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erika) wrote2025-11-03 10:53 pm
well, how did i get here? (into the blue again, after the money's gone, once in a lifetime)
Forty. Four zero. 40. 4. 0. I've been telling almost everyone I meet, repeating the facts to strangers and friends and acquaintances, my psychiatrist and my sister and my surrogate aunts. I didn't expect to get here and I find the fact of forty, frankly, jarring. My teeth grit against the absolute insanity of time marching on to this extent—how did I get here?
Some of the people who are reading this potentially have known me since I was 12 and just like me, probably didn't expect me to get here. Mind-boggling as well.
What has changed recently? Not much! To misquote Tolstoy, perhaps happy days are all alike, but each unhappy day is unhappy in its own way. Or maybe it's the opposite, and it's my newfound ability to revel in choice of enjoyable activities with a reliably upbeat mood climate that's truly unlocked this newfound persistence of pleasant presence.
Current psychiatrist has narrowed down my meds and diagnoses to a fine degree, now that she actually believes I'm ill. (Long story but basically she didn't take me seriously until my last attempt. Wait, not a long story.) Who would have guessed that the magic wand would be ~lithium~ and the magic words, bipolar disorder? Doc's not 100% on it yet but I'm pretty convinced.
My intention is to update again tomorrow, but I'll post this now just in case.
james_davis_nicoll) wrote2025-11-03 09:54 pmAnnoyed
(It's not diabetes. It's just that I am incredibly intolerant to eating late)
elisem) wrote2025-11-03 06:03 pmHealth Natter: COVID: Jelly Turtles from Spain
Still continuing.
Still resting like potatoes.
(With the caveat that I do get up and sit in a chair for a while each day, because my body needs that for some things.)
Today's things included talking on phone with multiple people at new insurance/pharmacy/et cetera.
Cried twice.
This is harder than it actually needs to be.
Told them, when they asked if med was medically necessary, that I like breathing and wished not to give it up.
(I DUNNO, WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU GUYS THINK, IS A MED THAT HELPS WITH MY ALLERGIES AND MY ASTHMA POSSIBLY IMPORTANT WHEN I AM IN ACUTE COVID RIGHT NOW? WHY COULD THAT POSSIBLY MATTER, RIGHT GUYS?)
Paxlovid mouth-taste is evil.
Only have to get through tonight and tomorrow and however long the aftertaste lasts.
Am combating it with gummy candies.
Decided why the heck not.
About to open bag of jelly turtles that tells me they are from Spain.
O jelly turtles from Spain, I put my hope in your benevolent tastiness.
Thank you all for being here.
Good words help a lot. Maybe tell me something good from your life today?
I like hearing about good moments.
I do have plans.
They are not vengeance unless vengeance is making really good art.
I just have to get well enough to realize them.
Meanwhile, jelly turtles from Spain, and also some weird blueberry planets that are freaking huge.
And you all. I like you people. Hello, people!
I may be slightly giddy again.
james_davis_nicoll) wrote2025-11-03 02:03 pm
james_davis_nicoll) wrote2025-11-03 12:48 pmFive Ways Science Fiction Can Expand Beyond Homo sapiens
Modern humans are fine, but what if we had a bit more variety in our stories?
Five Ways Science Fiction Can Expand Beyond Homo sapiens
twistedchick) wrote2025-11-03 12:21 pm(no subject)
We are waiting for an arborist and his crew to take down four trees, trim a fifth tree, and manage somehow to cut back some big vines that are hanging from other trees and look ugly. (I've cut the vines at the base; they're not alive, but just hanging there.)
One of the trees, a mimosa that hangs over the fussy neighbor's driveway, definitely has to go. The fussy neighbor is too lazy to get out a ladder and trim back whatever she wants on her side -- I'm saying lazy because she is three decades younger than I am and has a tall and able son and a tall and able husband. Together they should be able to trim back whatever they want... but no. She'd rather bitch at us about it than do it herself. I don't have a problem with that tree, which is split at the base and going in several directions, coming down.
But we're losing two beautiful wild cherry trees and half of the big magnolia tree because the branches lean over the house. The insurance company wants the roof clear of branches that might fall and damage something. The cherries lean over it from the back, the magnolia extends across it from the front. And there's an ash tree in back that is leaning, and has contracted emerald ash borer. It has to come out before it falls and hits our house or the friendly neighbors' house.
I love our trees, and we've lost so many in the last 33 years, especially the two big oaks. Now more are going down.
At least the weather is kind. The sun is out and the air is warmish.
And for the time being I'll stay here and read my Yuletide source and look for a story.
calimac) wrote2025-11-03 09:03 amwrong again
oursin) wrote2025-11-03 03:44 pm- aaaargh,
- books,
- frustration,
- internet,
- life,
- reading,
- review,
- tax,
- technology
Isn't it the way, though?
Thought I had some lovely free unspoilt time to get to grips with review I am writing.
There have been Problems with partner's internet connection in downstairs backroom, and after faffing around endeavouring to reset the TP-Link Powerlines, I came to the conclusion that they are ex-Powerlines and should be given a suitable funeral with relevant honours.
Have ordered new ones from Argos. Upside: next day delivery means they are coming today. Downside: but not until the very end of the pm delivery slot, i.e. the evening, Bah.
This is all generally distracting from concentrating the mind on the sleazier reaches of the Victorian booktrade.
Plus, I had a demand for my US tax details. Fortunately, many years ago, I was obliged to acquire an ITIN in connection with receiving a research grant, which makes the whole thing a lot simpler.
This all also rather distracts my mind from upcoming book group discussion of the next volume in Dance to the Music of Time. Though, in unexpected Powelliana encountered during the week, who was a massive fangirl? Eve Babitz was a massive fangirl! ('much less leaden than John Updike... a downright souffle compared to just about anyone').
james_davis_nicoll) wrote2025-11-03 09:06 am
andrewducker) wrote2025-11-03 12:00 pmInteresting Links for 03-11-2025
- 1. A Review of Grokipedia
- (tags:ai wiki encyclopedia )
- 2. We Don't Take Covid Seriously Enough (lots and lots of research condensed here)
- (tags:Pandemic doom )
- 3. Linux gamers on Steam finally cross over the 3% mark
- (tags:gaming linux steam )
- 4. The FT is now asking when the AI bubble will burst.
- (tags:finance economics ai doom bubble )
twistedchick) wrote2025-11-03 12:50 am(no subject)
It feels like a reconstruction of a lost culture at an archeological dig.
snowynight) wrote2025-11-03 12:51 pmitch.io Charity bundles roundup
Buy 203 items (tabletop games, video games, zines, tools, and essays, etc) for $12 to support Central Virginia Legal Aid Society and the Legal Aid Justice Center to support legal services for those who do not have the resources themselves to navigate America’s thorny, taut legal system. Offer ends in 2 days &18 hours. Including Yazeba’s Bed & Breakfast ($25) & Paris Gondo - The Life-Saving Magic of Inventorying ($20), etc
Palestinian Children's Relief - TTRPG Bundle for PCRF
Buy 250 tabletop RPGs (Over $900 worth) for $10 to support the Palestinian Children's Relief Fund, which provides urgent medical aid, food, and life-saving treatment to those in desperate need, including orphans and amputees. Offer ends in 8 days. Including Noirlandia ($10, a murder mystery roleplaying game played with an actual cork board), Escape from Dino Island ($10, one shot escape from the notJurassic Park), Questlandia 2e ($10, collaborative game about building a collapsping fantasy society), etc
james_davis_nicoll) wrote2025-11-02 09:54 pmAchtung! Cthulhu
redbird) wrote2025-11-02 08:21 pm(no subject)
I'm doing significantly better today, in terms of ankle and other joint pain. I didn't go for a walk, but did go outside to take out trash and spend a few minutes outdoors during daylight, and then started on what has turned out to be a lot of PT exercises. We're back on standard time as of this morning, meaning the sun set in Boston at 4:35 (we're near the eastern edge of this time zone).
elisem) wrote2025-11-02 05:04 pmhealth natter: "rest like a potato!"
and so do we.
kaberett) wrote2025-11-02 10:10 pmvital functions
Observing. All Souls'. Candle lit; Seelkuchen eaten.
Reading. ( Rucka, Waitrose Cookery School, Stocks, Duncan, Ravindran )
Playing. Merrily pootling along with I Love Hue. Hatched my first dragon with Primal eyes in The Dragons Game.
Cooking. Two variations on a recipe: smitten kitchen's winter squash and spinach pasta bake and the recipe that inspired it, Ottolenghi's pasta and butternut squash cake. On the first day I definitely preferred the smitten kitchen version; on subsequent days I became increasingly convinced by the Ottolenghi. (You see, I had about twice as much of all of the ingredients as I needed, and the spinach definitely needed eating Imminently, and so I thought I'd make them simultaneously so we could do the side-by-side comparison and then freeze some...)
And then this evening I made another round of the wahaca autumn stew with pipián, this time with even wronger chillis but a sensible amount of herbs, and was delighted that it met with my mother's approval.
Eating. SCHWARZBROT with Lizard honey. Curries various courtesy of my father. Salads and lunches various courtesy of my mother. The dark chocolate & raspberry stars that are a Special Seasonal Treat. National Trust lemon drizzle cake. A RASPBERRY.
Exploring. THE NEW SITE FOR ADMIN: THE LRP. And this afternoon we went on an adventure to Anglesey Abbey, where the dahlias were alas gone but we found many many more cyclamen than we knew were there, and several things in the winter garden were at a different stage than I think I'd ever seen them before and were extremely pretty with it.
Creating. Carved a pumpkin for the toddler!
spiralsheep) wrote2025-11-02 09:11 pmIn which there are 52 times Our Heroine improves her habitat, week 44
- Pleasing occurrences: visited three different public lending libraries this week - all at least twice.
( - Habitat )