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Thursday, July 3rd, 2025 07:45 pm
So the creative prompt for [profile] sunshine_revialchallenge 1 is: Shine a light on your own creativity. Create anything you want (an image, an icon, a story, a poem, or a craft) and share it with your community.. Post your answer to today’s challenge in your own space and leave a comment in this post saying you did it.
Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.


Mpreg is kinda popular on tennisblr right now - both Carlos/Jannik and Jack Draper/Jannik - and the other night before I went to bed, [tumblr.com profile] deliriouslyshipping had posted responses to a couple of asks she'd had. One of which involved
I could see Simone or Darren putting her on their knee while they sit, guiding Jannik from wherever they are, trading off as needed. But they'll also set her down and let her explore more, try to teach her how to toss the tennis ball.
, I fell asleep with visions of Darren and Simone with a baby and... well.. y'all know I ship those coaches. So this happened (and apparently in mpreg it doesn't matter if you're 59 - you can still give birth)

“I’m a grown man,” Simone says with confidence and absolutely no foresight. “I can bathe my own child.” )
Thursday, July 3rd, 2025 06:28 pm

Hello to all members, passers-by, curious onlookers, and shy lurkers, and welcome to our regular daily check-in post. Just leave a comment below to let us know how your current projects are progressing, or even if they're not.

Checking in is NOT compulsory, check in as often or as seldom as you want, this community isn't about pressure it's about encouragement, motivation, and support. Crafting is meant to be fun, and what's more fun than sharing achievements and seeing the wonderful things everyone else is creating?

There may also occasionally be questions, but again you don't have to answer them, they're just a way of getting to know each other a bit better.


This Week's Question: What do you like to listen to / watch while crafting?


If anyone has any questions of their own about the community, or suggestions for tags, questions to be asked on the check-in posts, or if anyone is interested in playing check-in host for a week here on the community, which would entail putting up the daily check-in posts and responding to comments, go to the Questions & Suggestions post and leave a comment.

I now declare this Check-In OPEN!



Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 07:17 pm
Challenge #1 Journaling Prompt: Light up your journal with activity this month. Talk about your goals for July or for the second half of 2025.

June was a bit of a blur, honestly. I read a lot — but only finished four books. I posted 8 fics and wrote a lot more in my head. I got very distracted by Roland Garros (because how could you not?!), and now Wimbledon’s here to steal what’s left of my focus. That’s okay.

So I’m going into July with gentleness. Here’s what I’m hoping for, aiming toward — not in a pressure-y way, but in a “this would feel good if it happened” kind of way.

📚 Reading Goals
I want to read 6 books this month, or at least finish 6. There are currently 12 books in progress. Oops.
Also:
  • Prioritise a few summer TBR titles
  • Tackle my mountain of library loans (13 books out, most nearing their final renewals 😬)
  • Catch up on posting reviews
  • Keep going with “20 mins a day” as my baseline
  • Read for joy, not pressure

✍️ Writing Goals
There’s a lot on this list, but I’m not expecting to do all of it — I just want to keep the creative momentum going, especially when the ideas are flowing.
  • Finish A Field Guide to the Sinner Pack
  • Update:
    • You Wouldn’t Take My Word for It If You Knew Who Was Talking
    • I Had the Time of My Life Fighting Dragons With You
    • The Courage of My Convictions
    •  Wolf-Tethered
  •  Maybe write or post a one-shot, just because·
  • Keep sharing, even if it’s scary — people want to read these stories

🌿 Life Goals
Soft intentions. Low stakes. Good food. Hopefully fewer appointments. But also:
  • Make a doctor’s appointment to talk about the arthritis diagnosis
  • Day trip to the RAMM in Exeter + sushi 🍣
  • Visit Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm 🦙
  • Reclaim one chaotic space at home (possibly the laundry chair)
  • Come back to Dreamwidth, and stay
  • Cook something that feels like summer
  • One proper lie-in, no guilt
  • One evening offline with candles, music, or silence
If I do all of this, amazing.
If I do half, still pretty great.
If I just read something I love and write one scene that lights me up, that’s enough too.

Let’s see what July brings 💛
Thursday, July 3rd, 2025 09:06 am
Dragons
Dragon Cave: Adopt one today! Dragon Cave: Adopt one today! Dragon Cave: Adopt one today! Dragon Cave: Adopt one today! Dragon Cave: Adopt one today! Dragon Cave: Adopt one today!
Dragon Cave: Adopt one today! Dragon Cave: Adopt one today! Dragon Cave: Adopt one today!
Dragon Cave: Adopt one today! Dragon Cave: Adopt one today! Dragon Cave: Adopt one today! Dragon Cave: Adopt one today!
Dragon Cave: Adopt one today! Dragon Cave: Adopt one today! Dragon Cave: Adopt one today! Dragon Cave: Adopt one today!

My Scroll.
Tags:
Thursday, July 3rd, 2025 02:34 pm
Betrayed by fandom osmosis: I thought all the episodes of the last series of Taskmaster were out. Imagine my disappointment when I went looking for episode 10 and realized episode 9 had a timestamp of 5 days ago.

I started watching season 3 of the Australian version, but I kind of don't like anyone in the line-up. Maybe if I give it some time.

*

I haven't seen the last two episodes yet, but I am greatly enjoying Cloudward, Ho on Dropout.

*

Seven months after I stopped playing with my Sunday group (and roughly three after they moved to 7 PM EST and I was fully freed from thinking about rejoining them), I've come to realize how much I dreaded that game, felt judged for my choices, and did not trust the DM with a character I was deeply invested in. I still struggle with my ADHD and general social faux pas (plural) and have moments where I beat myself up or wanna crawl into a hole because I feel I was super annoying/took over too much, but I trust my DMs, I have fun, I look forward to every session. It's much freer.
Saturday, July 5th, 2025 07:29 pm
Moonpie's foot looks better, we didn't end up having to take her for an x-ray at all.

************************


Read more... )
Thursday, July 3rd, 2025 12:11 am
first, i need to share that last tuesday, so about a week ago, it was so hot i went to my sister's to take advantage of her a/c. i called her when i got home from work and was waffling about going over there - i wanted to keep packing! - and then my power went out. >.< which kind of decided it for me. i mean, if there's no power i can't run the fans and if i can't run the fans i'm going to melt. in the morning she drove me to the t station and after work i went home and continued to put things in boxes.

so yes. i'm all moved in. :D the movers came like fifteen minutes early - i was ready for them - i showed them around the place and said "everything goes except the ficus" because i wanted to put it in my car and they were very efficient and didn't have to take the legs off my couch to get it out the door! (the guys who moved me in did.) but did have to disassemble my bed and take the legs off my dining room table. it took them five hours and fifteen minutes to move all my shit. my sister came over to be moral support and after the movers were done she went back to the old place with me to eat lunch (we sat on the dining room floor because, you know, there was no furniture) and clean up. she cleaned the stove, i swept and wiped down the kitchen counters. there was A LOT of dust under my bed. O.O and then my roommate showed up to get rid of the plant pots on the back porch - why she didn't do it sooner i have no idea - we'd had this whole conversation last week about when i would be around and i thought she needed me to let her in because she'd turned in her key, but no. she still had it. so why did she have to come over when i was there? who knows! she's someone else's wtf-magnet now.

i tried to set up my internet and cable in the new place, failed utterly, and spent like an hour on the phone with comcast while they tried to fix it. (and failed utterly.) a tech was supposed to come today but is apparently coming tomorrow? and in the meantime i hooked into some free-floating unsecured wifi so i could get online today to get some work done. after comcast was unable to help me my sister and i went out for dinner, came home, discovered the internet had not magically turned itself on, she went home, i unpacked some clothes so i'd have something to wear. because sunday [livejournal.com profile] tamalinn had a birthday brunch (mexican food, delicious) and then we went to her house to play games and pet the dog, and after that i went to the grocery store - it's right around the corner from me! but i might still go to the store that's closer to the old apartment - and sat outside the coffeeshop that's near the aforementioned former grocery store and eventually went home.

because i couldn't count on the home internet i went in to work monday and tuesday, enjoyed the a/c, told fellow admins about the move, met the new admin (admin f) who replaced one of the admins c who just retired, tried to figure out the best commute. it takes longer than it used to and i'm at the mercy of the bus schedule but overall it's not bad. and i used to take the bus when i worked for tax people so it's not like this is totally unfamiliar.

so far i have unpacked:

a wardrobe box full of coats (like i need them in this weather :| )
a wardrobe box full of clothes and art
a wardrobe box full of random bedroom stuff
almost all my suitcases (except the one with my shoes in it) (see below)
dvd's
cd's (altho i seem to have lost a bunch of classical cd's)
silverware
kitchen knives (so i can cut up a lettuce for a giant salad)
the salad spinner (so i can wash the aforementioned lettuce)
two (2) cereal bowls
the teapot
all the bathroom stuff
a box of clothes and hangers

i have not unpacked:

a bowl large enough for the aforementioned salad
a can opener

...which is only important because i like chickpeas in my salad but i have no way to open the can. oy.

things i don't love:

there's no overhead light in the bedroom or the living room
it gets very dark in the bedroom without a light
there's not as much cross-breeze as i was hoping for
the ceilings are low
i can't put hooks over the top of the doors or the doors won't close

which mostly means i can't hang my shoe thing on the closet door if i want to close the closet door (which i do) but if i don't hang my shoes i don't know where to put them. the closet ain't that big. this will require some creative thinking. also another couple of lamps.

(there's no cross-breeze in the bedroom but there is in the kitchen! which is nice altho not helpful when i want fresh air to sleep in.)

i miss the front porch in the old place and i haven't met any dogs yet and it's very weird living alone and not having to share the kitchen or the bathroom and not having to deal with someone else's clutter. i haven't even unpacked enough to make my own clutter. it's also really quiet. every so often i can hear someone out in the hallway or outside and this afternoon i could hear someone vacuuming in the apartment next door but otherwise it's kind of like i have the whole building to myself. but so far i like this place. i think i'll stay. :D

in totally other news the old guard 2 (2 old 2 guard, mamma mia here we guard again) is out and i know this because gif sets are appearing on tumblr. no one tell me nothing. i don't want to know until i see it myself.
Wednesday, July 2nd, 2025 11:38 pm
Dear Care and Feeding,

Our house sits on a heavily wooded hill, and there isn’t much in terms of street lights—and no sidewalks. Though there are only a few houses on our bend of the road, we get people speeding through. We have new neighbors. The mother’s behavior is going to end in tragedy.

The neighbors have several very small children. The mom, for some unholy reason, thinks nothing of letting them bike in the street. She lets her babies ride around well ahead of her as she strolls leisurely several yards behind. I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it myself.

My husband has already had a close call with one of the kids. He was backing out and the toddler zoomed right behind the bumper. Luckily, my husband was paying attention and was fast to put his foot on the brake. Even going as slow as he was, just a few miles per hour, it would have been a tragedy if he hadn’t been alert.

The mother’s reaction was to lay into my husband for not being careful enough! The kicker is that she said her kids have a right to play in the street. (There is a park five blocks away, but that is too far for her to go, apparently.) My husband said it was a bad conversation.

What do we do here? It would haunt me if one of these kids got hit because their mother was too lazy to care.

—Blind Corner


Read more... )
Wednesday, July 2nd, 2025 08:22 pm
The hardest thing about writing Peter Wimsey fanfic is the quotes. Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane have an encyclopedic knowledge of the literature of their era (and the literature that was considered classic/important in that era), and quote it often.

Today I posted on the Gaud Squad Discord that it would be awesome if we had a searchable database of the literature and poetry that they knew or could reasonably be expected to know, searchable by keyword and theme, so that one could look things up easily. And that I would be willing to do the data entry, but had not the technical skills to set it up.
supertailz responded by setting up a Notion instance and is noodling around with the technical aspects of it, so it looks like this is happening!

The easy part is getting the literature that Peter and Harriet quote added--all I have to do is read through the books (no hardship there!) and source the quotations. Although I know there are some annotated versions floating around, and if anyone has a copy of the annotations, that would be lovely.

The hard part is getting the right mix of things that Peter and Harriet would have known. Because what is considered "classic literature" changes over time. Some things rise in acclaim, some things fall out of favor. What would be really handy is a curriculum for Eton ca. 1900 and for Oxford ca. 1910, but so far I haven't found anything. Does anybody know how to search "what literary works were considered classics in 1920"? Or have a good list of where to start?
Wednesday, July 2nd, 2025 10:01 pm
Thinking it'd look more professional, I went with a messenger bag instead of a backpack today. As professional as it may have looked, I'm going to go back to the backpack. So much easier for so many things on so many levels, not the least of which is being able to ride a bike. Yes, I know bike messengers do it all the time. No, I'm not a professional bike messenger, and I'm unwilling to try. Especially if I'm already wearing a nice dress.

There wasn't much time to read at work, mostly because I'd been given an actual task to do: sorting through patient folders and setting aside old records to discard. Not as much fun as it'd have been if I'd had an MP3 player with me, and still satisfying to see the piles start to rise, and space in the drawers start to emerge. Where there's space in a drawer, there's objects to be discovered, and found my second office perk. A stain remover stick's not much, but it's still something I could take home with me. The first thing is a large can of cold brew coffee sitting in my fridge, waiting for a morning I need a jolt beyond all meaning.
Wednesday, July 2nd, 2025 06:02 pm
 
This is your check-in post for today. The poll will be open from midnight Universal or Zulu Time (8pm Eastern Time) on Wednesday, July 2, to midnight on Thursday, July 3. (8pm Eastern Time).

Poll #33319 Daily Check-in
Open to: Access List, detailed results viewable to: Access List, participants: 24

How are you doing?

I am OK.
13 (54.2%)

I am not OK, but don't need help right now.
11 (45.8%)

I could use some help.
0 (0.0%)

How many other humans live with you?

I am living single.
8 (33.3%)

One other person.
10 (41.7%)

More than one other person.
6 (25.0%)




Please, talk about how things are going for you in the comments, ask for advice or help if you need it, or just discuss whatever you feel like.
 
Tags:
Wednesday, July 2nd, 2025 06:54 pm
Challenge #1

Journaling Prompt: Light up your journal with activity this month. Talk about your goals for July or for the second half of 2025.
Creative Prompt: Shine a light on your own creativity. Create anything you want (an image, an icon, a story, a poem, or a craft) and share it with your community.. Post your answer to today’s challenge in your own space and leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.



Goals? Oh my! I think I might have given goals some time back. These days, just getting thour8gh the day is good. Living in t****'s America is draining. I would love to get back into writing. It does help with all that existential dread and angst I feel these days. My favorite Big Bang canceled this year. Maybe I'll hunt another one. Anyhow, my rest of the year goals and July goals are to do more fandom things.


I made this:
Wednesday, July 2nd, 2025 06:00 pm
 Basics
Name: alexcat
Age: 65
Location: Southern US
Other blogs/socials: alexcat45 at Tumblr and alexcat45 or alex_writes on Discord

Dreamwidth Stuff
What do you post about? Fandom stuff, fics, life in general(friends)
How often do you post? Whenever I write something usually. I am way too lazy.
What communities, if any, are you involved in? I write some challenge fics for [community profile] cap_ironman and [community profile] fan_flashworks. I host [community profile] fandom50challenge.
What kind of accounts do you like to follow? I like to read about other people's daily lives if they like to share. I like fandom and fic oriented posts as well.

Fandom Stuff
Fandoms: MCU, Sherlock Holmes, Babylon 5, Tolkien - and others.
Favorite Characters: Steve Rogers, Sherlock Holmes, John Sheridan(B5) and Tolkien's elves.
Ships: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark, Steve Rogers/Natasha Romanov, Steve Rogers/Bucky Barnes... you get the drift.
Things you're into but not fannish about: I LOVE Star Wars but am not in the fandom.

I Designed This Meme So I Get To Ask Weird Stuff
Explain your username: Many years ago when I had to come up with a username, I was into CATS with my daughter AND I have been obsessed with Alexander the Great since I was in 3rd grade so... alexcat came about.
Favorite season (it's ok if it's not summer): Fall. It reminds me of buying notebooks and pencils when I was a kid, as well as the county fair, Halloween and my birthday in November. An added bonus is cool weather.
What's your vibe? I am not sure I have a vibe... I am a grumpy old cat so that might be my vibe.
What is your summeriest fandom? (You can interpret this however you like….): This is strange but MCU, probably Nat and Steve... they like the outdoors.
Opening song on your summer mixtape: "Walk This Way" by Aerosmith. I remember hot days at the beach as a teen with Aerosmith playing loudly on the jukebox while we played Eight Ball in the Pier House. We wore short shorts and flirted with silly boys we'd never see again.
Friday, July 4th, 2025 05:02 pm
Ugh

*****************************


Read more... )
Wednesday, July 2nd, 2025 10:37 pm
***

Title: like what you (don't) see
Author:[personal profile] kat_lair
Fandom: K.A.R.D.
Pairing: Matthew Kim | BM/Kim Taehyung | J.Seph, Kim Taehyung | J.Seph/Original Male Character(s)
Tags: Ficlet, Canon Compliant, Jealousy, Denial of Feelings
Rating: G 
Word count: 720

Summary: “He’s looking at you,” Matthew murmurs under the guise of bending down to hand over a bottle of water.

Author notes: 
I was looking for a prompt to write something for the first challenge of [community profile] sunshine_revival and then K.A.R.D. dropped Touch. And listen, they know what their target audience (the thirsty bis and pans) want and keep them well fed. I've been low key wanting more fic for this pairing and the MV gave me this brief frame at 2.09 where the (very hot) dancer looks like he's checking Taehyung out and... Well. Longer fic has been written on a flimsier premise. Unbetaed so if you spot a typo you absolutely should tell me about it.

like what you (don't) see on AO3

like what you (don't) see )

***

Thursday, July 3rd, 2025 05:00 pm
On the day the world ends
A bee circles a clover,
A fisherman mends a glimmering net.
Happy porpoises jump in the sea,
By the rainspout young sparrows are playing
And the snake is gold-skinned as it should always be.

On the day the world ends
Women walk through the fields under their umbrellas,
A drunkard grows sleepy at the edge of a lawn,
Vegetable peddlers shout in the street
And a yellow-sailed boat comes nearer the island,
The voice of a violin lasts in the air
And leads into a starry night.

And those who expected lightning and thunder
Are disappointed.
And those who expected signs and archangels’ trumps
Do not believe it is happening now.
As long as the sun and the moon are above,
As long as the bumblebee visits a rose,
As long as rosy infants are born
No one believes it is happening now.

Only a white-haired old man, who would be a prophet
Yet is not a prophet, for he’s much too busy,
Repeats while he binds his tomatoes:
There will be no other end of the world,
There will be no other end of the world.

Warsaw, 1944


***


Link
Wednesday, July 2nd, 2025 01:49 pm
Note: I am repurposing my stock Yuletide letter here, which is why some of the sections may seem slightly off-topic for a single fandom exchange.

Hi, and thank you in advance for writing a story for me! I'm pretty easy to please -- unless you write context-free porn, I'll be thrilled just to get a response to one of my prompts. *grin* But I realize that's not terribly helpful, so here's the (very!) long version. (I am sorry for the tl;dr, but I like to talk about things I love and I figure more details are better than fewer.)

---------------

General Information )

Okay. On to specific prompts.

---------------

Jadis & the Gods of the Narnian World )

---------------

The Secret Life of Lasaraleen's Pet Monkey )

---------------

Arthuriana & Morgan Le Fay )

---------------

Telmarine Aeneid )

---------------

Journey to an Alternate Charn )

---------------------------------------------

And that is that.
Wednesday, July 2nd, 2025 07:10 pm

Hello to all members, passers-by, curious onlookers, and shy lurkers, and welcome to our regular daily check-in post. Just leave a comment below to let us know how your current projects are progressing, or even if they're not.

Checking in is NOT compulsory, check in as often or as seldom as you want, this community isn't about pressure it's about encouragement, motivation, and support. Crafting is meant to be fun, and what's more fun than sharing achievements and seeing the wonderful things everyone else is creating?

There may also occasionally be questions, but again you don't have to answer them, they're just a way of getting to know each other a bit better.


This Week's Question: What do you like to listen to / watch while crafting?


If anyone has any questions of their own about the community, or suggestions for tags, questions to be asked on the check-in posts, or if anyone is interested in playing check-in host for a week here on the community, which would entail putting up the daily check-in posts and responding to comments, go to the Questions & Suggestions post and leave a comment.

I now declare this Check-In OPEN!



Wednesday, July 2nd, 2025 12:26 pm
Hey, quick update: I am IN MINNESOTA!

More specifically, I am in my parents' basement, because apparently this is my current millennial life milestone to hit. *wry*

Anyway, the U-boxes were delivered on Monday, we sorted and packed Tuesday and Wednesday, and then decided to order a third U-box because my dad was uneasy about the weight limits. So on Thursday the delivery guy (who is also apparently the local warehouse manager) picked up one box that we had completed and dropped off an empty replacement. We finished packing both boxes that afternoon and moved on to packing the cars and cleaning. Friday morning the delivery guy picked up the two remaining U-boxes, we finished cleaning, and I turned in my keys to Landlord Dude in return for my security deposit refund.

(I stayed in my parents' hotel room Wednesday and Thursday nights, since we packed my bed on Wednesday.)

Then we drove from Ithaca to the Twin Cities in two days (Friday and Saturday), which was kind of a lot and included two stints on local city streets in downtown Chicago because of a nasty traffic jam on I-90. My mom kept going through stoplights just as they turned yellow so I had to follow on red; it was extremely stressful. But we made it!

I have spent the past few days changing addresses with assorted companies and getting my license, car title, and car registration switched from NY to MN. Today I may or may not see about getting a local library card and visiting a Verizon store to see if they can clear some unwanted apps off my phone (I would do this myself but they came pre-installed and don't seem to have a delete option) and also ask about international calls to/from Canada. Also I will try switching my car insurance and AAA membership to MN -- I couldn't do either of those before I got my car paperwork dealt with.

We have been eating down some food brought from my fridge and freezer, since my parents' freezer was very full already. I have seen Vicky briefly when she picked up Alfie (her dog) Sunday evening -- my parents were watching him while Vicky and some friends were staffing a booth/table at a local Pride festival. Also my dad had a colonoscopy yesterday, my mom had a cardioversion this morning (for her afibrillation), and my aunt should currently be getting knee replacements. It has been a medically exciting week!

I believe I still have one refill left for both of my prescriptions, and my Ithaca pharmacy said that although they can't mail medications, I can have a Minnesota pharmacy contact them and they can transfer the authorization. So that is a relief, though I should still find a local primary care doctor sooner rather than later.

Oh! And signups for the 2025 Narnia Fic Exchange are open until July 11, so if you have any interest, please check that out over at [community profile] narniaexchange!
Wednesday, July 2nd, 2025 11:23 am
There are 17 medical professionals in the current House of Representatives. 11 are Republicans. Trying to argue on most issues with the bill is difficult with such a tight deadline, but the one item most people -- including Congressional Representatives -- are reacting to negatively is the closure of Rural and Regional hospitals. This should be a negative for all of the Republicans, but the ones who understand what lack of medical provision can do should be especially ripe to listen, perhaps even be persuaded.

I live in Georgia. Rich McCormick is Georgia District 6, and I live in District 1. But he's more likely to respond to someone from the same state, especially if he has Senate or Gubernatorial ambitions in the future.

The list I found is through The Patients Action Network. If you are in a District with one of these Republican representatives, particularly if they specialize in Emergency or Family medicine, start calling and/or emailing. If you are in the same state, email them and let them know you have a long memory if they're thinking of statewide offices.

In the meantime, send support to the few Republicans in the House who have already voted against it and continue to oppose it. At the very least, let's make them miss their deadline for vacation.
Wednesday, July 2nd, 2025 08:18 am

Read
  • Activation Degradation by Marina J. Lostetter - excellent sci-fi book, some very fucked up stuff, very good. Library e-book
  • The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera - my god this book was incredible. wild. so vivid. just so good. the narrator was excellent as well. library audiobook
  • The Siren, the Song and the Spy by Maggie Tokuda-Hall - extremely interesting worldbuilding, neato plot, lots of queer people and mermaids. packs a lot into a novelette. library e-book
  • When Gods Die by C.S Harris - second in the series, decent murder mystery. physical library book
  • Greenteeth by Molly O'Neil - omg I loved this so much. the narrator was very good, there is epic quests and friendship and aaaaaa. library audiobook
  • Deadbeat Druid by David R. Slayton - it's really been too long since I read the first two in the series, so I didn't actually remember any of the plot. decent anyway. library e-book
  • To Shape A Dragon's Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose - holy shit you guys, this book was really good. very "this person stands up against the colonial power and succeeds" but it was really cool world building and very enjoyable to read. library e-book
  • The Incandescent by Emily Tesh - extremely extremely good. lots of british private school nonsense but that's easily skimmable. plot got extremely good. library e-book
Re-read
  • Uprooted by Naomi Novik - more intense than I remembered, very good. physical library book
DNF
  • Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil - clearly going for Pratchett style humor, not actually my jam and half of the jokes are in footnotes which don't work well on my phone to click. library e-book
  • The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by KJ Charles - not the author's fault, but I'm pretty sure the audiobook was being read by a computer. There were really weird pauses in the middle of sentences that shouldn't be there and I couldn't get through five minutes of it. Really weird. library audiobook
Wednesday, July 2nd, 2025 12:12 pm
There are at least a dozen bee-esque insects bobbing against the perspex roof of the verandah outside my craft room door. I'm not sure if they are confoozled honey bees or... not, but I have never seen such a collection of them in such a place before.

*

Sunshine Challenge Time!

Sunshine-Revival-Carnival-1.png

Challenge #1

Journaling Prompt: Light up your journal with activity this month. Talk about your goals for July or for the second half of 2025.

Goals for July

1 Complete UCAS application
2 Communicate with potential new Mosaic members
3 Work on Rainbows song
4 re-think the progress of Dragon in the Woods
5 finish the Gardens of Giverny scarf
6 block the big shawl
7 try to actually post to DW instead of composing things in my head and forgetting them

Creative Prompt: Shine a light on your own creativity. Create anything you want (an image, an icon, a story, a poem, or a craft) and share it with your community.. Post your answer to today’s challenge in your own space and leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.


I have been going to a drawing class for the past three weeks—to my chagrin I won't be going today, because last night at about nine pm I was smitten with a vicious sore throat and a miserable nose. Having in consequence had far too little sleep, and being now obnoxious to be around, I won't inflict my woes on anyone else. (It's not Covid, at least not according to the test I took. But yuck.)

Anyway. I'm very pleased with this:




Excuse the dots at the bottom—I 'drew' a polar bear on the other side of the paper!
Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 08:48 pm
It was such a slow first day, midway through the afternoon, I was being paid to sit there and read. It won't be like that every day - not even other days this week - and even if it doesn't get repeated, I can savor having had it for a little while.

So far, it's a front desk job like all front desk jobs: phone calls, emails, appointments, office supplies. People called, I called them back. Documents were scanned into the computer and copies were made. The clients were largely punctual and there's no music playing. While I doubt I can get away with headphones or a radio, there's a fan I may use for white noise to make the periods of sitting around, waiting for more nothing to happen, a little easier to get through without having to fall back on monetary compensation. Even if I got through a large chunk of some reading today.

Though I suppose longhand writing notes are always an option. If I remember to bring the right notebooks tomorrow.
Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 05:18 pm
So I was listening to an audiobook of Agatha Christie stories

and one character mentioned the "why and wherefore" of something

which *immediately* got "Never Mind the Why and Wherefore" from HMS Pinafore going through my head [https://youtu.be/fz00Ru9RXA8?si=_iW2jYRH-8RW_w49]

which of course meant I had no choice but to listen to the whole of HMS Pinafore [https://youtu.be/N6iNGprcxFI?si=B-vFtrypguIKurHv for example]

and now various of those songs keep popping up ... for at least week now ... only the lyrics are starting to scramble, which tends to happen when something is stuck in my head long enough.

("I am the captain of the minotaur~~" wait no)

Anyway my plan for dealing with this is to watch the 1983 film version of Pirates of Penzance, which is an extremely solid plan with no possible down sides.
Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 06:07 pm
 
This is your check-in post for today. The poll will be open from midnight Universal or Zulu Time (8pm Eastern Time) on Tuesday, July 1, to midnight on Wednesday, July 2. (8pm Eastern Time).

Poll #33314 Daily Check-in
This poll is closed.
Open to: Access List, detailed results viewable to: Access List, participants: 27

How are you doing?

I am OK.
12 (44.4%)

I am not OK, but don't need help right now.
15 (55.6%)

I could use some help.
0 (0.0%)

How many other humans live with you?

I am living single.
10 (37.0%)

One other person.
13 (48.1%)

More than one other person.
4 (14.8%)




Please, talk about how things are going for you in the comments, ask for advice or help if you need it, or just discuss whatever you feel like.
 
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Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 04:21 pm
My May-June posts (seven new recs):

Rec #16: Art - Untitled Narwhal!Merman Izzy by MegaDucko (Our Flag Means Death, Izzy Hands + referenced Izzy/Ed Teach)

Rec #17: Art - Untitled Cobel/Reghabi by genderfeel (Severance, Harmony Cobel/Asal Reghabi)

Rec #18: Art - Untitled Chibi Jim by StarBramble (Our Flag Means Death, Jim Jimenez)

Rec #19: Art - Untitled Modern Spy AU by Irene (Our Flag Means Death, Izzy Hands/Roach)

Rec #20: Art/Gifset- Untitled Ouizzy Neighbor AU by derekstilinski (Our Flag Means Death, Frenchie/Izzy Hands)

Rec #21: Art/Gifset- Untitled Ouizzy Vampire AU by derekstilinski (Our Flag Means Death, Frenchie/Izzy Hands)

Rec #22: Fic - Day by Day by surprisepink (Our Flag Means Death, Stede Bonnet/Izzy Hands)
Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 04:10 pm
First of all, relax! I'm far from being picky, and I can pretty much guarantee that I'll love whatever you decide to create for me. These are nothing but guidelines, for you to take to heart or ignore to your heart's content. Also, hey! You're writing me fic or drawing me art! That's automatically a good reason for me to love you, no matter what. So, please, keep that in mind. Trust me, you can pretty much do no wrong.

More details under the cut. )
Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 07:25 pm

Hello to all members, passers-by, curious onlookers, and shy lurkers, and welcome to our regular daily check-in post. Just leave a comment below to let us know how your current projects are progressing, or even if they're not.

Checking in is NOT compulsory, check in as often or as seldom as you want, this community isn't about pressure it's about encouragement, motivation, and support. Crafting is meant to be fun, and what's more fun than sharing achievements and seeing the wonderful things everyone else is creating?

There may also occasionally be questions, but again you don't have to answer them, they're just a way of getting to know each other a bit better.


This Week's Question: What do you like to listen to / watch while crafting?


If anyone has any questions of their own about the community, or suggestions for tags, questions to be asked on the check-in posts, or if anyone is interested in playing check-in host for a week here on the community, which would entail putting up the daily check-in posts and responding to comments, go to the Questions & Suggestions post and leave a comment.

I now declare this Check-In OPEN!



Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 11:22 am


Title: Drabble: Anti-Brooklynians.
Author: [personal profile] lannamichaels
Fandom: Captain America
Rating: G
Archives: Archive Of Our Own, SquidgeWorld

Summary: Aliens wrote Shakespeare, the Earl of Oxford built the pyramids, and Steve Rogers was never Captain America.


I started this in 2019 and then ignored it every time I saw it instead of getting it to fit wordcount )

Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 11:38 am
[Be warned, the the main discussion of the post is s about #3, a letter about a coworker with gastric issues. At least people are being pretty good about labeling their responses. Beyond the ... details... it is fast descending into a fight between proponents and opponents of ableism. Thhs is letter #1] about the ethics of refusing service.Read more... )
Monday, June 30th, 2025 08:47 pm
*\o/* Word Count Step Count Headache?
Daily 0 11,585 no
Monthly 25,822 310,738 10 days


861 words avg / 500 goal | 10,358 steps avg / 8,000 goal | 1/3rd month in headache
Tags:
Monday, June 30th, 2025 08:37 pm
Congratulations! You have activated the Ticky Box of Unclear Consequences! I'm sure that will become important later....Anywho, Round 152 will be next weekend, 4-6 July. Mods, please confirm your availability by claiming an anchor post or just generally flailing in my direction, and if you've ever wanted to be a Mod, please do that!

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Monday, June 30th, 2025 08:42 pm
Ending the month with good news: I've got a new gig. It's full-time and starts on a week where I'll have Friday off, so it'll be an easy adjustment and a decent way to test out if I'm cut for it long-term. Or even medium-term, into the next couple of weeks until the usual receptionist gets back.

I'll be doing scheduling, some emails, some phone calls. Front desk work on the Upper East Side. It'll be easy to get there, and it'll be done indoors and sitting down. I don't think it's going to be all that relaxing and I'm going to have to go back to doing workouts at night in my apartment instead of at the gym for the duration. But it's just for a little while, to see if it's a good fit.