beanside: (Default)
[personal profile] beanside
I am not really awake yet this morning. It's almost 8, but it feels very early. I couldn't sleep any longer, but I kinda wish I could.

Yesterday was a mostly relaxed day, aside from a trip to Sam's Club. I want to make French Onion soup tonight, so I needed thyme and gruyere cheese.

I am very irritable this morning. I need my morning pills to kick in so that I can stand people. I should have gotten up earlier so I had some quiet time. Now I've got my sister, and I'm really not ready for that.

I've got to follow her over to take her car for an oil change, and I need to be less ready to scream by then. After that, we're going to be picking up our old cat's ashes. (He died like a decade ago, but we didn't have the funds to get him cremated, we did have an empty freezer.)

Then, we have all day to ourselves. We're going to grab lunch, and probably not do much else, though I'd like to get some dry sherry for the soup. Also for sugar cookies. We haven't decided on where we're going for lunch, so I should start thinking about that.

The noise continues, so we had to drive Yoda up to the school to do his business. I'm calling the office today, so hopefully it's something that they can fix.

We had a good game last night, and I had a lot of fun with it.

Short one today, since we need to take Yoda to the school and then go get the cat. Everyone have an excellent Saturday!
rydra_wong: Lee Miller photo showing two women wearing metal fire masks in England during WWII. (Default)
[personal profile] rydra_wong
A whole world of games not playable on Mac has opened up to me, and it's Steam summer sale time!

Please rec me your favourite games, bearing in mind that I have very limited reflexes/co-ordination.

(I'm not completely ruling out games involving them, but the threshold for entry has to be very very low. I am currently enjoying Refunct because it allows me to try some simple platforming in a very chill and pleasant environment with no time pressure and no penalties for taking several hundred tries to get a jump.)

ten good things

Jul. 4th, 2025 11:49 pm
kaberett: Trans symbol with Swiss Army knife tools at other positions around the central circle. (Default)
[personal profile] kaberett
  1. Freegle has both provided (a 4'x8' piece of 6mm plywood, which I am intending to press into service as A SHED FLOOR) and taken away (a bag of used Jiffy Green padded envelopes).
  2. I have discovered to my delight that I do not have to wait for a submitted indexed recipe book to actually be approved before I can ask for (and be assigned) the next one. My submitted queue is currently two deep; I'm working on another of the very short books now, and will be entertained if I manage to get it three deep. I am finding this data entry very soothing. (Though I am also having an entire moment over the vegan cookie recipe entitled "Rrraw", developed in collaboration with the Rrraw Cacao Factory, featuring raw chocolate and raw cocoa powder and raw cacao nibs, that is then baked at 160°C.)
  3. ........... the internet just Provided someone's photo of a pet rabbit with googly eyes along its side. This is so perfectly engineered to A's interests that I'm kind of surprised it showed up in my feed because someone I actually know, who is not A, shared it.
  4. I think I had somehow not previously ever spent a significant amount of time removing dried peas from their pods? But one of this evening's distractions jobs (while A was removing the ratchets from the plywood in service of removing the plywood from the roof bars) was removing the pods from all the extremely dried-out peas for the purposes of being able to sow more of them next year, and... they go ping and twirl themselves up into neat little curls for broadcasting purposes? if you just look at them a bit funny? I somehow had NO IDEA about this and it's GREAT. (Somehow: all my attempts at growing significant quantities of drying peas have thus far failed dramatically.)
  5. While double-checking the series-internal order for Murderbot because I needed to remind myself which novella came next, I discovered the existence of another short story I had inexplicably been entirely unaware of... because apparently it's being published on the 11th (and possibly in Reactor Magazine on the 10th? According to at least one misc website...).
  6. A, eating tonight's curry, suddenly went "... oh :( I meant to stop off at the supermarket opposite the pharmacy and get some lassi :(" (the last several places they have expected to be able to get salt lassi from having Not Provided). I, who had been aware of the Why Will Nobody Sell Me This problem, had been vaguely intending to get around to just making some and, up until this sad oh-ing, had been singularly failing to actually, you know, do so. But five minutes later A had acceptable salt lassi, and it was really nice to be able to Just Produce a Treet.
  7. First couple of really good blackberries, and lots more raspberries, while at the plot. (There have been blackberries for a week or so now provided you didn't mind that despite the fact they were black they weren't actually quite done ripening... but apparently Just Enough more time has now elapsed!)
  8. Facebook showing me the Mayor of London emphatically posting, as a caption to a photo containing at least 44 Progress Pride flags, "In our city you are free to be whoever you want to be, and love whoever you want to love. We must take a stand against those seeking to roll back hard-won rights."
  9. Tomorrow morning's elaborate breakfast plans are cherry clafoutis, with allotment cherries. (And then while the oven's on I'll bake the bread.)
  10. We are doing a pretty good job this week of remembering that mutual social grooming is good for us, and therefore actually managing brushing each other's hair first thing in the morning. Which for bonus points I am attempting to actively engage with as somatosensory rehabilitation, because I am having Thoughts about my constant background headache, and doing science on myself is my idea of a good time.

Bonuses (oh hey this practice is working): pink gooseberries -- plus yoghurt and hazelnuts, but also by themselves. tomatoes setting fruit. Murderbot novellas. fiddling with pens as fidget. The Fan made this afternoon's 28°C (or at least the bits of it I was awake for) much less unpleasant. A has just set the bat detector up and it's Detected A Bat!

Murderbot 1x09

Jul. 4th, 2025 04:01 pm
petra: Cartoon of an overexcited airline steward with the text: You're always playing Yellow Car. (Cabin Pressure - Yellow Car)
[personal profile] petra
Spoilers )
petra: Text on a blue background: "The only way to go on is to go on." (DWJ - The only way to go on)
[personal profile] petra
I am deeply ashamed of my country.

Time to go have a party with a group of queer people who are similarly appalled, because we can't do anything but keep on going as our authentic, pissed-off selves.

Begging :(

Jul. 4th, 2025 12:41 pm
mickeym: (Default)
[personal profile] mickeym
We are struggling a lot right now. Me, Matthew and Madisyn. Madisyn is now working. I'm doing my best to find something for Matthew. In the meantime, we're short money for our electric bill, internet, and groceries. If anyone can help out, even just a little, it would be so appreciated.

I am so sorry to do this. It's beyond humiliating, and it makes me soul weary. We'll hit up the food banks on Monday, but they don't (usually) do meat, cheese, milk, eggs. So, yeah. If you can spare a little, we would be grateful.

We have a paypal account, you can send it there: kimandmatt6794@gmail.com

Thank you.
beanside: (Default)
[personal profile] beanside
I am very sore today. We got a new vacuum and it's a bit heavier than the stick vacuum that we had, and I may have overdid it. (I know, me?) And now, my back is seriously pissed off. Today will be a day for mostly sitting still, I think. I was considering going to the pool, but I think that'll wait til tomorrow or Sunday. I'm hoping it clears up by tomorrow, since I have shit to get done.

One of the empty apartments or something has a smoke alarm that's on battery low, and it's chirping loudly, which is freaking out Yoda. He hasn't been on a full walk since yesterday morning, and it's stressing us all out. Jess is taking him now, so hopefully he actually does some business. Addendum, nope. No business was done. We'll try driving him somewhere and see if helps.

Yesterday felt like a long day at work. We were surprisingly busy, and I just was not feeling it. I persevered and got shit done, but it was a lot. I don't have to work this weekend, so I have a glorious three days off. Then a 3 day week next week! (one day off, and 2 half days.)

My skirts are coming on Tuesday, so I'm looking forward to that. I'm cutting it a bit close, because if I need to go shopping, I've only got a couple of hours on Wednesday and the afternoon and evening on Thursday. I'm going to be up at ass o'clock for that meeting, since I need to get downtown. I don't know what time the meeting starts, so I can't really plot yet. I'm supposed to get an invite next week. If it starts at 9, which is what I'm hoping, I'll leave at 7:15, so I can get down, and go to pick up my badge. I should get a lanyard, in case they don't give me one. It might be an alligator clip, I have no idea.

We definitely will need to do some wash on Thursday, either before or after game. I am going to be stinky as fuck after Ghost. I figure shower first thing in the morning, because we'll be sneaking in. Then we can wash all the dirty clothes, and be ready for the meeting on Friday.

Today, though, I'm going to go put on clothes and see if the dog will go for a ride. or a walk. I'm not picky. Everyone have an amazing Fourth!
beanside: (Default)
[personal profile] beanside
Last day of work for the week. Yesterday we put up the second half of our pantry unit, which is shelves. I'm slowly starting to move things over there, and figuring out where everything needs to go. I love feeling organized and having my counter space.

CONfab is virtual this year, and Programming submissions are open!!. If you have a panel you want to see or that you want to run, go put it in! I had a lot of fun with the con last year, and I'll almost certainly be DMing a one shot at some point during the weekend!

I saw an info graphic that July 2 is the halfway point of 2025. Which means that today we're closer to 2050 than 2000. I dried up like the crypt keeper and felt ancient for a while.

Last night, we had hot pot. I bought a hot pot container that has two compartments, and then went on Weee! and bough the meats to cook. It's super fun, and I highly recommend doing it. Grab a few sauces and go for it. Fair warning, wear a shirt you don't like, because shit will get dropped on it.

Then, we had a game, Blades in the Dark, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I'm tying in a little bit of backstory, which is alway fun. Tomorrow we have Frostmaiden, which will also be cool.

Sunday, I'm beginning a new game, which is always nervewracking. It's fully homebrew which is doubly nervewracking. I think it'll go well, but I always worry.

My new clothes for next week should come on Monday, but of course, the blazer that I wasn't even sure I wanted is coming today. The skirts and blouse are coming on Monday.

Okay, time to go forth and get myself together. Everyone have an amazing Thursday!

2 Old 2 Guard

Jul. 2nd, 2025 07:08 pm
petra: Barbara Gordon smiling knowingly (Default)
[personal profile] petra
Tl;dr: I liked it a lot.

Spoilers )

so that just happened

Jul. 2nd, 2025 08:26 pm
mickeym: (misc_stabbity stab)
[personal profile] mickeym
I just got a lecture -- voiced as a "concern" -- about overdrafting my checking account to buy groceries. This from someone who just overdrafted HER bank account so she could cook a "romantic, date-night meal" for her girlfriend, and she got some fireworks for Friday.

And then she fussed about how if we buy "too many groceries" it won't leave room for their groceries in the fridge, and what if my account gets shut down, and then if we get kicked out, where are THEY going to live, and on and on.

RENT IS PAID. And I'd like to eat for the next several weeks. Do I want to overdraft my account? No, I don't. Is it a smart move? No, but I'm out of money. And it's none of her fucking business, in any case. In six months, she and Megan have paid the water bill once, bought groceries twice, maybe three times (and I overdrafted my account at least twice to buy groceries when we were still buying for them, too), and paid exactly $200 in rent to us. We asked for $400, and they said no, they can't afford that, can it be $300... and then they haven't even paid for the full month of June. Maybe I wouldn't have to fucking overdraft my account if they helped fucking pay anything.

ten. good. things.

Jul. 2nd, 2025 11:22 pm
kaberett: Trans symbol with Swiss Army knife tools at other positions around the central circle. (Default)
[personal profile] kaberett

(Yeah I'm struggling with the ukpol news at the moment, and feeling especially bleak about this FOI response in particular. Maybe I will manage to pull together a post of useful "please write to your MP about the UC/PIP bill" tomorrow, given I've got them all open in tabs to do so anyway.)

Read more... )

The Way Up is Death, by Dan Hanks

Jul. 2nd, 2025 01:39 pm
rachelmanija: (Books: old)
[personal profile] rachelmanija


In a prologue that's very Terry Pratchett-esque without actually being funny, an enormous floating tower appears in England, becomes a 12-hour wonder, and is then forgotten as people have short attention spans. Then thirteen random people suddenly vanish from their lives and appear at the base of the tower, facing the command ASCEND.

I normally love stories about people dealing with inexplicable alien architecture. This was the most boring and unimaginative version of that idea I've ever read. Each level is a death trap based on something in one of their minds - a video game, The Poseidon Adventure, an old home - but less interesting than that sounds. The action was repetitive, the characters were paper-thin, and one, an already-dated influencer, was actively painful to read:

Time to give her the Alpha Male rizzzzzzz, baby!

The ending was, unsurprisingly, also a cliche.

Read more... )

Life advice

Jul. 2nd, 2025 04:35 pm
petra: A blonde woman with both hands over her face (Britta - Twohanded facepalm)
[personal profile] petra
Do not allow ants in your pants. They might bite you on the genitals, which would Really, Really Hurt. They do not make you fidgety; they make you miserable.

The Obsidian Tower by Melissa Caruso

Jul. 2nd, 2025 02:09 pm
lightreads: a partial image of a etymology tree for the Indo-European word 'leuk done in white neon on black'; in the lower left is (Default)
[personal profile] lightreads
The Obsidian Tower

3/5. Fantasy about the woman who is the one with apparently necromantic magic in a family of vivomancers, and what happens when the door her family has guarded for thousands of years (they have a stupid rhyme about it and everything) is opened.

I picked this up because I liked her more recent release. This has many of the same good elements: bisexual heroine, complex webs of relationships, actual politics, and interest in friendship and teamwork. But I did not like this one nearly so much. I am generally in a bad mood right now, so take this as you will, but the protag’s repeated emotional victimization by two-thirds of the people in the book (including herself), and how she takes on guilt for basically everything, and her self-sacrificing tendencies really irritated me. I imagine the arc of this trilogy will be towards better relationships and some actual self-worth but meh, I’m not along for the ride.

Content notes: Torture.

Hidden Nature by Nora Roberts

Jul. 2nd, 2025 12:51 pm
lightreads: a partial image of a etymology tree for the Indo-European word 'leuk done in white neon on black'; in the lower left is (Default)
[personal profile] lightreads
Hidden Nature

3/5. Her latest romantic suspense standalone about the woman recovering back in her home town after getting shot (she’s natural resources police). She gets interested in a series of disappearances, and also meets the new local contractor.

You know what’s the most starry-eyed fantasy of a Nora Roberts book? It’s not the romance – this one is rather lifeless. It’s not even the ubiquity of honest and dedicated cops (she put a black cop in this one, you guys, if you’re keeping track of Nora Roberts’s flailing and minuscule attempts to grapple with her career of coppaganda).

No, the biggest fantasy is of home renovation that is quick, easy, successful, and beautiful. Mostly done, in this case, by a guy who apparently . . . learned his trade skills in a summer with Habitat for Humanity and that’s it? I have concerns.

Content notes: Violence, murder, usual killer POV grossness.

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