First DNF of the year, and reading meme
Jan. 5th, 2026 10:31 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
vriddyMy first book of the year is a DNF. There's a part of me that wants to see this as a bad omen for whatever arcane reason, but overall if I must put more weight into this than it deserves, then I'm more inclined to see this as a good omen about letting go of the things that don't serve me. I'm terrible at DNFing books. My compromise is usually "read 100 pages and if you still can't get into it by then, DNF is fair game." Unfortunately this book was only 131 pages long and every time I thought "I must be closer now!" I very much wasn't.
( When I can tell a book isn't working for me, I go into analysis mode )
I've seen a reading meme float on my reading page:
* Grab the nearest book.
* Turn to page 126
* The 6th full sentence is your life in 2026.
I don't want to do it for the other book I started, which is actually closest to me, because I'm not that far in yet and it would spoil me! But I suppose my DNFed book is also there, so... Although I don't really like to talk that much about the things I don't like, I feel like the author is probably doing okay in circles far away from mine. The library waitlist for that book is unbelievable.
So, Orbital by Samantha Harvey! Even if we weren't meant to be this time, what do you predict for my 2026?
You are looking now straight into the heart of the Milky Way, whose pull is so strong and compelling that it feels some nights that the orbit will detach from the earth and venture there, into that deep, dense mass of stars.
Hm.... Don't let the abyss seduce you and swallow you up, no matter how pretty it might look at times? Sure! I can keep that up.
Actually I forgot I had Charlie Jane Anders' "Never Say You Can't Survive" hidden under a few notebooks near me, too. I've been doing a slow reread, a couple of paragraphs here and there, highlighting and tagging bits I want to be able to return to easily later. Maybe that'll give me the how?
"Or you might yourself remembering a broken shoelace from a pair of shoes you owned a dozen years ago."
which is within a section titled, "Big emotions come from tiny things"
Joy in the mundane? Sure, I'm extremely up for that, too :D
I'm a bit antsy about not having finished any book yet, but this is fine. I wrote a fair bit, and also read not-books. Over the last couple of years, I stopped tracking my reading publicly, only jotting down notes in my BuJo instead, maybe an occasional rec here and there, and that's worked wonders to help me read more. I'm still considering creating a goodreads account so I can review at least indie and smaller authors, but I haven't fully committed to a decision yet. Especially when the current system is working out so well for me.
( When I can tell a book isn't working for me, I go into analysis mode )
I've seen a reading meme float on my reading page:
* Grab the nearest book.
* Turn to page 126
* The 6th full sentence is your life in 2026.
I don't want to do it for the other book I started, which is actually closest to me, because I'm not that far in yet and it would spoil me! But I suppose my DNFed book is also there, so... Although I don't really like to talk that much about the things I don't like, I feel like the author is probably doing okay in circles far away from mine. The library waitlist for that book is unbelievable.
So, Orbital by Samantha Harvey! Even if we weren't meant to be this time, what do you predict for my 2026?
You are looking now straight into the heart of the Milky Way, whose pull is so strong and compelling that it feels some nights that the orbit will detach from the earth and venture there, into that deep, dense mass of stars.
Hm.... Don't let the abyss seduce you and swallow you up, no matter how pretty it might look at times? Sure! I can keep that up.
Actually I forgot I had Charlie Jane Anders' "Never Say You Can't Survive" hidden under a few notebooks near me, too. I've been doing a slow reread, a couple of paragraphs here and there, highlighting and tagging bits I want to be able to return to easily later. Maybe that'll give me the how?
"Or you might yourself remembering a broken shoelace from a pair of shoes you owned a dozen years ago."
which is within a section titled, "Big emotions come from tiny things"
Joy in the mundane? Sure, I'm extremely up for that, too :D
I'm a bit antsy about not having finished any book yet, but this is fine. I wrote a fair bit, and also read not-books. Over the last couple of years, I stopped tracking my reading publicly, only jotting down notes in my BuJo instead, maybe an occasional rec here and there, and that's worked wonders to help me read more. I'm still considering creating a goodreads account so I can review at least indie and smaller authors, but I haven't fully committed to a decision yet. Especially when the current system is working out so well for me.
It's the truth of candor shone through the prism of deceit
Jan. 5th, 2026 04:51 ambeansideIt's Monday, and I am not ready. I need another couple of days, I think. I seem to be coughing more last night and this morning, so that's not ideal. I will stumble through work, but it's probably going to suck.
Yesterday was mostly a day of being a lump, though I did do one productive thing and dyed my hair. It's now a purple/red. It's pretty, but I do want more purple, so I may bleach next time and then dye, if the overtone doesn't bring out more purple. It's not bad, just not what I want.
The other thing I did was have Jess take pictures of my three dresses. I thought I knew which one I liked, but the pictures show a different take. So I'm outsourcing it. What do you think? (you can also see the hair color!)
After that, I went back to my nightgown and remained a lump. I rewatched a youtube series on the ship. Part of the problem I have with a lot of the youtube vids is that they're made by able bodied people who do shit like hike of their own free will. I need someone like me to make a video. Someone who can walk, but gets tired and needs to sit. Someone who will be using the free buses and shuttles and will not be taking five mile hikes for fun.
There's one place that has 79 steps. I'm taking the courtesy van, thank you.
Then, I felt in need of a comfort movie, so I put on the Losers. Goddamn, I love that movie. It's such a great 80's style action/comedy and is totally my jam. The cast doesn't hurt, and goes way harder than they need to. Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Chris Evans, Idris Elba, Zoe Saldana and Jason Patric. It's fun and it's fluffy and it was exactly what I wanted for the day. And from a purely aesthetic point, that's a whole lot of pretty stuffed into one movie.
After that, it was time for dinner and to walk the dog. He's been SO obliging the last few days about not getting long walks. He'll walk up to the corner and do his business. I hope that soon, I'll be up to doing the full walk.
And on that note, I'm going to hop off and get ready for work. Everyone have an amazing Monday!
Yesterday was mostly a day of being a lump, though I did do one productive thing and dyed my hair. It's now a purple/red. It's pretty, but I do want more purple, so I may bleach next time and then dye, if the overtone doesn't bring out more purple. It's not bad, just not what I want.
The other thing I did was have Jess take pictures of my three dresses. I thought I knew which one I liked, but the pictures show a different take. So I'm outsourcing it. What do you think? (you can also see the hair color!)
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 11
Which dress would you pick?
After that, I went back to my nightgown and remained a lump. I rewatched a youtube series on the ship. Part of the problem I have with a lot of the youtube vids is that they're made by able bodied people who do shit like hike of their own free will. I need someone like me to make a video. Someone who can walk, but gets tired and needs to sit. Someone who will be using the free buses and shuttles and will not be taking five mile hikes for fun.
There's one place that has 79 steps. I'm taking the courtesy van, thank you.
Then, I felt in need of a comfort movie, so I put on the Losers. Goddamn, I love that movie. It's such a great 80's style action/comedy and is totally my jam. The cast doesn't hurt, and goes way harder than they need to. Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Chris Evans, Idris Elba, Zoe Saldana and Jason Patric. It's fun and it's fluffy and it was exactly what I wanted for the day. And from a purely aesthetic point, that's a whole lot of pretty stuffed into one movie.
After that, it was time for dinner and to walk the dog. He's been SO obliging the last few days about not getting long walks. He'll walk up to the corner and do his business. I hope that soon, I'll be up to doing the full walk.
And on that note, I'm going to hop off and get ready for work. Everyone have an amazing Monday!
ride_4everFor those who are wondering why the Multifandom Multimedia Microbang is called "Be A Goldfish," here's the explanation from the comm's Admin devinwolfi:
When we started this event earlier this year, it was a Ted Lasso fandom exclusive event. We always had every intention to go multifandom later, this just gave us the opportunity to beta test it on a smaller group. In that series, a recurring line is to "be a goldfish," (based on the now disproved idea that goldfish have 3-10 second memories), meaning to let go of past hurts, move on, brave the new day, and try new things, all of which we hope to embody and encourage throughout this event. We've found that smaller works and folks who leave comments tend to get less attention, but those small works and comments are by no means less important to the fandom ecosystem so we wanted to give them, and the fans who share them, the support and attention they deserve. We also know that it's very easy to get bogged down by expectation, past experiences, and the pressure of trying to be "successful" in fandom and be paralyzed by it all to the point of inaction. We want to give people the space to try new things and develop new fannish skills without feeling like they have to commit to big projects.
devinwolfi: When we started this event earlier this year, it was a Ted Lasso fandom exclusive event. We always had every intention to go multifandom later, this just gave us the opportunity to beta test it on a smaller group. In that series, a recurring line is to "be a goldfish," (based on the now disproved idea that goldfish have 3-10 second memories), meaning to let go of past hurts, move on, brave the new day, and try new things, all of which we hope to embody and encourage throughout this event. We've found that smaller works and folks who leave comments tend to get less attention, but those small works and comments are by no means less important to the fandom ecosystem so we wanted to give them, and the fans who share them, the support and attention they deserve. We also know that it's very easy to get bogged down by expectation, past experiences, and the pressure of trying to be "successful" in fandom and be paralyzed by it all to the point of inaction. We want to give people the space to try new things and develop new fannish skills without feeling like they have to commit to big projects.
Catching up (lol) -- vids and life since 2020
Jan. 4th, 2026 11:25 pmsweetestdrainI wander over here occasionally and read a post here and there, but just realized that I haven't actually made a post myself since February 2020, which is just a really weird moment in time to have made your last Dreamwidth post. A lot of you have probably seen me sporadically around Twitter (or Bluesky, now), Tumblr, and the occasional Fanworks or other online con, so you might know some of this already, but here's a brief round-up of what's been going on with me since 2020 -- and the vids I've made, which kind of cut off abruptly in 2022 because I also made
who is now 3 years old and extremely fannish in his tiny child way, which I love even though it means I have seen every episode of Netflix's Trash Truck approximately twenty times.
Aside from raising a child, which has been pretty cool, there's been an assortment of deaths and health scares and dealing with physical distance of friends (for both pandemic and literally living in other state reasons) and not reading enough or exercising enough but working PLENTY. It's really weird how quickly the last six years have passed. Must be all the terror over the state of our world and maybe a bit because of all the children's television I've been watching. Maybe someday I'll make some more vids, and not just of children's television. But in the meantime:
sweetestdrain's vids from 2020 - now, in mostly chronological order
( Read more... )
- a baby
who is now 3 years old and extremely fannish in his tiny child way, which I love even though it means I have seen every episode of Netflix's Trash Truck approximately twenty times.
Aside from raising a child, which has been pretty cool, there's been an assortment of deaths and health scares and dealing with physical distance of friends (for both pandemic and literally living in other state reasons) and not reading enough or exercising enough but working PLENTY. It's really weird how quickly the last six years have passed. Must be all the terror over the state of our world and maybe a bit because of all the children's television I've been watching. Maybe someday I'll make some more vids, and not just of children's television. But in the meantime:
( Read more... )
Thousands upon thousands.
Jan. 4th, 2026 09:42 pmhannahThe last few days, I've been going through and saving Livejournal Scrapbook photos. Pretty much all of it's from college, when digital cameras were still a new toy, both for me and the world. When you had to find a place to upload the photos before sharing them somewhere else, and LJ Scrapbook was something of a game-changer because you didn't have to deal with a third party. It was all the same party. Everything else I got imported over when I made this journal, but the scrapbook doesn't have an equivalent here and I can imagine the headache people want to avoid. So I'm saving them to a hard drive instead, and looking back at those four years.
What gets me to stop for more than a moment of sighing over my hair or an attempt to mimic William Eggleston are the pictures of my childhood house. Some were because I was playing around with a toy, and a few were - as best I remember - from people asking to see something, because taking pictures and sharing them had suddenly become a breeze. If someone wanted to see a bookshelf or a bathroom sink, you could suddenly do that without any significant trouble. You still had to connect the camera to the computer and upload the photo and embed it, but that wasn't anything more than a small inconvenience. The inch-high barrier was more than enough to make everything shared a deliberate choice, not an impulse.
There's some red eyes, there's a lot of blur, there's less in focus than I'd thought. There's a weird feeling of nostalgia for the small trouble of the steps between taking and sharing the picture, because now there's no thought to it whatsoever, and that's not helping anyone. The forced lack of impulsivity is something I'd like to see again. A few more inch-high barriers would do a lot of people a lot of good.
Going through, most of what I took was of a low enough resolution that checking the page's info and saving the images from there means I'm not losing anything, and what few are of higher resolution are easy to save one at a time. What's strange is that while most of it's generic file names - 39526589_31 or 88612_100, things like that - without anything else to identify it, a small handful have the original metadata, telling me I used an Olympus digital camera in November of 2007. I can't tell where or how that happens, and it's a strange, pleasant surprise whenever it does. The reminder of the reminder.
What gets me to stop for more than a moment of sighing over my hair or an attempt to mimic William Eggleston are the pictures of my childhood house. Some were because I was playing around with a toy, and a few were - as best I remember - from people asking to see something, because taking pictures and sharing them had suddenly become a breeze. If someone wanted to see a bookshelf or a bathroom sink, you could suddenly do that without any significant trouble. You still had to connect the camera to the computer and upload the photo and embed it, but that wasn't anything more than a small inconvenience. The inch-high barrier was more than enough to make everything shared a deliberate choice, not an impulse.
There's some red eyes, there's a lot of blur, there's less in focus than I'd thought. There's a weird feeling of nostalgia for the small trouble of the steps between taking and sharing the picture, because now there's no thought to it whatsoever, and that's not helping anyone. The forced lack of impulsivity is something I'd like to see again. A few more inch-high barriers would do a lot of people a lot of good.
Going through, most of what I took was of a low enough resolution that checking the page's info and saving the images from there means I'm not losing anything, and what few are of higher resolution are easy to save one at a time. What's strange is that while most of it's generic file names - 39526589_31 or 88612_100, things like that - without anything else to identify it, a small handful have the original metadata, telling me I used an Olympus digital camera in November of 2007. I can't tell where or how that happens, and it's a strange, pleasant surprise whenever it does. The reminder of the reminder.
lannamichaelsSix sentences for sunday!
This is the male!Hermione Granger/Neville Longbottom one, during sixth year.
"Maybe I don't need to pass all my NEWTs," Leontes says in the middle of exam week, their alcove of the common room all too studious around him. "Taking them is good enough, isn't it?"
Neville and Seamus hit him with every forcible mind-clarifying spell they can think of, while Dean grabs one of the Creeveys and urgently demands his camera.
"Maybe it's too much to think I can--"
Dean gets an amazing shot of Neville throwing himself at Leontes while Seamus tries a binding spell that he swears gets rid of most mind-altering curses.
"I don't think he's been confunded," Seamus says.
Recommendation: Love, Bertie
Jan. 4th, 2026 10:50 ampetraLove, Bertie (239772 words) by cucumbermoon
Chapters: 40/40
Fandom: Jeeves - P. G. Wodehouse, Jeeves & Wooster (TV 1990)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Reginald Jeeves/Bertram "Bertie" Wooster
Characters: Reginald Jeeves, Bertram "Bertie" Wooster, Honoria Glossop, Dahlia Travers, Agatha Gregson, minor OCs, Florence Craye, Thomas Gregson (Jeeves), Mabel Biffen
Additional Tags: Epistolary, Letters, World War II, Period-Typical Homophobia, Bertie fought in WWII, Aunt Agatha is evil, Established Relationship, Angst with a Happy Ending, War, Minor Character Death, Non-Graphic Violence, Angst, Fluff and Angst, PTSD, Trauma
Summary:
*
This author has a deft grasp of Wodehousian pastiche, a keen eye for when it's time to add OCs, and a dashed lot of humor to put into a story whose premise seems bleak. I enjoyed the twists and turns of this epic tale no end.
Chapters: 40/40
Fandom: Jeeves - P. G. Wodehouse, Jeeves & Wooster (TV 1990)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Reginald Jeeves/Bertram "Bertie" Wooster
Characters: Reginald Jeeves, Bertram "Bertie" Wooster, Honoria Glossop, Dahlia Travers, Agatha Gregson, minor OCs, Florence Craye, Thomas Gregson (Jeeves), Mabel Biffen
Additional Tags: Epistolary, Letters, World War II, Period-Typical Homophobia, Bertie fought in WWII, Aunt Agatha is evil, Established Relationship, Angst with a Happy Ending, War, Minor Character Death, Non-Graphic Violence, Angst, Fluff and Angst, PTSD, Trauma
Summary:
Separated by war, Bertie and Jeeves exchange letters.
*
This author has a deft grasp of Wodehousian pastiche, a keen eye for when it's time to add OCs, and a dashed lot of humor to put into a story whose premise seems bleak. I enjoyed the twists and turns of this epic tale no end.
beansideWelcome to Sunday! I can't believe the weekend is already on the downslope. I did nothing yesterday. Watched a couple of episodes of Great British Bake Off, which was very soothing.
We're all still sick. We cough like we're a classic car trying to start, we never have tissues very far away. I do not appreciate it at all.
I plan today to do more of the same. I'd planned to sleep in, but Boodle put an end to that dream with her sharp little patting paws. I'm so glad I trimmed her claws last weekend. The rest of the day will be relaxing, watching Bake Off, maybe comfort watching something, I don't know what. Part of me is thinking Captian America: The Winter Soldier, part is thinking maybe LOTR or the Losers.
With nothing much to focus on, and no actual ability to focus, I've been perusing Cruisetok and cruises on youtube. It's been good. I've been rewatching videos of people's Alaska cruises on the Koningsdam, which is out ship. It's given me a pretty good feel for where things are, as has looking at the floorplan of the Koningsdam.
My ADHD is pleased by this. I want to know where everything is, so that I can lead my family to the various venues, like a little shepherd, until they know were they're going. My favorite is Nothern Viking Explorers videos. They did a nice story on the Koningsdam from the 2024 cruise season. There hasn't been any really comprehensive videos for 2025. Maybe I'll make one for 2026, who knows. I plan to at the very least document what it's like staying in the Pinnacle Suite for people. There's a lack of that, unfortunately, which is sad, because I'd like to know.
I am annoyed that I have nothing left to plan. We've got all our excursions, the trip is fully paid off, the pre and post cruise hotels are booked and the car services have been booked and paid for. Beyond that, there's nothing I can do. I like planning things, so this is also sad.
I got a couple of dresses to try out for the vow renewal. I think I've picked it out, though there is one dress still to come (well, 2, but the second, I didn't realize had a strappy back, so that will not work with a bra (and I need a bra.) The one I'm waiting on is a gorgeous blue dress from ThredUp.
The one I really like is a black wrap neck dress that's shot through with sparkly colored threads. It doesn't look like much on the manequin, but on a person it actually looks really nice.
The blue dress I think is supposed to come this week. Which excites me. I love getting packages. If I have energy today, I'll try on the other two dresses and see which one I like better. Of course, if I have energy, I'll dye my hair. I got a new violet color that I really think will suit me. I'll play it by ear.
Okay, time for me to wrap up and maybe think about eating something. Everyone have a stupendous Sunday!
We're all still sick. We cough like we're a classic car trying to start, we never have tissues very far away. I do not appreciate it at all.
I plan today to do more of the same. I'd planned to sleep in, but Boodle put an end to that dream with her sharp little patting paws. I'm so glad I trimmed her claws last weekend. The rest of the day will be relaxing, watching Bake Off, maybe comfort watching something, I don't know what. Part of me is thinking Captian America: The Winter Soldier, part is thinking maybe LOTR or the Losers.
With nothing much to focus on, and no actual ability to focus, I've been perusing Cruisetok and cruises on youtube. It's been good. I've been rewatching videos of people's Alaska cruises on the Koningsdam, which is out ship. It's given me a pretty good feel for where things are, as has looking at the floorplan of the Koningsdam.
My ADHD is pleased by this. I want to know where everything is, so that I can lead my family to the various venues, like a little shepherd, until they know were they're going. My favorite is Nothern Viking Explorers videos. They did a nice story on the Koningsdam from the 2024 cruise season. There hasn't been any really comprehensive videos for 2025. Maybe I'll make one for 2026, who knows. I plan to at the very least document what it's like staying in the Pinnacle Suite for people. There's a lack of that, unfortunately, which is sad, because I'd like to know.
I am annoyed that I have nothing left to plan. We've got all our excursions, the trip is fully paid off, the pre and post cruise hotels are booked and the car services have been booked and paid for. Beyond that, there's nothing I can do. I like planning things, so this is also sad.
I got a couple of dresses to try out for the vow renewal. I think I've picked it out, though there is one dress still to come (well, 2, but the second, I didn't realize had a strappy back, so that will not work with a bra (and I need a bra.) The one I'm waiting on is a gorgeous blue dress from ThredUp.
The one I really like is a black wrap neck dress that's shot through with sparkly colored threads. It doesn't look like much on the manequin, but on a person it actually looks really nice.
The blue dress I think is supposed to come this week. Which excites me. I love getting packages. If I have energy today, I'll try on the other two dresses and see which one I like better. Of course, if I have energy, I'll dye my hair. I got a new violet color that I really think will suit me. I'll play it by ear.
Okay, time for me to wrap up and maybe think about eating something. Everyone have a stupendous Sunday!
Snowflake Challenge #2 - Pets of fandom
Jan. 3rd, 2026 10:51 pmpetraPets of Fandom
Loosely defined! Post about your pets, pets from your canon, anything you want!
My dearest furry companion is an aging black kitty who likes to sit on my chest and get in the way of my writing.
Loosely defined! Post about your pets, pets from your canon, anything you want!
My dearest furry companion is an aging black kitty who likes to sit on my chest and get in the way of my writing.
Huh
Jan. 3rd, 2026 09:28 pmlannamichaelsThe male!Hermione Granger/Neville Longbottom fic that I started in October but didn't really start actually getting into it until December 23, has now reached 30K words in the file. o.O o.O o.O That includes notes and some cut stuff, so the actual fic is more 29something. But.
I don't know where this thing is going, but it's a fun ride. I've got a summary but no title, and also I think it may end up a series, who knows. But it's fun to dig into what makes Hermione Granger herself, how much of her is being an smart ugly girl vs. what she might be like an an smart ugly boy.
It also revealed my conflation of Shaekespeare, because when I first conceived it in October, I was going to name her Demetrius since I'd thought Hermione was from Midsummer Night's Dream, but no, that's Helena and Hermia. Hermione is from The Winter's Tale.
I have been in productions of both Midsummer and Winter's Tale. But that was back in the dawn of time.
So since I was going to extract for Sunday Six last week but completely forgot about it because I was doing other stuff on sunday, here's not 6 sentences, but in honor of 30K (?????!!??!!?), here's my favorite bit so far:
In January, something strange happens, though. A Hufflepuff, Leontes thinks she's one of Dean's friends, asks him on a date. He does what he's practiced: he covers his heart with his hand and puts every bit of drama into his voice that he's learned from the drama club that he's still, somehow, involved in, and declaims, "I wish I could, dear lady! But I'm afraid my heart is sworn to the service of the cruel Lady NEWT. I can only begin to think of others once my torment is complete. I pray you forgive me for my unchivalrous conduct, but I cannot accompany you to Hogsmeade in the manner in which you request. I must toil instead, these seven years, until my work is done."
She laughs and there's no tension or awkwardness as she leaves him and Neville alone, but Neville's looking at him askance.
"Do you mean that?" he asks. "The whole bit about not dating until after the NEWTs?" Neville had dated a lot in fourth year but hasn't gone to Hogsmeade with anyone except as a friend this year. Leontes has kept his mouth shut about it, reminding himself that it's okay for Neville to go on dates and so it's not okay to congratulate him on putting his OWLs and his Prefect duties ahead of that, because that would make Neville think that Leontes did not, actually, think it was fine to go on dates. Which it is. Even though it does distract from the important things. People can have different priorities and that's okay. It's fine. It's acceptable behavior.
That said, Leontes thinks it's fantastic that Neville isn't dating this year. This is an important year! A vital year! Dating can wait.
"I suppose," Leontes says. "University is also going to be grueling so I may wait until after that, but I'm certainly not going to do it before the NEWTs. And who knows? I might end up with more free time in university for things like that."
Neville, an unreadable expression on his face, takes out his magical planner without a word and flips forward pretty far and then writes something down and then puts it away.
Leontes eyes him, mystified.
"How's Binns doing?" Neville asks, adroitly changing the subject, and Leontes relaxes. Everything's fine. Nothing to worry about. Priorities are definitely established and correct.
Fast-forward:
NEWTs come, inevitably.
The last NEWT of them all is Potions. Leontes waits outside after he finishes for Neville to finish up, then Neville suggests lunch and they wander down to Hogsmeade. Neville leads him into Josephine's, where there's a table waiting for them in the back. They talk lightly about the NEWT -- "awful", "extremely" -- until halfway through the soup course, when Leontes snaps out of the post-examination fugue, looks around, takes in the single candle flickering in the middle of the table and the overall atmosphere of the most romantic restaurant in Hogsmeade.
"Oh," he says. He looks around again, just to make sure. "Why didn't you say anything?"
Neville lowers his spoon. "You said not until we finished the NEWTs. We've finished the NEWTs. Well?"
"Ah," Leontes says eloquently. "Oh. Well. All right, then."
[things keep on changing for better or worse]
Jan. 3rd, 2026 10:19 pmainsleyToday started off really well! Woke up and decided, hey, that fic recced on bsky looks good, I should read that! Then I watched a vid! All before I even got up to feed the cat!
Then I saw the news, and that's enough said about that.
I had some good fic-writing thoughts while I was on my walk, and hoped to have a chance to something up, but alas. I did check off all the major items on my to-do list today (and one of them was re-starting a huge project that I've been procrastinating for decades while the project scope snowballed) and found a book online I thought I'd have to travel to see (a family tree/history put together by a distant cousin).
The fic I was thinking about is a hockey story I've wanted to write as a second chances romance for more than a decade, but thought it was too big for my skill level. My skill level won't grow if I don't write it, and I'm mostly just writing it for me, anyway. These days my brain doesn't want it to be second chances, and therefore it's no longer a romance, but I'm kind of interested in poking to see what it does want to be.
Definitely did too much, but the choices continue to be not overdoing and never making progress or staying within my known limits, which hasn't been working out well.
Then I saw the news, and that's enough said about that.
I had some good fic-writing thoughts while I was on my walk, and hoped to have a chance to something up, but alas. I did check off all the major items on my to-do list today (and one of them was re-starting a huge project that I've been procrastinating for decades while the project scope snowballed) and found a book online I thought I'd have to travel to see (a family tree/history put together by a distant cousin).
The fic I was thinking about is a hockey story I've wanted to write as a second chances romance for more than a decade, but thought it was too big for my skill level. My skill level won't grow if I don't write it, and I'm mostly just writing it for me, anyway. These days my brain doesn't want it to be second chances, and therefore it's no longer a romance, but I'm kind of interested in poking to see what it does want to be.
Definitely did too much, but the choices continue to be not overdoing and never making progress or staying within my known limits, which hasn't been working out well.
Columba livia.
Jan. 3rd, 2026 08:31 pmhannahChallenge #2: Pets of Fandom
Loosely defined! Post about your pets, pets from your canon, anything you want!
I've never kept pigeons, but I can say I've cultivated them.
I live in New York City, and it's pigeons wherever you go. You can't avoid them, and it's disappointing most people don't take the time to look at them, pay attention to them, get to know them. They're remarkably congenial, to the point of being accurately called friend-shaped. Which in no small part comes from them mostly being feral domesticated animals, originally kept by people for a variety of reasons from food to companionship who then got let out into the urban wild when people decided they didn't want to take care of them anymore. But it's easy for pigeons to remember what people are there for, when people stop to take the time. If you've ever had your pupils dilated at the optometrist's, I highly recommend finding a pigeon in some sunlight and taking in the genuinely dazzling iridescence of their feathers.
During the worst of 2020, when there were a lot fewer people around the neighborhood, pigeons would often come to my window, mostly to hang out on the AC unit. A nice place to stop for a while. Not thinking much of it, I started leaving seeds out for them, and they learned soon enough it was more than just a place to stop. I liked seeing them, and they liked the seeds, so I'd keep replenishing the tray outside. There were a few months in there - not many, but a few - that I'd get a seven AM wake-up call from the local birds who wanted to be fed, and those birds were the best alarm clock I've ever had. Certainly the sweetest. With few reasons to get out of bed in the morning, it was a nice feeling that one of those reasons was for small animals who were happy to see me.
I'd also take bike rides to get out of my apartment in the afternoons to get some fresh air, and there's a nearby park corner where it didn't take too many days of bringing seeds for a flock of pigeons to recognize me and fly on over whenever I'd come by. But even before they recognized me on sight, they were quick to trust to eat out of my open hands. Very soft feathers, and very warm bodies under the feathers. Some people gave me grief about it. Some people gave me shit about it. A few people, mostly under the age of ten, were delighted and thrilled to get some birdseed of their own and give feeding the pigeons a try themselves. Even if those kids hadn't ever come by, I'd have kept up with it as long as I was doing the rides. I'd seen worse behavior from them, and I didn't need to explain myself. The pigeons didn't rely or depend on me. They weren't my responsibility. They were simply my genuine pleasure.
The world reopened, people moved back into the neighborhood, the tray stopped getting stocked with seeds, I started going to a nearby gym, and my phone serves as my alarm clock. But I still sometimes carry birdseed around, in case there's a chance for another moment with the birds.
Loosely defined! Post about your pets, pets from your canon, anything you want!
I've never kept pigeons, but I can say I've cultivated them.
I live in New York City, and it's pigeons wherever you go. You can't avoid them, and it's disappointing most people don't take the time to look at them, pay attention to them, get to know them. They're remarkably congenial, to the point of being accurately called friend-shaped. Which in no small part comes from them mostly being feral domesticated animals, originally kept by people for a variety of reasons from food to companionship who then got let out into the urban wild when people decided they didn't want to take care of them anymore. But it's easy for pigeons to remember what people are there for, when people stop to take the time. If you've ever had your pupils dilated at the optometrist's, I highly recommend finding a pigeon in some sunlight and taking in the genuinely dazzling iridescence of their feathers.
During the worst of 2020, when there were a lot fewer people around the neighborhood, pigeons would often come to my window, mostly to hang out on the AC unit. A nice place to stop for a while. Not thinking much of it, I started leaving seeds out for them, and they learned soon enough it was more than just a place to stop. I liked seeing them, and they liked the seeds, so I'd keep replenishing the tray outside. There were a few months in there - not many, but a few - that I'd get a seven AM wake-up call from the local birds who wanted to be fed, and those birds were the best alarm clock I've ever had. Certainly the sweetest. With few reasons to get out of bed in the morning, it was a nice feeling that one of those reasons was for small animals who were happy to see me.
I'd also take bike rides to get out of my apartment in the afternoons to get some fresh air, and there's a nearby park corner where it didn't take too many days of bringing seeds for a flock of pigeons to recognize me and fly on over whenever I'd come by. But even before they recognized me on sight, they were quick to trust to eat out of my open hands. Very soft feathers, and very warm bodies under the feathers. Some people gave me grief about it. Some people gave me shit about it. A few people, mostly under the age of ten, were delighted and thrilled to get some birdseed of their own and give feeding the pigeons a try themselves. Even if those kids hadn't ever come by, I'd have kept up with it as long as I was doing the rides. I'd seen worse behavior from them, and I didn't need to explain myself. The pigeons didn't rely or depend on me. They weren't my responsibility. They were simply my genuine pleasure.
The world reopened, people moved back into the neighborhood, the tray stopped getting stocked with seeds, I started going to a nearby gym, and my phone serves as my alarm clock. But I still sometimes carry birdseed around, in case there's a chance for another moment with the birds.
petraIn light of the fact that the current leader of my country has kidnapped the leader of a different country and vowed to install his own puppet regime, I am increasing my "Donate 25 USD, get fiction or poetry" offer to include Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières as well as food banks & food pantries.
If you gave to a food distribution network or MSF in the last quarter of 2025, feel free to make a request.
If you're reading this thinking, "Even a donation of $25 is out of my budget, but gosh, I would just love it if Petra wrote for me," go request something for More Joy Day instead. No donation required; just find a way to honor More Joy Day and lighten someone else's day.
If you gave to a food distribution network or MSF in the last quarter of 2025, feel free to make a request.
If you're reading this thinking, "Even a donation of $25 is out of my budget, but gosh, I would just love it if Petra wrote for me," go request something for More Joy Day instead. No donation required; just find a way to honor More Joy Day and lighten someone else's day.
I feel it all around, I feel it in my bones--my life is on the line, when I'm away from home
Jan. 3rd, 2026 05:05 ambeansideIt's Saturday and I'm going to do my best to do nothing today. Just sit here like a lump and consider the merits of becoming one with our purple couches.
One year later, I still freaking love the furniture we I picked out. They're super comfy and a little bit off beat and faintly goth. Perfect for me.
They're holding up really well, despite. our fat asses.
I am still sick. Still coughing and sneezing and everything is much more congested sounding. I have snot in my throat and I do not like it.
Yesterday I survived work! I was doing a lot of outbound calls, so I was able to take a few minutes between and kind of baby my voice. There were two cardiac CTAs and two Cardiac MRIs that needed to be filled, which I did handily, and sent out an email saying that all four had been filled. The head of Radiology thanked me and said that I was fast, and the head of our dept replied that they called me the queen of the Cardiacs. The head of rad immediately took my profile pic and photoshopped a crown onto it and said "lets make it official." I replied with the princess diaries gif, of Anne Hathaway doing the princess wave. I might be reading into it, but I'm wondering if my managers are starting to wear her down for a new position just for me. Time will tell!
The rest of the day I sat and coughed and we watched Bake Off. Today, maybe more Bake Off. We're about halfway through episode 3 of the most recent season.
For now, though, I've got two glorious days to rest and recover, and hopefully kick this bug. Jess has seen stuff on the internet that says it can go up to 8-12 days, which is annoying. I'm hoping not, though. Jess is also still sick, as is my sister, who is probably on day 6 of the bug. Jess and I are neophytes on day 4, so we might have a bit to go.
I should be waking up in Philly today, but alas. It was definitely the right call to cancel, but I'm still sad. We'll have to figure out another time that we can go visit.
Okay, time for me to commence becoming one with the couch. Everyone have an outstannding Saturday!
One year later, I still freaking love the furniture we I picked out. They're super comfy and a little bit off beat and faintly goth. Perfect for me.
They're holding up really well, despite. our fat asses.
I am still sick. Still coughing and sneezing and everything is much more congested sounding. I have snot in my throat and I do not like it.
Yesterday I survived work! I was doing a lot of outbound calls, so I was able to take a few minutes between and kind of baby my voice. There were two cardiac CTAs and two Cardiac MRIs that needed to be filled, which I did handily, and sent out an email saying that all four had been filled. The head of Radiology thanked me and said that I was fast, and the head of our dept replied that they called me the queen of the Cardiacs. The head of rad immediately took my profile pic and photoshopped a crown onto it and said "lets make it official." I replied with the princess diaries gif, of Anne Hathaway doing the princess wave. I might be reading into it, but I'm wondering if my managers are starting to wear her down for a new position just for me. Time will tell!
The rest of the day I sat and coughed and we watched Bake Off. Today, maybe more Bake Off. We're about halfway through episode 3 of the most recent season.
For now, though, I've got two glorious days to rest and recover, and hopefully kick this bug. Jess has seen stuff on the internet that says it can go up to 8-12 days, which is annoying. I'm hoping not, though. Jess is also still sick, as is my sister, who is probably on day 6 of the bug. Jess and I are neophytes on day 4, so we might have a bit to go.
I should be waking up in Philly today, but alas. It was definitely the right call to cancel, but I'm still sad. We'll have to figure out another time that we can go visit.
Okay, time for me to commence becoming one with the couch. Everyone have an outstannding Saturday!
Three things make a post
Jan. 3rd, 2026 07:48 amvriddy1. Looking for new friends? ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
friending_memes is hosting a "new year, new friend" friending meme!
Click the banner to join us and make some new friends!
2. Of course,snowflake_challenge started as well :D Never too late to jump in if you'd like to, it's a chill challenge like that! I knew I wasn't going to do it this year either, but thought "maybe next year"..... however it's January 3rd and I'm already fighting to keep up with my reading page because I met SO MANY OF YOU COOL PEOPLE through the challenge, and you're participating again haha :D It's really a great way to get to know people a little bit before the friending meme that usually happens at the end of it. I can't recommend it enough if you'd like your reading page to be more lively.
3. I'm going to link again to this AO3 PSA from a while back. It's titled "Protect Your Contact Information From Scammers" but it's interesting in that it describes the format that spam comments take nowadays: first a paragraph that seems genuinely related to your story (thanks and fuck you, genAI), then an invitation to reach out to them because they want to make a comic from it, or help you give more impact to your story, or whatever cue to take you off-site.
The post also offers a step-by-step template for reporting registered accounts that do it, and I gotta say it's effective as the account I reported yesterday was removed in less than 24 hours. (Also, those comments are annoying always, but they sting extra on fics that you know from the start won't have much/any audience. Curses on your potatoes, spammers!!)
(Having said that I don't think the spambots have figured out the "Uncategorized Fandoms" section yet as I haven't gotten any of these on K-9 fic -- if you hate spam comments you should totally join us there XD)
friending_memes is hosting a "new year, new friend" friending meme!Click the banner to join us and make some new friends!
2. Of course,
snowflake_challenge started as well :D Never too late to jump in if you'd like to, it's a chill challenge like that! I knew I wasn't going to do it this year either, but thought "maybe next year"..... however it's January 3rd and I'm already fighting to keep up with my reading page because I met SO MANY OF YOU COOL PEOPLE through the challenge, and you're participating again haha :D It's really a great way to get to know people a little bit before the friending meme that usually happens at the end of it. I can't recommend it enough if you'd like your reading page to be more lively.3. I'm going to link again to this AO3 PSA from a while back. It's titled "Protect Your Contact Information From Scammers" but it's interesting in that it describes the format that spam comments take nowadays: first a paragraph that seems genuinely related to your story (thanks and fuck you, genAI), then an invitation to reach out to them because they want to make a comic from it, or help you give more impact to your story, or whatever cue to take you off-site.
The post also offers a step-by-step template for reporting registered accounts that do it, and I gotta say it's effective as the account I reported yesterday was removed in less than 24 hours. (Also, those comments are annoying always, but they sting extra on fics that you know from the start won't have much/any audience. Curses on your potatoes, spammers!!)
(Having said that I don't think the spambots have figured out the "Uncategorized Fandoms" section yet as I haven't gotten any of these on K-9 fic -- if you hate spam comments you should totally join us there XD)