Yuletide!!!
Dec. 27th, 2025 09:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
snickficYou guys, I love Yuletide. So many things I can read, I got great gifts, people are reading what I wrote... incredible. Here, have some recs.
First, my gifts:
Endless Night, True Detective: Night Country, Danvers/Navarro, 4.6k. My author took my prompt "what if the sun didn't come back" and ran with it. Great apostalyptic vibe here, and my shiiiiip. <3
The Inheritance of Imogen Dearborn, Kyle Murchison Booth Stories, Booth/Ratcliffe, 13!!!!!k. Booth needs Ratcliffe's help with an acquisition at a decaying house in the country, and things get weird, as they so often do around Booth. I freaking love this fandom's dedication to casefic*, and this is a wonderful example of a case that's great on its own merits and all the better because the relationship growing around the edges. <3 <3 <3
(*I'm developing the theory that the KMB stories are basically the perfect canon for producing casefic: the canon is already a series of casefics, already in prose, and they're nearly all pretty short. Put that all together, and writers have the perfect model to work from.)
And now for the other fics I've loved so far:
boot error, Companion (2025), Iris gen, 2.6k. Iris confronts life without an operating system. It was great to see Iris here, trying to figure out exactly what it means to be a person when one's whole personality is made of code.
Written in squid ink, Kraken - China Mieville, Billy/Dane, 3k. Not everyone in the Church of the Kraken was blessed with a tattoo in squid ink, but Dane was one of the lucky few, and at a young age too. I loved seeing an interpretation of soulmate marks specifically for this canon, and I loved all of Dane's weird fantasies and fetishes and imagined acts of religious devotion, and how they all got tangled up together.
Touching the Moon, My Sister and the Prince, Marie gen, 4k. This is how it happened; and what happened, after. The canon is a short film that is incredibly compelling considering it's two actors on one set for a single scene. You should watch it and then read this structurally creative and heartwrenching answer to the question of what came next.
Hunger, Dragonriders of Pern, Kylara/Lessa, 2.7k. Both Lessa and Kylara are Searched for Nemorth's final clutch. This Kylara feels exactly right to me: scheming, focused on her own desires and ambitions, fully aware of her own strengths and at least some of the weaknesses of others, and above all with an eye for opportunity. And the actual events, brief though they, promise a very interesting future for this version of canon. :D
The day the riders came, Dragonriders of Pern, OC gen, 1.8k. What if the dragons of Pern and the Impression bond were anything *but* benevolent? Or, alternately: what if the dragons were Lovecraftian horrors? This gets so dark in the best way, and the last line is a knockout punch.
First, my gifts:
Endless Night, True Detective: Night Country, Danvers/Navarro, 4.6k. My author took my prompt "what if the sun didn't come back" and ran with it. Great apostalyptic vibe here, and my shiiiiip. <3
The Inheritance of Imogen Dearborn, Kyle Murchison Booth Stories, Booth/Ratcliffe, 13!!!!!k. Booth needs Ratcliffe's help with an acquisition at a decaying house in the country, and things get weird, as they so often do around Booth. I freaking love this fandom's dedication to casefic*, and this is a wonderful example of a case that's great on its own merits and all the better because the relationship growing around the edges. <3 <3 <3
(*I'm developing the theory that the KMB stories are basically the perfect canon for producing casefic: the canon is already a series of casefics, already in prose, and they're nearly all pretty short. Put that all together, and writers have the perfect model to work from.)
And now for the other fics I've loved so far:
boot error, Companion (2025), Iris gen, 2.6k. Iris confronts life without an operating system. It was great to see Iris here, trying to figure out exactly what it means to be a person when one's whole personality is made of code.
Written in squid ink, Kraken - China Mieville, Billy/Dane, 3k. Not everyone in the Church of the Kraken was blessed with a tattoo in squid ink, but Dane was one of the lucky few, and at a young age too. I loved seeing an interpretation of soulmate marks specifically for this canon, and I loved all of Dane's weird fantasies and fetishes and imagined acts of religious devotion, and how they all got tangled up together.
Touching the Moon, My Sister and the Prince, Marie gen, 4k. This is how it happened; and what happened, after. The canon is a short film that is incredibly compelling considering it's two actors on one set for a single scene. You should watch it and then read this structurally creative and heartwrenching answer to the question of what came next.
Hunger, Dragonriders of Pern, Kylara/Lessa, 2.7k. Both Lessa and Kylara are Searched for Nemorth's final clutch. This Kylara feels exactly right to me: scheming, focused on her own desires and ambitions, fully aware of her own strengths and at least some of the weaknesses of others, and above all with an eye for opportunity. And the actual events, brief though they, promise a very interesting future for this version of canon. :D
The day the riders came, Dragonriders of Pern, OC gen, 1.8k. What if the dragons of Pern and the Impression bond were anything *but* benevolent? Or, alternately: what if the dragons were Lovecraftian horrors? This gets so dark in the best way, and the last line is a knockout punch.
Poem: "Tenacity, Creativity, and Bravery"
Dec. 27th, 2025 11:02 pmysabetwordsmithThis poem is spillover from the October 3, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by prompts from mama_kestrel and see_also_friend. It also fills the "There are many flavors of outcasts here." square in my 10-1-23 card for the Fall Fest Bingo. This poem has been sponsored by a pool with fuzzyred. It belongs to the Eric the Elven King thread of the Polychrome Heroics series.
( Read more... )
mama_kestrel and see_also_friend. It also fills the "There are many flavors of outcasts here." square in my 10-1-23 card for the Fall Fest Bingo. This poem has been sponsored by a pool with fuzzyred. It belongs to the Eric the Elven King thread of the Polychrome Heroics series.( Read more... )
Birb!
Dec. 28th, 2025 05:08 amvriddyTo PROVE that I am able to make a post without a single mention of K-9 (oh no I already failed), please enjoy pictures of the bird friends I made at the park yesterday :D
I call them magpies because that's what the black and white and beautiful blue-tinted tail colouring makes me think of, but I don't actually know. They are birb. And they are friendly!
One of them came to hang out with us when we took a little break, just sitting there, all puffy and chirping whenever we stopped paying attention to it. Really, surprisingly chill and friendly! I guess people around there are not jerks to them too much.
I know the quality of my pictures is terrible, but that's to encourage everyone to use their Power Of Imagination! I'm actually providing a great public service 😌
( Picture of a not a bird friend, at the same park )
Also I'm no longer the only person posting for K-9 out there :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D And they write a PoV I'm less comfortable with (FOR NOW) and that is just AWESOME. Happy times!!! 🥳🥳
I call them magpies because that's what the black and white and beautiful blue-tinted tail colouring makes me think of, but I don't actually know. They are birb. And they are friendly!
One of them came to hang out with us when we took a little break, just sitting there, all puffy and chirping whenever we stopped paying attention to it. Really, surprisingly chill and friendly! I guess people around there are not jerks to them too much.
I know the quality of my pictures is terrible, but that's to encourage everyone to use their Power Of Imagination! I'm actually providing a great public service 😌
( Picture of a not a bird friend, at the same park )
Also I'm no longer the only person posting for K-9 out there :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D And they write a PoV I'm less comfortable with (FOR NOW) and that is just AWESOME. Happy times!!! 🥳🥳
Nominations Closed
Dec. 27th, 2025 11:01 pmcandyheartsexNominations for the tagset have closed! The tagset will be finalized over the next few days as the final round of nominations get approved (there are still almost 200 fandoms pending, plus nominations in existing fandoms, so please be patient), wandering tags get corralled, errors get fixed, etc.
Please stay tuned for at least one more post about nomination questions and notes, just in case you need to clarify a tag you've nominated.
Signups will open on January 1, 12:01 AM.
Please stay tuned for at least one more post about nomination questions and notes, just in case you need to clarify a tag you've nominated.
Signups will open on January 1, 12:01 AM.
I hope this augers well
Dec. 27th, 2025 11:26 pmcornerofmadnessI woke up feeling lightheaded, slightly headachy and hella tired (this is not the good augering part) This is when Mom tells me that the couple I don't like are coming up tonight. UGH. As I told evil_little_dog that I planned to 'go out with friends' when they came up but now I'm sick (and really I am) so mom says just stay upstairs then and don't bother with them.
But they blew my parents off. WOO HOO. Twice now this holiday. My parents might go to my aunt's house (where they're staying as she's actually prejudice woman's real aunt) in the morning. I'm a late riser so I get out of going (in theory) but even if I don't it'll be a short trip because the Steeler game is tomorrow and they want all visitors out (which should tell everyone what they need to know. You rate under football) And they leave monday so I am hoping this is a sign for the coming year where things that upset me are removed from my presence.
I got my official Hazbin merch today, the holiday poster and key chains (all sold out now) and the season 1 DVDs. I am happy to have that (luckily I'm too tired for my why you don't own downloads rant)
It's time for science saturday
One Protein Is a Better Predictor of Heart Disease Than Cholesterol
Powerful Anti-Cancer Drug Discovered Inside Japanese Tree Frog.
Garlic Mouthwash Could Be The New Gold Standard. Here's Why. I need to send this to my research student who is working with mouthwash
New Drug Stalls Alzheimer's Development in Breakthrough Trial
Cats meow more at men to get their attention, study suggests
A huge surprise': 1,500-year-old church found next to Zoroastrianism place of worship in Iraq
Tiny implant 'speaks' to the brain with LED light
See the 100,000th photo of Mars taken by NASA's groundbreaking Red Planet orbiter
( Christmas pictures of the house )
You can click the eggs if you want.
evil_little_dog that I planned to 'go out with friends' when they came up but now I'm sick (and really I am) so mom says just stay upstairs then and don't bother with them.But they blew my parents off. WOO HOO. Twice now this holiday. My parents might go to my aunt's house (where they're staying as she's actually prejudice woman's real aunt) in the morning. I'm a late riser so I get out of going (in theory) but even if I don't it'll be a short trip because the Steeler game is tomorrow and they want all visitors out (which should tell everyone what they need to know. You rate under football) And they leave monday so I am hoping this is a sign for the coming year where things that upset me are removed from my presence.
I got my official Hazbin merch today, the holiday poster and key chains (all sold out now) and the season 1 DVDs. I am happy to have that (luckily I'm too tired for my why you don't own downloads rant)
It's time for science saturday
One Protein Is a Better Predictor of Heart Disease Than Cholesterol
Powerful Anti-Cancer Drug Discovered Inside Japanese Tree Frog.
Garlic Mouthwash Could Be The New Gold Standard. Here's Why. I need to send this to my research student who is working with mouthwash
New Drug Stalls Alzheimer's Development in Breakthrough Trial
Cats meow more at men to get their attention, study suggests
A huge surprise': 1,500-year-old church found next to Zoroastrianism place of worship in Iraq
Tiny implant 'speaks' to the brain with LED light
See the 100,000th photo of Mars taken by NASA's groundbreaking Red Planet orbiter
( Christmas pictures of the house )
You can click the eggs if you want.
Daily Happiness
Dec. 27th, 2025 08:04 pmtorachan1. We had a nice lunch at Knott's today. I'm glad we were able to get over there one more time before the end of the holiday season as they have some really good seasonal offerings on the menu right now.
2. No rain! It's so nice to have a dry day. It was sunny but not hot. Looks like we're supposed to have rain again by the end of next week into the week after, but at least we have a few dry days in between.
3. We went over to Handel's tonight to get some peppermint bark ice cream but they are out. The girl at the counter said they might still get some in, but she wasn't sure. At least it's close enough and on the general path of our neighborhood walks that we can pop in here and there to see if they've got it back. We did get some other flavors to bring home, including gingerbread cookie, which I hope is as good as the peppermint bark.
4. I've had some sweaty nights lately (fun) so decided to wash my whole pillow rather than just the pillowcase, but this new pillow is a pain in the ass to wash. Well, the washing is fine, it's the drying. It's got this fiber fill stuff that just does not want to dry, even after multiple goes in the dryer. Finally I hit on the idea of taking the filling out and spreading it out between these four mesh laundry bags we have and drying it like that, which I think will do the trick. For one thing, the mesh bags will get heat to the filling much easier than the thick pillow exterior, plus dividing it into four bags will help spread the filling out so there's not this inner core that's just not getting dry. Fingers crossed! I do have an old pillow I can use tonight if this doesn't get dry, but I've still got a few hours until bedtime.
5. Chloe's such a sweetie. *_*
2. No rain! It's so nice to have a dry day. It was sunny but not hot. Looks like we're supposed to have rain again by the end of next week into the week after, but at least we have a few dry days in between.
3. We went over to Handel's tonight to get some peppermint bark ice cream but they are out. The girl at the counter said they might still get some in, but she wasn't sure. At least it's close enough and on the general path of our neighborhood walks that we can pop in here and there to see if they've got it back. We did get some other flavors to bring home, including gingerbread cookie, which I hope is as good as the peppermint bark.
4. I've had some sweaty nights lately (fun) so decided to wash my whole pillow rather than just the pillowcase, but this new pillow is a pain in the ass to wash. Well, the washing is fine, it's the drying. It's got this fiber fill stuff that just does not want to dry, even after multiple goes in the dryer. Finally I hit on the idea of taking the filling out and spreading it out between these four mesh laundry bags we have and drying it like that, which I think will do the trick. For one thing, the mesh bags will get heat to the filling much easier than the thick pillow exterior, plus dividing it into four bags will help spread the filling out so there's not this inner core that's just not getting dry. Fingers crossed! I do have an old pillow I can use tonight if this doesn't get dry, but I've still got a few hours until bedtime.
5. Chloe's such a sweetie. *_*
December-January Movie PTW List
Dec. 27th, 2025 09:35 pmbluapapilioUsing my movies boardgame.
I completed 4/5 movies from my last challenge, the highest rated was booksmart at 4/5 stars. Not the funnest challenge, coulda been better but I'm not in the biggest mood for movies tbh.
Avatar:
Action (Tremors)
Skill: If you land on a tile you don't like: roll a dice, if even go forward one tile, if odd go back (doesn't work on the trap tile)
Roll #1
Heree we go again, a 7 which is the trap tile so I had to go back. Oh, a 12 now, ok. Prompt: weapon on the cover. I am going to chose based solely on the prompts versus my feelings because nothing will get chosen otherwise. Alright, there's a gun on the cover of Dust Bunny.
Roll #2
A 7, prompt: favorite genre (fantasy). ('24) The Little Mermaid,
Roll #3
A 4, generate from PTW tile. #64, Trunk - Locked In.
Roll #4
A 5, prompt: horror element. Beyond Loch Ness,
Roll #5
Reward: Flight of the Living Dead.
Movie PTW List:
[Thriller/Fantasy/Action] Dust Bunny
[Horror/Fantasy] '24 The Little Mermaid
[Thriller] Trunk - Locked In
[Mystery/Sci-Fi/Horror] Beyond Loch Ness
[Horror] Flight of the Living Dead
I completed 4/5 movies from my last challenge, the highest rated was booksmart at 4/5 stars. Not the funnest challenge, coulda been better but I'm not in the biggest mood for movies tbh.
Avatar:
Action (Tremors)
Skill: If you land on a tile you don't like: roll a dice, if even go forward one tile, if odd go back (doesn't work on the trap tile)
Roll #1
Heree we go again, a 7 which is the trap tile so I had to go back. Oh, a 12 now, ok. Prompt: weapon on the cover. I am going to chose based solely on the prompts versus my feelings because nothing will get chosen otherwise. Alright, there's a gun on the cover of Dust Bunny.
Roll #2
A 7, prompt: favorite genre (fantasy). ('24) The Little Mermaid,
Roll #3
A 4, generate from PTW tile. #64, Trunk - Locked In.
Roll #4
A 5, prompt: horror element. Beyond Loch Ness,
Roll #5
Reward: Flight of the Living Dead.
Movie PTW List:
[Thriller/Fantasy/Action] Dust Bunny
[Horror/Fantasy] '24 The Little Mermaid
[Thriller] Trunk - Locked In
[Mystery/Sci-Fi/Horror] Beyond Loch Ness
[Horror] Flight of the Living Dead
Communities
Dec. 27th, 2025 09:12 pmysabetwordsmithThe City That Refused to Stay Dying
This Indiana city is no longer defined by what it lost, but by what its residents are building today.
Instead of waiting for a master plan or a single catalytic investment, Keen began assembling homes and vacant parcels one by one. He helped launch the Portage Midtown Initiative and the South Bend GreenHouse, restored neglected homes, cultivated community gardens, and supported local builders learning to tackle small projects themselves. He often refers to these lots collectively as his “farm.”
This approach can work in many cities.
This Indiana city is no longer defined by what it lost, but by what its residents are building today.
Instead of waiting for a master plan or a single catalytic investment, Keen began assembling homes and vacant parcels one by one. He helped launch the Portage Midtown Initiative and the South Bend GreenHouse, restored neglected homes, cultivated community gardens, and supported local builders learning to tackle small projects themselves. He often refers to these lots collectively as his “farm.”
This approach can work in many cities.
🎬December Movie Wrap-Up
Dec. 27th, 2025 08:20 pmbluapapilio
Dangerous Animals ('25): It might seem heavy-handed to some, like the part where she makes a joke that the worst spot on a dick is the man(?), and the part where the shark didn't attack her for some reason but then attacked the bad guy, but IDC, she and her boyfriend survived and that's more than most shark movies. If you didn't guess, the dangerous animals in question turned out to be men, not sharks. I'm not going to rate it because I skimmed some parts (like the part where she did things to her thumb to escape the cuff, ick). Honestly I'm not sure I was in the mood to watch this and that's why I skipped through.
Thirteen Lives ('22): The movie adaptation for the Thai cave rescue. I don't remember feeling so uncomfortable for the water scenes in the mini-series, I actually had to skip through most of them because they were too claustrophobic. It showed the Seal's death in explicit detail, too. The mini-series definitely fleshes out the characters more, especially the Thai ones but this adaptation had a lot of tension and fleshing out of the non-Thai characters. The boys are barely shown in the movie adaptation whereas we follow them a lot in the mini-series. I just found that while this was in production, another movie adaptation of the rescue came out and now I'm curious (it's higher rated, too). That's three adaptations! 2/5
A Perfect Getaway ('09): Multiple red herrings and a mid-movie twist. I skimmed because I'm so frickin' tired I can't handle too much tension, so I'll keep it on my PTW.
Booksmart ('19): Some scenes really made me laugh, some made me WTF and others made me think. I'm glad I watched it! 4/5 stars
Lady Bird ('17): So this came out 2 years before Booksmart, I didn't realize Beanie Feldstein was a main character in them both. I ended up having to DNF a third of the way through, I just wasn't connecting enough. I do relate to the resentment and even self-harm that resulted from it that Lady Bird was feeling towards her mom.
a handful of Yuletide recs
Dec. 27th, 2025 06:06 pmisisDecember has been busy-busy for me between Yuletide preparation (as a mod) and Yuletide preparation (as a participant who also took on a pinch hit), but now, ahh, everything is done and I can reap the rewards!
My awesome gift (5-minute fandom: British Airways "May We Haveth One's Attention" Safety Video):
A British Original: Discovering Haddersford House and Its Residents (2248 words, gen)
Summary: A magazine article from the world where characters in costume drama occasionally come to life of their own--and stick around after the cameras stop rolling and the crews have gone home.
I really had no idea what to expect from this request (just that I had to have something about this marvelous video!) and I love how it's played with an absolutely straight face. Also, there's a nod to Planet Vancouver, hee!
Speaking of the ridiculous played straight, this is understandable (and hilarious) with only osmosis knowledge of The Godfather:
An Offer You Can’t Refuse (Unless You’re Lactose Intolerant) (1008 words, Godfather movies, gen)
Summary: On the day of his daughter’s guinea pig’s wedding, Don Vito Corleone received a request he could not immediately refuse.
Absolutely the best Godfather fic ever.
The rest of my recs really do require canon knowledge, but I know many of you know these canons:
Memories Are Made of This (4002 words, Northern Exposure, Ed Chigliak-centered ensemble gen)
Summary: “So this is Cicely,” Ed said, gazing wide-eyed up and down Main Street. “Where’s the rest of it?”
This is wonderful - like an episode of the show, warm and funny and a little bit off-kilter.
Hoar and Hound (2236 words, Cadfael Chronicles, Brother Cadfael-centered gen)
Summary: On a frigidly cold December night, Cadfael follows a trail through the abbey grounds.
A lovely, thoughtful portrait of the abbey and of Cadfael. The way he quietly assesses the needs of the people (and creatures) around him is perfectly in tune with canon.
Dis Manibus (1364 words, Frontier Wolf, Alexios/Cunorix, Alexios/Hilarion, G)
Summary: Alexios goes out to make an offering to the shades of the dead, but he does not go alone.
This is lovely and tender and measured, and has something of Sutcliff in the descriptions. For me Alexios/Hilarion only works if it honors the close friendship between Alexios and Cunorix, before things went bad - and this is perfect.
We Greet the Peoples of the Tower (1717 words but heavily illustrated; Chants of Sennaar, gen)
Summary: There are some oddly regular scratch marks on a wall in the Alchemists' level...
Basically this is a fangame (though the game part is optional; the first set of chapters are illustrations with glyphs as in the game, and the second half holds the translations), a whole new level in which the Monster goes seeking the other peoples to assert he is a human and their brother. It's a moving story that fits with the game themes, and it's just very cool!
Actually, if you've played Chants of Sennaar, I recommend all the Yuletide works for the game as the fandom has clearly brought its A-game, they're all great. (The one above is just extraordinarily so!) And there are two Madness works I haven't even looked at yet!
My awesome gift (5-minute fandom: British Airways "May We Haveth One's Attention" Safety Video):
A British Original: Discovering Haddersford House and Its Residents (2248 words, gen)
Summary: A magazine article from the world where characters in costume drama occasionally come to life of their own--and stick around after the cameras stop rolling and the crews have gone home.
I really had no idea what to expect from this request (just that I had to have something about this marvelous video!) and I love how it's played with an absolutely straight face. Also, there's a nod to Planet Vancouver, hee!
Speaking of the ridiculous played straight, this is understandable (and hilarious) with only osmosis knowledge of The Godfather:
An Offer You Can’t Refuse (Unless You’re Lactose Intolerant) (1008 words, Godfather movies, gen)
Summary: On the day of his daughter’s guinea pig’s wedding, Don Vito Corleone received a request he could not immediately refuse.
Absolutely the best Godfather fic ever.
The rest of my recs really do require canon knowledge, but I know many of you know these canons:
Memories Are Made of This (4002 words, Northern Exposure, Ed Chigliak-centered ensemble gen)
Summary: “So this is Cicely,” Ed said, gazing wide-eyed up and down Main Street. “Where’s the rest of it?”
This is wonderful - like an episode of the show, warm and funny and a little bit off-kilter.
Hoar and Hound (2236 words, Cadfael Chronicles, Brother Cadfael-centered gen)
Summary: On a frigidly cold December night, Cadfael follows a trail through the abbey grounds.
A lovely, thoughtful portrait of the abbey and of Cadfael. The way he quietly assesses the needs of the people (and creatures) around him is perfectly in tune with canon.
Dis Manibus (1364 words, Frontier Wolf, Alexios/Cunorix, Alexios/Hilarion, G)
Summary: Alexios goes out to make an offering to the shades of the dead, but he does not go alone.
This is lovely and tender and measured, and has something of Sutcliff in the descriptions. For me Alexios/Hilarion only works if it honors the close friendship between Alexios and Cunorix, before things went bad - and this is perfect.
We Greet the Peoples of the Tower (1717 words but heavily illustrated; Chants of Sennaar, gen)
Summary: There are some oddly regular scratch marks on a wall in the Alchemists' level...
Basically this is a fangame (though the game part is optional; the first set of chapters are illustrations with glyphs as in the game, and the second half holds the translations), a whole new level in which the Monster goes seeking the other peoples to assert he is a human and their brother. It's a moving story that fits with the game themes, and it's just very cool!
Actually, if you've played Chants of Sennaar, I recommend all the Yuletide works for the game as the fandom has clearly brought its A-game, they're all great. (The one above is just extraordinarily so!) And there are two Madness works I haven't even looked at yet!
Weekly Reading
Dec. 27th, 2025 05:04 pmtorachanRecently Finished
Either Side of Midnight
Sequel to Trust Me When I Lie. This was good, but I do enjoy the Ernest Cunningham series better.
Murder Under Her Skin
Second in the Pentecost and Parker series. Just okay. I'll read more in this series, but it's not a priority.
Damn Straight
Another second book in a murder mystery series. This one the Lillian Byrd series. Same as above, I liked it well enough that I'll continue the series, but I'm not rushing out to read the next one.
Star Trek: Lower Decks, Vol. 1: Second Contact
There's a new series of Lower Decks comics! In fact, there's enough issues for a second volume, too, though it's not coming out until next year. My issue with these is the same with every comic based on a cartoon, which is that they're never quite as good as the show. They're enjoyable enough, though.
My Home Hero vol. 20-22
Either Side of Midnight
Sequel to Trust Me When I Lie. This was good, but I do enjoy the Ernest Cunningham series better.
Murder Under Her Skin
Second in the Pentecost and Parker series. Just okay. I'll read more in this series, but it's not a priority.
Damn Straight
Another second book in a murder mystery series. This one the Lillian Byrd series. Same as above, I liked it well enough that I'll continue the series, but I'm not rushing out to read the next one.
Star Trek: Lower Decks, Vol. 1: Second Contact
There's a new series of Lower Decks comics! In fact, there's enough issues for a second volume, too, though it's not coming out until next year. My issue with these is the same with every comic based on a cartoon, which is that they're never quite as good as the show. They're enjoyable enough, though.
My Home Hero vol. 20-22
the grinch is a sometimes food
Dec. 27th, 2025 07:56 pmproustbotMade the long trek home, and now I am back in the bosom of the fam: watching terrible movies with my father, running errands with my mother, playing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 with my siblings. Our sibling chat right now is just variations on "MIME TIME?"
The Fantastic 4: First Steps (2025) -- Watched on a plane. This film aspires to an overly earnest and retro corniness, in the same mode as Gunn's SUPERMAN, but nobody apparently told the Marvel script-doctors, As a result, there's all this tired background banter that is written as quippy ("Well, THAT happened") and then filmed/recorded flatly and confusingly ("Well, that...happened..."). Whereas James Gunn over in SUPERMAN knows how to film a corny joke set-up and frame a corny punchline!
The one memorable thing about the film is Vanessa Kirby's Sue Storm, who gets the most interesting things to do in the middle of the film. Giving birth...in space! Screaming "KILL HER!" in the midst of contractions!! Nothing else in the movie is as weird and surprising as that mid-movie scene, including Kirby's increasingly rote character in the second half of the film.
Sinners (2025) -- Watched on a plane. Takes some wild swings but most of them connect. I hope Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler make one million more movies together, hitting every cinematic genre along the way.
The Fantastic 4: First Steps (2025) -- Watched on a plane. This film aspires to an overly earnest and retro corniness, in the same mode as Gunn's SUPERMAN, but nobody apparently told the Marvel script-doctors, As a result, there's all this tired background banter that is written as quippy ("Well, THAT happened") and then filmed/recorded flatly and confusingly ("Well, that...happened..."). Whereas James Gunn over in SUPERMAN knows how to film a corny joke set-up and frame a corny punchline!
The one memorable thing about the film is Vanessa Kirby's Sue Storm, who gets the most interesting things to do in the middle of the film. Giving birth...in space! Screaming "KILL HER!" in the midst of contractions!! Nothing else in the movie is as weird and surprising as that mid-movie scene, including Kirby's increasingly rote character in the second half of the film.
Sinners (2025) -- Watched on a plane. Takes some wild swings but most of them connect. I hope Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler make one million more movies together, hitting every cinematic genre along the way.
2025 Knott's Trip #4 (12/27/25)
Dec. 27th, 2025 04:44 pmtorachanIt was a busy day at the park, being a holiday weekend plus the first sunny day in a while. The park opens at nine and we got down there around 9:45 and the line for parking was super backed up, but thankfully the ADA lot still had a ton of spaces left, so once we finally got to it, it was easy to get a spot. The lines for the front gates were probably the longest I've seen, but still moved pretty smoothly.
( Read more... )
I think this will be our last amusement park visit of the year. We're planning on Disneyland on the 1st, but it's supposed to rain again, so we'll see.
This year my totals are 79 at Disneyland (including 4 at Tokyo Disney), 4 at Knott's, and 2 at Universal Studios. That's a lot! O_o
( Read more... )
I think this will be our last amusement park visit of the year. We're planning on Disneyland on the 1st, but it's supposed to rain again, so we'll see.
This year my totals are 79 at Disneyland (including 4 at Tokyo Disney), 4 at Knott's, and 2 at Universal Studios. That's a lot! O_o
Various Links 12/22-12/27
Dec. 27th, 2025 06:24 pmsenmutBack on, I think, the correct day. (Look, Thursday was a Sunday, Friday was a Monday, today is a Sunday, tomorrow is supposedly a Sunday)
~ North American Indigenous Santa Dance - video, performer is known as "Powwow Santa"
~ Cat figuring how to get in out of a vase - video
~ Frame-slowed, colorized Victorian snowball fight - video
~ The LGBT bookstore saves a man - text, untranscribed, mention of self harm and suicidal ideation (old post, but I reblog when I see it to remember what FAMILY is)
~ Knitted wedding dress - photos and text
~ Trumpeteer gets an unexpected accompaniment - video, sound needed
~ Stonehenge Solstice Cat art - picture
~ North American Indigenous Santa Dance - video, performer is known as "Powwow Santa"
~ Cat figuring how to get in out of a vase - video
~ Frame-slowed, colorized Victorian snowball fight - video
~ The LGBT bookstore saves a man - text, untranscribed, mention of self harm and suicidal ideation (old post, but I reblog when I see it to remember what FAMILY is)
~ Knitted wedding dress - photos and text
~ Trumpeteer gets an unexpected accompaniment - video, sound needed
~ Stonehenge Solstice Cat art - picture
[movement] in which I get to follow mine own teaching
Dec. 27th, 2025 11:34 pmkaberettI am now noticing that it is in fact Fairly Consistent that I can Do More in terms of Pilates if I'm doing it at a rate of Two Full Sessions A Week rather than three. I am Somewhat Dismayed at now needing to go "okay, this clearly means I'm not fully recovering doing what I'm currently doing at a rate of every other day-ish, which means I will derive more benefit if I do less of the activity"; I am trying to cheer myself up by persuading myself that what it Actually Means that I get to play with a greater variety of Colouring Things In on The Sticker Chart.
I am amused that I am about as Oh No This Is Terrible about Officially Reducing My Mat Time as I am about getting onto the mat. Brains. Brains!
but now that's how i'm getting paid
Dec. 27th, 2025 05:55 pmmusesfoolChristmas was lovely! On Christmas Eve, it was just me, my sister, and my brother-in-law, so we ordered in and watched a godawful Hallmark Christmas movie with Teri Hatcher in it. Then they went to bed and I did a Die Hard rewatch - I hadn't seen it in some number of years and for all its flaws, it is still a good time.
Christmas morning, my niece and her husband came over so Baby Miss L could unwrap the first set of presents - she still gets bored with it and wants to play with whatever she's opened instead of opening the next gift, so it's a process - and she LOVED the 30 second dance party button, as I knew she would. I am SO HAPPY I saw it somewhere (Wirecutter, maybe?) and ordered it, and that it arrived in time for me to see her play with it. (The adults got a kick out of it too, but it was hilarious watching her run up and press it each time it ended.) She liked the dinosaur cape and the books (especially "The Little Book of Cheese," which is in the same series as "The Little Book of Pasta," which I got for her last year and which she LOVES - apparently she will just bust out with "FARFALLE!" at any given moment), but did not care about the wings at all. Also when Alyssa told her I would be there, she said, "books!" so she knows I am the books and clothes aunt. *g*
The while elephant swap was pretty hilarious too, and my niece Nicki ended up with the cat-shaped measuring cups and spoons that were my contribution. I got a waterproof bluetooth speaker I'm going to have to set up in the bathroom to have tunes in the shower.
The funfetti cupcakes were a big hit. (I made sure to put cream cheese frosting on the ones for my sister; she tried one with the American buttercream and made the same face I made when I tasted it - it's disgustingly sweet.) There's picture of this year's selection here.
As for gifts, I received a handful of gift cards, a KRYPTO squishmallow from Baby Miss L, a pair of earrings made from chips of vintage pyrex, a stand mixer tree ornament, a copy of Dorrie's Anytime Cakes, some candles, and a pair of super warm and fuzzy grippy socks. I also bought myself a new winter coat, a new 9 x 13" pyrex baking dish, a new vibrator, some new bras, and a new pair of black ankle boots, so I'm doing all right in the gift department. *g*
Yesterday, I got home early and vegged out for most of the day. And then it snowed, just like they said it would!
Today, I made a new batch of dough and tomorrow I'll finish baking off the fig cookies for this year. I also want to try those orange cranberry rolls now that I have room in the fridge to let them rise overnight. I still have so many eggs left over, though, so I see at least one frittata in my future, plus at least one batch of Nadiya's egg wraps, which are delicious and I recommend them highly!
Now I should look into having dinner and maybe watching the Rangers game.
*
Christmas morning, my niece and her husband came over so Baby Miss L could unwrap the first set of presents - she still gets bored with it and wants to play with whatever she's opened instead of opening the next gift, so it's a process - and she LOVED the 30 second dance party button, as I knew she would. I am SO HAPPY I saw it somewhere (Wirecutter, maybe?) and ordered it, and that it arrived in time for me to see her play with it. (The adults got a kick out of it too, but it was hilarious watching her run up and press it each time it ended.) She liked the dinosaur cape and the books (especially "The Little Book of Cheese," which is in the same series as "The Little Book of Pasta," which I got for her last year and which she LOVES - apparently she will just bust out with "FARFALLE!" at any given moment), but did not care about the wings at all. Also when Alyssa told her I would be there, she said, "books!" so she knows I am the books and clothes aunt. *g*
The while elephant swap was pretty hilarious too, and my niece Nicki ended up with the cat-shaped measuring cups and spoons that were my contribution. I got a waterproof bluetooth speaker I'm going to have to set up in the bathroom to have tunes in the shower.
The funfetti cupcakes were a big hit. (I made sure to put cream cheese frosting on the ones for my sister; she tried one with the American buttercream and made the same face I made when I tasted it - it's disgustingly sweet.) There's picture of this year's selection here.
As for gifts, I received a handful of gift cards, a KRYPTO squishmallow from Baby Miss L, a pair of earrings made from chips of vintage pyrex, a stand mixer tree ornament, a copy of Dorrie's Anytime Cakes, some candles, and a pair of super warm and fuzzy grippy socks. I also bought myself a new winter coat, a new 9 x 13" pyrex baking dish, a new vibrator, some new bras, and a new pair of black ankle boots, so I'm doing all right in the gift department. *g*
Yesterday, I got home early and vegged out for most of the day. And then it snowed, just like they said it would!
Today, I made a new batch of dough and tomorrow I'll finish baking off the fig cookies for this year. I also want to try those orange cranberry rolls now that I have room in the fridge to let them rise overnight. I still have so many eggs left over, though, so I see at least one frittata in my future, plus at least one batch of Nadiya's egg wraps, which are delicious and I recommend them highly!
Now I should look into having dinner and maybe watching the Rangers game.
*
Write every day: Day 27
Dec. 27th, 2025 11:34 pmluzulaPlease check in here! It is late and I had a little alcohol, so I am too tired to write a proper post. Did not write. Will edit in the tally later. As for my farm news, we drank my homemade cherry wine, which came out great.
Purimgifts 2026: Banner Countdown
Dec. 27th, 2025 04:36 pmautobotscoutriella posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
purimgifts
Today's countdown banner comes to us from 2020, which, believe it or not, was almost six years ago! I have no idea where that time went, but it means we're only six days out from Purimgifts 2026 signups.
DEADLINE 23 Feb (anywhere in the world)
REVEALS 2-4 March
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