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Friday, May 1st, 2026 09:56 pm
As you may guess, this was inspired by the folksong of the same name. You can find more information about that song here.
As you may guess, this was inspired by the folksong of the same name. You can find more information about that song here.
Thursday, April 30th, 2026 09:03 pm
To the man on the bus talking to his daughter about what color she was going to paint his nails when they got home: Good job! You get a gold star and a cookie, which you will probably share with your kid! Cookies all around, no sarcasm!
To the man in CVS playing on his phone while his wife corralled their two year old and talked to the pharmacist: Dude, if you're not gonna help, just stay home.
This tangentially connects to one of my favorite poems, which I was recently reminded of.
******************
( Read more... )
To the man in CVS playing on his phone while his wife corralled their two year old and talked to the pharmacist: Dude, if you're not gonna help, just stay home.
This tangentially connects to one of my favorite poems, which I was recently reminded of.
( Read more... )
Monday, April 27th, 2026 08:53 am
This week promises to be a quiet one with nothing to dread. In other words, lovely.
My swim this morning was wonderful. I think I was just so grateful that the water was not ice cube cold. I've added about 10 minutes onto my swim for really no good reason - it just feels right. I do need to charge up my music player and change songs.
They are still delivering a newspaper to Jim Across The Hall every day and nothing has changed. No one has come to take his things. This week will mark 30 days since they took him and so the deadline for emptying his apartment. I guess the plan is to pay for another month. Curious but none of my beeswax.
No sun out this morning - no rain - just an eye pleasing cloudy. It would be a good day to run errands but I don't really need anything.
So I'll stay in and puzzle and knit and watch TV. The usual. The Mariners play at 5.
I was thinking yesterday about the life I lead now. And how lovely it is. And what I thought it would be when I was in my 20's and 30's. I have not worked now for more than a dozen years. I loved working. I really did. But, I think I really do like this better.
My swim this morning was wonderful. I think I was just so grateful that the water was not ice cube cold. I've added about 10 minutes onto my swim for really no good reason - it just feels right. I do need to charge up my music player and change songs.
They are still delivering a newspaper to Jim Across The Hall every day and nothing has changed. No one has come to take his things. This week will mark 30 days since they took him and so the deadline for emptying his apartment. I guess the plan is to pay for another month. Curious but none of my beeswax.
No sun out this morning - no rain - just an eye pleasing cloudy. It would be a good day to run errands but I don't really need anything.
So I'll stay in and puzzle and knit and watch TV. The usual. The Mariners play at 5.
I was thinking yesterday about the life I lead now. And how lovely it is. And what I thought it would be when I was in my 20's and 30's. I have not worked now for more than a dozen years. I loved working. I really did. But, I think I really do like this better.
Monday, April 27th, 2026 10:15 am
It's three shifts this week in addition to my usual - I don't actually want to work six shifts, but I urgently need the cash, so we'll see what we see.
I took the bus there, but when I got there I saw the train tracks and decided to take the train back. And since I was hungry, I stopped into the corner store by the train for a snack, and immediately my chest felt tight and the tears welled up. I feel really absurd about this, but I didn't realize until right then that this is the train stop closest to the hospital. I can only have stopped in this particular store half a dozen times, max, but... yeah. (Actually, thinking carefully, I think I stopped in there the day Mommy was intubated, and that was the last time before today, so no wonder I freaked out and sobbed for 15, 20 minutes straight. If I had started sobbing in the store, maybe they would've comped me my drink.)
I took the bus there, but when I got there I saw the train tracks and decided to take the train back. And since I was hungry, I stopped into the corner store by the train for a snack, and immediately my chest felt tight and the tears welled up. I feel really absurd about this, but I didn't realize until right then that this is the train stop closest to the hospital. I can only have stopped in this particular store half a dozen times, max, but... yeah. (Actually, thinking carefully, I think I stopped in there the day Mommy was intubated, and that was the last time before today, so no wonder I freaked out and sobbed for 15, 20 minutes straight. If I had started sobbing in the store, maybe they would've comped me my drink.)
Monday, April 27th, 2026 08:55 am
Wednesday, April 29th, 2026 01:10 am
It is 1992. This kid is twelve. He doesn’t know the word “gaslighting”, he doesn’t know the phrase “trauma response”, and if he knew the latter, he wouldn’t apply it to himself.
Also, there’s no such thing as a landline. It’s just a phone, so called because it transmits sound, phone, a long way, tele. It doesn’t do anything else, not even voicemail, and you need to pay extra for caller ID.
Also, there’s no such thing as a landline. It’s just a phone, so called because it transmits sound, phone, a long way, tele. It doesn’t do anything else, not even voicemail, and you need to pay extra for caller ID.
Monday, April 27th, 2026 04:00 am
The Girl Genius comic for Monday, April 27, 2026 has been posted.
Sunday, April 26th, 2026 08:41 am
The pillow cases are in the washing machine right now. I just passed the bedroom door and saw this.
Nothing entitled about that cat!
The pool heater got turned back on or whatever the fix was, the water temperature was back up this morning. Woot! And my swim was wonderful.
I started a new book last night - I'm pretty sure it's one that I got from Jo's writing about it. A Killing in November by Simon Mason. It's extraordinarily written. Or maybe just well written for the ear. I was sucked in immediately even though there was no dead body in the first 40 minutes! I like my killings early on in the plot. But I'm totally sucked into this one - it kept me up late. AND... it's the first in a series. And there are already 5. Love that.
Yesterday was pretty much baseball, TV and knitting and today is likely to be the same and I'm perfectly fine with that.
My foot that the shots have helped fix is getting un fixed again and it's too soon. The nerves directing the toes get pinched and it's owwwwey to walk on it. I cannot match a shoe to the pain although this morning, my only shoes are the rubber sandals I wear to the pool, so maybe time to swap those out for something else - at least for a few days to test.
Ok the laundry needs folding and hanging.
Nothing entitled about that cat!
The pool heater got turned back on or whatever the fix was, the water temperature was back up this morning. Woot! And my swim was wonderful.
I started a new book last night - I'm pretty sure it's one that I got from Jo's writing about it. A Killing in November by Simon Mason. It's extraordinarily written. Or maybe just well written for the ear. I was sucked in immediately even though there was no dead body in the first 40 minutes! I like my killings early on in the plot. But I'm totally sucked into this one - it kept me up late. AND... it's the first in a series. And there are already 5. Love that.
Yesterday was pretty much baseball, TV and knitting and today is likely to be the same and I'm perfectly fine with that.
My foot that the shots have helped fix is getting un fixed again and it's too soon. The nerves directing the toes get pinched and it's owwwwey to walk on it. I cannot match a shoe to the pain although this morning, my only shoes are the rubber sandals I wear to the pool, so maybe time to swap those out for something else - at least for a few days to test.
Ok the laundry needs folding and hanging.
Sunday, April 26th, 2026 12:04 pm
Bad news for the week: Ticia's kidneys are failing, and she's lost a lot of weight since her last check-up. She's been with us for 11 of her 19 years; I don't know how long she'll last. But I've ordered kidney diet cat fud and high-calorie treats. About all I can do. She makes me think of Rodin's "Belle Heaulmière".
And of course that's on top of everything else going wrong in the world. Also, I'm not getting much done. And I somehow screwed up my order for a Travelpro backpack, and left off the house number. Fortunately I was able to update the address, so I got it the next day. It's supposed to fit under an airplane seat, though I have my doubts. It's also supposed to be blue, but it's a really dark blue.
I did have a zoom call with my financial advisor Thursday, mostly about estate planning. Seems like a good time for it. And I heard back from the place that repaired Scarlett -- they're going to look for the missing charger. Fingers crossed. Also heard from the place that's repairing Lizzy; they have no idea what's wrong and are consulting with the factory. I suggested that they should send us a replacement. Haven't heard back about that.
Big congratulations to this year's href=https://filkontario.ca/2026/04/19/2026-filk-hall-of-fame-inductees/ >Filk Hall of Fame inductees, Margaret Davis, Tim Griffin, and Amy McNally. For more musical mayhem, have some Angine de Poitrine
Also, Krakens in the Cretaceous. Possibly as long as 19 meters. Better hope your time machine doesn't land in the water.
Monday, April 27th, 2026 09:40 pm
From Dutch snoepen (“to pry, eat in secret, sneak”)
How often were the Dutch eating in secret that they decided they needed a verb for it!?
**********
( Read more... )
How often were the Dutch eating in secret that they decided they needed a verb for it!?
( Read more... )
Saturday, April 25th, 2026 09:00 am
The pool water was a couple of degrees cooler than normal and the jets were shooting out cold water. This is has happened on the weekend so often, that a month or so ago, I asked the facilities lead what I should do when this happens and she had to contact Security and have them call her. I contacted security. The guy did not seem at all interested. I sent the lead an email. It could just be that the boiler needs to be switched on. If they wait until Monday, it will take several days for the pool to heat back up. It might be ok for swimming tomorrow but by Sunday, it will be too cold to be fun. Oh well. I've done what I could.
At least volleyball was good and not terribly chilly.
Today's Mariner game starts right after Elbow Coffee which starts in 30 minutes so that's my day!
First I need to get dressed.
At least volleyball was good and not terribly chilly.
Today's Mariner game starts right after Elbow Coffee which starts in 30 minutes so that's my day!
First I need to get dressed.
Sunday, April 26th, 2026 10:49 am
Don't get me wrong, I love doing them - five hours of reading, three hours of work, what's not to love? - but talking about them? Don't get me started. Every single time it's a back and forth to confirm the actual day the shift starts.
I got a shift through the staffing agency, and I say "So, to confirm, I go to work at midnight Monday?" and he goes "No, Sunday". "So, I leave my house at 11:30 today...?"
No, he meant midnight Monday to 8am Monday.
Every time I look at the schedule at the usual place I find myself momentarily baffled by the fact that the overnight shift is at the top, as the first shift of the day.
Also, literally as I typed that last sentence a spam text came in with the word "lpuuuu", which seems low effort even for a spam text. I get that their business model depends on weeding out everybody smart enough to say "Seems fake!", but seriously?
I got a shift through the staffing agency, and I say "So, to confirm, I go to work at midnight Monday?" and he goes "No, Sunday". "So, I leave my house at 11:30 today...?"
No, he meant midnight Monday to 8am Monday.
Every time I look at the schedule at the usual place I find myself momentarily baffled by the fact that the overnight shift is at the top, as the first shift of the day.
Also, literally as I typed that last sentence a spam text came in with the word "lpuuuu", which seems low effort even for a spam text. I get that their business model depends on weeding out everybody smart enough to say "Seems fake!", but seriously?
Saturday, April 25th, 2026 02:16 am
After a few centuries it occurs to Cliopher that he should probably have kids soon, if he ever wants to try. He asks Rhodin for help.
Things spiral a bit from there.
Words: 2769, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English
- Fandoms: Nine Worlds Series - Victoria Goddard, The Lays of the Hearth-Fire Series - Victoria Goddard
- Rating: Explicit
- Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
- Categories: M/M, Multi
- Characters: Cliopher "Kip" Mdang, Rhodin an Gaiange, Conju an Vilius, Artorin Damara | Fitzroy Angursell
- Relationships: Artorin Damara | Fitzroy Angursell/Rhodin an Gaiange/Cliopher "Kip" Mdang/Conju an Vilius
- Additional Tags: Trans Cliopher "Kip" Mdang, Pregnancy, Free Use, Kinda, Objectification?, I'm not sure what to call the kinks but Rhodin is just happy to be here, Breeding Kink, Crack, Marriage
Friday, April 24th, 2026 04:31 pm
Jan and Dick Gram live in Myrna's old apartment. Jan just came to my door and asked if I was busy. Their printer was offline and they couldn't get it online. Windows and Epson. I last used a Windows computer maybe 10 years ago. I'm not sure I've ever used an Epson printer.
Dick has a very large voice and he wanted me to know that the printer worked two nights ago and he put in new cartridges and why does it not work now. What is your password, Dick. The printer worked two nights ago and he just put in new cartridges and why does it not work when you need it. So you don't know your wifi password? Why won't it work when I need it?
I learned a while back, by accident, that an iphone will give you the wifi password you are using if you dig deep enough into the network info. Then I remembered that Jan has an iphone and so I was able to get the password which is about 25 characters long and has 3 dashes. Of course the Epson keypad has no dashes. My looking for it erased all the work I had done so far.
And, I need to mention that this was in a tiny room that is stuffed to the gills with furniture and papers. There is barely enough room to stand, much less get to the printer and it's about 85 degrees.
So I bailed. Sorry. Call IT. If they have left for the weekend, send your documents to the reception desk. They will be happy to print them out for you. I felt badly about it until I got home and did a search on how to get dashes out of that stupid Epson keypad and Google didn't know either. Now I no longer care. Those Timber Ridge IT guys are not paid enough.
p.s. BUT Google did know how to find the wifi password on an Android phone. I never knew that either.
Dick has a very large voice and he wanted me to know that the printer worked two nights ago and he put in new cartridges and why does it not work now. What is your password, Dick. The printer worked two nights ago and he just put in new cartridges and why does it not work when you need it. So you don't know your wifi password? Why won't it work when I need it?
I learned a while back, by accident, that an iphone will give you the wifi password you are using if you dig deep enough into the network info. Then I remembered that Jan has an iphone and so I was able to get the password which is about 25 characters long and has 3 dashes. Of course the Epson keypad has no dashes. My looking for it erased all the work I had done so far.
And, I need to mention that this was in a tiny room that is stuffed to the gills with furniture and papers. There is barely enough room to stand, much less get to the printer and it's about 85 degrees.
So I bailed. Sorry. Call IT. If they have left for the weekend, send your documents to the reception desk. They will be happy to print them out for you. I felt badly about it until I got home and did a search on how to get dashes out of that stupid Epson keypad and Google didn't know either. Now I no longer care. Those Timber Ridge IT guys are not paid enough.
p.s. BUT Google did know how to find the wifi password on an Android phone. I never knew that either.
Thursday, April 23rd, 2026 08:04 pm
I'm thankful four (ahem):
1. Being out of the blast radius
2. Homemade sausage (and getting it right)
3. Endings
4. Generosity
5. Old-school nursing
6. Getting the secret code
7. Young musicians playing old music
1. Being out of the blast radius
2. Homemade sausage (and getting it right)
3. Endings
4. Generosity
5. Old-school nursing
6. Getting the secret code
7. Young musicians playing old music
Friday, April 24th, 2026 08:57 am
I do not do well if I skip breakfast. So I don't but I also don't have a lot of patience with breakfasts requiring lots of ingredients, elaborate prep and/or dirtying of many items. I do have a tendency to find a good idea and have it every day until another good idea comes in to replace it. Currently I'm one egg scrambled with a fork full of cottage cheese wrapped in a flour tortilla.
Except now I am out of tortillas. So a trip to the grocery is on the agenda. I think I'll go to QFC and score one of their poke bowls which will do nicely 1/2 for lunch and 1/2 for dinner.
I just picked up next week's Timber Ridge menus and there are a bunch of good choices. The past couple of weeks have been stinkers but next week... yum.
This morning was the first morning that I had to lower the shades to enjoy my coffee. I love my shades. This morning situation won't last long - a month or so and then the sun moves on.
I had a wonderful swim this morning. That forced week off has benefits of double enjoyment now.
The Mariners are in the Midwest for the week so nice early times.
I have a load of laundry that I put in before I went to swim. It's now nearly ready to come out for folding and hanging. And I need to get dressed. Time to get on with the day!
p.s. This past week, I misplaced a very handy metal retractable tape measure that I've had for years. Gone. Just gone. And now FOUND!! And it's very clean.
Except now I am out of tortillas. So a trip to the grocery is on the agenda. I think I'll go to QFC and score one of their poke bowls which will do nicely 1/2 for lunch and 1/2 for dinner.
I just picked up next week's Timber Ridge menus and there are a bunch of good choices. The past couple of weeks have been stinkers but next week... yum.
This morning was the first morning that I had to lower the shades to enjoy my coffee. I love my shades. This morning situation won't last long - a month or so and then the sun moves on.
I had a wonderful swim this morning. That forced week off has benefits of double enjoyment now.
The Mariners are in the Midwest for the week so nice early times.
I have a load of laundry that I put in before I went to swim. It's now nearly ready to come out for folding and hanging. And I need to get dressed. Time to get on with the day!
p.s. This past week, I misplaced a very handy metal retractable tape measure that I've had for years. Gone. Just gone. And now FOUND!! And it's very clean.
Friday, April 24th, 2026 04:00 am
The Girl Genius comic for Friday, April 24, 2026 has been posted.
Saturday, April 25th, 2026 11:10 pm
Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.
************************************
Link
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.
Link
Thursday, April 23rd, 2026 10:29 pm
Today I am thankful for...
Tags:
Thursday, April 23rd, 2026 01:23 pm
These questions were written by ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
nondenomifan.
1. What decade did you attend/are you attending high school or college?
2. What clothing fashion from that time are you glad/do you wish went out of style?
3. Do you still listen to the music from your high school/college years on a regular basis?
4. What hairstyle/hair color did/do you wear during high school/college?
5. What was/is "the cool thing to do" while in high school/college?
Copy and paste to your own journal, then reply to this post with a link to your answers. If your journal is private or friends-only, you can post your full answers in the comments below.
If you'd like to suggest questions for a future Friday Five, then do so on DreamWidth or LiveJournal. Old sets that were used have been deleted, so we encourage you to suggest some more!
nondenomifan.1. What decade did you attend/are you attending high school or college?
2. What clothing fashion from that time are you glad/do you wish went out of style?
3. Do you still listen to the music from your high school/college years on a regular basis?
4. What hairstyle/hair color did/do you wear during high school/college?
5. What was/is "the cool thing to do" while in high school/college?
Copy and paste to your own journal, then reply to this post with a link to your answers. If your journal is private or friends-only, you can post your full answers in the comments below.
If you'd like to suggest questions for a future Friday Five, then do so on DreamWidth or LiveJournal. Old sets that were used have been deleted, so we encourage you to suggest some more!
Thursday, April 23rd, 2026 09:19 am
It was good to get back to volleyball this morning even if the game itself was pretty meh. We have one guy who is only about half there mentally and he's really a pain to play with. He rarely shows up any more but he was there today. But it was ok. At least it was good to get back to moving.
About once a quarter, they have a Resident Update Meeting where the heads of the various departments give a, hopefully brief, state the state address. Yesterday of the 6 presenters, 4 were, indeed brief, and provided good info. 2 were dreadful - presented nothing interesting and presented it in as lengthy and boring way possible. At least most of the presenters have now quit reading the slides to us.
The sections of nursing care, memory care, and assisted living are full up and always have been. The lines to get in them are long. Timber Ridge contracts with other places to take the overflow - like Jim Across The Hall - but that is expensive in inconvenient for all. They have been saying for as long as I've been here that they are looking at various solutions to the problem. Yesterday was the first time I got the impression they really were. They are looking at expanding and, it sounds like, building something adjacent which ain't gonna be easy since two sides are occupied - a school and apartments - and the other two sides are steep hillsides.
I've developed a sore spot on an important finger from the doll knitting so I switched to one of my other projects last night. A blanket of very large squares. I finished a square before I realized that I had done it exactly backwards. So I ripped it out and got the first row started correctly before bed last night.
I may do laundry today - or tomorrow - I have an Amazon return that is not worth much so no hurry. I need a haircut. No baseball today. I'll finish my book but I have several candidates for Next.
About once a quarter, they have a Resident Update Meeting where the heads of the various departments give a, hopefully brief, state the state address. Yesterday of the 6 presenters, 4 were, indeed brief, and provided good info. 2 were dreadful - presented nothing interesting and presented it in as lengthy and boring way possible. At least most of the presenters have now quit reading the slides to us.
The sections of nursing care, memory care, and assisted living are full up and always have been. The lines to get in them are long. Timber Ridge contracts with other places to take the overflow - like Jim Across The Hall - but that is expensive in inconvenient for all. They have been saying for as long as I've been here that they are looking at various solutions to the problem. Yesterday was the first time I got the impression they really were. They are looking at expanding and, it sounds like, building something adjacent which ain't gonna be easy since two sides are occupied - a school and apartments - and the other two sides are steep hillsides.
I've developed a sore spot on an important finger from the doll knitting so I switched to one of my other projects last night. A blanket of very large squares. I finished a square before I realized that I had done it exactly backwards. So I ripped it out and got the first row started correctly before bed last night.
I may do laundry today - or tomorrow - I have an Amazon return that is not worth much so no hurry. I need a haircut. No baseball today. I'll finish my book but I have several candidates for Next.
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026 10:15 pm
This may not be the best day for writing a "state of the Bear" post, but it felt like it wanted to be written, so here I am. Mostly I just want to complain. Don't expect it to be organized.
Lately I've been having quite a bit of random pain -- mostly in my hands, in the form of trigger finger, which I assume is mostly RSI. Over the last few days I've also had trouble with my left shoulder; I sleep on that side, so it's not surprising either. (I've been treating the hands with diclofenac topical gel in the appropriate locations, and both with ibuprofen.)
I have a query in to my GP's office.
Meanwhile Ticia, my lovely old lady cat, is not doing well. She had a vet appointment Monday; she's lost a lot of weight, and according to the lab results her kidneys are failing. I'm putting her on a kidney-friendly diet, but even so I'm afraid she may not have much time left.
And I'm not all that sure about me, either.
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026 02:47 pm
I have three, count 'em, THREE new additions to my assortment of medical terms you just never really wanted to know! Thank the Gods, I encountered them while reading stuff completely unrelated to *me*, but...
( It's spleeny in here. )
I'll just stop there and come back with extra Lore: Disturbing at a later time.
( It's spleeny in here. )
I'll just stop there and come back with extra Lore: Disturbing at a later time.
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026 08:37 am
Yesterday afternoon Erica sent out the note that the pool was open again. It was too late for swimming - I'm a morning only swimmer - but not too late for anticipating this morning's swim. Which I did. And it was glorious.
Although, I do have to say that my skin really enjoyed dry dock. Spending 1/2 to 2 hours in water every day can dry out this old shell.
The Mariners lost again - sigh. Today is an afternoon game so at least we will get the loss out of the way early. And they have tomorrow off. I wonder when management heads will start to roll on down the road.
I have about a half dozen large flour tortillas that are really just too big. I was thinking yesterday, I need to go to the store and get some of the smaller ones to put my egg in for breakfast. Then, this morning, I spied the scissors and BAM! tortilla the perfect size. Ha!
I'm really into this book The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. It's kind of like a car wreck. I can't not read it but the main character is pissing me off. I'm not a letter writer. I receive very few letters which is good because they require a return letter and I find that annoying. I very much appreciate emails and texts over all other forms of communications. But reading someone else's letters is delicious. Especially someone my age. I spent a few hours yesterday listening while I knitted. I could repeat today. But that would finish it off and I'm not sure I'm ready for that.
They have started making and selling these great quiche tarts down in the Bistro. They are the perfect size and quite tasty and they freeze beautifully. So that's been my dinner for a few nights. Very excellent. I have half of yesterday's lunch for lunch today. And since I've solved the tortilla problem, breakfast is sorted for the rest of the week. nice.
Although, I do have to say that my skin really enjoyed dry dock. Spending 1/2 to 2 hours in water every day can dry out this old shell.
The Mariners lost again - sigh. Today is an afternoon game so at least we will get the loss out of the way early. And they have tomorrow off. I wonder when management heads will start to roll on down the road.
I have about a half dozen large flour tortillas that are really just too big. I was thinking yesterday, I need to go to the store and get some of the smaller ones to put my egg in for breakfast. Then, this morning, I spied the scissors and BAM! tortilla the perfect size. Ha!
I'm really into this book The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. It's kind of like a car wreck. I can't not read it but the main character is pissing me off. I'm not a letter writer. I receive very few letters which is good because they require a return letter and I find that annoying. I very much appreciate emails and texts over all other forms of communications. But reading someone else's letters is delicious. Especially someone my age. I spent a few hours yesterday listening while I knitted. I could repeat today. But that would finish it off and I'm not sure I'm ready for that.
They have started making and selling these great quiche tarts down in the Bistro. They are the perfect size and quite tasty and they freeze beautifully. So that's been my dinner for a few nights. Very excellent. I have half of yesterday's lunch for lunch today. And since I've solved the tortilla problem, breakfast is sorted for the rest of the week. nice.
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026 09:19 am
Happy Wednesday!
I'm taking search offline sometime today to upgrade the server to a new instance type. It should be down for a day or so -- sorry for the inconvenience. If you're curious, the existing search machine is over 10 years old and was starting to accumulate a decade of cruft...!
Also, apparently these older machines cost more than twice what the newer ones cost, on top of being slower. Trying to save a bit of maintenance and cost, and hopefully a Wednesday is okay!
Edited: The other cool thing is that this also means that the search index will be effectively realtime afterwards... no more waiting a few minutes for the indexer to catch new content.
Friday, April 24th, 2026 12:13 am
and her excuse is "Your father and I both agreed that it was best to raise you away from my wealthy-but-toxic family, whom I was returning to". And having met the protagonist's half-siblings, I can't say that this was wrong - but what, she just loved him so much more than her younger two that she had with her new, richer, more socially acceptable husband? No matter how you look at it, she's not exactly winning the mother of the year award.
**********************************
( Read more... )
( Read more... )
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026 04:00 am
The Girl Genius comic for Wednesday, April 22, 2026 has been posted.
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026 12:06 am
by Byotek
His Radiancy is devastated after having to destroy Woodlark, a part of his horde. Cliopher comforts him.
Based heavily on Lignite and Anthracite by Impossibly_Crazy. You may want to read that one first.
Words: 8826, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English
- Fandoms: Nine Worlds Series - Victoria Goddard, Lays of the Hearth-Fire - Victoria Goddard
- Rating: General Audiences
- Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
- Categories: M/M
- Characters: Cliopher "Kip" Mdang, Artorin Damara | Fitzroy Angursell, Conju an Vilius, Rhodin an Gaiange
- Relationships: them - Relationship
- Additional Tags: Dragons, Not too sad despite premise, PG so far, AU, Different Dragon AU than my prior dragon story, written on my phone sorry for any errors, Inspired by Lignite and Anthracite by Impossibly_Crazy
Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 07:27 am
Here at the cult, there is great emphasis on socializing. Meeting people. Making friends. I don't mind getting together with people now and again. I'm not opposed to meeting people and I'm mostly ok with making friends but not as items on an agenda. I'm perfectly fine here in my own apartment with my two cats and visits from Martha or Bonny. When I need to people, I go out to the elbow and work on the puzzle and visit with whoever wanders by.
Timber Ridge and the various resident led committees are always planning shit. Music programs, group stuff, outings. There's a puzzle group and art group, a million grief groups, low vision, hard of hearing, spousal support groups. My neighbor down the hall is trying to get a singles group going. Not a couples match up but more like people who want to do stuff with other people but don't have people to do it with. A laudable idea if that's what you want.
I almost never sign up for or attend any of it. The first year I was here, I went to a lot because I made friends with Myrna and Myrna's middle name was JOINER! So at least I've tried stuff. She and Martha and a couple of others were the social committee for the 3rd floor. They planned twice yearly get togethers. (All the floors have them.) I've been to every one since I moved here and they are dreadful. The last time, I went and decided it was the last time. Now Myrna's dead and Martha is over the whole planning process so they are looking for a new social committee. No one is volunteering. I suggested that we abandon the floor socials. What???? We can't do that!!! Why don't?? Because! Ok. Fine. Whatever.
BUT this morning I signed up for a thing. A kind of social thing. A social thing outside. Yeah, it's not me except it's a tour of an alpaca farm. May 7. It's about 30 minutes from here. It's advertised as rough ground so no one with walkers or mobility issues is encouraged. So far the list of people who have signed up is an ok list. I can still bail. It's a small group and there will be a long waiting list so we'll see.
Erica sent out an email yesterday saying that the pool will be closed for volleyball and aqua fit this morning but will likely open up some time today. So yeah!
The Mariners continue to lose. No real injuries or obvious issues like other teams. We have good, talented guys who are just playing shit. Oh well. It's not like we don't have 50 years of experience with losing.
I put Biggie's pill issues to Gemini and Gemini suggested a pill pistol. I ordered 2. One came yesterday. Fail. The pill is too big. One is coming today BUT Gemini may have solved the problem. In explaining how to use the pill pistol with a cat, it said to shoot the pill in the side of the mouth instead of straight down. I usually tilt his head back and aim for the middle of the back of the tongue. This morning, I tilted his head back and sent it down the side and got it in one! So... maybe...
Yesterday, somehow, a moth got in here and both cats just went nuts. They had a ball chasing it around for the longest time. I need to find a moth source. It would be a great and cheap cat gift!
I just got an email that someone 'friended' me on Live Journal. Interesting since my last post there was announcing that I'd be leaving and never posting again and that was 4 years ago...
Timber Ridge and the various resident led committees are always planning shit. Music programs, group stuff, outings. There's a puzzle group and art group, a million grief groups, low vision, hard of hearing, spousal support groups. My neighbor down the hall is trying to get a singles group going. Not a couples match up but more like people who want to do stuff with other people but don't have people to do it with. A laudable idea if that's what you want.
I almost never sign up for or attend any of it. The first year I was here, I went to a lot because I made friends with Myrna and Myrna's middle name was JOINER! So at least I've tried stuff. She and Martha and a couple of others were the social committee for the 3rd floor. They planned twice yearly get togethers. (All the floors have them.) I've been to every one since I moved here and they are dreadful. The last time, I went and decided it was the last time. Now Myrna's dead and Martha is over the whole planning process so they are looking for a new social committee. No one is volunteering. I suggested that we abandon the floor socials. What???? We can't do that!!! Why don't?? Because! Ok. Fine. Whatever.
BUT this morning I signed up for a thing. A kind of social thing. A social thing outside. Yeah, it's not me except it's a tour of an alpaca farm. May 7. It's about 30 minutes from here. It's advertised as rough ground so no one with walkers or mobility issues is encouraged. So far the list of people who have signed up is an ok list. I can still bail. It's a small group and there will be a long waiting list so we'll see.
Erica sent out an email yesterday saying that the pool will be closed for volleyball and aqua fit this morning but will likely open up some time today. So yeah!
The Mariners continue to lose. No real injuries or obvious issues like other teams. We have good, talented guys who are just playing shit. Oh well. It's not like we don't have 50 years of experience with losing.
I put Biggie's pill issues to Gemini and Gemini suggested a pill pistol. I ordered 2. One came yesterday. Fail. The pill is too big. One is coming today BUT Gemini may have solved the problem. In explaining how to use the pill pistol with a cat, it said to shoot the pill in the side of the mouth instead of straight down. I usually tilt his head back and aim for the middle of the back of the tongue. This morning, I tilted his head back and sent it down the side and got it in one! So... maybe...
Yesterday, somehow, a moth got in here and both cats just went nuts. They had a ball chasing it around for the longest time. I need to find a moth source. It would be a great and cheap cat gift!
I just got an email that someone 'friended' me on Live Journal. Interesting since my last post there was announcing that I'd be leaving and never posting again and that was 4 years ago...
Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 11:12 am
by vass
There is a Mdang for every occasion, but not all of them occur in canon.
Words: 216, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English
Series: Part 3 of Unspecified Number of Shells
- Fandoms: Nine Worlds Series - Victoria Goddard
- Rating: General Audiences
- Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
- Categories: Gen
- Characters: The Mdang Family
Monday, April 20th, 2026 08:30 pm
About their fight against the racist War on Drugs.
It includes what looks like a tea leaf emoji? Whatever sort of leaf this is, it’s not marijuana, even I know that. Maybe no emoji at all would’ve been the better call….
It includes what looks like a tea leaf emoji? Whatever sort of leaf this is, it’s not marijuana, even I know that. Maybe no emoji at all would’ve been the better call….
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026 03:51 pm
Monday, April 20th, 2026 08:02 am
I've kind of enjoyed my break from the pool but I'm over it now. Erica was hopeful that they could get it open today which would be fine by me.
I do think I may have solved a bit of my shower issue, though. There's a toilet paper stand that is in the way and Amazon is bringing me a much smaller one that may make it less of a PIA to use the shower. It arrives today - assembly required. I have several Amazon purchases arriving today.
One is a pill shooter. Biggie has this gynormous tablet that he has two take twice a day. Plus a much smaller one. The smaller one is no problem but that giant one is killing us both. Actually, it's just annoying him but between his teeth and claws my hand is not faring well.
I can't put it in his food because 1. I can't guarantee he'd even eat it all and 2. Julio might eat it. I can't put it in a pill pocket because he's not allowed non-prescription food. So we're going to try a pill pistol if I can find one that will handle a pill this size. Cutting it in half is not an option. I actually have a smaller version and could do that twice making 5 pills a day. ugly option.
No plans for today. I worked up a little doll backlog so I spent some time on my mitered corner blanket yesterday. I may do more today.
I do think I may have solved a bit of my shower issue, though. There's a toilet paper stand that is in the way and Amazon is bringing me a much smaller one that may make it less of a PIA to use the shower. It arrives today - assembly required. I have several Amazon purchases arriving today.
One is a pill shooter. Biggie has this gynormous tablet that he has two take twice a day. Plus a much smaller one. The smaller one is no problem but that giant one is killing us both. Actually, it's just annoying him but between his teeth and claws my hand is not faring well.
I can't put it in his food because 1. I can't guarantee he'd even eat it all and 2. Julio might eat it. I can't put it in a pill pocket because he's not allowed non-prescription food. So we're going to try a pill pistol if I can find one that will handle a pill this size. Cutting it in half is not an option. I actually have a smaller version and could do that twice making 5 pills a day. ugly option.
No plans for today. I worked up a little doll backlog so I spent some time on my mitered corner blanket yesterday. I may do more today.
Monday, April 20th, 2026 08:55 am
Monday, April 20th, 2026 04:00 am
The Girl Genius comic for Monday, April 20, 2026 has been posted.
Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 09:29 pm
I didn't get a good look, seeing it as I did out a bus window, but did I have to? They're not that hard to identify.
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( Read more... )
( Read more... )
Sunday, April 19th, 2026 07:41 am
I'm ok with taking a few days off from the pool but the down side is that I now have to shower here in my own bathroom and I really do not like this shower. The glass doors make it not convenient. You have to slide them one way and reach around to turn the shower on and then slide them the other way to get in and it's just a PIA. When I first saw the apartment, I asked if I could have the doors removed and was told (by marketing) that I could but when it came time, Timber Ridge said no. If I had to use that shower all time time, I think I'd press the matter further even now but, since I'm at the pool every day and use that shower (no shower doors), I don't bother. But now...
Oh well.
The laundry is laundrying and the phone app says there is another 30 minutes until time to fold and hang.
And that's it for the plans for the day. There is a Mariners game this afternoon.
I started a new book yesterday. I really didn't even want to read it but I've been on the wait list at the library since forever so I thought I should at least give it a start and now, of course, I'm hooked. It's an epistolary novel and I'm a sucker for reading other people's mail. Plus, it's the letters to and from a woman only a couple of years younger than I am. So of course, I'm hooked. The Correspondent by Virginia Evans.
And there is plenty of TV to watch so I'm sedentarily set for the day!
Oh well.
The laundry is laundrying and the phone app says there is another 30 minutes until time to fold and hang.
And that's it for the plans for the day. There is a Mariners game this afternoon.
I started a new book yesterday. I really didn't even want to read it but I've been on the wait list at the library since forever so I thought I should at least give it a start and now, of course, I'm hooked. It's an epistolary novel and I'm a sucker for reading other people's mail. Plus, it's the letters to and from a woman only a couple of years younger than I am. So of course, I'm hooked. The Correspondent by Virginia Evans.
And there is plenty of TV to watch so I'm sedentarily set for the day!
Sunday, April 19th, 2026 03:26 pm
Last week had some high points: reading the draft of N's next book, and a nice zoom reunion-ish thing. (I initially thought there were two of those, but the other was last Saturday.) Also sent several emails and made two phone calls following up (well, one and a half -- I abandoned the second after looking in my spam folder and finding the reply I was hoping for), paid our property tax, and got my US taxes done to the point where I could have filed for an extension, but determined that I didn't need to because I'm living overseas.
I'm supposed to celebrate accomplishments, even small ones. Right?
On the other hand, I only took five walks (skipping one because of pain and the other because of timing) and two short guitar-practice sessions. I can try to blame the latter on hand issues, but really (on the gripping hands?) it's mostly just laziness.
I am not at all happy with my body. See above under pain, and here under diclofenac. I'm not all that old, am I? Not happy with my brain, either -- see next paragraph.
Getting back to the zoom reunion-ish thing(s): there was a 65th reunion of my high school class last year; it was in Norwalk, Connecticut on the day after Thanksgiving, and I didn't go. Which was painful, because I'd ghosted the 50th for reasons I still don't entirely understand, although suffering from burnout may have had something to do with it and makes a convenient shorthand excuse. Anyway, enough people complained about not being to go for some other classmates of mine to organize a zoom version, which was last night. It was pretty good, although I lost the thread of what I was about to say at one point, resulting in an uncomfortable pause. See above about brain.
The reunion-ish thing Saturday didn't get called out last week, so I'll mention it here. Seems every year Carleton College has a "Coffee With Carls" event, and this year they had a virtual version for people who couldn't make it to one of the cities where versions of it were hosted. (There must be a briefer and less awkward way to phrase that.) Not bad, but it got cut short by a power outage before I had a chance to speak. Maybe next year.
Huge congratulations to this year's Filk Hall of Fame inductees: Margaret Davis, Tim Griffin, and Amy McNally! 🎉
Linkies: The system prompt for Meta’s AI model got leaked in 2 hours. The two Greatest Software Systems ever built: NASA Shuttle vs TeX.
And finally, Born on [April 15] in 1921, the Singer-Songwriter Behind the Most Famous No. 1 Hit Novelty Song of the 1950s. See Wednesday for spoiler.
Thursday, April 23rd, 2026 08:44 am
The important thing is they have to be accessible, beginner-level poems for people who don't "get" poetry in English (or, perhaps, in any language).
Though I will say now what I only sort of suggested then, which is that I've never thought the point of reading anything is to understand it all. Sometimes it's enough to enjoy it, even if you miss a thing or ten. (This may be why I know so many Shakespeare quotes - from the age of six onwards I made repeated dives into our big copy of his collected works, and you know for sure I did not understand Elizabethan English at that age!)
Though I will say now what I only sort of suggested then, which is that I've never thought the point of reading anything is to understand it all. Sometimes it's enough to enjoy it, even if you miss a thing or ten. (This may be why I know so many Shakespeare quotes - from the age of six onwards I made repeated dives into our big copy of his collected works, and you know for sure I did not understand Elizabethan English at that age!)