What's goin' on on the floor? I love this record, baby, but I can't see straight anymore
Jul. 7th, 2025 05:52 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
beansideWelcome to T's short week! Sadly, Monday and Tuesday are not two of the short days. I'm sure it's going to be bugfuck, being the Monday after a long weekened. I'm not looking forward to it. I could use another hour of naptime, since Boodle kindly started waking me up at 4am. Little fucker. I rudely picked her up and put her off the bed, multiple times, because I was not ready to get up. Last I saw her, she was sulking over the 5am round wherne I nudged her off me yet again. I am a little bit yawn-y. Oh well. It'll improve soon.
Yesterday was a fun day. First up, we had game withcoyotegestalt during which I inadvertently changed the entire course of the game, because DM's are chaos muppets every time. It may end up TPKing the party, but whatever, it was hilarious.
After a little while, I went to the pool for a little while and did some swimming. Of course, I realized while I was swimming that I forgot to wear sunscreen, so I cut that trip short, but it was still fun.
Then, we had some quiet time, and then I DMed for the homebrew. It went well, though we didn't get into it as far as we could have. It's a fairly large group, and the battle took a little longer than I'd planned on.
This week will be very busy. But first two days of normal work. Then the beat drops, and we get ready to go forth and get our ears blown out. (not really, we have earplugs.) I really love Ghost, but I'm not willing to lose hearing over them. But, I'm really looking forward to it. I'm just hoping there's no visa problems for the band. We'll see. We're going to take a sedan car down, because I don't feel like fighting traffic on he way down or the parking garage on the way out.
I got all my clothes and washed them, so I'm ready for Friday. I've got all my good stuff. A nice teal blouse, a pencil skirt, nice shoes, and some nice copper colored nail polish coming that will look striking against the shirt, and match the eye makeup I'm going to use. Fingers crossed that everything goes well.
And on that note,I'm going to hop off and get myself together, maybe lay down for another half hour. Everyone have the very best Monday!
Yesterday was a fun day. First up, we had game with
coyotegestalt during which I inadvertently changed the entire course of the game, because DM's are chaos muppets every time. It may end up TPKing the party, but whatever, it was hilarious. After a little while, I went to the pool for a little while and did some swimming. Of course, I realized while I was swimming that I forgot to wear sunscreen, so I cut that trip short, but it was still fun.
Then, we had some quiet time, and then I DMed for the homebrew. It went well, though we didn't get into it as far as we could have. It's a fairly large group, and the battle took a little longer than I'd planned on.
This week will be very busy. But first two days of normal work. Then the beat drops, and we get ready to go forth and get our ears blown out. (not really, we have earplugs.) I really love Ghost, but I'm not willing to lose hearing over them. But, I'm really looking forward to it. I'm just hoping there's no visa problems for the band. We'll see. We're going to take a sedan car down, because I don't feel like fighting traffic on he way down or the parking garage on the way out.
I got all my clothes and washed them, so I'm ready for Friday. I've got all my good stuff. A nice teal blouse, a pencil skirt, nice shoes, and some nice copper colored nail polish coming that will look striking against the shirt, and match the eye makeup I'm going to use. Fingers crossed that everything goes well.
And on that note,I'm going to hop off and get myself together, maybe lay down for another half hour. Everyone have the very best Monday!
Bloody Game
Jul. 7th, 2025 07:29 amscaramoucheI caved! Sort of. I didn't really want to watch the rest of Bloody Game's season 1, but based on the episode thumbnails it looked like the cast who got sent to the basement would be able to get out, and I was curious how it happened. So I ended up skipping through the rest of the episodes to find out how the switch happens (which is that once the two groups have equal numbers, the games turn into team matches instead of individual ones) and who gets eliminated along the way to the finale. I also watched bits of two games: the math expression game and the mine betting game.
A couple of takeaways! The have vs. have-nots situation was IMO handled better here than in The Devil's Plan's season 2, because upward mobility was not dependent on an accumulative mechanic, i.e. the haves do not already have an advantage going in to the games that helps them stay on top. I think also having them play as teams (basement vs. ground) instead of as individuals forces the basement players to not sabotage each other crab-bucket style, though of course it also means that reward and punishment is collective, and they could have just as easily lost all the team challenges. Still, I got the feeling that the gamemakers took care to make sure the basement players got multiple chances to turn things around, even before the team matches started, but the players were unable to take full advantage of them, eg. they didn't solve the black puzzle that Na-yeong had since day 1, which is why I think they gave them the safe as a back-up. (As a puzzle person, I'm like, sure it's one colour and the pieces are in an unusual configuration, but it's not that big! But... I am a puzzle person.)
( Cut for length, aka I can't believe I'm watching enough of this genre to have opinions )
A couple of takeaways! The have vs. have-nots situation was IMO handled better here than in The Devil's Plan's season 2, because upward mobility was not dependent on an accumulative mechanic, i.e. the haves do not already have an advantage going in to the games that helps them stay on top. I think also having them play as teams (basement vs. ground) instead of as individuals forces the basement players to not sabotage each other crab-bucket style, though of course it also means that reward and punishment is collective, and they could have just as easily lost all the team challenges. Still, I got the feeling that the gamemakers took care to make sure the basement players got multiple chances to turn things around, even before the team matches started, but the players were unable to take full advantage of them, eg. they didn't solve the black puzzle that Na-yeong had since day 1, which is why I think they gave them the safe as a back-up. (As a puzzle person, I'm like, sure it's one colour and the pieces are in an unusual configuration, but it's not that big! But... I am a puzzle person.)
( Cut for length, aka I can't believe I'm watching enough of this genre to have opinions )
The Pitt Fic: Those We Carry With Us (Abbot/Robby, NC-17)
Jul. 6th, 2025 11:04 amalethiaThose We Carry With Us (10028 words) by Alethia
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Pitt (TV)
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Jack Abbot/Michael "Robby" Robinavitch
Characters: Jack Abbot (The Pitt), Michael "Robby" Robinavitch
Additional Tags: Pre-Season/Series 01, COVID-19 Pandemic, COVID-19 Lockdown, Grief/Mourning, First Kiss, First Time, Porn, adamson's death, creative uses of stethoscopes
Summary:
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Pitt (TV)
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Jack Abbot/Michael "Robby" Robinavitch
Characters: Jack Abbot (The Pitt), Michael "Robby" Robinavitch
Additional Tags: Pre-Season/Series 01, COVID-19 Pandemic, COVID-19 Lockdown, Grief/Mourning, First Kiss, First Time, Porn, adamson's death, creative uses of stethoscopes
Summary:
Gifting someone a stethoscope at a milestone was very traditional, he knew, but some traditions should be observed. They kept you anchored to something greater than yourself. And this one was just...warm. Jack always thought of the people who'd given him his steths—Colonel Jacquemin, who'd gifted him his first Littmann when he finished residency, or Lizzie, who'd given him his current Littmann III when Adamson hired him as an attending. It was a reminder of the people who loved you, believed in you, helped you along the way, a physical token of those you carried with you.
Sure, maybe it wasn't exactly Jack's place to give one to Robby, more properly the domain of family or mentors. If Adamson had lived to retire, he would've gifted Robby a steth to celebrate his promotion, Jack was sure. Robby's family was gone, so that wasn't an option, and Jack would be damned if Robby's elevation to one of the highest posts in their field would go uncelebrated.
Like a stream that meets a boulder halfway through the wood.
Jul. 6th, 2025 06:20 ambeansideI am up super early after another late night. There were still fuckers playing with fireworks last ngiht, and the dog was flipping out. We're going to have to take him to the vet and get his shots, and get some better anti anxiety meds, because the Prozac isn't doing shit.
He's been just a ball of stress the last four or five days, between the beeping and now the fireworks. Just Jebus on a pogo stick, it's sucked. I was in tears listening to him cry last night and scratch the door.
Aside from that, it was an okay day. We had a nice lunch. Were not able to get the cat's ashes. Apparently the director's son is in the hospital, and things are backed up. It would have been super helpful to to know that before I wasted the gas to go down there, but it's okay. I 100% understand that life gets in the way.
Jess had a game last night, here Strixhaven game which sounded fun. Though, there was some mumbling about "here comes the consequences of my own actions," which always sounds delightful.
Today, we have a game in the morning, run bycoyotegestalt and then we're restarting a former game, with me dming. This is another one of my homebrew worlds, which I'm nervous about, but also excited.
I'm almost done with the game, simply need to make one more character and I will be ready to go. I'm nervous, because this is all homebrew, so I'm very much hoping that they like it. The other server really enjoyed it, so the pressure is on to make this as engaging.
On that note, I'm going to go put on some clothes and consider breakfast. Everyone have an amazing Sunday!
He's been just a ball of stress the last four or five days, between the beeping and now the fireworks. Just Jebus on a pogo stick, it's sucked. I was in tears listening to him cry last night and scratch the door.
Aside from that, it was an okay day. We had a nice lunch. Were not able to get the cat's ashes. Apparently the director's son is in the hospital, and things are backed up. It would have been super helpful to to know that before I wasted the gas to go down there, but it's okay. I 100% understand that life gets in the way.
Jess had a game last night, here Strixhaven game which sounded fun. Though, there was some mumbling about "here comes the consequences of my own actions," which always sounds delightful.
Today, we have a game in the morning, run by
coyotegestalt and then we're restarting a former game, with me dming. This is another one of my homebrew worlds, which I'm nervous about, but also excited. I'm almost done with the game, simply need to make one more character and I will be ready to go. I'm nervous, because this is all homebrew, so I'm very much hoping that they like it. The other server really enjoyed it, so the pressure is on to make this as engaging.
On that note, I'm going to go put on some clothes and consider breakfast. Everyone have an amazing Sunday!
(no subject)
Jul. 6th, 2025 10:43 amturpsI had such a good time at Hamilton last night. We had really good seats, and I was caught up for the whole performance. Just, wow. It's a show I'd watch again for sure.
I did have a tall guy sitting directly in front of me, but as I had a centre aisle seat it was easy enough to see past him. But what did have the potential to spoil things was the woman sitting directly behind me. She obviously loved Hamilton, knew all the words, but had also obviously been drinking before arriving. She wasn't aggressive or anything, but when she lost her vape caused a fuss and was being really loud about finding it, then was extra loud and OTT, saying she wanted to wed him when a man in the row behind her actually did find it.
She kept kicking my seat, and singing along with the show, until one of the ushers had to come to tell her to quieten down as people wanted to hear the performers not her. She was quiet then, but then had to be warned again in the second half, this time being asked to come have a word away from the seats, and that time didn't come back.
Challenge #2
Tunnel of Love
Journaling: The romance of summer! What do you love? Write about anything you feel sentimental about or that gets your heart pumping.
Creative: Write a love poem to anyone or anything you like
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 saw this challenge last night and had been thinking what to reply, because I love lots of things. My husband, my son, my family and friends, cats, the beach, the theatre, the cinema, over priced coffees,Christmas films, the list goes on. Then I got a comment about an old fic and I realised what I could focus on, especially as it nails the sentimental part.
The comment was about my Nsync fic, What It Says On the Can, and therefore, my answer will be popslash. ( read more )
I did have a tall guy sitting directly in front of me, but as I had a centre aisle seat it was easy enough to see past him. But what did have the potential to spoil things was the woman sitting directly behind me. She obviously loved Hamilton, knew all the words, but had also obviously been drinking before arriving. She wasn't aggressive or anything, but when she lost her vape caused a fuss and was being really loud about finding it, then was extra loud and OTT, saying she wanted to wed him when a man in the row behind her actually did find it.
She kept kicking my seat, and singing along with the show, until one of the ushers had to come to tell her to quieten down as people wanted to hear the performers not her. She was quiet then, but then had to be warned again in the second half, this time being asked to come have a word away from the seats, and that time didn't come back.
Challenge #2
Tunnel of Love
Journaling: The romance of summer! What do you love? Write about anything you feel sentimental about or that gets your heart pumping.
Creative: Write a love poem to anyone or anything you like
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 saw this challenge last night and had been thinking what to reply, because I love lots of things. My husband, my son, my family and friends, cats, the beach, the theatre, the cinema, over priced coffees,Christmas films, the list goes on. Then I got a comment about an old fic and I realised what I could focus on, especially as it nails the sentimental part.
The comment was about my Nsync fic, What It Says On the Can, and therefore, my answer will be popslash. ( read more )
[From Litha to Lammas]: Serpentwined, gen, sequel to Tread Among Serpents, 1/6, PG-13
Jul. 5th, 2025 08:01 pmlomonaaerenTitle: Serpentwined
Disclaimer: J. K. Rowling and associates own these characters. I am writing this story for fun and not profit.
Pairings: Gen, other than discussion of past James/Lily
Rating: PG-13
Content Notes: AU (Harry is in Slytherin), Parseltongue, blood prejudice, angst, drama, minor violence, multiple points-of-view
Summary: AU. Harry has revealed his Parseltongue publicly and been Sorted into Slytherin, and now he has to deal with people who want to use him, people who despise him, and people who don’t know what to do with him. Oh, and some people who want to be his friends. In the meantime, Harry continues his personal quest to redeem the reputation of Parseltongue. Sequel to “Tread Among Serpents.”
Author’s Notes: This is the third story of my “From Litha to Lammas” series being posted between Midsummer and the first of August. It should have five to seven parts. You really should read “Tread Among Serpents” first.
( Read more... )
Disclaimer: J. K. Rowling and associates own these characters. I am writing this story for fun and not profit.
Pairings: Gen, other than discussion of past James/Lily
Rating: PG-13
Content Notes: AU (Harry is in Slytherin), Parseltongue, blood prejudice, angst, drama, minor violence, multiple points-of-view
Summary: AU. Harry has revealed his Parseltongue publicly and been Sorted into Slytherin, and now he has to deal with people who want to use him, people who despise him, and people who don’t know what to do with him. Oh, and some people who want to be his friends. In the meantime, Harry continues his personal quest to redeem the reputation of Parseltongue. Sequel to “Tread Among Serpents.”
Author’s Notes: This is the third story of my “From Litha to Lammas” series being posted between Midsummer and the first of August. It should have five to seven parts. You really should read “Tread Among Serpents” first.
( Read more... )
(no subject)
Jul. 5th, 2025 03:31 pmturpsWe ran out of yoghurt this morning, so instead of our usual Sunday morning, be there for opening, visit to Company Shop we went earlier. Only to be quickly reminded of previous vows to myself not to shop there on a Saturday at prime time. So many people in a relatively small place, and they didn't even have any good bargains to show for it. Well, not until we were at the checkout, when one of the ladies we know came out pushing four crates of frozen Magnum lollies. She stopped to talk to James, he asked how much the lollies were, and when told 6 for £1 he asked if he could have six. So, she left the crates next to us, which was great at we got our lollies. But not so great that we almost got trampled by all the other people zooming in for the goodies.
The h/c exchange stories have gone live and I need to check out the archive and see what's there.
It was a Bodhisitting day yesterday, the first long one I've had for a while. It also included watching the new kittens, who have now changed names because it turns out one of the girls is actually a boy. So, Millie and Mollie are now Aslan and Panda. They are adorable though, and spent the day causing havoc, then sleeping, causing more havoc, sleeping, the pattern went on.
That's them with Miah, who now thinks she's a mama cat. Megan meanwhile, just growls and keeps out of the way
Everything in the garden is growing nicely, and I've been picking fresh strawberries and raspberries already. Turns out the courgette I've been carefully tending in the greenhouse is actually a cucumber, though. How that happened I really don't know as I can't remember planting cucumber seeds. That also means I have no courgette plants at all this year.
I watched the season finale of Taskmaster and was pleased with the winner. I've enjoyed this season a lot, and of course was eager to see who is appearing next season. Out of everyone on there I only really know Maisie Adam, but that's the case most times, and I usually end up enjoying them all by the end.
We're off to the theatre tonight to see Hamilton, so I should get off my backside and get changed soon. Normally we'd go for a meal beforehand but it's just drinks tonight, still, I'm looking forward to the show.
The h/c exchange stories have gone live and I need to check out the archive and see what's there.
It was a Bodhisitting day yesterday, the first long one I've had for a while. It also included watching the new kittens, who have now changed names because it turns out one of the girls is actually a boy. So, Millie and Mollie are now Aslan and Panda. They are adorable though, and spent the day causing havoc, then sleeping, causing more havoc, sleeping, the pattern went on.
That's them with Miah, who now thinks she's a mama cat. Megan meanwhile, just growls and keeps out of the way
Everything in the garden is growing nicely, and I've been picking fresh strawberries and raspberries already. Turns out the courgette I've been carefully tending in the greenhouse is actually a cucumber, though. How that happened I really don't know as I can't remember planting cucumber seeds. That also means I have no courgette plants at all this year.
I watched the season finale of Taskmaster and was pleased with the winner. I've enjoyed this season a lot, and of course was eager to see who is appearing next season. Out of everyone on there I only really know Maisie Adam, but that's the case most times, and I usually end up enjoying them all by the end.
We're off to the theatre tonight to see Hamilton, so I should get off my backside and get changed soon. Normally we'd go for a meal beforehand but it's just drinks tonight, still, I'm looking forward to the show.
You were the sunshine of my lifetime, what would you trade the pain for?
Jul. 5th, 2025 07:49 ambeansideI 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!
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!
Barbara Kingsolver: Demon Copperhead (Book Review)
Jul. 5th, 2025 10:59 amselenakAka a 2022 novel set in the Appalachians during the late 1990s and early 2000s with the euphemistically called "Opiod Crisis" very much a main theme, and simultanously a modern adaptation of David Copperfield by Charles Dickens. The last Copperfield adaptation I had seen or read was the Iannucci movie starring Dev Patel in the title role which emphasized the humor and vitality of the novel and succeeded splendidly, but had to cut down the darker elements in order to do so, with the breathneck speed of a two hours mvie based on a many hundred pages novel helping with that. Demon Copperhead took the reverse approach; it's all the darkness magnified - helped by the fact this is also a many hundred pages novel - but nearly no humor. Both adaptations emphasize the social injustice of the various systems they're depicting. Both had to do some considerable flashing out when it comes to Dickens's first person narrator. No one has ever argued that David is the most interesting character in David Copperfield. As long as he's still a child, this isn't noticable because David going from coddled and much beloved kid to abused and exploited kid makes for a powerful emotional arc. (BTW, I was fascinated to learn back when I was reading Claire Tomalin's Dickens biography that Dickens was influenced by Jane Eyre in this; Charlotte Bronte's novel convinced him to go for a first person narration - which he hadn't tried before - and the two abused and outraged child narrators who describe what scares and elates them incredibly vividly do have a lot on common.) But once he's an adult, it often feels like he's telling other people's stories (very well, I hasten to add) in which he's only on the periphery, except for his love life. The movie solved this by giving David - who is autobiographically inspired anyway - some more of Dickens`s on life and qualities. Demon Copperhead solves it by a) putting most of the part of the Dickens plot when David is already an adult to when Damon/Demon is still a teenager (he only becomes a legal adult near the end), b) by making Damon as a narrator a whole lot angrier than David, and c) by letting him fall to what is nearly everyone else's problem as well, addiction.
( Spoilers ensue about both novels )
In conclusion: this was a compelling novel but tough to read due to the subject and the unrelenting grimness. I'm not saying you should treat the horrible neglect and exploitation of children and the way a rotten health system allowed half the population to become addicts irreverently, but tone wise, this is more Hard Times than David Copperfield, and sometimes I wished for some breathing space in between the horrors. But I am glad to have read it.
( Spoilers ensue about both novels )
In conclusion: this was a compelling novel but tough to read due to the subject and the unrelenting grimness. I'm not saying you should treat the horrible neglect and exploitation of children and the way a rotten health system allowed half the population to become addicts irreverently, but tone wise, this is more Hard Times than David Copperfield, and sometimes I wished for some breathing space in between the horrors. But I am glad to have read it.
Book Log: Laughing All the Way to the Mosque
Jul. 5th, 2025 09:31 amscaramoucheThis was such a quick read, I literally started and finished it while waiting for my car service to be completed. It's a humourous semi-memoir by Zarqa Nawaz, creator of Little Mosque on the Prairie, a Muslim Pakistani-Canadian who has an irreverent view of life. I say it's a semi-memoir because the stories in her book are totally embellished one way or another to the polished sheen of a tumblr post or stand up routine, and that's fine, it doesn't offer accuracy, only self-deprecating neurotic humour and emotional insight of her experience as a Muslim woman in a Western world.
I laughed a lot, I cringed a lot, I went "oh nooooo" a lot, but I also got some useful understanding here and there to chew on. Zarqa details growing up the only brown girl in her school and envying the blonde white girls who wore miniskirts, wrestling with body hair, using religion as the means to rebel at her parents, dealing with family expectations regarding her career and marriage, and her various misadventures in journalism, amateur filmmaking, making waves in her local community and eventually kicking off Little Mosque on the Prairie. The kernels of the stories may be true but parts where she details her cluelessness (like her being unprepared for her journalism interview, or Hajj, or cooking for Eid) made me so stressed on her behalf, but her successes are also fun to read about, and there is freshness, I suppose, in Zarqa detailing the many many things that went wrong on the way to learning something about herself. There's an Ally McBeal kind of feel in her confidence to do things her way and fall flat on her face as she does.
It's a good thing by now I've read enough books by Muslim peeps who live in the Western world, so I'm not as alienated by their expressions of faith as a modern person in the modern world. I think the best thing was a few books back that pinpointed our specific SEA-flavour being influenced by animism and it's like, YES THERE'S A TERM FOR IT. So I can read Zarqa stating that "Muslims don't believe in ghosts" and just be like, speak for yourself, sister! (Instead of getting hurt and confused.)
I laughed a lot, I cringed a lot, I went "oh nooooo" a lot, but I also got some useful understanding here and there to chew on. Zarqa details growing up the only brown girl in her school and envying the blonde white girls who wore miniskirts, wrestling with body hair, using religion as the means to rebel at her parents, dealing with family expectations regarding her career and marriage, and her various misadventures in journalism, amateur filmmaking, making waves in her local community and eventually kicking off Little Mosque on the Prairie. The kernels of the stories may be true but parts where she details her cluelessness (like her being unprepared for her journalism interview, or Hajj, or cooking for Eid) made me so stressed on her behalf, but her successes are also fun to read about, and there is freshness, I suppose, in Zarqa detailing the many many things that went wrong on the way to learning something about herself. There's an Ally McBeal kind of feel in her confidence to do things her way and fall flat on her face as she does.
It's a good thing by now I've read enough books by Muslim peeps who live in the Western world, so I'm not as alienated by their expressions of faith as a modern person in the modern world. I think the best thing was a few books back that pinpointed our specific SEA-flavour being influenced by animism and it's like, YES THERE'S A TERM FOR IT. So I can read Zarqa stating that "Muslims don't believe in ghosts" and just be like, speak for yourself, sister! (Instead of getting hurt and confused.)
beansideI 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!
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!
[From Litha to Lammas]: Having No Objections, Harry/Theo preslash, 6/6, PG-13
Jul. 3rd, 2025 11:35 pmBloody Game
Jul. 4th, 2025 11:09 amscaramoucheI didn't finish watching The Devil's Plan season 2, but I did see other shows similar to TDP and The Genius mentioned in various discussion spaces - reddit, youtube and Taran's patreon. Bloody Game in particular got recced a lot, with people saying to skip seasons 1 and 2, and head on straight to 3, which they say has a bigger budget and is presumably more exciting.
A reddit comment linked to an online stream, so I watched a few minutes of Bloody Game season's 3 before deciding I should watch season 1 instead, so I'd know the format of the show going in, the way that the season 3 players obviously did. Season 1 appeared to be similar to The Devil's Plan in that the players are made to live together over a short period of time and play games each day, but there are some differences in that format as well. (Note: TG aired over 2013-2015, BG over 2021-2023, and TDP over 2023-2025.)
Unfortunately I got a few episodes into BG's season 1 when I realized that the ratio of game : social was way more weighted to the social aspect, i.e. the mechanism where players vote who gets kicked out of the main house Survivor-style means that a great deal of time is spent following negotiations and alliance plotting, which I just don't care about as much. TDP and The Genius are more my thing because eliminations are based on gameplay, so negotiations do play a part but happen simultaneously with the games and can get derailed by gameplay.
( Spoilers for Bloody Game season 1. )
I hoped that Taran would cover Bloody Game because then I'd get to follow an abridged version of that show with his entertaining commentary on top, but he's decided to start commentating on the OG The Genius instead. Which is great because I get to experience that show again, but leaves my Bloody Game consumption hanging.
A reddit comment linked to an online stream, so I watched a few minutes of Bloody Game season's 3 before deciding I should watch season 1 instead, so I'd know the format of the show going in, the way that the season 3 players obviously did. Season 1 appeared to be similar to The Devil's Plan in that the players are made to live together over a short period of time and play games each day, but there are some differences in that format as well. (Note: TG aired over 2013-2015, BG over 2021-2023, and TDP over 2023-2025.)
Unfortunately I got a few episodes into BG's season 1 when I realized that the ratio of game : social was way more weighted to the social aspect, i.e. the mechanism where players vote who gets kicked out of the main house Survivor-style means that a great deal of time is spent following negotiations and alliance plotting, which I just don't care about as much. TDP and The Genius are more my thing because eliminations are based on gameplay, so negotiations do play a part but happen simultaneously with the games and can get derailed by gameplay.
( Spoilers for Bloody Game season 1. )
I hoped that Taran would cover Bloody Game because then I'd get to follow an abridged version of that show with his entertaining commentary on top, but he's decided to start commentating on the OG The Genius instead. Which is great because I get to experience that show again, but leaves my Bloody Game consumption hanging.
We're hiding here inside a dream and all our doubts are now destroyed
Jul. 3rd, 2025 05:47 ambeansideLast 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!
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!