Those we miss...

Nov. 13th, 2025 11:47 am
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[personal profile] arthur_p_dent
It's been a couple months now since I first planned to write this post, but until yesterday the story was still incomplete...

Back in September our dog passed. It was a rough summer, watching her decline, knowing what was coming. And I still miss her.

She was my mom's dog, and she came to us several years back when my mom passed. That was a rough January, watching her decline, knowing what was coming. And I still miss her.

It's funny how many personality traits they shared. For all the years the dog was with us, it was like I still had a piece of mom around. And then it was gone.

But now there's a paw print tattooed on the back of my shoulder, just high enough that when I turn my head, I catch a glimpse in the corner of my eye. And I know they're still with me.

Brought to you be the letter A

Nov. 13th, 2025 12:33 pm
shadowhive: (James Sleeping on trains)
[personal profile] shadowhive
So yesterday I was off to Birmingham for the James Marriott gig.

Honestly if it wasn’t for the stranger things cafe and checking stuff I’d have gone much later, but alas. Train trips for gigs now are pretty eh. I mean the journey was fine, but my phone is useless and it’s not as if I can take anything to do or read.

And of course the ticket machine at the station was closed, there was no one on the train and even the fares to pay thing at the Birmingham station was closed so that was annoying.

But anyway. Mum had the ‘smart’ idea that I should check to see if the Hellfire jacket was at Primark and wear it to the gig. At the very least I was hoping to try one (the stock check before I left said there was some albeit low stock) so I went there first. But there was none in any size (I even asked someone to check, in case they were somewhere else since the one in Telford, and apparently elsewhere, has stuff spread out). Alas there wasn’t any, which was fine by me. (And probably for the best)

Since the cafe was open I did have the pizza twist thing and it was nice (other than the tough ends) but it also looks like this which is certainly… a thing. I had to have a drink cause it was warm but damn. A can of 7up was £2 which feels crazy to me.

After that I wandered round Birmingham a bit. The christmas market is on already so everything is annoyingly bright, but they have churros now! I didn’t get any but the smell was so nice. Annoyingly both the game outlet and forbidden planet had discounted figures, which I likely would’ve got if I’d been able (damn gigs being bitchy).

After wandering round the bullring (which was uneventful) I went to the venue and the queue was quite long, much longer than Coheed. After waiting around till doors open it was time to head inside, security felt a tad absurd checking my hat. Like what did he expect to find in there?

Inside the first support was on and he sounded pretty good, though I only heard two songs (and one was a cover of Chappell Roan) but I just went to merch. I’d seen some of the tees were nice looking so I got the grapes one cause Grapes is one my favs, though the dogs playing cards was so cute (I hope he adds it to his site later)

The second support were just ok, I couldn’t really make out what any of them were saying even when they were talking.

Then there was James’ set. For the supports I’d noticed there were these strange banner things up, so I just assumed they were some sort of decoration, but no! They were these really cool light things that changed colours over the course of the set which was good and pretty. I wasn’t a fan of the general lighting of the opening song though which was just every light flashing so I had to spend the song with my eyes closed for the most part.

But the set was really great! He played Car Lights which is always a fav and then Grapes was the last song which was an awesome one to end on. I was surprised Him was on the set list and there was the new California Rain song which has only been played this tour. Also we got Limbs which apparently isn’t one played often?

But James is one of those natural showmen, he interacted with the crowd constantly, did a roll and just looked so great too. Apparently our date was the biggest show they’ve played at so far, especially since it was sold out! (Which was a worry last sold out show I had at this venue people were passing out like crazy, thankfully that wasn’t the case this time but it was still so warm).

Apparently he does small sets after the gig outside but I didn’t know where it would be and didn’t wanna hang around (apparently it was right by the entrance which was annoying to find out! Though I dunno if I missed much).

I grabbed a poster from outside, then a drink from a store by the station cause I was parched and I just flopped on a seat at the station. Though I did get veggie sushi from a place at the station, though I wish I could more than one cause it was half off and didn’t know till I paid.

Everything then was just waiting around and then the train was delayed, then on time, then delayed but it was on time at the end. Once I got off the station and was walking home that was when I had an issue. I was about half way home and got my phone out to use the torch, then saw my tee had gone. I panicked and then had to ring it was gone) but I managed to find it. It was just across from the station laying on some leaves and I dunno how it got there. It was stuffed in the bag pretty good (or so I thought) and it had lasted the whole gig just fine so.., ugh. At least i got it.

At home I just flopped. I looked into getting the jacket on click and collect (I was gonna today but had to sort something for mum) so that should be in town by the time I go in for Predator Badlands/Keeper. plus I ordered the Lego Star Wars advent calendar cause Amazon had it for £14 off.

I did see the new Mario trailer before heading up and it looks pretty fun and very pretty.

In a bit I’m off for the other opticians appointment, then seeing the new Pokopia vid and tonight is the Taskmaster final which should be fun.

Vocabulary: Carcinization

Nov. 12th, 2025 10:12 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Carcinization is a form of convergent evolution in which non-crab crustaceans evolve a crab-like body plan. The term was introduced into evolutionary biology by Lancelot Alexander Borradaile, who described it in 1916 as "the many attempts of Nature to evolve a crab".

Crabs have evolved five separate times – why do the same forms keep appearing in nature?

... including at least one sexbot whose lower body is a mechanical battle crab. :D

Half-Price Sale in Polychrome Heroics

Nov. 12th, 2025 08:04 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Damask smiling over their shoulder (polychrome)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
The  November 4, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl made its $300 goal, so there will be a half-price sale in Polychrome Heroics from Monday 17-Sunday 23.  Mark the dates on your calendar, and I hope to see you then! 
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Happy Monsterotica Launch Day!

The crowdfunding campaign to fund publishing of our next erotic anthology, Monsterotica: Tales of Unusual Courtship and Coupling, is now live on Kickstarter!

Now through December 2nd, 2025, we seek to raise $10,500 to cover publishing of the anthology and creation of the related merchandise. This awesome book contains 16 queer stories by 16 awesome authors, each story up to 7,500 words long. We encouraged authors to pitch us stories featuring unusual creatures and unconventional genitals; you won’t find any vampires or weres here, but you will find insectoid aliens, mountain cryptids, scales and feathers, tentacles, detachable anatomy, interspecies shenanigans, courtship confusion, and much more. And of course, in addition to featuring monster x monster and monster x human relationships, every single story also includes queer characters and queer relationships!


Read "GAMING"

Nov. 12th, 2025 05:29 pm
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[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
My poem "GAMING" is up on [community profile] computerworld[personal profile] beavertech has been commissioning poems to be posted in The Freaks Club family of communities.

Cyberspace Theory

Nov. 12th, 2025 05:22 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
In praise of the small things in life: DDG Bangs!

DuckDuckGo is a privacy-respecting search engine launched in 2008 that has been slowly expanding into something else truly. (I mean, come on, Identity Theft Restoration?). Well, nevertheless, I still use DuckDuckGo because it's easy, their search results aren't polluted with all sorts of nonsense, they did introduce an AI summarize feature but I don't use it and it's easy to opt out thankfully. But all of that pales in comparison to the best DDG feature, Bangs!

Bangs are… well it's kinda hard to describe them, it's basically a shortcut from your search engine to wherever else, so if you have DuckDuckGo set as your search engine, you can basically search using other search engines quite easily
!

Shopping

Nov. 12th, 2025 02:32 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Here is an interesting discussion about what it costs to buy kitchen equipment. None of this is how I'd go about it, unless someone handed me grant money earmarked for that purpose. (Fair disclosure: I could make a crude but usable knife by busting a rock, and I could cook on a flat rock or with sticks. Kitchen equipment is a beloved convenience for me.)

Read more... )

Conservation

Nov. 12th, 2025 02:08 pm
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[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Massachusetts is turning retired cranberry bogs into natural wetlands. They’re on track to rewild 1,000 acres

In November 2024, the DER funneled $6 million in grants to the restoration plan. According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, more than 500 acres of retired cranberry bogs have already been converted into wetlands — with hopes of restoring 1,000 acres in the next decade.

“These projects will transform degraded former cranberry bogs into thriving wetlands that will provide habitat to important species, flood control in time of storms, and access for all to beautiful natural areas,” Governor Maura Healey said in a statement.



This is a brilliant plan that will provide tremendous benefits for wildlife, as wetlands are among the most biodiverse communities. It will be especially helpful to migrating waterfowl of the Atlantic Flyway.


Birdfeeding

Nov. 12th, 2025 01:52 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Today is sunny and mild, a beautiful fall day.

I fed the birds.  I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches plus a fox squirrel.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 11/12/25 -- I planted 4 clusters of Egyptian walking onions.

EDIT 11/12/25 -- I filled a trolley with dead weeds and dumped it in the firepit.

EDIT 11/12/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 11/12/25 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 11/12/25 -- I filled another trolley with dead weeds and dumped it in the firepit.

As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.
 

2025 November Magpie (not Monday)

Nov. 12th, 2025 10:10 am
dialecticdreamer: My work (Default)
[personal profile] dialecticdreamer
Welcome to the November of 2025 Magpie Monday!

Yes, it’s Wednesday. Yes, I’m “running late.” I’m very sorry about that. Life keeps kicking me in the shins, on Mondays! So, I’m turning that recurring nonsense into an actual theme!
Read more... )

(no subject)

Nov. 12th, 2025 12:56 pm
shadowhive: (Joshua Pretty)
[personal profile] shadowhive
So it’s been almost a week since the last post, so it’s probably time for another even though I’ve not done anything too exciting.

First off nintendo have decided that this is gonna be a random announcement week. There is confirmation of a new Zelda Lego set coming next year, which judging by the video seems to be the Ganon fight from Ocarina of time (with a new Zelda!). I’m so glad they’re finally doing another one, I’m honestly surprised it’s took them this long.

The other two announcements are more annoying in the sense I can’t see what they are on time. There’s a thing about the Mario film (today) which seems to be info on it so likely a trailer and tomorrow there’s a new Pokopia trailer which I’m so hyped to see but again I’ll miss it. (Today causa heading out for the gig, tomorrow cause of the last opticians appointment).

But anyway, the weekend was largely uneventful, mostly cause of being wiped energy wise. However the IT blu ray came so I’m all set to watch that whenever. But mostly I was just flop, though I have done Pokémon ZA some more, mostly sidequest stuff though I have progressed on the main quest and finally met Corbeau who is really hot (though shorter than I expected).

Monday was the trip to the vets cause of Naryu’s ears and it seems they’re (finally!) all sorted so she was at last able to have the first of her jabs. That’s good, though it was a different vet this time and his unfamiliarity was clear.

I picked up the empire Stranger Things from sainsburys, along with some of the big Doritos bags cause they were on offer then came back, flopped and did more ZA.

In the night I watched the latest Once Upon A Time In Space, which has been this interesting thing about astronaut and others who have worked in the space programme. It’s been really interesting so far with them talking about their experiences openly, both the food and the bad. (And the first ep was so sad cause there was one guy talking about his brother who sadly died when the shuttle blew up) This one made me sad about Mir, even though it was getting rundown at this point (and last weeks had incidents happening there). It’s just a shame it was scuppered due to politics.

Then I watched IT Welcome To Derry. This week was a more ‘tame’ ep in comparison to the first two, but it was still really great. (And damn who is letting these kids out unsupervised so often!) And yay Taniel (Joshua Odjick) got lines this time! And I saw he’s in the next time trailer so I’m excited for next week’s.

On Sunday I watched the next ep of Wednesday, leaving one ep left. Instead of waiting a week I decided to watch it last night. So what did I think of Wednesday season 2? (Under a cut for spoilers, and likely rambles)

Read more... )

I’m heading out in a few hours (around 2) for the James Marriott gig tonight, yipee! I would usually head out later cause being in Birmingham for a gig means I can’t do too much (and I’d rather go to my usual cinema than the odeon for stuff) but I wanna try for the Stranger Things cafe so fingers crossed I can this time. Then it’ll just be a matter of killing time (which again hard cause I can neither take anything to do or get anything I see, unless it’s small).

Cuddle Party

Nov. 12th, 2025 01:42 am
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Everyone needs contact comfort sometimes. Not everyone has ample opportunities for this in facetime. So here is a chance for a cuddle party in cyberspace. Virtual cuddling can help people feel better.

We have a
cuddle room that comes with fort cushions, fort frames, sheets for draping, and a weighted blanket. A nest full of colorful egg pillows sits in one corner. There is a basket of grooming brushes, hairbrushes, and styling combs. A bin holds textured pillows. There is a big basket of craft supplies along with art markers, coloring pages, and blank paper. The kitchen has a popcorn machine. Labels are available to mark dietary needs, recipe ingredients, and level of spiciness. Here is the bathroom, open to everyone. There is a lawn tent and an outdoor hot tub. Bathers should post a sign for nude or clothed activity. Come snuggle up!


Thanksgiving is just around the corner, along with various other harvest festivals and feasts. :D Load up the table! I am putting out Delectable Turkey of Gratitude, Buddha's Hand Salad, Mashed Yams with Halva, Persimmon Crumble, and apple cider.

Read more... )

Aurora

Nov. 11th, 2025 11:03 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Solar flares are causing auroras to appear in the northern half of the continental USA.

We caught a great show here in central Illinois. :D There was a large bright green blob to the northwest, a paler green streak just south of that, a larger red area just north of it, and some pink off toward the northeast. It's the most distinctive aurora we've seen -- previous examples tended to be solid sheets and less bright.

Today is my grandmother's birthday

Nov. 11th, 2025 04:30 pm
conuly: (Default)
[personal profile] conuly
She was inordinately pleased to have been born on the anniversary of the Armistice, not that it kept her country from being invaded again when she was a young woman.

**********************


Read more... )
dialecticdreamer: My work (Default)
[personal profile] dialecticdreamer
Night Guest, Right Guest?
By Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
Part 1 of 1, complete
Word count (story only): 1189
[Sunday, May 10, 2020, night]


:: Declan pleads his case among the Teagues. Part of the Edison’s Mirror universe. ::



Declan scanned the enormous pallet made on the living room floor next to one cluster of couches and armchairs. “Wha--” He froze, swallowing the last sound of the word, staring at Ed’s impressive scowl.

‘Sit down,” Vic suggested. He turned to the preteen. “Ed, can you eat a few bites? I was thinking of a peanut butter cookie sandwich, and I’d love company.”

“I’ll make some tea,” Aidan offered. “Declan, would you like some? It’s raspberry leaf.”

Declan kept looking around the living room. “Sure. Yeah. Thanks.” He spun in a slow circle. “What’s going on with the three of you?”
Read more... )

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