Fireworks
Friday, 4 July 2025 09:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithTonight we did our home fireworks show. :D These are the things we bought from JT Fireworks Sales in Charleston...
( Read more... )
( Read more... )
ysabetwordsmith
Links: Kaval Park movie, and a privacy guide
Friday, 4 July 2025 05:58 pmsoniaKaval Park, a full-length documentary about Alexander Eppler, an extraordinary American musician who specialized in Balkan instruments, including the shepherd's flute known as a kaval. He lived in Seattle, and the documentary includes other Balkan dancers and instrumentalists from the community there, as well as interviews with Bulgarians who knew him. I don't often watch movies, and this was fascinating. He went to Bulgaria by himself when he was 14 years old to learn naval, while it was still a closed communist country!
Queer Dating Apps: Beware Who You Trust With Your Intimate Data by Em, staff writer for Privacy Guides. A thorough analysis, with the depressing conclusion that none of the dating apps are trustworthy with your private data, and suggestions for how to protect yourself if you use them anyway.
Queer Dating Apps: Beware Who You Trust With Your Intimate Data by Em, staff writer for Privacy Guides. A thorough analysis, with the depressing conclusion that none of the dating apps are trustworthy with your private data, and suggestions for how to protect yourself if you use them anyway.
Writing About Fireworks
Friday, 4 July 2025 03:09 pmysabetwordsmithIn honor of the Fourth of July, here are a few tidbits to enjoy.
Today's Adventures 6/28/25 -- We bought fireworks for our home show, and we watched the show in Tolono.
Fireworks 7/4/25 -- Read about our home show tonight.
( Read more... )
Today's Adventures 6/28/25 -- We bought fireworks for our home show, and we watched the show in Tolono.
Fireworks 7/4/25 -- Read about our home show tonight.
( Read more... )
Birdfeeding
Friday, 4 July 2025 02:50 pmysabetwordsmithToday is mostly sunny and hot.
I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches plus a mourning dove.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 7/4/25 -- I checked the south lot and put topsoil in a few low spots, prior to our fireworks show tonight.
EDIT 7/4/25 -- I picked up a trough pot that fell off the old picnic table, restored the curry plant and purple basil as best I could, then watered them and a few other things in the house yard.
EDIT 7/4/25 -- I sowed 6 pots with mulberry seeds. Half are from a particularly pleasing mulberry sapling near the west end of the old fishpond, the other half from a mulberry that was left on the porch step as if a gift.
EDIT 7/4/25 -- I watered the telephone pole garden and a few seedlings in the savanna.
My partner Doug mowed the ritual meadow and prairie paths.
EDIT 7/4/25 -- I picked a handful of herbs to make a skillet scramble for supper.
EDIT 7/4/25 -- I picked a handful of blackberries in the prairie garden. There are plenty left; I ran out of heat tolerance long before I ran out of berries. :D
Cicadas are singing.
EDIT 7/4/25 -- I picked a handful of blackberries in the prairie garden. Still more left, but I'll have to hunt those another day, because it is still hot and the sun is about to set.
.
I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches plus a mourning dove.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 7/4/25 -- I checked the south lot and put topsoil in a few low spots, prior to our fireworks show tonight.
EDIT 7/4/25 -- I picked up a trough pot that fell off the old picnic table, restored the curry plant and purple basil as best I could, then watered them and a few other things in the house yard.
EDIT 7/4/25 -- I sowed 6 pots with mulberry seeds. Half are from a particularly pleasing mulberry sapling near the west end of the old fishpond, the other half from a mulberry that was left on the porch step as if a gift.
EDIT 7/4/25 -- I watered the telephone pole garden and a few seedlings in the savanna.
My partner Doug mowed the ritual meadow and prairie paths.
EDIT 7/4/25 -- I picked a handful of herbs to make a skillet scramble for supper.
EDIT 7/4/25 -- I picked a handful of blackberries in the prairie garden. There are plenty left; I ran out of heat tolerance long before I ran out of berries. :D
Cicadas are singing.
EDIT 7/4/25 -- I picked a handful of blackberries in the prairie garden. Still more left, but I'll have to hunt those another day, because it is still hot and the sun is about to set.
.
The Best Three-Color Ballpoint Multi-Pen
Friday, 4 July 2025 03:06 pmninagobraghAccording to me, that is...
I’m starting this occasional series called "Best of" and dividing it into categories—because trying to crown one stationery item as the ultimate best just isn’t fair. Gel pens, multi-pens, fineliners, pencils, planners, notebooks, sticky-notes -- they all have their own strengths, and I want to do each category justice.
Today’s pick is the Best Three-Color Ballpoint Multi-Pen.
This is, as always, based on my own research and (many) personal purchases. I've tested a lot of multi-pens over the years—some hyped, some hidden gems—and there’s one I keep coming back to.
But before we get into the winner, here’s what I look for when evaluating a ballpoint multi-pen:
What Makes a Great Multi-Pen?
- Durability – Will the clip survive a commute in my commuter bag or a pocket, or does it literally snap under pressure?
- Comfort – Can I write with it for ten minutes without my wrist falling asleep?
- Tip Performance – Regardless of tip size, does the ink flow smoothly? Does the tip get gummed up?
- Clickiness – A little niche, but it matters to me! Do the different color options click into place cleanly and stay put?
With all of that in mind, here’s my top pick:
Winner: Uni Jetstream 3 Color Ballpoint Multi Pen (0.5mm)
If you’ve used this pen, you probably saw this coming.
The Uni Jetstream 3-Color (0.5mm) hits every point I care about. The tip never gums up on me, which means the ink flows consistently and smoothly every time I write. Since it's light and slender, I can write with it comfortably for long stretches at a time without my hand cramping up. I’ve never had an issue with the color tabs snapping back up unexpectedly; each color clicks into place cleanly and stays put.
Fun fact: If you’ve ever ordered a Hobonichi Techo from the official store, this is the pen they include—just in a limited-edition. So if you’ve used it and loved it, now you know what it is!
Runner-Up: Uni Jetstream SXE3-507 (0.5mm)
This one is so close to number 1. It’s basically the same pen with a slightly different body.
The SXE3-507 uses the same reliable Jetstream ink, which means you get all the benefits of smooth, skip-free writing. I really appreciate the design of this one, too—the red and blue color sliders are built into the body, while the black ink is controlled by the top clicker. It’s intuitive and makes selecting your color feel effortless.
The reason it lands in second place? The body is just a bit thicker than the regular Jetstream 3-Color. That doesn't mean it's unusable and hard to write with. It just means that you (like me) might prefer a slightly slimmer pen to write with. While a thick pen might be better for larger hands, smaller-handed people could find this a bit bulky during longer writing sessions.
Final Thoughts
Your mileage may vary when it comes to pens. Writing preferences, hand sizes, and pen habits are unique to everyone. But you really can't go wrong with the Uni Jetstream 3-Color. It's a reliable, high-quality three-color ballpoint pen and one I keep buying—and using—again and again (I think I have three now -- I'll have to check).
Of course, here are plenty more pens out there and I keep buying/getting more. Who knows? Maybe next year’s “Best Of” list will look different.
The Sarie & Tareth Fanfic Series
Thursday, 3 July 2025 08:40 pmsenashentaI've had this idea for a Valdemar fic for literally years now and never gotten around to writing it, but I finally just started it recently, and it BLOSSOMED into an entire series of fics, which... well, let's just say this isn't the first time that's happened to me. XD;;
Basically, the first fic, In The Forest, is about Sarie, a young Companion On Search for her Chosen, and the (mis)adventures she ends up involved in in the process. Her brother, Kierian, is accompanying her on her journey because her Search takes her deep, deep into the Pelagiris forest, and that's not a place one should venture into alone. Shenanigans happen, and Sarie DOES find her Chosen, who turns out to be... the kyree, Tareth. And she's like AND I WORE MY HEAVY FANCY FORMAL TACK AND EVERYTHING. >:| lol.
That's the story that's been in the back of my head practically forever, but now five more short fics have cropped up: A Wolf In Trainee's Clothing (about Tareth as a Trainee at the Collegium), A Dog And Pony Show (about Sarie and Tareth's first Circuit), The Woods (about them tackling some nasty critters along the edge of the Pelagiris), Homecoming (about them going back deep into the Pelagiris to visit Tareth's pack for the first time since he was Chosen) and Becoming Wild (about Sarie adjusting to life in the forest and essentially being a wild creature for the first time in her life.)
And then maybe others as I think of them? And you have to keep in mind that my brain is a basket of CATS so these may or may not ever see the light of day at all, BUT they officially have cover images and I have a dedicated "Sarie & Tareth" binder, so there might be hope after all. lol.
EDIT: The last one in the series is tentatively titled The End and is basically about Sarie and Tareth going out in a blaze of glory protecting his pack and their lands from an air drake. :D
Basically, the first fic, In The Forest, is about Sarie, a young Companion On Search for her Chosen, and the (mis)adventures she ends up involved in in the process. Her brother, Kierian, is accompanying her on her journey because her Search takes her deep, deep into the Pelagiris forest, and that's not a place one should venture into alone. Shenanigans happen, and Sarie DOES find her Chosen, who turns out to be... the kyree, Tareth. And she's like AND I WORE MY HEAVY FANCY FORMAL TACK AND EVERYTHING. >:| lol.
That's the story that's been in the back of my head practically forever, but now five more short fics have cropped up: A Wolf In Trainee's Clothing (about Tareth as a Trainee at the Collegium), A Dog And Pony Show (about Sarie and Tareth's first Circuit), The Woods (about them tackling some nasty critters along the edge of the Pelagiris), Homecoming (about them going back deep into the Pelagiris to visit Tareth's pack for the first time since he was Chosen) and Becoming Wild (about Sarie adjusting to life in the forest and essentially being a wild creature for the first time in her life.)
And then maybe others as I think of them? And you have to keep in mind that my brain is a basket of CATS so these may or may not ever see the light of day at all, BUT they officially have cover images and I have a dedicated "Sarie & Tareth" binder, so there might be hope after all. lol.
EDIT: The last one in the series is tentatively titled The End and is basically about Sarie and Tareth going out in a blaze of glory protecting his pack and their lands from an air drake. :D
Have you tried taking it apart and putting it back together again
Thursday, 3 July 2025 04:58 pmsoniaWhen I was 21 years old, my parents came out to visit me in California. My father is an audiophile, and he went with me to buy my very own stereo system with separate receiver, double tape deck, CD player, a stereo cabinet to put all that in, and speakers to hear it all. I had a big tape collection back then, mostly copied from his folk music records. The speakers are Advent Prodigy Towers, approximately a foot square and 28" high, with pecan wood on top and black grilles on the front.
I got rid of the tapes in this move back to California since I never listened to them anymore, but the same stereo system, cabinet, and speakers came back with me. I did replace the CD player about 10 years in, because apparently they changed the CD encoding over time and it stopped working.
My favorite thing to do with the stereo system since 2008 is to run my computer audio through it and play mp3s for folk dancing. I love the feel of the music through big speakers, and the audio quality is way better than the smaller portable speakers that big dance groups used.
A few years ago I realized the music was getting fuzzy. I took the front grille off, and the foam around the woofers was completely perished. I carefully unhooked them, put them in my bike trailer, and took them to a small audio store where a crusty older guy took them in and promised to repair them. A week or two later I biked back, picked them up, hauled them home, and reassembled the speakers. They sounded great! (Apparently this was in 2014.)
After the move back to California, the audio started dropping out unpredictably from one of the speakers when I was dancing. I tried swapping out the cable from the computer to the receiver, and swapping the speaker cables. Finally it got bad enough that I decided after 30+ years it was time to replace the speakers.
I did some online research and picked out some speakers that I wanted to check out at Best Buy. (I wonder if that's where I bought my system in the first place!) Then I started thinking about having new electronics off-gassing in my living room, and how I would get rid of the old speakers. I took off the grilles and unscrewed the woofers to take a look at them. The foam still looks good. I disconnected the clip that held in the woofer on the one that's been dropping out, and reconnected it.
I put it all back together and the audio hasn't dropped out since. Maybe the clip got jarred during the move? It didn't look wrong, but at least it's behaving better now. Which is good, because the one local audio repair place I found didn't return my message, and the new speakers I was interested in don't look nearly as nice as the old ones. The thought of new & improved electronics is exciting, but I love how my speakers sound and I'm glad they're not dead yet.
I got rid of the tapes in this move back to California since I never listened to them anymore, but the same stereo system, cabinet, and speakers came back with me. I did replace the CD player about 10 years in, because apparently they changed the CD encoding over time and it stopped working.
My favorite thing to do with the stereo system since 2008 is to run my computer audio through it and play mp3s for folk dancing. I love the feel of the music through big speakers, and the audio quality is way better than the smaller portable speakers that big dance groups used.
A few years ago I realized the music was getting fuzzy. I took the front grille off, and the foam around the woofers was completely perished. I carefully unhooked them, put them in my bike trailer, and took them to a small audio store where a crusty older guy took them in and promised to repair them. A week or two later I biked back, picked them up, hauled them home, and reassembled the speakers. They sounded great! (Apparently this was in 2014.)
After the move back to California, the audio started dropping out unpredictably from one of the speakers when I was dancing. I tried swapping out the cable from the computer to the receiver, and swapping the speaker cables. Finally it got bad enough that I decided after 30+ years it was time to replace the speakers.
I did some online research and picked out some speakers that I wanted to check out at Best Buy. (I wonder if that's where I bought my system in the first place!) Then I started thinking about having new electronics off-gassing in my living room, and how I would get rid of the old speakers. I took off the grilles and unscrewed the woofers to take a look at them. The foam still looks good. I disconnected the clip that held in the woofer on the one that's been dropping out, and reconnected it.
I put it all back together and the audio hasn't dropped out since. Maybe the clip got jarred during the move? It didn't look wrong, but at least it's behaving better now. Which is good, because the one local audio repair place I found didn't return my message, and the new speakers I was interested in don't look nearly as nice as the old ones. The thought of new & improved electronics is exciting, but I love how my speakers sound and I'm glad they're not dead yet.
Blazing the Trail: Celebrating Indigenous Fire Stewardship
Thursday, 3 July 2025 04:43 pmysabetwordsmithFireSmart Canada is pleased to release Blazing the Trail: Celebrating Indigenous Fire
Stewardship, a beautiful, bound publication that recognizes the contributions to wildfire
prevention of Indigenous communities in Canada.
( Read more... )
Stewardship, a beautiful, bound publication that recognizes the contributions to wildfire
prevention of Indigenous communities in Canada.
( Read more... )
Birdfeeding
Thursday, 3 July 2025 02:49 pmysabetwordsmithToday is partly sunny and hot.
I fed the birds. I refilled the thistle feeder. I've seen a large mixed flock of sparrows and house finches plus a male cardinal.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 7/3/25 -- I took a few more pictures around the yard, mostly flowers at the end of the driveway.
EDIT 7/3/25 -- I dug up three pots of wild senna and one of purple echinacea that had seeded themselves in the savanna, hopefully to transplant them elsewhere if they survive.
I've seen a pair of mourning doves and a gray catbird. I also saw a very large bird, possibly a vulture or eagle, flying over the field to the west.
EDIT 7/3/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 7/3/25 -- We hooked up the new, flat water hose. The "non-kinking" label is a complete lie; it is the most prone to kinking of any hose I've ever used. Straightening it out enough to work is a bitch. However, it is extremely lightweight and completely flexible, so those are pluses. Also the multifunction water wand is by far the best nozzles I've ever used. I favor with "shower" and "flat" functions the most. The new picnic table garden and septic garden have been thoroughly watered.
EDIT 7/3/25 -- I watered the old picnic table garden and the plants in the house yard.
The corn is tasseling. The pollen hangs heavy on the wind with a sweet, dusty, buttery, golden smell.
Fireflies are coming out.
I saw a skunk in the house yard. I've seen a squirrel at the hopper feeder.
As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I refilled the thistle feeder. I've seen a large mixed flock of sparrows and house finches plus a male cardinal.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 7/3/25 -- I took a few more pictures around the yard, mostly flowers at the end of the driveway.
EDIT 7/3/25 -- I dug up three pots of wild senna and one of purple echinacea that had seeded themselves in the savanna, hopefully to transplant them elsewhere if they survive.
I've seen a pair of mourning doves and a gray catbird. I also saw a very large bird, possibly a vulture or eagle, flying over the field to the west.
EDIT 7/3/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 7/3/25 -- We hooked up the new, flat water hose. The "non-kinking" label is a complete lie; it is the most prone to kinking of any hose I've ever used. Straightening it out enough to work is a bitch. However, it is extremely lightweight and completely flexible, so those are pluses. Also the multifunction water wand is by far the best nozzles I've ever used. I favor with "shower" and "flat" functions the most. The new picnic table garden and septic garden have been thoroughly watered.
EDIT 7/3/25 -- I watered the old picnic table garden and the plants in the house yard.
The corn is tasseling. The pollen hangs heavy on the wind with a sweet, dusty, buttery, golden smell.
Fireflies are coming out.
I saw a skunk in the house yard. I've seen a squirrel at the hopper feeder.
As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.
Climate Change
Thursday, 3 July 2025 02:45 pmysabetwordsmithWhen rainforests died, the planet caught fire: New clues from Earth’s greatest extinction
When Siberian volcanoes kicked off the Great Dying, the real climate villain turned out to be the rainforests themselves: once they collapsed, Earth’s biggest carbon sponge vanished, CO₂ rocketed, and a five-million-year heatwave followed. Fossils from China and clever climate models now link that botanical wipe-out to runaway warming, hinting that losing today’s tropical forests could lock us in a furnace we can’t easily cool.
I pointed this out decades ago and nobody listened. Now here we are. But hey, someone could roll up this newspaper and beat Brazil with it.
When Siberian volcanoes kicked off the Great Dying, the real climate villain turned out to be the rainforests themselves: once they collapsed, Earth’s biggest carbon sponge vanished, CO₂ rocketed, and a five-million-year heatwave followed. Fossils from China and clever climate models now link that botanical wipe-out to runaway warming, hinting that losing today’s tropical forests could lock us in a furnace we can’t easily cool.
I pointed this out decades ago and nobody listened. Now here we are. But hey, someone could roll up this newspaper and beat Brazil with it.
The Friday Five for 4 July 2025
Thursday, 3 July 2025 03:27 pmanais_pf posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
thefridayfiveThis week's questions were suggested by ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
lord_azurewave.
1. Who is your best friend?
2. Why did you become friends?
3. How did you meet?
4. Why have you stayed friends?
5. How long (realistically) do you think you'll be friends?
Copy and paste to your own journal, then reply to this post with a link to your answers. If your journal is private or friends-only, you can post your full answers in the comments below.
If you'd like to suggest questions for a future Friday Five, then do so on DreamWidth or LiveJournal. Old sets that were used have been deleted, so we encourage you to suggest some more!
**Remember that we rely on you, our members, to help keep the community going. Also, please remember to play nice. We are all here to answer the questions and have fun each week. We repost the questions exactly as the original posters submitted them and request that all questions be checked for spelling and grammatical errors before they're submitted. Comments re: the spelling and grammatical nature of the questions are not necessary. Honestly, any hostile, rude, petty, or unnecessary comments need not be posted, either.**
lord_azurewave. 1. Who is your best friend?
2. Why did you become friends?
3. How did you meet?
4. Why have you stayed friends?
5. How long (realistically) do you think you'll be friends?
Copy and paste to your own journal, then reply to this post with a link to your answers. If your journal is private or friends-only, you can post your full answers in the comments below.
If you'd like to suggest questions for a future Friday Five, then do so on DreamWidth or LiveJournal. Old sets that were used have been deleted, so we encourage you to suggest some more!
**Remember that we rely on you, our members, to help keep the community going. Also, please remember to play nice. We are all here to answer the questions and have fun each week. We repost the questions exactly as the original posters submitted them and request that all questions be checked for spelling and grammatical errors before they're submitted. Comments re: the spelling and grammatical nature of the questions are not necessary. Honestly, any hostile, rude, petty, or unnecessary comments need not be posted, either.**
Tedious and tired
Thursday, 3 July 2025 01:38 pmcosmolinguistMaking dinner was so hard I couldn't eat dinner. I just laid on my bed and couldn't talk or think properly at all.
It was scary because it meant that the problem wasn't contained in the immediate aftermath of counseling or whatever (not that I really expected it to be, given that I'd actually spent most of the session talking about how I was surprised not to be triggered by something that very reasonably could have been expected to leave me feeling really bad). And it was miserable.
I ended up sleeping for three or four hours and woke up because I needed to pee and D came to bed about that time. He thought I was asleep because I didn't move or talk. Until I had to get up for the bathroom and then after I came back to bed I was sobbing and we talked a little.
The conversation was good and useful. We came up with some plans. I know D has been struggling with poor sleep and I wouldn't have done this after midnight if I'd had much choice about it. But I did feel much better afterwards.
Today has started normally. But then so did yesterday (I was relieved when I could open the curtains and do chores while feeling okay), so who kmows.
"In the Heart of the Hidden Garden" is now complete!
Wednesday, 2 July 2025 10:48 pmysabetwordsmithThanks to a donation from fuzzyred, you can now read the rest of "In the Heart of the Hidden Garden." Lawrence gives Stan a tour of two more buildings and two more gardens -- and then explains why.
fuzzyred, you can now read the rest of "In the Heart of the Hidden Garden." Lawrence gives Stan a tour of two more buildings and two more gardens -- and then explains why.(no subject)
Wednesday, 2 July 2025 08:52 pmshadowkat1. Texted my brother today, we're at least in agreement on most television shows. We both loved The Bear to little bitty pieces, and agree with The Atlantic Review which states as it's heading, Thank God for The Bear, this is the television show we all needed. "I can forgive The Bear almost anything, because it’s one of the few shows on television now still willing to wrangle with the mess of being human—with what it means to try to live differently."
The Bear was renewed for a fifth season. Yay.
I'm admittedly in the minority? (not on the Bear, it's very popular). As apparently is my brother. Perhaps we're related after all? Neither of us could get into or liked Severance (which is insanely popular with thirty and twenty-somethings), we're on the fence with Murderbot, and so-so on Foundation, it's pretty overwrought, although very pretty overall.
He asked about the Buffy Reboot, and I regaled him with my knowledge on it - then realized, damn, I'm like a frigging info-dump on some things, aren't I? Hope it's not too annoying?
2. Crazy Org is being amusingly and charmingly passive aggressive towards our current political situation, and in some ways aggressive when it needs to be. (It took the DOJ to court and won.) As I told my brother, say what you will about Crazy Org - it's a tough old agency, and much like the city it resides in - it can stand up in a fight, and mostly win.
This was how it ended an email regarding the upcoming fourth of July holiday:
"A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.”
Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), The Declaration of Independence
The Bear was renewed for a fifth season. Yay.
I'm admittedly in the minority? (not on the Bear, it's very popular). As apparently is my brother. Perhaps we're related after all? Neither of us could get into or liked Severance (which is insanely popular with thirty and twenty-somethings), we're on the fence with Murderbot, and so-so on Foundation, it's pretty overwrought, although very pretty overall.
He asked about the Buffy Reboot, and I regaled him with my knowledge on it - then realized, damn, I'm like a frigging info-dump on some things, aren't I? Hope it's not too annoying?
2. Crazy Org is being amusingly and charmingly passive aggressive towards our current political situation, and in some ways aggressive when it needs to be. (It took the DOJ to court and won.) As I told my brother, say what you will about Crazy Org - it's a tough old agency, and much like the city it resides in - it can stand up in a fight, and mostly win.
This was how it ended an email regarding the upcoming fourth of July holiday:
"A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.”
Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), The Declaration of Independence
Birdfeeding
Wednesday, 2 July 2025 04:20 pmysabetwordsmithToday is mostly sunny and warm.
I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches. Robins are foraging in the short grass that my partner Doug mowed yesterday in the house yard.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 7/2/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 7/2/25 -- I took some pictures around the yard.
EDIT 7/2/25 -- I watered the old picnic table, new picnic table, and telephone pole gardens.
Fireflies are out. Cicadas are singing.
EDIT 7/2/25 -- I watered the septic garden.
I've seen a bat over the south lot, which also got mowed today.
As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches. Robins are foraging in the short grass that my partner Doug mowed yesterday in the house yard.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 7/2/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 7/2/25 -- I took some pictures around the yard.
EDIT 7/2/25 -- I watered the old picnic table, new picnic table, and telephone pole gardens.
Fireflies are out. Cicadas are singing.
EDIT 7/2/25 -- I watered the septic garden.
I've seen a bat over the south lot, which also got mowed today.
As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.
What I'm Doing Wednesday
Wednesday, 2 July 2025 01:42 pmsagebooks
Astrology for Yourself: How to Understand And Interpret Your Own Birth Chart by Demetra George, Douglas Bloch MA. Rev 2006. A bit outdated in terms of social examples, but the basics are sound.
not quite finished with: Chiron and the Healing Journey: An Astrological and Psychological Perspective by Melanie Reinhart. 2009 ed. Super creepy case studies, esp Jonestown, pre-De Klerk South Africa.
yarning
Didn't go to yarn group, though I was dressed, packed up, and ready to leave. I just couldn't get myself to get into the car and go. Or to work on the languishing bunnies on my own. It's true that crochet still hurts my shoulder and I haven't kept up my PT for it, but seeing people in person again would have been nice. And good for me.
( healthcrap )
fandom
Interview with the Vampire S3 is filming, and my tumblr dash is full of pics. It's delightful. I watched Murderbot through 1.6 & haven't yet caught up with the most recent 2 eps. So excited, though, to read that Martha Wells is polishing the final edits on the new Murderbot novella!
astrology
I'm studying hard, and it feels really good to be learning (and relearning) so much again.
#resist
July 4: Independence Day Boycott/Free America Protest/Weekend of Community Events
July 17: Good Trouble Lives On Day of Action (in honor of John Lewis, who died 7/17/2000)
I hope all of y'all are doing well & we US-ians have a happy Fourth of July weekend! If you go to a protest/march, please be safe! <333
Astrology for Yourself: How to Understand And Interpret Your Own Birth Chart by Demetra George, Douglas Bloch MA. Rev 2006. A bit outdated in terms of social examples, but the basics are sound.
not quite finished with: Chiron and the Healing Journey: An Astrological and Psychological Perspective by Melanie Reinhart. 2009 ed. Super creepy case studies, esp Jonestown, pre-De Klerk South Africa.
yarning
Didn't go to yarn group, though I was dressed, packed up, and ready to leave. I just couldn't get myself to get into the car and go. Or to work on the languishing bunnies on my own. It's true that crochet still hurts my shoulder and I haven't kept up my PT for it, but seeing people in person again would have been nice. And good for me.
( healthcrap )
fandom
Interview with the Vampire S3 is filming, and my tumblr dash is full of pics. It's delightful. I watched Murderbot through 1.6 & haven't yet caught up with the most recent 2 eps. So excited, though, to read that Martha Wells is polishing the final edits on the new Murderbot novella!
astrology
I'm studying hard, and it feels really good to be learning (and relearning) so much again.
#resist
July 4: Independence Day Boycott/Free America Protest/Weekend of Community Events
July 17: Good Trouble Lives On Day of Action (in honor of John Lewis, who died 7/17/2000)
I hope all of y'all are doing well & we US-ians have a happy Fourth of July weekend! If you go to a protest/march, please be safe! <333
HAPPY (LATE) CANADA DAY, 2025!!
Wednesday, 2 July 2025 08:54 amsenashentaCanada Day was yesterday and like most years, Mom and I went down to the park to check out the festivities. We went in the morning, around 9:30am because it was already 19 degrees out and supposed to jump to 29 degrees in the afternoon, and we were hoping to avoid that. It was sunny and beautiful down by the waterfront... and sooooo hot omg, I was sweating so much! But I shockingly didn't get a sunburn despite the high UV of the day, so that was good!
The first booth I went to was a Christian Farmer's Association booth because they were giving away free walking sticks and stuff, but of course you had to listen to a little bible story, which wasn't a surprise. It was actually cute, though, the walking sticks had little bracelets with sets of colored beads on them and they just explained what each bead meant (God, man, Jesus, etc.) and the role that entity or entities played in the universe. It was nicely done. Anyway, I got my walking stick and ended up taking the bracelet off of it to send to Grandma next time Mom goes to visit, along with the pamphlet with the whole story. I think she'll get a kick out of it.
The only DOWNSIDE to the walking stick is that it has a bible quote branded into it, so I have to sand it out and paint something decorative over that spot and then seal it all up. Also, I want to replace the bracelet with one that's not as Jesus-y. (I have nothing against religion, and these people were very kind, but it's just not for me, thanks.) Anyway, free walking stick, yay!
The next booth I went to was one that was selling 3D printed critters, and I found a little, wiggly axolotl there that I could afford (for $5); he's pink with red gills and fins and doesn't have a name yet but I'll think of something cute at some point. They also had BIG axolotls for $20 but I didn't have that much money or that much space in my room lol. Mom had gone to that booth while I was at the walking stick booth and was like "oh, did I miss an axolotl?" and I just, "yes, Mom, you missed an axolotl. You ABSOLUTELY missed an axolotl."
After that we found someone who was selling the 2025 Orillia Canada Day buttons and each bought one, and they gave us each a little Canada Flag to go with them. The proceeds from the button sales go into NEXT year's Canada Day celebration, so Mom and I always buy one. I probably have two dozen from different years in my button collection bin lol.
The next thing we did was track down somewhere I could buy a bottle of water because I was stupid and didn't bring one from home, and Mom bugged the people doing the Pancake Breakfast to see if she could just get a coffee without paying the $10 for the pancakes that she didn't want, and they just said "help yourself!" so she was happy with her Timmies.
Next I found the Comfie Cat Shelter's booth and basically emptied my very heavy change purse there for donations. Kali came from the Comfie Cat Shelter, and they are entirely funded by donations, who whenever I spot them in the wild I basically fork over all the change in my wallet. It's not much (maybe $5 each time) but it helps, and I want them to be able to keep doing their good work with the kitties. Also in Kali's memory, you know? <3
And after that Mom found a booth selling fake crystal bird ornaments (they're resin but they look like crystal; I bought her a hummingbird a few years back from the same people) and this time they had CARDINALS and Mom LOVES CARDINALS WITH HER WHOLE LITTLE HEART, so she bought herself a cardinal, and hung it in the window IMMEDIATELY when we got home haha.
Also, there was a booth selling shirts that I really wanted a couple of, but they were like 2/$45 and I definitely didn't have that, so I had to walk away, which kind of sucked but *shrug* oh well. I'll live.
We weren't really there for the carnival part and it was too early for most of the food carts, so we headed out at that point, though on the way out of the park we stopped at French's, which WAS open, so that I could get a hotdog because I hadn't eaten anything for breakfast that morning and I was RAVENOUS. Pro tip: French's pavilion down by the park in Orillia has GREAT hotdogs. :D
The first booth I went to was a Christian Farmer's Association booth because they were giving away free walking sticks and stuff, but of course you had to listen to a little bible story, which wasn't a surprise. It was actually cute, though, the walking sticks had little bracelets with sets of colored beads on them and they just explained what each bead meant (God, man, Jesus, etc.) and the role that entity or entities played in the universe. It was nicely done. Anyway, I got my walking stick and ended up taking the bracelet off of it to send to Grandma next time Mom goes to visit, along with the pamphlet with the whole story. I think she'll get a kick out of it.
The only DOWNSIDE to the walking stick is that it has a bible quote branded into it, so I have to sand it out and paint something decorative over that spot and then seal it all up. Also, I want to replace the bracelet with one that's not as Jesus-y. (I have nothing against religion, and these people were very kind, but it's just not for me, thanks.) Anyway, free walking stick, yay!
The next booth I went to was one that was selling 3D printed critters, and I found a little, wiggly axolotl there that I could afford (for $5); he's pink with red gills and fins and doesn't have a name yet but I'll think of something cute at some point. They also had BIG axolotls for $20 but I didn't have that much money or that much space in my room lol. Mom had gone to that booth while I was at the walking stick booth and was like "oh, did I miss an axolotl?" and I just, "yes, Mom, you missed an axolotl. You ABSOLUTELY missed an axolotl."
After that we found someone who was selling the 2025 Orillia Canada Day buttons and each bought one, and they gave us each a little Canada Flag to go with them. The proceeds from the button sales go into NEXT year's Canada Day celebration, so Mom and I always buy one. I probably have two dozen from different years in my button collection bin lol.
The next thing we did was track down somewhere I could buy a bottle of water because I was stupid and didn't bring one from home, and Mom bugged the people doing the Pancake Breakfast to see if she could just get a coffee without paying the $10 for the pancakes that she didn't want, and they just said "help yourself!" so she was happy with her Timmies.
Next I found the Comfie Cat Shelter's booth and basically emptied my very heavy change purse there for donations. Kali came from the Comfie Cat Shelter, and they are entirely funded by donations, who whenever I spot them in the wild I basically fork over all the change in my wallet. It's not much (maybe $5 each time) but it helps, and I want them to be able to keep doing their good work with the kitties. Also in Kali's memory, you know? <3
And after that Mom found a booth selling fake crystal bird ornaments (they're resin but they look like crystal; I bought her a hummingbird a few years back from the same people) and this time they had CARDINALS and Mom LOVES CARDINALS WITH HER WHOLE LITTLE HEART, so she bought herself a cardinal, and hung it in the window IMMEDIATELY when we got home haha.
Also, there was a booth selling shirts that I really wanted a couple of, but they were like 2/$45 and I definitely didn't have that, so I had to walk away, which kind of sucked but *shrug* oh well. I'll live.
We weren't really there for the carnival part and it was too early for most of the food carts, so we headed out at that point, though on the way out of the park we stopped at French's, which WAS open, so that I could get a hotdog because I hadn't eaten anything for breakfast that morning and I was RAVENOUS. Pro tip: French's pavilion down by the park in Orillia has GREAT hotdogs. :D
Problem-Solving
Wednesday, 2 July 2025 02:19 amysabetwordsmithNew study backs up 'sleeping on it,' suggesting naps promote creative problem-solving
All groups improved in the dot-sorting test after their nap, but 85.7% of those who achieved the first deeper sleep phase — called N2 sleep — had the breakthrough.
All groups improved in the dot-sorting test after their nap, but 85.7% of those who achieved the first deeper sleep phase — called N2 sleep — had the breakthrough.
Hard Things
Wednesday, 2 July 2025 02:17 amysabetwordsmithLife is full of things which are hard or tedious or otherwise unpleasant that need doing anyhow. They help make the world go 'round, they improve skills, and they boost your sense of self-respect. But doing them still kinda sucks. It's all the more difficult to do those things when nobody appreciates it. Happily, blogging allows us to share our accomplishments and pat each other on the back.
What are some of the hard things you've done recently? What are some hard things you haven't gotten to yet, but need to do? Is there anything your online friends could do to make your hard things a little easier?
What are some of the hard things you've done recently? What are some hard things you haven't gotten to yet, but need to do? Is there anything your online friends could do to make your hard things a little easier?