Reading

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weekly reading

Weekly Reading

Currently Reading
Murder at the Patel Motel
39%. This is not actually a book, so much as an audio drama. It's an Audible Original and comes free with membership, so I decided to try it out. Turns out the author and voice of the main character is the guy who played Jack's assistant on 30 Rock. I loved him in that! And I'm liking this "book" a lot so far.

Just Happy to Be Here
11%. YA about a South Asian trans girl's experience at a mostly white all girls' high school. It's all right so far.

Sister Outsider
No progress.

Riding the Rails
48%.

Recently Finished
How Jesus Became God: The Exaltation of a Jewish Preacher from Galilee
I felt like this took ages to finish, but it was a good read. Very interesting stuff.

A Terrible Nasty Business
I really want more books in this series.

Sou Iu Ie no Ko no Hanashi vol. 1
New series from Shimura Takako following three characters who were raised in the same new religion (the religion in the story is not any real one, just based on others), marking them as different from the majority of the population, which is not actively religious. I like pretty much everything by Shimura Takako, so I'm curious to see where this goes.

Tsumetakute Yawaraka vol. 5

Hatsukoi no Tsugi vol. 2

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disney

2025 Disneyland Trip #47 (7/3/25)

This was another last minute decision. With the lower level keyholders blocked out for summer there's almost always same-day availability, so might as well take advantage of it.

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Daily Happiness

1. Three day weekend! I'm looking forward to relaxing and not doing much.

2. I had two interviews today and both of them stood me up, but the good thing is that I was doing them from home, so I hadn't gone out of my way for them and wasn't particularly inconvenienced.

3. We decided to go to Disneyland for dinner. Had a lovely time, though it was a bit more trafficy both going and coming than I would prefer.

4. Suspicious Gemma.

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Daily Happiness

1. Today was kind of a long day but I did get stuff done.

2. Just one more day of work this week and then three day weekend!

3. Finished another puzzle today. This is from the multi-puzzle box of Disney 70th anniversary puzzles. I really love this design, and they've got a fair bit of merch using it, too, but sadly not anything I actually need (and not even much that I particularly want).

4. Chloe loves lying on Carla's bed by the window.

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disney

2025 Disneyland Trip #46 (7/1/25)

Took an unplanned trip down to the parks for dessert last night. We got down there early enough that we could just go in DCA instead and avoid some of the nighttime event clogs in Disneyland, which was nice. DCA was actaully not very crowded at all (except when we were leaving and everyone else was as well).

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In which I read therefore I am

- To Read shelves 1 July 2025 count is 69 (down from 90 on 1 Jan), so hypothetically less than six months of reading.

- Reading: 74 books to 2 July 2025.

72. Fashionable 2025 numerical typo 3, the second from Inventing the Renaissance, which is a good ratio considering the quantity of words and dates in this doorstop, "Marcellus II (1501-5)", nope, but the idea of a Boss Baby Ghost Pope in 1555 is amusing.

00. My third DNF of 2025, on short story 4 of 14.

73. Thirsty Mermaids, by Kat Leyh, 2021, comics (adult), 4.5/5
In search of booze, a found-family pod of three merfolk take their fun and friendship to the human seaside, or rather shoreside, where they discover dreadful human inventions such as "capitalism" and "jobs". They also discover they can't just go back to being mermaids. This story is very much about the diverse friends they make along the way, lol. Warning: yes, Kat Leyh who helped create Lumberjanes but this is a grown-up comic.

- To Read [ALLCAPS in original typography]: y'all will be pleased to know I've acquired a 1959 girls' own comics annual with stories titled "The GAY ADVENTURERS and the Roman Curios" and "Friends of The GAY HIGHWAYMAN", and a 1960 annual featuring "Baffled by Those Two Boy Campers".

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Daily Happiness

1. I had two web interviews today and unlike the guy yesterday, neither of them stood me up. Two more interviews on Thursday so hopefully they come through, too.

2. I got my hair cut today. Cannot stress enough how great it is to have that next appointment already scheduled and not have to deal with having to make the appointment when my hair is starting to bother me. It's already in the calendar! And to go to someone who knows exactly what to do without me telling them every time!

3. The tri-tip Carla grilled on Sunday has indeed made delicious sandwiches. And we still have a ton left so there will be sandwiches all week.

4. Carla was having a high anxiety day so as a mood booster we went down to Disneyland for dessert tonight. Had a very nice trip.

5. Molly's got her eye on you.

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Daily Happiness

1. Our back screen door has two out of three broken hinges and the only thing holding it together at the top is the bar that makes it close on its own (idk what that's called), so whenever we open or close it, it takes more work than usual to get it to actually shut, since it's a little askew. I actually bought some hinges, thinking to try and fix it myself, but after I bought them I realized that the part of the hinge that attaches to the screen is welded on there, not just held with screws. So we ended up calling the people we got the door from (it's been over ten years since we installed all the pet screens!) and they came out today to take a look. Apparently these doors have a hinge plate that attaches with all the hinges on it, so they will order a new one of those. The door itself is totally fine, so I'm glad we can get just a replacement part rather than a whole new screen door. Unfortunately it will take a couple weeks to get the part in, but it's still usable as-is, at least, and can't get any worse since the bar on the top is quite sturdy.

2. This may be my favorite picture of Tuxie ever. How is that comfortable!? Only a cat would think so.

Rebuilding journal search again

We're having to rebuild the search server again (previously, previously). It will take a few days to reindex all the content.

Meanwhile search services should be running, but probably returning no results or incomplete results for most queries.

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In which our heroine walked from 1490 to 1858 by feet, map, and giant raccoon

Having left the cafe at Greyfriars I decided to attempt another flan so consulted a randomised Oblique Strategy card for inspiration and received "Bridges -build -burn". There are plenty of bridges in Worcester, over roads, railway, canal, and rivers. I've crossed many of them. But there's one newly built bridge over the River Severn that I hadn't visited and it has a cafe besides. Will I make it? Will I accidentally burn it down? Will I die en route and my viking-themed burning boat burial pass underneath as it carries me to my final destination? Spoiler: not that last one. XD

Walking along roads familiar from previous flanage, I was surprised to find an alley I'd never noticed before. Obviously I turned along it, which was lucky because my diverted route brought me to a mural of a GIANT raccoon:

( Bricks, box, waterworks, bridge )

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Daily Happiness

1. Carla grilled today. Hamburgers and corn and tri-tip. The burgers and corn were delicious, and while I didn't have any of the tri-tip tonigh, it smells amazing and I can't wait to have some on sandwiches.

2. I feel like this picture sums up their relationship very well.

Entry tags:

weekly reading

Weekly Reading

Currently Reading
Sister Outsider
17%. Collection of essays by Audre Lorde. I have never read any of her writing before, so when this came up on a Kindle sale I was browsing, it seemed like the perfect opportunity. I've only just gotten started, but the first essay was about her trip to the Soviet Union in the 70s, which was very interesting.

A Terrible Nasty Business
41%. Sequel to A Most Agreeable Murder, which I liked a lot. This is just as amusing and fun.

Riding the Rails
43%.

How Jesus Became God: The Exaltation of a Jewish Preacher from Galilee
69%.

Recently Finished
A Botanist's Guide to Rituals and Revenge
As I mentioned in my last post, I didn't love this one as much because I was so frustrated by the MC's bad choices, but I am definitely still interested in reading more books in the series.

The Mystery of Locked Rooms
This was fun. It looks like there's a sequel coming out later this year, so I'll definitely check it out.

Horrorstör
I think this is the third Grady Hendrix book I've read and they all end up being good but not great. I did like the premise a lot, though.

These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart
Dystopian murder mystery novella with clones. I enjoyed this a lot and would definitely read more in this universe.

Linus and Etta Could Use a Win
Cute middle grade novel about a trans boy at a new middle school who makes friends with a girl who's recovering from a bad friend break-up, but unbeknownst to him, her enthusiasm about him running for student council is due to a bet with her ex friend. I really liked this a lot, but was frustrated by the fact that the friend breakup didn't have a satisfying resolution. It was this whole thing about the friend cutting Etta out of her life with no explanation and we never get an explanation!

Dwellings
Graphic novel featuring various horror stories set in the same town. I liked it, but the cutesty art style (kind of Richie Rich/Casper vibes) made it hard to tell characters apart and also hard to tell their ages (I kept assuming people were kids and then realizing belatedly they were adults). It was all right.

Ojisama to Neko vol. 15
Yet another new character whose issues are fixed by getting a cat lol.

Kindaichi Papa no Jikenbo vol. 1
New Kindaichi series, set seven years from the Kindaichi Age 37 series. Now he has a kid who goes mystery solving with him. Still good mysteries.

Kinou Nani Tabeta? vol. 24
This was a bittersweet volume. I love this series.

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type:vid

To Hell & Back (Couple of Mirrors, Xu Youyi/Yan Wei)

Title: To Hell & Back
Fandom: 双镜 | Couple of Mirrors (2021)
Music: To Hell & Back by Maren Morris
Summary: 'lucky for me, your kind of heaven's been to hell and back'
Notes: Premiered at Escapade 35.5.
Warnings: quick cuts and flashing lights, violence

AO3 | bsky | DW | tumblr | YouTube

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In which there are 52 times Our Heroine improves her habitat (hopefully), week 26

- Pride: I have GAY Marmite! In the UK, branded goods claiming a tiny percentage of their profits go to charity fundraising aren't uncommon, and Christmas / Easter branded items happen but I don't generally see event themed goods in High Street shops. However, my supermarket delivery this week included rainbow, Elton John, anti-AIDS, rebranded Marmite! Need to know: the Elton John AIDS Foundation is banned in Russia, and the EJAF knows where Lesotho is. It takes me ages to eat my way through a whole jar so I'll have cheering GAY Marmite to increase my happiness every time I open my eye-level kitchen cupboard for a long time. :-)

- Habitat: I sorted out and re-dyed everything old that could be renewed. I love the moment when all my favourites look at their best again.

- Pop: f'Keith Starmer and Lisa Nandy's attempts at government censorship of pop music are going about as well as British government censorship of popular media usually does (see also Lady Chatterley's Lover, Spycatcher, &c). "It’s upsetting that the way this country is going keeps our music relevant!"

- Birb log: 15 June, Jackdaws still flying off with beaks full of food.
16 June, juvenile ? Song Thrush in front garden (these are ringed locally and I hear them sing occasionally but I rarely see them).
25 June, Jackdaws in semi-juvenile plumage and with behaviours such as frequent vocalising and begging for food (including begging each other, lol, which helps establish the wider flock's pecking order). Most of the parents are very unimpressed with being harassed for food at this stage, although they do still voluntarily feed the kids, and adults will cheerfully put the youngsters in their place if the kids are failing to copy adult foraging behaviour or are trying to steal food the adults have found. This morning's flock was about a dozen individuals.

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Daily Happiness

1. Between when I was talking about it last week and payday, I totally forgot my bonus was coming, so I was pleasantly surprised when I checked my balance today to pay bills!

2. It was very warm and sunny this morning when I walked up to the farmers market. I usually go around ten so that I can pop in the library, too, but this morning it was already seeming waaaaaay too sunny when I was doing my morning chores around eight, so since I didn't have anything urgent I needed to pick up at the library, I went earlier, around nine, and it was still so sunny and not particularly pleasant. But! At the stand that sells fruit leather that I've been frequenting recently, I spotted that they also had bottles of watermelon lemonade, nice and cold, so I got one of those to drink on the walk home and it was perfect! It reminded me of that delicious watermelon lemonade we were getting a bunch last year at DCA, but alas they don't have it this year. Adding the watermelon just makes it feel so much more refreshing.

3. Posing for her portrait.

Entry tags:

disney

2025 Disneyland Trip #45 (6/27/25)

Welp, surprise Disneyland trip last night as there was availability and we decided to go down for dessert and parade.

( Read more... )

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In which our heroine travels from 2002 to 1490 by bus, feet, and time machine

It's June and therefore, like unto a salmon swimming wearily upstream to spawn, I must find a cafe according to

flaneurs challenge III.(c). This year I was hoping for 100% less fail! :D

My destination which, unlike in 2023, I had checked was actually open (lmao) was the National Trust "Old Oak" cafe in Greyfriars which is a preserved Tudor £££ brewer's £££ house £££, built 1490, in the middle of Worcester. My starting point was the Royal Voluntary Service hospital shop, built 2002, at Worcester hospital. To the time machine!

First, catch a bus... with a rly big net? Or a public transport network. Hypothetically there are several buses passing (busses kissing?) this stop but in practice the 38 is much more frequent than its rivals. The bus route passed many points I've described in previous June challenges. We also stopped for a funeral procession of a black hearse, complete with coffin and lovely bright yellow flowers, led by a woman funeral director in a formal black skirt and frock coat with a low-crowned top hat and carrying a silver-topped cane.

( Stuff what I saw (with links to some amazing art) )

Greyfriars: it's not grey and there were never any friars, but it was interesting to visit.

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Daily Happiness

1. We had an award ceremony for one of the stores today and I got some cakes for the ceremony and they were really good. Would definitely get from that bakery again.

2. This evening after I got home Carla asked if I'd be interested in going down to Disneyland for an after dinner trip and even though we just went yesterday, I decided going tonight and then having Saturday and Sunday just for staying home and resting would be nice, so we went down there tonight and had dessert and watched the parade. I'm super tired now but I had a great time.

3. It's the weekend!

4. Yawn!

Entry tags:

Daily Happiness

1. I had a nice birthday! Other than going to Disneyland, we didn't really do anything, but Disneyland was fun. And it was nice not having to go to work, though I kept thinking it was Saturday and now I have to go back to work tomorrow (boo).

2. I got a little storage cabinet to organize all our extra legos. The sets usually come with an extra piece for all the small ones. I guess they figure those are most likely to get lost. Up until now we've been putting them in ziploc baggies with the name of the set they belong to, but that's gotten out of hand and also they don't need to be separated by set. I just started sorting them out today and I imagine that will take some time, but it should make everything more organized and save on space once it's done.

3. Love those big Chloe yawns!

Entry tags:

disney

2025 Disneyland Trip #44 (6/26/25)

Birthday trip! I don't ever bother getting a birthday badge or anything because I don't need random people telling me happy birthday (and also there's usually a long line) but I do like going to the parks on my birthday.

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