splits. Transferred to resealable sleeve with fan made hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Very Good Plus (VG+)
Tame Impala - The Slow Rush 2xLP, Boxset, Album, Red + 12", Rem + 12", One + 7", W/Lbl $72.00 Opened but never played. Box is in beautiful condition with fan made hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Tame Impala - The Slow Rush LP, Red + LP, Blu + Album, Ltd, 180 $45.00 Opened but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve with fan made hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Taylor Swift - Lover (Live From Paris) 8", Shape, Pin + 8", Shape, Bab + Comp, S/Edition $175.00 Brand new and sealed. All presumed mint. Mint (M)Mint (M)
The City Of Prague Philharmonic - Music From The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy 3xLP, Album, RE, Clear $50.00 Brand new. Sealed. Crisp corners and no noticeable wear. Mint (M)Mint (M)
The Japanese House - Saw You In A Dream 12", EP, Blue $55.00 Played a handful of times. Jacket has some minor wear. Transferred to resealable sleeve. Great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Very Good Plus (VG+)
Troye Sivan - Bloom LP, Album, Ltd, Clear $130.00 Opened and played once. Minor wear on jacket from shipping so it's NM/VG+. Transferred to resealable sleeve with hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Very Good Plus (VG+)
Troye Sivan - Blue Neighbourhood 2xLP, Album, Dlx, Ltd, RE, Pink $60.00 Opened but never played. Inner sleeves have slight splits. Transferred to resealable sleeve with fan made hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Very Good Plus (VG+)
Troye Sivan - In A Dream LP, EP, Blue Mist $59.00 Opened and played once. Transferred to resealable sleeve with fan made hype sticker affixed. Great copy! Near Mint (NM or M-)Near Mint (NM or M-)
Various - Romeo Must Die (The Album) 2xLP, Comp, RE, Red Black & White $14.00 Opened but never played. Transferred to resealable sleeve with hyper sticker affixed. Great copy! Mint (M)Near Mint (NM or M-)

•1•
Nantha didn't have the heart to tell them. She didn't know how to tell them. She didn't even know where to begin.
Annid Long-Tree, leader of the Savage-Sisters approached the entrance to Tube House. At her side was Ehsh, and several other Savage Sisters, as well as an entire posse of she-Jikk prisoners.
Annid's eyes studied Nantha's closely. "Where is Prince Yallan?"
Nantha forced herself not to look away, to maintain eye contact. "He wanted me to tell you all to go on without him."
"What?" It was Ehsh this time.
Annid looked baffled. "What are you talking about? This isn't the time for jokes, Nantha. Tell the Prince to hurry. We've got the gate open."
"He isn't here," Nantha said flatly. "He's already down below, working to free the prisoners in Jailhouse 2."
Annid considered this a moment. She appeared to do some brief mental calculations. Finally, she nodded. "Well, why didn't you say that from the start? Then let's get going. The Jail-Keepers and Guards will rush in anytime now."
Nantha gave a meaningful nod. "I'm right behind you."
She followed the others away from Tube House and across Dark Cell toward Gate Wall. They did indeed have the gate opened, just as Annid had promised.
"Was it difficult to pry open?" Nantha asked.
"A little," Annid admitted. "But we used the pickaxes and mining tools, just as planned." She pointed to the bars of the gate. Several of them were bent out of shape in the middle. The gate itself hung open, slightly askew. Just on the other side, a crowd of prisoners stood waiting. All of Dark Cell was here, it seemed. Many of them wielded the pickaxes and large chisels used for mining the ore they'd been forced to collect for the Guards.
Nantha felt excitement and adrenaline swell up in her chest. Were they actually doing this, after all these years? It didn't seem possible. It felt like a dream.
The ordinarily dank, stale air of the jail seemed almost electric in that moment. Nantha felt alive for the first time in more years than she could recount. She wasn't just drawing breath, surviving from one day to the next. She was actually living.
Even if this escape attempt meant her death, she thought it would be worth it just for this brief feeling of being alive.
"The Prince is in Jailhouse 2 already," Annid announced to the crowd.
Lively murmurs broke out at once. Nantha's exaltation turned to anxiousness. They were going to be suspicious. Of course they were. Why wouldn't they be? The Dirt Prince was their leader. This uprising was his uprising. Would they truly believe he'd already made it to Jailhouse 2? What more excuse for his absence could she possibly give them? What other reasons would they actually accept?
"How?" asked someone in the crowd. "We never saw him leave?"
Nantha's heart sank. Doing her best to remain calm, she said, "Prince Yallan has his ways."
For a wonder, this actually seemed to satisfy them. Thanks the Gods for Yallan's esoteric, eccentric nature. Yallan, or whoever he was. So much of what Nantha thought she'd known about him had turned out to be a lie. Yet, still, Jikk or human, or whatever he might have been, if there was one fact about him that remained indisputable, it was that he was definitely one who had some rather strange ways about them. Clearly, if recent events in the Tubes were any indication. But then again, Nantha mused, it likely took one of strange ways to not only plan, but pull off something as mad as the uprising.
After a few more moments of excited chatter, they got moving without any further inquiries into the Prince, or his whereabouts. Much to Nantha's great relief.
If they were still alive when the uprising was over, she could tell them all the truth then.
Or, she thought as they marched down the wide corridor toward the rest of the jail, perhaps it was something she'd simply keep to herself. What good would knowing do any of the others? Knowing the truth certainly hadn't done her any good. As she looked around at the determined faces of her sister-Jikk, a part of her thought that it was best this way--with the so-called "Dirt Prince" nowhere in evidence, and the truth unknown to anyone save for her. Afterall, she told herself, The Jailer's crimes had been against she-Jikk more than anyone else. Sure, he'd taken younglings, and the elderly, and the disabled. He'd occasionally taken male Jikk; particularly those who caused too much trouble for his liking in Lo Syy Tett. But he hadn't targeted anyone else the way he'd targeted she-Jikk. The population of the Jails was around 85 to 90 percent she-Jikk.
Therefore, why should a male be the one to lead the uprising? Even before you considered the fact that said male wasn't even a Jikk.
Yes. It was much better this way. More fitting. Perhaps, if by some great miracle they survived all of this, Nantha could begin planting the idea that the Dirt Prince had really been apart of the planning stages of their revolt, more than anything else. The actual execution of said plan, however? That was a purely female undertaking.
Nantha walked between Annid Long-Tree and Ehsh, her head held high. There was still much to do. They were far from being in the clear yet. This was only the first step. The beginning.
They had lots more still to do, if they wanted to capture sweet, sweet freedom.
And as Nantha knew all too well, this was the only chance they would ever get...
•2•
The passageway was littered with decapitated corpses.
Ekkr stared down at the boomerang in his hand, with a growing mixture of wonder and horror in almost equal measure. This seemed far too powerful a weapon for someone like himself to wield.
"Well done, lad!" Wolfgang exclaimed.
"Shhh!" hissed the she-ant. "You idiot. Do you want the entire Jailhouse to hear you?
"Oh, right," Wolfgang said, lowering his voice. "Appologies, lass."
They moved down the passageway, stepping over or around bodies of fallen Jail-Keepers. Ekkr counted nine of them in total. The boomerang had cut a clean path straight through them all. Ekkr took slow, deliberate steps forward. The metallic scent of fresh blood hung in the air like an invisible vapor. Having Wolfgang at his side was the only reason Ekkr was able to continue on without stopping out of shock, or fear. Kanka and Ullteffa were close at their heels, wordlessly surveying the corpses.
As they made their way beyond the gruesome scene and down the remainder of the passageway, an almost tangible silence fell over their small group. Ekkr could practically feel the she-ant's eyes boring into the back of his head.
She's REALLY going to mistrust me now. She's probably waiting for the right moment to slip a dagger into my back, just to eliminate me as a potential threat.
The passageway became a wide corridor. Here, were the first banks of jail cells. The walls on either side of the party were lined with them; cold black steel bars like the teeth of a dark stone maw. These cells were empty.
Ekkr stopped, turning to face the others. The Ronzaxx and Willtakk also stopped walked. Ullteffa regarded him with calice suspicion. Ekkr saw her hand twitch for a brief moment, as if she intended to go for the ebony saber strapped to her back--perhaps, mostly out of reflex--before deciding to wait a moment. The Bandit only scowled, folding his arms across his chest. Wolfgang, for his part, continued walking a few more steps before halting. He did a kind of pivoting spin on the heel of one boot, reminiscent of the way Ekkr had seen Grassblade Proeliators turn in order to do an about face, for their marching drills during training exercises.
The frog raised his hairless brow. "Trouble, my boy?"
Ekkr felt his entire body tense. He was very conscious of where he held the boomerang, making absolutely certain not to do anything with it that might be misinterpreted as a threat. He looked the she-ant directly in her dark gemstone eyes. The moment he did this, he wished he hadn't. He saw nothing resembling mortal emotion in those eyes. They were cold and hard as the Void Gems from which they'd been fashioned. He summoned all the (considerably scarse) courage he had in him. He thought of the leaf, and the Weaver. He thought of his new title. He was Curator. That had to mean he was worthy of something didn't it? Well.. something. What that something might have been, he hadn't a clue, but there it was all the same. Ekkr Thrice-Flown, Curator of the Weaver.
This didn't do much to still his rapid-beating heart, but it did grant him a small modicum of strength in his resolve. He leaned on that small modicum like a crutch. Like a steady stone buttress during an earthquake. Like a hand helping an injured friend stand upright, after a nasty fall.
"I can't keep going on like this," Ekkr said. "Every moment. Waiting for a blade to slide across my throat. Please. I really have been truthful with you. I am just as confused as you are in this moment. The dagger you gave me... I threw it, and it came back as... well... as this." He looked down at the boomerang, not daring to move it even an inch; even to emphasize his point. "This is completely new and strange and unknown to me. So... I suppose what I'm saying is... please. I beg of you. I... actually, I don't know what I'm asking. I'm just..." he trailed off. He had no idea how to finish.
The she-ant and Ronzaxx only stared at him, looking utterly indifferent.
Wolfgang (bless him) decided to step in. He moved closer, to clap a webbed hand on Ekkr's back. "I believe what this right and fine gent here is trying to say, is that you're a beautiful woman, in need of a strong gentleman like myself."
Ekkr couldn't believe it. His mouth fell open. He actually emitted a small squeaking sound, for a brief instant. He stared at the frog with complete incredulous. "I meant no such thing!"
The Bandit bowed his head, jabbing his fingertips into his hard brow. He muttered, just loud enough to be heard: "Please let me kill 'em, Boss Lady. Please let me kill 'em. Can I? Please?"
Ullteffa said nothing. Her eyes never left Ekkr, but she maintained a complete and agonizing silence.
Wolfgang said, "Wasn't it, lad? My mistake. Perhaps, it was I who meant to suggest that very thing."
Ekkr openly cringed. This was almost as painful to witness, as it was terrifying.
"Well, maddam?" Wolfgang said, grinning. "What do you, my lady?"
Ullteffa's eyes finally left Ekkr, shifting over to Wolfgang. Then, she blinked. Once, then a second time. It was a bizarre, surreal thing to witness due to her Void Gem eyes.
For a moment, the painful silence hung between them. Ekkr felt every fraction of every second pass in excruciating stillness.
But then, like a ray of sunlight from behind a dark cloud, the she-ant blinked a final time... and smiled.
She actually smiled.
Ekkr was stunned. Baffled. Stupefied.
He now realized how beautiful the she-ant truly was. He'd been too terrified of her to see it before. She was gorgeous. Much too gorgeous to smiling in this way at the frog. It made no sense. It was mind-boggling.
Kanka went on scowling for half a second. Then, his scowl fell away as his eyes went from Ullteffa to Wolfgang--Ullteffa to Wolfgang, back to Ullteffa, back to Wolfgang--before finally landing on Ullteffa one finally time and remaining there. A look of both jealousy and anger began to wash across his cockroach face. It made him look menacing, and a touch pathetic. Almost like a Learning Hall bully who torments other younglings because of his own insecurities.
Ullteffa said, "You truly are an idiot. You do know that, don't you?" She sighed, shaking her head. She was still smiling, however. Then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, the smile vanished and she was all business once more. "Let's get moving."
When Ekkr and Wolfgang remained where they were, the she-ant sighed again; this time with a bit of frustration added. "Fine. I still don't trust either of you, but I'll set my suspicions aside. This time, I sincerely mean it."
The Bandit stared at her, as if he couldn't believe what she'd just said. "But Boss Lady, we--"
She raised her hand, silencing him. Kanka glared off into space, mumbling something under his breath.
Ullteffa said, "Now then. If we keep standing here, we're only going to give The Jailer more time to plan our executions."
This got them all in motion again. As they walked beyond the empty cells, Ekkr looked over to the frog. Nothing seemed to make sense when Wolfgang was around. It was as if the frog were a force of nature, and everything (or everyone) around him was caught up in his peculiar brand of charm. The amphibian had all the whimsical charisma of a trickster God. Ekkr began to wonder just how much Wolfgang's company had influenced him. He also began to wonder just how much of their current situation was prompted by the Weaver, and how much had been on account of Wolfgang. The Weaver had directed him here, but the courage it took to actually go delving down in the lair of The Jailer? That might very well have been a different story.
Wolfgang, noticing Ekkr watching him, looked up and grinned. He tipped Ekkr a wink. Ekkr sighed and turned away. What a strange, strange creature, he thought.
They walked on, down a wide passage and out through another corridor. There were no jail cells here. In there place, were a set of stone doors; rounded at the tops, and lighter gray than the surrounding stone. Ekkr stopped before the third door on the left, pointing.
"This one," he said.
The others nodded, gathering around the door.
Instead of a handle, or doorknob, there was a notch punched into the rock. Ekkr placed his hand into the groove and pulled. The stone door came down like a drawbridge. It was much too heavy for the Jikk to hold. When it swung down, it slipped from his grasp. The Bandit darted forward, just in time to catch the heavy slab of stone before it crashed to the floor.
Kanka shook his head, flashing an irritated glare in Ekkr's direction. "Who needs alarm bells when they've got you around?"
"Apologies," Ekkr said lamely, rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment.
Kanka gently lowered the slab onto the floor. The four of them walked across it and into an oval-shaped room of pale gray stone. There was a steel rod sticking up from the center of the room. In the place where the rod disappeared beneath the floor, there was an inch-and-a-half wide gap, outlined by a circle carved into the stone.
Once they were all inside, Ullteffa said: "Allow me."
She stepped forward and took hold of the steel bar. She pulled it toward her, then moved it in a slow circle, letting it trace over the gap in the floor. For a moment, she looked like a dye maker stirring a pot of boiled plant pigments. The door behind them sprang back into place with a muffled slam. There was a soft scraping sound--the whine of metal gears--then the entire room began to turn. An overlapping wall began to encroach upon the door, swallowing it inch by inch as the room moved. The beginnings of a narrow gap appeared in the far wall, at the same time. Little by little, the gap widened as the room continued to turn, until an unobscured passageway opened where the wall had been.
"Fancy," said Wolfgang. "A rotating room."
The she-ant said nothing. She released the steel rod and stepped away from it. She looked to Ekkr expectantly.
Ekkr nodded, remembering he was the one who was supposed to lead the way. He tensed his shoulders and stepped through the mouth of the passage. Wolfgang followed beside him.
The four of them walked for only a short distance, before they reached a new corridor, lined with jailcells. There were long hallways winding into darkness, breaking up each set of cells--six cell blocks in all, with a hallway between each. And in every cell, there were prisoners. Some of them were lying down in the corner, sleeping. Others were leaning against the bars. Most of them were sitting in the middle of the cell floor looking utterly pitiful. Ekkr spotted a small handful of younglings, and a single elderly male. The rest were all she-Jikk. Each cell contained between twelve and fifteen prisoners. Close to eighty inmates in all.
The four of them stopped in the center of the corridor, looking around at the prisoners. For Ekkr, it was an absolutely heart-wrenching sight.
One of the younglings rushed over to the bars of her cell. She called out in a small, weak voice: "Are you here to help us? Please. Please help us. Get us out of here."
An aging she-Jikk reached down and swatted the youngling across the side of her face. She furiously whispered, "Shut up! We don't know who they are. Sit down and be quiet. Now!"
The youngling bowed her head and did as she was told. Ekkr saw the little one's wings begin to quiver, birthing a soft bzzttt sound; the Jikk equivalent of sobbing.
Ekkr held up a hand and waved. "It's alright. We don't work for The Jailer."
"We aren't here to help them, either," Ullteffa scolded. "Keep moving, Ekkr Thrice-Flown. We don't have time to chitchat."
Ekkr stared out across the corridor at the frightened, hopeless faces of the prisoners. Could he really just walk away and leave them?"
"Can't we do something?" he protested. "At least open their cells, perhaps?"
"Ekkr Thrice-Flown," Ullteffa said in a tone that was all the answer he needed.
Ekkr slumped his shoulders, feeling deflated. This wasn't right. These were innocent Jikk. How could he just leave them here?
That was when the Weaver's words echoed throughout his mind.
Find the Warden. Free the prisoners.
Yes. Yes. This was it. This was his purpose here. Half of it, at least. The Weaver had sent him here to help these Jikk. This was what he needed to do in order to find his redemption. Free the prisoners. This was his mission.
But how in Vellnoth's Name was he supposed to actually accomplish this?
As if sensing his distress, Wolfgang placed a webbed hand on Ekkr's arm. "We can come back for them, lad."
Ekkr looked down at the short, stubby Amphibian. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, my good man, we came here to free the canine, did we not? Once we've done that, I see no reason why we cannot help these fine folks find freedom on our way out, lad."
Ekkr considered this a moment. If the Warden were with them, they might just be able to pull this off, and live to tell the tale. The canine would definitely assist them, as well. Success would all depend on how The Jailer responded to their trespassing in his domain. But... maybe, just maybe, they could do it. The chances of helping the prisoners, and actually getting them out of this place would go up drastically if the Warden was also free and at their side.
Ekkr gazed over at the inmates again, before turning back to Wolfgang. "Alright. But you must give me your word we will return for them."
"My word is my bond, lad. I give you my word as a gentleman, and a swordsman."
"Alright," Ekkr said. "Then let's go find the Warden."
•3•
Paladin Zeyas (known to the inmates of Dark Pit as Dirt Prince Yallan Torchpath) moved along the wall of the slender passageway, feeling for the unseen Rune he knew would be there. After searching around for several moments, his fingertips finally slid across an uneven part of the stone. To the untrained eye, the wall here was no different than it was anywhere else. To Zeyas however, it was his key to breaking out of this place. He pressed his fingers into the Rune. Soon, the stone began to glow with soft red light. Then, the light brightened to a vibrant crimson.
Zeyas pushed against the Rune. The floor slid out from beneath his feet, sending him falling into darkness. He used the wings of his armored suit (the one designed to make him look indistinguishable from a Jikk when he wore it) to avoid a nasty landing. He came down several levels below Jailhouse 1.
He secured his helm back in place, giving himself increased low light vision. He was in the Main Access Tunnel now. The Master Switch was located somewhere on this floor. All the Paladin had to do was find it, activate the thing, and every door to every cell in the entire facility would open. It was a fail safe, in the event of some major catastrophe. And now, it would serve as Zeyas's greatest tool in aiding the Jikk in their uprising.
The Paladin ran down the long corridor, through unlit tunnels and dark passageways.
Soon, he would give the Insectoids of this place their freedom.
•4•
Nantha became one more face in a sea of prisoners. She let herself blend in with the crowd. She was glad not to be leading the charge, but was all the more glad to be apart of it. They marched on, into the general inmate areas of Jailhouse 1, putting Dark Pit further and further behind them.
"What's happening?" asked an alarmed voice from one of the cells up ahead. "Is this a riot?"
"Freedom!" someone in their group shouted, raising a hand.
"Let us out! We want to come with you!"
Nantha heard Annid's voice answer. "Patience. The Dirt Prince is finding the Master Switch as we speak, if all is going according to plan. We have our own part to play. As soon as your cell doors open, make for the nearest corridor. Soon, we will all be free."
There was a collective cheer from the other prisoners.
Nantha only hoped Annid's words would prove true. And that the so-called Dirt Prince was really still holding up his part in things. Otherwise, this might all be for nothing, she realized.
The members of the uprising pushed on. They slipped down passages, moved through large cavernous chambers, toward their destination: Coridor Prime. If they could just make it there, they'd be able to access almost any part of the Tunnels. It was a secret of this facility Yallan had discovered, though he'd never revealed how he came by the information. You couldn't get to Corridor Prime unless you went through Tunnel Eight. It only went one way. Once your left Corridor Prime using one of its many shafts and passageways, a Rune Seal blocked you from returning, unless you went all the way back to Tunnel Eight. It was a security feature, and an escape detourant. You had to know which shaft to choose, or else you'd end up in the wrong part of the Tunnels, without a way back.
According to the Prince, they just had to go through the shaft marked with the Source Rune symbol for 'lake'. This would leave them in the chamber beneath the Chartreuse Pool.
The forbidden waters...
Nantha thought back to her time in Lo Syy Tett, all those years ago. She recalled learning about Jikk customs and the Jikkellian faith. She'd been taught that the Chartreuse Pool was forbidden, in accordance with religious law.
The Jailer had used this to his advantage. Used, and abused this fact. The truth was, even by the laws of their faith, Jikk could enter the Chartreuse Pool, so long as they were given a blessing directly from Vellnoth the Lesser. The Jailer and his minions claimed to have such a blessing.
The Mind Mother's influence had convinced them all of the validity of this claim. That same influence had also convinced them the Green Leaf Scrolls' passing reference to the forbidden nature of the Chartreuse Pool was actually one of their religion's core tenants.
Yallan (who wasn't actually named Yallan) had been right. The Mind Mother did have to be destroyed. Jikk needed to realize the atrocities being committed here. As long as the Mind Mother lived, that couldn't happen. Perhaps, on an individual level, it could. But not on a wide scale. Nantha was bitterly glad the false Prince had slain the awful creature. Otherwise, she and the other prisoners might have been too fearful of Vellnoth's wrath to utilize their main escape route.
Nantha snapped back to the present. The crowd in front of her had stopped abruptly, just as they reached the mouth of the next tunnel between corridors. There were whispers of alarm, even fear. Nantha was forced to squeeze or push her way between several inmates, before she was able to make it up to the front of the pack.
Now, she saw what had promoted commotion; the reason why they'd stopped.
The tunnel was not very long. From here, Nantha could see where it ended, before it gave way to yet another block of cells in the corridor beyond. And there, at the opposite end of the tunnel, stood a group of figures. There were four of them. Each one wielded a weapon.
There was a meek looking Jikk. He held a weapon Nantha had never seen before. It was emerald-hued and almost looked like a throwing knife, but not like any normal throwing knife. It was curved in the center. The Jikk seemed just as anxious and alarmed as Nantha felt. Oddest of all was the fact that--aside from a pair of sandals and some tattered undergarments--he was completely disrobed.
Beside the Jikk was one of the strangest creatures Nantha had ever seen. It had a large round head that seemed too massive for its body. In place of chitin, the thing had flesh as green as a spinach leaf, and stood much shorter than the grasshopper man beside it. The creature was dressed in odd attire that didn't seem to match any of the modern styles. The creature had a wooden crossbow in its arms.
The other two figures were what Jikkellians referred to as Children of Ziilk; followers of the false God sometimes called Rogue In Rouge.
A Ronzaxx roachman and a Willtakk she-ant. The former held a silver dagger that might have glistened had there been any light source; the latter wielded an ebony saber. While the Jikk looked concerned and the short green creature appeared almost excited, the two Children of Ziilk were watching the large group of inmates with a mixture of amusement and something close to menace.
One of the braver she-Jikk in front of Nantha snatched a pickaxe from the prisoner beside her, and stepped forward. She raised her voice so that it carried across the tunnel. "We aren't going back to our cells now matter what you do!" she challenged. Although the she-Jikk spoke with confident command, Nantha could see her left leg trembling slightly out of fear
Nantha thought she heard the she-ant snort at this--as though the words were too ridiculous to remain silent--but it may have only been her imagination. Across the tunnel, it was difficult to know for certain.
The partially nude Jikk stepped forward. He kept his weapon lowered at his side, as it he weren't sure what to do with it. In a warm, friendly tone, he said: "I'm not going to force you back to your cells. I'm here to help you escape."
Nantha and the other inmates glanced around at one another. None of them seemed to have any clue how to proceed.
•5•
The panicked faces of several Guards and Jail-Keepers appeared before him. Floor Master Guvven considered them a moment, before raising a hand and gesturing for them to speak.
"Uh, Floor Master Guvven, sir? There are trespassers," said one of the Jail-Keepers (Guvven could never remember most of his subordinates' names, nor did he care to remember; they were unimportant to him--he cared only for his Riot Responders).
Guvven stared at him, stonefaced. A congregation of Purple Spiders clinging to the roof of the chamber cast soft, odd shadows across Guvven's features. "Do you think I'm not already aware?"
"No, sir, but they just took out several of our Jail-Keepers. They even got Gosoma."
Guvven cocked his head to one side. Now this was interesting. Gosoma of the Lash was one of his best. Anyone who could take down the head Riot Responder was a force to be reckoned with. This intrigued Guvven a great deal. It had been so long since he'd seen any real action.
A Purple Spider dropped down from the ceiling and landed on his shoulder. Through the spider, came the voice of Porter Huuth. He said, "All Floor Masters are to head to Jailhouse 1 immediately. We have trespassers. Leave Jail-Keepers and Guards at their post. Don't let any prisoners out of their cells. Bring only your top warriors with you. Head to Jailhouse 1, Tunnel Seven. Intercept the trespassers, and cut them off before they reach Tunnel Eight. They'll be bound for Corridor Prime. Kill them on sight. These orders come directly from The Jailer himself. Make haste, everyone. If you fail, you deal with me."
The voice cut out and the spider scurried down Guvven's arm, before dropping onto the floor and scampering away.
Guvven realized the Jail-Keepers and Guards were all still standing there, watching him expectantly with varying degrees of anxious fret plastered across their features. "What are you all still doing here? Did you hear the orders? Get to your posts!"
All at once, every one of them turned and made off for the cell blocks, practically tripping over one another as they went.
Just before the last of them were out of sight, Guvven called: "And send me my Riot Responders! The ones I have left!"
"Yes, Floor Master," one of them said.
Then, they were gone.
Guvven voiced a single dry cackle. "Well then. Looks like we're in for some fun." He reached for his massive warhammer which he'd propped upright against the chamber wall. Hammer in hand, he moved to the back of the room and stopped before a chest-high steel cage. Glowing yellow eyes shaped like dagger blades peered out at him through the bars, from the darkness beyond the cage door.
Guvven bent down to fiddle with the lock. "Been a while since I let you out of here, eh? You ready to go hunting again, old friend?"
There was a deep, hungry growl from inside the cage. Guvven grinned. "That's right. You're gonna have some fun with me, my friend." Guvven flicked the lock and popped open the door.
•6•
Elsewhere, in various parts of the jailhouse, the other Floor Masters had just finished listening to Porter Huuth's message.
In Jailhouse 3, Floor Master Ovtuk watched the Purple Spider that delivered the orders as it made for a crack in the stone floor of the tunnel.
He turned to the figure on his left. "Strongest warriors, he said?"
"That's what he said," replied Floor Master Snann. "I would reckon that means the four Majors."
Ovtuk nodded. "Sounds about right. I'll bring Meex while I'm at it. Can't think of a good reason to leave him behind."
Floor Master Snann unfastened the leather thong he used to secure his vine whip to his belt (his vine whip, which might have been called a "cat-o'-nine-tails" were he from a place called Earth, or if he knew what a cat was). "Let's go make the Porters of the Hand proud."
And in a part of the jailhouse known as Dread Point...
Floor Master Klivis and his strongest warrior--a Jikk built like a brick shithouse who went by the name Foxglove--marched down the long winding passageway that would take them up to Jailhouse 1. As they neared the end of the passage, a sinister sounding voice called out them.
"Leaving without me?"
Klivis and Foxglove both stopped and turned at the utterance. Klivis felt a slight chill run along the base of his neck (a rather uncommon occurrence for an Insectoid with an exoskeleton) when his eyes fell upon the one who'd spoken.
Klivis was a mean, merciless Floor Master by all accounts. He favored beating the prisoners, over... well, pretty much everything. Beating prisoners had become something of a passtime for him. It gave the Floor Master a thrill like nothing else ever had. He was a cold, calice Jikk who reveled in violence.
And yet... even Klivis felt uneasy around the figure he now saw before him.
"Nazro?" Klivis whispered. He wasn't sure why he was whispering. Something about the other Floor Master almost seemed to demand it. As if he had to lessen even the volume of his own voice in the presence of this particular Jikk. "You made it up here rather quickly."
"Of course," said Nazro cheerfully. His voice and expression were that of a good-natured chum, chumming it up with his fellow chums. This was all an act, however. Klivis could see it in his eyes. Even when Nazro smiled, his eyes remained cold and lifeless.
"I see," Klivis said sheepishly. It was all he could think to say.
"The Porter said to make haste, afterall."
"He did," Klivis said. He looked to Foxglove for assistance, but Foxglove seemed to be studying the floor as if it interested him a great deal.
"Come on," Nazro said. "I'll walk up with you."
Klivis didn't think there was anything in the world he desired less than to be accompanied by Floor Master Nazro. However, unable to come up with a good excuse to avoid this uncomfortable situation, Klivis simply nodded. "Alright then."
Together, the three of them made their way to Jailhouse 1. As they did, the rest of the Floor Masters and their top subordinates did likewise. And in no time at all, the Tunnels near Dark Pit were crawling with them...
•7•
The Comet's Crest Chancellors gathered around the white marble fountain, gazing with great interest into its shimmering waters. Through the surface of the water, they saw as one might see through a pane of glass...
Desolate Chasm--private quarters of The Jailer...
* * * * * *
From the ceiling, the glow of an entire nest of Purple Spiders bathed the room in soft lavender. Yet, this glow was unable to penetrate many of the shadows within; as if they weren't shadows at all, but rather, living things spawned of the absence of light. A portion of the floor near the entryway had been raised, revealing a previously hidden chamber no bigger than a jail cell. A slab of dark brown stone the size of a coffin sat in this crawlspace beneath the floor. The three Blind Black-Robes stood before this secret chamber. Together, moving in synchronization, they stooped down over the stone slab and placed their hands onto its cool, rough surface.
There was a sound like boiling water being poured over ice cubes as the rock began to crack apart, sending hairline fractures across the length of the slab. The stone split in two, right down the center. The two halves fell against the walls of the crawlspace, revealing that the stone slab had in fact been hollow. There was a Jikk inside the stone; lying on his back with his arms and legs, wings nearly tucked away. He stared up at them with emotionless regard.
From the back of the room, a voice that sounded the way a graveyard might sound were it given the power of speech, echoed throughout the chamber. "Ellgost. My only son."
The Jikk inside the broken stone sat upright and looked around. Beyond the three blindfolded earwig men, stood a table of polished ebony. It was as long as the bar counter in a tavern, and ran from one wall to the other--cutting across the entire room from left to right. There were strange instruments and mechanisms at one end of the table. Atop the opposite end, was a bulky object beneath an old gray tarp. And at the center of the table, sat three figures. Two of them were engulfed in shadow, obscuring their form. They appeared to be completely motionless. Between the pair of shadowed figures was the third.
* * * * * *
A Chancellor gasped, taking a step back. "Gods," he whispered. "Is this what's become of The Jailer? This is his new form? It's... horrific."
The other Chancellors said nothing. Even beneath the hoods of their cloaks, the concern on their faces was unmistakable. One of them turned to the Kite Monk who'd been waiting patiently--sitting atop a white marble bench, looking as though he were in deep contemplation--on the far side of the great hall.
The Chancellor said, "You were right to come to us, Proyy Nogg Wexx. I would agree that these matters are certainly dire enough to awaken the True Master."
The monk rose from the bench. "Did you see what's unfolding in the woods with Gupp Ro' Gamm? That fool refused to heed my--"
The Chancellor interrupted. "That is not our greatest concern. What we see in the Gazing Pool may well be the first flickers of rapture's fire. The beginning of the end, as it was written in the Scrolls."
"Silence," said the head Chancellor. "Watch the water. Something is happening."
And something indeed was...
* * * * * *
The Jailer--his transformation now complete--rose from the table and turned back to face the two shadowed figures. "Hithrid, you bitch. I keep you now as you were then. You and the Betrayer. You are fortunate. You get to witness this blessed day. A day you do not deserve to take part in. Consider this my final gift to you."
The two figures remained silent, motionless.
The Jailer turned to the Black-Robes. "Bring me the Black Vine Shroud."
The three earwig men made off at once to do as they'd been told. They moved to the far corner of the room and surrounded a mass of knotted, tangled vines the color of coal. Black roses between long dark thorns sprouted up from the growth. The Blind Black-Robes hooked their arms beneath vines, lifting the mass as they did this. Now, the underside of the growth was visible, revealing that there was in fact a wooden casket beneath the many vines. They slowly made their back to the large table, carefully placing the casket--vines and all--atop its smooth polished surface. With this accomplished, they stepped away and made themselves scarse.
The Jailer took several deliberate steps toward the Jikk inside the broken stone slab. "My son. We are together at last," said The Jailer in his thunderous voice. There was the slightest touch of sentimentality in his tone. Hearing such an inflection coming from his horrendous new form would have been deeply unsettling for anyone else. However, the Jikk he'd called his son only looked up and smiled.
The Jailer said, "I've kept you in this piece of the God Shelf since you were still a larvae. I dropped you into such a small hole in the rock. Now, look at you. Grown and ready to stand at my side. I've worked on softening that stone all these years, so that it could be cracked when the time was right. I've fed you Knowledges and Wisdoms to nurture your mind. I've transmitted Dark Energies and the Old Arts to strengthen your body. You have received an immeasurable quantity of my power, in a constant stream for your entire life. Your potential is limitless. I am soon to Ascend, Ellgost. I shall be Godhead, and you, my Numen. Do you understand, my son?"
Ellgost got to his feet. He began to rise from the crawlspace, levitating over the stone which had served as his entire world until mere moments ago. "Aye, father."
"Then we shall unseal the Black Vine Shroud together," said The Jailer. He turned back to the large table behind him, his dark eyes returning to the shadowed figures there. "And with its unsealing, your purgatory shall be made eternal, Hithrid."
Ellgost lowered himself to the floor beside his father. Together, as father and son, they approached the Black Vine Shroud; The Jailer taking one end, Ellgost taking the other. The two of them began tearing away the dark vines.
* * * * * *
Several Chancellors gasped in unison--watching the Shroud's unsealing with mounting terror and revulsion. A few of them tried to speak, but couldn't. The water began to ripple, disturbing the image. It was almost as if what the Shroud concealed was too abhorrent for even the fountain itself.
One of the Chancellors collapsed. The others acted as if they didn't even notice.
After several long moments of silent, one of the Chancellors finally lifted head, to turn to the others. "It's finally happening," he whispered.
"What is?" Proyy Nogg asked in an alarmed voice.
"The end of everything," said the head Chancellor. "All of existence."

Yesterday afternoon, Counsel for interested party Duetsche Bank filed another random, misleading "Response." To say I was taken off guard isn't completely true: I actually said to Scott yesterday I had a bad feeling.
John I took your advice and your permission to cry and for about an hour I cried and hollored and got it all out. It is so frustrating, so scary and so obnoxious to have an attorney who has no clear approach to the FRCP.
After I cried I sat down and wrote a Response. Not since Scott's ex-wife have I dealt with an attorney with such a loss of objectivity. That itself is daunting because you never know how far people will take things out of Court these days.
If you recall I let my PACER account lapse for fiscal and sanity reasons. What this means is I can see the Exhibits attached but not the actual pleading. No matter, at this point I can answer this particular attorney based on her Exhibits alone. This says a lot about her, not my abilities I assure you.
I dried my eyes I sat down and I wrote a Response. At the end I wrote these words:
"This latest ‘Response” submitted by Counsel is yet another attempt at circumventing the Orders and wishes of this Court. At present there has been no valid Assignment filed. Without a valid Assignment the Modification and the Orders of the Court do not reflect the Lender of Record.
How many times is Counsel going to try for another bite at the apple before another Sanction is considered? How many times is Counsel going to lie to the Court before the Trustee has no other choice but to consider a censure and or suspension of her license?
If Counsel is unable to abide by the cannon of ethics that govern the Oath she took to serve as an Officer of the Court, why is she at the bar? She obviously has no respect for the institution of law rather she will lie, cheat and “steal” to “win” at the expense of both the integrity of the Court and well being of the debtor."
I typed these words with a very heavy heart. They go far beyond a mere complaint to the Bar Association. The potential consequences are great. I know this because one of the reasons we are in this mess is because of the attorney we hired in 2010 to do our Chapter 7, who was was beyond negligent.
When I filed our Chapter 13 pro se as means to clean up his mess, I became aware just how negligent he was and just how powerful the Trustee is. The day we got our Plan confirmed this particular was walking out of the Courthouse as we were walking in. I said hello and he ignored me. I figured he either didn't hear me or didn't care so I kept walking.
Later that morning, when all of us were in the "war room" (that's what I call the conference room that is a separate part of the Courtroom accessible by a separate door and where all the attorneys meet to discuss their cases ) the Trustee offhandedly asked no one in particular while he looked at me: "Has anyone seen *** *****?" to which I responded "I did!! I saw him leaving but maybe he is still downstairs?"
He was referring to the attorney who I have now found out is liable for a malpractice regarding our case. It didn't dawn on me that he really didn't care if anyone but me saw the guy, until no one made a move to find him. I figured the Trustee’s assistant would call down to security or whatever to let him know the Trustee wished to speak with him. When she didn't, I realized the Trustee was letting me know he spoke with the guy about the way he handled our case.
So when I wrote those words last night it was because enough is enough, not because I was pissed. I was pissed, but there is no room for emotion in a Court proceeding. However, sometimes when a person unfairly and unobjectively comes at someone utilizing an imbalance of power there has to come a time where it stops.
After I sent in my courtesy copy to Chambers, Counsel, Counsel's direct Supervisor, the Trustee and the attorney for the Trustee that handles Judge Ferguson's cases, I composed an email to the attorney who sent Scott that ridiculously transparent email asking him to authorize the addition of the Book and Page into the Modification so it could be filed. If you recall Scott and I both politely reemed the guy but I digress.
To that email I added the "S" in RAS
( David Jonathan Schneid Esq) and the "Citron" in Citron (Richard Citron, Esq.) RAS Citron is the firm that represents Deutsche Bank and Nationstar. They are one of the most unimaginably poorly run foreclosure mills in the state of NJ. They also handle litigation matters such as ours.
In that email I typed these words:
"Dear Mr. Cupiak:
Is this latest response filed this evening by Ms. Egerman what you meant when you told my husband "perhaps we could present a united front to the Court?
I was wondering: are you aware that there are over 2,000 such Assignments made from BofA N.A. to Nationstar, filed between May 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013 in Ocean County alone? That these Assignments, like ours, have no MIN on them, even though most have not been paid off or refinanced, or even (your client's favorite) foreclosed on?
How many people have undisclosed balloon payments at the end of their phony Modification? I say phony Modification because we all know the Notes were sold on the open securitization market and the MIN numbers were wrongfully deactivated.
Are you aware that when Nationstar took my husband's payment without a valid Assignment that it constitutes bank fraud, mail fraud and wire fraud? I am."
I also included a very long and drawn out explanation of why Deutsche Bank has no right, title or interest in what little remains on the balance of Scott's mortgage and pointed out that this is because present Coundsel is so very inept.
I'm not sure what I expected. I know I prayed for some guidance and asked for some help but beyond that, I once again had that helpless feeling especially since the Court is closed today and I won't find out until Thursday how the Court would approach the latest assault on the system.
I did what I always do: I get up and I try and move forward without letting Court or the election or the shit I deal with on the day to day stop me from robbing me of my joy. It wasn't going so great honestly but I got it together and went and voted. Then I went to the beach and hung out and then I came home and put on Christmas movies.
Around 11:00 am I got a notification from Docket Bird that something had been filed. When I tell you I was just done with it all, and that I opened that email with some serious trepidation I am not even lying but open the email I did.
In the email these words appeared:
"Hello,
A document has been filed in a case you are following on DocketBird.

1. Substation of Attorney terminating Laura M. Egerman and adding David Neeren for DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR GSAA HOME EQUITY TRUST 2004-5 ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2004-5. Filed by David Neeren on behalf of DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR GSAA HOME EQUITY TRUST 2004-5 ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2004-5."

In short: they took that God awful attorney off the case. This is an unusual move because the normal protocol entails a new attorney assigned to the case by merely entering an Appearance. Termination occurs when someone is either fired, relocating to an office in another state or in deep shit. There is also the possibility I have learned, that the Court could have requested that the attorney be removed but well, the Court is closed for Election Day.
This leaves me with two possibilities now: either I'm going to get crucified or I'm going to get a settlement offer. There is a third possibility and that is the firm may leave well enough alone and let the case run its course through the Court. Something tells me though, I uncovered 2k dirty little secrets and there are tens of thousands more out there.
To be continued.....

​
In mid-2013, Amit Sandis sat back in his chair to watch the sunset, wondering what the future would hold in Latvia. Business was starting to look up, and he had a new family to take care of. They had just a few days left in their summer vacation in the Maldives before returning to Latvia to join his two co-owners in making a critical decision. Sandis, together with his two best friends, had, in 2002, followed an entrepreneurial dream to build a five-star hotel in the cultural centre of one of Latvia’s top seaside cities, Liepaja. To achieve that dream, the three co-owners had negotiated and survived many challenges over the past decade.
After several early years of confidence and profit, the co-owners had spent the past five years struggling, due to the massive downturn in the Latvian economy, as a result of the European Union (EU) financial crisis and subsequent slow recovery. Since the crisis began, the business had declined from generating an annual profit to its present situation of making a loss or just breaking even. Now, however, the EU was showing signs of recovery, business confidence was returning, bookings were recovering and income generation was starting to look up. The co-owners’ frustration with the situation in recent years had at times been so bad that on several occasions they had spoken about selling the business while they could still break even. Now the question confronting them was whether they should put all their struggles behind them, retain the ownership of the hotel and look forward to enjoying the potential days of profit that lay ahead. With these questions on his mind, Sandis thought about the meeting he had planned in a week’s time with his two partners in Latvia. Many variables needed to be weighed before they decided on the strategic direction they should take. The co-owners were his two best friends, and they had spent many years working together.
BACKGROUND
In Latvia, the winter temperatures fluctuate between –25 and –2 degrees Celsius; and during the daytime, it is grey and dark after 4 p.m. Because of this climate, observers often say the Latvian people can, at times, seem a little depressed and not so joyous or communicative, compared with those in southern Europe. For those who live in warmer Mediterranean climates with year-round sunshine, life appears comparatively more relaxed and carefree. Because of Latvia’s northern location, in the winter, Latvians go to work in the dark and when they finish work, they return home in the dark. The long cold winter stretches from November to April. In contrast, Latvia’s climate from May to October is delightful.
Sandis spent 25 years working as a high-ranking city official in Latvia during what he described as “the good times under Soviet control,” when Latvia enjoyed high levels of employment, productive manufacturing plants and very little corruption due to the tight security and military and police control. Even though wages were low, most Latvian people led simple lives and were happy.
Not long after 1991, when Latvia gained independence from the Soviet Union, discussions commenced toward it becoming a member of the EU. From then onward, most of the Soviet-backed manufacturing plants began closing down, unemployment increased, uncontrolled corruption grew and the country’s gross domestic product dropped significantly. Many security professionals and soldiers who had worked for the Soviets no longer had a job, which led to a new industry of private protection and security services, although some of those involved had questionable standards of corporate governance.
With independence, Latvians started looking forward to a new-found freedom. The Latvian people felt excitement and confidence in the media and in government officials promoting successful growth. Celebrating their new independence, the Latvian politicians were riding the wave of popularity. However, Sandis had worked in a government facility and had an insider’s view of how these elected representatives really operated. He felt that most of them worked hard only near an election, but after the election was over, their overall priority was to make money. Sandis’s long-term experience led him to conclude that when an election was coming, government leaders would show great care for the public, make unrealistic statements about positive strategies for the future but after they had been re-elected, they often forgot most of the promises they had made.
After more than two decades working as part of the Soviet security establishment in Latvia prior to 2001, Sandis and his colleagues, Johachim Kaspars and Kemat Valdis, had developed strong bonds, friendships and acquaintances with many powerful government and military officials, some of whom were in high office. They had also endured many years working under tough conditions and were now ready to try to do some private business of their own. Their belief and research had heightened their expectation that tourism was likely to grow in Latvia, as the country became a full member of the EU. In addition, all economic indicators suggested the demand for tourism facilities and accommodation was likely to grow. After long hours of discussion and consideration, the three former Soviet servants were confident that collectively they had now accumulated enough money and trusting relationships with bankers to be successful in realizing their dream of building a five-star hotel in the centre of Liepaja, Latvia’s resort and seaport city.
Politically, the relationship between Latvia and the EU was also evolving. Sandis, Kaspars and Valdis felt that the enthusiasm and the West’s growing confidence in the Latvian business environment made it the right time to invest in the hotel industry. With good planning and management, they were confident of success at a time when the Latvian economy was entering a period of expected growth.
The co-owners registered their new business in the Latvian Official Company Register for €200s, and their application was approved after they had established their company bank account containing a minimum deposit of €3000s. Their first taste of what lay ahead was the realization that, at that time,
running a company in Latvia meant an almost constant need to satisfy the demands of the Revenue Service (RS).
In what seemed to be an after-effect from the Soviet era, Latvia company bookkeepers and accountants devoted a large portion of their daily work time to ensuring their company was complying with RS rules. At times, this task proved to be all encompassing and an unwanted difficulty as the RS decision makers were prone to making changes to the countries taxation rules on very short notice. As Kaspars lamented, “Such legalistic changes were liable to happen up to 200 times during any given year.”
Another complication was that when the RS changed a taxation rule or created a new rule, companies were not given any standard period of time to adjust but were expected to immediately correctly implement and abide by the new law or rule. Tax rates and taxable items were constantly changing, which led to complaints among members of the business community. But it made no difference to the RS officials, as they exercised total control and were not afraid to use their power. Unless one had a strong relationship with an RS insider, these government tax officials were rarely prepared to listen to any complaints. Consequently, company bookkeepers were under constant pressure to keep up to date. They needed to constantly be on the lookout for RS Information Releases and continually consulted their RS contacts and communication networks so they could implement any given changes in a timely manner. Complicating the matter further was that the RS sometimes gave only minimal directions and explanations on how new rules and laws should be correctly interpreted and implemented. The lucidity and interpretations of the changes could vary greatly, and the RS would not hesitate to impose a fine on any company found applying the new rules in an incorrect manner.
Although Latvia was now a part of the EU, the senior RS officials had spent all of their working life operating under the Soviet system. They knew no other way and were reluctant to change or respond to training. Their type of communication, thinking, behaviour, management and work environment continued to exhibit characteristics from their Soviet past, when the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) had previously controlled Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine and Estonia, countries whose people had followed the socialist philosophy of Marx, Engels and Lenin. Most people holding senior positions in the Latvian RS had started working there when Latvia had no private companies, restaurants, shops or hotels, and everything was owned by the state and operated under the Soviet socialist philosophy. In those times, private ownership was banned, and people had to prove they could work hard, be honest and share communal facilities. The general public had little power to make their own decisions regarding how much they were able to spend or what they would spend it on. The buying choices were usually narrow (e.g., only three types of car could be purchased — if anyone could afford one), and the socialist ideology promoted the philosophy that owning any property was bad and that capitalism only exploited working people.
Latvians thus experienced a significantly different style of thinking and government from the norm for people in the EU and Western market economies. After Latvia gained independence, change was initially slow. A significant period of time passed before senior government officials and employees, long entrenched in government positions under Soviet conditions, chose to retire or to adjust their thinking toward the characteristics of the EU market economy. Latvia had supposedly become an open-market economy, and many new emerging entrepreneurs who had worked hard to become successful now enjoyed the fruits of a market economy. These successful businesspeople could afford to own a modern car and a private house, yet they were still being made to feel guilty under the former Soviet ideology. As Sandis explained:
If you were making money, the members of older generations made you feel like you had robbed somebody or you had stolen something and they were usually angry with successful modern business people. Sometimes they would say it to your face that they “are so angry with you being successful and making money, driving a Mercedes and having a nice place to live” even though you may have worked hard to get all of these material things. Some of my friends in Latvia got so tired of this attitude that they decided to sell their business, sell all of their possessions and leave the country. These successful people were paying a lot of tax and the older generations working in the government offices didn’t understand that their salaries come from these taxes. My colleague who had worked in the Revenue Service from the middle of the 1990s started telling me that the biggest taxpayers were the bureaucrats. I had to stop him and say that “I’m sorry my friend, the source of your salary and the bureaucrats is from taxation charged on private businesses.” This was the way the older generation that grew up under the Soviet rule continued to think although small changes are slowly taking place and it is starting to become a little bit easier for successful modern business people in society. Many of my friends, even from outside Latvia, believed it would take two generations for this attitude and type of thinking to be fully eroded and perhaps gone. Now we are trying to explain this new concept to the 40-, 50- and 60- year-old employees that worked in the Revenue Service or Finance Police Department all their lives under the Soviet control.
Latvia became independent in 1991 and immediately after fell into a deep crisis. Jobs, money and opportunities dried up, and by 2000, many skilled people were leaving Latvia to seek a job abroad. They would try to find a job in another EU country, then save some money and later return to Latvia to buy a flat and maybe set up a business to improve their living conditions.
Introducing Latvia into a market economy had led to many problems, and the average workers were the people who suffered in the long term. The Latvian government was not ready for this change and took no action to avoid a significant banking crisis that was incubating due to its vague transition strategy and questionable governance. The banking crisis began not long after Latvia had been granted independence from the Soviet Union and the commencement of its new membership in the EU. Under the new EU policy and conditions, banking officials responsible for granting loans started being paid bonuses on the amount of money they could loan, not on the ability of borrowers to realistically repay the loans. This approach was a complete change in policy from the former Soviet banking environment; as a result, Latvian loan officials soon realized their opportunity and started to take advantage of the situation by approving loans much too easily, without conducting due diligence on prospective borrowers. As a result, borrowing money became much easier, and credibility checks on those applying for loans were often questionable and minimal. Bank officials were taking the opportunity to make more money than ever before and were unconcerned with the ability of borrowers to actually make repayments or repay their loans in full. The bank officials’ main motivator was the commission they would be paid, based on the size of the loan.
When Sandis, Kaspars and Valdis decided to pursue their Hotel Latvia dream, they had been unaware of any of these developing credit problems or the difficulties they could create for their new venture in the future. Feeling confident, they made a request to the bank for a loan of €22 million in 2002, and were surprised as to how easy it was to gain approval.
Sandis explained:
When we gained the €22 million loan to finance building our hotel, our bankers were coming and asking “Why did you take only this amount? Why don’t you take more?” We said, “We don’t need more. What we have been loaned is enough.” We didn’t know the bank officers responsible for providing the credit would get bonuses from the amount of money they loaned to the people. Their checking and due diligence was almost non-existent and they were not even asking for credit records or proof of income. Instead they were asking questions like, “If you need more money or a new car then why don’t you take a bigger loan?”
Prior to purchasing the land on which they would build their hotel, Sandis, Kaspars and Valdis had first built one large apartment building in the central historical area of Riga, the Latvian capital, as a test case to provide them with the opportunity to measure the market, gain some experience in the real estate market, develop a better understanding of the construction industry and begin to generate some income while their larger project was developing. Enjoying success on this first smaller project saw their confidence grow toward the construction of their much larger Hotel Latvia complex. With their larger loan secured, the Hotel Latvia project started in 2002, when Sandis, Kaspars and Valdis identified, researched and purchased land in the centre of Liepaja, Latvia’s resort and seaport city. They wanted to build the hotel in the old part of the city, as it was in a central location, which would be attractive for customers. Because of the location, they expected they could charge slightly higher rates when serving their target markets of businesspeople and tourists who expected quality facilities. In preparing to build, they needed to remove from the existing site the remains of a few old decaying structures that were in serious danger of collapsing. They thought it would be easy to clear and start construction soon after; however, gaining the approvals to demolish these old ruins for their much larger project proved to be significantly more complicated. In a frustrated tone, Kaspars recalled the situation:
You could not imagine the politics involved when you want to build something in the historical part of Liepaja. On the proposed Hotel Latvia site we had purchased, there were several crumbling down and neglected ruins that had no official status or any conditions existing on them saying that “they needed to be restored.” The buildings were totally ruined and we had proceeded to commission three private, official, independent assessments of the proposed site that all concluded they were impossible to restore and that the only safe action to take would be to demolish them. These on-site ruins were in danger of collapse at any moment. However, despite this evidence, the government said there is no possibility that we could demolish them and build something new in the historical part of the city.
To try to change the decision we had to arrange several meetings with several politicians and government officials to get approvals from their respective departments to undertake the construction. It was a big headache to get all of these approvals. Although we could demolish most of the buildings the government departments informed us that each of the front facades of the ruins had to be restored. As a condition of the approval, we had to pay all restoration costs. Another building company we knew who were building in a nearby city also had problems and were not allowed to demolish even one wall of an old decaying building on their site even though it had large cracks in the building and the façade was not even traditional. The one they wanted to demolish was a very ordinary building with no historical value. On one occasion they were officially granted permission from the Architectural Authority to proceed with the demolition at 10 a.m. and then later on the same day at 11.45 a.m. received a second notification from another department saying that “permission to demolish it had been refused.” Today, this building still remains untouched in the centre of the city. Unfortunately, we learned of their experience well after we had begun our building process.
In Latvia’s new market economy, the officials who granted permissions were taking advantage of their newfound power. For businesses to gain any kind of documented approval, they now had to offer the officials something extra to get their signature of approval. Many approvals could not be completed by dealing directly with the officials responsible but had to be done through networks of connections. Valdis was frustrated and threw his arms in the air, stating “You had to use somebody who knows somebody who knows somebody.” Before Sandis, Kaspars and Valdis could even consider beginning construction, much more time was wasted and “under-the-table” fees needed to be paid to a portfolio of connections. Then, after construction had commenced, if the authorities wanted to stop the process to extract some additional favours, they could always find a mechanism whereby someone could complain and put a halt to everything. So, in total, it took the group several years to get all of the approvals to actually go ahead and commence the building construction.
When construction of Hotel Latvia finally commenced, a new problem confronted Sandis, Kaspars and Valdis. The builders and construction employees knew demand on construction services was vastly outstripping the current supply in Latvia, as only a limited number of building companies could build such large structures. As a result, the pressure on at the worksite was always intense, and the co-owners looked at using three builders to carry out the construction. If the builders arrived in the morning to commence the day’s work and if all of the materials or equipment were not there, or if some problem prevented them from starting immediately, then the builders would pack up and head off to work on another site. When this happened, the disruption resulted in the builders having to return later, and the price of construction would increase. This interruption in the schedule also resulted in frustrating delays; sometimes the builders would not return for several days. The hotel was a big project, and in the end, Valdis had to spend every day at the worksite to supervise the building company’s employees and ensure they were working. If no building company supervisor was present on the worksite, then the employees would often not work to capacity, significantly reducing their productivity. The construction companies knew that they were in a strong bargaining position. Sandis, Kaspars and Valdis were in a tough situation, as Latvia had too many buildings under construction, most were only partly completed and Latvia lacked a sufficient number of companies that were competent enough to do all the construction.
Valdis reflected:
We had a separate contract with a German company to do all the installations on the ground floor comprising the hotel’s entry, front desk area, bar and all the other features and facilities. They did a quality job and did it very quickly. The local Latvian builders were working on another part of the hotel at the same time, and the German builders had commented how at times the Latvian builders could not be found, were smoking outside or just sitting around doing nothing. In the end, I had to go to the site every day to supervise their work for the last four months including on the weekends, from the morning to the evening. Sometimes we had to threaten the builders to make sure they were doing their job because they took short cuts, time off or left to work on other building sites.
The German building company had designed the hotel and brought with them all of the materials to complete the entrance hall, and another German company came to install all of the lamps in the hotel. The German lighting employees were professional and efficient, and it took only three employees to complete the job in three days. For the Latvian construction companies, progress was much slower. After having to apply constant pressure on them to keep working effectively, the construction of the hotel was finally completed in one and a half years.
Finding the talented employees to staff the hotel was another issue. A large number of applications were received; however, finding the right standard and quality of employee suitable to staff this five-star operation required intense interviewing and a comprehensive training program.
The Hotel Latvia finally opened in 2006, and business started well. The hotel’s initial marketing campaign was successful: after six months of business, it was performing better than its competitors but was still not generating enough income to meet the co-owners’ strategic target. In the first two years, they generated enough income to service their loan but sometimes needed to contribute their own money to meet the repayments. Some adjustments were necessary, and halfway through their second year of operation, they sold their initial trial investment in Riga and asked the bank to deposit the funds from the sale into an offset account to reduce the interest being paid on the loan.
By the third year, Sandis, Kaspars and Valdis had also renegotiated an increase in the term of their loan from 20 years to 25 years, with the goal of reducing their repayments and, thus, the level of financial pressure. This strategy helped them to adjust to the change in market conditions and encouraged the untried entrepreneurs to become more contingent. Following the 2008 financial crisis, the level of tourism declined sharply in Latvia in 2009 and 2010. By then, due to the significant drop in tourist numbers, the co-owners were generating only 60 per cent of the revenue required to meet their business target.
To try to cope with the downturn in bookings and reduction in income generation, they needed to make some strategic changes. These changes included downsizing the staff by 18 per cent, closing one of the guest floors, eliminating one of the elevators to reduce power costs and opening their five-star restaurants only on weekends.
During the downturn, not only did individual people stop travelling but companies, government and universities stopped holding conferences and/or reduced the number of delegates they were sending to conferences. These changes resulted both in universities, governments and associations reducing their number of conferences and in many existing industry conferences significantly decreasing their budgets.
Said Sandis:
We had many solid and developing contracts for annual conferences and tours but at the beginning of 2009 there were many cancellations and a sharp drop off in group tours and individuals coming to stay at the Hotel.
At about this time a Dutch professor I knew came to Latvia for a short term on foreign exchange to give some lectures and organize some student exchanges. After a time, he told me he believed a high percentage of the Latvian university students will leave Latvia for Germany and other countries after they graduate. Although he was a foreigner, he was worried about the situation in our country. He believed the IMF [International Monetary Fund] had made a mistake to place such heavy austerity measures on Latvia and it had created a very bad situation that would be difficult to recover from. Although it was not openly reported in the Western press, Latvia was in trouble much earlier than Spain, Greece and Italy with their gross domestic product declining by 18 per cent in 2009. Most of the decline was in construction because, during the preceding period of steady growth, the real estate and construction sectors grew out of control and too many buildings were built for the demand at that time. This had resulted in the problem of an oversupply of rooms in the hotel sector.
Eventually, the Latvian economy collapsed, real estate prices declined, companies and many individuals holding loans went bankrupt, salaries decreased by 30 to 40 per cent, and many people lost their jobs with unemployment rising significantly. The government was in financial difficulty and could afford to pay people who had been retrenched only a small percentage of their promised redundancy or unemployment payments. Even worse was that the government’s unemployment financial assistance following redundancy usually lasted only nine months; and when these payments ceased, the unemployed persons had to take care of themselves.
The downturn delivered to Latvia a market economy reality check that very few people who had lived under Soviet control could predict, understand or imagine. Huge excesses had occurred at the beginning of the growth phase in 2002, when bankers and financiers had enjoyed considerable wealth, and they now had to be paid for. Not conducting the required due diligence on those who wanted to borrow the money when times were good and giving out poorly backed or unsupported loans was now having a severe and adverse effect on the Latvian economy.
Sandis, Kaspars and Valdis had worked hard and had built their hotel from the ground up during the peak in construction activity; as a result, their construction costs had been higher than expected. After the slowdown, business did not run according to their expectations and, like many others, they were in a difficult situation regarding loan repayments to the bank. Many people had taken out large bank loans and mortgaged everything, including their homes, to ride the boom. After the downturn, many companies went bankrupt, were taken over by the banks or closed down because they could not afford to make the repayments. Most were overexposed with too much debt and no liquidity to make the repayments. Although this situation was happening throughout Latvia, Sandis, Kaspars and Valdis still had the liquidity to continue making repayments, though their strategic options were severely reduced.
Due to their tight fiscal management, the three Hotel Latvia owners did not have to sell the hotel but began to consider whether they should get out while they were still able to break even. They realized that to go on trying to make money from the hotel would be hard work, and the venture had not delivered their expected outcome. They started wondering about their future risk on the amount of return they could generate. Were the hardest times over, meaning it would now be a mistake to sell? Solving all the approval problems during the years of construction had taken its toll, and with the building problems and increase in costs, it appeared that if they sold now, they could make a zero net gain in value on their decade of hard work and investment. At another time, the outcome would have been very profitable; however, the business environment following Latvia’s entry into the EU had taken its toll on and had disadvantaged Sandis, Kaspars and Valdis, as a result of a tough combination of factors: the Latvian people’s slow adaptation to the evolving market economy, corrupt bankers and government officials, building contractors taking advantage of the excess demand in the construction industry and the sudden economical crash.
Despite their situation, their bank was not currently concerned about their financial situation and was not putting pressure on them to liquidate their property or make any extra repayments on their loan. The bank had many other poorer performing loans and associated issues to worry about and its main concern was the number of its bad loans. Many lenders owed their banks substantial amounts of money, and many companies found themselves overextended and facing bankruptcy.
Valdis expressed his concern:
When we saw some good businesses being taken over by the banks without warning or with very short notice, we became concerned. We anticipated we may have to sell the hotel not long after it was completed because the cost of construction had gone 18 per cent over budget and, as a result, our monthly repayments and period of the loan had both grown significantly. Our business had started so well we thought the future would be profitable. Following the EU crash, it appeared some type of recovery had started and we thought there may be an opportunity to sell it in 2012 as Latvia’s credit and investment ratings proposed by the International Rating Agency, Standard and Poor’s, were improving and looking better.
But another serious problem was looming in the hotel sector. Latvia’s average price per room had dropped sharply because many hoteliers were in deep trouble and had started slashing their prices because they were located in less marketable locations. One example was the Reval Hotel that boasted 240 rooms in suburban Riga. Facing very poor occupancy, the operator in charge had suddenly slashed prices and had begun to sell rooms to large groups of tours at prices that were so low that they decimated the whole market. Once the Reval Hotel owners found out what their managers were doing, they immediately dismissed them and changed their operator but it was too late. For the rest of the market, the damage had already been done through the reductions in their bookings and through agents and customers who were no longer prepared to pay the former prices.
This incident happened at a critical time, when Sandis, Kaspars and Valdis were considering searching for a new partner to purchase 30 per cent of the hotel, in an effort to help reduce their loan pressure. Ideally, they needed a partner who had the cash to buy a portion of the property, and then the co-owners could use the money generated to offset or repay a larger part of the loan and thereby reduce their debt. With a fourth partner joining the group, it would have made it significantly easier to survive but after the Reval Hotel had slashed its prices, that option was no longer possible. The unpredictable situation drove away all potential buyers; they were afraid to invest and had decided to wait until the situation improved. Kaspars’s connections in a different bank informed him that the financial markets did not know what the situation may be for the future in Latvia, and much doubt surrounded the industry and marketplace. Some price targeting had broken out from time to time, and the reduced number of customers who required accommodation in Latvia were enjoying quality deals.
Upon reflection, compared with most of the businesses at that time, Sandis, Kaspars and Valdis were among the lucky ones. Despite their many problems, they still believed that, if necessary, they could still sell their hotel, pay off their debt and get out without losing money. Looking at the market around them, they saw many others lose everything; gone was the confidence that had existed before the crisis. Wisely, they had made sure they had mortgaged only the property on which the hotel was being built; none of their own private dwellings were included as part of their collateral on their original €22 million loan.
The Hotel Latvia was built on a prime piece of land in coastal Liepaja, so it retained most of its value following the crisis and did not decrease by in real estate value as much as other properties further from the centre of the city or in less marketable locations. As time wore on, many competitors disappeared completely. Those that had managed to survive had experienced significant decreases in income. At the beginning of 2012, Sandis, Kaspars and Valdis again commenced negotiations with a large global finance company based in London in an attempt to sell the hotel. They found that from 2008 to 2011, the sale price of the hotel had decreased by approximately 35 per cent. Their agents had tried selling the Hotel Latvia to different investment companies, and their responses had initially been positive. However, when investors saw the predicted future of Latvia and its poor credit and investment ratings, the buyers’ interest had ceased, and it was difficult for the agents to generate any serious interest.
Selling agents would tell us, “We know you guys have a good hotel but the country is no good. The climate for business and investment is poor and the future is not good.”
In the seven years following the boom that had begun in 2002, most of the surge in business activity, income generation and increases in prices had been in the construction industry. As a result, when the decline hit the construction companies, the support industries and related jobs were the worst affected. Only when the credit and investment ratings began to rise a few points in early 2013 did any purchasers begin to show any real interest in buying the hotel. Western investors were becoming interested again but their offers were still much below what the co-owners considered to be an acceptable price.
As Sandis explained:
They all came with the idea that they could buy our hotel for what we describe as “sandwiches.” I mean, for a very cheap price, and we thought they really wanted to buy it for nothing. The poor prices and demand were as a result of the construction bubble throughout Europe. Believe me, the politicians and bureaucrats could see it coming long before the crisis arrived but they did nothing because they were all set to make a lot of money out of it.
By the beginning of 2013, a slight recovery had begun, especially with the number of Russian tourists again beginning to grow. To Russian tourists, Latvia was now being marketed as an EU country and hence an international destination. In addition, rumours had begun that the EU was beginning to emerge from the recession, and that the steep austerity measures currently imposed at the time were soon to be eased.
Sandis, Kaspars and Valdis were at the point where they now had three options. One was to keep the hotel and continue working hard to enjoy the fruits of the supposed upturn that appeared to be commencing. The second option was to now find another partner to purchase a share in the company and to use this money to reduce their debt repayments and risk. Their third option was to sell the hotel completely and walk away with approximately the same amount of funds they had started with in 2002. Were there any other options?
Sandis knew the meeting with Valdis and Kaspars would occur on the evening after his return to Liepaja. He sat in the chair in his bungalow on the Maldives and wondered what they should do.