spikedluv: (summer: sunflowers by candi)
I hit Price Chopper (to finish up mom’s grocery list) while I was downtown.

I drove mom to her treatment, did a load of laundry, hand-washed dishes, emptied the dishwasher, went for a couple walks with Pip and the dogs, baked chicken for the dog’s meals, cut up chicken for the dogs' meals, placed a couple of online orders (one a Christmas present and one for the dogs), and scooped kitty litter. I also baked cornbread to go with the chili for supper.

I watched 9-1-1 and finished watching Top Gun, which I’d started a few days ago, intending to hopefully write another fic for [community profile] fandomgiftbasket. Not sure that’s going to happen, but at least I got through the sad part of the movie, which is where I stopped watching previously. I also took a short nap.

Temps started out at 44.9(F) and reached 53.2. It has been a weird day, weather-wise. Periods of clouds, rain, sun, wind. Even a rainbow! It had really wide beautiful bands of color. Though by the time I got a photo of it, it had faded quite a bit.


Mom Update:

Mom wasn’t feeling well today. more back here )
double_dutchess: (Sunnydale Herald)
SPIKE: I've hired myself out as an attraction.
GILES: Sideshow freak?
SPIKE: Well, at least it's showbiz.

~~Restless~~


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coffeeandink: (Default)

Chess is a show I know entirely through the cast recordings; if I recall correctly, it was such a thoroughly Cold War project that the liner notes referred to the two chess players as only "the American" and "the Russian". The new book by Danny Strong turns it into a (even more) melodramatic period piece, with the chess matches not simply a allegory for political tensions or a way of obtaining minor diplomatic concessions but tools for averting World War III. The Arbiter is dragooned as a narrator, who exposits both the global situation and the personal interactions with the characters, partly through a series of very bad and very obvious jokes.

Freddie Trumper, American grandmaster and obnoxious wunderkind, is challenged by Anatoly Sergievesky, mordant, depressed, and engaged in a clandestine flirtation with Freddie's chess second and lover, Florence Vassy. Freddie is notoriously a weak point in the original book, so prone to anti-Communist slurs, misogyny, and temper tantrums it is impossible to extend him much sympathy. The new version mediates this by giving him bipolar disorder and medical noncompliance, and also by casting Aaron Tveit. Tveit is indeed so good and so charismatic that I was on Freddie's side way more than I expected, although not enough to take self-pity anthem "Pity the Child" seriously. (The rest of the audience seemed less skeptical.) Lea Michele as Florence is just as strong vocally, and almost as strong in terms of acting, though unfortunately without much romantic chemistry with either partner. (The closest any scene comes to an erotic charge is Freddie's sleazy half-assed attempt at persuading Anatoly to throw the game in Act II.) Nicholas Christopher as Anatoly is the weak point in Act I, where I had the same opinion as I had of his Sweeney Todd: he's got the potential to be great, but he isn't quite there yet. He really needs to work on his emoting, which is too flat even for the murderous Sweeney or the dour Anatoly. He is greatly handicapped in Chess by having to affect a Russian accent, which I really hope the production drops. But! He pulled out all stops in Act II, both for the songs and the acting, and won me over with his intensity and vocal power.

So basically: the book is still flawed and they need to cut the runtime, particularly in Act I. This was the second night of previews, so there's still time for changes before the show technically "opens". If we're lucky, they'll start by cutting the topical jokes.

But the point of Chess has never been the book; it is the score full of bangers and power ballads. The music is by ABBA's Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus and the lyrics by Ulvaeus and Tim Rice. And the musical performances are GREAT. I am still guiltily fond of the kinda-no-really-very-racist "One Night in Bangkok" (which can plausibly be explained as Freddie's typical white guy take on the city) and which in this production is a camp masterpiece. I am seriously tempted to see the show again just for that.

spikedluv: (summer: sunflowers by candi)
I had my third (and final) chiropractic appointment of the week this morning. I feel like I’ve reached a plateau on getting better; the pain isn’t horrible, but it’s a little bit worse than yesterday (more noticeable when I sit, for instance), instead of how it was getting a bit better everyday. Especially after an adjustment, which I was starting to think of as a magic bullet. And now three days without an adjustment.

I hit Walmart while I was downtown to return and pick up more clothing items for mom to try and some of the groceries she requested. (She now has two tops and two pair of jeans that fit her, so we’re pausing there for a bit.)

I drove mom to her treatment, hand-washed dishes, did a load in the dishwasher, filled my gas tank, went for a walk with Pip and the dogs, finished up the chili for tomorrow’s supper, cut up chicken for the dogs' meals, scooped kitty litter, and showered. Supper tonight was leftovers.

I watched an HGTV program and a Hallmark Christmas movie.

Temps started out at 45.1(F) and reached 53.4. There was a little bit of sun in the morning, but it didn’t last long. We got a bit of rain in the late afternoon.


Mom Update:

Mom was doing okay today. more back here )
fatalfae: Sunnydale Herald use ONLY. (Default)
Angel: You could help fill in the blanks. He's gonna have questions. Like, what do you do with a woman's Schlug-Tee again?
Cordy gasps: You and your vampire hearing! Next time you eavesdrop I'm gonna...
Takes a hold of his ear and whispers into it as the others watch.
Angel: Easy there, sailor! You use that kind of language at home?

~~Tomorrow~~



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Game: Kentucky Route Zero

Oct. 23rd, 2025 09:19 am[personal profile] runpunkrun
runpunkrun: chibi me with pigtails and fangs, text: punk (punk & disorderly)
Kentucky Route Zero is a creative and thoughtful interactive story about debt, grief, and the relentless march of capitalism, but also creation, repair, and community. There are enough dialogue choices that I felt like I was actually engaging with the characters, who all have their own thing going on, and you're even given some choices about who you can hang out with or where you go next. Some choices will give you a deeper engagement with the story and some just add further texture to this world.

Because it's a story more than a game, you can explore the environment and talk to the people you meet and accomplish tasks you're assigned, but it generally plays out the same regardless of your choices. There aren't any puzzles to solve except for the mystery of wtf is going on, and you'll do most of that on your own time.

The stylized art contributes to the mystery because you'll want to know more, but can't. You view this world from a set distance and because you can't zoom in to inspect the details, there's a kind of remove to it, like you're in a movie and just have to go where it takes you. It's best experienced in a dark room because it's literally too dark to see if there's any light around you.

The story is messy, with the past sliding through the present, and many questions are left unanswered as you attempt to deliver some antiques to an address you can't find. You start out with Conway, a big rectangle of a man, and his old dog, who you can name Blue or Homer—I went with Homer—and along the way you meet people who join you and bring their talents and troubles with them.

The dialogue between the characters slowly reveals their histories and concerns, and at times you can even talk to the dog as a way to talk yourself through what you're thinking. The dog doesn't talk back, but all the other characters have distinct personalities, and I felt like I was building real conversations—and relationships—between them through my choices.

However, I had a real problem with something that happened about halfway through the game that made me feel used, and it colored the rest of the play for me. I could have just stopped there, at the end, and parted with it unhappy, but I couldn't shake the feeling I was missing something and so the next night I started it up again and gave it a second chance, with Blue.

I still have a big issue with that aspect of the game (it involves alcohol, an alcoholic, and a choice that isn't a choice), but my second playthrough picked up a lot of things I didn't see the first time, and I'm glad I gave it a second try. It's definitely a unique story, filled with wondrous things.

Recommended, probably, if you like worldbuilding, games with low stakes—you can't really make mistakes here, though I somehow managed—interesting characters, found family, and a world that's punched through with mysteries: abandoned mines, hidden caves, a moldy computer, an underground river, and of course the secret highway—Kentucky Route Zero.

I've got content notes down below, feel free to ask me for more details. I played this on my Android tablet through my Netflix subscription.

Now for my chronological thoughts as I was playing. Vague spoilers for the game throughout.

Homer )

Blue )

Contains: (metaphorical) amputation (maybe); alcohol and alcoholism; debt, foreclosure; dementia and the impending loss of an old friend; repeated references to the death of a child; dead horses, on screen; an old dog who has seen better days but keeps on seeing them; some sounds (mainly discordant electronic ones) made me very anxious, but there's nothing abrupt, loud, or jump-scary.

Accessibility: The game has white text on a black background, which you can't change, but you can change the size of the text and remove some glitch effects. You also can control FPS on the video and turn on captions for the audio.
yhlee: d20 on a 20 (d20)
A Random Walk through the Goblin Library" by Chris Willrich [Beneath Ceaseless Skies]. Superlative fantasy + math short story. I am excited to FINALLY be able to shout about this now that it's published - I had the privilege of reading this in draft and I love it to pieces. :3
yhlee: Alto clef and whole note (middle C). (Default)
handspun yarn

This one's headed for [personal profile] helen_keeble. :3

(Sorry, I need to source some purple spinning fiber! I'm running low on inherited detash wools and most of what I have is blues or neutrals.)

cat loafing on spinning fiber

Cloud was VERY HELPY.
spikedluv: (summer: sunflowers by candi)
I had a chiropractic appointment this morning. He said that icing my back anytime I do anything that might cause issues is a good idea, so I see more icing in my future. Because I did so much shopping yesterday I was able to make this a no-shopping day.

I took mom to her appointment, did a load of laundry, hand-washed dishes, went for a couple walks with Pip and the dogs, cut up chicken for the dogs' meals, paid some bills online, and scooped kitty litter. I grilled steak for Pip’s supper.

I took another nap, watched some HGTV programs, and watched a Hallmark Christmas movie.

Temps started out at 48.9(F) and reached 60.1. It rained in the morning, then the sun came out, then the clouds moved back in. It didn’t seem to me that it had rained very long/hard, but Pip said we got half an inch.


Mom Update:

Mom was doing well. more back here )
fancyflautist: (Editor 3)
Willow: Yeah. I hope they throw the book at her.
Giles: I'm not sure there is a, a book for this.
Willow: They could throw other things.

~~Who Are You~~




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SGA: When the City Wakes by esteefee

Oct. 23rd, 2025 01:35 am[personal profile] mific posting in [community profile] fancake
mific: John sheppard head and shoulders against gold orange sunset (Sheppard orange)
Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Characters/Pairings: John Sheppard/Rodney McKay, Radek Zelenka, Elizabeth Weir, Ronon Dex, Teyla Emmagan, Carson Beckett, Evan Lorne, Aiden Ford, Bates, Laura Cadman, Jack O'Neill, Harry Maybourne, Jeannie Miller, Original Non-Human Characters, Imaginary Creatures from Story and Song, Atlantis.
Rating: Mature
Length: 30,758
Content Notes: no AO3 warnings apply. The author warns for kidnapping and children in peril. "They aren't injured, and they are rescued. One of their kidnappers is kidnapped in the process and then returned to her friends." There's also a warning for passages with creepy clowns - see the endnote.
Creator Links: esteefee on AO3
Themes: Uncommon settings, Worldbuilding, AU: apocalypse/dystopia, AU: fantasy/magic, Friends to lovers, First time, Humor, Action/adventure

Summary: Major John Sheppard was starving, delirious, chased by monsters to the edge of the world, when he raised the City from the sea.

Ten years later, Dr. Rodney McKay comes to the peaceful City, bringing war in his back pocket.

Reccer's Notes:
This fits the "unusual settings" category as the world depicted in this fic is extremely strange, surreal, and quirky. I've reccd it before but in a different category, and it's a story that's well worth re-reading. Despite the tags for fantasy and dystopia, it isn't traditional fantasy/magic at all, and it mostly isn't a straightforward dystopia. Yes, it's post-apocalyptic and the rest of the world's very dystopic, but Atlantis herself is a solarpunk refuge in the chaos. The story is set after the detonation of a quantum unreality bomb which plunged Earth into fantastical chaos where very few laws apply consistently - certainly not those of physics, or normality. Weird monsters, fantasy creatures, and dangerous improbabilities now abound, although much reduced in Atlantis. The worldbuilding's terrific, and woven into this new world is a story where John and Rodney meet and become friends, and more. There's also plenty of plot, including a daring rescue. It's an excellent read, and highly recommended!

Fanwork Links: When the City Wakes
spikedluv: (summer: sunflowers by candi)
I had a pedicure this morning. Today’s color is an even orangier-red than last time’s. I was worried about sitting so long, but it wasn’t bad, until I had to lift my leg. Thank goodness my sister took mom today because I’m not sure I could’ve done both. (The problem with driving a vehicle is that you can’t shift to get comfortable. You are forced to sit in the same position with pressure on the spots you don’t want pressure.)

While I was downtown I hit: the Dollar Tree (birthday cards – Ireland is going to be 16 this month!!), Walmart (to return and pick out more clothes for mom – she’s lost so much weight that her clothes just hang on her, so I’m trying to find the right size in everything from shirts to pants to undies), Price Chopper, and the Pharmacy.

I did a load of laundry (new uniform shirts for Pip, so I had to remove the outer packaging, remove the inner cardboard, rip off the tape strip everyone uses these days, cut off the cardboard tag because why just have the one, and unbutton ten shirts *head desk* There’s a reason I put this task off for months), hand-washed dishes, went for several walks with Pip and the dogs, cut up chicken for the dogs' meals, and scooped kitty litter.

I also made up the base for chili (basically browned the ground beef with peppers and onions and a little pepper and garlic powder) for one day later this week. I grilled tiny lamb chop thingies for Pip’s supper.

I took a nap, had an apple with caramel dip for my afternoon snack, and watched some HGTV programs. Thankfully pain is still a little bit less than yesterday. It's getting better each day, but is still very uncomfortable when I sit.

Temps started out at 45.3(F) and reached 64.4. There was sun most of the day, which was nice, but it was not super warm.


Mom Update:

I did not visit mom today, but I spoke to her on the phone. more back here )

Yuletide letter

Oct. 22nd, 2025 03:18 pm[personal profile] thawrecka
thawrecka: (Underworld)
Hello!

I'm [archiveofourown.org profile] thawrecka, and I'm excited to read whatever you write. If you want to see more about what I like about these canons, or if you want to find more of what I like in fiction feel free to browse here or my tumblr.

If you're the person assigned to me, hi! :D If you're someone else, I also welcome treats.

Requests

フェルマーの料理 | Fermat no Ryouri (TV) )

琉璃 | Love and Redemption (TV) )

Pet Shop of Horrors (Manga) )

Lexx )

Underworld (Movies) )

Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex (Anime) )




General likes )




General dislikes )
kormantic: (Default)
Hello friends and neighbors, welcome to the next round of Yuletide! Hope you were out and about this past weekend with your seven million closest friends. And surely NOT committing a bold daylight robbery of a certain famed art museum!

 


a letter of note )

 

Anyway, write what you like best and I'm sure to like it, too.

Happy Yuletide!!!

 


rahirah: (su_editor)
Angel: "All of it. Little bit more than five percent. Wolfram and Hart find out that you have that money..." Anne: "I can find a way to hide it. What's this?" Angel: "Blood." Anne: "It'll wash."

~~Angel Season II Episode #34: Blood Money~~



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A smattering of small things

Oct. 21st, 2025 03:35 pm[personal profile] umadoshi
umadoshi: (autumn - bat art (insomniatic))
It was pouring rain when I woke up, and again, even if it didn't last long enough--I don't know what time it started, but it was pretty much gone by midmorning--it was appreciated. (Of course, I say that as someone working from home; one coworder who works onsite sometimes is in walking distance of the office, and walking to work today resulted in literally wringing clothing out in the kitchen sink upon arrival.)

That also meant it was dim enough at the start of my workday that turning on both strings of Hallowe'en lights in my office made actual sense! The purple/orange string around the edge of the ceiling is bright enough to be fun regardless, but the new string of ghosts around the window is backlit enough that actually turning the lights on makes little sense during the day. (And these years I spend so little evening time in my office, Dayjob crunches notwithstanding.)

I checked in on my freelance schedule yesterday and found out that things have been rearranged in a way that makes the rest of this month and November pretty light, early December a bit much (although some of the work due then can be done in November, theoretically), and January a bit of an onslaught. It should be fine! Just. Ooof. (At least January isn't a typical crunch time, although anything's possible.) This also gives me a bit more motivation to extend my vacation time after Christmas.

At some point today Pokemon Go rolled out its seasonal Hallowe'en skin, which inevitably charms me all out of proportion.

There were other things in my head this morning, but of course the Dayjob workday quietly wiped them away, so we'll call this a post.
runpunkrun: Dana Scully reading Jose Chung's 'From Outer Space' in the style of a poster you'd find in your school library, text: Read. (reading)
Published in 2010, updated with a new preface in 2020, and still very much worth reading in 2025. As Alexander says in the new preface:
In many respects, the core thesis of this book is more relevant today than it was ten years ago. It is now easier to see the patterns, the cycles, the predictable rhetoric, and the ways in which systems of racial and social control adapt, morph, rebound, and are reborn.
Alexander argues that the criminal justice system, specifically through the War on Drugs, perpetuates a racial hierarchy that's replaced Jim Crow as the dominant system of control over people—especially men—of color, just as Jim Crow once emerged to perform many of the same functions as slavery.

She briefly reviews the history of racialized social control in the United states, describes the structure of mass incarceration with a focus on the War on Drugs, looks at the role of race in the U.S. criminal justice system, considers how the caste system operates once people are released from prison, explores the many parallels between mass incarceration and Jim Crow, and reflects on what acknowledging the presence of the New Jim Crow means for the future of civil rights advocacy.

It's a moving, well-developed argument written in plain language, and if you're up for it here in the midst of the ever increasing horrors, I highly recommend it. Be sure to get the 10th Anniversary Edition.
spikedluv: created by tarlan (misc: tv talk by tarlan)
9-1-1: Good ep! spoilers )


Matlock: Have seen the first two eps and they were both good, though you probably can already guess my caveat. spoilers )



Tracker: Good ep! spoilers )
spikedluv: (summer: sunflowers by candi)
I had another chiropractic appointment this morning. Apparently I misunderstood; the pinch isn’t in the sacrum, it’s in the lower lumbar region. Which is one of the spots in my back that started hurting as the pain in my buttock/leg lessened. The chiropractor said that is expected, as the pain will eventually be felt where the actual pinch is, rather than where it radiates to. Almost forgot to mention that the pain is less again today, in part, I'm sure, because of the adjustment.

I hit Walmart and CVS (for mom’s prescriptions) while I was downtown. I did two loads of laundry, hand-washed dishes, ran a load in the dishwasher, cut up chicken for the dogs' meals, scooped kitty litter, and showered.

I watched the current ep of Tracker and some HGTV programs.

Temps started out at 58.8(F) and reached 61.3. It rained most of the night and was supposed rain most of the day, as well, but it was more off and on than steady. We’d have periods of rain, then the sun would come out, then more rain, then sun . . . It was also quite windy. (Pip told me that the pot one of the mums was in had blown into the field. I was like o_O how could that happen? Apparently the plant was blown over, and the pot blown right off it! Who knew that could happen?)


Mom Update:

Mom was doing well today. more back here )
burnhername: Faith pic with the word editor (SH editor Faith)
Thank you to [personal profile] harlow_turner_chaotic_ace aka Harlow who has volunteered for Herald editor duties. Check out their small-batch hand-crafted Buffyverse newsletter every Sunday! They have already posted twice!

And a special thank you to departing former chief editor [personal profile] thenewbuzwuzz!! They joined the Herald as an editor in 2017, and took over the chief editor position (from Tuesday editor rahirah) in 2021. They need to take a break for real life fun and a new full time job. They've been especially helpful in streamlining the Herald process, like the Pinboard. Have a most excellent newslettering retirement [personal profile] thenewbuzwuzz!

This means we now have an editor for every day of the week, yay! We’re no longer in urgent need of new editors.

If you are interested in joining the crew that puts out one of the longest running (since 2004) fandom newsletters, reach out. We can always use a backup editor or more tumblr rebloggers.

Our contact info is available in the tumblr sidebar and LiveJournal/Dreamwidth profile as always. You can also comment on this post. Cheers!

- burnhername

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