jazzfish | Others

The dreaded "say nice things about yourself" challenge has appeared at

While we’re busy celebrating fandom, it’s good to remember to celebrate ourselves, too. Fandom is all of us! I know it’s often easier to talk about what we like about other people than it is to talk nicely about ourselves, but challenge yourself here --

Challenge #7

LIST THREE (or more) THINGS YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF. They don’t have to be your favorite things, just things that you think are good. Feel free to expand as much or as little as you want.

( Challenge: Say good Things About Yourself. Difficulty: Very )

Current Mood: energetic
Current Music: Yoko Shimomura - Lord of the Castle

days_unfolding

I feel like the “ichy, watery eyes” of a cold med commercial.

I woke up at 3:30 AM and used the washroom and checked LJ and DW. I’m going back to sleep. No, I couldn’t for quite a while. I couldn’t breathe through my nose, so I was breathing through my mouth, but that triggered coughing and tears rolling down my face. I kept on changing positions until I found one where I could breathe through my nose. It was after 5 AM at that point. Slept until 8 and I emailed in sick.

Yep, my bank transfers to Schwab are working. My dad said to invest the money in a municipal money fund until I’m ready to invest it for real.

Gracie didn’t want to come inside, not even for a donut. It took a half-hour to get her in here. I was getting annoyed. Bella ran back out a couple of times too.

I need to feed the dogs (done) and myself (done).

Oliver is on the ledge above my bedroom door. Then he slowly made is way towards me, getting attention from the dogs. I tried to get the dogs to leave, but no. Oliver made it over to me, but he wanted to play whappy paws with claws out. I removed him. Then I went to use the washroom. I have been leaking urine when I cough or sneeze, so I got a pad on. The dogs followed me out, so I ran back and shut the door with no dogs or cats. Now I can finally sleep. I started coughing and felt like I was going to throw up but didn’t. I got up and am making some Ramen.

I’m wondering if I should take a shower to break up the congestion. I took a DayQuil and did take a shower. It helped. Now I want to order more NyQuil and DayQuil. I also ordered some cough drops. Got them. I’m going to eat a little and try a nap.

I’ve been getting irritated about all the obits about Scott Adams. He wasn’t a very nice guy. On the other hand, he died relatively young (only five years older than I am now), and I’m probably cranky because I don’t feel well.

I did get a couple hours of sleep. Bella came in with me but napped. Now I let the dogs out. It’s feeding time for the critters (done). Ate dinner. Took NyQuil and my nighttime meds. Bedtime soon.

I need to call the hand doctor’s office tomorrow morning. I don’t think that they want me to come in with a cold.

lightbird

two log cabins with snow on the roofs in a wintery forest the text snowflake challenge january 1 - 31 in white cursive text

Challenge #7

LIST THREE (or more) THINGS YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF. They don’t have to be your favorite things, just things that you think are good. Feel free to expand as much or as little as you want.

Post your answer to today’s challenge in your own space and leave a comment in this post saying you did it.

Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so. Also, feel free to entice engagement by giving us a preview of what your post covers.

* I have a strong sense of who I am as a person and I'm comfortable with myself.

* I always try to be kind, but I also won't let anyone take advantage of me.

* I'm really, really good at my job, which has allowed me to pretty much do whatever I want when I need it. Need to work from home, even though it's an in-office day? It's fine because everyone I work for trusts me.

Previous Days
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6

offcntr

For about a week after new year, there'd been no sign of Raj, the black-and-white kitty who comes to my studio, begging for pets (and snacks). Since the weather was horrible, this tended to confirm my theory that he's actually got a home, he's just hitting me up for second breakfast.

About three days ago, I heard the familiar meow! outside the studio door, looked out to see no sign of him. Wasn't by the back yard, wasn't coming around from front, wasn't under the van.

He was on the roof. Right over the studio door.

He's been back every day since, sometimes multiple times, was even on the roof again last night. Then this evening, I saw a black-and-white kitty under the car as I came up from the mail box.

It wasn't him. It was the shy kitty with the jingle collar that we're calling Belle. Same shiny coat and thick short tail, but with no ring around the muzzle. And no pets. She's too shy to let anyone near her.

hannah

Challenge #7

LIST THREE (or more) THINGS YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF. They don’t have to be your favorite things, just things that you think are good. Feel free to expand as much or as little as you want.

1. My hair, which has occasionally gotten the attention of complete strangers, and anything that gets someone's attention in New York City is something to be proud of.

2. My blood, which I donated again yesterday, and being O-, is too useful for me to keep all to myself.

3. My eyebrows, which I have no intention of thinning or threading, and think are charming and cute the way they are.

Current Mood: pleased
Current Music: nothing now

slaymesoftly

( You're about to view content that the journal owner has advised should be viewed with discretion. )

offcntr

We'd made plans for a short getaway in the week between Christmas and New Years, just up to Portland to visit the zoo and art museum, but our cat sitter didn't return our texts and then the weather got bad and so we stayed home instead. Which was nice, because I couldn't do much in the studio, having only 25 lbs. of clay left, so I read a bit and napped a bit and got all the family Christmas presents packed and shipped by New Year's Eve. So that was nice.

Then I got the Christmas letter to my nephew returned to sender and realized that they'd moved and I had to figure out how to get their Christmas present to the new address which I didn't have yet and that involved a long stay on hold with UPS, who directed me back to Shippo, who then determined that I couldn't redirect the package because of the plan I'd bought for shipping, but I could have it returned to sender, no charge. So we caught it in Minneapolis and it's coming back here tomorrow.

My ton of clay finally got delivered last Tuesday, in the midst of a rain and sleet-storm, so that was fun. And the replacement part for my kiln vent arrived the same day, though one piece--the intake manifold--was rusted solid onto the old unit, so I had to spend an hour on hold with Skutt trying to get the part number for a replacement, while I was moving clay into the studio. I eventually had to give up--they were closing at 5--left a message, then an email, and finally got the number yesterday, ordered this morning. Meanwhile, the tools and parts are cluttering up the top of the kiln.

So throwing 75-100 lbs. of pots a day has been, by comparison, positively relaxing.

highlander_ii

( You're about to view content that the journal owner has advised should be viewed with discretion. )

Crossposts: https://highlander-ii.insanejournal.com/469231.html http://highlander-ii.deadjournal.com/294852.html

snopes_feed

Posted by Jack Izzo

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/postal-workers-essential-letter/

The letter was real and sent to postal workers, but it didn't signal a new policy or departure from normal practices.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/postal-workers-essential-letter/

senmut

AO3 Link | Touching History as We Go (1014 words) by Merfilly
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Forgotten Realms, The Legend of Drizzt Series - R. A. Salvatore
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Drizzt Do'Urden/Alustriel Silverhand
Characters: Alustriel Silverhand, Drizzt Do'Urden
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Disguises, Grief/Mourning, Inspired by Poetry
Series: Part 9 of Legacy of the Silver Marches
Summary:

Drizzt and Alustriel, in their guises as Gavren and Brielle, on their trek to Silverymoon pass where Methri fell.

From Twilight Calm - Christina Rossetti

But evening now is done
As much as if the sun
Day-giving had arisen in the East:
For night has come; and the great calm has ceased,
The quiet sands have run.

Touching History as We Go

Death comes to all in turn, they say. I have seen it swiftly, I have seen it come slow. Never do I touch its presence without some emotion. Relief, in cases of enemies that would not turn from their path. Sorrow, for the ones it takes by choking off the time ahead of them. Shock, when it braces a young one in their prime.

But I can see it is a needful thing. Not merely for the natural order of things, but for cleansing the way to new thought, new deeds, new ways. Something in age clogs many minds from adapting, changing as thoughts lead in new directions. I find peace in the idea that, when my life is at an end, there will be those who knew of me, of my Companions, who tell the tales we made.

I but hope that they remember not only the daring deeds, but the cautionary mishaps as well.

— Drizzt Do'Urden

The travelers kept their hoods low, even as they knew it would take a powerful magic user to discern their identities. The tavern was quiet and only half-full, but a bard had taken the stage and begun a quiet ballad.

"Someone knows history," the woman said after listening to the first bars.

"As told," the man said with a sigh. "They'll leave out how close it was for him at the end."

"Hmm, likely. But in this day and age, from all we've seen so far, they need to know of heroes, have them to look up to and be inspired by."

He looked at her, his eyes dancing with mirth. "I'll remember that when you protest the ballads composed of your sacrifices and leadership."

"Oh, I've had plenty of time to grow accustomed to such. But you, my dear ranger… what will you do when you hear of your own deeds sung with lusty bardic vigor?"

"Make a nuisance of myself trying to inject truth in the matter," he said, smiling before he applied spoon to bowl, rather than focus on the tale of a wizard he'd known during the Gods' War.

Brielle pulled up short, making Gavren turn back to her. Her face spoke of anguish, and he sucked in a deep breath. The lingering magical traces in this land spoke of past battles, but for her… it had to have been personal.

"What is it, my star?"

"The staff of Silverymoon." She gave up pretense of being able to move from this spot, dropping down on her knees, hands going into the barren soil. Her eyes scanned out, taking note of the vague hillocks and depressions, signs of things buried in haste and rotted away after.

Gavren came and knelt in front of her, drawing her head to his shoulder. With a mere thought, he called to their dear astral friend and Guenhwyvar appeared, no longer constrained by the figure of wondrous power. She took up guard over them in this desolate place, letting him hold his beloved as she mourned.

"Silverymoon's last defense to the west," he murmured. "Your son being impossibly strong-willed and ending the fight that occurred, but at such cost." He stroked down her hair, letting her cry it out. There would be moments like this, over and over, as they wandered the realms in their new guises. Both had been too embroiled in the Gods' War, had known too many of the major players in the pitched battles and back-room scheming.

"Methri made so many mistakes, and yet… he did believe in the people and ideas of Silverymoon and the Silver Marches." She settled back on her heels, reaching up to wipe at her face with a cloth pulled out of her cloak's pocket.

"He did, on both accounts. But we all did, the mistakes making. And for many of us, it was the belief in our people, in each other, that gave us the strength to push through what the gods did to us all in their own madnesses." Gavren stroked her face, then tucked a braid back behind her ear. "It is hardest, in some ways, for you about Methri. Because he was your heir, following in your footsteps."

She sniffled, then nodded. "Once the Refuge took Tyresia from him, he threw himself into everything of Silverymoon I would allow. And he won the position by the vote, when Taern died, so it was on his own merit. I just never saw how deeply his caution could cut across the allies we'd made."

"You cannot second-guess him from this point of history," Gavren told her, placing a kiss on her brow. "All either of us can do is try to help the rebuilding we see, give aid to those who still have the vision of a future that holds knowledge and compassion in the highest regard."

"And use what we knew as truth to provide the bitter stories of how even goodly traits can lead to the wrong choices?" Brielle questioned, before sighing. "Yes, even that will be needed, especially with what we've learned so far of the rising powers in the lands."

"Any trait may be a strength or a weakness," Gavren told her. "You and I can press that point as it is needed. But. For now… we're not so far from the Silverwood, and we can be inside the city by nightfall?"

She considered, then shook her head. "Unless the traces are bothering you, let us stay here, so I can meditate, and be certain he has not become a weave ghost tied to this place?"

"Of course, my star." He pushed back to his feet, a look at Guen bringing her closer. The panther pushed into the moon-elf's space, prompting a small laugh and much petting, while Gavren saw to setting camp. They would tend to the needful matters, and move on to the city where at least one of their children was building anew.

Perhaps, in putting her own sense of Methri to rest, it would help Brielle be ready for the fresh start they had promised one another in truth.

canyonwalker

Three months ago I started telling the story of the church up the hill. Except for most of my life it was the mystery of the church up the hill.

An AI rendering of the church up the hill (Google Gemini, Oct 2025)

An AI rendering of the church up the hill (Google Gemini, Oct 2025)

I grew up in a Catholic family, and we lived in a neighborhood where there was a Catholic church right up the hill from us. It was easy walking distance, about 3 blocks. But we almost never attended that church, at least not that I remember. Instead we were regular parishioners at the Catholic church in the next town over— a church a 20 minute car trip away, in a town we never lived in.

It always seemed strange to me, "Why don't we attend the church almost literally in our back yard—" the strip of land immediately behind our back yard was literally owned by the church— "Instead of driving to another city?" I asked my parents many times. The answers they gave never made sense. It wasn't until I was in my 40s, and my father was on his deathbed, that I pieced together the truth to unravel this mystery.

Follow me through the jump for the rest of the story.

( Read the rest of the story... )

cupcake_goth

Discussion about the upcoming movie adaptation of Wuthering Heights is really heating up over in Tumblr-land, and I, for one, am here for it. I respect the novel's place in the canon of gothic literature, but I don't feel the need to ever reread it. But the upcoming movie looks like it's going to be a gloriously unhinged trashfire, and I'm kinda looking forward to it.

A quote from the director, which gives you a good idea of what we're in for:

"When it came to making the film, Fennell, 39, said: "I wanted to make something that was the book that I experienced when I was 14".
She suggested that some of her risque additions are things she thought she had remembered from reading the book as a teenager -- but weren't actually in there when she returned to it.
"It's where I filled in the gaps aged 14", she said with a smile, adding that making the film had allowed her to "see what it would feel like to fulfil my 14-year-old-wish, which is both good and bad".

I am kinda impressed that she was able to get a studio to give her money so she could do this.

Oh! And the costumes! MY GOD, THE COSTUMES.

pepysdiary_feed

Posted by Samuel Pepys

https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1663/01/13/

So my poor wife rose by five o’clock in the morning, before day, and went to market and bought fowls and many other things for dinner, with which I was highly pleased, and the chine of beef was down also before six o’clock, and my own jack, of which I was doubtfull, do carry it very well. Things being put in order, and the cook come, I went to the office, where we sat till noon and then broke up, and I home, whither by and by comes Dr. Clerke and his lady, his sister, and a she-cozen, and Mr. Pierce and his wife, which was all my guests.

I had for them, after oysters, at first course, a hash of rabbits, a lamb, and a rare chine of beef. Next a great dish of roasted fowl, cost me about 30s., and a tart, and then fruit and cheese. My dinner was noble and enough. I had my house mighty clean and neat; my room below with a good fire in it; my dining-room above, and my chamber being made a withdrawing-chamber; and my wife’s a good fire also. I find my new table very proper, and will hold nine or ten people well, but eight with great room. After dinner the women to cards in my wife’s chamber, and the Dr. and Mr. Pierce in mine, because the dining-room smokes unless I keep a good charcoal fire, which I was not then provided with. At night to supper, had a good sack posset and cold meat, and sent my guests away about ten o’clock at night, both them and myself highly pleased with our management of this day; and indeed their company was very fine, and Mrs. Clerke a very witty, fine lady, though a little conceited and proud. So weary, so to bed. I believe this day’s feast will cost me near 5l..

Read the annotations

https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1663/01/13/

torachan

1. They posted the foodie guide for lunar new year at DCA and there are so many tasty looking things this year!

2. I have a web meeting at 5pm tonight but had enough time to come home between my previous meeting and this one, so I can take it from home and not be getting home at like seven.

3. Spotted Gemma and Jasper sitting together on the sofa.

chazzbanner

The other day I noticed the title of a downloading podcast: in part, it was 'missing folk star found!' I knew I had to listen to it immediately, as I guessed who the 'folk star' was. It was Licorice McKechnie of the Incredible String Band.

I first heard of Licorice being missing on a true crime podcast. From what I remember, there were rumors that she was living in central California. I think her sister said she was contacted once by Licorice, but that was years ago.

Andy Miller of the Backlisted wrote a lovely essay about the ISB

on his Patreon page

I really like The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter album, though whether you would depends on what you think of psychedelic whimsy. In case you want to test your resistance (or the lack thereof), here's a link:

ISB: THBD

Oh!, one thing that isn't mentioned is that the cottage the ISB lived in was on the estate of Baron Glenconner (aka Colin Tennant). Lady Anne Glenconner casually mentions that 'they were the house band' in one of her memoirs. She was Lady in Waiting to Princess Margaret.

Have I read her memoirs? Yes. She was also a Rosebud guest, I believe.

-

rolanni

The Long Back Yard

#
Well. I solved some, but not all of my problems. Charlie's was able to take care of the tire pressure for me, so I don't have to get any more scoldy emails from my car. Is anyone else's car like this? It only writes when it wants something -- air in the tires; washer fluid. It never writes to see if I want something, or just to say hey. Honestly, it's like we don't have a relationship at all.

Lowe's was a labyrinth, Target was much better than the last time I was in, and I could actually shop.

I found The. Perfect. barstool for My Studio at Marden's, but Marden's, along with its other peculiarities, doesn't deliver. Or doesn't always deliver, and while the stool in question would fit in the back of the Subaru, my chances of getting it downstairs with both it and me in one piece were -- let's just say the smart money would back gravity. Heavily.

I found a less perfect, and only slightly more expensive barstool at Fortin's, and they? Will send it across the river tomorrow with a nice young person who will take it down the stairs for me, so -- win.

I did not arrive at a satisfactory solution for sunblocking the sliders, though I may have an It'll Do.

I came nowhere near achieving a premade step so I can walk out of Steve's office and onto the deck without breaking an ankle.

Two pleasant things happened. At Target, I was prompted to Use Google Wallet, and so I did -- only it didn't work. My cashier was in my corner though, and between us, with a bit of last minute advice from a pro on the other register, I got it to work, and he cheered.

Also, when I stopped to drop a package off at a friend's house, a big black cat came down the middle of the road toward me, clearly on A Mission. I said, "Is that Spazzio?" and his tail went up just as far as it could. He escorted me to the porch, where I left the package. He lobbied hard for me to let him in, but -- no key, kitty.

So, back home now, and? I should find something to eat, I guess.

How's everybody doing today?
#
Fortin's wins today's hero badge. They brought my bar stool to me an hour after I got home, carried it into the house, down the stairs and into the studio. We are now set up and ready to do some glasswork.

#
Went to needlework, but -- I grabbed the wrong bag off the hook, so I had the Invisible Project to work on. Still, it was nice to just sit and chat. Home now, and V. tired.

I expect I'm not long for a vertical position.

Tomorrow, I hope to write like the wind. I'll check in as can.

Everybody have a good evening. Stay safe.

shakalooloo posting in

scans_daily

Last year's 2000ad Xmas special had a story where Judge Dredd encountered an eerily familiar Belgian traveller...

( Read more... )

lydamorehouse

Image: the "don't tread on me" snake being beheaded by a laser-eyed loon with the Minnesota flag on its chest (created by Andrew Prekker).

You know I love my laser-eye loons and I could not have been happier to see this art pop up on my Facebook Feed. Andrew is selling this art on Redbubble and I bought a t-shirt immediately. (Feel free to click the link and get your own merch.) For those of you new to my journal, I posted about Minnesota's collective enjoyment out of imagining that the red eyes of the loon could (and should!) shoot laser beams in the past. My library card has a loon with lasers shooting out of its eyes and we NEARLY had a state flag with a loon shooting laser beams out of its eyes.

One thing I have learned while living in a police state is that I need to do one good thing a day or I go out of my mind with stress. Today, when I realized I was just pacing around the house trying not to doom scroll, I found out that Smitten Kitten (for out-of-towners, this is a sex positive, trans and queer owned sex shop) has been acting as a distribution center for people who are in hiding from the gestapo. They put out a call for diapers, etc. So, I hopped in my car, bought a few things at my local Menards, and then drove over to drop them off. Just feeling the energy in the shop, being greeted by people still excited to see my queer D&D t-shirt (actually ConFABulous, which I talked to the person about potentially coming to this next year)... it felt good, maybe even kind of normal in a This is NOT normal sort of way?

Right now, at 6:30 pm, I'm going to go throw on my coat and go sing with some neighbors. I am, apparently, someone who needs to DO.

Stay strong out there, everybody!

shakalooloo posting in

scans_daily

Even in its earliest days, the relationship between the Ultimate Universe Ant-Man and Wasp is much more heartwarming than any previous interpretation!

( Read more... )

snopes_feed

Posted by Rae Deng

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/renee-good-charlie-kirk/

Numerous fake images related to Good spread in the wake of her fatal shooting.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/renee-good-charlie-kirk/

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Tucker McKinnon

Words are inadequate

Adventures in Mamboland

"Jazz Fish, a saxophone playing wanderer, finds himself in Mamboland at a critical phase in his life." --Howie Green, on his book Jazz Fish Zen

Yeah. That sounds about right.

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Indeed do many things come to pass

Others

Snowflake Challenge 02026 #7: Be Nice.

Sick Day 2

snowflake_challenge 2026: Day 7

One of these things is not like the other

Three things for a post.

musings

Best-laid plans

Snowflake Challenge #6

US Postal Service sent essential services letter to employees. Here's what to know

Poetry Fiction: Touching History as We Go

The Mystery of the Church Up the Hill: Solved!

Please imagine the Kate Bush song playing while reading this post

Tuesday 13 January 1662/63

Daily Happiness

Incredible String Band

Busy Tuesday

Mikmak's Big Mega-City Adventure

More Laser-Eyed Loon Art

When Henry Met Janet

Watch out for this image supposedly showing Renee Good mocking Charlie Kirk's death

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