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Wednesday, December 24th, 2025 09:36 am
Happy birthday, ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
troisoiseaux!
troisoiseaux!
Wednesday, December 24th, 2025 08:49 am
A reminder from your humble amanuensis that a little seasonal treat, The Cathcart Apocrypha Volume 6, Times Changing Belowstairs, or, Circumstances Alter, is now downloadable from the website.
Merry wassails, and be careful when playing snapdragon!
Merry wassails, and be careful when playing snapdragon!
Wednesday, December 24th, 2025 08:26 am
It's challenge time!
Comment with Just One Thing you've accomplished in the last 24 hours or so. It doesn't have to be a hard thing, or even a thing that you think is particularly awesome. Just a thing that you did.
Feel free to share more than one thing if you're feeling particularly accomplished! Extra credit: find someone in the comments and give them props for what they achieved!
Nothing is too big, too small, too strange or too cryptic. And in case you'd rather do this in private, anonymous comments are screened. I will only unscreen if you ask me to.
Go!
Comment with Just One Thing you've accomplished in the last 24 hours or so. It doesn't have to be a hard thing, or even a thing that you think is particularly awesome. Just a thing that you did.
Feel free to share more than one thing if you're feeling particularly accomplished! Extra credit: find someone in the comments and give them props for what they achieved!
Nothing is too big, too small, too strange or too cryptic. And in case you'd rather do this in private, anonymous comments are screened. I will only unscreen if you ask me to.
Go!
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Wednesday, December 24th, 2025 08:16 am
Will saw there only a gap in the crowd, with beyond it the group of musicians. As he stood there, they struck up once more 'Good King Wenceslas', the carol they had been playing when first he entered the room, through the Doors. Merrily the whole gathering joined in singing, and then the next verse came and Merriman's deep voice was ringing out across the room, and Will realised, blinking, that the verse to come was his.
He drew breath, and raised his head.
Sire he lives a good league hence,
Underneath the mountain ...
And there was no moment of farewell, no moment in which he saw the nineteenth century vanish away, but suddenly with no awareness of change, as he sang he knew that Time had somehow blinked, and another young voice was singing with him, the two of them so nearly simultaneous that anyone who could not see the lips moving would have sworn that it was one boy's voice alone . . .
[...]
On Christmas night, Will always slept with James. Both twin beds were still in James's room from the time before Will had moved up to Stephen's attic. The only difference now was that James kept Will's old bed piled with op art cushions, and referred to it as 'my chaise longue'. There was something about Christmas Eve, they both felt, that demanded company; one needed somebody to whisper to, during the warm beautiful dream-taut moments between hanging the empty stocking at the end of the bed, and dropping into the cosy oblivion that would flower into the marvel of Christmas morning.
And it was the same as it always was, as he lay curled up happily in his snug wrappings, promising himself that he would stay awake, until, until...
... until he woke, in the dim morning room with a glimmer of light creeping round the dark square of the curtained window, and saw and heard nothing for an enchanted expectant space, because all his senses were concentrated on the weighty feel, over and around his blanketed feet, of strange bumps and corners and shapes that had not been there when he fell asleep. And it was Christmas Day.
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Wednesday, December 24th, 2025 08:10 am
I was too tired to have the focus for Dark Souls-ing in the last few days, so binge-played 1000xResist and now I feel like I'm been punched in the head.
Basically a walking simulator/visual novel, so don't go expecting complex gameplay, but HOLY FUCK.
For all of you looking for fiction with fucked-up complicated women who are somewhere on a spectrum from "morally grey" to "evil but sympathetic" (with the odd dip into "idealistic but destructive") having fucked-up dynamics with other fucked-up complicated women: 1000xResist has SO MANY of them. It has almost no characters who don't fit that archetype, in fact.
(I considered whether it passes the reverse-Bechdel test -- i.e. two male characters have a conversation that's not about a woman -- and I think it may juuust scrape past in a 5-second exchange in one of the flashbacks, but barely. There are very very few men in this story, for plot-related reasons.)
I found out afterwards that the development team were a devised theatre group who decided to start making a game when everything was shut down during the pandemic, and somehow this fully checks out (complimentary).
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1675830/1000xRESIST/ (you can even pick it up in a bundle with Slay The Princess for bonus visual novel headfuck)
Do note the content notes from the devs: Photosensitivity Warning: Flashing Lights, Cursing and Crude Language, Generational Trauma, Acts of Violence and Terrorism, Disease Outbreak, Mention of Suicide, Mention of Animal Cruelty/Pet Death, Blood, Body Horror, Emotional Abuse, Bullying, Dead Bodies, Vomit, Drowning, Fire, Gore, Needles, Racism and General Mature Content.
(I would also add a specific note for torture, and for fucked-up mother-daughter and sister-sister relationships, that being one of the core elements of the game, along with the aforementioned generational trauma.)
Basically a walking simulator/visual novel, so don't go expecting complex gameplay, but HOLY FUCK.
For all of you looking for fiction with fucked-up complicated women who are somewhere on a spectrum from "morally grey" to "evil but sympathetic" (with the odd dip into "idealistic but destructive") having fucked-up dynamics with other fucked-up complicated women: 1000xResist has SO MANY of them. It has almost no characters who don't fit that archetype, in fact.
(I considered whether it passes the reverse-Bechdel test -- i.e. two male characters have a conversation that's not about a woman -- and I think it may juuust scrape past in a 5-second exchange in one of the flashbacks, but barely. There are very very few men in this story, for plot-related reasons.)
I found out afterwards that the development team were a devised theatre group who decided to start making a game when everything was shut down during the pandemic, and somehow this fully checks out (complimentary).
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1675830/1000xRESIST/ (you can even pick it up in a bundle with Slay The Princess for bonus visual novel headfuck)
Do note the content notes from the devs: Photosensitivity Warning: Flashing Lights, Cursing and Crude Language, Generational Trauma, Acts of Violence and Terrorism, Disease Outbreak, Mention of Suicide, Mention of Animal Cruelty/Pet Death, Blood, Body Horror, Emotional Abuse, Bullying, Dead Bodies, Vomit, Drowning, Fire, Gore, Needles, Racism and General Mature Content.
(I would also add a specific note for torture, and for fucked-up mother-daughter and sister-sister relationships, that being one of the core elements of the game, along with the aforementioned generational trauma.)
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Tuesday, December 23rd, 2025 11:30 pm
It's December Days time again. This year, I have decided that I'm going to talk about skills and applications thereof, if for no other reason than because I am prone to both the fixed mindset and the downplaying of any skills that I might have obtained as not "real" skills because they do not fit some form of ideal.
( 23: Chaos )
( 23: Chaos )
Wednesday, December 24th, 2025 06:11 am
What's happening in the sky?
Tuesday, December 23rd, 2025 11:25 pm
It is still sleeting more than snowing here, but it sticks in the occasional patch of shadow. Farther from the water, it's frosting up like winter. The Ursids were washed out by this year's weather, but somewhere beyond the clouds they are still streaking light.
I spent a remarkable portion of this day having conversations related to employment, but one of them was a thorough delight. I hadn't known about the practical, ritual links of the Jewish Association for Death Education.
We lit the candle for my grandfather's yahrzeit, our ghost story for Christmas Eve.
I spent a remarkable portion of this day having conversations related to employment, but one of them was a thorough delight. I hadn't known about the practical, ritual links of the Jewish Association for Death Education.
We lit the candle for my grandfather's yahrzeit, our ghost story for Christmas Eve.
Tuesday, December 23rd, 2025 11:12 pm
Dear Miss Manners: Several years ago, a divorced woman exactly my age moved in next door. I liked her very much and tried to become friends with her. ( Read more... )
sourceTags:
Tuesday, December 23rd, 2025 09:21 pm
I just cleaned off the kitchen counter and put the last bowl/spatulas in the sink to soak (the dishwasher is already running, and all the cupcakes are cooked and 4 out of 5 frostings are made (I just finished the strawberry Swiss meringue buttercream) - tomorrow I will make the ganache and possibly also a whipped ganache (I've never done it with butter in it - does that make it more buttercream-ish?) just to change things up a bit.
Today, I baked the strawberry (doubled to make 80), apple cider (60), and funfetti (doubled to make 80) cupcakes - there could have been more funfetti, but not enough to fill a whole pan, so I didn't bother. I added cinnamon bits from King Arthur to the apple cider ones and dipped them in maple cinnamon sugar, which is a change, one that hopefully people will like.
I also discovered that the cupcake carriers I've had sitting in a box under a chair in my living room for a few months are the wrong size (they are for standard-sized cupcakes) so I only have 10 mini ones and I need 13, so I will use the some foil lasagna pans for my brother and sister and one of the kids - they'll get a few more cupcakes out of it, since the carriers hold 2 dozen but the 9 x 13" tray fits about 30. *hands* I'm just glad I still have a pack of them left to use; otherwise, I'd have been up a creek.
Tomorrow is Pipe-a-palooza 7: The Pipening! (yeah, it's kind of shocking to me I've been doing cupcakes for 7 years now - I started in 2019 - but I like it more than the chocolates [and it's also less time-consuming than the chocolates were] and I can't do ice creams anymore due to logistics, though they remain my all-time favorite of the homemade Christmas gifts I've done over the years.) Wish me luck! It's always the hardest part for me. Hopefully I will remember to take pictures to share afterwards.
Whoops, I started this entry an hour ago and got distracted by stuff like packing my overnight bag and refilling my water bottle etc. so I'm just gonna hit post now and work up the energy to go wash my hair.
***
( 6-day plan, day 5 )
***
Today, I baked the strawberry (doubled to make 80), apple cider (60), and funfetti (doubled to make 80) cupcakes - there could have been more funfetti, but not enough to fill a whole pan, so I didn't bother. I added cinnamon bits from King Arthur to the apple cider ones and dipped them in maple cinnamon sugar, which is a change, one that hopefully people will like.
I also discovered that the cupcake carriers I've had sitting in a box under a chair in my living room for a few months are the wrong size (they are for standard-sized cupcakes) so I only have 10 mini ones and I need 13, so I will use the some foil lasagna pans for my brother and sister and one of the kids - they'll get a few more cupcakes out of it, since the carriers hold 2 dozen but the 9 x 13" tray fits about 30. *hands* I'm just glad I still have a pack of them left to use; otherwise, I'd have been up a creek.
Tomorrow is Pipe-a-palooza 7: The Pipening! (yeah, it's kind of shocking to me I've been doing cupcakes for 7 years now - I started in 2019 - but I like it more than the chocolates [and it's also less time-consuming than the chocolates were] and I can't do ice creams anymore due to logistics, though they remain my all-time favorite of the homemade Christmas gifts I've done over the years.) Wish me luck! It's always the hardest part for me. Hopefully I will remember to take pictures to share afterwards.
Whoops, I started this entry an hour ago and got distracted by stuff like packing my overnight bag and refilling my water bottle etc. so I'm just gonna hit post now and work up the energy to go wash my hair.
***
( 6-day plan, day 5 )
***
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Tuesday, December 23rd, 2025 06:36 pm
Going early with this because of the holiday. 2018, how many (few) did I see?
SEVEN?! Okay, 3 of these were son's fault.
~ Love, Simon - I wound up unironically loving the way this played out. May have teared up a bit.
~ Solo: A Star Wars Story - Had been on the fence, fell for both Val and L3-37, GO ME FOR PICKING THE DOOMED ONES.
~ Venom - I had not kept up with comics, but I swear this version is almost like if every time The Maxx had been talking to himself, he'd been two people. I really did enjoy the film.
~ Bumblebee - LOL, I only just watched this in the past year. Twice. I really wish I had not waited but GO CHARLIE!
~ Aquaman - So I saw the reunion scene between Tom and Atlanna, and it hit my RexSoka buttons, so I watched it. Liked it a lot more than I had Wonder Woman!
~ Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse - OMG, so freaking awesome! I LOVE THIS FILM.
and my fave:
~ Black Panther - So this is where I fell back in love with some of the MCU again. There's not a Wakandan I don't love, even the antagonists. This made me give a damn about the BP property in ways I had not thought possible, and proves that you have to have the right creative effort leaders!
SEVEN?! Okay, 3 of these were son's fault.
~ Love, Simon - I wound up unironically loving the way this played out. May have teared up a bit.
~ Solo: A Star Wars Story - Had been on the fence, fell for both Val and L3-37, GO ME FOR PICKING THE DOOMED ONES.
~ Venom - I had not kept up with comics, but I swear this version is almost like if every time The Maxx had been talking to himself, he'd been two people. I really did enjoy the film.
~ Bumblebee - LOL, I only just watched this in the past year. Twice. I really wish I had not waited but GO CHARLIE!
~ Aquaman - So I saw the reunion scene between Tom and Atlanna, and it hit my RexSoka buttons, so I watched it. Liked it a lot more than I had Wonder Woman!
~ Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse - OMG, so freaking awesome! I LOVE THIS FILM.
and my fave:
~ Black Panther - So this is where I fell back in love with some of the MCU again. There's not a Wakandan I don't love, even the antagonists. This made me give a damn about the BP property in ways I had not thought possible, and proves that you have to have the right creative effort leaders!
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Tuesday, December 23rd, 2025 06:06 pm
Kastagir's Hotel Américain (3102 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Highlander: The Series
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Amanda Darieux/Rebecca Horne
Characters: Amanda Darieux, Rebecca Horne, Rachel Ellenstein, Sunda Kastagir
Additional Tags: Fun, Adventure, Thievery, Humor
Summary:
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Highlander: The Series
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Amanda Darieux/Rebecca Horne
Characters: Amanda Darieux, Rebecca Horne, Rachel Ellenstein, Sunda Kastagir
Additional Tags: Fun, Adventure, Thievery, Humor
Summary:
Rebecca visits Kastagir at his fancy new hotel. Then Amanda shows up. Antics ensue.
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Tuesday, December 23rd, 2025 11:03 pm
Slightly to my surprise, earlier today I got a text from my GP saying approximately "yes your serum ferritin is now 'normal', but also, uh, by this we mean '15, with a reference range of 13-150, after six weeks of supplements', so... keep taking the supplements and we'll retest in six weeks!!!"
It is possible that the reason this actually got flagged at all was in fact that I've got a slightly elevated white cell count, and had I just had normal serum ferritin I'd have had to submit the "uhhh sooooo..." eConsult. Which I'd been gearing up to do, because the serum ferritin result showed up in the NHS app sooner than anything else!
Unfortunately, I had been working myself up to mentioning some Possible Additional Signs Of Concern in said eConsult (the various unimportant bleeding, like "there is usually old blood when I blow my nose BUT/AND I am very much using a steroid nasal spray every day") and I now have a solid excuse to keep putting it off for another six weeks, but hey. No longer officially anaemic! Pity about what's going to happen when I run out of supplementary iron, huh!
Tuesday, December 23rd, 2025 02:42 pm
Tuesday, December 23rd, 2025 07:35 pm
I called them back at 7:00. Got through to someone helpful who has given me the location of a pharmacy that we're going to visit first thing tomorrow morning, who have been instructed to help us.
No idea why that didn't happen the first time!
No idea why that didn't happen the first time!
Tuesday, December 23rd, 2025 02:19 pm
An all-new Bundle featuring the Old Gods of Appalachia Roleplaying Game, the tabletop game of eldritch horror from Monte Cook Games based on Steve Shell and Cam Collins' Old Gods of Appalachia anthology podcast.
Bundle of Holding: Old Gods of Appalachia
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Tuesday, December 23rd, 2025 03:57 pm
Had not been seeing these lately, but over the past few days have been spotting several out of the back windows.
Which is one cheering thing among various niggles and peeves -
Yesterday I was informed that my order from Boots was being delivered, and then got two texts saying they had tried to deliver it but no-one answered. WOT. There was somebody here all the time.
Also a text that my other package (fresh yeast via eBay) had been delivered (this comes through the letterbox) - no sign of this so presume it has gone to the wrong door, and so far nobody has come round to pop it through ours.*
However, at least the Boots parcel turned up today: address label had street number blurred so reasons for mistaking, usual postperson recognised name, possibly yesterday was a seasonal worker?
Other annoyance: Kobo ereader running very sluggish - though this does not seem to apply across all books, which is weird?? Anyway, I connected to wifi in order to update the software, as possibly bearing on the matter, and dash it, it synced a whole load of things I had already downloaded and I have been obliged to clean up the duplicates.
I am, though, grateful that Christmas grocery orders have been nothing missing and no substitutions except for 1 thing which was not at all critical. Also oops, the pudding I ordered was rather smaller than I anticipated, but I feel one can have too much Xmas pud, and there are mince pies, brandy butter, etc.
In further happy news, the Lincolnshire Wolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty has been saved from oil drilling.
^ETA: somebody from 2 doors down brought it round this evening. The address on the package was perfectly clear.
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Tuesday, December 23rd, 2025 10:59 am
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Tuesday, December 23rd, 2025 02:00 pm
It is on this day, at this glorious, joyous time of year, that we should all take a moment to say,
And to capture the Festivus spirit, we erect [heh] our Festivus pole [hehehe] - a bare aluminum rod [wink] - because we all know how distracting tinsel can be.
"Yo, Tinsel, move it! You're blocking our holiday spirit!"
Then we will dine on meatloaf dinner:
"I would do anything for 'loaf...
but I won't eat that."
Followed by cake covered with M&Ms:
"And what is the DEAL with airline food?"
Once the Pepto Bismol has settled, Festivus can officially begin with the Airing of Grievances:
This is when we gripe about all the ways our family, friends, and the world in general has disappointed us over the past year.
Needless to say, sarcasm is encouraged.
Once everyone is basking in the warm glow of a directionless, murderous rage, it's time for the Feats of Strength. Tradition states that Festivus isn't over until the head of the house is pinned in a wrestling match, but you can usually disarm Grandma pretty quickly:
On second thought, it looks like Grandma Dani's been working out.
Oh, and I nearly forgot! Be on the lookout today for Festivus miracles. Because trust me, they're everywhere.
Congrats, Grandma!
Thanks to Lisa N., Rhiannon, Jola S., Marcus J., Dianne M., Lauren M., Bernadett, & JM, who have been just awful to me this past year, AWFUL, I tell you, and do they thank me for the snarky commentary? NoooOOOOo. But that's ok, because I don't need thanks, or love, or basic human consideration, because I... [lip wobble] ... I AM STRONG.
Now quit crying and go fight your grandmother.
*****
And from my other blog, Epbot:
Tuesday, December 23rd, 2025 10:04 am