china_shop: Close-up of Zhao Yunlan grinning (Default)
The Gauche in the Machine ([personal profile] china_shop) wrote2025-06-20 02:45 pm
Entry tags:

Me-and-media update

Previous poll review
In the The Tower poll, by far the most popular princess is the cat (63%), so I guess it's a cat tower. Runner up is the dragon princess with 47.8%, and third is the minotaur princess (32.6%), who I imagine is enjoying the view after so much time shut up in a labyrinth.

In ticky-boxes, rescue dragons came second to hugs, 60.9% to 69.6%, and puppies came third with 45.7%. Thank you for your votes!!

Reading
Neurotribes: The Legacy of Autism and How to Think Smarter About People Who Think Differently by Steve Silberman, narrated by William Hope. This is (understandably) more about parenting than I was expecting, so I don't know that I'm getting a huge amount out of it. But it's well-written and well-read, and I'll keep going a bit further. (It's over 20 hours.)

Maybe a little more of The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander -- I'm not sure if I've got back to this since I last posted. I'm awaiting new intermediate glasses, which I'm hoping will make life easier and mean I can read on my exercise machine again, without having to set the font size to "huge". (Breaking news: ageing is overrated.)

Guardian by priest -- I think we're nearly through the epic (in both senses) mythology dump, and we'll soon be getting back to what I think of as the main plot arc.

Release Your Persona by Yeaze (Korean BL manhwa) (via [personal profile] reviews_and_ramblings, which I found via [personal profile] cornerofmadness) -- this sure was an education in how porny BL manhwa are. It's a short-and-sweet celeb/non-celeb romance. Very cute (and did I mention E-rated?).

No Peter Whimsy this week because I disliked the narrator of the audiobook.

Kdramas
Our Unwritten Seoul -- okay, I'm loving this story of adult twins who swap lives; it's interesting and hopeful without being fluffy. Curious to see where it's going, and (of course) impatient for secrets to come out.

Sell Your Haunted House -- rewatch continues. Such a good show.

Other TV
The first episode of Étoile, a ballet drama created by the Sherman-Palladinos (of Gilmore Girls and Marvelous Mrs. Maisel fame). Seems fun so far. We'll get back to it.

Finished the first season of the Argentinian show, El Eternauta, and I totally see why it was recommended to go in unspoiled (I agree!), but just ftr, the season doesn't wrap up. It's one of those gear-shift to-be-continued endings. Still, it was fascinating and I always appreciate a different-from-the-usual-suspects setting. ([personal profile] laireshi, if you happen to be reading this, this show hits one of your DNWs.)

Turning Point: The Vietnam War continues to be excellent; really impressive range of interview subjects from all sides. Murderbot is still really fun. Finished season 5 of The Expanse. The school episode of Poker Face and the con artist one (John Cho & Melanie Lynskey 4 eva), and episodes 4 & 5 of Andor season 2.

Guardian/Fandom
My fannish activity consists of the readalong, the polls, and writing -- which is all so much fun and plenty to keep me busy.

Audio entertainment
Writing Excuses, a lot of Coherent (local politics argh), and a couple of episodes of Midnight Burger because I was starving for fiction. (Episode 7 was so good I made Andrew listen to it. I'm not sure it worked as well out of context, but mostly I just liked the physics conversation anyway.)

Writing/making things
I'm still writing! This is a pretty great streak for me. How long can it last? Trying to finish a minor character/outsider POV flashfic for tomorrow's [community profile] fan_flashworks deadline (prompt: Yield), and I still have the Guardian bingo prompts for June on my mind. One day I'll get back to my WIPs.

Also, there's been author reveals, so I can say that I picked up a pinch hit for [community profile] whumpex, which was really fun. I had not previously thought I'd enjoy writing a fic where Zhao Yunlan spends most of it screaming in pain, but... you live, you learn.

Life/health/mental state things
Idek. )

Good things
Sunshine and biking. The bakery at Greta Point, with its delicious cinnamon rolls and seed-strewn rye sourdough. Achieving getting my car fixed. Writing! Guardian and comments and polls and the readalong and happy brain-sparky times and people. My favourite hand cream courtesy of [personal profile] mergatrude. Crosswords. Kdramas. My arms are holding up pretty well.

Poll #33270 Impending doom of the natural variety
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 52


What natural disaster threat(s) do you live with?

View Answers

earthquake
12 (23.1%)

fire
15 (28.8%)

volcano
5 (9.6%)

flood
24 (46.2%)

drought/heat
30 (57.7%)

hurricane/cyclone
13 (25.0%)

landslide/avalanche
2 (3.8%)

blizzard
22 (42.3%)

tornado
15 (28.8%)

tsumani
4 (7.7%)

other
3 (5.8%)

ticky-box full of emergency kits/go bags
17 (32.7%)

ticky-box made of Möbius strips and Escher staircases
26 (50.0%)

ticky-box full of unlabelled VHS tapes
18 (34.6%)

ticky-box full of zebras in headphones listening to 80s pop on Stripe-ify
19 (36.5%)

ticky-box full of hugs
36 (69.2%)

senmut: A comic illustration of Vader's helmet reflected (Star Wars: Vader Reflected)
Asp ([personal profile] senmut) wrote2025-06-19 06:36 pm

GenPrompt Bingo: A Moment of Understanding / Clarity

Soon Only He Would Remain (100 words) by Sharpest_Asp
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Star Wars Original Trilogy
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: Major Character Death
Characters: Sheev Palpatine | Emperor Palpatine | Darth Sidious, Darth Vader
Additional Tags: Drabble
Summary:

Palpatine is so certain of the outcome



Soon Only He Would Remain

The Force was his slave, and it was flowing so strongly. All of his life, he had waited for this moment, when he would truly be the last master of it. There was no need to replace his underling, and the boy would be dead before that machinery ceased to function. He was the only one who would —

WHAT?!

NO!

It wasn't possible! He shrieked and lost control of the Force Lightning, but knew it was striking his puppet.

That traitor!

After all he'd done for him?!

His scream echoed in his own ears, all the way to the core.
spikedluv: (summer: sunflowers by candi)
it only hurts when i breathe ([personal profile] spikedluv) wrote2025-06-19 07:33 am

The Day in Spikedluv (Wednesday, June 18)

Having visiting hours not start until 11am has really helped with being able to get stuff done before I go out.

I had a chiropractic appointment this morning. I didn’t do any shopping, but I did get in a longer walk around the park. I did a load of laundry, a load in the dishwasher, the usual amount of hand-washing dishes, and scooped kitty litter. I read more (currently one of the Duncan Kincaid books).

Temps started out at 66.7(F) and reached 83.8. It was overcast with some sprinkles in the morning, then the sun came out in the afternoon. It was so humid! For the first time since it was hot back in May we had to use the AC in the bedroom.


Mom Update:

Mom was still doing well, but she was more tired today. She’d had some issues, one of which may have contributed to her being so tired. more back here )
rionaleonhart: the coffin of andy and leyley: andrew glances back over his shoulder, expressionless. (this is who you are now)
Riona ([personal profile] rionaleonhart) wrote2025-06-19 10:49 am

Shining Only In Your Own Eyes, The Light Defies It.

I was originally planning to hold off on posting about chapter four of Deltarune until I'd finished the chapter, but I've rambled so much already that I think I'd better just make a post now.

I've just defeated Jackenstein, but this entry only discusses the pre-Dark-World section of Deltarune chapter four.


Thoughts on early chapter four of Deltarune. )


Thank you guys for avoiding spoilers in your comments on my last entry! Please try not to allude to anything post-Jackenstein in any comments on this one. Hopefully I'll be finished and able to discuss things freely with you soon!

I'm already missing this game in anticipation of finishing it. But, hey, there should be new chapters to look forward to in the future! At... some point!
senmut: An orange-blue gradient field, with a black and white star in the right upper corner, reading "A Star to Steer By, A Wind to take me home again" (General: One More Time)
Asp ([personal profile] senmut) wrote2025-06-18 06:34 pm

PODFIC!

Apparently a Podfic thing went live today, and OH I got so lucky!

4 podfics )
piratequeen: From the anime One Piece, Nami in profile (Default)
piratequeen ([personal profile] piratequeen) wrote2025-06-18 02:03 pm
Entry tags:

Book Review: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

[Goodreads | Storygraph]

3.75 / 5 stars

More under the cut )
spikedluv: (summer: sunflowers by candi)
it only hurts when i breathe ([personal profile] spikedluv) wrote2025-06-18 07:45 am

Wednesday Reading Meme & Books 43 - 45 of 2025

What I Just Finished Reading: Since last Wednesday I have read/finished reading: System Collapse (The Murderbot Diaries) by Martha Wells, The Body in the Garden (A Lily Adler Mystery) by Katharine Schellman, and Martinis and Mayhem (A Murder, She Wrote Mystery) by Donald Bain.


What I am Currently Reading: Water Like a Stone (A Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James Mystery) by Deborah Crombie.


What I Plan to Read Next: Still a variety of library books out and even more on request, so a library book.




Book 43 of 2025: System Collapse (The Murderbot Diaries) (Martha Wells)

This book was so good! spoilers )

So good! I still have one book left because I was forewarned that this one immediately followed Network Effect. I’m obviously giving this one five hearts.

♥♥♥♥♥



Book 44 of 2025: The Body in the Garden (A Lily Adler Mystery) (Katharine Schellman)

I liked this book a lot. spoilers )

I enjoyed this book and have already requested the second in the series from the library. I'm giving this one five hearts.

♥♥♥♥♥



Book 45 of 2025: Martinis & Mayhem (A Murder, She Wrote Mystery) (Donald Bain)

I enjoyed this book (though you know I'll have something to say about it in a future M[F]M post). spoilers )

I'm happy to see that these books are getting better, even though there are still some inconsistencies (within the book and with the show). I'm giving it four hearts.

♥♥♥♥
spikedluv: (summer: sunflowers by candi)
it only hurts when i breathe ([personal profile] spikedluv) wrote2025-06-18 06:49 am

The Day in Spikedluv (Tuesday, June 17)

My sister A wanted to go out to see mom at 11am; I’m relieving her around 3pm (timing at her request), so I had time to get some shopping and other chores done. I went downtown so I could go to Walmart.

Mom stuff: While at Walmart I picked up some items that mom had requested I get for her eventual convalescence at home; dropped by her house to get her mail; and stopped in at the bank to make sure they had a copy of her POA on file (since she has me signing checks to pay bills while she’s in the hospital). They did not. The process took way longer than I expected; it’s such a rigamarole now. (On the plus side, I got a call after just an hour and a half saying it had been approved, so I’m good to go.)

I passed Sunnycrest, so I stopped in to see if they had those beef sticks for Pip. They did! Just one package, but it’s something.

I did a load of laundry, hit Stewart’s on the way home, baked chicken for the dogs, did the usual amount of hand-washing dishes, and changed kitty litter. (Dear lord, that was a stinky job. My fault because I let it go longer than usual. Lesson learned. Hopefully.)

I started reading a new book and obviously got to visit mom.

Time is warping and I thought today was Wednesday so I took my Trulicity injection a day early. o_O

Temps started out at 59.0(F) and reached 74. At a guess. I hate not being home in the afternoon to check the temp.


Mom Update:

Mom was doing much better today! MUCH better. more )
rionaleonhart: top gear: the start button on a bugatti veyron. (going down tonight)
Riona ([personal profile] rionaleonhart) wrote2025-06-18 11:42 am

Does Anyone Know What An E-Mail Is?

I've been playing Deltarune! I've replayed chapters one and two, and I've also finished the new chapter three; I haven't played the fourth chapter yet.

For the benefit of anyone who's trying to avoid spoilers, this entry has two different cuts. The first cut contains my thoughts from revisiting the first two chapters (mainly disjointed speculation, including speculation on the Snowgrave route), with no spoilers for the new material, and the second cut contains my thoughts on chapter three.


Thoughts on the first two chapters of Deltarune. )


And now on to chapter three!


Thoughts on chapter three of Deltarune. )


One of the most striking things about Deltarune, like Undertale before it, is how dense this game is with fun little details. It takes every opportunity to slip in a secret or a joke. You're constantly rewarded for poking around, for trying new things, for taking a second look. It's an approach that makes the world such a pleasure to explore.

I'm looking forward to playing chapter four; please try not to give anything away in the comments!
spikedluv: (summer: sunflowers by candi)
it only hurts when i breathe ([personal profile] spikedluv) wrote2025-06-17 12:03 pm
Entry tags:
rionaleonhart: kingdom hearts: riku, blindfolded and smiling slightly. (we'll be the darkness)
Riona ([personal profile] rionaleonhart) wrote2025-06-17 04:20 pm

Fanfiction: Kindred Spirits (The Hundred Line/Horizon Zero Dawn, Yugamu/Nil)

I am legally required to write this Hundred Line/Horizon Zero Dawn crossover. Yugamu and Nil are both so horny for murder; it would be a travesty if they never met!


Title: Kindred Spirits
Fandom: The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy/Horizon Zero Dawn
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Yugamu/Nil
Wordcount: 1,200
Summary: Yugamu and Nil meet and murderflirt. Look, someone had to write this.


Kindred Spirits )
spikedluv: (summer: sunflowers by candi)
it only hurts when i breathe ([personal profile] spikedluv) wrote2025-06-17 07:36 am

The Day in Spikedluv (Monday, June 16)

I had plans to get a lot of stuff (including stuff for mom) done in the afternoon after visiting mom, but my sister got out of work later than she thought and I stayed later because the surgeon had come in and so I got none of that stuff done.

I did do a load of laundry, the usual amount of hand-washing dishes, and scooped kitty litter. I read and watched an HGTV program.

I was hungry by the time I left the hospital as I hadn’t had lunch yet, and I didn’t want to wait until I got home to eat. So I went to a place called the Hawkeye Bar & Grill in the Otesaga Hotel and had some very good fish and chips. This was the view from my seat on the patio:



Temps started out at 57.4(F) and reached 81. (According to Pip. I’m not sure whether to believe him, but he actually had a number instead of yesterday when he just said ‘it got hot’.) The whole day was overcast/hazy, for which we should be thankful, I guess, if it really did reach 81.


Mom Update:

Mom was feeling better today, which was a relief. A lot of stuff happened, so I expect this to get long. it did get long )
senmut: A black woman with short-cropped hair, glasses, and tie looking smug at the viewer (Sandman: Lucienne)
Asp ([personal profile] senmut) wrote2025-06-16 09:08 pm
Entry tags:

Daily Check In

*\o/* Word Count Step Count Headache?
Daily 3,418 6,649 yes
Monthly 13,032 164,994 4 days
used_songs: Shelf loaded with old books (Bookshelf)
opal trelore ([personal profile] used_songs) wrote2025-06-16 07:47 pm

(no subject)

I finished Bat Eater this morning. I ended up really liking it, although it felt a bit rushed at the end. But I loved what the author did with the ghosts and the ways in which she had Cora change and grow.

I read a bit more of Teaching with AI, but so far it's been a lot of "What is AI? What do all of these letters mean?" background. I might actually skip some bits so I can get to the actual topic. 

We finished season 2 of Severance today as well, so I am open for discussion if anyone wants to talk about it. I don't know how I would've ended it (not like that!), but it definitely gave E and I a lot of room to speculate about season 3 and what the focus will be.

We started Ted Lasso today and so far I'm not digging it too much; however, E seems to like it. There's just a lot of CONFLICT in the first 2 episodes and it's stressing me out.

Did you know there is a Jessica Fletcher action figure?! Sadly, it's pretty expensive and I have vowed not to buy a lot of unnecessary fan stuff like figures, but it's super tempting.