(no subject)
Dec. 23rd, 2025 07:23 am![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
farsidecomics_feed“Look. We know how you did it—how is no longer the question. What we now want to know is why. … Why now, brown cow?”
farsidecomics_feed“Look. We know how you did it—how is no longer the question. What we now want to know is why. … Why now, brown cow?”
(no subject)
Dec. 23rd, 2025 07:23 amfarsidecomics_feed“Well, when it’s my turn, I just hope I go quietly. … You know—without a lot of running around.”
(no subject)
Dec. 23rd, 2025 07:23 amfarsidecomics_feed“Am I glad you boys came along! ... My horse seems to have come up lame.”
Best of Posts 2025
Dec. 23rd, 2025 07:00 amsmartbitches_feed
NB: This week, we’re taking a look back at some of our favorite and our most popular pieces of writing this year. We’ve got a week of best-of posts to share, with reviews, cover snark, and more. We hope you enjoy revisiting our archives, and most of all, we wish you and yours a wonderful holiday and a happy new year – with all the very best of reading.
…
Since we feature other things outside of reviews like HaBOs, Rec Leagues, and general opinion pieces, we wanted to look at what y’all really engaged with the most. I kept out sale posts, our regular new releases, and the Whatcha Reading columns.
Here’s the top five!
5. Track Your 2025 Reading With Our Community-Built Spreadsheet!
Last year’s reading spreadsheet also cracked the top five posts of the year. It’s glad to see the community still loves using the tool. Don’t worry, it’ll be back again in 2026. How’d your tracking go?
4. Careless People and Barbra Streisand
Meta did an oopsie and tried to stop Careless People from being published, and their lawsuit had the opposite effect of what they intended. Now, it was on everyone’s radar. I bought a copy. How about you?
3. Ali Hazelwood Dislikes Peeta, And That Was a Problem for Some Folks
This feels like it was a lifetime ago. Author Ali Hazelwood admitted on a panel that she found Peeta of The Hunger Games to be “useless.” The fandom backlash resulted in Hazelwood closing her Instagram for a time.
2. Fable’s Reader Summary Features Racism (And Probably AI)
AI and racism kicked off 2025. This was published on January 1st. Fable, a social media app for readers, implemented a tool for users to look at their reading stats and it was disastrous. Wonder how Fable is doing now?
1. Sinners & Stardust & Sexual Assault
This was the year of awful book events. I feel like every month, Sarah and I discussed some con or signing that went terribly. What started as a promising event for readers of dark romance ended with horrific stories of alleged sexual assault and predatory behavior.
Posts on the current bookish discourse really shined this year!
Did you have a favorite post this year that really stood out to you? Or are there any features you just love reading?
Weather Talk
Dec. 22nd, 2025 09:26 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ranunculusThe river came up and did a little of very half hearted flooding yesterday, mostly it just ran bank full. Today it didn't rain till well after dark. Tomorrow's forecast is for 1.25 inches, enough to bring the river right back up again, but I doubt the flooding will be bad here very close to the headwaters of our Russian River.
The cows wandered into the horse pasture yesterday evening, prompting Donald and I to go out, cut a tree and a limb off the fence (they were fairly small) and get the fence working. My it is nice to have repaired the wire under the road! It makes the whole system work better. The meter says it is carrying 8 jewels, which is enough to make you really, really, really wish you had never touched the wire. Speaking of he cows, they seem calm and happy so whatever was scaring them either isn't there any more or isn't in this pasture. Since there really is no boundary except a wire fence (with the gate open) I hope that whatever it was has moved on. Donald and I walked from the top to the bottom of Jungle Pasture today and saw nothing out of the ordinary. No tracks even.
Due to the forecast of flooding and holiday traffic I took Donald to the Smart Train today. Tomorrow there might be flooding and it will be raining. Today it was a pretty nice drive.
Tomorrow. Chores around the house, replace light fixture at the Red Barn.
The cows wandered into the horse pasture yesterday evening, prompting Donald and I to go out, cut a tree and a limb off the fence (they were fairly small) and get the fence working. My it is nice to have repaired the wire under the road! It makes the whole system work better. The meter says it is carrying 8 jewels, which is enough to make you really, really, really wish you had never touched the wire. Speaking of he cows, they seem calm and happy so whatever was scaring them either isn't there any more or isn't in this pasture. Since there really is no boundary except a wire fence (with the gate open) I hope that whatever it was has moved on. Donald and I walked from the top to the bottom of Jungle Pasture today and saw nothing out of the ordinary. No tracks even.
Due to the forecast of flooding and holiday traffic I took Donald to the Smart Train today. Tomorrow there might be flooding and it will be raining. Today it was a pretty nice drive.
Tomorrow. Chores around the house, replace light fixture at the Red Barn.
(no subject)
Dec. 23rd, 2025 05:34 amapod_feed
Yesterday the Sun reached its southernmost point in planet Earth's sky.
Can't think of a bloody title...
Dec. 22nd, 2025 09:07 pmshadowkatResting my knee tonight, so didn't do the exercises - did ice it, also did exercises at work. Also took a longer walk than I should have? I wanted to see if Trinity Church, Printemps, and NYSE had been dressed up at all for Xmas. It had, but minimalist in style. The over-blown festive decorations are apparently saved for Dyker Heights, my apartment complex lobby, and Midtown Shopping District. The Financial District is well...not exactly spendthrift when it comes to Christmas decor - and errs on the tasteful and minimalist side of the fence?
( The Financial District, Trinity Church and NYSE at Christmas Time )
After the walk - which included an ill advised journey to Insomiac Cookies, which was alas closed - my right knee/leg was killing me. It was my own fault - if I'd ended it five to ten minutes sooner, I'd have been fine. Plus it was cold outside. ( Would have been nice if Insomina Cookies had warned me that they were closed this week.) And I didn't even get any chocolate chip cookies. I wanted my cookies. Instead I bought a chocolate bar - which resulted in high blood sugar, the cookies were the better bet.
On the plus side (knee wise, at least) - I managed to schedule an MRI for January 4 at the Brooklyn location, and on a Sunday morning, no less. Go me. So not quite as far as the Manhattan one, and less steps. Also a followup appointment with the orthopedist at 2:30pm on January 9 (Friday). I'll probably have to take the day off. Unfortunately. Either that or take two hours of comp time. I only have 10 hours of comp time remaining. Currently have a PT appointment scheduled at 4:30pm after it, which I might cancel or try to reschedule. So got it a lot faster than expected.
2. Gave up on the Larry Silverstein book - the narrator was speaking in a monotone, and I was having troubles following it. Jumped over to Tim Curry's autobiography entitled "Vagabound" - which Curry was reading himself, only one small problem? He'd just suffered a stroke. After about an hour and a half, I gave up. I can't do 10 hours of that - it was painful listening to him. So, I jumped over to Angelica Huston's autobiography/memoir, The Story of Me - which is a two party, and read by Huston, to high acclaim. She has a lovely voice, and it's beautifully written. Also very interesting - since she talks about her parents, the acclaimed actor, film director and writer, John Huston, his wife a prima ballerina, his father, an acclaimed actor, and their friends. It talks a lot about old Hollywood - during the 1950s. I just finished a chapter, where she talks about how her father, along with Edward G. Robinson, Humphrey Bogart, Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, etc - formed an organization supporting the First Amendment - to speak out against the McCarthy Hearings and the infamous Hollywood Blacklist. This also resulted in Huston leaving the US, and filming outside of it, and living outside of it for the remainder of his life. Huston married Angelica Huston's mother when he was 40 years of age, and her mother was 18 years of age, and a prima ballerina at the premier ballet company in the US which later became the NY Ballet.
Angelica Huston doesn't tell so much as show? She relates the facts, and lets the reader figure it out. Reminds me of Paul Newman's memoir in that respect. It's well written.
3. Progressing along in my rewatch of Buffy S5. Some takeaways, after seeing I was Made to Love You and Crush.
( still pondering the contradictions in Crush and in IWMTLY )
( The Financial District, Trinity Church and NYSE at Christmas Time )
After the walk - which included an ill advised journey to Insomiac Cookies, which was alas closed - my right knee/leg was killing me. It was my own fault - if I'd ended it five to ten minutes sooner, I'd have been fine. Plus it was cold outside. ( Would have been nice if Insomina Cookies had warned me that they were closed this week.) And I didn't even get any chocolate chip cookies. I wanted my cookies. Instead I bought a chocolate bar - which resulted in high blood sugar, the cookies were the better bet.
On the plus side (knee wise, at least) - I managed to schedule an MRI for January 4 at the Brooklyn location, and on a Sunday morning, no less. Go me. So not quite as far as the Manhattan one, and less steps. Also a followup appointment with the orthopedist at 2:30pm on January 9 (Friday). I'll probably have to take the day off. Unfortunately. Either that or take two hours of comp time. I only have 10 hours of comp time remaining. Currently have a PT appointment scheduled at 4:30pm after it, which I might cancel or try to reschedule. So got it a lot faster than expected.
2. Gave up on the Larry Silverstein book - the narrator was speaking in a monotone, and I was having troubles following it. Jumped over to Tim Curry's autobiography entitled "Vagabound" - which Curry was reading himself, only one small problem? He'd just suffered a stroke. After about an hour and a half, I gave up. I can't do 10 hours of that - it was painful listening to him. So, I jumped over to Angelica Huston's autobiography/memoir, The Story of Me - which is a two party, and read by Huston, to high acclaim. She has a lovely voice, and it's beautifully written. Also very interesting - since she talks about her parents, the acclaimed actor, film director and writer, John Huston, his wife a prima ballerina, his father, an acclaimed actor, and their friends. It talks a lot about old Hollywood - during the 1950s. I just finished a chapter, where she talks about how her father, along with Edward G. Robinson, Humphrey Bogart, Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, etc - formed an organization supporting the First Amendment - to speak out against the McCarthy Hearings and the infamous Hollywood Blacklist. This also resulted in Huston leaving the US, and filming outside of it, and living outside of it for the remainder of his life. Huston married Angelica Huston's mother when he was 40 years of age, and her mother was 18 years of age, and a prima ballerina at the premier ballet company in the US which later became the NY Ballet.
Angelica Huston doesn't tell so much as show? She relates the facts, and lets the reader figure it out. Reminds me of Paul Newman's memoir in that respect. It's well written.
3. Progressing along in my rewatch of Buffy S5. Some takeaways, after seeing I was Made to Love You and Crush.
( still pondering the contradictions in Crush and in IWMTLY )
The Kraken Bush
Dec. 22nd, 2025 04:56 pmscrubjayspeaks(reproduced from my tumblr post for your enjoyment)
Speaking on the subject of holiday desserts,
me: King Arthur had a video course they were promoting on making bûche de Noël
my mum: that's where they fill it with cream?
me: yeah, it's usually a chocolate sponge cake that's rolled with...?
mum, visibly confused: oh
me, realizing the conversation is about to Go Places: er, yes?
mum: wait, maybe I mean...kraken bush? No, wait, is that a monster?
me, delighted beyond measure: yes, a kraken is a giant, monstrous squid octopus thing. A kraken bush is nothing, I don't think.
mum, miming something small and round: where they...and then the pile...?
me, about to commit a crime against French people with my pronunciation but I have other things on my mind now: do you mean croquembouche? Like profiteroles? It's French all the way down, apparently.
mum: yes, that's what I was thinking of.
me: okay, great, forget Christmas trees. We're doing a kraken bush for Yule from now on.
Speaking on the subject of holiday desserts,
me: King Arthur had a video course they were promoting on making bûche de Noël
my mum: that's where they fill it with cream?
me: yeah, it's usually a chocolate sponge cake that's rolled with...?
mum, visibly confused: oh
me, realizing the conversation is about to Go Places: er, yes?
mum: wait, maybe I mean...kraken bush? No, wait, is that a monster?
me, delighted beyond measure: yes, a kraken is a giant, monstrous squid octopus thing. A kraken bush is nothing, I don't think.
mum, miming something small and round: where they...and then the pile...?
me, about to commit a crime against French people with my pronunciation but I have other things on my mind now: do you mean croquembouche? Like profiteroles? It's French all the way down, apparently.
mum: yes, that's what I was thinking of.
me: okay, great, forget Christmas trees. We're doing a kraken bush for Yule from now on.
Day 1798: "Covering up things."
Dec. 22nd, 2025 03:51 pmwtfjht_feed
Today in one sentence: On Friday, the Justice Department released a limited batch of records from its Jeffrey Epstein investigations, conceding it didn’t meet the legal deadline to disclose the full file as required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act; on Saturday, the Justice Department temporarily removed at least 15 files from its public “Epstein files” site, including an image that showed a photo of Trump with Epstein, Melania Trump, and Ghislaine Maxwell, before later restoring that Trump-related image; on Sunday, JD Vance refused to condemn antisemitism in the conservative movement, saying there should be no “purity tests” beyond "love America"; the U.S. military launched retaliatory strikes on more than 70 suspected Islamic State targets in Syria; CBS News editor in chief Bari Weiss pulled a fully produced “60 Minutes” investigation into alleged abuses at El Salvador’s CECOT prison hours before it was set to air; and the Trump administration on stopped federal leases for five offshore wind projects already under construction along the East Coast, citing unspecified national security risks.
1/ On Friday, the Justice Department released a limited batch of records from its Jeffrey Epstein investigations, conceding it didn’t meet the legal deadline to disclose the full file as required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The material included photos, phone logs, and interview records, many heavily redacted Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche told Congress the department needed more time, writing that “the volume of materials to be reviewed” made full compliance impossible by the deadline. Lawmakers from both parties, meanwhile, rejected that explanation, calling the disclosure “disappointing” and warning that Congress was weighing legal options to force compliance. Nevertheless, the White House defended the partial rollout as evidence of transparency, claiming it was doing more than prior administrations to make the files public. (Associated Press / Washington Post / New York Times / Bloomberg)
2/ On Saturday, the Justice Department temporarily removed at least 15 files from its public “Epstein files” site, including an image that showed a photo of Trump with Epstein, Melania Trump, and Ghislaine Maxwell, before later restoring that Trump-related image. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche claimed the removal “has nothing to do with President Trump” and said the department removed images after victim advocates raised concerns about unredacted women. The Justice Department said it reposted the image after deciding there was “no evidence that any Epstein victims are depicted in the photograph,” but it hasn’t fully explained why the files vanished without a public notice in the first place. Lawmakers, meanwhile, accused the Justice Department of “selective concealment” and “covering up things that, for whatever reason, Donald Trump doesn’t want to go public.” Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna said they’re drafting a measure to hold Attorney General Pam Bondi in contempt for what Massie called “flouting the spirit and the letter of the law.” (Associated Press / NBC News / CNBC / Politico / Axios / Washington Post / Associated Press)
3/ On Sunday, JD Vance refused to condemn antisemitism in the conservative movement, saying there should be no “purity tests” beyond “love America.” In his closing speech at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest, Vance said Republicans “have far more important work to do than canceling each other,” declining to set any boundaries as activists debated whether to exclude figures such as Nick Fuentes, a white nationalist and Holocaust denier. The comments followed days of public infighting, including Ben Shapiro accusing Tucker Carlson of elevating antisemitic conspiracy theorists, and Steve Bannon calling Shapiro a “cancer” on the movement. Turning Point USA leader Erika Kirk, meanwhile, publicly endorsed Vance for president, even though he hasn’t declared, Trump is still in office, and no primary field exists yet. (Associated Press / Politico / New York Times / Wall Street Journal)
4/ The U.S. military launched retaliatory strikes on more than 70 suspected Islamic State targets in Syria. The Dec. 19 strikes follow the Dec. 13 attack in Palmyra that killed two U.S. Army soldiers and a civilian interpreter, and wounded three other soldiers. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth framed the mission as punishment, saying, “This is not the beginning of a war — it is a declaration of vengeance.” (Reuters / ABC News / CNN / Politico / Associated Press / Wall Street Journal)
5/ CBS News editor in chief Bari Weiss pulled a fully produced “60 Minutes” investigation into alleged abuses at El Salvador’s CECOT prison hours before it was set to air, saying the story needed additional reporting and on-the-record participation from Trump administration officials. The segment, which focused on the deportation of Venezuelan men under Trump’s immigration policy, had already cleared legal, standards, and multiple editorial reviews. In an internal email, the program’s correspondent, Sharyn Alfonsi, condemned the decision as political, writing, “If the administration’s refusal to participate becomes a valid reason to spike a story, we have effectively handed them a ‘kill switch’ for any reporting they find inconvenient.” Weiss, meanwhile, told staff she pulled the piece because it “was not ready” and lacked sufficient on-the-record participation, saying it would air at a later date after more reporting. (NPR / Washington Post / New York Times / Wall Street Journal / Politico)
6/ The Trump administration on stopped federal leases for five offshore wind projects already under construction along the East Coast, citing unspecified national security risks. The Interior Department said the suspension blocks projects in Massachusetts, New York, Virginia, Rhode Island, and Connecticut that together represent about $25 billion in investment and were expected to power millions of homes. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum claimed the action was necessary because “the prime duty of the United States government is to protect the American people,” adding that offshore wind near population centers created security vulnerabilities. (Associated Press / New York Times)
⏭️ Notably Next: The 2026 midterms are in 316 days.
- Four years ago today: Day 337: "It checks all the boxes."
- Five years ago today: Day 1433: "It appears to be significant."
- Eight years ago today: Day 337: Very intense.
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Books I've Read: October 2024
Dec. 22nd, 2025 03:24 pmhrjI'm chunking these posts based roughly on the number of books, so some cover one month, some two.
Tooth and Claw by Jo Walton -- (audio) What if Regency England social politics but murderous dragons? I found it a fascinating worldbuilding project. My notes say "peculiarly interesting." I felt that things wrapped up too tidily at the end with the "good guys" all getting rewarded and escaping consequences. I recall having some other thoughts about the gender politics but I'd have to go back and re-read to recall specifics.
The First Rebellion by M.C. Beaton -- (audio) I had signed up for a new audiobook outlet (Chirp) that often has significantly reduced sale prices, so I've periodically taken the opportunity to try some books that I wasn't specifically looking for. (In general, I've tended to be unsatisfied with the books I've picked for that reason, but you never know.) Straight historic romance. Supposedly a "naïve bluestocking rebel wins the heart of a rakish nobleman by being unruly and rude to him" but I found it really hard going. The characters were childish and unlikeable and the male lead isn't worth winning. DNF.
Mary and the Birth of Frankenstein by Anne Eekhout -- (audio) Spotted this one when pulling titles for the podcast. An imaginative story coming up with a (fictional) backstory for events that inspired details in Frankenstein. My notes say "very literary and more than a bit Freudian." There is a sapphic plot thread but it doesn't have a happy ending. Content note for sexual grooming and abuse.
The Duke at Hazard by K.J. Charles -- (audio) A delightful homage to Georgette Heyer's The Foundling, featuring a naïve young duke and his quest to prove himself competent and independent. Utterly charming and satisfying. It combined enough parallels with the original to amuse the reader while diverging in enough points to be its own thing. Certain characters in the conclusion cross over with The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting. (I've occasionally noodled f/f Heyer-homage plots and reading this got me thinking strongly about the social and economic logistics of how to do a sapphic version of Cotillion. To the extent that I have an outline-and-notes document for it.)
Craze by Margaret Vandenburg -- (audio) A history lesson about queer life in 1920s New York City, dressed up as a novel. Entertaining and informative, if occasionally overly erudite for some readers. Read in the context of interviewing the author for my podcast.
The Fire and the Place in the Forest by Jeannelle M. Ferreira -- (audio) Short fiction and poetry focusing on sapphic relationships, especially in historic settings. Even though my main format for fiction these days is audio, I'd buy Ferreira's work in that format no matter what because even her prose is poetic and that's the best way to receive it. (Advisory: I am not exactly unbiased as she has sold me stories.)
The Cloud Roads by Martha Wells -- (audio) Secondary world fantasy. I'd been wanting to check out some of Wells' earlier work and this came up on sale (if I recall correctly). Amazing worldbuilding, though with a bit of a "generic fantasy" feel in the prose. I did have the same issue I had with the first Murderbot story I read, which was feeling like it was overloaded with blow-by-blow fight scenes. (But maybe I'm alone in finding that a negative?) This is a romance novel at heart, with many standard tropes gender-flipped due to the social structure, which resembles that of social insects.
If I do one of this posts per day, I should be caught up by the end of December. That will be my goal.
Tooth and Claw by Jo Walton -- (audio) What if Regency England social politics but murderous dragons? I found it a fascinating worldbuilding project. My notes say "peculiarly interesting." I felt that things wrapped up too tidily at the end with the "good guys" all getting rewarded and escaping consequences. I recall having some other thoughts about the gender politics but I'd have to go back and re-read to recall specifics.
The First Rebellion by M.C. Beaton -- (audio) I had signed up for a new audiobook outlet (Chirp) that often has significantly reduced sale prices, so I've periodically taken the opportunity to try some books that I wasn't specifically looking for. (In general, I've tended to be unsatisfied with the books I've picked for that reason, but you never know.) Straight historic romance. Supposedly a "naïve bluestocking rebel wins the heart of a rakish nobleman by being unruly and rude to him" but I found it really hard going. The characters were childish and unlikeable and the male lead isn't worth winning. DNF.
Mary and the Birth of Frankenstein by Anne Eekhout -- (audio) Spotted this one when pulling titles for the podcast. An imaginative story coming up with a (fictional) backstory for events that inspired details in Frankenstein. My notes say "very literary and more than a bit Freudian." There is a sapphic plot thread but it doesn't have a happy ending. Content note for sexual grooming and abuse.
The Duke at Hazard by K.J. Charles -- (audio) A delightful homage to Georgette Heyer's The Foundling, featuring a naïve young duke and his quest to prove himself competent and independent. Utterly charming and satisfying. It combined enough parallels with the original to amuse the reader while diverging in enough points to be its own thing. Certain characters in the conclusion cross over with The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting. (I've occasionally noodled f/f Heyer-homage plots and reading this got me thinking strongly about the social and economic logistics of how to do a sapphic version of Cotillion. To the extent that I have an outline-and-notes document for it.)
Craze by Margaret Vandenburg -- (audio) A history lesson about queer life in 1920s New York City, dressed up as a novel. Entertaining and informative, if occasionally overly erudite for some readers. Read in the context of interviewing the author for my podcast.
The Fire and the Place in the Forest by Jeannelle M. Ferreira -- (audio) Short fiction and poetry focusing on sapphic relationships, especially in historic settings. Even though my main format for fiction these days is audio, I'd buy Ferreira's work in that format no matter what because even her prose is poetic and that's the best way to receive it. (Advisory: I am not exactly unbiased as she has sold me stories.)
The Cloud Roads by Martha Wells -- (audio) Secondary world fantasy. I'd been wanting to check out some of Wells' earlier work and this came up on sale (if I recall correctly). Amazing worldbuilding, though with a bit of a "generic fantasy" feel in the prose. I did have the same issue I had with the first Murderbot story I read, which was feeling like it was overloaded with blow-by-blow fight scenes. (But maybe I'm alone in finding that a negative?) This is a romance novel at heart, with many standard tropes gender-flipped due to the social structure, which resembles that of social insects.
If I do one of this posts per day, I should be caught up by the end of December. That will be my goal.
Yarnbomb!
Dec. 22nd, 2025 11:50 pmloganberrybunnyPublic
325/365: Yarnbombed pillar box, Stourbridge
Click for a larger, sharper image
This is a "yarnbombed" pillar box on the platform at Stourbridge Junction station. The actual box isn't visible here, but the knitted topper is the important bit in any case. It's a very festive example and it certainly gave me a smile today. :)
325/365: Yarnbombed pillar box, Stourbridge
Click for a larger, sharper image
This is a "yarnbombed" pillar box on the platform at Stourbridge Junction station. The actual box isn't visible here, but the knitted topper is the important bit in any case. It's a very festive example and it certainly gave me a smile today. :)
44
Dec. 22nd, 2025 11:07 pmcosmolinguistThanks for the nice comments on the previous entry. They, along with just writing it out in the first place and D holding me tight (normally I am the big spoon but he did a great job at it last night!) helped me have an okay night.
D had asked me, after we turned the lights off, if there was anything I wanted to do today -- the family had no real plans beyond making the homemade vegan wellington for my birthday dinner that D's sister had suggested and I'd gotten excited about before I remembered quite how much work it was last year, oops. But D and I helped and it felt a lot less of a production this year.
Anyway, before that we had no plans and I thought it might be nice to get out of the house and see something of Birmingham. We didn't actually make it as far as the city centre but the local high street allowed D to browse charity shops while I got a long-overdue haircut (I went from the longest hair I've had in quite a while to the highest skin fade I've maybe ever had, so it feels like a dramatic difference!), and we went for a very nice birthday lunch.
My birthday present from D might still be trapped in DRM hell but he told me what it is, and The Feminist Art of Walking by his old pal Morag goes very nicely with the birthday present I've already gotten from angelofthenorth, of short walks/hikes around Greater Manchester. I also got a bookshop.org voucher from D's mum, which can be added to the one that comprised the other part of my birthday present from Miriam, so I have to decide what to get there too, which is so fun.
Weirdly, my birthday also marks a year since Gary died. It feels so long ago but also I can still conjure him so clearly in my memory, and there probably hasn't been a day all year that I haven't thought of him. I still miss him so much.
I've had a much better day, and I'm looking forward to being home tomorrow.
Lake Lewisia #1346
Dec. 22nd, 2025 02:42 pmscrubjayspeaksFor those planning to make exercise part of their lifestyle in the New Year but unenthusiastic about lifting dumbbells or running on a treadmill in a gym, we have an alternative opportunity. Through partnerships organized by the community clinic, you can be paired with another local in need of help at home due to injury, disability, or other life circumstances, and get your exercise from activities like hauling groceries or walking pets. Clinic staff have sorted chores according to skills built, from strength training to cardio to psychic resistance, so you can improve yourself and serve your community.
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LL#1346
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LL#1346
Quilted book cover
Dec. 22nd, 2025 04:29 pmmeningioma posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
everykindofcraftMade this little quilted book cover for my sister
( Read more... )
( Read more... )
Bundle of Holding: DIE the RPG
Dec. 22nd, 2025 02:45 pmjames_davis_nicoll
The DIE roleplaying game designed by the Image comic's creators, Kieron Gillen and Stephanie Hans, plus three volumes of adventures for an unbeatable bargain price!
Bundle of Holding: DIE the RPG
Not a fitbit
Dec. 22nd, 2025 11:50 ambill_schubertI got Dana another smart watch. The first one I got her was not very smart at all and it died. The one I just got her looked like it was better but it was run by an app called VeryFit. I occasionally get annoyed with the Fitbit app but now I love it by comparison. VeryFit is VeryCrapful. It throws advertisements and offers at you right and left and has so much noise on it there is no way to figure out what is useful. It lasted a day. Dana and I had a talk and I upgraded her to a Fitbit watch. I'm the one that has to manage the app which is why she has an Android rather than an Iphone in the first place. So her replacement will be a delayed Christmas present and someone will get a good deal on a VeryFit watch through Amazon returns.
She really does need the pulse and O2 readings. It will help her a lot. She doesn't do enough movement for the steps to matter but hope springs eternal. Maybe she will one day.
Today was a pickleball day and I didn't play very well at all. I did exchange notes with a PB friend about getting a lesson for the two of us together. It is a good way to do it. She and I are pretty good partners and getting a lesson together will help us individually and as a team. On the one hand I don't think I'm ever going to compete with any real intent of winning something like a tournament. On the other hand I really should be looking to improve a little bit anyway.
It is warm today and will be even warmer until Friday when it will nearly hit 80 degrees. Gonna be a lot like last year, I guess. I don't mind. Older I get the less I like the cold anyway. It would be fun to see Beaux in the snow but not sure he'd like it much.
It is a quiet week here. We have zero plans for Christmas something about which I do not much care at all. They had Christmas music on at the PB courts. I've managed to avoid it so far but this was unavoidable. Another thousand times around the track with the Chipmonks and Alvin. Sigh.
I underslept last night so I'm about to make up for it. Beaux and Toby are already ahead of me so I need to catch up.
She really does need the pulse and O2 readings. It will help her a lot. She doesn't do enough movement for the steps to matter but hope springs eternal. Maybe she will one day.
Today was a pickleball day and I didn't play very well at all. I did exchange notes with a PB friend about getting a lesson for the two of us together. It is a good way to do it. She and I are pretty good partners and getting a lesson together will help us individually and as a team. On the one hand I don't think I'm ever going to compete with any real intent of winning something like a tournament. On the other hand I really should be looking to improve a little bit anyway.
It is warm today and will be even warmer until Friday when it will nearly hit 80 degrees. Gonna be a lot like last year, I guess. I don't mind. Older I get the less I like the cold anyway. It would be fun to see Beaux in the snow but not sure he'd like it much.
It is a quiet week here. We have zero plans for Christmas something about which I do not much care at all. They had Christmas music on at the PB courts. I've managed to avoid it so far but this was unavoidable. Another thousand times around the track with the Chipmonks and Alvin. Sigh.
I underslept last night so I'm about to make up for it. Beaux and Toby are already ahead of me so I need to catch up.
Smashing success
Dec. 22nd, 2025 10:03 amoffcntr
We had our annual Pottery Smash on Sunday, before the Market opened. It's a charity auction to benefit Market's Kareng/Caring Fund, an emergency relief fund for artists in need. Four long tables of donations, mostly pottery, but also some glass, prayer flags, duck and beaver and frog flappy kids toys, canned albacore. We always bring a few completely unsalable pieces, for the joy of smashing. When the bidders starting getting drowsy, a little Crash! wakes 'em right up. And then there's the vendor who bids on pots specifically to break them. When Nome is bidding against someone, it tends to run up the price.I took last year off from auctioneering, didn't have the energy, so they recruited Kevin, the partner of one of the clothing artists, who brings a lot of manic energy to the mix. Potter Jon and I were both back this year, though Alex was just recovering from a hospital trip, so Fiona did his shifts. Between the four of us, we managed to clear the tables with two minutes to go before opening. Just time to sweep up the shards and tally the sales--over $5000.
