(no subject)
May. 31st, 2026 03:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
southernmedicineFinally feeling better. My cough is lingering, but at least I can stay awake for the whole day and I don't dread having to leave the apartment.
Cooked a nice big sprawling brunch this morning and then gave the living room a good clean. Feels fresh in here.
This week is going to feel kind of slow, I think, because next weekend we're going away somewhere for three days for my birthday. Blair planned it; I have no idea where we're going or what we'll be doing. Which, honestly, will be an interesting test in terms of whether or not she knows what sort of thing I would enjoy. She invited her sister and brother-in-law to come too, which wouldn't be my first choice, but I feel like it was probably necessary to help pay for whatever hotel we're going to be staying in. I get it.
I need to put together my proposal for the SW zine.
I need to find time to take our donations into the local thrift shop.
I need to get my poor car an oil change, as I'm wildly overdue at this point.
Other than that, the list of things I need to do is pretty short at the moment. I finally found a new therapist that is in-network with my new insurance, who is taking on new clients, and have already reached out to them. Just need to wait for them to get back to me.
We went to the movies last night to see The Backrooms and honestly it was pretty good! I went in with no expectations, which I find can only help.
Cooked a nice big sprawling brunch this morning and then gave the living room a good clean. Feels fresh in here.
This week is going to feel kind of slow, I think, because next weekend we're going away somewhere for three days for my birthday. Blair planned it; I have no idea where we're going or what we'll be doing. Which, honestly, will be an interesting test in terms of whether or not she knows what sort of thing I would enjoy. She invited her sister and brother-in-law to come too, which wouldn't be my first choice, but I feel like it was probably necessary to help pay for whatever hotel we're going to be staying in. I get it.
I need to put together my proposal for the SW zine.
I need to find time to take our donations into the local thrift shop.
I need to get my poor car an oil change, as I'm wildly overdue at this point.
Other than that, the list of things I need to do is pretty short at the moment. I finally found a new therapist that is in-network with my new insurance, who is taking on new clients, and have already reached out to them. Just need to wait for them to get back to me.
We went to the movies last night to see The Backrooms and honestly it was pretty good! I went in with no expectations, which I find can only help.
Harry Potter Questions And A LotR Rec
May. 31st, 2026 07:18 ammalinaldaroseI am reading a lengthy Harry Potter fic series in which Harry gets sorted into Slytherin, is friends with Draco, and eventually, in the fullness of the series, gets adopted by Severus. He's even friends with Crabbe and Goyle until Book 5. Basically, it redeems most of the Slytherin characters. He's still friends with Hermione, but not with Ron, so the Trio in this series is Harry, Draco, and Hermione. Most of the same things happen to Harry, but he is often smarter about them and seeks adult help. Not always -- he still ends up fighting off Quirrell and in the Chamber of Secrets and haring off to the Ministry to fight Death Eaters over the prophecy, for example. I've read the series before and it's quite enjoyable.
In any case, I'm up to Book 6, and it suddenly occurred to me to ask, if Severus managed to confine the curse that was killing Dumbledore to his hand for an entire year, why didn't they just amputate the hand? There were ways to get Harry to where he needed to go without killing off all his mentors, as myriad fic writers have demonstrated.
For those who like a good HP retelling, it's Leo Inter Serpentes by Aeternum at AO3.
I have also read this past week an excellent Boromir fic. I had never before come across a fic that asks "what if Boromir survived?" I saw this one recced somewhere, though I don't recall where. In any case, it blends movie and book canon and begins with the scene in the film where Boromir dies...except that Aragorn realizes that he's not quite dead yet. Dying, but still breathing, and sets about healing him. They have him in the boat at the foot of the Falls of Rauros to take on to Gondor to the Halls of Healing when the boat slips away from them and the river is too fast for them to get it back, so, assuming that they have lost him and there is nothing more they can do for him, they head off after Merry and Pippin instead. But Faramir finds the boat and takes Boromir on to the Houses, where Boromir commands his brother not to let anyone know he is alive, because he dishonored himself...and it goes from there. It's a really lovely story about a man seeking redemption (whether he needs it or not). I have to say that I never liked Boromir until the movies (and not because the actor was handsome). I just never caught his actual torment from the book...or maybe I just wasn't old enough to pick up on it yet, because I initially read the books when I was very young and sheltered. (I read a lot of books when I was too young to understand them. I had trouble with The Scarlet Letter, for instance, because I didn't understand what "adultery" meant, and at that point, it probably wouldn't have helped me to look it up in the dictionary. I understood it much, much, much better (and actually liked it) when I reread it in my 30s when I was working on a masters degree.)
In any case, I add my voice to the person who recced it where I saw it. It's The Long Road Home by Scribblesinink on AO3. There are a couple of very short follow-ups, so I have linked the series page.
In any case, I'm up to Book 6, and it suddenly occurred to me to ask, if Severus managed to confine the curse that was killing Dumbledore to his hand for an entire year, why didn't they just amputate the hand? There were ways to get Harry to where he needed to go without killing off all his mentors, as myriad fic writers have demonstrated.
For those who like a good HP retelling, it's Leo Inter Serpentes by Aeternum at AO3.
I have also read this past week an excellent Boromir fic. I had never before come across a fic that asks "what if Boromir survived?" I saw this one recced somewhere, though I don't recall where. In any case, it blends movie and book canon and begins with the scene in the film where Boromir dies...except that Aragorn realizes that he's not quite dead yet. Dying, but still breathing, and sets about healing him. They have him in the boat at the foot of the Falls of Rauros to take on to Gondor to the Halls of Healing when the boat slips away from them and the river is too fast for them to get it back, so, assuming that they have lost him and there is nothing more they can do for him, they head off after Merry and Pippin instead. But Faramir finds the boat and takes Boromir on to the Houses, where Boromir commands his brother not to let anyone know he is alive, because he dishonored himself...and it goes from there. It's a really lovely story about a man seeking redemption (whether he needs it or not). I have to say that I never liked Boromir until the movies (and not because the actor was handsome). I just never caught his actual torment from the book...or maybe I just wasn't old enough to pick up on it yet, because I initially read the books when I was very young and sheltered. (I read a lot of books when I was too young to understand them. I had trouble with The Scarlet Letter, for instance, because I didn't understand what "adultery" meant, and at that point, it probably wouldn't have helped me to look it up in the dictionary. I understood it much, much, much better (and actually liked it) when I reread it in my 30s when I was working on a masters degree.)
In any case, I add my voice to the person who recced it where I saw it. It's The Long Road Home by Scribblesinink on AO3. There are a couple of very short follow-ups, so I have linked the series page.
(no subject)
May. 29th, 2026 07:23 pmbeatrice_otterMy laptop is back from the shop. The reason that it was freezing and dying every so often is that it was overheating.
And why was it overheating, you ask?
Because of the enormous clump of cat hair inside it.
several inches of thoroughly packed cat hair.
So, uh, if you have a laptop that you like to use actually on your lap, and you have a cat that likes to sit on your lap or right next to your lap while you have the laptop on it ... it might be worthwhile to crack the case open every so often and see if there is cat hair in there to be cleaned out.
I mean, I'm glad that if it had to have a problem, it was something so easily fixable.
but also.
i wish i had figured this out myself and taken care of it before it was bad enough to need to be in the shop for a week.
And why was it overheating, you ask?
Because of the enormous clump of cat hair inside it.
several inches of thoroughly packed cat hair.
So, uh, if you have a laptop that you like to use actually on your lap, and you have a cat that likes to sit on your lap or right next to your lap while you have the laptop on it ... it might be worthwhile to crack the case open every so often and see if there is cat hair in there to be cleaned out.
I mean, I'm glad that if it had to have a problem, it was something so easily fixable.
but also.
i wish i had figured this out myself and taken care of it before it was bad enough to need to be in the shop for a week.
(no subject)
May. 28th, 2026 01:05 amsouthernmedicineI still feel awful, but slowly starting to feel a little better each day. My shift at work today was brutal, and as I was fighting for my life I wished repeatedly I'd called in sick, but my paycheck was already going to be short given the holiday on Monday I won't be paid for, and also, like. Just. I really hate feeling like people are mad at me? lol. Like, I would have inconvenienced so many people if I had called in.
And I made it, in the end.
Came home and crashed out on the couch for awhile waiting for Blair to come home. Since I was at work and also sick, I didn't get to go with her and her friends to dinner, but she did bring me something back. Took a short walk, struggled through that, and spent the rest of the evening spaced out on the sofa.
I have to leave the house in eight hours to go give her grandmother a massage, and then afterward we're going to grab some lunch. Fortunately I won't be forced to hang out for very long socializing because we've got to be back in town for Blair to make it to work by 1pm.
I'll struggle through the morning but I suppose I can just come home and nap some more. I've got to locate a fresh mask, because I don't want to risk getting Blair's grandma sick, even if no one is worried about it other than me.
I wish I had more to report but this entire week has been a wash so far. I think on Saturday we're going to go and see the Backrooms movie?
And I made it, in the end.
Came home and crashed out on the couch for awhile waiting for Blair to come home. Since I was at work and also sick, I didn't get to go with her and her friends to dinner, but she did bring me something back. Took a short walk, struggled through that, and spent the rest of the evening spaced out on the sofa.
I have to leave the house in eight hours to go give her grandmother a massage, and then afterward we're going to grab some lunch. Fortunately I won't be forced to hang out for very long socializing because we've got to be back in town for Blair to make it to work by 1pm.
I'll struggle through the morning but I suppose I can just come home and nap some more. I've got to locate a fresh mask, because I don't want to risk getting Blair's grandma sick, even if no one is worried about it other than me.
I wish I had more to report but this entire week has been a wash so far. I think on Saturday we're going to go and see the Backrooms movie?
(no subject)
May. 26th, 2026 12:27 amsouthernmedicineI have had to postpone the massage I was going to do for Blair's grandmother tomorrow. I'm far too sick, I can barely get all the dishes washed and dried without feeling like I'm going to pass out, there's no way I can drag my massage table out of storage, down to the car, and set up in her home before doing an hour of massage.
I slept most of today, on and off. Blair has been a really good sport about picking up the slack today, but I still hate that I'm so useless and such terrible company. Bah.
I think the rest of this week will be pretty low key. Next week, there's some stuff I would really like to try and get done, so hopefully I'm 100% by then.
It's probably another Nyquil night tonight.
I slept most of today, on and off. Blair has been a really good sport about picking up the slack today, but I still hate that I'm so useless and such terrible company. Bah.
I think the rest of this week will be pretty low key. Next week, there's some stuff I would really like to try and get done, so hopefully I'm 100% by then.
It's probably another Nyquil night tonight.
(no subject)
May. 25th, 2026 12:41 amsouthernmedicineI've somehow caught another cold. I thought it was just allergies, but allergy pills aren't doing anything, soo. Ugh. I've been getting worse instead of better.
Nothing much to report around here. Blair and I went to see The Mandalorian and Grogu on opening night, and really enjoyed it!
We've been deep cleaning the apartment little by little. All that remains is the office and my bedroom.
We headed to Rochester today for a Trader Joe's run, and while I was feeling bad on the way, I felt worse once we got there, and getting home was a real struggle. Usually we switch off driving - she drives there, I drive home, so neither one of us has to make the two hour round trip - but I couldn't drive it today. Office remains untouched. Came home and took a hot shower, used the nasal irrigation gadget, and took a long nap until dinner.
I'm really glad that tomorrow is a holiday and neither of us has to work, because that means all the sleeping and hot showers I can get. Blair did volunteer me to take my massage table to her grandmother's house on Tuesday morning, which I am not looking forward to, but her aunt is paying me and it's for a good cause. Since her husband passed away recently, she's been in bad shape. I would love to help her, but if I'm feeling this bad come Tuesday, I will have to postpone.
Nothing much to report around here. Blair and I went to see The Mandalorian and Grogu on opening night, and really enjoyed it!
We've been deep cleaning the apartment little by little. All that remains is the office and my bedroom.
We headed to Rochester today for a Trader Joe's run, and while I was feeling bad on the way, I felt worse once we got there, and getting home was a real struggle. Usually we switch off driving - she drives there, I drive home, so neither one of us has to make the two hour round trip - but I couldn't drive it today. Office remains untouched. Came home and took a hot shower, used the nasal irrigation gadget, and took a long nap until dinner.
I'm really glad that tomorrow is a holiday and neither of us has to work, because that means all the sleeping and hot showers I can get. Blair did volunteer me to take my massage table to her grandmother's house on Tuesday morning, which I am not looking forward to, but her aunt is paying me and it's for a good cause. Since her husband passed away recently, she's been in bad shape. I would love to help her, but if I'm feeling this bad come Tuesday, I will have to postpone.
June Desk Calendar
May. 24th, 2026 12:29 pmmalinaldaroseI have photos from my June desk calendar!
And a close-up on the collage from the first week because I'm just so please with it:
And a close-up on the collage from the first week because I'm just so please with it:
In Which It Is Sunday
May. 24th, 2026 06:49 ammalinaldaroseIt is 48° this morning and supposed to get up to 66°. It's also supposed to maybe rain? I am debating the possibility of going out to mow. I don't want to mow; I hate mowing. So I'm kind of hoping for rain, so I don't have to. Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny, but it's also supposed to be much, much warmer, so I don't want to mow tomorrow, either.
Yesterday, it rained for a good chunk of the day. I went out and got groceries early, and, because I felt like something nice for breakfast, went across town to the Other Grocery Store, because they have a better bakery. I over-indulged, because of course I did. I came home with a bag full of baked goods. Mmmmm, carbs.
After that, though, I was at a bit of a loss, because my next task should have been laundry, but it was already done. I should then have moved on to some other chore, but...I did not. I sat down at my desk and indulged in some of the fresh baked goods, then read fic or watched YouTube videos until it was nearly time for Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, then discovered that it wasn't playing yesterday, which was annoying. So I went to the website and listened to a couple of older episodes while working on the June pages in my journal. I thought a couple of them were really cute and a couple of them were okay. They involve pastel backgrounds and some black cat stickers that I am pretty sure I got from The Washi Tape Shop. It took me two hours to get through that, but that was partly because the first one took extra time because I colored the background instead of using stickers or papers or washi tape. I wised up for the second one, though, and used washi tape. I took some photos, mostly because I really was proud of how well the first page matched my vision for it.
By that time, Parker was making a nuisance of himself, so I let him bully me to the couch for a nap. Tegan joined us and we made one big, snoozy pile. Naps are your friend.
Speaking of napping and cats, I caught Tegan lounging in one of the soft cavey things yesterday. Just when I think I know her....
Oh, and she has eaten in the kitchen the last couple of days, even with Parker shoving his head into the same bowl.
* insert shrug emoticon here *
I read last night (I am now rereading Platform Decay), then did some writing, then read some more.
So...I want to say that I accomplished nothing yesterday, but that's not quite true. I made art (sort of), I caught up on my favorite radio program, I read, and I wrote. And I served as the warm base for a kitty nap, which is, after all, my purpose in life. Other than the ability to open cans for them, of course.
Yesterday, it rained for a good chunk of the day. I went out and got groceries early, and, because I felt like something nice for breakfast, went across town to the Other Grocery Store, because they have a better bakery. I over-indulged, because of course I did. I came home with a bag full of baked goods. Mmmmm, carbs.
After that, though, I was at a bit of a loss, because my next task should have been laundry, but it was already done. I should then have moved on to some other chore, but...I did not. I sat down at my desk and indulged in some of the fresh baked goods, then read fic or watched YouTube videos until it was nearly time for Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, then discovered that it wasn't playing yesterday, which was annoying. So I went to the website and listened to a couple of older episodes while working on the June pages in my journal. I thought a couple of them were really cute and a couple of them were okay. They involve pastel backgrounds and some black cat stickers that I am pretty sure I got from The Washi Tape Shop. It took me two hours to get through that, but that was partly because the first one took extra time because I colored the background instead of using stickers or papers or washi tape. I wised up for the second one, though, and used washi tape. I took some photos, mostly because I really was proud of how well the first page matched my vision for it.
By that time, Parker was making a nuisance of himself, so I let him bully me to the couch for a nap. Tegan joined us and we made one big, snoozy pile. Naps are your friend.
Speaking of napping and cats, I caught Tegan lounging in one of the soft cavey things yesterday. Just when I think I know her....
Oh, and she has eaten in the kitchen the last couple of days, even with Parker shoving his head into the same bowl.
* insert shrug emoticon here *
I read last night (I am now rereading Platform Decay), then did some writing, then read some more.
So...I want to say that I accomplished nothing yesterday, but that's not quite true. I made art (sort of), I caught up on my favorite radio program, I read, and I wrote. And I served as the warm base for a kitty nap, which is, after all, my purpose in life. Other than the ability to open cans for them, of course.
fic: words i cannot say (shane/ilya)
May. 23rd, 2026 05:57 pmsvgurlThis is what I wrote for the ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
unsent_letters_exchange. :)
Title: words i cannot say
Fandom: Heated Rivalry
Pairing/Characters: Shane/Ilya
Rating: Teen
Word Count: 3122
Summary: Irina loved to write letters. Ilya followed in her footsteps. It was easier, after all, to write than telling Shane Hollander how he felt.
unsent_letters_exchange. :)Title: words i cannot say
Fandom: Heated Rivalry
Pairing/Characters: Shane/Ilya
Rating: Teen
Word Count: 3122
Summary: Irina loved to write letters. Ilya followed in her footsteps. It was easier, after all, to write than telling Shane Hollander how he felt.
gift work (luke/lorelai)
May. 22nd, 2026 09:40 amsvgurlunsent_letters_exchange had its collection reveals last week and this is what I got! :)Title: Sealed with a Kiss
Author:
Fandom: Gilmore Girls
Pairing/Characters: Luke/Lorelai
Rating: G
Word Count: 2535
Summary: Luke discovers that he knew Lorelai much sooner than they thought, though they never actually met back then...
I love the idea of Luke and Lorelai communicating pre-canon and this was so cute and sweet! :D
Packing is the ABSOLUTE WORST
May. 22nd, 2026 09:37 amchocolatepotActually, packing isn't that bad. You know what's bad? Trying to source boxes. I can efficiently fill a box in about 45 seconds flat, but it takes hours to track down boxes. One of the liquor stores gave me seven yesterday and then I filled them with books and was like, okay, now what? (I should go upstairs and look at the box room ... I'm sure there are boxes in it that I semi-unpacked and could now take more things.)
It also doesn't help that the lawyers won't give me a closing date so I don't know if I can fully pack everything I own and schedule the movers for Wednesday or if I need to wait until June 5 or something.
Been doing a great job of getting rid of stuff I don't want to bring with me. I've taken probably four boxes' worth of books and three coffeemakers the students left here to a charity shop (benefits the local Arc), sold the dining table and chairs the students also left to someone who picked it up two days ago, sold a lot of clothes on Vinted, and have put out an unfathomable amount of stuff on the curb that is usually picked up within 24 hours if not sooner. (Some of it could have also gone to the Arc shop but either way I'm not getting paid so I'm kind of ambivalent about that.) I also just got a notification that I sold a gigantic printer cartridge. Just marked down most of the other student-left furniture because I want it GONE and people aren't biting, possibly because my pictures are so bad. If they don't sell, I'm taking them to the Arc.
I did buy a couple of Unique Vintage dresses on Vinted and one on deep discount from the retailer ... but I need to freshen up my wardrobe for my new job. Once I move and settle in I'm going to go back to my plan of sewing from my stash, but I simply can't do that right now and I do need some new clothes.
I also reached out to the Barony of Thescorre last night to get on their mailing list. I've been waiting to join the SCA for 20-25 years now (I'm sure I found out about it in my teens) and I'm finally going to be living somewhere with a really active group, so I am Going To Do It. They don't seem to have people super into historical fashion specifically, based on their website/meeting minutes, but there is an active A&S scene, which is basically what I've been waiting for - it's not just a fighting group.
(This is shallow, but I've always thought Aethelmarc was such a cool name for a kingdom, so much better than "East", so I'm pretty jazzed to join up here, lol.)
It also doesn't help that the lawyers won't give me a closing date so I don't know if I can fully pack everything I own and schedule the movers for Wednesday or if I need to wait until June 5 or something.
Been doing a great job of getting rid of stuff I don't want to bring with me. I've taken probably four boxes' worth of books and three coffeemakers the students left here to a charity shop (benefits the local Arc), sold the dining table and chairs the students also left to someone who picked it up two days ago, sold a lot of clothes on Vinted, and have put out an unfathomable amount of stuff on the curb that is usually picked up within 24 hours if not sooner. (Some of it could have also gone to the Arc shop but either way I'm not getting paid so I'm kind of ambivalent about that.) I also just got a notification that I sold a gigantic printer cartridge. Just marked down most of the other student-left furniture because I want it GONE and people aren't biting, possibly because my pictures are so bad. If they don't sell, I'm taking them to the Arc.
I did buy a couple of Unique Vintage dresses on Vinted and one on deep discount from the retailer ... but I need to freshen up my wardrobe for my new job. Once I move and settle in I'm going to go back to my plan of sewing from my stash, but I simply can't do that right now and I do need some new clothes.
I also reached out to the Barony of Thescorre last night to get on their mailing list. I've been waiting to join the SCA for 20-25 years now (I'm sure I found out about it in my teens) and I'm finally going to be living somewhere with a really active group, so I am Going To Do It. They don't seem to have people super into historical fashion specifically, based on their website/meeting minutes, but there is an active A&S scene, which is basically what I've been waiting for - it's not just a fighting group.
(This is shallow, but I've always thought Aethelmarc was such a cool name for a kingdom, so much better than "East", so I'm pretty jazzed to join up here, lol.)
(no subject)
May. 19th, 2026 11:41 pmsouthernmedicineToday was pretty fun!
Slept in. Had some omelettes for brunch.
We had gotten invited on a little day trip. Blair's boss picked us up around noon and we drove out, out, into the woods where a part of her family owns a huge plot of land. There was a log cabin on it, a cottage, an old barn, and this huge prairie that has been stripped, burned, and re-planted to resemble its original condition. It was all situated on the top of a bluff, and the view was beautiful.
Anyway, we were there because the relative works as part of a raptor conservation group, and one of their duties is to scale the cliffs down to the nest box where there were new baby falcons, remove the chicks from the nest and bring them up, and place bands on their legs. It was a pretty amazing thing to behold. This man repelling off the bluff while the parent falcons scream and swoop.
It didn't take long. We got to touch and hold the little chicks, although the majority of this privilege went to the two little girls that were along with us (of course, kids are afforded the coolest experiences, haha).
My allergies are doing alright. I've been taking pills and my crazy reaction the cedarwood incense was easily dealt with, fortunately.
Tomorrow, I work. Thursday we're going to clean the apartment and, if the weather holds, finally go out there and do Blair's graduation photos. Friday, if all goes well, we'll go see The Mandalorian and Grogu.
Slept in. Had some omelettes for brunch.
We had gotten invited on a little day trip. Blair's boss picked us up around noon and we drove out, out, into the woods where a part of her family owns a huge plot of land. There was a log cabin on it, a cottage, an old barn, and this huge prairie that has been stripped, burned, and re-planted to resemble its original condition. It was all situated on the top of a bluff, and the view was beautiful.
Anyway, we were there because the relative works as part of a raptor conservation group, and one of their duties is to scale the cliffs down to the nest box where there were new baby falcons, remove the chicks from the nest and bring them up, and place bands on their legs. It was a pretty amazing thing to behold. This man repelling off the bluff while the parent falcons scream and swoop.
It didn't take long. We got to touch and hold the little chicks, although the majority of this privilege went to the two little girls that were along with us (of course, kids are afforded the coolest experiences, haha).
My allergies are doing alright. I've been taking pills and my crazy reaction the cedarwood incense was easily dealt with, fortunately.
Tomorrow, I work. Thursday we're going to clean the apartment and, if the weather holds, finally go out there and do Blair's graduation photos. Friday, if all goes well, we'll go see The Mandalorian and Grogu.
